A former Connecticut Judicial Branch employee was sentenced Thursday to serve two years in federal prison after a bankruptcy case, according to officials.

Joel C. Riley, 48, of Wallingford, was sentenced to serve 24 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

Authorities said Riley was employed by the Connecticut Judicial Branch as a human resources manager at the time that the fraudulently obtained the loans.

Court documents showed that from April 2015 to July 2016 Riley fraudulently applied for and got loans and lines of credit in the name of another individual  without the victims knowledge or permission  using her name and personal information.

By December 2016 the outstanding debt on those loans was about $211,142. Authorities said Riley did not intend to, or have the ability to, repay the debt.

On Dec. 15, 2016, Riley went to an attorney and claimed he had power of attorney for the victim. He told the attorney the victim was ill and that he wanted to file a bankruptcy petition on her behalf.

The attorney told Riley that the woman would have to meet with the attorney to confirm her identity.

After several delays, on June 6, 2017, Riley and a woman claiming to be the victim met with the attorney at his office.

Authorities said Riley recruited an imposter to impersonate the victim. He provided the imposter with the victims drivers license, which Riley took from the victim without her knowing.

During the meeting with the attorney, the imposter presented the drivers license as identification, and then reviewed and signed a bankruptcy petition. The attorney then filed the document, which listed unsecured debts of about $277,000, in the court system.

Later in June 2017 the victim tried to use a department store credit card and learned that there was a bankruptcy petition filed in her name without her authorization.

On June 28, 2017, the victim met with the attorney and clarified that she had not filed for bankruptcy.

Authorities said that same day Riley emailed the attorney and apologized, claiming he hadnt been in the right frame of mind. He told the attorney he needed to make things right.

Please let me know what I can do to resolve this, the end of Rileys email to the attorney said, according to authorities.

When he got the email, the attorney notified the bankruptcy court.

The victim testified in the bankruptcy court that her identification had been missing from her wallet when the petition was filed. She also testified that other than a student loan all the other unsecured debt listed on the petition was not hers and that Riley impersonated her in the past to obtain credit.

On July 21, 2017, the bankruptcy court dismissed the false petition in the victims name.

Riley was arrested on a federal criminal complaint on May 7, 2018.

He was ordered by the judge to pay restitution of $211,142 to the victim financial institutions.

The investigation into this incident revealed that in at least 19 different instances over the span of more than a decade, authorities said, Riley obtained or tried to obtain loans from financial institutions using the identities of family members without their knowledge or permission.

Riley, who was released on a $100,000 bond, was ordered to report to prison on March 25.
As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ
Jaipur, (Rajasthan) [India], Jan 24 (ANI): France will be the guest of honour at the New Delhi World Book Fair in January 2022, announced France Ambassador to India, Emmanuel Lenain on Friday as part of a reciprocal invitation as New Delhi is the guest of honour this year at Livre Paris (Paris Book Fair).



Leading and emerging Indian authors will be invited to Paris to meet readers, while publishing industry professionals will enhance cooperation between France and India in this area during networking events.

Commending the invitation, Lenain said, 'Having India as the Guest of Honour at Livre Paris will boost translations and the publication of Indian books by French publishers, as well as the dynamic network of the French and Indian publishing industries."

In a special ceremony at Jaipur Book Mark, the Ambassador also conferred the 2020 Romain Rolland Book Prize along with Leila Slimani, novelist and President Emmanuel Macron's Envoy for Francophone Affairs.

Awarded annually to the best translation of a French title into any Indian language (including English), the prize this year went to the first three albums of the Asterix series, Asterix and the Golden Sickle, Asterix and the Goths, and Asterix the Gladiator, translated into Hindi by Dipa Chaudhuri and Puneet Gupta, and published by Om Books.

Lauding the winners, Lenain said, "Conveying humour and wordplays from a different language and culture is no mean feat. The translators have done an outstanding job of contextualising these - including the characters' names - while staying true to their original meaning. It is amazing to have such glimpses from French heritage and history available to Hindi readers.' (ANI)
YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. Foreign minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan on January 24 received newly-appointed Ambassador of Ukraine to Armenia Ivan Kuleba who presented the copy of his credentials to the FM, the ministry told Armenpress.

The Armenian FM congratulated the Ambassador on assuming office and expressed hope that his activity will contribute to further deepening and developing the Armenian-Ukrainian relations which have firm historic ties.

The officials highly valued the role of the Armenian community in Ukraines public-political life in terms of strengthening the friendly ties between the two states.

Both sides highlighted taking actions to strengthen the Armenian-Ukrainian political dialogue, including to hold regular consultations between the foreign ministries and boost the dialogue at all levels. In this context they attached importance to the next session of the Armenian-Ukrainian joint inter-governmental commission on economic affairs.

The Armenian FM and the Ukrainian Ambassador also exchanged views on a number of urgent international and regional issues.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
A Kildare born woman is soon to be featured on an Irish postal stamp.

Scientist, Kathleen Lonsdale, born in Newbridge in 1903, is best known for her pioneering work in the area of x-rays and crystals.

Along with Arthur Guinness and Ernest Shackleton, her image will be one of the Kildare people who have been honoured by their image going on an Irish stamp.

The stamp is part of a collection, The Irish Abroad, which will be launched An Post on February 27.

SEE ALSO: Kildare electric vehicle owners granted free charge time

Ms Lonsdale was also a noted campaigner for prison reform and within the peace movement.

On October 25 last, the official launch of the Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research opened at Maynooth University.

SEE ALSO: more Kildare stories

Her son Stephen Lonsdale, also a doctor, attended the ceremony. He said she would be very proud of her Irish roots and would be very proud that Maynooth University would open an institute in her name and that her son would speak at that opening.

Kathleen Lonsdale, nee Yardley, was born in Newbridge on January 28, 1903. She died in the UK in 1971.

Among other things she served a month in jail for refusing to register for civil defence duties during the Second World War.

She won the Davy Award which is awarded by the Royal Society in London for an outstandingly important recent discovery in any branch of chemistry.

She was one of only four women, including Marie Curie, to have won it, in its 142 year history.

Ms Lonsdale was also the first woman to be elected a member of the Royal Society and the first female president of the British Association for the Advancement of Science.

On January 23, An Post unveiled a set of two colourful new stamps marking the national designation of Galway and Rijeka as European Capitals of Culture 2020, in a joint stamp issue with Croatia Post, in Galway today.

It said it could not say how many Kildare people have appeared on stamps but point to Arthur Guinness and Ernest Shackleton, as previous Kildare citizens to have graced an Irish stamp.
By Trend





The 9th meeting of the Turkmen-German Joint Working Group was held in Ashgabat, Trend reports referring to Turkmenistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The delegation of Turkmenistan was headed by the Minister of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations of the country Orazmyrat Gurbannazarov.

During the negotiations, issues of bilateral cooperation affecting various sectors of the economy were discussed.

The meeting participants considered promising projects in the field of oil and gas industry, finance and healthcare. The possibilities of organizing professional development programs for specialists were also considered.

The parties made proposals for the further development of the investment climate in both countries, the report said.

Meanwhile, German companies such as Siemens, Daimler, Claas, Rohde & Schwarz, Dresser-Rand, MAN, Bosch and others make a significant contribution to the implementation of long-term projects in Turkmenistan.

In 2016, 167 investment projects and contracts with German capital worth $540 million and about 555 million euro in total were registered in Turkmenistan. Data for recent years have not been published.
New Delhi, Jan 24 : Realme CEO Madhav Sheth has confirmed the first fitness band from the company will be launched in February.

An exact launch date has not been announced yet but the company is expected to start teasing the arrival of the product by the end of this month, said Sheth in the latest Episode of 'AskMadhav' show on YouTube.

The Realme fitness band will take on Xiaomi's Mi Band series as well as Honor and Huawei's own fitness trackers.

When asked about the potential launch date of the Realme X50 smartphone in India, Sheth said that something 'much more powerful' was lined up for India and have to wait till MWC Barcelona 2020 for the announcement.

Additionally, he revealed that the yellow and black colour variants of the true wireless earbuds will be available next month and Android 10 for the Realme 5i will arrive in May 2020.

Recently, a new smartwatch from Realme was spotted on the Indonesian certification website. Though the certification 'Brand' section mentions the device as the Realme Band, the 'Name' section clearly puts in under the smartwatch category.
The man accused in a

in Rockford, Illinois is now facing additional charges.

Police say Nicholas August held a woman hostage while robbing the Heritage Credit Union on Jan. 3, 2020.

During that time police say August

After seven hours of standoff at the credit union, August released the woman and surrendered to police and a SWAT team.

The victim was then taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. August was taken into custody.

Police later learned that August had in possession a pellet gun resembling a firearm during the robbery.

Police say he did not know the victim, a bank employee, before the incident.

August appeared in Winnebago County Court in Illinois on Jan. 6, and was officially charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault, armed robbery and aggravated unlawful restraint.

On Thursday, 22 additional charges were filed against August. The charges include criminal sexual assault with a weapon, armed robbery, burglary, aggravated battery and unlawful restraint,

August will be back in court on Jan. 29.
There is much about the future that keeps me up at night  AI weaponry, undetectable viral deepfakes, indefatigable and infinitely wise robotic op-ed columnists  but in the last few years, one technological threat has blipped my fear radar much faster than others.

That fear? Ubiquitous surveillance.

I am no longer sure that human civilization can undo or evade living under constant, extravagantly detailed physical and even psychic surveillance; as a species, we are not doing nearly enough to avoid always being watched or otherwise digitally recorded.

Your location, your purchases, video and audio from within your home and office, your online searches and every digital wandering, biometric tracking of your face and other body parts, your heart rate and other vital signs, your every communication, recording, and perhaps your deepest thoughts or idlest dreams  in the future, if not already, much of this data and more will be collected and analyzed by some combination of governments and corporations, among them a handful of megacompanies whose powers nearly match those of governments.

Why am I so pessimistic? Over the last year, as part of Times Opinions Privacy Project, Ive participated in experiments in which my devices were closely monitored in order to determine the kind of data that was being collected about me. The experiments have given me new insight into the psychology underpinning surveillance; Ive realized how blind we are to the kinds of insights tech companies are gaining about us through our gadgets. Our blindness not only keeps us glued to privacy-invading tech  it also means that weve failed to create a political culture that is in any way up to the task of limiting surveillance.

Thats why, across the species, whether under American or European democracy or Chinese authoritarianism, few of our cultural or political institutions are even much trying to tamp down the surveillance state.

In China, the government is building a frightening surveillance dragnet in broad daylight, stitching together facial recognition, fingerprint and other databases into an all-seeing eye aiming to closely watch more than a billion citizens.

Yet the United States and other supposedly liberty-loving Western democracies have not ruled out such a future. Just consider the odd politics surrounding privacy invasion. Donald Trump and his supporters repeatedly argue that the FBI is corrupt and untrustworthy. Yet, like Barack Obama before him, Trump and the Justice Department are pushing Apple to create a backdoor into the data on encrypted iPhones  they want the untrustworthy FBI and any local cop to be able to see everything inside anyones phone.

Apple, mercifully, is resisting, just as it did the request of Obamas Justice Department to create a loophole in iPhone security  but the fact that both Obama and Trump agreed on the need for breaking iPhone encryption suggests how thoroughly political leaders across a wide spectrum have neglected privacy as a fundamental value worthy of protection.

Indeed, because of a dearth of laws protecting our privacy  and almost no high-profile political discussion about the stakes at hand  Americans are sleepwalking into a future nearly as frightening as the one the Chinese are constructing. I choose the word sleepwalking deliberately, because when it comes to digital privacy, a lot of us prefer the comfortable bliss of ignorance. As a result, much of the surveillance engine operates underground  just beyond where many of us dare to look.

In recent months my colleagues at the New York Times and other media outlets have published a series of shattering investigations into modern digital surveillance. Among other revelations: Advertising companies and data brokers are keeping insanely close tabs on smartphones location data, tracking users so precisely that their databases could arguably compromise national security or political liberty. There are few meaningful checks on scanning for people using facial recognition, genetic profiles or other biometric data. Tracking technologies have become cheap and widely available.

Like a lot of people, Ive long justified my apathy about privacy through innocence: Im a stand-up guy  what do I have to hide?

But looking at the Gods-eye-view that a few coupon apps can glean about me, I can no longer pretend Ive got nothing to worry about. Sure, Im not a criminal  but do I want anyone to learn everything about me?

Because those are the stakes. The remaining uncertainty about the surveillance state is not whether we will submit to it  only how readily and completely, and how thoroughly it will warp our society.

In the future, will there be room for any true secret  will society allow any unrecorded thought or communication to evade detection and commercial analysis? How completely will living under surveillance numb creativity and silence radical thought? Can human agency survive the possibility that some companies will know more about all of us than any of us can ever know about ourselves?

Im worried well soon be forced to find out.

@fmanjoo
It's official: Murray State becomes member of Missouri Valley Conference
            ,   .                          .       .       14:05 .  10.12.2021 .        .   . , . ...
Karnataka: Court stays Karwar port work under Sagarmala

January 24,2020 | Source: The New Indian Express

The protest by fishermen against the project to extend the commercial Karwar port has received a shot in the arm with the Karnataka High Court ordering a stay on the second stage works, a part of Union Governments ambitious Sagarmala project. The work was to be taken up on 17 hectares at Baithkol village in Uttara Kannada district. The court also directed the authorities to restore the beach to its original condition.



The ruling came after High Courts attention was drawn to the construction of a road on the beach, carrying out levelling work for movement of vehicles and material in the original port area in the absence of consent from competent authorities. The extension project was undertaken on the Arabian Sea coast abutting Karwar beach, popularly known as Rabindranatha Tagore Beach.As the Directorate of Ports and Inland Water Transport, considerable damage has already been caused beyond the beach, without consent. We direct the authorities to restore the beach to the original condition by removing all preliminary work done, by February 26, the next date of hearing, a division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Hemant Chandangoudar said in the interim order. Hearing the public interest litigation petition filed by Baithkol Bandaru Nirashtritara Yantrika Dhoni Meenugarara Sahakara Sangha, the bench directed the petitioner to implead the Union Government as respondent and ordered notice to the Chief Executive Officer of Karnataka Maritime Board, Director of Ports, and Inland Water, the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Deputy Commissioner of Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board and others.



The court noted that the Environment Impact Assessment Authority (EIA) has decided to grant environmental clearance for the project on December 26, 2018. Accordingly, on January 25, 2019, the clearance was issued with certain terms and conditions. It appears that on the basis of the representation made by the petitioner, the Secretary of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, has forwarded the same to the EIA with a request examine the matter, it said. On December 28, 2019, the EIA issued showcause notice to the Executive Engineer (EE) of the Ports, and Inland Water Transport, asking the officer why the environment clearance given should not be cancelled. On the same day, KSPCB issued notice to the EE stating that a condition imposed while issuing consent for the project had been violated.



Accordingly, the KSPCB directed the EE to stop the activities and obtain consent. The engineer was also warned that the activities will attract penal action. Meanwhile, the clearance given by EIA was withdrawn. Therefore, the court asked the KSPCB to initiate action strictly against the Director of Ports and Inland Water. Displaying photographs and video clippings of the works undertaken on the beach without consent, the petitioners counsel, Murthy D Naik, contended that the project would cause serious ecological damage as it was being implemented without obtaining necessary permission from the Ministry of Environment and Forest.
24.01.2020 LISTEN

MOGADISHU, Somalia, 23 January, 2020  Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) protests against the draconian Somali Media Law (amendment) passed by the Upper House on Tuesday 14 January, 2020 and calls for President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo to exercise Constitutional powers to withhold and refuse to sign this bill into law which was submitted to the Office of the President on Thursday 16 January, 2020.

While accreditation and registration of journalists is a self-regulatory, it is absolutely unacceptable that Article 18 (Clause 1 and 2) requires journalists including foreign journalists working as freelancers to register on government databases under the Ministry of Information and the Somali Press Council.

This law will not only censor journalists and media in Somalia, it is a law threatening journalists by criminalizing critical news coverage and seeks to constrain journalists from doing their duties. This is a serious affront to press freedom in Somalia, Abdalle Ahmed Mumin, Secretary-General of Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) said We call President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo to use his constitutional powers and reject signing this law.

 For the first time in history, the Somali Media Law justifies prior censorship to be imposed on the media on a condition that a media house is deemed to be breaching laws including the Media Law itself, according to Article 3 (Clause 3).

 The Media Law should forbid any type of prior censorship unconditionally and guarantee the right to freedom of information as enshrined in Article 18 and 32 of the Provisional Federal Constitution (2012). The right to freedom of expression is also protected by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) which Somalia is a signatory and in the Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR).

 Journalists should not be censored or restricted from coverage under the pretext of vaguely worded provisions as per Article 4 (Clause T, J and X) which citesspreading false news, inciting violence or promoting tribalism,spreading unfounded propaganda, disseminating any news that contains hate or extremism. This article should be removed.

 Article 5 (Clause T) which seeks imposition of a monetary fine (that will be issued in the form of a special regulation) on journalists, editors, media managers for breaching the media law or breaking government-owned Press Councils code of ethics are indeed worrisome and intimidation against journalists and should be deleted.We also demand the removal of Clauses J and X that further give the Attorney General to prosecute journalists, editors and media managers over payment of fines.

 The requirement for media houses to obtain a license as stated in Article 9 (Clause X) is illegitimate with regard to online and print media. It is also not necessary for the already licensed broadcast media outlets to seek new license. We also refuse the imposition of advance deposit of unspecified amount of money for any new media house before seeking license, as described in the same Article 9 (Clause X).

 Article 11 (Clause J and X) which requires media owners to declare amount of money to be invested on the media house, its source of income/funds, private addresses and identity of managers as prerequisites for applying registration should be removed. The information required for registration of media should not include irrelevant details such as private addresses or personal income of managers and their educational qualifications.

 Article 13 which states transition phase and mandates all media houses (new or previously registered) including online media to seek new registration within 60 days from the day this bill is assented into law is again illegitimate and should be removed.

 Article 14 (Clause 1, 2 and 6) gives Ministry of information the firm control on Somali Press Council. The Somali Press Council should be independent from government interference at all.

 Article 16 (Clause 1) imposes multiple licensing and registration procedures on all media outlets, to be overseen by the Ministry of Information of the Federal Government, the Somali Press Council and the Federal Member States Ministries of Information. This is a problematic article and inappropriate in democratic country. It will create more hurdles for media houses and will cost more money.

 Outrageously, Article 29 (Clause 1) criminalizes perceived critical reporting by imposing draconian penalties for dissemination or publication of false information, incitement or spreading Propaganda against the dignity of any citizen, individual, institution or the government. The same Article violates the protection of journalistic sources as one of the key rights journalists have in order to exercise their freedom of expression and to execute their duties as a public watchdog. We call the removal for this article.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Norman Harsono (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, January 24, 2020 12:40 719 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2060d2312 1 Business nickel,smelter,ESDM,lead,energy-and-mineral-resources-ministry,mining Free

The government expects four smelters with a combined annual input capacity of 2.07 million tons and output capacity of 200,923 tons to begin operations this year.

An Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry official told reporters on Thursday that the smelters would produce ferronickel, nickel pig iron, lead bullion and ferromanganese. Their annual production outputs are 64,655 tons, 72,965 tons, 22,924 tons and 40,379 tons, respectively.

The government guards these projects. The point is to get them done, said the ministrys mineral business development director Yunus Saefulhak in Jakarta.

Among the upcoming smelters, the largest one by output is publicly listed diversified miner PT Aneka Tambangs (Antam) nickel smelter in East Halmahera, North Maluku. The smelter, last valued at US$1.6 billion, will produce 64,655 tons of ferronickel each year.

Read also: Indonesia tightens grip on nickel and coal exports

The four projects add to a list of 29 smelters expected to be operational by 2022, which is when Indonesia will ban all mineral ore exports and, thus, needs a sizeable downstream mining industry to absorb excess domestic supply. The country is particularly expediting nickel smelter development because it is the only metal whose export ban starts this year.

Yunus said some nickel miners were relayering ore on bedrock to reserve supply while waiting for local smelters to become operational.

He added that there was a fifth smelter expected to come online in June, namely PT Elit Kharisma Utamas (EKU) nickel smelter in Banten. However, EKUs smelter, which can produce 97,458 tons of nickel pig iron each year, will only begin operating at half capacity this year.
New PhotonSync feature allows for data transfer between end-user devices without relying on connectivity of any kind (cellular, WiFi, Bluetooth, etc.)

PhotonSync uses fountain code technology, similar to NASAs Mars rovers.

This new feature promises to be invaluable to industrial companies looking to connect their field workers, who often work in highly remote and disconnected environments.

DENVER, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NetworkWire -- JourneyApps , the low-code app platform for industrial companies, just announced that it has launched a new feature to transfer data between end-user devices without the need for any kind of connectivity  whether cellular, WiFi/LAN or Bluetooth. The new PhotonSync feature was created to address the need that industrial field workers have to transfer data between users in areas where there may be no internet connectivity or local network available.

Think of PhotonSync as a cross-platform version of Apples AirDrop, said Kobie Botha, Chief Product Officer at JourneyApps. It lets field workers share data and enables them to execute their work more efficiently, saving precious time. This ultimately translates into cost savings and value for our customers and our customers customers.

An example of where PhotonSync is being used is for shift handovers that are performed by oilfield service companies. Their crews often work at highly remote sites with no connectivity and no network infrastructure. One crew will capture a large amount of data about an oilfield job on their smartphones, tablets or laptops. When a shift change occurs and another crew takes over, they need to transfer the data from the previous crew, but theres often no cellular internet, satellite internet or WiFi. Therefore, they would typically put a file on a USB stick and hand it to the other crew  an insecure and very inefficient method. PhotonSync securely and reliably connects these work crews regardless of where they are  allowing them to digitally transfer data to each other in seconds.

PhotonSync uses animated QR codes to transfer data from one device to another, using similar technology to that used on NASAs Mars exploration rovers to communicate with the Earth  known as fountain codes. The name PhotonSync is derived from the fact that only the devices display is used to transfer data (hence, photons). PhotonSync can transfer data between devices running different operating systems  whether iOS, Android, Windows or others. PhotonSync doesnt require any setup  making it faster to use than methods such as Bluetooth for transferring certain types of data, such as the job data that are often recorded by industrial field workers.

Our customers were facing a challenge on a daily basis: How to transfer data between devices while in an offline environment without having to use hardware such as USB drives. While looking for the fastest and most effortless solution, we pushed ourselves to think outside of the box  and created PhotonSync, said Botha.

PhotonSync is now generally available to developers building applications on JourneyApps. As with all apps built on JourneyApps, it will work on any device with a camera, across all supported operating systems (Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and Linux).

We look forward to seeing how our customers will use PhotonSync to herald a new frontier of industrial connected workers without limits, said Conrad Hofmeyr, CEO of JourneyApps.



About JourneyApps:

JourneyApps is the app development platform that lets industrial companies run better and be digital leaders. IT teams use its low-code platform to quickly build and reliably run complex apps for field workers, even in the most challenging environments. Based in Denver, JourneyApps helps more than 100 customers around the world keep their competitive edge with intelligent work automation and informed decision-making for all employees. More information at journeyapps.com .

Media inquiries:
- The United States has rejected a request by the UK government to extradite the wife of a diplomat who was involved in a car accident that killed a teenager, the British government said Friday.

The case of Anna Sacoolas, 42, has been a thorn in London's close relations with Washington, stirring up debates over the limits of diplomatic immunity in cases unrelated to national security.

"We are disappointed in this decision, which appears to be a denial of justice," a spokeswoman for the Home Office said.

"We are urgently considering our options." Briton Harry Dunn died in August when his motorbike collided with a car driving on the wrong side of the road near an airbase in Northamptonshire, central England, which is used by the US military as a communications hub.

Sacoolas admitted in October to being the driver, but has cited immunity while refusing to return to Britain to face justice, as Dunn's parents demand.

The parents of the 19-year-old were informed of Mike Pompeo's decision in a phone call with their MP on Thursday, a family spokesman said.

The US State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
WASHINGTON - Republicans have repeatedly argued that the impeachment evidence against President Donald Trump is thin. They've said it is based upon "hearsay" that wasn't corroborated by people more intimately involved with the Ukraine effort (whose testimony the White House has blocked). They've suggested, despite numerous witnesses testifying to similar things, that the witnesses weren't credible and that they might have axes to grind.

But on Thursday, with House Democrats playing video of those witnesses' testimonies during Trump's impeachment trial, a Republican senator launched her own thinly sourced attack on one of those witnesses.

And not for the first time.

Sen. Marsha Blackburn,R-Tenn., who along with every other senator serves as a juror in the impeachment trial, took to Twitter and impugned the patriotism of Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman.

Blackburn referred to an allegation that Vindman had badmouthed the United States in a conversation with Russians while serving overseas.

"Adam Schiff is hailing Alexander Vindman as an American patriot," Blackburn said. "How patriotic is it to badmouth and ridicule our great nation in front of Russia, America's greatest enemy?"

The problem with this very severe allegation - made against a Purple Heart recipient who served in Iraq, no less - is that it's anything but verified. It was made on Twitter in November by someone who said they had served with Vindman. Another person later launched a Twitter account confirming it. The New York Times reported that the originator of the claim had also trafficked in QAnon conspiracy theories but claimed they didn't necessarily believe in the movement.

A retired general, Mark Hertling, said at the time that he had spoken to the individuals who accused Vindman and confirmed their backgrounds. But Hertling told the Times that he felt there were holes in their story - including the idea that Vindman, a fluent Russian speaker born in the Soviet Union, would have been conversing with Russians in English.

Vindman's lawyer on Thursday called Blackburn's allegations "defamatory."

"That a member of the Senate - at a moment when the Senate is undertaking its most solemn responsibility - would choose to take to Twitter to spread slander about a member of the military is a testament to cowardice," said the lawyer, former ambassador David Pressman. "While Senator Blackburn fires off defamatory tweets, Lieutenant Colonel Vindman will continue to do what he has always done: serve our country dutifully and with honor."

Even as Blackburn took criticism Thursday for her tweet, she doubled down. She quoted Vindman's initial accuser and also accused Vindman of being a source for the whistleblower who launched the Ukraine scandal. Vindman said in his testimony that he spoke with an intelligence community official about Trump's July 25 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which he was on, but he declined to identify the official, on advice of counsel because he said he didn't want to identify members of the intelligence community. There is no public evidence that he was a whistleblower's source.

Blackburn, though, stated it as fact, without providing evidence.

In doing so, Blackburn re-upped an unfounded claim she made previously that Vindman was the whistleblower's "handler." To this day, that allegation - "Vindictive Vindman is the 'whistleblower's' handler" - remains the pinned tweet on the senator's account.

She sent a similar tweet Thursday night, and this one was later retweeted by President Trump himself.

"Vindman's commanding officer, Army Lt. Col. Jim Hickman: "Do not let the uniform fool you. He is a political activist in uniform," she posted,

At the time of Blackburn's original "Vindictive Vindman" tweet, Republicans in the House's impeachment inquiry and elsewhere offered plenty of innuendo about Vindman, including suggesting he might have more loyalty to Ukraine because he was born in the Soviet Union and accusing him of inflating his importance. Blackburn took it further than most any other Republican, stating the accusation as fact. She did the same with Hickman's accusation in her Thursday night tweet.

Vindman indicated in his testimony that he knew the attacks were coming, but he insisted that telling the truth was important. He addressed his Soviet-born father, who he said had reservations about him testifying in ways that could earn the ire of Trump and his supporters - and might have led to worse in the Soviet Union.

Vindman told his dad that "sitting here today in the U.S. Capitol, talking to our elected professionals, is proof that you made the right decision 40 years ago to leave the Soviet Union and come here to the United States of America, in search of a better life for our family. Do not worry, I will be fine for telling the truth."

On Thursday, a U.S. senator yet again offered her own flimsy version of the truth about him.
She was surprised to see a strong response from her non-Indigenous audience: That was just this overwhelming and very comforting sense of 'here we are as your allies, hands in the air, we want to do what's best for you, so lead the way', which I've never experienced before in my life. And while many wanted a shift away from January 26, others argued to not change the date and keep the debate, in a bid to keep Indigenous issues in the spotlight. The responses prompted a rethink for Marlee, formerly a strong 'change the date' supporter. Marlee Silva and dad Rod at the Yabun Festival in 2015. The Sydney-based writer was raised in the Sutherland Shire in a very white area. She grew up celebrating Survival Day each year at Yabun Festival, a community event at Victoria Park honouring the survival of the worlds oldest living culture.

Marlee didnt see her actions as political until the back end of high school when she began fielding questions from her mostly non-Indigenous classmates after the long weekend. She recalls her younger sister, Keely, once went to a friends place the day after Australia Day, with the Aboriginal flag still tattooed on her cheek: One of her friends asked her why she had that, [when] it was Australia Day. "I was being more and more politicised internally because of the pushback that comes from being Aboriginal in a very high Anglo-Saxon population area, and also being Aboriginal and light-skinned," she said. Marlee Silva and her sister Keely at the Tent Embassy in Canberra in the winter of 2002. "Hearing about what [my grandmother] went through and what Dad went through growing up, and also facing my own version of [racism] as a teenager, turned into a lot of anger and bitterness that sort of almost felt like it came to a point at every time of the year that we got to January 26."

Marlee still believes the date of our national celebration should change  its the first point that the trauma started happening  but now she says the issue is less about the timing and more about our national identity, or lack thereof. I think part of the problem with the day is not only the history, but when you consider the fact that a lot of migrant groups don't feel comfortable on the day too, it's actually how we present ourselves and our national identity, she said. So if we're going to move the day, we have to also move our conversation about what it means to be an Australian  not only what it means to be an Australian right now, but what it will mean in the future. Two generations ago Marlees grandmother, Alice Silva, would never have dared voice such an opinion. The 79-year-old grew up on the Aboriginal mission at Moree in northern NSW, at a time when Indigenous people werent even counted in the census.

Alice Silva was one of the first Aboriginal students at Moree High School. Credit:Rhett Wyman Racial segregation was rampant in the regional town: Aboriginal people werent allowed to swim in the local pool and were made to sit in a roped-off section at the local cinema, until Charles Perkins Freedom Ride bus came through town in 1965 and sowed the seeds of change. "If we went to the town to buy food and that, they would abuse [us] and tell the shops not to sell anything to us, Aunty Alice said. One of 12 children, she was among the first Aboriginal people to attend the local high school, ruffling more than a few feathers when she went on to become the schools first Aboriginal dux. "They were very racist at the school ... but I treated them exactly the other way. I said if you want to be stupid all the time, do it, she said.

Rod, Alice and Marlee Silva looking through family photo albums. Credit:Rhett Wyman Aunty Alice is believed to be the first Aboriginal social worker to graduate from the University of Sydney, later rising through the ranks in the Department of Community Services and completing further university study  all while raising five children in western Sydney. Now living with Alzheimers, she doesnt have strong feelings about Australia Day, preferring to reminisce about the struggles of her childhood and how she overcame them. Nan's always been just a hard worker  prove yourself through your work, rather than protesting or things like that, Marlee said. It's always been get your education, and that's how we'll prove everyone wrong. Others took a different approach, demanding change through activism.

The first Australia Day protest was held on the 150th anniversary of the landing of the First Fleet in 1938, when a group of Aboriginal people gathered at Australia Hall in Sydney and declared January 26 a Day of Mourning, rallying against the callous treatment of Indigenous people and calling for equal rights. Rod Silva at his mother's house in Dulwich Hill, Sydney. Credit:Rhett Wyman While white men are throwing their hats in the air with joy  aborigines [sic] will be in mourning for all that they have lost, Melbourne newspaper The Argus reported at the time. But as Marlees father, former NRL star Rod Silva, points out, speaking out during the era of assimilation policies was a risky business. Through my upbringing, it was always frowned upon if there was anyone outspoken, he said. And the ones that did speak out were always getting attacked by everyone else.

Its something Rod was keenly aware of during his time playing professional rugby league with Easts and Bulldogs in the '80s and '90s. Although I did have strong feelings about Aboriginal stuff, it was best to keep it to myself because of what had happened to my grandparents, my parents, my aunties and uncles, he said. Pointing to Adam Goodes as a recent example, he argues not much has changed: I don't know if it's our country or our media or the whole of our society, it's still frowned upon if you're outspoken if you're Aboriginal, in my opinion. Rod Silva in action for the Bulldogs during the 1998 NRL Final Series. Credit:Getty Images The 52-year-old grew up in Mount Druitt in Sydneys west as one of five kids. His eldest brother died at age one. The same year, his father started drinking and couldnt get off it, gambling away much of his salary from his job on the wharves.

A lot of other Aboriginal families, they were in the same sort of situation. So we didn't have much, but we had each other and we supported each other, Rod said. It was tough, but we learnt a lot of good values that I still carry with me today. Racism was still rife during his childhood. Rod wasnt allowed into the homes of his non-Indigenous friends. He wasnt invited to sleepovers. Teachers treated him differently. If he was hanging around with a group of mates after dark, only the Aboriginal kids would be interrogated by the police. I didn't understand it. I thought when I was a kid there was something wrong with me because I was a different colour, he said. These experiences motivated him to become a police officer after retiring from professional footy in 2001. I wanted to stop being scared. And I wanted to make sure other Aboriginal kids didn't get picked on just because they were Aboriginal.

He is about to move into the NSW Police Youth and Crime Prevention Command, with the hope of saving disadvantaged Aboriginal kids from choosing the wrong path, like so many of his childhood mates. Rod says he is finally finding his voice on Aboriginal issues  thanks, in part, to his daughters. We love this country and we love our lifestyle, but in recent times I think our society has been more educated because we've had these stronger, young Aboriginal people coming through and giving a more balanced look at what actually happened and why [January 26] is sad for us, he said. I think Marlee and Keely have got so much strength from their grandmothers, their great-grandmothers, their aunties  all these strong Aboriginal women, to have a voice. I couldnt be more proud of them.

Rod remembers the excitement he used to feel on Australia Day when he was younger. He says his view was "very white, if I could use the term". Marlee Silva speaks at an Invasion Day protest in 2019. Now, while he still believes January 26 is a significant day in our history, he doesnt feel comfortable celebrating because so much sadness has come from it. To move forward, he wants to see Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people recognised in the Constitution  Im not a politician, but I think its a worthwhile discussion  and better education around Australian history. When I went to school ... in the curriculum you were taught about Australia Day as the Europeans settled and made our country great, he said.

Marlee Silva at her grandmother's house in Dulwich Hill. Credit:Rhett Wyman There was nothing about the Aboriginal history or the culture or everything that was already there ... I would like to see a more balanced approach to education about our country. This Australia Day, 250 years after the arrival of Captain Cook, the Silva family will return to Yabun Festival to celebrate everything they, and other First Nations people, have overcome. Meanwhile, Australians from all backgrounds will join thousands of protesters at the ever-growing Invasion Day rallies across the country. So is there a path forward to a more inclusive national celebration?
Oil prices extended losses on Thursday as traders continued to worry about an economic slowdown, which could result in weaker demand for energy.

The West Texas Intermediate for March delivery settled $1.15 lower at $55.59 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude for March delivery dropped 1.17 dollars to close at 62.04 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange.

Despite news of supply outages, concerns about demand definitely gained the upper hand, which would exacerbate the oversupply risks, energy analysts at Commerzbank Research said in a note on Thursday.

Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency, reportedly said earlier this week that he expected the market to be oversupplied by as much as 1 million barrels per day in the first half of this year.

Traders also kept a close eye on the disruptions to Libyas crude output.

On January 18, Libyas state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC) declared a state of force majeure in oil ports, accusing the east-based army of closing the ports.

The closure of the ports causes loss of daily crude oil production of 8,00,000 barrels, or a daily equivalent of 55 million dollars, the NOC said in a statement.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Michigan College of Optometry students (from left to right) Kaitlyn Arnold, of Jackson, Michigan; Stephanie Slifka, of Chesterland, Ohio; and Peter Lawrence, of Gibraltar, Michigan, are joined by Professor Josh Lotoczky. The group shows off the Custom Stable Cup, received at the American Academy of Optometry's 2019 gathering in Orlando, Florida. The Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University team won the trophy and two $500 scholarships for their efforts in assessing patients using a scleral contact lens. Michigan College of Optometry students (from left to right) Kaitlyn Arnold, of Jackson, Michigan; Stephanie Slifka, of Chesterland, Ohio; and Peter Lawrence, of Gibraltar, Michigan, are joined by Professor Josh Lotoczky. The group shows off the Custom Stable Cup, received at the American Academy of Optometry's 2019 gathering in Orlando, Florida. The Michigan College of Optometry at Ferris State University team won the trophy and two $500 scholarships for their efforts in assessing patients using a scleral contact lens.

Ferris State University Michigan College of Optometry students literally excelled at the eye test, taking home top honors in the Custom Stable Cup Competition, part of the American Academy of Optometry in Orlando, Florida.

MCO Professor of Optometry Josh Lotoczky is a Fellow of the Academy and explained that 25 schools across the U.S. are eligible to compete in this event, which requires assessments while working with a scleral contact lens.

This is a specialty ridged contact lens that forms a tear reservoir between it and the eye, Lotoczky said. The student then uses a biomicroscope to examine the patient in order to figure out the thickness of the tear reservoir.

After recording their estimate, Lotoczky said verification of the thickness comes about by scanning with a device called an Optical Coherence Tomographer.

This instrument is essentially an ultrasound that uses light instead of sound, Lotoczky said. The measurements are extremely precise. The difference between the student guess and the OCT are then compared, with a schools results comprising the score.

Around 10 students from the MCO in their second, third and fourth years of study took part, and their average error or disparity between the estimate and OCT reading was six microns. The second-through fourth-place schools were from the State University of New York College of Optometry, in New York City (83 microns); Pacific University School of Optometry, in Forest Grove, Oregon (110 microns); and Ohio State University in Columbus (119 microns).

I think it is notable that six microns is six thousandths of a millimeter, Lotoczky said. To have an average error for a group of around 100 microns is impressive, to have six microns like the MCO students is almost unbelievable.

Lotoczky said the MCO has the right to display the Custom Stable Cup trophy until Academy 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee, which is set for Oct. 7-10. Two $500 scholarships awarded to the MCO team went to recipients chosen at random from that group.

Industry sponsors for the Custom Stable Cup include Valley Contax, Optovue, Contamac, TelScreen, and Menicon.
TORONTO - Some of the people found guilty by juries in Ontario in recent months are quickly taking steps to challenge their convictions in light of a new ruling on jury selection by the province's top court.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/1/2020 (718 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TORONTO - Some of the people found guilty by juries in Ontario in recent months are quickly taking steps to challenge their convictions in light of a new ruling on jury selection by the province's top court.

One of two men convicted in a high-profile sexual assault trial in Toronto filed a notice of appeal on Thursday, referencing the Court of Appeal for Ontario ruling released that same day.

Gavin MacMillan is seeking to have his conviction overturned on grounds the trial judge erred in denying him the right to use peremptory challenges during jury selection.

The federal government eliminated the use of peremptory challenges, a mechanism through which lawyers on either side can veto a certain number of prospective jurors without explanation, as part of major legal reforms that took effect on Sept. 19 of last year.

In a unanimous decision issued Thursday, the appeal court said the new rule should not be applied to cases already in the system in which the accused requested a trial by jury before the law came into force.

Legal experts have said the ruling could affect dozens of cases heard by juries in Ontario since the changes took effect.

MacMillan and his co-accused, Enzo DeJesus Carrasco, were found guilty on Nov. 30 of last year of gang sexual assault and administering a drug in connection with the Dec. 14, 2016 incident.

Prosecutors alleged the pair drugged then sexually assaulted a woman for hours at the College Street Bar, a now-shuttered venue that MacMillan owned and where Carrasco worked.

The Crown argued hours of security footage shown at the trial depicted a brutal sexual assault, while the defence argued the video had captured a consensual encounter. The video did not include sound.

A sentencing hearing for MacMillan is scheduled for next Wednesday.

In his notice of appeal, MacMillan also alleges the trial judge erred in dismissing his lawyers' application to introduce evidence related to the complainant's sexual history, and in admitting expert evidence as to whether the complainant consented to the sexual activity at the heart of the case.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Jan. 24, 2020.
The commonwealth of Kentucky provides several veteran benefits. This page explains them.

Kentucky Veteran Housing Benefits

Kentucky has 4 long-term care facilities:

Eastern Kentucky Veterans Center - Hazard

Carl M Brashear Veterans Center - Radcliff

Thompson-Hood Veterans Center - Wilmore

Western Kentucky Veterans Center - Hanson

Veterans must be Kentucky residents with an other-than-dishonorable discharge to be admitted. Costs are based on a veteran's ability to pay.

Kentucky Veteran Financial Benefits

Income Tax

Military income is tax-free.

Military retirement pay up to $31,110 is tax-free. Veterans may be able to exclude more in certain situations.

SBP payments are also tax-free.

Property Tax for Disabled Veterans

Totally disabled veterans are eligible for up to a $40,500 deduction on the assessed value of their home for property tax purposes.

Kentucky Veterans Preference for State Jobs

Veterans with an other-than-dishonorable discharge can get 5 points added to their test score for a state job. Disabled veterans can get 10 points.

Some spouses and surviving spouses may also be eligible.

Kentucky Tuition Waiver Program

A tuition waiver is provided for children, stepchildren, adopted children, spouses, and un-remarried surviving spouses of KY veterans who died on active duty, as a result of service-connected injuries, or is VA rated totally disabled.

An approved tuition waiver means a student may attend any two-year, four-year schools or vocational technical schools that are operated and funded by the Kentucky Department of Education.

Kentucky residency is a requirement for both the veteran and the applicant. A deceased veteran must have been a Kentucky resident at the time of death.

Kentucky Veteran Recreation Benefits

Hunting, Trapping, or Fishing Licenses

Kentucky veterans with 50% of more service connected disability are authorized a discounted license.

Kentucky residents home on leave can fish for free without a license.

Kentucky State Parks

Kentucky resident veterans who are permanently and totally disabled pay no overnight accommodation fees at any state park.

Kentucky Veterans Cemeteries

Kentucky Veterans Cemeteries are located in Hopkinsville, Hyden, Fort Knox, Williamstown, and Greenup County.

Any Kentucky resident veteran or any veteran who was stationed in Kentucky is eligible for burial. There is no fee.

Visit the Kentucky Dept. of Veterans' Affairs website for more information on any of these programs.

Stay on Top of Your Veteran Benefits

Military benefits are always changing. Keep up with everything from pay to health care by subscribing to Military.com, and get access to up-to-date pay charts and more with all latest benefits delivered straight to your inbox.
The Naval Station Great Lakes has apprehended the vehicle and the driver who crashed through a gate on the base on Friday morning.

In a Friday update shared on Facebook, the station said that the driver was being questioned in custody as 'military working dogs' were sweeping the area.

'Several buildings have been evacuated,' the post stated.

A later update indicated that the driver was an employee on the base who had authorized access. The driver had not followed directions of the gate sentry before barging through Gate One.

The base has since lifted the lockdown and things have returned to 'normal operations'.

In a Friday update shared on Facebook, the station said that the driver was being questioned in custody as 'military working dogs' were sweeping the area

The lockdown at the facility located in a North Chicago suburb has been lifted

The base shared that the driver had authorized access to the base

The station, located in a North Chicago suburb, had shared an earlier message on their Facebook telling people to 'hide' or 'fight'.

'All personnel lockdown,' they added in the Friday morning post. 'Take cover in the nearest building or structure. Await further instruction. All gates are closed.

The vehicle went in at 7.09am Friday, Public Affairs spokesman John Sheppard said. He said he could not provide further information.

The station was scheduled to have a graduation ceremony at 9am that has since been delayed by an hour

The station, located in a North Chicago suburb, shared an early Friday morning message on their Facebook telling people to 'hide' or 'fight'

At 9.53am, the Naval Base shared that the lockdown was still underway but 'no one was harmed and no property was damaged.' They called the 'unathorized entry' a 'minor situation.'

The station was scheduled to have a recruit graduation ceremony at 9am that has since been delayed by one hour. It is still scheduled to start at 10am.

A person commenting under the station's Facebook post shared that she had been waiting for the graduation but could see 'suspicious care fires at the gates'.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office shared in a Facebook post that there is 'no known threat outside of the base.'

The base is located on Lake Michigan about 35 miles (56 kilometers) north of Chicago

Also on lock down is the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, according to the medical facility's Facebook

Also on lock down is the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center, according to the medical facility's Facebook.

All, please be aware, our gates are closed,' they said in the post. 'Lovell FHCC is on lockdown, in coordination with Naval Station Great Lakes. Shelter in place and await further instruction.'

The hospital later added: 'Patient care should continue in clinical work places as much as possible, but staff and patients must shelter in place until this is resolved.'

The base is located on Lake Michigan about 35 miles (56 kilometers) north of Chicago.
US-based Afghan author Nemat Sadat on Friday said Indian readers have diverse interests and they read works of authors of various countries with equal attention.

Sadat who debuted with one of the top-grossing titles 'The Carpet Weaver' also praised Indian publishers saying they seem to be more progressive than their counterparts in the US and the UK.

An Indian reader "will read works by Afghan, Pak authors as well as Indian authors in English, with equal interest.... Indians have diverse interests," said Sadat told the audience at Tata Steel Kolkata Literary Meet.

He said his manuscript had been rejected by several publishers in the US and the UK before being taken up and published by and Indian house.

Sadat, the first person from Afghanistan to have publicly come out as gay and campaign for the rights of LGBTQ community in Muslim communities worldwide, said hundreds of millions of LGBT people are suffering in several countries.

"But the (western) world doesn't seem to care and they are only intent on branding me as an LGBT revolutionary," the author said while addressing a discussion on 'Belonging Everywhere, Belonging Nowhere'.

Recalling how he was driven out of his home country Afghanistan, Sadat said, "I have been on exile - for the first time during Communism and again I was kicked out for the second time when it was found I was practising homosexualism."



Sadat, who was declared persona non grata in Afghanistan for being gay, said, "Sometimes being a stranger in a strange land now I realise, I am from the country of rich culture, rich civilisation - Afghanistan."



The author said the situation for homosexuals has improved India as "we can come out of shadows, out of fear, being in open air and talk."Sadat said he is aware of the present situation in India, about the problems of Kashmir and the new citizenship law.

US-based Vietnamese author, Vu Tran, also spoke on the issue of a writer of one country having settled elsewhere.

"I had never an idea where my real home is. Vietnam or US.... Home to me is I guess who you are, that is more important. Who am I and who are my friends - Home signifies all of these for me," Tran said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Northampton County officials are considering spending about a quarter of a million dollars on specially configured iPads to check in voters at the polls beginning with the 2020 primary election.

County Executive Lamont McClure's administration sprang the proposal on the county election commission during its quarterly meeting Thursday. Director of Administration Charles Dertinger was looking for a recommendation on the purchase to bring to county council, calling the timeline tight to get the new ePollbooks ordered and delivered.

Commission Chairwoman Maudeania Hornik, elected by her colleagues to the leadership role at the start of the meeting, pushed back on having to make a decision immediately. She wants to do her own research on the options available, especially after the problems the county had with new touchscreen paper-ballot voting machines in Novembers election.

"We just made a huge purchase and we've got egg on our face," Hornik said during Thursday's meeting at the courthouse and government center in Easton. "I didn't know we were voting tonight. ... i just feel as if I don't want to do this hastily."

The five-member commission delayed its decision until a special meeting set for 4:30 p.m. Jan. 30. Thursday was the group's only regularly scheduled meeting of 2020 prior to the April 28 primary election.

The county needs the ePollbooks to comply with the overhaul of voting regulations approved by Pennsylvania lawmakers and signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf as Act 77, Dertinger argued.

For starters, the county's printing contractor has said it can't meet new deadlines for printing the regular paper books listing residents eligible to vote at each polling place, according to Dertinger. That's because Act 77 pushed back the deadline to register to vote from 30 to 15 days before an election.

Then there is the expansion, under the new law, of voting by mail. Mail-in ballots are available to any registered voter, regardless of reason, and not just to absentees. Plus, a voter used to be able to cancel a mail-in vote at his or her polling place on Election Day. That is no longer allowed.

With ePollbooks, poll workers can see in real-time whether a voter is eligible to vote at that particular polling place. Voters will sign using their finger on the special iPad.

Election commissioners extensively questioned a representative from the county's pick for its ePollbook vendor, Tampa, Florida-based Tenex Software Solutions Inc. They wanted to make sure the iPads aren't vulnerable to illicit access by WiFi or Bluetooth. They are locked down and impenetrable, the Tenex marketer, Lena Santiago, told them.

Tenex makes the ePollbooks that have been in use for six years in Lehigh County, where Chief Clerk for Voter Registration and Elections Tim Benyo recommended Northampton County go with the same vendor. That track record gave election commission member Gail Preuninger some level of confidence.

But Hornik's concern about being rushed won out, particularly following the county's experience last fall with the new Election Systems & Software ExpressVote XL machines purchased by the county for $2.88 million.

ES&S Senior Vice President of Product Development Adam Carbullido and Tobey Dingbaum, a project manager with the Omaha, Nebraska-based company, both attended Thursday's election commission meeting to update officials on their efforts since Election Day.

The company has re-calibrated the touchscreens on all 320 of Northampton County's new machines, they said. ES&S is also going to pay for what is called a risk-limiting audit of the November election results, to be done with input from local party leaders.

"We just want to give you guys more assurance," Dingbaum told the commission.

The plan is to have that audit done within a month or two. It will involve random sampling of ballots and statistical analysis and is in addition to a manual hand count that's already been done.

A random sampling of the machines showed around 30% of the machines were improperly configured ahead of the Nov. 5, 2019, election, ES&S has said. That led to hypersensitivity problems in registering some voter choices. In addition, problems with the ballot layout -- also blamed on the manufacturer -- led to problems electronically tabulating votes on election night.

A federal lawsuit seeking to bar Northampton County and others from using the ExpressVote XL is on hold following a judges ruling.

Without the ePollbooks there will be no chance at getting election results the night of the 2020 primary, Dertinger said, because of the need to cross-check mail-in ballots. Other governments, after expanding voting by mail from absentees to anyone, have seen the number of mail-in votes double, he said.

"I hate to say we're there," Dertinger said of the deadline to order the ePollbooks, "but we're pretty close to there."

Tenexs contract would be for about $230,000 to $240,000 plus annual licensing and support costs of $30,000 to $40,000, according to the election commission. McClures administration looked at three vendors before bringing the Tenex pitch before the commission based on its price being significantly cheaper, according to Dertinger, in addition to the positive experience Lehigh County has had.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos testifies during a Senate Committee discussing proposed budget estimates and justification for FY2020 for the Education Department in Washington on March 28, 2019. (Zach Gibson/Getty Images)

Teachers Union Sues Secretary DeVos for Repealing Gainful Employment Rule

The Department of Education and Secretary Betsy DeVos were hit with a lawsuit on Wednesday from the National Student Legal Defense Network (Student Defense) over the repeal of an Obama administration regulation that they say protects students at for-profit schools and career college programs.

Student Defense filed the lawsuit on behalf of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), in which they argue the repeal of the gainful employment rule puts students at the mercy of for-profit schools with a documented history of leaving borrowers with worthless degrees and tens of thousands of dollars of debt they cannot repay.

According to the Institute for College Access and Success (pdf), the 2015 rule required any program where typical graduates debts exceed both 8 percent of their total income and 20 percent of discretionary income to improve or lose access to federal financial aid.

Those in favor of the rule say it protects borrowers from unaffordable loans.

The Department of Education repealed the law in 2019, after previously pausing regulations that imposed requirements on for-profit higher education institutions.

In a 2019 press release DeVos wrote, the Department has determined that the GE regulations rely on a debt-to-earnings (D/E) rates formula that is fundamentally flawed and inconsistent with the requirements of currently available student loan repayment programs.

Student Defense filed the legal action against the education department in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. AFT and Student Defense are calling for a reverse of DeVoss decision and reinstatement of the regulations for for-profit colleges.

Randi Weingarten, the President of AFT, criticized DeVos for siding with profiteers, not borrowers.

Rather than simply sticking with a rule that protects students, she writes a new one on behalf of her for-profit college friendsand cant even get the details right, she said in a Wednesday statement. This error-ridden repeal would be comical if the stakes werent so high, but for borrowers confronting a lifetime of debt and worthless degrees, their lives are literally on the line.

In a June 2017 statement prior to the repeal, DeVos said Since their creation under the previous administration, Gainful Employment regulations have been repeatedly challenged by educational institutions and overturned by the courts, underscoring the need for a regulatory reset.

The current rules would unfairly and arbitrarily limit students ability to pursue certain types of higher education and career training programs. We need to expand, not limit, paths to higher education for students, while also continuing to hold accountable those institutions that do not serve students well.

The lawsuit alleges that the department did not follow the law in repealing the Obama-era rule by misinterpreting the evidence that supported the gainful employment rule.

Department of Education press secretary Angela Morabito said in a statement to The Epoch Times that the Department will vigorously defend its final regulation rescinding this deeply flawed rule.
The largest power company in Missouri is in a dispute with state regulators over what, and how, to charge customers for electricity  with tens of millions of dollars per year at stake.

Both St. Louis-based Ameren Corp. and the staff of the states Public Service Commission agree that the utilitys costs have dropped recently, and that Ameren should trim rates.

But while Ameren proposes an overall revenue decrease of $774,000 per year, the monopolys regulators recommend a reduction of $65.1 million  84 times more.

Ameren's proposal would likely just shave pennies per month off a typical bill, according to the company.

But the state's recommendation, if divided evenly across the company's 1.2 million electric customers, would lower bills by an average of $50 per year.

At the same time, Ameren is pushing to raise its fixed customer charge from $9 to $11 per month  which could cancel the rate cut, and even leave some residents paying more.

Such a move would hurt low-income customers the most, critics say, and broadly diminish incentive to conserve energy.
A British woman has admitted to killing her toddler in Finland's second largest city, police say.

Officers were called to a two-bed apartment in Espoo, 11 miles west of Helsinki, on Sunday where the child was found dead following 'a domestic crime in a private home', Finnish Police said.

The child's mother admitted to killing the toddler, who was believed to be a two-year-old boy, and was arrested, the police statement added.

A British woman has admitted to killing her toddler in Espoo, Finland's second largest city (File image of Espoo)

The woman, who is believed to be 35 years old, appeared in Western Uusimaa District Court on Wednesday, with local media reporting she was in a wheelchair.

The Foreign Office confirmed the woman was a Canadian-British dual national.

'We are in contact with the Finnish authorities following the death of a Canadian-British child in Finland,' it said.

'Our staff are providing consular support and are in contact with the Canadian government.'

Local media reported the family had returned to Finland last January and had also lived in Canada, the UK and China.

Police said they were treating the matter as a murder but provided no further information.

'Due to legislation restricting the publicity of pre-trial material, we will not be able to provide more detailed information at this stage and hardly any later,' said crime commissioner Ilmari Hallamaa.

The matter will next be in court on April 17.
The Ministry of Health is preparing for all possibilities of discovering a case of coronavirus in Luxembourg, although the risk is limited.

While 18 deaths have been attributed to the new coronavirus currently raging across eastern Asia (China, Taiwan, Thailand), the Luxembourg Ministry of Health has estimated that the risk is "low" in Luxembourg.

The Ministry said there werecurrently no direct links between Luxembourg and the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the virus was discovered. The city of eleven million inhabitants has been in quarantine, while several airports in Asia, the Pacific Rim as well as in the United Kingdom, Nigeria and Italy, have implemented body temperature controls. The affected airports have direct air links to the Wuhan region.

Photo prise a partir d'une video et transmise le 23 janvier 2020 par l'aeroport de Fiumicino a Rome montrant des passagers scannes a leur arrivee en provenance de Wuhan, en Chine. /  AFP

Given the situation, Luxembourg authorities recommend avoiding any unnecessary journeys to the affected region, particularly for those affected with respiratory illnesses. Travellers to the are should avoid contact with people displaying symptoms of fever or coughs.

In the event that a traveller returns to Luxembourg and develops symptoms of coronavirus (fever, cough, breathing difficulties), the Ministry encourages the wearing of a mask, avoiding contact with other people, and above all to stay at home to avoid spreading the virus.

The case would then be treated not by the doctor or the emergency services but by the Health Inspectorate (+352 247- 85650) and the Health Department. The National Service for Infectious Diseases at the CHL is also equipped with rooms for isolating patients. The Ministry specified that the National Health Laboratory (LNS) is currently developing its capacity to carry out tests to identify the 2019-nCoV. At the same time, it has an agreement with the University Hospital of Charity in Berlin which can test samples on its behalf.
Key indices were trading lower on weak Asian cues. At 9:19 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was down 70.98 points or 0.17% at 41,315.42. The Nifty 50 index was down 17.75 points or 0.15% at 12,162.60.

The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index was down 0.10%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index was up 0.02%.

The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was positive. On the BSE, 503 shares rose and 307 shares fell. A total of 58 shares were unchanged.

Q3 earnings impact:

Among stocks, HDFC Life Insurance Company fell 1.5%. HDFC Life Insurance Company reported 1.88% rise in net profit to Rs 250.24 crore on 25.21% rise in total income to Rs 11,761.74 crore in Q3 December 2019 over Q3 December 2018. Total number of lives insured grew by 29% to 4.5 crore during nine months. The company maintained its leadership position within the group segment, growing 25%, resulting in a private market share of 28.6%.

Biocon fell 3.35%. Biocon reported 6.63% fall in consolidated net profit to Rs 202.80 crore on 12.57% rise in total income to Rs 1,783.90 crore in Q3 December 2019 over Q3 December 2018. Sales growth was led by Biologics, Small Molecules and Research Services businesses. Biocon initiated value unlocking of biosimilars business with the dilution of a minority stake to True North. The company plans to raise further capital at an opportune time in the near future.

UltraTech Cement fell 0.15%. Cement major, UltraTech Cement, will announce quarterly results today, 24 January 2020.

Stocks in news:

Info Edge (India) rose 1.15%. Info Edge (India) informed that the company has set up an alternative investment fund named Info Edge Venture Fund (IEVF), to invest in tech and tech-enabled entities that provide technology to create, market and distribute innovative products and services that benefit consumers at large. Further, the company has entered into a contribution agreement to invest about Rs l00 crore in IE Venture Fund I, a scheme of aforesaid IEVF.

Indian Oil Corporation advanced 0.88%. Indian Oil Corporation said the company has entered into MoU with National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Ghana. The objective of the MoU is to understand their current LPG Value Chain, as well as the new LPG distribution model and discuss areas of technical support to Ghana for smooth implementation of the new Distribution Model.

KEI Industries gained 2.59%. KEI Industries informed that the Fund Raising Committee has passed resolutions in connection with raising of funds by way of issue of equity shares, through a QIP. The committee approved the floor price for the QIP at Rs 518.14 per equity share.

Coffee Day Enterprises was up 4.97%. Coffee Day Enterprises informed that the company entered into the Definitive Agreement to sell Way2Wealth Securities including its certain subsidiaries to Shriram Ownership Trust. Shriram Ownership Trust is the Promoter of Shriram Capital which is the holding company for their large NBFC and Insurance Businesses.

Muthoot Finance rose 0.13%. Muthoot Finance said meeting of board of directors will be held on 14 February, 2020 to consider and approve fund raising by way of public issue of redeemable non convertible debentures (NCD).

Global Markets:

Most Asian stocks were trading lower on Friday as worries over rapid spread of the deadly coronavirus virus kept investors on guard.

In US, stocks ended mixed on Thursday, recovering from early losses, as investors digested earnings reports and took heart from a World Health Organization decision to refrain from declaring China's coronavirus outbreak a global emergency.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Narita Airport east of Tokyo is crowded with tourists from China as the Lunar New Year holiday period gets underway.

Direct flights arrived from China one after another on Friday except from Wuhan, where outbound flights were grounded due to the spread of a new coronavirus almost across China.

Many visitors in the airport's arrival lobby were wearing masks.

A 25-year-old woman from Shanghai who plans to visit Mount Fuji and Kamakura said she reserved her trip before the first reports of the viral pneumonia. She added that due to cases of infection in Shanghai, she avoided public transportation and wore a mask.

A 36-year-old man who arrived from Nanjing with his parents said they plan to spend six days in Tokyo and the Kusatsu hot spring resort.

He said he's reassured by the Chinese government's infection control measures, but will wear a mask at public places in Japan.

A Japanese woman who returned from a business trip to Shanghai said the outbreak makes her nervous as it reminds her of the SARS epidemic.

She said her company's subsidiary that she visited in Shanghai took measures such as disinfecting desks and floors, wearing masks and frequent hand washing. She said employees were also told to avoid travel during the holidays.
Two people, who returned from China in recent days, are under special observation in Kerala after they developed flue and fever, state health officials said. They said at least 73 people, mostly students pursuing studies in China, are under observation in their houses for the possible exposure to the deadly coronavirus that has claimed 26 lives so far.

There is no need for any panic. We have examined many who returned from China in the last few days. Two of them have been admitted to medical colleges after they complained of flu and fever. It was only a precaution, said State health minister KK Shailaja. The minister said they were not quarantined but under strict observation as per the medical protocol. One is admitted to Thiruvananthapuram medical college and the other in Kochi.

The health department has asked those who are under observation in their houses to remain stay put at least 28 days in their houses and avoid further travel and interaction with others. Health officials will be interacting with them regularly to gauge their health parameters.

As over 20,000 passengers returning from mainland China and Hong Kong underwent thermal screenings at the seven international airports of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Cochin, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS) in Delhi has set up an isolation ward and kept beds ready for providing treatment to any suspected case of the respiratory infection, reported PTI.

The coronavirus is a large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from the common cold to acute respiratory syndromes, but the virus in China is a novel strain and not seen before. It has caused alarm because of its similarity to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome).
MORRICE, MI  A Flint area credit union has published a notice of foreclose for the Bennington Township home of Mark D. Latunski, the man accused of carrying out a gruesome killing and mutilation there.

And while it might sell for a discount at an auction scheduled for next month, there will be bidders for the house despite its dark recent history, at least one real estate agent says.

Theres a buyer for every property. It will 100 percent sell," said Scott Myers, a realtor based in Genesee County. To an investor, they just care about getting a good deal."

Security Federal Credit Union published the foreclosure notice Thursday, Jan. 23, in The Argus Press of Owosso, the newspaper reported, setting the stage for a possible sale of 703 Tyrrell Road at a public auction on Feb. 26 in Shiawassee County Circuit Court.

A Security Federal spokeswoman declined to comment on the foreclosure notice or what price the credit union will accept for the property, which was assessed with a market value of nearly $93,000, property records show.

Latunski, 50, was charged with open murder and mutilation of a body for allegedly killing Kevin Bacon on Christmas Eve or early Christmas Day. Police say Bacon was stabbed in the back, his body hung from his ankles in the basement of the house. Officials have also accused Latunski of cutting the throat of his victim, cutting pieces off his body and cannibalism.

Property records show the Latunski family owns nearly 100 acres in the immediate area, primarily consisting of farm fields near the home off West Tyrrell Road in Bennington Township --roughly three miles north of Morrice.

The home is situated on a 5-acre parcel.

Bacon, a 25-year-old hair stylist from Swartz Creek, went missing on the evening of Dec. 24, according to Michelle Myers, his close friend and roommate.

Myers has told MLive-The Flint Journal that she was the last person to see Bacon that night and that he told her he was meeting up with a man hed met on Grindr, a dating app.

On Jan. 8, Latunskis attorney submitted an insanity defense and a judge granted a request to test Latunski for mental competency. The accused will be moved from the Shiawassee County Jail to the Center for Forensic Psychiatry near Saline for the evaluations -- a process that may take from 60-90 days.

911 calls requested by The Journal and released Jan. 23 show police have been called to the area for reports of trouble in the home previously.

Two men ran frantic and terrified from the basement of the home on separate occasions just months before Bacon was killed.

Property records show that Latunski purchased the home for $80,000 in May 2001 and applied for a permit to build an 8-by-20-feet living space in the basement later that same year.

Because of the widespread interest in the case, its unlikely a buyer would not know what happened in the home, but Myers said Michigan law doesnt require that disclosure.

Ive had people who wouldnt buy a house because someone died in it, he said. Not everyone is going to want to buy a house (like that) but someone is going to.
IN THE week that an addiction counsellor said teens going to debs are budgeting for cocaine, Cllr James Collins said drug dealers are targeting secondary school pupils.

Mike Guerin, of Cuan Mhuire in Bruree, said getting a bag of coke is up there with organising the suit, dress or corsage on debs night.

Ive been told this by five or six concerned parents and older siblings in rehab. Cocaine has become as much a part of the debs ritual as the dress, the suit, all the other trappings. Its a very, very concerning trend, Mr Guerin told the Irish Examiner and Joe Nash on Live 95s Limerick Today show.

Spraying WD40 on cisterns or removing toilet seats no longer prevents cocaine use in pub or nightclub toilets as now you can snort it off large smartphones.

Fianna Fail Limerick City election candidate James Collins says cocaine use is on the rise in Limerick schools while drug treatment centres have more than 200 awaiting treatment. He promises to invest in more drug counsellors for the Mid-West.

I met drug treatment counsellors this week who told me shocking stories of drug dealers targeting secondary school students now in the same way as they would traditionally have targeted third level students. We have only a handful of drug treatment counsellors operating in the Mid-West with a backlog of more than 200 young men waiting to access services such as the Cuan Mhuire addiction treatment centre in County Limerick, said Cllr Collins, who confirmed with gardai reports of a surge in cocaine addiction among teenagers with drugs gangs now deliberately targeting teenage girls and boys in secondary schools.

Addictions counsellor Mike Guerin

Many of whom see the drug as recreational and somehow less harmful to them than alcohol on a night out. We have to get the message out there that cocaine is highly dangerous, and the furthest thing from a recreational drug. We have seen young men die in Limerick and in Cork after taking cocaine laced with dangerous chemicals, said Cllr Collins.

He continued: We have successfully tackled the drug gangs in Limerick in the recent past, but we need to step up our response to this issue because addiction is not only ruining individual lives, its fuelling the increased number of burglaries we are witnessing in Limerick.

Fianna Fail will add 2,000 extra gardai nationwide, at a cost of 47m per annum. Limerick, as Irelands third city, will get a proportional share of these so we can get community garda numbers back up, and extend community CCTV schemes across the county.

However, policing is only one approach, he says.

Cllr James Collins

We need to increase the number of drug addiction counsellors, and the number of detox beds in the city. The detox beds in Limerick are approximately 40-times oversubscribed, such is the prevalence of drug addiction.

And we also need an educational campaign in our secondary schools to reinforce the message that cocaine and ecstasy are highly dangerous, potentially fatal, substances.

Approximately 242 million was spent on drug addiction services nationwide last year.

We need to reassess how we spend this money - we need to invest more in hiring drug counsellors, and in educating secondary school students about the real dangers involved, concluded Cllr Collins.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited some of the hardest-hit areas on Thursday, flying over in a helicopter and meeting with rescue and emergency teams on the ground. He said he would approve state funds for the five regions most affected by the storm.
A bald eagle found injured on a Grimes County highway this week had to be euthanized Friday due to its injuries.

The eagle was found by Preston Goode, a Grimes County sheriffs deputy, early Thursday. He said he noticed vehicles swerving to avoid hitting something near the intersection of Texas 30 and Texas 90 in Roans Prairie.

As I got a little closer to it, I said to myself, Wait a minute  thats an eagle, Goode said.

The deputy expected the animal to be dead and planned to move it out of the path of oncoming traffic, but as he got closer, the bird lifted its head and looked at him.

Goode put out calls to various wildlife rescue agencies, and a state trooper eventually joined arrived to help. Following the advice of a Texas Parks & Wildlife Department official, the two wrapped the bird in a jacket and moved it into the grass, where it was able to turn over and sit upright.
Know a fixture on the Music Calendar of Kilkenny, the annual Kilkenny Uileann Pipers Club concert will be held in The Clubhouse Hotel, Kilkenny, on Saturday at 9pm.

A star-studded cast made up of some of the countrys finest exponents of traditional music as well as some of Kilkennys finest will participate.

Harry Bradley has toured Europe and America both as a solo performer and teacher, and as a member of groups such as Dervish and Cran.

His debut solo CD, Bad Turns and Horse-shoe Bends, was released to broad critical acclaim and was chosen as the number one traditional album of 2000 by Earle Hitchner of New Yorks Irish Echo.

Bradley is also a dedicated uilleann piper and has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Na Piobairi Uilleann. He was elected TG4 Musician of the Year in 2014.

Nell Ni Chroinin is originally from An Choill Mhor, in the Irish-speaking town of Beal Atha an Ghaorthaidh.

In 2014, Nell won Corn Ui Riada and was both the youngest person ever to win it and the first person from Sean O Riada's home place of Muscrai to win it.

Nell was also awarded the Prestigeous TG4 Gradam Ceoil award for singing in 2012. Nell Ni Chroinin joined the band Danu in 2016.

Rattle The Boards consists of leading box player from Irelands foremost traditional band, Danu, Benny McCatrhy.

Benny has been a driving force behind this bands award winning CDs for over two decades now and has toured all over the world. One of the liveliest traditional acts in Ireland's music scene, Rattle The Boards, is another of Bennys ventures.

They consist of, Benny McCarthy (Button Accordion), Pat Ryan (Fiddle and Banjo), and John Nugent (Guitar). Their two albums from 1998 and 2008 are highly regarded in trad music circles and this trio have toured Ireland America and Australia with their music.

Their Late Late Show performance featured local artist Des Dillon who may also make an appearance on the night.

With Kilkenny having musicians to rival any in the country, this night would not be the same if it were not for the input of our local musicians.

An exciting young Kilkenny traditional band Gaeltacht Cill Chainnigh will start proceedings.

The group is made up of Martin Coughlan (accordion), Tommy Lanigan (boudhran and vocals), Mick Foley (pipes) and honorary Kilkenny man for the night, Brian Mooney on Bazouki and banjo.

Round up the line-up for what should be a really special nights music, in The Clubhouse Hotel Kilkenny, on Saturday January 25 at 9.00.

Tickets 15, available at The Clubhouse Hotel, all proceeds go to Kilkenny Uilleann Pipers Club.






The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has rejected Transparency Internationals (TI) report which ranked Nigeria low on how ...





The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has rejected Transparency Internationals (TI) report which ranked Nigeria low on how corruption is perceived in the country.The anti-graft agency described the report as appalling while accusing the organisation of having a hidden agenda against Nigeria.In its 2019 corruption perception index published on Thursday, TI ranked Nigeria 146 of 180 countries studied, two points lower than the 148 the country was rated in 2018.But in a statement from Tony Orilade, its spokesman, the EFCC said the report is baseless, adding that TI has been consistent in its biased rating of Nigeria.We insist that the rating is a far cry from the evident strides and achievements so far accomplished by the anti-graft agency in the fight against corruption, particularly under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, the statement read.The claim is evidently not supported by any empirical data, especially when placed side-by-side with the remarkable achievements of the Commission in the past years, EFCC said.Moreover, it is quite ironic that the report by TI posits that the index does not show real incidences of corruption, yet it claims that the report is a reliable indication of the perception of the Nigerian public and the international community about the state of corruption in the country.The EFCC said 2019 was particularly a remarkable one for it as the commission secured unprecedented record of 1,268 convictions, including that of a former state governor and a serving senator who was convicted for defrauding his state to the tune of N7.65 billion.Over the past years, billions of naira, millions of dollars and other foreign currencies were recovered from corrupt persons in the country, including securing the forfeiture of assets of their illegal and fraudulent activities, the EFCC added.It said it has altered the narrative that there are some persons that are untouchables in the country, adding that it remains committed in the anti-graft war.
Yahoo is committed to finding you the best products at the best prices. We may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Prices were correct at the time of publication.

There is nothing worse than that panicked feeling; when your stomach drops, followed by a breakout of cold sweat, when you cant find your phone, keys, glasses or TV remote.

Now there is a solution - the Tile Sticker.

American electronic brand, Tile, has created a bluetooth tracker, which will mean you will never be late to work, or an event, because youve spent hours trying to find the misplaced item.

Buy it: Tile Sticker Item Finder | 34.99 from Amazon

The Tile Sticker, which is available on Amazon in packs of two or four, is a small finder that can be attached to any item to keep track of its whereabouts.

The sticker can be paired to any smart home device, whether that is your phone, iPad, Google Home or Amazon Echo Dot, to help you track your personal possessions.

Simply attach the slimline waterproof tab, using the adhesive back, to the items, and download The Tile app.

Then, when you have lost your item you use the app to locate the object.

The app allows you to ring the sticker, which also works when your phone is on silent, and see where the object was last used and when on the map.

However, the item will only be picked up on the Tile app within 150 feet.

But there is no need to panic if your smartphone, remote or wallet is out of reach and cant be picked up on the radar, as the app allows you to connect with other Tile users to help you locate your missing possession.

Plus, the battery life lasts for over three years, so you will never be without your items again.

Customers cant get enough of the item, as it has received over 70% worth of five star reviews, with some branding the gadget a life saver.

One review read: This is such a cool idea. I am forever misplacing my stuff. This sticker fits in my wallet. The setup is really easy and the app is intuitive.

Story continues

Another praised the size of the design, and wrote: What I am most impressed by is how small these things are! as you can see in the picture next to pair of regular sunglasses, they are tiny.

Tile have a vast array of other trackers, which have louder rings and come in different sizes.

Shop more Tile devices this year

Tile Pro Item Finder | 29.99 from Amazon

Tile Mate | 19.95 from Amazon

Tile Slim | 24.99 from Tile

Tile Combo | 69.99 from Tile

Watch the latest videos from Yahoo Style UK:
The much-awaited expansion of the Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Sorens cabinet on Friday has been postponed.

Hours after requesting Governor Draupadi Murmu to conduct swearing-in of his cabinet colleagues on Friday, chief minister Hemant Soren on Thursday evening met the former for the second time in a day and urged her to postpone the event.

Soren met the Governor on Thursday morning before leaving for Burugulikera village in Chibasa to meet the family of seven tribals killed by fellow villagers. After his return to Ranchi, he again went to see the Governor.

Speaking to reporters after meeting, Soren said, On Thursday morning I had requested her to conduct the swearing-in ceremony. It was fixed for 1pm on Friday. But after returning from Chaibasa, I shared the details of the incident. I also told the Governor that holding an event for cabinet expansion would not be appropriate soon after this incident and hence postpone it for a later date.

The chief minister did not specify what would be next date for the cabinet expansion. However, sources said it could be done on January 28.

The coalition government led by Soren has come under fire from the opposition over delay in cabinet expansion and distribution of portfolios.

Soren took oath as CM on December 29 along with three ministers  two from Congress and one from RJD. He, however, did not distribute portfolio to any of them, except for Congress Legislature Party leader Alamgir Alam, who was chosen as the parliamentary affairs minister. It was done in view of the inaugural assembly session for oath of legislators.

At present, the size of the council of ministers in the Soren government is four. Eight more ministers could thus be accommodated, as per constitutional provision which prescribes that the total number of ministers, including the CM, in the council of ministers shall not exceed 15% of the total number of assembly members. Jharkhand assembly has 81 elected members.

Rameshwar Oraon, minister and Congress state president, said the state unit still is to be informed about who are the ministerial candidates from Congress. The AICC will pick up the candidates and inform us, Oraon said, adding, he was yet to receivetl the official information about the oath-taking ceremony.

Sources said the JMM and the Congress leadership are still to finalise the number of berths they would share. Besides its two legislators having sworn in as ministers along with CM, the Congress wants three more berths. But the chief minister is keen on giving only two more. Soren has proposed a formula of one berth for every four party legislators. JMM has 30 legislators while Congress has 16.

The opposition BJP has been targeting the government for having failed to expand cabinet even after month of government formation.

Some of the developments in the state----murder of seven tribals by alleged Pathalgadi supporters and two incidents of communal flare up in Giridih and Lohardaga towns over CAA----in the past few days have only given fresh ammunition to the BJP.

Chiabasa incident is just an excuse. The fact is that the chief minister is under extreme pressure from the Congress. We can already see this government going the Madhu Koda way. CM has spent around 15 days in past one month making rounds of Delhi durbar, said Jharkhand BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo.

The BJP leader said lack of governance has started showing its impact.

The Chaibasa killings is a national shame. Lohardaga is under curfew. There is no government, and hence there is no accountability, he added.
Coronavirus Outbreak Jan. 24: Australia and Malaysia Announce New Cases

Jan. 24 updates. Click here for Jan. 25 updates.

8:15 a.m. UTC3 New Cases Confirmed in Australia

The health authorities of Australias most populous state of New South Wales confirmed that three menaged 53, 43 and 35are in isolation and under care in Westmead Hospital in Sydney, according to local reports.

According to Fairfax, all three recently arrived from Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak. Four other people may also have the coronavirus, health officials said. Two of the three men arrived in Australia on Jan. 6 and Jan. 9. The date when the third man arrived is not yet confirmed.

Id like to thank each of these three people because they have been exemplary in the way that they presented themselves, to have a medical test, and to have the necessary pathology in due course, when it was appropriate from the medical practitioners point of view, NSW Minister for Health Brad Hazard said, reported Fairfax.

The latest announcement means that Australias total number of confirmed coronavirus cases has risen to four.

3:45 a.m. UTCMalaysia Confirms First 3 Cases of Coronavirus

Malaysia said three people tested positive on Saturday, Jan. 25, for the coronavirusthe first cases confirmed in the country.

Malaysian Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said that the three who were diagnosed with the virus were Chinese nationals, Reuters reported. They are relatives of a 66-year-old man and his son from Wuhan who were earlier diagnosed with the virus in neighboring Singapore.

Dzulkefly said that the three people are a 65-year-old womanthe wife of the man diagnosed with the virus in Singapore and their two grandsons, aged 11 and 2. They were admitted to Sungai Buloh hospital in Kuala Lumpur for treatment and are in stable condition, the health minister told reporters at a news conference.

Malaysia Airports said in a separate statement that it has increased the screening of passengers and crew arriving from China at gateway airports across the country.

Chinese health workers wait to check the temperature of travellers entering a subway station in Beijing, China on Jan. 25, 2020. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

2:00 a.m. UTCDoctor in Wuhan City Dies from Coronavirus: State Media

A doctor in a hospital in Wuhan city has died from the coronavirus, China Global Television Network reported on Twitter.

Liang Wudong, a doctor at Hubei Xinhua Hospital who had been at the front line of the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan city, dies from the virus at age 62, the tweet said.

1:15 a.m. UTCFirst Case of Coronavirus Confirmed in Australia

The first case of coronavirus has been confirmed in Australia, the Health Minister of Victoria, Jenny Mikakos, announced Saturday afternoon local Australia time.

A Chinese national has been isolated in a hospital in Melbourne, Victoria. The man, who is in his 50s and had spent two weeks in Wuhan, arrived in Melbourne on Jan. 19. He showed no symptoms on the flight to Melbourne, Mikakos said.

The Victorian health minister said the risk of transmission is low, but state and federal officials would be stationed at Melbourne airport, and a hotline will be set up for people seeking information about the virus.

It is important to stress that there is no cause for alarm to the community. The patient is isolated and is undergoing treatment and we do not have any further suspected cases at this stage, Mikakos told reporters.

Later in the afternoon, NSW Health told reporters that there are two new probable infections and said that an additional four people in the state were undergoing testing.

12:20 a.m. Five Undergo Tests in Australias New South Wales

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that the health authority of Australias most populous state, New South Wales, confirmed that five people are being tested for coronavirus, while two other people have been discharged after returning negative test results on Friday.

A child was rushed into quarantine at Sydney International airport Friday night after arriving on an incoming flight and with flu-like symptoms. That child has been assessed and released, Sydney Childrens Hospital in Randwick told the ABC.

No cases of the Novel Coronavirus have been confirmed in NSW as yet.

A medical worker attends to a patient in the intensive care unit at Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University in Wuhan in central Chinas Hubei Province. on Jan. 24, 2020. (Zong Qi/Xinhua via AP)

11:20 p.m. UTCChina Expands Quarantine as France Confirms Third Case

China expanded its lockdown against the deadly new virus to an unprecedented 36 million people as transportation was shut down in at least 13 cities.

At least eight public hospitals in Wuhan are calling for donations of masks, goggles, gowns, and other protective medical gear, according to reports.

Meanwhile, France has announced a third case of the coronavirus, with authorities saying that all three affected by the virus had traveled to China. Two of the three belonged to the same family. The cases mark the first three registered in Europe.

Health Minister Agnes Buzyn said that the likely reason that France reported the first European cases is that it quickly developed a test to rapidly diagnose those with the Novel virus, according to The Associated Press. Buzyn added that she expects more cases and that the virus must be battled like a wildfire.

9:45 p.m. UTCMinnesota Isolates Patients

Two patients in the U.S. state of Minnesota were isolated at home as health officials waited results of tests for the coronavirus.

Both patients traveled to Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the disease.

These individuals have not been ill enough to require hospitalization. Theyve had mild illness, state Department of Health Infectious Disease Director Kris Ehresmann told reporters at a press conference.

Minnesota is one of 22 states that have possible cases. The others that have been identified are New Jersey, Texas, and California.

Out of 63 patients tested for the virus, 11 have tested negative, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials said earlier Friday. The two positive tests were from a patient in Chicago and a patient in Washington state.

People line up outside a drugstore to buy masks in Shanghai, China on Jan. 24, 2020. (Aly Song/Reuters)

8 p.m. UTCFrance Confirms 2 Cases

French officials said two patients tested positive for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, marking the first confirmed cases in Europe.

The virus originated in Wuhan, China and has now spread to at least eight countries.

We have two cases, French Health Minister Agnes Buzyn told reporters in Paris, the Associated Press reported. We will probably have other cases.

Both patients recently traveled to China.

Tourists wear face masks as they visit Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Jan. 24, 2020, as France confirmed two coronavirus cases, the first in Europe. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

6:50 p.m. UTC4 People in New York State Isolated

Four people in New York state were under isolation on Jan. 24 as officials tested for the Wuhan coronavirus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.

Tests for three of the patients are pending while one case already tested negative.

Cuomos office said the risk for New York is currently low.

As we learn about the first confirmed cases of this novel coronavirus in the United States and potentially in New York, I want to assure New Yorkers that we are prepared, the governor said in a statement.

Read more here.

An electrician sets up wiring while workers drive excavators at the construction site of a new hospital designed to cope with the surge of 2019 Novel Coronavirus patients, in Wuhan, China on Jan. 24, 2020. (Getty Images)

6 p.m. UTCVirus Patients in China Show New Symptoms: Report

Patients in the Chinese city of Wuhan have been diagnosed with the new coronavirus after exhibiting non-respiratory-related symptomssuch as diarrhea, chest pains, and headaches according to Jan. 24 report by Chinese researchers reported by local media.

Thus far, official guidance on the symptoms of the Wuhan virus has been limited to fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as coughing, difficulty breathing, or shortness of breath.

However, according to local media, a report by doctors and experts from Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University on Friday noted the appearance of initial symptoms not related to the respiratory system.

It said that many patients who contracted the virus did not have a fever. Therefore simply taking the temperatures of passengers at transport hubs is not enough to screen for the virus.

According to the report, a patient may only present symptoms relating to the digestive system, such as diarrhea, vomiting, or having no appetite; or the nervous system, such as headaches; or the cardiovascular system, such as heart palpitations or tightness in the chest.

Other initial symptoms include conjunctivitis, mild pain in the limbs, or lower back pain.

Read more here.

Staff members check body temperatures of passengers arriving from the train from Wuhan to Hangzhou, at Hangzhou Railway Station ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year in Zhejiang province, China Jan. 23, 2020. (China Daily/via Reuters)

5:30 p.m. UTCNew Cases Detected in Nepal, Thailand, and Hong Kong

A Nepali man tested positive to the Wuhan coronavirus after traveling to the city.

Meanwhile, the total number of cases in Thailand has reached five.

Hemanta Chandra Ojha, an official at Nepals Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, said the patient is a 31-year-old student who has been studying for his doctoral degree in Wuhan, the local daily newspaper The Kathmandu Post reported. He has returned since earlier this month. A laboratory in Hong Kong has confirmed his illness after testing specimens from throat swabs and his blood samples.

The man was admitted to the hospital on Jan. 13 and discharged on Jan. 17 once his health improved. Ojha said they are in the process of finding this man and his family, but so far had no idea where they had gone.

Thailand confirmed its fifth case of the viral pneumonia in Bangkok on Friday. The patient is a 33-year-old Chinese tourist from Wuhan, who flew to Bangkok on Tuesday with her 7-year-old daughter, according to the Bangkok Post.

The woman later went to a private health provider, complaining of fever, coughing, and muscle pains. She is currently under isolation, and authorities said they had found no signs of further infection.

In Hong Kong, health authorities identified two new patients, both aged 62, whose preliminary test results suggested viral infection, although they said further tests are necessary to confirm it.

The patients have recently traveled to Wuhan.

Thai Airways and Thai Air Asia, as well as Malaysias Malindo Air are suspending flights to Wuhan amid the viral outbreak.

A Chinese police officer wears a protective mask as passengers, many wearing masks also, arrive to board trains at a Beijing railway station in Beijing, China on Jan. 23, 2020. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

4 p.m. UTCCase Confirmed in Chicago

The second case of coronavirus in the United States was confirmed through testing, health officials said on Jan. 24.

The Chicago resident, a woman in her 60s, returned from Wuhan, China, on Jan. 13 but did not show symptoms while traveling, health officials told reporters in a phone call.

When she developed symptoms, the woman contacted her doctor, who asked about her travel history and sent her to a hospital, where she was placed in isolation. The hospitals name was not disclosed.

The first confirmed patient in the United States was in Washington state.

Read more here.

Employees in scrubs talk next to the ambulance entrance at Providence Regional Medical Center after the CDC said a traveler from China was been the first person in the United States to be diagnosed with the Wuhan coronavirus, in Everett, Washington on Jan. 21, 2020. (Lindsey Wasson/Reuters)

2:30 p.m. UTCCalifornia Officials Take Samples From Patients

At least nine people are being tested for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus in a northern California county, health officials said.

Officials with the Alameda County Health Department told KRON4 that there are no confirmed cases out of the nine-plus people showing symptoms.

The patients either traveled to Wuhan, China, within the past 14 days or were in contact with someone else who was exposed to the virus.

Health officials said the patients had a high fever and a cough and that samples were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for testing.

Read more here.

Chinese tourists wearing masks walk through the Ginza shopping district in Tokyo, Japan on Jan. 24, 2020. (Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)

12:30 p.m. UTCTaiwan Confirms 2 New Cases of Virus

Taiwan health officials on the evening of Jan. 24 confirmed two new cases of the virus, bringing the total to three on the island.

A Chinese tourist, a woman in her 50s, and a Taiwanese man, also in his 50s, have been quarantined in hospital. Both had entered Taiwan on Jan. 21 and had been in Wuhan, officials said.

The Chinese woman went to a hospital with fever symptoms on Jan. 23.

The man started experiencing cold symptoms on Jan. 20 and went to a hospital on Jan. 23.

A nurse (C), wearing protective clothing to help stop the spread of a deadly virus which began in the city, looks at a thermometer at the Wuhan Fifth Hospital in Wuhan on Jan. 24, 2020. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

11:30 a.m. UTCChina Widens Lockdowns

Chinese authorities have expanded lockdowns and closed tourist attractions ahead of the Lunar New Year to curb a viral outbreak that has spread to nearly all regions of the country.

The disease, which originated from the central city of Wuhan, has spread to every region in the country except Tibet.

Authorities have put 13 cities in the province of Hubei, where Wuhan is located, under transport lockdownaffecting around 40 million people. Outside the epicenter, there were major closures of events to celebrate the upcoming Lunar New Year and tourist attractions, including Beijings Forbidden City, some sections of the Great Wall, and Shanghai Disneyland.

Read more here.
Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
State Rep. Anne Hughes, D-Easton, is seeking a second term in office.

Hughes, who represents the 135th District, which covers Easton, Weston and Redding, kicked off her campaign earlier this month at Silvermans Farm in Easton. Gov. Ned Lamont and various other elected officials attended the event.

She emphasized her collaboration with her colleagues and the governor to address the climate crisis, access to health care and life-saving prescriptions, and economic disparity in the region, state and country.

In her first term, Hughes supported the Paid Family Medical Leave program and various environmental bills, among other initiatives.

She said she plans to continue her efforts to expand eligibility for absentee ballots, supporting aging in place, creating an act permitting the publication of legal notices on municipal websites and more.

Hughes defeated Republican incumbent Adam Dunsby to win the seat in November 2018.
Advertisement

By KY Senator Danny Carroll

Jan. 24, 2020 | PADUCAH

By KY Senator Danny Carroll Jan. 24, 2020 | 11:02 AM | PADUCAH

Following a long weekend honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Kentucky General Assembly returned ready to work on your behalf in Frankfort. The atmosphere in the Capitol was one of anticipation as hundreds of citizens rallied for causes in the Rotunda and met with their legislators to discuss issues facing the Commonwealth.



This week included Children's Advocacy Day at the Capitol, an event promoting children's safety, health, education, and economic well-being. In light of this annual gathering, I would like to emphasize the importance of a complete count of our children and students in the upcoming 2020 Census. The Census count helps determine how much money communities receive for critical resources that our children and families will depend on for the next 10 years, including food assistance, housing support, child care, and public education. Knowing how many children there are and where they live is essential to getting them proper access to those critical programs and services here in Kentucky.



It is also imperative that we take necessary action to ensure the safety and security of our students. Two years ago, the Commonwealth grieved the loss of innocent lives due to a senseless act of violence at Marshall County High School. This tragedy prompted last year's Senate Bill (SB 1), the School Safety and Resiliency Act, a multi-faceted approach to better secure Kentucky schools through increased physical safety measures, a supportive learning environment, and preventative behavioral health services. SB 1 passed with bipartisan support and was signed into law in 2019. On the anniversary of the tragic Marshall County High School events, the Senate Education Committee passed SB 8, a measure that would amend the current statute to expand school personnel, including the designation of a school safety coordinator for each district and by requiring one school-based mental health counselor per 250 students. SB 8 would also require school resource officers to carry firearms. I am a co-sponsor and I look forward to speaking in support of this legislation on the Senate floor.



Also passing favorably through committee this week was SB 9. This Senate priority measure is a testament to our unwavering commitment to protect and defend the right to life here in the Commonwealth. Also known as the "Born Alive Infant Protection Act," SB 9 requires a physician to take all medically appropriate and reasonable steps to preserve the life and health of a born-alive infant. I have also signed on as a co-sponsor of this very important legislation and I will do all I can ensure it becomes law!



While it was only a four-day work week for the Kentucky General Assembly, the Senate passed a number of bills out of the chamber that will now go on to the House for consideration:



SB 2- A legislative priority that would require a voter to present photogenic identification at the polls. Under the amended bill, an expired photo I.D. would be accepted. SB 2 is supported by Secretary of State Michael Adams and promotes confidence in the integrity of Kentucky elections.



SB 5- An act requiring Special Purpose Governmental Entities (SPGEs) to seek approval from their establishing body to levy an ad valorem tax rate that would generate more revenue than the compensating tax rate, or a first-time ad valorem tax.



SB 56- Ensures Kentucky complies with the federal minimum legal age for the sale, purchase and use of tobacco products. It also eliminates possession penalties for youth up to age 21. As a supplement to this bill, I am working on a bill that would ban flavored vape products in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.



SB 66- Amends the current statute to provide that someone who has been criminally charged in the death of another cannot make funeral, burial, or other ceremonial arrangement decisions for the decedent.



SB 72- A sensitive but vital piece of proposed legislation. Kentucky is among 15 states where FGM is still legal. FGM is any procedure involving the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or another injury to the female organs for nonmedical purposes.



SB 20- A bill I sponsored that prohibits the certification of assisted-living communities if they are owned, managed, or operated by who has been convicted of felony offenses relating to adult abuse, child abuse, drugs, homicide, kidnapping, sex offenses, robbery, arson, pornography, and other offenses. The bill also provides for the enforcement of sanctions received from the Inspector General's office. Today, an assisted living community can avoid sanctions simply by delaying the proceedings long enough to cause the OIG's office to have to start the process over again.



During even-numbered years, the Kentucky General Assembly is tasked with preparing a balanced two-year budget for the state. The budget address by the Governor is one of the first steps in crafting this vital document that will guide the Commonwealth's financial decisions for the next two years. Once the Governor outlines his plan, the Kentucky Senate and House will propose separate budget plans, and all three partiesafter many hours of deliberation and input from stakeholderswill come together to craft a final budget. The Governor will be delivering his budget address on January 28 at 7 p.m.



The pace in Frankfort is quickly picking up, and I anticipate an increase of visitors and advocates from across the Commonwealth. As always, I welcome your input on these issues. It is an honor to serve on your behalf in Frankfort.



If you have any questions or comments about these issues or any other public policy issue, please call me toll-free at 1-800-372-7181 or email me at danny.carroll@lrc.ky.gov. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve you in the Kentucky State Senate and value your feedback throughout the 2020 legislative session.



Senator Danny Carroll (R-Paducah) represents the 2nd District encompassing Ballard, Carlisle, Marshall and McCracken counties. Senator Carroll is the chairman of the Senate Economic Development, Tourism, and Labor Committee, as well as the co-chairman of the Program Review and Investigations Committee. He also serves as a member of the Health and Welfare Committee, the Judiciary Committee and the Medicaid Oversight Committee.
PRISONER: My 544 Days in an Iranian Prison  Solitary Confinement, a Sham Trial, High-Stakes Diplomacy, and the Extraordinary Efforts It Took to Get Me Out, by Jason Rezaian. (Ecco, 311 pp., $17.99.) Rezaian, an Iranian-American former Washington Post Tehran bureau chief, weaves family history into this account of his arrest on espionage charges. Our reviewer, Michael J. Totten, called it a memoir that reads like a thriller.

ALL MY PUNY SORROWS, by Miriam Toews. (Bloomsbury, 311 pp., $16.) In Toewss seventh book an adrift single mother travels from Toronto to Winnipeg to care for her sister, a successful concert pianist who has attempted suicide. In these pages, Curtis Sittenfeld praised its intelligence, its honesty and, above all, its compassion, calling the novel irresistible.

A PEOPLES HISTORY OF HEAVEN, by Mathangi Subramanian. (Algonquin, 301 pp., $15.95.) Set in a Bangalore slum whose name, Swarga, means Heaven in Sanskrit, this first novel follows the interwined lives of five close friends as they face individual hardships and fight together to save their neighborhood from demolition. Our reviewer, Diksha Basu, called the novel a strong debut.

AMERICAN DIALOGUE: The Founders and Us, by Joseph J. Ellis. (Vintage, 283 pp., $17.) This latest book by the eminent historian Ellis moves back and forth in time between the nations founding era and our own, charting the ongoing conversation that shapes American democracy. Ellis draws connections between our history and our present reality with an authority that few other authors can muster, Jeff Shesol noted here.
You are here:

Global Education

Through the CEAEs Office of Global Education, traditional classroom boundaries are expanded and designed to encourage global citizenship. A wide array of opportunities in our office complement the Lycoming experience through support of students international and educational interests.

Faculty-Led Travel Courses and Field Schools

Join your faculty for experiences unique to Lycoming College and explore topics across the academic spectrum as you make the world your classroom.

Interdisciplinary Dominican Republic Program

Take experiential and service learning to the Dominican Republic as we work with partners in the El Naranjito region to expand educational and economic development for this coffee farming community.

Archaeological Field Schools

Whether found on the rolling fields of Guatemala, an island in the Mediterranean or a palace in Israel, archeology analyzes the physical remains of the past in pursuit of a comprehensive understanding of human culture, and you take part in this discovery through international archaeological field schools.

Semester and Summer Study Abroad Programs

Lycoming partners with programs in over 20 countries across six continents to provide semester- or summer-based independent study abroad experiences within both language immersion and English-speaking programs.

Language Immersion Programs

With the option of summer, semester, or full-year programs, language immersion schools focus on full linguistic and cultural immersion. Featured partners with Lycoming include locations in Belgium, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Germany, Mexico, and Spain.

To review application processes and current program information, students can visit the I AM LAUNCHING portal.
New Delhi, Jan 24 : Twitter India on Friday launched a specially designed emoji of the India Gate lit up in the tricolour to celebrate India's 71st Republic Day.

According to Twitter India, President Ram Nath Kovind will be tweeting with this emoji on January 25 during his address to the nation, as citizens across the country take to Twitter to participate in a public conversation.

"We believe that the 2020 Republic Day emoji will resonate with Indians across languages, cultures and time zones, giving them yet another reason, and way to celebrate and participate in public conversation," Mahima Kaul, Director, Public Policy, India and South Asia, Twitter India, said in a statement.

The emoji will be live until January 30 and will be available in English as well as ten Indian languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Urdu and Gurmukhi.

This is the fifth year Twitter has supported Republic Day in India with a custom emoji.

The social media platform also supports Independence Day, Diwali, Republic Day, Gandhi Jayanti among other key milestones and events, with innovative emojis that are designed keeping Indian culture and sentiment in mind, it said.
VASSAR, MI  Vassar Theatre is hosting the family of Saginaw actor Paul Walter Hauser for a conversation about his career and a showing of the movie Richard Jewell.

The conversation will take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25 at Vassar Theatre, 140 E. Huron Ave. The movie Richard Jewell will play at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Paul and Deborah Hauser, Pauls parents, will tell the audience how Hauser got the role to star in Clint Eastwoods movie about Richard Jewell and his journey to becoming an actor.

In the film, Hauser portrays Jewell, a security guard who found a backpack with pipe bombs inside it at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Jewell alerted the police and helped to evacuate people from the area before the bomb exploded. Jewell was initially hailed as a hero until it was reported he was being investigated as a person of interest by the FBI.

Im hoping to explain how our son Paul Walter Hauser was approached personally by Clint Eastwood. Its a very interesting story, said Deborah Hauser.

Hauser, a Valley Lutheran High School alumnus, has been in the spotlight since he was a child, landing roles in TV series and movies such as Super Troopers 2, I, Tonya and BlackKklansman.

Id also like to give some context as to why this story meant so much to Clint Eastwood, Hauser said.

Lastly, Id like to share how this acting project affected my son, as an actor.

Donations will be accepted to Gods Helping Hands, one of Paul Walters favorite charities. Vassar Theatre will match guest donations.

For information about tickets, visit here.

Related news:

Saginaws Paul Walter Hauser stars in Clint Eastwood movie about Richard Jewell

Saginaw man starring in I, Tonya took every opportunity until it happened
Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release

SubCategory Select Sub-Category
(Bloomberg) -- Londons main transportation regulator has released a scathing document detailing why it moved to ban Uber Technologies Inc. from operating in the city. The regulator lists several safety concerns, including the charge that it didnt receive proper notification of alleged sexual assaults involving the platform.

The report comes just months after the regulator, Transport for London, revoked Ubers license to operate in the city for the second time in less than three years. Uber is currently doing business in London under a temporary license, and fighting for the ability to continue operating in one of the worlds biggest hubs.

Sent to Uber in late November but only released this week, the regulators 62-page document focuses on charges that Uber failed to adequately verify drivers identities and safeguard the service for passengers. It also says the company blamed system or human error for its failing to promptly notify Transport for London about seven incidents that led the company to suspend a driver. A number of these related to allegations of rape and sexual assault, the report said.

In November, We found Uber not fit and proper to hold a new private hire operators license, said Helen Chapman, the regulators licensing director, noting that the company had submitted an appeal.

Uber declined a request for comment.

Transport for London, TfL, has previously said that at least 14,000 Uber trips involved drivers who werent who they said they were, thanks to the companys fallible license-verification process. One driver found exploiting Ubers app had already had a private hire license revoked by the regulator after it discovered the person had received a caution for distributing indecent images of children, it said.

In the report, the U.K. regulator also attacked Ubers system for monitoring drivers insurance status, stating that the ride-hailing company had failed to stop uninsured drivers from working on the app.

Story continues

The regulator said that some drivers were able to hack Ubers platform by manipulating their GPS settings when uploading photos, a tactic that allowed them to change photos or put their photo on another drivers account. Drivers are banned from doing so in the U.K. Five of these drivers had already been dismissed by Uber, the report said.

The regulator also flagged a software patch used by Uber drivers to allow them to see passenger destinations, mainly a strategy used by drivers at airports. The issue was brought to TfLs attention by an unnamed third party.

The ability for drivers to see passenger destinations in advance of accepting a trip is significant because it means drivers can reject shorter, less pricey trips in favor of more profitable long hauls. Drivers worldwide have long requested the feature, with Uber making it available just this month to California drivers as a way to strengthen its case that its drivers are free agents and should not be governed by a new state law seeking to reclassify them as employees.

Uber is currently preparing an appeal to TfLs decision to revoke its license, a process that could take years, and during which time the company will be allowed to continue operating in the city. Meanwhile, Uber is still flagging potential issues to TfL. In November, the company told the regulator about an online scam targeting drivers to create fake trips for charging passengers.

--With assistance from Nate Lanxon.

To contact the reporter on this story: Giles Turner in London at gturner35@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Tom Giles at tgiles5@bloomberg.net, Anne VanderMey, Andrew Pollack

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
The U.S. Army has ordered an unspecified number of Israeli Spike NLOS (Non-Line Of Sight) long-range (25-30 kilometers) missiles for use on their AH-64 helicopter gunships. Israel is already doing this, as is South Korea and several other export customers. Until 2013 Spike NLOS had been a ground-based weapon, but ever since then Israel has been trying to get the Americans to try airborne Spike NLOS themselves. Because of the long-range several export customers operated Spike NLOS from transport helicopters (like the UH-60).

The United States tried to develop a similar weapon, Netfires NLOS-LS, back in 2004, but gave up in 2010 after spending over a billion dollars and failing to get the system to work. Meanwhile, Israel already had Spike NLOS. Its never too late to try a similar foreign weapon that works, which the U.S. has done increasingly since the 1990s. In mid-2019 the U.S. Army tested Spike NLOS used as a SEAD (suppression of enemy air defenses) weapon by firing it against a hypothetical mobile Russian air defense system. With Spike NLOS the AH-64 could fire on the Russian system while outside the range of the Russian missiles. Those tests were successful.

Spike NLOS missiles weigh 70kg (155 pounds), about 50 percent more than more popular and less precise Hellfire missile. Spike NLOS can be fired at a target the operator cannot see but someone else, preferably with a laser designator, can see. Better yet Spike NLOS has a vidcam in the nose that enables an operator to find the target, mark it and let the guidance system do the rest. Flight time of Spike NLOS is 60-80 seconds, depending on how far away the target is and the first third of that distance uses GPS, INS or fiber-optic cable to get the missile in the general vicinity of the target. By then the operator, often with years of video game experience, can view what the Spike NLOS vidcam sees and can seek out the target. The operator can change course somewhat and, in practice, there is time to spot the target and mark it so the guidance system can remember it and home in on it.

With Spike NLOS fired from helicopters the missile can be available to hit targets over a much larger area. This is done by using the growing number of systems that can detect targets, like satellites, high-altitude UAVs /manned aircraft, electronic intel and human local sources deep in enemy territory. Any other air (UAV) or ground observer can provide the laser targeting but Spike NLOS is useful mainly because it can be flown in by an operator and use stored images of typical targets to identify and hit the target. Spike NLOS has multiple guidance systems, mainly laser, and the live video feed can be used for the operator to fly the missile into to the target or simply capture an image of the selected target so the missile can home in by itself (fire and forget). The operator can still have Spike NLOS self-destruct or shift to another target. Spike NLOS actually uses a fiber-optic cable out to eight kilometers and after that wireless communications take over. All this extra capability is expensive and each Spike NLOS missile costs about $300,000 each.

The first version of Spike NLOS was a secret weapon code-named Tamuz that entered service in the early 1980s. This version required a highly trained operator to literally fly the missile all the way to the target and for two decades its existence remained a military secret. By 2000 advances in guidance systems, especially fire and forget capability, meant Tamuz was no longer so expensive. That was because it took even talented troops a long time to learn how to manually guide the missile on the original system. With improved fire and forget tech Tamuz became the highly automated and easier to learn Spike NLOS is, which was then declassified. Israel successfully used Spike NLOS during the 2006 war with Hezbollah in south Lebanon, the 2014 war with Hamas in Gaza and several other situations. Now that most of the details of what Spike NLOS is, where it came from and what it can do have been revealed, it is an increasingly popular export item. That is also because various versions of the missile, first as Tamuz then as Spike NLOS, had been in service since the 1980s. That meant the system was battle-tested and known to be very dependable and effective no matter what tech they used.

The ground version became more mobile as the control system became smaller, lighter and easier to use. As a result of that Spike NLOS missiles and control systems were mounted on infantry armored vehicles and used by British troops in Afghanistan since 2011. Later it was also mounted on unarmored trucks (like hummers). Israel continued to find new ways to use Spike NLOS as a vehicle-based system, especially for special operations (commandos and Special Forces).

Since the 1990s special operations forces have found new lightweight guided missiles a useful addition to the GPS guided rockets (GMLRS), artillery and bombs as well as laser-guided missiles. Situations still arise where not enough missile armed UAVs are available to support small teams of operators tracking key individuals or small groups in remote areas. These scout teams often have to watch a specific spot for days before the target shows itself and is positively identified. If the target is not fired on quickly, he will likely get away and the search will begin again.

The solution was developed by the Israelis when they merged Spike NLOS missiles with off-road vehicles to produce a version of Spike NLOS that can be quickly mounted on an off-road vehicle, transported by air (small transport or slung under a helicopter) to a remote location and driven further into hostile territory to provide round the clock availability of precision missile fire against small stationery or moving (in a vehicle or on a motorcycle) targets day or night. This mobile Spike NLOS is available in different size pallets that contain four to eight Spike NLOS missiles plus the control equipment and radio. Like other versions of Spike NLOS, it is much easier for troops to become proficient at using computer simulators and a more user-friendly design.

The airmobile Spike NLOS system was first available on the Israeli Tomcar off-road vehicle. This 750 kg four-wheel dune buggy design has been around since 2005 and is regularly used along the Israeli southern border with Gaza and Egypt. Tomcar is exported to many other nations for special operations forces or border patrol in rough terrain. The latest version of Tomcar is a two-seater built with a flatbed in the rear to carry cargo. This vehicle can carry eight Spike NLOS weapons plus the control system. Even lighter systems are available carrying only four (or even just two) missiles. U.S. SOCOM (Special Operations Command) has long been an avid user of such lightweight cross country vehicles and might eventually try this pallet based version of Spike NLOS.
The O P Jindal Global University (JGU) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Zurich, Switzerland for mutual cooperation in higher and research.

The MoU was signed at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 22 in the presence of Vice Chancellor of JGU, Prof (Dr) C Raj Kumar and the President of the UZH, Prof (Dr) Michael Hengartner.

Speaking at the ceremony, Kumar said, "The University of Zurich has carved out a name for itself as a leading higher educational institution in the world. This MoU will lead to many mutually beneficial forms of collaboration, including student and faculty exchanges and joint research activities".

Hengartner said, "We are truly excited about the prospect of collaborating with O P Jindal Global University. I am personally convinced that this MoU will provide a solid basis for fruitful academic exchange from which our two institutions will benefit in many respects".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Cat Rock Capital, a major investor in online take away company, Just Eat, has slammed the decision by the competition watchdog to launch a last minute probe of its planned merger with Takeaway.com.

Cat Rock, which owns around 3 per cent of Just Eat's shares, called the investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) 'shocking and clearly unwarranted'.

The CMA confirmed on Thursday it was planning an investigation into the 6billion merger of Just Eat and Dutch outfit Takeaway.com and the deal has now been delayed for a week.

Online delivery company Just Eat's merger with Dutch firm Takeaway.com has been delayed by a week after the CMA launched an investigation into the planned deal

The unexpected decision to open the probe came more than six months after Just Eat and Takeaway announced their plans to combine.

The founder of Cat Rock Capital Alex Captain said: 'It is shocking that the CMA would investigate the Just Eat merger with Takeaway.com.

'Takeaway.com has no UK operations, exited its minor business there over three years ago, and has stated that it had no intention to enter the UK market before the Just Eat merger.'

Cat Rock believes the merger is necessary to compete with other delivery services such as UberEats, Amazon and Deliveroo.

Amazon is already facing an in-depth CMA probe into its 440million investment in Deliveroo.

Mr Captian said: The CMAs investigation seems to draw a false equivalence between Takeaway.coms merger with Just Eat and Amazons investment in Deliveroo.

'Amazon has a large UK business with millions of customers that it could leverage to re-enter the UK online food delivery market and increase competition.

'Takeaway.com has no such UK presence, customer base, or brand name. It is patently absurd to compare Takeaway.com with Amazon when evaluating the outlook for future competition.

Investors in Just Eat said the merger is necessary to compete with UberEats and Deliveroo

Cat Rock added that more than 90 per cent of Just Eat shareholders had accepted its bid, which became unconditional two weeks ago.

Mr Captain said: 'The Just Eat merger with Takeaway.com creates a leading FTSE 100-listed technology company with a growing business in the UK and abroad.

'The combined company will have the resources to invest in competing against dominant global technology companies in the online food delivery space like Uber and Amazon.

'Any action the CMA takes to block this merger would only impair a UK-based company's ability to effectively compete against these dominant platforms.

Mr Captain called on the CMA to conclude the investigation as quickly as possible.

He said: 'The CMA has had an opportunity to review the Just Eat and Takeaway.com merger for almost six months since it was first announced in early August 2019.

'We hope that any review that starts today, when the combined company's shares are meant to begin trading, would be conducted quickly and fairly.'

The investigation is the latest bump in the road for a deal which has proven a headache for Takeaway's Dutch bosses.

Shortly after the two companies announced their plans in early August last year, Prosus, an Amsterdam-listed company, tried to muscle in.

The two battled it out for months, trying to win over Just Eat's investors until January 10, when Takeaway declared victory.
LAST weekend, millions flocked to Cebu to join our city in celebrating the feast of the Sto. Nino. Sinulog is the time of the year when we are especially proud of everything Cebuano, including the clothes, the cuisine, and the people that make Cebu a great place to live in and to visit.

Marco Polo Plaza Cebu celebrates Sinulog with a Culinary Journey every year, with different Cebuano dishes being served alongside Cafe Marcos international buffet. To do something new this year, the hotel has partnered with the incredibly popular Sugbo Mercado food bazaar. Each night for almost a week, a different vendor from Sugbo Mercado served their most popular dishes with the hotel buffet. This included lechon belly and tuna panga from Kuzina Guadalupe, baked scallops and crispy crablets from Seabu, mango shake from Ally Mango, soft serve ice cream from Swirl Dessert Corner, and fresh fruit drinks from Skweez.

***

Islands Souvenirs Cut and Style has grown from a T-shirt personalization event to one of, if not the, most anticipated fashion shows for Sinulog. This years Ethnic Hype theme showcased a wider gamut of Cebuano personalities we dont usually see on the runway, such as SEA (Southeast Asian) games gold medalist for arnis Dexler Bolambao, and tattoo artist Jello Talaboc. Also onstage with the other stars of the show were Islands Souvenirs My Islands Experience campaign model and TV host, Drew Arellano, and Miss Universe Philippines 2019, Gazini Ganados. The T-shirts for the fashion show were cut and embellished by students of the Cebu Technological Universitys Department of Garments, and were styled by the Fashion Institute of Design and Arts.
Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all.

Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe

Los Angeles saw an increase in hate crimes between 2018 and 2019, with the black and Jewish communities affected at the highest rates.

According to data released by the Los Angeles Police Department Wednesday, 68 crimes against black people or institutions were committed in 2019 - up from 61 in 2018 and representing an 11.5% increase. Crimes committed against Jewish people or institutions saw an increase of 60%, rising from 43 to 69.

The large uptick in anti-Semitic crimes is partly due to the addition of what LAPD officials are calling "swastika vandalism."

In total, LAPD reported 322 hate crimes in 2019, up from 292 in 2018. Those include crimes based on race, religion, gender and sexual orientation.

Amanda Susskind, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League Los Angeles, told KPCC that an increase in hateful rhetoric is having "real-time ramifications."

"What we are always concerned about is when those kinds of things that are happening at the lower level of cultural norms... start to affect the numbers in actual criminal statistics," she said.

Crimes against the black community, said Susskind, are frequently prevalent in hate crime data.

"African American hate is an endemic problem in our culture, in our society and in our country," she said. "It affects everything in every way in which African Americans walk through life."

The report is the result of a motion passed by city council in 2018, which requested more information about local hate crimes. The motion, presented to the council's public safety committee by Councilmembers David Ryu, Bob Blumenfield, Mitchell Englander and Paul Koretz, noted the "wave of hate crimes that occurred in the wake of President Trump's November, 2016 election victory."

Coinciding with the release of the new figures, Ryu issued a letter and drafted a motion calling for the creation of an FBI task force to address the increase in attacks on the Jewish community.

The letter was co-signed by 20 Asian American and Pacific Islander organizations.

"An increasing number of anti-Semitic hate crimes in our City and our Country calls on all of us to respond," the letter states. "As leaders in the [Asian American and Pacific Islander] community, we recognize that the times are dangerous, and demand that we stand together and do more to fight against these hateful acts... This coalition stands to let perpetrators know that the over a million and a half AAPI Angelenos will help combat the attacks of our Jewish neighbors."
Following BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya's statement that he suspected that some labourers who worked at his house were illegal Bangladeshi migrants, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Bala Bachchan said the government would soon reveal 'the facts'.

Addressing a seminar in support of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act here on Thursday, Vijayvargiya said that strange eating habits of construction labourers who worked at his house recently aroused suspicion about their nationality.

They only ate 'poha' (flattened rice) and he suspected they were illegal Bangladeshis, the BJP leader had said.

Asked by reporters about Vijayvargiya's statement, Bachchan said, "We are aware of every movement in the state and we will disclose it very soon. The truth will be revealed soon.

"It is our duty to protect the people of the state," he added.

Congress spokesperson Neelabh Shukla alleged that Vijayvargiya was "concocting stories to gain cheap popularity".

"If his story is true, he should reveal the name of the contractor who hired illegal immigrants and file a complaint with the police," Shukla added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Vietnam may be one of the worlds top rice exporters, but its reputation as a low-quality producer and lack of an appealing national brand has ensured its exports do not fetch high prices.

Ho Quang Cua, who invented the worlds best rice strain, ST25, checks his field in Soc Trang Province. Photo source nongnghiep.vn

That might be about to change: Its ST25 fragrant rice has been recognised as the worlds best. Xuan Huong reports.



I was one of the few people to receive a photo of the 2019 Worlds Best Rice award from agricultural engineer Ho Quang Cua, whose ST25 strain won it in Manila.

The photo is beautifully framed in glass with the words with compliments written in red.

Cua, a deputy director of the Soc Trang Province Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, worked diligently for more than two decades with his associates Dr Tran Tan Phuong and engineer Nguyen Thi Thu Huong to develop the new strain.

He explains how it all began: More than 20 years ago Thailand announced it successfully cross-bred two strains of fragrant rice [Thai Hom Mali and Pathum Thani].

I kept asking myself why we could not do what they have achieved. So I thought of developing Vietnamese fragrant varieties, and a team of researchers was formed in Soc Trang.

In 1998 the team unveiled ST1, the first of the ST aromatic rice strains, with the name representing the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang (hence the abbreviation ST).

And since then the team has researched to produce a number of excellent strains of ST fragrant rice, Cua says.

ST25 is a high-yield rice variety that yields two or three crops per year, can adapt to the difficult conditions brought about by climate change and grows well in brackish water and coastal farms, he explains.

With its long grain, beautiful white appearance, and especially fragrant scent, thanks to a mixture of the aromas of the pandan leaf of the south and young rice of the north, ST 25 surpassed varieties from countries like Thailand and Cambodia to win the top prize at the Worlds Best Rice contest, the first time a Vietnamese entry has won it.

The closest they had come before was in 2017 when ST24, a predecessor of ST25, won the third prize when the competition was held in Macau.

Behind this humongous success has been a very difficult and challenging journey, especially hurdles caused by technical setbacks, Cua reminisces.

Need to raise profile

A rice field ready for harvest in the Dong Thap Muoi region. VNA/VNS Photo Le Minh



Rice has long been a strategic crop for Vietnams food security. From being a country that suffered rice shortages, it started exporting the grain in 1989, and has been one of the worlds largest producers and exporters for years now.

Vietnam grows around 26 million tonnes a year, of which it exports around six million tonnes.

Though the country exports its grain to over 100 countries and territories, consumers around the world do not know about its products, and its rice usually fetches lower prices than Thai and Cambodian varieties because of the absence of an appealing national brand.

According to the Vietnam Food Association, after mainly exporting low-quality rice for a long time, the country saw demand for its fragrant rice pick up strongly, with fragrant and other high-quality varieties now accounting for more than half of all exports.

But the prices they fetch remain very low, with the highest at only US$750-800 per tonne, while Thai rice of similar quality gets $1,100 - 1,200, the association says.

Vietnamese rice is not inferior to that of its competitors in terms of quality, but inferior in terms of reputation," says Pham Thai Binh, general director of Trung An Hi-tech Farming JSC in Can Tho.

Thailand and Cambodia have done very well in building brands for their rice, making global consumers have confidence in their quality. So their rice gets better prices," Binh says.

Vietnamese rice has high quality but has not impressed global consumers. So its prices are usually low compared to other countries.

Thus, though we have switched to exporting more high-quality rice, the value earned from exports has not changed much compared to the period when we mainly exported ordinary white rice at lower values.

But this angst is undoubtedly something every country goes through as it seeks to move up the value chain.

To get the top, however, requires acquiring greater prestige in global markets, and this means developing brands for Vietnamese rice.

Some companies have started to build their own brands and export to niche markets at very good prices, but their scale remains very small.

Having a national brand name is an idea whose time has well and truly come.

Capitalising on worlds best

The Government unveiled a scheme in 2015 to develop a Vietnamese rice brand, but its results have so far been patchy.

Prof Vo Tong Xuan, rector of the Nam Can Tho University and a renowned agronomist, says ST25 has provided Vietnam a golden opportunity to build a brand name for its rice.

It is time for the Government to immediately do the following three things: drastically restructure rice production towards chain-based production and develop large growing areas that produce the same rice variety, minimise the use of insecticides to cut costs and produce more nice, delicious and safe rice and shift the industrys focus from quantity to quality and from being supply-driven to market-driven.

Le Van Banh, former head of the Mekong Delta Rice Institute, says Vietnam has many good rice varieties, some better than the high-quality varieties of its rivals.

However, quality suffers because Vietnamese farmers grow three or four crops a year, whereas in Thailand they do not grow more than two crops, Banh says.

Thailand has loyal markets since global consumers have confidence in its quality, and so its exports fetch better prices, he explains.

It is necessary to develop rice brands, including national brands, local brands and companies brands. And when we have brands, we have to protect them. It is also necessary to offer high-quality products to win consumers trust.

Do Ha Nam, vice chairman of the Vietnam Food Association and chairman of Intimex Group, says farmers and businesses need to revamp production techniques and improve hygiene and food safety management and post-harvest preservation to surmount the increasing technical barriers set by import markets.

It is necessary for Vietnam to develop rice brands and enhance marketing programmes to acquaint global consumers with its grains and their quality, he says.

Every brand should be built on a high-quality foundation and recognised and remembered by consumers because of its tightly controlled quality.

There have been many voices calling on the Government to throw the book at those who sell counterfeit rice varieties to prevent this practice and motivate researchers to keep producing new, valuable strains.

Many also say brand building should begin at home.

The domestic market, which has nearly 100 million people who eat rice every day, after all accounts for a full 80 per cent of rice production.

Moreover, with rising incomes, consumers are willing to pay higher prices for branded or high-quality rice, and so building brands should not only be for international markets, they point out.

The domestic market should be the place to test quality, brands and origins before expanding globally, they add.

This will surely be aided by the fact that since winning the World's Best Rice competition, demand for ST25 and its renown have skyrocketed in Vietnam.

Phan Thanh Hieu, director of Phuong Nam Company, the distributor of ST rice for the last six years, says the ST24 and 25 varieties are selling very well. We dont have enough rice to sell.

Focus on market demand

Boats carrying paddy waiting for uploading and processing. VNS Photo Ngoc Diep



There is a growing demand for high-grade rice in the global market, offering Vietnam a great opportunity, vice chairman Nam says.

Vietnamese fragrant rice is very popular with Hong Kong consumers due to its lovely aroma and delicious taste, and so exporters have a great opportunity here, he says.

He wants the agricultural sector to choose high-quality varieties that are in demand in many markets, such as jasmine rice, and grow them.

Nguyen Nhu Cuong, head of the Crop Production Department, says: The demand in the world market is diverse. Africa, the Philippines and Indonesia, for instance, prefer medium-quality. So we need to have an area to grow medium-quality rice to supply to these markets.

At the same time we need to identify varieties to supply to fastidious high-end markets such as Europe.

We have exported jasmine and japonica rice to high-end markets at rather high prices. ST24 and ST25 have met the requirements of demanding markets. Yet we have limitations in exporting premium rice to fastidious markets. Official agencies and businesses need to identify and address them.

Consumers around the world are increasingly paying attention to the origin, production processes, quality standards, and nutritional content of rice; they no longer consider rice a mere food item. Therefore, there must be greater focus on traceability and hygiene and food safety."

Many free trade agreements the country has signed provide opportunities for its farm produce to enter large markets without tariffs, but their exports can only be sustained if Vietnamese products meet quality standards and consumers expectations.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Soc Trang authority have collaborated with our team to expand the ST25 rice variety cultivation area, Cua adds. VNS

The hard lot of Vietnams rice Vietnams rice export price is always low compared with other countries because consumer confidence in Vietnams rice quality is not high, experts say.
Patna (Bihar) [India], Jan 24 (ANI): Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday hit out again at senior JD(U) leader Pavan K Varma over the letter written by the latter to the former about the alliance of the party with the BJP for the upcoming Delhi assembly elections.



Speaking to media, when asked about the letter, Kumar said, "That is not a letter. If a person is in the party, he writes a letter explaining the issue and then a reply is given to that person. Sending an e-mail without even informing and straight away going to the press doesn't make any sense to me. I don't consider that to be a letter."

On January 20, Pavan Varma had tweeted a copy of the letter that he wrote to Kumar. His tweet read, "This is the letter I have written to Nitish Kumar today asking him how the JD(U) has formed an alliance with the BJP for the Delhi elections, given his own views on the BJP, and the massive national outrage against the divisive CAA-NPR-NRC scheme."

On Thursday Kumar had said, "They should go wherever they want," while replying to reporters on Prashant Kishor and Pavan Verma's repeated questions about the party's stand's on the Citizenship Act.

"It is their personal decision. They should go wherever they want. We don't have an objection. Don't look at JD(U)in the context of statements by some people. JD(U)works with determination. We have a clear stand and don't have any confusion," the Chief Minister had told reporters here. (ANI)


Number of confirmed cases climbs sharply to more than 1,321 worldwide, with 41 deaths reported in China as of Saturday.

China has expanded its coronavirus lockdown to more cities, restricting movement to an unprecedented 56 million people as it rushes to build a prefabricated, 1,000-bed hospital for victims.

Meanwhile, the death toll from the outbreak continues to rise, casting a pall over Lunar New Year, the countrys biggest holiday.

The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus across China climbed sharply to more than 1,287, with at least 41 deaths reported as of Saturday morning.

At least five cases were also reported in Hong Kong, two in Macau, and three cases in Taiwan.

Worldwide, there are up to 1,321 confirmed coronavirus infections, according to Al Jazeeras count at time of publication, with cases also reported in Japan (2), Thailand (5), South Korea (2), United States (2), Australia (1), France (3) Malaysia (3), Singapore (3), Nepal (1), and Vietnam (2).

As the death toll continued to rise, Chinas National Health Commission announced on Saturday nationwide measures to identify suspected cases of the deadly virus on trains, aeroplanes and buses.

Inspection stations will be set up and passengers with suspected pneumonia must be immediately transported to a medical centre, the statement said.

In the southern city of Haikou, the city government also announced that that it would start a 14-day centralised medical observation for all tourists coming from Hubei province, the epicentre of the virus.

Tourists from Hubei, especially from Wuhan city, are not allowed to leave the hotel where the medical observation will be held during the 14-day period, the announcement said.

At least 450 additional military medical staff were deployed to Hubei to help with the treatment.

Workers take the body temperature of passengers before they enter Beijing Railway Station on Saturday [Thomas Peter/Reuters]

Meanwhile, Australian authorities on Saturday confirmed the countrys first case of the deadly infection.

In a news conference in Melbourne, Victorias Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said a Chinese man in his 50s who last week returned from China had contracted the newly identified coronavirus.

In Malaysia, the health ministry announced on Saturday that three people have been infected with the virus.

Xinhua news agency also reported one case in Nepal, involving a student from Wuhan. He reportedly arrived in Nepal on January 5 and visited the hospital on January 13.

Elsewhere, France announced late on Friday its third case of the virus  the first cases in Europe. And the United States reported its second case, involving a Chicago woman in her 60s who was hospitalised after returning from China.

Travel restrictions

A total of 18 cities in central Hubei province now have some sort of travel restrictions affecting 56 million people.

The rules include closing public transport links and access to highways in the cities, local authorities said.





In Beijing and other Chinese cities, authorities cancelled many public celebrations and other events marking the Lunar New Year, which falls on Saturday.

Hospitals in Wuhan grappled with a flood of patients and a lack of supplies.

Videos circulating online showed throngs of frantic people in masks lined up for examinations, with some complaining their family members were turned away at hospitals that were at capacity.

Authorities in Wuhan and elsewhere put out calls for medicine, disinfection equipment, masks, goggles, gowns and other protective gear.

I dont think this virus has been properly controlled, a woman in Beijing told Al Jazeeras Scott Heidler. I am very afraid of getting infected.

New hospital in 10 days

Wuhan authorities said they are rapidly constructing a new hospital to deal with the crisis, to be completed by February 3.

It will be modelled on a SARS hospital that was built in Beijing in just six days during the SARS outbreak.

The seriousness of the crisis was still an open question.

It was not clear just how lethal the virus is, or even whether it is as dangerous as ordinary flu, which kills tens of thousands of people every year in the US alone.

Scientists say it is also not clear if it spreads as easily as SARS, its genetic cousin, which also originated in China and killed about 800 people in 2002-2003.





The rapid increase in reported deaths and illnesses does not necessarily mean the crisis is getting worse. It could instead reflect better monitoring and reporting of the newly discovered virus, whose symptoms can initially resemble those of the cold and flu, including cough, fever and shortness of breath, but can worsen to pneumonia.

Its still too early to draw conclusions about how severe the virus is because, at the beginning of any outbreak, you would focus more on the severe cases, said Tarik Jasarevic, a spokesman for the World Health Organization in Geneva.

And then maybe we are missing some mild cases because people will just be a little bit sick and will not have it tested. And they will recover.

Tourism hit during festive season

With authorities afraid that public gatherings will hasten the spread of the virus, temples locked their doors while Beijings Forbidden City, Shanghai Disneyland and other major tourist destinations were closed.

People cancelled restaurant reservations before the Lunar New Year, normally a time of family reunions, sightseeing trips, fireworks displays and other festivities in the country of 1.4 billion people.

Wuhans usually bustling streets, malls and other public spaces were quiet on the second day of its lockdown, and masks were mandatory in public.

Shoppers emptied store shelves, stocking up for what could be an extended period of isolation. Karaoke bars, movie theatres and internet cafes around the region were shut down.

A flight crew arrives on a direct flight from China at Vancouver International Airport in Canada on Friday [Jennifer Gauthier/Reuters]

While most of the deaths have been older patients, a 36-year-old man in Hubei died on Thursday.

The vast majority of cases have been in and around Wuhan or involved people who visited the city or had personal connections to those infected.

Many countries are screening travellers from China and isolating anyone with symptoms.

Chinese officials have not said how long the shutdowns of the cities will last.

Recalling the governments initial cover-up of SARS, many Chinese are suspicious of the case numbers reported by officials. Authorities have promised transparency.

Chinas cabinet, the State Council, announced it will be collecting information on government departments that have failed in their response to the outbreak, including delays, concealment and under-reporting of the epidemic.

The state broadcaster CCTVs annual Spring Festival Gala programme, which attracted more than a billion viewers last year, paid tribute to the medical workers fighting the outbreak.

Please believe in China, the hosts said. With the most transparent public information  on the battlefront of the epidemic, we will definitely win.
Armenia ambassador to Georgia informs Switzerland envoy about Azerbaijan's gross ceasefire violation

Economy minister: Armenia government was guided by political considerations when lifting sanctions on Turkey goods

Turkey defense minister expresses support for Azerbaijan in another military aggression against Armenia

Pashinyan, Putin discuss Karabakh, Kazakhstan

Toivo Klaar: Deeply worried by reports of renewed incidents and casualties on Armenia-Azerbaijan

Germany: A record 80,430 COVID-19 cases detected per day

3 more persons die of coronavirus in Artsakh

Criminal case launched into 3 Armenia soldiers killing by Azerbaijan shootings

76 children born in Armenia thanks to infertility overcoming program

Copper rises in price

One of main tasks of Armenia peacekeepers in Kazakhstans Almaty is to prevent water supply system poisoning

The Oscars to have a host after a 3-year hiatus

About 80 Americans cannot fly from Afghanistan

Turkey parliament ex-deputy speaker: Armenia must fulfill 4 preconditions

Border situation in Armenias Gegharkunik Province was calm at night

French FM says talks on Iranian nuclear deal are progressing slowly

289 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Fati, De Jong and Araujo are ready for game against Real Madrid

Gold slightly rises in price

North Korea says it successfully tested another hypersonic missile

OSCE calls on Azerbaijan, Armenia to refrain from the use of force

Oil is trading without a single dynamic

US State Department welcomes announcement on CSTO forces withdrawal from Kazakhstan

Karen Khachanov reach quarterfinals

Newspaper: Ex-ministers are summoned to Hayastan All Armenian Fund parliamentary inquiry committee

MOD: Armenia soldiers dead body found at midnight after Azerbaijan provocation

Newspaper: Casualties of Armenia PM Pashinyan's 'era of peace'

What are health risks of toothpaste?

US concerned about EastMed natural gas pipeline project

Giant fish sold at auction for over 16 million yen

Mourinho invites Ndombele to Roma

Xavi: Match with Real can be turning point for our team

German Marshall Fund: It Is not too early to think about political change in Turkey

Armenian Foreign Ministry: We call on Azerbaijani authorities to refrain from provocations

Vaccination may prolong menstrual cycle

Armenia's Geghamasar community head: The situation is stable now

Queen Elizabeth II's favorite fast food revealed

Human Rights Defender: Azerbaijani troops open fire on Armenian sovereign territory

World Economic Forum: Cybersecurity and space pose new risks to the global economy

Porto midfielder to move Roma

Defense Ministry confirms Armenian side has 2 victims

Satanovsky on sending Armenian servicemen to Kazakhstan

Unofficial data: 2 servicemen killed as a result of Azerbaijan provocation

CSTO and Kazakh Defense Ministry developing plan

WHO thinks it's too early to consider COVID-19 pandemic

Fabio Cannavaro refuses to lead the Polish team

European Commission to require Poland to pay fine of nearly EUR 70 million

White House announces $308 million humanitarian aid for Afghanistan

Vahan Bichakhchyan starts training with Pogon

Erdogan angry at minister after efforts to strengthen lira failed

Armenian FM has phone call with US Assistant Secretary of State

India imposes one-week quarantine even for vaccinated tourists

Armenian ex-president expresses condolences on poet Razmik Davoyan's death

Traction Programme to showcase 8 startups during the Digital Demo Day

Azerbaijan uses artillery and UAVs, 3 Armenian soldiers wounded

NEWS.am daily digest: 11.01.22

Antibodies after COVID-19 vaccination transmitted through breast milk

Austrian Chancellor confirms plan for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination in February

Armen Sarkissian and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev discuss situation in Kazakhstan

The Morning Show renewed for a third season

Gulf, Iran and Turkey FMs to visit China

20 pregnant women with COVID-19 die in Azerbaijan in year

Armenia hands over wanted US citizen to United States

Economy ministry: Organizing of accommodation and public catering increased by 61.1% in Armenia

Armenia parliament speaker expresses condolences on European Parliament President death

Azerbaijan opens fire toward Armenia village sector, one soldier wounded

Shoigu: CSTO peacekeepers deployed in Kazakhstan thanks to Syrian and Karabakh experience

Netflix shows teaser of Kanye West's documentary

Azerbaijan official pledges to remove Armenian toponyms from Google Maps

UN offers two plans to help Afghans totaling $ 5 billion in 2022

Salah says he is not asking for crazy stuff

Armenia attorney general travels to Moscow on working visit

Azerbaijan MOD blames Armenian side for soldiers death

Dollar drops in Armenia

PSG show interest in Ronaldo

Drake becomes most popular rapper on Instagram

Shirak Province captives families hold protest outside Armenia government building

Rolls-Royce sales rise to record high in 2021

Ombudsman: Azerbaijanis directed gun at Armenia residents car in which his wife, 3-year-old child were

ANCA urges President Biden and Congress to hold Azerbaijan and Turkey accountable for war crimes

Serbia's Orthodox Patriarch tests positive for COVID-19

Cadiz fire head coach

Brothers, sisters of 2020 Artsakh war military casualties to get compensation in lieu of their deceased parents

Gucci honors year of tiger with new incredible collection

Deltacron: New danger or laboratory error?

Turkish authorities sanction arrest of 33 suspected FETO ties

Copper rises in price

Erdogan's spokesman, Biden's adviser discuss Armenian-Turkish relations

Armenia deputy defense minister: No one can rule out border tension at any moment

New commander elected of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh

Dybala, model girlfriend pose topless in photoshoot

Armenia official: Those 100 soldiers absence will not assume any change in terms of border tension

Real arrive in Saudi Arabia

Millionaire Robert Durst dies aged 78

Turkey national team footballer dies in car accident

Reuters: Over 1.13 million cases of COVID-19 detected in US per day

Great Armenian poet Razmik Davoyan dies

2 new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Deputy PM Matevosyan: About 1,190 subvention programs implemented in Armenia from 2018 to 2021

243 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia
President Donald Trump departs the chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives after delivering the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on Feb. 5, 2019. (Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images)

Michigan Governor Will Give Democratic Response to Trumps State of the Union

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas) will give the Democratic rebuttals to President Donald Trumps State of the Union address on Feb. 4, according to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) in a Friday announcement.

Pelosi offered praise of Whitmer in a statement and said shes rolled up her sleeves to get things done in her home state.

During her time in public service, she has led the charge to expand health care to hundreds of thousands of people, expand protections for hard-working middle-class families and ensure clean drinking water in our communities. Her decades of hard work on behalf of the people should serve as a model for our nation. Shes a forward-looking leader who is laser-focused on solving problems for everyday Michiganders and is uniquely qualified to deliver Democrats message of progress for all Americans, she remarked in a statement on her website.

Schumer echoed Pelosis praise, saying Whitmer has a vision for the future that is exactly what this country needs, and Im thrilled she is giving the Democratic response.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer listens to Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) in Clawson, Michigan, on March 18, 2019. (Paul Sancya/File Photo via AP)

This response is an exciting opportunity to show the American people that not only are Democrats getting things done for them, but also for future generations to come, said Whitmer, a Democrat, in a statement.

Escobar will offer the rebuttal in Spanish, coming after Whitmers speech.

I am honored to be delivering the Democratic Spanish-language response to President Trumps State of the Union and look forward to addressing our nation on the progress Democrats have made For the People, Escobar said in a statement.

The opposition party typically gives the rebuttal to the presidents State of the Union speech. Last year, then-Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams offered the rebuttal while California Attorney General Xavier Becerra followed in Spanish.

Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-Texas), center, talks with Reps. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas), left, and Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Penn.) during a House Judiciary Committee markup hearing on the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump in the Longworth House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington on Dec. 12, 2019. (Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images)

In the 2019s State of the Union speech, which was reportedly watched by more than 46 million viewers, Trump spoke of bipartisanship, the U.S. economy and job creation, and a number of foreign policy initiatives.

The lawless state of our southern border is a threat to the safety, security, and financial well-being of all Americans, Trump said at the time. We have a moral duty to create an immigration system that protects the lives and jobs of our citizens.

He also called on lawmakers across the aisle to reject the politics of revenge, resistance, and retributionand embrace the boundless potential of cooperation, compromise, and the common good.

Last years State of the Union was delayed due to the month-long government shutdown that started in December 2018.
For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME.

Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire.

Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III.





to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever.





Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation.





View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union.

Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history.

Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words.




insights from industry Shaun Peterson Global Strategic Manager, Clinical Diagnostics Business Promega Corporation

An interview with Shaun Peterson, Global Strategic Manager, Clinical Diagnostics Business, Promega Corporation

Please give an overview of microsatellite instability (MSI) status and its applications within oncology.

Historically Microsatellite Instability (MSI) has been used to screen for Lynch Syndrome, a dominant hereditary cancer propensity. Recently, MSI status has been rediscovered as a biomarker for prolonged and durable response to immune checkpoint inhibitors, making MSI status an increasingly relevant tool in genetic- and immuno-oncology.

What Is Microsatellite Instability (MSI)? Play

MSI testing functionally measures the genomic accumulation of insertion or deletion (INDEL) errors caused by cells deficient mismatch-repair system (dMMR) that occurs in certain types of solid tumors, and this screening may be used to better characterize tumors and guide therapeutic choices for MSI-High cancer types.

To learn more about both the classical and new utility of microsatellite instability please visit our educational resource.

Also, to learn more about this history of MSI please read this article from our lead R&D scientist:

What recent developments have been made that make the MSI status of tumor tissue important?

May 23, 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval to pembrolizumab for adult and pediatric patients with unresectable or metastatic, microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) solid tumors. This is the first time the agency has granted approval for a cancer therapeutic agnostic to tissue/site of origin indication.

Additionally, on July 31, 2017, the U.S. FDA granted accelerated approval to nivolumab for the treatment of patients 12 years and older with mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) and microsatellite instability high (MSI-H) metastatic colorectal cancer. Since then the agency has made additional approvals for MSI-H tumors.

Tumors with MSI-High status have been shown to respond to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapies. This outcome may be explained by MSI-driven tumor expression of mutation-associated neoantigens (MANA) that are believed to cause immune cell infiltration into the tumor microenvironment. Tumor induced inhibition of immune cell activity can be overcome with ICI therapies, allowing for tumor cell destruction by the immune cells.

What techniques can be used to establish MSI status? What are the advantages and limitations of these methods?

The current Promega Research Use Only MSI assay, is a PCR and Capillary Electrophoresis-based test that is designed to match the robustness needed when working with fragmented DNA extracted from FFPE samples.

Image credit: Promega

The assay is easy to use and has been available and used in the market as part of Lab-Developed Tests since 2004. This patent-protected technology is considered the gold standard molecular assay for detecting DNA mismatch-repair deficiency. Promega intends to seek US FDA approval and CE-IVD marking for its MSI assay to help oncologists and pathologists make treatment decisions for colorectal cancer patients. The MSI Assay is reimbursable, has a fast turnaround time and most importantly there is a large body of evidence supporting use of MSI in colorectal cancer decisions.

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis of the presence or absence of mismatch repair proteins (MMR) is often considered a surrogate and equal analysis method, but peer reviewed literature demonstrates IHC-MMR is not an equal comparison to MSI by PCR. The presence of MMR protein expression is not necessarily a conclusive measure of MMR function. There can be a loss in the function of these proteins without a corresponding loss of the protein in the cell. It has been estimated that 5-12% of MSI-H tumors are not recognized by an IHC test in part because of the expression of non-functional MMR proteins. MSI by PCR directly measures changes in DNA caused by loss of MMR protein function as opposed to measuring the proteins themselves as in IHC. This makes MSI by PCR a functional measure of mismatch repair deficiency that detects loss in MMR repair function, regardless of the origin.

MMR by IHC vs MSI by PCR Play

While there are large NGS cancer gene panels used by specialty service providers that will provide an estimate of the MSI status of a tumor and other signatures of genomic instability, such as tumor mutation burden. However, each laboratory attempts to analyze different loci for MSI and the MSI determination is made using different bioinformatic algorithms. Thus, one should be careful in selecting the laboratory. These types of assays are often quite costly and the long turnaround time argues against using them for MSI determination unless there are other reasons to wait for the results with regard to other cancer markers covered by the panel.

What does Promega offer to determine the MSI status of tissues? What is the workflow of this technique?

The MSI Analysis System, Version 1.2 (RUO), is a fluorescent multiplex PCR-based method for detecting microsatellite instability (MSI). Microsatellites are loci or regions of DNA where one or a few bases are tandemly repeated many times. MSI is a form of genomic instability caused by the insertion or deletion of repeat elements at these loci during DNA replication and the failure of the mismatch repair system (MMR) to correct these errors. This system has been the gold standard test available for clinical research since 2004.

Following DNA isolation, specific mononucleotide sequences within the samples are amplified using polymerase chain reaction performed on a thermocycler. Microsatellite markers can be amplified in multiple, parallel reactions or multiplexed in a single reaction. When multiplexed primers for individual markers are fluorescently labeled, many different fragments of similar sizes can be detected in the same reaction.

Following amplification, the amplified fragments are resolved by size on a capillary electrophoresis instrument. Data analysis is then performed using specialized software developed for fragment analysis.

In a routine research laboratory, the time from sample input to MSI status determination can range from overnight to two days. Most labs use our MSI Analysis System, with data ready for analysis overnight.

What are the advantages and limitations of the Promega MSI assay? How does this compare with other methods to determine MSI status such as IHC or NGS?

Promega MSI Analysis System offers greater analytical accuracy than immunohistochemistry (IHC) for identifying MSI-high samples. The fluorescent multiplex PCR-based method utilizes Promega industry leading forensic STR technology and applies that expertise to the clinical research market. This differentiates the Promega MSI assay from other homebrew MSI techniques that are often not well balanced or multiplexed, which is critical when using DNA extracted from precious tumor samples. Our system has been on the market for over 15 years, with over 140 peer-reviewed publications.

It is easier to use, less expensive and has a faster turnaround than NGS. NGS assays vary from laboratory to laboratory. Most do not use the well-established STR loci in the Promega assay and the loci used vary from test to test. It is difficult to accurately sequence the longer homopolymeric STR regions that are more sensitive indicators of MSI.

Can the Promega MSI assay be used with other techniques? How does this affect the results?

Many guideline committees in the US and EU recommend the utility of co-testing with both MSI by PCR and IHC MMR analysis.

How does this technique affect the detection of different cancers?

Promega MSI Analysis System has been utilized in many pan-tumor clinical trials being conducted around the world, supporting the approvals of several immunotherapeutics in over 16 tumor types.

What is the future of MSI assays from Promega?

In December of 2018, FALCO biosystems of Kyoto, Japan, working in collaboration with Promega and utilizing Promega's microsatellite instability (MSI) chemistry and assay design, obtained companion diagnostic approval for FALCOs MSI-IVD from Japans regulatory agency, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), which detects MSI-High within tumor tissues as a biomarker of DNA repair dysfunction. This is the first pan-tumor companion diagnostic test in Japan. Its intended use is to identify patients suitable for treatment with the anti-PD-1 antibody. The clinical performance study conducted for the kit confirmed the detection capability of MSI-High in 16 different cancer types for stomach, uterine, breast, pancreas, etc. other than colorectal cancer.

Additionally, in January of 2019, Promega Corporations MSI technology was granted the innovation designation by the Chinese National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). Promega MSI technology has been validated in labs around the world. With innovation status, the path to become classified as an in vitro diagnostic (IVD) will gain elevated efficiency by having a program coordinator assigned from NMPA and priority status for multiple processes. We are on track to launch an MSI IVD in China during the second half of 2020.

In our most recent news, Promega is excited to announce a global collaboration with Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, to develop Promegas microsatellite instability (MSI) technology as an on-label, solid tumor companion diagnostic (CDx) for use with Mercks anti-PD-1 therapy, pembrolizumab. The global collaboration will initially seek regulatory approval for the Promega MSI CDx in the United States and China. Plans to seek approvals in additional territories may follow.

Where can readers find more information?

Please visit the following resources:

MSI Educational Resource: www.promega.com/ExploreMSI

Short Educational Videos: What is MSI: https://youtu.be/4u2EK1_3D2o MMR by IHC vs MSI by PCR: https://youtu.be/eqbgU1aTFR8

On-demand Webinar: Past, present and future advances in MSI testing: https://www.promega.com/resources/webinars/worldwide/archive/2019/past-present-future-advances-in-msitesting/

Article about the history of MSI testing: https://www.promega.com/resources/pubhub/features/evolution-of-msi-detection/

Article about a patient journey with Lynch Syndrome: https://www.promega.com/resources/pubhub/features/life-with-lynch-syndrome-carrie-ketcham/

Blog on MSI-High as a biomarker: https://www.promegaconnections.com/msi-biomarker/

See our most recent press releases: www.promega.com/PressReleases

About Shaun Peterson

Shaun Peterson is a Global Strategic Manager in the Clinical Diagnostics Business Unit at Promega and is based at Promegas world headquarters in the United States. Mr. Peterson has worked in Healthcare for 20 years and has been with Promega Corporation for over 5 years. He began his career as a US Army Combat Medic and received further advanced training as an Army Nurse from both the US Armys premier hospital Walter Reed Army Medical Center, located in Washington D.C. and the US Navys National Naval Medical Center, located in Bethesda, Maryland. Following his service in the US Army, Mr. Peterson returned to college studying molecular biology.

Since the completion of his training, he has worked for clinical molecular diagnostics companies as a technical services scientist and also in both global marketing and sales management roles representing molecular products for the genotyping of infectious disease, diseases of heredity and pharmacogenomics for Third Wave Technologies, Hologic, Thermo Fisher Scientific and AssureX Health. Prior to joining Promega Mr. Peterson was the National Sales Director of a neuropsychiatric pharmacogenomics company (AssureX Health) that out-licensed a proprietary technology from the Mayo Clinic and Cincinnati Childrens Hospital.

At Promega Corporation, his focus is in advancing biomarker diagnostics, specifically microsatellite instability (MSI) to support oncology, immuno-oncology and clinical laboratories efforts in patient selection and research.
Speaking at the reception, Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Ngo Duc Manh stressed that in the Vietnam Year in Russia and the Russia Year in Vietnam in 2019, the bilateral relationship has been strengthened as hundreds of activities were organised in the two countries, including visits of high-ranking leaders and cultural exchanges.

Vietnam and Russia will celebrate the 70th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties this year, offering a chance for the two countries to review their achievements, he said.

For his part, Nicolay Nozdrev, head of the Third Asian Department under the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, affirmed that the Russia-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership have been consolidated in all fields over the years despite changes in the region and the world.

The two nations have maintained dialogues in many spheres and effectively coordinated together on international forums, he added.

The Russian diplomat voiced his belief in the sound cooperation between the two countries in 2019 will continue in the following years, especially when Vietnam assumes its role as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in the 2020-2021 term.

At the earlier press conference, Ambassador Manh highlighted Vietnams outstanding achievements in various fields such as politics, foreign affairs and economy in 2019, as well as the countrys activities on international forums.
Former nuns "abandoned" by the Catholic Church, including some who became prostitutes to survive, have been sheltered at a Vatican residence for more than a year, a Brazilian cardinal said.

Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz confirmed the house's existence at an undisclosed location in Vatican City during an interview for the February issue of the Vatican's magazine Women Church World.

In the wide-ranging interview about women's roles in the church, Braz said existence of the home underscored Pope Francis' desire to rectify abuses within the Church, such as nuns who are expelled from their convents with nowhere to go.

"At times they are completely abandoned," Braz said, according to an advance copy of the issue released on Thursday.

"But things are changing. The most significant example is precisely the pope's decision to establish in Rome a house to welcome in from the street nuns who were sent away by us, or by the superiors, especially if they are foreigners."



Braz said he had visited the home, and had found "a world of wounds there, but also of hope."



In some cases, mother superiors had withheld documents from nuns who wanted to leave the convent, and in others nuns were just told to depart.

"These people have entered the convent as nuns and find themselves in this condition. There have even been some cases of turning to prostitution to support themselves," he said. "These are ex-nuns!" Rebuilding trust among this group was paramount, Braz said.

"We need to change the attitude of rejection, the temptation to ignore these people, to say 'it's not our problem anymore'."



The home has been open for a year and a half and now hosts fewer than 10 ex-nuns, Il Messaggero reported Friday, citing the order of nuns who manage it.

The women can stay as long as is needed to sort out their situations and find work. Since becoming pope in 2013, Francis has often focused on helpless members of society, whether migrants fleeing persecution and famine, or the homeless, prisoners and prostitutes.

In 2016, he visited a safe house in Rome for women, many from Africa and Eastern Europe, who had been forced by traffickers into prostitution.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Amid the ongoing debate over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), as many as 154 eminent citizens have written to President Ram Nath Kovind to take action against those indulging in violence in the name of protesting against the Act.

The personalities, which include former judges, civil servants, and defence officers, urged President Kovind to initiate action against such miscreants in order to 'protect democratic institutions'.

Permod Kohli, Central Administrative Tribunal chairman and former judge who led the delegation to meet the President, alleged that the protests against CAA were 'instigated' by political elements. The voice of support from the group came even as voices of dissent from across various sections continue to emerge against the CAA and the Register of Citizens (NRC).

The CAA grants Indian citizenship to refugees from Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Parsi communities fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh and who entered India on or before December 31, 2014.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Malaysians may soon find themselves conducting banking services with names such as Grab, Razer, and AirAsia. Reuters has reported that these companies are now considering a bid for the Malaysian digital banking licence.

This is following Bank Negaras intention to issue up to five digital bank licences  an announcement that was made at the end of the last year.

Interested parties include both banking and non-banking entities. In fact, some of them have begun speaking to consultancies to evaluate market opportunities and potential cooperative efforts.

Gaming firm Razer, for one, has revealed that it is currently in talks with a local conglomerate for a bid for the licence. The chief executive officer of Razer Fintech, Lee Li Meng, said that the company has extensive operations in the digital payments space in Malaysia, and thus would consider the opportunity.

Axiata Digital, which owns the e-wallet Boost, has also expressed an interest in bidding for the digital banking licence. Both Grab and AirAsia, in contrast, declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.

Local bank CIMB, which owns a majority stake in Touch n Go, did not reply to the news portals enquiries. Ant Financial also deflected by saying that it was too early to comment. Maybank declined specific comment as well, but revealed that its existing licence already allows it to operate as a digital bank without having to apply for a new one.

According to Bank Negaras stipulations, the chosen digital banks must be able to offer banking products and solutions to the underserved market in Malaysia. They should also provide access and promote responsible usage of suitable and affordable financial solutions to financial consumers.

Additionally, Bank Negara has also commented that bidders whose equity is controlled by local companies would stand a higher chance of success in their application.

As of now though, applications for the licences have yet to begin. Bank Negara must first finalise the licensing framework for digital banks. The central bank is currently inviting feedback on the exposure draft, and hopes to have things firmed up by the first half of 2020.

(Source: Reuters, Lowyat.NET)

0 0 votes Article Rating

SHARE
Khetabat Mohamed Khan Ila Said ElSheemy (The Letters of Mohamed Khan to Said ElSheemy) (Volumes I & II), (Cairo, AlKarma Books), 2018 and 2019.

This book is the story of a young man, who was not born Egyptian but who identified as nothing but Egyptian, and who had to leave Cairo for London in 1959 with his family, and whose heart and mind were all focused on one thing: to come back to Egypt and to make good movies.

It is also the story of two young men who grew up together and shared a passion for filmmaking that took them both, on parallel paths to become two of the most prominent names in the Egyptian film industry in the 1970s and 198s.

It is about film director Mohamed Khan, whose life in Egypt was interrupted by the need for his Pakistani-born father to leave in the late 1950s, and it is about cinematographer Said ElSheemy.

However, the story is told to the reader through one narrator only: Mohamed Khan.

It is told through the letters that Khan kept sending ElSheemy during his years in England. In those letters, Khan shares with his closest friend his dreams, his frustrations and details of his day-to-day life.

In two consecutive large volumes that were issued in two consecutive years, ElSheemy shares long extracts of this dedicated correspondence.

One day we were having coffee in this particular coffee shop that we frequented often in our neighbourhood and then Khan realised I had kept those letters he had been sending me from England, ElSheemy recalls in his introduction to the first volume, which was titled Khetabat Mohamed Khan Ila Said ElSheemy  Meshwar Hayat (The Letters of Mohamed Khan to Said ElSheemy  Lifes Paths).

Khan, ElSheemy added, was very keen to see those letters, to reflect on things he said and thought in his younger years. He had lost ElSheemys letters to him in the many moves he made from and to Egypt, but he thought that his correspondence would still tell an interesting story, even if it was one-sided.

In 2016, Khan passed away at the age of 74. ElSheemy then decided to go ahead and publish the letters, knowing that this would be to Khans liking, to tell the story of the making of one of Egypts most prominent filmmakers.

In the first volume, ElSheemy included the letters  edited mildly to protect the privacy of some people and not to over-expose intimate information that Khan had shared among friends  he received from Khan between 1959, when Khan was actually boarding the boat to leave Egypt, and 1966.

The second volume, which was titled Khetabat Mohamed Khan Ila Said ElSheemy  Intessar LelCinema (The Letters of Mohamed Khan to Said ElSheemy  the Triumph of Cinema), includes letters from 1967 to 1972.

Both volumes, which come to close to 800 pages with photos, offer a very close insight into the making not just of Khan and ElSheemy, as prominent film industry figures, but also the evolution of the film industry in these years.

There are also the very detailed and thorough remarks Khan often makes to ElSheemy about the films he watched while in England, be it Hollywood productions or European films, which can tell us quite a bit about the evolution of American and European cinemas in these years.

However, these two volumes do not just reflect on the film industry and the diligent efforts of both Khan and ElSheemy, especially the former, to enter it. It is more about the life of two young men who were born in Egypt before 1952, and who grew up in cities and communities that have changed significantly in that time.

The first volume is particularly emotional, as it carries a lot of the sentiments that Khan felt while being almost forced to leave Egypt and while trying to make a new life in London under dire economic conditions, and without any certainty about anything except his inescapable passion for the cinema.

Khans faith in love which is not always so sweet, his fear of and curiosity about death which only hits the body but never the soul and his anticipation of an inevitable return to Egypt are all inundating.

The second volume has a lot more about Khans evolving ideas on filmmaking. He shares with ElSheemy early ideas for possible films that are conceptualised in a great deal of detail.

As Mahmoud AbdelShakour, a film critic, writes in a brief introduction to the first volume: every set of letters that ElSheemy received from Khan in any of the eight years to which this book is dedicated makes a fascinating and exciting read.

Clearly the language is captivating, just like in Khans movies. And the stories of a young, Egyptian-born man who suddenly finds himself in London at the very onset of the exciting 1960s are inevitably interesting.

But as art critic Ahmed Shawky writes in his introduction to the second volume, there is also something that goes way beyond the Khan story, or for that matter, the story of the launch of Khans cinema career. There is, Shawky wrote, the story of this generation of Egyptian men who were born in the early 1940s and who lived to see the end of monarchy, the defeat of 1967 and the crossing of 1973  all of which had considerable impact on their lives.

Unlike constructed memoires, the letters carry a lot of spontaneity and considerable details that keep the reader entertained through the two volumes hundreds of pages.

Each of the volumes is divided into chapters, each of which is dedicated to a set of letters of a certain year  with a commentary from ElSheemy at the end of the chapter that, in a sense, tells a bit of his part of the story, or tries to explain a few points in Khans letters.

ElSheemy is planning a third volume on the remaining letters he received from Khan during the latters years in England.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, has decided to ban the entry of unauthorised persons selling medicines in the hospital

premises.

The move comes after receiving complaints of representatives of private chemists entering wards and patient care areas to sell medicines to patients.

Officials said this is an unethical way of doing business and gives the impression that there is a nexus between them and doctors of the hospital.

Representatives of medical shops from outside are trying to carry out their business unethically by approaching patients and their attendants. Circulars have been issued on the matter from time to time and instructions have been put up at prominent places to generate awareness among the patients, official spokesperson Anil Kumar Moudgil said.

Directions issued by director-cum- principal Dr BS Chavan stated it has been noticed that this unethical practice that is ongoing is completely unacceptable and amounts to malpractice.

It states that this reflects very badly on the functioning of GMCH-32 and gives an impression that there is a nexus between the doctors and private chemists.

No representatives from private chemist shop will be allowed to enter the patient care area for selling medicines to avoid any corruption and malpractice. All heads of departments are requested to make all doctors and staff members working under them to comply with these orders strictly,  directions issued by authorities on Friday states.

A similar order was issued by Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Sector 12, in August last year.

The institute threatened to take legal action against representatives of private laboratories and pharmaceutical companies, who carry out their businesses in an unethical the manner in the hospital premises.

PGIMERs administration has observed that the representatives of private labs approach patients, usually in the outpatient departments (OPDs), and persuade them to undergo medical tests in their labs
Beyond that, it appears that Trump tried to use the threat of auto tariffs to bludgeon European nations into backing him up in his confrontation with Iran. This is, by the way, a clear violation both of U.S. law, which does not give the president discretion to impose tariffs for reasons unrelated to economics, and of our international agreements, which prohibit this kind of bullying.
CARACAS, Venezuela - Eleven young people, mostly teenagers, who were hunting small animals died in a fire that swept through a sugarcane field in Venezuela, authorities said Friday.

Investigators said those who died were trying to catch rabbits and iguanas fleeing a controlled burn Thursday afternoon before strong winds drove the flames in their direction, trapping them.

Attorney General Tarek William Saab said in a national TV broadcast that residents of the community have hunted animals that way for decades.

The fire got out of control in Cagua in Aragua state, 110 kilometres (68 miles) southwest of the capital of Caracas.

Authorities are investigating.
The Humble ISD Livestock Show and Auction is a tradition for the district, dating back to when only one high school participated in 1947.

After 73 years, the auction still provides students with scholarships to afford their animals for the following year or put toward their future goals. The auction was held at the Humble Civic Center on Jan. 23.

The top 10 animals in each category are shown, all coming from the high schools in the district. Students receive 90% of the money won at auction and the remaining 10% goes to maintaining the livestock show for the following year.

Larkin Le Sueur, director of Career and Technical Education, said this is a huge payoff for the students financially to support their future and also emotionally after working for many months to see it come to fruition.

Its all about the kids when it really comes down to it. Everything that we do for the school district is, Le Sueur said. But this event is unique in that it also pulls in all the parents and all the community and all the businesses, and its overwhelming exciting, gives me goosebumps just to think about it.

Related: Humble ISD livestock show starts Jan. 20

Last year, the first place steer was auctioned for $32,000 and bought by Facility Sources. The same company broke the record for Humble ISD this year by buying the grand champion steer Samson for $37,000. The steer was raised by Lexi Stewart, a junior from Kingwood Park High School who plans to go to Blinn College and Texas A&M University. David Terry, Vice President of Facility Sources, said their goal is to show the students the rewards that come from hard work.

By putting forth the effort  you know most of these kids use this money for college education, and its so expensive nowadays, Terry said. So we like to see that theyre rewarded for their hard work and hopefully it pays off for them getting a good education and a good job and the cycle continues that they can come back and theyre able to to pay it forward for somebody else, you know, weve been blessed.

The animals are judged based on having a better bone structure, a good muscle structure and the genetics of the animal. All the animals come from the same breeder, so its about the time and work put in by each student that puts them into their ranking, said Charlotte Bennet, coordinator of Career and Technical Education center.

These buyers that are buy these animals, a lot of them, yes, theyre buying the meat for themselves but many of our buyers buy the meat and donate it to (Lake Houston area nonrofits) HAAM or FamilyTime, Bennet said in an earlier interview. So thats a huge portion of this as well.

Lisa Adams, a parent and volunteer at the auction for six years, organized the line up behind the scenes of the live auction to make sure everything ran according to plan. She said she helped answer students questions and talk them through the showing of their animals.

Its a lot of fun, and it's a lot of energy, Adams said. The kids are full of excitement and questions. Its more of a matter of just staying calm and getting them excited about going up on stage so its a lot of fun.

As students go through the auction stage, the auctioneer describes their future goals. For some, their goals are to work in agriculture at some capacity, including Seth Haynes, a sophomore at Kingwood High School auctioning three rabbits.

FFA has inspired me to become an ag teacher, Haynes said. Its showed me leadership and its been a part of my life for so long, its passed down through generations of my family, and my ag teachers really also help for me to become an ag teacher.

This years livestock show was dedicated to the Phoenix Oil Company, a company that has significantly donated to the auction over the years and donated the meat to the fire department. Jim Ray Rollins, who passed away May 20, 2019, was a bid catcher and volunteered hours with the auction and was honored with a table displaying his bid catcher shirt.

savannah.mehrtens@chron.com
In October last year, Infosys had informed the stock exchanges of having received anonymous whistleblowers' complaints alleging certain unethical practices by the top management.

The SEBI is likely to call for a forensic audit of the books of Infosys as it continues to probe whistleblower allegations of alleged financial irregularities at the company, according to sources.

Following the whistleblower complaints that emerged last year, the regulator had initiated a probe into the matter, a PTI report said.

The sources said "SEBI is likely to call for a forensic audit of Infosys'' books to have a thorough understanding about the allegations.

Former Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) executive director JN Gupta told CNBC-TV18: "If SEBI is going to look into it and say that they want to have a forensic audit then they must have a definite reason for doing that because it is not a case that SEBI would be ordering forensic audit without any solid case."

"So, whatever report that has been submitted to SEBI or whatever information is available to SEBI, probably they feel that the recommendation of a clean chit that has been given may not be right and so they would have done it. However, we are not sure whether Sebi has really done it or not."

It is very unfortunate what is happening with Infosys because the company was considered to be the benchmark of governance practices about three years ago. And, in a short period of two-three years if it is facing two or three inquiries and complaints like this, it is really unfortunate, Gupta said.

He added it was thought that with Nadan Nilekani coming to the helm of affairs probably all these things would be over, but it seems that it is not over.

"Either there is some tough person or somebody who is really behind Infosys and wants to destroy its reputation or it is a real situation where Infosys is really to be blamed, that I would not be able to say but then it raises fingers on people involved, on the whistleblower and everybody because one does not know the truth."

"So, we should have a provision in the law that if a whistleblower has been proved to be wrong, there should be some sort of a liability because just by some complaint you are causing a lot of havoc in the stock market and investors are losing money."

In November, SEBI Chairman Ajay Tyagi said a probe was on into the Infosys matter.

At that time, he had also said one needs to ask either Nandan Nilekani or God on the IT major chairman's assertion about even God can't change the company''s numbers.

The National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA), which comes under the corporate affairs ministry, is also looking into the allegations.

In October, Infosys had informed the stock exchanges of having received anonymous whistleblowers' complaints alleging certain unethical practices by the top management.

Infosys Chairman Nandan Nilekani had said the whistleblower complaint dated 20 September, as well as an undated complaint had been received by one of the board members on 30 September.

In the letter, dated 20 September, and signed by 'Ethical Employees', it was alleged that CEO Salil Parikh as well as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Nilanjan Roy engaged in forced revenue recognition from large contracts not adhering to accounting standards.

The complaints were placed before the audit committee on 10 October, and to the company's non-executive board members on 11 October, also the day when Infosys announced its second-quarter results.

US market regulator SEC has also initiated a probe on the matter, while Rosen Law Firm had said it was preparing a class-action suit to recover losses suffered by Infosys investors in the US.

Back home, SEBI had sought additional information from the company, while the National Financial Reporting Authority (NFRA) - part of the corporate affairs ministry - is also looking into alleged accounting lapses at the firm.

--With inputs from agencies
CICERO, N.Y. -- A 26-year-old Tully man has been arrested and accused of pointing a BB gun at another driver on Brewerton Road, according to New York State Police.

Joseph Vigliotti Jr. has been charged with second-degree menacing, police said in a news release Thursday.

On Jan. 6 at 9:30 p.m., troopers responded to a road rage complaint on Brewerton Road in Cicero, police said. A woman told police that a man later identified as Vigliotti pointed a gun at her after she left a Target parking lot and was driving on Brewerton Road, according to police.

While troopers were unable to find Vigliotti that night, they later found him and two BB gun pistols, police said. He admitted to flashing the BB gun at the woman on Jan. 6 and was arrested Wednesday, according to police.

He was given an appearance ticket and has been released.

Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
Jaipur, Jan 24 : She says that the book saved her in many ways. That it facilitated a certain relief. She wrote it in a strange land. Amidst searching for apartments in the UK, taking care of a small baby and writing a PhD thesis in a language she was not comfortable with .

Well, even the weather was sulking.

But she vividly remembers those long hours in the night, when she went back to her language to write Booker-Prize winning 'Celestial Bodies'. "In those moments, I was close to my own metaphors. I entered a familiar world and its magic through a language which I knew." Omanese writer Jokha Alharthi is in a strange land again. This time, talking about the first book by any Arab to win the prestigious Booker at the Jaipur Literature Festival. But she is relaxed. There are people who can translate for her. But no, she would rather do the talking herself. By now, the world knows her words. And the silences.

We talk about the reaction back home when the news of the award broke and she remembers her photos being put up at malls and the airport. She then smiles and whispers, "But some were not very happy. They expected a better-known and more experienced writer to walk away with it. Also, the fact that many aspects of the Omanese life were made public. Things, which were not really ideal. After all, every society tends to think that it is perfect." Optimistic that the honour will help create a window to the rich Arab literature, she says, "Our literary traditions go back 1700 years and definitely deserve to be acknowledged. I hope my book makes the contemporary generation open its eyes to us." Adding that literature has roots in reality, the author insists that growing up in Oman, which has three sects of Islam and boasts of multiple languages, traditions and diversity in every aspect has helped shaped her sensibilities as a writer. "All that diversity exposes you to so much richness and a multitude of experiences." At a time when 'local experience' is the buzzword, she asserts that an author writes about what she knows, and the world appreciates its international values.

Alharti, whose next book's ('Bitter Orange') English translation will hit the stands in 2021 laughs that she doesn't know when to stop writing. "Probably that's why it took me five years to complete 'Celestial Bodies'. I have to force myself and just send the book to the publisher." Talking about the fantastic English translation of 'Celestial Bodies' by Marilyn Booth, the author says that every language has its own logic that needs to be accepted. "Booth has done a very honest and precise job. Every time she finished a chapter, she would send it to me to read. Many a times, I would send her photographs of things I had written about." As we talk about a male character from her book, she asserts that it would be unfair to assume that only women were repressed. "Even men can be victims. I work with young students and know so many men who have been subjected to so much unfair authority." In these times of Islamophobia, the writer hopes that the world acknowledges the fact that Islamic world is not just full of wars and problems.

Smiling that most people think that whenever a woman writes, she would be telling a tale from her own life, Alharthi says, "Perhaps the world doesn't trust the imagination of women." (Sukant Deepak can be contacted at sukant.d@ians.in)
A former commander of a Mexican federal police unit that worked hand-in-glove with US agents fighting drugs cartels has been indicted in New York on drugs trafficking charges, US prosecutors said Friday. Ivan Reyes Arzate was indicted by a grand jury in Brooklyn on Thursday with three counts of conspiracy to bring cocaine into the United States between September and November 2016. The charges carry a minimum 10-year sentence if convicted, with a maximum penalty of life behind bars. Reyes Arzate, who is being held in a New York prison, appeared before a federal judge on Friday and pleaded not guilty to all charges. The judge agreed with the prosecution and ordered him to remain in custody, citing the danger of him trying to flee the country for Mexico. Reyes Arzate had been chief of the Sensitive Investigative Unit, or SIU, between 2008 and 2016, acting as a key pointman between the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Mexico's security forces. US prosecutors accused him of having "abused his position by providing assistance to Mexican drug cartels in exchange for at least hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes." That assistance included "providing protection for ... drug trafficking activities" of some of Mexico's most notorious cartels, including the Beltran Leyva Organization, known for its extreme violence. The SIU works alongside Mexico police forces and DEA agents to counter drugs trafficking, money laundering and other crimes linked to the powerful cartels. The unit's members receive training at the DEA headquarters in the United States and are kept informed of US operations underway in Mexico. But while he was working alongside the DEA, Reyes Arzate was also passing information to the Beltran Leyva Organization and another cartel known as El Seguimiento 39, as well as other criminal gangs, US prosecutors charged. "With the defendant's corrupt assistance, these cartels conducted their criminal activity in Mexico without significant interference from Mexican law enforcement, and imported multi-ton quantities of cocaine and other drugs into the United States," prosecutor Richard Donaghue said. Reyes Arzate turned himself in to authorities in Chicago in 2018 after being accused of passing on sensitive information about US investigations to Mexican drugs cartels. He was sentenced that same year in Chicago to 40 months in jail, and was due to be released on January 27 and deported to Mexico, the prison service said. But on Thursday a grand jury in New York levelled fresh charges against him of conspiracy to smuggle drugs into the United States. The prosecution has called for his case to be heard by Judge Brian Cogan, who oversaw the trial of Sinaloa cartel boss Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. Cogan is also due to preside over the trial of Mexico's ex-public security chief Genaro Garcia Luna, who was arrested in Texas last month for allegedly taking millions in bribes to help the crime boss smuggle drugs into the United States. The US Coast Guard shows off cocaine and marijuana intercepted in more than a dozen separate raids in the Caribbean in October 2019
Rohingya Muslims celebrated a decision by the International Court of Justice to order Myanmar to protect them, hovering over mobile phones in refugee camps to watch the first legal victory since a military-led crackdown drove them from their homes.

The Hague-based court ordered Myanmar to take urgent measures to protect the minority against further atrocities and preserve evidence of alleged crimes, after mostly Muslim Gambia launched a lawsuit in November accusing Myanmar of genocide.

Thank you Gambia! a group of dozens of refugees sitting on the floor of an NGO office in Bangladesh shouted after the ruling was announced.

For the first time, we have got some justice, said Mohammed Nur, 34. This is a big achievement for the entire Rohingya community.

Hamida Khatun, 50, who said her mother was killed and her husband arrested in Myanmar, said: We are very happy we got justice.

Thursdays verdict dealt only with Gambias request for preliminary measures, the equivalent of a restraining order for states. The courts final decision could take years.

More than 730,000 Rohingya fled Myanmars western Rakhine state in 2017 after a military-led campaign that the United Nations has said was conducted with genocidal intent. Several hundred thousand remain in Myanmar, confined to camps and villages and denied access to education and healthcare.

My Rohingya brothers and sisters... The gate of justice is just opened, Mayyu Ali, a Rohingya poet, wrote on Twitter after the judgement was announced. Now we are protected under the genocide convention.

Rohingya still living inside Myanmar contacted by phone said they hoped the ruling would force the country to improve their situation. We need protection, said Tin Aung, a Rohingya leader living in Myebon township in central Rakhine state, where Muslims have been confined to camps since violence in 2012.

Myanmar officials did not immediately comment on Thursdays verdict. A government spokesman and two military spokesmen did not answer calls from Reuters seeking comment.

The proceedings in the Hague last month galvanized supporters of state counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, who staged rallies across the country chanting Stand with Suu Kyi and waving flags.

There were no gatherings in the commercial capital Yangon on Thursday, though billboards bearing Suu Kyis face still stood at intersections where they were erected weeks ago.

She said on Thursday in an article published by British newspaper the Financial Times that war crimes may have been committed, but denied genocide, saying refugees had exaggerated the extent of abuses against them.

Myanmar was the victim of unsubstantiated narratives by human rights groups and U.N investigators, and could itself punish perpetrators through domestic mechanisms, she said.

But dozens of Myanmar-based civil society groups published a statement on the eve of the verdict welcoming the court case.

Lessons of history have shown that... acts of violence and intimidation were committed with impunity using mechanisms of political power and military might, it said.

After the ruling was announced, Aye Lwin, a Muslim community leader in Yangon, told Reuters he thought the judgement would be a a driving force for people inside Myanmar for reconciliation and unity.

What will happen to us?

The United Nations has said the weeks of violence in Rakhine state in August 2017 included mass killings, gang rape and arson. Hundreds of Rohingya villages were burned to the ground, razed by bulldozers and then scraped shortly after the Rohingya fled.

Some Rohingya expressed worry that the courts ruling would have no impact. While the ruling is legally binding, the court has no mechanism to enforce it.

I am very happy with the ICJs decision, said Zuyarman, a community worker in Maungtaw township, in northern Rakhine state, where many Rohingya villages burned in 2017.

However, I dont know what will happen Is this certainly going to bring good things for people like us?
Tech recruitment

Consulting recruitment

STEM

Local vs Global Alumni Network

Culture and Location

Hi, congrats on getting admits to two really great programs! It's a stellar achievement indeed!My two cents on this:1.Objectively, there's no clear winner. Depending on whether you're a percentage or absolute number person, one school might appear to be better than the other.Students from Haas going into Tech (industry) in 2019 - 33% or 68Students from Kellogg going into Tech (industry) in 2019 - 25% or ~139On a more nuanced level, tech recruitment for internationals is a bit less straightforward as compared to, say, consulting. There's FAANG, there's the next-tier (think Adobe, Oracle, LinkedIn, Zillow, Salesforce, etc.) and then there's the vast world of startups. Because of its geographic presence, strong alumni network in CA, and the regional school factor that you mentioned, Haas will provide you with much more flexibility and width in tech recruitment across all these tiers. Networking will be easier and cheaper, you will find Haasies in tech companies of all sizes and types (not to mention a lot of them with their own startups), and overall you will be in the heart of tech and it's up to you as to how much you can leverage those opportunities and translate them into a full-time job offer.2.Kellogg would be the better school because of MBB hiring numbers.3.Both programs are STEM, but at Haas, you can study whatever you want and you'll still get a STEM certification. At Kellogg, you'll have to pick the Data Analytics pathway to get STEM on your diploma. There's merit to this flexibility in case your plans change during MBA and you want to pursue a career that is not Tech or Consulting, and still reap the OPT extension benefit of STEM.4.If you want to be in Tech and want to be in SF, then Haas is a better bet. I already mentioned the recruitment rationale above, but on a more personal level, most of your fellow Haasies will end up in SF/LA/Seattle post-MBA and you will have a pre-existing social network and support system as you transition back from school to job.However, just like for recruitment and curriculum, I want to make the point about flexibility for the network as well. If you don't want to place all your money on SF/Seattle, a more widespread network in the US would be better for you, and hence Kellogg might score over Haas there. Similarly, a global alumni network should be a factor only when you're thinking of the 'Doomsday scenario', that is, no STEM and no H1B after one-year OPT. Since, STEM will be there with you no matter which of these two programs you choose, you'll be working in the US for three years. By that time, I think the school brand/alumni network should not limit your professional opportunities, and if you continue to network even after business school, you should be fine.5.The culture at both schools is quite similar and you'll find smart, collaborative, and nice people willing to invest in your growth. And I leave it up to you to split hairs between locations.If I were in your shoes, I would pick Haas. And that's what I've voted for. I hope this helps, and good luck with your decision making! The best part is that you can't go wrong here._________________
Video PlayerClose

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses a Chinese Lunar New Year reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 23, 2020. The CPC Central Committee and the State Council held the reception on Thursday in Beijing. [Xinhua/Yao Dawei]

BEIJING, Jan. 23 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday stressed racing against time and keeping abreast with history to reach the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.

"Time and history wait for no one as they are both on the side of hard workers," said Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

Xi made the remarks while addressing a Chinese Lunar New Year reception held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Under the strong leadership of the CPC, all members of the Party, armed forces and people of all ethnic groups must fear no wind or wave, rise up to challenges and keep marching toward the glorious goal of national rejuvenation and the great prospect of building a community with a shared future for humanity, Xi said.

At the reception, held by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, Xi extended Lunar New Year's greetings to Chinese people of all ethnic groups, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and overseas Chinese.

Party and state leaders Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan were among the more than 2,000 people attending the reception. Li Keqiang chaired the event.

Xi noted in his speech that new and significant progress has been made in the past year toward building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

He mentioned major events during the year, including the fourth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland and resolute efforts to safeguard the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao, as well as celebrations marking the 70th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China.

A campaign themed "staying true to our founding mission" was also carried out to demand the more than 90 million Party members remember to always stay with the people.

"In the new year, we must secure a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and fighting poverty," Xi said, adding that achieving this first centenary goal is a milestone in the process of realizing the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.

The results, Xi said, must be recognized by the people and stand the test of time.

Xi said the Chinese nation, with a civilization stretching back over 5,000 years, has made indelible contributions to the civilization and progress of mankind. But the nation was held back for too long by various internal and external troubles in modern times.

That is why, Xi said, the Chinese people have always had an extraordinary sense of urgency and appreciation of the underlying trend of the times.

From now to the middle of this century, the Chinese people will strive to build China into a great modern socialist country. It will be a great era in which a new splendid chapter of the Chinese civilization will be written, he said.

Every Chinese person must feel proud of living in such a great era, Xi said.

"We must maintain strategic direction and resolve, stay united, work hard and forge ahead against all odds," Xi said.

Video PlayerClose

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses a Chinese Lunar New Year reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 23, 2020. The CPC Central Committee and the State Council held the reception on Thursday in Beijing. [Xinhua/Ju Peng]

Video PlayerClose

The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council hold a Chinese Lunar New Year reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 23, 2020. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addressed the reception. [Xinhua/Ding Lin]

Video PlayerClose

Party and state leaders Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan attend a Chinese Lunar New Year reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 23, 2020. The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council held the reception on Thursday in Beijing. [Xinhua/Ding Lin]

Video PlayerClose

Party and state leaders Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan attend a Chinese Lunar New Year reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 23, 2020. The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council held the reception on Thursday in Beijing. [Xinhua/Li Tao]

Video PlayerClose

Party and state leaders Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan attend a Chinese Lunar New Year reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 23, 2020. The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council held the reception on Thursday in Beijing. [Xinhua/Liu Weibing]

Video PlayerClose

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, chairs a Chinese Lunar New Year reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 23, 2020. The CPC Central Committee and the State Council held the reception on Thursday in Beijing. [Xinhua/Liu Weibing]

(Source: Xinhua)
Some village, park and library boards are returning to holding remote meetings, while others are not, as cases of COVID-19 continue to rise.
The families of two fishermen who lost their lives while lobster fishing off Dunmore East, Co Waterford almost seven years ago have settled their High Court actions.

Brothers Paul (49) and Shane Bolger (44) along with another brother Kenny (47) died after their 20ft wooden punt, the Dean Leanne, capsized. They had left Dunmore East at 7am on June 12,2013 to set lobster pots off Brownstown Head.

In the High Court today(Fri) Paul's partner of 28 years, Patricia Moran and Shane's wife Lucy Bolger settled for 250,000 each their actions against the manufacturer and suppliers of an emergency position indicating radio beacon which had been fitted on the Dean Leanne and which it was claimed was allegedly defective.

Counsel for the two families Michael Counihan SC instructed by Emmet Halley solicitor told the court the cases were heavily contested and the settlements did not represent the full value. He said the men had set off fishing early in the morning on June 12, 2013 and the boat which he said was not very big overturned.

The three men who were wearing life jackets when they had left port Counsel said died from hypothermia from being too long in the water. Counsel said the boat was fitted with the beacon which was supposed to send a signal to the emergency services which were fifteen minutes away. Counsel said the beacon did not operate and it was late in the evening when the alarm was raised over the fishermen and their bodies located.

Counsel said the beacon was later located intact and testing on it showed the microprocessor was found to be defective. Counsel said all such beacon devices were subsequently recalled by the manufacturer.

Mr Counihan said the boat was not a large vessel and had machinery on it and there may have been a question on whether it was overweight. Counsel added if the case had gone ahead there may also have been an issue relating to alleged contributory negligence.

Patricia Moran of Checkpoint Co Waterford and who has one daughter and Lucy Bolger of Passage East, Co Waterford who has two children had sued Australian company Standard Communications Pty Ltd, who manufactured and supplied the beacon and Cypress Semiconductor Corpopration with offices at San Jose, California which manufactured the microprocessor in the beacon.

It was claimed a product had been manufactured which was allegedly defective and that a product had been supplied which was allegedly defective and subject to an alleged inherent fault.

It was further claimed the fishermen had been caused to perish and there was an alleged failure to put in place or devise any adequate system whereby the alleged fault which existed in the product could be identified. The claims were denied.

Approving the settlements, Mr Justice Kevin Cross who had earlier said he remembered the tragedy, extended to his sympathies to the families of the dead men on their tragic loss.
A team of nine researchers based in the United States and Burkina Faso will receive the 2019 Newcomb Cleveland Prize, presented by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, for the development of a promising tool in the global fight against malaria and other diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, including dengue and Zika.

Each year since 1923, the Newcomb Cleveland Prize has honored the most impactful research paper published in the journal Science. In this year's winning paper, the authors described how they engineered a fungus to infect mosquitoes that had grown immune to insecticides, inducing rapid population collapse in a simulated village setting.

Every two minutes, a child dies of malaria. In 2018, the World Health Organization reported 228 million cases of malaria and more than 400,000 deaths from the disease worldwide, with 93% of cases and 94% of deaths occurring in Africa. Burkina Faso, a country of just under 20 million people, recorded nearly 8 million cases that year.

These grim figures, however, represent a significant improvement. Since 2010, malaria cases and deaths have decreased by 18% and 28% respectively, largely due to DDT, pyrethroids and other insecticides being applied to bed nets and living spaces. With mosquito populations increasingly developing resistance to insecticides, though, vulnerable communities are in urgent need of new approaches.

A team led by Brian Lovett, then a Ph.D. candidate in the University of Maryland's entomology department, and Etienne Bilgo, a postdoctoral fellow in biomedical sciences at the Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Sante/Centre Muraz in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, developed one such method. By genetically engineering a naturally occurring fungal pathogen to produce a toxin derived from spider venom, they were able to deliver a lethal blow to mosquitoes.

In the researchers' MosquitoSphere, a screen-enclosed experimental environment near a rural village in Burkina Faso, the toxin, which is harmless to humans, killed roughly 75% of insecticide-resistant mosquitoes and caused an established population to collapse within 45 days. These results from the MosquitoSphere, which the team built to mimic the natural environment -- with appropriate vegetation, breeding sites and blood sources for mosquitoes -- are an important step toward epidemiological field studies of the technology.

"The study is one of extraordinary scope and creativity," said Holden Thorp, editor-in-chief of Science and chair of the Newcomb Cleveland Prize Selection Committee. "Not only is it a highly clever idea to use a fungus to transmit insect-selective toxins, but the breadth of the study, from engineering the fungus all the way through demonstrating the viability of the approach, is superb and meets all of our highest standards."

Established with funds donated by Newcomb Cleveland of New York City, the AAAS Newcomb Cleveland Prize recognizes the author or authors of an outstanding paper published in the Research Articles or Reports sections of Science. Stephen P. A. Fodor, who received the prize in 1992, established an endowment in 2019 to help sustain it in perpetuity.

Papers published between June 2018 and May 2019 were eligible for this year's award. Along with a medal and $25,000 in prize money, the winners receive complimentary registration and reimbursed travel expenses to attend the AAAS Annual Meeting.

The authors of the winning paper, "Transgenic Metarhizium rapidly kills mosquitoes in a malaria-endemic region of Burkina Faso," published in the May 31, 2019, issue of Science, will receive the award during the 186th AAAS Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 13, 2019.

###

About the American Association for the Advancement of Science

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world's largest general scientific society and publisher of the journal Science, as well as Science Translational Medicine; Science Signaling; a digital, open-access journal, Science Advances; Science Immunology; and Science Robotics. AAAS was founded in 1848 and includes more than 250 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals. Science has the largest paid circulation of any peer-reviewed general science journal in the world. The nonprofit AAAS is open to all and fulfills its mission to "advance science and serve society" through initiatives in science policy, international programs, science education, public engagement and more. For the latest research news, log onto EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

For more information on AAAS awards, see http://www.aaas.org/awards.

AAAS is the world's largest general scientific society, dedicated to "Advancing science - Serving society."
katrin bennhold

So we first got on the train to France.

clare toeniskoetter Can we just take this four-person, right here? lynsea garrison Yeah.

katrin bennhold

France is one of the founding members of the European Union. It had been at war with Germany on and off for centuries, so it was also very invested in the idea of a united Europe. But recently, France has seen a lot of social unrest, the Yellow Vests. Theyve been out in the streets, protesting on roundabouts and in the center of Paris against this young, dynamic new president, Emmanuel Macron, who just a couple of years ago, a lot of people in Europe saw as the next leader of a liberal Europe. And now, there is this really angry movement that is rejecting him and everything he stands for as elitist, as undemocratic even, and somehow as not French  not serving the interests of ordinary French people.

train announcement [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

So by questioning Macron, this movement is really also questioning Europe.

[guitar playing and whistling] clare toeniskoetter Thats pretty good. [MUSIC] Maybe we should change our tune. [guitar playing and whistling] speaker Yeah, its finished! [cheering] clare toeniskoetter Thank you!

katrin bennhold

From The New York Times, this is The Daily. Im Katrin Bennhold. Today: France. Its Tuesday, June 11.

katrin bennhold Reims. clare toeniskoetter Reims. katrin bennhold Try again. Reims. clare toeniskoetter Reims. lynsea garrison Reims. katrin bennhold Yeah, good.

katrin bennhold

So we get off the train in Reims 

clare toeniskoetter I cant do that R.

katrin bennhold

 in this city in northern France, and in the middle of this region that makes champagne.

katrin bennhold [SPEAKING FRENCH] speaker [SPEAKING FRENCH] katrin bennhold [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

We grab a cab. And were driving into town, because weve heard that theres a group of Yellow Vest protesters who come every day to this one roundabout. And as were driving along, the taxi driver pointed out this shuttered factory. And he said, look.

speaker [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

Heres an example of a factory that has moved to Hungary, because its cheaper to produce there. And guess what? Hungary is also part of the European Union. So this is what Europe is all about. It placed the working-class people of one country against the working-class people of another.

clare toeniskoetter

So the first guy we meet is unhappy with the European Union.

katrin bennhold

Yeah.

clare toeniskoetter

And what did he say about the Yellow Vests?

katrin bennhold [SPEAKING FRENCH] speaker [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

So this guy said he wasnt a member of the Yellow Vest movement, but he said he supported them. And this is something that the polls show very clearly in France, that more than half of the French people support this grassroots movement against the government and against Europe.

clare toeniskoetter Oh, here. Here. katrin bennhold Oh, yeah. There we go.

katrin bennhold

So we arrive at this roundabout. Its basically this massive highway intersection on the outskirts of Reims, in the middle of suburbia. Youve got these emblematic, big company names around you. Youve got a big Ikea. Youve got a K.F.C. And on the other side, a Burger King.

lynsea garrison It smells like campfire.

katrin bennhold

And on one side, in a sort of grassy corner of this roundabout, is a blazing bonfire and a small wooden shelter, clearly handmade, maybe the size of a one-car garage behind, with a French flag blowing in the wind. And a number of people huddled around the fire with their bright, yellow, reflective vests.

clare toeniskoetter Bonjour!

katrin bennhold

So when we first walked up to this group of people around the fire, they looked at us with a little bit of suspicion. And we sort of hung back a little, until this woman approached us.

katrin bennhold [SPEAKING FRENCH] chlo [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

Her name is Chlo, and she was a sort of small woman, but standing very upright, looking very serious.

katrin bennhold [SPEAKING FRENCH] Im just going to read the back of Chlos yellow vest. Theres actually a slogan in the back. It says, Stop Mr. Macron.

katrin bennhold

And shes written anti-Macron slogans on the back of her yellow vest, which she had decorated with a lot of pins.

katrin bennhold Macron, you cant just milk us like cows. Mr. Macron, reduce your own salary.

katrin bennhold

She told me that she had six kids.

katrin bennhold [SPEAKING FRENCH] Cloe has six children.

katrin bennhold

Something like a dozen grandchildren.

chlo [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

But she also tells me shes kind of the mother of the roundabout.

chlo [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

And she says that shes been here pretty much every single day since the beginning, November 17, 2018. It was clear to us that if we wanted to talk to anybody else, we had to get her permission. So we asked her, do you think these people would mind if we approached them? And she turned around. We faced her back.

chlo [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

Do you want to speak to these journalists? Is it O.K. if they take photos and talk to some of you? And everybody nodded and said, O.K., why not?

katrin bennhold [SPEAKING FRENCH] chlo [SPEAKING FRENCH]

clare toeniskoetter

Who else did we meet?

katrin bennhold

So we meet a whole cast of characters there.

micheline [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

We meet Frederick and Micheline.

frederick [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

This couple of retired vignette workers, who basically spent their entire life making champagne on minimum wage. And now, theyre complaining of back problems after all these years of hard work.

frederick [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

Theyre sort of in charge of comic relief, here. They make everybody laugh.

rene [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

And we meet Rene.

rene [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

Hes a retired electrician in a wheelchair. Hes the oldest of 16 children and said that he started working at 14.

rene [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

He heard about the Yellow Vest movement on TV, last November. Then he came to see it and has been here ever since.

monique [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

We meet Monique, a retired woman.

monique [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

Monique has been working for 43 years, she said, and now makes a pension of about 700 euros a month. She tells us that the first time she came to the roundabout, she was just overwhelmed by the kindness here.

clare toeniskoetter

What else did they tell us?

katrin bennhold

So a lot of them were telling us how this movement started.

speaker [SPEAKING FRENCH] [MUSIC]

katrin bennhold

It was last fall when President Macron announced an increase in gas taxes.

archived recording [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

And this angered a lot of people, and they started posting these videos on Facebook.

archived recording [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

And they started calling for protests across France.

archived recording [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

And in one video, someone suggested that people take these yellow, reflective vests 

archived recording [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

 and use them as a symbol of solidarity. Because in France, everybody is required by law to have these vests in the back of their cars. So very soon, people started gathering across the country for these protests. And they wore these yellow vests.

archived recording [COMMOTION]

katrin bennhold

This idea that gas prices would now be $6 a gallon, roughly, was a slap in the face to a lot of these people, who worked very hard and, as it was, struggled to make ends meet. And it was emblematic of a president who lived in the Paris bubble, in a city with good public transport, who didnt really have to worry about money nor getting from A to B in a car. So there was a sense that this president was putting these lofty globalist ideas and these European values ahead of just regular French people, who are often struggling. For working-class people, it was an insult.

speaker [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

And this became a country-wide grassroots movement.

clare toeniskoetter

So all these people gather all across the country in Paris, in cities like Reims. What are their goals?

katrin bennhold

The one goal that unites everybody on that roundabout was that they want to see Macron gone.

speaker [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

The hatred of this president was so visceral, Id never seen anything like it.

speaker [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

It was almost like after Macron, people here were kind of done with leaders. They told me they dont even want a leader for their own movement. They want direct democracy. They want the voice of the people to be heard. They want referendums, they told me. And beyond that, you cant even really classify this movement as being either on the right or on the left.

katrin bennhold [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

This was actually, mostly, an apolitical movement that was just fed up with politics and had become politicized through that.

speaker [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

And one man I met said he had actually voted for Macron in the last election. And he had had great hopes in him. He trusted him to change France for the better.

speaker [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

But two years in, he said, he felt completely disillusioned and betrayed by this man.

speaker [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

He had voted on the left. He had voted for Macron. And now, he said 

speaker [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

 he was going to vote for Marine Le Pen, this far right politician who has been trying to sell her euroskeptic, anti-immigrant vision of France first to the Yellow Vest movement. But my main impression from those conversations on the roundabout was that people were motivated by a desire to humiliate Macron, first, and to basically tear him down.

speaker [SPEAKING FRENCH]

clare toeniskoetter

So if theyre not a political movement, what are they actually doing?

katrin bennhold

So one of the things that theyve been doing regularly, and the thing that probably most people are aware of, because youve seen it on television, is these Saturday marches. And these marches, at times, have become quite violent on both sides, between the police and the Yellow Vests. But then beyond that, and in a very decentralized fashion across the country on these little roundabouts, they will just step into traffic in their Yellow Vests, in little groups. And they will slow down traffic, even stop traffic, and they will engage people.

speaker [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

And while we were there, this started happening.

lynsea garrison Crossing the street. Lets see what they do.

katrin bennhold

About half of them start running out onto the street. And they start disrupting traffic, actively.

[honking] speaker [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

And they do it in a very friendly, polite way. They start engaging with drivers, talking to them, handing flyers through their windows. And they say 

speaker [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

 please, would you mind putting your yellow vest on your dashboard? Thank you. Please, put your yellow vest on your dashboard. Thank you.

speaker [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

Please, would you mind putting your yellow vest on your dashboard? Thank you. Thank you.

speaker [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

An so the point of these actions, mainly, it seemed, was to get solidarity from a larger part of the population, beyond the actual movement  to have these very visible signs of support, like the yellow vest in front of their cars, visible on the dashboard.

speaker [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

Eventually, they started very confidently, casually almost, marching across the street, and singing their songs, and chanting, revolution! And it was a very joyous, very powerful moment, where this small group of elderly protesters in their yellow vests, across this roundabout, with a lot of cars honking in support, and they were crossing the street.

[commotion]

katrin bennhold

So then suddenly, the sky breaks open.

[thunder]

katrin bennhold

And its like the mother of all thunderstorms that comes down on us on this roundabout. It is the middle of the afternoon. And within two minutes, were all drenched. Its pouring down, and thunder, and lightning. Its super dramatic.

[shouting]

katrin bennhold

And basically, everybody laughs and sings and keeps chanting, revolution, and then sort of runs through this incredible downpour.

[shouting]

katrin bennhold

And seeks shelter in the tiny wooden hut. And people huddle together and look outside into the dark sky as this downpour unfolds and comes down on the bonfire.

speaker [SPEAKING FRENCH]

clare toeniskoetter

And whats it like in the shelter?

katrin bennhold

It was kind of like a microcosm of the French way of life that these people are trying to protect. You had a little bar on the left with coffee, and pastries, and some potatoes.

speaker [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

You had a sofa on the right with a few petanque balls on the floor.

clare toeniskoetter

Whats petanque?

katrin bennhold

Its a bit like croquet. Its a quintessentially French thing. So on this tiny space, this seven square meters, you have people crowding on the sofa, singing the Marseillaise, the national anthem, laughing, chatting and drinking coffee.

[singing]

katrin bennhold

Its all incredibly civilized, and jovial, and incredibly French.

clare toeniskoetter

I felt so much camaraderie in this room.

katrin bennhold

Yes. Here we were on this really not very pleasant piece of land. It was muddy. It was noisy, surrounded by highways. And yet, they had created this sort of community.

clare toeniskoetter

It really felt like a living room.

katrin bennhold

You sort of wondered whether it was real, that this may be wishful thinking, that there may be a lot of naivete, that how could this ever get anywhere without leadership, without organization? But there was something so vibrant, and optimistic, and so determined. The simple fact that there was a dozen people who had come to this muddy roundabout every single day since November 17th last year  that, in itself, is an incredible achievement.

speaker [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

So a lot of people on that roundabout told me they werent there for themselves. They said they were there for their children and for their grandchildren. They basically said they were there for the next generation. Now, France doesnt have the same levels of inequality as the United States or even Britain. But inequality has been rising here, too. And young people are particularly affected by this. Youth unemployment is high, and poverty among those under the age of 25 has actually been increasing in recent years. So when I spotted a young girl in the back of the shelter, I wanted to talk to her. And so I went over.

elisa [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

Elisa is 12. Her mother, Helene, is one of the Yellow Vesters.

katrin bennhold [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

She said shes really proud of her mom.

elisa [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

And she said, shes creating a better world, a world in which people talk to each other more on the streets and spend less time on their telephones.

katrin bennhold [SPEAKING FRENCH] speaker [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

So then, just as suddenly as the rain had started, it stopped. And the sky brightened, and we stepped out. And the fire was still going.

[fire crackling] [singing]

katrin bennhold

Well be right back.

speaker [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

So by now, its 6:30 in the evening, and the girl, Elisa, needs to head home with her parents, Jeremy and Helene. But we want to keep talking, so they invite us over.

speaker [SPEAKING FRENCH] [buzzer]

katrin bennhold

So we get to their apartment. Its on the top floor. And when we come in, we find this very sparsely decorated but very homey space. There are a lot of plants. Theres a lot of fabric. And when we get to the living room, the whole family is sitting around the table  Helene, her husband, Jeremy, an electrician, their three children, Hugo, Luna and Elisa. Theyre all high school-aged  18, 14 and 12. And whats really obvious is that the children really want to take part in this conversation. Theyre all taking extra chairs and huddling around the table with us.

clare toeniskoetter

And their dog.

katrin bennhold

Their dog! How could I forget?

[dog barking] katrin bennhold [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

So Jeremy and Helene were neighbors as children. They grew up next to each other.

clare toeniskoetter

In Reims?

katrin bennhold

In Reims.

jeremy klein [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

Both of them are from working-class families. Jeremys father worked in a factory. Helenes father was a policeman. And they spoke of a sort of modest but comfortable upbringing.

jeremy klein [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

They both started working as teenagers. Jeremy at 15, Helene at 16.

jeremy klein [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

When they first started working, they said things werent so bad. Work hours were reasonable. Salaries increased from one year to the next. But at some point, Jeremy, in particular, said that life started getting really tough.

jeremy klein [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

The thing that made him mad was the eastward expansion of the European Union. He mentioned companies that would come from other countries, Eastern European countries, that were able to undercut companies like his own in competing for contracts.

jeremy klein [SPEAKING FRENCH] helene [SPEAKING FRENCH] jeremy klein [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

He mentioned people from those countries eventually coming to France and competing directly with people like him for jobs. And so increasingly, there was a sense that their salaries and their job opportunities were stagnating. Their living standards were stagnating. And when his dad was able to buy a house in his 30s with a young family, Jeremy felt that he can barely make ends meet.

jeremy klein [SPEAKING FRENCH] katrin bennhold [SPEAKING FRENCH] jeremy klein [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

He struggles to pay his bills. He has to borrow money from his own parents, and he feels humiliated by this.

helene [SPEAKING FRENCH] jeremy klein [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

He seemed tired, frustrated, and he had aged beyond his age. He was only 38 and a very handsome man, but he looked older.

jeremy klein [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

He said he wishes he could take his children to the cinema. He wants to take them bowling.

jeremy klein [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

And he summed it all up by saying 

jeremy klein [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

 we dont live. We just work.

helene [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

And his wife, Helene, she said sometimes, she just cries.

helene [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

There days, she says, when all she has is two euros to cook for five people, two meals. She says she goes to the shop, buys a pack of pasta, buys a pack of bacon, and makes two meals.

helene [SPEAKING FRENCH]

clare toeniskoetter

What do they do with all this frustration?

katrin bennhold [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

So for most of their lives, theyve stayed away from politics. Jeremy told me that his parents have always voted. And he said, and look where that got us to. So he said, whats the point of voting?

jeremy klein [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

So at some point, they start hearing about the Yellow Vest movement. And at first, they really think its not for them. Jeremy told us he thought, this is for people on the minimum wage. This is for people who are unemployed. This is for really poor people, he said.

jeremy klein [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

But then they hear some more about it. And at some point, he decides to check it out, and they go. And it was a revelation for them. They arrived on this roundabout, and they realized they knew a lot of people there. And the ones that they didnt know, they met. And they discovered that a lot of the people there on that roundabout had very similar experiences to their own. And what I found really striking is how they expressed the sense of relief that they werent the only ones.

jeremy klein [SPEAKING FRENCH] helene [SPEAKING FRENCH] [MUSIC]

katrin bennhold

Well be right back.

jeremy klein [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

So over the course of the evening, over and over again, I saw this family that was angry not just with Macron, but with Europe.

jeremy klein [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

The European Union had caused wage stagnation. The European Union had increased unemployment. The European Union had basically created the sense of a race to the bottom. So Jeremy was pretty clear when I asked him whether he felt European.

jeremy klein [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

He said, not at all.

jeremy klein [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

He said, I feel French. Only French.

clare toeniskoetter

And what about their kids, Katrin?

katrin bennhold

Luna, whos 14, sounded completely disillusioned, already.

luna [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

She said, Europe? What is Europe? Europe, to me, is not much. Its just a group of countries trading together.

clare toeniskoetter [SPEAKING FRENCH] What do you want to be?

katrin bennhold

We ask her what she wants to be when she grows up.

luna [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

And she told us she would love to work with animals. But then she pauses.

luna [SPEAKING FRENCH]

katrin bennhold

And she said thats just a dream, and that shes probably going to end up following into her fathers footsteps and become an electrician. She didnt feel like she had a choice.

clare toeniskoetter

And what do you make of all this?

katrin bennhold

I think, despite all the camaraderie that we saw on the roundabout, and despite the optimism around the table at Jeremy and Helenes house, this movement has been fading. Its been dwindling in numbers. And for the moment, it doesnt look like something that is going to last or grow into something that can lead people credibly out of crisis and provide a future avenue for them, with real, substantive solutions to these very real and pressing challenges. [MUSIC] A couple of years ago, we all saw Macrons rise. And we thought, heres a man. And this man made a movement. And now, the question is this counter-movement. Can it make a man? Can it make a woman? Can it make a leader? Will there be somebody, some face to this movement that will take it forward in a more strategic way? But that hasnt happened yet. And if it doesnt happen, then the question is, where will this go next? Where will these people go next?

clare toeniskoetter Merci.

katrin bennhold

So ahead of these E.U. elections, I find myself wondering, could the members of this Yellow Vest movement be tempted by the far right? By someone like Marine Le Pen and her party, which stands for these anti-liberal, anti-E.U. values that would address some of their frustrations, but at the same time is so all-consumed with immigration, a subject that really wasnt something that came up a lot in the conversations with the people we met? So the question, I guess, is at this point, are people in this movement prepared to put someone like Marine Le Pen into power just because theyre so angry with everybody else? And recent polling suggests they might.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has also condemned the latest Transparency International report that ranked Nigeria the fourth most corrupt country in West Africa and the 34th in the world.

The commission said the anti-corruption watchdogs index may have ignored the measures being taken by President Muhammadu Buharis administration to fight corruption.

2019 Transparency Internationals corruption perception index released on Thursday, scored Nigeria 26 out of 100 points, leading to a drop in two places from 144th to 146th position out of the 180 countries that were surveyed worldwide.

PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday reported ICPCs sister anti-corruption agency, the EFCC, and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, condemning the TI index. The EFCC described the report as baseless and appalling.

Report Inaccurate

Taking a similar position, the ICPC In a statement on Friday challenged TI to publish its research parameters so that its data can be disaggregated, rather than build its rankings on a few issues such as political corruption.

It said the reality on the ground measuring the physical impact of the anti-corruption fight of the current administration is different from the perception concluded by the Transparency International index.

ICPC hereby states categorically that the report is unfair and untenable as Transparency International has consistently failed to recognise the efforts of the government to tame corruption.

These efforts include the increasing number of cases filed in court and jail terms secured in several convictions against corrupt persons across all levels of society, including hitherto sacred cows.

More importantly, the strides of government in relation to corruption prevention measures appear to have been totally ignored. Perception is one thing, the reality is another. To lend credence to perception, it may be helpful to match it against reality especially when information on perception is coming from a source such as TI, the ICPC said.

The commission said Nigeria has made significant progress in asset recovery, leading the African continent at large.

It highlighted key achievements of the Buhari administrations, such as the implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information (IPPIS), the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS); and Treasury Single Account (TSA).

It added that the country had also improved in its rating on open government standards as the government continues to operationalise the 14 commitments enunciated in the Nigeria OGP National Action Plan.

The ICPC said: In recognition of the seminal role of prevention in anti-corruption work, ICPC recently released its report of the system study and review exercise on the use of the Personnel Cost and Capital Development Fund in 201 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Allied to this report is also the highly publicised work of the Commission in tracking the use of the funds released for Constituency Projects and the report on the deployment of Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard in 280 MDAs.

The reports on these initiatives provided very important policy recommendations to government on corruption prevention which are being acted on, including the restraining of several billions of Naira from release to MDAs which had stood the risk of misappropriation and embezzlement as well governments recent directive that all MDAs including tertiary education and health institutions get captured on the IPPIS for transparency and accountability on the use of Personnel Cost for Federal Government employees.

Going forward, it would be helpful if TI would publish its research parameters so its data can be disaggregated rather than build its rankings on a few issues such as political corruption. No doubt we are not yet where we ought to be, but we have not been stationary either.

The country has moved well away from where it was a number of years back in terms of enforcement, prevention and citizen engagement against corruption.

ICPC is firmly persuaded that the silent majority of Nigerians appreciate the anti-corruption efforts of the government led by President Muhammadu Buhari even if TI does not. We shall not be distracted but continue to forge ahead, the commission stated.
PA Media: Video

Tottenham boss Antonio Conte says it is down to the club whether they make any signings during the transfer window. Conte has presented his assessment of the squad from his first two months at the club to chairman Daniel Levy and managing director of football Fabio Paratici. I spoke with the club and I had my thoughts about the situation, the Italian said. I think this is the most important thing, then the club have to decide the best way to go. I can give a lot of work to clubs I worked at in the past and now in the present. I can give this and then the decisions are for the club, not for me. The last word is always for the club.
DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Andrey Guryev, CEO of PhosAgro and head of the Russian Fertilizer Producers Association, took part in a panel session called 'Fathers and Sons: ESG Issues and the Generation Gap', which took place at Russia House as part of the business programme of the 50th World Economic Forum in Davos.

The panel also included Greg Abovsky, Operating and Financial Officer at Yandex; Alexander Ivlev, CIS Managing Partner, Deputy Regional Accounts Leader for Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe & Central Asia at EY; Aleksey Kozlov, Member of the Management Board and Managing Director at SIBUR; Brian Pallas, Founder, Chairman of the Management Board and Chief Executive Officer at Opportunity Network; Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development; Christoph Schweizer, Managing Director, Senior Partner and Chairman for Central and Eastern Europe and Middle East at BCG; and Alexei Yakovitsky, Global Chief Executive Officer at VTB Capital.

Panel moderator Tom Blackwell, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of the corporate communications agency EM, started the discussion by noting that the forum in Davos, where US President Donald Trump and Swedish activist Greta Thunberg spoke with opposing views on environmental issues, was a clear illustration of the generation gap.

Mr Blackwell asked Mr Guryev whether constructive dialogue between generations was possible despite seemingly radical differences.

"To solve any problem, you need a balanced, constructive approach. Instead of going to extremes, we must work together to solve existing problems."

"It is clear that responsible businesses today recognises that, without a commitment to the principles of sustainable development, we will not be able to tackle the challenges that we are already aware of: the need to ensure food security for a growing population, the threat of soil degradation and environmental problems."

"The example of PhosAgro is meaningful in this context. With our fertilizers being used in 102 countries around the world, we are one of the guarantors of global food security. Our environmentally friendly fertilizers do not harm the soil, which is especially important in view of the urgent issue of soil degradation."

"We understand our global responsibility, and we are making a real contribution to the achievement of 10 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Company's success has drawn the attention of the UN: PhosAgro was granted LEAD status as one of the 36 most engaged participants of the Global Compact, a platform for socially responsible businesses that are making considerable contributions to the achievement of the SDGs."

"And more and more attention is being paid to sustainable development in Russia in general. Russia acceded to the Paris climate agreement. The SDGs are the basis for 12 national projects approved by presidential decree. Leading [Russian] companies in terms of sustainable development have declared their commitment to the SDGs; they have identified priorities and indicators and are making them a part of their strategies and operational activities," said PhosAgro CEO Andrey Guryev.

He added that Russian agribusiness is able to produce the safest food in terms of human health by using environmentally friendly Russian fertilizers that are free from concentrations of cadmium and other harmful substances.

"In this context, Russian President Vladimir Putin's initiative to create a 'Green Standard' for environmentally friendly agricultural products from Russia is very timely. It will emphasise the environmental friendliness of Russian agricultural products throughout the food production chain from soil to plates, guarantee their safety in terms of human health and confirm the Russian agricultural sector's competitive advantage in global markets. PhosAgro has been playing an active role in the development of the Green Standard. In Davos, my colleagues and I have been discussing the issue of stepping up concerns for human health in this context," said Mr Guryev.

Christoph Schweizer, Managing Director, Senior Partner and Chairman for Central and Eastern Europe and Middle East at BCG, noted that food market research has confirmed a willingness on the part of consumers to pay for properly produced goods. According to Mr. Schweizer, ESG issues add value rather than taking it away.

"In addition, companies that demonstrate success in terms of ESG attract excellent, highly motivated and highly educated employees. Consequently, we have a lot of evidence that investing in ESG is profitable", said Mr. Schweizer, adding that the leaders of many large companies from the generation of 'fathers' see ESG issues in the same way as the younger generation."

According to VTB Capital Global CEO Alexei Yakovitsky, good ESG performance gives Russian companies "an opportunity to stand out and create a kind of premium" for their valuation.

"If you take a look at this issue and study it, a huge number of leaders in the chemical industry, fertilizers, steelmaking and the electric-power industry are starting to issue or have already issued debt instruments that include a certain premium - a reduced rate - primarily by European investors, for compliance with environmental regulations. Russia, even in the European context, is at the forefront," said Mr Yakovitsky.

He added that ESG could be the factor that sets geopolitics aside and serves as the basis for higher valuations of Russian assets by investors. Alexander Ivlev, CIS Managing Partner, Deputy Regional Accounts Leader for Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe & Central Asia at EY, agreed with the other participants and confirmed that the performance of Russian companies in terms of ESG was no worse than that of leading global companies. This is particularly important, as ESG issues are becoming some of the decisive factors when making investment decisions.

"The statistics are clear: five years ago, only 50% of investors were demanding non-financial reporting. Today, 97% of investors who show up to discuss investment opportunities are asking for non-financial reports about the companies they're investing in," said Mr Ivlev.

About PhosAgro

PhosAgro (www.phosagro.com) is one of the world's leading vertically integrated phosphate-based fertilizer producers in terms of production volumes of phosphate-based fertilizers and high-grade phosphate rock with a P 2 O 5 content of 39% and higher. PhosAgro's environmentally friendly fertilizers stand out for their high efficiency, and they do not lead to the contamination of soils with heavy metals.

The Company is the largest phosphate-based fertilizer producer in Europe (by total combined capacity for DAP/MAP/NP/NPK/NPS), the largest producer of high-grade phosphate rock with a P 2 O 5 content of 39% and one of the leading producers of MAP/DAP globally, one of the leading producers of feed phosphates (MCP) in Europe, and the only producer in Russia, and Russia's only producer of nepheline concentrate (according to the RAFP).

PhosAgro's main products include phosphate rock, 39 grades of fertilizers, feed phosphates, ammonia, and sodium tripolyphosphate, which are used by customers in 100 countries spanning all of the world's inhabited continents. The Company's priority markets outside of Russia and the CIS are Latin America, Europe and Asia.

PhosAgro's shares are traded on the Moscow Exchange, and global depositary receipts (GDRs) for shares trade on the London Stock Exchange (under the ticker PHOR). Since 1 June 2016, the Company's GDRs have been included in the MSCI Russia and MSCI Emerging Markets indexes.

More information about PhosAgro can be found on the website: www.phosagro.com.




A man is believed to have shot dead his mother and father and four other people in a town in southwest Germany on Friday, police said, leaving two others seriously wounded.

The 26-year-old suspect 'called the police station in Aalen at 12:48 pm (1148 GMT) to inform them he had shot several people,' police chief Reiner Moeller told reporters in a press conference hours after the killings in Rot am See, near Baden-Wuerttemberg state capital Stuttgart.

The young man stayed on the line, and when the first officers arrived minutes later at the hotel where the shooting took place, they immediately arrested him outside.

Police swoop in on the area in the southwestern German town of Rot am See, Baden-Wuerttemberg, where six are believed to have been shot dead

Police kept him on the phone while heavily armed cops were scrambled to the scene and detained him shortly before 1pm.

'They were then able to identify six dead people both inside and behind the building,' Moeller said, including three men aged 36, 65 and 69 and three women aged 36, 56 and 62.

Images from the scene showed large numbers of emergency vehicles and heavily armed officers sealing off the area with red and white police tape.

Meanwhile forensics teams dressed in white coveralls moved in to secure evidence.

The shooter opened fire at the building shortly after midday in the southwestern town of Rot am See, Baden-Wuerttemberg, 105 miles northwest of Munich. Heavily armed cops (pictured) descended on the scene today

Officers gather near the crime scene which is reported to be a German bar

Two survivors of the attack are receiving medical treatment, with one of them 'in danger for his life,' police chief Moeller said.

The shooter had also threatened two children aged 12 and 14, leaving them shaken but unharmed.

Investigators have so far been unable to discover anything about the motive of the suspect, saying he would be questioned only when his lawyer arrived at the police station.

So far the police have been able to confirm only that two of the dead were the suspect's father and mother.

'We are still clarifying the other relationships' between the group, Moeller said.

Two people were also confirmed injured by police, who downgraded the number of non-fatal casualties from 'several'.

Police found the six dead bodies sprawled in and behind the hotel.

Spokesman Rudolf Biehlmaier said: 'According to my information, there were six dead and several injured.

'We are working on the assumption that this was a single attacker. In any case, we have no information on further suspects.'

Pictures from the scene show a large police presence in what appears to be a residential neighbourhood.

The perpetrator himself, a German citizen, lived in the hotel along with some of the victims, near the station in the town of 5,200 people.

Forensic teams in southwest Germany were also seen entering the bar after the shooter killed six believed to be family members

Aalen police said a gunman opened fire shortly after midday in the southwestern town of Rot am See, Baden-Wuerttemberg, 105 miles northwest of Munich

German media had earlier reported that the group had met in the hotel for a family gathering, but police have so far been unable to confirm this.

Investigators say the crime was committed with a semi-automatic handgun, for which the suspect held a license for sport shooting.

The weapon was found inside the building after officers arrested the 26-year-old man.

While owning firearms is not illegal in Germany, most guns can be acquired only with a licence and they are closely monitored, making mass shootings comparatively rare.

In October last year, a far-right attacker shot two people dead in the eastern city Halle, wounding several more after failing to break into a packed synagogue armed with home-made weapons.

In July 2016, a teenager used a pistol bought illegally online to kill nine people in a Munich shopping centre, before turning the weapon on himself.

Germany has also been the target of a number of jihadist attacks in recent years, although most of the perpetrators did not use guns.

The most deadly took place in December 2016, when Tunisian Anis Amri drove an articulated truck into a Berlin Christmas market, killing 12 people.
Turtle tracks at Koh Phra Thong spur hopes of new nest

PHUKET: Officers at the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) are hoping that confirmed reports of leatherback turtles tracks on a beach on Koh Phra Thong island, off the coast off Phang Nga, north of Phuket, will lead to the eighth turtle nest to be found in the region in recent weeks.

marineanimalsenvironmentnatural-resources

By Khunanya Wanchawet

Friday 24 January 2020, 06:08PM

Hopes are high that turtle tracks found on Koh Phra Thong today (Jan 24) will lead to the eight nest laid on beaches in the region in recent weeks. Image: via DMCR

A sea turtle conservation volunteer found the tracks earlier today (Jan 24), and reported them to the DMCR this afternoon. The tracks were found on a beach at the southern end of the island, Dr Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong, Chief of the Phuket Marine Biological Centre (PMBC), told The Phuket News this afternoon. Research staff at the Upper Andaman Sea Research Center were sent to inspect the eggs. I have been sent photos of the tracks, which I was told were about 1.8 metres wide, Dr Kongkiat said. Right now I dont know any other information at this stage, and I dont want to disclose much information, but I expect that tomorrow will be able to provide more details, he said.
The number of wild boars infected with African swine fever (ASF) in South Korea went up to 105 on Friday, as additional carcasses recently found near the border with North Korea tested positive.







Then bodies were found in Paju, just north of Seoul. Of the 105 confirmed ASF cases from wild boars, 40 were from the border city, according to the National Institute of Environmental Research, which is affiliated with the environment ministry.







In May, North Korea confirmed its first outbreak of African swine fever on a pig farm near its border with China. South Korea has reported 14 cases of pigs infected with the disease on farms since September.







South Korea has not reported additional ASF cases on farms since October, but wild boars continue to be found dead with the disease, mostly along the inter-Korean border.







The animal disease does not affect humans but is deadly to pigs. There is currently no vaccine nor cure for the disease.







The virus spreads through direct contact with infected animals or their remains, unlike other animal diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease, which is airborne. (Yonhap)


The family of an Indiana toddler who fell from her grandfathers arms to her death off a cruise ship is challenging what it calls Royal Caribbean Cruises false narrative of how it happened.

Eighteen-month-old Chloe Wiegand fell from the open window of a cruise ship docked in Puerto Rico in July.

Her grandfather, Salvatore Anello, was playing with her near a window on the 11th floor when she fell, and he has been charged with negligent homicide. Prosecutors allege he negligently exposed [his granddaughter] through one of the windows,according to the Puerto Rican Department of Justice. He was released on bond and is back home in Indiana.

As part of a wrongful death suit, the Wiegand family filed against Royal Caribbean in December, their attorney released reenactment photos this week, saying they are evidence the grandfather couldnt physically lean out of the window from which the toddler fell, as the company has alleged.

The familys latest legal claim is in response to the Royal Caribbeans motion to dismiss the December lawsuit.

The photos were taken this month on the Freedom of the Seas cruise ship from which Chloe fell. In a legal filing, the family accuses Royal Caribbean of creating a false narrative of the incident and providing footage of only two of the 13 available cameras in the area.

We went to re-enact what happened on the same ship, same window where Mr. Anello stood with Chloe. What we found completely backs up his story. Pictures of the reconstruction are included in our filing, family attorney Michael Winkleman said.

Cruise Ship Carefully Selected CCTV Video, Family Says

Earlier this month, Royal Caribbeans filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, claiming Anello knew the window was open and held his granddaughter out the window before she fell to her death.

The cruise lines motion alleges surveillance video shows Anello walking up to a window and appearing to lean his upper body out of the window for several seconds.

Anello is seen in the video picking up Chloe and holding her out of the window for 30 to 40 seconds before losing his grip and dropping her, the motion alleges.

Royal Caribbean submitted the surveillance video and still images into evidence in its motion to dismiss.

In the latest filing, the Wiegand family attorney identified at least 13 cameras in the area of the incident after inspecting the vessel in January, about six months after the toddlers death in July.

Royal Caribbean has demonstrably lied to this court and, in so doing, Royal Caribbean has created a false narrative to accompany Royal Caribbeans carefully selected CCTV video upon which Royal Caribbean bases its motion to dismiss, the filing claims.

The family filed a motion last week to compel Royal Caribbean to produce footage from all of the cameras at the time of the incident.

In a statement to CNN on Thursday, Royal Caribbean said Chloes death is undeniably a heartbreaking tragedy that has prompted a criminal prosecution of Chloes step-grandfather and a civil lawsuit brought by the Wiegand family attorneys.

Last year, Anello told CBS News that he initially blamed himself for Chloes death. Now, he blames the cruise line.

I just want them to fix the boat. Just fix it. Just fix the boat.

Reenactment Photos Angle Differs From Cruise Ships Surveillance

The reenactment photos show a man with similar measurements as Anello holding a doll by a window on the cruise ship from several additional angles that differ from the surveillance released by the cruise line.

One reenactment photo is taken two steps to the right of the CCTV camera that the family says shows a deceptive angle. That photo shows the man couldnt lean out of the window frame because of the 18-inch distance between the railing and the window frame, the Wiegand family alleges.

The man had to lift his feet at least seven inches off the ground, to touch the window with the top of his head, the legal filing says.

In fact, it would have been physically impossible for Mr. Anello to have had his head out of the window frame with his feet on the deck, court papers say.

Anello would have required much longer arms than he had to hold Chloe out the window, Wiegands family attorney alleges.

The familys lawsuit claims Anello lifted Chloe up onto the railing and held her as she leaned forward to bang on the glass. There was no glass pane and she slipped from Anellos arms, falling 150 feet below to the pier, resulting in her death, the suit says.

Anello was not aware that some of the glass panes could be opened, the suit said.

The-CNN-Wire

 &  2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
"Serving in the military changes you. The shades and degrees of change vary for everyone, but no one is ever the same as...
The Vietnamese Embassy, in collaboration with the Defense Attache Office in Cambodia, offered incense and laid wreaths at the Vietnam  Cambodia Friendship Monument in the capital city of Phnom Penh.

Ambassador Vu Quang Minh, along with officials and employees of the Embassy, the Khmer  Vietnam Association and Vietnamese enterprises, representative offices and families, paid tribute to Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who sacrificed their lives to liberate Cambodia from colonialism and imperialist aggression, especially the genocidal Pol Pot regime.

Vietnamese Consulate General in Battambang has collected more than four tonnes of rice to help overseas Vietnamese who are living in difficult circumstances.



On the occasion, Vietnamese Consulate Generals in the provinces of Battambang and Preah Sihanouk also paid homage to Vietnamese heroic martyrs. In addition, the two agencies visited and presented rice and Tet gifts to over 400 overseas Vietnamese families who are living in difficult circumstances in localities of the provinces of Bontiamienchay, Battambang and Preah Sihanouk.

The attention and Tet gifts have contributed to bringing joy to the overseas Vietnamese community in the host country ahead of the happy and warm Tet Festival.

Vietnamese people in Preah Sihanouk are happy to receive Tet gifts.
BILLINGS, Mont., Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Several hundred Montana students, parents, and legislators will unite for a celebration of education on Friday, Jan. 31, the height of National School Choice Week. The Montana School Choice Rally will shine a positive spotlight on the way that different education options meet the needs of different students and families.

More than 400 students and community members are expected to attend the rally, the state's largest event during School Choice Week. The Montana School Choice Rally will kick off at noon at the Billings Courthouse and be emceed by Jeff Laszloffy, President of the Montana Family Foundation. Students will enjoy pizza and hot chocolate as guest speakers from elected officials to students and parents share about the power of school choice to change lives. Attendees will enjoy a unique opportunity to network and share their educational experiences with legislators.

The Montana School Choice Rally is free, open to the public, and planned to coincide with the history-making celebration of National School Choice Week 2020, which will feature more than 50,000 school choice events across all 50 states.

"Why do we need school choice? It's easy!" said Jeff Laszloffy, president and CEO of Montana Family Foundation. "2,000 kids drop out of school every year in the Big Sky State. One-size-fits-all education simply doesn't work for every student. School choice reduces the dropout rate by allowing every child to find their perfect educational fit."

This event is organized by the Montana Family Institute, a non-profit research and education organization dedicated to supporting, protecting and strengthening Montana families.

The Billings Courthouse is located at 217 N. 27th St.

As a nonpartisan, nonpolitical public awareness effort, National School Choice Week shines a positive spotlight on effective education options for students, families, and communities around the country. From January 26 through February 1, 2020, more than 50,000 independently-planned events will be held in celebration of the Week. For more information, visit www.schoolchoiceweek.com/montana.

SOURCE National School Choice Week

Related Links

www.schoolchoiceweek.com


Bruno Laffite has been in the business of making fast and powerful off-roaders for some time now. Back in 2015 at the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix, Laffite unveiled his first project, the SandRacer 500GT dune buggy, under an outfit called Zarooq Motors. True to its name, the high-speed off-roader could do 300 hp with its middle-mount 3.5-liter V6 engine.

Though Laffite had grand plans for the SandRacer 500GT, that project unfortunately fizzled out, and Laffite was left with no one to develop the project after his lead designer, Anthony Jannarelly, left to start his own company.

But Laffite is a man with a vision, and despite the initial setback, has returned in full force, moving his operations from the UAE to Los Angeles and with another car in tow, the G-Tec X-Road.

laffitesupercars.com

Coaxing up to 720 hp in power from its 6.2-liter V8, and weighing at a mere 1,300 kgs, the G-Tec X-Road delivers the power-to-weight ratio of a supercar and the best-ever performance numbers for a road-ready all-terrain vehicle, according to Laffite.

Securing a worthy development partner in the guise of Philippe Gautheron, Laffite had Gautherons team design the X-Roads rolling chassis, which was fashioned from chromium molybdenum steel, the main reason for the cars remarkable lightness. The 17-inch suspension travel will allow drivers to launch their vehicle like a modified Dakar rally 44 or maneuver tricky streets in comfort.

laffitesupercars.com

The car is far from perfect however, as max speed is disappointingly limited at 230 kphtoo slow for what its maker considers as a supercar. Another head scratcher is the fact that this off-roader is a two-wheel drive, sending all its power solely to the rear wheels. That means you have to come prepared with a plank and shovel every time you take this baby out in case you get stuck.

With headquarters in Los Angeles, Miami and Valencia, Spain, Laffite Supercars is owned by Bruno together with his wife, Laetitia. According to the description for the company, Laffite Supercars specializes in automotive design and in the creation of concept car / road-ready limited series, which is similar to what he wanted to achieve with Zarooq.

Story continues

laffitesupercars.com

If youre wondering how the three headquarter setup works out for Laffite, the rolling chassis, under Gautherons G-Tec, is done in Miami.

Meanwhile, performance parts are manufactured in Valencia by the Team Virage, the group that manages Laffite Supercars Performance Center there.

Chassis and parts are then assembled in Los Angeles, where the final product is registered for the road in California and strategically located for international distribution.

Laffite Supercars serves clients worldwide, and Laffite is announcing that the car is available now for ordering, with orders maxing out at 30 units. Buyers can choose a 5 Speed Sequential or 6 Speed + Paddle Shift transmission. Prices range from USD 465,000 (approx. PHP 23.74 million) to USD 545,000 (PHP 27.82 million).

laffitesupercars.com

The post The Laffite G-Tec X-Road Off-Roader Is a Beautiful Letdown appeared first on Carmudi Philippines.
WASHINGTON  A Chicago woman has become the second U.S. patient diagnosed with the dangerous new virus from China, health officials announced Friday.

The woman in her 60s returned from China on Jan. 13 without showing any signs of illness, but three or four days later she called her doctor to report feeling sick.

The patient is doing well and remains hospitalized primarily for infection control, said Dr. Allison Arwady, Chicago's public health commissioner.

Earlier this week, a man in Washington state became the first U.S. patient, also diagnosed after returning from a trip to the outbreak's epicenter in central China.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expecting more Americans to be diagnosed with the newly discovered virus in coming days, as worldwide the number of confirmed cases has passed 800.

The virus can cause fever, coughing, wheezing and pneumonia. It is a member of the coronavirus family that's a close cousin to the deadly SARS and MERS viruses that have caused outbreaks in the past.

Still, CDC believes that the immediate risk to the American public continues to be low at this time, but the situation continues to evolve rapidly, said CDC's Dr. Nancy Messonnier.

Illinois resident who traveled to China diagnosed with coronavirus, health officials say A Chicago woman who returned from a visit to China earlier this month has been diagnosed with the respiratory coronavirus that has sickened hundreds in China, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health.

And those first two patients did the right thing, recognizing their travel risk and alerting doctors to it, so that health authorities could get them isolated to prevent spread, tested promptly, and start monitoring people who've had close contact with them.

The incubation period is thought to be two weeks. But it's also a heavy flu season, and some of the symptoms are similar, Messonnier said.

We want everyone to err on the side of caution if they have those symptoms and have a travel history, she stressed.

Illinois health officials did not identify the hospital where the woman is in isolation.

The Washington state patient was in satisfactory condition Friday in an isolation unit at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett, 30 miles north of Seattle. Nurses whove trained for Ebola patients are providing his care, wearing hoods with plastic face shields and using respirators to breathe filtered air. They are bagging and storing disposable gloves, linens and gowns until the CDC tells them what to do with the patients medical waste.

We have been preparing for this since 2015, said Robin Addison, one of the nurses and co-leader of the hospitals biocontainment team. The hospital is one of about 150 nationwide ready to assess patients with Ebola or other highly contagious diseases, with training money provided by Congress.

Nationally, over 2,000 returning travelers had been screened at U.S. airports and 63 people in 22 states were being tested, although 11 of them so far have been found free of the virus, the CDC said.

China has issued massive travel bans in hard-hit sections of that country to try to stem spread of the virus. For now, CDC said it will keep up its screening process at five U.S. airports but will reevaluate its necessity.

Right now, our response is very much a work in progress, said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., as lawmakers emerged from a briefing with federal health authorities. There's a lot we're still learning.

In Chicago, the health commissioner said the newest patient hadn't had close contact with many people since becoming ill or taken public transportation or attended large gatherings.

"This is all very reassuring as far as infection risk to the general public," Arwady said.

"There is no need for the general public to change their behavior in any way."

15 new Illinois laws for 2020

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
Uber is set to offer drivers in the U.K. electric cars from Nissan at a discount, as part of a broader push by the company to tackle air pollution.

Uber will offer drivers in the U.K. electric cars from Nissan at a discount, the company said Friday, as it faces a potential ban in London.

The ride-hailing operator has signed an agreement with Nissan to introduce a fleet of 2,000 of the Japanese automaker's Leaf hatchbacks for drivers using its app in Britain. While the deal is technically open to all U.K. drivers, it's primarily targeted at those working in London.

It's part of a broader push from Uber to tackle air pollution in the U.K. capital by ensuring all of its vehicles are fully electric by 2025. In 2018, the company announced plans to charge passengers in London 15 pence per mile on every trip to help its drivers buy electric cars.

That fee has so far helped raise over 80 million ($105 million) since its introduction, Uber said, and it expects to pull in 200 million in total over the next few years. Uber said it's seen a 350% increase in rides being taken with electric vehicles since the clean air charge was introduced.

The deal with Nissan arrives at a difficult time for the company, which faces being blocked in the U.K.'s capital after Transport for London (TfL) stripped it of its license. Uber has since appealed the move, and can continue operating in the city while it fights the ban in the courts.

Uber's vehicle of choice, the Nissan Leaf, is among the best-selling electric cars with over 450,000 sales. It's unclear what discount will be provided to drivers and Uber hasn't disclosed any of the financial details of its deal with Nissan. The Leaf comes at a starting price of 26,345 in the U.K., while the government offers grants of up to 3,500 for plug-in cars.

The company's efforts on clean energy aren't a coincidence. London Mayor Sadiq Khan has made it his priority to clean up the city's dirty air, imposing a strict daily charge of 12.50 on drivers of older, polluting petrol and diesel vehicles in an area that's been dubbed the "ultra low emission zone."
The cabinet expansion of the Jharkhand government scheduled for Friday has been postponed after Chief Minister Hemant Soren requested Governor Draupadi Murmu to postpone it due to the Chaibasa incident.

Ranchi: The cabinet expansion of the Jharkhand government scheduled for Friday has been postponed after Chief Minister Hemant Soren requested Governor Draupadi Murmu to postpone it due to the Chaibasa incident.

The chief minister took this step in solidarity with the victims of Chaibasa incident who were allegedly murdered in Burugulikera village for staging a protest against the Pathalgadi movement.

Speaking to the media after meeting the Governor at Raj Bhawan on last evening, Soren said, "I met her (the Governor) in the morning and requested for cabinet expansion and got tomorrow's time for the swearing-in ceremony. But as you know heinous and gruesome incidents have happened in Chaibasa, it would be very inhuman and against the will to take oath in this mourning situation. So, we have requested to postpone the date."

Yesterday, the Chief Minister went to meet the Governor before leaving for Chaibasa and apprised her about the unfortunate incident. He visited the Raj Bhawan again after returning and gave the full detail of the incident. He also informed about the actions being taken in the matter.

In a recent development, an eight-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate into the killing of seven people who were allegedly murdered in Burugulikera village.

The SIT has been ordered to submit their first report within five days on the findings of the investigation. Soren had on Wednesday ordered an SIT probe into the incident.

Pathalgadi refers to a practice of placing stone plaques with declarations and warning inscribed on them at the entry point of villages.

The plaques, proclaiming allegiance to the Constitution, carried inscriptions dismissing the authority of centre and state governments in the villages.
The student is doing his MBBS in a college in Wuhan, officials said. After he developed fever symptoms, and given his recent travel history, he was admitted in the government hospital and his samples taken by road. (Representational Image)

Hyderabad: A student from the city, who had returned from a medical college in Wuhan, tested negative for the deadly new coronavirus strain that has spread to many countries from China.

The students sample was sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, for testing on Wednesday. The negative report was received on Friday, an official from the health department told Deccan Chronicle.

Despite the negative report, the student continues to be in a government hospital under observation, officials said.

The student is doing his MBBS in a college in Wuhan, officials said. After he developed fever symptoms, and given his recent travel history, he was admitted in the government hospital and his samples taken by road.

Experts say that its spread is largely local. The history of coronavirus shows it will multiply in human bodies and spread faster, said Dr Subakar Kandi, senior chest specialist.

According to them, coronavirus spreads when the human body sheds the virus during coughing, breathing heavily or sneezing. These are the modes of human to human transmission.

It also spreads when a person coughs and sneezes on the surface around them. Touching that same surface allows the virus to enter the body. After touching an infected site, hands are used to eat, drink water or simply rubbing ones body, which gives the virus a gateway to the body.

In children it stays for 14 days, in adults for a week, and in pregnant women and those above 65 years it is virulent, which means it can shed from their body faster as it is in large numbers in the body. This helps to spread fast.

Coronavirus survives in the cold climatic conditions. It spreads when there are many available human hosts. Thus, isolation is recommended for infected patients to prevent the virus from spreading.

Coronavirus is known to mutate and is notorious for acquiring new qualities, senior microbiologist and infectious disease specialist Dr Mustufa Afzal said.

So the symptoms must be noted. With this virus, after cough and cold there are also breathing difficulties, Mr Afzal said.
The former president of Holbrook Little League who admitted to stealing tens of thousands of dollars in funds avoided jail time when he was sentenced in Superior Court in Ocean County on Friday.

Anthony Del Vecchio, 64, of Jackson, was sentenced to two years probation and 100 hours of community service, the Ocean County Prosecutors office said. He also paid $63,000 in restitution in full during the sentencing.

Del Vecchio and former treasurer John Lehman, 56, also of Jackson, admitted to converting more than $126,000 of the leagues funds to their benefit. Both pleaded guilty to third-degree theft.

The two men were the only two signatories on the account, and all checks required both signatures, officials said.

Del Vecchio was at the helm of the organization during its trip to the Little League World Series in 2017. It was the first time since 2012 a New Jersey team had made it into the series. They were eliminated by New England and did not reach the final.

The current Little League Executive Board supported the sentence, officials said, but two former Holbrook presidents opposed the sentencing.

Joseph Nicoletti and Peter Spall, both of whom served on the board with Del Vecchio, called for both Del Vecchio and Lehman to be sentenced to jail time, and to be charged interest on the restitution payments.

Lehman will be sentenced in March.

Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KatieKausch. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
Memoir

A Month in Siena Hisham Matar

Viking, $24.99

Hisham Matar's fourth book begins with an aeroplane flight. The destination is rather unexpected  Siena. The journey, as so often with this New York-born Libyan of sorts who has long lived in London, is not uncomplicated. A week before the flight he prevaricates, twists a knee, wavers, then resolves to proceed.

Hisham Matar reminds us of a traveller from another epoch. Credit:Jason Steger

In a characteristically affectless way, he tells us that he has long been interested in Sienese art. Not for him the pleasures of the Campo, the vistas, the incomparable Duomo that draw so many of us back to Siena. He must look at pictures, certain pictures, for hours and days, weeks even. He must learn from them, craving succour, consolation.

Matar's previous book, The Return (2016), likewise began at an airport. This time  in 2012  he was bound for Benghazi after the overthrow of Colonel Gaddafi, dictator of Libya from 1969 to 2011. Matar was determined to find out what happened to his father, Jabbala, a liberal and dissident who was abducted by the Gaddafi regime in 1990 and taken to Tripoli, never to be freed.
Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes is representing herself in an ongoing Arizona fraud case and was called into an "important hearing" on Thursday, according to a report from Bloomberg. An anonymous source allegedly at the hearing told the news site that Holmes said she wouldn't be making an argument.

The reason? Holmes allegedly can't afford to pay lawyers.

Last fall, lawyers from Palo Alto-based Cooley LLP filed a request with the judge to quit the Arizona case because Holmes wasn't paying their bills.

"Ms. Holmes has not paid Cooley for any of its work as her counsel of record in this action for more than a year," lawyers Stephen Neal, John Dwyer and Jeffrey Lombard said in the filing obtained by the San Jose Mercury News in October. "Further, given Ms. Holmes's current financial situation, Cooley has no expectation that Ms. Holmes will ever pay it for its services as her counsel."

The lawyers argued it is "unfair" for them to be required to continue representing Holmes when she isn't paying them. Dwyer didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

ALSO: Elizabeth Holmes spotted walking around Marina with fiance, dog

Holmes helmed the now-defunct technology company Theranos. Once valued at more than $9 billion, the company claimed it could perform dozens of laboratory tests with just a few drops of blood from a finger prick. These claims were later proven false by federal authorities.

Holmes has been tied up with a handful of cases and the Arizona one has received less attention. In the more high-profile case, a federal grand jury in San Jose charged Holmes and former Theranos chief operating officer Sunny Balwani in June 2018 with nine counts of wire fraud and two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. This criminal case is scheduled to begin trial in summer 2020 and Bloomberg reported that Holmes has appeared with lawyers in meetings leading up to the trial.

Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.
Ed and Joe Lenz lead us off this week. Napa angler Ed Lenz and his son, Joe, got into some nice yellowtail down in the Sea of Cortez near Loreto in southern Baja California, Mexico. Ed reported that the weather was nice with temperature in the 70s.

Next Up St. Helena fly fisherman Scott Snowden had a successful fly fishing adventure to Labrador. He got into some big brookies and pike. Wet flyWooly Worms were the key to success up there.

Local Waters will start to respond to warming temperatures as the days get longer. By the way, Google says that our days are growing at just over 2 minutes a day. Thats 68 minutes since Dec. 21. Fish the Northwest corner of the lake early; it is where the suns rays have been shining the longest. So, it draws fish earliest.

Im still hearing that the bass bite at Berryessa is tough. Dont go by yourself; engage a guide who can break down the lake into best spots. Id call Don Paganelli at Don Paganellis Bass Fishing Instruction and Guide Service at 916 502-FISH.

Last time we fished Clear Lake, my grandson Jack and I caught and released 83 largemouth bass in 10 hours of bait in the water fishing over two days. Birds were crowding baitfish up against a bank; the bass came to eatand never left. Neither did we. Top fish was 7 pounds; they all came on live jumbo minnows drop-shotted and dead-sticked.

And In The Salt you can still score limits of commercial-grade Dungeness crab out of Bodega Bay. The Tuesday Hot Sheet said that Rick Powers at Bodega Bay Sport Fishing (875-3344) has the only large party boat running crab-only trips. Mike Aughneys six-pack, the Reel Magic (875-2628), is also running crab-only or crab and dab trips, depending on weather and interest.

Thats about it during these winter doldrums. You can find a sturgeon or two and some stripers in the Bays. Keith Fraser at San Rafaels Loch Lomond Bait and Tackle (415-456-0321) reported decent action for sturgeon in San Pablo Bay on Saturday. Heres what he told the Hot Sheet: I know of around six sturgeon landed near The Pump House, and there was a 76-inch sturgeon estimated at 200 pounds released

Keith reported that he has crab, ghost shrimp, grass shrimp and mud suckers on hand.

Meanwhile its time to go sturgeon fishing in the Delta. Spring is the best sturgeon fishing time there, in my estimation. That is borne out by the number of important sturgeon fishing derbies on tap. A word to the wise: reserve the sturgeon baits youll need for about the next three weeks. These derbies can cause scarcity and outages overnight.

Catching sturgeon is difficult. They are smart, strong and heavy. Dave Hurleys Jan. 20 Hot Sheet has a bible of excellent suggestions and updates to sturgeon fishing from some of the best guides we have. So start your Hot Sheet subscription right now  and ask Dave to be sure to include this issue.

The Hot Sheet, with the latest angling news, comes right to your computer or smartphone every Monday for just 38 bucks a year. Look for some nice dividends of key items that come to you in Friday Hot Sheets from time to time. E-mail Dave at David Hurley hurleyjacks@gmail.com and tell him to start your subscription.

Lest We Forget the fight to save Alaskas pristine Bristol Bay continues. Many of you joined me to make it our fight, too  by contributing to Defend Bristol Bay and telling our Congressional delegation to deny Pebble Mine. If we let our officials permit the Pebble Mine proposal there, it can happen to us right here at home, too. You can re-connect by emailing Defend Bristol Bay at info@defendbristolbay.com to donate and update.

In the latest message Richard Borden with 35 years in mining has little good to say about Pebble as currently proposed. Listen to just one of his quotes about its economic feasibility: is almost certainly not economically feasible, with likely financial losses in the billions of dollars.

With just one major flood or other catastrophic weather event and the Pebble Mine can contaminate Bristol Bay for the rest of time. Bristol Bay contributes over half of the total World supply of sockeye salmon. In 2019 that was over 59 million salmon.

And, A Good Place To Pivot right to the protection of our own Delta. Its the same fight  and needs our strong support. In this case, those rich, old, fake Wall Street farmers are trying to pull a political end run around us. They want more and more of our fresh water  shipped down to them at a discount. That is our water; lets defend it. Im asking all of our political representatives at both the state and federal levels to help us. I hope you will, too. Learn more at Restore the Delta at restorethedelta.org.

Email Bill Ryan at acorn_3@comcast.net.
New Smithsonian exhibit takes people through ancient Arab cities destroyed by war and ISIS originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

The Temple of Baalshamin -- destroyed in 2015 by the Islamic State -- has been restored inside a Washington gallery.

At an exhibit displaying reconstructed ancient Arab cities ravaged by violent conflicts, a projection fills a wall with an image of the destroyed temple in Palmyra, Syria, and then shows the temple slowly coming back together.

"What it narrates is cultural destruction and -- and I emphasize -- and the remarkable strength and resilience of men and women who chose to remain behind in those cities to fight for their survival, indeed to fight for the reconstruction," said Chase F. Robinson, Dame Jillian Sackler director of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and the Freer Gallery of Art.

PHOTO: Large-scale projections show digitized reconstructions of historic sites that were destroyed by conflict in recent years. The Temple of Baalshamin, shown here, was destroyed by ISIS. (Mel Madarang/ABC News)

The Arab World Institute exhibit arrived in the nation's capital -- not too long after President Donald Trump backed off his threat to strike Iranian cultural sites amid tensions earlier this month.

The exhibit, called "Age Old Cities: A Virtual Journey from Palmyra to Mosul," highlights the cost of war and the importance of cultural preservation.

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery assistant curator Simon Rettig first saw the virtual exhibit in Paris last year and proposed the idea of bringing it to the Smithsonian. He said the exhibit delivers a "strong statement" on the importance of safeguarding cultural world heritage, and could ultimately help support the rebuilding of those cities.

MORE: Threat to destroy heritage sites akin to 'cultural genocide,' experts say in response to Trump's initial warning

At the exhibit, people can watch interviews of those who witnessed the destruction of their cities and participate in a virtual reality experience at five cultural heritage sites in Iraq and Syria. In the virtual reality experience, created by video game company Ubisoft, participants can see first-hand the damage done to historical locations such as the souks of Aleppo and the mausoleum of Nabi Yunus.

Story continues

PHOTO: Visitors at the exhibit can take part in an immersive virtual reality experience that show damaged cultural sites in Iraq and Syria. (Mel Madarang/ABC News)

The three cities on display saw massive destruction in the midst of conflict. In 2014, ISIS captured Mosul, Iraq, and destroyed cultural sites such as the Great Mosque of Al-Nuri. Much of the same type of destruction occurred in Palmyra. Aleppo, the second largest Syrian city, was gripped by violence in the country's ongoing civil war.

MORE: ISIS Levels 2,000-Year-Old Syrian Temple in Seconds

A large map pinpoints exactly where the three featured cities are located and there's information about the uprisings that triggered violence across the Middle East. Around the map, large-scale depictions of the destruction slowly morph into the full historic sites that once existed there.

After Palmyra, the exhibit takes visitors through Aleppo and Mosul to witness the war-torn cities restored to their former glory.

PHOTO: The destroyed Temple of Baalshamin in the historical part of Palmyra, Syria, April 21, 2016. (Mikhail Voskresenskiy/Sputnik via AP)

"It's a world history and a world heritage. And so, just to understand, to preserve this heritage for the next generation is the main goal of this exhibition," AWI Curator Aurelie Clemente-Ruiz told ABC News.

MORE: President Trump backs off threat to hit Iranian cultural sites

Bastien Varoutsikos, Iconem director of development, said that his company was responsible for flying drones over the featured sites to capture thousands of pictures, which aided in the digital reconstruction of the ancient cities.

Not only do the digitized reconstructions help raise awareness about cultural preservation, but they also serve as blueprints that help in the physical rebuilding of those cities, he said.

The rebuilding process involves ethical questions about whether certain destroyed areas should be restored, but Varoutsikos said using drones to protectively capture images and measurements of the historic sites could help with potential reconstruction.

The projections show exactly where bombings destroyed the cities and where sites existed before the violence.

The exhibit opens this weekend and will be on display until Oct. 25.
A Trump administration 'loophole' in school lunch rules will allow for certain types of pasta to qualify as vegetables as well as for students to get more burgers and fries.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's proposals will continue to erode Michelle Obama's legacy by easing restrictions on the types and quantities on fruit and vegetables put on the table.

'Pasta made of vegetable flour(s) may credit as a vegetable, even if the pasta is not served with another recognizable vegetable,' the new guidelines say.

The department said the changes will help to reduce food waste because students were often given too much fruit and vegetables which was thrown away.

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said: 'Schools and school districts continue to tell us that there is still too much food waste and that more common-sense flexibility is needed to provide students nutritious and appetizing meals. We listened and now we're getting to work.'

'Pasta made of vegetable flour(s) may credit as a vegetable, even if the pasta is not served with another recognizable vegetable,' the new guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture say

The changes also give provisions for more 'a la carte' meals, which can be things like pizza and burgers.

They also reduce the fruit intake at breakfast from a whole cup to half a cup - the rest of the calories can be made up with pastries and granola - and allow potatoes to qualify as a vegetable every day.

The agency oversees school food for 30 million students in nearly 100,000 schools.

Colin Schwartz, deputy director of legislative affairs for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, told The Washington Post the changes will 'create a huge loophole in school nutrition guidelines, paving the way for children to choose pizza, burgers, french fries and other foods high in calories, saturated fat or sodium in place of balanced school meals every day.'

The former First Lady's landmark Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 were hailed as a major step towards reducing childhood obesity.

As well as providing more fruit and vegetables it increased whole grains, changed portion sizes and imposed calorie restrictions.

Perdue, within days of taking office, had sought to slow the reforms to sodium regulations, as well as to sweetened milk.

The concerns over public health come as the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers narrowed the types of waterways that qualify for federal protection under the half-century-old Clean Water Act.

The sweeping environmental rollback could leave the waterways more vulnerable to pollution from development, industry and farms.

Since his first weeks in office, Trump has targeted environmental and public health regulations that he says imposed unnecessary burdens on business.

Speaking to farmers in Texas on Sunday, Trump repeated his frequent charge that an Obama-era attempt in 2015 to more clearly define what water bodies qualify for federal pollution protection was 'one of the most ridiculous regulations of all.'

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's proposals will continue to erode Michelle Obama's legacy by easing restrictions on the types and quantities on fruit and vegetables put on the table

Thursday's changes to the clean water rule have long been sought by builders, oil and gas developers, farmers and others.

But environmental groups and public-health advocates say the rollback will allow businesses to dump pollutants into newly federally unprotected waterways and fill in some wetlands, threatening public water supplies downstream and harming wildlife and habitat.

EPA head Andrew Wheeler told reporters Thursday that states were still free to step in with state protections of newly vulnerable waterways if they chose.

'Our rule protects the environment and our waterways while respecting the rights of states and property owners,' Wheeler said. The rollback of the clean-water enforcement 'strikes the proper balance between Washington, D.C. and the states,' he said.
Corruption in the Philippines is getting worse, with the country sliding a whopping 14 places in a global index released yesterday by the anti-graft NGO Transparency International (TI).

The Philippines, which was ranked 99 in 2018, fell all the way down to 113th place  with a score of 34 out of 100  in TIs annual Corruption Perceptions Index, a ranking of the most corrupt and cleanest governments in the world. The country is tied with El Salvador, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Eswatini, and Zambia.

A total of 180 countries were included in the rankings, with New Zealand and Denmark being declared the cleanest countries in the world with a score of 87. The two were followed by Finland (86), Switzerland (85), Singapore (85), Sweden (85), and Norway (84). Landing at the bottom of the list was Somalia, which earned a score of nine out of 100.

The report said that the Asia-Pacific region, while often seen as an engine of the global economy, in terms of political integrity and governance performs only marginally better than the global average. Many countries see economic openness as a way forward, however, governments across the region, from China to Cambodia to Vietnam, continue to restrict participation in public affairs, silence dissenting voices and keep decision-making out of public scrutiny.

Given these issues, it comes as no surprise that vibrant economic powers like China (41), Indonesia (40), Vietnam (37), the Philippines (34) and others continue to struggle to tackle corruption, the report added.

The report suggests that reducing big money in politics and promoting inclusive political decision-making are essential to curb corruption.

President Rodrigo Duterte has often said he wants to uproot corruption in government but admitted last year admitted that graft had proven so widespread that it bummed him out to the point of regretting ever running for president. (Then again, his self-professed distaste for corruption hasnt been enough for him to abandon his longtime allies, the Marcoses, whose comeback hes largely been credited with, sooooo)

Story continues

Do you agree with the Philippines ranking? Tell us by leaving a comment below or tweeting to @CoconutsManila.

This article, Corruption in Philippines is worsening, score in global study drops to 34 out of 100, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters!
Namita Bajpai By

Express News Service

LUCKNOW: Lashing out at Lucknow University's bid to include Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the syllabus of political science, the BSP chief and former UP CM Mayawati said that she was opposed to the decision and will withdraw it from the syllabus upon returning to power.

Taking to Twitter, the BSP chief, who has been opposing CAA since its passage in Parliament, wrote, "The debate on CAA is acceptable but even after the matter being sub- judice and pending in court of law, the inclusion of this highly controversial and divisive law in the course at Lucknow University is wrong. BSP opposes this move and will withdraw it from syllabus once the BSP comes to power in Uttar Pradesh".

While protests spearheaded by women against the Citizenship Amendment Act has entered its eighth day at Ghantaghar in state capital Lucknow, the varsity is set to include the contentious law in the syllabus. As per information, a debate will be held in Lucknow University on the issue of CAA after which a proposal will be sent for the inclusion of the positive aspects of the CAA in the syllabus.

As per the political science HoD Shashi Shukla, the topic will soon be included in the course as there is considerable need to make it clear to the people out there. The best way to do it is to educate students about it, he stated.

There is a proposal for a paper under the subject contemporary issue in Indian politics. CAA may also be made a part of it. We will include it in the syllabus and put it in the board as a proposal if passed, it will be sent to the Academic Council. After passing from there, studies will start. Also, there is a demand from the students that CAA should be discussed in the annual debate competition as well, the HoD said.

Earlier, Rajarshi Tandon Open University had launched an awareness campaign on the issue of CAA and Article 370. It had also introduced a three-month certificate course on CAA and included it in the syllabus for the session which began in January this year.
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd January, 2020) The Moroccan parliament has passed two bills that establish the country's sovereignty over waters of southern provinces, which are disputed by the Polisario Front movement and often referred to as Western Sahara, national media reported.

According to the Hespress, the legislature unanimously approved the bills that establish sovereignty over territorial waters and a 200-mile exclusive economic zone off the disputed territory's coast.

Commenting on the move, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita has called the delimitation of the kingdom's maritime borders an internal issue which is governed by the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

For decades, Morocco has been involved in a conflict with the Polisario Front movement over control of Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony that was transferred under control of Morocco and Mauritania in 1975. In 1976, Polisario Front declared that it had established the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. This partially recognized state claims Western Sahara but controls only a small part of it.

The United Nations does not recognize the republic and demands that a referendum on self-determination be held. Morocco pushes a plan for the region's autonomy, while Polisario insists that the status of the territory should be determined by a referendum among the local population.
Ex-Clinton Press Secretary Apologizes for Fabricating Story About GOP Senators Discussing Trump Impeachment

Former Bill Clinton press secretary Joe Lockhart, a CNN analyst, apologized for making up a story about two Republican senators discussing the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump.

Lockhart posted a fictional story on social media on Jan. 22 that included no disclaimer. The news analyst claimed that he overheard a conversation between two GOP senators who only watch Fox News.

Is this stuff real? I havent heard any of this before. I thought it was all about a server. If half the stuff Schiff is saying is true, were up [expletive] creek. Hope the White House has exculpatory evidence, Lockhart tweeted.

After the post circulated widely on Twitter, Lockhart said that he might have made up the conversation.

Ok maybe I made up the convo, But you know thats exactly what theyre thinking, he said, defending himself. Everyone relax, he said in another post. This is satire. Satire to make the point that Senators that are deciding the Presidents fate who only watch Fox News have never heard this stuff before. Because Fox is part of the coverup.

On Thursday, Lockhart apologized for the fabrication in a series of posts on Twitter.

It seems my wittiness was not appreciated by all. In fact, some of progressive friends immediately were looking for names of the Senators. Sorry MAGA folks I dont read your responses so I didnt see them. It was my friends questions that led me to believe some peoples desire for this to be true colored there sense of humor. So what to do, he wrote.

Former Clinton White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart delivers remarks during the memorial ceremony for former White House Press Secretary James Brady at the Newseum in Washington on Oct. 10, 2014. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

I immediately sent another tweet that it was a made up conversation meant to highlight the fact that some Senators were hearing this for the first time because they only watch Fox. When questions still were raised I tweeted again that this was satire, look it up for those who dont know what it means, he said.

He added later that the intense reaction to his fabricated story led to him doing some soul searching but added (here comes some more SARCASM).

Its time to come clean, Lockhart wrote. When your writing satire and parody, even though everyone should know its not real, its still important to not take things out of context. So, with apologies, let me provide the entire overheard controversy for everyone to see and make their own judgement.

Again, for those in the back who maybe cant hear me even if Im just typing, this is Satire and Parody and that last sentence was SARCASM. Man this stuff is brutal to have to listen to. Is this stuff real? I havent heard any of this before, he added, before publishing another fabricated conversation between two senators.

CNN hasnt commented on Lockharts actions. The network didnt respond to a request for comment.
Takeaway.com's 6.2 billion ($8.1 billion) takeover of rival food delivery firm Just Eat has been delayed after the U.K.'s antitrust regulator launched an initial probe into the deal.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said on Friday that it had opened a review into the merger of the two companies, which will look into whether the deal could result in a "substantial lessening of competition" in the U.K. The CMA says it's inviting comments on the transaction from interested parties until Feb. 6.

On Thursday, Takeaway.com said it had been informed that the CMA had "reconsidered its position" on the takeover and believed a merger investigation was now warranted. A further statement from the company on Friday said Takeaway.com would now delay its planned all-stock deal by a week as a result of the probe.

The CMA investigation is a blow to the planned combination of Netherlands-based Takeaway.com and U.K.-headquartered Just Eat, two major players in Europe's fast-growing food delivery industry. Takeaway.com spent months fighting off rival bids for Just Eat from fellow Dutch firm Prosus, the little-known tech investment arm of Naspers.

It arrives just months after the U.K. competition watchdog said it would launch a formal investigation into Amazon's minority investment in U.K. food delivery start-up Deliveroo. The e-commerce giant led a $575 million funding round for the buzzy online takeout app last year. Deliveroo is one of Britain's top tech success stories, with a valuation north of $2 billion.

Food delivery has proven a hot sector for investors and one on the brink of significant consolidation. Uber earlier this week announced it would sell its Eats business in India to local operator Zomato, taking a minority stake in the Ant Financial-backed firm. Following the deal, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said "consolidation has got to happen."

Takeaway.com said that over 90% of shareholders in Just Eat had agreed to sell their stake. It said the combined company will be named "Just Eat Takeaway.com NV" on Jan. 31, but that due to its updated timetable shares of the firm now won't be listed until Feb. 3.

Shares of Takeaway.com and Just Eat fell about 3% and 4% respectively following the announcement of the CMA's competition probe.
(ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, JANUARY 24 - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the inauguration of the Turkish-German University campus in Istanbul on Friday, and said the "chaos in Libya will hit the entire Mediterranean if peace isn't reached as soon as possible".



"The peace plan is an important step for political stability in Libya," Erdogan said.



"But its success goes through applying the decisions made at the Berlin Conference," he said, adding that he hopes "the international community doesn't repeat the mistakes made in Syria".



Erdogan said Ankara is ready to "strongly support any peace initiative" to put an end to "a conflict that has caused more than 2,400 deaths and 7,500 wounded".



"If we don't want militants from terrorist organisations such as Daesh (ISIS) and al-Qaeda to establish themselves in Libya, we must speed up the process that brings a political solution," Erdogan said.(ANSAmed).


Not received any request from SEBI for conducting further investigation in the whistleblower case, Infosys said. Top executives were accused of rigging the company's balance sheet.

Market watchdog Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is likely to call for a forensic audit of books of Infosys, sources had said as it continues to probe whistleblower allegations of alleged financial irregularities at the company.

Earlier this month, Infosys had said its audit committee had found no evidence of financial impropriety or executive misconduct, virtually giving a clean chit to CEO Salil Parekh and CFO Nilanjan Roy who had been accused by anonymous whistleblowers.

"The company has not received any request from Sebi to conduct further audits as reported by media on January 23, 2020," Infosys said in a regulatory filing on Friday.

It added that as disclosed previously, the company had received letters from regulatory authorities seeking information on the anonymous whistleblower investigation.

"The company continues to cooperate with regulatory authorities," Infosys noted.

In one of the letters dated September 20 and signed by 'Ethical Employees', it was alleged that Infosys CEO Salil Parikh as well as its Chief Financial Officer Nilanjan Roy engaged in forced revenue recognition from large contracts not adhering to accounting standards. There was another undated complaint also.

In October, Infosys had informed stock exchanges of having received anonymous whistleblower complaints alleging certain unethical practices by the top management. It then started a probe into the matter and roped in external investigators.

The audit committee commissioned a through investigation with the assistance of an independent legal counsel.

US market regulator SEC had also initiated a probe into the matter, while Rosen Law Firm had said it was preparing a class-action lawsuit to recover losses suffered by Infosys' investors in the US.

Shares of Infosys were trading Rs 774.70 apiece on the BSE, down 1.26 percent from the previous close.
The official portraits of former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama from the National Portrait Gallery will begin a five-city national tour in Chicago in June 2021.

The Art Institute of Chicago will host the portraits from June 18, 2021, to August 15, 2021, the gallery announced Thursday.

Kehinde Wileys portrait of Barack Obama and Amy Sheralds portrait of Michelle Obama were unveiled in February 2018. Wiley and Sherald are the first African-American artists chosen to paint the gallerys official president and first lady portraits.

Since the unveiling of these two portraits of the Obamas, the Portrait Gallery has experienced a record number of visitors, not only to view these works in person, but to be part of the communal experience of a particular moment in time, Kim Sajet, director of the Washington gallery, said in a statement. This tour is an opportunity for audiences in different parts of the country to witness how portraiture can engage people in the beauty of dialogue and shared experience.

Barack Obamas portrait includes green vines and bright flowers surrounding the 44th president. Chrysanthemums, which are the official flower of Chicago, dot the painting. The background also includes jasmine from Hawaii, where Obama was born, and African blue lilies, which represent the birthplace of Obamas father: Kenya.

After leaving Chicago, the portraits will travel to the Brooklyn Museum in New York, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the High Museum of Art in Atlanta and the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston.
Real-estate powerhouse Aaron Kirman believes in protecting his morning time. The star of CNBC's "Listing Impossible" has a detailed and time-consuming routine that, even on the busiest days, he refuses to cut short.

"I've noticed that my performance is much better when I'm happy, healthy and living the way I choose to, which means being somewhat selfish in the morning," says Kirman, who says he has sold roughly $6 billion worth of real estate over his 25-year career, making him one of the top and highest-paid agents in Los Angeles. He is currently an agent at Compass.

Kirman's schedule changes so much that he rarely has a "typical day," but the one constant he can count on is his triple soy cappuccino from Starbucks. "It's my addiction," he tells me when I spend a day shadowing him. "No matter where I am, in any given city, I can't get up without it."

His personal assistant hand delivers his coffee every morning between 7 and 7:30 a.m., which is when his day normally starts.

"A lot of people start at like 5 or 6  it's just not in my nature to do that," he says. Though, a later start does typically means a longer day: "We sometimes work until 10 p.m. When I don't have dinners or events, it's more like 8:30 to 9."
Beijing:

The death toll in China's alarmingly new coronavirus afflictions has climbed to 25 with confirmed cases rising sharply to 830, the Chinese health authorities said on Friday. The pneumonia situation had resulted in 25 deaths, including 24 in central China's Hubei province and one in north China's Hebei, the National Health Commission said. By Thursday, 830 confirmed cases of pneumonia, caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), had been reported in 29 provincial-level regions in the country, it said.

A total of 1,072 suspected cases have been reported in 20 provincial-level regions, according to the National Health Commission. As the virus spread in the country and the world, China on Thursday locked down five cities, including Wuhan, suspending all public transport in an unprecedented move to contain the coronavirus, dampening the celebrations of the Lunar New Year. On Thursday evening, Chinese officials announced suspension of public transport in five cities - Huanggang, Ezhou, Zhijiang, Qianjiang and Wuhan in Hubei province, official media reported.

Wuhan, the city of 11 million people where the virus is believed to have first emerged, has no trains or planes in or out. According to the health commission in northern Hebei province, which borders Beijing, an 80-year-old man diagnosed with the new virus died on January 22. The victims' average age was 73, with the oldest 89 and the youngest 48. So far 631 cases have been confirmed in 25 provincial-level regions in the country.

The Wuhan lockdown is a cause of concern for Indian students who still remained there. The city has about 700 Indian students, majority of them studying medicine. However, most of the students have apparently left for home for holidays. As concerns grew over their safety, the Indian Embassy on Thursday opened helplines and established contacts with the concerned Chinese officials to ensure food and other supplies for those who remained in the city.

In new disclosure, Chinese officials on Thursday confirmed fresh cases of coronavirus in people who did not even travel to Wuhan recently. The National Health Commission also reported increasing number of cases with no exposure to Wuhan's Hunan seafood wholesale market, which is believed to be related to most of the infected cases. The cases without confirmed exposure to the market have been found overseas. The virus, which a doctor in Wuhan told BBC is spreading at an alarming rate, has dampened the Chinese New Year celebrations beginning Friday.

Also Read: Coronavirus: Indian Nurse In Saudi Arabia Infected With Different Strain Of Virus

Chinese all over the world formally bid goodbye to the year of the pig and welcome the year of rat on Friday and welcomed the year of Rat. The Chinese government has given week long holiday. In view of virus scare, several cities including Beijing have cancelled special events. The festival is also known as the Spring Festival. Large cultural activities during spring festival in Beijing such as temple fairs were cancelled to prevent the spread of the virus.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
OTTAWA - Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer gathers his MPs and senators around him today to plot strategy for Parliament's return on Monday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/1/2020 (719 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA - Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer gathers his MPs and senators around him today to plot strategy for Parliament's return on Monday.

The caucus retreat comes at a time when many Tories are plotting their own strategies for how best to replace Scheer.

Leader of the Opposition Andrew Scheer rises to announce he will step down as leader of the Conservatives in the House of Commons in Ottawa on December 12, 2019. Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer gathers his MPs and senators around him today to plot strategy for Parliament's return on Monday. The caucus retreat comes at a time when many Tories are plotting their own strategies for how best to replace Scheer. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

At least three sitting Conservative MPs are launching leadership campaigns, and another former MP, Peter MacKay is snapping up support from many others.

But Scheer is expected to remain leader of the party until the members choose a new boss on June 27, and he must now set the course for the Opposition's priorities in the minority Parliament.

He's expected to tell his caucus today that despite the leadership race, they must remain united and focused on their elected task of holding the government to account.

They'll also have to decide whether to work with the government, and it's possible that the Liberals' first item on the agenda  ratifying the new NAFTA  will be an early opportunity to prop them up.

But another issue on the Liberals' wish-list  a promised ban on military-style assault rifles  is far less likely to pass muster with the Tories.

The Conservative caucus meeting follows a week of major developments in the leadership race: former Quebec premier Jean Charest, former interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose and current MP Pierre Poilievre  all potential front runners  decided they won't launch bids.

MacKay will formally unveil his campaign on Saturday, while current MP Erin O'Toole is also expected to launch his in the coming days.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 24, 2020.
At a time when the Indian economy is in international news for being on a consistent downslide, it is important to have investors who not only put in money into businesses here but also look at the country with positivity and hope. The Motwani Jadeja Foundation and the Motwani Institute for Thought Leadership in Innovation (MITLI) has launched the ASHA initiative at the World Economic Forum in Davos to do just that. The MITLI global think tank has also been introduced in 2018 to the global community present at the same Forum.

ASHA, which is Sanskrit for hope, has been set up with the aim to inspire people to change the world through cutting-edge innovation and state-of-the-art technologies, through a collective and equitable approach. ASHA visualizes a world that will not just be inclusive and entrepreneurial but also human centric. It aims to create a brave new ecosystem with mechanisms that will help the world transition into a bright future.

The Motwani Jadeja Foundation and MITLI was founded and is lead by the Silicon Valley based entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist Asha Jadeja Motwani. The Motwani Jadeja Foundation is a non-profit global venture that funds entrepreneurs, allowing them to transform their dreams and business plans into reality. Its work is particularly focused in the areas of education and women's rights. On the other hand, MITLI is a first-of-its-kind think tank that brings together influential global thought leaders, academics, heads of state, and leaders in technology. A total of USD 30 million has been invested to set up the think tank.

"With 17 per cent of the world already living in India (and an estimated population of 1.5 billion by 2030), it is imperative that the citizens of India leapfrog into the future as rapidly and efficiently as possible. Now is the opportune time for India to connect with the Indian diaspora in the Silicon Valley for sharing of knowledge and technology and thereby leverage their success to address the development challenges of India", says Asha Jadeja Motwani.

Asha's late husband, Standford Professor and computer scientist, Rajeev Motwani was the founding advisor to Google and the author of Google's algorithmic architecture. Asha, along with Rajeev, invested in around 100 start ups ever since they got into the business. She is not only a graduate and a post graduate in urban planning and civil engineering from the University of Southern California, she also has a Ph.D. in political science from UC-Berkeley. In order to help Indian entrepreneurs connect with and get the help of mentors and seed investors in Silicon Valley to establish their startups, Asha launched the Rajeev Circle Fellowship. This helped brilliant ideas turn into profitable businesses. As Asha says, she believes not in the ideas themselves but in the founders and their ability to get up after failing and fight again and again till they succeed.

A trustee of the Motwani Jadeja Family Foundation based in Palo Alto and Ahmedabad, Asha has also supported entrepreneurs at a local level to make their businesses world class. She believes India is the world leader that can change the face of the startups around the world and also give a much needed impetus to the global economy. She believes that India is incredibly rich in talent and the Indian startups are rockets that can take off only if we believe in them and invest right.
As many as 144 members of a tribal community who had converted to Christianity were converted back to Hinduism in Gujarat's Dang district on Friday, a religious leader claimed.

The event was organized at Bhogadiya village by some local religious leaders with the support of the Vishva Hindu Parishad, said Sadhvi Yashoda Didi of Shivrimal Ashram in the district.

"These Warli tribals were lured into embracing Christianity by missionaries five years ago. They contacted us recently, saying they were not feeling comfortable following this religion," she said.

"As they wanted to come back to Hinduism, we arranged this program of 'Ghar Wapsi' today," she added.

Most of those who reconverted to Hinduism were residents of Bhogadiya while some were from surrounding villages.

A 'yajna' (sacred fire) was organized to 'purify' the village and the head priest of the Unai temple presided over the re-conversion program, Yashoda Didi said.

"We did not make any false promise to these tribals to persuade them to embrace their ancestral faith," she added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
If sent to Washington, Clay Chastain claims he will go to protect life.

Prez Trump Seyz Unborn Have Never Had 'Stronger Defender'

Trump, a Late Convert to Cause, Attends Abortion Rally President Donald Trump called it his "profound honor" on Friday to be the first president to attend the annual anti-abortion gathering in Washington called the March for Life. He used his speech to attack Democrats as embracing "radical and extreme positions" on abortion and praised those attending the event, saying "unborn children have never had a stronger defender in the White House."

Lady Rights Fight

March for Life President Jeanne Mancini: Women won the right to vote, now we must win the right to life This year's centennial of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, comes in the middle of a contentious election cycle. In some respects, women have come a long way in the last 100 years. Just four years ago, Hillary Clinton, wearing suffragist white, claimed the Democratic nomination for the highest political office in the land.

Pro-Choice Against Prez Trump

How the anti-choice movement's lies laid the foundation for Donald Trump's big cover-up In the midst of Donald Trump's impeachment trial, as Democrats continue to lay out a flawless case demonstrating the president's guilt, Trump is turning to the anti-sex lady-hater brigade to bolster him. That's right: On Friday, Trump will become the first president to show up in person at the annual March for Life.

Today, the "March for Life" takes place in Washington. Where is a statement about protecting innocent human life from Congressman Cleaver (former Christian minister), or any coverage of this cause from Kansas City's MSM media (now obsessed with the Super Bowl)?As a Republican Congressional candidate, here is my "Protection of Life" platform:* The first precept of law is the protection of life: As a family man and Christian with two daughters, I support defending defenseless life. Thus, I oppose abortion (starting at conception) except in the rare instance where the mother's life is at stake. Unlike the apparent hypocritical positions of Cleaver and Biden (they oppose abortion personally but, support abortion politically), I personally and politically oppose abortion. I greatly regard and respect women. However, my spiritual conscience compels me to support over turning Roe vs. Wade.* The first precept of law is the protection of life: Citizens living in America's inner cities are being murdered in horrific numbers. I have a plan FACE (Fix America / Conserve Earth) that proposes (in part) taking a percentage of America's bloated and unnecessary $750 billion a year military budget to fund stopping this horrible urban carnage by...ridding inner cities of illegal drugs, illegal guns and nefarious gangs; removing trash, litter and graffiti; and creating more economic opportunity and equality. I will support doing whatever it takes to make that wrong right.* The first precept of law is the protection of life: The excessive burning of fossil fuels along with over development and manic consumption are devastating all of our planet's eco-systems and will soon threaten our own. Animals, insects and plants - already decimated by habitat destruction, pesticides and pollution - are set to fare even worse as our earth takes to the oven. With our earthy environment in free fall... oceans dying (dwindling fish populations and coral reefs, increasing acidification and a global glob of plastic floating around in the Pacific the size of Texas, etc etc.), food supplies in jeopardy (massive top soil loss, pollinating insects in rapid decline and unprecedented fires, floods, droughts and storms, etc. etc.) and with 8 billion people fighting for dwindling resources... its our civilization stupid. I will support a boycott of imported goods and economic sanctions against China and India if they don't do their part to conserve Earth. We stand to loose all order in civilization if we do not marshal a global response to this existential crisis.Okay, but what about those Chiefs (I like them too)? If Congress does not take drastic action to lead the world in protecting life on Earth, the Chiefs and everything else may soon be irrelevant.Republican Candidate for Congress, Clay Chastain###############Clay's reference inspires a quick peek at more news on today's march from both sides of the debate . . .Developing . . .
YEREVAN.  The search in the apartment of president Hrayr Tovmasyan of the Constitutional Court of Armenia has been completed and nothing has been found. Amram Makinyan, one of Tovmasyan's legal defenders, said this in a conversation with journalists today.

"What they were looking for was not discovered," Makinyan added. They were looking for documents; in reality, they couldn't have been in Mr. Tovmasyan's apartment."

The attorney said that the court order for the search had been given only to him.

"The order was not given to Mr. Poghosyan [another attorney], Hrayr Tovmasyan was not familiarized [with it]," he said. "Mr. Tovmasyan asked to provide, but it was not provided, but rather a section was read at the discretion of the investigator."

Amram Makinyan also said they would appeal the investigator's actions and the court order.

As reported earlier, SIS investigators have been conducting a search in Hrayr Tovmasyan's apartment since early this morning.

Hrayr Tovmasyan, President of the Constitutional Court of Armenia, has been charged with abuse of power. The decision to involve him as a defendant in the respective criminal case was made by the Prosecutor General on December 26, 2019, the same day that President Armen Sarkissian signed the law granting the serving Constitutional Court judges the opportunity to retire early.
President Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States, will be the closing keynote speaker at the Patient Safety Movement Foundations 2020 World Patient Safety, Science & Technology Summit. The 8th annual Summit will be held in Huntington Beach, California, beginning with a Pre-Summit Symposium on Thursday, March 5th.

At the 2020 Summit, hospital leaders, medical and information technology innovators, patient advocates, policy makers and government officials collaborate and discuss best practices solutions to eliminate preventable patient deaths in hospitals around the world. The event is co-convened with the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua), the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the European Society of Anaesthesiology.

The 2020 Summit is scheduled for March 5  7th, 2020, at the Waterfront Beach Resort in Huntington Beach, California. For more information about the 2020 World Patient Safety, Science & Technology Summit, visit http://patientsafetymovement.org/summit. To register to attend, go to the registration page.

About the Patient Safety Movement Foundation

Each year, more than 200,000 people die unnecessarily in U.S. hospitals. Worldwide, 4.8 million lives are similarly lost. The Patient Safety Movement Foundation (PSMF) is a global non-profit that offers free tools to help achieve ZERO preventable deaths from hospital errors. The Patient Safety Movement Foundation was established through the support of the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation, and Competition in Healthcare to reduce that number of preventable deaths to ZERO. Improving patient safety requires a collaborative effort from all stakeholders, including patients, healthcare providers, medical technology companies, government, employers, and private payers. PSMFs World Patient Safety, Science & Technology Summit brings together the worlds best minds for thought-provoking discussions and new ideas to challenge the status quo. Our Actionable Patient Safety Solutions (APSS) provide evidence-based processes to help hospitals eliminate errors. Our Open Data Pledge encourages healthcare technology companies to share the data for which their products are purchased. Visit patientsafetymovement.org.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200123005684/en/
[January 23, 2020] NASA Administrator Names Director for Center in Maryland

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine has named Dennis Andrucyk director of its Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, effective immediately. Andrucyk has been serving as the acting director of Goddard since Dec. 31. "I look forward to working with fellow Terp Dennis Andrucyk in his new role as the director of the Goddard Space Flight Center. We are glad to have him back in Greenbelt," said Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland. "Strong, thoughtful leadership at Goddard is essential for its 10,000-strong workforce of employees and contractors, who play such an important role in the exploration projects that are at the heart of NASA." Prior to becoming Goddard's acting center director, Andrucyk was the deputy associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate at the agency's headquarters in Washington. In this role, he created innovative, inclusive and diverse teams in pursuit of the nation's science goals in astrophysics, heliophysics, Earth science and planetary exploration. Specifically, he focused on fostering new partnerships with other government agencies, academia, industry and international organizations. "I'm pleased to join in announcing the appointment of Dennis Andrucyk to serve asthe next Director of NASA Goddard. Dennis has the vision and the experience to lead the dedicated men and women at NASA Goddard and to continue building upon their successes. Goddard has been a pillar of scientific excellence, and I will keep working to ensure that it has the resources it needs to maintain and expand its vital mission," said Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland.



Andrucyk also focused on streamlining policies and procedures and reducing the overhead required for achieving the agency's scientific goals. Through working hands-on with his colleagues across the agency, he has created new processes for lower cost missions that ultimately have increased NASA's scientific return on investment. "I join in congratulating Dennis Andrucyk on his appointment to serve as Director of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. His support for the many varied missions carried out by the dedicated scientists and staff at Goddard is critically important for the success of the Center," said Rep. Steny Hoyer (MD-05). "I am confident his lengthy experience, including previous time spent working at Goddard, will be an asset to the institution. I look forward to working closely with Director Andrucyk to support the thousands of hardworking federal employees and contractors who work at Goddard."

Prior to joining the Science Mission Directorate, he served as NASA's acting chief technologist and as deputy associate administrator for the Space Technology Mission Directorate, as well as holding several positions at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, including the director of engineering, chief technologist, and chief of several of the Goddard engineering divisions. "Dennis brings leadership skills to this job that are critical as NASA enters a new era of exploration," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. "His experience in NASA's science and technology spheres and his continual pursuit of excellence will serve Goddard and the agency well as we work together to return America to the Moon and then to Mars." Before joining NASA in 1988, Andrucyk served at the National Security Agency, Naval Research Laboratory, Westinghouse, Northrop, and General Electric. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland and has twice earned the Senior Executive Service Meritorious Presidential Rank Award. He has been awarded the NASA Medal for Outstanding Leadership, the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, the Goddard Outstanding Leadership Honor Award, and the Goddard Exceptional Achievement Award in Diversity and Equal Employment Opportunity. Andrucyk actively champions efforts to develop a more diverse and inclusive workforce that encourages collaboration and partnership across NASA Science. For information about NASA's missions, programs, and activities, visit: https://www.nasa.gov View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-administrator-names-director-for-center-in-maryland-300992568.html SOURCE NASA

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
H e can hand-sew Bavarian lederhosen, sign up thousands of students to bank accounts, and sell plush Scottish hotel rooms costing 3000 a night. Sharan Pasrichas CV would be a diverse one. But given the success of the entrepreneurs Ennismore hotels group, where boutique venues from Shoreditch to Chicago have helped his personal wealth tot up to 289 million, it doesnt look like hell need to scrawl himself a puff piece for the jobs market anytime soon.

Pasrichas empire spans 10 Hoxton Hotels, the 150 million luxury Gleneagles hotel, a new budget hotel brand and co-working offices. He started it in 2012, and hes still only 39. Pushing Shoreditchy glasses up his nose, legs crossed on a capacious sofa in his enormous Clerkenwell office, Pasricha says his career took off fast because I started hustling early.

Growing up in Mumbai, he sold his mums sandwiches to schoolmates from the age of five, earning hefty rupees until someone moaned about the prices to his unaware parents. His start-up was swiftly shut down.

More entrepreneurial success followed. In an American-Indian-British accent, with a sprinkling of business-school catchphrases and speaking faster than the terms and conditions guy, Pasricha describes spending three years building a media marketing firm targetting students in London before selling it off in parts.

Next came his success at turning a sleepy Indian lederhosen factory into a sleek international leather clothing firm.

He doesnt, though, emphasise the fact that the rocket-fast success of Ennismore was ignited by family cash. Pasricha asked his father-in-law, Indian telecoms billionaire Sunil Mittal, to spend 60 million buying the first Hoxton Hotel, in Shoreditch; Pasricha ran it via a prop co and op co arrangement. Now hes made it his own success, though, he pooh-poohs living off daddy (in-laws) cash, paling in front of my eyes when I ponder if hell ever sell his business, or shift to a chair role: what would I do with myself? Work is what I do.

He had to learn independence early: When I was 10, my sister, who was a year older than me, passed away from cancer. My parents took her around the world [for treatment] for three years before. I was staying at grandparents, at friends houses, I had to grow up fast.

That continued a decade on, when an uncle in Delhi asked Pasricha to return to India after selling his marketing business, to help with his leather factory. It had one product, lederhosen, and two customers. It was losing a lot of money.

Id never been inside a factory, but I walked into this place, and 300 staff looked at me and thought, who the hell is this 22-year-old kid It was a dark hole, loss-making business. The staff were asleep at the wheel. I had to make tough decisions. Sackings, mainly, which led to Pasrichas car being smashed up, while effigies of him burnt outside the factory walls.

He had to have police protection. But I stuck at it. We diversified products and secured new, international clients [including Zara and Topshop]. I turned it around.

By then he was 26 and at a fork in the road: do I want to be leather king of India, or try something else? With a souvenir brown biker jacket he moved to London, with Eiesha Mittal, who hed met in Goa one New Years Eve and went on to marry in a three-day do dubbed the biggest Indian wedding of the decade.

He embarked on an MBA at the London Business School, and got a job at Jon Moultons Better Capital. Im an eternal optimist, and didnt like the obsessive cost cutting but projects included hotels chain Jurys Inn and a lightbulb went on: Ive always loved real estate, and how neighbourhoods change. What about hotels?

At the time, the Hoxton Shoreditch was a budget hotel which had done incredibly well as the only gig in town, but by 2011, it was lagging behind. Pasricha (and Mittals Bharti Global fund) swooped. He moved in for a year and turned it into the boutique hotel brand Hoxton is now  bare brick walls, natty slogans and why-doesnt-anyone-else-do-that ideas like flexy time: guests have 24 hours in the hotel, starting at whatever time they want.

Hotels, Pasricha reckons, arent a complicated business. You can get jarred with the acronyms, but its just about making people happy.

London now has three Hoxton hotels, the US has four, Rome opens soon, joining Paris and Amsterdam (where Pasrichas try-before-you-buy stay involved a horrible, two-star stay with bedbugs weve totally transformed it now).

No such hardship when he bought Gleneagles from Diageo for 150 million in 2015. One of Britains most famous hotels, a Ryder Cup venue and favourite of the pearl-and-twinset set, it was a far cry from Hoxton. There were... doubts. Gleneagles is an institution. I had to very quickly wrap my arms around 800 staff, who wanted to know who the hell is Ennismore? It was like when I first walked into that leather factory.

Pasrichas invested 30 million and I still get a letter a week saying why did you move the red carpet from the bar?, why did you take that painting of my great-grandfather off the wall? But Gleneagles has just come off a year of record revenue and occupancy. The numbers tell the story. A spin-off, Gleneagles Townhouse, a 33-bedroom hotel in Edinburgh, opens next year. If that works well, well do something more with the Gleneagles brand.

He wants another 50 Hoxton hotels in the next five years, and reckons his 300-bedroom budget hotels brand, opening in Canary Wharf next year, could easily be scaled to 300.

Pasricha employs 2750 staff; assets under management tot up to $1.5 billion, after deals with investors Cedar Capital and York Capital. We get a couple of calls a month from big hotel groups, from institutional investors, family office investors about a sale.

Ive started taking the meetings, not because Im ready to throw in the towel, but we need institutional partners to help us scale.

Will he still be at the helm in 10 years? Yes. This doesnt feel like work. Despite home being an almost-10,000-square-feet Notting Hill pound mansion, Pasrichas not there much: 12-hour days at the office are bookended by 7am gym trips and Im often on the phone to the US until midnight.

Not everyone approves: the dad of two likes to know every detail across his hotels. Ive seen everything, trashed rooms, poo on the floor, I dont want to get morbid but weve had calamities... at Gleneagles a mobsters car was just set on fire... So calls come at any time.
Country

United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
Captain Jean-Luc Picard has done it all over again. In 1987, Patrick Stewart beamed in to sprinkle Shakespearean gravitas all over Star Trek: The Next Generation. He would go on to prove there was a future for the franchise beyond Leonard Nimoy waggling his eyebrows and William Shatner chatting up green-skinned aliens.

Now, with Star Trek at a historically low ebb on the back of a decade of awful movies, he is repeating that interstellar feat. His new series Star Trek: Picard has been widely acclaimed by fans and critics as thrilling, affecting and intriguing. Just as he did 33 years ago, Jean-Luc has breathed vitality into a sci-fi saga that has for years drifted through deep space in suspended animation.

Picard is Star Trek for grown-ups. The interstellar romp was, of course, never really for kids. But the new series brings an irresistible melancholy as we catch up with Picard in old age (the character is now 92, Stewart himself 79).

This is Trek with phasers set to pensive. Theres less charging headlong into the fray than in the old days. We are instead treated to many, many scenes in which Jean-Luc stares into the distance, wishing he could travel back in time and change the past (if only hed watched Star Trek IV: hed know how to do exactly that).

Star Wars films  ranked worst to best Show all 11 1 /11 Star Wars films  ranked worst to best Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 11. Star Wars: Episode II  Attack of the Clones (2002) The prequel trilogy has lived on in infamy, but the true low point of this low point in the Star Wars franchise must be Attack of the Clones, the dry, crusted middle of the cinematic sandwich. While Revenge of the Sith has some sense of completion and The Phantom Menace has some sense of wonder, all Attack of the Clones has is a CGI Yoda bopping about the screen like an unswattable fly while battling Christopher Lees Count Dooku. Its a film driven by unnecessary desires: from the space politics, to Boba Fetts backstory, to Padme and Anakins romance. The latter is the most insufferable, since George Lucas never had much of an ear for dialogue, as notoriously pointed out by Harrison Ford when he declared on set: George, you can type this s***, but you sure as hell cant say it. Which leads us to one of the worst line readings in cinematic history, when Hayden Christensens Anakin laments: I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating  and it gets everywhere. Rex Features Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 10. Star Wars: Episode III  Revenge of the Sith (2005) Hollywood has increasingly made the assumption that darker means better when it comes to cinema  it explains why the Harry Potter films look like they were made while someone gradually turned down the dimmer switch on the studio lights. Of course, audiences know that darker sometimes means that your protagonist-turned-villain becomes a youngling-murdering, amateur street magician-looking sourpuss. Anakins arc here comes to a whimper of an ending, underlined by the much-derided decision to have Darth Vaders first moments onscreen involve him howling Noooooo! up to the sky like a mournful hound. That said, Ewan McGregor confirms here that he managed to escape the franchise largely unscathed, as this instalment sees him have the most fun with the clunky dialogue (see: Hello there! and I have the high ground!). Rex Features Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 9. Star Wars: Episode I  The Phantom Menace (1999) The Phantom Menace escapes slightly ahead of the rest of the prequel trilogy, if only for the fact it remembers these films are meant to be fun once in a while. The pod race  its a good scene! Darth Maul is all looks, zero follow through  its embarrassing to act like youve won, only to be cut in half and sent hurtling down an exhaust pipe  but his inclusion in the film did introduce one of the best musical themes in Star Wars history, John Williamss Duel of the Fates. However, the space politics are a particular drag here, with all the talk of trade disputes, and, of course, it's obligatory to mention the terror that is Jar Jar Binks. Rex Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 8. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) Although its the weakest of the new generation of Star Wars films, Solo still holds up as a fun romp worthy of Han Solos rascal reputation. Alden Ehrenreich picks up on enough of Harrison Fords mannerisms to sell the character without sliding into imitation, while Donald Glover is a scene stealer from the very moment he walks on screen as Lando Calrissian. Its a lost opportunity, then, that the film is otherwise slowed down by an impulse to offer backstory to as many aspects of Hans character as possible. Did we really need to know how we got the name Solo? Really? Rex Features Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 7. Star Wars: Episode IX  The Rise of Skywalker Director JJ Abrams, like the hero of an ancient prophecy, was destined to make both enemies and allies with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. There will be arguments. And there will be arguments about the arguments. There will be obsessive deconstructions and over-interpretations of each frame and intake of breath. But, at the end of the day, this is still a Star Wars film in its very bones, muscle, and sinew. Whatever controversy Abrams might have brewed up with his artistic choices, he still captures magnificently the soul of this series: that unwavering hope that the powerless can win, despite the odds. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 6. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) Theres a lot to wrap up in the concluding chapter of the original trilogy. The result is a few odd turns for the sake of plot convenience. What does one do with a character as enigmatic as Boba Fett? Why, have him topple into the Sarlacc pit within the first 20 minutes! How does one put to rest the love triangle hinted at in A New Hope? Why, insert a revelation that Luke and Leia are, in fact, brother and sister! Even the second Death Star oddly feels sillier than The Force Awakens and its third attempt at a giant ball in space, since The First Order at least had the excuse that their obsessive admiration of the Empire may have clouded their judgement. That said, theres still plenty of charm to be found here and the Ewoks arent all that bad. Before you dismiss them as irritating merchandise opportunities, its worth remembering that they have absolutely no qualms about killing and eating people. Rex Features Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 5. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) If Rogue One is any indication of Disneys plans for the franchise and its future, then theres no cause for concern. The first of the A Star Wars Story spin-offs, it shifts into gear with ease, soothing audiences by not straying too far from the familiar timeline while introducing a full set of new characters and a grittier tone. Stylistically, it feels more like a Vietnam War movie and is proof of how far a gifted director like Gareth Edwards can stray from the franchises usual formula and still feel grounded in the same world. Plus, you have to admire the guts it takes to deliver an ending like that Rex Features Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 4. Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015) Disney made a very smart move with The Force Awakens. As the first Star Wars film of a new generation, it not only had to make its own mark, but feel familiar enough that it welcomed fans back with open arms. The balance is hit perfectly here. Thats largely due to the films new trio of central heroes, who radiate the same kind of warmth, bravery, and spirit that carved a special place in peoples hearts when they were first introduced to the franchises original stars. Daisy Ridleys Rey, John Boyegas Finn, and Oscar Isaacs Poe honour Star Wars's past while striding into its unknown future. It also helps that the film has landed on a villain like Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), whose drive and complexity may see him surpass even Darth Vader by the end of his story in Episode IX. Rex Features Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 3. Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017) Any divisiveness the film attracted certainly proved one thing: heres a Star Wars film that actually took a creative risk. And what a bold, ambitious, and ultimately beautiful risk that was. Director Rian Johnson took the cinematic legacy presented before him and added a new richness to its textures. He allowed heroism to go beyond the clean divide between good and evil; through Luke and Rey, we were taught not to be ashamed of our doubts but to grow stronger because of them. We were taught not to use destiny as a crutch, but to know when to forge our own paths. The Last Jedi is a soulful film told through some of the most striking cinematography of the entire franchise. Rex Features Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 2. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) Its the place where it all began. The Star Wars franchise has only become the success it is today because of how purely revolutionary the first instalment was as a piece of Hollywood filmmaking. It is, to this day, one of the most successful examples of the modern epic, endlessly imitated but so rarely with the same heart or ambition. George Lucas tapped into one of the most timeless qualities of storytelling: its ability to let us see and understand our own world through the eyes of another. Star Wars has become so iconic because, even on such a grand scale, we know and relate to the emotions at hand  fear, love, or a desire to do whats right. Rex Features Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 1. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) The Empire Strikes Back is remarkable in its ability to pursue real emotional stakes. Its closing moments, the final note to its symphony of sacrifice and tragedy, leaves us with the single, delicate emotion that is hope, blooming in the darkness as our heroes set out to save Han and restore the Rebel Alliance. What A New Hope built up by making us fall in love with these characters, The Empire Strikes Back recouped in sharing with us their pain and their fears. Darth Vaders reveal that hes Lukes father has, of course, found its place in history, but theres an equal sense of emotional resonance in the moment Leia and Han depart, moments before hes trapped in carbonite. When Leias I love you is returned by Hans I know  a line written by Harrison Ford himself  were reminded of how magical Star Warss sense of storytelling can be, condensing everything that these two characters feel for each other into five simple words. Rex Features

Yet Picard is more than an autumnal final hurrah for both actor and character. Its arrival has given a warp-speed boost to Trek at the very moment its great science fiction nemesis, Star Wars, has crashed and burned with the spectacularly, almost surreally awful Rise of Skywalker.

Star Wars/Trek is one of the great rivalries in pop culture: Blur v Oasis for pointy-eared people in jumpsuits. Lightsaber or phaser? Millennium Falcon or USS Enterprise? Darth Vader, with his heavy breathing and Nazi leathers, or Ricardo Montalbans Khan Noonien Singh with chest-hair dancing in the light?

Such are the binary choices that have for decades divided the geek community. Star Trekkers have historically pitied Star Wars fans as callow and interested only in the surface level distraction (ie slow-motion explosions, Carrie Fisher being perved over by Jabba the Hutt, duels with fancy laser swords). Meanwhile Star Wars diehards despaired of what they regarded as Treks creaking production values and terrible acting.

The strangest aspect of the rivalry is that it was possible to belong to both camps simultaneously. Many of us flitted between Star Wars and Star Trek fandom according to whichever we were watching at the time.

Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Oscar Isaac star in The Rise of Skywalker (Walt Disney Studios Motion Picture)

Star Wars was obviously better at the gosh-wow stuff. And yet there was always that inner voice telling us Star Trek was smarter, sharper and deeper. As a teenager, I devoured Star Trek novels while reserving pride of place in my bedroom for a replica Millennium Falcon. Trek was for the brain, Star Wars for the heart.

Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up

With Picard, however, the Star Wars/Trek debate has for now been set to rest. Rise of Skywalker was so bad that time seemed to shudder to a standstill as you watched. Worse than that it retroactively ruined George Lucass original trilogy. All the sacrifices by the Rebels in Empire and Return of the Jedi had been rendered redundant with the return of  sheesh!  Palpatine.

With that cheeky resurrection, director JJ Abrams was essentially stamping his muddy boots all over our childhood. And that had followed the sneery, revisionist junk of Rian Johnsons The Last Jedi: Star Wars brought to you by the kind of people who laughed at you in the schoolyard for liking Star Wars.

Picard, by contrast, does nostalgia perfectly. As with Rise of Skywalker it brims with call-backs. It is no surprise to learn Picards show runner Michael Chabon fell in love with Trek aged 10. He maintained that passion even as he rose through the literary ranks in America, culminating in his Pulitzer Prize for 2001s The Adventures of Kavalier and Clay (itself a sly defence of nerd culture before it became fashionable to nurture the geek within).

 Star Trek: Picard trailer

He gets the nods and winks just right in the new series. Picards obsession with his glory days captaining the Enterprise NCC-1701-D manifests as haunting visions of his old android friend Data. The first episode references interplanetary cubists the Borg, the 2002 movie Star Trek: Nemesis, and the recent Star Trek films (the first two directed by, of all people, JJ Abrams). Further in, we are promised cameos by Seven of Nine from Star Trek Voyager and Will Riker himself, Jonathan Frakes.

Its all so seamless. Picard is in many ways a meditation on nostalgia: how our yesteryears can shine a light on our present but also shackle us. It is a truth with which Jean-Luc is him slowly coming to grips. But Chabon is also, perhaps, interrogating fandoms tendency to wallow in an idealised vision of the past. It adds depth to the action without clanging you over the cranium with an agenda.

Contrast that with the clunking fashion in which Rise of Skywalker raids our formative years. Mark Hamill is arm-twisted back into the frame as Luke Skywalker, despite dying in Last Jedi. Harrison Ford as Han Solo is back as well and just as grumpy as in 2015s The Force Awakens. R2-D2 and C-3PO are still tottering around in the background, as if conjured from the void through the sheer willpower of Star Wars fundamentalists. Darth Vaders melted helmet has another guest spot. Boom, boom, boom  Abrams cracks us again and again across the back of the head with a big rolled-up book titled Beloved Childhood Memories.

All that thwacking is in vain, however, as Abrams fan service is appended to a flailing and incoherent story. Picard, by contrast, picks and chooses what it is nostalgic for and is clear about wishing to weave a new tale rather than plod over old territory.

The outlook isnt entirely bleak for Star Wars, it should be acknowledged. The Disney+ TV series The Mandalorian, already available in the US and coming to the UK in March, is a worthy addition to lightsaber lore and has already contributed positively to human civilisation by giving us a lifetime supply of Baby Yoda memes.

But it has been so thoroughly eclipsed by the terrible Rise of Skywalker as to neuter much of its good work. Which means, with Picard, Star Trek for now has the upper hand. It wins this round by remembering that geeks cannot live on nostalgia alone and that even the most beloved sci-fi heroes need to keep moving forward. That is a lesson Disney, as custodian of Star Wars, has neglected to its cost.

Star Trek: Picard is available on Amazon Prime from 24 January
Bajaj Auto and Triumph Motorcycles have started developing new mid-capacity motorcycles priced below Rs 2 lakh that will be launched in 2022 to challenge the dominance of heavyweight Royal Enfield.

The Indo-British collaboration will explore the 200-750cc bike category to offer multiple product options across different segments. Eicher Motors-controlled Royal Enfield is looking for a world-wide dominance in the same segment.

New bikes developed using new platforms and new engines will be used for Triumph motorcycles, thereby bringing down the entry cost of the premium bike brand by one third. The current entry price of Triumph in India is around Rs 6 lakh.

The collaboration will combine strengths in design, technology, cost- competitive manufacturing and an intimate knowledge of key target markets to deliver a range of products. Harley-Davidson, the world leader in cruiser bikes is gearing to launch a baby cruiser powered by 250cc engine globally which will make its way to India as well.

Bajaj Auto will not use the same product or engine platforms for its own products as it already has platforms which it has and will be developing with Austrian street bike specialist KTM. Bajaj will take responsibility of selling Triumph bikes outside of India as well where Triumph has no presence.

Markets like Africa, Asia and Latin America where Bajaj has a strong distribution network will be used for selling the new Triumph bikes. Bajaj also has the option of exporting the kits of the Triumph bikes to be assembled at Bajaj plants overseas.

These new bikes will have a high degree of localisation that will be on par with a Bajaj Pulsar or a KTM Duke that is manufactured in India. The Triumph bikes will be made at the Chakan plant near Pune.

Rajiv Bajaj, managing director, Bajaj Auto, said, The Triumph brand is an iconic brand the world over. So we are confident that there will be a huge appetite in India and other emerging markets for these new products.

This is the first time in its 118-year history that Triumph has collaborated with another company. This is a non-equity based long-term partnership. The two companies did not divulge details of investments earmarked for the development of the bikes however Bajaj sources said that the real investment will come in only post 2022 when additions have to be made for manufacturing and further product development.

The existing 12 dealerships of Triumph will come under Bajajs distribution network. Also, the existing factory of Triumph at Haryana will continue to function even after 2022, top officials said to Moneycontrol.

Some of Triumphs products such as the Bonnevile has the same lineage as the Royal Enfields Classic range. There is no competition for Royal Enfield in the mid-capacity cruiser category in the price band of under Rs 5 lakh at present, which is where Triumph will look to lock horns.
In order to continue its growth in the Netherlands, Cofinimmo is reinforcing the Dutch team. As from 01.03.2020, Kees Zachariasse will assume the role of Managing Director Netherlands at Superstone (a 100% subsidiary of Cofinimmo SA). In this quality, he will manage, together with a team of four, the healthcare

[]
Proper structures must be instituted to ...
DES MOINES, Iowa - Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have spent the past year courting the Democratic Partys base with appeals to the working class and sweeping promises to curb climate change. But as they balance their responsibilities to participate in the Senates impeachment trial and rally voters on the campaign trail, theyre turning to private air travel, an option typically reserved for the elite and criticized as environmentally unfriendly.

Sanders is expected to charter a flight to Iowa this weekend while the Senate trial is in recess. Warren hasnt finalized her plans but is also considering private travel, and Amy Klobuchar hasnt ruled it out. Only Michael Bennet says hell be flying commercial.

The senators are facing an unprecedented challenge in the final days before the Feb. 3 Iowa caucuses. At a time when they would typically barnstorm the state, theyre instead stuck in Washington as jurors in President Donald Trumps impeachment case. The little time they have for campaigning makes commercial travel tough.

But the private planes present unique issues for Warren and Sanders. As the leading progressive voices in a crowded Democratic primary, they often criticize rivals they deem insufficiently loyal to those values. The sudden use of private travel is an example of how ideological rigidity can sometimes collide with White House aspirations.

This is the problem of presenting your purity above your practicality, said Democratic strategist Chris Lippincott, who has not endorsed any of the 2020 primary candidates. When we think about certain candidates who talk a lot about the environment ... youre going to hold them to a different standard.

Lippincott applauded the 2020 presidential hopefuls in the Senate for being willing to fly privately, if thats what their campaigns need.

I understand it, he said of trying to live progressive values at all times, but the reality is, theres a big risk of being perceived as being an ideologue and not a problem-solver.

Transportation emissions overall make up the largest share of U.S. climate-damaging emissions, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Globally, air travel pumps out about 3% of overall emissions of climate-destroying carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels. Surging growth of air travel in Asia and around the world means those emissions will triple by 2050, the United Nations says, and recent studies say even that figure underestimates the explosive growth of air travel and its emissions.

In March, Sanders campaign became the first to announce it would provide carbon offsets, donations to environmental groups meant to mitigate the environmental effects of extra emissions. Since then, it had spent about $9,000 on them through September. And during his primary challenge to Hillary Clinton in 2016, Sanders paid around $14,000 for such offsets.

His campaign is making payments to NativeEnergy, based in Burlington, Vermont, which is the same company that Clinton used for them during her presidential bid in 2016. Thats also the same firm Warren uses, with her campaign paying a little more than $10,000 to it in September.

Some climate advocates said they werent bothered by the private travel, especially because they view a more carbon-conscious administration as a far better result for the climate than four more years of Trump in the White House.

If youre a presidential candidate running to try to beat Donald Trump, who is a climate denier to his bones, and that requires you to move around the country ... you should do that, said Leah Stokes, a professor and researcher into climate and energy politics at the University of California-Santa Barbara.

World leaders fly around in airplanes  this is the modern era, Stokes said. They cant just hop a speedy train to Iowa, she said.

Trump has made a similar point for the opposite reason, poking fun at Democratic environmental plans.

I really dont like their policy of taking away your car, of taking away your airplane rights, of Lets hop a train to California, Trump said during a rally last February.

Sanders has pledged a $16.3 trillion environmental plan that would declare climate change a national emergency and calls for the U.S. to move to renewable energy across the economy until 2050. Warren wants to spend $3 trillion over 10 years to move the U.S. to 100% clean energy. And both are aggressive supporters of the Green New Deal, a sweeping plan to combat climate change.

Sanders recently suggested on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert that hed consider a kind of jet-pooling arrangement in which he and other candidates could share private flights, saying, Maybe we can all chip in, get one plane and come back.

That opportunity might have presented itself last weekend since Sanders, Warren and others were campaigning in Iowa and then went to South Carolina for Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations and then on to Washington to be in the Senate. But they didnt share private flights.

Sanders campaign says the senators comment to Colbert wasnt realistic. Even if several senators were looking to decamp from Washington to Iowa quickly after the impeachment trial concludes each day, they would be headed to different parts of the state.

Tom Steyer, the billionaire hedge fund manager and environmentalist, has shunned all private plane travel and called on his fellow Democratic candidates to walk the walk on climate change activism by also doing so. Still, i ts not just those candidates tethered to Washington by the impeachment trial who often opt to fly via chartered jet. Former Vice-President Joe Biden spent at least $1.2 million on private flights through September, while Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, had spent at least $750,000.

That was more than Sanders (at least $377,000) and Warren (at least $190,000) over the same period, though impeachment could change that. Spending data through December 2019 wont be ready until the end of the month. Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg mostly flies private to campaign stops.

Buttigiegs, Bidens and Bloombergs campaigns all say they are also paying for carbon offsets.

Buttigieg faced criticism this summer for his penchant for flying private from presidential rival Beto ORourke, who produced an online ad filmed aboard a commercial jet proclaiming No private planes for this campaign. Buttigieg responded during a CNN climate change town hall by saying, This is a very big country, and Im running to be president of the whole country. ORourke, a former Texas congressman, dropped out of the race in November.

Sanders, meanwhile, drew fire after spending nearly $300,000 on private jets in September 2018, as he crisscrossed the country campaigning for other candidates during the midterm elections.

The issue also came up in August, when Sanders travelled to Paradise, California, which had been ravaged by wildfires, to unveil his plan to fight climate change. He was unapologetic.

Im not going to walk to California, Sanders replied when asked about flying private. We do the best we can as an example, but Im not going to sit here and tell you that were not going to use fossil fuels.

___

Knickmeyer reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Brian Slodysko in Washington and Kathleen Ronayne in Sacramento, California, contributed to this report.

___

Catch up on the 2020 election campaign with AP experts on our weekly politics podcast, Ground Game.
German operators worry banning Huawei may add years of delays and billions in costs to Germanys 5G network launch.

Diversification is crucial to ensuring a countrys security in the roll-out of 5G mobile technology and shunning one supplier altogether risks being counterproductive, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday.

Merkels government has been wrangling for weeks over how strict security requirements for Germanys 5G roll-out should be, and whether they should effectively shut out Chinese technology giant Huawei from the network.

German operators are all Huawei customers and have warned that banning the Chinese vendor would add years of delays and billions of dollars in costs to the launch of 5G networks.

Without naming Huawei, Merkel said of the 5G conundrum: How do I make myself secure? I think I make myself the most secure through diversification and redundancy where it is necessary; those are the technical approaches to secure myself.

I dont think I make myself particularly secure if I completely eliminate providers in their entirety and then dont know how they develop  I am sceptical about that, she said at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Norbert Roettgen, a senior member of Merkels conservative party, told Reuters on Tuesday that there was a groundswell of support among lawmakers in Merkels bloc to require firms that roll out Germanys 5G network to be free of political influence in their home country.

The United States says equipment provided by Huawei, the worlds leading telecoms equipment vendor with a market share of 28 percent, contains back doors that would enable China to spy on other countries.

Huawei has denied the allegations.

US President Donald Trumps administration imposed export controls on Huawei in May, hobbling its smartphone business and raising questions about whether the Chinese company can maintain its market lead in the telecoms equipment sector.

Turning to the crisis in the Middle East, Merkel warned against prematurely scrapping an international nuclear deal with Iran, saying it would be wrong to abandon an imperfect deal with nothing better in place.

On climate change, she said the world needs an open dialogue to heal the gap between sceptics and believers.

Time is pressing, so we  the older ones; I am 65 years old  must make sure that we take the impatience of young people positively and constructively, Merkel said.

But as we live in a time when facts are in competition with emotion  we need to reconcile the emotions with the facts. And that is perhaps the biggest social challenge  That requires at least that we speak to one another.
PRAGUE -- RFE/RL's Russian Service has filed documents with Russia's Federal Tax Service to register as a "foreign agent" to comply with a law that critics say the Kremlin uses to muzzle dissent, limit news plurality, and discourage the free exchange of ideas.



Andrei Shary, the director of RFE/RL's Russian Service, known locally as Radio Svoboda, said on January 24 that the papers had been filed in recent days.



"This week we filed all of the necessary papers with Russian tax authorities after we received all necessary clarifications regarding the registration process from the Justice Ministry," Shary said.



According to Shary, the ministry informed him that one registration covers all RFE/RL projects operating on Russian territory.



Russia passed the original "foreign agent" law -- which requires all nongovernmental organizations receiving foreign funding to register -- in 2012 following a major wave of anti-government protests.



In December, President Vladimir Putin signed an amendment to the law which brands reporters who work for organizations officially listed as foreign agents as foreign agents themselves.



The label is applied to individuals who cooperate with foreign media outlets and receive financial or other material support from them.



At the time, RFE/RL President Jamie Fly harshly criticized the amendment and called the law "an outrage."

RFE/RL works with hundreds of Russian correspondents across the country who are a lifeline for news-deprived local communities and who tackle important issues ignored by state media, but who, according to this law, should now, absurdly, be considered foreign agents, Fly said at the time.



These are exceptional and dedicated journalists. It is an outrage that this law targets their work and jeopardizes their security in an attempt to silence them and deprive Russian citizens of their right to seek reliable information.



Russian officials have said the law was a "symmetrical response" after Russia's state-funded channel RT -- which U.S. authorities accuse of spreading propaganda -- was required to register its U.S. operating unit under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).



Critics of the law say it stigmatizes organizations with the designation and would do the same to journalists if they are labeled as foreign agents.



RFE/RL operates a large bureau in Moscow, has hundreds of contributors across Russia, and has recently launched dedicated reporting units to provide up-close coverage of northern Russia (Sever.Realii) and Siberia (Sibir.Realii).



Its North Caucasus and Tatar-Bashkir language services have similarly sought to make their reporting more accessible to regional audiences by starting up websites -- Kavkaz.Realii and Idel.Realii -- in Russian.



Current Time, the Russian-language network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA, relies on a reporting network that covers the entire space of the former Soviet Union to reach Russian speakers within and beyond Russias borders.
Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut on Friday alleged that a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party has informed him about the tapping of his phone.

"Your phone is being tapped, I have been informed by a senior BJP minister," Raut claimed in a tweet.

In a tweet, he also said that he welcomes whoever wants to overhear his conversation.

"I am a disciple of Balsaheb Thackeray. I don't say or do anything behind the curtain. So go ahead with it," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Vachit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), led by Prakash Ambedkar, has called for a state-wide bandh on January 24 to oppose the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Earlier, Ambedkar had said the party has received support from 35 organisations, and will participate in the bandh on January 24 against the Centres undemocratic style of work.

While Congress and National Congress Party (NCP) havent officially put forward their stand on the protest, Ambedkar expects all political parties to follow suit and join the protest.

We expect all political parties and organisations to support the bandh. The protest is against the undemocratic style of work of the Centre, Ambedkar said.

Another reason for the peaceful protest is against BJPs failure to tackle the ongoing economic crisis. The bandh is against the failure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government on every front: social, economic and employment. They are pushing RSS agenda and undermining the Constitution. It is against the larger welfare of citizens of India, the VBA chief added.

According to Ambedkar, the implementation of CAA and NRC not only affects Muslims but also a large Hindu population. He also questioned whether the government has enough funds for running the system after recent reports pointed out that the government facing a deficit of Rs 3 lakh crore.
TORONTO - A prominent Canadian aid worker in Nepal has lost his appeal of a conviction for sexually assaulting two children but saw his sentence cut by one year to eight, members of his legal team said on Friday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/1/2020 (718 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TORONTO - A prominent Canadian aid worker in Nepal has lost his appeal of a conviction for sexually assaulting two children but saw his sentence cut by one year to eight, members of his legal team said on Friday.

Following a hearing that lasted almost four days, the Patan High Court upheld the guilty verdict against Peter Dalglish, an Order of Canada recipient originally from London, Ont.

"I am still trying to understand what went wrong," defence lawyer Dennis Edney said from Kathmandu. "It's a miscarriage of justice, that's what it is."

Nepalese police alleged Dalglish, 62, had raped two Nepalese boys aged 11 and 14, who were in his mountain home in the village of Kartike, east of the capital. Officers arrested him at home in the early hours of April 8, 2018.

A district court convicted him last June and sentenced him to nine years in prison, despite his denial of any wrongdoing.

Nepalese conservationist Minoj Gautam, who was introduced to Dalglish several years ago by primatologist Jane Goodall, said the Appeal Court's decision was hard to take.

"We're just coping with the blow of the order from the High Court," Minoj Gautam said from Kathmandu. "We thought we had done very well because we had systematically debunked all the so-called evidence that was produced."

On appeal, Dalglish's lawyers argued his trial had been unfair. They raised inconsistencies in the evidence, what they said were threats and intimidation by investigators, and the fact that neither of the alleged victims or their families had complained about him.

The defence also said both youths had recanted their accusations, and the prosecutors had no solid evidence. They also said the court ignored a ticket and boarding pass that proved Dalglish wasn't where one of the alleged incidents occurred. Other evidence against him included photographs of children published in a book he wrote two decades ago.

For its part, the prosecution focused on testimony from the alleged victims but spent most of its time discussing the sentence.

Dalglish himself gave a "touching" closing speech to the court about how his daughter's picture, showing her topless as a young child, had been used against him, Gautam said. He also described how he had kept up hope despite suffering through a "dark period" of the past 21 months.

"The only reward that he feels like that he has received for helping people...is this allegation, which has besmirched his reputation beyond recovery," Gautam said.

Ultimately, the two justices hearing the appeal upheld the conviction but cut his sentence to eight years.

Dalglish's legal team is now considering a final appeal to Nepal's Supreme Court. However, they are far from optimistic about his chances given the court rulings.

"People are not that hopeful," Gautam said. "It's a big blow to the trust that we had put in our justice system."

Edney, too, said he had no faith in the Nepalese justice system and noted there was no international treaty to allow Dalglish to serve out his sentence in Canada. He called on the Canadian government to get involved in hopes that a ranking politician in Nepal could effect Dalglish's release.

"What needs to be done is for our government to speak to the Nepalese government privately," Edney said.

At the time of Dalglish's arrest, Pushkar Karki, the chief of Nepal's Central Investigation Bureau, accused the Canadian of luring children from poor families with promises of education, jobs and trips, then sexually abusing them.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Jan. 24, 2020.
KETCHIKAN, Alaska - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued a permit for a cruise ship dock in southeast Alaska, but the docks opening date is unclear, agency officials said.

The permit was issued Tuesday for the 1,300-foot (400-meter), two-berth cruise ship dock in Ward Cove, about 300 miles (480 kilometres) south of Juneau, Ketchikan Daily News reported Thursday.

The permit was approved after two months of public comment and four months of review, officials said.

The permit was issued to Power Systems & Supplies, owned by Dave and Andrew Spokely of Ketchikan, and the Ward Cove Dock Group will own and operate the dock, agency officials said.

The company has a 30-year agreement with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., which owns six ships, and is scheduled to bring an estimated 270,000 passengers to Ketchikan this summer.

The project is part of a larger plan to revamp the site of the former Ketchikan Pulp Mill into a welcoming centre, museum and shopping attraction, officials said.

Months of construction is needed before a project-completion date can be estimated because it is a very technically difficult project, said John Binkley, a partner in the Ward Cove Dock Group.

The permit includes several conditions, including a baseline assessment of the health of the ocean floor through soils samples, before pile driving begins, company officials said. Workers started collecting samples Wednesday from more than two dozen locations, officials said.

Construction is expected to begin at the end of next week after the main barge on the project arrives from Skagway, officials said.

Phase one of the project, including the completion of the dock and opening of the welcoming centre, is expected to cost about $50 million, officials said.
Eric Adams, holding a picture of his late mother, is sworn in as New York mayor during the New Years celebration in Times Square. (Reuters)

In his first 10 days, Eric Adams has veered between swagger and tragedy, praise and criticism, as he begins leading the nations largest city.
Donald Trump was swept up by a completely bogus Ukraine theory pushed by attorney Rudy Giuliani that led to his abuse of power and impeachment, Democratic House prosecutors said on Thursday.

The claim came as the Democrats pressed their case for a second day before sceptical Republican Senate jurors at the presidents impeachment trial.

The Democrats displayed video images of the nations top FBI and Homeland Security officials warning the public off the theory it was Ukraine, not Russia, that interfered in the 2016 election.

Thats what Donald Trump wanted investigated or announced  this completely bogus Kremlin-pushed conspiracy theory, said Representative Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee who is leading the prosecution.

House impeachment manager Adam Schiff speaks during the impeachment trial on Thursday (Senate Television/AP)

Mr Trump is accused of seeking the investigation  and probes of political foe Joe Biden and Mr Bidens son  for his own political benefit while holding back Congress-approved military aid as leverage.

You can imagine what a danger that presents to this country, Mr Schiff told the hearing.

Mr Trump is facing trial in the Senate after the House impeached him last month, accusing him of abusing his office by asking Ukraine for the investigations while withholding the aid from a US ally at war with bordering Russia.

The president faces a second article of impeachment accusing him of obstructing Congress by refusing to turn over documents or allow officials to testify in the House investigation.

Republicans, growing tired of the long hours in the first days of proceedings, have defended Mr Trumps actions as appropriate and cast the process as a politically motivated effort to weaken him in the midst of his reelection campaign.

Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, and acquittal is considered likely.

With Chief Justice John Roberts presiding, Democrats argued on Thursday that Mr Trumps motives were clear.

Story continues

No president has ever used his office to compel a foreign nation to help him cheat in our elections, Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, told the senators. He said the nations founders would be shocked. The presidents conduct is wrong. It is illegal. It is dangerous.

They scoffed at Mr Trumps claim he had good reasons for pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political foes.

It was Mr Trump who engaged in a shocking abuse of power, not former Vice President Biden or other Trump foes, said Representative Sylvia Garcia of Texas.

There was no evidence, nothing, nada to suggest Mr Biden did anything improper in dealings with Ukraine, said Ms Garcia, a former judge.

The Democrat House would not give us lawyers, or not one witness, but now demand that the Republican Senate produce the witnesses that the House never sought, or even asked for? They had their chance, but pretended to rush. Most unfair & corrupt hearing in Congressional history!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 23, 2020

Mr Trump, with Mr Giuliani, pursued investigations of Mr Biden and his son, Hunter, who served on a Ukrainian gas companys board, sought the investigation of debunked theories of what nation was guilty of interference in the 2016 US election.

The presidents defence waited its turn, which may come on Saturday.

We will be putting on a vigorous defence of both fact and rebutting what they said, said Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow.

Ahead of the days proceedings, Republican senator Roy Blunt said the Democrats were putting forward admirable presentations but added: Theyve basically got about one hour of presentation, and they gave it six times on Tuesday and eight times yesterday. Theres just not much new here.

The top Senate Democrat, Chuck Schumer, acknowledged that many senators really dont want to be here.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks to reporters during a break in the trial on Thursday (Jose Luis Magana/AP)

But Mr Schumer said Mr Schiff had been outlining a compelling case about Mr Trumps pressure on Ukraine and the scheme to cover up the charges, and that many Republicans were hearing it for only the first time.

He contended they could not but be glued to Mr Schiffs testimony.

Once reluctant to take on impeachment during an election year, the Democrats are now marching toward a decision by the Senate that the American public also will judge.

Mr Trump blasted the proceedings in a Thursday morning tweet, declaring them the Most unfair & corrupt hearing in Congressional history!

Each side has up to three days to present its case.

After the House prosecutors finish, likely on Friday, the presidents lawyers will have as much as 24 hours.

It is unclear how much time they will actually take, but Mr Trumps team promises not only to defend the president but to take apart the Democrats case.

The Senate is expected to take only Sunday off and push into next week.
Harbor Springs to host Winter Fest this Saturday

The City of Harbor Springs is hosting a winter themed and family-friendly event to shake off the cabin fever this Saturday.
Ryanair has offered a couple 8.46 in compensation after they paid 390 to get home from Poland when their flight was cancelled.

Natalie King, who was three months pregnant, and Keith Page said they were warned they would have to wait a week for another plane from Krakow to Bournemouth.

They paid 390 to get the 1,000 miles home via Warsaw and London City Airport, as well as 100 for a taxi from Krakow to their new departure airport Katowice.

The couple, who work in Poole, went to Krakow on September 13 for a four-night break, flying with Ryanair (file photo)

Ms King, who also has a four-year-old daughter with Mr Page, said the bigger shock was Ryanair's compensation offer.

What you can do if your flight is delayed: Complain directly to the airline, stating you are entitled to compensation under EU regulation 261. The amount you can claim depends on your destination and the length of your delay. The maximum is around 531 and the delay must have been within the airlines control. This includes routine technical faults. If a claim is rejected, contact the AviationADR or CEDR schemes. Jet2 and Ryanair are not signed up to either. The Civil Aviation Authority (caa.co.uk, 0330 022 1500) can handle complaints about these two airlines. Advertisement

The self-employed nanny from Wimborne, Dorset, said: 'I could not believe my eyes when I saw it.

'I don't have a clue how they came up with the figure of 8.46 but it was insulting - we spent 490 to get back.

'There was no way we could have waited a week for another flight. We had a child and work to get back to.'

It is not clear what Ryanair gave the 8.46 for, or whether the couple have gone to the Civil Aviation Authority to complain.

Ms King and Mr Page, who works in Poole, went to Krakow on September 13 for a four-night break.

Ms King said: 'It was the first time we had been away as a couple for 10 years and we were really looking forward to it. We had a lovely time but it was completely ruined by the journey home.'

She said the original flight was scheduled for 5pm, then 5.50pm, and 7.40pm before being cancelled.

She continued: 'There was a massive queue in the airport and we were told we could either have compensation or another flight.

'When we logged in online we realised we would have to wait a week for a flight. We stood in a queue for three hours before deciding to get another flight. We had no choice.'

She added: 'Everyone was frantic - I have no idea how the other people got home.'

A spokesman for Ryanair said: 'We have resolved this with the customer directly.'
6.1k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

Fox Newss Judge Andrew Napolitano broke down the evidence against Trump and concluded that there is ample evidence to support Trumps conviction and removal.

Napolitano wrote on FoxNews.com:

We know that obstruction of Congress is a crime. Just ask former New York Yankees pitching great Roger Clemens, who was tried for it and acquitted. We also know that obstruction of Congress  by ordering subordinates not to comply with House impeachment subpoenas  is an impeachable offense. We know that because the House Judiciary Committee voted to charge President Nixon with obstruction of Congress when he refused to comply with subpoenas. And the full House voted for an article of impeachment against President Clinton when he refused to surrender subpoenaed evidence.

Where does all this leave us at the outset of Trumps Senate trial?

It leaves us with valid, lawful, constitutional arguments for Trumps impeachment that he ought to take seriously. That is, unless he knows he will be acquitted because Republican senators have told him so. Whoever may have whispered that into his ear is unworthy of sitting as a juror and has violated the oath of impartial justice and fidelity to the Constitution and the law.

What is required for removal of the president? A demonstration of presidential commission of high crimes and misdemeanors, of which in Trumps case the evidence is ample and uncontradicted.

Democrats continue to say that the evidence is overwhelming because it is. There are documents, first-hand witnesses, and the president himself has admitted that he tried to blackmail Ukraine into investigating Joe Biden.

There is more than enough evidence to support the conviction and removal of Donald Trump from office. The volume of evidence has yet to be contested by Trumps defenders or his attorneys. Trump and his team have thrown smears and conspiracies at the wall in the hope that something sticks.

The evidence is so completely uncontested that even Fox Newss top legal analyst is admitting that there is more than enough to support removing Trump from office.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

Follow Jason Easley on Facebook
Southeast Michigan still had open-water fishing for walleye and perch. With the cold temperatures, the inland lakes were starting to freeze, but the southern sections of the Lower Peninsula did not have safe ice for the most part. Ice jams were causing some problems on a few rivers. All anglers 17 years of age and older are required to have a fishing license.

Northeast Lower Peninsula

Burt Lake: Ice anglers need to use caution and stay away from any pressure cracks. Some are getting the occasional steelhead or brown trout, while most were targeting walleye, perch, crappie and bluegills.

Mullett Lake: Ice conditions were unknown. Those heading out should stay away from the rivers on both the north and south ends.

Lake Margrethe: Ice fishing continues for walleye, pike, bluegills and perch.

Higgins Lake: Was iced over for the most part; however, the ice thickness is not uniform by any means, and there is slush in the middle of the lake, where water had come up. Anglers may find 4 inches in one spot and only an inch in the next. Snow cover on the lake will slow the freezing process. Those looking to fish may want to target rainbow trout in shallow waters only with wigglers or wax worms. Try near Big Creek and off King Road.

Houghton Lake: Anglers should stay clear of the Muskegon River, Cut River, Denton Creek and Backus Creek as vehicles have gone through the ice. Anglers should not cross the pressure crack that runs from Long Point to the Heights area due to unsafe ice. Vehicles should not go off the launch on the west side due to poor ice conditions. The bite was slow, but walleye and a few perch were found in 8 to 12 feet by those jigging a rattle jig to lure them in then dead sticking with a minnow. Pike were caught by those using tip-ups with golden shiners. Bluegills were hitting in the morning and late afternoon.

Lake St. Helen: Continues to see a good number of anglers. Most have caught bluegill, crappie and walleye. The better pike fishing is usually off the boat launch on the First Lake.

Tawas: Had no fishable ice.

Au Gres: There was some ice inside Northport Marina, where anglers were getting a few walleye and pike on jigs tipped with minnows. Several pike were taken on tip-ups at Eagle Bay Marina. Decent-size bluegills and crappie were taken on wax worms, and a few small perch were caught on minnows.

Southeast Lower Peninsula

Lake Erie: Open-water fishing continues. Some boat anglers were still heading out from the Metropark Marina, though no reports had come in.

Huron River: Anglers caught the occasional steelhead off Labo Park and Dodge Park.

Detroit River: A few boats were still heading out; however, watch for ice coming down the river. Those fishing the cuts, canals and marinas were getting small perch.

St. Clair River: Had ice moving downstream at Port Huron.

Saginaw Bay: Ice was finally starting to form along the west shoreline from Whites Beach to the Bay City State Park, though you cannot get out very far. Ice was starting to form along the east side; however, extreme caution needs to be used as there was still open water in some areas. Ice anglers were found from Sebewaing to Bay Port, where the occasional pike or bluegill was caught near shore. Perch fishing was very slow. Caseville had stained water, and fishing was slow. Ice had just formed around the pier, but no anglers were on it as it is still early. Ice conditions were not uniform, so use caution.

Saginaw River: Was still running high, fast and muddy with a lot of ice coming down. A couple anglers were ice fishing at the Bay Harbor Yacht Club, but caution needs to be used. They caught a few small perch and undersize walleye as the water was muddy.

Tittabawassee River: Was still high, fast and muddy with a lot of ice coming down.

Southwest Lower Peninsula

Ice was starting to form; however, it was not safe in most places. Extreme caution needs to be used, especially with the amount of snow that came down during the initial freezing process. Very few anglers had been out.

Grand River near Lansing: High water levels continue, so try staying out of the current and fish the quiet backwaters where pike and catfish may be found.

Big Blue Lake: In Muskegon County was producing pike and bluegills.

Muskegon Lake: Frozen over; however, anglers should stay away from the newly formed black ice and stay away from the channel, which had open water. Those heading out would be wise to take a spud and check the ice ahead of you. A few pike were taken on tip-ups off Heritage Landing. A few anglers could be found in the northeast corner near the Conservation Club. For bluegills, try on the north end in Snug Harbor.

Muskegon River: Was still a bit high, but those fishing near the bank did manage to find a couple steelhead.

Northwest Lower Peninsula

Thumb Lake: Had ice in both the east and west basins, especially along the edges. Ice conditions in the deep hole were unknown. Anglers need to be aware of where the deep holes are and any areas with natural springs. There was some slush on the ice with a good 8 inches of snow on top. Anglers were taking limits of perch off the beach access site when jigging wax worms and minnows in 5 to 15 feet. Anglers reported schools of jumbo perch but could not get them to bite. Most of the fish harvested were 7-9 inches. Splake 14-21 inches were caught off the beach access, around the island and off the boat launch when jigging minnows.

Lake Charlevoix: Ice anglers were fishing the South Arm. Those targeting perch had mixed results.

Long Lake: In Grand Traverse County had slow fishing, with just a few small perch and small walleye caught. Over a foot of snow has resulted in slushy ice conditions.

Lake Missaukee: A few anglers were out getting panfish.

Lakes Cadillac and Mitchell: Both lakes had anglers out targeting walleye, pike and panfish. On Mitchell, anglers could be found off the state park and in Big Cove.

Manistee River: Anglers are finding steelhead when drifting spawn or beads in the slower water. Those fishing below Tippy Dam caught the occasional brown trout.

Upper Peninsula

Little Bay De Noc: Was hit with another big snowstorm. There is ice from the Kipling area and north. There was still some open water in the "Narrows," so the area should be avoided. There are pressure cracks from Gladstone south to the Terrace Bay Hotel. Those fishing near the Escanaba Power Plant and the Escanaba Beach were using caution. A few vehicles have started driving out, but this is dangerous due to variable ice thickness throughout the bay. Others are traveling by foot or snowmobile. Those chasing walleye could be found along the east bank at Gladstone in 30 to 35 feet or the Third Reef in 28 to 32 feet with minnows and jigging raps. Catch rates were spotty, and most fish were undersize. Perch catches remain steady; however, fewer jumbo perch were caught. Try Kipling in 18 to 30 feet, the Second Reef in 30 feet or near the Escanaba Power Plant in 30 to 35 feet with minnows and wigglers. Northern pike were active throughout, with good numbers of undersize fish caught. Those spearing pike reported good action southwest of Butlers Island in 6 feet or so.

Cedarville and Hessel: Fishing pressure picked up, and catch rates improved. Those fishing Musky Bay caught perch in 7 to 10 feet or pike in 20 feet when jigging minnows and wax worms. The snow and drifts are getting deep, and those with four-wheelers were having trouble in some areas. Ice conditions in Government Bay, Cedarville east channel and Mackinac Bay were unknown. Perch, pike and splake were caught in Hessel Bay. Perch measuring 7-9 inches were caught in 15 to 17 feet when jigging minnows and wax worms. A few splake were caught in 5 to 10 feet when jigging minnows.

This report is intended to give you an idea of what is going on around the state. Updates come from Fisheries staff and conservation officers. With more than 11,000 inland lakes, the Great Lakes and thousands of miles of rivers and streams, not all locations can be listed. However, it is safe to say if a species is being caught in some waters in the area, they are likely being caught in all waters in that section of the state that have that species.
(Bloomberg) -- Terms of Trade is a daily newsletter that untangles a world embroiled in trade wars. Sign up here.

A U.S. proposal to further restrict sales to China-based Huawei Technologies Co. has encountered objections within the Trump administration and is being held up as officials debate whether the step could harm exporters, a person familiar with the process said.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross on Thursday said new rules coming soon will put more limits on technology sales to Huawei, which American officials suspect of making gear that could be used for espionage -- an allegation the company has denied. The proposal, however, has foundered at least temporarily amid objections, said the person who spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions arent public.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that the Treasury Department and Pentagon opposed the tightening. Asked Friday about the matter, Defense Secretary Mark Esper seemed to acknowledge administration discussions. Esper didnt specifically address Huawei but said theres always a back-and-forth during interagency talks about proposed rule changes.

At issue are rules to make it harder for American companies to sell to Huawei from their overseas facilities. Some U.S. companies have kept selling to Huawei by using exemptions if the majority of work to create the products happens outside the U.S.

The current threshold permitting sales effectively kicks in when 75% of the work occurs overseas. The administration is debating raising this to 90%.

How Huawei Landed at the Center of Global Tech Tussle: QuickTake

The chip industry argues that further tightening could reduce its competitiveness and ability to innovate.

Such issues are never black and white, Esper said in remarks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, but restrictions generally must consider second- and third-order effects on American companies and sustaining those companies supply chains and those innovators.

Story continues

The Commerce Department didnt respond to a request for comment. Rob Manfredo, a spokesman for Huawei, declined to comment.

Huawei is one of the worlds biggest purchasers of chips. U.S. semiconductor makers have argued that a complete clampdown is counterproductive as many of the parts Huawei needs can be bought from non-U.S. providers. Huawei also buys software and other products from U.S. companies.

Three Republican senators in a letter on Friday asked Esper to explain the Defense Departments stance. Huawei is an arm of the Chinese Communist Party and should be treated as such, the lawmakers said in the letter, which was distributed by email. We are concerned that the Defense Department is not appropriately weighing the risks.

The letters signers were Nebraskas Ben Sasse, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, and Marco Rubio of Florida.

(Updates with letter from Republican senators, in final two paragraphs.)

--With assistance from Larry Liebert and Jenny Leonard.

To contact the reporter on this story: Todd Shields in Washington at tshields3@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Bill Faries at wfaries@bloomberg.net, ;Jon Morgan at jmorgan97@bloomberg.net, John Harney

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Burkina Faso to arm civilians in fight against extremists: Burkina Faso's parliament has approved legislation allowing the military to use civilian volunteers in the fight against Islamist extremism . The plan to put weapons in the hands of minimally trained civilians has been met with concern by human rights activists. Defense Minister Cherif Sy said all recruits would undergo two weeks of training on such topics as how to use weapons and discipline. Burkina Faso's military, despite training and other aid from France and the United States, has struggled to contain the spread of extremism.
Wildfires have devastated Australia in recent weeks, scorching vast tracts, leaving more than 20 people dead and snuffing out the lives of more than 1 billion animals, by some estimates. But according to one wildlife park just outside Sydney, the venomous Australian funnel-web spider is flourishing.

In the wake of the fires, which are still burning in parts of Victoria and New South Wales, rains have drenched southeastern Australia over the past week. In a Facebook post Tuesday, the Australian Reptile Park - which is in Somersby, about an hour's drive from Sydney - warned residents that "recent wet weather followed by hot days have created perfect conditions for funnel-web spiders to thrive."
Hear from Portland Timbers Steve Clark and Larrys Mabiala in the video above after soggy Day 4 of training.

The Timbers will have Friday off, resume training from the teams training facility in Beaverton on Saturday before departing to Costa Rica for two weeks where they will play three exhibition matches against Costa Rican Primera Division sides.

In San Jose, the Timbers will face Deportivo Saprissa on Saturday, Feb. 1, Municipal Grecia on Wednesday, Feb. 5, and wrap up their stay in Costa Rica against C.S. Herediano on Sunday, Feb. 9.

The team will return to Portland on Monday, Feb. 10 to resume preseason training and begin preparations for their 2020 preseason tournament at Providence Park, where the Timbers will face Cascadia-rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Minnesota United FC and the New England Revolution.
Click here to read the full article.

Al Gore has been the Cassandra of the climate crisis seemingly since the times of Cassandra. Starting in Congress more than 40 years ago, he has been ringing the alarm for more than half his life. Gore was back at Davos this week, and his message remained as stark as ever.

At 71, Gore is still younger than Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and Bernie Sanders. He has lost none of his passion for climate change, even if he delivers it painlessly in his Tennessee accent.

More from Rolling Stone

Speaking during a panel on protecting the Amazon, Gore proclaimed it was later than everyone thought. The burden to act on the shoulders of the generation of the people alive today is a challenge to our moral imagination, Gore said. This is Thermopylae. This is Agincourt. This is the Battle of the Bulge. This is Dunkirk. This is 9/11, declared Gore. We have to rise to this occasion.

On another panel, it was suggested to Gore that a too-rapid change to a green economy could lead to a global financial problem.

Theres no jobs on a dead planet, responded Gore.

I caught up with Gore at his hotel in Davos, Switzerland. The restaurant was playing throbbing Euro pop, so we took refuge on a pair of basement couches outside the restrooms. Occasionally, a Davoite dying for a piss would stop in their tracks and whisper a hello or thank you to the former vice president.

I wonder if you think that actual climate science matters anymore, or is it now so established that its all about policy and politics? Is it now about implementation rather than proving it?

No, I think it does matter. The issue itself is so complex that there are always people who evolve their opinions or level of certainty and refer to the science as they do so. The scientific consensus is moving toward unanimity; its nearly there. And I think that does have an impact. Of course, there are those who will never accept it. But even in that group, there are a growing number who decide to withhold their previous objections and just quietly accept the movement toward a consensus.

Story continues

So its more people who are not going to have the kind of road to Damascus experience but will, as you say, get on board quietly

Yeah. Well, for example, look at Davos this year. I mean the fact that [Davos founder] Klaus Schwab has made climate the principle focus of the World Economic Forum this year is a nontrivial development, and the captains of industry that make up a big part of this gathering include quite a number who fit the definition I was giving you a moment ago. They dont necessarily want to see this be the number-one topic, but theyve gotten to the point now where they are not going to object to it. And that in itself is significant.

Some activists describe Donald Trump as the greatest thing to happen to the climate movement, in the sense of it generating activism and energy. How do you see him as a catalyst to the movement, in the three years since hes been in office?

Well, theres no doubt, and Ive said this since the election that, in physics, theres a well-known principle: For every action, theres an equal and opposite reaction. And the reaction to Trumps anti-climate extremism is a very powerful new element in the climate movement, for sure. I remember in 1979-1980, there was a nuclear-arms-control agreement pending in the Senate, the SALT II agreement that Jimmy Carter had negotiated. The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. Candidate Ronald Reagan coined that phrase, the Evil Empire, and promoted a mass expansion of the ICBM arsenal. And Carter withdrew the Salt treaty from the Senate, and all of a sudden, the nuclear freeze movement emerged spontaneously. And thats an example of this same physics [at play]. I think were seeing that. Would I trade it for having a president that would implement barriers and provide leadership? No. But it is there.

From your point of view as both an activist and a politician, Trumps America Goes Alone strategy is particularly acute when it comes to climate. How does that impact the way the United States can still have influence if your president is not just being neutral, but having open scorn for it?

Trump is  and this is not original with me, and I dont know who to attribute it to  but a mix of malevolence and incompetence. And the latter characteristic has led to many of his anti-climate moves being blocked by the courts. And yet the absence of aggressive, creative, innovative leadership by the United States  it really diminishes, really, really hurts the ability of the world community to congeal around a new consensus to move forward more rapidly. And Madrid was more like Copenhagen and Paris, and one reason was that there was no U.S. advocacy. And the governors and mayors, they redeemed the reputation of the U.S. to some extent, for sure, but they could not push hard the way Obama pushed hard, the way Clinton and I pushed hard at Kyoto.



You have been involved with climate activism for more than 40 years. What have you you learned about American psychology, in terms of, what are some of the most-effective ways to influence or change American minds.

Well, Ive learned that the most powerful advocate is Mother Nature. And I can point to many examples of progress being made in changing minds in the immediate aftermath of these climate-related extreme events. And, in general, the increasing prevalence and severity of these events has been largely responsible for the dramatic change in public opinion. Climate is the number-one issue among Democrats according to some polls and the number-one issue among the liberal Democrats, according to a lot of measures; majority Republicans are now one side, basically, and young people, its not even close. And, I think, again, thats largely because of these climate-related extreme events. The Australian fires sort of revive and magnify the shock that we had last fall and last summer with the California fires. And the shock toward the end of the calendar year of the Amazon fires. I could go on: We have these deluges that are nearly biblical in their scale. Rain bombs we call them now.

Is there anything to be done? Or is it just a fact of life that climate denial on the Republican side has become a litmus test, almost a dogma?

Its weird. I still have some hope that it will change. And I see erosion around the edges. The tribal pact is still in place, and its a kind of a Three Musketeers principle. You have the anti-choice people, the pro-gun people, and the anti-climate people. And you could add several other things to that constellation. And its like, One for all, and all for one. And if you depart from one of their main ones  climate or guns  then you lose your badge that identifies you as a member of the tribe. And then you lose your funding, and then you get a primary opponent, and then you leave the Congress. So its a simple algorithm on one level, but it becomes more complicated when they talk to their families, and when they talk to their staff, and when they talk to some of their constituents.

But this existed before Trump. Its been thoroughly documented how the fossil-fuel companies adopted, whole cloth, the blueprint of the tobacco industry  even using some of the same PR people and some of the same unethical messaging. And its been documented now that the fossil-fuel executives  not all of them, but a lot of them  devoted enormous amounts of money to a deeply unethical propaganda campaign that was directly counter to what their own scientists were telling them. The old saying goes, If you see a turtle on top of a fence post, you can be pretty sure it didnt get there by itself. And if you see this extraordinarily high level of climate denial, it didnt happen by itself.

Now Rupert Murdoch is one of the major reasons for it. And even as Australia is burning to a crisp, he still puts out these horrific falsehoods every single day and poisons the ability of Australians to form a consensus just as hes done with Fox News here in the U.S.



So much talk about climate is about we have to do X before X year before the temperature is going to go up 1.5, and it gets into the data. But a lot of it now has become a much more emotional issue impacting people. Do you see that?

Ive seen it more, for sure. All issues are emotional to some degree. The psychologists are right when they tell us how we really make decisions. But I see it, also, in the temptation of some, not too many, but of a growing minimal percentage, to give in to despair. And despair is just another form of denial. And thats not just a word sandwich. Its true.



How do you deal with it emotionally?

I tell people that we dont have time for despair. I mean, the truth is, anybody who deals with this issue on a sustained basis has to somehow deal with that issue. Its never been a particular problem for me, but its there, for sure.



I know, in your travels, you meet people who lost their homes and way of life because of climate change.

Absolutely. In my hometown, in Nashville, were on the 10th anniversary of a massive flood. Thousands of my neighbors lost their homes and businesses. And they had no insurance because it had never, ever flooded in the regions that were in. I mean, it was insane. There was an elderly couple that died just a few blocks from my house. They were caught in the road.

Do you think there is a scenario where we can get to zero emissions by 2050?

I think that net zero with offsets is imminently feasible. I really do. And Im fond of quoting an MIT economist who famously said, Things take longer to happen than you think they will, but then they happen faster than you thought they could. And I think the transition to renewable energy, and hyper efficiency, and electric vehicles, and the circular economy, and regenerative agriculture, and zero-emission buildings, all thats very feasible. And were seeing a massive shift in resources, a massive deployment of commitment. I think it will happen. I really do.



I spent some time in New Hampshire following Democratic candidates. I just wanted to get your sense of whether you are liking what youre hearing in terms of the climate. For many of them, it is the first or second thing mentioned in their stump speeches.

Im super impressed with this field of candidates. Its kind of en vogue for people who say, Oh, woe is us, and some version of that. But I dont feel that. I think we have a lot of talent in the field. I am thrilled that virtually all of them have made the climate a very high priority  some of them in the top two issues. Im not totally surprised by that because of polling shows that Democrats are prioritizing it. So naturally theyre going to get that message. But so many of them have put out genuinely impressive, comprehensive plans.



What are your thoughts on the New Green Deal, in terms of it incorporating social justice and economic angles? You must see it as a step in the right direction.

Im all for it. Im an enthusiastic supporter, and I want to refer back to something I said to you earlier when I described the period when the nuclear freeze emerged. I was deeply into the details of nuclear-arms control in those years, and I actually thought that the nuclear freeze was simplistic, naive, and unworkable. But I watched as an overwhelming majority of Americans said, We like this nuclear freeze  a majority in both parties. And it ended up being a nontrivial factor in Ronald Reagans change of mind when he and Gorbachev discussed the Zero Option and then achieved a START agreement that was really quite a historic agreement. Ive learned from that experience, because the same criticisms that were aimed at the nuclear freeze by people, who fancied themselves experts, are being aimed at the Green New Deal now. The details are going to be worked out in the legislative process anyway, so I am enthusiastically all in for it.



I know youve met Greta Thunberg and watched her action. What is the impact she has on youth involvement on climate issues?

I think shes phenomenal. I remember many things she said, but one line in particular. I was at the U.N. General Assembly when she spoke in September, and she said to the assembled world leaders, You say you understand the science, but I dont believe you. Because if you did and then you continue to act as you do, that would mean youre evil. And I dont believe that. I went, Wow! I just think shes great. And the phrase a little child shall lead them has come to mind more than once. There have been other times in human history when the moment a morally based social movement reached the tipping point was the moment when the younger generation made it their own. And so shes very clear in saying, Dont tell me about hope, but she gives me hope and her generation gives me hope.

Last question. Off topic. I saw a recent story on Ralph Nader where he talks about how people still yell at him about 2000, 20 years later. Did you have to just reach peace with that?

Well, I often think of the famous dictum from Winston Churchill that Americans generally do the right thing after first exhausting every other option. I remember when [Nader] came to a book signing that I held at one of the bookstores in D.C. when I published a book in 2007 called, The Assault on Reason. And he stood in line and waited for an autograph, and I thought that was a nice thing to do. And, you know, why carry a grudge? It does no good.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Best of Rolling Stone

See where your favorite artists and songs rank on the Rolling Stone Charts.



Sign up for Rolling Stones Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Sorry!

This content is not available in your region
Refugees who have made the journey describe harrowing treks over rugged terrain littered with the corpses of those who perished along the way. Some collapsed from exhaustion or were separated from their families amid the chaos and wandered off in the dark. Others say they were shot at by Turkish or Iranian security forces or abandoned by smugglers charging the equivalent of thousands of dollars to hustle them across.
Libyan man sentenced to 19 years in Benghazi attacks originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

A Libyan man was sentenced to more than 19 years in prison on Thursday for his role in the 2012 terrorist attack on two U.S. government facilities in Benghazi that killed four Americans.

Mustafa al-Imam, 47, was captured in Libya in October 2017 and subsequently brought to the United States to face trial in federal court in Washington, D.C. Following a six-week trial last year, al-Imam was convicted by a jury in June of one count of conspiracy to provide material support or resources to terrorists and one count of maliciously destroying and injuring dwellings and property, and placing lives in jeopardy within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States.

However, the jury was deadlocked on more than a dozen other charges, including murder in relation to the deaths of U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other U.S. government personnel.

"We have not rested in our efforts to bring to justice those involved in the terrorist attacks on our facilities in Benghazi, which led to the death of four courageous Americans -- Tyrone Woods, Sean Smith, Glen Doherty and Ambassador Christopher Stevens -- and we never will," John C. Demers, assistant attorney general for national security, said in a statement Thursday. "Those responsible for these crimes must be held accountable."

(MORE: Benghazi plotter captured in US special operations raid, officials say)

U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper, who presided over the case, sentenced al-Imam to 19 years and six months in prison, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice. Federal prosecutors, who argued that al-Imam acted as the eyes and ears of the mastermind behind the attacks, had sought the maximum sentence of 35 years.

"Mustafa al-Imam played a significant role in the 2012 Benghazi attack, one that ultimately claimed American lives," William F. Sweeney, Jr., assistant director in charge of the FBI's New York field office, said in a statement Thursday. "While nothing will ever change the outcome of this horrific event, todays sentencing is a reminder that the safety of Americans -- whether at home or abroad, civilian or otherwise -- will always be our top priority. If you commit an act of terrorism, we will find you and bring you to justice."

Story continues

PHOTO: This undated image provided by the FBI in a U.S. District Court filing in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 29, 2019, shows Mustafa al-Imam after his capture in October 2017. (FBI via AP)

An attorney for Al-Imam did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment Friday morning.

(MORE: State Department quietly shutters questionable $70 million Cyprus base)

On the night of Sept. 11, 2012, a group of militants stormed the U.S. Special Mission in Benghazi and set buildings on fire, according to prosecutors, who showed surveillance video from the area at that time. The ambassador, Stevens, and Smith were both killed. Another U.S. government personnel was injured while trying to rescue them, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors allege that al-Imam arrived at the scene shortly after the siege began, accompanying Ahmed Abu Khatallah , the militia leader who orchestrated the attack who was sentenced to 22 years in prison in 2018. Al-Imam allegedly maintained contact with Khatallah in a series of cellphone calls throughout the attack, according to prosecutors, who cited phone records.

PHOTO: Libyans walk along the seaside promenade in the eastern Libyan port city of Benghazi on Jan. 21, 2020. (Abdullah Doma/AFP via Getty Images)

Prosecutors allege that al-Imam, Khatallah and other militants later entered the mission's office and took sensitive information, including maps and other documents related to the location of the nearby CIA Annex.

(MORE: Benghazi committee releases final report)

Following the siege on the mission, the militants attacked the CIA Annex in Benghazi, first with gunfire and then with a precision mortar round, leading to the deaths of two more Americans. Two other U.S. personnel were seriously wounded while defending the annex but survived, prosecutors said.

"The tragic loss of four American lives in the Benghazi attacks will never be forgotten and todays sentencing of Mustafa al-Imam is an important reminder of that," Jay Tabb, executive assistant director of the FBIs National Security Branch, said in a statement Thursday. "The FBI is committed to investigate and bring to justice all individuals involved in acts of terrorism against U.S. facilities or citizens and will use the full range of our resources to pursue such cases."
The Uttar Pradesh government had decided to set up a one-man inquiry commission headed by justice (retired) Vishnu Sahai on July 4, 2016 to ascertain the identity of Gumnami Baba alias Bhagwanji, whom many believed was Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.

The Allahabad high court had on January 31, 2013 asked the state government to set up a one-man inquiry commission. The commission submitted its report to the state government on September 19, 2017. The state government tabled the commissions report in the state assembly on December 19, 2019. The commission, which did not ascertain the identity of Gumnami Baba alias Bhagwanji, concluded that Gumnami Baba was not Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Now, strong objections have been raised about the commissions conclusions and observations made in the report.

HT spoke to justice (retired) Vishnu Sahai who headed the commission. Excerpts:

Any comments on the objections against the commissions findings?

Ever since my reports summary running into 130 pages and prepared by the state government, was placed before the state assembly in December 2019, objections started pouring in.

I am not averse to any objection/criticism. But, in my view, objections should have been raised after the people read my full report running into 347 pages.

Have you covered all the aspects? Do you feel that government should place the complete report of the commission in the public domain?

Yes, that will be wholly appropriate. After people read my full report, any constructive criticism will be welcome.

Will you say anything about the objections being raised?

I have said everything what I had to say in the commissions report.

Will you say anything about your findings on Bulbuls letter?

I will not comment.

How extensively did you deal with the issue?

I have dealt with all the aspects elaborately in my report. Since I find that my full report has not been read and what has been mentioned in the summary available on the net is that the identity of Gumnami Baba alias Bhagwanji has not been fixed by the commission. Hence, I feel that it is not just on the part of people to criticise without going through my full report.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
In this Nov. 5, 2016 photo, Gen. Esmail Ghaani speaks in a meeting in Tehran, Iran. A new Iranian general has stepped out of the shadows to lead the country's expeditionary Quds Force, becoming responsible for Tehran's proxies across the Mideast as the Islamic Republic threatens the U.S. with

Associated Press

Brian Hook, the US special representative for Iran, warned Gen. Esmail Ghaani, who replaced Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, that he "will meet the same fate" if he kills Americans in an interview with the London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.

Ghaani took over as the head of the IRGC Quds Force after Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike earlier this month.

"If [Ghaani] follows a similar path of killing Americans, he will meet the same fate," Hook said. "I think the [Iranian] regime now understands that they cannot attack America at will and expect to get away with it."

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

A top US diplomat threatened the Iranian general who succeeded slain Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, telling Asharq al-Awsat newspaper Thursday that he "will meet the same fate" if he kills Americans.

Gen. Esmail Ghaani became the new commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force after the former commander was killed in a US drone strike on Jan. 3 in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad.

The killing of the powerful and feared general led Iran to retaliate with a missile strike on US and coalition forces in Iraq. There were no deaths from the attack, but tensions persist as the Trump administration maintains its pressure campaign while Iran violates the nuclear deal.

During Soleimani's three-day funeral, Ghaani said that "we promise to continue down martyr Soleimani's path as firmly as before with help of God," adding that the aim is "to get rid of America from the region."

"If [Ghaani] follows a similar path of killing Americans, he will meet the same fate," Brian Hook, the US special representative for Iran, told Asharq al-Awsat, an Arabic language newspaper. "The president has made clear ... that any attacks against American Personnel or interests in the region will be met with a decisive response."

Story continues

"This is not a new threat," Hook said. "The president has always said that he will act decisively in defense of American interests. And I think the [Iranian] regime now understands that they cannot attack America at will and expect to get away with it."

"We will," he added, "hold the regime and its proxies accountable for any attacks on Americans, or on American interests in the region."

A rocket attack carried out by Kataeb Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia in Iraq, in late December killed a US civilian contractor and wounded several American service members. The US retaliated by bombing militia positions, which in turn triggered a militia-led assault on the US embassy in Baghdad.

Lawyers and politicians have continued debating whether the Trump administration had legal justification to kill Soleimani, a dramatic escalation that could have ignited a full-scale war.

The Department of Defense, in a statement following Soleimani's death, said that the Iranian general had orchestrated both the rocket attack and the assault on the US diplomatic mission in Baghdad. The Pentagon further argued that "General Soleimani and his Quds Force were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and the wounding of thousands more."

DoD said that he was "actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members," adding that the US drone strike that killed the general "was aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans."

Read the original article on Business Insider
TORONTO, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- iSIGN Media Solutions Inc. (iSIGN or Company) (TSX-V: ISD) (OTC: ISDSF), a leading provider of interactive mobile proximity marketing and public security alert solutions announced the exercise of 1,560,000 of previously issued and outstanding warrants priced at $0.10 by Korona Group Ltd. (Korona).

Korona is a company wholly owned by Josip (Joe) Kozar, iSIGNs Chief Executive Officer and is a major shareholder. Koronas exercise of warrants priced at a significant premium above current market price is a major statement of confidence in the direction the Company is taking, as well as in iSIGNs future growth and valuation.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our shareholders for their continued support as iSIGN works with our resellers and partners to complete a very unique network, entirely powered by iSIGNs patented technology, stated Mr. Kozar. I firmly believe that iSIGN is in a position to see a great growth in revenue in the coming months. My continued funding at a significant premium to market is my expression of utmost confidence in iSIGNs future successes and ultimate profitability, for the benefit of all stakeholders.

Additionally, the Company announced that Mr. Anthony DeCristofaro has resigned from the Companys Board of Directors effective January 21, 2019.

In announcing his resignation, Mr. DeCristofaro cited his increasing workload and travel requirements of his company, Qnext Corp., as his reasons for stepping down from iSIGNs Board of Directors.

On behalf of the Board and the Company, I would like to thank Anthony for his time and dedication to iSIGN over the past number of years, stated Mr. Joe Kozar, iSIGNs Chief Executive Officer. We wish him the very best in his future endeavors.

The Company is currently discussing iSIGN Board vacancies with perspective candidates to fill the openings on iSIGNs Board.

About iSIGN Media

iSIGN, a Canadian company based in Toronto, Ontario is a data-focused, software-as-a-service (SaaS) company that is a pioneering leader in the areas of location-based security alert messaging and proximity marketing utilizing Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity in complete privacy. Creators of the Smart suite of products, a patented interactive proximity marketing technology, iSIGN enables the delivery of messages to mobile devices in proximity, with real-time reporting and analytics on a variety of metrics. Partners include: IBM, Keyser Retail Solutions, Baylor University, Verizon Wireless, TELUS and Mtrex Network Solutions. www.isignmedia.com

 2020 iSIGN Media Solutions Inc. All Rights Reserved. All other trademarks and trade names are the property of their respective owners.

Company contacts:

Joe Kozar

iSIGN Media Solutions Inc.

info@isignmedia.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor Its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the accuracy of this release.
Catella Real Estate AG has acquired an office building in 7 Rue Thomas Edison, Strassen, Luxembourg for its fund Sarasin Sustainable Properties  European Cities (SSP). The Sarasin Sustainable Properties  European Cities fund is a product of Catella Real Estate AG in cooperation with the Bank J. Safra Sarasin.

[]
It has been a wild 24 hours.

Thats Ryan Overton, the Washington State Department of Transportation communications pro who posted a tweet Wednesday about the departments Sherman Pass webcam capturing  well, something  seemingly trudging through the snow up there.

The tweet exploded across social media, and news outfits around the country -- The Oregonian/OregonLive included -- leapt on the story.

The response: Finally, new evidence that Bigfoot exists!

Or, at the very least, it was: Finally, a new reason to talk about everyones favorite mythical beast!

One eagle-eyed reader wrote to The O: Did you notice the snow-depth gauge in that photo of Bigfoot? According to that, its only 3.5-4 ft tall, so if its a Bigfoot its a young one.

Everyone knows a fully grown Bigfoot is around 7 feet tall.

Sasquatch spotted!!! I'm not superstitious... just a little stitious. Have you noticed something strange on our Sherman Pass/SR 20 webcam before? If you look closely by the tree on the left there looks to be something... might be Sasquatch... We will leave that up to you! pic.twitter.com/RaDGqQdEUF  WSDOT East (@WSDOT_East) January 22, 2020

Overton admits that, yes, I was having some fun with the tweet, but he also says theres more to it than that.

About 15 years ago, there started to be strange things showing up in front of the camera, he wrote in an email to The Oregonian/OregonLive. First was an inflatable alien that would move at night and then be in different spots in front of the camera the next day. We also had a Christmas tree show up with battery-powered lights one winter season. And now we have Sasquatch/Bigfoot.

Or what appears to be a cardboard cutout of Bigfoot.

Determined to find out how those mystery items were getting in front of the isolated camera, Overton tagged along with a WSDOT crew on Thursday that was headed up Highway 20 to Sherman Pass. They stopped at the summit, but they couldnt see the camera from the road and didnt feel like climbing a quarter-mile on foot to reach it.

Ryan Overton headed up to Sherman Pass on Thursday in search of answers. (Washington State Department of Transportation)

He says hes going to try again next month, when he hopes to discover the truth and reveal it to the world.

Of course, maybe you think you already know the truth. It has to be the handiwork of a mischievous soul who likes to hike in the snow.

But who likes to hike in the snow? Bigfoot, of course.

-- Douglas Perry

@douglasmperry

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
TORRINGTON  The former director of the town of New Milfords information technology department had his arraignment on 49 counts of cyber crime postponed Thursday morning to the following day.

Kendrick Protzmann, 52, was charged with eight counts of third-degree computer crime and 41 counts fifth degree computer crime Jan. 17, after he turned himself in.

Protzmann worked as the head of the towns IT department from 2002 through the summer of 2019.

An investigation revealed someone had accessed town emails without authorization, town officials said, after an audit of the towns cybersecurity systems by the new IT director hired over the summer.

When doing the audit we noticed some irregularities, Mayor Pete Bass said Wednesday. Those anomalies led the town to do a full investigation, he said.

After news of the breach became public in October, the town said it would offer those affected by the leak two years of free credit monitoring.

The town also reccomends anyone who thinks they may have been affected by the breach set up credit freezes with each of the three major credit monitoring agencies. Doing so is free, after the 2017 Equifax data breach caused federal lawmakers to restrict credit-monitoring agencies from charging consumers to freeze their credit.

Protzmann has been free after posting $10,000 bond.

He intends to enter a plea of not guilty, William Dow, his New Haven lawyer said this week. The attorney said they look forward to meeting the charges in court, and noted Protzmann has no prior criminal history.
Frustrated volunteers who have worked tirelessly to help those immediately affected by Australia's bushfire crisis claim larger charities have abandoned those in need.

As the tally of donations contributed to the current bushfire crisis approaches half-a-billion dollars, the Red Cross, Salvation Army and St Vincent De Paul have been accused of failing to distribute the wealth quick enough.

Contributors to the Red Cross on Thursday night received an email from the charity slamming 'misleading information in the media' about how it was using donations.

Founder of the National Homeless Collective Donna Stolzenberg has lashed out at charities that are withholding funds from those desperately in need

The National Homeless Collective delivers two full pallets of school items for kids in Victoria's Gippsland region, which has been devastated by bushfires

Residents defend a property from a bushfire at Hillsville near Taree, 350km north of Sydney in November. Charities that have collected millions from across the globe have come under fire themselves for failing to help those in need quick enough

It followed criticism from Member for Bega Andrew Constance, who came out on Thursday swinging against the 'big three' for taking too long to distribute money.

'The money is needed now, not sitting in a Red Cross bank account earning interest so they can map out their next three years and do their marketing,' he said.

'We need a very real change, very quickly so that the money can get to those who need it most  people are on their knees and we can't have a drip-feed.'

The Red Cross has told contributors it had committed $30 million 'right now' to help people whose homes were destroyed to meet immediate needs.

'Our emergency grants program opened two weeks ago - when we first knew we had the funds to make it happen - and as of today we've paid almost 700 grants,' the email stated.

The Red Cross claimed it had further been paying an average of $1 million a day in grants.

'That's because of the superhuman efforts of our team, who've been processing applications, weeding out fakes and bots, calling people to collect information, and notifying people that money is on the way,' it stated.

On Thursday, the ABC reported St Vincent De Paul had raised $12.5 million and spent close to $1.1 million through financial packages for eligible households.

The Liberal member for Bega and Transport Minister Andrew Constance lashed out at 'the big three' charities this week for taking too long to distribute cash

Philip Hine surveys the ruins of his property on January 14, 2020 in Wytaliba, Australia. Many people in fire affected regions have struggled to get aid fast enough

The remains of burnt out buildings are seen along main street in the New South Wales town of Cobargo on December 31 last year

Since the Salvation Army's bushfire appeal began in November, $11 million had been received, with $7.6 million worth of goods and cash relief distributed.

On Friday, founder of the National Homeless Collective Donna Stolzenberg lashed out at charities that were withholding funds from those desperately in need.

'Celeste Barber raised $50 million but while all eyes were focused on her fundraiser no one was getting any actual help,' she said.

'We were getting emergency essentials out to people as soon as the fires hit and we did it without a cent of government money or the pulling power celebrity status has.'

Ms Stolzenberg, who helped raise $15,000 for the funeral of murdered homeless woman Courtney Herron, told Daily Mail Australia while some sat on their hands, others were doing the heavy lifting.

'We dont wait. We just get right in there and help,' she said.

'We called David McNamara (CEO of Foodbank Victoria) and two days later we had the first two pallets of goods loaded up and distributed by the army. Two days after that we did the same for Foodbank in QLD and they distributed our goods right through QLD, NSW and ACT.

'Were an unfunded charity from a Melbourne yet we can reach more people in immediate need than these big charities with millions of dollars? How does that work?'

National Homeless Collective founder Donna Stolzenberg (right) has been hard at work helping those directly in need of assistance from the bushfires across the country

National Homeless Collective founder Donna Stolzenberg gave out over 2000 sleeping bags for rough sleepers last year and about 600 food packs. She received no government funding and is fed-up with money not going to those in need

Ms Stolzenberg said she was achieving more with her team of six women, whom she took off the street, than any of the big three charities.

'Today Im putting together six new bikes for kids living in hotels because they have no houses and no way to ride to school now. Tomorrow Im putting together 40 school bags for kids living in cars and on the streets or in refuges,' she said.

'Last week I made 21 camp packs for kids living in crisis accommodation so they could go in a camp and as of Thursday Ill have delivered 27,000 pairs of underwear and socks to fire affected areas right across the country including to the fire rescue folk and SES plus 6000 toiletries and sanitary packs. Thats just one week.'

Next month Ms Stolzenberg will open a cafe to employ people with disabilities and autism so they can have a decent job that pays well and treats them with respect.

'Weve sent literally tonnes of items with no funding and no millions in aid. Im a grass roots charity. I get no funding. If I can do all this why the hell cant they?' she said.

'People need help now. Not when the next disaster hits. If that ever happens theyll donate more, they always do.'
Though coronavirus may be new to the general public, but Satchell said infectious disease researchers at the center already had projects in place to better understand the proteins of similar viruses. Both SARS and MERS are types of coronaviruses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The proteins in this new virus are highly similar to those of SARS, Satchell said.
WASHINGTON  House Democrats completed their three days of opening arguments in the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump by itemizing his alleged misconduct, but without clearly recruiting Republicans to support subpoenaing witnesses or convicting the president to remove him from office.

The lead manager, Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., charged that Trump abused the power of his office by withholding $391 million in vital military aid for Ukraine in a scheme to cheat in the 2020 election by pressuring the country to investigate his rival, former Vice President Joe Biden.

But Schiff warned that the second accusation of obstruction of Congress will echo beyond impeachment  if Trump isnt convicted and removed from office  because the president defied all subpoenas during the House inquiry.

In the history of the republic, no president ever ordered the complete defiance of an impeachment inquiry, Schiff said. Ukraine will survive and so will we, but that will be an unending injury to this country because the balance of power that our founders set out will never be the same.

Trumps defense team will have up to 24 hours spread over three days to make their case starting Saturday. Jay Sekulow, a private lawyer defending Trump, said the team will refute the Democratic arguments and make an argument supporting the president.

Were going to put on I believe without question a compelling case, Sekulow said.

Trumps conviction has always been unlikely because it would require a two-thirds vote in a chamber with 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats. But Democrats had hoped to win support from at least four Republicans joining them in a 51-vote majority to subpoena witnesses such as former national security adviser John Bolton and acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney.

Votes on witnesses are expected after the Trump teams presentation and then up to 16 hours of written questions posed by senators to both sides. But no Republicans stepped forward to support subpoenas after the arguments from the seven House prosecutors, who are called managers.

Story continues

Im not going to be requesting any additional witnesses, especially when they say the evidence is overwhelming and the facts are undisputed, said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. In the world I've grew up in, that means there's no need for additional witnesses.

Rather than take more time in the trial to call witnesses, Republicans turned their attention to acquitting Trump and moving on.

I personally am in favor of a motion to acquit or convict," said Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind. "I think the former is whats going to happen because the case has not been made."

 Bart Jansen

GOP senators slam Schiff speech

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., made an impassioned plea to Republicans to put country over party and to think about their own values rather than politics, but some of his points drew mixed reactions from the senators.

When Schiff referenced a CBS report that a Trump confidante had told senators not vote against him or "your head would be on a pike," Republican senators audibly voiced their disapproval, one of the first times in the trial.

"That's not true," Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, could be heard saying, along with several other senators.

She shook her head in disapproval.

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., laughed at the remark, pulled out his fidget spinner, and started twirling it.

Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., denied that Republicans had been told by Trump that their heads would be on a pike.

That is completely, totally false, Lankford said. All of us were shaking our heads.

Lankford said it was an example of Schiff weaving facts and fiction together for his narrative of the case.

To cap it off that all these Republicans live in fear of the president, that their head will be on a pike, Lankford said. Not true.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, told reporters that Schiff "lost me there" when he brought up the pike comment, according to National Public Radio. But she said she did not mean that Schiff had lost her vote on whether to call witnesses or on the verdict. She said she is waiting to hear Trump's defense team before making her decisions.

Sen. Joe Manchin, a moderate Democrat from West Virginia, said Schiff could have used a different metaphor. He said all his friends and colleagues across the aisle said it was not true, so I believe them."

 Nicholas Wu and Bart Jansen

Schiff expects to be attacked by defense team

When President Trumps team takes the floor, Rep. Adam Schiff expects the defense to go after Schiffs dramatic representation of Trumps July phone call that he gave during a House hearing on the whistleblower complaint.

In Schiffs closing remarks Friday, he said the defense team will likely attack the impeachment managers as terrible people, especially that Schiff guy who mocked the president.

Schiff said he learned something significant by distilling Trumps call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into what he called the essence of what the president communicates.

For a man who loves to mock others, he does not like to be mocked, Schiff said. Turns out he has a pretty thin skin. Who would have thought it?

After Schiffs rendition at that September hearing, Trump suggested that Schiff should be arrested for treason and charged with lying to Congress.

Schiff told senators that when they hear attacks on him and other managers, they should ask themselves from what do they want to distract my attention?

What they dont want you to do, Schiff said, is to consider the presidents misconduct.

- Maureen Groppe

Thune: 'neither side wants any kind of closed session'

During a break in trial proceedings, Republican senators suggested closed sessions would be kept to a minimum next week.

The resolution setting up rules for the trial allowed for senators to deliberate behind closed doors.

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., the number-two Republican, told reporters, neither side wants any kind of closed session.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said he hoped there would be no closed sessions.

Going into closed session sort of invites suspicion and skepticism, Cornyn said. I think one of the advantages of this process compared to what the House did is, everything's transparent and the American people can see everything.

- Nicholas Wu

Lofgren: Nixon allowed witnesses to testify, unlike Trump

How much has President Trump stonewalled Congress? None of the other presidents who faced impeachment took the extreme step of stopping witnesses, argued California Rep. Zoe Lofgren, one of the House impeachment managers.

Even President Richard Nixon let his senior staff testify, she said. She displayed a quote from Nixon saying all members of the White House staff would appear voluntarily, when requested, and will answer fully all proper questions.

Trump, by contrast, called the impeachment inquiry invalid and directed executive branch employees to defy subpoenas, she said.

No president ever used the official power of his office to prevent witnesses from giving testimony to Congress in such a blanked and indiscriminate manner, Lofgren said. There is no telling how many government officials would have come forward if the president hadnt issued this order.

For example, Lofgren said, Trump stopped the testimony of officials in the budget office who were at the center of the presidents efforts to block congressionally approved aid to Ukraine.

If the Senate is prepared to accept that, Lofgren said, it will mean that not only President Trump, but all presidents after him will have veto power over Congress ability to conduct oversight.

- Maureen Groppe

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., right, walk through the Capitol Rotunda during the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on Friday.

After interview, Pompeo cursed at NPR reporter, yelled

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo used the "F-word" and other expletives after a testy interview with a National Public Radio host on Friday, the news outlet said Friday.

Pompeo unloaded on NPR's Mary Louise Kelly after an interview in which she questioned him on Ukraine, Iran, and a host of other hot-button issues. He grew extremely irritated by Kelly's Ukraine questions, according to NPR.

"'Do you think Americans care about Ukraine?'" Pompeo apparently shouted at Kelly after the interview.

Pompeo is scheduled to travel to Ukraine next week for a meeting with that country's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, a central figure in the impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump. Ukraine is a pivotal U.S. ally in the effort to counter Russian aggression.

The State Department said Pompeo is going to Kyiv to "highlight U.S. support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity." The Eastern European country is at war with Russia.

In an account released with the interview transcript, Kelly said she was taken to the secretary of State's private living room after the interview, where Pompeo was waiting for her. "He shouted at me for about same amount of time as the interview itself. He was not happy to have been questioned about Ukraine," Kelly said.

She said he used the F-word and "many others" when he asking her if Americans cared about Ukraine. He then asked her if she could find Ukraine on a map.

"I said yes, and he called out for aides to bring us a map of the world with no writing. I pointed to Ukraine," she recounted.

Then he said: "'People will hear about this.'"

- Deirdre Shesgreen

You say FOIA, I say...lawyer?

Texas Democrat Sylvia Garcia, one of the House Impeachment managers, made a point Friday of enunciating each letter of the acronym FOIA, which stands for the "Freedom of Information Act," instead of the much shorter and commonly used "FOIA" (pronounced foy-ya).

She used the acronym in her presentation about attempts to obtain documents from the White House and other federal agencies related to Trump's impeachment investigation.

It may have been to prevent any confusion with the phrase lawyer lawsuits, which became a thing on Tuesday after a rant by White House lawyer Jay Sekulow.

"And by the way  lawyer lawsuits?" Sekulow said during Tuesdays 11-hour debate about trial rules and procedures.

"Lawyer lawsuits? We're talking about the impeachment of a president of the United States, duly elected, and the members  the managers are complaining about lawyer lawsuits? The Constitution allows lawyer lawsuits. It's disrespecting the Constitution of the United States to even say that in this chamber  lawyer lawsuits."

His comments, which drew blank stares, arched eyebrows and quizzical looks, came in response to a presentation by impeachment manager Val Demings, D-Fla., who mentioned lawsuits under the Freedom of Information Act, a.k.a. FOIA lawsuits.

In his rebuttal to Sekulow, lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), said he had no clue whatsoever about what Sekulow meant.

While some observers posited that Sekulow had confused FOIA lawsuits with lawyer lawsuits, White House legislative affairs director Eric Ueland told reporters that Sekulow did not make a mistake.

- John DAnna

Trump recording reignites debate on witnesses

The recording of President Donald Trump appearing to want to get rid of Marie Yovanovitch, the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, reignited the Senate debate Friday about whether to subpoena witnesses or documents in Trumps impeachment trial.

House Democrats have argued that Trump removed Yovanovitch, who was heavily criticized by the presidents personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, to clear the way for Ukraine to investigate his political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden. The recording published Friday by ABC News was of Trump with Lev Parnas, an indicted associate of Giuliani.

I want to ask about the recording that has been released today because President Trump has said that he didnt know Parnas and obviously hes in a conversation with him about taking out one of his ambassadors, said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y. We obviously have a right to that information. Hopefully we will have access to it.

The recording: Recording shows Trump called for firing of former Ukraine ambassador, report says

Gillibrand said two witnesses she wanted most to hear from are former national security adviser John Bolton and acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney. Other officials have said Bolton opposed the pressure for Ukraine investigations and Mulvaney said such pressure is routine in diplomacy.

I would like to hear directly from him when he understood that, under what context and how many conversations he had with President Trump about it, Gillibrand said. I do think were getting closer to witnesses.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said Friday it was more likely that witnesses would be called. Yes, she said.

Republicans such as Sen Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., have said more witnesses arent necessary. The Senate rejected subpoenas for Bolton and Mulvaney on party-line votes of 53-47, although more votes could called after opening arguments from House Democrats and Trumps legal term.

- Bart Jansen

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., waves while arriving at the Capitol in Washington during the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on Friday.

Schiff to senators: 'The next time, it just may be you

California Rep. Adam Schiff, the lead manager in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, tried to get senators to put themselves in the shoes of Joe Biden and Marie Yovanovitch, the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine.

How would they feel if the most powerful person in the world were asking a foreign nation to conduct a sham investigation into them? How would they react if, like Yovanovitch, they had devoted their life to public service, served in dangerous places around the world, only to be hounded out of their post? Schiff asked while speaking on the Senate floor Friday.

Because I will tell you something, Schiff said. The next time, it just may be you.

No matter how close a senator may be to Trump now, he prodded them, do they have any doubt that Trump would investigate them if he felt it was in his interest?

If somewhere, deep down below, you realize that he would, you cannot leave a man like that in office, he said. It shouldnt matter it was Joe Biden. It could be any of us. It may be any of us.

- Maureen Groppe

Schiff: Trump's policy is 'Trump first, not America first'

The lead House impeachment manager, Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., summarized the accusation that President Donald Trump abused the power of his office by arguing that withholding military aid from Ukraine hurt an ally, emboldened an adversary in Russia and undermined efforts to fight corruption abroad.

This is Trump first, not America first, Schiff said.

The Constitution does not permit it because that conduct is the quintessential abuse of power, Schiff added. The use of official power for personal gain, putting personal interest over the national interest and putting personal benefits over our nations security.

Schiff said Americans might not understand why Ukraine, a small country, is important to the U.S. But he argued that Ukraine is hungry for reform after emerging from the former Soviet Union, which collapsed in what Russian President Vladimir Putin called the greatest catastrophe of the 20th Century.

Trumps willingness to pursue a political investigation of his rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, rather than the U.S. interest in helping an ally maintain its independence from Russia justifies removing the president from office, Schiff argued.

If someone sacrifices the national interest in favor of his own, and is not removed from office, our democracy is in jeopardy. Its just that simple, Schiff said. The grave consequences of President Trumps misconduct demand our attention.

- Bart Jansen

Schiff plays John McCain interview on Ukraine

Explaining the importance of Ukraine to national security interests, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., brought in an interesting voice.

Schiff played a clip of a television interview with the late Sen. John McCain, whom he called a war hero and statesman who is no stranger to this body.

McCain, Schiff said, recognized the threat posed when Russia took over parts of Ukrainian Crimea.

We are all Ukrainians, McCain said at the time.

In the TV clip Schiff showed, McCain said that it would make Russia very nervous if Ukraine is able to thrive.

Showcasing McCain may have been an attempt to appeal to Republicans who were close to him.

One of those Republicans, South Carolinas Lindsey Graham, has been one of Trumps most vocal defenders.

During the video of McCain, Graham seemed to show some emotion. He looked down at his desk and up at the video, before looking up towards the ceiling and blinking several times.

Republican senators were mostly stone-faced during the video. Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., told reporters the video strengthened a Democratic point that Republicans didn't need.

I dont think they need to convince us that Ukraine is really important, Cramer said. I think its all to play for TV."

Sen. Any Klobuchar, D-Minn., also a Democratic presidential candidate, said the video had a strong message for her colleagues.

I kept thinking if John McCain was in the chamber today, or if he had heard the aid had been withdrawn, it might have been a different story, she told reporters.

- Maureen Groppe and Nicholas Wu

House impeachment manager Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., speaks during the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump in the U.S. Senate.

Jeffries asks: 'Who ordered the cover-up?'

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., raised the specter that someone directed the National Security Councils top lawyer to put a transcript of President Donald Trumps July 25 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on a secure server.

Did anyone senior to attorney John Eisenberg direct him to hide it? Why did it remain on the server even after this so-called error was discovered? Jeffries asked rhetorically.

Who ordered the cover-up of the call record? he asked senators. The American people deserve to know.

Jeffries, who is helping make the House managers argument that Trump obstructed Congress, said there are many outstanding questions because Eisenberg refused to testify. Other officials testified that Eisenberg ordered that access to the transcript be restricted after he was told what it contained, Jeffries said.

That strongly suggests, Jeffries continued, that senior officials attempted to conceal, rather than address, Trumps misconduct. The cover-up continued, he said, after a whistleblower filed a complaint about the call. That prompted a two-part strategy to block Congress and the public from learning about the call while trying to convince Trump to lift his hold on military assistance to Ukraine before anyone could find out what was happening, Jeffries argued.

After Eisenberg and White House counsel Pat Cipollone reportedly briefed Trump on the whisteblowers complaint, Jeffries said, the White Houses Office of Legal Council issued a secret opinion concluding that the complaint did not have to be shared with Congress.

- Maureen Groppe

Democrats stress importance of delaying aid to Ukraine

Democratic House impeachment manager Jason Crow, D-Colo. said President Donald Trumps defenders might argue that the suspension in $391 million in military aid wasnt important because it was short-lived and the money was eventually released.

This defense would be laughable if this issue wasnt so serious, said Crow, a former Army Ranger. No, the delay wasnt meaningless. Just ask the Ukrainians sitting in trenches now.

Ukraine needed the funding because it had been invaded by Russia and was fighting for its territorial integrity. Crow played a video of Jennifer Williams, a State Department aide assigned to Vice President Mike Pences office, who attended a Sept. 1 meeting between Pence and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.

President Zelensky explained that equally with the financial and fiscal value, that it was the symbolic nature of that assistance that really was the show of U.S. support for Ukraine and for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, Williams said, in her testimony during the House inquiry. He was stressing that to the vice president, to really underscore the need for the security assistance to be released.

Crow argued that Trump only released the money to use it as leverage to pressure Ukraine into investigating his political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden.

The scheme was unraveling, Crow said. He only released it after he got caught.

- Bart Jansen

Final day of Democrat's opening arguments begins

House Democrats prosecuting the Senate impeachment trial against President Donald Trump resumed their arguments Friday.

On the final day of impeachment managers' opening arguments, they'll focus on the charge of obstruction of Congress, and how rejecting witnesses in the trial would further obstruct Congress.

The lead manager, Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said if Trump or his legal team claimed executive privilege to block testimony from witnesses such as former national security adviser John Bolton and acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, that would add to the obstruction.

The Senate rejected proposals to subpoena witnesses before the opening arguments on party-line votes of 53 to 47. The rules from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., call for more votes on witnesses after the opening arguments from the House and White House lawyers are over, and after up to 16 hours of questions from senators.

Fact-check: Fact-checking the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump

Schiff urged senators not to reject witnesses at that point.

Trump and some congressional Republicans have said he could block testimony from top aides such as Bolton and Mulvaney under executive privilege, to protect confidential advice for future presidents. But Schiff said executive privilege cant be used to hide misconduct.

The House managers are expected to finish their argument about abuse of power by early afternoon and then conclude their opening argument on its third day with a discussion of obstruction of Congress, Schiff said.

- Bart Jansen

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, second from right, arrives at the Capitol in Washington during the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on Friday.

Trump team to begin defense Saturday at 10 a.m. EST

Right before the House managers began their final day of arguments, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., announced that the presidents team would begin its defense at 10 a.m. EST on Saturday and the session will run for several hours.

Like the House managers, the defense team has up to 24 hours spread over three days to make their case.

Jay Sekulow, one of Trumps private lawyers, later told reporters his team will stop around 1 p.m. EST Saturday, at the request of senators, and resume Monday.

The Senate asked for an accommodation, he said. We were prepared to go as long as they wanted us to go tomorrow.

Sekulow said he hasnt determined how much overall time theyll need.

Trust me, he added. Therell be plenty to cover.

Rep. Jim Jordan, one of eight House lawmakers who are part of Trump's defense team, told reporters Friday that the team is very confident because all of the facts are on the presidents side.

I think this case is open and shut for the president, Jordan said.

--Maureen Groppe

The witness question: Senators worry that asking for new impeachment trial witnesses could create lengthy executive privilege debate

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, center, with Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., left, and Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., speak to the media on Friday at the U.S. Capitol.

Graham: I admire Joe Biden but 

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., had some kind words for former Vice President Joe Biden. Sort of.

The staunch Trump ally questioned his former Senate colleagues judgment for allowing his son, Hunter, to join the board of Burisma Holdings in 2014 as the Ukraine gas company was under investigation because of its oligarch owner.

As much as I like Joe Biden  and I do respect him and I do admire him. Ive traveled the world with him," Graham began.

"I think its bad foreign policy, if youre going to be in charge of dealing with corruption in Ukraine, that your son hook up with the most corrupt company in the Ukraine and turn Ukraine into an ATM machine, Graham said during a Friday morning news conference on Capitol Hill.

Biden has often cited his role in rooting out corruption in Ukraine during the Obama administration.

When you put your family member in that situation, its not good folks, Graham continued. The vice president said he didnt know anything about it. That questions how hard he was looking.

One of the impeachment managers, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, spent her presentation Thursday trying to poke holes in that Republican argument.

She argued that Trump urged Ukraine to investigate a debunked theory that Biden was protecting his son from an anti-corruption effort because Biden was leading polls as the Democratic challenger to Trump.

The entire premise of the investigation that the president wanted Ukraine to pursue was false, Garcia said. There is simply no evidence  nothing, nada  in the record to support this baseless allegation.

- Ledyard King

Alexander says he'll wait to decide on witnesses, documents

Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., a potential Republican swing vote on subpoenaing witnesses and documents, said Friday that he'll wait to decide on whether additional evidence should be compelled until after the first stage of the trial.

Speaking after a briefing with health officials on the coronavirus outbreak, Alexander said that once the initial presentations from both sides are over, his question would be do we need more evidence? Do we need to hear witnesses? Do we need more documents? And I think that question can only be answered then.

As the house managers have said many times, they presented us with a mountain of overwhelming evidence so we have a lot to consider, he said.

Republicans control the Senate by a 53-47 majority, meaning at least four Republicans would have to join all Democrats to vote to call more witnesses and documents in the trial.

Alexander is one of a handful of GOP senators that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer presumably was appealing to Friday when he made a pitch to allow more witnesses and documents.

Were seeking the truth at a momentous time in the American republic, Schumer said. It is on the shoulders of four Republican senators to join us in demanding it. Weve made the argument forcefully. The American people have made the argument forcefully that they want to truth. Will four Republican senators, just four, rise to the occasion, do their duty to the constitution, to their country to seek the truth?

Schumer did not name names, but the Republican senators seen as potentially open to more witnesses and documents include Alexander, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitt Romney of Utah.

 Nicholas Wu and Ledyard King

Trump not happy with Saturday TV slot for his team's opening arguments

WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump's beef with the impeachment schedule? His lawyers must start presenting his case on a Saturday  a bad day for television ratings.

In one of a series of Friday morning tweets slamming the Senate impeachment trial, Trump took aim not only at Rep. Adam Schiff, D-CA, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, but the timing of his side's arguments.

"After having been treated unbelievably unfairly in the House, and then having to endure hour after hour of lies, fraud & deception by Shifty Schiff, Cryin Chuck Schumer & their crew, looks like my lawyers will be forced to start on Saturday, which is called Death Valley in T.V.," Trump said in an early morning round of tweets Friday.

After having been treated unbelievably unfairly in the House, and then having to endure hour after hour of lies, fraud & deception by Shifty Schiff, Cryin Chuck Schumer & their crew, looks like my lawyers will be forced to start on Saturday, which is called Death Valley in T.V.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 24, 2020

The former star of The Apprentice is no novice when it comes to understanding television ratings.

 David Jackson

'Truth matters': Schiff sets up Friday arguments

"Right matters. And the truth matters. Otherwise, we are lost."

With those words, House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff Thursday night tried to drive home the abuse of power charge the House filed against President Donald Trump that's at the center of the Senate impeachment trial. The trial resumes Friday at 1 p.m. with the California Democrat and other House managers laying out their case for the second impeachment article: obstruction of Congress.

Unbiased jury: Can senators who have already voiced opinions do 'impartial justice' at Trump impeachment trial?

Closing words: What was the Senate chamber like while Rep. Adam Schiff made his final Thursday speech?

In his closing speech Thursday, Schiff drew from U.S. Army Col. Alexander Vindmans gripping testimony that he delivered to the House in November. In that hearing Vindman, a National Security Council official expressed deep concerns about the president's efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate his political rivals, including Joe Biden.

If right doesnt matter, it doesnt matter how good the constitution is, Schiff told the rapt chamber. "The framers could not protect us from ourselves if right and truth dont matter. And you know what (Trump) did was not right."

Friday's argument: Trump obstructed Congress

House Democrats will focus on the accusation that President Donald Trump obstructed Congress when they resume and complete their opening argument Friday in the Senate trial.

The seven prosecutors, who are called managers, spent Wednesday outlining the two articles against Trump and detailing the evidence they gathered for the accusations of abuse of power and obstruction. They spent Thursday outlining the legal and constitutional reasons that they said the evidence justified the charge of abuse of power.

Impeachment player: The middleman: How Lev Parnas joined Team Trump and became Rudy Giuliani's fixer in Ukraine

On Friday, the managers will explain how the law and Constitution apply to the evidence for obstruction. Schiff, the lead manager, said Thursday that the arguments condensed hundreds of hours of depositions and testimony, but that there might be repetition in the presentations as more context is provided.

We will now show you these facts and many others and how they are interwoven, Schiff said. You will see some of these facts and videos therefore in a new context, in a new light, in the light of what else we know and why it compels a finding of guilt and conviction. So there is some method to our madness.

House impeachment manager Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., speaks during the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020.

The third session of up to eight hours will complete the opening argument from House Democrats. Trumps legal team is expected to begin Saturday up to 24 hours of opening argument spanning three sessions.

Were going to respond of course to what the House managers have put forward, Jay Sekulow, one of Trumps private lawyers, told reporters Wednesday. And were going to make an affirmative case defending the president.

Republican senators eager to hear from Trumps defense team.

Theres all kinds of allegations that have been thrown up in the air and so they'll have a chance to lay out their timeline, their version of events, said Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo.

In focusing on abuse of power Thursday, another manager, Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., said Trump could have been impeached just for asking Ukraine to investigate his political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden. But Nadler said Trump went further, withholding $391 million in vital military aid and a White House meeting.

"Since President George Washington took office in 1789, no president has abused his power in this way," Nadler said. "No president has ever used his office to compel a foreign nation to help him cheat in our elections."

Nadler said the accusation of obstruction stems from Trump directing his administration to defy all subpoenas for testimony and documents during the investigation.

The articles are overwhelmingly supported by the evidence amassed by the House, notwithstanding the presidents complete stonewalling, his attempt to block all witnesses and all documents from the United States Congress, Nadler said. It puts even President Nixon to shame.

Contributing: David Jackson

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Impeachment updates: Democrats wrap up Trump trial opening arguments
Agency also probing cops alleged links with Hizb, other militant groups.

SRINAGAR: Davinder Singh, the tainted Jammu and Kashmir deputy superintendent of police, two Hizbul Mujahideen militants and their two alleged over-ground workers were on Thursday sent to 15 days National Investigation Agency (NIA) custody by a special court in winter capital Jammu.

Singh and top Hizb commander Syed Naveed Mushtaq alias Naveed Babu alias Babar Azam and his accomplice, Asif Ahmed Rather, were arrested by the J&K police on January 11 while they were travelling to Delhi in a private car.

The police also arrested a local lawyer Irfan Shafi Mir and Naveed Babus brother Syed Irfan Ahmed on charge of being over-ground workers of militants.

A brief statement issued by the NIA said, Today, five arrested accused, namely Devinder Singh, Syed Naveed Mushtaq Shah, Irfan Shafi Mir, Rafi Ahmad Rather and Syed Irfan Ahmad, in case RC-1/2020/NIA/Jammu, were produced before the NIA special court at Jammu. The court has granted 15 days custody of the accu-sed to NIA till 06.02.2020.

Singh and others were earlier during the day on Thursday produced before the special court by the NIA which began probe after registering a case in connection with the arrest of the police officer after it was instructed by the ministry of home affairs (MHA) on January 16. The NIA had on Wednesday quizzed Singh for allegedly helping militants travel out of the Valley and also conducted searches at his residence in Srinagars high-security Indira Nagar. The NIA had taken Singh and other accused to Jammu from here on Wednesday.

Singh, who was posted as deputy superintendent in the anti-hijacking squad at the Srinagar International Airport, and the militant duo were arrested by a police party headed by an officer of IGPs rank. The police was tracking Naveed Babus movements and his location was traced after he made a phone call to his brother Syed Irfan who was arrested by the NIA earlier this week.

Since placed under suspension, Singh is the same police officer about whom Parliament attack convict Muhammad Afzal Guru had claimed that he had asked him to take a co-accused Muhammad to Delhi and arrange for his stay in the national capital.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued fresh summons to senior executives of Air Asia airlines, including CEO Tony Fernandes, for questioning next month in connection with a money laundering case, officials said on Friday

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued fresh summons to senior executives of Air Asia airlines, including CEO Tony Fernandes, for questioning next month in connection with a money laundering case, officials said on Friday.

As per sources, the central agency has asked Fernandes to appear before the investigating officer of the case here on 5 February, his deputy and former Deputy Group CEO of Malaysia-based Air Asia Berhad Bo Lingam on 3 February and R Venkataramanan, Director Air Asia India Ltd, Bengaluru, on 10 February.

Few others linked to the present and past management of the airline have also been asked to depose.

The ED had earlier asked some of these executives to appear this month but after some failed to appear or sought additional time, new dates have been given, they said.

The summons have been issued under the PMLA and as per sources the executives will be questioned and their statement recorded in connection with the investigation.

The agency had registered a case under the PMLA against the airline and its officials in May, 2018.

This criminal case was filed two days after CBI filed a criminal complaint to probe these allegations.

Probe in the case is related to allegations that the airline tried to manipulate government policies through corrupt means to get an international licence for its Indian venture Air Asia India Limited.

The ED is also probing this case under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

Air Asia India at present has flights connecting 21 domestic destinations and as per a aircraft fleet tracking website, it has 29 Airbus A320 planes.

Investigation in the case was initiated on the basis of allegations of ousted Tata Group chairman Cyrus Mistry that fraudulent transactions of Rs 22 crore, involving non-existent entities in India and Singapore, were carried out in an instance involving the airline.

The CBI and ED, in their criminal FIRs, had booked Group CEO of Air Asia Fernandes, Tharumalingam Kanagalingam also known as Bo Lingam, former Deputy Group CEO of Malaysia-based Air Asia Berhad, and Venkataramanan, Director Air Asia India Ltd, Bengaluru, besides companies Air Asia India Pvt Ltd and Air Asia Berhad.

The allegation pertains to Air Asia officials and others allegedly trying to manipulate government policies through corrupt means to get an international licence for its Indian venture Air Asia India Limited.

The CBI had alleged that Venkataramanan was lobbying in the government to secure mandatory approvals, some of them through "non-transparent means", including the then Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance, No Objection Certificate and the attempt for removal or modification of 5/20 rule.

It is alleged that to be eligible for international operations, the company was required to have five years of experience and fleet of 20 aircraft as per 5/20 rule.

The company is yet to get an international flying permit.

Fernandes wanted it to fly internationally from the day of getting the flying permit in May, 2014, the CBI complaint had alleged.

He and his local Indian partner Tata Sons through their nominee Venkatramanan would lobby in government to get all approvals including FIPB clearance and amend or removal of existing 5/20 rule for international operations, the CBI alleged.

The CBI had also named Rajender Dubey, Director of Singapore-based HNR Trading Pvt Ltd, Sunil Kapur, Chairman Total Food Services, Mumbai and Deepak Talwar, Principal and Founder DTA consulting (deported to India last year from Dubai), New Delhi and the company HNR Trading as alleged lobbyists who used their influence to get 5/20 rule relaxed "before General Elections of 2014".

Air Asia had denied any wrongdoing after the CBI filed the case and carried out raids at multiple premises.

It is alleged that Air Asia India Ltd -- a joint venture between Tata Sons and Malaysian company Air Asia Berhad -- was indirectly controlled and operated by the Malaysia group, and particularly Air Asia Berhad violating various existing norms of erstwhile FIPB, now defunct, under the Union finance ministry.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Fadli (The Jakarta Post) Batam  Fri, January 24, 2020 20:16 718 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2060e7da5 1 World coronavirus,China,Bintan Free

Four tourists from Wuhan in China who visited a tourism area in Riau Islands have returned home after being isolated in a local hospital on suspicion of having been infected by the fast-spreading coronavirus.

Riau Islands Health Agency head Tjepjep Yudiana said that port health officials found indications on Jan. 19 and 20 that the four tourists, who were traveling to the province's Bintan Island, might have been infected by the pneumonia-like virus as they suffered from sore throats with high body temperatures.

The tourists were immediately admitted to the Riau Islands Regional General Hospital (RSUD) for further treatment under isolation.

Tjepjep did not disclose details on the tourists other than that they consisted of a man and a child, who were identified on Jan. 19, and two women identified on Jan. 20.

"After going through examination and isolation, they were diagnosed with a common fever. They returned home one day after their isolation period ended," Tjepjep told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

The four tourists -- who have returned to their home country through Singapore -- marked the first identification of suspected coronavirus cases in the province after authorities put up thermal scanners at various ports in Batam, Bintan and Karimun islands, he said.

Port health officials have heightened monitoring of ferry passengers coming from neighboring Singapore and Malaysia, Tjepjep said, adding that local authorities had also worked together with Singaporean authorities in prevention efforts as they did during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and monkeypox outbreaks.

"We share experiences with each other and monitor suspected patients' incubation periods there, because interstate traffic is pretty high," he added.

Batam Port health office's head for epidemiology quarantine and surveillance Romer Simanungkalit said that the office had activated thermal scanners at international ferry ports and Hang Nadim International Airport in the island city.

"Officers in the field will remain alert in accordance with the escalation in cases and [emergency] status confirmation locally and globally," Romer said, adding that officials had been equipped with facial masks, gloves and other supporting equipment to protect themselves.

Riau Islands recorded the second-highest influx of tourists after Bali in 2019 with 2.5 million tourists, a majority of whom came from Singapore with 1.2 million visitors, followed by China at 260,274. Most of them came to the region through Singapore.

Indonesia has temporarily suspended all flights to and from Wuhan, the epicenter of the SARS-like virus, amid the outbreak that was first detected in December 2019 in the Chinese city and which has killed at least 18 people and infected hundreds of others to date.

China imposed a lockdown on Thursday that effectively bans 20 million people from leaving areas at the epicenter of the deadly virus outbreak by plane and train, in an unprecedented move aimed at containing the disease that has already spread to other countries, including Singapore, Japan and Thailand, AFP reported. (ars)

Topics : coronavirus China Bintan
Procurement Associate, East Jerusalem, occupied Palestinian territory

Organization: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme

Country: occupied Palestinian territory

Field location: East Jerusalem, occupied Palestinian territory

Office: UNDP - United Nations Development Programme in East Jerusalem

Closing date: Tuesday, 4 February 2020

Job ID: 28313

Practice Area - Job Family: Basic Social Service - DECENT WORK AND ECONOMY GROWTH

Vacancy End Date: (Midnight New York, USA) 04/02/2020

Duty Station: East Jerusalem, Palestine

Education & Work Experience: G-Bachelors Level Degree - 3 year(s) experience

Languages: Arabic, English

Hebrew

Grade: GP

Vacancy Type: National Regular UN Volunteer

Posting Type: External

Bureau: Arab States

Contract Duration: until 31 Jan 2021

This is a national UN Volunteer assignment with total monthly payment ILS 4724.83. This assignmet is opens to Locals only from Jerusalem and West Bank.

Background

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that promotes volunteerism to support peace and development worldwide. Volunteerism can transform the pace and nature of development and it benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for volunteerism globally, encouraging partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing volunteers.

In most cultures, volunteerism is deeply embedded in long-established, ancient traditions of sharing and support within the communities. In this context, UN Volunteers take part in various forms of volunteerism and play a role in development and peace together with co-workers, host agencies and local communities.

In all assignments, UN Volunteers promote volunteerism through their action and conduct. Engaging in volunteer activity can effectively and positively enrich their understanding of local and social realities, as well as create a bridge between themselves and the people in their host community. This will make the time they spend as UN Volunteers even more rewarding and productive.

UNV programme is looking for a qaulaified National to work as Procurement Associate with UNDP PAPP- Jerusalem office.

UNDP Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP) was established through a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on 20 December 1978, calling upon UNDP to improve the economic and social conditions of the Palestinian people. In partnership with Palestinian institutions, civil society, communities and donors, UNDPs goal is to empower the Palestinian People to establish a viable State that is able to realize the right to development for its people and support their socio-economic resilience. Since its establishment, UNDP/PAPP has delivered over USD
Wrexham lecturer to lead UK and Ireland sites in Global Game Jam 2020

This article is old - Published: Friday, Jan 24th, 2020

An award-winning lecturer from Wrexham Glyndwr University is to lead more than 70 sites in the UK and Ireland in an upcoming global game development event.

Senior lecturer at Wrexham Glyndwr University, Richard Hebblewhite, has taken up the post of regional organiser for UK and Ireland for Global Game Jam.

He has been coordinating the applications of more than 70 sites from across the British Isles as more than 100 countries around the world gear up for Global Game Jam 2020.

The role includes conducting interviews with site organisers and providing training, advice and support for people at a national level.

Richard  whose work in games industry development was recognised at the UK Games Fund awards 2018 with a Community Contributor Award  said: Being involved with the Global Game Jam at a national level has been an interesting challenge.

Its a great chance to meet with a huge number of really dedicated people who are passionate about games and understand the value of events like the GGJ.

Working more closely with the Global Game Jam Executive Committee provides the opportunity to help shape this prestigious event for the years to come.

Registration for Global Game Jam 2020 remains open and the event will start on Friday 31st of January  with Wrexham Glyndwr University once again hosting participants.

The university has the longest links with the jam in Wales and participants there are hoping to help set yet another world record for the worlds largest Jam.

Last years event holds the current record with 47,006 game jammers working from 860 different locations spread across 113 countries simultaneously. At Glyndwr, a team of more than 80 jammers managed to design and develop 14 unique games within two days.

Richard added: As always, the goal will be to come together and attempt to make a computer game from start to finish within a strict 48 hour period.

The event is designed to bring people together from all backgrounds and encourage creative thinking to result in small but innovative and experimental games.

As such, all students at any level of study, on any course, are invited to attend as the experience is very rewarding, and an excellent way of refining your design and development skills.

Jo Summers, Global Game Jam Executive Producer, said: As we enter the 12th year of the Global Game Jam (GGJ), it is a privilege to be surrounded by such amazing enthusiastic volunteers coming together to deliver what is going to be the biggest GGJ event ever.

For 2020 we are expecting over 920 sites in 115 countries hosting around 50,000 jammers.

It is a great feat of coordination from our wonderful team, and we could not do it without our dedicated Regional Organisers (ROs), who lead, look after and help all sites in a regions all over the globe.

Richard has done a fantastic job looking after the UK and Ireland region this year for the first time, and I hope he will join us again as an RO for future years to come.

As part of this years jam, Glyndwrs teams will be working for the first time alongside other teams across the globe  with some of their colleagues over 5,000 miles away.

Game jams are a great way to meet new people and to learn new skills, added Richard.

As part of this years event we are trialling a new collaboration programme where sites from around the world are formally partnered together as part of the GGJ weekend.

WGU will be working with partners at Brunel University and also Harmonia Game Studio based in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

The event is free and is open to anybody who is interested in gaming and general creative project work. No experience is necessary. Anyone who would like to come along and participate, needs to register at the official Glyndwr Game Jam 2020 site here.

More information about Wrexham Glyndwr Universitys BSc (Hons) in Computer Game Development, can be found here.
Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) Chairman Ajay Tyagi on January 23 said the regulator will adopt artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), big data analytics and natural language processing tools to monitor and analyse spot market manipulation, PTI reported.

"Catching malpractices in the market using the standard tools that analyse only structured data of price and volume is increasingly getting difficult," Tyagi said. As per the plan, a data lake project will be created to augment analytical capabilities.

"We want to acquire technology and unstructure data analysis because the structured data analysis is not helping much, manipulators use all sort of things," he noted.

The SEBI chief added that AI and ML tools could bring about a paradigm shift in the securities market landscape. He further said that blockchain could also be used to clear and settle activities.

SEBI is also acquiring capabilities to monitor and analyse social media posts to keep a tab on possible market manipulations, Tyagi said. He added that there have been cases where social media posts have helped in acting against manipulative activities.

He was speaking at the National Institute of Securities Markets at Patalganga.

A tender has also been floated for acquiring the technology. Even in the absence of such a focused tool, Tyagi said SEBI already has capabilities, wherein it screens social media posts after corporate announcements and the changes in price and volumes of a scrip.

AI/ML tools are being increasingly deployed in fund management, trading, supervision and surveillance functions in the capital markets, he added.

Further, Tyagi said there is a need for the technologists to invest time in research in these tools for applications in the capital markets.

Systemic risks are becoming important objectives for financial regulators, Tyagi said, explaining that this requires identification and monitoring of important financial institutions, leverage, inter-connectedness, risk concentrations and market sentiment.
WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will visit Ukraine next week, making his first trip to the country at the heart of President Donald Trumps impeachment.

As Trumps Senate trial on impeachment charges continues, the State Department announced Friday that Pompeo would travel to Kyiv as part of a five-nation tour of Europe and Central Asia. Since November, Pompeo has twice cancelled plans to visit Ukraine, most recently just after the New Year when developments with Iran forced him to postpone the trip. Pompeo will also visit Britain, as it finalizes its divorce from the European Union, along with Belarus, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

Trumps impeachment on charges of abuse of office and obstruction of Congress hinges on his policy toward Ukraine. Witnesses told House investigators that Trump wanted Ukraine to announce an investigation into former Vice-President Joe Bidens son in return for releasing critical military aid to Ukraine.

Pompeo has sought to stay above the impeachment fray and his stop in Ukraine will likely test his ability to continue to do so while leading diplomatic efforts to boost ties between Washington and Kyiv that have been complicated by the process.

One of the impeachment witnesses, William Taylor, was until Jan. 1 the acting U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. Pompeo had appointed Taylor to the post over the summer to take over from Marie Yovanovitch, whose tour was abruptly cut short last May after Trumps personal attorney Rudolph Giuliani made unsubstantiated allegations against her. Yovanovitch testified that Trump supporters had mounted a smear campaign against her.

Just before the trip was announced, Giuliani said he would be presenting evidence of corruption involving the Bidens and Ukraine. Such allegations, even if they are unfounded, may distract from Pompeos mission in Kyiv, which is to show U.S. support for the country in the face of Russian aggression.

Taylor departed Kyiv just a day before Pompeo was to have arrived on his previously planned trip. The position was temporary and time-limited by law but his tenure could have lasted until mid-January. His departure prompted complaints from lawmakers that his departure was similar to Yovanovitchs early recall and sent a poor message to the embassy in Kyiv and career diplomats more generally, as well as to Ukrainian authorities.

Pompeo responded testily on Friday when asked about Ukraine and Yovanovitch in an interview with NPRs Mary Louise Kelly. Repeating a frequent talking point, he said the Trump administration had done more for Ukraine than President Barack Obama had done, including supplying the country with lethal defensive weaponry.

This administration has delivered the capability for the Ukrainians to defend themselves, he said. President Obama showed up with MREs, we showed up with Javelin missiles. The previous administration did nothing to take down corruption in Ukraine. Were working hard on that. Were going to continue to do it.

The Obama administration pushed Ukraine to do more to fight endemic corruption.

Asked about Yovanovitch, who is still employed by the State Department, Pompeo replied: Ill say only this: I have defended every State Department official. We have built a great team. I have defended every single person on this team. I have done whats right for every single person on this team.

After the interview, Pompeo shouted his displeasure at being questioned about Ukraine, repeatedly using expletives, according to Kelly. The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In Kyiv, Pompeo will meet with Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, whose July 25 phone call with Trump triggered the whistleblower complaint that led to Trumps impeachment. In that call, Trump disparaged Yovanovitch and asked Zelenskiy for a favour, suggesting he wanted Ukrainian authorities to investigate Bidens son, Hunter Biden, for corruption. Trump has said the call was perfect and has denied doing anything wrong.

In his meetings, Pompeo will reaffirm U.S. support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity as the country continues to battle Russia-backed separatists in the east, the State Department said. Pompeo also will honour Ukrainians who have died in the conflict, which intensified after Russia annexed Ukraines Crimea peninsula in 2014, in a move condemned and rejected by most of the international community. A senior official said Pompeo would underscore that the U.S. will never recognize Russias annexation of Crimea.

The senior official, who previewed Pompeos ultimately postponed trip, said the secretary would discuss Zelenskiys anti-corruption efforts but would not comment on whether the secretary would raise Trumps desire for an investigation into Hunter Biden and his role on the board of a Ukrainian energy company or discredited claims that Ukraine and not Russia was responsible for interfering in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

In addition, Pompeo plans to meet Ukrainian religious, civic and business leaders for talks on human rights, investment and economic and political reform, the department said.

Pompeo will begin his trip on Jan. 30 in London, where he will meet Prime Minister Boris Johnson and stress the administrations desire to forge a free-trade trade deal with Britain as it exits the EU.

From Ukraine, Pompeo will travel on to Belarus, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan before returning home in time for Trumps State of the Union address to Congress on Feb. 4. Human rights, energy independence and economic reform will top Pompeos agenda at each of those stops.

In Minsk, the secretary plans to affirm the U.S. commitment to improving ties with Belarus, which has had a strained relationship with Russia. President Alexander Lukashenko has pursued better relations with the West since Russias annexation of Crimea as Belarus is wary that Russia could try to absorb it.

In September, the U.S. and Belarus agreed to upgrade diplomatic ties by returning ambassadors to each others capitals after an 11-year break.
Although corruption is prevalent in all countries around the world, some are more corrupt than others. The annual Corruption Perception Index (CPI) put countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America at the top of the list of the world's most corrupt countries and named countries in Europe and North America as the world's least corrupt countries. The CPI defines corruption as the misuse of public assets for private gain. The index ranks countries by their perceived level of corruption by use of a scale of 0-100 where 100 is least corrupt and 0 is most corrupt. According to the 2017 report, more than 60% of the countries scored below 50%. However, some countries scored as high as over 80. Here are the least corrupt countries in the world:

New Zealand

According to the Corruption Perception Index 2017, New Zealand is the least corrupt country in the world. The country has consistently ranked among the three least corrupt countries, topping the index for seven consecutive years until 2013. Its worst position in 10 years was fourth in 2015. New Zealand has a completely independent judiciary that maintains accountability and impartiality. The Independent Police Conduct Authority keeps the police on checks, ensuring that practices such as corruption in the police force are dealt with. The Ombudsman ensures that the citizens are treated fairly while seeking government services.

Denmark

Denmark is the second least corrupt country in the world according to the CPI. It has been consistently ranked top 4 since the inception of the index in 1995. In 2016, Denmark was the least corrupt country alongside New Zealand. Business corruption, administrative corruption, and other forms of corruption are very rare in the country. The independent judiciary, social trust, and transparency mechanisms are some of the factors that ranks Denmark as one of the most transparent countries. The countrys penal code forbids any form of bribery.

Finland

Finland is the third-least corrupt country for the fifth consecutive time since 2013. Its CPI score for 2017 was 85 down from 89 in 2016. The fight against corruption in Finland is a collective responsibility of both the government and its citizens. Political leaders are strongly committed against corruption. The government also maintains an efficient integrity system and transparent mechanism. The strong legal framework and independent judiciary also discourage any form of corruption in the country.

Norway

Norway also ranks as the third-least corrupt country in the world alongside Finland and Switzerland with a score of 85, with the score remaining unchanged from 2016. Several factors work together to ensure that corruption in Norway remains low. The country has efficient and strict legislation against corruption that helps to maintain a high standard within the public sector. The judiciary is also independent of executive and legislature, helping in the maintenance of accountability and impartiality. The executive, led by the prime minister, is also accountable to the legislature which keeps it on check and ensures that public resources are used appropriately.

Switzerland

Switzerland moved two places up from the previous year to position three in 2017 with a score of 85 despite dropping one point. The country has consistently ranked among the top 10 least corrupt countries since 2010. Switzerland has a direct democratic system in which the people can influence the governments activities through referenda. This direct system makes the government one of the most transparent and stable in the world. Switzerland has an operational legal system and laws against corruption that assist in maintaining a clean system within the public sector.

Singapore

Singapore is the fifth least corrupt country in the world with a score of 84 up from position seven in 2016. The score remained unchanged from the previous year (2016). Corruption cases in Singapore are mainly investigated and prosecuted by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau. The powerful judiciary in Singapore is globally known for its impartiality and legitimacy. The theory behind low corruption cases in Singapore compared to the neighboring countries such as Thailand is the ability of the state to pressure private interest to funnel capital into sectors that would benefit the public in the long term.

Sweden

Sweden moved three places down to the seventh least corrupt country in the world with a score of 84 in 2017. The 2017 score was its least score in six years, having scored 88 in 2016. Sweden is widely popular for equality, high-quality life, human development, health, and education. Transparency and stability in the government help in lowering the corruption cases. The government bodies consider corruption as an abuse of powers that needs to be discouraged and prosecuted. There is also a functioning anti-corruption body in Sweden that investigates and prosecutes all corruption cases.

Canada

Canada is the least corrupt country in the Americas and the 8th least corrupt country in the world with a CPI score of 82. The country has moved two steps up from 10th in 2016 despite the score remaining the same. Canadas open and democratic parliamentary system makes it one of the least corrupt countries in the world. Canada is also popular for its government transparency, high-quality life, and efficient educational life. The laws are made by the legislature, implemented by the executive, and interpreted by an independent supreme court.

Luxembourg

With an index score of 82, Luxembourg tied with Canada and Netherlands in position eight. The country gained one point, moving it from position 10 in 2016. Luxembourg is one of the smallest and richest countries in the EU as well as the world. It is the only sovereign Duchy remaining in the world and the low rate of corruption is not a surprise about the country. One of the main concerns of the government of Luxembourg is the observance of the anti-corruption laws. The judiciary is also transparent.

The Netherlands

The Netherlands is also the eighth-least corrupt country in the world according to Transparency International. The country registered a CPI score of 82 in 2017 down from 83 the previous year. The Netherlands has consistently ranked among the ten least corrupt countries in the last six years. To ensure that corruption is kept as low as possible, the government strictly adheres to the transparent judicial system and the existing anti-corruption laws.
Wednesday mornings vehicle crash near Branchville claimed the life of a Pittsburgh, Pa., dog handler.

Anya Dobratz, 34, of Hampton Street, died of blunt force injuries due to the motor vehicle collision, Orangeburg County Chief Deputy Coroner Sean Fogle said.

The accident occurred around 5 a.m. on U.S. 21 near Chips Road. Dobratz died at the scene.

She was driving a box truck north when the vehicle ran off the roadway to the left and struck a culvert, according to the S.C. Highway Patrol.

Orangeburg County Animal Control workers arrived at the scene and rescued six dogs from the truck.

One dog was missing: Australian shepherd Jax, wholl turn 4 next month.

Within a couple of hours after the accident, the Dettore family in Chadds Ford, Pa., learned that Dobratz was killed and Jax was missing.

Amy Dettore and daughter Judy drove from Chadds Ford to Orangeburg to help search for Jax on Thursday morning, while they also grieved the loss of Dobratz.

Anya loved Jax, Dettore said, choking back tears.

Ive known her for about a year now. She developed a special bond with Jax. She adored him, she absolutely adored him, Dettore said.

You know, there are lots of handlers out there and they are professional and they handle a lot of dogs, obviously, but he had a special spot in her heart and they loved each other. Its very sad, Dettore said.

She noted that Dobratz was returning home to Pennsylvania from Florida where Jax and the six other dogs competed in several dog shows.

Jax won Best of Breed in one of the shows, Dettore said.

As Dettore and her family set out to try to find Jax after a 12-hour trip, she kept thinking of Dobratz.

I just kept thinking, Shes taking care of him, and she did, Dettore said. She was with him the whole time.

At some point on Wednesday, the Dettore family posted on social media that they were searching for their beloved Jax.

Dettore said a psychic named Lisa reached out to her and assured her that Jax was safe.

The psychic gave specific information about Jax and his location, Dettore said.

Dettore coordinated with Orangeburg County Animal Control employee Margaret Girardeau about going to the accident scene.

Around 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Amy and Judy Dettore and Girardeau headed to the scene.

I kept thinking, What are we going to do? How am I going to find him?' Because there were search parties out yesterday and no one could find him. The psychic was guiding me and telling me he was going to be OK and that he was waiting for me, Dettore said.

We first walked around the site and didnt locate him, she said.

Then Girardeau received a phone call.

Someone had found a dog that had no tail, Dettore said, noting that Jax, too, was tailless.

That was just about five minutes down the road and we went and it wasnt him. While we were there we said, Lets go back to the scene and continue to search,' " Dettore said.

But something happened just as she, daughter Judy and Girardeau were getting into their vehicles.

A gentleman came out of nowhere and said, Hes over there! Hes over there! Follow me! Follow me!' " Dettore said.

So we jumped in our cars and followed him like down the street and around and there he was in a yard. Very standoffish, but as soon as he saw me and I called his name, he came running, Dettore said.

Dettore fell to her knees as an excited Jax danced around her and barked.

Shed raised Jax from the time he was a puppy.

Hes more than just a dog. Jax has the personality like no other. He just loves everybody. Hes full of himself and he likes to bark, Dettore said.

Hes always very happy. Hes just the kindest, sweetest soul youll ever meet. He adores me. Hes always by my side when hes not dog showing, Dettore said, as tears formed in her eyes.

You know, you just have that feeling that hes OK. Hes just an amazing dog, she said.

Amys daughter, Judy, 17, said, I know my mom probably didnt want to be alone during the trip, so she joined her.

And when she saw Jax, Judy said, I was like, Yes, thank God! I had no idea if wed find him or not.

Amy and Judy Dettore and Jax headed back to Pennsylvania after returning to the Orangeburg County Animal Control and Shelter office.

Funeral arrangements for Dobratz were not announced by press time.

Contact the writer: mbrown@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5545. Follow on Twitter: @MRBrownTandD.

Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 2 Angry 0

Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
Last night, WeWork celebrated the official launch of WeWork Hudsons Bay, its largest building to date in Canada.

The newest WeWork is located inside the home of one of Canadas oldest and most iconic brands, Hudsons Bay, in the center of the city. WeWork partnered with Hudsons Bay Company through a unique management agreement to combine workspace with retail, attracting a new wave of users into the historic building. WeWorks innovative workspace is directly visible into the adjacent upper retail floors occupied by Hudsons Bay, bridging these two communities together.

We are thrilled to celebrate the launch of WeWork Hudsons Bay on Queen Street, which has welcomed over 1,600 members into our community to date. Through our partnership with Hudsons Bay Company, weve reimagined an iconic landmark in the heart of Toronto, reinforcing our long-term commitment to making lasting economic and cultural impact on the city, said Stephen Tapp, general manager, Canada, WeWork.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Australia's policies to address climate change have been among the most contentious political issues of the past quarter-century. The standard refrain from the Morrison government is that Australia is performing well on a global stage when it comes to reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases that are cooking the planet. And, the refrain continues, Australia's emissions are just a fraction of the world's total and if we didn't export all that coal and gas, someone else would. In a global context, so this story goes, the main culprits are nations such as China, the United States and the fastest-growing emitter, India. It's true Australia is responsible for about 1.2 per cent of global emissions. It's also true that we contribute a quarter of exports that make up the world's coal trade and just became the biggest gas exporter. So what effect does the action we take on climate change within Australia have on cutting emissions? What is our part in solving a problem that is, by its nature, global?

Advertisement

First, is Australia on track with its emission cuts? According to the Australian government's latest data,annual emissions were little changed  down just 0.1 per cent  in the year to June 30, 2019. As it happens, the choice of the base year comparison can alone alter the impression about how well Australia is doing. Compared with 2000, for instance, annual emissions in the latest year were down 0.8 per cent, suggesting the country has not done very much over the past two decades. But compared with a base year of 2005  a neat shift the Abbott government made when it approved the Paris climate goal  the reduction suddenly swells to a more impressive 12.9 per cent. Aside from recent reductions in emissions from the electricity sector as renewable energy's share has increased, the only sector that has contributed a drop has been land use. Australia has consistently booked emissions reductions from reduced land clearing even during the years that governments in Queensland  the biggest deforesting state  and NSW have loosened restrictions on farmers. Excluding the grandly named Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) change, Australia's emissions have been rising since 2014, according to Climate Action Tracker. That's also the year the Abbott government scrapped a price on carbon. From the government's own projections out to 2030, total emissions don't look like falling much at all, with even LULUCF reductions not helping much. Incidentally, emissions from bushfires don't add to Australia's ledger because  perhaps optimistically  the vegetation is expected to all grow back. For now, though, the UK Met Office is predicting the fires will make a sizeable contribution to what is expected to be a jump in atmospheric levels of CO2 in 2020.

Advertisement

So where do Australian emissions cuts rank in the world? While there are different ways to count emissions, Australia's share amounts to about 1.2 per cent of global pollution. According to The Australia Institute  using data from Germany's Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)  that tally ranks Australia as 14th-largest emitter.

Advertisement

That doesn't sound like a lot but, as the Australia Institute's Tom Swann notes, if all the countries polluting less than Australia were taken together, they would account for 30 per cent of global emissions, or more than China's 27 per cent share. China, the US, the EU and India emit about 60 per cent of the world's total  and they all need to take action to cut back  but the emissions of the rest also matter. "There is no solution to climate change without all countries taking strong action," Swann adds. When it comes to what's a fair level of action for nations to be taking, things get murky quickly. For instance, the Kyoto Protocol and Paris Accord largely avoid tallying historical emissions, even though rich countries got wealthy, in part, because their economies were powered by relatively cheap fossil fuels. Instead, the wealthier nations were supposed to lead the way in reducing the pollution, with poorer nations expected to do less. Net-zero emissions is also the goal in the second half of this century if the world is to keep warming to less than 2 degrees. As it happens, all of Australia's states and the ACT have at least nominal carbon neutrality targets by 2050. But, of course, it is not just total emissions that count. Australia makes up just 0.3 per cent of the world's population, so - on a per person basis - we pump out more greenhouse gases than most nations, according to the PIK.

Advertisement

By another measure, Australia has also not been doing its fair share. The Abbott government choice of 2005 as the base for Australia's Paris climate pledge gave it a relatively high-emissions year. The proposal to cut pollution 26-28 per cent by 2030 would have been more like 17-19 per cent if 2000 emissions were the starting point. However, even since 2005, Australia has been a relative laggard among OECD nations. What part do our coal exports play? Global accounting rules focus on what is emitted within a particular country. China, the biggest emitter and the world's manufacturing hub, has often pointed out a lot of its emissions are "embedded" in the steel, ships and other goods it exports. Australia has an export role of its own that the government would rather not highlight. The country is the world's largest exporter of coking coal used to make steel, the second-largest exporter of thermal coal burnt in power stations and, since last year, the biggest gas exporter. These fuels are burned in other countries and the greenhouse gases from them counted against others' ledgers  not that the atmosphere cares.

Advertisement
The judge presiding over the Claremont serial killer trial has placed a temporary ban on the reporting of evidence relating to the post-mortems carried out on Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon.

State prosecutor Carmel Barbagallo made the application for the suppression order on Thursday after revealing the families of the victims had been spared the distressing details of the autopsies for more than two decades.

Justice Stephen Hall

It is expected the suppressed evidence of forensic pathologists Karin Margolius, Clive Cooke and Alana Buck will take until Tuesday or Wednesday to be heard, meaning WAtodays live blog will cease until then, unless the temporary suppression order is lifted.

During her opening address on November 25, Ms Barbagallo detailed some of the injuries to the victims.
Congressman Adam Schiff called on the Senate to remove President Donald Trump from office, saying he cannot be trusted, AFP reported.

"The American people deserve a president they can count on, to put their interest first," said Schiff. "You know, you can't trust this president to do what is right for this country. You can trust he will do what's right for Donald Trump. He'll do it now. He's done it before. He'll do it for the next several months. He'll do it in the election if he's allowed to. This is why, if you find him guilty, you must find that he should be removed." "Because right matters. And truth matters. Otherwise we are lost."

For nine hours, Democrats methodically refuted Republican allegations that Trump had done nothing wrong. They claimed that Trumps sole motivation to stop freezing aid to Ukraine last July was to force Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to launch an investigation into Joe Biden.

Impeachment managers will finish arguing on Friday, focusing on a second charge - obstructing Congress. Trump's legal team will defend him for three days. Democrats hope their arguments will convince at least some Republicans, who have a 53-47 majority in the Senate, to support their call to issue summons to four current and former Trump aides to call them as witnesses.

But all this indicates that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will seek to hush up requests to call witnesses and end the trial with a vote to justify Trump by the end of next week.
The URL has been copied to your clipboard

The code has been copied to your clipboard.

Protests in Iraq continue amid recent violence and deepening divides following an exchange of attacks between the United States and Iran inside Iraqi territory earlier this month. On Friday, mass demonstrations are expected against U.S. military involvement in Iraq
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A snowplow struck and killed two pedestrians in Kansas before sunrise Friday after a winter storm coated parts of the Midwest with snow.

The collision involving a Riley County plow truck happened shortly after 5 a.m., after the National Weather Service issued winter weather advisories across parts of Kansas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin and a large swath of Missouri.

The Kansas Highway Patrol said Stephen Toler, 22, and Jayden Rosa, 20, both of Manhattan, were walking in a lane of U.S. 24 when they were hit by the snowplow north of Kansas State University and near Tuttle Creek State Park.

Trooper Ben Gardner said the driver, Lawrence Gassmann, 65, of Manhattan tried to avoid hitting the victims. He said Gassmann wasnt plowing or salting at the time and that he was driving with the plows blade raised. He said he didnt know whether it was snowing but that road conditions and speed didnt appear to be a factor in the collision.

Kansas State spokeswoman Michelle Geering said neither Toler nor Rosa were students at the university.

Marvin Rodriguez, chairman of the Riley County Commission, described the accident as a tremendous tragedy.

Our heartfelt thoughts and prayers go out to all involved in the accident, he said in a news release.

In neighbouring Missouri, roads in much of the north of the state are covered in snow. The Missouri Department of Transportation urged drivers in a news release to remain vigilant.

The University of Missouris flagship campus in Columbia and Lincoln University in Jefferson City announced a late start and then called off classes entirely.

Numerous school districts cancelled classes, including several in the Kansas City area.
The families of four Somali-American boys have received a $170,000 settlement from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board after the group were held at gunpoint by local authorities.

Newly released police body camera footage shows the teens - at the time ranging from ages 13 to 16 - being held at gunpoint and forcibly handcuffed on the ground during the July 2018 incident at Minnehaha Regional Park.

'We still deal with the fear and trauma of this incident, but part of the healing process is that we are getting justice,' Halimo Isse, mother to one of the boys, said to KSTP.

Newly released police body camera footage shows the teens being held at gunpoint at Minnehaha Regional Park during the July 2018 incident

Park Police questioned the boys after receiving a bogus 911 call reporting teens in the park with weapons.

No weapons were found at the scene and police could not identify the original caller.

Footage shows the cops pulling bags off the boys back and searching through them as they force the teens to the ground.

'A bystander stuck around and said 'no,' the boys were being threatened by someone else with a knife,' said Ellen Longfellow, an attorney representing the teens.

Park Police questioned the boys after receiving a bogus 911 call reporting teens in the park with weapons

Footage shows the cops pulling bags off the boys back and searching through them as they force the teens to the ground

A witness who recorded the incident on her phone and shared the footage on her Facebook says that the police didn't appear to have control of the situation.

'You can tell that he was very agitated - like he was someone who didn't have the best judgment,' said Brianna Lindell of one of the officers at the scene. 'It was like these cops already made up their mind who was in the wrong and who wasn't.'

Three of the four families filed discrimination charges against the MPRB with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights in May and June 2019.

'We are committed to providing safe and welcoming parks for everyone,' said Al Bangoura, Superintendent of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.

No weapons were found at the scene and police could not identify the original caller

Each of the families will walk away with $40,000. The remaining money will go to the Minnesota chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations for their legal fees

'We took the 2018 incident at Minnehaha Falls seriously and conducted an independent employment investigation of our officers' conduct. With last year's settlement the juveniles, their families, and the MPRB can move forward.'

By settling the case the board says that they are not admitting any discrimination or use of excessive force was used by the officers.

One of the officers involved was suspended for two days and received additional training.

Each of the families will walk away with $40,000. The remaining money will go to the Minnesota chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations for their legal fees.

Lindell feels the minuscule training that the officer received would hardly be enough for how he acted.

'They can give these officers training, but that trauma is always going to be with the teenagers, but they just have to learn to live with it,' Lindell said.
ABU DHABI

Jan. 22, 2020

Massachusetts

Abu Dhabi

Al Ain

Ukraine

United Arab Emirates

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abu Dhabi

, UAE,/PRNewswire/ -- Back in 2012,, a global active healthcare investment group with a unique goal for emerging market strength, succeeded in connecting healthcare growing markets by developing and implementing innovative solutions for improved healthcare accessibilities.It has publicized its investment through the new Long-Term Care Project in Cambridge Medical & Rehabilitation Center. Escalating to sign legal agreements, the Board of Directors was appointed while initially raising a seed in the capital for the company.A while after gaining local licensing in 2013,signed its first affiliation agreement with Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, the premier post-acute care provider including home health and one of the world's leading rehabilitation Lead Centers. With its main 132-bed hospital in, Spaulding Rehabilitation Network is the official teaching and research affiliate of Harvard Medical School.Since 2015 onwards and after fully operating 90-bed facilities in the citiesand, the CMRC board members and shareholders have set a dream of filling the void in the medical care needs. A dream to establish and develop a qualified brand to treat patients needing rehabilitation, long-term or post-acute care.To be able to reach that goal, Cambridge Medical & Rehabilitation Center obtained Joint Commission International Accreditation as part of its commitment to the adoption of international best practices and world-class standards.Becoming a market leader among healthcare providers, Cambridge Medical & Rehabilitation Center is prominent by having served more than eighty thousand out-patients and restoring accommodation to more than seven hundred in-patients while expanding into the only entity with CARF accreditation for its In- and Out-Patient department services for pediatrics, adolescents and adults.Cambridge Medical & Rehabilitation Center pursues its devotion to enhance the quality of life to its patients and their families. Thereby being committed to expanding the scope and access of its services line and unique clinical programs, CMRC established a new unique methodology by a collaboration under the terms of partnership agreement with the Professor Volodymyr Illich Kozyavkin known to be the hero ofand leading international expert in the rehabilitation of patients with diseases and disorders of musculoskeletal system.In 2017, CMRC launched an integrated treatment and rehabilitation program using the Professor Kozyavkin Method for the first time in theand the region.To remain focused on creating value for stakeholders, Cambridge Medical & Rehabilitation Center has expanded its services in the Gulf region to spread and dispense its wealthy enhanced knowledge to improve the capacity to meet and fulfill more community needs.CMRC went on to launch a third high-end facility in the, in the southern province of Dhahran under the name of CMRC Saudi Arabia, upholding the conception and principles of the Cambridge Medical & Rehabilitation Center to be the leader in post-acute and rehabilitation care services and to provide outstanding patient treatment and clinical outcomes across the MENA region.The Senior Management Team of CMRC always ensures that highly skilled clinical and non-clinical individuals are recruited to provide safe care for their patients, support their families and community, and comply with the requirements of JCI and CARF accreditation.CMRC is pledged to employee empowerment, engagement, and rewarding by its policies for promotion, referral bonus, monthly and annual awards, training courses, etc. Due to these strategies, it has been possible to maintain one of the lowest employee turnover rates a company may oppose.Such a strategy reflected the success of CMRC in the efficiency and assurance of its services to GCC patients, which was represented by the winning of two major awards at the Patients' Experience Summit held inlast year. The first one was "Excellence in Patient Experience Strategy & Implementation" and the second one was "Arab's Patient Experience Leader" presented to the Chief Executive Officer of the CMRC Group.As the KSA facility took full functionality, the employee team has risen over 500 current individuals. All team members work hard and hand in hand to keep up with CMRC's conception and reach its future goals of spreading the Cambridge Medical & Rehabilitation Center brand in the region.

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cambridge-medical--rehabilitation-demonstrates-five-years-of-successful-healthcare-investment-in-uae-300991155.html



SOURCE Cambridge Medical & Rehabilitation Center




The ruling Congress government is all set to bring a resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in state assembly on Saturday. The assembly budget session is starting Friday.

On Thursday, state Congress president and deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot announced that after Kerala and Punjab, Rajasthan government will too bring a resolution against CAA in the assembly.

He was addressing news persons in Jaipur after the partys state executive meeting over for the upcoming Yuva Akrosh rally, called in the city on January 28. Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is expected to take part in the rally.

Targeting the CAA, Pilot said, We are requesting the central government to reconsider the Act. The Constitution has given the right to protest, but when someone does, they are attacked and are called anti-nationals. Democracy weakens if there is no dialogue.

He said, Today, protest and stirs are being held across the country; not just in a state or by a party, but various organisations, especially youth, who are putting up their views. The central government should listen to them.

He added: I urge the central government if there is protest on an issueit is a big country and there can be disagreements. States such as Kerala and Punjab have passed resolution against CAA, the Centre should take cognizance of it. Eventually, the final decision will be taken by Supreme Court as states have approached the apex court against the act.

Pilot said passing a law is a one thing, but the Supreme Court has to decide whether it gets cleared in legal scrutiny.

Regarding the state party executive meeting, Pilot said the meeting was called for the preparation of the rally. Today, across the country, there is unrest among in the youth. The educated are unemployed and economy is in poor state and Rahul Gandhi wants to focus on it. The message from the rally will go across the country, he said.

He said the centre is diverting people from the real issues. Gandhi will raise those concerning the people. After Rajasthan, Gandhi will hold rallies in other states. In view of the Union budget on February 1, the Congress wants that the central government should focus on those issues, which help economy run.

BJP spokesperson Mukesh Pareek said the rally to be addressed by Rahul Gandhi against CAA will see a gathering of community specific people, as people across the country have understood that the CAA gives citizenship and will not affect anyone. Everyone has right to protest, but misguiding in the name of religion is not in countrys interest. Congress is not thinking of the country, which is unfortunate. Congress which talks of peace and harmony is now protesting in the name of religion. Its result will be visible in coming time. The CAA will give respectable life to people who were tortured in the name of religion, he said.
The Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) Kailash Vijayvargiya has said the strange eating habits of some construction workers at his house led him to suspect their nationality.

The BJP general secretary said at a seminar in support of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in Madhya Pradeshs Indore that he suspected there were some Bangladeshis among the labourers who worked at his house recently.

Vijayvargiya said he found they were eating only poha or flattened rice when a new room was being added to his house. He said he suspected that these workers were from Bangladesh after he spoke to their supervisor and the building contractor.

Watch: Strange eating habits led to suspicion over nationality: Kailash Vijayvargiya

I suspected these workers were residents of Bangladesh. Two days after I became suspicious, they stopped working at my house, he said while replying to reporters questions later.

I have not filed any police complaint yet. I only mentioned this incident to warn people, he said.

Vijayvargiya also claimed that a Bangladeshi terrorist was keeping a watch on him for the last one and a half years.

Whenever I go out, six armed security personnel follow me. What is happening in this country? Will outside people enter and spread so much terror? he asked.

The BJP leader also tried to put aside fears over the amended citizenship law, which will enable the government to fast-track Indian citizenship to non-Muslim minorities from six religions who came to India from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan before December 31, 2014.

Dont get confused by rumours. The CAA is in the interest of the country. This law will provide asylum to genuine refugees and identify intruders who are a threat to the countrys internal security, he said.

(With PTI inputs)
Poll authorities on Friday directed the Delhi Police to file an FIR against BJP candidate Kapil Mishra in connection with his controversial tweet in which he likened the election in the city to an India versus Pakistan contest, sources said

New Delhi: Poll authorities on Friday directed the Delhi Police to file an FIR against BJP candidate Kapil Mishra in connection with his controversial tweet in which he likened the election in the city to an India versus Pakistan contest, sources said.

The Election Commission had asked Twitter to "take appropriate action by removing the tweet" as it aroused communal sentiments. The EC had also said that Twitter should intimate it about the action taken.

A show-cause notice was also issued to Mishra by the poll authorities for "violation of the model code of conduct and the Representation of the People Act," officials earlier said.

"The returning officer (RO) has directed the Delhi Police (DCP officer) to file an FIR against Kapil Mishra in connection with his controversial tweet," a source in the Delhi CEO Office told PTI.

In his tweet on Thursday, Mishra, a former minister in the Arvind Kejriwal Cabinet, had likened the February 8 Delhi election to a contest between India and Pakistan, sparking a controversy.

However, Mishra, despite a show-cause notice slapped on him, remained defiant and the controversial tweet could still be seen in his Twitter feed. By late evening, it had garnered nearly 9,000 retweets and 35,000 likes.

Queries sent to Twitter India did not elicit any response.

The Election Commission's action comes after the office of the Delhi Chief Electoral officer wrote to the EC last night to remove the tweet posted by Mishra, EC officials said.

Delhi CEO Ranbir Singh earlier said, "We took cognisance of the tweet and wrote to the EC last night seeking its removal. The EC then asked Twitter to remove his tweet. The tweet is a violation of the model code of conduct and the Representation of the People Act, so we have taken action."

In its criticism of the opposition parties over their protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), the BJP has been accusing them of speaking "Pakistan's language".

Mishra, in his response to the show-cause notice, claimed that his remarks were "general opinion" and "do not fall under the ambit of the model code of conduct and the Representation of the People Act".

"My comments have been taken out of context and misrepresented intentionally to paint a one-sided picture, to stoke differences. I swear by the Constitution of India and abide by its values," he said in his reply.

The Model Town candidate said his statement must be seen in "the context of Pakistan's attempt at sending their proxies to take undue advantage of the prevailing law and order situation in Delhi".

Authorities at the Delhi CEO Office had earlier said social media posts are being constantly monitored to check for any provocative or inflammatory posts or tweets being made by users, related to the polls.

Referring to the Shaheen Bagh protests, which have been going on for over a month now, Mishra, in his reply, said those protests are "neither in my constituency nor my voters" and claimed his statement "will have no impact" on those people.

He appealed to the protesters to call off the stir, saying people should not fall in the trap of "seditious groups funded by Pakistan".

The election will be a triangular fight involving the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress.

Polling will be held on February 8 and the results declared on February 11.

In a series of tweets in Hindi on Thursday, Mishra had also lashed out at the anti-CAA protesters in Shaheen Bagh and other places in the city.

"India vs Pakistan 8th February Delhi. There will be a contest on Delhi Roads between India and Pakistan on February 8."

"Pakistan has already entered Shaheen Bagh and small pockets of Pakistan are being created in Delhi," he had tweeted.

In another post, Mishra claimed that the BJP will win the February 8 polls and Kejriwal will resign from his post when votes are counted.

The former AAP leader was removed as minister by Kejriwal in 2017. Last year, he was also disqualified as AAP MLA under the anti-defection law.

Mishra faces AAP MLA Akhileshpati Tripathi in the elections.

More than 600 candidate are in the fray in the high-stakes Delhi polls after withdrawal of nominations on Friday by about 30 candidates.

According to the final electoral roll, over 1.46 crore people are eligible to exercise their franchise.
Nothing goes without saying, and I have said and written many times that my father, Harry Weinstein, was crucial to my cooking and eating life. If you have browsed this blog over... Read more
Sundar Pichai, chief executive officer of Google Inc., speaks during the Google I/O Developers Conference in Mountain View, California, U.S., on Tuesday, May 8, 2018. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Google on Friday responded to criticism that recent changes to its search results have blurred the lines between ads and regular results, saying it will be experimenting with different designs. As a part of a mid-January redesign to desktop search results, the company made paid links look more like unpaid results. The word "Ad" in bold text appears next to the advertisements, which typically are listed first and are therefore more likely to be clicked on and generate ad revenue for Google. Ad search results have gone through several design changes over the years; for example, Google previously used yellow and green "Ad" boxes to differentiate search ads from organic search results. The latest redesign was an attempt to clarify sources of information, the company said last week. But asked to respond to feedback on the changes, Google said it might move away from this latest design. "We're dedicated to improving the desktop experience for Search, and as part of our efforts we rolled out a new design last week, mirroring the design that we've had for many months on mobile," a Google spokeswoman said in an email. "We are experimenting with a change to the current desktop favicons, and will continue to iterate on the design over time." Google said the icons that now display a small brand image or the word "Ad" may not appear in new iterations but that the company will still label ads. The company said within the last year it has made more than 3,000 changes to search. Google said its goal is to create a better search experience for users and that they should expect the design to evolve over time. The company also said it has business incentives to make sure users are satisfied with ads. It said when a user clicks on a Google Search Ad, the company wants it to be because the ad looked relevant and useful, not because it was confusing.

The backlash

Before Google said it would be experimenting on the new design change, experts told CNBC that while the redesign improves user experience, the latest iteration may be a response to a business need. "We can talk all day long about user experience and results, but the elephant in the room is that Google is an ad business too, and there's a big profit consideration to how they alter the search landscape," said Heather Rist Murphy, vice president of performance content at digital marketing agency Nina Hale. "In the last two years, on the organic side, the company has played around with the model, and at the end of the day, they are going to add to their bottom line," Murphy said. Google currently faces antitrust probes into its ad business and questions from lawmakers about how it handles its users' private information. And with regulations such as GDPR and California's new privacy act, along with Google's announcement it's ending third-party cookie support within two years, Google and other rival digital ad platforms will need to think about where to grow, especially since the ability to target, measure, attribute and optimize could be limited, said Chris Apostle, chief media officer at digital agency iCrossing. The redesign is already garnering scrutiny from legislators: The Washington Post reported Friday that Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., accused Google of blurring the lines between paid advertising and search results, calling it "yet another example of a platform exploiting its bottleneck power for commercial gain, to the detriment of both consumers and also small businesses." Google originally said the new look is an expansion of an announcement it made last summer, which would introduce the redesign to mobile searches. But the new design launched on desktop searches last week, sparking confusion among users and press who noticed. The redesign comes as Alphabet has shown signs of preparing for a slowdown in its core digital advertising business, which still accounts for the vast majority of its revenue. Ad revenue slowed in the company's first quarter of 2019 and profit declined in the third quarter compared with the year prior. After Alphabet came up slightly short of earnings-per-share expectations in its last earnings report in October, the stock dipped, but it has since rebounded. At this point, Wall Street is still bullish on the company's ad growth, which contributed to Alphabet achieving a trillion-dollar market cap for the first time last week. Here's an example of what the redesigned search results look like on desktop:

A rise in clicks

Since Google's most recent change, Nina Hale found from its clients that the number of times Google users clicked on ads increased by 17% compared with the first half of January. Firms Jumpshot and Sparktoro jointly saw a 15% increase in the number of clicks on mobile ads in 2019 versus before that launch. Sparktoro co-founder Rand Fishkin told CNBC he expects desktop ad click rates to show a similar rise over the next several quarters. "The new visual format of organic search results closely mimics how the ad label looks in order to obscure a searcher's ability to distinguish between the two, thus increasing ad click-through rate," Fishkin said. "My theory on why this took so long to get to desktop: Google knows it obscures ads and thus increases ad click-through rate and wanted to wait until a quarter in which they needed to show that growth." Jonathan Kagan, the VP of search at Marc USA's media agency Cogniscient Media, said he wouldn't be surprised if the visual change was an attempt to increase the proportion of paid media-driven Google clicks. "My gut tells me they're trying to help close that gap," he said. Kagan said he's seen a slight uptake in click-through rates in categories with more immediacy, such as quick-service restaurants, in the limited time since the new design launched. But other categories that are longer, drawn-out research topics such as health care haven't seen much of a change in click-through rates or cost-per-click, he said.

The other side of the coin
Its a remarkable catalogue of legendary names to be associated with a place - an hour outside of Melbourne, whose nearest notable locations are the lovely towns of Woodend and Kyneton - that has no business sounding like Wembley Stadium. And yet a rural Victorian version of Wembley it has become. Janet Pearce, the mayor of Macedon Ranges Shire Council, cites the statistics and the memories that testify to the boost provided by Hanging Rock events. Its really important, says Pearce, who has attended all but one of the concerts over the decade, including ducking for cover as the heavens opened on The Eagles and revelling in the joy of the Cold Chisel reunion. It has been 10 years and weve ... calculated that economic impact was $9.3 million for the shire, Pearce says.

Its really valuable for our accommodation providers because they basically all get booked out for the concert weekends ... and the local food and beverage outlets and the wineries. And because theyre international artists, Hanging Rock and the Macedon Ranges are mentioned as well. It all began with a dream of legendary music promoter (and local resident) Michael Gudinski, who thought the location close to Melbourne and the glorious natural setting were a no-brainer for outdoor shows, given the growing trend for lucrative shows at wineries. The council agreed to a four-concert deal. Hanging Rock: an ancient and unrivalled natural amphitheatre. Credit:Matthew Furneaux Cohen kicked things off on November 20, 2010, with an appropriate tribute to the glorious surrounds. Thanks for inviting us to this sacred place, he said. It's a great honour. I promise we'll give you everything we've got tonight.'

Pearce says maintaining the integrity of that sacred place remains paramount. In 2018, the council released its Hanging Rock Strategic Plan, a 50-year strategy that sets out how best to manage the iconic site. Among its key objectives is involving traditional owners in the way the rock is used as a public arena. We have three traditional owners, she says. The East Paddock, where these concerts are held, is going to be incorporated into that but we also need to be respectful of the traditional owners, the custodians, the local community, the environmental values, the natural landscape and promoting the importance of the rock. That is an important aspect of it. The current contract with Gudinskis Frontier Touring expires in October 2020 and seems sure to be renewed. Over the decade, planning for the big events has grown more sophisticated. Concertgoers can catch shuttle buses from the Melbourne CBD, for example, and traffic management has been fine-tuned to limit chaos and gridlock getting in and out. Pearce says the council is also aware of concerns over bushfires and smoke pollution and is prepared for conditions as they unfold this weekend. The current forecast is good.

For music punters, the memories are rich. There was Cohens opening gig in 2010. The Age's John Mangan at the time wrote: The six-million-year-old rock formation and natural amphitheatre has been a home to Wurundjeri initiation rites, horse races and a haunting film credited with launching Australian cinema. It's even served as a lookout for notorious bushranger Dan Mad Dog Morgan. You dont get that at Marvel Stadium. When Springsteen brought his record-breaking Wrecking Ball tour to the Rock in 2013, no one had ever seen anything quite like it - the shows ran close to four hours, and the Boss had Jimmy Barnes as a support act. The reviews were ecstatic: By the seventh song, 'Hungry Heart', he was crowd-surfing in the pit, an act that managed to touch all 17,000 fans, whether or not they were close enough to slap a hand on his sweat-soaked black shirt. Bruce Springsteen takes his message to 17,000 fans at the Rock in 2013. Credit:Paul Rovere

Gudinski knew he had struck gold, declaring: Im still coming down from Bruce Springsteen, the euphoria  one of the greatest things Ive ever done. It was an Easter weekend to remember. As was the night two years later when The Eagles, oracles of California rock, came to Hanging Rock - and got blown away. The band fled the stage as the big screen crashed down and the wind and the rain came in. The local paper recorded the event: The Eagles launched into 'Tequila Sunrise'. Halfway through the song, the stage shook violently, heavy rain left the audience running for cover and the band vacated the stage.

One audience member, Caroline Towers, remembers the mayhem. The black clouds rolled in and they had not been playing long when it started bucketing rain ... then rain was blowing sideways and we were cold and soaking wet. Pearce was also there: We were all huddled, the five of us, under a sheet, but you all got wet, it didnt matter. It just added to the atmosphere. The picturesque natural site no doubt makes up for these and other random shortfalls. Springsteen's return performance at the Rock in February 2017 confirmed his stature as a peerless musician and entertainer, and the venue as one of the worlds great arenas. As had been the case with Cohen and Rod Stewart before him, he was clearly quite thrilled just to be playing there. Rod Stewart plays Hanging Rock in 2012. Credit:Matthew Furneaux

As the Elton John juggernaut descends this weekend, locals will be hoping for that trend to continue. Pearce says the council keeps close tabs on local sentiment about these events, and that the most recent survey suggests 84 per cent of shire residents support the concert deal being extended after its October expiry date. In the end, it might all come down to the last performer appearing at the Rock under the current contract. We can assume it will be a success. Elton John has sung everywhere and for everyone, from Wembley shows to his Las Vegas residency to the Westminster Abbey funeral of Princess Diana. And he will get in just under the wire. You have read about the superstars who flock to the Rock, but what of the permanent residents - those owls who breed in April? Hanging Rock is the permanent home of a nesting pair of Powerful Owls, the largest owl in the country, classified as a vulnerable species. They produce just two chicks every year.
In Kyiv, foreign experts familiarized themselves with the technical capabilities of retrieving information from black boxes. The final decision on the transfer to Kyiv of the flight data recorders of a downed UIA plane will be made after the Iranian delegation reports to the country's leadership on the results of their visit to Ukraine.

This was discussed at a meeting of Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) Oleksiy Danilov with the Iranian plane crash investigation commissioner, which took place on January 23, the NSDC press service reports.

"The Iranian plane crash investigation commissioner said that the final decision on further handling with the flight data recorders would be made after the Iranian delegation reported to the country's leadership on the results of the visit to Ukraine and under Article 26 of the Chicago Convention and Annex 13 to it," reads the statement.

In turn, Danilov noted Ukraine's full technical readiness to provide the necessary range of works to analyze the black boxes.

As part of the investigation into the crash of the Ukrainian Boeing 737-800 UR-PSR plane, representatives of the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization (CAO), headed by the Investigative Officer of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI), arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday, January 21.

Experts from Canada and France also joined the expert group.

On January 22, the experts had the opportunity to get acquainted with the technical possibilities of reading information from the flight data recorders - the so-called black boxes - at the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise, the laboratory of the National Aviation University and the Research and Production Enterprise Discovi Systemy.

As reported, a Ukraine International Airlines plane (Flight PS752) heading from Tehran to Kyiv crashed shortly after taking off from the Imam Khomeini International Airport at about 06:00 Tehran time (04:30 Kyiv time) on Wednesday, January 8. There were 176 people on board  nine crew members (all Ukrainians) and 167 passengers (citizens of Ukraine, Iran, Canada, Sweden, Afghanistan, Germany, and the UK).

On January 11, Iran admitted that its military had accidentally shot down the Ukrainian passenger jet.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) accepted full responsibility for the downing of the Ukrainian airliner.

ish
Its a big step for Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex to leave their life as royals behind, as Harry shared their decision was not made lightly. The couple felt they had no other option for a peaceful life, but will they regret their decision? One royal expert shares why the couple may find the grass isnt greener on the other side.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry regret exit arrive at Canada House on January 07, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are giving up the royal life

After intense media and public scrutiny and the emotional interviews they gave for their documentary, it shouldnt have been so surprising that Prince Harry and Meghan would announce they wanted to exit the royal family.

Queen Elizabeth worked to iron out the specifics and shared her support of their decision in a statement that noted: Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family.

She continued: Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family. I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life It is my whole familys hope that todays agreement allows them to start building a happy and peaceful new life.

The Sussexes felt there was no other option

The couple are giving up their HRH titles and any public funding as they transition to a life in Canada, a decision Prince Harry called their only option.

During a speech he gave at a London charity dinner, Prince Harry shared: It brings me great sadness that it has come to this. The decision that I have made for my wife and I to step back is not one I made lightly. It was so many months of talks after so many years of challenges.

He added: And I know I havent always gotten it right, but as far as this goes, there really was no other option.

Will they regret the decision?

Theyve given up their royal duties and Prince Harry had to give up his military titles, plus theyll be repaying the taxpayer money used to refurbish their Frogmore Cottage home. There were sacrifices made, but they will keep their own private patronages and associations.

One royal commentator believes that Prince Harry may come to miss the old life he had. Richard Fitzwilliams told Express: Although the agreement will be reviewed in a years time the Sussexes have, in reality, been exiled.

He continued: They are, however, among the most famous couples in the world and, as we are already seeing, an intrusive media cannot have enough of them.

He shared: Independence has its price! They may have a meteoric rise with top Hollywood celebrities to back them, but they will always be followed by the press. Meghan may be in her element, Harry may prove totally adaptable but he also could miss what he has given up.

Fitzwilliams further claimed that Prince Harrys loss of his military links will deeply upset Harry. The expert noted, Since he can no longer wear uniform, this is something he will feel deeply.


The public face of Chinas effort to control a new kind of coronavirus is an 83-year-old doctor.

Zhong Nanshan is a specialist on respiratory diseases. He became famous 17 years ago for daring to speak in the fight against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, also known as SARS.

Zhong has been named to lead the National Health Commissions investigation into the new virus. The virus has frightened millions of Chinese who are traveling for the week-long Lunar New Year holiday, which starts on Saturday. The rising number of cases has affected financial markets worldwide.

On Monday, Zhong reported that the virus could spread from person to person. Local health officials had said earlier that human-to-human transmission was limited. Monday night, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for strong action to stop the spread of the virus.

Zhong became famous in 2003 when China was accused of covering up a major outbreak of SARS. Since then he has gained another kind of fame: pictures of him lifting weights to keep his muscular body are widely available on the internet.

On Tuesday, he told reporters in Guangzhou that the government had been truthful about reporting cases of the coronavirus. He also said the government was trying to deal with the outbreak with honesty and openness.

The virus first appeared in the city of Wuhan, which has 11 million people. On Thursday, officials closed off all transportation to and from the city. Sources told the Reuters news agency that Zhong had pushed for the move.

China's government also isolated two other communities: the nearby cities of Huanggang and Ezhou.

During the new virus outbreak, the government has warned officials that they may face public shame if they are not truthful about the number of people infected.

Daring to speak

In 2003, the situation was very different. Chinese officials were fearful of telling the truth about the SARS outbreak. At the time, Zhong talked to reporters.

A video from 2003 shows him telling reporters how little was then understood about SARS. No one knew how the virus was spreading or the correct treatment.

In a 2016 television program by state broadcaster CCTV, Zhong remembered a reporter asking him if the SARS outbreak was under control.

He said, I couldnt help myself. I said its not at all under control.

The program praised Zhong for daring to treat and daring to speak.

As many as 774 people died in the SARS crisis, which affected nearly 30 countries.

Im Jonathan Evans.

The Reuters News Agency reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

respiratory  adj.involving the movement of air into and out of the lungs

dare v.to take a chance or to disobey those in power

transmission n.the movement or spread of something

outbreak n.a sickness or disease that quickly spreads

muscular adj.a strong well-developed body

source n.a person, place or things from which something comes

shame n.a sense of embarrassment
A group of more than 30 activists, public figures and local Moscow politicians have created an online "manifesto" urging Russian citizens to resist President Vladimir Putin's proposed constitutional amendments.



Novaya Gazeta, which published the document late on January 23, said more than 8,000 have already signed the manifesto, which calls Putin's amendments a "constitutional coup" that is directed at keeping "Putin and his corrupt regime" in power until he dies.

The document recognizes that the current Russian Constitution is far from ideal, but stresses that "changing the text of the basic law for immediate political purposes will destroy the last institution that is protecting Russia from the complete usurpation of power."



It calls on like-minded Russians to sign the document and "take part in a mass public campaign" against Putin's proposals.



Among the signatories was economist Sergei Guriyev, human rights activist Sergei Davidis, and political analysts Denis Bilunov, Ivan Preobrazhensky, and Aleksandr Shmelev.



Ten district council members from Moscow, including journalist Ilya Azar, Yulia Galyamina, and Yelena Rusakova, also signed the appeal.

"Earlier, although they violated the constitution, at least they didn't touch it or destroy it," Galyamina told RFE/RL. "Now they have opened Pandora's box."



Putin, 67, announced the proposed amendments during a 17-minute section of his January 15 state-of-the-nation address. By January 23, the text of the amendments had been endorsed by a hastily convened public advisory group and approved in their first reading by lawmakers in the Duma, the lower house of Russia's legislature.



Russian media have reported that a national "public vote" on the amendments will be held in April.

"In truth, this is the usurpation of power," said opposition politician and signatory Andrei Pivovarov of the Open Russia foundation.



"This has only been done to keep Putin and the group of figures surrounding him in power permanently.



"We only have two months to inform as many people as possible about our view and get them to turn out and vote 'no,'" he added, saying the changes "deprive us of any chance for positive developments in this country."



The proposed amendments include limiting one person to two presidential terms, regardless of whether they are served consecutively. They would tighten citizenship restrictions on presidential candidates, establish the priority of the Russian Constitution over international law, make the State Council an official state organ, and give the Duma the power to appoint the prime minister and the cabinet, as well as other changes.

In all, 22 articles of the constitution would be amended.

Many analysts believe the Kremlin is pushing the changes as part of a plan to manage political power after Putin's current -- and final -- term ends in 2024.



On January 20, opposition figure Ilya Yashin urged Muscovites to protest the proposed amendments at a rally on February 29 that had been planned earlier to mark the fifth anniversary of the assassination in Moscow of opposition leader and former Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov.



"It will be a political march, the main aim of which will be to call for the rotation of power and to protest against the usurpation of power," Yashin was quoted by Reuters as saying.

With reporting by Novaya Gazeta and Reuters
Environmental organization GRID-Arendal has launched the world's first publicly accessible global database of mine tailings storage facilities. The database, the Global Tailings Portal, was built by Norway-based GRID-Arendal as part of the Investor Mining and Tailings Safety Initiative, which is led by the Church of England Pensions Board and the Swedish National Pension Funds' Council on Ethics, with support from the UN Environment Programme. The initiative is backed by funds with more than US$13 trillion under management.

Until now, there has been no central database detailing the location and quantity of the mining industry's liquid and solid waste, known as tailings. The waste is typically stored in embankments called tailings dams, which have periodically failed with devastating consequences for communities, wildlife and ecosystems.

"This portal could save lives", says Elaine Baker, senior expert at GRID-Arendal and a geosciences professor with the University of Sydney in Australia. "Dams are getting bigger and bigger. Mining companies have found most of the highest-grade ores and are now mining lower-grade ones, which create more waste. With this information, the entire industry can work towards reducing dam failures in the future."

The database allows users to view detailed information on more than 1,700 tailings dams around the world, categorized by location, company, dam type, height, volume, and risk, among other factors.

"Most of this information has never before been publicly available", says Kristina Thygesen, GRID-Arendal's programme leader for geological resources and a member of the team that worked on the portal. When GRID-Arendal began in-depth research on mine tailings dams in 2016, very little data was accessible. In a 2017 report on tailings dams, co-published by GRID and the UN Environment Programme, one of the key recommendations was to establish an accessible public-interest database of tailings storage facilities.

"This database brings a new level of transparency to the mining industry, which will benefit regulators, institutional investors, scientific researchers, local communities, the media, and the industry itself", says Thygesen.

The release of the Global Tailings Portal coincides with the one-year anniversary of the tailings dam collapse in Brumadinho, Brazil, that killed 270 people. After that disaster, a group of institutional investors led by the Church of England Pensions Board asked 726 of the world's largest mining companies to disclose details about their tailings dams. Many of the companies complied, and the information they released has been incorporated into the database.

###

For more information on tailings dams, see the 2017 report "Mine Tailings Storage: Safety Is No Accident" and the related collection of graphics, which are available for media use.

About GRID-Arendal

GRID-Arendal supports environmentally sustainable development by working with the UN Environment Programme and other partners. We communicate environmental knowledge that motivates decision-makers and strengthens management capacity. We transform environmental data into credible, science-based information products, delivered through innovative communication tools and capacity-building services.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced that it will be felicitating actor-director Andy Serkis at its annual film awards.

The 55-year-old actor will receive the outstanding British contribution to cinema award, one of the British Academy's top honours, read a statement from BAFTA.

Serkis is considered a pioneer in the field of motion capture, a technology that enabled him to deliver powerful performances in movies such as "King Kong", "Lord of the Rings" and "Planet of the Apes" trilogy.

"I'm deeply honoured and thrilled to receive this award, and count myself extremely lucky to be on such a continually fascinating journey in visual storytelling, one that has given me the opportunity to collaborate with many of the world's greatest artists, technologists and craftspeople, with whom I'd like to share this wonderful accolade," the actor said.

Marc Samuelson, chair of BAFTA's film committee, said the actor's contribution to cinema, both on and off screen, has been nothing short of "revolutionary" and "inspiring".

"His pioneering influence as a performer, an educator, a leading innovator and an employer has helped shape the global film industry and the positive impact will be felt for years to come.

"He's a truly remarkable ambassador for our industry and a thoroughly deserving recipient of this year's outstanding achievement award," he added.

The outstanding British contribution to cinema award is presented annually in honour of producer Michael Balcon.

Previous recipients of the award include Elizabeth Karlsen and Stephen Woolley, co-founders of Number 9 Films, Ridley and Tony Scott, Angela Allen, John Hurt, Tessa Ross and Peter Greenaway, among others.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
General Electric received a big upgrade from Morgan Stanley, but its turnaround hinges on its most important aviation customer, CNBC's Jim Cramer said Thursday.

"GE is a total winner unless  unless  Boeing fails to get this darned plane certified," the "Mad Money" host said. "GE's among the many aerospace suppliers who won't be able to make their numbers unless the 737 Max goes back into being sold and resumes production."

Morgan Stanley raised its rating of the challenged industrial giant to overweight from equal weight, citing a "budding turnaround." The stock rose 3.5% during the session.

Boeing CEO David Calhoun earlier this week said the soonest that the grounded 737 Max planes would return to the sky is June or July. The airplane manufacturer must get clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration for the 737 Max to fly again, after being grounded nearly a year ago for software issues connected to two deadly accidents.

GE's aviation division is an engine supplier to Boeing. Earlier this month, Boeing said it lost orders for 87 commercial airplanes. Not only are Boeing's woes weighing on GE and the airline industry, the Trump administration said it could stunt U.S. economic growth this year by half a point.

"Now, I hope that Boeing's practicing UPOD  under promise and over deliver  with that new deadline. Everybody seems to have a high opinion of David Calhoun, Boeing's new CEO ... so I'm hoping he'll get it right."
Lightfoot is endorsing in other races: Today the mayor announced shes endorsing Jill Rose Quinn, a candidate for Cook County judge. In a Facebook post, which includes a picture of Lightfoot and Quinn standing together, Lightfoot states: Im proud to endorse the historic candidacy of Jill Rose Quinn for Judge for Cook County Judge. She is an accomplished attorney and would be the first openly transgender judge in Illinois  and one of only five in our entire nation. Jill has fought for fairness, equality and justice her entire life and her perspective and experience will be invaluable for our courts and our community. She is a role model in the community and she has my full support on March 17.
A mother has released a warning to fellow parents after her three-year-old son opened a pool gate by himself and let his little sister inside.

Krystal Hill, from Perth, filmed Isaiah climb onto the roof of a red and yellow toy car parked by the pool gate in the family's backyard.

The savvy three-year-old successfully stretched himself to the top of the fence, where he was able to unlock the mechanism.

Isaiah's toddler sister entered the pool area and he followed, before shutting the gate behind the pair.

A mother has released a scary warning to fellow parents after her three-year-old son opened a pool gate by himself and let his little sister inside. Krystal Hill, from Perth, filmed Isaiah climb onto the roof of a red and yellow toy car parked by the pool gate in the family's backyard

'So you think pool fences are safe!' Ms Hill wrote on Facebook with the heart-stopping footage.

'I watched my three-year-old who can't swim independently yet, climb up and open the pool gate and then let himself and his little sister into the pool area.

'I am in a bit of shock at the moment!'

Ms Hill said she 'sat back and watched it happen' to see if her son could successfully open the gate.

'I have filmed it to show parents that sometimes just a pool gate isn't enough,' she said.

'We will now be padlocking the gate but this is still no guarantee.'

The savvy and well-balanced three-year-old successfully stretched himself to the top of the fence, where he was able to unlock the mechanism

Isaiah's toddler sister entered the pool area and he followed, before shutting the gate behind the pair

Ms Hill's video has 1.7million views and has been shared more than 42,000 times.

She said a number of fellow parents have sent her messages to thank her for sharing the video and raising awareness.

Speaking to Sunrise on Friday, Ms Hill said it took her a days to get over what she experienced.

'It was a bit surreal. I kept thinking about what would have happened if I wasn't there,' she said.

'So you think pool fences are safe!' Ms Hill wrote on Facebook with the heart-stopping footage. Ms Hill said she 'sat back and watched it happen' to see if her son could successfully open the gate

Speaking to Sunrise on Friday, Ms Hill said it took her a days to get over what she experienced. 'It was a bit surreal. I kept thinking about what would have happened if I wasn't there,' she said

'I could have walked out to something horrific so it was quite frightening.'

Another mother shared an eerily similar video of her toddler climbing over the swimming pool gate in late 2018.

The Perth mum posted the video showing her three-year-old son using the ladder from their trampoline to help scale the fence and get inside the family's swimming pool.

The tot lifts the ladder from the trampoline above his head as a small girl watches on. He leans the small ladder against the metal fence and begins to climb.

A video has been posted on social media of a crafty three-year-old boy using a trampoline ladder to scale a pool fence as a warning to parents

'Step one, step two, step three,' he can be heard saying, before lifting a leg over to the other side of the fence.

The video, posted to the Facebook group 'Perth Having a whinge' shocked other parents.

'Never underestimate what a kid can do. They are at least five steps ahead of youvigilance,' another person commented.

'OMG kids are so clever. My 2 youngest kiddies tried to use a chair, they both got a smack on the bum and wasn't allowed outside. They both soon learned.'
The Senate impeachment trial is a farce due to Republican fear and intransigence, and the only benefit will be deeper public hits to their reputation, but that doesnt mean there cant be some impressive moments. Thursday night, while you were probably sleeping, Adam Schiff delivered a strong speech to close out the second day of arguments. The theme was here, right mattersa quote borrowed from the House testimony of Lt. Col. Alexander Vindmanand Schiff painted a compelling picture of how and why Trump will always care more about himself than his country. Watch it here:

Donald Trump must be convicted and removed from office.



Because he will always choose his own personal interest over our national interest.



Because in America, right matters. Truth matters.



If not, no Constitution can protect us.



If not, we are lost. pic.twitter.com/USfx6v9KsT  Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) January 24, 2020

As the AP reported, Schiffs performance has been good enough that Lindsey Graham even felt obligated to compliment him:

In the otherwise scripted impeachment trial, it was a rare spontaneous moment: Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of President Donald Trumps chief defenders, stopped Rep. Adam Schiff, the lead prosecutor, to shake his hand and compliment him on his arguments for Trumps removal.

Though Graham has ridiculed the case against the Republican president and heaped scorn on Democrats like Schiff, he said he believes the California Democrat is well spoken and did a good job of creating a tapestry

And those werent the only grudging Republican accolades:

Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt said the Democrats had admirable presentations, even though he found them repetitive and said he didnt learn much new.

Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst says shes not a fan because she believes Schiff has it out for Trump. Still, she says, he has been presenting a calm, level case against the president.

What I appreciate, though, is the fact that he has handled this in a very calm manner compared to some of the other House managers, Ernst says.

Strange things can happen when a trial like this gets going, but its a near certainty that Trump will not be removed from office. Still, Schiff seems to understand that the greatest value of the trial will be presenting a strong case to the public and forcing Republicans to blatantly oppose fairness and the truth when they let the president off the hook. In that respect, hes backing them into a corner and letting the public see their total disregard for justice.
Part of being one of the most in-demand models in the fashion industry means that you have a platform and a voice, which Gigi Hadid continuously uses to raise awareness. Other than walking runways and red-carpets, the Palestinian-American is known for her social work, which includes her current visit to Senegal. Read ahead to know more.

Also Read | Gigi Hadid Wishes Pop Sensation Justin Bieber 'fastest Possible Recovery'

Gigi Hadids travel to Senegal

Along with UNICEF, the 24-year-old travelled to Dakar, Senegal to visit a shelter supported by the humanitarian organisation. Gigi took advantage of her platform and large following and took her almost 51 million Instagram followers on an eye-opening journey. Through her trip, the model was seeking to spread awareness about the lives of abused girls, women, and their children.

Gigi posted several striking and heart-warming pictures and videos, that included a video of her cradling a baby in her arms. Accompanying the pictures was a lengthy post from the UNICEF Goodwill ambassador highlighting the struggles that the women in the shelter face. Take a look.

Also Read | Instead Of Going To The Gym, This Is What Gigi Hadid Prefers To Keep Herself Fit

Also Read | Gigi Hadid And Bella Hadids Adorable Childhood Pictures You Must Not Miss

While in the African country, Gigi also visited two UNICEF supported schools. One was an urban pre-school in Kolda and the other was a village elementary school outside the city.

She posted sweet videos of the kids in class, while highlighting the importance of these institutions. The super-model also made sure she visited the Maternal and Child Health Post in Bagadadji.

Also Read | Gigi Hadids Red Carpet Looks To Take Inspiration From; See Pictures

Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment.
Bengaluru, Jan 24 : A security guard has been arrested for allegedly killing a prostitute here for refusing to have unprotected sex with him recently, police said on Friday.

"Though the incident occurred on January 11, it came to light after 12 days when the victim's son filed a complaint on Wednesday that his mother's two gold ornaments and a mobile phone were missing from home," a police official told IANS here.

According to preliminary investigation, Mukund met the victim at a bus station in the city centre and was lured to have sex at her home.

The trouble arose when she insisted he wear a condom before sex.

"When Mukund forced upon the victim without a condom, she kicked him on his private parts and screamed at him when he asked her to return Rs 1,500 he paid her for the sex act. Fearing getting caught by neighbours, he slit her throat in a fit of rage to silence her and left her home quietly, taking the gold jewellery on her body and her mobile," the official said, citing the accused's account during interrogation.

The son came to know about the gruesome murder of his mother when he returned from the school and found her in a pool of blood.

Police have filed a case of a murder and produced the accused before a local court, which sent him to 14 days judicial custody.
BRIDGEPORT  Maria Michaels wont have to pay $1,000 a month to stay in the house on Stratfords Rosebrook Drive she has lived in for more than 50 years.

But she may have to get her own cable.

Judge Walter M. Spader Jr. on Friday denied a request from Michaels nephew, Jan Hlinka, ordering the 87-year-old woman to pay him $1,000 per month while she appeals the judges December decision evicting her from the home, setting the amount at $10 instead.

The judge gave Michaels until April 27 to leave the house she sold to Hlinka and his wife for below market value in 1999, though her appeal may last longer.

Spaders ruling Friday came after a hearing in Fairfield County Courthouse during which Michaels and Hlinka offered conflicting testimony about prior agreements regarding the property, which Michaels and her husband bought in 1965 to build their dream home.

Under questioning Friday from his lawyer, Kevin Curseaden, Hlinka said Michaels had agreed years ago to pay $500 a month toward household expenses.

But minutes later Michaels scoffed at her nephews assertion after taking the stand herself.

I never in this world promised to pay $500 (a month), she said. That would be insane.

Michaels sponsored the Hlinkas immigration from the Czech Republic and took them into the home before selling it to them in 1999 with the written agreement that she would reside there as long as she does not become a burden to her nephew and niece.

She has lived in the first-floor master bedroom since, with access to the kitchen and washer-dryer.

But last February, the Hlinkas said they had enough and filed court papers to evict Michaels, whose husband died in 1993.

In December, the judge agreed, saying that while the ruling sounds harsh, he was obligated to follow the agreement Michaels had herself written, and that the Hlinkas had worked for Michaels and paid a mortgage to her while rebuilding the house almost from the ground up.

Fridays testimony centered on how much rent would be fair for Michaels to pay while appealing her eviction.

Micheals said she started contributing $350 a month to household expenses years after selling the Hlinkas the home to kick in for cable and internet costs. Curseaden told the judge Friday the Hlinkas want to cancel their cable service.

Under cross-examination from Curseaden, Michaels said she eventually increased the payment to $450, though she stopped between 2016 and 2018 after a check she left for the Hlinkas went uncashed.

He lived in my house for free for decades, she said. Why would I be paying him $500?

Michaels lawyer, Charles Kurmay, asked the judge to limit any rent Michaels pays to $250, saying she receives $1,250 a month in Social Security. After the hearing, he declined to comment when asked if Michaels had any other income.

After the arguments, the judge said he couldnt determine fair market value for the home based solely on the evidence offered Friday, noting that neither side solicited testimony from Realtors or appraisers, and there was no written agreement about rent between the two sides.

So he decided Micheals had to pay a nominal rent of $10 per month  but she has to bring in her own cable.

Curseaden declined to comment after the hearing.

Kurmay said the courts order speaks for itself.

Aside from the eviction case, Michaels last August filed a separate lawsuit against her nephew alleging breach of contract, unjust enrichment, intentional infliction of emotional distress and elder abuse. That case is pending.

Kurmay said its unclear what will happen if Michaels efforts to stay in the home fail, or whether she will be able to stay with other relatives.

Its a difficult circumstance and everyone is doing the best that they can for Ms. Michaels, he said.
The funding is through the Major Events Fund, economic development minister Phil Twyford says.

The new Creative and Cultural Events Incubator, which is funded through the Major Events Fund, will open on Monday 3 February.

Creative and cultural events have historically received less support under the Major Events Fund than sporting events.

We recognise creative and cultural events often have a different path to success, which is why we have established the incubator to support this growth and development, Phil says.

The Incubator will give priority to events that celebrate our culture and diversity, and have a vision to be major events of international significance.

This is a tremendous opportunity for new and existing arts and cultural events to develop and flourish.

Up to $1.5 million is available through to June 2022 for creative and cultural events that meet the criteria and, in particular, events with a focus on Maori and Pasifika arts and culture.

New Zealand is well known for hosting world-class sporting events; now its time to focus energy on our creativity and culture, continuing to grow its appeal for our communities and international visitors.

The inaugural incubator round will open on February 3 and accept applications until February 28.

More details about investment criteria are available on the New Zealand Major Events website.
Meghan Markles dad on Wednesday appeared in a documentary during which he said the royal family owes him, according to Yahoo.com.

In Thomas Markle: My Story shown on the United Kingdoms Channel 5, Markle revealed photos and videos of his daughter, Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex who is married to Prince Harry.

According to Yahoo, the documentary included photos of Meghan as a child, during holidays and family gatherings, in high school productions and her high school graduation.

Thomas Markle said, according to Yahoo, At this point, they owe me. The royals owe me. Harry owes me. Meghan owes me. What Ive been through I should be rewarded for. My daughter told me that when I reach my senior years shell take care of me. Im in my senior years now  its time to look after daddy.

Thomas Markle told media outlets that he was paid to participate in the documentary.

Thomas Markle is a central Pa. native  he graduated from Newport High School in Perry County in 1962. Thomas Markle left the area soon after graduating and moved to California.

Meghan Markle was born in Los Angeles. The actress played Rachel Zane in USA Networks Suits from 2011 to 2018.

Meghan has been estranged from her father since 2018.

Meghan and Harry were married on May 19, 2018.

They recently announced they would be leaving the royal family and living independently in Canada with their infant son, Archie.

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) released its fiscal year 2020 second-quarter results ahead of the opening bell on Thursday.

The Cincinnati-based consumer products giant reported $18.2 billion in quarterly sales, a 5% increase over the previous year but short of the $18.4 billion consensus compiled by analysts who follow the company.

P&G saw organic sales increases of 7% for the quarter in the beauty category (Olay and Pantene) and the health unit (Vicks and Crest).

For the most recent quarter that ended Dec. 31, organic sales rose 4% in the United States and 13% in Greater China  P&G's two biggest markets.

"The one area that's under a little bit of pressure from a category standpoint is baby care," Jon Moeller, P&G's chief financial officer and chief operating officer, said during a conference call with reporters on Thursday.

Moeller said declines in China's birth rate are affecting P&G's bottom line. In addition, the U.S. birth rate fell to a 32-year low in 2018, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Birth rates in China have gone from about 15 million a year down to 10 million a year, which has had a significant impact," Moeller said. "If there are negative developments in any part of the world, it does create challenges."

P&G's sales results in Japan, the company's third-largest market, caused nearly a half-point drag on total company organic sales growth due to timing of VAT changes that went into effect Oct. 1.

"We face market-level challenges in an increasing number of markets  India, the U.K., Australia, Turkey, Iraq, Nigeria, Kenya, Lebanon, Argentina, Chile, Mexico and the Hong Kong markets. Through all this, we grew organic sales 5% on the quarter and 6% over the first half," Moeller said.

Moeller said the company now expects organic sales to increase 4 to 5% for the fiscal year that ends in June.

The estimate was based on "strong top-line progress, building market share, strong operating earnings growth, building margins  behind an integrated strategy that's working and we will continue to execute," Moeller said.

Story continues

In 2012, P&G outlined a plan to cut costs by $10 billion, including reducing its supply chain by $4.5 million in raw materials, costs of labor, transportation and energy consumption. The cost-cutting program ended in 2016.

During Thursday's conference call, Moeller was asked if there was another $10 billion restructuring program coming soon.

Moeller responded by saying P&G is in the middle of a product supply chain transformation across markets and geographies.

"I just attended, along with David Taylor (president and CEO of P&G), reviews of our product supply innovation program last week, and they're big opportunities relative to robotics, relative to a tighter sequencing of the entire supply chain from demand signals all the way back to delivery," Moeller said.

Image Sourced from Pixabay

0

See more from Benzinga

 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Official figures claim Chinese holidaymakers will travel 394 kilometres on average during the Lunar New Year rush. Many workers are travelling back from major centres like Beijing and Shanghai to their provincial homes. One resident of a village near Wuhan says for the first time she wont be going back to see her family: All of [my] friends reached consensus this year to make new year greetings only by phone call, rather than visiting home as [is the] tradition. The economic implications are profound. The last time China was hit with a pandemic of this scale, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003, its growth plummeted from 12 per cent to 3.5 per cent between quarters. History does not repeat itself, but it rhymes, says Hong Kong-based UBS China economist Ning Zhang.

The ongoing travel peak season is a tremendous challenge. If the pneumonia couldnt be contained in the short term, we expect Chinas retail sales, tourism, hotel and catering, travel activities likely to be hit, especially in the [first half of the year]. Global ratings agency Moodys warns that this could also mean pain for the Australian economy. Already battered by drought and devastating bushfires in three states, it is now three times more exposed to Chinese travellers than it was in 2003. If the effect on regional travel is similar to that during the SARS outbreak in 2003, passenger volumes between Asian destinations  particularly China  and Australia could be significantly affected over the next [six months]," says Arnon Musiker, senior vice-president at Moody's Investors Service.

China Eastern Airlines announced on Friday that it was cancelling all flights between Sydney and Wuhan until March 29. The last flight, MU750, left Sydney at 1pm on Thursday. One staff member said they were nervous about the risks and passengers coughing and spluttering had been enough to raise fears. Some had asked to have their flights cancelled and refunded. Others had masks at the ready. Chinese tourist Zhang Wen was one of the last Wuhan locals to be allowed back home. The 38-year-old had been on holiday in Australia but said she would be catching MU750 regardless of the health scare. "I think our city can control it. I feel we'll get through the other side of it, she said. Passengers from Wuhan arrive at Sydney Airport wearing masks. Credit: Janie Barrett

China has learnt important political lessons from SARS. Crushing levels of censorship meant newspapers were unable to report the SARS outbreak for weeks, and when the disease spread from one city to another local officials had only scant information about its origins. Up to 10 per cent of the 8000 people who caught it died. This time state media has been given relatively free rein for a country notoriously concerned about bad news. Officials were warned by the country's top legal body this week that anyone who tries to conceal new cases will be nailed on the pillar of shame for eternity. The government is now working much more proactively and transparently to contain the Wuhan pneumonia than [it did with] SARS, says Ning Zhang. One 22-year-old student visiting family near Wuhan is not so sure, arguing authorities were too slow to act when the virus was first discovered in December. The new virus emerged from a popular wet seafood market that also sold wild animals. Bats, a delicacy in some Chinese dishes, are widely believed to be one of the key carriers of coronaviruses. They did not control it at the beginning, he says. They should have closed the city then.

"They should not do any big celebrations. If they do any big celebrations the condition will get worse. Dr Minh Cuong Duong, an infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist at the University of NSW who was deployed for the H1N1 influenza pandemic in Vietnam says the outbreak has come at the worst time. Loading Since human-to-human transmission has been confirmed, this greatly facilitates the spread of virus not only to other parts of China but also overseas, he says. Indeed, Thailand, Japan, South Korea and the United States have reported cases, making a pandemic likely. The World Health Organisation did not declare a global health emergency on Friday. Australias chief medical officer, Brendan Murphy, says he was surprised by the call and that the governing body was split over the decision.

He says Australia is vulnerable to quite a lot of traffic from China to Australia but that the mortality rate was lower than the SARS pandemic in 2003 and, so far, the disease appeared to have less severe symptoms. Most people will recover well from this disease but we need to isolate them, he says. In Chinese tradition, red is one of the luckiest colours. Sydney Lunar Festival curator Valerie Khoo says decorations are one of the most important parts of the celebration. Credit:BookyBuggy Duong says Australian authorities should prepare updates for local groups who are at high risk of acquiring the disease overseas, such as Chinese and Vietnamese communities  who are also celebrating Lunar New Year. He says this was particularly important for the elderly who may not be fluent in English or have regular access to the internet. I personally think more attention should be paid to vulnerable populations including the elderly, children, pregnant women and people with chronic conditions until robust evidence is available as these people tend to develop severe complications based on previous outbreaks, he says.

Loading Sydney, which hosts the largest Lunar New Year celebrations outside of Asia, has no plans to cancel this year's festivities. More than 600,000 lunar lanterns are being prepared for the 1.48 million people expected to visit the CBD to celebrate the Year of the Rat. We end up sitting down with a family of 50 and we all eat after the performance, says Leung. I guess that is a bigger family than normal people would experience. There is always going to be chicken on the table, means we are celebrating something. We always eat noodles. Noodles are for a long life, he says. Then some fish. Fish is about making sure there is always going to be something left over at the end of the year.

There are no set recipes. Its quite simple, he says  a bit of soy sauce and clear broth. It brings a level of camaraderie and community together. We share so much experience through food, a shared history and our work ethic. He admits the health concerns are something to be wary of but adds: As technology becomes more prevalent we are getting more information. What that means is people know that this virus is out there. They know that there is this issue and my hope is that they will be more proactive as opposed to reactive. I'm sure the government knows how to deal with different cases, he says. The question is whether the average person is willing to come out and say 'I need to see a doctor'. Leung, who runs the Australian Yau King Mun lion and dragon dance school started by his grandfather, has 70 performances booked in over the next month. At their peak they can do as many as ten 20-minute performances a day, jumping from stilt to stilt up to two metres high.
INDIANAPOLIS  Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University School of Medicine researchers have identified blood-based biomarkers associated with both delirium duration and severity in critically ill patients. This finding opens the door to easy, early identification of individuals at risk for longer delirium duration and higher delirium severity and could potentially lead to new treatments of this brain failure for which drugs have been shown to be largely ineffective.

An estimated 7 million hospitalized Americans suffer from the acute confusion and disorientation, characteristics of delirium, including a majority of patients in medical or surgical intensive care units (ICUs). Individuals who experience delirium in the ICU are more likely to have more hospital-associated complications, longer stays and higher risk of readmission. They are more likely to experience cognitive impairment and also have a greater likelihood of dying for up to a year after their hospital stay than ICU patients who did not experience delirium.

If you can tell which patients will have higher delirium severity and longer duration and therefore greater probability of death, there are important treatment implications, said Regenstrief Institute research scientist and IU School of Medicine faculty member Babar Khan, M.D., who led the research and is the president of the American Delirium Society. Analyzing biomarkers to stratify risk for delirium is a promising approach with the potential to be applied regularly in ICU patients in the near future.

In a new observational study, Dr. Khan and colleagues report that biomarkers for astrocyte and glial activation as well as for inflammation were associated with increased delirium duration and severity and greater in-hospital mortality.

Biomarkers of the 321 study participants, all of whom experienced delirium in an ICU, were identified from samples obtained via simple blood draws. Delirium severity was determined using a tool developed by a team including Regenstrief, IU School of Medicine and Purdue College of Pharmacy scientists. The CAM-ICU-7, short for Confusion Assessment Method for the Intensive Care Unit 7  is easy to administer, even to patients on mechanical ventilators. More than half of ICU patients in the U.S. receive mechanical ventilation.

Each day with delirium in the ICU is associated with a 10 percent increased likelihood of death, according to Dr. Khan, so diminishing its duration and ultimately preventing it is critical. Regenstrief, IU School of Medicine and research scientists from other institutions have conclusively shown in several large trials that antipsychotics, such as the widely used haloperidol, are not effective for the management of delirium duration or severity.

Regenstrief and IU School of Medicine researchers are actively exploring other approaches to delirium. Dr. Khan is co-principal investigator of an ongoing study that is the first to test whether listening to music, a non-pharmacological strategy that has been shown to decrease over-sedation, anxiety and stress in critically ill patients  all factors that predispose to ICU delirium  and lowers the likelihood of developing delirium. In a completed study, Regenstrief researchers determined that waking ICU patients and having them breathe on their own decreased acute brain failure.

The new study, Biomarkers of Delirium Duration and Delirium Severity in the ICU has been published online ahead of print in the journal Critical Care Medicine.

###

Authors in addition to Dr. Babar Khan are:

Regenstrief Institute research scientists and IU School of Medicine faculty Sikander H. Khan, D.O., M.S., and Malaz Boustani, M.D., MPH.

Regenstrief Institute research scientist and Purdue University College of Pharmacy faculty Noll Campbell, PharmD, M.S.

Anthony J. Perkins, M.S., IU Center for Health Innovation and Implementation Science and Indiana CTSI.

Nagendra K. Prasad, BVSc, PhD, MBA; Anantha Shekhar, M.D., PhD; Sujuan Gao, PhD; Sophia Wang, M.D. and Homer L. Twigg III, M.D., all of the IU School of Medicine. Dr. Shekhar is also the founding director of the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute.

Edward R. Marcantonio, M.D., S.M., of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School.

The study was supported by National Institute on Aging (NIA) grant K23AG043476. The NIA is part of the National Institutes of Health.

About Regenstrief Institute

Founded in 1969 in Indianapolis, the Regenstrief Institute is a local, national and global leader dedicated to a world where better information empowers people to end disease and realize true health. The Regenstrief Institute and its researchers are responsible for a growing number of major healthcare innovations and studies. Examples range from the development of global health information technology standards that enable the use and interoperability of electronic health records to improving patient-physician communications, to creating models of care that inform practice and improve the lives of patients around the globe.

A key research partner to Indiana University, Regenstrief Institute is celebrating 50 years of healthcare innovation. Sam Regenstrief, a successful entrepreneur from Connersville, Indiana, founded the institute with the goal of making healthcare more efficient and accessible for everyone. His vision continues to guide the institutes research mission.

About Indiana University School of Medicine

IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability.

About Babar Khan, M.D.

In addition to his appointment as a Regenstrief Institute research scientist, Babar Khan, M.D., is associate director at Indiana University Center for Aging Research at Regenstrief Institute and associate professor of medicine at IU School of Medicine. He is the president of the American Delirium Society.
Mumbai, Jan 24 : Struggling Yes Bank topped the Nifty50 table, advancing nearly 4 per cent on Friday. However, market analysts say that these gains will be short-lived until a concrete step is taken to rescue the bank.

The shares of the fourt- largest private lender gained over 10 per cent in two sessions after SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar said: "Yes Bank will not be allowed to fail." Kumar had reasoned that the Yes Bank is a significant player in the market with an almost $40 billion balance sheet. At the World Economic Forum 2020 in Davos, he said: "I have a feeling that it will not be allowed to fail." Yes Bank shares closed 4.40 per cent higher at Rs 42.75 a share on Friday.

"Yes Bank needs a fresh round of funding and only that will help the bank to survive. Kumar's comment could be the same for any other bank which is not doing well as the concern is more about the banking system as a whole," said Narendra Solanki of Anand Rathi.

"Investors still do not know as to how will Yes Bank be rescued. Kumar's comment may ease the panic to some extent but it will not result in much gains for Yes Bank until a solid proposal to revive it appears," Deepak Jasani of HDFC Securities told IANS.

Yes Bank's financials have also come under heavy scrutiny off-late. Rating agency ICRA recently said that Yes Bank's solvency profile remains weak with net NPA/CET of 36 per cent as on September 30, 2019. A number of rating firms have red flagged the bank's exposure to stressed projects.

Owing to uncertain news flow, Yes Bank, once the traders' favorite, has proved to be one of the biggest wealth destroyers. Its stock price is down to Rs 42 a share from a high of Rs 285.90 on April 4, 2019.

Citing continued uncertainty with regards to Yes Bank's capital raising plan, Moody's Investors Service placed Yes Bank's long-term foreign currency issuer rating of B2 under review.

The agency noted that standalone viability of Yes Bank is getting increasingly challenged by its slowness in raising new capital.

Moody's said that because the viability of the bank absent a large capital injection is in question, it has downgraded the bank's standalone credit profile or its BCA to caa2 from b3.
Acting on a tip-off, the police raided a hideout near Khaltipur railway station in the early hours and nabbed the duo, who hail from Mallikpara in the district.

Kolkata, Jan 24 (IANS) Two persons were arrested in northern West Bengal's Malda district on Friday with brown sugar valued at Rs 10 lakh, police said.

Altogether 614 grams of brown sugar were seized from them, a senior police officer said.

Cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act have been registered against the duo.

The recovery of the contraband comes three days after the Kolkata police seized huge quantity of heroin, valued at between Rs 75 crore-Rs 105 crore from Paikpara under Tala police station.

Brown sugar - an adulterated form of heroin - is also called smack, junk, skag, dope, and chaw. It is a semi-synthetic opioid derived from the morphine extracted from poppy plants.

ssp/vd
Parties Unite Over Taiwans Exclusion From WHO Anti-Virus Planning

TAIPEITaiwans exclusion from World Health Organization meetings on the coronavirus outbreak has united the islands political parties, who normally agree on little, especially to do with China.

Taiwan is not a member of the WHO due to the objection of China, which considers it a Chinese territory with no right to participate in international organizations as a separate entity.

Taiwan was not allowed to participate in an emergency WHO meeting on Jan. 22 about the new virus, which has claimed patients lives since breaking out in the Chinese city of Wuhan last month. Taiwan has only reported one case.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, re-elected by a landslide this month on a platform of standing up to China, this week called on the WHO to set aside political considerations and grant it full access to virus updates.

Taiwan is at the forefront of global epidemic prevention. There needs to be room at the WHO for Taiwans participation, she told reporters.

Taiwans main opposition party, the Kuomintang, which favors close ties with China, expressed its anger saying that epidemic prevention should know no boundaries.

Please could the WHO cast aside political considerations. If Taiwan is alone in being left out of epidemic prevention work it will leave a gap, and is not beneficial to promoting epidemic prevention work around the world, it said in a statement.

Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je, a doctor by training who is no friend of either Tsais Democratic Progressive Party nor the Kuomintang, added his voice of disapproval.

In recent years, Taiwan has been placed outside the worlds epidemic prevention system, and has no way of getting first hand information. This is a problem, said Ko, whose Taiwan Peoples Party won its first parliamentary seats this month.

Taiwans Center for Disease Control also complained about its inability to get first hand information from the WHO.

Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO emergencies program, told a news conference in Geneva on Thursday they work closely with technical partners in what he termed China, Taiwan.

By Ben Blanchard
There are tweezers in constant motion at River Twice, placing tiny borage sprouts over shaved sunchokes and raw bay scallops, arranging minuscule mushroom caps beside aged duck and Badger flame beets, layering plumes of creamy uni over bowls of heirloom grits.

But then there is also the two-fisted indulgence of a stacked burger whose drippy pink juices are almost too much for its bun to hold. And chef Randy Ruckers soulful gumbo? Its deep-brown broth is so heady with smoked duck that it whisked me from this South Philly chefs counter straight back to the Gulf Coast.

There is gastronomic preciousness and there is genuine rustic oomph, two traits that dont often coexist. But theyre both served in graceful harmony at this intriguing newcomer, strikingly plated on locally made ceramics, and with such well-wrought clarity of flavors, I couldnt help but wonder: Where did this come from?!

The answer  Houston via Marthas Vineyard via Wynnewood  takes some unpacking, considering the cross-country journey that led Randy and his wife, Amanda Rucker, to the triangular space beside the Singing Fountain previously occupied by Izumi. But this sophisticated new arrival is definitely a Philly debut worth celebrating.

Rucker, 41, is a known talent in his native Texas, where he was a James Beard nominee for his work at the Rainbow Lodge in Houston, where he was one of the first molecular modernists and a mercurial character who co-owned several other restaurants (laid-back manor, Bootsies, and Bramble) before leaving for New England with Amanda, then his girlfriend. After a couple years amid the salt ponds and seasonal tides of Marthas Vineyard and Mystic, Conn., they moved here to be closer to Amandas family, including her dad, Larry Highbloom, their business partner at River Twice.

Amanda, 31, who studied at Moore College of Art & Design and Temple University, has transformed Izumis once-dark decor into a comforting atelier of earth tones and natural materials. Breathable plaster walls, concrete counters, and blond wood furniture accent the room, whose 37 seats are divided between tables (with hidden flatware drawers) and a chefs counter that fronts the open kitchen. Another 26 seats are coming outside when weather permits.

The counter, though, offers the best vantage of Rucker and his chefs, who cook to classic Southern rock tunes (Lord, I was born a ramblin man!) against a colorful backdrop of big pickle jars and meticulously stacked spices. From black yuzu powder to allium ash and dehydrated mitsuba, they lend Ruckers fluid cuisine layered shades of global flavors, deepened by house-fermented misos, cultured butters, and local heirloom grains. His no waste mantra means youll taste multiple echoes of ingredients in different guises.

Exotic mushrooms are frequent stars, often pickled or roasted, adding delicate snap to the lush textures of venison tartare and raw seafood. But the trimmed stems also get transformed into an umami-bomb jelly that shines atop ruby tiles of seared tuna set over a sweet-tart mandarinquat emulsion.

Another example: Whole sweet potatoes get juiced for a smoky sauce puddled beneath pork loin with rye berries. But their pulp is dehydrated and powdered into flour that, combined with sweet potato miso, made savory pizzelles that were shaped into remarkable tartlets to cradle Peekytoe crab salad.

Rucker credits prep cook Chris Prewitt with the offbeat pizzelle idea  and it turns out to be a stroke of genius versatility. An earlier take on that crab salad came inside cannoli-shaped pizzelles made from leftover sunchokes, a contrast of sweet sea and earth I found extraordinary. By last week, the tart shells had turned deep purple with Nebula carrots.

The pleasant servers are well-informed but unintrusive  especially for diners sitting at the counter. More will be demanded of them once the beautiful stemware, currently used for BYO wines, benefits from a liquor license expected soon. The restaurants unusual name is partly a nod to the many rivers that have highlighted the Ruckers landings, including the two that trace Philly, which theyve described as the most welcoming city weve ever lived in.

It also pays homage to lifes steady flow of change, as articulated by the Greek philosopher Heraclitus: No man ever steps in the same river twice, for its not the same river and hes not the same man.

Randy is the first to admit he was overambitious as a younger chef, with no business sense, a restless impulse to leave restaurants (then regret it), and an infatuation with long tasting menus of highly manipulated food. Some of those techniques are still present at River Twice, where there is, in fact, a seven-course tasting ($85) as well as a la carte options. But he and his cuisine have both evolved to embrace more naturalist elements  foraging, fermentation, and regional flavors  that meld with his personal history in a more mature style thats beautiful without being overly fussy.

The richness of diced swordfish-belly tartare is elevated by a chili-citrus paste made with yuzu from Bhumi Growers in Bordentown and a finishing spritz of wild orange vinegar. The raw bay scallop dish is all about the candy-sweet New England shellfish, but the snap of sunchokes shingled over top grounds the dish, while the buttermilk broth swirled with vivid green spruce oil convincingly hints at the ranch dressings of his Texas youth.

Cool sea urchin over warm custard is a move Philadelphians have seen before. But River Twice lends it a novel wink of luxury-country fusion, levitating those creamy petals atop Castle Valley Mills Bloody Butcher heirloom grits crowned by the salty Kaluga caviar and butter tanged with shio-koji, a Japanese rice culture.

A similar garnish for the steamed chawanmushi was less successful, the barely-set custard below too light and liquidy to hold the urchins weight. It was one of few small misses, along with too many crunchies atop the soft venison tartare and a dull farro pudding for dessert. Try instead the chocolate cremeux mousse drizzled in peanut miso and topped with crumbled smoked cashews.

The chocolate-peanut revamp is a typical move from Rucker, who revels in upscaling downhome dishes. None spoke to me more than the bread dumplings inspired by his mother, Bootsie Pena. Theyre shaped from leftover bits of Texas toast sourdough into toothy gnocchi-like bites, then glazed in koji butter and buried beneath a fragrant mountain of shaved truffles. For $15, you can add truffles to the lobster agnolotti, too, but these delicate pasta pouches filled were so good in bisque-y lobster sauce, they hardly needed an upgrade.

The same straightforward satisfaction arrives with the massive 38-ounce hunk of grass-fed, bone-in strip steak, sliced into a beefy fan of thick pink cards. It has a deep swagger from aging in a rub of sake lees and, at $110, was easily enough to share. Then again, I find myself dreaming of the Mother Rucker cheeseburger at least as much, its two glistening quarter-pounders of fat-rich local beef from nearby Primal Supply layered with everything-spiced mayo and pickled onions on a Machine Shop milk bun.

Of course, its not on the menu, since Rucker only offers four or five a night. Hes reluctant to give it official status because he fears it might end up being the only thing his guests order. It is that good.

His hesitations are merited, because there so are many other gems worth appreciation on the ever-changing menu: raw Boomamoto oysters sparked with pickled fresh green peppercorns and smoked trout roe; dewy hunks of roasted Maine halibut; seared sea scallops with a brown buttered puree of silky kabocha squash. I encountered different delights at each visit.

Even the cheese course here, which I prefer to the desserts, charts Ruckers personal history of travels and good taste. One night, a stinky washed-rind beauty of Prufrock came from Grey Barn in Marthas Vineyard. Another brought a ripe chunk of Camembert-like Thistle from Valley Milkhouse, the Oley Valley creamery thats become one of the chefs go-to products in his new home. Is it any coincidence it arrives atop a cushy pillow? Hopefully, that means he and Amanda plan to stick around for a while.
KYIV, UKRAINEWhen a critical mass of mostly young Ukrainians brought down a corrupt government in a wave of protests in 2014, Katya Gandziuks friends never imagined she would end up murdered four years later for exposing corrupt officials.

They had fought in Kyivs main square, the Maidan, and some died for a vision of a new Ukraine less tied to Russia and the countrys corrupt Soviet past. And they won, at least that battle.

Today, however, that vision is no sure thing. Even after ex-comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy swept to an unprecedented electoral victory on an anti-corruption ticket less than a year ago, daring to expose corruption remains a dangerous, even deadly business. Gandziuk, a prominent anti-corruption activist, was murdered for it and those who ordered the killing safely evade justice.

Gandziuks close friend Kateryna Mola came face to face with that impunity on a recent afternoon in Kyiv, picking up her phone to find a video that made her stomach turn. Staring back at her was the man widely believed to have ordered the murder of Gandziuk in a grisly attack in 2018. A friend of hers had spotted him shopping in a ritzy commercial district in the Ukrainian capital and captured the video.

It was almost a year since the daylight attack outside her home in the eastern port city of Kherson, on the banks of the Dnieper river, and her friends and family were still coming to terms with its savagery.

It also raised questions for Canada, which in 2017 opened the door for Canadian defence contractors to export weapons to Ukraine despite concerns from a Canadian parliamentary defence committee over high levels of corruption, which Ukrainian human rights groups have linked to Gandziuks murder.

On a late July morning, a man ran up behind the 33-year-old and doused her with a litre of sulphuric acid as she left home for the city council office, where she worked as an adviser to the mayor. Minutes later, in an ambulance racing to the hospital, she messaged friends photos of the burns via WhatsApp, saying she didnt think they were that bad.

They were. The acid had splashed over her head and run down her back, arms and legs, ultimately covering nearly 40 per cent of her body.

At the hospital, her friend Roman Sinitsyn remembers her doctors saying they had never seen such extensive chemical burns and had to pull out their textbooks to brush up on treatment. Within days, they transferred Gandziuk to a Kyiv military hospital for more advanced care. There, she endured nearly a dozen painful surgeries over three months before dying of her injuries on Nov. 4, 2018.

Before her killing, Gandziuk cut a conspicuous figure in Kherson, one of the last stops along the route from Kyiv to the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula. In her unique perch as a city official and activist, she gained a reputation for brazenly calling out local and regional officials for alleged corruption in sharply worded Facebook posts. They earned her a profile and credibility among Khersons reform-minded set, but made her enemy number one for the targets she exposed.

In the lead-up to the attack, she accused the regional governor and the head of the regional parliament, the man in the video, of covering up an illegal logging scheme. Her friends believe it was the straw that broke the camels back and spurred her killers to action.

News of Gandziuks death galvanized a Ukrainian public already resentful of rampant government corruption. Protests erupted in Kyiv and other cities. In the face of public anger, then-president Petro Poroshenko promised to bring the killers to justice.

Western governments took notice, too. German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke out, as did Chrystia Freeland, who was Canadas foreign affairs minister. Freeland took to Twitter, calling Gandziuks death a tragic loss, and demanded that her killers be brought to justice. Canadas ambassador to Ukraine visited Gandziuk in hospital.

But with the international spotlight fading over the last year, the investigation has floundered. Five men were handed sentences ranging from three to six years for carrying out the murder on orders. Gandziuks father, Viktor, has called the sentences laughable, in part because the men saw their charges reduced as part of a secret plea agreement without the elder Gandziuks knowledge. No one has been tried for ordering the murder.

In the year since her death, the case has become emblematic of Ukraines struggle to bring the rule of law to bear on the everyday lives of Ukrainians.

Gandziuks mourners are not alone. Joining them in their search for justice are the survivors of dozens of other attacks against Ukrainian anti-corruption activists and the families of other murdered victims. In the last two years, Ukrainian human rights groups have documented 55 attacks against anti-corruption activists and four murders.

Human rights groups say the attacks are enabled by a pattern of corrupt relationships between criminals and local authorities common across Ukraine enables the violence.

These attacks are often connected with criminal and semi-criminal circles on the local level merged with local authorities, the prosecutors office, and the police, said Tetiana Pechonchyk.

Pechonchyk, the head of ZMINA Human Rights Center, a Kyiv-based human rights organization, added that these officials help cover up each others illegal acts to maintain the ability to illicitly profit from their official positions.

The continued prevalence of this kind of corruption puts Canada, a close ally of Ukraine, in an awkward position. In 2017, after studying whether Canada should provide Ukraine with lethal weapons in its war against Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine, the House of Commons Standing Committee on National Defence recommended that Ukraine should first show it was actively working to eliminate corruption in all levels of government.

But as Canadian weapons flow into Ukraine two years later, organizations who monitor international corruption suggest that has yet to be done. Ukraine placed 120th out of 180 on Transparency Internationals latest Corruption Perceptions Index. Despite repeated promises over the last five years from Ukrainian politicians to prosecute corrupt high-level officials, not a single one has been convicted of corruption-related crimes.

In October, the International Monetary Fund froze talks with Ukraine over a crucial $5 billion (U.S.) loan because of stalled progress on a corruption case involving the theft of $5.5 billion from a major Ukrainian bank. The bank blames two previous owners for stealing the money, including notorious Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky.

The fund has since reopened talks after promises to regulate the banking sector more strictly. But since his election earlier this year, President Zelenskiy has been trailed by criticism that he is too close to Kolomoisky, and has not moved quickly enough to recover the missing billions.

Kolomoiskys personal lawyer now serves as the presidents chief of staff, even though this man is not legally permitted to work in a government post. Kolomoisky himself, who is under investigation by the FBI for financial crimes, had been in self-imposed exile from Ukraine, but returned shortly after Zelenskiys election win. He is also the owner of the television network on which Zelenskiy rose to fame.

Ukrainian civil society groups say Gandziuks murder should be seen as part of this wider trend of stalled progress on corruption.

High-level officials, including the head of Khersons regional parliament, are suspected of involvement in the plot to kill her. Ukrainian investigative journalism outlet Slidstvo.info obtained phone records showing that in the days before and after the attack, another suspected collaborator was in contact with local prosecutors and police. He has since fled the country, leading to suspicion that the police warned him his arrest was imminent.

Even the man in the video, Vladislav Manger, has seen his charges lessened, and the case has been lost in seemingly endless postponements, leading Katya Gandziuks friends to doubt he will ever face justice.

Sipping a cappuccino at a Kyiv cafe, Gandziuks friend Roman Sinitsyn worries how a trial might play out in Ukraines corrupt judicial system. Manger is wealthy, he says, and Ukraines courts are notorious for judges taking money in exchange for favourable verdicts. Judicial reform is considered among the most disappointing failures of Ukraines reform process.

But human rights groups say the murders and attacks go beyond the problem of corrupt local officials. To them, the corruption that enables the violence reaches high into the Ukrainian government, and one powerful man is responsible for the attacks and the failure to properly investigate them: Interior Minister Arsen Avakov. In his ministerial post overseeing police, Avakov has been widely criticized for blocking substantive reforms meant to root out police corruption.

In May 2019 as Zelenskiy assembled his new cabinet, Transparency International Ukraine and at least 19 other human rights and transparency organizations launched an appeal to have Avakov removed and for western countries to level sanctions against him. They allege that Avakov and Ukraines then-general prosecutor are guilty of a silent coverup, and are politically responsible for the attacks and murders for having blocked police reforms meant to weed out corruption.

Those reforms, meant to clean up Ukraines national police force, only made it as far as the Patrol Police, the force responsible for traffic enforcement and street patrols. While considered a moderate success, and financed in part by the Canadian government, these reforms left detectives and chiefs in the upper ranks of the national police force, where experts say the potential for corruption is greatest, untouched.

There was no political will to seriously reform the police, because the leaders of the country and of law enforcement wanted to keep all their corrupt schemes going, said Pechonchyk, the human rights advocate.

Avakov is no stranger to corruption allegations. Beyond accusations of attacks on activists, he has been tied to violent far right militias, which he denies, and stands accused of interfering in a criminal case against his son. In 2018 Ukraines main anti-corruption investigation agency, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, arrested Avakovs son, Oleksandr, on embezzlement charges related to a deal to sell equipment to the Ukrainian military at inflated prices.

Following the arrest, the interior ministry, which has no official connection to the younger Avakov or the case against him, inexplicably issued a press release attacking the charges as politically motivated. The case was later controversially closed by Ukraines special anti-corruption prosecutor, who has himself been reprimanded for improperly interfering in corruption investigations.

Artem Sytnyk, the anti-corruption bureaus director, told the Star in an interview that the evidence against Avakovs son was strong, and that there was no legal reason why the case was closed.

After the prosecutor dropped the case, a violent mob ransacked the anti-corruption bureaus Kyiv offices. Sytnyk would not directly blame Avakov for the violence, citing a lack of evidence, but a cryptic post appeared on the bureaus website soon after the incident, appearing to accuse him of complicity.

It alleged that the attack was connected to a close relative of the Minister of Internal Affairs whose actions have been investigated by the (bureau) detectives. It also accused the police, nominally under Avakovs control, of standing aside and allowing the mob to break into the building, destroy furniture and threaten employees.

In another instance of alleged retribution, police launched an investigation into the forensic expert whose opinion was used to build the case against Avakovs son. The expert, Nadia Bugrova, believes Avakov is abusing his position as a powerful minister to take revenge on her.

At the interior ministry, Avakov is no marginal government player. He is deeply involved in negotiations to end the five-year-long war with Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine, a sign of his privileged place in Zelenskiys government. But why he remains there despite his seemingly compromising past is a source of consternation, bewilderment and conspiracy theories among the Ukrainian public.

According to Serhiy Shvets, a member of parliament from Zelenskiys Servant of the People party, even members of his own party were against his appointment. On the eve of the vote to approve the new cabinet, Shvets said, Zelenskiy assembled MPs to address the controversy around Avakov.

Zelenskiy explained that he knows the problems connected with this person, but for a few reasons, he asked us to vote for him as a member of cabinet.

Shvets declined to discuss those reasons.

Despite initially agreeing to an interview in Kyiv, Minister Avakovs office later cancelled, citing his busy schedule, and has not responded to emailed questions.

Gandziuks friends and supporters want countries like Canada to say something about Avakov.

Push the Avakov problem, please. Push internationally. We need to get rid of him, Sinitsyn said, adding that it would be impossible for Ukraine to build strong, honest law enforcement bodies with Avakov in power.

Canada does not seem ready to do that. In July 2019, Global Affairs Canada and Minister Freeland hosted Avakov in Toronto at a conference to promote reform in Ukraine. He appeared as a speaker on a panel about fighting corruption, and hobnobbed with Canadian cabinet ministers.

Good to meet Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov at tonights dinner honouring Ukraines new President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan commented on a photo of himself and Avakov posted to Facebook on July 2.

For some observers, Avakovs attendance was at odds with Canadas public statements on fighting corruption in Ukraine.

Canada invested so much effort and money to the reform of law enforcement, Pechonchyk said. And then (Avakov) is invited to Toronto to a reform conference sponsored by the Canadian government to speak about the success of police reform? Its ridiculous. He is anti-reform.

The Department of National Defence refused to comment on the July conference or on Ukraines progress on corruption and how it might influence the defence relationship between the two countries. A 2017 DND intelligence assessment, however, shows the latest available example of internal thinking on Ukraines progress on corruption. It paints a brief but grim picture.

Under the heading little progress, the heavily redacted intelligence assessment from the Canadian Forces Intelligence Command states that almost two years of international engagement in support of Ukrainian anti-corruption measures and socio-economic reforms have not produced any momentum beyond meeting the minimal required steps necessary to secure international assistance. It was obtained by the Star using access-to-information laws.

A spokesperson for the Department of National Defence declined to answer questions about whether the intelligence assessment is representative of current thinking inside the department, saying only that an intelligence assessment provides an understanding of a situation at a particular time; it is not an official position.

It would be inappropriate for DND to take a position on a foreign countrys political situation, the spokesperson, Andree-Anne Poulin, added.

A spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada, which hosted the conference, also refused to comment on Avakovs presence, saying only that the conference provided an opportunity for Ukraine and its friends and partners to reaffirm their full political and practical commitment to robust reforms  including in the fight against corruption. The department also declined to comment on whether it had considered sanctions such as those requested by Ukrainian human rights groups.

Canadas Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act  Known as the Sergey Magnitsky Law  allows Canadian MPs to level sanctions against foreign officials responsible for corruption and human rights violations. Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus December mandate letter to the new minister of foreign affairs, Francois-Philippe Champagne, includes an order to build the Magnitsky sanctions regime to ensure increased support for victims of human rights violations.

But regardless of corruption, Ukraine is indeed in military trouble. Any dilemma Canada faces in arming Ukraine is underscored by the reality that the country is in desperate need of military aid as it seeks to deter Russia from further aggression. Since the double onslaught of Russias annexation of the Crimean peninsula and fomenting a war in Ukraines east, where Russian-backed separatists still hold territory, the government has struggled to keep the country together.

Consequently, when U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to cut off hundreds of millions in military aid last summer unless Zelenskiy announced investigations into Democrat Joe Biden and his son, the president and his advisers were forced into a corner, and were reportedly ready to capitulate.

Canada, for its part, stood up for Ukraine early on, at first providing military training, equipment and aid money, before allowing Canadian arms manufacturers to apply to export lethal weapons to Ukraine as of December 2017.

Global Affairs Canada says that since 2014, Canada has committed more than $785 million in assistance to Ukraine. In 2018, the latest year for which figures are available, $5.2 million worth of controlled weaponry was exported to Ukraine, including over half a million dollars worth of firearms and their parts.

Not included in those figures is a deal reported by Ukrainian media last November for Winnipeg-based PGW Defence Technologies to sell an expected $1 million in sniper rifles to the Ukrainian government. Zelenskiy also recently expressed interest in buying light-armoured vehicles from Canada.

Leading up to Canada opening the door to weapons exports, several experts told the House of Commons Standing Committee on National Defence that military aid is badly needed to deter further Russian aggression. Fifteen thousand Ukrainians have been killed so far in the war. Canadian human rights and disarmament groups, however, opposed allowing arms exports, citing the checkered human rights record of Ukrainian security forces dating back to violent crackdowns on protesters in 2014.

Global Affairs Canada told the Star all applications to export weapons are judged on a case-by-case basis against criteria that include human rights considerations. Canadas contribution, however, is unlikely to tip the balance. Ukraines future, for better or worse, is expected be decided in negotiations among France, Germany, Ukraine and Russia that began in December.

But for Ukrainians fighting to expose corruption, their human rights are not cards to be played or discarded in a geopolitical poker game. And as the weapons continue to flow and negotiations continue, they are fighting not to be forgotten.

On a cool, wet evening almost a year after Gandziuks death, many of them gather at a protest outside the presidents office in Kyiv to demand justice for Gandziuk. Among the hundreds assembled, some hold placards calling for Avakov to be fired, others plastered with photos of Gandziuk. Gandziuks friend Kateryna Mola is there, chatting quietly with friends. As she speaks with this reporter, the crowd erupts in a chant: Who killed Katya Gandziuk?

Despite the display of support, Mola is downcast.

There are not as many people here as Id hoped.

Katyas father, Viktor, is here, too. Leaving the protest in a car with a reporter, he looks out on the Maidan, where thousands of Ukrainians protested, and scores died, for closer ties to Europe and a western-oriented Ukraine governed by the rule of law.

I used to drive this route to visit Katya in hospital, he said.

Looking back to the beginning of Zelenskiys term, he remembers his optimism about the new presidents promise to find Katyas killers and fight corruption.

But as time drags on, his confidence has waned.

Its a big disappointment.

Corbett Hancey is the 2019 Michener-Deacon Fellow for Investigative Reporting

Read more about:
Sen. Bernie Sanders apologized to fellow 2020 contender Joe Biden for an op-ed by one of his campaign surrogates that suggested the former vice president has a "corruption problem."

"It is absolutely not my view that Joe is corrupt in any way. And I'm sorry that that op-ed appeared," the Vermont senator told CBS News.

The op-ed, written by Zephyr Teachout and published on Monday in The Guardian, argued that Biden's "record represents the transactional, grossly corrupt culture in Washington that long precedes Trump" and would give Trump the "perfect foil."

Teachout, an associate professor at Fordham Law who endorsed Sanders but is not a formal part of the senator's campaign, wrote the op-ed, but it was further spread by Sanders' campaign speechwriter, David Sirota, in his "Bern Notice" email newsletter.

Biden on Twitter Monday night thanked Sanders for his apology.

"These kinds of attacks have no place in this primary," Biden said. "Let's all keep our focus on making Donald Trump a one-term president."

Less than two weeks before the Iowa caucuses, the Sanders campaign has sharpened its attacks against Biden, with the latest criticism over Biden's record on Social Security.

Sanders told CBS News that he does not approve of his supporters' aggressive online attacks against the other 2020 Democratic candidates.

"If anyone knows me, what I believe is we need a serious debate in this country on issues. We don't need to demonize people who may disagree with us," he said.
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell put in the rules that the ability to stop the trial can be filed at various intervals. However, Townhall is reporting that lead counsel for the president are refusing to file a motion to stop the impeachment train wreck.

Jay Sekulow, President Trump's personal attorney, explained Wednesday why he's not interested in calling for a motion to dismiss the impeachment case against his client.

"I want to let them try their case, and we want to try our case because we believe without a question the president will be acquitted," Sekulow told reporters. "There is not a doubt." Another reporter then asked if that meant he is ruling out motion to dismiss at any point in the trial. "Those of you who know me know I don't rule out anything," he replied.

So why won't the defense counsel stop the runaway train? Here are some possibilities:

1. They need to shine.

Maybe they believe that they worked so hard on their refutations that they cannot let them go. Let's hope that isn't the reason. Or maybe they believe that humiliating the House managers is the way to go. However, in my view, it is best to call for dismissal now. Let's hope Sekulow doesn't "feel the zeal" and prolong the trial.

2. They need to answer the charges line by line so the president can be publicly vindicated.

Sekulow seems to believe this in his public statement. However, the House managers are shooting themselves in the foot. No one but fanatics believes they are making a dent. Their self-deception runs deep. Therefore, the flimsy charges don't need to be countered item by item. The best vindication for the president is to stop the trial now. It will send the clear message that the Senate can see through the silliness. "Enough is enough," they will telegraph to the American voters. Trump will then be completely vindicated, better than after an extended defense.

3. For political reasons, the defense counsel are allowing the self-deception to run its course.

This political calculation may be the only legitimate reason to allow the runaway train to keep going. People are turning against the House managers and the Dems in droves. People are fed up and can't wait to vote this November, to throw the Dems out of the House. The more they talk, the worse things get.

4. The defense counsel believe that the GOP wouldn't vote to stop the trial early.

If true, this only goes to show how badly misguided some members of the Senate GOP are. They seem to believe they need to give a fair hearing of all the "evidence." For example, Sen. Braun of Indiana mentioned outside the Senate chamber that we need to come together; then he went on about how his critics during his Senate campaign called him names. However, it is time for irenic (I won't say "weak") senators like Braun to call it like it is. Only the left are making everyone else miserable with their nonsense. They are the ones dividing the country, not Sen. Braun and the conservatives.

Fanatics by definition are not easily persuadable. They are easily blinded. They are even irrational. The Democrats are fanatics. They have no proof, but only hearsay evidence and suppositions and then conclusions drawn from the thinnest of "evidence." For example, some of the people whose video recording the managers have played (out of context) and they interviewed in committee have explicitly denied that Trump engaged in any quid pro quo. But instead, the fanatics with their millions of words make it seem as if the evidence were a slam dunk. It is not. Trump just made political calculations to put America first and root out corruption and weaken his political opponents who may have committed some crimes overseas. He played political hardball. He did the right thing.

There is certainly no "treason, bribery or other high crimes or misdemeanors."

Therefore, we all know what the final vote will be. Therefore, it is time to put a stop to the grandstanding of the House fanatics.

If the defense call to stop the trial, as they should, all the GOP senators and their allies had better not overthink things; they must vote yes. If the "moderate few" don't vote that way, they will appear open-minded about trash, which doesn't look good for them back in their home states. They have already stuck together to correctly table all the foolish amendments that the managers proposed on the first day. It is time to stick together one last time to stop the runaway train, for the good of our Republic.

James Arlandson's new website is renewal-theology.com, where he has posted Why Tithing Does Not Apply to New Covenant Believers and Gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:711 and 12:28 and Gifts of the Spirit in Romans 12:68.

Image: Tom Hilton via Flickr.
Prosecutors: Alleged White Supremacists Plotted Ways to Incite Violence at Pro-Gun Rally

Prosecutors said alleged white supremacists who were arrested last week on a number of charges had expressed hope that violence at this weeks pro-gun rally at Virginias Capitol would start a civil war, said federal prosecutors in a court filing.

According to an Associated Press report, citing the court filing, a hidden camera captured members of a group known as The Base expressing their desires for war during the rally on Monday. Former Canadian Armed Forces reservist Patrik Jordan Mathews, 27, also said on video that he wanted to kill people, poison water supplies, and derail trains, prosecutors said.

The hidden camera captured Mathews saying the Virginia rally was a boundless opportunity, adding, And the thing is youve got tons of guys who  should be radicalized enough to know that all you gotta do is start making things go wrong and if Virginia can spiral out to [expletive] full-blown civil war.

The rally hosted at least 22,000 people and was described as peaceful. One woman was arrested by police for not removing her mask. Ahead of the rally, Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, declared a state of emergency ban on guns at the Capitol, citing a threat from a militia group. That was before the FBI arrested Mathews and two other suspected members of The Base.

But prosecutors stated Mathews and fellow alleged Base member Brian Mark Lemley Jr., 33, talked about plotting violence at the Richmond demonstration. Lemley said he wanted to ambush civilians and police officers, said officials, according to the AP.

We could essentially like be literally hunting people, Mathews said, according to prosecutors. You could provide overwatch while I get close to do what needs to be done to certain things. Lemley also allegedly said, I want to claim my first victim.

Prosecutors said the three suspects, which also included 19-year-old William Garfield Bilbrough IV, discussed plans to commit acts of violence since last December, reported the Wall Street Journal. They had stockpiled guns and ammunition, according to officials.

The group was communicating in person and via encrypted communications, said prosecutors.

According to a statement from the Department of Justice last week, the FBI arrested Lemley of Maryland, Bilbrough of Maryland, and Mathews before charging them with the interstate commerce of weapons and, in the case of Lemley and Bilbrough, transporting illegal aliens. The agency further described the group as a racially motivated violent extremist group and alleged they tried to manufacture a controlled substance, DMT.

Last Friday, the Justice Department charged a Wisconsin man in a separate case of being a Base member, alleging he spray-painted swastikas and anti-Semitic statements at a synagogue in Racine last fall.
At his nearly century-old diner in the western Ohio town of Defiance, third-generation owner Karl Kissner has turned on Fox for live coverage of President Donald Trump's impeachment trial.

For his many customers who aren't interested, the other TV sets at Kissner's are on The Weather Channel and the Food Network.

A Trump supporter who says he doesn't push his on patrons, Kissner says he hears "snide" comments about impeachment -- but, usually, nothing at all.

"The majority of what I'm seeing here is that people are ignoring it. Or they're looking up at it, saying, 'Oh, that's on again,' and moving on with their conversations," he said.

As the US election season opens, a team of AFP journalists is taking the political pulse of the country by driving from Washington to Iowa, which on February 3 holds the nation's first contest to select presidential nominees.

From a cluttered barber shop in Pennsylvania steel country to a cozy winery off Lake Erie, television sets are bringing the impeachment saga live -- but, much like in Washington, few minds appeared to change.

Democrats applauded lawmakers' determination to punish Trump for pressing Ukraine to dig up dirt on his domestic rival Joe Biden, while Republicans, like Trump, accused Democrats of subverting voters' will and spoke at times in conspiratorial tones.

A CNN poll published Monday found that 51 percent of Americans wanted the Senate to remove Trump from office. But separate polling has shown more lukewarm views in critical swing states -- and many people did not seem to be paying attention.

"The impeachment process is above my head. There are so many different steps," autobody shop owner Alvin Ross said at a diner in Charleroi, Pennsylvania, a jigsaw puzzle of Elvis framed on the wall.

But Ross said he was open to learning more about impeachment and is personally repelled by Trump.

An African American, Ross says that Trump's rhetoric has worsened racial tensions.

"This is the guy who says he knows more than the generals," he said. "I can go to McDonald's and apply for a job and they'll ask, do you have any experience? He can run the whole United States with no experience."



Sitting a table away, 72-year-old Tim Bailey sees dark forces behind impeachment.

A retired steel mill worker, the onetime Democrat said he left the party when it elected Barack Obama president, citing the party's support for "socialism" and comparatively open borders.

An avid viewer of Fox News, a favorite among Republicans, Bailey complained that other sources did not give the full picture.

House Speaker "Nancy Pelosi held everything up for three weeks. I think it's because they want to keep the Democrat candidates away from Iowa so they can put Biden in," he said, referring to the four Democratic contenders who as senators must stay in Washington for the trial.

"If anybody should be impeached, it's Pelosi and Schumer," he said, referring to Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer.

Terry McGill, 67, a Republican chatting between giving Uber rides in his pick-up truck in Pittsburgh, said that impeachment has "absolutely bolstered my opinion" of Trump.

"The Democrats started this fight," he said. "There's already been a divide and they've further separated the country."



Tracy Ball, 51, an advertising copy writer in Pittsburgh, called Trump's behavior a national embarrassment and voiced support for holding him accountable.

But she acknowledged she was not sure of the ultimate effects of the Democrats' effort against Trump, the first president to be impeached before seeking re-election.

"I'll be honest with you, when Trump won I thought all bets are off, like the rules I had grown up thinking were in place," she said.

"It may actually galvanize his voting group and make them more apt to vote for him," she said, adding with a laugh: "They're going to love the underdog, and I would hardly call Trump an underdog, but he does play the victim really good." "I just wish I had a little more faith in the system right now," she said.

Kissner, the Defiance diner owner, said he wished there could be more civility. "The beauty of this country is that I can get on my soapbox and scream at the top of my lungs, and you can do the same right back to me," he said.

"The problem is that we should be able to get off that soapbox, shake hands and walk away.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Stray incidents of stone pelting were reported from parts of Maharashtra on Friday during the statewide 'bandh' called by Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar-led VBA against the CAA and the NRC, but normal life remained largely unaffected, officials said.

Forty-two people were arrested in suburban Ghatkopar in Mumbai for trying to block the arterial Eastern Express Highway, police said late Friday evening.

A bus driver was injured in stone pelting in Mumbai.

The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) called for the statewide shutdown to protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) and also economic issues.

Speaking to reporters as he called off the shutdown at around 4 pm, Ambedkar said the 'bandh' received "good response" from traders and office-goers in Mumbai and it was "peaceful" across the state.

He said some people who engaged in stone pelting or vandalism during the bandh were not attached to the VBA.

Ambedkar alleged that police lathi-charged and detained VBA workers in Vidarbha's Amravati, but later released them after realising that the action was "wrong".

In Palghar adjoining Mumbai, he alleged some Bajrang Dal activists forcibly tried to re-open shops during the shutdown period.

"The protest was held peacefully in rest of the Maharashtra. We were able to convey the message against CAA, NRC and NPR. It is affecting Muslims as well as Hindus...Plus, the country's economy has collapsed, we are on the cusp of bankruptcy. We were able to highlight it," Ambedkar said.

He said around 3,000 VBA workers were detained across the state since Thursday night and added the his party has requested the police to release them as they did not indulge in vandalism.

He also claimed that around 100 political and social organisations apart from labour unions supported the bandh.

Earlier in the day, the driver of a civic-run BEST bus suffered injuries after stones were pelted at the vehicle in Mumbai's eastern suburb of Chembur, an official said.

The incident took place around 9.15 am when some unidentified persons pelted stones at the bus heading towards Kurla station.

Its driver, Vilas Dabhade, was wounded and rushed to Shatabdi Hospital in suburban Govandi.

BEST buses were also pelted with stones in Shanti Baug in Chembur and on JM Mehta road in Malabar hill in south Mumbai.

A Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation official said it cancelled 1,441 services till 6pm, with Nanded leading with 554 out of its 1,409 services off the roads.

An MSRTC bus was pelted with stones in Paithan in Aurangabad and another got hit in Kandar in Nanded.

Suburban and outstation trains on both the Central and Western Railways, Metro, monorail services, taxis and auto- rickshaws were plying normally in the financial capital.

In Ghatkopar, a mob assembled near Sant Tukaram Bridge and tried to enforce a road blockade in the morning, after which 36 people were arrested.

Another six people were held under provisions of the Mumbai Police Act and IPC when they tried to block the Eastern Express Highway at Kamraj Nagar, an official said. All 42 people arrested in the metropolis were later released on bail.

Stray incidents of stone pelting on city buses were also reported from Solapur and Aurangabad districts, police said.

In Solapur, two unidentified men pelted stones at a city bus near Budhwar Peth.

In Aurangabad city, a bus of the local municipal corporation was pelted with stones by unidentified persons in the morning, but no injuries were reported, officials said.

The bandh was peaceful in other parts of Marathwada region, they said.

The bandh received a lukewarm response in Pune and Ahmednagar districts, where public transport remained largely unaffected, while commercial establishments and schools were open.

A group of 20 to 24 people tried to block a road near Dandekar Bridge on Sinhagad Road in Pune, but were soon dispersed, officials said.

In another incident in Pune, a group of people stopped four to five civic buses on Dandekar Bridge but were quickly scattered, said Anant Waghmare, head of the traffic department at Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd.

"All our operations are going on smoothly and there is no report of any untoward incident," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
UPDATE: I was supposed to be the next hit, store clerk recounts armed robbery that left 1 dead

One person is dead after an armed robbery and shooting Thursday night at a small strip mall surrounded by neighborhoods on the Allentown/Bethlehem border.

Lehigh County Coroner Eric Minnich confirmed one person was dead following the shooting, but said additional details would be released by the Lehigh County District Attorneys office.

A spokeswoman said a news release was planned for later Friday.

Officers and troopers from Allentown, Bethlehem and Pennsylvania State Police converged Thursday night at the mall at 1452 Pennsylvania Ave. in Allentown, which sits at the intersection with Pinehurst Road, between Ulster Road and East Columbia Street.

Police Capt. Alicia Conjour said Friday there are no suspects outstanding in the case. Allentown Police Chief Glenn Granitz told WFMZ Channel 69 News the public is not at risk.

The mall built in 2009 includes, from left to right, Pennsylvania Ave. Cold Beer and Beverages, Drakes Pizza, John Daher Salon and the A1 Stop deli and grocery store. The border between Allentown and Bethlehem runs in the middle of Pennsylvania Avenue in that area.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
NAB have given their employees an additional day of annual leave to visit communities affected by Australia's catastrophic bushfire season.

The 30,000 permanent employees are encouraged to take a long weekend or day-trip anywhere impacted by the blazes which have ripped through the country.

CEO Ross McEwan said the initiative came after NAB heard about the enormous economic challenge facing bushfire affected communities who are attempting to rebuild.

'By giving NAB employees an extra day's leave, we hope to help businesses such as cafes, restaurants, tour operators, hotels and other accommodation providers to get back on their feet,' Mr McEwan said

NAB have given their employees an additional day of annual leave to visit communities impacted by Australia's catastrophic bushfire season

'Focusing on the recovery and rebuilding of these communities is critical and this initiative is another way NAB can play a role to support today and in the weeks and months ahead.'

The employees will be given a list of places to visit, which includes communities in Victoria's Gippsland region, the New South Wales south coast, Kangaroo Island and the Adelaide Hills in South Australia and south-east Queensland.

Friday's announcement comes after NAB committed to work with the Victorian Government on the Business and Sport for Bushfire Recovery program.

The bushfire crisis is anticipated to cost the Australian tourism industry more than $1billion.

Australian Tourism Industry Council executive director Simon Westaway said losses are growing and many businesses may be unable to recover from the unprecedented blazes.

'We're not trying to exaggerate the number, but if you look across regional Victoria and what's happening in NSW and South Australia, a lot of infrastructure has been decimated,' Mr Westaway told AAP last week.

The 30,000 permanent employees are encouraged to take a long weekend or day-trip anywhere affected by the blazes which have ripped through the country. Pictured: Ruins at a property in Wytaliba, north-east New South Wales

'Even in some areas unaffected by the bushfires we've seen more than a 60 per cent increase in booking cancellations.'

Mr Westaway said the sector was suffering from the 'contagion effect' with many domestic travellers deciding to stay home during peak holiday season.

'The level of spending in many holiday destinations has fallen through the floor, which will have a lasting impact on these small-to-medium-sized businesses,' he said.

'Some of these businesses will not recover but the industry as a whole is very resilient.'
It is our people who make the difference, it is each and every one of you that makes us great, Franciscan Health Michigan City President and CEO Dean Mazzoni said at a celebration attended by staff in the hospital lobby. I want to take a moment to thank every person on our incredible team for the important work that you do and the services you provide. Each member of our team, by living our values every day, makes a positive and memorable difference in the lives of our patients and their families.
Pan African Resources Plc - Operational Update for the Six Months Ended 31 Dec 2019

Pan African Resources PLC

(Incorporated and registered on 25 February 2000 in England and Wales under the Companies Act 1985, registration number 3937466)

Share code on AIM: PAF

Share code on JSE: PAN

ISIN : GB0004300496

("Pan African" or the "company" or "group")

OPERATIONAL UPDATE FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2019

Pan African is pleased to provide an operational update for the six months ended 31 December 2019 ("current reporting period").

Key highlights for the current reporting period

Pan African is on track to deliver the full-year production guidance of 185,000oz.

Group gold sales increased by 14.7% to 92,941oz (2018: 81,014oz).

The Evander 8 Shaft Pillar project development is progressing according to plan, with steady-state production planned from March 2020 .

. Pan African's operations delivered a robust operational and commendable safety performance during the period.

Pan African CEO Cobus Loots commented:

"The first six months of the year saw higher production from Pan African's high-margin operations and investment in our growth projects, with the group demonstrating its ability to reduce debt and pay dividends to our shareholders.In addition, the operational and safety performance during the current reporting period demonstrates our continued progress in positioning Pan African as a sustainable, safe, high-margin and long-life gold producer, with an attractive project pipeline.

The Evander 8 Shaft Pillar project, where all development milestones were achieved on schedule and on budget, will reach commercial production in the next few weeks, adding further high-margin production from our operations in the second half of this year.

We have successfully completed the mining feasibility study on the Evander Egoli project, which demonstrates its technical viability and compelling economic returns. The study is currently the subject of a confirmatory third-party review, which will be completed shortly. The group is exploring several non-dilutive funding options, which will enable Pan African to continue its strategy of de-gearing its balance sheet and increasing dividends. We have already engaged with several financial institutions who have expressed an interest in the continued financing of Pan African's organic growth projects.

We look forward to presenting our interim results, where we will detail plans to further optimise our current operations. We remain on track to produce at least 185,000oz of gold for the full financial year ending 30 June 2020 and we are committed to creating value for all our stakeholders."

Safety

The group maintained its excellent safety performance during the reporting period. We remain committed to and focussed on ensuring the safety of all our employees, while we strive towards a zero-harm environment.

The group experienced no fatalities during the current reporting period (2018: no fatalities);

The lost-time injury frequency rate improved to 1.69 (2018: 1.77); and

The reportable injury frequency rate regressed to 0.85 (2018: 0.53), due to Evander Mines' (excluding Elikhulu) reportable injury frequency rate increasing to 3.71 (2018: 2.41). Barberton Mines achieved an excellent reportable injury frequency rate of 0.00 (2018: 0.26).

Elikhulu tailings retreatment plant ("Elikhulu")

Gold production from Elikhulu increased by 91.6% to 29,301oz (2018: 15,292oz);

Elikhulu processed 6.2 million tonnes in the current reporting period, at a recovered grade of 0.15g/t, despite operations being severely impacted by heavy rains in December 2019 ; and

; and A new pump station, successfully commissioned during December 2019 , is expected to increase plant feed grades and plant feed rates for the remainder of the financial year, which will have a favourable impact on gold production.

Barberton Mines ("Barberton")

Barberton produced 47,356oz (2018: 50,556oz) during the current reporting period, comprising:

Underground mining operations, which contributed 36,737oz (2018: 38,550oz); and

Barberton tailings retreatment plant ("BTRP") which contributed 10,619oz (2018: 12,006oz), with current year production in line with guidance.

The 6.3% reduction in Barberton's production in the current reporting period was principally due to:

Community unrest experienced during July 2019 , which adversely impacted underground production. Barberton is pursuing legal action against instigators involved in this unrest and has experienced no major disruption to our operations in the past months. Enhanced security initiatives have also contributed to curtailing illegal mining and criminality; and

, which adversely impacted underground production. Barberton is pursuing legal action against instigators involved in this unrest and has experienced no major disruption to our operations in the past months. Enhanced security initiatives have also contributed to curtailing illegal mining and criminality; and Challenging geological conditions at Barberton's Fairview operation, which are expected to be mitigated by increased mining flexibility in the remainder of the financial year.

Barberton remains on track to achieve the market guidance of approximately 100,000oz for the full 2020 financial year.

Evander Mines' 8 Shaft Pillar project ("8 Shaft Pillar")

Gold production from the Evander complex (excluding Elikhulu) increased by 7.4% to 16,284oz (2018: 15,166oz), despite experiencing electricity supply constraints in the last months of the current reporting period.

The 8 Shaft Pillar project achieved first gold in August 2019, as previously communicated. Steady-state production is forecast during March 2020, as originally anticipated. The project is forecast to contribute 30,000oz of gold or more per annum to the group's production over a three-year period, once operational steady state is reached. The following major milestones were achieved by 31 December 2019:

Construction and support of access in the shaft brattice wall;

Completion of steelwork in the shaft tower;

Completion of the holing of all critical development ends to allow the continuous mining of shaft pillars;

Refurbishment of the Kinross plant to ensure optimised performance with pillar material feed; and

plant to ensure optimised performance with pillar material feed; and Successful commissioning of the grout plant, which is required for pillar support.

Evander Mines' Egoli project ("Egoli")

The Egoli project's mining feasibility study ("MFS") has been finalised, with the MFS results surpassing the findings of previous technical and financial assessments.

The project has an expected initial life-of-mine of approximately nine years and is forecast to produce approximately 90,000oz of gold per annum at peak production levels, at an all-in sustaining cost of less than 1,000/oz. The existing infrastructure at 7 Shaft has made ready access to the orebody possible within a relatively short timeframe, which contributes to the project's low execution risk. The project falls under the current Evander Gold Mining (Pty) Ltd mining right and all permits and licences are in place.

A comprehensive review of the MFS is being performed by The Mineral Corporation, an independent mining consultancy, after which the MFS findings will be communicated to the market.

Barberton Mines' sub-vertical shaft project at Fairview Mine

The development at the top and bottom access of the sub-vertical shaft is progressing as planned. Raise boring will commence once adequate ore reserves are established in the MRC (11-block). As previously communicated, the project is expected to produce an additional 7,000oz to 10,000oz per annum once the shaft is completed.

Group net debt

The company's senior, interest bearing, net bank debt comprising the RCF and Elikhulu facilities (senior debt), decreased to R1.597 billion (R1.548 billion when accounting for 71.3kg of gold delivered to Rand Refinery in December 2019, but not settled by 31 December 2019) from the R1.89 billion at 30 June 2019.

Total net debt, includes the impact of capitalised operating leases in terms of IFRS 16, decreased to R1.74bn (R1.69 billion when accounting for 71.3kg of gold delivered to Rand Refinery in December 2019, but not settled by 31 December 2019) from the R1.83 billion at 30 June 2019.

Total net debt at 31 December 2019 was impacted by:

Net dividends of R43 million paid to shareholders in December 2019 ;

; The capitalisation of lease agreements of R83m (2018: R nil) in terms of IFRS 16;

R100 million principal repayment on the Elikhulu term facility;

R197 million paid towards the gold loan during H1 of FY20;

Realised hedging losses of R29 million incurred during the reporting period; and

Capital of R57 million spent on the 8 Shaft Pillar project.

In terms of the company's senior debt agreements, it is obligated to reduce the outstanding balance of these facilities as follows:

The senior debt redemption profile can be accelerated and, in light of the prevailing robust gold prices and strong operational cash generation, the company is forecast to measurably reduce its debt during the next two financial years.

Interim results for the six months ended 31 December 2019

Pan African will announce its interim results on 18 February 2020.

Any forecast informationcontained in this announcement has neither been reviewed nor audited by the company's external auditors.

Rosebank

24 January 2020
Lauren Comito, a founder of Urban Librarians Unite, speaks during a rally for more school libraries outside Philadelphia School District headquarters. Philadelphia has the worst school librarian-student ratio in the country, according to the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association. Read more

Kayla Johnson is a library kid  the kind who gobbles up books and relishes time spent in the stacks of her school library and interacting with the librarian at the Masterman School.

But Johnson, a senior at the elite Philadelphia magnet school, knows how privileged she is. Just seven certified school librarians are left in the citys public schools, according to the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association.

Libraries, Johnson said, are a simple necessity, a fundamental basic.

To underscore that statement, Johnson and 150 others gathered on the steps of the Philadelphia School Districts headquarters Friday to rally for school libraries and certified school librarians.

State Rep. Thomas Murt (R., Montgomery County), a former teacher, is a cosponsor of legislation that would require every school in Pennsylvania to have a certified librarian. Research shows that students with access to certified school librarians perform better, especially in low-income areas.

Why do the students in Philadelphia not have that opportunity? To me, that sounds like discrimination, said Murt, whose district includes part of Northeast Philadelphia.

Nationwide, 91% of schools have school libraries, but just 61% have certified school librarians, according to the American Library Association.

Philadelphias public school system once employed certified librarians in almost all of its 200-plus schools. Today fewer than 10 certified librarians are on the district payroll, with about a dozen more schools able to keep libraries open at least part-time with volunteer staff.

It mirrors a national trend: When budgets get tight, librarians often get cut, with administrators saying that in an increasingly digital world, children can access resources online in lieu of working with a librarian.

 READ MORE: Philadelphia school librarians: a species nearly extinct?

Murt said that is a poor choice.

Just because theres calculators, we dont do away with math teachers, Murt said.

The school district in the past has said principals remain free to hire librarians if they choose to prioritize them, but most principals say their budgets are stretched too thin.

Megan Lello, a district spokesperson, said Friday that the district provides classroom libraries and other media and technology to support the literacy aim that has been a hallmark of Superintendent William R. Hite Jr.'s administration: making sure all children read on grade level by age 8.

The school district values the expertise of any staff member working to enhance the literacy skills of our students, Lello said in a statement. The collective work to help students read on or above grade level is important to ensure the next generation of this citys leaders are thoughtful and competent citizens.

Cathi Fuhrman, president of the Pennsylvania Association of School Librarians, which organized the rally with EveryLibrary, a national nonprofit political action committee, said the nations eyes are on Philadelphia.

The School District of Philadelphia has the worst ratio in the entire nation of certified school librarians, Fuhrman said.

Pennsylvania mandates a library and librarian in every state prison, said Jerry Jordan, president of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. Not doing so in every school sends the wrong message, he said.

Its disgraceful, Jordan said.

 READ MORE: Read more: A look inside one suburban private school's new library

Deborah Grill, a retired Philadelphia educator, began her career when the district employed close to 200 school librarians, and she worked in that position until 2005, when her position was cut.

She became a reading coach and, when a community group wanted to identify student priorities for potentially reopening the school library, Grill accompanied Germantown High students to the cutting-edge library in Springfield Township, Montgomery County.

Grill vividly remembers what one of her students told her at the end of the visit.

I will never be able to compete with these students when I go to college, Grill remembers the young man saying.

Philadelphia student Rory MacDonald has seen the disparities.

MacDonald attended Dobson Elementary, in Manayunk, in his early school years. It had no library. Now, he goes to Masterman, with its bustling library and veteran librarian. MacDonald, a high school junior, said hes learned valuable research and digital literacy skills from the librarian, things his peers in other schools may go without.

The library is used a lot throughout the day, MacDonald said. Having a library has definitely been very beneficial to us.
GUILDERLAND  A veteran area bartender applied for a job at Orchard Tavern West. He didnt get it. But he did win a judgment against the bar in small-claims court, because the judge agreed that information he provided after an August interview was the equivalent of consulting services deserving compensation.

The bartender, James Bytner, asked for $350 for 10 hours of time and advice at $35 per hour, provided during six weeks of conversation by phone, text and in person with Orchard Tavern West owner Kris Monforte following a job interview on Aug. 27. The judge in the case, Guilderland Town Justice Denise M. Randall, heard arguments in December in the towns small-claims court. Her ruling, issued Jan. 10, awarded Bytner $192.50, finding that proof Bytner presented during the hearing showed 5.5 hours of work at $35 per hour, a rate Randall wrote was reasonable.

Since Bytner did the work believing he had a job for which he ultimately was not hired, the ruling says, he deserved to be paid for it.

Monforte, who bought the original, 117-year-old Orchard Tavern in Albany at the beginning of 2018 and developed its Guilderland sibling in the middle of last year before an October opening, said he is flabbergasted and outraged.

I cant understand how she came to that decision, he said, referring to the judge. Monforte continued, It was a job interview and some follow-up conversations before we were ready to open. He never even used the word consulting until after we said we werent hiring him, and that was on the bill he gave me.

Bytner, a Colonie native who has been in the restaurant and bar business locally for more than 35 years, including nine years as owner of the former Roadhouse Grille in Colonie, said he preferred not to be interviewed about the matter. He sent a statement reiterating the judges ruling, which found Bytner had provided proof that he was hired and that information and research Bytner provided after the interview was work deserving compensation.

I feel the facts in this case speak for themselves and am pleased with the judges decision, Bytners statement said.

At issue in the case are the conversations Bytner and Monforte had following the Aug. 27 interview, during which it was understood that a hiring date and the restaurants future opening were dependent on Orchard Tavern West receiving its liquor license. Soon after the interview ended, Bytner texted Monforte: I look forward to working with you, according to a screen shot of the text provided to me by Monforte. Monfortes reply text said, Thanks me as well.

Their text exchanges, which Monforte showed me, totaled more than 60 messages from Aug. 27 to Nov. 6, when Monforte texted Bytner a photo of the $350 consulting invoice, torn into pieces, and the words, I owe you nothing James.

During that period, according to Monforte and the judges ruling, Bytner called repeatedly and stopped by the under-development Orchard Tavern West several times. The text messages and ruling show that Bytner also dropped off a training manual from a chain restaurant where he previously worked, saying it may help u, to which Monforte replied, Yes thank you; researched and offered suggestions about the size of the icemaker Orchard Tavern West would require, advising 1.5 pounds per dining room customer and 3 pounds per bar customer, per day, plus 20 percent more for unexpected busy periods; and compared prices at different stores for a wall covering Monforte was considering, recommending, home depot much cheaper.

I never asked him to do any of that, Monforte said. It came out of conversations wed had, just like I was having with other (applicants), people in the business, my food reps. I already knew everything he told me  its free on Google.

The judge disagreed, saying in her ruling:

Claimant, with years of service in the food and bar business, clearly was offering his time and advice to defendant with the assumption that he was helping to design the bar he would be working at. It is unreasonable to believe he would otherwise have devoted time, energy and expertise to the project.

Of note is a text exchange from Sept. 19, following a 10-day period with no messages between Bytner and Monforte after the discussion about the icemaker. Bytner wrote, do u have any news yet on a start date for me?

Monforte replied, Should have it by next week so most likely the first week of October now. Monforte said the it referred to the restaurants liquor license. Bytner exclaimed in reply, THATS GREAT!!

Over the next three weeks, Bytner sent Monforte 17 texts, many of which suggest he believed he would be working at Orchard Tavern West; Monforte replied three times, with one-, two- and seven-word answers that did not mention the job but also did not discourage Bytners communication, interest and efforts.

Previously: Century-old Orchard Tavern opening Guilderland location

Get the latest food news in the Tablehopping newsletter

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Monforte said he came to believe that Bytner wasnt a good fit as an employee. Monfortes father, who was renovating Orchard Tavern West, delivered the news when Bytner stopped by on Oct. 10. Bytner immediately sought clarification from Monforte via text: he said u told him that I wont be bartending for you? is that true, im confused? Monforte did not address the question, putting it and subsequent inquiries off with replies about finding time to speak on the phone.

The lack of clarity on Monfortes part is problematic, said Allen A. Shoikhetbrod, a partner in the Albany office of the Tully Rinckey law firm who specializes in employment law. He has no association with either Monforte or Bytner and was speaking as an independent expert on the subject after being contacted by the Times Union.

In general, Shoikhetbrod said, job candidates cannot expect compensation for preparation they do for an interview or the ideas they supply during a formal interview process. After the process, he said, employers need to be explicit about an applicants status and not continue to glean information not directly related to hiring. Otherwise, it could be construed as an implied agreement for employment.

There was clearly work that was provided here. The employer did not provide any limits, said Shoikhetbrod. It doesnt appear at any time there was any communication specifically telling (Bytner) that Your services are not needed,  you shouldnt be doing these services, or anything limiting the work that was being done.

He added, The employer should have said, Youre not an employee.'

Further, said Shoikhetbrod, the exchange of the training manual furthered the implication that Bytner was providing something of value to Monforte. He said, The prospective employer was receiving this information. There was an exchange here.

Under New York law, contracts do not have to be written or even verbal; they have been ruled to be implicit based what happens in a particular situation. The judges ruling in this case cites the legal principle of quantum meruit, which holds that if a plaintiff provided something of value, and doing so came at the plaintiffs expense, then equity and good conscience require compensation.

Monforte likely could have prevented the court case by being direct in his communication, Shoikhetbrod said. Not doing so, he said, continued the impression that Bytner had the job.

All he had to say was, Well be in touch in October, some limiting aspect to it, rather than what appears to be leading this guy on, and this guy at all times expected that he was going to start work as soon as the liquor license was approved, Shoikhetbrod said.

Bytner said in his statement, I sued  because I felt I was wronged.

Monforte said he intends to appeal the verdict.

sbarnes@timesunion.com  518-454-5489  @Tablehopping  http://facebook.com/SteveBarnesFoodCritic
A local artist born and raised in the Spring-Klein area won big in his first ever juried art contest this month with a portrait of one of the students in his art classes.

Clinton Millsap, the artist, won first place in the 50th Assistance League of Houstons Celebrate Texas Art Show with his portrait Recover. He hadnt won an art contest before, other than a sculpting contest to make a sculpture for the mascot of the band Iron Maiden.

Related: Huffman ISD displays students rodeo art

Millsaps winning painting was a portrait of one of the students at his school where he teaches art: Euduardo Simba, from Cabinda, Angola in Africa.

He has a wonderful story of survival from his country all the way to being an American immigrant, Millsap said. I take portraits of my students to collect faces for my portraits. His portrait seemed like it had to be done.

The title of the portrait, Recover, is a term he uses in his class, he said, as students can always recover their drawing, or painting, or idea.

Millsap said the appeal for portraits for him has to do with his fascination with peoples eyes.

I think that people who are viewing art are drawn to faces because thats what they see every day, so they gravitate to what they know, Millsap said. When people are viewing art, the most comfortable food to eat in the room is the portrait, and theyre always gravitating towards it.

Related: Texas art installations call for a spring road trip

The painting was uniquely made with an iron oxide paint, which creates a true rust on the canvas.

Millsap went to Klein High School and said he has been drawing and painting since he could hold a crayon more than 40 years ago.

Its just been a fascination with creating things, Millsap said. Ive never been able to stop creating. Its just an emotional feeling that I have to make something, and I just enjoy the process of actually doing it. Ive never had a huge purpose to it other than just the feeling I have to make something, or I dont feel right.

Millsaps work is on display, along with 61 other works of original art, in the KBR Tower, 601 Jefferson St.

paul.wedding@hcnonline.com
Editors note: January 24, 2020 marks the 36th anniversary of the unveiling of the Macintosh. This article originally posted on the 25th anniversary.

In 1977, Apple made a splash on the world stage by introducing the Apple II, one of the worlds first personal computers. In the time between the Apple IIs release and IBMs introduction of the first IBM PC in 1981, Apple dominated the personal computer industry.

However, almost as soon as the Apple II was launched, the company began planning successors for its flagship product, fearing that the Apple II would have a limited lifespan. (These fears wound up being unfounded, as variations on the original Apple II model sold well for more than 15 years.) The most enduring result of this quest was the Macintosh computer.

The course of events that led to the Mac as we know it was convoluted, the result of luck or coincidence as much as planning. But those events began with desire of Apple executives to develop a next-generation computer following the success of the Apple II.

Apple III

The first stop on the journey to a post-Apple II world was the Apple III. Conceived as a business machine, the Apple III was compatible with Apple II hardware and software but also ran software designed specifically for the Apple III.

The Apple III turned out to be one of Apples biggest flops. Plagued with design flaws (including an overheating issue, due to Steve Jobs insistence that the system ship without an internal fan) and offering hardware that didnt go significantly beyond what could be added to the less-expensive Apple II, the Apple III was eventually pulled from production after costing Apple $60 million (most of it in support efforts for customers).

Lisa

Another next-generation computer conceived as a business machine was the Apple Lisa. The Lisas original specifications were for a basic business computer with a price tag of $2,000. It was not intended to offer any next-generation features. But when it was released in 1983, the Lisa became the first Apple product to feature a graphical user interface (GUI), similar to the one that would ship on the Mac a year later.

Early in the development of the Lisa, Jobs and a handful of Apple engineers made two trips to the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC). Xerox had created PARC as a think tank for engineers to develop new technologiesa place where some of the brightest technical minds could work to develop innovative products.

Technologies such as ethernet, object-oriented programming, and GUI operating systems that accepted input from a mouse all emerged from PARC. Focused more on its copier business than on the emerging computer revolution, Xerox let many of these technologies languish because executives couldnt understand how to turn them into marketable products.

Apple Lisa

In 1979, Jobs and a team of Apple employees arranged two visits to PARC, allowing Xerox in return to invest in Apple before the companys initial public offering. After seeing the earliest examples of many modern computing technologiesmost notably the mouse-driven graphical operating system of the Xerox AltoApple decided to add as many of these technologies as feasible to the Lisa spec sheet. Engineers at Apple set about reverse-engineering and expanding on many of the features they had seen at PARC.

The result was a computer that looked little like the original plans. When the Lisa shipped, it included a built-in display, a keyboard and a one-button mouse. The Lisa operating system featured not just a GUI that responded to mouse input, but several innovations that would go on to become standard features in Mac OS, Windows and other modern operating systems: files represented by icons, pull-down menus, and drag-and-drop functionality. It also pioneered Apples QuickDraw screen-drawing technology.

Lisa also shipped with a suite of productivity applications that included spreadsheet, drawing, word processing, graphing, project management and terminal-emulation programsand a file manager. This was an important inclusion, as the Lisa was incompatible with any other software on the market (including the Mac when it was released).

Despite pioneering many technologies, the Lisa never developed a significant following, largely because of its $9,995 price tag. Other factors in its failure were its incompatibility with other systems, its somewhat finicky floppy drives and rumors that Apple was working on a less-expensive baby Lisa.

Apple did drop the price to $6,995 later in 1983, and the Lisa 2 was priced at $3,495 when it shipped in 1984. Still, Lisa sales failed to take off. Eventually, Apple converted its stock of Lisas so they would work with the Mac OS and sold the remaining units as the Mac XL. A conversion kit was also sold to existing Lisa owners. When the Lisa was finally discontinued in 1989, Apple literally buried the product, interring all unsold Lisas in a landfill in Logan, Utah.

The original Mac concept

Despite the fact that the Mac would go on to be a revolutionary product, it had humble beginnings. Commissioned in 1979, the Mac was conceived as a low-cost personal computer intended for the average consumer, with a price tag of around $500. The Mac project was initially considered a research product, one that didnt have the high profile of either the Apple III or the Lisa. Jef Raskin, at the time Apples director of publications and new product review, was chosen to oversee it.

The somewhat obscure nature of the Mac project was one of the factors that led to its radical re-imagining by Steve Jobs. After the failure of the Apple III, the Apple board had reservations about allowing Jobs to manage another high-profile project. When Jobs asked to take over the Mac project, the board allowed him to do so, feeling that the relatively unknown project wasnt critical to Apples well-being.

Under Jobs, the Mac went from being a low-cost computer with a traditional text-based interface to being a less-expensive version of the Lisa. But duplicating the work happening on the Lisa wasnt the only goal Jobs had in mind. He envisioned the Mac as expanding on the Lisas advances.

Jef Raskin

The result was a resolution by Jobs and his Mac team not only to make a baby Lisa but also to turn the Mac into a product that could advance the computing industry as much as or more than the Apple II had doneor, as Jobs has been quoted as saying, to put a dent in the universe.

The Lisa and Mac teams actually worked simultaneously on similar technologies for some time, and a rivalry between the two groups developed. The Mac team fancied themselves as piratesgoing so far as a to fly a pirate flag outside their workspaceas opposed to the more corporate-oriented Lisa team. During the race to get both products to market, Jobs made a $5,000 bet with Lisa project manager John Couch that the Mac team would win. In the end, the Lisa made it to market first, but the Mac developed a much larger followingand a much longer lifespan.

The drive to develop the Mac took on an almost religious fervor, with Jobs giving T-shirts to his engineers that read 90 HRS/WK AND LOVING IT. Throughout the process, ideas and even employees were regularly poached from other teams within Apple.

One casualty of this zeal was Raskin; after repeated conflicts and a final showdown with Jobs, he chose to leave Apple and the Mac behind. Raskin eventually did end up developing some of his original ideas for the Mac into a word processor, which was sold in the late 1980s as the Canon Cat.

Despite the passion and long hours that went into its development, the Mac slipped past its ship dates more than oncelargely because the difficulty of developing the system was underestimated. After the team missed one date in 1982, Mike Markkula, chairman of Apples board at the time, gave Jobs a womans black undergarment, saying that it was the Macs last slip.

What the Mac became

While many things changed during the Macs development, some of the original design concepts remained. Conceived by Raskin for the person in the street, the Mac was from the beginning aimed at being simple to use without complications such as expansion slots or cables. This consideration meant that users wouldnt need to worry about opening the computer for any reason.

The idea inspired the Macs all-in-one look (and lack of expandability). Even the person in the street idea ended up informing the Macs eventual tagline as the computer for the rest of us. Indeed, although Jobs took over the Mac project and Raskin left Apple before it shipped, Raskin is often credited as the father of the Mac.

The machine that started it all.

Still, the computer that Apple shipped in 1984 bore only a passing resemblance to Raskins original Mac concept. In fact, rather than costing the consumer $500, the first Macintosh to ship cost Apple about that much to produce. The ultimate cost for new Mac owners was $2,495.

When Steve Jobs unveiled the Mac on Jan. 24, 1984, it was something the likes of which the world had never seen. The new computer featured a bright graphical display and all-in-one design, relied on a mouse for input, and even offered speech synthesis capabilities. It garnered praise from both computer and mainstream publications, though some criticized the monochrome display, lack of expandability and incompatibility with existing software.

Paltry by todays standards, the original Mac featured a 9-inch black-and-white display, 3.5-inch floppy drive (which could store 400KB of data on each disk), 128KB of RAM and a Motorola 68000 processor running at 8 MHz. It shipped with MacWrite, a word processing tool, and MacPaint, a drawing tool. Later the same year, Apple shipped the Mac 512K, which doubled the installed RAM but kept the same design.

In fact, it wouldnt be until early 1987 that Apple would ship Macs that offered expansion slots or deviated from the all-in-one style of the original (a design still used by todays iMac line). Embedded on the inside of the case of every original Mac are the signatures of each member of the team that helped create it, including Raskin and Jobs.

Over the years, the Mac has grown and changed significantly. The original model has given way to hundreds of updated models over the years. The processor family on which the Mac is based has gone through two major changes. Apple has even successfully managed to change the core of the Mac operating system in the release of Mac OS X.

And yet the Mac remains true to its beginnings, an icon of how simple a computer can be and how much it can do.
President Muhammadu Buhari Friday, in Abuja, said though it might take a bit longer, the nation will surely put the issues associated w...





President Muhammadu Buhari Friday, in Abuja, said though it might take a bit longer, the nation will surely put the issues associated with the troubles in the Northeast in order and move ahead.





Speaking while receiving Janez Lenarcic, the European Union (EU) Commissioner for Crisis Management in State House, President Buhari said, If we were capable to fight a 30-month civil war and reorganized our country, I wonder why people are thinking that Nigeria cannot do it.





I assure you of Nigerias commitment to enhance and deepen cooperation with the EU in all areas. Our priorities in the next level are to ensure that Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, are rehabilitated so that livelihood should be established and the children should not lose the opportunity to go back to school, which is very important for the future of that area and Nigeria generally.





We have the experience of the civil war. I could recall the role of the military, the army, each commander had in his pocket how to behave himself and how to allow international bodies like yourself to go round and see for themselves that people are treated in the most humane way. We have this experience and I assure you that we also have this confidence in your organization. That is why I feel that Nigeria is capable of handling this crisis, it may take longer but we are capable of handling it.

The Nigerian leader also appreciated the recent meeting in Germany which deliberated on the happenings in Libya.





The important thing really is weapons reaching the Sahel; the instability it is causing. Look at the casualties in Mauritania, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali; Libya has a direct impact on the stability of the Sahel. As for Boko Haram, we try to disabuse the mind of the people and I think our people now understand the basic dishonesty in it. With my experience personally in the civil war, I am sure we will get over it.





President Buhari further assured that the newly created Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, will do a splendid job of managing the various humanitarian issues evolving from the Northeast:





I assure you that we are aware of these problems and we will continue to do our best. The newly created Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs is coordinating NEMA and others, to make sure that whatever resources we get are well utilized. The ministry will be accountable to the government instead of having too many bodies doing the same thing. We are also reaching out to foreign countries explaining to them our position, and we are confident we will get over it.





The EU Commissioner emphasized that Nigeria plays a big role in the African continent and globally in economic, social and other spheres and asked for the development of a plan between the EU and Nigeria concerning the issues in the Northeast. He said he had visited Borno State and appreciates governments efforts to end the conflict there.





We would like to support your efforts. We believe all relevant actors; military, civilian as well as humanitarian should come together. The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs is suggesting such high-level dialogue.





In situations such as what we have in the northeast, international law and international humanitarian law should apply. We believe in your efforts to end the conflict; military effort alone probably will not be sufficient without identifying and addressing the socio-economic factors causing it, he stated.




Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (right) jokes to photographers as he holds an Israeli-made Galil rifle presented to him by former Philippine National Police Chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa at a turnover-of-command ceremony in Quezon City, Philippines, April 19, 2018.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte may skip an upcoming U.S.-ASEAN summit in Las Vegas, his spokesman said Thursday, a day after the former national police chief who led the countrys controversial drug war confirmed that Washington had revoked his American visa.

President Donald Trump has invited his Philippine counterpart and other leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) bloc to a summit with the United States in the Nevada city on March 14, according to media reports earlier this week.

But presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said he was unsure about Dutertes status for the Las Vegas meeting.

Panelo said Duterte wanted to attend the summit, but was having second thoughts because he may be embarrassed if he is not allowed into the U.S.

He said, I do not even know if the U.S. will issue me a visa, and if Im issued a visa, I do not know that once I arrive there I would be allowed [in], Panelo told reporters, conveying an exchange he had with President Duterte.

On Wednesday, ex-national police chief Ronald dela Rosa made national headlines when he said that the U.S. embassy in Manila notified him that his visa for entry into the United States had been invalidated, according to reports.

Duterte would let the U.S. decide whether to permit him to enter its territory, Panelo said, adding that the Philippine government would not presume to second guess the government of its long-time defense ally.

He is leaving it up to the U.S. government, they will have to decide. What, youre inviting me or not? Panelo said, quoting Duterte.

While Trumps blanket invitation was for all Southeast Asian leaders, Panelo emphasized that these are non-normal times, as he pointed to the case of Leila de Lima, an opposition senator and fierce critic of the Duterte administrations drug war.

She has been detained by Philippine authorities since February 2017 over allegations that she received payoffs from drug traffickers when she served as the countrys justice secretary, charges that she denies.

President Trump recently signed the 2020 State and Foreign Operations Funding Bill, which requires the State Department to block entry into the U.S. for Filipino officials involved in de Limas incarceration.

Earlier, the Duterte administration had banned a handful of U.S. senators from entering the Philippines, including Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.). They had co-sponsored a provision in the bill to prohibit entry into the United States for Filipino officials tied to de Limas detention.

Rights watchdog weighs in

Dela Rosa, a Philippine senator, as the nations top cop had led the Duterte administrations war on illegal drugs that has left thousands of people dead.

On Thursday, the U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to an inquiry from BenarNews seeking confirmation on the cancelation of dela Rosas visa.

John Sifton, the Asia advocacy director for New York-based Human Rights Watch, said dela Rosa had been implicated in extrajudicial killings associated with the administrations war on drugs.

It appears that the State Department was acting under its policy and authority to deny visas to persons implicated in gross human rights violations, Sifton said in a statement issued Wednesday.

The move to deny the former police chief a visa represented a shift in American policy toward the Philippines government and its anti-narcotics campaign, Sifton said. The United States, he said, should extend similar sanctions to other government officials implicated in the drug war.

Sifton, who saw the cancellation of dela Rosas visa as part of the sanctions, said Washington should make clear that this policy extends to all members of the government who are implicated in mass killings associated with the drug war.

Official police statistics show that nearly 6,000 suspected addicts and dealers have been killed in the Philippines since Duterte took office in mid-2016, in what authorities described as gunfights during legitimate anti-narcotics operations. Human rights organizations, however, estimate that the death toll is considerably higher.

Jeoffrey Maitem in Cotabato City, Philippines, contributed to this report.
Traffic lights reflected off the grocery cart a man was slowly pushing across the intersection of Woodlawn and Fredericksburg on Thursday night.

Eric Morris, the outreach and navigation coordinator for South Alamo Regional Alliance for the Homeless (SARAH), walked up to the man as a group of volunteers trailed behind him, carrying bags of clothes, hygiene products and food to hand out.

It was the annual Homeless Point-In-Time Count, a census of sorts, a single night in January when hundreds of volunteers hit Bexar County and San Antonio streets, underpasses, parking lots and shelters to collect information about the homeless population  their gender, race, age, challenges, where they stay, their medical concerns and their mental health care needs.

On ExpressNews.com: Company hired to study citys homeless programs impressed so far

Morris explained why he was there and then began building a rapport with the man, first asking him if he needed anything.

Got any granola bars? the man responded softly.

The trained volunteers had supply bags to hand out to anyone they met in the street while conducting the survey. Around 400 volunteers were participating, divided into about 50 groups and sent to areas that police and outreach workers have found to be populated by homeless people.

When the volunteers come across a homeless person, one of them pulls up an app on a phone and politely begins to ask questions  the main ones being about demographics, but moving to specifics such as where the person has been staying, whether he or she has had a flu shot, whether the person is a veteran.

Where are you sleeping tonight? Morris asked the man with the shopping cart, which carried water, ice and a couple of single-serving snack bags.

My brothers couch, the man said.

These answers help capture a snapshot of San Antonios homeless population.

The main reason why it is important is we have to get an accurate number of how many individuals need help in our community, said Brenda Mascorro, SARAH executive director. It is also important because we have to know what their needs are. They have a lot of needs, and asking them the right questions can help us learn where we should utilize our resources.

The annual Homeless Point-in-Time Count has been conducted in the San Antonio area since at least 2010. Mascorro said most major metro areas in the country have to do it, as required by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department if the area is receiving federal funds to combat the problem.

Officials of SARAH said they expected that volunteers would count more than 1,000 people experiencing homelessness on the streets. An estimated additional 1,500 or more will be counted in shelters by service providers.

On ExpressNews.com: Clearing San Antonio homeless encampments no easy task

In the first 90 minutes of the count Thursday night, Morris group surveyed eight people: a man carrying a bag while walking to a gas station, the man with the cart, a couple living under an underpass with their dog, three people camped out on the side of a building and a woman finding a place to sleep.

Morris estimated that he and others would be out until 1 a.m. counting. They began at 6 p.m.

The entire United States has seen increases in homelessness in large metropolitan areas like ours, Mascorro said. So if ours increases, it wouldnt be a big surprise. Honestly, I am expecting it to be pretty much the same or a little increase.

The results of the 2020 count will not be released until a later date, but the findings over the past decade have revealed patterns and trends among homelessness in the city.

Michael Fisher/ San Antonio Express-News

Last years count found 2,872 homeless people in San Antonio and Bexar County, a 6 percent decrease from 2018. The numbers have been decreasing the last few years, but experts point out that the homeless population is by its very nature difficult to find and that the Point-in-Time Count is just a one-night snapshot.

Of the 2019 total, 1,187 people  41 percent  were without shelter. Of those, 565 were living in the Courtyard at Haven for Hope, a supervised outdoor sleeping space with access to meals, showers and medical care, and 622 were living on the streets  many in encampments.

While the 2019 count found that the number of unsheltered people, homeless veterans, chronically homeless people and unaccompanied minors decreased, the number of families experiencing homelessness increased by 18 percent, from 232 to 274.

This (count) helps us see where there is a disconnect, said Penny Burgess, SARAHs office manager.

On ExpressNews.com: Once homeless, San Antonio woman determined to succeed in new life

But Mascorro said there is one even more important goal of this event.

We also need to give an opportunity for our community that want to help. A lot of the times, homeless individuals, we pass by them in the streets, but we dont have conversations with them, Mascorro said. This is an opportunity for us to truly listen, to truly hear them, what their needs are and for us to get to know our neighbors that dont have homes.

For Courtney Chason and Amanda Sirotzki, who were participating as volunteers for the second year, they wanted just that  to help out their fellow community members, whether they have a home, are staying in a shelter or living on the streets.

The two woman listened in as Morris spoke to the man with the cart, asking how he came to be homeless.

He was incarcerated. Lost his Social Security. Was seeking disability for a surgery he had, lifting up his shirt to reveal a foot-long scar. Has stayed with friends. Hes just trying to figure it all out.

As he told his story, he cried. It was clear that people dont often stop him to ask him to tell it.

The group handed him some food, pamphlets and a blanket as they finished up the survey.

Any bit helps, right? he said, before he resumed pushing his cart down the street.
L aurence Fox has apologised for criticising a Sikh character's inclusion in the First World War film 1917 but has stood by the rest of his recent controversial comments.

The Lewis actor spoke earlier this week about how including a Sikh person in hit film 1917 had been an oddness of casting.

Fox apologised on Thursday night and paid tribute to Sikh troop's sacrifice but then said he was not backing down on other comments he has made over the past week, and would not be silenced.

He sparked outrage last week on Question Time after calling claims that the Duchess of Sussex had suffered from racism in Britain "boring" and that being accused of having white privilege

He stands by calling woke people fundamentally racist and labelling an academic who said he was a white, privileged male as racist.

Fox's spat on Question Time caused significant backlash on social media / BBC

Speaking on the Delingpod podcast with James Delingpole earlier this week, Fox spoke of how seeing Nabhaan Rizwan in 1917 broke his immersion in the film.

He said: Ok, youre now diverting me away from what the story is.

Fox added: There is something institutionally racist about forcing diversity on people in that way.

When he was asked about the comments by Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid about what he said, Fox replied: I'm not a historian I don't know.

Fox tweeted on Thursday night to say Fellow humans who are Sikhs. I am as moved by the sacrifices your relatives made as I am by the loss of all those who died in war, whatever creed or colour.

Please accept my apology for being clumsy in the way I have expressed myself over this matter in recent days.

In a second tweet that actor said: I stand by everything else I said and will continue to do so. Sleep well.

Fox had criticised the casting of Nabhaan Rizwan in 1917 / AFP via Getty Images

Sikh historian Peter Singh told MailOnline that Fox should check his facts, adding: Laurence Fox is incorrect with his facts as Sikhs did fight with British forces, not just with their own regiments.

Speaking on Question Time last week, the DS James Hathaway actor spoke on the controversial coverage of the Duchess of Sussex.

An audience member said: Its racism, she is a black woman, and she has been torn to pieces.

Fox replied: Its not racism.

He added: We're the most tolerant, lovely country in Europe.

"It's so easy to throw the card of racism at everybody... and it's really starting to get boring now."

The audience member hit back: What worries me about your comment is, is you are a white privileged male."

Fox replied: "I can't help what I am, I was born like this, it's an immutable characteristic.
Help India!

In the first week of August last year, the stage was set for the Union government of India to remove the special status of the conflict-ridden Jammu and Kashmir. To ensure that everything is under control, the government led by Narendra Modi detained thousands of people across the erstwhile state. The govt didnt even forgive the mainstream politicians who acted as a bridge between the Centre and the state from years. Dozens of pro-Indian politicians and activists including the three former Chief Ministers of the region are still under detention.

These politicians usually are the talk of the town but thousands of Kashmiris who were detained on the pretext of threat to law and order and then shifted to the outside valley are still behind bars, although the government claimed that everything is normal in Kashmir.

Support TwoCircles



TwoCircles.net is doing a series of stories in which we are bringing and highlighting the struggle of families whose kiths and kins have been detained and shifted to different jails across the Country.

In the 2nd part of the story, our Correspondent from Kashmir Auqib Javeed meets a 70-old man whose sole bread earner was detained on August 6 and shifted to Ambedkar Nagar jail, in Uttar Pradesh.

Srinagar: At 2 AM, in the dead of the night on 6 August, a team of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and Central Reserved Police Forces (CRPF) banged on the door of Nazir Ahmad Khan in Mehjoor Nagar area of Srinagar city and asked the whereabouts of his 22-years old son Momin Nazir. As soon as Khan accompanied by Momin opened the door of his house he saw dozens of cops corned his house. One of the cops from the Jammu and Kashmir Police asked about my son, I told that he is in front of you and is everything okay with him, the senior Khan said. As the Khan could understand anything, his son was dragged out from the house as bundled into the police vehicle. Nazir was asked to come to Rajbagh Police station tomorrow.

On the next day, the senior Khan reached a Raj Bagh police station where his son was kept along with many others who were rounded up in pre and post Article 370 Abrogation.I was informed that my son has been detained on the charges of stone-pelting and that he is threat to peace. Khan said. On hearing this Khan felt like the sky has befallen on him as he was the lone bread earner of the family.

Four years ago, Khan, a mason, had migrated from North Kashmirs Sopore, on the wishes of his only daughter, who got married in the Srinagar. Months later, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor and asked her parents to move near her so that they could meet every day. Khan decided to fulfill her wish. He sold everything he owned at his native place and bought a piece of land in Mehjoor Nagar, where he built a single storied house with his sons help. A year later, his wife suffered kidney failure. Soon Khan developed health issues too and had to stop working.

Now the family has depended on Momin, who took up his fathers profession and started working as a mason. I took all his wifes medical documents to the police station and showed them to the officer-in-charge, making the case for Momins innocence. I thought he might release my son as I narrated the back to back tragedies of our family, but all in vain, Khan told me. I literally begged for his release but they didnt accept any plea.

Please read first part of this series here: Abrogation of Article 370 Aftermath: How a Kashmiri mother struggles to meet her son in jail

From the Raj Bagh police station, Khan said Momin was shifted to the Central Jail in Srinagar, where he was kept for two days. Before Eid, he was sent to a jail in Ambedkar Nagar in Uttar Pradesh. Like other families, Khan said he too may not be able to meet his son because of the familys poor economic condition. Its very difficult to meet the needs of daily life. I sold some gold ornaments, some heavy copper items to pay the medical bills of my family members and now I dont have anything to help them further khan said.

Like Ateeqa Khan hasnt heard anything about his son. He wishes that he could at least talk to Momin once and enquires about him. I dont even know if he is alive and I can only wish that we could meet him soon, Khan said. The health conditions of Momins mother is set rotating day by day. She couldnt bear the detention of her son. She usually asks about Momin. When he will come? Where he has been shifted outside the Valley? Its difficult for me to handle her now, Khan said.

Khan appeals to the concerned authorities to release his son so that they can get at least a sigh of relief in the life of unending tragedies Momin has been detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA). The dossier a copy of which lies with TwoCircles.net identified Momin as one of the leading figures in organizing the violent protest on several occasion which have been disturbing the law and order.

The police officials refused to talk about any individual case of missing person. Howerve the PSA dossier says that Momin along with other people has misused the liberty subsequently indulge in various activities that are prejudicial to maintain the Public order. Momin has been broke under FIR number 43/2019 under section 147, 148, 149, 332, 336, 427, 341 RPC of Police Station Rajbagh. FIR no. 80/2019 147,148,149,336,427,341 of Police station RajBagh.
Job

Title: Sales Representative  Forex

Organization: Pride Microfinance

Limited (MDI) (Pride)

Duty

Station:

Uganda

Reports to: Branch Manager

About

US:

Pride

Microfinance Limited (MDI) (Pride) is the leading Microfinance Deposit Taking

Institution in Uganda with 34-networked branches and 10 contact offices

countrywide; regulated by Bank of Uganda under the MDI Act, 2003.

Job Summary: The Sales Representative- Forex will be

responsible for sourcing clients for

Prides forex trading product.





Key Duties and Responsibilities:

 Update the board rates in a timely manner.

 Carry out research on the rates with other competitors and advise the Branch Manager as appropriate.

 Mobilize both Pride clients to buy and sell forex

 Keep good relationship with clients mobilized and Create good working relationship with credit staff and cashiers so that they refer clients for forex.

 Bring in a minimum of 350 forex transactions on monthly basis

 Mobilise special clients like car dealers and NGOs to buy and sell forex at Pride.

 Work with Procurement Section of Pride to refer suppliers to sell and buy forex from Pride.

 Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the Branch Manager or designee.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

 The ideal applicant should

possess a minimum of a Diploma

in Commerce, Development

Economics, Economics, Microfinance,

Development studies, Business

Studies, International Business, Accounting

and Finance, Marketing,

Financial Services and

Business Computing, Business Statistics,

Entrepreneurship & Small

Business Management, Social Sciences,

SWASA, Education, Procurement

& Chain Supply

Management, Procurement &

Logistics Management, Human

Resource Management, Industrial &

Organization Psychology, Project

Planning and Management, Entrepreneurship and

Project Planning, Public Administration and

Management, Sales and

Marketing Management, Public

Relations and Media

Management, B. Agriculture

& Rural Innovations,

Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural

Extension, Engineering or in any

other relevant /

related field.

 At least two Principal passes

at A Level.

 Should possess

credits and or a pass

in Mathematics and

English at Olevel

 He/ she

must possess experience of

selling forex products to business

clients, NGOs and

companies of at

least one year.

 He /

she must have

worked in a

Forex bureau or

commercial banks dealing

in forex trading.

 Should be

willing to work

in any part of

the country.

 Should be energetic with

high degree of innovativeness, creativity and ambition

 Should have

a high degree

of integrity, excellent

interpersonal, communication and

presentation skills.

 Should be fluent in

commonly used local languages

 Must be able to meet set

targets

 He/she should not be more

than 45 years of age.

How to Apply:

All

suitably qualified and interested candidates are encouraged to apply online by

following the procedure,

Click Here





Create

an Account

Fill

in your personal information and upload your Curriculum Vitae (CV), including

all your scanned academic credentials, 3 letters of recommendation from each of

the referees and a passport photo.

Submit

online i.e. no hard copy deliveries will be accepted

Deadline: 6th

February 2020

For more of the

latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on

our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline
OTTAWA - Qapik Attagutsiak, a 99-year-old Inuk woman, will be the guest of honour at a ceremony Monday to recognize the little-known contribution by Inuit communities to help Canada and the Allies during the Second World War.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/1/2020 (718 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

99-year-old Inuk Elder Qapik Attagutsiak, who participated in salvage efforts by picking up bones and carcasses that could be made into ingredients for munitions, aircraft glue and fertilizer during the Second World War, is shown in Ottawa, Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. Attagutsiak is being recognized by the government as part of the Hometown Heroes initiative that celebrates people who contributed to Canada's war efforts during the World Wars. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

OTTAWA - Qapik Attagutsiak, a 99-year-old Inuk woman, will be the guest of honour at a ceremony Monday to recognize the little-known contribution by Inuit communities to help Canada and the Allies during the Second World War.

Canadians across the country were encouraged to salvage whatever waste materials they could, including metal, rubber, paper and rags, which were then recycled into various items for the war effort.

The call for raw materials also extended into the High Arctic, where Inuit communities were encouraged to collect bones that were then transported south and used in the manufacturing of ammunition and aircraft, as well as in fertilizer to grow food.

Attagutsiak's family was among those who helped with that effort, and even now she remembers collecting bags full of dogs that had died from disease, as well as walrus and seal bones, at the behest of a local Catholic priest who told them of the war.

Eighty years later, she is the last known survivor of Inuit who contributed to those efforts and will be recognized at a ceremony organized by Parks Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que.

While Attagutsiak says her family at that time knew little about the rest of world, they understood that their way of life was under threat and felt compelled to help however they could.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 24, 2020.
By ANI

CHENNAI: DMK president MK Stalin on Friday said that the state government should not allow the process of National Population Register (NPR) to be conducted in Tamil Nadu.

"Tamil Nadu government should not allow the process of NPR. DMK is going to meet the people and going to start the signature campaign from February 2 to 8 against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC)," Stalin said.

An all-party meeting of the DMK and its allies, headed by the party president Stalin, took place at the party's headquarters here on Friday, to discuss the next course of action on protests against the NPR, NRC and CAA.

READ| DMK, allies to conduct 'massive' signature campaign against CAA, NRC

Elaborating on the party's strategy over the issue, he added, "All the alliance party leaders and cadres will also involve in this signature campaign. We will complete the campaign and will submit the memorandum to the President of India."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah may say that he will not take back the CAA but we will continue to protest, the DMK president stated.

MDMK Chief Vaiko, Tamil Nadu Congress chief KS Azhagiri, BCK chief Thirumavalavan, CPI state chief Mutharasan, CPM state chief Balakrishnan, MMK chief Jawahirulla also participated in the meeting.
ST JOSEPH COUNTY, MI -- A man was sentenced to prison Friday in a 2018 St. Joseph County murder case.

Tyler McNeil, 21, was sentenced to 12 to 60 years in prison Friday, Jan. 24, in St. Joseph County Circuit Court for armed robbery. McNeil pleaded guilty, as part of a plea agreement, in November 2019 to armed robbery as a second time habitual offender, according to Circuit Court records.

McNeil was one of three people charged after Kevin Johnson, a Kentucky truck driver, was shot and killed during a drug deal Nov. 14, 2018. Details of the killing came out in court Jan. 16, 2019, when a witness to Johnsons death testified during a preliminary examination.

Another defendant in the case, Theron Hunt, was found guilty by jury Wednesday, Jan. 15, on charges of first-degree murder, armed robbery, unlawful imprisonment, second-degree criminal sexual conduct and felony firearm. He faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison, and will be sentenced in St. Joseph County Circuit Court at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12.

Kayla Cheney was sentenced to 25 to 75 years in prison on May 31 after she pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. She was originally charged with open murder, armed robbery and felony firearm

A witness to the killing, Stanielle King, testified in January 2019 that the three people accused of murdering Johnson taped her up and robbed her at gunpoint before shooting and killing Johnson last November inside her Flowerfield Township home.

King testified that she messaged Hunt, asking for drugs. Johnson and his girlfriend were going to meet King at her house to get meth, she testified.

The drug deal turned hostile when the three suspects showed up, armed with a gun, and pepper-sprayed King in the face, she testified. According to King, Cheney, McNeil and Hunt ransacked her home looking for valuables before Johnson arrived and was shot.

Also on MLive:

Man found guilty in 2018 killing of St. Joseph County truck driver

Insufficient evidence for charges in 36-year-old Kalamazoo County death, attorney general rules

Witness in murder trial started fire that killed man, defendants attorney argues
The Congress government in Chhattisgarh has scrapped the pension scheme launched by the earlier BJP administration for those detained under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) during the Emergency, drawing criticism from the main opposition party.

According to a gazette notification issued by the General Administration Department on Thursday, Loknayak Jaiprakash Narayan (MISA/Defence of India Rules (DIR) DIR detainees) Samman Nidhi Rule, 2008, has been repealed.

The scheme was meant for people jailed under these provisions, incuding MISA, during the Emergency (which was in force from June 25, 1975, to March 31, 1977), an official here said.

Under the scheme, people who spent three months in jail under MISA during the Emergency were being given Rs 10,000 per month. Those imprisoned for six months were getting Rs 15,000 per month and those jailed for over six months Rs 25,000, officials said.

Notably, the state government, in January last year, had suspended the scheme from February 2019 stating it will be continued after physical verification of the beneficiaries and reassessment of the disbursement process.

Hailing the decision, state Congress spokesperson Vikas Tiwari said the scheme was meant to keep BJP-RSS leaders happy and now the money being paid to its beneficiaries will be spent on employment schemes for youths.

Tiwari was the one who had urged Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel to scrap the scheme after the Congress came to power in the state in December 2018.

The then Raman Singh government (in 2008) had launched the scheme to keep the BJP and the RSS happy in the name of giving honour to MISA detainees.

"Now the huge amount of funds being spent on this scheme will be utilised for employment schemes for youths," he said.

Senior BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition Dharamlal Kaushik dubbed the Congress government's move as anti-people and murder of democracy, and demanded restoration of the pension scheme.

The ruling Congress has been taking anti-people decisions one after another which is highly condemnable, Kaushik said.

At present, there are around 300 people who were getting pension under the scheme in the state, he said.

The scheme was launched by the BJP for those who fought for fundamental rights crushed by the Congress government at the Centre during the Emergency, Kaushik said.

This "inappropriate" move is also a violation of a recent Chhattisgarh High Court order directing release of pension for MISA detainees, Kaushik said.

During the Emergency imposed by the then prime minister Indira Gandhi, thousands of people were detained across the country under MISA, which gave sweeping powers to law enforcement agencies.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NIA gets 15 days custody of Davinder Singh

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Jammu, Jan 24: Suspended Jammu and Kashmir police officer, Davinder Singh has been remanded in NIA custody until February 6.

The NIA remand was granted by a court at Jammu. The NIA said that five arrested accused namely Singh, Syed Naveed Mushtaq, Irfan Shafi, Rafi Ahmed and Syed Irfan were produced before the NIA special court at Jammu. The court has granted 15 days custody of the accused, the NIA also said.

It may be recalled that the Jammu and Kashmir administration on Monday forfeited Singh's commendation medal and certificate.

Davinder Singh: Relative of terrorist detained

Davinder Singh was arrested for helping terrorists travel out of J&K, five days after he lost his Sher-e-Kashmir Police Medal for Gallantry.

An order issued by the Director-General of Police Dilbag Singh announced the forfeiture of DGP's commendation medal and certificate which was awarded the now-disgraced officer on December 31, 1998.

Kailash Vijayvargiya identified Bangladeshis by their 'strange meal'| OneIndia News

"Consequent upon the arrest of Davinder Singh, Dy SP on January 11, while trying to assist terrorists to travel outside J&K and recovery of arms and ammunition, which amounts to disloyalty and conduct that has brought the force into disrepute, the DGP commendation medal along with certificate awarded to him on December 31, 1998, is hereby forfeited," the order read.

On January 15, the Jammu and Kashmir administration forfeited the Sher-e-Kashmir Police Medal for Gallantry awarded to Davinder Singh in 2018.

From toothbrush to attar bottle to Ak-47: Here is what cops recovered from Davinder Singh

Police had arrested Singh at Mir Bazar in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district along with Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists Naveed Baba and Altaf, besides a lawyer who was operating as an overground worker for terror outfits.

Searches were carried out at Singh''s residence in Srinagar, right next to the Army's XV Corps headquarters at Badami Bagh cantonment, where he had sheltered Naveed, Altaf and a new joinee in the banned terror outfit, leading to the recovery of two pistols, an AK rifle and a large quantity of ammunition.
The battle for Delhi turned heated on Friday as Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amit Shah feuded over the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) governments performance over the past five years during campaigning for next months decisive elections in the national capital.

Delhi will hold elections to its 70-member assembly on February 8 in a high-stakes electoral contest that has pitched the AAPs campaign to retain power by showcasing its performance against the BJPs efforts to claw back into the national capital, where it has been out of power for two decades.

On Friday, Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia responded to Shahs questions on the Delhi governments delivery of free Wi-Fi, installation of closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras, and construction of schools for quality education.

The Delhi CM said he was happy that the people of Delhi forced the BJP to ask for votes on the basis of issues of CCTVs, schools and unauthorised colonies. Reacting to a tweet of the BJP about Shah asking how many schools were constructed and cameras were installed, Kejriwal said: Im happy you saw some CCTV cameras. A few days back, you said there was not a single camera. Take out some time, we will show you our schools also.

In its campaign, the AAP has tried to showcase its performance in the Capital over the past five years, with a focus on education  where it says it has improved government schools  and health care  where it has set up mohalla clinics  as key successes.

Speaking at a rally later in the day, the BJP leader and Union home minister accused Kejriwal of not fulfilling the promises made during the AAP governments tenure. In Delhi, there is the AAP government that made tall promises, and ruled Delhi for five years but pulled it back in terms of progress, he said.

Kejriwal ji does not remember his old promises. Ask him, whenever he comes, about the new schools which were to be constructed... More than 700 schools do not have principals today, and many of them do not have science department. There is overall a shortage of close to 19,000 teachers, Shah added at a rally in Karawal Nagar.

Kejriwal had also said that more than 15 lakh CCTV cameras will be installed, were they installed at all places? He had said that 5,000 buses for DTC will be purchased, but only 300 were brought and then the news was released in media, he said.

Responding to Shahs questions earlier, Delhis deputy CM Sisodia invited the Union home minister to visit a school in Patparganj. You will come for a roadshow in Patparganj. Ask anyone; people will themselves show you fabulous schools. If you want to see a new school also, the people of Patparganj will show them to you there.

A day after Shah said that his phones battery drained but he was not able to use the free Wi-Fi in the Capital, Sisodia took a dig at him by saying that the service could be used only when a device was powered on.

Our government is giving electricity free up to 200 units, please keep your phone charged. You cannot find Wi-Fi with your phone off. The Delhi elections results can be anything, but please keep your phone charged, Sisodia said.

At a public meeting in Rohini, Kejriwal said he was very happy to hear Shah talk about unauthorised colonies, education and health. It shows that while in rest of the country the BJP seek votes on the basis of caste and religion, in Delhi they are forced to seek votes on the basis of development work like health and education, he said.

BJP national president JP Nadda, too, criticised the AAP, alleging that the government failed to construct more schools and hospitals and install CCTV cameras. The AAP had promised adding 500 more schools, 30 new hospitals, 5,000 buses, lakhs of CCTV cameras, promised free Wi-Fi at public places, Lokpal. But did they do it? They have not and that is their past, Nadda said.

Under attack for providing subsidies, Delhi CM Kejriwal also said freebies in a limited dose were good for the economy as they made more money available to the poor.

Freebies, in limited dose, are good for economy. It makes more money available to poor, hence boosts demand. However, it should be done in such limits so that no extra taxes have to be imposed and it does not lead to budget deficits, Kejriwal tweeted.

The AAP won 67 of the 70 seats in the assembly polls in 2015. The BJP secured only three seats in the polls then, but subsequently won all three municipal corporations and the seven Delhi seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The Congress, which ruled Delhi for three consecutive terms until 2013 under the late Sheila Dixit, drew a blank in the elections.
Police are on the hunt after a sex attacker grabbed a young girl and dragged her along a road before assaulting her on her way to school.

The terrified 13-year-old managed to break free after the man approached her yesterday morning in the Thornton Heath area of Surrey.

She told her family what had happened before the police were called.

Detectives today issued an image of the suspect, who was caught on CCTV.

It shows that he had a rucksack on his back and was wearing a black Puffa style jacket.

Police released images of the suspect (pictured above) after a 13-year-old girl reported that she had been sexually assaulted

The sex attack happened in Thornton Heath, Surrey and police today appealed for help from the public in identifying the man.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: 'Detectives are appealing for information and help to identify a man after a child reported being sexually assaulted.

'We received a report of a 13-year-old girl having been approached by a man at 06:48hrs in the morning as she walked along Norfolk Road, Thornton Heath.

'The suspect grabbed the victim, dragged her along the road and sexually assaulted her. Following a struggle the child managed to escape.

In one image the man is seen bent down doing his shoe lace. He was described as having his hair in cornrows

'The suspect is described as a black male, 5ft 6ins tall, with hair in cornrows. At the time of the offence he was wearing a black Puffa jacket, grey trousers and black shoes.'

Detective Constable Penelope Rea, who is investigating the incident, said: 'I am very keen to hear from anyone who can identify the male in the picture. If you think you have seen this male or know who he is please get in touch.

'Your call could remove a criminal from your area or you could help eliminate someone from our inquiries.'

The spokesman said that the child was being supported by specially-trained officers.
FILE PHOTO: Employees dressed in scrubs talk with each other at Providence Regional Medical Center after a spokesman from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said a traveler from China has been the first person in the United States to be diagnosed with the Wuhan coronavirus, in Everett, Washington, U.S. January 21, 2020. REUTERS/Lindsey Wasson

Reuters

Forty-three people are being medically monitored after contact with the sole US sufferer of the Wuhan coronavirus.

They appear to be members of the public who accidentally ended up close to him.

This level of cautious monitoring is plausible when the number of known existing cases of the virus is on an extremely small scale, as it now is in the US.

The opposite extreme, in Wuhan, China, shows how the spread of a virus quickly erodes the ability to contain it, creating a vicious cycle.

Visit Business Insider's home page for more stories.

Medical officials in the US are monitoring 43 individuals after they had contact with the single confirmed US sufferer of the Wuhan coronavirus.

The level of resources devoted to a single case shows the scale of efforts to prevent it spreading  and how stretched resources could become it they fail.

According to the Everett Herald, the newspaper for the Washington state town now home to the only confirmed US case of the virus, the figure of 43 was accurate as of Thursday afternoon.

The subjects of the checks appear to be members of the public who were unlucky and got too close to the man, a 30-something local resident who went to Wuhan to visit relatives.

New York Times video Wuhan hospital crowding

The New York Times

Anybody potentially exposed to droplets from when he coughed is thought to be at particular risk.

The medical monitoring consists of daily phone calls from staff who check if each person shows any symptoms, and decide whether to bring them in for full treatment.

At Everett's Providence Regional Medical Center, the man is being treated with extreme caution, even though he is said to feel more or less fine.

As Business Insider's Sinead Baker reported, he is being held in a special bio-containment room, where he receives most of his treatment from a robot.

Given that the US currently has only one confirmed case (two potential cases are awaiting confirmation), keeping tabs on people at a ratio of 43:1 is plausible.

Story continues

If the numbers of cases started to expand, that would soon cease to be plausible.

In Wuhan, China, where the virus originated, there are many hundreds of cases. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of the city's 11 million inhabitants would meet the threshold being applied in the US for monitoring.

Despite their best efforts, doctors there report being overwhelmed by the number of patients, and say they are running low on protective gear for themselves.

As these two extremes show, the more cases emerge, the less attention medical officials can give to each one. The potential domino effect helps explain the extreme caution being deployed in the US.

Read the original article on Business Insider
State

National Girl child day observed across Nagaland

DIMAPUR | Publish Date: 1/24/2020 10:37:15 AM IST

In commemoration of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) foundation day, district administrations across the state observed National Girl Child Day 2020 on January 23 and 24 in their respective headquarters.

Phek: A tree plantation on the theme Save the Girl Child was held on Friday at Phek town and simultaneously in all the four sub-divisions wherein 300 saplings were planted as part of the week long Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) special campaign to commemorate the occasion of National Girl Child Day.

Tree plantation activity was organized by district administration and District Level Centre for Women-Mahila Shakti Kendra, Phek.

SDO (C) Phek, N. Bhavani Sri delivering a short speech before the plantation drive highlighted the importance of planting more trees and to ensure every girl child become a responsible citizen in saving our environment and making the world a better place for the future.

The programme was chaired by district coordinator, DLCW-MSK Phek, Veposelu Naroh. Meanwhile, district level felicitation of the local champions is scheduled for January 26 at Phek local ground. (Correspondent)

Mokokchung: District administration in collaboration with the District Level Centre for Women- Mahila Shakti Kendra Mokokchung observed National Girl Child Day basing on the theme Save the girl child.

A press release from district administration DLCW-MSK women welfare officer, Moamenla stated that a tree plantation drive in the name of girl child was organised at Khensa village where the village council, watsu, anganwadi workers and girls took part to celebrate the birth of the girl child. The MSK team along with the assistant commissioner Rohit Singh were present at the programme. Furthermore, the team also visited care and support children home orphanage, Tzumarshiong where they conducted drawing competition and the best was awarded. Alongside gift hampers was also distributed to all the children.

Wokha: Celebrating the twelve glories year of National Girl Child Day, Wokha district, the champion of Bedi Bachao Bedi Padhao (BBBP) observed the national event as a whole day programme conducted at Tiyi Hall, Wokha on January 24.

In the morning session, baby show, singing and poem recitation was conducted.

Later a formal programme was conducted in the afternoon session with MLA Dr. Chumben Murry as the chief guest. He spoke on the core essence of being a girl to grow in becoming responsible women in the family and in society.

Murry was of the opinion that there was a huge gap on gender equality earlier in the country but the present society has been evolving for better and positive responses to girl child. Side by side, he compared the society of mainland India and Naga society of how much the girl child is safe, educated and health hygiene.

With a positive Naga ancestor practices for care and equal treatment without gender discrimination, he called upon the gathering to continue in practicing equal treatment toward girl child. He also informed to check in finding actual discrimination of girl child in society.

Murry appreciated all positive schemes and programmes being initiated by government of India to which he called all operation officers to execute the programmes and schemes/funds in achieving a better society having a clear vision.

Deputy Commissioner Wokha, Orenthung Lotha in his key note address congratulated BBBP team Wokha for bringing laureate to the district.

Local BBBP champion, Erenbeni P Lotha spoke on what BBBP means to her.

A short felicitation to the nine girl child achievers was presented by the chief guest. The programme was chaired by Mhonroni Kikon of Don Bosco Hr. Sec. School Wokha (class XI), while vote of thanks was pronounced by EAC Wokha, Imtinungla Longkumer.

Bhandari: Celebration of National Girls Child Day 2020 was organised by the district administration, Wokha at Town hall Bhandari on January 24.

According to DIPR report, the guest of honour of the programme was Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Bhandari, Tiameren Chang. Besides fighting against exploitation and discrimination against women, the ADC said that they also have big responsibilities to focus on their health care on priority because a familys health is dependent on a healthy mother and the future of a healthy society cannot be possible without taking care of the little girls today.

In his key note speech, EAC Bhandari, Dr. Riku Khutso stated that the main objective of the programme is to continue to support the girl child to live a violence and exploitation free life and to assert her rights for parity, for education and health care and to empower her to live a better life for herself, her family and the society at large. Baby girls born in the year 2020 were given gifts during the programme.

Singing competition was also organised amongst the colonies and the winners were given cash prizes besides consolation prizes to the participants.

Peren: District administration Peren in collaboration with the department of Social Welfare launched the official photo book and report of all activities conducted under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme in Peren district on January 24 at the Deputy Commissioners office, New Peren Hq.

Acoording to DIPR report, DC Peren, Sentiwapang Aier appreciated the assistance of all the line departments as well as civil society in Peren district in ensuring the important message of protecting and promoting girls in all aspects of life is which was disseminated to all the sections of society.

DC also spoke on the necessity to remain vigilant against practices which are discriminatory to women in the society.

District Welfare Officer Peren, Nokcharenla also spoke on the challenges faced by the Mahila Shakti Kendra team during the implementation process and requested the DC to continue giving his whole hearted support.

The photo book containing pictures, articles and summary of all activities in the past six months was officially launched when the DWO Peren presented the report to the DC.

Jalukie: In continuation of the celebration of National Girl Child week, Peren district administration in collaboration with District Level Centre for Women-Mahila Shakti Kendra (MSK) organized felicitation programme for mother and girl child and sticker campaign at Community Health Centre and Anganwadis Centre, Jalukie town along with the ASHAs and AWWs under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) on January 23.

Women Welfare Officer, Heiriateilei in her short address stated that the campaign was carried out with an aim to spread awareness and to ensure the participation of general public in successful implementation of BBBP in the district.

Childline 1098 Peren team member, Amanwangle also highlighted about the helpline which is actively working for the empowerment and safety of every child in the district.

Interaction and discussion hour was followed by distribution of gift hampers. Meanwhile, as part of National Girl Child Week, a signature campaign in support of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) was also held at DC Complex, District Headquarter New Peren.

Meanwhile, Peren district administration in collaboration with Mahila Shakti Kendra, Peren observed National Girl Child Day at Assam Rifle Public School, Jalukie on January 24.

According to DIPR report, 2 i/c 36th Assam Rifles, Major Suneel Tadi on the occasion spoke on the gender based inequality.

He also emphasized on the re-orientation of the parents and upholds the value of girls in the family. Just as a car cannot run itself without its driver, similarly, a society cannot function effectively without womens involvement, Tadi added.

WWO, MSK Peren, Heiriateilei briefed on the significance of the day. Earlier, the programme was chaired by district coordinator, Lungngaulie Rao while welcome address was delivered by ARPS principal, N. Kiziuna and vote of thanks was proposed by CHILDLINE 1098 Peren coordinator, Ibamsile.

Other highlights of the event include special song, slide show and skit on the theme Beti Bachao Beti Padhao by ARPS students followed with signature campaign.

Noklak: BBBP Noklak block celebrated National Girl Child Day 2020 at the KTC Hall Noklak.

According to DIPR report, Additional Deputy Commissioner Noklak, M. Chaitanya Prasad speaking to the girl students from various schools in Noklak emphasized on the need to break down the system that prevent women from achieving their full potential and contributions to the growth of the nation. Deprivation of equal access to education health, human rights etc are the impediment to the progress of our society, he added. The programme was chaired by EAC Noklak Hq., Yithachu Thur.

Kiphire: Along with the rest of the country, the National Girl Child day was observed in five different blocks of Kiphire district organized by Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan Kiphire in collaboration with Poshan Abhiyan Kiphire.

Speaking on Childs Right during the programme at Kiphire village, Itulungbe Ndang from Poshan Abhiyan said that every child under the age of 14 should get access of free education and challenged all the children to stand on their feet and move forward for betterment of their society.

NYKs Thripili Sangtam also encouraged the children to take every opportunities in schools and Sunday schools in order to shine as they grows.

Earlier, Arila Sangtam also spoke on women empowerment and stressed on the importance of womens right. She also highlighted some points on womens rights to the gathering.

On the sideline of the programme, walkathon race was conducted in the morning where Rebecca, Azila and Nito bagged first, second and third positions respectively. Cash prize was also handed over to the winner.

United Nation Volunteer and District Youth Coordinator Kiphire of Nehru Yuva Kendra, Muletolu Vero who initiated the programme supervised in entire programme in the district. (Correspondent)

Kohima: State Resource Centre for Women (SRCW), Mahila Shakti Kendra Kohima in collaboration with Nagaland State Social Welfare Board (NSSWB) organized a special programme on account of National Girl Child Week at Bright Morning Star Childrens Home, Kohima on January 24.

A press release from SRCW Nagaland stated that the event was celebrated under the theme, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Champions with sole purpose to celebrate girl child, ensuring her safety and education. The programme emphasized on promoting awareness including right of a girl child, importance of education, health and nutrition.

Speaking on the significance of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme, secretary NSSWB and mission director SRCW, Daisy Mezhur, encouraged the girls to become ambassador of girl child. The programme was chaired by state coordinator SRCW, Gracy Ayee, invocation pronounced by research officer SRCW, Meneno V and a special song was also presented by Bright Morning Star Childrens Home.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 16:58:54|Editor: Wang Yamei

Video Player Close

MOSCOW, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday signed decrees giving jobs in his administration to members of the former government.

Former Economic Development Minister Maxim Oreshkin and former Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky were appointed as presidential aides, while former Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak became a deputy head of administration.

Putin increased the number of deputy heads of administration to three from the previous two by a separate decree.

The former government, headed by Dmitry Medvedev, resigned on Jan. 15.
live bse live

nse live Volume Todays L/H More 

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has warned users against a fraudulent website operating under a similar name. This came after the IT cell of the Indian Railways' ticketing arm received complaints of bookings under the name of IRCTC.

The fraudulent website, irctctour.com,is reportedly offering the exam same tour confirmation voucher as IRCTC. In a mail to warn users to steer clear of the same, IRCTC mentioned that the website via which peopled are being duped is using the mobile number 9999999999, the landline number +916371526046 and the email-id irctctours2020@gmail.com.

On its official website irctctourism.com, an alert scroller has been put up by the ticketing entity which says, "www.irctctour.com' is not an official/authorised website of IRCTC. IRCTC is not responsible for any transactions done on this website."

In other news , the prime accused in an e-ticketing racket system has reportedly offered to fix the loopholes in the IRCTC's security system for Rs 2 lakh a month. According to reports, Hamid Ashraf had flagged issued in the security system several times, and he claims that the government agencies were unable to plug these loopholes.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin by Sebastien Ricci (Agence France-Presse) Wuhan, China  Fri, January 24, 2020 17:04 719 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2060e16bd 2 World China,shut-down,coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,Shanghai-Disney,Great-Wall Free

Chinese authorities rapidly expanded a mammoth quarantine effort aimed at containing a deadly contagion on Friday to 13 cities and a staggering 41 million people, as nervous residents were checked for fevers and the death toll climbed to 26.

While the World Health Organization (WHO) held off on declaring a global emergency despite confirmed cases in half a dozen other countries, China expanded its lockdown to cover an area with a total population greater than Canada's.

A range of Lunar New Year festivities have been cancelled, while temporary closures of Beijing's Forbidden City, Shanghai's Disneyland and a section of the Great Wall were announced to prevent the disease from spreading further.

The previously unknown virus has caused alarm because of its similarity to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which killed hundreds across mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003.

The WHO said China faced a national emergency but stopped short of making a declaration that would have prompted greater global cooperation, including possible trade and travel restrictions.

The outbreak emerged in late December in Wuhan, an industrial and transport hub of 11 million people in China's centre, spreading to several other countries including the United States.

China is in the midst of its Lunar New Year holiday, a typically joyous time of family gatherings and public festivities.

But on Friday Wuhan was a ghost town, its streets deserted and stores shuttered.

- Worried patients -

Hospitals visited by AFP journalists bustled with worried patients being screened by staff wearing full-body protective suits.

At a temperature-check station, a medical staffer in bodysuit, face mask and goggles took a thermometer from a middle-aged woman, pausing to examine the reading before quickly turning back to the patient.

"Have you registered? Then go and see the doctor," the staffer said.

One 35-year-old man surnamed Li voiced the fears of many.

"I have a fever and cough, so I'm worried that I'm infected," he said.

"I don't know the results yet."

With hundreds of millions of people on the move across China for the holiday, the government has halted all travel out of Wuhan, shut down its public transport and told residents to stay home. Deepening the isolation, there were few flights available to the city.

"This year we have a very scary Chinese New Year. People are not going outside because of the virus," said a taxi driver in the city, who asked not to be named.

But said a prolonged shutdown should not pose food-shortage problems because many Chinese had stocked up for the holiday.

Besides Wuhan, 12 other smaller cities nearby have battened down the hatches, with most of them going public on Friday with various measures ranging from closing public venues and restricting large gatherings to halting public transportation and asking citizens not to leave their cities.

Several of the cities have populations numbering several million, led by Huanggang, which has 7.5 million.

The pathogen -- 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) -- has caused many outlets in Shanghai, Beijing and other cities to sell out their stocks of face masks.

As reports surfaced of bed shortages in Wuhan hospitals, state media said authorities were rushing to build a new facility devoted to the outbreak in a mind-blowing 10 days.

The Wuhan hospital is targeted to be ready by February 3. Dozens of excavators and trucks were filmed working on the site by state television.

To discourage nationwide travel, the government has said all tickets for rail, air, road, or water transport could be exchanged for a refund.

On Friday, staff in full body protective suits were seen checking the temperatures of people entering a subway station in Beijing.

Thermal cameras scanned passengers arriving at Beijing's West Railway Station.

- 'Work as one' -

Chinese authorities said the number of cases leapt overnight to more than 800, with 177 in serious condition. There were another 1,072 suspected cases.

Officials also said that a virus patient died in Heilongjiang province in China's far northeast, the second death outside the Wuhan epicentre.

Beijing has been praised for its response in contrast to SARS, when it took months to report the disease and initially denied WHO experts any access.

Gao Fu, head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, asked China's people to forego New Year gatherings this year and confine themselves at home until the all-clear.

"If we all work as one, we can contain the virus in Wuhan and add no more cases exported from Wuhan, so as to stem the virus nationwide," Gao told state TV.

Beijing has cancelled popular New Year public events at temples in the capital, the historic Forbidden City will close from Saturday, and Shanghai Disneyland said it also will shut down for an indefinite period from Saturday to protect visitors and staff.
To succeed in the workplace, in relationships, and in life, focus on your strengths and manage around your weaknesses, advises author and consultant Marcus Buckingham.

Hell address the 2020 CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference, Feb. 23-27 in Washington, D.C.

In the workplace and within team environments, organizations should characterize people by who they are rather than what they lack, Buckingham says. Thats where companies will see the greatest return on investment from their employees.

Learning is insight, Buckingham says. Its generated from within the learner. What Im trying to do as a team leader is capture moments so the employee, not me as a manager, can figure out ways to innovate around these moments, reapply them, and maybe even teach others about them.
The latest round of polls sees the chances of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders brightening. He now joins former vice president Joe Biden to sit among the top Democrats in the Democratic Party race for the White House. Unless there is a major upset, one of them could get the nomination for president 2020 and face Donald Trump. This is the finding of the latest round of polls conducted by SSRS from January 16 through 19. It was on a sample size of 1,156 adults interviewed via phone. Incidentally, this is the first time Biden has failed to hold a solo lead in the race.

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has caught up to former vice president Joe Biden and surged past Senator Elizabeth Warren, a new national poll shows https://t.co/BewdHIQObd  Yahoo News (@YahooNews) January 22, 2020

CNN gives the breakdown. bernie sanders has the backing of 27 percent of registered voters who either belong to the Democratic Party or are Democratic-leaning independents. Joe Biden, on his part, had to be content with 24 percent. The margin of difference is such that it's difficult to declare a clear leader in this poll. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren slipped in the ranking with 14 percent votes. The gain for Sanders was seven points when compared with the last round of polls held in December and it helped Bernie Sanders widen the distance with Warren.

Bernie Sanders makes substantial gains

Possibilities of Bernie Sanders being nominated has not changed much. It was 39 percent in October and 38 percent now. For others in the fray, it has gone down. In the case of Joe Biden, the drop is nine points to 34 percent. In the case of Elizabeth Warren, it dropped 12 points to 29 Percent.

Discuss this news on Eunomia

Another aspect is the perception of voters. Sanders usually agrees with voters on important issues and appears to be more understanding of problems that the people face. However, when it comes to the question of who has the best chance to defeat Donald Trump, the scales tip in favor of Joe Biden at 45 percent with Sanders at 24 percent.

Fr Saunders, it was 16 percent in December and it has gone up.

Sen. Bernie Sanders joins Joe Biden to lead the Democratic presidential pack. It's the first time Biden hasn't held a solo lead in a CNN poll. https://t.co/CS3Ed1pi4z  CNN (@CNN) January 22, 2020

CNN also mentions issues that Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents feel are important to them. Health care tops the list followed by climate change, gun policy, economy, immigration, and foreign policy. In the camp of Republicans and Republican-leaners, the priorities differ. It is but natural as they do not see eye to eye with each other. To them, the top three slots go to economy, gun policy and immigration.

They feel issues like health care and climate change are not so serious

People like Bernie Sanders

According to Vanity Fair, Bernie Sanders had earned the label of a person nobody likes. That appears to be changing. He tops the latest survey, which is a reflection of the momentum he has been able to build up in recent months. It also suggests that his rivals are unable to trip him up. Obviously, people have begun to like him. He suffered a heart attack in October and there were doubts about his participation in the race to the White House but he has returned to the campaign trail and is going strong. He has succeeded in pulling away from Warren and while others have stumbled or dropped out, Sanders has been emerging as the candidate to look out for.

Can Bernie Sanders deliver?

The Democratic Party wants to deny a second term to Donald Trump and there were many in the race in the initial stages. Gradually, the list has reduced. With the finals fast approaching, Americans will no doubt keep their eyes glued to the TV screens and watch the remaining debates to make their final decision. It will be on whether Bernie Sanders is the best-suited candidate to occupy the White House. The outcome will possibly depend on how voters prioritize various issues like health care, climate change, and gun policy. These are topics that could have a direct bearing on the wellbeing of everyday people.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - A popular stand-up comedian has temporarily left Russia for security reasons after police opened an investigation into one of his performances in which he cracked crude jokes about Jesus and the Orthodox Church, his lawyer said on Thursday.

Comedian Alexander Dolgopolov this week posted a picture of an Interior Ministry notice sent to St. Petersburg's HopHead Tap Room, where he performed last February, that asked the establishment to provide information about him.

In that performance, which has garnered nearly 2.8 million views on YouTube in nine months, Dolgopolov made off-colour jokes about the Virgin Mary and Jesus, and ridiculed his own faith as a child.

Leonid Solovyov, Dolgopolov's lawyer, told Reuters the police investigation into his client was linked to a complaint that his jokes had offended religious beliefs.

"He has decided to leave Russia for security reasons," Solovyov said, adding that the situation was temporary.

He would not disclose Dolgopolov's location. But later on Thursday Dolgopolov posted a picture of himself on Instagram in what appeared to be Israel and said he was safe.

Russia has adopted laws that make it illegal to insult the feelings of religious believers and affront the authorities online. Critics say they have been used to smother dissent and curb freedom of speech in the country, where atheism was the norm during the Soviet era.

"They are clearly not looking for me because they are big fans of my work," Dolgopolov, who left Russia on Thursday morning, said in a video posted on his YouTube channel. "I'm very frightened... I'm sure that problems are beginning for me."

The Russian Interior Ministry told Reuters that police were following up on a complaint that Dolgopolov's performance had insulted religious feelings. It said a decision on the case would be made following a police probe.

Dolgopolov's manager, Armen Gandilyan, told Russian media that all his performances would be cancelled until his legal situation was clarified.

Several YouTube viewers noted that the police inquiry had ironically prompted them to search for Dolgopolov's performance online. "The Interior Ministry is the most efficient advertisement agency," one viewer wrote.

(Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; Editing by Mark Heinrich, Tom Balmforth)
Lula Lake Land Trust announced Friday a new signature event taking place at the LLLT Core Preserve. Capture the Flag at Lula Lake is a brand-new experience nature lovers can enjoy. Styled as a tournament, this event will see two teams battle for victory in four rounds with the top two teams going head to head for prizes and glory.



"Capture the Flag at Lula Lake is built around the prophecy of four kingdoms awaiting warriors to rise to the calling," organizers said. "Time-honored flags of celebration have been stolen. Do you have what it takes to bring home the glory? Those who are brave of heart belong to the Ruby Kingdom of the North, but cunning soldiers take hold of the Emerald South. While those eastern loyalists abiding the Amber Kingdom put up a fair fight, warriors of the Sapphire West are more clever than most. To whomever your allegiance is pledged, capture your kingdoms flag and score a victory."



Capture the Flag came about after discussions on how LLLT can engage audiences in unique recreational opportunities, says Matthew Hubbard, LLLT director of development. Our Executive Director Cody Roney brought this idea to the table, and our staff is not only excited to see the recreation aspect of the event come to life, but also partake in the battles.

Tickets are $10 per player and include one beer/soda ticket. This event is for players ages 16+. Spectator tickets are $5 (children under 12 are free), and the main trail to the lake and falls will be open for hiking. Ticket purchasing and more information can be found online at www.LulaLake.org/Events.



Capture the Flag at Lula Lake is presented by Southeastern Salvage, Audi Chattanooga, Village Volkswagen of Chattanooga, First Horizon Bank, Elley, Chattanooga Whiskey and Bells Brewery.
Monica Schipper | Getty Images

(L-R) Cast members Kate Rockwell, Barrett Wilbert Weed, Erika Henningsen, Ashley Park and Taylor Louderman attend the "Mean Girls" Broadway Cast Meet & Greet at The New 42nd Street Studios on February 22, 2018 in New York City.

Don't Edit

'Mean Girls' musical movie

The "Mean Girls" musical is getting turned into a movie? So fetch! The Broadway adaptation of the 2004 movie is getting its own film, writer Tina Fey announced Thursday, with "SNL" king Lorne Michaels producing. "I'm very excited to bring Mean Girls back to the big screen," Fey said in a statement. "It's been incredibly gratifying to see how much the movie and the musical have meant to audiences... I've spent sixteen years with these characters now. They are my Marvel Universe and I love them dearly."

The "Mean Girls" musical debuted in 2018 and is expected to wrap next year in London, so expect the movie sometime after that. And then we'll get a musical based on the movie based on the musical based on the movie. And then we'll get a docu-series about the making of the...

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

'Bachelorette' star dies at 29

Former "The Bachelorette" star Tyler Gwozdz is dead at 29, E! News reports. Police in Boca Raton, Florida, said the reality TV personality had been in the hospital for more than a week after a suspected overdose, and died Wednesday. Gwozdz appeared on Hannah Brown's season of "The Bachelorette" last year and was the first suitor chosen for a one-on-one date, but was later eliminated. "We are heartbroken to hear the tragic news of Tyler's passing today. Our thoughts are with the Gwozdz family and his friends," producers said in a statement. "My heart goes out to his family in this time. Tyler was nothing but nice to me and a joy to be around," castmate Jed Wyatt told Us Weekly.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Obi-Wan series delayed

Obi-Wan Kenobi series cancelled? No. Collider reports the Disney+ show starring Ewan McGregor as the iconic "Star Wars" Jedi has been put on hold, just before production was expected to begin filming in London. McGregor told ET Thursday that the scripts are getting rewritten, so the project has been delayed to next year. "The scripts are really, really good. They want to make them better," he explained. "So it's not as dramatic as it sounds."

Don't Edit

Despite production delays, Ewan McGregor has assured us that his Obi-Wan Kenobi series will remain on track. https://t.co/8HlBfNAboI pic.twitter.com/CKj2PYT6tz  IGN (@IGN) January 24, 2020

Don't Edit

'Irresistible' trailer

Jon Stewart has unveiled the first trailer for his new movie, "Irresistible." Former "Daily Show" correspondent Steve Carell stars as a political consultant who recruits an ex-Marine (Chris Cooper) to run for mayor in Wisconsin. Written and directed by Stewart, "Irresistible" opens May 29 with a cast that includes Rose Byrne, Topher Grace, Natasha Lyonne and Will Sasso.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

More Buzz:

Calvin Harris drops house tunes as Love Regenerator ( BB

John Karlen, 'Cagney & Lacey' and 'Dark Shadows' actor, dies at 86 ( ET

'Impeachment' cast: Clive Owen as Clinton, Betty Gilpin as Ann Coulter ( E!

Megyn Kelly stirs 'blackface' again with criticism of Robert Downey Jr. ( DM

Neil Young officially becomes US citizen ( BB

Kim Kardashian spotted filming with Cher ( TMZ

Brad Pitt says he passed on playing Neo in 'The Matrix' ( TF

Fans surprised James Corden doesn't really drive in 'Carpool Karaoke' ( P6

Taylor Swift drops F-bomb in documentary trailer ( BB

Ellie Goulding teams up with Four Tet for new song ( RS

Vanessa Hudgens gets tattoo on breast after breakup ( DM

Tom Sizemore arrested for DUI, drug possession ( TMZ

Jonas Brothers announce Las Vegas residency ( BB

Don't Edit

Live Nation says repeat acts a good thing at St. Joes Amp in Syracuse: Heres why https://t.co/pc1LkLSE4a  Geoff Herbert (@deafgeoff) January 24, 2020

Don't Edit

Phish tour dates announced; no Upstate NY concerts https://t.co/TXN0WjnztL  Geoff Herbert (@deafgeoff) January 24, 2020
Kalen Schlatter pleaded not guilty to the first-degree murder of 22-year-old Tess Richey before a pool of potential jurors Friday morning.

Superior Court Justice Michael Dambrot said the jury selection process will proceed with the use of peremptory challenges, in keeping with Thursdays bombshell Court of Appeal ruling. The challenges allow both Crown and defence lawyers to reject a specific number of potential jurors without having to give a reason.

The decision found changes by the federal government to the jury selection process that end the use of peremptory challenges should not have applied to cases where an accused chose to be tried by a jury before the law came into effect last fall.

However, in Ontario some judges ruled the new jury selection process should be used  which means several cases, including those involving murder and sexual assault convictions, may now be retried.

A jury is expected to be selected in the Schlatter case by early next week, with the trial starting Thursday, Dambrot told the potential jurors. The trial is expected to last four to six weeks.

Richey was reported missing to police by her family on Nov. 25, 2017. She was last seen in Torontos Gay Village that night.

Richeys mother, who had driven to Toronto from North Bay to search for her daughter, found her body four days later in an alleyway outside an under-construction building near where she was last seen alive.

Schlatter, now 23, was arrested on Feb. 4, 2018.

Richeys case, along with other missing-persons investigations linked to the citys Gay Village and the victims of serial killer Bruce McArthur, prompted Toronto police to order an independent review into how the force handles missing-persons reports. The review is ongoing and is expected to end next year.

Toronto police launched a new missing-persons unit in July 2018.
Reach key decision makers with sales-ready leads that shorten your sales process. Move the needle by delivering funnel qualified leads to your sales team. Learn more

After 10 years of fully supporting Windows 7, Microsoft ended its official support for the out-of-date Windows operating system on Tuesday.

The popular classic Windows 7 OS still runs on some 200 million PCs around the globe, according to industry estimates. Users include small business owners, some larger companies, and hordes of consumers holding onto aging personal computers.

Microsoft committed to providing 10 years of product support when it released Windows 7 in 2009. The companys focus now is on supporting technologies that provide new user experiences, it said.

Microsoft has recommended that Windows 7 users move to Windows 10 prior to the end of support. Those that failed to heed the companys warning will become part of a very large attack vector for hackers, malware, viruses and spyware.

This end-of-life date is well known to hackers, and they are armed and ready to exploit, said Kate Donofrio, payment card industry technical lead and manager of Schellman & Company.

Windows 7 Pro and Enterprise users can purchase extended security update support for three years from Microsoft. Windows 7 Home editions and Ultimate editions are not eligible for extended support, she told TechNewsWorld.

Much like mobile devices using the Windows Mobile or Windows CE operating system, a PC/laptop/terminal using Windows 7 will not just stop working the day that the OS end of life begins, noted Brian Harvey, lead systems engineer at Barcoding.

However, the end of support does mean users no longer will get support, security updates or bug fixes for Windows 7, he told TechNewsWorld. Continuing to use Widows 7 can put your data  and potentially your customers data  at risk.

Must Do Something

PCs running Windows 7 probably will not become victims of attacks overnight, but the risk is not IF but WHEN malware, spyware, or viruses will find an opening into any particular unprotected computer.

Of course, Microsoft wants lingering Windows 7 users to upgrade to Microsoft 10. For those with computers no older than four years, a software upgrade can be applied. For older computers, a new purchase is the easiest and fastest way to avoid security risks and issues related to loss of support for Windows 7.

Purchasing a new PC will not be necessary if your existing system meets a baseline configuration, said Banish Angural, owner of Social Media Fellow.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

That baseline configuration includes a 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster processor or SoC (System on Chip) with at least 1 gigabyte RAM for 32-bit or 2 GB RAM for 64-bit computers, he told TechNewsWorld. The system should have 16 GB of hard drive space for the 32-bit OS version and 20 GB of storage space for the 64-bit OS version. Also needed is a DirectX 9 or later graphics card with WDDM 1.0 driver and a screen display capable of 800600 pixels.

If the hardware is not compatible with Windows 10, another option is to repurpose the older hardware by installing a Linux distribution as an alternative to Windows 7, Barcodingss Harvey suggested.

The Linux operating system offers distribution options targeting Windows users and enterprise operations. The cost to download a complete Linux OS is free, and many Linux OS developers offer paid support options similar to what is available for Microsoft Windows 10.

Thousands of software applications that run on Linux also are free to download. Tools such as WINE let users run must-have Windows programs on the Linux platform.

Upgrade for Free

Upgrading to Windows 10 is the most convenient step for users who want to continue using Windows on their computers, said Kenny Trinh, managing editor of Netbooknews. The upgrade process is very easy, and you get to keep all your files in most cases.

That solution has two hurdles, though, he told TechNewsWorld. Your device has to meet the spec requirements to be able to run Windows 10, and you have to buy a Windows 10 license, which costs US$119.

For those whose specs arent adequate or who dont want to shell out for a license, installing a Linux OS is your best bet, Trinh said. Linux is free to use, so you wont have to shell out a dime to use it. Plus, a number of Linux distros are specifically designed to run on older computers, so hardware wont be a concern.

Early on, Microsoft provided free upgrades to Windows 10. All you needed was a computer running an earlier version of Microsoft Windows and a product code number to qualify. That free offer officially ended a few years ago. However, its still possible to get a free Windows 10 upgrade using the Windows Media Creation Tool.

This upgrade isnt meant for the general consumer, but it works for many nonetheless. First, you must download the upgrade on the computer still running Windows 7, 8 or 8.1.

Second, go to the Microsoft page to download the Windows Media Creation Tool. On that page, select the option to upgrade. Then enter your Windows 7 or Windows 8 license key.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

If you have a Windows 7 or 8 Home license, you can update only to the Windows 10 Home version. With a Windows 7 or Windows 8 Pro product key, you can update only to Windows 10 Pro. The free upgrade is not available for Windows Enterprise.

Whats the Risk?

The main reason to stop using Windows 7 is the security risk. That risk may be minor in the short term, but the longer you use the now-unprotected Windows 7, the higher your chances grow for trouble.

Microsoft will not provide security updates or fixes. You also will not get technical support for any issues. This leaves your computer at greater risk of being hit with viruses and worse.

Zero-day attacks get a lot of attention. The majority of vulnerabilities that get exploited by hackers are well known and have patches readily available to fix them, noted Kevin Landt, vice president of product management at Cygilant.

These patches no longer will be freely available, and hackers will be developing and sharing exploits, he told TechNewsWorld.

I believe the hardest hit with the end of extended support will be the home consumer users and business owners not keeping up with current threats, Schellman & Companys Donofrio said.

Those who cannot afford to upgrade their systems or buy new systems to replace old Windows 7 systems will be at the highest risk, she warned. There is also a chance, even with Microsoft popping up warnings on end-user systems, that some consumers will not understand what all of this entails or take the threat seriously.

These will also be the types of users who will not understand techniques to try and mitigate risks when new vulnerabilities are found and likely a high target for attackers, Donofrio added.

Outdated systems are major targets for attackers who are well aware of the upcoming end of support dates, she noted. That is especially the case for an operating system like Windows 7, which has large mainstream use by both businesses and consumer home users.

You can purchase a Windows 10 upgrade if you want to start with a fresh installation. On the Microsoft download page, download a disc image (ISO file) that can be used to install or reinstall Windows 10. The image also can be used to create installation media using a USB flash drive or DVD.

What Else to Do

If you are unable to upgrade or purchase extended security updates for Windows 7, you should take steps to reduce the attack surface of these systems. For example, disable all ports and protocols except those required for business reasons, suggested Cygilants Landt.

If possible, isolate the servers on separate network segments from those that have direct access to the Internet. The remaining risks should be documented and given a priority level for future remediation, he said.

Microsoft gave plenty of notice about the impending end of support, said Satnam Narang, senior research engineer at Tenable.

Larger businesses likely have the infrastructure to migrate their systems, but smaller organizations may not have the necessary resources to prepare for the switch, he told TechNewsWorld, so those companies should take the following measures to protect themselves:

Rely on endpoint detection and antivirus software to detect known threats;

Implement email protection, as threats can often come in the form of emails and can slip through the cracks of email filters; and

Enforce security awareness training for all employees.

Isolation and Layer Are Key

To the maximum extent possible, those continuing to use Windows 7 should try to isolate or segment the machines with the unsupported (outdated) software or OS. This obviously can be a challenge in many cases, given that if an organization has a requirement to keep using the unsupported software or OS, then that would imply some level of criticality to that device, observed Troy Gill, manager of security research at AppRiver.

So naturally, there may be limitations on just how isolated it can be while still performing its critical role. Always practice least privilege. And in a case like this, the importance of least privilege is amplified, he told TechNewsWorld.

Another way of bolstering Windows 7 from outside attacks is to take a defense-in-depth approach by adding security layers to help reduce risk with the unsupported system, Gill added. This should include the use of both network and personal firewalls, as well as placing the high-risk devices behind added hardware such as IPS.

Another consideration is to make sure you have uninstalled all unnecessary software and disabled unneeded services on these devices. This is always a best practice, but it can become even more important on a system relying on an unsupported OS or other outdated software, he said.

Business Risks Intensify

Even if you or your company no longer run Windows 7, businesses and others who still use the obsolete operating system could endanger your privacy. Consumers need to practice safe computing even if they run Windows 10, macOS or the Linux OS.

Organizations that continue running Windows 7 not only put their company and staff data at risk, but also that of their suppliers, partners and customers, because security patches no longer will be available, said Ken Galvin, senior product manager at Quest Software.

Many businesses are still running Windows 7 because they have been slow to act, hadnt seen it as a priority, or thought of it as too much of a daunting challenge to upgrade all their systems. Daunting as it may be, we are now at the stage where the best option is to upgrade, he told TechNewsWorld.

However, if businesses cannot and have made arrangements with Microsoft to pay for continued Windows 7 patching support, it is critical that they make sure their patch management system will be able to apply them, Galvin added.

It is not an impossible task, however. IT teams can and should be taking advantage of automation tools to assist with the migration and invest in ongoing endpoint management to make sure that these systems are continually up to date without the team needing to break their backs, he said. Businesses should prioritize gaining visibility over all their systems so they can be 100 percent sure that each one is secure.

No Recourse, No Safety

The obvious risk is that Windows 7 systems no longer will receive patches from Microsoft. That means if a new vulnerability is discovered in Windows 7, all Windows 7 systems will be at risk for exploitation from malicious attackers, warned Mehul Revankar, director of product management at SaltStack.

Going forward, Windows 7 systems will become ripe targets for attackers to exploit, he told TechNewsWorld. When the next major Windows 7 vulnerability strikes, these would be the systems attackers would go after first, own them very quickly, and cause business disruption.

So, what should Windows 7 users do? Get an accurate inventory of all their assets and identify all Windows 7 systems in their organization, suggested Revanker.

They also should stop procrastinating and take action. Upgrade those assets to Windows 10 or later.

If you cant upgrade for one reason or another, get them off the Internet at the very least, and add mitigating controls so that only authorized users have access to them, Revanker said. The most likely problem is that systems will not be updated or will be slow to update  and the longer the wait, the higher the risk that this results in a costly attack.

A Ray of Hope, Perhaps

Windows 7 will keep working come Jan. 15. Nothing will change overnight, said Chris Morales, head of security analytics at Vectra.

It is true that Windows 7 will be more vulnerable to attack. That is the expectation. But I dont think the actual impact will be catastrophic, he told TechNewsWorld.

For home users who want to cling onto Windows 7 for whatever reasons, many of the potential problems could be mitigated using other tools and methods, like VPN, encryption, security software, and a good secure home router, Morales noted.

Many enterprises simply will sign up for Windows 7 Extended Security Updates for the next three years of coverage, which will protect against anything deemed critical or important.

Not much will change in the attack landscape for enterprises with the Windows 7 Extended Security Updates. Most major apps like Google Chrome browser will also continue to be supported with updates for all users, said Morales.

For everyone else, an update to Windows 10 or a move to another supported OS should already have happened, he added. An unsupported operating system never should be used for public-facing Internet use, like browsing the Web or handling email, he added. It is bad practice.

A Common Problem

Thomas G. Plante, professor of psychology at Santa Clara University, has been concerned about loss of support for Windows 7 on his own laptop.

Long story short, the universitys IT department recommended that he invest in a new computer with Windows 10, he told TechNewsWorld.

That seems crazy from my point of view, as my computer is only 5-1/2 years old and works fine  but that is what IT here suggests, Plante said.

Like many users, Plante relies on his employers IT department for help. The universitys IT staff claims that the hassles involved in upgrading make getting a new computer a better and more cost-effective option.

Plus, the university will only service computers that are four years old or less to boot, he lamented. Seems nutty but hey .
The presence of carbon dioxide beneath the frozen surface of one of Saturn's moons suggests chemical reactions at its seafloor that could support alien life.

Data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft shows an abundance of carbon dioxide (CO2) on Enceladus, Saturn's sixth-largest moon.

A US research team says the CO2-rich plumes point to reactions between liquid water beneath the moon's surface and a complex rocky core.

The scientists developed a new geochemical model to study the data from the Cassini space probe, from which new discoveries are still being made.

The presence of CO2, along with previous discoveries of silica and molecular hydrogen, point to a diverse core that could support extra-terrestrial life.

Scroll down for video

Using new geochemical models, scientists found that CO2 in Enceladus' ocean may be controlled by chemical reactions at the seafloor. Integrating this finding with previous discoveries of H2 and silica suggests geochemically diverse environments in the rocky core. This diversity has the potential to create energy sources that could support life.

ENCELADUS: QUICK FACTS Discovered: August 28 1789 Type: Ice moon Diameter: 313 miles (504km) Orbital period: 32.9 hours Length of day: 32.9 hours Mass: About 680 times less than Earth's moon Source: NASA Advertisement

'The dynamic interface of a complex core and seawater could potentially create energy sources that might support life,' said Dr Hunter Waite, principal investigator of Cassini's Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer (INMS).

'While we have not found evidence of the presence of microbial life in the ocean of Enceladus, the growing evidence for chemical disequilibrium offers a tantalising hint that habitable conditions could exist beneath the moon's icy crust.'

Dr Christopher Glein, lead author of the study published in Geophysical Research Letters, said: 'By understanding the composition of the plume, we can learn about what the ocean is like, how it got to be this way and whether it provides environments where life as we know it could survive.

NASA's Cassini captured this stunning mosaic as the spacecraft sped away from this geologically active moon of Saturn, Enceladus

'We came up with a new technique for analysing the plume composition to estimate the concentration of dissolved CO2 in the ocean.

'Using two different data sets, we derived CO2 concentration ranges that are intriguingly similar to what would be expected from the dissolution and formation of certain mixtures of silicon- and carbon-bearing minerals at the seafloor.'

Enceladus is the sixth-largest of Saturn's moons, with a diameter of around 310 miles.

The moon is covered in a shimmering layer of clean ice, making it one of the most reflective bodies in the Solar System.

Cassini circled the planet for 13 years, helping to transform our understanding of the gas giant  and, thanks to its observations, scientists now know two of its moons have potential to host simple life. One of these is the icy moon Enceladus, seen setting behind Saturn in the image above

Back in 2014, Cassini found evidence of a large ocean of liquid water beneath the solid surface.

Studying the plume of gas and salt-rich frozen sea spray released through cracks in the moon's surface can help scientists learn more about composition deep within the icy rock and whether it provides environments that may support life.

Enceladus' plumes appear to show a CO2 range 'intriguingly similar' to what would be expected from the dissolution and formation of mixtures of silicon and carbonbearing minerals on the seafloor.

This possible combination of minerals indicates a fundamental process on the moon that fritters away CO2 into the planet's rocky core.

Nearly a month after NASAs Saturn-faring spacecraft made its final plunge into the planets hostile atmosphere, scientists have reconstructed the final moments before all signals were lost. An artist's impression is pictured

Enceladus appears to demonstrate a 'massive carbon sequestration experiment', Dr Glein said  in other words, the moon appears to be capturing and storing large amounts of CO2.

'On Earth, climate scientists are exploring whether a similar process can be utilised to mitigate industrial emissions of CO2,' said Dr Glein.

During Cassini's close flyby of Enceladus, back in October 2015, the space probe detected hydrogen and an earlier instrument had detected tiny particles of silica.

Hydrogen and silica are two chemicals considered 'markers' for hydrothermal processes  the movement of hot water beneath the surface.

Scientists are still reaping the rewards of the rich data obtained by the Cassini robotic spacecraft, which was active for nearly 20 years after launching in 1997.

Cassini's mission ended in September 2017 when it was deliberately flown into Saturn's upper atmosphere before it ran out of fuel.

Last year, Cassini data revealed that a lake on Saturn's largest moon, Titan, is rich with methane and 300 feet deep.

Another 20 new moons were confirmed orbiting the planet only last year, making it 'moon king' of the solar system, beating Jupiter's total of 79.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), along with Southwest Airlines, is coming in for some Department of Transportation (DOT) criticism for how it handled safety, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.

The Journal says it has reviewed a draft of the report scheduled to be released in early February. The draft report allegedly claims that the airline failed to prioritize safety and that the FAA failed to hold it accountable.

According to the draft, Southwest transported passengers on jets with unconfirmed maintenance records during a two year period. As an example, the report documents an incident in which a Southwest jet smashed the tips of both wings while repeatedly trying to land during gale force winds.

The Journal claims the report also calls the FAAs oversight of the airline lax, ineffective and inconsistent. The report suggests Southwest was never subject to FAA enforcement actions in relation to safety issues, and it goes so far as to suggest the FAAs stance toward Southwest served to justify continued noncompliance with safety regulations.

The Inspector Generals investigation reportedly found that the FAA allowed Southwest to fly aircraft with unresolved safety concerns. Further, the audit found that a majority of the FAA employees it interviewed about the matter raised concerns about the culture at Southwest.

Engine explosion

U.S.-based airlines have been remarkably safe during the last 20 years, largely due to better training, better equipment, and enhanced safety policies.

Fatal accidents have been rare, but one of the most recent involved Southwest. The accident occurred when an engine exploded and pieces of metal broke a window. The passenger sitting next to the window was killed when the depressurization of the cabin sucked her halfway out of the aircraft.

The resulting investigation focused on the engines metal fatigue, and Southwest announced an acceleration of its program to inspect CFM56-7B engines used on its Boeing 737 aircraft.

The Journal report says that an 18-month government investigation concluded that the FAA management in the Dallas office, where Southwest is based, allowed the airline to fly planes with unresolved safety concerns.

Government officials have declined to comment, but Southwest, which has reportedly reviewed the draft, took issue with its findings. A spokeswoman told The Journal that the company strongly disagrees with unsubstantiated references to Southwests safety culture.
Hes great. He was an excellent conductor and a nice guy. What more could you want? I got to perform with him. We had a long car ride back to New York together and it was fun to have a nice conversation with him, said Hagen about Kirov who is also music director of Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra.
New Delhi, Jan 24 : The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Friday upped the ante on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protestors, urging the government to act against those, who the VHP claimed, are indulging in large scale violence in the garb of anti-CAA protests.

"The violence being perpetrated in the country under the cover of so-called protests against the CAA is becoming unbearable," said Milind Parande, the International Secretary General of Vishva Hindu Parishad.

Calling the anti-CAA protests "ill-advised and misplaced", he pointed to the incident of pro-CAA rally by Hindutva outfits being attacked in Jharkhand's Lohardagga on Thursday.

Parande blamed the violence on Jharkhand's Congress-JMM-RJD alliance government.

"Deadly attacks were mounted on them (rallyists), and this has again proved that with the change of government how quickly the jihadi mindset turns fatally aggressive on Hindus," he said, demanding "exemplary punishment" be given to the attackers.

Parande also took a jibe at the anti-CAA protestors camped at Shaheen Bagh in Delhi.

"Due to these so-called protests, not only the arterial roads and parks in the capital city are being encroached upon and occupied but in the Muslim majority areas also the life of non-Muslims/Hindus have become a nightmare," a VHP statement said.

Parande also accused the Congress party-led national Opposition of indulging in "appeasement of the Muslim vote bank". He accused them of "misinforming, misguiding and confusing the people", terming the Opposition actions as an "evil game against the country and the constitution".
The Associated Press

A viral illness in China that has sickened hundreds of people and prompted Chinese authorities to effectively shut down at least three cities is not yet a global health emergency, the World Health Organization said Thursday.

The U.N. health agency issued its evaluation after Chinese authorities moved to lock down three cities indefinitely earlier in the day and canceled major public celebrations and gatherings in Beijing during the Lunar New Year holiday period to try to contain the evolving outbreak.

During a news conference in Geneva, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that while the epidemic was clearly a crisis in China, it has not yet become a global health emergency. It may yet become one.

The steps taken by China to shut down cities with more than 18 million people are unprecedented in public health, as countries typically shy away from such extreme measures.

Tedros said that while WHOs role is to provide science-based recommendations, at the end of the day, a sovereign country has the autonomy to do what it thinks is right. However, he added that WHO hoped the actions taken by China would be short in duration.

The decision not to declare a global emergency should not be taken as a sign that WHO does not think the situation is serious or that were not taking it seriously. Nothing could be further from the truth, Tedros said. WHO is following this outbreak every minute of every day.

This should not be taken as a sign that @WHO does not think the situation is serious. WHO is following this new #coronavirus outbreak every minute of every day, at country, regional and global level. I will not hesitate to reconvene the committee at a moments notice if needed.  Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) January 23, 2020

The United Nations health agency made the decision after independent experts spent two days assessing information about the spread of the newly identified coronavirus.

Its too early to consider this as a public health emergency of international concern, Didier Houssin, the chair of the emergency advisory committee, said, noting that the panel was very divided, almost 50-50.

WHO defines a global emergency as an extraordinary event that constitutes a risk to other countries and requires a coordinated international response. Previous global emergencies have been declared for crises including the emergence of Zika virus in the Americas, the swine flu pandemic, and polio.

A declaration of a global emergency typically brings greater money and resources, but may also prompt nervous foreign governments to restrict travel and trade to affected countries. Deciding whether an outbreak amounts to an international crisis therefore can also be politically fraught.

In 2014, WHO initially resisted declaring the devastating Ebola epidemic in West Africa to be a global emergency because it feared the announcement would anger Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The U.N. agency ultimately declared the Ebola outbreak as a global emergency after more than 1,000 people had died and the virus had spread across multiple national borders.

Houssin suggested during the news conference in Geneva that Chinas view of the outbreak was a factor in Thursdays decision.

The perception of this declaration by the international community, in the most affected country, by the people struggling with the virus, certainly has to be considered, he said.

Hundreds of people infected with the new virus have fallen ill in China, and 17 have died. The first cases appeared last month in Wuhan, an industrial and transportation hub in central China.

Other cases have been reported in the United States, Japan, South Korea and Thailand. Singapore, Vietnam and Hong Kong reported their first cases Thursday.

While airports in many major cities around the world have instituted health screenings for arriving passengers from China, Tedros said that for the moment, WHO does not recommend any broader restrictions on travel or trade.

Dr. Peter Piot, director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said that regardless of the decision not to declare an emergency, many more resources were needed to stop the virus.

There are still many missing pieces in the jigsaw puzzle to fully understanding this new virus, which is spreading rapidly across China and most probably around the world, Piot said in a statement. There cannot be any complacency as to the need for global action.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

A lot more middle school students may be traveling to Mars or navigating the open seas on ancient ships to study math after state endorsement of a Taos companys digital animation and video curriculum.

MidSchoolMath LLC has developed a comprehensive math program that uses interactive storytelling to engage middle schoolers in virtual worlds in which they use math to resolve problems.

In December, the New Mexico Public Education Department selected the program for inclusion on its official list of instructional materials that schools and school districts can choose from to teach the states fifth- to eighth-graders core math standards.

Its the first New Mexico-based publisher to have its math curriculum included on that list. To do that, a companys product must pass a detailed review by New Mexico math teachers who are selected from across the state by the PED each year to assess all instructional materials proposed for inclusion.

MidSchoolMath was the only New Mexico company to apply, said PED Instructional Materials Bureau Chief Anthony Burns.

Its pretty rare for us to have a local publisher submit materials, especially for math, Burns told the Journal. Its a pretty rigorous process that our reviewers do.

MidSchoolMath, which launched in 2009, aims to replace traditional, text-based math lessons with computer games and live video filmed with real actors to provide immersive, multimedia platforms that make math fun, drawing kids into colorful, fantasy adventures where they wield math tools to solve things.

The company developed its program with about $4 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Education, the National Science Foundation and other organizations. Its already used in about 50 schools in 17 states, reaching nearly 40,000 middle school students.

That includes adoption by three school districts in Illinois, California and New Mexico, where Central Consolidated Schools in the Four Corners Area now uses it, said company co-founder and executive producer Jennifer Lightwood.

We look for schools that are open to changing the paradigm of a teacher standing in front of the class, Lightwood said. Weve created a full tool set that teachers can use where students in class can directly work through challenges.

The company has developed 139 different simulations that together address all of the states 136 core math standards for middle schoolers, with different sets of questions and challenges posed to students based on grade levels, said co-founder and CEO Scott Laidlaw.

One game, for example, takes place in the 1600s on a sea vessel, allowing students to learn algebra while navigating the open seas, trading spices and contending with pirates. Others include riding on a spaceship to Mars or dealing with problems in the time of the black plague.

We combine film with real actors and software-built simulations, Laidlaw said. We used a green screen to film inside a spaceship, and to create a high-tech doctors office and laboratory.

All the videos were shot in New Mexico with New Mexico talent, with dozens of scenarios filmed on location.

We shot an avalanche rescue scenario in Taos, and we filmed a treasure hunt at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge near Taos, Lightwood said. In another scenario, we used a ranch outside of Santa Fe to create an Old West set with live mules and wagons.

For each scenario, the class as a whole watches the video together. Theyre then challenged to resolve problems faced by the video characters with an online math simulator that offers interactive engagement.

In the avalanche rescue, students must use perpendicular number lines with a coordinate plane, or grid, system to tell Hattie the rescue dog where she can find a victim buried in the snow. In the treasure hunt, students use a map and basic coordinates to guide hunters to treasure.

The simulator shows students the result of their calculations through animation. They can repeat their efforts until they get it right.

A teacher dashboard simultaneously provides educators with real-time metrics on student efforts and problem completion.

A three-year NSF-funded effort to assess the programs effectiveness showed impressive results in student learning and retention. In randomized control trials involving more than 1,100 students, MidSchoolMaths curriculum scored above all other publishers in student achievement gains and engagement, Laidlaw said.

It achieved a 1.24 in effect size, or impact, in one trial, and 1.18 in another. Generally, .2 is considered low, .5 a medium rating, and .8 high, Laidlaw said.

Typically publishers achieve a .4, so a 1.24 score is about three times higher than the usual rating, he said. Were in the top 1% of all education research for text curriculum.

Teachers who use the system report significant improvement in student success.

Turquoise Trail Charter School in Santa Fe has used MidSchoolMath for three years as one of the systems early adopters, said Sharyn Gray, the charters middle school principal.

It engages the kids in problem solving, Gray said. They have to think about whats actually needed to solve a math problem instead of just being given a numerical or word problem. And the concept of teaching math through story telling gives context for the students to understand why theyre doing the math.

Its also fun, both for students and teachers, Gray added.

When we do quick quizzes, the students get competitive, even cheering and talking with each other about the math, she said.

Turquoise Trail math teacher Kristin Bruner said it makes math much less intimidating for students. In addition, the seventh- and eighth-grade classes she teaches now remember a lot more of what they learned because theyre not just memorizing formulas and rules but a story line with associated math.

We test at the start of the year and again in December, Bruner said. On math growth, almost all the students improved greatly this past semester. Its a brilliant hook to get students engaged and involved.

MidSchoolMaths inclusion on PEDs instructional materials list could mean a lot more local schools and school districts will adopt the curriculum going forward.

We consider adoption on the list as our biggest achievement to date, Laidlaw said. We expect to work with a handful of school districts this year that are looking to make a change.
NEW YORK, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Sasol Limited ("Sasol" or the "Company") (NYSE: SSL). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at [email protected] or 888-476-6529, ext. 9980.

The investigation concerns whether Sasol and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On January 14, 2020, Sasol issued a press release confirming that on January 13, 2020, the Company "experienced an explosion and fire at its LCCP low-density polyethylene (LDPE) unit" of its Lake Charles chemicals project in Louisiana. Sasol stated that "[t]he unit was in the final stages of commissioning and startup when the incident occurred" and "has been shut down and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the incident, the extent of the damage and resulting impact on the LDPE unit's [beneficial operation] schedule."

On this news, Sasol's American depositary receipt price fell $1.70 per share, or 7.84%, over the following two trading days, closing at $19.99 per share on January 15, 2020.

The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com.

CONTACT:

Robert S. Willoughby

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

888-476-6529 ext. 9980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP

Related Links

http://www.pomerantzlaw.com


Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site.

0108263 License for publishing multimedia online



Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349
Six people were killed in a shooting and several more injured in a shooting in southwestern Germany, police and local media said on Friday.

The shooter, believed to have a personal motive, launched an assault in the town of Rot am See.

The DPA news agency and Bild newspaper both reported six people had died in the shooting.

A police spokesman in nearby Aalen told AFP that "several" people were wounded and more than one killed but could not confirm reports of six people killed.

A man with a personal connection to the victims had been arrested, the spokesman said.

The Bild newspaper reported that the people killed were all family members of the shooter, adding that the perpetrator was a man born in 1983.

The shooting took place at around 12:45 local time (11:45 GMT) near the train station at Rot am See, a town of 5,200 residents near Heidelberg and located some 135 km (84 miles) southeast of Frankfurt, close to the medieval town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

Mass shootings are a comparatively rare occurrence in Germany, although in October a far-right attacker shot two people dead in eastern city Halle after trying to get into a packed synagogue with home-made weapons.

In July 2016, a teenager used a pistol bought illegally online to kill nine people in a shooting spree at a Munich shopping centre, before turning the weapon on himself.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Annabella Sciorra testifies in Harvey Weinstein trial originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

"Sopranos" actress Annabella Sciorra took the witness stand on Thursday at Harvey Weinstein's criminal trial and testified in wrenching detail about the night nearly 30 years ago that she said the disgraced Hollywood producer violently raped her at her apartment.

Sciorra's testimony is the first and among the most highly anticipated at a pivotal moment in the #MeToo movement as Weinstein faces rape and sexual assault charges in New York.

Journalist Ronan Farrow, who reported on the alleged rape in The New Yorker, told ABC News that the initial conversation he had with Sciorra several years ago where she disclosed the same details that she testified in trial "was one of the hardest conversations that I've ever heard a source have."

"She was gasping for air. It was physically difficult for her to recount these details," Farrow said in an interview Friday on "Good Morning America." "So you can imagine how this further step of going through, recounting all this yet again, and then subjecting herself to what she knew would be a brutal attempt to discredit her, that's a really difficult thing for anyone to do."

Throughout the direct examination by prosecutors on Thursday, the veteran actress, who grew up in Brooklyn, avoided using the mega-producer's name -- referring to him consistently as "the defendant" and positioning herself on the witness stand so that she was partially facing the jury as Weinstein sat over her right shoulder at the defense table.

MORE: Timeline: Harvey Weinstein's path to his New York City rape and sexual assault trial

In perhaps the most chilling moment of the morning's testimony, Sciorra rose and scanned the courtroom after being asked to identify Weinstein. She extended her hand in his direction and described what he was wearing: a black jacket, white shirt and white tie.

Story continues

Weinstein stared at her and nodded his head as if to say hello. She looked right back at him, but ignored the gesture and returned to her seat, her face set in apparent discomfort.

Six women are expected to testify in the trial, and Weinstein is charged with crimes related to two of them. The rest, including Sciorra, are being called in support of prosecutors' efforts to demonstrate a pattern of sexual predation.

Actress Ellen Barkin sat in the back row of the gallery throughout Sciorra's testimony, as did Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, who sat in the front row behind his prosecutors.

Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to five felony counts and denied ever engaging in non-consensual sex with anyone.

Emotional testimony

The actress said she first met Weinstein in at a Los Angeles party in 1990 or 1991, and at the end of the night she said he offered her -- and she accepted -- a ride home to her hotel. Their first encounter was uneventful, she testified. They talked about movies and he told her to send her any good scripts she might come across.

In an effort to help her friend Warren Light and the Naked Angel Theater Company, she sent a script for "The Night We Never Met," which had been written for Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, to Weinstein. The producer asked for a reading, so they hosted one, with Sciorra reading for Parker's role as Parker could not make the reading.

MORE: Weinstein trial spotlights the use of 'prior bad acts' witnesses

Weinstein insisted Sciorra play Parker's part, the actress said, despite Sciorra's protestations.

"He said he would not produce the movie if I was not in it with Matthew. And I -- you know -- felt bad about that because it was specifically written about Sarah Jessica Parker, and I felt bad for my friend Warren Light. So, I agreed to go ahead and be in the movie," Sciorra testified.

PHOTO: Annabella Sciorra arrives to testify as a witness in the case of film producer Harvey Weinstein during his sexual assault trial in New York, Jan. 23, 2020. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters)

The movie was released in the spring of 1993. During the winter of 1993-94, Sciorra was invited to a dinner in New York with Weinstein, actress Uma Thurman and several other individuals. As she got up to leave the dinner around 9:30 p.m., Weinstein offered her a ride to her nearby Gramercy Park apartment.

"I went upstairs and got ready for bed," she said. "I washed my face brushed my teeth and I put on a nightgown."

The white cotton nightgown, she said, was her grandmother's and "had been given to me by my mother's cousin in Italy, because I didn't really have anything of my grandmother's because she died very young."

MORE: Ronan Farrow explains the Harvey Weinstein trial

Without warning, there was a knock at the door, Sciorra said. She assumed it was a neighbor or the building doorman, so she opened it. Weinstein pushed himself inside and began walking through the apartment. She testified that it appeared he was looking to see if anyone else was in the apartment.

"Then he started to unbutton his shirt and I then realized he thought we were going to be having sex," she said.

Sciorra testified that she started backing up, thinking she could make it into her bathroom. With tears running from her eyes in the courthouse, she stood up and clasped her hands above her head to describe the way she claimed Weinstein pinned her down on a bed when she could not reach the bathroom.

"I was punching him, I was kicking him, I was just trying to get him away from me," Sciorra said, crying, but with her hands "locked" by him, she "couldn't fight any more."

At a certain point he stopped, she said, and ejaculated on her leg and nightgown, saying he had "perfect timing." She claimed he then forcibly performed oral sex on her, saying, "This is for you."

"I didn't have very much fight left inside of me at that point. I said, 'No! No!' But I mean, there was not much I could do at that point -- my body shut down. It was just so disgusting that my body started to shake in a way that was very unusual. I didn't really even know what was happening. It was like a seizure or something," Sciorra said.

Afterwards, she said, "The defendant left, he walked out."

PHOTO: Harvey Weinstein arrives at Manhattan Supreme Court, Jan. 23, 2020, for the second day in his rape and sexual assault trial. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images)

Several weeks later, she said she crossed paths with Weinstein in a restaurant.

"I confronted him about what happened in my apartment. I tried to talk to him about what happened. And I told him I woke up and that I had blacked out or fainted, and he said, 'That's what all the nice Catholic girls say.' And then he leaned into me and said, 'This remains between you and I,'" Sciorra said. "It was very menacing -- his eyes went black, and I thought he was going to hit me right there. He was threatening and I was afraid."

After the alleged attack, Sciorra said she resumed her life "to the best of my ability." That included a lot of crying, she said, and "what I now know is called dissociative experiences."

"I spent a lot of time alone, didn't want to see any people. I didn't want to talk about what happened. I disappeared," she said, adding as she choked back tears that she began to drink "a lot" and cut herself also "a lot."

MORE: Alleged victims quickly condemn Harvey Weinstein over new interview

I had this wall that was -- it was white -- and then I began to paint it like a blood red color with tubes of oil paint," she said. "It was this massive wall. I dont know what I was thinking. I began to cut myself."

"I bled from my finger and my hands into this masterpiece, and wherever I would put the blood I would take pieces of gold leaf and mark it, she said, referring to the spots where she would mingle the blood with the red paint on the wall.

Asked why she did this, she paused, and grew emotional.

I dont know," she replied. "I didnt feel good.

Cross-examination

Defense attorney Donna Rotunno cross-examined Sciorra Thursday afternoon. Under her questioning, Sciorra explained why she didn't call the police about the alleged attack.

"At the time, I didn't understand that was rape," she responded, going on to explain that at the time "I would say I felt at the time that rape was something that happened, you know, in a back alleyway, in a dark place bysomebody you didn't know with a gun to your head."

MORE: Why assault victims stay in touch with attackers, in light of Weinstein defense

Sciorra also said under questioning that she had not asked the doorman why he let Weinstein up without announcing him, determined whether there were cameras in the building, determined whether Weinstein signed in downstairs, or complained to the board about someone being let up to her apartment without notice.

"No," Sciorra said, staring back at Rotunno. "I was devastated."

MORE: Harvey Weinstein charged with rape, other sex crimes: LA district attorney

In the course of several hours of often tense cross-examination, Rotunno tried repeatedly to impeach Sciorras credibility, with virtually no success.

Each time Rotunno appeared to have laid a rhetorical trap for Sciorra, the actress struck back, turning the tables on the line of questioning and forcing Rotunno to move on.

Sciorra was cross-examined about an incident shes previously described at the Cannes Film Festival in 1997, where she says Weinstein turned up before dawn at her hotel room door and knocked.

Referring to the alleged attack at her Grammercy Park apartment, Rotunno asked, sarcastically, You already know you heard a knock at the door and answered it without seeing the other end -- didnt go well, correct?

Correct, Sciorra replied.

And you open the door?

Correct, Sciorra said, explaining that she opened the door to find Weinstein standing in the hallway in nothing but his underwear.

Hes standing there, and you say you couldnt get out of the room  Why didnt you just close the door?

Sciorra leaned in for emphasis, focused her eyes on Rotunno and said, sharply, because he was IN my room.

Sciorra said she called hotel security, but by the time they arrived, Weinstein was leaving or had just left.

Did you make any formal complaint to the hotel?

No, Sciorra shot back, holding her gaze on the defense attorney. He owns the hotel.

At another point, Sciorra again seemed to catch Rotunno off guard.

Referring to an event where Sciorra and Weinstein ran into each other after the alleged winter 1993-94 rape, Rotunno asked the witness, When you saw Harvey Weinstein at the Miramax event, did you say to him, You raped me?

Yes I did, Sciorra replied, stopping Rotunno cold for a moment.

In their final bid to impeach Sciorras account, the defense played a 1997 video clip of Sciorra appearing on The David Letterman Show, in a segment in which she described how she sometimes fabricated stories when reporters pushed too far with invasive questions about her personal life, and recounted one tale in which she claimed that "Easy Rider" star Dennis Hopper and her father raised iguanas in the circus.

Letterman teased Sciorra about the claims she made up, and she jokingly replied, I have a bad reputation where I lie.

On re-direct, prosecutor Joan Illuzzi seemed to mock the defenses effort with the Letterman clip.

The tales you were lying about were about your father raising iguanas in the circus? Illuzzi asked Sciorra.

Yes, the actress replied.

And this is not a circus? Illuzzi replied, referring to courtroom.

No, Sciorra solemnly replied.

If you or someone you know experienced sexual assault and is seeking resources, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
Tens of thousands of Iraqis marched through Baghdad today demanding the expulsion of US troops, some hanging effigies of Donald Trump.

However, populist cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's calls for a 'million man march' fell well short and the crowds dissipated after a few hours.

It comes after a US drone strike in the Iraqi capital killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani on January 3 and subsequent strikes on Iran-backed shi'ite militia.

Sadr kept his march well away from the US Embassy - which was stormed last month - and Tahrir Square, the scene of ongoing anti-government protests.

Supporters of Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr carry a symbolic gallows with an effigy of President Donald Trump during a demonstration in central Baghdad on Friday

Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr carry placards depicting U.S. President Donald Trump at a protest against what they say is U.S. presence and violations in Iraq

Followers of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr gather in Baghdad, Iraq, Friday

Throngs started gathering early on Friday at al-Hurriya Square near Baghdad's main university.

'We want them all out - America, Israel, and the corrupt politicians in government,' said Raed Abu Zahra, a health worker from southern Samawa, who had come by bus to Baghdad and stayed in Sadr City, a sprawling district controlled by Sadr's followers.

Anti-American protesters in the Iraqi capital today

'We support the anti-government protests in Tahrir Square as well, but understand why Sadr held this protest here so it doesn't take attention from theirs,' he added.

The protests have shattered nearly two years of relative calm following the 2017 defeat of Islamic State and threaten to send the country back into major civil strife.

Unrest erupted in October with protests against a corrupt ruling elite, including Iran-backed politicians, that have met deadly force from government security forces and pro-Iran paramilitaries that dominate the state.

Washington's killing this month of Iranian military mastermind Qassem Soleimani added a new dimension to the crisis.

It has temporarily united rival Shi'ite groups in opposition to the presence of U.S. troops - a rallying cry that critics say aims simply to refocus the street and kill the momentum of the anti-establishment protests that challenge their grip on power.

Sadr, who commands a following of millions in vast Baghdad slums, opposes all foreign interference in Iraq but has recently aligned himself more closely with Iran, whose allies have dominated state institutions since a 2003 U.S.-led invasion.

Sadr supported anti-government protests when they began in October, but did not publicly urge his followers to join them.

Thousands of Muqtada al-Sadr followers and supporters of Iran-backed Shiite armed groups participated in a demonstration, calling for the US to end its military presence in Iraq, since the Iraqi Parliament approved a measure calling for United States troops to leave

Women hold placards denouncing Donald Trump's 'crimes' and referring to 'US terrorism'

The demonstrations have since taken aim at all groups and figures that are part of the post-2003 system including Sadr, who although often considered an outsider is part of that system, commanding one of the two largest blocs in parliament.

Parliament urged the government to eject U.S. troops after the killing of Soleimani, but Sunni and Kurdish politicians boycotted the session, the first time lawmakers have voted along ethnic and sectarian lines since the defeat of IS.

Sunnis and Kurds generally oppose the withdrawal of U.S. troops, seeing them as crucial in fighting against IS remnants and a buffer against dominance of Iran.

U.S.-Iran tension playing out on Iraqi soil has further fractured Iraqi politics and distracted leaders from forming a new government.

Iraq's top Shi'ite Muslim cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, called in his weekly sermon for political groups to form a government as soon as possible to bring stability to the country and enact reforms to improve Iraqis' lives.

'Iraq's sovereignty must be respected ... and citizens should have the right to peaceful protest,' said the cleric, who comments on politics only in times of crisis and wields great influence over Iraq's Shi'ite majority.

Iraqi President Barham Salih posted a photo of Friday's march on Twitter and wrote that Iraqis deserved a 'fully sovereign state that serves its people.'

Under the government of caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, who said he would quit in November, security forces and unidentified gunmen believed to be linked to powerful Iran-backed militias killed nearly 450 anti-establishment protesters.

Marchers on Friday wore Iraqi flags and symbolic white robes indicating they were willing to die for Iraq while others sat looking out over the square from half finished buildings, holding signs reading 'No America, no Israel, no colonialists'.

Anti-American marchers were protected by Sadr's Saraya al-Salam, or Peace Brigades, and Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella grouping of mostly Iran-backed Shi'ite militias, witnesses said.

The march did not head as initially feared towards U.S. Embassy, the scene of violent clashes last month when militia supporters tried to storm the compound.

Many marchers boarded buses in the early afternoon to head home. A smaller number shuffled along towards Tahrir Square.

Outside the U.S. embassy in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone, a sign read 'Warning. Do not cross this barrier, we will use pre-emptive measures against any attempt to cross.'
Andrew Johnson

Library of Congress

The House of Representatives impeached President Donald Trump following a whistleblower scandal involving a Trump call to the leader of Ukraine, and his trial is currently underway in the Senate.

Congress holds the Constitutional power to charge federal officials with crimes and remove them from office.

In US history, just 19 federal officials  one senator, one cabinet secretary, three presidents, and 15 judges  were impeached.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

In a historic move on December 18, the House of Representatives impeached President Donald Trump.

In US history, just 20 federal officials  one senator, one Cabinet secretary, three presidents, and 15 judges  were impeached. Of those impeachments, just seven have occurred in the past 80 years.

President Richard Nixon, the only president to resign from office, was actually never impeached. He stepped down before proceedings had begun. The two presidents who were impeached by the House, Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson, were both acquitted by the Senate. No president has ever been convicted by the Senate.

Here are the stories behind the 20 federal officials who were impeached in US history:

An earlier version of this article was written by Allan Smith.

William Blount

William Blount

Tennessee Portrait Project/Wikipedia

The first federal official to be subject to impeachment was Blount, a US Senator from Tennessee, in 1797.

Blount was accused of conspiring to allow Britain to gain control of Florida and Louisiana in exchange for American access to the Mississippi River and New Orleans. A letter outlining the plan was turned over to President John Adams, who came to the conclusion that what Blount was trying to pull off amounted to a crime.

The House voted to hold impeachment hearings, but the Senate, taking responsibility for one of their own, took control of the matter and voted to essentially expel him from the governing body.

Story continues

John Pickering

Federal Judge John Pickering

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Pickering, a district judge in New Hampshire, was impeached in 1803 and convicted by the Senate in 1804 for, among other things, being drunk.

President Thomas Jefferson accused Pickering of having bad morals because he was drunk while on the bench. Jefferson also accused the district judge of making unlawful rulings, but Pickering's drunkenness is what he's more remembered for.

"I shall be sober tomorrow," Pickering said at the start of a November 1802 hearing, according to Politico. "I am now damned drunk."

Samuel Chase

Samuel Chase

Wikimedia Commons

Chase was an associate judge on the US Supreme Court. He was impeached in March of 1804 for "arbitrary and oppressive" conduct during trials. Chase was ultimately acquitted for the charges by the Senate.

Source: House of Representative's History, Art and Archives

James H. Peck

James Peck

Wikipedia

Peck was a district court judge in Tennessee. He was impeached in 1830 on charges of abuse of the contempt power, but was later acquitted.

West Hughes Humphreys

West Hughes Humphreys

Wikipedia

West Hughes Humphreys was impeached for something that no federal official could find themselves subjected to in modern times: serving simultaneously as a US district court judge in Tennessee and as a Confederate judge in the same state at the beginning of the Civil War.

Impeached in 1862, Humphreys was subsequently convicted on charges including calling for secession from the union, aiding an armed rebellion, and serving as a Confederate judge.

One charge he was not convicted on? Confiscating property belonging to President Abraham Lincoln-appointed Tennessee Military Governor Andrew Johnson, the future president.

Speaking of Johnson...

Andrew Johnson

Andrew Johnson

Library of Congress

Library of Congress

President Johnson, one of only three US presidents to be impeached, was famously loathed by many in Congress. So much so that Congress passed the Tenure of Office Act, which curtailed the president's ability to fire members of his own Cabinet.

Johnson went ahead and tried to fire his secretary of war anyway, and was subsequently impeached by the House in 1868. He avoided conviction in the Senate by one vote.

The Tenure of Office Act was repealed in its entirety in 1887.

Mark W. Delahay

Mark W. Delahay

Kansas Historical Society, Cool Things/Wikimedia Commons

Delahay was a district judge in Kansas who was impeached in 1873 on charges of intoxication on the bench. He resigned prior to the Senate trial.

William Belknap

William Belknap

Library of Congress

Belknap served as the US Secretary of War when he was impeached in 1876 on charges of "criminal disregard for his office and accepting payments in exchange for making official appointments." He was acquitted by the Senate.

Source: House of Representative's History, Art and Archives

Charles Swayne

gavel judge court

Shutterstock/Andrey Popov

Swayne was a judge serving the northern district of Florida. He was impeached in 1904 on charges of abuse of contempt power and other "misuses of office." He was acquitted by the Senate.

Source: House of Representative's History, Art and Archives

Robert W. Archbald

Robert W. Archbald

Wikimedia Commons

Archbald was an associate judge on the US Commerce Court. He was impeached in 1912 for inappropriate business relations with litigants. He was removed from his position and disqualified from holding future office.

George W. English

George W. English

Wikimedia Commons

English was a district court judge in Illinois when he was impeached in April of 1926 on charges of abuse of power. The Senate trial began in late April, but English resigned in November of that year.

Harold Louderback

gavel

Louderback was a district judge for the northern district of California, when he was impeached in February of 1933 on charges of "favoritism in the appointment of bankruptcy receivers." Louderback was acquitted by the Senate after a week-long trial in May of that year.

Source: House of Representative's History, Art and Archives

Halsted L. Ritter

HALSTED_L._RITTER

Wikimedia Commons

Ritter was a judge for the Southern District of Florida when he was impeached in 1986 on charges of "favoritism in bankruptcy receivers and practicing law as a sitting judge."

Ritter was found guilty later that year by the Senate and removed from office.

Source: House of Representative's History, Art and Archives

Harry E. Claiborne

Harry E. Claiborne

Photo by Terry Ashe/The LIFE Images Collection via Getty Images/Getty Images

Claiborne served as the district court judge of Nevada when he was impeached in 1986 for income tax invasion and "of remaining on the bench following criminal conviction."

Claiborne was found guilty and removed from office.

Source: House of Representative's History, Art and Archives

Alcee L. Hastings

Alcee Hastings

Getty / Mark Wilson

Hastings, who currently serves as a Democratic representative in Florida, was impeached as a district court judge in the southern district of Florida in 1988. Hastings was found guilty and removed from his position the following year.

Walter L. Nixon

Walter Nixon

Wikimedia Commons

Walter Nixon  not to be confused with former President Richard Nixon who resigned before he was impeached  was a district judge in Mississippi when he was impeached on charges of perjury in front of a federal grand jury in 1989.

He was found guilty and removed from office later that year.

Bill Clinton

Bill Clinton

Jeffrey Markowitz/Getty Images

Former President Bill Clinton became the second impeached president in history after he was impeached on charges of lying under oath and obstruction of justice in 1998. He was acquitted by the Senate the following year.

Samuel B. Kent

Samuel B Kent

Wikimedia Commons

Kent was a district court judge in Texas. He was impeached in Juune of 2009 on charges of "sexual assault, obstructing and impeding an official proceeding, and making false and misleading statements." He resigned late that month before the completion of his trial.

Source: House of Representative's History, Art and Archives

G. Thomas Porteous, Jr.

U.S. District Court Judge of Louisiana G. Thomas Porteous, Jr.,

Melina Mara/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Porteous was a district judge in Louisiana. He was impeached on charges of accepting bribes and perjury in 2010. He was found guilty by the Senate later that year, removed and disqualified from holding future office.

Donald J. Trump

donald trump

Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images

President Donald Trump became the third president in US history to be impeached on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress in December 2019.

The current president's impeachment trial began in January 2020 as the House impeachment managers make their case to the Senate on whether or not to remove the president.

Read the original article on Business Insider
LONDON, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Visiongain has forecasted that the global Offshore Oil & Gas Decommissioning market will see a capital expenditure (CAPEX) of $8,279 million in 2020. Decommissioning of ageing offshore oil and gas projects has increased substantially over the past few years. Moreover, over 600 projects along the Gulf of Mexico, the North Sea and Asia Pacific are likely to be disposed of over the next five to six years. This, in turn, is projected to drive the global offshore oil and gas decommissioning market over the forecast period. Increasing stringent decommissioning regulation are projected to play a crucial role to promote the growth in this market over the next 10 years. Offshore decommissioning is highly complex and potentially has a vast environmental impact. It is also a global industry, and therefore understanding regulations worldwide are essential for companies operating within the market. Crucially, the development of regulation in the offshore decommissioning market has the ability to impact the rate at which the market grows and also how much-decommissioning processes are going to cost.

Read on to discover the potential business opportunities available.

With such established global offshore oil and gas fields, decommissioning becomes increasingly pertinent. As global offshore oil and gas fields mature, ageing structures must be removed. With the average lifetime of an offshore oil and gas field in the region of 25 to 40 years, this leaves many global structures in need of decommissioning. The cost involved in the decommissioning varies from project to project and coast to coast. The majority of costs are associated with the jacket, topside and subsea structure removal phases and well P&A. Decommissioning projects are highly complex, lengthy and expensive; the process involves many different stages and can take more than a decade to complete. With such environmental, economic and social pressures, the offshore decommissioning market is set to drastically increase, creating substantial business opportunities along the way.

There are hundreds of companies who either possess offshore oil and gas assets that will need to be decommissioned over the next decade, or who provide consultancy, engineering and other services to the decommissioning industry. Therefore, the following list of companies is by no means exhaustive. Companies have been broken down into three groups: oil and gas companies with offshore assets; decommissioning contractors; and decommissioning consultancies.

To request sample pages from this report please contact Sara Peerun at sara.peerun@visiongain.com or refer to our website: https://www.visiongain.com/report/offshore-oil-gas-decommissioning-market-report-forecasts-2020-2030/download_sampe_div

Leading Companies in the Offshore Oil & Gas Decommissioning Market

Oil and Gas Companies with Offshore Assets:

 Apache Corporation

 BP

 Canadian Natural Resources (CNR)

 Chevron Corporation

 ConocoPhillips

 Eni

 ExxonMobil Corporation

 Petronas

 PTTEP Australasia

 Royal Dutch Shell

 Statoil

 Total S.A.

Visiongain's global Offshore Oil & Gas Decommissioning market report can keep you informed and up to date with the developments in the market, across four different regions: The Gulf of Mexico and North America, the North Sea, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World.

With reference to this report, it details the key investments trend in the global market, subdivided by regions, capital and operational expenditure and project type. Through extensive secondary research and interviews with industry experts, Visiongain has identified a series of market trends that will impact the Offshore Oil & Gas Decommissioning market over the forecast timeframe.

The report will answer questions such as:

 How is the offshore oil & gas decommissioning market evolving?

 What is driving and restraining the offshore oil & gas decommissioning market?

 How will each offshore oil & gas decommissioning submarket segment grow over the forecast period and how much revenue will these submarkets account for in 2029?

 How will the market shares for each offshore oil & gas Decommissioning submarket develop from 2019 to 2029?

 What will be the main driver for the overall market from 2019 to 2029?

 Will leading offshore oil & gas decommissioning markets broadly follow the macroeconomic dynamics, or will individual national markets outperform others?

 How will the market shares of the national markets change by 2029 and which geographical region will lead the market in 2029?

 Who are the leading players and what are their prospects over the forecast period?

 What are the decommissioning projects for these leading companies?

 How will the industry evolve during the period between 2019 and 2029?

Five Reasons Why You Must Order and Read This Report Today:

1) The report provides forecasts for the Global Offshore Oil & Gas Decommissioning market, by TYPE, for the period 2020-2030

 Well P&A CAPEX 2020-2030

 Jackside & Topside Removal CAPEX 2020-2030

 Others CAPEX 2020-2030

2) The report also forecasts and analyses the global Offshore Oil & Gas Decommissioning market by Regions from 2020-2030

 Gulf of Mexico and North America CAPEX 2020-2030

 North Sea CAPEX 2020-2030

 Asia-Pacific CAPEX 2020-2030

 Rest of the World CAPEX 2020-2030

Among the regions, the North Sea region is estimated to account for 48.65% of the world offshore oil and gas decommissioning market in 2020 while the Gulf of Mexico and North America region is projected to be a second largest region for the decommissioning of offshore oil and gas platforms. The Gulf of Mexico is anticipated to experience a large number of oil and gas platforms being decommissioned over the next 10 years. The North Sea region is projected to be the largest region, and it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.5% over the period of 2020 to 2025 and 2.95% over the period of 2025 to 2030.

3) The report reveals global regulations and agreements affecting the Offshore Oil and Gas Decommissioning Industry:

4) The report includes Leading Companies analysis in the Offshore Oil & Gas Decommissioning Market Companies

 Companies with Offshore Assets

 Decommissioning Contractors

 Decommissioning Consultancies

5) The report provides detailed profiles of the leading companies operating within the Offshore Oil & Gas Decommissioning market:

 BP Plc

 Canadian Natural Resources

 Chevron Corporation

 ConocoPhillips

 ExxonMobil Corporation

 Total S.A.

 Royal Dutch Shell Plc

 ENI

To request a report overview of this report please contact Sara Peerun at sara.peerun@visiongain.com or refer to our website: https://www.visiongain.com/report/offshore-oil-gas-decommissioning-market-report-forecasts-2020-2030/

Did you know that we also offer a report add-on service? Email sara.peerun@visiongain.com to discuss any customized research needs you may have.

Companies covered in the report include:

Able UK

AF Gruppen

Aker Solutions

Allseas

AP Mller

Atotech

Baker Hughes

Bayernoil

Bibby Offshore Limited

BMT Cordah

BP

Brasil Petroleo Ltda

Cal Dive International

Canadian Natural Resources

Chevron Brasil Oleo & Gas Ltda

Chevron Corporation

ConocoPhillips

Cutting Underwater Solutions (CUT)

Daewoo

ENI

Eric Faulds Associates Ltd

ExxonMobil

Genesis Oil and Gas Consultants Ltd

Halliburton

Heerema Marine Contractors (HMC)

JX Nippon Oil and Gas Exploration Corporation

Linch-Pin Offshore Management Solutions

Maamoet Salvage

Mactech Inc.

Maersk Decom

Mauritania Deepwater Ltd.

Oceaneering (Norse Cutting and Abandonment)

Optimus

PB Consultants

Perenco

Petrobras

Petrofac

Petronas

Pipeline Services International

Proserv

Ramboll

Reverse Engineering Services Ltd (RESL)

Royal Dutch Shell

Saipem

Sapura Acergy

Schlumberger

Stork Technical Services

Subsea 7

Technip

Tetra Technologies

Total Erg

Total S.A.

TSB Offshore

Versabar

Weatherford International

Wild Well Control

Wood Group

Worley Parsons

Zhejiang

To see a report overview please e-mail Sara Peerun on sara.peerun@visiongain.com

Related reports:

Oil & Gas Subsea Umbilicals, Risers & Flowlines (SURF) Market Report 2019-2029

Multi-Well Drilling Market Forecast 2017-2027

Deepwater Drilling Market Report 2018-2028

Subsea Production & Processing Systems Market Outlook 2018-2028

Marine Seismic Equipment & Acquisition Market Forecast 2019-2029

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/523989/Visiongain_Logo.jpg
The Environmental Protection Agency has made it easier for cities to keep dumping raw sewage into rivers by letting them delay or otherwise change federally imposed fixes to their sewer systems, according to interviews with local officials, water utilities and their lobbyists.

Cities have long complained about the cost of meeting federal requirements to upgrade aging sewer systems, many of which release untreated waste directly into waterways during heavy rains  a problem that climate change worsens as rainstorms intensify. These complaints have gained new traction with the Trump administration, which has been more willing to renegotiate the agreements that dictate how, and how quickly, cities must overhaul their sewers.

The actions are the latest example of the Trump administrations efforts to roll back nearly 95 environmental rules that it has said are too costly for industry or taxpayers. That list grew on Thursday, when the administration stripped clean-water protections from wetlands, streams and other waterways.

When you walk into the current E.P.A., as a local government, youre not treated as evil, said Paul Calamita, a lawyer who represents cities seeking to change their agreements. Which wed gotten, quite frankly, from prior administrations.
EYOTA  The city of Eyota is looking to the future.

On Wednesday night, the city's economic development authority, planning commission and city council gathered to listen to a pair of proposals that could help reshape the city.

Jamie Judisch, vice president of Judisch and Judisch Enterprises, talked to the three boards about a potential housing development to be constructed between Carolann Street Northwest and the railroad tracks, just west of downtown Eyota.

"We're trying to provide a more affordable product," Judisch said.

Likely what that means in Eyota is a 36-unit multifamily dwelling with one- or two-bedroom apartments that are affordable for individuals earning somewhere near $40,000 a year or couples earning slightly less than $80,000 a year.

ADVERTISEMENT

Judisch and Judisch built a similar complex in Pine Island that has sold well, Judisch said. However, part of the success of that project came from a tax-increment finance district for the property through the city to help reduce the costs, which in turn helped the developers keep rents affordable.

Judisch said the definition of "affordable housing" can be vague and vary from person to person, but as a developer, he's looking at average medium income for Olmsted County. That number, he said, puts renters too high for subsidies but often puts them at a price point below most rents available on the market.

Eyota officials heard about a project that would start with an apartment complex and, possibly, some duplexes, then add a second or third phase with some single-family-home lots.

All of this, Judisch said, including phase one, is very preliminary. However, as a developer, it has become more and more difficult to find available and affordable lots that have access to utilities infrastructure. The land in Eyota, which is currently agricultural land, has sewer running under the property and is adjacent to water and electricity.

An early estimate of the cost, he said, is roughly $4.5 million, though that could change based on the scope of the project and other factors such as cost of materials.

"We believe that there is a big need for it," Judisch said. "It's very expensive to build right now. It's hard to bring housing on for affordable prices."

The land being looked at in Eyota is directly north of the stormwater retention wetland being developed by the city, and the city engineer noted that part of that land tends to flood in large flooding events, something that both Planning Commission member Susan Spafford and City Council member John Chesney said brought them some concern.

Judisch said construction would take place on the higher ground closer to Carolann Street, and the plan would be to avoid any basement or underground parking like the developer has used at other projects in Pine Island and Rochester. For parking, the plan would be to pave a surface lot and include garages, he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

If a project that makes financial sense and meets a housing need can be developed, Judisch said ideally they'd be able to break ground in late summer or early autumn with a timeline of 10 months from the start of construction to getting their certificate of occupancy.

"We want to work with (the city) because we want it to be a win-win," Judisch said.

Near the end of the meeting, he asked members of the three councils whether the general outline of a plan sounded feasible or whether the developer should move on to the next town and next option.

"Me, personally, I want to work with you and see this happen," said City Council member Bryan Cornell.

The boards also heard from Eyota EDA Director Cathy Enerson, who said a potential industrial development on the west side of Minnesota Highway 42 about a half-mile south of U.S. Highway 14 is requesting the city's assistance in obtaining a right-turn lane directly opposite Whetstone Place Northwest.

Enerson said a company has been exploring a 28-acre piece of land  14 buildable acres  along Highway 42.

The right-turn lane would be to reduce traffic congestion for trucks turning into the site.

Both Mayor Tony Nelson and City Council member Ray Schuchard questioned why the city would need to get involved with a right-turn lane. Schuchard also asked why there would not be a corresponding left-turn lane into the site.

ADVERTISEMENT

Enerson said because the turn lane comes from a state highway, the city would need to work with the Minnesota Department of Transportation to obtain rights to construct the lane if the development were to occur.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Friday stayed the order of appellate tribunal NCLAT which had dismissed the plea of Registrar of Companies seeking modification of its verdict in the Tata-Cyrus Mistry case.

A bench, comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant, agreed to hear the appeal of Tata Sons Pvt Ltd (TSPL) and issued notice to the parties concerned.

The apex court said it would hear the matter along with the main plea filed by Tata Sons against the verdict of National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).

TSPL challenged the December 18 decision of NCLAT which gave big relief to Cyrus Investment Pvt Ltd and Mistry, restoring him as the executive chairman of TSPL.

NCLAT had ordered the reinstatement of Mistry as the head of Tata Sons, the holding company of USD 110 billion salt-to-software conglomerate, saying his 2016 sacking was wrong.

It also held that conversion of Tata Sons from a public company to a private one by the RoC was "illegal".

Subsequently, the RoC, under the Union Corporate Affairs Ministry, had moved a petition seeking deletion of words "illegal" and "with the help of the RoC" on the issue of conversion of Tata Sons into a private company.

Rejecting the prayer for amendment in the Judgment, NCLAT observed that the judgment did not cast aspersions on the RoC and said this is a "wrong perception" as no observation has been made against the RoC, Mumbai, nor anything alleged against him.

On January 10, the apex court had stayed the NCLAT order restoring Mistry as executive chairman of the Tata Group, observing that there were "lacunae" in the orders passed by the tribunal.

It also said that the NCLAT decision suffers from "basic errors" and the matter needs to be heard in detail.

While ordering interim stay of the NCLAT order, the bench also said, "You (Cyrus) have been out of the saddle for quite a long time. Does this hurt you now. How does it (stay order) hurt you today".

The apex court said there was no prayer in the petition for reinstatement of Mistry but the tribunal went ahead with it and ordered that.

The top court had directed that the Tatas will not exercise power under Article 75 of the 'Articles of Association' for pushing out shares of minority holders in the company.

The Article empowers the company to, at any time, to transfer ordinary shares of any shareholders without following the normal procedure of transfer.

TSPL, formerly known as Tata Sons Limited, had sought setting aside of the NCLAT judgment in toto, alleging it was "completely inconsistent with the annals of corporate law" and reflected "non-appreciation of facts", which was "untenable in law".
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  In a dramatic call played Thursday at a murder trial centered on an innocent bystanders death, jurors heard a witness tell a 911 operator he had just seen gunfire erupt on a New Brighton street.

Some guys pulled up and just shot. It was right now. It was like four shots, the witness, Robert Paredes, told the operator. They were in the car. It was like a drive-by. It was a gray Infiniti.

Paredes, a key prosecution witness, testified that the two shooters returned to their car and drove off after firing four or five shots in rapid succession. Afterward, he called 911 and walked down Pauw Street to Jersey street in the direction in which the men were firing.

He said he saw a victim lying on the ground on Jersey near Pauw.

Paredes, 19, said the shooting had started after a man ran down Pauw toward Jersey.

The witness, however, could not identify the gunmen, beyond saying he believed they were black based upon the color of their hands, which he saw from a distance.

Isaiah Kelson, 23, an alleged member of a West Brighton gang, is accused of fatally shooting Frances Williams, 67, on Jersey Street on July 10, 2018.

Kelsons intended target was the man running down the street, prosecutors allege. The defendant believed that person was associated with a rival New Brighton gang, allege prosecutors.

Kelson and others were bent on revenge after watching a buddy of theirs get mowed down in St. George less than an hour earlier by a van containing members of the New Brighton crew, prosecutors allege.

West Brighton residents Jaleel Hewitt, 27, and Marquise Tart, 26 are also on trial, but for conspiracy and criminal facilitation stemming from the events leading up to Williams shooting.

They are not charged with murder.

Paredes testified for about an hour.

On direct examination by Assistant District Attorney Andrew Botelho, he said the events unfolded at around 12:25 p.m.

Paredes said he was part of a plumbing crew performing water main and sewer work on York Avenue near Prospect Avenue.

The witness said he saw a man running down Prospect, across York and onto Pauw, which is directly opposite Prospect. The man ran down Pauw toward Jersey, he said.

Moments later, a gray Infiniti turned onto York from Prospect, parked by a hydrant, and two men jumped out, he said.

The pair ran toward the rear of the car, which was a distance ahead of Paredes, and he heard shots being fired.

Paredes said he and co-workers ran for cover in the opposite direction behind a generator on the street.

He said he looked up and saw the men firing down Pauw toward Jersey.

Paredes said a black Mercury turned from Prospect onto York and parked behind the Infiniti after the men returned to the Infiniti.

The two cars then pulled out, one behind the other, and drove down York, said the witness.

Under cross-examination by Rick J. Pasacreta, Tarts lawyer, and Mario Romano, Hewitts attorney, Paredes confirmed that the Mercury arrived on the scene after the shooting. No one exited it, he said.

The witness said he did not see the Mercury in the area any time before it pulled up.

Parades also said he didnt mention the Mercury to the 911 operator.

I didnt think it had anything to do , he told Romano before tailing off.

Prosecutors allege Tart and Hewitt were inside the Mercury and had been driving around New Brighton streets looking for a rival gang member to shoot.

Questioned by Robert Reuland, Kelsons lawyer, Paredes could not provide the shooters physical description beyond saying they were wearing dark-colored long-sleeve shirts.

Paredes said he was more than the length of the courtroom, which is about 40 to 50 feet, away from the shooters.

Reuland also challenged Paredes identification of the car in which prosecutors allege Kelson was riding.

The witness said he picked out the car while driving around with cops near New Dorp High School.

He said he remembered it because it had rear-end damage around the right-side taillight.

Prosecutors showed jurors a photo of the car.

But the witness admitted he initially told a detective he had not gotten a good view of the car and couldnt provide details about it.

The trial resumes Friday in state Supreme Court, St. George.

Assistant District Attorneys Adam Silberlight and Arda Ozdinc are also prosecuting the case.
T he coronavirus has now killed 25 people in China and infected more than 800.

Most of the cases are in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where the virus is believed to have originated late last year.

But non-fatal cases have been found in at least seven other countries, including the United States.

The World Health Organisation declared it an emergency but stopped short of declaring the epidemic of international concern.

Medical staff attending to patient at the The Central Hospital Of Wuhan Via Weibo in Wuhan / via REUTERS

Five returned negative results and nine were still waiting to find out if they had been infected, Public Health England (PHE) said on Thursday night.

Health officials fear the transmission rate could accelerate as hundreds of millions of Chinese travel at home and abroad during week-long holidays for the Lunar New Year, which begins on Saturday.

Too early to declare coronavirus an international health emergency  WHO

But it was a "bit too early" to consider the outbreak a "Public Health Emergency of International Concern," WHO Emergency Committee panel chair Didier Houssin said after the body met in Geneva.

Such a designation would have required countries to step up the international response.

"Make no mistake, though, this is an emergency in China," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

"It has not yet become a global health emergency. It may yet become one," he said.

25 coronavirus deaths have so far been reported in China / REUTERS

Scrambling to contain the outbreak, the local government in Wuhan, a city of 11 million people in Hubei province, suspended most transport on Thursday, including outgoing flights, and people were told not to leave. Hours later, neighbouring Huanggang, a city of about seven million people, announced similar measures.

China later broadened the lockdowns to new cities, encompassing more than 20.5 million people, to try to contain new virus.

The previously unknown virus strain is believed to have emerged from illegally traded wildlife at an animal market in Wuhan.

It has created alarm because there are a number of unknowns surrounding it.
Civil servants in Northern Ireland are staging a one-day strike over pay.

They are protesting at the failure to address the issue as part of the deal to restore Stormont powersharing.

Areas affected include jobs and benefits offices, Universal Credit processing centres, rating offices, veterinary offices, meat inspectors, DAERA Direct offices, courts, the Public Prosecution Service and tribunals.

Causeway Exchange picket line today. pic.twitter.com/SuhwAdy2ej  NIPSA (@nipsa) January 24, 2020

Alison Millar, general secretary of the Nipsa union, said: Members across the Northern Ireland Civil Service will be on a one-day strike on Friday 24 January.

Members are angry that they have not had a resolution to their long-running dispute on the issue of pay, terms and conditions.

Civil servants were further angered when there was no mention in the New Decade, New Deal document of seeking to settle the Civil Service dispute, yet specific reference was made to the health workers and teachers disputes.

Queen's Court Belfast picket line this morning. pic.twitter.com/6W9pyzjZS6  NIPSA (@nipsa) January 24, 2020

It follows similar strike action last July.

Ms Millar said there was further anger after the announcement that Assembly Members who have not been at their place of work for the last three years were to receive a 1,000 pay rise with another increase in April.
The two outfits were instrumental in mobilising protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Assam last December

Over 80 leaders from the Muslim community have resigned from the Bharatiya Janata Party's Madhya Pradesh unit in protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, news agency PTI has reported.

The development comes weeks after the state unit's minority cell secretary, Akram Khan, reportedly quit from his post over the amended act and the proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Reports earlier suggested that members of the minority cell in the state were considering quitting en masse over the issue.

"The party has ignored us and the community has threatened boycott for supporting it. Where should we go now?" the minority cell's media in-charge, Javed Baig, had told The Hindu.

Baig alleged that, ahead of the party's door-to-door campaign in support of the CAA - called Jagrukta Mission, the party did not invite members of its minority cell to the meetings.

"They have already considered us out. How do they expect people to listen if we are not involved?" he told the newspaper.

One of the leaders, Rajik Qureshi Farshiwala, said that the party men had resigned from their primary membership after writing to the party's national president, J P Nadda, on January 22.

These leaders, who dubbed the CAA "a divisive provision made on religious grounds", include several office- bearers of the BJP's minority cell, he said.

"It was becoming increasingly difficult for us to participate in our community's events after the CAA came into existence (in December 2019)," Farshiwala said.

"Persecuted refugees of any community should get Indian citizenship. You cannot decide that a particular person is an intruder or a terrorist merely on the basis of religion," Farshiwala added.

In their letter, the Muslim leaders stated, "Citizens have right to equality under Article 14 of the Indian Constitution. But the BJP-led Central Government is implementing the CAA on religious grounds".

When asked about the development, BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya evening said, "I am not aware of the matter. But we will explain (about the CAA) if a person is being misled."

(With PTI inputs)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-25 05:43:59|Editor: Yurou

Video Player Close

People work at the site of a gas tanker explosion in Lima, Peru, on Jan. 23, 2020. The number of deaths from a gas tanker explosion in Lima on Thursday has risen to eight, Peruvian health authorities announced on Friday. (Xinhua/Mariana Bazo)

LIMA, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- The number of deaths from a gas tanker explosion in Lima on Thursday has risen to eight, Peruvian health authorities announced on Friday.

The head of the Almenara de EsSalud Performance Network, Jorge Amoros, stated that the eighth victim was 17-year-old "K.L.H.", who died from extensive burns.

Dozens of people were injured in the accident, and the Peruvian Minister of Health Elizabeth Hinostroza said that "more than 40 of our compatriots are still fighting for their lives."

A gas tanker from the company Transgas crashed on Pastor Sevilla Avenue in the Villa el Salvador district of Lima on Thursday, causing a gas leak that led to an explosion.

Authorities are currently investigating whether the truck had the requisite safeguards for transporting flammable materials and if Transgas staff had been adequately trained to deal with such a situation.

According to Edgar Gutierrez, the head of the Division of Investigations into Crimes against the State, the driver of the truck, Luis Palomino, has been handed over to the authorities and his injuries are being treated at a local clinic.
Facebook is not paying enough tax around the world but UK plans for a tough new levy are not a 'sustainable solution', former deputy prime minister Sir Nick Clegg warned today.

The ex-Liberal Democrat leader, now a lobbyist for the tech giant, attacked plans by Chancellor Sajid Javid to bring in the toll in April, which has sparked a furious row with the United States.

Donald Trump's administration has threatened a trade war over the plans to take US companies in Britain, including imposing tariffs on UK-made cars.

Speaking to the BBC this morning Sir Nick admitted that Facebook did not pay its 'fair share' taxes around the world, but insisted that a global perspective was the answer rather than local action.

He did not rule out the proposals being used as a bargaining chip in transatlantic post-Brexit trade negotiations and urged the UK to pause the plans to work towards an international solution.

He told Radio 4's Today programme: 'No-one wants to see trade wars but equally no-one wants to see what is, in the end, not a sustainable solution, which is a lot of patchwork taxes set at different levels in different ways, which don't raise, in the grand scheme of things, that much money either.

The ex-Liberal Democrat leader, now a lobbyist for the tech giant, attacked plans by Chancellor Sajid Javid to bring in the toll in April, which has sparked a furious row with the US

Speaking to the BBC this morning Sir Nick admitted that Facebook did not pay its 'fair share' taxes around the world, but insisted that a global perspective was the answer

The Chancellor said the digital services tax will be introduced from April but will only be a temporary measure

'I totally understand the political significance which is attached to this because people want to see big global companies like Facebook pay their fair share, but actually the solution the Treasury has come up with compared to total tax intake for the Treasury is very, very small indeed.

'I would simply throw the question back and say to Sajid Javid ''Look, you're not giving anything up by just saying you want to give the international talks more time to succeed''.'

On Wednesday US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Donald Trump will personally heap pressure on Boris Johnson to drop the proposed levy as MrJavid insisted it will go ahead.

The Chancellor said the digital services tax will be introduced from April but will only be a temporary measure until an international agreement is in place on how to deal with big online companies like Google and Facebook.

But Mr Mnuchin was clear the White House remains ardently against the move as he hinted retaliatory tariffs could be imposed on the UK's car industry if the tax is rolled out.

The US and France have announced a truce over President Emmanuel Macron's plans to introduce a similar measure after Washington responded with a threat to slap punitive tariffs on products including French cheese and wine.

Mr Javid said the tax - a two per cent levy on the revenues of search engines, social media platforms and online marketplaces which derive value from UK users - will be introduced.
I dont know her personal life. I only know her personal life through the media but every song that she did was a trigger. It was like, I feel like Ive been through that. Even though you might not have gone through it, you felt like you did go through it. Her delivery was very important for me.
Training launch of the surface to surface ballistic missile (SSBM) Ghaznavi has been conducted successfully by Pakistan on Thursday (January 23), said Dawn report, citing an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) release.

The launch was carried out as part of a training exercise of Army Strategic Forces Command aimed at rehearsing operational readiness procedures during day and night, said the statement.

According to the report, Director General Strategic Plans Division, Lieutenant General Nadeem Zaki Manj, appreciated the operational preparedness of the Army Strategic Forces Command. He reportedly lauded them for displaying a very high standard of proficiency in handling and operating the weapon system.

Troops displayed full confidence in the robust strategic command and control system, said Director General Strategic Plans Division, was quoted as saying by ISPR.

Live TV

Ghaznavi is capable of delivering multiple types of warheads up to a range of 290 kilometers, the report said, citing the Pakistan militarys media wing.

In November 2019, Pakistan also carried out training launch of ballistic missile Shaheen-I, which was also an SSBM, the report added.
HAZEL PARK, MI -- A 74-year-old Army veteran says a couple he took into his home last year out of sympathy for their circumstances eventually stole his truck and approximately $40,000 in cash from his home, according to Fox 2 Detroit.

Hazel Park Police say there are warrants out for the arrest of the couple, who had been living with the victim -- Terrance Finken -- since the middle of November. Authorities are asking the public for any information that might help track their whereabouts.

Finken says he took the couple into his home after meeting them following a snowfall. The suspects, identified as Bryan Moore, 30, and Meranda Stidham, 28, told Finken they had taken a bus to Michigan but had nowhere to go. Finken says he offered to let them stay with him and cleaned out a room for the duo while they stayed at his home.

However, on Jan. 7, Finken left his house around 4 p.m. to visit his daughter. When Finken returned home, he noticed his truck was missing. Soon after, he realized a lockbox in his house was also missing from his safe.

Security footage captured from a neighboring home allegedly shows Moore and Stidham running to the truck with a bag in hand around 5:20 p.m. Finken says the lockbox contained roughly $40,000 in cash, mostly older bills, with some dating as far back as 1935.

Finken says he cant believe the couple would do that to him after he welcomed them into his home and even bought them clothes because they had nothing when they arrived off the bus.

Warrants have been issued for the arrest of Moore and Stidham over the alleged theft, however police say the couple may have already left the state and could be as far south as Kentucky. The stolen truck is a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado half-ton pickup with the license plate: DC24398.

Anyone with information of the crime or the couples whereabouts is urged to contact the Hazel Park Police Department.
Thousands of Iraqis have gathered at two locations in central Baghdad after a prominent Shi'ite cleric called for a "million-strong" protest against the U.S. military presence in the country.

The march was called by Muqtada al-Sadr, who has recently aligned himself more closely with Iran.

Marchers started gathering early in the day at Hurriya Square in central Baghdad and near the city's main university. Marchers avoided Tahrir Square, symbol of mass anti-government protests.

Men and women marched waving Iraqi flags and chanting slogans against the United States, which leads a military coalition against the Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria.

Witnesses said the marchers were protected by Sadr's Saraya al-Salam brigades and Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella grouping of Iran-backed Shi'ite militias.

Main roads in Baghdad were barricaded by security forces and the city's Green Zone, which houses foreign missions, was blocked off with concrete barriers.

On January 5, Iraq's parliament passed a resolution calling for foreign troops to leave the country in the wake of a U.S. air strike that killed a top Iranian military commander, Qasem Soleimani, near Baghdad on January 3.

However, following a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Iraqi counterpart, Barham Salih, on January 22 on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the White House said the two sides agreed on the need for the U.S. military to maintain its presence in the Middle Eastern country.

Many anti-government protesters in Iraq fear the rallies against the U.S. military presence could overshadow their separate, months-long demonstrations that have challenged Iran-backed Shi'ite groups' grip on power.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AP
Click here to read the full article.

With a record number of 10,397 submissions, the 2020 Sundance Film Festival short film programmers undertook a herculean task to narrow the official selections down to 74 narrative, animated, and documentary shorts. After previewing 45 official selections made available for advance press screening, IndieWire culled 10 of the most artistically compelling, dramatically surprising, and emotionally resonate pieces. The filmmakers were then emailed and asked to share their inspiration and what they are working on next.

Although no theme unifies this years must see shorts, there are some trends to note. Perhaps because the list favors the U.S. narrative shorts, the many unique neighborhoods of Los Angeles play an outsized role in many storylines. Sundance alumni return with a vengeance, with last years must-see short filmmakers Terence Nance and Matthew Puccini and 2014 jury prize winner Bernardo Britto debuting superior new work. And the five-minute-or-less short shorts were more satisfying to consume than the longer films (caveat: Brian Knappenbergers 40-minute child-abuse allegations documentary The Church and the Fourth Estate was not available for preview). The only sour note is, unlike previous years, none of the standout films are currently online for non-festival-goers to view.

More from IndieWire

Without further ado, here are 10 must-see shorts playing the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Six will have their world or international premieres at the festival, which runs January 23-February 2 in Park City, Utah.

Backpedal

Director/writer: Dani Pearce

Dani Pearces four-minute Backpedal centers around a young woman (Brenna Harding) determined to hang with the guys, despite the consequences. Based on a poem by Olivia Gatwood, this voiceover-driven drama with extremely strong visual compositions has a look/feel/tone reminiscent of fellow Australian David Michods early award-winning shorts. Viewers will appreciate that the films stunning signature shots  including the water coffin scenes  were shot practically.

Story continues

Defining herself as a film director and photo-media artist with a primary focus on experimental narrative, the Sydney-based Pearce previously created Nursed Back, which was a Vimeo Staff Pick in 2017 and played the 2018 Cannes AVIFF Art Film Festival.

Filmmaker Dani Pearces inspiration: The inspiration for Backpedal came in two parts  firstly, a catalyst and secondly, a curiosity. The catalyst for the film was the incredible poem by Olivia Gatwood. I discovered the poem online and was overcome by my immediate connection with the material. I knew that I had to adapt it to screen and further, that I had the potential to do something salient with it. And as for the curiosity, well  there has been an insatiable force within me to express these themes (womanhood, coming-of-age, hometown) in an original way for a long time. I am consistently inspired by the challenge of utilizing form and style to impart feeling in new, innovative ways. My incredible producer (Sarah Nichols) has always been fundamentally supportive of my propensity to communicate in this way  she consistently finds genius ways of realizing my imagination  making it both possible and palpable.

Whats next: I have a special short film that is in final script stage and I am in development on two features  a documentary and a dramatic work.

Baldwin Beauty

Director/writer: Thembi Banks



From the first image and dialogue exchange in Baldwin Beauty, Thembi Banks establishes herself as a strong filmmaker with a bright future ahead of her. The storyline in this 11-minute film is essentially a day-in-the-life of a traveling hairstylist (Raven Goodwin). Keys are lost and found, a spontaneous dance party lingers on, and a customer-satisfying hairstyle is achieved. The viewer is delighted to experience it all  and left eagerly wanting to see what Banks accomplishes next.

Banks recently co-produced Apples Home Before Dark and has written for SMILF, Daytime Divas, and Step Up: Highwater. Her short was produced under the auspices of Paul Feig and Laura Allen Fischers Powderkeg: Fuse program, which champions new comedic voices with a special commitment to female, LGBTQ creators and filmmakers of color. Baldwin Beauty and five other Powderkeg: Fuse shorts premiered at Seriesfest in Denver last June, and Sundance is the second place where it will be playing publicly.

Filmmaker Thembi Bankss Inspiration: Moving to Los Angeles from New York was a huge transition, and as a Black woman, one of the major issues to be strategized was finding a new hair stylist! It sounds ridiculous but every woman knows if your hair doesnt look good, you dont feel good. So I struggled through a couple of insane situations when trying to find someone. Also, being from Harlem, I was used to community, culture and thriving in a neighborhood that was beautifully and diversely black. I found that when I visited and eventually moved to the Leimert Park/ Baldwin Hills area. So I was inspired to tell a story that fused hair, community and the app culture that is now a part of our everyday lives. Im fascinated by how we can log on and order almost anything including a friend.

Whats next: I am currently prepping a feature film that will shoot in February with the production company MACRO. Im writing a feature film for Universal Pictures that Malcolm D. Lee is producing about Double Dutch as well as developing a show.

Blocks

Director/writer: Bridget Moloney

Made as part of the AFI Directing Workshop for Women, Bridget Moloneys 11-minute Blocks is a slickly produced, extremely funny yet also very moving portrait of a young mother (Claire Coffee) on the verge of nervous breakdown. Her domestic angst manifests itself in an unexpected and ultimately extremely satisfying manner. Los Angeles-native Moloney used her own home and children in Blocks, and anyone who has lived in a home littered with Lego will find this short extremely relatable.

Based on this A+ calling card plus her independent pilot, I Was a Teenage Pillow Queen, which premiered at the 2018 Tribeca TV Festival, Moloney is clearly ready for the big leagues. Something else to keep your eye out for: The Los Angeles Times and Southwest Airlines are making a docu-series in partnership with Sundance documenting the filmmakers first time at Sundance.

Filmmaker Bridget Moloneys Inspiration: I loved becoming a parent. I just wasnt totally prepared for how strange it was. Not just the leaking and sleep deprivation induced loopiness and constant barrage of body fluids and total dissolution of self, but also the new quiet but ever-present hum of anxiety. And I didnt even have postpartum depression/anxiety! Mothering gave me a new lens and it was, as advertised, magical, but it was also strange. Blocks grew out of that.

Whats next: Im developing a series based on Blocks! And Im also finishing up an astral projection romantic comedy feature script that I plan to direct.

Dirty

Director/writer: Matthew Puccini

Last year Matthew Puccini made IndieWires 10 must-see Sundance shorts list with his short Lavender. At the time, he told IndieWire he was in post-production on a new short film called Dirty, about a pair of high school boyfriends who cut class to lose their virginities to each other. Cut to 2020, and the 11-minute Dirty is world premiering in Park City. Showcasing wonderful performances from Morgan Sullivan and Manny Dunn, this top-notch two-hander lives up to its predecessor.

After the success of Lavender, which also screened at SXSW, Aspen, Palm Springs, Outfest and was acquired by Fox Searchlight, Puccini was named one of Filmmaker Magazines 2019 25 New Faces of Independent Film and one of IndieWires 25 LGBTQ Filmmakers on the Rise.

Filmmaker Matthew Puccinis Inspiration: Dirty was born out of my frustration with the lack of sex ed available to most LGBTQ youth in high school. I was thinking a lot about what I wish Id known and seen growing up, and how naive I was going into my first few sexual experiences as a gay man. I eventually fell in love with the idea of updating the classic losing your virginity story by centering it around two queer teenagers, and by featuring queer sex in a way that hopefully feels really honest and unflinching.

Whats next: Im working on an interdisciplinary documentary project called Queer/Elder, which profiles LGBTQ seniors at the SAGE center in Manhattan, and am developing my first feature film, which is a psychological drama about a gay relationship that unravels over the course of attending another gay couples wedding. 

Guisado on Sunset

International Premiere

Director/screenwriter/editor/cast: Terence Nance

At the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, Terence Nance was part of a collective known as the Ummah Chroma, which made the experimental short As Told to G/D Thyself. Nance, whose many credits include the award-winning HBO television series Random Acts of Flyness, returns solo this year with another wildly experimental short, Guisado on Sunset.

Centering our current digital lifestyle, Guisado on Sunset is a bold and exhilarating four-minute retelling of a missed connection that happened at a local restaurant on Sunset Boulevard on April 5, 2017. Framed vertically and incorporating mixed-media, Nances piece is guaranteed to look like nothing else showing at this years fest. The film took about 16 minutes to shoot, said Nance, about four minutes to write and about three days to edit and sound mix. The animation however took about seven to eith months. It was fun. Screening as part of the New Frontier Shorts Program, Guisado on Sunset is also part of the festivals digital experience, New Frontier in the Wild.

Filmmaker Terence Nances inspiration: I decided to make this short after the experience that inspired it happened. It is the story of a missed connection and I wondered if a film could operate as a means of facilitating a connection(s) that was initially missed.

Whats next: I just released my first EP. Its called things I never had. Album coming soon.

Hudson Geese

Director/writer: Bernardo Britto

The logline is simple: A goose remembers his last migration. This misleads viewers into thinking we know the ending of this charming five-and-a-half minute animation. Au contraire! Hudson Geese, made for FXXs live action/animated anthology Cake, leads viewers down unexpected paths with very satisfactory results. Working with Floyd County animation studio, Bernardo Britto wrote the screenplay, created all the designs, storyboarded and timed it all out, and voiced the narrative. The most important decision was probably finding the right honk sound, said Britto. Geese have a truly iconic honk.

Brittos Yearbook won the 2014 Jury Prize for Best Short Film at Sundance and his live-action feature Jacqueline (Argentine) played Sundance in 2016.

Filmmaker Bernardo Brittos inspiration: I live near the water in Brooklyn so I always see the Canadian geese that stop by during their migration. And then sometime around October 2016, there was a very specific movie that made me think about the way we view them and the way animals in general have had to adapt to what weve done with the planet. Thats the spoiler free version of it, at least.

Whats next: Im always working on new things that Im truly excited about and that I think will be really really good but I dont know if Ive found that balance between humble plug and kind of annoying self-promotion, so for now, Ill just shout out two other short films that are playing Sundance and that everyone should go see: Slug Life, by Sophie Koko Gate and See You Next Time by Crystal Kayiza. Both cool movies made by insanely talented people that I have absolutely nothing to do with.

Lance (in a Neck Brace)

Director/writer/producer/editor: Chloe Aktas

Some shorts rise to the top because they laser focus on solitary situations that can mesmerize audiences for nine minutes but could never continue in that vein for a 90-minute feature. Case in point: Lance (in a Neck Brace)  a title that accurately sums up what the viewer will be watching for the next nine minutes. A man wearing a neck brace (Lance Jeffries) places a series of cassette tapes into a machine. Nothing else happens  and yet so much happens  as we watch Lance try to deal with heartbreak in this self-contained gem.

Having created such a strong actors showcase, filmmaker Chloe Aktas is not surprisingly also an actor (playing Tanya on The Walking Dead) as well as a director/writer/editor. A graduate of NYUs Tisch School of the Arts, Aktas was a Student Academy Award finalist for her 2016 short Mutt.

Filmmaker Chloe Aktass inspiration: A breakup story is a story of crisis. In all of lifes crises, we all have the opportunities for self-evaluation, to unpack all the boxes of human emotions and identify triggers in our behavior. Crises are moments in life when we grow. The parties in the breakup have the choice to study themselves and their behavior and wonder if the relationship might have ended differently? If we are honest, completely honest with ourselves, we are forced to look inward and that can be just as hurtful as the breakup itself. I wanted to tell a story about a character who wants to heal, but doesnt want to feel anything in the process, Lance is looking for an easy way out. He simply wants to listen to the tapes and feel better, Lance wants the secret elixir to a broken heart. I feel like this is something we all experience; we want to skip to the end, without the trials and tribulations of the middle; but I feel like the middle is where we really find out we are stronger than we think we are.

Whats next: My goal is to make my first feature in 2020. I have a feature script that Im very passionate about and I want to act in and direct it. That is my main goal at the moment.

Little Chief

Director/writer: Erica Tremblay

Please, someone with the power to greenlight, turn Little Chief into a TV series or a feature film! Shot in filmmaker Erica Tremblays home state of Oklahoma and produced through the Sundance Institute Native Filmmakers Lab, this 12-minute drama starring Lily Gladstone as an iconoclast teacher and Julian Ballentyne as her troubled student is just wonderful from start to finish  and clearly begs to be expanded.

Defining herself as a filmmaker/activist, Tremblay is currently studying her Indigenous language on the Six Nations reservation in Ontario, Canada. Her previous work has been shown on PBS, CNN, and IFC.

Filmmaker Erica Tremblays inspiration: Little Chief is a love letter to all the matriarchs in my life who are working through their own trauma in order to heal themselves and others in our community. My mother has been an educator for most of my life, and she has sacrificed so much to provide safety and knowledge to her students. It is this exhaustive work that ensures our future as a people. Growing up, these sacrifices were just the reality that I knew and it wasnt until I was much older that I realized the unique set of challenges she faces as an Indigenous woman teaching Indigenous children. Making Little Chief was an opportunity for me to highlight this incredible work and explore the challenges that our teachers and students face every day.

Whats next: I am currently writing a feature called Fancy Dance, about a two-spirit woman who kidnaps her niece from a foster home on the way to a powwow. The U.S. government has long been removing Native kids from their homes and placing them with non-Native wards and I want to explore the impacts of this but in a way that allows the characters to take a break from the trauma and go on a road trip together. I am also working on a feature documentary called Sisters Gone, that investigates the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Alaska.

A Love Song for Latasha

Director/cinematographer/editor/producer: Sophia Nahli Allison

Having already won a slew of festival awards, including the 2019 AFI Fest grand jury documentary prize, A Love Song for Latasha comes to Sundance already anointed a must-see short. Sophia Nahli Allisons stunningly constructed and highly poetic 19-minute documentary, which took almost three years to make, examines the short life and long legacy of Latasha Harlins, an innocent teenager gunned down in a neighborhood liquor store shortly after the Rodney King beating.

Sophia Nahli Allison is a self-described experimental documentary filmmaker/photographer/dreamer who has produced eight other short films since 2015. She has also held artist residencies and fellowships at The MacDowell Colony, the Camargo Foundation in Cassis, France as a 3Arts Residency Fellow, POV Sparks African Interactive Art Residency, and the Center for Photography at Woodstock.

Filmmaker Sophia Nahli Allisons inspiration: Im inspired by the reimagining of archives and the importance of preserving oral history and memory. As a South Central Los Angeles native, I was a young girl during the LA Riots and felt it was time for the story and memory of Latasha Harlins to exist fully beyond her trauma. Im deeply inspired by the intersection of memory and reality, fact and fiction, and using experimental methods to document what no longer tangibly exists. Through the reclaiming and re-envisioning of these archives, the film challenges a system that has historically prevented black women and girls from having agency over their narrative and public image. By activating this space, we are interrogating new ways to imagine and engage with black history that has been erased and left void to create a visceral embodiment of the past, present, and future intersecting.

Whats next: Im primarily focused on my long term project Dreaming Gave Us Wings, a self-portrait series, immersive experience, and hybrid documentary that reimagines the history and folklore of flying Africans. It is a spiritual archive on the edge of dreams and memory, an activation of ancestral magic.

Place

Director/writer/editor: Jason Gudasz

Haunted house stories are a dime a dozen, but the 11-minute Place is not your standard spooky tale about a young family (Emily Green, Stella Edwards, and Nick Hurley) moving into a new home that seems to be trying to get rid of the people inside it. Place is laugh-out-loud funny, stylish, quirky, and weird in the best possible way. Jason Gudaszs short has already been embraced by the horror film community, playing Fantasia in Montreal and Fantastic Fest in Austin.

Gudasz is a writer/director/actor active in the LA comedy scene. His official bio proclaims that he lives in Echo Park with no pets and a healthy relationship with anxiety.

Filmmaker Jason Gudaszs inspiration: I had a dream where a friend told me, This is your next movie and then showed me film projector footage of a kid sitting on the ground in my empty house. It seemed like an okay starting point. Id just moved into an old bungalow in Echo Park, we still didnt have too much furniture and the inside was all empty and pretty. I tailored the story and everything to the space. 

Whats next: Almost finished writing a feature version of Place. The main difference is it takes place in a new apartment complex, like those overpriced sterile ones you see around Southern California. Off-white walls, grey carpet, rigid furniture. Those places are terrifying.

Kim Adelman has covered must-see Sundance shorts for IndieWire since 2007.

Best of IndieWire

Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 17:19:55|Editor: Wang Yamei

Video Player Close

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- A petting zoo in Malaysia's Selangor state has put together an exhibition of 20 types of rodents from around the world for the Chinese new year, as Chinese around the world will celebrate the Year of the Rat.

Hosted at the Farm in the City petting zoo, the exhibition will run between January and February, with up to 4,000 visitors expected per day during the festive season, its chief executive officer Phoon Hoon Yeong told Xinhua.

The specimens on display include the world's biggest rodent, the Capybara from Amazon rainforest in South America, the second largest rodent namely the African Crested Porcupine, which is also the largest porcupine type and some of the smallest like the African dormouse.

Phoon explained that he previously organized similar exhibitions to mark the year of the chicken, snake, horse and dog, in an effort to showcase the uniqueness of the Chinese calendar, which rotates on the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac.

"So actually in Chinese calendar every year, they have a specific animal like year of rat, year of chicken, year of snake. So from here I think in Malaysia we have Chinese, we have Malay we have Indian, then they also find in Chinese calendar is something different with the international calendar, every year, they have a specific animal withstand of the year," he said.

Casually feeding potato leaves to one of the capybaras brought in for the exhibition, Phoon said most visitors to the zoo would never have known that it was a rodent, in fact the biggest of the family of rodents.

Phoon added that he wanted to raise awareness on the different species of the rodent family to dispel the idea that they were dirty, disease carrying animals but instead could be unique, cute and friendly.

"We would like to introduce the rodent family to our visitors because everybody thinks rats are dirty, breeding disease but actually are so many species of rodent, some of them are really cute and clean," he said.
United Nations officials do not use WhatsApp to communicate because 'it's not supported as a secure mechanism,' a U.N. spokesman said on Thursday.

It comes after U.N. experts accused Saudi Arabia of using the messaging platform to hack the phone of Amazon CEO and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos.

The independent U.N. experts said on Wednesday they had information pointing to the 'possible involvement' of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the alleged 2018 cyberattack on the billionaire Amazon chief.

They called for an immediate investigation by U.S. and other authorities, based on a forensic report by Washington-based FTI Consulting. The report alleges that Bezos' iPhone was hijacked by a malicious video file sent from a WhatsApp account used by the crown prince.

A spokesman said U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (above) and other officials had been warned not to use WhatsApp in June 2019 over security concerns

When asked if U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had communicated with the Saudi crown prince or any other world leaders using WhatsApp, U.N. spokesman Farhan Haq said on Thursday: 'The senior officials at the U.N. have been instructed not to use WhatsApp, it's not supported as a secure mechanism.'

'So no, I do not believe the secretary-general uses it,' Haq said.

He later added that the directive not to use WhatsApp was given to U.N. officials in June last year.

The U.N. report said that malicious code in a video file that the crown prince sent to Bezos on WhatsApp was likely responsible for for the phone hack.

When asked about the move by the United Nations, WhatsApp said it provides industry leading security for more than 1.5 billion users.

The United Nations General Assembly is seen in a file photo. UN experts say that the crown prince of Saudi Arabia likely hacked Jeff Bezos' phone with a WhatsApp message

'Every private message is protected by end-to-end encryption to help prevent WhatsApp or others from viewing chats. The encryption technology that we developed with Signal is highly regarded by security experts and remains the best available for people around the world,' said WhatsApp Director of Communications Carl Woog.

For that reason, any ban that specifically singles out WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook, might leave digital security experts scratching their heads.

WhatsApp 'is taking security very seriously compared to others,' said researcher Oded Vanunu, whose company, Tel Aviv-based Checkpoint, regularly finds flaws in messaging apps.

'Every application has vulnerabilities you can exploit in some way,' he said, before noting that WhatsApp was particularly good at fixing them. 'Other instant messaging companies can dream of their kind of security procedures,' he said.
France wont make any concessions while assessing steps taken by Pakistan to counter terror financing at a Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meeting next month, people familiar with the developments said on Friday against the backdrop of Islamabads efforts to be removed from the multilateral watchdogs grey list.

During a meeting of the Asia-Pacific Group, an associate of the FATF, which ended in Beijing on Thursday, Pakistan had defended its compliance with a 27-point action plan and made efforts to be removed from the grey list, in which it was included in June 2018.

Reports in sections of the media suggested France had joined FATF members such as the US, the UK, Germany and Japan in not questioning the steps taken so far by Pakistan to curb terror financing and money laundering. The reports also suggested this was because of the Trump administrations increasing reliance on Pakistan for helping broker a peace deal with the Taliban to facilitate the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan.

The people cited above countered this impression by saying France is determined to combat terror financing and will assess Pakistans performance in implementing the action in an objective manner at the FATFs plenary and working group meetings to be held in Paris during February 16-21.

The meeting of the FATFs Asia-Pacific Group held in Beijing analysed Pakistans situation from a technical point of view, said a person who declined to be named.

A report on the steps taken by Pakistan to implement its action plan will be presented at the plenary meeting next month. France is determined to continue combating money laundering and terror financing, and on this occasion, will objectively evaluate, without any concession, Pakistans actions, the person said.

Meanwhile, Pakistan is looking to US backing at the plenary meeting to avert further action by the FATF. The meeting of the Asia-Pacific Group in Beijing was held as Alice Wells, the US state departments pointperson for South Asia, visited Islamabad with a message of cooperation, The Express Tribune newspaper reported.

In informal discussions, Wells sought to dispel the impression that the US is changing the FATFs goalposts. Wells said Pakistans case will be treated solely on technical grounds though the country has to ensure convictions in terror financing cases, the Tribune reported.

Pakistans foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had also raised the issue of US support at the FATF during his recent visit to Washington.

During a review last October, FATF found Pakistan had delivered on only five of the 27 items in the action plan, and warned that the country could face harsher measures if it failed to comply fully by the plenary meeting. Pakistani officials have been contending that the country has now largely complied with more than 15 items.

As things stand, the people cited above said, Pakistan is not expected to get votes from 12 of the FATFs 39 members to be moved out of the grey list. However, Pakistan needs only three votes to be kept out of the black list and it is assured of these votes from China, which will hold the watchdogs presidency till June, Turkey and Malaysia, the people said.
Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday said Jammu and Kashmir's accession to India is "total, final and irrevocable", and asserted that Article 370, which gave the erstwhile state special status, was a temporary provision that had outlived its purpose a long time back.

Delivering the Sardar Patel lecture on governance, Naidu called upon all Indians to work together to usher in the 'Ram Rajya' envisioned by Mahatma Gandhi in which, he said, there is all-round inclusive growth without poverty, discrimination, inequality, illiteracy and hunger, according to an official statement.

"Every citizen must strive to protect the unity, safety, security and sovereignty of the country," Naidu said after paying tributes to India's first home minister Vallabhbhai Patel, who is credited with the integration of hundreds of regions with the Union.

The accession of Jammu and Kashmir to the Indian Union is "total, final and irrevocable", the vice president said, adding that "Article 370 was only a temporary provision and it had outlived its purpose long back".

The Modi government had last year abrogated the article's provisions that gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and had bifurcated it into union territories Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Praising policies and programmes such as 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao', Ayushman Bharat, Goods and Services Tax and 'Swachh Bharat', Naidu said they are aimed at accelerating progress and empowering the people.

The vice president also called for a total war on corruption and described it as a "major canker" that skews growth and development, deepens poverty and increases inequality, according to the statement.

He asked the bureaucracy to be more proactive and ensure that there is no gap in the intent, execution and delivery of various services to the people.

Observing that it is critical for state institutions to be agile, adaptable and resilient in the rapidly changing 21st century, Naidu called for strengthening implementation of programmes, improving competence and credibility of institutional structures, and adopting a work ethic that keeps national interest at the top and public welfare at its core.

Wondering whether degeneration in moral and social values in society has led to a general decline in the functioning of public services at every level, he called for introspection and said it is imperative to initiate a movement of ethics at all levels of governance.

There is a need to foster public trust in institutions and the integrity of public officials, while injecting greater accountability into decision-making, Naidu said.

"I feel that it is imperative that a movement of ethics is initiated at all levels of governance of the country," he said.

The lecture was organised by the IC Centre for Governance and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh was also present at the event. Former cabinet secretary and former Jharkhand governor Prabhat Kumar is the president of Centre.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The State Bank of India (SBI) on Friday released an official notification saying its operation might get impacted for two days due to bank strike called by bank unions.

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has planned a strike on January 31st and February 1st across India after its talks over wage revision failed with India's Bank Association (IBA). The unions want a 20 per cent wage revision, 5-day work week, updation of pensions and improvement of family pensions, apart from other demands.

The SBI said that it has made all the arrangements to ensure the smooth functioning in its branches and offices. But, the bank is wary that there will be some impact on its services.

UFBU represents nine trade unions-All India Employees' Association (AIBEA), All India Bank Officers' Confederation (AIBOC), National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE), All India Bank Officers' Association (AIBOA), Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI), Indian National Bank Employees Federation (INBEF), Indian National Bank Officers' Congress (INBOC), National Organisation Of Bank Workers (NOBW) and National Organisation of Bank Officers (NOBO).

On January 8, bank employees sat on a strike but the demonstration was related to merger of PSU banks and the economic policies of Modi government.

Also read: Luxury flats up for sale at Mumbai's iconic RK Studios; prices start Rs 5.7 crore

Also read: Modi govt may fund $28 billion of FY21 expenditure outlay via off-Budget borrowings: report
Mumbai, Jan 24 : Toronto-based Tamil rapper Shan Vincent de Paul will perform in Pune, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi and Chennai in February.

The rapper caught attention of many Indians with his "Mrithangam Raps" series last year. The year also saw him donning the director's hat, with six music videos to his name.

"Touring India has been inevitable for me," says Shan, on the tour titled "OH GAWD".

"I've always received so much love from the fans in India and it was just a matter of when. Though I have been practicing my music and art in Toronto for the majority of my career, India has embraced me like no other place in the world.

"This tour very much feels like a homecoming to me. To re-connect with my South Asian community and build with an audience that has been supporting me for a long time, means everything to me. It will also be the first time we debut the 'Mrithangam Raps' series live as well. Exciting!" he added.

He will also be performing songs from his upcoming album "Made in Jaffna" as well as material from his collaborative album with hip-hop artiste Yanchan, titled "IYAAA".
File image

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has claimed that he met with a "brick wall" when he approached his counterpart Narendra Modi with a peace proposal soon after assuming office.

In an interview to Foreign Policy magazine on the sidelines of WEF 2020 here, Khan also said he had told Modi that Pakistan will act firmly if it was given evidence of any Pakistani involvement in the Pulwama terror attack, but India instead "bombed" Pakistan.

Tensions have escalated between the two neighbours following India withdrawing special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019.

Since then, Khan has been trying to seek global intervention to de-escalate the tensions.

On Thursday, India's External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar categorically ruled out any third party role on the Kashmir issue, asserting that any issue between the two countries should be resolved bilaterally.

In the interview, Khan said that he is a firm believer that military means are not a solution to ending conflicts.

"... after taking office I immediately reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I was amazed by the reaction I got, which was quite weird.

"The subcontinent hosts the greatest number of poor people in the world, and the best way to fight poverty is to have a trading relationship between the two countries rather than spending money on arms. This is what I said to the Indian prime minister. But I was met by brick wall," Khan said.

Khan took over the prime ministership in August 2018.

Referring to the suicide attack in Pulwama, Khan said he had immediately told Modi that "if you can give us any actionable intelligence (that Pakistanis were involved), we will act on it. But rather than do so, they bombed us."

While noting that both countries are not close to conflict right now, Khan said that it is important that the UN and the US act.

When asked about US President Donald Trump having a very close relationship with Modi, the Pakistan Prime Minister the relationship is understandable because India is a huge market, and of course every country would like the benefits of that market.

"My concern is not about the US-India relationship. My concern is the direction in which India is going," Khan said.

Khan also sought to compare the events in India to what happened in Nazi Germany.

"Between 1930 and 1934, Germany went from a liberal democracy to a fascist, totalitarian, racist state. If you look at what is happening in India under the BJP in the last five years, look where it's heading, you'll see the danger. And you're talking about a huge country of 1.3 billion people that is nuclear-armed," he said.

About US-Iran tensions, Khan, in another interview to television channel CNBC, said he told Trump that war is not the solution.

"A conflict right now with Iran would be a disaster for developing countries," Khan said.
(The opinions expressed here are those of the author, a columnist for Reuters.)

By Peter Apps

LONDON, Jan 20 (Reuters) - From rumours that Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen was lesbian to coordinated videos and website comments and a show of force with an aircraft carrier, China's government appeared to be pulling out all the stops when it came to influencing Taiwan's election early this month. It was, it seems, a complete failure. Taiwanese voters rejected Beijing's local political allies, reinstalling the current government with a heavily beefed-up mandate.

For Chinese President Xi Jinping, the result  coming after an equally resounding rejection of pro-Beijing parties in last year's Hong Kong legislative elections  was a significant defeat. It was also a stark reminder that while authoritarian leaders might not face the kind of electoral dangers faced by counterparts in established democracies, they cannot ignore them altogether.

While Xi faces little in the way of true democratic opposition or accountability within mainland China itself, Russian leader Vladimir Putin is not quite so lucky. Such concerns were clearly top of his agenda last week, dismissing effectively the entire government, installing a new prime minister and seemingly paving the way for another nimble piece of constitutional footwork to avoid Russia's inconvenient limit on presidents serving more than two consecutive terms.

Putin's reforms  which will ultimately strip back the powers of the presidency while boosting those of the prime minister and head of the state council  appear to open the door for his assuming one of those roles once he leaves the top job in 2024. That he is doing so at all will surprise some, who had expected Russia's most powerful leader since Stalin to abolish term limits altogether. Kremlin critics condemned the move as another attempt to keep Putin in power, but protests in Moscow this weekend failed to get much traction.

Story continues

While credible opposition parties have usually found themselves banned from elections and their leaders arrested, Putin has relied on significant voter turnout for his United Russia and allied parties. How he will play this new dynamic is not yet clear  but by dismissing the outgoing government and its leaders, he may hope to make them the scapegoats for perceived economic failures.

CHALLENGES

In many respects, both Putin and Xi face similar, or at least overlapping, challenges. Aged 67 and 66 respectively, they have both effectively seen off any rivals of their own or, so far, any other generation. But they cannot do so forever. Nor, ultimately, can they ensure their various efforts to avoid a democratic backlash will succeed forever. Indeed, both leaders have already faced them, both inside their borders and around their periphery.

For China, the greatest challenge clearly remains Hong Kong, with months of protest showing no signs of abating and voters showing every sign of being pushed further towards anti-Beijing candidates. The crackdown in the territory, in turn, was arguably the greatest single factor in the Taiwan election result, with Taiwanese looking at events in Hong Kong and concluding they have no desire whatsoever to allow Beijing to grow its influence on the island.

The failure of both repression and aggressive messaging to deliver the desired result in Hong Kong and Taiwan will concern leaders in Beijing, who are essentially betting the farm on their ability to use the same techniques in mainland China. Russia saw similar failures in its inability to prevent so-called "colour revolutions" earlier this century in Georgia and Ukraine, seeing both  as China does  as Western-backed plots to limit Moscow's influence.

Some in Moscow and Beijing see a broader U.S.-led strategy to damage their domestic economies as well  although in reality, many of these problems stem from their own home turf. U.S. President Donald Trump's interim trade deal with China may have reduced some of the short-term economic worries for Beijing, but in the long run it faces serious questions over its ability to sustain strong economic growth. As with most countries, both Russia and China have a growing urban-rural divide, while diversification away from fossil fuels will particularly hurt Moscow's bottom line.

When it comes to tackling discontent at home, both Putin and Xi have used a broadly similar playbook  particularly when it comes to targeting and jailing unpopular but often hugely wealthy oligarchs and other senior officials and business people. Putin's appointment of former tax service chief Mikhail Mishustin to the premiership may indicate another round of that is in the offing. The largely unknown official has been credited with reforming Russia's antiquated tax collection system, but has also faced questions over how his family became incredibly wealthy as he did so.

RIVALS ELIMINATED

Ultimately, both the Russian and Chinese leaders face the same twin challenges. Neither is immortal, and both will face the choice of whether to hand off power to a successor or cling grimly on until they die in office. In comments this weekend, Putin suggested he did not wish to emulate Soviet leaders in the eighties, Yuri Andropov, Leonid Brezhnev and Konstantin Chernenko who simply stayed. But having ruthlessly eliminated rivals it is far from clear when, where or how he will be able to find a successor.

It is no easier for Xi, with the scaling up of mass surveillance and the internment of more than a million ethnic Muslim Uighurs all unmistakable signs that his government will likely become more repressive. Events in Taiwan in many ways make his position worse. The Chinese leader had set considerable store on pledges to restore direct control to the island within a generation.

The election result suggests the only way to do that might be through military force. In Ukraine, Syria and Georgia, Putin has been able several times to use limited military adventurism to shore up his position, often in the face of economic and political struggles at home. Any Chinese move against Taiwan would be on an entirely different scale, bringing with it a much greater risk of wider conflagration.

Much as they would like to avoid it, pressure on both men will steadily rise, perhaps even as their ability to deal with it diminishes. How they handle that could yet determine the future of the century. *** Peter Apps is a writer on international affairs, globalisation, conflict and other issues. He is the founder and executive director of the Project for Study of the 21st Century; PS21, a non-national, non-partisan, non-ideological think tank. Paralysed by a war-zone car crash in 2006, he also blogs about his disability and other topics. He was previously a reporter for Reuters and continues to be paid by Thomson Reuters. Since 2016, he has been a member of the British Army Reserve and the UK Labour Party, and is an active fundraiser for the party. (Editing by Giles Elgood)
A mummified Ancient Egyptian priest has "spoken" from beyond the grave thanks to scientists who were able to recreate his voice.

Nesyamun worked as a priest and scribe during the politically volatile reign of pharaoh Ramses XI.

He has lay silent for 3,000 years, but researchers have now has shed light on what he may have sounded like.

Experts created a 3-D printed version of his vocal tract after the mummys remains were given a CT scan.

By using the Vocal Tract Organ with an artificial larynx sound that is commonly used in today's speech synthesis systems, they synthesised the vowel sound.

The sound of Nesyamun has been reproduced as a vowel-like sound that loosely resembles a protracted sheep's bleat, the scientists said.

The research was carried out by academics at Royal Holloway, University of London, University of York and Leeds Museum.

The team used a CT scanner at Leeds General Infirmary to check to see if the significant part of the structure of the larynx and throat of Nesyamun, brought from nearby Leeds Museum, remained intact.

Scientists said the interdisciplinary collaboration has produced the unique opportunity to hear the vocal tract output of someone long dead by virtue of their soft tissue preservation and new developments in technology.

They add that Nesyamun stated a desire to have his voice heard in the afterlife in order to live forever.

The fulfilment of his beliefs through the synthesis of his vocal function allows direct contact to be made with ancient Egypt by listening to a sound from a vocal tract, preserved through mummification and now restored through this new technique.

Professor David Howard, from Royal Holloway, said: "I was demonstrating the Vocal Tract Organ in June 2013 to colleagues, with implications for providing authentic vocal sounds back to those who have lost the normal speech function of their vocal tract or larynx following an accident or surgery for laryngeal cancer.

"I was then approached by Professor John Schofield who began to think about the archaeological and heritage opportunities of this new development.

"Hence finding Nesyamun and discovering his vocal tract and soft tissues were in great order for us to be able to do this."

Professor Joann Fletcher, of the department of archaeology at the University of York, added: "Ultimately, this innovative interdisciplinary collaboration has given us the unique opportunity to hear the sound of someone long dead by virtue of their soft tissue preservation combined with new developments in technology.

"And while this has wide implications for both healthcare and museum display, its relevance conforms exactly to the ancient Egyptians' fundamental belief that 'to speak the name of the dead is to make them live again'."

Prof Howard, from the department of electronic engineering at Royal Holloway, and Prof Schofield, Prof Fletcher and Dr Stephen Buckley all from the department of archaeology at the University of York, started the project in 2013.
Danish international Christian Eriksen is poised to complete a move from Premier League club Tottenham to Serie A side Inter Milan, according to reports in Italy on Friday. Eriksen will have a medical in Milan early next week before signing a contract until 2024 worth 20 million euros ($22 million) including bonuses, Sky Sports Italia and Gazzetta Dello Sport reported. The final details have to be ironed out with the 27-year-old midfielder expected to be available to Jose Mourinho for Tottenham's FA Cup fourth round match Saturday at Southampton. Eriksen joined the Premier League club in 2013 from Dutch side Ajax and has six months left on his contract. Chinese-owned Inter Milan are pushing to return to the top of European football, having not won the league since Mourinho lead them to an historic treble in 2010. Eriksen helped Tottenham reach the Champions League final last year, scoring against Luciano Spalletti's Inter Milan in both group stage matches, as the Italians exited the tournament. The Dane becomes Antonio Conte's third signing in January after defender Ashley Young from Manchester United, with midfielder Victor Moses arriving on loan from Chelsea. Last summer Inter signed Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Snchez, the latter on loan, from Manchester United. Eriksen should slot into a position behind strike in-form duo Lukaku and Lautaro Martinez. With Tottenham he has scored 69 goals in 305 games, including three this season, and 31 times in 95 matches for the Danish national team, who have qualified for Euro 2020. Inter are second in Serie A, four points behind Juventus, and play Cagliari on Sunday. Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen is due for a medical in Milan
The talks between Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh and Vice President and head of the Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research of Switzerland Guy Parmelin in Geneva on January 20th. (Photo: VNA)

The Deputy PM was a keynote speaker at the plenary session on strategic prospects for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), attended other important sessions of the meeting and met with leaders from many countries, international organisations and global leading groups.

He also met with President of the WEF Borge Brende and attended a ceremony to announce the conclusion of the Vietnam-WEF cooperation agreement.

Binh told the WEF president that Vietnam highly appreciated the WEFs coordination with Vietnam to implement successfully the bilateral cooperation agreement.

He emphasised that the implementation of the deal since its signing on the occasion of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phucs attendance at the WEF Davos in 2017, has brought practical outcomes in the fields of infrastructure, agriculture, education, and health care.

The agreement could be a model for the WEF to consider expanding cooperation with other ASEAN member states, he said.

Borge Brende said the WEF wants to continue cooperation with Vietnam in specific activities, as well as in early launching a Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) centre in the country to promote research and application of the 4IR.

He handed over to Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh the conclusion report of the bilateral cooperation agreement with many recommendations for Vietnam on socio-economic development.

The same day, Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh met with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, President of the European Parliament (EP) David Sassoli, and President of the Swiss National Council Isabelle Moret.

The Prime Minister of Croatia, the country holding EU Presidency in the first six months of this year, and the EP President affirmed their support for the early ratification of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (IPA) to bring benefits for the two sides business communities and peoples.

They agreed to strengthen coordination with Vietnam to promote ASEAN-EU cooperation during 2020 when Vietnam is the Chair of ASEAN.

In the meeting with President of the Swiss National Council Isabelle Moret, Deputy PM Binh praised the Swiss parliaments support for and contributions to the development of the Vietnam  Switzerland ties, and conveyed NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngans invitation to Moret to visit Vietnam in the time ahead.

He also informed Moret of the outcomes of his talks with Vice President and Head of the Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research of Switzerland Guy Parmelin as well as the agreed measures to boost the bilateral relations.

Meanwhile, Moret spoke highly of Vietnams potential and position in the international arena, expressing her belief that Vietnam and Switzerland need to further the cooperative relations and traditional friendship.

She shared Vietnams call for organizing practical activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries, and affirmed that the Federal Assembly of Switzerland will endorse and make positive contributions to develop the cooperative ties into a deeper and more effective fashion.

Deputy PM Binh asked the Swiss parliament to continue support for the cooperative programmes with Vietnam, as well as back the negotiations on the free trade deal between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) to benefit both nations.

During his stay, Deputy PM Binh also held meetings with top executives of many leading corporations like Standard Chartered, P&G Group, Amazon Web Services, AstraZeneca, Novartis, Carlsberg, Hyosung and Spring Studios.

He took the occasion to affirm the Vietnamese Governments consistent policy in improving business climate and competitive edge through completing the market mechanism, renewing growth model, restructuring the economy, engaging in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and promoting global integration.

For their parts, the groups appreciated Vietnams socio-economic development in the past time, and described Vietnam as a dynamic economy in the context of economic headwinds in the region and the world.

They pledged long-term investment in the Southeast Asian country, hoping the Government will create an equal and transparent business environment that facilitates the operation of both domestic and foreign firms.

The Davos 2020 is the most important meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) this year. It has drawn some 3,000 delegates from 117 countries worldwide, including 53 heads of states and governments along with presidents and managing directors of 1,000 partner companies and members.

With around 400 sessions during January 21-24, participants have discussed a wide range of issues under this years theme Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World./.
A former supervisor at a New Jersey Applebee's is suing the chain alleging they fired her for complaining about racism and bigotry in the workplace.

The former employee claims that she was dismissed for asking a customer to leave for making anti-Muslim comments that distressed other customers.

She says the comments included 'Muslim people are disgusting' and 'most of them are terrorists' and that a member of the bar staff was involved in the Islamophobic conversation.

Amanda Breaud claims she lost her job because of her complaints over anti-Muslim comments

The 'hostile work environment' in Applebee's Middletown branch is at the center of the lawsuit

Amanda Breaud, 25, filed the lawsuit in state Superior Court in Monmouth County, New Jersey, on Tuesday. She was fired from the chain in May 2019.

Breaud says that in January 2019 she was temporarily transferred from an Applebee's in Tinton Falls to one in Middletown where she experienced unchecked racism and bigotry. She believes she was fired for her complaints about the behavior.

The defendants named include Applebee's and the franchisee of the Middletown location, Doherty Management Services, as well as a general manager, a senior manager and a bartender involved in the anti-Muslim conversation.

According to the lawsuit, Breaud 'was exposed to a hostile work environment where racism and bigotry were commonplace ' and that a senior manager 'routinely directed racist and discriminatory language'.

Breaud, who is from New Jersey, claims that when the uncle of an African American employee died, the senior manager said: 'Well, this is one less black guy we have to worry about.'

She also claims another staff member was called 'a f***ing retard' in front of their co-workers.

The claim brought against the Applebee's bartender involves an incident from May 13, 2019, in which Breaud alleges the bartender was 'participating in the offensive, discriminatory conversation' that involved anti-Muslim remarks. She says the bartender had done nothing to stop it.

Breaud said she had received several complaints as supervisor that day from customers who were offended by the comments which included derogatory comments such as 'Muslim people are disgusting', 'most of them are terrorists' and 'if it were up to me, none of those motherf****rs would be allowed in the country'.

She claims the first complaint was made to her regarding the bartender involved in the conversation and that two families then asked her to intervene over the 'offensive conversation' and 'pleaded with her to do something to end it'.

The conversation is said to have been sparked by a news report on refugees showing on a nearby TV.

When Breaud asked the customer making the comments to leave, she says they became irate and yelled at her before eventually leaving. He is said to have been a regular at the bar.

In the lawsuit, she offered a copy of a receipt she says is from one of the customers who made a complaint.

The thank you note a customer left for Breaud

'To the manager - thank you for standing up to hate and racism. Thank you for your service,' a note on the receipt reads.

Following the incident, Breaud said she 'faced immediate hostility and retaliation from staff and management for her actions' and the bartender in question openly complained about her to other customers.

She lost out on tips from regulars as a result.

The lawsuit says Breaud's manager called her the night of May 13 to tell her she acted wrongly and should have relocated the customers who complained instead of asking the customer making the anti-Muslim comments to leave.

'My jaw hit the floor,' Breaud told NJ Advance Media. 'I couldn't believe that he told me that.'

After the fallout, she told the Applebee's area director that she wished to be transferred out of the Middletown branch because the work environment but her transfer request was denied.

Instead, the lawsuit says she was scheduled to continue to work shifts in the Middletown branch, which she refused as she was 'unable to tolerate even a single day more in the the hostile work environment'.

On May 20, 2019, Applebee's fired Breaud claiming she failed to turn up for a scheduled shift.

The lawsuit says this is a 'false and retaliatory accusation' and that the work environment 'made it nearly impossible for her to perform her duties'.

After her firing, Breaud wrote a letter to the restaurant in question in which she said:

'That is not the message I want to send my guests. I want them to feel safe and leave WOWed.

'I would leave there in tears a lot of the time, honestly.

'I had severe anxiety. I was losing sleep...It wore me down mentally and physically the entire thing.'

A statement from her attorneys McOmber & McOmber said: 'The retaliation experienced by our client has no place in a civilized society and Applebee's must be held to account for its failure to oppose racism in its restaurants and for violating our client's rights.'

Applebee's made two separate statements about the lawsuit saying that the accusations were being taken very seriously, one claiming that Breaud's allegations are false.

'We are proud that our Applebee's restaurants serve the community as an inclusive place where neighbors can come together, and that extends to both our guests and our dedicated team members,' said Ed Doherty, chairman and chief operating officer of Doherty Enterprises, an Applebee's franchise that owns the Middletown branch from which Breaud was fired.

He added that her dismissal was due to a different matter and not her May 13 interaction with a customer.

Susan Nelson, Applebee's vice president of communications, said in a separate statement: 'The allegations made are in direct contrast with the values we and our franchisees uphold every day'.

Breaud is seeking her job back, with back pay and benefits, as well as damages.
Infosys has denied media reports that market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has ordered forensic audit of its books. The IT bellwether stated that it has not received any such directive from SEBI.

"As disclosed previously, the company had received letters from regulatory authorities seeking information on the anonymous whistleblower investigation. The company continues to cooperate with regulatory authorities. The company has not received any request from SEBI to conduct further audits as reported by media on January 23, 2020," Infosys said in a regulatory filing on Friday.

ALSO READ:SEBI to order forensic probe of Infosys whistleblowers' allegations

According to a Mint report, SEBI had called for forensic audit of Infosys' books in light of the whistleblowers' allegations against the company's CEO Salil Parekh and CFO Nilanjan Roy. The two top executives were accused of indulging in financial malpractices by an anonymous employee group, Ethical Employees. The regulator's investigation so far has warranted a deeper analysis, the report had quoted sources as saying.

Earlier this month, the audit committee of Infosys board had absolved both Parekh and Roy of all allegations against them, saying that it did not find any evidence of financial impropreity or executive miscondiuct.

ALSO READ:Infosys whistleblowers may not have been insiders
Former nuns 'abandoned' by the Catholic Church, including some who became prostitutes to survive, have been sheltered at a Vatican residence for more than a year, a Brazilian cardinal said.

Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz confirmed the house's existence at an undisclosed location in Vatican City during an interview for the February issue of the Vatican's magazine Women Church World.

In the wide-ranging interview about women's roles in the church, Braz said existence of the home underscored Pope Francis' desire to rectify abuses within the Church, such as nuns who are expelled from their convents with nowhere to go.

Brazilian Cardinal Joao Braz de Aviz says 'abandoned' nuns are being sheltered at the Vatican. He is pictured here meeting Pope Francis at the Vatican in 2017

'At times they are completely abandoned,' Braz said, according to an advance copy of the issue released on Thursday.

'But things are changing. The most significant example is precisely the pope's decision to establish in Rome a house to welcome in from the street nuns who were sent away by us, or by the superiors, especially if they are foreigners.'

Braz said he had visited the home, and had found 'a world of wounds there, but also of hope.'

In some cases, mother superiors had withheld documents from nuns who wanted to leave the convent, and in others nuns were just told to depart.

Faithful fill St Peter's Square at the Vatican last year

'These people have entered the convent as nuns and find themselves in this condition. There have even been some cases of turning to prostitution to support themselves,' he said. 'These are ex-nuns!'

Rebuilding trust among this group was paramount, Braz said.

'We need to change the attitude of rejection, the temptation to ignore these people, to say 'it's not our problem anymore'.'

The home has been open for a year and a half and now hosts fewer than 10 ex-nuns, Il Messaggero reported Friday, citing the order of nuns who manage it.

The women can stay as long as is needed to sort out their situations and find work.

Since becoming pope in 2013, Francis has often focused on helpless members of society, whether migrants fleeing persecution and famine, or the homeless, prisoners and prostitutes.

In 2016, he visited a safe house in Rome for women, many from Africa and Eastern Europe, who had been forced by traffickers into prostitution.
Bajaj Auto and iconic British motorcycle brand Triumph on Friday formally commenced their non-equity global partnership to manufacture a new range of mid-capacity motorcycles in the country.

The two automakers had announced a non-equity partnership in August 2017.

The bikes produced under the brand will be available from 2022 and will have price starting at less than Rs 2 lakh, Triumph Motorcycles Chief Commercial Officer Paul Stroud said here.

The partnership will build a new engine and vehicle platform in the mid-capacity range (200-800 cc) and offer multiple options to address different segments in this class.

"The triumph brand is an iconic one the world over. So, we are confident that there will be a huge appetite in India and other emerging markets for these new products," Bajaj Auto Managing Director Rajiv Bajaj said.

"The products that will come out of the partnership will also help attract a younger, but still discerning, customer audience and is another step in our ambition to expand globally, particularly in the fast-growing markets of South East Asia but also driving growth in more mature territories like Europe," Triumph Motorcycles Chief Executive Officer, Nick Bloor said.

The Triumph-Bajaj collaboration will combine strength in design, technology, cost-competitive manufacturing and an intimate knowledge of key target markets to deliver a range of products and business successes, as per the pact.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
File image

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Friday said that a BJP leader had informed him that his phone was being tapped by the previous Devendra Fadnavis government in Maharashtra.

On the NCP's allegation that the Centre has withdrawn party chief Sharad Pawar's security at his official residence in New Delhi, Raut said it could have been because Pawar was intrumental in forming the Shiv Sena-led government in the state.

"A BJP leader had told me that my phone was being tapped. I said if anybody wants to listen to what I am saying I welcome it. I am Balasaheb's chela (disciple), whatever I do, I do it openly," Raut told reporters here.

"In spite of the phone-tapping, we formed the government in Maharashtra," he said.

Raut's remarks come a day after state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh alleged that the Fadnavis dispensation misused government machinery to tap the phones of opposition leaders, especially during the formation of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

"The cyber cell of Maharashtra police has been asked to look into the various complaints of snooping/phone tapping that came in during the previous government," Deshmukh had said on Wednesday.

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh had earlier also alleged that phones of opposition leaders were tapped by the Fadnavis government. He had also raised questions about the involvement of officials in the phone-tapping episode.

On the NCP's allegation about withdrawal of Sharad Pawar's security, Raut said, "It could have been because Pawar was instrumental in the formation of the Shiv Sena-led government in Maharashtra. A few years ago, he was attacked in Delhi. Even the Gandhis' SPG security was withdrawn recently."

The Rajya Sabha MP was referring to the Centre's recent move of withdrawing the Special Protection Group (SPG) cover of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her children Rahul and Priyanka.
The BBC's Africa editor has thanked well-wishers for their 'compassion' as he steps down from his role due to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after decades of reporting from conflict zones around the world.

The BBC previously confirmed Keane is suffering from PTSD, with his diagnosis stemming from 'several decades of work in conflict zones around the world', including Rwanda and Northern Ireland.

Jonathan Munro, its head of newsgathering, confirmed that Mr Keane had been suffering with the condition 'for several years'.

Fergal Keane is pictured in 2003 reporting on the Iraq war for the BBC on the northern Iraqi border

Keane (pictured) originally joined the BBC in 1989 as a Northern Ireland correspondent and also reported from South Africa and Asia before being moved to his current role

Keane thanked well-wishers on Twitter, saying the 'compassion is so heartening', adding he is not leaving the BBC but 'focusing on recovery' and 'different work'

In a tweet, Keane wrote: 'To all who have sent messages re #ptsd thank you so so much. The compassion is so heartening.

'I'm not leaving the BBC but no more war or traumatising situations. In due course I will talk about #ptsd but for now it's time to focus on recovery and different work.'

Keane, married to Anne Flaherty, who he met at the Irish Press, was educated in both Cork and Dublin before beginning his career in journalism at the Irish newspaper Limerick Leader.

Keane then moved to The Irish Press and then on to RTE.

The father-of-two worked in the print press industry for nine years until he joined the BBC in 1989 as a Northern Ireland correspondent.

The 59-year-old has been at the forefront of reporting social and political change throughout his career including his coverage of the regime changes in South Africa in 1994 and the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997.

The journalist reported from countries including Lebanon, Angola and Afghanistan.

In 1997 he created a huge reaction when he read out a moving letter to his new-born son Daniel on Radio 4s From Our Own Correspondent.

He reflected on what he had seen as a reporter and also on his thoughts on being a new father.

In the letter he said: Its also true that I am pained, perhaps haunted is a better word, by the memory suddenly so vivid now of each suffering child I have come across on my journeys.

He was appointed OBE for services to journalism in 1996 as well as winning an Amnesty television prize in 1994 for an investigation into the Rwandan genocide.

Jonathan Munro, its head of newsgathering, confirmed that Mr Keane had been suffering with the condition 'for several years'

In 2005, Keane, alongside former colleague Billy Kelly, founded the Msaada charity to assist survivors of the atrocity.

Keane was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters by the London Metropolitan University in 2015.

This time last year, Keane was named recipient of the Hall of Fame award at the Cork Person of the Year awards.

Mr Munro told staff the journalist has received support from 'friends and colleagues' as well as medical professionals.

He added: 'However, he now feels he needs to change his role in order to further assist his recovery.

'It's both brave and welcome that he is ready to be open about PTSD.'

Following the news, RTE journalist Fiachra O Cionnaith wrote on Twitter: I dont tend to do too much public praising of other journalists, but Fergal Keane is an inspirational journalist. And not without a cost to himself.

RTE rugby commentator Michael Corcoran tweeted: Full of admiration always for @fergalkeane47, even more so now. Mind yourself please my friend

The accomplished career history of veteran war reporter Fergal Keane Keane began his journalistic career at the Irish newspaper Limerick Leader. He joined the BBC in 1989 as the broadcaster's Northern Ireland correspondent, before covering South Africa and Asia. The veteran war reporter was appointed as the corporation's South Africa correspondent in 1990, and covered prominent stories on the genocide in Rwanda, later winning a BAFTA award for his documentary, Valentina's Story. In 1995 he became the BBC's Asia correspondent, based in Hong Kong, and later returned to the corporation's London office. Over his career Keane won a great many awards, including the Amnesty International Press Award in 1993, the James Cameron Prize for war reporting, and the 1995 Orwell prize. He was also appointed OBE for services to journalism in 1996. Advertisement
You must understand the anger and frustration of those who feel strongly that taxpayer dollars and corporate funds should not be devoted to supporting this event, Mr. Kenney wrote in the letter, dated Jan. 21.

The Mummers divisions loosely organize many groups under broad banners  there is a Comic Division and a Fancy Brigade  and their leaders have always struggled to police the behavior of groups and participants. Mr. Kenney, himself a former Mummer, requested a meeting of the leaders with the citys managing director, and proposed several changes to how the Mummers organize.

We agree with his chain of thought that some things have to be improved, said Richard Porco, the president of the Comic Division. He said that the groups had improved a lot over the past four or five years, pointing to sensitivity training in 2016 and increased city oversight of the themes chosen by the groups.

Mr. Porco said that the two marchers with black-painted faces this year had put on makeup during the course of the parade, calling them two knuckleheads that took it upon themselves to put blackface on out of 10,000 marchers, approximately. He said that the Mummers do not condone blackface, but found it difficult to police amid the thousands of people wearing colorful costumes and makeup.

We try to stop it, he said. But its going to be a hard road to haul.

On Thursday, Councilwoman Cindy Bass introduced a bill that would penalize people who wear blackface at the parade, including with a $75 fine and a ban of up to five years from the parade. The bill is not final, she said in an interview on Friday, noting that it would have to take into account legal protections for free speech.
A mother who repeatedly assaulted her children and threatened to kill them while holding a knife has been jailed for two years.

The woman (37) had pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting, ill-treating, and neglecting three of her children at her then address on dates unknown between March 14, 2015 and April 18, 2016.

Following a trial in October 2019, she was convicted of all charges by a jury. The court heard that the accused continues to deny her responsibility for the offences.

The accused cannot be named to protect the identity of her children.

Judge Melanie Greally said it was a sad case in which the court had heard a catalogue of physical and repeated verbal abuse of the children, who were also locked up for protracted periods.

The children were exposed to illicit drug use and subjected to squalid living conditions, as well as deprivation in relation to food and personal hygiene.

She said the context to the offending was significant, noting the mother had been undergoing a difficult marriage breakup and going through a personal crisis. She said the woman had been engaging in regular drug abuse and had an antisocial peer group.

The judge noted the mother had self- reported that she was not coping and the matter was refereed to gardai.

Judge Greally said the assaults which were perpetrated persistently on the three children were particularly serious, with the eldest child bearing the brunt of the assaults. She said there had been long-lasting effects on the children who experienced significant emotional turmoil.

The judge noted there was no acknowledgement of guilt and no expression of remorse for her actions.

She said it had been a period of turmoil and personal crisis for the accused who was overwhelmed by the responsibility of parenting her children single handled and also had financial stresses.

Judge Greally said she was taking into account the possibility of the woman rebuilding her relationship with the children notwithstanding the erosion of trust and the fact the children were now fearful of her.

Judge Greally imposed a three year sentence with the final 12 months suspended. She ordered the woman not to have any contact with the children unless authorised by child and family agency or the father of the children.

At an earlier sentencing hearing, Garda Aisling O'Connor told John Berry BL, prosecuting, that during the trial DVDs of interviews of the three children were played before the court.

Gda O'Connor said the eldest of the three children said in interview that she hated living in the house and her mother used to hit her with belts and wooden spoons. She said that all her mother did was sleep on the couch and she was glad she did not see her anymore.

The middle child of the three children said she was not allowed out when she lived with her mother and that her mother used to hit the three children almost every day. She said her mother would threaten to kill herself and would pick up a knife and threaten to kill them.

The youngest child said his mother used to wear a skull ring which would leave a mark when she hit with her hands. He said he was glad he did not see her anymore and was worried she would find out where he lives.

A former partner of the accused said that the house was not only messy but dirty and she heard mice. She said that the accused would lock the boys in their room at night using a belt.

In a victim impact statement, which was read out in court, the father of the children said they were constantly bullied in school because of the dirt on their clothes. He said his children had nightmares about running into their mother again.

He said he suffers with guilt because he thought they were safe with their mother and just thinking about it breaks him down.

The woman has 32 previous convictions, all of which are for road traffic matters. She does not have access to her children at the moment.

Gda O'Connor agreed with Kathleen Leader SC, defending, that the offending came to light when the accused told teachers she could not cope anymore and they contacted gardai. She agreed that the accused had a fifth child who died in June 2019.

Ms Leader said that the offences occurred during a period where her client's marriage had effectively broken down and her parents were not available to her. She said her client was diagnosed with depression in 2012.

She said her client was a good mother to her children prior to these issues and wanted in future to be a good mother to her children.
The impact of the Connecticuts state colleges and universities on our region, as we work with our students in preparing them for jobs and careers in Connecticut, cannot be overstated. While this topic has been on our radar for a number of years, a recent email from Leigh Appleby, the Director of Communications for the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities, inspired me to write once again about its importance.

Our efforts with the School to Career Pathways initiative, as well as recommendations from business leaders, encourage us to aggressively initiate a comprehensive plan to develop and retain young workers, including creating a greater awareness of job opportunities.
Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles Director Charlie Graddick spoke to lawmakers Thursday at a hearing about the agencys budget, but much of the talk turned to other subjects, including a decline in paroles granted.

Gov. Kay Ivey appointed Graddick as director effective Sept. 1 under new legislation spearheaded by Ivey and Attorney General Steve Marshall, who said the agency was broken and not following its own rules.

Graddick, a former circuit judge, state attorney general, and candidate for governor, suspended parole hearings for about two months because he said the bureau was not following the law on notifying victims of hearings. Hearings resumed in November, but only 17 inmates were granted parole in November and December, according to the ACLU.

That indicated a sharp decline in the rate of paroles because the board granted 2,291 paroles last year and 4,239 in 2018. The population of the states overcrowded prisons began to grow again last year after dropping for several years.

At least two lawmakers asked Graddick today how many paroles had been granted since he became director. Graddick said he did not have an exact number.

Graddick, repeating a point Ivey and Marshall have made, said prison crowding should not be a factor in parole consideration. Graddick also said he was not involved in any decisions about parole or who goes on the docket for a parole hearing.

So many people think I have something to do with who gets paroled and who doesnt, Graddick said. "I dont. I dont make that decision. I did that for 14 years as a judge determining who was going to be in jail and thats a huge responsibility.

The parole board follows the law and then the three of them make their judgment as to whether or not theyre going to be a risk to the community. And I guess weve just got too many violent people in jail.

The legislation passed last year made the bureau director an appointee of the governor. Previously, the three-member board appointed the director. Decisions on granting parole remain with the three members of the board, who are appointees of the governor and confirmed by the Senate.

Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, said he was concerned that inmates are being put on trial again when they come up for parole. Graddick disputed that.

Theres something called common sense," Graddick said. "And if you look at somebody whos been in and out of prison from now until you cant know when and committed violent offense after violent offense, just because theyre eligible doesnt mean theyre going to get out.

Singleton said, You dont believe in second chances. Obviously, you dont. Because you just made a judgment right there based on what somebody looks like or their history.  What about a person being able to change?

Graddick said, "That is going to be a parole board decision.  And its not my function. I havent changed any rules anywhere."

Sen. Cam Ward, R-Alabaster, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee and has led criminal justice reform efforts in the Legislature, said he disagreed with the bureaus policy, started under Graddick, to circulate press releases detailing the crimes of inmates who are coming up for parole, sometimes from news media accounts. Ward said he did not think it was the parole boards job to retry every case.

Ward told Graddick he understood that it was not the parole boards job to solve the states prison crisis, but said the growth in the inmate population, with prisons holding almost 170% the number of inmates they were designed for, raised the risk that a federal court could order the state to release inmates. The Department of Justice alleged last April that conditions inside Alabama prisons were so violent and dangerous that they violated the Constitution.

Im telling you, were on a road thats not going to be pretty, Ward said.

Several legislators asked Graddick about his position that the Bureau of Pardons and Paroles should relinquish operating LIFE Tech, a transition center for parolees in Thomasville that offers programs including vocational training in courses such as welding, carpentry, and masonry. Graddick said operating the center should be the responsibility of the Alabama Department of Corrections.

Were not in the custodial business, Graddick said. We dont keep people. We dont lock people up and maintain them and feed them and house them. And thats what were doing at Life Tech. And we shouldnt. We dont have authority to do that, frankly.

Rep. Pebblin Warren, D-Tuskegee, told Graddick that LIFE Tech was an effective program, particularly in teaching parolees welding, an employable skill.

You are going to have to step up to the plate, Warren said.

Graddick said he favored expansion of the bureaus Day Reporting Centers, non-residential programs that provide intensive supervision of parolees, including drug treatment counseling and adult education, according to the Pardons and Paroles annual report.

Graddick said Ivey told him the agency was broken when she asked him to accept the appointment as director. He said he did find problems, including a need for modernization. He said the bureau needs to be modernized and still relies on paper for record-keeping. He said probation and parole officers dont have all the equipment or vehicles they need.

The most urgent need, Graddick said, is to hire more probation and parole officers. He said the bureau has 308 officers and that almost half of those supervise more than 100 parolees. He said the bureau needs about 450 officers to bring caseloads down to 75 or less. The goal is to hire 28 officers this year as part of a three-to-five year plan, Graddick said.

Graddick is asking legislators to boost the bureaus appropriation from the General Fund by $11 million over this years total of $48 million.

Graddick said the bureau also has about $25 million appropriated a few years ago that it has carried over.

I really dont know the intent of that amount of money that was given, Graddick said. I think they told them they needed to be hiring new people and it just wasnt happening. A lot of things werent happening.

Rep. Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, chairman of the House Ways and Means General Fund Committee, said the carried over money, which he said was about $26 million, was intended to be used to hire more parole officers. Clouse said he understood that attracting and hiring recruits in the job market was challenging, but said the fact that the agency has carried over the funding raises doubts about the need for the $11 million increase.

Its difficult, but on the other hand we need to spend that money first," Clouse said. "So, well be taking a strong look at the request that they have.

Graddick, speaking to reporters after the hearing, was asked why he thinks the parole rate has fallen sharply.

I had a man whos been in this business a long time tell me about a month ago that theyve taken all of the low-hanging fruit out of the prisons, Graddick said. That means that we dont have people there anymore that really qualify. They just dont.
GRAND HAVEN, MI  The 45th annual Grand Haven WinterFest kicks off on Thursday, featuring four days of outdoor activities, family fun, food, booze and a famed cardboard sled race.

This years event will take place from Thursday, Jan. 23 to Sunday, Jan. 26, around downtown Grand Haven area.

There will be activities for skiers, sledders, snow angels, and sporty types  plus, count em, two races for your pets to take part in.

Read on for more information about Winterfest 2019.

Maxwell Lewis, 9, of Zeeland is pulled by his Australian Shepherd, Charlie, as they compete in the Family Dog Pull during the 44th annual Winterfest in Grand Haven, Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. Joel Bissell | MLive.comJoel Bissell | MLive.com

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23

Glowbowl, 4-8 p.m. at Mulligans Hollow, 600 Y Dr, Grand Haven

Anyone can take part in the traditional kick-off event; just wear your favorite glowing piece of apparel and head out for this parade.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24

Cardboard Sled Build: 5-8 p.m. at White Pines Gymnasium, 1400 S Griffin St, Grand Haven

The signature event of each years Winterfest is a race in a handmade, creative cardboard sled down Mulligans Hollow. Come out and build your sled according to the rules, laid out here.

Sleepwalker Run: Registration begins 5:30 p.m. at HarbourFront Parking Lot, 1 Washington Ave, Grand Haven

Put on your pajamas and hit the road for a gentle race around downtown, to and from the Bonfire Bash. Runners can take part in the free 0.62-mile race (starts at 6 p.m.) or the 2.62-mile race (starts at 6:30 p.m.) for $25 in advance ($30 in-person), which benefits the Grand Haven Lighthouse Conservancy. Registration takes place in person at 5:30 p.m., or online here.

43 Grand Haven Winterfest Cardboard Sled Race 2019

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25

Family Dog Pull: Registration begins 9 a.m. at Mulligans Hollow, 600 Y Dr, Grand Haven

Bring out Fido and a sled  and a little one to ride in it  for this free, fun race. Races take place from 9:30-11 a.m.; register in person at 9 a.m.

Cardboard Sled Race: Registration begins 10 a.m. at Mulligans Hollow, 600 Y Dr, Grand Haven

Registration for this race begins at 10 a.m., with judging for most attractive sled, best details on the sled, and most spirited team at 10:30. Races begin at 11 a.m. Sleds must pass a safety inspection, and comply with rules laid out here.

Euchre Tournament: Registration begins at 10:45 at Grand Haven Elks, 15 S 3rd St, Grand Haven

Game play begins at 12 p.m. for this card game tournament. Cost to play is $15 per person, with food and drink available for purchase. Spots are limited, so you can also pre-register by calling the Elks Club at (616) 842-0970.

A small dog pulls an empty sled as she competes in the small dog category of the Family Dog Pull during the 44th annual Winterfest in Grand Haven, Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. Joel Bissell | MLive.comJoel Bissell | MLive.com

Kids Day: 12-3 p.m. at Tri-Cities Family YMCA, 1 Y Dr, Grand Haven

Kids and their families can head to the YMCA for an array of projects, face painting, a bounce house and snacks. A shuttle will be available to take attendees over to the cardboard sled race or other activities.

Kids Day is also home to two free competitions. The Race of Kings Hamster & Gerbil Race (registration begins at 1 p.m.; races at 2 p.m.) is open to a little pet in a gerbil ball. The Snow Angel Contest (2:30 p.m. is a chance to make a colorful snow angel (or chalk angel, if weather doesnt permit).

Beer & Wine Tasting: 2-7 p.m. at Grand Haven Eagles Clubhouse, 20 N 2nd St, Grand Haven, MI

Beer, wine and pizza will be available for the price of a $20 ticket, all proceeds of which will benefit the Grand Haven Lighthouse Conservancy. There will also be silent and live auctions for the same fundraiser.

Bonfire Bash: 3-10pm, at HarbourFront Parking Lot, 1 Washington Ave, Grand Haven

Swing by the parking lot at the corner of Washington and Harbor to roast free hotdogs and marshmallows over a bonfire. There will also be beer and cider for the grownups, cocoa for the little ones, and music.

Freeze4All Snow Volleyball: at HarbourFront Parking Lot, 1 Washington Ave, Grand Haven

Juniors and Family-Friendly Divisions: Registration begins at 2:30 p.m., play at 3-6 p.m.

Adult Divisions: Registration begins at 6 p.m., play at 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Play beach-style volleyball in snow instead of sand, in co-ed teams of four. Mixed-age groups should join the family-friendly league, while adult teams can choose whether to play a fun round with the B division, or a serious competitive round with the A division. Participation is $40 per person ($30 for pre-registration, here), and proceeds will benefit the Grand Haven Lighthouse Conservancy. The event will coincide with the Bonfire Bash, so participants can grab a hot dog or a beer between sets.

Leah Brunsting, 13, of Holt is pulled by German Shepherd Laura as they compete in the Family Dog Pull during the 44th annual Winterfest in Grand Haven, Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019. Joel Bissell | MLive.comJoel Bissell | MLive.com

SUNDAY JANUARY 26

Ski & Snowboard Competition: 1-3 p.m. at Mulligans Hollow, 600 Y Dr, Grand Haven

On the last day of WinterFest, head out to Mulligans Hollow with your skis or snowboard for a judged competition. Competing is free, but entry requires a lift ticket. Participants can earn prizes and t-shirts.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 09:21:15|Editor: Shi Yinglun

Video Player Close



Invited guests attend a high level policy dialogue on land policy reform and social economic transformation in Gaborone, capital of Botswana, on Jan. 23, 2020. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) held a high level policy dialogue on land reform and social economic transformation here on Thursday. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)

GABORONE, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) held a high level policy dialogue on land reform and social economic transformation here on Thursday.

Speaking at the event, UNECA Regional Director for Southern Africa Said Adejumobi said the dialogue will address how to efficiently manage land for inclusive growth, industrialization and social economic development. Land reform is perhaps the most important contemporary issue of public policy that poses difficulty in Southern Africa.

The dialogue needs to come up with ways of balancing the demand for land redistribution with imperative increase of agricultural productivity and with enhanced agro-processing capacity, he said.

For his part, Botswana's Minister of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services Kefentse Mzwinila said land reform is a key and strategic part for overall socio-economic transformation, and the Botswana government believes that an improved land administration system is "a prerequisite for economic development."

The dialogue provided stakeholders to share experience on land reforms and development in Southern Africa through discussions on land ownership and productivity, markets and policy.
Youth pastor who got flu shot dies from flu complications

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

An Indiana church and the family of a 36-year-old youth pastor are now in mourning after she died from flu complications Monday.

The youth pastor, Allison Williams, who had worked at Reddington Christian Church in Seymour since 2008, died at Schneck Medical Center.

RCC family, we are beyond saddened to announce the passing of Allison. Allison had the flu for the past few days and it seems she went septic. After arriving at the ER she went into cardiac arrest, the church announced on Facebook Monday afternoon.

According to The Tribune, Reddington Christian Senior Pastor Scott Brown said that Allison lamented to him about getting the flu vaccine.

She told me yesterday, I dont even know why I got a flu shot. It didnt do me any good, Brown said.

According to the CDC, which conducts studies each year to determine how well the flu vaccine protects against flu illness, the effectiveness of the vaccine can vary. Recent studies show that flu vaccination reduces the risk of flu illness by between 40% and 60% among the overall population during seasons when most circulating flu viruses are well-matched to the flu vaccine.

In general, the agency notes, current flu vaccines tend to work better against influenza B and influenza A (H1N1) viruses but offers lower protection against influenza A (H3N2) viruses.

Williams' mother, Lisa Williams of Knoxville, Tennessee, reportedly noted on social media that her daughter got sick with the flu after attending the Tennessee Christian Teen Convention, which she has attended annually, from Jan. 10 to 12. Allison Williams was later diagnosed with Type A flu.

When she came home, she wasnt feeling well, Pastor Brown told The Tribune. A couple of days after being home, she had gone back to the doctor for the second time, and they said she had the Type A flu.

A Healthline report explains that Type A flu can be found in many species, including humans, birds and pigs. As a result of the strains long list of potential hosts and its ability to genetically change over a short amount of time, Type A viruses are very diverse and can cause a pandemic.

Brown said after Williams got the flu, he and others kept checking on her.

On Saturday, my wife and I brought out some medication for her, some Gatorade and things she needed, he explained. Then I checked her again on Sunday.

At about 10:30 a.m., however, Brown said he noticed she had gotten worse.

I said, Allison, you need to let me take you to the ER, but she didnt want to go, he told The Tribune.

It wasnt until around noon that she relented and by this time, she couldnt even walk to Browns car without help.

I got her to the car, took her directly to the Seymour hospital and we werent there three minutes and she went into cardiac arrest, Brown recalled. With going septic, that can happen so quickly, and the damage is done. The doctor said even if we had brought her in earlier, it wouldnt have mattered.

Since Allisons death, he said he now has a different understanding of the dangers of the flu.

You always hear about people dying of the flu, but you never really know anybody, he said. And all of a sudden, it happened here.

On the churchs website, Williams is highlighted as a graduate of Johnson Bible College who majored in Bible and a specialty in Childrens Ministry. She oversaw the churchs nursery through high school-aged students. She had a passion for cooking, reading, traveling and her dog, Griffin, who died in December. She described Griffin as "the very best friend I've ever had."

The kids had this profound respect for her, Brown said. She had this ability to command a room of teenagers and to get their attention and keep them in line. They loved her.

She was by far the best youth minister I have ever worked with. She was more than my co-worker. She and I were friends. Our friendship was always the foundation of what we did.

The CDC estimates that between Oct. 19, 2020 and Jan. 11, 2020, there have been up to 17,000 flu-related deaths nationwide stemming from up to 18 million flu illnesses.
His luck changed when this script fell into the hands of a kindred spirit, long-term Lovecraft fan Nicolas Cage, who quickly agreed to star. From that point on, the project came together quickly: the shoot took place roughly a year ago in Portugal, not too far from Stanley's home in the French Pyrenees. "It was probably the smoothest transition from page to screen I've been lucky enough to have in my career," Stanley says. "This was pretty much an unalloyed joy." In Color Out of Space, Joely Richardson and Nicolas Cage play the parts of a family based on Richard Stanley's own. Does he still feel like the same filmmaker who made Hardware? "Life flashes by," Stanley says. "I've really always been making deadpan apocalyptic black comedy. I think Hardware and Color Out of Space are very much coming from the same place. They're different genres  Hardware's a near-future cyberpunk movie, where this is an American nuclear family in a creepy old dark house with a supernatural threat. But pace wise and in the general emotional tone they're pretty much the same."

As he points out, the droid in Hardware and the bizarre alien force here  literally a colour rather than a sentient being  are two versions of the same idea. Loading "We're confronted by something we cannot really comprehend, which cannot comprehend us, with which dialogue is futile, and which is also implacable and probably impossible to stop or in any way overcome. There's a place I like to get to in everything I do, where emotionally you're pretty much beyond despair." Wherever it comes from, this fascination with extremity goes back a long way. "The family in Color Out of Space is very closely based on my family from the time when I was a kid. I basically imprint onto Jack, the creepy kid, the seven-year-old, who responds to the general trauma by drawing crayon drawings of monsters and developing relationships with invisible friends."

Similarly, the horrors visited on Joely Richardson's mother character are inspired partly by Stanley's own mother and her battle with lymphoma. "She took 10 years to die from the point when she was diagnosed," Stanley says. "That process of having to deal with my mum gradually mutating, both physically and psychologically, becoming something very different from the way one might like to remember one's loved ones, I think is strongly reflected in the issues the family has in dealing with the mum in the second half of the movie." It's not how everyone would choose to process grief, but here again Stanley and Cage were on the same wavelength. "I know that some part of Nic's character was drawing on his own dad," Stanley says. "So there was a sense of tipping our hats to the ones that had come before us. I was also super-conscious of trying to do right by H.P. Lovecraft, even though Lovecraft, a self-confessed atheist, probably couldn't be sitting on a cloud somewhere watching what we were doing." I tend to always walk towards the source of the problem. Thats why Ive ended up in an awful lot of war zones. Richard Stanley Stanley himself seems to take the idea of the supernatural seriously, though not solemnly - raising the question of whether his fascination with malign or demonic forces might entail a degree of personal risk. "I've always had the feeling, possibly erroneously, that one needs to approach the things that you fear," Stanley says. "It's got me in an lot of trouble. I tend to always walk towards the source of the problem. That's why I've ended up in an awful lot of war zones."

Even within the safety of fiction, he adds, confronting your fears can be cathartic - which may explain why Cage is so drawn to roles in which he violently freaks out. "I think Nic has a huge amount of energy that he really needs to get out of him, because you don't want that messing up one's life, you don't want to be that person off camera. So having the opportunity to act out all those dramas on screen is really like the best therapy you could ask for." With his career revival under way, Stanley has no intention of slowing down: two more Lovecraft adaptations are already in the pipeline, and perhaps someday he'll even get another shot at Doctor Moreau, the project that derailed him for so long. "If the chance to go back to the island and shoot the movie in the manner close to what I originally intended is offered to me, I'm going to have to take it up. I couldn't walk away from such a proposition at this stage in my life." It's a prospect he contemplates with hope, fear and a characteristic burst of eloquence.
Chennai: The Madras High Court on Friday dismissed a petition filed against actor Rajinikanth over his remarks on rationalist leader E. V. Ramasamy Periyar as the petitioners withdrew the plea.

Justice P Rajamanickam was hearing the petition by Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam, a fringe outfit.

State Public Prosecutor A Natarajan submitted the petitioners had approached the court without seeking the alternative remedy available to them.

Justice Rajamanickam asked the counsel for the petitioners if they would withdraw the petition.

After the counsels admitted they would do so, the judge recorded the same and dismissed the plea.

Rajinikanth made the controversial remarks against Periyar recently at an event organised here by Tamil magazine 'Thuglak'.

In 1971, at Salem, Periyar took out a rally in which the undressed images of Lord Sriramachandramoorthy and Sita - with a garland of sandal-featured .. he said.

A Dravidian outift Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam, however, accused the actor of "uttering a blatant lie" and demanded his unconditional apology and also filed police complaints against him. The DVK alleged that the actor uttered a "blatant lie that the images of Lord Ram and Sita were taken nude in a rally, held as part of a superstition eradication conference held in 1971 at Salem."

The actor said he would not apologise for what he had said against Periyar. He said he had spoken only what he had heard and read, citing a reference to an article in an English magazine.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan.24

By Tamilla Mammadova  Trend:

Agricultural and Rural Development Agency of Georgia (ARDA), with the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will develop a technical assistance program for Georgian agricultural cooperatives, Trend reports citing EastFruit information and analytical platform.

As reported, this program will be prepared based on the recommendations of Japanese experts. They will present their vision for the development of agricultural cooperation in Georgia and offer a model adapted for specific Georgian agricultural cooperatives.

The work is carried out in the framework of the joint project of ARDA and JICA entitled Creating business-oriented agricultural cooperatives and implemented since 2019. Japanese expert Terunuma Hiroshi arrived in Georgia to study the needs of Georgian agricultural cooperative. Several more experts from Japan will join him soon. It is expected that the final recommendations will be submitted to the Georgian side before the end of this year.

According to ARDA, the Technical Assistance Program will include, in particular, a training course, as well as study tours to Japan for Georgian farmers.

Currently, 1,044 agricultural cooperatives are registered in Georgia, uniting 10,739 shareholders.

The Agricultural and Rural Development Agency of Georgia was formed in 2019 as a result of the merger of the Agricultural Project Management Agency and the Agricultural Cooperatives Development Agency.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Mila61979356
A test is understood to have been carried out at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast (Paul Faith/PA)

Medics are almost certain a man who is being treated at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast for symptoms associated with the Wuhan coronavirus does not have the illness.

The patient is believed to have traveled to Northern Ireland from the city of Wuhan at the weekend and is currently being treated in an isolation ward as a precaution.

The Belfast Telegraph understands medics are "99% certain" the patient does not have the virus and that he is in good health.

It comes as 14 people in other parts of the UK - and suspected of carrying the virus - were given the all-clear.

Read More

Results which will confirm whether he has the deadly virus are expected to be returned this evening.

There has been more than 500 confirmed cases of the virus globally, with 17 fatalities in China.

The virus causes pneumonia, with those who have fallen ill reported to suffer coughs, fever and breathing difficulties.

Meanwhile, the Government's Cobra contingencies committee will meet at midday to discuss the coronavirus outbreak.

A No 10 spokesman said there were still no confirmed cases in the UK.

Meanwhile students and staff at Queen's University were advised to mention to health services any travel to the Chinese province.

"If you do need to travel to China, it is important to maintain good hand, respiratory and personal hygiene, and to avoid visiting animal and bird markets or people who are ill with respiratory symptoms," an email said.

At Ulster University students and staff were issued similar guidance.

Damian McAllister, director of people and culture at the university added: The safety and welfare of our students and staff is a key priority for Ulster University. We will continue to monitor the evolving situation taking advice from the relevant agencies as to appropriate action.

The Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland has advised anyone who has been to Wuhan within the past 14 days and developed respiratory symptoms to call their GP.

Symptoms include a cough, a sneeze, shortness of breath, or a fever.

The agency advises that people should maintain good hand, respiratory and personal hygiene. And anyone with symptoms and who recently visited China urged to seek advice.

Government officials are working on contacting those who recently returned from China.

Medical officials across the UK have been working together to assess the situation.

Chief medical officer for England Professor Chris Whitty said: "At the minute, it definitely looks like this is a lot less dangerous if you get it than Ebola, and a lot less dangerous than the recent coronavirus MERS, and it's probably less dangerous if you get it than SARS virus.

"What we don't know is how far it's going to spread, that really is something we need to plan for all eventualities."

He added: "I am working closely with the other UK chief medical officers.

"We all agree that the risk to the UK public remains low, but there may well be cases in the UK at some stage.

"We have tried and tested measures in place to respond. The UK is well-prepared for these types of incidents, with excellent readiness against infectious diseases.

"We have global experts monitoring the situation around the clock and have a strong track record of managing new forms of infectious disease.

"The UK has access to some of the best infectious disease and public health experts in the world.

"A public health hub will be set up in Heathrow from today. This consists of clinicians and other public health officials, in addition to existing port health measures."

Have you recently visited Wuhan province in China? Email digital.editorial@belfasttelegraph.co.uk
The Union minister blamed the AAP and the Congress for instigating violent protests against the CAA in the national capital.

New Delhi: With opinion polls and reports indicating that the Aam Aadmi Party led by Arvind Kejriwal has an edge in the forthcoming Delhi polls, the BJP has fallen back on its nationalist plank to consolidate the Hindu vote bank. The top leaders of the party ranging from home minister Amit Shah to information and broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar have begun evoking Pakistan to woo the voters. The saffron camp is trying to project that the Delhi elections was actually a contest between India and Pakistan.

On Friday, Mr Javdekar, also BJPs election in-charge for Delhi, speaking to the media said that the voters in the national capital need to decide on whether they want Jinnah wali azadi or Bharat Mata ki jai. On Thursday, the home minister said that Mr Kejriwal, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan speak the same language. Kapil Mishra, BJP candidate from Model Town, had earlier tweeted that the Delhi election was a contest between India and Pakistan.

Referring to Shaheen Baghs anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests, Mr Javedkar said : We have seen Jinnah Wali Azadi slogan being raised there. Now, Delhi people need to decide if they want Jinnah Wali Azadi or Bharat Mata ki Jai.

The Union minister blamed the AAP and the Congress for instigating violent protests against the CAA in the national capital. Delhi people should ask both the parties why did they instigate violence? The nexus of AAP and Congress is behind the Shaheen Bagh protest. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia have supported the protest. Mr Kejriwal sympathises with people raising Jinnah Wali Azadi slogans and not with the persecuted minorities in Pakiatan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, he said.

Mr Javadekar blamed AAP and Congress for misleading and poisoning the minds of the minorities, including children. He asserted that the CAA was not going to affect citizenship of any Indian and blamed that political parties were raising the bogey of CAA and National Register of Citizens (NRC) to defeat the BJP in the elections. The CAA is aimed at providing citizenship to persecuted minorities including Hindus and Sikhs in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, he added.

Addressing a Nukkad Sabha in the Lakshmi Nagar constituency, BJP president J.P. Nadda alleged that the Congress and the AAP were misleading people on the citizenship law.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 22:34:27|Editor: Mu Xuequan

Video Player Close

BERLIN, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Germany remain confident despite the economic downturn, according to the annual SME index 2020 compiled by the consulting firm EY (Ernst & Young) and published on Friday.

"Despite the difficult economic situation, the mood in large parts of the German SME sector is remarkably good," commented Michael Marbler, partner at EY, adding that "there can be no talk of a widespread crisis at present."

However, one out of ten SMEs in Germany described their business situation as generally bad. Last year, this figure was around three times lower. At the same time, the share of fully satisfied SMEs dropped from 65 percent to 57 percent.

According to EY, German entrepreneurs are "particularly concerned" about the general economic situation. Almost every third SME expects the economic situation in Germany to deteriorate and only 21 percent anticipate the economy to develop in positive way.

As a result, the willingness to invest and to hire new employees has been "significantly lower than in the previous year," according to EY. However, the share of SMEs planning to increase their investments and hire new employees is still larger than that of those without such expansion plans.

Although some SMEs in Germany, especially in the automotive industry and in mechanical engineering, have "switched to crisis mode," most of them are "still doing well or very well."

Only 31 percent of German SMEs in the automotive industry are satisfied with their business situation, a strong decline compared to the SME indexes for 2018 and 2019, which recorded 67 percent and 46 percent, respectively.

Compared to the other industries, the automotive industry has the highest share of SMEs planning to cut jobs. Eighteen percent of SMEs in the automotive industry are planning to reduce the number of employees, while only five percent aim to increase the number.

EY partner Marbler warned that the weakness of the German automotive industry and the mechanical engineering sector is "increasingly affecting" the associated sectors.

In Germany's booming construction industry, on the other hand, 68 percent of SMEs are "completely satisfied" with business development. Thirty-two percent of the country's construction companies even plan to hire additional employees, while only seven percent want to cut jobs.

"The situation of the German Mittelstand (SMEs) varies greatly depending on the sector," said Marbler. While service providers and the construction industry "continue to flourish," other sectors have "deteriorated significantly" in recent months.
By the editors of the National Review:

Senate Republicans, by and large, have reached an unspoken consensus about President Trump and Ukraine. He should not have put a temporary freeze on congressionally authorized aid to Ukraine, should not have dabbled with using the aid to get Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden or a nutty theory about Ukrainian hacking during the 2016 election, and should not have kept defending his perfect call as such. At the same time, his conduct does not merit his removal from office  especially since voters will get to pass judgment on that conduct in a few months.

Its a reasonable position, and its the case that Republicans ought to make in public. They are inhibited from doing so by the presidents obstinacy. Instead of sticking to the most defensible case for a Senate acquittal of Trump, Republicans from the president on down are making arguments that range from the implausible to the embarrassing.

Hence the claim now being advanced half-heartedly by Republicans that presidents cannot be impeached for any abuse of power unless that abuse took the form of a criminal violation of a statute.

More here. [Thanks to Michael Liss.]
UN agency hails finding on climate refugees



Geneva, Jan 24 (AFP) Jan 24, 2020



The UN refugee agency praised on Friday an expert panel's finding that sending migrants back to countries severely hit by climate change could breach their human rights.

"Whole communities are going to be at increasing risk," said Andrew Harper, special adviser for climate action at UNHCR, praising the UN Human Rights Committee's finding as a "wake-up call".

"We cannot afford to be reactive... We as UNHCR are looking to work with states to see how we can mitigate the impact of what is already evident," he told reporters in Geneva.

The committee of experts made their ruling in a case brought by a farmer from the Pacific island nation of Kiribati who was appealing against deportation from New Zealand.

Even though the experts ruled that deportation was justified because the farmer -- Ioane Teitiota -- did not face an immediate risk, the case opens the way for more such litigation.

"This is a landmark decision with potentially far-reaching implications for the international protection of displaced people in the context of climate change and disasters," UNHCR said in a statement.

The term "climate refugee" currently has no basis in international law as a refugee is officially defined as someone who crosses a border for fear of persecution.

But the UN experts said governments deporting to countries at risk from climate change could be contravening the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The UN Human Rights Committee is made up of 18 independent experts who issue opinions and recommendations that carry reputational weight, but they have no power to compel states to follow their rulings.

Harper said Pacific states like Kiribati were "on the frontline", along with parts of Africa and South Asia.

"If we do not succeed in providing the resilience, the capacity for communities to survive this climactic catastrophe, then we have to be doing much more on the protection front," he said, referring to refugees.
The United States has declined to extradite a U.S. diplomats wife who was involved in a car crash that killed a British teenager.

British prosecutors had requested the extradition of Anne Sacoolas over the crash last August in which 19-year-old Briton Harry Dunn was killed while riding his motorbike.

But the State Department said on Thursday that Sacoolas had immunity from criminal jurisdiction and that to extradite her would set a precedent.

If the United States were to grant the UKs extradition request, it would render the invocation of diplomatic immunity a practical nullity and would set an extraordinarily troubling precedent, the State Department said.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Friday that he had spoken to the U.S. ambassador in London, Woody Johnson, to express Britains disappointment.

We feel this amounts to a denial of justice, and we believe Anne Sacoolas should return to the UK, Raab added. The UK would have acted differently if this had been a UK diplomat serving in the U.S.

We are now urgently considering our options.

In a Twitter post, Johnson expressed his sincere condolences and sympathy to the Dunn family for their loss.

Today I spoke with Foreign Secretary @DominicRaab and met with @andrealeadsom MP to hear their concerns regarding the Harry Dunn case. I also reiterated to them my sincere condolences and sympathy to the Dunn family for their loss.  Ambassador Johnson (@USAmbUK) January 24, 2020

Dunns family have said Sacoolas was driving on the wrong side of the road at the time of the crash, near an air force base in central England used by the U.S. military.

Sacoolas left Britain shortly after the accident. Her lawyer has said that she will not return voluntarily to potentially face jail for a terrible but unintentional accident.

However Dunns mother Charlotte Charles said Sacoolas had to return to Britain.

Diplomatic immunity or not, like weve said all along it still doesnt cover somebody to run away from laws in our country, she told reporters

She will come back, I dont care how long it takes.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said Sacoolas was wrong to use diplomatic immunity to leave Britain and has urged U.S. President Donald Trump to reconsider the American position.

Dunns parents met Trump at the White House in October. Trump hoped to persuade them meet to Sacoolas, who was in the building at the same time, but they declined.

By Elizabeth Howcroft and Eric Beech
The Pentagon has increased its overall Middle East footprint by more than 20,000 troops since last spring amid a number of events blamed on Iran or its proxies, including the use of mines to strike commercial ships, an attack on Saudi oil facilities, the downing of an American surveillance drone and several rocket attacks on bases in Iraq housing U.S. troops, including one that killed a U.S. contractor on Dec. 27. McKenzie did not say how long the U.S. military, which is looking to reorient its force toward challenges from China and Russia, would maintain its enhanced presence in the Middle East.
The incidence of head and neck injuries as a result of smartphone use is on the rise in the United States. Surprisingly, most of the accidents that resulted in head and neck injuries didnt occur outdoors. And most of these accidents occurred after Apple Inc. introduced its first iPhone -- also the first smartphone as we know it today -- in 2007. Medical Daily reports in its article Cell Phone Use Dangers: New Study Sheds Light On Issue that these interesting tidbits of information reported by Harvard Health Publishing are to be found in a new study that reviewed injuries to the head and neck related to cell phone/smartphone use.

Cell phones are commonly held to be those small Nokia-type phones popular before 2007. Smartphones are the iPhones, Samsungs and others with touch screens, two or more cameras and a wide array of apps.

The study estimates 76,000 people suffered head and neck injuries related to cell phone/smartphone use in the U.S. over the last two decades. While apparently huge, proportionally its less than two injuries per 100,000 cell phone/smartphone users each year.

The study depended on data from over 100 hospitals in the United States in its review of injuries to the head and neck related to cell phone/smartphone use affecting more than 2,500 people over the last 20 years.

The study revealed some 40 percent of head and neck injuries occurred at home. These injuries were classified into "direct mechanical injuries" and "use-related injuries." An example of a direct mechanical injury is being struck by a cell phone or an injury related to an exploding battery. This type of injury accounted for 47 percent of total cases. Use-related injuries (such as distraction while texting) were responsible for 53 percent.

Direct injuries were much more common among users younger than 13 years old. Use-related injuries were more common among older persons. Other interesting info include:

10 percent of injuries occurred while a person was driving and using a cell phone.

7 percent occurred while walking.

1 percent took place while the user was texting.

94 percent of those who were njured required no treatment or were treated at an emergency room and released.

Cuts and bruises accounted for over half of these cases.

18 percentof the injuries were more serious, and included traumatic brain injury.

The study said the rate of both these types of injuries increased dramatically since 2007, with the launch of the first Apple iPhone.

"Perhaps cell phones should have warning labels about how to use them responsibly," Dr. Robert Shmerling, Faculty Editor at Harvard Health Publishing, said. "Of course, this would likely just sound like common sense: put the phone away while driving, walking, running, or doing anything that requires your attention to avoid injury."
13.6k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

Adam Schiff was addressing the nation as much as he was talking to Republican Senators when he said that Donald Trump cant be trusted to do whats right.

Schiff said:

Lets say they start interfering in our election again to help Donald Trump. Can you have the least bit of confidence that Donald Trump will stand up to them and protect our national interest over his own personal interest? You know you cant. Which makes him dangerous to this country. You know you cant. You know you cant count on him. None of us can. None of us can. What happens if China got the message? Now, you can say, well, hes just joking, of course, he didnt really mean China should investigate the Bidens. You know thats no joke. Now, maybe you could have argued three years ago when he said, hey, Russia, if youre listening, hack Hillarys emails. Maybe you could give him a freebie and say he was joking. But now we know better. Hours after he did that, we know Russia, in fact, tried to hack Hillarys emails.

Video:

Adam Schiff tells Republicans that they know they can't trust Trump to put America ahead of his own personal interests. pic.twitter.com/b4L4A2rypn  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 24, 2020

Theres no mulligan here when it comes to our national security. So what if China does overtly or covertly start to help the Trump campaign? You think hes going to call them out on it? Or do you think hes going to give them a better trade deal on it? Can any of us really have the confidence that Donald Trump will put his personal interests ahead of the national interests? Is there really any evidence in this presidency that should give us the ironclad confidence that he would do so? You know you cant count on him to do that. Thats the sad truth. You know you cant count on him to do that.

Schiff closed with:

If right doesnt matter, if right doesnt matter, it doesnt matter how good the constitution is. It doesnt matter how brilliant the framers were.

It doesnt matter how good or bad our advocacy in this trial is. It doesnt matter how well-written the oa impartiality is. If right doesnt matter, were lost. If truth doesnt matter, were lost. The framers couldnt protect us from ourselves, if right and truth dont matter. And you know that what he did was not right. You know, thats what they do in the old country, that Colonel Vindmans father came from or the old country that my great-grandfather came from, or the old countries that your ancestors came from or that maybe you came from. But here, right is supposed to matter.

Its whats made us the greatest nation on Earth. No constitution can protect us if right doesnt matter anymore. And you know you cant trust this president to do whats right for this country. You can trust he will do whats right for Donald Trump. Hell do it now. Hes done it before. Hell do it for the next several months. Hell do it in the election if hes allowed to. This is why, if you find him guilty, you must find that he should be removed. Because right matters. Because right matters. And the truth matters. Otherwise, we are lost.

Video:

Adam Schiff tells Republicans that they can't trust Trump to do what is right for the country. pic.twitter.com/WSaTLWgbe5  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 24, 2020

When the history of this impeachment trial is documented, Adam Schiffs spellbinding speech will stand out. Schiff was addressing the country more than he was addressing the lost cause Republican Senate majority.

Right and wrong are on trial as much as Donald Trump, and Adam Schiffs was as much about why Trump needs to be voted out of office as much as a call for his removal.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

Follow Jason Easley on Facebook
Explained: What happened to the Kashmir Pandits 30 years ago

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 24: The Kashmiri Pandits took to the social media recently to mark the 30th anniversary of the mass exodus from the Valley. They posted videos of themselves by reciting the 'Hum Aayenge Apne Watan' dialogue from an upcoming movie, Shikara.

As Kashmiri Pandits completed 30 years in exile this weekend they said, let our cry for justice be finally noticed. We have shown unimaginable resilience, and today we resolve to return home. Kashmiri Pandit friends: please record this video statement and put it up with #HumWapasAayenge," theatre personality Chandan Sadhu tweeted.

Union Home Minister, Amit Shah had said that Kashmiri Pandits were forced to leave Kashmir. Many of their shrines were demolished. Sufism was targeted in Jammu and Kashmir. Sufism used to talk about unity and harmony but they were attacked. No voice was raised in favour of Kashmiri Pandits and Sufis when they were brutally attacked. Sufis used to talk about the unity among Hindus and Muslims but they were forced to leave the Valley.

On the night of January 19, 1990, there were several slogans being chanted threatening the Kashmir Pandits. Slogans were raised at Mosques and the loudspeakers blared. The speeches were in praise of Pakistan and against Hinduism.

Kailash Vijayvargiya identified Bangladeshis by their 'strange meal'| OneIndia News

Explained: What the Centre's push for timely execution of death row convicts means

In the wake of the threats and destruction of property, several Kashmir Pandit families started to leave the Valley. More than 70,000 fled between 1990 and 1992. This went on until 2000.

It was also alleged that the then Governor, Jagmohan had encouraged the Pandits to leave Valley, thus giving the entire issue a communal colour. The Pandits believe that the Kashmir Muslims whom they lived with peacefully drove them out with a vengeance owing to Islamism.
University of Queensland researchers are working round the clock as they race to develop a vaccine to stop people dying from the coronavirus.

The Queensland team is one of three around the world asked to plant their foot on the accelerator and use new technologies to get a vaccine onto the market fast.

If the Queensland team can replicate what theyve done in labs with other viruses, including related influenza and ebola, its possible the world could have a shield against coronavirus within six months.

So far the virus has killed 25 people in China and infected at least 830 others. Its also spread to numerous other countries and some ill people in Australia are being tested for it.

Amid fears of a pandemic, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations hand-picked three research teams with the most promising technology to fast-track a vaccine.

The University of Queensland team is confident theyll get there with recently patented DNA-based molecular clamp technology.

It involves using the DNA sequence of the coronavirus  released by China after the outbreak  to produce a protein thats the same as the one on the surface of the actual virus.

That protein will be the essence of the vaccine, capable of generating immune system responses that protect people.

By injecting that we can get an optimal immune response in people that affords protection, explains Dr. Keith Chappell, from the universitys School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences.

Chappell and colleagues Professor Paul Young and Dr Dan Watterson are responsible for the molecular clamp technology and their team of 20 has been working through the night since they got the call for help.

Gruelling months of work lie ahead, but hes hopeful the six month time frame is realistic.

That is our goal. Its an incredibly difficult time frame, but well do do our best.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief MK Stalin on Friday said that the Tamil Nadu government should not allow the process of Population Register (NPR) in the state.

"Tamil Nadu government should not allow the process of NPR in the state. DMK is going to meet the people and is going to start a signature campaign from Feb 2 to 8 against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and Register of Citizens (NRC). All the alliance party leaders and cadres will also be involved in this process. We will complete the campaign and will submit the memorandum to the president of India," Stalin told reporters here.

"I appeal to the students, vendors and all segments of people to support this signature campaign. Amit Shah may say that he will not take back CAA but we will continue to protest. We will get a date from President Ram Nath Kovind and meet him on CAA," he added.

On the vandalising of Thandai Periyar statue, Stalin said: "It is condemnable that vandalising of Thandai Periyar statue took place. This government should take action against the perpetrators of such vandalism."

The newly-enacted Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, grants citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who came to India on or before December 31, 2014.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
January 24, 2020 - As we enter a new year and a new decade, many states have enacted legislation affecting the roles of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) in terms of practice authority, reimbursement, and prescriptive authority, according to the 32nd Annual Legislative Update in the January issue of The Nurse Practitioner, published by Wolters Kluwer.

"This year, states have again placed an emphasis on enacting policy focused on the national opioid crisis," writes Susanne J. Phillips, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP, of the University of California, Irvine, in her annual report on legislative developments in APRN practice. "APRNs in greater numbers participate in state prescription drug monitoring programs and opioid prescribing programs to improve access to safe and effective care for patients with chronic pain."

Expanded Roles for APRNs in Opioid Prescribing, Practice Authority and More

As the nation grapples with the challenges of effectively responding to the opioid epidemic, APRNs continue to play an expanded role. Three states - Arkansas, Florida, and South Carolina - advanced APRNs' prescriptive authority for prescribing opioids and schedule II controlled substances under certain circumstances. Wyoming introduced new limits on opioid prescribing for acute pain, affecting all prescribers including APRNs.

In Iowa and Wyoming, new regulations were passed related to APRNs' participation in state prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs). Two states enacted new laws related to continuing education requirements for prescriptive authority renewal: Delaware removed some redundant hours of pharmacology CE, while Oklahoma added two hours of education in pain management, opioid use, or addiction.

New legislation related to APRN practice authority was enacted in 12 states, including laws improving or clarifying APRN scope of practice. In Connecticut, APRNs were added to statutes regarding several areas of practice - behavioral health, healthcare facility admissions, and others - that previously mentioned only physicians or other healthcare providers.

Other states enacted specific scope of practice improvements or clarifications, in some cases including signature authority, including Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas. New laws related APRNs' medical staff membership, credentialing, and privileging were passed in Nevada, New Mexico, and Washington. In Kentucky, the legislature authorized the Board of Nursing to regulate the practice of certified professional midwifery.

Several states adopted new policies regarding APRN involvement in telehealth, including full Medicaid reimbursement for telehealth services provided by APRNs in Kentucky. Additional APRN reimbursement policies were introduced in Colorado and Virginia. Other changes include tax incentives for APRN preceptors in South Carolina, new transition-to-practice statutes in South Dakota, and a delay to implementation of rules limiting APRNs practice authority in providing home health services in Washington.

The Nurse Practitioner's Annual Legislative Update provides a milestone marking nationwide efforts to take full advantage of the care provided by APRNs in their efforts to improve access to high-quality, safe, and effective healthcare. Through an "exceedingly active" 2018-19 legislative session, APRNs now have full, autonomous practice and prescriptive authority in 14 states, and full practice authority following a transition to practice period in another 10 states.

###

Click here to read "32nd Annual APRN Legislative Update: Improving access to high-quality, safe, and effective healthcare."

DOI: 10.1097/01.NPR.0000615560.11798.5f

About The Nurse Practitioner

With a circulation of 75,000, The Nurse Practitioner is the leading monthly source for clinical, practical, cutting-edge information for advanced practice nurses and other primary care clinicians. Each issue presents peer-reviewed articles that range from clinical topics and research to political and practice issues. In addition, The Nurse Practitioner provides regular features, columns, continuing education, staff development education, and more. In addition, The Nurse Practitioner holds a biannual educational meeting - the National Conference for Nurse Practitioners (NCNP) - which draws approximately 3,000 attendees annually. The NCNP Spring Conference will be held March 20-23, 2020, in Nashville, Tennessee.

About Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer (WKL) is a global leader in professional information, software solutions, and services for the clinicians, nurses, accountants, lawyers, and tax, finance, audit, risk, compliance, and regulatory sectors. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with advanced technology and services.

Wolters Kluwer reported 2018 annual revenues of 4.3 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 18,600 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands.

Wolters Kluwer provides trusted clinical technology and evidence-based solutions that engage clinicians, patients, researchers and students with advanced clinical decision support, learning and research and clinical intelligence. For more information about our solutions, visit http://healthclarity.wolterskluwer.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @WKHealth.

For more information, visit http://www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Insys Therapeutics founder John Kapoor became the highest-ranking pharmaceutical executive to be sentenced in a case linked to the United States opioid crisis after a US district judge in Boston, Massachusetts on Thursday sentenced him to 66 months  five and a half years  in prison for his role in an opioid fraud scheme.

US District Court Judge Allison D Burroughs had previously sentenced four other former Insys executives, but her punishments have been less than three years in prison on government recommendations of more than 10 years.

Last year, a federal jury in Boston found Kapoor guilty of racketeering conspiracy in a scheme that involved bribing doctors to prescribe the companys fentanyl-based painkiller, Subsys. The scheme also defrauded insurers into paying for the drug.

From 1999 to 2017, some 400,000 people died from overdoses involving an opioid, including prescription and illicit drugs, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Kapoor was the companys founder  who did not hesitate to use the authority of his financial position to dictate the criminal strategies employed by Insys, the office of Massachusetts-based US District Attorney Andrew Lelling wrote in a filing with the court.

He was the principal leader, who personally approved, and thereafter enforced, the corrupt strategies employed throughout the conspiracy. This crime would not have happened, could not have happened, without John Kapoor, the filing said.

Kapoor, who served as the Chandler, Arizona-based drugmakers chairman and later chief executive, lost nearly $80m through his association with Insys, according to court filings by his defence team. Insys filed for bankruptcy protection in 2019.

He does not expect anyone to feel sorry for him for that loss, and he is of course facing other sentencing consequences that cannot be expressed in monetary terms, his defence team said in filings with the court.

In a letter to the judge, Mary Gauwitz, one of many friends who wrote in support of Kapoor, described him as a man who enjoys a $4.99 rotisserie chicken from Costco. He also made sure everyone at the Editha House in Phoenix, where Gauwitz serves as the CEO and where cancer patients receive help with housing and other assistance, obtained rotisserie chickens if they wanted them, Gauwitz wrote.
The Pentagon has said 34 US troops were diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries suffered in this months Iranian missile strike on an Iraqi air base.

Half of the troops have returned to their military duties, it added.

Seventeen of the 34 are still under medical observation, said Jonathan Hoffman, the chief Pentagon spokesman.

President Donald Trump had initially said he was told that no troops had been injured in the January 8 strike.

Iranian bombing caused a crater at Ain al-Asad air base in Anbar, Iraq (Ali Abdul Hassan/AP)

The military said symptoms were not immediately reported after the strike and in some cases became known days later.

After the first reports that some soldiers had been hurt, Mr Trump referred to them as headaches and said the cases were not as serious as injuries involving the loss of limbs.

Mr Hoffmans disclosure that 34 had been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI) was the first update on the number injured in Irans missile attack on Ain al-Asad air base in western Iraq since the Pentagon said on January 17 that 11 service members had been flown out of Iraq with concussion-like symptoms.

Mr Hoffman said that of the 34 with TBI, 18 were evacuated from Iraq to US medical facilities in Germany and Kuwait, and 16 stayed in Iraq.

Seventeen of the 18 evacuees were sent to Germany, and nine remain there; the other eight have been transported to the United States for continued observation or treatment.

The one American sent to Kuwait has since returned to duty.

All 16 of those who were diagnosed with TBI and remained in Iraq have since returned to duty, Mr Hoffman said.

No-one was killed in the attack on Ain al-Asad.

The strike was launched in retaliation for a US drone missile strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani, the most powerful military general in Iran, on January 3 at Baghdad International Airport.
Yes, its true that Jeff Bezos has addicted us to a fast-delivery culture thats clogging our streets, closing small businesses, and creating mountain ranges of trash. On a major plus side, however, his newspaper the Washington Post unflinchingly covers politicians here and abroad, including standing up to the Saudi government after the Saudi-sponsored death of Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

When it became clear that the Saudis had hacked Bezos cellphone, Bezos pushed back with a tribute to Khashoggi. In contrast, as my colleague Will Bunch points out, after the Khashoggi murder, that other D.C. heavyweight, Donald Trump, sent Saudi Arabia weapons.

The Washington Post stands up to Donald Trump, as well. Another American tradition that needs preserving is robust free speech.

Editorial cartoons from this week include:
Germany's Finance Minister Olaf Scholz. Photo: Michele Tantussi/Reuters

Germanys finance minister said on Friday he sees no negative impact on Europe from Britains withdrawal from the EU next week.

It will not have a big impact that the UK will have left the European Union in some days, and especially not because we avoided the Hard Brexit, Olaf Scholz said during a panel at Davos. This was the key question that impacted confidence in the business sector.

On the continent, there will be no negative effect of this development.

Scholz made the comments during a panel on the outlook for the world economy on the final day of the World Economic Forums (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

European Central Bank (ECB) chief Christine Lagarde appeared alongside Scholz but struck a slightly more cautious tone.

READ MORE: 'Boris bounce' data 'kills' expectations of rate cut next week

Brexit is a little bit less uncertain, but we still have that possible cliff edge in December of 2020, she said.

We dont know exactly what the trade relationship will be and its a big partner for the euro area, so thats certainly a question mark.

Britain is set to officially leave the EU on 31 January and move on to the next stage of negotiations with the EU, covering future trading relations.

While German finance minister Scholz said there would be no impact on Europes economy from Britains official exit, he predicted a bumpier road for the UK.

It will be more difficult for the UK obviously because the business model must be reorganised, he said. There will be lower importance although, it will still be a very big place of financial activities in London but it will be different.

US treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin sat alongside Scholz and Lagarde, and stressed that the US was keen to get a trade deal done with the UK this year. Earlier in the week, US president Donald Trump said in a speech at Davos he was looking forward to negotiating a tremendous new deal with the United Kingdom after Brexit.
P olice are hunting a man after a 13-year-old girl was dragged along a road and sexually assaulted in south London.

Officers said the girl was approached by a man just before 7am on November 21 last year as she walked along Norfolk Road in Thornton Heath.

The suspect grabbed the girl, dragged her along the road and sexually assaulted her, police said.

She managed to escape following a struggle, they added.

CCTV image of a man police would like to speak to / Met Police

The suspect is described as a black male, 5ft 6ins tall, hair in cornrows. He was wearing a black puffer jacket, grey trousers and black shoes at the time of the offence.

Police have released an image of a man they want to identify.

Detective Constable Penelope Rea investigating said: I am very keen to hear from anyone who can identify the male in the picture.

If you think you have seen this male or know who he is please get in touch.

Your call could remove a criminal from your area or you could help eliminate someone from our enquiries.

The child is being supported by specially trained officers.
By Express News Service

MALAPPURAM: The Malappuram police on Friday registered a case against Shobha Karandlaje, BJP MP from Karnataka, for promoting enmity between communities in Kerala.

The police registered the case against the Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP under 153(A) of IPC (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony for her remarks in a tweet which she shared on the Social Media on January 22.

In the tweet, she said 21 families in an SC (Scheduled Caste) colony Cherukkunnu in Kuttipuram panchayat in Malappuram district have been denied drinking water for allegedly participating in the Jana Jagratha Sammelanam, a programme held recently by the BJP, to explain the positive sides of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in Kottakkal, she also alleged "Kerala is taking baby steps to become another Kashmir! "

Kerala is taking baby steps to become another Kashmir!



Hindus of Kuttipuram Panchayat of Malappuram was denied water supply as they supported #CAA2019.#SevaBharati has been supplying water ever since.



Will Lutyens telecast this intolerance of PEACEFULS frm God's Own Country!? pic.twitter.com/y0HKI4bitD  Shobha Karandlaje (@ShobhaBJP) January 22, 2020

The police filed the case against Karandlaje based on the complaint from Subash Chandran, a Supreme Court lawyer. Chandran lodged a complaint with Kuttippuram Circle Inspector P V Ramesh against Karandlaje for spreading the message of communal colour on social media and trying to destroy religious harmony and peace in the district - after the tweet went viral on the social media. In the complaint, he mentioned the BJP leader from Karnataka through her tweet tried to show the Muslim majority Malappuram district in Kerala as an area of extremists. The Kuttippuram police said they would conduct a detailed investigation into the case.

"The local body stopped drinking water supply to the colony a year ago due to some reasons. In our preliminary investigation, we found one family supplied water to the 21 other families in the colony. The family took water from a water source which is one kilometre away from the colony using a water pump facility. The facility was allotted by the Krishi Bhavan - a government body that promotes agriculture. Recently, the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) asked the family to stop using electricity for providing drinking water to the families.

The KSEB officials said they would disconnect the electricity supply if they used the facility to provide drinking water to the families.

It is the reason for stopping drinking water supply to the families," explained Aravind E A, Kuttippuram Sub Inspector.

Meanwhile, Karandlaje expressed her displeasure against the state government and Kerala Police for filing a case against her.

"Instead of acting against the discrimination that happened to the Dalit families of Cherukunnu, they lodged a case against me! High time for the entire society to unite against these pressurising tactics of non-performing, biased left government," she tweeted after knowing about the development on Friday. Many BJP members in Karnataka have begun making the issue of the drinking water as an attack against the Hindus in Kerala. More than the BJP workers and the Media in Kerala, the BJP workers in Karnataka and the Media in Karnataka have given significance to the drinking water issue in Kerala.

Though many people in Kerala believe that CAA factor is also a reason for the drinking water issue in the colony, they also want to solve the issues as soon as possible and maintain the religious harmony and peaceful atmosphere in the district. Malappuram witnessed hundreds of protests against CAA and National Register of Citizens (NRC), but none of them crossed the limits to create violence and the protestors have also given priority to harmony and peace.

The Malappuram district administration and the police are on extra vigil to avoid clashes between communities in anti CAA and NRC protests.

The district administration has promised the drinking water issue of the residents will be resolved by Monday.

"The drinking water issue should not be connected to CAA. The Malappuram district administration has decided to solve the drinking water issue of the people in the colony and the residents will be provided drinking water through water tanks from Monday," said an official with the Kuttipuram panchayat who attended the meeting.
Crown Resorts' most senior board member John Alexander will step down as executive chairman of the embattled casino group as part of sweeping governance overhaul.

The company announced late on Friday that former Liberal Senator and current board director Helen Coonan will take over as non-executive chairman of Crown. Chief financial officer Ken Barton will be elevated to chief executive officer. Former AFL boss Andrew Demetriou will become chairman of Crown in Melbourne.

John Alexander has stepped down as executive chairman of Crown as of today. Credit:Pat Scala

Ms Coonan said Crown had been "working for some time" on a more traditional governance structure with separate chairman and chief executive.

"This new structure is in line with feedback we have received from a number of proxy advisers and shareholders and better aligns with contemporary governance practices," Ms Coonan said in a statement to the ASX.
Veach, 56, of Portage, was indicted along with Williamson on accusations of using threats and violence against non-union laborers Jan. 7, 2016, to extort a favorable labor contract from the owners of a construction company and a steel-working company, according to court documents.

Veach had been appointed to a four-year term on the Portage Park Board in 2018 by former Republican Mayor James Snyder, who was found guilty last year in federal court on two counts of corruption and thus removed from office, according to attorney Ken Elwood, who is representing Veach in a civil matter stemming from the same case.

The park board appointed Veach that same year to the city's plan commission, Elwood said.

While Veach is not required by law to resign the city posts until he is sentenced and his felony conviction accepted by the judge, Elwood said he opted on his own to step down ahead of time.

Democratic Portage Mayor Sue Lynch said she has removed Veach from the city's park board, which in turn removes him from the plan commission.

City Council President Scott Williams has also removed Veach as the group's representative on the city's board of zoning appeals, Lynch said.
Police were called to a shooting in the town of Rot am See in Germany on Friday (Picture: Marijan Murat/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Six people have been killed and several injured in a shooting in Germany, according to reports.

Police confirmed that several people had been injured and some killed in the shooting in Rot am See in south-west Germany, just after midday, but have not confirmed the number of fatalities.

The AFP news agency reported that six people had died and two were injured.

Six people are believed to have been killed and two wounded after the shooting (Picture: Sebastian Gollnow/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Police said a suspect had been arrested and there were no suspicions that anyone else was involved (Picture: Sebastian Gollnow/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Aalen Police said that a suspect had been arrested after the shooting and there was no suggestion anyone else was involved.

According to some reports, officials described the incident as being connected to a "personal relationship".

READ MORE

Prison inmate charged with murder of 'Britain's worst paedophile'

'Remarkable' meat-eating dinosaur officially recognised after 30 years

According to my information, there were six dead and several injured, police spokesman Rudolf Biehlmaier told German broadcaster n-tv.

We are working on the assumption that this was a single attacker, he said.

The shooter is believed to have known the victims (Picture: MARIJAN MURAT/DPA/AFP via Getty Images)

map showing location of Rot Am see

Mr Biehlmaier said the initial information suggested the suspect, a German citizen, and one or more of the victims knew each other.

He said some of the victims were from the same family.

Rot am See is about 170km (105 miles) north west of Munich.

Mass shootings are relatively rare in Germany.

The country was left in shock last year after a heavily armed assailant tried to force his way into a synagogue in Halle then shot two people to death nearby in an attack that was livestreamed on a popular gaming site.

---Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK---
File image

Amid allegations that the previous BJP-led dispensation in Maharashtra tapped the phones of opposition leaders, former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said phone-tapping was not the culture of the state and his government had not given any such orders.

He also said that the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government was free to conduct an inquiry into the phone- tapping charges against the previous BJP-led dispensation.

"Phone-tapping is not the culture of Maharashtra. My government had not given any such orders," Fadnavis, who is the Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative Assembly, said in a statement.

"The whole country knows the credibility of those who have levelled such allegations," Fadnavis, who was the chief minister of the state between 2014 and 2019, said.

"The state government is free to probe the allegations with the help of any machinery. People of Maharashtra know the truth. A Shiv Sena leader was the minister of state for home during my tenure," he added.

"I have a request- the government should immediately conduct an inquiry and make the report public. If it wants to go to Israel for the probe, it should do that," he said.

His remarks come a day after Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh alleged that the Fadnavis dispensation had misused the government machinery to tap the phones of opposition leaders, especially during the formation of the MVA government.

The minister had said that the cyber cell of Maharashtra police has been directed to look into various complaints of snooping/phone-tapping against the Fadnavis government.

Deshmukh had also said that the government was trying to find those officers, who had been reportedly sent to Israel to study the snooping software then.
Farmers have warned of the dangers of focusing on UK livestock production or 'inappropriate' tree planting as ways to tackle the climate crisis.

Addressing the key findings in the latest Committee on Climate Change report, the Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) warned that 'agriculture alone can't fix the problem'.

The report highlighted issues such as the need for a strong UK food production sector and the dangers of delivering emissions reductions at the expense of increasing reliance on food imported from countries with greater carbon footprints.

Agriculture is currently responsible for around 10% of UK emissions, with methane from livestock production making up just over half of this figure.

By comparison, transport and energy make up around a half of all UK emissions.

FUW president Glyn Roberts said: This means that if we stopped producing food completely in the UK, 90 percent of the problem would still be there.

Agriculture alone cant fix the global problem and it will take each and every single one of us to take a hard look at what we consume and produce in terms of food, energy, electronics, motoring, travel and make adjustments.

Farmers want to and are playing their part, and as acknowledged by the Committee switching away from Welsh and UK produced red meat would increase the nations carbon footprint because we have some of the lowest greenhouse gas emissions of meat reared anywhere in the world.

Mr Roberts said that for this reason the FUW welcomed the fact that the Committee had backed its calls for a robust post-Brexit trade policy which reflects the lower carbon footprint of UK produce.

The report also called for an increase in UK forestry cover from 13% to at least 17% by 2050 by planting around 30,000 hectares, the equivalent of 90  120 million trees.

Responding, Mr Roberts said: Our members are fully supportive of appropriate tree planting where this does not undermine farm productivity and the environment, and regularly highlight the obstacles they come across when they try to plant trees.
Andalucia, including the Costa del Sol, is showcasing its attractions for tourists at the large Fitur travel fair in Madrid until Sunday. Fitur is one of the big three annual international tourism fairs in Europe, along with the World Travel Market in London and the ITB in Berlin. It is a key date in the promotional calendar , with more emphasis on Spanish and Latin American destinations.

As usual mayors, councillors and regional ministers, along with marketing bosses from hotels and tourist attractions, flocked to the Ifema centre on Wednesday for the first day.

The fair was officially opened by Queen Letizia, who spent several hours touring the national and international stands.

Andalucia, as usual, has the biggest stand, 5,300 square metres, reflecting the importance of tourism to the local economy. Regional president, Juanma Moreno, said in his opening address that 420,000 people are employed in tourism in Andalucia. He also spent part of Wednesday introducing the Queen to exhibitors from the region.

"Malaga province makes up over 50 per cent of Andalusian tourism, Your Majesty," explained Moreno, "Really?" said the Queen, surprised.

This year a key theme from speeches and events held around the Andalucia stand has been the need to increase the amount tourists spend rather than volume, the so-called 'quality tourism'.

There was also talk of sustainability, with the regional minister for Tourism, Juan Marin, saying for the first time they were measuring the carbon footprint of their presence at the show.

While regional bosses were optimistic about visitor numbers this coming year, the provincial tourist board, Costa del Sol Tourism, was more cautious. It suggested that the destination had to prepare for a possible slowdown in the economy.
After the outbreak of coronavirus in China, which has claimed 25 lives and has infected 830 people so far, the Indian Embassy in Beijing said it is closely monitory the evolving situation and also launched two hotline numbers on Friday.

We are closely monitoring the evolving situation in China, including advisories issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) in this connection. The relevant Chinese authorities have assured all assistance to residents of Wuhan, including food supply, the embassy was quoted as saying by news agency the ANI.

The hotline numbers (+8618612083629 and +8618612083617) are for those who have any queries regarding the virus outbreak. The embassy is in touch with Chinese authorities in Beijing and Wuhan, and also Indians in the central Chinese province of Hubei from where 24 coronavirus related deaths have been reported, ANI reported.

The moves come after the embassy received multiple queries from Indians in Hubei and their relatives in India, according to ANI.

Meanwhile, the WHO has said it considers it is still too early to declare coronavirus as a public health emergency of international concern given its restrictive and binary nature.

It was a bit too early to consider the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, WHO Emergency Committee panel chair Didier Houssin said after the body met in Geneva.

Make no mistake, this is now an emergency in China, but this has not yet become a global health emergency, said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, on Thursday (early Friday China-time) after an emergency meeting of the organisation in Geneva.

It has not yet become a global health emergency. It may yet become one, he said.
No case of Coronavirus has been reported in Morocco wherein the risk to the public health remains low, said on Friday local news outlets citing the Health Department.

However, there is no zero risk as the North African Kingdom welcomes annually between 150,000 and 190,000 Chinese tourists. This number is expected to rise as Moroccos national airline company, Royal Air Maroc, has started earlier this month operating three weekly direct flights between Casablanca and Beijing to boost tourism arrivals.

The Moroccan flag-carrier has not apparently taken any precautionary measures against the new Coronavirus, which has killed so far 26 people across China and sickened more than 830 people.

Royal Air Maroc (RAM) says it is waiting for the decision and recommendation of the Ministry of Health.

In view of the growing number of cases, the Moroccan Embassy in China has taken precautionary measures by providing Moroccans settled in China with emergency telephone numbers. In case of need, Moroccan nationals are called to contact the Embassy by sending e-mails to sifama.beiging@moroccoembassy.org.cn, including their passport number and their residential addresses, or call the following phone numbers: 8618701156920 or 8615652198381.

The Moroccan Embassy said it is in permanent contact with the Chinese authorities and with the Moroccan expatriates in China to monitor the situation.

The embassy called in a statement, members of the Moroccan community in China to be vigilant and to follow all the preventive measures recommended by the Chinese authorities.

In Moroccos Airports, it is business as usual. The authorities say there is a system, which can be deployed against all types of threats in coordination with the Health department.

According to Director of Epidemiology and Disease Control at the Moroccan ministry of health Mohamed Youbi, Morocco, as a member of the World Health Organization, abides by WHOs guidelines and recommendations against all global public health threats.

The National center of public health emergency operations is monitoring closely the situation and making daily updates of the reports coming from China, added the senior health official, affirming that Morocco has a well-defined and tested response plan to deal with Coronavirus.

At least 10 cities in central Hubei province have been shut down in an effort to stop the virus.

WHO described the outbreak as an emergency for China, but stopped short of declaring it to be a public health emergency of international concern.

According to experts, coronavirus comes from animals. Many of those infected either worked or frequently shopped in seafood wholesale market in the center of the Chinese city the Huanan. The market also sells live and newly slaughtered animals. New and deadly viruses usually originate in animal hosts such as Ebola and flu before infecting humans.
Two anti-government protesters were killed in clashes with security forces in the Iraqi capital on Friday, hours after thousands of supporters of Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr rallied separately to demand the ouster of US troops.

Four NGO workers, three of them French nationals, were also reported missing in Baghdad, rocked since October by a youth-dominated protest movement demanding a government overhaul, early elections and more accountability.

More than 470 people have died in protest-related violence since October, most of them demonstrators, and violence has spiked this week.

On Friday, one protester was struck in the neck by a live round while another died after being hit with a military-grade tear gas canister in clashes with security forces, medical and police sources told AFP.

It marked a sudden and bloody turn as thousands of men, women and children had gathered in Baghdad earlier the same day without incident to demand US troops withdraw.

A vowed enemy of US troops, Sadr had called for "a million-strong" rally but did not attend himself.

"Get out, get out, occupier!" they chanted.

One protester carried a cardboard cut-out of Donald Trump on the gallows, another of the US president banging himself on the head with a shoe.

A statement read by his representative at the rally demanded all foreign forces leave Iraq, Iraqi-American security agreements be cancelled, Iraqi airspace be closed to US military aircraft and for Trump not to act "arrogant" when addressing Iraqi officials.

"If all this is implemented, we will deal with it as a non-occupying country -- otherwise it will be considered a country hostile to Iraq," the statement read.

America's military presence has been a hot-button issue in Iraq since a US drone strike killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and a top Iraqi commander in Baghdad on January 3.

Outraged parliamentarians swiftly voted all foreign forces, including 5,200 US troops helping fight the Islamic State group, should leave.

Baghdad offered to discuss a withdrawal timeline, but the US special envoy for the anti-IS coalition, James Jeffrey, said Thursday there was no "real engagement".

In response to Soleimani's killing, Iran fired ballistic missiles on an Iraqi airbase where US troops are stationed, prompting fears of a regional war.

The US said it had received prior warning of the strikes on Ain al-Asad, allowing troops to take cover.

No Iraqi or US forces were killed and Trump had insisted no one was wounded either, but the Pentagon on Friday said 34 American soldiers had suffered traumatic head injuries or concussions.

Tehran seized on the US strike to insist American troops leave the region, and its Supreme National Security Council issued a statement backing Sadr's rally on Friday.

Pro-Tehran groups in Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi military force also endorsed the protest.

"To Trump, the fool -- the people's message of rejection was clear: if you don't leave voluntarily, you'll be ousted despite yourself," Hashed commander Qais al-Khazali tweeted.

There had been worries Sadr supporters might storm the high-security Green Zone, home to the US embassy and other foreign missions, or the main anti-government protest camp in the capital's Tahrir Square.

But they did not head for either, and instead several thousand youth flocked to Tahrir to insist on domestic reform.

Some had feared that with all the attention on Sadr's rally, security forces would try to clear their camp.

"The return of protesters to Tahrir is meant to prove ourselves, first, and to protect its peacefulness," demonstrator Karrar al-Saadi told AFP.

Baghdad has been gripped by kidnappings and shoot-outs which protesters say are meant to intimidate them.

Separately, French NGO SOS Chretiens d'Orient (Christians of the Middle East) said three French and one Iraqi worker went missing on Monday in Baghdad, where the foreigners were renewing their Iraqi visas.

No group has claimed responsibility and no ransom demand has been received, the organisation's director Benjamin Blanchard told reporters in Paris.

Sadr, 46, battled US forces with his Mehdi Army militia after the 2003 invasion of Iraq but is now a fickle politician, notorious for switching alliances.

He backed anti-regime protests early on, but also controls parliament's largest bloc and top ministerial posts.

On Friday evening, Sadr tweeted to hail the turnout at his rally but said he would no longer be involved in anti-regime efforts.

"From now on, I will try not to intervene in their business, neither negatively nor positively," he said.

Carnegie Middle East Center expert Harith Hasan said Sadr sought to sustain his "multiple identities" -- one as a reformist and populist, the other as a leading anti-American voice.

Playing both sides could earn Sadr favour with Iran and empower him in paralysed negotiations over the next premier, Hasan said.

But Friday's intra-Shiite alliance was not likely to last, Hasan said, predicting: "Once this protest is over, this honeymoon between Sadr and the other pro-Iran factions will eventually vanish.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
TORONTOLandowners in a rural Ontario municipality about two hours northwest of Toronto have signed an agreement that will allow authorities to soon start doing site tests for a proposed facility to store high-level nuclear waste.

The agreement with the Nuclear Waste Management Organization leaves South Bruce as one of two possible sites for a deep geological repository, along with an area near Ignace in northern Ontario.

Darren Ireland, a local farmer, said in a statement on Friday that the project has the potential to bring long-term benefits to the area.

Around three million highly radioactive used fuel bundles from reactors are currently stored at existing nuclear generating stations in Canada, including at the Bruce Nuclear Generating Station on the shores of Lake Huron near Kincardine, Ont.

Authorities have long contended the current storage system is not sustainable and have been searching for a permanent solution, with the aim of finding a single site for storage by 2023.

The proposed repository is separate from a proposed massive underground bunker for low and intermediate radioactive waste at the Bruce plant near Kincardine. That multibillion-dollar project has drawn fierce opposition both in Canada and the U.S. because of its proximity to Lake Huron.

Although Ontario Power Generation insists its studies show the underground facility would safely contain waste that remains hazardous for thousands of years, the project has been stalled for years awaiting federal government approval. One condition Ottawa has set is for Indigenous groups in the area to give their blessing, which has not happened.

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization has similarly been searching for a place to store used nuclear fuel, which is far more toxic. The organization said Friday it now has deals in place for around 526 hectares of land northwest of Teeswater, Ont., although Indigenous groups have yet to support the project.

The deals with landowners include a combination of option and purchase arrangements to allow the waste organization to do studies while allowing landowners to keep using their land, the organization said.

If the site is ultimately selected to host the repository, the organization would buy the optioned land. It would also then look to acquite more land in the area to form a site of about 607 hectares.

Mahrez Ben Belfadhel, a vice-president with the waste-management organization, said they were pleased landowners were on board, and called identification of the South Bruce site an important milestone.

With agreements in place and access to land in South Bruce, we expect to begin studies such as borehole drilling and baseline environmental monitoring in the coming months to assess the suitability of the area, Belfadhel said in a release.

The Bruce County municipality of South Bruce, south of Walkerton, Ont., has around 5,600 residents. Its main centres are the villages of Mildmay and Teeswater. The organization also said the adjacent township of Huron-Kinloss, Ont., would no longer be considered a potential host for the project.

The waste organization was set up at the direction of the federal government in 2002 by Ontario Power Generation, N.B. Power and Hydro-Quebec. The three producers and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, a federal Crown corporation, fund its operations.
Silverspam.net scored 47 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2.5/5.0 Stars by Social Team

This CoolSocial report was updated on 22 Dec 2012, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.

The total number of people who shared the silverspam homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the silverspam homepage on Twitter + the total number of silverspam followers (if silverspam has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the silverspam homepage on StumbleUpon. The total number of people who shared the silverspam homepage on Delicious. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the silverspam homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if silverspam has a Facebook fan page).

Basic Information

PAGE TITLE SilverSpam - Blackhat Hacking Community Forum - BlackHat Seo - Powered by vBulletin DESCRIPTION Blackhat forums to talk about blackhat money making methods KEYWORDS Backhat, blackhat money making methods, blackhat forums OTHER KEYWORDS



CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The title found in the head section of the homepage. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site.

Domain and Server

DOCTYPE XHTML 1.0 Transitional CHARSET AND LANGUAGE English ISO-8859-1English DETECTED LANGUAGE English English SERVER Apache/2.2.22 (Unix) mod_ssl/2.2.22 OpenSSL/0.9.8e-fips-rhel5 mod_bwlimited/1.4 (PHP/5.2.17) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Linux Linux

The language of silverspam.net as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Operative System running on the server. Character set and language of the site. Type of server and offered services. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0)

Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world.

Referring domains for silverspam.net by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines.

Facebook link

FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND

The type of Facebook page. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. The URL of the found Facebook page. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. The total number of people who like website Facebook page.

Twitter account link

TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND
The Palestinian leadership vowed on Friday to reject the 'Middle East peace plan that will be unveiled by President Donald Trump next week in the presence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and warned the US and Israel against announcing such a deal.

Nabil Abu Rudeinah, the spokesman for President Mahmoud Abbas, said in a statement that the Palestinian leadership will reject any steps by the US that would breach international law, Sputnik quoted the official Palestinian news agency WAFA.

Asking American administration to exercise caution against crossing the red lines while announcing the Middle East peace, Rudeinah said, "If this deal is announced according to these rejected formulas, the leadership will announce a series of measures in which we will safeguard our legitimate rights and we will demand Israel to assume its full responsibilities as an occupying power."

The spokesman once again called on Israel to end the occupation of the Palestinian territories seized since 1967 as well as to recognize the independence of the Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as the capital of the nation.

The statement by Palestinian Authority comes after the White House said President Donald Trump has invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his chief political rival Benny Gantz to visit Washington on Tuesday as 'Middle East peace plan' dubbed as "the Deal of the Century," would be revealed.

Israel's media reported that Trump's plan would recognize Israeli sovereignty over virtually all settlements in the occupied West Bank, which are illegal under international law.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas severed ties with the Trump administration in 2017 after the US recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The last round of peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians broke down in 2014 amid Israeli expansion of the settlements in the West Bank.

Israel seized the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war and has since controlled or blockaded them despite international criticism. The Palestinians wish to establish an independent state on these lands with East Jerusalem as its capital.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The case against President Trump, as this weeks presentation of articles of impeachment to the Senate underscores, consists to a remarkable extent of Trumps own words.

Southern California Democrat Adam Schiff, the Houses lead impeachment manager, punctuated his opening argument with damning video excerpts of our incredible self-convicting president  a spectacle akin to a prosecutor letting the defendant do his or her job.

As Schiff noted, Trumps plot to coerce his Ukrainian counterpart into smearing his political enemies was confirmed not only in a White House transcript of their July conversation, which he displayed with helpful highlights of the president saying, I would like you to do us a favor, though and repeatedly mentioning 2020 contender Joe Biden. The president also reiterated the request at the heart of the Houses first article, abuse of power, in public.

There is no question that President Trump intended impressing the Ukraine leader to look into his political rival, Schiff told senators Wednesday. Even after the impeachment inquiry began, he confirmed his desire on the South Lawn of the White House. The congressman then referred to footage of Trump telling a reporter what he wanted from Ukraine: They should investigate the Bidens.

This is not a new tendency on the presidents part, as Schiff reminded senators by replaying then-candidate Trumps open invitation to the Kremlin to help him win by cyber-attacking Hillary Clinton. When the president said, Hey, Russia, if youre listening, they were listening, Schiff said. Only hours later, they hacked his opponents campaign.

Because a man can scarcely mount a credible defense against his own willing confessions  much as the president regularly tries  Trump and company have been reduced to obfuscating, downplaying and distracting from such admissions. Hence the obstruction of Congress underlying the second article, which the president also admitted in a clip played for the Senate: Were fighting all the subpoenas.

The same imperative informs Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells determination to avoid testimony by Trumps top lieutenants. Heres hoping at least a few members of his caucus dont share the presidents misunderstanding, also displayed for the chamber, that the Constitution gives him the right to do whatever I want.

This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters.
A Central American financial institution is suspected of helping clients worldwide evade taxes and launder money, according to tax investigators from the U.S., the Netherlands and three other nations coordinating a crackdown.

Clients at the unidentified firm "may be using a sophisticated system to conceal and transfer wealth anonymously," the group of tax enforcement agencies said in a statement on Thursday.

Through a "coordinated day of action" this week, tax authorities shared intelligence and used search warrants, subpoenas and interviews to build their cases, according to a statement by the Joint Chiefs of Global Tax Enforcement, or J5. Each country is expected to take criminal, civil and regulatory actions as the investigation grows, the statement said.

"This is the first coordinated set of enforcement actions undertaken on a global scale by the J5," said Don Fort, chief of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division. "Working with the J5 countries who all have the same goal, we are able to broaden our reach, speed up our investigations and have an exponentially larger impact on global tax administration."

It wasn't immediately clear why the J5 publicized the operation before taking public action in court. The other nations involved are the U.K., Australia and Canada.

The revelation draws parallels to Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca & Co. In 2016, millions of documents leaked to a consortium of journalists showed how the firm's lawyers worked with European banks to create more than 200,000 offshore shell companies for rich clients, including world leaders, 140 politicians and public officials, star athletes and criminals that were used to hide wealth. The files, known as the Panama Papers, dated back decades and involved billions of dollars in client transactions. The firm ultimately shut down.

Members of the J5, which formed in 2018, have met several times to fight international tax crime and money laundering. In November, the group said it identified dozens of potential cryptocurrency tax evaders and cyber criminals as part of its joint efforts.

The international coordination comes as the IRS has begun hiring new criminal agents after several years of declining personnel and shrinking caseloads. Fort has emphasized increased use of technology, better targeting of enforcement and more work with partners overseas.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

"The level of coordination seems to be unprecedented," said Jeff Neiman, a former federal prosecutor. "If the barriers to international information sharing are truly coming down, investigations will turn into indictments much quicker."

The investigation began with information obtained by the Netherlands, according to the J5 statement.

"This is the first outcome of an operational collaboration between five countries on tackling professional enablers that facilitate offshore tax crime," said Hans van der Vlist, chief and general director of Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD) in the Netherlands.
Unbelievably, it's been over 25 years since the premiere of the NBC megahit series Friends, and the biggest star from the sitcom recently took a hilarious trip down memory lane  to the shock and delight of fans of the show.

Friends alum Jennifer Aniston guest-hosted for her pal Ellen DeGeneres on her hit daytime show Friday, and one of the many gags she had up her sleeve involved revisiting the set of her beloved sitcom, which just so happened to be nearby.

Aniston, 50, reminded the audience and viewers that The Ellen DeGeneres Show is filmed on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, California, which was quite familiar for her.

Back on the lot: Friends alum Jennifer Aniston guest-hosted for her pal Ellen DeGeneres on her hit daytime show Friday, and one of her many gags involved revisiting the set of her sitcom

'I spent ten years here on a show called Friends,' Jen told the audience, who immediately went wild with approval.

The lot, in fact, is where Friends was shot from 1994 all the way until the series ended in 2004.

And for the occasion, Jen, who this past weekend won a SAG Award for her dramatic performance on the newer Apple TV+ series The Morning Show, showed a video gag depicting her hiding out on the set of Central Perk from Friends  and jumping up from behind the iconic orange couch to scare unsuspecting studio guests.

The set still exists as part of the permanent studio tour at Warner Brothers, and guests and tourists are able to walk on the Central Perk set and pose for photos with mugs while seated on the sofa.

'I spent ten years here on a show called Friends,' Jen told the audience, who immediately went wild with approval

Historic: The Central Perk set from Friends still exists as part of the permanent studio tour at Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank

Anybody need an espresso? Jen hid out on the set  and jumped up from behind the iconic orange couch to scare unsuspecting studio guests

Except this time, one of the real-life Friends herself was crouching behind it, ready to pounce at the most opportune moment.

When asked 'Who's your favorite Friend?' tour-goers jumped out of their skin when Jennifer jumped out  and not one of them answered Rachel.

Her look of sheer incredulousness when someone answers 'Joey' is, in a word, priceless.

Monica, Phoebe, but not Rachel: When asked 'Who's your favorite Friend?' tour-goers jumped out of their skin when Jennifer jumped out  and not one of them answered Rachel

Surprise! Jen was crouching behind the sofa each time, ready to pounce at the most opportune moment

'Are you really here, is this real?' exclaimed one very jolted tourist, to which Aniston replied jokingly, 'Yes. I live here.'

Still others couldn't believe it was really the real Rachel Greene, with one fan wondering whether it was someone wearing a Rachel mask.

To this, Aniston pulled at the corners of her face and jawline to demonstrate that she was not, in fact, wearing a mask of herself.

The Ellen episode that Jennifer guest-hosted, which airs Friday, sees her welcoming guests Will Ferrell and Selena Gomez.

Shocked: Guests couldn't believe it was really the real Rachel Greene, with one fan wondering whether it was someone wearing a Rachel mask

It was like they lived there: 'Are you really here, is this real?' exclaimed one very jolted tourist, to which Aniston replied jokingly, 'Yes. I live here'; seen on the set back in 1998
Saudi agents tried to kidnap a social-media star and regime critic on US soil, The Daily Beast reported.

The plot was only foiled when the FBI caught them just as their plane arrived into LAX, the Beast said.

The critic, 27-year-old Abdulrahman Almutairi, used social media to criticize Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the brutal murder of the Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

Almutairi joins a growing list of Saudi dissidents targeted by the regime. Carrying out such a mission on US soil would mark a new level of Saudi brazenness.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Agents of the Saudi government tried to kidnap a young social-media influencer and regime critic on US soil, The Daily Beast reported, cited multiple sources familiar with the episode.

The critic, 27-year-old Abdulrahman Almutairi, lives in California and used social media to criticize the Saudi government and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist assassinated by the Saudi government.

The Daily Beast reported said that after Almutairi voiced his criticism of the crown prince on social media for Khashoggi's death, an "unidentified Saudi man accompanied Almutairi's father on a flight to collect Almutairi against his will and bring him back to Saudi Arabia."

Almutairi told the outlet that if he had been taken back to Saudi Arabia he would likely have been killed.

Khashoggi's gruesome killing sparked intense global backlash. He was murdered on October 2, 2018 at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul after going there to obtain paperwork for his upcoming wedding.

MBS

GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images

US officials and the UN have said that bin Salman most likely ordered the killing himself, which he denies.

While at the consulate, Khashoggi, who frequently criticized Crown Prince Mohammed and the Saudi regime in the Post, was ambushed, suffocated, and dismembered.

Story continues

Almutairi told The Daily Beast the Saudi government knew he was "a threat" because of his audience on social media. Two sources told the outlet that only the FBI's intervention stopped the plot to kidnap Almutairi.

The Saudi crown prince again made headlines in the US when The Guardian reported that he had hacked the cell phone of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos through the encrypted messaging app WhatsApp.

The Saudi government has denied the charge, calling them "absurd." But UN investigators on Wednesday threw their weight behind the allegations and said they had received information supporting The Guardian's reporting.

Agnes Callamard and David Kaye  special rapporteurs appointed by the UN  called for an investigation, and said the forensic report indicated that a number belonging to Crown Prince Mohammed had hacked Bezos' phone through a malicious video file sent via WhatsApp.

Bezos gave his personal cell phone number to the crown prince in April 2018, after the two men attended a dinner together in Los Angeles.

Callamard also told The Daily Beast she believes Almutairi's story is credible.

"There is a pattern of the Saudi authorities, particularly over the last two years, targeting individualshigh profile people with a big Saudi audience," Callamard told the outlet, "either because they're critical of MBS or the government or not just for what they say but what they don't say, if they're insufficiently supportive."

Saudi Arabia has a pattern of targeting dissidents

saudi omar abdulaziz

Screenshot/Youtube

Almutairi joins a growing list of Saudi dissidents targeted by the Saudi regime for their criticism of the kingdom.

Khashoggi's death brought to light Saudi Arabia's widespread campaign to crackdown on dissent. Since then several other bloggers, activists, and writers have come forward alleging harassment.

Omar Abdulaziz, a Saudi activist in exile in Canada, had his phone targeted with spyware by Saudi agents in June 2018. Abdulaziz had previously told Business Insider that his family and friends were arrested or "disappeared" because of his criticism of Saudi Arabia.

"They threatened me a few days ago," Abdulaziz told Business Insider in August 2018, "and they used my brother to blackmail me. He said to me 'Omar you have to stop because we're going to be arrested or jailed.' Some of our friends reached out to me, too. But I said I'm not going to stop, I'm going to keep talking. "

Georgetown University fellow Abdullah Alaoudh told PBS News Hour in March that there is nowhere to hide from Saudi Arabia.

"They have no limits. They can reach you everywhere. They fear every criticism and every different opinion," he said.

Photographer and activist Danah Al-Mayouf told PBS News Hour that she too was targeted by Saudi agents for speaking out.

"Who are these people attacking me all the time who, like, want to basically put me in jail, want to see me homeless in America?" she said.

Almutairi told PBS that after Khashoggi's death, he began to post videos on social media critical of the Saudi regime. Saudi Arabia then revoked his scholarship at University of San Diego for his activism.

"You didn't only kill him. You chopped him up," he said in a video posted to social media. "Is this a government or a mafia?"

Read the original article on Business Insider
COLUMBUS, Ohio  Conservative backlash surrounding Gov. Mike DeWines recent decision to accept political and religious refugees into Ohio prompted Ohio Republican Party Chairman Jane Timken to write a letter this week to GOP officials across the state defending the decision.

Timken sent the letter to county party chairs and the state partys central committee members, according to Ohio Republican Party spokesman Evan Machan.

We were seeing inaccurate reports going around about the issue and wanted to utilize our platform to correct those inaccuracies, Machan said.

In the letter, Timken said the refugees Ohio will accept have been vetted by the Trump administration and will be legal residents of the country. She also they wont take jobs from Ohioans, touting a state jobs posting website showing 154,000 listings for available jobs.

Accusations that the federal government is letting dangerous individuals into the country through poor vetting are no longer accurate, Timken said.

The issue has been getting attention from conservative media sources lately since the passage of the Jan. 21 deadline set by the Trump administration for states to decide whether they would accept resettlement of refugees. For example, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, refused to accept refugees, a decision he touted in a Fox News interview.

However, a federal judge this week temporarily blocked the new Trump administration policy allowing states to opt out of receiving refugees in response to a lawsuit filed by refugee resettlement organizations.

The DeWine administration received inquiries about the refugee decision in recent days, including from Fox News personality Tucker Carlsons producer, according to Dan Tierney, a spokesman for DeWine, a Republican.

Certainly we have calls and emails into our office, and weve been working to explain to those folks that the refugees are not illegal immigrants, Tierney said. Its a very narrow definition. It might be different than what we see on TV. Its folks vetted by the Trump administration, whose admittance into the country is in the interest of the United States. And theyre true victims of religious or political persecution, and thats why theyre seeking refuge.

The DeWine administration in a Dec. 24 letter informed the Trump administration that Ohio would accept refugees.

About 1,400 refugees relocated to Ohio between September 2018 and September 2019, according to a Pew Research Center analysis. Thats tied with Kentucky for fifth-most in the nation. In October and November, another 27 refugees were resettled in the Buckeye State, according to the U.S. State Department.

The state of Ohio has a long and successful history of welcoming and assimilating refugees from all corners of the globe, DeWine wrote. Ohio also has a well-developed support network to welcome and assimilate refugees, primarily led by our faith-based communities.

Among those who have been criticizing DeWine for accepting refugees is Jim Renacci, the former Republican congressman from Wadsworth who was his partys U.S. Senate nominee in 2018.

Renacci has maintained visibility within grassroots Republican circles, including through founding a nonprofit political advocacy group, giving the impression that he may be laying the groundwork to run for office in the future, including possibly challenging DeWine.

Gov. Mike DeWine is wrong for accepting refugees, Renacci said in a video posted to his Facebook page on Tuesday. During the holiday seasons, most Americans were focused on faith, family and last-minute gift ideas. Few were paying attention to whats going on in Washington or Columbus. It was while voters were taking a break from politics that Gov. DeWine, without consulting voters or holding so much as a town hall meeting, decided unilaterally to accept refugees into the state of Ohio.

Refugees_1 Gov. DeWine is wrong for accepting refugees into the state of Ohio. He snuck the announcement out around the holiday season when people were focused on family, because he knows this is BAD PUBLIC POLICY! Watch my latest commentary video here: Posted by Jim Renacci on Tuesday, January 21, 2020

The Ohio Star, a conservative political website, posted a copy of Timkens letter on Friday in a critical article.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this story.

Read other recent Ohio political news:

Ohios road-safety laws rank among countrys worst in new survey

Ohio secretary of state fills top elections security job

Automatic voter registration measure could appear on November ballot in Ohio

Ohio bill legalizing earplug use by motorcyclists sent to governors desk

State lawmakers propose raising bar to pass future tax increases

Sports betting bill faces stalemate in Ohio legislature
Catastrophic wildfires in Australia are pushing global carbon dioxide levels to new highs, scientists have warned.

The UKs Met Office predicted 2020 would see one of the largest annual jumps of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere since records began, with the raging bushfires blamed for up to a fifth of the increase.

Fossil fuel burning and changes in land use are also driving the rise and worsening global warming, the meteorological agency said in its yearly forecast of carbon concentration, which has been measured at the Mauna Loa observatory in Hawaii since 1958.

The level of CO in the atmosphere is expected to peak at 417 parts per million (ppm) in May, before settling at an average of 414ppm  an increase of 2.74ppm from last year.

As well as pumping carbon emissions into the atmosphere, the wildfires are burning vegetation, which would otherwise act as a sink to soak up CO.

Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? Show all 21 1 /21 Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-15.JPG Photos Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-19.JPG Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-10.JPG Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-17.JPG Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-16.JPG Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-12.JPG Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY.JPG Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-6.JPG Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-13.JPG Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-18.JPG Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-1.JPG Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-11.JPG Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-14.JPG Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-3.JPG Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-9.JPG Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-8.JPG Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-7.JPG Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-5.JPG Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-2.JPG Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-0.JPG Reuters Australia fires: What's next for towns devastated by wildfires? AUSTRALIA-BUSHFIRES-COMMUNITY-4.JPG Reuters

More than 24 million acres of land have been destroyed as the blazes have raged across New South Wales and Victoria since September, and the extreme scale of the fires means regrowth of plants will be slower than usual.

Professor Richard Betts, of the Met Offices Hadley Centre for climate change research, said: Although the series of annual levels of CO have always seen a year-on-year increase since 1958, driven by fossil fuel burning and deforestation, the rate of rise isnt perfectly even, because there are fluctuations in the response of ecosystem carbon sinks, especially tropical forests. Overall these are expected to be weaker than normal for a second year running.

If the Met Offices forecast is accurate, the CO rise in 2020 would be the fourth highest since records began. The larger previous increases in 1998, 2016 and 2019 were all linked to warmer temperatures caused by the El Nino climate cycle, according to the Met Office.

The uptake of carbon dioxide by land ecosystems is known to be affected by weather patterns linked to year-by-year swings in Pacific Ocean temperatures.

In years with a warmer tropical Pacific, many regions become hotter and drier, limiting the ability of plants to grow and absorb CO and increasing the risk of wildfires. The Met Office said this, along with other weather patterns and human-induced global warming, contributed to the hot, dry weather that has fuelled Australias most devastating bushfires in decades.

Professor Betts added: The success of our previous forecasts has shown that the year-to-year variability in the rate of rise of CO in the atmosphere is affected more by the strength of ecosystem carbon sinks and sources than year-to-year changes in human-induced emissions. Nevertheless, the anthropogenic emissions are still the overall driver of the long-term rise in concentrations.

Australias wildfires have killed at least 33 people, destroyed thousands of homes, and burned to death millions of animals.

The devastating blazes could become normal if global temperatures rise as projected between 3C and 5C this century, the Met Office warned earlier this month.
Across a very dynamic energy landscape in Israel, where the electricity sector reform includes the privatization of power stations, the core of the reform is opening the electricity sector to competition. MRC group, which acquired the Alon Tavor power plant from Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) last July, today announced a new 15-year services agreement with GE (NYSE: GE) as a leading example of this country-wide energy transformation. The contract covers parts, repairs, and predictive maintenance solutions for GE's 9FA unit installed at the 375 Megawatt (MW) Combined Cycle unit, located in the Alon Tavor industrial zone, in the northern Israeli city of Afula, helping increase the long-term availability, reliability, and efficiency of the plant and the electricity it supplies.

In addition, the agreement foresees the gas turbine will be connected to the GEs Monitoring & Diagnostics (M&D) Center for 24/7 predictive maintenance support. In this center, based in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, a team of more than 50 M&D engineers analyzes more than 50,000 operational alarms per year, assisting power plant and industrial operators in enhancing their asset reliability and performance 24/7/365. The contract includes an option for upgrading the turbine with GE's Advanced Gas Path technology to improve unit's availability, heat rate, and output.

"The reliability of a turbine impacts the performance of the entire plant" said Mr. Gigi Shlomo CEO of MRC Alon Tavor Power Ltd. "We're confident in GE technology, and trust GE's expertise. It was therefore a natural choice for us to turn to GE to help us find the right solution. After examining both operating and capital expenditures, we determined GE's total plant solution and the use of advanced analytics represented the best option for our plant to improve 9FA gas turbine's reliability, as well as to lower its operation and maintenance costs".

We are proud to have been selected by MRC to continue to ensure the reliability, availability and efficiency of its Alon Tavor power plant" said Michael Rechsteiner, Vice President and CEO of GE's Gas Power business in Europe. "As the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of Alon Tavor's power island since 2004, when the plant was commissioned, we have been responsible for the reliable operations of the plant's power generation equipment. We are honored that MRC awarded our expertise and proven execution capabilities with this new agreement".

GE has supported the development of Israeli's infrastructure for the last six decades. GE Power Israel is responsible for the maintenance of the power Plants of all of Israel's largest power producers, Dorad, Dalia Power Energies, OPC Hadera, the IEC (Eshkol and Tzafit sites), Nesher and Delek Ashkelon, who jointly represent 60% of the country's overall power production capacity.

Yesterday (1/14), GE announced it has received another order from Israel Electric Corporation (IEC), the largest generator and supplier of electricity in Israel, for a second 9HA.01 heavy-duty gas turbine. IEC is using GE's HA gas turbine technology at its Orot Rabin plant, located in Hadera, Israel, as part of the conversion of the existing power station from coal to gas generation.
The Pentagon said on Friday that 34 US troops were diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries suffered in this months Iranian missile strike on an Iraqi air base, and that half of the troops have returned to their military duties.

Seventeen of the 34 are still under medical observation, according to Jonathan Hoffman, the chief Pentagon spokesperson. US President Donald Trump had initially said he was told that no troops had been injured in the January 8 strike. The military said symptoms were not immediately reported after the strike and in some cases became known days later.

After the first reports that some soldiers had been hurt, Trump referred to them as headaches and said the cases were not as serious as injuries involving the loss of limbs.

Hoffman said that of the 34 with TBI, 18 were evacuated from Iraq to US medical facilities in Germany and Kuwait, and 16 stayed back in Iraq. No one was killed in the attack on Ain al-Asad.
The ad hoc government of Bolivia has decided to cut diplomatic ties with Cuba due to the latters hostility towards the South American republic, reports TASS, citing the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bolivia.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to inform citizens and the international community that it has decided to cut diplomatic ties with Cuba starting today, the statement reads.

According to the Bolivian ministry, the decision is linked to the recent inacceptable statements by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla and his constant hostility and the offensive remarks that Cuba has made about the constitutional government of Bolivia.
School students will recite the Preamble to the Constitution during morning meetings in Rajasthan from this Republic Day, Minister Govind Singh Dotasara said on Friday.

Dotasara said doing so would help keep intact the sentiments towards national unity, sovereignty and respect towards all religion among the students.

"This is utmost needed today in the kind of atmosphere which is being created. By spreading the message of the Preamble to the Constitution, unity and harmony can be maintained," he said, after attending a meeting of various organisations working in the sector here.

He said the state government was making efforts to provide quality in schools.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Update: The weather service has issued a winter weather advisory for parts of Central New York.

Syracuse, N.Y. -- A wintry mess is expected across Upstate New York this weekend, with rain, snow and freezing rain in the forecast.

Rain with just an inch of snow is expected across valleys and plains, while snow could fall in hills. Theres even a chance of freezing rain that could briefly coat roads with ice.

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for most of Upstate, which is essentially a heads-up to drivers to be alert to changing conditions.

Rain and snow could lead to slick roadways Saturday through Sunday, the weather service said.

The storm moves in today from the southwest; rain is likely to reach Buffalo around dinner time, Syracuse about 2 a.m. Saturday and Albany about 11 a.m. Light rain is expected at first, with heavier rain, up to an inch, starting several hours later.

Temperatures overnight will approach freezing, so theres a chance for roads to get icy early Saturday. Thats more likely in the hills, where temperatures tend to be a few degrees cooler. That precipitation will switch to all rain during the day Saturday.

Falling temperatures overnight Saturday will bring some snow, with the highest amounts coming down in the hills south of Buffalo and on Tug Hill. Up to 6 inches of wet snow could fall in those areas Sunday.

Monday could bring lake effect snow, although there are not estimates yet of how much might fall.

READ MORE

Light snow, rain likely this weekend for Upstate NY

CNY college opens doors early before potential weekend storm

Theres almost no ice on the Great Lakes: Does that mean more lake effect snow?
We are fortunate to have video (below) of a great Joe the Plumber moment (as Megan Fox calls it at PJ Media) earlier this week featuring Elizabeth Warren on the campaign trail in Grimes, Iowa. The Daily Caller reports on its here and The Hill here

After waiting in line to get his moment with Warren, a voter vent[ed] frustration that her promise to wipe out student loan debt would not reimburse him for the tuition that hed already paid, as The Hill report has it.

I would put it slightly differently. I would say he wondered if Warren understood that her proposal would make him a chump of the first order.

My daughter is in school, the man said, as captured in The Hills transcription of the exchange. I saved all my money just to pay my student loans. Can I have my money back?

Of course not, Warren responded.

So you want to help those who dont save any money and the ones that do the right thing get screwed? he responded.

The Hill notes that the man cited his friend who makes more money than he does and, instead of paying off his loans, bought a car and went on expensive vacations.

I saved my money, the man said. He made more than I did. I worked a double shift, worked extra  so youre laughing at me.

No Im not, Warren responded.

Yes thats exactly what youre doing, the man said. We did the right thing and we get screwed.

That is a sentiment that is widely applicable to the Democrats policy proposals.
Nguyen Thi Chau is shown outside Ben Tre prison with food for her husband, who had already been moved, Jan. 21, 2020.

Vietnamese authorities have transferred an environmental activist and blogger to a new prison far from home without notification to his wife, who traveled this week to his old jail in a fruitless attempt to see him, his wife says.

Speaking on Thursday to RFAs Vietnamese Service, Nguyen Thi Chau said she had traveled on Jan. 21 to see her husband, Nguyen Ngoc Anh--now serving a six-year term for criticizing Vietnam's government on Facebook--at his prison in Ben Tre province to visit and deliver food, but was told he wasnt there.

He had been transferred to another prison, she said, adding, I hadnt been notified, and never received any announcements about the move.

Returning later to the Ben Tre prison to ask for papers allowing her to see her husband at his new prison, Xuan Loc in Dong Nai province some 240 km away, Nguyens wife was told just to go there on her own, she said.

Finally speaking to her husband at Xuan Loc at 2:00 p.m. on Jan. 22, she learned that he had recently been abused by guards, who bent his arms behind his back and used their feet to shove him head-first to the floor, she said.

Nguyen Ngoc Anh, a shrimp farming engineer, was arrested in August 2018 in Ben Tre province on charges of making, storing, spreading, and declaring transmitted information and documents to combat the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, under Article 117 of Vietnams 2015 Criminal Code.

Writings by Nguyen described by authorities as slandering Vietnams one-party communist government and state included criticisms of the governments handling of environmental damage resulting from a massive toxic waste spill in 2016 that left thousands without work in three coastal provinces.



He had also voiced concern for political prisoners held in Vietnams jails, rights groups said in earlier reports.

Death threats, beatings

Speaking to RFA in September, Nguyens wife described efforts by prison authorities in Ben Tres Binh Phu Detention Center to force him to drop an appeal of his sentence, saying he had been threatened with death and subjected to abuse by a cellmate, with abuse growing more severe as he continued to resist.



Nguyen was later placed in solitary confinement after being beaten unconscious and refused treatment for his injuries, his wife told RFA in October.

Vietnam, with a population of 92 million people, of which 55 million are estimated to be users of Facebook, has been consistently rated not free in the areas of internet and press freedom by Freedom House, a U.S.-based watchdog group.



Dissent is not tolerated in the communist nation, and authorities routinely use a set of vague provisions in the penal code to detain dozens of writers and bloggers.

Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Huynh Le. Written in English by Richard Finney.
This is the nail-biting moment a Ryanair pilot aborts his landing as his plane is battered by high winds during Spain's killer Storm Gloria.

A plane spotter at Valencia's Manises Airport took the astonishing footage of the manoeuvre, known as a go-around.

The video showed the plane coming in to land and swaying from side to side in dramatic fashion before the pilot headed for the skies again.

Local reports said the Boeing 737 had ended up landing at another airport because of the weather conditions.

The Ryanair plane is battered by high winds during Spain's killer Storm Gloria on Monday as it tries to land at Valencia's Manises Airport

The plane starts to sway from side to side in dramatic fashion during the winds, said to be near to 60mph

Moments before touching down, the pilot is forced to perform a 'go-around' - the aviation term for an aborted landing of an aircraft that is on final approach

Winds at the time of the incident, which occurred on Monday morning, were said to be near 60mph.

A number of flights to Valencia were diverted or cancelled that day because of Storm Gloria, which has been blamed for the deaths of at least 12 people so far.

What is a plane 'go-around'? In aviation, a go-around is an aborted landing of an aircraft that is on final approach. It can either be initiated by the pilot flying or requested by air traffic control for various reasons, such an an unstabilized approach or an obstruction on the runway. Advertisement

Several other people are still missing, including 25-year-old Brit Ben Garland who is feared to have been swept to sea after being hit by a wave as he took photos at a beach in the north of Ibiza.

In aviation, a go-around is an aborted landing of an aircraft that is on final approach.

It can either be initiated by the pilot flying or requested by air traffic control for various reasons, such an an unstabilized approach or an obstruction on the runway.

Plane spotter Javier Rullan Ruano, who posted the footage on his YouTube channel, said: It was a very complicated day at Valencia Airport due to Storm Gloria, with numerous go-arounds and many detours to other airports.

'Only a few pilots managed to land in those conditions with crosswinds and 49 knot gusts.'

The aftermath of Storm Gloria: This was the scene today in Girona, Catalonia, where the flooded C-31 highway remains closed after the Ter river overflowed during the strong rains

He was congratulated for the footage after posting it online.

One said: 'The people in the plane must have s**t their pants.'

Another added: 'Best go-around ever. Super video.'

Anya Connolly wrote: 'I would have s**t my pants or passed out. I hate flying at the best of times. Lots of sick bags at the ready for the cabin crew.'

Several other people are still missing since Storm Gloria struck, including 25-year-old Brit Ben Garland (pictured) who is feared to have been swept to sea after being hit by a wave as he took photos at a beach in the north of Ibiza
Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger are spending sweet quality time with their family.

The couple, who got married last summer, were seen leaving a lunch outing with her younger brother Patrick. The trio dressed casually for the lunch, where Patrick, 26, was seen wearing a sling for his right arm and shoulder.

The outing comes weeks after Pratt, 40, and Schwarzenegger, 30, celebrated their first holiday as a married couple.

Earlier this year, Katherine shared a sweet black and white photo of herself and Pratt, on Instagram in which she revealed she and her husband of almost a year didnt make it to midnight on New Years Eve.

Happy New Year! Feeling blessed, happy, excited, inspired, eager and ready for this year! So grateful for my amazing family, friends and animals of all kinds, she wrote in the caption. Lets do this, 2020!

She hilariously added, (Disclaimer: this picture is NOT from last night. We were fast asleep by 10pm ).

RELATED: Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger Celebrate Their First Thanksgiving as a Married Couple

SplashNews.com

The couple previously celebrated Christmas together, and before the holidays Pratt treated his wife to a romantic getaway in South Carolina for her birthday.

Chris has been busy filming in Atlanta, a source told PEOPLE at the time. He took a break over the weekend to celebrate Kats birthday.

The insider added, They flew to South Carolina and spent a beautiful weekend at the Palmetto Bluff. They enjoyed the Montage hotel and other parts of the property. They looked beyond happy together.
Another Staten Island hair salon was named winner of the inaugural New York Hair and Beauty Awards organized by Creative Oceanic.

Congrats to Meraki Hair and Makeup Studio who nabbed the prize for Best Customer Experience in New York City at The New York Hair and Beauty Awards 2019  a competition that translates into an exclusive celebration of highly trained and talented individuals who specialize in enhancing natural features  with a goal of leaving the New Yorkers looking fabulous.

FYI: The salon was nominated and became finalists in two categories: Hair Salon of the Year for Staten Island and Best Customer Experience in NYC. The latter category was where they took honors.

The Long Island Marriott Hotel was the setting for the trend setting event, where the creme de la creme of hair and beauty specialists gathered to celebrate the champions of the industry.

The winners demonstrated an outstanding performance and were off the charts in fashion and trends  and they had the continuous support of their clients and the public who voted for them in order to gain the recognition they deserve.

ABOUT THE SALON

Meraki  a Greek word for doing things with creativity, love, passion and a lot of soul  is located at 1281 Arthur Kill Road in the South Shore town of Greenridge and is the vision of owners, Jenn Christie Sorrento and her husband Shane Sorrento.

Jenn, the artistic director, heads up the contemporary luxury salon built on the belief of a guest centric experience delivering unwavering service and personal attention amid a relaxed atmosphere.

At Meraki, love, creativity and passion for what we do is the essence of who we are, says Jenn before adding: We understand that hair is an ever evolving art and looks change and move every season. Our proven success is based upon the commitment of our expertly trained team to ongoing education to bring our guests only the best in hair and beauty care services.

Staffers are all New York State licensed cosmetologists and grads of their own Meraki Advanced Academy, where theyre required to participate in continuous education courses annually designed to challenge their skills and keep them up on the latest trends.

ABOUT THE OWNERS

JENN:

After graduating from beauty school, Jenn attended Vidal Sassoons Advanced Training Academy in London and became a Paul Mitchell Advanced Educator. To this day she attends, assists and creates a number of hair shows and classes throughout the United States.

She brings 20 years of experience to the hair and makeup industry and formerly was a staffer at AF Bennett Salon and Wellness Spa, where she held the position of styling floor director, educator, master stylist and master colorist.

SHANE:

Although not a stylist, Shane brings talent and vision to the helm at Meraki Hair & Makeup Studio.

A Monsignor Farrell High School grad and an accomplished martial artist for nearly three decades, Shanes gone on to successfully operate his familys martial arts school and his own business, Apex Credit Solutions, which specializes in helping consumers navigate the credit reporting process, raising their scores and addressing adverse information including late payments, collections, foreclosures, judgments and more.

Hes been deeply involved in the local community through networking, community involvement and philanthropic endeavors and was formerly the board chair of the SIEDC 40 under 40 Leadership Group, and as well the board chair of New Vista for Families, a domestic violence shelter.

The husband and wife team run the day to day operation of the business and are directly in charge of guests satisfaction.

Says Shane: In a world full of choices, we are truly grateful to all of the guests who we have the privilege of servicing. We believe what sets us apart is our passion to not only deliver the best in hair care and beauty enhancement, but to create an environment and an experience for our guests. When a guest visits us for services that may be their only opportunity to relax and take some time for themselves in an otherwise crazy world. Our core mission is to create a sanctuary of peace and tranquility and an experience they will take with them.
MYCOM OSI Launches the 5G Roll-out Accelerator Solution

LONDON, UK ? 23rd January 2020 ? MYCOM OSI, the Assurance Cloud Company and leading independent provider of Assurance, Automation and Analytics solutions to the world?s largest Communications Service Providers (CSPs), today announced the launch of its 5G Roll-out Accelerator solution. As CSPs race to launch 5G, the on-demand service enables them to easily acquire the comprehensive assurance capabilities required to rapidly roll-out 5G network and services.

MYCOM OSI has deployed 5G assurance to Tier 1 CSPs including Vodafone and Telenor Norway. Its new 5G Roll-out Accelerator solution addresses the specific competing challenges CSPs face today in 5G roll-outs: competitive pressure to rapidly launch and operate 5G networks and services while still delivering on the promise of faster connectivity and protecting quality of service for existing customers. Business-critical service assurance systems with complex configuration, customization and integration challenges represent a significant bottleneck to this roll-out. Deploying and operationalizing traditional service assurance solutions typically takes 6 to 18 months or more and represents a significant investment. MYCOM OSI?s 5G Roll-out Accelerator solution can be deployed and operationalized within weeks, and completely eliminates infrastructure management and Capex.

MYCOM OSI?s 5G Roll-out Accelerator solution is a cloud native service assurance SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) offering for CSPs launching 5G services. Deployable and scalable on-demand, ready to ingest data within one hour and pre-integrated with most 5G radio equipment, it provides the end-to-end network and service assurance capability required to support the key assurance use cases for 5G network and service roll-out and operation. This includes the planning, configuration, acceptance and the monitoring and analysis of 5G network and service performance, covering the access, transport and core network domains and including the management of resources that concurrently support 5G and pre-5G workloads.

The solution provides five MYCOM OSI SmartPacks that are pre-configured use cases designed to support specific business activities and outcomes. They include:

? MYCOM OSI 5G Site Validator ? validating that 5G sites are configured as planned, to improve the reliability and speed of site acceptance, including several acceptance KPIs (including SgNB, Intra-gNB handover, eNDC success rates) to establish required performance compliance

? MYCOM OSI 5G Site Auditor ? continually certifying that 5G RAN configurations are within expected parameter metrics to maintain optimal performance and reliability, and providing insight into configuration discrepancies and intra/inter technology classifications including hysteresis, RSRQ, RSRP, 5QI and HO time-to-trigger, and scenarios such as new site, general audit and site rehoming

? MYCOM OSI 5G Performance Monitor ? monitoring the ongoing KPI performance of the 5G network to expedite the identification and resolution of network performance issues through proactive detection and traffic profiling algorithms

? MYCOM OSI 5G Dashboard Pack ? easy to use but powerful dashboards for at-a-glance visualization of the 5G network, including intuitive Root Cause Analysis capabilities

? MYCOM OSI Cross-Domain Continuity Manager ? simultaneously managing 5G and pre-5G customer experiences with pre-configured KPIs and alarms for sessions involving handover to pre-5G and resources supporting both 5G and pre-5G services

Powered by MYCOM OSI?s award-winning Assurance Cloud, the world?s first carrier-grade service assurance SaaS, the MYCOM OSI 5G Roll-out Accelerator solution enables CSPs to rapidly access market-leading service assurance capabilities used by some of the world?s largest and most innovative CSPs to assure the experiences of over 2bn customers. By leveraging the Assurance Cloud platform, the solution can be expanded on-demand. CSPs can select from MYCOM OSI?s digital transformation solutions catalogue of over 200 SmartPacks in order to assure services such as those that rely on network slicing to deliver increasingly complex guarantees across speed, latency and connection density.

?As 5G deployments gather pace, many CSPs are in a race to be the first to launch basic services in their market, but often their assurance systems are not 5G-ready and they can?t afford the complexity to implement new ones,? said Jithu Raghavendran, VP Telco Digital Transformation Solutions, MYCOM OSI. ?They need to focus on their 5G network and service launch and simply activate essential 5G assurance capabilities quickly and cost-effectively. MYCOM OSI?s on-demand 5G Roll-out Accelerator solution allows them to very easily and quickly switch 5G assurance on with zero to minimal internal risk and impact, as well as easily extend it to more sophisticated assurance capabilities, for example around Telco Cloud and network slicing.?

MYCOM OSI is a member of the 5G Innovation Center at the University of Surrey in the UK, where it collaborates with researchers and provides end-to-end performance management of the 5GIC\-\-s 5G test network. It has also collaborated in three TM Forum Catalyst proof of concepts to demonstrate its technology managing 5G networks and advanced assurance use cases including 5G network slices using closed loop automation.

Further information about MYCOM OSI?s 5G Roll-out Accelerator solution is available on MYCOM OSI?s website, including on-demand webinar, the first in a series that introduces the solution and its core functionality. A second webinar ?Demonstrating MYCOM OSI?s 5G Roll-out Accelerator Solution? is being held at 10:00 GMT on 14th February 2020. Click here to register: https://www.mycom-osi.com/register-for-mycom-osi-5g-roll-out-accelerator-solution-webinar.

MYCOM OSI is exhibiting at Mobile World Congress 2020, which takes place from 24th to 27th February in Barcelona, Spain. To pre-arrange a meeting with MYCOM OSI, please contact the marketing team at info@mycom-osi.com or click here: https://www.mycom-osi.com/book-a-meeting-mobile-world-congress-2020-0?hsCtaTracking=750b2a9f-8b53-4986-a656-689ec89145e7%7Cd7fabf96-183e-4d47-9ad5-b351bdff7f67. MYCOM OSI will be located in Hall 1, Stand 1A42.
Do you have iCloud backups turned on? Image: Getty

Apple iPhone users have been told their privacy could be compromised after it pulled the plug on plans to enable end-to-end encryption.

Apple in 2017 scuppered plans to allow users to fully encrypt their backups on its iCloud service after the US FBI said it would get in the way of criminal investigations, Reuters reported.

The tech giant had been secretly working on the feature for years when it pulled the plug, three former FBI officials, one current and one former Apple employee confirmed.

Under end-to-end encryption, Apple and law enforcement agencies would be unable to access data stored in the iCloud without the users password.

While the iClouds privacy loophole has long been recognised, Apples decision to step back on plans to boost customer privacy is notable given the Silicon Valley companys strong words on privacy.

At the 2019 CES tech trade show, Apple made a huge banner ad with the words What happens on your iPhone, stays on your iPhone.

Security versus privacy: Apples ethical quandary

Apple has long struggled to find the sweet spot between protecting customers privacy and supporting international safety and security.

The company has described privacy as a core value, and aims to demonstrate this by preventing advertisers from tracking you from site to site and anonymising and encrypting data that remains on your phone.

But it has also come up against the US government which has repeatedly asked for Apple to provide back-door options that would allow agencies like the FBI to access semi-encrypted information.

Apple has historically refused to do so, citing the poor precedent that would set. However, it has allowed access in some instances.

In the last seven years, the tech giant has received 127,000 requests for data from US law enforcement, with the US Attorney General William Barr last week making headlines after he called on Apple to unlock two phones.

Story continues

The phones had been used by a Saudi Air Force officer who killed three Americans in Pensacola, Florida in December.

President Donald Trump echoed the calls, accusing Apple of refusing to unlock devices used by killers, drug dealers and other violent criminal elements.

The company last year was also forced to apologise for listening to users conversations to help its voice assistant more accurately respond to commands.

Apple is committed to putting the customer at the center of everything we do, which includes protecting their privacy, the company said in a post.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has also described privacy as a fundamental human right.

How do I turn off iCloud backups?

Users can turn off iCloud backups by heading to settings and then hitting their name before heading to the iCloud tab where the backup option can be slid on or off.

If you want to backup your phone without using iCloud you can connect your phone to a Mac or PC via a USB cable and back your contents up onto that device instead.

Make your money work with Yahoo Finances daily newsletter. Sign up here and stay on top of the latest money, news and tech news.
Delaware is a state in the southern region of the United States. It occupies the northwestern part of the Delmarva Peninsula. Delaware is the second-smallest state, covering an area of approximately 1,982 square miles. Although Delaware is small in area, it is one of the most prosperous states in the country. The states economy greatly benefits from the large urban market nearby. For much of the 19th and 20th century, manufacturing was the largest industry in Delaware. However, in the late 1990s, the finance sector contributed the largest share of the economy. The majority of the people are employed in government agencies, service industries, and commerce while the unemployment rate is 5.1% (as of October 2015). Here are some of the biggest industries in Delaware.

Agriculture

Agriculture is one of the most thriving industries in Delaware, thanks to farming. The industry is estimated to worth around $8 billion. There are approximately 2,500 farms spread across over 510,000 acres of agricultural land. About 85% of the farmland is used to raise crops while the rest is for pasture and woodlot. Field crops generate 19% of the farm income. Corn is the most grown crop, occupying about 40% of the total cultivated land. However, broilers are the most profitable products in the state. They are commercially raised throughout the state, especially in Kent and Sussex counties. The northern part of Delaware is known for dairy production and a major source of milk for cities such as Philadelphia and Wilmington. Potatoes and peas are the most valuable vegetable crops. Soy and wheat are also grown in many farms across the state.

Fisheries

Delawares economy is strongly surviving on the sea. The state has one of the leading fishing industries in the US and has progressively developed catch management policies and seafood processing technologies in a bid to increase income from the water. Being a coastal location, the fishing market is expanding every day. The commercial fishing industry boasts of a long and profitable history Delawares estuary supports the largest commercial American sturgeon and stud fisheries along the Atlantic coast. The estuary is home to over 200 fish species and shellfish. The fishing industry contributes about $34 million annually to the states economy. Apart from the ocean, the Delaware River is also a great source of fish, especially the blue crab. Delaware is one of the top producers of blue crab. In 2011, the state produced 3.5 million pounds of blue crabs from the Delaware River.

Manufacturing

Delawares manufacturing sector is the states second-largest traded sector. The manufacturing sector consists of a variety of industries including food processing, chemicals, bioscience, and more. Over 25,000 residents of Delaware and their families rely on this sector for jobs and income with many manufacturers working with technical institutions to train and develop the workforce. These manufacturers account for 6.3% of the total output and 5.9% of the total workforce in the state. In 2018, the output from the sector was $4.7 billion. In the same years, manufactured goods worth $4.4 billion were exported to the international market. The top five export markets for Delawares manufactured goods were Canada, the UK, China, Belgium, and Saudi Arabia. Delaware is particularly attractive for manufacturers because of the competitive tax rate compared to other states in the region. Its proximity to major airports with domestic and international cargo capabilities is also an added advantage.

Tourism

Tourism is a crucial part of Delawares economy. It is the fourth-largest private industry sector in the state, employing almost 45,000 people. The tourism industry is an important source of revenue for both local and state governments. The number of people visiting Delaware has been on the increase with a record of 9 million visitors in 2017. Those visitors contributed about $3.3 billion to the states GDP. Tourism generates an average of $500 million in taxes and fees every year for the state and local government. To boost the sector, the Delaware Tourism Office is conducting successful, integrated marketing campaigns highlighting what the state has to offer. Metros are the biggest source of visitors for Delaware, with people from neighboring states such as New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Washington DC accounting for over 50% of the visitors. Other attractions include beaches and tax-free shopping.

Finance

The financial sector is one of the backbone sectors of the economy of Delaware. The industry has undergone so many transformations, acquisitions, and mergers that have resulted in the growth of small finance and insurance businesses. The financial sector in Delaware has a workforce of about 48,000 people distributed across different firms. It is projected that the employment in Delawares financial service industry will grow 8.4% compared to the nations 1.6% between 2015 and 2020. The state has one of the fastest-growing fintech sectors in the country, with fintech companies making major moves in the state. Delaware is also Americas credit card capital. The financial community is also keeping an eye on cryptocurrency and blockchains among other new technologies.

Mining

Minerals play an important role in the economy of Delaware. However, the mined production is not accurately measured. According to estimates, the mineral sector contributes about $1 billion to the US Bureau of Mines. The mineral resources of Delaware are broadly divided into four categories; heavy mineral sand, construction minerals, glauconite, and other potential minerals such as oil and gas. According to the United States Geological Survey, Delaware has 14 recorded mines. Most of these mines are located in New Castle and Sussex. The most common minerals in Delaware are aluminum, iron, and chromium. The earliest recorded mining activity in the state was the extraction of iron ore in the Iron Hill region in 1703.

Other Industries In Delaware

Apart from the industries above, the economy of Delaware is also supported but other significantly important industries. The construction industry is one of the fastest-growing industries in the state because of the demand for more housing and the growth of real estate. Another important industry is retail trade. Retail is one of the largest private-sector employers in Delaware, creating opportunities around the state. On average, retail shops in Delaware bring in $1,192 in revenue and process about 15 transactions in a day.
(Natural News) In a few years, Sweden may become the worlds first cashless society. But is the Scandinavian country and its people truly ready to ditch cash for digital currency?

Swedish government officials have recently warned its citizens to stockpile banknotes and coins before the country completes its transition from conventional cash to virtual currency. They explained that a cyber attack or a disaster might take out the banks, thereby eliminating the primary provider of digital payments.

Consumers and sellers consider digital payments to be highly convenient. Sweden is one of the leading users and proponents of the technologies that will eventually enable a cashless society.

The KTH Royal Institute of Technology recently established that just 18 percent of the payments made in Sweden during 2019 used cash. The number dropped by 15 percent compared to that from 2018.

In the same vein, data from the Swedish Trade Federation (Svensk Handel) showed that 80 percent of the purchases at most local retailers get paid via credit card. Experts have predicted that the percentage would rise to 90 percent by 2020.

The figures show that Sweden relies heavily on digital commerce. Many experts believe that it might attain the status of the first cashless society  along with all the problems that accompany it. (Related: Public pensions risk everything, start piling money into crypto playing roulette with your retirement.)

Swedish citizens warned to stockpile cash in case hackers disable digital commerce

Recently, Swedish government experts have expressed worries about a large-scale cyber attack on their countrys computer networks. At best, citizens would lose access to their money for extended periods. The worst-case scenario is that they might lose all of their money.

In response, the countrys Civil Contingencies Agency instructed every Swedish household to squirrel away cash in small denominations. Such a stockpile of old-fashioned hard currency will serve the citizens while the banks restore their systems.

Swedens government has considered different emergencies that might disable its digital commerce. Accidental interruptions include loss of electrical power and computer networks. Deliberate disruptions include cyber warfare and terrorist attacks.

The warnings and contingency plans in Sweden may affect other developed nations that are also adopting elements of a cashless society. In the UK, local banking expert Natalie Ceeney warned that her country needs to take action since it isnt that far behind Sweden.

Swedens big message to us is, Plan now before you get into a mess, warned Ceeney. Sweden hit its crisis when its equivalent of the NHS declared it was going cashless.

A future cashless society faces risks like cyber attacks and power outages

Sweden has a history of being on the cutting edge of currency. In 1661, it adopted the first example of the modern-day banknote. By doing so, it became the first European nation to issue paper money.

The second place went to England in 1694. Meanwhile, the US started issuing its first currency after the start of the American Revolution in 1775.

In modern times, government studies found that 15 percent of Swedens population would experience difficulties if they lost access to the bank accounts and credit cards that made spending convenient.

Swedish central bank Riksbank urged the government to investigate the challenges and dangers that a cashless society might face. Bank officials also recommended that local politicians consider pioneering the worlds first form of digital money with state backing.

In a meeting with the Swedish parliament, the Riksbank officials described the importance of hard cash during both war and peace.

Previously, the Riksbank issued warnings about switching to digital commerce. The head official, Stefan Ingves, pointed out that the company in charge of the digital payments possessed a lot of power in a cashless society.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

InterestingEngineering.com
India has been condemned in the veins of Pakistan. Now it has become his nature. This has become the main agenda of his foreign policy. Since the Pulwama terror attack, the country has been isolated from the world, Pakistan has used every platform only as a protest against India. Not only this, from the United Nations stage, it has also given a thunderous impression of nuclear war. Once again in Davos, Switzerland, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has spewed poison against India.

Raj Thackeray's son Amit enters in Maharashtra politics

According to the media report, Imran, who took part in the World Economic Conference World Economic Forum 2020, has once again spewed venom against India. Imran raised the issue of Article 370 from the United Nations in a full conference. He appealed to take steps to reduce tensions between the two countries. He once again referred to nuclear weapons and said that the world should take the initiative to reduce the tension before the use of this weapon. According to the Dawn newspaper, in this forum, Imran said that due to the revised citizenship law and diverting attention from domestic demonstrations on the Kashmir issue, the tension on the border can increase. In an interview to the International Media Council on the sidelines of the forum's annual meeting in Davos, Khan said that two such nuclear weapon-rich countries should not even think about the conflict.

MP Tulsi Gabbard filed case of defamation against this person

In his statement, Imran said that for this the United Nations and especially America should take initiative. The special thing is that a day before that he had met US President Donald Trump, who again repeated his offer of help in the Kashmir case. Khan also demanded that the UN Military Observer Group be approved along the Line of Control in India and Pakistan. India has been saying that the Observer Group formed in January 1949 has lost its usefulness and has become irrelevant with the Shimla Agreement and the subsequent Line of Control.

Voting for National Assembly in Nepal, so many candidates enter the electoral fray
The long-awaited reopening of the Princes Highway has been hampered by recent storms, but East Gippsland's main arterial road will be open to the public this weekend as far as Orbost.

Holidaymakers have been urged to support bushfire-affected communities in Gippsland over the long weekend, as cars can now drive safely for large stretches of the route.

Crews have been working for weeks to clear sections of the Princes Highway. Pictured are Australian Defence Force troops and members of Forest Fire Management Victoria clearing felled trees on the Princes Highway just outside Genoa on January 12. Credit:Private Luke Jones/7RAR 1 Brigade/ADF

On Friday morning only residents, business owners and relief, recovery and supply services were allowed to access the Princes Highway between Orbost and Cann River, according to the state's control centre.

The stretch of highway between Cann River and Genoa was closed to everyone but emergency services. Roads between Genoa and NSW, and Genoa and Mallacoota, were open only to local residents and authorised personnel.
PLA cadre at a camp in Myanmar (File Photo/Rajeev Bhattacharyya)

Rajeev Bhattacharyya

On January 12, close to 50 cadre from the anti-talks faction of the outlawed National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) crossed the border from Myanmar to engage in a peace process with the government for a negotiated settlement in an indication that militancy among a section of the Bodos in Assam has drawn to a close. On January 23, another group based in Bhutan laid down weapons along with other militants at a ceremony in Guwahati.

Known as the NDFB (Saoraigwra), this faction had opposed the ceasefire agreement inked by another clique of the outfit in 2005 and had continued to campaign for sovereignty from the camps in Myanmar. It was also part of the an alliance called the United National Liberation Front of Western South East Asia, which has the anti-talks faction of the ULFA, the Khaplang faction of the NSCN and Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO) as its members.

The NDFB(S) was one of the smaller separatist outfits from the Northeast in Myanmar which currently has a total of eight organisations. It was in dire financial straits since the split in 2005, which was quite apparent when this author visited the rebel camps in Myanmar during 2011-12. Plans had been firmed up by a large number of NDFB(S) cadre to cross the border in 2014 under then commander-in-chief IK Songbijit  this was foiled by the hardliners. Songbijit was subsequently expelled from Myanmar and the executive council of the group reconstituted with new members.

Most senior functionaries and cadre of the separatist outfits were residing at the camps in Myanmars Taga region, near the Chindwin River, which were dismantled in January 2019 following a series of raids by Tatmadaw (the Myanmar military). The groups that suffered the most were the NDFB(S), the KLO and the ULFA. While the KLO is almost non-existent, the NDFB(S) cadre headed in a southward direction while the ULFA moved further north to the region inhabited by the Konyak and Pangmi Nagas across Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. The ULFA has an estimated 250-300 cadre in the neighbouring country, many of whom are new recruits yet to undergo training.

The biggest outfits are from Manipur who shifted to their camps in the southern zone of Sagaing Division during the operation. The United National Liberation Front (UNLF) has the largest cadre at around 3,000 followed by the Peoples Liberation Army at around 2,000. The third in terms of numbers is the Kanna Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) with less than a thousand cadre followed by the two factions of the Peoples Republican Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK). The smallest is a breakaway group of the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), which has reportedly set up a new camp in the southern zone contiguous to Manipur. All these outfits had earlier joined hands to form an alliance called the Coordination Committee with the goal to campaign for Manipurs sovereignty.

While it is difficult to anticipate the future trajectory of the smaller outfits from Manipur, there are bright chances that the UNLF and the PLA would survive longer for two reasons. First, the twin groups have multiple sources of income from investments in different countries including Myanmar and they are not dependent entirely on extortion. The PLA, for instance, has a support base among the Meiteis in Bangladeshs Sylhet and it still has a wide network in the country. Also, efforts are on by them to invest in business ventures in Myanmar, including in Chin and Rakhine states.

Second, the cadre of both these outfits are scattered in Myanmar, which include some commercial hubs as well. Last year, Tatmadaw had issued a release after raiding a camp of the UNLF in Chin state close to the border town of Champhai in Mizoram. So there are enough places for the cadre to take refuge even if the camps in the southern zone are eliminated by an operation. However, in such circumstances, the campaign for sovereignty would certainly take a hit which is already evidenced by the declining instances of insurgency-related incidents in the Northeast in the last decade or so.

It is learnt that New Delhi is pressurising the Tatmadaw to launch a fresh offensive against the existing camps and hideouts and has offered a proposal as well to invest more in the backward regions of Sagaing Division. The outcome remains to be seen given that the Tatmadaw is already overstretched in fighting insurgents in some border regions. The conflict continues to intensify in Rakhine and Shan states of Myanmar adding a great deal of uncertainty to the peace process in the country.
UPDATE FEB. 6: Forest Grove woman infected with coronavirus on cruise ship, husband says

2nd confirmed coronavirus case in United States

While theres much we dont know about the coronavirus that the Washington Post says has killed 41 people and infected more than 1,000 including two in the United States, health experts do know what to do to prevent its spread: Do the things youre already supposed to do to prevent a flu infection.

Overall, the risk of coronavirus spreading across the United States is low, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

And so far, it appears the virus circulating in China and numerous other countries is less likely to infect people than two coronaviruses that sickened thousands of people in years past -- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, researchers with the National Institutes of Health said in a report published Friday in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Of the two U.S. residents with confirmed coronavirus cases, one lives in Snohomish County, Washington, and one in Chicago. The virus has also reached Europe, with two cases in France.

Oregon experts echoed federal assurances that the coronavirus doesnt currently pose a significant risk to Americans.

Right now, I wouldnt be panicking, said Dawn Holt, an infectious disease expert at Portlands Doernbecher Childrens Hospital.

But, Holt and others said, people should absolutely do the basic things that help prevent infections common to this time of year. Thats what doctors always recommend, especially given that influenza comes every single year, killing up to 61,000 people in the United States a year.

People should wash their hands and not touch their eyes, nose or mouth with dirty hands. They should also avoid sick people. When coughing, sick people should practice basic etiquette, like coughing into a tissue or their sleeve and washing their hands right after. Its also a good idea to disinfect things after coughing.

Holt said that shes not doing anything differently at Doernbecher. The hospital always puts a mask on people who have a respiratory illness and takes them to an isolated room, Holt said. The hospital also asks people about their travel history because there are diseases besides the new coronavirus that are most common in other parts of the world.

The presence of this coronavirus is not changing what is already established at many hospitals and clinics, Holt said.

Coronavirus symptoms are the same as flu symptoms, Holt said. There are lots of different viruses that wreak havoc in the lungs, she said, but the end results are the same. That means a fever, cough, sore throat, headaches, muscle aches and fatigue.

Face masks can help protect from coronavirus, but that doesnt mean people need to go out and buy masks unless they want to, said Oregon Health Authority public health physician Richard Leman. Coronaviruses spread through large droplets, which masks block. Thats different from viruses such as the measles, which can hang out in the air after a person coughs or sneezes.

We dont even have this virus here circulating in Oregon, Leman said. So the risk appears to be pretty low for your average Oregonian.

That could change if it turns out that the virus spreads easily between people or if an infection reaches Oregon, he said.

Either way, people should keep in mind that there are plenty of other unpleasant viruses that in Oregon. So if someones sick, they should stay home, for goshs sakes, Leman said. And they should take the standard measures to protect themselves.

One of the nastier potential consequences of a respiratory virus is pneumonia, when the lungs get really inflamed and it becomes harder to breathe. There can be two kinds of pneumonia, Holt said  one caused directly by the virus and one that comes from a secondary infection that gets into the lungs because a patients defenses are weak.

Another Oregon lung illness expert said its important to keep things in perspective. Its appropriate to be concerned about the coronavirus outbreak, The Oregon Clinics Andrew Levy said, but its also important to avoid a disproportionate reaction.

You dont want to create hysteria where its not necessarily warranted, Levy said.

What matters, he said, is doing the thing doctors and health officials say people should do with or without an outbreak of a mysterious virus. That means getting a flu shot, staying home if youre sick and practicing cough etiquette.

The CDC has a website with the latest information about the outbreak.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

-- Fedor Zarkhin

fzarkhin@oregonian.com

503-294-7674
Southeast Asians along with millions across the globe are reviving lion dances and other traditions in the hope of striking good luck as they celebrate the Year of the Rat, the Chinese New Year that starts on Saturday.

China refers to the lunar event as a Spring Festival. The celebration, which runs through Feb. 8, marks the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar.

In Thailand, some participants are donning masks as a precaution in light of the outbreak of a new coronavirus. On Friday, the Thai government confirmed that a fifth person had contracted the virus  a woman from Wuhan, the Chinese city where the disease is believed to have originated.

The new year is the biggest holiday for Chinese communities. Associated with myths and customs, it is a time to honor deities, as well as ancestors.

Red symbolizes good fortune in Chinese tradition, and in Southeast Asia red packets that almost always contain money are distributed during family reunion dinners. Custom dictates that the amount should be of even numbers, with the number 8 considered lucky.

A Thai business owner expressed concern that this years celebration could be smaller than in previous years. Shitisan Kiatkangwanklai said the downturn could be caused by the nations economic situation.

I went shopping to prepare for the day and there were not as many people out, he told BenarNews. That might be because of the bad economy and items are very expensive.

Nontarat Phaicharoen in Bangkok, Afriadi Hikmal in Jakarta, S. Mahfuz in Subang, Malaysia, Jojo Rinoza in Manila and Luis Liwanag in Hanoi contributed to this report.
Libya's neighbours on Thursday denounced foreign interference in the conflict-hit North African country, at talks in Algiers to seek a political solution to a crisis they say threatens regional stability.

The meeting organised at Algeria's initiative brought together foreign ministers from Tunisia, Egypt, Chad and Mali, as well as diplomats from Sudan and Niger.

The participants insisted on the "need to respect Libya as a united country and to respect the sovereignty of its legitimate authorities," Algerian Foreign Minister Sabri Boukadoum said after the talks.

They also rejected "any foreign interference in Libya" and urged all sides there "to solve their conflict by peaceful means", Boukadoum added.

"We are confident that the Libyan people will be capable of overcoming their differences through dialogue... and reaching a political solution," he said, adding that the African Union and the United Nations should be a part of a solution.

A statement at the end of the talks said the foreign ministers "exhorted the Libyan belligerents to engage in a dialogue under the auspices of the United Nations and with the help of the African Union and Libya's neighbours in order to reach a global settlement away from any foreign interference".

"Foreign interference only prolongs the crisis and makes it more complex," they warned.

The Algiers talks came days after an international summit hosted by Germany in Berlin during which world leaders committed to end foreign meddling in Libya and to uphold a weapons embargo.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas briefed the Algiers meeting on the results of Sunday's Berlin talks, then made a brief stop in Tunis on his way home.

Several African countries had complained at not being invited to the Berlin conference. Boukadoum said the Algiers talks were aimed at "making the voices of Libya's neighbours heard" by the international community.

Tunisia, which like Algeria shares a long border with Libya, was not invited to Berlin but Maas, in a statement released by the Tunisian presidency, said Tunis would be involved in future efforts to try and end the Libyan conflict.

'Algerian mediation'

Libya has been torn by fighting between rival armed factions since NATO-backed insurgents toppled and killed dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.

Two rival administrations have emerged from the chaos.

Since April last year, the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli has fought back against an offensive by fighters loyal to military strongman Khalifa Haftar who draws his legitimacy from an administration based in the country's east.

The Algiers talks on Libya came after several African countries complained of being left out of the Berlin international conference. By RYAD KRAMDI (AFP)

Haftar is supported by several countries including Russia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and France, while the GNA has the backing of Turkey and Qatar.

GNA head Fayez al-Sarraj and Haftar refused to meet in Berlin and did not take part in the Algeria talks.

On Tuesday the UN Security Council urged Libya's warring parties to reach a long-term deal paving the way for a political process aimed at ending the conflict.

"The current situation in Libya cannot withstand an escalation," Boukadoum said as the meeting got underway on Thursday with statements from each participant.

Algeria shares a border of almost 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) with Libya.

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who attended the Berlin summit, said Wednesday: "Peace in Libya is equal to peace" in Algeria.

"There are statements from Sarraj, statements from Haftar's side, which indicate that the only power capable of settling the problem is Algeria. We have their trust," he added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin called Thursday for a summit of leaders of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to "defend peace" in the face of global instability, and suggested Libya could be on the agenda.

On the ground in the North African country, tensions remained high.

Late Wednesday, Tripoli's sole functioning airport was closed for several hours following a rocket strike the GNA blamed on Haftar's forces, briefly re-opened and then closed again after their rivals threatened air traffic over the capital.

But on Thursday the GNA reopened Mitiga and said it would raise the issue of Haftar's threats at the UN Security Council.
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said there is irony in being pro-choice for the mother who seeks an abortion, but not for the mother who seeks a different school for her child, in remarks to Colorado Christian College students at the Museum of the Bible in Washington Wednesday.

In those remarks, first reported by the Colorado Times Reporter , DeVos also invoked slavery when discussing efforts to end abortion.

The secretarys remarks on abortion came as she discussed her Education Freedom Scholarship proposal, which would provide dollar-for-dollar federal tax credits in exchange for contributions to private school scholarship programs in participating states.

Now, Im not naive. I know very well there are bullies who stop at nothing to retain control and deprive families of choicesof freedom, DeVos said, according to prepared remarks provided by the U.S. Department of Education at Education Weeks request.

Who can ignore, by the way, the irony of being pro-choice for the mother who seeks an abortion, but not for the mother who seeks a different school for her child? They have forgotten that freedom is not simply for freedoms sake, said DeVos in those prepared remarks for the event, which was not on her public schedule.

The crowd at the event reacted to that comment with a vocal laugh and round of applause, the Times Recorder reported.

DeVos used the word choice in a far different way than its used in education policy debates as she discussed the debate over abortion two days before the national March for Life, an annual anti-abortion rally held on the National Mall.

Im reminded of President Abraham Lincoln, DeVos said. He, too, contended with the pro-choice arguments of his day. They suggested that a states choice to be slave or to be free had no moral question in it. Well, President Lincoln reminded those pro-choicers that there is a vast portion of the American people that do not look upon that matter as being this very little thing. They look upon it as a vast moral evil.

Lincoln was right about the slavery choice then, and he would be right about the life choice today, she continued. Because as its been said: freedom is not about doing what we want. Freedom is about having the right to do what we ought.

Religious Outreach

The secretarys remarks came during a consequential time for church-state issues and the Trump administrations outreach to evangelical Christians.

Earlier Wednesday, the education secretary sat in the front row as the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in a suit brought by Montana families who argue their state discriminated against their faith by barring religious schools from a tax-credit scholarship program for private schools.

On Friday, President Donald Trump plans to be the first sitting president to attend the March for Life event.

Last week, the administration issued new guidance on prayer in schools , which largely duplicated directives from previous administrations.

In her remarks Wednesday, DeVos listed that guidance among the administrations accomplishments related to religious liberty in education.

DeVos, who herself attended Christian schools as a child and graduated from a Christian college, has sought to expand the ability of families to use publicly funded vouchers and tax credits to help send their children to private schools, including religious schools.

The conservative majority on the Supreme Court seemed ready to hand DeVos a win Wednesday as justices appeared sympathetic to the argument that Montanas policy amounted to unconstitutional religious discrimination. State provisions barring public funding for religious schools are sometimes referred to as Blaine amendments .

We are especially eager for the Supreme Court to put an end to the last acceptable prejudice made manifest in bigoted Blaine Amendments which deny students the freedom to pursue faith-based education, DeVos said in her prepared remarks to the students.

Photo: U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos testifies before a Senate spending committee. --Susan Walsh/AP

Follow us on Twitter @PoliticsK12 . And follow the Politics K-12 reporters @EvieBlad @Daarel and @AndrewUjifusa .
(Bloomberg) -- Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar asked Greece to demilitarize 16 Aegean islands near Turkey he claims were illegally armed, in a move that may exacerbate strains in the countries relations.

We expect Greece to act in line with international law and the agreements it has signed, state-run Anadolu Agency cited Akar as saying in Ankara on Wednesday.

The two neighbors are already at loggerheads over offshore natural-gas reserves in the eastern Mediterranean. Tensions over conflicting claims have escalated since Turkey and Libya signed a contentious agreement last year that delineates maritime borders and affirms claims of sovereignty over areas of the Mediterranean.

Turkeys claims could make it more difficult and costly to build a planned natural-gas pipeline that could link the eastern Mediterranean basin with European markets through Cyprus, Greece and Italy.

Greece and Turkey, both NATO members, came close to conflict in 1996 over a pair of uninhabited islets in the Aegean.

To contact the reporter on this story: Cagan Koc in Istanbul at ckoc2@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Onur Ant at oant@bloomberg.net, Amy Teibel, Paul Abelsky

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Operation Amotekun

The Federal Government and South-West governors have reportedly reached an agreement on Operation Amotekun.

The media aide to the Vice-President, Laolu Akande, made this known via his verified Twitter handle on Thursday.

However, he did not give details of the agreement reached.

News Flash: FG, Southwest Governors agree on Amotekun, he tweeted.



It will be recalled that a meeting between Osinbajo and the governors of the South-West states held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Thursday.

The agenda is the security outfit, Operation Amotekun, recently launched by the states in the zone.

The minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, also attended the meeting.

Earlier, Amotekun had generated controversies. The Federal Government had opposed it as it declared it illegal in a statement released through Malamis office.

The government had said it had a policy on community policing, which had been approved by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retd. ), as against the regional Amotekun format.

However, the governors had insisted they would not dump Amotekun and sought rather to meet with the Presidency in the hope that the differences would be ironed out.
Trump initially said no troops were injured after January 8 air raids on two Iraqi bases housing US troops.

The Pentagon said on Friday that 34 United States service members had been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury following missile attacks by Iran on a base in Iraq earlier this month.

Trump and other top officials initially said Irans attack had not killed or injured any US service members.

More:

Last week the US military said 11 US troops had been treated for concussion symptoms after the attack on the Ain al-Assad airbase in western Iraq and this week said additional troops had been moved out of Iraq for potential injuries.

The January 8 attack was retaliation for a US drone strike in Baghdad on January 3 that killed Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the elite Quds Force of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman told reporters on Friday that eight service members who had been previously transported to Germany had been moved to the US. Hoffman said the service members were transported earlier on Friday and would receive treatment at either Walter Reed military hospital or their home bases.

Nine service members remain in Germany and are undergoing evaluations and treatment.

On Wednesday, Trump appeared to play down the injuries, saying he heard that they had headaches and a couple of other things.

Pentagon officials have said there had been no effort to minimise or delay information on concussive injuries, but its handling of the injuries following Tehrans attack has renewed questions over the US militarys policy regarding how it deals with suspected brain injuries.
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 24, victims of the Aliso Canyon gas well blowout will present the damages they sustained and the precautions they would have taken if SoCalGas and Sempra Energy immediately reported the blowout to state regulators. Friday's hearing is the only opportunity victims will have to show the Court the substantial impact SoCalGas' criminal behavior had on their health and livelihoods. The hearing will be held in Department 3 at the Santa Clarita Courthouse before Hon. Maria Cavalluzzi.

"SoCalGas has taken every opportunity to conceal the truth from homeowners, first responders and others impacted by the blowout which they caused through their continued negligence," said attorney R. Rex Parris of The PARRIS Law Firm. "We have had to ask the courts to force SoCalGas' hand every step of the way in order to uncover the harm they knowingly caused and concealed," Parris added.

Earlier this month, the Civil Court issued a final ruling compelling the release of several documents by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health in regard to locations of testing the toxic chemicals released during and after the gas leak. SoCalGas and public documents show the chemicals at Aliso Canyon included Uranium, Radon, Acrolein (a biocide), PCBs as well as Benzene.

Victims' attorneys will be taking questions from the press immediately after the hearing.

Hearing Information

When: Friday, January 24, 2020

8:30 AM



Where: Santa Clarita Courthouse, Dept. 3

23747 Valencia Blvd, Santa Clarita, CA 91355



Who: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.  Kennedy & Madonna, LLP

Brentford Ferreira, attorney  Steve Cooley and Associates

Patricia Oliver, attorney  PARRIS Law Firm

R. Rex Parris, attorney -- PARRIS Law Firm

Media Contact:

Dante Hickles, PARRIS Law Firm: [email protected] (661) 949-2595

Angela Bailey, Panish Shea & Boyle LLP: [email protected] (909) 286-4040

SOURCE PARRIS Law Firm

Related Links

parrislawyers.com


We Provide Best Offers On Hyderabad Tirupati Darshan Package By flight.Book online Tirupati Tour Packages by flight . It Includes Cab Services,To And Fro Transportation,Tirumula Special Entry Darshan Ticket and Hotels,Guide Services For More Details Tirupati Jet Airway Flight Packages From Hyderabad Call us:8500898000



(TRAVPR.COM) INDIA - January 24th, 2020 - There are numerous flights to Hyderabad from Tirupati . Talking about the conspicuous goals in India, Gurgaon is quick creating as a business city and thusly more lodgings are on the ascent.

There are various Hyderabad flights driving to and from the different urban communities round India and even the world. A portion of the local flights are Air India, Kingfisher Airlines, Spice Jet, Paramount Airways, JetLite and Go Air. The commonly recognized names in the universal flights that fly to Hyderabad are Qatar Airways, Gulf Air, Singapore Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines and Sri Lankan Airlines among others. The data on the various airfares and flight plans are found on the web sites. The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport stays clamoring with action with residential and worldwide flights arriving at Hyderabad each hour of the day.

Numerous voyagers avoid universal flights due to the over the top air ticket rates. It is by and large felt that air travel is over the top expensive so individuals select to go via train, transport or vehicle. But at this point there are appealing limits accessible reporting in real time ticket rates so one can without much of a stretch settle on their preferred trip. Traveling to Hyderabad from the different urban communities round India has now gotten very agreeable and advantageous. This capital of Andhra Pradesh is otherwise called the City of Pearls. It is the fifth metropolitan city in India.

The captivating relationship of the cutting edge innovation and the well established conventional legacy of the city keep on charming the travelers. Hyderabad gets its name from Queen Hyder Mahal. There is the Hussain Sagar Lake which separates Hyderabad and the city of Secunderabad. In the event that you have an affinity for shopping Hyderabad is the spot you wish to be in. Bazaar LAAD is the place you can purchase complicated silver and gold adornments. Bring home the renowned Hyderabad pearls as mementoes of your excursion.

The nightlife for the adolescents shakes in Hyderabad with dance club like Chimneys, Bottles and Treasure Island. A portion of the celebrated cafes which serve luxurious suppers are Riviera, Bawarchi Restaurant, Deccan Foods and Dum Pukht. The arrival trip to Hyderabad from Mumbai can be gotten to by logging on the web and the tickets can be set up for the sites.

At the point when we talk about noticeable places in India, Gurgaon consequently comes into view as one of the significant business urban communities in India which is regularly frequented by officials and dignitaries. Therefore the quantity of Gurgaon inns has ascended on a monstrous scale. For the individuals on a strict spending plan, the spending inns have plans which give suppers and hotel at modest rates. One can benefit of Gurgaon occasion bundles to remain here. In spite of the diminished costs the voyagers get the equivalent warm greeting and neighborly assistance which they would have gotten at a progressively costly lodging. A portion of these inns are the Mayflower Courtyard and the Rama Residency. The lavish inns incorporate special rooms and extravagance suites with joined showers, exorbitant toiletries, scaled down bars in rooms, cooling, access to the web and a ton more. Obviously the costs are a little on the higher side. Some lavish lodgings are Fortunate Select Global and Galaxy Hotel Spa.

Hungry Bags is an educational source where you can discover parcels to examine on the least expensive flights to Tirupati and Hyderabad flights. One can likewise purchase an occasion bundle to remain at the Gurgaon lodgings.

Visit us:

https://tripnetra.com/blog/hyderabad-to-tirupati-flight-package-with-darshan

###
Mumbai, Jan 24 : Actors Ishaan and Ananya Panday are all set to showcase their action avatar in "Khaali Peeli".

The young actors shot for the second schedule of the upcoming film in Wai, Maharashtra earlier this month.

Turns out, action director Parvez Shaikh had designed an elaborate action sequence that was to be filmed on the lead pair and the film's antagonist Jaideep Ahlawat. While director Maqbool Khan suggested that they rope in body double for stunts in the sequence, Ishaan and Ananya insisted on performing it themselves.

Image Source: IANS News

According to a source, the scene required Ishaan to jump off a huge pick-up vehicle and slide through 30 meters on the ground. "Since there was a possibility of getting injured, Parvez wanted a body double to execute it. Ishaan and Ananya practiced extensively for the scene before filming it. In the 10-day shoot, Ishaan also filmed a long chase sequence in the narrow by-lanes of Wai," added the source.

Maqbool found it amazing to work with "such professional talent whose infectious energy pushes the entire team. It's been a rigorous few days in Wai where we shot powerful action sequences over 10 days. They have done some crazy stunts".

The masala entertainer is produced by Ali Abbas Zafar with Zee Studios and Himanshu Kishan Mehra.

-- Syndicated from IANS
TITLE: 44 Days Out of Kandahar

AUTHOR: Christine Sullivan

On Oct. 12, 2005 Lt. Cmdr. Mark Effer was called up and would be sent to Afghanistan for at least six months. What would his responsibilities be there? What about his job at home? What about his wife, Alice? Marks request to get back into the Reserves failed, so off to war! His goal was to be a commander on the next board or hed not make retirement. What could he do to keep from being deployed? Was this order a mistake? Mark had only 16 days to prepare legal documents, POA, wills, bank accounts, and Alices spousal active duty ID card. Marks deployment was unusual for the Navy receiving and accepting a Request for Forces from the Army. Marks team was a guinea pig in a real life experiment by the Army! After eight weeks of training, the unit came home for Christmas for eight days. Then off to Kandahar, where the story of Mark and Cinnamon began.

Cinnamon was a 3-month-old puppy who brought much happiness to the military men when she wandered onto their base. Mark was just one of many individuals who showed compassion for this puppy. Cinnamons story is an emotional journey filled with many challenges and obstacles. When Mark was about to return to the United States he planned to bring the puppy along for his wife, Alice, who had rescued many dogs in the past. Recently she grieved over the loss of a longtime dog and companion. The colonel had granted Marks wish for taking the puppy home, but how would this take place? At what cost?

Dog Handlers Incorporated entrusted Matt Roberts to bring the puppy home to Maryland and to Alice, but things turned out to be a horrible experience for Cinnamon, Mark, Alice, Marks sister Christine and all the organizations involved in helping to arrange the necessary transport for the dog. Matt had abandoned the puppy at an airport. Why? Who did he give the puppy to? Would he claim her later? Why did Matt lie, saying the dog was in Turkey when all along the puppy was in Bishkek? Now a long search began and Marks sister, Christine, had a major part in the investigation and search. Because Cinnamon was not a military dog she was not allowed to fly on military planes and some airlines simply refused. Cinnamons story of life on the base in Afghanistan and being abandoned was known worldwide. With several animal groups, the Department of Defense, animal shelters and animal rescue teams, the search was intense and long. Who was caring for the puppy? Was she OK? After a long heart-breaking search and no good results or answers, Mark gave up, but his sister, Chris, continued. She contacted the Turkish Airways, the Red Cross, Noahs Wish, World Society for Protection of Animals, the American embassy, Animal Transport Companies, Yulia Ten the head of Animal Welfare Society of Kyrgyzstan, and finally CNN and FOX. Should Chris tell her brother and Alice of her attempts? Should she wait to be sure Cinnamon was found? Through a series of very frustrating events, Yulia was the last hope in finding Cinnamon and getting her to Mark and Alice who lived in Maryland. How did they learn the puppy was never in Turkey? Why didnt the dog handler Matt cooperate? Was Cinnamon taken care of in Beshkek? Would the caretaker there be willing to give her up? Mark offered a reward for finding and getting Cinnamon home. Who would receive the reward?

Emails from all around the world came to Chris as people heard Cinnamons story and wanted to help. They offered support, prayers and hope! Should the puppy stay in Beshkek? If found, would the trip be too hard on the puppy? Could another trusted dog handler travel with Cinnamon? Very confusing for many because of obstacles, challenges and a multitude of details that needed to be worked out once Cinnamon was found. Who was Mike Thomsen? What was his part in all this search and rescue? It took three weeks to find Cinnamon and then a 26-hour flight from Beshkek, to the base, to Moscow, New York and finally home to Maryland. The 44 long days were over now, but how would Cinnamon adapt to life with Alice and Mark? How would she adapt with another puppy recently taken in by Alice? Christine shared so many details on the rescue of Cinnamon, making this a story to be read by all animal lovers.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
Brad Smith

Pedro Fiuza/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Microsoft viewed the bidding process for the Pentagon's contentious $10 billion cloud computing contract as a "very large scale engineering project," company President Brad Smith told Business Insider.

The Pentagon on Oct. 25 selected Microsoft for the deal, called the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) contract, to move the Department of Defense's sensitive data to the cloud.

It was largely considered a surprise upset over Amazon Web Services  but not to Smith, who said Microsoft used the bidding process as an opportunity to improve its technology.

Amazon is challenging the Pentagon's decision based on alleged political interference.

Click here to read more BI Prime stories

For many months, Amazon Web Services was considered the frontrunner to win a contentious $10 billion cloud contract with the Pentagon. That contract, called the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) deal, would see key pieces of the Department of Defense's computing infrastructure moved up to the cloud.

While Microsoft was seen as a strong contender, the convention wisdom was that Amazon had it in the bag: It was widely seen as the only cloud with the right mix of technologies and security clearances to meet the requirements of the contract.

So when Microsoft ultimately won the deal, it was seen as an upset. Amazon is challenging the decision based on the idea that the outcome was so unlikely it had to involve alleged political intervention.

But to Microsoft President Brad Smith, the company's top lawyer, the win came as no surprise. Smith tells Business Insider that Microsoft took the JEDI bidding process as a challenge and opportunity to make its Azure cloud platform more competitive with AWS, its dominant rival.

"What was surprising to the outside world in terms of end result was less surprising to us," Smith told Business Insider this week at the World Economic Forum in Davos. "We knew how hard we had been working and, perhaps more importantly, how much progress we made in not just satisfying but exceeding the requirements."

Story continues

'A very large scale engineering project'

Bidders for the JEDI contract had around two years from the time the Pentagon announced the deal, to when it made a decision. That gave Microsoft time, according to Smith, to improve its actual technology, instead of just its pitch.

"A lot of times, companies think about this as wanting to sell what they've already built, but especially when you have this much time, you have the opportunity to think more about how you can build what the customer really wants to buy," Smith said.

The Pentagon spelled out its requirements in great detail, Smith said.

"Perhaps the most natural thing for someone to do is to tout all the areas where feel they already meet the requirements," Smith said. "What we did was think about this not just as a sales opportunity, but really, a very large-scale engineering project."

Microsoft identified the areas where it had opportunities for improvement and put "large numbers" of engineers to work, who worked with a great sense of urgency, Smith said.

"We didn't stop improving the project or a feature when we got to the point where we met the requirement," Smith said. "We saw each area as potentially an opportunity to exceed the requirement and the feature that the Pentagon wanted."

Microsoft's hybrid cloud and Amazon's challenge

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently said he believes the company's investment in the so-called hybrid cloud  an area in which Amazon is generally considered to be playing catch up with Microsoft  helped it secure the contract.

"If you sort of even go back to the JEDI contract, that's kind of what happened really," Nadella said, "We stayed and said 'Look, somebody like the Department of Defense is going to need forward deployment that is not going to be like, 'Oh, here's the cloud.'' We just built basically a leadership position in what people describe as hybrid computing."

Amazon has other ideas. The company has repeatedly touted what it believes is its own "technical superiority" over Microsoft in response to the Pentagon's decision, which it is challenging in court.

This interview is part of a partnership between Business Insider and Microsoft at the 2020 World Economic Forum. Business Insider editors independently decided on the topics broached and questions asked.

Got a tip? Contact this reporter via email at astewart@businessinsider.com, message her on Twitter @ashannstew, or send her a secure message through Signal at 425-344-8242.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Lottery. Prisons. Schools. Mental Health. Rural health care. Internet sales taxes.

Alabama House Speaker Mac McCutcheon told the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce today that those are his six priorities for the upcoming legislative session that begins Feb. 4.

The lottery came last on McCutcheons list, but he said it could be a revenue stream to solve challenges in the other areas. Voters wont accept new taxes, he said, especially after an unpopular gasoline tax enacted last year. But McCutcheon defended that tax s as a source of stability allowing critical road improvement planning we didnt have before.

We need to make sure we have a lottery option out there, McCutcheon said. If you poll the lottery issue, its polling very high  people are ready for us to vote on it.

McCutcheon said there are three things making Alabamas needed gambling discussion hard. He called them three legs of the stool." First are the four counties with some form of gambling now, who want that revenue protected and band together to protect it in the Legislature; the Poarch Band of Creek Indians and its gambling agenda; and the issue of a lottery itself.

There is no legislation decided on by the leadership, McCutcheon said of gambling, so if you read that or hear that, its facts in the wind, means nothing. We are trying to bring people to the table to find some options.

McCutcheon said 2019 was a change in mindset (and) a turning point for the Legislature. A new Senate with nearly 50 percent new membership and a House with 25 new members passed the gasoline tax increase and roads plan. Now, McCutcheon said, it is possible to move to priorities beyond gambling, including:

Prisons: The Department of Justice has got the hammer on us, saying fix it. 'If you dont fix it, we will," McCutcheon said. The state has no plan to fix prisons, he said, but the day has come where we cannot afford to just lock em up and throw away the key.

I cant stand up here and tell you we have a plan of action ready to go, because we dont, McCutcheon said. Theres still a lot of question marks out there. Do we need new facilities? If so, where will they be built? How much is it going to cost us? These are the questions we need to address this session. How do we look at sentencing reform? Is the reform we passed a few years ago working?

Education: This year, voters will decide on a constitutional amendment that would change the elected Alabama Board of Education to an appointed board. McCutcheon ran down some of the issues facing the states public schools: a teacher shortage, failing schools, safety, shifting programs and a ranking of 57th in the nation on standardized test scores, including systems in non-state places such as the District of Columbia.

We need qualified people who can speak to the issues, he said, not because youre a popular person in your area, but because youre a qualified person in the area. Thats where this bill came from. Lawmakers have nothing against state school board members, McCutcheon said, but Alabama must start at the top, and we need to let that structure go.

Mental health: Alabama cut $1 billion in mental health spending in recent years, moving from beds to community mental health care, McCutcheon said. It sounded good, but it wasnt good enough. Hospitals became mental health crisis centers" as mentally ill people ended up in emergency rooms.

The hospitals did their best, he said, but the cutbacks failed. The new idea is crisis centers located across the state, McCutcheon said. He hopes to fund some for a pilot program.

Rural health care: Rural hospitals are closing in Alabama, McCutcheon said, but rural areas need health care to attract jobs, keep residents and move ahead. The answer might be what he called the Kansas model of community clinics staffed by doctors and medical professionals with transfer to larger hospitals available if needed.

Internet sales taxes: The state gets a cut off the top of Internet sales now, McCutcheon said, but cities and counties dont. Growth in Internet sales is threatening brick and mortar stores that support local government in Alabama. Weve got the make sure we protect local governments and make sure they get their fair share of the (Internet taxes) coming through, McCutcheon said.
We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. Yeah, let's just call it now: We're not really going anywhere fast at this point. But someday, we'll be able to roam freely about the world, and it will be just READ THE REST
The Pakistan government on Friday hailed the British government's revised travel advisory, which showed an improvement in the security situation in the country after years of violence.

Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said the revised advisory was a positive step for ties between the two countries.

"A positive step forward, forging even stronger and closer people-to-people links between Pakistan and GB (Great Britain)," she said on Twitter.

Farooqui added Pakistan "looks forward to welcoming more tourists, investors, academics and other visitors from Great Britain."



The UK government on Friday published a revised, softened travel advice for its citizens, as part of its comprehensive travel advisory review.

The assessment showed an improvement in the security situation in Pakistan after years of violence.

"Today's announcement is the result of a comprehensive review of UK travel advice for Pakistan, based on a wide-ranging assessment of the country's security situation," read a statement issued by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (UKFCO).

However, there were still some areas which the UK advised its citizen to avoid.

It advised British citizens to avoid travelling to the area between Mansehra in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and Chilas in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on the Karakoram Highway.

The previous travel advice covered the full route from Islamabad to Gilgit.

"Travellers may bypass this section by taking the alternative route through the Kaghan Valley and Babusar Pass," it said.

It also asked the citizens not to travel to most of Balochistan province, including its capital city Quetta.

"This is except for the southern coast of Balochistan, including the city of Gwadar, where the FCO advises against all but essential travel," the advisory read.

Pakistan gets sizeable tourists from the UK due to large population of expatriates settled there.

In 2018, there were an estimated 4,84,000 visits by British nationals to Pakistan.

There are 22 weekly direct flights to the UK, making it easier for people to travel.

The relaxation of travel advice came months after British Airways returned to Pakistan in June 2019.

It was followed by the visit of Prince William and Kate Middleton in October 2019.

British High Commissioner to Pakistan Christian Turner, in a video statement, praised Islamabad for improving the security situation.

"Following my arrival in December 2019, I made this review of the travel advice a priority. It is great credit to the hard work of the government of Pakistan in delivering improved security over the past five years. I am delighted that British nationals will be able to see more of what Pakistan has to offer," Turner said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
After the rebirth of the Razr, reimagined with a foldable screen, Motorola seems to be preparing another big launch for this year. And that is its first true flagship smartphone in a long time.

This may be called Motorola Edge+. Famous leakster Evan Blass, also known as @evleaks, has revealed that such a phone is in development, and it will be headed to Verizon. It's unclear if the carrier is getting an exclusive on the model, but considering its long-standing relationship with Motorola, that dates back to the first Droid, we wouldn't be surprised if this happened.

The only other detail that has so far leaked about the upcoming Edge+ is that it will have a punch hole display. Motorola has already announced last year that it plans to go back into the flagship smartphone space, and this could be that. If so, expect to hear a lot more about it in the coming weeks, as the leak season for the Edge+ has officially commenced.

Source
London, Jan 24 : Eating natural yogurt daily may lesson breast cancer risk owing to lactose fermenting bacteria which reduces inflammation triggered by harmful bacteria, say researchers.

Yoghurt contains beneficial lactose-fermenting bacteria commonly found in milk, similar to the bacteria -- or microflora 00 found in the breasts of mothers who have breastfed.

Scientists from Lancaster University said their idea -- as yet unproven -- is supported by the available evidence, which is that bacterial induced inflammation is linked to cancer.

"There is a simple, inexpensive potential preventive remedy; which is for women to consume natural yoghurt on a daily basis," the authors wrote in a paper appeared in the journal Medical Hypotheses.

"We now know that breast milk is not sterile and that lactation alters the microflora of the breast," said Dr Rachael Rigby from Lancaster University's Faculty of Health and Medicine.

"Lactose fermenting bacteria are commonly found in milk and are likely to occupy the breast ducts of women during lactation and for an unknown period after lactation," Rigby added.

The researchers suggest that lactose-fermenting bacteria in the breast is protective because each year of breast-feeding reduces the risk of breast cancer by 4.3 per cent.

Several studies have shown that the consumption of yoghurt is associated with a reduction in the risk of breast cancer, which the researchers suggest may be due to the displacement of harmful bacteria by beneficial bacteria.

There are approximately 10 billion bacterial cells in the human body and while most are harmless, some bacteria create toxins that trigger inflammation in the body.

Chronic inflammation destroys the harmful germs but it also damages the body.

One of the most common inflammatory conditions is gum disease or periodontitis which has already been linked to oral, oesophageal, colonic, pancreatic, prostatic and breast cancer.

"The stem cells which divide to replenish the lining of the breast ducts are influenced by the microflora, and certain components of the microflora have been shown in other organs, such as the colon and stomach, to increase the risk of cancer development," said the researchers.

"Therefore a similar scenario is likely to be occurring in the breast, whereby resident microflora impact on stem cell division and influence cancer risk," they added.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Warrensville Heights Democratic Rep. Marcia Fudge says a new Trump administration rule that would deny green cards to legal immigrants if theyre perceived to need public assistance would codify discrimination."

A Department of Homeland Security rule finalized in August would turn away prospective immigrants who it deems likely to rely on government support for a significant period to meet their basic needs. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service says self-sufficiency has long been a basic principle of immigration law, and the new rule will guide determinations of whether an applicant is likely to become a public charge.

DHS says its decisions will factor in immigrant receipt of benefits including Supplemental Security Income, federally funded Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, public housing assistance, federal state or local cash assistance, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Some categories of immigrants, like refugees, asylees, and some types of trafficking or crime victims wouldnt be subject to the rule.

Throughout our history, self-sufficiency has been a core tenet of the American dream," said a statement USCIS Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli made when the rule was announced. "Self-reliance, industriousness, and perseverance laid the foundation of our nation and have defined generations of hardworking immigrants seeking opportunity in the United States ever since. Through the enforcement of the public charge inadmissibility law, we will promote these long-standing ideals and immigrant success.

Fudge, who chairs the House Agriculture Subcommittee that oversees SNAP benefits, issued a statement on Wednesday calling the new rule " nothing more than the Administrations attempt to codify discrimination," and said the legal brief brief makes it clear the House of Representatives will not stand for it.

The rule allows for discrimination in both its application and enforcement by allowing the Federal government to use racial and ethnic profiling to guess which legal immigrants might eventually need access to public assistance, Fudges statement said. " Its also important to remember the Administrations rule targets people who are here in this country legally and, therefore, entitled to apply for assistance, if they need it. This attempt to regulate by stereotype is un-American and a new, shameful low.

The rules implementation is on hold after immigrant groups filed legal challenges. A Maryland-based Latino and immigrant group claims the rule would expand "the concept of a public charge beyond recognition, making someone who receives little more than $1,500 in food stamps or a few benefits at the same time for less than a year into a public charge.

Its lawsuit also contends the rule unconstitutionally discriminates against non-white, non-European immigrants and that it was approved in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act.

The organization, CASA, says its members have stopped accepting or refused to apply for public benefits for themselves and their family members, including their children, because of fear that receiving any benefits will harm their ability to stay in the United States.

"This harms not just these families, who use these benefits to supplement their incomes and support their health, well-being, and stability, but also the broader community, said the statement from George Escobar, CASAs chief of programs and services.

The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives filed a legal brief on Tuesday that argues the laws it passed meant to exclude immigrants who would primarily depend on the government over the long term, not those who might accept benefits that dont make them primarily dependent on the government.

It also says the rule would require immigration officers to make predictive judgments about whether noncitizens are likely far in the future to collect small amounts of public benefits for even short periods, giving them essentially unchecked authority to exclude prospective immigrants, and it would substantially increase the danger of arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement.

"For the first time ever, a noncitizen deemed likely at any point in the future to collect no more than 50 cents of government assistance a day for just over one yearfor a total of less than $200 in benefitswould be considered a public charge, " the legal brief said. And for the first time ever, immigration officers are directed to consider a noncitizens lack of English proficiency as evidence that he or she is likely to become public charge.

The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to let it move forward with implementing the rule. Its legal filing argues that stopping it from implementing the rule while legal challenges are underway would result in effectively irreparable harm to the government," because it will result in allowing admission of aliens who are likely to become public charges.

No practical means exist to reverse those determinations once made, said the filing from U.S. Solicitor General Noel J. Francisco.

Read more coverage:

Sen. Sherrod Brown accuses Mitch McConnell of a cover-up as impeachment trial begins

Gun activists seek 'Second Amendment sanctuary designations in Ohio

The Equal Rights Amendment - its history in Ohio and what comes next: Q & A

Trump jokes with LSU quarterback Joe Burrow at White House ceremony

Ohios Jim Jordan is ready to assist President Trumps impeachment defense, if the White House wants

Facial surveillance alarms Congress; Republicans and Democrats pledge action

As Ohio prepares for record 2020 election turnout, Frank LaRose wants state to pay postage for voters mail-in ballots

House votes to designate PFAS forever chemicals as hazardous substances

House votes to limit Trumps war powers in measure backed by Ohio Democrats

Sen. Sherrod Brown cautions against war in Middle East and questions Trumps judgment

Trump in Ohio: A timeline of his presidential visits
We often see insiders buying up shares in companies that perform well over the long term. The flip side of that is that there are more than a few examples of insiders dumping stock prior to a period of weak performance. So we'll take a look at whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in St Barbara Limited (ASX:SBM).

What Is Insider Buying?

It is perfectly legal for company insiders, including board members, to buy and sell stock in a company. However, such insiders must disclose their trading activities, and not trade on inside information.

We would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing. But it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. As Peter Lynch said, 'insiders might sell their shares for any number of reasons, but they buy them for only one: they think the price will rise.

See our latest analysis for St Barbara

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At St Barbara

In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when MD, CEO & Director Robert Vassie bought AU$289k worth of shares at a price of AU$2.89 per share. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being AU$2.82). It's very possible they regret the purchase, but it's more likely they are bullish about the company. We always take careful note of the price insiders pay when purchasing shares. Generally speaking, it catches our eye when insiders have purchased shares at above current prices, as it suggests they believed the shares were worth buying, even at a higher price.

St Barbara insiders may have bought shares in the last year, but they didn't sell any. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below!

ASX:SBM Recent Insider Trading, January 24th 2020

There are always plenty of stocks that insiders are buying. So if that suits your style you could check each stock one by one or you could take a look at this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Story continues

Insider Ownership of St Barbara

For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Based on our data, St Barbara insiders have about 0.3% of the stock, worth approximately AU$6.5m. I generally like to see higher levels of ownership.

So What Does This Data Suggest About St Barbara Insiders?

The fact that there have been no St Barbara insider transactions recently certainly doesn't bother us. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. We'd like to see bigger individual holdings. However, we don't see anything to make us think St Barbara insiders are doubting the company. Of course, the future is what matters most. So if you are interested in St Barbara, you should check out this free report on analyst forecasts for the company.

If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
It was around 6:30 a.m. on Dec. 20 and Yarelis Riveras Royal Caribbean cruise ship had just docked at Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne. Rivera had spent the past twelve days on the ship, snorkeling and sightseeing in the Caribbean with her two children.

She had no idea that the next six days would be spent in New Jersey jails.

Acting on a 2013 warrant out of South Jersey, Customs and Border Patrol agents took Rivera into custody when she got off the boat, but failed to verify her identity and detained the wrong person, she said.

I was scared out of my mind," said Rivera, who noted that she is a U.S. citizen. "Id never been detained. Ive never been arrested.

A friend picked up her children and luggage as Rivera left with the customs officers. From there, she was taken to Newark International Airport, handed over to the Port Authority police, and finally shown the warrant.

Rivera fit all the identifying information in the warrant, Customs and Border Patrol spokesperson Anthony Bucci said in an emailed statement. Everything matched: her name, birth date, weight, hair color, and eye color.

We make every effort to ensure that its the individual that were looking for, Bucci said. Were not going to hand over an innocent person.

But in this case, they apparently did.

Rivera, who lives in New York City, noticed the warrant listed a New Jersey address.

Rivera was stunned. She had never been a New Jersey resident, nor had she ever been arrested there, she said. The last time she had been in the state was in 2012, when shed visited an amusement park with her children. She remembered losing her wallet there.

She figures somebody found her drivers license, committed a crime and shown her ID to police. Or perhaps there is another Yarelis Rivera with the exact same birthday.

The warrant had been filed by the Cumberland County Sheriffs Office for a charge of failing to appear for a pre-arraignment interview, Cumberland County officials confirmed. The person on the warrant was charged with making false reports to law enforcement. It was dated Dec. 23, 2013.

I never heard of Cumberland County before, Rivera said.

The Port Authority police arrested her at Newark Airport. A spokeswoman for the Port Authority police confirmed that they did not run her fingerprints, saying the agency was just following standard procedures.

PAPD just (processed) the arrest following NJ state arrest guidelines, spokeswoman Lenis Rodrigues said in a text message. NJ arrest protocol does not require fingerprinting of those arrested on warrants.

From the airport, Rivera was taken to Hudson County jail in Kearny. By then, it was around 9 p.m., she said. Shed been in police custody for more than 12 hours and again told corrections officers they had the wrong person.

But Hudson County jail officials did not check her identity.

A jail does not further ID someone presented for custody who is arrested for an open warrant, Hudson County spokesman James Kennelly said in an email. And even if they did believe she was the wrong person, jail officials were not legally allowed to let her go, Kennelly added.

An individual held on an active warrant cannot be released from the jail without a judges order, he said. The jail has no legal discretion in such cases.

Riveras stay at Hudson County jail was supposed to be short. She said she was told that Cumberland County Sheriffs officers would pick her up that same night.

But a van from Cumberland County didnt arrive until Christmas Eve  four days later.

She said restraints were put on her wrist, ankles, and waist for what was a four-hours ride Cumberland County in the back of a van.

They shackled me like I was some sort of murderer," Rivera recalled.

At the jail, she again pleaded that the officers had the wrong person. I feel like Im just repeating myself and no one is listening, she said. It was there, for the first time in her four-day-long detention, that officers decided to run her fingerprints, she said.

When they did, a big red X came up on the computer. It took less than 5 seconds," she said. They were all in shock.

But her time in custody lasted another two days.

Jail officials confirmed her stay at the facility, but declined to comment further.

The ordeal came to an end on Dec. 26, when she was released from custody and given bus tickets. It took her six hours to get to her home in New York, she said.

Cumberland County Jail documents list the reason for her release as wrong identity.

Alexander Shalom, a senior supervising attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, said by not using biometric data like fingerprints to identify her, law enforcement violated Riveras constitutional rights.

It should be almost universal that people are fingerprinted on arrest, Shalom said. Always within 24 hours.

To hold someone, to arrest them, you need probable cause, he added. Holding someone for six days or four days without taking the very minimal effort to confirm their identity is unreasonable."

Jail officials said they dont know how the mix-up happened, but some said they suspected that Rivera was the victim of identity theft.

Now, she says, she cant see a police officer without feeling afraid  the ordeal has left Rivera traumatized. She missed more than a month of work and is currently in therapy. Shes looking for a lawyer in the hopes of filing a lawsuit, but has had little luck so far.

Customs could have ran my prints, Newark (Airport) could have ran my prints, Hudson County could have ran my prints, she said. I was held and transported around like a rag doll till someone figured it out.
By Trend

Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 22 times, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said on Jan. 24, Trend reports.

The Armenian armed forces were using large caliber machine guns and sniper rifles.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding regions.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding regions.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Editor:

Issues are complex. With more facts and evidence, we sometimes see more deeply, change views. Sometimes, however, it is more a question of values, how we choose to act  with integrity or greed.

Do we choose to dump dangerous toxins in water, air, earth? Do we mine, drill, harm wetlands, parks, rivers streams, sacred areas? Do we limit voting rights of people? Refuse to negotiate pharmaceutical drug prices? Pass a tax bill giving billions to banks and huge corporations? Are repeated words  fake news, witch hunt, lynch mobs, hoaxor threatening and firing anyone disagreeing  or refusing to allow documents or witnesses  helpful to truth? Are facts, science, critical thinking important for democracy? What would you want said about what you did or did not do in your life? What Earth would you want your children to inherit?

James Baldwin speaks of those who do not see and do not wish to see. Of willful ignorance. How else explain our president and the loyal Trumpites not seeing what is so obvious: climate extinction. The floods, droughts, intense storms, wildfires, the record heat, loss of birds, bees, mammals, climate refugees fleeing uninhabitable homes. Trump pulling out of the Paris climate treaty, opening up our Earth and waters to mining, subsidizing fossil fuels, removing regulations protecting streams, river, waters ... is a choice of greed over the health of our only home.

And how could Republicans not see the integrity and courage of all those who testified at the hearings about Trump's complicity in Ukraine? How could they not question his refusal to have witnesses, the withholding of vital documents, accusing everyone of lying, they the only truth tellers?

The red flag law is used to remove dangerous weapons from those who pose great risks to life.

This president poses great risks to our lives.

Bernice Mennis, West Fort Ann

Love 5 Funny 8 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
A young, humble, accessible, dynamic and highly-spirited politician, Alfred Kumi on Thursday picked his parliamentary nomination forms at the Adenta Constituency Office of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Alfred Kumi by this bold step has launched the strongest contention against the incumbent Hon. Lawyer Yaw Buaben Asamoah in the impending NPP parliamentary primaries.

Alfred Kumi is seeking to snatch the seat from Lawyer Yaw Buabeng Asamoah.

In private life, Alfred Kumi is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vision Lob as well as the Managing Director of Internship Hub.

As a result of these inherent qualities, Alfred Kumi believes strongly that he would make a complete and perfect legislator.

Alfred Kumi is a fully-blown NPP firebrand and dye-in-wool activist. He believes the time has come for him to serve Adenta having spent most of his life growing up in the constituency.

He acknowledged that Adenta as one of the biggest constituencies in Ghana has developed at a very fast pace but noted that there are still some more issues begging to be fixed.

His NPP activism and membership date back to his senior high school days as well as the University of Ghana, where he was very active and influential within the NPP TESCON.

This is what he had to say after picking his nomination forms:

"I am honoured to have picked the forms today and I believe that my involvement in politics is for the future of this country and for making a difference. The initial idea to go for the ultimate was taken to look as gimmicks in the sight of others. Officially we are deemed to join the contest. Your support will undoubtedly qualify you to be part of the winning team, a support for ADENTA KUMI is a support for all.

...The grounds are being prepared for a better course. We won't wallow in youthful exuberance just to test the waters. We (all of us) need a result now and I mean now not some years to come.

He continued "I would have gone alone if I want to go fast but since I (we) want to go far let's come together and take this journey.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 23:28:33|Editor: Mu Xuequan

Video Player Close

RAMALLAH, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- A senior Palestinian official on Friday denied that the Palestinian Authority has held any talks with the United States over the "Deal of the Century."

Nabil Abu Rudeinah, spokesman of the Palestinian presidency, said in a statement that "there have been no talks at all held with the U.S. Administration, neither in brevity nor in details."

Earlier media reports said that U.S. President Donald Trump intends to declare soon his new peace plan in the Middle East, better known as the "Deal of the Century," which was rejected in advance by the Palestinians.

Abu Rudeinah also denied the media reports which said that the U.S.-proposed peace plan has been briefly discussed by the United States and the Palestinian Authority.

Hazem Qassem, Islamic Hamas movement's spokesman said in a press statement that any U.S. plan that disparages the full legitimate rights of the Palestinian people "will never pass."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and leader of Israeli opposition Benny Gantz are scheduled to visit Washington next week to discuss the peace plan with the U.S. administration, according to Israeli media reports.
Shoaib Malik played an unbeaten knock of 58 runs to help Pakistan defeat Bangladesh by five wickets in the first T20I of the three-match series on Friday here at the Gadaffi Stadium.

Chasing 142, Pakistan lost its opening wicket in the first over as skipper Babar Azam (0) was sent back to the pavilion by Shafiul Islam.

Mohammad Hafeez then joined Ahsan Ali in the middle and the duo put on 35 runs for the second wicket, but out of nowhere Mustafizur Rahman got the ball to take off and Hafeez (17) was caught off guard and as a result, he was sent back to the pavilion.

Veteran Malik came out to the crease and formed a 46-run stand with Ali, but Bangladesh once again came back into the match as the side dismissed Ali (36) in the 12th over, reducing Pakistan to 81/3.

Malik stayed firm at the crease, but Bangladesh kept on chipping away at the wickets at the other end and as a result, Iftikhar Ahmed (16) was sent back to the pavilion, with Pakistan 25 runs away from the target.

In the end, Malik steered Pakistan to a win by five wickets and with three balls to spare.

Earlier, Pakistan bowlers displayed a spirited performance to restrict Bangladesh to 141/5 in the allotted twenty overs.

Bangladesh got off to a steady start as openers Tamim Iqbal and Mohammad Naim stitched together a 71-run stand. Pakistan finally got the crucial breakthrough of Tamim (39) in the 11th over as he was sent back to the pavilion via a run-out.

Liton Das then joined Imam and the duo put on 27 runs for the second wicket, but Das (12) lost his wicket again after poor judgment between the wickets sent him back to the pavilion.

After Das' dismissal, Pakistan kept on chipping away at the wickets and they finally restricted the visitors to under 150.

Brief Scores: Pakistan 142/5 (Shoaib Malik 58*, Ahsan Ali 36, Shafiul Islam 2-27) defeat Bangladesh 141/5 (Mohammad Naim 43, Tamim Iqbal 39, Shaheen Shah Afridi 1-23) by five wickets.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two persons were killed when the motorcycle they were travelling by suffered a head-on collision with a truck at Teen Hath Naka junction in Maharashtra's Thane city, police said on Friday.

The incident took place at around 9.45 pm on Thursday, when a Gujarat-registered truck collided with the motorcycle, killing two Mulund residents, an official from Naupada police said.

While motorcyclist Pratik Avinash Ganatra (23) was killed on the spot, pillion rider Prashant Ghatge (22) died while undergoing treatment at a hospital, chief of the disaster management cell of Thane Municipal Corporation Santosh Kadam said.

The truck driver has been arrested and a case has been registered against him under section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, the police official said.

Bodies of the victims have been sent for post-mortem and the police are probing into the case, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jonas Karlsson, trans. from the Swedish by Neil Smith. Hogarth, $23 (192p) ISBN 978-1-101-90517-3

Karlsson (The Invoice) delivers a pithy and sagacious jaunt into an uncanny reality in his riveting third novel. In modern-day Sweden, the unnamed narrator, a placid, middle-aged loner, has moved on from the bullying and isolation of his adolescence to enjoy a reasonably tolerable existence. He meticulously organizes his record collection, works at a bakery, and occasionally hangs out with a few friends. But his life is disrupted while visiting a circus: his childhood friend, Magnus, volunteers to participate in a disappearing act and then actually vanishes. Unnerved and annoyed, the narrator attempts to solve the mystery of Magnuss disappearance, only to discover that the parameters of his own existence are starting to blur after he starts receiving phone calls in which a mysterious person plays him music, asks him questions, and dredges up long-forgotten memories. He waits outside Magnuss apartment, seems to see the magician from the circus around every corner, and entertains the irrational advice of his psuedotherapist friend Jallo. As the narrators confusion increases, he gradually begins to examine his friendship with Magnus and confronts the nagging suspicion that he is somehow responsible for Magnuss fate. Karlssons knack for Kafkaesque surrealism and suspense is wonderfully paired with sardonic humor and a deeply sympathetic protagonist. This excellent, clever yarn is Karlssons best yet. Agent: Niclas Salomonsson, Salomonsson Agency. (Feb.)
If India can resolve its land boundary issue with Bangladesh then why not with Nepal, Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said on Friday, referring to the lingering territorial differences between the two neighbours.

India in November released fresh maps of the newly-created union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. In the maps, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is part of Jammu and Kashmir, while Gilgit-Baltistan is in Ladakh.

Nepal claimed that Limpiyadhura, Lipulek and Kalapani areas were shown under India's territory even though they lie within the Nepalese territory.

India has said the new map accurately depicts its sovereign territory and it has in no manner revised its boundary with Nepal.

"If India can resolve land boundary issue with Bangaldesh, why not Nepal?" Foreign Minister Gyawali asked during an interaction with a group of visiting Indian journalists at a briefing on 'Sagarmatha Sambaad' at the Nepalese Foreign Ministry here.

No "unresolved baggage" should be carried forward since there is an increased level of understanding between the two countries and their leaders, he added.

His remarks came days after Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli said that the time has come to resolve all pending issues through dialogue in the lasting interest of the two countries.

"The time has come to resolve all pending issues through dialogue in the lasting interest of our two countries. A stable and majority government in both countries is an opportune moment and my government remains committed to working closely with the Government of India towards this end," Oli had said over a video-link before the joint inauguration of the Rs 140 crore Jogbani-Biratnagar Integrated Check Post with an aim to improve bilateral trade and people-to-people contact.

India and Bangladesh in 2015 resolved their boundary issues by swapping enclaves following a historic deal signed between the two countries' prime ministers, giving thousands of people in stateless limbo for almost 70 years an option to chose the nationality of either Bangladesh or India.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Aligarh, Jan 24 : Former Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) students' union president, Faizul Hasan, has refused to withdraw his statement in which he had said, "Muslims can destroy anything if they wish to do and the community has constantly been tested since 1947." A case was registered against Hasan under Section 153(A) of IPC (promoting disharmony, enmity or feelings of hatred between different groups on the grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony).

According a report in a news agency, Hasan was quoted as having said: "If you want to see the limits of patience, then see Indian Muslims' limit of patience after 1947 till 2020. We never tried to break up India, otherwise we are from that community that if we resolve to destroy, we have enough anger to not leave anything," he was quoted as having said while addressing an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protest.

A day later, he refused to apologise and said that in 2014 Narendra Modi had promised "sabka saath, sabka vikas" and now he does not want to take the Muslims along, which is a breach of trust.

Hasan also challenged the union home minister to a debate on the issue of the CAA and said: "Amit Shah should come and debate with our class 12 student. Hopefully, he will not be able to win. Even if they give five points, then I will stand with him (Shah) and protest in favour of the CAA." Hasan invoked the bravery of Param Vir Chakra awardee Abdul Hamid to assert that support from the minority community will strengthen the country.

"Veer Abdul Hamid destroyed 22 tanks of Pakistan alone. If Amit Shah and Yogi had shown love and 22 crore Muslims were with them, then no country would have dared to look upon them (koi bhi desh inki taraf aankh utha kar nahi dekh pata)", he stated.

He also clarified that they harboured no hatred towards any government, but there should be no divisive politics on the basis of religion.
Nearly 50 farmers in Rajasthan's Dausa district have dug pits and are sitting in them to protest against the acquisition of their land by the National Highways Authority of India, an official said on Friday.

'Bhoomi Satyagrah', the farmers' protest against the NHAI's land acquisition, began on Thursday, said Additional District Collector Lokesh Kumar Meena.

A representation of the demands of the agitating farmers was submitted to NHAI officials, Meena said, adding that the the farmers are demanding four times the compensation that was offered to them.

The land acquisition was for Delhi-Vadodara highway which will pass through Alwar, Baswa, Dausa, Lalsot, Sawai Madhopur and Kota in Rajasthan, a NHAI official said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
When President Trump ordered the military to strike Qassem Soleimani, a legitimate military target responsible for the deaths of hundreds of troops, Democrats were up in arms. How dare Trump bait the Iranians by striking someone so close to Ayatollah Khamenei? They were certain that Trump had just ignited World War III.

Republicans were more confident that the strike would, at the very least, remove a dangerous character from the Iranians' forty-year-long war against America and, at the best, topple the regime. This last belief was based upon the fact that the Iranian regime is fragile now that Trump walked away from Obama's terrible Iran deal and reinstated sanctions. The economy is collapsing, and people all over Iran are coming out in protest. After forty years of a repressive theocracy, the Persian people, a people accustomed to beauty and life, have had their fill of Islam's cruel puritanism.

Michael Ledeen, an experienced foreign policy observer, thinks the Republicans may have been correct because there are strange doings in Iran  all good if one wants to see that abysmal regime collapse:

The elimination of Qassem Soleimani has produced surprising results. It turns out that the United States received intelligence on Soleimani's movements from a variety of sources, some within his Iranian Revolutionary Guards Quds Force, others from Israel's vaunted intelligence apparatus. The operation against Soleimani and his ilk was so well-organized that leading terrorists in Iraq ran for the hills: U.S. officials have intercepted chatter and received confirmation that terrorist leaders in Iraq have been fleeing the region and have gone into hiding fearing United States intelligence capabilities after the successful airstrike that killed Iranian Quds Force leader Qassem Soleimani. Undoubtedly some of the terrorist leaders are cutting deals with U.S. intelligence, and the events of this weekend suggest that at least some of that information has made its way to Iraqi demonstrators.

In addition to escalating protests, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), home of the Quds Force that was Soleimani's special unit, is in serious disarray, with an apparent push to take down those loyal to Soleimani.

Soleimani, despite being truly evil, was also a gifted general. This means that the vacuum his death creates forces Iran to retrench rather than continuing its push into the greater Middle East. This retrenchment matters because the Iranian people, according to Banafsheh Zand and Harold Rhode, two Iran experts, are sensitive to trends. If they see that the mullahs are weak, they will push harder against the regime:

Both Zand and Rhode see the Soleimani strike as a potential turning point for Iran, but both insist that the Iranian protesters will need unwavering support from the Trump administration to continue building momentum. Rhode cautioned that the regime will try to stay in power at all costs and will not simply bow to international economic and diplomatic pressure, however fierce. The same applies to Iraq and Lebanon. "Soleimani was betrayed by fellow IRGC members. They are killing each other," said Zand.

Rhode sees the trend in play already, as was the case with the viral video showing protesters carefully walking around, rather than on, American and Israeli flags drawn on the ground. However, he says that, as the Iranian government weakens, America still has a role to play:

"It is important that the Trump administration stay strong and not show Iran any weakness and respond to any aggression with overwhelming strength," said Rhode, while noting that crippling international sanctions administered by the U.S. are taking a severe toll on the country as well as the stability of the Islamic regime.

As if to add further credence to the above analysis, on Wednesday, Reuters reported that gunmen in Iran killed one of Soleimani's most important allies:

Gunmen in Iran shot dead a commander of the hardline Basij militia who was an ally of Qassem Soleimani, the senior Revolutionary Guards commander killed in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq, the official news agency IRNA reported on Wednesday. The Basij are under the command of the Guards, the most powerful and heavily armed security force in the Islamic Republic.

When Trump carefully waited seven months for the right moment to strike against Soleimani, he may have knocked down the first domino, triggering a cascade of falling pieces that spells the end of the Mad Mullahs' tyrannical and dangerously expansionist regime.
It wouldn't be wrong to say Indian wedding processions are often the highlight of the entire wedding ceremony. Baraats with dancers, music and wedding bands have been the highlight for ages. While theyve been mostly led by grooms, two sisters from MPs Khandwa district dressed up for their wedding ceremonies on January 22 with a different plan - leading their baraat to the grooms homes instead.

Madhya Pradesh: Sakshi and Srishti, two sisters who had their wedding ceremonies on 22nd January, took out their own wedding procession (baraat) and rode horses to reach houses of their grooms in Khandwa, as a tradition followed by Patidar community. pic.twitter.com/80o27FtZuY  ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2020





The brides, named Sakshi and Srishti, belong to the Patidar community, where this subversion of gender roles is a time-honoured tradition. "I feel proud to be part of this community and that they have been following this tradition," Srishti told ANI.

Meanwhile, Sakshi and Shrishtis father, Arun, explained his reasoning behind supporting the baraat.

"This is a 400-500 years old tradition. We are carrying it forward to support the government's message of 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao'. The daughters of this country should be treated equally. This is the message that we want to convey with our tradition and will continue practising it," said Arun.

The brides earned a fair amount of support on social media, as their photos picked up attention:

Why should boys have all the fun?  Abhijeet Gupta (@AbhijeetGupt) January 24, 2020

Maari choriya choro se kaam hai ki  bharat (@new_india_2022) January 24, 2020

Happy married life to both  Syed Faisal M (@Sfaisalmech) January 24, 2020

  .. ,         ..        (@Sachchi_Soch9) January 24, 2020

  .. ,         ..        (@Sachchi_Soch9) January 24, 2020

"I urge the people of other communities to adopt this tradition and give respect to our daughters," Arun continued.
An Ericsson AB employee works on 2G, 3G and 4G data networking devices during production at the company's factory in Tallinn, Estonia, on Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Swedish telecoms equipment group Ericsson reported a smaller than expected rise in fourth-quarter core earnings on Friday and said the quarter, seasonally its best, had nevertheless been hit by a slowdown in its previously surging U.S. business and higher costs.

After a number of lean years, Ericsson has been boosted by the roll out of new, super-fast 5G networks, particularly in the United States over the last year.

The new networks are expected to host critical functions from driverless vehicles to smart electric grids and military communications and the United States  as well as South Korea has been the earliest adopter.

However, sales in the high-margin U.S. dropped during the quarter and digitalization investments as well as costs related to the acquisition of Germany's Kathrein rose.

"Due to the uncertainty related to an announced operator merger, we saw a slowdown in our North American business in Q4, resulting in North America having the lowest share of total sales for some time," Chief Executive Borje Ekholm said in a statement.
A recently indicted associate of Rudy Giuliani taped President Donald Trump calling for the firing of Ukraine Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, according to the lawyer for a second Giuliani associate.

Joseph Bondy, a lawyer for Florida businessman Lev Parnas, told The Daily Beast that the recording was made by former partner Igor Fruman. Both men were arrested in October and charged with campaign-finance violations.

ABC News reported Friday morning that it reviewed audio of a dinner attended by Trump, Parnas, Fruman, and others. A voice that appears to be the presidents tells the group that he wanted to get rid of Yovanovitch, per ABC, an apparent contradiction to Trumps claim that he does not know Parnas.

Last year, before he was arrested, Mr. Parnas personally heard a recording of his April 30, 2018 dinner with the president and others, made by Mr. Fruman, at which the subject of Ambassador Yovanovitch was discussed, Bondy said. We have hoped that, to the extent this recording still existed, it would be released to Congress for use in the impeachment trial.

A lawyer for Fruman was not at liberty to discuss the matter. ABC News review matches the description Bondy gave The Daily Beast. Unnamed sources told the network that Fruman made the recording, which The Daily Beast has not reviewed.

Parnas has previously described a dinner at Trump Hotel with supporters of the president in April 2018 that he and Fruman attended. He said that he raised concerns about Yovanovitch to Trump, and that the president then turned to an aide and told him she should be fired. At the time, Yovanovitch was the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. Giuliani, Fruman, and Parnas were trying to have her fired.

Trump eventually recalled Yovanovitch in May 2019. Months later, he pressured Ukraines president to announce investigations of a company linked to the family of former Vice President Joe Biden. At the same time, Trump withheld military aid that Congress had appropriated for Ukraine. And his team refused to arrange a White House visit for Ukraines president, even though they had formally invited him. That pressure campaign is the focus of Democrats efforts to have Trump removed from the White House. His trial is currently underway in the Senate.

Story continues

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!

Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
Gov. Noem lauds state economy, but big legislative fights are coming

Noems speech flowed between business and economic development, lifestyle issues and social issues that were united by their conservative themes.
Isaak Stapleton, director of food safety at the Oregon Department of Agriculture, shows his utter contempt for Oregonians and his mission to protect our health when he hides the results of food safety inspections (Siding with grocers, Oregon doesnt grade grocery stores on food safety, Jan. 13). He also shows his contempt and hypocrisy when he says the program is committed to being open and transparent when the only way to find the results is to file a public records request. And as soon as he discovered there was a point system that ranked stores, he moved to get rid of it.

Lets be clear: His constituents are the people of Oregon whose health he is supposed to protect, not the grocery industry that may be embarrassed by dirt, infestations and poor sanitary practices. I thank The Oregonian/OregonLive for providing a way to get the results, and I would hope Gov. Kate Brown takes his dereliction of duty seriously and corrects the situation.

Byron Rendar, Portland
The 29th annual Winnipeg New Music Festival roars back to life tonight in a gale of fire and blood before wrapping up Jan. 31 with an homage to comic-book superheroes.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/1/2020 (718 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The 29th annual Winnipeg New Music Festival roars back to life tonight in a gale of fire and blood before wrapping up Jan. 31 with an homage to comic-book superheroes.

Spearheaded by Daniel Raiskin, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestras music director and the festivals artistic director, and Harry Stafylakis, the festivals co-curator and WSO composer-in-residence, the 2020 incarnation welcomes American composers Michael Daugherty and Sarah Kirkland Snider, who will be in Winnipeg to hear performances of their eclectic music.

Composer Sarah Kirkland Snider (Shervin Lainez photo)

"If ever there was a WNMF that would be suitable for people who arent typical symphony concert-goers or new music festival-goers, this would be a good one," Stafylakis says over the phone from New York City. "It offers very accessible and accommodating repertoire, as well as more challenging works, and feels very inviting to me."

Opening night (tonight, 7:30 p.m.) includes Daughertys Fire and Blood, featuring Canadian violinist Alexandre Da Costa. The three-movement work is inspired by the Detroit Industry Murals by Mexican artist Diego Rivera, and is enhanced by Russian composer Alexander Mosolovs Iron Foundry, a 1926 work depicting a brave new world of industry.

"This is one of the first pieces of minimalism, and is a pure form of what became metal music, " Raiskin says of Mosolovs piece. "Even Metallica did a cover of Iron Foundry with the San Francisco Symphony last September."

Composer Michael Daugherty (Supplied)

The evenings second pillar is Kirkland Sniders Hiraeth, which explores ideas of "home, family and belonging," and will be accompanied by a film by Mark DeChiazza. The evening rounds out with the Winnipeg premiere of Stafylakiss Sun Exhaling Light, based on Richard Blancos poem One Pulse  One Poem, penned in response to mass shootings in the United States, including the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla., in June 2016, where 50 people were killed.

"The whole issue of gun violence and gun rights has always been shocking to me as a Canadian immigrant to the United States," Stafylakis says of his 11-minute work. "The title itself is one of the lines from the poem, and the music is trying to encapsulate the very complex set of emotions around this challenging subject."

Audiences can also look forward to Kirkland Sniders Penelope, conducted by Julian Pellicano on Sunday at 7:30 p.m., which presents a 21st-century take on Homers Odyssey, sung by American mezzo-soprano Shara Nova. Also on the bill is Canadian composer/guitarist Amy Brandons "flesh projektor," which morphs her traditional classical guitar with "augmented reality technology."

Raiskins son, Amsterdam-based jazz drummer Ilia Rayskin, 21, will perform with the WSO Chamber Ensemble for Kirkland Sniders piece.

"Ilia is a very fine musician and I couldnt be more proud of him," Raiskin says. The maestros family will be celebrating his 50th birthday on Jan. 28.

The festivals Composers Institute will offer a full week of rehearsals and workshops for six hand-picked emerging artists from across Canada. World premieres of their works will be showcased on Monday during the program Orchestral Voices of the Future, as well as Isle of Pic by 15-year-old Henry From, this years winner of the Canadian Music Centres Prairie region emerging composer competition.

On Tuesday, Winnipegs Camerata Nova will perform De Toutes Fleurs/Of All the Flowers, an "old made new" program of works by Renaissance masters Guillaume de Machaut and Carlo Gesualdo that inspired Terri Hrons new electro-acoustic work Of All the Flowers, as well as selections by Canadian composers.

Another show near to Raiskins heart is Wednesdays The Art of Dialogue, which explores the relationship forged between soloist, conductor, orchestra and composer, with highlights being Dinuk Wijeratnes Clarinet Concerto, and Armenian-born jazz pianist/composer Tigran Hamasyans Road Song, performed by his trio.

Hamaysan also performs his own program on Thursday, showing off his his unique compositional voice influenced by metal bands Tool and Meshuggah, and music of his homeland.

Fridays finale features the Manitoba premiere of Daughertys Metropolis Symphony, hailed by the Times of London as "a Symphonie Fantastique for our times," and celebrating the legacy of DC Comics caped crusader, Superman.

"Its a maximalist piece in the best sense of the word, and is huge and very vivid and rich," Stafylakis says of the five-movement work. "It feels like when youre at the movies gripping the armrests on the edge of your seat, saying, Whats going to happen next? "

The bill also includes two works originally commissioned by the Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie of Koblenz, Germany, and dedicated to its then-conductor Raiskin: Lera Auerbachs Eterniday and Benjamin Staerns Wave Movements, as well as Icelandic composer Daniel Bjarnasons sublime All Sounds to Silence Come.

"This concert is very personal to me, because being a soloist is who I was before I became a conductor," says former violist Raiskin. "Performing with an orchestra is both a competition and partnership; and this will be an incredibly entertaining program because each soloist brings a completely different dynamic to the stage."

holly.harris@shaw.ca
Democratic Party is 'center conservative,' treats progressive activism as nuisance, AOC says

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

NEW YORK  Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., called out the Democratic Party on Monday for being a center or center conservative party that treats the activism of their more left leaning members as a "nuisance" while Republicans treat their members organizing for change as an asset.

Ocasio-Cortez made the distinction during a wide-ranging conversation with author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates at the MLK NOW 2020 event celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the historic Riverside Church in Manhattan.

I think they view it as a nuisance. Many of them feel that it is annoying, that they dont understand the inside. But I think people are protesting precisely because they understand the inside, Ocasio-Cortez replied to applause after Coates asked how the Democratic Party views activism.

The radical 30-year-old politician who has come under fire from veteran politicians from both inside and outside her party for her progressive ideas on issues such as healthcare and national defense, agreed with Coates that the Republican Party doesnt see their activists as a nuisance.

No they dont, said Ocasio-Cortez. They see it as an asset.

She disagreed with Coates, however, when he said the Democratic Party is the ostensible left party.

We dont have a left party in the United States. The Democratic Party is not a left party. The Democratic Party is a center or center conservative party. We do not advocate for, we cant even get a floor vote on Medicare for all. Not even a floor vote that gets voted down. We cant even get a vote on it, so this is not a left party, she asserted.

Ocasio-Cortez qualified that, adding: There are left members inside the Democratic Party that are working to try to make that shift happen. But youre right, it does convey a certain sentiment about true believers. And there are a lot of true believers that we can capitalism our way out of poverty in the Democratic Party. If anything thats probably the majority. And thats an area in which I agree with Dr. King that that assessment is flawed.

When asked how the party could evolve to better reflect the values of all factions, Ocasio-Cortez said it is going to take longstanding commitment from representatives who refuse to give up on people who need representation.

I say it all the time. I remember I was in the House Oversight Committee and I was one of the early ones, and there are quite a few members that are in swing districts on the Democratic and Republican side. And some of them won their races by one, two points.

"When you look across the aisle, the Republicans that won by one point dig their heels in and double down. And very often the Democrats that win by one point try to act like conservatives. And so its a difficult thing to measure because the people whose lives get compromised in that position are people like my district in the Bronx and Queens. They dont win from that arrangement. And it is a struggle because there is an intense pressure around this idea of unity, she said.

Dont challenge the party, dont try to show that there are differences. You know, its like people had a meltdown when I said in a parliamentary democracy, Joe Biden might have been in a different party.

"And its not to say that in America we arent in the same party. But its to say that there are different values and this idea of unity cannot work if the only thing we unify is around war and the concentration of wealth and injustice. Thats the only place we find common ground. We have way more work to do, she said.

Coates questioned whether it would be detrimental for politicians to take that stand as they could lose power.

Thats something that we hear very often. Thats why I often talk about the importance of dual power. In electoral spaces sure you need to have the votes, you need to have the seats but there are limitations to electoralism, and thats why we have to be in the streets. A lot of these cities and a lot of now Democrat or blue communities didnt just end up that way. Its because we see and we have studied that the long-term impact of activism is the elevation of political consciousness. And that is the work that is so incredibly important, Ocasio-Cortez said.

Because in our lifetime, states that we considered to be very red have been blue as recently as the early '90s. Blue around labor issues, blue around anti-poverty agendas and issues. But when we, and this is something the Democratic Party does, when we abandon communities then we just allow whoever fills that vacuum to predominate and I dont believe that we should give up on places like Alabama and Mississippi and Kentucky, Tennessee. I dont think we give up on those places. We just have to commit ourselves to a multi-decade struggle, she added.
A man with around $18,000 in annual income who received a nearly $1 million check from the federal government has been sentenced to about three years in prison.



Ramon C. Blanchett, 29, of Tampa, Florida, a part-time DJ and community college student, pleaded guilty to theft of government funds last fall, the Tampa Bay Times reported Thursday.
Press Release

24 January 2020

When travelers consider a trip to Morocco, their planning may only focus on the most well-known cities - Marrakesh, Casablanca or Fes - but they would be missing out on one of the country's hidden gems. The hillside port city of Tangier, once a favorite destination of the Beat Generation (writers like William S. Burroughs, Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg), is a multicultural mecca with rug-draped souks (open-air marketplaces), art deco architecture, eclectic cafes, modern boutiques and unparalleled views across the Strait of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean Sea. Tangier is a waterfront gem where travelers can spend their time people watching from historic cafes, exploring storied sites and browsing local markets that are a feast for all senses.

Advertisements

Things to Do

One of the most cherished traditions in Tangier is taking a break from the hustle and bustle of the city to enjoy a Moroccan mint tea - a sweet, traditional drink made with green tea, spearmint and sugar. Cafes are sprinkled across the city and draw a lively mix of locals and travelers. Visit Cafe Hafa to sip hot tea on the open-air terrace and admire stunning panoramic views of the Mediterranean. Or, if you're exploring the medina - the old, walled section of Tangier - take a break at the Gran Cafe de Paris on the Place de France. This historical cafe was a favorite haunt of William S. Burroughs and Tennessee Williams, among other famous expats.

A must-visit when in Tangier is the impressive archaeological site known as the Caves of Hercules. Located 3 miles from the city, the site is steeped in legend and ancient history. According to the Greek myth, Hercules rested in the cave before completing his 12 labors. Today, visitors can take advantage of the picturesque site and capture a photo where the cave opens to the Atlantic Ocean and frames it in a way that looks like the shape of Africa itself. Visitors will experience a site that is both natural and man-made thanks to the local Berbers who carved millstones from the cave's walls. After the caves, take a tip from Hilton insider and Tangier local Oumaima Draoui, nurse at Hilton Tangier Al Houara Resort & Spa, whose favorite thing to do is visit Cape Spartel - the point where the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean meet underneath what she calls a "mind-boggling and breathtaking" sunset that's just 2 miles from the caves.

Whether you enjoy shopping or not, visiting a souk is a cultural experience that should not be missed. Head to the medina to browse handmade treasures like antique ceramics, traditional rugs and custom-blended perfumes. On the way out, don't miss Fondouk Chejra (also known as the Weaver's Market), which was a reported favorite of late fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent. The intimate market is located on the Rue de la Liberte through an unmarked portal on the outskirts of the medina. Visitors will find a mix of stalls lined with wooden looms and piled high with colorful handmade rugs, clothing, scarves and blankets.

Tangier's scenic location on the calm Strait of Gibraltar with the Mediterranean Sea to the east and the Atlantic Ocean to the west also makes it a great beach destination for travelers looking for some R & R. Visitors can lounge on a sandy beach and even enjoy a horse or camel ride along the surf.

Where to Stay

Hilton Tangier Al Houara Resort & Spa provides a spectacular setting for a stay in Tangier. This oceanfront resort is located between the sea and forest and provides direct access to one of the most beautiful beaches in Morocco. From the well-appointed guest rooms to the vibrant flavors of five on-site restaurants, Hilton Tangier reflects Morocco's rich natural beauty and culture. After a busy day exploring the city, guests can relax and rejuvenate with an authentic, traditional hammam treatment at the state-of-the-art eforea spa or by one of the hotel's three outdoor pools. The resort is easily accessible from Tangier Ibn Battouta Airport or the high-speed train that connects Tangier to Rabat and Casablanca.
LEBANON, Ohio  Something wasnt right with the Rhino.

Reports started trickling in to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in 2005 of people being killed or injured in the Yamaha Motor Co. off-road vehicles when they tipped over. But no clear pattern emerged, and in the rough and tumble off-road world, accidents are common. The agency took no action.

Then, in 2007, ten-year-old Ellie Sand was killed in a Rhino when it flipped in a cornfield in Warren County, Ohio. Her father, house painter John Sand, started reading up on other Rhino crashes. He spoke to other parents whose children had died or been seriously injured in similar incidents. He became convinced that Rhinos were the problem.

Using a computer in a Cincinnati law library, Sand found more than a dozen lawsuits alleging that the vehicles were dangerously unstable. Some of the lawsuits  like the one he filed against the company in 2008  claimed that design flaws caused the Rhinos to roll over even at slow speeds on flat ground. Sand sent the results of his research to CPSC, highlighting details from the lawsuits of the tip-overs that led to deaths and injuries.

Soon after, CPSC sent a subpoena to Yamaha, forcing it to hand over a trove of information, much of which had lain hidden under judges protective orders in the lawsuits against the company. By then, more than 40 people, including more than a dozen children, had been killed in Rhino crashes.

The impact of Sands work was confirmed in a voicemail message Sand received a few months later. Yamaha had agreed to a voluntary recall covering more than 100,000 Rhinos to fix the stability problems. As a result of the information  a lot of the information that we received from you  weve gotten this far, so I wanted to thank you, Marc Schoem, then deputy director of CPSCs compliance and field operations, said in the March 31, 2009, message, which was reviewed by Reuters.

Five years after the recall was announced, CPSC staff noted in a 2014 briefing that crashes involving the Rhino had decreased noticeably.

Sand told Reuters he was elated that the work Id done could help stop the carnage. Still, he was surprised that it took an average Joe like him to flag the lawsuits to CPSC.

A CPSC spokesman said that the agency had investigated Rhino incidents and that establishing a pattern that would have supported finding the vehicles defective proved challenging. Schoem declined to comment, as did Yamaha.

CPSC is one of more than a dozen regulatory agencies tasked with protecting Americans from dangerous products. And the Rhino episode reveals a troubling dynamic in the way these watchdogs do their jobs: Sometimes the only way they can learn about and act on a possible threat to consumers is from evidence produced in lawsuits, but that evidence is often hidden behind a wall of secrecy.

Most regulators have their own reporting systems for conducting oversight. But their databases can be vast and unwieldy, stuffed with thousands and even millions of consumer complaints and reports from manufacturers of safety concerns, injuries or deaths. The reports are often rife with mistakes and inconsistencies. Not all consumers even know they can file complaints. And companies regularly flout legally mandated reporting requirements.

That leaves the courts as a conduit for alerting regulators to potential harm, and its far from perfect. As Reuters has documented in earlier articles in this series, a thick blanket of secrecy covers product-liability litigation in the United States. In just a handful of cases over the past several decades, hundreds of thousands of people were killed or injured by defective products  cars, drugs, guns  while information about the risks was hidden from consumers and regulators, sometimes for years, behind broad protective orders.

These orders, though meant to protect specific information such as medical records and trade secrets, often give companies wide latitude to designate as confidential material exchanged between litigants in the pretrial discovery process  internal emails, data, research, meeting minutes, sworn depositions and the like. The secrecy typically persists for the life of the case, and long after, though court documents are, by law, presumed to be public.

In an analysis of some of the largest mass defective-product cases consolidated in federal courts over the past 20 years, Reuters found 55 in which judges sealed information concerning public health and safety. And among those, only three had protective orders containing language specifically allowing information exchanged by the litigants to be shared with regulators.

Regulators may subpoena information from a manufacturer after spotting a suspicious cluster of lawsuits, or after being alerted by a consumer like Sand in the Yamaha Rhino case.

But those are rare exceptions. And regulators themselves arent inclined to mine court records as a means of oversight. In the 55 big cases Reuters reviewed, public court filings contained no indication that regulators had requested any information arising from the lawsuits.

A few years ago, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and CPSC issued pleas for easier access to evidence introduced in court under protective orders. But the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and 15 other federal departments or agencies surveyed by Reuters did not point to any explicit policy or guidance on gaining access to court evidence potentially relevant to their oversight functions.

Yet regulators have repeatedly documented the failures of existing safeguards. Since 2009, NHTSA and CPSC have fined a total of at least 90 companies for failing to meet safety-reporting requirements, while the FDA has issued more than a dozen warning letters to manufacturers of drugs and medical devices for similar lapses.

Big business and its lobbyists contend that regulators have all the tools they need to do their jobs well  including the power to subpoena information subject to a judges protective order.

The protective order cannot block the government, said Victor Schwartz, a partner at law firm Shook, Hardy & Bacon LLP who has defended companies in civil litigation. Litigation gets publicity. If the government sees something about a case  it can use its power, the subpoena power, to find out more detail, he said.

That argument, former U.S. regulatory officials said, doesnt hold water when litigation is cloaked in secrecy. Its a catch-22, said David Friedman, a former NHTSA official. If documents and other evidence in litigation are sealed, how are you supposed to know about them? Friedman said. If you dont know about them, you cant get them.

Defective Switch

Friedman was at NHTSA during General Motors Co.s notorious 2014 recall of millions of cars with defective ignition switches, ultimately linked to 124 deaths and 275 injuries. A 2015 deferred prosecution agreement between GM and federal prosecutors showed the company scrambled for years to make sense of mounting reports of deaths and injuries while keeping regulators and the public in the dark about the switches, even after uncovering clear internal evidence they were defective.

As early as 2003, NHTSA received complaints that Saturn Ions were stalling and, by 2004, that their airbags were failing to deploy in collisions. Similar complaints soon cropped up about Chevrolet Cobalts. In the ensuing years, the agency examined several fatal Cobalt crashes, each involving switches that slipped out of position and disabled airbags.

Yet NHTSA didnt make the connection between the switch problem and airbag failures. That was partly because its investigators misunderstood how GMs airbag system operated, but also because NHTSA rules gave automakers a lot of leeway in how they reported certain information regarding safety risks. As a result, similar incidents were reported inconsistently. One was listed as an engine and engine cooling issue, for instance, while another as an electrical problem. That made it difficult for regulators to detect a pattern.

From the first consumer complaints and incident reports, it would be more than 10 years and scores of deaths and injuries before NHTSA and the public learned of the link between defective ignition switches and airbag failures  and then only after evidence of what GM knew emerged in litigation and prompted the automaker to pursue a recall.

In June 2011, the parents of Jennifer Brooke Melton filed a product-liability lawsuit against the company in a Georgia state court. Melton, a 29-year-old nurse, was killed in March 2010 when her Cobalt stalled on a rainy highway, crossed into oncoming traffic, collided with another vehicle and careened into a creek.

The Melton case started, as many like it do, under a veil of secrecy. In December 2011, Judge Kathryn Tanksley approved a broad protective order, keeping from the public and NHTSA any documents that GM designated in good faith as confidential.

Tanksley, now retired, said she approved the order because both the Meltons lawyer and GM agreed to the terms. The role of litigation is not to regulate GM, she said. When NHTSA officials want more information, she said, they have to pursue it not through the court, but through their own power.

The documents GM began turning over to Lance Cooper, the Meltons lawyer, were damning. They showed that in 2005, for example, a company engineer suggested a fix for less than $1 per vehicle, but it was rejected as too costly and not effective enough. Cooper also obtained evidence that the company modified the switches between 2005 and 2008 to keep them from slipping. The evidence built a strong case that GM had known for years that the switches were faulty.

The Meltons were eager to go public with the evidence to prevent others from dying as their daughter had, but Cooper worried that if he challenged the protective order and regulators didnt conclude the switches were defective, it would hurt their case. GM wanted to settle.

We thought that people needed to know. There were still people out there driving those cars, Beth Melton told Reuters. Its a real shame that these things are kept secret and other people (suffer) because of it.

Meanwhile, a Cobalt crash in Quebec, Canada, killed another driver. The airbags did not deploy. The ignition switch was later found to be in accessory mode, the position between on and off that could cut power to airbags.

GM settled with the Meltons in September 2013 for $5 million. Five months later, after conducting its own investigation, GM recalled about 600,000 vehicles with the ignition switch.

Cooper still wasnt satisfied, based on what he had learned in the Melton lawsuit, and having obtained a settlement for his clients, he decided it was time to share evidence with NHTSA. I basically said: The hell with it,  Cooper said. If we can get this information to the federal government, they need it. Really, it was just a strategic decision to violate the protective order.

In a letter to NHTSA , he suggested that the automaker knew about the defect far longer than its recall paperwork said and had not recalled enough vehicles. He urged the agency to investigate, citing evidence from the Melton case that he had seen as much as a year earlier.

Eventually, NHTSA, Congress and federal prosecutors all investigated, relying heavily on evidence from the Melton case. GM increased the size of the recall, which eventually covered 2.6 million vehicles.

In May 2014, NHTSA fined GM $35 million for failing to alert regulators to the defective ignition switch in a timely manner. The next year, GM entered into the deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York to settle criminal charges of concealing information from government officials and wire fraud. Under the deal, GM agreed to pay a $900 million fine and to submit to three years of oversight by an independent monitor. In 2018, a federal judge dismissed the charges against the company after prosecutors said the company had complied with the agreement.

The most damning information came out in litigation, said Kevin Vincent, NHTSAs head lawyer at the time. Though the facts eventually came to light, Vincent said, initial confidentiality in the Melton case stymied the agency. That was evidence the agency needed to see, he said. We could have acted sooner.

In a statement to Reuters, GM said: Since 2014, we have undertaken comprehensive reforms across the company to ensure that something like the ignition switch crisis never happens again. The company hired additional safety investigators, created a new executive position charged with overseeing global safety and recalls, and launched a program aimed at giving employees and dealers easier ways to flag potential vehicle defects.

A NHTSA spokesman said the agency took 17 steps the U.S. Transportation Department inspector general recommended in the wake of the ignition-switch recall to improve collection and analysis of vehicle safety data.

Pleas for Access

In 2016, NHTSA and CPSC, seeking to address what they acknowledge is a blind spot in their efforts to safeguard consumers, issued bulletins recommending that judges and litigants agree to protective orders that would allow them to share confidential evidence pertinent to public health and safety with the relevant regulators.

Our job is to protect consumers, said Marietta Robinson, a CPSC commissioner at the time. Obtaining information about an allegedly dangerous product from a lawyer representing a consumer who has been injured or killed is critically important to us doing that job.

NHTSAs bulletin, which cited the GM ignition-switch case, argued that keeping such information hidden from regulators clashes with federal legal requirements for courts to show good cause before allowing companies to keep it secret.

But the bulletins, published in the Federal Register, where the government publishes new rules, proposals and public notices, carried no enforcement power, and they have had little impact.

Judges have rarely shown willingness to grant requests from plaintiffs, expert witnesses or news organizations to share information with regulators or the public. Lawyers challenged defendants claims of confidentiality for material relating to public health and safety in 26 of the 55 big cases Reuters analyzed, and in most of them, judges refused to unseal the evidence. Some of those cases involved attempts to share information with the FDA.

The FDA declined to comment on specific cases for this article. In general, the agency said, its powers to inspect drug makers plants and launch criminal investigations, along with voluntary reporting requirements for drug makers, provide FDA with the tools to keep patients and consumers safe and fulfill its mission to protect and promote the public health.

However, in the case of Pfizer Inc.s popular drug Chantix, which helps people quit smoking, court secrecy excluded possibly pertinent information from the agencys process for assessing safety.

The FDA approved Chantix in 2006. Three years later, it placed a black box warning  its strongest  on the drugs label after receiving reports of changes in behavior such as hostility, agitation, depressed mood, and suicidal thoughts or actions.

Over time, Pfizer faced thousands of lawsuits blaming Chantix for such side effects. The company turned over millions of documents to plaintiffs under the condition they be kept confidential.

In 2014, after Pfizer settled most of the cases for about $300 million, two plaintiff experts decided the FDA and the public should see internal Pfizer documents and expert reports that had been introduced in litigation.

Through their lawyer, clinical psychiatrist Joseph Glenmullen and drug safety researcher Thomas Moore asked the judge overseeing the bulk of the Chantix litigation to unseal the information, which they said was important for shedding light on Pfizers awareness of Chantixs behavioral risks.

Two days after their request was filed, U.S. District Judge Inge Johnson in Alabama rejected it. Her brief order did not address the substance of the request.

Johnson did not respond to requests for comment.

The upshot was that, two years later, an FDA advisory panel did not have access to all the information the two men had sought to make public as it considered a Pfizer request to remove the black box warning. Pfizers request was based on its own study claiming that Chantix did not have a significant association with depression and suicide.

The advisory panel of medical experts in September 2016 recommended in a close vote to remove the black box warning. The FDA removed the black box warning a few months later. Chantix bottles still carry a less severe warning of potential mental health side effects.

Moore acknowledged that its impossible to know whether the evidence he and Glenmullen sought to provide to regulators would have changed the panels decision. But he said he remains frustrated that information central to the question of Chantixs safety never made it into regulators hands.

The FDA should be able to see it, Moore said.

Pfizer, in a statement to Reuters, said: The FDA and its 2016 advisory panel had access to all of the data and science on Chantix, and all of the adverse events reports. The plaintiff experts reports, the company noted, were not original science and instead reflected views of the underlying science that differed from the FDA and the advisory panels conclusions.

Members of the FDA advisory panel Reuters contacted said they were unaware of Moore and Glenmullens efforts.

One of them was Dr Jess Fiedorowicz, director of the University of Iowa Mood Disorders Center. He voted to remove the black box warning. He said he didnt know whether the evidence from the two experts would have changed his mind, but, Im all for transparency in research.

Seeking Sunshine

In September, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, a New York Democrat, said he planned to reintroduce the Sunshine in Litigation Act to address the problem of court secrecy. The bill would allow parties in litigation to share evidence related to public health and safety with state and federal regulators, regardless of protective orders.

Nadlers pledge came during a hearing on courtroom transparency that was called after Reuters began publishing its series on court secrecy and its impact on public health and safety. Previous iterations of the bill introduced repeatedly since the early 1990s, despite enjoying bipartisan support, have ultimately failed in the face of sustained opposition from business groups that contend it would increase the costs and burdens of litigation for companies that are already meeting regulatory reporting requirements.

However, as the Yamaha Rhino episode and others like it show, regulators and the public cant assume manufacturers are meeting disclosure and reporting rules.

A few months after John Sand sent a packet stuffed with his research to CPSC, the agency told Yamaha it had received information indicating that the Rhino could roll over at low speeds on flat ground, posing an unreasonable risk of injury or death to riders. It told the company to send it all relevant information, including documents from Rhino-related litigation.

CPSC spent the next few months trying to get Yamaha to comply, at one point complaining to the company that it was sending duplicative material and that the only new item seems to be a Model Year 2009 owners manual for the Rhino.

Only after CPSC subpoenaed Yamaha did the company send to the agency a 70-page written response, a hard drive and 62 DVDs that contained all of the records the company had produced in years of litigation, including company documents that had been subject to protective orders.

CPSC would have known about the Rhino much earlier if Yamaha hadnt repeatedly violated the rules for notifying the agency of a possible defect, according to William Kitzes, a former adviser to the agency and an expert witness for plaintiffs in Rhino litigation who reviewed correspondence between the regulator and Yamaha.

Companies must report to the agency immediately upon learning that a product is defective or can cause injury or death, or when a product is subject to three or more personal-injury lawsuits in a two-year period that are settled or decided in favor of plaintiffs. From 2004 to late 2008, Yamaha faced about 250 lawsuits alleging that Rhinos were unsafe.

Certainly no later than, and by many measures well before the end of 2005  Yamaha had adequate information to report, Kitzes wrote in a report for plaintiffs.

CPSC didnt fine Yamaha for failure to report Rhino incidents. The agency and Yamaha jointly announced the Rhino recall on March 31, 2009  referred to at the time, on Yamahas insistence, as a free repair program.

In 2011, the Ohio jury hearing Sands case found the Rhino defective, but awarded Sand no damages. Ellie was not wearing a helmet when she was killed, and the jury determined that she, her parents and others were negligent in her death.

Yamaha stopped making the vehicles in 2013.

(Additional reporting by Erica Evans and Dan Levine. Edited by Janet Roberts and John Blanton.)

Related:
Google is an advertising company. And advertising revenue is always under siege -- from competitors, regulators and market forces.

Today, around 70 percent of Google's revenue comes from advertising, according to a "featured snippet" on Google Search.

Google is tricking users into clicking on ads and providing alternatives to external destinations on the Google Search results page.

Meanwhile, shareholders expect solid growth. But how do you achieve that with a fickle and fragile business like online advertising. One approach is to resort to dirty tricks.

Google redesigned the look of desktop Search so that ads look like organic results. The typography and placement is the same. And the new look places favicons next to legitimate search results, and a small "ad" icon next to advertising that looks like another favicon. The design is a clear example of "dark pattern" design created to change the user's behavior in a way that benefits Google at your expense. "(Around press time Google announced on Twitter that because of user feedback, they would begin testing new designs to address public concern.)

This aggressive and unethical change no doubt aims to keep Google on top in online advertising market share, where the company currently enjoys 36.2 percent share.

Google wants to keep you on Google

Google's latest moves appear to be based on a growing reluctance to send users to other sites, where other companies can make money on those users.

In a move against Pinterest, Facebook and Reddit, Google resurrected the "Collections" idea from its dead social network, Google+, and placed it into Search. (Collections was a Pinterest-like feature of the social network that enabled users to "pin" items of interest on their social profiles. The move is part of Google's social strategy of "baking" Google+ features into other properties, which I detailed last month in this space.)

Unlike the Collections on Google+, the new Collections feature of Google Search on the mobile app now uses AI pixie dust to help you choose items to "pin" based on your search history. Collections replaces the "recent searches" tab. And, of course, you can share your collections and invite them to participate.

And in a clear move against Amazon, Google also recently promoted Google Shopping results to the main search results page. Even some product reviews will now be visible from the search results page.

Now about half of all searches are served on Google properties, inside knowledge panels, YouTube and so on. Google clearly intends to grow that percentage.

Not all of Google's recent moves have been objectionable. Google has an outstanding search engine that came out of beta and also went mobile this week. It's called Dataset Search, and it's designed for researchers but anyone can benefit from it. Dataset Search, which launched in September 2018, gives access to 25 million datasets owned by thousands of data repositories from libraries, publishers and others. It's also great for journalism or doing research for enterprise technology purchases.

Still, revenue growth, apparently, will now be driven by Google tricking users into clicking on ads and providing alternatives to external destinations on the Google Search results page.

Maybe Bing is better?

Microsoft parties like it's 1999

And by "parties" I mean "engages in browser hijacking."

Microsoft plans to force a change in the default browser from Google Search to its own Bing search engine for PCs running Office 365 ProPlus during that product's twice-yearly upgrade. The browser-hijacking policy, which is effected with a Chrome extension, goes into effect next month and begins with version 2002 and in the nations of Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, the U.K. and the U.S.

ProPlus comes with Office 365 Enterprise E3, Office 365 Enterprise E5 and other versions of Office designed for large organizations.

It's not a bug; it's a feature, according to Microsoft. The purpose of the policy is to enable Microsoft Search, which searches Bing and the users' PC at the same time. (One would think that the desktop-search integration would exist to incentivize voluntary adoption of Bing.)

The company said they'd switch the default search engine in Firefox later.

The extension won't be installed if Bing is the current default, so the easiest way to avoid the change is to switch to Bing before the update, then switch it back after.

Both Google's ad confusion policy and Microsoft's browser-hijacking policy are unethical.

These bold changes are part of a larger shift apparent in the culture in general, including politics: People are overwhelmed with information and therefore aren't really paying attention. Distraction is the opportunity.

Google can claim that it marked ads as ads, while knowing that most users won't see the difference. Microsoft can claim that it gave explicit instructions for restoring Google Search as the default for users forcibly switched, while knowing that people generally accept default choices without taking the time to figure out how to reverse them.

I see Google's and Microsoft's latest moves as part of a wider "Ignorance Industrial Complex," where the public's distracted and overloaded minds are resources to be exploited for profit.

Maybe it's time to switch to more ethical search engines?

Google without Google

Startpage Startpage doesn't record your IP address, browser brand, operating system or search queries.

Startpage is one of the most interesting privacy search engines out there because it's the only third-party search engine with access to the full Google search index.

Startpage isn't new. It started out as Ixquick in 1998 and became the Dutch company Startpage B.V. in 2000 through acquisition and is currently a subsidiary of Privacy One Group. Interestingly, the service grew more privacy-focused gradually, especially in 2005.

Next to every search result is a link that says "Anonymous View." Choosing that link opens the URL via proxy, which extends your privacy from the search engine to the sites you click on.

The search engine doesn't record users' IP addresses, browser brands, operating systems or search queries.

Bing without MIcrosoft

Verizon this week introduced a new privacy-centered search engine called OneSearch, which uses Bing's search index but which promises no cookies, retargeting, personal profiling, sharing of user data with advertisers and no retention of search history. Verizon monetizes OneSearch with contextual advertising based exclusively on the current search terms.

OneSearch uses Microsoft's Bing index.

Sounds good. But critics point out Verizon's history of customer privacy violations, including user-tracking supercookies, selling users' personal information and cooperation with NSA surveillance -- not to mention lobbying Congress for the legal right to sell user data and violate net neutrality. Verizon: Can you hear me now?

Here are 10 great privacy-oriented search alternatives:

(The EU recently forced Google to add DuckDuckGo as one of the default search engines available to European users of Android.)

Something is wrong with search

The bottom line is that something fundamental has changed in the world of search engines. It's time for us and our organizations to re-think how and where we search.
A friendly elephant was filmed patrolling the halls of a luxury hotel in Sri Lanka . by a hotel guest who seemed enthralled by the massive creature's presence. Footage of the unexpected visitor was captured by a woman staying at Jetwing Yala. a 5-star resort in the city of Palatupana, located in Sri Lanka's southern province. The woman's daughter later shared her mother's footage on Twitter, where it has since been viewed over 7.3M times. The owners of Jetwing Yala explained that they're familiar with this particular elephant, named Natta Kota. "He comes & goes in peace, takes naps & 'steals' food from the kitchens," she explained. "Hes free and gentle and well loved by the staff". Sri Lankan elephants are currently categorized as an endangered species by the World Wildlife Organization. According to the non-profit, these elephants have been forced into smaller habitats by deforestation and land development
Church of England: Sex outside of heterosexual marriage 'falls short of Gods purpose'

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

The Church of England has released a guidance stating that sexual relations belong between married, heterosexual couples, and that sex in gay or straight civil partnerships falls short of Gods purpose for human beings."

The House of Bishops of the Church of England issued pastoral guidance in response to the recent introduction to mixed-sex civil partnerships, which says: For Christians, marriage  that is, the lifelong union between a man and a woman, contracted with the making of vows  remains the proper context for sexual activity.

The church seeks to uphold that standard in its approach to civil partnerships, and to affirm the value of committed, sexually abstinent friendships within such partnerships.

The introduction of same sex marriage, through the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013, has not changed the churchs teaching on marriage or same sex relationships, it says.

"Sexual relationships outside heterosexual marriage are regarded as falling short of Gods purpose for human beings.

The Church of England explains that while many of the provisions in the legislation on civil partnerships are, however, similar to, or identical with, those in marriage law, the commitment in a civil partnership is different than that of a marriage.

In particular, [civil partnerships are] not predicated on the intention to engage in a sexual relationship, says the guidance.

There is likely to be a range of circumstances in which people of the same sex or opposite sex choose to register a partnership, including somewhere there is no intention for the relationship to be expressed through sexual activity.

Officially, the Church of England does not conduct or recognize same-sex unions as marriage. However, In December 2012, the Church of England permitted gay clergy in civil partnerships to become bishops, provided they were abstaining from sexual relations.

Same-sex civil partnerships have been legal since 2005 and same-sex marriage was introduced in 2013.

The Rev. Malcolm Brown, the Church of Englands director of mission and public affairs, said, Civil partnership is not the same as marriage, which is founded on the taking of solemn public vows and is recognized in the churchs teaching as the only proper context for sexual relationships, The Telegraph reports.

So, as with same-sex civil partnerships, there is no formal service or blessing but clergy will, as always, be encouraged to respond pastorally to couples wishing to formalize their relationship in this way.

The move comes as the U.K. has changed its statute to allow heterosexual couples to enter into civil partnerships instead of marriages.

The change was mandated by the British Supreme Court in 2018 and took effect in late December. The new rule gives mixed-sex couples similar rights to those who are married, including inheritance, tax, and property entitlements.

On Facebook, Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham, applauded the Church of England for its stance on sex and marriage.

I appreciate the church taking this strong stand with the Word of God, which is truth, he wrote.

The Church of England is part of the global Anglican Communion, which has long experienced division over theological issues, including gay marriage and ordination. Those rifts widened in 2003 when The Episcopal Church in the U.S. consecrated its first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.

In recent years, a number of denominations have entered the debate over LGBT issues and how the church should approach them.

Last month, the United Methodist Church proposed a plan that would formally split the denomination after years of division over noncelibate LGBT clergy and same-sex marriage, with the formation of a new denomination for Methodists who hold to a biblical understanding of marriage and sexuality.

The Rev. Keith Boyette, president of the theologically conservative Wesleyan Covenant Association and one of the signatories of the Protocol, expressed his support for the measure.

We can choose further conflict and uncertainty, or we can support a plan that frees us to be the church God desires, wrote Boyette.
(CNN)  Fifteen more people have been confirmed dead in Hubei province from a deadly new coronavirus, according to the provincial health authority, raising the death toll to 41 in mainland China.

Authorities in China have imposed indefinite travel restrictions on tens of millions of people across 11 cities in an unprecedented effort to contain the spread of a deadly new coronavirus, as hospitals at the epicenter of the outbreak struggle to handle a surge in new patients.

The virus, which was first discovered in the city of Wuhan in December, has spread to every province in China, except the remote autonomous regions of Qinghai, Inner Mongolia and Tibet, with the number of infections rising to 846 worldwide.

Another 180 cases of the virus were confirmed in Hubei, said the provincial health authority. This raises the total number of confirmed Wuhan coronavirus cases to 1,072 in mainland China.

The weeklong Lunar New Year holiday, which began Friday, has led to concerns that the outbreak could quickly accelerate, as hundreds of millions of people travel across the country to visit friends and relatives.

Wuhan, the largest and most populous city in central China, was placed under lockdown Thursday, while public transport has been suspended in 10 neighboring cities. Numerous other measures and restrictions on public gatherings have also been implemented in the region. Around 32 million people could be affected.

Posts on social media show an atmosphere of fear and anxiety among those inside Wuhan, amid rising uncertainty over the ability of authorities to handle the potential epidemic.

People spoke of sick family members turned away from hospitals due to a lack of beds, or wards packed with feverish patients and limited screening or quarantine.

Video from Chinese social media appears to show hospitals in the city totally overwhelmed. In one video, a hospital corridor appears to be flooded with patients waiting for test results. In another, medical workers tend patient wearing full protective suits. CNN has not been able to independently verify the videos.

The Wuhan Municipal Health Commission acknowledged in a statement that there were a shortage of beds and long outpatient queues in the city. In response, it said seven hospitals will now be used solely for fever patients and more than 3,000 beds will be made available for suspected and confirmed cases of the virus.

Speaking to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, medical workers in Wuhan have described an incredibly intense environment, where they must balance dealing with the overload of patients and suspected patients while also keeping themselves safe.

"Today, I heard one of my colleagues say that she has got blisters on her face," Wang Jun, a nurse at Jinyintan Hospital, told the broadcaster. "It happened because she had to keep the face mask on tight for a long time."

On Friday, Chinese authorities announced they would construct a 1,000-bed dedicated pneumonia hospital in the city within six days to help treat the hundreds of people affected by the virus. According to state-backed newspaper Beijing News, the hospital will be a prefabricated, box-type model that can be built in the short time frame.

A similar hospital was built during the SARS epidemic in 2003 in Beijing. According to the paper, the dedicated SARS hospital treated almost 700 patients, and had a mortality rate of 1.18%, far below the national average.

In the meantime, hospitals have asked for donations of medical supplies, including masks, medical gloves and protective suits.

On Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) moved to declare the new coronavirus an emergency within China, but has so refrained from classifying the outbreak as an epidemic of international concern.

Mounting evidence suggests the virus is spreading outside mainland China, however, with various countries and territories reporting their first cases, including the United States.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Japan and Vietnam.

Three people were tested for suspected coronavirus in Scotland, "as a precautionary measure only" after traveling from Wuhan, a government spokesperson said. Cases are also under investigation in Canada and Australia, health officials said.

Third generation spread

On Thursday, David Heymann, the chairman of a WHO committee gathering data on the outbreak, said the virus spreads more easily from person to person than previously thought. "We are now seeing second and third generation spread," Heymann said.

Coronaviruses are transmitted by animals and people, and the Wuhan strain has been linked to a market in the city that was selling seafood and live animals, including wild species.

Third generation means that someone who became infected after handling animals at the market spreads the virus to someone else, who then spreads it to a third person. The announcement marks a development in the progress of the spread of the virus.

It initially appeared to spread only by very close contact that would typically occur within a family -- such as hugging, kissing, or sharing eating utensils -- but now evidence is accruing that shows more distant contact could spread the virus, such as if a sick person were to sneeze or cough near someone else's face.

Heymann said there is no evidence at this point that the virus is airborne and could be spread across a room, as happens with the flu or measles.

On Friday, an 80-year-old man died of the Wuhan coronavirus in Hebei province, near Beijing -- the first death outside of the outbreak's epicenter, according to the provincial health authority.

The man had visited Wuhan and stayed with relatives for over two months, health authorities said.

In a press conference on Thursday, WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that of those infected, a quarter of patients have experienced severe disease, Ghebreyesus added.

He acknowledged that there is "still a lot we don't know" about how -- and how quickly -- the virus spreads.

"We don't know the source of this virus, we don't understand how easily it spreads and we don't fully understand its clinical features or severity."

As officials race to slow the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus, containment efforts are being put in place.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) raised its travel notice to the highest level "warning" for Wuhan from level 2 to level 3, which recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to the city.

CDC advisors are concerned about the lack of data coming out of Wuhan and worry that Chinese health officials still have not released basic epidemiological data more than three weeks into the outbreak.

Lunar New Year celebrations canceled

Saturday marks the first day of the Lunar New Year, as countries across Asia greet the Year of the Rat.

But celebrations will be considerably smaller in China than in previous years, as authorities move to cancel many large public gatherings in order to help contain the Wuhan coronavirus.

In Beijing officials have canceled all large-scale New Year celebrations "in order to control the epidemic," including the city's traditional temple fairs.

Celebrations have also been canceled in Hong Kong, and many other cities have issued guidance to citizens to avoid large public gatherings.

On Friday, China's two most important cities launched a Level 1 emergency response -- the highest level for a public health emergency -- to combat the outbreak, according to state broadcaster CGTN.

A total of 29 cases of the virus were confirmed in Beijing, according to CGTN, with more than 20 cases confirmed in Shanghai.

Hubei, the province at the center of the virus outbreak, declared a Level 1 response earlier Friday.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Coronavirus death toll in China hits 41 as medical staff struggle to cope"
Whenever a chance shows up to break away from the monotony of the daily grind, most of us draw out our travelling charts, book our tickets, pack a happy little bag and escape to a new (possibly unhackneyed) destination.

However, the risks involved in planned, let alone unplanned, travels curated and organised by professional traveling companies are many. To begin with, our safety is our and none elses concern. Its the first thing we sign off on tour operators forms  an indemnity bond of sorts, agreeing to be responsible party in case of mishaps during the trip, no matter because of what.

Solo sojourns

Travelling may seem like a fun-filled window of merry moments. But travel does not necessarily only denote happy, cheerful, content and jolly experiences. From being conned and traveling with unsafe travel partners to meeting with an accident and falling sick, one never knows what awaits the traveller at the next turn of his/her journey.

Rittam Majumder, a management professional, insists that while some of these risk factors can be avoided, others can be prepared for. For starters, he advises that when travelling to unknown places, it wont hurt to go the extra mile and do a thorough research.

For instance, Rittam maintains a diary full of emergency contacts from different parts of the country. Even as we wonder about his odd collection, he explains, One of my college friends had fallen sick during his solo travel to Ooty. In such conditions, especially when one is not with family or friends, panicking and taking wrong decision is natural. He was lucky, however, that the room-service staff was friendly and helped him out.

Unfortunately, another traveller, Tanmay Sharma, was not as lucky as Rittams solo-traveller friend.

Lost and found

Tanmay, an avid traveller and the owner of YouTube channels Veggie Paaji and Travelling Paaji, which garners over five lakh followers, was once travelling to Ludhiana in Punjab. His travel horrors began unfolding when he began checking into his room.

I had booked the room online but upon reaching the hotel, I was charged extra unnecessarily. The staff began giving lame excuses that the room allotted to me by the online partner was not included in their contract with the booking service, recounts Tanmay. But because he was too exhausted to fight, he agreed to their unjust demand, Tanmay tells us.

To his disbelief, however, his distress had just begun. After freshening up, he left the hotel to explore the town. As he was trying to return late that night, he realised that the hotel was in an odd location of the city, with drivers refusing him the ride.

I managed to reach the hotel with a locals help. It was already late, and I badly needed some rest. But the entrance to the hotel was locked, there was no security staff at the gate and the phone number of the hotel was unreachable. But the horror of that trip taught me to book only hotels that have good reviews on multiple booking apps as well as on Google, adds Tanmay.

As a last piece of advice, the YouTuber goes on assert how irrespective of the travel purpose, one must keep an eye on everything one travels with lest he/she becomes an unwitting target for con artists. Keep your camera, laptop and other valuables in the bag-pack you carry around and not in their respective bags and definitely not lying around in the room, he cautions.

Health wise

Mohit Poddar, co-founder of Shoes on Loose, has some advice regarding health, beginning with insuring it. Its important to remember that when it comes to health, insurance covers most of it. But not many pay attention to the benefits they can bring, shares Poddar.

For instance, insurance proves to be a boon especially while on international trips. Sadly, however, for most, travel insurance serves as a criterion, not a necessity. Even if there are no issues around the visa availability, a huge percentage of travellers prefer to skip the routine of getting travel insurance.

Usually, the lack of awareness and a what-could-wrong attitude accentuates, sometimes fatally, unfortunate and adverse situations that even seasoned travellers have faced because theyve ignored experts advices regarding the destination or the dangers there.

Then begins the blame-game, with people pointing fingers at either the travel company or the insurance company for not covering various aspects of health and activities, which the traveller hadnt researched about or understood before getting on the trip.

So, while its imperative to make up ones mind about where to travel, it is just as, if not more, important to tick all the to-do boxes on the checklist. Because to make a pleasant memorable trip, precaution serves better than regret.
A woman charged with the alleged murder of a man stabbed in Melbourne's north-east will undergo an urgent medical assessment.

The 55-year-old man was found dead at a home at Koitaki Court in Heidelberg West about 12.05am on Friday.

Bree Dellamarta, from Heidelberg West, was charged with one count of murder.

The man was allegedly stabbed to death at the small house in Heidelberg West. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui

The 41-year-old woman faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday afternoon where she sat with her arms crossed throughout a brief hearing.
EDWARDSVILLE  There was a sea of white coats in the audience Thursday afternoon at the Meridian Ballroom in the Morris Conference Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and for good reason.

Dozens of SIUE School of Pharmacy students were among the hundreds of students on hand as Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker announced the release of $10,537,000 in funds to create preliminary designs for a health sciences complex on the campus.

The complex, which will be located off University Park Drive near the School of Pharmacy, will span approximately 221,000 square feet. The projects total cost is approximately $105 million. It would be the largest building on the SIUE campus.

With this investment, were giving SIUEs current and future students a world class education in a world class facility, and were providing employers with world class talent from one of our states greatest institutions, Pritzker said. The future of our state is in education. The choices that we make about our schools now will determine the quality of our future.

The health sciences complex will provide modern classrooms, teaching and research laboratories, faculty offices, administrative spaces and student resource and study spaces.

The project consists of a one-year design process and is anticipated to be followed by a two-year construction timeline.

If everything goes well, we would move into the building by the fall of 2023, SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook said. Otherwise, the fall of 2024 might be a possibility. If we get full funding soon at the end of the design phase, we could move right into construction.

SIUE operates a School of Pharmacy (SOP), a School of Nursing (SON), a School of Dental Medicine (SDM) in Alton, and related health sciences programs in various disciplines to serve central and southern Illinois. Currently, the SOP is primarily located in three buildings in University Park, while the SON is housed in Alumni Hall within the campus core. The SDM will remain in Alton.

The new building will allow the School of Pharmacy, the School of Nursing and the related health sciences to operate in the same facility.

To have a building of this size means that we can those various schools and departments all there together, Pembrook said. Health care delivery has moved more and more to a model of working in teams. When youre taking care of a patient and doctors are talking to nurses and therapists, to be able to have those individuals working together and learning together in a building of this size, its incredibly exciting.

Pritzker believes the new building will be another huge step forward for SIUE.

Already SIUE has made a name for itself with its health sciences programs from the standalone schools of Pharmacy, Nursing and Dental Medicine to the programs in public health and exercise science and nutrition, just to name a few, Pritzker said. It will build on the way that those programs are integrated, allowing students and professors to learn together in various disciplines in a collaborative space.

Perhaps just as importantly, this building will increase the School of Nursings enrollment capacity at a crucial moment. Illinois faces a nursing shortage across a number of specialties and that means that the students who learn at this facility will be preparing for good-paying jobs in a field that is growing.

The release in funding for the Health Sciences Building is part of a $45 billion bipartisan capital bill that was passed by the Illinois legislature last May.

You vote for these things to address infrastructure needs in your area, state Rep. Jay Hoffman said. There was a time during the session where some people were saying we cant do this, and well just use the money for roads and bridges. Were going to address the road and bridge needs of this state, but were going to make a commitment to higher education.

Among the speakers on Thursday was Jessica Hammel, a senior nursing student from Carlyle and a Lincoln Laureate.

Hammel expressed her appreciation to the governor for the funding of the new facility.

This new building will provide SIUE nursing, pharmacy and applied health students the opportunity to learn professional skills in an innovative, state-of-the-art simulation laboratory and learning center, to engage in interprofessional education and to participate in biomedical and clinical research, all with the goal of enhancing collaboration among the health professions, Hammel said.

Students from the southern Illinois region and beyond will be eager to attend this school at SIUE in a new modern facility, specifically with the goal of attracting more nursing students and to address the shortage of RNs in the rural and southern regions. Our undergraduate, graduate and professional students alike will reap the benefits of this new learning center.

SIU System Board of Trustees Chair J. Phil Gilbert released a statement following Pritzkers announcement of the health sciences complex.

Capital infrastructure investment is critical for the long-term success of the Southern Illinois University System and the thousands of students, who do and will one day call a SIU campus home, Gilbert said. On behalf of the Board of Trustees and everyone at SIU Edwardsville, I want to personally thank Governor Pritzker for this first release of capital dollars that will allow us to begin construction of the Health Sciences Building.

For many SIUE administrators, faculty and stuff, the announcement of a health sciences complex is the culmination of a years-long effort to provide such a facility.

Before SIUE experienced significant expansion in the health sciences, our faculty and administrators envisioned a future building that could enrich our programs, create synergies in the health sciences, and expand our capacity to serve our students and the needs of our region, said Denise Cobb, SIUE provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. Our nursing and pharmacy programs have thrived and grown since those initial conversations. Their students and alumnis impact on the region continue to be significant.

Vice Chancellor for Administration Rich Walker said traditional SIUE design elements will be considered for the HSB design.

Red brick towers, glass curtain walls, and tan colored bands reflect the existing campus design theme, Walker said.

The Illinois Capital Development Board will oversee the projects design and construction in accordance with protocol for state-appropriated capital projects.
Walking out of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday night after the first day of opening arguments in the impeachment trial of President Trump, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., congratulated Adam Schiff, the lead manager for House Democrats, on his presentation of the case.

Good job, Graham told Schiff. Youre very well-spoken.

It was unusual praise coming from Graham, one of Trumps staunchest defenders in Congress. The South Carolina Republican has said he has already made up his mind that the president should be acquitted.

Im not trying to pretend to be a fair juror here, he said in December.

Good job, @LindseyGrahamSC tells @RepAdamSchiff as the impeachment trial wraps for the day. Very well spoken. pic.twitter.com/NC9jC3367o  Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) January 23, 2020

And Graham wasnt so complimentary to Schiff on Tuesday.

Quite frankly, having Adam Schiff lecture the Senate about fairness and due process is like listening to an arsonist talk about fire prevention, Graham tweeted.

On Wednesday, Schiff and House Democrats delivered an eight-hour presentation that tested the patience and stamina of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. More than a dozen GOP senators left the Senate chamber during Schiffs two-and-a-half-hour opening statement, defying rules that require all senators to be at their desks for the entirety of the trial.

Graham left the Senate chamber for over 20 minutes during the hearing Wednesday night. Asked by a Yahoo News reporter where he went, Graham replied: To the bathroom.

Ill tell you what, he added, if theres a bladder contest Im entering Schiff.

Schiff refused to take questions from reporters upon leaving the Hill, but when asked if he was tired, he laughed and said: Yes, I am.

Story continues

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:
 Close Brexit timeline: From 2013 referendum promise to a 2020 exit

Boris Johnson has described the signing as a fantastic moment which would bring an end to more than three years of argument and division since the referendum vote to leave the EU in 2016.

The step forward in the path towards Brexit came as the PM faced challenges on the domestic front - being urged to scrap HS2 by a group of 13 Tory MPs while his business secretary Andrea Leadsom met with the family of Harry Dunn to discuss the ongoing effort to bring Anne Sacoolas back to the UK to face justice.

Meanwhile the passing of Good Friday architect and former Stormont deputy first minister Seamus Mallon prompted tributes from across the political spectrum. Tony Blair, who worked with him to bring peace to Northern Ireland, said he was "Brave, blunt...someone deeply respected and admired across the troubled landscape of Irish politics"

And in Labour leadership contest news, Len McClusky's union Unite expressed its support for Rebecca Long-Bailey to succeed Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader.

Here are all of the day's events as they happened:
by Zachary Hanshew | Nuggets Correspondent | Fri, Jan 24th 7:02am EST

Jamal Murray will sit Friday against the Pelicans while dealing with a left ankle sprain. (Miehighsports.com)

Fantasy Impact:

Murray has been diagnosed with a left low-ankle sprain and has no "firm timetable" for return after sustaining the injury on Jan. 15 against Charlotte. Monte Morris will likely be the starter until Murray returns, though Morris isn't a must-own in 12-team leagues thanks to some underwhelming play.
Delhi to ease restrictions, if Covid cases come down in next 2-3 days: Health Minister

Lata Mangeshkar health update: Doctor says,'She in ICU with Covid-19 and pneumonia, will be under observation'

Coronavirus: 10 people who returned from China under watch in hospitals in Kerala, Mumbai, Hyderabad

India

oi-PTI

Mumbai, Jan 25: Ten people--seven in Kerala, two in Mumbai and one in Hyderabad--who were among the hundreds of passengers who returned from China in the recent days are under observation in hospitals to check for possible exposure to the deadly novel coronavirus, central and state officials said on Friday.

Officials in Kerala said another 73 people were being kept under medical surveillance at their homes in the state.

As over 20,000 passengers returning from mainland China and Hong Kong underwent thermal screenings at the seven international airports of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Cochin, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS) in Delhi has set up an isolation ward and kept beds ready for providing treatment to any suspected case of the respiratory infection.

According to Kerala state health ministry officials in Thiruvananthapuram, seven people who had shown mild symptoms of fever, cough and sore throat are under watch in state-run hospitals in different districts in the state. Among them, two of them are in Kochi, while one each is in observation in the state capital, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Pathanamthitta.

The state government has advised those under home surveillance to remain at home for 28 days from the date of their departure from China.

The coronavirus is a large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from the common cold to acute respiratory syndromes, but the virus in China is a novel strain and not seen before. It has killed 26 people so far, and has caused alarm because of its similarity to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome).

According to a union health ministry official, two persons who returned from China have been kept under observation at a Mumbai hospital while one person has been placed under watch at a hospital in Hyderabad.

However, no positive case has been detected in the country so far, he said. The official said a total of 20,844 passengers who travelled in 96 flights from China have been screened at the airports till January 24.

Also, on the basis of the details provided by the Indian Embassy in China, around 25 students who have returned to India recently from Wuhan are being closely monitored, the official said.

Their details have been shared with district-level officers and they are being monitored closely for any symptoms. Two people who returned to Mumbai from China have been kept in an isolation ward at Kasturba Hospital, and their blood samples collected to check for the new strain of coronavirus, officials said in Mumbai.

As many as 1,789 passengers underwent thermal screening at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai for the coronavirus since January 19 and two of them were admitted to civic-run Kasturba Hospital in the city as a precaution, they said.

Till now, no cases of coronavirus infection have been detected during screening, a health department official said. "No passenger with history of visit to Wuhan city of China in the last 14 days was found positive (for the virus) during thermal scanning," he said.

Coronavirus cases were first reported from Wuhan, the capital of central China's Hubei province. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has created an isolation ward at the Kasturba hospital.

"The isolation ward has been created for diagnosis and treatment of persons suspected to have the virus infection," said Dr Padmaja Keskar, executive health officer of the BMC.

Keskar said the two persons under observation at the hospital have mild cough and exhibited cold-related symptoms. Doctors at the airport have been asked to send travellers returning from China to the isolation ward if they show any symptoms of the novel coronavirus, she said.

"All private doctors in the city have been asked to alert us if they observe symptoms of coronavirus in any person who has returned from China," she added.

According to Kasturba Hospital sources, they have received detailed instructions from the Maharashtra government about how to deal with a coronavirus infection.

Apart from Kasturba Hospital, quarantine facilities have also been provided at Naidu Hospital in Pune, the officials said. During the screening at the Mumbai airport, six passengers -- three from Pune and another three from Mumbai -- underwent further medical examination, he said.

"Four of them were found to be perfectly alright. As a precaution, two others who were suffering from a minor cold and cough have been admitted to the Kasturba Hospital in Mumbai and kept under monitoring," he said.

Coronavirus: 14 tested and cleared in UK, most tests underway

AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria said, "We have an isolation ward and we have beds kept ready for providing care and treatment for suspected coronavirus cases in Delhi or elsewhere in India."

"All precautionary measures -- in terms of personal protection equipment for healthcare workers to prevent the spread of the disease while treating infected patients -- are in place."

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Saturday, January 25, 2020, 0:54 [IST]
-- Company Compare Pits Shortlisted Employers Head-to-Head

-- Collections Streamlines Job Search Process

-- Messaging Tools Allows Candidates to Communicate Directly With Employers

LONDON, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Glassdoor , one of the world's largest job and recruiting sites, is introducing a number of new features within its desktop site and mobile app to help job seekers manage their entire job search process in one, seamless experience. From today, the majority of users will be able to utilise:

Company Compare provides job seekers with an easier, faster way to compare any two potential employers and how they stack up across a range of important workplace attributes; this includes employee-based ratings for overall company satisfaction, career opportunities, compensation & benefits, work-life balance, senior management, culture and values, and whether employees approve of the way their CEO is leading the company. Additionally, people will also be able to compare open jobs, salaries, "pros" and "cons", and featured reviews for companies side by side.

Collections is a one-stop solution enabling job seekers to be better organised and focused throughout their job search process on mobile. Collections by Glassdoor allows people to explore job listings, company reviews and other content relevant to their job search that they can organise and save for revisiting later. Job seekers can also add and save notes for jobs, reviews and other content in their personalised collections, organising the entire experience within the Glassdoor Jobs Mobile App . In addition, Collections provides personalised recommendations for jobs, salaries, interview questions and reviews, with the goal of proactively helping job seekers to land a job they love.

Candidate Messaging enables employers to leverage Glassdoor's applicant management system to communicate easily and directly with job seekers that have applied to their roles. This new feature eliminates the "application black box" by allowing job seekers to speak directly to recruiters.

"Searching for a new job is a typically stressful experience. It can be a scattered and disjointed experience, with people bouncing between multiple tools and resources to manage and track the many different stages of the job search process," said Paul Goldshteyn, Mobile Product Lead at Glassdoor. "Glassdoor is focused on empowering job seekers with the content and tools to help them find the job or company that's right for them. With these new features, we are offering a first-of-its-kind experience that allows people to more easily organise their entire job search from start to finish."

Glassdoor for Employers Improvements: Hiring the Candidate of Tomorrow

Glassdoor has also introduced several new improvements for employers, helping them target and recruit quality talent at scale. These improvements include:

Nested and Affiliated profiles on Glassdoor : Helps demonstrate in more detail and provide more context for employers that are part of a large and often complex organisation

: Helps demonstrate in more detail and provide more context for employers that are part of a large and often complex organisation Revamped Employer Centre : Serving as a central hub for all employer Glassdoor needs, the revamped Employer Center makes it easier to navigate between posting jobs, responding to reviews, tracking brand reputation and more

Further Information

Product demo and interviews available on request.

Glassdoor is available on the App Store and Google Play

About Glassdoor

Glassdoor combines all the latest jobs with millions of reviews and insights to make it easy for people to find a job that is uniquely right for them. As a result, Glassdoor helps employers hire truly informed candidates at scale through effective recruiting solutions like job advertising and employer branding products. Launched in 2008, Glassdoor now has reviews and insights for 900,000 companies located in more than 190 countries.

Glassdoor is a registered trademark of Glassdoor, Inc.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1081178/Company_Compare___Google_v_Facebook.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1081170/Collections.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/449764/Glassdoor_Logo.jpg
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 14:51:41|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

NEW YORK, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Now that 2020 is underway, China and the United States are expected to "work towards a relationship of coordination, cooperation, and stability," a senior Chinese diplomat has said.

In a welcome speech at a gala dinner celebrating the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Saturday, Chinese Consul General in New York Huang Ping expressed his good wishes and expectations for the two countries and their peoples in the Year of the Rat.

Noting that he considers 2020 "a year of new beginnings and renewals," he hopes both China and the United States make new progress together, with their bilateral relationship taking "a new turn for more positive and win-win results."

"As we hail the Year of the Rat, I hope our two peoples can move up on a pleasant note, and the two nations can work towards a relationship of coordination, cooperation, and stability," he said.

Speaking about his resolutions for the year ahead, the diplomat expects the U.S. and China to show more mutual trust, enhance understanding of each other, and create happier lives for their respective peoples.

"Forty years into diplomatic ties, our relationship has been continuously enriched by different shades of exchanges, and still enjoys great potential for growth. In this New Year of the Rat, let's keep up our efforts for the mission of our friendship, and bring new tangible benefits to our two peoples and beyond," Huang added.

A spectacular fireworks display followed the gala dinner, lighting up the sky above the Hudson River as part of the evening's celebrations.
An international team of researchers is calling for a large-scale effort to map the health effects of cumulative exposure to environmental components such as chemical pollutants.

Image Credit: Schankz/Shutterstock.com

Referred to as the exposome, the authors say a more complete picture of this exposure is needed for a better understanding on how it impacts on human health.

Over the last twenty years, the field of genomics has revolutionized scientists understanding of the genetic risk factors involved in human disease risk. However, it has also been transformative in revealing how genetic determinants are only a small part of the bigger picture, accounting for just a fraction of peoples overall disease risk.

A coordinated and international effort is needed

Now, a review article from researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health; Northeastern University; Utrecht University, the Netherlands and University of Luxembourg is calling for a large-scale effort - similar to the that of the Human Genome Project - to map the human exposome and provide a more comprehensive picture of its impact on human health. The article was recently published in the journal Science.

Our genes are not our destiny, nor do they provide a complete picture of our risk for diseaseOur health is also shaped by what we eat and do, our experiences, and where we live and work." Gary Miller

First author, Roel Vermeulen, says that, currently, less than half of the nongenetic disease risk is accounted for. This suggests the existence of environmental risk factors and exposure to those may be largely preventable.

Given the growing recognition of the important role that nongenetic factors play in disease risk, Vermeulen thinks that a coordinated and international effort is needed to characterize the exposome at a scale comparable to that of the human genome.

More about the exposome

The concept of the exposome was first proposed by scientist Christopher Wild in 2005 as a way of representing the non-genetic, environmental factors involved in health and disease states.

These factors are not limited to the hundreds of thousands of chemicals that enter our bodies through the air we breathe or the food and water we consume. They also include the body's response to exposures ranging from the built environment and social circumstances, through to bodily processes such as inflammation, oxidative stress, infection, and gut flora activity.

Current research approaches fail to address the chemical complexity of our world

"Current research approaches and regulatory policies fail to address the chemical complexity of our world," said Vermeulen and team.

Traditionally, researchers understanding of how chemicals in the environment might affect human health has been based on studies examining one or a small number of pollutants at a time.

"However, our exposures are not a simple sum of a handful of chemicals," write the authors. "A reductionist approach might isolate the role of a single variable, but it will inadequately capture the complexity of the exposome."

For a better understanding of the effects that environmental exposures have on human health, researchers are starting to conduct environment-wide association studies (EWAS) - the exposome equivalent of genome-wide association studies (GWAS).

Vermeulen and team say that gaining a better picture of the exposomes impact on health not only involves understanding many daily chemical exposures, but also the complex ways that these interact with cells.

EWAS studies benefit from the use of high-resolution mass spectrometry for the measurement of small molecules such as air pollutants, plasticizers, and pesticides, as well as nutrients and biological metabolites.

Large-scale studies are needed, says the team

One challenge exposome researchers face is the relatively low sample size in studies of nongenetic environmental exposures. In genomic studies, sizes need to be more than 100,000 for researchers to make any significant ground in understanding the heritability involved in common chronic diseases. Vermeulen and colleagues propose that similar or even larger sample sizes are needed for exposome studies.

The authors also call for improved screening technologies and data resources to help identify associations and better understand the composition of the chemical environment and its biological consequences.

Large-scale studies would inform regulatory bodies about the chemicals that pose the greatest threat to human health: "If the systematic analysis reveals major adverse effects on human health from exposure to currently approved or potential replacement chemicals, then those compounds should be removed from the marketplace," says the team.

Furthermore, data on the effects that different classes of chemicals have on specific biological pathways could aid the design of new chemicals that have a minimal impact on human health and the environment.

Acquiring more detailed information on the health impact of nongenetic factors and chemical exposures would also help scientists create an exposome risk score (ERS) that could be used to help patients and their clinicians gauge disease risk more accurately.

"Consolidating knowledge garnered from GWAS and EWAS would allow us to map the gene and environment interface, which is where nature meets nurture and chemistry meets biology," concludes the team.
CEDAR CREEK  A Cass County resident was taken to the hospital late Wednesday night after he fired multiple shots at authorities with a pistol.

Cass County Sheriffs Office deputies were involved in a shootout after they responded to an emergency call at a home on Raven Drive. The house is located northeast of Cedar Creek near the Platte River. Authorities received the emergency call at 10:25 p.m.

A female called authorities and said her husband had tried to commit suicide earlier in the evening. The man, whose name was not released, took off in his truck afterwards. CCSO deputies saw the mans truck in a ditch while they were heading to the home. The man was not in the truck and had fled the scene on foot.

Deputies arrived at the house and began talking to the female on the front porch. The man returned to the location and entered the home through the back door. He then emerged out of the front door and began firing shots at deputies with a pistol.

Deputies returned fire in self-defense and hit the subject multiple times. Deputies rendered medical aid to the man until Louisville Fire and Rescue personnel arrived on scene. They transported the man to Bergan Mercy Medical Center in Omaha.

No deputies were wounded during the shootout. All of the deputies who were involved were placed on administrative leave in accordance with Cass County Sheriffs Office policy.

Cass County Sheriff Bill Brueggemann has requested that the Nebraska State Patrol conduct the investigation into the incident. State patrol personnel will interview deputies and other witnesses as part of their investigation.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0

Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
Taylor Hill/FilmMagic/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- "Sopranos" actress Annabella Sciorra took the witness stand on Thursday at Harvey Weinstein's criminal trial and testified in wrenching detail about the night nearly 30 years ago that she said the disgraced Hollywood producer violently raped her at her apartment.



Sciorra's testimony is the first and among the most highly anticipated at a pivotal moment in the #MeToo movement as Weinstein faces rape and sexual assault charges in New York.



Throughout direct examination by prosecutors, the veteran actress, who grew up in Brooklyn, avoided using the mega-producer's name -- referring to him consistently as "the defendant" and positioning herself on the witness stand so that she was partially facing the jury as Weinstein sat over her right shoulder at the defense table.



In perhaps the most chilling moment of the morning's testimony, Sciorra rose and scanned the courtroom after being asked to identify Weinstein. She extended her hand in his direction and described what he was wearing: a black jacket, white shirt and white tie.



Weinstein stared at her and nodded his head as if to say hello. She looked right back at him, but ignored the gesture and returned to her seat, her face set in apparent discomfort.



Six women are expected to testify in the trial, and Weinstein is charged with crimes related to two of them. The rest, including Sciorra, are being called in support of prosecutors' efforts to demonstrate a pattern of sexual predation.



Actress Ellen Barkin sat in the back row of the gallery throughout Sciorra's testimony, as did Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, who sat in the front row behind his prosecutors.



Emotional testimony



The actress said she first met Weinstein in at a Los Angeles party in 1990 or 1991, and at the end of the night she said he offered her -- and she accepted -- a ride home to her hotel. Their first encounter was uneventful, she testified. They talked about movies and he told her to send her any good scripts she might come across.



In an effort to help her friend Warren Light and the Naked Angel Theater Company, she sent a script for "The Night We Never Met," which had been written for Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, to Weinstein. The producer asked for a reading, so they hosted one, with Sciorra reading for Parker's role as Parker could not make the reading.



Weinstein insisted Sciorra play Parker's part, the actress said, despite Sciorra's protestations.



"He said he would not produce the movie if I was not in it with Matthew. And I -- you know -- felt bad about that because it was specifically written about Sarah Jessica Parker, and I felt bad for my friend Warren Light. So, I agreed to go ahead and be in the movie," Sciorra testified.



The movie was released in the spring of 1993. During the winter of 1993-94, Sciorra was invited to a dinner in New York with Weinstein, actress Uma Thurman and several other individuals. As she got up to leave the dinner around 9:30 p.m., Weinstein offered her a ride to her nearby Gramercy Park apartment.



"I went upstairs and got ready for bed," she said. "I washed my face brushed my teeth and I put on a nightgown."



The white cotton nightgown, she said, was her grandmother's and "had been given to me by my mother's cousin in Italy, because I didn't really have anything of my grandmother's because she died very young."



Without warning, there was a knock at the door, Sciorra said. She assumed it was a neighbor or the building doorman, so she opened it. Weinstein pushed himself inside and began walking through the apartment. She testified that it appeared he was looking to see if anyone else was in the apartment.



"Then he started to unbutton his shirt and I then realized he thought we were going to be having sex," she said.



Sciorra testified that she started backing up, thinking she could make it into her bathroom. With tears running from her eyes in the courthouse, she stood up and clasped her hands above her head to describe the way she claimed Weinstein pinned her down on a bed when she could not reach the bathroom.



"I was punching him, I was kicking him, I was just trying to get him away from me," Sciorra said, crying, but with her hands "locked" by him, she "couldn't fight any more."



At a certain point he stopped, she said, and ejaculated on her leg and nightgown, saying he had "perfect timing." She claimed he then forcibly performed oral sex on her, saying, "This is for you."



"I didn't have very much fight left inside of me at that point. I said, 'No! No!' But I mean, there was not much I could do at that point -- my body shut down. It was just so disgusting that my body started to shake in a way that was very unusual. I didn't really even know what was happening. It was like a seizure or something," Sciorra said.



Afterwards, she said, "The defendant left, he walked out."



Several weeks later, she said she crossed paths with Weinstein in a restaurant.



"I confronted him about what happened in my apartment. I tried to talk to him about what happened. And I told him I woke up and that I had blacked out or fainted, and he said, 'That's what all the nice Catholic girls say.' And then he leaned into me and said, 'This remains between you and I,'" Sciorra said. "It was very menacing -- his eyes were black, and I thought he was going to hit me right there. He was threatening and I was afraid."



After the alleged attack, Sciorra said she resumed her life "to the best of my ability." That included a lot of crying, she said, and "what I now know is called dissociative experiences."



"I spent a lot of time alone, didn't want to see any people. I didn't want to talk about what happened. I disappeared," she said, adding as she choked back tears that she began to drink "a lot" and cut herself also "a lot."



I had this wall that was -- it was white -- and then I began to paint it like a blood red color with tubes of oil paint," she said. "It was this massive wall. I dont know what I was thinking. I began to cut myself."



"I bled from my finger and my hands into this masterpiece, and wherever I would put the blood I would take pieces of gold leaf and mark it, she said, referring to the spots where she would mingle the blood with the red paint on the wall.



Asked why she did this, she paused, and grew emotional.



I dont know," she replied. "I didnt feel good.



Cross-examination



Defense attorney Donna Rotunno cross-examined Sciorra Thursday afternoon. Under her questioning, Sciorra explained why she didn't call the police about the alleged attack.



"At the time, I didn't understand that was rape," she responded.



Sciorra also said under questioning that she had not asked the doorman why he let Weinstein up without announcing him, determined whether there were cameras in the building, determined whether Weinstein signed in downstairs, or complained to the board about someone being let up to her apartment without notice.



"No," Sciorra said, staring back at Rotunno. "I was devastated."



In the course of several hours of often tense cross-examination, Rotunno tried repeatedly to impeach Sciorras credibility, with virtually no success.



Each time Rotunno appeared to have laid a rhetorical trap for Sciorra, the actress struck back, turning the tables on the line of questioning and forcing Rotunno to move on.



Sciorra was cross-examined about an incident shes previously described at the Cannes Film Festival in 1995, where she says Weinstein turned up before dawn at her hotel room door and knocked.



Referring to the alleged attack at her Grammercy Park apartment, Rotunno asked, sarcastically, You already know you heard a knock at the door and answered it without seeing the other end, didnt go well correct?



Correct, Sciorra replied.



And you open the door?



Correct, Sciorra said, explaining that she opened the door to find Weinstein standing in the hallway in nothing but his underwear.



Hes standing there, and you say you couldnt get out of the room  Why didnt you just close the door?



Sciorra leaned in for emphasis, focused her eyes on Rotunno and said, sharply, because he was IN my room.



Sciorra said he ultimately called hotel security, but by the time they arrived, Weinstein was leaving or had just left.



Did you make any formal complaint to the hotel?



No, Sciorra shot back, holding her gaze on the defense attorney. He owns the hotel.



At another point, Sciorra again seemed to catch Rotunno off guard.



Referring to an event where Sciorra and Weinstein ran into each other after the alleged winter 1993-94 rape, Rotunno asked the witness, When you saw Harvey Weinstein at the Miramax event, did you say to him, You raped me?



Yes I did, Sciorra replied, stopping Rotunno cold for a moment.



In their final bid to impeach Sciorras account, the defense played a video clip of Sciorra appearing on The David Letterman Show, where Sciorra participated in a comedy sketch in which she claimed her father raised iguanas in the circus.



When the bit ended, Letterman teased Sciorra about the claim she made in the sketch, and she jokingly replied, I have a bad reputation where I lie.



On re-direct, prosecutor Joan Illuzzi seemed to mock the defenses effort with the Letterman clip.



The tales you were lying about were about your father raising iguanas in the circus? Illuzzi asked Sciorra.



Yes, the actress replied.



And this is not a circus? Illuzzi replied.



No, Sciorra solemnly replied.



If you or someone you know experienced sexual assault and is seeking resources, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
WASHINGTON  In a pivotal year in the legal battle over abortion, tens of thousands of anti-abortion activists gathered in Washington, D.C., on Friday for the annual March for Life that featured President Donald Trump as the first sitting president to appear in person at the event in its 47-year history.

Calling it a profound honor" to be the first president to attend, he said that "unborn children have never had a stronger defender in the White House," citing his own actions.

"When it comes to abortion ... Democrats have embraced the most radical and extreme positions," Trump said.

In some ways, his speech resembled the ones he gives at campaign rallies. He recited praise for the size of the crowd, bragged about the number of federal judges he has appointed, and attacked Democrats over social policy.

Trump also appeared to make a reference to impeachment by telling abortion opponents: "They are coming after me because I am fighting for you."

In his speech at the rally, Trump made a special appeal to women, saying they are using the power of "their votes" to fight abortion.

Following his remarks, the audience responded with chants of "four more years."

Rachel Maneval, 22, a veterinary assistant, has been marching with her parents since she was a child. She saidTrumps appearance as the march was encouraging for her and for the anti-abortion movement. She was wearing a Trump 2020 hat.

I hope that people see that its for love, not for hatred and disgust, she said.

In an apparent nod to the powerful impact of women voters in the last two elections, the theme for the gathering in this contentious election year is "Life Empower: Pro-life is Pro-Woman."

The march is the centerpiece for three days of activities that include a youth rally, a Christian rock concert and an expo featuring anti-abortion organizations and ministries.

One participant, Frances Floresca, 23, a recent graduate of the University of Utah, called the March for Life the real Womens March. She was wearing a beanie that said Love them both.

Story continues

We are fighting for women and babies, she said. Were standing for the women who need to be strong so they dont get an abortion.

Both Patricia Carroll, 60, and Bonita Ravolt, 78, arrived from Chicago to attend the March for Life for the third time.

President Donald Trump arrives to speak at the annual "March for Life" rally.

Ravolt, a retired registered nurse, told USA TODAY that shes spent the last 25 years protesting against abortion.

Im so proud to be here, and see all these beautiful mothers and beautiful fathers, she said.

The annual event began in 1974 when a small group of anti-abortion activists, who were trying to lobby Congress over the issue, sought to draw attention to the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade ruling that declared unduly restrictive state regulation of abortion unconstitutional.

Carroll, who works at American Airlines, said she was in the eight grade at the time of the Supreme Court ruling and has been against it since then.

My mother was very pro-life, and it was always instilled with me how wrong that law was, she said. I cant wait until abortion becomes unthinkable, she added, mirroring the term used frequently by speakers and March for Life organizers.

This year is a critical one for both the abortion rights and anti-abortion forces as the Supreme Court relitigates a 2016 ruling that made it harder to get abortions in Texas.

The high court will likely rule on a similar law in Louisiana, requiring abortion providers to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.

Trump's appearance is particularly striking since past president's who supported anti-abortion views did so more at a distance. Both Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush steered clear of a personal appearance at the annual march, preferring instead to send remarks for others to deliver, speak via telephone or invite organizers to visit the White House.

Last year, Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen, made a surprise appearance at the march. "We've got a record of extraordinary progress on the right to life," Pence said of the Trump administration. "This will be the generation that restores the right to life in America."

He later touted the administration's nomination of conservative judges and allowing "states to defund Planned Parenthood."

In staking out a higher profile at the event this year, Trump underscores his steady wooing of white evangelical leaders and voters.

I think its a brilliant move, said Ralph Reed, chair of the Faith and Freedom Coalition and one of Trumps most prominent evangelical supporters. Reed said the presidents appearance would energize and remind pro-life voters what a great friend this president and administration has been.

March for Life: Trump to join fired-up crowds as anti-abortion laws face court challenges

Hours before Trump's address, his re-election campaign announced creation of a "Pro-Life Voices for Trump" coalition. It will be "dedicated to recruiting and activating Americans with pro-life values in support of President Trumps re-election," the campaign said in a statement.

Democratic opponents said a second term for Trump will mean the end of the Roe vs. Wade ruling establishing abortion rights.

"The Trump administration and Republicans are actively taking away a womans constitutional right to make her own reproductive healthcare decisions," tweeted Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. "We must keep up the fight to protect Roe and access to care."

Trump's anti-abortion position marks a sharp reversal for the free-wheeling New York developer who described himself as "very pro-choice" in a 1999 appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press."

During the 2016 campaign for the GOP nomination, Trump said his views on abortion had changed and that he was now anti-abortion except in cases of rape, incest and when the life of the mother is at risk.

Over the last 10 years, the Republican Party has undergone a revolution, displaying a new willingness to embrace the issue as not only being morally right but politically smart, said Mallory Quigley, a spokeswoman for the Susan B. Anthony List and Women Speak Out PAC. The group is planning to spend $52 million this cycle to help elect candidates opposed to abortion rights. Its president, Marjorie Dannenfelser, will serve as national co-chair of a new campaign coalition, Pro-life Voices for Trump.

Last year alone, 58 anti-abortion laws were passed, including 25 that banned the procedure to some extent, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports reproductive rights. Further, the number of abortions performed in the United States reached an all-time low.

Contributing: Nicquel Terry Ellis, USA TODAY; Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: March for Life 2020: Trump lauds anti-abortion efforts at DC rally
Just a few years ago, intimacy direction was such a new practice in the theater that hiring someone to choreograph sex scenes was almost unheard of. Then along came #MeToo, and awareness rapidly began to shift. By last summer, intimacy direction was on Broadway.

Now Oregon Shakespeare Festival, one of the nations leading regional theaters, has upped the ante, hiring a resident intimacy director, Sarah Lozoff, for all 11 productions in its 2020 season.

In a field that so far has relied largely on show-by-show contracts for intimacy directors, a salaried position with benefits is a significant step.

Its huge, said Tonia Sina of the organization Intimacy Directors and Coordinators, which certifies intimacy directors for stage and screen work.
Body fluids of suspected coronavirus cases will be sent to National Institute of Virology, Pune.

Kochi: Kerala is getting the biggest fright from the coronavirus outbreak in China. Seven people showing mild symptoms of fever, cough and sore throat are under watch in hospitals in different districts of the state. Two are in the state capital and one each in Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Pathanamthitta.

These are all people who have recently returned from China where the mystery virus has claimed more than 25 lives.

Kerala officials said another 73 people are under medical surveillance at home. They have been advised to remain at home for 28 days from the date of their departure from China.

The Kerala health department has issued WHO-approved treatment guidelines to its public health staff to arrest the spread of the virus should any of those under observation be confirmed as coronavirus positive.

Health minister K K Shylaja said instructions have been given to set up isolation wards in medical colleges, district hospitals and general hospitals in all districts. Regular meetings are being organised to coordinate the preventive measures.

Health personnel are screening passengers at all airports and seaports in the state. A stringent screening system has been set up at the Kochi International Airport to screen passengers who have been to China. Any person who has been to Wuhan and showing symptoms of cold, cough and fever is being immediately shifted to hospital.

A 30-year-old man from Ernakulam who was in China but did not visit Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, has reported symptoms such as cold and fever and has been kept in an isolation ward.

The additional district medical officer of Ernakulam, Dr S Sreedevi, said samples of his body fluids would be sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune for tests.

The man had consulted a doctor at a private hospital and was referred to the Ernakulam hospital in the wake of the virus outbreak in China.

Another person under observation is a female MBBS student from Kottayam district who recently returned from her college in China. The district medical office said she has no health issues. She was put under observation as a precautionary measure.

With a Keralite nurse employed in Saudi Arabia suspected to be infected with the virus, labour minister T.P. Ramakrishnan has written to the central government seeking measures to allay the apprehensions of other nurses from Kerala employed in that country.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 23:50:36|Editor: Mu Xuequan

Video Player Close

BETHLEHEM, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday met with Britain's Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, in the southern West Bank city of Bethlehem, and expressed his hope that the UK would recognize Palestinian statehood.

"We hope to hear in the near future UK's recognition of the Palestinian state, because we have heard that the UK parliament has recommended this to the government, so we hope it would happen," said Abbas.

Abbas thanked Prince Charles for his country's support to the building of Palestinian institutions and to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), as well as its adoption of the two-state solution principle and its position against the 'Deal of the Century', according to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA.

For his part, the Prince of Wales said he is glad that the UK provides assistance to the Palestinians in various forms, thanking Abbas for inviting him to the occupied territory.

"To be able to visit Bethlehem, at least, has been for me a great joy, and I have much appreciated the opportunity to meet quite a wide cross section of Palestinian people during my short visit and to hear something of their lives, and challenges they face," he said.

Prince Charles, on his first official visit to Palestine, toured the historical city of Bethlehem where he visited the Omar Mosque at one corner of the city's central Manger Square, then walked into a special vigil inside the Church of Nativity, believed to be built atop of the grotto where Jesus Christ was born.

He also met a number of Palestinian officials, activists and refugees in the city, before holding talks with Abbas.

Prince Charles's visit came a day after attending an event in Israel marking 75 years since the liberation of the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz.

Over the past three days, a handful of world leaders, attending the holocaust memorial ceremony in Israel, met with the Palestinian president.
Four people in NSW and Queensland are being tested for the coronavirus, which has now killed 26 people in China.

Chinese health authorities confirmed there have been 830 laboratory-confirmed cases so far. Most of those cases were in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where it's believed to have originated in December.

Flight crew and passengers arriving at Sydney International Airport from China on Thursday. Credit:James Alcock

On Friday four people in NSW were tested for the coronavirus. Two patients tested negative for the new virus on Friday afternoon.

Five other previous cases referred to NSW Health were also determined to be other illnesses.
MONTREAL, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Toy Target Inc. is happy to announce that the company is ready to launch its new product range in 2020. Toys to be unveiled include names like Popetz, Party Pets, Fartist Club, and Cutie Cuis.

The complete range will be available at major retail brands across North America and Europe, the names of which will be announced shortly. It is in line with the company's strategy to provide surreal toys and experiences.

On the occasion of this decision, Mr. Richard Stein, Senior Executive Vice President of Sales at Toy Target Inc., said, "Toy Target Inc. continues to push the boundaries with the toys and experiences we bring to market in ways only our iconic brand can." Mr. Stein is a seasoned name of the toy world, and the company feels proud to have him.

The 2020 plan includes leaving a very positive impact on the entire toy industry. The same will be accomplished by offering toys that are entirely new in the market, both in terms of design and quality, that too are at a very reasonable cost.

Highlights of their product, including those mentioned above, are:

Developed with a focus on the safety of kids, thus, rigorous testing of products is done, as per the guidelines of EU legislation (Toy Safety).

Manufactured in factories audited under ICTI and Disney FAMA.

Invented to help children uncover new things while having fun.

Designed by internationally known toy-designers based in the USA , Honk - Kong, and Spain .

About Toy Target Inc.

It is a brainchild of Mr. Michael Guebenlian. It is currently based in Canada and operating in the USA and Hong Kong, with almost 50 employees working under its brand name. The company is in the business of the creation and distribution of toys that are safe for kids. Having served the industry for more than a decade, the company has managed to create a robust image in the minds of kids and parents. The company believes in creating trendsetting toys having a unique design and alluring packaging. Owning a distribution network in 40+ countries, the company has partnered with leading retail and license companies. Toy Target also serves as OEM to many leading brands covering the globe.

Contact us at:

398, Isabey Street, Saint-Laurent, Montreal, Quebec, H4T1V3, Canada

Toll-Free: 1-855-737-4229

Phone: 514-737-4229

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Toy Target Inc.

Related Links

https://toytargetinc.com


JUNCTION CITY, Ore. -- Junction City High School will stay open for classes Friday after a school administrator discovered a threat on a bathroom wall Thursday afternoon.

According to a message sent to students, staff and parents, the threat read: "I'm gonna shoot up the school tomorrow at 0900 hours. Be ready." It was dated Jan. 23. The Junction City Police were brought on to help school administrators investigate.

Police said the school's new closed-circuit television cameras are playing an important role in the investigation.

Principals Dina Marschall and Brian Young said in the message the school takes any threat to its campus and students seriously.

"While classes will resume as usual tomorrow, we ask that you notify us if you decide to keep your child home," Marschall and Young said. "There will be an increased police presence in and around the school and counselors will be available for students needing support."

Police said this is an ongoing investigation, so anyone with any information is asked to come forward.
Police have arrested a man in the disappearance of the 13-year-old girl who was found safe Thursday in north Alabama.

Late Thursday, the Madison County Sheriffs Office announced charges against 24-year-old Rodrigo Chagolla Ortega in the disappearance of Amberly Flores. Amberly had been missing since Tuesday, and was last seen in Pelham.

The FBI, along with task force officers and Madison County sheriffs investigators, followed several leads throughout the day and were eventually led to a residence on Joslin Street in Huntsville, the office said. There, investigators found Amberly and Ortega.

(Amberly) Flores was checked out at a local hospital in north Alabama, and she is doing okay. Once she has been reunited with her family, we will meet with her to learn more about what happened over the last couple of days, the Pelham Police Department said on social media.

Madison County Sheriff Kevin Turner said Ortega met the teen on social media, and Ortega told Amberly he was 19.

We are happy that the victim can be reunited with her family, and that the man responsible has been brought to justice," he said. This is a warning for every one of us. We encourage parents to be mindful of what your kids are doing online and who they are talking to. These threats are real and do exist, he said.

Pelham police will be charging Ortega with interference with child custody, the department posted on social media. Madison County jail records show Ortega has been charged with second-degree rape and enticing a child.

Amberly Nicole Flores (Pelham Police)

A missing alert was issued by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency on Wednesday for Amberly, who was last seen around 7 a.m. Tuesday in the area of the Green Park South mobile home community in Pelham at the time the alert went out.

Pelham police determined the teen willingly got into a dark SUV.

13-year-old girl missing from Pelham found safe

The FBI assisted in the investigation, along with Huntsville police, Pelham police, and the Shelby County Sheriffs Office. The tireless work by the FBI and the Sheriffs Office Investigators help bring this case to a close. This is yet another example of the importance of multi-jurisdictional partnerships. Id also like to thank ALEA, who made the AMBER alert broadcast possible, Turner said.
A large crowd of anti-government protesters gathered in Baghdad's Jadriyah area on Friday.

Demonstrations in Iraq have recently escalated to divert public attention back to pressing domestic issues after soaring US-Iranian tensions following the strike which killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani and senior Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

At least 12 people have died since protesters intensified their campaign of civil disobedience last week by burning tires and cutting roads and rallying larger crowds to join their movement, according to figures from medical and security officials in Baghdad and Iraq's south, as well as activists.
Through its women empowerment scheme Istruzione is helping women teachers to procure Honda Activa Scooters at subsidized prices which helps them in getting to school on time and also helps families in much needed mobility

New Delhi: Istruzione Edutech Services LLC is a USA based education technology company helping educational institutions worldwide in procuring Digital Literacy equipment, School Vehicles, Personal Vehicles for Staff and in building Infrastructure at subsidized rates.

In India in the last one year Istruzione has helped around 1,800 schools procure 13,000 Honda Activa Scooter for its women staff under Women Empowerment Scheme, developed 300 digital literacy labs by providing 9,000 laptops and smart class hardware at discounted prices and also helped schools procure school vans and buses at discounted prices.

This has been done through its Indian Subsidiary, Istruzione Edutech Services OPC Private Limited under its brand name EDIMPACT.

Istruzione Edutech Services is led by its visionary director Mr Sanwill Srivastava, who has also been awarded as a lead donor by Lions Club International at the Annual International Convention in Milan for his philanthropic activities.

Mr. Srivastava has been instrumental in bringing together a group of visionary donors to help the education fraternity in getting much needed funds for the promotion of community education.

Through its women empowerment scheme Istruzione is helping women teachers to procure Honda Activa Scooters at subsidized prices which helps them in getting to school on time and also helps families in much needed mobility.

Teachers have been thankful for providing them with this opportunity of procuring vehicles at cheaper rates since it would have been impossible for them to purchase them at full price.

Through its Digital Literacy Program, Istruzione has helped 300 schools to setup computer labs by helping them procure Laptops (AMD A9, 1TB HDD and 4GB RAM) at less than 50 percent of market prices.

This has empowered schools to impart world class computer education and with the money thus saved schools have been able to focus on more student welfare centric programs.

Istruzione plans to help still more schools and educational institutions worldwide in their programs in 2020.

About Istruzione Edutech Services: Istruzione Edutech Services is an education technology company registered in the USA and India. We devise unique learning programs that use the latest technology. The objective of the company is to make education accessible to all, by delivering knowledge in a simple and affordable manner. The company is running its projects in many countries.

For more information, visit  https://bit.ly/2QNAUF5
Yathiraju By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: Getting work done for a cup of tea is wonderful. But not when a spoon of sugar is code for Rs 10,000 bribe. A judge of the Karnataka High Court on Thursday decoded the code words used in a sub-registrars office to indicate the amount of bribe they expect to register the documents.

Justice B A Patil, who was hearing a writ petition filed by a Senior Sub-Registrar of Tumakuru, decoded the words when K Satish, the counsel of the petitioner, was arguing the case.

I know how things work in the offices of sub-registrars wherein the documents, like sale deed, gift deed, will, release deed, lease deed, etc., are registered, the judge said and narrated how a sub-registrar used code words to indicate bribe to be received from the public who went to register their documents.

After the registration of a document by the public, the officer would ask them to order tea from a petty shop near his office.

When the one who registered the document asked the sub-registrar whether he wanted tea with sugar or without it, the latter would say tea with one spoonful of sugar, two spoons and so on. Depending upon the worth of the property registered, the officer would ask tea with one spoon of sugar, with two spoons, three spoons and four spoons.

The public, apparently seeing the simplicity of the official, would appreciate him, saying that he was registering the document for a cup of tea, not knowing that the code of a spoon of sugar indicated different things. One spoon meant Rs 10,000.

If tea with two spoons sugar was ordered, the public had to pay Rs 20,000, if three spoons then they had to pay Rs 30,000 to the petty shop owner for a tea, the judge narrated.

When Justice Patil decoded it, the advocates, including Satish, representing the petitioner, and litigants burst into laughter in the court hall.

The petitioner S Raghavendra, Senior Sub-Registrar of Tumakuru, moved the high court questioning the case registered against him in Tumakuru Town Police Station for allegedly registering a huge property based on forged documents.

The court stayed proceedings against Raghavendra for four weeks.
ALBANY  Six months after the Child Victims Act went into effect, survivors and lawyers say hundreds of lawsuits have stalled in the pre-trial discovery stages.

In August, the act opened a one-year look-back period temporarily eliminating the civil statute of limitations on child sex abuse cases, allowing survivors of all ages to lodge lawsuits against their alleged offenders. The first filing day, Aug. 14, saw more than 400 lawsuits  and there have been about 1,000 more statewide in the months since.

But as attorneys await evidence from defendants, several cases have reached an impasse, leaving survivors waiting far after the closure of the look-back window to take their cases to trial or pursue settlements. Only a handful of cases have been settled, and the earliest trials are expected to take place in 2021  but some have been scheduled as far as out 2023, attorneys said.

"We hear mostly from clients  in any case  its a longer process than a person whos not in the legal system expects or wants," said Jennifer Freeman, an attorney with Marsh Law Firm, which has offices in Manhattan and White Plains. "You think you can go to trial in a few months, and it just doesnt work like that."

The Marsh Law Firm has filed about 50 cases under the Child Victims Act and expects to file hundreds more before the end of the look-back period, Freeman said. She said her firm has settled a small number of cases, particularly with Rockefeller University, but most settlement discussions will begin after evidence has been collected, which can take months or years.

"The cases are still very early in each of their lives," she said.

Cynthia LaFave, an attorney based in Guilderland whose firm has filed 43 cases across New York, said judges overseeing Child Victims Act claims have been "attentive" and scheduled court appearances to discuss the status of discovery materials. Still, many of her cases are in a waiting period, as defense attorneys work behind the scenes to gather evidence and get in touch with people who may have information about a complaint.

She expects to hear more from defense teams by the summer, when lawyers can then begin discussing possible mediation or decide what the next steps are for a particular lawsuit. Her firm has yet to settle any cases.

"I think that there are discussions that are taking place all the time," LaFave said. "I think that, realistically, it may be after the window closes."

But even as early cases stall, lawsuits continue pouring into the courts. This week, two cases were filed against the Albany Diocese  the first, filed Tuesday, claims that diocese officials intentionally covered up the abuse of a teenage girl in 1968; the second, filed Thursday, alleges that a 13-year-old boy was abused by a priest from 1968 to 1969.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

New York dioceses have been named in hundreds of Child Victims Act claims, as survivors allege decades of abuse and coverups. The Diocese of Buffalo, which Albany Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger has recently stepped in to lead, has been the most-named defendant of all CVA cases.

The diocese has responded and continues to respond to all those who have been abused, whether or not they pursue civil litigation through the CVA," Albany Diocese spokeswoman Mary DeTurris Poust said in an email. "We have no comment on the litigation process itself. Bishop Scharfenberger is focused on the healing and well-being of survivors.

She declined to say whether the diocese has settled or is considering settling any lawsuits.

And in the state Capitol, legislators continue to evaluate ways to build upon the act. This session, the Legislature will consider bills to extend the look-back window and to establish a state-run private fund to help attorneys to take on more cases. On Thursday, state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi, D-Bronx, announced three bills she has introduced to further legal protections for victims of child sex abuse.
Budget hotel operator EasyHotel is targeting a 2021 opening date for its first property in the Republic.

Currently, the companys only presence in Ireland is its one hotel in Belfast, which is run on a franchise basis.

A long-since planned opening in Dublin is now set for the second half of 2021 and further Irish openings have not been ruled out.

The company acquired a freehold site in the Smithfield area of Dublin City nearly two years ago. Planning permission initially allowed for a 96-bedroom hotel, but the company is now targeting a 160-bedroom property.

The Dublin hotel will be owned and operated by the company, rather than via a franchise partner.

While further Irish openings have not been ruled out, EasyHotels immediate expansion focus is on UK cities and mainland Europe, particularly France and Spain.

EasyHotel is still listed on the London Stock Exchange, but is now majority-owned by a consortium including property investor Ivanhoe Cambridge and Luxembourg-based property fund manager ICAMAP Investments, as opposed to EasyJet and EasyGroup founder Stelios Haji-Ioannou.

Speaking on the back of a mixed set of annual results, EasyHotels interim chief executive Scott Christie said management is excited by its development pipeline and the potential for the brand in Europe.

The company reported a 56% jump in revenues  to 17.6m (20.8m)  for the year to the end of September, but also incurred a pre-tax loss of 3.57m, compared to a profit of 870,000 12 months prior.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. Armenian emergency services have dispatched a search and rescue team after a hiking group made a 911 distress call 13km east from the village of Nshkhark in the Gegharkunik Province.

According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the group of hikers in distress are six Russian nationals. One of them has fallen ill.

Other details werent immediately clear.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
Scroll through the gallery above to see some of the new food trends from this year's Winter Fancy Food Show.

Alternatives to dairy have long been a "thing," but ever since almond milk was exposed for having an "intense ecological footprint" (as Mother Jones labelled it), the search has been on for an eco-friendly (or, err, friend-lier) milk alternative.

Oat milk, particularly the Swedish brand Oatly, has been heralded as one of the best of the latest non-dairy options; oat milk, beyond having a similar taste and texture to the real deal, supposedly foams up much better than its fellow dairy-free brethren, making it a favorite of baristas for lattes.

READ ALSO: SF's newest trend is coffee with a side of 'shrooms

If you've been imbibing on oat milk and can't get enough  I've personally witnessed people on at least two different occasions grabbing three or four Oatly cartons at a time at my local Whole Foods  there's plenty more oat milk products coming to stores. The sensory overload that is the Winter Fancy Food Show conference rolled into San Francisco this week, and it provided a look into where supermarkets will be headed, product-wise.

"There's been more oat milk-based things [at this year's show]," said food trends expert Denise Purcell with the Specialty Food Association. "Alternative dairy has been growing; we still see a lot of coconut milk and almond milk and things like that, but oat milk in particular [has been popular]."

And oh boy, there's a lotta oat milk products.

Purcell singled out items such as oat-milk butters, oat milk creamers, frozen desserts, even "Oatzarella"  an oat milk-based, dairy-free mozzarella "cheese" from Rucksack Foods that's made with "domestic steel cut oats and world-class extra virgin olive oil." Perhaps one of the more desirable products out of the oat category comes an oat chocolate from Finland's Goodio, which touted its "ChocOat" products made with "Finnish gluten-free oats and decadent raw chocolate" making it a vegan, gluten-free, soy-free chocolate.

READ ALSO: Some SF restaurants to introduce climate change surcharge

But that's not all we saw at the Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco. If you're wondering about other food and drink trends coming to stores  or sold online  scroll through the slideshow above to see more fun products, including boozy tea, plant-based cheese sauce and more.

Dianne de Guzman is a Digital Editor at SFGATE. Email: dianne.deguzman@sfgate.com
Rajesh Asnani By

Express News Service

JAIPUR: After the fourth session of Rajasthan Assembly began on Friday, Vidhan Sabha is now gearing up to pass a resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) on Saturday.

Earlier, Ashok Gehlots cabinet had approved the proposal against CAA through circulation.

Before Rajasthan, Kerala and Punjab have also passed resolutions against the CAA.

Congress, the ruling party in Rajasthan has meanwhile instructed all its MLAs to remain present in the House January 25. The order was issued by the Government Chief Whip, Mahesh Joshi.

BJP is likely to oppose this proposal, for which a strategic meeting was held at party headquarters in Jaipur on Thursday.

ALSO READ: BJP MLA brings 'basket full of locusts' to Rajasthan Assembly address crisis

During the meeting, the BJP also instructed its MLAs to be present in the House on January 25.

Leader of Opposition Gulabchand Kataria had earlier stated that summoning assembly session on short term notice is an indicator of failure under Gehlot's governance.

He added that it is going to be a mockery of the assembly.

Further, along with BJP, the National Democratic Party (RLP) will also oppose the proposal.

Party Convenor and MP Hanuman Beniwal, took this decision in a meeting with the party legislators.

Beniwal said that granting citizenship is the right of the Centre and it is unconstitutional to bring a motion against it.

In contrast, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, who has been strongly opposing the CAA has announced that Rajasthan will not implement the act.

He even led the biggest anti-CAA rally held in Jaipur on December 22 called 'Samvidhan Bachao rally'.

Demanding the repeal of CAA, Gehlot has claimed that it is against the constitution and an attempt to divide people in the name of religion.

Members of different political parties including CPI, CPI(M), AAP, SP, RLD and JD(S) along with members of minority communities as well as intellectuals, participated in this 'silent march' which attracted nearly 3 lakh people.
Poll authorities on Friday directed the Delhi Police to file an FIR against BJP candidate Kapil Mishra in connection with his controversial tweet in which he likened the election in the city to a India versus Pakistan contest, sources said.

The Election Commission had asked Twitter to "take appropriate action by removing the tweet" as it aroused communal sentiments. The EC had also said that Twitter should intimate it about the action taken.

A show cause notice was also issued to Mishra by the poll authorities for "violation of the model code of conduct and the Representation of the People Act," officials earlier said.

"The returning officer (RO) has directed the Delhi Police (DCP officer) to file an FIR against Kapil Mishra in connection with his controversial tweet," a source in the Delhi CEO Office told PTI.

In his tweet on Thursday, Mishra, a former minister in the Arvind Kejriwal Cabinet, had likened the February 8 Delhi election to a contest between India and Pakistan, sparking a controversy.

However, Mishra, despite a show cause notice slapped on him, remained defiant and the controversial tweet could still be seen in his Twitter feed. By late evening, it had garnered nearly 9,000 retweets and 35,000 likes.

Queries sent to Twitter India did not elicit any response.

The Election Commission's action comes after the office of the Delhi Chief Electoral officer wrote to the EC last night to remove the tweet posted by Mishra, EC officials said.

Delhi CEO Ranbir Singh earlier said, "We took cognisance of the tweet and wrote to the EC last night seeking its removal. The EC then asked Twitter to remove his tweet. The tweet is a violation of the model code of conduct and the Representation of the People Act, so we have taken action."



In its criticism of the opposition parties over their protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), the BJP has been accusing them of speaking "Pakistan's language".

Mishra, in his response to the show cause notice, claimed that his remarks were "general opinion" and "do not fall under the ambit of the model code of conduct and the Representation of the People Act".

"My comments have been taken out of context and misrepresented intentionally to paint a one-sided picture, to stoke differences. I swear by the Constitution of India and abide by its values," he said in his reply.

The Model Town candidate said his statement must be seen in "the context of Pakistan's attempt at sending their proxies to take undue advantage of a prevailing law and order situation in Delhi".

Authorities at the Delhi CEO Office had earlier said social media posts are being constantly monitored to check for any provocative or inflammatory posts or tweets being made by users, related to the polls.

Referring to the Shaheen Bagh protests, which have been going on for over a month now, Mishra, in his reply, said those protests are "neither in my constituency nor my voters" and claimed his statement "will have no impact" on those people.

He appealed to the protesters to call off the stir, saying people should not fall in the trap of "seditious groups funded by Pakistan".

The election will be a triangular fight involving the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress.

Polling will be held on February 8 and the results declared on February 11.

In a series of tweets in Hindi on Thursday, Mishra had also lashed out at the anti-CAA protesters in Shaheen Bagh and other places in the city.

"India vs Pakistan 8th February Delhi. There will be a contest on Delhi Roads between India and Pakistan on February 8."



"Pakistan has already entered Shaheen Bagh and small pockets of Pakistan are being created in Delhi," he had tweeted.

In another post, Mishra claimed that the BJP will win the February 8 polls and Kejriwal will resign from his post when votes are counted.

The former AAP leader was removed as minister by Kejriwal in 2017. Last year, he was also disqualified as AAP MLA under the anti-defection law.

Mishra faces AAP MLA Akhileshpati Tripathi in the elections.

More than 600 candidate are in the fray in the high-stakes Delhi polls after withdrawal of nominations on Friday by about 30 candidates.

According to the final electoral roll, over 1.46 crore people are eligible to exercise their franchise.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
'As long as people are eating we will be there,' Rebel Foods CEO Jaydeep Barman tells Viveat Susan Pinto and Niraj Bhatt.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

We are not surprised when Jaydeep Barman invites us to his headquarters for lunch where he wants us to taste selections from the 10 online restaurant brands the food tech company operates.

The company, which has marquee investors such as Coatue Management, Goldman Sachs and Sequoia, claims to be the 'world's largest Internet restaurant company', and is valued at over $500 million. Barman says, "We are ahead of our closest competitor by miles."

Barman is disrupting the 500-year-old restaurant industry, which he says hasn't changed at all.

He is bringing scale in the food business through process, automation, and robotics, while retaining consistency, taste and freshness.

The availability of skilled chefs is limited and yet the "magic of the dish" has to be retained.

The former McKinsey consultant breaks down the business in three parts -- bill of materials or ingredients, dispensing what ingredient to put when, and movement -- tossing, frying or sauteing, and at what temperature.

After making associate partner at McKinsey's London office in 2010, Barman took a sabbatical never to go back.

He co-founded Faasos (the company's earlier avatar) with classmate Kallol Banerjee. Barman brings the strategy consultant's toolkit in solving problems for the company.

He draws the two by two matrix -- with right/wrong decision on the one side and people agree/disagree on the other.

He says you make extraordinary returns when you are right and people disagree.

"When we started, we were wrong, but people agreed and we raised seed money. We found ourselves in the next quadrant where people didn't agree with us and we were still wrong."

His next step was introspection about the problems and that's how "I landed up on the multi-brand cloud kitchen before anyone else," he says.

Rebel Foods, unlike many other Indian startups, is not an imitation of a successful model in the US or elsewhere, he adds.

Another two by two matrix of market size and fragmentation follows. Large market size and high fragmentation is the quadrant where one can build brands.

People are habituated to the category and there are no large incumbents.

"If you think of biryani, Chinese, South Indian -- everywhere this opportunity exists. That's where we focused on," he adds.

"Let's eat before the food gets cold," Barman says. As we dig into steamed vegetable dim sums, the signature dum gosht biryani, nasi goreng, noodles, wraps and a Maharaja vegetable pizza, he talks more about his approach to the business and the problems he has solved.

The conventional restaurant business is made of real estate, retail and brand business all merged into one.

This is not true for any other consumer business where the manufacturer and the retailer are different.

With the Internet, food is becoming disaggregated -- Swiggy and Zomato are retailers or distributors.

There can be only a real estate business like Travis Kalanick's new startup CloudKitchens, which rents out space to restaurants and chefs.

"Companies like us can build brands without building distribution or real estate."

Riding on food delivery platforms, the food tech company can operate multiple 'restaurants' from a single cloud kitchen.

Its kitchen has robotics and automation and the company has rules for every dish at the three components of ingredients, dispensing and movement.

The new recipes and machines are created in its culinary innovation lab and an industrial innovation design centre.

Rebel Foods has 275 such kitchens in 30 cities and runs 2,200 virtual restaurants. Each kitchen is run by a chief delight officer who runs the kitchen with around half a dozen staff.

He is proud of the culture of ownership and innovation the seven-member senior management team has created.

"A lot of our staff has ownership, our attrition is negligible, and we are among the top rated startups on Glassdoor."

The food tech company does not have a head of human resources and believes HR is every manager's job.

Recruiting for key functions is also rigorous -- Barman discourages prospective employees to send resumes, but write a detailed essay explaining what excites them about the company and why they want to join.

"Lateral hiring of experienced professionals from competitors didn't work for us," he adds.

Barman grew up in Kolkata and went to study engineering at Jadavpur University, following it up with two management degrees -- one from IIM (Lucknow) and one from INSEAD, France.

"My parents are professors and getting degrees was encouraged," he says.

Away from home, foodies Barman and Banerjee were missing Kolkata's kathi rolls and decided to set up Faasos, a brick-and-mortar chain specialising in wraps in 2010.

Even in 2004, the duo had experimented bringing two cooks from Kolkata and set up a small Bengali food eatery in Pune before they went on to do their international MBA.

In 2014, Barman found that 70 per cent of the customers at Faasos had no clue where the store was located. They would simply place an order on phone or on the Web site.

"This was the moment of epiphany for us. Rents, on the other hand, were shooting up. We shut the high street stores, and set up kitchens further inside. We had no idea that they would be called cloud kitchens a few years later," he laughs.

Our main course is over. Rebel has built interesting back stories about its food brands.

So Behrouz Biryani spins a yarn around a mythical Persian war and a lost-and-found recipe, Mandarin Oak dwells on a nameless monk, who loved serving Chinese food to travellers, while Firangi Bake delves into Baba Firanga's journal of pasta recipes.

Barman prods us to try out the rose phirni, cheesecake and chocolate truffle, all part of the Sweet Truth desserts brand.

So what are the next steps for Rebel Foods, we ask. He plans to have 500 kitchens in 15 months in India, and is doing a pilot for a health food brand.

The food tech company has opened an Indonesian restaurant in Indonesia and makes Lebanese food in Dubai.

"At the core is our operating system and like iOS or Android, you can build apps on it. That's how we can foray into any cuisine," he says.

Going forward, he plans to make and scale more products or brands, either owned or licensed.

"We also plan to create entrepreneurs who can scale on our platform. We invested in Slay Coffee, which was a single location for five years, which Rebel has taken to 70 locations in six months."

There's also a plan to tap into the local culinary community and become a distribution platform for well-known chefs or iconic single-restaurant offerings.

"We will not own the brand, but simply give them a platform to showcase their skills and deliver the dishes they prepare," he adds.

Another immediate target is to reduce plastic. "We found that bagasse containers leak even after we put a lid. We have created a machine which solves this problem by putting a seal, and it works for multiple types of packaging," he says.

Barman's family lives in Pune and in true consulting style, he comes to Mumbai every Monday and goes home on Thursday evening.

In Mumbai, he is happy to live in the company guest house close to office, which has been set up for employees visiting from across the country.

Barman is also an avid mountaineer and goes off the grid for 15 days a year -- the last mountain he climbed is Mont Blanc, the tallest peak in the Alps.

Rebel Foods is delivering 2.5 million orders every month across all its brands, had a top line of Rs 310 crore in FY19 and is growing at 100 per cent year-on-year.

The India business is expected to be profitable next year, and the company will be ready for an IPO sometime in 2022.

Biryani is the most popular category ordered in India, and Behrouz Biryani, Barman says, is the largest.

"Today, it is biryani, 10 years down the line it could be vegan. As long as people are eating we will be there," he says.
The unsettling saga of Robert Hyde, a Connecticut resident who may or may not have been involved in a plot against a U.S. ambassador, has raised questions about the president and his associates actions in Ukraine. Closer to home, its put a renewed focus on the Fifth District congressional race, where Hyde calls himself a candidate even as virtually no Republicans claimed to know anything about him.

Whether that would matter is an open question. Its not hard to imagine an otherwise unknown candidate who seems to have entree to the highest levels of Trumpworld  see his selfies with the president and members of his inner circle  could ride that notoriety to a primary victory. The rules changed in 2016, and it would be naive to think a candidate with Hydes credentials  or lack thereof  shouldnt be taken seriously. Of course he would be a viable candidate for the Republican nomination.

But thats a far cry from winning. First-term U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes is theoretically the most vulnerable House member in Connecticut, and a number of more-legitimate Republican candidates are preparing to challenge her. But most competitive seat in Connecticut isnt saying much. In looking ahead to the U.S. House races for this fall, its hard to find a single national prognosticator that has CT-5 on a map of key races. Every prediction has it as safely Democratic, along with the other four Connecticut House districts. (The state has no U.S. Senate race this year.)

Anything could happen, and its too soon to say any race is a sure thing. But people who follow politics for a living have all but given up on a Republican winning a U.S. House seat in Connecticut for another cycle, and its not hard to figure out why. The Republican Party has some known names in the state, but they rarely if ever challenge for federal seats.

Nearly every one of them, from Len Fasano to Themis Klarides to Bob Stefanowski, appears to view state government as their ceiling, and the effect is to cede to one party a generation of representation at the federal level. Potential candidates including Erin Stewart, the mayor of New Britain, have stayed unconvinced that they should jump into higher-profile races.

The 2018 race for the Republican gubernatorial nomination included a spate a candidates with wider potential, including Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, former Trumbull First Selectman Tim Herbst and entrepreneur Steve Obsitnik. Of that group, only Obsitnik has taken on a congressional campaign.

This cant go on.

The last competitive House race in Connecticut might have been in the Fifth District in 2012. The seat was open because the incumbent, Chris Murphy, ran for Senate, leaving a little-known Democrat, Elizabeth Esty, to emerge from a scandal-plagued primary process to face a well-liked Republican, Andrew Roraback. Esty nonetheless won 51 percent of the vote, and that was it for major competition. When Esty did not run in 2018 following a scandal in her office, Republicans were unable to find a viable candidate to oppose Hayes, and the race was never seriously in doubt.

Thats the case around the state. John Larson, Joe Courtney and Rosa DeLauro, who represent Districts One, Two and Three, respectively, have gone unchallenged for years. Jim Himes, in the Fourth District, beat long-term incumbent Christopher Shays in 2008 and eked out his re-election in 2010, but its been smooth sailing since then.

The only Republican to put up a fight in Senate races lately has been Linda McMahon, who poured $100 million of her own money into two races at the start of the last decade. Neither attempt came all that close, possibly scaring off other Republicans from even trying.

This isnt a healthy situation. Connecticut is well-represented by its delegation, including Hayes as its newest member, but legitimate competition is essential to maintaining a vital democracy. Whether its a change in leadership or a commitment to taking on difficult challenges, the state Republican Party needs to find a way to compete on the national level.

If Robert Hyde is the best known Republican congressional candidate in the state, and he is, its a sign of a party in deep distress.
With Indonesias oldest life insurer tottering on the brink of collapse following years of alleged mismanagement, authorities plan to tighten surveillance of the industry by overhauling regulations and setting up a rescue agency.

The government plans to draft an omnibus law for the financial industry, including insurance, as some of the existing rules are ancient and inadequate, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati told reporters in Jakarta on Wednesday. As the crisis at state insurer PT Asuransi Jiwasraya has hurt investor confidence, formulation of the new law is of the highest priority, she said.

Indonesian authorities are under pressure to rescue scandal-hit Jiwasraya after it failed to pay some of its 7 million-plus clients following claims of mispricing, reckless investment activities, aggressive window dressing and liquidity pressure. The government has placed another pension and insurance firm, PT Asabri, under a watch list following significant erosion in the value of its stock market investments.

We feel that the framework for managing and preventing crises is not perfect, Indrawati said. Its time to review the current approach which defined systemic risk as only applying to banks, she said.

A panel of experts will be formed to provide inputs for the omnibus law that will be key to restoring faith in the insurance industry, she said.

If we identify a situation, in which an authority must take action, it turns out that the legal basis is not there or its inadequate, Indrawati said.

The government may need to revise the laws on prevention and management of financial system crises, as well as the regulations governing Bank Indonesia, the Financial Services Authority, the deposit insurance agency and the banking industry, Indrawati said.

The crisis at Jiwasraya prompted the parliament this week to set up a working committee to study the problems at troubled private and state-run insurance firms as well as banks and propose solutions. It will review the performance of Jiwasraya, PT AJB Bumiputera 1912, Asabri, PT Taspen and PT Bank Muamalat Indonesia.

Jiwasraya is expected to receive a government bailout after an audit last year showed the insurer had negative equity of 27.2 trillion rupiah ($2 billion). Indonesia had 151 insurers at the end of November with total assets of more than 1,345 trillion rupiah, official data show.

Photograph: Vehicles travel along a highway in this aerial photograph taken in the Antasari area of Jakarta, Indonesia, on Friday, Feb. 1, 2019. Photo credit: Dimas Ardian/Bloomberg.

Related:

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Legislation Market
National Guard use pepper spray, shields to break up caravan of asylum seekers, migrants outside Tapachula.

Tapachula, Mexico  The Mexican National Guard and immigration officials stopped a caravan of hundreds of migrants and asylum seekers on Thursday as they walked towards the southern city of Tapachula.

Troops used shields and pepper spray to corral the caravan, which had crossed the Guatemala-Mexico border early on Thursday in an effort to reach the United States.

There are no human rights, yelled one migrant as he stood over an unconscious pregnant woman who was being attended to by medics. The woman eventually regained consciousness.

Many cried as immigration officials and National Guard troops dragged them towards buses, which officials said were used to take the migrants and asylum seekers to an immigration detention centre in Tapachula, known as Siglo 21.

Mexicos National Immigration Institute (INM) said some 800 people were bussed to the detention centre.

Regional migrant rights defenders have denounced the use of force against migrants leaving the border between Guatemala and Mexico over the last week.

This is a repressive act by the Mexican government, said Father Mauro Verzeletti, the director of the Guatemala City Migrant Shelter.

The mask of [President Andres Manuel] Lopez Obrador has fallen, showing he is defending the interests of Donald Trump. It is the true back yard of the United States, Verzeletti told Al Jazeera.

Immigration officials and Mexican National Guard troops force a man towards a bus as he yells out that he needs to find his cousin [Jeff Abbott/Al Jazeera]

The caravan left the Guatemalan border early Thursday, choosing to cross the Suchiate River between the Tecun Uman and Talisman border crossings between Guatemala and Mexico. This was the caravans second attempt to enter Mexico.

On Monday, the caravan was stopped by National Guard troops after they attempted to cross the river into Mexico. National Guard troops used tear gas to push the caravan back to the banks of the river.

Some migrants slept on the beach in makeshift shelters while others returned to the Catholic Church-sponsored migrant shelter.

I am still scared that they will capture us and deport us to Honduras, Pastora Hernandez, a migrant from San Pedro Sula, told Al Jazeera just before National Guard troops moved in on Thursday.

Hernandez migrated with her husband, Pablo Aquino, and two of her young four boys for economic reasons.

It was difficult, Aquino told Al Jazeera. We were seeing that we were not able to make the same purchases that we use to.

Mexico has been under pressure for more than a year by the Trump administration to do more to stop migrants and asylum seekers from reaching the US border.

Acting US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf on Wednesday praised Mexicos efforts to block the caravan.

The efforts by the Mexican National Guard and other officials have thus far been effective at maintaining the integrity of their border, despite outbreaks of violence and lawlessness by people who are attempting to illegally enter Mexico on their way to the United States, he said in a statement.

Deportation of migrants

This months caravan left Honduras on January 15 and quickly grew to thousands. It split into three groups, with migrants arriving at the Tecun Uman border in San Marcos and the Ceibo border in Peten.

On Tuesday, Mexico began to deport members who officials said entered the country between official ports of entry.

According to the Institute of Migration, 110 Hondurans were returned to their country on a National Guard flight. Other flights were carried out in the following days, including 188 on Thursday.

In an interview on local television in Honduras on Wednesday, Alden Rivera, the Honduran ambassador to Mexico, stated that as many as 1,900 Hondurans could be deported.
A nurse who accused a Lyft driver of raping her in St. Louis has filed a lawsuit accusing the ride-sharing company of prioritizing profits over passenger safety.

Cristen Giangarra's lawsuit is the latest of dozens filed by women across the country who have claimed they were sexually assaulted by Lyft drivers.

Giangarra, a 30-year-old registered nurse, is listed only as Jane Doe in the lawsuit but she identified herself during a news conference Thursday.

Giangarra said she was assaulted in June by 53-year-old Larry Donnell Ward of St. Peters, Missouri.

'This was a vicious attack on an unsuspecting and innocent young woman who trusted Lyft to have screened its drivers to ensure her safety', Ms Giangarra's attorney, Michael Gallagher of Chicago, said in a statement.

'When Cristen got in the vehicle that night, she had no idea that Lyft had actually sent a predator to pick her up and take her home.'

Cristen Giangarra has accused Lyft of failing to screen its drivers before employing them

Miss Giangarra says she was attacked after getting a lift from the Tin Roof bar, a live music venue in downtown St. Louis last June

Courtesy of KTVI

Miss Giangarra says she was attacked after getting a lift from the Tin Roof bar in downtown St. Louis after a night out in June last year.

Ward was charged with first-degree rape and kidnapping in December after DNA testing was completed.

Lyft banned him for life. Both Ward and Lyft are named in the lawsuit.

Larry Donnell Ward, 53, is set to stand trial for the rape and kidnap of Miss Giangarra

Giangarra said she had been out drinking and contacted Lyft for a ride home. She said she acted responsibly by not drinking and driving 'and ultimately I was punished for this decision.'

A probable cause statement in December said Ward turned off his ride-sharing location software, deviated from the route to the woman's requested destination and took her instead to a secluded street. A rape kit was tested and the results matched Ward's DNA, according to the statement.

Ward's attorney, Daniel Juengel, said Ward denies the allegations. Juengel said the lawsuit 'shows that this is a case about this woman trying to get money.'

Lyft is facing dozens of lawsuits from women who claim to have been attacked by drivers

Lyft spokeswoman Dana Davis said in a statement that the company launched 15 new features last year aimed at protecting riders and drivers, 'including in-app emergency assistance, continuous criminal background monitoring of all of our drivers and mandatory feedback for rides rated less than four stars to ensure we are tracking any level of problematic behavior by drivers.'

Davis said Lyft also has partnered with an anti-sexual violence organization on required sexual violence prevention education.

'Our work on safety is never done, and we will continue to invest in new features, policies and protocols to ensure Lyft is the safest form of transportation for our riders and drivers,' Davis said.

Lyft operates in 656 cities in the U.S. and Canada and was valued at $24 billion in its initial public offering last year, the lawsuit said.

'Lyft's phenomenal growth is due in large part to lax hiring and security screening processes along with an evasion of regulations that make it easy for individuals to become Lyft drivers,' the lawsuit said.

Dozens of women have filed lawsuits against Lyft in recent months, claiming that they were sexually assaulted by the companys drivers.

The women said Lyft did not do enough to keep them safe, and several said that when they reported the incidents, Lyft did little or nothing to make it right.

'They didnt even really say sorry at all. They just said, `OK, well were going to send you your money back,' said Caroline Miller, 21, who says she was raped by a Lyft driver after a night out celebrating her birthday. 'I didnt even get an email. It was crazy. They kind of just pushed it under the rug, and were like, `whatever.'

Caroline Miller who jointly filed a lawsuit against Lyft after she says she was raped by a driver after a night out celebrating her birthday

Miller is one of 19 women who jointly filed a lawsuit against Lyft in December. They argued Lyft could have done more to protect passengers by requiring in-car video monitoring and conducting fingerprint-based background checks, and they said Lyft does not adequately investigate customer complaints of sexually inappropriate behavior.

Lyft declined an interview for the story but spokeswoman Ashley Adams said in an email, 'Not a day passes when we aren't thinking about the safety of our platform.'

Adams said Lyft launched more than 15 new safety features in the past few months, including in-app emergency assistance, continuous criminal background monitoring of drivers and mandatory feedback for rides rated less than four stars.
A total of 14 people who were tested in the UK for the deadly coronavirus, which has claimed 26 lives in China, have been cleared after the results come back as negative on Friday.

Soon after attending the government's emergency COBRA meeting on the health crisis, UK Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty said the risk to the UK public remains "low", but there may well be cases in the country "at some stage" as more tests are underway.

"We have tried and tested measures in place to respond. The UK is well-prepared for these types of incidents, with excellent readiness against infectious diseases," he said.

"We have global experts monitoring the situation around the clock and have a strong track record of managing new forms of infectious disease. The UK has access to some of the best infectious disease and public health experts in the world," Whitty said, adding that a public health hub will be set up at Heathrow Airport from Friday made up of clinicians and other public health officials as a boost to existing measures to monitor travellers.

UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who chaired the COBRA meeting earlier, also reiterated that the risk to the UK public "remains low".

All those tested in the UK had visited Wuhan the Chinese city where the outbreak originated and four out five patients tested in Scotland were Chinese nationals.

China, which has put 10 cities into lockdown over the virus scare, has announced plans to build a 1,000-bed hospital in six days to treat victims.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the outbreak an emergency but said it was "too early" to consider it a "public health emergency of international concern" given "its restrictive and binary nature".

UK schools and universities, which tend to have significant Chinese student populations, are putting measures in place to tackle the spread. Universities are also being contacted by the government about their preparedness and are being told to give information to students, a Downing Street spokesperson said.

Anyone who is confirmed as having the virus will be transferred to an Airborne High Consequences Infectious Disease (HCID) Centre. There are four interim Airborne HCID centres in England two in London, one in Liverpool and one in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

General Practitioners (GPs) across surgeries have been told to check the travel history of patients and isolate anyone with symptoms that could indicate coronavirus in a room away from other patients and staff with the door closed.

Earlier, the UK public health officials had admitted an "increased likelihood" of the virus spreading to Britain.

"The Chief Medical Officer has revised the risk to the UK population from very low to low, and has concluded that while there is an increased likelihood that cases may arise in this country, we are well prepared and well equipped to deal with them," UK health secretary Matt Hancock said in a statement to Parliament on Thursday.

"The public can be assured that the whole of the UK is always well prepared for these type of outbreaks and we will remain vigilant and keep our response under constant review in light of emerging scientific evidence," he said, adding that the UK was among the first countries to have devised a "world-leading" test for the new virus.

The UK is monitoring direct flights arriving from China as a precaution, as increased back and forth travel is expected around this time of the year for Chinese New Year this weekend. Passengers are being given leaflets and advice on what to do if they fall ill, and a health team is available at Heathrow Airport to check for symptoms.

The first human cases of the new strain of such a virus were identified in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December last year. Authorities have said it originated in a seafood market that "conducted illegal transactions of wild animals". The market has been shut down since the beginning of the year.

The incubation period, or the time it takes for symptoms to appear after catching the infection, is within days. At the moment, there is no vaccine that can protect people against it, but researchers are looking to develop one.

According to WHO, signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, it can lead to pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Opinion Policies

Editorials are longer opinion pieces that are written by a group of community members recruited across campus who address relevant issues on a local, national and international level. Editorials are research-based. The purpose of the Editorial Board is to promote discussion concerning relevant issues in the community while advising on possible solutions. Topics are chosen via relevancy and interests of the members, which are then discussed by the Editorial Board in order to reach a general consensus concerning the topic or issue.

Feedback policy

If you have a grievance concerning the content or argument of the Editorial Board, please contact either Opinion Editor Peyton Hamel (peyton.hamel@iowastatedaily.com) or the Editorial Board as a whole (editorialboard@iowastatedaily.com). Those wanting to respond to editorials can also submit a letter to the editor through the Iowa State Daily website or by emailing the letter to Opinion Editor Peyton Hamel (peyton.hamel@iowastatedaily.com) or Editor-in-Chief Sage Smith (sage.smith@iowastatedaily.com).

Column Policy

Columns are hyper-specific to opinion and are written by only columnists employed by the Iowa State Daily. Columnists are unique because they have a specific writing day and only publish on those writing days. Each column undergoes a thorough editing process ensuring the integrity of the writer, and their claim is maintained while remaining research-based and respectful. Columns may be submitted from community members. These are labelled as Guest Columns. These contain similar research-based content and need to be at least 400 words in length. The following requirements should be met: first and last name, email and relation or position to Iowa State. Emails must be tied to the submitted guest column or it will not be accepted or published. Pseudonyms are prohibited and the writer will be banned from submissions.

Read our full Opinion Policies here. Updated on 10/7/2020
Dangerous Melodies: Classical Music in America from the Great War through the Cold War

By Jonathan Rosenberg

Norton. 485 pp. $35.95

---

Not so long ago, music education was considered an essential part of a young person's training in America. Children learned to sing scales, recognize modes, and play rudimentary piano or recorder; were introduced to the music of the great composers - Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and Wagner, at least; and were invited to go further if they were interested. Indeed, when Leonard Bernstein conducted his televised New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts in the 1950s and 1960s, the musical knowledge among the youthful audiences probably exceeded that of some adult ticket-buyers standing in line tonight at the Kennedy Center.

Now, classical music has taken up a rarefied spot beside serious poetry and philosophy and is no longer considered among the truly popular arts. Its following is small but passionate. All of this makes it hard for us to imagine the world that Jonathan Rosenberg explores in his engaging and authoritative new book, "Dangerous Melodies: Classical Music in America From the Great War Through the Cold War."

That was a time when a new symphony by a Russian composer merited cover treatment in Time magazine, multiple performances and national broadcasts throughout the country. The composer was Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975), and his music merited attention, then as now. His Seventh Symphony, dubbed the "Leningrad," came to the United States during the decisive battle of Leningrad, which would stretch on for another year after the premiere (the Soviet Union having recently been betrayed in its alliance with Nazi Germany and forced to join with Hitler's other enemies).

Shostakovich's Symphony No. 7 was not just a work of art but a call to action - indeed, something like a musical editorial. As Rosenberg puts it: "It was hardly an exaggeration when, more than a year after the Seventh's premiere, Newsweek claimed the 'whole world knows about Dmitri Shostakovich' and suggested that those who could not 'spell his name [could] at least pronounce it.' For his part, Shostakovich expressed satisfaction that Americans had enjoyed his composition, though what mattered most, he said, was that they understood it. Both peoples had 'feelings in common about war and peace.' "

Some of the stories Rosenberg tells are familiar, even comfortable. There's the unexpected triumph of the homespun Texas pianist Van Cliburn at the international Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow at the height of the Cold War, a victory that Premier Nikita Khrushchev himself had to sign off on before it was awarded. "In the South, if people like you, they go crazy about you," Cliburn told reporters. "From the reception I received I think there's a little bit of Texas in the Russian people." (The pianist was given a ticker-tape parade when he returned to New York in 1958 and went on to play at the White House for every president through Barack Obama.)

But in general, this is far from a triumphalist study. Rosenberg painstakingly examines wartime jingoism in the United States. In one case, Aaron Copland's "A Lincoln Portrait" was forced off an inaugural concert for the newly elected Dwight D. Eisenhower by a now-forgotten congressman from Kansas who objected to Copland's leftist politics. Rosenberg also explores the vehement public protests against some great artists who had, for a variety of reasons, not all of them political, chosen to remain in occupied Europe during World War II.

This is not only valuable and fair-minded history but an unceasingly engaging series of tales. My favorite section is the examination of the anti-German hysteria (the word is not too strong) that overtook the United States during World War I, which has rarely, if ever, been examined in such detail. Richard Wagner's music disappeared from the Metropolitan Opera, and the Philadelphia Orchestra dropped Franz Schubert's "Unfinished Symphony" from an opening-night program.

The German Karl Muck, the music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, was jailed for his disinclination to conduct "The Star-Spangled Banner," and his neighbors in Seal Harbor, Maine, reported that Muck's summer cottage, "with its unobstructed hilltop view of the ocean, had allowed the maestro to transmit light signals to vessels at sea. Some declared they had witnessed alternating flashes of light emanating from the cottage, signals which they believed were part of a scheme designed to relay messages to German vessels located far off the coast."

Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Music Teachers' Association in Oshkosh unanimously condemned the employment of foreign music teachers in wartime. As Rosenberg notes, "The list of violent episodes would grow throughout the period of American belligerency and included, according to one account, the stoning of dachshunds on the streets of Milwaukee."

Rosenberg closes with the New York Philharmonic's 2008 visit to North Korea, which created some controversy among those who thought it a misguided sop to a totalitarian country. With a certain mournfulness, he writes: "During those few days when a surge of interest erupted over the New Yorkers' excursion, a handful of people might have recalled a time when classical music and the wider world converged. They might have remembered when the melodies of Beethoven, Wagner, Strauss, Copland, and Shostakovich, along with the work of the esteemed artists and institutions that performed such extraordinary music, were entwined with developments beyond America. However difficult to imagine, across those eventful decades, countless people embraced the idea that what happened in the concert hall and the opera house was inseparable from the destiny of the United States and the well-being of the American people."

---

Page is a professor of music and journalism at the University of Southern California. He won the Pulitzer Prize for criticism in 1997 for his writings about music for The Washington Post.
Deliena Rene Eastin Fincher passed away in her home on Friday, Jan. 10, 2020 in Scottsbluff, Neb. She was born May 1, 1964 to Del and Donna Eastin in Rawlins.

Her family relocated to Green River in 1965, where Deliena attended schools. She married Bob Morley and they had one daughter Misty. They later divorced.

On June 11th, 1988 Deliena married Walt Fincher, and would often say that Walt was the "love of her life."

Together they resided in Riverton, where she and Walt owned and operated their own company, Walt's Plumbing.

Several years later, Deliena and Walt moved to Scottsbluff, Neb....
The more than 25-year homebuilder purchasing veteran to provide key support for companys Next10 growth strategy

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TRI Pointe Group (TPH), one of the top 10 largest public homebuilders in the United States based on revenue, announced the promotion of Kevin Wilson to national vice president of operations. The elevation of the veteran homebuilder purchasing and operations professional reinforces the commitment of TRI Pointe Group to best-in-class industry talent and capitalizing on new market growth across the companys six regional brands.



In his new role, Wilson will focus on management and oversight of all purchasing, construction, quality and customer care-related systems and processes. In this broad operations role, he will leverage his deep home building knowledge and work with company leaders to promote a culture of operational excellence in support of TRI Pointe Groups Next10 growth strategy, a 10-year strategic vision emphasizing organic growth, acquisition strategies and the expansion of ancillary businesses.

Throughout the years and in his many important roles, Kevin has created significant value for our company, said TRI Pointe Group President and COO Tom Mitchell. His special brand of leadership can be seen in how he has led company efforts across all supply chain categories and presided over purchasing strategy, negotiation and management of national contracts. Hes played a pivotal role in value engineering, product optimization and rebate management. He inspires excellence in employee development of purchasing, construction and customer care team members, boosting customer satisfaction across our builder brands.

Wilsons expanded responsibilities in his national vice president of operations role will include reducing cycle time and ensuring on-time deliveries of high-quality homes. Additionally, he will oversee an expanded national purchasing team and the companys customer care and warranty functions, technical standards and auditing, and personnel and partner performance.

Story continues

Wilson has nearly 18 years of combined service as TRI Pointe Groups and Weyerhaeuser Real Estate Companys vice president of purchasing and national accounts. The Brigham Young University graduate, who also earned his MBA from the University of Southern California, also oversaw purchasing-related activities for two Denver-based homebuilders.

About TRI Pointe Group

Headquartered in Irvine, California, TRI Pointe Group, Inc. (TPH) is a family of premium, regional homebuilders that designs, builds, and sells homes in major U.S. markets. As one of the top 10 largest public homebuilding companies based on revenue in the United States, TRI Pointe Group combines the resources, operational sophistication, and leadership of a national organization with the regional insights, community ties, and agility of local homebuilders. The TRI Pointe Group family includes Maracay in Arizona, Pardee Homes in California and Nevada, Quadrant Homes in Washington, Trendmaker Homes in Texas, TRI Pointe Homes in California, Colorado and the Carolinas, and Winchester Homes* in Maryland and Virginia. TRI Pointe Group was named 2019 Builder of the Year by Builder and Developer magazine, recognized in Fortune magazines 2017 100 Fastest-Growing Companies list, and garnered the 2015 Builder of the Year Award by Builder magazine. The company was also named one of the Best Places to Work in Orange County by the Orange County Business Journal in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. For more information, please visit www.TriPointeGroup.com .

*Winchester is a registered trademark and is used with permission.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2bf24b7b-dc2a-43f5-bb21-ec2477ac8e22

Contact

Katy Biggerstaff

NewGround PR & Marketing

562.761.6338 / kbiggerstaff@newgroundco.com
Starting January 27, students of all the schools in Chhattisgarh will have to discuss different aspects of the Indian Constitution before their classes every Monday, an official said on Friday.

The state's school department issued a circular to this effect to all the Divisional Commissioners and District Collectors on Friday, the official said.

"The order will be effective across all the educational institutions of the school department," he added.

As per the order, the Preamble of the Constitution will be discussed on the first Monday of the month after the prayers, while Fundamental Rights will be discussed on the second Monday of the month.

Similarly, the Fundamental Duties as mentioned in the Constitution will be discussed on the third Monday and the Directive Principles of State Policy on the fourth Monday, he said.

During the winter session of Chhattisgarh Assembly last year, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had announced in the House that school students will be mandatorily taught about the Constitution, to make them well-informed about it, the official added.

Earlier this week, the Maharashtra government made it compulsory for the students in the state schools to read out the preamble to the Constitution during their morning assemblies everyday from January 26.

On Thursday, the Madhya Pradesh government also made it compulsory for students in government-run schools to read out the preamble to the Constitution during their assemblies on every Saturday starting this week.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Donald Trump's administration is planning to take action against California over the state's requirement that insurance companies cover abortions, according to a new report.

The Trump administration will argue that California's rule goes against a federal law that protects health-care providers that don't provide abortion or abortion coverage from discrimination by government groups receiving money from the Department of Health and Human Services, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the plans.

HHS and the Office for Civil Rights issued a notice of violation on Friday, threatening to pull federal health funds from California if the state does not comply with federal law. A spokesperson did not return a request for comment.

The White House declined to comment on the record.

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra vowed in a tweet "to protect our families' access to healthcare, including women's constitutional right to abortion."

Becerra tweet

California Gov. Gavin Newsom in a statement to CNBC slammed the move, saying that "the Trump Administration would rather rile up its base to score cheap political points and risk access to care for millions than do what's right."

Newsom also echoed Becerra's comments, saying abortion will be legal in the state.

"California will continue to protect a woman's right to choose, and we won't back down from defending reproductive freedom for everybody -- full stop," he said.

The announcement of the action is planned for Friday, the same day that Trump is scheduled to appear at the anti-abortion March for Life rally. The president is looking to firm up his support among conservative Christians and abortion opponents as he prepares for a likely bruising reelection campaign.

He is the first sitting president in the event's nearly five-decade history to attend the Washington protest against the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling.

Trump announced his plans to attend the march via a tweet Wednesday, the 47th anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court decision, as House Democrats began laying out their case in the Senate impeachment trial for removing him from office.

"See you on Friday...Big Crowd!" the president said, replying to a tweet from the March for Life account promoting the event.

Trump tweet

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar in a statement on Thursday called the White House the "most pro-life administration in this country's history."

"We are proud to be 'the Department of Life' and will continue protecting life and lives while upholding the fundamental freedoms and inherent dignity of all Americans," Azar said in the statement.

At the rally, Trump welcomed the "tens of thousands of high school and college students who took long bus rides to be here in our nation's capital" and touted his reproductive rights- and abortion-restricting record in the White House.

"All of us here today understand the eternal truth," he said. "Every child is a precious and a sacred gift from god. Together we must treasure and defend the dignity and the sanctity of every human life."

"Unborn children have never had a stronger defender in the White House," Trump continued.

Trump once identified as "very pro-choice," saying in a 1999 interview on the NBC program "Meet the Press" that "I hate the concept of abortion. I hate everything it stands for. I cringe when I listen to people debating the subject. But I still believe in choice."

But during his 2016 campaign, the president sought out anti-abortion voters, appearing at rallies and major fundraisers and vowing to defund global family planning efforts at the United Nations.

His renewed vocal support for anti-abortion groups comes in the middle of a heated presidential campaign and weeks before the Supreme Court is set to take up its first major abortion-related case with both of his appointees, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, on the bench.

The high court will review a 2014 Louisiana law that requires doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the facility where the abortions are provided. Opponents said it would effectively leave just one abortion provider for a state with about 4.6 million residents.

On Jan. 2, 207 lawmakers, including two Democrats, filed an amicus brief in the case, urging the Supreme Court to reconsider Roe v. Wade.

 CNBC's Lauren Hirsch contributed to this article.
Queen sign Brexit Bill into law, clears way for 31 January exit from EU

Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday formally approved the Brexit Bill that was passed by both Houses of parliament, facilitating Britains departure from the European Union at the end of this month.

Her Majesty the Queen has now granted #RoyalAssent to the #BrexitBill which therefore becomes the #BrexitAct, Brexit secretary Steve Barclay said on Twitter. Enshrined in law, this enables the UK to leave the EU on 31st Jan.

The queens assent came hours after the bill completed its passage through Parliament by getting approval from the House of Lords.

The Upper House of British parliament on Wednesday approved the terms of the country's divorce from the European Union and sent the Brexit bill for royal assent by the queen.

The House of Lords suggested some changes to the bill, including on the rights of EU citizens and child refugees after Brexit, but the Upper House, where Johnson's Conservatives have a large majority, rejected all amendments, including on the rights of EU citizens and child refugees after Brexit.

The House of Commons, the lower House of parliament, had already approved the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which ratifies the divorce deal that Prime Minister Boris Johnson struck with Brussels last year.

The European Parliament is expected to vote on the Brexit deal next week but it could only be a formality as the divorce deal has already been accepted by European Parliament.

For Prime Minister Johnson, who took office last year promising to end several years of political wrangling that had divided the country and paralysed successive governments, the passage of the bill is a huge achievement.

Johnson had to make fresh deal with the EU after parliament rejected an earlier deal struck by his predecessor Theresa May in 2018. The Commons had rejected it three times, forcing her to resign.

Johnson agreed changes to the text with Brussels, only to be defeated again by MPs unable to agree on the timetable for turning the deal into law.

Johnson accused lawmakers of trying to frustrate the result of the landmark 2016 referendum vote for Brexit and forced a snap election last month.

Johnson then opted for fresh election and returned to office with a thumping majority, which changed the course.

"The British people have waited for more than three years to get Brexit done. Passing the WAB allows us to do this in an orderly way on January 31," Johnson's spokesman said.

The Brexit deal protects the rights of EU citizens, makes special trading arrangements for the British province of Northern Ireland, and settles the UK's EU debts.

It also paves the way for transition phase until 31 December, in which UK-EU ties will remain largely the same while both sides try to agree a new trading and security partnership. But it leaves the shape of future relationship unresolved.

Brussels has warned that it is impossible to address all issues in that time, suggesting a more limited deal is now likely.

Despite the free flow of commerce between Britain and the 28-member European Union, London feels closer to its largest trading partner, the United States.
Women in Sydney are being forced to use urine-soaked toilets after Wynyard train station introduced unisex cubicles.

Despite being cleaned every hour, the public toilets are often left in a filthy state by commuters, with toilet paper littering the floor.

Pictures show the bathrooms covered in urine, toilet roll and even body hair after being used by thousands of commuters every day.

Not accessible unless the person taps their Opal card or train ticket, the two rows of toilets are through the ticket barriers on the concourse in Sydney's CBD.

The unisex toilet cubicles are seen in a messy state (pictured) with toilet roll strewn across the floor

The rows of unisex toilet cubicles, which all have their own sink, are on the concourse at Wynyard Station (pictured)

And there is no choice but to use a single-sex cubicle, as all the toilets are unisex.

One commuter told Daily Mail Australia the toilets often 'stank'.

'They're not great, but how good are any train station toilets?' she said.

'Though they might be a bit cleaner if there were some just for women.'

Another said it was 'a bit gross'.

Unisex toilets have become a hot topic of debate across Australia, as gender diversity activists campaign for them to become commonplace.

According to a survey carried out by Sydney officials for its Public Toilet Strategy report, 75 per cent of people - the majority women - preferred to have single-sex facilities.

The unisex toilet cubicles are on the Wynyard Station concourse, and there are no single sex facilities available

Of those who preferred single sex toilets, 32 per cent said it was for privacy and 29 per cent stated hygiene.

A further 19 per cent they felt safer in a single sex bathroom.

Despite this, the 2014 policy said all public toilets 'where modification is not possible' should be replaced with compliant unisex automated public toilets.

It comes after the University of Technology Sydney introduced 'all-gender' bathrooms.

The university, based in Ultimo, introduced the gender diversity policy to 'make students feel safe and welcome on campus'.

The unisex toilets at Wynyard Station are often left in a filthy state by commuters (pictured) with rubbish and body hair strewn around

One of the students who campaigned for the new bathrooms said they had experienced harassment and intimidation in single sex toilets.

'What motivated me to be involved in this campaign is that Im a non-binary student who has been harassed in bathrooms in the past, and I experience social dysphoria as well as other types,' the student told news.com.au.

'Gender neutral bathrooms are something that have helped with reducing my dysphoria and anxiety about being verbally abused in a bathroom setting.'

Sydney's University of Technology has introduced 'all gender' bathrooms in a bid to make 'all students feel safe and welcome on campus' (pictured)

In 2018, a NSW council is replaced its unisex toilet signs because they were deemed offensive.

Hawkesbury City Council, in Sydney's north-west, changed four signs after meeting two campaign groups.

The 'unisex' signs were replaced with ones saying they were toilets for 'all genders'.

This is because not all people identify is either male or female, meaning that 'unisex' wouldn't apply to them, as they are not either gender.
Steve King Photo: Alex Wroblewski/Getty Images

Steve King doesnt have much going for him. The Republican congressman from Iowa barely won reelection in 2018 and the leaders of his own party reportedly consider him a liability. King can only blame himself for the sorry state of his political career. Hes aligned himself with white nationalists at home and abroad. White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization  how did that language become offensive? he asked, rhetorically, in a 2019 interview with the New York Times. King has repeatedly retweeted far-right activists, including the British neo-Nazi Mark Collett, and met with members of an Austrian far-right party with historical links to Nazism during a trip to Europe, the Washington Post reported in 2018. The same year, he endorsed Faith Goldy, a Canadian conservative who has said that her country is experiencing white genocide and who repeated the 14 words, a white-nationalist slogan, on a radio show, in her race for Toronto mayor. (Goldy lost.)

For years, Kings Republican colleagues mostly ignored his evident racism, but by last January, his tendencies had become so blatant that they were moved to strip him of his committee assignments. This is a slap on the wrist, but its something, and it seemingly amplified Kings sense of his own martyrdom. As he sets out to win reelection, he cuts a relatively lonely figure, and that perhaps explains his innovative new fundraising strategy. A verified Facebook page for Kings reelection campaign put out a fundraising plea to grow its meme stash. (Posts may not be suitable for those without a sense of humor, the pages description says.)

White nationalist Rep. Steve King (R-IA) is asking for money "to make sure the memes keep flowing and the Lefties stay triggered." pic.twitter.com/TW7HdTXkd0  Eric Hananoki (@ehananoki) January 23, 2020

So what does a Steve King meme look like? The diligent research team at Intelligencer (i.e., me) has investigated. The results are not good.

Photo: Facebook

This isnt a meme. Its an implied threat.

Others are simply copy-and-paste jobs of Turning Point USA content:

Photo: Facebook

This one fails for its use of stock art, and doubles as an unintended self-own:

Photo: Facebook

Whatever other flaws Pelosi might possess, shes a cogent public speaker. Can King only comprehend 14 words?

The meme fundraising plea is desperate, yes; the content is hackneyed. For the most part, the memes do not even accomplish the basic reason for their existence, which is to own the libs. Nobody is going to fill a mug of liberal tears over the association of alphabet soup with Nancy Pelosi. Its stupid, not triggering. Nevertheless, the King campaigns taste in memes has an instructive quality. Last February, the same page posted an NPC meme directed at Democratic members of Congress. NPC memes depict their targets as non-playable characters like those one might find in a video game, devoid of original thought or personality. As Julia Alexander explained for the Verge, NPC types cant hold regular conversations, the meme suggests, and they rely on robotic rhetoric to function. NPC memes didnt originate with the alt-right, but they have become popular with supporters of President Donald Trump and the general alt-right internet.

King probably isnt a gamer, but his personal habits arent really the point. Whoever runs his Facebook page understands something vital about the congressman. The same online racists who have helped turn NPC memes into an alt-right trend are Kings true constituency. The congressmans edgelord turn was inevitable.
IsoEnergy Begins Winter Drilling Program at the Hurricane Uranium Zone

Posted by Publisher Internet

IsoEnergy Ltd. (?IsoEnergy? or the ?Company?  https://www.commodity-tv.com/play/iso-energy-well-financed-for-further-uranium-exploration-at-hurricane-zone-discovery/) (TSXV: ISO; OTCQX: ISENF) is pleased to report that an aggressive winter drilling program has commenced at the Hurricane zone. The Hurricane zone is a new discovery of high-grade uranium mineralization on the Company?s 100% owned Larocque East property (the ?Property?) in the Eastern Athabasca Basin of Saskatchewan (Figures 1 & 2).

Drilling Program Summary:

? 8,500 metres planned in approximately 20 drill holes

? Infill drilling to further define 500m long mineralized trend

? Expansion drilling to evaluate potential to expand along-strike both east and west

Craig Parry, President, CEO and Director commented: ?IsoEnergy commences 2020 with $7 million in the treasury which sees the company fully funded for our exploration programs this year. We will be drilling at our Hurricane high-grade uranium discovery where mineralization is open along strike and on most sections. We very much look forward to reporting the results of the program over the coming months.?

Steve Blower, Vice President of Exploration commented: ?Good cold winter conditions have allowed us to start the winter drilling program on schedule. Crews and equipment have been mobilized to site and the first drill hole has been collared. Two drills are being employed for the first time at the Hurricane zone ? one infilling the current 500m long mineralized footprint and expanding it along-strike to the west, and the other focused on expansion of the zone along-strike to the east.?

Program Details

The planned winter core drilling campaign consists of a total of 8,500 m in approximately 20 drill holes. The program has two main objectives ? infill and expansion (Figure 3).

One drill will infill the current 500 m long footprint of the Hurricane zone and attempt to expand it to the west, where a 75m gap remains between the westernmost drill hole (LE19-12) and the property boundary. Drill hole LE19-12 intersected 3.2% U3O8 and 2.1% Ni over 8.5m in 2019. Most cross-sections remain open, including section 4635E where drill hole LE19-16A intersected 5.4% U3O8 over 7.0 m. Infill drilling will also target along-strike gaps of up to 250 m between drill sections.

The second drill will evaluate the potential to expand the zone to the east. This will include following up on the strong alteration and elevated geochemistry and radioactivity in step-out drill hole LE19-26 (Figure 4), the only drill hole completed by the Company to date that is beyond the 500m long Hurricane zone footprint. Results from a DC-Resistivity geophysical survey completed in the summer of 2019 support the highly prospective nature of the area, which extends for several kilometres to the east. Drilling metres and holes are expected to be split approximately equally between both objectives. Results of the program will be reported periodically through the winter.

The Larocque East Property and the Hurricane Zone

The 100% owned Larocque East property consists of 20 mineral claims totaling 8,371 ha and is not encumbered by any royalties or other interests. Larocque East is immediately adjacent to the north end of IsoEnergy?s Geiger property and is 35 km northwest of Orano Canada?s McClean Lake uranium mine and mill.

Along with other target areas, the Property covers a 15-kilometre-long northeast extension of the Larocque Lake conductor system; a trend of graphitic metasedimentary basement rocks that is associated with significant uranium mineralization at the Hurricane zone, and in several occurrences on Cameco Corp.?s neighbouring property to the southwest of Larocque East. The Hurricane zone was discovered in July, 2018 and was followed up with a 12-hole drilling campaign in the winter of 2019 and a recently completed 17-hole summer 2019 drilling campaign. Dimensions are currently 500m along-strike, 40m wide and up to 10m thick. The zone is open for expansion alongstrike and on most sections. Mineralization is polymetallic and commonly straddles the sub-Athabasca unconformity 320 m below surface. The best intersection to date is 5.4% U3O8 over 7.0m in drill hole LE19-16A. Drilling at Cameco Corp.?s Larocque Lake zone on the neighbouring property to the southwest has returned historical intersections of up to 29.9% U3O8 over 7.0 m in drill hole Q22-040. Like the nearby Geiger property, Larocque East is located adjacent to the Wollaston-Mudjatik transition zone  a major crustal suture related to most of the major uranium deposits in the eastern Athabasca Basin. Importantly, the sandstone cover on the Property is thin, ranging between 140 m and 330 m in previous drilling. In addition to the Hurricane zone discovery, four historical drill holes have intersected weak uranium mineralization at other locations on the Property to date.

Qualified Person Statement

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release was prepared by Andy Carmichael, P.Geo., IsoEnergy?s Senior Geologist, who is a ?Qualified Person? (as defined in NI 43-101 ? Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects). Mr. Carmichael has verified the data disclosed. As mineralized drill holes at the Hurricane zone are oriented very steeply (-80 to -90 degrees) into a zone of mineralization that is interpreted to be horizontal, the true thickness of the intersections is expected to be greater than or equal to 90% of the core lengths. This news release refers to properties other than those in which the Company has an interest. Mineralization on those other properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Company?s properties. For additional information regarding the Company?s Larocque East Project, including its quality assurance and quality control procedures, please see the Technical Report dated effective May 15, 2019 on the Company?s profile at www.sedar.com.

About IsoEnergy

IsoEnergy is a well-funded uranium exploration and development company with a portfolio of prospective projects in the eastern Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan, Canada and a historical inferred mineral resource estimate at the Mountain Lake uranium deposit in Nunavut. IsoEnergy is led by a Board and Management team with a track record of success in uranium exploration, development and operations. The Company was founded and is supported by the team at its major shareholder, NexGen Energy Ltd.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of any securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities referenced herein have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ?U.S. Securities Act?), and such securities may not be offered or sold within the United States absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements thereunder.

Forward-Looking Information

The information contained herein contains ?forward-looking statements? within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and ?forward-looking information? within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. ?Forward-looking information? includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the?future, including, without limitation, planned exploration activities. Generally, but not always, forward-looking information and statements can be identified by the use of words such as ?plans?, ?expects?, ?is expected?, ?budget?, ?scheduled?, ?estimates?, ?forecasts?, ?intends?, ?anticipates?, or ?believes? or the negative connotation thereof or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results ?may?, ?could?, ?would?, ?might? or ?will be taken?, ?occur? or ?be achieved? or the negative connotation thereof.

Such forward-looking information and statements are based on numerous assumptions, including among others, that the results of planned exploration activities are as anticipated, the price of uranium, the anticipated cost of planned exploration activities, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms, that third party contractors, equipment and supplies and governmental and other approvals required to conduct the Company?s planned exploration activities will be available on reasonable terms and in a timely manner. Although the assumptions made by the Company in providing forward-looking information or making forward-looking statements are considered reasonable by management at the time, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be accurate.

Forward-looking information and statements also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual events or results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future events or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements, including, among others: negative operating cash flow and dependence on third party financing, uncertainty of additional financing, no known mineral reserves or resources, the limited operating history of the Company, the influence of a large shareholder, alternative sources of energy and uranium prices, aboriginal title and consultation issues, reliance on key management and other personnel, actual results of exploration activities being different than anticipated, changes in exploration programs based upon results, availability of third party contractors, availability of equipment and supplies, failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry, environmental risks, changes in laws and regulations, community relations and delays in obtaining governmental or other approvals.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws
Imperial Valley News Center

Propex Derivatives Pty Ltd Agrees to Pay $1 Million in Connection with Spoofing Scheme

Chicago, Illinois - Propex Derivatives Pty Ltd (Propex), a Sydney, Australia-based proprietary trading firm, has entered into a resolution with the Department of Justice to resolve criminal charges related to a spoofing scheme involving thousands of instances of unlawful trading activity in U.S. commodities markets by a former Propex trader, announced Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Departments Criminal Division and Special Agent in Charge Emmerson Buie Jr. of the FBIs Chicago Field Office.

Propex entered into a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) in connection with a criminal information filed Tuesday in the Northern District of Illinois charging the company with one count of spoofing. Spoofing is the illegal practice of bidding or offering (i.e., placing an order to buy or sell) with the intent to cancel the bid or offer before execution. Under the terms of the DPA, Propex agreed to pay $1 million that is comprised of a criminal monetary penalty ($462,271), criminal disgorgement ($73,429), and victim compensation ($464,300) with the criminal monetary penalty credited for any payments made to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

Propex also agreed to, among other things, conduct appropriate reviews of its internal controls, policies and procedures, and to modify its compliance program, where necessary and appropriate, to ensure it is designed to effectively detect and deter violations of the Commodity Exchange Act and commodities fraud statute.

Propex admitted as part of the DPA, that from approximately July 2012 until March 2016, a former Propex trader, Jiongsheng (Jim) Zhao, engaged in a trading strategy that involved placing thousands of large-volume orders to buy and sell E-mini S&P 500 futures contracts on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) that Zhao intended to cancel before execution (the Spoof Orders). On Dec. 26, 2018, Zhao pleaded guilty to one count of spoofing. As part of his plea, Zhao admitted that his trading strategy was intended to inject materially false and misleading liquidity and price information into the E-mini S&P 500 futures contracts market by placing the Spoof Orders in order to deceive other market participants about the existence of supply and demand. The Spoof Orders were designed to artificially move the price of E-mini S&P 500 futures contracts in a direction that was favorable to Zhao, and to the detriment of other market participants. Zhaos sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 4, 2020, before U.S. District Judge John J. Tharp Jr. of the Northern District of Illinois.

A number of relevant considerations contributed to the departments criminal resolution with Propex, including the companys cooperation with the United States and Propexs remedial efforts. In addition, the department considered the fact that in May 2014 Zhaos trading was flagged for Propex senior management, yet he continued placing Spoof Orders through March 2016. Further, Zhao made false and misleading statements to the CME during its investigation into Zhaos trading activity. In March 2018, Propex undertook a significant enhancement of its compliance program and internal controls after engaging an independent compliance consulting firm to conduct an assessment of the adequacy and effectiveness of Propexs compliance program. As part of that enhancement, Propex increased the resources dedicated to compliance and contracted with a third-party vendor to provide automated trade surveillance, including surveillance for manipulative and deceptive trading such as spoofing. The department determined that the criminal monetary penalty of $462,271 imposed as part of the DPA is appropriate given the facts and circumstances of this case and given Propexs inability to pay an amount within the range calculated under the sentencing guidelines because it would threaten the continued viability of Propex and impair its ability to make restitution to victims. As part of the agreement, the department has filed an unopposed motion, which is subject to approval by the Court, to defer for the term of the DPA any prosecution and trial of the criminal information filed against Propex.

The CFTC announced today a separate settlement with Propex in connection with a related, parallel proceeding. Under the terms of that resolution with the CFTC, Propex agreed to pay $1 million, which includes a civil monetary penalty of $462,271, as well as restitution and disgorgement that will be credited for any such payments made to the department. In addition, the CFTC order imposes upon Propex other remedial and cooperation obligations in connection with any CFTC investigation pertaining to the underlying conduct.

The FBIs Chicago Field Office investigated this case. Trial Attorney Matthew F. Sullivan and Assistant Chief Justin Weitz of the Criminal Divisions Fraud Section prosecuted the case, which is part of the Fraud Sections commodities enforcement program. The Australian Government's Attorney-Generals Department, the Australian Federal Police and the Criminal Divisions Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in connection with the arrest and extradition of Zhao. The CFTCs Division of Enforcement and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission also provided substantial assistance in this case.
34 US troops injured in recent Iranian strike: Pentagon



Washington, Jan 24 (AFP) Jan 24, 2020



Nearly three dozen US troops suffered traumatic brain injuries or concussion in this month's Iranian air strike on a military base in Iraq, the Pentagon said on Friday.

"Thirty-four total members have been diagnosed with concussions and TBI (traumatic brain injury)," Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman told reporters.

President Donald Trump had initially said that no Americans were injured in the strike on the Ain al-Asad base in western Iraq on the night of January 7-8 although authorities later reported that 11 troops were injured.

Hoffman said that 17 of the victims had been initially transferred to Germany to receive treatment, eight of whom arrived back in the US on Friday.

"They will continue to receive treatment in the United States, either at Walter Reed (a military hospital near Washington) or at their home bases," he told a press conference at the Pentagon.

The nine other victims who were flown to Germany "are still undergoing evaluation and treatment there", he added.

Seventeen other troops who were treated in the region have returned to duty in Iraq.

The airbase was targeted in retaliation for the US killing of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike in Baghdad on January 3.

The base is one of the largest in Iraq, with 1,500 US troops making up the bulk of a coalition presence directly adjacent to thousands of Iraqi forces.
France announced on Thursday that it reached a deal with the United States on an international solution to the digital tax issue.

This working basis should mean that we can get to work on the details next week to look at the different options for the taxation of digital activities, said France Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire.

Instead of focusing on taxing big tech companies, like Facebook and Google, France agreed to work with the United States on rewriting international tax rules for the digital age.

Le Maire and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin hammered out a series of written proposals that theyll discuss with over 100 governments next week at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Other countries, however, like the UK, have said theyll roll out their digital tax this year, before reaching an international solution.

We plan to go ahead with our digital services tax in April, said UK Finance Minister Sajid Javid. [I]t is a proportionate tax and it is a tax that is deliberately designed as a temporary tax. So it will fall away once there is an international solution.

France had also implemented its digital tax, but later suspended it until the end of 2020 after the United States threatened to impose tariffs on French goods.
GamesRadar+ is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option.
Though tensions were high coming in, President Donald Trump left the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, with at least a temporary truce on one of his latest threatened tariff fights. Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron reportedly came to agreement to forestall until years end new rounds of tariffs proposed in response to Frances new 3% digital services tax (DST).

The pause in trade hostilities is meant to give leaders time to reach general agreement on a new international tax regime through the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). But the OECD process is fraught with its own perils, including some that are sure to entwine the global insurance and reinsurance sector.

As the OECD talks move forward, U.S. officials should be particularly skeptical of proposals that would bind the country to destructive taxes on capital, such as a minimum global corporate income tax, when our priority needs to be to keep up the framework for tax competition that has served the global economy and insurance consumers well.

Insurance is one of a number of international industries to be unwittingly drawn into a fray whose initial focus was taxation of primarily U.S.-based tech giants. As my colleague Clark Packard has pointed out, the French DST does unfairly burden American firms in ways that look a lot like a tariff, and there are good reasons for U.S. trade officials to respond. The proper place to adjudicate such concerns is through the World Trade Organizations binding dispute-resolution process.

But the fight the DST kicked off is already far beyond that narrow battle, as the stakes are raised by the OECDs parallel proposals to subject nearly all multinational corporations to a new tax regime.

In a rare sign of international industry unity, insurance groups from the United States, Europe, Bermuda and the Asia-Pacific region all have noted that OECDs Pillar One proposal  unveiled in October and designed to allocate taxing rights based on a brand new set of profit and nexus-of-commerce rules  was remarkably ill-suited to insurance. As a highly regulated business that usually requires local capital and that frequently relies on highly volatile income streams that cannot assume regular profits, insurance must be carved out from the Pillar One framework, the Global Federation of Insurance Associations argued in a letter to the OECD.

It remains to be seen whether OECD leaders will agree to that carve-out. Whichever way they land, Pillar Two of the proposal may be even more fraught. Among the planks of this proposed inclusive framework are:

an income inclusion rule that would tax the income of a foreign branch or a controlled entity if that income was subject to tax at an effective rate that is below a minimum rate;

an undertaxed payments rule that would operate by way of a denial of a deduction or imposition of source-based taxation (including withholding tax) for a payment to a related party if that payment was not subject to tax at or above a minimum rate;

a switch-over rule to be introduced into tax treaties that would permit a residence jurisdiction to switch from an exemption to a credit method where the profits attributable to a permanent establishment (PE) or derived from immovable property (which is not part of a PE) are subject to an effective rate below the minimum rate; and

a subject to tax rule that would complement the undertaxed payment rule by subjecting a payment to withholding or other taxes at source and adjusting eligibility for treaty benefits on certain items of income where the payment is not subject to tax at a minimum rate.

All of this would mean a shift to an international tax regime that has as its foundation the notion that corporate taxation  irrespective of longstanding principles like economic substance and nexus of business  is a fundamental norm for the developed world.

The central problem with that assumption, of course, is that the corporate income tax is a bad tax! Fundamentally, all corporate taxes ultimately fall in some proportion or another on employees, shareholders and consumers. There are far more direct and efficient ways to tax all three. Moreover, because corporations will always have the incentive and resources to engage in lobbying to game the tax system, any effort at a clean and equitable corporate tax code will always be an exercise in futility.

R Street is already on record as endorsing a proposing to zero out the U.S. corporate income tax entirely and replace it with a fee on carbon emissions. This is in line with our general philosophy that governments should endeavor to tax bad things, like pollution, rather than good things, like capital. Committing the United States to a minimum corporate tax regime would undermine such proposals.

Turning to the world of insurance, specifically, there long have been proposals to reshape the tax code in ways that would recognize the value of preferred tax treatment of capital used to pay insurance claims stemming from catastrophes. Going back to the late 1990s, former Rep. Mark Foley (R-Fla.) repeatedly introduced legislation called the Policyholder Disaster Protection Act, which would have permitted insurers to set aside tax-deferred reserves to cover future catastrophic losses.

The idea was later revived by Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) to allow such reserve accounts to be established in the District of Columbia. It would be terrible precedent for the United States to bind itself to any international agreement whose effect would be to nullify bipartisan proposals like these.

The latest reports out of Davos suggests U.S. Treasury Secretary has been frustrated by the ongoing focus on the digital tax and that he views moving on to Pillar Two as far more important. In fact, the most important priority should be to avoid any putative solution that would create more problems than it solves.
Dundalk band TPM has told the public to use their vote to "f*** Fine Gael and Fianna Fail out of the place" in the upcoming general election on February 8.

The local trio spoke to Hotpress magazine as part of a feature where the music mag asked a selection of Irish musicians about their opinions on the upcoming election.

The Dundalk band which features brothers Charles and Andrew Hendy and Jack O Donnell told Hotpress:

"Most people in Ireland are not rich, and will never be rich. We need to stop voting for people who look after the ones at the top and turn everyone else against each other. The government, with the help of RTE, make people look any way except up, when trying to find someone to blame for their own unfortunate situations.

"It causes hate against immigrants and people on the dole, which is exactly what the government want. Its so painfully obvious that the people screwing you out of a better quality of life are not the other poor people, but the people with everything.

"When theres a homeless person paralysed by a digger and the politicians response is just to shift the blame around, you know its time for a change  and neither Fianna Fail nor Fine Gael will make it. Use your vote to f*** Fine Gael and Fianna Fail out of the place. And dont vote for any of those racist crackpots either."

TPM will play at the Button Factory, Dublin on March 20.
Two women are under arrest after authorities say contraband was found in their vehicles outside two different Alabama prisons.

The first incident happened Saturday, Jan. 18, at Holman Correctional Facility. A drug-sniffing dog about 12:50 p.m. alerted on a vehicle parked outside the Atmore lockup.

A search by Alabama Department of Corrections investigators turned up marijuana and a gun inside the vehicle. The driver, 43-year-old Amelia Allen, was at the prison to visit an inmate. She was taken into custody and charged with second-degree possession of marijuana.

The following day, another narcotic-detection canine was deployed to conduct a sniff search on a vehicle located near the staff parking lot at Tutwiler Correctional Facility in Wetumpka. Authorities found multiple suboxone strip in the vehicles console.

The driver, 50-year-old Yolanda McNair, was charged with possession of a controlled substance.

ADOC has a zero-tolerance policy concerning contraband and continues to evaluate effective tactics to mitigate and eliminate its presence in facilities, including routine, announced searches of facilities, inmates and ADOC staff, officials said.

My department is fully committed to eliminating the presence of illegal contraband throughout our facilities, said ADOC Commissioner Jeff Dunn. Addressing this nationwide challenge in our states facilities is a crucial step to providing a safe, rehabilitative environment. We will continue to take this commitment seriously through regular contraband raids as well as heightened security to ensure illegal paraphernalia does not enter our facilities from external parties.

Anyone with information on someone trying to introduce illegal contraband into state prisons is asked to notify ADOC Investigations and Intelligence Division at 1-855-WE R ADOC (937-2362) and to law enforcement by visiting the ADOC website at http://www.doc.alabama.gov/investigationrequest.
Lucknow, Jan 24 : Uttar Pradesh Minister Shrikant Sharma has said that there is a 'tukde tukde' gang in Bollywood which is speaking against the amended citizenship law with definite political motives.

Shrikant Sharma was responding to remarks made by actor-director Nandita Das, who said that Delhi's Shaheen Bagh will be replicated.

"Those from Bollywood speaking against CAA have political motives and are provoked by political parties. They should read CAA before speaking. We are not taking anyone's citizenship, but giving citizenship to those who faced persecution. They are also being misled by those with vested interests," he said.

The minister's comments come in the backdrop of the ongoing debate on the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) passed by the Parliament on December 11, that proposes to give citizenship to Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, Sikhs and Christians from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Actor Nandita Das, while appreciating the efforts of students and common people who have been protesting against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), had said on Thursday said that more places like Shaheen Bagh are coming up across the country.

She also exhorted people to speak up against the CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). "They (government) are asking those who have been living here for four generations to prove that they are Indians. This is very sad. I think everyone should speak up," she had said on the sidelines of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF).

The actor said the protests against the CAA and the NRC are 'spontaneous' and no political parties are involved in them. These are led by students and common people. The youth has created hope in the country. Every other place is becoming a Shaheen Bagh now, and I think as human beings, we should speak up against these laws," she added.

Earlier when Deepika Padukone had appeared at a sit in by JNU students at their campus there was huge controversy. This had happened ahead of the release of "Chhapaak".
Dear Reader,

Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.

We, however, have a request.



As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed.



Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard.



Digital Editor
Only a fraction of cryptocurrency transactions are used for illegal activity, but nearly all illegal transactions are done in the dark digital realm, and funding terrorism is made relatively easy. Last year, Washington-based Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) reported that ISIS, Al-Qaeda, the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas and other militant groups were using several social media platforms, including Telegram, to raise funds via cryptocurrencies.

And they are anything but shy about where the money was going and for what purpose.

In its 2018 report, Europol revealed that members of the terrorist organization ISIS seem to enjoy Zcash, noting that ISIS requested donations in Zcash and Bitcoin to purchase website domains in their efforts to recruit, fundraise, and organize attacks.

And now, the Israeli International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT) claims that the Palestinian militant group al-Nasser Brigades (AQB) has managed to bring in a total of $29 million via donations.

AQB, the military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), is said to have received millions in the BTC fundraising campaign after Iran rejected the group's request for financing assistance.

The report claims the group  which the Israeli media says has links to Hamas  used bitcoin to avoid sanctions and offer a degree of anonymity to donors from overseas. The groups wallet had in the last four years received a total of nearly 3,370 BTC, which totals almost $29 million in todays prices.

Methods are becoming increasingly sophisticated, according to Chainalysis, a research agency that tracks digital transactions for law-enforcement.

The Israeli ICT claims that AQB used a website to create a fresh Bitcoin address for every donor to send funds, and also employed a detailed video explaining how donors could remain anonymous. Those sophisticated moves allegedly helped AQB raise the same amount of money in half the time, as well as attracting more donors through security of anonymity.

Related: SoftBank Sees First Quarterly Loss In 14 Years

Cryptocurrency has been linked to other criminal activities as well, including Ponzi schemes, extortion, theft, and money-laundering. And the currency of choice is bitcoin--hands down. According to one analysis, bitcoin accounts for 95% of illicit cryptocurrency transactions.

A CipherTrace blockchain forensics report for 2019 said that cryptocurrency theft had skyrocketed, year-over-year, with losses from digital currency crime hitting $4.4 billion in the first nine months of the year. Thats a 150% increase over the first nine months of 2018.

Last summer, the Financial Action Task Force, which provides crypto guidance for some 200 countries, began requiring exchanges to collect more data about their customers and also to start sharing that data with their peers in fund-to-fund transfers.

In 2018, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would establish a crypto task force to combat terrorist use of cryptocurrencies, and the UK government followed suit, increasing regulatory requirements for digital currencies.

Earlier this month, the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) assumed charge of control of cryptocurrency asset oversight  specifically, oversight of anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) activities.

In the U.S., cryptocurrency is also highly popular among domestic extremists, and among neo-Nazi organizations, in particular. A 2017 study by the Anti Defamation League (ADL) claims that American supremacy groups tend to be decentralized--not highly organized--and often rely on crypto, which speaks loudly to their decentralization sentiments.

The bottom line is this: There is no way for anonymity to live separately from a criminal bonanza, just as there has never been a way to allow democracy without allowing freedom of speech. The trick is in law-enforcement capabilities that do not undermine the basic tenets of privacy and freedom. No one knows what that is--yet.

By Michael Scott for Safehaven.com

More Top Reads From Safehaven.com:
WASHINGTON  Texas Rep. Veronica Escobar will deliver the Democratic response to President Donald Trumps State of the Union speech next month  a coveted gig for the El Paso Democrat still in her first term in Congress.

Escobar, who shares with Houston Democrat Rep. Sylvia Garcia the distinction of being the first Texas Latinas ever elected to Congress, will deliver the Spanish language response to Trump, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced on Friday, noting that Escobars election made history.

Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

Both of the Texas Democrats have rapidly gained clout in their first terms in office. Pelosi put Garcia on the team of Democrats presenting the Houses case for impeachment to the Senate.

Our diversity is our strength, Escobar said. Now more than ever, Democrats will continue to celebrate our diversity, defend our democracy, and work for a more equal and just nation.

Escobar has quickly made a name for herself as an advocate for reforming gun laws after a mass shooting in El Paso in which 22 people died last summer, and as a vocal supporter of impeachment from her seat on the House Judiciary Committee that drafted the articles charging Trump with abusing his power and obstructing Congress.

In the House of Representatives, she is making a difference for El Pasoans and for all Americans, as she fights to end the gun violence epidemic and to protect children and families at the southwest border, Pelosi said in a statement about Escobar. Her values and vision beautifully represent our party and our country, and we look forward to hearing her positive message of progress.

For subscribers: Texas lawmakers bring heat to historic Trump impeachment hearing

The State of Union rebuttal is often given to those seen as rising stars in their party. Democrat Stacey Abrams, who narrowly lost the 2018 race for governor in Georgia, gave the response last year.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will give the English-language rebuttal to the State of the Union address.

ben.wermund@chron.com
The assistance will be distributed among boat crews and spec-ops forces.

The United States officials handed over to Ukraine special equipment for the protection of maritime borders worth UAH 29 million (over US$1.2 million).

The official ceremony of international assistance transfer under the Export Control and Border Security Program (EXBS) was held at the Odesa Port, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

The assistance includes over 3,000 pieces of equipment worth UAH 29 million (over $1.2 million) which will be distributed among boat crews and special operations forces.

Read alsoPassenger traffic across Ukraine-Russia border declines by almost 10% in 2019  border guards

The report says the equipment includes emergency gear, such as floating body armor, thermic suits, and OCENCO M-20.2 rescue gear (providing up to 15 minutes worth of respiratory protection during fire evacuation).

The package also includes GPS wristwatches, portable gas analyzers, and various ship lighting and inspection devices.

The assistance will be used to save lives of Ukrainian coast guards, including in the Joint Forces Operation zone, said Rear Admiral Oleh Kostur, head of the Regional Directorate of the Coast Guard of the State Border Guard Service.

In turn, U.S. officials assured that they will continue providing assistance to the State Border Guard Service, including to increase the effectiveness of the Coast Guard under the EXBS program.
The coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, China has left hundreds ill and caused over 15 deaths since December 2019. The World Health Organization has postponed its decision on classifying the new virus as a global health emergency. The cases span 13 provinces in mainland China, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, the US, Taiwan and Macau. As of January 22, the number of reported deaths had risen to 17. Here's a look at rare viruses that have caused many deaths in the recent past. (Image: Reuters)

SARS outbreak of 2003 | The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS virus spread across 26 countries and over 8000 cases of infections were reported. The disease appeared in November 2002 in Guangdong province of southern China. Other countries in which chains of human-to-human transmission occurred included Canada, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Vietnam. Symptoms of SARS are cough (initially dry), shortness of breath, and diarrhoea. Severe cases evolve rapidly, progressing to respiratory distress and patients require intensive care. (Image: Reuters)

MERS outbreak of 2015 | MERS stands for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. The 2015 outbreak in South Korea was the largest outbreak outside of the Middle East. By the end of the outbreak, there were 186 laboratory-confirmed cases (185 in the Republic of Korea and 1 in China) and 38 deaths were confirmed. Symptoms include Fever with or without chills and stiffness, cough, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, sore throat, muscle pain, muscle soreness, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach ache. (Image: Reuters)

Ebola outbreak | Ebola virus was first described in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since then, the virus has emerged periodically and infected people in several African countries. The largest Ebola outbreak was first reported in March 2014 and declared an emergency by the World Health Organization (WHO). The epidemic spread to parts of Africa, Europe, and the US. The largest impacted countries were Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. Over the duration of this epidemic, there were 28,616 suspected, probable, and confirmed cases in the three countries and 11,310 deaths were reported. Primary signs of Ebola often include: Fever, aches and pains, such as severe headache, muscle and joint pain, and abdominal (stomach) pain, gastrointestinal symptoms including diarrhea and vomiting, unexplained hemorrhaging, bleeding or bruising. (Image: Reuters)

ZIKA outbreak of 2015 | An outbreak of ZIKA virus was reported in Brazil in 2015, which spread to over 50 countries at the time. Over 10,000 cases were reported in Rio de Janeiro alone. On February 1, 2016, the World Health Organization declared a outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, prompting a comprehensive response, including the development of surveillance networks, vector-control measures and risk communication strategies. (Image: Reuters)
Sketch: Scottish Labour's comedy tour

Never again, Ian Murray has warned, should Labour policy be developed at the Edinburgh fringe festival, and you can see why.

Lets never again have a senior member of the Labour Party coming to a fringe show at the Edinburgh Festival and changing our constitutional position on Scotland without telling anyone about it, he said, speaking at the launch of his campaign for the deputy leadership of the Labour party.

Well indeed  let us not. They really should stop doing that. This, of course, was a reference to John McDonnell repeatedly contradicting the Scottish party in the summer, by opening the door to a section 30 order. But it was a statement that raised all sorts of questions, not least because of the use of never again. How often has it been happening? You could probably understand them doing it once, but if the party has to introduce a new policy against using the worlds biggest comedy festival as its primary vehicle for policy formulation you do start to wonder if there might be a problem.

And so, in fairness to Murray, it does seem a very good policy  the fringe festival is definitely not the right place for constitutional announcements. It should be the Jazz Festival. Save the fringe for tax policy.

True socialism means you care as much about destroying the electoral prospects of comrades in Durham as much as Dundee

No, its clear there are a whole range of different cultural celebrations which UK Labour could use to contradict their Scottish Labour colleagues. But Murray is probably right, even if some will question whether it is too rash. Surely they could try using the fringe to announce new contradictory positions on independence two or three more times before giving up? In fairness, that does seem a possibility, with the use of without telling anyone about it, suggesting that they actually might keep doing it, but only if everyone gets more of a heads up first. They could do a preview show, for half price, just to make sure their new position on independence really hits home.

Whatever happens, it was good to see someone picking over what went wrong at the last election. As Murray put it, explaining the problem with the change policy at comedy festivals strategy: That is not just disrespectful to the Labour Party, it is not just disrespectful to the Scottish Labour Party, its disrespectful to every single person who looks to the Labour Party for holding this UK together, and standing up for the key principle that independence for Scotland is bad for Scotland, and independence for Scotland is bad for the rest of the United Kingdom.

It was also quite disrespectful to the fringe, when you think about it, even if Labours approach to comedy does seem to be taking an increasingly surrealist turn. But what else was on Murrays agenda? Well, it seems the deputy leadership hopeful is also keen for UK colleagues to stop coming up to Scotland to make provocative speeches without any basic idea of what theyre talking about. It really is radical stuff.

As the Edinburgh South MP put it: I say to all leadership and deputy leadership candidates, please dont come up to Scotland and talk about things when youre not quite sure what youre talking about. Just make sure in the first instance that you at least try and understand.

It was bold. It was fresh. But was it too idealistic?

And, anyway, who could he have been referring to? Well it didnt seem to be Jess Phillips, whose campaign has moved elegantly from lecturing Scottish Labour on how to win an election to dropping out the race in the space of a week. And nor was it Lisa Nandy, despite her decision to spend the last couple of weeks elaborating on her plans to crush the separatists, with all the enthusiasm of a Sith emperor.

No, it seemed these two were OK. As he explained: I wouldnt talk about anything thats happening in Salford, where Rebecca Long-Bailey is the MP, or in Norwich, where Clive Lewis is the MP [he has since dropped out], without having spoken to them and being completely across the issues. So its not different to coming up to Scotland.

Well that didnt seem like a very socialist attitude. In fact it sounded like nationalist talk, with Murray keen for Labour politicians to only barge wildly into the politics of their own local areas.

What happened to internationalism? A true Labour leader would be willing to launch pointless infighting against colleagues regardless of where they were based. After all, true socialism means you care as much about destroying the electoral prospects of comrades in Durham as much as Dundee. That you trash talk colleagues from Aberystwyth to Aberdeen. From Elgin to Essex, they shall all be ruined equally. Thats what pooling and sharing of factionalism is all about.

But who knows  maybe Murrays pitch will be successful. Maybe the rest of the party will listen to him, without launching any ill-advised attacks in response.

Yet, with the race continuing until April, and plenty of public facing debate to come, at present its too early to say. We will probably need to wait until August, and the start of the fringe, to find out.
What is a reasonable fee?

This is the question thats at the heart of the ongoing complaints about the Sweetwater County Clerks decision to charge for access to a database of records maintained by a separate company.

This is also a question that local and state governments have contended with since Wyomings public documents laws allowed for the charge of a reasonable fee.

The unfortunate answer to the question is this: there is no such thing as a reasonable fee. This is because whats reasonable for one person is unreasonable for another.

A fee of $10 for unlimited printing of do...
The first case of a new coronavirus that affected almost 300 people in Asia has been reported in a patient in Washington state.

Six people have died from the disease in Asia, officials said.

This was officially confirmed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as the first case of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) or Wuhan coronavirus in the United States.

According to CDC and Washington state officials, the patient is a male US resident who arrived at the Seattle-Tacoma airport last January 15, 2020, before any health screenings for the Wuhan coronavirus began at US airports.

The CDC will be screening passengers for the virus at two more airports: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta and O'Hare in Chicago. Airplane passengers from the central Chinese city of Wuhan on Friday are being screened for signs of the respiratory illness in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York.

The Snohomish County, Washington State resident diagnosed with the Wuhan coronavirus was returning from China.

According to officials, the male in his 30s is "very healthy and he is currently being isolated at a medical center in the state "out of caution" and poses a small risk to the public. He reached out to local health authorities on Jan. 19 once he started experiencing pneumonia-like symptoms.

A clinical specimen was submitted to CDC and laboratory testing confirmed the diagnosis.

According to Nancy Messonnier, M.D., director of the CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, "CDC has been proactively preparing for (the) introduction of this virus."

The outbreak of pneumonia caused by this novel coronavirus has been ongoing since December 2019.

The mystery disease was initially thought to be spreading from animal-to-person, but there are growing indications that limited person-to-person spread is happening.

John Wiesman, secretary of health for the state of Washington, said that the risk to the public is low.

The root of the outbreak was reported in the seafood and live-animal market in the Chinese city of Wuhan.

The mystery coronavirus is in the same family as SARS, MERS and the common cold often circulates among animals.

The victim did not have a fever at the time of arrival and the flight was not a direct flight from Wuhan. Also, the patient did not go to implicated animal markets in Wuhan, nor did he report close contact with an ill individual.

After reaching out to his health care provider, 2019-nCoV was confirmed on the 20th using samples shipped overnight.

The outbreak has spread from Wuhan to Beijing, Shanghai and other cities in China. Cases have been confirmed in South Korea, Thailand, Japan and elsewhere outside China.

CDC will be working closely with the state health department concerning this patient's care.

According to President Donald Trump, he was aware of the case and said the US has it under control.

Four hundred reported cases of the illness have evoked memories of the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, in China.

Older adults might be at increased risk for severe disease.

The travel warning to Wuhan has been upgraded from level 1 to level 2.

RELATED ARTICLE: New Coronavirus is Now in The U.S. Here's How to Protect Yourself
NEW YORK, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

The global market for Plastics Processing Machinery is projected to reach US$24.

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p092538/?utm_source=PRN

3 billion by 2025, driven by the ubiquitous consumption of plastics in virtually all consumer-oriented, industrial and commercial sectors. From plastic bottles, plastic bags to automotive, aerospace and electronics grade plastics, the world remains addicted to plastics despite the growing burden of plastic waste. Plastics are important manufacturing materials as they have high resistance for electricity conduction, are lightweight, durable, malleable, strong, cost effective and affordable. Engineered plastics are additionally fire-resistant, bacteria resistant and have greater mechanical strength. Continuous innovations in plastics are driving large scale displacement of metals with plastics. The rise of recycled plastics and bioplastics are deflecting the heat raised by the environmental footprint of traditional plastics, promising to provide plastics a strong place even in the emerging sustainable, circular economy. Injection plastics molding technologies are increasingly being adapted to process various types of biodegradable plastic resins in the wake of the soaring eco-conscious in the consumer market. Biodegradable plastic resin compatible with plastic injection molding technology include Thermoplastic Starch-based Plastics (TPS); Polybutylene Succinate (PBS); Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA); Polylactic Acid (PLA); and Polycaprolactone (PCL).

- The need for upgrades and modernization of plastic processing plants in developing countries will spur replacement demand for injection molding machinery. Growth is also benefiting from technology developments which are driving down equipment costs and increasing affordability of equipment in price sensitive emerging markets. With the industry being technology driven, demand is on the rise for high-end machinery designed to offer improved flexibility, higher output, superior energy efficiency, and higher ROI on invested plant assets. Other equally important noteworthy trends in the market include strong demand for ultra-big precision molding machines; growing commercial value of machines embedded with smart concepts for energy savings and reduced environmental footprint; growing focus on operational efficiency and the ensuing demand for electric and electric-hydraulic hybrid injection molding machines; robust growth of the medical device manufacturing sector and a parallel increase in demand for micro injection molding machines for producing high-quality implants and surgical, diagnostic devices; rise of 3D printing and additive manufacturing techniques and growing need for custom injection molding machines with 3d printed tooling. The United States, China and Europe represent large markets worldwide with a combined share of 65.5% of the market. China also ranks as the fastest growing market with a CAGR of 3.5% over the analysis period supported by the surge in domestic demand for plastics in packaging, construction, automotive and industrial sector and the ensuing demand for smart, intelligent machines. In the United States and Europe, growth is encouraged by the trend towards reshoring of plastics and rubber production.

- Competitors identified in this market include, among others, Arburg GmbH & Co., Battenfeld-Cincinnati Austria, Brown Machine LLC, Bruckner Group GmbH, Davis-Standard LLC, Engel Austria GmbH, FANUC Corporation, Haitian International Holdings Limited, Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd., Kautex Maschinenbau GmbH, KraussMaffei Technologies GmbH, Ningbo Haida Plastic Machinery Co. Ltd., Nissei ASB Machine Co. Ltd., Reifenhauser Group, SencorpWhite Inc., Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd., Toshiba Machine Co. Ltd.







Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p092538/?utm_source=PRN



PLASTICS PROCESSING MACHINERY MCP-1

MARKET ANALYSIS, TRENDS, AND FORECASTS, DECEMBER 2

CONTENTS



I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & REPORT SCOPE







II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY







1. MARKET OVERVIEW



Plastics Machinery - A Technology Driven Industry

Outlook

Analysis by Segment

Reshoring of Plastics Production Contributes to Growth in Developed Markets

Developing Economies Boost Growth

China Exhibits Increasing Inclination Towards High End Machinery

China Exhibits Increasing Inclination Towards High End Machinery Global Economic Outlook

Global Economic Outlook: Real GDP Growth Rates in % by Country /Region for the Years 2017 through 2020

Global Manufacturing PMI - An important Bellwether

Global Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for the Years 2012 through 2019

Global Plastics Production - A Review

Global Plastics Production Output in Million Tons for the Years 2009 through 2020

Per Capita Consumption of Plastics by Country/Region: 2016

Global Plastics Production by Region/Country (in %): 2019E

Global Competitor Market Shares

Plastics Processing Machinery Competitor Market Share Scenario Worldwide (in %): 2019 & 2028

Product Matrix of Select Players in the Global Plastic Processing Machinery Market

Select Leading Players in the Worldwide Plastics Processing Machinery Market by Segment





2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS



Arburg GmbH & Co. (Germany)

Battenfeld-Cincinnati Austria GmbH (Austria)

BEKUM Maschinenfabriken GmbH (Germany)

Brown Machine LLC (USA)

Bruckner Group GmbH (Germany)

Davis-Standard, LLC (USA)

Engel Austria GmbH (Austria)

FANUC Corporation (Japan)

Fu Chun Shin Machinery Manufacture Co., Ltd. (Taiwan)

G.N. Plastics Company Limited (Canada)

Haitian International Holdings Limited (China)

Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. (Canada)

Kautex Maschinenbau GmbH (Germany)

KraussMaffei Technologies GmbH (Germany)

Milacron LLC (USA)

NEGRI BOSSI SpA (Italy)

Ningbo Haida Plastic Machinery Co., Ltd. (China)

Nissei ASB Machine Co., Ltd. (Japan)

Reifenhauser Group (Germany)

SencorpWhite, Inc. (USA)

Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd. (Japan)

Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Plastics Machinery GmbH (Germany)

The Japan Steel Works, Ltd. (Japan)

Toshiba Machine Co., Ltd. (Japan)





3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS



Circular Economy Becomes the New Theme

Electro-Hydraulic Technology Picks up Pace in the Injection Molding Market

Focus Intensifies on Precision and Lightweighing Solutions

Vertical Injection Machines to Witness Increased Automation

Industry 4.0 Highlights the Trend in Plastics Machinery

Manufacturers Leverage AI for Machine Operations

Automation and Robotics Pick Up Momentum

Extruders Add Advanced Capabilities

Demand on Rise for Customized Formulations

Energy Efficiency Redefines Machine Engineering

Waste Minimization Redefines New Production Strategies

Micro Injection Molding Machines in Demand

Global Market for Thermoplastic Micro Injection Molding by End -use Industry (in %): 2019E

END-USE MARKET PERSPECTIVE

Global Demand for Plastic Processing Machinery by End-use Sector (in %): 2019E

Packaging Sector - An Overview

High Demand for Packaging - A Key Driver for Plastics Processing Machinery

Plastic Products Gain Traction in Building and Construction Markets

Construction Industry Sector - A Review

Global Construction Spending (in US$ Trillion): 2014-2025

Rise in Use of Plastics in Automotive Sector Augers well for Growth

Global Passenger Car Production (In Million Units) for the Years 2010, 2016, 2020, and 2024

Plastic Components in Passenger Cars by Plastic Type

Percentage Share of Plastics in Passenger Cars: 2000, 2010, and 2020

Number of Cars per Thousand People across Select Countries (2018)

Plastics Usage Surges up Amid Rise in Demand for Consumer Electronics

Growing Market for Consumer Electronics Presents Opportunity for Plastics Market: Consumer Electronics Sales in US$ Billion for the Years 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024

Smartphone Sales Spur Demand for Precision Plastic Injection Molding Technologies

Global Shipment of Smartphones in Million Units (2012-2022)

TRADE SCENARIO

Export Import Scenario

Global Plastic processing Machinery Exports (2018): Percentage Breakdown of Value Exports by Country

Global Injection-Molding Machinery Exports (2018): Percentage Breakdown of Value Exports by Country

Global Injection-Molding Machinery Imports (2018): Percentage Breakdown of Value Imports by Country

Global Extrusion Machinery Exports (2018): Percentage Breakdown of Value Exports by Country

Global Extrusion Machinery Imports (2018): Percentage Breakdown of Value Imports by Country

Global Blow-Molding Machine Exports (2018): Percentage Breakdown of Value Exports by Country

Global Blow Molding Machinery Imports (2018): Percentage Breakdown of Value Imports by Country

PRODUCT OVERVIEW

Definition - Plastics Processing Machines

Types of Plastics Processing Machinery





4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE



Table 1: Plastics Processing Machinery Global Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 2: Plastics Processing Machinery Global Retrospective Market Scenario in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2009-2017

Table 3: Plastics Processing Machinery Market Share Shift across Key Geographies Worldwide: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 4: Injection Molding Machines (Product Segment) World Market by Region/Country in US$ Thousand: 2018 to 2025

Table 5: Injection Molding Machines (Product Segment) Historic Market Analysis by Region/Country in US$ Thousand: 2009 to 2017

Table 6: Injection Molding Machines (Product Segment) Market Share Breakdown of Worldwide Sales by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 7: Blow Molding Machines (Product Segment) Potential Growth Markets Worldwide in US$ Thousand: 2018 to 2025

Table 8: Blow Molding Machines (Product Segment) Historic Market Perspective by Region/Country in US$ Thousand: 2009 to 2017

Table 9: Blow Molding Machines (Product Segment) Market Sales Breakdown by Region/Country in Percentage: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 10: Extrusion Machines (Product Segment) Geographic Market Spread Worldwide in US$ Thousand: 2018 to 2025

Table 11: Extrusion Machines (Product Segment) Region Wise Breakdown of Global Historic Demand in US$ Thousand: 2009 to 2017

Table 12: Extrusion Machines (Product Segment) Market Share Distribution in Percentage by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 13: Thermoforming Machines (Product Segment) World Market Estimates and Forecasts by Region/Country in US$ Thousand: 2

to 2025

Table 14: Thermoforming Machines (Product Segment) Market Historic Review by Region/Country in US$ Thousand: 2009 to 2017

Table 15: Thermoforming Machines (Product Segment) Market Share Breakdown by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 16: Other Product Segments (Product Segment) World Market by Region/Country in US$ Thousand: 2018 to 2025

Table 17: Other Product Segments (Product Segment) Historic Market Analysis by Region/Country in US$ Thousand: 2009 to 2017

Table 18: Other Product Segments (Product Segment) Market Share Distribution in Percentage by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025



III. MARKET ANALYSIS



GEOGRAPHIC MARKET ANALYSIS

UNITED STATES

Market Overview

Shale Gas Abundance Improves Competitive Edge of US Plastic Processors

All-Electric Blow Molding Machinery Gain Sales

Packaging Industry - Leading End-Use Market

Plastics Processing Machinery Market in the US by End-Use (in%): 2019E

Injection Molding Machinery Market in the US by End-Use (in%): 2019E

Blow Molding Machinery Market in the US by End-Use (in %): 2019E

Reshoring of Plastic Production Benefits Demand

Market Analytics

Table 19: United States Plastics Processing Machinery Market Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand by Product Segment: 2018 to 2025

Table 20: Plastics Processing Machinery Market in the United States by Product Segment: A Historic Review in US$ Thousand for 2009-2017

Table 21: United States Plastics Processing Machinery Market Share Breakdown by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

CANADA

Market Overview

Market Analytics

Table 22: Canadian Plastics Processing Machinery Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Product Segment: 2018 to 2025

Table 23: Canadian Plastics Processing Machinery Historic Market Review by Product Segment in US$ Thousand: 2009-2017

Table 24: Plastics Processing Machinery Market in Canada: Percentage Share Breakdown of Sales by Product Segment for 2009, 2019, and 2025

JAPAN

Market Overview

Injection Molding Machinery Demand in Japan by End-Use Markets: 2019E

Competition

Market Share of Leading Manufacturers of Injection Molding Machinery in Japan (in%): 2019E

Market Analytics

Table 25: Japanese Market for Plastics Processing Machinery: Annual Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand by Product Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 26: Plastics Processing Machinery Market in Japan: Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product Segment for the Period 2009-2017

Table 27: Japanese Plastics Processing Machinery Market Share Analysis by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

CHINA

Market Overview

High End Machinery Picks up Demand

Plastics Sector in China

All-Electric Injection Molding Equipment Gains Traction

Market Analytics

Table 28: Chinese Plastics Processing Machinery Market Growth Prospects in US$ Thousand by Product Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 29: Plastics Processing Machinery Historic Market Analysis in China in US$ Thousand by Product Segment: 2009-2017

Table 30: Chinese Plastics Processing Machinery Market by Product Segment: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019, and 2025

EUROPE

Market Overview

Industry 4.0 - A Growing Area of Focus

European Plastics Industry

Plastics Production in Europe (2007-2017) (in Million Tons)

Market Analytics

Table 31: European Plastics Processing Machinery Market Demand Scenario in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 32: Plastics Processing Machinery Market in Europe: A Historic Market Perspective in US$ Thousand by Region/Country for the Period 2009-2017

Table 33: European Plastics Processing Machinery Market Share Shift by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 34: European Plastics Processing Machinery Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Product Segment: 2018-2025

Table 35: Plastics Processing Machinery Market in Europe in US$ Thousand by Product Segment: A Historic Review for the Period 2009-2017

Table 36: European Plastics Processing Machinery Market Share Breakdown by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

FRANCE

Table 37: Plastics Processing Machinery Market in France by Product Segment: Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand for the Period 2018-2025

Table 38: French Plastics Processing Machinery Historic Market Scenario in US$ Thousand by Product Segment: 2009-2017

Table 39: French Plastics Processing Machinery Market Share Analysis by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

GERMANY

Leading Manufacturer of Plastic Machinery

German Plastics and Rubber Machinery Exports by Destination Country (in %): 2018

Market Analytics

Table 40: Plastics Processing Machinery Market in Germany: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 41: German Plastics Processing Machinery Historic Market Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product Segment: 2009-2017

Table 42: German Plastics Processing Machinery Market Share Breakdown by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

ITALY

Market Overview

Import/Export Scenario

Market Analytics

Table 43: Italian Plastics Processing Machinery Market Growth Prospects in US$ Thousand by Product Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 44: Plastics Processing Machinery Historic Market Analysis in Italy in US$ Thousand by Product Segment: 2009-2017

Table 45: Italian Plastics Processing Machinery Market by Product Segment: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019, and 2025

UNITED KINGDOM

Market Overview

Market Analytics

Table 46: United Kingdom Market for Plastics Processing Machinery: Annual Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand by Product Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 47: Plastics Processing Machinery Market in the United Kingdom: Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product Segment for the Period 2009-2017

Table 48: United Kingdom Plastics Processing Machinery Market Share Analysis by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

SPAIN

Market Overview

Market Analytics

Table 49: Spanish Plastics Processing Machinery Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Product Segment: 2018 to 2025

Table 50: Spanish Plastics Processing Machinery Historic Market Review by Product Segment in US$ Thousand: 2009-2017

Table 51: Plastics Processing Machinery Market in Spain: Percentage Share Breakdown of Sales by Product Segment for 2009, 2019, and 2025

RUSSIA

Market Overview

Market Analytics

Table 52: Russian Plastics Processing Machinery Market Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand by Product Segment: 2018 to 2025

Table 53: Plastics Processing Machinery Market in Russia by Product Segment: A Historic Review in US$ Thousand for 2009-2017

Table 54: Russian Plastics Processing Machinery Market Share Breakdown by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

REST OF EUROPE

Central and Eastern European Countries Display Strong Potential

Poland

Plastics Consumption in Poland by End-Use Sector (in %): 2019E

Turkey

Turkey Plastic Processing Machinery Imports by Type (in %): 2018

Market Analytics

Table 55: Rest of Europe Plastics Processing Machinery Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Product Segment: 2018-2025

Table 56: Plastics Processing Machinery Market in Rest of Europe in US$ Thousand by Product Segment: A Historic Review for the Period 2009-2017

Table 57: Rest of Europe Plastics Processing Machinery Market Share Breakdown by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

ASIA-PACIFIC

Table 58: Asia-Pacific Plastics Processing Machinery Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 59: Plastics Processing Machinery Market in Asia-Pacific: Historic Market Analysis in US$ Thousand by Region/Country for the Period 2009-2017

Table 60: Asia-Pacific Plastics Processing Machinery Market Share Analysis by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

Table 61: Plastics Processing Machinery Market in Asia-Pacific by Product Segment: Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand for the Period 2018-2025

Table 62: Asia-Pacific Plastics Processing Machinery Historic Market Scenario in US$ Thousand by Product Segment: 2009-2017

Table 63: Asia-Pacific Plastics Processing Machinery Market Share Analysis by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

AUSTRALIA

Table 64: Plastics Processing Machinery Market in Australia: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 65: Australian Plastics Processing Machinery Historic Market Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product Segment: 2009-2017

Table 66: Australian Plastics Processing Machinery Market Share Breakdown by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

INDIA

Market Overview

Challenges Faced

Export-Import Scenario

Highly Fragmented Industry

Market Analytics

Table 67: Indian Plastics Processing Machinery Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Product Segment: 2018 to 2025

Table 68: Indian Plastics Processing Machinery Historic Market Review by Product Segment in US$ Thousand: 2009-2017

Table 69: Plastics Processing Machinery Market in India: Percentage Share Breakdown of Sales by Product Segment for 2009, 2019, and 2025

SOUTH KOREA

Market Overview

Market Analytics

Table 70: Plastics Processing Machinery Market in South Korea: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 71: South Korean Plastics Processing Machinery Historic Market Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product Segment: 2009-2017

Table 72: Plastics Processing Machinery Market Share Distribution in South Korea by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

REST OF ASIA-PACIFIC

Taiwan

Market Analytics

Table 73: Rest of Asia-Pacific Market for Plastics Processing Machinery: Annual Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand by Product Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 74: Plastics Processing Machinery Market in Rest of Asia-Pacific: Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product Segment for the Period 2009-2017

Table 75: Rest of Asia-Pacific Plastics Processing Machinery Market Share Analysis by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

LATIN AMERICA

Table 76: Latin American Plastics Processing Machinery Market Trends by Region/Country in US$ Thousand: 2018-2025

Table 77: Plastics Processing Machinery Market in Latin America in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: A Historic Perspective for the Period 2009-2017

Table 78: Latin American Plastics Processing Machinery Market Percentage Breakdown of Sales by Region/Country: 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 79: Latin American Plastics Processing Machinery Market Growth Prospects in US$ Thousand by Product Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 80: Plastics Processing Machinery Historic Market Analysis in Latin America in US$ Thousand by Product Segment: 2009-2017

Table 81: Latin American Plastics Processing Machinery Market by Product Segment: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019, and 2025

ARGENTINA

Table 82: Argentinean Plastics Processing Machinery Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Product Segment: 2018-2025

Table 83: Plastics Processing Machinery Market in Argentina in US$ Thousand by Product Segment: A Historic Review for the Period 2009-2017

Table 84: Argentinean Plastics Processing Machinery Market Share Breakdown by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

BRAZIL

Market Overview

Market Analytics

Table 85: Plastics Processing Machinery Market in Brazil by Product Segment: Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand for the Period 2018-2025

Table 86: Brazilian Plastics Processing Machinery Historic Market Scenario in US$ Thousand by Product Segment: 2009-2017

Table 87: Brazilian Plastics Processing Machinery Market Share Analysis by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

MEXICO

Market Overview

Market Analytics

Table 88: Plastics Processing Machinery Market in Mexico: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 89: Mexican Plastics Processing Machinery Historic Market Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product Segment: 2009-2017

Table 90: Mexican Plastics Processing Machinery Market Share Breakdown by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

REST OF LATIN AMERICA

Table 91: Rest of Latin America Plastics Processing Machinery Market Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand by Product Segment: 2018 to 2025

Table 92: Plastics Processing Machinery Market in Rest of Latin America by Product Segment: A Historic Review in US$ Thousand for 2009-2017

Table 93: Rest of Latin America Plastics Processing Machinery Market Share Breakdown by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

MIDDLE EAST

Market Overview

Market Analytics

Table 94: The Middle East Plastics Processing Machinery Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Region/Country: 2018-2025

Table 95: Plastics Processing Machinery Market in the Middle East by Region/Country in US$ Thousand: 2009-2017

Table 96: The Middle East Plastics Processing Machinery Market Share Breakdown by Region/Country: 2009, 2019, and 2025

Table 97: The Middle East Plastics Processing Machinery Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Product Segment: 2018 to 2025

Table 98: The Middle East Plastics Processing Machinery Historic Market by Product Segment in US$ Thousand: 2009-2017

Table 99: Plastics Processing Machinery Market in the Middle East: Percentage Share Breakdown of Sales by Product Segment for 2009, 2019, and 2025

IRAN

Table 100: Iranian Market for Plastics Processing Machinery: Annual Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand by Product Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 101: Plastics Processing Machinery Market in Iran: Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product Segment for the Period 2009-2017

Table 102: Iranian Plastics Processing Machinery Market Share Analysis by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

ISRAEL

Table 103: Israeli Plastics Processing Machinery Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Thousand by Product Segment: 2018-2025

Table 104: Plastics Processing Machinery Market in Israel in US$ Thousand by Product Segment: A Historic Review for the Period 2009-2017

Table 105: Israeli Plastics Processing Machinery Market Share Breakdown by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

SAUDI ARABIA

Table 106: Saudi Arabian Plastics Processing Machinery Market Growth Prospects in US$ Thousand by Product Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 107: Plastics Processing Machinery Historic Market Analysis in Saudi Arabia in US$ Thousand by Product Segment: 2009-2017

Table 108: Saudi Arabian Plastics Processing Machinery Market by Product Segment: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019, and 2025

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Table 109: Plastics Processing Machinery Market in the United Arab Emirates: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 110: United Arab Emirates Plastics Processing Machinery Historic Market Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product Segment: 2009-2017

Table 111: Plastics Processing Machinery Market Share Distribution in United Arab Emirates by Product Segment: 2

VS 2019 VS 2025

REST OF MIDDLE EAST

Table 112: Plastics Processing Machinery Market in Rest of Middle East: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product Segment for the Period 2018-2025

Table 113: Rest of Middle East Plastics Processing Machinery Historic Market Analysis in US$ Thousand by Product Segment: 2009-2017

Table 114: Rest of Middle East Plastics Processing Machinery Market Share Breakdown by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025

AFRICA

Table 115: African Plastics Processing Machinery Market Estimates and Projections in US$ Thousand by Product Segment: 2018 to 2025

Table 116: Plastics Processing Machinery Market in Africa by Product Segment: A Historic Review in US$ Thousand for 2009-2017

Table 117: African Plastics Processing Machinery Market Share Breakdown by Product Segment: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025



IV. COMPETITION



Total Companies Profiled : 219 (including Divisions/Subsidiaries - 238)

Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p092538/?utm_source=PRN



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



__________________________

Contact Clare: [email protected]

US: (339)-368-6001

Intl: +1 339-368-6001

SOURCE Reportlinker

Related Links

http://www.reportlinker.com


Hinhnen-dienthoai.com scored 40 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team

This CoolSocial report was updated on 7 Jul 2014, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.

The total number of people who shared the hinhnen-dienthoai homepage on StumbleUpon. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the hinhnen-dienthoai homepage on Twitter + the total number of hinhnen-dienthoai followers (if hinhnen-dienthoai has a Twitter account). This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the hinhnen-dienthoai homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if hinhnen-dienthoai has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the hinhnen-dienthoai homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. The total number of people who shared the hinhnen-dienthoai homepage on Delicious.

Basic Information

PAGE TITLE H nh nen ien thoai. Tai h nh nen ep cho ien thoai DESCRIPTION Kho h nh nen ien thoai ep nhat. Tai h nh nen ep mien phi, oc ao va o phan giai cao cho de yeu, ien thoai thong minh cua ban. KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS nh nn, nh nn ng, nn ng, in thoi, thoi, cho in thoi, cho in



The title found in the head section of the homepage. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage.

Domain and Server

DOCTYPE XHTML Mobile 1.0 CHARSET AND LANGUAGE UTF-8 SERVER nginx/1.6.0 OPERATIVE SYSTEM

Character set and language of the site. Operative System running on the server. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) The language of hinhnen-dienthoai.com as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Type of server and offered services.

Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world.

Referring domains for hinhnen-dienthoai.com by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines.

Facebook link

FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND

The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The type of Facebook page. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The URL of the found Facebook page.

Twitter account link

TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND
School Library Journal ( SLJ) and the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute ( MSRI) have announced a new funding program aimed at getting literary fiction and nonfiction inspiring a love of math into the hands of K12 students in Title I schools. The Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards are available to school libraries in qualifying schools in the U.S.

Presented by MSRI in partnership with SLJ, the collection development awards will enable up to 25 libraries in K12 schools with high numbers or percentages of low-income students to receive grants of $700 to purchase titles from the Mathical Prize list.

Applications open January 24, 2020 and close March 12. Awards will be announced April 21.

The Mathical Book Prize recognizes outstanding youth trade fiction and nonfiction selected to inspire a love of math in the world around us. Prize-winning books span grades PreK through 12 and feature novels, biographies, chapter books and picture books and are selected every year by a committee of math teachers, reading teachers, mathematicians, librarians, early childhood experts, and others.

The Mathical Book Prize is presented by MSRI in partnership with the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), and in coordination with the Childrens Book Council (CBC).

Eligibility and Judging:

To be eligible for the Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards, schools must employ a full- or part-time librarian who meets state requirements for school library media certification and is currently employed as a media specialist, teacher librarian, or equivalent position.

Applicants will be required to submit proof of Title I funding, a letter of recommendation, and a plan for using books from the Mathical Prize list, including a list of titles and an explanation of how the prize would benefit library/school goals and serve students and the community.

Award recipients must provide reporting, completing a form that includes titles of Mathical books purchased, a description of student interaction and programming ideas related to Mathical titles, as well as photographs of students enjoying the books.

Winners will be determined by SLJ staff. Priority will be given to schools whose library staff demonstrate the greatest promise in using funds to advance the goals of their school library, and who are enthusiastic about encouraging students to explore a love of mathematics in their everyday lives. Diversity of geographic location and grade level of students served will be considered in the determination of a final set of winners.

For complete requirements and to apply, visit slj.com/MathicalAwards.

About MSRI:

The Mathematical Sciences Research Institute ( MSRI) is one of the worlds preeminent centers for collaborative research in mathematics. Located in Berkeley, California, MSRIs mission is to advance mathematical research, foster talent, and further the appreciation of mathematics. MSRI strives to make mathematics accessible and exciting to those outside the field through the National Math Festival, sponsorship of Numberphile (YouTubes most popular informal mathematics channel, with over 3.1 million subscribers), film production for public television, and the Mathical Book Prize. MSRI has created a national Math Circles movement of small organizations teaching and engaging children in math as a hobby.

About School Library Journal:

School Library Journal, a MSI Information Services publication, is the premiere journal for librarians and information specialists who work with children and teens. A source of quality journalism and reviews for more than 60 years, SLJ produces award-winning features and news coverage on: literacy, best practices, technology, education policy and other issues of interest to the school library and greater educator community. SLJ evaluates a broad range of resources, from books and digital content to databases, in 6000+ reviews published annually. For more information, visit slj.com.
BRUSSELS, Nov. 20, 2019 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attends a press conference after the meeting of the North Atlantic Council at the level of foreign ministers at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on Nov. 20, 2019. Fore Image Source: IANS News

London, Jan 24 : An extradition request sent by the UK for an American diplomat's wife over the death of a British teen in a car accident last year, was rejected by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The extradition request was sent by Home Secretary Priti Patel earlier this month for Anne Sacoolas, metro.co.uk reported.

Reacting to the development, a spokeswoman for the UK Home Office said on Thursday: "We are disappointed in this decision which appears to be a denial of justice. We are urgently considering our options." Harry Dunn, 19, died in a hospital of multiple injuries from the head-on crash of his motorbike with a car on August 27, 2019 in Northamptonshire in the East Midlands of England.

The US State Department had confirmed that the driver Sacoolas, 42, was the spouse of an American diplomat assigned to Britain, who then left the UK using her diplomatic immunity.

Also on Thursday, the family's spokesperson, Radd Seiger, said that their constituency MP Andrea Leadsom will meet US Ambassador Woody Johnson in London on Friday to discuss the case.

Over the last four months, the family has launched a number of legal battles, including a judicial review against the Foreign Office, a referral of Northamptonshire Police to the Independent Office for Police Conduct and an investigation into the US administration's handling of the case and a civil claim against Sacoolas herself.

They even met US President Donald Trump at the White House to state their case for Sacoolas returning to the UK.
'War is won by team work. War is won by sacrifices,' says Subedar Sanjay Kumar, Param Vir Chakra.

IMAGE: Subedar Sanjay Kumar at the start of a Republic Day parade. Photograph: Kind courtesy Subedar Sanjay Kumar

A few days before January 26, the three living Param Vir Chakra awardees assemble in New Delhi in the run-up to the parade. They carefully bring their medals, the highest award for gallantry in war, and proudly wear it on their chests for the Republic Day parade.

The Param Vir Chakra is worn only on ceremonial occasions -- Republic Day, Kargil Diwas and at the National War Memorial.

Once the medal is worn, the only person a Param Vir Chakra awardeed salutes is the President of India.

"War is the most important aspect of a soldier's life. That is the reason he joins the force. Soldiers wait for the time when they will be called to defend the country," says Subedar Sanjay Kumar, who was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for exceptional courage in capturing Flat Top in the Mushkoh valley during the Kargil War.

He took two bullets on his chest and knee, eliminated three enemy soldiers and lead his team into wresting control of that area from Pakistani soldiers.

Currently posted in one of the Indian Army's premier training academies, he spoke in detail about that day of battle to Rediff.com's Archana Masih.

IMAGE: Subedar Sanjay Kumar at Rashtrapati Bhavan at a President's At Home event. Photograph: Kind courtesy Subedar Sanjay Kumar

"I was privileged to fight for the country, two years after I joined the army. Before that I had only heard about war from my uncle who fought in the 1965 war with Pakistan, and in Hindi films," he says.

"I come from Himachal Pradesh from where many men join the armed forces. I too tried several times and got selected in my last attempt. I served in Kashmir before we went to war in Kargil."

"For two months I saw different aspects of the Kargil war. I did various duties -- worked as a porter, administration duties, casualty evacuation etc, so when we were tasked for the final operation, we tried to implement all that we had learnt and heard about the war on the ground."

How the battle was fought and won:

"The task was difficult because the enemy was deeply entrenched and well prepared. We reached the top after climbing up the steep mountain after three days. After that we had to launch an assault.

My section had a team of 8 soldiers, 6 of us were very young. Young men were selected because they tend to cover more ground on those heights.

Our work was to make the way up for those behind us.

After walking the entire night, we were still unable to get to the point we were asked to reach. The enemy on top knew all the routes up and had closed almost all to us.

We stopped and took cover behind a small hill. Our company commander made us halt because an advance was dangerous during the day. The enemy could have spotted us and that would have resulted in more casualties.

The enemy was 250 metres above us. But as the day progressed our position became visible to the enemy. Our jawans started getting injured by their fire.

As our casualty ratio started increasing, my company commander decided that if he waited for the evening to launch an attack, he would have many more wounded and not have many jawans left to attack the enemy."

"Our commanding officer Colonel Y K Joshi (now a lieutenant general, he takes over as General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, on February 1, 2020) spoke to the higher command and arranged fire support for us.

At around 10.30 am, we received artillery and mortar cover. We had 40 to 45 seconds between enemy fire to make the advance. There was a 20 metre area that was dangerous for us. We had to take cover behind rocks and small hills as we progressed.

As we climbed higher, the lack of oxygen made progress slower. In between gaps during the fire support, we had to run for advance, making sure that the enemy did not spot us.

We were determined that if we had to defeat the enemy, we had to get to him. With the fire cover we received, we were able to cross that area and reached just below the hill occupied by the enemy."



Grenadier Yadav and Lieutenant Balwan Singh were in the commando platoon that led the final assault on Tiger Hill. Their bravery that night is the stuff of legend. Rediff.com Photograph: IMAGE: Param Vir Chakra awardees then Rifleman Sanjay Kumar, left, and then Grenadier Yoginder Yadav, centre, with Mahavir Chakra awardee then Lieutenant Balwan Singh, right.Grenadier Yadav and Lieutenant Balwan Singh were in the commando platoon that led the final assault on Tiger Hill. Their bravery that night is the stuff of legend.

"Our plan was executed in silence. If we were heard, they could have thrown a grenade or rolled boulders down at us. The enemy would have killed us if they knew of our position.

My buddy and I crawled up. We got so close to the enemy that if we stood up our heads would have touched the Pakistani gun positions.

We spoke in sign language.

The platoon commander signalled to us to pull those guns out because the firing from those guns was causing many casualties for our troops.

We did not have much time. My buddy told me to take the bandage out of our medical kits and wrap it around my hands to pull the guns out.

I also had my AK-47. My buddy crawled to a rock and said he would throw a grenade into their bunker. After that, I had to pull those guns out and open fire at them.

Throwing a grenade from a lying down position to a height above you needs extra effort and tact. The grenade can hit a rock and explode injuring you.

The first grenade fell behind the bunker and the enemy realised that we were there. Time was running out, but the second grenade fell into the bunker, the splinters hit and the firing stopped."

"I pulled the guns out of the loopholes and threw them down. I put my AK-47 in the loophole and emptied a magazine. When I stood up I saw 2-3 enemy jawans getting ready to fire. I opened fire and they were killed.

We checked the bunker and sangar to make sure all were dead. One of their automatic guns was loaded with ammunition and we opened fire at a feature occupied by them.

A junior commissioned officer and three jawans in our team were injured. Under fire cover, we shifted them for medical aid.

The remaining six jawans pressed on because they couldn't afford to reduce the pressure on the enemy. We started advancing to another bunker. The enemy fired from the left and two of my fellow soldiers were killed in action.

The four us who remained took cover and lay down behind a rock. The enemy was at a height. My left leg was visible, they fired and two bullets hit my knee, two other bullets ricocheted and hit me.

Two other jawans on my right were also injured. My buddy was the only one who was safe. For half an hour, he did not let us move and kept firing. We had lost two and 4 were injured.

We lay there without firing, moving or advancing.

The Pakistanis thought we are dead. One of them left his position and started going to the bunker. As he walked, stones on his path rolled down and we could make an estimate of his position.

One of our jawans spotted him and signalled to us that he was climbing up to his bunker. My buddy signalled to me to fire. I was lying down and I set my gun on a rock. The enemy was killed and those in the bunker thought the Indians have got reinforcements and more troops have come.

We crawled to the bunker, threw a grenade, but there was no response, we broke into the bunker and saw dead bodies. We waited for 20, 25 minutes and spotted two enemy jawans. My buddy and I opened fire and killed them.

It was 5.30 pm, we had started at 10.30 am."

IMAGE: Subedar Sanjay Kumar at the Kargil War Memorial. Photograph: Kind courtesy Subedar Sanjay Kumar

The battalion doctor who won a Sena Medal for Kargil

"Our wounds were bleeding. We didn't have any dressing. By that time 20, 25 of our boys reached us.

Our doctor Rajesh Adhau (now a colonel and recepient of the Sena Medal for gallantry) also reached in half hour. By the evening our company had captured Flat Top.

Meanwhile, our Delta company conducted another operation on July 6-7 in which Captain Vikram Batra was killed in action and awarded the Param Vir Chakra.

Injuries during operations lowers the morale of troops greatly. Dr Adhau used to accompany the troops going for attack so that he could attend to the injured quickly. Dr Rajesh said that if a jawan reached him or he reached a jawan, he would 100% save him, however grievous his injuries."

Photograph: Kind courtesy Subedar Sanjay Kumar IMAGE: Subedar Sanjay Kumar, Honorary Captain Bana Singh , Subedar Major Yogendra Yadav, the three living Param Vir Chakra awardees.

The void left by fallen friends can never be filled

"There were many who put their lives on the line to achieve victory. War is won by team work. War is won by sacrifices.

Two officers and 14 jawans died from our unit. The void left by those who fought shoulder to shoulder, but did not return home, can never be filled. No one can fill that gap."
Tehran, Jan 24 : Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has reaffirmed Tehrans readiness for talks with all its neighbours amid the ongoing tensions in the Persian Gulf region.

"Iran remains open to dialogue with its neighbours, and we declare our readiness to participate in any complementary work that is in the interest of the region, and we welcome any step that restores hope to its people and brings them stability and prosperity," Press TV quoted the Minister as saying in a tweet on Thursday.

The tweet came a day after Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said Riyadh was ready for talks with Tehran, "but it is really up to Iran".

The Saudi Foreign Minister made the remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, adding that he was glad the region has "avoided any escalation" with Iran, and "many countries" have offered to mediate talks with Tehran.

In an address to the 74th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2019, President Hassan Rouhani said as a steward of maritime security in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, Iran invites all countries that are affected by developments in the strategic region to join the country's new regional peace initiative, dubbed Hormuz Peace Endeavour (HOPE).

Prior to the Hormuz initiative, Iran had offered to sign non-aggression agreements with all countries in the Persian Gulf region.

Zarif also said in late May 2019 that Iran sought the best of relations with the Persian Gulf littoral countries and would welcome any proposals for dialog and de-escalation toward that end.
Former U.S. president Barack Obama is calling on young people in Toronto to embrace the creative skills that will help them stand out in a rapidly changing world economy.

Obama made the pitch while addressing a crowd of about 6,000 young people from across the GTA who gathered Thursday at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Anything thats replicable, anything thats repeatable, some machine is going to do better, the 44th president of the United States told the audience.

Obama said young people need to think about things that have not been done before, and skills that include interacting with other human beings. Creativity, analytical thinking and team building are the types of skills that will continue to be vital in a future full of job automation, he said.

Success requires building a team that is diverse, not just in race but also in viewpoints, skillsets and mindsets, he said, citing the example of how the Toronto Raptors have been successful because team president Masai Ujiri surrounds himself with people who know how to solve problems.

I had to have people who had values that I believed in, Obama said of his eight years in the White House.

Having said that, for the young people who are here, you still have to do your math, he said. Youre not off the hook. Hit your books, people.

The gathering was part of the #CreateFate event organized by the Economic Club of Canada under the theme of exploring the future of work and the new economy. Its one of a four-part series of events the club is putting together in partnership with the Global Institute for Conscious Economics.

Given the high price of tickets  with some going for $275 each  organizers gave hundreds of young people from different communities free access to the event, with the goal of empowering and inspiring them.

Obamas conversation with Economic Club of Canada president Rhiannon Rosalind focused on future skills, with the goal of inspiring new ways of thinking about society, economy and work.

In a wide-ranging conversation with Rosalind, Obama touched on issues of anxiety and depression that are becoming increasingly prevalent among young people. He said society used to deal with these issues through religion, family or community associations, but now those methods have been replaced by fragile interactions on the phone leading people to feel even more isolated.

The more followers you have does not equal having real friends, he told the crowd.

Obama also talked about the importance of being authentic as a leader, noting he came into politics at a time when technology was quickly advancing and he had to be more visible and present than many of his predecessors.

I was basically the first digital president, he said, adding there were millions of videos and photographs taken and shared during his time in office. That constant presence required him to be more authentic, he said.

On the issue of climate change and how the world is addressing it, Obama said its a pity people are still not on the same page, even after all the scientific evidence. He said its going to require every sector to take responsibility for whats going to be an enormous challenge.

Governments, businesses and individuals are going to have to play their part in helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, he said, insisting its especially important for citizens to put pressure on big institutions and hold them accountable for their pollution habits.

Young people need to emulate Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg who speaks to a generation thats going to deal with this mess, Obama said.

Obama had some praise for Canada, saying Canadians are reasonable people and, while there may be some political divisions here, at least its a country where facts still matter.

You should preserve that, he said.

Speakers at Thursdays event included Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, who talked about gender and equality as well as how innovation and human capacity building need to be part of everyday life for young people.

One thing for sure is that the world is changing fast, and we have to adapt in how we do work, she said.

A number of local spoken word and music artists, including Grammy nominee Jessie Reyez, performed at the event.

Correction  Jan 23, 2020: This article was edited from a previous version that misspelled Jessie Reyezs last name.

Read more about:
The BJP-led central government's move to implement the new citizenship law and its proposal to conduct an NRC exercise across the nation might lead to a "civil war-like situation", Krishna Bose, a former TMC MP and kin of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, said on Friday.

The Centre was going all out to target the Muslims, as was evident from its "adamant attitude" in enacting the contentious law, she claimed.

"Today, we are in a terrible situation, where the Centre is forcing its divisive principles (on people). It's clear that the Muslims in our country are being targeted by the Centre. And they (the Centre) are stating it directly.

"They are talking about other communities, the Buddhists, the Jains, and others, but only one name has been omitted and here lies the controversy. Why not include everybody who faced persecution? There is no doubt that CAA is targeted towards the Muslims," Bose told PTI.

The octogenarian claimed that the implementation of CAA was an attempt to turn the country into a 'Hindu Rashtra', in tune with the vision of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

"So far, the protests had been mixed... But what (the country) is going through might almost lead towards a civil war... I hope not but it looks like that," she contemplated.

"The ideology of the RSS to have a Hindu Rashtra has become a part of their (BJP's) belief system, too. They are very adamant about it and they are openly saying it," she said, referring to Union home minister Amit Shah's firm stand to implement the CAA.

The former TMC MP also contended that the Narendra Modi government had no right to force its decision on common people, just because it won the polls by a mammoth majority.

"People are being labelled as traitors for protesting against the government. This is unacceptable. Freedom of speech and expression is at stake. You cannot say anything. This is terrible," she said.

Drawing a parallel between the present-day India and Nazi Germany, she said, "Everyone is recounting the days of (Adolf) Hitler. This was exactly how the situation was in 1930s, and he (Hitler) was quite popular at that time. Today the situation somewhat looks similar," she stated.

On the role of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in spearheading the protests against the CAA, Bose said: "It's she who began the agitation. She has been registering her protest with all heart and soul."



The former parliamentarian was also critical about the attacks on students at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi and at Viswa Bharati University in Bolpur.

She, however, showered praise on the students' community for coming together at a time when the country is going through a "critical time".

"I am very happy that the youth and students have come forward in this critical hour, something that the opposition parties could not do. We should lend them support.

"But we can see they are being beaten up and treated in the cruelest manner. I am afraid for them. I pray and hope that they succeed. I want them to win this war. It is a ray of hope for us that the generation is conscious," she said.

Bose urged the protesters to follow the ideals of Netaji, not mix religion with politics.

"There were Hindus, Muslims and Christians in Netaji's Azad Hind Fauj. They came together to fight for the country's Independence. Netaji had warned that religion and politics should not be mixed. He also said that it was easy to separate people who have been united by religion," she said, urging people to adopt the freedom fighter's slogan of Itmad (Faith), Ittefaq (Unity) and Kurbani (sacrifice).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


Army commandos contingent followed by other groups march at Rajpath during the full dress rehearsal for the upcoming Republic Day Parade in New Delhi on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. Photo: PTI

NEW DELHI (PTI): India's military might and some of the state-of-the-art assets of the armed forces will be showcased during the Republic Day Parade on Rajpath, with artillery gun system 'Dhanush' and a marching contingent of the Army Air Defence set to take part in the ceremonial event for the first time, officials said on Thursday.



Besides, K9-Vajra, the anti-satellite (A-SAT) test conducted under Mission Shakti, and Air Defence Tactical Control Radar (ADTCR) of the DRDO will also be part of the parade.



India early last year had shot down one of its satellites in space with an A-SAT missile to demonstrate this complex capability, joining the elite club of countries  the US, Russia and China  which have such capabilities.



The Army will showcase many of its state-of-the-art assets during the majestic January 26 parade, and artillery gun systems Dhanush and Short Span Bridge system will make their appearance for the first time during the parade, Chief of Staff, Delhi Area, Maj Gen Alok Kacker, told reporters.



At a press conference, he also said, 16 marching contingents will take part in the parade from the armed forces, paramilitary forces, Delhi Police, NCC and NSS, along with 21 bands.



The 61 Cavalary, consisting of 52 horses, will be marching down the Rajpath as part of the mounted column.



Corps of the Army Air Defence has earlier participated in the Republic Day parade with its vehicular columns, but this time a marching contingent of the AAD will take part in the event for the first time, officials said.



On January 26, trailblazer officer Captain Tania Sher Gill will lead the all-men contingent of the Corps of Signals, making her "family of faujis" and the nation proud.



The 26-year-old officer of the Corps of Signals had recently created history by becoming the first woman Parade Adjutant to led all-men contingents during the Army Day function on January 15.



A motorcycle display by an all-women team of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will be another attraction this January 26 parade.



The Prime Minister will pay homage to fallen soldiers at the newly-built National War Memorial in New Delhi on the Republic Day instead of Amar Jawan Jyoti beneath the India Gate arch, officials said.



The iconic memorial in the India Gate complex behind the canopy was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 25 last year.



Amar Jawan Jyoti is symbolised by an inverted bayonet and soldier's helmet over it with an eternal flame burning beside it. It was built in 1972 underneath the India Gate arch to commemorate soldiers martyred in the Indo-Pak War of 1971.



Tri-Services chiefs pay respect on occasions of national importance like Independence Day, Republic Day at the Amar Jawan Jyoti.



"Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the National War Memorial on January 26 morning before the commencement of the Republic Day Parade, and lay a wreath at the memorial in the presence of the three services chiefs and the Chief of the Defence Staff," a senior official of the Army said.



Lt Gen Asit Mistry, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area, will be the Parade Commander, Maj Gen Kacker will be the Parade Second in Command.



"In the mechanised columns, three T-90 Bhishma tanks, three Ballaway Machine Pikate, one Saravatra Bridge system, one five-metre Short Span Bridge system, three Dhanush gun system, three K-9 Vajra gun system, two transportable satellite terminal (TST), two Akash surface-to-air-missiles, will be showcased," Kacker said.



Leaders of some of the participating marching contingents  The Grenadiers (Maj Anirudh Nair), Kumaon Regiment (Capt Rahul Singh Kataria), Sikh Light Infantry or SIKHLI (Maj Anjum Gorkha), Para Regiment Centre (Maj Nikhil Kumar Maurya), Corps of Army Air Defence (Capt Vikas Kumar Sahu), were present during the press interaction.



"Since, I am leading, my challenge is to make sure the each and every member moves in perfect synchronisation. And, when me march together, it is actually our discipline and team work at display. We march with common heartbeat," said Maj Anjum Gorkha.


People tend to be pretty enchanted with Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wrights most famous house. Built on top of a waterfall, it has the highly unusual pleasure of straddling a waterway, making the sound of the flowing water a major highlight. Its easy to see the appeal  and also easy to see why houses like this are so rare.

Dan Brunn's

First, theres the fact that Fallingwater came close to literally falling right into the water thanks to a cantilevered design that wasnt well supported. Erosion of the banks on either side presented a serious concern, and dampness penetrated the house on all sides. Ultimately, its cool to look at but not very practical. But could a different sort of design on a different sort of waterway be successful in ways that Fallingwater isnt?

Architect Dan Brunn didnt have Frank Lloyd Wright in mind when he designed Bridge House over a small natural stream in the mid-Wilshire area of Los Angeles. He was actually inspired by the elongated motor court of the Breakers, the ostentatious waterfront Vanderbilt family home in Newport, Rhode Island, though youd never guess it from the final result.

Dan Brunn's

Trasitional spaces like this one exist all around the low-footprint Bridge House,

The Bridge House also boasts a sizable swimming pool in the rear.

The home is true to its name, with a simple form stretching from one bank of the narrow trickling stream to the next. Sleek and modernist, it has no unnecessary frills or complicated floor plans. Serving as Brunns full-time residence, the 4,500-square-foot home has a rectangular shape, measuring 20 feet wide by 210 feet long, stretching from the front of the building site to the back instead of side to side like a more conventional residence.

The idea is to do something extraordinary with ordinary means, says Brunn.

That wasnt his first idea, though. When he bought the property, he intended to renovate the existing home, but problems with the foundation soon emerged, so he decided to go in a dramatically different direction instead. Determined to build to zero net energy (ZNE) standards and make full use of passive solar orientation and the beautiful views, the architect saw the bridge plan as a way to have a lower impact on the site.

Story continues

A sleek, simple common area inside Dan Brunn's Bridge House.

Exterior shot of the Bridge House at night.

The sleek white modern interior of the Bridge House, complete with a grand piano.

Usually, the opposite would be true. One good reason we dont see a lot of residences straddling creeks and streams is all the potential for disruption and pollution, not to mention messing up the views for other people. But the lightweight modular steel structure of the Bridge House, supported by two heavy steel beams, made it possible to set the building in place without making a mess. The fact that the stream is small and flows within a private neighborhood helps, too.

The light, open front entrance of Dan Brunn's Bridge House.

Making extensive use of carefully placed glass, Bridge House gets sunlight streaming in from optimal angles all day long and focuses views on the trees and water outside rather than neighboring houses. Standout features include a Series 980 Double Pivot Door from Western Window Systems, which sets the airy, welcoming mood at the main entrance, and a courtyard centered over the stream so it can really be enjoyed to the fullest.
For a few hours on Thursday it appeared the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) had spread to Saudi Arabia with reports that a nurse in Asir was infected. But it was a case of mistaken virus identification, quickly corrected.

The unfortunate nurse was actually infected with a different but equally frightening coronavirus  MERS (Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome MERS-CoV) which made the leap from animals to humans in 2012, creating a brand new human disease.

It was a vivid reminder that for almost a decade there has been a threat from another highly pathogenic never-before-seen virus. MERS was only the second coronavirus ever known to leap from animals to humans and cause a deadly illness.

The first of these notorious bugs was SARS, (severe acute respiratory syndrome SARS-CoV) which swept the world in the spring of 2003 killing more than 800 people, including 44 Canadians.

2019-nCoV makes 3

With scant information about the novel virus that has just emerged in China, experts are reviewing the experience of SARS and MERS for important clues about what to expect.

"The interesting thing about this is that we're really not sure which way it's going," said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. "We first thought, well, there really wasn't much transmission from human to human."

Now that it's clear the virus can spread between people, Fauci said the next question is how easily it will spread.

"The real question right now is will it get better at going in what we call 'sustained transmission' from human to human. Because if it doesn't then we have a very good chance of pretty quickly getting our arms around it and, by public health measures, essentially stopping it."

Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Minnesota, is a veteran of the SARS and MERS outbreaks, and he's blunt about the current situation.

Story continues

"This is a bad disease. It makes people very sick and it can kill you. And so I think that is an important combination. But the ultimate case fatality rate is still yet to be determined."

In other words, experts still don't know how dangerous the new virus is or how it compares to SARS  with a case fatality rate around 10 per cent  or MERS with an estimated fatality rate as high as 30 per cent.

"I know how this picture is starting but I don't know how it ends. And so I think that's the question we're all asking," said Osterholm.

Jordi Segers

The SARS and MERS viruses followed different paths.

SARS began in China in the fall of 2002 and spread around the world quickly. By spring of 2003 it had travelled to 37 countries including Canada, sickening more than 8,000 people.

Still, SARS lacked the ability to spread easily between humans.

"It never really developed the capability of having sustained vigorous transmission from person to person," said Fauci. "There was clearly person-to-person transmission but it wasn't like influenza. You had thousands of cases but not millions of cases."

And after nine frightening months, SARS was extinguished, apparently forever.

"SARS was actually a huge public health success in that we were able to control contain and eliminate that virus," said Dr. Catharine Paules, who co-authored a new paper with Fauci about coronavirus infections published this week in JAMA.

"But then in 2012 we had the emergence of a second animal coronavirus in the human population."

GenBank by Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center & School of Public Health, Fudan University

MERS first appeared in Jordan in 2012 with cases showing up in 27 countries over eight years. The U.S. Centres for Disease Control states that all of the MERS cases are linked to travel or residence in countries around the Arabian Peninsula. There was a major outbreak of MERS in a South Korean hospital in 2015 where 186 people were infected and 36 died.

Sneezing camels

So far, public health agencies have been able to limit the human-to-human spread of MERS but they have not been able to eradicate the virus. That's because MERS has become the camel version of the common cold.

"The camels will be sneezing or coughing and they sort of sneeze or cough this virus onto people; that's how we think it's transmitted," said Paules.

In the case of SARS, animal-to-human transmission was eliminated when live-animal markets stopped selling small mammals including palm civets, which were found to be carrying the SARS virus.

"Once we realize that palm civets were the primary animal species transmitting is to humans, and the markets were eliminated, we literally shut off the faucet of new infections coming into humans," said Osterholm.

So far the animal reservoir for the new virus is a mystery. Experts are extremely skeptical about early reports of an association with snakes.

"I know there was a recent publication that came out about snakes but that's hotly being debated right now as we aren't even sure that reptiles can get infected with coronaviruses," said Paules.

"I think many of us thought that that was in error and not likely to be the source," said Osterholm. "But at this point we have no data otherwise from the Chinese to know what might have been the animal reservoir."

"If you want to put some money on it you'd get a bat involved," said Fauci. "SARS went from the bat to the palm civet cat to the human and MERS went from the bat to the camel to human. I don't have any idea what the animal is for this one but I would not be surprised if a bat was involved somewhere."

University of Minnesota

There are also major questions about the transmissibility of the new virus. Scientists still don't know how the virus spreads, although Fauci said environmental tests revealed traces of the virus at the market in Wuhan, China.

"They did environmental samples and it was able to be seen on some of these inanimate objects in the fish market," he said. "Though no one has yet done the definitive experiment of seeing whether it stays alive on a doorknob or not, I wouldn't be surprised if it did last for a limited period of time on inanimate objects."

Fauci said it appears to take about six days for someone who has been infected to show symptoms, but it's not clear whether the virus can be spread by someone who does not appear to be sick.

"But there are anecdotes, for example the individual from Seattle who got infected does not remember coming into contact with anyone that was sick nor does he remember coming into contact with any animals nor did he feel that he had any exposures, yet he got infected."

'Super-spreaders'

A grim aspect of all three diseases is the phenomenon of the super-spreader  a person who, for some reason that's still not well understood, is able to infect a large number of people.

"That's one of the big mysteries," said Osterholm. "Super-spreaders have been individuals who have been severely ill and even people who've been moderately ill. Why they're putting out so much virus is just not clear."

In the case of MERS, Osterholm said one person in a South Korean emergency room was able to infect 82 people in 2015.

In the case of SARS, one super-spreader in Beijing was responsible for a chain of infections in 76 people.

It's been reported that one man in Wuhan infected 14 hospital workers, which could be the first evidence of a super-spreader in this outbreak. But because it happened during surgery, the infection could be related to the surgical procedures.

"I think we have to still be a little bit careful, because this individual actually had had surgery and anytime you intubate somebody you know you may very well have induced a higher rate of spreading the virus," said Osterholm.

Lessons from SARS and MERS

One of the encouraging aspects of the SARS story is that the virus was contained, said Osterholm, pointing to Canada, where most of the more than 400 infections and 44 deaths happened in and around Toronto.

"While Canada suffered miserably because of what was going on in Toronto, there weren't even any cases in Calgary, and Winnipeg," he said.

"So what we need to get people to understand is that we can't say this isn't going to come to every country in the world. It's unlikely, but it could. But when it does, it's going to likely be largely an institution-based outbreak like a hospital."

"So that just helps give people a sense that we're not all going to die from this," he said.

Training to respond to a viral threat

At her hospital in Hershey, Pa., Paules is part of a team that trains regularly to respond to an emerging viral threat.

She said some of the strategies developed during the SARS and MERS outbreaks are already bein used, including the closing of animal markets and airport screening.

"Some of those things have been able to get up and running very quickly, probably because of the lessons learned from SARS," said Paules.

Penn State Health Hershey

China was able to sequence the new virus and get that critical genetic code to the world quickly. Diagnostic tests have been developed, which means cases can be identified and isolated to contain the spread.

"I think some of the things from SARS and MERS that have really helped us here is how quickly the Chinese authorities were able to globally circulate the sequence of this virus," said Paules, who echoes Osterholm's point that most people don't have to worry about this virus.

"I would be concerned if I was in some of these areas in China. I would not myself probably decide to travel to any of those areas right now. But here sitting in my office in Hershey, Pennsylvania I have a low concern that this virus is going to impact me personally, although I'm concerned for the global community."
Three men have admitted guilt in a drug operation federal authorities say supplied the Trenton with heroin purchased in Philadelphia.

Duane Paulino-Escalera, 27, of Philadelphia, and Izae Alford, 21, and Darryl Young, 27, both of Trenton, each pleaded guilty in federal court in Trenton Wednesday, the U.S. Attorneys Office in New Jersey announced.

Paulino-Escalera and Alford pleaded to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin. Young pleaded to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a quantity of heroin, the office said.

The three were charged last summer with eight others in an investigation in which authorities used traditional means, like taping their cell phones, but also GPS to follow vehicles from Trenton to Prhiladelphia, where authorities say they watched heroin exchanges.

Authorities alleged last summer that Paulino-Escalera was a leader in the dealing, along with Robert M. Ruff Gbanapolor, 33, of Trenton.

Gbanapolor bought bulk heroin from Paulino-Escalera, whom Gbanapolor called Papi. Authorities watched one of their alleged deals in the area of Barbary Road in northeast Philadelphia.

From there, Gbanapolor drove the drug to Trenton, and distributed to street-level dealers it in the Stuyvesant and Hoffman areas of Trenton, as well as nearby Highland Avenue, all on Trentons west side, authorities allege.

The dealers sold heroin with brand names, Exit 7A and Tom Brady," a criminal complaint in the case alleges.

Paulino-Escalera, Alford and Young are the first three to plead guilty, the office said. The cases against Gbanapolor and seven others are ongoing.

Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
The Azerbaijani authorities have addressed the Cypriot government to arrest and extradite dedicated friend of the Armenian people and former deputy of the European Parliament Eleni Theocharous. This is what Chair of the Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Diaspora, Youth and Sport of the National Assembly of Armenia Mkhitar Hayrapetyan posted on his Facebook page.

It is clear that we are dealing with another already familiar manifestation of Azerbaijans hysteria. Since 2015, Baku has been addressing Interpol with the same request, that is, to arrest a Cypriot who visited Artsakh, but it has been rejected. As chair of the Armenia-Cyprus Interparliamentary Committee, I have thoroughly discussed the situation with my Cypriot counterpart Nicos Tornaritis.

Afterwards, Hayrapetyan held phone talks with Mrs. Theocharous and expressed his solidarity with her.
Washington County Public Schools asking public for input on funding

Washington County Public Schools is asking the public for input on how they should spend the American Rescue Plan money from the federal government.
Leo Varadkar outlines the Fine Gael manifesto at City Assembly House in Dublin (Donall Farmer/PA)

The Fine Gael General Election manifesto, entitled A Future To Look Forward To, outlines the partys pledges for the next five year.

The 100-page document includes commitments to:

 Introduce a fairer tax package, increasing the point at which a single person pays the higher rate of tax to 50,000 euro and to 100,000 euro for a couple.

 Raise the USC income exemption threshold from 13,000 euro to 20,500 euro.

 Create 200,000 jobs across the economy and in key public services  nurses, teachers, doctors and Gardai.

 Provide free GP care to under-18s, free primary school books and more paid parental leave.

 Reform the health service.

 Increase the state pension by 25 euro a week over the next five years.

 Recruit up to 700 gardai every year over the next five years and the implement Garda reforms.

 Phase out the charge to parents for the School Transport Scheme.

 Provide free hot meals in schools to a further 35,000 children every year.

 Extend parental leave by a further seven weeks.

 Increase current health funding of 5 billion euro over the next five years.

 Recruit 3,840 primary care workers.

 Recruit 5,000 nurses over the next five years.

We will recruit up to 700 Gardai every year over the next five years and the implementation of Garda reforms.



For more, visit https://t.co/rud70TFc46 #LookForward pic.twitter.com/TKk7Hi0VrE  Fine Gael (@FineGael) January 24, 2020

 Expand the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan scheme for a further five years.

 Introduce a 4% annual cap on rent increases within designated Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs).

 Introduce tenancies of indefinite duration to give renters greater long-term security.

 Ensure 60,000 social houses are provided over the next five years.

 Increase renewable electricity to 70% by 2030.

 Invest 8.6 billion euro in major public transport projects.

 Increase the thresholds and the subsidy rates of the new National Childcare Scheme.
ALBANY  State Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou, a Democrat whose district covers part of lower Manhattan, tweeted on Thursday afternoon that "Food choices in Albany are trash ... before leaving, what should I grab for the road?"

It did not go over well  including with the Times Union's veteran food writer Steve Barnes, who wrote, "Most of me wants to ignore this whole thing, or greet it with no more than, 'You really should get out a little, you silly, ignorant, lazy New Yorker.' Gee, stop the presses: The Capital Region food scene isnt as good as New York City?
D.C. police have arrested a 20-year-old Southeast Washington man in the 2018 fatal stabbing of a founding member of the band Rare Essence, one of the citys legendary go-go acts, officials said Thursday.
A similar ban is already in effect in France, Greece, some parts of the United States.

Member of Parliament representing the European Solidarity Party Oleksiy Honcharenko has registered in parliament bill No. 2792 to amend some legislative acts of Ukraine to ban smartphones from schools.

The wording of the bill is not yet available on the parliament's website.

Honcharenko said on Facebook on January 24 that he had "tabled a bill in parliament to ban the use of smartphones in schools during classes."

Read alsoUkraine starts testing mobile app with digital driver's license

"Nowadays modern gadgets provide access to any information, which is a big advantage. However, on the other hand, it also means extensive access to games and social networks, which can be distracting during the educational process. In addition, screen addiction is not only bad for eyes and limits physical activity, it is also conducive to children's isolation, reduces communication with peers and parents in real life, as well as contributes to the spread of brutal bulling online," he said.

The ban on the use of smartphones will apply only during classes, he said. "During breaks, smartphones could be used. If a teacher needs to use smartphones during lessons, then this is also possible," he added.

According to him, the ban on gadgets in schools is already effective in France, Greece, some states of America.

"Therefore, I've prepared and submitted a bill so that in Ukrainian schools they would limit the use of smartphones in the classroom. This should help children focus on classes, learn to communicate with each other and reduce the number of Internet bullying cases," he said.
President Donald Trump unveiled the logo for the new Space Force on Twitter Friday. And for Colorado Springs residents, it will seem familiar.

The logo is basically a slightly different version of the one Air Force Space Command has been using for decades, complete with the pointy silver spaceship in the middle.

"After consultation with our great military leaders, designers, and others, I am pleased to present the new logo for the United States Space Force, the sixth branch of our magnificent military!" Trump wrote.

Legislation passed by Congress in December created the new service by renaming Air Force Space Command in Colorado Springs and giving its leader, Gen. Jay Raymond, a seat on the Pentagon's Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Like the relationship between the Marine Corps and the Navy, the Space Force falls under the Air Force department, with the Air Force providing logistics, security and other support to its new sibling.

The logo of the new service incorporates much of the old logo, designed when Air Force Space Command was formed in 1982.

Ahem. We are expecting some royalties from this... https://t.co/msYcJMlqjh  George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) January 24, 2020

Hidden gems in the logo include a representation of the North Star. As the only star that doesn't move in the night sky, it is used as a symbol of integrity and character.

Air Force Academy graduates know the star's symbolism from its use throughout the school, from cadet rank insignia to Polaris Hall, which houses the academy's Center for Character and Leadership Development.

The academy will also serve as a training ground for future Space Force officers.

In the background of the logo is a representation of the globe, which symbolizes the new service's global mission along with a swooping representation of an orbiting spacecraft, showing how Space Force has a role that extends above the planet.

It's not a surprise that Trump unveiled the logo himself. Space Force has been a talking point for the president on the campaign trail, and Trump has taken a personal interest in military space programs that hasn't been seen in the White House since President Ronald Reagan pursued an orbiting missile defense system dubbed "Star Wars" by the media and lawmakers.

While the new service will have a headquarters in the Pentagon, most of its troops will live and work in Colorado, home of Schriever, Peterson and Buckley Air Force bases, which each have significant space missions.

The service will answer to U.S. Space Command in Colorado Springs for its wartime duties. That command, temporarily housed here after it was formed in 2019, has a similar logo, which features two swooshing orbits represented over the globe.

The Pentagon hasn't announced its pick for the command's permanent home, but its logo may offer a hint of where its troops want to live. The two orbits shown on the logo cross directly above Colorado Springs.
MINSK (Reuters) - Belarus is looking for alternatives to Russian oil and is in talks with the United States, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates about supplies, President Alexander Lukashenko said on Friday, the Belta news agency reported.

Belarus and Russia failed to agree on an oil supply contract for this year, prompting Russia to halt supplies to refineries in Belarus, though it partially restored them on Jan. 4.

The row has fed into a broader geopolitical dispute between Moscow and Minsk in which Lukashenko has accused the Kremlin of trying to bully Belarus into a union with Russia that he says would spell the end of his political career.

Lukashenko proposed holding a new round of talks with Russia's President Vladimir Putin to resolve a row over oil supplies, the Interfax news agency reported on Friday.

"I don't want to be the last president of Belarus," he said on Friday, adding that he was in talks with the United States the UAE and South Africa over oil supplies, according to Belta.

"I have wonderful relations with them. They say we will supply whatever you need. Of course, this is the global price. But the oil quality is better there," he said.

Russia sees Belarus as a buffer zone between it and the West, and it has helped prop up Lukashenko over the past 25 years with loans and energy subsidies. But it started to scale back that help last year.

Russia also sees the United States as one of the key threats to its energy dominance in Europe especially with the recent boom in shale oil and gas production in the U.S.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is due to visit Belarus next week in what will be the highest level visit by a U.S. official in more than two decades.

(Reporting by Andrei Makhovsky; writing by Tom Balmforth; editing by Maria Kiselyova and Louise Heavens)
DJIBOUTI CITY, Djibouti, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Over 35 governments of African, Asian, Middle Eastern, Pacific, Latin American and Caribbean countries will officially be represented at the III ForumBIE 2030 - International Summit on Balanced and Inclusive Education - in Djibouti on 27-29 January 2020.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8682651-summit-balanced-inclusive-education-djibouti/

Delegations led by Heads of State and Government Ministers will participate alongside high-level representatives from inter-governmental organizations, civil society, and academia at this major international summit.

During the three-day event, these delegations will:

Affirm and sign into being the Universal Declaration of Balanced and Inclusive Education (UDBIE); and Affirm and sign into being platforms and mechanisms of technical and financial cooperation to support the implementation of commitments made in the UDBIE.

This assembly of nations of the Global South taking leadership in reforming education, preparing societies and communities to confront the challenges and opportunities of sustainable development, embodies the aspirations shared by many in the international community. Convened with the understanding of the urgency for new equitable models of social and economic development to be constructed through education, the III ForumBIE 2030 - International Summit on Balanced and Inclusive Education - embraces new ideas and ensures new paths can be found.

The Universal Declaration follows in the spirit of previous international agreements on education. It combines those ideas, links them with novel concepts, and situates them within a holistic, flexible and operational structure resting on four key pillars of Balanced and Inclusive Education (BIE): Intraculturalism, Transdisciplinarity, Dialecticism and Contextuality.

The Education Relief Foundation (ERF) is a Geneva-based not-for-profit and non-governmental organisation which serves to develop, promote and embed a balanced and inclusive education through policy development, capacity building and civil society engagement, amongst other activities.

The firstForumBIE 2030 was held at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland in December 2017. In November 2018, II ForumBIE 2030 in Mexico City saw both the launch of the Global Guide of Ethics, Principles, Policies, and Practices in Balanced and Inclusive Education, and the initial signing of the International Call for Balanced and Inclusive Education - the document which called for the preparation of the Universal Declaration of Balanced and Inclusive Education.

To date, the International Call for Balanced and Inclusive Education has garnered 41 signatures, representing 671 governmental, academic and civil society entities from 110 countries.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1029418/ERF_Logo.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1081168/ERF_Djibouti_Signing.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1081173/ERF_and_UDBIE_flags.jpg

For more information, contact:

Etienne Lacombe-Kishibe, Head of Media and Communications

E: e.kishibe@educationrelief.org | P: +0041-22-920-0859 | M: +0041-79-864-2692
Julie Bishop [Former Foreign Minister of Australia, Moderator]: Good morning and thank you for joining us at this live-streamed event. We have a very distinguished panel to discuss the future of NATO.

Im Julie Bishop, the former Foreign Minister of Australia from 2013-18. During that time, Australia became an enhanced partner of NATO. Im currently the Chancellor of Australian National University.

The discussion is going to be lively, its going to be topical, please feel free to Tweet, Insta, Facebook, #wef20, #Davos, #  whatever you like. And the focus today, of course, is on NATO in its 70th year. 70 years on, how has it performed? And given the external threats, the internal pressures, how will it endure? The Treaty, the North Atlantic Treaty was signed on 4th April 1949 by twelve founding states and it committed to resolving international disputes peacefully amongst the Allies. It clearly states that an attack on one member is considered an attack against them all. Of course, the credibility of any treaty rests on the perceived commitment of its members to its enforcement and its been a fair assumption that any adversary would face an overwhelming response to any military attack on a NATO member. But that commitments been called into question in recent times, in fact, by some of the most senior NATO members themselves. So well try to cover as much as we can. If theres an opportunity for questions from the floor, Ill certainly try to take it.

Now, our distinguished panel, first we have President Andrzej Duda of Poland; has been President since 2015. Of course, Poland has been a NATO member since 1997. Then we have Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, whos been Secretary General of NATO since 2014 and, of course, is a former Prime Minister of Norway. Then we have Minister Vincenzo Amendola, recently appointed the Minister for European Affairs of Italy and of course, Italy, a Mediterranean country, some distance from the Atlantic, but nevertheless has been a member of NATO since its inception. And then my dear friend, Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey since 2014, Mevlut? Yeah. And of course, Turkey became a member of NATO in 1952.

So to kick things off, I will ask, perhaps, the Secretary General to give us a short overview of where NATO stands today, where you see the challenges and how it will endure. And then Ill ask President Duda to reflect from Polands perspective, before coming to some of the specific criticisms that Ill put to both Mevlut and Vincenzo.

Jens Stoltenberg [NATO Secretary General]: Well, in short, NATO is the most successful alliance in history and we are the most successful alliance in history for one reason: and thats because we have been able to bring North America and Europe together after two devastating world wars. So we came together and decided this must never happen again. And then, for more than 70 years, NATO has been keen in providing peace, preserving peace and making sure that no NATO Ally has suffered a military armed attack.

So that is actually a great success story, just to preserve peace, especially in Europe, where, kind of, war was the kind of norm. We have an unprecedented period of peace in the continent, where war was a kind of normal thing for centuries. Then, so I . . . its a great success story, but success in the past is not a guarantee for success in the future. And I read newspapers and I watch TV, so Im aware that there are people questioning the strength of NATO. And we see questions being asked, both in Europe and in North America. And of course, there are differences between NATO Allies. We see serious differences on serious issues, such as trade, climate change, the Iran nuclear deal and many other issues. And thats a challenge for the transatlantic family. No way to deny that. But we have had serious differences before. The Suez Crisis in the 1950s, or the Iraq War in 2003 and many others. But the strength of NATO is that we have always been able to overcome these differences, be united around our core task: to protect and defend each other. One for all . . . one for all and all for one. And as long as that is credible, therell be no attack against any NATO Ally, because we are, by far, the strongest alliance in the world, the strongest military power in the world.

Then I would also like to say that, this perception that we are seeing a weakening of NATO is actually wrong. The United States is not leaving Europe. It is correct that after the end of the Cold War, the United States gradually reduced their military presence in Europe, for good reasons. But over the last years, the US has actually increased their military presence in Europe with more troops, more investment in infrastructure, more exercises. Just in a few months, well have the biggest exercise with US troops for decades, taking place in Poland and many other European countries. 20,000 US troops being deployed from US to Europe and more US presence in general in Europe. Even in my own country, in Norway, we now have US Marines for the first time ever.

So the US is increasing their presence in Europe. And for me, thats a sign of US commitment to NATO, not the opposite.

European Allies are also stepping up: increased readiness of our forces, battlegroups in the eastern part of the Alliance for the first time. And after years of reducing defence spending, all European Allies and Canada are now investing significantly more in defence.

So we are faced with the following paradox: its that while questions are asked about the strength, we are actually doing more together, North America and Europe, than we have done for many years. I would just end with the following: I have been a politician for many years and I was always . . . politicians are always criticised for, you know, being very good on rhetoric and bad on substance. The paradox in NATO is that we are not so good on rhetoric, but we are excellent on substance.

Julie Bishop: Okay, on that note, President Duda, I want to bring you to the role of NATO within the international rules-based order. Its flagship status as a multilateral organisation, as the Secretary General says, arguably . . . well, he says the most important military and political alliance. In an era of increasing unilateralism, how does NATO continue to play its critical role in partnership with organisations such as the UN and the Security Council? Can you talk a little bit about NATO in that context?

Andrzej Duda [Polish President]: Oh, the NATO. What can I say about NATO? NATO is 70 years old, yes, but we can say that NATO is adult, but its not old. Its still young. And Im very glad, because I can say that NATO is still in good shape.

This decision about joining NATO, made by Polish authorities in the 90s, and joining NATO in 1999, was one of the best decisions we made after the great changes in 1989, yes. That was a great decision because for us, NATO means peace, means security and stability and prosperity. This is the NATO. We can say that everywhere where [there] is NATO, all these elements functions. And this is crucial, and this is the most important. Thats why we can say that NATO is excellent and the best alliance in the world and the best alliance in the history of the world, yes. And this is very important now, when we talk about all these threats, all this potential crisis, which we can see, or we can expect in . . . or we can talk about with many place in the world, in the Middle East, in Europe unfortunately, also, for example, in the Ukraine. And when we talk about other potential problems, yes, this membership in NATO is crucial for Polish people. And now for example, a few days ago, yes, when we had this crisis in the Middle East, in Iraq/Iran, yes, I can . . . I could say to Polish people in TV when I was asked by journalists, Take it easy, we talked with Secretary General of NATO, we talked with our Allies. We are together, NATO is ready for any response, but there will be no war and our soldiers are safe. And why? Because we have credible Allies and we are a credible Ally. And this is the most important, this is the crucial, in my opinion, element of the Alliance.

And what is our goal? Our goal is strengthen NATO as an alliance, to strengthen NATO presence in the eastern flank in Europe, because we are on the eastern flank, yes, Poland, is eastern flank of NATO, and Baltic States and our other neighbours. And this is our main interest, but we also remember about interests of our Allies, yes. So thats why we always say this main rule of NATO, NATO 360 degree is one of the main elements of the success of the Alliance, yes. Because everyone knows in NATO that its safe, because he can always be sure that in any case, his Allies will come and will help him. And this is the most important. But how to compare NATO to another organisations of, for example, the UN, yes. In my opinion . . .

Julie Bishop: And particularly the Security Council.

Andrzej Duda: Especially in this military context.

Julie Bishop: Yes.

Andrzej Duda: Yes, NATO is much more efficient. This is the, I think, the most important feature of NATO. Yes, its . . .

Julie Bishop: And what about the . . .

Andrzej Duda: Its much more efficient.

Julie Bishop: And the composition of the Security Council? I mean, theres a veto there?

Andrzej Duda: Yes. Yes, I know. No, I think that the reform is very needed.

Julie Bishop: Well, maybe thats a topic for another day. So let me nicely segue to Minister Cavusoglu.

Andrzej Duda: Sorry, I have no veto in the Security Council!

Julie Bishop: Mevlut, both the Secretary General and the President have spoken in very positive terms about the value of NATO. But lets be frank, there have been some tensions with Turkey. And I just want your perspective on how you reconcile, perhaps, an inclination to unilateralism, with your membership of NATO and your engagement with a willingness to work with the Russian military, for example. Is this consistent with the fundamental principles of NATO?

Tell the audience about the membership of NATO from Turkeys perspective, so that we all understand.

Mevlut Cavusoglu [Turkish Foreign Minister]: Thank you. First of all, I agree with Secretary General and President of Poland. And NATO is not dead. And NATO is still the strongest political military organisation.

Of course, 1980s, 1990s, 2010s and today are different than 1950s when we founded the organisation. And in the past, also, sceptics tried to make us, you know, believe that NATO is no longer valid or we dont . . . or dead, but which was not true. And today we have to agree that it is not the end of the NATO.

There are . . . there can be some disagreements. There could be some disagreements between the member states, like us and the United States. Or Allies can be upset about something. For instance, the US is upset about the burden-sharing and they have the point. And we immediately supported the new proposal of the Secretary General for better burden-sharing, or balanced burden-sharing.

And we are also upset about something, particularly about the lack of the solidarity. Today, we are trying to adapt NATO to do new realities that NATO can face the challenges that our societies are facing. And the concerns of every single NATO member is legitimate. And our task is to meet those legitimate concerns. Legitimate concerns of the Baltic States and Poland as well.

But we have also legitimate concerns. We are fighting at the same time against many different terrorist organisations. And I havent, unfortunately, seen that solidarity from NATO or NATO members. A terrorist is a terrorist, an ally is an ally. This should be the understanding of principle, that we have been engaging with Russia in Syria and we have managed, until yesterday, a ceasefire in Libya together with Russia. But we dont have any military engagement with Russia. We do trade. We do buy 50 per cent of our gas. I think Germany is buying 80 per cent of its gas from Russia, as well as many other EU member states, or NATO member states. But nobody can question our contribution to NATO. And Secretary General can agree that we are top five contributors to NATO missions and operations. And we are the top eight contributor to NATOs global budget. And we have been hosting many NATO missions in Turkey, like host country to NATOs Allied Land Command, in Izmir, and leadership to a Very High Readiness Joint Task Force in 2021, hopefully, and hosting the NATOs nine High Readiness Force Commands in Istanbul and also, Forward Operating Base for NATO AWACS. And we have also radars in Turkey.

But just, you know, towards Russia, we have a dual-track approach: deterrence and dialogue. Maybe we should add engagement as well to that.

But let me give you a few examples for the contribution that Turkey is making on Black Sea. For instance, Turkey carries out maritime patrol, aircraft flights in the Black Sea in support of NATOs assurance measures. And Turkey provides national AWACS over the Romanian airspace in context of NATOs, again, assurance measures. And Turkey provides 63 per cent of recognised maritime  [inaudible] in the Black Sea. These are our contributions.

We are a NATO member and we have been contributing to NATO. And we have been taking the advantage of NATO. But today, what is the main challenge? The S-400 system that we had to buy from Russia. First, we have to ask ourselves:, does Turkey need this system? Yes, deliberately. Because of the threat around us. Did Turkey try to buy from its Allies, including the United States? Yes. For 10 years. Were we able to get it from them? No. Then we had to buy. And despite the fact that, particularly in last 10 years, we needed this air defence system and many Allies withdraw their batteries from along the border. And we are very grateful to Italy. They kept their SAMP/Ts until today, but they are withdrawing by the end of this year. I mean, I mean, they . . . this month probably. And we have only one Patriot battery left, the Spanish one. And this is the fact. And NATO is not able to cover my airspace fully yet. We are working on it. And what is the concern or claim? That F-45s and S-400s are not compatible. They are incompatible. This is the claim, right? And here is our proposal, let me remind, or repeat: lets establish a working group and NATO can chair or lead this. And let them, let the experts examine this, assess this, make the assessment and they should come back to us. We believe that they are not incompatible. And we will . . . we are making sure that they will not integrate to NATO system. And those . . . this is the defence system, and it will not be, it will not pose any threat, neither to NATO systems nor to NATO Allies.

Julie Bishop: Well, might I just ask Secretary General to comment on the proposal that Mevlut has put forward? Will that satisfy the concerns of the NATO members about Turkeys engagement with Russia over military equipment? And then Ill come to you, Minister.

Jens Stoltenberg: So far, it has not been possible to reach an agreement on that. But its correct that this has been a proposal put forward by Turkey for some time. And of course, I have discussed this with the Foreign Minister, with Mevlut Cavusoglu, with President Erdogan, but also, of course, with President Trump and the US side. And we will try to do whatever we can to try to find a way to solve this issue, because thats one of the issues which are creating some problems inside the Alliance, theres no way to deny that.

Let me just briefly say that Turkey is really an important Ally for many reasons. For their contributions to NATO missions and operations, but also bordering Iraq and Syria, of course, the enormous progress we have been able to make liberating all the territory that ISIS controlled until recently. That has been made possible, not least by the support of Turkey and the fact that we and the Global Coalition have used bases, infrastructure, in Turkey to be able to defeat ISIS. So we just must understand the importance of Turkey being a NATO Ally.

Julie Bishop: Now, Minister Amendola, I just want to raise with you the issue thats been mentioned or alluded to, about the criticisms, essentially from President Trump, that member states werent meeting defence spending levels of at least 2 per cent of GDP. Now, of course, theres been an increase in defence budgets. But do you think this lack of historic funding has undermined the deterrence effect? And has President Trump weakened or strengthened NATO with his public criticisms?

Vincenzo Amendola [Italian Minister of European Affairs]: Yeah, thank you very much. To be honest, its not the first time that an American president is figuring out this burden-sharing concern. Also, the American Congress is quite clear.

So if I look [at] the declaration signed in London in December, thanks to the Secretary General, there is a step forward. We clarify that all of us has to do more job in terms of commitment, because if you calculate just the 2 per cent, there are some countries that already reached the cap. There are some other countries that are contributing with mission. My country, I think, Secretary General, correct me, is the second in terms of participating in all the mission. So we have to work in what the declaration of this baby, that made the 70 years old in London wants to do, is adapting the structure to the changes.

If I see the success of NATO, I see two points. First is the value. I mean, in this globalised context where all the multilateral assets are fragile, the treaty has a base in the preamble, that we support liberal democracy. And when you have a clear value, you are stable on your structure.

The second point in this is also a point for the leadership: is always adapting ourselves for the change. So it means that you, of course, you need more resources, but also you have new targets, because the disruptive technology that we have in front of us are asking not just to the military assets, but also to the society to think how to reorganise, when you speak about artificial intelligence, autonomous weapons. I mean, how [to] reorganise not just your geographical flank, but also your structure.

So it is necessary, starting from London, planning the next 70 years of the Alliance, to see where we want to invest. Its not just geopolitical, the President Duda is right. The security approach is 360 degree. Secretary General is implementing with his visit in Sicily two years ago, with the Hub in Naples, the southern flank. But Italian troops are participating also on the eastern flank, because the 360 degree approach doesnt mean that just one of us has a concern, its the Alliance that has a concern. Its not just national grabbing all the agenda.

So if I [am] to be frank, this ongoing discussion on the burden-sharing, I would like to put it in what we want to do in terms of changes. I say technology, we could speak also about climate. We could speak also how our Alliance look the new partnership. In the London Declaration, its expressing and underlining not just the threat of Russia, but also a discussion on China.

Its underlined what does it mean nowadays the African threat? When I speak about African threat, I speak about terrorism in Sahel, that, of course, is a belt that is uniting the continent.

So to be positive, of course, each of us has many concerns. My countrys concern nowadays is Libya, its the Mediterranean southern flank. But we know that this regional Alliance has a military capability, political one, but it also has the ability to adapt itself on the changes. And I mentioned the changes in this global difficult situation.

If you allow me, I would like to conclude also on this ongoing point: sometimes when you speak about burden-sharing, because there is a debate, the European Union is developing, yes, we are developing a European Defence Fund, we are developing with PESCO some military capability in terms of industries, furniture, in terms of funding a new system. But this is a mistake to put on the same level. European Union has the ability to be a multidimensional organisation. But our military alliance is NATO. So lets never put in contradiction. Its what we have to create, of course, is multi-dimensional agreement like Stoltenberg did with the partnership . . . Joint Declaration partnership on eight points with the European Union.

So if we want to rebuild up a multilateral, not just alliance, because the Alliance is based on value, but also a multilateral framework of action in terms of security, preventing threats. We have to work, of course, each of us from different level on different concern. But if I be honest with you, when the Secretary General travelled to Sigonella two days ago, in our base in Sicily, it was not just that we follow, lets say, a national concern, because I think its an Alliance concern. When we see the southern flank, we see a sea  Mediterranean Sea  where the three big . . . or four big players are present there, where the connection between the continent is becoming in terms of energy, migrants, in terms of conflict resolution, a global agenda. So when we see the Mediterranean, nowadays, we see Russia, China, with the trade with the European Union, of course, we see the American satellite that are present, so in this small sea that is just 1 per cent of the worldwide map, we have all the agenda of the world nowadays, that we have to work together in 36[0] degree, but with the security approach that has to adapt to the change of our Alliance.

Julie Bishop: Now, that raises the question of the definition of an attack that warrants a collective response. So lets turn to a cyber-attack, for example. Does it cross that NATO threshold? What are the red lines for cyber-attacks on NATO members, for example? President Duda, your thoughts?

Andrzej Duda: Thank you, Mr Minister, for this few words about this NATO 360 degrees, because this is very, very good example of NATO. 360 degrees that Italian soldiers, they are in Latvia.

Andrzej Duda: Yes, as members of the Enhanced Forward Presence. And Polish soldiers, Polish pilots are in Sicily, and they help Italian soldiers protect Italian borders on the sea. And this is the . . . I can say this is the model of this cooperation, fulfilling this very important . . . or the most important principle as is this NATOs 360 degree. But you asked me about . . .

Julie Bishop: Cyber. I mean, from a treaty that was signed in 1949, in the aftermath of the Second World War, which was very much about sovereign states. Now, 70 years later, the definition of an attack?

Andrzej Duda: The definition of an attack. Yes, and this is . . . oh, you touched a very, very, very important problem: what means war today, yes. And how to define it. When we can say that this is a war, when can say that this is real attack, yes. Hybrid war . . .

Julie Bishop: When is the NATO response triggered then?

Andrzej Duda: Yes. And this is one of the problems, we have to discuss during our meetings, because this is really the problem of current days, and also, especially, the problem of the future, yes. But . . . because we have to be prepared for cyber-attacks. And we are preparing our security systems for that threat. But I think this is the main question of future, yes, because we talked about Industrial Revolution and we talked about the economy, fourth generation. Yes. We are talking about 5G and other expected changes in our technologies and in our environment. And this is a crucial element because maybe its  What is the most difficult element? The most difficult element in general in the matter of cyber-threat is that one small unit can attack. You dont need [an] army. You . . . its enough to have one experienced and very clever man with a very modern and efficient infrastructure, yes, computer and other systems. And this person could be dangerous for institution, for country, or for even whole Alliance, yes. And this is one of the main problems. And this is one of the main difficulties, because how to find this person and, of course, how to protect us because we know what to do when we have physical attack. Yes. When we have physical attack, we know we have to stand, we have to send our military troops, yes, we have to help, we will send our tanks or our planes, and we have, for example, common security missions on the Baltic Sea, yes. And . . . we do that and this is our pragmatic approach. But the question is: what to do against massive cyber-attacks?

Julie Bishop: Well, on that point, if I might, Mr President, turn to the Secretary General. The Presidents spoken about the difficulties of determining a cyber-attack. Is NATO fit for purpose in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in terms of cyber warfare? What are the red lines for NATO?

Jens Stoltenberg: So, first of all, I think NATO has realised that the nature of warfare is fundamentally changing, not only because of cyber, but because of artificial intelligence, autonomous weapon systems, facial recognition. And if you combine all of this, of course, we can imagine weapons systems, which are really, really terrible and devastating impact if they are used. And its also much harder to, for instance, have arms control when you dont count warheads. But were trying to, in a way, measure algorithms and technologies, which the world has never really seen being used in a military domain.

And I think its hard for us to really grasp the consequences of what were seeing. When you read books about the First World War, one of the shocking things is that they didnt realise the consequences of the Industrial Revolution for war fighting. And Im afraid something of the same is happening now, that we dont really understand how much technology is changing also the nature of warfare.

We are investing a lot in keeping the technological edge within all these technologies. On cyber, in particular, we have decided that a cyber-attack can trigger Article 5. And that was actually an important decision. So if there is a cyber-attack on an Ally, we can trigger the whole Alliance. The whole response from the whole Alliance. And then we keep, what should I say, the right to decide how we respond. We have offensive cyber. NATO Allies have, and we can facilitate that into a NATO framework. We have used that against, for instance, Daesh. I think sometimes people dont realise how much the Fight against Daesh was a cyber campaign, taking out their cyber capabilities, shutting down their home pages. Everything they did on cyber  recruiting, financing, propaganda  NATO Allies, using cyber, were able to take that down.

So we can trigger Article 5, but we can respond in cyber, but we can also respond in all other domains. Thats for us to decide. We will never give the advantage to a potential adversary that we will tell them exactly where the red line is and how we will respond. We will take the necessary measures to respond to any attack from 360 degrees, but including cyber. So yeah, we are ready. But to be ready today doesnt mean that youre ready tomorrow. So we need to continue to adapt and thats hard work.

Julie Bishop: Thank you for that answer. Perhaps a change of pace. And if I could get you all to respond to this, and Ill start with you, Mevlut. Theres been considerable debate about the benefits and costs of NATO enlargement in the past. And . . . whats your view on a further enlargement of the NATO membership? Is it going to strengthen or weaken the Alliance? Whats the optimal size for NATO?

Mevlut Cavusoglu: Well, first of all, let me also reiterate our commitment to 360 degree protection and for . . . because of this understanding, we are going to, in May, increase our contribution to NATO missions in Baltic States, including the missions about cyber-attack.

And as Turkey, we are for enlargement. And its good that North Macedonia is becoming a full member soon. And, I hope EU follow this good example, that they can give a date for North Macedonia and Albania.

It is not that easy for Bosnia and Herzegovina right now. But we can be more flexible. Thats why we have amended the Tallinn Criteria, for Bosnia and Herzegovina, and because of the differences in the country. You can imagine why.

And I dont understand why we have not invited Georgia, or we havent activated the, actually, Action Plan for Georgia. Now, we are criticised for having relatively better relations with Russia as neighbour. But our Western friends are not inviting, or not agreeing to invite Georgia for the . . . with the pretext that we have . . . we shouldnt provoke Russia. But Georgia needs us, and we need an ally like Georgia. So this is what Turkey believes, that we believe in enlargement. And Georgia should be also . . . should also become a NATO member.

Julie Bishop: Mr Amendola, if we could be short, because I think were going to get the wind up in a few minutes, Im afraid.

Vincenzo Amendola: One minute I give. I do. I answer in one minute.

Vincenzo Amendola: The Turkish Minister, you are right. At one point in our agenda, lets be clear, Im not so diplomatic. Of course, its the confrontation with Russia. And thats the point of Georgia. The point of Ukraine. But if I go back to the reason why we already did 70 years old, is that in the preamble, it is clear that we support liberal democracy. Honestly, I engage with everybody. Secretary General opened the issue of relation and global partnership with China and so on. But we are clear on the preamble. So you can discuss and, of course, trade agreement with everybody, but Russia, Im sorry, this supporting of an illiberal democracy as the future of the . . . lets say, the assets of institution is a part that make us in a problem. And to strengthen NATO, you have to strengthen . . . be based on your value. If you want to confront with everybody, I mean, we have to . . . we are a regional military Alliance, confronting all over the world, but based on your value. And based on your value you can even plan your next 70 years of life.

Julie Bishop: Thank you. President Duda?

Mevlut Cavusoglu: But Georgia has a liberal democracy right now.

Vincenzo Amendola: Yeah, but the discussion, sure, is more complex.

Julie Bishop: Youve made the point. President Duda, just your thoughts on optimal size. And you two behave yourselves up there!

Andrzej Duda: You know, we are relatively new Ally, yes. Because we joined NATO in 1999. That was, as I said, one of the most important decisions in our history, after the Second World War. And now we are sure, not only that we are safe, but especially that we are part of the free, democratic world, and that NATO guarantee not only peace and security, but also, as I said, prosperity and peaceful life. And thats why I think we have to leave the doors to NATO open for new members for all potential candidates. Yes. To have this possibility, to tell them, Look, if you fulfil all conditions, needed as a NATO member, you could join NATO in future, and we observe you and you have a chance to be part of this, the best alliance in the world.

Yes. I can tell you this is, you know, this is my own experience. So I remember these days when we were behind the Iron Curtain, yes. And NATO was our dream. Yes. NATO won this Cold War. Of course, I prefer to say that Polish people, Solidarity, won Cold War, yes. But the truth is that NATO have this very, very tough posture and very tough behaviour, yes. And thats why the Soviet Russia collapsed, yes. Because NATO was stronger and had better politics and, of course, had also better economic situation, yes. But this is, in my opinion, NATO is a crucial element of the free world, now, so we have to leave these doors open for new countries, for all these potential members who want to be with us, who want to create a protected free world with us.

Julie Bishop: Thank you, Mr President. Im going to give the last sentence to the Secretary General, to remind us all why an institution like NATO must continue to prosper and thrive into the future. And then were wrapping it up.

Jens Stoltenberg: Because in uncertain times, in unpredictable times, in unpredictable times, we strong international institutions and NATO is a strong multinational institution which has preserved peace for more than 70 years. And peace is also important as we look ahead, and therefore we need NATO also in the future.

Julie Bishop: Indeed. And at the time when the international rules-based order is under pressure, under threat, is being ignored by some; elements of it being cherry-picked by others, an institution such as NATO deserves our support. So, would you please thank the panel for a stimulating discussion on the future of NATO. Thank you very much, thank you.
I doubt that many Thomas Piketty fans know what a 5 Axis CNC router is, but they probably should. Strictly speaking, the router is a robot, though if youre expecting R2D2, youll be disappointed. This robot is more like an extra-wide, open-sided MRI machine. The patientusually a slab of plastic, metal, or woodlies on the bed, where it is operated on by a giant drill-like machine suspended on a track above. Following computerized instructions (CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control), the drill grabs the needed bit as it moves along the track to cut, trim, and shape the slab/patient into a seat, or a domed architectural detail, or whatever it is that its human master is trying to make. The less expensive 3 Axis router has a drill that can move left to right, right to left, and up and down, but the 5 Axis can also go all the way around and create swirly, curving forms. If created solely by human hands, these forms would be so time-consuming as to consign them to the category of one-of-a-kind sculptures.

I saw the 5 Axis router in action at SITU, a fabrication company housed in a massive garage of a space in the 300-acre Brooklyn Navy Yard, on an East River inlet between the Williamsburg and Manhattan Bridges. Train tracks attesting to SITUs former identity as a locomotive repair shop are still visible. A mere 25 years ago, the Yard stood as a perfect symbol of the ruins of the American working class, its 40 or so structures strewn like industrial carcasses from a Mad Max movie. The buildingsused then by a smattering of small manufacturing firms and as warehousesendured regular blackouts, stuck elevators, and roads so cratered that truckers dubbed the area Dodge City. Occasional wild dogs and dead bodiessuspected mob hitscompleted a scene that was more film noir than economic hub.

Enter through one of the five gates of the Yard today, though, and youll find scores of young companies like SITU humming with deliveries, projects, plans, and digital machinery. The Yard is now home to 330 small to medium-size manufacturing firms employing 7,000 workersdouble the total of 15 years ago. Many of the companies are traditional or analog in their approach, but firms emerging out of the local north Brooklyn design, crafts, and tech sceneor the maker movement, as its sometimes knowncome to the Yard every day looking for vacancies that dont exist. Local officials have their fingers crossed that the Yards rise from its smokestack ashes will reverse decades of manufacturing decline and make a real impact on the persistent joblessness that troubles nearby, mostly minority, parts of Brooklyn. But in part for reasons related to that 5 Axis routeras well as to New Yorks costly regulatory climatethey should be careful not to hope for too much.

A recovery of the manufacturing sector, were it to take place, couldnt find a more fitting spot than the historically resonant Brooklyn Navy Yard. Purchased by President John Adams in 1801, it was one of the United States first military bases at a time when international stature was defined largely by naval power. During the Civil War, the Yards laboring men launched the USS Monitor, famous as the first ironclad warship, and later the Maine, the 1898 sinking of which led to the Spanish-American War. At its World War II peak, the Yard was Brooklyns largest employer, sustaining 70,000 electricians, mechanics, welders, and sheet-metal workers and, by extension, their nearby neighborhoods.

In September 1945, the Japanese surrendered in a ceremony on the USS Missouri, launched from the Brooklyn Navy Yard just a year earlier. The event turned out to be symbolic, for as the war ended, so did the jobs of thousands of Brooklyn workers. Given the Yards history and its centrality to the boroughs economy, it took some time for the federal government to acknowledge the inevitable. But finally, in 1966, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara announced the Yards closure.

The well-known correlates of urban deindustrializationwhite working-class flight to the suburbs, rising minority unemployment and welfare dependency, budget crisesall appeared in Brooklyn. The Ingersoll, Walt Whitman, and Farragut public-housing projects, built by the city in the 1940s and 1950s to house Yard workers, filled up with unemployed residents, especially newly arrived poor blacks and Puerto Ricans, who now had few local job prospects. Retailers and restaurants shuttered in adjacent neighborhoods like Fort Greene, Williamsburg, and Greenpoint, and small contractors looked elsewhere for business. Things didnt improve when the Yard reopened in 1971, as an industrial park under city management. While a few tenants had stuck through the bad timesCumberland, producer of the artificial sweetener Sweetn Low, remains the granddaddy of Navy Yard companies, with a history going back to World War IIthe Yards condition mirrored that of its fraying home borough. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s and even into the early 1990s, the area was primarily known to car owners as the site of the city tow pound.

So what led to the old shipyards resurrection? The first sign of hope came in the mid-1990s, when the Giuliani administration, pondering ways to create jobs, spent $15 million to update the Yards crumbling infrastructure, some of it of Civil War vintage. The administration also encouraged a new approach by the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, the nonprofit that had acted as the Yards leasing agent and landlord for more than a decade. Instead of focusing, as it had been doing, on large manufacturers and warehouse distributors to occupy spaces, the BNYDC now sought small, light industrial firms and niche manufacturers in need of workers. By 1998, the BNYDC had nearly fully leased the 4 million square feet of its available space to 200 businesses, filling 3,000 jobsa respectable start, though not much to celebrate, compared with the glory days.

A bigger change was in the works, however. Shortly after taking the reins at the BNYDC in 1996, Marc Rosenbaum, a former white-shoe lawyer, took a trip to Los Angeles and was seized by an idea: the Yard had plenty of space and needed some sex appealwhy not build a movie studio there? There was a lot of skepticism, Rosenbaum admits. People said that soundstages in LA were sitting vacant, that digital advances threatened to make soundstages obsolete. And because soundstages dont make that much, they wondered why anyone would want to lend money for such a project. Skeptics also wondered why anyone, least of all Hollywood machers, would be interested in commuting to work in gritty north Brooklyn. Rosenbaum proved them wrong when Robert De Niro and Miramax studios began negotiating for the acreage. That deal fell through, but it wasnt long before the city signed a 69-year lease with a local family real-estate firm, Steiner NYC, to open Steiner Studios.

Few would dispute that the results have been, in Rosenbaums words, a monumental success. Employeescamera grips, sound engineers, set decorators, seamstresses, directors, producers, and actorsdrive daily through the studios dramatic entranceway, flanked by two World War II radio towers, lit and painted bright blue like the poles of a giant circus tent. With its ten soundstages, Steiner is the largest television and movie studio on the East Coast, the birthplace of films such as The Producers, Spider Man 3, Sex and the City 2, and television series such as Boardwalk Empire, as well as commercials and music videos. People with talent want to be in New York, observes Rosenbaum. In fact, theyd rather shoot here than in California. Plus we have a tremendous stock of actors. The city had been losing business because of the lack of facilities.

Equally if not more important to the Yards upward mobility was a new population of tech-savvy college grads settling in nearby Williamsburg, Bushwick, and Fort Greene. Tom Maiorano, the Yards veteran leasing agent, says that he noticed a change in the kinds of tenants seeking space in the late 1990s. The older firms still present, owned by immigrants or the sons of immigrants, represented a generation looking for security, he says. They did what they had to do: provide for their wives and kids, who eventually became doctors, lawyers, teachersand now they were nearing retirement age. In the late 1990s, the new tenants were young, just starting their businesses, Maiorano continues. They tended to be artisanal woodworkers, metalworkers, and other representatives of an emerging design-inspired economy.

The manufacturing industryalong with its owners, workers, products, and processeswas undergoing a dramatic change that would bring it into alliance with the designers. Technology such as routers, computer-assisted design (CAD) programs, and 3-D printers were making it possible to create not just apps and websites but also physical objects quickly on a small scale, in what is sometimes called mass customization. Unlike mass production, mass customization blurs the lines between design and production. Young creativesdesigners, artists, and engineerscould dream up an idea, cobble together a relatively small amount of capital, buy a router, and open a small fabrication shop. Mass customization is good news for cities. Because manufacturing today takes much less space, it can become part of the city again, explains Nina Rappaport, architectural historian and author of The Vertical Urban Factory. You dont need to keep a large inventory or warehouses, and that can keep you close to clients. (It also keeps you within biking distance of employees lofts and apartments, an important plus for millennial workers.) A study by the Pratt Institute found that 88 percent of Navy Yard tenants sell goods inside New York City; those transactions make up an average 71 percent of these tenants total sales.

And that brings us back to SITU, a perfect example of the new manufacturing. Founded by four Cooper Union architecture graduates, SITU is more like a combination crafts shop, conceptual art studio, and tech company than factory or architecture firm. Cooper Union gave us a lot of time in the shop; we got used to drawing and making things, says Brad Samuels, one of the companys founders. It helped us to erase the distinction between designing and making. We bought our first router in 2004. At first, the company did commissions for older artists and architects who didnt have their maker know-how. They went on to produce their own designs: a granite memorial for the victims of American Airlines Flight 587, which crashed in 2001 near Far Rockaway; exhibit-display systems for stores and events; mannequins for Marc Jacobs; and a design lab in the 11,000-square-foot Grand Hall at the New York Hall of Science in Queens. Recently, the company got its highest-profile job yet: a redesign and reconceptualization of the Brooklyn Museums entrance pavilion.

The Yards newer tenants also include Ice Stone, a company that makes countertops of recycled glass; Rockpaperrobot, a kinetic furniture and lighting company run by an MIT robotics grad; and Ferrara Design, which produces metal railings and signage. Founded by a Pratt graduate priced out of Williamsburg, Ferrara made the whimsical schooner-shaped bike racks used throughout the Navy Yard. Other Pratt grads leasing space have opened OgoSport, a manufacturer of play products, and December Box, a producer of custom furniture, lighting, and display. In addition to numerous individual fine artists, furniture-restoration studios, jewelers, and muralists, the Yard now houses Kings County Distillery (New York Citys oldest operating distillery . . . founded in 2010, the companys website puckishly declares) and Brooklyn Grange, the largest rooftop farm company in the United States. Andrew Kimball, the highly lauded CEO of the BNYDC between 2005 and 2013, summed up the Yards reenergized atmosphere: Making things is cool again.

If the new manufacturing was limited to providing a customized entrance table for the new Park Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan (SITU) or baby kale for Brooklyn locavores (Brooklyn Grange), it would be good only for high-end consumers and perhaps as inspiration for an episode of Portlandia. But plenty of companies at the Navy Yard use technology for innovations with more crucial uses, including several that recall the sites military origins. Honeybee Robotics has developed robots for NASA, hospitals, and mining companies. Atair Aerospace makes advanced self-guiding parachutes, while Pliant Energy Systems has received a grant from the U.S. Navy to develop an underwater device that generates power from moving water for eventual use with drone submarines. Another military-contract business, Crye Precision, may be one of the Yards biggest success stories. Crye designs and manufactures advanced protective military clothing, including helmets with cameras for the Army Special Forces, removable chemical-weapon protection, communications devices, and MultiCam, a newly designed all-terrain camouflage used by the U.S. in Afghanistan. Caleb Crye, sometimes called the Steve Jobs of tactical gear, and his partner moved to a 1,000-square-foot space in the Navy Yard in 2002. As their company grew, it scattered its operations to different buildings, but they plan to consolidate into an 85,000-square-foot space at the sites Green Manufacturing Center, the renovation of which is scheduled for completion later this year.

The Navy Yards success has come as a surprise to just about everyone. During his first term, Mayor Michael Bloomberg figured that New York was becoming a postindustrial city, and set about updating zoning rules to create more residential and commercial space, including in Brooklyn. The move seemed to make sense at the time. Gothams hundreds of vacant factories and the continuing exodus of manufacturing firms from its borders testified to the march of deindustrialization. Jonathan Bowles, of the Center for an Urban Future, found that between 1997 and 2010, New York hemorrhaged at least 5,000 manufacturing jobs a year.

The trend seemed unstoppable, but after 2010, with rising labor costs overseas and the acceleration of mass customization, the decline halted in New York City as a whole and actually reversed itself in Brooklyn. The Navy Yards big problem today is a shortage of usable space. Several large renovations in the works, including that of the Green Manufacturing Center, will help. In November, Mayor Bill de Blasio pledged $140 million to another addition, Building 77, a million-square-foot concrete hulk that will house Shiel Medical Laboratory, employer to 600 people at the Navy Yard, along with other larger firms. Steiner Studios will expand into a 50-acre annex, where nineteenth-century buildings including a magnificent antebellum Greek Revival hospitalwill be modernized to house media offices. The annex will feature the first underwater stage in the country and a graduate school of cinema, under the auspices of Brooklyn College.

No one should confuse all this with a large-scale New York manufacturing revivalat least, not anything to compare with what less expensive states like Texas, Ohio, and others with friendlier regulatory regimes have enjoyed, especially during the last five years, when the country has added 660,000 manufacturing jobs. New York companies continue to struggle under the weight of high taxes and state and local regulations that drive up the cost of making things in Gotham. Any broader New York manufacturing revival would require an overhaul of tax and regulatory policy.

Still, the Navy Yards rebirth is good news for the city. We are probably at an all-time low in vacancy rates in habitable industrial space, says Bowles. Its the tightest industrial market in years or decades. No wonder public and private developers are betting on other fallow industrial areas of Brooklyn. Several miles away from the Navy Yard, overlooking the harbor in Sunset Parkand, like the Navy Yard, easily accessible to the Brooklyn-Queens Expresswaystand the 4-million-square-foot Brooklyn Army Terminal, the 16-building, 6-million-square-foot Industry City, and Liberty View Plaza. All are filling up with small manufacturers and makers. In Williamsburg, the former Pfizer pharmaceutical factory is being revamped into a haven for food start-ups. The Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center has expanded into a former auto-parts warehouse in Crown Heights. Incubators, shared work spaces, and maker-friendly web businesses have spread throughout north Brooklyn. Some of these five- and ten-person companies today have the potential to grow to 20 or 30 or even 50 and 100, says Bowlesif they can find the right space and the right workers.

During its manufacturing heyday, Brooklyn employed generation after generation of poor immigrants and brought them to the threshold of the middle class. At least on a large scale, that scenario seems unlikely today. For one thing, the new manufacturing needs far fewer workers; that 5 Axis CNC router and other productive technologies consign many low-skilled jobs to history. In 1999, Scott Jordan, whose eponymous firm has been making Shaker-style wood furniture in a former cannon factory at the Yard since 1988, brought a 3 Axis router that cuts one of his trademark chairs in 20 minutes. Technology and a draggy economy have reduced his staff from 12 to six.

And many of todays manufacturing jobs require more advanced skills than the smokestack-company grunt work of the past. There are no more silos between physical labor and white-collar work, the National Journal wrote in a 2012 profile of Jergens, a Cleveland manufacturer of clamps and fasteners. Everyone, from the factory floor to the sales office, is expected to talk the same language. SITU partner Brad Samuels notes that each project that his company takes on uses different materials and different processes; he needs employees who can adapt. Recently graduated artists and architects looking for experience in advanced manufacturing often take those lower-level jobs. The day I visited SITU, I saw about 20 workersalmost all young white guys who could have come straight out of Williamsburg central casting.

This doesnt mean that no opportunities exist for low-skilled Brooklynites. Seamstresses, most of whom commute from Sunset Parks Chinatown, hand-sew Crye Precisions MultiCam vests, for instance. (See Brooklyns Chinese Pioneers, Spring 2014.) The Yards employment center is committed to hiring local residents. The center places about 200 people a year, roughly a quarter of them minorities from New York City Housing Authority projects. Administrators expect to double the Yards workforce over the next five years, to 14,000. Though its unclear what percentage of those jobs will be unskilled, David Ehrenberg, the BNYDCs newest CEO, is upbeat: Modern manufacturing . . . requires more and more skills, but it still has a wider skill band than in other sectors. And these are skills that lend themselves to on-the-job training. People progress from lower down watching and learning, graduating to laser cutter. The organization partners with local schools like City Tech and offers paid internships for high school and college students.

Yet the Navy Yards promise for the hardest-to-employ Brooklynites, who lack even the most rudimentary habits of good work, remains uncertain. Furniture maker Jordan has seen all sides. Look, I dont want to generalize, he says. Ive seen Pratt grads smoking crack in the bathroom. But you need skills to hold a job that are not learned in a week or a month or a year, like the skill of getting to work on time every day. Jordans deliveryman grew up poor in the area and has been with him for nearly three decades; Jordan finds his knowledge and expertise indispensable. But other local employees make him wary. Hiring from the projects requires a lot more sifting, he continues. Right now, Ive got a guy working for me who comes in late all the time. He knows how to work. I like him. When I warn him, he just shrugs his shoulders, and says Ill try better tomorrow. Im not doing social work. Im running a business. These days, to Brooklyns, and New Yorks, benefit, hes not alone.

Top Photo: At its World War II peak, the Navy Yard was Brooklyns largest employer. (AP PHOTO)
Dallas, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - January 24, 2020) - Kali-Extracts, Inc. (Kali, Inc. dba/Kali-Extracts, Inc.) (OTC Pink: KALY) ("KALY") today announced entering negotiations on the spinoff of the company's agricultural CBD extraction business. The spinoff is part of KALY's plans to consolidate its business structure and focus on its Cannabis Biopharmaceutical Technology. KALY has a U.S. Patented Cannabis Extraction Process and is developing treatments for various medical conditions. The technology has been valued at $50 million in conjunction with a recent acquisition offer that KALY management passed on. In addition to spinning-off its agricultural CBD extractions business, KALY has entered into discussions with Puration, Inc. (OTC Pink: PURA) ("PURA") regarding PURA's possible acquisition of KALY's CBD confection assets. The third-party KALY is negotiating with on the spinoff of the agricultural CBD extraction business is not yet disclosed, but the party is a public company and a term sheet agreement is anticipated within the next two weeks.

Follow further developments at

https://www.kali-extracts.com/

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and as such, may involve risks and uncertainties. These forward looking statements relate to, amongst other things, current expectation of the business environment in which the company operates, potential future performance, projections of future performance and the perceived opportunities in the market. The company's actual performance, results and achievements may differ materially from the expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements as a result of a wide range of factors.

CONTACT:

Frederick Ferri

ir@kali-extracts.com

(214) 210-0459

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/51804
Netflix NFLX Earnings, Analyst Opinion, iPhone Demand and much more is covered in this digest.



Netflix Earnings



Netflix reported earnings of $1.30 thrashing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 52 cents on sales of $5.47 billion that was more or less in line. International paid subscribers totaled 99.43 million, with EMEA, Latin America and Asia/Pac growing by 4.42 million, 2.04 million and 1.75 million, respectively. Paid subscribers in the U.S. and Canada totaled 67.66 million, up 550,000 in the quarter.



The launch of Apples TV+ and Disney+ in November impacted subscriber additions in the quarter and Netflix attributed its lower membership growth in the U.S. and Canada to our recent price changes and to U.S. competitive launches. But while the churn is elevated at the moment, it may be expected to stabilize as we move through the year. These services will launch in various international markets this year, so there may be added pressure in those markets as well.



An added concern that may have also contributed to the pressure on share prices is the change in the way Netflix will report viewership of Netflix originals. Until now, household viewership was counted if at least 70% of a show or TV episode was watched. Going forward, a watch will be counted as long as its at least for 2 minutes. Netflix says it was done because its episodes have widely varying lengths although admittedly, it increases viewership count by 35% on average.



Jeff Bezos Phone Hack



Global business advisory firm FTI Consulting found that the theft of data from Amazon AMZN CEO Jeff Bezoss phone in 2018 started with an infected video file sent from Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salmans personal WhatsApp account. While Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud called the claim absurd, U.N. special rapporteurs Agnes Callamard and David Kaye said there was possible involvement. Digital evidence suggesting that the video file contained code that ultimately led to the transfer of large amounts of data reportedly inspired moderately high confidence.



Facebook Price Target Raised



Enthused by the fact that Facebooks FB runway for online ad growth is long and expanding, Morgan Stanley analyst Brian Nowak raised his price target on Facebook shares from $250 to $270, while maintaining his equivalent of a Buy rating. He estimates that Instagram stories alone will account for $6 billion, or 10% of total ad revenue this year.



Analysts Weigh In on AMD Ahead of Earnings



Cowen analyst Matthew Ramsay reiterated his Outperform rating while bumping up his price target from $47 to $60. His optimism is fueled by certain share gains across server/DT/NB markets and an under-model console cycle and earnings-per-share/free-cash-flow growth as investors largely no longer question whether or not Advanced Micro Devices AMD will gain material x86 share or deliver upon its road maps." He also thinks that Intels 14-nanometer supply constraints and road-map changes will help AMD.



Deutsche Bank analyst Ross Seymore reiterated his Hold rating while raising his price target from $29 to $40 as AMD maintains its execution through 2021 despite increased competitive pressures from Intel and NVIDIA.



Both analysts are concerned about valuation.



Oppenheimer analyst Rick Schafer raised questions about long-term profitability in a declining PC market and some turf regain by Intel and NVIDIA in both CPUs and GPUs as concerns while reiterating his equivalent of a Hold rating.



Apple Raising TSM Orders



Apple AAPL has reportedly asked Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM) to increase its A-series processor output to meet higher-than-expected demand. Not only were the new iPhone 11 and 11 Pro models well-received, but demand out of China, especially for the most reasonably-priced model with the LCD screen, has been stronger than expected.

Story continues

The next generation of the iPhone SE and will also contribute to increased demand. It will be followed by new high-end iPhones later in 2020 that will include 5G connectivity, faster processors and new 3D cameras on the back.



New Cheaper iPhone on the Horizon



News has been leaked about a new low-end iPhone, a likely successor to the SE for price-competitive mass markets like India where the company is scouting for store locations. It will be assembled by Hon Hai Precision Industry, Pegatron and Wistron.



Bloomberg says its sources confirm that the device will enter mass production and assembly as early as next month and will be officially launched by the company in March. It will look like the iPhone 8 from 2017, complete with 4.7-inch touch screen, the touch ID will be built into the home button but will run on the latest processor being used in the iPhone 11. One missing feature mentioned Face ID biometric authentication.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo with his history of successful guesses/hunches/channel checks says the device might use a ToF system to create 3D maps and an LCD polymer antenna design to improve wireless transmission. It will likely come in space grey, silver and red colors and sell for $399.



Foxconn Serious About Wisconsin Plant



Foxconn founder Terry Gou has said that its Wisconsin factory will be functional this year and will be used for 5G and AI applications. The original plan was to make LCD screens for TVs in considerably large volumes. He has since scaled back both the factory and hiring and now intends to bring manufacturing experts from Taiwan to help with U.S. production and supply chain builds.



Apple on Encryption



Apple had originally planned to encrypt iCloud backups by iPhone users, but its now being reported that it has dropped these plans. There could be a couple of reasons for this, as Reuters reported.



The first is that the FBI complained that it would obstruct justice and protect criminals. Since Apple didnt want to help criminals or bring on retaliatory stronger anti-encryption laws from the government, it decided to play ball.



Another theory is that users would be locked out of their own data more often.



Intel Upgraded



Jefferies analyst Mark Lipacis had a change of heart on Intel INTC, upgrading the shares from Underperform to Hold and raising the price target from $40 to $64. "Share loss, a transistor transition disaster, changing of the management guard, and a CEO bonus that inflects with the stock in the low $60s tell us the table is set for change at Intel," basically boiling down to a fair valuation with the negatives priced in.



Separately, Intel has appointed former Medtronic CEO Omar Ishrak as its new CFO. Ishrak also replaces board member Alyssa Henry to operate as its independent Chairman. He is replacing Andy Bryant, the former CFO and chairman since 2012.



Just Released: Zacks 7 Best Stocks for Today



Experts extracted 7 stocks from the list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys that has beaten the market more than 2X over with a stunning average gain of +24.6% per year.



These 7 were selected because of their superior potential for immediate breakout.



See these time-sensitive tickers now >>

Click to get this free report Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Facebook, Inc. (FB) : Free Stock Analysis Report Apple Inc. (AAPL) : Free Stock Analysis Report Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) : Free Stock Analysis Report Intel Corporation (INTC) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research
The Supreme Court Friday stayed the order of appellate tribunal NCLAT which had dismissed the plea of Registrar of Companies seeking modification of its verdict in the Tata-Cyrus Mistry case

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Friday stayed the order of appellate tribunal NCLAT which had dismissed the plea of Registrar of Companies seeking modification of its verdict in the Tata-Cyrus Mistry case.

A bench, comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant, agreed to hear the appeal of Tata Sons Pvt Ltd (TSPL) and issued notice to the parties concerned.

The apex court said it would hear the matter along with the main plea filed by Tata Sons against the verdict of National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).

TSPL challenged the 18 December decision of NCLAT which gave a big relief to Cyrus Investment Pvt Ltd and Mistry, restoring him as the executive chairman of TSPL.

In a fresh development to the #TataVsMistry case, Tata Sons challenges the NCLAT order of January 6 in SC, on conversion of Tata Sons from public to private. The apex court has said that it will hear the petition with the other petitions filed in the case@AshmitTejKumar  CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) January 24, 2020

NCLAT had ordered the reinstatement of Mistry as the head of Tata Sons, the holding company of $110 billion salt-to-software conglomerate, saying his 2016 sacking was wrong.

It also held that conversion of Tata Sons from a public company to a private one by the RoC was "illegal".

Subsequently, the RoC, under the Union Corporate Affairs Ministry, had moved a petition seeking deletion of words "illegal" and "with the help of the RoC" on the issue of conversion of Tata Sons into a private company.

Rejecting the prayer for amendment in the Judgment, NCLAT observed that the judgment did not cast aspersions on the RoC and said this is a "wrong perception" as no observation has been made against the RoC, Mumbai, nor anything alleged against him.

On 10 January, the apex court had stayed the NCLAT order restoring Mistry as executive chairman of the Tata Group, observing that there were "lacunae" in the orders passed by the tribunal.

It also said that the NCLAT decision suffers from "basic errors" and the matter needs to be heard in detail.

While ordering an interim stay of the NCLAT order, the bench also said, "You (Cyrus) have been out of the saddle for quite a long time. Does this hurt you now. How does it (stay order) hurt you today".

The apex court said there was no prayer in the petition for reinstatement of Mistry but the tribunal went ahead with it and ordered that.

The top court had directed that the Tatas will not exercise power under Article 75 of the 'Articles of Association' for pushing out shares of minority holders in the company.

The Article empowers the company to, at any time, to transfer ordinary shares of any shareholders without following the normal procedure of transfer.

TSPL, formerly known as Tata Sons Limited, had sought setting aside of the NCLAT judgment in toto, alleging it was "completely inconsistent with the annals of corporate law" and reflected "non-appreciation of facts", which was "untenable in law".
Philadelphia school board Vice President Wayne Walker will not seek a new term with the board. He is shown here with Board President Joyce Wilkerson. Read more

Wayne Walker, vice president of the Philadelphia Board of Education, will not seek reappointment, officials announced Friday.

That means the nine-member school board will have at least one new member this year.

Walker was one of Mayor Jim Kenneys first nine picks to the school board, which took over running the Philadelphia School District in 2018 after a state takeover that lasted 17 years.

Walker, 61, a turnaround management and corporate governance specialist who has also served as a leader on the boards of Habitat for Humanity and the National Philanthropic Trust, said he was stepping down because of a family situation that will require him to spend significant time outside of Philadelphia.

 READ MORE: Enough is enough: at Philly school board meeting, community demands action

He will remain on the board until Kenney names and City Council approves his replacement. Kenney, newly sworn into his second term as mayor, must name a new board, but its expected that most members of the current board will stay  all of Walkers colleagues on the board are seeking reappointment.

It has been an honor to serve the students of Philadelphia as a member of the Board of Education, Walker said in a statement. I am inspired by my interactions with the countless students, families, teachers, and community members who have dedicated themselves to ensuring every child in Philadelphia has access to great public schools. While the challenges are great, I am excited about the strong future ahead for Philadelphias public schools and I thank Mayor Kenney for the opportunity to serve.

The other members of the board are Joyce Wilkerson, who serves as president, Julia Danzy, Leticia Egea-Hinton, Mallory Fix Lopez, Lee Huang, Maria McColgan, Christopher McGinley, and Angela McIver. (The board also has two nonvoting student members, Doha Ibrahim and Imere Williams.)

 READ MORE: After historic term on Philly Board of Education, what did 2 students learn?

Walkers experience leading complex organizations was an asset to the board, both Wilkerson and the mayor said.

Wayne has been a critical help to the Board of Education as weve undergone the tremendous task of coming together as a board and learning the complex role of governance, Wilkerson said in the statement. I am sorry to see Wayne go.

Kenney thanked Walker for his considerable service in the nonpaid position.

Wayne took on an important leadership role and was instrumental in getting our local school board off the ground and to the sound place it is today, Kenney said. "Wayne leaves big shoes to fill, and I encourage all qualified Philadelphians to apply to serve on the board during the open application period. This is an incredible opportunity to help shape the future of education in our city for generations to come.

The citys Education Nominating Panel is currently accepting applications for new board members. Those interested in applying can find more information here.
As of this summer, Napa County residents needing hospitalization for mental health care will have to seek help outside the area.

The countys 34 remaining inpatient beds  currently located at the Adventist Health St. Helena hospital in Deer Park  will be eliminated.

The hospital announced it will close its inpatient mental health unit and senior citizen behavioral health unit effective July 14.

Operational costs are the main reason the unit will close, said Jill Kinney, spokeswoman for Adventist Health St. Helena.

Adventist Health spent considerable time and effort looking at multiple scenarios and it was determined that this was the best course of action, said Steven Herber, MD and president of Adventist Health St. Helena. Patients will have access to inpatient services at Adventist Health Vallejo, which is located just 35 miles away, he said.

This change better allocates specialized clinicians at a single location, which is ultimately more efficient, he said.

Kinney said the decision to close the unit is not directly related to the California Department of Justice denying a proposed partnership in 2019 between Adventist Health System/West and St. Joseph Health System.

Like the recent decision to close the birthing unit at St. Helena Hospital, such a change had already been under consideration, Kinney said.

If the joint partnership had gone through, these decisions for closure might have been delayed in order to comply with the terms of the agreement, which stipulated that all services remain open for a designated time period, Kinney noted.

The hospital said that patients in need of mental health services can access care at Adventist Health Vallejo, the 61-bed mental health hospital located in Vallejo that offers adult, children and adolescent inpatient services, partial hospitalization and an intensive outpatient program.

Such a decision is unfathomable and unconscionable, according to Lisa Dailey, director of advocacy for the Treatment Advocacy Center. The mental health care nonprofit is based in Arlington, Virginia.

The loss of beds of these beds will have terrible consequences for the community, said Dailey.

We are strongly opposed to any closure of any facilities and the loss of any treatment beds in California, she said. It is completely counter-intuitive.

Treatment Advocacy Centers most recent analysis of Californias bed numbers found that the state had only about 30 percent of the beds that are indicated by the population  and this does not take into consideration the location and actual accessibility of the beds, which can be a significant factor in such a large state, said Dailey.

California is already suffering from a dire shortage of available treatment beds, made especially serious by the explosion in individuals within the criminal justice system who need such help, she said.

This has led to a situation in which nearly all beds available for people requiring inpatient treatment in the state are occupied by those entering the system by way of the criminal justice system, Dailey said.

Patients not part of the criminal justice system are thus nearly excluded from the treatment system in all but the very short-term beds available in emergency departments, she said.

The loss of remaining inpatient mental health beds will impact our community, acknowledged Sarah OMalley, LMFT, Napa Countys mental health director.

Those in need of acute psychiatric inpatient care will need to go to, or be placed in, facilities in neighboring counties.

The problem of a lack of psychiatric inpatient beds is a statewide issue, and thus, unfortunately, Napa County is not alone. Many counties similarly have no psychiatric beds, OMalley noted.

Napa County continues to identify placement options for any resident that comes through its Mental Health program who may be in need of acute psychiatric inpatient care, OMalley said.

Any loss of resources to the community is always difficult, especially in behavioral health because the need is so great, said Alicia Hardy, CEO of OLE Health, another Napa County health care provider. Even a slight increase in distance to services creates a challenge for our patients.

According to St. Helena hospital, 105 employees will be affected.

We are hopeful we can retain the staff, said Herber.

Herber said details about what the hospital intends to do with the space after the closure are still in development.

According to the nonprofit CalMatters, since 1995, California has lost nearly 30 percent of its acute care psychiatric hospital beds.

Having to travel long distances can make it hard for families to visit a patient and can also make it more difficult for hospitals to plan for safe discharge, said the nonprofit.

Almost half of counties had no adult acute psychiatric beds, and the vast majority had no psychiatric beds for children, as of 2015.

According to CalHospital.org, since 1995 the state has lost 37 such facilities, either through the elimination of psychiatric inpatient care, or complete hospital closure, a drop of over 20 percent.

As of 2017, California offers one psychiatric care bed for about every 5,800 people. Experts recommend a ratio of 1 bed for every 2,000 people, according to a 2012 California Hospital Association report.

You can reach reporter Jennifer Huffman at 256-2218 or jhuffman@napanews.com

Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
Need For Accountable Leaders & Leadership In South Sudan

"They have shown themselves to the citizens as their nemeses by the covert work they did to bring this country down to its knees.This time, we need people who are poised to embrace and support peace but not selfish individuals."

By Pal Chol Nyan*

The R-ARCISS provided that of the five Vice-Presidents, two will come from the government known as the SPLM-IG. I have written many times that one has to go to Greater Bhar el Ghazal region. I still remain true to myself.

If H.E, the President is of the view that it is of necessity for one of his Vice-Presidents to go to Greater Upper Nile and that it must be a Nuer, it should go to the other sections of the Nuer.

In the next Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity, the citizens would want to see people who are committed servants, loyal to the system and hell bent to develop this beloved country; in order to make it catch up with the rest of the region.

There is no need to please again and bring in charlatans and money lovers who feign loyalty. Look at those who came last time. They used the power and money given to them to dry up State coffers and knowingly confronted the government within the region and world, especially the super powers.

It is clear from their reckless utterances when they are delegated to represent J1 overseas. There was not a single moment they had been held to account for diplomatic misconduct. They eliminated their bete noires lying that they were defending the government.

I can vouch that President Kiir has been kind-hearted and so forgiving; many will agree with me except, perhaps, those who chose to follow others because they can't subsist on their own.

The President was betrayed by the same people to whom he gave the spear (power). They came and used that sharp spear to kill, hurt the families of those who stood and supported the President during the crisis.

The same people were the agitators of the two deadly conflicts. These war traders are blindfolded to take the Presidential pardon granted for a moral weakness. They confronted the country with the International community, using the money given to them by the President, the same man they want to see out of the political screen.

The agreement provided for a hybrid court. It will be established and each and every one will account for any crime he or she might have committed against the people of South Sudan in any form.

Up to now, those who committed heinous crimes against humanity in Rwanda and anywhere else are still being tracked down, mainly those who carried out extrajudicial killings against innocent citizens to protect their power.

Those who caused the on-going upheavals now hold high-profile constitutional posts and senior ranks within the ranks and files of the army and organized forces. They caused divisions and planted hatred among South Sudanese who love themselves so much and who have the will to continue living harmoniously and peacefully together.

They have eaten enough with impunity. This time, let them go home but they shall be asked to account for what they did during their tenures in office; an abuse of power.

I called on the peace partners to nominate competent and hard-working people; people who have the country and the people at heart but not power hungry people who had been involved in the abused of public offices and breach of trust bestowed upon them by the President. The time for eating is finished.

It is time for services delivery, transparency and accountability. The exploiters of war who have been engaged in sowing the seeds of discord among the people should also be shown the political exit door.

The citizens have learnt a lesson. Their true colour is that of, engagement in pre-sales Oil contracts with huge financial kickbacks at the expense of the starving citizens who can't afford a day's meals, conspiracy and back-stabbing. They have shown themselves to the citizens as their nemeses by the covert work they did to bring this country down to its knees.This time, we need people who are poised to embrace and support peace but not selfish individuals.

The R-ARCISS is a just and an honourable peace, if I could paraphrase the words of the late Chairman Dr John Garang (RIP). If implemented in letter and spirit, it will return South Sudan into its former state where people live in harmony, peace, love and unity.

The most important thing is that the peace partners and the Civil Society Organisations must keep eagle eye on the peace spoilers who made it a lucrative job to fish in murky waters.

*The author is a concerned, a peace-loving citizen and an Advocate of a prosperous, united and democratic South Sudan. Can be reached at palcholnyan2016@gmail.com

NOTE: Opinions expressed on Gurtong are entirely of the authors and do not necessarily reflect opinions of the website or Gurtong Trust Media.

You can now comment directly and post without prior approval. But please read the rules and objectives of Gurtong Trust Media and adher to them. Otherwise the editor/moderator has the right to delete your post without prior notice. Repeated offences may lead to being bared from commenting on the website. ED.


Prosecutors, who didn't identify the two people, said they'd notified the Foreign Ministry.

Bulgarian prosecutors said they'd determined that two Russian citizens engaged in espionage but they couldn't be charged because of diplomatic immunity.

An investigation found that a first secretary in the Russian embassy's consular department in Sofia was seeking information on elections in Bulgaria starting in 2017, prosecutors said Friday in a statement, Bloomberg wrote.

Read alsoRFE/RL: Bulgaria charges three Russians in absentia over attempted murders in 2015

Another diplomat, who serves in Russia's commercial representation office, was collecting information on energy security, some of which constituted state secrets, starting 2018, according to the statement.

Prosecutors, who didn't identify the two people, said they'd notified the Foreign Ministry.

Bulgaria expelled a Russian diplomat for espionage in October and said Thursday that it had charged three Russians for allegedly trying to murder an arms dealer, his son and an employee of his company in 2015.
Berlin, Jan 24 (IANS) Six persons were killed and several injured on Friday in a shooting incident in Germany's Rot am See town, the media reported.

The police tweeted that several shots were fired in a building near a train station, Xinhua reported citing a German media outlet.

A suspect was caught and the victims were his family members, the police said, adding that there was no other perpetrator.
This is why the flags for the United States and individual states flew at half-staff in 2020. The source for much of this information is Flag
One day after EA announced that it's shutting down its mobile Tetris games, N3TWORK's Tetris app is available for download. For now, the free app comes with a traditional solo gameplay mode, but N3TWORK says it has "so much more in store."

You can find the app in the App Store or Play Store -- outside of China and New Zealand -- and you'll be able to play both online and offline. Local high score tables are available now, to make sure things stay competitive, and players can choose from five themes and 50 avatars.

N3TWORK

Last year, N3TWORK announced it was working with The Tetris Company and would release Tetris Royale, a mobile version of the classic puzzle game with a 100-player battle mode. That title hasn't arrived yet, but N3TWORK initially said it would be finished in 2020. With the app now available, it seems promising that we'll see the battle royale version soon.

"We're launching Tetris with a traditional solo gameplay mode, but we want fans to know that we've got so much more in store for them, and this is just the foundation of an incredible Tetris app experience we're building at N3TWORK," said Neil Young, founder and CEO of N3TWORK.


Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading.
State Police have identified a suspect in a deadly hit and run crash on Christmas Eve in Westbrook.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Jose Fernando Meraz-Balico, 35, who troopers said fatally injured John Ingalls, a 39-year-old Ivoryton man, who was struck while riding his bicycle on Spencer Plain Road.

Investigators determined that Ingalls had been struck from behind by a driver who fled the scene.

Ingalls died four days later of his injuries.

During the course of the investigation, troopers developed information which led to the issuance of the arrest warrant for Meraz-Balico for manslaughter with a motor vehicle, evading responsibility and operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, state police said.

Troopers said Meraz-Balico has ties to Westbrook and Deep River, but may be traveling to New York or the Carolinas.

Its also believed Meraz-Balico could have fled to the country of Honduras, troopers said.

Ingalls mother Maggie, and and stepfather Sinco Steendam, said that their son was an organ donor.

In the middle of our worst nightmare we have found redemption with Johns Christmas gifts of life for others.

Since he was an organ donor, Ingalls has been able to help others lead a healthier and more fulfilling life.

The Steendams said, the law enforcement and judicial system will take care to serve John justice.

Ingalls was recalled by a family and friends as a fan of pizza who also loved movies enjoyed Pepperidge Farm Nantucket and Milano cookies, according to his obituary.

He would build swing sets for children who he loved and would tend to blowing leaves in the dark by wearing a headlamp, his obituary said. He loved the person who sold him cookies and would chase his person mechanic because he needed his car fixed as soon as possible.

Anyone who has information on the whereabouts of Meraz-Balico is asked to contact Troop F in Westbrook at (860) 399-2100.
The president is going to speak here today, the first time in history, he said, smiling. That really puts a lot of horsepower behind our movement.

Mr. Hagemyer said Mr. Trumps support makes him even more optimistic about the future. I firmly believe that in my lifetime we will see Roe v. Wade overturned, he said referring to the landmark 1973 Supreme Court ruling that extended federal protections to abortion. The tide is turning. People are starting to realize abortion is not something we should be doing.

But Alexis McGill Johnson, the acting president and chief executive of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, pushed back on that idea in a statement after Mr. Trumps appearance.

While Trump stands with the small number of Americans who want politicians to interfere with their personal health decisions, well be standing with the nearly 80 percent of Americans who support abortion access, Ms. Johnson said. We will never stop fighting for all of the people in this country who need access to sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion.

Mr. Trumps relationship with the anti-abortion movement has been a transactional one since he entered politics in the 2016 presidential campaign. He has focused his efforts in particular on white evangelicals and Catholics, a critical part of his base in that campaign who could be even more important this November.

In exchange for the appointment of anti-abortion judges, his unwavering support for Israel and his attempts to protect the rights of students to pray in schools, they have generally overlooked Mr. Trumps own complicated past with the issue and his own history of three marriages and two divorces.
We will advise of the possible cause of the explosion as soon as we have concrete info, the fire departments chief, Samuel Pena, said. The department said in a tweet that a hazardous material team was on the scene.

The blast appeared to have taken place at the site of Watson Grinding & Manufacturing, a machining and manufacturing company, Reuters reported. Calls to some of the officials there were not answered.

Chief Acevedo said that there were no reports of any air quality hazards, but crews had to secure supply lines of propylene, a gas, at the site.

By mid-day, nearly 200 homes had been searched and identified as damaged so far, officials said. Residents whose homes were damaged evacuated to the nearby Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, which was set up as a shelter. By noon, it was serving food and providing information to residents who had fled, said Amy Peck, the councilwoman who represents the district of about 288,000.

The homes were in close proximity to the location of the explosion, she said. Some of the homes were basically a few blocks away from the explosion, so it was very close.

Some brought pets, and Ms. Peck said the population at the church could swell over the day. There are about 50 people so far and once people leaving work we might see more people this afternoon. We are working on that right now.

The pre-dawn morning quiet had been shattered by the massive explosion and fires. Footage from local news helicopters showed a crumbled building burning and surrounded by police and fire vehicles in the darkness. Emergency response crews picked their way through wreckage, scanning flashlights over the rubble.
In the January 24 episode of In The News podcast, Moneycontrols Anvita Bansal talks to her colleagues from the newsroom including Jerome Anthony, Shraddha Sharma and Atharva Pandit to discuss the top developments of the day.

First up, Sharma talks about Hungarian-American investor and philanthropist George Soros ripping apart world leaders who are acting like dictators. He has pledged $1 billion to battle would-be and actual dictators.

Next, Anthony discusses about Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) reportedly issuing a show-cause notice to Adani Gas for not disclosing crucial information as it seeks to bid for gas projects. The company had bid for gas projects using net worth calculation of Adani Enterprises.

He then speaks about SEBIS plan to call for a forensic audit of Infosys books following whistleblower allegations of financial misappropriation of funds at the IT major.

Lastly, Pandit gives details of a UN court order asking Myanmar to protect Rohingya Muslims from persecution.
New Delhi:

Yoga teacher Ramdev's planned visit to Delhi's Shaheen Bagh - the focal point of protests against Citizenship Act - on Saturday has been postponed indefinately. Ramdev had said that he would visit Shaheen Bagh during an interview with NDTV on Friday. However, his visit has been cancelled keeping in view the current situation there. While protests at Shaheen Bagh have been largely peaceful, some 'goons' attacked a team of News Nation journalists on Friday. They heckled and manhandled sernior journalist Deepak Chaurasiya and damaged one of the cameras. A case has been registered against unknown people based on the complaint of Chaurasiya and others.

Ramdev on Friday, had told the channel that he was was going to Shaheen Bagh just to listen to the protesters. He said he did not want conflict between Hindus and Muslims.

"I am not for anybody or against anybody... nor am I a middleman. I don't want Hindus and Muslims to fight. If there is injustice against Muslims, I will stand with them. I will go to Shaheen Bagh tomorrow," Ramdev was quoted as saying.

Ramdev also acknowledged that those protesting have the right to do so adding that the manner of protests must be constitutional.

"I am a supporter of protests... of any type of azadi (freedom)... but this must be constitutional, it must not hurt others. I don't want Jinnah-wali azadi, I want Bhagat Singh-wali azadi," he added.

In Delhi's Shaheen Bagh, hundreds are taking part in protest against the amended citizenship law. These protesters have been sitting in for more than a months now.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Class is in session, teenage activist Greta Thunberg warned U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Thursday.

The Swedish climate change activist fired back at Mnuchin for mockingly questioning her educational qualifications to talk about the global economy earlier this week.

My gap year ends in August, but it doesnt take a college degree in economics to realize that our remaining 1,5 carbon budget and ongoing fossil fuel subsidies and investments dont add up, Thunberg, 17, tweeted.

So either you tell us how to achieve this mitigation, she continued, or explain to future generations and those already affected by the climate emergency why we should abandon our climate commitments.

Mnuchin had waved off Thunbergs speech at this weeks World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where the she called on global leaders to take more steps to better combat global warming.

Lets be clear: We dont need a low-carbon economy, we dont need to lower emissions,  Thunberg said Tuesday. Our emissions have to stop.

Her speech received praise and even President Donald Trumps daughter Ivanka Trump, a senior White House aide who joined him at the forum this week, reportedly said Thunberg has an elevated awareness and thats a positive thing.

While President Trump, like Mnuchin, has taken shots at Thunberg, Ivanka abstained.

Im not going to criticize anyone whos bringing their energy and voice. Thats not my style. I think shes elevated awareness, and thats a positive thing, she told The New York Times.

Mnuchin, 57, took exception to Thunbergs recommendations on economic policy and openly challenged her while speaking with reporters on Thursday, according to the Associated Press.

Is she the chief economist? Who is she? Im confused, Mnuchin said. He followed up after a brief pause, saying, It was a joke.

After she goes and studies economics in college, she can come back and explain that to us, Mnuchin then said.

Story continues

RELATED: Trump Official Takes a Swipe at Teen Climate Activist Greta Thunberg Over Her Comments on Economy

So either you tell us how to achieve this mitigation or explain to future generations and those already affected by the climate emergency why we should abandon our climate commitments. 2/3  Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) January 23, 2020

Greta Thunberg (center) at a climate change rally in New York City in September. | Drew Angerer/Getty

President Trump, 73, himself criticized Thunberg after TIME chose her as the Person of the Year in December.

So ridiculous, he wrote on Twitter. Greta must work on her Anger Management problem, then go to a good old fashioned movie with a friend! Chill Greta, Chill!

Thunberg responded with a subtle clap-back, changing her Twitter bio to read: A teenager working on her anger management problem. Currently chilling and watching a good old fashioned movie with a friend.

She responded similarly last September when the president tweeted that she seems like a very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future.

RELATED: Trump Criticizes Teen Activist Greta Thunberg in All but Name  with Her in the Audience: Reports

From left: President Donald Trump and Greta Thunberg | Markus Schreiber/AP/Shutterstock; GIAN EHRENZELLER/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

On Tuesday, Trump also seemed to be referencing Thunberg when he rallied against alarmists [who] always demand the same thing  absolute power to dominate, transform and control every aspect of our lives and called climate activists heirs of yesterdays foolish fortune tellers.

But Thunberg, who was reportedly in attendance during Trumps speech, maintained Tuesday that she has no interest in political tiffs.

This is not about right or left, she said at the World Economic Forum. We couldnt care less about your party politics. From a sustainability perspective, the right, the left as well as the center have all failed. No political ideology or economic structure has been able to tackle the climate and environmental emergency.
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has denied media access to court proceedings during the treason trial of opposition leader Kem Sokha. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) demands the court to ensure this important trial is open to media and to allow journalist to access information in the public interest.

At least 200 people including Kem Sokhas supporters and journalists gathered outside Phnom Penh Municipal Court for the trial. Most journalists were denied entry by court officers who said the courtroom was full. A Reuters reporter noted a few were allowed in.

The IFJ was informed that the court had allowed 30 observers during the trial, but it is understood most spaces were reserved for foreign embassies and not the media. Of the 30 observers, sources have stated there were 12 witnesses present and 15 absentees. Court officials stated it was mandatory for all observers to register in advance. Chin Malin, a spoke person for the Justice Ministry, denied the court was excluding journalists and explained it was merely because there was not enough pace for the journalists seeking access. Contradictory reports state the courtroom has a capacity for more than 60 people.

Sokha is being tried before the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on treason charges after his arrest on September 3, 2017, when Cambodian police alleged he was conspiring with the United States to overthrow Cambodias government. Sohka has denied all allegations. Both the United States and European Union are among those calling for the charges to be dropped to allow for free political expression in Cambodia.

The IFJ said: We call for an urgent review of this matter to ensure that media representatives have access to observe and report on court proceedings in a case that is significantly in the public interest. Cambodia has continued to deny allegations of censorship despite prosecuting political dissent and now effectively shutting the media out of a case that is a litmus test on that state of democracy in Cambodia. We urge the government to ensure judicial transparency, to allow journalists access to report freely and to protect the right to political expression in Cambodia.
A man arrested in connection with violent protests near the Jamia Millia Islamia University against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act last month was sent to judicial custody for three days by a Delhi court on Friday.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Gurmohina Kaur sent Furkan, a resident of Jamia, to judicial custody till January 27 after the Delhi police did not seek his custody.

The police said the accused was arrested on the basis of a CCTV footage which showed him carrying a container.

Advocate Alamdar Husain Naqvi, the counsel for Furkan, said the container was empty and he was going to fill water in it.

On December 15, protests in the area against the amended citizenship Act turned violent, Four DTC buses, 100 private vehicles and 10 police bikes were damaged. Police had even entered the university campus and allegedly attacked students.

The police had earlier arrested 10 people in connection with the case.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Popular Nollywood actress, Mary Remmy Njoku took to her Instagram page to express how Nigerians are good in pushing people to their limit.

The Iroko TV boss pointed out that even the nicest people on earth have limits to what they can take.

Also Read: Iroko TV Boss, Mary Njoku Takes Swipe At Parents Who Overpamper Children

The popular filmmaker went on to express that Nigerians dont respect humble and honest people.

In what seems like a warning message, the filmmaker also expressed that Nigerians can frustrate until the inner madness of the person being pushed comes out.

See her post below:
Undated family handout photo of Harry Dunn. The Home Office has formally requested the extradition of 42-year-old US citizen Anne Sacoolas over the death of teenager Harry Dunn, who was killed when his motorbike crashed into a car outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire on August 27 last year.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has turned down an extradition request for the suspect charged with causing the death of teenager Harry Dunn by dangerous driving.

Anne Sacoolas was charged by the Crown Prosecution Service in December, but was granted diplomatic immunity following Mr Dunns road crash death in August last year.

The 42-year-old was able to return to her home country, sparking an international controversy.

Here are some of the key questions and answers triggered by the new development from Thursday:

Expand Close United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (Aaron Chown/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (Aaron Chown/PA)

 What request was refused?

The Home Office submitted an extradition request for Anne Sacoolas on January 10. If the request had been accepted, Mrs Sacoolas would have been returned to the UK to face the criminal charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

 Who refused the request?

The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo rejected the request on Thursday.

I have just called the US Ambassador to express the Govts disappointment about the US extradition decision on Harry Dunns case. We feel this amounts to a denial of justice, and that Anne Sacoolas should return to the UK. We are now urgently considering our options.  Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) January 24, 2020

 Why was the request rejected?

The US State Department have said Mrs Sacoolas was entitled to diplomatic immunity during her time in the UK. A spokesman said accepting the extradition request would render the invocation of diplomatic immunity a practical nullity and would set an extraordinarily troubling precedent.

 What criteria must be met for an extradition request between the US and the UK to be accepted?

Both countries adhere to the Extradition Treaty of 2003, which came into force in 2007. In the terms of the treaty, a person may only be extradited if the offence they are charged with would result in a custodial sentence of one year or more.

Expand Close The family of Harry Dunn outside the Ministry Of Justice (David Mirzoeff/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp The family of Harry Dunn outside the Ministry Of Justice (David Mirzoeff/PA)

 What can the Mr Dunns family do now the request has been refused?

The UK government has said it is urgently considering other options after the extradition request for Mrs Sacoolas was refused.

But there are a limited number of options available to the family. The first, a process which has already begun, is to pursue a civil claim against Mrs Sacoolas in the United States. They have previously said the claim could be worth millions of pounds.

If Donald Trumps administration is voted out in the next election, a new government may take a different approach to the extradition request  which the family say will not go away.

Alternatively, Mrs Sacoolas can waive the extradition and surrender herself to the UK authorities. However, lawyers acting on behalf of Mrs Sacoolas have said she will not return to the UK.
There is a set of really important questions that need to be posed: Are they truly willing to disassociate themselves from transnational terrorist networks  not just al-Qaeda but the entire range? I have not seen the evidence. There is also the question of the Taliban and its relationship to drugs. They are running the drug network, not just being supported by it. Will they give it up? Because now, there are millions of addicts inside of Afghanistan. And will they accept elections as the key mode of governing in the future? Until now, they have not accepted elections.
A 34-year-old woman was arrested on Friday for rash driving near Navghar on the Mumbai-Thane Highway, police said.

The incident took place at around 2:30pm, an official said.

"The woman first hit two motorcycles, leading to those riding them falling down and getting injured. She then overtook a bullet motorcycle rashly. The bullet driver's wife is pregnant and the couple tried to stop the offending car at Mulund Naka. The woman picked up a fight with the couple after being stopped," he said.

After the pregnant woman and her husband called the police, the rash driver, who is an engineer, was arrested under relevant sections of the IPC and later released on bail, he informed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)




Haiti - Politic : The Minister Cadet at the Ascension Mixed College on the scene of the dramatic accident





Thursday, Pierre Josue Agenor Cadet, The Minister of National Education, accompanied in particular by Ronyde Imbert, assistant to the Departmental Directorate of Education of the West, Louisy Norton Security Coordinator and the principal inspector of Petion-ville school district, went to the Ascension mixed college located street Beauvais (Delmas 105, not far from the Saint-Jean Bosco church of Petion-ville), where it occurred in the morning of Wednesday, January 22 a dramatic accident which killed 6 students



A student dead and 5 injured, this is the balance of this drama involving a truck that crashed into and destroyed the front wall of the school on a group of children https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29837-haiti-flash-a-truck-strucks-a-school-at-least-5-student-victims.html being on the courtyard around 8:15 am



The aim was for Minister Cadet to express his sympathies to the victims and to the management of the establishment and to inquire into the circumstances of this accident and to consider the appropriate measures to be taken. The Minister met with Saiul Charles Petit-Homme the Director of the school and Mertilien Wilnick the educational officer.



Cadet said that measures will be considered with several State institutions to free the streets in the immediate surroundings of schools transformed into public markets.



Remember that before talking about new measures, the respect of those that exist must be. Remember that to ensure the safety of students, traffic is prohibited on heavy equipment and trucks before 9:00 a.m.



The Minister also intends to support the parents of the deceased child in this dramatic situation.



Of the 5 injured students rushed to hospital, four have already returned home. The fifth, with more serious shoulder and head injuries, is still hospitalized at Bernard Mews Hospital.



A two-day work stoppage was observed at the College (Thursday, January 23 and Friday, January 24), in memory of the deceased student and in solidarity with the injured children and the affected parents. Repair work is underway for the reconstruction of the wall.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-29837-haiti-flash-a-truck-strucks-a-school-at-least-5-student-victims.html



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Cookie Preferences Cookie List

Cookie List

A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website  when visited by a user  asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. Those cookies are set by us and called first-party cookies. We also use third-party cookies  which are cookies from a domain different than the domain of the website you are visiting  for our advertising and marketing efforts. More specifically, we use cookies and other tracking technologies for the following purposes:

Strictly Necessary Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a sale of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Functional Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a sale of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Performance Cookies

We do not allow you to opt-out of our certain cookies, as they are necessary to ensure the proper functioning of our website (such as prompting our cookie banner and remembering your privacy choices) and/or to monitor site performance. These cookies are not used in a way that constitutes a sale of your data under the CCPA. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not work as intended if you do so. You can usually find these settings in the Options or Preferences menu of your browser. Visit www.allaboutcookies.org to learn more.

Sale of Personal Data

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated sale of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Social Media Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated sale of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.

Targeting Cookies

We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated sale of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website.
New Delhi, Jan 24 : A controversy over a woman IPS officer's assault and molestation charges against an Assam Rifles trooper continues to drag on even as the paramilitary force's Director General, Lieutenant General Sukhdeep Sangwan, is set to meet the Union Home Minister on the matter, sources said on Friday.

Sangwan will meet Amit Shah before January 30 to back Rifleman P.K. Pandey and present the "proof" on the incident, the sources added. "He has sought time from the Home Minister's office for the meeting." The January 19 incident has pitted the Assam Rifles against the IPS officers association's Manipur chapter.

An Assam Rifles statement on Tuesday night had claimed that the Indian Police Service officer's accusation that she was "assaulted, harassed and molested" at Khudengthabi checkpost on January 19 were "baseless and malicious".

"The unilateral publication of uncorroborated and unsubstantiated allegations by the lady Sub-Divisional Police Officer on alleged harassment, physical assault and misbehaviour by Assam Rifles troops on January 19, 2020 while returning from Moreh is baseless, fabricated, false and malicious. Assam Rifles categorically and firmly refutes the allegations levelled by the officer." "Can a central government servant on bona fide duty cross over to Myanmar flouting all FMR (Federal Management Regulation) rules and then cover up the act on the pretext of official duty? It needs investigation...." It maintained that the woman IPS officer had illegally entered Myanmar while on duty and bought "suspicious and unidentified goods" from across the border.

Assam Rifles claimed possession of video footage of her entry into Myanmar and subsequent loading of goods on her "so-called official vehicle", which exposed her "blatant lie" in her complaint that she was on official duty.

The Assam Rifles accused the officer of trying to avoid checking of goods loaded in her vehicle.

The IPS officer displayed "high-handedness and colourable exercise of power" at a sensitive post against the ethics of any uniformed soldier, the statement added.

"A formal request to the lady officer by the Commandant, 12 Assam Rifles, and Deputy Inspector General, Headquarter 26 Sector, Assam Rifles, to resolve the matter amicably was not responded to affirmatively. To the utter surprise, she demanded that "jawan ko mere saamne duss joote maaro tab main apology accept karungi (hit the jawan with shoes ten times only then will I accept an apology)," the statement added.

On the other hand, the IPS Officers Association (Manipur Chapter), accused Assam Rifles of "maligning her image".

Chaired by its President P. Doungel, an association meeting attended by representatives of IAS Officers Association and IFS Officers Association on Wednesday extended support to the police officer.

It maintained that the Assam Rifles statement was "highly unprofessional and maliciously worded to malign her image".

On Thursday, the association said that "Assam Rifles should extend full cooperation to the investigation in the case".

"The association resolves to extend full support, moral and financial, to any further course of action which the officer chooses to follow. The association reposes its faith in the special investigation team probing the matter and hopes that the law will take its course," the body said in a press release.
Principals from 21 primary schools have warned parents of the dangers of social media on their children's wellbeing.

Head teachers in north Belfast issued a joint statement recommending that adults "consider the impact of unsupervised use of mobile devices" outside school, as well as "limiting their use in school".

The call comes after the principal of St Vincent de Paul Primary School in Ligoniel sent a letter to parents stating that it "has been increasingly difficult" to deal with social media difficulties amongst its pupils. Bronagh McVeigh also revealed that she had received worrying reports that "some pupils are sending/receiving unsavoury and abusive messages, videos and texts".

"Some people are being unkind," the letter said. "Some people are creating groups then excluding others which can be a form of bullying. Many children are involved in these groups."

Ms McVeigh advised parents that this "is not school business" and she asked them to "take control of the situation".

The letter also recommends that pupils do not use apps such as WhatsApp, Snapchat or TikTok until they are 13 and asked people who allow their children to use them to check their child's phone regularly.

"We have never had so many issues with key Stage Two pupils on social media before," the letter added.

"We recommend that pupils have phones only from P7 and we are very concerned about the implications and worried for the safety of our pupils.

Ms McVeigh told the Belfast Telegraph that St Vincent de Paul Primary School was determined to work through the difficulties associated with social media with everyone concerned.

"We are working closely with parents and pupils to support them in dealing with a range of issues that access to mobile devices and social media can present to children of a young age," she said.

Expand Close Bronagh McVeigh / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Bronagh McVeigh

"All our policies are developed in consultation with parents to support the welfare of pupils to promote a safe learning environment."

Following Ms McVeigh's letter, a statement was issued by North Belfast Primary Principals Group, which comprises 21 primary schools from all sectors - controlled, integrated, Irish-medium and maintained.

It said: "Ahead of Internet Safety Day on February 11, some of our schools have written to parents highlighting the need to consider the impact of unsupervised use of mobile devices and watches outside of school as well as limiting their use in school.

"In January each year we have a rise in primary school pupils using new devices/phones outside of school and the consequences of these are often brought back to schools.

"Primary school children appear to be accessing social media from a younger age without having the maturity to deal with the issues that may present.

"We promote resilience and safety strategies in our curriculum and schools are working very hard to support our children through internet safety assemblies and awareness raising workshops. Currently social media outside of school is having a significant impact on our pupil wellbeing.

"We need parents to be aware of this. All our schools appreciate the necessary support of parents in ensuring their children's responsible and safe use of social media and mobile phones."

Earlier this week Father Gary Donegan voiced serious concerns about children and social media.

"When a child lifts a mobile phone, an iPad or a computer, there is an issue of the accessibility of certain material," he told the Belfast Telegraph during an in-depth interview following a spate of suicides in Belfast and elsewhere.
We didnt get here by accident, Darling and Nygren said in the statement. With this new revenue, Republicans will continue to look for ways to protect taxpayers instead of growing government.

State deficit

An analysis of financial statements released this week by the nonpartisan Wisconsin Policy Forum shows a more than one-third reduction in the state deficit last year, with the general fund resting at $773.5 million at the end of the 2019 fiscal year on June 30.

Thats based on what are known as generally accepted accounting principles or GAAP accounting. By law the state budget must be balanced, and the state has achieved that for decades by using a different accounting system.

The states GAAP deficit is the lowest in at least 30 years, when adjusted for inflation, but the report notes Wisconsins main fund still trails nearly every other state.

The report goes on to note that, while Wisconsin is in a better position now than in previous years, the state remains one of only three  along with Illinois and Kentucky  that still has a negative general fund balance and could be vulnerable in the event of an economic downturn.

So far this year, state tax revenues have shown strong growth, which if sustained might help maintain the general fund balance, according to the report. However, at some point growth in the economy and tax collections will falter. That could bring a return to growth in the deficit similar to 2001, when the recession that year caused the negative balance to grow after several years of improvements.

Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
Holding Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah responsible for the protests across the country, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel implicitly referred the duo as "Mota Bhai" and "Chhota Bhai" respectively, and said the entire country is "agitated because of their lies".

"PM Modi should decide first that who is lying. The entire country is agitated because of their lies. 'Mota Bhai and Chhota Bhai' (PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah) are jointly responsible for the protests going on all over India. They are still not able to give a proper explanation to the question that how did the RDX used in Pulwama attack, reach there," Baghel said while talking to reporters here on Friday.

"They are not giving any answer about the economic slowdown in India. They are continuously withdrawing money from RBI," he added.

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) grants citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, who came to India on or before December 31, 2014.

Baghel, along with senior Congress leader PL Punia visited the capital to meet Congress President Sonia Gandhi after Congress won in the local bodies' elections in the state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Australia's Westpac hires 'Mack the knife' McFarlane to chair crisis-hit bank FILE PHOTO: A pedestrian looks at his phone as he walks past a logo for Australia's Westpac Banking Corp located outside a branch in central Sydney

By Paulina Duran and Scott Murdoch

SYDNEY/HONG KONG (Reuters) - Australia's Westpac Banking Corp <WBC.AX> named a former Barclays <BARC.L> boss as chairman on Thursday, entrusting veteran banker John McFarlane with the task of steering it through the country's biggest money-laundering scandal.

The bank, Australia's second largest by market capitalisation, said the 72-year-old would become a non executive director in February before taking the chairman's role in April.

McFarlane stepped down as chairman of Barclays in May after four years. Previously he had chaired British insurer Aviva <AV.L> which followed nine years as chief executive (CEO) of Westpac rival Australia and New Zealand Banking Group <ANZ.AX> (ANZ).

Scottish-born McFarlane takes over just two months after Westpac's top two executives stepped down following charges by the regulator for breaching of anti-money laundering laws which potentially facilitated child exploitation.

Westpac's current troubles are part of wider ructions in the Australian banking industry. Two of the top four banks that dominate the domestic market have lost their leaders in the wake of damaging revelations from a government-backed inquiry into misconduct in the industry.

McFarlane's appointment, however, failed to boost the bank's shares on Thursday as investors said the prospect of a huge fine - estimated by analysts to be up to A$1 billion (520.31 million pounds) - for the anti-money laundering breaches continued to weigh on the bank's earnings prospects.

Westpac shares closed at $A25.08, down 0.24% while the broader benchmark S&P/ASX200 <.AXJO> lost 0.6%.

"I was surprised to see the stock was down. I thought there would have been a better reaction," said Matt Haupt, portfolio manager at Wilson Asset Management, which owns Westpac shares.

"I think some investors are still worried about the size of the fine and what will come out of the Austrac investigations."

Story continues

'MACK THE KNIFE'

Westpac's chief financial officer Peter King, who had flagged his retirement, is currently serving as Westpac's interim chief executive.

McFarlane has been a hands-on chairman in previous roles, sparking speculation he may not rush to appoint a new permanent CEO.

"He will shake up the executive ranks, and he won't hurry in appointing a CEO, he will back his own ability to be an executive chairman," said Matthew Wilson, banking analyst at Evans and Partners.

In Britain McFarlane was nicknamed Mack the knife during his chairmanship of Aviva and then Barclays. In both, he acted as executive chairman for some time.

In a statement earlier on Thursday, McFarlane said that the appointment of a "world-class" CEO could "take time".

Vas Kolesnikoff, Australian head of governance adviser ISS, said Westpac needed to ensure there was a distinction between the chairman and the executive, with the search for a permanent chief executive underway.

"You need to have somebody who is running the bank and you need to have a board that is sufficiently independent to oversee management and addressing all the issues," Kolesnikoff said.

Martin Lawrence, governance analyst at Ownership Matters, a proxy advisory firm, said McFarlane came with a reputation for "drastic change".

"If there needs to be hard decisions made, I dont think he is going to be afraid to make them," he said.

Former Westpac chief executive Brian Hartzer left the bank after the money-laundering scandal was revealed while chairman Lindsay Maxsted also accelerated his departure from the bank's board.

At last month's annual meeting, the lender's shareholders voted down executive pay for a second year due to investor outrage over the scandal..

Westpac gave no details on Thursday of McFarlane's remuneration.

(Reporting by Paulina Duran, Scott Murdoch and Nikhil Kurian Nainan; Editing by Jane Wardell and Muralikumar Anantharaman)
A British man who failed to stop after running a woman over in San Pedro on 9 May 2016 has been sentenced to two years in prison for manslaughter through negligence and a road safety offence.

Westley Capper, the son of millionaire John Capper, was driving his fathers 500-horsepower Bentley at full speed along the boulevard in San Pedro Alcantara when he hit 40-year-old Bolivian chef Fatima Dorada who was on a pedestrian crossing.

According to the sentence, Capper, who was accompanied by his friend Craig Porter, was travelling at 75km/h in a 40km/h limit, under the influence of cocaine and alcohol.

The victim, who was with her husband and their 12-month-old daughter was thrown more than 30 metres after being hit by the Bentley. She was rushed to the Costa del Sol hospital where she died of her injuries.

Capper failed to stop, explains the sentence. He was located later that evening by police in a shopping area towards Estepona.

The custodial sentence has been suspended on the condition that Capper commits no criminal offences in three years and takes a road safety course. He has also been banned from driving for two years.

In his sentence, passed after Capper pleaded guilty to the charges, the judge considers the Brits remorse shown and financial compensation paid to the relatives as extenuating circumstances.

Just days after the incident, Capper paid 10,000 euros to cover the cost of repatriating Fatimas body. He has also been paying her family 1,100 euros a month since June and previously deposited 300,000 euros with the court to cover civil liability.

Previous conviction

This is not the first time Capper has been convicted in a Malaga court. In May last year Capper and Porter were found guilty of coercion in the high-profile Agnese Klavina case.

After detailed analysis of CCTV footage, the court decided that the young Latvian woman had been forced into a vehicle byCapper against her will outside the Marbella nightclub Aqwa Mist in September 2014.

Klavina has not been seen since. The court did not consider there to be sufficient evidence to convict the British men of kidnapping, as the public prosecution had requested.

Capper was sentenced to two years and Porter to six months.
The Ingush people with a rich centuries-long history are the oldest in the North Caucasus. They refer to themselves as 'ghalghaj' from the word 'ghal' - tower, which can be translated as 'people of towers'. Therefore, it is believed that the ethnocultural trail of the Ingush dates back to distant past, down to the New Stone Age. Ancient fortifications are scattered throughout Ingushetia. There are three types of towers: combat, mixed function and residential. Other objects of ancient Ingush architecture - shrines and crypts - can also be located inside the tower complexes.

According to culture researchers and art historians, the Ingush combat towers 'vouv' are the pinnacle of the architectural and construction skills of the population of the region's old settlements. They are striking through their simplicity of shape, monumentality and strict elegance.

"Tell me what kind of tower your family has, and I will tell you whether you deserve my daughter!" any Ingush family head reasoned back then.

The strength and architectural perfection of the fortification demonstrated the cohesion and power of the clan (teip), and, therefore, guaranteed a long and happy family life.

The construction of combat towers was at the golden age of ancient Ingush architecture. In total, 89 battle towers of two types were built - with pyramidal roofs and with flat ones.



The main difference between combat towers from mixed function and residential towers is their design. The battle towers are much narrower and higher, and the entrance to the tower was located on the second floor, which prevented enemies from using a ram.

Builders were allowed to erect towers outside Ingushetia, but only mixed function and residential ones. The ban on the construction of battle towers was justified: it did not allow the architectural "monopoly" of Ingushetia being the only land with classic battle towers to be lost.



Combat, mixed function and residential towers are not just unique architectural monuments, they also preserve the memory of the Ingush teips (clans) origin.

Ancient solar cemeteries (malkh-kash) are also located near the tower settlements - underground, semi-underground and terrestrial crypts where can be found weapons, jewelry, household items of the 12th-18th centuries. Such burial ground could accommodate from 2 to 190 people.



Tribal towers are a material attribute of the Ingush clan. Large noble teips may had several towers. At the end of the 19th century, the Egiev, Targimkhoev and Khamkhoev families, in a petition to the governor of the Caucasus, as evidence of their nobility and their right to posses vast lands, claimed that their ancestors built 15 towers - Khya-Kale, i.e. triple-towered - there.

An old Ingush proverb says: "If you far from the tower it's cold, if you're at the tower it's warm."



According to researchers, the Ingush towers are the highest, they were 2526 meters high (five-storied towers), and sometimes 30 meters (six-storied towers).

Historians suggest that in these constructions reflected the Ingush's desire to be closer to heaven and defend themselves against the conquerors. The towers resemble a cult of stone, which was so developed that even a guest was considered obligatory to bring a stone as a gift.



The construction of a military or residential building was solemn: before the start of construction, they sacrificed an animal and wet first rows of stones with its blood. Finishing work in a year was a matter of honor - otherwise the clan was considered fading.

The late Vovnushki medieval tower complex is one of the most striking and exotic tower complexes in Ingushetia. 'Vovnushki' (the accent is on the first syllable) means 'a place of combat towers'.

Although several centuries have passed, scientists are still struck by the complex's constructive technique. Two massive combat towers were erected without any foundation. In fact, they stand on shale rocks. During construction, a quite common technology of that time was applied. Before laying the tower`s foundation builders poured milk on the ground. If the milk did seep into the ground, they dug deeper. After that, huge stones, as big as a human growth, were laid first to ensure the stability of the structure. Before construction of the castle or tower began, a sacrifice was made.

Historians cannot tell the exact time when this castle was built. But all researchers agree on one thing - when the castle was built, Christians inhabited Ingushetia. Islam began to spread among the local population only in the 18th century and has not yet managed to put its imprint on the appearance of local buildings.



Building family crypts was natural for the Ingush. "When a man is alive he needs a tower, when he is dead he needs a crypt," the Ingush proverb says.

The buildings built close to each other inspired the Highlanders with philosophical thoughts.



Mountain Ingushetia carefully preserves the memory of the cultural heritage of paganism and Christianity. The Ingush's ancestors firmly believed that when people are alive they need a tower, when they die they need a crypt.

Therefore, in any Ingush settlement there was a "city of the dead" with burial grounds located not far from residential towers. The crypts resemble small houses with pyramidal roofs. Crypts were considered family buildings, so any local clan has its own clan towers and clan cemetery.

And now these buildings dotted around the republic have become a symbol of Ingushetia.
Agents from Venezuelas Sebin intelligence service on Tuesday raided the offices of opposition leader Juan Guaido while he traveled in Europe, an opposition lawmaker said.

We have just confirmed that Sebin officers are inside the office of president Guaido, lawmaker Delsa Solorzano told reporters after speaking with security guards at Caracass Zurich Tower.

National Assembly leader Guaido has been recognized as president by the United States and more than 50 other countries in his year-long power struggle with socialist President Nicolas Maduro.

The tower where the offices are located had been surrounded in the afternoon by hooded and armed Sebin officers dressed in black.

The offices were empty when the search began, the opposition said, adding that several lawmakers had been unable to gain access.

Whatever procedure is under way, they are carrying it out without authorization... without witnesses, and they have no search warrant, Solorzano said outside the building.

Lawmaker Angel Torres said the agents abruptly entered the offices, amid opposition fears they could plant false evidence.

The opposition had already reported earlier in the day the arrest of one of its members while he was headed to the Assembly. They named him as Ismael Leon.

Venezuelan authorities made no comment on that report.

The 36-year-old Guaido has defied a travel ban to fly to London for talks with Prime Minister Boris Johnson as part of a European trip which will include a visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

On Monday he visited Bogota, Colombia and met with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who promised Guaido more US support in his effort to unseat Maduro.

Despite international backing, efforts to oust Maduro have stalled and he retains the support of the powerful armed forces, as well as that of allies China, Russia and Cuba.
One of the Central Bank of Ireland's most senior officials has been rejected for a top role in the European Union's banking regulator over his past links to financial lobbyists.

The European Parliament's Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs voted against Gerry Cross in his bid to become executive director of the European Banking Authority (EBA).

"The candidate worked in the past lobbying (for) the financial sector," committee member Jonas Fernandez said in a video posted on Twitter.

The EBA had selected the Irish regulator as its candidate for the job, but the appointment must be ratifyed by the European Parliament, the vote by the Committee makes that unlikley. However, the EBA said it will to wait until the final vote before deciding on the next steps.

Mr Cross been the director of financial regulation - policy and risk at the Central Bank since May 2015, one of the most senior roles over seeing Irish banks.

Prior to that, he worked for the Association for Financial Markets in Europe, a powerful industry lobby group where Adam Farkas, the previous head of the European Banking Authority, took up a post after he left the regulator.

That move sparked the ire of MEPs and prompted the EBA to ban Mr Farkas from policy work during his notice period.

Mr Fernandez, a Social Democrat, said the parliament had passed a law that prevented so-called 'revolving door' appointments in the wake of Mr Farkas's move, where those who worked for an industry could move into public positions regulating their former employers.

"Now it is completely impossible for us to do this," he said in reference to approving Mr Cross.

Ireland has a mixed record in getting officials into top European jobs.

While Phil Hogan is now the powerful trade commissioner and Philip Lane is chief economist at the European Central Bank, Sharon Donnery, the deputy head of the Central Bank, failed to land a job as chief of the Single Supervisory Mechanism.

The Central Bank declined to comment directly on the failure of Mr Cross to win support for the EU job, but said it was standing by him in his current role in Dublin, adding "he makes a valuable contribution to delivering the Central Bank's mandate and he will continue to do so".

Mr Farkas is due to take up his new role at the trade body for banks in February 2020 and his post was due to have been filled by the end of this month.

Finance Watch, an NGO founded after the financial crisis to counter the influence of the banking industry on regulators, had called for Mr Farkas to be barred from taking the job for a two to five-year cooling-off period.

The appointment of Jose Manuel Campa as head of the EBA also came under fire as he had worked as the head of the investor relations division of Spanish banking giant Santander.
When the polls closed on Nov. 5, 2019,the initial count showed the governor of Kentucky, Republican Matt Bevins, losing to his Democratic challenger, Andy Beshear. But rather than concede that he fell short in what should have been an easy reelection, Bevins claimed that "irregularities" had muddled the result - producing no evidence to support his accusations. At first, some Kentucky legislative leaders appeared to back him, and some pointed to the legislature's power to resolve an election dispute and choose the governor regardless of the vote. But Bevins was not popular even within his own party, and eventually, he had to concede when the local GOP did not go along with him.

We could imagine a similar scenario this November: What would happen if President Donald Trump had an early lead that evaporated as votes were counted, and then he refused to concede? The idea isn't too far-fetched; Trump has raised it himself. Before the 2016 election, he wouldn't agree to accept the results if he lost. After winning in the electoral college but losing the popular count by about 3 million votes, Trump claimed - with no evidence whatsoever - that at least 3 million fraudulent votes had been cast for his opponent, Hillary Clinton. He set up an "election integrity" commission headed by then-Kansas secretary of state Kris Kobach to try to prove that "voter fraud" is a major problem. But after the commission faced attacks from the left and the right for demanding state voter records with an apparent plan to use them to call for stricter registration rules, Trump disbanded it, with no work accomplished. In 2018, the president criticized elections in Florida and California, where late-counted votes shifted toward Democrats, suggesting without evidence that there was foul play.

It's not just Trump who might not accept election results. Imagine that he wins in the electoral college, this time thanks to what Democrats believe is voter suppression in Florida. The Florida legislature and governor have already sought to stymie Amendment 4, a 2018 ballot initiative to restore voting rights to formerly incarcerated felons.When the state Supreme Court agreed that felons could not register to vote until paying all their outstanding fines, Gov. Ron DeSantis, R, praised the ruling and called voting a "privilege," rather than a right. Some Democrats have called the new rules a "poll tax," and a Florida public TV station concluded that "the implications of the bill passed by a majority-Republican legislature preventing former felons from voting could work to ensure Trump wins the 2020 presidential election." During Trump's impeachment trial this past week, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said that "we cannot be assured that the vote will be fairly won" in November because of the allegations that Trump was trying to "cheat" by pressuring Ukraine to announce an investigation into Joe Biden and his family.

External forces could cause an election meltdown, too. A recent NPR-News Hour-Marist poll found that "almost 4 in 10 Americans . . . believe it is likely another country will tamper with the votes cast in 2020 in order to change the result." What if Russians hack into Detroit's power grid and knock out electricity on Election Day, seriously depressing turnout - and Trump wins the electoral college because he carries Michigan? Most states do not have a Plan B to deal with a terrorist attack or natural disaster affecting part of a presidential election.

The vote this year is particularly vulnerable to a crisis of legitimacy because Americans' trust in elections is already low; that NPR poll found that only 62 percent of Americans think our elections are fair. A number of factors are contributing to this worrisome trend.

Republicans have passed laws and procedures aimed at suppressing the votes of Democrats, based on unsupported claims of voter fraud. Under Kobach's watch, for example, Kansas passed a law requiring people registering to vote to produce proof of citizenship, such as a birth or naturalization certificate. About 30,000 people had their registrations suspended or canceled for failure to show their papers until a federal court put the program on hold. Kobach defended the law in court in 2018, citing a handful of cases of noncitizen voting as the "tip of the iceberg" and claiming that the law would deter many more. But at trial in a suit brought by the ACLU, U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson concluded there was no iceberg, merely an "icicle." Kobach's presentation of evidence was so faulty and deceptive that he was sanctioned twice by the courts.

Time and again, courts and scholars have debunked the myth of widespread voter fraud - but such claims still lead Republicans to believe that Democrats are cheating, and they prompt GOP-backed laws that lead Democrats, in turn, to believe that Republicans are cheating.

Yes, a few election administrators are incompetent, and in very close races, when procedures are put under a microscope during recounts and challenges, attention is focused on these weak links. Think of Brenda Snipes, the Democratic former election supervisor in Broward County, Fla., who presided over a series of mishaps during her tenure. In 2004, her office failed to deliver 58,000 ballots to absentee voters who had requested them. In 2012, election workers discovered almost 1,000 uncounted absentee ballots in county offices a week after the vote. In 2016, Snipes' office left a voter initiative on medical marijuana completely off some ballots. In the recount in the 2018 Senate race between Sen. Bill Nelson, D, and Gov. Rick Scott, R, Snipes' office missed - by two minutes - a key deadline because county officials did not know how to submit the vote totals to the state online. This error came after a faulty ballot design apparently caused many Broward voters to skip voting in the Senate contest entirely.

Snipes is not alone. Then-Georgia Secretary of State (and now governor) Brian Kemp engaged in one of the most despicable moments in modern American politics in 2018, when he wrongly accused Democrats of hacking into state voter registration databases (and posted the charges on the front page of the official secretary of state website the weekend before the election) to cover up his own failure to secure voters' private data.

Incompetent administrators come from both parties, but election problems tend to get the most notice in big cities, where there are more voters and more media attention - and more votes for Democrats. Big blunders sometimes lead to Republican charges of intentional vote tampering. It is no surprise that Trump called out Snipes during the 2018 recount, accusing her, again without evidence, of cheating to help fellow Democrats.

Recent elections have also seen both high-tech and old-fashioned dirty tricks used with uncomfortable frequency. In the 2017 U.S. Senate special election in Alabama, left-leaning groups backing Democrat Doug Jones (but working independently) used social media manipulation - based on Russian tactics from 2016 - to target Republican Roy Moore. One of these efforts, "Dry Alabama," involved inventing a pro-Moore Baptist group that supported a statewide ban on alcohol. One of the people behind the fake group told the New York Times that he hoped Dry Alabama's hardcore anti-alcohol message would depress turnout among moderate Republicans.

The 2018 race in North Carolina's 9th Congressional District saw straight-up ballot tampering: Evidence of improper tactics by consultant Leslie McCrae Dowless to support the Republican candidate, Mark Harris, was so overwhelming that the bipartisan North Carolina Board of Elections voted unanimously to order a new election unmarred by fraud. Trump, who speaks nonstop about nonexistent Democratic voter fraud, has remained mostly silent about North Carolina.

Finally, we have seen a rise in incendiary rhetoric about stolen elections. At an October 2016 campaign rally in Ambridge, Pa., Trump told an enthusiastic, mostly white crowd that it is "so important that you watch other communities, because we don't want this election stolen from us."

In 2018, Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, claimed that if Democrat Stacey Abrams lost the Georgia governor's race, it would be because Kemp "stole" it. It is true that Kemp was an incompetent and malevolent secretary of state who was supervising the election in which he was running. But there was no good evidence that his actions changed the outcome of the election, which he won. Abrams nonetheless has refused repeatedly to call Kemp the "legitimate" governor of Georgia.

The combination of these four factors - Republican voter suppression, pockets of incompetence, dirty tricks and increasingly outrageous language about stolen elections - creates a volatile mix in our hyperpolarized era.

Unfortunately, we don't have any good short-term fixes available between now and November. It's not clear that can we rely on responsible leaders of both parties to assure democratic transitions and acceptance of election results. Republican responses to the impeachment hearings' evidence that Trump encouraged foreign interference in the 2020 elections are not encouraging. Many contested elections wind up in the courts: According to figures I've compiled for my new book, "Election Meltdown," election litigation has nearly tripled since 2000, with the highest number of cases occurring in the most recent national elections, in 2018. But the Supreme Court itself is polarized, and it is not certain that Democrats would accept a decision by a Republican-majority court handing yet another presidency to a Republican.

There are about nine months until Election Day. Some concrete steps could help minimize the chances of a meltdown, since we can't do much to fix problems after they occur. For example, journalists could be more careful not to "call" states for presidential candidates until they are absolutely sure enough votes have been counted that the outcome is clear. Social media companies could ban "deep fake" videos that are not labeled as manipulated. Government cybersecurity experts do more to thwart unusual ways of disrupting the voting process, such as attacks on the power grid. And election officials need to have a Plan B in the event of attacks on registration or voting systems. External and internal forces that seek to foment discord are not resting. We can't, either.

- - -

Hasen is the chancellor's professor of law and political science at the University of California at Irvine and the author of the forthcoming book "Election Meltdown."
ST-HENRI-DE-TAILLON, Que. - Rescue divers with Quebec's provincial police have pulled the body of one of the five missing French snowmobilers out of the waters of a river in the province's Lac-Saint-Jean region.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/1/2020 (718 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Quebec provincial police vehicles are seen in St-Henri-de-Taillon, Que. on Wednesday, January 22, 2020. One person is dead and five tourists from France are missing after a group of snowmobilers plunged through the ice Tuesday night near Quebec's Lac-Saint-Jean. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Le Quotidien, Rocket Lavoie *MANDATORY CREDIT*

ST-HENRI-DE-TAILLON, Que. - Rescue divers with Quebec's provincial police have pulled the body of one of the five missing French snowmobilers out of the waters of a river in the province's Lac-Saint-Jean region.

Four other tourists from eastern France remain unaccounted for Friday as authorities continued to search on land, on the water and from the air.

Police say the body was located about two kilometres from where police found submerged snowmobiles and other personal items on Thursday.

They did not identify which of the five missing tourists was found.

For reasons that remain unclear, the group of nine snowmobilers, including their Quebec guide, left the safety of the marked trail through the woods and ventured towards the icy expanse of Lac-Saint-Jean, where the ice gave way somewhere between St-Henri-de-Taillon and Alma.

Two of them managed to get a third person out of the water and alerted authorities. Their guide, 42-year-old Benoit L'Esperance of Montreal, was recovered from the freezing waters and died later in hospital.

The five missing French snowmobilers were identified by police as Gilles Claude, 58, Yan Thierry and Jean-Rene Dumoulin, both 24, Julien Benoit, 34, and Arnaud Antoine, 25.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 24, 2020.
Bengaluru: Shared mobility start-up Bounce on Thursday received $105 million (Rs 749 crore) series D venture capital funds infusion led by Accel and the B Capital Group.

"The innovation around the keyless mechanism of using a scooter coupled with other Internet of Things (IoT) modifications makes Bounce very unique. We are excited to continue partnering with the Bounce team," Accel partner Anand Daniel said in a statement.

Daniel said Bounce has identified one of the key gaps in the mobility sector and has managed to provide a convenient and cost-efficient solution with its tech capabilities.

Existing investors in the start-up also include Falcon Edge, Maverick Ventures, Omidyar Network India and Qualcomm Ventures, among others.

With the latest Series D, total funding in Bounce has reached $194 million, enabling deeper electric vehicle (EV) integration and platform play to drive profitability.

According to Bounce, accelerating electric vehicle adoption will help the start-up reduce operating cost per kilometer.

"While Bounce finances all its bikes through debt, tremendous investments are needed to build the necessary electric vehicle tech and enable the EV ecosystem," said the start-up.

The company will deploy the new funds for expansion in other cities, build tech infrastructure and hire more people.

The start-up currently runs dockless scooters in Bengaluru and Hyderabad, with a fleet strength of 13,000 and 2,000 vehicles, respectively.

Bounce's scooter rental services are available in 35 cities, offering more than 1,20,000 rides a day, with each vehicle getting hired nine times daily.
Its just when you start using your office, and youre acting in a way that hurts people, youve committed a high crime, Graham said on the Senate floor in the clip from 1999. He was not in the chamber Thursday when his quote was played, but later told reporters that the use of his previous comments was fair game and recommended the White House do the same with Democrats when Trumps lawyers begin their defense of the president.
NEW YORK - An associate of Rudy Giuliani has provided congressional investigators with a recording of President Donald Trump saying he wanted to get rid of the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, whose ouster emerged as an issue in the presidents impeachment, his attorney told The Associated Press on Friday.

The Giuliani associate, Lev Parnas, attended a small dinner with Trump at his Washington hotel in April 2018. Joseph Bondy, Parnas lawyer, said he turned over to the House Intelligence Committee a recording from the dinner in which Trump demands the removal of Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch.

The recording, which was first reported by ABC News, appears to contradict the presidents statements that he did not know Parnas, a key figure in the investigation. It came to light as Democrats continue to press for witnesses and other evidence to be considered during the Senate impeachment trial.

ABC News released a portion of the recording online late Friday. A voice that appears to be Parnas can be heard saying, The biggest problem there, I think where we need to start is we got to get rid of the ambassador. He later can be heard telling Trump, Shes basically walking around telling everybody: Wait, hes gonna get impeached. Just wait.

A speaker who appears to be Trump then responds: Get rid of her! Get her out tomorrow. I dont care. Get her out tomorrow. Take her out. OK? Do it.

Parnas and associate Igor Fruman worked with Giuliani on a push to get Ukraine to announce it would investigate former Vice-President Joe Biden, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination. On the recording, the two tell Trump that the U.S. ambassador has been insulting him, which leads directly to the apparent remarks by the president.

The White House denied any suggestion of presidential wrongdoing.

Every president in our history has had the right to place people who support his agenda and his policies within his administration, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said.

Yovanovitch, who was viewed as an obstacle to probes into Biden and his son Hunter, was not recalled from her position until the following April. She said the decision was based on unfounded and false claims by people with clearly questionable motives that she was disloyal to Trump.

House investigators have been working to document an almost yearlong effort on the part of Parnas and Giuliani to have Yovanovitch removed from her post. Parnas and Fruman were recently indicted by the Southern District of New York on charges including conspiracy to commit campaign finance fraud. Both have pleaded not guilty.

Democrats seized on the recording as further evidence of Trumps involvement.

If this is additional evidence of his involvement in that effort to smear her, it would certainly corroborate much of what weve heard, but Im not in a position yet to analyze that, not having looked at it, said Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee who is helping lead the impeachment proceedings against Trump.

Parnas has done a series of interviews in recent days in which he has asserted that Trump was aware of the plan to remove Yovanovitch. Trump has distanced himself from Parnas, and the presidents supporters have questioned his credibility and motives.

I dont know Parnas other than I guess I had pictures taken, which I do with thousands of people, Trump said last week. But I just met him. I dont know him at all. Dont know what hes about, dont know where he comes from, know nothing about him. I can only tell you this thing is a big hoax.

The president is being tried in the Senate after the House impeached him last month, accusing him of abusing his office by asking Ukraine to probe the Bidens while withholding military aid from a U.S. ally at war with Russia. The second article of impeachment accuses Trump of obstructing Congress by refusing to turn over documents or allow officials to testify in the House probe.

Republicans have defended Trumps actions as appropriate and are casting the process as a politically motivated effort to weaken him in his reelection campaign. Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, and acquittal is considered likely.

___

Kodjak reported from Washington.

___

Follow Lemire on Twitter at http://twitter.com/@JonLemire and Kodjak at http://twitter.com/@AliKodjak.
Mumbai, Jan 24 : The Nationalist Congress Party-Shiv Sena on Friday took strong umbrage at the abrupt withdrawal of security from the New Delhi residence of its party chief Sharad Pawar.

"This is shocking... The Prime Minister is aware that Sharad Pawar is a senior leader who faces threats and was attacked in the past. We have witnessed it," said Sena MP Sanjay Raut.

He said that earlier security was downgraded for Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, and now Pawar which is a matter of serious concern.

Water Resources Minister Jayant Patil took a swipe at the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) saying from Mumbai to New Delhi, they are sore at the change of government in Maharashtra.

"That is why the BJP is now taking revenge... This is dangerous in a democracy," said Patil.

State Housing Minister Jitendra Awhad said: "Sharad Pawar is like the Sahyadri mountains... He's not one to be daunted by any intimidating tactics..." Awhad said there's nothing to worry since "the affection of the masses is the real security cover of Pawar Saheb".

According to information available, security personnel of Delhi Police who were posted at the Pawar residence in the national capital were abruptly withdrawn from January 20, though in Maharashtra he is accorded adequate security both at home and on his tours.

However, there are no reactions so far from either Pawar, his daughter Supriya Sule, MP or nephew and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 24

By Matanat Nasibova - Trend:

Participation of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, undoubtedly, has become the main event of the political agenda in Azerbaijan this week.

Unlike the previous ones, the current forum will be remembered not only for its topics devoted to the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate and achievement of the sustainable development goals, or for a number of important meetings held with the participation of President Ilham Aliyev, but also for a clear message delivered by the Azerbaijani president at a panel meeting on the topic Strategic Outlook: Eurasia.

So, answering quite a provocative question by the panel moderator about which of the countries of the Eurasian space Ilham Aliyev would call first, having a choice, to Moscow or Beijing, the Azerbaijani leader unequivocally said - to Baku.

Judging by the protracted pause of the interviewer, such a response from the head of the Azerbaijani state puzzled the European moderator. Meanwhile, with this message, President Ilham Aliyev highlighted the important emphasis of Bakus foreign policy. The Azerbaijani president reminded Europe and the whole world that Azerbaijan implements a friendly policy towards its neighbors, but first of all, Azerbaijans national interests are always a priority of state policy.

Such a clear and reasoned message from the Azerbaijani president once again confirmed his personal connection with the people, as well as personal trust in the citizens of his country. This fact, voiced at the platform of such a significant European forum, is certainly worth a lot. Undoubtedly, the confident speech by the Azerbaijani president will be often quoted by many foreign media.

The variety of questions on the Davos platform was quite wide and the head of the Azerbaijani state gave clear answers to a number of questions regarding structural changes in the government, serious reforms in the political and economic spheres that were carried out in Azerbaijan, and will be carried out in the coming years.

All the achievements which we enjoyed during the years of independence we achieved due to the commitment of our people to our independence and the fact that we have managed to implement very serious reforms in political and economic area, President Aliyev said.

These words of the president testify that all the goals and tasks set for Azerbaijan, based on mutual trust, are always supported by people.

Azerbaijan has proved itself as an independent country pursuing a balanced domestic and foreign policy under the leadership of President Aliyev for a long time.

Azerbaijan continues to develop rapidly. The countrys opinion is taken into account in the region and the world. Our country is recognized as a reliable partner and the safest country in the region, which pursues an independent policy. It is the initiator of large-scale transnational projects that lay the foundation for economic sustainability of the entire region.

It is appropriate to stress that the leaders of many leading countries, including Russia and China, recognize Azerbaijan as a reliable and stable partner for building a long-term political dialogue and economic cooperation.

It seems that the presidents confident answer to the European moderators question in Davos was clearly justified and once again confirmed that Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani people are a single whole and such a model of interaction may serve as an example throughout the Eurasian space.

Head of Russian News Service at Trend News Agency Matanat Nasibova
EXIM Bank provides $35.80 mln line of credit to Suriname

New Delhi, Jan 22 (UNI) Export-Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has extended a Line of Credit of 35.80 million dollars to the Republic of Suriname for financing Rural Electrification through Solar DG Hybrid PV systems in 50 remote villages of Suriname project.

The LOC agreement was signed and exchanged in Paramaribo, Suriname on January 21 between Ajay Rana, Regional Representative, Exim Banks Washington Representative Office and Gillmore Hoefdraad, Minister of Finance of Suriname in the presence of Mahender Singh Kanyal, Indian Ambassador to the Republic of Suriname.



With the signing of the agreement, the Exim Bank, till date, has extended nine Lines of Credit to the Republic of Suriname on behalf of the Government of India, taking the total value of LOCs to 124.98 million dollars.

Projects covered under the LOCs extended to the Government of Republic of Suriname include power, water supply, purchase of helicopters and rehabilitation and upgradation of milk processing plant.

With the signing of the agreement, the Exim Bank has now in place 258 Lines of Credit, covering 64 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the CIS, with credit commitments of around 25.48 billion dollars, available for financing exports from India.

UNI SW ADG 1904
Actress Rosie Perez testified on Friday that fellow screen star Annabella Sciorra told her in the mid-1990s that Harvey Weinstein had raped her but that she could not go to the police because hed destroy me.

Taking the stand at the former Hollywood moguls trial, Ms Perez said her friend Ms Sciorra had told at some point in 1993, her voice shaking on the phone, that something had happened to her: I think it was rape.

Ms Perez said she asked if Ms Sciorra knew who had attacked her, but Ms Sciorra would not say at the time.

But months later, on another phone call from London, she named Weinstein, Ms Perez said.

Please go to the police, Ms Perez said she told her friend. She said Ms Sciorra responded: I cant  hed destroy me.

Expand Close Actress Rosie Perez arrives for the trial in New York (Mark Lennihan/AP) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Actress Rosie Perez arrives for the trial in New York (Mark Lennihan/AP)

On Thursday, Ms Sciorra told jurors that the then-powerful movie producer pushed his way into her New York apartment, pinned her on a bed and forced himself on her in 1993 or 1994.

She said Ms Perez was one of a few people she told about the encounter before coming forward publicly in 2017.

Weinstein denies ever having nonconsensual sex. His lawyers said Ms Perez should not be allowed to testify, but Judge James Burke decided to allow it.

Defence lawyer Damon Cheronis pressed Ms Perez on why she did not go to police, or to Ms Sciorras home, when the actress first told her about the alleged assault.

Because I was being respectful, Ms Perez said.

Weinstein, the studio boss whose downfall energised the #MeToo movement, is charged with forcibly performing oral sex on a production assistant in his apartment in 2006 and raping an aspiring actress in a New York hotel room in 2013.

Ms Sciorra is among four additional accusers who are expected to testify against him.

The 67-year-old producer of such Oscar-winning movies as Chicago and The Kings Speech could get life in prison if convicted.

Ms Sciorra, 59, is best known for her work on The Sopranos.

Ms Perez, 55, was in 1989s Do The Right Thing and 1993s Fearless, which brought her an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.

Expand Close Actress Annabella Sciorra at the court (Richard Drew/AP) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Actress Annabella Sciorra at the court (Richard Drew/AP)

Weinsteins lawyers seized on Ms Sciorras actions after the alleged assault, asking such questions as why Ms Sciorra made the 1997 Weinstein-produced film Cop Land if he had raped her a few years earlier.

Ms Sciorra said she was not aware of Weinsteins involvement until she had agreed to appear in the film.

The defence has also questioned why Weinsteins accusers stayed in friendly contact for years with a man they say had assaulted them.

Prosecutors sought to give jurors some answers on Friday by calling to the stand a forensic psychiatrist who testified about the same topic at the Pennsylvania trial that led to Bill Cosbys 2018 conviction on charges of sexually assaulting a woman.

Dr Barbara Ziv told Weinsteins jury of seven men and five women that most sex-assault victims continue to have contact with their attackers, who often threaten retaliation if the victims tell anyone what happened.

Victims are hoping that this is just an aberration, she said, and they tell themselves: I can put it in a box and forget about it. I dont want it to get worse. I can handle this physical trauma, but God forbid this ruins the rest of my life.

Victims can end up blaming themselves without knowing that their behaviour is entirely expected, said Ms Ziv, who has described herself as an expert on sexual assault victim behaviour who has evaluated more than 1,000 such people.

She did not, however, evaluate any of Weinsteins accusers, a point his lawyers seized on.
Twenty-five people have been killed after developing pneumonia-like symptoms and at least 830 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported in China by the end of Thursday."In view of the evolving situation due to the coronavirus outbreak in China as well as the decision of Chinese authorities to cancel public gathering and events, @EOIBeijing has also decided to call off the Republic Day reception scheduled to be held @EOIBeijing on January 26th," tweeted India in China.The Indian embassy also issued an advisory for people traveling from China to India and asked people from Wuhan to monitor their health closely.In a statement, the Indian Embassy listed out health measures while traveling from China, which includes avoiding contact with live animals and consumption of raw undercooked meats and wearing a mask."Avoid close contact with people who are unwell or showing symptoms of illness, such as cough, runny nose etc. Avoid contact with live animals and consumption of raw/undercooked meats. Avoid travel to farms, live animal markets or where animals are slaughtered. Wears mask if you have respiratory symptoms such as cough or runny nose," the statement read."All travelers from China (in particular Wuhan city) to monitor their health closely. If you feel sick and have fever and cough: Cover your mouth while coughing or sneezing. Don't plan travels if sick o Seek medical attention promptly. If you feel sick on the flight, while traveling from China to India. Inform the airlines' crew about illness," it addedThe deadly virus originated from the city of Wuhan in the month of December and since then cases have been reported in the United States and several Asian countries other than China, including South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand.The authorities in Wuhan city and Huanggang city have imposed a complete travel ban on local residents, in a bid to curb the spread of the deadly virus. The ban issued by command authority in the city said that from 10:00 am on Thursday, urban buses, subways, ferries and long-distance passenger transport would be suspended in the city. Flights and trains departing from Wuhan will also be suspended.Countries have started screening processes in order to prevent the outbreak of the virus in their respective country. India also on Thursday said that people coming from the Asian country will have to mandatorily go through a screening process at airports in India. (ANI)
The United States of America has called on Russia to ensure a true ceasefire in Donbas and withdraw its forces.

Senior Defense Official and Defense Attache at the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine Colonel Thomas Wofford said this in a video message on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the shelling of Mariupol.

Five years ago today, the shelling of Mariupol by Russian-backed militants resulted in 30 killed and over 100 injured. Russia has failed to implement its Minsk Agreements commitments and continues to fuel humanitarian, economic, and environmental crises.

Russia must implement a true ceasefire, withdraw its forces, support the disbanding of the illegal armed groups operating in eastern Ukraine, and respect Ukraine's internationally recognized borders and sovereignty," the embassy wrote on its Facebook page.

ish
Four persons, who returned from China and were kept under observation in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad following screening for the novel coronavirus infection, have tested negative, the Union Health ministry said on Friday.

It also said that no positive case has been detected in the country so far, adding a total of 20,844 passengers from 96 flights have been screened till January 24.

"ICMR-NIV Pune has informed that 4 samples (2 from Mumbai, 1each from B'luru & Hy'bad) have tested NEGATIVE for nCoV. One of Mumbai patients has tested positive for Rhinovirus, one of the routine common cold virus," the health ministry tweeted.

Of the four, two persons were kept under observation at a Mumbai hospital, while one person each was kept under watch in Hyderabad and Bengaluru for possible exposure to the respiratory virus which has infected a large number of people in China, a senior health ministry official said.

Also, on the basis of the details provided by the Indian Embassy in China, around 25 students who have returned to India recently from Wuhan are being closely monitored, the official said.

Their details have been shared with district-level officers and they are being monitored closely for any symptoms.

"Today, 4082 passengers were screened in 19 flights and so far a total of 20,844 passengers from 96 flights have been screened for novel coronavirus infection symptoms," the official said.

Novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from common cold to acute respiratory syndromes, but the virus that has so far killed 25 people and affected 830 in China is a novel strain and not seen before.

It emerged from a seafood and animal market in China's Wuhan, and is suspected to have spread to as far as the US.

According to the World Health Organisation, the common symptoms of the nCoV strain include respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

The health ministry has asked states and union territories to review hospital preparedness in terms of isolation and ventilator management of critically ill patients, identify gaps and strengthen core capacities in the area of surveillance and laboratory support, an official statement said.

Moreso, health advisory and signages are now being displayed at 12 more airports in addition to the current seven.

Thermal screening is being done at the seven international airports of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Cochin.

The civil aviation ministry has asked airlines to follow International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines for managing and notifying anybody reporting illness on flights originating from China and disembarking in India.

The ministry has instructed for in-flight announcements for India bound flights. A travel advisory was issued on January 17 and put up on the ministry's website and also on the Twitter handle for wider circulation.

"Port and airport health organisations have been sensitised and thermal screening has been initiated at the international airports of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Cochin airports," the statement said.

The airport health organisations have also put up signages at prominent locations informing the public about self-reporting of illness. Immigration officers manning the counters have been sensitised at these airports.

The ministry of health has written to the governments of Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala and Karnataka to review and strengthen preparedness measures at designated airports for provision of isolation and critical care facilities, linkages with VRDL network laboratories and adherence to infection prevention and control guidelines.

Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme has issued advisory to all states and union territories for surveillance to pick up any travel related case reported in the community and follow up contacts of suspect or confirmed cases.

National Institute of Virology, Pune is fully geared up to test samples of nCoV. Ten other laboratories under Indian Council of Medical Research's Viral Research and Diagnostics Laboratories network are also equipped to test such samples, if a need arises, the ministry said.

Adequate stock of personal protection equipment is being maintained by Medical Stores Organization.

Rapid response teams of the states and UTs were trained in management of MERS-CoV outbreak (a similarly placed virus, reported from Middle East) in 2014.

More recently they were also trained (in Nov-Dec, 2019) on management of high risk pathogens in context of Ebola virus disease outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Ministry of External Affairs has disseminated travel advisories (in local languages) to Indian Embassies in China and adjoining countries for wider circulation and passenger information.

In view of significant population of Indian students in China, MEA is providing details of such students, the ministry said.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has been asked to share details of travellers from China who have been issued e-visas since December 31, 2019.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Robin Queen, associate professor of biomedical engineering and mechanics in Virginia Techs College of Engineering, will be awarded the Orthopaedic Research Societys Adele L. Boskey, Ph.D. Award at the societys annual conference in Phoenix, Arizona.

The award recognizes Queens pioneering research contributions, commitment to mentorship, and the legacy of researchers and leaders that Boskey helped inspire and elevate in musculoskeletal research.

Queen, the second recipient of the award since its inception, has distinguished herself as a leader and mentor to students, fellow faculty members, and women in science by providing mentorship and support.

I made the conscious decision to stay in academia to show others that it is possible, said Queen. There arent a lot of people who look like me in engineering. If you dont see someone who looks like you who has been successful, its easy to think, How am I going to break into that world, is it even possible?

She served as co-chair of the Virginia Tech Womens Alliance from 2016 to 2018 along with Kimberly Carlson, assistant professor of practice and business leadership center director at Virginia Tech. Queens interest in serving as co-chair stemmed from a desire to lead institutional change as it relates to gender equity and the advancement of women in the academy. She recognized the importance of having a place in the governance process. During Queens time as co-chair, the alliance has focused on driving policy change related to mentorship, work-life balance, and the development and launch of Gender@VT.

I personally have a huge interest in increasing the number of women in engineering, Queen said. The goal is really to improve diversity and inclusion not just in our own labs, but throughout the department, college and the university. I tell those I mentor that the goal is not to become me and that my path may not be the best path for them. I try to help them develop the skills to be the best they can be and to achieve the goals they have set for themselves.
It's a scene that's all too familiar to Houston residents.

Explosions, flames reaching into the sky, plumes of black smoke, calls to shelter in place, evacuations, injuries and deaths.

The explosion early Friday morning at a manufacturing plant was the latest deadly reminder of the potential danger posed by hazardous material facilities in the Houston area.

In 2019, there were at least five major chemical incidents in Southeast Texas.

STAY INFORMED: Subscribe to the Houston Chronicle for complete local news coverage.

On March 16, a tube leak caused a fire at Exxon Mobil's Baytown facility. The fire sent thick clouds of dark smoke into the sky. The company reported releases of sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and benzene for more than a week after the blaze.

The next day, an equipment failure at Intercontinental Terminals Company's chemical tank farm in Deer Park caused a fire that burned for three days. The fire shut down the Houston Ship Channel, released large amounts of pollution into the air and water and led to multiple shelter-in-place orders for the surrounding communities.

Now Playing: West Houston building explosion Video: Houston Chronicle

On April 2, a transfer line carrying isobutylene ignited at the KMCO chemical facility in Crosby. The resulting explosion killed one worker and injured more than 30 others. The explosion reduced the building at the epicenter of the blast to shrapnel.

'I WAS SHOOK': Residents recall hearing massive warehouse explosion in west Houston

On July 31, Exxon Mobil had a second fire, this time at its Baytown Olefins plant. The City of Baytown issued a shelter-in-place order for hours. Two workers were burned and sued the company, seeking more than a $1 million in damages each.

Shortly before the Thanksgiving holiday, an enormous explosion at TPC Group's facility in Port Neches injured workers and damaged homes. Fires in the aftermath burned for a week and led to evacuations of thousands of residents. One fatality

The Houston area is home to more than 2,500 chemical facilities. A 2015 Houston Chronicle investigation found there was a major chemical incident in the greater Houston area every six weeks. The investigation found many facilities posed serious threats to the public but were unknown to most neighbors and largely unpoliced by government at all levels.

In November, the Trump administration rolled back a number of chemical safety regulations created in response to the 2013 West Fertilizer explosion that killed 15 and injured more than 200. A coalition of environmental groups sued to stop the rollback.

With those regulations off the books, companies will not have to complete third-party audits or a root-cause analysis after an incident. Companies also will not have to provide the public access to information about what type of chemicals are stored in these facilities either.

While the federal government weakened regulations, Harris County has taken a more aggressive stand with the petrochemical industry in recent months. The county brought civil lawsuits and criminal charges to multiple chemical companies after incidents in 2019. This has led to a race to the courts as the state and the county fight over taking the lead in penalizing polluters.

TRY THE APP: Get alerts, breaking news and in-depth coverage on what's happening in Houston for your mobile phone and tablet devices through our mobile apps on Google Play and the App Store.
Swedish teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg has hit back at a US official after he tried to belittle her voice against the climate crisis. Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2020 in Davos, Switzerland, Thunberg had called for an immediate end to fossil fuel subsidies and completely divest from fossil fuels.

We don't want these things done by 2050, or 2030, or even 2021, we want this done now," said Thunberg.

US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin reportedly dismissed her concerns at a news conference in Davos saying, "Is she the chief economist? Who is she? Im confused." Mnuchin went on to suggest that Thunberg should explain the issue after she goes and studies economics in college.

Read: US Treasury Secretary Slams Greta Thunberg, Says She Should 'go Study'

Thunberg, posting a clip of a graph about emissions, said that it doesnt take a college degree in economics to realise that our remaining 1.5 degrees carbon budget and ongoing fossil fuel subsidies and investments dont add up.

My gap year ends in August, but it doesnt take a college degree in economics to realise that our remaining 1,5 carbon budget and ongoing fossil fuel subsidies and investments dont add up. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/1virpuOyYG  Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) January 23, 2020

So either you tell us how to achieve this mitigation or explain to future generations and those already affected by the climate emergency why we should abandon our climate commitments. 2/3  Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) January 23, 2020

Read: 'Would've Loved To Attend Impeachment Trial, Meet Greta Thunberg': Trump At Davos

On loggerheads with Trump

Thunberg, a 17-year-old student from Stockholm, has been holding climate strikes across the globe to raise awareness and force world leaders to take concrete steps against climate change. She has been raising voice from international platforms to cut carbon emissions but the Trump administration has not been fond of the teenage activist.

US President Donald Trump had rejected warnings by climate activists and called them 'prophets of doom' in the keynote speech. Later, Trump announced that the United States will join the 'One Trillion Trees' initiative but Thunberg, in an apparent jibe at the US President, said that 'planting trees is not enough'.

"Planting trees is good of course, but it's nowhere near enough of what is needed and it cannot replace real mitigation...My generation will not give up without a fight...Our house is still on fire, she said.

Read: Donald Trump 'would Have Loved' To Meet Greta Thunberg At Davos

Read: Greta Thunberg Denies Saying 'the World Has 8 Years To Save The Climate', WEF Apologises

(With inputs from agencies)
The enemy opened fire from proscribed 82mm mortars, anti-tank missile systems, grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns, and rifles.

Russia's hybrid military forces on January 23 mounted 11 attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, with one Ukrainian soldier reported as wounded in action.

Read alsoOSCE Chairperson-in-Office: "Long road ahead to lasting peace" in Donbas

"The armed forces of the Russian Federation violated the ceasefire 11 times on January 23. One Ukrainian soldier was wounded in enemy shelling," the press center of the Joint Forces Operation Headquarters said on Facebook in a morning update on January 24.

The enemy opened fire from proscribed 82mm mortars, anti-tank missile systems, grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns, and rifles.

Under attack were Ukrainian positions near the towns of Krasnohorivka and Avdiyivka, and the villages of Talakivka, Opytne, Shyrokyne, Novoselivka Druha, Vodiane, Khutir Vilny, and Orikhove.

"Since Friday midnight, Russia-led forces have attacked Ukrainian positions near Talakivka, using a tripod-mounted man-portable antitank gun," the update said.

No Ukrainian army casualties registered on Friday have been reported yet.
McMinnville High, a school of 2,200 set amid vineyards and nurseries in the Yamhill County seat, serves a student body that is one-third Latino, overwhelmingly low-income  and closing in on 100% success.

Mac Highs 92% on-time graduation rate for Latino students is the very best for any Oregon school or school district with at least 75 Latino students, according to state data released Thursday. McMinnville also has the top graduation rate for low-income students among Oregon districts with at least 100 low-income students.

Tony Vicknair, who served as principal during the final three years McMinnvilles class of 2019 was in high school, says he has no doubt which three of his districts many proven strategies are most responsible for the state-leading success rate.

Exceptional teaching to help Spanish-speaking students master academic English, the high schools close embrace of its freshmen and its rich array of hands-on career-related coursework kept nearly all students on track to a diploma on to college or good jobs, Vicknair says.

He offered more details of how each of those techniques are brought to life in McMinnville schools, which had disappointing and deeply inequitable results nearly two decades ago when Superintendent Mary Alice Russell, Vicknair and others came on board, but have made dramatic progress since.

Students at McMinnville's Buel Elementary dance the Baile Azteca, a traditional dance, at a celebration of students' completion of the English language learner program. Dancers are, from left, Leslie Mendoza, Jimena Garcia, Dahlia Orozco and Edith Arcadio. McMinnville students who start out with little or no knowledge of English graduate from high school at exceptionally high rates.Laurie Fry / McMinnville schools

English language development

Most of McMinnvilles many Latino students start school with limited or no fluency in English. The district has developed an intensive program to equip those students with strong English reading and writing skills, Vicknair says.

Our teachers do a lot of hard work to make sure our students get better and better and better at the English language, he said, noting the program operates in every grade and is tailored to each students skill level. Its really rigorous, with a focus on grammar and reading and writing.

Students Naomy Soto Torres (left) and Jaimelyn Ferreyra Flores celebrate their completion of the English language learner program at McMinnville's Buel Elementary. McMinnville students who start out with little or no knowledge of English graduate from high school at exceptionally high rates.Laurie Fry / McMinnville schools

McMinnville hires teachers whove shown they can excel at helping Spanish speakers learn English and offers them highly effective in-house training, he said. Kristian Frack, who directs the English learner program, said students are given a great deal of feedback about patterns of errors they make and are asked to rate their own performance as speaker, readers and writers against strong grade-level model essays or speeches.

And, Vicknair says, We believe in it. We do it  better than many other districts because we are committed to it.

The strength of the program is reflected in McMinnvilles on-time graduation rate for students whom it taught English as a second language, whether in elementary school or high school: 90%. By comparison, the statewide rate for such students is 79%.

Students at McMinnville's Buel Elementary dance the Jarabe Tapatio, or Mexican hat dance, at a celebration hailing their completion of the English language learner program. They are, from left, Gimena Briceno, David Aguilar, Luisa Negrete and Alexander Garcia.Laurie Fry / McMinnville schools

Freshmen teams

Many Oregon high schools have ninth-grade academies or similar ways of grouping a small number of freshmen together so that all share the same three or four teachers for their core academic classes. One of those teachers also typically plays an adviser role to a subset of those students.

But McMinnville has put that approach on steroids, including by setting aside a wing of the high school just for freshmen and ensuring that all ninth-graders spend at least half of every day exclusively in that space.

We try to make a big school of 2,200 kids feel small, Vicknair said. We can wrap our arms around them. They cant get away from us.

When I first started, freshmen would go all over the building and sometimes, they would go out the door, because they could, he continued. Now we make sure we have more eyes on them, more safety nets.

McMinnville High students, from left, Cameron Smith, Ethan Parlette, Garret Meskill and Alyssa Howell measure building materials as part of their coursework in the high school's construction careers course sequence.Laurie Fry / McMinnville schools

Mac High also ensures that almost no freshmen fail math  whereas algebra is the most-failed class in many high schools. They do that by putting students who need it  roughly half the freshman class  into a double-blocked math class that meets daily and moves at a slower pace with extra repetition and practice so that kids can catch on and keep up.

It helps that McMinnville students arrive at high school unusually well prepared, given district demographics, thanks to highly effective teaching in the districts elementary and middle schools.

The district has also turned to Shannon McCaw, a well-known Oregon math guru and author of a widely adopted math textbook series. She helps teachers use highly effective techniques to teach and get students talking about math.

When Vicknair was hired as a vice principal at McMinnville High about 15 years ago, large numbers of freshmen failed algebra, he said. And for a student trying to graduate on time, its a nightmare when you do, he said.

Now, he said, our kids arent failing math like they do at other schools  We make sure that math was very accessible for them.

Liam Robinson makes notes before dissecting a fish as part of his studies in McMinnville High's natural resources career education program.Laurie Fry / McMinnville schools

Hands-on career learning starts early

Students who take a sequence of hands-on career-related courses almost always hang around to graduate. Statewide, 93% of students in the class of 2019 who took three linked career-tech courses earned a diploma in four years.

But many schools reserve those courses for upperclassmen, a mistake when you consider most students who get on a path toward dropping out do so in ninth- or, less often, 10th-grade.

Thats why McMinnville High exposes every freshman to all 16 career pathways it offers, including getting a day of hands-on experience in each of them, Vicknair said. Options include fire and emergency services, education, engineering, welding, health services and horticulture, he said.

As freshmen, all McMinnville students see videos of older Mac High students in each career pathway engaging in hands-on learning. Then juniors and seniors taking the advanced courses in that field come in and tell the freshman about it. And finally, Vicknair said, you are going to get an opportunity to go into that classroom and see it and do it, as a little taste test before you sign up for it.

Thats because teachers want all freshmen to have a solid basis for choosing which career pathway they want to embark on for real, Vicknair said.

McMinnville High sophomore Alex Armenta hones her welding skills in a hands-on career-tech course.Laurie Fry / McMinnville schools

Its so much better than reading it in a book. They get to see other kids doing it, then they get to try it hands on, he continued. The reaction is so often, Oh, this is available for us. I didnt know it. Now I know why I am going to pass some of these classes.

For many Latino students, the chance to prepare for a career as a nurse, medical technician or other health professional is super-appealing, Vicknair said. He added that it helps that the hospital in town, Willamette Valley Medical Center, is eager to hire bilingual students with an interest and a bit of experience in health services for jobs in medical records or reception.

They love that they can be paid while going to school, he said. And when they go to college to be a nurse, one of the classes is going to be about medical records.

Many Latino students are very family-oriented, he said, so getting a chance to work in the schools daycare and preschool to prepare for a career in education can be a big draw, he said. School officials are stoked when they follow through and get their education degree, he added. The school just hired two bilingual, bicultural home-town graduates to work on the McMinnville High faculty, he said.

Madelyn Meadows (left) and Karissa Olsen prepare a fancy entree during a culinary arts class at McMinnville High.Laurie Fry / McMinnville schools

Nearly 90% of McMinnville students take a least one career-technical class, and more than two-thirds complete a sequence of three or four year-long courses in a single field. Virtually all those students earn diplomas, state data shows.

Getting access to hands-on lessons that have clear real-world applications is highly motivating to students who may doubt theyll need algebra or history after high school, Vicknair said. Theyll say, Now I know why I want to be here at McMinnville High School.

-- Betsy Hammond; betsyhammond@oregonian.com; @ChalkUp

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Belfast is the capital and the largest city of Northern Ireland, which is a part of the United Kingdom. The city is known best for the being the birthplace of RMS Titanic. Belfast was granted the city status in the year 1888 by Queen Victoria, as until then it was known as a county.

ALSO READ | Things To Do In Waterford: Here Are The Places To Visit In The Southeastern Irish City

Where is Belfast?

Belfast stands on the east coast of Northern Ireland. It is right at the banks of the River Lagan. It was and is still known, as one of the most important shipping ports of the United Kingdom.

ALSO READ | Things To Do In Cork: Visit These Attractions To Have The Best Time In This Irish City

Places to visit in Belfast

Titanic Belfast

Titanic Belfast is a museum that commemorates the tragedy of RMS Titanic. The museum has nine galleries and is as tall as the height of the actual ship. The museum holds the complete story of the ship, how it was made like a dream come true as well as how it met its end, like the worst nightmare. It is advisable to book tickets of the museum in advance since it is one of the busiest tourists attractions.

ALSO READ | Things To Do In Limerick: Here Are The Best Tourist Attractions In The City

St George's Market

To experience the authentic culture and life of Belfast, you can head to St George's Market. There are more than 150 traders with the stalls packed with metalworks and antiques. But the best attraction of St George's Market is the food. You can have the best of seafood, bread, goat meat and also a type of soda bread famous in the market!

Black Taxi Tour

The buildings and walls in Belfast have a lot of famous wall art. There is a black taxi tour that you can go on to see some of the best wall arts in the city. These drivers will also give information on the traditions and history of the city. They also talk about the dark times the city went through during the Troubles in the 1970s and 1980s.

ALSO READ | Best Travel Books That Capture The Beauty And Essence Of The Indian Subcontinent

Ulster Museum

Ulster Museum is also one of the busiest attractions of Belfast. The museum holds exhibits of fossils and also the only dinosaur bones found in Ireland. The Museum also has an Egyptian mummy, Takabuti. There are also jewellery, artwork, daily objects and cutlery used in medieval times to celebrate the culture of the city.

ALSO READ | Ireland's Great Basket Island Looking For 2 People To Be Its Only Residents

Image Courtesy: Shutterstock
The state funeral for former President George H.W. Bush in 2018 featured a who's who of U.S. political heavyweights.

The nation's four living former presidents and their wives were in the first row of the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Alongside were President Donald Trump and his wife. Bush's eldest son, former president George W. Bush, sat nearby with his wife and extended family.

Among the mourners was the man once known to millions as America's Mayor and now Trump's personal lawyer: Rudy Giuliani. He was accompanied by  who?

The chubby man in the dark suit was Lev Parnas, a Soviet-born businessman known to few at the time. Now, the 47-year-old Florida resident is famed as Giuliani's associate in pressing for an investigation that could discredit former Vice President Joe Biden, a Trump rival in the 2020 presidential race, by digging up dirt in Parnas' native Ukraine.

Parnas' relationship with Giuliani wasn't all business. He'd honored Giuliani by naming him godfather of his young son. Just a few weeks before the final farewell for the nation's 41st president, Giuliani invited Parnas to join him at Shelly's Back Room, a clubby Washington retreat for cigar and whiskey aficionados.

"Sounds good I'll meet you there," Parnas answered via text. He said he'd bring Rep. Pete Sessions, a Texas Republican and longtime Giuliani ally who had just lost his seat in the midterm elections.

Parnas' uninvited attendance at the funeral illustrated the meteoric rise and curious position of a man who played Sancho Panza to Giuliani's Don Quixote, a status enabled in part by large contributions to Republican politicians and Trump-related campaign committees.

Parnas is no longer cigar buddies with America's Mayor. Instead, he's dishing about his work with Giuliani in Ukraine and providing reams of messages and documents to House impeachment investigators.

Story continues

He says the evidence shows Trump approved of his work to pressure Ukraine to investigate Biden. House investigators agree. They've sent it to the Senate for potential consideration in Trump's impeachment trial, currently underway in the Senate.

While Parnas has described his turnabout and prime-time TV interviews as patriotic truth-telling, he's also angling for leniency in a campaign finance case brought against him by federal prosecutors in New York.

Parnas' journey to a state funeral and Manhattan federal court started with his family's emigration from Odessa, Ukraine, to the U.S. when he was three years old.

Now a naturalized U.S. citizen, he grew up in Brooklyn, home to many immigrants from Eastern Europe.

Over the years he sold condos and closed deals. He signed up and fell out with business partners. He started new ventures and watched them fold. He was evicted and sued. He was a doting father described by some as a con man.

By March 2019, jetting around the world with Giuliani, he seemed to have reached a milestone. "I'm officially part of team trump," he wrote in a WhatsApp message to Harry Sargeant III, a wealthy Florida energy mogul and GOP donor.

That may have been true until last week, when House impeachment investigators disclosed the trove of material Parnas turned over.

They contend the evidence bolsters their case that Trump should be removed from office for his role in a scheme to withhold nearly $400 million in U.S. military aid from Ukraine unless government officials there investigated Biden's family.

"President Trump knew exactly what was going on," Parnas told MSNBC's Rachel Maddow.

His story, told through impeachment investigation records, court filings and other records and interviews, shows how someone with campaign cash  or the promise of it  managed to become part of Trump's orbit despite some unwelcome baggage. Parnas' attorney, Joseph Bondy, did not respond to an interview request.

"I went from being a top donor, from being at all the events where we would just socialize, to becoming a close friend of Rudy Giuliani's, to eventually becoming his ally and his asset on the ground in Ukraine," Parnas told CNN's Anderson Cooper.

One business venture after another

Parnas said his first connection with the Trump family came early in his career, selling Brooklyn apartments for Fred Trump, the president's father. Records of his addresses from the mid-1990s link him to a real estate company not far from the elder Trump's office.

By 1997, Parnas was living in Boca Raton, Florida, where he registered to vote as a Republican. Two years later, he got a license to carry a concealed weapon.

Parnas was a broker for three companies that were expelled by a Wall Street association that self-regulates financial brokerages and brokers. He was not personally implicated in any of the alleged wrongdoing.

By the mid-2000s, Parnas had moved on to Edgetech International, a penny-stock company registered in Nevada. Serving as CEO, he ran the company from a Florida office and marketed an early mobile internet device known as the PC Edge. The company ultimately folded.

Lev Parnas arrives at federal court in New York City, where he is charged with violating federal campaign finance laws, on Dec. 2, 2019.

"Sometimes we were buying Rolexes," he told The Washington Post. "And sometimes we were selling the Rolexes to make the rent."

And then there were the times he didn't make the rent. The owner of an apartment complex in Boca Raton repeatedly sued him for failing to pay. A law firm in Hollywood, Florida, sued him in 2012 to collect nearly $27,000 in legal bills for battling eviction from another property.

One creditor has spent a decade chasing Parnas.

In November 2010, Parnas met with Michael Pues, the New Jersey owner of a stone industry company, at the Millennium Hotel in New York City. At the time, Parnas was Pues' investment broker.

Pues had signed up after Parnas touted himself as "the youngest stockbroker out there," someone who was "driving around in a Bentley" and never lost money for his clients, according to a court filing.

In late 2010, Parnas asked Pues to invest in a movie called "Anatomy of an Assassin." Parnas introduced Pues to Rudy Durand, a Hollywood writer and producer. Durand and actor Jack Nicholson met with Pues in Manhattan's swank Carlyle Hotel to discuss the project, the court filing shows.

Pues said he was impressed. He agreed to provide a short-term, $350,000 loan from his family's trust. He hasn't been repaid, despite years chasing Parnas in court.

A federal judge in Brooklyn issued a $350,000 judgment against Parnas and his Parnas Holdings company in late 2015. With interest, the debt has soared to more than $678,000.

Pues testified that Parnas agreed verbally to return the money after 45 days. But after making the loan, he said he was unable to reach Parnas again.

Instead, a Parnas associate responded by saying the company couldn't repay. Pues said he felt conned by the man he once trusted.

"I trusted him with everything. He used to call me family," he said in a court hearing.

Durand, who appeared in court as a witness for the Pues family trust, testified "that at one time he liked and trusted Lev, but that he later found him to be a con artist," according to the judgment.

Trump donations open doors

Despite the debts, Parnas still had access to funds. In October 2016, the closing stretch of the presidential election, he provided financial backing for the son of the man who gave him one of his first jobs.

On the same day that month, Parnas contributed $50,000 to the Trump Victory political action committee and $2,700 to the Donald J. Trump for President campaign committee, the maximum allowed for the general election.

He hadn't donated to federal campaigns before, elections records show. "I never was in politics," he told CNN. "I was just a businessman trying to get by."

The PAC contribution listed Parnas' employer as Fraud Guarantee, a company he created in part to ensure that Google searches of his name would produce positive results, rather than surface prior allegations of fraud, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Parnas' company, which offered products and services to guard against investment fraud, had no sign of any customers at the time of the contributions. However, it later received a $1.5 million investment from Magnolia Ventures, a New York City-based venture capital fund.

Parnas' donations gave him a seed of credibility among Trump allies. Shortly after Trump took office in January 2017, Parnas tried to advance his business prospects.

He contacted Michael Cohen, who at the time was Trump's personal lawyer and longtime problem fixer, and asked for a meeting with the president, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.

Parnas wanted to discuss a proposal to prevent fraud and waste in government, the person said. It's unclear whether such a meeting took place, though Parnas told CNN he met Cohen a couple of times.

Cohen is serving a three-year prison sentence for evading taxes, lying to Congress and banks, and arranging secret payments to buy the silence of two women who said they had sexual affairs with Trump years before he was elected. Trump has denied the claims.

Saturday cartoons or impeachment trial?: Trump's beef: Saturday TV ratings for his team's opening arguments will be like 'Death Valley'

Sleep-deprived in the Senate?: OnPolitics: No sleep 'til Sunday

Should we be afraid?: What is coronavirus, and should Americans be worried? What to know about the outbreak in China

By 2018, Parnas' donations started to pay off in the form of invitations to Trump fundraisers and other events.

In May 2018, Parnas posted a photo to Facebook. He and Igor Fruman, a Belarus-born business associate and future co-defendant, were sitting at a table with Donald Trump Jr. and Tommy Hicks Jr., a wealthy Trump fundraiser from Texas.

On social media, Parnas posted photo after photo with GOP figures. Trump. Trump Jr. Hicks. And others that Parnas' attorney has publicized recently in response to Trump allies' efforts to disavow or discredit him. They include Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway and former White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

GOP heavyweights were just a text message away

In May 2018, Parnas and Fruman contributed $325,000 to America First Action, a pro-Trump super PAC.

That donation would eventually land them in federal court. Prosecutors accuse them of concealing the true source of the money, part of a scheme to win influence by funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars to U.S. election candidates and campaign committees.

But in the short term, the transaction apparently helped put Parnas in touch with Joseph Ahearn, the director of development for America First Policies, the PAC's sibling nonprofit. Ahearn kept Donald Trump Jr. apprised of Ukraine-related issues.

On March 20, Ahearn sent Parnas a WhatsApp message asking, "What should I send Don to tweet?" according to documents Parnas' lawyer provided to House impeachment investigators.

Parnas forwarded some news stories. "Have jr retweet it," he said. Ahearn responded, "Sent."

A few days later, Parnas sent Ahearn a link to a Daily Wire story headlined, "Calls Grow To Remove Obamas U.S. Ambassador To Ukraine." The same day, Trump Jr. tweeted the link.

Hicks, the wealthy Trump family loyalist who's now the co-chair of the Republican National Committee, also exchanged messages with Parnas. He advised Parnas that the owner of The Daily Caller, a conservative news and opinion website, was a friend.

"We should let him know what we know at the right time," he messaged Parnas, who responded "100%."

But even as Parnas corresponded and hobnobbed with political elites, he had to figure out how to pay for it all, and how to support his family.

Sargeant, the Florida businessman, funded some of Parnas' travel as he jetted to Ukraine and elsewhere in Europe, documents released by House impeachment investigators show.

On April 10, Parnas messaged Sargeant via WhatsApp after discovering that a trip to Vienna had been canceled.

"Just becoming expensive to fly you guys everywhere LEV," Sargeant replied.

Sargeant's attorney has said his client loaned the funds after Parnas said he was broke and pledged to repay it.

Parnas seemed eager to defuse the situation. We are never expecting you to pay for it my brother thats why we wanted to do the loan so we dont have to bother you," he told Sargeant.

The relationship nonetheless continued.

At one point, Parnas asked Sargeant to call, dangling the prospect of "juicy stuff." When Sargeant asked what it was, Parnas demurred. A week later, he told Sargeant, "Working hard to save our country my brother!!!!"

'A middleman between two worlds'

Giuliani told Reuters that Parnas' Fraud Guarantee firm paid him $500,000 for legal and technical consulting work in 2018. The money actually came from Charles Gucciardo, a Republican donor and Trump supporter from Long Island, The New York Times reported.

Gucciardo agreed to invest in Fraud Guarantee because it was a "company that Rudolph Giuliani was going to be the spokesman and the face of," said Gucciardo's attorney, Randy Zelin, according to the report.

That deal meant Giuliani was working for Parnas. Yet in a May 2019 tweet, he identified Parnas and Fruman as his legal clients.

Their relationship apparently strengthened as Giuliani realized Parnas' language ability and Fruman's contacts in Ukraine could help him investigate the financial dealings of Hunter Biden, the son of Joe Biden. The younger Biden had been a well-compensated board member of Burisma Holdings, a Ukraine energy company.

Giuliani has alleged that Joe Biden abused his office by urging the 2016 firing of Viktor Shokin, at the time Ukraine's chief prosecutor, out of concern that Shokin might implicate Hunter Biden in a corruption investigation.

But Biden, officials in Ukraine and the former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine have said many in the international community wanted Shokin gone because he didn't do enough to battle corruption.

Parnas seemed to be in constant communication with Trump allies and Ukrainian officials who might advance his efforts to implicate Biden in a scandal. "I was the middleman between two worlds," Parnas told Cooper on CNN.

Parnas was Giuliani's go-between with Yuriy Lutsenko, who until August was the chief prosecutor in Ukraine. In WhatsApp messages written in Russian, Lutsenko complained about U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch and pressed for her removal.

Giuliani wanted her out, too, apparently believing she could hinder his Ukraine investigation. He referred to her as a "crooked Ambassador" in a May text to Parnas that was included in the material turned over to House impeachment investigators.

As for Trump's view, he apparently was recorded telling associates that he wanted Yovanovitch fired, ABC News reported on Friday. The purported remarks were made as Trump met with a small gathering that included Parnas and Fruman, the report said. If authenticated, the remarks could undercut Trump's statements that he did not know the business associates

Yovanovitch has denied any wrongdoing and insisted she never criticized Trump or his administration, as some Trump supporters claim.

As the weeks of early 2019 dragged on and Yovanovitch remained in Kyiv, Parnas sought to reassure an increasingly irritated Lutsenko.

"It's just if you all don't decide on the madame - you all question all my statements. Including the one on B," Lutsenko told Parnas on March 22, a possible reference to Biden. Three days later, he complained: "You can't remove one stupid woman from office."

"She is not a simple stupid woman, believe me," Parnas responded. "Well, she won't get away for long."

Dispatch from Ukraine: Trump's conspiracy theories thrive in Ukraine, where a young democracy battles corruption and distrust

Around May 2018, Parnas and Fruman met separately with Sessions, a Texas Republican and longtime Giuliani backer. They pledged to raise $20,000 for Sessions' reelection, according to the criminal indictment against the Soviet-born partners.

Sessions wrote a May 9, 2018, letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claiming he had evidence Yovanovitch had disparaged Trump and asking for her removal. Sessions later said the letter was unrelated to Parnas and Fruman.

Sessions, who received a federal grand jury subpoena in the campaign finance case, has said he had no involvement in the alleged scheme.

Parnas sent Giuliani a copy of Sessions' letter in December 2018. Later that day, Parnas texted: "Just spoke with Pete I'll update you tomorrow."

Former Ukraine ambassador Marie Yovanovitch testifies before the House Intelligence Committee on Nov. 15, 2019, in the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump.

In April 2019, Giuliani texted Parnas an update that appeared to refer to either Pompeo or Trump: "He fired her again."

"I pray it happens this time I'll call you tomorrow my brother," replied Parnas.

Pressed by Trump, the Department of State abruptly recalled Yovanovitch to Washington, D.C., the next day.

The Giuliani-Parnas partnership ruptures

After Trump's July phone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, an unidentified whistleblower filed a complaint that ultimately triggered the impeachment proceedings against Trump.

The whistleblower complained that the president appeared to abuse his office with an improper quid pro quo: withholding congressionally-approved U.S. military aid for Ukraine while pressing Zelensky for an investigation of the Biden family.

Trump has denied the allegations, calling the phone call "perfect" and characterizing the impeachment proceedings as a hoax.

In October, three months after that complaint, Parnas and Fruman were arrested before they boarded a plane to Europe with one-way tickets. The indictment alleged that their scheme, carried out with help from an unidentified Ukrainian government official and funding from a Russian national, was aimed at buying "potential influence with candidates, campaigns, and the candidates' governments."

The booking mugshots of Igor Fruman (left) and Lev Parnas after they were arrested on charges of violating campaign finance laws. They played key roles in Rudy Giuliani's efforts to launch a Ukrainian corruption investigation against the family of former Vice President Joe Biden.

Parnas, Fruman and two co-defendants pleaded not guilty.

Then Giuliani learned that federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York, the office he once led and the one that charged Parnas and Fruman, were investigating his business dealings.

Giuliani said he had done nothing improper.

The day after Parnas and Fruman were arrested, House impeachment investigators issued subpoenas. The two initially said they would not cooperate. At the time, their attorney was John Dowd, a longtime Giuliani ally and former lawyer for Trump.

But Parnas changed lawyers and decided to cooperate. His disclosures to House investigators torpedoed his relationship with Giuliani.

Giuliani declared Tuesday he was "heartbroken" over the rupture. He told Fox News' Laura Ingraham he wouldn't respond to all of Parnas' accusations about their dealings, saying, "He in very large part did not tell the truth."

Trump repeated an earlier denial that he did not know Parnas. In response, Bondy tweeted a video showing Parnas with his arm on Trump's shoulder during a Mar-a-Lago event in Florida as he introduced the nation's commander-in-chief to a Ukrainian government official.

No recent selfies of Parnas and GOP heavyweights have surfaced. Instead, his lawyer has posted photos of Parnas smiling with the TV journalists who interviewed him about his exploits.

Heres the I dont know him at all, dont know what hes about, dont know where he comes from, know nothing about him guy, w Lev Parnas & Roman Nasirov, former head of Ukrainian Fiscal Service, at Mar-a-Lago 12/16. @POTUS .@realDonaldTrump @Acosta #LevRemembers #LetLevSpeak pic.twitter.com/5B5QY2DJEg  Joseph A. Bondy (@josephabondy) January 16, 2020

Contributing: Kristine Phillips

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Lev Parnas, ex-Giuliani ally, could be key figure in Trump impeachment
The Pentagon has announced that 34 US service members have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries resulting from the Iranian missile attack on US forces in Iraq earlier this month, in spite of Donald Trump's downplaying of the wounds as "headaches".

The strike came following Mr Trump's decision to kill Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, and the US said at the time that no American personnel were injured. Since then, Mr Trump has acknowledged that the Americans had been injured, but downplayed their significance.

According to the Pentagon, eight of the service members were flown to the US from Germany for treatment, nine are still receiving treatment in Germany, 16 were treated in Iraq and have returned to duty and one was treated in Kuwait before being returned to Iraq.

The report comes just days after Mr Trump dismissed the injuries during a press conference in Davos, Switzerland, saying that the whole affair was "not very serious".

"I heard they had headaches," Mr Trump said. "No, I don't consider them very serious injuries, relative to other injuries that I've seen."

US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Show all 35 1 /35 US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures This photo released by the Iraqi Prime Minister Press Office shows a burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike in Baghdad, Iraq, early Friday 3 January AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures The wreckage of the car in which general Soleimani was travelling when a targeted US airstrike struck outside Baghdad International Airport on 3 January Ahmad Al Mukhtar via Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Demonstrators burn the US and British flags during a protest in Tehran after general Soleimani was killed in a targeted airstrike by American forces Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike. The Pentagon said Thursday that the US military has killed general Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, at the direction of Donald Trump AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters burn Israeli and US flags as thousands of Iranians take to the streets to mourn the death of general Soleimani at the hands of America EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of Donald Trump pray at an 'Evangelicals for Trump' campaign event held on the day following the killing of general Soleimani. At the event, the president praised the "flawless strike that eliminated the terrorist ringleader" AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A huge procession of mourners gather in Baghdad for the funeral of general Soleimani on 4 January AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Thousands of Iranians take to the streets to mourn the death of Soleimani during an anti-US demonstration to condemn the killing of Soleimani, after Friday prayers in Tehran, Iran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iraqis perform a mourning prayer for slain major general Qasem Soleimani of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards at the Great Mosque of Kufa AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A billboard reading 'Death to America and Israel', installed by Iran-backed shiite armed groups at a street in Jadriyah district in Baghdad, Iraq EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A handout picture provided by the office of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shows him visiting the family of Soleiman KHAMENEI.IR/AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Thousands of Iranians take to the streets in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn a mock of a US flag as they hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, outside the US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iran's Ambassador to Lebanon Mohammed Jalal Feiruznia, looks to a portrait of Soleimani, as he receives condolences at the Iranian embassy, in Beirut, Lebanon AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures People make their way on the street while a screen on the wall of a cinema shows a portrait Soleimani in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Aziz Asmar, one of two Syrian painters who completed a mural following the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani poses next to his creation in the rebel-held Syrian town of Dana in the northwestern province of Idlib AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A demonstration in Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures An anti-US demonstration to condemn the killing of Soleimani, after Friday prayers in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Mujtaba al-Husseini, the representative of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, delivers a speech in the holy shrine city of Najaf AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shiite Muslims burn a mock of a US and Israeli flags as they hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, outside the US Consulate in Lahore, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters demonstrate in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Pakistani Shi'ite Muslims hold pictures of General Qasem Soleimani during a protest against the USA, in Peshawar, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters, holding a photograph of the leader of the People's Mujahedin of Iran Massoud Rajavi, outside Downing Street in London PA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Protesters burn a US flag in Tehran AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A Syrian man offers sweets to children to mark the killing AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshippers attend a mourning prayer for Soleimani in Iran's capital Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Kashmiri Shiite Muslims shout anti American and anti Israel slogans during a protest AP US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshipers chant slogans during Friday prayers Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures A protest against the USA, in Islamabad, Pakistan EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranians burn a US flag in Tehran EPA US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Germany (NWRI) protest outside Iran's embassy in Berlin, Germany Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran in Germany (NWRI) protest outside Iran's embassy in Berlin Reuters US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian worshippers in Tehran AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Vehicles of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) patrol a road in the southern Lebanese town of Kfar Kila near the border with Israel. Following morning's killing of Major General Qasem Soleimani, Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement called for the missile strike by Israel's closest ally, to be avenged AFP via Getty US airstrike kills Iran's Qassem Soleimani: Fallout in pictures Iranian women take to the streets in Tehran EPA

Those comments were swiftly criticised from veterans' groups, and by many who noted that Mr Trump himself avoided the Vietnam War draft after receiving a medical diagnosis for bone spurs.

"Don't just be outraged by #PresidentMayhem's latest asinine comments," wrote Paul Rieckhoff, the founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, on Twitter. "Take action to help vets facing" traumatic brain injuries.

The delay in reporting the injuries has been explained by the Pentagon as a function of the difficulties facing diagnosis of traumatic brain injuries, which can take time to become apparent.

On Wednesday, defence secretary Mark Esper deflected questions about the severity of the potential injuries, saying "this is mostly outpatient stuff" when asked by reporters.

"I'm not a doctor, I'm not the one evaluating them. Those are calls that will be made by the medical professionals on hand making those examinations," he said.


SEATTLE (dpa-AFX) - Amazon said it will donate a total of $2 million to two Seattle-based non-profit organizations with the aim of helping students from underserved and underrepresented communities in Washington State gain access to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics or STEM and computer science education.



The donation is part of the e-commerce giant's Amazon Future Engineer program - a four-part childhood-to-career program aimed at expanding computer science access to more students from less affluent or minority groups.



Amazon will donate $1 million to Washington STEM, which works in partnership with ten regional STEM Networks and statewide partners to increase equitable access to STEM education and opportunity.



Another $1 million will be donated by Amazon to the Pacific Science Center or PacSci, a non-profit focused on enabling access to science education.



Amazon noted that PacSci's award-winning, interactive programs serve almost 1 million people each year throughout the state of Washington.



Washington STEM will use the $1 million gift to support its work to ensure all students gain access to the education and opportunities for family-wage careers in Washington State.



It will specifically focus on students of color, girls and young women, and students from low-income backgrounds as well as rural areas.



Angela Jones, CEO of Washington STEM noted that by 2030, 70 percent of all Washington jobs offering a family wage will require education beyond high school in the form of certificates, apprenticeships, two-year and four-year degrees. Two-thirds of these jobs will require STEM skills.



'But when you look at the data, only 40 percent of our state's youth are on track to obtain the education they'll need to access these STEM careers,' Jones said.



PacSci will use the money to expand its Science On Wheels or SOW flagship outreach program that brings interactive workshops, live stage shows, and portable exhibits throughout Washington State.



PacSci said it will increase the number of students that SOW serves in low-income Title I schools. It will also add a computer science curriculum to go along with the existing curriculum, to teach core concepts and key practices in computational thinking.



Amazon noted that it has invested over $50 million to increase access to computer science/STEM education and also donated more than $20 million to organizations promoting computer science/STEM education across the country.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) warned Friday that President Trump abused the power of his presidency and will do so again unless removed from office.

During the final day of Democrats' opening arguments in the Senate's impeachment trial, Schiff argued in favor of Trump's removal from office, after the House of Representatives passed two articles of impeachment charging him with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. "Based on the abuse of power for which he was impeached, and his ongoing efforts to solicit foreign interference both directly and through Mr. Giuliani, there can be little doubt that President Trump will continue to invite foreign interference in our elections again and again," Schiff said, saying Trump solicited election interference both from Russia in 2016 and then Ukraine in 2020. "That poses an imminent threat to the integrity of our democracy."

Schiff went on to argue that Trump's "pattern of conduct repeatedly soliciting foreign interference in our elections for his own benefit confirms that he will stop at nothing to retain his power." Trump has denied pressuring Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden in order to benefit his 2020 presidential campaign.

After Democrats wrap up their opening impeachment arguments later on Friday, arguments from Trump's team will begin Saturday morning and last "several hours." Trump's defense doesn't have to use the full 24 hours they've been allotted, but if they do, their arguments will continue until Tuesday. Should a vote to call additional witnesses fail, the impeachment trial could conclude next week.

More stories from theweek.com

Trump and Rudy Giuliani slam Bolton, question his manhood after book excerpt report

Through Blankets of Hope, Brooklyn brothers aim to spark a global movement of kindness

Bolton's lawyer blames the White House for leaking damaging book excerpts


Investigations are underway into the crash of a C-130 Hercules air tanker that was fighting bushfires in Australias alpine region, a state fire official said on Friday, with the state in mourning for three men killed in the accident a day earlier.

The premier of the state of New South Wales (NSW) ordered flags to be flown at half-staff on Friday as a mark of respect for the three victims, whose names have yet to be released.

We will forever be indebted to the enormous contribution and indeed the ultimate sacrifice thats been paid as a result of these extraordinary individuals doing a remarkable job, NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said on Friday.

He was speaking at a farewell to 32 U.S. firefighters, part of a North American contingent who have helped tackle the bushfires that have raged across the country since September.

The plane crash on Thursday took the death toll for the devastating bushfire season to 32. The fires have also killed millions of animals and destroyed a land area about one-third the size of Germany. (Graphic: https://tmsnrt.rs/30O47Eq)

The C-130 Hercules air tanker that crashed had been leased from Canadian aerial firefighting company Coulson Aviation, which said it was sending a team to the site to help with emergency operations. They are due to arrive in Sydney on Saturday morning, Fitzsimmons said.

The company is also flying out the families of the three victims, experienced aerial firefighters who were in their 40s, he said. Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigators are due to arrive at the site in the Snowy Mountains region on Friday.

We simply dont know the circumstances pertaining to the accident at this stage. Appropriate, formal investigations and inquiries are underway, Fitzsimmons said.

He earlier said field reports showed there had been a pretty significant fireball associated with the plane crash.

While fire conditions eased in southeastern Australia on Friday, Sydney was choking on a new smoke haze, blown in by a baking hot wind from the fires burning in the south of the state. The harbourside city was also covered in a layer of terracotta-coloured soil brought in from the west by huge dust storms.
Parinda Joshi's book was adapted for the Rajkumar Rao-starrer "Made in China" much before its launch and the author says though a movie coming out first is far from standard in India, it is not as rare in the West.

There are a few producers in Hollywood who have had considerable success with book-to-movie deals based on unpublished and partial manuscripts, she says.

"So much gets changed during the adaptation process and when the producer puts time into developing your work it can make it finer in the early stages. It is also more lucrative for the author since the producers are directly buying the rights from the author," the US-based Joshi told PTI.

She wrote "Made In China" way back in 2015. It was published by HarperCollins India last November, a month after the film's release.

"Since it was a dark comedy about an edgy topic, many publishers were of the opinion that the majority of readers may not have an appetite for it. It may have been ahead of its time. Conversations revolving around the book's subject weren't commonplace in the Indian society a few years back," Joshi says.

But things are different now, she says, adding the onset of streaming platforms markedly widened the choices that were available to audiences and pushed the envelope on experimental content.

Joshi was introduced to a director in her hometown in Ahmedabad a few years ago who was looking for some unique stories.

She narrated the story of her novel and he showed interested.

"He and his team of writers then spent a few years adapting my book into a screenplay, adding popular Bollywood context and later, pitching it to producers. The book then got picked up for a screen adaptation. Then came the stellar star cast. It also brought along a publishing deal," says Joshi.

Her book is about Raghu Mehta, who is a desperate man whose handicraft imports business has unexpectedly collapsed and cash is drying out quickly. His wife thinks he is a loser and society considers him irrelevant.

His closest friends and family all seem to be running flourishing businesses and living luxurious lives in Surat, the diamond capital of India.

A trip to China to scout for a new consumer goods business offers a glimmer of hope. But Raghu instead gets sucked into the black-market trade in the back alleys of Beijing. Everything about this new opportunity goes against his god-fearing, vegetarian, middle-class mindset.

Since none of her previous books - "Live From London" and "Powerplay" - were turned into movies, she hadn't imagined who could play the characters when she first wrote "Made in China".

Joshi says her protagonist Raghu is slightly older than the movie's protagonist - he's a tad daft but ambitious, a go-getter, and has good intentions, although his choices may not always reflect that.

"When I first heard about Rajkummar Rao being cast for the movie, I thought perhaps he was a bit young. But he brought out the struggles of the protagonist wonderfully. The way he showcased Raghu's angst, his dilemma, his insecurities, his failures and his triumphs were exceptional and beyond smooth," she says.

"Same for Boman Irani and Sumit Vyas. Those are the key characters in my book. And now I can't possibly imagine anyone else doing those roles," she adds.

Joshi wrote the book for the first time over the course of a year and a half. Then she rewrote a lot of it in the past year.

"It's natural for a person to evolve with time; I too have evolved in the years that have passed and the novel had to reflect that. The characters, their motivations and actions, the narrative and the language; all of it changed somewhat when I rewrote parts of it. So end to end, it took a little over two years," she says.

According to Joshi, additional characters and subplots were added to the movie.

"The movie is a drama with a dollop of humour, whereas my book is more an internal and entrepreneurial journey and has a comical bent. Dialogues are another thing that are notably different in the movie as compared to the book," she says.

She also says that having the movie precede the book did help in adding onto the buzz, which was then a ready context to plug the book into.

"The movie with its star cast and the hype amplified the book related publicity efforts and helped me reach a wider audience," she says.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
After Delhi Election Commission's returning officer issued a notice to Kapil Mishra over his tweet calling Delhi Assembly election as India vs Pakistan clash, the BJP candidate from Model Town said that he finds nothing wrong in his statement and stands by it. (Photo:

New Delhi: After Delhi Election Commission's returning officer issued a notice to Kapil Mishra over his tweet calling Delhi Assembly election as India vs Pakistan clash, the BJP candidate from Model Town said that he finds nothing wrong in his statement and stands by it.

"I received a notice from Election Commission last night. I will give my reply today. I don't think I said anything wrong. Speaking truth is not a crime in this country. I spoke the truth. I stand by my statement," Mishra told ANI here on Friday.

"Roads are encroached upon in Shaheen Bagh. People are not being allowed to go to schools, offices, hospitals, inciting slogans are being raised. The shamelessness with which Manish Sisodia said he stands with Shaheen Bagh means that this is a political movement," he added.

Earlier, the Election Commission of India sought a report from Delhi's Chief Electoral Officer on Mishra's tweet.

Mishra had on January 23 tweeted ":...On 8th February there will be a contest between India and Pakistan on the streets of Delhi."

According to sources, the Election Commission is mulling over taking strong action against BJP candidate Kapil Mishra.

On January 22, Aam Aadmi Party had written to the Election Commission alleging "wrongful acceptance of nomination forms of BJP candidate Kapil Mishra from Model Town constituency" and demanded cancellation of his candidature.
(Bloomberg) -- Want to receive this post in your inbox every day? Sign up for the Balance of Power newsletter, and follow Bloomberg Politics on Twitter and Facebook for more.

Italys rickety government faces the prospect of collapse yet again, with right-wing opposition politician Matteo Salvini ready to pounce.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte canceled his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos today, with any hope of projecting a business-as-usual image in tatters.

The main party in his ruling alliance  the anti-establishment Five Star Movement  was rocked by Luigi Di Maios resignation as its leader, while Salvinis League is poised to score big gains in a key regional election on Sunday.

As John Follain reports, Conte is holding urgent meetings in Rome before a cabinet gathering this evening, while Five Star girds itself for a bruising succession fight that could further destabilize the government.

Yet Conte has an ace up his sleeve: the governments very fragility. Its key members know that if they fail to hold the administration together, there will be snap elections they would surely lose.

Opinion polls say Salvinis League would win a national vote, signaling a sharp turn to the right that much of Europe, already dealing with the U.K.s Brexit and trade tensions with the U.S., would rather not contemplate now.

Salvini is not assured of winning power  yet. He overreached in the summer when he broke up the last government only to be left out of the current one. And however much support his party enjoys, one politician is more popular than him: Giuseppe Conte.

Global Headlines

Trying times | House impeachment managers set out their case for removing President Donald Trump from office in the Senate trial by depicting him as vindictive, untruthful, unbound by the law and willing to abuse his power at the expense of U.S. national security. They will resume arguments today, seeking to persuade moderate Republicans that they should subpoena witnesses such as former National Security Adviser John Bolton.

Story continues

Senators acting as jurors can drink either milk or water while in the chamber during the trial  and nothing else.

Global flashpoint | The eastern Mediterranean is a strategic but fraught region at the confluence of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The delicate balance of power is being upset by President Recep Tayyip Erdogans claims on rights over lucrative hydrocarbons following a contentious maritime deal struck with Libya. The jostling is evidence of a vacuum opening up as a result of U.S. disengagement, with Turkey and Russia attempting to take its place.

Moving on | Prime Minister Boris Johnsons Brexit deal cleared its final hurdles in parliament for the U.K. to leave the European Union on Jan. 31, ending a crisis that paralyzed politics for several years. Britain remains bound by EU law in 2020 while it negotiates a new trade deal with Europe. Thats the first priority, Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid told U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin yesterday. I thought wed go first, said a disappointed Mnuchin.

Damage done | The claim that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was involved in hacking Amazon boss Jeff Bezoss phone refocuses attention on the young leader as he seeks a more positive global spotlight. Sylvia Westall and Donna Abu-Nasr report on potential damage to Saudi Arabias image as it prepares to host dozens of events showcasing the princes efforts to transform the kingdoms economy and lure billions in foreign investment.

China and Greta | China is conducting a war against pollution, with some positive results. But unlike the rest of the world, where activism as exemplified by Greta Thunberg is a key driver of the environmental agenda, China frowns upon actions not involving the state. The result is a paradox: President Xi Jinping champions the anti-pollution cause, but restrictions on civil society leave little room for open criticism of government policy.

What to Watch

Trump will become the first sitting U.S. president tomorrow to address the anti-abortion March for Life in person as he courts conservative voters before the November elections. While Angela Merkel has little time to reset Germanys economy before her term ends, she appears more focused on challenges on Europes doorstep such as Libya and Iran, subjects shell probably emphasize when she speaks in Davos today. Chinese officials moved to halt travel from Wuhan, essentially locking down a city of 11 million people, as they try to stop the spread of a new SARS-like virus thats already killed 17 and infected hundreds. The International Court of Justice ordered Myanmar to take emergency measures to prevent genocide against its minority Muslim Rohingya population.

Tell us how were doing or what were missing at balancepower@bloomberg.net. And sign up for Bloomberg Green, our new daily digest of climate news and insights on the latest in science, environmental impacts, zero-emission tech and green finance.

And finally  Thailands ubiquitous street food vendors are wondering how they will cope with a new law that bans single-use plastic bags. While customers love buying cheap snacks and hot soup, Thailand generates more than 5,000 metric tons of plastic trash each day and some ends up spoiling its beautiful beaches. Authorities are clamping down on bags first, plastic straws by 2022 and aim to recycle all remaining plastic packaging by 2027.

--With assistance from Kathleen Hunter.

To contact the author of this story: Karl Maier in Rome at kmaier2@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Anthony Halpin at thalpin5@bloomberg.net, Michael WinfreyRosalind Mathieson

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
24.01.2020 LISTEN

The Navrongo Youth Agenda for Development (NaYAD) wishes to commend His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo Addo for his noble plan to upgrade the Paga Airstrip into an airport for the Region. We extend commendations to the MP of Navrongo Central and Minister of Aviation, Hon Joseph Kofi Adda for the efforts made so far. The Upper East Region deserves a befitting airport and the plan to upgrade the airstrip to one is welcoming news.

The Upper East Region, one of the deprived regions of Ghana deserves a fair share of the national cake. Arguably, it is one of the smallest regions but with several dialects. Almost a mile or two from one town to another, one is bound to encounter a different dialect or language for that matter. Like the city of Babel in the bible where God confounded the language of the people, the effect was a confusing between the people who could not unite to raise up the tower of Babel, their strategic objective that was to get them closer to God.

As if the city of Babel, Upper East Region suffers similar fate in its strive to get development. This is a region of numerous tribes that seemingly makes it difficult for its people to understand one another as every tribe becomes suspicious of the other. The only language that unites the people in any development discourse in the region is the Whitemans English which also poses a bigger challenge in how people appreciate issues.

This attitude manifested itself in recent times, when the hanker to have an airport in the region gathered momentum given the fact that air transport has made travelling quite faster, easier and relatively stress free. Also, most regions of Ghana including the Upper West Region, which shares identical problems such as bad roads, poverty among others with the Upper East Region have airports except the Upper East Region.

The sad reality is that the region has a very beautifully decorated sign post pointing to a piece of land as a site for Bolgatanga Airport at Anateem in Sumbrungu which is purportedly relocated to replace a 78 years old Airstrip at Navrongo. There is in fact a non-existent airport in the Upper East Region. Even with this, the citizens of the Region who have the means to travel by air, gladly travel by road to Tamale Airport to fly to various destinations in the country. All other trips to the region through flights terminate at Tamale airport and then followed with a two hour journey by road to the region.

The debate of the need for an airport for the region is admittedly a noble one. However, this debate has in recent times taken a different turn. It has become a debate about where the airport should be located with Hon Kofi Adda enduring several attacks on his person by some members of BONABOTO especially one Stanley Abopam. Quite interesting too, is a call by a renowned member and National President of BONABOTO, Dr Andrew Akulaa to all well-meaning citizens of the region to resist the relocation of a non-existent airport by the Minister of Aviation Hon Joseph Kofi Adda to Paga. In a press release to the GNA, Dr Akulaa is quoted to have said that all regional airports are sited at regional capitals hence the Upper East Airport should be in the regional capital, Bolgatanga.

The attacks on Hon Kofi Adda reminds me of the story of the man who slapped his son and questioned him whether he was going to kill a foal (baby donkey) that the son expressed interest in riding if the jenny (the mother donkey) does give birth to one. Honourable Adda is being attacked for riding a foal that never was given birth to.

It is sad that we seek to do this to our own who is putting in all the energy to deliver an airport to the region. Irrespective of where the regional airport is located in the region, it certainly will not only be closer to the citizens of the region than Tamale airport but also, will add to the development infrastructure of our region.

We call all citizens of the region to rally their support for the Hon Minister of Aviation Hon Joseph Kofi Adda in this enterprise of delivering to us a befitting airport for the region. Hon Edward Salia did it for Upper West, Kofi Adda can do it for Upper East. The success story of Upper West getting a new regional hospital in addition to the old one as well as the a Regional Airport is a function of a united people who placed their priorities right and coordinated efforts towards achieving them. We in Upper East may want to learn from our counterparts from Upper West.

We in the Upper East Region unlike our counterparts had the unpleasant experience of demolishing an existing hospital in order to build a regional hospital because it must be in the regional capital. We could have added an entirely new regional hospital to the old one even if it meant locating it in any part of the region.

The debate about where the Upper East airport should be located therefore should not be an issue. What we need is an airport in the region and if upgrading the Paga airstrip can help it; we ought to receive the news as welcoming. Once again, we commend Hon Adda and pledge our unwavering support for him as he strives to bring the plan of the President to upgrade the Paga airstrip to an airport to fruition.

Amos A. Ayuure

Chairman,

(Navrongo Youth Agenda for Development(NaYAD)
She further distinguished herself from other vendors by packaging and labeling her more unusual offerings, a godsend to head-scratching grocery store clerks as well as to consumers who might not know how to serve jicama, or how to slice into a kiwano. (Late-night television host David Letterman, who once featured Mrs. Caplan on his show, jokingly pronounced the latter fruit, also know as the horned melon, as d--- near inedible.) Customers were invited to send away to Friedas for recipes; everyone, she said, received a reply.
(Alliance News) - Brussels' two top officials, the presidents of the European Commission and the European Council, signed off on Britain's EU divorce agreement Friday.

With Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel's formal endorsement, the text will now go to the European Parliament on Wednesday next week for ratification.

On Thursday, diplomats from the EU member states will approve the deal in writing. Then on FridayA Britain will spend its last day in the EU before leaving the bloc at 2300 GMT as clocks strike midnight in Brussels.

"Charles Michel and I have just signed the Agreement on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU, opening the way for its ratification by the European Parliament," Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen tweeted.

In a separate tweet, Michel said: "Things will inevitably change but our friendship will remain. We start a new chapter as partners and allies."

And he added, in French: "I'm keen to write this new page together."

British voters backed leaving the EU in a June 2016 referendum, and after lengthy negotiations and several delays Prime Minister Boris Johnson's new government plans to "get Brexit done" next week.

Queen Elizabeth II gave her formal assent to the British withdrawal legislation on Thursday and the EU is now expected to complete the final formalities in the coming days.

Briatin will the leave the institutions of the union, reducing it to 27 member member states, but the withdrawal agreement provides for an 11-month transition period until the end of 2020.

During this time, Britain and the rest of the bloc will continue to apply the same rules of business to avoid economic disruption while officials try to negotiate a broader trade deal.

Most experts regard the idea that London and Brussels could agree a comprehensive free trade agreement in that time as ambitious, but officials have expressed optimism that some kind of agreement can be reached. A A

Formal trade talks are not expected to begin until the end of February or even March, and in the meantime Barnier has been in intensive talks with EU member states on his negotiating mandate.

After the transition, Britain wants the right to set its own rules in areas such as workers' rights and environmental standards.

But Brussels has warned that the more the UK diverges from EU standards, the less it will have unfettered access to Europe's huge single market.A

And a comprehensive free trade agreement of the type the EU has signed with Canada could take years to negotiate.

source: AFP

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Oh. Straight. Im straight, he replied. And he went on through more questions about abuse, addiction, disease  a comprehensive survey to understand more about the homeless population. When he was done, the volunteers gave him a $10 gift card to McDonalds for his time. And they even got one of the counselors he has worked with  at 11:30 at night  on the phone to talk with him.
Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!

Your notification has been saved.

There was a problem saving your notification.

{{description}}

Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.
(TNS)  Los Angeles, Calif.'s Metropolitan Transportation Authority has a ridership problem. Despite an enormous rail-building boom and the imposition of billions of dollars in new taxes to support public transit, fewer people are riding the subways and buses.Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Unified School District has a poverty problem. More than 80% of its students live below the poverty line. Their families often struggle to cover the basic expenses, including transportation.What if these two public agencies could work together to help solve each other's problem? That's the idea behind a proposal, floated by LAUSD Supt. Austin Beutner and transit advocates, to provide free transit passes to the district's more than 600,000 K-12 students.The proposal comes at a time when advocates around the country are increasingly arguing that public transit should be free. Affordable transportation, they argue, is key to helping people get to school, jobs and opportunities to help them escape poverty. It's good for the planet too, as more people choose to ride transit rather than drive, which reduces the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change.Metro's board of directors will vote today on whether to study the costs and benefits of giving LAUSD students free transit.Metro could potentially see an immediate increase in ridership while training the next generation of bus and rail riders to use the expanding transit system. Research shows that people who ride public transportation at a young age are more likely to use it as adults. There are traffic benefits too.For LAUSD and its students, free transit passes could help improve attendance, as the lack of affordable or reliable transportation is often cited as a reason for chronic absenteeism. The passes could also make it easier for young people to participate in extracurricular activities or get a part-time job.Of course, free transit comes with costs. Metro would have to forgo the revenue from fares currently paid by LAUSD students. And it is possible that some routes could become so popular and crowded that Metro would need to add more buses or rail cars to meet demand. That's a good problem to have, though, after several years of declining ridership.There are two pilot programs underway providing free transit for students. One gives passes to juniors at Manual Arts Senior High School in South Los Angeles, and the other provides students with free rides on the city's DASH buses. They are funded with philanthropic and state dollars. Separately, Metro is in the early stage of studying the possibility of funding free transit for everyone systemwide using revenue from toll roads or congestion pricing.For the moment, it's clear that there are real benefits to free student passes  for the kids, for the transit system and for the environment. Metro needs to move forward on this promising proposal and figure out if the costs are outweighed by the benefits for ridership and the climate.
Videos

Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos.
Malibu, CA, United States, Jan 24, 2020 - (ABN Newswire) - Join Ellis Martin for a conversation with Gerald Panneton, the Executive Chairman of TerraX Minerals (VAN:TXR.V - News) (OTCMKTS:TRXXF - News) TerraX owns a 100% interest in the Yellowknife City Gold Project, encompassing 783 sq km of contiguous land within 12 kilometers of the city of Yellowknife.

The Project is located in the prolific Yellowknife greenstone belt, covering 70 kilometers of strike length along the main mineralized break in proximity to the former high-grade Con and Giant gold mines which have produced over 14 million ounces of gold. The Yellowknife City Gold Project is close to vital infrastructure, including all-season roads, air transportation, service providers, hydro-electric power and skilled tradespeople. Mr. Panneton was the founder of Detour Gold which was recently acquired by Kirkland Lake for $4.9 billion Canadian dollars. With a history of mind building successfully and retiring three times, we ask why again, and why now in the Northwest Territories of Canada. This segment was recorded in the Vancouver, Canada studios of The Ellis Martin Report.

To view the interview, please visit:

https://www.abnnewswire.net/press/en/100111/txr



About TerraX Minerals Inc:

Through a series of acquisitions, TerraX owns a 100% interest in the Yellowknife City Gold ("YCG") Project, encompassing 783 sq km of contiguous land within 12 kilometers of the city of Yellowknife. The Project is located in the prolific Yellowknife greenstone belt, covering 70 kilometers of strike length along the main mineralized break in proximity to the former high-grade Con and Giant gold mines which have produced over 14 million ounces of gold. The YCG Project is close to vital infrastructure, including all-season roads, air transportation, service providers, hydro-electric power and skilled tradespeople.

On November 4, 2019, TerraX announced an Inferred mineral resource of 735,000 ounces of gold for the YCG Project, consisting of a pit constrained Inferred mineral resource of 11.6 million tonnes averaging 1.4 g/t for 523,000 ounces of contained gold and an underground Inferred mineral resource of 1.2 million tonnes averaging 5.7 g/t for 212,000 ounces of contained gold.

Story continues

For more information on the YCG project, please visit our web site at www.terraxminerals.com.

About The Ellis Martin Report:

The Ellis Martin Report (TEMR) is an internet based radio program showcasing potentially undervalued companies to an audience of potential retail investors and fund managers that comprise our listening audience. TEMR is broadcasted on the VoiceAmerica Business Channel and The Opportunity Radio Network. CEO and company interviews are paid for by those represented on the program.

Contact:

Samuel Vella

Manager of Corporate Communications

Tel: +1 (604) 689-1749 ext 2

Toll-free: +1 (855) 737-2684

E-mail: svella@terraxminerals.com

www.terraxminerals.com

Source:

TerraX Minerals Inc

The Ellis Martin Report

Copyright (C) 2020 ABN Newswire. All rights reserved.
A man was arrested in Thane in Maharashtra for allegedly assaulting an engineer and trying to ram his motorcycle into him, police said on Friday.

Accused Sunil Pawse was arrested on Thursday, an official said.

"A team of Thane Municipal Corporation engineers were inspecting the waterfront development project which is being built in Kolshet under Smart City initiative. Pawse arrived on a motorcycle and threatened and assaulted engineer Kaustubh Darshane who belongs to a contracting firm," he said.

Pawse was angry that his house had been pulled down for the project, the official said quoting from the complaint filed by TMC executive engineer Mohan Kalal.

"He also tried to ram his motorcycle into Darshane. We have booked Pawse under sections 353, 323, 504 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code for obstructing official work, causing hurt and criminal intimidation," the official informed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Donald Trump arrives to address the nation from the White House on the ballistic missile strike that Iran launched against Iraqi air bases housing US troops on January 8 (Evan Vucci/AP)

The Pentagon has said 34 US troops were diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries suffered in this months Iranian missile strike on an Iraqi air base.

Half of the troops have returned to their military duties, it added.

Seventeen of the 34 are still under medical observation, said Jonathan Hoffman, the chief Pentagon spokesman.

President Donald Trump had initially said he was told that no troops had been injured in the January 8 strike.

Expand Close Iranian bombing caused a crater at Ain al-Asad air base in Anbar, Iraq (Ali Abdul Hassan/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Iranian bombing caused a crater at Ain al-Asad air base in Anbar, Iraq (Ali Abdul Hassan/AP)

The military said symptoms were not immediately reported after the strike and in some cases became known days later.

After the first reports that some soldiers had been hurt, Mr Trump referred to them as headaches and said the cases were not as serious as injuries involving the loss of limbs.

Mr Hoffmans disclosure that 34 had been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI) was the first update on the number injured in Irans missile attack on Ain al-Asad air base in western Iraq since the Pentagon said on January 17 that 11 service members had been flown out of Iraq with concussion-like symptoms.

Mr Hoffman said that of the 34 with TBI, 18 were evacuated from Iraq to US medical facilities in Germany and Kuwait, and 16 stayed in Iraq.

Seventeen of the 18 evacuees were sent to Germany, and nine remain there; the other eight have been transported to the United States for continued observation or treatment.

The one American sent to Kuwait has since returned to duty.

All 16 of those who were diagnosed with TBI and remained in Iraq have since returned to duty, Mr Hoffman said.

No-one was killed in the attack on Ain al-Asad.

The strike was launched in retaliation for a US drone missile strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani, the most powerful military general in Iran, on January 3 at Baghdad International Airport.
New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drew with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office after he defected to the Republican Party last month. Read more

Not long after becoming a Republican, Jeff Van Drew went to an upscale holiday party in Atlantic City. Some of his longtime supporters were also there. And they werent happy.

Van Drew  a New Jersey congressman who was a Democrat when they gave him money  had, in rapid succession, voted against President Donald Trumps impeachment, switched parties, and pledged his undying support" to Trump. That evening, one of his furious former allies decided to confront him.

I went up to him and told him that I thought hed betrayed us," said Liane Levenson, of Margate. I told him I wanted my money back."

Shes not alone. Longtime Van Drew backers are still reeling from his high-profile defection in December. A growing number of donors are asking for their money back, and some are threatening legal action if they dont get a refund.

 READ MORE: I will not vote for Trump, Jeff Van Drew vowed in a voicemail. Then he pledged undying support for the president.

Levenson and her husband, Lloyd, donated $2,800 to Van Drews reelection campaign in August, the maximum amount allowed for a primary. Theyve held fund-raisers for him and know him personally. And while theyve had political disagreements with him before, nothing affected their relationship with Van Drew like his party switch.

It goes beyond disappointment, it goes beyond surprise," Levenson said. Ive totally lost all respect for him."

Asked about backlash from longtime donors, Van Drew said in a text message: A lot of people are saying wonderful nice things. He didnt say whether or not he would refund campaign contributions. Levenson said Van Drew promised her a refund privately.

Van Drew is known for having deep ties to his South Jersey district. He has represented parts of it since 2002, when he became a state lawmaker. Democrats recruited him to run for Congress in 2018 after longtime Republican Rep. Frank LoBiondo decided to retire, partly because of Van Drews moderate brand and long-standing relationships with voters. That year, he flipped a congressional district Trump had won by five points.

Many Van Drew supporters who have known him for years say they are shocked and confused.

"I dont recognize him, said Barbara Jones, of Ocean View, who donated $2,800 to his campaign in August. Hes not trustworthy. ... I feel like I was treated like an idiot.

Van Drew has a complicated task ahead of him. Many of his Democratic supporters feel betrayed, while Republicans are skeptical of his conservative bona fides. Van Drew has voted with Trump only 7% of the time since taking office, according to a tally by the website FiveThirtyEight. He has a 100% rating from the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

His reelection will be one of the most closely watched House races in the country, and will undoubtedly be expensive. Trump has endorsed him, and will host a rally in his congressional district, in Wildwood, on Jan. 28. Van Drew has also received more than $250,000 in political air cover from a Trump-affiliated PAC, in the form of digital and TV ads.

Republican and Democratic challengers for Van Drews seat have called for him to return much of the $900,000 in campaign cash he had as of his latest federal filing in the fall, all of which was raised while he was a Democrat. But Van Drew still hopes he can count on longtime supporters for more money.

I want to be very clear: I have not changed ,  Van Drew wrote in a recent letter to backers obtained by The Inquirer. I switched my party affiliation because the Democratic Party has become a party led by extreme socialists.

I have been a lot of things in life ... but one thing I have never been is a hypocrite, he added. He went on to ask supporters for a contribution of $50, $75, $100 or some other amount," telling them,  You better believe I will have a BIG target on my back. "

Jones said she was angered by the letter: The Jeff Van Drew I knew would never have penned his name to something like that. ... Im just stunned. Were done.

Switching political parties is rare and can spark heated blowback from the jilted. In 2009, longtime Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Arlen Specter switched to the Democratic Party, and faced similar calls for refunds from his donors.

My father offered people their contributions back, Shanin Specter said of the senator, who died in 2012. He did not lose lifelong supporters. But some people were very upset, though they tended to be those with whom he did not have a close relationship.

The Federal Election Commission doesnt require candidates to return campaign contributions to donors who request a refund, according to FEC spokesperson Myles Martin. Some former supporters have contemplated suing Van Drew if he doesnt do so, but campaign-finance experts said there would be little chance of winning such a lawsuit.

"Theres no satisfaction-guaranteed provision in that gift, said Darrell West, vice president of governance studies at the Brookings Institution. I would be surprised if he gave the money back. ... Hes going to need a lot of money to contest the next election. This district is going to be very high on the target list for Democrats.

While Trumps rally next week could help gin up Republican support for Van Drew, several GOP candidates who were already running before he defected are still in the race. Six Democrats have announced they will run for their partys nomination to represent the district, which stretches from the Philadelphia suburbs in Gloucester County south to Cape May, and from north of Atlantic City into Burlington County.

One Republican candidate, David Richter, is a millionaire who has vowed to stay in through the primary. Richter said he raised $240,000 in the last quarter of 2019, and had $515,000 in campaign cash to start the year, most of which has come from his own pockets.

But for self-described staunch Democrats like Sandra Kahn, who gave Van Drew $300 last August, the party switch and asks for more money prove one point: That shows you how out of touch he is."
A married headmaster at a 37,500-a-year boarding school sent a string of flirtatious texts to six female pupils calling them 'naughty' and 'stunning', it has been claimed.

Text messages obtained by The Times show the Cambridge-educated teacher complimenting a student's red dress and asking about pupils' sex lives.

In another message, the 47-year-old - who was married for more than 14 years but is now separated - even jokes about 'expelling' a pupil for having a secret tattoo.

Toby Belfield is pictured on the left. There is no suggestion that the student pictured alongside him was the recipient of any messages

Toby Belfield complimented a student's red dress, said he would visit pupils at University, and asked about their sex lives

It comes as a recent report following an unannounced visit to the school found it has 'serious shortfalls' as pupils were 'not appropriately safeguarded'.

The Care Inspectorate Wales report, released this week, also found the school was run by an 'autocratic and controlling management'.

It said: 'We found some staff did not always feel supported, morale was low and they felt undermined and vulnerable by the lack of effective oversight by the council of management.'

The texts, sent to six different girls according to sources, are thought to have been circulated in north Wales before being passed to officials.

In the messages, seen by the newspaper, Mr Belfield told one girl: 'Imagine if I found your new tattoo  I'd have to expel you.'

In another message, the teacher said: 'Where is your love for your principal, it has vanished. So rude and cruel to me. Breaking my heart.'

The school takes in local pupils as well as secondary-age students from China and Asia.

Mr Belfield's social media accounts show him boasting of first-class flights to countries such as China and Hong Kong to interview possible recruits.

He has previously been dubbed Britain's strictest headmaster when he sent an email to parents saying he was looking to expel students over absences.

He told parents that too many students were registered as 'sick' when they were just 'tired'.

He also said he disapproved of relationships between pupils and threatened to exclude pupils if they broke the rules.

Mr Belfield has previously been dubbed Britain's strictest headmaster when he sent an email to parents saying he was looking to expel students

In another message Mr Belfield called a student a 'naughty girl' and that she was 'always the naughty one'

In another exchange he says: 'I'll visit you at university to check you are still an angel.'

In a further communication he comments about a student's sex life, saying: 'I worry, definitely, about you and sexual behaviour.

'You might need my support and you shouldn't risk not having it... All the boarding staff have been told you are a potential sexual threat to young boys.'

Teachers have said he has not been seen since last term, and there has been no comment about where he is, or about the report stemming from the unannounced safeguarding visit.

One person linked with the school said they have been told 'nothing'.

The report also found students did not ask for help with their mental health because they were scared of losing a place at university.

It said: 'Policies are discouraging young people from coming forward, accessing support in relation to their mental health in fear of losing their place at school or university.

'Policies relating to their emotional health were inadequate and discriminatory.

Toby Belfield, Principal of Ruthin School, pictured outside the school, in Denbighshire, north Wales

'The counsellor had not visited or supported any young person at the school in the 12 months preceding this inspection, even though the need was apparent for such a service.'

The report also found there was a failure to ensure staff followed a professional code of conduct that 'resulted in young people being placed at risk of harm'.

A spokesman from Denbighshire council earlier this week, said: 'Ruthin School is an independent establishment that is answerable to the Welsh Government.

'It is not a local education authority school, therefore it is has no accountability to the local authority and the Council has absolutely no say on how the school is run. That is purely a matter for the school and its own regulators.

'However safeguarding children and adults is a matter for the Council and its partners and we have previously raised concerns about safeguarding issues at the school which led to an investigation.

'It is for the school to address the findings and recommendations of this and any other inspection reports. We continue to remain concerned.'

In reference to the report, a Ruthin School spokeswoman said earlier this week: 'The Council of Management at Ruthin School was already carrying out root and branch strategic review at the time of the inspection, and that work is continuing.

'We welcome the timely publication of the latest Care Inspectorate of Wales report, and are ensuring the observations and action points contained in it are fully addressed as part of our review.

'The work we are doing now will ensure the school's governance and operational procedures continue to keep pace with modern requirements.'

MailOnline has not been able to reach Mr Belfield for comment but has approached Ruthin School on several occasions.
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh expressed concerns on Friday over the declining sex ratio and female foeticide in the state and said that his government will bring in a stringent law to tackle the situation.

Speaking at a function on the occasion of the National Girl Child Day, he said stringent measures to check female foeticide and abortion based on sex determination, needs to be implemented.

He said legal experts will be consulted and necessary legislation may be introduced in the upcoming Budget session.

Governor Najma Heptulla urged people to "recommit to support every girl to develop her skills, enter the workforce on equal terms and reach her full potential".

"We need to equip girls with transferable and lifelong skills such as critical thinking, creativity and digital awareness," she said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Senators are soon going to start seeing Adam Schiff in their sleep.

The lead House impeachment manager is relentlessly pressuring the handful of Republican jurors who are considering a vote to call witness and delay the acquittal that President Donald Trump craves from his impeachment trial.

Heading into the final day of his effort to build a devastating case, the indefatigable California Democrat is deploying every trick in the prosecutor's arsenal as he weaves a narrative of an unchained presidency hour after grueling hour.

After Friday, Schiff will cede the stage to Trump's lawyers, who plan to argue that the President did nothing wrong in his dealings with Ukraine and that the Democratic charge that he abused his power has no constitutional significance.

As long as Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell does not lose the votes of four of his members, he can block a Democratic effort to prolong the trial by subpoenaing witnesses such as former national security adviser John Bolton and acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney.

That leaves Schiff, like an advocate singling out the most impressionable members of a jury in a courtroom drama, forever working on swing state senators handed tough races by Trump's unpopularity and Republicans uncomfortable with their leader's refusal to explore new testimony and evidence.

Schiff is appealing to their sense of constitutional duty and to those who dream of a unique place in history. He's playing on the Senate's sense of self-importance, suggesting it as the only venue sufficiently wise to try the case.

The former prosecutor is also pleading with senators to be more jealous of their own power, warning that Trump's stonewalling tactics are robbing Congress of its prestige and role.

"If the Senate allows the President to get away with such extensive obstruction, it will affect the Senate's power of subpoena and oversight just as much as the House," Schiff said.

Playing video of public officials expressing shock in House hearings after Twitter bullying by Trump over their testimony, Schiff seems to be appealing especially to the senators' humanity.

"If they could show the courage, so can we," he told them at one point.

As a fellow politician, he also conjured a future scenario in which Trump was running rampant and threatening the integrity of the republic itself, and they were left to explain to voters why they had done nothing to stop him.

"What answer shall we give if we did not pursue the truth now and let it remain hidden until it was too late to consider ... the profound issue of the President's guilt or innocence?" Schiff asked on Tuesday.

GOP tries to undermine Schiff offensive

Most of the senators in the spotlight have spent days dodging reporters as their dilemma sharpens. Perhaps only McConnell knows how the numbers stand. Democrats can only hope.

"Schiff had such power in his speech that he almost forced them to look at him and listen. And just about every Republican's eyes were glued on Mr. Schiff. So it was a powerful rendition," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Thursday, but admitted he was also in the dark.

"Am I certain that we'll get those four Republicans? Absolutely not," the New York Democrat said. "Am I certain we won't absolutely get those four Republicans? Certainly not."

There were new signs Thursday of a behind-the-scenes GOP effort to thwart Schiff's gambit. CNN reported that GOP senators are warning that a subpoena fight could prompt an "indefinite" delay in the trial, which few on the Republican side of the aisle have any desire to accept.

After Democrats wrap up making their case on Friday night, Trump's legal team will have three days to respond. Then there will be time for senators to ask questions of each side. Only then will the fate of Schiff's effort to force the admission of new testimony -- effectively broadening the trial, opening new investigations and delaying a final vote -- become clear.

One reason it is a hard call is that each senator has unique political circumstances. And all would face the wrath of the President and his fervent base if they voted against Trump's interests.

Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, may have more room to maneuver than his colleagues. He has his own political profile. As a defeated presidential nominee, he may be looking for a more storied place in history, which a brave political gesture could bring. He has said he's keen to hear what Bolton has to say about the Ukraine caper. But it's unclear whether Romney would stand out on his own in the cold and vote for more witnesses without support from his colleagues.

Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colorado, faces a more complicated dilemma: He's perhaps the most likely GOP member to lose reelection in a state that is trending increasingly Democratic. So hugging Trump close could doom him, but his odds of staging an upset may become even longer if he alienates the President's base.

The up-for-grabs Republicans will face a different kind of pressure from Trump's legal team.

Their plight is uncomfortable partly because the President has rejected the strategy that Bill Clinton adopted at his own impeachment trial two decades ago. Then, the President allowed allied senators to condemn his behavior while arguing that it did not rise to the level of impeachable offenses. This President thinks his conduct has been "perfect."

So Trump's lawyers must thread a needle by giving GOP senators a reason to argue with a straight face that there are not grounds to impeach the President even if they are uncomfortable with his behavior.

'We've got lawyers that are going to put forward, when our side of the case goes, that represents multiple schools of thought on what is and what is not an impeachable offense," Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow told reporters. "Our position is you still have to meet basic, fundamental, constitutional obligations. And they haven't."

A balancing act

Schiff seems to be gauging jurors' mood by the minute, empathizing with them as they endure long, repetitive sessions of dense legal argument -- doled out by a member of what they view as an upstart chamber.

"I'm not sure the chief justice is fully aware of just how rare it is, how extraordinary it is, for the House members to be able to command the attention of senators sitting silently for hours or even for minutes, for that matter," Schiff said at the beginning of a day in the Senate court Thursday. "Of course, it doesn't hurt that the morning starts out every day with the sergeant-at-arms warning you that if you don't, you will be imprisoned."

Most members of the GOP Senate majority have already made up their minds, notwithstanding their oath to serve as impartial jurors to examine whether Trump abused his power in Ukraine.

Several of their number took fidget spinners into the chamber to while away the hours Thursday. Kentucky's Rand Paul seemed to be doodling a picture of the US Capitol. But Schiff is eyeing senators such as Romney, Gardner, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Susan Collins of Maine. Befitting the scrutiny, Murkowski and Collins were seen studiously taking notes at their desks on Thursday.

Schiff is also speaking to the American people on the assumption that Trump will be acquitted and Democrats will want to run in November by charging a supine Republican Party of saving a corrupt President.

Schiff and his fellow impeachment managers face a balancing act. Take it too easy and they will let the target jurors off the hook. Come on too hard, and they could drive them back into McConnell's welcoming arms.

When House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler warned in the wee hours on Wednesday that senators would vote for a "cover-up" if they did not accept new witnesses, it gave Republicans an excuse to say the managers were running hot.

"I took it as very offensive. As one who is listening attentively and working hard to get to a fair process, I was offended," Murkowski said on Wednesday, according to one of her aides.

Her comment was a reminder of the deeply perilous ground that Schiff and his team are treading.

"You always have to show respect to senators. Historically, senators don't like to be lectured by members of the House of Representatives," Timothy Naftali, who serves as a CNN presidential historian, said on Thursday.

But he added: "There are a few who have already signaled they are looking for a reason to say yes to more information."
TORONTO - Barrick Gold Corp. has signed an agreement with the Tanzanian government to formalize a joint venture relating to three mines that ends a long-running tax dispute with the African country.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/1/2020 (718 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Barrick Gold Corp. has signed an agreement with the Tanzanian government to formalize a joint venture relating to three mines that ends a long-running tax dispute with the African country. Barrick Gold logo is seen during the company's annual general meeting in Toronto on Tuesday, April 28, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

TORONTO - Barrick Gold Corp. has signed an agreement with the Tanzanian government to formalize a joint venture relating to three mines that ends a long-running tax dispute with the African country.

The Toronto-based gold miner signed the deal with United Republic of Tanzania President John Pombe Magufuli that will give the government "full visibility of and participation in operating decisions made for and by the North Mara, Bulyanhulu and Buzwagi mines."

Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

The agreement also formalizes the creation of a jointly owned management company that will oversee Barrick's local operations.

Barrick owns 84 per cent with the government owning the remaining 16 per cent, however the economic benefits will be shared evenly after the repayment of capital investments.

The company has agreed to partner with the University of Dar es Salaam and commit up to US$10 million over a decade for training and skills development in the mining industry. It will also spend up to US$40 million to upgrade a road and build a housing compound with related infrastructure.

Barrick settled a long dispute with Tanzania in October when it struck the deal that would see it pay US$300 million to settle all outstanding tax and other disputes over its mines in the country.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 24, 2020.

Companies in this story: (TSX:ABX)
WASHINGTON, D.C.  Two U.S. Congressmen representing parts of southern Oregon were quick to sound off Thursday following an announcement from the Trump administration that it would move ahead with rollbacks on Obama-era clean water protections.

Officials with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the change on Thursday. During the Obama administration, the agency expanded protections of the "waters of the United States" (commonly referred to as WOTUS) to include smaller waterways within the purview of the Clean Water Act  broadening regulations to cover streams, wetlands, small lakes and rivers across the U.S.

The Trump administration said that this interpretation bred "confusion." According to Rep. Greg Walden (R-Hood River), it enabled the EPA to potentially regulate waterways as trivial as drain ditches  causing uncertainty for ranchers and farmers.

For years, farmers and ranchers across Oregon have expressed their concerns to me about the heavy-handed Obama-era definition of WOTUS, said Walden. They stressed that their intermittent stream or irrigation ditch would be subject to the burden of overreaching federal regulation."

Walden's office said that he was an early critic of the 2015 Obama-era ruling.

In a statement on Thursday, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) strongly disagreed, claiming that the rule change would gut the Clean Water Act and end protections for waterways that millions of people rely on for clean drinking water.

This is an extraordinarily dark day for the waters of the United States of America, for our environment, for those 117 million Americans who depend upon it for their drinking water, an infinite amount of wildlife impacted, from migratory species to fisheries and others, said DeFazio. I am going to do everything I can, within the jurisdiction of my committee and the Clean Water Act, to stop this heinous action.

Today at @NAHB, I along with @asacivilworks was proud to unveil the new Navigable Waters Protection Rule (#NWPR) implementing the original intent of congress and the #CleanWater Act while respecting the rights of states and tribes, ending decades of regulatory uncertainty. #WOTUS pic.twitter.com/shVcYqOmsN  EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler (@EPAAWheeler) January 23, 2020

The EPA says that the new interpretation, called the "Navigable Waters Protection Rule," delivers on President Trump's promise to protect the nation's navigable waters from pollution while promoting economic growth across the country with a clear, "common-sense" approach.

"The EPAs new definition of WOTUS will both protect our environment and our rural communities," Walden said. "Todays announcement is welcome news for rural Oregon. I applaud President Trump and his administration for listening to the concerns of Americas farmers and ranchers and delivering on the promise to revise WOTUS."

According to the EPA, the new rule only enforces environmental regulations on four main categories of water: territorial seas and navigable waters, tributaries, certain lakes or ponds, and wetlands near other jurisdictional waters. It rules out regulations on any water formed by rainfall or groundwater, as well as ditches, prior croplands, watering ponds, and waste treatment systems.

This is a tragedy and its going to leave tens of millions of Americans unable to trust their taps, said Collin O'Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. This rule would provide the lowest level of clean water protection since the Clean Water Act was passed in the 70s. It's absolutely staggering to think that at this time, when we still have millions of Americans that are suffering from dirty water that they can't drink, that is unsafe, that we would repeal this level of basic protection for all Americans.

In a draft commentary published in October, the EPA's own Science Advisory Board came out in opposition to the proposed rule change, saying that it was "in conflict with established science . . . and the objectives of the Clean Water Act."
Tsai Ing-Wen waves after addressing supporters following her re-election as President of Taiwan in Taipei, Taiwan, on Jan. 11, 2020. (Carl Court/Getty Images)

Former Pentagon Official: Taiwan Election Sends Important Messages to Region

News Analysis

WASHINGTONThe former top Pentagon policy official for Asia says the recent Taiwan presidential election allowed the young democracy to send important messages to the region.

Randall Schriver, who was the U.S. assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs until last month, spoke Jan. 16 at the University of Notre Dames Keough School of Global Affairs on Beyond the Ballot: Taiwans Elections and Their Implications for U.S. Policy.

On Jan. 11, Taiwan reelected President Tsai Ing-wen, who received 57 percent of the vote; thats the highest vote share for a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate in a presidential election. Election turnout was 75 percent, the highest for nationwide elections in 12 years.

Tsai, after losing in 2018 local elections in Taiwan, was able to successfully characterize the ongoing protests in Hong Kong as an augur of what could happen to Taiwan if it accepted the one country, two systems formula offered by Beijing.

Taiwans example stands very much in contrast to the solution that Beijing would have it take, however. As Schriver noted, Taiwan is a young democracy.

Democracy is not an end point, its an experiment that sends important messages to the region.

Chief among those regional targets is the Peoples Republic of China.

The people of China pay attention. Surely, there are people there who ask why they dont have the same rights. Someday, it might happen, and we hope for it in China.

They would have been inspired by Taiwan, Schriver added.

Schriver says this election likely will spark no change from China in its trajectory or tactics toward Taiwan.

They dont show signs of having a broad toolkit or being very nuanced. Stripping diplomatic allies from Taiwan and sailing through the Taiwan Strait may be the extent of Beijings powers of persuasion, he said.

Schriver knows Tsai pretty well; shes pragmatic, and talks about a constitutional environment. Unsurprisingly, Beijing is not receptive to what she says.

US, Taiwanese Commitment to Region

On the American side, the 2018 U.S. National Defense Strategy commits to a free and open Indo-Pacific region, also known as FOIP. Thats not an anti-China policy, and it is not directed at any one country, Schriver said.

The Defense Department document elaborates on the concept.

We will strengthen our alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific to a networked security architecture capable of deterring aggression, maintaining stability, and ensuring free access to common domains, it reads.

FOIP is based on enduring, nearly universal principles, Schriver said. Therefore, the United States finds itself in contrast to China in terms of issues of sovereignty, international law, and norms. Taiwan, however, is a partner in these concepts, he said.

There is a sense of urgency to look after their defense needs, he said, referring to Taiwan. We look for Taiwan to preserve their status, and to deal with their de facto independence.

To that purpose, Schriver points to Adm. Lee His-ming, Taiwans chief of the general staff, who in 2017, quietly proposed a revolutionary new approach to Taiwans defense  called the Overall Defense Concept.

It employs an asymmetric defense strategy that maximizes its defensive advantages, while targeting an invading force when it is at its weakest, Drew Thompson writes in War on the Rocks.

The concept makes a lot of sense, Schriver said. It incorporates capabilities that would make Taiwan safe from an amphibious attack.

Taiwan is moving in that direction, and the United States is doing things to support that. But, said Schriver, we need Taiwan to have a sense of urgency and make investments.

Schriver noted that the United States is engaged in a step-up effort itself, referring to planned U.S. Army and Navy enhancements of capability in the Indo-Pacific Command.

Taiwan is a very, very hard target, and there are 80 miles of water between it and the Chinese mainland, although theres still a lot of pessimism about Taiwans ability to defend itself.

Partnering, Networking, and Arms Sales

There are other ways in which Taiwan can be a partner, Schriver said.

Promoting a networked region is an acknowledgement that security challenges in Asia-Pacific are multilateral in nature. In order to effectively deal with them, partners need to be networked.

He said the United States believes that Taiwan has more they can do in that area.

The primary driver for PLA modernization remains Taiwan, the primary sense of friction is Taiwan, the most likely area for crisis is Taiwan, Schriver.

The United States, of course, would like to see the two sides work things out peacefully.

Meanwhile, Schriver noted that our arms sales have a record of promoting and improving cross-straits relations.

He cited the Bush administrations massive arms sales package to Taiwan in April 2001, which was originally for $18 billion. That was followed by Taiwan and China entering the World Trade Organization.

We have seen China change some facts on the ground. They have completed land reclamation and have militarized, he said, referencing Beijings island-grabbing in the South China Sea.

Schriver said that he personally supports seeing the United States ratify the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). However, its unlikely that the Senate would take it up, he added.

The irony is that China has ratified it and doesnt honor it, while the United States has signed it, not ratified it, but does honor it, the former Pentagon official said.

We want to see Taiwan remain free and open, Schriver said. Were doing FONOPS (freedom of navigation operations) and joint drills, but it has to be a sustained effort because any gaps, and China will fill in the void.

We must keep an eye on the South China Sea, he urged.
by Brandi Wampler

According to the World Health Organization, one of the biggest health threats around the world is antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Every day people use antibiotics to prevent or fight back against infection, but as bacteria evolve and develop resistance, diseases such as pneumonia and tuberculosis are becoming harder to treat.

Researchers at the University of Notre Dame are working to combat this problem by looking to bacteriophages or phages. Phages are viruses that infect bacteria, similarly to how bacteria infect people, but bacteria have yet to develop resistance to these viruses. In a study published in Nanoscale Advances, the researchers have shown the efficacy of a new nanoparticle-based system that mimics how phages attack and kill bacteria.

Instead of chasing the next antibiotic, we want to create a system that can treat infection and is an option that bacteria cant develop resistance to, said Prakash Nallathamby, research assistant professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering and directing author of the study. In our initial attempt, our team was able to kill several different types of clinically relevant bacteria with varying degrees of success.

The phage-mimicking nanoparticle system consists of silver-coated gold nanoparticles distributed randomly on a silica core. Once created, the system was tested for its ability to kill four bacteria types that are known to have antibiotic-resistant strains: Corynebacterium striatum, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. These various bacteria cause a number of health issues including prosthetic device infections, sepsis, meningitis and blood infections.

Initial tests showed that the nanoparticle system was 50 percent to 90 percent effective in killing the bacteria strains for all but Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which was only 21 percent effective. However, when the researchers combined the nanoparticle system with peptides that also have antibacterial activity, the system was 100 percent effective at killing the bacteria.

By incorporating a biological element, we were able to make the nanoparticles more effective in eliminating the bacteria in initial testing, said Nallathamby. Now, we are actively looking to partner with an organization that would advance this system to a clinical study.

The lead author of this study was postdoctoral researcher Juliane Hopf. Other co-authors include Shaun W. Lee, the Monahan Family Associate Professor of Rare and Neglected Diseases; Ryan Roeder, professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering; Joshua Shrout, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering and earth sciences; graduate student Katelyn Carothers; and undergraduate researchers Margo Waters and Veronica Kalwajtys. The study was supported by the strategic research initiatives Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics and the Center for Nano Science and Technology. Additionally, the study was partially funded by the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute. The intellectual property from these studies is protected by a patent application filed by the IDEA Center at the University of Notre Dame.

To read the paper, visit https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2019/na/c9na00461k#!divAbstract.

University of Notre Dame
Maria Fernanda Mafer Benavides sees the faces of the migrant children she met at a San Antonio bus station every time she flips through her self-published book, A Summer with the Butterflies.

Her teachers at Saint Marys Hall see an already accomplished and compassionate 18-year-old high school senior who became a volunteer and advocate in the national immigration crisis well before hearing back from all the colleges she applied to.

Spurred by the U.S. immigration policy to separate families at the border in 2018, Benavides obtained training from the nonprofit RAICES to provide legal aid in her native Spanish language.

Ive always felt sort of a sense of duty to advocate for those who are from my community and other communities as well, Benavides said.

Through that work, Benavides met kids at bus stations, waiting with their families heading north to stay with relatives and await their court dates, and looked for ways to brighten their grueling journey.

She brought them books and art supplies so the children could read and draw.

Books and art had been sources of pleasure and comfort when she moved to the United States from Monterrey, Mexico, as a child and faced a degree of culture shock in school. She missed her family, especially her grandmother, who still is in Mexico.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio suburb once again rejects attempt to house migrant children

At the bus station, Benavides was part of a migrant assistance infrastructure staffed by volunteers trying to help families anxious about their futures. Children as young as 5 or 6 shared in the uncertainty, which was reflected in their drawings of broken hearts and writings about missing the families they left behind.

Those are heavy emotions for young children and can be a burden for a teenager sharing in them. Benavides turned to writing to find an outlet for them and keep some balance in her life.

A teacher in her creative writing class encouraged her, and she felt safe sharing her writing with classmates at Saint Marys Hall, a private school on the Northeast Side.

Theres so much light that can come out of all that hardship and darkness if I have the courage to want to express that, she said.

Required Reading: Get San Antonio education news sent directly to your inbox

Benavides was recognized this month by the New York Times, becoming one of eight winners of an essay contest that drew more than 8,000 entries from around the globe. Her entry was a personal narrative describing a speech tournament where she spoke of her own experience as an immigrant.

She wrote about overhearing a conversation between two Anglo girls who discredited her oratory as a pity narrative about being a Mexican immigrant, and about not feeling a sense of belonging in either the U.S. or Mexico.

Its a feeling she identified in the children at the bus station.

Over time, as Benavides read to them, the kids saw themselves as the protagonists in the books, she said. They dreamed aloud about going to school, growing up to become ballerinas or doctors or athletes, and being able to provide for their parents who brought them to the United States.

On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio closing its migrant center

What impacted me the most was to see, despite all the hardship theyd been through, their hopeful hearts still remain intact, Benavides said.

Many of the children gave her their drawings, and in November she compiled them in a book. Benavides plans to send copies of it to U.S. senators, to encourage them to reform immigration law and asylum policy.

Her creative writing teacher, Amy Williams-Eddy, said Benavides confidence took off when she confronted personal topics. In the class, students share their work and offer feedback. As Benavides communicated more openly and honestly, her voice became increasingly authentic, Williams-Eddy said.

Her Mexican heritage is a huge part of her identity, and allowing her to write poetry in Spanish and to write about topics like the racism she experienced and the immigrants that she works with allowed her to move beyond the academic topics in the typical English classroom to something deeper, her teacher said.

Benavides likely never will know if the children in her book achieve their aspirations. She doesnt know where they went, if their families successfully made a home in the United States or were sent back to nations they had fled.

And Benavides hasnt decided what she wants to be, though she plans to study international relations and comparative literature, continue her advocacy work and possibly pursue a law career.

One thing seems certain: shell keep writing.

To be able to advocate through my love for writing has been a transformative experience, Benavides said.

Krista Torralva covers several school districts and public universities in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | Krista.Torralva@express-news.net | Twitter: @KMTorralva
NEW YORK, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The First, a new premier network featuring bold and unfiltered news for free-thinkers, announced today the addition of the top nationally-syndicated female talk radio host Dana Loesch. Loesch's program, "The Dana Show," will air daily on the network. In addition to Loesch, prominent conservative talk show host Mike Slater has begun hosting "True Story with Mike Slater" on weekdays at 12pm ET. Commentary writer Tiana Lowe, former spokesperson for President Donald Trump's Inauguration Madison Gesiotto and decorated military veteran Rob Smith have also joined the network as regular contributors.

"The Dana Show" joins a growing list of content airing daily on The First, available on Pluto TV, including "True Story with Mike Slater", "The Buck Sexton Show" with the former CIA and NYPD officer Buck Sexton and "I'm Right w/ Jesse Kelly" starring the combat veteran Jesse Kelly.

The First debuted on Pluto TV on October 15 as a destination for free-thinkers who are looking for unfiltered news with new voices. Distribution has expanded to include YouTube and Facebook, and The First is in active discussions with other leading OTT platforms. The First is led by a team with a proven track record of success and an affinity towards connecting with largely ignored parts of the country.

Dana Loesch is the number one nationally-syndicated female talk radio host in the country. Dana is one of the nation's most prominent voices for gun rights and appears regularly on FOX News. She has also provided election analysis on multiple networks and co-hosted "The View". Dana is also the author the best-seller "Hands Off My Gun: Defeating the Plot to Disarm America which turned the tide in the gun control debate" and "Flyover Nation: You Can't Run a Country You've Never Been to."

Slater's show focuses on the five values he believes inspire a virtuous life: curiosity, gratitude, hope, zest, and love. Love and appreciation for faith, family, and country heavily influence the stories that he shares with viewers. Slater is the host of "The Mike Slater Show" each weekday on KFMB in San Diego and appears frequently as a guest on FOX Business, FOX News, The Blaze, and has guest hosted on CNN Headline News. He is also the author of "How to Change Someone's Mind" and the children's book "Imagine Jack and the History Kids."

Lowe is a commentary writer at the Washington Examiner. She previously worked for National Review, founded the University of Southern California Economic Review, and hosted the Political Pregame.

Gesiotto will appear across The First's vertical on Pluto TV and social media platforms. A former Spokesperson for President Trump's Inauguration and national surrogate throughout the 2016 campaign, she is an attorney, television commentator, political strategist, and columnist for The Hill. She is a regular guest on CNN, FOX Business, FOX News, and MSNBC. She leads the nonprofit and business formations division of MMFL Law, a full-service firm with a pro-bono focus on representing battered women as they navigate the legal system.

In addition to Lowe and Gesiotto, Smith will also be a frequent voice across The First's platforms. After serving for five years in the United States Army with two tours in the Middle East, Smith was awarded the Army Commendation Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge. Following his time with the military, Smith "came out" as a conservative in 2018 with a profile in the Daily Mail. As a political commentator, he has been seen on CNN, FOX News, and NBC News and he has spoken at Yale University, Google, Deutsche Bank, Vanderbilt University, and more.

About The First

The First is a television network focused on delivering bold and unfiltered news for parts of the country often ignored. The network debuted on Pluto TV in October 2019 and features new voices in the media making impacts across the country on various traditional and nontraditional media platforms.

Media Contact

[email protected]

SOURCE The First
The Walt Disney Company has rides inspired by movies but, few know that movies have been inspired by the rides. From The Haunted Mansion to Disneys soon-to-be released feature film, The Jungle Cruise, here are a few movies that were inspired by rides in Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

The Pirates of the Carribean ride inspired Jack Sparrow and the fantasy franchise

Perhaps one of the most successful franchises created by Disney, Pirates of the Carribean, is actually based on the ride in Disneyland and Disney World. As one of the first attractions to open at both theme parks, this ride was later updated to reflect the characters of the movies.

That includes the eccentric and lovable Jack Sparrow, who was portrayed in the films by Johnny Depp. (Sometimes, the actor even dresses in character and surprises Disneyland guests on the ride!)

Eddie Murphy starred in a movie inspired by The Haunted Mansion

This ride has 999 happy haunts, but theres always room for one more. For over 50 years, The Haunted Mansion has been a beloved attraction of Disneyland in Anaheim. Later, the Haunted Mansion was one of the opening day attractions in Walt Disney World of Orlando, opening during 1971.

Some of the rides creepy characters appeared in Disneys feature film, The Haunted Mansion, which premiered in 2003. Featuring Eddie Murphy, this film told the story of one family who stumbles upon our beloved mansion during a real estate venture. Its a comedic and light-hearted movie that still highlights some of the aspects of the original Disneyland ride.

A Jungle Cruise movie, starring the Rock and Emily Blunt, is coming to theaters

Another one of Disneylands and Disney Worlds oldest rides is the Jungle Cruise. According to The Hollywood Reporter, even the Chief creative officer at Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios John Lasseter was once a Skipper for this ride.

Now, Disney is making a live-action movie based on this attraction. The movie stars Emily Blunt, (previously the title character of Mary Poppins Returns) and Dwayne The Rock Johnson (the voice of Maui from Moana.) The Jungle Cruise will premiere in theaters July 24, 2020. Some fans are already excited about this adventure  and to see the backside of water on the silver screen.

Tom Hanks and Tim Allen at the premiere of Disney and Pixars TOY STORY 4 | Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney

Some rides in Disney are inspired by Marvel, Disney, Star Wars, and Pixar movies

With the acquisition of Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm by Disney, some rides inspired by movies appeared across the theme parks. Some of the most recently imagined rides include Guardians of the Galaxy  Mission: Breakout! and Remys Ratatouille Adventure, opening in Epcot later this year.

Disney even created sections of theme parks regarding these movies. Theres Cars Land in Disneyland, Pandora: The World of Avatar in Animal Kingdom, and Toy Story Land in Hollywood Studios. Recently, the company opened Star Wars: Galaxys Edge in their California and Florida theme parks, complete with two new rides and interactive experiences.

Disney movies, including Toy Story, Avatar, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and Pirates of the Carribean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, are available on their streaming service. To learn more about Disney+ and to subscribe, visit their website.
The Pentagon says that 34 US service members were diagnosed with varying degrees of brain injuries after the Iranian ballistic missile attack in Iraq this month, upping the number of service members understood to be injured by explosions.

The issue has proven controversial because US President Donald Trump said on the morning after the attack that no American troops were harmed in the January 8 attack, launched in retaliation for the United States killing Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike in Baghdad.

The US dispatched more troops to the Middle East after the attack. Credit:AP

Defence officials have said the injury information was not relayed to Washington until after the fact because no service members suffered loss of life, limb or eyesight.

The Pentagon's chief spokesman, Jonathan Hoffman, said the service members were diagnosed with "concussions and TBI," the latter of which is an abbreviation for traumatic brain injury.
THE Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) on Friday, January 24, warned aspiring overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) of illegal recruitment schemes for bogus jobs in Poland.

In a statement, POEA Administrator Bernard Olalia said there are unscrupulous individuals who are looking to take advantage of the announced high demand for skilled workers in the said country.

"POEA reminds Filipinos seeking jobs in Poland to be cautious of illegal recruiters," said Olalia.

"POEA urges the Filipino overseas job seekers to be vigilant over suspected illegal recruitment schemes and activities," he added.

The POEA issued the warning after the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (Polo) in Geneva, which has jurisdiction over Poland, reported a scheme, wherein prospective job applicants are made to sign contracts in the Philippines and are charged with exorbitant fees for their visa appearance in Malaysia.

Olalia said Polo Geneva reported that there are OFWs, who pay at least P269,000 to their Philippine recruiters, with some even borrowing money from lending agencies referred by the recruiters at usurious interests.

The victims are deployed but are without guaranteed regular employment in Poland.

Back in November, Polo Geneva Labor Attache Cheryl Daytec already recommended the suspension of the processing of papers of OFWs bound for Poland.

Daytec's recommendation to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is based on the growing number of runaway OFWs in Poland, which was already at 135 as of October 9, 2019.

Interviews with runaway OFWs revealed irregularities such as contract substitution, bad working conditions, unjust termination, and expired visas, Daytec related. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)
PV Power is ready to begin the Nhon Trach 3 and 4 thermal power projects in Dong Nai

According to information published by PV Power, the consultancy agency of these projects  Power Engineering Consulting JSC 2  completed the feasibility study. PV Power will submit the basic report to the Ministry of Industry and Trade for approval and send a document to Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) to discuss grid connection. Besides, the company will work with Electric Power Trading Company and PV Gas to negotiate about the power and gas purchase agreements for the two projects.

Regarding the investment capital, along with loans from banks and credit funds, as well as equity, PV Power announced that the Thai investor expressed intention to invest in these two projects, which is part of the MoU on investment co-operation signed by the two parties.

Previously, in November 2019, PV Power and B.Grimm Power, an investment branch of Thai B.Grimm Group, signed an MoU to co-operate on the development of LNG warehouse and port chains as well as gas-to-power projects. Besides, the two parties committed to discuss and share experiences to operate and maintain power plants.

B.Grimm Power is a major investor and developer of renewable energy projects. Currently, B.Grimm Group operates 45 power projects with a total installed capacity of 2,892MW, including 24 solar power projects (two solar power projects of which have been just put into operation in Vietnam's Tay Ninh and Phu Yen provinces with a total capacity of 677MW), 17 thermal power projects, three hydropower projects, and one diesel project. Besides, the group is developing another 11 power projects that will increase its total capacity to 3,245MW.

Back to Nhon Trach 3 and 4, PV Power took over the two projects from PetroVietnam after collecting the opinions of ministries and relevant authorities.

According to plan, the two thermal power plants will cover an area of 34 hectares and have a total investment capital of VND33.3 trillion ($1.5 billion), with the generation capacity of 750-800MW each. The projects will use LNG imported from the Thi Vai storage terminal.

PV Power will spend VND9.99 trillion ($434.35 million) of its equity and VND23.31 trillion ($1 billion) from loans to develop the two projects.

In 2019, PV Power generated 22.54 billion kWh, exceeding its initial plan by 4 per cent and generated VND35.88 trillion ($1.56 billion) in revenue, up 10 per cent against the plan.
The Governments Cobra emergency committee has met to discuss the threat to the UK from coronavirus as nine people wait to see if they have the virus.

The meeting in Whitehall was chaired by Health Secretary Matt Hancock, after 14 people in the UK were tested for the virus, with five given the all-clear.

Professor Paul Cosford, emeritus medical director at PHE, has said it is still early days in the course of the virus, but stressed that most of those affected abroad are making a good recovery.

But he added it is highly likely that cases would be seen in the UK.

Mr Hancock said the risk to the UK public remains low as he left the Cabinet Office.

We have just held a Cobra meeting on the coronavirus concerns, he said.

As I made clear to the House yesterday, the clinical advice is that the risk to the public remains low and the chief medical officer will be making a full statement later today.

The Scottish Government confirmed on Thursday that five people were being tested after presenting with symptoms of the illness, while it was understood that another patient was tested at Belfasts Royal Victoria Hospital.

Two of those being tested in Scotland had been diagnosed with flu after travelling to Wuhan in China  the origin of the global outbreak.

NEW BLOG: Wuhan novel coronavirus: what you need to know https://t.co/9vOzpEOscA  Public Health England (@PHE_uk) January 24, 2020

Downing Street said four out of five suspected cases in Scotland were believed to involve Chinese nationals.

Meanwhile, the official death toll in China has risen to 26 with more than 830 confirmed cases.

The Chinese city of Wuhan is rapidly building a new 1,000-bed hospital to treat victims of a new coronavirus, while Disneyland Shanghai and parts of the Great Wall of China have been closed to visitors.

Story continues

Reuters reported that hospitals in Wuhan are struggling to cope due to medical shortages.

Almost 30 million people and 10 cities in China are now facing travel restrictions.

Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Prof Cosford said: I think its highly likely that we will have cases in the UK.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, he said anyone who has travelled to Wuhan in the last two weeks and returned to the UK, and who has symptoms, must get in touch with the NHS.

Symptoms of coronavirus include fever, sneezing and coughing.

Prof Cosford said: We will not be surprised if people return from China to the UK with the infection, the important thing is that if you are one of those people and you develop symptoms you get in touch quickly.

(PA Graphics)

We are testing anybody who meets the criteria. The numbers arent the important thing, the important thing is that anybody who has been to Wuhan in the last 14 days and has symptoms, respiratory symptoms that could represent this virus  that we ask them to phone NHS 111 and then we can arrange any appropriate testing.

He said there was no precise figure for how many people have been in contact with the NHS who may have symptoms.

He added: Its important that while you do make contact with us, that you keep yourself away from too many other people, because of course if you have been infected, its important that we prevent spread.

All our GPs and hospitals across the country have had a letter from the Chief Medical Officer and the medical director at NHS England and us at Public Health England, so that if somebody does present and they are worried, if they do meet our criteria, that they will be put somewhere where they wont infect other people while theyre assessed and while we can get them tested.

Asked if face masks could provide protection, Prof Cosford said PHE was not advising people to use face masks at the moment, but is monitoring developments carefully.

The death toll is increasing in China (Chinatopix/AP)

If a GP suspects a patient has coronavirus, they should be placed in a room away from other patients and staff with the door closed, the PHE guidance states.

They should not be allowed to use communal toilet facilities or be physically examined, it adds.

A letter from the Chief Medical Officer to clinical staff said anyone who is confirmed as having the virus will be transferred to an Airborne High Consequences Infectious Disease centre (HCID).

According to Public Health England, there are four interim Airborne HCID centres in England  two in London, one in Liverpool and one in Newcastle.

Prof Cosford said: These are early days with this virus, the vast majority of people who are infected do seem to be getting better.

The people who have sadly died do seem to have other conditions that might make them more likely to suffer badly with this virus.

In a statement to the Commons on Thursday, Mr Hancock said while there is an increased likelihood that cases may arise in this country, we are well prepared and well equipped to deal with them.

Also on Thursday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said it is too early to declare an international public health emergency over the outbreak given its restrictive and binary nature.

Speaking at a press conference, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, said: Make no mistake, this is though an emergency in China.

But it has not yet become a global health emergency.

It may yet become one.

Other cases have been reported in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the US and Vietnam.

Passengers wear masks as they arrive at Manilas international airport in the Philippines (Aaron Favila/AP)

Dr Tedros said: We know that most of those who have died had underlying health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes or cardiovascular disease, that weakened their immune systems.

We know that there is human-to-human transmission in China, but for now it appears limited to family groups and health workers caring for infected patients.

At this time, there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission outside China, but that doesnt mean it wont happen.

The UK is monitoring direct flights arriving into the UK from China as a precaution.

Passengers are receiving leaflets and advice on what to do if they develop symptoms, and a PHE health team is on stand-by at Heathrow.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 24

By Ilkin Seyfaddini  Trend:

Uzbek delegation consisting of the representatives of Uzbekistans Presidential Administration and Ministry of Agriculture, visited Netherlands, Trend reports via Uzbek media.

During the visit, the Embassy of Uzbekistan in the Netherlands organized a presentation of Uzbekistans agricultural potential. The event was held at Dutch international "Newsport" press center, in Hague.

The event was attended by representatives of more than 40 leading Dutch agricultural companies, working in the areas of greenhouse production, horticulture and crop production, processing, packaging and transportation of agricultural products, irrigation technologies, as well as representatives of diplomatic corps, and media.

Event was also attended by leaders and representatives of more than 15 Dutch companies which are already collaborating with Uzbekistan or about to enter in countrys market.

The event also included negotiations with Dutch partners on implementation of agricultural projects.

As a result, agreements on development of agricultural projects in Uzbekistan were reached. Also, Dutch company will participate in trade and economic mission of Netherlands in Uzbekistan, in March of 2020, with an official visit to the Samarkand region including their participation in "AgroWorld Uzbekistan - 2020" exhibition.
Kolkata, Jan 24 : Further intensifying its protest against the CAA, NRC and NPR, West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress on Friday announced a series of programmes, comprising human chains, silent processions, poster campaigns, street corners and door to door mass contact exercises to mobilise public opinion up to the grassroots on the issues.

Chief Minister and party supremo Mamata Banerjee, who has been at the forefront of the party's statewide campaign, will address three public meetings herself in the districts.

Trinamool Secretary General Partha Chatterjee said the dates and exact venues of Banerjee's meetings would be decided by her. However, one of them would be organised in Bangaon sub-division of 24 Parganas North district.

Banerjee would address the other two meetings in Nadia district - one in Ranaghat sub-division and the other in an area close to Kalyani, Gyeshpur and Chakdah assembly constituencies.

Incidentally, each of the broad areas earmarked for Banerjee's meetings have strong numbers of Dalit Matua community and other Hindu refugees from Bangladesh - a section being wooed by the BJP.

As part of the nine-day campaign from February 5-13, Trinamool workers and leaders would form human chains in all the blocks between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. on February 5, bring out silent processions with large number of colourful posters on February 6 at the block levels, and hold street corners across the state on February 7.

On February 8-9, every public representative of the party at the block level will visit all the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe people dominated villages up to the booth level and carry a door to door campaign, said Chatterjee.

Between February 10 and 13, the party's public representatives and functionaries as also booth level workers will visit all the booths and go from door to door conducting a mass contact campaign by reaching out to every family.

"We will inform the people about our stand against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the National Register of Citizens and the National Population Register. The people will also be told how misinformation is being spread to mislead the people on these issues," he said.

Chatterjee said the party's newly appointed refugee cell convenor Mukul Bairagya has been asked to visit the blocks, particularly extensive areas of Nadia district.
New Year's Year's resolutions are the opium of our millennial masses. The promises made on January 1 fizzle out before the month ends. Research conducted by Strava using over 800 million user-logged activities in 2019 predicts the day most people are likely to give up on their New Year's Resolution is January 19, 2020.

We decided to ask around to check if this statistic was true, and here's what we found.

Image credit: Pexels.

1. Resolve to join something other than the gym. -Sagarika Singh, 27.

Date of quitting: 18th January 2020.

"If I had no intention of going to a gym in July, why would I force myself to go to one in January? So I picked up a pilates class and I tried it for exactly 18 days before I reached the receptionist and asked her for a refund."

2. A dry January is not a mistake but a blunder. -Gaurav Mehta, 23.

Date of quitting: 7th January 2020.

"After drinking for 21 days straight, I decided to stop drinking in January. But, the first month of the year is already so damn hard and why make it harder with no gin? My house was filled with booze, friends were over and an argument with my girlfriend later, I was sipping on a delicious gin cocktail. Life is good but hey I didn't drink for 7 days and that's something."

3. Spending less is impossible if you have another new year's resolution that involves travelling. -Vedang Sharma, 30.

Date of quitting: 15th January 2020.

"I promised myself that I will spend less. On 15th, I booked a trip to Budapest that has set me back by 60-70k all so because another new year resolution of mine was to travel. I am doomed."

4. Enough with relying on Google Maps. -Rohan Sharma, 25.

Date of quitting: 2nd January 2020.

"We all rely on google maps to get us everywhere that I decided to remember routes because you can't if you are blindly following the app. On January second, I was 2 hours late to work because I was busy getting lost and taking the worst turns and landing up inside weird colonies. Had to use the app to get to office or I would have been fired."

5. Vegetarian January. -Priyanshi Jain, 27.

Date of quitting: 23rd January 2020.

"If Virat Kohli can get ripped and chiseled by giving up on non-vegetarian food, I can at least lose weight. I was my boyfriend's house and his mother spent three hours cooking me her famous lamb curry. How could I say no because it's not every day your boyfriend's mother decides to slog off to feed you. Damn that lamb tasted so good. So now my stomach is happy, future mother-in-law loves me and my boyfriend is head over heels, win-win?"

6. No such thing as 'stop eating when you are full.' -Pragun Khanduja, 21.

Date of quitting: 4th January 2020.

"You know how people just finish whatever is on their plate even when they are full and not hungry?' I am one of those and I swore I will leave food when I am full. I ate an entire large packet of chips even when I wasn't hungry"

7. You can't stay at home when you have 4-5 clingy best friends. -Deviyani Gupta, 23.

Date of quitting: 18th January 2020.

"Since I live alone, I decided to stay at home and nest it out. You know like to decorate it. Sleep in my pajamas without having a bath for 3 days. Eat whatever. Wake up and drink champagne. But all of these luxuries were impossible because after 18 days of saying no to my friends for a plan. They threatened me swearing to not talk to me if I don't show up. I have been out for 4 days including a spontaneous trip to Jaipur."

8. I wanted to be fat and proud. -Krishna Malik, 24.

Date of quitting: 10th January.

"All my life of 24 years, my new year resolution was to lose weight. But by the end of 2019, I was all about embracing my body. Ten days of not overcompensating for not being skinny, I stood in front of the mirror and measured my waist. That very act made me fail at being fat and proud because I wasn't."

9. Sleep early to change my life. -Sumira Kapoor, 19.

Date of quitting: 21st January.

"Sleeping at 10:00 pm is easy if you tire yourself out. But what the hell do I do when I am up at 6:00 am? This wasn't working out for me so I need to sleep late, wake up at a normal time and get shit done."

10. There's no such thing as trying on clothes and hanging them back. -Vedika Bhasin, 20.

Date of quitting: 3rd January 2020.

"You know how all of us try on 10 outfits but never hang them back? Well, I swore to try on clothes and actually hang them back. On the 3rd, I had a date night to go for and I tried on around 10 dresses and they are still on my bed, 20 days later."

11. I vowed to eat healthy. -Ananya Chopra, 27.

Date of quitting: 7th January 2020.

"After depriving myself for exactly a week, I ended up eating cake for breakfast. Never felt more liberated."
THE CHAIRMAN of the Limerick and Clare Milk Producers didnt pull any punches during his speech at their annual dinner dance.

Michael OConnor fired shots at Green Party leader, Deputy Eamon Ryan, President Michael D Higgins and climate change protestors amongst others.

A large crowd attended the event in the Dunraven Arms Hotel on Friday night.

If 2018 will be remembered as the year of drought and fodder scarcity then 2019 will be recalled for the collapse of beef and calf prices, said Mr OConnor. Voices of the animal rights movement could be heard louder than ever last year.

Those that say animals should not be used as food... If that was to be the case what do those people propose be done with all those animals?

Is it a case of opening the gates and letting them overrun the country? Or maybe it is Eamon Ryans proposal of reintroducing the wolf back into Ireland and letting the wolves tear those animals limb from limb? asked Mr OConnor.

On climate change, the Croagh man was critical of those with an opinion of what everyone else should do but were not prepared to do themselves.

Students marching for climate change was the same story. They came out in their thousands to tell us what we should do but again werent prepared to make any sacrifices themselves.

For instance, they came, marched, took selfies and went home to recharge their mobile phones. Whether that electricity was produced by water, wind, turf, oil, coal or indeed nuclear power, their phones had to be charged.

Our President came out and complimented them for taking a stand. Wont it be interesting to see will he cut down on his carbon footprint by much this year or will he too say what the rest of us should do? asked Mr OConnor.

To finish, he said milk prices were starting on a more positive note than last year. The fact Mr OConnor didnt start his speech on the price of milk is always a positive sign!

He wished everyone health and happiness and hoped 2020 would be kind to farmers.

Mr OConnor thanked the hotel and staff for supplying a fine meal - the beef was very popular

Sponsors were thanked for giving such a fine selection of spot prizes, all the attendees, the band Heart & Soul, and everyone involved in making the night such a success. As traditional dinner dances slowly die out the Limerick and Clare Milk Producers continue to fly the flag.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra alleged the AAP are self-declared anarchists and said the protests at Shaheen Bagh marks the height of anarchy.

New Delhi: Slamming Delhi Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia for supporting the ongoing protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at Shaheen Bagh, BJP leader Sambit Patra on Thursday said the "anarchists" have at last come out revealing their true identity.

"Those who are anarchists will stand with the anarchists. For many days, their (Aam Aadmi Party) leaders Kejriwal and Sisodia ji had stood back and did not openly come out in the support. There is nothing to be confused about it. The AAP has self-declared that they are anarchists and what is happening in Shaheen Bagh is the height of anarchy," said BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra at a press conference in Delhi.

"A grand confusion is being told at Shaheen Bagh that Muslims will be thrown out of the country or they will be sent to detention camps," he added.

He further questioned the Delhi chief minister and his deputy about not supporting the residents of the areas near Shaheen Bagh, which he alleged were facing numerous difficulties due to the protests.

"I want to ask a question to Sisodia and Kejriwal ji because nobody in AAP can say anything without his (Kejriwal's) permission, and therefore Sisodia was merely mouthing the words of Kejriwal. You are standing with Shaheen Bagh but, why are you not with Sarita Vihar, Jasola, Madangir-Khadar areas, where almost 20 lakh Delhi residents are facing troubles," Patra said.

"The children are not able to go to their schools. Ambulances cannot reach the area due to which patients have lost their lives in the ambulance. What is the fault of the people from these areas," he added.

Demonstrations have been ongoing in the area since 15 December, 2019, and protestors have blocked Kalindi Kunj-Shaheen Bagh stretch, causing inconvenience to the daily commuters.

Recently, the Delhi High Court asked the Delhi Police to look into the matter of blockage of Kalindi Kunj road due to the protest at Shaheen Bagh.
ODESSA-- University of Texas of the Permian Basin ceramics professor Chris Stanley sat at his potters wheel Wednesday trimming bowls he had thrown at 7:30 a.m. These are the bowls for the 2021 Empty Bowls event. Already made were 142 out of the 300 bowls UTPB will provide for next years event, according to the tracker on their chalkboard. The bowls still need to be glazed and fired again to be ready for 2021. Stanley had seven bowls at his workplace that he was working on trimming.

Stanley has been doing Empty Bowls from the fundraisers beginning. This year he is celebrating 20 years of making bowls to feed the Permian Basin.

The West Texas Food Bank will be hosting the 20th Empty Bowls event Sunday at the Odessa Marriott Hotel and Convention Center. Empty Bowls has grown over the last 20 years, said Craig Stoker, communication specialist for the food bank.

Empty Bowls is a national movement, which made its way to the West Texas Food Banks radar in 2000, Stoker said. Then Odessa High School student Taylor Clark asked Stanley how artists can help the world, he said.

We started out with just about 100 bowls in the UTPB hallway, Stanley said. Taylors dad (Sid Clark) donated the soup. We had a wonderful turnout. The next day it was like, Do we want to do this again?

The event alternated between Odessa and Midland and it even was held in Presidio and Rankin, Stanley said.

The organizational aspect of it started to grow, and it was overwhelming, he said. The West Texas Food Bank is well-prepared to handle that. There was a point where we were negotiating with Midland and Odessa for where to have the event. The food bank serves both communities.

The WTFB was able to host it after its new facilities were built.

West Texas Food Banks Empty Bowls Empty Bowls is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at the Odessa Marriott and Convention Center's Devonian Ballroom. Bowls are $15 each. See More Collapse

When we moved into the facility in Odessa that was the first time, we had a space big enough to host it, Stoker said. It always kind of hopped around between different gyms, schools and churches. It really did give it stability to take it on at the food bank.

According to Feedingamerica.org, 47,840 people are food insecure in the 19 counties that the West Texas Food Bank serves.

WTFB supporter Lissa Wagner is underwriting the event this year, which means all of the proceeds will go to the food bank, Stoker said.

Bowls are $15, he said. For every dollar. the food bank can provide four meals; the purchase of one bowl provides about 60 meals.

Catfish and Co. with Jasons Deli will be catering empty bowls with an assortment of soups and bread.

Odessa College, Midland College and UTPB commit to make 300 bowls each. This year, Midland College made 711 bowls. UTPB also made plates and dessert bowls for the sold-out thank you dinner planned for Saturday night.

Stanley said they are always looking for additional partners to help make more bowls.

Then we are looking for more partners like high schools to get involved, he said. We know that 300 would be a lot for high schools but maybe they could make 100 or 50 bowls. Then, in that way we start to diversify the field of who are the makers, so we dont have to make anymore but we have more people participate.

Stanley said he would like to take the Pots and Prints trailer out to schools for a week, showing a small group of kids how to throw bowls. Then, at the end of the week there would be 100 bowls made by students.

This is the first year the food bank is doing a catered dinner the night before Empty Bowls, Stoker said. In the past, the nonprofit sold VIP tables for the event.

This year for the 20th, they let me break that part out (the VIP tables). The dinner is a part of the event I want to grow, he said. I want to see how it goes this year.

Stoker said the dinner is a great entry level event with tables going for $1,000 for 10 spots, making it $100 per person.

Last year, Empty Bowls was held at the WTFB in Odessa. Stoker said that the warehouse was never empty and that they ran out of room at times in the 60,000-square-foot warehouse.

I dont have an exact number but probably over 600 people came, he said. We had about 1,000 bowls, and 16 were left.

People not only want to support us, but they want to support the art communities in Midland and Odessa, he said. It is one of the few collaborative projects throughout the Permian Basin.

We can support local artists and kids and at the same time get people fed while bringing the communities together, Stoker said.

We want to make sure that it stays accessible to the public because we acknowledge that we cannot do what we do without the communitys support, Stoker said. We always want to have ways big and small that the community can support us.

Empty Bowls will be headed back to Midland next year. Stoker said he hopes they will be able to host it in a bigger space than the WTFB Midland facility.

Stanley said there was a focus this year on the makers donating their time and crafting abilities to help feed people.

We need to shine a spotlight on that, Stanley said. The hope is that Empty Bowls becomes a catalyst for shining that light on makers. This year is also the first year we will be having blown glass at Empty Bowls.

Those making bowls include Karen Hembre, Daiken Asakawa, Mike Richardson, Riley Williams, Angel Carrasco, Jeff Reiswig, Annelorre Dostal Robertson, Paige Gates and people from Trinity School. The sixth-grade class from the UTPB STEM Academy made 251 dessert plates in less than 48 hours with their teacher, Craig Goodson, Stanley said.

They (students) still believe they can make an impact, Stanley said. They still believe they can change things, and because of their energy, we still believe we can do this. It is pure because they know that every one of these bowls is going to feed 40 people through the food bank.

He said that hes thankful for the people of the Permian Basin for continuing to show up to eat soup and purchase the donated bowls for 20 years.
The Pentagon has announced that 34 US service members have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries resulting from the Iranian missile attack on US forces in Iraq earlier this month, in spite of Donald Trump's downplaying of the wounds as "headaches".

The strike came following Mr Trump's decision to kill Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, and the US said at the time that no American personnel were injured. Since then, Mr Trump has acknowledged that the Americans had been injured, but downplayed their significance.

According to the Pentagon, eight of the service members were flown to the US from Germany for treatment, nine are still receiving treatment in Germany, 16 were treated in Iraq and have returned to duty and one was treated in Kuwait before being returned to Iraq.

The report comes just days after Mr Trump dismissed the injuries during a press conference in Davos, Switzerland, saying that the whole affair was "not very serious".

"I heard they had headaches," Mr Trump said. "No, I don't consider them very serious injuries, relative to other injuries that I've seen."

Those comments were swiftly criticised from veterans' groups, and by many who noted that Mr Trump himself avoided the Vietnam War draft after receiving a medical diagnosis for bone spurs.

More follows...
New Delhi: BJP National President JP Nadda addresses a gathering during 'Nukkad Sabha' ahead of Delhi Assembly elections, at Pandav Nagar's D-Park in New Delhi on Jan 24, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi: BJP National President JP Nadda addresses a gathering during 'Nukkad Sabha' ahead of Delhi Assembly elections, at Pandav Nagar's D-Park in New Delhi on Jan 24, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Jan 24 : BJP's new President J.P. Nadda may have been addressing rallies for the February 8 Delhi Assembly election, but it's the CAA, Triple Talaq, Article 370 that rule the discourse.

While Nadda may have started his speech with the issue of regularisation of Delhi's illegal colonies, soon he steered to BJP's familiar territories.

"In our country, if we can abolish sati pratha, child marriage, dowry and other such atrocities against women, why shouldn't we abolish triple talaq?," Nadda asked in Delhi's Pandav Nagar area.

Projecting it as an achievement for the Delhi polls, he asserted: "PM Modi freed Muslim women from the atrocity by removing the practice of Triple Talaq. This is a step towards empowering women. It is not practiced even in Pakistan." Soon, the new BJP boss started talking Kashmir to electorate of the east Delhi assembly constituency that has no or negligible presence of Kashmiris.

"In the past, BDC elections were held for the first time after independence in Jammu and Kashmir. BJP has won 80 seats in this election, Congress has won 1 seat, PDP and National Conference are out of the election," he said.

If triple talaq and Kashmir are discussed in Delhi election campaign, how can the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act be far behind, and Nadda targeted the Congress with "misleading" the people over the legislation.

"Congress tried to sell propaganda to our Muslim brothers. They said that Muslims will lose their citizenship. No one will lose their citizenship. This Act gives citizenship." Clearing the air about influx of people from neighbouring nations into India, Nadda clarified: "No one is being brought to India, contrary to the lies being spread. These people are already living in India as refugees." He even took a passing dig at the protestors of Shaheen Bagh without naming the place before adding that Congress's support to them is a "vote bank politics".

Nadda reaffirmed what Shah earlier said - that there will be no rollback on the CAA.

But as the claps melted into silence after the rally got over and Nadda headed to his car amid supporters jostling for a selfie with him, many were left wondering whether it is a campaign for the Lok Sabha or the Assembly election.

Latest updates on Howdy Modi Houston
tech2 News Staff

A data breach of 250 million Microsoft users has been brought to light by the Comparitech security research team, which is led by Bob Diachenko. The researchers found that 250 million Customer Service and Support records were exposed on the web.

Microsoft has since acknowledged the data breach saying it was due to misconfiguration of an internal customer support database, which the company uses for tracking support cases. This includes logs of conversations between Microsoft support agents and customers of 14 years.

The company says it fixed the vulnerability on 31 December 2019.

The researchers reveal that most of the leaked data like emails, contact numbers, and payment information were redacted. However, a large portion of the leaked data reportedly was also in plain text, which included, but was not limited to, customer email addresses, IP addresses, locations, Microsoft support agent emails, case numbers, resolutions, and remarks and internal notes marked as confidential.

On 21 January 2020, Microsoft published a blog, where it admitted the data breach. Ann Johnson, corporate vice president, Cybersecurity Solutions Group at Microsoft said that the investigation "found no malicious use". Although most customers did not have personally identifiable information exposed, we want to be transparent about this incident with all customers and reassure them that we are taking it very seriously and hold ourselves accountable, she wrote in the blog.

Microsoft also revealed that this breach was caused by a change made to the databases network security group on 5 December 2019, which contained misconfigured security rules that enabled exposure of the data. "This issue was specific to an internal database used for support case analytics and does not represent an exposure of our commercial cloud services."
With two weeks until polling day, we are at the halfway point of the election campaign.

The first head-to-head debate is over and the major manifestos are now published  we are entering into the business end of the race to form the next government.

But how will a government be formed?

With the numbers in the 33rd Dail increasing from 158 to 160, the magic number to reach a majority is 80.

Following the pattern in Europe in recent decades, no one party is in a position to form a majority government, so, at best, we are looking at some form of coalition.

The problem is that if opinion polls are to be believed, the road to 80 seats is far from clear.

As I see it, five scenarios are possible and all are fraught.

SCENARIO 1: Fianna Fail majority government

Some pundits, including Ivan Yates, have Fianna Fail on course to win around 60 seats and Fine Gael to lose up to 10 seats. My latest estimate has Fianna Fail winning 55 seats, and Fine Gael in the mid-40s, with neither in a position to form a government.

To get to 80, a lot of work needs to be done.

Both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have identified the Green Party as prime candidates and it is clear that Eamon Ryans group of three TDs will come back in increased numbers.

On 8% in the most recent Irish Times Ipsos/MRBI poll, the Greens are in the mix to pick up a seat in every Dublin constituency bar North-West and South-Central. On a good day, they are coming back with eight to 10 seats.

And while the bigger parties are taking the Greens involvement as a given, internally it is not so straightforward.

Neasa Hourigan, the partys candidate in Dublin-Central, speaking to me this week, made clear that going into government is not a foregone conclusion. Ms Hourigan said that any decision to enter government must go through a special party conference, and with the scars of the Greens previous term in government with Fianna Fail (2008-2011) still raw, such approval cannot be guaranteed.

She also said that if the party concludes that it would be of greater impact in opposition, then they will stay out.

But take it they go in: that gets you 68 seats, so the obvious next party to look at is Labour.

Brendan Howlins hopes of doubling his partys seat tally, from seven to 14, appear wildly optimistic.

The party will lose Willie Penroses seat and there is a concern that Joan Burtons seat is vulnerable, as are Jan OSullivans, in Limerick, and Alan Kellys, in Tipperary. But they look set to see Aodhan O Riordan, Ged Nash, Mark Wall, and possibly Kevin Humphreys, elected, on a good day.

So, if Labour come back with eight to 10 seats, even though Brendan Howlin is very eager to re-enter government, many others in the party are not so sure, not with the party still teetering on the brink. The entry into government is also subject to approval at a special party conference and, like the Greens, it is not certain such a proposal would succeed.

But, again, take it they go in: that gets you to 76 seats, so there would need to be a reliance on even smaller parties, like the Social Democrats and some gene pool independents.

But the kinds of rural independents that Fianna Fail leader, Micheal Martin, would be looking to would be espousing policies in direct conflict with the Greens, so, again, how could it work?

Overall, this scenario would appear too shaky to succeed.

SCENARIO 2: Fianna Fail minority government  reverse confidence and supply

If, as I outlined above, either the Greens or Labour refuse to enter government, but Fianna Fail can get 70 seats or thereabouts, pressure will be on Leo Varadkar and Fine Gael, in the national interest, to facilitate a minority Fianna Fail-led administration in a reverse confidence-and-supply deal.

While the outgoing government has been stable, it has been woefully unproductive and has long-fingered major decisions on third-level fees, water charges, and property tax reform, to name but a few. It was always meant to be a temporary arrangement and the country can ill-afford a repeat of it.

SCENARIO 3: Fianna Fail-Sinn Fein coalition

A coalition between Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein gets you in reach of the 80-seat mark, or over it on a good day.

For the first time, Sinn Fein appear eager to get their hands on power and have changed their stance to being willing to enter a coalition as a minority party.

However  and it is a big however  Micheal Martin has dug his heels in, repeatedly ruling out any prospect of a deal with Mary Lou McDonalds party, and questioning whether the party is run by shadowy, unelected figures.

One wonders, though, just how strong Martins resolve would be if the difference was between becoming Taoiseach and not. And Fianna Fail previously said it would never do coalitions, until it had to with the Progressive Democrats. While such a scenario delivers a majority government, one wonders if the personalities are there to make it work. I doubt it.

SCENARIO 4: The grand coalition

In what was the stand-out moment of the first TV debate, on Virgin Media, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar put the offer of a full coalition with Fianna Fail on the table.

We have to be grown-ups. My preference would be to form a coalition with old partners, like Labour and independents; maybe new partners, like Greens.

But if its the case that people vote in a certain way, and the only way we can form a stable government is for Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to work together, well, Im willing to do that, he said.

It is compelling. The parties are identical on policy and such a deal would allow for a fundamental realignment of Irish politics, between right and left. It would deliver the numbers for a strong majority government seeking to stay in power for five years.

While not rebuffed immediately by Martin, Varadkar got his answer the next day, when the Fianna Fail leader shut the door on the idea, saying the country wants and needs a change of government. But lets see how resolute he is on the far side of an election.

It would be a rocky arrangement, as many in both parties hold deep personal animus regarding their rivals.

SCENARIO 5: Another election

If, after a prolonged period, no workable arrangement can be arrived at and a government, majority or minority, cant be formed, the nuclear option is for another general election to be called.

Nobody, nobody would want that. While the public will have its say on Saturday, February 8, we have a long wait for a government to be formed.
What Mr. Pierson describes is low-hanging fruit  the kind of security flaws that can quickly be fixed with a little knowledge and attention to detail. Even then, he said, it takes time for the true nature of clients vulnerability to sink in. Theyre shocked when we give them their password and tell them where we found it, but it doesnt hit as hard as when we tell them their entire home automation system has been potentially online and viewable for three or five or eight years, he said.

When it comes to a Bezos-style breach  potentially at the hands of a nation-states intelligence service  high-profile targets would most likely be even less prepared. As Mr. Bezos lengthy investigation into the 2018 attack shows, its difficult to get straight answers even when you have the money and resources to run full forensics.

Of course, its not just wealth that turns somebody into a person of interest for hackers. Journalists, government employees, workers at energy companies and utilities could all be targets for someone. Those who work for financial companies, airlines, hospitals, universities, Hollywood studios and tech businesses are all potentially at risk. You can take steps to secure yourself from corporate data collection by using privacy settings on your phone. And to protect yourself from cyberattacks there are helpful guides you can use that have been vetted by security professionals.

For most of us, the attack against Mr. Bezos isnt the death of privacy, but a reminder of the risks of living a connected life. It should be a moment to think as critically about what you do online as you might in the real world. Invest in a password manager. Turn on dual factor authentication. Be skeptical of any communication that looks out of place.

For the ultrarich and influential, the Bezos hack should be a terrifying revelation. As the former State Department employee and whistle-blower John Napier Tye told me last autumn, For someone whos truly a high-value target, there is no way to safely use a digital device. The stakes are astronomically high. Not just personally, as Mr. Bezos found, but professionally. Company secrets, matters of national security, access to critical infrastructure and the safety of employees could all be compromised by lax security at the top.

The internet has long been thought of as a truly democratic tool, flattening and democratizing the ability to publish and communicate. Its also the great privacy equalizer. Money can buy a lot of things. But on a dangerous internet full of exploits, flawed code, shady actors and absent-minded humans, total, foolproof security is not one of them.
As the Senate reconvened Thursday for President Donald Trump's historic impeachment trial, a name began trending on Twitter among those pushing for the president's removal from office: Fox News senior judicial analyst Andrew Napolitano.

Better known as Judge Napolitano or Judge Nap, the conservative commentator was once a Trump supporter and purveyor of conspiracy theories. But recently, Napolitano has shifted his stance on the president, voicing criticisms of Trump that are often at odds with the views of his fellow Fox News personalities.

Napolitano's deviation from Fox News's normally pro-Trump opinion programming continued this week when the former New Jersey Superior Court judge published an opinion piece pushing back against the president's repeated claims that the impeachment proceeding is a "hoax."

Napolitano described the proceedings as "deadly serious business based on well-established constitutional norms." He also made a case for why he believes there is "ample and uncontradicted" evidence for the Senate to vote to remove the president, writing that there are "valid, lawful, constitutional arguments for Trump's impeachment that he ought to take seriously."

The op-ed appeared to have been first published Wednesday by the Washington Examiner, a conservative news outlet, before it showed up on Fox News's site early Thursday.

"What is required for removal of the president?" Napolitano wrote. "A demonstration of presidential commission of high crimes and misdemeanors, of which in Trump's case the evidence is ample and uncontradicted."

This is not the first time that Napolitano has pushed for Trump's impeachment in recent months, nor is his stance all that surprising, given that he has been described as a "staunch libertarian" who "places principles over partisanship, and who is outspoken and critical without resorting to ad hominem attacks."

But the op-ed, which comes just days before Trump's defense is expected to present its case Saturday, quickly gained traction on social media Thursday as many, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif,) and Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., shared the piece. By late Thursday, "Judge Napolitano" was a trending term on Twitter with tens of thousands of mentions.

"When Fox News' top legal analyst debunks the rest of Fox News . . ." Swalwell tweeted. Clark, who is vice chair of the House Democratic caucus, wrote that Napolitano "acknowledges what we already know: the President abused his power & should be removed from office."

In his piece, Napolitano detailed the two charges against Trump - abuse of power and obstruction of Congress - and laid out the evidence that, he argues, should support impeachment. Napolitano pointed to internal emails showing that the White House withheld military aid to Ukraine after Trump's July 25 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and senior officials defying congressional subpoenas to testify.

"The Constitution prescribes the bases for impeachment as treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors," he wrote. "However, this use of the word 'crimes' does not refer to violations of federal criminal statutes. It refers to behavior that is so destructive of the constitutional order that it is the moral equivalent of statutory crimes."

Napolitano also went after unnamed Republican senators, accusing them of reassuring Trump that he will be acquitted.

"Whoever may have whispered that into his ear is unworthy of sitting as a juror and has violated the oath of 'impartial justice' and fidelity to the Constitution and the law," he wrote.

Napolitano's op-ed presents a stark contrast to a majority of Fox News's impeachment coverage, which in recent days has favored disparagement of Democrats and pro-Trump commentary over airing live footage of the proceedings.

"Imagine a movie written and directed by children whose ending you already know, and by the way, it's 20 hours long and Hungarian with misspelled subtitles," Fox News host Tucker Carlson said Wednesday, following the first day of opening arguments for Democrats. "That's what it's like."

Later that night, host Sean Hannity, a close Trump ally, adopted a similar take on the day's events.

"Now, if I was a terrible host, I would force you to endure watching the regurgitation, the repetition . . . the insanity that has gone on all day, America, 24 hours of never-ending babbling, repetitive talking points over what was nothing," he said.

On Thursday, Trump critics cited Napolitano's arguments and praised the Fox News analyst for being "willing to tell the truth" and remaining "true to his principles."

"The Judge is a courageous man and now he must fight the cabal that wants to keep someone this lawless and reckless in our most sacred public servant position," tweeted former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci.

A headline on an article from the Palmer Report, a liberal political blog, read, "Judge Napolitano of Fox News just destroyed Donald Trump's impeachment defense."

Not everyone was receptive to the op-ed.

"I change channels when this idiot shows up," one person wrote in the comments section of the piece. "He belongs at CNN or a nut house. Same difference."

Another urged the network to find another legal expert, writing, "Nap has been so wrong, so often that I thought Fox finally let him go to pasture."

Trump has not yet publicly addressed the column. Instead, the president tweeted two clips from Hannity's show Thursday night, during which the host railed against the "Schumer Schiff Sham Show."
Rio Rancho will welcome a new ray of sunshine to its business community.

NM Solar Group will move to Rio Rancho at the end of this month. The solar group originally had its headquarters in Albuquerque.

Former CEO of NMSG Ryan Wallace said, We had a lot of options on where to put the HQ for NM Solar Group, including in other states. We ultimately chose Rio Rancho because we really liked the direction of the community.

Wallace led the move to Rio Rancho before selling the company to his employees in an employee stock ownership plan. After making this transition, he passed the role of CEO to Nick Kadlec.

NM Solar Group was founded in 2015 and has helped over 500 homeowners obtain solar energy, according to the company website. In the past five years, NMSG has expanded across New Mexico. The group has opened offices in Alamogordo, Las Cruces and El Paso, Texas.

The new headquarters will be 4140 Jackie Road, a building Wallace owns.

I purchased the building and then put $400,000 into remodeling it. The building is beautiful, he said.

Kadlec said by having a bigger space in Rio Rancho, NM Solar Group is able to eliminate some overhead.

We will have to go through less supply houses and be more direct, so we can keep our prices down, he said.

Kadlec said he is confident the company will continue to grow and be able to provide jobs to Rio Rancho.
/ -- Manipal Hospitals Bangalore, the foremost multi-specialty healthcare provider committed to clinical excellence and patient care, performed Bentall operation successfully on a Jehovah witness patient - 43-year-old Mr. Uwen from Nigeria - this month, a first in Asia. A team of Cardiothoracic Vascular and Heart Transplant Surgeons, Dr. Devananda NS, HOD & Consultant - Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery and Heart Transplant, Dr. Murali Krishna, Consultant - Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery and Heart Transplant and Dr. Lalchand H Bandagi, Consultant Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery and Heart Transplant of Manipal Hospitals Bangalore conducted this procedure.

Mr. Uwen, 43-year-old Geophysicist from Nigeria was excessively getting tired due to physical exertion for last couple of years. It worsened so much over the last two years that he had to voluntarily quit his job. When investigated, he was found to have severe leakage of aortic valve (one of the main valve of the heart) leading to severe enlargement of his heart, producing heart failure. He was put on heart failure medication and asked to undergo change of the aortic valve at the earliest.

Being a person of Jehovah faith, who do not accept any blood or blood product transfusion, it was difficult for him to find a surgeon who would accept him for surgery. When he got in touch with the Jehovah community in India, he was directed to Dr. Devananda NS, HOD & Consultant - Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery and Heart Transplant, and Manipal Hospitals Bangalore who have experience in treating several Jehovah patients for heart surgery.

Sharing more details on the case, Dr. Devananda NS, HOD & Consultant - Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery, Heart Transplant, Manipal Hospitals Bangalore, said, "Mr. Uwen was reinvestigated at Manipal Hospital. In addition to aortic valve leak with heart enlargement, he was also found to have gross enlargement of aortic root and early part of his aorta, medically called 'annuloaortic ectasia'. This condition requires not only replacement of the aortic valve, but also replacement of the entire aortic root (Bentall Operation). This is a complicated operation and doing it without blood on face of his poorly functioning heart (Ejection Fraction - 35%) which otherwise should have been 55% (in a normal person) was a challenge. After a coronary angiography, he was treated for 2 weeks with iron replacement and erythropoietin injections to build his hemoglobin from 13.5 gm/dL to 14 gm/dL. He underwent Bentall Operation on 03/01/2020; he had a smooth recovery and was discharged within 10 days with a hemoglobin of 10 gm/dL."



To our knowledge, this happens to be the first case being reported from a Jehovah Witness in India. However, Dr. Devananda NS, HOD & Consultant - Cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery and Heart Transplant, Manipal Hospitals Bangalore, who has performed heart surgeries in over a dozen of Jehovah patients from 3.5 kg child to adults, says, "This is the second time he has performed this operation on a Jehovah patient. Apart from meticulous planning, the operation, good post-operative care is essential for successfully treating this challenging group of patients."



Expressing his happiness on the treatment, Mr. Uwen said, "I have recovered completely and now leading a happy and normal life all thanks to Dr. Devananda and team. The doctors have been supportive throughout the procedure and even my post-surgery follow-ups reports are good. Grateful to the team that they took up this challenging surgery and at the same time keeping up with the sentiments of my belief and faith. I appreciate the efforts and commitment of the doctors."About Manipal HospitalsAs a pioneer in healthcare, Manipal Hospitals is among the largest hospital network in India serving over 2 million patients annually. Its focus is to develop an affordable tertiary care multispecialty healthcare framework through its entire multispecialty delivery spectrum and further extend it to homecare. With its flagship quaternary care facility located in Bangalore, India, 8 tertiary care, 7 secondary care and 2 primary care clinics spread across India and abroad, today Manipal Hospitals successfully operates and manages 5,200+ beds. Manipal Hospitals provides comprehensive curative and preventive care for a multitude of patients from across the globe. Manipal Hospitals is first in India to be awarded accreditation by the AAHRPP for ethical standardsing clinical research activities. It is also NABL, NABH and ISO certified. Manipal Hospitals is also the most respected hospital company in India and the most patient recommended hospital in India by consumer survey.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1006652/Manipal_Hospitals_Logo.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1081576/Manipal_Hospital.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
ABC News

Former President Donald Trump, his sister Maryanne Trump Barry and the estate of his late brother Robert Trump tried on Tuesday to convince a New York judge to dismiss a lawsuit by Mary Trump that accused her family of swindling her out of at least $10 million. Attorneys for the Trump siblings argued Mary Trump's claims are time-barred by a six-year statute of limitations and prohibited by legal releases she signed in 2001 when the family settled the estate of Fred Trump Sr., the former president's father. The Trumps also argued Mary Trump possessed "boxes and boxes of information" about the estate settlement that should have given rise to any claims at the time.
Bulgaria has declared two Russian diplomats as persona non grata, and a relevant note has been delivered to the Ambassador of Russia in Sofia, reports RIA Novosti, citing the statement by the diplomatic representation.

The statement states that Bulgaria hasnt submitted any evidence showing that the diplomats have carried out activity in the country that is incompatible with their status.

The Russian embassy added that Moscow reserves itself the right to take response measures for expulsion.
Imagine thinking that people just don't like you because no one has reached out to you in months, but then finding out it's because everyone thinks you're actually dead. Yeah, this is a weird situation but, it also happened for real for 75-year-old Alan Hattel.

The poor guy got so concerned that no one had called him in three-four months, only to discover his own grave. Yes, it's getting weirder. Talk about being buried alive.



 Paul Reid

The retired welder from Forfar, Tayside in Scotland said, "My phone hasnt rung for three or four months. Ive been confused by it all but now I know why nobody has been calling. I dont even want to be buried  I plan to be cremated."

Well, what's the perfect way to announce that you're actually alive? Posing dramatically alongside your grave, of course.



 Paul Reid

I'm a little upset he didn't use this rare chance to just mess with people by claiming how he died but came back to life. That would be hilarious.



But, the main question is why would there be a gravestone with his name on it when he's clearly not in the grave. Well, according to him, it seems like the doing of his ex-wife.



 Paul Reid

He said, "Ive never, ever said I wanted to be buried alongside my ex-wife. Weve been separated 26 years and theres no animosity but Im struggling to take it all in. To find out you have a gravestone in a cemetery while you are still alive isnt something that happens every day."



There's only one explanation-

When your ex really really doesn't like you ....https://t.co/AJEyB5Iy3S  Brad Pridgeon (@bpridgeo) January 23, 2020

Well, at least he already has a headstone and everything when his time actually comes if he changes his mind about getting cremated.
Thousands of people have convened in the capital city of Baghdad to deplore the U.S. military presence in the country.

According to Iraqs local media, people from all of the Iraqi provinces have gathered in the ongoing rally to condemn the Americans illegal presence in the country, after the U.S. assassinated top Iranian commander Lieutenant General Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in Baghdad earlier this month.

The protesters carried banners and chanted slogans calling for the expulsion of U.S. forces.

The demonstrators plan to gather at the intersection of Baghdad University in the Jadriyah neighborhood.



Iraqis in Karbala city, south of Baghdad, were also seen boarding buses heading towards the capital.

The rally comes after influential Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called on Iraqis to stage a million-strong, peaceful, unified demonstration to condemn the American presence and its violations last week.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
Q: I take medication for rheumatoid arthritis and am allowed only four glasses of wine a week. Are there any acceptable non-alcohol wines?

I. C., Newcastle, NSW

Illustration by Simon Letch. Credit:

Theres been a lot of progress in the removal of alcohol from wine, but so far nothing with all the alcohol removed that Ive tasted is a serious substitute for the real thing.

However, there are some very good low-alcohol wines. Some of these are naturally low-alcohol, others have undergone partial alcohol removal, by about 25 per cent  from, say, an alcohol content of around 13 per cent in standard wine down to 9.5 per cent.

The stumbling block is that alcohol is a critically important part of the way wine tastes. Without alcohol, wine invariably tastes watery and insipid. It lacks depth, weight, richness. It lacks character and interest. In some cases, you may as well be drinking grape juice.
House Democrats turn attention to obstruction charge, need for witnesses on the last day of their opening arguments.

Washington, DC  The Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump enters a critical phase on Friday as House Democrats make their best argument why former National Security Adviser John Bolton should testify.

While Republicans appear unified so far in support of their president, Democrats hope that by detailing Trumps obstruction of their Ukraine inquiry they can convince a small faction of Republicans to ask for Boltons testimony.

If Bolton appears, it could be explosive, legal scholars and analysts say.

If Mr Bolton were to testify, he would blow the roof off the US Capitol, said Gene Rossi, former federal prosecutor now in private practice at Carlton Fields law firm in Washington, DC.

Bolton would describe in intimate detail the minutiae of interactions between the president and his conspirators to execute the arms-for-dirt scheme he called a drug deal,' Rossi told Al Jazeera.

The House of Representatives impeached Trump in December for abuse of power related to his dealings with Ukraine and obstruction of Congress for refusing to participate in the impeachment probe. Democrats accuse the president of abusing his power in office by leveraging a White House meeting and withheld military assistance to get Ukraine to announce investigations in Trumps political rival Joe Biden.

Democrats on Friday are expected to focus on the obstruction charge, while making the case for witnesses, including Bolton and acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney.

With Republicans in control of the Senate by a 53-47 margin, Democrats are not expected to garner the two-thirds vote necessary to convict Trump on articles of impeachment.

But Democrats believe Boltons testimony could give enough Republicans reason to create at least a majority vote to convict, which would be a huge political victory.

Bolton is among several witnesses Trump prevented from testifying during the House impeachment inquiry, including acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and other White House officials.

Hand grenade

As Trumps national security adviser, Bolton participated in direct conversations with the president, Rudy Giuliani, Trumps personal lawyer, and other key players in the impeachment probe. Bolton was forced out of the White House after several disagreements with Trump.

The reason that Bolton is an important witness is that the Senate majority has pre-judged the case and indicated that they will not vote to remove President Trump, said Barb McQuade, a former federal prosecutor and law professor at the University of Michigan.

If he were to testify about new details regarding what he referred to as a drug deal and a hand grenade, it is possible that some senators would change their minds, McQuade told al Jazeera.

Republican Senators Mitt Romney, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski have signalled they may be willing to join the Democrats on a motion to call witnesses later in the trial. A fourth Republican would be needed to get to the 51 votes needed. Senator Lamar Alexander could provide that swing vote.

Trump speaks as then-NSA Bolton listens during a meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in [File: Oliver Contreras/EPA]

Bolton has said he would testify if subpoenaed. Trump has said he would seek to assert executive privilege over Boltons testimony, potentially complicating and extending the Senate trial.

Much of the case revolves around the actions of Trumps personal lawyer Giuliani, who Bolton called a hand grenade whos going to blow us all up, according to testimony.

Giuliani claims to have information on former Vice President Biden and his son Hunter Biden, a former board member of Ukrainian gas company Burisma. He travelled to Kyiv in December and tweeted on Thursday that he would begin to disclose details.

Democrats argued in the Senate on Thursday that Giulianis allegations about Biden in Ukraine are completely debunked conspiracy theories. In fact, there is no evidence the Bidens did anything wrong but Republicans are continuing to push the issue.

When I say I like Joe Biden, Im not kidding, Senator Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally, told reporters on Thursday.

But heres the problem. If youre the vice president of the United States and the Ukraine is in your portfolio, youre going to have to answer questions about how your son made three million dollars from the most corrupt company in the Ukraine, you didnt know about it, Graham said.

In a rare moment of levity during the Senate trial on Thursday, House manager Sylvia Garcia drew involuntary laughter from Republicans when she played a video clip of former a White House aide joking about Giuliani.

Tom Bossert, a former Homeland Security adviser to Trump, said in a television interview in September that there are three ways to impeach ones self. And the third way was to hire Rudy Giuliani.

That drew a smirk from the usually stone-faced Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell as a row of Republicans behind him laughed out loud.

Restless days

Some Republican senators complained of boredom during the lengthy presentations by House Democrats on Thursday.

Senator Richard Burr handed out fidget spinners to a few colleagues and he was seen openly spinning a light blue spinner for half an hour as House manager Jerry Nadler, a Democrat, expounded on the constitutional legal basis for Trumps impeachment.

After Friday, the presidents defence team will have 24 hours over three days to mount a rebuttal of the Democrats case.

Trumps lawyers are not expected to directly address the Houses evidence in the case, but likely will criticise the House impeachment process as partisan and unfair.

Im hoping our side will simplify it more and not go into as laborious and complicated arguments, said Republican Senator Mike Braun.

After having been treated unbelievably unfairly in the House, and then having to endure hour after hour of lies, fraud & deception by Shifty Schiff, Cryin Chuck Schumer & their crew, looks like my lawyers will be forced to start on Saturday, which is called Death Valley in T.V.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 24, 2020

Trump again on Friday went on a tweet storm, railing against the Democrats and calling the impeachment a hoax.

US public opinion on Trumps impeachment is sharply divided between Democrats and Republicans with a slight tilt in favour of removing the president from office.

A new Emerson College national poll showed 51 percent of respondents favour Trumps conviction and removal from office while 49 percent oppose impeachment.

A strong majority of 59 percent of voters want the Senate to call witnesses in the trial, according to the survey conducted January 21-23 with a 4.1 percent margin of confidence.
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has begun fresh moves to resolve the lingering gridlock at the Lagos Ports Complex.

The new measures followed a meeting between NPA and stakeholders in response to the recent increase in the waiting time of vessels calling at the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa.

The meeting was attended by shipping companies and terminal operators, according to a statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES by NPAs spokesperson, Jatto Adams.

He said the meeting arrived at some decisions aimed at immediately resolving the congestion in the Lagos Pilotage District.

As from Monday January 27, 2020, vessels which have waited to berth at any terminal within the Lagos Pilotage District will be diverted to other terminals with capacity to berth vessels within the district.

In the event that all terminals in Lagos cannot discharge any vessels within four days, such vessels will be diverted to the Eastern Ports (other pilotage districts) for immediate berthing.

READ ALSO:

The Authority will liaise with other relevant government agencies on behalf of stakeholders to expedite the clearance of vessels and cargoes, where necessary.

The NPA management said the decisions were taken to promote the Ease of Doing Business Policy of the federal government and curtail the negative economic impact that the long turnaround time of vessels has on stakeholders.

The regulatory body solicited the cooperation of all stakeholders in implementing the new decisions.
An 104-year-old World War II veteran is gearing up for a very special Valentines Day after a call for holiday cards yielded thousands.

Operation Valentine was launched earlier this month in honor of Bill White, a retired major in the U.S. Marine Corps now living at The Oaks at Inglewood in Stockton, California.

A fellow resident at the retirement and assisted living facility made the initial request on social media, calling on people to send White cards in the hopes of reaching 100  about one for each birthday, according to Reuters.

But in the weeks since, at least 70,000 people have sent their Valentines greetings, inundating White with cards, letters and gifts, which required volunteers to help open as the deluge kept pouring in, Reuters reports.

I dont know what to say or think or do when this subject is brought up. It hits me like a ton of bricks, he told NBC affiliate KCRA several weeks ago. Im surprised to say the least. I hadnt expected any of this until all of a sudden it happened.

Whites daughter Mary Huston told the Stockton-based Record that much of the mail comes from people with fathers, sons or brothers in the military.

Its kind of a way to thank maybe those that have passed already, she said. They cant thank them personally, so theyre doing it through him.

RELATED: WWII Vet Asks for 100 Cards to Celebrate 100th Birthday  a Request Linked to His Late Wife

The cards will soon join Whites lifelong collection of mementos hes amassed over the years, which includes various objects and scrapbooks that he keeps on a bookshelf organized by year, he told Fox affiliate KTXL.

Its kept me busy just trying to locate or keep track of whats happened to me, where, when, he said. Ill save every one of them like Ive been saving little things that have come up until right now and theyll be a personal part of my history.

RELATED VIDEO: 97-Year-Old U.S. Veteran Parachutes For 75th D-Day Anniversary

Story continues

Among those mementos is a Purple Heart White was awarded after he was injured during the Battle of Iwo Jima in Japan in 1945.

When I was wounded, I didnt have any choice in the matter, he told KTXL. I had a grenade blow up about six inches from me The fact that I even survived is something. There werent too many of us.

RELATED: World War II Veteran, 95, and Korean War Veteran, 85, Walk During Their High School Graduation

After his time in the military, Huston told the Record her dad was an officer for the Huntington Beach Police Department, and later worked as a jailer.

Diane Wright, executive director at The Oaks, told KCRA that Operation Valentine was launched in part to pay tribute to Whites fondness for his military background.

Its a sign of showing love, appreciation, she said. We have them from New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee.
Of the soundtrack, composers SONYA BELOUSOVA and GIONA OSTINELLI say, "The best part of scoring The Witcher is the constant stream of unlimited creative opportunities this unique and vast universe provides. We wrote and produced songs, folk tunes, dances, and score, collaborated with virtuoso soloists and phenomenal artists, recorded unique historical instruments, many of which were crafted specifically for The Witcher , as well as personally performed and recorded over 60 instruments in order to create over 8 hours of an exciting original soundtrack."

The Witcher tells the story of Geralt of Rivia, a mutated monster-hunter for hire, as he journeys toward his destiny in a turbulent world where people often prove more wicked than beasts.

ALBUM ARTWORK (FOR MEDIA USE): DOWNLOAD

CONNECT WITH THE WITCHER: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | TRAILER

THE WITCHER (MUSIC FROM THE NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES)

TRACKLISTING 

Geralt of Rivia Toss A Coin To Your Witcher (feat. Joey Batey )* Happy Childhoods Make For Dull Company (feat. Rodion Belousov ) The Time of Axe And Sword Is Now (feat. Declan de Barra & Lindsay Deutsch ) They're Alive (feat. Lindsay Deutsch & Burak Besir ) Tomorrow I'll Leave Blaviken For Good Her Sweet Kiss (feat. Joey Batey )*** It's An Ultimatum Round of Applause (feat. Rodion Belousov ) Marilka That's My Name I'm Helping The Idiot (feat. Arngeir Hauksson) The Knight Who Was Taught To Save Dragons (feat. Rodion Belousov ) Ragamuffin The Last Rose of Cintra (feat. Declan de Barra )** Late Wee Pups Don't Get To Bark (feat. Lindsay Deutsch ) You Will Rule This Land Someday The Fishmonger's Daughter (feat. Joey Batey )** Blaviken Inn (feat. Lindsay Deutsch ) Man In Black The Great Cleansing (feat. Lindsay Deutsch ) The Law of Surprise Battle of Marnadal Pretty Ballads Hide Bastard Truths (feat. Rodion Belousov ) Giltine The Artist Everytime You Leave Rewriting History (feat. Rodion Belousov ) The End's Beginning (feat. Declan de Barra ) Gold Dragons Are The Rarest (feat. Rodion Belousov ) Bonfire (feat. Lindsay Deutsch ) Children Are Our Favourite Do You Actually Have What It Takes Point Me To Temeria Djinni Djinn Djinn Here's Your Destiny Two Vows Here Tonight Bread Breasts And Beer (feat. Lindsay Deutsch ) Would You Honor Me With A Dance Four Marks (feat. Rodion Belousov ) The Pensive Dragon Inn (feat. Lindsay Deutsch ) A Gift For The Princess You're In Brokilon Forest Today Isn't Your Day Is It Lovely Rendez-vous a la Montagne Blame Destiny The White Flame Has Brought Us Together He's One of The Clean Ones (feat. Lindsay Deutsch ) You Lost Your Chance To Be Beautiful Yennefer of Vengerberg Shouldn't You Know When Someone Is Pretending (feat. Lindsay Deutsch ) You'll Have To Fight It Until Dawn I'm The One With The Wishes Chaos Is All Around Us The Curse of The Black Sun Battle of Soden The Song of The White Wolf (feat. Declan de Barra )**

*Lyrics by Jenny Klein

**Lyrics by Declan de Barra

***Lyrics by Haily Hall

SONYA BELOUSOVA APPROVED IMAGE: DOWNLOAD

GIONA OSTINELLI APPROVED IMAGE: DOWNLOAD

Sony Music Masterworks comprises Masterworks, Sony Classical, Milan Records, OKeh, Portrait and Masterworks Broadway imprints. For email updates and information please visit www.sonymusicmasterworks.com/ .

CONNECT WITH SONY SOUNDTRACKS: FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

CONNECT WITH MILAN RECORDS: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

MEDIA CONTACTS

Jamie Bertel | Sony Music Masterworks

SOURCE Sony Music Masterworks
Kathmandu [Nepal], Jan 24 (ANI): Nepal's Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali on Friday said that if India can resolve the boundary dispute with Bangladesh, then why not with his country.



"If India can solve the land and border issues with the other country (Bangladesh), why not with Nepal," he said while addressing a press conference here.

The Foreign Minister said Nepal's current territory was demarcated, based on the Sugauli Treaty of 1816 and other complementary treaties.

He said Nepal wants to settle this "unresolved, pending issue according to the letter and spirit of the Sagauli Treaty."

The Foreign Minister said: "I do believe that both the countries have strong political stability. Leaders are visionary. They have good personal contact as well, and a commitment to resolve the pending issues. We can resolve it through the diplomatic process."

Last year, Nepal had raised objections after India's Home Ministry released a political map, which showed Kalapani territory within Indian borders.

The territory is a disputed area between India and Nepal. It is under Indian administration as part of Pithoragarh district in Uttarakhand.

The valley of Kalapani, with the Lipulekh Pass at the top, forms the Indian route to Kailash Manasarovar, an ancient pilgrimage site.

The territory is also the traditional trading route to Tibet for the Bhotiyas of Uttarakhand.

After India closed the Lipulekh Pass in the aftermath of the 1962 Sino-Indian War, much of the Bhotiya trade used to pass through the Tinkar Pass. The Nepalese protests regarding the Kalapani territory started in 1997 after India and China agreed to reopen the Lipulekh Pass.

In November last year, the MEA had said that the new political map released after bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir accurately depicts its sovereign territory and did not revise its boundary with Nepal in any manner. (ANI)


More than $1 billion in shareholder wealth was torched as the share price of Blue Sky's listed headstock - Blue Sky Alternative Investments - crashed from over $14 to a low of 18 cents before its shares were suspended and administrators and receivers appointed. (A separate listed fund Blue Sky Alternative Access Fund lives on.) "It really is very sad," says one former executive who declines to be named for employment reasons. "Im just glad the miserable period is over." But there will be little recourse for shareholders. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has been investigating the group but has, for the time being at least, decided to take no further action against Blue Sky.

And for the time being there is a moratorium on shareholder claims as part of an agreement to resurrect some parts of Blue Skys business. Shareholders are expected to receive zero cents in their dollar. Doubters started early How it all went wrong for Blue Sky and the lessons for investors is now important Australian corporate history. It is commonly accepted that Blue Sky started to really unravel in March 2018 when a short seller's report from Texan hedge fund Glaucus accused the group of aggressively valuing up its assets so that it could charge high fees and bolster its returns, and in turn lift its share price.

But the group had been facing serious questions about its lack of transparency, governance and how it valued its assets and judged its returns for more than a year before the March "attack". In early 2017, proxy advisor group Ownership Matters, which advises institutional investors on the governance and performance of ASX-listed groups, was already questioning Blue Sky over its accounts, governance and board structure, particularly its lack of independent directors. They called themselves the KKR of Brisbane. It was just ludicrous. It was fantasy that an asset manager could achieve such returns investing in those sort of asset classes. Soren Aandahl, Glaucus "There is potential risk that without independent directors, there is significant incentive for members of the audit process, non-independent board and management team for these assets to always be rising in assessed value, as this creates increased income/earnings for Blue Sky. There is little incentive to mark down asset values." In August 2017, Blue Skys then-chairman John Kain responded to a lengthy set of questions put forward by Ownership Matters' co-founder Peter Wuchatsch. In Kains letter, seen by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, the chairman defends the lack of transparency as "in the best interest of shareholders".

Mark Sowerby, one of the founders of Blue Sky. Wuchatsch kept hammering away, releasing fresh research into the group on December 17, in the same year. The 19-page report raised so many serious questions Wuchatsch included a helpful cover page so readers could keep up. The questions included: Why doesnt BLA [Blue Sky Alternative Investments] provide breakdown of fee-earning assets under management by asset class? Why are some assets revalued so rapidly? Why has BLA seemingly changed the policy for which assets are included in its IRR (internal rate of return) calculation? Why do BLA funds and BLA itself lend to other BLA funds? But Blue Skys shares kept on rising. In 2017 Blue Sky doubled its share price from $6.99 to $13.99 as it continued spruiking its investment wares to self-managed super funds and investors offshore including in the US. In the first week of March 2018, Blue Sky raised $100 million from investors, including Fidelity at $11.50 a share. It was just weeks before the Glaucus report landed. Red flags

Its a glorious winters day  21 degrees and sunny  in Austin, Texas, when Soren Aandahl the man behind the Glaucus note and now head of investment at Blue Orca Capital answers the phone. The American investment guru explains that it was Blue Skys incredible returns and the high receivables on its balance sheet that in part piqued his interest in the outfit. "[Its a] combination that is really deadly for an asset manager." "They had claimed a 15 per cent net IRR since inception and if that were true that would essentially make them one of, if not, the greatest investor of the past 20 years. "They called themselves the KKR of Brisbane. It was just ludicrous. It was fantasy that an asset manager could achieve such returns investing in those sort of asset classes." Aandahl says Blue Skys lack of transparency set them apart from other asset managers such as KKR or Apollo which have fulsome disclosures.

"They have spreadsheets and spreadsheets of data of how they measure their returns and asset values. Those conventions exist because its so easy for asset managers to essentially inflate performance on unrealised investments. "From almost day one thats what we suspected Blue Sky were doing. That explains the riddle of why the receivables were going up so high and why they never seemed to sell any of their assets." The Glaucus note was another serious blow to Blue Sky. On a conference call with analysts in early April, Shand hit out at Glaucus. "These allegations are both fundamentally flawed and materially misleading.

"The reality of what has happened here  that a foreign short seller can launch a co-ordinated attack in an opinion piece that bears no resemblance to reality with the explicit intention of profiting from it  is, I believe, appalling." Loading But while other groups have weathered short seller "attacks" and polarised the investment community  see Harvey Norman for example  Blue Sky could not recover from the Glaucus report, in part because of its own doing. "It was like every time they opened their mouths to respond to their critics the share price fell," said one fund manager who held shares in Blue Sky before exiting in early 2018. Shand resigned in late April. Perversely for Blue Sky and Shand, Blue Skys fresh disclosures to prove Glaucus wrong added fuel to the fire.

A key example being, despite saying it could not state its assets by asset class, Blue Sky later provided those figures. Despite saying their assets were fairly valued, Blue Sky later issued a slew of write-downs. It wasnt long before the group was forced to confess that ASIC was investigating and had asked them to hand over their books and records. By September 2018, Blue Sky was in crisis. Near the end of that month it had accepted a $50 million line of credit from distressed securities specialist, US firm Oaktree Capital Partners. Within months Blue Sky started breaching its debt covenants. By May last year Oaktree called in receivers. In the six months of sudden quiet following Blue Skys collapse, Oaktree has brokered a deal with Blue Skys receivers and administrators for its subsidiary to take control of Blue Skys "real assets" business. That deal also placed an interim moratorium on legal claims, including shareholder claims, despite three law firms - Gadens, Shine and Piper Alderman - doing preparatory work for investor actions.

Shine class actions practice leader Craig Allsop - who was previously a lawyer at ASIC - says ASIC canning its investigation doesn't stop a class action claim. "Its always helpful if the regulator has found wrongdoing but the standards they have to meet and their internal processes for selecting what they investigate and what they dont investigate are quite different to the considerations for a shareholder class action," he says, adding: "I don't think they took the investigation very far. "I think its potentially very arguable that Blue Skys disclosure was not sufficient for the purposes of a civil shareholder claim." Shareholders are expected to receive nothing. When asked for an update on shareholder outcomes, a spokesman for receivers at KordaMentha referred to an announcement from Blue Sky in July. As one shareholder said of the groups collapse: "I still dont understand what happened to the business."

Documents partially released by ASIC under a freedom of information request that relate to ASICs investigation are largely redacted. One sentence cruelly reads "It is recommended that no further action be take in relation to this inquiry for the following reasons:"  those reasons are entirely redacted along with most other details of the investigation. Sailing into the sunset In the meantime, many of Blue Skys most well-known executives and directors have seemingly sailed off into the sunset. Sowerby, who was replaced by long-time business partner Shand in 2016, could not be reached. ASIC records show he remains a shareholder through his business Blue Dog Group in Beach Burrito Company Pty Ltd alongside new shareholder Oaktree. Other key executives involved in the Blue Sky saga have not been named for legal reasons.
Family Carers Ireland is calling on electoral candidates and the community to prioritise family carers in the next government.

Family Carers Ireland is appealing to communities to make their voice count and challenge candidates to commit to sharing the care with Irelands 355,000 family carers. The cards are available from familycarers.ie and outline five main areas where change is urgently needed to support family carers, the unsung heroes of Irelands inadequate health service.

Family Carers Canvass Card Key Questions for Candidates

Will you reform the means test for Carers Allowance?

Will you abolish the postcode lottery in carer supports by funding the 3.2m Carers Guarantee proposal?

Will you commit to increasing funding to ensure demand-led access to homecare?

Will you commit to giving all full time family carers the right to 20 days respite per year?

Will you commit to abolish waiting lists for essential therapies for children with special needs? (e.g. speech & language, physio, occupational therapy & psychology)

Family Carers Ireland (FCI) is a National Charity dedicated to supporting the estimated 355,000 Family Carers in Ireland. With limited availability to supports and services family carers are an extremely vulnerable group of Irish society. Family carers prop up the national health service at a high personal cost - financially, physically and emotionally.

Family carers save the state 10 billion per year.

One in ten adults in Ireland is a family carer

By 2030, demographic changes predict that one in five people will take on a caring role.

It is estimated that there are over 57,000 young carers (under 18) in Ireland looking after someone in their family who has an illness or disability.

82 per cent of family carers provide over 50 hours of unpaid care to their loved ones each week and of them, 61 per cent provide more than 100 hours of care per week.

Family Carers Irelands Head of Communications and Carer Engagement, Catherine Cox said,

We have an opportunity to address urgent needs for family carers across Ireland who work tirelessly, often 24/7, to care for their family, friends and loved ones with very little access to services or respite. Family carers prop-up the Irish Health Care System with their selfless commitment by freeing up nursing home and hospital beds. Their sacrifice saves the State 10bn each year, despite this, carers are paying an enormous personal price financially, physically and mentally. Family Carers Ireland are urging candidates in the forthcoming election to prioritise family carers in the next Government. Please ask candidates in the 2020 election what they will do to support Irelands 355,000 family carers, because no one should have to care alone.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has issued a Code Orange air quality alert for Friday for the Susquehanna Valley.

So what is a Code Orange? It means that air pollution concentrations within the region might become unhealthy for sensitive groups, such as children, people suffering from asthma, those with heart disease or other lung ailments, and the elderly.

Those susceptible to the efforts of polluted air are urged to avoid strenuous activity or exercise outdoors.

This is a mid-range warning, a 3 on a range of 6 that tops off with hazardous.

Its expected a storm will move into the area Friday night into Saturday and remove any issues with the air quality.

According to the National Weather Service, showers are expected to move across central Pennsylvania on Friday night and turn into a steady rain overnight. That will continue through Saturday morning and turn back to showers Saturday afternoon.

Looking at mainly rain for Friday night into Saturday now for central PA. Some potential for light amounts of freezing rain and snow across northern Pennsylvania at times Friday night into early Saturday. See snowfall map below for expected snowfall Friday night into Saturday. pic.twitter.com/jaqZoIoXzD  NWS State College (@NWSStateCollege) January 23, 2020

The potential for more than an inch of rain is forecast.

Any snow or freezing rain appears to be headed farther north, with perhaps an inch or two forecast for areas north of Route 80.

Our latest forecast update for Saturday calls for less snow and more rain for central PA. Snow accumulations of 1-3" expected for the northern mountains, with lesser snow amounts elsewhere. Little or no snow from I80 south. About 1 inch of rain expected for southern PA. #PAwx pic.twitter.com/Ohbkk6Dtsx  NWS State College (@NWSStateCollege) January 23, 2020

Temperatures behind the storm and into next week look like they will climb near 40 each day, with the next mention of light snow in the forecast for Thursday night into Saturday, the first day of February.

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
The Chief Justice said tax judiciary plays a very important role in resource mobilisation of the country and expressed concern over pendency of cases.

New Delhi: Chief Justice of India SA Bobde on Friday made a case for speedy resolution of tax disputes saying it will act as an incentive for taxpayers and free the funds locked in litigation.

The Bobde said tax judiciary plays a very important role in resource mobilisation of the country and expressed concern over pendency of cases.

"A just and speedy dispute resolution is perceived as a tax incentive by the taxpayer. To the tax collector, an efficient tax judiciary assures that demands arising out of legitimate assessment are not strangled in delayed litigation," Bobde said at the 79th foundation day celebrations of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal.

The pendency of appeal cases related to indirect taxes in the Supreme Court, High Court and CESTAT has reduced 61 percent to 1.05 lakh in almost two years.

According to official data, total pendency of appeals at the Supreme Court, High Court and CESTAT (Customs Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal) as on 30 June 2017, was 2,73,591, whereas the same significantly came down to 1,05,756 as on 31 March 2019, a reduction of 61 percent.

With regard to direct taxes, as many as 3.41 lakh cases were pending before commissioner (appeals), while 92,205 cases were pending before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) as on 31 March 2019.

Ask about setting up more tribunals for reducing pendency in high court and lower judiciary, the Chief Justice said "You have to be careful that we don't only transfer pendency."

He further said that people should know what is due from them and the government should know what is due to them that can be achieved through early disposal of cases.

The Chief Justice said that while tax evasion is a social injustice to fellow citizens, the arbitrary or excessive tax also results in social injustice by a government.

Referring to ancient laws in India around taxation, he said that tax should be collected from people like honey bee draws nectar from flowers without harming it.

Bobde emphasised on the use of next-generation technology artificial intelligence (AI) to expedite the process with caution that it should not replace the human discretion required for delivering justice.

"I am firmly of the view based on experience of systems that have used artificial intelligence that it is only the repetitive area or decision making that is rates of taxation etc or something which is invariably the same which is in a sense mechanical that must be covered by artificial intelligence. I do not believe that artificial intelligence should ever be allowed to substitute the human discretion which is necessary for a just decision making," he said.
Winner of the Farhang Foundation's 2020 Nowruz Banner Design Competition: Setareh Feylizadeh

01/24/20

Press Release by Farhang Foundation

Farhang Foundation announces the winner of the 2020 Nowruz Banner Design Competition and the musical artist selected for the headlining Royce Hall concert as part of Farhang's 12th Annual Celebration of Nowruz at UCLA!



Farhang Foundation's 2020 Winning Nowruz Banner Design

by Setareh Feylizadeh

LOS ANGELES, January 21, 2020 - With great anticipation, Farhang Foundation is preparing for its 12th Annual Celebration of Nowruz (the Iranian New Year) at UCLA's Royce Hall and Dickson Court, taking place on Sunday, March 8, 2020. It is with much elation that we announce the winning design for this year's Nowruz Street Banner Competition as well as the headlining performing artist for this year's concert at Royce Hall.



"For nine years now, the Farhang Nowruz Street Banner Competition has become a tradition in Los Angeles. Each year we are met with overwhelming enthusiasm from artists from all over the world with design submissions. Once again this year's competition broke all past submission records and was one of the strongest we have ever had, and the winning design truly captures the spirit of Nowruz," said Hormoz Ameri, Chairman of Farhang Foundation.

2020 Nowruz Banner Competition

Farhang Foundation's annual Nowruz Banner Competition began in 2011, and it has quickly become a tradition that preludes Farhang's signature event, returning to UCLA for the fourth year in a row on March 8, 2020.



Each year, Farhang, through its Nowruz Banner Competition, reaches out to the global community of artists, illustrators, and graphic designers, enlisting their talents to create and submit original designs that capture the essence of Nowruz. Starting on February 1, and throughout the month of March, the winning design is featured on hundreds of large pole banners throughout the streets of Los Angeles announcing the arrival of spring and the largest celebration of Nowruz in the world!

2020 Nowruz Banner Design Winner: Setareh Feylizadeh

This year's winning design was awarded to Iranian artist Setareh Feylizadeh from Paris, France. "Participating in a competition such as this, especially one which connects us to our roots, cultures, and traditions, has been so rewarding." said Feylizadeh. "The ultimate prize of winning this competition is the chance to connect with another community of Persians in another part of the world by spreading the message of Nowruz, which bonds us together and brings us closer to one another. For centuries, Nowruz has been one of the most celebrated holidays in Iranian culture. It is part of our shared recollection as far back as history can remember. For me, Qajar imagery always sparks the notion of old and new, past and present. The new year reflects these qualities as it is a time to reflect on tradition, but also instills the hope of transformation and renewal."





Setareh Feylizadeh is a graphic designer and the founder of the Lozi Graphic Design firm in Paris, France. Her work has been showcased in numerous exhibitions within Iran and India. Setareh moved to Paris in 2015 where she currently works in different fields such as graphic design, visual identity, corporate design, and visual art.

2020 Nowruz Concert Headlining Artist: Darya Dadvar

Farhang Foundation is honored to announce that this year's headlining concert at Royce Hall will be performed by Darya Dadvar, the leading Iranian Soprano working today.



www.daryadadvar.com

"Her silky soprano is flexible as well as powerful, and she has a magnetic personality to help set her music on fire." said John Terauds of The Toronto Star. Darya creates her own music by combining the traditional music of Iran, in the European classical style. Her unique talent in arranging Iranian music - with styles such as baroque, classical, jazz and blues with traditional elements - sets her apart as one of the most innovative artists working in world music today.



"It is my great pleasure to be performing for one of the most prestigious Iranian cultural foundations worldwide," said Darya. "I am thrilled to be taking part in Farhang Foundation's Nowruz celebrations, and to be performing once again in Los Angeles after so many years. I have several reasons to be so excited about this event. March 8th marks the international Women's Day, and as such it is so wonderful to be performing to welcome Nowruz on such a meaningful day, this concert is inspired by the people of Iran, and it is dedicated to Iranians around the world."

"Each year we strive to present an exceptional artists as the headliner of one of the largest celebrations of Nowruz in the world here in Los Angeles, and this year is no exception" said Alireza Ardekani, Executive Director of Farhang Foundation. "We have been admirers of the magnificent Darya Dadvar for many years, and it is such a delight to be able to have her grace the Farhang stage at Royce Hall as part of year's celebration of Nowruz."



Tickets to the Darya Dadvar concert will go on sale exclusively online through Ticketmaster or in person at the UCLA Central Ticket Office starting on Wednesday January 22 at 10:00AM.
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) -Libyan Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Government of National Accord (GNA), has said that the threats by General Command spokesperson, Maj-Gen
They will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary this May.

But Emma Thompson says her husband initially thought he would get together with Kate Winslet - but discovered he was wrong on a trip to Glastonbury.

Appearing in Friday's Graham Norton Show, Emma, 60, told the host how The Crown producer, 53, was convinced his future partner would be Kate, 44, after a psychic told him he would meet 'The One' on set of Sense and Sensibility.

Love story: Emma Thompson says her husband initially thought he would get together with Kate Winslet - but discovered he was wrong on a trip to Glastonbury

'Before he did the job, he went to see a friend of his who was a bit witchy and she said he would meet his future partner on the film,' Emma, who also starred in Sense and Sensibility, said.

'He assumed it wasn't me because I was married and quite lot older than him so he thought it might be Kate (Winslet).

'He took her to Glastonbury, and she was so bored, and he thought, "This isn't going to work, who can it be?"

'Then things happened that probably shouldn't have happened, and it's been 25 years in May.'

Romance: Appearing in Friday's Graham Norton Show, Emma, 60, told the host how The Crown producer, 53, was convinced his future partner would be Kate, 44, (pictured in 2010)

Greg and Emma began dating after the end of the actress's marriage to Sir Kenneth Branagh.

They met on the set of Sense And Sensibility, the 1995 film that also starred Winslet.

Emma, who appeared on the show to promote her new film Dolittle with Robert Downey Jr., was teased by the actor about her eccentric blue feathered suit.

Emma joked 'I went into Selfridges and asked if they had anything that would make me look like a parrot.

Psychic hearing: 'Before he did the job, he went to see a friend of his who was a bit witchy and she said he would meet his future partner on the film,' Emma said

Marriage: Emma and Greg are set to celebrate their 25th anniversary in May

'When I came out, I then realised that they had made me look like a parrot that had mated with Elton John! But I'm quite happy.'

Acting great Hugh Laurie also joined Emma and Robert on the sofa and the Nanny Mcphee star discussed the longstanding friendship she and Hugh share, having met as undergraduates at Cambridge.

'It's so odd sitting here now aged 60 because I clearly remember Hugh walking into the Footlights club room aged 19 dressed entirely in khaki,' Emma said.

FunnyL Emma continued:'He assumed it wasn't me because I was married and quite lot older than him so he thought it might be Kate (Winslet)'

Star-studded cast: Host Graham Norton with (seated left to right) Terry Gilliam, Robert Downey Jr., Emma and Hugh Laurie

'He did an audition as the emperor of China and I turned to my friend and said, "He's a star".'

Hugh added: ' 'I only went to Cambridge so I could row and nothing else, and I ended up doing all this la de da stuff.'

Robert cheekily asked the pair if they ever had a "little nooky", to which Hugh gallantly replied, 'We stepped out for a little bit.'

The Graham Norton Show airs on BBC One on Friday at 10.35pm.
- Salma Mumin has caused a stir on social media after flaunting photos of herself flying Business class in a commercial airplane

- The actress is flying to South Africa to close a few business deals before the fun and pleasure start on the trip

- Salma Mumin is known for her occasional photo releases on social media which always cause traffic on her page

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

Ghanaian actress, Salma Mumin has caused a stir on social media after flaunting photos of herself flying Business Class in a commercial airplane to South Africa.

Salma is flying to Johannesburg in South Africa to close a few business deals.

In a photo sighted by YEN.com.gh, Salma Mumin is seen relaxing and posing in the Business Class section of the plane while wearing an army green jacket with an army green trousers to match.

The photo has drawn massive reactions from her fans as they heaped praises on her for flying on the prestigious business class section of the plane.

READ ALSO: Actress Salma Mumin mentions her full name for the 1st time in new video

READ ALSO: Pastor Love speaks about Obaapa Christy's marriage; says he has been vindicated

cookieteegh: "I will unfollow u for a few days ok. You are going to be teasing me with too much enjoyment and my heart cant take so bye for now wai"

dcmayback: "Business class de3 it looks like the plan belongs to you"

sarkcesszamani: "I dey feel the level. Would like to meet u just to take a gud selfie with u goddess"

iammzgee: "Sister nu nu"

kwesi_steeze: "Ahoufe dua"

davisakua: "Wishing you safe trip beautiful..."

READ ALSO: Nikki Banks professes love for Kuami Eugene

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that Salma Mumin has caused a stir on social media by finally put out her full name for the first time in a new video.

Since most Ghanaian celebrities are known for changing or hiding their full names when they get into the limelight, Salma mentioning her full name to her fans in the video for the first time shocked most of her fans.

READ ALSO: Hajia4Reall goes all yellow in latest photo; Nigerian celebrities hail her

Salma Mumin in a video sighted by YEN.com.gh mentioned all the names that were given to her on by her biological parents from childbirth.

People who were around her when she mentioned the name were immediately shocked and amazed to have finally heard the actress's full names.

READ ALSO: Hajia4Reall goes all yellow in latest photo; Nigerian celebrities hail her

" My full name is Abdul Mumin Umu Salma Tando. But when I was in school, I added Mary because I always wanted to be Mary in everything. My auntie also liked calling me Mary because she said I behaved calmly like Mary," the popular actress added.

READ ALSO: Emelia Brobbey drops video for her new song; Abeiku Santana, Sista Afia react

Ghanaian Traders Share Thoughts on Sales During Christmas | #Yencomgh

Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Enjoyed reading our story? Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news!

Source: YEN.com.gh
"But it is a very important task that a survivor has - to perpetuate the memory of the 6 million people who have been murdered - so they haven't perished in vain." Her comments come as Prince Charles warned at a gathering of world leaders in Israel for the anniversary that "hatred and intolerance still lurk in the human heart" and French President Emmanuel Macron said anti-Semitism was "once again rearing its violent head". A visitor walks under the German inscription that reads "Arbeit Macht Frei" ("Work makes you free") at the main gate at the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland. Credit:Getty Images In November, a report by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry found a steep rise in the number of anti-Semitic incidents reported across the country. Mrs Engelman was raised in Dovhe, a picturesque farming village in a mountainous region of Czechoslovakia. An only child, she was "spoilt with a lot of attention and love".

But German occupation of the country under Hitler from 1938 cast a bleak shadow over her happy childhood. "My father used to be taken to the police station at least twice a week," Mrs Engelman recalled. "One day he came back and he had his front teeth knocked out." The family were deported to the Berehove ghetto in Ukraine in 1943. After several months SS officers arrived, cramming them into cattle wagons so crowded they could "hardly breathe". Mrs Engelman's father did not know where his family was being taken, but made his daughter promise him she would survive. "Of course I will survive," the 14-year-old replied.

Loading Two nights later the doors swung open; revealing the brass gates of Auschwitz inscribed with the words: "Arbeit Macht Frei" ("Work makes you free"). A doctor waved Mrs Engelman to his left, and her parents to his right. It was the last time she saw them. She later learnt he was Josef Mengele, a notorious Nazi physician branded the "angel of death" for his gruesome medical experiments. Mrs Engelman's group were stripped, shaved and marched into the gas chamber. Nothing happened. They trembled through the night and, in the morning, were marched out.

"To this day I do not know what happened," Mrs Engelman said. Her group were then forced into labour, recovering valuables from the thousands of people who entered the gas chambers each day, in terror they would be next. "While working there, we could hear people choking from the gas," she said. "We could smell human flesh being burnt." As the Allied forces closed in, the Nazis began to dismantle the camp. Mrs Engelman, then skeletally thin, was sent on a death march, walking up to 60 kilometres a day in Poland's bitter winter cold. "We had no hair. We were like zombies. If you could not keep up, you were just taken out of the row and shot," she said.

The girls arrived at a munitions factory where they were tasked with assembling clocks for bombs. When Mrs Engelman fell ill with scarlet fever, her workmates hid her and secretly performed her duties so it went undetected by the SS officers. The Russians liberated the camp in May 1945, when Mrs Engelman was 17. "It seemed unreal," she said."You know how beautiful May is in Europe. Suddenly it is over and there is nobody there." Mrs Engelman was penniless and alone in the world. Under a quota system, various countries agreed to sponsor war orphans. Mrs Engelman put her name down for Australia, and was sent to Paris to board a vessel for the three-month voyage.

"I had never seen the sea, so when we arrived in Marseilles and I could hear the roar of the sea, that was such an exciting experience," she recalled. Loading Mrs Engelman found work making costume jewellery at a factory in Surry Hills. She fell in love with John Engelman, another Holocaust survivor from Czechoslovakia who lost most of his family in the war. "We were the first children survivors that came to Australia that were married," she said. "We had nothing, we had nobody, but at least we had each other." The couple went on to have a large family of their own, which today includes great grandchildren. Mrs Engelman has led school groups on tours of the Sydney Jewish Museum every Tuesday for 28 years since it was founded in 1992.

Two years ago, Mrs Engelman was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for her services to the community. "The children I talk to are wonderful. They listen and ask questions," she said. Mrs Engelman is drawing on her steely optimism ahead of Monday's ceremony. "You have to regain your faith in human nature, and it wasn't easy. I shall never forget or forgive but I can honestly say I don't hate," she said. "I lost everybody but I survived it. I'm going there as a person that was there at the time. And now I have four generations, so I'm surrounded by my children.

"This is living history which has to be told." Mr Ryan told the Herald: "This is the second time I will visit Auschwitz, having been on a personal trip in January 2002. "It is a privilege to represent Australia at this important commemoration, particularly as this may be one of the last commemorations with survivors able to attend, and also due to the number of Holocaust survivors who subsequently made their home in Australia. "I will be joined by the Australian ambassador to Poland, Robert Goot from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry and we will be honoured to meet with Mrs Yvonne Englemen, an Australian survivor of Auschwitz, and her family who are attending the commemoration. "Auschwitz is a place where evil and inhumanity has occurred like nowhere else on earth. It encapsulates the depravity of the Holocaust across Europe.
MoneyTV with Donald Baillargeon television program, Copyright MMXX, all rights reserved. MoneyTV does not provide an analysis of companies' financial positions and is not soliciting to purchase or sell securities of the companies, nor are we offering a recommendation of featured companies or their stocks. Information discussed herein has been provided by the companies and should be verified independently with the companies and a securities analyst. MoneyTV provides companies a 3 to 4 month corporate profile with multiple appearances for a cash fee of $6,950.00 to $11,995.00, does not accept company stock as payment for services, does not hold any positions, options or warrants in featured companies. The information herein is not an endorsement by Donald Baillargeon, the producer, publisher or parent company of MoneyTV.

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
The Disney+ movie Togo is about the heroic run of the titular Siberian husky, who led a team of sled dogs across hundreds of miles to deliver diphtheria antitoxin to the town of Nome, Alaska, during an outbreak of the disease in 1925. Directed by Ericson Core, with a Writers Guild Awardnominated script by Tom Flynn, Togo is based on the events of what become known as the Great Race of Mercy, or the 1925 serum run to Nome. Scenes from the run are interspersed with flashbacks to Togos origin story, showing him making repeated escapes from the kennel of musher Leonhard Seppala (Willem Dafoe).

Advertisement

The title card at the beginning declares that Togo is based on a true story, but how much of this is hard history and how much is Disney magic? Was Togo really such a good boy as the movie suggests? We consulted cousins Gay Salisbury and Laney Salisburys deeply researched book about the serum race, The Cruelest Miles: The Heroic Story of Dogs and Men in a Race Against an Epidemic, along with what few other sources we could find, to break it all down below.

Togo

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

In Disneys telling, Togos beginnings are an underdog story. As a puppy, he is a runt with little more than a fighting spirit and the endorsement of Seppalas wife, Constance (Julianne Nicholson). Seppala grumbles that Constance is too softhearted and hints that a bullet might have been the easiest solution to Togos behavioral issues. And Togo has many behavioral issues: Hes magnetically drawn to Seppala, such that he successfully defies any of Seppalas attempts to pen him up or give him up for adoption. Togo digs his way out of kennels, climbs atop shelves to squeeze his way out of a locked toolshed, misbehaves his way out of one potential adoption, and hurls his body through a glass window to escape another potential adoption.

Advertisement

According to The Cruelest Miles, although Togo was the only puppy in his litter, he was indeed smaller than average, and worse, he had a painful condition that made his throat swell. The Salisburys also write that Togo was indeed difficult and mischievous, as well as resistant to being locked up. He once attempted to leap over a 7-foot-high fence and got stuck in the wiring. He was disruptive to harnessed sled dogs, just as hes shown to be in the film. Finally, Seppala did indeed attempt to give Togo away to a woman who tried to make him a house pet, and according to The Cruelest Miles, Togo really did escape by jumping through a windowpane.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

In the movie, Togo gets his first break by busting loose and harassing Seppalas harnessed team until Seppala finally gives him a chance run with the big dogs. By the time Seppala arrives at home, Togo has been moved to the lead position, and Seppala is marveling at Togos speed. According to the Salisburys, this is also true to life. The real-life Seppala was astounded at the effect of the harness: The 8-month-old Togo went from pesky to serious, and Seppala finally understood what Togo had been wanting all these months: to be a member of the team. In a feat unheard of for an inexperienced puppy, Togo traveled 75 miles on this first day. Seppala described him as an infant prodigy and a natural-born leader.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

The dog that plays the adult Togo in the movie is a so-called Seppala Siberian named Diesel (the Seppala Siberian is now its own breed) and is actually Togos great-grandson, 14 generations removed, according to the movies director. Not only is Diesel related to Togo, he also resembles Togo in coloring: Unlike many Siberians, Togo had a darker coat. Its worth mentioning that Togos own lineage wasnt too shabby: His father was Suggen, who had led Seppalas team to victory in the 1914 All Alaska Sweepstakes race.

The Diphtheria Outbreak

At the start of Togo, Seppala arrives in town after a run to find that a diphtheria outbreak has already claimed the lives of five children. Mayor George Maynard (Christopher Heyerdahl), who is also the publisher of local newspaper the Nome Nugget, and the town doctor, Curtis Welch (Richard Dormer), gather the important-looking men of the town in a saloon. Half of the meeting is logistics: Welch explains that the serum they need for the diphtheria has been found at the Fairbanks Railroad Hospital (more than 500 miles away) and that it could be put on a train to Nenana (still 483 miles away). Maynard is all in favor of getting the diphtheria antitoxin flown in by airplane, weather notwithstanding. The other half of the meeting is not-so-subtle pressure on Seppala to ride to Nenana to pick up the serum. Seppala is initially unmoved, but after peeking into the windows of the town hospital and seeing children crying and coughing, he is convinced he must go, despite the misgivings of his wife.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

In real life, things played out a bit differently. Welch and Maynard were present at the equivalent meeting, but Seppala was not present nor very much involved in the decision. Still, his reputation was perhaps even greater than the movie suggested: According to The Cruelest Miles, he was known as the fastest musher in Alaska, and his nickname was the King of the Trail. It was Seppalas boss at the Hammon Consolidated Gold Fields Company, Mark Summers, who came up with the plan to use two teams of dogs, traveling toward each other from Nenana and Nome to meet at the halfway point in Nulato. Summers is also the man who recommended Seppala for the run. He told Seppala that the ad hoc health board believed that Nomes fate lay in Seppalas hands.

Advertisement

Advertisement

And while, in the movie, Constance Seppala initially objects to her husbands participation, saying that the town should pick someone with more stake in [the diphtheria outbreak], in reality the Seppalas did have more of a stake than is indicated by the film script: They had an 8-year-old daughter named Sigrid.

The Great Serum Race

In the movie, Seppala sets out for Nenana in the midst of a blizzard. In reality, the winds were in a rare state of calm, and Seppala had a crowd to cheer on the beginning of his journey to Nulatohalfway to Nome, but still a six-day journey encompassing a total of 630 miles. As shown in the movie, more teams were added to the relay mid-run, and so Seppala ended up traveling a total of 261 miles (170 miles to pick up the serum and 91 miles with the serum)still an enormous distance. Despite the differences in the Disney version of the storysuch as the blizzard at the beginningthe fictionalized aspects are not an exaggeration of the dangers involved. The trail between Nulato and Nome was one of Alaskas most hazardous, with most of it running along the windswept, blizzard-prone coast of Norton Sound, known to Alaskans as the ice factory, write the authors of The Cruelest Miles. The most dangerous part of this trail was the 42-mile shortcut across the sound. The safer alternative was twice as far. Beyond the possibility of getting caught in a storm or a dog injuring its paw on a shard of ice, it was also likely that the ice of the Norton Sound could break up and carry the team out to sea. It had happened to others.

Advertisement

Advertisement

One of the most terrifying moments in the movie is the second crossing of the Norton Sound, on the way back toward Nome with the serum. Seppala and his team are crossing the sound when they find themselves stranded on an ice floe, separated from shore by a narrow but formidable strip of sea. Seppala tosses Togo ashore, and the dog somehow manages to tow the floe close enough to the coast to enable the rest of the team to follow.

Advertisement

Advertisement

This is very close to what Seppala told the Boston Sunday Post really happened, albeit not on this particular run but on a previous trip. And while the suspense in the movie is more than adequate, Seppala described even more danger. In Seppalas account, as summarized in The Cruelest Miles, the tow rope connecting Togo and the rest of the team on the floe snapped, and the end of the rope fell into the water. Togo jumped into the water, clambered back out, wrapped the rope around his body, and pulled.

Leonhard Seppala

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

In the movie, Leonhard Seppala is depicted as a stoic, hardscrabble Norwegian whose demeanor is in direct contrast to that of his softhearted Belgian wife. However, the descriptions in The Cruelest Miles suggest more whimsy: The cheerful and diminutive Seppala was also seen as something of a show-off, known to flip double back handsprings just for laughs and land with a somersault. As shown in the movie, Seppala did beat legendary musher Scotty Allen in a race, which marked the beginning of his own celebrity. One competitor described his communion with dogs as unnatural control or hypnotism.

Advertisement

The mutual trust between Seppala and Togo was also as depicted. Togo was Seppalas favorite, and the musher often depended on Togos instincts and sense of smell when his own vision failed him.

Advertisement

Balto

Balto makes a brief cameo in the movie: Hes the lead dog in Gunnar Kaasens team. Because Kaasen is the one who actually delivers the serum to Nome, he is the one who receives the lions share of the glory. While certain details have been changed, this is largely what happened, and explains the disproportionate fame that the real-life Balto has enjoyed; beyond the media attention, there were movie deals, a tour, and a statue.

Advertisement

Advertisement

None of this is to say that Balto deserved no credit: Kaasens team had to drive through a blinding blizzard, and according to The Cruelest Miles, Baltos senses of smell and touch were what kept the team on the trail. And although Seppala did not seem upset on his own account (he praised Kaasen), he was reportedly upset that Togo had not received his due. According to The Cruelest Miles, Seppala wrote: I hope I shall never be the man to take away credit from any dog or driver who participated in that run. We all did our best. But when the country was roused to enthusiasm over the serum run driver, I resented the statue to Balto, for if any dog deserved special mention it was Togo.

Advertisement

Advertisement

On the topic of unsung heroes, The Cruelest Miles also notes the deficient coverage on the contribution of the Native driverswho covered nearly two thirds of the run but were not as interesting to movie producers or reporters. As the Salisburys put it, they were considered a part of the landscape.

Togos and Seppalas Deaths

The movie leaves out several details about Togos death. By January 1927, Seppala had opened a kennel with a socialite named Elizabeth Ricker in Poland Springs, Maine, and he was traveling between Alaska and Maine. He made the decision to leave Togo behind in Maine in March 1927, concerned that the journey would be too much for the retired dog. And while the movie Seppala gets the date of Togos death right (He left us on a Thursday in December), in reality Seppala decided to put Togo to sleep, given Togos joint pain and partial blindness.

As for Seppala, he lived to be 89. While my trail has been rough at times, he wrote in his diary at age 81, the end of the course seems pretty smooth, with downhill going and a warm roadhouse in sight. And when I come to the end of the rail, I feel that along with my many friends, Togo will be waiting and I know that everything will be all right.
If a man has a suit and can put a poster on a pole, people automatically assume he's TD material and vote for him. Women have a harder time. We make up more than half of the population, but less than a quarter of TDs.

We can't keep pretending that we live in a real democracy when more than half of us aren't represented. It's time to vote women into the Dail. Right across the country, women are running for election in greater numbers than ever before. Female candidates make up around a third of those declared so far, and it's the first ever general election where there is a female candidate contesting in every single constituency.

Sadly, because we've never had a truly representative government, we don't actually know what the country would look like if it was run by women. But, if we'd had equal numbers of women and men in public office since day dot, maybe childcare would be affordable instead of costing 1,000 a month, and women's shelters would have adequate funding.

Yes, the number of women in the Dail rose after the last general election. In 2016, 35 women were elected - 16 incumbents and 19 new female TDs. This was a 40pc increase on the number of women TDs elected in 2011 and meant that 22pc of Dail Eireann was made up of women, the highest proportion of women in the history of the State.

But the chamber was still 78pc male and only three women were senior ministers. At this rate of change, it's going to take decades and decades for Irish women to reach any kind of representational parity.

Even in 2020, our own sexist attitudes are holding back female candidates. Study after study shows that women have to demonstrate their qualifications in a way that men don't, that they have to be careful about the way they show their ambition and drive, and that they're still judged on things like "likeability" when men are not. The media still run stories about female candidates that insist on focusing on things like their outfit, haircut or their children, rather than their policy positions and qualifications.

Once inside the chamber, women aren't safe from sexism. Albert Reynolds once responded to heckling from Fine Gael TD Nora Owen with: "Sure that's women for you." Nearly 20 years later, Brian Cowen had to apologise to Labour TD Joan Burton after asking her party leader Eamon Gilmore to "try and rein her in now and again".

These are the more blatant examples but a 2018 study by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) showed that gender-based sexism, harassment and violence against women representatives and parliamentary staff is widespread in parliaments across Europe.

Walking down the street this morning, passing all the election posters, I thought about all of the mediocre men who have been elected to Leinster House over the years and how the most mediocre of all those men got elected because he was born a man (and his dad was probably a TD before him).

Female candidates have to work twice as hard to convince the electorate that they're really as worthy as that man who has coasted along on his male privilege his whole life. They deserve a chance from all of us.

There are people who don't think we should be fighting for gender parity in politics, that voters should just pick a candidate based on the issues that are important to them. That's OK but I think that women, as a gender, see things a little differently.

TDs are at the heart of catalysing change by implementing the policies and reforms necessary to increase women's access to opportunities. Female politicians are more likely to take action on issues like equal pay, gender-based violence and social issues like childcare and education. We need women in the room making decisions about our futures.

We're behind when it comes to many things, whether it's the environment, technology or women in the Cabinet. But nothing changes unless something changes.

If I meet a candidate who seems competent, hard-working and her politics somewhat align with mine, and she's a woman, she is getting my vote next month. Women cannot just be sidelined, arguing for change from our kitchens, we need to be allowed to thrive and fulfil our true potential in the political world too.

Now, it's women's turn.

It's our turn to bring attention to the inequality that exists in today's Ireland. To take a stand for affordable childcare and for equal pay.

To have a government that is properly gender balanced. Besides, at this point, instead of asking why women should be more included in politics, we should ask why men deserve being so massively over-represented.

Your constituency will have a mix of candidates running in the general election - men and women - from the same party or with similar policy positions. You won't even have to hop party lines to vote along gender ones or support a candidate who doesn't align with your values.

So, go out and vote for a woman on February 8 - and another and another and another - right down your ballot paper.
Mama June Shannon has taken to social media to tell her family she misses them in the wake of a year packed with legal problems.

The 40-year-old reality star posted a selfie to Instagram on Thursday with a detailed caption admitting to making mistakes, and declaring she hopes to right the ship with her relatives - including daughter Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson, 14 - over time.

'Well decided to get back at it [I'm] not saying [I'm] perfect as everyday is a [struggle and] some days [I] just want to disappear [and] even though me [and] kids [aren't] still seeing each other [and] its [been] very hard on all of us but [I] hope one day that will [change] as [I] want them to know [I] miss [and] love them very much,' Mama June said in an Instagram post.

The latest: Mama June Shannon, 40, took to social media Thursday to tell her family she misses them, in the wake of a year packed with legal problems

The McIntyre, Georgia native's post comes after a turbulent 2019 times choc with problems linked to drugs, gambling and brushes with the law; and 2020 starting on a rocky path.

In recent months, Shannon has been besieged with financial problems, as TMZ last week reported that she sold a diamond ring at the Stockbridge, Georgia pawn shop Cash America for $1,500.

Insiders told the site that the jewelry looked to be a wedding or engagement ring, though it wasn't clear if it was from her relationships with boyfriend Geno Doak, 44, or ex-husband Mike 'Sugar Bear' Thompson, 48.

Shannon and Doak were also kicked out of a McDonough, Georgia Residence Inn Marriott they'd been staying at since late November, according to the outlet, after they failed to pay their $2,000 bill.

Problems: The McIntyre, Georgia native's post comes after a turbulent 2019 times choc with problems for her and her boyfriend Geno Doak, 44, linked to drugs, gambling and brushes with the law

No vacancy: June and Doak have encountered issues with hotels in the early weeks of 2020

Their trouble with lodging doesn't end there, according to TMZ, as they trashed a Georgia hotel room at the FairBridge Inn & Suites months ago, leaving $1,000 in damages - including blood stains and broken glass - in their suite after an argument.

They were arrested in connection with crack cocaine possession in Alabama in March of 2019 in which Doak was also charged with domestic violence and harassment.

In June, sources close to the family told the outlet that an attorney had been hired to protect the funds daughter Alana, 14, has earned from her TV career from her mother. June's daughter Lauryn 'Pumpkin' Shannon, 20, is acting as guardian for the teen TV star and overseer for dispersing pertinent finances.
The patrol police officer and his accomplice demanded $150,000 from a local businessman for their "help" in investigating violent threats.

The State Bureau of Investigation says a policeman was detained in a sting operation in Kyiv for extorting a bribe from an entrepreneur.

The businessman had been receiving violent threats from an anonymous perpetrator so the patrol police officer and his civilian accomplice suggested that the victim pay them $150,000 for allegedly resolving the issue.

Read alsoUkraine's SBU detains two NAAS officials in Kyiv for demanding US$50,000 bribe

"According to preliminary information, at the end of 2019, a businessman started receiving violent threats from unidentified persons. The officer and his acquaintance offered to allegedly resolve the businessman's issue with threats for a cash reward in the amount of $150,000," the SBI said in a statement.

On January 23, SBI operatives detained the two men in a sting operation upon receiving part of the bribe in the amount of $40,000.

Charges are being pressed against the perpetrators who are facing up to seven years in prison.
Fiona, a Nile hippopotamus, eats her birthday cake at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden (John Minchillo/AP)

An American zoo is marking the third birthday of a hippo who was born prematurely by raising money for Australian wildlife affected by the recent wildfires.

Instead of sending birthday gifts for Fiona, Cincinnati Zoo in Ohio is asking people to buy T-shirts that will directly benefit the Bushfire Emergency Wildlife Fund.

The T-shirt features a koala and kangaroo giving Fiona a hug and says: Supporting Our Friends Down Under.

Expand Close Fiona eats her specialty birthday cake (John Minchillo/AP) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Fiona eats her specialty birthday cake (John Minchillo/AP)

All proceeds from sales of the tops will be sent to Zoos Victoria to help them care for suffering animals.

The zoo will add 5,000 dollars (3,800) to the total amount raised.

Fiona became a global celebrity after she was born prematurely on January 24 2017, weighing in at just 29lbs (13kg).

The normal range for a hippos birth weight is 55lbs to 120lbs (25kg to 55kg).

Expand Close Fiona swims after eating her birthday treat (John Minchillo/AP) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Fiona swims after eating her birthday treat (John Minchillo/AP)

Fiona now weighs a healthy 1,300lbs (590kg), according to the zoo.

Fiona won the hearts of Cincinnatians when she fought to survive after being born six weeks early and terribly underweight, Cincinnati Zoo director Thayne Maynard said.

Three years later, people all over the world are still crazy about this normal, healthy hippo.
And I think weve gotten a lot of really good advice, but I want us to know that in big cities in particular, the level of violence that is happening is something that is vexing all of us, she added. Were all working hard to make sure were doing everything to think about the root causes of that violence. Were making sure were supporting victims. But the level and frequency of whats happening is overwhelming at times.
A nursing home worker who made a false claim to get a $980,000 tax refund despite earning less than $19,000 has been jailed for 34 months.

Ramon Christopher Blanchett, 30, from Tampa, Florida, electronically submitted two W-2 forms in February 2017 where he listed his occupation as 'freelancer'.

When the Internal Revenue Service sent him the massive check he splashed out on a $51,117 Lexus RC350.

But the IRS discovered the fraud before he had a chance to buy anything else and seized the car and confiscated the rest of the cash.

US District Judge James S Moody Jr told Blanchett that the sentence reflected 'the seriousness of your conduct.'

Ramon Christopher Blanchett, 30, from Tampa, Florida, falsely claimed $980,000 tax refund

When IRS sent him the massive check he splashed out on a $51,117 Lexus RC350 like this one

The IRS seized Blanchett's Lexus and the rest of the cash when they detected the fraud

Public defender Paul Downing described the case as 'highly unusual' at an earlier hearing and added: 'I can't believe they sent the check in the first place. Wasn't there any oversight?'

Blanchett, a part-time student and community college student, electronically filed two W-2 forms.

The first said he'd earned $17,098 in wages at the nursing home but was owed $980,000. In reality he'd only been paid $2,098 and was owed nothing.

The second was a genuine form relating to $1,399 he'd earned at a Sizzling Platter restaurant in Murray, Utah.

But the IRS still sent a check which Blanchett deposited into a Sun Trust account and used some of the cash to buy the Lexus in August 2018.

Blanchett pleaded guilty to the theft of government funds last October.

Accompanying him to court Thursday were his mother, grandmother, girlfriend and their two-month old son, Lexington.

Mr Downing asked the judge for leniency saying his judgment and decision-making abilities had been impaired by his 'very difficult childhood'.

He said both his parents had been drug users and his father had been in jail several times.

Blanchett, a part-time student and community college student, was jailed for 34 months

Blanchett's lawyer said his judgment was impaired due to a difficult childhood

Mr Downing said: 'He had a very strained relationship with his father.

'He wants to be a better father to his own young child than his father was to him.

'We came to the conclusion that the best example you can set is to admit guilt, apologize and accept the sentence of the court. That's what he's done.'

Assistant US Attorney Rachelle DesVaux Bedke said the sentencing guidelines suggested a sentence of between 30 and 37 months for this level of fraud.

She also said Blanchett had tried to file other false returns even after IRS agents told him he was under investigation.

And she said he violated the terms of his temporary release last year by using marijuana, and had missed an appointment this week with a counselor.

She added: 'I applaud his aspiration, but it seems Mr Blanchett hasn't come to fully appreciate the seriousness of his conduct and what he needs to do to get back on track and prevent a recurrence.'

The judge allowed Blanchett to remain free until he reports to the Bureau of Prisons at a yet-to-be scheduled date.
Can't allow every person who thinks of some solution to COVID-19 to file petition: SC

SC denies to issue blanket order against invoking NSA on anti-CAA protestors

India

oi-Mousumi Dash

New Delhi, Jan 24: The Supreme Court on Friday said that it cannot issue blanket orders restraining authorities from invoking the stringent National Security Act (NSA) against the citizens protesting the enactment of Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

Beside, saying that NSA cannot be allowed to be misused the apex court has also added that there cannot be a general command as public properties are being burnt during the protests and it may be organised.

On Friday, a bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Indira Banerjee reportedly refused to entertain a plea challenging the imposition of NSA in few states as also in the national capital amid anti-CAA protests.

The bench stated, "We are of the opinion that general writ will not lie in this case. We cannot invoke powers under Article 32. We agree that the NSA should not be misused but there cannot be a general command. This will create chaos."

The petitioner-advocate M L Sharma said that the anti-CAA protests that going on peacefully in Shaheen Bagh area of south Delhi and other places across the national capital and other states should not be allowed to invoke the stringent law against the protestors.

The apex court delivering the verdict asked Sharma to show a specific instance, where such stringent law has been done and said that it cannot issue a blanket order. It also added that if a general direction is passed this will create a chaos.

The apex court also said to Sharma, "You don't know what is going on in Calcutta, Tripura and Assam. Properties are being burnt and that may be organised. We don't know the antecedents of people."

Sharma however persisted with seeking relief saying that people protesting peacefully may be booked under the law and the court should protect them.

To this the bench said to Sharma, "If a person is involved in violence and involved in say hundred criminal cases. Then what would government do. Will not the government act?"

The bench has asked Sharma to file an amended petition showing some specific instances where NSA has been invoked against the ant-CAA protestors.

Delhi police commissioner granted detaining power under NSA

The bench told Sharma that he can also file an intervention application in the pending cases challenging the validity of CAA and seek appropriate relief.

Following this, Sharma then sought liberty to withdraw the petition and file an amended petition giving specific details of violations of NSA, which was later granted by SC.

Sharma's plea said NSA has been imposed to curb and pressure people protesting against the CAA, National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC).

Sharma had made the Ministry of Home Affairs and the governments of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Manipur parties to the plea.

According to the plea the notification, allowing police to invoke NSA to detain persons, as "unconstitutional" and violative of fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 19 (1) (freedom of speech and expression) and 21 (right to life) of the Constitution.

The plea reportedly also sought that it be declared that the NSA cannot be used against protesters.

Besides, it sought a compensation of Rs 50,00,000 each to those who have been detained so far under the NSA for "mental agony, defamation in society and loss of reputation".

Nationwide, protests are on going against the enactment of CAA, NRC and exercise of National Population Register (NPR).
NEW YORK, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Seth Resnick, Chair of the Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Department for AdvantageCare Physicians, has been named a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) for his significant contributions to the psychiatric field.

Distinguished Fellow is the highest membership honor the APA bestows upon members and is awarded to outstanding psychiatrists who have made significant contributions to the psychiatric profession in at least five of the following areas: administration, teaching, scientific and scholarly publications, volunteering, community involvement, and clinical excellence.

Dr. Resnick is the founding chair of the Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Department at AdvantageCare Physicians, one of New York's largest primary and specialty care practices, with 37 medical offices in New York City and Long Island. He is responsible for overseeing the implementation and expansion of AdvantageCare Physicians' behavioral health program and establishing collaborative care practice models.

"It's an honor to be recognized by the APA as well as my peers," said Resnick. "I look forward to helping more patients and communities access the mental and behavioral health care and resources they need."

After graduating Cum Laude from Williams College with a Bachelor of Arts in English, Resnick attended Mount Sinai School of Medicine, where he received a Distinction in Research and participated in the Humanities and Medicine Program. He completed his residency in Psychiatry at New York University/Bellevue and pursued a fellowship in Pain and Palliative Care at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, where he is one of the few psychiatrists to have completed the program in its history.

"Dr. Resnick is an excellent clinician, administrator, teacher, and leader," said Dr. Navarra Rodriguez, President and Chief Medical Officer of AdvantageCare Physicians. "His work has made lasting contributions to the study of psychiatry and we congratulate him for receiving high honors from the APA."

Dr. Resnick is board-certified and maintains a clinical practice and expertise in General Psychiatry, as well as Pain Medicine, Palliative Medicine, and Addiction Medicine. He is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine and previously served as the Chief of General Medical Psychiatric Services at Lenox Hill Hospital.

About AdvantageCare Physicians

AdvantageCare Physicians, one of the largest primary and specialty care practices in the New York area, provides quality, personalized care that is focused on the whole patient. With medical offices across the five boroughs and Long Island, AdvantageCare Physicians takes a team-based approach to care where physicians work with nurses, social workers, nutritionists, behavioral health specialists and other professionals. www.ACPNY.com.

About the American Psychiatric Association

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is a national medical specialty society whose more than 36,000 physician members specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and research of mental illnesses, including substance use disorders. Visit the APA at psychiatry.org.

Contact

[email protected]

SOURCE AdvantageCare Physicians

Related Links

http://www.acpny.com


Too Moo, 26, died after going for a swim in a Perth lake on Thursday.

The young man who died after going for a swim near the Champion Lakes Regatta Centre has been identified as father of three, Too Moo.

Mr Moo, 26, was originally from Thailand and leaves behind two girls and one boy. The oldest is four.

He went swimming in the lake around 6pm on Thursday, but got into trouble.

Police divers searched the lake on Friday morning as friends and family of the man waited for news at the scene, Nine News Perth reporter Mia Egerton Warburton said.
Before Mr. Peanut died, he really lived.

On Wednesday, Planters killed off its longtime spokesnut in a slick commercial. On a road trip with Wesley Snipes and Matt Walsh of Veep, Mr. Peanuts vehicle careened off a cliff, and as the trio clung to life on a perilously cracking branch, Mr. Peanut tipped his hat and let go. Then he exploded in flames.

It is with heavy hearts that we confirm that Mr. Peanut has died at 104, the brands Twitter account confirmed. A funeral is expected to be broadcast during a Superbowl commercial.

It was an effective piece of marketing, but the antics were no stranger than the time Mr. Peanut shared a tender moment with a topless woman in a bathtub, nearly fell off a ferry into Lake Ontario, and ran for mayor of Vancouver.

Those extracurriculars happened in the 1970s, although none were sanctioned by Planters head office. They were all acts of performance art, dreamed up by conceptual artist Vincent Trasov for his Mr. Peanut, who is a distant relative of the corporate legume. Trasov, who was born in Edmonton, spent many years in Vancouver, where his character became a part of the arts scene.

The late Mr. Peanut had a bigger mouth and was known to be salty, thanks to a proprietary blend of spices. Trasovs Mr. Peanut has more subdued features, and is more on the saucy side. For Trasov, it was about playing with identity and persona, and bringing art and absurdity into everyday life.

He has never heard from the Planters people, unless you count the time he visited the Toronto factory in costume in 1972: They wouldnt let us in the door, he says from his home in a village near Berlin.

On Thursday, the artist, now 72, awoke to a flurry of condolence emails. He greeted the news with some skepticism. He does not think the other Mr. Peanut is truly dead. I daresay theyll come up with something new for Mr. Peanut.

His Mr. Peanut is still alive, although he hasnt been spotted walking elegantly about town since the 1970s. He lives on in Trasovs pen and wash drawings, where the peanut is hard at work in an office landscape from Death of a Salesman; dead in a bathtub as French Revolution martyr Jean-Paul Marat; and staring contemplatively at the water along the Seine on a Sunday afternoon.

I havent given up on my Mr. Peanut, he says, adding that he is trying to get a commission for a bronze peanut column in Vancouver.

As a boy, Trasov had a Mr. Peanut colouring book. He always enjoyed the scale of the figure, the gangly legs and bulbous frame. When he began his artistic career in 1969, he was looking for an identity and flashed on Mr. Peanut. At first, he thought it would be interesting to animate the jaunty peanut, but drawing him frame by frame proved a big undertaking.

He decided to animate him with a costume. He made a papier mache shell in 1971, and paired it with black tights, white gloves, a top hat, monocle, cane, and unending silence. As Mr. Peanut, he and his friends eventually visited New York, L.A., Halifax and other cities in a bid to surprise people with this unexpected bit of art. People always wanted photos or a handshake. Only one baby cried.

During a visit to Toronto he nearly fell through a gap between the ferry and the wharf at Wards Island. Your vision is very limited in the costume, he explains. A friend saved him. Friends were very important. They spoke for him, while he silently observed.

His most famous performance was the 1974 Vancouver mayoral race. His friend, the sculptor John Mitchell, encouraged him to enter the race in full regalia as a stand-in for the aspirations of the citys art community. Mitchell was the campaign manager and spokesperson.

During the election, their campaign literature noted that Mr. Peanut was unavailable for comment before, during and after the election, but heralded him as a powerful weapon aimed at the bureaucratic formality of the real world. At an all-candidates meeting, he performed a 20-second tap routine.

Reporter Judith Timson noted the sweet smell of marijuana at a fundraiser, where Mr. Peanut emerged with chorus girls to the glorious strains of Chattanooga Choo-Choo.

Incumbent Mayor Art Phillips won. Mr. Peanut received 2,685 votes.

He retired the costume after the 1974 election. It no longer fits, but it was on display at a Berlin gallery last year. The shell resides at the Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery in Vancouver. When the Star contacted the gallery this Wednesday, there was a worrying pause. What do you mean Mr. Peanut was killed off? the registrar said. The Star regrets the error. Your Mr. Peanut is still alive.

Read more about:
The effects on multinational businesses from a potentially worsening Wuhan coronavirus outbreak could be severe, which is why they need to review, test and potentially update plans related to business continuity, crisis management and crisis communications, according to Marsh in a recent blog.

Putting the outbreak into context, the blog said the coronavirus, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has infected several hundred people and caused multiple deaths. While most reported cases have been in China, others have been reported in Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, and the U.S.

While the World Health Organization (WHO) has not declared a global public health emergency, it considers the outbreak a high risk, regionally and globally, said the blog, which was authored by Renata Elias, consultant, Marsh Risk Consulting Strategic Risk Practice.

As a result of this looming risk, multinational organizations should take action now to protect their people and operations, said the blog titled New Coronavirus Outbreak: Immediate Steps for Multinationals.

While examining existing plans, companies should consider the potential effects a worsening outbreak could have on their employees, revenue, suppliers and reputations, said the blog, suggesting that particular attention be paid to the following four areas:

Travel policies. If travel to Wuhan is necessary, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends avoiding contact with sick people; avoiding animals, animal markets, and meat and other animal products; and frequently washing hands. Returning travelers exhibiting symptoms should immediately seek care and avoid contact with others.

If travel to Wuhan is necessary, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends avoiding contact with sick people; avoiding animals, animal markets, and meat and other animal products; and frequently washing hands. Returning travelers exhibiting symptoms should immediately seek care and avoid contact with others. Employee wellbeing. Monitor updates from public health officials and governments and keep employees informed and educated about the outbreak and any steps being taken to safeguard their health. Encourage employees to remain home when sick and telecommute if the outbreak worsens.

Monitor updates from public health officials and governments and keep employees informed and educated about the outbreak and any steps being taken to safeguard their health. Encourage employees to remain home when sick and telecommute if the outbreak worsens. Supply chains. Identify operational and revenue impacts from potential disruptions to key suppliers and vendors. Also consider the feasibility of sourcing goods, ingredients, and component parts from alternative suppliers.

Identify operational and revenue impacts from potential disruptions to key suppliers and vendors. Also consider the feasibility of sourcing goods, ingredients, and component parts from alternative suppliers. Insurance coverage. Review applicable insurance policies, prepare for potential claims, and consult your broker if you have questions.

The impacts from a potentially worsening Wuhan coronavirus outbreak to your business could be severe, but taking these steps now can help you better prepare, plan, and protect people and operations, added the blog.

Organizations with significant employee populations in China are at particular risk, while travel restrictions, supply chain disruptions, and employee absenteeism within vendors, suppliers, and other partners in-country could reduce productivity and efficiency for businesses headquartered elsewhere, the blog warned.

In addition, fears about the virus could depress travel and tourism and adversely affect the global economy, it went on to say.

Travel Restrictions

Coronaviruses can cause a variety of illnesses, from the common cold to highly severe diseases, such as Middle-East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), explained the blog. Common symptoms in the current outbreak include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, said the blog, quoting the World Health Organization (WHO). Mild cases have resembled the flu.

Wuhans prominence as a tourist destination, a port city and transportation hub, and a regional center for education and manufacturing has raised concerns that the outbreak could continue to spread, especially during the Lunar New Year holiday period, said the blog, noting that Chinese authorities have restricted travel in Wuhan and elsewhere in the country.

Airports in several major cities in the U.S. and elsewhere have begun entry screening of travelers from Wuhan, while the CDC recommends avoiding nonessential travel to the region.

Photograph: A man wears a protective mask as he arrives to board a train at Beijing Railway station before the annual Spring Festival on Jan. 21, 2020. Photo taken by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images.

Related:

Topics COVID-19 China
Farmers in village Ladli Ka Baas tehsil in Dausa district started an indefinite protest from Thursday which is being called Zameen Samadhi Satyagrah. This is a unique protest in which they are sleeping inside the ground by digging deep pits to protes Image Source: IANS News

Farmers in village Ladli Ka Baas tehsil in Dausa district started an indefinite protest from Thursday which is being called Zameen Samadhi Satyagrah. This is a unique protest in which they are sleeping inside the ground by digging deep pits to protes Image Source: IANS News

Jaipur, Jan 24 : Farmers in village Ladli Ka Baas in Rajasthan's Dausa district have started an indefinite protest from Thursday over disproportionate distribution of compensation for their land which has been acquired for the construction of Delhi-Mumbai Express Highway.

This unique protest called 'Zameen Samadhi Satyagrah' in which the protesters sleep below the ground by digging deep pits.

The protest has been led by Rajya Sabha MP Kirorilal Meena who along with over 100 farmers slept in the open ground on Thursday.

Speaking to IANS, Pradesh Kisaan Sangharsh Samiti convener Himmat Singh Gujjar said that the farmers have been raising demand for adequate compensation for their land since last seven months however the government has not lent an ear to their demand. Hence they have started this indefinite agitation where 101 farmers including 31 women and 70 men slept in the pits.

He alleged that even the local administration and NHAI officials are working in favour of the construction company and are not providing any jobs to them. "Our standing crops are being damaged but no arrangement has been made to provide any jobs to us in return," he added.

He said they had met Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot but neither of them paid attention to their needs and hence they are staging the protests.

On Thursday, thousands of farmers joined the meeting which was addressed by Meena. He said the protests will continue till their demands are met.
Express Maintenance at Service Center

At select Toyota-affiliated dealership locations with an on-site service center, customers can enjoy Toyota Express Maintenance services. For drivers in the Antelope Valley area of Los Angeles County, a nearby and convenient location that offers Toyota Express Maintenance is that of the Toyota of Lancaster dealership in Lancaster, California.

Toyota service centers provide factory-schedule maintenance for automotive service and minor repairs on Toyota and Scion vehicle models. Toyota Express Maintenance is a program and commitment made by the company, through the hard work of all Toyota affiliate employees, to get customers vehicles serviced as fast as possible without sacrificing quality care. In addition to the reason for the visit to a Toyota service center, Toyota Express Maintenance includes a list of five complimentary services.

The first service is Oil & Filter, where technicians drain and refill the model with factory-recommended oil. The second service is Multi-Point Inspection, where technicians perform a visual check on all major systems. The third service is Brake Inspection, where technicians ensure brake pad thickness is safe and operating correctly. The fourth service is Fluid Inspection, where technicians check all of a vehicles fluids (coolant, brake, power steering, windshield wiper, transmission) and refill them at no extra charge. The fitth and last additional service is Tire Rotation, where technicians rotate a vehicles tires to prolong tire life, ensure even wear and tear and reset the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

For more automotive service, part and accessory information and assistance, drivers in Los Angeles County can consult the Toyota of Lancaster service department. The Toyota of Lancaster staff can be reached at the number 661-948-0731. Additional means of communication with a dealership representative include online messaging and visits to the store. The Toyota of Lancaster dealership is located at 43301 12th St. W, Lancaster, California 93534.
Welcome to the Good Place, where your every whim is indulged! Want one huge Junior Mint? Janet can get that for you. Remember those cool sunglasses you once bought from a targeted Instagram ad? Look on the top of your head. There they are! Come to the get-to-know-you party, which has been designed to remind you of happily familiar experiences from your own life  like the Jacksonville Super-Suites hotel ballroom where you attended both your prom and traffic court. Have fun going go-kart racing with monkeys, but be warned: It gets tedious quicker than youd think.

Also, welcome to The Good Place, a sitcom that presents a brilliant comic idea  a version of heaven thats so awesome that its actually a little boring  and then burns through it in about 22 minutes.

The penultimate episode of The Good Place  titled Patty, short for Hypatia of Alexandria, a swell gal  is an example of this shows writers operating at their most confident. They drop their heroes into a whimsically fantastical situation and start cranking out gags and plot at a furious pace, certain they wont run out. This episode is witty and clever, and has something to say about what we all take for granted, every day.

I like Patty a lot, but it bummed me out a little, for two reasons. For one, its a reminder that this imaginative, soulful and hilarious show is ending next week. But also, given how much the writers, cast, and visual designers were able to do with the actual Good Place in just one episode, it makes me wonder why we spent half of last weeks chapter on Eleanor and Chidis routine relationship anxieties, or why so much of this season was squandered on storylines about John, Simone, and Brent that never really went anywhere (A Chip Driver Mystery aside).

I suppose I should be more philosophical about this. After all, if every episode of The Good Place was as wild as Patty, maybe that would get tiresome too?

The problems with the Good Place become clear to our gang not long after they arrive. Chidis initially giddy about the prospect of meeting some of his favorite philosophers, but finds out that a lot of them didnt make the cut, either because they supported slavery or they were a loud chewer. But Hypatia of Alexandria  played by Lisa Kudrow, as magnificently funny as always  is there, which has Chidi gushing like a fanboy, because as a kid he had her poster on his wall. (Actually it was Trinity from The Matrix, which is how he imagined she looked.)

But Hypatia  call her Patty  isnt quite what Chidi expected. Shes very nice, but keeps getting distracted by stardust milkshakes; and when he starts throwing philosophical concepts at her, she asks, Are you a think-book man? A think-read-book man? Later, Patty looks down at the number five on the Jaguars jersey she wore to the newcomers welcome party and murmurs, Theres math on my shirt  Is it an S or a math?

Whats happened to Patty and to everyone else in the Good Place is that an eternity of delight has left them passive, incurious, and more than a little exhausted. Some of them came from a time when people died young, because they got a cut on their hand or drank lukewarm water. (I wouldve killed for a vaccine, one man says. Its crazy that you guys just dont like them now.) But the novelty of living in a place where they can experience constant orgasms  with no mess to clean up, since the Good Place wicks all body fluids away instantly  has worn off.

Michael finds this out in a roundabout way. Hes initially worried hes going to be unwelcome because hes a demon. (Promise me if Im vaporized you guys just keep having fun, he says, sounding like everybodys mom at an amusement park.) Instead, the Good Place committee has him sign a contract to become an architect for them  and then they all quit and leave him in charge. (The committee is me, he mutters to his friends, stunned. I am committee. It me.)

It seems the old committee understood the Good Place was irreparably broken, and werent having much success with ideas like music you can eat or a special Ring Pop that lets people who suck it fully understand the meaning of Twin Peaks. And so, in a panic, they dumped their troubles onto Michael, who now has a record of making the impossible possible  with the help of the best Janet and their human chums, that is. Sure enough, by the end of Patty, these folks whove longed to belong in the Good Place for four seasons now have come up with a solution.

The plan? Give the denizens of paradise the option to just  leave. Where will they go? Thats unclear. Most likely to an oblivion where theyll just cease to exist. But perhaps by knowing their time in the Good Place can be finite, the residents can appreciate it more. Itll be more like the last day of a two-week vacation, when people lament everything they never got around to doing and try to pack in as much as they can, and not the middle of the vacation, when the routine of cocktails at noon and reading on the beach starts become a chore.

So thats where we leave this wonderful episode of The Good Place, with an understanding that maybe we can only enjoy things properly if we know theyre going to end. And next week ? Well, its time to say good-bye.

The End Times

 The best bit of scribbling on the Good Place committees ideas board: Giant mini-donuts (not just regular donuts  Dave will explain). I get the feeling that this is inspired in part by The Good Place writers own brainstorming sessions. Heck, maybe this whole episode is meta: an admission the only way to make the Good Place (either one) work is to put in an exit door.

 In a classic example of Michael getting excited about doing a human thing, he dithers over how he should sign his contract with the Good Place. He weighs doctor blob versus athlete who doesnt care about the kid, before deciding to sign like a teenybopper who has a crush on Zac Efron, so that he can dot the i in Michael with a heart.

 Jason thinks monkeys are the ideal go-kart opponents because, Theyre funny enough to give the finger but not smart enough to win.

 If Patty gets to be Hypatia of Alexandria, Eleanor wants to be Eleanor of the Cheesecake Factory Bar. (Jason should, of course, be Jason of Stupid Nicks Wing Dump.)

 The one knock against this episode is that it sort of shortchanges Tahani, who really only gets one zippy  and bizarre  namedrop, when she says that the soothing chimes in the Good Place make her think of her godfather, the most famous clock in the world. (Is Big Ben somehow your godfather? Eleanor asks.) The main issue is that Tahani lacks the mission and motivation thats driving her cohorts  although Eleanor does smartly give her friend something to do when she suggests Tahani learn all she can about the people in heaven so they can get together and make fun of them, like gal-pals do. (Tahani: Ive been training for this day my whole life!)

 Note: The series finale next week will not be provided to critics in advance, so dont expect a recap immediately after it finishes. It will post later.
Editors note: A Hackensack Meridian spokesperson said at 11 p.m. that the patient they were examining does have not coronavirus.

Officials on Thursday evening said theyre investigating a possible case of coronavirus in a patient at Hackensack University Medical Center.

Our hospital, Department of Health and local health officials are working together to gather additional information. No definitive diagnosis has been made regarding the patient. As a precautionary measure, our hospital is following all appropriate infection control protocols," Nancy Radwin, spokeswoman for Hackensack Meridian Health, said in a statement.

The spokeswoman did not immediately respond to requests for more information, including the patients condition, when the possible case was reported and what prompted officials to take precautions.

The state Department of Health issued a nearly identical statement in response Thursday night, which reiterated that there was no confirmation of the virus and precautions were being taken.

The epicenter of the viral outbreak was traced to Wuhan, China, a city of about 11 million people.

Coronavirus has infected more than 400 people and at least 17 have people have died. No deaths have occurred in the United States, while there was one confirmed case in Washington State, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The man infected in the Seattle-area had traveled to Wuhan, officials said. A Texas A&M University student was also being evaluated for the virus after traveling from Wuhan and arriving at a Texas hospital with a cough and congestion.

The coronavirus can cause fever, cough and shortness of breath, and can develop into pneumonia.

The Chinese government has quarantined Wuhan, sealing off its airport and public transportation systems to prevent the spread of the virus.

Make no mistake, this is an emergency in China, World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters at a news conference Thursday. But it is not yet a global health emergency.

Dr. Debra Chew, assistant professor of medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and a former CDC epidemic intelligence officer, told NJ Advance Media that while any new deadly virus poses public health concerns, there did not appear to be a major threat to people in the U.S.

At this point, I think the risk to the public health is low," Chew said in a recent interview.

U.S. senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez have called for the federal government to begin screening travelers for the virus at Newark Liberty International Airport because similar precautions have been put in place at New Yorks JFK International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Chicagos OHare International Airport.

Health experts urged people to use standard hygiene practices, including washing hands often with soap and water and using hand sanitizer.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
With its first commercial production around the corner, Lundin Gold Inc. is looking at options to grow  including acquisitions.

The gold miner, whose only asset is expected to reach commercial production in the second quarter, is considering expansion at a time when bullion prices are hovering near a seven-year high. The rally has bolstered the case for acquisitions in an industry that has seen years of underinvestment, resulting in declining global production outlook.

The companys largest shareholder, Melbourne-based Newcrest Mining Ltd., is supportive of a potential acquisition, as is the Lundin family, also a major owner, Lundin Gold chief executive officer Ron Hochstein said Thursday in an interview at Bloombergs Toronto office. The challenge for us is going to be finding something thats accretive for our shareholders.

The company has marked out a concentric circle of geographic targets in which a bulls-eye would be a pure-play gold asset in Latin America, outside Ecuador. Beyond that, the Vancouver-based miner would look at the rest of the Americas and then the world, excluding Russia, China and the Stans. Meanwhile, it will focus on organic growth through additional land holdings in Ecuador, he said.

Funding an acquisition would likely not be difficult, he said, noting that the company works with seven banks and also has private equity investment through Orion Mine Finance. Everyone seems very happy and I think if we were to do something, weve got the resources, Hochstein said. If its right and its accretive, well spend what we have to spend to get it.

The companys Fruta del Norte mine in Ecuador is expected to produce more than 300,000 ounces of gold this year, and average 325,000 ounces over its expected 14-year mine life.

Asked about the potential that Lundin Gold could be a takeover target, given a wave of M&A in the sector, Hochstein said the company would welcome a buyer if the price was good.

Thats partly why a lot of investors invest with the Lundins; because they know if the value is right for the family, they sell, he said. Theres no sacred cows.

Newcrest would be the most logical buyer, he confirmed. But the familys going to have to be happy with the price. We cant have the thing where Newcrest could just continue to creep and kind of own it, and the next thing you know were a subsidiary of Newcrest.

Newcrest said it doesnt comment on M&A speculation but we are very happy with our holding in Lundin Gold, according to a company spokesperson.

Newcrest recently increased its holdings in Lundin to 32 per cent, while companies associated with the Lundin Family Trust also increased their stake.
Three persons who returned from China have been kept under observation at a Mumbai hospital for possible exposure to the novel coronavirus which has infected a large number of people in the neighbouring country, officials said on Friday.

Till now, no cases of coronavirus infection have been detected during screening of passengers at the Mumbai airport, a health department official said.

"No passenger with history of visit to Wuhan city of China in the last 14 days was found positive (for the virus) during thermal scanning," he said.

As many as 1,789 passengers underwent thermal screening at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport here for the coronavirus since January 19.

Two of them, who had traveled to China, were admitted to civic- run Kasturba Hospital in the city as a precaution.

Another passenger, who had returned from Hong Kong, was admitted to the hospital for medical examination on Friday, additional municipal commissioner Suresh Kakani said.

The passenger belongs to neighbouring Thane district, he added.

The two persons admitted to the hospital earlier are from Nallasopara in neighbouring Palghar district. Their blood samples had been sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune and reports were expected on Saturday, Kakani said.

Coronavirus cases were first reported from Wuhan, the capital of central Chinas Hubei province.

In the wake of the outbreak in China, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has created an isolation ward at the Kasturba hospital.

"The isolation ward has been created for diagnosis and treatment of persons suspected to have the virus infection," said Dr Padmaja Keskar, executive health officer of the BMC.

She said the persons under observation at the hospital had mild cough and exhibited cold-related symptoms.

Doctors at the Mumbai international airport have been asked to send travelers returning from China to the isolation ward if they show any symptoms of the novel coronavirus, she said.

"All private doctors in the city have been asked to alert us if they observe symptoms of coronavirus in any person who has returned from China," she added.

According to the Kasturba Hospital sources, they have received detailed instructions from the Maharashtra government about how to deal with a coronavirus infection.

Apart from Kasturba Hospital, quarantine facilities have also been provided at Naidu Hospital in Pune, officials said.

The coronavirus is a large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from the common cold to acute respiratory syndromes, but the virus that has killed people in China is a novel strain and was not seen before.

Common symptoms of the infection include fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties, according to the World Health Organisation.

Dr Pradeep Awate, surveillance officer with the state health department, said cases of coronavirus infection have been detected mainly in China, and few cases have been found in other countries including South Korea, Japan, Thailand and the United States.

Authorities would be following up with every passenger who has returned from any of the countries where outbreak of coronavirus has been reported for the next 28 days to check if she or he has developed symptoms of the infection, Dr Awate added.

He appealed people not to panic as no case of coronavirus infection has been found in the country yet.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
After 30 years in Phuket, Cambodian man arrested with fake Thai ID card

PHUKET: A Cambodian man who lived in Phuket for 30 years, most of that time by using a fake ID card, has been arrested for illegally staying in the country, Immigration Bureau Chief Pol Lt Gen Sompong Chingduang announced at a press conference in Bangkok today (Jan 24).

immigration

By The Phuket News

Friday 24 January 2020, 04:12PM

The poster explaining Mr Gim's arrest present to the Immigration Bureau chief in Bangkok earlier today (Jan 24). Photo: Immigration Bureau

Mr Gim was arrested after he was found carrying a fake Thai ID card. Photo: Phuket Immigration

Mr Gim was arrested after he was found carrying a fake Thai ID card. Photo: Phuket Immigration

Lt Gen Sompong identified the Cambodian man only by his nickname Gim.

Exactly where and when Mr Gim was taken into custody was not explained, but Lt Gen Sompong noted that Mr Gim was employed by a restaurant in Kalim, on Phukets west coast.

Mr Gims arrest followed Phuket Immigration receiving a tip-off that a man using a fake Thai ID card under the name Somboon Kongchai, Lt Gen Sompong said.

Officers found the man who matched the description given and asked him to present his ID card.

Mr Gim handed them an ID card giving his name as Somboon Kongchai, originally from Surin province, Lt Gen Sompong added.

Officers confirmed that the details on the electronic chip on the ID card did not match the name and details printed on the card, as the chip carried details of a Mr Eakkapong, Lt Gen Sompong said.

Also, the real Somboon Kongchai from Surin province had died in 2018, he added.

Officers told him that his ID card was fake, so he confessed that his name is Gim, 49, from Cambodia, Lt Gen Sompong noted.

He worked in a restaurant at Kalim Beach and lived in a house near Bang Tao Temple in Thalang, he added.

Mr Gim told officers that he came to Thailand and became a monk and lived at a temple in Thalang from 1990 to 2006, Lt Gen Sompong explained.

After he left the monkhood, he contacted a Cambodian friend to make a fake Thai ID card for him, he said.

He later paid B15,000 to for another fake ID card after the first one was expired in 2013. He said he did not even know who Somboon was, Lt Gen Sompong added.

Mr Gim was taken to Cherng Talay Police Station and charged with three charges: entering and staying in the Kingdom without permission; making and using a fake ID card; and making and using fake official document, Lt Gen Sompong said.

Officers are now investigating the source of the fake ID card, he added.

It was not explained whether the Immigration Bureau is looking to deport Mr Gim.

Also not explained was how Mr Gim for 14 years managed to not raise any flags on any national databases as a potential fake  with two of those years after the real Somboon had died.

A Thai ID card is needed by every Thai citizen in obtaining even the most basic of services, including hospital treatment, the mandatory registering of a mobile phone SIM card, paying police fines and utility bills  and any interactions with any government office.

Additional reporting by Eakkapop Thongtub
CLEVELAND, Ohio  A Cleveland native was one of three people sentenced to prison this week for his role in defrauding elderly U.S. residents to the tune of $11 million through a telemarketing scam in Costa Rica.

Donald Dodt, 76, was sentenced Thursday by a federal judge in North Carolina to 7 1/2 years in federal prison and ordered to pay $7 million in restitution, along with his co-defendants.

Dodt, Thomas Sniffen and Michael Saxon worked at a Costa Rican call center. They posed in calls as federal judges, representatives from the District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs and the Federal Trade Commission, according to a news release from the Justice Department.

They told the victims, who were primarily senior citizens, that they had won a large sweepstakes prize. The group then told victims they needed a series of up-front cash payments for insurance fees, import fees and taxes before collecting their prize, the release states.

The men hid their identities by using Voice Over Internet Protocol services provided by Dodt to make it appear they were calling from Washington, D.C. and other locations in the U.S.

Victims lost more than $11 million, according to prosecutors.

A jury found Dodt guilty in May of conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud and international money laundering. Sniffen, who hailed from Peekskill, New York, and Saxon, who came from Canada, pleaded guilty to federal charges in April and May, respectively. The judge, Max Cogburn Jr., gave Sniffen a 9 1/2-year sentence, while Saxon was sentenced to 6 years, three months in federal prison.

Sniffen was ordered to may more than $11 million in restitution, while Saxon has to pay more than $2.5 million.

If you would like to comment on this story, please visit Fridays crime and courts comments section.
Johnson won the election in one of the largest landslides in American presidential history. But the scandal-mongering mattered. In the early 1970s, when the next Republican president was under investigation for corruption and abuse of power, the monstrous image of Johnson that conservative media helped to paint became part of President Richard Nixons defense.

Conservative media figures did their best to downplay Nixons crimes, especially in relation to Johnsons. Nixon himself called Watergate a crappy little thing in his private (but secretly recorded) Oval Office conversations. Henry Regnery dismissed the accounts of Watergate, writing, I can see no grounds for impeachment, or even to get worked up about. National Review called the crimes objectively trivial and dismissed the medias daily spasms of moral indignation as a gleeful put-on.

Even after Nixon had resigned, the magazine still argued that he had been persecuted for actions far less serious than Johnsons. Hedging even as they accused, the magazines editors pointed to the belief, though not the proof, that Lyndon Johnson greatly surpassed Nixon in venality. After running through the litany of Johnsons sins, the editors expressed hope that one day people would look more kindly on Nixon as the shady deals of previous presidents become known.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the conservative media sphere was quite small: a handful of publishers, magazines and radio programs. The activists behind those outlets could influence politics, but they did not have the totalizing power that would allow them to ignore the world outside of the conservative movement. They could not persuade the vast majority of Americans that Johnson was notoriously corrupt, nor shrink Watergate hearings into a small box on the screen and propagandize over it.

The rapid expansion of conservative media in the 1990s and 2000s, and the conservative scandal machine that powered it, transformed American politics. During the Bill Clinton era, new scandal-mongering magazines and websites made up what Hillary Clinton accurately called a vast right-wing conspiracy. What followed was a cynical, partisan impeachment that treated the serious constitutional remedy as just another political game. In so doing, Republicans diminished the significance of impeachment, making it less likely the public would take the current impeachment crisis seriously.

The Clinton impeachment showed that the Republican Party was fully on board with the conservative medias scandalization project. The whole thing was tawdry, and yet two years later the Republicans controlled the presidency and both houses of Congress. Scandalization worked, so they returned to it again and again. Even Republican presidential candidates got in on the act, as when President Trump led rallygoers in chants of Lock her up.
Chennai: In a relief to actor-turned-politician Rajinikanth, the Madras High Court on Friday (January 24) dismissed a petition filed against him over his controversial remarks on rationalist leader E V Ramasamy 'Periyar'. Dismissing the case against the superstar, the court asked the petitioner why wasn't the plea taken to a magistrate court first.

Justice P Rajamanickam was hearing a petition by the secretary of Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam, a fringe outfit, seeking direction to the police to file a case against the actor. State Public Prosecutor A Natarajan submitted the petitioner had approached the court without seeking the alternative remedy available to them.

Referring to a High Court judgment which clearly mentioned the procedures to be adopted for approaching the court, he said the petitioner had filed the complaint only on January 18 and without even waiting for the outcome directly approached (the court) for a direction to the police to register a FIR.

The Public Prosecutor further submitted there was no second thought that Periyar was a great leader and an icon of the Dravidian movement and said the actor spoke only on the basis of an article published in a magazine.

Anyhow action will be taken as per law, he added.

The judge asked the counsel for the petitioner if he would withdraw the petition.

After the counsel agreed to do so, the judge recorded the same and dismissed the plea.

In his plea, Umapathy, secretary of Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam, alleged that Rajinikanth had made false and fraudulent statements insulting the Dravidian stalwart and followers of Periyar while speaking at the golden jubilee celebrations of Tamil magazine 'Thuglak' here recently.

He contended that "Rajinikanth made false and fraudulent statements insulting Dravidian ideologists and the followers of Thanthai Periyar with an intention to provoke breach of public peace by promoting enmity and hatred among the people of Tamil Nadu in the name of religion."

The petitioner also submitted he filed a complaint with the Triplicane police in the city on January 18 but no FIR had been registered.

Contending the actor's speech clearly attracted Sections 153A, 504 and 505 of the IPC, the petitioner said the police ought to have registered a case.

He submitted the court was moved seeking for a direction to register a case against the actor.
Mr Dunns family were told of the US secretary of states decision to refuse the UKs extradition request in a phone call with their constituency MP Andrea Leadsom on Thursday.

They are now calling for a meeting with Boris Johnson after dubbing the US decision as one of the darkest days for the two countries' special relationship.

The 19-year-old was killed when his motorbike and a car collided outside a US military base in Northamptonshire on August 27 last year. The driver of the car, Anne Sacoolas, fled back to the US claiming diplomatic immunity, and was subsequently charged with causing death by dangerous driving.

Harry Dunn / PA

In a statement, a spokeswoman for the Home Office said: We are disappointed in this decision, which appears to be a denial of justice.

We are urgently considering our options.

The Home Office submitted an extradition request for the 42-year-old, which the US described as highly inappropriate and Mr Johnson had previously said the chances of the suspect ever returning to the UK were very low.

Ms Leadsom will confront the US ambassador Woody Johnson about the decision on Friday.

Asked if the Prime Minister was doing enough, family spokesman Radd Seiger told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: I have to say at the moment not. We did not welcome his public comments last week.

He is the leader of the gang, he aspired to be Prime Minister. History was made last night when the Americans decided not to return her.

Thats the first time in history that the United States has turned down an extradition request. Its one of the darkest days in the history of this special relationship.

Boris Johnson wanted to be Prime Minister, he is now being tested severely. I expect him today to rise to that challenge and come and meet with me and the family and tell us what hes going to do about it.

Harry Dunn's mother Charlotte Charles, stepfather Bruce Charles, family spokesman Radd Seiger and father Tim Dunn outside the Ministry Of Justice in London / PA

But despite the rejection, the Dunn family were remaining resolute that they will get justice one day.

Mr Seigler told the Today programme: I can assure your listeners this morning that despite the development last night we know for sure that she will be coming back one day, there is no other way forward.

The reality is that this administration, which we say is behaving lawlessly and taking a wrecking ball to one of the greatest alliances in the world, they wont be around forever whereas that extradition request will be.

We will simply plot and plan for a reasonable administration to come in one day and to reverse this decision.

Earlier, in a short statement Mr Seiger said: If Trump and Pompeo think this is an end to the matter, they have another thing coming to them. Team Harry will sit down with the Government tomorrow and work out our next steps.

And next steps there will be. The whole world is on Team Harrys side. This is not a battle the US government is going to win.

In a statement released on behalf of the suspect after she was charged in December, Mrs Sacoolass lawyers said: Anne will not return voluntarily to the United Kingdom to face a potential jail sentence for what was a terrible but unintentional accident.

Lawyers acting on behalf of the Dunn family have said it is the first time in the 100-year history of the extradition treaty that such a request had been turned down by the US.
Editors note: Far from the days when doctor knows best was the ruling sentiment in medical suites, today patients have more of a voice in decisions about their care. The physician has more medical knowledge, but the patients own preferences matter enormously in true patient-centered care. A Patients Dilemma is a new occasional series that tells the stories of how people deal with the choices they face. As with our popular Medical Mystery feature (which also is continuing), we start by explaining the situation and then revealing the resolution. If you have a story to tell, email us at health@inquirer.com.

When my patient Mr. G learned that he had prostate cancer, he felt more stressed out than he ever had in his life.

Then it got worse. He learned that he was supposed to participate in choosing his treatment. How, he wondered, was he, as a nonphysician, supposed to manage that? Up again went his stress level.

His story began when, as Mr. Gs primary-care physician, I requested a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test which, combined with rectal examination, is our best available screening tool for prostate cancer. I explained that the PSA test is imperfect and sometimes can be elevated for reasons other than prostate cancer, such as prostate enlargement or inflammation (a false positive), and biopsy may be needed to distinguish between them. That was exactly the case for Mr. G.

When the urologic surgeon discussed his diagnosis, he presented Mr. G with two options for treatment: surgery or radiation therapy. He was told that the long-term prognosis was similar for either option. If you were my father, the surgeon said, I would recommend surgery, hands down.

But Mr. G keeps up with the news and was aware that for older men such as himself, slow-growing prostate cancers may never become life-threatening. So he asked about a third option.

What if I do nothing? he asked.

Well, then youre just leaving things to chance. Chance doesnt have your back, the surgeon replied.

Mr. G then went to what he believed was his most trusted consultants: the internet. A highly educated scientist and savvy researcher, he spent hours studying the medical literature on treatment options for prostate cancer and the common side effects.

But even that wasnt enough to make his choice clear.

Resolution

When we met for his recent office visit, Mr. G looked exhausted as he told me he was still unsure about treatment. Watchful waiting, monitoring the tumor to see whether it was turning aggressive, is a choice many men are making and certainly is not the same as doing nothing. But Mr. G wasnt comfortable with that option.

I complimented him on the thoroughness of his research and asked which aspect of the treatment and potential side effects he was struggling with most. For him, the worst treatment side effect he could imagine would be incontinence. He knew this could be a risk no matter which option he chose, but minimizing that risk was his priority.

I suggested that he speak with his surgeon about this.

If you were my father was kind and well-intentioned but wasnt getting to Mr. Gs main concern. I also suggested he share the results of his own research, assuring him that many physicians, myself included, want to know what our patients are learning.

The following week, he returned to see the specialist and shared his worries about incontinence, along with his internet research conclusions.

After a thorough discussion of risks and benefits, Mr. G and his urologist decided that external beam radiation would best meet his needs, based on the characteristics of his tumor and treatment side effect profiles. Initially, the urologist shared a preference influenced by his own experience and review of medical studies, and in many cases, this may suffice. For Mr. G, a shared decision best aligned to his personal priorities.

What matters most to you is a question that helps build trust and can light up a pathway to the best choice for the individual patient. When shared decision-making is performed well, shared is the operative word. As physicians, we need to seek information as astutely as we disclose it.

Jeffrey Millstein is a primary-care physician and medical director for patient experience-regional practices at Penn Medicine.
Twenty-four-year-old college student Vera Yueming Zhou came to the United States in 2008 and is a U.S. permanent resident. She also happens to be a member of the Hui, a largely Muslim ethnic group. In October 2017, she used a virtual private network application to file her University of Washington homework while visiting her father in the city of Kuytun, China. That infraction was enough to get her arrested and sent to a reeducation camp, where she spent five months in a small, crowded cell with 11 other Muslim women. She never had a hearing or trial.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Riza Roidila Mufti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, January 24, 2020

Indonesia and Hungary are in talks to build a multi-lane free flow (MLFF) e-toll system that allows payments without gates while cars are moving. The technology is estimated to cost US$90 million.

The e-toll technology the country is offering uses a global navigation satellite sytem (GNSS). The technology has been used in several eastern European countries, including Hungary.

With GNSS, motorists no longer need to tap electronic money cards as vehicles would be charged tolls through sensors installed inside vehicles that identify their locations based on satellite connections. Installation of the GNSS e-toll system is projected to cost $90 million, Hungarys Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Thursday.

to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content

e-Post daily digital newspaper

No advertisements, no interruptions

Privileged access to our events and programs

Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login
The Chattanooga Audubon Society is hosting its first annual friend and fundraising Gala on Feb. 29 from 7-9 p.m. at Southern Belle Riverboat, 151 Riverfront Pkwy in Chattanooga. Cost is $100 per person. For more information, contact Darlene Carlson, executive director, at dcarlson@chattaudubon.org or 423-892-1499.

"The Chattanooga Audubon Society protects and preserves over 450 acres in Hamilton County and is the oldest nature sanctuary in the region," officials said. "Its 130-acre sanctuary property in East Brainerd, Audubon Acres, houses a small museum in its Visitors Center, is home to a historic cabin built in the late 1700s, is the site of an UT archeological dig and houses the CE Blevins Avian Jewels (replica bird egg) Collection.

With over 5 miles of walking trails, and access to South Chickamauga Creek for canoe, kayak, and tubing activities, it is truly a sanctuary in a very busy area of Chattanooga. A lovely, peaceful place for the entire family."The Chattanooga Audubon Society was founded by Robert Sparks Walker in 1944 and celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2019. Mr. Walkers novel, Torchlight to the Cherokees, was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and is the inspiration behind the name of the event. Although Mr. Walker gained international fame for his work, his largest impact remains in his native Tennessee. He helped to found the Chattanooga Audubon Society, including preserving his childhood home through Audubon Acres. Mr. Walker has been recognized by the State of Tennessee, as the Lifetime Achievement Award for Environmental Stewardship is given in his name.Funds raised from this Gala will help Audubon expand its educational offerings to the community, help Audubon to maintain its sanctuary properties, and make needed repairs to existing structures.
In an apparent trashy side story, Joe Biden's son Hunter has an Arkansas judge after him for failing to comply, for the third time, to submitting a financial statement so as to determine how much side support he need to pay for the child that came of his congress with an Arkansas stripper.

The judge is angry:

On Tuesday, an Arkansas judge ordered Hunter Biden, the youngest son of former Vice President Joe Biden, to appear in court and explain why he should not be held in contempt for violating numerous court orders to provide financial information in his Arkansas paternity case. In the case, Lunden Alexis Roberts, a former Washington, D.C., stripper, has reportedly been awarded full custody and is seeking child support after a November DNA test confirmed that Roberts' son  born in August 2018  was indeed Hunter Biden's child. Biden has refused to hand over financial records, despite a December 6 order to do so, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported. He missed deadlines on December 12 and December 19, and most recently on January 16. While questions about Hunter Biden's finances  particularly his employment history at the notoriously corrupt Ukrainian gas firm Burisma and his father's efforts to get the prosecutor investigating Burisma fired  feature in the Trump impeachment battle, Roberts' lawyer insisted that the paternity case has nothing to do with impeachment.

Baby-daddy Hunter has been told to show up in Arkansas to explain to the judge just why he won't turn in his financial statements. He argues it's all political, but the judge says it's all to determine how much child support he has to pay. And he agreed to accommodate Hunter by sealing the records.

It's been all for naught. Hunter made a litany of excuses even then and now the judge is sick of it.

Which raises questions about just what Hunter might be hiding.

Alana Goodman at the Washington Examiner reports that while Hunter says he's 'unemployed' with no income, he's somehow living in $12,000 a month rented Hollywood Hills mansion with million-dollar views on four sides of the spread.

She dug deeper to find that Biden's China interests are registered right at the residence, too

One of Bidens businesses, Skaneateles LLC, is registered to the Hollywood Hills address, according to corporate records. Biden used the company to purchase a 10% equity stock in Chinese investment fund BHR Equity Investment Fund Management Co. in 2017, according to his attorney. Bidens business dealings in China have faced scrutiny during his father's presidential campaign. Hunter Biden said he would step down from the board of the BHR investment fund in October, although he has not said whether he would divest his shares in the company. He is still the director at Skaneateles LLC, the company he used to purchase equity in the Chinese fund, the Daily Caller reported in October. In December, Biden was spotted driving around Los Angeles in a new, white Porsche Panamera, according to the New York Post.

The implicit suggestion from it, given that Biden doesn't work for a living, is that the Chicoms might just be paying for it. Or maybe the Ukrainians of Burisma. He seems to be on someone's string.

Which brings Biden inevitably back into impeachment, given that Biden's corrupt deal with Burisma, riding on the coat-tails of poppa Joe's vice presidential influence, were the premise for the entire impeachment drama.

And in fact, as Andrew McCarthy points out in a must-read essay called "On the Bidens, Schiff Opened the Door," Hunter Biden and maybe old Joe too are now in the impeachment stew whether they like it or not, because House impeachment spearhead Adam Schiff has actually taken them that way. He writes:

In sum, the Houses chief prosecutor represented to the American people that President Trump had asked his Ukrainian counterpart to fabricate a false case against Biden. In any court in America, that would open the door to the Trump defense team to show that this was not the presidents intention at all; he was simply asking Zelensky to look into a situation that cried out for an inquiry. In light of Schiffs explicit allegation, the president is entitled to an opportunity to show that there was reason for him to believe that a notoriously corrupt Ukrainian energy company had retained Hunter Biden and paid him a fortune despite his lack of qualifications; and that later, despite the blatant conflict of interest, thenvice president Biden extorted Ukraine into firing a prosecutor who was investigating the company, threatening to withhold $1 billion in desperately needed funds. Schiff insists that Trumps claims in this regard are false. But his mere say-so does not prove falsity, no more than his mere say-so proves that Trump wanted Ukraine to make up dirt on Biden. Figuring out who has the better of a factual dispute is what a trial is about. If a litigant does not want to create a dispute, its up to the litigant to steer clear of the issue. Adam Schiff steered his case straight into the Bidens.

And what a coincidence, we have Hunter Biden being called to disclose his finances as the baby daddy to an Arkansas stripper and her call for child support. You'd think Biden would just shell out to get his name out of the spotlight, but maybe someone else is holding his money. In exchange for ... who knows.

That's a mighty uncomfortable position to be in as the oil slick of impeachment edges closer and closer to him. Schiff, of course, is attempting to protect him. But the Senate isn't his arena. It's Mitch McConnell's turn now and the president's office is at stake. Hunter's appearance, along with revelations of his financial dealings, ought to pretty well prove that President Trump was not making anything up. The Hunter Biden 'did nothing wrong' narrative is bound to go out the window, and take the Schiff show down with it, too.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief MK Stalin on Friday said that the Tamil Nadu government should not allow the process of National Population Register (NPR) in the state. (Photo: File)

Chennai: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief MK Stalin on Friday said that the Tamil Nadu government should not allow the process of National Population Register (NPR) in the state.

"Tamil Nadu government should not allow the process of NPR in the state. DMK is going to meet the people and is going to start a signature campaign from Feb 2 to 8 against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC). All the alliance party leaders and cadres will also be involved in this process. We will complete the campaign and will submit the memorandum to the president of India," Stalin told reporters here.

"I appeal to the students, vendors and all segments of people to support this signature campaign. Amit Shah may say that he will not take back CAA but we will continue to protest. We will get a date from President Ram Nath Kovind and meet him on CAA," he added.

On the vandalising of Thandai Periyar statue, Stalin said: "It is condemnable that vandalising of Thandai Periyar statue took place. This government should take action against the perpetrators of such vandalism."

The newly-enacted Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, grants citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who came to India on or before December 31, 2014.
Chad Buckmaster, CEO of Workwell Technologies adds, We are happy to have the hardworking people of Acroprint join the Workwell Technologies family.

Workwell Technologies signed an agreement to acquire Acroprint, a time recording company serving millions of employees worldwide. Acroprint will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Workwell Technologies.

The acquisition is a strategic pairing of Workwell Technologies, a leading provider of modern cloud-based workforce management systems and Acroprint's historic suite of popular time recording devices. Acroprint has a 50-year legacy of equipping hundreds of thousands of businesses with time clocks.

Glenn Robbins, company president of Acroprint and son of founder Wilbur Robbins said, Workwell Technologies understands and values our business and sees Acroprint as a strategic partner to its growth. We are thrilled to have the strength of this reputable parent company to usher in the future of Acroprint. Robbins will retire after 45-years of service to Acroprint on completion of the acquisition.

Amanda Jones, daughter of Glenn Robbins will take the helm as General Manager of the Workwell Technologies subsidiary after her fathers retirement. We are looking forward to the next 50 years with Workwell Technologies as our parent company, Jones added.

Workwell Technologies is the United States largest provider of cloud-based time and attendance devices and software designed for small businesses. Workwell Technologies affordable workforce management solutions help employers automate manual, time-consuming processes and improve their business operations. Acroprints focus on time clock solutions and robust customer base are a perfect complement to Workwell Technologies.

Workwell Technologies is committed to providing the most technology-forward and affordable solutions to small businesses, said Andrew Newby, COO and CPO of Workwell Technologies. We are honored that Acroprint's large customer base and stellar team are uniting under the Workwell Technologies umbrella."

Chad Buckmaster, CEO of Workwell Technologies adds, We are happy to have the hardworking people of Acroprint join the Workwell Technologies family.

Workwell Technologies has increasingly broadened its workforce management offerings with rapid innovations and consistent growth. The acquisition enables Acroprints million plus employee users access to Workwell Technologies cutting-edge solutions, exceptional support and advanced technologies.

About Acroprint

The company was founded on April 1, 1969, in Raleigh, NC, by Wilbur Robbins, a top-performing salesman at IBM and Simplex. He saw an opportunity to offer the time and attendance dealer community a durable, lower-cost alternative to the existing products of the day. For more information, visit http://www.acroprint.com.

About Workwell Technologies

Founded in 2005, Workwell Technologies has rapidly grown to the largest provider of small business cloud-based workforce management devices in the United States. Over 1,750,000 US employees and tens of thousands of small businesses use Workwell Technologies products every day. For more information, visit http://www.workwelltech.com.
Have you ever dialed the wrong number? Ever answered a call from a stranger?

In October 2007, Raingsey (Rain) Sinwas living in Cambodia when she answered a call from an unknown number. It was Kim Sin, calling from Rochester, trying to reach a family friend. Because it was the rainy season, the signal was poor; Kim did not realize he was speaking to the wrong person. Eventually, Kim realized his error. However, a connection had been made.

Kim told Rain he would call her again. She thought, "Hes not going to call me back." But he did, saying, "Im the wrong phone number guy." They continued to speak on the phone regularly.

Kim told Rain he would be in Cambodia in December 2007, accompanying a group of RCTC students. Rain agreed to meet him, but only in a group setting. She was very cautious and concerned that he might not be who he said he was. However, when they met in person, she was thrilled to see that he was "very nice and respectful."

Six months later, Kim asked Rain to marry him. Her mom said: "Holy moly. Thats fast."

ADVERTISEMENT

The couple married in December 2008, but Rain did not come to the United States until May 2010. She initially worked at an assembly line job here in Rochester, but she said, "I cant talk to a machine."

Her husbands friend owned a nail salon and offered her a job as a nail technician, which she found much more enjoyable. Between classes at Hawthorne and conversing with clients in the salon, she quickly learned English.

Nearly 13 years after answering a "wrong number," Rain is happily married with two daughters. Shes a business owner, running her own shop, Rain Nail Salon. All because of a wrong number.

Chuck Marino, an IMB employee, and his wife, Nicole, a Mayo Clinic employee, started a family business last winter, Hyperspace Starcade, a mobile video game business.

The Marinos and their two children love video games, so it was a perfect fit for their family. They offer virtual reality games, a mobile game station, and laser tag for at-home parties. Chuck and Nicole have also been hired to provide activities at local fundraisers.

Just before Halloween last fall, their daughter got sick. A trip to the ER led to a short hospitalization at Mayo Clinic Hospital-Saint Marys Campus.

During her stay, a member of the Child Life team invited the family to carve pumpkins with local police officers. In addition to an activity that let "kids be kids," Chuck was also impressed with the community space offered to patients as a place "to hang out outside of the the hospital room."

Before the Marinos daughter was discharged, he spoke with Mary McCoy, who works in the Child Life program, and offered to donate the Hyperspace Starcade for an afternoon.

ADVERTISEMENT

Last month, he was able to share fun and games with hospitalized children and teenagers. For the event, the Marinos brought two virtual reality (VR) driving stations into Saint Marys. The equipment included a steering wheel with pedals to replicate real driving. Some patients chose to "drive" with the VR goggles on, and others opted to drive without. No matter what route was selected, fun was had by all.

Chuck said the goal of his side business is to "let kids have fun and make memories for families." Hes looking forward to bringing his video game fun back to Saint Marys again in the near future.

"Nothing beats that feeling you get when you give back," he said.
A needlefish stabbed a 16-year-old straight through the neck after jumping out of the water while the teenager was fishing and hoping to catch something decent for later. The horrifying incident took place in the waters of Wakinamboro village in the South Buton area of southern Indonesia. According to international media reports, the teenager is fortunately in stable condition and now recovering in hospital. He will, however, remain under observation to prevent any potential infections.

The needlefish which is a long thin and has a very sharp mouth with loads of spiky teeth attached to it managed to make a decent dent in the teenager's neck. According to reports, the 16-year-old, Muhammad Idul managed to swim to shore with the fish's mouth embedded inside him. He was later taken to a nearby hospital in the city of Baubau bit the staff there reportedly did not want to remove the fish from his neck because the operation needed specialist equipment. He was later transferred to another hospital in the city of Makassar where the doctors performed a delicate one-hour operation to remove the fish from his neck.

READ: UK: Road Closed After Lorry Drops Thousands Of Fish In Cornwall

While speaking to an Indonesian local news outlet, Professor Dr Syafri K. Arif said that to remove the fish snout he had to be very careful because of the large vessel in the neck. He further added that he had to pull the snout of the fish very slowly because of the blood vessels.

READ: China Mourns Native Paddlefish Scientists Say Is Now Extinct

Knocked off by a shark

In another chilling incident, a seven-year-old boy was knocked off his surfboard by a shark. The incident took place at New Smyrna Beach in Florida when the boy's father and his family went to the beach. Shaun Moore while talking to local media stated that the beach was very crowded and there were a lot of surfers out on the water already. A video which had gone viral showed Chandler Moore surfing when he saw something before getting knocked by the shark into the water, Shaun has been surfing since he was 4. Later Shaun admitted that initially, he thought he was knocked over by a fish and only upon closer inspection of the GoPro attached to Shaun's board could Shaun and Chandler determine that it was in fact not a fish but a shark.

READ: Picture Of Spider Dragging Goldfish Out Of Pond Terrifies Netizens

READ: Bluefin Tuna Sells For $1.8 Mn In New Year's First Auction At Tokyos Fish Market
During Thursday's impeachment trial, House managers made their case before the Senate that President Trump's conduct amounted to an abuse of power.

The House prosecutors argued that when it came to Ukraine, Trump didn't care about corruption  he just wanted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to announce an investigation of his political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden. To make this happen, Trump held out on having a meeting with Zelensky and froze approved military aid to Ukraine. This was all done "in the interest of just one person: Donald J. Trump," Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) said.

In his closing statement, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said when the managers are done presenting their case, they will have proven "overwhelmingly" that Trump is guilty. "That is, he's done what he's charged with," Schiff said. "He withheld the money. He withheld the meeting. He used it to coerce Ukraine to to do these political investigations. He covered it up. He obstructed us. He is trying to obstruct you. And he's violated the Constitution."

"Right matters. And the truth matters. Otherwise we are lost." --Impeachment manager @RepAdamSchiff pic.twitter.com/xPxDL75vfb  Josh Campbell (@joshscampbell) January 24, 2020

"If the truth doesn't matter, we're lost," he continued. "The framers couldn't protect us from ourselves if right and truth don't matter. But here, right is supposed to matter. It's what made us the greatest nation on earth. No Constitution can protect us if right doesn't matter any more. And you know, you can't trust this president to do what's right for this country."

More stories from theweek.com

Trump debuts official Space Force logo  and it's literally a ripoff of Star Trek

Mike Pompeo reportedly angrily challenged a reporter to find Ukraine on a map. She did.

14 dead, hundreds injured after 6.7 earthquake in eastern Turkey


On January 11, there was a public notice by the Central Bank of India in local daily Thinathanthi that said National Population Register (NPR) details would be linked to the KYC of people who had their accounts with the Kayalpattinam branch in Tuticorin. It was just one of the options suggested. But many failed to read it correctly. In the village with a predominant Muslim population, it immediately created ripples. By Saturday last week, social media had turned that into panic.



AFP

Hundreds of people have since then lined up in front of the bank to empty out their cash, convinced that the government was punishing them for taking part in anti-CAA-NRC protests.

Branch manager A Mariappan told TOI that Rs 6 crore had already been withdrawn. Monday was the day of the highest withdrawals and most of the customers who came were women, who rarely visit the bank on other days, he said.

On Thursday itself a sum of Rs 50 lakh was taken out. Kayalpattinam is a coastal town in Tuticorin district with about 10,000 households, most of them Muslim. Many of the men work abroad and hold NRI accounts with the bank.

Reuters

Caught off-guard by the money-withdrawal spree by customers, the bank has launched an auto-rickshaw campaign to allay the fears. But few are convinced. Shabana, who didnt want to give her full name, said, We were told that the notice could be a consequence of the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act and that our deposits wouldnt be safe. Her husband who works in the Gulf sends most of the money he makes home.

Bank officials said they were surprised to see hundreds of customers outside their bank last week. It was only a little while later that we realised they wanted their money back. There was nothing we could do, one of them said.

Mariappan said they had to seek help of staff at a neighbouring branch to deal with the rush. And since Kayalpattinam does not have a police station, personnel from a neighbouring thana were summoned to manage the crowds.

Social activist and member of Mass Empowerment and Guidance Association S K Salih said that the peoples fears on seeing the notice seemed natural as they were at the forefront of CAA and NRC agitations. We took out a rally of about 6,500 people, carried a 650-metre-long national flag and conducted special prayers in schools against it. We wore badges saying No CAA and No NRC, and here we were being asked to submit NPR details. Our biggest fears are coming true, he said.

AFP

Hussain, a villager, said bank officials were cordial and tried to tell them that everything was fine. But that doesnt solve our problem, does it? What they were telling us was only a comma at the end of the sentence, and not a full stop, he said.

Mariappan said their branch was one of the best performing ones with deposits to the tune of Rs 52 crore  flush with NRI money. Now he is anxious that he may not see those heady days any more. Compounding his fear is another matter: There are rumours that the bank is bankrupt and that it will close on January 31.
Just as the spat between US President Donald Trump and Greta Thunberg seemed to be subsiding, American Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has taken a fresh dig at the 17-year-old climate activist.

Asked about her call to divest from fossil fuels, Mr Mnuchin said: "Is she the chief economist? I'm confused... After she goes and studies economics in college, she can come back and explain that to us."

Mr Mnuchin's quip came two days after Mr Trump and Ms Thunberg sparred indirectly at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos. After the president said the US had committed to joining the one trillion tree initiative, Ms Thunberg retorted that fixing the climate crisis was not only about trees. Mr Mnuchin said he did not believe there were just a few years left to prevent a climate catastrophe. "There are a lot of other important issues" threatening civilisation, he said, citing health and nuclear weapons. "I think the youth needs to understand: climate is one issue that needs to be put in context with lots of other things."
New Delhi, Jan 24 : The Delhi High Court Friday granted relief to the students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) allowing them to register in the next semester as per the old hostel manual within one week.

"So far as the remaining students are concerned, they need to register within one week as per the old manual. No late fees will be charged from them too," says Justice Rajiv Shakdar.

The court will now hear the matter on February 28.

The court was hearing a plea filed by JNUSU President Aishe Ghose and others seeking direction of the court to restrain the JNU administration from imposing late fees on students for registrations in the Winter Semester-2020.

The plea also sought directions to the university to restrain them from taking any action, which would give effect to the draft hostel manual.

On January 20, three days after the deadline for registration for the winter semester in University, the administration had claimed that 82 per cent of the total 8,500 enrolled students had cleared their hostel dues.

The administration added that it was hoping for the number to go up further as the registration was still open, but with the late fees.

"Out of 8,500 students at JNU, 82 per cent of students have cleared their hostel dues for the winter registration as on Monday," a statement by the JNU administration said.

On January 16, the JNU had extended the last date of student registrations for the winter semester to January 17. The extension was announced for the third time since the original deadline of January 5.
"Buy a Vet a Bud Light" Campaign launched in all 131 RMH Franchise Applebee's locations on October 1 st and concluded on November 10 th . On Monday, November 11 th , 2019, Veterans Day, the previously purchased Bud Lights were served to Veterans and Active-Duty Military (21 years and older), providing an added bonus to the deserving men and women of the military.

"Veterans Day is one of the best days at Applebee's. We have a chance to give back to those great men and women who have dedicated their lives to serve our great country." Said Howard Hohman, COO, RMH Franchise. "At RMH, our Team rallies together and amplifies this day to pay tribute to all their local Veterans. You can feel the amazing atmosphere when you step inside any of our restaurants and I am very proud as well to be able to partner with Folds of Honor each year and help support their efforts." Continued Hohman.

RMH Franchise and the 131 communities they serve presented to Folds of Honor another $50,000 check in 2019, raising their contribution to date to this organization to $162,000.

The check presentation to Folds of Honor took place at RMH's own Applebee's located at 2230 W Ina Rd, Tucson, AZ. This location was chosen specifically to honor and congratulate the Restaurant's Team led by Dave Roberts, Director of Operations and Sheila Blanco, Bar Manager, who raised the most money during this campaign.

Howard Hohman, along with other leaders from RMH presented the check to Sergeant Rodney "Rocky" Sickmann, US Marine Corps, POW, who was among the 65 Americans taken prisoner and held in captivity for 444 days in Iran from November 1979 to January 1981. Rocky Sickmann now serves as the Senior VP for Folds of Honor.

About RMH Franchise

RMH Franchise has grown to become the second-largest Applebee's franchisee in the world with 131 locations. RMH Franchise provides a great place to work, a guest experience you can be proud of, and amazing potential for career growth. At RMH Franchise, team members take pride in their service, their careers, and our commitment to the community and the U.S. military. For more information on RMH Franchise, visit www.rmhfranchise.com.

About Folds of Honor

Folds of Honor is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of America's fallen and disabled service members. Our educational scholarships support private education tuition and tutoring for children in grades K-12, as well as higher education tuition assistance for spouses and dependents. Founded in 2007 by Major Dan Rooney, an F-16 fighter pilot in the Air Force Reserve who served three tours of duty in Iraq and PGA Professional, Folds of Honor is proud to have awarded nearly 24,500 scholarships in all 50 states, as well as Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, including more than 4,500 in 2019 alone. For more information or to donate in support of a Folds of Honor scholarship, visit www.foldsofhonor.org.

SOURCE RMH Franchise Corporation

Related Links

www.rmhfranchise.com


Joaquin Phoenix has been on the promotional trail, talking up his blockbuster hit film Joker, all the while collecting a growing number of accolades this awards season.

In between accepting a Golden Globe, Critics Choice and SAG trophy for Best Actor in recent weeks, Phoenix has also been working on his latest new project, C'Mon C'mon.

And on Thursday, he was spotted shooting a scene with young actor Cooper Jack Rubin in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Back on the set: Joaquin Phoenix, 45, was spotted filming a scene for his new film C'mon C'mon in New Orleans, Louisiana on Thurday

The costume department had the A-list actor, 45, dressed conservatively-casual in dark khaki-style pants with a light-colored dress shirt that was firmly tucked in.

He also sported a pair of classic Chuck Taylor Converse sneakers, a full beard and mustache as he carried a backpack on his shoulders.

For the new drama film, Phoenix has noticeably put back on all the weight he lost to play Joker that was said to be at least 40 pounds.

New role: Phoenix plays an uncle to a 'gifted, yet sensitive boy', played by Cooper jack Rubin, in the new drama film that's being directed by Mike Mills

At one point, in between takes on the set, Phoenix was photographed taking a cigarette break, while mulling though some items in his backpack.

Along with New Orleans, the film is also being shot in New York and Los Angeles.

Phoenix plays an uncle to a 'gifted, yet sensitive boy, who is played by Rubin, who's already been a stage actor and star of Showtime's critically acclaimed comedy series On Becoming A God In Central Florida.

Written and directed by Mike Mills, C'mon C'mon also stars Gaby Hoffman , Khadija Emma Neumann, Brandon Rush and Mary Passeri, among others.

Take five: The A-list actor has noticeably put back on all the weight he lost to play Joker that was said to be at least 40 pounds

Phoenix's wildly successful awards season is not over just yet. He received BAFTA and Academy Award nominations, and is believed to be a favorite to win in the Best Actor categories.

In previous years, he received Oscar nominations for Gladiator (2000), Walk The Line (2005) and The Master (2012).

Overall, Joker garnered 11 Oscar noms this year, including Best Picture and Best Director for Todd Phillips.

Accolades: Phoenix has already won Golden Globe, Critics Choice and SAG trophies for Best Actor in recent weeks for his performance in Joker
U.S. President Donald Trump heads to Air Force One to depart for Florida at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he will release his long-awaited peace plan for the Middle East before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits Washington next week.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One en route to Miami for a political event, Trump said Palestinians might react negatively to his plan at first, but that it would benefit them.

"It's a great plan," said Trump, who will meet with Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday. "It's a plan that really would work."

(Reporting by Jeff Mason; Writing by Tim Ahmann; Editing by Eric Beech)
24.01.2020 LISTEN

The political will of successive governments towards the fight against corruption has been a major concern for Ghanaians in times past.

Today, corruption still remains a major setback in the developmental agenda of Ghana with governments doing little to check corruption in an already rotten system.

It is against this background that the Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) is calling for a whole new approach in an attempt to deal with corruption.

The anti-corruption organization is calling on the government to put in place preventive mechanisms against corruption and its related activities if it intends to win the war against the menace.

Ghana ranked 80 out of 180 countries on the 2019 global Corruption Perception Index, CPI, according to Transparency International.

Mary Addah, programs Manager at the Ghana Integrity Initiative, speaking on Eyewitness News called on the government to go out of its way to do in 2020 what it has not been doing in previous years.

Some of the critical things that need to be in place to gain the confidence of business people and also the experts in-country in the public sector when it comes to corruption is for us to ensure that we are putting in place preventive mechanisms that truncate all the bureaucratic delays that facilitate people paying monies they are not supposed to pay making them form those opinions.

Ghana particularly has a duty to ensure that this particular year which is an election year, we look beyond what we have done before the rhetoric  and tackle the issue of bribery, tackle the issue of nepotism, tackle the issues of insider-dealing clientelism and then also the political entrepreneurs who are taking advantage of the little gaps in our system to make huge sums of money.

She further indicated that even though Ghana had beaten the Sub-Saharan average of 32%, it still failed to reach the world average of 43%, adding that in order to win the fight against corruption, Ghana needed to aim above 50%.

According to the corruption index, Ghana scored 41 out of a possible clean score of 100  the same score as the previous year, 2018.

To ensure Ghana improves on its performance, the Government has been advised to enforce sanctions against vote-buying, abuse of incumbency and threats to voters to ensure this year's [2020] election is held in a free and fair environment.

The report also asked the Electoral Commission to also enforce sections 13 and 14 of the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574) which deals with declaration of assets and expenditure by political parties. Details of Index

In the recent index, Denmark and New Zealand top with 87 points each. Syria, South Sudan, and Somalia were at the bottom of the Index with 13, 12 and 9 points respectively.

The highest-scoring region was Western Europe and the European Union with an average score of 66, while the lowest scoring region was Sub Sahara Africa, with an average score of 32.

In 2015, Ghana scored 47 and in 2016, came down to 43. In 2017, it recorded the worst performance with an average score of 40 out of 100 and rose marginally to 41 in 2018 and maintained that figure in 2019.

Even though Ghana performed better than neighboring Burkina Faso as well as Lesotho, the country could not catch up with countries like South Africa, Senegal, Sao Tome and Principe that scored better than Ghana in 2018.

---CitinewsRoom
Rot am See, Germany: A 26-year-old man shot his parents and four other members of his family dead with a semi-automatic weapon in south-west Germany before calling the police and waiting for them to arrest him, authorities said.

The man, a German citizen who had a sport shooting licence, was in detention and would be questioned once his lawyer arrived, local police chief Reiner Moeller said.

The shooting happened in a pub in Rot am See in Germany. Credit:Getty Images

"In the house and behind it, six dead people were found, three men aged 36, 65 and 69, and three women aged 36, 56 and 62," Moeller said, adding that two of the dead were the man's parents.

Two others were injured, one of whom remained in critical condition, and two children, aged 12 and 14, were threatened but not physically harmed, he said.
LAS CRUCES, New Mexico  A fraternity at New Mexico State University has been banned for five years after a student was shot in the leg during a hazing incident, according to reports.

Miguel Altamirano, 21, is charged with felony assault in connection with the incident, which occurred at a Kappa Sigma event in early November, USA Today reports. Altamirano could be sentenced to a maximum of three years in prison if convicted. He has been expelled from the university, KVIA Channel 7 reports.

The victim, Jonathan Sillas, tells police he was at a Kappa Sigma initiation event at a campfire on Nov. 9. Altamirano put a gun to (Sillas') leg and pulled the trigger," KVIA reports. Altamirano told police he did not know the gun was loaded.

Altamiranos lawyer, C.J. McEllhinney, tells ABC News that his client was joking around."

My client never intended to hurt anyone and is remorseful that Mr. Sillas was injured, McEllhinney tells ABC News. This unfortunate incident occurred in the context of a fraternity event.

According to KVIA, fraternity members told police they were teaching life lessons at the initiation event. However, USA Today reports that an investigation by the school revealed students pledging the fraternity had to give loyalty oaths with guns pointed at their heads or other parts of their bodies. The guns triggers were pulled during the oath, the report says.

KVIA reports the fraternitys national headquarters issued a statement condemning the hazing. It is against our core values and against Kappa Sigmas code of conduct, the statement says.

Despite attempts to curb hazing at college fraternities, it remains a problem. In October, Ohio University suspended all of its fraternities because of hazing reports. There were at least five deaths connected to fraternity events in 2019, including four in November, insider.com reports. In 2018, there were six deaths.

To comment on this story, go to Fridays crime and courts comments section.

Read more crime stories:

Former Ohio TV weatherman to plead guilty to child-porn charges

3-year-old boy accidentally shot self in Cleveland, police say

Warrant issued for man who stopped at McDonalds between police chases in Cleveland

Man attacked woman in robbery attempt at Cleveland RTA station

Armed robber stole $8,000 from man who drove him home from JACK Cleveland Casino, records say

Kurt Sovas mysterious 1981 death in Newburgh Heights the subject of upcoming CrowdSolve event in Chicago

More than 20 loaded guns, 3 swords stolen in Cleveland burglary, police say
Meghan Markle may have succeeded to get out from the shadow of the royal family in the hopes to live a peaceful and independent life, but she has not escaped the ghost of her estranged father who is once again making headline for his antics.

Once and for all, Thomas Markle sits down in a 90-minute tell-all documentary entitled "Thomas Markle: My Story" to expose nothing but the truth (or so he says) about his complicated relationship with his daughter-turned-royal.

In the documentary, which aired last Wednesday in Britain's Channel 5, the 75-year-old Thomas talked about his early relationship with the Duchess of Sussex until their dramatic fallout leading to her wedding to Prince Harry in May 2018.

To prove their father-and-daughter bond, Thomas also shared old photos and videos of him and Meghan. Although it would have been easy to sympathize with the Markle patriarch and the longingness of a father left alone at old age, he did not help his case when he made a cringe-worthy revelation concerning money.

Thomas shamelessly admitted receiving 30 percent of the profit from the infamous paparazzi photos that were taken a day before the royal wedding in 2018. He explained that he did not do it for the money, but to "improve his image" as suggested by a photographer.

What is worst is that he admitted staging the said photo in exchange for money, He then added that he plans to continue "milking" press appearances to expose the truth about her daughter.

"I'm going to defend myself. And I'm going to be paid for it. I'm not going to refuse to get paid for it. I'll do future things and be paid for it, I think. I don't care," Thomas said.

Thomas also believes that the royal family owes him for everything that he has been through in the past year.

"At this point, they owe me. The royals owe me. Harry owes me. Meghan owes me. What I have been through, I should be rewarded for," he added.

Thomas also admitted lying during his June 2018 Good Morning Britain interview with Piers Morgan, saying he did it to protect the image of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

"Actually, on the Piers show, I lied. I made their image appear better," he said.

Thomas explained that he mainly lied when he said that the couple called him before the wedding and only did it to make them look good.

But wait there's more, as it seemed like the overall point of the documentary was for Mr Markle to send a message to Meghan that he hopes to reconcile with her so that Meghan could fulfil her promise of taking care of him when he gets old.

"My daughter told me that when I reach my senior years, she would take care of me. I'm in my senior years now. I'm 75 years old, so it's time to look after Daddy," he said.

In the documentary, Channel 5 said that they tried reaching for Meghan and Prince Harry to comment on Thomas' claims, but they did not respond to the invitation.
Off-road motorbikes cause damage to Slieau Dhoon



DEFA headquarters in St Johns

IOM Government is reminding those who use off-road motorbikes illegally in the countryside of the byelaws ban.

It follows extensive damage found to an area of peat land at Slieau Dhoo near Kirk Michael.

Manx byelaws ban the use of vehicles on Government land without prior permission, with anyone caught illegally driving or riding on it facing prosecution and a 1,000 fine.

Geoffrey Boot MHK, Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture said: The irresponsible and illegal access has caused major damage to important upland. It has clearly been caused by off-road motorbikes using the area as a playground.

The importance of protecting and restoring such land is a priority of the Department, as upland peat soils are the Islands largest carbon store.

The deep rutting caused by off-road riders illegally using such sites causes the peat to dry and release stored carbon back into the atmosphere.

Damage to the slow-growing upland vegetation will also lead to erosion and the further loss of stored carbon.

Last year, the Isle of Man Government sanctioned 32 motorcycle events on Government-owned plantations and quarries and many more are planned for 2020.

Mr Boot said the Department will continue to work in partnership with the Auto Cycle Union (ACU) and the police to address the issue.

PC Claire Sproule-Craine, Isle of Man Constabulary Wildlife Crime Officer, said: This damage is detrimental to our environment and I cannot stress how important it is to adhere to rules set in place to protect these areas.

Moving forward we will work closely with the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture to police our green lanes and ensure that the public is using these in a legal and safe manner and not straying on to areas which are prohibited to vehicle use.
The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.

Everybody seems to be using the word "precedent" right now.

Commentators, the media and even Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell use it when they discuss or debate the appropriate procedures for President Donald Trump's impeachment trial.

The word has multiple meanings, though, so what people mean by "precedent" is often unclear and confusing.

Binding or just a guide

The word "precedent" has a technical legal meaning and a common one.

Legally, it is a term of art that refers to a rule established in a court case. That rule is either binding or persuasive for other courts in deciding later cases with similar issues or facts.

Simply put, legal precedents obligate courts to follow the same rule and often determine the outcome in a similar case.

In common parlance, however, precedent has a different meaning.

In this use, it refers to an earlier event or action that is regarded as an example or guide to be considered in similar circumstances. This kind of precedent is nonbinding and merely instructive.

When a trial doesn't set precedent

Unlike a court of law, prior impeachment trials serve as precedent only in the nonlegal, nonbinding sense.

The Senate can look to the procedures it has used in past impeachment proceedings, but those procedures do not have to be followed.

The Constitution gives very little guidance on how an impeachment trial should proceed. Article I, Section 3, Clause 6 states, "The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments."

After requiring that Senators be "on oath," that the chief justice preside and that a two-thirds vote is required to convict, the Constitution leaves it to the Senate to make its own rules about how to conduct the trial.

The Supreme Court in Walter L. Nixon v. the United States upheld the Senate's sole authority to determine how to run an impeachment trial. In that 1992-93 case, Judge Nixon, chief judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, objected to the procedures used by the Senate in his impeachment trial.

The Supreme Court held that courts cannot review the procedures used by the Senate in trying impeachments because the framers gave the authority to try impeachments to the Senate  not the courts. In short, the Senate gets to decide its procedures.

The Senate followed different procedures in the presidential impeachment trials of Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton. Nothing says that they have to follow either of those past procedures now, which is why the Senate recently approved new rules to govern the impeachment trial of President Trump.

In adopting these rules, the Senate left the questions of admitting new evidence and witnesses unresolved. So the fight over procedures and precedents may not be over yet, especially since the Senate can change the rules by majority vote whenever it wants.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: http://theconversation.com/precedent-nah-the-senate-gets-to-reinvent-its-rules-in-every-impeachment-130449.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
The BSF on Friday said a substantial increase in the outflow of illegal Bangladeshi migrants to their home country has been recorded over the past one month, following the enactment of the CAA.

A top official of the paramilitary force said fear among the illegal settlers, post the enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), seems to have triggered this outflow.

"There has been substantial increase in outflow of illegal Bangladeshi migrants to the bordering country in last one month.... In January alone, we had apprehended 268 illegal Bangladeshi migrants, most of whom were trying to sneak into the neighbouring country," BSF Inspector General (South Bengal Frontier) Y B Khurania told reporters.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Gray hair got you down? Scientists may have a cure for that.

Okay, maybe not a cure. But, more information about why youre going gray, and what can be done about it.

Dr. Melissa Harris, an assistant professor at the University of Alabama at Birminghams Department of Biology, has spent the last ten years studying melanocyte stem cells and what happens when they fail.

Harris runs a molecular biology lab at UAB and uses CRISPR gene editing tools, single-cell sequencing studies, and network analysis algorithms. She uses gray hair as a model for aging, because she doesnt always need a microscopeshe can see the state of your melanocyte stem cells right away. If hair is all one color, Harris said, the melanocyte stem cells are healthy; but if there are grays mixed in, something isnt right.

Gray hair isnt always an inevitable part of aging, the university said. Through Harris research, shes learned that age isnt the only reason these cells fail, and now Harris is working with gray-haired mice to show there could be a way to bring the cells- and hair pigments- back to life. Shes doing that by working with a biotech startup to study an experimental compound that appears to restore hair color long-term in those mice.

Harris work applies to autoimmune diseases and to melanoma, but she said her primary goal is to understand why somatic stem cells (those found in muscles, bones, and organs that are responsible for tissue regeneration, immune defense, hair color and more) start to fail as a person ages. Most of those stem cell populations are hard to work with in the lab, Harris said, but melanocyte stem cells are an exception.

Does hair graying cause you to die? Harris said. No, you can watch melanocyte stem cells from birth to the end. But, she added that the same cant be said for cells like hematopoetic stem cells, which pump red blood cells in bone marrow. You cant live long without them, Harris said.

Her research will reveal more about the bodys aging process and the life cycles of those stem cells.

Harris is often known as the gray-hair lady in the lab, but she stresses that her gray hair research has bigger implications. Everyone gets gray hair It is considered a vanity science, she said. I am not an abnormally vain person My lab has picked the model that is the most appropriate method to investigate what happens to stem cells as we age.

The work has earned her a grant from the NIHs National Institute of Aging. A paper published by her lab in 2018 showed that MITF, a certain protein that is the master regulator turning on pigmentation genes also represses the innate immune system, according to UAB. The university said when Harris worked with the MITF-deficient mice with a virus, the melanocyte stem cells suffered and the mice got gray hair. The study was globally recognized, and featured in several publications.

Perhaps, in an individual who is healthy yet predisposed for gray hair, because they produce less MITF, getting an everyday viral infection is just enough to cause the decline of their melanocytes and melanocyte stem cells, leading to premature gray hair, Harris told UAB News.

Harris started working with the biotech startup when she was contacted by them last year. They were developing an experimental compound that would regrow hair, and they wanted to know if she would test it on her mice. Harris said she was skeptical, but she conducted a small trial.

It worked. Harris said when she tests gray-haired mice with the compound, she sees hair color come back.

Some gray hairs could be rejuvenated, the university said, through compounds to stimulate the cells. (Courtesy, UAB)

And we can take these same mice, pluck the hair and when new hairs grow out they retain the higher level of pigmentation, suggesting this is permanent, she said. This compound is reprogramming the stem cells, taking them to a younger state, allowing them to start up again.

Harris and Joseph Palmer, one of her doctoral students, are also studying a theory that the melanocyte stem cells spend most of their time in a dormant state, and that the cells can possibly be stimulated.

(Spanish doctors in a study) suggested that some melanocyte stem cells are retained in gray hairs, Harris said. We thought that once you go gray the stem cells are all lost  theres no going back. But presumably they can be reactivated. That study means, according to Harris, there may be therapies to reactive the cells, and the compound shes working with alongside the startup could be a promising way forward, according to UAB.

We have an opportunity with this company to find out what are the potential ways we can fix a broken system, Harris said. Were always looking at whats broken and rarely do we get to go in the other direction, towards tissue rejuvenation. So this is exciting.
When you have a child thats getting ready to head off to college, finding the right school is essential. At national universities for the 2019-2020 school year, the average cost of tuition and fees alone was $11,260 for in-state public schools, while private schools ran an average of $41,426. Thats a major investment, and some schools certainly arent worth the money. Not all colleges are created equal. When you examine the quality of the education or future job prospects, some lag far behind. Dont send your children to these 5 colleges.

The Making of a Bad College

Labeling a school as one of the worst in the United States it just about students opinions of their experience. While that can be a factor, there are other ones in play.

Often, bad colleges dont offer a reasonable return on investment, or ROI. The tuition cost tends to far outweigh what a graduate can expect to earn after receiving their degree. Along with the price of attending, earning potential should be a critical consideration when choosing a school.

In some cases, more expensive schools can be worthwhile if students leave with exceptional earning potential. Similarly, a low-cost education can be an excellent choice if students are able to land lucrative positions after graduating and dont have to acquire much debt along the way.

However, there can be other issues to examine, as well. A lackluster educational experience can be involved, as well as a failure to update critical areas, like the schools technology. Low graduation rates are also a sign that things arent as good at a college as they may appear in the brochures.

5 Colleges You Dont Want to Send Your Children To

Ultimately, the five colleges below are widely considered some of the worst in the nation. They miss the mark in key areas like ROI, graduation rates, tuition costs, student debt, and similar concerning points. Heres a look at five colleges you dont want your children to attend.

1. DeVry University

Based in Illinois, for-profit DeVry University is easily one of the worst options for college students. A mere 29 percent of students actually graduate from their programs. Those that do finish leave with an average debt of $43,000.

Plus, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued DeVry University, stating that the school gave misleading information to students about their future job prospects. Since DeVry University is accredited, the lack of opportunities took many students off-guard. Many employers dont give the college much credence, so even if your child earns a degree, it may not help them land a job.

2. Morris College

Another school with a measly 29 percent graduation rate is Morris College, a private, religious institution with an approximate undergraduate population of 1,200 students. The college was founded in Sumter, South Carolina, and has an affiliation with the Baptist Church.

While many schools associate with religious organizations, Morris doesnt offer the quality education many students need. It is behind when it comes to technology and other similar upgrades, and that can be a real hindrance in todays increasingly digital world. Since it costs nearly $20,000 annually, and students generally leave with $26,000 in debt after graduating, its hard to justify the cost when critical areas like tech are being neglected.

3. Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville State University is a small public college with an enrollment of just shy of 5,400 undergraduate students. On average, the graduation rate is only 33 percent, which is very low. Plus, it isnt an inexpensive school, coming in around $13,000 a year. Students often walk away with over $21,000 in debt if they do stick it out.

The crime rate in the area around the university should also give parents pause. Since knowing that your child is as safe as possible at school is typically a priority, a high crime rate shouldnt be overlooked.

4. Shaw University

A private, religious university in Raleigh, North Carolina, Shaw University has some of the lowest graduate rates around, coming in at 23 percent. Of those, only 7 percent graduate with a STEM degree. On average, students leave with $28,000 in debt, and the school costs a surprising $24,638 annually. Plus, many graduates struggle to repay their loans after leaving the college, a sign that they arent finding gainful employment, even with their degree.

5. Mt. Sierra College

Founded in 1990, making it a fairly young school, Mt. Sierra Colleges graduation rates would make most parents cry. Just 6.2 percent of students leave with a degree and those that do often struggle to find work. While the college does offer various programs focused on technology or business, most employers dont give much credence to the school. Additionally, it costs a surprising $16,000 a year.

Are there any colleges you dont want your children to attend? Which ones? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Read More:

If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started.
NEW HAVEN  Religious school students and teachers, rabbis, cantors, cantorial soloists and instrumentalists from eight area synagogues will come together at 10 a.m. Jan. 26 for a morning of singing, in celebration of the power of Jewish music. The concert, which will take place at The Towers, 18 Tower Lane, New Haven, is free and open to the public. RSVP to The Towers at 203-772-1816.

The participating congregations include Congregations Bnai Jacob (Woodbridge), Beth El Keser Israel of New Haven, Mishkan Israel of Hamden and Or Shalom of Orange; Temple Beth David of Cheshire; Temple Beth Tikvah of Madison, Temple Beth Sholom of Hamden; and Temple Emanuel of Greater New Haven of Orange.

This annual event is dedicated to the memory of the musical legacy of Debbie Friedman, zl, a Jewish musician who died in 2011. In addition to several iconic songs by Friedman, traditional tunes and songs by two generations of musicians who were influenced and inspired by her ability to bring a womans voice and perspective into late 20thcentury Jewish music, and to write accessible songs combining liturgy and social commentary, will be performed.

For more information about this event, go to www.tegnh.org or call 203-397-3000.

Steel band concert benefits action group

NEW HAVEN  St. Luke's Steel Band will perform a concert to benefit Christian Community Action, at 4 p.m. Feb. 9 at Bethesda Lutheran Church, 450 Whitney Ave., New Haven. The concert is part of the Bethesda Music Series. There is no admission charge; freewill donations will be taken to benefit CCA. A reception follows the concert.

Under the direction of Kenneth Joseph, St. Luke's Steel Band has a reputation as one of the area's most exciting performing ensembles. Their repertoire includes soca, calypso, reggae, classical, sacred, jazz, popular and island folk music.

Now in its 27th year, the Bethesda Music Series presents concerts by local and visiting artists to benefit local charities. All concerts are free and open to the public. To learn more about the series on the Bethesda Lutheran Church website. To join our mailing list, email Music@BethesdaNewHaven.org or call the church office at 203-787-2346.

Bible Study And The New Testament

NORTH BRANFORD  Residents are invited to exploreThe New Testament at the at North Branford Congregational Church. Meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the chapel of our church.

For information, email Jennifer at bellmad1@aol.com

Church offers ongoing workshops

NORTH BRANFORD  All are invited to attend continuing community workshops every Thursday from 4 - 6 p.m. at Northford Congregational Church, 4 Old Post Road, Northford.

The workshops provide projects that help the less fortunate. During the past year, church members have helped vulnerable children, the homeless, families of service members, senior citizens, school children and others. Guests can drop in for part of the time or come for the full two hours. The workshops are ongoing.

To reach the church, call 203-484-0795.

Kof C holding series on Catholicism

NORTH HAVEN  The Father James F. Donaher Council #3733 of the North Haven Knights of Columbus has organized a speaker series to strengthen our knowledge of the Catholic faith and to make each of us more natural evangelizers, according to a release.

The Joy of Service: Natural Evangelization Through our Lives will be held Feb. 20.

Refreshments and social time to follow.

The event is free and open to the public. No reservations are necessary. For information, call Grand Knight Paul Caiafa at 203-671-2942.

Congregation BNai Jacob schedules events

WOODBRIDGE  Congregation Bnai Jacob, 75 Rimmon Road, Woodbridge, announces the following:

Monday evenings, 7:30-9:30. Rabbi Shapiro teaches Pirket Avot, Ethics of the Fathers

Weekday minyan services at 7:45 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Jan 31, 6 p.m. Shabbat Schmooze. 6:30 p.m. Shabbat evening service.

Feb 1, 5:30 p.m. PJ Havdalah service. Come in pajamas, all ages. Service with music, stories, cookies and hot cocoa.

Feb. 1, 9 a.m. Shir Hadash service followed by Torah service at 10:15.

Feb 2, 10 a.m. Gavriela Gavi Reiter will speak on Tu BShevat and Criminal Justice.

Feb 9, at 10a.m. rescheduled. Gavriela Gavi Reiter will speak on Tu BShevat and Criminal Justice.

For information, visit https://www.bnaijacob.org/ or call 203-389-2111.

Community workshops are ongoing

NORTH BRANFORD  All are invited to continuing community workshops every Thursday from 3 - 5 p.m. (new time) to work on projects that help the less fortunate, at the Northford Congregational Church, 4 Old Post Road, Routes 22/17.

During the last year, members say they have helped vulnerable children, the homeless, families of service members, senior citizens, school children and others. The workshops are ongoing.

For information, call the church at 203-484-0795 or find them on Facebook.

Beth Israel Synagogue schedules events

WALLINGFORD  Beth Israel Synagogue, 22 N. Orchard St., Wallingford, announces the following activities and services. Go to www.bethisraelwallingford.org for more information.

Saturdays, 9:45 a.m., Bagels, Lox & Torah Study with Rabbi Bruce Alpert. Open to the community.

Temple Beth David schedules events

CHESHIRE  Temple Beth David, 3 Main St., Cheshire, announces the following events and programs.

Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Micah every Thursday at noon in the TBD social hall. Bring your own lunch.

Weekday minyan services at 7:45 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Youth Shabbat Service: First Friday for youth, 6:30 p.m.

Shabbat service: First Friday, 7 p.m. In this musical Shabbat experience, sing through much of the service. Services are participatory, spiritual, and fun.

Torah study: Join Rabbi Micah and a group of adults for Torah Study on Saturdays beginning at 8:45 a.m. and enjoy coffee, bagels, and a discussion about the weekly parsha. Details, go to www.tbdcheshire.org

Church collecting used clothing

NORTHFORD  St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 1382 Middletown Avenue, Northford, has teamed up with St. Pauly Textile Inc., to collect used clothing. The company works with non-profit organizations like St. Andrews Episcopal, to set up used clothing dropoff sheds designed to give community members a clean, attractive, and well-monitored place to donate gently used textile items, which are then distributedin the U.S. and worldwide to people who need them.

St. Andrews Episcopal Church receives funding for clothing collected, and additionally has the option to use any of this clothing to serve local community needs. St. Pauly Textile, Inc. collects more than 120,000 pounds of clothing every day and estimates that this clothing ends up in 44 different countries, including the United States, yearly.

All of the usable clothing is worn by someone, somewhere in the world. In 2017, the company was able to help keep over 20 million articles of clothing out of landfills. The company was founded 22 years ago in Rochester, NY and is an A+ rated member of the Better Business Bureau.

Accepted items include clothing, shoes, sneakers, belts, purses, blankets, sheets, drapes, linens, pillowcases and stuffed animals. Donors are asked to donate items in a plastic bag to protect against dirt and the elements. There is a small box on the shed that contains receipts to help donors take a tax deduction.

For information, call Nan Monde, Sr. Warden, St. Andrews, at 203-710-7005

Lay ministry training available

WALLINGFORD  Masonicare Health Center, 22 Masonic Ave., seeks volunteers for its Lay Training in geriatric ministry.

Open to people of all faiths, the program has been teaching basic ministry skills to volunteers nearly 20 years.

Volunteers assist the chaplains with worship services, including vespers; programs that allow elders to explore and express their spirituality and faith through art, sacred circle dance and music; hymn singing; chanting and drumming; as well one-to one pastoral visits.

Other opportunities include transporting seniors to religious activities and instrumental accompaniment at worship services, vespers and hymn sings.

For more details, contact Chaplain Thayer Quoos at 203-679-6259 or tquoos@masonicare.org. For more about Masonicare: www.masonicare.org or 888-679-9997.

Discussion series

for people 60-plus

OLD SAYBROOK  The New Adventures Team of St. Paul Lutheran Church, 56 Great Hammock Road, is sponsoring a new adventures series geared to people 60-plus.

Attendees dont need to be church members. RSVP to Charlotte Schlesselman at 520-560-0183 or chars1961@gmail.com. For more information, call St. Paul Church at 860-388-2398.

Worship services

scheduled

OLD SAYBROOK  First Church of Christ Congregational, 366 Main St., is offering the following:

Early Bird worship, 8-8:30 a.m. in the Fireside Room, offers a more casual service with prayer, reflection, quiet music and communion.

Soul Service, 9-9:30 a.m. in the sanctuary, offers a variety of music, centered around rhythm & blues and jazz, with time for prayer and Scripture message, all underscored by a live band.

Faith Exploration for All, 9:40-10:20 a.m., with church school for pre-K-Grade 8, and workshops for adults and teens, including Bible study, spiritual practices, such as meditation and praying, and faith and health workshops.

Traditional worship, 10:30-11:30 a.m. in the sanctuary, offers music, including the First Church Choir, singing, times for prayer and silent meditation, Scripture readings, a sermon, and an opportunity for giving.

Nursery care is available 9:30-11:30 a.m. for ages infant to 3 years.

For more information, contact 860-388-3008 or www.firstchurchsaybrook.org.

Resting in God

prayer groups

MADISON  Resting in God, Two Centering Prayer Groups is held 6-7 p.m. Wednesdays and 9:30-11 a.m. Saturdays at Mercy by the Sea, 167 Neck Road.

Centering prayer is a method of entering silence in order to be still and know God. Free-will donation is accepted. For more information and to register, contact Claire at crusowicz@mercybythesea.org or 203-245-0401.

Introduction to Judaism, Hebrew

HAMDEN  Congregation Mishkan Israel, 785 Ridge Road, has two adult education classes that are open to the community.

Rabbi Herbert Brockman teaches the introduction to Judaism class, which is on the basics of the Jewish tradition, its history, theology and observances, surrounding the life-cycle of a Jew and the yearly festivals. The class is held Sundays 10-11 a.m.

Rabbi Steve Steinberg is teaching introduction to Hebrew, which can be taken alone or in concert with Brockmans class. It meets Sundays 11 a.m.-noon.

RSVP: Sarah at 203-288-3877 or slegassey@cmihamden.org.

Mosque opens

doors to visitors

MERIDEN  Baitul Aman House of Peace Mosque, 410 Main St., holds Coffee, Cake, & Conversation at 8 p.m. Fridays.

Information: www.TrueIslam.com, www.alislam.org, zahir.mannan@ahmadiyya.us, @zahirmannan, facebook.com/zahir.mannan.7, MuslimWritersGuild.

ASL interpreter

attends services

MILFORD  Once a month, Sunday worship services at United Church of Christ, 30 Ormond St., Devon, include an American Sign Language interpreter.

A grant for the interpreter was provided by the CT Concerned Citizens for People with Disabilities.

For more information, call 203-878-4685.

Free dropoff program

is for ages 3, 4 years

WOODBRIDGE  Congregation Bnai Jacob, 75 Rimmon Road, offers Gan Hayeled 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sundays.

The free drop-off program for ages 3 and 4 will run every Sunday that religious school is in session.

Call Bnai Jacob at 203-389-2111 for details.

Meditation program

slated in area

GUILFORD  Meditation in Daily Life is offered 3-4 p.m. Sundays at Shoreline Center For Wholistic Health, 35 Boston St. No. 2. Classes are $12 each. No one turned away for lack of funds, according to a center press release.

Contact meditationinconnecticut.org, info@odiyana.org or 860-266-6041.

All-ages choir

rehearses in loft

MILFORD  The Choir of St. Marys is holding rehearsals in the choir loft. The all-ages choir is open to all the members of Precious Blood Parish. It sings at the 10 a.m. Sunday Mass, and for special services all year. There is no audition. Learn more at www.preciousbloodparishmilford.org/music/.
Rome, Jan 24 : Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio on Friday pledged his country's support to help Iraq combat terrorism and also that Italian businesses would aid the oil-rich Middle Eastern country to boost its economy.

During talks here on Friday with Iraq's President Barham Salih, Di Maio and Salih agreed their countries shared "common priorities, first the fight against terrorism," Di Maio wrote on Facebook after the meeting.

"Also propelling the Iraqi economy's growth by promoting our businesses, especially in the energy sector," he added.

Di Maio assured Salih that Italy would continue to give Iraq's security forces "the necessary support", according to the post.

"Italy intends to honour its commitments with Iraq at bilateral and multilateral level," Di Maio underlined, adding that Iraq needed to "work together with the international community with clear and transparent objectives".

Di Maio recalled that thousands of people had died, been injured and displaced in Iraq since the US-led invasion and war "with a progressive increase in the numbers of terrorist cells on the ground".

"It's another lesson from the past that the West cannot ignore. Dialogue, cooperation and development are the way forward," he stressed.
Police in Mauritanian capital Nouakchott has detained a gay couple after their union sparked an outcry in the North African country, which criminalizes homosexuality.

The defendants are set to appear before a court, Moroccan news outlet le360.ma reports.

The Mauritanian penal code condemns homosexuality and convicts can face death penalty by stoning.

Police has detained several attendees in the wedding event, celebrated in a secret location. Videos and photos of what was interpreted as a birthday party showed boys wearing woman garments, makeup, high heels.

Though banned by law, the LGBT community in Mauritania has never come under threats. Members of the community are however marginalized and do no benefit from health assistance as HIV victims.
Fitzsimmons said the parking situation is not the same as what has happened in North Aurora, a facility he said has gotten caught up in the beginning stages of a new industry. Because Naperville decided to opt-out of recreational marijuana sales - at least for now - the one medical marijuana facility there could not begin selling recreational marijuana when it became legal Jan. 1. And the medical facility in St. Charles did not open for recreational sales, meaning the North Aurora site is the only one in about a 20-mile radius.
Angola's billionaire former first daughter Isabel dos Santos has been charged with money laundering and mismanagement during her stewardship of state-owned oil firm Sonangol. Documents leaked this week alleged the daughter of ex-president Jose Eduardo dos Santos, plundered state coffers to build her fortune, estimated at $2.1 billion (1.82 billion euros). "Isabel dos Santos is accused of mismanagement and embezzlement of funds during her tenure at Sonangol and is thus charged in the first instance with the crimes of money laundering, influence peddling, harmful management ... forgery of documents, among other economic crimes," prosecutor general Helder Pitta Gros told a news conference late Wednesday. Investigations into Isabel dos Santos's 18-month tenure as Sonangol head from June 2016 were opened after her successor Carlos Saturnino raised the alarm about "irregular money transfers" and other dodgy procedures. Dubbed Africa's richest woman, Isabel dos Santos is accused of using her father's backing to plunder state funds from the oil-rich but poor southern African country and moving the money abroad with the help of Western firms. She stopped living in Angola after her father, who ruled the country with an iron fist for nearly 40 years, stepped down in 2017 for his anointed successor Joao Lourenco. Gros said dos Santos was among five suspects, all of whom were currently residing abroad. "At the moment, the concern is to notify and get them to voluntarily come to justice," said Gros.
At least three people--a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, a Jammu and Kashmir Police officer and a civilian--were injured when a terrorist on Friday hurled a grenade on a police post in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir.

Live TV

The grenade was hurled on a police post at Noorbagh in Safakadal area of downtown Srinagar. The area has been cordoned off and an intensive search operation is being conducted.

This is a developing story. More details are awaited.
The Upper Pottsgrove Township commissioners have moved to eliminate the planning commission.

In a unanimous vote Tuesday, the commissioners instructed township Solicitor Charles D. Garner Jr. to advertise an ordinance eliminating the planning commission.

The vote on that ordinance will be taken at the Feb. 3 commissioners meeting.

Responding to a email query from The Mercury, commissioners Chairman Trace Slinkerd wrote, The intent is to vote on rescinding the ordinance on 3 Feb; the rationale is to create a planning committee (a provision provided by the municipal planning code) that supports the governing board, which is the board of commissioners.

Slinkerd added, the majority of the board of commissioners feels that the current planning commission disposition does not do this.

Asked what supporting the governing board means, and for a specific example of the planning commission not providing support, Slinkerd demurred.

The ordinance status will be considered on 3 Feb where all commissioners can comment where appropriate, was his only reply.

As currently structured, the planning commission reviews development proposals and makes recommendations to the commissioners for preliminary and final site plan approval. The power of final approval rests with the commissioners.

According to the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, the township commissioners have the power to create or abolish a township planning commission or planning department and assign the responsibilities accordingly.

The code also states in lieu of a planning commission or planning department, the governing body may elect to assign the powers and duties conferred by this act upon a planning committee comprised of members appointed from the governing body.

As a practical matter, the boards pending action would have the effect of removing all current planning commission members and allowing the board to appoint all the members of a new planning committee, which would be directly answerable to the commissioners.

The idea of the planning commission supporting the governing board is an odd choice of words when taken in context with last years four-month effort to get the planning commissions chairman, Elwood Taylor, to resign.

In August, the board passed a resolution barring any sitting commissioner from serving on any other township or nonprofit board or commission that interacted with the township.

At the time, Taylor was serving as a township commissioner and as chairman of the planning commission.

He has been a member of the planning commission for more than 25 years and served as a township commissioner for a total of 20 years.

In August, Slinkerd explained the move by writing: This is to maintain a separation of different spheres of influence that additional roles provide. This precludes commissioners from having to vote on an issue at a lower committee level then again at the BOC (board of commissioners) level as well.

At the time, Taylor also said he felt the resolution adopted was directed primarily at him, in part for political reasons.

Last year, when I announced I was resigning from the Republican Party, the board chairman complained that I was no longer on the team,' Taylor said in August.

Taylor ran for reelection in November as a Democrat.

Slinkerd told The Mercury in August, I dont ever recall Elwood announcing that he changed parties, nor do I recall ever saying he was no longer on the team.'

When Taylor refused to resign from the planning commission, the commissioners convened a hearing in October to have him removed.

The board never followed through with a formal vote to remove him, and when Taylor lost his reelection bid in November, he was no longer in violation of the resolution and the matter became moot.

Until now.

Taylors term on the planning commission still has one year remaining and he remains the chairman there.

Contacted by The Mercury, Taylor wrote to my knowledge, the planning commission was not informed before the vote Tuesday about the commissioners intentions regarding the dissolution of the planning commission in favor of a planning committee.

I find it ironic that in the run-up to last years recent election, the (board of commissioners) was so concerned about a single board member having undue influence over the deliberations of the PC, that they adopted a resolution intending to prohibit it  but now they have chosen to exert total influence over the townships planning duties themselves, Taylor wrote in response to an email seeking comment.

The move also comes as the township is in the midst of managing a large residential development, one of the largest in the townships recent history.

In November, a 3-2 vote of the board provided preliminary and final site plan approval to the Kummer Tract project, which aims to build 143 housing units for residents 55 and older.

The project was recommended by the planning commission, but Slinkerd and Commissioner Renee Spaide, who was named the boards vice chairwoman at the January reorganization meeting, voted against it, saying it was pushed through too quickly.

The second phase of the plan calls for nearly doubling the first phase by purchasing more acreage along Evans Road, and eventually building 279 units and moving Kummerer Road to intersect with Evans instead of Farmington.

Should the commissioners make good on their intent to abolish the planning commission at the meeting, the second phase of this project would be overseen by the new planning committee.
The number of illegal migrants trying to leave India and entering Bangladesh has increased in the last one month, a top official of the Border Security Force in West Bengal said on Friday.

The forces inspector general (South Bengal frontier) YB Khurania said at least 268 Bangladeshi nationals have been intercepted in January.

Even though we are not seeing an exodus but there has been a substantial increase in incidents in which people are illegally trying to cross the international border and enter Bangladesh, Khurania said in Kolkata.

Ninety percent of them were trying to leave India and enter Bangladesh, Khurania added.

BSF has also noticed a substantial decrease in cattle smuggling while smuggling of drugs, especially Yaba tablets, shot up in 2019, he said. In January, 10,000 such tablets have been seized.

The number of people caught while trying to cross over to Bangladesh from India increased by more than 50% with 2971 arrested by BSF in 2018 as compared to 1800 in 2017, according to latest data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

A large number of those who were caught trying to illegally emigrate were women and children, HT reported on January 20.

NCRBs Crime in India 2018 report says that out of the 2971 people arrested in 2018 while making an outward movement to Bangladesh, 1532 were men, 749 women and 690 children.

The corresponding numbers were 1477, 268 and 55 respectively in 2017.
Law enforcement officials said the suspect, Robert Eugene Koehler, a 60-year-old registered sex offender, was arrested Saturday at his home in Palm Bay, Fla., about a one-hour drive from Orlando. He was charged with two counts of sexual battery with a deadly weapon stemming from a rape that the authorities say he committed on Dec. 28, 1983, when a 25-year-old woman was stabbed with a sharp object and raped in her home in Miami-Dade County.

Katherine Fernandez Rundle, the Miami-Dade state attorney, said at a news conference on Thursday that a DNA sample taken from Mr. Koehler had linked him to 24 other sexual assaults from that era.

The key break in the case came last year, Ms. Rundle said, when Mr. Koehlers son was arrested on a felony domestic violence charge, requiring him to submit a DNA sample to a criminal database. That sample, she said, provided a close familial match with samples collected from the rapist in the 1980s.

This familial contact was the breaking point for us, she said. It was just what we needed to be able to piece this all together.

Laura Adams, a county prosecutor, said that when the police searched Mr. Koehlers home, they found several safes stashed with womens jewelry and a metal nail file wrapped in a protective covering. She said investigators believe Mr. Koehler may have kept the items as souvenirs from his crimes.
Sweet unseen photos show Princess Charlotte smiling as she was handed a gift outside church on Christmas Day.

The four-year-old royal was given a 1.50 pink plastic flamingo by royal fan Gemma Clark, 39, as she left St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham estate.

Photos shared on the day showed the interaction from behind, with Charlotte leaning into hug Gemma, who was in a wheelchair. The heart-warming pictures were published around the world.

However these new images, shared by Gemma's mother, Pam, show the princess's smiling face for the first time.

Unseen photos show Princess Charlotte smiling as she was handed a gift outside church on Christmas Day, pictured. The royal was given a pink plastic flamingo by royal fan Gemma Clark

A second image taken by Pam Clark shows the Duchess of Cambridge speaking to Gemma, who has cerebral palsy and travelled from Long Sutton in Lincolnshire to see the royal family

Photos shared on the day showed the interaction from behind, with Charlotte leaning into hug Gemma, who was in a wheelchair, pictured. The pictures were published around the world.

Prince George, six, who was shyer during the meet-and-greet, is seen looking on as his sister received the present.

Gemma, who has cerebral palsy, travelled from Long Sutton in Lincolnshire to see the royal family and was thrilled to get a thank you hug from Princess Charlotte.

Gemma was given the inflatable flamingo, named Felicity, for her birthday and took it to different places and recorded its travels in a scrapbook.

She decided to pass the flamingo onto Charlotte after the princess made a beeline for it after the church service.

Prince George, six, who was shyer during the meet-and-greet, is seen looking on as his sister received the present. Pictured, smartly dressed George holding his father's hand

Prince William, 37, spoke to Gemma, who said she was 'delighted' to meet the royal family. George, Charlotte and even William (pictured) appeared taken with the pink flamingo

The Duchess of Cambridge guided her daughter after Gemma gave her Felicity the flamingo. Gemma had received the inflatable toy as a gift for her birthday but gave it to the princess

Gemma was delighted when George and Charlotte both hugged her.

'It made my day,' she said at the time. 'I've never seen the royal family, ever. This is my first time at Sandringham and I would love to do it again.'

Taking to her royal duties with aplomb, Princess Charlotte also greeted twins Thomas and Theresa Richman, nine, who were delighted when they presented the Cambridges with flowers.

Taking to her royal duties with aplomb, Princess Charlotte gave Gemma a hug outside church

The sweet moment, pictured, was captured on camera and published around the world

Princess Charlotte and Prince George delighted fans by joining their parents at church

The siblings, who suffer from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, were able to secure a place in front of the main crowds in their wheelchairs and spoke to both George and Charlotte.

Their overjoyed mother told The Daily Telegraph: 'It was absolutely stunning - I survived breast cancer six years ago so to still be here and see that today with the children was absolutely tremendous.

'I think this has made our Christmas and made our year, it was a real honour to meet them all.'
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 11:51:27|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

HONG KONG, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong and Mexico have signed an Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA) to strengthen mutual economic ties, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government announced on Friday.

The agreement, signed in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday local time by representatives of the two sides on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, is set to enhance the confidence of investors, expand investment flows and further strengthen the economic and trade ties between the two places, the HKSAR government's Trade and Industry Department said in a press release.

The HKSAR government's representative, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau, said the agreement enables investors of the two parties to enjoy corresponding protection of their investments in the host economies, and thus enhance investors' confidence in making investments abroad.

"Hong Kong has been making dedicated efforts to expand its network of IPPAs in order to enhance two-way investment flows and boost our economy," Yau said.

Under the agreement, the two governments undertake to provide investors of the other side with fair, equitable and non-discriminatory treatment of their investments, compensation in the event of expropriation of investments, and the right to free transfers abroad of investments and returns.

The agreement also provides for settlement of investment disputes under internationally accepted rules and will enter into force after the fulfillment of relevant internal requirements by both sides.

The IPPA with Mexico is the fourth such agreement that this term of the HKSAR government has signed since taking office in July 2017. The other three are the investment agreements with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Australia and the United Arab Emirates.

It is also the 22nd investment agreement that Hong Kong has signed with a foreign economy. The other foreign economies with which Hong Kong has signed an IPPA are Austria, the Belgo-Luxembourg Economic Union, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand and Britain.
They may be employed by rival networks, but that didn't stop Matt Doran from attending a work event with his girlfriend Kendall Bora in Sydney on Friday.

It's the first time the couple has been spotted publicly together since they were reported to be dating back in October.

Matt, 36, is a TV journalist at Channel Seven, while Kendall, 30, works as a producer for Channel Nine.

Working it: They may be employed by rival networks, but that didn't stop Matt Doran from attending a work event with his girlfriend, Kendall Bora, in Sydney on Friday

And not only do they work for rival networks, they also work for rival programs, with Matt a presenter on Weekend Sunrise, while Kendall works on Weekend Today.

But the pair seem to have no problem mixing business with pleasure, despite the at times heated rivalry between the two networks and programs.

They were spotted attending a Rural Fire Service media training event, with both smiling happily as they made their way across a nearby carpark.

Stepping out: It's the first time the couple has been spotted publicly together since they were reported to be dating back in October

Keeping it friendly: Both Matt and Kendall carried notepads, and stopped by a chain fence to talk to a female acquaintance

Both Matt and Kendall carried notepads, and stopped by a chain fence to talk to a female acquaintance.

At one stage, they were both seen gesturing towards something in the distance, as they made their way through rows of parked cars.

Matt stepped out in maroon pants, which he paired with a black button-up shirt and black Chelsea boots.

Wedding belles: Matt later confirmed their relationship on Instagram, sharing a photo of the two of them together at a friend's wedding in November

A pair of sunglasses sat tucked in the front of his shirt, and he styled his light brown hair slicked back.

Meanwhile, Kendall wore cropped navy blue pants, which she teamed with a pale blue button-up shirt.

She donned white sneakers and carried a black cross-body bag, accessorising simply with a silver necklace and ring.

Rival romance: Matt, 36, is a TV journalist at Channel Seven, while Kendall, 30, works as a producer for Channel Nine

The couple was first reported to be dating in October, after they were spotted putting on a flirty display at Cirque du Soleil's Kurios opening night.

Matt later confirmed their relationship on Instagram, sharing a photo of the two of them together at a friend's wedding in November.

Before Matt, Kendall dated I'm A Celebrity host Dr Chris Brown, 41, for around two years, before splitting sometime in 2018.
Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton faces the media at a press conference in Canberra on Aug. 21, 2018. (Sean Davey/AFP/Getty Images)

Australias Border Minister Backs Countrys Coronavirus Response

The man responsible for Australias borders has defended the national response to the coronavirus.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has been questioned about whether Australia is doing enough to guard against a potential pandemic of the deadly disease.

We have the worlds best protocols in place, Dutton told the Nine Network on Friday.

Passengers wear masks to prevent an outbreak of a new coronavirus in a subway station, in Hong Kong on Jan. 22, 2020. (Kin Cheung/AP Photo)

I think people should recognise that in a country like ours the health services are the best prepared, best able to respond, and they can quarantine people very quickly.

The first plane load of passengers from Wuhan in China  the epicentre of the virus  touched down in Sydney on Thursday.

Passengers and crew wore face masks and those who flagged concerns about their health had their temperature taken.

NSW Health had doctors and nurses experienced in infection control at the airport working alongside the Australian Border Force. Virology experts were also there.

No ill passengers were found on the flight. However, those exposed to the virus may not display flu-like symptoms for up to a week.

Dutton acknowledged screening was made most difficult by passengers passing through different airports on their way to Australia, or passing through the central Chinese province of Hubei in the past month.

Crossbench senator Rex Patrick questioned why only flights from Wuhan were being screened by biosecurity staff.

More than 40 direct China flights will arrive in Australia today, Senator Patrick said on Friday.

Why arent all direct flights being screened?

The outbreak has killed 18 people and infected more than 630, as China puts millions of people on lockdown.

Health officials fear the transmission rate could accelerate as hundreds of millions of Chinese travel at home and abroad for the Lunar New Year, which begins on Saturday.

Biosecurity screening of all flights from China will not prevent but would likely help slow entry of the virus into the Australian population, Senator Patrick said.

Much better to be prudent than late. This is a critical border security issue.

The previously unknown virus strain is believed to have emerged late last year from illegally traded wildlife at an animal market.

Most transport in Wuhan, a city of 11 million people, was suspended on Thursday and people were told not to leave.

Other Chinese cities took similar steps to contain the virus.

Airports worldwide are screening passengers arriving from China.

Five people were tested in Scotland for coronavirus and one person in Belfast showing symptoms was treated.

Taiwan has banned anyone from Wuhan from going to the island.

The World Health Organisation says it is a bit too early to declare a coronavirus a global health emergency.

By Daniel McCulloch
The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) says states are taking precautionary measures to ensure the outbreak of Lassa fever, a deadly virus is contained. Earlier, three persons two doctors and a patient believed to be the index case, had died of the disease at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, recently.As of now, 292 persons have been put on watch list over the disease.

Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano, has described his predecessor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, as the most selfish person he knows.Ganduje had served as Kwankwasos deputy during his tenure as governor of Kano between 1999, 2003, 2011 and 2015 but the duo fell out shortly after Ganduje became governor in 2015.While receiving some members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Kwankwasiyya Movement who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state on Wednesday, Ganduje.

Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation, says the regional security outfit established by governors of the south-west code named Operation Amotekun remains illegal.

The attorney-general of the federation reiterated his position in a statement on Thursday by Umar Gandu, his spokesman, on his behalf.

He said, By asking for the state governments of the Southwestern Nigeria to proceed to enact the necessary laws, in justifying the legality of the establishment and operation of Amotekon, Mr. Femi Falana is reaffirming and reiterating the Federal Governments stance that the establishment of the operation currently is illegal. 

The Presidency says a reported plan by the American Government to place visa restrictions on some African and Asian countries, including Nigeria is merely speculation.According to the presidency, It would wait to see the scope, reach, implications and consequences of the Donald Trump administrations plan.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Worldwide has asked governors of south east forum led by David Umahi of Ebonyi state to bring back BAKASSI BOYS as the region security outfit.The group made the call on Thursday following the launch of Amotekun, a regional security outfit by governors of South West. This appeal was contained in a statement issued and signed by the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youths Worldwide, Okechukwu Isiguzoro and the Secretary, Okwu Nnabuike and was made

The Northern Christian Forum of Nigeria (NCFN) says their trust in God wont be broken by the murder of Lawan Andimi, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Michika, Adamawa state by Boko Haram insurgents. This was made known by the Christian body in a statement signed by Elijah Bitrus, president of the group.

The federal government and southwest governors have reached an agreement to draw up a legal framework for the Western Security Network code-named: Amotekun. This was disclosed by Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo state, to state house correspondents at the end of a meeting Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo had with the six governors from the region on Thursday.

Nigeria has dropped two places in the latest ranking on the annual corruption perception index published by Transparency International. In the 2018 report, Nigeria ranked 144 out of 180 countries surveyed by the organisation. Nigeria is now ranked 146 out of the 180 countries considered in the recently released report. Nigeria also scored 27 out of 100 points in the 2018 CPI, maintaining the same score as in the 2017 CPI, the same as it did in 2018. The score is below the global average of 43.
(Bloomberg) -- Sign up here to receive the Davos Diary, a special daily newsletter that will run from Jan. 20-24.

Technologys most influential leaders have a new message: Its not us you need to worry about -- its artificial intelligence.

Two years ago big tech embarked on a repentance tour to Davos in response to criticism about the companies role in issues such as election interference by Russia-backed groups; spreading misinformation; the distribution of extremist content; antitrust violations; and tax avoidance. Uber Technologies Inc.s new chief even asked to be regulated.

These problems havent gone away -- last year techs issues were overshadowed by the worlds --- but this time executives warned audiences that AI that must be regulated, rather than the companies themselves.

AI is one of the most profound things were working on as humanity. Its more profound than fire or electricity, Alphabet Inc. Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai said in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland on Wednesday. Comparing it to international discussions on climate change, he said, You cant get safety by having one country or a set of countries working on it. You need a global framework.

The call for standardized rules on AI was echoed by Microsoft Corp. CEO Satya Nadella and IBM CEO Ginni Rometty.

I think the U.S. and China and the EU having a set of principles that governs what this technology can mean in our societies and the world at large is more in need than it was over the last 30 years, Nadella said.

Its an easy argument to make. Letting companies dictate their own ethics around AI has led to employee protests. Google notably decided to withdraw from Project Maven, a secret government program that used the technology to analyze images from military drones, in 2018 after a backlash. Researchers agree.

We should not put companies in a position of having to decide between ethical principles and bottom line, said Stefan Heumann, co-director of think tank Stiftung Neue Verantwortung in Berlin. Instead our political institutions need to set and enforce the rules regarding AI.

Story continues

The current wave of AI angst is also timely. In a few weeks the EU is set to unveil its plans to legislate the technology, which could include new legally binding requirements for AI developers in high-risk sectors, such as health care and transport, according to an early draft obtained by Bloomberg. The new rules could require companies to be transparent about how they build their systems.

Warning the business elite about the dangers of AI has meant little time has been spent at Davos on recurring problems, notably a series of revelations about how much privacy users are sacrificing to use tech products. Amazon.com Inc. workers were found to be listening in to peoples conversations via their Alexa digital assistants, Bloomberg reported last year, leading EU regulators to look at more ways to police the technology. In July, Facebook Inc. agreed to pay U.S. regulators $5 billion to resolve the Cambridge Analytica data scandal. And in September Googles YouTube settled claims that it violated U.S. rules, which ban data collection on children under 13.

Read more: Thousands of Amazon Workers Are Listening to What You Tell Alexa

Privacy Debate

Instead of apologies over privacy violations, big tech focused on how far it has come in the past few years in terms of looking after personal data.

Facebook Vice President Nicola Mendelsohn said in an interview with Bloomberg Television on Friday that the company has rolled out standards similar to Europes General Data Protection Regulation in other markets.

Lets be very clear, we already have regulation, GDPR, Mendelsohn said in response to a question about the conversations Facebook is having with regulators. We didnt just do it in Europe where it was actually regulated. We thought it was a very considered and useful way of thinking about things so we actually rolled a lot of that out around the world as well.

Keith Enright, Googles chief privacy officer, also spoke at a separate conference in Brussels this week about how the company is working to find ways to minimize the amount of customer data it needs to collect.

Were right now really focused on doing more with less data, Enright said at a data-protection conference on Wednesday. This is counter-intuitive to a lot of people, because the popular narrative is that companies like ours are trying to amass as much data as possible.

Holding on to data that isnt delivering value for users is a risk, he said.

But regulators are still devising on new laws to protect user data. The U.S. is working on federal legislation that calls for limits on sharing customer information and, similar to GDPR, require companies get consent from consumers before sharing data with third parties. Facebook, Amazon, Apple Inc. and Microsoft all increased the amount they spent on lobbying in Washington last year, with some of those funds going to pushing industry-friendly privacy bills.

And even though tech executives called for AI rules, they still cautioned against regulating too much, too fast. Pichai reminded lawmakers that existing rules may already apply in many cases. Lawmakers dont need to start from scratch he said.

--With assistance from Nate Lanxon and Stephanie Bodoni.

To contact the reporters on this story: Amy Thomson in London at athomson6@bloomberg.net;Natalia Drozdiak in Brussels at ndrozdiak1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Giles Turner at gturner35@bloomberg.net, Jillian Ward

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Belleville, Illinois, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Navy veterans who served on ships that entered the coastal waterways of Vietnam and who now have one or more medical conditions relating to herbicide exposure, including Agent Orange, may quality for disability benefits under a new law that took effect Jan. 1, 2020, according to Allsup Veterans Disability Appeal Services.

The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 applies to any BWN veteran who was within 12 nautical miles of the Vietnam shoreline for any amount of time between 1/9/1962 to 5/7/1975. It also applies to veterans who served in the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) for any amount of time between 9/1/1967 to 8/31/1971, where dangerous herbicides such as Agent Orange were used.

The new law makes it clear that Congress expands disability coverage to veterans with debilitating medical conditions that can be caused by exposure to herbicides like Agent Orange, said Brett Buchanan, VA-accredited claims agent with Allsup. Survivors and veterans whose herbicide exposure claims were denied now should consider filing a new claim under this law.

Veterans are not required to prove that they were exposed to the herbicide in order to receive VA disability benefits. Rather, if a veteran has one of the 14 VA-approved presumptive diseases (listed below) related to exposure, they may be eligible for VA disability benefits.

Previously, the VAs presumption of exposure extended to veterans who served on land or on the inland waterways of Vietnam. Under the new law, applicants are likely to experience lengthy wait times, as the VA must verify if each veteran served within the new location and date requirements.

This ruling provides a needed change for veterans who previously were left out of the VA compensation program after their service in Vietnam, Buchanan said. However, long wait times and complex appeals options also mean this is an important time to get help from a veteran appeals expert to ensure veterans get the disability benefits theyve earned.

The 14 VA-approved presumptive diseases include the following cancers and other diseases.

Cancers

Chronic B-cell leukemia

Hodgkins disease

Multiple myeloma

Non-Hodgkins lymphoma

Prostate cancer

Respiratory cancers (including lung cancer)

Soft tissue sarcomas (other than osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Kaposis sarcoma, or mesothelioma)

Other diseases

AL amyloidosis

Chloracne (or other types of acneiform diseases like it)

Diabetes mellitus type 2

Ischemic heart disease

Parkinsons disease

Peripheral neuropathy, early onset

Porphyria cutanea tarda

The VA also has extended benefits to children with spina bifida whose veteran parent was exposed to herbicides while serving in Thailand, as well as to certain survivors of the BWN and veterans of the Korean DMZ who have died from at least one of the 14 presumptive health conditions related to herbicide exposure.

If any BWN or Korean DMZ veteran has a condition they believe was caused by herbicide exposure but is not on the list of presumed conditions, they will need scientific and medical evidence showing that their health condition is connected to harmful-chemical exposure  like Agent Orange  or that the condition was caused by or made worse by military service.

For questions about benefits and filing VA disability appeals, visit Allsup Veterans Disability Appeals Service or call (888) 372-1190.

ABOUT ALLSUP

Allsup and its subsidiaries provide nationwide Social Security disability, veterans disability appeal, return to work, exchange plan and Medicare services for individuals, their employers and insurance carriers. Allsup professionals deliver specialized services supporting people with disabilities and seniors so they may lead lives that are as financially secure and as healthy as possible. Founded in 1984, the company is based in Belleville, Illinois, near St. Louis. Learn more at TrueHelp.com and @Allsup or download a free PDF of Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance: Getting It Right The First Time.

Attachment
The Supreme Court Friday stayed the order of appellate tribunal NCLAT which had dismissed the plea filed by Registrar of Companies (RoC) seeking impleadment and modification of its last month's verdict in the Tata-Mistry case.

In its January 6 order, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) had rejected RoC's plea saying that no aspersions were cast on the Registrar in terming as illegal the decision to allow conversion of Tata Sons Pvt Ltd (TSPL) into a private company.

Aggrieved by the order, TSPL filed a fresh appeal in the apex court claiming that the NCLAT, while dismissing RoC's plea, had assigned "fresh and additional reasons" to support the conclusion reached by it in its last month's verdict.

The NCLAT verdict of December 18, 2019, which had restored Cyrus Mistry as the executive chairman of the Tata Group, has already been stayed on January 10 by the apex court which observed that there were "lacunae" in the orders passed by the appellate tribunal.

The TSPL's fresh appeal came up for hearing on Friday before a bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant.

"We will pass the same order," the bench told senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who was appearing for Tata Sons Pvt Ltd, and stayed the NCLAT's order.

The bench also issued notices to Cyrus Mistry, Cyrus Investments Pvt Ltd and others on the plea and said it would be heard along with the main matter.

In its appeal against the January 6 order, TSPL has said, "Notwithstanding such dismissal, inexplicably and for no justified reason, the impugned order assigns fresh and additional reasons to support the conclusion reached by it in the NCLAT judgement."



It said that in the plea filed in NCLAT, the RoC had taken a stand that even though it was not a party to the main matter, the tribunal had made certain adverse observations against it, more particularly in the manner in which RoC had allowed conversion of Tata Sons as a 'private company'.

It said the order contains additional reasons to support the conclusion reached by the tribunal in its December last year judgement.

"This is clearly impermissible given that the jurisdiction under section 420 of the 2013 Act (Companies Act) is only intended to correct errors which are apparent on the face of the record and not to render substantive findings on merits in order to explain, amplify and justify the conclusion reached in the judgement which is the subject matter of the application under section 420 of the 2013 Act," it said.

"Unfortunately, the impugned order completely ignores the scope of jurisdiction under section 420 and travels far beyond its ambit. The fact that such fresh conclusions have been reached without even a notice being issued in the application to other parties to make submissions thereupon is another fatal anomaly in the impugned order," it said.

It said the January 6 order "seeks to support" NCLAT's last year verdict by broadly giving three new reasons including that since the Centre has not prescribed any minimum paid up share capital for a private company under the 2013 Act, there cannot be a private company or at any rate, arise the issue of conversion of a public company into a private company.

It alleged that the three conclusions were "patently specious and wrong".

"In view of all the above, the appellant seeks setting aside of the impugned order to the extent the same supplements the reasons assigned in the NCLAT judgment to re-affirm the conclusion that the actions of the RoC in effecting alterations in the appellant's certificate of incorporation were wrong and that the appellant is a public company," the plea said.

In its December last year verdict, the NCLAT had given a big relief to Cyrus Investment Pvt Ltd and Mistry, restoring him as the executive chairman of TSPL.

NCLAT had ordered the reinstatement of Mistry as the head of Tata Sons, the holding company of USD 110 billion salt-to-software conglomerate, saying his 2016 sacking was wrong.

It also held that conversion of Tata Sons from a public company to a private one by the RoC was "illegal".

Subsequently, the RoC, under the Union Corporate Affairs Ministry, had moved a plea in NCLAT seeking deletion of words "illegal" and "with the help of the RoC" on the issue of conversion of Tata Sons into a private company.

The NCLAT had rejected RoC's plea on January 6.

In its January 10 order, the top court had directed that the Tatas will not exercise power under Article 75 of the 'Articles of Association' for pushing out shares of minority holders in the company.

The Article empowers the company to, at any time, to transfer ordinary shares of any shareholders without following the normal procedure of transfer.

Tata Sons Pvt Ltd, formerly known as Tata Sons Limited, has sought setting aside of the NCLAT verdict in toto, alleging it was "completely inconsistent with the annals of corporate law" and reflected "non-appreciation of facts", which was "untenable in law".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
SEATTLE - A shootout in downtown Seattle that left a woman dead and a 9-year-old boy injured was the third violent incident this week in a part of the city long known for rampant drug use and street unrest.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 22/1/2020 (720 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

This photo provided by Suzanne Asprea shows the area of a deadly shooting in downtown Seattle on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020. A gunman opened fire in downtown Seattle on Wednesday night, killing at least one person and wounding several others, authorities said. Police Chief Carmen Best said what they believe is a lone suspect fled and police are searching for him. (Suzanne Asprea via AP)

SEATTLE - A shootout in downtown Seattle that left a woman dead and a 9-year-old boy injured was the third violent incident this week in a part of the city long known for rampant drug use and street unrest.

Business groups implored officials to improve public safety. And while crime rates in Seattle are low compared to other big cities, critics say mayhem downtown  from shootings, to drug dealing and the effects of the citys ongoing homelessness crisis  makes locals and tourists feel unsafe.

The Downtown Seattle Association, a business group, said in a statement the area where Wednesday's shooting happened has been a high-crime spot for years. We call on public officials to devote the resources necessary to improve safety in downtown, the group said. We say enough is enough.

Three people, including the boy, remained hospitalized Thursday after police say several people opened fire, killing a woman. It was the third downtown Seattle shooting in two days.

Police work the scene of a shooting on Third Avenue and Pine Street, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020, in Seattle. (Amanda Snyder/The Seattle Times via AP)

We will not allow this to be the new normal, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said Thursday at a news conference. We know gun violence is preventable and are taking urgent action.

Some of the immediate actions include putting more officers on streets where the shooting happened as well as a mobile police precinct that has been set up there, she said.

Authorities began receiving calls of multiple gunshot victims at about 5 p.m., said Seattle Fire Chief Harold Scoggins. The person who died was a woman in her 40s, fire officials said. Seven people were treated for gunshot wounds, said Harborview Medical Center spokeswoman Susan Gregg.

The condition of a 55-year-old woman was upgraded from critical condition to serious and a 32-year-old man and the boy were listed in satisfactory condition. Amazon, which has offices nearby and is the city's largest employer, said two of its workers who happened to be passing by were wounded, but their injuries were not life-threatening.

We are deeply troubled by last nights events in Seattle and our thoughts go out to everyone impacted by this tragedy," Amazon said in a statement Thursday.

At a press conference at the West Precinct of the Seattle Police Department, Thursday, January 23,2020, Mayor Jenny Durkan, right, discusses issues regarding downtown safety on 3rd Avenue where a 5:01 pm shooting Wednesday, Jan. 22 shooting occurred. Looking on at left is Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best. (Greg Gilbert/The Seattle Times via AP)

Video showed several people firing weapons after the dispute outside a McDonald's. Police including homicide and gang units were investigating.

This is not a random incident, there were multiple people involved,"' said Police Chief Carmen Best. There was a dispute that happened in front of the McDonald's, people pulled out guns, shots rang out, people ran in various directions.

Best said Thursday that one person wounded in the shooting is also a suspected shooter who was arrested at the hospital Wednesday night on a charge of unlawful gun possession. She said police were searching for two additional suspects considered armed and dangerous: Marquise Latrelle Tolbert and William Ray Tolliver, both 24. Records show both have lengthy arrest records and Durkan said both have gang connections.

Samantha Cook said she was in a nearby train station when she heard gunfire Wednesday.

I was on the first set of escalators, Cook told The Seattle Times. There were a lot of gunshots that started going off  maybe 10 or 11. It was just rapid fire.

Tyler Parsons told the Times he was working at a coffee shop when he saw people drop to the ground. Some took cover behind the cash register and Parsons took five or six customers to a storage area.

The shooting was just kind of terrifying. Terrifying it's so close," Parsons said.

Democratic Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said in a statement that he was horrified and dismayed to hear about the shooting.

Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

There were two other violent incidents in downtown earlier this week. Police found a man with a gunshot wound in a mall stairwell Tuesday, and he later died at a hospital. Police shot a person in another area of downtown earlier on Wednesday.

Crime is actually down in much of Seattle. According to statistics from the city, robbery was down 9% in 2019 compared to 2018 and aggravated assaults were down 4%. There were also fewer aggravated assaults and homicides (27 homicides in 2019 compared with 32 the previous year).

___

Associated Press writer Terry Tang contributed from Phoenix.

___

This story has been corrected to say Amazon is Seattle's largest employer, not the region's.
Gardai have appealed for information after the horrific killing of a foal at an animal sanctuary in Longford.

They are awaiting post-mortem and forensic results at the scene following the appalling attack which took place at the Hungry Horse Outside charity.

A spokesperson for the animal charity, Hilary Robinson, described the vicious stabbing on Wednesday as a new low.

This is horrible stuff. Its really gory. At some point during the night, somebody came and stabbed a foal at one of our yards, said Ms Robinson.

They actually found a part of the knife stuck in the ponys jugular.

Its a terrible thing to do to an innocent foal. The foals not a year old.

Hungry Horse Outside is an Irish Equine rescue charity with a base at Newtown Forbes in Co Longford.

The foal, who didnt belong to the charity, was stabbed in the neck and Gardai are investigating the reason behind the shocking attack.

It had to be pre-planned, said Ms Robinson.

All the gates are locked. Everything is locked, barred and bolted. They had to climb in, go in and literally, physically wrestle the foal to the ground and stab it.

Its a new low.

Gardai in Longford (043-3350570) have appealed for information.
VANCOUVER, Jan. 24, 2020 - East Africa Metals Inc. (TSX-V: EAM - "East Africa" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received a project update from Tibet Huayu Mining Co. Limited ("THM") regarding plans and current activities for the development and construction of the Mato Bula and Da Tambuk mines located on the Adyabo property. Following the signing of the Share Purchase Agreement, which formally completed the Adyabo transaction and confirmed the ownership of Tigray Resources Inc. ("TRI") as 70% THM and 30% EAM, EAM received an update on THM's preparations for the construction of the mines at Adyabo. As per the Agreement, THM is responsible for 100% of the mine construction costs.

Under the terms of the Agreement, now complete, THM has advised the Company site construction activities will begin in March 2020.

Highlights of the agreement include:

EAM has received a cash payment of US$1.2M on closing of the transaction and retain a 30% Net Profit Interest.

THM will finance 100% of the capital costs and operate the mine development program and mining operations.

Estimated capital costs for construction of US$54 million for Mato Bula and US$34 million for Da Tambuk (see East Africa News Release dated April 30, 2018).

EAM will retain the exploration rights to all prospective mineralization on its concession areas outside of the current resource.

Current Engineering, Procurement Construction Management (EPCM) Activities

Detailed Engineering Design: TRI signed a service contract with Engineering Design Company, Yantai Orient Metallurgical Design and Research Institute Co. Ltd. for Mato Bula Gold-Copper and Silver Mining project. The construction level design work has been completed as part of the revised feasibility study and a Preliminary Report has been submitted to TRI. Currently, the report is under review by THM's senior engineers.

Preparations for Mine Development

Access Road: The access road survey has been completed by the design team and road construction is scheduled to start in March 2020.

Budget: The 2020 budget for site construction activities has been prepared and sent to THM's senior management for approval.

Parallel development of Mato Bula and Da Tambuk: TRI is expected to develop Da Tambuk Gold Mining Project in parallel with Mato Bula. Da Tambuk and Mato Bula development program is based on the development plans proposed in TRI's November 2017 NI 43101 compliant Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") Study Reports (see News Release dated April 30, 2018).

Next Steps:

Finalization of the feasibility study for Mato Bula and Da Tambuk to be submitted for evaluation and approval by the State Minister of Mines and Petroleum;

Resettlement of farmers living in the mining project area based on recommendations from independently authored Relocation Action Plan and in accordance with government protocols;

Procurement of main equipment for the processing plant and

Selection and engagement of a qualified contractor.

About East Africa Metals

East Africa's assets include four, fully permitted, development ready gold and base metal projects in Africa. Over the past seven years East Africa has been able to advance the Company's exploration assets through the discovery phase, resource definition and permitting through to development phase at a pace that is seldom seen in emerging resource sectors. The performance of the exploration programs designed and implemented by East Africa are notable, not only due to short time-frame it has taken to achieve the milestone, but also by the extremely low discovery costs.

Global Resources for East Africa Metals African Projects:

Project Resources (Au + Aueqv Metal ounces) Project Category Au + Aueqv

ounces Adyabo Project Indicated 446,000 Inferred 551,000 Harvest Project Indicated 469,000 Inferred 426,000 Handeni Project Indicated 721,000 Inferred 292,000 *See East Africa Metals Project Resource Table attached for additional detail

More information on the Company can be viewed at the Company's website: www.eastafricametals.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors:

Andrew Lee Smith, P.Geo., CEO

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "forecast", "project", "budget", "schedule", "may", "will", "could", "might", "should", "indicate", "confident" or variations of such words or similar words or expressions. Forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by the Company as at the date of such information and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: closing of the Tibet Huayu Transaction; obtaining all required approvals for the Tibet Huayu Transaction; the ability of Tibet Huayu to develop and operate the Ethiopia Projects and Properties within the required laws and agreements; the outcome of the arbitration case with the developer for the Tanzanian projects; if the arbitration case is successful that the Company can occupy the site and advance the Tanzanian projects; if the arbitration is successful the Tanzanian Definitive Agreement payments are not refundable; recoverability of the Ethiopian and Tanzanian VAT receivable; early exploration; the ability of East Africa to identify any other corporate opportunities for the Company; the possibility that the Company may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service its planned operations and may be force to take other options; the risk the Company may not be able to continue as a going concern; the possibility the Company will require additional financing to develop the Ethiopian Projects into a mining operation; the risks associated with obtaining necessary licenses or permits including and not limited to Ethiopian Government approval of EAM Mineral Resources extensions for the Company's Ethiopian Properties and Projects; risks associated with mineral exploration and development; metal and mineral prices; availability of capital; accuracy of the Company's projections and estimates, including the initial and any updates to the mineral resource for the Adyabo, Harvest and Handeni Projects; realization of mineral resource estimates; interest and exchange rates; competition; stock price fluctuations; availability of drilling equipment and access; actual results of exploration activities; government regulation; political or economic developments; foreign taxation risks; environmental risks; insurance risks; capital expenditures; operating or technical difficulties in connection with development activities; personnel relations; the speculative nature of strategic metal exploration and development including the risks of contests over title to properties; and changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, as well as those risk factors set out in the Company's listing application, East Africa's financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and for the year ended December 31, 2018, and East Africa's listing application dated July 8, 2013. Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, sociopolitical, marketing, or other relevant issues. The quantity and grade of reported inferred mineral resources as the estimation is uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define any inferred mineral resources as an indicated or measured mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading inferred mineral resources to an indicated or measured mineral resource category. The contained gold, copper and silver figures shown are in situ. No assurance can be given that the estimated quantities will be produced. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to the price of precious and base metals; the demand for precious and base metals; the ability to carry on exploration and development activities; the timely receipt of any required approvals; the ability to obtain qualified personnel, equipment and services in a timely and cost-efficient manner; the ability to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner; and the regulatory framework including and not limited to license approvals, social and environmental matters, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. The Company does not update or revise forward looking information even if new information becomes available unless legislation requires the Company to do so. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information contained herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE East Africa Metals Inc.
A staff member from a local sanitation and epidemic prevention team checks body temperature of a passenger in a car at a toll station in Wuhan, Hubei province, China January 23, 2020. (Photo : China Daily via REUTERS)

Customers wear masks inside a food market in Wuhan January 23, 2020 in this still image taken from video obtained by REUTERS. (Photo : REUTERS)

People wearing masks work at a hospital in Wuhan, Hubei province, China January 22, 2020, in this still image taken from video. (Photo : China News Service/via REUTERS TV)

FILE PHOTO - Medical staff carry a box as they walk at the Jinyintan hospital, where the patients with pneumonia caused by the new strain of coronavirus are being treated, in Wuhan, Hubei province, China January 10, 2020. Picture taken January 10, 2020. (Photo : REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo)

Disturbing pictures show Chinese citizens lying lifeless on the floor as Wuhan struggles to cope with the lethal coronavirus.

The city, which is the epicenter of the outbreak, has been dubbed "Zombieland" by desperate locals.

Harrowing pictures on social media display human beings collapsed on the street and in sanatorium waiting rooms amid the epidemic, which has claimed the lives of more than 15 people.

In one traumatic clip, a person is seen lying unresponsive on the floor even as medics sporting hazmat suits and gas masks try to help him.

#CoronavirusOutbreakpic.twitter.com/1Ik7WBUpNH How long until it's considered an international health emergency? People literally dropping like flies in Wuhan & is defo being covered up. #Coronavirus  Jamie (@JamieTheStone) January 23, 2020

According to reports, the victim - who turned into carrying a shielding mask - changed into waiting in line for office work while he lost attention and collapsed.

Another horrifying photo, in a report by The Sun, reportedly lies dead in the street with his head cracked open - bathing in blood.

DEAD IN THE STREET

Some of the other pictures being shared widely on social media are believed to be from an animal marketplace in Wuhan. Bats and snakes are likely the cause of the virus.

Residents in the "ground zero," where the virus originated, had been asked to stay away from crowds and no longer to attend public gatherings, leaving the streets looking like a ghost town - in spite of its 11 million population.

Images online, published through shoppers, show supermarket cabinets mendacity empty after panic shopping for by involved locals.

All transport systems in Wuhan have been locked down in a desperate bid to forestall the spread of the bug.

CHINA IN CRISIS

The United States reported its first patient infected by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) as of January 21. A US resident who arrived in Seattle from China was diagnosed - according to BBC, citing the announcement from the Centers for Disease Control.

The Sun reported that eleven sufferers are being dealt with in Europe, too - including Scotland, Belfast, Northern Ireland, and the United Kingdom.

The latest figures suggest the number of cases in China has now risen to 616 with other victims hospitalized in Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore, and the US.

And with the virus spreading all over the world, questions are being requested about how local government in Wuhan treated the outbreak in the latest weeks.

The vital Chinese town, which has a populace of eleven million, is the epicenter of the crisis with the virus believed to have originated from snakes at a live animal market in December.

Specialists say the 2019-Nov could be transmitted from human to human interaction.

REFUSING TO TEST PATIENTS

There also are disturbing memories from Wuhan of medics in the latest weeks failing to test patients who were honestly showing signs and symptoms of the illness.

Kyle Hui informed the New York Times that in spite of his stepmother having the appropriate symptoms, which include a cough and a fever, doctors wearing hazmat suits refused to check her for the virus.

He said she died on January 15 and that her death certificates say "severe pneumonia" in relation to coronavirus.

And whilst she has not been recorded as one of the reliable victims of the bug, Mr. Hui claims medical doctors advised him to cremate his stepmother's body because they suspected she had the disease.

TEN TIMES WORSE THAN SARS

Guan Yi, a Hong Kong-based infectious disease expert, believes a "bigger" outbreak as the modern disease might be ten times worse than the SARS crisis.

He said: "I even have experienced a lot and in no way felt scared. Most (viruses) are controllable, but this time I am scared."

The expert claims he had to "escape" Wuhan the day gone by after witnessing the "jaw-dropping" lack of preventative measures enforced by local officers.

BAN ON PUBLIC GATHERINGS

Now several primary cities, together with the capital Beijing, have observed Wuhan in banning public gatherings during the New Year celebrations.

This is every other sign that China is expanding its efforts to include the virus which started the remaining month - however, is it too little too overdue?

Social media users inside the city have blasted government on Weibo for ready weeks to place the town on lockdown.

Xiao, 26, a number one school trainer in Wuhan, told The Guardian: "When I noticed the information once I woke up, I felt like I changed into going to go crazy. This is a touch too late now. The authorities' measures are no longer enough."

Others criticized nearby authorities on the social media platform Weibo as #PrayforWuhan was trending.

CITY ON LOCKDOWN

The airport and educate stations were close down to outgoing passengers traveling after 10 am local time.

Petrol stations have been rammed with motorists seeking to get as much gas as viable amid rumors supplies had run out.

Pharmacies have offered out of face masks, residents said.

Seven million humans in Huanggang, that's 45 miles away, have been told now not to leave after there were confirmed cases.

Public transport stopped strolling at nighttime neighborhood time.

Dr. W. Ian Lipkin, a US epidemiologist at Columbia University who counseled China and the World Health Organisation throughout the SARS epidemic, stated infected victims outside Wuhan could keep unfolding the disease.

He said: "The horse is already out of the barn."
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Hes bitten and been dropped, snubbed and dragged into politics. Yes, its been a bumpy ride for Staten Island Chuck -- the boroughs furry groundhog weather expert -- the past few years, and some of his calamities have been more memorable than his predictions.

Mayor Bill de Blasio has snubbed Chuck, skipping the annual Groundhog Day event at the Staten Island Zoo, West Brighton, the past few years, citing scheduling conflicts.

And Chuck was brought into the political area when de Blasio kicked off his presidential debut in Iowa in May 2019. His memorable dropping of the groundhog as it squirmed out of his hands on Groundhog Day at the Zoo in 2014 came back to haunt him.

Shortly after the mayor announced his run, the Republican National Committee put out a Bill de Blasio Cheat Sheet -- laying out why de Blasio is unfit for the White House.

His tenure as mayor has been plagued with scandal from play-to-play allegations to murdering a groundhog, one of six of the RNCs cheat sheet bullet points read.

Heres a look back at some of the furry weather prognosticators biggest controversies.

TAKING A BITE

On Feb. 2, 2009, Staten Island Chuck bit Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

The bite happened just before Chuck made his prediction at the Zoo, as the mayor reached into the groundhogs cottage and tried to coax him out with snacks.

"They were trying to lure him out with the corn, but I guess he would have none of it," said Chuck's handler, Doug Schwartz, about the mayor's struggle with the rodent.

OOPS MOMENT

On Feb. 2, 2014, when the groundhog flinched as the handler placed Chuck in de Blasios arms, it fell to the ground and died several days later. The groundhog was actually a female stand-in named Charlotte, and a statement from the Staten Island Zoo read that it appeared unlikely that the groundhogs death was related to the events on Groundhog Day.

ACCUSATIONS

After facing scrutiny from animal rights activists regarding a family photo that depicted her son Trig stepping on the family dog, former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin used an appearance on NBC's "Today Show" to redirect the attention to de Blasio.

"He just, doggonit -- he killed a groundhog when he dropped it last year," Palin said during the nationally broadcast show, just weeks before Groundhog Day 2015.

CHUCKS NEW ENCLOSURE

In 2015, a notable change for the Staten Island Zoos Groundhog Day celebration was implemented, requiring Chuck to remain in a clear plastic enclosure from which he can only be removed from and held by his handler. After a successful visit between de Blasio and Chuck in 2015, the protocol is still followed today.

The groundhog was hidden underneath the enclosure during the 2015 ceremony, and lifted up through a small elevator -- the Chuck-a-vator.'' The elevator remains above ground while Chuck searches for his shadow.

WHAT'S ON TAP FOR 2020?

Will Chuck see his shadow this year? Will the day end in controversy?

Find out on Sunday, Feb. 2, at the Staten Island Zoo, where this years Groundhog Day ceremony will begin at 7 a.m., with Chuck expected to make his prediction at 7:30 a.m. Admission to the ceremony is free, and activities are planned for children during the day.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch leaves the hearing room after testifying in the House Select Intelligence Committee hearing on the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump on Friday, Nov. 15, 2019.

A newly surfaced recording contains audio of President Donald Trump demanding that former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch be fired, ABC News reported Friday.

"Get rid of her!" Trump reportedly said of Yovanovitch, during a small dinner in April 2018 that was attended by Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, two associates of Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, who were deeply involved in the covert campaign to remove the ambassador from her post.

"Get her out tomorrow. I don't care. Get her out tomorrow. Take her out. Okay? Do it," Trump can reportedly be heard saying on the tape. CNBC has not heard the tape.

But Parnas' lawyer told The Daily Beast on Friday that Fruman made the recording on April 30, 2018, and that Parnas had heard it, but never had possession of it. Parnas and Fruman were both arrested in October of last year and charged with campaign finance violations.

A copy of the recording is in the custody of federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York, where Fruman and Parnas were charged, ABC reported. A spokesman for the Southern District declined CNBC's request for comment. A lawyer for Fruman did not respond to a request for comment, and Parnas' lawyer, Joe Bondy, confirmed that the tape did not come from Parnas.

The two Giuliani associates had spent part of the dinner repeating a rumor to Trump that Yovanovitch had been bad-mouthing him, ABC reported. In the past, the president has responded sharply when he feels people have betrayed him, and his response here, according to the ABC report, would seem to fit with this pattern

Trump was asked about the tape during an interview on Fox News set to air Friday night, and he acknowledged it was something he probably said, and defended his right to fire ambassadors.

"I am not a fan of that ambassador," Trump said. He added that what was heard on the tape was not him explicitly telling Parnas personally to get rid of Yovanovitch. "But probably if it was Rudy there or somebody" that he was speaking to.

"I make no bones about it," Trump said. "I have every right. I want ambassadors that are chosen by me."

But as Democrats allege and witnesses have testified, the abrupt and untimely removal of Yovanovitch from her diplomatic post was bigger than simply the president wanting to appoint his own ambassador.

It was part of a multiyear effort to force Ukraine's government to announce investigations targeting Trump's political opponents, including former Vice President Joe Biden, and the Democratic National Committee.

The pressure campaign to get Ukraine to help Trump was led by Giuliani, who spent more than a year trying to dig up dirt on the Bidens and the DNC in Ukraine. After a surprise victory by a political newcomer in the country's presidential election last spring, Giuliani, along with a handpicked group of Trump administration appointees, ramped up their efforts to get the investigations Trump wanted announced.

This gradually increasing pressure campaign reached its pinnacle last summer when Trump ordered the Pentagon and the State Department to freeze nearly $400 million in foreign aid earmarked for Ukraine.

This decision to withhold aid, coupled with the pressure campaign, is at the heart of the impeachment case against Trump that Democrats approved late last year.

Trump's impeachment trial is underway in the Senate. He says he has done nothing wrong.

Yovanovitch testified as part of the House impeachment inquiry that she felt threatened by Trump and his allies, who had disparaged her even after she was removed from her post. Yovanovitch said that corrupt Ukrainian officials and Trump associates, including Giuliani, had orchestrated a "smear campaign" against her.

Parnas has been cooperating with Democratic investigators. Less than a week before the Senate trial proceedings began, Parnas and his lawyer handed over a trove of new evidence to Democrat-led House committee chairs. That evidence included text messages, phone records, handwritten notes and other materials.

Trump has claimed on multiple occasions that he is unfamiliar with Parnas. But Parnas and his attorney have claimed otherwise, and have shared multiple photos and videos of Parnas posing with a variety of White House officials, including Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.

Read the full report from ABC News.
On the eve of the Spring Festival of 2020, Wang Xiuying, 81, is still busily threading needles in her sachet workshop in Mazhuang village of Xuzhou, east China's Jiangsu province. Wearing reading glasses, this silver-haired craftswoman is absorbed in sewing an herbal sachet with the Chinese "Fu" character meaning blessing.



She explained: "Scented sachets have a history of thousands of years. People used to sew and wear sachets on traditional festivals like Dragon Boat Festival and Spring Festival to repel insects, ward off evil spirits and hope for a happy life."

Scented sachets, or "fragrant bags," are small cloth bags filled with Chinese herbal medicines, potpourri or aromatic ingredients and embroidered with colorful patterns. It was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2008.

Wang started to learn about making handicraft items, including herbal sachets, from her grandmother and mother in her early teens. "Years ago, she sewed sachets just out of interest and passion. She would give them to relatives and friends. Later on, she designed and sewed so much that I have to help occasionally sell them at temple fairs," said her son, Sun Jian.

With superb craftsmanship after decades of practice, ingenious designs with local characteristics, as well as the help of her son and daughter-in-law who have studied design, her "Mazhuang-style sachets" have gained great popularity. In 2006, sachets she designed with a pattern showing the 12 zodiac animals sold for a high price of 1,000 yuan ($144).

More villagers flocked to become her apprentices out of for interest or to supplement their family income.

She said: "From designing, drawing, making demonstration models, selecting fabrics and herbs, to the techniques of sewing and filling cotton, I'm willing to share with fellow villagers so that we can preserve this intangible cultural heritage together and everyone can share the economic pie."

In 2013, she was named the inheritor of an intangible cultural heritage at the municipal level. However, she might not have expected that one day her sachets would even be sold to President Xi Jinping.

President Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made an inspection tour in Xuzhou on Dec. 12, 2017, during which he visited Mazhuang and met with villagers including Wang Xiuying.



She clearly recalled that day, "President Xi Jinping praised the scented sachets I made as highly exquisite. He bought one to support my business and encouraged me to keep on with this handicraft. I was very excited and touched."

Wang Xiuying's flourishing sachet business is not without reason. It boomed against the backdrop of the development of the rural cultural industry and the transformation of Mazhuang Village.

Xuzhou, of which the village forms a part, used to nurture its economy by coal for more than 130 years, leaving behind a vast area of abandoned coal mines, slag heaps and industrial garbage. In recent years, the local government shifted its industrial focus from coal mining to eco-friendly development.

A Pan'an Lake Wetland Park was built on the land that once had been scarred by collapsed coal mines exhausted by a century of extraction.

Taking advantage of booming tourism, the folk cultural industry in Mazhuang village rapidly took off. Herbal sachets are a case in point.

"After the opening of the Pan'an Lake Wetland Park in 2012, my mother was invited to open this workshop there, selling herbal sachets as souvenir. In recent years, as more people visit the park, the sachets sell even better. After President Xi bought one of our sachets, the revenue even doubled. Now, demand largely exceeds supply," Wang Xiuying's son said.

In order to develop this cultural industry and promote its integration with the development of rural tourism, the Mazhuang Village Committee transformed an abandoned old plant into a special sachet workshop covering an area of more than 2,000 square meters, integrating the functions of sachet production, designing, display, sales, and experience. It was officially put into use in October 2018.



Li Huiqing, head of the workshop, said: "Making sachets produces jobs. Over 50 people now work in the workshop every day. Counting the people who sew at home, more than 3,000 people in Mazhuang and surrounding village have participated in sachet production."

"The sachets are sold both online and offline. Customers can customize the styles and logos, or buy them in our Taobao store. A steady stream of tourists ensures a decent revenue for us," Li added. It is reported that, last year, Mazhuang received 800,000 tourists with sachet sales exceeding 10 million yuan.

Craftsmen represented by Wang Xiuying have injected new life into scent sachets, a millennium-old handicraft. The rural cultural industry has also developed during this process. "No matter how large the order is, we should always make fine products and ensure the quality, " Wang Xiuying said earnestly.
Here are the top 5 moments from Power Lunch this week:

The Coronavirus continued to spread, and each day the number of those infected rose.

Cases have appeared in China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, and even the United States.

While the World Health Organization has not yet deemed the virus an international emergency, the option still remains on the table.

One expert from Johns Hopkins Center for Health said that was a mistake, and if the virus becomes a pandemic it could kill 65 million people within 18 months.
A woman who was injured as a result of a collision with a rape suspect during a police pursuit Tuesday afternoon has died, according to Summerdale police.

Pearley Mae Mason was passing through the intersection at County Road 24 and County Road 55 when she was hit by a Dodge Ram 3500 pickup truck driven by Thomas Norton, 29 of Flora, Mississippi. Mason was ejected from her vehicle sustaining serious physical injuries and was airlifted to USA Hospital where should would later succumb to her injuries.

Norton was stopped by Summerdale police on a traffic stop for an expired tag in a RV storage parking lot. During the traffic stop, the officer was informed by dispatch that Norton had active felony warrants out of Mississippi for rape and burglary. Norton fled the scene when the officer told him to step out of the vehicle.

After avoiding several potential head-on collisions with on-coming traffic, he collided into Mason at a high speed while running a stop sign. Norton and his passenger were transported to South Baldwin Medical Center. After being released from the medical center, Norton was taken into custody by Summerdale police and transported to Foley Jail. He has since been transported from Foley Jail to Baldwin County Jail.

Norton has been charged with first degree assault. Summerdale Police Department will be pursuing charges relating to the traffic stop and attempted assault on a police officer.

Alabama State Troopers are conducting the accident investigation as Norton.
(Natural News) If youve been following Natural News over the last few days, you know how weve been subjected to a malicious  and, it turns out, highly illegal  attack thats now being known as the internet kill switch.

Thanks to the criminal actions of a corrupt federal court located in California, Natural News was targeted with a TRO  Temporary Restraining Order  that was issued in secret, sealed by the secret court, and was put into effect with no notice to us, and no right to any hearing as required under federal statues.

We have multiple attorneys on retainer who have responded in absolute astonishment at what this secret court tried to pull off. One attorney told us we should file a criminal complaint with the U.S. Dept. of Justice (which we are in the process of doing).

Another attorney said they had never seen anything this corrupt in over 30 years of practicing law.

It turns out that any website in America can now be ordered completely shut down through a secret court process that completely violates due process and the rule of law. This kill switch was tested on NaturalNews.com, where it wreaked havoc for 48 hours. We have since recovered and were posting new content, which is why you are able to read this story.

Our investigations reveal that a shadowy group that we label the vaccine deep state is behind it all, and they are conspiring with the corrupt courts to issue utterly illegal, unconstitutional takedown orders to key internet infrastructure providers.

In an upcoming article, Natural News will release the names of the other infrastructure providers who have been hit with these secret court orders. We may also release the name of the judge in an upcoming article, once we file with the DOJ or other law enforcement authorities.

Listen to my podcast below for shocking, jaw-dropping details of the corruption and criminality of the establishment and how it weaponizes the legal system to target independent journalists who are trying to protect humanity from Big Pharmas crimes against humanity:

Brighteon.com/1ca4b05a-8f39-4d77-be9e-fffe68000eef
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 21:59:22|Editor: mingmei

Video Player Close

LUSAKA, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese and the Zambian government on Friday launched a mega-housing project aimed at empowering local people with houses.

The Kingland City Housing Project is a public-private partnership project between Chinese firm Sun Share Investments Limited and the Zambia Air Force with an investment of 1.4 billion U.S. dollars. The project also involves a school and a police station.

Li Jie, Chinese Ambassador to Zamia said during the commissioning of the project that public-private partnerships mode was an effective way to solve the shortage of funds for infrastructure development.

"It is an internationally popular mode of infrastructure financing in recent years and has a great development prospect in the public service field and commercial development," he said

The project, according to the Chinese envoy, was a beneficial attempt to the cooperation between the two entities.

With the joint efforts of the Chinese and Zambian governments and enterprises, the development of cooperation in economy and trade between the two countries has been deepened, he added.

According to him, China's direct investment in Zambia maintained a constant growth with an increase of 470 million U.S. dollars in 2019, leading among African countries.

Zambian President Edgar Lungu said the project was a demonstration of what could happen when the public and private sector coordinate in delivering infrastructure projects.

Zambia, he said, needs efforts of various stakeholders to ensure sustained development and commended the developers of the housing project for their efforts.

The government, he said, will continue providing a conducive environment for the public sector and the private sector to collaborate in public-private partnership projects.
When pastoralist William Yuille arrived on Wadawurrung country and set about claiming it as his own, he asked an Aboriginal woman for the name of a nearby swamp.

Wendaaree! she said. Go away, be off with you.

And so, the story goes, Yuille mistakenly inscribed the Wadawurrung warning into the history and geography of Ballarat. He named the swamp Wendouree, and it's now known as Lake Wendouree, a tourist attraction and pride of the regional city.

Nikki Foy, the organiser of the day of mourning in Ballarat, and her mother Diana Nikkelson. Credit:Jason South

As the sun rises on Sunday morning, Ballarats inaugural Survival Day dawn ceremony will be held on the banks of this lake to reflect on the strength of local Aboriginal people and their ancestors.
A 72-year-old worker of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) allegedly set himself on fire here on Friday evening, the police said, adding that pamphlets against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act were found in his bag.

Rameshchandra Prajapat allegedly set himself on fire at Geeta Bhavan square, a police official said.

He was rushed to the government-run M Y Hospital where he was undergoing treatment, said Nirmal Kumar Shrivas, in- charge of Tukoganj police station.

He said some pamphlets against the CAA were found in his bag, but it would be premature to link Prajapat's act with anti-CAA protests.

Prajapat received serious burn injuries and he was not in the condition to give a statement to the police yet, the officer added.

CPM sources said that Prajapat had taken part in various anti-CAA protests in the city.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have just been confirmed as attendees at the 2020 award ceremony for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, or BAFTAs.

The ceremony is set to take place at Londons Royal Albert Hall on February 2, and William, who currently serves as BAFTA president, will play an especially important role.

He's introducing and presenting the BAFTAs highest accolade, the Fellowship. This years recipient is American film producer Kathleen Kennedy, who is behind Star Wars, Jurassic Park and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

Getty Images

We are immensely grateful to Their Royal Highnesses for their continued support and we look forward to welcoming them to the Film Awards on Sunday, 2 February, Amanda Berry OBE, chief executive of BAFTA said.

This year marks Williams 10th anniversary as BAFTA president and continues the long history of Royal patronage. His grandfather, The Duke of Edinburgh, was appointed its first President in 1959.

In 2010, Williams first undertaking was to present the Fellowship to actress Vanessa Redgrave, and in the years since, he and Kate have helped launch new talent initiatives, scholarship programs and fundraising campaigns. Theyve also shown their support as frequent attendees at the annual ceremony.

Getty Images

Prior to thanking the Duke and Duchess in her press statement, Berry said of William, His involvement has been invaluable to the work we do, from launching our global new talent activity in 2011, to supporting the BAFTA Scholarships programme and assisting with the most far-reaching fundraising campaign BAFTA has ever undertaken.
- Nasty C has shown that he is a big deal, not only in Mzansi but on a global level

- The rapper has been spending time in the US and got to hang out with some big names in Hollywood

- He posed for pictures with Justin Bieber, Lionel Richie and Lewis Capaldi

PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed!

South Africans know that Nasty C is a rising star destined for greatness and it looks like the rest of the world is catching on as well.

He was recently hanging out in America when he got invited to Sir Lucian Charles Grainge's Walk of Fame Star ceremony.

Grainge is the chairman and chief executive officer of Universal Music Group, Briefly.co.za gathered.

While there, Nasty got to pose for a photo to honour the new member of the Hall of Fame and he rubbed shoulders with many other stars.

READ ALSO: Ayanda Borotho speaks out on polygamy making women fight to be the main

With him in the photo were Justin Bieber, Lionel Richie, Lewis Capaldi, Shawn Mendez, Tori Kelly, Hailee Steinfeld and Sam Smith.

It's a miracle the young rapper didn't get starstruck with so many famous people around him!

Check out the photos and video he proudly shared.

Nasty also got to hang out with American rapper, Birdman.

This isn't Nasty's first encounter with a celeb from the USA. He earlier shared a photo of him and Post Malone, and it looked like they were getting along really well. They met up while Nasty was in Japan.

It seems the young rapper from South Africa has grown into an international celeb who can rub shoulders with his peers - the stars of the rest of the world.

Enjoyed reading our story? Download BRIEFLY's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major South African news!

Source: Briefly News
He has raised eyebrows with his candid admissions several times on his KIIS FM radio show.

But Kyle Sandilands had listeners queasy while eating their cornflakes during his breakfast show on Friday.

The 48-year-old shock jock revealed the most disgusting thing that's ever happened to him during sex.

'It's not sexy!' Kyle Sandilands (pictured) on Friday revealed the most disgusting thing that's ever happened to him during sex... after his split from Imogen Anthony

'I've been chundered on before in a different sort of situation,' he said, during a segment with co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson and guest Sophie Monk.

The admission came as Sophie dropped in for a chat and showed the pair how she can fit her own fist into her mouth.

Jackie hilariously tried to do it to, when she started gagging.

'She's a gagger, which is very unsexy,' Kyle said.

Spilling the beans: 'I've been chundered on before in a different sort of situation,' Kyle said. He's pictured with ex-girlfriend Imogen Anthony

He added: 'I've been chundered on before in a different sort of situation.'

Chunder is a slang word for vomit.

Kyle and new girlfriend Tegan, 34, went Instagram official and confirmed their relationship, earlier this month.

Tegan posted a photo to Instagram of herself kissing Kyle on the cheek as they celebrated New Year's Eve together.

New love: Kyle and new girlfriend Tegan Kynaston, 34, (pictured) went Instagram official and confirmed their relationship, earlier this month. Tegan posted a photo to Instagram of herself kissing Kyle on the cheek as they celebrated New Year's Eve together

Kyle and Tegan were romantically linked in November, after he'd announced his split from Imogen after eight years of dating.

On Tuesday at Waverley Local Court in Sydney, Tegan pleaded guilty to assaulting police after a wild night in Bondi.

During the hearing it was revealed that Tegan had taken three grams of cocaine and was threatening self harm before she slapped a policewoman in the face.

Tegan, 34, bombarded the radio star with a series of disturbing text messages including 'I hate u' and 'I have no hope' before she struck the police officer on December 7.

Officers were called to a disturbance involving the pair in Beach Road, Bondi Beach, about 7am that Saturday.
WASHINGTON  Closing out their case, House Democrats warned in Donald Trumps impeachment trial that the president will persist in abusing his power and endangering American democracy unless Congress intervenes to remove him before the 2020 election.

They then implored Republican senators to allow new testimony before rendering a final verdict.

Give America a fair trial, Rep. Adam Schiff, the lead Democratic impeachment manager, said Friday. Shes worth it.

Schiff delivered Democrats final remarks in the Senate trial after three days of methodical and impassioned arguments detailing charges that Trump abused power by asking Ukraine for politically motivated probes of political rivals, then obstructed Congress investigation into the matter. The presidents lawyers get their first chance to defend him Saturday, and are expected to argue he acted appropriately.

The opening arguments appear to have done nothing to shake Republicans support for Trump or persuade enough centrist GOP lawmakers to call for new witnesses, including Trumps former national security adviser John Bolton. In his final appeal to lawmakers and a divided nation, Schiff argued that a guilty verdict in the Senate is the only remedy left to curb what he called the imminent threat posed to the nation by Trumps unconstitutional impulses.

He is who he is, Schiff declared. You know its not going to stop.  Its not going to stop unless the Congress does something about it.

The moment of history was apparent, only the third impeachment trial of a U.S. president, as were the partisan views of the Trump presidency and the effort to end it.

When Schiff cited a news story with someone close to Trump saying any Republican voting with Democrats would have their head on a pike, GOP senators in the chamber began murmuring, Thats not true.

The House impeached Trump last month, accusing him of abusing his office by asking Ukraine for politically motivated probes of Biden and other matters while withholding military aid from a U.S. ally that was at war with bordering Russia. A second article of impeachment accuses him of obstructing Congress by refusing to turn over documents or allow officials to testify in the House ensuing probe.

Said Trump attorney Jay Sekulow, Were going to rebut and refute, and were going to put on an affirmative case tomorrow.

Republicans are defending Trumps actions as appropriate and are casting the impeachment trial as a politically motivated effort to weaken him in his reelection campaign. Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, and eventual acquittal is considered likely.

Before that, senators will make a critical decision next week on Democratic demands to hear testimony from top Trump aides, including Bolton and acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, who refused to appear before the House. It would take four Republican senators to join the Democratic minority to seek witnesses, and so far the numbers appear lacking.

This needs to end, said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a Trump confidant.

With Chief Justice John Roberts presiding, Fridays session opened with an overarching case from Democrats that Trumps actions with Ukraine were not unique but part of a pattern of destructive behavior now threatening the core foundations of American democracy.

Schiff told the senators that Trump has shown repeatedly that he is willing to put his personal political interests above those of the country he is sworn to protect.

The evidence shows, he said, that Trump bucked the advice of his own national security apparatus to chase kooky theories about Ukraine pushed by lawyer Rudy Giuliani, resulting in one hell of a Russian intelligence coup that benefited Vladimir Putin at U.S. expense.

This was not simply a foreign policy dispute, Schiff argued, but a breach of long-held American values for Trump to leverage an ally  in this case Ukraine, a struggling democracy facing down Russian troops  for the investigations he wanted ahead of 2020.

When the House started investigating his actions, Democrats said, Trump blatantly obstructed the probe. Even then-President Richard Nixon, they argued, better understood the need to comply with Congress in some of its oversight requests.

Drawing on historical figures, from the Founding Fathers to the late GOP Sen. John McCain and the fictional Atticus Finch, Schiff made his arguments emphatically personal.

The next time, it just may be you, he said, pointing at one senator after another. Do you think for a moment that if he felt it was in his interest, he wouldnt ask you to be investigated?

The impeachment trial is set against the backdrop of the 2020 election, as voters assess Trumps presidency and his run for a second term. Four senators who are Democratic presidential candidates are off the campaign trail, seated as jurors.

A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed the public slightly more likely to say the Senate should convict and remove Trump from office than to say it should not, 45% to 40%. But a sizable percentage, 14%, said they didnt know enough to have an opinion.

One issue with wide agreement: Trump should allow top aides to appear as witnesses at the trial. About 7 in 10 respondents said so, including majorities of Republicans and Democrats, according to the poll.

No president has ever been removed by the Senate, neither Andrew Johnson in 1868 nor Bill Clinton in 1999. Nixon left office before a House vote that was likely to impeach him.

The House mounted its Trump case after a government whistleblower complained about his July 2019 call with Ukraine. The House relied on testimony from current and former national security officials and diplomats, many who defied White House instructions not to appear.

Evidence presented in the House probe has shown that Trump, with Giuliani, pursued investigations of Biden and his son, Hunter, who served on a Ukrainian gas companys board, and sought a probe of a debunked theory that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 U.S. election.

Its a story line many in the presidents camp are still pushing. Giuliani, in an appearance Friday on Fox & Friends, insisted he would present evidence on his new podcast.

At close, Schiff predicted the Trump team will try to distract senators from the case, in part by lodging personal attacks against all the House prosecutors. He reminded senators what is at stake and read the articles of impeachment one more time.

___

Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick, Alan Fram, Andrew Taylor, Laurie Kellman, Matthew Daly and Padmananda Rama contributed to this report.
Reuters

The first phase of battle over whether Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou should be extradited to the United States wrapped up on Thursday after four days, with lawyers for Meng challenging prosecution claims that her alleged actions are a crime in Canada.

In a Vancouver courtroom, lawyers for Meng opposed the Canadian prosecutor's arguments saying her alleged actions are not a crime in Canada because the charges of bank fraud are dependent on violating US sanctions against Iran. Canada had no sanctions against Iran when the extradition process began.

The judge said she would reserve her decision for a later date. Lawyers connected to the case expect a written judgement before 27 April, when Meng is set to call evidence related to her arrest, which she alleges was improperly conducted.

(Also read: Timeline: Key events in Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou's extradition case)

On Thursday, in their final arguments Meng's lawyer, Scott Fenton, told the judge that the US request to extradite Meng is "all and only about sanctions risk."

Fenton said that to side with the prosecution, and allow Meng to be extradited, would be an embarrassment to the Canadian judicial system.

"The court is being embarrassed. There can be no fraud here because all risk to HSBC is based on underlying sanctions risk which cannot exist in Canada," he told the judge.

The United States has charged Meng with bank fraud, and accused her of misleading HSBC Holdings Plc about Huawei Technologies Co Ltd's business in Iran.

Court proceedings show the United States issued the arrest warrant, which Canada acted on in December 2018, because it believes Meng covered up attempts by Huawei-linked companies to sell equipment to Iran, breaking US sanctions against the country.

But Meng's legal team argued that "double criminality," is the central issue in this case. Under Canadian extradition laws, a person can only be extradited if the offence they are alleged to have committed in another country is also considered illegal in Canada. This is commonly called "double criminality."

Unlike the United States, Canada did not have sanctions against Iran at the time Canadian officials authorized the start of the extradition process, her lawyers have said.

If the judge finds that double criminality has not been met, then Meng would be free. However, the prosecution could immediately appeal the decision. Legal experts have said it could be years before a final decision is reached due to appeals.

'Inherently political'

Meng has said she is innocent and is fighting extradition. She entered court wearing a white polka dot dress with a long-sleeved black top and stiletto heels that she has often favoured during the trial.

Meng's lawyers acknowledge that between 2011 and 2016, Canada had economic sanctions against Iran, but that at the time the US requested Meng for extradition, Canada had already done away with sanctions against Iran, "along with the rest of the civilized world."

The case is therefore inherently political because it is about whether Canada imports the US sanctions law  a "political law"  and applies it to an extradition request, said Richard Peck, one of Meng's lawyers.

On Wednesday, prosecutors argued that Meng should be extradited on fraud charges, and that contrary to her defence argument, the case is not solely about violation of US sanctions against Iran. They argued that the judge's job was to "ensure that Canada doesn't become a safe haven for fraudsters."

Meng, the daughter of Huawei's billionaire founder Ren Zhengfei, remains free on bail in Canada, and has been living in a mansion in Vancouvers exclusive Shaughnessy neighbourhood.

Meng's legal team is currently only scheduled to call evidence in the last week of April, and a second phase of the trial, focussing on abuse of process and whether Canadian officials followed the law while arresting Meng, is set to begin in June. Closing arguments are expected in the last week of September and first week of October.
Chief Fire and Rescue Officer Gary Thompson has retired.

Northern Ireland's chief fire officer - who denies a raft of sex assault allegations - has retired while suspended from duty.

Gary Thompson, who has led the fire service here since 2016, was placed on precautionary suspension from the fire service in December 2018.

Mr Thompson, 51, had served in the service for 24 years when he was suspended.

He appeared in court in Co Antrim last month charged with nine counts of indecently assaulting a woman in 2006.

Mr Thompson, of Rogan Wood in Newtownabbey, denies the allegations.

A Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson confirmed that Mr Thompson was no longer employed by the fire service.

Mr Gary Thompson, former chief fire and rescue officer, retired on 14 January 2020," the spokesperson said.

During a preliminary inquiry hearing at Ballymena Magistrates Court on December 5 prosecutors submitted Thompson had a case to answer over the charges.

However, a lawyer for Mr Thompson said his client "strenuously denies" the allegations.

Mr Thompson was released on continuing 750 bail.
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.



You should upgrade or use an You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.You should upgrade or use an alternative browser
SEATTLE, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- PitchBook, the premier data provider for the private and public equity markets, today released its 4Q 2019 European PE Breakdown, revealing European private equity (PE) deal activity remained robust, totaling 453.5 billion across 3,867 deals and nearing 2018's record high. Despite the geopolitical uncertainty, deal activity in the UK and Ireland remained strong as well, particularly in sectors like IT, which hit a new annual record in deal value. PE exit activity continued to decline, with IPO exits reaching a nine-year low. The decrease has been driven by continued growth in bolt-on investments, the proliferation of buy-and-build strategies and larger portfolio/platform entities. Notably, PE fundraising set a new annual record with 86.4 billion raised across 89 vehicles. This came as fund counts dropped to the second lowest figure in over a decade and funds in the 1 billion to 5 billion bracket grow by 62.5% year-over-year, indicating LP capital is chasing larger but fewer funds.

"After another year of geopolitical uncertainty, 2019 set a new annual record for European private equity fundraising, graduating the asset class from the fringes of the capital markets and moving it closer to the mainstream," said Dominick Mondesir, EMEA Private Capital Analyst at PitchBook. "As PE firms expand their offering, we are seeing more institutional investors recognize the value of diversified fund strategies. We expect 2020 fundraising to remain strong, with at least three Europe-headquartered firms set to return to market with flagship vehicles."

Investment Activity

European PE deal activity totaled 453.5 billion across 3,867 deals, falling just shy of 2018's record totals for dealmaking (464.5 billion across 3,995 deals).

Median deal size increased year-over-year by 34.1%, reaching a record high 30.8 million and helping propel deal value totals to near-record levels.

The third quarter of 2019 saw the second-largest European buyout since the global financial crisis (a consortium of investors led by Sweden -based PE group EQT carved out Nestle Skin Health (NSH) for 10.6 billion).

-based PE group EQT carved out Nestle Skin Health (NSH) for 10.6 billion). Recession-resilient sectors like IT and healthcare posted year-over-year gains in deal value in 2019, contributing 79.0 billion or 21.4% and 36.1 billion or 9.8% respectively.

Israel  featured in the report's 'Spotlight' section  closed 28 PE transactions worth 3.5 billion in 2019, logging year-over-year increases of 12.0% and 90.9%, respectively.

Exits

European PE exits dropped significantly with 900 exits closing for a total of 201.7 billion. This marks the lowest volume in seven years and the lowest exit value in six years. This was driven partly by continued growth in bolt-on investments, which accounted for 44.0% of overall deal volume compared with 29.1% a decade ago.

Median annual exit size dipped to 120.5 million in 2019, in part because the median exit size for SBOs, which have served as the largest source of exit value in the past few years, decreased to 150.0 million from 160.1 million in 2018.

PE firms continue to rely on IPOs less and less, with 29 firms exiting for 20.4 billion, registering the lowest IPO value and volume figures since 2012. Corporate acquisitions have picked up much of the offset in IPOs, with 399 closed in 2019 for a total of 73.6 billion.

IT accounted for a record 24.2% of total exit value in 2019, up from 17.0% in 2018. In a rare bright spot for European IPOs, SoftwareONE's listing was oversubscribed, with the company raising 634.1 million in secondary sales.

Fundraising

European PE fundraising hit a record high in 2019, with 86.4 billion raised. Nearly three-quarters of total capital was raised in just two regions: the UK & Ireland and France & Benelux. The UK & Ireland accounted for 45.8 billion in capital raised across 34 funds, marking year-over-year increases of 46.0% and 9.7%, respectively. The French & Benelux region raised 17.7 billion, a new annual record and more than double 2018's total of 8.4 billion.

and & Benelux. The UK & accounted for 45.8 billion in capital raised across 34 funds, marking year-over-year increases of 46.0% and 9.7%, respectively. The French & Benelux region raised 17.7 billion, a new annual record and more than double 2018's total of 8.4 billion. Mega-fund closures remained static with just five vehicles closing at or above 5 billion in 2019, marking a 18.4% increase from 2018. Chief among the 2019 roster was Permira's seventh 11.0 billion buyout fund.

The majority of European PE capital raised continue to be driven by buyout funds, which have raised 74.3 billion across 61 funds in 2019, reflecting year-over-year increases of 25.7% and 5.2% respectively.

The potential for lower valuations, less competition and a larger and differentiated pool of targets contributed to a raise of 12.0 billion across 27 growth equity vehicles, up from 4.4. billion across 16 funds in 2018.

Additional coverage in this report includes:

Introduction

Overview

Spotlight: Israel

Exits

Fundraising

Download the full report here.

About PitchBook

PitchBook is a financial data and software company that provides transparency into the capital markets to help professionals discover and execute opportunities with confidence and efficiency. PitchBook collects and analyzes detailed data on the entire venture capital, private equity and M&A landscapeincluding public and private companies, investors, funds, investments, exits and people. The company's data and analysis are available through the PitchBook Platform, industry news and in-depth reports. Founded in 2007, PitchBook has offices in Seattle, San Francisco, New York and London and serves more than 37,000 professionals around the world. In 2016, Morningstar acquired PitchBook, which now operates as an independent subsidiary.

SOURCE PitchBook

Related Links

https://www.pitchbook.com


Adani Gas slumped 5.55% to Rs 163.25 after the media reported that the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board has sent show cause notice to the company for non disclosure of information.

The stock fell 14.37% to hit the day's low at Rs 148, its lowest intraday level since 26 December 2019.

Adani Gas had bid for gas projects using net worth calculation of Adani Enterprises. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board of India (PNGRB) notice has sent to the company for not disclosing scheme of arrangement with Adani Enterprises, the media reports said.

Adani Gas' shareholding changes and restructuring violate city gas norms. PNGRB may seek to cancel Adani Gas licences and also levy Rs 400 crore penalty, reports added. Further, PNGRB is also yet to approve Adani Gas' 37.4% stake sale to French energy giant Total SA.

In October 2019, the Adani Group company said that it had signed definitive agreements with Total S.A., a French multinational integrated oil and gas company, to deepen their existing partnership and commitment for developing multi-energy offerings to the Indian energy market.

As part of the deal, Total will first make an open offer to buy a 25.2% stake in Adani Gas. Depending upon the success in the open offer, it will buy a stake from Adani to take its holding to 37.4% in the company. Adani family, which holds a 74.8% stake in Adani Gas, will dilute shares to the public to bring down its holding to 37.4%, at par with Total.

Meanwhile shares of other city gas distributors were buzzing in trade. Gujarat Gas (up 1.29%), Mahanagar Gas (0.99%) and Indraprastha Gas (up 0.52%) edged higher.

On a consolidated basis, Adani Gas reported 137% jump in net profit to Rs 120.06 crore on 11.7% rise in net sales to Rs 472.57 crore in Q2 September 2019 over Q2 September 2018.

Adani Gas produces and distributes natural gas. The company offers industrial and compressed natural gas (CNG) to commercial, residential, and transports sectors.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BEIJING  China expanded its lockdown against the deadly new virus to an unprecedented 36 million people and rushed to build a 1,000-bed hospital for victims Friday as the outbreak cast a pall over Lunar New Year, the countrys biggest, most festive holiday.

The number of confirmed cases around the world climbed sharply to more than 850, with at least 26 deaths, all of them in China. France confirmed three cases, the first in Europe.

The U.S. reported its second case, involving a Chicago woman in her 60s who was hospitalized after returning from China. She was reported to be doing well.

Transportation was shut down in Wuhan, the city of 11 million at the epicenter of the outbreak, and in at least 12 other cities in central Chinas Hubei province, encompassing a population bigger than that of New York, London, Paris and Moscow combined.

And authorities in Beijing and other cities canceled many public celebrations and other events marking Lunar New Year, which falls on Saturday.

Hospitals in Wuhan grappled with a flood of patients and a lack of supplies. Videos circulating online showed throngs of frantic people in masks lined up for examinations, and some complained that family members had been turned away at hospitals that were at capacity.

Authorities in Wuhan and elsewhere put out calls for medicine, disinfecting equipment, masks, goggles, gowns and other protective gear.

Wuhan authorities said they are constructing a new hospital to deal with the crisis, to be completed Feb. 3. It will be modeled on a SARS hospital that was built in Beijing in just six days during that outbreak.

It was still not clear just how lethal the virus is, or even whether it is as dangerous as ordinary flu, which kills tens of thousands of people every year in the U.S. alone. Scientists say it is also not clear if it spreads as easily as SARS, its genetic cousin, which also originated in China and killed about 800 people in 2002-03.

The rapid increase in reported deaths and illnesses does not necessarily mean the crisis is getting worse. It could instead reflect better monitoring and reporting of the newly discovered virus, whose symptoms can initially resemble those of the cold and flu, including cough, fever and shortness of breath, but can worsen to pneumonia.

Its still too early to draw conclusions about how severe the virus is because at the beginning of any outbreak you would focus more on the severe cases, said Tarik Jasarevic, a spokesman for the World Health Organization in Geneva. And then maybe we are missing some mild cases because people will just be a little bit sick and will not have it tested. And they will recover.

With authorities afraid that public gatherings will hasten the spread of the virus, temples locked their doors, Beijings Forbidden City, Shanghai Disneyland and other major tourist destinations closed, and people canceled restaurant reservations ahead of Lunar New Year, normally a time of family reunions, sightseeing trips, fireworks displays and other festivities.

Yanan Wang is an Associated Press writer.
Some 1,000 BJP workers were arrested as a precautionary measure during a protest against the Kamal Nath government in Indore in Madhya Pradesh on Friday, a senior police official said.

Among those arrested and taken to the district jail here were BJP MP chief Rakesh Singh, former Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Indore LS MP Shankar Lalwani and MLA and Indore mayor Malini Laxman Singh Gaur.

Superintendent of Police, West, Awadhesh Kumar Goswami told reporters that BJP workers tried to remove barricades set up by the police to barge into the collectorate.

"We made precautionary arrest of some 1,000 protesters to ensure no untoward incident took place," Goswami said.

The protesting leaders alleged that the Congress-led government in the state was targeting BJP workers and office- bearers under the pretext of an anti-mafia drive.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The above scenario represents two key missed opportunities for Trump and congressional Republicans. First, the fact that these tax cuts haven't just boosted the economy but have also boosted tax revenues needs to be repeated over and over. Because the Democrats and other critics are going to increasingly point to the rising budget deficits and will surely blame the Trump tax cuts for them.

But here's the problem: deficits are still going up. In fact we're back on a pace to hit a $1 trillion deficit this fiscal year for the first time since 2012. You don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to figure out that if tax revenues are surging and the debt is still rising, then the culprit for all the red ink has to be increased government spending.

These results are the strongest argument that tax cuts do indeed grow the economy in a way that widens the tax base and ends up bringing in more money to Uncle Sam in the end.

The numbers don't lie. Federal tax revenue soared to a record $806.5 billion in the first three months of fiscal 2020 . That continues the trend of record tax revenues that have been coming into the Treasury over much of the last two years.

This comes despite the overwhelming doomsday predictions by Trump's opponents that the 2017 Trump tax cut would reduce those revenues.

President Trump never comes off as the humble type. But there's a major policy success that he and his fellow Republicans haven't spent enough time touting: The increasing tax revenues that have been pouring into the federal treasury.

The Trump team needs to appeal to the simple logic that if tax revenues are rising, the tax cuts can't possibly be the reason for rising federal debts.

The Trump team needs to appeal to the simple logic that if tax revenues are rising, the tax cuts can't possibly be the reason for rising federal debts. This is simply good political defense, and you can be sure the White House and the Republicans are going to have to play defense very soon.

That's because the party out of the White House usually plays the role of deficit hawk, only to reverse that role when it retakes the presidency. But Trump and the rest of the Republicans are actually getting a bit of a temporary reprieve from the usual deficit pushback thanks to so many Democrats on the presidential campaign trail who continue to promote even more massive spending.

Yes, candidates like Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren claim that tax hikes on the rich will pay for their multi-trillion dollar "Medicare for all" and student loan forgiveness promises. But the more the experts look at those plans, the more the numbers simply don't add up.

Despite this delay, the president and the Republicans need to find the courage to go on offense against spending. It's not as if the administration and the GOP don't know how to talk the talk.

The first Trump budget proposal in 2017 called for a flurry of budget cuts and included some hard truths about the unsustainability of much of our entitlement spending.

Based on how things turned out that year, it appears the administration and Congressional Republicans backed off much of the spending cut push as a compromise to get the Trump tax cut plan passed.

Of course, both Republicans and Democrats have never really needed much of an excuse to avoid making the spending cuts both sides lack the courage to enact. While politicians continue to portray the public as being unwilling to accept any budget cutbacks, the facts don't back up that claim.

Over the last decade, many polls have shown that Americans are willing to either slash or at least hold spending steady on almost every government program. That even includes support for some defense cuts, especially the idea of closing many foreign military bases which would save billions of dollars right away.

Logic also tells us that changes to Social Security isn't the third rail of politics the so-called experts say it is. With poll after poll telling us that Americans under the age of 50 are not expecting to receive all or even part of their promised Social Security benefits, how can anyone argue that those same Americans would oppose making reforms to a benefit they're not expecting to fully get?

More importantly, Social Security has become more of a Ponzi-like scheme as it's forcing younger workers to pay more and more into a fund that's projected to be tapped out by the time they're eligible to get their money back. But ask your representatives in Congress to fix this, and they're likely to run for the exits.

Now, we're hearing that the White House is preparing a new round of tax cuts. At the same time, Trump told CNBC's Joe Kernen at Davos this week that he's open to some entitlement spending cuts and reforms that would include Social Security.

That combination isn't going to fly unless Trump and the rest of the GOP do a better job of explaining why spending is the problem and how the tax cuts aren't to blame. As for finding the courage to actually go ahead with those spending cuts, no one should hold their breath.

Jake Novak is a political and economic analyst at Jake Novak News and former CNBC TV producer. You can follow him on Twitter @jakejakeny.
No story caused a bigger stir in Davos this week than the news that two suspected Russian spies had been caught in August posing as plumbers in the Alpine town.

Between the lines: One prominent attendee instantly suspected a personal connection. Bill Browder, a U.S.-born financier and long-standing thorn in the side of Vladimir Putin, tells Axios that before departing for Davos he received a warning from the British security services  passed along by their Swiss counterparts  that he could be in danger.

I cant say for sure, but I believe the two were connected," Browder says of the spies and the warning. "Ive been coming here for 23 years and this is the first time Ive ever received a security warning about the Russians.

Zoom out: Browder's Hermitage Capital was the largest foreign investment fund in Russia until 2005, when he was expelled from the country and Hermitage's offices were raided.

Browder's lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, subsequently uncovered a massive fraud scheme allegedly involving Russian officials. He died in prison, apparently after being tortured.

Browder has since been fighting a fierce campaign against the Kremlin. He was the force behind the 2012 Magnitsky Act, which enables visa bans and overseas asset freezes for individuals accused of human rights violations.

Driving the news: "The Russians are particularly mad at me right now," Browder told Axios, "because were on the verge of getting a European Magnitsky Act."

Browder says this is the culmination of a 10-year effort and "probably the most devastating thing that could happen to the Putin regime" given the property and assets key players own in Europe.

The big picture: "Every time theres something like this going on, the Russians always do something to me," Browder says. "In Canada, when they passed their Magnitsky Act, they put me on the Interpol list for like the sixth time."

Browder says he's not aiming for regime change in Russia, and firmly believes Putin will hold power "until the end of his life  whether its a natural end or a violent end.

"Theyre going to do whatever theyre going to do inside of Russia," he continues, "but as an outsider, I can and I will prevent them from exporting their criminality to the West.

Worth noting: Browder speculates that Russia may have been "planning an operation" against him, though nothing directly links the "plumbers" to him.
More than a dozen people in the UK have been tested for coronavirus, as the Health Secretary said there is an increased likelihood of cases occurring.

Fourteen people were tested for the virus, with five confirmed negative and nine still awaiting results, Public Health England (PHE) said on Thursday night.

The Scottish Government had earlier confirmed that five people were being examined after presenting with symptoms of the illness, while it was understood that another patient was being tested at Belfasts Royal Victoria Hospital.

PHE would not give a breakdown of where the people were tested and where the negative results were recorded.

While none of the UK cases has been confirmed as the virus so far, two of those being tested in Scotland had been diagnosed with influenza after travelling to Wuhan, China.

They all travelled to Scotland from Wuhan, where the outbreak is thought to have originated, within the past two weeks, and were showing symptoms of respiratory trouble, a red flag for the virus.

Downing Street said four suspected cases in Scotland were believed to involve Chinese nationals.

It comes after infections expert Professor Jurgen Haas claimed there would likely be many more cases around the country, while Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the NHS is ready to respond appropriately to any cases that emerge in the UK.

In a statement to the Commons on Thursday, Mr Hancock said while there is an increased likelihood that cases may arise in this country, we are well prepared and well equipped to deal with them.

Also on Thursday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said it is too early to declare an international public health emergency over the outbreak given its restrictive and binary nature.

Speaking at a press conference, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, said: Make no mistake, this is though an emergency in China.

But it has not yet become a global health emergency.

It may yet become one.

He said 584 cases have been reported to the WHO, including 17 deaths, with 575 of the overall cases and all the deaths reported in China.

Other cases have been reported in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the US and Vietnam.

Expand Close Passengers wear masks as they arrive at Manilas international airport in the Philippines (Aaron Favila/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Passengers wear masks as they arrive at Manilas international airport in the Philippines (Aaron Favila/AP)

Dr Tedros said: We know that most of those who have died had underlying health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes or cardiovascular disease, that weakened their immune systems.

We know that there is human-to-human transmission in China, but for now it appears limited to family groups and health workers caring for infected patients.

At this time, there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission outside China, but that doesnt mean it wont happen.

There is still a lot we dont know. We dont know the source of this virus, we dont understand how easily it spreads and we dont fully understand its clinical features or severity.

Peter Piot, professor of global health and director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said there were still many missing pieces in the jigsaw puzzle, adding: Over the coming days and weeks we will know much more, but there cannot be any complacency as to the need for global action.

The good news is that the data to date suggest that this virus may have a lower mortality than Sars, we have a diagnostic test and there is greater transparency than decades gone by.

And that is essential because you cannot deal with a potential pandemic in one country alone.

Prof Haas, head of infection medicine at the University of Edinburgh, told the PA news agency on Thursday: We have currently three cases of suspected Wuhan coronavirus in Edinburgh and as far as I understand one case in Glasgow.

He said the cases emerged overnight, adding: The situation will be pretty similar in pretty much all UK cities with a large number of Chinese students.

Its not too surprising. My suspicion is that there will probably be many more cases in many other cities in the UK.

None of the cases I know of have been confirmed.

He said there was only one laboratory testing for the virus, operated by Public Health England (PHE).

The professor said the cases had been flagged up through the PHE infection guidelines, as they travelled to Wuhan within the last 14 days and were showing signs of respiratory symptoms.

The Chinese government has effectively locked down Wuhan, cancelling planes and trains there and in the nearby city of Huanggang.
ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI  Helen Curtis-Foster looked on as an excavator ripped into her mothers Lake Michigan home, which stands on property that has been in their family since the 1800s.

In the 1940s, a cinder-block house was built, with its backyard overlooking the big lake. In the 1970s, her parents added to the house, which for Curtis-Foster holds many fond memories from her childhood.

It was our job to enjoy it, appreciate it and take care of it, she said, remembering hours spent in the yard with her siblings and many fun times spent with friends and family.

On Monday, Jan. 20, she watched as an excavator tore down the homes walls, leaving only a cement pad scattered with debris. Large trees were upside-down along the cliff face below, with roots exposed. That is a recent development, the family said, after the dune beneath the trees gave way.

Its a sad thing," Curtis-Foster said.

Related: Lake Michigan swallows structures, puts property owners on edge

The 68-year-old said there is still a mortgage on the home at 2268 Lakeshore Drive in Allegan Countys Ganges Township. None of the work being done to demolish the home is covered by insurance, she said.

Curtis-Foster has watched for some time as the steady force of erosion ate away at the bluff beneath the lakefront home. She realized in fall 2019 there was going to be a problem.

We kept our eye on little stones, Curtis-Foster said. How much has that moved? Is that one still there?

The cliff edge has moved steadily closer and closer to the homes rear walls, she said, putting it at increased danger of toppling down the dune.

It moved little by little, Curtis-Foster said. We would come back and a chunk would be missing.

Her situation is not unique. Many homeowners and other property owners along the Lake Michigan shoreline, from the lakes southern edge to Northern Michigan, have been faced with similar difficult decisions as the pace of shoreline erosion increases, toppling dune stairways and other structures and putting homes and other structures at risk of collapse.

Many shoreline counties, and state lawmakers who represent residents there, have called on Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to declare a state of emergency to assist with rising costs of repairs and preventative measures tied to the shoreline erosion.

Property owners and those familiar with the history of shoreline erosion in the area blame powerful waves from storms and nearly record-high lake levels for spawning the stepped-up forces of erosion along the shore. Some homeowners have responded by placing boulders to shield their properties from waves, while others are moving or demolishing homes to prevent impending collapse.

Along the shoreline between Saugatuck and South Haven where Curtis-Fosters family home is located, Allegan County officials are monitoring the situation as erosion pushes inland.

As the edge of the bluff separating her property from the lapping waves of Lake Michigan below moved closer and closer, Curtis-Foster and her siblings made the difficult choice to demolish their family home rather than face environmental penalties and the expense of cleanup should it collapse into the lake.

A home in Allegan County's Ganges Township was demolished beginning Jan. 20 due to high water and erosion impacts, according to Scott Corbin. This drone photograph shows where the home sat before it was razed. (Drone photo, Courtesy Lt. B. Ensfield)

Through the years, the home was well-known among their circle of family and friends as a gathering place.

If you needed a place to stay, my parents would be there for family, friends, whatever, Curtis-Foster said.

There are a lot of good memories made there, she said, of days at the beach and walking to visit neighbors.

Curtis-Foster now lives across the street with her husband, Bob Foster, within walking distance of the familys lakefront home.

Tearing it down was the best option as erosion threatened to send the home down the cliff, she said. Curtis-Foster said they sought estimates for moving the home or recovering it if it fell off the bluff. Both estimated costs of hundreds of thousands of dollars, she said.

We really felt we were in the fight against time, Curtis-Foster said. It was getting scary.

The cost to demolish the home was under $20,000, she said.

Related: Move houses near Lake Michigan bluffs or lose them, experts warn

Now that the house is gone, the family is considering building a gazebo on the site to make use of the land and find a way to share their lakefront getaway with new generations.

Curtis-Foster said her mother, Mary Ann Curtis, lived in the home until recently. She now lives in Colorado now. Suffering from Alzheimers disease, she is unaware of what is happening to the house, she said.

Curtis-Fosters father, the Rev. James Curtis died in the mid 2000s, she said. It was her father who had, years ago, built structures of tires on poles in efforts to protect the property from erosion.

Curtis-Foster said she and her siblings made the decision to move the home once they realized it was getting dangerous.

The decision was made because we said, It looks like its going to fall in, Curtis-Foster said. "Can we take it out? No we cannot. Can we afford to recover it if it falls? We cannot.

Ok, we have to take it down and it has to happen now.

Also on MLive:

Cleanup completed on collapsed Lake Michigan cottage before big storm hits

Counties on Lake Michigan shoreline seek governors help with high water emergency

$16M in shoreline improvements proposed in Lake Michigan beach town amid high water levels
Description

GIS - 24 January, 2020: The Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, within its policy to combat coastal erosion along public beaches, will be replacing casuarina trees, commonly known as filao, by endemic ones on the public beach of Flic-in-Flac, Le Morne and Belle Mare. The project will start in Flic-en-Flac in March 2020.

An initiative of the Ministry in collaboration with the Forestry Service, the project has as objectives the following: to remove the casuarinas from the dynamic zone, or within the first 30 meters (m) of the high tide line; replant the area from the high tide line up to 15 m with endemic grasses and shrubs; and replant the area, 15 to 30 m, with endemic trees. The project will last for a period of two years with proper monitoring.

Trees such as the veloutiers vert, argent veloutiers, and Ste Marie will be planted . The project will comprise an irrigation system and an area of 200 m will be fenced and accordingly treated annually. Access from the parking area to the beaches will be maintained for every 50 m. Also, similar projects will be carried out on other public beaches.

Following observations made after cyclones and tidal waves, it was found that waves penetrate inland for about 20 to 30 m from the high tide line and this area is commonly known as the dynamic zone. The casuarina trees with their hard trunks and roots tend to wash away the sand during bad weather and therefore are not suitable on beaches, especially in the dynamic zone.

These observations were made in Mauritius as well as on the island of the Bahamas. Following the recommendations of Canadian experts, Baird and Associates, in 2003, the casuarina trees were removed from the dynamic zone on the public beaches of Belle Mare and Flic-en-Flac over an area of 1 kilometre and 450 m respectively. It has been observed thereon that the situation has stabilised and the beach erosion has been minimised.
Wiener Holocaust Library Collections , Author provided

The murder of around 500,000 of Europes Roma and Sinti by the Nazis and their collaborators during the second world war is a little-known aspect of the atrocities committed during this period.

In the immediate postwar period, war crimes against Roma were not prosecuted. Survivors struggled to get recognition and compensation for the persecution they experienced. Roma victims were also not acknowledged in monuments commemorating the Nazis victims.

Although there is now a greater awareness of the atrocities committed against the Roma, the struggle for recognition continues. The genocide against the Roma is described by Professor Eve Rosenhaft, a historian of modern Germany, as the forgotten Holocaust.

As curator of The Wiener Holocaust Librarys current exhibition, Forgotten Victims: The Nazi Genocide of the Roma and Sinti, I aimed to explore this often over-looked history.

The Library is the worlds oldest archive of material on the Nazi era and the Holocaust, and has gathered evidence and information about the experiences of Roma Nazi oppression since the 1950s.

It includes materials collected by academic researcher Donald Kenrick and activist and researcher Grattan Puxon in the late 1960s as part of the first attempt to systematically document the genocide against the Roma.

Forced labour and incarceration

One story featured in the exhibition is that of Hans Braun, a German Sinti man.

Braun survived forced labour service and incarceration in Auschwitz. In the 1980s, he gave a testimony of his experiences, a copy of which is held by the Library.

Other documents in the archive show that Brauns first attempt to gain compensation failed, probably on the spurious grounds that he was held by the Nazis because he was a criminal, rather than for racial reasons.

In the early years following the war, compensation was often denied to Roma and Sinti victims on this basis, despite extensive evidence that they were in fact persecuted as part of a campaign of targeted and ultimately genocidal racism.

Story continues

Nazi racial ideology

By the late 1930s, Nazi racial ideology had been extended to encompass the notion that, like Jews, Roma were also of alien blood and a threat to the racial strength of the Aryan master race.

As part of the development of these ideas, Roma were subject to a massive programme of pseudo-scientific investigation.

They were also targeted for forced sterilisation and forced medical experiments.

Margarete Kraus, (in the photograph to the left), a Czech Roma survivor of Auschwitz, was a victim of forced medical experiments.

In this post-war image, taken by German journalist Reimar Gilsenbach in the 1950s, her camp number tattoo is just visible on her left forearm.

The Gypsy camp

The exhibition also features eyewitness accounts detailing the so-called Gypsy camp in Auschwitz. Julius Hodosi, a Roma man from Burgenland in Austria who survived Auschwitz, recounted his childrens death from starvation in the camp. A number of Jewish survivors, including Hermann Langbein, described witnessing horrific conditions in the Gypsy camp. He said:

The conditions were worse than in other camps  the route between the huts was ankle deep in mud and dirt. The gypsies were still using the clothes that they had been given upon arrival  footwear was missing  The latrines were built in such a way that they were practically unusable for the gypsy children. The infirmary was a pathetic sight.

Another witness, Dr Max Benjamin, a Jewish man from Cologne who was a doctor at the Gypsy hospital in Auschwitz, gave an account to the Library of the liquidation of the Gypsy camp in August 1944: [In] one fell swoop every single one of the gypsies who represented the population of this camp was chased into the gas chambers.

Of the 23,000 people who passed through the Gypsy camp at Auschwitz, 21,000 died  of starvation, ill-health or were murdered in the gas chambers or by other means.

In the 1950s, Hermine Horvath, an Austrian Roma woman, gave the Library an extensive account of her experiences of persecution after the German takeover of Austria in 1938. She was forced into labour service and later survived the camps. She herself experienced sexual violence perpetrated by an SS man, and later witnessed sexual violence committed against Roma girls in Auschwitz by members of the SS.

University of Liverpool GLS Add GA , Author provided

But while the Librarys collections on the persecution of and genocide against the Roma contain a great deal of valuable evidence and testimony, it does not tell the entire story. Most of these documents relate to events in Germany, Austria and central Europe, as well as the situation in the camps and ghettos in German-occupied Poland.

But both the Jewish Holocaust and the genocide against the Roma also involved mass shootings carried out by the Nazis and their collaborators in Eastern Europe and in Soviet territories. In other places, such as Croatia, regimes supportive of the Nazis, carried out their own atrocities against the Roma.

The genocide against the Roma and Sinti affected people across Europe from communities in France to those in Ukraine and Greece. Yet this terrible history is frequently overlooked and Europes Roma continue to experience extensive discrimination and violence across the continent.

It is hoped this exhibition will help to shine a light on the history of the Roma in Europe, and warn where discrimination and prejudice can lead.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The Conversation

Barbara Warnock is the Education and Outreach Manager for The Wiener Library.
Actor Vidyut Jammwal has done larger-than-life action sequences in his films Force, Commando series and Junglee. For the kalaripayattu and martial arts expert, action sequences come naturally but what challenged him most was unlearning his art and performing like a common man who has no fighting skills.

In Lucknow to shoot for Faruk Kabirs next Khuda Haazif, the actor said, First of all its not an action film I am known for. Its about this common man who is not a martial artist not a trained fighter but since this wife (played Shivaleeka Oberoi) has been abducted, he fights his way out and gets his wife back. I enjoyed doing it, as more than outer fight its about the inner fight  courage and strength. The toughest thing for me was to unlearn the training I have done for many years. I studied a lot about the human body. 

Known for rough and tough apparel, it was very different for him sporting a shirt and trouser. And, that was the reason he did this film. I chose this movie out of many scripts after wanting to do something different. Its a true story of a Hyderabad-based couple in 2008 during the recession. Both lost their jobs but the wife gets a job in Oman and the husband was supposed to go after a week when the woman disappears. This man going and getting his wife is what turned me on.

The action seen in the film will be in a different zone. Its an action film but not where the hero is a trained fighter. He cant do action like I have done in previous films but when you have a junoon (madness) from inside then even a simple man can fight with the mightiest, Jammwal said.

He made a special effort to unlearn. In learning repetition of the same thing again and again helps one learn it. Similarly, for unlearning if you do the opposite of what you have learnt you will achieve that too. Your brain will automatically do anything  be it language, acting or life. I researched a lot about it and discovered lygometry which is to know all the things you dont know about. I have realised there is lot to learn. So, after learning the tameez and tehzeeb of something, martial arts in my case, and then unlearning it, balances the yin and yang. The philosophy of life, which I learnt living in an ashram with my mother (a kalaripayattu artist) since the age of three, also helped me.

It was fun and a learning experience for him. Unlearning was tough but fun too. I have trained all my life and now to unlearn was great fun. It has taught me a lot, it has given me experience and shown me a side of me which I had no idea. I have never cried in my life that I have done here.

What about this fans who want him see him as action super hero? The best part for me, fans and audience will be that this time there wont be a hero who is one-man army fighting 10-20 people at one go. But, here is a person who has a junoon (passion) and does not fear anything. For that you dont need to know martial arts, it comes from the dileri (daring) from inside. That is what the audience will watch and this is a genre of action which has remained untouched. Fans will love it and will get the message that to fight you just dont need to know the art, if you apply passion and mind into it you can do it.

I meet a lot of people, open gyms, motivate people and believe me its not about how much weight you can lift, its about the power of mind as well. Its not just about what you have outside but what you have inside, says Jammwal who recently received action awards from Jackie Chan in China  Best Action Choreography and Best Family Film.

He met members of Jammwalion fan page from Lucknow during the shoot. Just making a body, learning acting, dance and action is not enough. You have to develop yourself as a human being, he said to them.

This is his second film in the state after Bullett Raja and his portion of shooting was largely shot in Etawah.
Ryerson University has terminated its 34-year-old agreement with the governing student union, cancelling the union as the official representative of the student body, according to a statement released by the university Friday afternoon.

The decision comes one year after a scandal engulfed the union, under the leadership of the former president-elect Ram Ganesh, amid allegations of improper spending in excess of $270,000.

The university has lost confidence in the RSUs ability to represent students with good governance and to supply the services that students pay for, reads a statement by vice-provost Jen McMillen, published on the universitys website.

It really is a decision where we believe that the university ran out of options and we would like the students to have their voice. Its time for the students to decide whats next, she said in an interview with The Toronto Star.

But McMillen said that the university is committed to a new student government and will be releasing details about how that will come about.

A strong student government is an important partner to any university administration and we believe in that. We also believe that we have a very engaged and committed student body, who have also expressed frustration about the way their representation has gone in recent months, she said.

We want students to be involved in what some of those things look like, so we couldnt have that all ready to go today, but we will be communicating that in very short order, said McMillen.

After the university learned of the alleged misuse of funds, it withheld fees the student union collects until the RSU produced a forensic audit of its finances, shared the results with the university and negotiated a new operating agreement.

Despite the universitys best efforts to be an accommodating and collaborative partner, the RSU has failed to meet the conditions set out in January 2019, said the statement.

The union posted on Facebook stating that it did arrange an audit. In a memo dated Jan. 21, 2020, the RSU said PricewaterhouseCoopers conducted an audit of the credit card usage to review the expenses under Ganesh, former vice-president of operations Savreen Gosal and financial controller Vijayatharshini Jayachandran between May 2018 and Feb. 2019.

The memo further states the student union filed a report with Toronto police and said students will be able to view the report on Feb. 3.

Toronto Police Service confirmed that a report was made regarding allegations from 2018, and said its investigator has yet to speak to witnesses, therefore, it would not be in the best interest of the investigation to comment further.

Reached at the RSU office mid-afternoon Friday, union president, Vanessa Henry, said there was a lot of misinformation about. She said she would be interviewed by the Star after she spoke to a lawyer.

Late Friday, Henry released a statement addressed to Ryerson students saying that the RSU does not accept this termination as valid under the agreement.

The RSU will continue to operate and support students, the statement says. We look forward to addressing students at our Semi-Annual General Meeting on February 3rd.

The RSU, which is run by a five-member elected student executive, represents 38,000 undergraduate and graduate students. It operates various programs and services on campus, such as free legal aid, tax clinics, student groups and equity service centres for marginalized communities.

McMillen said the university is committed to ensuring that those programs and services remain available. But she could not speak to whether there might be interruptions in some of those services.

Our goal will be to ensure that things that students rely on and ways in which students are supported, (that) those needs are met and will continue to be met through this period of transition, she said.

The student union is funded through mandatory student fees; an undergraduate student pays about $130 towards the union. The RSU has an operating budget of $2.7 million.

In January 2019, documents obtained by the Eyeopener, a student newspaper, independent of Ryerson, disclosed expenditures of the RSUs credit card that showed what appeared to be questionable charges. Among the charges was $2,280.89 for the Toronto nightclub EFS, $2,507.18 for a Cineplex Rec Room in Toronto, $696.90 for Airbnb, and $1,375.21 at Nicks Sport Shop.

According to the RSU website, union election nominations begin Tuesday through Feb. 3.

Establishing a new student union is a complex undertaking, said Kayla Weiler, national executive representative for the Canadian Federation of Students in Ontario, which condemned Ryerson Universitys actions on Twitter.

Its establishing a new memorandum of understanding with the administration. Its developing bylaws and policies. Its hiring staff. Its creating services. When a student union has to start over, it loses its institutional memory. It loses the services that have been put in place and  (the discovery of) what works and what doesnt work. It puts those services in limbo that students rely on every day, she said.

Meantime, theres a gap in student representation, said Weiler.

When there is no student union to represent them, students rights are in jeopardy, not just within the university, but also in their representation to governments, she said.

The CSF offers its members, including the RSU, education on good governance and financial practices. It also provides support if a member university asks. Weiler said Ryerson didnt request assistance dealing with its relationship with the university or the allegations of financial mismanagement.

Ryerson Student Union was to hold elections Feb. 12-14.

With files from Tess Kalinowski and Isabel Teotonio

David Venn is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @davidvenn_

Read more about:
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Cuyahoga County jail supervisor admitted Friday that he doused the face of a restrained woman with pepper foam and used bootlegged copies of jailhouse video to threaten a fellow guard to testify on his behalf.

Idris-Farid Clark, 32, pleaded guilty to extortion and attempted felonious assault, both third-degree felony charges, and a misdemeanor charge of unlawful restraint of inmate Chantelle Glass.

Common Pleas Court Judge Dick Ambrose scheduled a sentencing hearing on Feb. 27.

Clark faces a potential sentence of anywhere from probation to more than six years behind bars.

Clark and another jail guard, Robert Marsh, were captured on surveillance video attacking Glass in July 2018 while she was strapped into a restraint chair inside the jail.

Glass and attorney Ashlie Sletvold, who is representing her in a civil lawsuit against the county over her treatment while in the jail, attended the hearing. The lawsuit is pending in federal court in Cleveland.

Glass declined to answer questions after the hearing. Sletvold told a group reporters that Glass was disappointed that Clark did not also plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of interfering with her civil rights, but she was pleased to begin to put the criminal case behind her.

This is just the first step in the process of rooting out the deep-seeded cancer in the Cuyahoga County Corrections Center, Sletvold said.

Cuyahoga County Sheriff David Schilling said he attended the hearing to show support to Glass and send a message that Clarks actions are not welcome among the ranks of the corrections officer in the jail.

This behavior, Im not going to tolerate it, its not going to happen in this jail, at least while Im sheriffs seat, Gallagher said.

Marsh pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault in November and is set to be sentenced Feb. 10. He agreed to resign his position at the county and to testify at any other trial in the future involving incidents within the jail.

Clark, a corporal at the time of the incident, did not turn on his body camera during the interaction with Glass.

Jail surveillance video showed Clark pull out his canister of pepper foam and shake it as he stood by and watched Marsh strap Glass into a restraint chair. Marsh struck Glass in the face after she extended her leg toward him, and she kicked him back. Clark stepped forward and sprayed the foam directly into Glasss face. He grabbed her hair and tilted her head back, and continued spraying her for several seconds.

Glass was originally arrested after a heated argument with her sister, but was held in jail because she didnt show up to a previous hearing for a traffic ticket.

Clark was indicted in April on charges of felonious assault, interfering with civil rights, unlawful restraint and tampering with evidence in the incident involving Glass.

After he was charged, he was recorded on an Aug. 7 phone call telling a fellow corrections officer that he had videos of a use-of-force incident in the jail that would implicate the officer in a crime if made public, according to court records. Investigators obtained a search warrant based on the call and found bootleg copies of videos as they executed a warrant at Clarks house, prosecutors said.

The two guards are among several current and former jail employees and officials charged as part of an ongoing investigation by Ohio Attorney General David Yost.

Former jail director Ken Mills is charged with lying to Cuyahoga County Council about his role in blocking efforts to bring more nurses into the jail in early 2018, before the first of what would eventually be nine inmates to die inside the jail over the next calendar year. The deaths sparked a U.S. Marshals Service investigation that found inmate abuse, jail officers withholding food as punishment and poor medical and mental healthcare for inmates, among a myriad of issues.

Former warden Eric Ivey, who was singled out in the Marshals report as a key perpetrator of the mistreatment, resigned his post and was placed on probation in October after he pleaded guilty to obstructing an investigation into the August 2018 overdose death of an inmate. Ivey also agreed to cooperate with prosecutors probing other cases in the jail and corruption in county government.

Six other jail guards are either currently facing charges or have pleaded guilty as part of the investigation. Another jail guard was acquitted of charges that accused him of withholding medical treatment from an inmate after an altercation with a jail guard.

See live video from the courtroom here:

Cuyahoga County jail guard who doused inmate with pepper foam expected to plea guilty to felony charges. Hannah Drown is in the courtroom for Cpl. Idris-Farid Clarks hearing. Share your thoughts in the comments. Posted by cleveland.com on Friday, January 24, 2020

Read recent stories

Where does each criminal case related to the Cuyahoga County Jail stand?

Cuyahoga County jail guard accused of assaulting inmate, threatening coworker hit with new charges over bootleg copies of jailhouse videos

Cuyahoga County jail guard pleads guilty to assaulting restrained inmate, will resign

Woman pepper-sprayed, attacked by Cuyahoga County Jail officers: I thought I was going to die
Workers walk through paddy fields on the outskirts of Ahmedabad

By Mayank Bhardwaj and Neha Dasgupta

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Reluctance among Indian traders to ship premium basmati rice to Iran as U.S. sanctions hobble its ability to pay has contributed to a sharp drop in overall exports from the world's biggest supplier of the grain, trade and government sources said.

Rice shipments from India slipped by more than a quarter to 5.5 million tonnes between April and November 2019 -- the first eight months of the fiscal year -- from 7.5 million tonnes in the year-ago period, the sources said. In terms of value, exports dropped 19% to $3.8 billion from $4.7 billion.

The grain is India's biggest foreign exchange earning farm commodity, with shipments worth $7.75 billion in the 2018/19 fiscal year.

Basmati rice exports to Iran, New Delhi's top buyer of the aromatic grain, dropped to 600,000 tonnes in the eight months from 900,000 tonnes a year earlier, but traders, worried about delayed payments, have not signed any new contracts with Tehran in the past five days, the sources said.

Shipments are not expected to significantly pick up, with buyers in Iran owing a record 20 billion rupees ($281.41 million) to India as U.S.- imposed sanctions make it hard to pay for imported commodities, they added.

"We are in a precarious situation," Nathi Ram Gupta, president of the All India Rice Exporters Association, told Reuters. "We have urged the Indian government to step in to ensure that our dues are cleared by Iran."

Reuters was unable to contact traders in Iran for comment.

Iranian buyers paid some of the money they owed in November, the sources said, encouraging Indian traders to sign new contracts and ultimately pushing dues to an all-time high.

Of the 4.4 million tonnes of basmati rice shipped by India in the 2018/19 fiscal year, Iran accounted for 1.4 million tonnes.

"Our exports to Iran will definitely fall this year and that is going to drag down both the country's basmati and non-basmati rice exports. We're worried on two counts of India's falling rice exports and our mounting dues," said Vijay Setia, former president of the All India Rice Exporters Association.

Story continues

Beside the drop in exports to Iran, non-basmati rice exports to Europe have also fallen, with trade and industry officials citing higher pesticide residues in shipments from India as a factor behind reduced purchases from the European Union.

Higher benchmark prices in Thailand, the world's second-biggest rice exporter, have however prompted some buyers to opt for Indian rice, pushing rates for the Indian variety to their highest in nearly three months despite the fall in exports.

India's 5% broken parboiled variety rose to around $366-$371 per tonne from last week's $364-$368, the highest since Oct. 31.

Domestic prices have also risen on fresh orders from Africa, traders said.

(Reporting by Mayank Bhardwaj and Neha Dasgupta; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 13:51:36|Editor: Shi Yinglun

Video Player Close

by Matthew Rusling

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Democrats this week are making their case against President Donald Trump, while the defense is honing in on procedure, amid the third-ever impeachment trial of a U.S. president.

"The defense is focusing on procedure," Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Darrell West told Xinhua.

The Heritage Foundation Senior Legal Fellow Thomas Jipping told Xinhua the "defense believes that clear procedural limits will help them in the long run."

Indeed, Republicans have expressed outrage over the trial, constantly interrupting Democratic lawmakers and their counsel by harping on procedure and points of order, in the trial's drama-filled first week.

Democrats have countered by calling the trial "rigged," accusing Republicans of playing parliament in a bid to keep the public from seeing what Democrats said was evidence of Trump's wrongdoing.

MAIN ISSUE

Democrats' main accusation has to do with a phone call in July with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

During the conversation, Trump threatened to withhold aid to Ukraine in a bid to pressure Kiev to investigate the son of former Vice President Joe Biden, a potential rival of Trump in the 2020 elections. Biden's son has had business dealings in Ukraine.

Democrats said this is tantamount to betraying the nation's national security interests for the sake of Trump's own political gains, which they believe is an impeachable offense.

The White House continues to deny any wrongdoing, saying Democrats are simply seeking to derail the president in an underhanded way, in a bid to gain political power and deny Americans the right to choose their own president.

Republicans contend that the president never withheld aid, adding that treason, bribery or high crimes and misdemeanors are the only reasons a president can be impeached, according to the Constitution. They argue that the evidence against Trump qualifies for none of these.

MAIN ARGUMENTS

While Democrats said they have a mountain of evidence against the president, the party's main argument revolves around the phone call with Kiev.

The information Democrats have presented on the withholding of military assistance "for a political favor" is "compelling evidence of presidential abuse of power," West said, highlighting what he believes is Democrats' strongest argument.

Jipping highlighted both sides' arguments, noting that "Democrats say that the purpose they allege behind the president's actions -- soliciting foreign interference in American elections -- is an especially serious abuse of power and cannot be tolerated."

However, Trump's defense team contends the alleged offenses are "legitimate presidential actions," and that using impeachment as a political tool is a danger to the U.S. system of government, Jipping said.

Clay Ramsay, a researcher at the center for international and security studies at the University of Maryland, told Xinhua that Democrats' best argument is that Trump's threats to withhold aid to the Ukraine "broke the law ... and (that) Trump did so to engineer a foreign government's help in the next election."

For their part, the defense's best argument, according to Ramsay, is that "Ukraine received all the military aid appropriated by Congress, so there is no continuing issue here."

Despite the media fanfare, most experts believe the Republican-led Senate is unlikely to convict Trump.

"The Senate is poised not to remove Trump because nearly every Republican is toeing the party line. It is not clear that any Republican will vote to remove him from office," West said.

On Thursday, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, who is heading the House's impeachment efforts, kicked off the day's proceedings by explaining he would reiterate information put forth at the previous day's proceedings.

"There will be some repetition of information from yesterday's chronology, and I want to explain the reason for it," Schiff told the Senate on Thursday, the trial's third day.

Despite having presented the same information the previous day, lawmakers will see information in videos, "therefore in a new context, in a new light of what else we know and why it compels a finding of guilt and conviction," Schiff said.
The western United States has experienced such intense droughts over the past decade that technical descriptions are becoming inadequate. In many places, conditions are rocketing past "severe," through "extreme," all the way to "exceptional drought."

The 2018 Four Corners drought -- centered on the junction between Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico -- put the region deep in the red. An abnormally hot spring and summer indicated that climate change was clearly at work, but that was about as much as most people could say of the situation at the time.

Climate scientists from UC Santa Barbara's geography department have now distilled just how strong an effect human-induced warming had on that event. Their findings appear in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society's annual issue dedicated to explaining extreme weather events during the previous year. The team found that 60 to 80% of the region's increased potential for evaporation stemmed from human-induced warming alone, which caused additional warming of 2 degrees Celsius.

"I was really stunned at how big an effect we found with just a 2-degree warming," said Chris Funk, director of the university's Climate Hazards Center, a U.S. Geological Survey scientist and one of the study's coauthors.

"The results were much more pronounced than we had expected," added lead author Emily Williams, a doctoral student in the Department of Geography. Her work focuses on end-to-end attribution, which determines exactly how much a specific natural event was exacerbated by climate change, and then links those changes to both the sources of greenhouse gasses and the impacts of warming on people and ecosystems. It's a challenging task that requires sophisticated climate models, comprehensive databases and the development of exciting new science.

Williams wanted to determine to what extent the Four Corners drought was exacerbated by climate change. To make the task more manageable, she limited the scope of her investigation to rising temperatures. Williams ran two simulations on leading climate models; the first calculated temperatures under the climate regime predating the industrial revolution, while the second did so under current, human-induced climate change. Subtracting the averages from the two simulations gave her a temperature difference she could attribute to human-induced warming.

advertisement

"We found that pretty much all of what made this the hottest year on record in that region was due to climate change," she said.

With that knowledge, Williams then set out to determine how higher temperatures affected aridity. For this, she looked at the local hydrology -- mainly snowpack and surface runoff -- and agropastoral conditions -- circumstances related to growing crops and raising livestock. She used the vegetation's greenness to judge the agropastoral conditions of the region.

Warmer air can hold more moisture than cold air. So, as temperatures rise, the air becomes thirstier, Williams explained. And thirstier air can suck more moisture out of the ground.

The difference between the amount of water the air can absorb and the amount the land can provide is what scientists call the vapor pressure deficit. When the land can supply more than the air can hold -- as when the air temperature drops to a predawn low -- you get condensation, like the early morning dew. On the other hand, when the air is thirstier than the amount of water the ground can provide, it pulls moisture from the earth drying it out. Warmer air over dry soils will be thirstier, leading to more rapid browning of fields and fodder.

The scientists used a statistical model to relate green vegetation to the vapor pressure deficit. Intuitively, warmer temperatures cause dryer conditions, which turn the vegetation brown. And that it did. The results indicated that the landscape would have been about 20% greener that year in the absence of climate change. This browner vegetation translated into poor harvests and low-quality fodder; impacts associated with more than $3 billion in economic losses, and disruptions in the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Native Americans who were settled in reservations in the area.

advertisement

2018 was a dry year for the entire Western U.S., but the Four Corners region was hit particularly hard. The worst of the drought sat squarely on the Navajo Nation reservation.

The team also looked at how much the region's snowpack was influenced by the higher temperatures. A robust snowpack ensures water availability late into the summer as it slowly melts away. Higher temperatures affect snowpack in two ways: They cause more precipitation to fall as rain rather than snow, and they make snow melt faster and earlier in the year, explained Shraddhanand Shukla, an associate researcher in the geography department and another of the paper's coauthors.

The scientists simulated snow conditions in the region with and without climate change while keeping the total precipitation constant. They found that the March snowpack would have been 20% greater in the absence of climate change, even though this was the lowest precipitation year on record for the area. They expect the effect would have been even more pronounced in a wetter year.

These findings are a conservative estimate of climate change's influence on the drought, according to Williams. For one, the study only considered the impact human-induced warming had on temperatures. Climate change may also have influenced the region's low rainfall.

What's more, there are strong feedback cycles between the atmosphere and the land, which the study left out. When the air soaks up all the available moisture in the soil, evaporative can no longer cool the ground. The result is a dramatic spike ground temperature, which exacerbates the situation.

However, by keeping the methodology simple, the team made the task more manageable, the insights more understandable and the technique more transferable. They plan to apply the approach on more typical years in the Four Corners region, as well as to regions in Eastern Africa experiencing similar distress.

The researchers stressed the urgency of understanding these systems. "This isn't projected climate change, it's current," said Williams.

"There are things that are absolutely certain to happen due to climate change," Funk said. "And one thing that's absolutely certain is that saturation vapor pressure is going to go up."

"And this actually increases the intensity of both droughts and floods," he added.

When a region like the Four Corners experiences a drought, a warmer, thirstier atmosphere can wick away limited soil moisture more quickly. On the other hand, when a humid region, like Houston, experiences an extreme rainfall event, the warm, wet winds feeding it can hold more water, potentially causing catastrophic floods.

"The moment that everybody in the world understands this is the moment that we will probably start doing something about climate change," Funk said.
With all eyes fixated on Gowran Park yesterday (Thursday) youd be forgiven for overlooking the fact that the cream of the crop of country and traditional music will be bursting out of the traps at two of the citys finest concert venues this weekend too.

First up, Irish traditional music icon and vocalist Tommy Fleming will be bringing his signature brand of folk balladry to Lyrath Estate this Friday as part of his national tour.

Its worth noting that Tommys first foray into the world of performing music wasnt the usual standard for traditional musicians.

While still at school his first band was formed, a rock band, The Face of February. This began a lifestyle of gigging, starting off in local pubs and clubs.

Soon after leaving school (1990) Tommy established himself as part of a Castlebar quartet that going by the name Jarog, performing in pubs and clubs on a more national level.

In 1993 renowned producer and composer Phil Coulter overheard Tommy performing one night at a charity event in Westport and then everything changed.

Within days he was guesting with Phil and his Orchestra at the Opera House (Cork), the National Concert Hall (Dublin) and The University Concert Hall (Limerick).

His career took another leap forward when he joined huge traditional Irish band 'De Danann' as lead vocalist, following in the footsteps of legends such as Mary Black, Maura OConnell, Dolores Keane and Paul Brady.

When he eventually decided to go at it alone in 1996 his debut album Different Sides To Life set the scene for a hugely successful solo career.

Tickets for the gig can be purchased via Ticketmaster, Rollercoaster Records or through tommyfleming.net. Concert starts at 7pm.

Next up, after recently celebrating over forty years together, legendary duo Foster and Allen will be bringing their Timeless Memories Tour to the Watergate Theatre this Sunday.

The story of Foster & Allen began in the seventies when Mick Foster and Tony Allen were playing in different country music bands all around Ireland.

In 1975 they rallied a small group together and went over to the UK to perform at Irish music venues on a short tour.

Over time they developed an idea of working together as a duo, playing easy listening music with a touch of traditional Irish instrumentality.

When their UK tour finished they let the rest of the band return to Ireland whilst they stayed behind to try out their duo act on the public. Foster and Allen was born.

After receiving great reactions after playing several venues in the London area and then decided to make a serious go at being a musical duo back in Ireland.

By the end of decade the duo released the single A Bunch of Thyme. It proved to be their first major hit.

When it entered the Irish charts it quickly became a top-selling number one single, staying in the charts for forty consecutive weeks before re-entering for a further thirteen weeks.

The rest, as theyll tell you, is history. Why not relive all the memories along the way?

Tickets are 31 via watergatetheatre.ie. Show starts at 8pm.

UPDATE: Foster and Allen is now SOLD OUT.
Julian Assange has been moved out of solitary confinement in a prison medical wing to an area with other inmates, according to WikiLeaks.

The move was described by his supporters as a 'dramatic climbdown', affecting his treatment at Belmarsh jail in south-east London.

Assange, 48, has been held at the high-security prison since last April, when he was dragged out of the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he had been living for almost seven years.

He is awaiting an extradition hearing on behalf of the United States over the activities of WikiLeaks.

Assange, 48, has been held at the high-security prison since last April, when he was dragged out of the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he had been living for almost seven years (pictured, leaving Westminster Magistrates Court earlier this month)

Joseph Farrell, of WikiLeaks, said on Friday: 'In a dramatic climbdown, authorities at Belmarsh prison have moved Julian Assange from solitary confinement in the medical wing and relocated him to area with other inmates.

'The move is a huge victory for Assange's legal team and for campaigners, who have been insisting for weeks that the prison authorities end the punitive treatment of Assange.'

In a recent interview with far-Right activist Tommy Robinson however, Ross Kemp pointed out the solitary confinement - designed to keep prisoners separate for their own safety - was not entirely bad.

Cameras showed how Robinson had a stash of food to keep him going, including Jaffa cakes, apple juice, chocolate eclairs, tuna chunks, Coco Pops and Ready Brek.

Mr Farrell said the decision to move Assange out of solitary confinement was also a 'massive victory' for inmates in Belmarsh.

Joseph Farrell, of WikiLeaks, said the decision to move Assange out of solitary confinement was a 'massive victory' for inmates in Belmarsh (pictured, the inside of HMP Belmarsh)

Tommy Robinson had a stash of food to keep him going while in solitary confinement, including Jaffa cakes, apple juice, chocolate eclairs, tuna chunks, Coco Pops and Ready Brek

He added: 'A group of prisoners have petitioned the prison governor on three occasions insisting that the treatment of Assange was unjust and unfair.

'After meetings between prisoners, lawyers and the Belmarsh authorities, Assange was moved to a different prison wing, albeit one with only 40 inmates.'

He added that serious concerns about Assange's treatment in Belmarsh remained, saying he is still being denied adequate access to his lawyers.

'Campaigners continue to insist that Assange should not be in jail at all, least of all in Belmarsh high-security prison,' said Mr Farrell.

'But, all that notwithstanding, this is an important victory for campaigners outside and inside the prison walls.'

A timetable for Assange's extradition hearing was agreed at Westminster Magistrates' court on Thursday.

The case will open at Woolwich Crown Court on February 24, but will adjourn after one week, and continue with a three-week hearing scheduled to begin on May 18.

Speaking at Thursday's hearing, Edward Fitzgerald QC, for Assange, said: 'We've had great difficulties in getting into Belmarsh to take instructions from Mr Assange and to discuss the evidence with him.

'We simply cannot get in as we require to see Mr Assange and to take his instruction.'
Hundreds of thousands of devotees on Friday took a holy dip in the Bay of Bengal at various places in Tamil Nadu including Rameswaram on the auspicious occasion of 'Thai Amavasai' (new moon day in the Tamil month 'Thai').

Pilgrims thronged the pilgrim town of Rameswaram to pay obeisance to their forefathers.

There was a long queue for taking bath in the 26 holy water sites in and outside the famous Sri Ramanathaswamy temple here, officials said.

Thousands of pilgrims gathered at Tiruppullani sea coast in Ramanathapuram district to pray for the souls of forefathers.

Ramanathapuram district authorities had made arrangements in view of a large number of devotees visiting the temple town and security was stepped up.

People thronged Kodiakarai, Vedaranyam and Poompuhar in Nagapattinam district to take a holy dip the Bay of Bengal.

Legend has it that Saint Agathiyar got a darshan of Lord Shiva at Vedaranyeshwarar Temple in Vedaranyam on 'ThaiAmavasai' day after he took a holy dip in the Bay of Bengal.

People took a dip at Kaveripoompattinam near Poompuhar where river Cauvery meets the Bay of Bengal, as it is believed that it would free one from all sins committed.

At Ananthamangalam near Porayar, thousands of devotees thronged Lord Hanuman temple in connection withThaiAmavasai, which is considered an auspicious day to pray for the souls of forefathers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
According to a new report from Bloomberg, Salesforce encouraged employees to purchase and then expense founder and co-CEO Marc Benioff's fourth book, "Trailblazer: The Power of Business as the Greatest Platform for Change," which was published last October.

Salesforce sent a memo to its workforce explaining that the book, which argues the need for a gentler capitalism, is "business material" and therefore eligible for being expensed.
Men accused of collecting secrets on elections, energy and security to leave, but Moscow says evidence not presented.

Bulgaria summoned Moscows ambassador on Friday after two men based at the Russian embassy in Sofia were accused of spying and ordered to leave the country.

A consular first secretary and an official at Russias trade representation, both men, collected state secrets in order to transfer it to a foreign state or organisation, the chief prosecutors office said.

The first secretary collected information on elections from 2017, while the trade official gathered sensitive information on the energy sector and energy security from October 2018, they said.

Earlier on Friday, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva said Sofia was likely to expel the two Russian diplomats.

The Russian embassy in Sofia said in a statement that the two men had been ordered to leave Bulgaria and would do so.

However, it added that no evidence was presented as proof of [their] activities and that Russia reserved the right to reciprocal measures.

We also consider the decision of the Bulgarian authorities to announce this information publicly before officially notifying the embassy as incompatible with the traditionally constructive spirit of our relations, the statement added.

Bulgarian prosecutors had earlier described both men as diplomats but the Russian statement suggested that only the consular first secretary had this status.

In October, Bulgaria expelled another first secretary at the Russian embassy for gathering classified information on Bulgaria, the European Union and NATO.

Bulgaria, a staunch Soviet satellite during communism, largely maintained its close cultural, historical and economic ties with Russia after the fall of the communist regime in 1989.

The NATO and EU member refused to expel Russian diplomats over the poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the UK in March 2018.

Fridays accusations come just a day after Sofia charged three Russians in absentia with attempted murder over the 2015 poisoning in Sofia of arms manufacturer Emiliyan Gebrev, his son and his company manager.

The Gebrev and Skripal cases have been linked by the investigative Bellingcat website through the presence of a high-ranking Russian military intelligence officer it named as Denis Vyacheslavovich Sergeev.

In February last year, Bellingcat said Sergeev visited Bulgaria at the same time as Gebrev was poisoned, and that he also entered the UK two days before the Skripal poisoning.
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Dr. Amy Acton, the Ohio Department of Health director, announced measures Friday that will attempt to prevent the spread of the coronavirus to Ohio -- and contain it if it does.

Thus far, there are no reported coronavirus cases in the state. However, on Friday morning, the second case was confirmed in the U.S., in Chicago. In China, there are more than 800 confirmed cases and at least 26 deaths.

Its really an emergency preparedness approach to control the infectious diseases spread, Acton said in an interview.

Acton, a licensed preventive medicine physician, is now requiring doctors and clinics with patients with the suspected illness to report it to their local health departments, which will notify the Ohio Department of Health. The virus testing will occur at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The state health department will work with federal and local health agencies to investigate reports of the infection and work to prevent it from spreading.

Members of the public can also limit risk if they have symptoms of the virus  high fever, respiratory problems such as difficulty breathing and contact with someone who has had the symptoms or who has traveled to China, Acton said.

Its really helpful, if someone is concerned about it, that they reach out to their doctor or local health department, she said. If you think you are contagious, let them know before you show up for your appointment so they can prepare the office.

Otherwise, Ohioans can take regular precautions against coronavirus, as they would for all disease: Washing hands, following appropriate cough and sneeze etiquette, staying home from work and school if feeling ill, and avoiding exposure to others who are sick, she said.

The virus outbreak began in Wuhan City in Hubei Province, China in December, likely in a market, spreading from animals to people.

Chinese officials have put that area under quarantine. Families have plans to travel to celebrate the Lunar New Year this week, and multiple international travel advisories have been issued to help curb the spread of the illness.

The illness is part of a large family of coronaviruses, named for the spikes that protrude from it under a microscope that look similar to the sun, some of which cause illnesses and others that spread among animals. Rarely does an animal coronavirus evolve to infect humans. It has happened with SARS, the severe acute respiratory syndrome in 2003, and MERS, the Middle East respiratory syndrome.

Its a virus weve never seen in humans before," Acton said. Its an evolving thing.

Other stories from Columbus:

Bloom Medicinals investigating reported Ohio medical marijuana patient data breach

Women breaking away from President Trump, could be deciding factor in 2020 presidential race

Ohio Senate bill would ban abortions performed through telemedicine

55,000 Ohioans spend $60 million in first year of medical marijuana: Capitol Letter
The year is halfway through and it's been rough-going.

Seek perspective while tackling three peak hikes around the Bay Area.

Mount Diablo's North Peak (Courtesy of Weekend Sherpa) The peak of Mount Diablo is known for its hundred-mile views, but little-visited North Peak is the real summit to scale. Unlike the main mount, which you can get to by car or bike, the North Peak can only be reached via a 1.8-mile (one-way) moderate hike, with one steep uphill section to really get your heart-pumping. The hike traverses a few hundred feet below Diablo's main summit, climbs a ridge and, at the very end, rises steeply. The view from the top is worth the final push: The land laps like morning tidesrising, cresting, and rolling out to the Pacificand San Francisco's skyscrapers spire on the distant horizon. Get the details on hiking Mount Diablo's North Peak.

East Peak of Mount Tamalpais (Courtesy of Weekend Sherpa) The East Peak of Mount Tamalpais couldn't be more accommodating: It can be reached via a short hike, and easily gives visitors one of the best views in the Bay Area. Plan your arrival about an hour before sunset, and take the quarter-mile (one-way) walk up the Plank Trail to the 2,571-foot East Peak fire lookout and summit. On clear nights, it's pure panoramic perfection. Mount Tam's northern lakes wink like polished diamonds in the distance, and Mount Diablo and Mount St. Helena help complete a peak trifecta. Get more details on this sunset peak hike from Weekend Sherpa.
There was room for alignment of Turkish and Russian interests here, too, even though technically Russia (through mercenaries)

Thus, Turkeys meddling in Libya is entirely about Cyprus, and nothing at all to do with Haftar or the GNA.

Haftar now has EU member Greece on his side, with Athens up in arms over Turkeys attempt to stake territorial claims on the massive natural gas deposits in the eastern Mediterranean. The Greek PM has also vowed there will be no EU deal on Libya if Turkey refuses to rip up the maritime border agreement it recently made with Libya in a less-than-subtle offshore land grab.

Haftar was not assured of winning a ground-based military battle against the GNA and its band of militias in Tripoli, now with Turkish troops (and Syrian mercenary) support. Haftar can cripple Tripoli with superior airpower, thanks to his external alliances, but on the ground, it would be a tough battle to gain full control of the capital - which is where all the oil revenues are.

Shutting off Libyas oil was always General Khalifa Haftars trump card to play when the time was right. That time is now, with 800,000 bpd in exports officially off the market and the countrys entire 1.2 million bpd in production set to be shuttered in a matter of days. The Government of National Accord (GNA) will be starved to the tune of $77 million a day when that happens.

Libya: Haftar Shifts Strategy from Oil Protector

Shutting off Libyas oil was always General Khalifa Haftars trump card to play when the time was right. That time is now, with 800,000 bpd in exports officially off the market and the countrys entire 1.2 million bpd in production set to be shuttered in a matter of days. The Government of National Accord (GNA) will be starved to the tune of $77 million a day when that happens.

Haftar was not assured of winning a ground-based military battle against the GNA and its band of militias in Tripoli, now with Turkish troops (and Syrian mercenary) support. Haftar can cripple Tripoli with superior airpower, thanks to his external alliances, but on the ground, it would be a tough battle to gain full control of the capital - which is where all the oil revenues are.

Haftar now has EU member Greece on his side, with Athens up in arms over Turkeys attempt to stake territorial claims on the massive natural gas deposits in the eastern Mediterranean. The Greek PM has also vowed there will be no EU deal on Libya if Turkey refuses to rip up the maritime border agreement it recently made with Libya in a less-than-subtle offshore land grab.

Thus, Turkeys meddling in Libya is entirely about Cyprus, and nothing at all to do with Haftar or the GNA.

There was room for alignment of Turkish and Russian interests here, too, even though technically Russia (through mercenaries) and Turkey (supporting the GNA against Haftar) are fighting on opposite sides of this conflict. The Turkey-Libya maritime agreement was for the creation of an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and Turkish-Russian interests could easily align over Libyan offshore oil exploration. This is also in Russias interest, as we have previously noted, because it would undermine the planned Israeli-Greek-Cypriot gas pipeline to Europe.

But Haftar brushed them off and is letting the UAE play the lead alliance role, through Egypt. While Egypt has no desire to become entrenched in a major Gulf conflict, the UAE is interested in countering Qatar in Libya, which has thrown its support behind the GNA and, quite possibly, behind Islamic radicals in the past.

Ahead of talks to be held in Berlin on Sunday about a ceasefire, Haftar now has quite a bit of leverage ($77-million a day worth of leverage, to be exact), and his allies are largely lined up behind him. What happens next will have significant regional implications, and it will determine whether and when Libyan oil starts flowing again. Haftar wont turn it back on without a good deal that is likely to involve Tripoli and oil revenues.

North Sea Wind: The New Offshore Bonanza

Construction of the largest offshore wind farm the world has ever seen is now underway in coastal Ulrome, England, and when its finished it will be able to power some 4.5 million homes.

The project, Dogger Bank Wind Farms, will deliver a total of 3.6 GW and will provide 5% of the UKs entire electricity demand. And it is set to be completed by 2022, with first power to come in 2023.

Dogger is a joint project between SSE Renewables and Norways Equinor and merges three wind farm sites in the North Sea, each generating 1.2 GW.

This is the second time in as many years that the UK has broken the record for the largest wind farm in the world. In 2018, it set another record with the Walney offshore wind farm, which had a capacity of 659 MW, with 189 turbines. Prior to that, the London Array boasted the title with 175 turbines.

By comparison, the largest wind farm in the United States (the Alta Wind Energy Center in California) produces 1,550 megawatts (about 1.5 GW).

According to a report by WindEurope, in 2018, Europe connected 409 new offshore wind turbines to the grid across 18 projects. The continent now boasts a total installed offshore wind capacity of 18,499 MW. In the first half of last year alone, Europe added 4.9 GW of new wind energy capacity.

Europe is leading the pack when it comes to wind, and the lesson for investors is probably this: The big investment in the North Sea isnt oil anymore, its wind.
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario and PORTO, Portugal, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Strongco Corporation (Strongco) (TSX:SQP) and Nors, S.A. (Nors) are pleased to announce that they have entered into a definitive arrangement agreement (the Arrangement Agreement) pursuant to which Nors will acquire Strongco (the Proposed aTransaction).



Under the terms of the Arrangement Agreement, Nors, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, will acquire all of the outstanding equity of Strongco for CAD$3.15 per share in cash (the Consideration) and results in a transaction value of approximately CAD$193 million (inclusive of Strongcos net interest bearing debt). The Consideration represents a premium of 75% to the closing price of the Strongco shares on the Toronto Stock Exchange on January 23, 2020 and a premium of 80% to the volume-weighted average trading price on such exchange for the 60 days ended on such date.

Robert Beutel, Executive Chairman of Strongco, commented: As Strongco moves to enhance its product and service offerings in Canada we are pleased to become part of the Nors Group. Nors international experience and capital foundation, in many of the same product lines on four continents, brings the know-how and experience to elevate our potential to deliver leading edge quality to our growing customer base in an increasingly global environment. The Strongco board is confident that this represents a favourable outcome for all of our stakeholders.

In recent years, Strongcos management has done an excellent job of strengthening the companys capital structure, streamlining the business and reducing costs. As we welcome Strongco into the Nors family, we believe that Strongco will benefit from Nors global presence and brand recognition, and from its long experience in the automotive and construction equipment industry, added Tomas Jervell, Chief Executive Officer of Nors.

Additional Transaction Details

The Proposed Transaction is to be completed by way of a statutory plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) and is subject to customary closing conditions, including approval of 66% of the votes cast by Strongco shareholders, voting together as one class, at a special meeting of Strongco. Completion of the Proposed Transaction is also subject to court, regulatory and stock exchange approval, as well as certain other closing conditions customary for transactions of this nature.

The Proposed Transaction has the unanimous support of the independent special committee of the Strongco board, as well as Strongcos full board, which have (i) determined, after receiving financial and legal advice, that the consideration to be received by Strongcos shareholders is fair from a financial point of view and that the Proposed Transaction is in the best interests of Strongco, and (ii) recommended the approval of the Proposed Transaction by Strongcos shareholders. In addition, all of the directors and officers of Strongco, as well as certain significant shareholders of Strongco, have entered into voting support agreements with Nors under which they will vote an aggregate of approximately 48% of Strongcos outstanding shares in favour of the Proposed Transaction.

Further details regarding the Proposed Transaction will be included in the proxy circular to be mailed to the Strongco shareholders in connection with the special meeting of Strongco. A copy of the Arrangement Agreement will be available under Strongcos issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com .

Closing of the Proposed Transaction is expected to take place before the end of Q1 2020.

Dentons Canada LLP is serving as legal counsel and Crosbie & Company Inc. is serving as financial advisor to Strongco. Baker & McKenzie LLP is serving as legal counsel and PwC is serving as financial advisor to Nors.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in the United States pursuant to the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws.

About Strongco

Strongco Corporation is a major multiline mobile equipment dealer with operations across Canada. Strongco sells, rents and services equipment used in diverse sectors such as construction, infrastructure, mining, oil and gas, utilities, municipalities, waste management and forestry. The Company has approximately 500 employees serving customers from 26 branches in Canada. Strongco represents leading equipment manufacturers with globally recognized brands, including Volvo Construction Equipment, Case Construction, Manitowoc Crane, including National and Grove, Terex Cedarapids, Terex Trucks, Fassi, Sennebogen, Konecranes and SDLG. Strongco is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol SQP.

About Nors

Nors is a Portuguese based private company that sells, rents and services construction, infrastructure, mining and forestry equipment, trucks, busses, cars and marine and industrial engines in 16 countries in four continents: Portugal, Spain, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, Croatia, Turkey, Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, Mexico and the USA. The company was founded in 1933, has 3,600 employees and a turnover of over 1.6 billion. Nors represents leading heavy equipment manufacturers with global brands like Volvo Construction Equipment, Volvo Trucks, Volvo Bus, Volvo Penta, Renault Trucks, UD Trucks, DongFeng Trucks, SDLG, Sennebogen, Grove, Epiroc, Sandvik, Case IH, Kohler-SDMO, Yale and Hyster.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions and accordingly, actual results and future events could differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. You are hence cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of present or historical fact are forward-looking statements, including statements with respect to the Proposed Transaction and the likelihood that the Proposed Transaction will be consummated on the terms and timeline provided herein or at all, the business and growth strategies, prospects and operation following the Proposed Transaction, the anticipated timing of completion of the Proposed Transaction, the expected benefits of the Proposed Transaction and the receipt of all required approvals, including without limitation the approval of the Strongco shareholders, the court, applicable regulatory authorities and applicable stock exchanges.

Forward-looking statements include words or expressions such as will, may, shall, if, subject to, in the event, expected, and other similar words or expressions. In respect of the forward-looking statements and information concerning the likelihood that the Proposed Transaction will be consummated and the anticipated benefits of the completion of the Proposed Transaction, Strongco and Nors have provided such statements and information in reliance on certain assumptions that they each believe are reasonable at this time, including assumptions as to the ability of the parties to receive, in a timely manner and on satisfactory terms, the necessary regulatory, stock exchange, court and shareholder approvals where applicable; the ability of the parties to satisfy, in a timely manner, the other conditions to the completion of the Proposed Transaction; general assumptions respecting the business and operations of both Strongco and Nors, including that each business will continue to operate in a manner consistent with past practice and pursuant to certain industry and market conditions; and other expectations and assumptions concerning the Proposed Transaction. Although Strongco and Nors believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, neither Strongco nor Nors can give assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct, that the Proposed Transaction will be completed or that it will be completed on the terms and conditions contemplated in this press release. Accordingly, investors and others are cautioned that undue reliance should not be placed on any forward-looking statements.

Factors that could cause future results or events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include, without limitation, significant transaction costs or unknown liabilities; economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the state of capital markets; risks relating to (i) the ability of the parties to satisfy the closing conditions of the Arrangement Agreement, (ii) the ability of the Strongco board to consider and approve a superior proposal for Strongco prior to the completion of the Proposed Transaction, (iii) failure to receive the necessary shareholder, court or regulatory approvals where applicable, or failure of the parties to obtain such approvals or satisfy such conditions in a timely manner, (iv) unforeseen challenges in integrating the businesses of Nors and Strongco, (v) failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the Proposed Transaction, (vi) the business, operational and/or financial performance or achievements of Strongco and Nors may be materially different from that currently anticipated, (vii) other unforeseen events, developments, or factors causing any of the aforesaid expectations, assumptions, and (viii) other factors ultimately being inaccurate or irrelevant. In particular, the benefits anticipated in respect of the Proposed Transaction are based on the current business, operational and financial position of each of Strongco and Nors, which are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of risks, uncertainties and assumptions are not exhaustive. In addition, if the Proposed Transaction is not completed, and Strongco continues as an independent entity, there are risks that the announcement of the Arrangement Agreement and the dedication of substantial resources of Strongco to the completion of the Proposed Transaction could have an impact on its business and strategic relationships (including with regulatory bodies, future and prospective employees, customers, suppliers and partners), operating results and activities in general, and could have a material adverse effect on its current and future operations, financial condition and prospects. Consequently, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release. The forward-looking statements in this press release reflect the expectations of the parties on the date hereof and are subject to change thereafter. The parties disclaim any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law.

You can find further information with respect to these and other risks in filings made by Strongco with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities and available at www.sedar.com.

Notice to U.S. Holders

Both Nors and Strongco have been formed outside of the United States. The Proposed Transaction will be subject to disclosure requirements of Canada that are different from those of the United States. Financial statements included in the documents, if any, will be prepared in accordance with Canadian accounting standards and may not be comparable to the financial statements of United States companies. It may be difficult for a securityholder in the United States to enforce his/her/its rights and any claim a securityholder may have arising under U.S. federal securities laws, since the companies are located outside the United States, and some or all of their officers or directors may be residents of Canada or another country outside of the United States. A securityholder may not be able to sue a Canadian company or its officers or directors in a court in Canada or elsewhere outside of the United States for violations of U.S. securities laws. It may be difficult to compel a Canadian company and its affiliates to subject themselves to a U.S. court's judgment.

Information Contact
Miracle: Kerala Houseboat catches fire, 13 tourists escape unhurt

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Alappuzha (Kerala), Jan 24: Thirteen tourists, including three children, had a miraculous escape when their houseboat caught fire near Pathiramanal Isle in Vembanad Lake in the district while they were cruising in the backwaters, police said.

As the boat was near the sand bars, the tourists, hailing from Kannur in Kerala, and the staff could jump into the shallow waters and were rescued. Two toddlers were among the passengers. The double-decker houseboat 'Oceana' had embarked on the journey from the scenic Kumarakom around noon on Thursday when the fire broke out.

14 cars parked on open ground gutted in massive fire in Vivek Vihar

According to police, experts are examining what could have triggered the blaze -- a short circuit or a spark from the kitchen. Prima facie, fire extinguisher was used by the three staff onboard the boat. But they could not stop the blaze from spreading and eventually gutting the boat, police said on Friday.

Police said they have sought a report from the boat owner on whether life jackets were available in the vessel.

The tourists told television channels that there were no life jackets and it was a miracle they escaped unscathed. All their belongings were destroyed and they could escape with only the clothes they were wearing, they said.

Meanwhile, Alapuzha District police chief has ordered random checks of houseboats to find out if they had licenses and were following all safety norms.
Gilbert Morgan

On February 7, 1977, 30-year old and married father of two Gilbert Morgan was having a drink with a few friends at the Reef Hotel bar, on the southern part of the main Seychelles island, Mahe. According to his friends, Morgan was then called out by another person he knew. It was the last time they saw him.

Almost 43 years later, on January 8, Sharon Morgan, Gilberts daughter, took the stand of the countrys Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission (TRNUC). The TRNUC is charged with shedding light on alleged human rights violations committed in relation to the coup dEtat of June 5, 1977 and during the subsequent one-party system.

Sharons testimony followed that of her mother Sylvia and brother Derek, last year, behind closed doors. Sharon has been living in Canada for the past thirty years. She opted to come to the Seychelles to give her testimony in person. In an emotional plea read out before the commission, which was broadcast live on Seychelles national television, she called on anyone with information about her fathers disappearance, especially the perpetrators of the alleged crime, to come forward so that her family could solve the mystery after more than four decades.

One thing I would like to ask you

For 43 years, Sharon has lived in hope that her father would come back some day. She believes that former president France Albert Rene  the author of the June 1977 coup, who ruled the Seychelles from 1977 to 2004 and died last year  was behind her fathers disappearance. And she also believes that the person who killed her father was out there somewhere, watching and listening, and she wanted to appeal to the perpetrator.

Rene gave the order and you did it. You had to because it was an order. One thing I would like to ask you, mister: When my father got to his final destination and out of the car, did he know that it was it for him? Did you see the fright in his eyes? Before my father took his last breath, what were his last words? Did he beg for his life? Did he say to look out for me? Did he say: tell Sharon I love her?

Did the murderer ever feel remorseful? Sharon Morgan wondered. She called on that person to stop living in pain and fear, and come forward to seek forgiveness and to give the family closure. If you come forward and accept what you did, what you were ordered to do by Albert [Rene]  to take my fathers life away, in other words to kill him  with all the anger in me, I can find forgiveness. You can help me move forward and maybe you can have a clear conscience too. We can both finally let my fathers soul rest in peace then, she said.

Almost 43 years after her fathers disappearance, Sharon Morgan testified before the Seychelles Truth Commission.

Accounting for the loss

For Sharon Morgan, testifying was also about making publicly known the personal consequences for a 3-year old to loose her father. I am here today because we, the Seychellois, victims of Albert Renes cult-like regime, have suffered and are still suffering for our losses. We all lost something of great value. All our human rights were violated by the state, she said. Having my father taken away from me at a very young age, mattered. It mattered a lot. I know my life would have been very different today if he was still alive. For whatever reckless ambition Albert [Rene] had, it was stupid. I say stupid because I cant possibly think of a reason someone would intentionally harm another human being.

Losing her father at such a tender age, she further explained, deprived her of educational and social benefits. A father to me means protection, support, guidance, structure. Hed be there for me through good and bad times, hold me in his arms and tell me everything will be ok, protect me from this dark world, believe in me when no-one would, teach me how to drive, be proud of me when I tell him I bought my first car, be on my side no matter what, walk me down the aisle on my wedding day, but none of that happened, Sharon, who was accompanied by her husband, added.

A known blabbermouth

Before the Seychelles Truth Commission, Antoine Lautee, a former police investigator, gave his theory on the disappearance of Gilbert Morgan.

On the same day Sharon Morgan testified, a former investigating police officer, Antoine Lautee, told the commission what he believed had happened to Gilbert Morgan, four months before the coup.

On February 7, 1977, Lautee was an officer within the Seychelles Criminal Investigation Department (CID). He was tasked with investigating the disappearance of Morgan. Lautee said Morgan was a personal friend. They had met on many social occasions for a drink and chat. He described Morgan as a blabbermouth.

The last time I ever saw Morgan was at Le Barrel Restaurant in town and as soon as he approached me he told me that he didnt know how many guns Albert [France Albert Rene] had but he knew how many he had on Ile aux Recifs, a small island near Mahe, recounted Lautee. The former policeman believes that Morgan, an electrical contractor, was in fact also planning a coup. At this point I asked him what he was talking about, but our conversation was interrupted as another person joined us, said Lautee.

According to the investigator, Gilbert Morgan was unhappy with the government led by president James Mancham. I strongly believe that Gilbert was planning a coup dEtat at the same time Albert Rene was planning a coup, said Lautee, basing his allegation on the fact that upon a search as Morgans home after his disappearance he came across a book where a page had been marked  the making of a president. Lautee also claimed that Morgan knew about Renes plan for a coup and that Rene might also have been scared that Morgan would tip off Mancham. Morgan was known to have been a blabbermouth and president James Mancham [could] have heard about the coup. So that is why they got rid of him, alleged Lautee.

Killed by people he knew

After Morgans disappearance, Lautee remembered his conversation with him about guns and this was the reason why he conducted his investigation on Ile aux Recifs. I believe Gilbert Morgan knew the person who called him by the roadside at Reef Hotel, and he trusted the person. According to his wife Silvia, Gilbert [went] by the roadside to speak to many people he knew, including Phillippe DOffay [a man linked with the fatal shooting of Davidson Son Chang-Him on June 5, 1977] and many others, whose names I will not mention here now, said Lautee. When Morgan left the hotel, he indeed left his beer and pack of cigarettes on the table, a clear indication that he was coming back, said Lautee.

The police investigator recalled how he interviewed two fishermen during his investigation who said they had seen a boat full of people sailing towards Ile aux Recifs. Those men were armed with guns and scared them. The fishermen told me that as they were passing by the boat, they could see Albert Rene trying to hide at the bottom of the boat. They also identified Marc Ah-time  the person who was later in charge of breaking open the armoury door on June 5 [the day of the coup]. So it seems that Albert was there on the fateful night, said Lautee.

An unfinished report never to be found

The investigator also referred to one of his conversations with Phillipe DOffay. He told me that they watched me [going to Ile aux Recifs] from LExil, Renes house at Sans Soucis, through a telescope and that if I had looked closely into the sea while I was on the island, I would have seen gun casings they had discarded, Lautee testified. Philippe DOffay didnt want to say much about the incident. But based on my investigation and the conversation I had with so many people, I have no doubts that [Morgans] disappearance was orchestrated by Albert Rene and his henchmen. I believe they took Gilbert Morgan from the Reef hotel, took him to Ile aux Recifs to show them where he had hidden his guns and then they killed him there and threw his body into the sea, concluded Lautee.

Two days after the coup, Lautee said he was taken off the case and ordered by the Commissioner of Police, James Pillay, to hand over his unfinished report to President Rene. Lautee was later among fourteen officers who were unlawfully sacked from the police force on May 15, 1981. In July 1981 he emigrated to Canada, where he still resides and testified from through Skype. His 1977 report was never located. Philippe DOffay is dead.
Abbott has announced that the FDA has given the company the first ever approval for a device to treat Parkinsons by delivering deep brain stimulation (DBS) to the internal globus pallidus (GPi), an area associated with motor function. The Infinity DBS system, originally developed by St. Jude Medical that became part of Abbott, already has approval to stimulate the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM) for the treatment of Parkinsons, Essential Tremor, and some other movement disorders.

The internal segment of the global pallidus, or GPi, is a well-established valuable DBS target for the management of the motor signs associated with Parkinsons disease, and is a preferred target for many patients, particularly for those with troublesome medication induced dyskinesia, said Jerrold Vitek, M.D., Ph.D., head of the Neurology Department, director of the Neuromodulation Research Program, and center director of the University of Minnesota Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinsons Research, in an Abbott press release. This approval expands the options for patients to tailor treatment to their unique needs, with the added benefits of being able to target precise areas and utilizing a patient-friendly iOS device.

The upgradeable Infinity system features Bluetooth connectivity and works with Apple iOS devices as the interface, allowing patients to fine tune and turn on/off the delivery of therapy. Moreover, over-the-air updates are as simple to install as smartphone apps.

The therapy delivery is facilitated by the accompanying directional leads that give more control for physicians to direct the flow of the electric current. This can help to improve functionality while reducing side effects.

Flashbacks: St. Jude Medical Gets FDA Green Light for Infinity Deep Brain Stimulation System for Parkinsons, Essential Tremor; St. Judes Infinity Deep Brain Stimulation System Gets Nod in Europe; St. Judes Infinity Deep Brain Stimulation System Launched in Europe

Product page: Infinity DBS System

Via: Abbott
Prisoners will face X-ray scans for drugs and contraband hidden inside their bodies in a major crackdown.

Ministers announced a new 28million fund to install the technology at 16 prisons with bad smuggling problems.

The scanners show up illegal substances, mobiles and weapons hidden in body cavities or swallowed.

Prisoners will face X-ray scans for drugs and contraband hidden inside their bodies in a major crackdown. HMP Leeds (pictured) already has the equipment installed

A trial at one jail led to 300 illegal items being found in its first year.

Prisons minister Lucy Frazer said: 'They will help to stem the flow of contraband and allow officers to focus on rehabilitation.'

The scanners have been developed specifically for the Prison Service and produce far more detailed images than have been available to jail security staff until now.

The kit will be put in HMP Exeter, Durham, Preston, Liverpool, Birmingham, Hewell in Worcestershire, Lincoln, Bedford, Norwich, Chelmsford, Winchester, Elmley in Kent, London's Pentonville and Wandsworth (pictured), Bristol and Cardiff

HMP Leeds Governor Steve Robson, which already has the equipment, said: 'It has been a real game changer.'

The kit will be put in HMP Exeter, Durham, Preston, Liverpool, Birmingham, Hewell in Worcestershire, Lincoln, Bedford, Norwich, Chelmsford, Winchester, Elmley in Kent, London's Pentonville and Wandsworth, Bristol and Cardiff.

They will then be rolled out to almost every male jail in England and Wales.


The state of global geopolitical tensions is high, and this is having an impact on the global economy, Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, told CNBCs Sara Eisen on Squawk on the Street from the World Economic Forum at Davos on Thursday, CNBC reports.

Its the highest I have seen since taking office at the UN, the Secretary-General said, noting there are a confluence of factors at play. These include the U.S.-Iran conflict, terrorism, cyberthreats and the dysfunction between the worlds main superpowers.

Recently, We were on the verge of war in the Middle East, he said, referring to the U.S.-Iran conflict. Tensions in the region escalated in early January after Irans top military general, Qasem Soleimani, was killed in Baghdad by an American airstrike. Tehran retaliated by firing ballistic missiles at U.S. targets in Iraq, but both parties appear to have stepped back from further military actions.

You can imagine the dramatic consequences this would have had in the region  and for the global economy if this escalated, Guterres said. Now its important to create a platform for discussions between both countries to avoid another incident.

Already, European countries have announced that they are going to bring a formal complaint to the UN Security Council that Iran has violated the nuclear deal, which could trigger more sanctions, he said.

At the same time, we have a dysfunctional relationship among the worlds three greatest powers, which makes it more difficult to find a quick solution to crises that are popping up all over the world  in Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Yemen and other areas in Africa, the UN Secretary noted.

He said terrorism is progressing and the risk of nuclear proliferation is rising. We live in a difficult period where geopolitical tensions are also having an impact on the economy because they generate trade tensions, Guterres said.

But he is a bit more optimistic with the signing of the Phase One trade deal between the U.S. and China. The deal takes steps to root out several practices that irked the White House and bipartisan members of Congress, including intellectual property theft and forced technology transfers, in exchange for Chinese market access, according to text released by the White House. It also details a $200 billion increase in Chinese purchases of U.S. goods over two years  a priority for Trump.

Its a good first step, but the problem is not solved, the UN Secretary-General said.
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has halted the arrest of a judge accused of conspiring with Opposition leader Ranjan Ramanayake to fabricate evidence in an ongoing court case.

Attorney General Dappula de Livera had directed the police to arrest Judge Gihan Pilapitiya over tapes where he and Ramanayke are heard discussing impending judgments and ongoing investigations.

The recent tapes controversy has rocked the island nation in which there are over 1,20,000 conversations of Ramanyake speaking to politicians, their wives, top judges, policemen and investigators.

Pilapitiya had been interdicted following the recording of his statement on conversations with Ramanayake who is also under arrest till January 29 for alleged judicial interference.

The Attorney General called for Pilapitiya's arrest citing possible conspiracy to fabricate evidence in a court case.

Senior minister Wimal Weerawansa told the Parliament that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had ordered to stop Pilapitiya's arrest.

"This is ridiculous, the victim of interference has been made the accused", Weerawansa told Parliament, adding that Pilapitiya had made a complaint over Ramanayake approaching him.

Ramanayake has accepted his recording of private conversations was unethical but said it was in good faith to show corruption at the top levels.

The Pilapitiya's interdiction came a few days after similar action was taken against Baddegama Magistrate Dhammika Hemapala in the same case by the Sri Lankan Judicial Service Commission. Hemapala was interdicted last week.

The police have recorded statements of Hemapala, Ramanayake and retired High Court judge Padmini Ranawaka for their alleged involvement in the controversial telephonic conversations.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Divers taking part in a search for 41-year-old missing fisherman William 'Willie' Whelan have recovered a body which is now on board the Irish Lights Vessel, Granuaille.

Naval Service and Garda divers today resumed an operation to recover the body of the fisherman from the wreckage of the Alize trawler off the coast of Co Wexford.

A body was spotted on Wednesday by divers at the wreckage of the 12 metre vessel.

Recovering the body proved to be difficult because of the large amount of debris around the trawler which sank earlier this month off Hook Head.

RTE South East Correspondent, Conor Kane, told the News at One that shortly before midday divers succeeded in bringing the body to the surface.

"The body is now on board the Irish Lights Vessel. It is expected to be brought to shore this evening.

"It will then be transferred to hospital for formal identification and a postmortem."

Gardai and Naval divers were assisted in recent days by members of local Sub Aqua Units and the LE James Joyce.

The search has been supported by the Waterford-based Coast Guard helicopter and the Air Corps CASA marine surveillance aircraft.

Mr Whelan and his fellow fisherman, Joe Sinnott died when their trawler Alize sank around 8km off Hook Head on January 4.

Missing fisherman William Whelan

Mr Sinnott, 65, was recovered from the sea but died shortly after being airlifted to University Hospital

Waterford (UHW).

The sinking of the Alize was detected when the trawler's Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon suddenly went off.

The men were unable to raise the alarm such was the speed at which the sinking occurred.

At Joe Sinnott's funeral mass his son, Michael, said the spirit of his father was now trying to guide the recovery operation for his great pal Willie.

Mr Whelan only got married last year.

The men were scallop fishing when the trawler sank in unexplained circumstances.
By PTI

MUMBAI: The NCP on Friday accused the central government of withdrawing its chief Sharad Pawar's security at his official residence in New Delhi and charged it with playing "vendetta politics".

Maharashtra minister and NCP's chief spokesperson Nawab Malik said party leaders cannot be scared off with such a move.

The party's fight against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will continue, he asserted.

Malik said Pawar, a Rajya Sabha MP and former Union minister, had 'Y' category security cover in the national capital.

The security personnel deployed at Pawar's residence at 6 Janpath in the national capital stopped reporting at the bungalow since January 20 and there was no prior intimation from the government about it, he added.

"This is a kind of vendetta politics. They think NCP leaders will be deterred by this. It is their misconception. The fight against Modi and Shah will continue," the Minority Affairs Minister said.

His party and ministerial colleague Jayant Patil also slammed the BJP and linked the alleged move of the Centre to the saffron outfit losing power in Maharashtra.

"From by-lanes to Delhi, the BJP has taken it to heart the change of power in Maharashtra. Therefore, the BJP is behaving with vengeance.

"This is detrimental to the democracy!" tweeted Patil, the state NCP president who is also the water resources minister.

State Housing Minister Jitendra Awhad said Pawar cannot be scared off by such steps and likened the NCP president to a "mountain from Sahyadri range".

"The love and affection of the people is his security cover," he added.

State's Social Justice Minister Dhananjay Munde echoed similar views.

"What mean level will you reach to?" he asked Centre on Twitter, condemning the move.

Awhad also sardonically said it is good that the veteran leader's security has been withdrawn as Maharashtra has now learnt what "narrow mindset" the BJP-led government possesses.

The 79-year-old NCP president enjoys 'Z+' category protection in Maharashtra, where his party is a key constituent in the Shiv Sena-led government.

Pawar had played the lead role in crafting the three- party ruling coalition in Maharashtra in November last year.

The Congress is the third constituent of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi.
The death toll from a violent storm that has wrought havoc across huge swathes of Spain's eastern and southern coastline rose to 11 on Thursday, with rescue workers still searching for four people.

The latest victim was a 50-year-old man who was fishing in coastal Ametlla de Mar, according to civil protection authorities in the northeast Catalonia region.

Earlier, emergency services found the body of a man inside a vehicle in Cabaces, 60 kilometres (37 miles) northwest of the port city of Tarragona and a local official reported the death of 75-year-old woman whose house collapsed because of heavy rain in Alcoi, a town in the eastern Alicante region.

Seven more storm-related deaths had already been reported since Sunday, when Storm Gloria hit the region bringing strong winds, torrential rains and heavy snow, battering Spain's southern and eastern flanks before moving north.

Gale-force winds and huge waves smashed into seafront towns, with dramatic images showing massive flooding that has damaged shops, houses and restaurants.

Heavy rains were whipped in by winds of 100 kilometres (62 miles) per hour to eastern Spain with snow also dumped in parts of the coastal region, one of the most popular tourist regions in Europe, leaving many towns flooded.

Authorities warned that the death toll could rise further with four people still listed as missing in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands.

As the storm eased, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited some of the worst-hit areas on Thursday, overflying parts of Catalonia before heading to the Balearics which on Tuesday were hit by record waves.

Speaking on the island of Mallorca, Sanchez pledged government help "immediately".

"We're going to hold an urgent meeting tomorrow to activate all the mechanisms... to respond with all the necessary urgency to your needs," he said, pledging there would be "no scrimping on any resource or effort".

Rescuers on the islands are still searching for a 25-year-old Briton and a 41-year-old Spanish man, both of whom were last seen in northwestern Ibiza.

They were also looking for a 27-year-old Spaniard who disappeared in Mallorca while practising canyoning -- a mix of rappelling, climbing and watersliding through deep gorges.

A 54-year-old Romanian woman was one of two homeless people who died of exposure in the southern Valencia region during the storm.

Aside from the confirmed storm deaths, rescuers found another body in southern Valencia on Monday, that of a man in Carcaixent, but they have so far been unable to say if he died as a direct result of the weather.

Spain has in recent years witnessed torrential rainfall of a rare intensity. Last September, seven people were killed when gale-force winds and huge waves smashed into seafront towns in the east of the country.

In 2018, 13 people died in flash flooding on the holiday island of Mallorca.

The network of Mediterranean Experts on Climate and Environmental Change (MedECC) said in a study published in October that such extreme weather episodes were increasing due to climate change.

"It's clear that the meteorological phenomenons we are witnessing aren't entirely due to climate change, but what is also true is that climate change is accentuating them," said Sanchez.

Storm Gloria also hit parts of southern France, causing the evacuation of 1,500 people in the Pyrenees-Orientales region. They began to return home on Thursday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi: India on Thursday supplied 30,000 doses of Measles and Rubella (MR) vaccine to the Government of Maldives in response to their emergency requirement.

At least 30,000 doses of MR vaccine were quickly procured from the Serum Institute of India, Pvt. Ltd, and, within three days the vaccine reached Male'. The vaccines were handed over to the Ministry of Health, Government of Maldives on January 23, 2020.

India donates 30,000 Measles Vaccine to Maldives, to support measles response plan pic.twitter.com/OeZLgZmDRM  Ministry of Health (@MoHmv) January 23, 2020

Thereafter, at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Health, HE Abdulla Ameen, Minister of Health presented a Certificate of Appreciation to H.E. Sunjay Sudhir, Ambassador of India to thank India for this gesture of goodwill and solidarity.

India's swift response underlines that health remains one of the strongest pillars of bilateral cooperation between India and Maldives. This gesture also emphasizes the mutually supportive roles of Indias Neighbourhood First Policy and the Maldives' India First policy, acting for the benefit of our peoples.

Implementation of the MoU on Health cooperation signed during the State Visit of PM Modi in June 2019 has already commenced. Secretary-level delegations met in Male' on January 5-6, 2020 to draw up a roadmap for cooperation in capacity building and training of doctors and medical professionals, disease surveillance, training of mental health professionals, setting up of digital health capacities in the Maldives, etc.

India is also building a 100-bed comprehensive, state-of-the-art Cancer Hospital in Hulhumale as a project under the bilateral USD 800 million Line of Credit. The hospital will be built by the Tata Memorial Centre and will be completed in an 18 months' time frame.
Dame Barbara Windsor described Alzheimers as a cruel illness as she made a rare appearance in a video message.

The EastEnders legend  who was diagnosed with the disease in 2014  was seen in a video played at the first Good Morning Britain 1 Million Minutes Awards, and the footage was aired on the ITV programme on Friday morning.

In the clip, the 82-year-old actress awarded Danny Brown the inaugural Dame Barbara Windsor Award - an accolade for someone who has helped people with Alzheimers or dementia combat loneliness.

Read more: Dame Barbara Windsor asks Boris Johnson to help dementia patients

Addressing Brown, who got involved in volunteering after being diagnosed with vascular dementia, she said: Volunteers like you are so important in the fight against loneliness, especially for those like us, who know all too well the struggles of a cruel illness.

Your dedication to helping others has not only helped bring your community together, but brought much-needed attention to the valuable cause.

Barbara Windsor attends the inauguration of the Hackney Empire Walk Of Fame on May 25, 2017 in London, England (Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

The star - best known for playing Walfords pub landlady Peggy Mitchell - added: And doing all this at the same time as living with dementia yourself, is truly inspirational.

Thank you, Danny, and congratulations again. God bless.

Dame Barbara then blew the winner a kiss.

The star is rarely seen in public these days and earlier this month her husband Scott Mitchell said her symptoms had deepened.

He told the Sunday Mirror: Constantly, she does not realise where we are, even in the house. She will ask me, When are we going home?

Sometimes she will ask me about people who have already passed away, as if they are still here. That is something she does regularly about her own parents. It is a very difficult one.

Read more: Barbara Windsor makes rare TV appearance

Good Morning Britain also welcomed TV performer Debbie McGee, who appeared alongside 1 Million Minutes Award winner Oyovwe Kigho.

Debbie McGee attends the Good Morning Britain 1 Million Minutes Awards at Television Centre in London. (James Warren / SOPA Images/Sipa USA)

Kigho won the Special Recognition Award for helping hundreds of widows and widowers to cope with grief and loneliness.

Story continues

McGee lost her husband Paul Daniels in 2016, but said she was lucky because as she is in the public eye, people know what she is going through.

She said: And whats really important with grief, it used to be that people thought that grief shrunk with time... time heals and all of that, but what they believe now is grief stays the same size.

Its how you build your life around it and make it bigger.
China has put nine cities into quarantine in an attempt to contain the contagious virus which has killed at least 26 people and infected more than 800. France has no cases so far and a woman who evaded screenings in order to fly from Wuhan to France is not believed to be a risk.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday said China is facing a national emergency but stopped short of making a declaration that would have prompted greater global cooperation, including possible trade and travel restrictions.

There are, however, confirmed cases in several other countries: Macau, Taiwan, Thailand, the US, Japan, and South Korea.

The disease was first discovered in late December in Wuhan, an industrial and transport hub of 11 million people in the centre of the country.

China is now rushing to build a new hospital in the city within 10 days to treat patients at the epicenter of the outbreak.

According to official Xinhua news agency, it will have a capacity of 1,000 beds spread over 25,000 square metres.

Last ones out before lockdown

In France, there are no reported cases of the coronavirus so far.

However passengers returning to Paris on the last Air France flight out of Wuhan on Thursday afternoon expressed huge relief to be back on French soil.

We got out just 30 minutes before the airport closed, one passenger told Le Parisien. "All the French want to come home."

Meanwhile on Thursday the Chinese embassy in Paris said it had managed to track down a woman from Wuhan who said she'd managed to evade airport health checks by taking tablets.

Her case came to light after she boasted on social media site WeChat how she had been suffering from a fever, but had managed to reduce her symptoms with medicine.

She also posted pictures of herself dining in a top restaurant in Lyon.

The embassy has since confirmed that her symptoms are under control.

Wuhan: the Chinese Detroit

Wuhan, on the banks of the Yang-Tse river, is also the heart of China's automobile industry; home to ten or so assembly plants with an annual capacity of more than two million vehicles.

France has its car-manufacturing factories there too, with PSA (Peugeot-Citroen) making Wuhan its Chinese base in the 1990s.

As a result all the city's taxis were Citroens.

PSA has three factories as part of its co-partnership with Dongfeng (one of China four biggest car manufacturing groups).

Since 2016, Renault also has a factory in Wuhan, again in partnership with Dongfeng.

The lockdown will have a major economic impact, but for the moment French car manufacturers told Le Monde they had yet to feel it as sites were closed all this week and next for Lunar New Year.

When the holiday period ends in early February, the story could well be different.
Theres a lot going on with the Duggars, and it can be hard to keep track of whats going on with who. While many of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggars adult kids are married with children and living on their own, Jana Duggar remains the odd one out. Shes 30 years old and still lives under her parents roof, as shes not currently married or courting anyone.

While Jana lives a relatively private life, many Counting On viewers have speculated about her past dating history. And it seems Caleb Williams, a Duggar family friend, was thought to have courted Jana in the past. Theres still debate regarding whether they really were romantically linked or not, but now, Williams is in deep trouble with the law. Heres what occurred and what his jail sentence reportedly is.

Caleb Williams, a Duggar family friend, was rumored to have courted Jana Duggar

(L-R) Jessa Duggar, Jinger Duggar, Jill Duggar, and Jana Duggar visit Extra at their New York studios | D Dipasupil/Getty Images for Extra

The Duggars have graced our televisions for over a decade. But we cant forget that their lives are steeped in controversy after reports of Josh Duggar sexually abusing young girls came to light. And years later, Williams, who was first spotted with family back in 2017, also caused drama.

In Touch Weekly reports Williams was first spotted out to dinner with the Duggars in September 2017. At this time, some fans thought he may have been courting Jana Duggar. While hes originally from Illinois, he lived in Arkansas when he hung out with the famous family. And it seems he must share similar fundamental Christian values as the Duggars, too. The family wont associate with anyone too liberal.

With that said, the publication notes rumors circulated that Williams is a lot more progressive than many might assume. As a source told Radar Online, They have similar belief systems, but hes a bit different in his thinking. Hes maybe somewhat more liberal.

Williams maintains he and Jana never courted

Despite all the reports claiming Jana and Williams were together, Williams shut down the rumors himself.

Now to clear the fog and avoid any confusion: Read my lips I am not dating Jana Duggar, he wrote on Facebook, according to In Touch Weekly. Over the past several months since an extremely unflattering image was posted by my friends and spread across the world faster than a viral cat video, there has been speculation regarding a relationship between myself and Jana The extent of our relationship is purely friends and nothing more.

This certainly isnt the first time some fans have speculated on Janas dating history. Many thought Jana was secretly courting some of the men in the Bates family, as theyre also deeply religious. Alas, so far, theres no concrete evidence to suggest Jana is seeing anyone. And she appears to be quite content with her single life at home.

Hes now sentenced to 62 days in jail for sexual abuse

It looks like theres bad news for Williams now. While the focus was always on whether he and Jana dated, its now all about his jail sentence.

According to The Sun, court papers revealed Williams was accused of sexually abusing a minor between May 2015 and May 2018. After negotiating a plea agreement, he pled guilty to aggravated criminal sexual abuse. While there was another account, hes not being prosecuted for it.

Radar Online reported back in January 2019 that the alleged victims mother also filed an emergency order of protection in 2018. The alleged victim was reportedly pregnant with Williams child.

The Sun notes Williams will spend 62 days in jail, but he is receiving work release privileges. The documents state he shall report to Logan County Jail 1 hour prior to work shift ends and be released from the Logan County Jail each work day 1 hour prior to shift beginning. Williams will also have to undergo a sex offender evaluation, and he must refrain from contacting anyone under the age of 18.

Since the reports of Williams scandal hit the media, the Duggars appear to have been keeping their distance, as the last thing the family needs is another major media blowup.

Check out Showbiz Cheat Sheet on Facebook!
US Vice President Mike Pence and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joined Thursday in turning a gathering in Jerusalem, ostensibly convened to mark the 75th anniversary of the Red Armys liberation of Auschwitz, the Nazi death camp in Poland, into a platform for escalating imperialist aggression against Iran.

In his remarks at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Remembrance Center, Pence compared US aggression against Iran, a historically oppressed and former semi-colonial country, to World War II and the fight against Germanys Nazi Third Reich.

Pence declared: We must be prepared to stand as they did against the wave of their times ... In that same spirit, we must also stand strong against the leading state purveyor of anti-Semitism, against the one government in the world that denies the Holocaust as a matter of state policy and threatens to wipe Israel off the map. The world must stand strong against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Pences anti-Iranian tirade echoed that of Netanyahu, who spoke shortly before him. The Israeli prime minister denounced the tyrants of Tehran, while praising the Trump administration for confronting Iran. He added, in a remark evidently aimed at the Western European powers, which recently threatened to re-invoke sanctions against Iran, We have yet to see a unified and resolute stance against the most anti-Semitic regime on the planet, a regime that openly seeks to develop nuclear weapons and annihilate the one and only Jewish state.

These speeches were given to an audience of heads and representatives of governments from countries where real anti-Semitic violence is on the riseincluding notably the US, where President Donald Trump has openly encouraged and curried favor with neo-fascist and white supremacist elements who have carried out synagogue massacres. Neither Pence nor Netanyahu can point to a single such attack in Iran, which has the largest Jewish population of any predominantly Muslim country.

The slander of anti-Semitism and unfounded claims that Iran is seeking nuclear weaponsweapons that Israel has already obtainedare propaganda to justify a steady buildup toward war against Iran. Tensions between Washington and Tehran were brought to the brink of full-scale conflict on January 3 with the criminal US drone missile assassination of Irans General Qassem Suleimani at Baghdads international airport, along with that of nine other Iranians and Iraqis.

While Irans clerical-led bourgeois nationalist government limited itself to a largely symbolic missile strike on two US-occupied bases in Iraq that inflicted no deaths or serious injuries on any US personnel, Washington has continued its provocations while steadily building up its forces in the Persian Gulf for war.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Thursday, US Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook threatened that Suleimanis successor, General Esmail Qaani, will meet the same fate as Suleimani if there are any attacks against American personnel or interests in the region.

Also on Thursday, the chief of the US Central Command, Marine General Kenneth McKenzie, spoke to some 2,000 US Marines aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan, now in the northern Red Sea heading toward Iran, telling them that they could be there for quite a while. Since last May, when the Trump administration began its military escalation against Iran, the number of US troops deployed to the region has swelled from roughly 60,000 to more than 80,000.

Meanwhile, a bomber strike force consisting of six B-52 Stratofortress long-range bombers ordered deployed against Iran in the immediate aftermath of the Suleimani assassination has begun to arrive on the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, a British colonial possession that is within striking distance of Iran but beyond the range of Irans longest-range missiles. These heavy bombers are capable of carrying up to 70,000 pounds of munitions, including long-range nuclear-tipped cruise missiles.

Thursdays event in Jerusalem, held under the banner of Remembering the Holocaust, Fighting Antisemitism, was billed as the largest assemblage of foreign heads of state in the countrys history. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin delivered an obsequious opening welcome to the assembled international audience, addressing himself to your royal highnesses, kings and queens, presidents and prime ministers.

Significantly, not a single representative attended from the rest of the Middle East, Asia or Africa, and just one from Latin America, Argentinas President Alberto Fernandez.

Many of those who spoke uttered empty platitudes about never forgetting the Holocaust. Typical was Prince Charles, who represented Britain, telling the gathering that hatred and intolerance still lurk in the human heart.

The thrust of the event, however, was to equate opposition to Zionism and the state of Israel to anti-Semitism, while downplaying the very real and escalating threats posed to Jews and others by the promotion of fascistic movements and ideologies on the part of capitalist governments across the globe.

The glitzy ceremony and gathering of international dignitaries was met with protests outside the Yad Vashem Holocaust Remembrance Center, denouncing the turning of a supposed remembrance of the mass murder of Europes Jews into a celebration. The gathering provoked anger as it emerged that only a handful of Israels some 212,000 Holocaust survivorsroughly a third of whom live in povertywere allowed to attend.

Some Israelis have described Yad Vashem as a washing machine, where the Netanyahu government invites far-right leaders for photo-ops as a means of cleansing themselves of the stench of anti-Semitism by supporting the right-wing government of Israel.

Even before the ceremonies in Jerusalem had drawn to a close, Trump intervened with an announcement that he had invited Netanyahu and his electoral opponent, the former chief of the Israel Defense Forces, Benny Gantz, to Washington to discuss his so-called Middle East peace plan. Israel TV described the proposed deal as the most generous proposal ever presented by Washington, granting Israel unrestricted sovereignty over all of Jerusalem and the right to annex all of the Zionist settlements on the occupied West Bank, while denying the right of return of Palestinian refugees and excluding Palestinians from any supervision of their own borders in an envisioned Bantustan-style mini-state.

The date Trump set for discussion of this peace plan, which can only provoke intensified Palestinian resistance as well as a deeper crisis within Israel itself, is January 28, the same day that the Israeli Knesset is scheduled to vote for a committee that will reject Netanyahus request for immunity from multiple corruption charges that could send him to jail. In March, Israel is facing its third election in under a year, as neither of the major political factions has proven able to form a government.
MILAN - Anti-Semitic writing was scrawled overnight on the door of a now-deceased member of the Italian anti-Fascist resistance who survived a Nazi concentration camp, a family friend and historian wrote Friday on Facebook.

Juden Hier, German for Jews Here, with a Star of David was written in black paint on the door of the house in the Piedmont town of Mondovi, where Lidia Beccaria Rolfi lived until her death in 1996.

Her son Aldo Rolfi, who lives there now, reported the offensive graffiti to police, the news agency LaPresse reported.

University of Turin historian Bruno Maida noted on Facebook that the writing appeared after a local newspaper printed an article by Aldo Rolfi remembering his mother. It was titled: The memory grows, but also anti-Semitism: The words of Lidia Rolfi anticipated todays themes.

Beyond the patent ignorance, Lidia was deported to Ravensbrueck for political reasons, this is one of the many signs that should make us raise our voices to remind everyone that to be anti-fascist is the first duty to memory that we have, Maida wrote.

Beccaria Rolfi, who was born April 8, 1925 into a rural farm family in the northern Piedmont region, joined the anti-Nazi-Fascist resistance in December 1943, and was arrested four months later. She was turned over to the Gestapo and deported on June 27, 1944 to Ravensbrueck, a concentration camp for women in northern Germany. She was liberated in May 1945.

She wrote about the horrors of her time in the concentration camp in the 1978 book The Women of Ravensbrueck, which was translated into German and Spanish.

Also Friday, the daily newspaper Corriere della Sera reported that a swastika had been painted on the side of the basilica in the southern city of Andria, in Puglia. The newspaper printed a night photo of the swastika, which has since been removed. Bishop Luigi Mansi was quoted as saying that the appearance of the Nazi symbol is worrying and called on people to open our eyes before it is too late. History teaches. We hope that those who did this will be made an example of.

Observers have noted a growing boldness in anti-Semitic and racist attitudes in Italy, which has included on-line attacks against an 89-year-old Auschwitz survivor and senator-for-life, Liliana Segre, who has been given a police escort. Segre has said she will suspend schools visits to discuss her experiences under the Nazi-Fascist dictatorships in April, citing age, LaPresse reported.
Liberty U founder discusses American Christianity, Trump and church growth

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

Elmer Towns, a respected Christian academic and co-founder of Liberty University, weighed in on the state of American Christianity, politics and church growth patterns in a wide-ranging interview with The Christian Post.

At 87 years old, Towns is one of the most respected Christian academics of today. In addition to serving as a pastor and college professor, hes penned over 170 books and given theological lectures and taught intensive seminars at over 50 theological seminaries in the United States and abroad.

He told The Christian Post that his latest book, The Bible by Jesus: Featuring the Complete Old and New Testament, is a paraphrase, not a translation. Despite having eight years of Greek and four years of Hebrew training under his belt, Towns clarified he doesnt view himself as a Hebrew or Greek scholar.

I call myself one who is dedicated to the Word of God. I believe in the inspiration of Scripture. I love Scriptures, he said.

Towns said the inspiration for the Bible by Jesus book came while reading Psalm 37:4, which reads: Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

As I was reading that passage, I said, God, I prayed many times, but I don't get what I want, he recalled. Then I translated it very freely, and it said something like this: If you make God number one in your heart, then what you want is what He wants, and He will give you what you ask for.

What followed was a 13-year-process of interpreting the Bible, from the Psalms to the book of Job. Ultimately, he explained, The Bible by Jesus is a unique presentation of the Old and New Testaments from the perspective of Jesus, the author Himself.

It's a tool in the hands of the people to help them understand and apply the Word of God to their hearts, he said.

In 1971, Towns co-founded Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, alongside Jerry Falwell. Today, it is the largest private nonprofit university in the world, including students on campus and in the Distance Learning Program (now Liberty University Online).

Throughout his career, Towns has written and lectured on various aspects of church growth, with an emphasis on effective Christian education organizations and pastoral leadership.

The secret to Libertys success, according to the storied professor, is its dedication to raising up and training young men and women who use their talents for the benefit of the Body of Christ, the Church. Every student who attends Liberty is required to participate in weekly worship gatherings, local service projects and global mission trips.

Liberty, Towns told CP, has sought to intersect education, evangelism, and church growth from the very beginning.

I said, We're going to start a college. We're going to train people for ministry, he recalled. I said, If you can tie [academics] to churches, youll have two things: Youll have God's blessing on you because God loves the church. Jesus owns the church. The church was His body. And number two, you'll have the blessing of God's people because everyone's tied to a local church.

Thats the secret of the success of Liberty. Many Bible colleges train people for ministry, but we train people for local church ministry by being in ministry.

The former editor of several Christian publications and founder of Fundamentalist Journal and The Journal Champion, Towns also weighed in on Libertys prominent role in politics.

Towns contended that progressive liberals are blinded, believing truth is subjective rather than objective.

They feel they are operating according to the truth ... they are people with strong opinions, he said. And on the other side of the aisle is [President] Trump, who is a very strong conservative.

Towns recalled how back in 2016, he told then Republican nominee Donald Trump: You want our support? Some of these people are going to doubt if youre even a Christian because of your identification with playmates and Playboy magazine and some of those sexual things that surround your reputation.

Trump told him hed joined a Presbyterian church at a young age, believed Jesus had died for his sins, read the Bible, and abstained from smoking and drinking hard liquor.

He (Trump) said, Ive always believed that; I havent changed my mind, Towns said. He said, If you want to judge me about my Christianity, you judge a man by his children. Hes only as good as his children. He said, My children are good Christians.'

From that conversation, I think Trump has American Christianity. Whether hes saved or not, I dont know. Only God knows that, he continued, adding that he understands why many progressives and some conservative evangelicals are anti-Trump.

However, he added that Donald Trump agrees with some of the positions of evangelicals some of the time," which is why many support him.

When it comes to how Christians should vote in the upcoming election, Towns offered the reminder that were not electing a Baptist preacher; were electing the president of the United States.

Does he have the principles to be the president of the United States? Dont get into the issue of character, he advised. He doesnt have the character to be a Baptist preacher, but does he have the principles to be the president of the United States? There have been other men who have the right principles but the wrong character.

He has the right principles. Therefore, vote principles, and vote him in."

Towns, who has studied church growth patterns for decades, said he believes the world is coming close to the coming of Jesus Christ.

Something's happening in the world. Western Christianity has plateaued, he said, adding that the largest churches are no longer made up of westerners, but of refugees.

The growth of Christianity in Africa is amazing. The growth of Christianity in South America and Indonesia is amazing, the former pastor stressed, explaining that the persecuted church has strong Christianity, while American Christianity is becoming weak.

Towns pointed out that vibrant, thriving churches are meeting in homes around the world, online, and in underground locations. He explained that the face of the church as an organization is rapidly changing.

The forms of Christianity around the world are changing, he said. Our concept of what a church is, is radically changing. In other words, we think in terms of the building or how big it is. Weve got to think differently; weve got to think about the multisite church.

Towns contended that the strength of Christianity today are pentecostal churches that reflect the church in Ephesus addressed in the book of Revelation. Pentecostal, he said, is not spelled with a capital P, adding: Theyre very quiet. They dont emphasize their doctrinal differences. They emphasize Jesus.

Edward Shih contributed to this interview with Elmer Towns.
Two students in Fremont High Schools graphic design program have placed in a statewide competition for their infographics.

Madalyn Stemley, a junior, placed first, while Chloe Jaspersen, a senior, placed third in the Nebraska Educational Technology Associations contest in the category of infographics.

Both Stemley and Jaspersen will attend the 2020 NETA Spring Conference this March at the CHI Health Center Arena in Omaha to receive recognition for their awards.

NETA, created in 1993, is a statewide organization that provides opportunities for highlighting technology in education.

Both Fremont High students were in Kristen Stricklers Graphic Design II class in fall 2019. The class also saw three students take the top three spots for last years competition.

An infographic displays data in a graphic form with images, charts and sources. Strickler said the judges look at the statistics, data and how its all organized.

What a lot of students do is, they just put a lot of text on there, and thats really not what an infographic is, she said. Its images that display the data and make it easier to read and understand.

Although infographics are not always some of her students favorite part of the class, Strickler said she believes its necessary for them to learn if they want to have a career in graphic design.

One the reasons that we do the infographic in Graphic Design II is because we knew that data design is one of the up-and-coming trends in graphic design, especially with the rise of social media and a lot of technological outlets, she said. Thats why we kind of pursue that and spark their interest in a different area of design.

Strickler said she encourages her students to enter the NETA competition, especially those who are interested in pursuing a career in graphic design.

Im going to be going through graphic design after high school, so I thought itd be cool to do that, Jaspersen said. Its a good resume-builder.

This years contest was the first for Jaspersen and Stemley, who is also interested in pursuing a career in design. They spent two weeks developing the infographics.

Stemleys infographic covered water usage, which she developed an interest in after taking an earth science class.

That just grabbed my attention, and I just cared about that, she said. I still do, but it was more heavy when I was making it, just about if I was using too much water.

Jaspersen focused her infographic on fast fashion, or mass-produced clothing that is cheaply made. Her project gave information on the effects this production has on the planet.

Its important to me because I get most of my clothes from second-hand places because its better for the environment and I think you can find cooler stuff, she said.

After the students had finished, Strickler uploaded their work, as well as a description and their works cited page. After the works are submitted, the NETA judges spend five minutes on each entry before choosing the winners.

Although they didnt receive feedback from the judges, Stemley said she was proud of the usage of a pipe graphic on her project, while Jaspersen said she liked her infographics clean design.

Im just very proud of them, Strickler said. They are very, very talented, and Im lucky to be able to work with some of the best students. They have a lot of talent, and it makes my job that much easier.

Looking forward, Jaspersen said she was glad to receive recognition for her project, especially with her future career in graphic design.

Its nice to know that what I do is appreciated in a way in a competition, she said. Its just encouraging.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
Boris Johnson said on Wednesday: Parliament has passed the withdrawal agreement bill, meaning we will leave the EU on 31 January and move forwards as one United Kingdom. At times it felt like we would never cross the Brexit finish line, but weve done it.

Well, not quite. As his hero once said, Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.

Actually it was not even that. The House of Lords passed the bill, having offered its token resistance of sending five amendments back to the Commons to have them overturned by majorities of between 86 and 103.
She learned to phrase the question that way, she told me as an aside, because What do you want to be when you grow up? implies that you dont start being something until youre an adult. And it implies that your job is who you are, not just what you do.
(Newser)  Christopher Cantwell made a name for himself by popping up in a Vice documentary shot at Charlottesville's violent 2017 Unite the Right rally, followed by getting blocked on Facebook, Instagram, and PayPal. Then things got worse for the white nationalist when he posted a tearful YouTube video in which he expressed his fears about being arrested and possibly hurt or killed by the police, earning him mockery around the internet and a new nickname: the "Crying Nazi." Now Cantwell has a new item to add to his resumean arrest for a threatening text. The FBI's Boston field office reports that Cantwell was taken into custody in New Hampshire Thursday after an indictment was filed charging him with extortion over interstate communications and threatening interstate communications, per NBC News and CNN.

story continues below

According to the indictment, Cantwell had been pressuring a man to give him identifying info on a second man Cantwell had a beef with, and one text in particular put Cantwell in hot water. "So if you don't want me to come and f--- your wife in front of your kids, then you should make yourself scarce," Cantwell texted on June 16, according to the indictment. "Give me Vic, it's your only out," he allegedly added, per the Daily Beast. Cantwell is said to have sent the message over Telegram, an app favored by neo-Nazis and white supremacists due to its security and encryption features. Cantwell was ordered held without bond Thursday; his next court appearance is set for Tuesday. (Read more Unite the Right stories.)
A mother said she and her two young children were left homeless after a fire tore through their flat - but was told by the council to 'call back tomorrow' because they don't work Sundays.

Margaret O'Connell, 23, was out at a local park playing with her two children Alfie, three, and Maisie, one, before coming home to find the fire alarms blaring from her Cambridge flat.

The devastated mother rang the fire brigade straight away and called her sister for help as she watched her council-owned family home in Fortescue Road, Arbury, go up in smoke after an electrical fault on January 19.

After the fire, Ms O'Connell applied to Cambridge City Council for temporary accommodation and were offered a one-bedroom hotel room in Peterborough.

This offer was not made until the day after the fire because the office was not working on Sunday, Ms O'Connell said.

Margaret O'Connell, 23, was out at a local park playing with her two children Alfie, three, and Maisie, one, when she returned home to find the fire alarms blaring from her Cambridge flat

She added: 'When I rang on Sunday they said it's weekend hours so we can't help you and you'll have to call back at 9am tomororow.

'My house has just burnt down and I have no where to go with my two young kids and they are telling me to wait until Monday morning. How does that happen?'

'We need to be rehoused urgently to give us all and especially Alfie some stability.'

Alfie has autism and needs to stay in Cambridge to continue attending nursery every afternoon, where he gets one-to-one care.

Ms O'Connell said the council offer to move to the Peterborough hotel would not work for the family, who rely on services in Cambridge.

The mother explained: 'We need to be rehoused urgently to give us all and especially Alfie some stability as he is becoming very withdrawn.

The devastated mother rang the fire brigade straight away and called her sister for help as she watched her council-owned family home in Fortescue Road, Arbury, go up in smoke after an electrical fault on January 19 (pictured: Inside the flat after the fire)

Ms O'Connell, Alfie and Maisie are now all staying with Margaret's sister, who lives nearby in Arbury, while they try to get back on their feet (pictured: Their devastated flat)

'One hotel room would just not work. Me, my son and daughter cannot stay in a room together because he suffers from autism which means he is a danger to himself as well as her.

'They expected me to stay up all night and watch over the kids even though my social worker said the hotel room was risk to my kids.

'When they offered me the hotel they didn't say how long I would be there and then because I refused that offer they now are withdrawing any help. It is now all down to me to find somewhere.'

Ms O'Connell, Alfie and Maisie are now all staying with Margaret's sister, who lives nearby in Arbury, while they try to get back on their feet.

Each night they all have to swap over who sleeps on the sofa because no one has the room to help the family of three.

The family were lucky to have been out when the fire started, but now all their belongings have been destroyed and they are unable to return home because of extensive smoke damage

Next week Maisie has to undergo surgery on her tonsils as after they swelled up so much she was rushed to hospital with breathing problems a few months ago.

She will have to stay in overnight at the hospital but the council have asked to meet Ms O'Connell the next day.

'They have contacted me for another meeting about housing which is a good step but it's the day after my daughter's surgery. I have told them this and it looks like they are expecting me to leave her and go for a meeting with them.

'They have given me this meeting next week but there is still no guarantee they can help us.'

The family were lucky to have been out when the fire started, but now all their belongings have been destroyed and they are unable to return home because of extensive smoke damage.

The items lost to the fire included both the children's memory boxes from when they were younger and the all the toys they have grown up with.

The items lost to the fire included both the children's memory boxes from when they were younger and the all the toys they have grown up with.

Heartbroken about losing a home which meant so much to her, Ms O'Connell said: 'I've literally lost everything I own.

'We have lived in there for three years and now it is all gone. All the memories, everything just gone.

'My son was born in that property, my daughter was being raised there and now their memory boxes are burnt away. All their clothes, toys, everything is just gone.'

A spokesman from Cambridge City Council said: 'If a family becomes homeless in an emergency situation it is often necessary to rehouse them into bed and breakfast accommodation in the short term whilst we look to secure longer term temporary accommodation.

A spokesman from Cambridge City Council said: 'If a family becomes homeless in an emergency situation it is often necessary to rehouse them into bed and breakfast accommodation in the short term..'

'Occasionally it is also necessary to offer that placement outside of Cambridge city.

'We recognise that this is not ideal, but are committed to move any family in this situation out of bed and breakfast accommodation and back into Cambridge at the earliest opportunity.

'The council regularly reviews its supply of temporary accommodation to ensure that, in every case, we are able to make this commitment within six weeks of the initial placement.'
President Donald Trump isnt happy with his defense teams time-slot during his historic impeachment trial in the Senate.

As the third presidential impeachment trial in American history got underway this week, Democrats used their three days of opening arguments to lay out why Trump should be removed from office for alleged abuse of power and obstruction in the Ukraine scandal.

Trumps defense team and the assembled Senators, including his Republican allies, are required by trial rules to stay silent during the other sides arguments. Democrats will then have to do the same for Trumps defense team.

Each side was given 24 hours over three days for their arguments. While they are not required to use that full time, Democrats have.

But the president (for a particularly Trumpian reason) isnt happy about his defense teams arguments having to start on Saturday.

RELATED: What You Need to Know About Donald Trumps Impeachment Trial and How It Will Play Out

After having been treated unbelievably unfairly in the House, and then having to endure hour after hour of lies, fraud & deception by Shifty Schiff, Cryin Chuck Schumer & their crew, looks like my lawyers will be forced to start on Saturday, which is called Death Valley in T.V., Trump, 73, tweeted on Friday morning.

Though Trump had a point about Saturday TV viewership  especially primetime viewing  a 2018 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report did show that TV viewership was greater on weekend days in recent years.

(The president has a well-known fascination, even fixation, with TV ratings dating back years.)

After having been treated unbelievably unfairly in the House, and then having to endure hour after hour of lies, fraud & deception by Shifty Schiff, Cryin Chuck Schumer & their crew, looks like my lawyers will be forced to start on Saturday, which is called Death Valley in T.V.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 24, 2020

Story continues

President Donald Trump | JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty

Trump was also voicing conservative frustration thats likely been simmering more and more after three days of listening to Democrats argue he should be removed from office.

House impeachment managers (essentially the prosecutors in Trumps trial) have been re-telling the case against Trump in meticulous detail, relying on the information gathered in a months-long investigation that broadly corroborated the allegations against the president. House Democrats say he withheld support for Ukraine in order to pressure the country to investigate his political rivals.

Some Republicans saw the Democrats arguments at the trial differently.

So far we havent heard anything new from what he heard yesterday, Sen. John Cornyn told reporters Thursday. I hope this isnt just going to be a series of repetitious arguments just to try to fill the time allotted.



RELATED: Democrats Press the Case for Trumps Removal on First Day of Impeachment Trial Arguments



Rep. Adam Schiff argues the prosecution's case against President Donald Trump on Wednesday. | AP/Shutterstock

Following arguments from both sides, senators will be able to ask written questions. Then there will be a vote, likely next week, about whether new testimony and evidence should be introduced.

Democrats have pushed for allowing further testimony from top Trump administration officials who previously refused to cooperate in the House investigation.

Trump became the third president in American history to be impeached in mid-December when the House voted to impeach the president on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The House investigation found Trump withheld nearly $400 million in military aid to Ukraine while Trump and other top officials pressured the country to publicly announce it would launch an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter, who had worked in Ukraine.

The House impeachment managers say Trump was essentially bribing Ukraine into tarnishing Biden, who is one of the Democratic front-runners to challenge Trump in the 2020 election.

RELATED: White House Celebrates Trump Wedding Anniversary Amid His Impeachment  Look Back at the 2005 Ceremony

The president has shown that he believes that hes above the law and scornful of constraint, Rep. Adam Schiff, the Houses leading impeachment manager, said Wednesday in his opening argument.

Trump has continued to deny any wrongdoing, labeling his impeachment and the trial a hoax.

Not so, Schiff said.

President Trumps objective was not to encourage a foreign government to investigate legitimate allegations of misconduct or wrongdoing abroad, he said. Rather, the president simply wanted to reap a political benefit by tarnishing a political rival.
Bhutan is a Buddhist kingdom on the eastern edge of the Himalayas. It is also called as the 'Land of Thunder Dragon'. Bhutan is renowned for its monasteries, fortifications, and spectacular landscapes, ranging from subtropical plains to steep mountains and valleys. If you are travelling to Bhutan and dont know how to roam around, here are a few ways you can travel around the country.

Also Read: 'Love Aaj Kal' Fame Arushi Sharma Loves travelling And Photography; See Her Insta Posts

Taxi

There are taxis available at Phuentsholing, Paro, Jakar and Thimphu. Taxicabs may have meters, yet drivers seldom use them. For long trips, they work on a level rate that is not open to negotiation. Cab drivers have a propensity for charging foreigners, including Indians.

You ought to hope to pay Nu 70 for a nearby outing inside Thimphu, Nu 1000 to Nu 1500 for an entire day. On the off chance that you are going among Thimphu and Phuentsholing, search for a taxi that is from the spot to which you need to go.

Read: Offbeat Beaches In Goa That Are Perfect For Travellers Who Love Tranquillity

Road Transport

In Bhutan, the best way to see the place is either by foot or by road, or limited domestic air service, which is restricted to Paro, Bumthang, and Gelephu. In the present time, the streets in Bhutan are one of the most sophisticated and well created.

You can enjoy the lovely view while taking a road trip to Bhutan. The national roadway is one of the well-created roads in Bhutan which goes among the mountains and the bridges.

Read: Travelling To Los Angeles? Follow These Travel Tips To Enjoy A Hassle-free Vacation

Uber

You'll also find Ubers in Bhutan, which makes travelling around Bhutan very convenient. In Bhutan, the idea for UBER is very simple. From your cell phone, you can call for a cab, and it is the nearest free car that will be sent to you. The idea is to reduce hold-up times by concentrating on customer closeness.

Read: China Travel Tips: Things To Keep In Mind Before Travelling To The Country

Read: Japan Travel Tips: Pocket-friendly Transport Options For Tourists
A blighted lot once home to the Lucky Penny restaurant cleared a major hurdle Thursday toward a long-awaited transformation into 101 apartments in a neighborhood that has seen little new housing development in recent years.

Some six years after the developer, Presidio Bay Ventures, bought the parcel, San Franciscos Planning Commission unanimously approved legislation allowing the company to pay a $4.5 million fee to meet its affordable-housing obligations, rather than build below-market-rate units on-site.

As the developer grappled with ballooning costs, Thursdays vote was a make-or-break decision for the projects viability, the projects supporters said.

In a scenario emblematic of the difficulties and expense of building housing in San Francisco, Presidio Bays Cyrus Sanandaji said it could no longer afford to build below-market-rate units at the site. The debate about the project reflects an ongoing conflict in San Francisco about how much developers should pay to boost affordable housing. Some developers have said that rising fees and high requirements for affordable housing on-site have killed projects, resulting in fewer affordable and market-rate homes as the city struggles with a massive shortage.

Initial projected construction costs at the Lucky Penny site rose from $38 million a little more than two years ago to $49 million today while the firm worked to win approvals for the project at Geary Boulevard and Masonic Avenue. Presidio Bay had originally agreed to rent 23 units at below-market rates, but it now says it would not be able to finance the project under those constraints.

Supervisor Catherine Stefani, who authored the legislation allowing Presidio Bay to instead pay a fee that would satisfy its affordable housing requirements, told the commission that flexibility represented the difference between a 101-unit apartment building and an unproductive, deteriorating lot.

Building housing now is far better than the alternative of letting this site sit vacant, Stefani told the commission. We must take action. If were going to address this housing crisis, we have to make sure that the projects actually get built.

The parking-free project sits on major bus lines and next to a grocery store, making it a transit-friendly development where residents could live car-free, planners said.

And while the commissions approval represents a significant step for the project, Stefanis legislation still needs to pass the Board of Supervisors. The measure is expected to go before the boards Land Use Committee early next month, but its up to committee Chair Aaron Peskin to choose the date.

A Planning Department staff report recommended Presidio Bay be compelled to build the affordable units on-site. The report argues that existing city policy requires on-site affordable units at projects, like the Lucky Penny site, that receive so-called density bonuses. The project had already won approval to increase its density from 21 units.

The on-site option is also compelling, Commission Vice President Kathrin Moore said, because it can help affordable units be built faster and cheaper, as construction costs continue to rise year after year. Since Presidio Bay is ready to begin construction this year, the units could be built long before officials decide what to do with the fees they collect.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Plus, a building with a mix of people from different economic backgrounds represented the promise of cities  that we can all live together across income brackets and across life experiences, said Commissioner Milicent Johnson.

Commissioners were ultimately swayed in part because Stefani said the $4.5 million will be earmarked for affordable housing near the project. They were also receptive to support from seven representatives from the building and construction trades who also urged the commissioners to approve the legislation. Presidio Bay has committed to using only unionized labor to build the 101 units.

The prospect of actually getting housing built in Stefanis district  which the supervisor admitted has historically built very little housing  proved too alluring to resist.

We are thrilled with the support from the planning commission and look forward to the Board of Supervisors approving the amendment and putting shovels in the ground this year, said Boe Hayward, a consultant working for Presidio Bay.

Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa
On Wednesday, the final trailer to the sequel of "To All the Boys" movie debuted.

"P.S. I Still Love You" is a follow-up to one of Netflix's popular original films "To All the Boys I've Loved Before," adapted from Jenny Han's novel.

It continues the relationship between Lara Jean, played by Lana Condor and Peter Kavinsky, played by Noah Centineo.

In this movie, they take things to the next level -- one which guarantees to give its viewers a lot of butterflies.

The sequel takes place a year after they pretended to be a couple just to make Peter's ex-girlfriend jealous. The couple are now in the meet-the-parents stage, but there could be trouble in paradise after a particular John Ambrose McLaren (one of Lara Jean's recipients of the love letter) entered the picture.

John Ambrose is thrilled to reunite and appears to like Lara Jean. He showed up to her door with a bouquet of flowers and revealed that he had feelings for her, too.

As the trailer progresses, we learn that maybe Lara Jean might still have feelings for her middle school crush as well.

Since Lara Jean needs support and guidance, she asks them from her friends and sisters.

Her friend Stormy offers some confusing love advice, saying that it is exciting to have a love triangle. Speaking from experience, Stormy said that almost everyone in her love affair overlapped with one another.

In the trailer, Lara Jean says, "I thought having a boyfriend meant the idea of other boys left your mind completely. I didn't want to be thinking about what might have been. I thought I wanted happily ever after, but we're still at the beginning."

There have been a lot of meaningful looks between John Ambrose and Lara Jean that viewers might think they might really end up together.

In previous interviews, Han said that she loves "love triangles," so there may even be a fourth character in the mix -- one of Peter's ex-girlfriends Genevieve.

Janel Parrish, John Corbett and Anna Cathcart are returning to play Lara Jean's sisters and father, and Madeleine Arthur is also coming back as Lara Jean's best friend, Christine.

Jordan Burchett plays John Ambrose McClaren in the first movie, but the role has been recast, leaving Jordan Fisher with the character.

Fisher is best known for playing Jacob in "The Secret Life of American Teenager." He has even released a self-titled album in 2016 and was in "Hamilton" on Broadway" and appeared on "Dancing with the Stars."

Newcomers also arrive in the cast, including Emmy-award winning actress Holland Taylor as Stormy, John's grandmother who appeared in "Legally Blonde" and "Two and a Half Men"; Ross Butler from "Riverdale" and "13 Reasons Why" as Peter's best friend; and Sarayu Rao as Lara Jean's family's new neighbor Trina Rothschild.

"To All the Boys: P.S. I Love You" is directed by Michael Fimognari and written by Sofia Alvarez and J. Mills Goodloe. Matt Kaplan produces it.

The film is slated to be released a couple of days before Valentine's Day, February 12.

A third movie is also in the works entitled "To All the Boys: Always and Forever, Lara Jean," and it is expected to be released next year.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will consider removing the requirement that anglers display their fishing licenses while fishing at its quarterly meeting Monday and Tuesday, January 27-28, in Harrisburg.

Pennsylvania is one of only three states to still require the display of a fishing license, along with Delaware and New Jersey.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission in 2012 removed a similar display requirement for hunting licenses, which caused confusion among some anglers, who also are hunters, and led to complaints by anglers.

They claim that the requirement to display fishing licenses on an outer garment is antiquated and often inconvenient, particularly when an angler is purchasing a license online on relatively short notice and does not have a license holder, and that they often lose their license after it becomes unattached somewhere along a stream or on a boat.

Replacement fee for a lost fishing license is $6.90.

If approved, the revised regulation would require each angler to carry his fishing license, but not display it, while fishing.

Any angler who wants could still display the license, or a voluntary supplemental metal license button, but would need to also carry the fishing license.

Commissioners gave preliminary approval to a similar rule change in July 2017 but then tabled in response to concerns from the Office of the Attorney that it also would have allowed anglers to display their licenses on mobile devices, something that would require the state legislature to first remove a requirement that licenses be signed in ink.

According to the commission, staff is working with legislators to develop the needed legislation.

In the upcoming meeting, commissioner committees will meet beginning at 10:45 a.m. Monday, January 27. Formal consideration of the agenda by the full commission will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 28.

A complete copy of the meeting schedule and the full agenda for the meeting can be found on the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission website.

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.

Contact Marcus Schneck at mschneck@pennlive.com.
EDWARDSVILLE  The accused murderer of prominent attorney Randy Gori was indicted Thursday on several felony charges, pleading not guilty to all of them.

Timothy M. Banowetz, 28, of Wentzville, Missouri, was indicted for three counts of first degree murder, three counts of armed robbery, three counts of aggravated unlawful restraint and aggravated offenses relating to a motor vehicle.
A Republican strategist who worked for an Annapolis, Maryland-based consulting firm has admitted taking part in a scheme to funnel corporate contributions to political candidates in a case that is part of a federal crackdown on fraudulent political action committees.

Chip O'Neil, 33, pleaded guilty to conspiracy in Alexandria, Virginia, federal court Thursday. He worked as vice president for the Strategic Campaign Group. President Kelley Rogers was sentenced last week to three years in prison for fraud; associate Scott Mackenzie is awaiting sentencing.
Drs. Marianne Urbanski and Gregory Toback Host Synergy Study Club Lecture, We Can Still Save Teeth Laser gum surgery is a minimally invasive approach that uses a fiberoptic laser instead of blades, meaning no incisions or sutures when treating cases of gum disease.

Shoreline Periodontics final module of the 2019 Synergy Study Club was recently held in Mystic, CT. Hosted by the practices periodontists, Drs. Gregory Toback and Marianne Urbanski, the goal of the course is to help educate attending dentists and dental specialists to advance the level of care they provide at their own practices. This final module was titled, We Can Still Save Teeth, and was presented by Dr. Michael Sonick. Skilled periodontists, Drs. Toback and Urbanski often save failing teeth from conditions like gum disease at their New London, CT and Westerly, RI practices in order to preserve oral health instead of resorting straight to tooth extraction and dental implants.

This Synergy Study Club was the last of a six-part continuing education course that provided attendees with lectures and the ability to meet fellow dentists, periodontists and dental specialists. The final lecture, We Can Still Save Teeth, offered information on when teeth can be saved, compared the success of saving teeth versus placing implants and discussed treatment modalities for maintaining the health of teeth. The belief that teeth can and should be saved before resorting to extraction and replacement with dental implants is firmly held by both the periodontists and the staff at Shoreline Periodontics.

Drs. Toback and Urbanski often see patients with cases of gum disease that are treatable with minimally invasive LANAP laser gum surgery. Laser gum surgery is a minimally invasive approach that uses a fiberoptic laser instead of blades, meaning no incisions or sutures when treating cases of gum disease. This means faster healing time and less swelling and discomfort for patients after treatment, says Dr. Toback. Laser gum surgery is very effective in early or moderate cases of bone loss.

Patients who experience long-term, untreated gum disease are often at risk of failing oral health. One of the most serious conditions of gum disease is tooth loss due to excessive decay and lack of jawbone support. In order to preserve a patients natural oral health, LANAP gum disease treatment can be performed to eradicate the disease and stimulate healthy growth of bone and soft tissues. Doing so can save a potentially failing tooth from needing extraction and replacement. LANAPs minimally invasive approach to gum disease care makes the treatment quicker as well as provides more comfortable post-operative healing.

As periodontists, Drs. Toback and Urbanski understand the importance of saving natural teeth and keeping oral health in peak condition. Their practice features state-of-the-art technology, like dental lasers and digital imaging, to improve the level of care they provide and make saving failing teeth easier. In cases where natural teeth cannot be saved, the practice offers modern and safe dental implant surgery to replace the teeth, along with soothing sedation dentistry to put dental fears and anxiety to rest.

Individuals in New London, CT needing gum disease care, or dental professionals interested in next years Synergy Study Club, are encouraged to contact Shoreline Periodontics to gain more information. The practice can be contacted by visiting their website at http://www.shorelineperio.com or calling 860-443-2428 for the New London, CT location or 401-596-0000 for the Westerly, RI office.

About the Periodontists

Shoreline Periodontics is a periodontal practice offering personalized dental care for patients since 1998 and is located in New London, CT and Westerly, RI. Leading board-certified periodontist, Dr. Gregory A. Toback, received his B.A. from St. Johns University and his Doctorate of Dental Medicine from the University of Connecticut. He also received advanced training in periodontics and dental implants at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Dr. Marianne Urbanski has been voted one of Connecticuts top dentists for more than seven years by Connecticut Magazine. Dr. Urbanski graduated cum laude from the College of Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts where she earned a Bachelors degree in Biology. She also received her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree and her Masters of Dental Science degree from the University of Connecticut Dental School. Dr. Urbanski and Dr. Toback pride themselves on offering caring, professional treatment to each patient. Dr. Toback and Dr. Urbanski focus on minimally invasive surgeries including LANAP laser gum surgery and are certified to offer the Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique for treatment of gum recession. To learn more about Shoreline Periodontics and their dental services visit their website at http://www.shorelineperio.com or call 860-443-2428 for the New London, CT location, or 401-596-0000 for the Westerly, RI office.
Burma Myanmar Foreign Ministry Acknowledges ICJ Ruling, Repeats Denial of Genocide Against Rohingya

Rohingya people wade through water as they try to reach the Bangladesh side of the border from No Mans Land after hearing a gunshot from the Myanmar side, in Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh on Aug. 28, 2017. / Reuters

YANGONIn response to the International Court of Justices ruling approving provisional measures against Myanmar, the countrys Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it took note of the decision, while reiterating that there was no genocide against the Rohingya, as alleged by The Gambia.

The African nation filed a genocide case against the Southeast Asian country in November at the ICJ for alleged human rights abuses against the Rohingya. As the case could take years, The Gambia asked the court to order that some preliminary measures be taken against Myanmar.

More than 700,000 Rohingya fled Myanmar to neighboring Bangladesh in late 2017 after the governments security forces launched clearance operations in northern Rakhine State in response to a series of attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army on police outposts in the area. UN investigators said the operations had genocidal intent. Both the Myanmar government and military have denied the accusation.

In December, Myanmar State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi told the World Court that it should remove the case from its list or reject The Gambias request that provisional measures be imposed.

A recent report by a Myanmar government-backed investigation commission probing alleged human rights abuses denied genocidal intent by security forces against the Rohingya but admitted that war crimes, serious human rights violations and violations of domestic law took place. However, on Thursday, the UNs top court decided to impose urgent measures against Myanmar to protect the Rohingyas rights and end the alleged genocide.

In its statement issued late Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Myanmar had appeared before the court during hearings in the case to help the judges make the correct factual findings on the proposition made by The Gambia that genocide occurred in Rakhine State in 2016-17.

We should all be aware that one of the historical functions of the provisional measures has been to protect the court against possible accusation of failure to take preventive action at the start of a case, the statement said.

It also quotes the ICJs president, Abdulqawi Yusuf, as saying that the courts decision in the present proceedings in no way prejudges the question of the jurisdiction of the court to deal with the merits of the case or any questions relating to the admissibility of the application or to the merits of the case themselves.

You may also like these stories:

Myanmar Supporters Travel From Near and Far to Show Solidarity With State Counselor in The Hague

The Lady in The Hague

A Black Swan for Nobel Peace Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

Clashes Over Charter Change Grow Fiercer Than Ever in Myanmar Parliament
I think Maria and her team are so good at accommodating the children that I work with.  Their team is always good about thinking about our kids and families, Deiter said. A mom here today said she has not yet put her (nonverbal) daughter in preschool because shes not comfortable with that, so this is like her social experience for her child. She depends on this. If you have a child that is nonverbal, theres a real fear of sending a child to school who cant tell you what happened at school. They do what they can, and having programs like this  its just bringing awareness.
The Navy and Marine Corps need to be a bit more short-sighted when assessing how many ships they need, the acting Navy secretary said this week.

The Navy Department is in the middle of a new force-structure review, which could change the number and types of ships the sea services say they'll need to fight future conflicts. But instead of trying to project what they will need three decades out, which has been the case in past assessments, acting Navy Secretary Thomas Modly said the services will take a shorter view.

"I don't know what the threat's going to be 30 years from now, but if we're building a force structure for 30 years from now, I would suggest we're probably not building the right one," he said Friday at a National Defense Industrial Association event.

The Navy completed its last force-structure assessment in 2016. That 30-year plan called for a 355-ship fleet.

Related: Unmanned Vessels Won't Count as Warships in Next Navy Force Assessment: CNO

President Donald Trump pledged to help the Navy reach that goal when running for office in 2016. He also signed that number into law in 2017 after lawmakers included a section in the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act that said the service would build up to 355 ships as soon as possible.

Modly has hinted that the next-force structure assessment, which Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday said could be complete within weeks, could go higher than the 355-ship number. And that will be in addition to the Navy's mysterious "ghost fleet," the still-to-be-developed unmanned surface and underwater vessels that can operate largely without crews.

On Friday, Modly said basing the plans on a 10-year view of future threats is more realistic. Thirty years ago, he said, there was more concern about threats from Russia than China. Now, the Navy and Marine Corps are shifting their sights to a possible fight in the Pacific.

The new force-structure assessment will affect far more than just ship numbers, Modly added.

"It helps us understand what type of trajectory we should be on," he said. "... What are the ships? What are those platforms? That sort of suggests the type of people you need, it suggests where they should be based, how you need to ramp up the industrial base, what type of weapons should they carry?"

The Navy and Marine Corps are working closely together on the new force-structure assessment, which is another shift in how the planning was done in the past. Gilday and Marine Commandant Gen. David Berger are pushing for stronger integration between the sea services to counter China's rise and activities in the South China Sea.

Berger said last week that Marines won't just deploy on amphibious assault ships in the future, but possibly littoral combat ships and next-generation frigates as well.

He also said the services are going to need a lot of small ships for distributed operations. In his planning guidance released last year, Berger said the service would no longer push the Navy to build 38 amphibious assault ships.

Large ships, he said last week, could leave Marines and sailors vulnerable.

"A distributed maritime force ... drives you toward more," Berger said. "Smaller, but capable."

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

Read more: China's Antics Are a 'Game-Changer' for the Navy and Marine Corps, 4-Star Says
(Sharecast News) - London stocks rose in early trade on Friday, bouncing back from losses in the previous session as investors eyed the release of key UK services and manufacturing data.

At 0825 GMT, the FTSE 100 was up 0.9% at 7,577.18.



London Capital Group analyst Jasper Lawler said: "The World Health Organisation not designating the Wuhan coronavirus an international emergency has taken the fear gauge down a few notches.



"The travel restrictions and cutback Lunar New Year celebrations will have some kind of dampening effect on Chinese growth. Only, based on what the WHO is saying, the same problem will not be felt globally."



On the data front, all eyes will be on Markit's manufacturing and services PMIs for January, which are due at 0930 GMT.



"Of particular interest will be how much harm rising activity in British services and manufacturing does to the prospects for a January rate cut," said Lawler. "UK services are set to rebound into a more robust state of expansion and the manufacturing contraction should ease. If the PMIs miss expectations we think the doves could still have their last hurrah at next week's BOE meeting. If the UK PMIs come in as expected or better, a January rate cut really should be off the table."



In corporate news, medical technology firm Smith & Nephew rose after saying it had bought California-based Tusker Medical for an undisclosed sum. Tusker makes ear tubes that can be inserted by doctors under local anaesthetic to treat infections in young children. S&N said it would fund the purchase from existing cash and debt facilities.



On the downside, Marston's was firmly in the red even as it said that festive Britons helped the pub group to deliver an increase in sales over the Christmas period despite poor weather keeping people at home in the first three weeks of December. The company said trading over the Christmas fortnight was strong, with like-for-like sales growth of 4.5%, compensating for more "subdued trading" earlier in the month.



Just Eat was the worst performer on the FTSE 100 as Takeaway.com said it will delay the timetable for the 6bn merger with its London-listed rival by a week after the Competition and Markets Authority said it plans to investigate the deal. The UK competition watchdog announced late on Thursday that it was considering whether the deal would lead to a "substantial lessening" of competition.



Commenting on the CMA's announcement, Neil Wilson, chief market analyst at Markets.com, said: "It is hard to see why the CMA - however fickle it has been in the past - would not let this deal go through.



"It strikes me as a little bit last-minute.com and not likely to stop the merger. There does not appear much rationale to worry about competition concerns."



Elsewhere, NMC Health was weaker after Dubai's Emirates NBD Bank sold just under 2.2m shares in the UAE healthcare provider.



Market Movers



FTSE 100 (UKX) 7,577.18 0.93%

FTSE 250 (MCX) 21,670.57 0.60%

techMARK (TASX) 4,234.50 0.48%



FTSE 100 - Risers



Auto Trader Group (AUTO) 590.40p 2.54%

Experian (EXPN) 2,681.00p 2.45%

Evraz (EVR) 382.90p 2.19%

Glencore (GLEN) 232.90p 2.08%

Legal & General Group (LGEN) 312.70p 2.02%

Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) 223.20p 1.87%

Berkeley Group Holdings (The) (BKG) 5,452.00p 1.87%

Anglo American (AAL) 2,153.00p 1.84%

Barratt Developments (BDEV) 811.20p 1.76%

Carnival (CCL) 3,514.00p 1.74%



FTSE 100 - Fallers



Just Eat (JE.) 854.00p -3.02%

NMC Health (NMC) 1,375.00p -2.10%

Rightmove (RMV) 668.80p -0.36%

Diageo (DGE) 3,205.50p -0.36%

Burberry Group (BRBY) 2,093.00p -0.05%

Spirax-Sarco Engineering (SPX) 9,015.00p 0.00%

RSA Insurance Group (RSA) 549.60p 0.00%

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) 1,824.80p 0.10%

BT Group (BT.A) 171.48p 0.28%

BAE Systems (BA.) 640.40p 0.28%



FTSE 250 - Risers



Vivo Energy (VVO) 118.60p 4.59%

Virgin Money UK (VMUK) 172.15p 3.39%

Galliford Try (GFRD) 138.80p 3.30%

Coats Group (COA) 78.95p 2.93%

Drax Group (DRX) 288.40p 2.71%

Wood Group (John) (WG.) 398.30p 2.58%

Investec (INVP) 444.20p 2.42%

Tullow Oil (TLW) 51.16p 2.32%

Ferrexpo (FXPO) 149.00p 2.19%

Kaz Minerals (KAZ) 482.10p 2.10%



FTSE 250 - Fallers



Marston's (MARS) 112.50p -4.01%

Essentra (ESNT) 415.20p -1.84%

Pets at Home Group (PETS) 278.80p -1.83%

Great Portland Estates (GPOR) 939.80p -0.57%

Brewin Dolphin Holdings (BRW) 362.00p -0.55%

Lancashire Holdings Limited (LRE) 749.50p -0.46%

QinetiQ Group (QQ.) 359.20p -0.33%

Ashmore Group (ASHM) 558.50p -0.27%

John Laing Group (JLG) 370.80p -0.22%

Moneysupermarket.com Group (MONY) 321.60p -0.19%
B oris Johnsons Brexit deal will today be signed off by EU leaders as the UKs divorce from Brussels is finalised before next weeks deadline.

The European Commission and European Council presidents are due to sign the Withdrawal Agreement later after it was given royal assent on Thursday.

The Queen rubber stamped the legislation, paving the way for the UK to leave the European Union with an agreement on January 31. It comes almost four years after 2016's Leave vote.

Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and council president Charles Michel are on Friday expected to sign-off on the document.

Royal Assent Officially Granted By The Queen on Brexit Bill

But the agreement still needs to be approved by the European Parliament before Brexit day, with a vote expected on January 29.

Prime Minister Mr Johnson hailed the crossing of the "Brexit finish line" after the EU Withdrawal Agreement Act passed into law.

The UK is set to enter a transition period in February, during which the relationship with Brussels will remain the same while trade talks are finalised.

The Government's withdrawal legislation cleared Parliament on Wednesday after peers bowed to the will of MPs once the elected chamber overturned their demands.

Mr Johnson said the nation would "move forwards as one United Kingdom".

He added: "At times it felt like we would never cross the Brexit finish line, but we've done it.
The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Thursday condemned the state finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal for "flying off to a jaunt along with his family in the Swiss Alps in the name of attending the Davos Summit".

In a statement here, former minister Dr Daljit Singh Cheema said it was shocking that the finance minister who had announced that he was against foreign trips and who had even refused to offer tea to guests to save money, had no qualms about attending repeated annual meetings at Davos.

"Manpreet has failed to explain one benefit of attending the Davos Summit last year. He has failed to mention a single investment coming into the State following his visit last year. However this has not dissuaded him from proceeding on a holiday again along with a contingent of officers as well as his family", Cheema said.

Cheema said the hollowness of Manpreet's claims of austerity had already been exposed by an RTI inquiry revealing the presence of 27 air conditioners at his official residence in Chandigarh. "The Finance Minister has also spent a large amount of money in modernizing his office even as he preaches frugality to others", he said.

The SAD leader said it was a cause of concern that even as taxpayers' money was being used to finance expensive trips to Davos, no solution was forthcoming on the total freeze on all development works following a notification by the finance department.

He also said that before leaving for Davos, Manpreet Badal did not think it fit to release the Dearness Allowance dues of State employees which had gone up to Rs 4,000 crore. "The Finance Minister had no qualms in extending the tenure of the Sixth Pay Commission and even now is refusing to regularise more than 27,000 contractual employees whose case was cleared by the erstwhile SAD-BJP government".

Cheema said as a first step the government could ban foreign jaunts besides doing away with an army of advisors and superannuated officers on its rolls.

He said besides this a concrete plan should be devised to bring Punjab back on its feet by removing wasteful expenditure as well as inefficiencies and large-scale corruption which has paralyzed government functioning.

"Then only should finance ministers of Punjab be allowed to extol about their word at summits abroad. It is of no use to attend such events and waste public money when your own house is in disorder and needs urgent attention", he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
It took less than two seconds for Connecticut State Trooper Brian North to fire the seven shots that killed Mubarak Soulemane in West Haven Jan. 15.

Two seconds that ended Soulemanes 19 years. Two seconds that will result in months of accusations, investigations and challenges to trust in law enforcement.

The time ahead must include an exploration of how this might have had a better outcome.

In the wake of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, much of the national discourse over guns has been about whether to address firepower or mental health. This incident was a capsule of both issues.

Soulemane suffered from mental illness, according to his family. Police chased him after he allegedly tried to swipe a phone from a Norwalk store and carjacked a Hyundai from a rideshare driver while carrying a knife.

Thirty miles later, troopers cut off the car after Soulemane got off Interstate-95 in West Haven. Body camera videos capture the standoff as the car is surrounded by troopers under a bridge over Campbell Avenue, with North aiming a pistol and a flashlight through the drivers window.

The video was released in two days, which is the way the system mandating it within 96 hours should work. The footage is chilling, but doesnt tell the entire story. We cant see what North saw inside the car. We dont know what changed that caused him to fire.

Tahir Mohammad, Soulemanes uncle, uttered simple words that are impossible to ignore: He was shot sitting down in the car.

Yes, he had a knife. And police say a Taser was not effective. But as police train for such situations in the future, other alternatives must be explored. Could another Taser have been used? Or pepper spray? Do police need something else?

It all comes down to instincts. Norwalk police followed an instinct that chasing Soulemane could have escalated the situation and posed further dangers.

Soulemanes instincts may have been compromised by mental illness. Its asking a lot for police to be able to recognize such symptoms, but more training must be discussed.

It is the third fatal police shooting in Connecticut of this young year. An altercation in Waterbury ended with the fatal shooting of 57-year-old Edwards Gendron. A domestic violence call ended with police shooting 30-year-old Michael Gregory, who also apparently had a knife.

State NAACP President Scot X. Esdaile said Police violence against Black and Latinx people is a pandemic in Connecticut.

Others are saying they do not trust police to investigate themselves after such incidents. Its not in the interest of law enforcement officials either. A third party should always be brought in.

The Soulemane investigation will be led by Middlesex States Attorney Michael Gailor. Hell have 120 days to release the results of his probe.

Four months to examine the two seconds that ended a life at 19 years. Its a lot of time, but may not be enough.
A scam website has been detected by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. There is a new bogus website that appears when one Googles "Tennessee fishing license."



The scam website appears as an advertisement during a Google search for Tennessee Fishing License. The site then allows one to enter their personal information, such as name, date of birth, social security number, drivers license number, phone number, email address and residential address.

It gathers this info, but never asks for payment for the license.

This website appears to have been created outside the United States, and the TWRA is working to get the site shut down. TWRA encourages anyone who has submitted information through this scamming site to monitor or freeze their credit.
The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and the anti-graft agency, EFCC, have condemned the Transparency International 2019 report that ranked Nigeria poorly on the fight against corruption.

According to the latest anti-corruption watchdog index, Nigeria dropped two places from 144th to 146th position out of the 180 countries that were surveyed worldwide.

In the 2019 Transparency Internationals corruption perception index released on Thursday, Nigeria scored 26 out of 100 points, falling by one point compared to 2018. In the country comparison, Nigeria now ranks 146 out of 180 countries  two places down compared to 2018 results.

Nigerias latest placement by the international body has drawn debates about the success of the fight against corruption in the country.

President Muhammadu Buhari has the battle against graft as one of the three cardinal promises he made before he was elected. The other two are security of lives and properties and restoring the economy.

Both the EFCC and Mr Malami condemned the report on Thursday.

Condemnation

In his reaction, Mr Malami said there is no evidence to back the report.

Mr Malami, in an interview on Channels Televisions LunchTime Politics, on Thursday, said the facts on the ground do not correlate with the information dished out by the group.

He also said: In terms of the fight against corruption, we have been doing more, we have done more, and we will continue to do more out of inherent conviction and desire on our part to fight against corruption devoid of any extraneous considerations relating to the rating by Transparency International.

READ ALSO:

Our resolve to fight corruption is inherent and indeed devoid of any extraneous considerations, we will continue to do more and we will double efforts.

Mr Malami challenged Transparency International to provide statistics from which the organisation came to the conclusion that the country performed poorly.

According to him, there is nothing that the country has not done as a nation in the fight against corruption.

In terms of legislation, we have done more, in terms of enforcement we have done more, in terms of recovery of looted assets, we have done more, and in terms of political goodwill, we have demonstrated extra-ordinary political goodwill, Mr Malami stated.

EFCC: Baseless, appalling

The EFCC has also condemned the report.

The commission, in a communique on Thursday, described the report as baseless and appalling.

The claim and inference by TI that Nigeria ranks the fourth most corrupt country in West Africa is totally unacceptable, as it is evidently not supported by any empirical data, especially when placed side-by-side with the remarkable achievements of the Commission in the past years, the EFCC said.

The commission noted that it will not be distracted by a body that has been consistent in its biased rating of Nigeria and will continue in its mandate of fighting corruption.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the main opposition party, PDP, described the report as a national embarrassment under an administration by the same leader who wears the medal: African Union (AU) Anti-Corruption Champion.

The PDP, which lost the presidential election in 2015, said Mr Buharis government, which boasts of zero-tolerance for corruption, now ranks as the fourth most corrupt country in West Africa and one of the leading most corrupt countries of the world.

It indeed speaks volume that the Buhari administration and the APC that came into power in 2015 on an anti-corruption mantra, has ended up becoming the most corrupt in the history of our dear nation, the opposition party said.
Pune, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global Solar Power Market is anticipated to reach 4766.82 GW by 2026, exhibiting a CAGR of 30.7% during the forecast period 2019-2026 on account of the increasing demand for renewable energy generation for serving various residential, commercial, and industrial purposes. Manufacturing industries, especially from the developing nations, are demanding solar panels and heavily investing in them for cost-efficient production purposes. The advent of new technologies such as photovoltaic (PV) technology, commonly known as thin-film technology and green technology into solar power systems, has spurred industries and manufacturing units to opt for solar power plants, thereby driving the Solar Energy Market trends.

Fortune Business Insights illustrates the aforementioned information in their recently published report titled,  Solar Energy Market Size, Share and Industry Analysis By Technology (Solar Photovoltaic (Mono-si, Thin Film, Multi-si, and Others) and Concentrated Solar Power (Parabolic Trough, Power Tower, and Linear Fresnel)), By Application (Residential, Non-Residential and Utilities), and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026. The report states that the market value was in 680.22 GW in 2019. Besides this, the report also throws light on:

360-Degree overview of the market

Detailed analysis of growth drivers, restraints, and challenges having an impact on the market

Interesting insights and key industry developments of the market

Current and future Solar Energy Market trends

Detailed segmentation of the market

List of significant players, key strategies adopted by them and overall competitive landscape of the market



To gain more insights into the market with detailed table of content and figures, click here: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/solar-power-market-100764





Introduction and Implementation of Green Technologies to Drive Market

The advent of thin-film and green technologies in the solar power sector is an important factor promoting the Solar Energy Market growth. In addition, there is a surge in investments into solar power from manufacturing companies to cut down the price of electricity for smooth and efficient energy flow to serve various commercial and industrial purposes. This is also expected to increase the overall Solar Energy Market size in the forecast period.

Furthermore, the introduction of efficient and environment-friendly techniques by government and propulsion towards the adoption of green label products is prognosticated to create lucrative Solar Energy Market growth opportunities in the forthcoming years.

Europe Market to Invest Generously on Solar Projects, Drawing Significant Revenues in Coming Years

From a geographical perspective, Asia Pacific is holding a significant Solar Energy Market share on account of supportive government policies related to renewable energy and a rise in awareness about innovative green technologies. To cite an example, new environment-friendly techniques will be led by the solar panel manufacturers as per the subsidy-free renewable policy imposed in China. Additionally, on account of its excellent PV research and development infrastructure, along with the supply and manufacturing of solar PV panels, Europe generated a substantial Solar Energy Market revenue. A lead analyst at Fortune Business Insights predicts Europe to invest as an estimate of about 185.11 GW of a solar project in the year 2019.



Request a Sample Copy: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/solar-power-market-100764





Companies Engaging in Merger and Acquisition Strategies for Better Revenue Generation

Various Solar Energy Market manufacturers are entering into strategic collaborations such as merger and acquisitions, joint ventures, partnership agreements, and contracts to stay put in the competition. Large company manufacturers are also investing in research and development activities for introducing solar power into automobiles. Such innovations are not only intensifying the market competition but also attracting huge Solar Energy Market revenue.

Some of the major industry developments of the Solar Energy Market include:

July 2019  The state-owned NTPC awarded an EPC contract to BHEL for setting up a 25MW floating solar photovoltaic power plant at the Simhadri water reserve in Andhra Pradesh, India.

July 2019  A Japanese automotive manufacturer, namely Toyota Motor Corp, started its trial phase for the new version of Prius hybrid car. This car will be embedded with 860 watts of the thin-film solar cell.

July 2019  A partnership was signed between NTT Com-Netmagic and Tata power for providing IT solutions for their forthcoming 50MW solar photovoltaic power plant project situated in Maharashtra, India.



List of Significant players operating in the Solar Energy Market manufacturers include:

Canadian Solar, Inc.

Kaneka Corp.

Esolar Inc.

Wuxi Suntech Power Co. Ltd.

Abengoa Solar S.A.

Tata Power Solar

Bright source Energy Inc.

Acciona Energia S.A.



Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/solar-power-market-100764





Table of Content:

Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology Definitions and Assumptions



Market Dynamics Drivers, Restraints and Opportunities Emerging Trends of Market

Key Insights Macro and Micro Economic Factors Key Technological Developments Industry SWOT Analysis

Global Solar Power Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2015-2026 Key Findings / Summary Market Sizing Estimations and Forecasts  By Technology (US$ Mn and GW) Mono-si Thin film Multi-si Others Market Sizing Estimations and Forecasts  By Application (US$ Mn and GW) Residential Non-Residential Utilities Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast  By Geography (US$ Mn and GW) North America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East and Africa Latin America

Competition Matrix

Company Profile

Continued..!!!





Request for Customization: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/solar-power-market-100764





(Have a Look at Reports Trending in Energy & Power Industry)





Browse Related Reports:

Solar Tracker Market Size, Share and Industry Analysis By Type (Photovoltaic (PV), Concentrated Solar Power (CSP)), By Movement (Single Axis, Dual Axis), By Application (Utility, Non-Utility) And Regional Forecast, 2019-2026



Solar Thermal Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Collector Type (Evacuated Tube Collector, Flat Plate Collector, Unglazed Water Collector, Air Collector), By Type of System (Thermosiphon Solar Heating Systems, Pumped Solar Heating System) By Application (Domestic Hot Water Systems, Large DHW Systems, Solar Combi Systems, Swimming Pool Heating, Others), and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026



Concentrated Solar Power Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Technology (Parabolic Trough, Power Tower, Linear Fresnel) By Application (Residential, Non-Residential, Utility), and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026



Advanced Energy Storage System Market Size, Share and Industry Analysis By Technology (Solid State Battery, Flow Battery, Thermal Energy Storage, Pumped Hydro Storage), By Application (Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Utility) and Regional Forecast 2019-2026



Biogas Market Size, Share and Industry Analysis By Feedstock (Organic Residues & Waste, Energy Crops), By Application (Heating, Electricity, CHP, Others) And Regional Forecast 2019-2026

Offshore Wind Power Market Size, Share and Industry Analysis By Installation (Fixed Structure, Floating Structure), By Water Depth (Up to 30m, Above 30m), By Capacity (Up to 3MW, 3MW to 5MW, Above 5MW) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026

Small Hydropower Market Size, Share and Industry Analysis By Capacity (Below 1 MW, 1  10 MW) and Regional Forecast 2019-2026

Automotive Fuel Cell Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC), Phosphoric Acid Fuel Cell (PAFC), Others), By Power Rating (Below 100 kW, 100  200 kW, Above 200 kW), By Vehicles (Passenger Vehicles, Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs), Bus, Trucks), and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026



Electric Motor Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Motor Type (AC Motors, DC Motors, Hermetic Motors), By Power Output (Fractional Horsepower (Up to 1HP), Integral Horsepower (Above 1HP)), By Voltage (Up to 1 kV, 1 kV-6.6 kV, Above 6.6 kV), By Application (Industrial Machinery, Motor Vehicles, Electrical Appliances, Others), By End-User (Industrial, Commercial, Residential, Agriculture) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026



Recloser Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Phase (Single-Phase, Three-Phase, Others), By Control (Electric, Hydraulic, Others), By Voltage (Low Voltage, Medium Voltage, High Voltage), By Interruption Type (Oil, Vacuum), and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026



Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Application (Stationary, Transport, Portable), By End-User (Commercial, Data Centers, Military & Defense, Others), and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026



Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Application (Transport, Stationary, Others), and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026



Heat Exchanger Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Shell & Tube, Plate & Frame, Air Coolers, Cooling Towers, and Others), By Application (Chemicals, Oil & Gas, Power Generation, HVAC, Automobile, Pharmaceuticals, Food & Beverage, Others), and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026



Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (AC Drive, DC Drive, Servo Drive), By Power Range (Micro, Low, Medium, High), By Application (Pumps, Conveyors, HVAC, Electric Fan, Extruders, Others), By End-User (Food & Beverage, Oil & Gas, Power Generation, Infrastructure, Agriculture, Mining, Others), and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026



High Voltage Cables Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Installation (Overhead, Underground, Submarine), By Voltage (100 kV  250 kV, 251 kV  400 kV, Above 400 kV), By End-User (Industrial, Utility) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026



Marine Engine Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Ship Type (Oil Tankers, Bulk Carriers, General Cargo Ships, Container Ships, Gas Carriers, Chemical Tankers, Support Vessels, Ferries and Passenger Ships, and Others), By Capacity, By Fuel (Heavy Fuel Oil, Intermediate Fuel Oil, Marine Diesel Oil, Marine Gas Oil, LNG, and Others), By Speed (High Speed, Medium Speed, and Low Speed), By Stroke and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026



About us:

Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in.

Our reports contain a unique mix of tangible insights and qualitative analysis to help companies achieve sustainable growth. Our team of experienced analysts and consultants use industry-leading research tools and techniques to compile comprehensive market studies, interspersed with relevant data.

At Fortune Business Insights we aim at highlighting the most lucrative growth opportunities for our clients. We therefore offer recommendations, making it easier for them to navigate through technological and market-related changes. Our consulting services are designed to help organizations identify hidden opportunities and understand prevailing competitive challenges.

Contact Us:

Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd.

308, Supreme Headquarters,

Survey No. 36, Baner,

Pune-Bangalore Highway,

Pune - 411045, Maharashtra, India.

Phone:

US: +1 424 253 0390

UK: +44 2071 939123

APAC: +91 744 740 1245

Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com

Fortune Business Insights

LinkedIn | Twitter | Blogs



Press Release- https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/press-release/solar-power-market-9147






OJAI, Calif., Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Jurgen Borlak released and discussed the recent findings regarding the safety and mechanism of action of Petadolex, a supplement for migraine prevention manufactured by Linpharma, Inc., at a special scientific session on January 24 in Ojai, California.

Neurologists, headache specialists and primary care physicians attended the session, chaired by Dr. Alan Rapoport. The meeting coincided with the annual Winter Headache Conference and highlighted the recently revealed CGRP modulating activity of the commonly used herbal remedy.

New research shows petasins in Petadolex modulate CGRP with different pharmacology from the mAb drugs recently brought to market. Petadolex has multiple modes of inhibition of CGRP synthesis and release.

These findings help explain why in controlled clinical trial, Petadolex demonstrates 50% responder rates for migraine prophylaxis competitive with mAb prescription medications.

Borlak also detailed the most recent safety data and concluded Petadolex is safe. Borlak, a physician, pharmacologist, and internationally respected toxicologist, is a Professor at Hannover Medical School in Germany. He advises the FDA and WHO on drug induced liver injury.

He reviewed all adverse events previously attributed to Petadolex. His findings are published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine. *

"Petadolex herb induced liver injury cases are rare, idiosyncratic and frequently confounded by co-medication," Borlak said.

Borlak noted that no adverse events have been reported in the U.S. or Canada despite 1.3 million patient months of Petadolex use.

Adverse events reported in Europe using accepted international causality criteria (RICAM) where examined and found no evidence of Petadolex causality.

Histopathology, chronic, acute animal studies, and in vitro research with human hepatocytes, which were also reviewed during the session, show Petadolex does not induce liver injury.

For more information:

*Hepatobiliary Events in Migraine Therapy with Herbs  The Case of Petadolex, A Petasites Hybridus Extract. Nora Anderson, Jurgen Borlak; J Clinton Med 2019, 8, 652 - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6572430/

Media Contact:

Volker Gallichio

US General Manager

Linpharma Inc.

630 Brooker Creek Blvd, Suite 350

Oldsmar FL 34677

[email protected]

407-466-6267

SOURCE Linpharma, Inc.
Current and retired Officers of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) joined together in a Thanksgiving Service, last Sunday, Jan.19, at the Old Montrose Police Station Lecture Hall.





The Annual Service, which commenced at 9:40am, was held under the theme, 2020 VISION: WITH GOD WE CAN.





According to a Police Release of Jan. 21, 2020, the Service was organized to give praise and thanks to God, "for His mercies, goodness, grace, protection and providence over the lives of the officers during 2019.





The atmosphere in the Hall was spirit-filled, as the Police Christian Soldiers, under the leadership of Sgt. 309 Ophelia Little, commandeered the praise and worship segment with songs of adoration, while the congregation offered their praises and thanks. The Police Choir did a moving rendition of Andre Crouchs Through it all.





In a brief address, Commissioner of Police Colin John said that the theme for the service was appropriate, and reminded his officers it was very important for the Police Force to hold such a service because without God, the organizations job would be much more difficult.





Crimes in SVG has reduced generally and he attributed this to the help of God.





He thanked members of the organization for their hard work in 2019, and members of the general public for their assistance and cooperation.





The homily, entitled Towards a new beginning in Jesus in 2020 and founded on Philippians 3:12-14, was delivered by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Junior Simmons.





ASP Simmons told the gathering that a persons future is shaped by their past experiences.





"You are who you are today because of the choices you made yesterday, whether they were good or bad choices, he elaborated.





He admitted, though, that ".. circumstances dictate that you forget about whatever your past situations were  whether you were rich or poor, successful or unsuccessful; or whether you were promoted or not promoted! You have to forget about those things and press forward to a new beginning  not grounded in the things of the world but in Christ Jesus.





As long as you have the breath of life in your bodies, you will face difficulties and challenges, Asp Simmons told his fellow officers, advised them that the most important thing was finding ways to overcome their circumstances, and urged them to always seek God in good times and bad times, because there is nothing too hard for Him to do.





Pastor Corporal 142 Angella Byron rendered special prayers for police officers and their families, especially those who were ill; and for the government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. (Source: RSVGPF)




Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size So here we are. After all the huffing, puffing and stuffing around, it's finally happening: Britain is leaving the European Union on January 31. Kind of. The Brexit saga has strangled the nation ever since the Conservative Party first promised a public vote on whether to break up with the EU. It has been going on for so long that babies born on referendum day will start school later this year. Having claimed the political scalps of Tory leaders David Cameron and Theresa May, the Brexit chaos helped Boris Johnson seize the prime ministership and win the December 12 general election with a simple but devastatingly effective "Get Brexit Done" message. It was a powerful promise that delivered the biggest Tory parliamentary majority since Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s  more than enough to sweep away the House of Commons gridlock that had stood in the way of implementing what British people voted for in June 2016. Brexit will now take effect at 11pm on the last day of the month. There was even talk of rushing through restoration works on Big Ben so it could chime to celebrate the moment, but the government backed down on this, saying more muted celebrations would "heal divisions and reunite communities". But "bongs" or not, Brexit will be far from over on January 31. Emotions are still running high over Brexit. Brexiters want Big Ben to chime; others don't. Credit:Getty Images

Advertisement

Hold on, what is the European Union? The EU is a grouping of 28 countries whose citizens have the right to work and live in whichever of the 28 they like. It also allows the free movement of goods between all members. Brexit is uncharted territory because Britain will be the first member state to leave the EU as it is now structured. Boris Johnson greets EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen at No. 10 Downing Street. Credit:Getty Images What will be different on February 1? Not much. After all the hype, little will change immediately in Britain or Europe. That's because Britain will, technically, stay part of the EU for another year. The simplest way to get your head around Brexit is to think of it as two parts. The first part is the Withdrawal Agreement  the deal between Britain and the EU that covers some of the big process questions about how the January 31 split will happen. The Withdrawal Agreement was repeatedly blocked in the House of Commons but passed earlier this month thanks to Johnson's new majority.

Advertisement

The second and more relevant part now is what's known as the transition period. This is where the hard work really begins. The EU and Britain will use the period to thrash out how they work together in the future on trade, human movement, security, data sharing and all sorts of other really tricky issues. The problem is the transition period is incredibly short. It starts on January 31 and ends on December 31, 2020. Britain and the EU spent 34 months settling the terms of the exit but have now given themselves just 11 months to map out the terms of their new relationship  even less, really, considering EU officials probably won't begin negotiations until March and want the deal settled on paper by the end of November. The clock is ticking. During the transition period, Britain's trading relationship with the EU will remain as is and Britain will continue to make financial contributions to the bloc. Boris Johnson speaks to British troops stationed in Estonia during a visit to the Baltic country on December 21. Credit:Getty What happens if they can't work out a deal? Critically, Johnson has ruled out asking for any extension to the December 31 deadline. A British-EU summit set for June will give Johnson the opportunity to seek more time, but there's no way he will ask for it because an extension would be an extraordinary breach of faith with voters who just want Britain to leave. Unlike other trade talks, where a failure to strike a deal would mean the status quo prevails, a collapse of talks here would mean Britain defaults to trading with the EU on World Trade Organisation terms, causing mass chaos with the business community and long queues at the border. Basically, it would be the "hard" Brexit so many have feared throughout this saga.

Advertisement

Many trade experts believe that Britain will struggle to strike a deal by December 31. "Given how much effort this will involve, the proposed timeframe looks positively heroic," says Institute for Government senior researcher Maddy Thimont Jack. But Johnson has a history of exceeding expectations and believes the tight deadline will actually force the EU's hand at the negotiating table. One possible outcome is a basic trading agreement that will minimise the potential economic damage of "no deal" but kick the big issues well down the road into 2021. What are the most pressing things to sort out? Trade and security top the list.

Advertisement

There is a lot at stake if tariffs return or new customs checks interrupt the free flow of goods across the English Channel. According to a House of Commons briefing paper, the EU is Britain's largest trading partner. In 2018, British exports to the EU were worth 291 billion ($556.8 billion), or 45 per cent of all British exports. British imports from the EU were worth 357 billion. There is also the hugely complex issue of the island of Ireland. Under the current system, goods move uninterrupted between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. But Brexit will introduce a new set of customs rules between the two. Part of the Good Friday peace agreement guarantees no physical division between Ireland and Northern Ireland. To get around that problem, customs checks and controls will apply for goods moving from mainland Britain into Northern Ireland. This ensures no physical checks or controls on the land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. Goods moving directly from Britain to Northern Ireland wont be subject to tariffs unless the good is at risk of then moving on to the EU. This new regime requires a huge amount of planning work and poses serious challenges for Downing Street. There are already fears a massive new computer system needed to regulate the new scheme won't be ready in time. On security, a failure to secure access to the Second Generation Schengen Information Scheme could leave Britain without access to a database of tens of millions of alerts that help authorities identify serious offenders. There are also questions to solve on warrants, terrorism, international crime, cyber-security and hybrid threats.

Advertisement
A man from Assam was arrested on Thursday on charges of raping and murdering an eight-year-old girl at Kongalapuram village near Sivakasi town of Tamil Nadu.

The girl, the daughter of a daily wager, went missing on Monday evening and her body was recovered from a bushy area half a kilometre from her house a day later.

Police said Majid Ali, aged about 20 years and a worker in a small scale industry, was among the six migrant workers detained on Wednesday for questioning in connection with the crime.

During a sustained grilling by the police, he admitted to having committed the crime when the girl had come out for relieving herself. He had disposed of the body amidst the shrubs, an investigating officer said.

The police initially suspected it to be a gang-rape but investigation revealed otherwise, he added.

The Class 3 student used to go to her fathers workplace after school and on Monday evening too she had gone there. She went missing after telling him that she was going to relieve herself.

Her father and other relatives started looking for her when she did not return after an hour. When they could not find her they lodged a complaint with the police.

They blocked a road demanding swift action by the police. Political parties and civil society organisations also staged demonstrations as the crime sent shockwaves in the region.

Police said the accused would be produced before a magistrate on Friday.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 20:34:13|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close





Zhao Yanbo, Chinese Ambassador to Botswana, speaks during an event to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Botswana in Gaborone, Botswana, on Jan. 21, 2020. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)

Chinese Embassy in Botswana celebrated the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with Botswana as the two countries have witnessed rising cooperation on trade and investment, tourism as well as people-to-people interaction.

GABORONE, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Embassy in Botswana celebrated the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in Gaborone.

The event also marked the Chinese Lunar New Year.

Speaking at the event on Tuesday, Chinese Ambassador to Botswana, Zhao Yanbo, said the two countries adhere to an independent foreign policy of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and non-interference in each other's internal affairs.

"We each view the other's development as our own opportunity, and we each seek to promote the other's development and prosperity through closer cooperation."

"In the meantime, as guardians of the international order and champions of multilateralism, we share broad consensus on international affairs and are both committed to upholding the common interests of developing countries," he said.

China has rendered within its capacity, assistance for Botswana's economic and social development, including helping build the Botswana Defense Force.

Nonofo Molefhi (L), Botswana's Acting Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation and China's Vice Minister of Commerce Qian Keming shake hands during the first session of the Joint Committee on Economy, Trade, Investment and Technical cooperation in Gaborone, capital of Botswana, May 22, 2019. (Xinhua/Yang Mengxi)

More than 40 China-aid projects in Botswana cover a wide range of areas such as infrastructure, agriculture, education, health and housing.

"In the past four decades China has dispatched 15 medical teams with a total of over 500 doctors and nurses to Botswana, providing medical care and treatment to local patients. We have also sponsored thousands of Botswana citizens in various sectors for study or training in China," said Zhao, adding that the relations are at a new historic starting point blessed with important opportunities for stronger growth.

For her part, Botswana's Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation, Unity Dow, said Botswana attaches high importance to relations with China and is proud to be celebrating four and a half decades of fruitful friendship and cooperation, which has expanded and deepened under the guidance of both countries' successive leaders.

Dancers perform during a celebration of the 2020 Chinese Lunar New Year in Gaborone, Botswana, Jan. 21, 2020. (Photo by Tshekiso Tebalo/Xinhua)

"We have benefitted and continue to benefit from each other's successes in many ways," stated Dow.

The leaders in two countries are very clear in their intentions to strengthen the Botswana-China partnership, said Dow.

To date, the two countries have over 30 bilateral agreements and Memoranda of Understanding covering social, economic, technical and technological cooperation, as well as human resource development.

Botswana and China have witnessed an increased growth in areas of development including trade and investment, tourism as well as people-to- people interaction.

Botswana also appreciates the important role of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation as a vital framework that contributed to efforts of advancing the cause of Africa's socioeconomic development. 
For wealthier clients, Mr. Vanneman advises a strategy of direct indexing, in which they create a portfolio that mirrors an E.T.F. but with fewer stocks. Owning the individual stocks allows investors to benefit from tax losses that can pad their returns by as much as two percentage points.

Mark Haefele, chief investment officer at UBS Global Wealth Management, said in a phone interview from Davos that his firm had created a special sustainable portfolio for people in its private client group. The strategy had $1 billion in 2018 and has grown to $9 billion today, with some clients putting the bulk of their wealth into it.

We made a distinction between sustainable investment and impact investment, Mr. Haefele said. Impact is a more narrow category  you have a demonstrable social good that is reported out to investors. Sustainable is broader and encompasses more strategies.

Still, within even UBS, the amount committed to this is small: The firm manages about $2.6 trillion.

The Improvers. A perfect world, of course, isnt easy to achieve. Plenty of companies will never be totally green, but many are moving toward operating in a more sustainable way.

The key question is, How does this impact my money? said Steve Norcini, senior equity portfolio manager Wilmington Trust and the author of a recent paper on sustainable investing. We view climate change as one of the many risks that need to be evaluated with a company. We look at carbon emissions per dollar of sale, water usage policy, how much energy usage comes from renewables. Its all trying to get at how sustainable is this business.

Doing this, though, means some of the investments may not appear to tick a climate-friendly box.

Mr. Norcini pointed to CMS Energy, which has pledged to shut down all of its coal plants and replace them with up to 50 percent renewable energy by 2040. But right now, it still has coal plants. Another is Total S.A., which he considers among the most progressive oil companies, even if its still in the business of pulling oil and gas out of the ground.
DoorDash is making another push into Southeast Texas delivery markets statewide with a Salata partnership.

The Houston-based salad chain recently inked a deal with the delivery platform as a part of DoorDashs initiative to land more partnering restaurants.

Salata will offer free delivery for online orders from Jan. 27 to Feb. 2.

Founded in 2005, Salata offers guests fully customizable, built-to-order salads, wraps, soups, organic teas and lemonade. It has more than 90 corporate-owned and franchise locations in Texas, Oklahoma, Illinois, Georgia, Florida, Southern California and Louisiana.

According to market data from analytics firm Second Measure, DoorDash edged past GrubHub by 1% to take the lead in delivery market share with 33% of sales in 2019.
A statue of rationalist leader E V Ramasamy 'Periyar' was found vandalised in neighbouring Kancheepuram district on Friday with political leaders in Tamil Nadu condemning it and demanding stern action against the culprits.

The statue at Salavakkam was found damaged on Friday morning, causing a flutter in the locality, police said.

The state police warned of "strong action" against anti-social elements involving in vandalising statues of Periyar or other leaders.

The incident comes in the backdrop of a renewed debate on Periyar in Tamil Nadu, after superstar Rajinikanth last week had made some remarks about a 1971 rally taken out by the Dravidian stalwart.

Taking part at an event held by Tamil magazine 'Thuglak' on Jannuary 14, Rajinikanth had alleged: "In 1971, at Salem, Periyar took out a rally in which the undressed images of Lord Sriramachandramoorthy and Sita -with a garland of sandal- (were) featured...."



His comments drew the ire of pro-Periyar outfits and political parties, including the ruling AIADMK and DMK, in Tamil Nadu which hold the late leader in high esteem.

The actor, who is expected to float his political party ahead of assembly elections next year, had refused to apologise as demanded by some Dravidian outfits, maintaining what he said was factual.

Condemning the vandalisation, DMK President M K Stalin on Friday said damaging the statue of Periyar who had "strived for Tamils and Tamil Nadu for 95 years was shameful and regrettable."



The state government must take due action, he told reporters here.

Director General of Police L K Tripathy "has warned police will take very strong action against anti-social elements who vandalise statue of Thanthai Periyar or statues of other leaders in the state," a police source said.

PMK founder leader S Ramadoss expressed concern over the incident and said it will harm general peace.

Of late, such incidents have been recurring in the state, he said adding anyone who hold contrarian views to that of Periyar should only express their opinions but not resort to such vandalism which was unacceptable.

He demanded the arrest of culprits behind the act.

CPI state secretay R Mutharasan and AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran also condemned the vandalism and demanded proper action.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Trump on Friday becomes the first U.S. President to attend the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., a march he previously addressed via video, a march sure to be ignored by the lamestream media or downplayed as a gathering of white supremacists. It reflects his belief that every human life begins at conception and is a gift from God and reflects the fear, an unspoken motive for impeachment, that Trump will get to appoint more Supreme Court justices forming a majority to overturn the wrongly decided Roe V. Wade, another SCOTUS decision which, like Dred Scott, declared an entire class of people as less than human. As LifeSiteNews reported:

March for Life officials told LifeNews.com they were delighted President Trump is demonstrating his commitment to pro-life values by appearing in person -- joining half a million or more Americans demonstrating their resolve to ending abortion. Jeanne Mancini, President of March for Life, told LifeNews, We are deeply honored to welcome President Trump to the 47th annual March for Life. He will be the first president in history to attend and we are so excited for him to experience in person how passionate our marchers are about life and protecting the unborn. Last year, Trump told thousands of pro-life advocates at the March for Life that he plans to veto any bill that would promote abortion. Today I have signed a letter to Congress to make clear that if they send any legislation to my desk that weakens the protection of human life, I will issue a veto, Trump said. And we have the support to uphold those vetos. We know that every life has meaning and that every life is worth protecting, as president I will always defend the first right in our Declaration of Independence, the right to life, he said. As president, I will always defend the first right in our Declaration of Independence, the right to life, Trump said in remarks recorded in the Oval Office, a right he said extended to unborn children.

Trump has repeatedly called out the Democratic Partys extreme position on abortion. During his state of the union address this year, Trump slammed the governors of New York and Virginia for promoting abortion up to birth and infanticide. He also called for Congress to pass a ban on late-term abortions on babies who are capable of feeling pain.

The media will no doubt minimize the crowd size and characterize it as part of a racist presidents war on women. Never mind that a disproportionate percentage of abortions are of black babies and that Planned Parenthood is responsible for more black deaths than the KKK. Never mind that the Democrats make war on unborn women in their mothers womb. Equal rights for unborn women, anyone?

Certainly House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who is Catholic like Judas was an apostle, wont go for that, and neither will her abortion-until-birth-and-even-after Democrats. As LifeSiteNews reported during a recent abortion-funding battle:

Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi blasted Catholics for fighting for the right not to perform or fund abortions, describing their abhorrence for supporting abortions as this conscience thing, in remarks to the Washington Post. Last month, during a debate in the House over a bill to stop abortion funding in the health care bill and to strengthen conscience rights on abortion, Pelosi had described the bill as savage, claiming that it would allow doctors to let women die on the floor because they could refuse to perform an abortion. In her remarks to the Post, Pelosi, who says she is Catholic, defended her statements against the Protect Life Act. While some may not like the language, she said, the truth is what I said. They would let women die on the floor, she said. They would! Again, whatever their intention is, this is the effect. Im a devout Catholic and I honor my faith and love it ... but they have this conscience thing [about abortion], added Pelosi.

Apparently this conscience thing may be invoked in the name of open borders, sanctuary cities, and states coddling murderers of American citizens, but not when you are someone who believes life begins at conception and ends at natural death and not at the point of an abortionists scalpel.

Heaven, as some have suggested, is a place with high walls and extreme vetting. And, we are told, once you have been judged, you are cast out, uh, deported. There is a big gate, which could be called a port of entry, but you do not get to climb over it or sneak around it.

Yes, Nancy Pelosi has children, but according to her she had the right to snuff out every one of their lives right up to the moment of birth, perhaps even after, as the Democrat governor of Virginia said he was fine with. You cannot serve the Catholic Church and Planned Parenthood:

Speaker Pelosis attempt at claiming the moral high ground here is the peak of hypocrisy from a career politician. Our individual faith and beliefs are our own forces to reckon with, but Speaker Pelosi is far from a shining example of a strict follower of the churchs teachings, especially given her spineless rhetoric on abortion as the issue moves to the center of the ideological divide. As her party moves further to the left each day, especially on the issue of abortion, Speaker Pelosi has simultaneously remained silent while still claiming to be a moderate and a faithful Catholic. The mainstream Democratic Party, fueled by young progressives and far-left interest groups, has embraced unlimited, late-term abortion with open arms. The Speaker refuses to condemn the abhorrent abortion laws implemented in New York and Virginia, which both go even further than third trimester abortions. She also turns a blind eye to the harmful rhetoric pushed by groups such as Planned Parenthood and NARAL, both of which provide substantial monetary donations to the Democratic Party, as they encourage American women to "shout their abortions."

Roe V. Wade was decided in an era when you could argue that the fetus was a soulless clump of cells and get away with it. There was no ultrasound and, no way to monitor the fetal heartbeat, or even to perform fetal surgery. Premature babies are saved at earlier and earlier dates. Should our right to life be determined by technology? What kind of right is that?

Viability was and still is a determining factor in limiting abortions. Many states have added restrictions on when abortions can be performed based on the ability of the unborn to save birth. As Investors Business Daily editorialized when Texas passed a late-term abortion ban, the humanity of the unborn was even grudgingly acknowledged by one of the majority justices in Roe:

The 20-week benchmark wasn't pulled out of a hat. The respected University of Utah expert Maureen Condic recently testified before Congress that at 20 weeks a fetus can feel pain and has "an increase in stress hormones in response to painful experiences" along with other reactions that "reflect a mature, bodywide response to pain." It is her view that fetuses "deserve the benefit of the doubt regarding their experience of pain and protection from cruelty under the law."..... Thanks to medical science, the time it takes for a baby in the womb to become viable is shrinking. It's been said that if the Supreme Court in 1973 had seen ultrasound pictures of the unborn, as is routinely done today, Roe v. Wade would have been decided quite differently.

We may be only one or two more Supreme Court justices away from the right of the unborn to life being guaranteed in law. When President Trump issued an executive order restoring the Mexico City policy on funding of organizations that provide abortions, we got a clear message on his view of the humanity of the unborn. As The Hill reported:

President Trump on Monday reignited the war over abortion by signing an executive order blocking foreign aid or federal funding for international nongovernmental organizations that provide or "promote" abortions. The so-called Mexico City policy, established by Republican President Ronald Reagan in 1984, blocks federal funding for international family planning charities that provide abortions or actively promote the procedure. I think the president has made it very clear that hes a pro-life president, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer told reporters at his first briefing Monday afternoon.

On the wall of the Jefferson Memorial are the words: God who gave us life gave us liberty. The two are inseparable. Slaves were once considered something less than human, as the unborn currently are. The Supreme Court, which gave us Roe V. Wade, once gave us the Dred Scott decision. A Trump court may soon correct another gross injustice.

Daniel John Sobieski is a former editorial writer for Investors Business Daily and freelance writer whose pieces have appeared in Human Events, Reason Magazine, and the Chicago Sun-Times among other publications.
Angelina Jolie reportedly has her heart set on adopting a fourth child, expanding her already large brood of six children. The actress is well aware of the fact that her ex-husband Brad Pitt is already moving on.

With the divorce settlement well underway, Jolie plans to move out of the country in search of the golden child she will open up her home to. As of date, the actress is said to feel constrained by her husband to live in a certain place that does not make her feel like herself. She hopes that after the divorce is done with, she can finally move on as Pitt has already done.

Brad Cozies Up to Ex And His Kids, Too!

The recent SAG Awards and previously the Golden Globes saw famous exes Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston warming up with their friendship. The former couple had broken up in the past when Jolie entered the scene, and now it seems like Pitt is eager to reunite with his former flame.

It is not just Pitt who is getting cozy with Jen. As it turns out, Pitt had already introduced his and Jolie's children to Aniston. This reportedly got Jolie furious. More so since the kids reportedly loved being around Aniston and thought she was cool.

Jolie and Pitt's biological child Shiloh even reportedly told Jen that her dad Brad seems to be happy with her.

Moreover, Pitt had joked about his relationship with his ex-wife at the SAG Awards. He opened up about the difficulties of getting high, taking his shirt off, and then unable to get it on with his wife. This moved the crowd -- including his ex Jen -- to laughs.

Jen showed her full support towards Pitt both in public and in private when she met with his kids.

If He Can Move On, So Can I

Jolie is reportedly awaiting the divorce from Pitt to be finalized so she can proceed with her plans to adopt Baby Number 7. The actress is rumored to receive a hefty divorce settlement from Brad, which she is set to utilize for the support of her next child.

However, keep in mind that Jolie never publicly announced her desire to adopt another baby regardless of whether or not she receives a huge sum from Pitt through the divorce.

Apparently, Jolie had always wanted to add another child to their family, but Pitt stopped her in her tracks. Brad reportedly thought six children was enough for their family. Jolie is said to have felt the need to cave to what Brad had wanted, but now can do what she wants.

Jolie is believed to tap into her UN contacts to have the adoption plans come to fruition. Adoption is said to be Jolie's plan to seek a new direction with her life. Ethiopia, Africa, Syria and China are said to be the places Angelina wants to visit to look for her the child of her dreams.

"In fact, she's firming plans to visit more orphanages around the world until she finds the golden child of her dreams," a source of New Idea said.

Angelina previously said she hoped to be out of her element and travel to somewhere she has never been. She also expressed her desire to have her children to grow up in the world and have friends everywhere around the globe.
By Rasana Gasimova

Azerbaijan`s Central Election Commission (CEC) has accredited over 210 international observers for their monitoring of the early parliamentary elections scheduled for February 9, CEC Deputy Chairman Rovzat Gasimov told reporters.

We hope that the number of international observers will increase. As you know, to be registered, an observer should submit an application letter to the CEC requesting registration no later than on the 10th day before the election day, he said.

Gasimov also said that several organizations have applied to Azerbaijan's Central Election Commission (CEC) to conduct exit-polls at the early parliamentary elections to be held in the country.

According to the law, organizations willing to conduct exit-polls must contact the CEC not later than 20 days before the election day.

The period has expired, and in the coming days the media will be provided with information about organizations that have submitted documents to the CEC for conducting exit-poll.

Note that 2431 people have applied to take part in the elections to the Azerbaijani parliament. Currently, the number of candidates for the parliament is 1,479. The elections will be held on February 9.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
An umbrella body of private and church-run hospitals of Mizoram on Friday informed the state government on Friday that its members will implement its health care scheme, officials said.

The government in December had suspended empanelment of 18 private hospitals for allegedly refusing to implement the Mizoram State Health Care Scheme (MSHCS).

Health Minister Dr R Lalthangliana recently requested Non-Governmental Hospital Association of Mizoram (NGHAM) to implement the programme.

"The NGHAM on Friday held a meeting, considered the health minister's request and agreed to implement the state healthcare scheme for the benefit of people," the association leader Dr Vanlalsiama said.

The association also appealed to the state government to revoke the order suspending empanelment of 18 private hospitals, he said.

Lalthangliana thanked the organisation for agreeing to implement the state healthcare scheme and asked officials to take action for lifting the suspension.

The government would revise the scheme if need arises, he said.

The NGHAM had said any medical expenses, which exceed the quantum of reimbursement permissible under the healthcare scheme, should be paid by the patients. The government had rejected it saying all beneficiaries are entitled to full medical care.

The MSHCS was launched by the state government on October first last year. Under this scheme, a beneficiary is given health insurance of Rs 2 lakh cover in a year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BJP MLA Bihari Lal Nokha on Friday walked in the Rajasthan Assembly with a basket of locusts on Friday to draw the attention of the state government towards its increasing menace in the fields of Rajasthan. The BJP MLA has demanded swift action from the state government to compensate the farmers whose crops have been destroyed by the locusts.

READ | After a month, locust menace resurfaces in north Gujarat

"The farmers in the state have faced huge losses due to the locust menace and the government should pay them their compensation. Over seven lakh hectares of crops have been damaged," Nokha informed.

Nokha also asserted that he will speak to the government official regarding the issue. "We demand the state government to not waste time and help the farmers in Rajasthan. They have been affected due to locusts that have emanated from the desert area of Pakistan. I have come here to speak to the government and work out some relief measures", he said.

READ | Locust outbreak, most serious in 25 years, hits East Africa

Rajasthan experiences worst locust attack in 2 decades

Rajasthan is experiencing the worst locust attack in 26 years. The locust attack has not just destroyed their crops but has also affected their livelihood. Earlier this month Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot met the farmers of Barmer whose crops has been destroyed in locust attack. Agriculture secretary K.S Pannu has advised farmers not to panic as the officials of the department are in constant touch with the agriculture expert and the Government of India, who are monitoring the situation.

READ | Gehlot seeks PM's help to check locust attack in Rajasthan

Eleven districts of the state are facing the worst locust attack and the control measures have been undertaken on 3.70 lakh hectares of affected land, officials said. Locust, colloquially known as 'Tiddi Dal' in North India, is a kind of a grasshopper that usually move in large numbers and devour the crop wherever they settle. Locust attacks are being reported in parts of Rajasthan bordering Pakistan.

(With inputs from ANI)

READ | Need Centre's support for locust control in western Rajasthan: Ashok Gehlot
Fentanyl use by people who use drugs has doubled since 2015, and two-thirds of people are aware they've taken it, finds new research out of British Columbia, the Canadian province that has experienced the highest number of illicit drug toxicity deaths as a result of the opioid crisis.

The findings point to the importance of taking comprehensive measures to reduce the risk for people who take the toxic opioid knowingly or unknowingly. The study, by the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) and University of British Columbia, is based on 2018 survey data collected from people who visit harm reduction sites for supplies like new syringes and needles or safer smoking supplies. The study, published this week in the International Journal of Drug Policy, provides valuable insights into fentanyl use that will inform efforts to reduce overdoses and deaths in B.C. and beyond.

"This research shows the majority of people who use fentanyl know they're doing so," says Dr. Jane Buxton, BCCDC epidemiologist, harm reduction lead and professor in the UBC School of Population and Public Health. "Making people who use drugs aware of the presence of fentanyl in the drug supply isn't enough; we need harm reduction services, substance use treatment, overdose prevention resources, and pharmaceutical alternatives to the toxic drug supply to reduce the devastating impact of fentanyl and its analogues on our communities."

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid 50 to 100 times more toxic than morphine According to preliminary data from the BC Coroner's Service, fentanyl or its analogues such as carfentanil were found in 85 per cent of fatal overdose cases in 2019.

When fentanyl first appeared in the drug supply, many people took fentanyl unknowingly in the drugs they sought like heroin, counterfeit opioid tablets or other substances. At the time, B.C. saw a huge spike in deaths from the contaminated drug supply and instituted measures to prevent deaths including distribution of kits containing the overdose reversing drug naloxone, increased access to treatments for opioid use disorder susbtitiuation treatment, and expansion of overdose prevention services and supervised consumption sites. Scientists and health care workers wanted to know whether people were still unaware they were taking fentanyl, so they repeated a study done in 2015, shortly after fentanyl entered the drug supply.

The study drew on data collected from 303 participants recruited from 27 harm reduction sites across B.C. The participants completed a brief survey on their drug use and provided a urine sample that researchers tested for fentanyl and other substances.

Sixty per cent of participants in 2018 had fentanyl detected in their urine, of these people, 64 per cent knew they had taken fentanyl. The study done in 2015 found 29 per cent of participants tested positive for fentanyl, with only 27 per cent aware that they'd used it.

Researchers do not fully understand the factors that contribute to people knowingly taking fentanyl, but the reasons are varied. Some people may use fentanyl because they are aware it is present in most of the illicit supply of opioids and therefore have no other choice, while some may prefer the experience of taking fentanyl regardless of other options.

"This research lays groundwork that will help us learn more about why fentanyl use is increasing," says Mohammad Karamouzian, PhD student at UBC's School of Population and Public Health and a lead author of the study. "These findings will also contribute to more effective messaging campaigns and harm reduction strategies to help reduce preventable deaths and support the health of people who use substances, their families, and their communities."

Quick facts

Other key findings from the study include:

Recent fentanyl use was more common in people living in urban settings.

People who used fentanyl were more likely to have also recently used heroin/morphine or crystal meth.

Self-reported cannabis use was associated with reduced fentanyl use.

The data for this study were collected at harm reduction sites that provide a range of services to people who use drugs including, but not limited to: condom distribution, needle and syringe distribution and take-home naloxone kits. There are approximately 375 of these facilities across B.C.

A study led by BCCDC in 2019 showed the rapid expansion of harm reduction services (e.g., take home naloxone, opioid agonist therapy and overdose prevention sites) in response to B.C.'s overdose crisis averted more than 3,000 overdose deaths during a 20-month period in 2016-2017.

###

About

The BC Centre for Disease Control, a part of the Provincial Health Services Authority, provides public health leadership through surveillance, detection, treatment, prevention and consultation services. The Centre provides diagnostic and treatment services for people with diseases of public health importance, and analytical and policy support to all levels of government and health authorities. The BCCDC also provides health promotion and prevention services to reduce the burden of chronic disease, preventable injury and environmental health risks. For more, visit http://www.bccdc.ca or follow us on Twitter @CDCofBC.

The Provincial Health Services Authority plans, manages and evaluates selected specialty health care services across BC, working with the five regional health authorities, First Nations Health Authority and the Ministry of Health to deliver province-wide solutions that improve the health of British Columbians. For more information, visit http://www.phsa.ca or follow us @PHSAofBC.
Union Minister Piyush Goyal on January 24 discussed with World Trade Organization chief Roberto Azevedo challenges in the multilateral trading system as well as India's preparedness to engage in reforms aimed at bringing inclusivity and transparency.

Goyal, who is here to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual summit, met European Union trade commissioner Phil Hogan, former US Vice President Al Gore, renowned economist and Nobel laureate Michael Spence, and Singapore's Minister-in-Charge of Trade Relations S Iswaran, among others.

He also held discussions with Blackstone Group Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder Stephen A Schwarzman, South Africa's Minister of Trade and Industry Ebrahim Patel and ABB Chairman and CEO Peter Voser, according to a series of tweets by Goyal.

With WTO Director General Azevedo, the minister discussed various challenges in the multilateral trading system.

They also spoke about India's preparedness to engage in reforms aimed at bringing inclusivity, transparency and non-discrimination, as per a tweet.

The minister said his engagements at Davos show him that businessmen can clearly see that India is the place to invest for a better future.

He met Hogan and spoke about "the significant India-EU economic and investment ties, and the vast potential for them to grow manifold to our mutual advantage".

Goyal -- who holds the portfolios of Commerce and Industry, and Railways -- also tweeted that he had a productive meeting with OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria.

"Spoke about increasing India's engagement with OECD for better insights on global trends, thus promoting more equitable and fair trade," the minister tweeted.

With Gore, Goyal discussed the global economic scenario and its impact on trade and investment.

After meeting with Iswaran, the minister said they discussed ways to further enhance longstanding and deep relations and establishing sustainable trade ties between the two countries.

About his meeting with Schwarzman, Goyal tweeted, "discussed a range of investment opportunities that India presents across various sectors including real estate, infrastructure and logistics".

With Patel, the minister spoke about expanding trade and investment ties through closer cooperation to achieve mutual economic growth and prosperity.

"Discussed our plan of Railway electrification & the huge investment opportunity it presents. Also, spoke about a range of emerging sectors in India like e-mobility, automation & renewable energy," Goyal tweeted after meeting Voser.

On Thursday, the minister said the Indian economy is well-poised to take off and that there is a lot of enthusiasm for making investments in the country.
Funnyman Paul Merton will make his West End debut with his arms wrapped around Michael Ball in the musical Hairspray.

The comic star, best known for his appearances on long-running shows Have I Got News For You (on BBC TV) and Just A Minute (Radio 4), will play joke-store owner and hopeless romantic Wilbur Turnblad  husband to Balls agoraphobic laundress Edna Turnblad in the show, which will run at the London Coliseum from April 23 for an 18-week season.

Merton told me he was rather surprised to be offered the part because he neither sings nor dances.

Funnyman Paul Merton will make his West End debut with his arms wrapped around Michael Ball in the musical Hairspray. He said he could see how his second act number, Youre Timeless To Me, which he croons to Balls Edna can be a real lovely moment

They must know what theyre doing, he said, before recounting the time he played Widow Twankey in panto in Wimbledon . . . and the choreographer gave up on him.

Some people cant dance, and I think Im one of them.

He mentioned the song in Hairspray called You Cant Stop The Beat, but in my case its You Cant Find the Beat.

However, he also reasoned that Im in the capable hands of Michael Ball . . . Hes won an Olivier Award and hes going to be top notch, first class. Also, I have something to aim for.

The role of Wilbur was played by veteran hoofer Dick Latessa in the original Broadway production, but over here, the tendency has been to cast the part with big-name comedians.

Producer Adam Spiegel signed Mel Smith to launch the London production with Ball back in 2007. He acknowledged Mertons lack of song and dance prowess.

They must know what theyre doing, he said, before recounting the time he played Widow Twankey in panto in Wimbledon . . . and the choreographer gave up on him. Some people cant dance, and I think Im one of them'

I dont think either are his greatest strengths, he said, but hes a dedicated student of comedy and a fan of vaudeville. He needs to be funny and sincere, which he is in spades. He doesnt need to be Kiri Te Kanawa.

Merton said hes pleased to be working for the musicals Broadway director Jack OBrien and choreographer Jerry Mitchell.

Hes been a fan of musicals ever since he saw Michael Crawford in Billy (I saw it three times, from the very top of the gods, for 50 pence a ticket).

This is a great opportunity to be in something right outside my comfort zone, he said.

He said he could see how his second act number, Youre Timeless To Me, which he croons to Balls Edna can be a real lovely moment.

Doing a duet with Michael Ball is going to be fun, he said, adding: I dont think Ill be giving Alfie Boe anything to worry about (a reference to Balls long-time concert and recording pal) unless I drag Michaels reputation down to the gutter.

Hes quietly confident thats not going to happen.

Im aware of what Ive got to do, and Im hopeful of pulling it off, he told me, observing that the Coliseum does have a long tradition of comedy.

The Marx Brothers played there, as did Charlie Chaplin as a young man. I never thought Id appear on the stage there.

Ball and Mertons daughter Tracy Turnblad will be played by Lizzie Bea. Jonny Aimes, Georgia Anderson, Rita Simons, Ashley Samuels, Mari McGinlay and Marisha Wallace are also principals in the company.

Alexandras indecent proposal

Alexandra Silber shot to fame when she made her debut in Andrew Lloyd Webbers The Woman In White.

Her last appearance in the West End was in Carousel at The Savoy more than a decade ago.

Now were bringing her back, said David Babani, artistic chief of the Menier Chocolate Factory.

Silbers part of the cast that Babani and director Rebecca Taichman have assembled for Paula Vogels play Indecent, which will run at the Menier from March 13.

Immorality tale: Peter Polycarpou will star in Paula Vogels play Indecent, which will run at the Menier from March 13.

Babani called the work a period piece that examines what we will and wont accept.

It explores how another play  Sholem Aschs God Of Vengeance  was hounded back in 1923 for being immoral because in it, two actresses engage in a passionate kiss: the first ever lesbian smooch on the New York stage.

The cast of Indecent will play multiple roles. One of Silbers will be Dorothee, a thespian who spends a night in the clink for appearing in Aschs play.

The company also includes Beverley Klein, Molly Osborne, Peter Polycarpou, Joseph Timms, Finbar Lynch and Cory English.

God Of Vengeance ran first in Greenwich Village with the kiss intact, but it was cut when the show transferred to Broadway the following year.

Folk were still offended, and it was shut down after six weeks.

Nearly a century later, in 2017, when I saw Vogels study of what went on back in the Twenties, there was no such dissension. Theres nothing indecent about Indecent . . . just sheer fascination.

How Mendess men prepared for war

Sam Mendes told me that the two leads in his Bafta and Oscar-nominated film 1917  Dean-Charles Chapman and George MacKay  make it look very easy . . . and I can tell you it wasnt.

Mendes told me that the pair, who play messengers in the movie, rehearsed for six months before filming began, to become immersed in their roles.

Georges character is quite old-fashioned, in the way hes dignified and gracious, Mendes said.

And Deans is just treading water between man and boy . . . Hes incredibly vulnerable, but hes a cheeky chappie.

The picture is the front-runner for best film at the Oscars, but it has some fierce rivals closing in, including Bong Joon-hos acclaimed Parasite, Quentin Tarantinos Once Upon A Time . . . In Hollywood, The Irishman and Joker.
Vice President Mike Pence told Pope Francis on Friday that the pontiff made him a 'hero' for giving him a gift for his mom.

Pence was raised Catholic but is now an evangelical, born-again Christian. His mother Nancy was reported to be disappointed by his conversion and remains a member of the Catholic Church.

Pope Francis, while meeting with the vice president at the Vatican, gave him a small white box containing a medal.

'This is for mom,' Pence said.

'You've made me a hero,' he told the pope.

Vice President Mike Pence told Pope Francis he made him a 'hero' for giving him a gift for his mom Nancy

Vice President Pence brought his daughter-in-law Sarah and his wife Karen to join his meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican

Mom and son": Mike Pence's mother Nancy raised him in the Catholic faith and was reported to have been disappointed when he became a born-again Christian

After he met with the pope, Pence and his party toured the Sistine Chapel

Pence visited the Apostolic Palace after meeting with the pope

The vice president and the pontiff held a one hour conversation that had Pence beaming when he left the discussion in the papal library.

The two men discussed 'the March for Life, Venezuela, and displaced religious minorities in Middle East,' according to the vice president's office.

Pence was at Vatican City in Rome, meeting with the head of the Catholic Church, as Donald Trump prepares to become the first U.S. president to ever address the anti-abortion March for Life rally on the National Mall Friday afternoon.

The vice president extended Trump's best wishes to the pontiff.

'I wanted to extend the warmest greetings on behalf of President Donald Trump who so enjoyed his visit here,' Pence said to Pope Francis. 'And he wanted me to send his regards.'

Pence was joined by his wife Karen and daughter-in-law Sarah. They were joined for their meeting at the Vatican by U.S ambassador to the Holy See Callista Gingrich and her husband, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Pence gave the pope a crucifix made with wood from a tree near the Vice President's residence.

Pope Francis also gave Pence five bound books of his writings as pope, as well as a copy of the annual peace message.

Vice President Pence and Karen Pence in the Sala Regia at the Apostolic Palace

Pence with Vatican representatives and members of the Swiss guard

Pence gave Pope Francis a crucifix made of wood from near the vice president's home

Vice President Pence with his mom Nancy during a September 2019 trip to Ireland

U.S ambassador to the Holy See Callista Gingrich and her husband, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, greeted the Pence party upon their arrival in Italy

Donald Trump met with the pope at the Vatican in May 2017 during a trip with first lady Melania Trump, first daughter Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner

The Pence party also toured the Sistine Chapel - which was filled with tourists while the vice president was in there - and then the vice president headed to separate meetings with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Premier Giuseppe Conte.

Trump met with the pope at the Vatican in May 2017 during a trip with first lady Melania Trump, first daughter Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner.

The president will head to the National Mall on Friday to address the pro-life movement.

His speech comes as he courts religious voters ahead of the November election - a voting base he'll need at the ballot box - and as he fights off impeachment charges against him in the Senate.

He'll speak to the crowd a short distance away from the U.S. Capitol, where Democrats will wrap up their case against Trump on Friday afternoon.

Last year, the president sent a video taped message to the march.

This year he'll be there in person.

March for Life President Jeanne Mancini praised Trump and his administration as 'consistent champions for life.'

'We are deeply honored to welcome President Trump to the 47th annual March for Life,' she said in a statement earlier this week. 'He will be the first president in history to attend and we are so excited for him to experience in person how passionate our marchers are about life and protecting the unborn.'

About 100,000 people attended last year's march.

The announcement of Trump's participation was made on the 47th anniversary of Roe v. Wade - the landmark Supreme Court case that legalized abortion in the United States.

The March for Life began in 1974, the year after the Roe v. Wade decision.

The pro-life movement was initially skeptical of Trump when he began his presidential bid but has come to embrace him.

Donald Trump will become the first U.S. president in history to address the March for Rally

He has courted them in returning, appointing conservative judges with records of restricting abortion rights, and meeting with religious leaders.

Pence, meanwhile, is wrapping up a trip to Israel and Italy.

He was in Jerusalem for Holocaust memorial event where his office denied he was snubbed by Prince Charles, who avoided shaking hands with the vice president but then but then smiled as he greeted Vladimir Putin.

A video clip of the Prince of Wales greeting officials in Israel on Thursday shows him walking along the front row of seats, shaking hands with world and Jewish leaders.

When he came to Pence, the vice president had his hand extended in apparent expectation of a handshake.

But the heir to the British throne merely looked him in the eye before moving on to shake hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the country's President Reuven Rivlin.

As the video went public, both Pence's staff and Buckingham Palace denied it was a snub and said the pair had met before entering the hall, exchanging smiles and joking with each other, and shaken hands after the event.

Katie Waldman, the Vice President's press secretary, tweeted a video and picture of Pence and Charles together before the event.

A Buckingham Palace told the BBC the prince and Pence had a 'long and warm conversation' before the ceremony began.

The Prince of Wales approached Mike Pence at the event in Israel as he greeted dignitaries, but did not shake his had after looking him in the eye

A video clip of the Prince of Wales greeting officials in Israel shows him walking along the front row of seats, shaking hands with several dignitaries. But when he came to Pence, the heir to the throne merely looked him in the eye before moving on to shake hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Mike Pence patted Prince Charles on the back after he walked past without shaking his hand and greeted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Auschwitz event today

Vice President's press secretary, Katie Waldman, tweeted a photo she said was taken before guests entered the hall at the Auschwitz memorial event today, showing Prince Charles and Mike Pence sharing a joke

Waldman added in a statement: 'Vice President Pence and the Second Lady spoke with Prince Charles for five minutes in the pre-program before they entered the hall. Also they shook hands at the end of his remarks.'

In the clip the Prince first speaks to the German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier, then shaking hands with Moshe Kantor, founder of the World Holocaust Forum which held the event.

He is then seen walking past Pence to shake hands with Netanyahu and the Israeli President, Reuven Rivlin.

The Prince did not appear to make an effort to approach Pence and his wife, Karen, as the VP then patted the Queen's first son on the back as he spoke to Netanyahu.

Strictly speaking, Prince Charles followed protocol, shaking hands with a head of state - the German president - then his hosts, Kantor, Netanyahu and Rivlin; Pence is not a head of state nor a host.

But the optics of the apparent snub were impossible to miss - as was Pence's expression.

Once Charles walked past Pence, he then took his seat next to French President Emmanuel Macron and warmly shook hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

After a friendly discussion with Netanyahu, Prince Charles then shook hands with Macron.

The Prince greeted Putin with a handshake and a smile in a separate clip posted online.

Charles had been meeting including world leaders at the event to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

Charles reached across Emmanuel Macron to warmly greet Russian President Vladimir Putin just moments after walking past Mike Pence and not greeting him

Earlier at the memorial, Prince Charles told invited guests that the stories of the Holocaust belonged to many of those in the hall and Jewish people across the globe.

He added: 'But we must never forget that they are also our story: a story of incomprehensible inhumanity, from which all humanity can and must learn.

'For that an evil cannot be described does not mean that it cannot be defeated. That it cannot be fully understood does not mean that it cannot be overcome.'

From left: US Vice President Mike Pence, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, French President Emmanuel Macron and Britain's prince Charles during the Fifth World Holocaust Forum at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial museum in Jerusalem

After walking past Mike Pence, Prince Charles went on to shake hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right)

When Pence spoke he urged the international community to 'stand strong' against Iran, calling it the only country where Holocaust denial is 'state policy'.

He was watched by Nancy Pelosi, the House Speaker, who clapped as he spoke.

Putin used his platform at the event to take political aim at Poland. Polish politicians have been infuriated by the central role given to Putin at the historic commemoration.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 05:29:58|Editor: ZD

Video Player Close

A pyramid is illuminated in red in Giza, Egypt, on Jan. 23, 2020. The Pyramids and the Sphinx in Giza near Cairo have been shining in red in a ceremonial sound and light show on Thursday evening as part of the celebrations of China's Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese New Year. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

by Mahmoud Fouly, Wu Danni

CAIRO, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Great Pyramids and the Sphinx in Giza near the Egyptian capital Cairo have been shining in red in a ceremonial sound and light show on Thursday evening as part of the celebrations of China's Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese New Year.

During the show, the Sphinx was lit in vivid colors while narrating the stories of ancient Egyptian pharaohs with laser shapes projected on the three massive pyramids in the background.

Attended by hundreds of Chinese visitors, along with many Egyptians who are interested in the Chinese culture, the event was organized by the Chinese Cultural Center in Cairo (CCC) in cooperation with Misr Company for Sound and Light.

"Today, the Pyramids Plateau is distinguished by wonderful lights as the Chinese red lanterns integrate with the beautiful Egyptian pyramids, marking a meeting between the two old civilizations of China and Egypt," Shi Yuewen, cultural counselor of the Chinese embassy in Egypt and CCC chief, told the attendees.

Shi noted that the outgoing 2019 witnessed "great success" in the rising cultural and tourism exchange and growing ties of friendship between the peoples of the two countries.

The Chinese diplomat stood in the middle of a row of Chinese and Egyptian visitors who together yelled out "Happy Chinese New Year!"

The Egyptian-Chinese cultural interaction has noticeably been growing thanks to the support of the political leaderships of both countries, Fathy Abdel-Wahab, head of the Cultural Development Fund of Egypt's Ministry of Culture, said during the event.

"Over the past few years, interaction between the Egyptian and the Chinese has become stronger and we started to see more Chinese people in the Egyptian streets," the Egyptian official told Xinhua.

"This evening's Chinese-speaking Sound and Light show embodies the depth of the Egyptian-Chinese relations and the harmony between the two civilizations," Abdel-Wahab added.

Chinese and Egyptian visitors were amazed by the ancient Egyptian colorful laser-light shapes projected on the three Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx voiceover narrating the history of ancient Egypt and the mysterious construction of the pyramids.

"We have been amazed to see the ancient Sphinx and the Great Pyramids covered with Chinese red lights. The show is fantastic as it has the pyramids and the Sphinx in the background and the whole scene changes with the change of the sound and light," said Feng Yan, a 40-year-old tourist from Beijing.

"This is the first time for me and my husband to spend the Chinese New Year overseas. We have chosen Egypt as our destination without hesitation, for we admire Egypt's ancient history and civilization so much," she told Xinhua.

Reham Ahmed, an Egyptian young woman who studies Chinese at Cairo University, came with a friend of hers to watch the Sound and Light show and got more in touch with the Chinese people and culture.

"The celebration combines both the Egyptian and the Chinese cultures, so it is attractive to me as an Egyptian and a student of Chinese language," said the Egyptian student, stressing that such events boost cultural exchange between the two sides.

The 2020 Chinese Spring Festival marks the beginning of the Year of the Rat, which is the first in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac.

Misr Company for Sound and Light has recently added the Chinese language to its evening shows at the Pyramids Plateau due to the rising number of Chinese visitors in light of the growing ties between the two countries.

"Now Chinese is one of the main nine languages of our Sound and Light shows. China has an ancient civilization and the Chinese people value our ancient Egyptian civilization as well," said Youssef al-Hawary, general manager of the Sound and Light at the Pyramids Plateau.

"We can see that all our Chinese friends are happy with our Sound and Light show tonight and we wish them all a happy Chinese New Year," the Egyptian manager told Xinhua during the Sound and Light show.
One person died of a bullet injury during a clash between two communities at Khambat town in Anand district of Gujarat on Friday, a senior police official said.

Police had opened fire to bring the situation under control, but it was yet to be ascertained whether the deceased man, identified as Vinu Chavda, was hit by the bullet fired by the police, the official said.

"A clash broke out between two communities in the communally-sensitive Akbarpur area of Khambat town. The police fired some rounds to bring the situation under control," Superintendent of Police (SP) Makrand Chauhan said.

"One person died after being hit by a bullet. However, it is a matter of investigation whether he was hit by a bullet fired by the police or any private person. The situation is now under control," he added.

A video of the incident showed people hurling stones from terraces of houses lined along narrow streets during the clash.

A police official said on the condition of anonymity that houses of five persons belonging to both the communities were torched during the clash.

He said that rounds were fired and tear gas shells lobbed by the police to bring the situation under control.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Mr. Sanders and Ms. Warren have accused one another of lying about a private conversation in 2018 over whether a woman could become president; Mr. Sanders and Mr. Biden have attacked each other over Social Security and corruption; and Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic nominee, has come off the sidelines to stoke her rivalry with Mr. Sanders, declaring that nobody likes him.

The lack of consensus among Democratic voters, 10 days before the presidential nominating primary begins with the Iowa caucuses, has led some party leaders to make unusually fervent and early pleas for unity. On Monday alone, a pair of influential Democratic congressmen issued strikingly similar warnings to very different audiences in very different states.

We get down to November, theres only going to be one nominee, Representative James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, the third-ranking House Democrat, said at a ceremony for Martin Luther Kings Birthday at the State House in Columbia. Nobody can afford to get so angry because your first choice did not win. If you stay home in November, you are going to get Trump back.

No matter who our nominee is, we cant make the mistake that we made in 16, Representative Dave Loebsack of Iowa said that night in Cedar Rapids as he introduced his preferred 2020 candidate, former Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind., at a town hall meeting. We all got to get behind that person so we can get Donald Trump out of office, Mr. Loebsack added.

In interviews, Democratic leaders say they believe the partys fights over such politically fraught issues as treasured entitlement programs, personal integrity, and gender and electability could hand Mr. Trump and foreign actors ammunition with which to depress turnout for their standard-bearer.

I am concerned about facing another disinformation campaign from the other side, said Representative Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania, a Biden supporter who was uneasy enough that he recently sought out high-profile congressional backers of some of the other contenders to discuss an eventual detente. For those of us who are elected officials, we need to exercise real leadership to make sure all of the camps are immediately united after all this is over.
This article is written for those who want to get better at using price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). To keep it practical, we'll show how Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc.'s (NYSE:NUS) P/E ratio could help you assess the value on offer. What is Nu Skin Enterprises's P/E ratio? Well, based on the last twelve months it is 18.10. That is equivalent to an earnings yield of about 5.5%.

View our latest analysis for Nu Skin Enterprises

How Do You Calculate A P/E Ratio?

The formula for price to earnings is:

Price to Earnings Ratio = Share Price  Earnings per Share (EPS)

Or for Nu Skin Enterprises:

P/E of 18.10 = USD37.74  USD2.08 (Based on the year to September 2019.)

Is A High P/E Ratio Good?

The higher the P/E ratio, the higher the price tag of a business, relative to its trailing earnings. That isn't a good or a bad thing on its own, but a high P/E means that buyers have a higher opinion of the business's prospects, relative to stocks with a lower P/E.

How Does Nu Skin Enterprises's P/E Ratio Compare To Its Peers?

We can get an indication of market expectations by looking at the P/E ratio. The image below shows that Nu Skin Enterprises has a P/E ratio that is roughly in line with the personal products industry average (17.4).

NYSE:NUS Price Estimation Relative to Market, January 24th 2020

Nu Skin Enterprises's P/E tells us that market participants think its prospects are roughly in line with its industry. So if Nu Skin Enterprises actually outperforms its peers going forward, that should be a positive for the share price. Checking factors such as director buying and selling. could help you form your own view on if that will happen.

How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios

If earnings fall then in the future the 'E' will be lower. Therefore, even if you pay a low multiple of earnings now, that multiple will become higher in the future. So while a stock may look cheap based on past earnings, it could be expensive based on future earnings.

Nu Skin Enterprises's earnings per share fell by 28% in the last twelve months. And EPS is down 14% a year, over the last 5 years. This might lead to muted expectations.

Story continues

Remember: P/E Ratios Don't Consider The Balance Sheet

It's important to note that the P/E ratio considers the market capitalization, not the enterprise value. So it won't reflect the advantage of cash, or disadvantage of debt. Hypothetically, a company could reduce its future P/E ratio by spending its cash (or taking on debt) to achieve higher earnings.

While growth expenditure doesn't always pay off, the point is that it is a good option to have; but one that the P/E ratio ignores.

So What Does Nu Skin Enterprises's Balance Sheet Tell Us?

Nu Skin Enterprises's net debt is 1.9% of its market cap. It would probably trade on a higher P/E ratio if it had a lot of cash, but I doubt it is having a big impact.

The Verdict On Nu Skin Enterprises's P/E Ratio

Nu Skin Enterprises has a P/E of 18.1. That's around the same as the average in the US market, which is 18.8. When you consider the lack of EPS growth last year (along with some debt), it seems the market is optimistic about the future for the business.

When the market is wrong about a stock, it gives savvy investors an opportunity. As value investor Benjamin Graham famously said, 'In the short run, the market is a voting machine but in the long run, it is a weighing machine. So this free visual report on analyst forecasts could hold the key to an excellent investment decision.

You might be able to find a better buy than Nu Skin Enterprises. If you want a selection of possible winners, check out this free list of interesting companies that trade on a P/E below 20 (but have proven they can grow earnings).

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Welcome to Money Diaries  College Edition, where were tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. Were asking college students how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period  and were tracking every last dollar.

Today: a Student/Nanny/Researcher who spends some of her money this week on five subject notebook.

Occupation: Student/Nanny/Researcher

Industry: Medicine/childcare

Age: 21

Location: Michigan

Salary: $5,000 stipend from student loan yearly, $15/hour nannying, and $10/hour for my research job

Tuition Cost: $20,502 after grants and academic scholarships

Current Student Loans: I have taken out $5,000, the rest of my tuition is covered by my father and my uncle

Gender Identity: Woman

Monthly Expenses

Rent: $0 (shared house with five other girls, my parents pay the $835/month)

Credit Card: $50 towards my $1,900 in credit card debt

Tuition: About $3,500 a month on a payment plan (graciously paid by my parents and uncle)

Water: $35 (every three months for my share)

Wifi: $15 (for my share)

Electric/Heat: $40 (for my share)

Netflix: $10 (I share it with my family)

Spotify+Hulu Student: $5.35

Aaptiv Workout App: $15

Amazon Prime: $6.49

iCloud Storage: $0.99

Allure Beauty Box: $15

Day One

4:45 a.m.  Time to head back to school from winter break! I wake up sweaty and cold so I surprisingly make it out of bed quickly. I finish packing and head off to the airport which is about an hour drive. Despite being notoriously late for the airport, my mother wants to stop for coffee and more gas. Who am I to deny Starbucks? We both get a Cafe Misto with almond milk. Not my usual, but I cant do the sugar this early in the morning. My mom pays.

5:15 a.m.  Well, here we are folks. Already behind schedule, police lights go off behind us. The officer informs us our registration expired less then a week ago, a headlight and brake light are out despite repairing them YESTERDAY! He lets my mom off with a warning but now we are chronically behind schedule.

Story continues

6:05 a.m.  AND MY MOTHER MISSES THE EXIT. I bite my tongue and say a quick prayer.

6:15 a.m.  I run to the check-in desk, and despite having checked in at 4 a.m. and having a seat assignment, she informs me that the flight is closed even though I still have 43 (!) minutes to get to my gate. I know its because the flight is overbooked. She informs me that there is a single seat left on a flight out in three hours but Ill now have a connection that puts me at school a full seven hours later then I was supposed to arrive. I take my new ticket and plop down in the middle of the still-quiet airport. Might as well use this time to be productive I order a five subject notebook that has thick paper on Amazon Prime. Its the little things in life, and in this case, its quality paper for note-taking. $10.37

8:15 a.m.  Okay, the ONE positive to this whole dilemma happens to be in the form of Chik-fil-A breakfast! We dont have any at school so this is a major win. I order two four-count chicken minis and a vanilla iced coffee. I shoot my mom a picture of breakfast so she doesnt feel so bad about me missing my flight (we are taking joint responsibility for this one, but mostly blaming Starbucks). $11.56

8:30 a.m.  Since I am not on my flight, I jump on a Skype call for the executive board I just joined for the upcoming year. Our recruitment starts tonight, so despite not having much to contribute right now, my responsibilities will take up the majority of my time for the next two weeks.

10 a.m.  More airport boredom so I make a lap and get a water for the flight. $3.99

11:30 a.m.  I land in New Orleans (my connection) and wonder why oh why I passed up my acceptance to school here for the cold winters of Michigan (insert sun emoji here). I indulge in more comfort food and get an Auntie Annes cinnamon sugar pretzel. $3.64

5 p.m.  Finally arrive and call an Uber ($34.42). My Uber driver asks me if Im okay. I guess I need sleep. $34.42

6 p.m.  Make it home finally. This day is far from over so I drop off my bag, grab my other bag, and call an Uber to the recruitment orientation that I am helping run. $5.60

8:30 p.m.  Well, I made it. I had to present to my group and I definitely came off as scatterbrained and unprepared. Hoping I can show them tomorrow that I am a better leader!

8:45 p.m.  Head to the corner Walgreens thats on the way home and grab granola bars, chocolates, mints, and fruit snacks for my group tomorrow since its a long day of recruitment. I also buy oatmeal, mac and cheese, and cookies for dinner and breakfast. $33.46

9 p.m.  I quickly make some mac and cheese to eat before bed and end up sitting down with my two roommates, S. and B., to talk. I realize that I dont have milk, so I ask S. if I can use some of her almond milk. However, after two bites of my mac and cheese I wonder why its so sweet and realize that the almond milk is vanilla flavored.

10 p.m.  Completely exhausted, I do a body shower, brush my teeth, and lights out. Today was a day yall.

Daily Total: $103.04

Day Two

5:45 a.m.  My alarm goes off and despite an early bedtime I am not ready to get out from under the covers. I use my favorite part of my phone: the snooze button.

6:30 a.m. I finally resist the urge to snooze again and crawl out of bed. I do a quick morning routine of Kiehls ultra face cream, Tarte mascara, and Maybelline concealer while my oatmeal is cooking. In 15 minutes, Im dressed and out the door.

7:15 a.m.  Recruitment! Most of my job entails making sure everything is running smoothly, and getting people to where they need to go. Despite the rocky start yesterday, a good nights rest has me feeling more confident and focused.

9 a.m.  I realize that my credit card is missing from my phone wallet and its the only card I have (may or may not be waiting for my replacement debit card as well). Load $10 on to my Starbucks card since it uses Apple Pay and order an iced caramel cloud macchiato as an energy boost. $10

1 p.m.  Finally lunch and thankfully it was paid for by my organization and I dont have to figure out my credit card situation! However they have trouble using the right code to get me into the dining hall, so a cute athlete boy behind me volunteers to use one of his guest swipes. Thank you cute athlete boy. I have chicken parm and snack on a couple of Dove chocolates from my bag.

3:30 p.m.  With the end of recruitment not in sight, I run to the cafe in the business school and get an iced latte using Apple Pay. This week will be fueled by lots of caffeine. $4.45

8 p.m.  The rest of the day is a blur. A whopping 13 hours of recruiting later and I am ready for bed. My boyfriend, N., texts me that he made a dinner reservation for us since he has been away in Tokyo over break, but I convince him to stay in with me. Hes a phenomenal chef and cooks us a duck curry recipe he came up with.

12:30 a.m.  Ive been up way too long. I head home, wash my face with a Dear Klairs cleansing oil, brush my teeth, and proceed to pass out in bed.

Daily Total: $14.45

Day Three

8:20 a.m.  My first alarm goes off. First day of classes start today! I swear when I wake up I am a different person entirely. That me decides that I should change my 9 a.m. lecture to a later one in attempts to go back to sleep. THANKFULLY there is a sliver of my reasonable self that gets me out of bed at the last minute and calls an Uber (a waste of money, I know) to make it on time. I throw on leggings, an Urban Outfitters bra top, and a sweatshirt. On the bright side, I see my credit card laying on the floor of my bedroom so crisis averted! $8.30

10 a.m.  I am so thankful I made it out of bed, this professor is clearly the best for Organic Chemistry II. I am going to need all the help I can get. I spend a solid ten minutes panicking when I realize I have no idea where my next class is, but I manage to get there before the professor.

11:30 a.m.  I have a break from classes until 5:30, but it is currently dumping snow and windy. I shuffle to a nearby cafe to get started on assignments. I shoot my mom a text saying that my tuition installment is due. I know that I have careless spending in some areas like for food and transportation, but I genuinely feel like I am stretched so thin at school that I dont have time to meal prep or even make the 15-minute drive to the grocery store. Sometimes I just dont eat lunch to avoid the unnecessary eating out and cost, but it ended up having a huge impact on my health last semester when I wasnt putting a sustainable level of calories into my body.

11:45 a.m.  I order a peppermint mocha and a piece of banana bread and get to work. This has been my go-to order at this cafe for the past three years and it never gets old. $8.45

12:30 p.m.  I mull over finances for a while and plan out a budget. I also remember I need thank you cards for the family I nanny for, so I Amazon Prime a pack of cards that will get here before I see them on Friday. $6.35

3:30 p.m.  My stomach starts growling and the caffeine is making me really jittery. I go next door and grab two slices of cheese pizza because its the cheapest option and I need food ($7 + $1 tip). After Im done I still feel oddly jittery so I trek home to rest before my 5:30 class. $8

7 p.m.  Out of class for the night, so I stop in at N.s to snuggle and watch TV. I get invited out to trivia by my friend V., but I dont want to spend the money and I am really tired from the last couple of days. I somehow end up falling asleep in my clothes at N.s around 11:30. He gently sleepwalks me into his room and tucks me in. My heart.

Daily Total: $31.10

Day Four

9 a.m.  N. wakes me up by tickling my face with my hair. I know this is his way of wanting some intimacy but boy, can you let a girl sleep in later than 9? One of N.s gifts to me from Japan was Japanese lube. Its the thought that counts right? Well anyway, upon trying it out, I feel quite the burning sensation in places that should not burn like that. Considering the packaging is in Japanese, I cross my fingers that Ill be fine.

10:30 a.m.  N. is in a good mood now, and wants to grab coffee and breakfast at a really cute cafe down the street. I get an iced vanilla latte and a glass water bottle so I can reuse it. $7.46

12 p.m.  I dont have class until 5:30 so I manage to shower, eat a bowl of oatmeal, do the house dishes, respond to emails, and put out a few fires for the executive committee Im on. Somewhere around 1:30, I feel exhausted and know if I dont nap now, I am going to be fighting to get through today. Unfortunately, I wake up at 4 from this little nap.

7 p.m.  I really loved my English class! It is the same professor I had last semester and he is so interesting. I warn him that I want to try to write more disturbing pieces after I watched Shutter Island last week, with disturbing being the psychological twists and the hero ending up somewhat of a villain. I am studying Biology to eventually go to medical school, but I love taking writing classes to balance out my STEM courses.

7:30 p.m.  Desperately in need of food, I head to Trader Joes. Trying to be realistic without totally restricting what I buy, I come out with a decent array of food options. I buy turkey burgers, buns, mozzarella, spiced chai mix, tortilla chips, bananas, watermelon, eggs, milk, yogurts, peanut butter, a prepared salad, a bottle of wine, baby bell cheeses, tortellini, a La Colombe draft latte I want to try, and chicken sausage. $50.55

8:30 p.m.  Whip up a turkey burger and realize I could have used dijon mustard and mushrooms on it, but Im more of a plain kind of person when it comes to food so I just add some cheese on top and call it a day. I snack on watermelon while I cook.

9 p.m.  My two housemates who are here this semester (the other three are studying abroad but one of those three is here for the weekend) and I open a couple of bottles of prosecco and chat while we watch Netflix. We get into a debate about learned/innate attraction to others and the prosecco definitely keeps the conversation heated. It feels good to be with them though. At school, my anxiety/depression gets so bad that all I want to do is lock myself away in my room but Ive been feeling distant from them and want to put in the effort to hang out.

10:30 p.m.  Out of nowhere our house becomes filled with people who I dont know very well so I take my exit around 11:30 to go to bed. Nighttime routine of brushing my teeth, washing my face, and using Kiehls face cream.

3 a.m.  The roommate who is going abroad still has people downstairs and theyve started screaming/singing to loud music and stomping the lack of social awareness astounds me. Both me and another roommate text her but she doesnt appear to have her phone with her.

4:30 a.m.  Its FINALLY quiet. I should have gone downstairs to quiet them down earlier but I was in my underwear and a t-shirt.

Daily Total: $58.01

Day Five

8:20 a.m.  Once again this is a painful wake up, this time due to the late-night noise. I snooze until the last second (a trend, clearly), throw on a sweatshirt, jeans, and my snow boots and Im out the door in a hurry. Yes, I should have brushed my teeth but here we are. I make it to Chemistry on time and eat a granola bar from my bag.

12 p.m.  After two more classes, I have a meeting with my executive board to go over recruitment and reflect on our goals for the next semester. Puts me in my feels to be surrounded by such driven and caring women leaders.

2 p.m.  Once Im home, I whip up another turkey burger and try the La Colombe draft latte I bought yesterday. Ive been daydreaming about coffee all day but I stayed strong and waited to drink one at home and it was definitely worth it! I could sacrifice cafes for this, which means I can cut way back now in spending in this area! Thank you MDs for the recommendation. After lunch, I grab some old textbooks that need to be shipped out and run to the UPS store before I have to pick up Q. for my nannying job.

2:30 p.m.  As I leave early to go to the UPS store, I realize my back tire is flat again. I guess it wasnt just the missing valve cap that I replaced I have gone through so many sets of tires in the last four years from embedded nails, I do not know why this keeps happening!! I fill up the tire with air for now ($1.50) and put some gas in my tank while I am at the gas station ($12.11). At the UPS store, I have prepaid shipping so its free. $13.61

4 p.m.  Q. and I set up shop at her kitchen table to do some homework. I end up getting distracted since a SoulCycle is opening up in my city this week, and it is my favorite kind of workout class. For Christmas, my mom said she would split a gym membership with me moving forward, but this month I will do the SoulCycle Original package instead. Its on the pricier end so we decide to split it. I get a six-class pack for $125 which Ill take advantage of as a treat for the next 45 days. My half is $65. Considering I have to pay out of pocket for my therapist ($75 per session), I will use this as an outlet for my anxiety/depression. $65

6:30 p.m.  After I drop Q. off at tutoring, I head home and crawl into bed to relax for a little while. I decide to finish the movie Seven Pounds on Netflix and BOY was I not prepared for that. I end up full-body sobbing and go on like that for a solid 10 minutes after the movie ends. I go downstairs to talk to my roommates as Im still sobbing about the movie and they all laugh at me. I still highly recommend.

11:30 p.m.  Most of the night goes by uneventfully. I see N. but he falls asleep within the hour from residual jet lag. I watch the premiere of The Bachelor in bed, wash my face, brush my teeth, and lights out by 12.

Daily Total: $78.61

Day Six

7:25 a.m.  These early wake-ups arent getting any easier. I dont remember snoozing my alarm but it happens. I get a call asking me about logistical changes with recruiting today so that gets me out of bed.

7:45 a.m.  I grab a TJs yogurt, brush my hair and teeth, and Im out the door. Another full day of recruiting, and the earlier the wake-up, the more likely that my morning routine will be nonexistent.

9 a.m.  I have a little break so I check in about starting my research job next week with my principal investigator for the lab. I mobile order an iced matcha latte from Starbucks since I have money left on my app.

12 p.m.  Lunch break and thankfully I have until 3 so I trek home in the rain, coat still wet from this morning. I feel like a wet blanket.

1 p.m.  My stomach is growling so I whip up some tortellini and snack on watermelon while I cook. After Im done eating my sub-par tortellini I finally get my bedding into the wash. I also get paid for nannying and find that I had a Venmo balance I forgot about! Pleasant surprise!!

3 p.m.  I wake up disoriented, definitely didnt mean to take a nap. But here I am pantless and sweaty post-nap. I throw my pants back on and head to the next phase of recruiting for the day.

4 p.m.  I arrive at the auditorium and thankfully my nap has me more energized and ready to take on the next challenge. I spend the next few hours corralling recruits and organizing with recruiters. During my breaks, I get to spend time with my friend, K., who is also on the board. She is the serene presence that I needed.

5:30 p.m.  I mention in a text to N. that Im aching for another coffee, and he responds by heading to Starbucks and surprising me with a vanilla latte. He is incredibly thoughtful and it makes my day.

9 p.m.  I end the workday in a haze of disorganization and chaos. I head to N.s and crash on the couch, exhausted, but somehow his roommates convince me that I need to have some fun despite wanting desperately to go to bed. I finally give in and go home to quick change, apply bare minimum makeup of concealer and mascara and head back to their house, with a frozen turkey burger in a bag. Sometimes you just need to make your meal on the go.

10 p.m.  After my turkey burger dinner, N. makes me a stiff drink of whiskey and seltzer with lemon and we head out to the bars. His roommate calls the Uber.

11 p.m.  We end up waiting in line for 30 minutes in the cold, and by the time we get in the bar is way over capacity, like dangerously over. We only last a half an hour and I call it a night. N. Ubers us back to his house and I walk the short distance home.

12 a.m.  Body shower, teeth brushed, face washed, and Im in bed.

Daily Total: $0

Day Seven

8:45 a.m.  This is one of my later wake ups of the week and Im glad. I have a little extra time for a morning routine for the last day of recruiting, so I put on some concealer and mascara, brush my teeth, and make myself a bowl of brown sugar oatmeal with bananas on top. I pack a random assortment of snacks and my pre-made TJs salad and call an Uber to where I will be stationed all day. While clearly I have a problem with Ubering excessively, in this case (and many others) there is legitimately no parking and some of these places are a 15-minute drive away! $8.65

9:30 a.m.  Arrive at my station, ready for recruiting to be over. Its a lot on my plate and I need to start buckling down on my school work and research job. I get snapped at by an organizer for her own lack of knowledge but I try to not take it personally since it is a high-stress time. Todays work will mostly be checking in with the recruits and making sure they know where to go. There is a lot of off time today, but they only come in little chunks so I try to make the most of the 20-minute bursts of productivity.

1 p.m.  I am already worn down, and it is absolutely FREEZING outside, so me and the woman I am partnered with decide to treat ourselves to Starbucks since we wont be able to venture all the way back home. I am pleasantly surprised by how nice she is and end the day with a new friend. I cut off contact with my best friend last summer because of some pretty horrific things that she did, so I definitely had a hole in my life where she used to be, plus the emotional toll of what happened still lingers. That makes it even more refreshing to meet someone I click with now. We eat our packed lunches at Starbucks and I order a new drink on I see, a cocoa cloud macchiato and a piece of the lemon loaf that I could eat every day. I top up my card and use stars for the lemon loaf. $10

6 p.m.  My new friend, P., and I trudge through the rest of the day. We are both visibly exhausted from these long days and do our best to keep everyone else organized despite this. When we finally are finished around 6:30 we walk the long way home for some fresh air and quiet. We end up living only a street apart so it looks like this friendship is really working out. Once I get home, I end up sitting on the floor of my shower in the hot water for 20 minutes, thankful that I am done with recruiting, but also because I need the relaxation after such a long week. I take my time with my nightly routine; turning on my oil diffuser, playing quiet music, and snuggle into my freshly washed bedding. Im asleep astonishingly by 7:30.

Daily Total: $18.65

Money Diaries are meant to reflect individual womens experiences and do not necessarily reflect Refinery29s point of view. Refinery29 in no way encourages illegal activity or harmful behavior.

The first step to getting your financial life in order is tracking what you spend  to try on your own, check out our guide to managing your money every day. For more money diaries, click here.

Do you have a Money Diary youd like to share? Submit it with us here.



Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

A Week In Northern Indiana On A $53,747 Salary

A Week In New York, NY, On A $180,000 Income

A Week In Sydney, Australia, On A $60,700 Salary
Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday met Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and a delegation of ministers, mayors and chairpersons of municipal councils of the state.

According to sources, the two top Congress leaders exchanged notes with the leaders from Chhattisgarh and urged them to work towards the welfare of the people of the state and fulfil the promises made to them.

AICC in-charge for Chhattisgarh P L Punia was also present during the meeting.
King Tides and Oregon Coast Citizen Science Events at Yachats, Florence

Published 01/23/2020 at 2:10 PM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Florence, Oregon) - King tides and other forms of citizen science will be the focus of two events later in January, one happening in Florence and the other Yachats.

Another set of king tides is coming up on February 8 through 10 along the Oregon coast, providing another means for citizen scientists to help professional scientists get a clue what this shorelines future will be like.

CoastWatch Volunteer Coordinator Jesse Jones is hosting a gathering devoted to the King Tides Photo Initiatve on Thursday, January 23, 6 p.m. at the Homegrown Public House & Brewery (294 Laurel St.) in Florence. Its a chance to learn about the project and its contribution to citizen science, get specific instructions about how best to participate in the final round of king tides this winter, and socialize with other participants and conservation-oriented folks.



The event will feature a talk by Adrian Laufer, NOAA Coastal Management Fellow with the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD), who will review the King Tides Projects ten years in Oregon.

DLCDs Coastal Management Program is CoastWatchs partner in organizing the King Tides Project. Briana Goodwin from Surfrider and Eli Tome with the Siuslaw Watershed Council will also be there to share about their organizations. Briana will provide some video from aerial flyovers of previous Oregon coast King Tides.

For more information, contact Jesse at (503) 989-7244, jesse@oregonshores.org.

Safety Reminder: if youre coming out to the coast in February to view the king tides, heed the warnings and signs cordoning off beaches or parking lots. This last round produced alarming video from all over of people getting drenched and nearly getting hurt by large waves.

On January 25, Jones will be the presenter at the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center near Yachats. Part of the Cape Perpetua Winter Speaker Series, Jones will discuss All Things CoastWatch, and especially the range of citizen science opportunities the organization offers everywhere on the coast in 2020 and beyond. She will provide a range of information about where CoastWatch stands now and where organizers hope to take the program.

The event is free, but a Northwest Forest Pass, Oregon Coast Passport, federal recreation pass, or $5 day-use fee is required within the Cape Perpetua Scenic Area and at some trailheads and day use sites. For more information on this event, contact the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center at (541) 547-3289, or e-mail capeperpetuacommunications@gmail.com. Address: 2300 U.S. Hwy 101), about three miles south of Yachats. Hotels in Yachats - Where to eat - Yachats Maps and Virtual Tours



Oregon Beach Vacations. Literally over 260 homes available as vacation rentals all quite distinctive and carefully selected to be special. Available in Yachats, Waldport, Newport, Nye Beach, Otter Rock, Depoe Bay, Gleneden Beach, Lincoln Beach, Lincoln City, Neskowin, Pacific City, Tierra Del Mar, Rockaway Beach, Manzanita, Cannon Beach, Seaside, Florence and Astoria. 1-800-723-2383























More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging.....

More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining.....

Coastal Spotlight



LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles

Back to Oregon Coast

Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net

All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted
Monday marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp in German-occupied Poland by Red Army troops. Martin Schoeller, a photographer, collaborated with Kai Diekmann of the German Friends of Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem, to create 75 portraits of Holocaust survivors for the anniversary.Born in Germany, Mr. Schoeller recalls that his education in the 1980s was dominated by the history of the Third Reich. Those in his generation were raised with a monumental sense of guilt and disbelief that their grandparents could commit such abhorrent crimes. With anti-Semitism, Holocaust distortion and denial on the rise in many countries, he felt that it was his professional and personal responsibility to not only reflect on and learn from the Holocaust, but to help memorialize it.
Texas led the nation in 2019 in job creation, even as the state unemployment rate ticked up slightly to 3.5 percent in December, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.

The state unemployment rate, 3.5 percent, was in line with the national rate.

San Antonios unemployment rate dipped to 3 percent in December. Indeed, the rate has stayed at or below 3.1 percent since last February, the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas reports.

Among Texas largest cities, unemployment last month was lowest in Austin at 2.6 percent, followed by San Antonio.

Joblessness increased slightly throughout the McAllen, Brownsville and Laredo areas, all of which had the highest unemployment rates among Texas metros in December.

Last year, Texas added nearly 343,000 new jobs statewide. California was the only other state to add more than 300,000 jobs.

Private-sector job growth in Texas was powered by gains in the construction industry, as well as in professional and business services, and health and education  three industries that each added more than 55,000 new jobs last year.

Statewide, that job growth was greatest in good-paying industries.

In 2018  the most recent year wage data is available  the average construction worker in Texas earned more than $65,000. Workers in professional and business services jobs that year earned over $74,000.

But education and health services workers, who make up a significant chunk of the Texas labor force, made on average $48,300 in 2018, a little less than what a parent with one child needs to cover the average cost of living in Texas.

San Antonio, meanwhile, saw construction employment spike 10 percent in 2019, adding about 6,600 jobs. Manufacturing employment, bucking the state and national trend, grew 5 percent locally.

Bexar County workers in construction and manufacturing jobs earned about $60,000 on average in 2018, the BLS says.

Employment in leisure and hospitality also grew by nearly 7,000 jobs last year, though workers in that industry earned less than $23,000 on average in 2018.

While the 2017 federal tax cut contributed to job growth and investment in Texas, a slight slowdown is expected to come in this year and in 2021, according to Luis Torres, a research economist at Texas A&M University in College Station.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was a sugar rush that was going to give us growth for one year, and once it dissipated, were going to go back to a growth rate around 2 percent. And thats what were seeing right now. Its slowing down, Torres said.

Trade disputes with China, the European Union and the U.S. North American neighbors have been a drag on growth for the economy over the past year, Torres said.

The U.S. was in the midst of expansionary monetary policy, the economy was doing well, he said. With the TCJA, we had that momentum growth. We wouldve been better off, we wouldve grown more, if we wouldnt have had the trade war.

Torres noted that maquiladora factories just across the border from McAllen and Laredo have shed thousands of jobs  fallout of the nationwide manufacturing slowdown caused by the trade war. That, along with violence in Mexico, has spurred a slowdown within border communities in Southeast Texas.

The border economy on the Mexican side is a major driver of what happens economically on the Texas side, he said. So when this economy starts to slow down, youre going to feel it on the other side of the border.

But the recent U.S. trade deal with Canada and Mexico, as well as the Phase 1 trade agreement with China, are bringing clarity for Texas businesses that rely on international trade  even if the deals are imperfect, Torres said.

Were in a better position because we have certainty, he said. Last year, talking with business people, their major complaint was the uncertainty. Whats going to happen? At least now, (business owners) know what the rules are.

The presidential election later this year could create some uncertainty for business owners. But even if projections of a slowdown are accurate, Torres said Texas is likely to continue growing at a healthy rate.

A slowdown should be expected because the economy is at such a high level of employment, Torres said. But people take that the other way around  its not a negative. Weve been in the longest expansion in history.

diego.mendoza-moyers@express-news.net
PRAYAGRAJ Now seers will visit villages all over the country and collect a gram of gold from each rural community for the proposed Ram temple in Ayodhya. This mission will be undertaken under the patronage of Dwarka-Sharda Peeth Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati.

The seers will request for the contribution as part of Gram Gram-Ram Ram gold collection campaign finalised by seers at a Sant-Bhakt Sansad held at the Shankaracharyas camp during the ongoing Magh Mela-2020.

Under this initiative, different groups of seers led by a designated in-charge, will visit different villages of a state greeting all Ram Bhakts with Ram Ram and urging them to return the greeting in the same manner. They would have with them a modified vehicle dubbed Sarathi Rath. The gold collected from the village will be handed over to the designated Sarathi of the state, said Swami Avimukteshwaranand, the representative of Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati, confirming the development.

He said that as the group of seers move around the villages, they will chant Ek gram se ek gram sona, chala Ram ke Kaam (One gram gold from one village to serve Lord Ram), he added.

Swami Avimukteshwaranand said that the scale of the campaign can be understood by the fact that it is planned that the seers will cover every village in the country under this campaign and collect 1008 kg gold. The Sant Bhakt Sansad held on Wednesday also appointed Ram Mandir Sarathi for 37 different states of the country who will lead this gold collection mission in their respective states, he explained.

After completing the campaign in their respective states, each Ram Mandir Sarathi along with their rath will reach Mankameshwar Temple in Prayagraj and from here together head for Ayodhya on a set date, explained Swami Avimukteshwaranand.

The seers want to use the 1008 kg gold collected from this campaign for a sprawling Ram temple complex that they want built on the lines of the magnificent Angkor Wat temple of Cambodia as desired by Dwarka-Sharda Peeth Shankaracharya Swami Swaroopanand Saraswati.

The top seer has displayed a model of the temple envisaged by him at his Magh Mela camp in Prayagraj. He has proposed a 1008-foot-tall temple structure with a 70-foot plinth constructed over 3.5 acre plot of land. Having a 216 square feet sanctum sanctorum, this temple envisions capacity to accommodate 1.08 lakh devotees at a time.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
MANILA Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle as well as numerous issues concerning the local Catholic Church are set to get the spotlight when the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) gathers for their 120th Plenary Assembly from January 25 to January 27 at the Pope Pius XII Catholic Center in Paco, Manila.

In an interview, CBCP secretary general Marvin Mejia said the three-day conference will be the final one for Tagle, who has been appointed as the new Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.

"We will have a farewell. A simple despedida for Cardinal Tagle," said Mejia.

Aside from having a simple gathering, the priest said Tagle will also open the plenary meet by presiding over the mass Saturday in lieu of the Apostolic Nuncio of the Philippines.

Mejia said the opening mass will be concelebrated by CBCP President Archbishop Romulo Valles and Vice President Bishop Pablo David.

After the mass, Valles and David, who have been reelected to their second terms, will lead the oathtaking by the new officers of the CBCP.

Mejia said the plenary conference is also set to focus on church matters, particularly in the Church's preparation for the forthcoming celebration of the 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines in 2021.

He also said that the vote on the elevation of some local churches to a Minor Basilica or National Shrine is also part of the agenda of the assembly.

As for socio-political issues, Mejia said they have decided to exclude them in the agenda of the main assembly.

Instead, the CBCP official said they were included in the preliminary seminar for the bishops held last Thursday.

"Since we will run out of time due to the numerous church matters to be discussed, we decided to hold a seminar for bishops then," he said.

"The main objective of that was for information. So that the bishops will understand the issues," furthered Mejia.

Among the socio-political issues that were discussed were the Kaliwa Dam, suicide cases, and the mission in mainland China amid the novel coronavirus (nCoV) scare.

Also discussed were national security, war on drugs, and red tagging of church organizations.

Considered as the highest decision-making body of the CBCP, the Plenary Assembly meets only twice a year, in January and in July. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)
The Big Lebowski, a 1998 crime comedy, is an American cult classic. In other words, the film has a group of very loyal fans.

The Big Lebowski tells the story of Jeffrey Lebowski. Lebowski can best be described as a slacker. He shows little interest in - and generally avoids - doing work. He goes by the name, The Dude.

In the film, actor Sam Elliott describes Jeffrey Lebowski.

This Lebowski, he called himself 'The Dude.' Now, 'Dude' - that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But, then there was a lot about the 'Dude' that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

Today on Everyday Grammar, we will explore the kind of language The Dude uses: casual grammar. We also will explain the meaning of the term dude. It has a much richer history and meaning than you might expect.

Let us begin with some history and definitions.

Unclear origins and definitions

If you look at a dictionary, you will see that the word dude, a noun, is a term for a man or a boy.

But dude did not start out with that definition.

The online search engine Google Ngrams shows the term was used throughout the 1800s. It became more popular toward the end of the 19th century.

The Online Etymology Dictionary says that dude suggested a fastidious man -- someone who cares very much about being neat and clean. It adds that research suggests the word is a shortening of Yankee Doodle, a well-known American song.

Richard Hill wrote about dude in American Speech, the journal of the American Dialect Society. He notes that in the 1930s and 1940s, some Mexican-American and African-American men began using the term when speaking with other men. It was sort of an in-group term.

Hill went on to note that dude became more common in American English, possibly through the influence of African-Americans in music and popular culture.

Dude eventually became a common word in very casual situations. The term can suggest lazy or effortless behavior. This is why The Dude in The Big Lebowski goes by his name  he loves the casual, easy-going life.

But for a term that could show laziness or effortlessness, dude works surprisingly hard to serve many purposes in everyday speech.

Discourse marker and way to show reported speech

Dude has a few surprising uses. Speakers use it as a discourse marker -- a word that helps organize a conversation.

Dude can help organize a conversation by showing when a transition, or change, is coming.

Imagine a young man has just finished telling a story. His friend might say,

Dude, that reminds of a time when I had a similar experience

In this example, the speaker uses dude to show a transition from one story to the next.

A speaker might also report speech by using dude. Imagine the following statement:

Tommy was like, dude, you shouldnt do that, its a bad idea!

In this case, the words dude, you shouldnt do that, its a bad idea! are reported speech. They show that the speaker is explaining what Tommy said. However, these words are not exactly what was said. Instead, the speaker is reporting on the substance, or basic idea, of what Tommy said.

How do women use dude?

In a study on the word dude, Scott F. Kiesling noted that women often use the term in different ways than men do.

Women sometimes use dude to show concern for or express sympathy with another person. The example Kiesling gives is about a young woman telling a story about a man hitting on her, making dreamy, romantic statements.

Her female friend exclaims,

Dude!

In this case, the woman uses dude to show support for her friend and anger toward the man. You can hear this in the sound of her voice.

Closing thoughts

Dude has other uses that we are not able to explore in our report today. But you now have the idea that dude is far more than just a noun meaning a man or a boy.

However, a word of warning: be careful when using dude. One probably should not say it when speaking with a supervisor , a co-worker or a teacher.

Understanding the term dude can be useful. When you are watching American movies, or even speaking with young people, you will hear this term a lot. And when you do, you will understand that this seemingly simple term can communicate a lot of information.

We end this report with two questions for you. What other kinds of words show reported speech in casual, informal speaking? What are other common discourse markers in casual, informal speaking? Heres an idea: we have stories on these and other subjects on our website, learningenglish.voanews.com.

And thats Everyday Grammar.

Im John Russell.

And Im Jill Robbins.

John Russell wrote this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

______________________________________________

Words in This Story

comedy  n. a show meant to make people laugh

fan  n. someone who has a strong interest in a person or thing

self-apply  v. to put on one's self

grammar  n. the study of words and their uses and relationships in a sentence

casual  adj. involving something done without much thought

dictionary  n. a book or guide that lists and defines the words of a language

lazy  adj. not liking to work hard or to be active; in an unconcerned or easy going way

conversation  n. a spoken exchange involving two people or a small group of people; the act of talking in an informal way

remind  v. to cause a person to remember someone or something

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section
Siemens has today signed an agreement to acquire New Delhi-based C&S Electric.

The acquisition of one of the leading providers of electrical and electronic equipment for infrastructure, power generation, transmission and distribution, will strengthen Siemens' position as a key supplier of low-voltage power distribution and electrical installation technology in one of the world's fastest-growing economies.

Under the agreement, Siemens will acquire approximately 99 percent of the equity share capital of C&S Electric for around Rs. 2,100 crore (approximately EUR 267 million).

Closing of the acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals.

The scope of the acquisition comprises the Indian operations of C&S Electric's low-voltage switchgear components and panels, low and medium voltage power busbars as well as protection and metering devices businesses. Other businesses of the company such as medium voltage switchgear and package sub-station, lighting, diesel generating sets, EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) and the Etacom busbars business will be retained by the owners.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Oil and gas

Regarding Oils slick rebranding is more like disinformation, (Jan.10): Chris Tomlinson unfortunately fell prey to a tired and inaccurate caricature of our industry, dedicating ink to criticizing our intentions instead of addressing the growing climate challenge.

Sometimes the first instinct is to devote too much time to pointing fingers when we have real problems to address. The fact is our industry recognizes the climate is changing and that world demand for cleaner energy is rising.

The U.S. leads the world in natural gas and oil production and CO2 emissions reductions, and industry is creating innovative technologies to be more precise, efficient and productive while reducing its environmental footprint.

Policy proposals on capturing and sequestering carbon also are essential, and you will see our industry advocating for climate proposals like these and others. Industry-led initiatives like The Environmental Partnership are part of the reason methane emissions relative to natural gas production fell an average of 70 percent across 5 of the major producing regions across the U.S.

Natural gas and oil companies have long piloted new approaches - including renewable technologies, biofuels and storage - to meet ever-growing consumer energy demands. Its why college graduates continue to look to our industry for good, productive careers.

The size and scope of the climate challenge requires tremendous response and innovation. Were committed to continuing to do our part as our new campaign highlights. Your columnist may count us out, but hed be sorely mistaken.

Megan Bloomgren, Senior Vice President, American Petroleum Institute

An editorial featured in the Houston Chronicle in early January presented unwarranted accusations against Americas oil and natural gas industry, while ignoring the significant environmental progress being achieved today by our nations great energy sector. Thanks in large part to this industry, emissions of some of the most common air pollutants are falling in the United States.

Today America is among the leaders in the world for clean air, even as domestic production has reached historic levels. In fact, methane emissions from onshore U.S. oil and natural gas production dropped 24 percent, while oil and natural gas production rose 65 percent and 19 percent, respectively, from 2011 to 2017, according to data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Energy Information Administration. These positive energy emission trends are primarily attributable to voluntary actions from operators, including investment of over $300 billion in greenhouse gas mitigating technologies by U.S. oil and natural gas companies over the past 20 years.

Oil and gas is an industry defined by innovation. Constantly demonizing the very companies that power our modern economy, while achieving quantifiable success in protecting the environment, is counterproductive. Cleaner operations, facilities and products all are part of this sectors commitment to responsibly develop our nations energy resources. Much like the drive and innovation that unleashed the U.S. shale revolution, the oil and gas industry will continue to effectively address the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the benefit of all Americans.

Ed Longanecker, President, Texas Independent Producers & Royalty Owners Association

Correction

An op-ed published Jan. 23, Prosecutors caseloads dont exist within a vacuum, stated that a rejoinder to a TSU report on prosecutor caseloads was published after the District Attorney requested additional funding. The rejoinder was published before the official request and after criticism from fellow academics.
New York

"Sesame Street" in the past year has tackled everything from foster care to substance abuse. Now its latest effort is trying to help children suffering as a result of the Syrian civil war.

Sesame Workshop  the nonprofit, educational organization behind "Sesame Street"  has launched a new, locally produced Arabic TV program for the hundreds of thousands of children dealing with displacement in Syria, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon.

"The thing that became very apparent in our work on the ground is how critical the need was for the children of this region and children who have been affected by traumatic events to have the social and emotional skills they need," said Sherrie Westin, president of Social Impact & Philanthropy at Sesame Workshop.

Called "Ahlan Simsim," which means "Welcome Sesame" in Arabic, the show will feature Elmo, Cookie Monster and Grover, as well as two brand new Muppets  the boy monster Jad, who had to leave his home, and Basma, a purple girl monster who befriends the young stranger. An adorable goat named Ma'zooza adds comic relief.

Each 26-minute show will explore emotions experienced by all kids but particularly relevant to those dealing with trauma and will offer coping skills for feelings like anger, fear, frustration, nervousness and loneliness. In one episode, Basma shares her toys with Jad, since he left his behind. Some of the strategies include belly breathing and expression through art.

A variety show in the second half of each episode offers creators the chance to bring in local celebrities and attract an adult audience to hammer home the message. "The humor has to be there always, which is the 'Sesame' spirit," said Khaled Haddad, an executive producer.

"Ahlan Simsim" will premiere Feb. 2 on MBC3, a pan-Arab satellite network that reaches 20 countries in North Africa, the Gulf and the Levant, as well as YouTube and national broadcasters across the region.

Production is based in the Jordanian capital Amman, with input from writers and performers from across the region.
The NileSat-301 communications satellite is set to launch in 2022 with SpaceX.

NileSat, an Egyptian satellite operator, has picked SpaceX to launch a new communications satellite in 2022.

SpaceX and Nilesat signed a contract in Cairo, Egypt Tuesday (Jan. 21) for the launch of the hefty NileSat-301 geostationary communications satellite on a Falcon 9 rocket, SpaceX officials said in an announcement.

The four-metric-ton satellite is built to last over 15 years and is based on the Spacebus 4000-B2 platform. NileSat-301 will support NileSat's Ku-band communications and digital broadcasting services, specifically in two new, large regions in Africa. The addition of this new satellite will also provide Ka-band connectivity for all of Egypt.

Related: SpaceX Launches Third Batch of 60 Starlink Satellites to Orbit

Ku-band and Ka-band connections use different frequencies, or different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. Ku-band uses frequencies in the 12-18GHz range and Ka-band uses frequencies ranging from 26.5-40GHz.

Last year, NileSat chose the company Thales Alenia Space to build NileSat-301, according to BroadcastPro Middle East. Now, with some launch help from SpaceX, NileSat will be able to expand their direct digital broadcasting services and communications throughout Africa.

Sunday (Jan. 19), SpaceX successfully launched its Crew Dragon capsule atop a Falcon 9 rocket as part of an in-flight abort test, which is designed to ensure crew safety should a crewed mission suffer an anomaly after launch. The company also plans to launch its next Starlink mission Monday (Jan. 27) following a weather delay.

Follow Chelsea Gohd on Twitter @chelsea_gohd . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook .
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 08:07:09|Editor: Yurou

Video Player Close

A collection of porcelain made in China and commissioned by the Westerners in the 18th century is seen at the preview of the Winter Show 2020 in New York City, the United States, on Jan. 23, 2020. A leading art, antiques and design fair in the United States, the Winter Show features a range of exhibitors whose offerings span 5,000 years of art and antiques from around the globe. It is open to the public from Jan. 24 to Feb. 2. (Xinhua/Miao Xiaojuan)

by Xinhua writer Miao Xiaojuan

NEW YORK, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- There is no question the interaction of art over the centuries has been a unifying and dignifying factor in the world's history, said 83-year-old Philippe de Montebello, a renowned museum director, at Thursday's preview of the Winter Show 2020 in New York City.

"Art is the neutral ambassador among nations and among peoples," said Montebello, chairman of the board of the Hispanic Society Museum & Library. He served from 1977 to 2008 as director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the longest-serving director in the institution's history, and this year he co-curates the Winter Show's loan exhibition "Unrivaled" presenting masterworks from Spain, Portugal, Latin America, and the Philippines.

A leading art, antiques and design fair in the United States, the Winter Show features a range of exhibitors whose offerings span 5,000 years of art and antiques from around the globe. It will be open to the public from Jan. 24 to Feb. 2, at the Park Avenue Armory, a historic National Guard armory building in the Upper East Side neighborhood of Manhattan.

"People who speak Spanish should also realize their cultural and artistic traditions are among the finest in the world," said Montebello, who also expressed the eagerness to collaborate with Chinese institutions.

"We would be very proud to bring our show to both Beijing and Shanghai, and other places in China. In the meantime, the whole world is passionate about Chinese art, and the whole world has collected Chinese art," he told Xinhua.

Will Motley, the manager and researcher with the London-based Cohen & Cohen, an exhibitor that specializes in Chinese export porcelain and oriental art, said most of the objects brought here were made in China and commissioned by the Westerners in the 18th century.

"People have started to appreciate the mixture of the East and the West. For example, a piece of porcelain where a Western armorial design met a Chinese artist is a nice collision of cultures," Motley said.

Among other highlights of the show are exhibitor "Daniel Crouch Rare Books" that presents over 50 terrestrial and celestial globes dating from the 16th century to the 20th century, including a pair of Willem Blaeu's 26-inch globes from 1648, and exhibitors "Carswell Rush Berlin" and "Martyn Gregory" that jointly showcase American furniture, British painting and art of the China trade.

Each object at the show has been vetted for authenticity, date and condition by a committee of more than 120 experts from the United States and Europe, according to the show's organizers.

In addition to presenting 72 of the world's leading experts in the fine and decorative arts, the show offers collectors, connoisseurs, and art and antiques enthusiasts a full schedule of lectures, panel discussions and events.

The Winter Show is an annual benefit for East Side House Settlement, a community-based organization serving The Bronx and northern Manhattan. The organization has been working with schools, community centers and other partners to bring quality education and resources to individuals in need.

"Over the last 10 years, we have had 5,000 young people graduating from high school who would not have finished high school at all, and over 90 percent of them have gone on to post-secondary education," Daniel Diaz, executive director of East Side House Settlement, told reporters at the preview event.

"This is the art world and education coming together to make a difference in the community that needs it," Diaz said.
January 24, 2020 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today concluded a successful visit to Morocco, which focused on expanding the strategic relationship between the two countries.

During the visit, Minister Champagne met with Saad Eddine El Othmani, Prime Minister of Morocco, and Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, to discuss shared priorities, such as peace, stability, gender equality and commercial ties.

Minister Champagne also announced a collaboration between Global Affairs Canada and the Moroccan Academy of Diplomatic Studies to provide diplomatic training in Morocco to young diplomats from African countries including Morocco.

The Minister also participated in a town hall event with students at the HEM Institute for Advanced Studies in Management in Rabat.
A Chinese man wears a protective mask as he sleeps before boarding a train before the annual Spring Festival at a Beijing railway station in Beijing, China, on Jan. 23, 2020. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Chinese Viral Outbreak Could Be 10 Times the Scale of SARS, Expert Says

A leading infectious disease expert has warned that the Wuhan virus could be 10 times worse than the SARS outbreak which killed almost 800 people in 2002 to 2003.

Guan Yi, director of the State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases at Hong Kong University in Hong Kong, said in a Jan. 23 interview with Chinese financial magazine Caixin that his conservative estimate is that the epidemic could end up at least 10 times the scale of SARS.

Guan helped successfully identify the coronavirus that caused the SARS outbreak in China almost two decades ago.

He also criticized Wuhan authorities for its deficient response to the outbreak.

Guan and his team visited Wuhan on Tuesday hoping to track the animal that was the source of the virus, but was shocked to find the lack of precautions taken by the city residents and authorities.

He noted that residents around the live animal market suspected to the source of the outbreak were not taking any precautions or wearing masks. The airport did not have any measures in place to disinfect surfaces or floors, indicating that the city government was being complacent despite pressing orders from central authorities in Beijing, Guan said.

I thought at the time, we had to be in a state of war but how come the alarm has not been raised? he told the magazine. Poor citizens, they were still preparing to ring in the New Year in peace and had no sense about the epidemic.

The new coronavirus has infected scores of people inside China. Cases have also been confirmed abroad, including the United States, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Guan also criticized local authorities for disinfecting the market, saying they destroyed crucial evidence that would have helped researchers find the source of the virus.

I consider myself a veteran in battles, he said, referring to his experience responding to bird flu, SARS, and other outbreaks. But with this Wuhan pneumonia, I feel extremely powerless.

He added that the golden time to contain the virus had already passed, despite the city imposing a travel ban on Thursday, because most people traveling home for the Lunar New Year would have already left the city.

They might have been in contact with patients in the community and still in the incubation stage when they left Wuhan. They are probably virus carriers on the move, Guan said.

He said he expected the outbreak to peak over the weekend, noting that the virus had an incubation period of around eight days.
Investigators Friday began searching the wreckage of a large tanker aircraft which crashed while battling devastating bushfires in Australia, killing three US crew members.

The C-130 Hercules plane slammed into the ground Thursday shortly after dropping a load of fire retardant on a blaze in the Snowy Mountains region of southeastern New South Wales (NSW) state.

The plane burst into a fireball on impact and debris were strewn over a kilometre-long stretch of land, with little of the large aircraft left intact, NSW police superintendant Paul Condon told a press conference near the site.

Greg Hood, chief of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said it would be "premature" to speculate on the cause of the crash, but he noted that strong winds had raked much of the fire zones of southeastern Australia Thursday.

"We will be working with the Australian bureau of meteorology specifically to look at the temperature, the wind direction and the impact that may have had on the aircraft," he said.

"We have nothing to suggest there was a systemic fault" with the C-130, which was contracted to the firefighting effort by Canadian firm Coulson Aviation, he said.

Hood said several people who witnessed the crash would also be questioned.

Coulson earlier Friday identified the three US crew members who perished as Captain Ian H. McBeth, 44, First Officer Paul Clyde Hudson, 42, and Flight Engineer Rick A. DeMorgan Jr, 43.

Their bodies have been found and were expected to be removed from the crash site later Friday, police said.

Officials from Coulson Aviation were due to arrive in Australia Saturday to join the investigation.

The ATSB said the crash site was in an active fire zone and investigators would need the help of police and firefighters to access the site.

The C-130 was equipped with a cockpit voice recorder, which has yet to be recovered, and investigators will also listen to air traffic control recordings, Hood said.

The crewmen's deaths brought the toll in Australia's bushfire crisis to 32 since September.

There are currently 243 US firefighters helping battle the Australian blazes, mainly in the country on 30-day rotations.

Six volunteer Australian firefighters were also injured when a water truck rolled near the fire-threatened town of Batemans Bay, on the state's south coast, on Thursday night.

Firefighters had been battling dangerous blazes Thursday, as strong winds and temperatures reaching above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) sparked new fires across Australia's southeast before conditions eased Friday.

Another heatwave is forecast for next week and could fuel a new flare-up of wildfires.

With the respite from active fires in many areas this week, a key concern is helping wildlife who survived the flames but now face starvation in the barren wastelands left behind.

Wildlife experts say hundreds of millions of animals likely perished in the blazes, which have burned more than 10 million hectares (25 million acres) of land.

On South Australia's Kangaroo Island, one of the country's richest and most unique wildlife areas, experts warned Friday of a looming "second wave" of animal deaths and urgently appealed for volunteers to help feed surviving creatures.

"Huge swathes of Kangaroo Island's pristine habitat have been destroyed in the devastating January 2020 bushfires," South Australia's RSPCA said.

"Wildlife that survived the fires is now at high risk of succumbing to starvation and dehydration." "We don't know how many animals are fending for themselves in totally barren landscapes, but wildlife rescuers are starting to find animals in extremely poor condition due to lack of food and water," RSPCA chief Paul Stevenson told reporters.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Trump told reporters on Wednesday evening his administration would likely reveal its plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace before an upcoming visit by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Benny Gantz to the White House this Tuesday.

Sometime prior to [Tuesday]. Probably well release it a little bit prior to that, Trump said on Air Force One while flying back from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Its a great plan. Its a plan that really would work.

While Israels Channel 12 carried reports of the plans details, Trump wrote on Twitter that Reports about details and timing of our closely-held peace plan are purely speculative.

According to Channel 12, the deal would grant Israel sovereignty throughout all of Jerusalem and in its settlements in the West Bank, while the Palestinians would be granted a state only if Hamas agrees to demilitarize and the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state, with Jerusalem as its capital.

Nabil Abu Rudeinah, a spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, warned that if the reports were true, the plan would be completely unacceptable to the Palestinians.

If this deal is announced according these rejected formulas, our leadership will announce a series of measures in which we safeguard our legitimate rights, Abu Rudeinah said.

Palestinians will hinder the implementation of the deal, whatever the price. It will trigger a new Intifada, an official affiliated with Hamas wrote on Twitter.

Vice President Pence was in Jerusalem on Thursday for the World Holocaust Forum, Israels largest diplomatic gathering to date. During a meeting with the Vice President, Netanyahu commented that President Trump seeking to give Israel the peace and security it deserves.

The release of the Trump administrations peace plan has been repeatedly delayed, after Israel held two inconclusive national elections within a year. Israel will head to a third round of elections in March.

More from National Review
Wisconsin authorities are taking precautionary measures to assess residents potential exposure to a deadly virus spreading across China and Southeast Asia.

UW Health began asking patients in its emergency departments and urgent care settings for their travel history Friday afternoon. Those suspected of contracting the coronavirus will be masked and isolated in a private exam room. Officials said in a statement that UW Health had not identified any cases.

UnityPoint Health-Meriter, SSM Health St. Marys Hospital and the University Health Services primary care clinic on UW-Madisons campus are also screening patients for the virus.

Six UW-Platteville students who were recently in Wuhan, China  a city of 11 million at the center of the outbreak  are being monitored by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. None of the students have displayed symptoms, such as fever, cough and shortness of breath.

The Illinois Department of Public Health confirmed Friday the second confirmed case of the coronavirus in the U.S. The patient is in her 60s and traveled to Wuhan in late December. Officials said there is no imminent health risk to the public at this time. The first case was confirmed in Washington state earlier this week.

Chinese health authorities reported Thursday that the respiratory virus has killed at least 26 people and sickened at least 800.

Meanwhile, the regular, annual flu virus has hospitalized at least 140,000 Americans since October and killed at least 8,200, according to preliminary estimates by the CDC. Wisconsin, which remains one of 35 states with high flu activity, had more than 450 hospitalizations and 11 deaths from flu as of early January, state health officials said. That was more than three times as many hospitalizations as last year.

Flu vaccine is still available and can offer protection against flu within two weeks.

Several U.S. airports, including Chicagos OHare, have started screening travelers for the new coronavirus  including two of the six UW-Platteville students who are Wuhan residents.

The six students, all of whom are international, came back to campus Tuesday. They live together in a residence hall and are taking their temperatures on a regular basis, but are not under any quarantine or isolation, university spokesman Paul Erickson said.

Campus officials are communicating with the Grant County Health Department and the CDC to follow all national and international protocols.

State Journal reporter David Wahlberg contributed to this report.
The killings happened Jan. 4 in the parking lot of a Dollar Tree store in Laurel on Fort Meade Road. Laurel police said the suspect used popcorn to lure the gulls to the parking lot and then was seen intentionally running over the birds with a vehicle, killing them.
Major Louay Mohamed Bassam Yasso was kidnapped by unknown assailants as he travelled on the Damascus-Suweida road reports Baladi News.

On Saturday, unknown figures kidnapped an officer from the Syrian Arab Army in Suweida province.

According to media sources in Suweida, the unknown men kidnapped Major Louay Mohamed Bassam Yasso and took his car, as he travelled on the Damascus-Suweida road.

Major Yasso is a military doctor working in the medical department of the police in Suweida.

The local Suweida 24 Network said that a soldier in the regime army had disappeared with his colleague on Tuesday while coming back from leave from the location where they served in Brigade 52 in Daraa.

The network added that a group of unidentified armed men set up a temporary checkpoint at the entrance to Suweida city on Wednesday and searched civilians with the aim of detaining them, saying that one of their relatives was kidnapped in Daraa. The group later withdrew without it being clear if one of their members carried out a kidnapping.

On Thursday another regime army soldiera resident of al-Mazaraawas also kidnapped while on leave. There has been no contact with him since he went to the town of Ariqa in the provinces countryside.

Suweida pages published images of a widow of a Syrian army officer who had been kidnapped from a sewing shop where she worked, in Masaken al-Kheder, and whose personal mobile phone was found along with her items in her workplace.

This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "creating a Hindu nationalist state" in India, said billionaire philanthropist George Soros at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos on Thursday.

Calling out the actions of Modi government, particularly referring to Citizenship (Amendment) Act and Kashmir shutdown, Soros said that this approach was the great enemy of open societies around the world.

The 89-year old fund manager-turned-philanthropist further said that nationalism and jingoism were making further strides around the world with the "biggest and most frightening setback' in India.

Also Read: WEF 2020: Trump says phase two of trade deal with China to start soon

"The biggest and most frightening setback occurred in India where a democratically elected Narendra Modi is creating a Hindu nationalist state, imposing punitive measures on Kashmir, a semi-autonomous Muslim region, and threatening to deprive millions of Muslims of their citizenship," he said.

Soros also slammed a lot of world leaders lashing out at "would-be and actual dictators" in the world.

Soros condemned rising populism internationally and attacked US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, PM Modi and Brexit.

The Hungarian-born billionaire described Trump as a "conman and the ultimate narcissist" adding that the current upsurge in already buoyant US economy may have come too soon for the US President as he faces re-election this year.

Also Read: Anti-CAA protests: PM Modi accuses Congress of being mum on Pakistan's atrocities against minorities

"Trump... has managed to overheat an already buoyant economy. An overheated economy can't be kept at the boiling point for too long," cautioned Soros.

"If all this happened close to the election it would have assured his election. His problem is that the election is still 10 months away and, in a revolutionary situation, that's a lifetime," he added.

He also blamed social networking giant Facebook and accused it of colluding with Trump to get him re-elected in 2020 US election.

"Facebook will work together to re-elect Trump, and Trump will work to protect Facebook so that this situation cannot be changed and it makes me very concerned about the outcome for 2020," Soros said.

Also Read: WEF 2020: 'India, China should not be considered developing nations by WTO,' says Donald Trump at Davos

The American billionaire also warned the Chinese President Xi Jinping had concentrated all the power around himself as the (Chinese) economy lost its earlier flexibility.

Soros further stated that Xi Jinping was aspiring to actualise a "new type of authoritarian system and a new type of human being who is willing to surrender his personal autonomy in order to stay out of trouble."

"Once lost, personal autonomy will be difficult to recover. An open society would have no place in such a world," he warned.

Also Read: Fugitive rape-accused Nithyananda declares his own Hindu island nation 'Kailaasa' near Ecuador
Ramu Patil By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: From a ride in a ropeway car to wooing global head honchos, Chief Minister BS Yediyuappa seems to have enjoyed every bit of his time in Davos, Switzerland. He left for Davos on January 19, and is expected to return on Friday. Images of the CM togged up in a natty suit with a muffler round his neck and a cap on his head are there everywhere--- this is the new CM in Davos. This has nothing to do with sudden change in his saratorial preferences.

It is the extreme cold climate there. But the 76-year-old leader is going around his work like he would have done back in Bengaluru. In fact, he was prepared for the cold climate. Before my coming here (Davos), everybody cautioned me about the cold climate. But after coming here, though I have enough insulation against cold, I am not feeling anything odd as far as climate is concerned. I am living as normal as in Bengaluru, the CM said. Yediyurappa, who was initially hesitant to take a flight to Davos, now seems to be happy being in the Swiss city.

Wouldve been a mistake to not attend forum: CM

Initially, I was hesitant to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) meetings, but I am now feeling that I would have committed a mistake by not coming here, he said. The CM was busy holding talks with business tycoons and promoting Karnataka as a best investment destination. Heads of business houses and industrialists have gained confidence with my presence at the meetings. They have understood the seriousness of our urge to realise investments, he told The New Indian Express.

In the last three days, the CM held talks with several top business honchos, including Lakshmi Mittal, chairman, Arecelor Mittal; Richard Ambrose, Executive Vice-President of Lockheed Martin; president of Volvo Hanka Angwel and representative of 2000 Watt company, Dassault Systemes, Bharat Forge, Lulu Group and Novo Nordisk. While some are planning to expand their operations in the state, others like Lockheed Martin are keen to explore the possibility investing in Karnataka.

This is the first time he is away from the state for so long after he took over as CM, and the WEF meetings too are a new experience for the leader best known for his ability to win elections for the BJP. Though it is a new experience for me, I never differentiate or discriminate between works. Here I am as serious as I am with my political activities at home. I have participated with a zeal and seriousness in all the scheduled meetings, the CM said.

In fact, he met investors and industrialists who are not listed by the State Industries Department. His hectic schedule or the distance hasnt deterred the CM from keeping tabs on the developments back home. Chief Secretary Vijay Bhaskar, who has accompanied the CM, was briefing him regularly. Being a Chief Minister, it is my duty to keep track of happenings in my state. I am briefed regularly by the officials on the happenings in the state, he said. However, it was not all work, and no play for the CM. I went round the city and had a ride in a ropeway car at a nearby hillock, said the CM, explaining how he enjoyed every moment and every meeting in Davos.

Moving towards $5 trillion economy, says BSY



Amid Karnataka, which is the fourth-largest state economy in India, will help provide the economic muscle to propel the nation to reach Prime Minister Narendra Modis goal of a $5 trillion economy, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday. Union Railways and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal was also present. Yediyurappa explained the strength of the state, saying that Karnatakas GDP was about $250 billion and the growth rate was pegged at 9 per cent. He also stated plainly that he was seeking to invite entrepreneurs to invest in Karnataka. He expressed optimism that the business community would respond to his invitation, and was elated that investors were aware of Modis $5 trillion economy target.
Thank you for reading!

Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue.
Libya: Haftar's forces launch rockets on Mitiga overnight Following resumption of flights, delays but no suspension

(ANSAmed) - CAIRO, JANUARY 24 - The Mitiga airport in Tripoli was the target of "various rockets" launched by the forces of General Khalifa Haftar "hours after the announcement of the resumption" of flights there, said broadcaster Libya al-Ahrar in a tweet on Thursday night.



ANSA confirmed the information on Friday morning through a source close to the Government of National Accord (GNA) of Fayez al-Sarraj.



On Friday morning, the Mitiga airport's Facebook page announced delays but no new suspension of air traffic.



The GNA decided Thursday to resume flights at Mitiga, despite the fact that Haftar on Wednesday had once again announced a no-fly zone over Tripoli and his intention to shoot down any military or civilian aircraft in flight over the capital.



"It was agreed upon to not give in to the unprecedented terrorist threat," said a post on the Facebook page of the GNA, which late Thursday evening gave an account of a cabinet meeting that took place Thursday morning, in which the decision was made.(ANSAmed).




"Thank you for having me," he says as we settle in at Min Lokal in a Fitzroy backstreet. "It's not often you get a stopover like this - and it's close to Brunswick Street where I used to love coming to eat," he says of the time he spent in Melbourne as a judge on TV talent show It Takes Two. This morning he's having long black and the cafe's breakfast burger. I order the blackeye beans with eggs, roti bread and yoghurt. Min Lokal's breakfast burger. Credit:Wayne Taylor Cassar-Daley is a self-professed "road dog", accustomed to spending months at a time travelling, but 2019 was hardcore: he travelled extensively through every state and territory.

One imagines he knows his way around a roadhouse bain-marie. "We have done plenty of roadhouses, for sure," he says, adding that he often does some research ahead of his tour dates to seek out decent food. "You get to 50 and you understand there are places you want to go on your road trip. We hand-pick a few things". When we meet he's just back from Tasmania, where he discovered the state's famed curried scallop pies ("Incredible!"). On the Greatest Hits tour, a pared-back acoustic affair spanning songs from across his 10-album, 30-year career, Cassar-Daley had a new companion to compare food notes with - his 18-year-old daughter Jem. "And we're still talking," he jokes. "I've loved it. And it's been such a great gap-year experience for Jem."

The blackeye beans at Min Lokal. Credit:Wayne Taylor Travelling light - Cassar-Daley, Jem, manager Roxy and sound man Dan - the tour has criss-crossed the country, with more than 80 shows. Jem, who plays keyboard and sings, opened the shows, and accompanied Cassar-Daley on a few tracks. "It's a wonderful experience to ... watch your child ply their trade as a musician," he says. "And to see all the piano lessons paying off!" He's also enjoyed showing Jem the country, particularly the more far-flung stops. Fiercely proud of his Bundjalung Aboriginal heritage (his mother is Aboriginal, his father Maltese-Australian), Cassar-Daley tries to play at Aboriginal communities when he can. "On this tour we've covered a couple of interesting ones, really remote - one in Jabiru and then in Oenpelli, which we call Gunbalanya, about three-and-a-half hours north-east of Darwin."

Cassar-Daley plays straight-up country, but is in demand as a collaborator outside the genre. Credit:Wayne Taylor He talks about traversing the notorious Cahill's Crossing on the East Alligator River in the Northern Territory - one of the world's most dangerous - into Arnhem Land. "Once you get over the crossing though, it's just spectacular," he says. "I dream about that place." Grafton-born Cassar-Daley's music has undeniable country roots (from busking on Tamworth streets as a teenager to 37 Golden Guitars, two APRA Country Song of the Year awards and innumerable country chart-toppers) but he's long been in demand as a songwriter beyond the genre. He's collaborated with Paul Kelly, Shane Howard, Don Walker (who also grew up in Grafton and knows much of Cassar-Daley's extended family) and Ian Moss. Earlier this year Barnesy recorded one of his songs. Effectively, he's almost an honorary member of Chisel - this month he's been playing on the band's Blood Moon tour. "It's quite strange for me because I've loved them for a long time, so to write for them is a real privilege," he says.

But Cassar-Daley himself sticks largely to straight-up country; all these other musicians, he says, "bend towards me". "Which is lovely - Don loves country music, Paul Kelly loves country music they've definitely got it in them." After a couple of US gigs he's back in Australia for another year of touring, including first-time appearances at Bluesfest at Easter and next month's Riverboats Music Festival in Echuca-Moama. Cassar-Daley with his 2013 Deadly Award for Male Artist of the Year. Credit:Amanda James "I've always loved the river there, the country it's on," he says, adding that he's tailoring his set specifically. "We do such different gigs, ute musters ... and we change the content a lot. For Riverboats I'm taking a full band and it'll be a little bit more ethereal, with a bit more storytelling," he says. "I've got things I've never played much, some songs I've written with Don Walker - it's a bit more that environment where you have the time to tell a short story." Storytelling is at the heart of Cassar-Daley's music, which is also imbued with his Indigenous culture.

His chronicles of the human condition in songs about rodeo riders, Holdens and working the land sit comfortably alongside quietly political songs such as Freedom Road, a tribute to the late Aboriginal politician and activist Charlie Perkins, and the moving Shadows on the Hill, about a 19th-century Aboriginal massacre near his home town. An eerie bluesy number, it recounts a story Cassar-Daley learnt only recently after a gathering with uncles and cousins on traditional Gumbaynggirr country. The song won Heritage Song of the Year at last year's Golden Guitars and featured in ABC's drama series Mystery Road. Receipt for lunch at Min Lokal (Rapper Briggs wants to record a rap version, but Cassar-Daley has lost the original tracks, "but hopefully we'll get around to doing something together one day!"). His straddling of what can seem two different parts of the culture is one of the unique aspects of Cassar-Daley's work. He's a regular at outback ute musters and attends a men's camp every year where "if you wanna cry, you can"; he raises funds for farmers, firefighters and Indigenous causes alike. "It's bringing two opposite sides of the spectrum together," he says. "The farmers don't think 'oh, he's just a whingeing blackfella'  and the Aboriginal people don't go, oh no, he's selling out'. We should all be proud of who we are and to get people to appreciate your music for what it is, whether it's got a message or not, is something I've been more proud of than anything in my career."

He recently played Shadows on the Hill in a small Tasmanian hall and says it was "one of the most astounding feelings I've had on the whole tour". "It was a lot of fellas that work on farms sitting there listening  all white guys, there were maybe three Indigenous people in the crowd," he says. "But they were happy to listen to this story - and applaud it. Because it's our history." He's carrying Bruce Pascoe's Dark Emu when we meet ("I'm taking notes and absorbing it as slowly as I can") and he's eager to read Peter FitzSimons' new book, James Cook. "I'm just as interested in that as I am in Bruce's take on how to grow natural grains," he says. "I think you have to be a well-rounded person in any walk of life, to be able to talk about it. If you only know half the story, you're not going to do any good for anyone." Loading He's hopeful that change is happening, albeit slowly, happening "There are a few good ripples out there - you get your cranky ones, like Briggs, you've got your more in-between solemn fellas like myself, who are all doing the job to bring people together," he says.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses a Chinese Lunar New Year reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 23, 2020. The CPC Central Committee and the State Council held the reception on Thursday in Beijing. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

BEIJING, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday stressed racing against time and keeping abreast with history to reach the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.

"Time and history wait for no one as they are both on the side of hard workers," said Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

Xi made the remarks while addressing a Chinese Lunar New Year reception held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Under the strong leadership of the CPC, all members of the Party, armed forces and people of all ethnic groups must fear no wind or wave, rise up to challenges and keep marching toward the glorious goal of national rejuvenation and the great prospect of building a community with a shared future for humanity, Xi said.

At the reception, held by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, Xi extended Lunar New Year's greetings to Chinese people of all ethnic groups, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and overseas Chinese.

Party and state leaders Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan were among the more than 2,000 people attending the reception. Li Keqiang chaired the event.

Xi noted in his speech that new and significant progress has been made in the past year toward building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

He mentioned major events during the year, including the fourth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of Macao's return to the motherland and resolute efforts to safeguard the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao, as well as celebrations marking the 70th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China.

A campaign themed "staying true to our founding mission" was also carried out to demand the more than 90 million Party members remember to always stay with the people.

"In the new year, we must secure a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and fighting poverty," Xi said, adding that achieving this first centenary goal is a milestone in the process of realizing the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.

The results, Xi said, must be recognized by the people and stand the test of time.

Xi said the Chinese nation, with a civilization stretching back over 5,000 years, has made indelible contributions to the civilization and progress of mankind. But the nation was held back for too long by various internal and external troubles in modern times.

That is why, Xi said, the Chinese people have always had an extraordinary sense of urgency and appreciation of the underlying trend of the times.

From now to the middle of this century, the Chinese people will strive to build China into a great modern socialist country. It will be a great era in which a new splendid chapter of the Chinese civilization will be written, he said.

Every Chinese person must feel proud of living in such a great era, Xi said.

"We must maintain strategic direction and resolve, stay united, work hard and forge ahead against all odds," Xi said.
If your bank account balance looks nail-bitingly low and you won't get paid for days, you might agonize over every dollar you spend. Maybe you'll scrutinize grocery-store ads more closely than usual or brew your own coffee instead of ordering it from a barista.

Migraine patients can face a similar sense of scarcity when it comes to migraine medications. Drugs called triptans are the "mainstay of migraine treatment," said West Virginia University neurologist Umer Najib, but typically, patients can't take them more than twice a week. If they have a third migraine, they're out of luck. But Najib is researching a new way to treat--and prevent--migraine attacks without this limitation: neuromodulation.

"Neuromodulation is a way to manipulate the central pain system by applying electrical or magnetic pulses to specific nerves or areas of the brain," explained Najib, who directs the clinical research program for the School of Medicine's Department of Neurology.

In a new clinical trial he's leading, neuromodulation takes the form of a cell-phone-sized device that stimulates the vagus nerve. The longest cranial nerve in the human body, the vagus nerve charts a circuitous route from the brain stem through the face, neck, chest and abdomen.

"The traditional vagus nerve stimulator, which has been used for epilepsy seizure patients for many years, is an implanted device," Najib said. "But this is noninvasive. It works in a different way. It's applied to the neck, and it stimulates the vagus nerve in a proprietary manner that causes changes in certain areas of the brain stem involved in the migraine process. By downregulating those migraine-related areas, it can disrupt an ongoing migraine attack, or if it's used three times a day, every day, it prevents the migraine attacks from coming on."

ElectroCore--a corporation that specializes in neuromodulation technologies--makes the device and funded the trial.

Previous animal studies and medical-imaging data suggest the device is effective at preventing and combatting migraine attacks. Now Najib and his colleagues want to know how well it performs for actual migraine patients.

Peering into an 'invisible disease'

The researchers are enrolling participants in a six-month trial that will pit the device against a "sham" version that looks and feels like the real thing but doesn't affect the vagus nerve.

During the first three months, half of the participants will apply the nerve stimulator to their necks for two minutes, three times a day. The other participants will do the same, using the replica. For the next three months of the study--called the "open label phase"--all of the participants will use the real device (open label phase).

"This was something that was dear to me," Najib said. "A significant portion of our patients do not have commercial insurance, and even if a device is FDA-approved, they aren't able to get it because state Medicaid won't cover it for them. I advocated for the open label phase to be added to this clinical trial as this gives our patients the opportunity to receive the latest neuromodulation treatments."

Participants will keep a daily, electronic headache diary. If they skip a day or don't provide all of the information they're asked for, a dashboard will notify the research team, and a coordinator will call the patients, reminding them to complete the task.

Every four weeks, the participants will also visit the WVU Headache Center so that a doctor can assess their migraine symptoms and determine if they're improving.

These symptoms go beyond pain. They can comprise visual auras, dizziness, imbalance, light and sound sensitivity, cognitive slowing, nausea and vomiting.

"Unfortunately there's been a lot of stigma attached to migraine because it's an invisible disease," Najib said. "People don't see it, and those who have not experienced it don't understand how much pain--and all of the other symptoms--migraine patients are suffering from. It's a disabling disease."

When migraine treatments cause headaches

If migraine symptoms can be so wide-ranging and so debilitating, why do doctors limit their patients' triptan use? It may sound counterintuitive, but taking too much of a triptan can trigger a headache.

"You can only use so much abortive medication," Najib said. "If you use more than that, then it can cause rebound headaches. Rebound headaches are also called medication-overuse headaches."

The drawbacks of triptans don't end there. Some people can't take them because they have health conditions that triptans might exacerbate. Some can't take them because another drug they rely on doesn't play nicely with triptans.

In people who can take triptans safely, the medication can still cause unpleasant side effects, including chest tightness, muscle stiffness, sleeping disturbances including excessive sedation, anxiety and a warm sensation under the skin. And triptans aren't used to prevent migraine attacks--just to cut them short.

"Noninvasive neuromodulation is a nonpharmacological option with minimal side effects and no drug interactions with anything else that the patient may be taking," Najib said. "It can be safely used in a lot of patients where medications like triptans cannot be used, such as patients with coronary artery disease or stroke."

The fact that neuromodulation doesn't involve drugs is "especially relevant for us because of the opioid epidemic in our state," he said. Patients he sees at the Headache Center are often taking opioids for migraine relief--as prescribed by another doctor--even though opioids can actually worsen migraine symptoms and carry the risk of addiction.

He and David Watson, who chairs and directs the Headache Center, have met with primary care physicians across West Virginia to emphasize that opioids aren't the standard of care for migraine.

"I've traveled to different places in the state to give talks on how opioids have no role in the treatment of migraine, what the current treatment recommendations are and the tools primary care physicians have in their bag for the first-line treatment of migraine," Najib said.

Grab the umbrella, leave the coffee

He and his research partners plan to study another neuromodulation device, too--one that patients apply to the arm to stop migraine attacks once they've started. Another project they have in the works will focus on wearable sensors that give doctors and patients insight into the physiological changes that precede, accompany and follow an attack.

"We know migraine patients experience certain symptoms before the actual attack, and then the attack takes place. And in addition to pain, there are so many other symptoms that are going on, which are because of changes in the autonomic nervous system," he said.

In the future, wearables might be able to give people a migraine warning--like a weather alert--based on their physiological state. Then they can try to thwart the attack. Maybe they'll avoid that one grocery store where the fluorescent lighting always sets off an attack. Maybe they won't have that cup of coffee after all because caffeine is one of their migraine triggers.

"This is an exciting time for headache specialists like me and neurologists in general because of neuromodulation becoming mainstream and so many new technologies coming down," Najib said. "Biotechnology in medicine--and in migraine--is exploding."

###
Thursday was constitutional analysis day in the Senates impeachment trial of President Trump, which means the House managers case got more complicated, more abstract  and that much harder to hold the audiences attention.

This is not a dig at the prosecution. As on Wednesday, when they spent eight hours constructing a detailed blueprint of Mr. Trumps misbehavior, the managers threw themselves  with gusto  into explaining the constitutional ins and outs of impeachment. And just as before, they came equipped with slides, photos and video clips. They even brought instructional materials for the senators.

Their preparedness is impressive. Even Representative Matt Gaetz, the devoted Trump cheerleader from Florida, observed earlier this week that, thus far, the Democrats presentation looked as though it was cable news while the presidents defense teams looked like an eighth-grade book report.

That said, while Wednesdays narrative of presidential scheming and obstruction was a nonstop pile-on of damning testimony and other hard evidence, Thursdays argument began with a lengthy seminar by one of the House managers, Representative Jerry Nadler, on the framers intent regarding impeachment.
Guardian says US officials asked UK counterparts to keep close eye on Hatice Cengiz after Saudi plans were revealed.

Intelligence agencies in the United States believe Saudi Arabia had tried to spy on slain journalist Jamal Khashoggis fiancee when she visited the United Kingdom last year.

UK-based The Guardian newspaper on Friday reported that the US agencies asked their UK counterparts to keep a close eye on Hatice Cengiz, 38, after they learned of the Saudi plan to surveil her.

According to the report, US officials believed Riyadh had the ambition and intention to monitor Cengiz in London last May, months after Khashoggi was killed in October 2018 inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

The Guardians revelations about the effort by US and British authorities to ensure Cengiz was protected follows a report by the Washington Post columnist David Ignatius that the US state department recently rejected a proposal by a US defence company to train Saudi intelligence services, said the report.

It added that the proposal was rejected since Saudi Arabia did not have proper safeguards in place to prevent lawless covert operations such as Khashoggis killing.

The Guardian said the revelations highlight the concerns of human rights activists who allege Riyadh is using surveillance to monitor and intimidate dissidents and critics of the kingdom.

The report said it was not confirmed if the surveillance of Cengiz was electronic or physical, or whether the plot was successful.

The Guardian report came days after claims that a mobile phone belonging to Jeff Bezos, the billionaire owner of the Washington Post, was hacked after he received a WhatsApp message from the personal account of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).

A digital forensic analysis suggested the theft of data from the phone of Amazons boss in 2018 started with an infected video file sent via WhatsApp.

Its unclear whether the alleged hack of Bezoss phone accessed any sensitive corporate information. Saudi Arabia has categorically denied the kingdom was involved in the hacking.

The murder of Saudi columnist Jamal Khashoggi inside Saudi consulate had shocked the world [File: Hasan Jamali/AP]

Khashoggi, a critic of MBS, used to write an opinion column for the Post, commenting on Saudi foreign policy and the repression of free speech in the kingdom, with his writings often taking a direct aim at the crown prince.

The CIA reportedly concluded that Khashoggis killing was ordered by the Saudi crown prince, but he has denied the allegations. Last month, a Saudi court sentenced five people to death for the murder.
We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message.
Conakry, Guinea (PANA) - Guinean President Alpha Conde has "strongly condemned "ethnocentric comments made in the private media" by politicians and civil society activists on Thursday
The New York Times reported on Thursday that California Sen. Kamala Harris, who dropped out of the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries in December, is currently considering endorsing former Vice President Joe Biden.

A Harris spokesperson told the Times that the senator is focused on the impeachment trial, and Harris herself said as much during a radio appearance Friday on Sirius XM's "Signal Boost" with Zerlina Maxwell and Jess McIntosh.

"I have not made any decision about who I'm endorsing," she said. "I have not made a decision about when I'm going to do that, and frankly I am not thinking about it right now. I am focused on my job, which is so much bigger. It is my responsibility, not just a job, to be focused on this impeachment, and that's where my head is. Even when I was in the race, I was very clear that during impeachment I would be here, and I would be focused on performing that responsibility with complete and full commitment to the seriousness of the responsibility."

According to the New York Times report, Harris is considering the endorsement since it may "enhance" her chances of becoming vice president, but the senator also fears "angering her liberal base in California."

In addition, Harris also reportedly fears making an endorsement in California's March 3 primary only to see that candidate lose.

Things weren't so rosy between Harris and Biden during the first Democratic debate in June, where Harris criticized the former vice president for his record on school desegregation and busing. In July, Biden was heard telling Harris, "Go easy on me, kid" on a hot mic just before the second debate started.

When Harris dropped out, however, Biden was quick to praise the former prosecutor, stating he would consider selecting her as his running mate should he win the nomination.

"Sen. Harris has the capacity to be anything she wants to be," he said at the time. "I mean it sincerely. I talked to her yesterday. She's solid, she can be president someday herself, she can be vice president, she could go on to be a Supreme Court justice, she could be attorney general. I mean she has enormous capability."

Eric Ting is an SFGATE digital reporter. Email: eric.ting@sfgate.com | Twitter:@_ericting
      :   5 

     ,                .

  ,      ,   ,  ,      ,  ,    /  .

         Twitter   ,      ,           .

                                           .

 ,   "      "     :

1.      :                                  .

2.   :              o      .                   .

3.  :              .     ,                 .

4.         

5.      

         .

Background Note on Aegean Disputes

Turkeys General Approcah



Turkey and Greece being the two littoral states have legitimate rights and interests in the Aegean Sea. These involve their security, economy and other traditional rights recognized by international law.



The bilateral Turco-Greek relationship in the Aegean has to be based on the following principles: The Aegean is a common sea between Turkey and Greece. The freedoms of the high seas and the air space above it, which at present both coastal States as well as third countries enjoy, should not be impaired. Any acquisition of new maritime areas should be based on mutual consent and should be fair and equitable.



The fundamental source of tension between Turkey and Greece is the Greek perception to regard the entire Aegean as a Greek sea in total disregard of Turkeys rights and interests as one of the coastal states.



The threat of extending Greek territorial waters beyond their present width of 6 miles ( Greece extended her territorial waters from 3 miles to 6 miles in 1936, Turkey followed suit in 1964), the remilitarization of the Eastern Aegean Islands placed under demilitarized status by virtue of the very agreements ceding them to Greece, a 10 mile "national air space" over territorial waters of 6, abuse of the FIR service responsibility as if it confers sovereignty (request of flight plans from state aircraft and allegations of "violations of" Athens FIR) can be counted among the issues which are the real underlying causes of the Turco-Greek conflict in the Aegean.



The Continental Shelf



The Aegean continental shelf constitutes a dispute between Turkey and Greece in the absence of a delimitation agreement affected between the two countries.



The Continental Shelf dispute is but one essential element among the outstanding differences. It has a bearing on the overall equilibrium of rights and interests in the Aegean. The dispute concerns the areas of continental shelf to be attributed to Turkey and Greece beyond the 6 mile territorial sea in the Aegean.



Turkey stands ready to engage in a dialogue with Greece with a view to finding an equitable settlement of the issue that will be to the best interest of the two countries.



The issue of the Continental Shelf has in the past led to tensions between Turkey and Greece.



On August 10, 1976, Greece addressed a communication to the President of the Security Council requesting an urgent meeting of the Council on the ground that "following recent repeated flagrant violations by Turkey of the sovereign rights of Greece in the continental shelf in the Aegean, a dangerous situation has been created threatening international peace and security." On the same day, by unilateral application, Greece instituted proceedings in the ICJ against Turkey in "a dispute concerning the delimitation of the continental shelf appertaining to Greece and Turkey in the Aegean Sea, and concerning the respective legal rights of those States to explore and exploit the CS of the Aegean." Also on the same day Greece filed a request for interim measures of protection.



On August 25, 1976 Security Council, in its resolution 395(1976), called upon the parties "to resume direct negotiations over their differences" and appealed them "to do everything within their power to ensure that these (negotiations) result in mutually acceptable solutions." The Council, furthermore "invited Turkey and Greece in this respect to continue to take into account the contribution that appropriate judicial means, in particular the ICJ, are qualified to make to the settlement of any remaining legal differences which they may identify in connection with their present dispute."



On September 11, 1976, the International Court of Justice rejected the Greek request for interim measures of protection. The Court also decided that areas beyond territorial waters, were in fact "areas in dispute".



Later, in 1978, the Court decided that it did not have jurisdiction to entertain the Greek application on the substance of the question.



In conformity with the Security Council decision, and in view of the Courts rejection of the Greek contention and claims, Turkey and Greece signed an agreement in Bern on 11 November 1976. Under this Agreement, the parties decided to hold negotiations with a view to reaching an agreement on the delimitation of the continental shelf.



Under the terms of this Agreement, the two governments have, inter alia, assumed the obligation to refrain from any initiative or act concerning the Aegean continental shelf. This specific obligation was observed by both countries over several years and thus it was possible to avert the dispute concerning the Aegean continental shelf from escalating into tensions and confrontations.



1976 Bern Agreement is still valid and its terms continue to be binding for both countries.



Furthermore, the International Court of Justice, in a decision taken in 1982, stated that "delimitation is to be effected by agreement in accordance with equitable principles and taking into account all relevant circumstances."



However Greece, who terminated the negotiating process with Turkey in 1981, started seismic and related activities and planned drilling operations in the disputed areas of the Aegean continental shelf in 1981.These activities which were open violations of the Bern Agreement have formed the main cause of the March 1987 crisis between Turkey and Greece. This crisis over drilling beyond territorial waters, was in fact the culmination of unilateral actions perpetrated by Greece as regards the Aegean. The crisis was averted and the "Davos Process", leading to meetings between Foreign Ministers and Prime Ministers was initiated. The process however yielded no tangible results on the major issues, due mainly to Greek insistence that the Agenda of the negotiations could contain no reference to the Aegean issues.



The Territorial Waters



Another vital element of the delicate balance of rights and interests in the Aegean sea is the breadth of the territorial waters.



Under the present 6 mile limit, Greek territorial sea comprises approximately 43.5 percent of the Aegan sea. For Turkey the same percentage is 7.5 percent. The remaining 49 percent is high seas.



It is evident that the extension by Greece of her territorial waters beyond the present 6 miles in the Aegean, would have most inequitable implications and would, therefore, constitute an abuse of right.



If the breadth of Greek territorial waters is extended to 12 miles due to the existence of the islands, Greece would acquire approximatively 71.5 percent of the Aegean sea, while Turkeys share would increase to only 8.8 percent. The Aegean high seas would diminish to 19.7 percent.



The impact of such a Greek extension of its territorial waters would be to deprive Turkey, one of the two coastal states of the Aegean, from her basic right of access to high seas from her territorial waters, the economic benefits derived from the Aegean,scientific research,etc.



Any increase beyond 6 miles is totally unacceptable to Turkey.



The Air Space



Another issue is the problem of Aegean air space.



Half of the Aegean airspace is international airspace. The two littoral states, Greece and Turkey, have freely used this area under the provisions and procedures of international law.



International airspace over the high seas is not under the sovereignty of any nation. According to international law, the breadth of national airspace has to correspond to the breadth of territorial sea. This is clearly reflected in Articles 1 and 2 the Chicago Convention of 1944 on civil aviation.



The core of the conflict on the Aegean airspace is the persistent abuse of "Flight Information Region" responsibility by Greece as if this responsibility entails sovereign rights.



The FIR arrangement on the Aegean Airspace devised in 1952 within the framework of ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization), is a technical responsibility. Greece, however, is using it to further its claims of de facto sovereignty over the Aegean airspace by demanding flight plans from Turkish state aircraft and allegations of "infringements of the Athens FIR".



Besides the abuse of its FIR responsibility, Greece claims a 10 nautical mile national airspace over territorial waters of 6 nautical miles. This arbitrary claim is a Greek attempt to reduce the international airspace of the Aegean by 50 percent.



The Demilitarized Status of the Eastern Aegean Islands



One of the basic issues between Turkey and Greece in the Aegean Sea is the demilitarized status of the Eastern Aegean Islands. The Eastern Aegean Islands are demilitarized by several international agreements which impose legal obligations binding upon Greece. The legal instruments setting up a demilitarized status for the Eastern Aegean Islands can be summarized from an historical perspective as follows :



a) 1913 Treaty of London : The future of the Eastern Aegean Islands have been left to the decision of Six Powers in Article 5 of the Treaty of London.



b) 1914 Decision of Six Powers: The islands of Lemnos, Samothrace, Lesvos, Chios, Samos, and Ikaria and others under Greek occupation as of 1914 were ceded to Greece by the 1914 Decision of Six Powers (Great Britain, France, Russia, Germany, Italy and Austria-Hungary) on the condition that they should be kept demilitarized.



c) 1923 Lausanne Peace Treaty: In Article 12 of the Lausanne Peace Treaty the 1914 Decision of Six Powers was confirmed.



Article 13 of the Laussane Treaty stipulated the modalities of the demilitarization for the islands of Lesvos, Chios, Samos, and Ikaria. It imposed certain restrictions related to the presence of military forces and establishment of fortifications which Greece undertook as a contractual obligation to observe stemming from this Treaty.



The Convention of the Turkish Straits annexed to the Laussanne Treaty further defined the demilitarized status of the islands of Lemnos and Samothrace. It stipulated a stricter regime for these islands, due to their vital importance to the security of Turkey by virtue of their close proximity to the Turkish Straits.



d) 1936 Montreux Convention: The Montreux Convention did not bring any change to the demilitarized status of these Islands. With the Protocol annexed to the said Convention, the demilitarized status of the Turkish Straits has been lifted to ensure the security of Turkey. In the Montreux Convention there is no clause regarding the militarization of the islands of Lemnos and Samothrace.



e) 1947 Paris Peace Treaty: The demilitarized status of Eastern Aegean Islands was once again confirmed in 1947 long after the Lausanne Treaty. The "Dodecanese Islands" namely Stampalia, Rhodes, Calki, Scarpanto, Casos, Piscopis, Nisiros, Calimnos, Leros, Patmos, Lipsos, Symi, Cos and Castellorizo were ceded to Greece on the explicit condition that they must remain demilitarized (Annex 6).



The demilitarization of the Eastern Aegean Islands was due to the overriding importance of these islands for Turkeys security. In fact, there is a direct linkage between the possession of sovereignty over those islands and their demilitarized status. Greece, in this respect, cannot unilaterally reverse this status under any pretext.



The above mentioned international treaties which are in force and thus binding upon Greece strictly forbid the militarization of Eastern Aegean Islands and bring legal obligations and responsibilities to Greece.



However, despite the protests of Turkey, Greece has been violating the status of the Eastern Aegean Islands by militarizing them since the 1960s in contravention of her contractual obligations. These illegal acts of Greece have increased considerably over the last years and became a vital dispute between the two countries. It is worthwhile to recall that Turkeys several appeals to Greece to respect the demilitarized status of these Islands have been disregarded so far.



From a mere point of view to respect international law, it should be underlined that Greece also introduced a reservation to the compulsory jurisdiction of International Court of Justice on the matters deriving from military measures concerning her "national security interests" when she accepted the Courts jurisdiction in 1993. In so doing, Greece aims to prevent a dispute concerning the militarization of the islands to be referred to the International Court of Justice.



The Conflicting Claims over the Small Islets and Rocks in the Aegean and the Kardak Crisis



There are numerous small islets and rocks in the Aegean ownership of which is not determined by international treaties. Most of those features can not sustain human habitation and have no economic life of their own. Greece has attempted to change their status by opening some of those geographical features to artificial settlement. To this end, Greece has enacted laws and regulations that have no bearing from the point of international law. Turkey regards this new Greek policy as another attempt to establish "fait accomplis" with a view to close-off the Aegean Sea as a Greek lake.



The recent crisis over the Kardak rocks has erupted by coincidence in such an atmosphere when Greece was making anouncements for recruitement of potential settlers from all over the world to some of these small islets and rocks. It is obvious that such a recruitment and settlement effort is in total disregard of the environmental concerns and the fragility of the ecosystems of the small islands and rocks in the Aegean. In addition, it is yet another proof of Greeces thirst for territorial expansion beyond areas ceded to her by the Lausanne Peace Treaty of 1923 and the Paris Peace Treaty of 1947.



The Kardak rocks lie just 3.8 nautical miles off the Turkish coast. The title deed of the rocks are registered on the Karakaya village of Bodrum prefecturate, Mugla province. For years Turkish fishermen have engaged in fishing activities on and around these rocks without any hinderance and Turkish vessels have navigated freely through the waters surrounding them. The series of events started by pure coincidence with the running aground of a Turkish bulk carrier named "Figen Akat" near these rocks on 25 December 1995.



In the following weeks there was no crisis. It all changed on 20 January 1996, nearly a month later, when the incident was leaked into the Greek periodical "GRAMMA" which is known to be close to the Greek Government. This leak took place only the day after Mr.Simitis was named to form the new Greek Government. A media campaign was launched by the Greek press with nationalistic overtones.



Then the Mayor of Kalimnos, a Greek island 5.5 nautical miles away from the Kardak rocks took upon himself to come to the rocks on 26 January and raise the Greek flag. Incidentally, the Greek flag had never been hoisted on the Kardak rocks before. In spite of this provocative action, the official Turkish reaction was very moderate. However, some Turkish journalists, no doubt concerned primarily with the circulation of their paper, hoisted the Turkish flag over Kardak the next day. This flag hoisting competition by individuals could have been considered innocent, had not the Greek side taken a decision to send troops to the Kardak rocks. This was an act of aggression or armed hostility against Turkish sovereignty. In the assessment of the crisis, one should never lose sight of this illegal Greek deployment on the Kardak rocks.



The Legal Framework Concerning the Kardak Issue



The Greek side tries to base her sovereignty over the Kardak rocks and over some other similar islets and rocks on



4 January 1932 and 28 December 1932 Turkish-Italian documents

Her succession of the Italian titles in the Aegean through the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty.

It is interesting to note that there is no mention of any "Imia Islet" in these documents. The 4 January 1932 Agreement does not concern the Kardak Rocks. A reference was made to the Kardak Rocks in the 28 December 1932 Document. However, legal procedures with regard to the latter were not completed. Neither was it registered with the League of Nations.



Article 18 of the Covenant of the League of Nations reads as follows; "Every Treaty or International Engagement entered into hereinafter by any Member of the League shall be forthwith registered with the Secretariat and shall as soon as possible be published by it. No such Treaty or International Engagement shall be binding until so registered." Therefore, no legally binding document exists in this respect.



That Italy has approached the Turkish Government in 1937 raising the issue of ratification of the 28 December 1932 document is an additional indication against its validity. This Italian demarche was never responded to and no such action was ever taken.



The Greek proposal submitted during the negotiations of the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty to make a reference to the 1932 two documents was not accepted, and no such reference was included in the text of the Treaty.



The fact that Greece has approached the Turkish Government in 1950 and yet again in 1953 proposing talks with a view to exchanging letters between the two Governments ascertaining the validity of the above-mentioned two documents between Turkey and Greece shows that Greece also had doubts as to their validity.



The only document that may be referred to regarding the sovereignty of Dodecanese islands, as already been pointed out, is the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty. This Treaty in its Article 14 enumerates those islands to be transfered to Greek sovereignty one by one. Kardak, is not mentioned among these. The Kardak formations are not "islets" but two rocks. They lie 5.5 miles away from the nearest Dodecanese island. Therefore they do not fit into the definition of "adjacent islets" as stipulated by the Article 14 of the said Treaty.



In addition this Article also envisages a demilitarized statues for the Dodecanese Islands. Greece has been blatantly violating this demilitarized status since the mid 1960s. The treaty has established a direct link between sovereignty of Dodecanese islans that are so close to the Turkish mainland and their demilitarized status, taking into consideration the security requirements of Turkey. A similar arrangement has been also stipulated by the 1923 Lausanne Peace Treaty concerning the North Eastern Aegean islands. Their demilitarized status is also being violated by Greece. This issue is one of the main disputes between Greece and Turkey. For ease of reference the text of the Article 14 of the 1947 Paris Peace Treaty is quoted hereafter.



"1-Italy hereby cedes to Greece in full sovereignty the Dodacanese Islands indicated hereafter, namley Stampalia (Astropalia), Rhodes (Rhodos), Calki (Kharki), Scarpanto, Casos (Casso), Piscopis (Tilos), Misiros (Niyros), Calimnos (Kalymnos), Leros, Patmos, Lipsos (Lipso), Simi (Symi), Cos (Kos) and Castellorizo, as well as the adjacent islets.



2-These islands shall be and shall remain demilitarized."
The Electoral Institute which is the training and research arm of the Independent National Electoral Commission is worried about the decline in the interest shown by eligible voters in the countrys democratic process.

The institute is now advancing a conversation that would deepen participation in the electoral system.

TVC news Senior correspondent Femi Akande reports that participation in Nigerias electoral process is on a downward steep since 1999

when there was a 52.3 percent voter turnout in the general election. In 2019, voter apathy had worsened to 34.7 percent as recorded in the general election.



Nigeria also has the lowest voter turnout in Africa when compared to other democratic countries. This is why the electoral institute organised a public discourse to make sense out of a situation that has remained a puzzle in Nigerias electoral system.

INEC is eager to increase the level of participation in the continuous voter registration and election.

The electoral commission has also rolled up its sleeves to conduct 28 rerun elections this week, another chance to assess voters behavior and also improve the credibility and acceptability of the polls.
BAGHDAD  Waving national flags and banners denouncing President Trump, tens of thousands of Iraqis marched peacefully through Baghdad on Friday to demand that U.S. troops leave their country in a protest organized by a populist Shiite cleric.

The show of force by followers of Muqtada al-Sadr and Iranian-backed militias came amid heightened tensions following a U.S. drone strike earlier this month that killed a top Iranian general in the Iraqi capital, fanning anti-U.S. sentiment.

There were no official estimates of the turnout and organizers gave varying figures, but it clearly fell short of the million-man march that had been called for by al-Sadr.

Large crowds gathered on the Muslim day of prayer as loudspeakers blasted, No, no America! at a central square.

The ralliers did not clash with the heavy security presence or target the separate, antigovernment protests in neighboring Tahrir Square, a possibility feared by activists.

The rally came at a critical time as rival political blocs are jockeying over the selection of a prime minister to replace outgoing Adel Abdul-Mahdi. In his weekly Friday sermon, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraqs most revered Shiite cleric, called on political parties to stop stalling and move talks on forming a government.

Roads and bridges leading to the heavily fortified Green Zone, the seat of Iraqs government and home to several foreign diplomatic compounds including the U.S. Embassy, were barricaded by concrete barriers. Iraqi security forces stood guard, blocking access to the gates of the zone.

The protesters were mostly Shiites from the capital but also from Iraqs southern provinces.

Al-Sadr, whose party won the most seats in the May 2018 parliamentary elections, had called the rally to demand the withdrawal of American troops following the Jan. 3 U.S. drone strike near Baghdads airport that killed top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and senior Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. The killing drew the ire of Iraqi officials from across the political spectrum.

According to U.S. military officials, rather than draw down, Americans have poured 20,000 additional troops into the Middle East to counter what Washington describes as an escalating threat from Iran. There are about 5,200 U.S. troops in Iraq, where they help train and assist Iraqi forces in the fight against the Islamic State group.

Qassem Abdul-Zahra and Samya Kullab are Associated Press writers.
Veteran actor and talk show host Simi Garewal has come out in support of actor Kangana Ranauts recent comments that rapists should be publicly hanged to deter others from committing such heinous crimes. Kangana said this when asked about the death sentence given to the four convicts of the 2012 Delhi gang-rape, who will be hanged on February 1.

Simi backed Kangana and her sister Rangoli Chandel and wrote on Twitter, As per my earlier tweet, I agree with #Kangana @Rangoli_A. There should be a public hanging of the criminal rapists. Set an example. Let it instill fear of the law.

Earlier, in November 2019, Simi had tweeted, I say: Let there be ONE public hanging of these criminals. Let there be ONE publicized castration. Then only will they fear the law. But here Nirbhayas most cruel rapist of 17yrs 11mnths was rewarded!!! Given a new identity. Money. Freedom!!!

As per my earlier tweet, I agree with #Kangana @Rangoli_A. There should be a public hanging of the criminal rapists. Set an example. Let it instill fear of the law. pic.twitter.com/8S2bjtB7AJ  Simi Garewal (@Simi_Garewal) January 23, 2020

Simi also called senior lawyer Indira Jaising a fine woman and brilliant lawyer in a tweet. She wrote, #IndiraJaising is a fine woman & a brilliant lawyer. She has spent a lifetime fighting for womens rights, for justice. Ive never met her but have followed her crusade with admiration & #respect.

#IndiraJaising is a fine woman & a brilliant lawyer. She has spent a lifetime fighting for women's rights, for justice. I've never met her but have followed her crusade with admiration & #respect  Simi Garewal (@Simi_Garewal) January 23, 2020

During a promotional event for Panga, Kangana hit out at Indira, who urged the Delhi gang-rape victims mother to pardon the rapists. The actor said, That woman should be locked in a jail with those rapists for four days. She needs it. What kind of women are these, who are sympathetic to rapists? Such women given birth to monsters. These women, who are full of love and sympathy for rapists and murderers, are the ones who give birth to them.

Also read: Kangana Ranaut slams Indira Jaising for seeking pardon for rapists, says such women give birth to monsters

Kangana also called for a public execution of the rapists and said, I dont think these rapists should be hanged silently. What is the point of capital punishment, if you cannot set an example? They should be hanged in public.

Meanwhile, the Delhi gang-rape victims mother Asha Devi expressed her agreement with Kangana and said in an interview that she is grateful for the support. She said, I fully agree with Kangana, she is right. I am glad that someone has spoken against Indira Jaising and has stood with me.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 24

Trend:

Baku and Moscow signed a protocol on cooperation in the field of culture, Trend reports on Jan. 24.

The protocol was signed within the Baku-Moscow: dialogue of cultures conference which is being held in the capital of Azerbaijan.

The document was signed by Head of Bakus Main Department of Culture Jalil Melikov and Head of Moscows Department of Culture Alexander Kibovsky.

The conference and other events under the title "Baku-Moscow: dialogue of cultures" will last in Baku for three days. These events aim to lay the foundation for expanding relations and consider topics to be discussed during the upcoming Baku International Humanitarian Forum.

"Baku-Moscow: dialogue of cultures" is a project that is being implemented for the first time between the capitals of the two countries.

A Russian delegation consisting of about 150 people including ministers, Moscows governmental officials, MPs, scholars, university rectors, figures of art and culture, is participating in the event.
Members of civic groups hold a news conference in front of Cheong Wa Dae, Wednesday, to oppose the government's decision to send the Cheonghae unit to the Strait of Hormuz. Yonhap



By Kang Seung-woo



The government's decision to send a naval unit to the Strait of Hormuz still remains a contentious issue in political circles as critics claim it requires fresh approval.

The defense ministry announced, Tuesday, it will temporarily expand the anti-piracy Cheonghae unit's area of operations from the Gulf of Aden to the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf to ensure the safety of Korean ships there  although it will not join the U.S.-led International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC).

According to the law, in order to send a military unit overseas, the government needs to submit a bill for approval to the National Assembly, and if the bill is passed, it should be endorsed at a Cabinet meeting again and finally receive approval from the president.

Cheong Wa Dae and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) believes the decision does not require parliamentary consent because it is not a "new dispatch."

"The Cheonghae unit had been already dispatched, so as far as we understand, an additional approval from the Assembly is unnecessary," a senior Cheong Wa Dae official said, Wednesday.

DPK Rep. Ahn Gyu-back, who heads the Assembly's National Defense Committee, also said Tuesday, "The dispatch is based on legal grounds."

The Assembly passed a motion to extend the naval unit's mission until the end of 2020 last December, and it stipulates that the unit shall carry out missions in the Gulf of Aden and expand operational areas in case of emergency.

"It is an expansion of the unit's missions, not a fresh dispatch," the lawmaker said.

However, conservative opposition parties said the decision needs to get the nod from the Assembly  although they are not opposed to the dispatch.

"According to documents of the defense ministry, changes in the number of personnel and mission of the Cheonghae unit need to be approved by the Assembly," Rep. Baek Seung-joo of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party said.

New Conservative Party Spokesman Kwon Sung-joo also said, "The dispatch has thorny aspects, so it should have received approval from lawmakers."

The progressive Justice Party made clear its firm opposition to the government's decision.

"The deployment of the Cheonghae unit to the Strait of Hormuz can lead to hostile relations with Iran, so I cannot agree with it. In addition, the decision means the unit's mission has changed, so the National Assembly has to decide whether to approve the plan," Justice Party Chairwoman Sim Sang-jeung said.

Party for Democracy and Peace Spokeswoman Rep. Park Joo-hyun also said, "The dispatch means Korea will join a war between the United States and Iran without any justification and it will eventually end up with hostile ties with traditional ally, Iran.

The Cheonghae unit is engaged in an anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia, but now it will assume a different task, which means a parliamentary authorization is required."

As the world's most important oil passageway and a choke point between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, the strait is the route to the open ocean for more than one-sixth of global oil production and 70 percent of Korea's oil imports.

Tensions in the region have mounted since the U.S. killed a top Iranian general through airstrikes and Iran launched missile attacks on U.S. troops in Iraq in retaliation earlier this month.
It was reported earlier this month that the villa had been put under quarantine after crew members were struck down by a violent vomiting bug.

And now Love Island's former contestant Ollie Williams has revealed that there was a norovirus outbreak on the show with bosses forced to 'edit the scenes out' of the show.

The aristocrat, 23, who quit the series days after joining as he was still in love with his ex Laura Nofer, said that it was mainly the male Islanders affected although some of the female contestants were seen 'running to the loos'.

Oh dear: Love Island's former contestant Ollie Williams (pictured earlier this month) has revealed that there was a norovirus outbreak on the show with bosses forced to edit the scenes out of the show

Ollie told The Sun: 'We all got norovirus, I definitely had a bad tummy, all the boys got it too.

'I had to a mad dash to the toilets one night. I don't know if it was the food, you obviously drink loads of water in there so it could have been that.'

Ollie insisted that it didn't last very long but that things were 'pretty ropey' in the villa for a while.

Outbreak: The aristocrat, 23, said that it was mainly the male Islanders affected although some of the female contestants were seen 'running to the loos' (Callum Jones pictured)

He added: 'I think some of the girls may have got it too as I saw them running to the loos, but they weren't as obvious as the lads.'

WHAT IS NOROVIRUS? The norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes gastrointestinal illnesses. It is most commonly associated with contaminated food but can also be transmitted from one person to another. The virus can even be spread through the air when an infected person vomits or flushes a toilet. Although it is not related to influenza, it is sometimes referred to as a 'stomach flu'. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year an estimated 20 million Americans become infected with the virus, leading to approximately 800 deaths. (Source: LiveScience.com) Advertisement

The norovirus is a highly contagious virus that causes gastrointestinal illnesses. It is most commonly associated with contaminated food but can also be transmitted from one person to another.

In the chat, Ollie also said that despite being 'monitored' on their alcohol consumption, the Islanders got 'wasted' on the first night with Connor Durman not remembering telling partner Sophie Piper that he had a threesome on a first date.

The heir to Lanhydrock Estate's interview comes after it was reported earlier this month that contestants and crew had been put under quarantine to avoid contracting a 'violent vomiting bug.'

According to a report from The Sun, the crew members who were hit by the sickness have had to stay 'within seconds of a toilet' as a result.

A source speaking to the publication explained: 'If the virus reaches the contestants then it could bring the show to a halt for three or four days.

Not ideal: Ollie told The Sun: 'We all got norovirus, I definitely had a bad tummy, all the boys got it too. I had to a mad dash to the toilets one night. I don't know if it was the food, you obviously drink loads of water in there so it could have been that.' (pictured earlier this month)

Poorly: Ollie said: 'I think some of the girls may have got it too as I saw them running to the loos, but they weren't as obvious as the lads.' (Siannise Fudge pictured)

'Nobody is going to watch them throwing up or having the s****.'

The publication claimed that those who have become sick have been instructed to stay in their hotel rooms for the time being, while those working at the villa are forbidden from shaking hands or kissing.

It was also reported that sanitation areas have been put in place, while the crew have also been given medical kits loaded with probiotics and rehydration packs to help them combat the sickness.

Of the issue, the source added: 'Everything is being done to quarantine the villa from the outside world so that bug doesn't get in.'

'Ropey': Ollie insisted that it didn't last very long but that things were 'pretty ropey' in the villa for a while (Nas Majeed pictured)

MailOnline has contacted Love Island for comment.

Ollie quit the Love Island villa last week after he caused outrage following images of him posing next to slaughtered animals in Africa emerged.

The aristocrat has since denied that he is a big game hunter and is 'passionate about conservation'.

Since his exit, Ollie has revealed that he is officially back together with his ex-girlfriend Laura Nofer.

Awkward! In the chat, Ollie also said that despite being 'monitored' on their alcohol consumption, the Islanders got 'wasted' on the first night with Connor Durman (pictured) not remembering telling partner Sophie Piper that he had a threesome on a first date

The Cornish hunk, 23, told The Sun that just hours after he quit the Love Island villa he called Laura to say how much he loved her, and they're already planning their future together.

Ollie - who quit Love Island after just three days in the villa when he decided he would rather be with Laura - went onto reveal that they've even discussed getting engaged, and they're planning to move in together in the coming weeks.

They previously dated for 18 months after meeting at Royal Holloway University, but the couple split due to the struggles of a long distance relationship.
Autumn Driscoll / Autumn Driscoll

MILFORD  This year marks the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, ensuring a womans right to vote.

The city has formed a Milford Suffrage Centennial Committee to celebrate the anniversary with events throughout the year.
Senior Muslim leaders have joined the descendants of Holocaust survivors in prayer during a historic visit to Auschwitz.

The delegation was led by Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, the secretary general of the Saudi Arabia-funded Muslim World League, and is thought to be the most senior group of Islamic faith representatives to ever visit a Nazi death camp.

To be here, among the children of Holocaust survivors and members of the Jewish and Islamic communities, is both a sacred duty and a profound honour, Mr Al-Issa said during the ground-breaking visit.

The unconscionable crimes to which we bear witness today are truly crimes against humanity. That is to say, a violation of us all, an affront to all of Gods children.

The Muslim leaders stood side by side with figures from the oldest Jewish advocacy group in the United States, the American Jewish Committee, which had helped organise the trip.

Remembering the Holocaust Show all 16 1 /16 Remembering the Holocaust Remembering the Holocaust 119165.bin Hannah Bills Remembering the Holocaust 119169.bin Hannah Bills Remembering the Holocaust 119229.bin Hannah Bills Remembering the Holocaust 119167.bin Hannah Bills Remembering the Holocaust 119162.bin Hannah Bills Remembering the Holocaust 119166.bin Hannah Bills Remembering the Holocaust 119163.bin Hannah Bills Remembering the Holocaust 119224.bin Hannah Bills Remembering the Holocaust 119168.bin Hannah Bills Remembering the Holocaust 119228.bin Hannah Bills Remembering the Holocaust 119152.bin Hannah Bills Remembering the Holocaust 119226.bin Hannah Bills Remembering the Holocaust 119150.bin Hannah Bills Remembering the Holocaust 119151.bin Hannah Bills Remembering the Holocaust 119147.bin Hannah Bills Remembering the Holocaust 119231.bin Hannah Bills

At one point while touring the camp, dozens of those in the 62-strong Muslim delegation from 28 countries bowed their heads to the floor and prayed.

The visit came just days before international commemorations to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz by the Soviet Red Army on 27 January 1945.

The network of concentration camps in Auschwitz, situated in southern Poland  then occupied by Germany during the Second World War - held 1.3 million people, of whom 1.1 million were killed.

Recommended The Auschwitz lovers who were reunited after 72 years

Most of those who died in the camps were Jews, including 865,000 who were immediately gassed to death on their arrival.

David Harris from the American Jewish Committee said the trip led by Mr Al-Issa was the most senior Islamic leadership delegation to ever visit Auschwitz or any Nazi German death camp.

Among those who travelled from the US to the ceremony were children of Holocaust survivors.

In recent years, the Muslim World League has sought to promote a more moderate brand of Islam and build relationships with Jewish groups, in line with the modernisation programme launched by Saudi Arabias crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The charity was founded by Saudi Arabia in 1962 and remains primarily funded by the oil-rich Gulf monarchy.
When the opportunity came for Hailey Riley to open her own International Minute Press printing franchise on the other side of town, she decided to join her husband Jason in entrepreneurship.



PHOENIX and CHANDLER, Ariz. , Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hailey Riley is a new business owner with her International Minute Press design, marketing, and printing franchise located at 6140 W. Chandler Blvd, Suite 5 in Chandler, Arizona. Previously, Hailey earned her Masters Degree at ASU in Legal Studies to become a patent agent. When the opportunity arose to own her own business, Hailey decided to join her husband Jason in entrepreneurship. Together, they have both sides of town covered with their own businesses. Jasons franchise is located at 460 E Warner Rd, Suite 1, also in Chandler.

Jason explains the value of International Minute Press to the local business community and residents. Today, we help companies and organizations brand themselves with apparel, promotional products, design, printing, and making them look their best to their clients and prospects. We want to help make life easier on our fellow small business owners, and make it easy for them to do business with us. They can rely on our expertise, our suggestions, and we allow them to not have to be creative on their own or spend so much time developing a professional look for their company because we do it for them.

Two Different Paths to Family Business Ownership

Hailey and Jason always did their own thing when it came to their professional careers. Jason first went into business with his father Zane, who is now retired, in 1998. When Jason told her that Minuteman Press International was giving them the chance to buy another franchise in Chandler, she knew she had to give entrepreneurship serious consideration.

Hailey explains, Owning a franchise was always his thing, but when an independently run print shop went up for sale, I was given the chance to convert it to an International Minute Press center and in a way, the timing was good. I just finished my internship at a law firm so I took the time to think about it and Jason and I weighed the pros and cons. Patent agents are well-paid, but being a business owner, if you are doing it right, has the potential to surpass the salary of a patent agent.

For his part, Jason says, When Hailey went through training and onsite setup of her franchise , I was interested to see what she learned. Even with my 20-plus years of experience, it was helpful to see how new Minuteman Press International owners are in great hands. The business she bought had a strong amount of wide format printing, and it was great to see that the field rep who set up the business and the FLEX software we use were both able to accommodate wide format so easily.

Hailey adds, Training was helpful as I was going through personal and professional life changes. The break from my hectic life was welcome, but I missed my family after 12 days away. As a full-time student commuting to downtown Phoenix three times a week, the rigorous demands of law school and having a 2, 6 and 8 yr. old, I felt I had already overcome challenges. When you factor in my dad being diagnosed with leukemia and taking him to chemotherapy and stem cell transplant consultations, I really looked at training as a welcomed break. After my dads successful stem cell transplant and the completion of my masters and law clerk internship, I was ready for a change and the new challenge of running a business.

Jason Outlines the Benefits of Printing and Franchising Today

Jason elaborates on the benefits he sees from being an International Minute Press franchise owner for 22 years. Ive seen a huge benefit from being able to reference the experience within the Minuteman Press International organization. Yes, we get the support that one would expect when signing on to join a franchise. The fact that there are 950-plus franchise owners who can relate to us is incredible. I am even part of a small peer group of other franchisees where we found that we can all relate to each other. We are all parents of school-aged children and we plan to own this business until we retire. Thats a huge unseen benefit of being part of Minuteman Press International that deserves more attention and praise.

Jason continues, I also cannot overstate the value of the Minuteman Press International FLEX Software that is available to us. FLEX provides the engine that helps run our business and its the hub of everything we do. Management, sales, marketing, FLEX really includes everything.

He also explains the positive changes and value of the modern printing industry. In digital printing, the ROI is dramatically better than when I first started in 1998, and the margins on wide format printing are extremely promising. As for marketing, its not really much different from when we started. We still take care of our customers needs and today we simply can take care of even more of their needs. Its never about us, but our clients, and we believe in relationship-building and showing our greater capabilities to be their one-stop solution.

Like any small business owner, having the right team in place is a key element of Jasons ability to best serve his clients. He says, Ive been fortunate to have a tremendous staff whose expertise has been invaluable to our shared success. Two of them have been with me over 10 years, and another about 5 years.

Jason also talks about the impact his business has on the local community and why that means so much to him. As a business owner and member of the Rotary Club of Chandler, I feel there is a level of ownership and pride in the community. Pride in helping produce products for the local economy, and a sense of ownership in helping other businesses. When I see household names around town and say, Yeah, we print for them. For me, thats the community I am so happy and fortunate to be a part of.

Hailey Breathes New Life into Her Local Business

Hailey took over an independent print shop in Chandler and has breathed new life into the local business. She explains, The previous owner was older. He was very inside the box and didnt go outside of that. He was replaced by a forty-year-old woman and I am the opposite. My team does it all, including large format printing. I am willing to take on any idea and if it is something new, I let the customer know and ask them to bear with us as we explore options. For instance, one of our customers wanted giant flip pads for use on an easel during a meeting. We made these huge 2 x 2 pads of pastel paper and they used it as a flow chart and marked it up throughout the meeting.

She continues, Another customer came to us and they were local but were attending an event in Oregon and had an unusual request. We successfully took photos of colleagues not in attendance and printed their faces on thick stock, so they could be attached to sticks and placed in chairs in their absence.

Hailey also loves her staff and sees amazing business opportunities in Chandler and Phoenix. She has her designer and two print specialists on board, all capable of crossover work as they take on new print and design projects. Teri and Marty have been here for several years and stayed with me during the transition. They have been a huge asset and then, I hired my own designer. Phoenix and Chandler make up a huge tech corridor so there is no shortage of competition in my field. But I know who my competition is and I know I am here to make people happy with what we produce for them.

Jack Panzer, Regional Vice President for Minuteman Press International says, The Riley family already established success with their first location, so it made sense for Hailey to open her own center. I have had great success helping independent print owners sell their businesses and exit into retirement by converting them into Minuteman Press and International Minute Press franchises. I had a perfect one available for Hailey, so the decision was a no brainier. I introduced her to the seller, helped with the negotiations and now the Riley family has two very successful International Minute Press centers.

Hailey adds, The change was a good one. The independent shop I bought was completely rebranded with help from Minuteman Press International and I feel supported by my local representatives. I know there is no hesitation in them when it comes to helping me.

Rewards of Owning an Arizona Small Business from Both Perspectives

When asked about the rewards of owning a business, Hailey and Jason have similar sentiments and one word that pops up on both of their radars is the word fun. Hailey says, It is always fun to be in contact with customers because I am a people person. I learned from my time at the law firm that I am not into sitting at a desk, working and not conversing with people. I am excited to go out and explain things. My location is on a main road, so I get a lot of walk-in traffic and I find it enjoyable.

Jason says, Boil it down to one or two items and its this  my rewards come in the form of helping my staff achieve their goals, setting and reaching goals as a team. Whether its 2020, 2021, or 2031, we always want next year to be our best year.

He continues, Today, our current momentum is as strong as it has ever been because of several factors. We are expanding offerings to clients, which is really fun when it happens organically and I get to see their increased interest when I make deliveries. Its rewarding to deliver new products like apparel and promo items and have them get excited about their new hoodies or outerwear. Its so much fun to experience that with our clients.

Business Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Jason offers the following words of advice for people who are considering business or franchise ownership. He states, Start by asking yourself, What do I love to do and what do I hate to do? Identify those key items and dont forget them when you do own your own business. Check yourself. If you love what you are doing, dont stop, the hire the right people to fill your knowledge gaps and do the things you arent fond of that they love to do themselves. Thats how a winning team is built.

From her perspective as a new business owner, Hailey says, I am making a good living and I am having a good time because I love building relationships. Knowing I am helping people as I get to know the needs of their businesses is why I love what I do at International Minute Press.

Hailey Rileys new business is located at 6140 W. Chandler Blvd, Suite 5, Chandler, AZ 85226. For more information, visit https://www.printwithimpchandler.com . Jason Rileys business is located at 460 E Warner Rd, Suite 1, Chandler, AZ 85225. For more information, visit https://www.impchandler.com . Learn more about Minuteman Press International franchise opportunities at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com .

About Minuteman Press International

Minuteman Press International , which operates as International Minute Press in Arizona, is the number one rated business marketing and printing franchise that offers world class training and unparalleled ongoing local support. At Minuteman Press International, We Are The Modern Printing Industry  providing high quality products and services that meet the needs of today's business professionals and go way beyond ink on paper. Today, our centers offer innovative branding solutions and produce custom designs, promotional products, branded apparel, direct mail marketing, large format printing (banners and posters), signs and graphics, and much more. Prior experience is not necessary to own and operate a successful Minuteman Press International franchise. Learn more about Minuteman Press International franchise opportunities and access franchise reviews at https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

Contact:

Minuteman Press International

Franchise Opportunities, 1-800-645-3006

https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

or

Media Inquiries:

cbiscuiti@mpihq.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b1f2fef8-3536-4567-8a26-b8a51d322e84
D r Mike Lynch should be a British success story. He co-founded a data-processing company called Autonomy, which by 2010 was Britains largest software company. In 2011, it was sold to HP for 7.1 billion. But later HP claimed that Autonomy was overvalued and sued Lynch for fraud in the UK. Lynch defended it strenuously. After a lengthy civil trial, Lynch is awaiting judgment.

But Lynch is now facing almost identical criminal charges in the US. Despite the Serious Fraud Office concluding there was no basis for a prosecution in the UK, the US authorities are pursuing his extradition. I raised his case in the House of Commons yesterday, and urge the Home Secretary to delay certifying his extradition until a UK court has had its say. Otherwise, we risk yet another serious miscarriage of justice.

Once again, the US and UKs extradition treaty feels slanted in favour of the US. Since 2007, the UK has surrendered 135 UK nationals to the US, 99 of which were for non-violent crimes. During the same period the US has surrendered only 11 to the UK. This cannot be right.

Lynch now faces the same fate as the NatWest Three or Ian Norris, the former head of Morgan Crucible. In these cases, the UK system failed to protect them, and the US got its way. Most US cases are not in pursuit of terrorists, paedophiles or murderers  which is what the extradition treaty was designed for.

David Davis / REUTERS

When we request a US extradition, that person can challenge it in the US courts on the basis that there is no probable cause for believing they are guilty. But there is no right for a UK citizen to have a reasonable grounds hearing before they are extradited to the US. The US Secretary of State also has far greater discretion to refuse an extradition than our Home Secretary. Just look at the rejected request for Anne Sacoolas, charged with causing Harry Dunns death by dangerous driving.

Prosecutors will almost certainly try to convince Lynch to admit his guilt to a lesser charge. They will promise a shorter sentence and remind him of the cost of a long trial. If he fights the case, prosecutors will bring multiple charges and oppose bail. The rules are set up for him to fail. He will be told he must run his defence from his cell where he can only have one ream of paper at a time. But Lynchs civil trial involved more than 11 million documents. The US jails a higher percentage of its citizens than any other country. No doubt the fact that 97 per cent of cases are settled by plea bargain in the US is a big factor.

In the next decade, Britain and the US will develop even closer commercial bonds. Businesses developed by British inventors will look to merge with, or sell to, big US companies. If the current extradition treaty stands, every one of them will face a legal system stacked against them. In the interests of both countries, this has to change. We need to give British citizens and entrepreneurs the protection they deserve.
Some of the fake documents seized in a raid on a Dublin apartment

A key member of an international organised crime gang who was caught opening Irish bank accounts using fake documentation is from a Romanian city which has been nicknamed 'Hackerville'.

The central Romanian city earned its dubious title because more than 80 of its inhabitants have been arrested as part of a major EU crackdown on the fraud mob, which has led to 110 arrests in total across the continent.

Yesterday, a main player in the outfit who had been operating from an Artane apartment until he was busted by elite detectives last July, was jailed for four-and-a-half years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Our exclusive photo shows Radu Agapie (28), who pleaded guilty to five counts of control of fake Polish and Hungarian identification cards, four counts of using fake documentation to open bank accounts and three counts of money laundering on dates between July 2018 and July 2019.

Specialist officers from the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) played the lead role in an EU-wide investigation which established that Agapie's gang has stolen over 15m in the last three-and-a-half years.

Gardai attached to the GNECB have arrested a dozen of the gang's members in a major clampdown in the past year and more arrests and charges are expected in the coming weeks.

The gang has made millions from fake Airbnb web scams and other organised frauds.

Duped

It is also suspected of carrying out thousands of organised frauds in other EU countries and then using Irish financial institutions to launder the cash.

"Primarily this gang have been involved in two different types of organised fraud in Europe," a senior source said.

"One of the scams has targeted customers of Airbnb and many other accommodation providers all across Europe.

"Customers have been duped into paying money for bogus accommodation - they think they are renting genuine accommodation but in fact the money is being diverted to the organised criminal gang who have set up false websites.

"In other cases, people have been conned into paying huge money for all kinds of items, from watches to cars to tractors, in this very elaborate internet fraud.

"As soon as the cash goes into the gang's bank account, it is removed from it by the criminals."

Agapie's role in the huge organised fraud was to open multiple bank accounts in Ireland so that the dirty cash could be deposited in them and then removed.

Like dozens of his associates in the massive gang, he is from the small city of Ramnicu Valcea, which was identified by the FBI as early as the 1990s as a "hotspot" for cybercrime.

Now, almost 25 years later, gardai say the "sheer scale" of the gang's international activities is "absolutely staggering", but the GNECB has emerged as the lead police agency in bringing it down.

The jail sentence handed down yesterday to Agapie is considered "hugely significant" as under-resourced gardai attempt to being down the crime gang.

Agapie has 10 previous convictions in Finland for falsification of documentation, forgery and laundering of proceeds of crime - all related to the same incident when he was arrested at Helsinki Airport just after arriving in the country for the first time in 2017.

Sources said the co-operation between Finnish police and gardai in the long-running investigation has been "particularly significant", with three of the gang arrested in Finland in the past 18 months.

Yesterday Judge Melanie Greally noted Agapie had spent six months in prison for his previous convictions in Finland the year before these offences and then come to Ireland, where he engaged in "very serious and sophisticated acts of falsification".

She said the sums of money in question, which totalled almost 80,000, may not have been for his benefit but added that the court had to have regard to the fact he was playing a vital role in a larger criminal organisation.

The judge also took into account that he had a cocaine addiction.

Identified

Detective Garda John Carmody told the court the GNECB had been working with Interpol and other agencies in a Europe-wide intelligence-led investigation into criminal organisations involved in money laundering and fraud.

Gardai identified a number of companies which had bank accounts set up on their behalf which they believed were being used for money laundering. Agapie was identified as a person of interest.

A number of addresses were also identified in the investigation, with one at Timber Mills, Artane, being used by members of the organisation as a place of residence for opening bank accounts.

A search was conducted at the apartment and gardai recovered a "toolkit" for making false documentation and identity cards from a bedroom where they found Agapie asleep.

Officers seized a printer and scanner, guillotine and cutters, and laminators, as well as files for plastic, glue, scissors and a hair-dryer.

Gardai also recovered five identity cards in five names, each bearing Agapie's photograph.

The lease for the room in the apartment Agapie was in was not in his name and another person living in the apartment was not involved in the offending.

The court heard that three bank accounts opened using the faked documentation contained a total of 79,564 and a total of 65,660 was withdrawn.

The accounts were opened face to face, requiring production of documentation and proof of identification and address.

Agapie was arrested, interviewed and then charged and has been a model prisoner in Cloverhill since, the court was told.
New Delhi: The Special Investigation Team of Delhi probing the violence at Jamia Nagar, that took place during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests, has issued notice to three people, including former Congress MLA Asif Muhammad Khan, local politician Ashu Khan and AISA activist from Jamia Chandan Kumar Singh.

All the three have been summoned to join the probe at 11 am on Friday. The three have been named in two FIRs registered after the Jamia Nagar violence, that took place on December 15.

Live TV

On December 15, violence had broken out near the university after an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protest march by students ended in a pitched battle with the police in New Friends' Colony near Jamia Millia Islamia. Buses were set on fire and other public properties were also damaged in the protest. Several students and police officers were injured in the clash. The police were accused of using excessive force against students inside the campus.

On the night of December 15, the Delhi Police entered the Jamia Milia Islamia University campus and allegedly assaulted several students. The Jamia administration claimed that the police had entered 'forcefully'.

According to IANS, locals of the Sarai Julema in the Jamia Nagar clashed with police after the trouble began over the organising of a protest against the Citizenship Act around afternoon. Billowing smokes were seen coming out of the red DTDC buses put on fire. Black clouds of smoke could be seen from Ashram Chowk, 4.3 kilometres away.

The situation turned critical when a bus was burned by the protestors and police got into action. A photographer was injured in the stone-pelting that took place during the confrontation between protestors and police.

Around 100 students were also detained by the police but were released later. A day later, on December 16, the police lodged an FIR against 15 people for their alleged involvement in the protests. Speaking to the media, Chinmoy Biswal, Delhi Commissioner of Police South East, said that a mob of around 2,000 people turned violent and targeted public transport buses.

Defending the police action to resort to lathicharge on the protesters, the senior Delhi Police official said that the cops were only trying to push the mob back in order to restore law and order in the area. Biswal stressed that the police did not target any students of Jamia Millia Islamia.
A Russian man wanted by the United States for a massive bitcoin-theft scheme has been extradited from Greece to France, the latest development in a multinational legal fight that focused attention on cryptocurrency money laundering.

In a post to Facebook on January 23, Aleksandr Vinnik's lawyer asserted that his client had been kidnapped, and suggested he had been sent to France without her knowledge.

Zoe Konstantopoulou also said Vinnik was in a Paris hospital, adding that he was "exhausted" and not fit for questioning.

Konstantopoulou did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking further comment.

Vinnik has been identified by U.S. and other authorities as an administrator or manager of a "digital-currency exchange" -- where people can buy and sell cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and others -- known as BTC-e.

He was arrested on a U.S. arrest warrant in 2017 on a Greek beach where he was vacationing with his family.

According to the U.S. Justice Department, Vinnik, now 39, was allegedly the mastermind behind an international money-laundering scheme that had processed over $4 billion in cryptocurrency transactions, including bitcoin stolen from another digital-currency exchange known as Mt. Gox.

The United States has fought in Greek court to have Vinnik extradited, but Russia filed a competing extradition request, saying he faced smaller, unrelated criminal charges in Russia.

Midway through the legal fight, however, France also lodged an extradition request in Greek court on similar theft charges.

Vinnik is one of seven Russians detained or indicted worldwide last year on U.S. cybercrime charges.

A Greek court had approved Vinnik's extradition to the United States in December 2017, but other courts issued competing rulings, prompting Greece's justice minister to step in to decide where he should be sent.

Greek authorities had no immediate comment on reports of Vinnik's extradition.
Youre reading this weeks At War newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Email us at atwar@nytimes.com.

It has been 75 years since World War II ended, and the conflict still feels like one of the most covered events of the century  from public-school curriculums to films, TV series and countless books. But every year, there are fewer and fewer people living who actually remember the war and what it cost us. And though certain stories from the war continue to be memorialized, others are marginalized or lost to history.

For 2020, At War and The Timess Special Projects team are producing a series called Beyond the World War II We Know, highlighting lesser-known stories about the end of the war and its aftermath. We will publish stories that have mostly remained untold, featuring both the voices of our readers and original reporting. Last fall, we asked people who lived through the war or who had a loved one who lived through it  in the military, but also civilian survivors and those who dedicated their lives to stateside efforts  to send us their stories; we will be retelling them here over the next nine months. Well also bring you in-depth reports on topics ranging from the consequences of Japanese internment to the struggles of black soldiers returning stateside. And we will recount events from 1945 that shaped the postwar new world order.
T he last year and a half has been hell. I feel like I am trapped in a juggernaut heading for doom and that I can do nothing about it.

My fourth and youngest child Tom goes to a state secondary school in west London. At his first parents evening we were delighted to hear he had settled well and was progressing academically. But at the beginning of Year 9, aged 13, he began getting low-level detentions for silly behaviour  talking, not following instructions, being late. It came at a time he was entering puberty and had begun hanging out with a different set of friends. Unbeknown to us, he had been introduced to cannabis. He was angry, didnt want to communicate, spending hours alone in his bedroom. It was obvious he was struggling.

As the detentions began to mount, he became more and more disengaged. I explained to the school what was going on. I said I didnt condone his behaviour but felt it important that they recognise he was becoming depressed. I asked them to lay off the detentions and use a different approach to establish the root of the problem, but the school took a hard line.

I arranged for a drugs counsellor from a local support service to see my son during school hours and, to my relief, he did engage. But, at the beginning of Year 10, after the school decided to carry over a punishment from the previous academic year, he started refusing to attend detentions. Things escalated and he was given his first fixed-term exclusion  sent home for one day. His crime? Not taking his coat off fast enough at the beginning of a lesson.

When I protested, I got an email that said: You may believe refusing to take ones coat off is a trivial matter but open defiance is viewed seriously, will not be tolerated and until your son realises this, there will continue to be problems.

I want to work with the school to help my son he needs compassion as well as clear boundaries

I asked the school for an early intervention plan, which they agreed to, but it never materialised. I had meetings with the head and the chair of governors, but they are not interested in addressing the reasons behind Toms behaviour. The system breaks you. I lie awake at night with tears rolling down my face, trying to navigate a way out of this mess.

My husband and I live in a middle-class home in a leafy part of London. Our oldest three have come through the system largely unscathed. The first starts university in September, our second is about to sit her A-levels and has received an unconditional offer to go to university, and our third, a boy, has battled through and secured eight decent GCSEs. I thought exclusions happened to other peoples children, but now I know they can happen to you.

As I write, my son, now 14, is serving his 10th fixed-term exclusion in as many weeks, mainly issued as a result of cumulative lower level sanctions for minor offences.

His behaviour has become progressively worse and recently he swore at a teacher and refused to leave a classroom when asked. He says teachers follow him around waiting for him to put a foot wrong and then pounce as soon as he does. Whether that is true, I dont know but that is his perception.

I believe the school is now actively trying to manoeuvre my son out of the school and his educational future looks bleak. That frightens me.

I want to work with the school to help my son be the best he can be. He needs compassion as well as clear boundaries. Its too easy to keep excluding him. You cant punish children into submission. It doesnt work. But saddest of all is that no one has recognised that buried deep inside this ostensibly defiant, rude teenager is a boy desperate to be found and valued. I see it in his eyes and it breaks me.

There are thousands of children across London in a similar situation. They and we, as parents, can feel as if we are up against a formidable hierarchy of headteachers and governors more concerned with Ofsted ratings and results tables than what is best for the child. Parents are embarrassed to raise it because they perceive exclusion as shameful.

I am no longer embarrassed. I will do anything to prevent my youngest from becoming yet another statistic, but at the same time, I have to admit  I have never felt more powerless in my life.

Names have been changed
"We do have some building, some growth out on the south end of town," he said. "We have a phenomenal retail area, so we have to stay cognitive of our service delivery.

His appointment comes after former Police Chief Dennis Zagrocki announced he would retire at the end of February.

Zagrocki was named chief in July 2018, after David Dowling, who was with the department for 34 years, announced his retirement in early 2018.

Following Dowling's departure, Zagrocki was named interim chief while town officials sought to find a replacement. However, after there weren't any other candidates, Zagrocki filled the role.

Zagrocki spend more than four decades with the Schererville Police Department and had served under Dowling as deputy chief for six years.

During his tenure with the department, he served as chief twice.

I appreciate the chance to be able to serve the town of Schererville for the 41 years and also appreciate the fact that in my career I was allowed to hold the rank of chief two different times. That doesnt happen very often," he said Thursday.
by Nirmala Carvalho

The song was a favourite of the Mahatma Gandhi, and has been always played to mark Republic Day. The cancellation of the tune drew criticism, not only from Christians.

New Delhi (AsiaNews)  The traditional Christian hymn Abide with me is back on the list of tunes for this years Beating Retreat ceremony, which marks the end of Indias Republic Day, a Defence Ministry official confirmed yesterday. Yes, the tune will be played this year, he said.

Two weeks ago, the Defence Ministrys decision to drop the tune drew sharp criticism from various quarters, and not only from Christians.

The hymn is considered a favourite of the Mahatma Gandhi, and has been played at the annual ceremony every year since 1950.

Beating Retreat is performed every year on the evening of January 29 at Vijay Chowk in the national capital, marking the end of Republic Day celebrations.

Some 30-35 tunes are played at the ceremony. This year, the Defence Ministry thought of dropping the tune as part of an annual review to introduce new tunes.

The hymn was written in the 19th century by Scottish poet Henry Francis Lyte and composed by William Henry Monk.
It comes only to a strategic partnership, not a sale or concession of Ukrainian Railways, which remains under the full control of the state

Open source

Ukraines Cabinet of Ministers will sign a partnership agreement with Deutsche Bahn in February this year. Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk wrote about it on his Facebook page.

"Now our team is in talks with the German side about further cooperation in operational activities, provision of advisory services on the part of the German railway," Honcharuk said.

According to the PM, a strategic partnership agreement with Deutsche Bahn will be signed on February 5.

As it was stated, it comes only to a strategic partnership, not a sale or concession of Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia), which remains under the full control of the state.

As we reported earlier, on January 22, Ukraine signed the Memorandum of understanding with the railway operator of Germany Deutsche Bahn. It was reported that this memorandum could improve the efficiency and quality of rail transportation in Ukraine.

"After meeting with the Deutsche Bahns leadership last week in Kyiv, we came to an understanding of the cooperation format, to be exact - Ukraine will fully retain control over Ukrzaliznytsia," Ukraines PM wrote.

He added that German specialists will be working on reforming the management mechanisms of the enterprise.
CROWN POINT  A 16-year-old mom and her 7-month-old son are believed to be in danger and in need of medical attention, police said.

Caneesha Ellis, 16, and Kannon Ellis, 7 months old, were reported missing from Crown Point and were last seen Tuesday, the Crown Point Police Department said.

"We have good reason to believe they are still here in Northwest Indiana," said Crown Point Police Assistant Chief Jim Janda.

On Wednesday Crown Point officers were called to the 1200 block of W. 97th Place for a reported juvenile runaway, police said. A woman who called police said Caneesha and Kannon Ellis arrived at her home this week as they are both wards of the state and were put into foster care.
Certain kinds of pasta can be considered a vegetable for millions of public school meals, according to new rules proposed by Donald Trump's administration.

The new school guidelines released by the US Department of Agriculture last week would allow for more foods like pizza, burgers and french fries to appear on school menus as part of its sweeping revisions of a school lunch program from former First Lady Michelle Obama. Cuts to her signature policy under Barack Obama's administration  intended to reduce childhood obesity in the US  were announced on her birthday.

Among the changes are allowances for pastas made with potato, soy or other starchy vegetable-based flours to be considered as a vegetable serving.

The rules said: "Pasta made of vegetable flour may credit as a vegetable, even if the pasta is not served with another recognizable vegetable."

The agency said the rules were meant to "simplify" existing school lunch policies under the 2010's Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act. Officials said that by expanding the types of foods that qualify as a vegetable, rather than students throwing out food they don't want to eat, schools are more likely to reduce waste.

All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Show all 6 1 /6 All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Alan Dershowitz Dershowitz is a controversial American lawyer best known for the high-profile clients he has successfully defended. Those clients have included OJ Simpson, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein. One longtime Harvard Law associated told the New Yorker Dershowitz "revels in taking positions that ultimately are not just controversial but pretty close to indefensible." Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Ken Starr Starr became a household name in the 1990s as the independent counsel who led the investigation that led to Bill Clinton's impeachment. That investigation began as a look into a real estate scandal known as Whitewater, and eventually led to impeachment after Mr Clinton lied under oath about having an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. AP All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Jay Sekulow Sekulow is the president's longtime personal attorney, and, now, personal lawyer in the White House. He has been accused by former Rudy Giuliani associate Lev Parnas of being "in the loop" during the Ukraine scandal. Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Pam Bondi Bondi is the former attorney general in Florida, and a longtime backer of the president's. She made a name for herself in Florida for taking hyper partisan stances on issues, and her penchant for publicity. She is likely to be a prominent public-facing figure during the trial. AFP/Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Pat Cipollone Cipollone is the White House counsel, and leading the president's defence team. Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Rudy Giuliani While not officially named as one of the president's impeachment lawyers, it is hard to ignore Giuliani's outsized role in this process. The former mayor of New York has been making headlines for months as he defends his client, and for his apparent role in the effort to compel Ukraine to launch the investigation into Joe Biden. We'll see how he figures in the actual trial, which he has said he would like to be a part of. Reuters

USDA secretary Sonny Perdue said that "schools and school districts continue to tell us that there is still too much food waste and that more common-sense flexibility is needed to provide students nutritious and appetizing meals. We listened and now we're getting to work."

The proposed guidelines also would permanently consider potatoes and other starchy foods as a fruit and would permit only half a cup of fruit rather than a whole cup to be served as a breakfast item. Missing calories can be filled with pastries and other starchy foods. Potatoes can also be served as a vegetable every day.

Colin Schwartz, deputy director of legislative affairs for the Centre for Science in the Public Interest, said the rules "allow anything that might be allowable as an entree on any one school day to be served as an a la carte item every single day", creating a "huge loophole in school nutrition guidelines" to include foods that are "high in calories, saturated fat or sodium in place of balanced school meals every day".

That loophole could be exploited by meat, soy, potato and other industry lobbies to expand their footprint on school menus, critics say.

Mr Perdue's latest guideline follows an April 2019 memo from the USDA to state and regional program that "expands flexibility for crediting vegetables" by making allowances for pastas made with vegetable flours and beans.

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act mandated that participating schools include more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and low-fat dairy options on their menus while decreasing the amount of sugary, fatty and salty foods available to kids on campus.

Following its passage, the USDA reported a nationwide increase of children eating 16 per cent more vegetables and 23 per cent more fruit during lunch, and 90 per cent of participating schools reported students were meeting the new nutritional standards.

Upon entering office under Mr Trump, Mr Perdue began rolling back some of those standards by allowing looser sodium regulations and otherr changes.
Donald Trump was accused of behaviour which would bring shame to even Richard Nixon yesterday as Democrats outlined why his "dangerous" actions warranted removal from office.

The Democratic congressmen leading the case against the US president used their second day of arguments in the Senate trial to focus on his alleged abuse of power.

They argued that by holding back almost $400m (362m) in aid to Ukraine while seeking an investigation into political rival Joe Biden the president had undercut his country's interests.

"The president's conduct is wrong. It is illegal. It is dangerous. And it captures the worst fears of founders and framers of the constitution," said Jerry Nadler, the Democrat from New York.

He said the argument from Mr Trump's legal team that because laws were not broken the president should remain in office was "terrifying" because it excuses all other wrongs.

"This conduct is not 'America first', it is Donald Trump first," Mr Nadler said, referring to one of Mr Trump's slogans from his 2016 election campaign.

Expand Close Trump first: Jerry Nadler said Mr Trumps behaviour was dangerous / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Trump first: Jerry Nadler said Mr Trumps behaviour was dangerous

Addressing the president's alleged attempt to stifle the impeachment investigation into the Ukraine scandal, Mr Nadler said: "It puts even President Nixon to shame."

Nixon, a Republican, was brought down by the Watergate scandal in 1974 as impeachment loomed.

After spending yesterday on abuse of power, the first article of impeachment against Mr Trump, the Democrats will turn to the second, obstruction of Congress, today.

Democratic leaders in the Senate renewed their calls to be allowed new witnesses and evidence, questioning why Republicans were hiding from the "truth".

Polls suggest two thirds of Americans want new witnesses to testify.

But the Democrats downplayed suggestions there could be a "one plus one" deal, where the Republicans agree each party can call a single witness.

That could allow the Republicans to call Mr Biden, the Democratic presidential hopeful, or his son Hunter Biden. Both have denied wrongdoing in Ukraine.

While it remains a long shot for Democrats to secure Mr Trump's removal through impeachment, the trial presents gives them a venue to inflict political damage on him ahead of the November election, with millions of Americans watching the televised proceedings.

Mr Trump condemned the proceedings as "unfair & corrupt" in a Twitter post.

Before yesterday's arguments began, some Republican senators said they had heard nothing new in the presentation made by the Democratic managers and have decided to vote for acquittal.

"I'll say we shouldn't be in an impeachment trial," Republican Senator Ron Johnson said.

Republican Senator Thom Tillis said he has made up his mind to vote for acquittal.

Mr Tillis said: "It reminds of the shopping channel, the hits of the '80s, you hear it again and again and again and again. I can almost recite the testimony."

Republican Senator James Lankford added: "It's a more organised presentation of the same facts."
Kathleen Ayala, 30, is alleged to have used a nail clipper to kill her husband during a fight at their Millville, New Jersey home

A mother-of-four charged with murder after stabbing her husband with a nail file claimed Thursday that she was suffering concussion at the time of the attack.

Kathleen Ayala, 30, has been in custody since January 12 and is charged with first-degree murder as well as aggravated assault, and two weapon offenses, in the death of 35-year-old Axel Torres. The couple had been together for 15 years.

She faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted of first-degree homicide.

On Thursday, her defense team attempted to use Ayala's injuries and 'compromised mental state' as a way of trying to get her released from jail, however, Cumberland County Superior Court Judge William Ziegler said New Jersey law forbade him from doing so.

The stabbing took place earlier this month at a mobile home complex in Millville, New Jersey, according to The Daily Journal.

Ayala and Axel Torres, 35, were arguing in their trailer when the dispute turned physical, according to the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office

Ayala and Axel Torres, 35, were arguing in their trailer when the dispute turned physical, according to the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office.

Torres had woken that evening from a nap and the pair had got into a verbal and physical altercation with Ayala during which he headbutted her in the face.

Torres left the trailer, but prosecutors said Ayala chased after him.

Ayala allegedly brought with her a knife from her kitchen and eventually found Torres in woods near their home where the pair then fought and struggled over the knife.

The knife has also been described as a nail file, however the weapon has not been found.

Ayala told police she was responsible for the attack but only wanted to scare her husband and did not intend to physically harm him. Officers with the Millville Police Department arrived at the mobile home community to find Torres unconscious at the scene

'After the incident where Mr. Torres was stabbed, eventually he said that he was sorry,' Assistant Prosecutor Charles J. Wettstein said in court. 'She was saying that she was sorry. However, he then indicated that he wasn't feeling well and that he needed an ambulance.

'It was dark in this area of the trailer park. It was really not known at that time, I guess, to the extent of the injuries, and she went back to the trailer, ran back to the trailer in order to get assistance. She got the help of one of her cousins, who took a pickup truck to the location, where Mr. Torres was, and loaded him into the bed of the pickup truck and then transported him back to the trailer.'

Officers with the Millville Police Department then arrived at the mobile home community to find Torres unconscious at the scene and Ayala performing chest compressions on him.

Torres had stab wounds in his left shoulder, his back, his hands, and his groin with a fatal wound to a major artery in the man's left calf.

Torres suffered wounds to his feet, hands, shoulders and left leg. Ayala suffered a broken nose, concussion and a bruised eye after being hit there. The couple had been together for 15 years

According to court documents, Ayala told police she was responsible for the attack but only wanted to scare her husband and did not intend to physically harm him.

Ayala is alleged to have told police that she was responsible for what happened and that she had meant Torres to feel pain and so went after his legs.

Torres was taken to hospital in New Jersey where he died the next day.

Defense attorney Eugene P. Tinari said that Ayala had no prior record before January 12 when the incident occurred and claims she had no intent to kill her husband.

'Who stabs someone in the calf if you want to kill them?' Tinari said in court. 'Nobody.'

'The fact is, your honor, by all accounts in what we have been given thus far, it is clear that this was an aberration in terms of my client's behavior in the past and that particular night,' Tinari said. 'The prosecution is correct. She sustained a concussion.'

Ayala's defense attorney noted that she did not have any prior criminal record and also claimed that she was bitten on her hand and punched in the eye.

Ayala was remanded in custody at the Cumberland County jail and will be back in court in March before a different judge.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  The Ohio Supreme Court has made public recommendations for criminal-justice reform that would ensure suspects have bail hearings within two business days of their arrest and would require judges to free more suspects without cash bail.

The court proposes compelling judges to impose the least restrictive conditions when setting bail and to set bail in an amount and type which are least costly to the defendant while also sufficient to reasonably assure the defendants future appearance in court.

The court also recommends that judges be allowed to require defendants charged with crimes related to drug or alcohol abuse to be assessed for drug or alcohol dependency and be required to comply with treatment recommendations.

But the justices notably chose not to recommend that courts use risk-assessment formulas to help evaluate whether suspects would pose any threat to the public or fail to appear in court if freed while awaiting trial.

Cleveland.com has advocated for bail reforms in its ongoing series, Justice for All. As part of the series, cleveland.com also has reported on the growing popularity or risk assessments in Cuyahoga County and elsewhere.

Why did the high court not recommend risk assessments?

The justices did not explain their thinking about risk assessments, when they turned over their recommendations on Jan. 15 to the General Assembly for consideration.

But Justice Michael Donnelly told cleveland.com this week that the court struck language about risk assessments by a 5-2 vote, with Donnelly and Chief justice Maureen OConnor casting the dissenting votes.

Donnelly said a majority of the court was swayed by assertions from the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio that risk assessment methods are racially biased.

What is the ACLU saying?

Ohio ACLU policy counsel Claire Chevrier offered an example of bias in a risk-assessment method that was developed by what is now known as Arnold Ventures and uses nine factors to evaluate the likelihood of suspects failing to come to court or posing a danger to the public if freed before trial.

Chevrier said the Arnold survey asks a question about a defendants prior convictions to help determine risk. But because people of color tend to be over-policed and coerced into plea deals, it stands to reason that they are more likely to have convictions on their record.

The ACLU is not the only advocate for criminal justice that dislikes risk assessments. The Maryland-based nonprofit Pretrial Justice Institute, which once recommended risk assessments for use in Cuyahoga County, has changed its position. It now asserts that they are biased against people of color.

James Cardogan, vice president of criminal justice at Arnold Ventures, doesnt disagree that racial bias exists in the data used by the Arnold tool, but said no risk assessment is perfect. He said the problem is a reflection of policing, which needs to improve.

The question to be asked, he said, is whether using a risk assessment is better than the status quo. Judges are the ultimate arbiters, he said. The risk assessment is to help inform them.

While courts are still free to use risk assessments, Chevrier said the ACLU is grateful that the Supreme Court removed any explicit mention of them in its proposed changes because it would have encouraged their use.

Why did Donnelly and OConnor cast dissenting votes?

Donnelly told cleveland.com that instances may exist where a risk assessment provides a false positive that prevents people from getting out that should be getting out.

But he said risk assessments also are helping free low-income suspects who might otherwise remain in jail simply because they cant afford to make bail.

OConnor expressed similar sentiments. She said risk assessments are a helpful tool in setting bail, not a substitute for discretion and sound judgment.

The decision still rests with the judge, she said. Thats why its so important to elect the right judges."

What do other reformers say about the court not recommending risk assessments?

The omission comes as a surprise to some of Cuyahoga Countys leading criminal justice reformers, who have embraced risk assessments as a means of improving bail-setting practices and reducing the number of suspects jailed while awaiting trial.

Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge John J. Russo, who was a member of the Ohio Supreme Court task force that recommended use of risk assessments across the state, said he believes the assessments do more good than harm.

Russo said the task force was aware of the concern about racial bias, but, you know, we have to start somewhere. He said its a shame assessments now wont be used more consistently by Ohios courts.

Since 2017, Cleveland Municipal Court has been using the risk-assessment method developed by Arnold Ventures, formerly known as the Laura and John Arnold Foundation.

The court credits the Arnold tool and the creation of a pretrial services department with helping to reduce the number of misdemeanor defendants who miss court or wind up spending time in jail because they cant afford bond.

Michelle Earley, administrative and presiding judge for the Cleveland Municipal Court, said she has not lost faith in the Arnold method and that her court will continue to use it, adding that its only a tool to help judges set bail, not the final determinant.

Her courts use of the Arnold method also has ramifications on the county Court of Common Pleas, which receives felony defendants after their bail is set in Cleveland Municipal Court.

Last year, the Common Pleas Court under Russos direction began testing whether it should rely more on the bail determinations made by Cleveland Municipal Court. Brendan Sheehan, who replaced Russo as chief judge for the Common Pleas Court on Jan. 1, said those plans will continue.

Does the ACLU object to other recommendations?

Yes.

Overall, Chevrier was not pleased with the Ohio Supreme Courts proposed amendments.

For example, she said, the courts recommends that judges be compelled to impose the least restrictive conditions when setting bail that will reasonably assure the defendants appearance in court, the protection or safety of any person or the community, and that the defendant will not obstruct the criminal justice process.

Chevrier said she likes that language, but notes that the justices fail to require judges to explain on the record how they came to a determination.

The proposed changes also state that any financial conditions of release shall be related to the defendants risk of non-appearance and that they be in an amount and type which are least costly to the defendant while also sufficient to reasonably assure the defendants future appearance in court.

Chevrier said judges should be required to hold hearings on a defendants ability to pay to determine an amount that is least costly to the defendant, but thats not part of the new language.

What happens to the courts recommendations?

The high court still could hold additional public hearings and amend the recommendations sent to the General Assembly.

After May 1, the General Assembly can pass a joint resolution top stop the recommended reforms from going into law.

If no action is taken, the amendments become law on July 1.
The Kerala High Court on Friday said that schools functioning under the right to education act cant impart exclusive religious instructions using religious materials of a particular community bypassing other religions.

The single bench of Justice Muhammad Mushtaq made the observation while upholding the states decision to shut down a school that provided exclusive religious instructions and admitted children only from a particular community. A private unaided school, Hidaya Educational Charitable Trust of Thiruvananthpauram, had moved the court against the closure last year.

The court said a school that imparts religious lessons of only a particular community and bars children from other religion poses a serious threat to the secular fabric of the society.

The school in question didnt have any government recognition or CBSE affiliation and was imparting religious instructions to at least 200 students, all Muslims. The state government acted on an intelligence report and ordered the closure of the school. The school contended that since it was not receiving any government aid or support, it was entitled to follow its own curriculum.

The High Court said the private school, which requires recognition, can give religious instruction or study based on religious pluralism after it has received such permission from the government.

A private body that discharges public functions must adhere to constitutional values in regard to the discharge of public functions. It cannot adopt any character contrary or repugnant to constitutional morality or value. Individual freedom available to a private body to promote its own belief or faith is not available to a private body when it discharges public function. It is bound by public morality conceived in the Constitution, the court said.

The court added that there was a difference between religious instruction and religious study and added that while the latter was allowed in educational institutions as per the Indian Constitution, exclusive religious instructions were not permitted.
August 1942 was a catastrophic month for my German ancestors.

On Aug. 5, the Nazis herded my great-grandfather onto a train in Berlin bound for the Theresienstadt concentration camp. Five days later and 650 miles away in Paris, they rounded up my grandfather, who had tried to escape to France, and forced him onto a transport headed to Auschwitz.

Both were exterminated at their final destinations, along with my great-grandmother, great-aunt and a distant cousin.

I am a Jewish American. And on my 60th birthday this week, I plan to visit the German Embassy in Washington, D.C., to be naturalized as a German citizen, along with my three African-American children.

Why am I making this unlikely choice, a Jew coming full circle on a bitter German history?

Therein lies a story about Germanys terrible past, Americas troubling present and what I hope will be my childrens promising future.

My father was born in Berlin in September 1932. His German father, Heinrich Rothgiesser, was a prosperous Jewish businessman who owned a printing company; his mother, Edith, was a Jewish American citizen of German descent who was living in Germany at the time.

As Hitler rose to power during the first months of my fathers life, my grandmother Edith grew increasingly concerned about the safety of Jews in Germany. With her American perspective, she perceived the threat more clearly than my grandfather Heinrich, who, like so many German Jews at the time, believed that Adolf Hitler surely couldnt last in the enlightened society of Germanys Weimar Republic.

In the spring of 1933, after the Reichstag burned and the Nazis opened the first concentration camp at Dachau, my grandmother made a brave and momentous decision. Unable to persuade her husband to flee Germany, she boarded a ship bound for America with her infant son. She never saw Heinrich again.

Three years ago, I happened across an article about a unique provision in Germanys constitution that was included as part of the nations efforts to make restitution to victims of the Holocaust. This provision, known as Article 116 (2), allows Germans (and their descendants) who were deprived of their German citizenship on political, racial or religious grounds during the Nazi era from 1933-45 to apply to have their German citizenship restored. The ultimate deprivation of citizenship, of course, was being murdered in a concentration camp.

So I put in an application for myself and my children (unfortunately, spouses of descendants are not eligible).

That meant gathering evidence about my ancestors and finding proof of their persecution. Because the Nazis kept meticulous records of the Jews who were sent to the camps  records that can be accessed at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem and the U.S. Holocaust Museum in Washington  I was able to find evidence of the actual transport that carried my grandfather to Auschwitz (Train No. D 901/12), the date my great-grandfathers corpse was shoved into a furnace at Theresienstadt (April 18, 1943), and many other grim details.

My decision to apply for German citizenship was not a political statement: I submitted the paperwork at the German Embassy in Washington four days before the November 2016 presidential election.

But it was a decision borne, at least in part, of my growing unease about the racism that feels like its been steadily worsening in our country ever since Barack Obama was elected in 2008 and the reactionary backlash against our first African American president began.

Certainly racism is nothing new in America; its our original sin. Slavery is a living memory for my wifes family. She is as close to it as her late grandmother, whose own great-grandparents were enslaved.

That bitter legacy of white supremacy infests our legal, social and commercial institutions to this day, although for much of my life, social norms at least suppressed the most public expressions of hatred in our civic dialogues. But lately that racism has come roaring back into the open.

The Charleston, S.C., church massacre in 2015, the August 2017 attacks in Charlottesville, Va., the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre, repeated police killings of black men  these are only a few of the most headline-grabbing examples.

I understand that Germany is hardly immune from these trends. Racist and neo-Nazi attacks on Muslim immigrants and German Jews have risen in recent years, especially in cities in the former East Germany.

Yet it seems to me, from my occasional visits to the country, that Germany is at least attempting to forthrightly confront these exposed veins of illiberal, white supremacist and nationalist sentiments.

Which is more, alas, than I can say for my own country today.

Our family is not actually intending to move to Germany.

We are first and foremost Americans, committed to trying to make our nation a better place. But I would be lying if I did not admit that we can now take some comfort in knowing we have a place to go if our democracy, lately wobbling under profound strains, were ever to actually collapse  a prospect that no longer seems so unimaginable.

And on a much brighter note, now that my kids are citizens of the European Union, the doors are wide open for them to choose someday to live and work in Germany or any one of the other EU nations.

Thats a rare privilege, one we will never forget, that we now enjoy only because my ancestors were forced into cattle cars during a terrifying week in August 78 years ago.

Howard Witt is a former Chicago Tribune foreign correspondent.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0
District Attorney Neal Pinkston has told the TBI to close its investigation of an alleged quota arrest system at the Collegedale Police Department. He said new "performance standards" adopted by the department could be construed as quotas, but he said the system was withdrawn when questions were raised about it.

Three former Collegedale Police officers filed a $2 million federal lawsuit, saying they were fired after raising issues about the alleged quota system.

Collegedale City Attorney Sam Elliott said after the letter was issued, "The city of Collegedale is proud of its police department, which a recent University of Tennessee Management review 'concluded 'is well equipped and well trained' and 'provides a high level of service to the citizens of Collegedale.' Our officers are justly proud of that reports conclusions.

"To the extent the claims of an alleged quota affected public trust, the city hopes that the favorable findings by the TBI and District Attorney General Pinkston will do much to restore that trust."

Attorney Janie Varnell, who filed the federal suit, said, As has been clear to us from the beginning, the Department implemented a quota system in December 2018. Thanks to the swift actions of those officers who voiced their concerns over the legality of the quota, the Department realized that their actions were in violation of the law and were left with no choice but to cease these practices. Because of these officers, the illegal quota system was not in place for long. Unfortunately, the price of doing the right thing was their employment. District Attorney Neal Pinkston recognized this quota and we will ensure that the Officers who were unfairly terminated by the city of Collegedale for speaking out receive the justice demanded by Collegedales illegal actions.

DA Pinkston wrote this letter to the TBI



Agent Mark Wilson

TBI

Agent Wilson,

I have reviewed the TBI investigation of the Collegedale Police Department as well as relevant case and statutory law. My opinion is based only upon the documents which have been provided to me. It appears in 2018 the Collegedale Police Department attempted to adopt performance guidelines based upon numbers of arrests, number of citations issued, and other patrol activities for their police department and officers. These guidelines were adopted by the department and were to be applied to each individual officer beginning in late 2018 or early 2019.

Although these were described as performance standards, they can easily be construed to be quotas. Tennessee Code Annonated 39-16-516b states:

A political subdivision or any agency of this state may not require or suggest to a law enforcement officer that the law enforcement officer is required or expected to issue a predetermined or specified number of any type of combination of types of traffic citations within a specific period.

It appears from the investigation certain officers thought they were bound by these guidelines and in turn voiced complaints to the Collegedale Police Department command staff. After some intra-department discussion, Collegedale Police Chief Brian Hickman told the department the adopted performance standards were no longer in effect. When requested for his legal opinion, the Collegedale city attorney told the department to cease and desist this practice. Per the TBI investigation, the numbers of arrests and citations issued would not have been the only standards by which the department's officers would have been evaluated.

In summary, the Collegedale Police Department attempted to develop some updated performance standards. Tennessee law does not allow development of quotas in law enforcement. Because these poorly drafted performance standards were discontinued as soon as they were brought to attention by Chief Hickman and the city attorney, and it's questionable how long they have been in effect, I will request the TBI close their investigative file with no further action.

Neal Pinkston

District Attorney
Los Angeles, CA, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- Agritek Holdings, Inc. (AGTK) --



Dear Agritek Holdings Shareholders,

The management and founding shareholders of Agritek Holdings, since our inception, have always had the sole intention to spend every day focused on building an ever increasingly strong and profitable business within the cannabis sector, all serving to enhance shareholder value. Given the rapid pace of change within the cannabis industry and its challenges, Agritek Holdings is one of the first publically traded cannabis companies and pioneer within the sector. As the Companys founder and CEO over 10 years ago, I thought it important to provide an update to all of our shareholders in light of yesterdays events.

I wanted to inform every one of our shareholders, investors and financial partners that I will once again provide leadership and bring in experienced management to the best of my ability along with a viable business model that will include extreme focus and resolved commitment, despite the recent downturn of our common stock and the termination of our proposed acquisition of Apex Extractions, Inc. abruptly cancelled yesterday. This decision was due to unforeseen events beyond our control, but I believe in the long term was the right decision based on discovery during the due diligence period, and will enable us to pursue a far superior business model benefiting our shareholders over the near term. I will be making several announcements over the coming weeks which will describe in more detail the current state of the business and our future plans for the balance of Fiscal 2020 which I believe will initiate positive change in our marketplace," stated CEO, B. Michael Friedman.

KEY BUSINESS OBJECTIVES

Given recent developments in the Cannabis industry and seeing the strongest business models in which we already have a foothold, we have aligned our focus on a few key objectives. We will be accelerating our efforts in 1) immediately expanding our zoned property real estate portfolio; 2) Complete key property acquisitions with minimal dilution and short term revenue streams 3) build a viable real estate portfolio within the sector with long term licensed operators through sales leaseback transactions and 4) continue to eye potentially valuable and strategic partnerships which will provide further upside revenue.

By responding quickly to potential pitfalls within our marketplace, I will now continue to stabilize the business and position Agritek for growth in the near future. Already, we have confirmed our banking relationships with my position as CEO securing a five million dollar ($5,000,000) credit and equity line to be filed on behalf of the Company in the near term.

My priorities for early 2020 are filing the S-1 registration with the SEC for immediate equity funding eliminating convertible debt, closing pending real estate properties in Colorado, California and Florida and completing our uplisting to the OTCQB as a Real Estate Investment Trust.

Our primary business model will be to provide capital to top cannabis operators via real estate sale-leasebacks transactions across retail and industrial property assets. Numerous cannabis operations have begun to sell their real estate assets as a way to generate capital, and with much experience in this business model, I believe this as the most positive way forward.

We compete in a very young and in many ways immature industry. But despite the downturn in the sector capital markets, I thought it important for you to know that Agritek Holdings is responding by focusing on our business plans and growth priorities for the remainder of Fiscal 2020. I will work diligently to gain momentum on various fronts and remain confident in my ability to achieve our revenue and profit commitments through our purchase and leaseback of zoned properties model of which I have achieved much success in the past.

Most in our industry are dealing with many of the same obstacles with new legislation. We should expect further peaks and valleys in the days and months ahead as the industry continues to grow and mature. I remain optimistic about Agriteks future and I am excited about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. You can be assured that I will put a team in place that will be taking an offensive approach and diligently working to build on our growth potential within the sector. We will demonstrate through solid financial performance and a focus on ethical business practices that we are moving in the right direction and adding value to our investors, shareholders and business partners.

Respectfully,

B. Michael Friedman

Interim CEO, Agritek Holdings Inc.

About Agritek Holdings, Inc.

Agritek Holdings, Inc. ( www.AgritekHoldings.com ), is a fully integrated, active real estate investor and advisor in the legal cannabis sector. Specifically, Agritek Holdings provides strategic capital and functional expertise to accelerate the commercialization of its diversified portfolio of cannabis related holdings. Currently, the Company is focused on three high-value segments of the cannabis market, including real estate investment, intellectual property/brands, and infrastructure, with operations within the U.S. States and Canada. Agritek Holdings Inc. does not directly grow, harvest, or distribute or sell cannabis or any substances that violate or contravene United States law or the Controlled Substances Act.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in Section 27(a) of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements in this press release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, estimates of services and equipment markets, release of corporate apps, growth of platform, target markets, product releases, product demand and, business strategy. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with new projects and development stage companies. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also consider that any investment in securities is at risk.

Contact:

Agritek Holdings, Inc.

www.AgritekHoldings.com

305.721.2727
Nepal, which is holding on to the Chairmanship of the SAARC grouping since 2014, is "ready and eager to" handover the position to Pakistan, Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said on Friday, hoping that New Delhi and Islamabad can sort out their differences through negotiations, keeping in mind the challenges facing the region.

The minister also assured India that Nepal will not allow its soil to be used against any of its neighbours and the Himalayan country will not participate in any great games.

"Nepal is ready and eager to handover" the SAARC Chairmanship to Pakistan, Gyawali told a group of visiting Indian journalists at a briefing on 'Sagarmatha Sambaad' at the Nepalese Foreign Ministry here.

He said that India and Pakistan can sort out their differences through negotiations, keeping in mind the challenges facing the region.

In the last three years, India has been distancing itself from the SAARC, citing security challenge facing the region from terror networks based in Pakistan, which is also a member of the grouping.

Gyawali said the leaders of all SAARC countries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan, have been invited and Nepal would be happy to host all the regional leaders so that they can have discussions amongst themselves on the challenges facing the region.

"It will be a fantastic idea" for all SAARC leaders to be present at the Saagarmatha," he said.

The Sambaad (dialogue) is named after the world's tallest mountain Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) which is also a symbol of friendship, he added.

The last SAARC Summit in 2014 was held in Kathmandu, which was attended by Prime Minister Modi.

The 2016 SAARC summit was to be held in Islamabad. But after the terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18 that year, India expressed its inability to participate in the summit due to "prevailing circumstances".

The summit was called off after Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to participate in the Islamabad meet.

In December last, Prime Minister Modi said that India's efforts for greater collaboration among the SAARC countries have repeatedly been challenged with threats and acts of terrorism, in an oblique reference to Pakistan.

In a letter to the SAARC secretariat to mark the founding day of the bloc on December Prime Minister Modi said all countries in the region should take effective steps to defeat the scourge of terrorism and the forces which support it.

Such efforts, he said, would generate greater trust and confidence to build a stronger SAARC.

Pakistan Prime Minister Khan, in his message on the 35th SAARC Charter Day, expressed the hope that the hiatus created in SAARC's continuous progression would be removed.

Khan said Pakistan believes the effective and result-oriented regional cooperation can only be achieved by adhering to the cardinal principles of sovereign equality and mutual respect as enshrined in the SAARC Charter.

SAARC summits are usually held biennially and hosted by member states in alphabetical order. The member state hosting the summit assumes the Chair of the Association.

On December 8, 1985 at the first SAARC Summit in Dhaka, the leaders of the seven South Asian states - the Maldives, India, Bhutan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka - signed a charter to establish the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Afghanistan became the eight SAARC member in 2007.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Google will change course on a new design choice that made ads look eerily similar to search results after widespread backlash.

'Last week we updated the look of Search on desktop to mirror whats been on mobile for months,' said Google in a tweet on Friday.

'Weve heard your feedback about the update. We always want to make Search better, so were going to experiment with new placements for favicons.'

It's not entirely clear how Google will tweak its method of highlighting which results are ads, but it says it will begin 'experimenting' immediately.

'Our experimenting will begin today. Over the coming weeks, while we test, some might not see favicons while some might see them in different placements as we look to bring a modern look to desktop.,' it wrote in a Twitter thread.

Last week we updated the look of Search on desktop to mirror whats been on mobile for months. Weve heard your feedback about the update. We always want to make Search better, so were going to experiment with new placements for favicons.  Google SearchLiaison (@searchliaison) January 24, 2020

Google's change, which placed a small icon called a 'favicon' next to ads inside Google Search was rolled out last week.

While the icon, which is two bold black letters that spell out 'Ad', clearly signifies where the result comes from, many pointed out that with the addition of icons next to every single search result, the promoted results end up visually blending with the rest of the results.

According to new research, the method of flagging ads in search results may indeed be blurring the line between organic and paid placements and having a measurable effect on the likelihood that users will click-through promoted results.

 Slide me  On the left is an example of what Google's current search results look like. An 'Ad' favicon can be seen next to results that have been promoted. On the right is an older design with a clearer delineation of what is an ad and what isn't

In a report from Digiday, market researchers suggested the change, despite being just a week old, was already starting to convince more users to click-through advertisements.

Digital marketing agency NordicClick said that compared to the week prior to the change, four businesses studied - a health care company, two business-to-business platforms and one e-commerce company - saw their click-through rates rise from between 4 to 10.5 percent in the week after the changed.

The same change to Google's mobile search results in May had an even more pronounced effect on click-through according to NordicClick, causing rates of two companies to go up between 17 to 18 percent within a similar time frame after the change.

It's worth noting, however, that other advertising agencies cited by Digiday did not see a noted bump in click-through rates, so the effect may not be the same for every business across the board.

Google's controversial changed played on a concept known as 'banner-blindness' in which users often ignore banner-like information either consciously or unconsciously.

'... Searchers will see the favicons and overlook them, also ignoring the Ad favicon as well,' SEO consultant Bill Hartzer told Digiday.

'So, theyre going to be more likely to click more on ads, which will benefit advertisers. But, in the long run, it will also benefit Google.'

Google rolled out a similar change on its mobile search engine in May. Some research suggests that at the time, the move bolstered some ad engagement (Stock image)

In a Twitter thread by Guardian journalist Alex Hurn, users seemed to agree that the new design has made it more difficult to actually suss out the difference between a real result and a paid one.

'Yep I frequently think that "Ad" is a brand favicon, because of this pattern and the fact that it looks nothing like the rest of google's design language,' writes one person.

Others say they believe the design was intentional on Google's part.

'We all know what the end goal is: To make ads completely indistinguishable from organic results. To make it where if you want to ever get a chance to be on the front page, you'd be either exactly what the user is searching for or you have to buy ads,' wrote another user.

Despite the apparent effects on helping push advertising, Google claimed that the change was designed to create 'harmony' in its layout by reducing the number of color clashes.

They have also claimed that the switch to an ad favicon has helped simplify design and make information easier to digest on the page.

As can be seen in a graphic from the site Search Engine Land below - which is a visual history how Google's ad demarcation has changed - favicons haven't been the only difference over the years.

Link colors and general text appearance have also evolved to more closely mirror regular search results. For instance, a favicon in 2016 is the same green color as the link and a notable change from the previous yellow icon.

Color fade: A history of Google ad labeling in search results https://t.co/guo3jc4kwz pic.twitter.com/LMYqhmgfyE  Ginny Marvin (@GinnyMarvin) July 25, 2016

For Google, the accusation of attempting to blur lines between ads and organic results may come with slightly tricky time as it battles anti-trust allegations related to its behemoth role in the online ad world.

Last year Google was fined $1.7 billion by the European Union for 'abusive practices in online advertising.'

Likewise, in November last year, Google became the subject of a lawsuit by advertising company, Inform, which claims that that same anti-competitive behavior undermined the ad agency's business between 2014 and 2016.
Governor Bill Lee announced on Thursday that he will submit comprehensive pro-life legislation to the Tennessee General Assembly this year, including the prohibition of an abortion where a fetal heartbeat exists. This legislation would make Tennessee one of the most pro-life states in the country.

I believe that every human life is precious, and we have a responsibility to protect it, said Governor Lee. Today, Tennessee is taking a monumental step in celebrating, cherishing, and defending life at every stage. Im grateful to be joined by so many leaders in our state who are boldly standing up for our most vulnerable.



This legislation would build upon successes in other states while incorporating innovative approaches to enhance existing law, including provisions such as:



Prohibiting an abortion where a fetal heartbeat exists;

Requiring a mother to undergo an ultrasound prior to an abortion;

Prohibiting an abortion where the physician is aware that the decision to seek an abortion is motivated by the race, sex, or health or disability diagnosis of the unborn child.

To protect against legal challenges, the new law would also include a creative ladder provision, modeled after Missouri law, of sequential abortion prohibitions at two-week gestational age intervals, along with severability clauses for each step of the ladder.

Lt. Governor Randy McNally said, "As someone who takes seriously the cause of life, I am ecstatic to support this legislation. The many provisions of this bill represent great leaps forward for the cause of life in Tennessee. The destination has always been clear. The issue has been identifying the proper vehicle. We now have the proper vehicle. This comprehensive, tiered approach is our best chance of advancing the cause of life without sacrificing the gains we have made. I appreciate the great work of Chairman Bell and the Judiciary Committee for their contributions to this effort. And my deepest thanks go to Governor Lee for bringing forth this much-needed, common-sense legislation. I support this initiative wholeheartedly and without reservation."



The General Assembly has been committed to making Tennessee a very strong pro-life state over the last decade. Obviously, we are very supportive and appreciative of the Governors dedication to pro-life principles. We are looking forward to working with him and his team on this issue, as well as his legislative vision. I know members of the House and the chairmen are eager to review the proposed language and continue their strong support for life, said Speaker Cameron Sexton.



This comprehensive legislation is a powerful step forward in our efforts to protect the life of unborn children in Tennessee. I commend Governor Lee for his leadership on this important issue and look forward to doing everything possible to ensure its passage, said Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson.



I applaud Governor Lee for his ambitious thinking on this unprecedented initiative that will further enhance Tennessees status as a national pro-life leader. I strongly support this initiative, and I will never stop fighting to provide a voice for and to protect our unborn children, said House Majority Leader William Lamberth.

I appreciate Governor Lees commitment to protecting the life of the unborn and look forward to working with him to ensure passage of this legislation, said Senator Dolores Gresham.

As a strong pro-life advocate, I have always fought for the unborn. I look forward to joining Governor Lee and Leader Lamberth in continuing that effort on this very important issue that is dear to my heart, said Chairman Susan Lynn.
Van Cleave said Friday that the Instagram account is relatively new and is maintained by an executive member of his group. But he said that he is not personally active on Instagram and had not seen the post, which had garnered more than 1,750 likes and drawn several comments critical of Filler-Corn as of late Friday afternoon. Van Cleave added that the photo and caption did not come from leaders of his organization, though it may have been posted by a member, and said there were no immediate plans to take it down or apologize.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, January 24, 2020

The General Elections Commission (KPU) has raised concerns over regional administrations capability to provide funds for the 2020 concurrent regional elections after six regencies reported that they would not be able to provide the amount targeted for the polls.

The regions were initially committed to allocating a total of Rp 11.95 trillion (US$876.4 million) to fund their elections this year, but later said they could only spend Rp 9.93 trillion or less. The KPU has also found that the regional administrations have only disbursed Rp 444.05 million, or 4.47 percent of the budget until Jan. 10.

We have found that many local administrations, which are required to fund their regional elections, have revised their election budgets, which raises concerns over their ability to fund an election, said KPU chief Arief Budiman.

to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content

e-Post daily digital newspaper

No advertisements, no interruptions

Privileged access to our events and programs

Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login
In the midst of ongoing protests



against the amended citizenship law, Lucknow University's Political Science Department has come up with the idea of including it as a topic in its curriculum.

"We, in our department, teach the Constitution and citizenship. This is one of the contemporary issues in Indian politics. We want to teach it to our students," Political Science Department HOD Shashi Shukla said.

"As of now, it is at the stage of a proposal. Then it will pass through the entire academic process before it becomes a part of the syllabus," she told PTI.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Queensland's corruption watchdog has recommended stricter governance around political advisors appointed to local government in its 84-page report into allegations relating to the Gold Coast City Council.

The Crime and Corruption Commission report found Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate used ratepayers' funds to pay for a Gold Coast Titans membership, $500 headphones, home media and "selfie sticks", for his office and for his daughter, at a cost of $499 each. The selfie stick purchase was repaid to the council more than two months later.

Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate and his relationship with chief of staff Wayne Moran have come under particular focus in an investigation by the state's corruption watchdog. Credit:Glenn Hunt

Cr Tate also spent more than $10,000 on luggage between April and July 2018, all charged to Gold Coast ratepayers. That expenditure was approved by either the CEO or the chief financial officer.

On Friday afternoon the mayor said the report gave Gold Coast City Council a "clean bill of health" and was a "fantastic outcome" for the city with "no systemic corruption" found.
Union Minister on Friday discussed with World Trade Organization chief Roberto Azevedo challenges in the multilateral trading system as well as India's preparedness to engage in reforms aimed at bringing inclusivity and transparency.

Goyal, who is here to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual summit, met European Union trade commissioner Phil Hogan, former US Vice President Al Gore, renowned economist and Nobel laureate Michael Spence, and Singapore's Minister-in-Charge of Trade Relations S Iswaran, among

He also held discussions with Blackstone Group Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder Stephen A Schwarzman, South Africa's Minister of Trade and Industry Ebrahim Patel and ABB Chairman and CEO Peter Voser, according to a series of tweets by Goyal.

With WTO Director General Azevedo, the minister discussed various challenges in the multilateral trading system.

They also spoke about India's preparedness to engage in reforms aimed at bringing inclusivity, transparency and non-discrimination, as per a tweet.

The minister said his engagements at Davos show him that businessmen can clearly see that India is the place to invest for a better future.

He met Hogan and spoke about "the significant India-EU economic and investment ties, and the vast potential for them to grow manifold to our mutual advantage".

Goyal -- who holds the portfolios of Commerce and Industry, and Railways -- also tweeted that he had a productive meeting with OECD Secretary General Angel Gurria.

"Spoke about increasing India's engagement with OECD for better insights on global trends, thus promoting more equitable and fair trade," the minister tweeted.

With Gore, Goyal discussed the global economic scenario and its impact on trade and investment.

After meeting with Iswaran, the minister said they discussed ways to further enhance longstanding and deep relations and establishing sustainable trade ties between the two countries.

About his meeting with Schwarzman, Goyal tweeted, "discussed a range of investment opportunities that India presents across various sectors including real estate, infrastructure and logistics".

With Patel, the minister spoke about expanding trade and investment ties through closer cooperation to achieve mutual economic growth and prosperity.

"Discussed our plan of Railway electrification & the huge investment opportunity it presents. Also, spoke about a range of emerging sectors in India like e-mobility, automation & renewable energy," Goyal tweeted after meeting Voser.

On Thursday, the minister said the Indian economy is well-poised to take off and that there is a lot of enthusiasm for making investments in the country.
For a better experience on our website and avoid any trouble, we strongly recommand to activate Javascript ( click here ).

Hello and welcome to Journal des Palaces

You are a communication or the PR manager?

Click here

You are an applicant?

Check out our questions and answers here !
A Canadian water taxi driver is refusing to take photographers to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry 's waterfront home in British Columbia.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex , who announced they were stepping back from their Royal Family roles earlier this month, are reportedly staying in a large property in North Saanich, on the Saanich peninsula on Vancouver Island.

Former photographer Miles Arsenault, who now runs water taxi business Bay to Bay Charters, told Canadian radio show As It Happens that "it's an invasion of privacy" to follow the royal couple in their new home.

Getty Images

Arsenault explained he had been approached recently by a Japanese television company, who tried to book the boat out to visit the property.

"I didn't know at that time that it was Meghan and Harry's private residence. But I asked them if this was involving them and they admitted that it was," Arsenault said. "At that point, I said, 'You're going to have to hire yourself another water taxi company.'"

Prince Harry arrives at Victoria International airport on a commercial flight from Vancouver / SplashNews.com

He added that his former profession made him understand the need to get "the money shot", but felt he had to turn down the $300 to protect the couple's privacy.

Meghan meeting a women's charity in Vancouver / Justice for Girls/AFP via Getty Images

"I know what it is to get the shot  the money shot," Arsenault said. "Reporters, photographers, videographers  they need to make a living. But they're not going to make it on my boat."

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex fired a legal warning shot when pictures were published of the Duchess of Sussex out for a walk with her two dogs and baby son Archie in a carrier.

PA

"If they were on the other side of the pond, there would have been a thousand of them in the bushes," Aresnault said, "I think it's still much better than where they are from."

He said though locals are keen to protect the couple's privacy, they're also excited to rub shoulders with their new royal neighbours. "They hope to rub elbows with them in the line in the grocery store," he said.

Getty Images

After spending two weeks in the UK, including at a 'Sandringham summit' to negotiate the terms of their new lives with the Queen, Prince Harry returned to Canada this week where his wife Meghan has been staying since before Christmas, bar a brief visit back to the UK.
Mizoram's Joint Chief Electoral Officer David L. Pachuau however told IANS that the state was yet to receive any clear-cut instructions from the Election Commission about these tribal voters.

A senior official of the Mizoram Election Department told IANS on the condition of anonymity that as per a January 16 agreement arrived at in Delhi between different stakeholders it was decided to rehabilitate Mizoram's 34,000 Reang tribals in Tripura.

"After receiving EC instructions, we will undertake the removal of their names from the voters list in Mizoram," Pachuau said on phone.

Media reports quoting Mizoram Chief Electoral Officer Ashish Kundra said that the names of these Reang tribals would be deleted as per the Representation of the People's Act of 1951.

"The deletion process will be taken up during the next round of electoral rolls revision after the relief camps in Tripura are closed," Kundra was quotes as saying, who was not available for comments personally as he was said to be busy meeting Election Commission officials in Delhi.

The official said that the state government will take the EC's nod before the deletion of names and follow the set procedure. Annual summary revision of electoral lists in most states, including Mizoram, is on, with January 1, 2020, as the qualifying date for age eligibility.

According to Mizoram Election Department officials, the Reang tribal voters originally numbered 12,081, but with the return of around 1,100 refugees to Mizoram villages last year, the voters still housed in the Tripura relief camps would be around 11,000.

The 34,000 Reang tribals hail from Mizoram's Mamit, Lunglei and Kolasib districts, spanning nine of the state's 40 Assembly constituencies.

Meanwhile, General Secretary Bruno Msha of Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF), an apex body of Reang tribal refugees, told IANS that the work to enrol eligible tribal refugees in Tripura and removal of their names from the Mizoram voters list had not yet started.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the Mizoram Assembly polls in November 2018, around 60 to 65 per cent of the over 12,000 Reang tribal voters cast ballots at Kanhmun, a village along the Mizoram-Tripura border, around 50-60 km from their camp.

The Election Commission had set up 15 special polling stations at Kanhmun to facilitate voting by Reang refugees.

As per the January 16 agreement, each Reang tribal refugee family will get a 40x30 feet plot in Tripura to construct a house, fixed deposit of Rs 4 lakh for two years, Rs 1.5 lakh for house building, Rs 5,000 per month for two years, and free ration for two years.

The agreement was signed by the Union Home Ministry officials, Tripura and Mizoram Chief Secretaries, six Reang tribal refugee leaders, and on behalf of newly formed apolitical body Tiprasa that is headed by Tripura's erstwhile royal family's scion Pradyut Kishore Debbarman.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Tripura and Mizoram Chief Ministers Biplab Kumar Deb and Zoramthanga were present on the occasion.

Deb said that a six-member Joint Monitoring Committee headed by the MHA's Special Secretary (Internal Security) will be formed to oversee the implementation of the agreement, expected to be executed within six months.
The Delhi Police has made arrangements for multi-layered security in the national capital for the Republic Day celebrations. Thousands of security personnel will be deployed and CCTV cameras installed at strategic locations to keep vigil. Necessary liaison and rehearsals have been made with other crack units like NSG, SPG & ITBP. All the agencies will be working in close coordination with each other.

The first three layers of security is of the Delhi Police and their job is to seal the border of New Delhi, which two additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) will monitor along with pickets. The first layer will only check the passes of the people going through that route, in the second layer the vehicles will be checked, and in the third layer, there will be physical checking. The security unit of Delhi Police is in the fourth layer for VIPs. There is also a SWAT team and a paramilitary force. On Republic Day, a total of 48 Company Paramilitary, 17,000 Delhi Police personnel, 2,700Delhi Police personnel in plainclothes will monitor.

Live TV

A total of 500 X-ray machines will be introduced and 1,000 CCTV cameras will be installed on the parade route. In some places, facial recognition software, in more than 100 cameras, will be installed.

More than 10 mobile Police Control Rooms have been set up and 10 CCTV control rooms have also been built. The national capital will witness 2,000 traffic police personnel and their job is to do parking signings, guide people, and seize the border from the night of January 25. The Delhi-NCR will be a no flying zone on the Republic Day. Sharpshooters will also be deployed at around 500 highrise buildings to keep a watch on the 8km-long parade route from Rajpath.

Apart from securing the main venue at Rajpath, adequate security and traffic arrangements for the At Home function at Rashtrapati Bhawan have been made. A city-wide alert is also being exercised in connection with the Republic Day by all District DCPs.



There will be effective coverage of markets, malls and places of high footfall. Delhi Police has also taken up an extensive tenant verification exercise to identify any suspicious arrival in the city. Borders have been secured and regular coordination is being maintained with the police of neighbouring states. Surprise checks, by placing barricades, will be carried out of vehicles moving under suspicious circumstances. India Gate and other places of tourist interest will be specially catered for keeping in view the possibility of an extra rush of visitors.

Metal detectors will be used for searching and frisking of spectators before entry into the enclosures while all vulnerable rooftop along the parade route are also being covered. The recently launched Mobile Police Control Room Van will be stationed this time at the venue for smooth and seamless communication. Parakram and Prakhar Vans will also be deployed along the parade route to enhance security.

In view of widespread protests over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and National Register of Citizens, the officials have imposed restrictions on wearing black caps or scarves during Republic Day celebrations, according to news agency PTI. However, the officials said that this has been the practise every year.

Police personnel have been directed to stay utmost alert since Delhi polls are also around the corner. Anti-terror measures like tenant and servant verification, border checking, the security of vital installations, malls and markets, patrolling in heavy footfall areas are being taken, they said. "We have intensified patrolling in public places. Group patrolling, night patrolling and vehicle checking is being carried out with the help of Central Armed Police Forces. Frisking at metro stations, railway stations, airport and bus terminals have also been tightened," a senior police official told PTI.

A traffic advisory has also been issued about the police's elaborate arrangement for route diversions for the Republic Day. No traffic will be allowed on Rajpath from Vijay Chowk to India Gate from 6 pm on Saturday till the parade gets over on January 26 (Sunday). The entry and exit will remain closed at Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhawan from 5 am till 12 pm and Lok Kalyan Marg and Patel Chowk from 8.45 am to 12 pm on Sunday, it added.

Flying of sub-conventional aerial platforms like para-gliders, para-motors, hang gliders, UAVs, UASs, microlight aircraft, remotely piloted aircraft, hot air balloons, small size powered aircraft, quadcopters or para jumping from aircraft are prohibited over the jurisdiction of the National Capital Territory of Delhi till February 15, according to the advisory. It asked people to report to the nearest police station in case any unidentified object or suspicious person is seen.
A 44-year-old man has been arrested after a 16-year-old schoolgirl was raped in a vehicle.

Police said the girl had been speaking to her attacker online days before she was raped on January 15 in Smallbridge, Rochdale.

Police received a report shortly after 5pm on January 15 that a 16-year-old girl was raped by a man.

A 44-year-old man has been arrested after a 16-year-old schoolgirl was raped in a vehicle in Smallbridge, Rochdale. Pictured: Police search the area after the attack

The attack is now understood to have happened in the Smallbridge area - not in Wardle, Rochdale, as previously understood by police.

A 44-year-old man, from Salford, Greater Manchester, was arrested on suspicion of rape and of inciting the sexual exploitation of a child and has now been released on bail.

A 57-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of rape but has been released from custody.

Police said the girl had been speaking to her attacker online days before she was raped on January 15. Pictured: Police at the scene

The girl is being supported by specially-trained officers and enquiries are ongoing.

Superintendent Richard Hunt, of GMP's Rochdale division, said 'The welfare of the victim remains a top priority and, as such, specialist officers and partner agencies are continuing to support her and her family at what is, undoubtedly, a distressing time for them.

'I would like to use this opportunity to thank members of the public for their response to our appeal and, in particular, the people of Wardle who have been patient whilst investigation work caused disruption in the area.

'I am aware of rumours circulating in the community and on social media and the understandable concerns of members of the public but I would ask that they refrain from circulating these rumours or speculating about what happened as it will inevitably cause further distress for the victim and her family.

'Instead, I would encourage anyone with information that may assist us to get in touch with the investigation team.'

A man, from Salford, Greater Manchester, was arrested on suspicion of rape and of inciting the sexual exploitation of a child and has now been released on bail. Pictured: Police at the scene




Two security personnel were injured when militants hurled a grenade at a police post in Srinagar city on Friday evening, police said.

The militants lobbed a grenade towards police post Waniyar near Safakadal area of the old city, a police officer said.

He said a CRPF jawan and a policeman were injured in the explosion and rushed to a hospital, the officer said, adding security force have cordoned off the area and a launched a search to nab the attackers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Reference is made to the Bank's announcement concerning the Bank's share buyback program in Iceland and Sweden published on 31 October 2019 and the change to the program published on 9 January 2020.

The Board of Directors of Arion Bank has approved a revised buyback program on the basis of the authorization provided at the Bank's AGM on 20 March 2019 and the approval given by the Financial Supervisory Authority/Central Bank of Iceland on 23 January 2020. The revised share buyback program authorizes the Bank to buy a maximum of 100,000,000 shares/SDRs, corresponding to 5.5% of issued shares in the Bank, for up to ISK 8 billion at market value. The revised program represents an increase of up to 41 million shares/SDRs, corresponding to 2.3% of issued shares in the Bank, for up to ISK 3.5 billion at market value, in the Bank's authorization to buy back shares. When the share buyback program was issued on 31 October 2019 the Bank was authorized to buy up to 59 million shares/SDRs for up to ISK 4.5 billion at market value.

The Bank is authorized to buy up to 17,000,000 SDRs in Sweden, corresponding to 0.9% of issued shares, and up to 83,000,000 shares in Iceland, corresponding to 4.6% of issued shares. The total consideration for purchased SDRs shall not exceed ISK 1,360,000,000 in Sweden and ISK 6,640,000,000 for purchased shares in Iceland (a total of ISK 8.0 billion). The Bank currently owns 55,225,289 own shares.

The program will continue to be managed by Kvika Bank hf. in Iceland and Nordea Bank Abp in Sweden and the managers will each act and make trading decisions independently and without being influenced by the Bank with regards to the timing of purchases. The duration and purpose of the share buyback program remain unchanged.

The program will be carried out in accordance with applicable laws and regulations in Iceland and Sweden, including Regulation No. 596/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on market abuse ("MAR"), Icelandic acts on limited liability companies, No. 2/1995 and on securities transactions, No. 108/2007, and Icelandic regulation on insider information and market manipulation, No. 630/2005.
Sumi Sukanya Dutta By

Express News Service

The fears of a novel coronavirus epidemic are fast spreading. India at least has seen the first cases of patients who have been kept under observation for suspected infection.

At this time of rising alarm, The New Indian Express spoke to Professor K Srinath Reddy, president, Public Health Foundation of India to gain clarity on the outbreak and to understand the precautions everyone should take.

1) What is 2019-nCov? How similar is it to SARS?



2019-nCoV is a virus that has been isolated from a new outbreak of respiratory infection that was first reported from the WUHAN province of China and has subsequently spread to other provinces of China and even to other countries in South-East and West Asia. While it belongs to the family of Corona viruses and is structurally similar to the SARS virus in that respect, it has a distinct genetic structure that is different from other coronaviruses which range in composition and severity from those causing common cold to SARS.

The threat of a virus outbreak is related to three factors:

Its infectivity (ease of transmission)

Virulence (severity of damage inflicted on the body) and

Capacity for human to human spread

When the virus spreads by the aerial route from persons coughing, it has a faster spread than when it infects only through physical contact with secretions from an infected person. Some viruses (such as H1NI) are highly infective but have low virulence, while others (like H5N1) are highly virulent but have low infectivity.

When a virus is spread through the aerial route (droplet infection) from human to human it becomes highly infective, even if it began as an animal to human infection. This change portends danger of a mass epidemic. 2019-nCoV has clearly shown its capacity for rapid human to human spread by the aerial route. In terms of virulence, it appears intermediate at present, based on the numbers of deaths reported, but can mutate to a deadlier form.



2) What precautions should people take?

Wash hands regularly

Avoiding crowded areas (where droplet infections can easily spread are the needed precautions)

Drink plenty of fluids (to keep well hydrated)

Eat more fruits and vegetable-rich food to build resistance to respiratory viral infections (it reduces their severity even if infected)

Have a good sleep

3) Are masks effective?

Masks have not been shown to be effective but can be worn in crowded areas, especially by persons who have a respiratory infection.

4) Will the threat from this virus dissipate sooner than the SARS scare considering the nature of the response?



This epidemic (now a pandemic) is still in an early stage. It may take longer time than SARS to dissipate because it appears to be more infectious but may be less dangerous because of lower virulence than SARS. Fingers crossed that it does not mutate to a more virulent form.
By Noa Goldman

goldmann@grinnell.ed

This year on Jan. 20, Martin Luther King Jr. day, Grinnell College celebrated the late civil rights leaders legacy with performances by Hasan Davis, a juvenile justice reformer/consultant and motivational speaker. Davis prides himself on being a hope dealer, providing hope and opportunities to young children in difficult situations.

Sponsored by the Grinnell Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Rosenfield Program, Davis performed two highly attended programs and consulted with Grinnell College students and staff about racial equality on campus. Discussing his experience on campus he stated that it has been great meeting with students and leaders across campus and talking to them about the kind of things that they would like to do and like to do better here and how I can support that kind of work, so pretty exciting,

On MLK Day, Davis performed a dramatic monologue from his book The Journey of York at the Loft Theater to a crowded audience. The Journey of York highlights the role of William Clarks slave York, a member of the famous Lewis and Clark 19th-century westward expedition. Wearing a bear claw necklace and holding a walking stick, Davis told of an enslaved man who was treated almost as an equal on the epic voyage, even given the right to vote on matters related the voyage, but was forced back into slavery after three years.

On Tuesday, Davis gave a more personal presentation about his childhood spent in crisis, his stop-and-start path through the educational system, his time as commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice and his decision to leave and focus on advocacy and reform. Through his passionate and intensely personal speech, Davis demonstrated the crushing reality of the cycle of poverty and injustice in the United States, challenging the audience to help those with fewer opportunities than they have had.

Throughout the speech, Davis cited Dr. Kings seminal quote: Lifes most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others? He outlined concrete steps for the audience on how to be hope dealers themselves and the need to hold your values as worthy of combatting any injustice, ending with the call to Deserve Victory! in order to live a life of service.

Off campus, the greater Grinnell College community also celebrated MLK day. The Grinnell-in-Des Moines Alumni Group organized their fourth annual volunteering event with Meals from the Heartland and packed hundred of thousands of meals to be donated. Kristen Plowman 04, the event organizer, stated that having a day off for MLK day should be a call to action. This isnt just another bank holiday, there is a reason we have this day off, Plowman said. [Serving others] reinvigorates us!

Presidential candidate Andrew Yang also held a campaign event at Grinnells Prairie Canary on MLK Day. Marnie Monogue 21, who attended the event, told The S&B that Yang referenced Dr. King throughout his speech, specifically when discussing the essential policy of his platform: universal income. Yang presented the freedom dividend as honoring MLKs legacy. In fact, Martin Luther King did mention a guaranteed middle class income in his 1967 book where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community.

Last year, the College commemorated Dr. Kings legacy with an event centered around a recording of the speech supporting civil rights he gave on campus in 1967. The Rosenfield Program also organized a reading of the 1963 letter King wrote while imprisoned, which defends nonviolent protests against racism, Letter from a Birmingham Jail. These events were focused on honoring the life and work of Dr. King. This year the celebration on campus was focused on the evolution of his mission, explicitly calling for justice in the present.

Davis told The S&B that MLK day should not be just simply talking about Dr. King. He saw his performances as a means of looking back to move forward.

[Martin Luther King Jr.] wanted us to be figuring out what the next dream is, what the vision is and how we move the world, said Davis. Our job is to be the fire, and so to just keep going back to the spark that starts it, we are not getting anything done.
New Delhi [India], Jan 24 (ANI): Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev on Friday said that students in universities across the country, including the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), should leave protests for politicians.



Speaking at a press conference, Ramdev said, "These days the country is getting a bad name as it seems that there are only protests and violence going on here. I say to students of all universities, including the JNU, that they should leave protests for politicians otherwise the politicians will become jobless. To spread anarchy and being involved in public protests all the time are not the responsibilities of a student."

"Students should focus on their career and contribute to the nation's development. To chant Azadi slogans all the time especially 'Jinnah type Azadi slogans' is a betrayal of the country and it amounts to sedition," Ramdev said.

"The students should leave the path of violence, anarchy and protest, and contribute to character and nation-building," he said.

The Yoga Guru also conveyed to the political parties that they should understand that people of the country have given the mandate to the BJP till 2024.

"The political parties should understand that the people of this country have given the mandate to the BJP till 2024. We should honour the Constitution and give Modiji time by 2024," he said.

"The opposition should have patience. They can protest but they should also contribute to nation-building. This country belongs to the opposition, judiciary, legislature and other structures of the government as much as it belongs to Modiji or Ramdev or the BJP," Ramdev said.

"I want to say this as there are many problems in the country like price rise and poverty. We face many challenges in taking the country forward economically. If we want to compete with the US and China then we should make India prosperous and strengthen our economy," he added. (ANI)


WASHINGTON - If there's is any segment of the electorate that President Donald Trump has secured, it's voters whose No. 1 priority is to end legalized abortion.

Trump will make history todayas the first president to give an in-person address to the annual March for Life, a protest that started after the 1973Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion and draws tens of thousands - sometimes hundreds of thousands - of protesters here to the Mall every January.

This year's march theme is "Life Empowers: Pro-Life is Pro-Woman." Speakers include House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., and Louisiana first lady Donna Hutto Edwards, an antiabortion Democrat who often speaks of how she was encouraged to have an abortion when her now-adult daughter, Samantha, was discovered to have spina bifida.

Trump will address the crowd after sending video greetings for each of the past three years, By personally attending the march as he seeks reelection this year, the president is cementing his alliance with an antiabortion movement that initially viewed him with hostility but is now wholeheartedly behind Trump after a his slew of actions furthering its cause.

"President Trump has done more for the pro-life community than any other president, so it is fitting that he would be the first president in history to attend the March for Life," White House spokesman Judd Deere said.

The president has moved to cut abortion providers out of Medicaid and the Title X family planning program, banned fetal tissue research, revised an Obama-era policy requiring employers to cover contraceptives, and created a new religious freedom office to handle the cases of health providers pressured to provide services to which they're morally opposed, such as abortion.

But antiabortion leaders say the president has done even more to help their cause over the long term. They say Trump's single most important achievement to restrict abortions has been his laser focus, bolstered by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., on filling the federal courts with conservative judges.

"Two words: Supreme Court," said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the group Susan B. Anthony List, which seeks to get antiabortion female candidates elected.

"Nothing compares with the impact of a transformed federal court system," Dannenfelser said in an interview. "That's why this pro-life movement has never been stronger."

Trump has sent two justices to the Supreme Court: Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, who filled the spot vacated by moderate Justice Anthony Kennedy and tilted the court toward the conservatives, worrying abortion rights activists that the Roe v. Wade ruling is seriously in danger. Trump has also filled dozens of seats on federal district and appeals courts.

In December, the Senate approved Trump's 50th circuit judge over his three years in office. That's just five away from the total number of judges confirmed during President Barack Obama's entire eight years in office. The result: Courts are more likely than ever before to uphold the administration's new policies.

Kristen Waggoner, senior vice president of the U.S. legal division of Alliance Defending Freedom, an influential Christian conservative nonprofit, also spoke glowingly of Trump's judicial appointments. The administration has done "a really stellar job" in ensuring judges have a philosophy of focusing on the original intent of words, she said.

Waggoner also sees a strong ally in Trump's Justice Department, which frequently adopts stances in favor of state antiabortion measures. She pointed to two prominent Supreme Court cases in which the department sided with "crisis pregnancy centers" and stricter standards for abortion clinics and doctors.

In the first case, NIFLA v. Becerra, the Supreme Court struck down a California law requiring "crisis pregnancy centers" to notify women that the state provides free or low-cost access to abortion - even though these centers counsel women against getting abortions.

In the second case, which the court will hear in early March, Louisiana is asking the court to uphold a law requiring abortion providers to obtain admitting privileges at hospitals within 30 miles of the abortion clinic. In a brief filed earlier this month, the Justice Department urged the court to uphold the law, arguing it is legal for states to ensure abortion is performed in a way that ensures "maximum safety for the patient."

The court struck down a similar law in Texas several years ago, saying the state was placing an "undue burden" on women seeking abortions. But this time around, antiabortion activists are hoping for a win from the court's new conservative majority.

The bottom line is that Trump has made it virtually impossible for antiabortion voters not to support him in 2020, even if they disagree with his policies in other areas.

This dynamic is especially remarkable considering Trump has undergone a shift on the issue of abortion rights. Two decades ago he described himself as "very pro-choice" despite hating "the concept of abortion." In 2016, he didn't give an answer when New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd asked whether during his days as a "swinging bachelor in Manhattan" he was ever involved with any woman who had an abortion.

"Such an interesting question," Trump responded. "So what's your next question?"

Catherine Glenn Foster, president of Americans United for Life, said the president immediately endeared himself to the movement upon taking office in 2017 by reinstating and broadening the so-called Mexico City policy, which bans U.S. funding for foreign organizations that perform or actively promote abortion.

"It's such a strong precedent that he would take life as one of his very first issues," Foster said. "To say we have someone in our corner is so powerful."
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Captain Tania Shergill at 5' 10'' stands tall but when she leads a contingent during the ceremonial parade on the Republic Day, she will stand taller.

The 26-year-old officer of the Corps of Signals, had recently created history by becoming the first woman Parade Adjutant to led all-men contingents during the Army Day function.

A graduate of the Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai, asked if she was feeling nervous or afraid of the big day, she said, "We have worked a lot during the parade rehearsals, trying to perfect the moves. There is no fear or nervousness."

On January 26, the trailblazer officer will lead the contingent of the Corps of Signals, making her "family of faujis" and the nation proud.

Now this gives me goosebumps. So incredibly inspirational. Tanya Shergill is what Id call a true celebrity. THIS video should be trending...not just the Tik Tok variety... https://t.co/YkimZKpxLR  anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) January 16, 2020

Wearing a khaki uniform and holding a ceremonial sword, as she marched down the Rajpath during the full dress rehearsal of the Republic Day Parade on Thursday, she was the cynosure of all eyes.

"It was a feeling of immense honour and great pride, a sense of achievement and worthiness, and absolute blessing," said Shergill, the fourth generation in her family to serve the Army.

Gills says she comes from a family where "Army tales and anecdotes" were part of dinner table talks and morning walks and joining the armed forces came "very naturally" to her.

"I had applied while I was in the final year of my engineering course and later got selected. After my training at OTA, I got commissioned into the Corps of Signals in 2017. When the selection was on for the Parade Adjutant, I knew that if I would get selected, I would be the first woman to do that job in the parade's history," she said.

The Army Day Parade felt so fulfilling and the R-Day Parade will be "another feather" to her cap, she added.

Hoshiarpur-born Gill, who holds a BTech in electronics and telecommunications from Nagpur University, said her great-grandfather had taken part in World War I.

"He (great-grandfather) was part of the Sikh Regiment, and he had taken part in the Burma theatre. My maternal grandfather also belonged to the same regiment, while my paternal grandfather belonged to the 14th Armoured Regiment (Scinde Horse) and my father served in the artillery regiment. Army life runs in the family," a proud Shergill told PTI.

Last year, woman officer Bhavana Kasturi, then a lieutenant, had for the first time led an all-male Army Service Corps (ASC) contingent during the Republic Day parade.

Asked what message she had to give to young women who are chasing their dreams, Shergill said, "When we don the uniform, we are just 'faujis' (jawans or officers), gender is immaterial, all that matters is merit."

"And girls and women chasing their dreams should just believe in themselves. It doesn't matter if some people think they are any less than boys and men. I would tell them just focus on your goals and pursue the goals with passion," she said.

The Punjab-born did her schooling in multiple cities and counts photography, travelling and music among her hobbies.

The Army will showcase its military might and various state-of-the-art assets during the majestic January 26 parade, with artillery gun systems Dhanush and Short Span Bridge system to make their appearance for the first time, officials said on Thursday.

Sixteen marching contingents will take part in the parade from the armed forces, paramilitary forces, Delhi Police, NCC and NSS, along with 13 military bands.

At the Army Day function, she had drawn praise from senior officers and loud cheers from the audience, which included members of the diplomatic corps.

The Army Day is celebrated on January 15 every year to mark Lt Gen K M Cariappa taking over as commander-in-chief of the Indian Army in 1949 from General Francis Butcher, the last British commander-in-chief of India.

Battle scenes, from aerial manoeuvres to infantry attacks were simulated during the function with the three services chiefs and the Chief of the Defence Staff in attendance.

"These 'battle inoculations', as we call it, fill us with a great sense of thrill and pumps up energy," she said, adding, "on the Rajapth, we 'faujis' draw josh from each other, and march with a common heartbeat".
MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI  Four people are accused of the imprisonment of a woman in a home in North Muskegon.

Two men and a woman have been charged with false imprisonment, a 15-year felony. Another woman faces the same charge, but has not been arrested, court records show.

Each of the four defendants listed their address as the home in the 700 block of Lyncott Street in North Muskegon where the incident is alleged to have occurred.

Its alleged that the female victim was tied to a chair, physically assaulted and not allowed to leave the home, said Muskegon County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Timothy Maat. The incident is alleged to have occurred on Jan. 7.

A male who fled the home flagged down a police officer who noted the man had facial injuries, Maat said.

The charges against the four state that they did secretly confine and knowingly restrain the victim. Maat declined to provide more details about the incident.

Arraigned for false imprisonment are:

 Julie Ann Ackley, 41, who is being held in the Muskegon County Jail on a $50,000 cash or surety bond.

 Brian Keith Shirley, 56, who is being held on a $100,000 cash or surety bond.

 John Allen Arrowood, 54, who is being held on a $100,000 cash or surety bond.

The fourth defendant is a 32-year-old woman.

Those already charged have been scheduled for preliminary examinations at 11 a.m. Jan. 27 before Muskegon County District Judge Maria Ladas Hoopes.

Also on MLive:

Man, 30, killed in crash with cement truck

Contractor who took money and never built garage sent to prison

Husband guilty of murder in Muskegon Heights womans shooting death
A 12-person jury once again found the pastor of a tiny Portland area congregation guilty Friday of sexually abusing a former member when she was a young child.

This is the second time a Multnomah County Circuit Court jury has determined that Michael Sperou, the 69-year-old leader of the North Clackamas Bible Community, is guilty of sexually abusing the former member. The Oregon Supreme Court overturned his first conviction and 20-year prison sentence after concluding that witnesses shouldnt have been allowed to refer to Sperous accuser by using the word victim during the first trial in 2015.

Six other women also accused Sperou of sexually abusing them when they were children, but Sperou couldnt be prosecuted in those cases because the statute of limitations has passed.

Sperou was tried only for sexually abusing Shannon

Clark, now 33, who testified that he abused her from about ages 3 to 10. Clark, who lives far from the downtown Portland courtroom, wasnt present for the verdict.

But the six others were as Judge Andrew Lavin announced that Sperou was guilty of two counts of first-degree unlawful sexual penetration. Sperou appeared stunned but showed no visible emotion.

He likely faces between about eight and 14 years in prison when hes sentenced next Friday. Thats less than the 20 years he received in 2015 because he had been tried and convicted on three counts, not two.

One of Sperous defense attorneys, Michael De Muniz, told the judge that he expected to be back in the courtroom soon asking for a new trial. Thats because the jury found Sperou guilty 11-1 of the crimes. And De Muniz is anticipating that the U.S. Supreme Court in the next several months will declare non-unanimous jury verdicts in criminal cases in state courts unconstitutional and make that change retroactive in cases such as Sperous.

Oregon is the only state in the nation that doesnt require unanimous jury verdicts in all felony criminal trials.

Itd not surprise me if wed be talking about new trial dates, De Muniz said.

Court adjourned and a crowd of Sperous supporters immediately surrounded him, whispered into his ears, hugged him and wept. They backed off as soon as sheriffs deputies arrived in the courtroom with handcuffs to escort him to jail.

After Sperou was gone, the six women who had accused him of abuse hugged their supporters, FaceTimed with loved ones and took photos of themselves, arms around each other, in front of the judges bench.

In general, I just feel relieved that the court and the jury came to the right conclusion, said Bryn Garrett. Im thankful to be able to move forward.

Added her sister, Rachel Schackart: Like they said in court, something was stolen from us.

Schackart said it was devastating to see Sperou released from prison pending his second trial. But now that hes back in jail, she can be in Portland without having to worry about bumping into him on the streets.

The Oregonian/OregonLive generally does not disclose the names of alleged sexual abuse victims. But the women connected with the case have come forward over the course of the states prosecution of the case, asking that their stories be told.

That includes Clark. During her testimony, she described aggressive hugs and kissing that made her uncomfortable as well as Sperou penetrating her with his finger.

Sperou led the nondenominational congregation, first known as Southeast Bible Church in 1980, out of several rental homes in Southeast Portland where members lived and gathered. The congregation now resides in homes in Happy Valley, according to the prosecution.

Sperous defense lawyers argued that Clarks memory was bad and that her account was inconsistent. Lawyer Steve Sherlag said Clark wasnt credible, that her memories of sexual abuse were contaminated by conversations with the other women who alleged abuse and that she was motivated by revenge or money that she may seek in a civil case.

Still, Sherlag acknowledged that Sperou engaged in disturbing behavior with Clark, including what he called sexualized touching.

Prosecutors Melissa Marrero and Chuck Mickley, meanwhile, offered a grim depiction of Sperou, describing him as a serial child predator who exerted extraordinary control over day-to-day aspects of his followers lives. They told jurors that he seized on a young and vulnerable Clark, grooming her with kindness and affection as others adults in the household turned against her.

They said Clarks recall of key elements of the abuse  she alleges that Sperou abused her countless times over a period of years  was consistent over time.

The prosecution, as is common in child sexual abuse cases, lacked physical evidence and rested largely on Clarks own account.

After the verdict was read, Sharon Garrett, the mother of two of the adult women who have accused Sperou of sexually abusing them, said she is hugely relieved. She said when Sperou targeted her daughters, the congregation had about 50 members in it and she now looks back on it as a cult.

Garrett and her husband, Ken, run a monthly group called Spiritual Abuse Forum for Education, which meets monthly to support anyone who has been mistreated, disrespected, ripped off, deceived, shamed, or taken advantage of in a spiritual setting, Garrett said.

-- Aimee Green and Noelle Crombie

agreen@oregonian.com

o_aimee

Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox.
Probusinessbanks $32.6 mln claim against ex-CEO of collector agency put on hold

 RIA Novosti, Maksim Blinov

11:26 24/01/2020

MOSCOW, January 24 (RAPSI)  The Moscow Commercial Court has left without action an application lodged by Russias Probusinessbank seeking to collect over 2 billion rubles (about $32.5 million) from ex-CEO of Life collector agency Sergey Kalachev sentenced earlier to 6.5 years in prison for embezzlement of the banks funds, according to court records.

The claim has been put on hold until February 14.

Yet in October 2015, the Moscow Commercial Court declared Probusinessbank, the leading financial structure of the Life Group, bankrupt, thus satisfying a claim of Russias Central Bank.

In February 2016, a court ruled to detain several Probusinessbank ex-top managers charged with embezzlement of about 2.5 billion rubles (circa $41 million) owned by the banks clients, among them former vice-president of business development of the bank Vyacheslav Kazantsev, Sergey Kalachev, Nikolay Alekseyev, Marina Krylova, and entrepreneur Oksana Kravchenko.

In April 2017, a court sentenced ex-head of corporate finances department of Probusinessbank Nikolay Alekseyev to 4 years in prison in relation to the case. His case was reviewed separately because he had admitted his guilt.

According to investigators, the defendants conspired to embezzle funds belonging to Probusinessbank. Accomplices are believed to be unidentified managers and employees of the bank. They allegedly used their office positions to enroll their subordinates, employees of the financial group Life, and heads of sham companies.

As a result, Russias Investigative Committee said, fly-by-night companies had been given clearly unrecoverable loans, which were later converted in U.S. dollars and transferred abroad. Although such loans were formally proper, the Committee noted, the documents contained false data.

In 2019, Kazantsev was sentenced to 7 years in a penal colony and fined 800,000 rubles ($13,000); Kalachev was sent behind bars for 6.5 years; ex-head of a bank department Kyrill Artemov was sentenced to 5 years in a penal colony.

Russias Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA) informed in March 2017 that inspection of Probusinessbank assets revealed a 68.5 billion rubles (about $1 billion) shortfall, which DIA sought to recover from the banks ex-managers.

According to the DIA, the banks bankruptcy examination revealed that Probusinessbank top managers funneled fluid assets out of the organization by lending companies, which did not carry on business consistent with credit levels and did not have their own property and corresponding incomes. Moreover, the bank management did not take measures to prevent the financial organizations bankruptcy.
Doctors initially thought it was kidney stones, but it was later determined hed ingested high concentrations of rat poison, the victim testified Thursday in federal court. Wracked with pain and bleeding uncontrollably, he nearly died in the hospital. The ordeal cost him his job as a union carpenter and led to bouts of depression. Now nearly two years later, hes still trying to get back on his feet.
Northrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/24/2020 -- According to a new market research report "IoT in Utilities Market by Component (Platform, Solutions (Asset Monitoring and Management and CIS and Billing), Services), Application (Electricity Grid Management Water and Wastewater Management), Region - Global Forecast to 2024", published by MarketsandMarkets, the global Internet of Things (IoT) in Utilities Market size expected to grow from USD 28.6 billion in 2019 to USD 53.8 billion by 2024, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.5% during the forecast period.



The use of IoT in grid technology is accelerating the integration of renewable energy resources, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectricity into the electrical grid and further in the gas and water utility segment across the world. Factors, such as the rising trend of deregulating the utility industry, and need for operational efficiency and control are expected to increase the growth of the market. The lack of standards for interconnectivity and interoperability can restrain the growth of the market.



Browse in-depth TOC on "IoT in Utilities Market"

108- Tables

42- Figures

155- Pages



Download PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=116054824



Asset monitoring and management solution to account for the largest market size during the forecast period



IoT-enabled asset monitoring solutions are a combination of all processes, assets, workflows, and analytics into a single solution, which offer centrally consolidated tracking, monitoring, and analytics system for asset-intensive sectors, such as utilities, mining, oil and gas, and healthcare. Asset monitoring and management solutions include the management of utility meters, predictive asset maintenance, and control operations of assets. Asset management for utilities help in the optimum and sustainable management of water and gas pipelines. In order to achieve the organizational strategic plan, the associated performance, risks, and expenditures over the lifecycle of assets are taken care of by asset management solutions. These solutions generally include type and asset tracking; work order creation; maintenance, repair, and operations inventory and procurement; asset tracking; and planned maintenance history.



The electricity grid management application to account for the largest market size during the forecast period



The use of IoT in the electricity grid offers an unprecedented opportunity to move the energy industry into a new era of reliability, availability, and efficiency, which will contribute in enhancing the overall economic and environmental health. An electricity grid having IoT capabilities has smart sensors, receivers, smart meters, and energy boxes which communicate with each other. In the traditional electricity grid, utilities would gain knowledge about an existing power failure through consumers. However, with the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) in place, utility providers are well-aware about the failure once the smart meter stops sending meter data, owing to the presence of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and two-way communication across all components. n This leads to lower response time and real-time information about maintenance-related issues, leading to better management of electricity distribution . Use of IoT in electricity grid is not limited to technology and utility operators but it helps consumers manage day-to-day energy consumption.



North America to account for the highest market share during the forecast period



North America accounts for the highest market share in the IoT in utilities market. The region has always been at the forefront of smart grid technology adoption and a large share of the major utilities in the region are either fully deployed or in the implementation or planning stages of full-scale rollouts. In the coming years, continued growth in North America is expected to be largely driven by large investor-owned utilities across the US markets, which are yet to roll out smart meters for their customers. Moreover, large number of small cooperative and municipal utilities are expected to play a central role for growth penetration.



Speak to Research Expert @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalystNew.asp?id=116054824



The major IoT in utilities market vendors include IBM (US), Oracle (US), Verizon (US), Cisco (US), Vodafone (UK), Telit (UK), Landis Gyr (Switzerland), Itron (US), Schneider Electric (France), Huawei (China), Trimble (US), Aclara (US), Trilliant (US), Energyworx (Netherlands), HCL (India), Altair (US), Actility (France), Waviot (Russia), Rayven (Australia), Saviant Consulting (India), ABB (Switzerland), Siemens (Germany), Honeywell (US), and GE (US).



About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions.



Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model  GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, and strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve.



MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets.



Contact:



Mr. Shelly Singh

MarketsandMarkets INC.

630 Dundee Road

Suite 430

Northbrook, IL 60062

USA: 1-888-600-6441

Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com

MnM Blog: https://mnmblog.org

Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/iot-utility.asp
(Natural News) The desperation that is sweeping through the streets of socialist Venezuela is starting to infect the liberal-run cities within the United States. San Francisco, for example, is so suppressed by liberal policies; non-profits are now turning parking lots into homeless camps. The common cause: The lefts socialist economic policies are punishing the working and Middle class, squelching opportunity, entrepreneurship and free market incentives that could lift people out of poverty.

In the past year in San Francisco, the number of people living homeless out of their vehicles has increased 45 percent. An estimated 1,700 people live out of their vehicles in the city now. The city has set up a pilot program to accommodate some of them. In order to clear RVs out of residential neighborhoods, a parking lot has been set up to contain a small fraction of the homeless population. The pilot program will allow thirty vehicles to park there over the next ninety days. The parking lot will include amenities such as portable toilets, portable showers, and case managers. The pilot program will be set up near the Balboa Park Bay Area Rapid transit station. The case managers will refer some people to shelters and help others find addiction treatment and mental health care.

Cities run by Leftists are high-crime suicide cities, full of desperate, homeless people

San Franciscos Golden Gate Bridge is patrolled by five officers who have one job  to identify and stop the dozens of people who commit suicide off the bridge each year. The city is currently constructing a suicide safety net under the bridge to catch the most desperate people.

The overall homeless population in San Francisco has grown 17 percent over the past two years. The mayor of San Francisco plans to add 1,000 new shelter beds to accommodate the citys growing homeless population. The city is slowly turning into Venezuela, where drug addiction runs rampant, where gangs rule the streets, where people go hungry and defecate on the streets. Socialist policies have created income inequality, driving the middle and working class into poverty. These liberal policies have choked the entrepreneurial spirit out, while emboldening the most desperate behaviors.

The Left promise progress with their new tax programs, but their incessant taxes only stifle the productive members of society, ultimately emboldening Third World helplessness, drug addiction, and disease, right inside the most prosperous Nation in the world! It doesnt matter if the government promises health care to everyone, including illegal aliens; it doesnt matter if the progressives want to double the minimum wage or make education free; in the end their socialist policies will destroy the economic structure, replacing opportunity and free will with suppression, subservience, and desperation.

The Left welcomes illegal immigration, and San Francisco is a sanctuary city, where there is no rule of law. San Franciscos streets are filled with drug paraphernalia and helpless individuals who arent allowed to defend themselves against the rising crime syndicate.

All liberal-run cities are headed in this direction. If Washington D.C. is hijacked by the same decrepit mentalities in the future, then Americas entire economic structure will be put at risk  the rule of law breaking down, with violent criminals and drug dealers running the streets.

If Venezuelas socialist collapse isnt a strong enough warning, then Americans should heed the warning signs developing within the liberal-run cities throughout the United States. The Left, lacking any real principles or sanity, is slowly descending America into chaos, homelessness and drug addiction.

Sources include:

Breitbart.com

NewsTarget.com

NaturalNews.com
U.S. health officials said Friday they diagnosed a second patient with the China coronavirus  a Chicago woman who returned from Wuhan with the infection, and they are monitoring dozens of other potential cases here. There are 63 cases being monitored in the U.S. that stretch across 22 states, including the first patient in Washington state and the new case in Illinois, said Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases. Officials said the new patient, a woman in her 60s, is doing well and is in stable condition. She remains isolated in a hospital as a precaution, U.S. health officials said on a conference call with reporters. The Illinois patient traveled to China in late December and began experiencing symptoms when she returned to the U.S. last week, officials said. She did not have symptoms while flying, they said. "She was not symptomatic when flying. And based on what we know now about this virus, our concern for transmission before symptoms develop is low, so that is reassuring," Dr. Allison Arwady, Chicago's public health commissioner, said on the call.

Upon returning to the U.S., the patient had very limited movement from outside her home and did not use public transportation or attend any large gatherings, they said. The patient began to feel unwell a few days after completing her trip and alerted her doctor. "CDC believes the immediate risk to the U.S. public is low at this time, but the situation continues to evolve rapidly," Messonnier said, adding that there is likely to be more cases in the coming days. "We have our best people working on this problem." The flu-like coronavirus, first identified on Dec. 31, has killed at least 41 people in China and infected more than 1,000 worldwide. On Tuesday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the country's first case  a Washington state man who has been quarantined in a hospital outside of Seattle after flying back from Wuhan, where the outbreak was first reported. The CDC said the man reached out to local health authorities last week once he started experiencing pneumonia-like symptoms. U.S. health officials warned on Friday that the flu or other respiratory illnesses could complicate identifying more cases. They recommend that people call a health-care provider before seeking treatment so the appropriate measures can be put in place. The CDC is trying to speed up testing and to get the tests in the hands of state health officials. It currently takes the CDC about four to six hours to make a diagnosis once a sample makes it to its lab. "We're really working to understand the full spectrum of the illness with this coronavirus," Messonnier said. "The problem with this time of year is it's cold and flu season and there are lots of cold and respiratory infections circulating." On Thursday, the World Health Organization declined to formally designate the new virus as a global health emergency, after postponing its decision the day before. Health officials are trying to contain the fast-spreading illness without unnecessarily spooking global trade. WHO physicians said they needed more data before declaring a global emergency, but the virus is now spreading through close human contact and in health-care settings, they said. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that usually infect animals but can sometimes evolve and spread to humans. Symptoms in humans include fever, coughing, and shortness of breath, which can progress to pneumonia.
Lashing out at actor and director Nandita Das over her Shaheen Bagh remark, an Uttar Pradesh minister has said that there is a Tukde Tukde gang within the Bollywood. Uttar Pradesh minister Srikant Sharma has also alleged that people from the film industry speaking against the amended citizenship law have political motives. His comments comes at the backdrop of the ongoing debate on the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) passed by the Parliament on December 11, that proposes to give citizenship to Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, Sikhs and Christians from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Citizenship Bill: Swara Bhasker, Soni Razdan, Nandita Das, Gauahar Khan strongly object

"Those from Bollywood speaking against CAA have political motives and are provoked by political parties. Thye should read CAA before speaking. We are not taking anyone's citizenship, but giving citizenship to those persecuted. They are also being misled. But there is also a Tukde Tukde in Bollywood," he said while speaking to news agency ANI.

Ashoke Pandit slams Nandita Das's remark on Shaheen Bagh, calls it 'frustration'

Nandita Das on CAA

Lauding the efforts of students and common people who have been protesting against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), actor Nandita Das said on Thursday said that more places like Shaheen Bagh are coming up across the country. Das also exhorted people to speak up against the CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). "They (government) are asking those who have been living here for four generations to prove that they are Indians. This is very sad. I think everyone should speak up," she said on the sidelines of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF).

BJP slams Kejriwal over Shaheen Bagh, cites Republic sting exposing 'western media' plot

The actor said the protests against the CAA and the NRC are "spontaneous" and no political parties are involved in them. "These are led by students and common people. The youth has created hope in the country. Every other place is becoming a Shaheen Bagh now, and I think as human beings, we should speak up against these laws," Das said.

She emphasised that with the economic slowdown, growing unemployment rate, and now with the CAA and the NRC, the country has become a topic of discussion across the world as "people are being divided on the basis of religion".

More Shaheen Baghs coming up across country: Nandita Das
WASHINGTON - In the first presidential address delivered in person at the March for Life, President Donald Trump spoke the language of the Christian antiabortion movement, praising activists who "make it your life's mission to help spread God's grace."

Wearing red Make America Great Again hats and toting pro-Trump signs, the activists spoke Trump's language back to him: "Four more years!"

Trump has endeared himself to the antiabortion movement by appointing conservative judges and changing executive branch policies to promote the cause. When he spoke at Friday's March for Life, which meets on the National Mall annually to call for overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, the demonstration took on aspects of a campaign rally.

"All of us here today understand an eternal truth: Every child is a precious and sacred gift from God," Trump said. "Together we must protect, cherish and defend the dignity and the sanctity of every human life."

He cited his administration's antiabortion initiatives, including expanding the Mexico City Policy - which bans U.S. funding to nongovernmental organizations that offer abortion counseling in foreign countries - and issuing a rule that bans organizations that receive federal family planning funding from providing referrals for abortion. That rule led Planned Parenthood to drop out of a massive federal funding program.

Trump also weighed in on a year-old furor in Virginia.

In January 2019, Republicans circulated a video of Del. Kathy Tran, D-Fairfax, acknowledging that her bill to reduce restrictions on late-term abortions would allow abortions up to the point of delivery in cases when the mother's life or health was at serious risk. Conservatives across the country attacked Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, and other state Democrats after they defended the bill.

"We love the commonwealth of Virginia, but what is going on in Virginia? What is going on, Virginia?" Trump said Friday. "The governor stated that he would execute a baby after birth."

A spokeswoman for Northam, who was a pediatric neurologist before becoming governor, said at the time that his words were taken out of context by Republicans, and called the notion that he would approve of killing infants "disgusting." The spokeswoman declined to comment Friday on Trump's latest remarks.

The bill did not pass last year and has not been reintroduced this year, although other legislation that advanced out of a Virginia House committee would roll back some abortion restrictions.

Trump's participation at the march meant extra security for thousands of attendees, who typically meander onto the National Mall in the hours before the rally. A bank of metal detectors spanned the length of the National Mall, the only entrance for seven blocks.

The Secret Service banned many items that attendees might normally bring: backpacks, food or drink coolers, glass or thermal containers, selfie sticks, balloons, and banners more than 20 feet long and 3 feet high. The line to get through the security checkpoint grew so packed by noon that hundreds of people could not get into the rally. They listened on loudspeakers from afar.

Louisiana state Sen. Katrina Jackson, a Democrat and a speaker at the event, said in an interview before the march that while she disagrees with Trump on policies and is discouraged by the insults he spouts, she was "ecstatic" that a president would attend.

"We finally have a sitting president at the March for Life," she said. "It doesn't make him the face of it. It sets a precedent for future presidents to speak. It's my prayer the president's attendance doesn't make it look partisan."

But many marchers were comfortable with partisanship. The group Students for Life, which brings university chapters to the National Mall each year, used its slogan "pro-life generation" on one side of its signs, and added a pointed message to Democrats on the other side: "I vote pro-life first."

Melody Wootten, 49, a musician from Sterling Heights, Michigan, said she came to the march for the first time because of Trump. Both the legality of abortion and the president's impeachment, she said, constitute "an attack on Christianity."

Alexandria and Michael Capps of Maryland brought their three children. Michael Capps said he thinks Trump is "the most religious president we've seen," although presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush were vocal Christians and Trump does not belong to a church. Trump, Capps said, "is setting a great example for our children."

Nine-year-old Brayden, their oldest child, brought a "Trump 2020" sign that he had colored. "He's the best," Brayden said. "He's keeping America great."

Volunteers handed out signs paid for by the Trump campaign at the entrance to the march. Terry Schilling, who runs the conservative American Principles Project, said hawking the signs was the first campaign volunteering he had done. Schilling was skeptical of Trump in 2016 and voted for him largely because he worried about who Democrat Hillary Clinton might appoint to the Supreme Court.

But he said he has been delighted by Trump's record in office, including his tax law, the state of the economy, his understanding of religious freedom - and above all, his stance on abortion. "I could never have been more happy to be wrong," Schilling said.

A sparse scattering of pro-abortion rights counter-protesters dotted the occasional street corner along the march route to the Supreme Court. Sara McConnell, 24, held a sign reading, "Not your uterus, not your choice."

She decided to attend for the first time after learning her father was going - as an antiabortion marcher. While the two haven't discussed the topic, she felt she needed to "counterprotest," she said.

"I think allowing women access to abortion gives them more opportunities. Having kids is hard and expensive and if you want them, that's amazing. But you shouldn't be forced to," she said. "It hurts children and it hurts parents."

Peter Wehner, who was a speechwriter for Bush, said in an email that Bush addressed the march by video and invited some marchers to an event at the White House each year, rather than attend in person, because after the Sept. 11 attacks, officials believed his attendance would create a security nightmare for marchers.

Trump's decision to attend the rally came as he seeks to consolidate support from evangelicals in his reelection campaign.

In December, the evangelical magazine Christianity Today published an editorial calling for Trump's removal from office over his efforts to pressure Ukraine's leader to open an investigation into former vice president Joe Biden, a leading Democratic presidential contender.

The editorial stunned the White House, and Trump has responded by rallying evangelical support. This month, he held a campaign event at a Latino evangelical church in Miami that included an appearance by Cissie Graham Lynch, granddaughter of the magazine's famous founder Billy Graham. Last week, the administration announced new federal guidelines to strengthen protections for students who want to pray or worship in public schools.

Leaders in the antiabortion movement say they have more access to this administration, particularly through Pence's office, and many post pictures on social media of themselves at the White House.

Daniel Williams, a historian at the University of West Georgia who has written a book on the antiabortion movement, noted that the March for Life founder, the late Nellie Gray, was a pro-labor Democrat who worked in the Johnson administration. In the decades that followed, the abortion issue has become more partisan, he said.

"What we're seeing is an exacerbation of partisan divides on both sides," Williams said. "The activists of the 1970s would not have foreseen the pro-life movement be so aligned with one party."

In the 1980s, Williams said, about one-third of Republican senators favored abortion rights, and surveys showed that a majority of Republican voters favored abortion rights. Today, nearly every Republican member of Congress say they support the antiabortion movement. A Kaiser Family Foundation survey this week found 84 percent of Democrats identified as "pro-choice," while 68 percent of Republicans identified as "pro-life."

Trump once had a troubled relationship with the antiabortion movement because of his past support for abortion rights, and he would sometimes flub conservative talking points on abortion. But his ability to deliver justices to the Supreme Court that activists hope will reverse Roe v. Wade is central to his reelection, said Mary Ziegler, a professor at Florida State University College of Law. "He has had to do more to prove himself to what is a key constituency than most previous Republicans did after Roe," Ziegler said.

Many rally attendees said they were "pleasantly surprised" by Trump's support for their cause.

Billy Naquin of Thibodaux, Louisiana, attending his first March for Life while on a trip to Washington, said that when he voted in 2016, national security and the economy were his top issues. On abortion, he didn't think Trump "would be willing to get into something so controversial."

Trump has outperformed Naquin's expectations, he said, calling Trump's presidency "awesome. "

- - -

The Washington Post's David Nakamura, Anne Gearan, Emily Guskin Laura Vozzella and Gregory S. Schneider contributed to this report.
Billionaire George Soros said he will commit $1 billion to start a global university to fight authoritarian governments and climate change, calling them twin challenges that threaten the survival of our civilization.

The Open Society University Network will offer an international platform for teaching and research, the 89-year-old said Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The university will be launched through a partnership of the Soros-backed Central European University and Bard College.

As a long-term strategy our best hope lies in access to quality education, specifically an education that reinforces the autonomy of the individual by cultivating critical thinking and emphasizing academic freedom, Soros said.

In his speech and a follow-up question and answer session, Soros covered a wide-range of issues, including the overheated U.S. economy, the dominance of Facebook Inc. and the autocratic rule of Xi Jinping, Narendra Modi, Jair Bolsonaro and Donald Trump, who he called a con man and the ultimate narcissist.

Taking into account the climate emergency and worldwide unrest, its not an exaggeration to say that 2020 and the next few years will determine not only the fate of Xi and Trump, but also the fate of the world, he said.

Soros also once again criticized Facebook for its failure to police the social media network.

Theres nothing to stop them, and I think there is a kind of informal mutual assistance operation or agreement developing between Trump and Facebook, Soros said. Facebook will work together to re-elect Trump and Trump will work to protect Facebook.

Trump, he said, is responsible for overheating the economy. An overheated economy cant be kept boiling for too long, he said.

Soros has hit on these themes in previous Davos speeches. Last year, the philanthropist warned of the mortal danger of Chinas use of artificial intelligence to repress its citizens under the leadership of Xi, whom he called the most dangerous opponent of democracies.

He has also lashed out at social-media giants including Facebook and Google, saying they need to be regulated. Last year he compared them to gambling companies that foster addiction among users and said that they exploit the data they control.

Soros has become a lightning rod for his political views and philanthropic efforts. A longtime supporter and financial backer of progressive causes and Democratic politicians, hes become a target of right-wing activists.

Soros closed his hedge fund and converted his firm into a family office. The $25 billion Soros Fund Management now mostly manages money for the Open Society Foundations, a worldwide network of philanthropies.
The Centre has withdrawn the security cover extended to Nationalist Congress Party boss Sharad Pawar in national capital Delhi, his party claimed on Friday.

NCP leaders said security personnel who were deployed at Pawars 6, Janpath residence havent turned up for the last four days. The veteran leader is yet to receive an official communication from the government, party leaders said in Mumbai.

It appears that Pawar sahebs security has been withdrawn. We are seeking clarification, said Hemant Takle, national secretary of the party.

Pawar has Y category security in Delhi while in Maharashtra he has been provided Z plus security cover, according to the NCP leaders.

Since January 20, it was found that the security personnel deployed at NCP chiefs residence in Delhi were absent. It appears the government has withdrawn his security. We have, however, not received any official communication from the union home ministry, said a NCP leader from Delhi, wishing not to be named.

It is nothing but vendetta politics if security of Pawar saheb has been withdrawn by the centre. He is a national president of NCP and for him threat perception is a reality. They may want to scare us but we wont. We will fight, said NCP minister and spokesperson Nawab Malik.

In the run up to the Maharashtra assembly elections, Pawar had said that he wont bow down before Delhi after he and his nephew Ajit Pawar was booked by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case. Pawar had recently said that the state government would re-open the Justice Loya death case, if fresh complaint with substantial evidence comes up.

Pawar, a former union minister, is a member of the Rajya Sabha
Crow Tribe officials called on Montana's attorney general to assist in the investigation into the death of Selena Not Afraid.

Selena, 16, went missing on New Year's Day and was found dead 20 days later about a mile from the rest stop where she was last seen.

She died of hypothermia, and the preliminary autopsy showed no evidence of violence, according to the Big Horn County Sheriff's Office.

In a press release issued Thursday evening, Chairman Alvin "A.J." Not Afraid asked for assistance in her investigation from Montana Attorney General Tim Fox.

Fox, a Republican candidate for governor, was set to debate U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte and state Sen. Al Olszewski in Billings on Thursday night.

Fox did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday night.

Rural communities like the Crow Reservation require greater resources from state agencies to investigate cases similar to Selena's, Not Afraid said in the release.

Selenas death, and the unsolved cases of so many other missing and murdered indigenous people, can no longer be the result of segregated resources and divided communities," he said, adding that Selena and her family deserve justice. Selena is Not Afraid's niece.

Not Afraid isn't the only top official to call for more resources for Selena's investigation.

Days before Selena was found, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester called on the FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs to commit more resources to finding her.

Locally, Big Horn County Attorney Jay Harris has requested evidence from the sheriff's office, the lead investigating agency, be handed over to him.

In a press release, Harris said the investigation was still criminal, and criticized the early characterization from the sheriff's office that "foul play was not suspected."

The attorney's office would pursue any provable criminal activities surrounding the circumstances of Selena's disappearance, Harris said.

You must be logged in to react.

Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
Computer modelling and long-term ecological monitoring will be essential to assess the environmental risks of the rapidly growing number of chemicals across the world, according to a new review paper in the journal Science.

The analysis, led by the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), says the sheer number of chemicals and substances is making it increasingly challenging to carry out the risk assessments required to check all products are completely safe for wildlife.

The EU's REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) regulation 2006 set an important precedent - that the onus to demonstrate a chemical was safe for humans and the environment should lie with the manufacturer.

However, out of more than 100,000 chemicals on the market in Europe, only a small fraction have been thoroughly evaluated for their potential harmful impacts on humans and the environment.

Professor Andrew Johnson of UKCEH, lead author of the paper, explains that, for example, there has been a lot of evaluation of the effects of pesticides on the environment but not washing detergents, despite their widespread use. He adds pharmaceuticals do not need an environmental risk assessment, and there has been little research into the potential impacts of several key classes of drugs on wildlife.

Meanwhile, weak regulations or inconsistent local enforcement have contributed to the creation of severe pollution hotspots in some parts of the world, particularly Asia where chemical sales are more than 60% higher than the US and EU combined, according to Professor Johnson and his co-authors.

He says: "Given the many chemicals that entered the market before REACH came into force, a retrospective authorisation process is trying to catch up.

"An ever-growing number of chemicals and uses for them means the challenge is enormous, and regulators are struggling to keep up. But it isn't necessarily a lost cause. We've learned from the past and chemicals are generally safer."

Along with progress in the regulation and management of chemicals, Professor Johnson and his co-authors say another reason for optimism is the improvement in analytical techniques in recent years. Computer modelling enables scientists to predict the effects of chemicals without animal testing but regulators are reluctant to rely entirely on these theoretical models.

The paper's authors - from UKCEH, the China National Environmental Monitoring Centre, Kyoto University and Brunel University - also recommend a more consistent retrospective risk assessment. This would involve long-term ecological monitoring to establish the trends in wildlife populations that are exposed to chemicals, and then carrying out forensic scientific analysis to establish if these are linked to chemical pollutants.

The paper's authors say this approach requires greater co-operation between scientists across different disciplines, and are calling on ecotoxicologists and environmental chemists to collaborate with ecologists.

One example of best practice of retrospective risk assessment and multidisciplinary collaboration, cited in the paper, is the investigative research carried out after declines were noted in bee populations. Several global studies, including UKCEH's pan-European field trial in 2014/15, showed that exposure to certain neonicotinoids had a negative impact on bees, resulting in EU bans on those pesticides.

Professor Johnson explains: "Our current system of chemical risk assessment is based on prospective rather than both prospective and retrospective analysis. Long-term environmental monitoring is not normally at the front of the queue for receiving funding, but it's cost effective and can provide the most compelling evidence of whether our use of chemicals is sustainable."

###

Andrew C. Johnson, Xiaowei Jin, Norihide Nakada, John P. Sumpter. 2020. Learning from the past and considering the future of chemicals in the environment. Science. DOI: 10.1126/science.aay6637

Notes to editors

For interviews and further information, please contact Simon Williams, Media Relations Officer at UKCEH, via simwil@ceh.ac.uk or +44 (0)7920 295384.

About the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH)

The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology is a centre for excellence in environmental science across water, land and air. Our 500 scientists work to understand the environment, how it sustains life and the human impact on it - so that together, people and nature can prosper.

We have a long history of investigating, monitoring and modelling environmental change, and our science makes a positive difference in the world. The issues our science addresses include: air pollution, biodiversity, biosecurity, chemical risks, extreme weather events, droughts, floods, greenhouse gas emissions, land use, soil health, sustainable agriculture, sustainable ecosystems, sustainable macronutrient use, and water resources management.

The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology is a strategic delivery partner for the Natural Environment Research Council, part of UK Research and Innovation. http://www.ceh.ac.uk / @UK_CEH
I vividly recalled, about fifteen years plus when the then President of the Republic of Ghana John Ajekum Koffur, said and I quote GHANAIANS ARE PRETENDING TO WORK WHILES THE GOVERNMENT UNDER HIS LEADERSHIP PRETEND TO PAY THEM!

This statement, by the former Ghanaian State men has millions of implications after carefully dissecting and analyzing it that even today is still ringing bells in my mind as I sit within the political governance of Liberia!

Accordingly, the Ghanaian State men indicated that despite these professional Ghanaian placed in society with the anticipation of productivities in moving the Nation forward yet these experts failed to meet up with their productivity demands!

These scenarios are what, I have carefully been observing since I got back to the Motherland Liberia about a decade-plus now with my Journalistic lenses within all spectrums of the professional sectors within the governmental arenas of Liberia!

From a professional outlook, my research has and continues to shows ineptitude on the parts of so-called professionals occupying these sensitive areas of governance thus making productivities to be non-existence despite all of those available needed materials for the smooth operations of their various sectors of work!

If, the statement alluded to Ghanaians can be ascribed to Liberians from the context of how Ghanaians were being interested in the portfolios and not matching their so-called educations up to productivity.

One can deduce that since the Nation (Liberia) returns to civility two decades plus now an avalanche of professionals Liberians has been placed on the front bench to help liberty this Nation from her state of abject poverty into a nation that can better give back to her citizenry in term of her rich minerals deposit!

As information relevant to todays realities existing on the ground in Liberia of which it is said that Liberias problem is not education because she can boast of well-learned professionals who rubbed shoulders with other professionals around the world! If this analysis, is something to go by why is it that productivity is lacking in almost all farces of the Liberian society despite all of the so-called educated elites in this war-torn Nation?

My survey, conducted in many government entities clearly shows that in most cases Liberians are interested in the positions (TITLES) that they cant ever defend rather than occupying these positions to make productivity priorities that the Country stands in need of since 1847!

The realities which hit me, during my research had to do with the fact that in one given office positions are created with the same functions despite the previous one that was there to supervise activities again creating anarchy leaving heavy financial loses to said entity due to its big salaries for these created positions which are not relevant for a country such as Liberia!

Surprisingly, university graduates just entering into the workforce without any experiences are place over experience people in most cases in the government sectors and giving big salaries rather than the merit systems which characterized every professional enclave! Again, THIS IS NOT LIBERIANS PRETENDING TO WORK AND GOVERNMENT PRETENDING TO PAY THEM AT THE DETRIMENT OF THE POVERTY STRICKEN MASSES?

Frankly speaking, Liberians professionals who often boast of earning degrees in various disciplines with evidences been the placement of their degrees on the walls of their offices to confused or intimidate would be visitors or employers need to come to the realization that hiring them was based on PRODUCTIVITY and not TITLES as has been the cases in contemporary Liberia today!

In today's Liberia, the pretend of working has deeply worsened the already deprived state of survival of the Liberians economic that almost all of her so-called educated elites are largely depended on for their survival! As was said by one of the justices in Ghana the attitudes of government functionaries have become an albatross on the neck of the justice system so are the ways and manner in which Liberians have concluded to treat the Nation they claimed is their nation of nativity but yet is a hustles ground!

From where I sit and looking in the brighter future of Liberians/Liberia all that are require includes the merit system to be allow to function in all sectors of the working systems of the government, people must be thoroughly vetted for any position, stop the creations of already existing positions to accommodate anyone and allow experience people with the recursive qualifications to be properly place for better productivity of a nation that is left behind despite her age gap within Sub-Saharan Africa considered the less develop!

Joe Noutoua Wandah is a Liberian broadcast Journalist, columnist, writer and provides Media consultancies. And can be reached at +231776590725/+231886224134, E-mail: [email protected]
Guwahati, Jan 24 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday said that it had filed a chargesheet against five alleged members of terror outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) in the Barpeta JMB module case.

The five were accused of procuring weapons and ammunition in order to commit terrorist acts in pursuance of jihadi ideology.

An NIA spokesperson said that the chargesheet was filed in the NIA Special Court here against Hafizur Rahman, Yakub Ali, Sariful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman and Mohammad Hafiz Safikul Islam under the Arms Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The agency took over the probe in December 2019 on the basis of a case registered at Barpeta Police Station in Assam.

Acting on information about a trained JMB suspect, Barpeta Police searched the house of one Rahman in Barpeta on July 30, 2019 and allegedly seized a countrymade revolver, four rounds of ammunition and jihadi literature from his possession.

On his disclosure, alleged trained JMB cadres, namely Ali, Islam, Mustafizur Rahman and Mohammad Hafiz Safikul Islam were arrested.

The NIA official said its probe revealed they were members of JMB, a terror organization proscribed in India and Bangladesh.

The official pointed out that the accused were recruited by Sahanur Alom aka Sahanur Alam of Barpeta district, earlier arrested by the NIA while probing the Burdwan blast case of October 10, 2014.

Alom has already been sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for conspiracy to commit terrorist acts in India and recruiting and training other members of JMB.

He said that the accused were trained at Alom's house in Barpeta, with several others at Simulia Madrasa in West Bengal too.
In a desperate act of political damage control, the Liberal-National Coalition government last week belatedly released an official review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The report offered a series of limited recommendations intended to quell the dissatisfaction and anger among NDIS applicants and recipients.

The independent review, conducted by former finance department secretary David Tune, was handed to the government in December. It sat on the report until widespread outrage erupted after statistics revealed that more than 1,200 people had died while waiting for NDIS support packages.

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), the government department responsible for the NDIS, responded to a question on notice to Senate estimates in early January. It admitted that 1,279 people had died from July 2016 to September 2019 between submitting an access request and receiving supports under the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

This equates to more than one person a day dying since the national rollout of the NDIS in July 2016. Of those who died, 35 were children under the age of six and 40 were between the ages of seven and 18. In the first nine months of 2019 alone, 369 people died.

One of the key factors in the deaths is the protracted wait times between requesting services from the NDIS and receiving support. It was revealed that the national average wait time was 121 days for children under the age of six and 152 days, or five months, for those aged seven or older. Disabled people, carers and their families were left with next to no support services for months.

Last year it was reported that a 32-year-old Tasmanian man, Tim Rubenach, died of pneumonia in May 2018. He had severe epilepsy and suffered bleeding stomach ulcers that required a tilt bed. The NDIS approved the bed, but it was delayed for months and only arrived the day before he was buried. His parents, both in their 70s, described the scheme as abuse.

Initially the government attempted to deny the figures published by its own agency. NDIS Minister Stuart Robert told 2GB radio the figures were not even remotely correct. Robert insisted: The fact that theyve passed away of course is correct, but no one has passed away waiting for the NDIS.

Roberts denial sparked further public anger, with numerous social media and media commentators condemning the government. Prime Minister Scott Morrison, seeking to suppress the growing fury, did not deny the figures, instead saying they were unacceptable.

Morrison and his government, already thoroughly discredited by their handling of the bush fire crisis in Australia, hastily released Tunes report six days after the figures on the deaths came to light.

Tunes review, entitled Removing Red Tape and Implementing the NDIS Participant Service Guarantee made 29 recommendations, all of which cover over the fundamental pro-business model of the NDIS.

While warning the government that responses to the review often expressed frustration, dissatisfaction and sometimes anger about the way the NDIS has been implemented, the review mainly consisted of vague calls for transparency, consistency and timeliness.

It proposes more government reviews, amendments to rules, changes in wording to make the scheme easier to understand and the introduction of a Participant Service Guarantee. However, this vague guarantee of shorter, agreed timeframes for NDIS applications is yet to be finalised, and will not begin before July.

Notably absent from any of the recommendations is any call to address the severe staff shortage at the NDIA, one of the primary causes of delays. In the projected design of the NDIS the agency was to be staffed by nearly 11,000 Australian Public Sector (APS) workers. However, the Coalition government placed a staffing cap of 4,000 in 2014 and kept current staff levels at 3,200.

This was part of the governments $6.4 billion deliberate underspend on disability and welfare services revealed last year, which was used to promise to bring the federal budget back in black. The surplus pledge itself marked the transfer of wealth from the bottom to the top end of society, as the lion share of the budget deficit arose from the more than $50 billion incurred by the previous Labor government to prop up the banks during the 2008-09 global financial crisis.

Former Labor Party leader Bill Shorten, now Labors NDIS spokesperson, hypocritically called the staffing cap cruel. Labor had promised to remove the cap if it had won last Mays federal election, claiming a Labor government was the best to deliver the NDIS.

After years of bitter experiences with pro-business Labor governments, many workers and young people regarded this pledge as no more believable than any of its other fraudulent fair go election promises. Labors share of the vote plunged to a century low of just 33 percent.

Both Labor and the Morrison government, as well as the Greens, are still peddling the fraud that the NDIS is a progressive reform that will provide genuine improvements for people with a disability, their carers and families. In truth, the scheme was always designed to privatise disability services, while shutting down essential public facilities and forcing people off welfare benefits.

The NDIS was legislated in 2012 by the minority Greens-backed Labor government of Prime Minister Julia Gillard. The scheme, which was fully supported by the trade unions, was modelled from a report by the Productivity Commissiona pro-market body that specialises in cutting social spending.

The Morrison government has still made no formal response to Tunes report, despite having it in hand since December. Minister Robert only said the government would use these findings to update and clarify the legislation and remove barriers to a better NDIS.

Speeding up the wait times for plans or even increasing staffing will not resolve the fundamental issues with the NDIS. It is designed to outsource disability services to charities or profit-making companies, which compete for service contracts by cutting costs.

Already nearly a dozen former residents of state-run disability centres have died as a result of being forced into under-funded group homes, typically run by charity organisations.

At least 100,000 people with psychosocial disabilitiessevere mental health illnesseshave been locked out of the NDIS due a cap on the number of participants who can access the scheme. This has been coupled with the shutdown of essential mental health services and carer supports across the country.

The author also recommends:

The Australian Election and the fraud of the NDIS

[10 May 2019]
A first-of-its-kind music-focused travelogue which explores the diverse musical traditions of India, from devotional to folk, from classical to Bollywood and pop, will be aired on BBC World from Saturday.

The three-part series called 'Rhythms of India' will be presented by British Indian sarod virtuoso Soumik Datta, who will delve into the unique role music plays in the country as he covers the cities of Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi and Pune, as well as some lesser-known locations.

The show follows the London-based musician as he meets and performs with classical, folk and pop musicians exploring how music influences different aspects of Indian life.

"Travelling across India to make the series was perhaps one of the most exciting times of my life. One day I was sharing notes with the rich and powerful of Mumbai's society, the next I was deep in the forests of Kerala with endangered tribes immersed in ancient rituals," said Datta, a musician and composer whose work falls within the realms of Indian classical and contemporary music.

"In a country so diverse, so stretched, I discovered that there is only one language that brings it together. That language is music the pulse of which we were trying to put our fingers on," he said.

The series, on BBC World across over three weekends starting this week, is divided into Ancient Melodies, Music of the People and Sounds of the City. It will travel through a religious festival in Kerala to folk musicians in the deserts of Rajasthan as well as intimate performances on the banks of the Ganges to encounters with Delhi's hip hop superstars.

"As a Londoner, I'm so excited to be working with the incredible team at BBC, telling this important story of music in India for viewers across the world. As an Indian though, I feel privileged to have dug deep into my roots, met with incredible musicians from all divisions of society and witnessed the sheer power of music that still impacts people across the nation today," said Datta.

The musical travelogue will come to a close with the launch of the 2019 box-office hit 'Gully Boy' in Mumbai, highlighting the vibrancy of India's hip hop scene.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Waymo said Thursday it will begin mapping and eventually testing its autonomous long-haul trucks in Texas and parts of New Mexico, the latest sign that the Alphabet company is expanding beyond its core focus of launching a robotaxi business.

Waymo said in a tweet posted early Thursday it had picked these areas because they are "interesting and promising commercial routes." Waymo also said it would "explore how the Waymo Driver"  the company's branded self-driving system  could be used to "create new transportation solutions."

Waymo plans to mostly focus on interstates because Texas has a particularly high freight volume, the company said. The program will begin with mapping conducted by Waymo's Chrysler Pacifica minivans.

The mapping and eventual testing will occur on highways around Dallas, Houston and El Paso. In New Mexico, Waymo will focus on the southern most part of the state.

Interstate 10 will be a critical stretch of highway in both states  and one that is already a testbed for TuSimple, a self-driving trucking startup that has operations in Tucson and San Diego. TuSimple tests and carries freight along the Tucson to Phoenix corridor on I-10. The company also tests on I-10 in New Mexico and Texas.

This week, well start driving our Chrysler Pacificas and long-haul trucks in Texas and New Mexico. These are interesting and promising commercial routes, and well be using our vehicles to explore how the Waymo Driver might be able to create new transportation solutions. pic.twitter.com/uDqKDrGR9b  Waymo (@Waymo) January 23, 2020

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Waymo, which is best known for its pursuit of a robotaxi service, integrated its self-driving system into Class 8 trucks and began testing them in Arizona in August 2017. The company stopped testing its trucks on Arizona roads sometime later that year. The company brought back its truck testing to Arizona in May 2019.

Story continues

Those early Arizona tests were aimed at gathering initial information about driving trucks in the region, while the new round of truck testing in Arizona marks a more advanced stage in the program's development, Waymo said at the time.

Waymo has been testing its self-driving trucks in a handful of locations in the U.S., including Arizona, the San Francisco area and Atlanta. In 2018, the company announced plans to use its self-driving trucks to deliver freight bound for Googles data centers in Atlanta.

Waymo's trucking program has had a higher profile in the past year. In June, Waymo brought on 13 robotics experts, a group that includes Ankis co-founder and former CEO Boris Sofman, to lead engineering in the autonomous trucking division.
WASHINGTON, D.C. Americans for the Arts and The United States Conference of Mayors on Friday presented the 2020 Public Leadership in the Arts Awards to Napa Mayor Jill Techel and two other elected officials.

Techel was cited for supporting innovative programs and championing the benefits that public art can provide to a community.

With the Rail Arts District, BottleRock music festival, and the Napa Art Walk, Napa continues to be enriched and enhanced by incorporating the arts in its community fabric, the sponsors of the award said in a news release.

Napas newest development is the creation of the Napa Lighted Art Festival, a celebration of creative arts, technology, and light, held annually in January, the citys slowest tourism month.

In 2019, approximately 35,000 people attended the festival, with approximately 40% from outside Napa County. The City of Napa raised more than $225,000 for the festival which accounted for 80% of all revenue and reduced the burden on the citys general fund to support free cultural events.

The economic impact to the city was estimated at $1.8 million, the city estimated.

Under the direction of Techel, city staff also developed a local community engagement component for the festival, which included partnering with the Napa Valley Unified School District. During this past year, 30 students in the digital design lab at New Tech High School created one of the installations downtown.

These students showcased their artwork next to other highly acclaimed international and regional artists.

I am humbled by this honor and the recognition of the City of Napas Art Scene, Techel said. Arts brings us great joy and provides us a place to come together and celebrate with our neighbors, friends and visitors. Arts has been the connector that has brought the educational, economic, recreational and non-profit sectors together. Our projects around the arts have brought magic to Napa.

Techel was honored for cities with under 100,000 population.

The other winners were Jay Inslee, governor of Washington, who received the National Award for State Arts Leadership, and Becky Ames, mayor of Beaumont, Texas, who received the honor for cities with a population of 100,000 or more.
Bangladesh: Court orders 231 factories closed to save river

January 24,2020 | Source: The City Herald

Bangladesh's High Court has asked authorities to shut down 231 factories surrounding the highly polluted main river in the nations capital, lawyers and activists said Tuesday. Manzil Murshid, who filed a petition with the court seeking its intervention, said the factories are mainly small dyeing, tanning and rubber plants operating without approval from the Department of Environment. Such factories often are able to operate with the backing of influential politicians or by bribing government officials. The courts decision Monday on the factories near the River Buriganga was hailed by environment activists despite some previous court orders that were not carried out by government authorities, Murshid said.



Murshid represents Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, a domestic advocacy group. He said the decision came after the environment department submitted a report on 231 factories that operate illegally and contribute highly to the pollution. The court also asked the officials to prepare a complete list of illegal factories or factories without effluent treatment plants operating in and around Dhaka within three months. This is a good decision. The court has asked the authorities to disconnect water, electricity and other utility services for factories that are polluting the Buriganga, he told The Associated Press on Tuesday. Amatul Karim, who represented the Department of Environment in the case, said the courts order came after a thorough examination of the history of the factories, the level of pollution of the river and overall damage to the environment.



The Department of Environment has the power to shut the factories in question, but it was not easy to do so because of the complex legal procedures and other administrative limitations. So the High Courts decision will make the work easier for the department to go ahead, Karim said Tuesday. Dhaka has four nearby rivers that are under threat from pollution. The Buriganga is a major gateway for the capital and connects the countrys many southern coastal districts through a network of major rivers. When the Mughals established Dhaka as the capital in 1610, the banks of the Buriganga became a major location for trade. The river also was once Dhaka's main source of drinking water.



Many big tanneries polluted the Buriganga for decades, but under pressure from environmental groups at home and abroad, authorities relocated them to a distant site outside Dhaka in 2017. Syeda Rizwana Hasan, a prominent environmental activist and chief executive of the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association, said government departments lacked adequate motivation in doing their job properly, and the High Court needed to intervene. The Department of Environment does not need the courts decision to do the job, they have enough power, but I wonder why they dont do that on their own, she said. "The factories should be closed as they had enough time to become compliant but they failed. Sheikh Rokon, general secretary of the Riverine People advocacy group, said Tuesday they welcomed the court decision and efforts in recent years by the administration of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to evict slums and illegal factories in Dhaka and elsewhere. The High Courts latest decision is a wider one. It has specifically targeted the polluters, he said. We must save the rivers, they are our lifeline.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine has named Marla Perez-Davis director of the agency's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, effective immediately. Perez-Davis has been serving as the acting director of Glenn since Oct. 1, 2019.

"I offer my sincere congratulations to Dr. Marla Perez-Davis for being named NASA Glenn's permanent director," said Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio. "Through years of remarkable service at NASA, including Cleveland's own NASA Glenn, Dr. Perez-Davis has the experience necessary to successfully carry out the mission of the facility and lead the more than 3,000 employees and contractors across NASA Glenn and Plum Brook. I look forward to working closely with Dr. Perez-Davis as NASA Glenn enters into a new era of exploration, discovery, and job-creating innovation."

As Glenn's director, Perez-Davis will lead a center that has a decades-long tradition of excellence in aeronautics and spaceflight, with more than 3,200 civil service and contractor employees and an annual budget of approximately $933 million. Prior to this appointment, Perez-Davis was the deputy director of Glenn, sharing responsibility with the center director for planning, organizing, and managing the agency-level programs and projects assigned to the center.

"I appreciate both the scope of responsibility Marla has taken on and the estimable abilities she brings to the table as a longtime member of the Ohio community," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. "I look forward to working with her in her new position as we move forward to achieving NASA's, and the nation's, ambitious Moon to Mars exploration goals."

Her prior leadership positions include serving as deputy director of the center's Research and Engineering Directorate, where she was responsible for leading, planning, coordinating, and managing all phases of Glenn's research and engineering activities to accomplish NASA missions.

Since joining Glenn in 1983, Perez-Davis has held a number of other key positions, including director of the Aeronautics Research Office; chief of the Project Liaison and Integration Office; and chief of the Electrochemistry Branch. She also participated in the NASA Administrator's Fellowship Program and served her tenure at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez Campus, where she developed and implemented initiatives leading to K-12 teacher's professional development and other outreach activities in Puerto Rico.

Perez-Davis, a native of Puerto Rico, earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Puerto Rico, a master's degree from the University of Toledo and a doctorate from Case Western Reserve University in chemical engineering. In 2006, she completed NASA's Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program and the Office of Personnel Management Program. She is the recipient of numerous NASA awards including the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal and the prestigious Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executives.

For information about NASA's missions, programs, and activities, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov


Holly Willoughby revealed she refuses to let her daughter Belle, eight, wear her hair down at school for fear of her getting head lice.

The TV presenter, 38, revealed the strict parenting rules during a debate with Bonnie Miller, a mother who is fighting for her eight-year-old model son to be allowed to keep his long hair, on Thursday's edition of This Morning.

Speaking about her fears for her children, she said: 'I've got young children, similar age and my daughter, she's got long hair, she always wants to wear her hair down at school.

Fear: Holly Willoughby revealed on Thursday's This Morning that she refuses to let daughter Belle, eight, wear her hair down at school because she's worried she'll get head lice

'I always say to her, "You can't darling, you have to put it up". Because I always hate it when that dreaded letter comes round and there's lice in the school and they've all got their heads together.'

Bonnie appeared on the show to talk about her battle to keep her son Farouk James' hair, because all her selected schools ban boys from having locks past a certain length.

She claimed that after investigating her school of choice, The Fulham Boys School, she discovered that despite legal action last year regarding their strict rules on haircuts, she had still noticed rules banning typically non-white styles.

Rules: Speaking about her fears, she said: 'She's got long hair, she always wants to wear her hair down at school. I always say to her, "You can't darling, you have to put it up"'

Holly shares Belle and sons Harry, 10, and Chester, five, with husband Dan Baldwin, who she has been married to since 2007.

The TV personality generally keeps her children out of the spotlight, only raring sharing snaps of them to her social media.

Last year, Holly admitted it wasn't love at first sight when she met her husband Dan on the set of Saturday Showdown during her days of presenting children's television.

In fact, she revealed she thought he was a 'd***head'.

Debate: The TV presenter, 38, revealed the strict parenting rules during a chat with Bonnie Miller who talked about her battle to keep her son Farouk James' long hair

Speaking to Keith Lemon on his Christmas Shopping special, Holly said she initially thought Dan was arrogant because of his past working for MTV.

Offering a rare insight into the early days of their relationship, Holly told Keith that it took a long time for her and Dan to become 'really good friends'.

She said: 'Dan was there as a new producer and I thought, ''oh my God, I'm gonna hate this guy''.'

When asked if she fancied Dan from the start, the star said: 'No, not at all and he'd come from MTV and he was very cool for school. He looked at me like I was this wally of a person.

Romance: Holly shares Belle and sons Harry, 10, and Chester, five, with husband Dan Baldwin, who she has been married to since 2007 (pictured in 2009)

'I thought, "Oh my God he hates me, he just thinks he's really cool."'

As Keith asked: 'You thought, ''he's a d***head?",' Holly replied: 'A little bit,' before they laughed off the moment.

She added: 'Then we became really good friends. We were in the bar and we cheers-ed in regards to champagne and I looked at him and it was like, ''Oh my God, I fancy him''.'

'In that second I just knew, it was like a little sparkle.'
Isolated incidents of stone pelting were reported from parts of Maharashtra on Friday during the statewide 'bandh' called by Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar's party against the CAA and the NRC, but normal life remained largely unaffected.

The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) called for the statewide shutdown to protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) and also over economic issues.

Ambedkar claimed around VBA 150 workers were detained in Mumbai since Thursday night.

The driver of a BEST (civic undertaking) bus suffered injuries after stones were pelted on the vehicle in Mumbai's eastern suburb of Chembur, an official said.

The incident took place at around 9.15 am when some unidentified persons pelted stones at the bus heading towards Kurla station on route number 362, said a spokesperson of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST).

Its driver, Vilas Dabhade, was wounded and rushed to Shatabdi Hospital in suburban Govandi, he said, adding no harm was caused to any of the passengers.

Suburban and outstation trains on both the Central and Western Railways in Mumbai, Metro, monorail services, taxis and auto-rickshaws were plying normally in the financial capital.

"There have been no reports of any attempt to stop taxis from plying," taxi union leader AL Quadros said.

Tight security was in place at all train stations and no untoward incident has been reported till now, a Railway official said.

Stray incidents of stone pelting on city buses were also reported from Solapur and Aurangabad districts, police said.

In Solapur, two unidentified men pelted stones at a city bus near Budhwar Peth, damaging its windshield, an official said.

"Two unidentified persons pelted stones at a city bus at around 9 am, damaging the windshield," an officer attached to the Faujdar Chawdi police station said.

In Aurangabad city, stones were pelted on a bus, in which windowpanes were shattered, the police added.

The bandh received a poor response in Pune and Ahmednagar districts, where public transport remained largely unaffected, while commercial establishments and schools were open, they said.

A group of 20 to 24 people tried to block a road near Dandekar Bridge on Sinhagad Road in Pune, but were soon dispersed, officials said.

In another incident in Pune, a group of people stopped four to five civic buses on Dandekar Bridge but were quickly scattered, said Anant Waghmare, head of the traffic department at Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd.

"Our all operations are going on smoothly and there is no report of any untoward incident," he added.

Joint Commissioner of Police Ravindra Shisave said adequate security arrangements have been made in Pune.

Ambedkar said India's economy is in a bad shape.

"I think what we wanted to convey to the people through the protest has been conveyed. People feel embarrassed when their families glide into financial crisis.

"Similarly, the country's economy is in a bad shape...the situation is such that the country maybe heading towards bankruptcy," the Dalit leader told Marathi channel 'ABP Majha'.

"Our workers were being detained since yesterday night itself in Maharashtra. I don't have exact figures, but around 150 workers were detained in Mumbai till morning. I reiterate there will be no violence," Ambedkar said.

The Prakash Ambedkar-led party has claimed the support of over 50 political and social organisations apart from labour unions for the bandh.

He noted that several NGOs and citizen groups had demonstrated against the CAA and the NRC, but no political party had done so till now.

"That's why we are staging protests over the CAA and the NRC. In addition to this, people's attention is being diverted from economic issues. We are flagging these issues," Ambedkar said.

One the functionaries of the VBA, M N Kamble, appealed to people to take part in the bandh and protest peacefully.

The police had issued notices to some of the people from the party after the bandh call was given, Kamble claimed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The supreme court says the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed woefully to tender documents it claimed were genui...

The supreme court says the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) failed woefully to tender documents it claimed were genuine in the Imo governorship election case.





The court said this in its ruling on the petitions on the 2019 Imo governorship poll.





The All Progressives Congress (APC) and Hope Uzodinma, its governorship candidate, had challenged the declaration of Ihedioha, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, as the winner of the March election.





Uzodinma and his party had argued that the election results from 388 polling units where he got majority votes were excluded when INEC announced the final tally.





The APC and its candidate sought the inclusion of those votes and after losing at the tribunal and appeal court, their prayer was granted by the supreme court.





In the aftermath of the courts verdict, the legal team of Ihedioha said the judgement was based on false grounds.





His lawyers also said INEC tendered documents to show that the evidence by Uzodinma and his party were false.





However, the court, did not agree with Ihedioha and his party on the claim.





As regards the 3rd respondent, it failed woefully to tender the results it termed genuine, which would have rebutted the presumption of regularity in favour of the documents tendered by the appellants, the panel held.





The apex court also said the appellants  Uzodinma and APC  discharged the burden on them of proving that 388 polling units which were excluded at the collation favoured them.





This court does not lightly set aside concurrent findings of the two lower courts. It will however, disturb those findings where it is satisfied that there is an apparent error on the face of the record of proceedings, it held.




BY THE NUMBERS

U.S. stock futures are pointing to a higher open ahead of the Friday session, with the final disposition of the holiday-shortened trading week still to be determined. The Dow is currently on track to post a losing week, its second in four weeks, while the Nasdaq is likely to rise for the seventh week in a row after a record close Thursday. The S&P 500 is just below breakeven for the week, and would post its eighth weekly gain in since weeks if it can erase that deficit. (CNBC) American Express (AXP), a Dow component, releases earnings before today's opening bell. No major earnings reports are scheduled after today's closing bell, and no economic reports out today. (CNBC)



Dow stock Intel (INTC) was rising 5% in premarket trading after the chipmaker reported better-than-expected adjusted quarterly profit and revenue after the bell Thursday. Results were helped by improvement in personal computer and data center demand, and Intel also gave an upbeat current quarter outlook as well as announcing a 5% dividend increase. (CNBC) A large broadcast satellite, owned by AT&T's (T) DirecTV, built by Boeing (BA) and operated by Intelsat (I), suffered major damage to its batteries in December and is now at risk of exploding. The satellite is notably several years beyond its intended lifespan. (CNBC)



* Boeing reschedules 777X plane's first test flight for today (Reuters)

IN THE NEWS TODAY

STOCKS TO WATCH

Ford (F) expects to take a pretax hit of about $2.2 billion in the fourth-quarter due to contributions to its employee pension plans and retirement benefits. Ericsson (ERIC) posted a smaller-than-expected profit for the fourth quarter, with the Swedish telecom equipment maker hit by higher costs for 5G development as well as a weaker U.S. market. Broadcom (AVGO) struck a deal to supply Apple (AAPL) with wireless components for Apple products through 2023, in a deal that could be worth billions. Apple currently accounts for about 20% of Broadcom's annual revenue. Skyworks Solutions (SWKS) shares are under pressure following the news that competitor Broadcom signed the supply deal. E*Trade (ETFC) earned an adjusted 84 cents per share for the fourth quarter, 1 cent above estimates, with revenue also above consensus. The bottom line number excludes 8 cents of negative impact from restructuring and special charges. The online brokerage company saw a drop in net interest income and higher non-interest expenses, but also reported record customer trading activity. Discover Financial (DFS) came in a penny above estimates with quarterly earnings of $2.25 per share, with revenue essentially in line with forecasts. Evercore downgraded the credit card and financial services provider to "underperform" from "in line" following the report, saying it sees pressure on Discover's bottom line this year from higher investments, increased credit costs and fewer buybacks.

WATERCOOLER
Contributed photo

MIDDLETOWN  St. Vincent de Paul Middletowns their third annual signature event, Open Your Heart: A Tasty Celebration of Middletown Areas Finest Cuisine, will benefit the organizations work.

The sampling event will take place Feb. 6 from 6 to 9 p.m. at St. Clements Castle, 1931 Portland-Cobalt Road, Portland.
Ah, the Internet - where a plain photo of an egg can go viral and a celebrity can have a following larger than a European country.

On Instagram, a poster can rack up millions of likes celebrating momentous, life-changing events - newborns, engagements, weddings or pregnancies - or just a nice holiday snap.

But which photos have earned the most likes? Here are Instagram's top 10 most liked photos of all time, in order of the most recent.

Jennifer Aniston's photo of her Friends co-stars - October 15 2019, 15.7m likes

In much the same way as Ellen DeGeneres' record-breaking Twitter photo became an overnight sensation, so too did Jennifer Aniston's photo of her with her co-stars from Friends.

Aniston was new to the 'Gram when she first posted the photo, having only joined earlier that month, but she soon broke a world record when she became the fastest person to reach one million followers, which only took five hours and 16 minutes.

The actress then soon joined the list of the most liked photos ever on October 15 when she posted a photo of her along with Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer along with the caption "And now were Instagram FRIENDS too. HI INSTAGRAM." To date, the post has nearly 15,700,000 likes.

Kylie Jenner with Travis Scott - September 10 2019, 14m likes

This risque photo posted on Jenner's account in September 2019 predictably picked up traction online, soon earning million of likes. To date, it has just over 14 million.

Taken before they broke up, the photo shows an apparently naked Jenner being cradled in the arms of a topless Scott in what looks like an orchard under sunny skies.

Part of a cover shoot for Playboy, the post was published with the caption: "When Housten meets L.A", along with a heart emoji. The shoot was for Playboy's autumn 2019 'Pleasure Issue' magazine.

A photo of Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's wedding - August 19 2019, 14.7m likes

Johnson married his longtime girlfriend Lauren Hashian in Hawaii last year, and took to Instagram to celebrate the moment where he shared two stunning snaps of their nuptuals.

Simply writing "We do. August 18, 20 August 18th, 2019. Hawaii. Pomaikai (blessed)," Johnson's post was inundated with messages of congratulations and likes, and the post has 14,671,361 likes at the time of writing.

Set amongst a gorgous Hawaiin backdrop, both photos show the newleyweds celebrating their recent nuptuals, one of which shows them laughing into the camer and the other a picture of them sharing a romantic kiss.

Selena Gomez's photo in Florence - July 26 2019,14.5m likes

The superstar took to Instagram to mark her time in the stunning Italian city, sharing this gorgeous photo of herself on what appears to be a boat or a gondola on a canal.

Accompanied with the caption: "Me, Italy trying desperately to look like a Fellini film", the photo shows Gomez staring into the camera during sunset.

Now with 14,535,079 likes, the photo has quickly shot up the 'most popular Instagram posts ever' charts

Kyle Jenner's photo of her family - April 26 2019, 13.7m likes

Celebrating Travis Scott's birthday in April last year, Jenner posted a cute photo on the 'Gram of her and her family dressed up as superheroes.

Standing in front of a red Ferrari, Jenner is dressed as Captain Marvel, Travis Scott as Iron Man and Stormi dressed as Baby Thor.

Posted with the caption "happy end game (sic) everyone", the photo has now racked-up 13,659,962 likes.

For every like, Tentree promise to plant more trees - April 22 2019,15.7m likes

Canadian apparel company Tentrees published "the world's most sustainable post" with their effort April 2019 effort.

Promising to plant more trees for every like the post received, the company soon racked up millions of likes from eco-conscious Instagram users, and to date has close to 16 million likes.

The caption read: "Join our mission to make the most sustainable post on the planet. Thank you to the millions of people who have lifted their fingers to start a movement to plant more trees. Together, we will be planting 500,000 trees in Indonesia as a result of you liking this post."

The company, which makes clothes from sustainable materials and already plants 10 new trees for every new purchase, pledged to plant 500,000 trees for five million likes, a target they soon hit.

However, they are still some way off their next target of 20 million likes, which would see 1 million trees planted. Hitting 50 million and 100 million likes would get an as-of-yet unknown amount of trees planted.

So come on - if an egg can do it, surely a tree can too?

Selena Gomez with friends - February 11 2019, 14.5m likes

Gomez shared a series of sweet snaps of her celebrating with her friends on the beach in February last year.

Posted with the caption: "My best friend is getting married, so we celebrated her! Future Mrs. Lopez," the five photos show the four girls celebrating the news on a warm, sunny day.

Now with 14,542,279 likes, the photo is also Gomez's most liked picture on the 'Gram.

The Instagram Egg - Jan 4 2019, 54.2m likes

Move over Kylie Jenner - this photo of a simple egg is not just the most popular on Instagram, but the most liked post on any website in history.

With more than 54 millon likes, this egg quite literally broke the Internet when it was first posted on January 4, 2019.

Posted by the account @world_record_egg, it came with the caption: "Lets set a world record together and get the most liked post on Instagram. Beating the current world record held by Kylie Jenner (18 million)! We got this."

And boy, did they do it. What an eggcellent world record.

XXXTentacion's final post before his death - May 19 2018, 18.2m likes

This is the only photo the rapper ever posted on his account and came on May 20, 2018 - just a few weeks before his tragic death in June of that year.

XXXTentacion, real name Jahseh Dwayne Ricardo Onfroy, was shot dead in Florida in June 2018 outside a motorcycle shop. He was just 20 years old.

Captioned 'LOVE IS WAR', the sepia-coloured photo shows the rapper hanging topless and upside down in a pensive mood.

To date, it has just over 18 million likes.

First photo of Kylie Jenner's daughter - February 6 2018, 18.6m likes

This photo was the reigning Instagram champion before the egg literally smashed her record.

Posted by Jenner on February 6, 2018, the photo of Stormi posted just days after her birth quickly racked-up millions of likes - 18,647,763 to date, in fact.
A senior law-enforcement official dismissed on Friday defense lawyers claims that corruption charges leveled against former President Serzh Sarkisian are politically motivated.

The Special Investigative Service (SIS) indicted Sarkisian in early December. It said that he organized the embezzlement by a group of officials of 489 million drams (just over $1 million) in government funds allocated in 2013 for the provision of subsidized diesel fuel to farmers.

The SIS claimed that Sarkisian interfered in a government tender for the fuel supplier to ensure that it is won by a company belonging to his longtime friend, businessman Barsegh Beglarian, rather than another fuel importer that offered a lower price. It also charged Barseghian and three former government officials during the investigation completed two weeks ago. All five suspects deny the accusations.

In a statement released earlier this week, Sarkisians lawyers insisted that the accusations are baseless and are part of his political persecution by the current Armenian authorities.

Artashes Mayilian, a senior SIS official who led the probe, dismissed those claims as a mere defense tactic. I have still not heard  any clarifications as to what exactly makes the case political, he told RFE/RLs Armenian service.

Mayilian also disputed the lawyers assertion that Sarkisian enjoys constitutional immunity from prosecution. As it stands, the former president of Armenia does not have the right to immunity in connection with that particular deed, he said.

The high-profile case is reportedly based on former Agriculture Minister Sergo Karapetians incriminating testimony against the ex-president. Karapetian and his former deputy Samvel Galstian are among the five suspects in the case.

Sarkisians Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) has also condemned the charges as politically motivated. It says that the ex-president is prosecuted in retaliation for his public criticism of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian.

Sarkisian, who ruled Armenia from 2008-2018, accused Pashinians government of jeopardizing democracy and stifling dissent in a November speech at a congress of the European Peoples Party held in Croatia. He had kept a low profile since resigning in April 2018 amid Pashinian-led mass protests against his continued rule.

Pashinian has repeatedly implicated Sarkisian, his family and political entourage in corruption both before and after coming to power in the Velvet Revolution.
Mihrinissa Ulkumen was heavily pregnant when bombs crashed through her roof. Petite and dark-haired, she sustained critical injuries, putting both her own life and that of her unborn son in grave danger.

It was the summer of 1944 and Mihrinissas husband was Selahattin Ulkumen, the 30-year-old Turkish Consul-General on Rhodes Island and a practising Muslim. The Gestapo had arrived days earlier and issued orders for all Jewish males over the age of 16 to present themselves at the former headquarters of the Italian Air Force with their identity cards - ostensibly to register for "temporary transportation to a small island nearby".

The following morning, SS officers seized the documents and instructed the community president to summon all wives and daughters - failing which the men would be shot - and to bring their jewellery, personal items and enough food for a few days.

Aware of the Nazis liquidation of Jewish communities across Europe, Ulkumen intuitively understood that their objective was to also annihilate the Jewish community of Rhodes. He was aware too that 42 of the Jews of Rhodes had Turkish origins, and he resolved to do what he could to save them.
After making its global debut at the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show last October, Honda has officially revealed the international version of the 2020 Jazz. This version may be for the European market, but the B-segment hatchback looks no different than what was revealed over in Japan a few months ago. But since this is now left-hand drive, we are now able to get a closer look at what we might get in the not so distant future.

For the longest time, Honda has been referring to its all-new hatchback as the Fit. Now while we all know it here as the Jazz, the automaker hasnt exactly called the fourth-generation model by its other nameuntil now.

Featuring a more seamless and contemporary design, the all-new Jazz has smooth contours, a more eye-catching front fascia, and a friendlier-looking exterior overall. It is not as sporty as the third-generation hatchback (which some have complained), but Honda said that they had to redesign it in order to meet the needs of every day life.

I wanted to create a car which was a kind companion for the owner, while maximising its usability. I did this by minimising unnecessary features and simplifying exterior lines to deliver a car which features a friendly, fresh appearance, complete with a comfortable and practical interior, said Baek Jongkuk, designer of the all-new Honda Jazz.

Following the Japanese notion of Yoo no bi, their latest design philosophy centers on making a simple and functional exterior that is also fresh and practical. Starting with its face, the 2020 Jazz gets a distinct pair of headlights and LED daytime running lights that are reminiscent of the first generation Jazz. It also gets a new C-pillar design and new LED rear combination taillights that can be easily seen day or night. Finally, it has new alloy wheels that were specifically designed to be thin and aerodynamic as possible for the hybrid version.

As for the Jazz Crosstar variant, Honda claims that it offers a more SUV-style proposition and is oriented towards those with active lifestyles. It gets a bolder front grill design, black body cladding, stylish side sills and roof rails, and a unique set of alloy wheels.

For added pizzazz, the Crosstar can also be specified with a two-tone paint job that makes it more appealing than a standard Jazz. Other than that, the Crosstar gets the same level of equipment and features as the standard Jazz.

Inside, we see that the European version of the Jazz gets the same cabin design as the one launched in Japan. Following the Yoo no bi philosophy from the outside , the designers wanted to make a clean and minimalist interior that is also practical and functional. From the new 9-inch touchscreen infotainment display, two-spoke multifunction steering wheel, 7-inch TFT instrument display, and new climate control panel, Honda has made the all-new hatchback have a sleeker, and more intuitive interior.

Honda also mentioned that they made the wide center console armrest be at the same height with the door armrest. For Honda, not only does it make for a more relaxed driving position, but it also reflects the Jazz's more upscale level of comfort akin to larger, premium cars. For improved visibility, Honda made ultra-thin A-pillars which also allow more outside light to enter into the cabin. Theres also a front quarter glass placed on the front side windows which enhances outside visibility.

Customers that are fans of the previous generations magic seats will be glad to know that they are in the all-new hatchback. Also called ULT seats, this ingeniously-designed rear seats allows users to fold-flat or flip upright the seats for a more versatile cargo carrying capacity. Complementing the configurable rear seats are the wider tailgate opening and stepless flat floor which makes loading and unloading cargo easier.

Honda did not go much into detail regarding the Jazzs powertrain. However, they did say that the Euro-spec hatchback will only be available in hybrid form. Both the standard model and the Crosstar variants will be powered by what Honda calls a two-motor hybrid system. Our best guess is that it is an improved version of the hybrid powertrain that powered the previous generation hybrid variant.

The Honda Jazz will officially go on sale starting in summer of 2020 in Europe. We do not know yet as to when we will get the all-new Honda Jazz. However, should Thailand get theirs some time this year, Honda Cars Philippines Inc. might follow suit. Fingers crossed that the 2020 Jazz will look similar as to the one offered in Japan and Europe.
Determined parents are racing against the clock to raise $3.5million for a life-saving treatment for their 18-month-old daughter.

Kellee and Jamie Clarkson thought life was 'perfect' when they brought Wynter back to their Meringandan West home, 20km north of Toowoomba, Queensland, after she was born on August 21, 2018.

But as Wynter reached three months old, her mother, 29, and father, 30, noticed their little girl, who had been born 'perfectly healthy', was not reaching movement milestones like other children her age.

Kellee and husband Jamie are trying to raise $3.5million for a treatment that will extend their 18-month-old daughter's life (pictured together last year)

After researching illnesses online, Kellee became concerned her toddler's symptoms ticked all the boxes for Spinal Muscular Atrophy type 1- a rare genetic condition with a life expectancy of no longer than two years.

When a doctor told Kellee it would take three months to see the local paediatrician, the Clarksons rushed to find their daughter an appointment in Brisbane the next day.

'That's where our nightmare began,' Mrs Clarkson told Daily Mail Australia.

'I didn't tell him [of my suspicions], and within ten minutes he diagnosed her.

'I began crying uncontrollably.

'The first thing you think is, "Am I going to lose my child?"'

'Is my baby going to die? Why is this happening to us? Why does my child have this?'

Wynter was born a 'perfectly healthy baby', but her parents became concerned when she was not rolling or kicking like others babies her age

'We could not believe our life was so perfect when we had her and it just got shattered.'

Spinal Muscular Atrophy is a rare infantile version of motor neurone disease that causes muscle weakness and respiratory failure.

Motor neurons, nerve cells that send electrical outputs to muscles, decay, and muscles waste away, eventually resulting in death.

Kellee, a registered nurse, and Jamie, an industrial electrician, dashed their daughter immediately to the hospital under the paediatrician's orders for further testing.

Wynter has Spinal Muscular Atrophy type 1, which makes it difficult for her to breath and use her muscles

One week later, doctors confirmed the heartbreaking news and Wynter began treatment the next day.

She was injected in the spine with Spinzara, then a new drug on the market, which has the potential to extend infants' lives to between three to five years.

Wynter, who is unable to sit, crawl, walk, run or eat and sleeps with a ventilator to help her breathe, has already had six doses and will need one every four months for the rest of her life.

While the drug has massively improved Wynter's use of her limbs, it is only a band-aid solution and does not treat the root cause of her disease.

In May 2019, Zolgensma, a non-invasive one-dose lifetime treatment, was released released into the US market, which replaces the function of the MSA sufferers' faulty gene, preventing further degeneration.

Now the parents have five months to raise money for the 'world's most expensive drug' to give Wynter the best chance of living beyond childhood.

Since taking Spinzara, Wynter's muscle mobility has increased, enabling her to lift her arms and sit up with assistance (pictured in her special high chair)

Zolgensma can only be given before her second birthday, and while the predicted life expectancy increase is still unknown, recipients are living longer and even walking.

The Clarksons have set up a GoFundMe campaign and Facebook page A Wish for Wynter.

Many local businesses have jumped on board to donate goods and services, including a clothes designer, a baker, a beauty therapist, and photographers.

From each waking moment, their thoughts are directed at what more they can do to raise funds, in hope of holding onto their child for as long as they can.

'It has torn us apart. It has absolutely shattered us in ways that no one can understand unless they have been through it,' Kellee said.

'Your thoughts are just constantly like, how long will we have her?'

Kellee, who takes care of Wynter full-time, said her daughter is a 'mummy's girl' and 'dancing queen'

'You are just constantly grieving for a child that's alive.

'If she is going to have a prolonged life, this drug is going to give her that.

'Each day is about how can we make Wynter's life as best as possible, which will in turn give us happiness. I'm not going to stop until it happens.'

The shocking diagnosis has left the family overwhelmed by emotional and financial stress and has completely changed their lives.

Because of the respiratory impacts of MSA, Wynter spent time in ICU last year recovering from a common cold.

Kellee stays at home full-time with Wynter, while Jamie works six to seven days a week between his main job and his own business on-the-side.

Jamie works full-time and has his own business on the side while Kellee stays home with Wynter so she does not get sick

'It has been hard for us.

'It [MSA] adds on so much more that you have to think about.'

'Our family know they can't touch her without cleaning their hands.

'It's not what we imagined we would be doing. When we do have time together we are under a lot of stress, so it is hard to enjoy time together as a family.'

Wynter pictured during a stay in hospital last year when she required a breathing machine

In another devastating blow, a heel prick to sensor the disease, which can be treated if it is discovered immediately, was being piloted in NSW and ACT -but not Queensland- the year Wynter was born.

The Clarksons have now been left to wonder how much better Wynter's life would have been had they waited to have children or if she was born in those states- but then they would not have their little girl.

'It seemed like it was perfect timing. Now we wonder if we had waited a couple of years later,' Kellee said.

'[But] she is the biggest blessing in our lives. She is the most special and happy little girl.

'She is definitely a mummy's girl. Always dancing -dancing queen to the max.

Although only one in 10,000 children have MSA, one in every 35 people carry the gene. If two carriers have a child, there is a 25 per cent chance it will have the disease.

The Clarksons are 'frightened to death' of having more children even though they had always wanted two.

Even with treatment, watching their baby girl go through the pain is 'heartbreaking', but they also feel guilty about Wynter growing up without a sibling.

Kellee said they have been overwhelmed by the support they have received and it was a big step for her and Jamie to 'swallow' their pride and ask for help.

The Clarksons spend every waking moment focused on how they can raise money for Wynter's life-saving drug

She many had reached out in the past week, not just financially, but to send them kind words which have 'really meant a lot'.

Kellee said four other families have successfully raised funds for the treatment which inspired them to fight, and all of the children were doing exceptionally well.

'It's like looking into the future. It gives you a lot of hope to see children alive and doing well,' she said.

'Once we get this drug then I feel like we can really settle and try to enjoy life as a family. But until then we won't rest.'

But with the countdown on, and a big price tag attached to Wynter's longevity, the Clarksons are appealing for public help to get their daughter the treatment she needs.

'We can't do this alone. We have been doing this alone for six months. It hasn't worked.

'We are pouring our hearts out and asking for help.'

'We need every bit of support we can get.'

Kellee and Jamie have vowed to do everything it takes to get their daughter the $3.5million drug
Police in Niger said one Suleiman Gimba of Maratu village in Nasko Local Government Area of the state, had allegedly killed his wife, Aishatu Suleiman, after a minor misunderstanding.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Alhaji Adamu Usman, disclosed this in Minna today.

Usman said the incident occurred on Jan. 22, at about 11:50 p.m. when Suleiman had a minor misunderstanding with his 35-year-old wife Aishatu Suleiman.

He said the suspect hit Aishatu with a hoe on her forehead which resulted to her death on the spot.



Consequently, the suspect fled to an unknown destination, and the corpse was taken to Nasco General hospital for autopsy, after which it was released to the family for burial accordingly to Islamic rites, he said.

The commissioner said an investigation into the incident had already begun, while efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect. He appealed to members of the public to give useful information that would lead to the arrest of the suspect.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
(Alliance News) - Just Eat PLC on Friday said a competition probe in the UK will not affect Takeaway.com NV's ability to make its offer unconditional.

Late on Thursday, Dutch takeaway platform Takeaway.com said the Competition & Markets Authority was reconsidering its position on the merger.

The two had originally envisaged trading beginning in London as a new company on Monday next week, and the name was to be changed to Just Eat Takeaway.com NV Friday this week. However, due to the CMA move, the timetable has been delayed by a week, and the new company will be renamed on January 31 and start trading February 3.

Takeaway.com had expected its 916 pence per share offer to become unconditional on Friday, but this will now not happen for another week. Just Eat believes the CMA decision will not affect this any further.

Just Eat shares were 3.0% lower on Friday morning in London at 854.20p each.

By George Collard; georgecollard@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
A Chinese patient in the North remained in isolation last night as test results were awaited to find out whether he had the killer coronavirus.

The suspected case arose as five other patients were being tested for the virus in Scotland, heightening fears it has spread to Europe.

The patient, who was being monitored at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, showed symptoms which could be linked to the virus.

It originated in Wuhan in China and has infected more than 600 people, killing 18.

The man is believed to have travelled to the North from Wuhan at the weekend and had fever and other flu-like symptoms.

It takes around 24 hours for a test to confirm or rule out the virus. Safety measures were stepped up here yesterday as hospitals, GPs and the ambulance service were issued with guidelines on how to care for a patient suspected of having the virus and manage the risk to others, including health staff.

The guide, from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), highlighted the need to isolate the patient, with staff taking standard precautions including the wearing of a long-sleeved gown, a face shield or goggles.

Risk

The HSE wrote to the Dublin Airport Authority last Friday detailing what was required in the event of a suspected case and the need to keep informed about the evolving health risk.

Further phone contact with airport authorities has also been made this week.

A HSE spokesman said that as part of the State's national emergency planning process there were plans already in place which have been tested over the years.

Dr John Cuddihy, of the HPSC, said the risk to Ireland remained low and it helped that there were no direct flights here from China.

A number of suspected cases have already presented to hospitals here, including the Mater, but none had to be tested.

The virus has spread to the US, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and Taiwan.

Coronavirus fears may have an effect on the number of patients in hospitals, 477 of whom were on trolleys across the country yesterday. Although winter flu is waning there are worries about the potential impact overcrowding may have if a case of the virus emerges.

HSE officials said yesterday that patients at potential risk would be asked about recent travel to China and isolated if there is a chance they might be infected.

Risk

Meanwhile, some Chinese streets are empty as residents avoid going outside in fear of contracting the virus in the lead up to the Chinese New Year.

Authorities there have restricted travel in several cities after announcing that 18 people have died after contracting coronavirus.

According to Dublin-born Cork resident Eoin Murphy (51), who travelled to Shanghai last week and is due to return to Ireland tomorrow, the streets are empty. He lived there from 2007 to 2012.
The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) scientists will discuss Solar Orbiter, the agencies' collaboration set to launch next month on its journey to the Sun, during two media teleconferences on Monday, Jan. 27.

A Spanish-language briefing will begin at 11 a.m. EST. An English-language briefing will begin at 2 p.m.

During the briefings, mission experts will discuss Solar Obiter's uniquely tilted orbit, how the mission will capture the first images of the Sun's north and south poles, and its ability to tackle major solar mysteries with its suite of 10 different instruments.

Audio of both briefings will stream live on the agency's website.

Participants in the Spanish-language briefing are:

Teresa Nieves-Chinchilla , NASA deputy project scientist for Solar Orbiter at the agency's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland

, NASA deputy project scientist for Solar Orbiter at the agency's Goddard Space Flight Center in Yaireska Collado-Vega, space weather forecasting team lead, Community Coordinated Modeling Center at Goddard

Luis Sanchez, head of development of science operations for Solar Orbiter at ESA's European Space Astronomy Centre in Madrid, Spain

Participants in the English-language briefing are:

Nicola Fox , director of the Heliophysics Division in the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington

, director of the Heliophysics Division in the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Chris St. Cyr , former NASA project scientist for the mission at Goddard

, former NASA project scientist for the mission at Goddard Yannis Zouganelis , ESA deputy project scientist for Solar Orbiter at the European Space Astronomy Centre in Madrid

To participate in either teleconference, media must provide their name and affiliation to Miles Hatfield at [email protected] by 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 27. Please specify which conference you plan to join.

For more information on the Solar Orbiter mission, visit:

https://sci.esa.int/web/solar-orbiter/home

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov


BEACH CITY, Ohio  A 29-year-old woman was struck and killed while walking along a road Wednesday night, according to the Stark County Sheriffs Department.

Bryttny Tucker, of Beach City, was walking south on the 8800 block of Justus Avenue SW, just south of Lawndell Road SW, at about 7:30 p.m. when she was struck by a vehicle traveling south on Justus, deputies say. Tucker was taken to Aultman Hospital in Canton but died of her injuries.

The sheriffs department and the Canton Metro Crash team are investigating. Anyone with information can contact detectives at 330-430-3800 or the anonymous crime tip line at 330-451-3937.

Beach City is located about 60 miles south of Cleveland.

To comment on this story, visit Thursdays crime and courts comments page.

Read more crime stories:

3-year-old boy accidentally shot self in Cleveland, police say

Warrant issued for man who stopped at McDonalds between police chases in Cleveland

Man attacked woman in robbery attempt at Cleveland RTA station

Armed robber stole $8,000 from man who drove him home from JACK Cleveland Casino, records say

Kurt Sovas mysterious 1981 death in Newburgh Heights the subject of upcoming CrowdSolve event in Chicago

More than 20 loaded guns, 3 swords stolen in Cleveland burglary, police say
Staff members check body temperatures of the passengers arriving from the train from Wuhan to Hangzhou, at Hangzhou Railway Station ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year in Zhejiang Province, China on Jan. 23, 2020. (China Daily via Reuters)

What Choice do I Have? Lockdown Strands Millions in Chinas Wuhan

WUHAN, ChinaA trickle of passengers at the train station in the Chinese city of Wuhan put on a brave face on Jan. 24 as they arrived in the epicenter of a coronavirus outbreak that has killed dozens, infected many more, and raised fears of a pandemic.

Authorities have all but shut down Wuhan, a city of 11 million and a major transport hub, at what is normally the busiest time of yearthe Lunar New Year holidaywhen millions of people travel home to visit their families.

Millions of people in surrounding cities are virtually stranded after public transport networks were shut to stop the spread of the virus, believed to have originated at a Wuhan market illegally selling wildlife.

On one high-speed train carrying a Reuters journalist that stopped in Wuhan station on Friday afternoon, about 10 passengers got off and nobody got on before the train resumed its journey to Changsha.

Although it stopped there, Wuhan had been removed from the trains schedule.

What choice do I have? Its Chinese New Year. We have to see our family, said a man getting off the train who gave his family name Hu.

Wuhans airport is not closed, but nearly all flights have been canceled. Three international flights arriving on Friday would leave with no passengers, an airport official said.

Chinas biggest ride-hailing company, Didi Chuxing, shut down all services in Wuhan from midday on Friday, adding that service resumption depended on government orders.

Please reduce going out as much as possible, and look after yourselves and your families, the company told its drivers in a statement.

A traffic control map on Baidu mapsChinas equivalent of Google mapsshowed a swath of highways into and around the city closed. Police at one highway checkpoint said special permission would be needed to leave the city.

Police also checked incoming vehicles for wild animals.

Travelers board a train in China as the annual Spring Festival travel rush begins ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year, in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China on Jan. 10, 2020. (Jason Lee/Reuters)

Face Masks, Cancelled Plans

Lying on the banks of the mighty Yangtze River and historically prone to devastating floods, Wuhan stretches across 8,500 square kilometers (3,300 square miles)five times the size of Greater Londonand includes rural areas as well as the sprawling urban conurbation.

Some images circulated on social media showed packed hospital corridors, as peopleall wearing face maskswaited for consultations. Hospitals made public appeals for supplies.

The government has pledged to ensure the city is properly equipped, and on Friday flew in two planes with 32 tonnes of supplies, mostly medical gear and masks.

Chinas second-largest e-commerce firm, JD.com Inc., said it was donating one million medical masks and other supplies like disinfectant.

My family has hoarded much food, and when we need something, we go downstairs to a supermarket nearby with masks on, a 30-year-old city resident who works in financial services told Reuters via social media, declining to provide her name.

Authorities have warned against price-gouging.

Zou Tianjing, 30, an alcoholic drinks distributor, said she was resigned to spending the Lunar New Year at home, reading and watching movies.

A lot of people did not realize how serious the situation was. Just the day before, people were wearing masks but would still go to bars, she said, speaking on Thursday.

Hugo Guo, a 22-year-old university student who had returned home to Wuhan for the holiday, said the restrictions were not having much of an impact on him, although all his dinner plans with friends and family had been canceled.

Im most worried about whether I will be able to return to school at the right time, he said, referring to the start of term next month at his university in Shanghai.

One foreign resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the transport lockdown was causing problems though he was able to get around, albeit slowly.

I can go anywhere I want to go. I just cant leave Wuhan.

By David Stanway and Martin Pollard
Last March, one of USAAs social-media producers posted this blurb on Twitter: During the past five years, floods have affected every single state  even those considered low-risk.

The tweet invited readers to use a tool on the San Antonio insurers website to gauge their flood risk.

Youve probably already guessed how it played out. A couple of the more predictable responses: No climate change though! and Funny so much cold and snow in a warming climate.

Climate-change deniers are going to deny, and some of those who accept that global warming is real are going to be zealots  and will come off just as cartoonishly as their foils.

Whatever.

Whats key is that storms, flooding and wildfires have been getting worse, and USAA, which employs 19,000 people at its North Side headquarters fortress and other local offices, has been trying for years now to adjust to the new reality. Just like every other major insurer.

Of the 10 costliest wildfires in U.S. history, as measured by insured losses, the top five broke out in 2017 and 2018, according to the Insurance Information Institute. The worst was the deadly Camp Fire in Northern California in November 2018.

Natural catastrophes bruised USAAs results in 2018. Profits slipped from $2.4 billion the year before, even as revenue hit a record $34.2 billion. The company will release its 2019 numbers in the spring

The 2018 results, however, arent a clear window into how climate change is affecting USAAs property and casualty business. Those figures include the performance of the companys investment management arm and its federal savings bank, as well as its life insurance line.

And theres this: USAA isnt a publicly traded company  its a member-owned mutual insurer  so a detailed financial picture is hard to come by.

But we know the insurer paid more than $2 billion in claims in 2018 for the Camp Fire and other wildfires, two hurricanes and other catastrophes. As Express-News staff writer Patrick Danner reported, it was USAAs third straight year in which claims stemming from natural disasters surpassed $2 billion.

When USAA employees learned a year ago that their bonuses would drop to 14.8 percent of annual pay from 16.2 percent the year before, their bosses cited disaster claims as one reason.

On Tuesday, the bonus slipped again, to 14.5 percent, the lowest since 2008.

Overall performance, to include but not limited to financial, is part of the consideration by the board in determining the size of the annual bonus, USAA spokesman Matt Hartwig said.

Clearly, no one is weeping over USAA employees slightly diminished bonuses. Thats because, unlike many other San Antonio-area workers, theyre getting bonuses.

The annual pay-out, in addition to the $2.4 billion that USAA returned to policyholders last year in rebates and dividends, is a sign of the companys financial strength. So is its net worth of $35.5 billion.

And no ones weeping for the property and casualty insurance industry as a whole. Insurers made combined profits of $48.1 billion in the first nine months of 2018, their second biggest haul since 2008.

But just as the fact that its still snowy in some places doesnt mean global warming is a hoax, the insurers net income doesnt mean that storms and wildfires arent becoming more perilous. The effects of climate change are gnawing at their core business.

Insurance companies have responded by hiring more climate experts, changing their catastrophe models and pushing up premiums in higher-risk communities. USAA probably has too, but Hartwig declined to discuss specifics, saying, We view our efforts as competitively sensitive.

Moodys Investors Service, for one, still likes USAA. In a May 8 report, the bond-rating agency gave the companys insurance business a rating of Aaa, or exceptional. It cited USAAs efficient operations and its strong balance sheet as well as its market leadership in serving active-duty and retired military personnel and their families.

But Moodys analysts included this caveat: Tempering these strengths are USAAs volatile (property and casualty) results in recent years, reflecting industry-wide catastrophe losses and fluctuating personal auto loss cost trends.

The fallout from global warming is obviously a greater threat to humans than to corporations. But San Antonios second largest employer  a big part of whose business is tied to the weather  is feeling the heat.

greg.jefferson@express-news.net
ABC News(DES MOINES, Iowa) -- With the Iowa Caucuses just 10 days away, Former Vice President Joe Biden is hitting the airwaves with a new campaign ad that claims hes the safest choice when it comes to defeating President Donald Trump in November.



The campaigns latest ad, obtained first by ABC News, focuses on a potential general election match-up between Trump and the former vice president, and makes the starkest argument to date about Bidens electability.



Every day he is president, Donald Trump poses a threat to America and the world. We have to beat him. Joe Biden is the strongest candidate to do it, says the 30-second ad, touting Bidens lead in polls both nationally and in important states likely needed to win the election in November.



This is no time to take a risk. We need our strongest candidate. So lets nominate the Democrat Trump fears the most. Vote Biden. Beat Trump, the narration concludes.

The ad suggesting Biden is the Democrats' safest choice in 2020 comes as Iowa caucus-goers are making their final decisions about who to support in the "first in the nation" contest on Feb. 3, and as the Senate impeachment trial is underway in Washington, D.C.



While Biden has largely avoided discussing the issue of impeachment while campaigning, the former vice presidents name was invoked often as Democrats made their case that Trump allegedly withheld aid from Ukraine in order to get President Volodymyr Zelensky to announce an investigation into Biden and his son to help Trump politically.



While several of his 2020 rivals have been forced off the campaign trail to take part in the Senate trial, the former vice president has spent 11 days in Iowa since the beginning of the year and will return to the Hawkeye state Saturday.



Biden will spend the final nine days before the caucuses begin holding events in every corner of the state as he tries to close the deal with those Iowans still unsure about who they plan to support, according to the campaign.



From the start of his third presidential bid, electability has been a key component of Bidens argument to voters, with him saying he could bring the country together and win back disillusioned Democrats who left the party in 2016.



As the caucuses near, other candidates have also sought to argue their electability, like Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who originally focused on bold ideas and enthusiasm in her sell to voters, but has recently pivoted to billing herself as a unity candidate.



The latest polling in Iowa has largely shown a four-way contest with Biden, Warren, Sen. Bernie Sanders and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg all vying for the top spot. Fivethirtyeights primary forecast currently shows Biden with a 2 in 5 chance of winning the most delegates in Iowa, followed by Bernie Sanders with a 1 in 4 chance.



Bidens team is also launching a pair of 15-second ads on YouTube -- Worried and Strength -- featuring testimonials from Iowa voters about why they feel Biden is the strongest Democratic candidate to defeat the president. Biden's campaign says the ads are targeting Iowa's undecided voters.



The new ad, which is part of a previously announced $4 million ad-buy leading up to the Iowa caucuses, will be broadcast in five TV markets, including Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Sioux City, and across the state on Hulu.



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
The Kaduna State Government, has said that parents who fail to send their children to school will face prosecution in accordance with extant laws.

This was disclosed by by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs Phoebe Yayi, in Kaduna in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday.

She said that every child has the right to free, compulsory and universal basic education, adding that the state government has a duty to provide such education.

Read Also: Court Restrains El-Rufai From Demolishing, Taking Over Property Linked To Abacha

She said that government has declared free education to every child from primary to secondary school in the state in order to afford every child the opportunity to be educated.

Yayi said, Therefore, parents have no excuse not to send their children to school, as the government has taken off all financial burden from parents.

You should be aware that the Child Welfare and Protection Law, 2018, section 18 (6), stipulates that any parent or guardian who fails to send his or her child to school commit an offence.

It added that a parent is liable on first conviction to be reprimanded and ordered to undertake community service and on second conviction risk fine or imprisonment or both.

As such, sending your children to school is no longer a choice, but compulsory and failure to do so is a criminal offence with a possible jail term.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has met with Speaker of the Knesset Yuli Edelstein in Israel. During the meeting the Ukrainian president stressed the importance of the ratification by Israel of an agreement on free trade area (FTA) with Ukraine, which the latter had ratified in August 2019.

"The introduction of the free trade area could help us double the goods turnover between the countries in the short term," Zelensky said, according to the presidential press service.

The participants of the meeting praised the traditionally active bilateral political dialogue and expressed the hope that its high dynamics would not change after the parliamentary elections in Israel.

The sides also discussed the latest achievements in the development of bilateral relations over the past decade, in particular annual growth in tourism. They mentioned that the tourist flow has increased by more than ten times since 2010, when the visa-free regime was introduced between Ukraine and Israel.
Conflict between USA-Iran will be disaster: Imran Khan 24 January, 2020



Related News Imran Khan distributed loan cheques under Kamyab Jawan Programme PTI govt to face all challenges coming its way: Imran khan More on this View All Top 2021 Accessories We Know You Will Love

Types of Casino Payment Methods

Tips for Taking Incredible iPhone Travel Photos

Best Poker Hands ever played on a Casino

Are Slot Developers Important for players?

Hand Wash and Toiletries in Pakistan And the Role of DUPAS in Reshaping the Industry

Ways that Players Used to Take Advantage of Slot Sites DAVOS: Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday said any conflict between the United States and Iran will be a disaster, reiterating that instead of providing solutions, wars always beget more issues.



It will be a disaster if this conflict takes place between the US and Iran  trust me Iran will be much much more difficult conflict than even Afghanistan, the prime minister said in an interview with CNBCs Hadley Gamble on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Calling the US readiness for dialogue sensible, the prime minister said despite passage of 19 years, the solution to Afghan conflict is yet being found out with the parties still trying to keep the peace talks and ceasefire going. Still people are dying in Afghanistan. This is 19 years. Over a trillion dollars spent on it. Does the US want another conflict, he asked? People should never rely on military solution. You use military to solve one problem, five other problems pop up  unintended consequences.



A conflict right now with Iran will be a disaster for developing countries  oil prices will shoot up. Countries like us, who are just about balancing our budgets, everything will go up and it will just cause poverty, the prime minister said. People who try and solve issues through bloodshed and war, always cause mayhem in the world, he added.



Highlighting the Kashmir issue, the prime minister said he cannot say what could be the outcome of Kashmir issue as India has been taken over by the extremist ideology of Hindutva, seeking Hindu supremacy. Besides taking steps to change the demography of the disputed territory though constitutional amendments and putting eight million people under siege, the prime minister said, India has also enacted legislation for ethnic cleansing of Muslims in India. He expressed his fear that the situation could spill over to other parts in the region and called for the international communitys role for taking steps to deter Indian designs.



Asked about his governments performance on the economic front, the prime minister said they inherited a bankrupt and indebted economy with huge fiscal and current deficit. It took a year to stabilize the economy and fortunately it has stabilized now. Market sentiment has gone up. Foreign direct investment has risen by 200 percent in one year and now we are moving to export-led growth, rather than consumer or import-led growth, he remarked.



To a question, the prime minister said year 2019 has been the safest year since 2003, courtesy to the security forces who controlled the crime and disarmed the militias, following the consensus among all the political parties. Rubbishing the notion of CPEC as a debt trap for Pakistan, the prime minister said China assisted the country at the time when it was at rock bottom for what we are thankful to Chinese to come and rescue us.



Moreover, China will also transfer agriculture technology to Pakistan to enhance the yield besides assisting to train the youth, he said.



Separately, speaking at Breakfast at Davos event, Prime Minister Imran Khan said his vision for a strong Pakistan is revival of industries for wealth creation, to be spent on the uplift of underprivileged segments in a welfare-oriented society. Pakistan is about hope and I believe that with its immense potential and determination, the nation will thrive, he said.



Stressing the importance of good governance, he said institutions can get deteriorated quickly, but their revival always takes a lot of time and effort. He mentioned corrupt system as the biggest challenge in slow implementation of reforms of institutions. It is like everyone wants to remove the tumor, but does not want to have the pain of surgery, he said, adding the moment nation realized the importance of good governance, the country will make progress.



Prime Minister Imran Khan said big dreams lead to bigger achievement if supported by struggle and commitment. Going after a big mission, never ever think of compromising, he said, adding that he wants the nation to never give up in difficult times and be patient.



He mentioned that foreign debts by previous governments resulted in putting undue pressure on common man and said he would soon take up the matter with stakeholders on how to reduce burden on electricity consumers.



Imran Khan highlighted his governments export-oriented approach to attain economic stability and mentioned reduction in current fiscal deficit by 75 percent which ultimately reflected in 200 percent increase in foreign investment. I am confident that Pakistan is on the right track, he said, adding that staying steadfast during challenges is important to achieve goals.



Prime Minister Imran Khan, while assuring full cooperation of the government to investors and businessmen, stressed on environment-friendly green technology in line with the governments Clean & Green Pakistan.



He was talking to James Quincey, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Coca-Cola Company who called on him at Davos.



He appreciated the long association and presence of the company in Pakistan since 1953. He stated that the government has initiated an effective reforms agenda to facilitate ease-of-doing-business.



Prime Minister Imran Khanon also met President of European Union Parliament David Sassoli. During the meeting, issues related to GSP-Plus (Generalized System of Preferences) were discussed.



The prime minister had an informal meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who during the informal meeting, invited Prime Minister Imran Khan to visit Germany.



Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan invited Koc Holdings, Turkeys largest conglomerate, to consider investments in energy, tourism and hospitality sectors in Pakistan. He was talking to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Koc Holdings Levent Cakiroglu, who called on him here in Davos. The prime minister appreciated the long association and presence of the company in Pakistan since 1953.
The three American firefighters who died when their water-bombing plane crashed while trying to fight Australia's catastrophic bushfires have been identified and their remains how now been recovered.

Captain Ian McBeth, from Montana, First Officer Paul Hudson, from Arizona, and Flight Engineer Rick DeMorgan Jr, from Florida, were all on board the C-130 Hercules, Zeus when they lost control.

The jet exploded into a fireball on impact near Peak View in the state of New South Wales after losing contact with the ground at about 1.45pm on Thursday local time.

Fire chiefs hailed the men as 'remarkable', well-respected professionals with decades of experience on both sides of the Pacific.

The bodies of the three Americans are currently in the process of being retrieved from the plane wreck before their families arrive on Sunday to take them home. The The bodies of the three Americans have been retrieved from the plane wreck ahead of their families' anticipated arrivals on Sunday.

The focus of the local authorities is now on determining what caused the fatal incident.

Pictured: Captain Ian McBeth, from Great Falls, Montana, was an experienced pilot who had dedicated years of his life to fighting fires in the military and with Coulson Aviation

Pictured: Flight engineer Rick DeMorgan is survived by his wife and two children. He had more than 4,000 hours experience

McBeth, a 44-year-old father-of-three from Great Falls, Montana, was an experienced pilot who had dedicated years of his life to fighting fires in the military and with Coulson Aviation.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Bowdie, and three children, Abigail, Calvin and Ella.

According to a press release from Coulson Aviation, McBeth was a highly qualified and respected pilot who spent his entire career flying C-130 planes. He previously served with the Wyoming Air National Guard and was still a member of the Montana Air National Guard 120th Airlift Wing at the time of his death.

'It is with a heavy heart that I inform you we lost a valued Airmen and friend last night,' Col. Buel Dickson, commander of Montana Air National Guard 120th Airlift Wing, wrote in a Facebook post. 'Ian was instrumental in the flying success of the 120th Airlift Wing and will be dearly missed.

'Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family as they navigate this painful and tragic situation. It is never an easy thing to manage, the loss of a brother in arms affects us all. Please know through difficult times such as these you are never alone.'

McBeth is survived by his wife, Bowdie, and their three children, Abigail, Calvin and Ella. The family live in Great Falls, Montana

First Officer Paul Hudson, 42, from Buckeye, Arizona, served in the United States Marine Corp for 20 years.

He held numerous positions throughout his tenure, including as a C-130 pilot, with the call sign 'Fluffer.'

Hudson retired from the US Marine Corps as a decorated lieutenant colonel. He then went on to earn duel Master's degrees in business administration and IT management from the Naval Postgraduate School.

He is survived by his wife, Noreen, with whom he had just finished building a new house in Buckeye, Arizona.

Hudson's father-in-law told 12 News that the pilot had been in Australia since November 2019 and was scheduled to return home this week, but he agreed to stay on to help with the firefighting efforts.

A former comrade shared this throwback photo of First Officer Paul Hudson (right) as a young US Marine

DeMorgan, a father-of-two from Florida, served in the US Air Force for 18 years as a flight engineer on the C-130

Hudson had just built a new home in Buckeye with his wife, Noreen. His father-in-law said Noreen is on her way to Australia to bring her husband back home.

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey tweeted his condolences after learning of Hudson's death.

'Arizona is heartbroken by this news,' the statement read. 'First Officer Paul Hudson was a hero who dedicated his life to service, first as a Marine, then as a firefighter. And when help was needed to fight wildfires in Australia, he didnt hesitate. Arizonas prayers go out to him & his family.

'In honor of First Officer Hudsons life and service, Im ordering flags across the state be lowered to half-staff.'

Former comrades and friends took to social media to pay their respects to the fallen hero.

'I was honored to serve and deploy with you, sir,' wrote retired serviceman Chris Wood. 'Two Afghanistan deployments flying with you, very sad to hear of your passing.. But, proud to see that you were still serving others as a firefighter pilot in Australia. Rest easy, and Semper Fidelis.'

A floral tribute is seen near the crash site on Friday in Peak View, Australia

New South Wales forensic officers and a coroner's van leave the crash site

DeMorgan, 43, from Navarre, Florida, is survived by his two children, Lucas and Logan. He served in the US Air Force, with 18 years spent as a flight engineer on the C-130. He had more than 4,000 hours experience, including 2,000 in a combat environment.

His team said his passion was always flying, as well as his children.

Officials said McBeth, Hudson and DeMorgan's loved ones, who are currently en route to Sydney, will get a chance to visit the 'complicated' crash site if they so choose.

Greg Hood, chief commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, which is leading the investigation, told reporters the investigation into the crash is currently its early 'evidence-gathering phase,' but he added that 'we have nothing to suggest there was a systemic fault' when asked whether other aircraft in use were safe.

ATSB investigators on Saturday will make the site safe by securing aviation fuel, the magnesium wheels and any unexploded oxygen canisters.

They'll then locate the plane's voice recorder and take it back to Canberra 'to see what the exchanges may have been in the cockpit during those final moments', Hood told reporters.

Investigators will 3D map the site with a drone, speak with witnesses who saw the crash and analyze both air traffic control and the plane's data and review the weather at the time of the crash.

'We have upwards of 500 firefighting aircraft active across the country from about 150 companies and several different countries,' the safety bureau boss said.

'So if there are lessons to be learned from this particular accident it's really important that Australia and the world learns them.'

A team from Coulson Aviation was due to arrive in Australia on Saturday, along with the aircraft history and maintenance records.

The Americans arrived in Australia on November 5 and have since dumped more than half-million gallons of water and fire retardant on blazes from Tasmania to NSW, flying up to eight missions a day.

Such hair-raising flying requiring precision maneuvering just a few dozen feet off the ground in gusty winds. Thick smoke filling the air was routine.

At 12.05pm they set out from Richmond RAAF Base on the outskirts of Sydney on a 104-degree day for a two-hour flight to drop nearly 4,000 gallons on a massive 950 square mile megablaze.

They never came back.

A panicked call came in to NSW Rural Fire Service command from firefighters on the ground who watched in horror as the plane went down and exploded.

'Fire comms message red speak to your captain. Message this is red... Crashed,' the call began.

The flight path of the plane after it left Richmond, NSW, and headed for the fire front before crashing. The altitude tracker shots its sudden descent before losing contact

The RFS command responded: 'Yeah fire comms... It's just a ball of flames... over.'

Vice President Mike Pence has offered his condolences to the families of the three men who died.

'Karen & I send our prayers & deep condolences to the families of the 3 brave American firefighters who died in AUS yesterday while on their way to battle the terrible bushfires,' she said on Twitter.

'Our Nation will always honor the memory of those lost in the line of duty working to help others.'

NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said there was not yet any indication as to what caused the crash and an investigation is underway.

Aircraft experts believe unless the plane had a mechanical fault, there are three likely ways the plane could have been brought down.

Conditions were hellish enough with temperatures soaring above 100 degrees and high winds that prevented waterbombing at all in nearby fire grounds.

Piloting a waterbombing plane is also up to seven times more exhausting than flying an airliner, and takes at least three fire seasons to learn.

Three American firefighters died when their waterbomber crashed while fighting a huge bushfire

Devastated RFS staff embrace at Numeralla Rural Fire Brigade near the scene of the crash

The decades-old plane may have been placed under so much stress that it simply fell apart and couldn't keep flying.

Such a crash that killed three crew members happened in northern California in 2002 when another C-130's wings fell off.

The conditions, such as heat from the fire below, could also have created so much turbulence the pilots lost control of the plane.

They could also have gotten too close and become so disoriented in the thick smoke that they slammed into the ground.

The firefighters were on a plane chartered by American firefighting company Coulson Aviation that was in Australia to help tackle the bushfire crisis.

The three U.S. firefighters were experienced veterans who were well known to RFS volunteers and other emergency services

Coulson grounded its large air tankers after the crash, both as a standard precaution and a sign of respect for the casualties.

But the organisation released a statement on Friday announcing pilots would soon return to work.

'At Coulson Aviation, we have the incredible job of fighting fires around the world and we take pride in this responsibility,' the statement read.

'Right now, our hearts are with the crew's family and friends and our Coulson family suffering in the loss of these three remarkable and well-respected crew members.

'We must continue to work with emergency services to protect local communities. The aviation industry and emergency service sector is a small community both in Australia and around the world.

'We are incredibly moved by the outpouring and support from those in Australia and around the world. Thank you for recognizing the work that our crews do and for expressing your condolences and grief for the families of our fallen heroes.'

Commissioner Fitzsimmons said the three victims were experienced firefighters who routinely crewed the C-130 for waterbombing missions.

'It is a confronting and sobering reminder of the inherent risks associated with firefighting and we've seen all too often this season,' he said.

'Our hearts are with all those that are suffering what is the loss of three remarkable, well respected crew that have invested so many decades of their life into firefighting.'

Commissioner Fitzsimmons said rescuers battled through fire and smoke with terrible visibility for hours to find the wreckage.

Search operations were conducted by helicopters in Peak View, north-east of Cooma

'Tragically, there appears to be no survivors as a result of the crash down in the Snowy Monaro area,' he said.

'[The aircraft] impacted heavily with the ground and initial reports are that there was a large fireball associated with the impact of the plane as it hit the ground.'

'I am deeply saddened by the tragic news we received today,' US Ambassador Arthur Culvahouse said.

'The brave Americans who died near Snowy Monaro died helping Australia in its time of need.

'The families and friends of those who we have lost are in our thoughts and prayers. Thank you Australia for your sympathy and solidarity.'

The crash caused a fire that crews are still trying to put out before the cause of the crash, which is unknown, can be investigated.

Investigators are now tasked with the harrowing task of searching for answers as they attempt to piece together what has happened

Commissioner Fitzsimmons said investigators were looking at all possibilities including trying to rule out a fuel problem that could affect the whole fleet.

'There is no indication at this stage of what's caused the accident,' he said.

An investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau is underway.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian offered her condolences to the families of the victims in the wake of the accident.

'Our thoughts are not just with family and loved ones but for anyone who feels impacted by what has unfolded this afternoon,' she said.

People affected by the Pialligo bushfire (pictured) have been told it is too late to leave

The army was called in to help locate the crash site and extract any survivors

'We can't thank enough people who continue, not withstanding the conditions, to put their safety at risk to protect lives and property of others.'

'It demonstrates the dangerous work currently being undertaken and the conditions that our firefighters are working under.'

The RFS said the area remains an active fire ground and a number of firefighting crews are currently working to contain and work around the fire.

'As indicated, we've still got more than 80 fires burning around New South Wales and half are not contained,' Commissioner Fitzsimmons said.

'We've seen fires get to emergency warning level today, up to five at any given time. We've backed down to four at the emergency warning level.'

The blaze the downed C-130 was battling is a massiveinferno where multiple bushfires joined together.

Other fires burning in the area include one threatening homes in near Canberra Airport

The fire on Kallaroo road in Pialligo by Canberra Airport remains at emergency level, after being downgraded overnight
Four more persons, including a constable, were arrested on Friday in connection with the alleged kidnap and rape of a 16-year-old Dalit girl in Odisha's Jajpur district, police said.

The girl was allegedly kidnapped and raped by two persons near Chandikhol in the district on January 14 and was later found unconscious near Barabati village on January 18, according to the FIR lodged by her father.

The arrested persons are the main accused's brother- in-law who is a constable in Dharmasala police station, maternal aunt, cousin and an aide, a police officer said.

With this development, the total number of persons arrested in the case has risen to eight, he said.

The prime accused, his brother and two sisters were arrested on January 20.

The two women were arrested for allegedly sheltering their brothers and the girl at their residences, the officer said.

The four persons have been produced before a court which remanded them to 14-day judicial custody, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi meets with the Kharita family in the Irish President's official residence, Aras an Uachtarain, in Dublin, Ireland.  Maxwells

Continue improvements to Direct Provision including the application process

Since 2017, a new streamlined application process has reduced the time it takes to assess applications for asylum significantly. However, more needs to be done to reduce waiting times further and to prevent future backlogs.

UNHCR calls on the next government to:

Establish an independent inspectorate to monitor standards in direct provision centres and emergency accommodation. Ensure that adequate vulnerability assessments are in place for all international protection applicants, as well as adequate referral and support structures, to ensure the individual and particular reception needs of vulnerable persons are met. Establish a robust contingency planning framework to anticipate increases in the number of asylum applications, periodic fluctuations and capacity pressures and to take proactive measures to prevent backlogs in processing applications.

End emergency accommodation

There are 6,013 people living in 40 direct provision centres across the country (as of Dec 2019). An additional 37 hostels and hotels are being used as emergency accommodation to house a further 1,559 people. The government spent almost 30 million on the provision of this emergency accommodation between January and November last year.

Not only does emergency accommodation represent poor value for money, those living in emergency accommodation can sometimes struggle to access basic services including timely access to medical services and information on their rights.

UNHCR therefore urges the next government to:

Phase out the use of emergency accommodation for international protection applicants as soon as possible in 2020; Cut waiting times for applications from 15 months to at a maximum 9 months.

Galway based chef Jess Murphy meets with Anas Hawsa and his family in Beqaa Valley, Lebanon. They are among some 3,000 refugees that Ireland has welcomed since 2015 on the resettlement programme.  Adeeb Farhat/UNHCR

Combat hate crime & hate speech

The particular vulnerability of asylum-seekers and refugees to racist and xenophobic attitudes and acts is an ongoing issue that needs to be addressed.

In November 2019, Ireland appeared before the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), which expressed concern over the increasing incidence of racist hate speech and hate crime directed at refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants. The Committee recommended the adoption of a new National Action Plan Against Racism to address identified gaps in the existing anti-racial discrimination policy and institutional framework.

UNHCR welcomes the governments timely decision to review the Incitement to Hatred Act 1989 and initiate a public consultation on the subject of hate crime. UNHCR urges the next government to:

Strengthen its legislation on hate crime and hate speech, given the more frequent occurrence of hate crime and the growing prevalence of hate speech, particularly online and on social media.

Better support refugee integration

The formation of lasting policy rather than quick-fix solutions for refugees and asylum-seekers is of great importance. The current Migrant Integration Strategy focuses on a mainstreaming approach without any consideration of the specific situation or needs of asylum seekers and refugees. Integration is a fundamental aspect of the experiences of refugees and asylum-seekers.

In order to both facilitate those communities who are eager to support refugees and asylum-seekers in their community and to create opportunities for refugees and asylum-seekers to integrate, government support must be provided on a long-term basis. UNHCR recommends that:

A permanent structure for integration be put in place at a local authority level, with dedicated funding streams and effective coordination and monitoring mechanisms tied to national policies and structures; The waiting time for asylum seekers to access the labour market be reduced from 9 months to 6 months in order to promote faster economic and social integration.

As Ireland launches its community sponsorship programme for refugees, the first group of community sponsors and the Syrian family they have accommodated share their experiences of this nascent initiative.  Nashwa Gowanlock, producer / Alex St-Denis, camera-editor

Opt-in fully to the Common European Asylum System

The Common European Asylum System (CEAS) sets down minimum procedural standards in the area of refugee protection. It aims to strengthen cooperation between member states and determine more fairly and effectively which EU member state is responsible for processing asylum claims.

Although Ireland has opted into several European instruments in the area of asylum, it is not bound by the recast Asylum Qualification Directive (2011/95/EU) or the recast Asylum Procedures Directive (2013/32/EU). By fully opting into the CEAS, Ireland will join other EU member states in strengthening procedures and granting uniform status for those granted asylum. It will also make it easier for Ireland to show solidarity with countries such as Greece, who continue to receive the majority of refugees in the EU, by welcoming some of those people here. Ireland should therefore:

Fully opt into the Common European Asylum System. Continue to demonstrate solidarity with other member states through participation in European search and rescue, disembarkation and relocation programmes.

Respond to refugee crises abroad

The vast majority of the worlds refugees (85%) live in the developing world. After a decade in which the number of displaced persons has reached record highs, supporting them and the countries who host them has never been more important. Irelands commitment to spending 0.7% of GNI by 2030 in official development assistance, and its aim of targeting the furthest behind first, is an important expression of support for those forced to flee their homes because of war, conflict and persecution.

Resettlement is a vital protection tool that protects the most at risk refugees. However, of the world's 26 million refugees, only a very small number will ever be resettled. Of the estimated 1.2 million refugees identified as being in need of resettlement in 2018, only 55,692 were actually resettled.

Irelands continued support for the resettlement programme ensures that those refugees facing heightened risks are protected. Irelands pledge to increase resettlement by 20% over the next four years is a very significant contribution, one that is urgently needed given the record number of people fleeing from war, conflict and persecution.

UNHCR calls on the next government to:
The Nova Poshta group of companies in 2019 actively developed branches in remote settlements, its director Oleksandr Bulba has told reporters.

"Now that we have more than 6,000 branches throughout the country, we cover about 65% of the population of Ukraine. Today, the growth potential is about 35%. Yes, these are small towns, but we will boldly go there," he said.

In 2019, the company opened 3,300 new branches in more than 3,100 new settlements.

"Of these 3,300 branches, the majority were opened in regional settlements with the population of less than 5,000 people. There, branches were mainly opened according to a simplified franchising model in rural stores  However, some of them have already grown from small locations into a full-fledged post office," the director said.

According to him, the company has a special subsidy program for new branches, and it is ready to invest in the development of its network.

According to Bulba, the company in its plans focuses on the performance of the European delivery market.

"According to rough estimates, in Germany there are on average 45 parcels per capita, in Poland the figure is about 16. The figure in Ukraine now is about nine parcels. In the development of delivery, Ukraine is very close to Poland, but now we are beginning to actively catch up with them, showing much stronger growth," he said.
Download Image: Web

Lycoming Colleges Detwiler Planetarium recently welcomed Cub Scout Pack 88 from Montoursville, and Girl Scout Service Unit 624 from the greater Williamsport area for a series of educational and entertaining events. These events were organized by the new Detwiler Planetarium director, Lauren Balliet.

Cub Scouts from Pack 88 visited the planetarium along with the scouts family members as part of completing their Skys the Limit Adventure merit badge. Some of the requirements include, but are not limited to, what a career as an astronomer entails, as well as observing the night sky and knowing how to locate distant objects and constellations.

Chad Larson, cubmaster of Cub Scout Pack 88, stated, We cannot express how impressed the scouts were with the custom presentation Lauren put together for our Cub Scout Pack. She went above and beyond and showed an amazing ability to keep the kids engaged. You know you are doing something right when 6-9-year-olds ask questions for over 20 minutes.

Nearly 40 scouts from the Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania Service Unit 624 visited the planetarium, traveling from Williamsport, South Williamsport, Montoursville, and Lock Haven. While the purpose of their visit was not to earn a badge, Girl Scout leader Erin Smith, wanted her troop and others to experience an evening of fun and education in the planetarium. The Girl Scouts, along with their families, learned about objects in the winter night sky and how to locate them.

Girl Scout cadette Amy Langer, a sixth-grader from Troop 60183 stated, Going to the planetarium with the Girl Scouts was an amazing experience. It was neat to learn about the night sky and how explorers used the stars to navigate.

I was excited for the opportunity to develop these shows for the Scouts and I was thrilled that it provided a fun and educational evening for them and their families, said Balliet. I hope that by visiting the planetarium they are now able to go out at night and navigate the night sky, and to always stay curious about the many questions that have yet to be answered about our universe, near and far.

Featuring a 35-foot-wide dome and a state-of-the-art digital projection system, the Detwiler Planetarium enables Lycoming College students and the greater Williamsport area to recreate the night sky and astronomical bodies in a comfortable learning environment. Cutting-edge technology allows visitors and students to explore the boundaries of the universe and the depths of the earth in stunning high definition detail. Future community programming will be advertised in the new year starting with First Friday in February.
Welcome Guest! You Are Here:
Cleveland State Community College President Dr. Bill Seymour spoke to the Sunrise Rotary Club Thursday.

Dr. Seymour addressed everything from enrollment spikes at CSCC for four straight semesters to the birth of the colleges brand new Honors College.

Cleveland States full-time enrollment growth this semester is number one within the State of Tennessees Board of Regents System, officials said.
Three suffer smoke inhalation in Phuket condo fire

PHUKET: Three people suffering from smoke inhalation were taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital today after a fire broke out in a seventh-floor condo at the Phanason City Condo complex in Wichit today (Jan 24).



By Eakkapop Thongtub

Friday 24 January 2020, 06:42PM

Firefighters took almost an hour and 45 minutes to extinguish the fire, but the fire was contained and no other units were directly affected, police confirmed. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Firefighters took almost an hour and 45 minutes to extinguish the fire, but the fire was contained and no other units were directly affected, police confirmed. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Firefighters took almost an hour and 45 minutes to extinguish the fire, but the fire was contained and no other units were directly affected, police confirmed. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Firefighters took almost an hour and 45 minutes to extinguish the fire, but the fire was contained and no other units were directly affected, police confirmed. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Firefighters took almost an hour and 45 minutes to extinguish the fire, but the fire was contained and no other units were directly affected, police confirmed. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Capt Chatri Chuwichian of the Wichit Police told The Phuket News that he was notified of the fire at 2pm.

Firefighters from the Wichit Municipality Fire Department arrived to find black smoke billowing out of a unit on the seventh floor of the eight-story building, located behind the Makro store on Wichit Songkram Rd.

Firefighters used a crane to douse the fire from outside the building.

No people were in the room while the fire was burning, Capt Chatri said.

Firefighters took almost an hour and 45 minutes to extinguish the fire, but the fire was contained and no other units were directly affected, he added.

The whole building was evacuated for safety, but three people were taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital for smoke inhalation, Capt Chatri confirmed.

At this stage, the cost of the damage has not been estimated and officers have yet to confirm what caused the fire, but suspect a short circuit, Capt Chatri noted.

Building manager Sukanya Thammapanya, 30, told police that she was working in her office on the ground floor when one of the condo residents told her of the fire, Capt Chatri explained.

Ms Sukanya said she rushed to the room and knocked on the door and shouted out, asking if anyone was inside, but no one responded, he said.

She entered the room and saw a lot of smoke, and rushed to get two fire extinguishers to douse the fire. Her efforts to stop the fire failed, so she called the fire department, Capt Chatri said.
6 dead, 2 injured after family shooting in Germany, police say originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

Six people are dead and two injured after a shooting in the German town of Rot am See on Friday, local police told ABC News.

The gunman opened fire on several members of his family, police said. Three men, aged 36, 65 and 69 were killed, as well as three women, aged 36, 56 and 62.

The suspected gunman's mother and father were among the victims.

Two more people were injured in the shooting, one of whom was described as in a critical condition at a press conference Friday afternoon.

Police were called to the scene of the shooting, in a building near the town's main railway station, shortly after midday Friday. Some victims were shot inside the train station, while others were shot in a nearby house, local police told ABC News.

PHOTO: Police secure the area in Rot am See in southwestern Germany, Jan. 24, 2020. (Stringer/Reuters)

The alleged gunman, a 26-year-old man who police said had a gun license, was arrested shortly after the shooting.

MORE: Police release horrific details of the 1st mass shooting of the year, identify teen suspect

It is not yet clear whether the alleged gunman's siblings were killed in the shooting, although all six victims were family members.

There's no indication more suspects were involved.

PHOTO: Police secures the area in Rot am See in southwestern Germany, Jan. 24, 2020. (Oliver Stroebel/Reuters)

PHOTO: German police searches a house on Jan. 24, 2020 in the town of Rot am See in southwestern Germany. (Sebastian Gollnow/DPA/AFP via Getty Images)

The town of Rot am See lies in southwestern Germany, between the major cities of Frankfurt, Stuttgart and Nuremberg.

ABC News' Felix Franz contribued to this report.
New Delhi [India], Jan 24 (ANI): Delhi Police Crime Branch has issued a notice to former Congress MLA Asif Mohd Khan, under Section 160 of CrPC, asking him to appear before Crime Branch Chanakyapuri today for questioning in connection with the incident of violence in a part of Delhi in December last year.



A notice has also been issued to local political leader Ashu Khan asking him to appear before Crime Branch Chanakyapuri today for questioning in connection with Jamia Nagar violence which took place in December last year.

Asif Khan has been named as an accused in the FIR filed by Delhi Police in connection with the violence which took place near Jamia Millia Islamia University on December 15.

Others names included in the FIR are Ashu Khan, Mustafa, Haider, Chandan Kumar, Asif Tanha and Kasim Usmani along with the former MLA as the accused.

At least three buses were torched and stones were pelted on police personnel during the protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act in the area. Police resorted to baton-charge and firing of tear gas shells to contain the violence. (ANI)


The band known as the Amish Outlaws occupy an interesting place, being an unusual sight to both Amish and English communities.

Were not the first people to leave the Amish lifestyle behind, definitely not the first in our community, said band co-founder and bassist Ezekiel - who goes by Brother Eazy Ezekiel on stage. So while it is a pretty radical departure from the typical Amish occupation would be, we havent gotten much grief. Mostly, among the English, weve gotten a lot of curiosity.

Those curious about how renegade Amish musicians might perform a song by Dr. Dre or Lady Gaga will have their chance to check out the Outlaws at their show at XL Live in Harrisburg. The performance begins at 9 p.m.

The first thought that might cross your mind when you see the Amish Outlaws setting up for a performance is, so, are they some kind of folk/bluegrass band or something? With their straw hats and suspenders, you could be forgiven for thinking that they would be performing with banjos and fiddles.

But the Amish Outlaws are a cover band that performs music ranging from Sinead OConnor to Prince to Johnny Cash to the Wu-Tang Clan. As Ezekiel put it, the bands style can be summed up with the word eclectic.

[Our shows are] a bunch of songs you wouldnt expect, not only just to come from six Amish guys, but probably to come from any band youve seen before, Ezekiel said. And we try to play every song as if we wrote it, with the same energy and enthusiasm for it as something that we wrote ourselves.

The second thought you might have when you see the Amish Outlaws is, whats with the gimmick? Theyre not really Amish, right?

The truth, according to Ezekiel, is that he and fellow bandmates Amos Def and Hezekiah X are indeed Amish. Or they were, anyway.

The way it works is you make the choice as an adult if you want to be baptized or not, he said. And until youre baptized youre not bound by the laws of the church.

The three men were all born and raised in Amish communities. But once they reached their teenage years, they took part in the Rumspringa tradition, which is a time where Amish youths sometimes step outside of the orders traditions. The majority of Amish then choose to return to their communities and become baptized.

In Ezekiels case, he instead set out for a life among the English, determined to pursue music - something that was largely forbidden to him growing up.

[In Amish communities, there are] no musical instruments whatsoever, Ezekiel said. That goes against whats called the spirit of gelassenheit.

Gelassenheit is the term for the spirit of humility that drives Amish belief. Its the reason why the Amish value behavior that is modest, reserved and quiet - in short, behavior that is the exact opposite to being a rock star. Indeed, music itself is extremely rare in the Amish community, being mainly reserved for singing in during religious services.

Ezekiel was not the first in his family to leave the Amish community, which helped make the transition easier than it might have been. And as fate would have it, he would soon meet kindred spirits Amos and Hezekiah, who had also left their own Amish communities. The group then expanded to include honorary Amish Big Daddy Abel, Wyclef Jonathan and Jacob the Pipe Layer.

The Amish Outlaws band

As their punny stage names suggest, the Amish Outlaws take a lot of inspiration from hip-hop, as well as rock and pop music. Their shows are filled with a bold lust for life and a fire for music and performance that can only come from 16 years of repression, according to their website.

In short: the group is not what youd expect from Old Order Amish who grew up in Lancaster or Reading. And while sometimes departures from the order means losing all connection to family members, that hasnt been the case for the Outlaws.

The guys in my band, we got lucky that our families didnt [sever ties], Ezekiel said. We didnt have to go through getting shunned, didnt have to go through them not speaking to us. Its just like any child that chooses a different path than their parents had laid out for them. You might get some flack and some blowback, but ultimately were lucky enough that we still got some level of support, when it comes down to it.

Weve actually had a lot of ex-Amish or even current Amish come to our shows, he continued. Weve had conversations about what it was like to be raised that way, and what its like to be out in the world now. It was interesting having a conversation with someone else that kind of had the same perspective.

While the origins of the band may have roots in rebellion, to Ezekiel, its truly more about celebration.

While we take our performance really seriously, we dont take ourselves seriously, he said. So the audience, 90 percent of the time, is laughing along with us. And we also really try to involve the audience and make them a part of the show. They can expect to step, my hope is, have fun and go home with some new and fun memories.

IF YOU GO

The Amish Outlaws

9 p.m. (doors open at 8 p.m.) Jan. 24 at XL Live, Harrisburg. Cost: $10. Ages 21 and up. https://www.xlhbg.com/
Actor Amitabh Bachchan took to his blog on Thursday to share pictures from a new project for a client in which he posed with three superstars from south, apart from Katrina Kaif and his wife and actor Jaya Bachchan. According to reports, the shoot was for the jewellery brand Kalyan Jewellers.

In the photos, Amitabh and Jaya are seen ushering Katrina to the mandap as she is dressed in wedding splendour. The father and mother of the bride are dressed in wedding finery too. They are all in North Indian-styled wedding clothes. In many other pictures, which are now viral, the three sport South Indian-styled clothes as well -- Amitabh is in a pearly white veshti, a matching white shirt with cloth tied around his head, Katrina is in a bright green silk sari while Jaya is in a brown-deep yellow sari. In some of the pictures, while Amitabh and Katrina can be see dancing, Jaya can be seen laughing. The actor wrote, Getting her married off ..

Sharing the pictures with south stars, Amitabh wrote: Historic moment for Jaya and me .. 3 superstar sons of 3 Iconic Legends of Indian Film Industry , work together with us .. what honour ..Nagarjun - son Akkineni Nageshwara Rao, Telugu Shivraj Kumar - son Dr Raaj Kumar, Kannada PrabhuDeva - son Shivaji Ganesan, Tamil.

Amitabh Bachchan with wife Jaya and Nagarjuna, Shivraj Kumar and Prabhu. (srbachchan.tumblr.com/)

Elaborating on his blog, he further said that it was an honour for his Jaya Bachchan and him that them to be working together in one project for a common client. He wrote: .. all of us working together in one project for a common client .... what an honour for Jaya and me .. the respect and the incredible following and presence of these icons of our Industry, is beyond expression ..

Katrina Kaif with Amitabh and Jaya on the ramp. (srbachchan.tumblr.com)

He further went on to add how he had the privilege of working with ANR, Dr Raaj Kumar and Shivaji Ganesan in the past and wrote: .. I had the privilege and the great honour of meeting and spending time with all the three Legends .. I worked in remakes of films of Shivaji Ganesan and Dr Raaj Kumar .. and Nag gave me the honour of being in a project with his legendary Father Akkineni Nageshwara. .. but what has been most special is the family bindings that we enjoy with each other - then and now .. so many special moments to describe .. but not enough time to do so now .. 

I touch their feet in reverence , not just for who they are, but the legacy of their immense cinematic work that they have left behind .. and - this is most important - the continuity of their presence in representation of their progeny! he added.

He recalled the three legends from the past saying .. their Fathers were the pillars of the cinema they inhabited .. stalwarts, the likes of which shall be impossible to be seen again ..

Also read | Ajay Devgn taunts Kapil Sharma for not sharing profits with team: Tu kyu nai kar raha sabka saath, sabka vikas?

Read the full text of the blog here:

.. and work takes us to wedding ..

.. getting her married off ..

.. subtle, simple and filled with the right emotions for the endorsed work that beckons us and the client we work for ..

.. BUT the most historic moment for Jaya and me is this :

.. 3 super star sons of 3 Legendary, Iconic Fathers of the Indian Film Industry ..

.. from the left Nagarjuna , son of Legendary Akkineni Nageshwar Rao , idol of millions and the icon of Telugu Cinema .. Shivaraj Kumar , son of legendary and Iconic Dr Raaj Kumar of Kannada Cinema .. and extreme right , Prabhu deva , son of the Legendary, Idol iconic, Shivaji Ganesan of Tamil Cinema ..

.. all of us working together in one project for a common client ..

.. what an honour for Jaya and me .. the respect and the incredible following and presence of these icons of our Industry, is beyond expression ..

.. I had the privilege and the great honour of meeting and spending time with all the three Legends .. I worked in remakes of films of Shivaji Ganesan and Dr Raaj Kumar .. and Nag gave me the honour of being in a project with his legendary Father Akkineni Nageshwara ..

.. but what has been most special is the family bindings that we enjoy with each other - then and now .. so many special moments to describe .. but not enough time to do so now ..

.. I touch their feet in reverence , not just for who they are, but the legacy of their immense cinematic work that they have left behind .. and - this is most important - the continuity of their presence in representation of their progeny !

.. their Fathers were the pillars of the cinema they inhabited .. stalwarts, the likes of which shall be impossible to be seen again ..

.. a joy for me and Jaya to be in their midst ..

.. good night ..

Follow @htshowbiz for more
T he announcement that Prince Harry and his wife Meghan are "stepping back as senior members of the royal family" and will split their time between the UK and North America sent royal watchers' pulses racing on both sides of the Atlantic

For now, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have said they intend to stay in Canada, where they holidayed for six weeks over Christmas with their baby son, Archie, staying on Vancouver Island in a multimillion-dollar compound.

Its not yet known where they'll choose to settle next  although it has been confirmed they will keep the use of Frogmore Cottage in Windsor.

Buying property in Vancouver

Vancouvers meteoric property price rises began in 2003, fuelled by Chinese buyers eager to get a foothold in the market.

By 2016 prices had risen so steeply that the government of British Columbia intervened to introduce a tax on foreign buyers in the province, initially a surcharge of 15 per cent but then extended to 20 per cent. The result was price falls of anywhere from 25 to 35 per cent.

Latest figures from BC Assessment, property analysts for British Columbia province, report the typical value of a family home in Vancouver dropped 11 per cent in the past year  however, its still 910,000. Apartment prices also fell, by seven per cent, to an average 397,500.

There has been much speculation about the Sussexes citizenship status going forward. Britons are entitled to spend up to six months a year as a visitor in Canada without applying for a visa. The same rules apply for American citizens.

However, should Harry and Meghan opt to take this route they will be unable to work in Canada, which could clash with their stated aim of working to become financially independent.

If they decide to buy a Vancouver property as visitors, they may become liable for British Columbias empty homes tax, which applies to residential property left vacant for six months or more in the year.

One way around this would be to rent out the property when they were not in residence.

If Meghan obtained permanent residency when she was living and working in Toronto filming Suits, she could sponsor her husband for residency, too, in which case the couple would not have to pay the foreign buyers tax.

Will Harry and Meghan rent a home instead?

The couple could choose to avoid these complications and rent while in Vancouver, especially if they are not planning to remain in the city for the long term.

Following the introduction of the empty homes and foreign buyers taxes, the Duke and Duchess would have a healthy choice of luxury rental homes, with the number available also serving to push down the cost.

Speaking to Glacier Media in 2018, Petr Vokoun, co-owner of Orca Realty, gave the example of the overseas owners of a 12.76 million mansion who would have been liable to pay 255,200 a year in vacant property tax.

The agency planned to rent it out at 20,300 a month furnished on a short-term basis, such as to movie stars who are in the city for a few months on a shoot, or to a Hollywood studio that wants to use it as a location.

Rideau Hall: if Harry were to become governor general, as some commentators have suggested, this would be his official residence

Official residences

There has been speculation that Harry, 35, could be the next Governor General of Canada, a role appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Canadian prime minister to be her representative in that country.

Until 1952 the role was filled by a member of the British aristocracy, although the current Governor General is Julie Payette, a former astronaut from Montreal.
Contact The Californians Robert Price at 661-395-7399, rprice@bakersfield.com or on Twitter: @stubblebuzz. The views expressed here are his own.
Murder accused Kieran Greene retracted his admission to killing his partner's mother, Patricia O'Connor, telling gardai he was persuaded to "take the rap" after her husband hit her with a metal bar, a jury heard.

Mr Greene changed his account of the killing while in custody six months after he was arrested, saying he felt like he had been "set up" because his partner Louise O'Connor and her ex-boyfriend Keith Johnston were "going back out again".

A Central Criminal Court jury was told that in the garda interview he also alleged Mr Johnston dismembered Patricia O'Connor's body after he asked him for help.

Denying killing her, Mr Greene told gardai: "I honestly didn't do it. I'll swear on anyone's life, I didn't do it, you have to believe me."

Mr Greene (34) denies murdering Ms O'Connor (61) at the house they shared at Mountain View Park, Rathfarnham, on May 29, 2017.

The grandmother's remains were found scattered over a 30km-wide area in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains between June 10 and 14, that year.

Expand Close Louise OConnor and Keith Johnston arriving at court / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Louise OConnor and Keith Johnston arriving at court

He is on trial alongside three other people who have pleaded not guilty to impeding the investigation - his then-partner, Louise O'Connor (41), her daughter Stephanie O'Connor (22) and Mr Johnston (43).

The jury heard Mr Greene said in interview in June 2017 that he had killed Ms O'Connor in self-defence after she attacked him with a hurley.

He said he had first buried her in a shallow grave in a field in Wexford, but returned to move the body, could not lift it and instead dismembered it and scattered the parts.

He insisted in June that he had acted alone at all times. However, on December 9, while on remand at Cloverhill Prison, he asked to speak to the investigation team again and give another statement.

Crowbar

This time, he said that after he "went down on the ground" when Patricia O'Connor hit him, her husband Gus came into the bathroom saying: "What the f**k are you doing?"

He said Patricia swung the hurley at him and missed.

"Mr O'Connor had something in his hand, a black bar or a crowbar, and he hit her on the head," Mr Greene told gardai.

"She fell on the floor. He said, 'I'm defending you so you can take the rap for this'."

Mr Greene brought her up to the bedroom, he said.

Louise O'Connor came down and they told her what had happened. She said "we can't leave her here", and he put her mother in the boot of his Toyota Corolla.

"I started driving," he said, and he went alone to Wexford. When he got back, Louise was cleaning the bathroom.

A couple of days after that, Mr Johnston was informed, he added. "I asked him for help. I had never been in this predicament before," Mr Greene said.

Mr Johnston said "leave it with me", he said, and he came back a day or two later and "made a plan".

They went to some shops, including Mr Price where "he got a petrol can" and they also got Stanley blades, Mr Greene said.

They went to B&Q and bought black bags, a tarp and a hacksaw, then to Woodies and got spare Stanley blades and a hatchet, he said.

"I brought Keith to where the body was buried," he said.

"We dug her up... he started cutting her up with the saw."

He said Mr Johnston put the parts into bags and they put the bags into the boot, "tied them with knots, we did".

He drove to the Wicklow mountains and Mr Johnston "said 'stop'", got out, took a bag from the back of the car and opened and emptied it.

He "kept doing this" until all the bags were gone, Mr Greene said.

Mr Johnston said, "I know this is on you, brother, I have a background on drugs, I can't get into any more trouble," Mr Greene told gardai.

They drove to Dodder Valley Park in Tallaght and Mr Johnston took out the saw and "came back then with nothing in his hands".

They drove to another location and "he burned the clothes".

A day or so later, "he came back down and scraped the grout in the bathroom and shower and painted the walls", Mr Greene added.

"I went and told the gardai I killed her, even when I didn't. We all agreed I would take the blame, why I don't know.

"I feel I shouldn't be taking the blame for all this. I feel like I was set up because Mrs and Keith are going back out. I'm facing a murder charge and they are out there and I'm taking the rap for it."

The only reason he did not say anything sooner was that he was concerned for the kids, he said.

Bleach

About the clean-up, he said it was with a mop and bleach and "I did the first one and Louise did it then after".

"Keith said, we should dig her up and put her deeper. I didn't know till we got there," Mr Greene said.

Stephanie had dressed up to look like Patricia, he said.

"Her and her ma said she was going to dress up like Patricia to show she had gone missing. I wasn't aware until I came back from Wexford that was what she did," he said.

Stephanie O'Connor said in a statement that she slept all night after her grandmother left and heard no disturbance.

Mr Johnston said in a statement that Mr Greene told him and family members about killing Patricia just before he went to the gardai.

Mr Justice Paul McDermott warned the jury that nothing a defendant said in a statement could be used as evidence against a co-accused.

The trial continues.
New Delhi, Jan 24 : Taking a swipe at the protesting Jawaharlal Nehru University students, yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Friday said the government should start a "pension scheme for the elderly students of the varsity so that they can quietly pursue their studies on the campus".

"I demand that the government start a pension scheme for JNU's elderly students so they can keep quiet on the campus," Ramdev remarked laughingly while addressing the media at the Constitution Club here.

Ramdev also supported the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and termed the protests against the law as "an attempt to malign India's image internationally".

He advised the JNU students to return to their classes and leave the protest for political parties. The JNU students have been protesting against a hike in hostel charges etc.

Ramdev came down heavily on organisations and protestors who he said were "radicalising" a certain community for their selfish ends.

"Some political parties, foreign powers and some communal forces are trying to create fear among the minorities over the CAA," he said.

Urging the anti-CAA protestors to refrain from violence, he claimed that no one's citizenship was at stake.

"No leader or political party can take away the citizenship of any individual. People must not protest on roads, or destroy public property just because some organisations are radicalising them," Ramdev said.

He also aired his controversial views on formulating a law to control Indian population and said that the government must take punitive action against those with more than two children.

"Anyone who fathers more than two children must be punished. His voting right must be taken away; the voting right of the third child must also be taken away," Ramdev said.

Ramdev held the press conference after his company Patanjali Ayurveda Ltd took over an edible oil manufacturing firm Ruchi Soya.

He claimed that the move will help Patanjali achieve a turnover target of approximately Rs 25,000 crore this year, aiming also to make India self-dependent in the manufacture of edible oils within five years.
Altria Group (MO) is a consumer staples manufacturer; it built its historical growth on its flagship Marlboro cigarette brand, but in recent years has diversified itself beyond tobacco, explains Ben Reynolds, editor of Sure Retirement.

It also has non-smokable brands, such as Skoal and Copenhagen chewing tobacco, Ste. Michelle wine, and it owns a 10% investment stake in global beer giant Anheuser Busch Inbev (BUD). Altria has made these investments to adapt to changing consumer habits, specifically the declining smoking rate.

See also: Top Picks 2020: Paycom (PAYC)

Altria expects smoking volumes to decline 5% to 6% this year and continue at a 4% to 6% annual decline through 2023.

As its smokable products segment still represents over 80% of its operating profit, the company needs to branch out into new areas. It has made huge moves into two specific categoriesvaping and marijuanawhich should fuel the companys future growth.

Altria recently announced a $1.8 billion investment for 45% of Canadian marijuana producer Cronos Group (CRON). It has also invested nearly $13 billion in e-vapor manufacturer Juul Labs for a 35% equity stake in the company.

And in June, Altria invested $372 million for an 80% stake in Burger Sohne, a Swiss company that makes oral nicotine pouches. These investments into adjacent categories are designed to take leadership positions in new areas of growth, and to protect its cash flow from further declines in smoking.

We believe Altria has a highly secure dividend. The company targets a dividend payout ratio of 80% of its adjusted earnings per share. Altria has increased its dividend for 50 years in a row, qualifying it as a Dividend King. The stock has a current yield of 6.5%, which is very attractive for income investors.

See also: Top Picks 2020: Tekla Life Sciences Fund (HQL)

Altria is also a very appealing stock in the event of a recession. Sales of tobacco products hold up very well in recessions.

Story continues

Altrias products enjoy tremendous brand loyalty, as Marlboro controls more than 40% of the U.S. retail market share. Investors expecting a recession in the next few years would continue to see their dividend income rise with Altria stock.

More From MoneyShow.com:
Elderly people will be treated at home by NHS rapid response units under plans to reduce hospital admissions.

In a scheme to be rolled out next winter, older people who need urgent support will be seen in their own home within two hours.

It aims to relieve the intolerable strain on the NHS caused by the social care crisis, which has led to record number of emergency admissions to hospital for dementia patients.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock (pictured yesterday at Downing St) said: Long, avoidable hospital stays can be particularly distressing for older people and can strip them of their independence  something we absolutely must prevent'. Elderly people will be treated at home by NHS rapid response units under plans to reduce hospital admissions

NHS England is investing 14million in seven urgent community response teams, with at least three to be up and running by next winter. This will allow patients to receive the treatment they need without being sent to A&E and will include help with daily activities such as washing, cooking and dressing.

It follows news that the number of emergency hospital admissions for those with the condition has reached 379,004 a year, or more than 1,000 a day.

The Daily Mail is campaigning for an end to the dementia care crisis which forces thousands of people to sell their homes to fund crippling care costs.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: Long, avoidable hospital stays can be particularly distressing for older people and can strip them of their independence  something we absolutely must prevent.

A 2017 file photo shows an ambulance outside of A&E in Yeovil. NHS England is investing 14million in seven urgent community response teams, with at least three to be up and running by next winter

Thousands of patients end up stranded in hospital every month because there is no appropriate care place for them to go to.

They are often admitted for falls, dehydration or infections that could have been avoided if they received adequate social care.

Many patients then become stuck in hospital despite being medically fit to leave, because there is no place for them in a care home.

Research by the charity Age UK estimated that bed blocking due to a lack of social care cost the NHS 587million between the general elections in June 2017 and December 2019.
No matter how much we rage about incidents like the Unnao rape case and Swami Chinmayanand case, MPs with criminal backgrounds still find a way to enter our Parliament.

In a shocking series of events, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MP Atul Rai, who is accused of rape, has been granted two days parole by Allahabad High Court to attend the oath-taking ceremony in New Delhi.

Twitter

Rai was elected from the Ghosi seat in 2019 general elections and his bail was earlier canceled by the lower court.

In September last year, the Supreme Court had refused to grant him protection from arrest, noting that he had 16 criminal cases against him.

Despite the long list of pending cases against him, Rai managed to win the Lok Sabha elections with a margin of more than 1 lakh votes and 50.3% of vote share.

As ridiculous it might sound, but Rai went missing during his election campaign when an FIR was filed against him by a girl student who accused him of sexual assault. He was arrested on May 01, 2019, and won elections while he was behind the bars. Due to this, he couldnt attend the oath-taking ceremony in the Lok Sabha.

This broken law system, along with the people voted for him, ignoring 16 criminal cases against this leader have contributed to the rise in the number of leaders with criminal backgrounds in our parliament.

BCCL

According to the Association of Democratic Reforms, nearly 43% of elected representatives in Lok Sabha have criminal cases against them.

Rai has been allowed to go to Delhi on January 29 to take an oath for two days under police protection.

What message our courts and Parliament will send to the victim the day Rai enters the Lok Sabha and takes an oath? What good a parliamentarian would be to his constituency while he is behind bars for heinous crime such as rape? The women of this country deserve answers to these questions.
Its now 75 years since Soviet troops liberated the notorious death camp at Auschwitz and the vast majority of Holocaust survivors are no longer with us. The impact of continuing to research the Holocaust can, therefore, not be underestimated. The further away we move from the events and the more first-hand witnesses we lose, the more disconnected we feel, both individually and as a society.

As an archaeologist, I have experienced first hand how using a measured, scientific approach to the investigation of these atrocities can help to answer questions, heal communities, bring closure and allow for a more balanced approach to the representation of the subject.

The presentation of rigorously researched scientific evidence to support the known (and sometimes forgotten) history, has become ever more important at a time when this is being challenged by misinformation, competing narratives and populist movements.

As is the case for most British people, what I knew about the Holocaust was originally limited to what I had learned during secondary education and through my exposure to the subject in the media. I did not study the Holocaust at degree level or make a determined effort to develop a greater awareness. Now, through my work in the field of Holocaust archaeology I know different.

For my generation growing up in an age when the internet was just emerging, the information on the Holocaust was limited to academic research disseminated through school and traditional media. Todays students have access to an unmanageable amount of material and the choice to search without restriction. But this access does not guarantee increased awareness or knowledge.

Recent surveys have suggested that one in 20 people in the UK dont believe the Holocaust happened, while one-third of people from seven surveyed European countries know little or nothing about these events.

Additionally, a study of English secondary schools found that few students could accurately describe the events of the Holocaust, even though this is a compulsory part of the curriculum. This is a worrying trend for future generations.

Story continues

Traditionally, Holocaust education has centred on historical sources and testimony from survivors. But  as these statistics show  new and innovative methods of collecting and presenting these facts are required to engage and, crucially, generate an awareness in people to ensure that these events are not forgotten or become rewritten. The use of an archaeological approach to research and present the Holocaust is therefore relevant and timely.

Our knowledge of the Holocaust tends to focus on the main camps rather than the tens of thousands of more diverse Holocaust sites across Europe. Many of these remain unprotected, understudied and known only to comparatively few people. Each of these sites contains individual stories which, when told, can illustrate direct relevance to our contemporary society.

Respecting remains

The practice of Holocaust archaeology, uses desk-based archival research, satellite imagery, aerial photographs, remote sensing, topographic survey and geophysical techniques to identify destroyed camps, lost killing sites and hidden mass graves. Importantly, these techniques avoid excavation that would disturb human remains, a practice which is forbidden under Jewish Law. Staffordshire Universitys Centre of Archaeology, of which I am a member, has worked at more than 40 sites across Europe.

To provide an example, several killing sites and mass graves that were regarded as lost and under immediate threat have recently been identified by our team using these innovative archaeological methods. Sites in Rohatyn and across the regions of Vinnytsia and Zhytomir in the Ukraine, now have protected status and newly dedicated memorials to the victims.

Collected data can be visualised in a multitude of innovative ways with the primary objective being digital preservation, simplicity of access and increased awareness to a wide audience.

An emotional task

During my time on these projects, I have personally seen and been subject to the unequivocal evidence of the true scale of the Holocaust. I have experienced the profound effects of being presented with the graves and the remains of the victims and have seen the positive effects of presenting the evidence of the research to the public.

My experiences have been viewed through the eyes of someone who knew our modern history and was aware of the scale and effect of war  but I had no direct involvement in it. My archaeological background, however, meant I was more familiar with our ancient past than the generation that preceded me.

Working in this field, the effect on me has been thought-provoking and life-affirming. Put simply, I am more appreciative of the everyday opportunities and freedoms of life. I have been able to see the victims as individuals, whose lives and aspirations were cut short and whose memory should not be so easily manipulated or forgotten.

Many of these experiences would have been made all the more difficult without the collective support of my colleagues. The discussion that follows the analysis of victim testimonies, historic photographs and archaeological fieldwork is an important part of processing the raw reality of the Holocaust.

William Mitchell , Author provided

My work in this field has taken me to more than 15 sites across Europe, from Norway, Germany, the Czech Republic, Croatia to Poland and the Ukraine. It is evident that governmental and personal responses to the recognition and presentation of these sites vary in each nation. Holocaust denial and anti-Semitism is ever-present in the UK and across Europe more generally  and this is even more apparent at these sites. It is partly as a response to these continued pressures that these research projects are undertaken.

Raising awareness

There have, on many occasions, been causes to be pessimistic about human nature. I have encountered Jewish memorials that have been used for target practice, cemetery sites that have been historically and recently desecrated, and denial and hostility by local residents.

Distressingly, there have been several sites that have been looted, resulting in human remains, clothing and belongings being scattered across the surface, perhaps due to the misguided belief that mass graves contain items of value. These encounters highlight the fact that indifference and prejudices, but also social inequalities, are still prevalent.

Thankfully, positive events and achievements outweigh the bad. The grateful thanks of relatives, religious leaders and heritage groups, the raising of awareness within communities, schools and the media, and the identification of the exact boundaries of mass graves and camp buildings resulting in protection and memorialisation, are the successes to hold on to.

These projects also lead to the re-interment of remains. And, at sites that were erased by the Nazis, we were able to provide physical evidence relating to the nature of incarceration and extermination.

I am grateful to be in a position to continue to tell the story and get recognition for the sites that have been disturbed or neglected for decades. Helping to tell the stories of these lost individuals is especially important at a time when intolerance and indifference is becoming an accepted part of society.

The scale and extent of the devastation of the Holocaust means there is still much work to be done, especially given the current challenges of continued prejudice and misinformation.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The Conversation

William Mitchell does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
ANN ARBOR, MI - Robert Roleke was found guilty of groping a Washtenaw County Jail inmate a month and a half ago.

The 82-year-old was due to hear his sentence Wednesday, but family and supporters helped buy him a little more time.

Rolekes attorney, James Fifelski, requested on Jan. 22 that Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Archie Brown delay sentencing due to probably 60 plus letters of support for his client.

Fifelski and new co-counsel Robert Magill, a friend of Rolekes for more than 30 years, argued for Brown to adjourn for three weeks to allow time to prepare a motion for a new trial.

I do not agree to an adjournment, Washtenaw County Assistant Prosecutor Amy Reiser said in her response. I dont think theres a valid basis to file a motion for a new trial. Your honor presided over the trial. The jury rendered the verdict, and I would ask to proceed to sentencing.

Brown adjourned and rescheduled sentencing for Feb. 12. Roleke remains free on $5,000 bond.

Roleke, of Whitmore Lake, was charged in 2018, six years after an inmate told officers he grabbed his genitals during a fake prayer session, records show. Roleke was convicted Dec. 5 on two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Monsignor Frank McGrath, chaplain of the Ave Maria Law School in Naples, Florida, argued that Roleke, a friend of 30 years, should not see jail time.

My experience with him is that he is a man of excellent character, McGrath wrote. I believe that the charges made against him are false.

Most of the letters presented touted Rolekes character, requested a lenient sentence and questioned the verdict. Deacon Gerry Holowicki, a deacon at Rolekes Christ the King Church in Ann Arbor, said he found the conviction truly baffling."

This conviction stands in glaring contrast to the virtuous character that I have seen exemplified in Bob as long as I have known him, Holowicki wrote.

Religious volunteer convicted for groping jail inmate during prayer session

Roleke, known as Brother Bob, met with the 40-year-old male victim multiple times during a stay at the jail at 2201 Hogback Road, the victim testified in January at a preliminary examination.

The man, who MLive/The Ann Arbor News is declining to name as a reported victim of sexual assault, was in jail after pleading guilty to retail fraud, he said.

Roleke was working as a Christian volunteer at the jail at the time of the incident, between November and December 2012, retired Washtenaw County Sheriffs Sgt. Richard Williams testified. Williams worked at the jail and Roleke oversaw the Christian volunteers, he said.

At the alleged victims final prayer session with him, Roleke put his hand on the mans shoulder and thigh, the man said. He then rubbed his inner thigh, the man said.

"He grabbed my d**k. And um, I just blacked out, spazzed out., the man said.

The man told him that other inmates were having similar problems, Williams said. After speaking with another inmate, Williams had Rolekes access to the jail revoked and contacted detectives.

Fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct is a high court misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in prison.
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- With any luck, Pascagoula might be ready for its prime time closeup come 2021.

Main Street Pascagoula has partnered with the City and local TV station WGUD to put together a package to submit to HGTV in the hopes of being selected as the city featured in the 2021 series Home Town Takeover in which the selected town would have homes, businesses and public facilities improved by the HGTV team.

Back in late November, something came across my email and I went and explored it," said Rebecca Davis, Director of Main Street Pascagoula, "but I found out the deadline to enter was Dec. 6, which was the same night as Downtown for the Holidays, so we were all in high gear for that.

I also found out the application process was extensive and had to be done in a short period of time. I knew there was no way we could have it done by Dec. 6, so we let it go.

Later, however, someone came across the information for Home Town Takeover.

People started tagging me on Facebook so Id see it, Davis said. I brought it to the Main Street board and they said yes, lets do it.

The qualifications to apply were a population of less than 40,000 (Pascagoulas is 21,733), homes with great architecture longing to be revealed and a Main Street that could use a facelift.

With WGUDs help, Pascagoulas package, which must be submitted by the Feb. 7 deadline, will include a portfolio of pictures, stories and a video of our towns rich history."

The husband-wife team of Ben and Erin Napier are the hosts of Home Town Takeover. They have already given the makeover treatment to their hometown of Laurel, Miss., in the HGTV series Home Town.

Davis said shes both excited and nervous about the fact the first series was shot in a Mississippi town.

Im excited but also a little scared because of what theyve done in Laurel, she said. "Whos to say theyd stay in Mississippi for this? But if you dont reach out to do it, youll never know if you were ever even in the running.

So the way I look at it, you just do it.

Home Town Takeover will air over six episodes sometime in 2021, according to HGTV.

Renovating one house at a time is an awesome experience, Ben Napier said in an interview published on the HGTV website. But the chance to support an entire town where we can help bring a community back to life -- thats something weve always wanted to try.

Erin Napier agreed.

This is a big one, she said. HGTV has never, ever taken on a whole-town renovation and restoration project, and were so proud and excited to be leading the team that will get it done."

"Show us those photos and videos. Tell us what makes your town special and how youd like us to help make it better. You may see us in your town soon.
A section of the busy Lower Kabete road will be closed for two months starting January 28.

The Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) on Wednesday issued a public notice announcing the closure of the Lower Kabete Road/Brookside Drive junction March 25.

The roads Authority said the junction will be closed to allow for the construction of a box culvert.

Kura further advised motorists to use alternative routes to reach their specific destinations in the area.

Motorists headed towards Lower Kabete are urged to the Peponi Road-Mwanzi Road route while motorists bound for Brookside Drive via Mwanzi Road are advised to use Peponi road-Lower Kabete road-Brookside drive.

For Lower Kabete-bound traffic, from Brookside drive, motorists will be guided through Lower Kabete- Peponi-Mwanzi Road.

Drivers enroute to Mwanzi Road from Brookside Drive should use Lower Kabete-Peponi Road.

Kenha said traffic marshals would be on-site to guide motorists appropriately on what alternative roads to follow.

The construction is expected to ease traffic along Lower Kabete road.
The explosion that ripped across Houston at 4:24 a.m. Friday killed two workers at Watson Grinding and Manufacturing before radiating outward and smashing into nearby homes and businesses. It knocked houses off foundations, blew doors off frames, shattered windows, cracked sheetrock and jerked residents awake as far as 14 miles away.

Firefighters and police officers who arrived at the Spring Branch-area neighborhood found debris scattered across an area more than half a mile wide and a community reeling.

Authorities were still investigating the cause of the blast. Police Chief Art Acevedo said neither terrorism nor arson is suspected at the family-owned machining company, which makes and services parts for everything from the oil and gas to aerospace industries.

Late Friday police identified the two victims of the explosion as Frank Flores and Gerado Carasquillo.

The explosion damaged some 200 homes and businesses. Police blocked off nearby streets, bordering a mile-long hot zone on Genard and Clay roads to the north and south and Gessner Road and Steffani Lane to the east and west.

This is a very powerful blast, Acevedo said, at one of several news conferences authorities held throughout the day.

FOR SUBSCRIBERS: What we know about Watson Grinding and Manufacturing, the company at center of Houston explosion

A hazardous materials team responded, and the Red Cross set up a shelter at a church a few blocks west of the site. Arson investigators and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also joined the investigation.

Firefighters took one person to the hospital, Fire Chief Sam Pena said, and spent hours working to shut off propylene leaking inside the warehouse. Later in the day, HFD officials said an additional 18 people had self-reported to local emergency rooms because of problems breathing, cuts, or other injuries.

Now Playing: West Houston building explosion Video: Houston Chronicle

The shockwave devastated the manufacturing warehouse. It crumbled metal siding like aluminum foil.

A velocity seismograph, 20 miles away in Hockley, recorded what looked like an earthquake that began at 4:24 a.m. and lasted 10 seconds, said Alexandros Savvaidis, manager of the Texas Seismological Network. Despite the shaking, the blast did not register as an earthquake on the U.S. Geological Surveys earthquake monitors.

It did also show up in meteorological data that monitors disturbances in the air. National Weather Service meteorologist Kent Prochazka said NWS equipment registered a cloud of debris and smoke that measured about a nautical mile in diameter.

At the site of the blast, neighbors in nearby homes woke to find doors torn from their hinges; cracked sheetrock tumbling off walls; ceiling fans, screens and blinds ripped from their fastenings.

NEIGHBORS REACT: 'I thought somebody attacked us': Gessner chemical explosion devastates west Houston neighborhoods

When Alondra Maldonado heard the boom, she thought the neighborhood had been hit with a bomb.

Like many others, shed been fast asleep when the blast hit. She ran into her parents room, freaking out.

Its scary, I was shook because I literally always walk through there, she said. And my sister, she works in the mornings, so sometimes she walks through there to get to the Metro (bus stop). I imagined her walking and something happened to her. But thank God she didnt work today.

Acevedo said investigators would need several days  perhaps as many as five  to pore over the blast site. He asked residents to look out for debris, which could include human remains. He warned would-be thieves that if they tried to take advantage of the situation they would be prosecuted harshly.

Do not get caught looting, he said. It will not be a slap on the wrist.

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality officials said they were aware of the incident and had sent staff to the area to help conduct air monitoring.

Throughout the day, arson investigators and other first responders picked through the rubble at Watson Grinding and Manufacturing. The company was founded 60 years ago by James Watson, who died in 2014. It is now owned and headed by his son, John M. Watson. The chief operating officer is John Watsons brother-in-law, Robert Bob White. Company officials have not yet responded to requests for comment.

The company started small in 1960 and has grown to employ more than 100 people. In 2002, Watson opened the adjacent Watson Valve Services. The company manufactures and services valve and pump components, specializing in large parts, hard metals and exotic alloys.

CHEMICAL BREAKDOWN: Explosions and toxic releases are frequent and frightening, and yet the threats are hidden from the public

Records show Watson Grinding and Manufacturing ran afoul of federal regulators in 2013, when the Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined the company about $8,000 for violations related to the control of hazardous energy and wiring problems. It was inspected again in 2015, and no violations were found.

Across the neighborhood surrounding the warehouse, local business owners and residents spent the day taking stock of the blast.

Theres multiple commercial buildings damaged, multiple homes damaged. Weve got insulation blown half a mile from the explosion site, said Scott Huckabee, a volunteer firefighter from the Lake Livingston area who arrived near the site around 7:20 a.m.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Justin Travis, the supply chain manager for a fastener manufacturer on Clay Road, was waiting for an inspector to arrive at the companys warehouse, a five-minute walk from the explosion site.

The disaster wreaked havoc on the facility. Full panels of insulation had fallen from the ceiling tiles, skylights were broken out, and the warehouses giant metal doors were hanging on by cables.

Were going to have inspectors here to see if its even safe to work because who knows what condition the roof is in, Travis said.

The explosion forced the closure of two Cy-Fair ISD schools, Bane Elementary School and Dean Middle School. Spring Branch ISD remained open, but kept students inside due to air quality concerns.

Several residents filed lawsuits Friday against the manufacturing company, along with temporary restraining orders to preserve evidence.

This is not the first time Houston has seen massive explosions nor is it the first time that widespread areas of Houston and surrounding areas have suffered from the effects of such a massive explosion, attorney Robert Kwok said in a lawsuit filed on behalf of multiple families whose homes were damaged.

I WAS SHOOK: Residents recall hearing massive warehouse explosion in west Houston, only on HoustonChronicle.com

The incident is the latest to hit a Houston-area company in recent years. In 2014, a chemical leak at a now-shuttered DuPont chemical plant in La Porte killed four people. A massive four-alarm chemical fire damaged neighborhoods in Spring Branch in 2016. Fridays explosion followed at least five major chemical incidents in Southeast Texas last year.

A 2016 Houston Chronicle investigation found theres a major chemical incident every six weeks in the Houston area.

In the hours after the blast, environmental watchdogs excoriated another chemical explosion that had claimed more lives in the Houston area, and called for greater government oversight to protect workers and residents living and working near industrial plants.

It is saddening and infuriating to see more people die because of another chemical explosion, said Elena Craft, with the Environmental Defense Fund. These deadly tragedies cannot be the new normal in a city and region where industrial threats abound. ... Enough is enough.

Top hits: Get Houston Chronicle stories sent directly to your inbox

Staff writers Gabrielle Banks, Jordan Blum, Matt Dempsey, Erin Douglas, Olivia Tallet, Perla Trevizo and Shelby Webb contributed to this story.
Ravine Bluffs is intriguing not because its a smaller version of Oak Park, but because it has a different topography and character. The land is punctuated by spectacular ravines, not flat. The streets are curving, not straight. Wright designed a delightful little bridge over one of those ravines. A reconstructed version of the span is still there, complete with seating that invites visitors to overlook a stream below. Beautifully sculpted urns and light towers, also by Wright, herald the entrances to Ravine Bluffs.
Billionaire investor George Soros, known for his outspoken liberal views, has criticised virtually all economic powers of the world, including the US and China, for being ruled by "would-be or actual dictators" and named India among the countries where nationalism is making further headway.

In a statement released here during the WEF 2020 week, he also questioned success of China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, saying it has required giving large loans, some of which will never be repaid.

The 89-year old, who has been a big donor for Democrats, said the strongest powers, the US, China and Russia, have "remained in the hands of would-be or actual dictators and the ranks of authoritarian rulers continued to grow".

Stating that he had last year hoped things to improve, including on international cooperation, Soros said his hopes crashed badly and nationalism, far from being reversed, made further headway.

"The biggest and most frightening setback occurred in India where a democratically-elected Narendra Modi is creating a Hindu nationalist state, imposing punitive measures on Kashmir, a semi-autonomous Muslim region, and threatening to deprive millions of Muslims of their citizenship," he claimed.

In Latin America, a humanitarian catastrophe continues to unfold.

"To top it all off, Kim Jong-Un threatened the United States with its nuclear capabilities in his New Year's speech and Trump's impetuous actions heightened the risk of a conflagration in the Middle East," Soros said.

On the relationship between the United States and China, he said it has become incredibly complicated and difficult to understand.

He said the two presidents, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, face internal constraints and various enemies.

"Both try to extend the powers of their office to its limit and beyond. While they have found some mutually beneficial reasons to cooperate, their motivations are completely different."



He went on to call Trump "a con man and the ultimate narcissist who wants the world to revolve around him".

"When his fantasy of becoming president came true, his narcissism developed a pathological dimension. Indeed, he has transgressed the limits imposed on the presidency by the Constitution and has been impeached for it. At the same time, he has managed to gather a large number of followers who have bought into his alternative reality," he said.

"This has turned his narcissism into a malignant disease. He came to believe that he could impose his alternative reality not only on his followers but on reality itself," he noted.

Soros said Trump is willing to sacrifice the national interests for his personal interests and he will do practically anything to win re-election.

By contrast, Xi is eager to exploit Trump's weaknesses and use artificial intelligence to achieve total control over his people, he claimed.

Soros, however, said Xi's success is far from assured.

"One of China's vulnerabilities is that it still depends on the United States to supply it with the microprocessors it needs to dominate the 5G market and to fully implement the social credit system that is a threat to open societies."



"The Belt and Road Initiative has required giving large loans, some of which will never be repaid. China can ill-afford this because its budget deficit has increased and its trade surplus has diminished.

"Since Xi Jinping has centralised power in his hands, China's economic policy has also lost its flexibility and inventiveness," Soros said.

To make matters worse for Xi, the Trump administration has developed a comprehensive and bipartisan policy towards China, which has declared that China is a strategic rival, he added.

Soros further claimed Trump didn't have a strategic plan when he authorised the launching of a missile that killed the leader of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Suleimani, and an Iraqi pro-Iranian militia commander.

But Trump has an unfailing instinct that tells him how his faithful followers would respond to his actions, he said.

In Davos, Soros also announced that he is creating a new university network to better prepare students for current and future global challenges.

He said he is endowing the network with USD 1 billion and asking other philanthropists to contribute.

The network, which will operate throughout the world, has been named the Open Society University Network (OSUN). It will integrate teaching and research across higher education institutions worldwide.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In the quest for greater speed and agility, organisations in Thailand are attempting to determine how to renew or upgrade legacy systems at pace and with minimal cost to support digital transformation efforts.

Most CIOs are realising the benefits of adopting a software-driven approach, leveraging hyper-converged infrastructure to manage ongoing pain points associated with outdated technologies.

Taking such steps is allowing technology executives in Thailand to focus on the applications capable of powering the business to future growth in 2020 and beyond.

CIOs in Thailand are being impacted by lots of different market trends, including Thailand 4.0, observed Maytha Deemeechai, country manager of Enterprise Business Group at Lenovo Thailand. Digital transformation is a leading priority for CIOs but unclear strategies and progress from the government is preventing execution in some organisations.

This is also alongside the rising threat of cyber security, change management challenges and people being resistant to change.

In response, Lenovo is partnering with VMware to help CIOs digitally transform in Thailand through the deployment of new solutions and technologies in the enterprise.

We have an aligned partnership at local, regional and worldwide levels which was first developed upon establishment of our Data Centre Group business at Lenovo, Deemeechai added.

We partner on the research and development [R&D] of new products with a strong focus on small to medium-enterprise [SME] businesses, helping consult with CIOs to understand key challenges and design solutions to meet customer requirements.

By 2022, 61 per cent of Thailands GDP (gross domestic product) is expected to be digitalised, with growth forecast across all sectors. According to IDC, such a shift is expected to drive approximately US$72 billion in IT-related spending across the country during the next three years.

The race to reinvent is inevitable, outlined Anchalee Sudechawongsakul, market analyst at IDC Thailand. We foresee a steady growth in adoption of emerging technologies in the country mainly because Thailand is working to improve economic growth by shifting its economy from an industry-driven country to one that is driven by high-tech innovations.

As a result, Sudechawongsakul urged business leaders to embrace emerging technologies in order to maximise opportunities amid the rise of a new digital transformation economy.

Innovation will continue to disrupt every industry and business leaders should focus on technologies that enable business outcomes, Sudechawongsakul added. This is the right time to realise that enabling the digital industry will drive other industries to grow as well.

Digital maturity

Speaking as head of IT at Asset World  one of Thailands most prominent real estate conglomerates  Tanin Uthayanaka said that in the context of digital transformation, technology acts as only an enabler.

Process improvement and change management are key to success in digital transformation and we have an organisational structure which caters for process improvement called the Operation Excellence Department, Uthayanaka outlined. This department has established change management processes and has senior management support to improve, change and create processes using technology.

We are at the stage of implementing many digital transformation projects ranging from business intelligence, CRM [customer relationship management] systems, smart buildings and video analytics.

Founded in 1961, Pacific Healthcare Group (PHC) is a business born in Thailand with aspirations to be one of the leading health specialists across Southeast Asia.

Fast forward to 2020 and the organisation has connected with more than 600 million consumers, with plans in place to further expand into the key markets of the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia.

The PHC business has gradually experienced digital interruptions for past few years, mainly in the area of sales, marketing and IT, added Daniel Lui, CIO and vice president of operations at PHC.

As part of an internal strategy to accelerate marketing plans, Lui said PHC embarked on an artificial intelligence (AI) journey in early 2019.

The new digital platform for customer data went live in August 2019 with dashboards and KPIs, Lui explained. After sufficient data is accumulated, the next step is to apply an AI algorithm for augmented marketing decision making.

The long-term goal is to achieve AI-enabled marketing automation. We are also in process of building our own e-commerce platform which will allow us to interact with customers during the online purchasing process. This will enable a seamless customer experience through both online and offline channels.

Meanwhile at RMA Group  a global business solutions headquartered in Bangkok with expertise in establishing distribution and service support networks  the organisation recently entered the standardisation stage of its digital transformation strategy.

We are bringing in new ERP [enterprise resource planning] systems to better leverage centralised information systems, with the target of reducing the number of manual processes we have and converge towards a single source of truth, said Alex Konnaris, group CIO of RMA Group.

According to Konnaris, such standardisation and mapping of business processes should be driven by the business itself, and not IT.

Often employees are so busy doing operational tasks that they do not have time or the drive to focus on process standardisation and improvement, he cautioned. Change management must be driven from the top, empowering resources allocation and decision makers.

New systems should fit well into the start small, think big concept to allow for confidence building through proof of concepts before scaling up. Legacy systems can present roadblocks but as long as the above has been achieved, it should be manageable.

In defining success from a digital transformation perspective, Konnaris cited the use of real-time reports and dashboards within the company, through having the fingertips of senior management accessing accurate data and gaining insights from automated analysis.

Transformation in action

Drawing on more than 30 years experience in delivering business transformation programs, as CIO of PHC, Lui holds overall responsibilities for IT and logistics across operating countries, driving the strategy, operations and innovation.

From our short experience, the key challenges of impacting our digital transformation project execution are data issues and local data privacy law, Lui acknowledged.

As business is driven by data, we need to raise the data literacy level in the company so that they have the ability to read, work with, analyse and argue with data to get powerful insights for business decisions.

Clear data ownership should be identified, with data management process and tools in place. This requires good quality of data, hence there must be measures in place to ensure data accuracy and completeness at the data sources.

For Uthayanaka, one of the major roadblocks of digital transformation remains linked to culture change.

People are used to doing things the way they have done it and do not want to take additional responsibilities because of transformation, he said. The cost of transformation requires management to consider following competitors instead of leading them, which results in complaints from users due to the running of old systems.

As a result, Uthayanaka said digital transformation success must come from the top down, calling on senior management executives to instigate change.

We have senior management support to review the change of processes to be implemented using technology with weekly management committee meetings and an Operation Excellence Department as the facilitator of process improvement, he advised. Also, the finance department has embarked on shift of mindset to provide financial services to business units with the assistance of external consultants.

To learn more about how Lenovo can help with your digital transformation, click here.
In a sweeping legal victory for members of the Rohingya Muslim minority, the United Nations' top court yesterday ordered Myanmar to take all measures in its power to prevent genocide against the Rohingya people.

The court's president, Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf, said the International Court of Justice "is of the opinion that the Rohingya in Myanmar remain extremely vulnerable".

In a unanimous decision, the court added that its order for so-called provisional measures intended to protect the Rohingya is binding "and creates international legal obligations" on Myanmar.

The court also ordered Myanmar to "take effective measures to prevent the destruction and ensure the preservation of evidence related" to allegations of genocidal acts.

Yasmin Ullah, a Ronhingya activist who lives in Vancouver and was in court for the decision, called it a historic ruling.

"Today, having the judges unanimously agree to the protection of Rohingya means so much to us because we're now allowed to exist and it's legally binding," she told reporters on the steps of the court.

At the end of an hour-long sitting in the court's wood-panelled Great Hall of Justice, judges also ordered Myanmar to report to them in four months on what measures the country has taken to comply with the order and then to report every six months as the case moves slowly through the world court.

Rogingya refugees living in camps in Bangladesh welcomed the order.

"This is good news. We thank the court as it has reflected our hope for justice. The verdict proves that Myanmar has become a nation of torturers," 39-year-old Abdul Jalil said at Kutupalong camp in Cox's Bazar.

However, he expressed doubts that Myanmar would fully comply.

Rights activists also welcomed the decision, which was even supported by a temporary judge appointed by Myanmar to be part of the 17-judge panel.

"The ICJ order to Myanmar to take concrete steps to prevent the genocide of the Rohingya is a landmark step to stop further atrocities against one of the world's most persecuted people," said Param-Preet Singh, associate international justice director of New York-based Human Rights Watch. "Concerned governments and UN bodies should now weigh in to ensure that the order is enforced as the genocide case moves forward."

The world court order for what it calls provisional measures came in a case brought by the African nation of Gambia on behalf of an organisation of Muslim nations that accuses Myanmar of genocide in its crackdown on the Rohingya.
Jan. 23--The Doomsday Clock has been moved to 100 seconds to midnight, the closest to destructive than at any point since the clock was created in 1947.

It was set at 2 minutes to midnight last year and the year before, but this is the first time the clock has be counted in seconds rather than minutes. The closer to midnight, the more dangerous circumstances, according to the organization that keeps the clock.

The dual threats of nuclear war and climate change, along with information warfare, have placed the world in its most precarious situation, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists announced in a release on Thursday.

"Humanity continues to face two simultaneous existential dangers -- nuclear war and climate change -- that are compounded by a threat multiplier, cyber-enabled information warfare, that undercuts society's ability to respond," the organization stated.

They also took aim at world leaders who they say have damaged world stability.

"The international security situation is dire, not just because these threats exist, but because world leaders have allowed the international political infrastructure for managing them to erode."

In order to downgrade the world threat, the group called on world powers to restrain their nuclear arms race; rededicate themselves to the temperature goal of the Paris climate agreement; slow nuclear proliferation in the Middle East; and stop misinformation campaigns that undermine science and media.

"It is 100 seconds to midnight. We are now expressing how close the world is to catastrophe in seconds -- not hours, or even minutes. It is the closest to Doomsday we have ever been in the history of the Doomsday Clock" said Rachel Bronson, president and CEO of the group.

The farthest the clock has been from midnight was in 1991, with the end of the Cold War, when it was 17 minutes to midnight.

--By Frank Carnevale, The Tribune-Review, Greensburg, PA
Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], Jan 24 (ANI): Union Minister of Human Resource Development Ramesh Pokhriyal on Friday said that the government will not let universities become the "centre of politics".



"We cannot keep our students entangled in petty issues. We will not let universities become a center of politics. We will never allow it," said Pokhriyal while speaking to media persons here.

The Minister's remarks comes during his visit to Srinagar as he was a part of the Centre's special public outreach programme for Jammu and Kashmir under which the delegation of cabinet ministers is supposed to interact with the people and educate them about various schemes of the government.

They will also disseminate information about the importance of the Centre's policies for the overall development of the Union Territory and its people along with the steps taken by the government particularly in the past five months after the abrogation of Article 370 provisions and bifurcation of the erstwhile state. (ANI)


A GoAir plane to Phuket on Friday returned to Bengaluru airport after a "technical glitch" was detected mid-air.

A precautionary air turn was made by a Bengaluru-Phuket flight (G8 041) with 173 passengers on board, informed GoAir spokesperson.

Aircraft has since been changed and departed with passengers for its destination at 1044 hours.

The airline company said it has regretted the inconvenience caused to its passengers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A detail of a page of an authentic 15th Century copy of a letter written by Christopher Columbus as displayed at the Vatican, Thursday, June 14, 2018. The United States is returning to the Vatican Library a letter written by Christopher Columbus in 1493 announcing his discovery of the New World that was stolen and replaced with a forgery. (Tony Gentile/Pool Photo via AP) Read more

Sometime in the mid-1980s, someone made their way into the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana in Venice, Italy, and walked out with a 500-year-old Latin copy of the first letter Christopher Columbus wrote to Ferdinand, King of Spain, describing the wonders he beheld in the Americas.

This week, after a lengthy investigation, U.S. officials announced in Delaware that the letter, which bears an estimated market value of $1.3 million, had been recovered and authenticated, and would eventually be returned to Venice.

Culturally significant artifacts are assigned a monetary value in the worlds marketplaces in which they are traded, said William Walker, acting special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations, Philadelphia. But the cultural and symbolic worth of these objects far surpasses any given dollar value to the nations to whom they rightfully belong."

The U.S. Attorneys Office in Delaware, ICE, and the Italian Carabinieri Command for Protection of Cultural Heritage worked together on the probe. They would not provide details of how the letter entered the U.S. or where it had been seized.

Experienced art investigators in Delaware, who have tracked down three other stolen Columbus letters in recent years, served as key investigators, a U.S. spokesperson said.

According to court papers, the Venice library acquired the letter, known as a Plannck I edition, in 1875. Sometime between 1985 and 1988, the letter was stolen. That was apparently that.

But in May 2003, court records say, a collector unknowingly purchased the letter from a rare-book dealer in the United States. Then, last year, after lengthy investigation, authorities contacted the owner of the letter, who agreed to turn it over for examination.

Paul Needham, librarian at Princeton Universitys Scheide Library, was brought in to inspect the document. Needham had no doubt that the letter he was examining was the same letter gone missing from Venice nearly 40 years ago.

The individual in possession of the letter agreed to relinquish title.

"I'm just very happy that a national treasure of Italy is going back to a great library in Italy," Needham told CNN. "The American owner really did the right thing. It must be very disappointing to learn that years later, a book you bought that you paid a lot of money for turns out to be stolen."

U.S. District Court in Delaware has ordered the letter be returned to the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana.
Empty nesters are finding themselves supporting their adult children more and more, according to a recent survey conducted by senior community website 55Places.com.

We found that many empty nesters no longer have an empty nest as their children are either returning home or are in need of some type of support, said 55Places Chief Operating Officer Danny Goodman. Roughly four in 10 empty nesters say theyve had to financially support their adult children, and many help with bills, rent, and other shared expenses.

Goodman said 40 percent of parents continue to financially support their children after theyve left, spending an average of $254 per month, though 86 percent said they believe their children will be financially independent within two years.

The most common expenses empty nesters reported keeping up for their children included things like cell phone plans (24 percent), rent (19 percent), groceries (18 percent) and student loans (15 percent).

The notion that once your children graduate and start their careers that youre done with your financial responsibilities as a parent is not always the case, Goodman said. Millennials and Gen-Zers are getting married later, may struggle with job instability or significant college debts, which is leading to prolonged financial dependence with their parents.

Nearly half of the respondents said their children had left the home after an expected average age of 21 and 38 percent had their child move back in. About 60 percent said they think their child or children will return to the nest at some point.

We seem to hear it more and more, said Steven Gamble, deputy director of Delaware County Office of Services for the Aging. It seems to be more regular in more recent years than we would have heard it in prior years.

Gamble, who has been with COSA for 22 years, said his experience is merely anecdotal but seems to comport with the 55Places survey.

Because of college education costs, in some cases that has gone up so much people have tended to come back home to live while theyre figuring out what their next steps are, how to pay off student loans, he said. Cost of living, housing costs  this southeastern region in Pennsylvania has relatively high housing costs. Even a one-bedroom apartment in Delco, youre looking at close to $1,000, and based on the types of jobs that are available, some people might not be able to live independently on their own.

Gamble said some might have been affected by the opioid crisis gripping the nation, while others are moving back in to help care for their aging parents and grandparents or simply to keep hold of the familial experience.

Goodman added that given the financial burdens parents might experience after their children leave home, it is important to factor those costs into retirement savings. The survey found half of respondents are saving more for retirement, though 23 percent said retirement savings represents their largest financial stress.

This generation of young adults continues to experience some of the financial burdens of the working world and mounting student debt, and its highly possible that theyll continue to lean on their parents for financial support as rent and housing prices continue to outpace wages, he said. However, our study found that many parents of these adult children do not necessarily feel overly burdened by the reliance. If children are still financially dependent, though, parents might have to adjust their daily spending habits so their long-term plans arent impacted.

The survey noted that millennials also seem to be more connected to their parents than prior generations, with 30 percent of respondents reporting an increase in communication with their children after they left home.

Some 34 percent said they talk to their children daily and 41 percent keep in touch more than once per week. Most of these might be phone or online interactions, but a quarter said they see their children in person several times per month. Another 24 percent said they see their kids just a few times per year, such as on holidays.

Parents may experience a wide array of emotions depending on the circumstances leading to the extended support of their adult children, said Goodman. For some, theres a sense of closeness that comes to remaining highly involved in their childrens lives. For others, there can be added financial stress where their own savings and retirement may be reallocated to assist their children.

While 66 percent of respondents reported experiencing loneliness and grief with the departure of their children  a condition more commonly known as empty nest syndrome  almost 70 percent reported enjoying their newfound lifestyle and 80 percent reported spending more one-on-one time with their spouse.

More than 80 percent also reported having more freedom and 59 percent either took up a new hobby or returned to an old one. The survey also found 63 percent of respondents reported their marital bonds had strengthened, while 58 percent said their newly rediscovered freedom led to more intimacy with their spouse.

The survey of 1,860 adults whose children had left home was conducted from June 28 through July 12, with the average age of respondents pegged at 49 years old. Of those, 61 percent were female and 39 percent were male. 77 percent were married.

To view the full survey, visit 55places.com/blog/survey-reveals-empty-nesters-still-supporting-children-financially.
Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/24/2020 -- Advance Market Analytics published a new research publication on "Global Lactose Free Foods Market Insights, to 2025" with 169 pages and enriched with self-explained Tables and charts in presentable format. In the Study you will find new evolving Trends, Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities generated by targeting market stakeholders. The growth of the Lactose Free Foods market is mainly driven by the increasing R&D spending across the world. Some of the key players profiled in the study are Arla Foods amba (Denmark), GCMMF (Amul)(India), Omira GmbH (Germany), Galaxy Nutritional Foods, Inc. (United States), Green Valley Creamery (United States), Crowley Foods (United States), Edlong Dairy Technologies (United States), Parmalat SpA (Italy), Valio Ltd. (Finland), Alpro (Belgium) and Daiya Foods Inc. (Canada). Additionally, following companies can also be profiled that are part of our coverage like Doves Farm Foods Ltd (United Kingdom), Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited (New Zealand) and Kerry Group (Ireland).



Lactose, the natural sugar that is present in milk or milk products. Lactase, an enzyme helps in the digestion of lactose. So, lack of lactase leads to the gathering of lactose in the body, which origins gas, bloating, cramps, nausea, as well as diarrhea. The foods which do not comprise lactose are known as lactose-free food products. Growing awareness about the health benefits related with lactose free food products among consumers, as well as growing number of lactose intolerance patients are the factors that impel the global lactose free foods market growth over the coming years.



Get Free Exclusive PDF Sample Copy of This Research @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/sample-report/13744-global-lactose-free-foods-market



Market Drivers

- Growing awareness about the health benefits related with lactose free food products among consumers

- Growing number of lactose intolerance patients



Market Trend

- Introduction of lactose-free ice-creams



Restraints

- Hard competition from dairy alternatives like cereals and nuts



Opportunities

- Growth in retail landscape



Challenges

- High price of lactose-free food products



The Lactose Free Foods Market report provides a basic overview of the industry including its definition, geography segment, end use/application segment and competitor segment and manufacturing technology. Then, the report explores the international major industry players in detail.



According to the Regional Segmentation the Lactose Free Foods Market provides the Information covers following regions:

*North America

*South America

*Asia & Pacific

*Europe

*MEA (Middle East and Africa)



The key countries in each region are taken into consideration as well, such as United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, South Africa, Nigeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Germany, United Kingdom (UK), the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Turkey, Russia, France, Poland, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, India, Australia and New Zealand etc.



Have Any Questions Regarding Global Lactose Free Foods Market Report, Ask Our Experts@ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/enquiry-before-buy/13744-global-lactose-free-foods-market



The titled segments and sub-section of the market are illuminated below:

by Type (Lactose-free dairy, Lactose-free ice cream, Lactose-free milk formula, Others), Distribution Channel (Hypermarket/ Supermarket, Convenience Store, Pharmacies/Drugstore, Online), Source (Soy, Rice, Coconut, Almond, Hemp Milk, Others), End User (Adults, Children)



Top Players in the Market are: Arla Foods amba (Denmark), GCMMF (Amul)(India), Omira GmbH (Germany), Galaxy Nutritional Foods, Inc. (United States), Green Valley Creamery (United States), Crowley Foods (United States), Edlong Dairy Technologies (United States), Parmalat SpA (Italy), Valio Ltd. (Finland), Alpro (Belgium) and Daiya Foods Inc. (Canada). Additionally, following companies can also be profiled that are part of our coverage like Doves Farm Foods Ltd (United Kingdom), Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited (New Zealand) and Kerry Group (Ireland)



Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/reports/13744-global-lactose-free-foods-market



Strategic Points Covered in Table of Content of Global Lactose Free Foods Market:

Chapter 1: Introduction, market driving force product Objective of Study and Research Scope the Lactose Free Foods market

Chapter 2: Exclusive Summary  the basic information of the Lactose Free Foods Market.

Chapter 3: Displaying the Market Dynamics- Drivers, Trends and Challenges of the Lactose Free Foods

Chapter 4: Presenting the Lactose Free Foods Market Factor Analysis Porters Five Forces, Supply/Value Chain, PESTEL analysis, Market Entropy, Patent/Trademark Analysis.

Chapter 5: Displaying the by Type, End User and Region 2013-2018

Chapter 6: Evaluating the leading manufacturers of the Lactose Free Foods market which consists of its Competitive Landscape, Peer Group Analysis, BCG Matrix & Company Profile

Chapter 7: To evaluate the market by segments, by countries and by manufacturers with revenue share and sales by key countries in these various regions.

Chapter 8 & 9: Displaying the Appendix, Methodology and Data Source



Finally, Lactose Free Foods Market is a valuable source of guidance for individuals and companies.



Research Methodology:

- The top-down and bottom-up approaches are used to estimate and validate the size of the global Lactose Free Foods market.

- In order to reach an exhaustive list of functional and relevant players who offer Lactose Free Foods various industry classification standards are closely followed such as NAICS, ICB, SIC to penetrate deep in important geographies.

- Thereafter, a thorough validation test is conducted to reach most relevant players specifically having product line i.e. Lactose Free Foods.

- In order to make priority list sorting is done based on revenue generation as per latest reporting with the help of paid databases such as Factiva, Bloomberg etc.

- Finally the questionnaire is set and specifically designed to address all the necessities for primary data collection after getting prior appointment. This helps us to gather the data for the players' revenue, profit, products, growth etc.

- Almost 80% of data is collected through primary medium and further validation is done through various secondary sources that includes Regulators, World Bank, Association, Company Website, Annual reports, press releases etc.



Buy the Latest Detailed Report @ https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/buy-now?format=1&report=13744



Key questions answered

- Who are the Leading key players and what are their Key Business plans in the Lactose Free Foods market?

- What are the key concerns of the five forces analysis of the Lactose Free Foods market?

- What are different prospects and threats faced by the dealers in the Lactose Free Foods market?

- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?



Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.
DECATUR  Charles E. Gardner, the Decatur man accused of stabbing a victim to death in a dispute over a $150 video gambling jackpot, appeared in court Thursday facing a new attempted first-degree murder charge alleging he had stabbed and tried to kill another man the day before the murder took place.

Gardner, 48, stood silently, his head bowed, as Macon County Circuit Court Judge Phoebe Bowers read out the attempted murder charge. She also read out a second charge of armed violence based on an aggravated battery committed on a public way, an offense related to the attempted murder charge.

Information filed by prosecutors said the new charges date to August 8, 2018, and involved a victim who was stabbed in the abdomen and liver. The charge information sheets offer no other details about the circumstances, and Macon County States Attorney Jay Scott said he could not comment outside of the basic information made public so far.

Gardner refused to tell the judge his age and said nothing when asked if he wanted time to hire private counsel. Bowers said that, based on his refusal to speak, she would go ahead and appoint a public defender to represent him.

If you want to talk to me and ask for time to hire private counsel, I will give you time to do so, she told Gardner, who was then led back to the Macon County Jail where he is being held without bond.

He did not enter a plea and the judge scheduled a preliminary hearing on the new charges for Feb. 5.

Gardner, who has also refused to talk at several previous court appearances, is listed in court records as pleading not guilty in the Aug. 9, 2018, stabbing death of 24-year-old Cody Drew. Gardner is alleged to have murdered Drew on South Oakland Avenue after he refused to hand over a share of a $150 video poker jackpot won earlier that evening in a local bar.

Prosecutors told an earlier preliminary hearing that Gardner had fled Decatur on a Greyhound bus after the murder but had been intercepted and arrested by police in Louisiana after a warrant was issued for his arrest. He is due in court for a pretrial hearing on the murder charge Feb. 4.

Prison records show Gardner has previously been sentenced to 30 years in prison for a conviction of attempted murder in Decatur in 1993. He had been paroled in August 2017 but was back in prison by November 2018 after being arrested on a charge of robbery with a firearm.

Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0

Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
by Mathias Hariyadi

Built in 1928, St Josephs Catholic Church needs to be renovated and enlarged. Originally it could accommodate 100 people, but now it has more than 700 members. Despite having all the permits, the project is opposed by a small group of young Muslims who threaten action against public order. For the first time, Indonesian Catholics openly criticise local authorities for their incompetence and inability to uphold the countrys values.

Jakarta (AsiaNews)  Catholic leaders have decided to fight against Islamic extremists and assert their communitys right to rebuild a church dedicated to Saint Joseph in Tanjung Balai, Karimun, on Riau Island, near Sumatra.

Local Catholics are critical of Karimun district chief who, bowing to extremists, has turned against the project even though it has all the required permits.

Their action is perhaps a first for Indonesian Catholics as they openly criticise local authorities for their incompetence and inability to uphold the countrys values of freedom of religion and expression.

Legal permit

Ramesko Purba, a spokesman for the St Joseph Catholic community in Karimun, told media yesterday that they have all the legal papers issued by local authorities to go ahead with the church project.

They include a letter[*] of support and favourable recommendation by local village elders dated 24 May 2019, the required building permit (IMB[]), and the papers for the project signed by the district authority[], dated 2 October 2019.

As soon as the building permit was issued, some local Islamic radicals spoke out against it, demanding that it be dropped in the public interest. Abdul Latif, a local member of the opposition, is one of them. Latif is also a former dean of the University of Karimun.

"The construction project [of the Catholic church] does not bring any benefit to the population of Karimun, he said. We believe the project cannot be done until we make our pressure felt.

Latif has also threatened to stage protests, stop traffic and cause other unspecified problems. In his view, the construction site is located in the centre of Karimun. So many 'problems' are likely to happen. If the church is moved elsewhere, then it's fine.

The Catholic response

In an official statement, Ramesko Purba, on behalf of the St Joseph community, stressed that:

1. the continuation of the project is legal since it has the recommendations of the village leaders and a building permit;

2. many reports and rumours have been deliberately made up by some local Islamic extremists, including some from the United Islamic Society Forum (FUIB)[], such as the claim that the church bell tower will be much higher than the home of the Karimun district chief". In fact, the bell tower will only be 11.75 metres, whereas the house is 12 metres high.

Purba added that Christians have deep respect for the Islamic community. As we explained to Karimun officials, there will be no symbol or ornament outside the church; no cross, no statue, no image of Mary will be displayed visible outside the church.

This decision was taken reluctantly because it will make the building similar to a gym or a conference hall; however, we accept this to minimise protest. For the Church, this is truly a test of humility.

Muslim majority and Christian minority

The statement goes on to explain that St Josephs Catholic Church was built in 1928 and consecrated in 1935, years before Indonesia became an independent country and decades before the home of the Karimun district chief was built.

What we want to do is not build a new church, but renovate the existing one so that it has adequate capacity. If we continue worshipping [in it], there are potential dangers since the construction is already very old.

The original capacity of this church in 1935 was only 100 people. Today we have over 700 members. During high holy days, like Christmas and Easter, hundreds of people are forced to stand, patiently, outside the building. In case of sudden heavy rains, they have scatter.

The city of Karimun has four sub-districts with only one Catholic church in the city centre and a chapel on the outskirts, in Tebing, whilst the Catholic community now numbers 1,800 members.

Catholic contribution to social peace

Unlike Abdul Latif, the Christian community has never created "problems to local residents. On the contrary, it has made an important contribution to social development.

For several years, the statement reads, we have kept a low profile and have submitted to social pressures. But now, on this fundamental issue, we shall no longer do so.

"Catholicism is a religion that actively promotes peace and social tolerance, as the pontiff said repeatedly. He is an international figure who promotes peace and love. This is our way of life, recognised all over the world ".

Criticising the district chief

Muslim extremists have promised to continue protesting if the building permit is not revoked today.

"We are convinced, the statement says, that the security forces will not meet their demands. Indonesia is a country based on the rule of law.

"We are critical of Karimun district, which appears to be subservient to the demands of protesters. The local authority seems to have taken a step back from its previous commitment, when it asked us to stop church construction for three months, that is until 25 January 2020.

"The district chief of Karimun has shown slowness and laziness in countering the attacks by [church] opponents, consisting of no more than 20 people, some underage.

Speaking to AsiaNews today, Archbishop Sunarka OFM of Pangkalpinang gave his full support to the position taken by Catholic leaders on the hot issue of new churches.

The Diocese of Pangkalpinang is located on Bangka island and covers two provinces: Bangka-Belitung and Riau Islands, plus the Indragiri Hilir district in Riau province.

Photo credit: St Joseph Parish Church in Karimun

[*] 650/TR-DISPUPR/V/74/2019.

[] Izin Mendirikan Bangunan.

[] 0386/DPMPTSP/IMB-81/2019.

[] Forum Umat Islam Bersatu.
507 Shares Share

Alexa Karsdans medical bill for a sore throat reached over $28,000. NPR told her story recently, but I want you to know why I am actually glad this happened. Why is it good news that her charges were so exorbitant, and that her insurance paid over twenty-five thousand dollars for one laboratory test? This story is a brilliant illustration of fundamental flaws in our health care system.

We hear many politicians using the language of consumers, markets, and competition in describing health care products and services. However, I cannot imagine any more opaque financial transaction in our society. A patient leaves a doctors office thinking they might be billed one hundred, or very generously, five hundred dollars for the services rendered. The fact that Ms. Karsdans bill for an upper respiratory infection was more than the cost of my familys minivan is astounding. Price transparency is a vital, but not final, need in our system.

Ms. Karsdans insurer paid $25,000 for one test that normally costs $653. That is a cost 38 times higher than it should be. This shows us that any budget estimates based on our current system of insurance expenditures could be extremely inflated. How can we know whether a given health policy will cost $38 trillion or $1 trillion? On another day, we can address the problem that this $25,000 test was 100 percent unnecessary for the patients treatment!

If you were helping a friend who had been spending their money recklessly, you would not start their budget with the amount they had been spending. Instead, you would help them find the bare necessities that have to be paid each month. This is why the best arguments for US health policy will not start with estimates based on our current system of expenditures. We would be better served by focusing on comparison with the health systems of other developed nations as a starting point.

I am a third-generation Kentucky primary care physician, and a member of Physicians for a National Health Program. I want every person in America to have access to high-quality health care in a system that is easy to understand. In order to get there, we will have to dismantle the profit-driven interests that invented surprise bills such as Ms. Karsdans. I support the (Expanded and Improved) Medicare for All Act sponsored by Representative Pramila Jayapal and championed by Senator Bernie Sanders, and I hope you will, too. As you consider these important issues, please take to heart the words of young father and activist Ady Barkan: If the richest nation in the history of the world really decided to, we could guarantee health care as a right, and we could probably do it more quickly than people think  but the problem is right now, were not even trying.

Thad Salmon is an internal medicine-pediatrics physician.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
The mermen began to appear in the summer of 2017, in St. Johns, Newfoundland, roughly midway between Montreal and Greenland. Sunning themselves on rocks by the harbor, or on the graffiti-strewn pylons of an abandoned waterfront fort, they caused quite a stir. One merman even ventured into a local tavern, where he splayed himself out atop the bar, puffing a long cigarette.

It turns out that the mermen did not suddenly emerge from the sea, but from the head of Hasan Hai, a Pakistani-Newfoundlander who works at a St. Johns tech start-up and as a bartender on the side. Several years ago, Hai, a gentle giant with tattoos, a shaved head, and a foot-long beard, started the Newfoundland and Labrador Beard and Mustache Club, a social organization, he told me, that has evolved into something akin to an enlightened Elks Lodge. The intent is to promote healthy and non-traditional expressions of masculinity, he said recently.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

The mermen spotted around town of late are volunteers for the clubs annual fundraising effort, the Merby calendar (in Newfoundland-speak, by, roughly translated, means dude), now in its third year.

As skin-baring calendars go, the Merby version revealed significant demand for a chest-hair-and-pot-belly alternative to the busty-women-in-bikinis genre. The hope was to raise $1,000 for a local charity. The calendars ended up netting $300,000 in their first year, from buyers in 37 countries, funds that were donated to a sexual assault and domestic violence initiative that seeks to enlist and engage men in preventing such violence.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Since the first calendar debuted two years ago, the Beard and Mustache Clubs mission has rapidly expanded. It now runs fundraisers throughout the year and has partnered with Come From Awaythe hit Broadway musical about a tiny Newfoundland town where 38 planes were forced to land on 9/11to expand its reach. Hai and his Merbys have become media darlings in Canada. The CBC recently completed filming a documentary about the club. A St. Johns brewery now offers a Merbys IPA. An all-ages Merbys cartoon (depicting an underwater world where a Merby feels free to be himself) and a line of Merby merch (stuffed Merbys, Merby action figures) are also in the works.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

The Merbys impact has even extended into academia. The calendar was recently cited in a series of papers investigating the evolution of the mermaid archetypeoften portrayed as an unattainable seductressin an era of changing gender norms and merculture cosplay events, such as the annual MerMagic Con. The authors explore how the merman is currently being reconsidered in ways that reflect and/or negotiate his phallic lack  by a group of hirsute and predominantly large bodied males in Newfoundland. They posit that the demise of the fisheries from which Newfoundland men have historically derived their livelihoods underlies this shift in the regions maritime culture. The Merbys, the authors conclude, have served to re-masculinise the merman.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

But for Hai, the calendars are a lighthearted way to start a conversation about a loaded topic. When the first calendar came out, the group pushed it as a tongue-in-cheek critique of toxic masculinity, but the term was like bait for mens rights activists, who began clogging up the members social media feeds with spiteful chatter.

The term toxic masculinity is very polarizing. A lot of people cant look past those words, even though they are the people who need to hear the message, Hai said. They conflate it as an attack on men, as saying masculinity is inherently wrong, which is not the caseits just certain expressions of masculinity that are harmful. So weve changed our language.

Advertisement

The group has few rules, though the website lays out guidelines for prospective Merbys, including Dont be a dick, by and Inclusion is our jam. It is one boys club in which women are definitely allowed: Its the beard inside that matters, the website says.

Nikki Baldwin, the executive director of the St. Johns Planned Parenthoodthe organization selected to receive the proceeds from the 2020 calendarexplained how some of those expressions of masculinity can be dangerous. When men are taught to hold down their feelings, it can make their emotions come out in volatile ways. And in traditional gender roles, the subtext is that women are less valuable, subservient, she said. So when a mans anger does bubble up, if they were not taught better ways to deal with their emotions, it can lead to gender-based violence, especially intimate partner violence.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Certain modes of masculinity have also been tied to loneliness, depression, and high rates of male suicide. The Beard and Mustache Club is intended as a place for its members to bond and to express manhood in ways that might earn them ridicule in other settings. Members gather for barbecues, pub nights, and bonfires at the beach. And the yearly calendar production means getting together to sew merman tails and road-tripping around the island for photo shootswhich have been cathartic for many of the men involved.

Advertisement

A lot of the models open up during the shoots, talking about their issues with mental illness or body image issues, Hai said. One fellow in the calendar hadnt taken his shirt off in public since he was a child; he was embarrassed of his own body. It became a transformative experience for him.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Jeff Hillyard was working as a forklift salesman when he saw a call on Facebook for guys willing to pose as mermen. He is now the vice president of the club. The calendar project allows us to be whimsical and have fun and laugh. At the forklift dealership, the guys were like, Hey man, dont you know you look silly? Hillyard said. Thats the whole idea. I still have the same masculine traits that I always had. They didnt go anywhere. I just think its fun to put on a tail and throw some glitter in my beard and show a side of myself that I may not otherwise show.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

The Merbys are widely known in the province, and the photos shoots can become a bit of a spectacle, with passerby attempting to take their own photos of the mermen. Sometimes Hasan has to do crowd control, said Courtney Wells, a graphic designer and the creative force behind the calendars. Newfoundlands majestic fjords, rocky beaches, and historic ports and lighthouses serve as the backdrop for many of the photo shoots.

If Planet Merby can feel like one big PSA , Hai insisted its not about moral posturing so much as a product of trials by fire.

Wells recalled a young boy that showed up at one of the clubs eventshe liked mermaid tails and was getting bullied in school and told he was too girlywho was made an honorary Merby on the spot, she said. That little boy went away that day on top of the world. Its incredibly refreshing to see very male-presenting, masculine men come out and say, I want to put on makeup, I want the frilliest tail you can find because I want to show my son or my daughter that there is more than one way to be a man. The 2020 calendar includes gay and transgender men as well.

Advertisement

Advertisement

If Planet Merby can feel like one big PSA, Hai insisted its not about moral posturing so much as a product of real trials by fireincluding his own. A father of three, Hai hit a low point in 2013 after the dissolution of his marriage. Hed become an angry person who sometimes used harmful language and was extraordinarily defensive when my behavior was challenged by others, traits he says helped lead to his divorce. Underneath those traits, he believes, was depressiona man unable to understand the reasons for his unhappiness and unwilling to step out of his emotional silo.

I dont feel like I was a pig or some terrible person, but there were all these small things that a lot of men dont even realize were doing, Hai said. He continues to discover blind spots: hogging the Merby spotlight, for example. The calendar was his idea, but its execution and success is largely a product of Wellss graphic design talent and her dogged efforts to orchestrate photo shoots, costumes, printing, and shipping. In the deluge of media attention, Hai said it didnt occur to him to share the stage.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

I feel like sometimes I get left out of interviews because Im not the face of the Merbys, Wells told me.

Hai has recently made an effort to direct media requests and speaking invitations her way. It shouldnt be up to women or anyone who doesnt have the stage to ask for it, he said. Its incumbent on those of us in positions of power and privilege to give them those opportunitiesor to just get out of the way.
Philadelphia, January 24, 2020--In a follow-up to the landmark 2011 study that demonstrated prenatal surgery for spina bifida has measurable benefits over surgery after birth for one of the most disabling neural tube defects, researchers have published new findings. These findings show significant physical and emotional benefits a decade later in school-age children who received corrective surgery in the womb for myelomeningocele, the most severe form of spina bifida.

"These findings add to the growing body of literature demonstrating the benefits of prenatal surgery for spina bifida," said N. Scott Adzick, MD, Surgeon-in-Chief at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Director of CHOP's Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment, and co-author of the study, published January, 24, 2020 in Pediatrics. "Providers should take these findings into account when counseling expectant mothers to ensure that families considering prenatal surgery for their fetus understand the potential risks and benefits."

Spina bifida is a birth defect in which an area of the spinal column doesn't form properly, leaving a section of the spinal cord and spinal nerves exposed through an opening in the back. The condition affects approximately one in 1,500 births in the United States and often results in weakness or paralysis below the location of the defect, leading to an inability to walk unassisted and a loss of bladder and bowel control. It also changes the flow of spinal fluid, leading to a life-threatening buildup of spinal fluid in the brain that requires the insertion of a tube, or shunt, to drain the excess fluid.

The study, known as "MOMS2: Follow up of the Management Of Myelomeningocele Study," was a collaborative effort, involving researchers from CHOP, University of Pittsburgh, George Washington University Biostatistics Center, University of Houston, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, University of California, San Francisco, University of California, Davis, and Seattle Children's Hospital.

Results of the original MOMS trial

The original MOMS study, co-led by CHOP and published in 2011 in the New England Journal of Medicine, compared outcomes after prenatal and postnatal repair of myelomeningocele. Results demonstrated that prenatal repair can offer significantly better results than traditional postnatal repair. Babies with spina bifida who received prenatal surgery were better able to walk two and a half years after surgery than those operated on after birth and had better overall motor function. They were also less likely to need a shunt.

MOMS2 results, benefits of fetal surgery for spina bifida continue into childhood

Now, after following those two groups of patients for up to 10 years after birth, researchers in the follow-up MOMS2 trial have shown those benefits continue into childhood. More children in the prenatal surgery group were able to walk independently by the time they were school age, and they showed better gross and fine motor skills. They also demonstrated better control over their bladder and bowel movements; children who underwent prenatal surgery were almost six times as likely to go to the bathroom on their own than those operated on after birth.

Patients who received surgery in the womb continued to need fewer shunts, surgeries and catheterizations into childhood than patients who'd received surgery after birth. Children and families in the prenatal group also reported a better quality of life, with less stress on the family overall.

The study's primary outcome, which was adaptive behavior in the prenatal versus postnatal surgery group, did not show a measurable difference in the patients' ability to perform activities needed for communication, social interactions, and daily living in the everyday environment. The study also did not find cognitive benefits in the prenatal surgery group, though the authors noted that all children with myelomeningocele are at risk for significant learning and adaptation challenges, regardless of surgery type.

Study details

The study was conducted at the three centers that participated in the original MOMS trial (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Vanderbilt University, and the University of California, San Francisco), along with the independent data-coordinating center at the George Washington University Biostatistics Center. The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development sponsored the research.

The original MOMS trial sought to enroll 200 patients, but the NIH ended the trial in December 2010, after 183 surgeries had occurred, based on clear evidence of efficacy for the prenatal procedure. Of the 183 babies in the original study, only 161 participated in the MOMS2 study, as eight children died before MOMS2 enrollment began, ten declined to participate, and four could not be reached.

MOMS 2 participation consisted of a single comprehensive study visit with the patient between June 2011 and April 2017, when the patients ranged in age from six to ten years old. Children underwent a neurodevelopmental and behavioral evaluation by a psychologist and a physical exam and functioning assessment by a physical therapist. A parent or caregiver also completed the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales II to evaluate adaptive behavior through an interview with a study psychologist.

Continued advances in fetal surgery for spina bifida

As a pioneer in the field, CHOP began performing fetal surgery for spina bifida in 1998, three years after CHOP launched the Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment. Since then, the Center has continued to improve the technique and publish on the practice, leading to significant advances even since the MOMS trial.

At CHOP, the length of the fetal surgery itself has decreased, and the gestational age of the infants at the time of birth has increased - an important step, as many of the babies delivered in the MOMS study who'd undergone prenatal surgery were born prematurely. Doctors have also observed improved movement in the lower limbs and continue to follow up with those patients to monitor their progress and outcomes.

"It is extremely gratifying to see that the positive results from the initial MOMS trial endure into childhood," Adzick said. "Fetal surgery is a complex and serious procedure and should only be done by experienced teams. Research needs to continue to refine the technique in a way that will improve outcomes even further."

###

The research was funded by NIH NICHD grant U011HD06854.

Houtrow AJ, Thom EA, Fletcher JM, Burrows PK, Adzick NS, Thomas NH, Brock III JW, Cooper T, Lee H, Bilaniuk L, Glenn OA, Pruthi S, MacPherson C, Farmer DL, Johnson MP, Howell LJ, Gupta N, Walker WO. "Prenatal Repair of Myelomeningocele and School-Age Functional Outcomes," Pediatrics, online January 24, 2020.
Michigan voters can now take pictures of their ballots without fear of spoiling it, and lawmakers are looking to make that rule official - but disagreements remain over whether people should be able to take a ballot selfie.

The Secretary of State contends Michigan voters can take a picture of their ballot in the voting booth, and share it on social media after theyre more than 100 feet of a polling place. Thats based on a settlement reached last year in a lawsuit filed by Portage resident Joel Crookston in 2016.

But pictures of a ballot with a persons face in it - in other words, a ballot selfie - are not permitted under the settlement, Secretary of State legislative liaison Jenita Moore told lawmakers at a House Elections and Ethics Committee meeting Wednesday.

You can take a picture of the ballot," she said. It cannot be you holding up your ballot.

Rep. Steven Johnson, R-Wayland, is sponsoring legislation to write ballot photography rights into state law, and sponsored a similar bill last session. He disagrees with the Secretary of States assessment and said he believes voters have the constitutional right to take photos of their ballots, however they choose.

The problem with the old law was that it specifically restricted you from taking a picture of your ballot," Johnson said. Whether or not a persons face was in the photo was never an issue in the past, he continued.

Johnsons bill, House Bill 4196, is intended to apply to in-person and absentee voters alike, he said, adding that he intends to keep working with the Secretary of States office to see if any changes to the bills language are needed.

The ballot selfie issue first came into the spotlight in 2016, when Crookston sued the state after learning photos hed taken of his ballot and posted to Instagram were against the law.

On Wednesday, he told lawmakers fixing state law to ensure future voters have ballot photography rights was the right thing to do.

I settled with the state of Michigan, but I do think its important to go back and correct the law and reflect what the rules are that the Secretary of State agreed to, he said.

Johnsons bill remains before the House Elections and Ethics Committee, and would need to pass the full House and Senate and be signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to become law.

Related:

Michigan voters can photograph their ballot, but selfies still banned

Man files lawsuit challenging Michigan ballot selfie ban

Bill allowing ballot selfies unexpectedly clears committee
Ralph Tenuta brought us together  again and again  at his destination 52nd Street store.

He was always there smiling, greeting us, asking how we were and how our family was doing.

He knew our names, and he knew our relatives names. He knew us and welcomed us.

He welcomed our children and nurtured them, employing hundreds of them in his family business over the decades.

He cared about them, and us.

Ralph Tenuta died at 87 last week, and losing him is a great loss for Kenosha. But what we remember can last for many many years. And that should be his lesson.

Tenuta loved Kenosha and us. He brought us together in his store, Tenutas Delicatessen Liquors and Wines, and really all over the community.

He helped build a community connection to Carthage College, where his life will be celebrated by well wishes tonight and tomorrow.

He also helped establish the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, again bringing the community and the college together.

He greatly supported our colleges, helping to grow them and build our community at the same time. And he held leadership roles in local business and was honored for his hard work and foresight.

All along, this native Kenoshan wanted us to be together, because together we were better.

Ralph Tenuta was a pillar of this community, a leader and mentor. His life should be celebrated as we remember what he did for us.

Funeral services for Ralph Tenuta will be held on Saturday. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. in Siebert Chapel of Carthage College. A visitation will be held today from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. in Siebert Chapel.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 24)  State volcanologists are alarmed after a video of a man touring the highly-dangerous Taal Volcano Island goes viral.

A video of a man going around the soon-to-be "no man's land" went viral this week. The six-minute vlog featured an unidentified man  wearing slippers and covering his nose with a shirt  walking inside the volcano island. He was pointing out the grim effects of the volcano's steam- and magma-laden eruption that happened on January 12 and 13.

Phivolcs Volcano Monitoring and Eruption Prediction Division Chief Mariton Bornas said the video might send the wrong notion to the public that the slight calm in Taal's activities means it's safe to go in the area. Alert Level 4 remains over the volcano, meaning a hazardous eruption is possible within a matter of hours.

"Of course nag-aalala po kami na baka mahikayat ang maraming tao na pumunta ng Taal Volcano Island. Napaka mapanganib po nito," she said in a media briefing.

[Translation: Of course we're worried this will encourage people to go in the Taal Volcano island. This is very dangerous.]

The Phivolcs official said the man was walking along the mountain trail of Daang Kastila and did not reach the Taal main crater. However, she said this is still unsafe because a huge crack or fissure was found in the area, which created a new explosion pit.

"Sa explosion pit, maaring magkaroon ng biglang pagputok katulad ng sa main crater," she said.

[Translation: There can be a sudden explosion in the new explosion pit, just like the explosions in the main crater.]

Aside from the threat of a devastating explosion, Bornas said there are many toxic gasses in the volcano. The active volcano is emitting fluctuating amounts of sulfur dioxide. She added there is also an unusually high amount of harmful carbon dioxide that is released by Taal.

"Nandiyan ang posibilidad na biglang pagsaboy ng carbon dioxide. Ito ay isang volcanic gas na walang amoy, walang kulay, ngunit mabigat po ito at humahalili sa hangin. Maaari po tayong ma-asphyxiate," she said.

[Translation: Carbon dioxide may be spewed. It is an odorless and colorless volcanic gas, but it can stay in the air and can eventually suffocate those who inhale it.]

The government said it will permanently bar people from returning to the island where Taal Volcano stands. There are permanent settlements on the island, which is frequented by tourists despite it being categorized as a permanent danger zone even prior to its eruption. Volcanologists said there is a slim chance of survival for anyone who happens to be there when an eruption occurs. The Batangas government said they will ensure the island will formally be a no mans land.
Auckland: The first match of the T20 series between India and New Zealand was played today. The match was taking place at the Eden Park ground in Auckland. Winning the toss in this match, Indian team captain Virat Kohli decided to bowl first. Batting first, New Zealand, batting first, has given Team India a target of 204 runs for victory, which Team India has achieved by losing just four wickets.

Rowing Federation lifts two-year ban on Dattu Bhokanal

Earlier, New Zealand's Colin Munro, Kane Williamson, and Ross Taylor scored brilliant fifties. Salami batsman Munro played brilliant innings of 56 off 42 balls, while Williamson scored 51 off 26 balls and Ross Taylor made 54 off 27 balls. Which brought New Zealand's score to 203 at the loss of 5 wickets.

World Archery lifts ban from India with these conditions

At the same time, India started off chasing a target like a mountain of 204 runs, and opener Rohit Sharma returned to the pavilion after scoring 7 runs from 6 balls. After this, Lokesh Rahul played 56 balls in 26 balls and returned Team India to the match, besides captain Kohli scored 45 runs. But after that Shreyas Iyer scored an unbeaten 58 off 29 balls to lead the team to victory in the last over.

On retiring from football, captain Sunil Chhetri says- "On the other side of his career..."
New Delhi [India], Jan 24 (ANI): Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said here on Friday that democracy has proven to be the most enduring political system and elections are the indispensable root of democracy. He took over as Chairperson of the Forum of the Election Management Bodies of South Asia (FEMBoSA) for the year 2020.



"Democracy has proven to be the most enduring political system. Democratic countries develop strong institutions to implement a fair electoral system and ensure good governance," said Arora. Election Commission of India on Friday hosted the 10th annual meeting of the FEMBoSA in the national capital.

Chief Election Commissioner of Bangladesh, KM Nurul Huda was the Chairperson of FEMBoSA.

Arora drew a special mention to the general election 2019 along with assembly elections and said, "Election is the most indispensable root of democracy. After votes have been counted, the result must be accepted no matter how disappointed the defeated candidate feels."

International delegates from various countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka and others attended the conference on 'Strengthening of institutional capacity of election management bodies'.

ECI has decided to create a chair in the International Institute of Democracy in the memory of former CEC late TN Seshan which former CEC N Gopalaswami will head.

Tomorrow ECI will observe 10th National Voters' day in the presence of President of India Ram Nath Kovind. (ANI)


Liquefied natural gas prices are poised to test record lows this year thanks to an onslaught of new supply and warmer winter temperatures curbing consumption.

The startup of new export projects from Australia to the U.S. has flooded the market, while brimming stockpiles in Europe and an expected slowdown in Chinese demand have dumped cold water on consumption prospects. LNG for spot delivery to North Asia is on track to hit an all-time low this summer, while gas prices in Europe and the U.S. are trading at the weakest seasonal levels since 1999.

The global oversupply of LNG has been building and building and building, said Ron Ozer, founder of gas-focused hedge fund Statar Capital LLC in New York. The gas market cant stomach the oversupply and warm weather, and its getting both.

This is what the rock-bottom prices mean for the industry:

American Halt

U.S. gas exports have surged amid the nations shale boom, but plummeting prices may now throttle back shipments or encourage sustained maintenance while firms weather the storm. Producers and companies with off-take agreements may decide not to load cargoes because prices are too low to earn a profit after accounting for shipping costs.

With cargoes from the Gulf of Mexico currently priced around $2.65 per million Btu, cash margins are positive only because of weak U.S. benchmark prices, according to Robert Sims, an analyst at Wood Mackenzie Ltd. Theres a chance that production could be reduced if the spread between benchmark Henry Hub and U.S. Gulf LNG narrows 25 cents, he said.

Torbjorn Tornqvist, chief executive officer of Gunvor Group Ltd., the biggest independent LNG trader, sees the market about 50 cents away from shut downs.

We can see even lower prices in the next few months, Tornqvist said in an interview this week in Davos. The supply and demand balance doesnt look good.

U.S. cargoes are seen least profitable in Asia in April, and in Europe in July, Anna Borisova, analyst at BloombergNEF in London, said.

Contract Scrutiny

Buyers may demand revisions to long-term supply contracts, such as better pricing or the removal of restrictions on reselling cargoes. Japans Osaka Gas Co. has already taken action, moving an Exxon Mobil Corp.-led LNG joint-venture to arbitration in a bid to get lower rates.

Qatar, one of the worlds biggest suppliers and traditionally the strictest when it comes to pricing, may be showing some flexibility. The supplier has started offering more competitive price links, with the lowest seen to Korea Gas at 10.8% the price of oil, according to FGE, an energy consultant. That compares to 2008, when Qatar signed contracts with Chinese firms in the 16% range.

Investment delays

After four years of belt-tightening, the amount of investments last year in new production capacity set a record. Companies including Qatar Petroleum, Novatek PJSC and Venture Global LNG Inc. sanctioned new plants from the U.S. to Russia.

But the current wave of additional supply and persistent weak global prices is challenging new projects seeking final investment decisions, according to Morgan Stanley. The bank reduced its outlook for the number of projects reaching FID and revised lower its new supply outlook for the middle of the decade. The low price environment will also likely force Qatar to stagger or postpone its planned 64% capacity expansion, currently scheduled by 2027, according to FGE.

Weak prices mean more pain for global energy majors including Total SA and Eni SpA, who have seen profits from gas-related businesses dwindle. Some European utilities -- who face mounting criticism for their use of fossil fuels -- may decide to follow peers that are ditching LNG altogether. Denmarks Orsted A/S cited loss-making LNG operations for its decision to sell the business to Glencore Plc at the end of last year, while Spains Iberdrola SA completed its exit this month.

Royal Dutch Shell Plc, the biggest trader of the fuel, has been able to stave off losses on LNG through contracts linked to oil, while leveraging the weak spot market. Most long-term LNG contracts are linked to the price of crude, which puts them about twice as expensive as prompt cargoes sourced on the spot market.

The worlds biggest importers of LNG, Japans Jera Co. and Korea Gas Corp., will benefit from lower prices and may be encouraged to shift more of their procurement to the spot market. Jera gets about 20% on spot or via short-term contracts, which run four years of less. That compares with an average of 32% across global LNG trade. Korea Gas bought about one-quarter of its imports on a spot basis in 2018. Still, the firms upside is limited as they will source most of the remainder through oil-linked contracts.

Indias transition toward gas may get a boost, as the nations price-sensitive buyers are poised to pick up more cargoes from the spot market, Morgan Stanley analysts said in a Jan. 16 note. Beneficiaries of the transition are gas aggregators like Gail India Ltd and Petronet LNG Ltd and city gas distributors, according to the bank.
Families will be able to buy State-owned sites at knockdown prices as part of a Fine Gael plan to encourage people to move to rural towns and villages.

The new scheme is central to the partys election manifesto and will see them offer potential homeowners plots of publicly owned land in rural communities at cost price.

The land will be connected to roads, water and electricity when sold and those buying the plots will be asked to contract a developer to build their homes.

Fine Gael believes there are at least 1,400 sites in rural communities it says will provide about 8,000 new homes.

Any site offered under the scheme will be big enough to accommodate between four and six new houses.

The plan is aimed at encouraging people to live in towns and villages rather than construct one-off houses in more rural areas with a population of fewer than 2,000 people.

Local authorities will be charged with selling sites and will not be permitted to make a profit from the sale of the land.

Councils will also be able to buy sites in populated ruralareas and sell them on if it makes financial sense.

The scheme will only be available to owner-occupiers and anyone buying a site will have to commit to living in the house for a certain period.

The local authority run project will be open to first-time buyers and downsizers. The aim is to increase the housing stock and repopulate towns and villages that were badly affected by the crash.

Some of the sites are derelict bus depots on Office of Public Works land which are no longer in use. The brownfield plots will have a low market value but connected to local services ahead of sale.

Buyers will be expected to apply for planning permission themselves but as the sites are in towns they are not expected to face much difficulty.

Meanwhile, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail are set to make election manifesto promises to increase the universal childcare subsidy in a move to win the votes of young families.

At an event today, Fine Gael will pledge to increase the payment for under-threes from 20-per-week to 100-per week on a phased basis.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will also say he will increase in the early childhood care and education (ECCE) free childcare scheme for three- to five-year-olds from 38 weeks to 42 by 2025. This represents savings for parents of up to 972.

Fine Gael also plans to increase the 60,000 income threshold for the targeted childcare scheme of increased subsidies.

Fianna Fail is expected to promise an increase in the child subsidy payment to 80 over the next five years. Leader Micheal Martin will also pledge to increase maternity leave by four weeks and double paternity leave, currently set at two weeks.

The party will also promise to reduce capital gains tax from 33pc to 25pc over the lifetime of the next government.

There will also be a pledge to increase the State pension by 25 a week over the next five years and hike disability payments by 10 per week.

Fine Gael has also said it will increase the pension by 5 per week every year for the next five years.

Fianna Fail will vow to ban vaping and e-cigarettes for anyone under 18 and also prohibit the sale of flavours which may be attractive to children.

The election commitments come after Mr Martin ruled out a grand coalition with Fine Gael as he bids instead to become the next Taoiseach.

His comments came after Mr Varadkar said it would be "the responsible thing to do for the country" if his party could not form a government with other smaller parties.

Mr Martin's declaration will be seen by some in Fianna Fail as a tacit admission that this General Election represents his last opportunity to become Taoiseach at the third attempt.

After failing to make his views on a grand coalition known during or immediately after Wednesday's televised debate, it was also an effort to ease any fears in Fianna Fail that the party could keep Fine Gael and some of its more unpopular Cabinet ministers in office after the election.

"We will not be entering into a grand coalition. The people want change.

"It's very clear the message we're receiving, people want change in this country. They want Fine Gael out of office.

"I've made it very clear we want to go into government with other centre parties," Mr Martin said yesterday on the campaign trail in Dublin.

"Clearly Labour and the Green Party are the other parties that we want to go into government with - obviously that is to be determined by the people - and others as well and that is our very clear position.

"That is our position, Fine Gael needs to come out of government. It's been there too long."

But Mr Varadkar insisted yesterday he was still open to the possibility having initially raised it in the first head-to-head debate of the campaign.

"If the numbers fall a certain way and the only way to form a stable government is for Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to cooperate and come together I think that's the responsible thing to do for the country.

"We've seen in Spain and in Israel where politicians have plunged their country into second elections and third elections and the results don't change very much," he said while campaigning in his Dublin West constituency.

Mr Martin said yesterday Fine Gael was "demonising Fianna Fail as the worst possible incarnation" but was now proposing a possible government with the party.
Governance in K'taka completely collapsed, CM should pave way for new govt: BJP

A 1,001 steps is what Shobha Karandlaje climbed for Yeddy to become CM

K'taka BJP MP booked for controversial tweet saying 'Kerala Hindus denied water for supporting CAA

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Bengaluru, Jan 24: The Karnataka BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje was booked for a social media post that claimed Hindu families in Malappuram were not given water for supporting the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). On Friday, the Kerala Police has registered a case against the BJP MP.

Reportedly, Karandlaje was booked under the Section 153 (A) of the IPC (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) in Kuttipuram police station in Kerala.

No NPR in the state but census will continue, Kerala government informs Centre

The Udupi-Chickmagaluru's BJP MP made a controversial tweet that became the bone of contention for her, On Wednesday, she reportedly had tweeted, "Kerala is taking baby steps to become another Kashmir! Hindus of Kuttipuram Panchayat of Malappuram was denied water supply as they supported #CAA2019."

Kerala is taking baby steps to become another Kashmir!



Hindus of Kuttipuram Panchayat of Malappuram was denied water supply as they supported #CAA2019.#SevaBharati has been supplying water ever since.



Will Lutyens telecast this intolerance of PEACEFULS frm God's Own Country!? pic.twitter.com/y0HKI4bitD  Shobha Karandlaje (@ShobhaBJP) January 22, 2020

She also added, "#SevaBharati has been supplying water ever since. Will Lutyens telecast this intolerance of PEACEFULS frm God's Own Country!?"

As per reports, the complaint was filed by a Supreme Court advocate and resident of Malappuram named Subhash Chandran KR.

Hail Kerala Govt!



Instead of acting against the discrimination happened to the dalit families of Cherukunnu, they lodged a case against me!



High time for entire society to unite against these pressurising tactics of non-performing, biased left govt.@TimesNow @BJP4Keralam

1/2 https://t.co/duiRMnfbg4  Shobha Karandlaje (@ShobhaBJP) January 24, 2020

However, the Kerala police have cleared the issue by saying that the matter is not related to CAA, but was about irrigation water that is used for other purposes.

On Friday, regarding the reports of the complaint against her, Karandlaje reacted with another tweet, where she wrote, "Hail Kerala Govt! Instead of acting against the discrimination happened to the dalit families of Cherukunnu, they lodged a case against me! High time for entire society to unite against these pressurising tactics of non-performing, biased left govt."

I strongly condemn the action by Kerala Police against @BJP4Karnataka MP @ShobhaBJP.



Instead of performing his duty as the head of the Government, CM @vijayanpinarayi is behaving like a Dictator.



Dear Kerala, it is time for the Awakening . . . #ISupportShobhaKarandlaje https://t.co/LfBOv4eY5V  C T Ravi     (@CTRavi_BJP) January 24, 2020

The other Karnataka BJP leaders too spoke out in her support.

CT Ravi, the Karnataka tourism minister claimed the Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan of behaving like a dictator.

On Friday Ravi tweeted, "I strongly condemn the action by Kerala Police against @BJP4Karnataka MP @ShobhaBJP. Instead of performing his duty as the head of the Government, CM @vijayanpinarayi is behaving like a Dictator. Dear Kerala, it is time for the Awakening . . . #ISupportShobhaKarandlaje."

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, January 24, 2020, 17:18 [IST]
While recapping the first day of arguments in the Senate impeachment trial, The Views resident conservative host Meghan McCain complained on Thursday that she feels like she lives on a different planet than her colleagues while asserting that shes the only conservative in all of New York City.

After the panel applauded House impeachment manager Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) for laying out the case against President Donald Trump pretty succinctly and doing an incredible job, McCain emphatically disagreed with her co-hosts.

I think as usual I always feel like I live on a different planet than everyone that works on this show because when I saw Adam Schiff I actually thought that he seemed very performative, she grumbled. Hes clearly trying to take over for Dianne Feinstein. Shes the oldest member of the Senate.

I dont think this is going to make that much difference, McCain added. I think if youre a liberal you think what you guys think and if youre a conservative like me you think its performance art.

Moments later, meanwhile, McCain had the producers play a clip of Schiff saying that the presidents misconduct cannot be decided at the ballot box, for we cannot be assured that the vote will be fairly won to explain why she was swayed in the opposite direction.

So I think for me, I always hated it when President Trump said I wont concede because we dont know if it will be a fair election, she declared, adding: Why are you even bringing this election into an investigation where youre talking about a phone call that happened? To me it hasthe election right now has nothing to do with it.

To emphasize the importance of the impeachment, thats why, liberal co-host Joy Behar responded.

I didnt like it when Trump did it or when he does it now, the idea that there are fake elections happening or it has something to do with this process and again as the only conservative in all of New York City I, McCain shot back, prompting Behar to interrupt and point out that she isnt actually the only conservative in New York.

Story continues

Where? Find me! Say hi to me, McCain exclaimed before muttering under her breath, I dont care.

Co-host Sunny Hostin would eventually interject, noting that she believed the reason Schiff referred to the honesty of the next election is because this president is on trial for trying to interfere with an election, causing McCain to merely repeat what Schiff had said.

With the rest of the panel pushing back that Russia already interfered in 2016 and the charge is that Trump was attempting to get Ukraine to meddle in the upcoming election, McCain snapped back, You cant take the anger of this on me that Im not swayed by Adam Schiff.

Whoopi Goldberg, who typically plays the role of referee, jumped in to assure McCain that no one was angry at her and they were just trying to have a conversation before throwing it to commercial break.

I guess, I just feltI dont have it in me today, McCain uttered at the end of the segment.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here

Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!

Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
Gates said Garrafa-Salazar was with a woman babysitting three children earlier this month when the alleged crimes took place, Gates said. Two of the children were 8 and the other 9, Gates said.
WASHINGTON  As President Trumps Senate impeachment trial stretched into its third day on Thursday, the Democratic prosecutors arguing the case for his removal played a video clip from 1999 of Senator Lindsey Graham, now one of Mr. Trumps staunchest defenders, contradicting a central tenet of the presidents legal defense.

Senators craned their necks from their seats to catch a glimpse of Mr. Grahams reaction to having his words used against him, but he was not at his desk or indeed in the chamber at all, and his seatmate was left patting his empty chair.

The absence of Mr. Graham, Republican of South Carolina, illustrated an emerging reality for senators as they attend a constitutional proceeding with heavy political consequences: Even when you are one of 100 people weighing the fate of a president in only the third such trial in the nations history, restlessness can set in.

Were doing our best, said Senator Kevin Cramer, Republican of North Dakota. With each break and with each disruption if you will, to the sitting in the chair, there becomes a little less discipline.
Palestinians reject US meeting with Netanyahu, promise not to recognise peace plan expected to favour Israel.

The Palestinian Authority (PA) has warned Israel and the United States against crossing red lines promising not to recognise any Middle East peace plan it had previously rejected as US President Donald Trump prepares to present the plan in the coming days.

Trump said on Thursday he will likely release the long-awaited plan before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits Washington, DC next week.

Probably well release it a little bit prior to that, the US leader told reporters travelling with him to Florida on board Air Force One, referring to the White House meeting on Tuesday.

Its a great plan. Its a plan that really would work, he added.

The Palestinians, who were not invited to the White House meeting with Netanyahu, immediately rejected the US-hosted talks, as they reject the peace plan itself, which has been in the works since 2017. Its release has been delayed repeatedly.

200123224910745

The economic part of the plan was shared in June and calls for $50bn in international investment in the Palestinian territories and neighbouring Arab countries over 10 years.

The Palestinians rejected Trumps peace efforts after he recognised disputed Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moved the US embassy there in May 2018.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesman of the Palestinian presidency, said in a statement the Palestinian leadership will reject any steps by the US that would breach international law, the official Palestinian WAFA news agency reported.

If this deal is announced with these rejected formulas, the leadership will announce a series of measures in which we safeguard our legitimate rights, and we will demand Israel assume its full responsibilities as an occupying power, Abu Rudeineh said.

He appeared to be referring to oft-repeated threats to dissolve the PA, which has limited autonomy in parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. That would force Israel to resume responsibility for providing basic services to millions of Palestinians.

We warn Israel and the US administration from crossing the red lines, Abu Rudeineh said.

He reiterated the call for ending the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and said an independent Palestinian state should be established with occupied East Jerusalem recognised as its capital.

Its all about Israel

On the plane on Thursday, Trump said he was pleased that Netanyahu and his main electoral rival Benny Gantz, the head of the centrist Blue and White party, would visit the White House in the middle of the campaign for Israeli elections on March 2.

We have both candidates coming  unheard of, Trump said.

Asked if he had contacted the Palestinians, Trump said: Weve spoken to them briefly. But we will speak to them in a period of time.

And they have a lot of incentive to do it. Im sure they maybe will react negatively at first but its actually very positive for them.

190623191830426

Husam Zomlot, the head of the Palestinian mission to the UK, told AFP news agency that Trump hosting two Israeli leaders and no Palestinians showed the meeting was about influencing domestic Israeli politics, rather than a genuine attempt at peace.



This is confirmation of their policy from the beginning  it is all about and for Israel.

The plan is expected to strongly favour Israel and offer it control over large parts of the West Bank.

The Palestinians seek the entire territory, which was also captured by Israel in 1967, as the heartland of a future independent state, as part of the two-state solution which most of the international community supports.

Netanyahu has said he plans to annex the occupied Jordan Valley as well as illegal Jewish settlements across the West Bank, which would all but extinguish any possibility of creating a viable Palestinian state.

Netanyahu has tried to make that pledge the cornerstone of his campaign for re-election following unprecedented back-to-back elections last year that left him in a virtual tie with Gantz, with neither able to cobble together a ruling coalition.

Trumps ultimate deal

Trump, whose team has long been working on the outlines of a secretive peace plan, has repeatedly boasted that he is the most pro-Israeli US president in history.

Abbas cut off all ties with the US in December 2017 after Trump broke with decades of international consensus and recognised Jerusalem as Israels capital.

The Palestinians see the eastern part of the city as the capital of their future state and world powers have long agreed that Jerusalems fate should be settled via negotiations.

Trump came to power in 2017 promising to broker Israeli-Palestinian peace, which he labelled the ultimate deal.

But he has since taken a series of decisions that outraged the Palestinians, including cutting hundreds of millions of dollars in aid and declaring that the US no longer considered Israels West Bank settlements illegal.





His plan for ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is believed to revolve around encouraging huge economic investment.

After many postponements, the peace initiative was expected several months ago.

But it was delayed after September elections in Israel proved inconclusive, and it was not expected to be released until after the March 2 polls.

Israeli media discussed what it said were leaked outlines of the deal on Thursday, saying the US had acquiesced to many key Israeli demands.

The meeting in Washington, DC will come about a month before new Israeli elections, with polls showing Netanyahus right-wing Likud and Gantzs Blue and White neck-and-neck.

The meeting on Tuesday coincides with an expected session in the Israeli parliament to discuss Netanyahus potential immunity from prosecution over a series of corruption charges.

Israeli media speculated that Trump had chosen to announce the event in support of Netanyahus election bid  the third in a year.
Dalondo Moultrie is the assistant managing editor of the Seguin Gazette. You can e-mail him at dalondo.moultrie@seguingazette.com .
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The government is looking to settle tax disputes out of the court, which will boost the revenue and reduce the number of court cases.

The Income Tax Appellate Tribunal is exploring the possibility of arbitration and mediation as well as increasing the number of benches for faster disposal of disputes. "In informal discussion (with the government), we have suggested that there should be some mechanism in the form of arbitration and mediation so that certain types of disputes can be taken care of," said Justice (retired) PP Bhatt, president, Income Tax Appellate Tribunal.

The ITAT has already discussed this with both Union Minister of State for Finance Anurag Singh Thakur and Central Board of Direct Taxes chairman PC Mody. This could help bridge the fiscal deficit gap and monetize a part of the amount stuck in tax litigation, they said. This comes at a time when the government is staring at slow tax collection.

An estimated 500,000 cases have been pending in courts and quasi-judicial forums for years. According to the estimates by tax experts, the total value of these disputes is pegged at Rs 7-8 lakh crore. Settling these dispute can give a major boost to revenue as well as reduce burden on courts.

The government has just settled a tax dispute with Mondelez India Foods Private Limited, manufacturer of Cadbury chocolates, which has paid over Rs 400 crore for alleged phantom unit in India.
Johannesburg, Jan 24 : England openers Zak Crawley and Dom Sibley posted a 107-run partnership before South Africa bowlers made inroads on a rain hit first day of the fourth Test between the two sides at the Wanderers here on Friday.

After the first session was washed out, England won the toss and chose to bat. The openers dominated the opening session and at Tea, England were 100/0. Crawley (66 off 112 balls) was the more adventurous of the two, hitting 11 fours, while Sibley was on 44.

It didn't take South Africa long to get the breakthrough after Tea. Beuran Hendricks forced Sibley to edge one to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock in the third over of the second session, thus picking up his maiden Test wicket.

South Africa kept England in check after that with Crawley falling an over later to Vernon Philander. Joe Denly then edged Dane Paterson to Faf du Plessis in slips while Anrich Nortje dismissed Ben Stokes. Stokes had a few words with the crowd before going down the tunnel.

Captain Joe Root then found an able company in Ollie Pope and the pair saw England through to an early end of the day after the umpires took the players off due to bad light.

Brief scores: England 192/4 (Zak Crawley 66, Dom Sibley 44; Vernon Philander 1/37)
The first meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 2020 on Friday resolved to leave all but one monetary policy parameter unchanged.

At the end of the rescheduled meeting at the CBN headquarter in Abuja, the MPC opted to retain lending rate, also called monetary policy rate (MPR) at 13.5 per cent, with asymmetric corridor at +200/-500 basis points around the MPR. The liquidity ratio was left at 30 per cent.

The CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, who presented the communique of the two-day meeting to journalists, said the committee decided to review upwards the cash reserve ratio (CRR) to 27.5 per cent, from 22.5 per cent.

The CRR is the quantum of cash or total deposit of the customers, which commercial banks hold as reserves either in cash or as deposits with the central bank for lending to customers.

READ ALSO:

In line with its policy to encourage the banks to make more money from their deposits available for lending to customers, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the CBN has reviewed the applicable loans-to-deposit rate (LDR).

Last year, the CBN had reviewed the banks LDR twice initially, from about 55 to 60 per cent, and later to 65 per cent.

In justifying the policy review, the CBN said increasing the minimum LDR of commercial banks was aimed at compelling banks to boost their credit capacity, mainly to agricultural entrepreneurs and farmers, small-and-medium-size businesses and consumers.

The LDR, expressed as a percentage, is used to assess a banks liquidity by comparing a banks total loans to its total deposits for the same period.

If the ratio is too high, it means that the bank may not have enough liquidity to cover any unforeseen fund requirements.

Conversely, if the ratio is too low, the bank may not be earning as much as it could be earning.
WASHINGTON  U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is working overtime to defend President Donald Trump as House Democrats present their impeachment case to the Senate.

Cruz is putting out a daily impeachment podcast that he records every night after the Senate impeachment trial lets out. He taped the first episode at 2:45 a.m.

The title is VERDICT  and the Texas Republican has been clear what he believes the verdict will be.

At the end of this process, after a fair trial, the president will be acquitted, Cruz said in a video he posted to Twitter last week while he was on his way to be sworn in for Senate trial. He called it the beginning of the end of the abuse of the Constitution.

For subscribers: Ted Cruz is everywhere defending Trump against impeachment

Its the latest example of the lengths Cruz has gone to defend Trump, a one-time bitter political rival who called Cruz Lyin Ted and whom Cruz branded a pathological liar on the 2016 campaign trail.

The House impeached Trump, accusing him of abusing his office when he withheld military aid from Ukraine as he sought to pressure its leaders to announce an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden. Trump also is accused of obstructing Congress during the impeachment inquiry.

A spokeswoman for Cruz said the senator sees the podcast as a way to speak directly to the American people, bypassing traditional news outlets. He wants to put episodes out as frequently as possible.

In the first episode, Cruz said he thought the House managers  the Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia of Houston, presenting the impeachment case  did a good job to start.

They sounded more reasonable, they sounded less partisan than they had, he said.

But then they started just droning on over and over and over again. The first days proceedings went well after midnight.

Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

I dont think anyones mind was changed. I think anyone who came in as a yes is still a yes and anyone who came in as a no is still a no, Cruz said. I think thats true for the 100 senators, but I think thats also true for the people at home.

Cruz says he believes a president must break the law to be impeached and that Trump did not.

In the second episode, Cruz said the Senate needs to bring in Hunter Biden, the son of the former vice president who was on the board of directors of a state-run natural gas company in Ukraine. If the Senate does call in new witnesses, he said, Im very confident we will call Hunter Biden.

You want talk about something to terrify 47 Democrats in the Senate. It is the fact that the Senate could grant Hunter Biden immunity and hear his testimony and hear about whether or not there was corruption from Joe Biden, Cruz said. This is not about (Hunter Biden.) This is a question about whether his dad abused his power.

In an October interview with ABC news, Hunter Biden said taking the job was poor judgment on my part but denied any impropriety. I joined a board, I served honorably. I did  I focused on corporate governance, he said, adding that he had one brief exchange with his father about his service on the board but no other discussions with him about his work with the company.

What I regret is not taking into account that there would be  this ridiculous conspiracy idea, he said.

ben.wermund@chron.com
Honda 2Wheelers India is the first two-wheeler brand to have crossed the 1 lakh BSVI sales milestone.

Honda BSVI complaint models include Activa 125, SP 125 and Activa 6G, which account for cumulative sales of 1,00,000 units. Being a big player in the market, its no doubt Honda had to lead from the front in initiating its BSVI transition. An essential move so the company is able to guarantee a smooth BSVi transition, a compliancy requirement mandated from April 1, 2020.

Honda was able to ensure its BSVI products were available in the market almost a year ahead of the mandated April 1, 2020 deadline. Since then, Honda has in the meanwhile gone ahead with the launch of three BSVI compliant models (Activa 125, SP 125 and Activa 6G).

The company is thankful for the markets overwhelming response for Hondas BSVI bikes. Honda is proud of its position in the ongoing BSVI transition almost 6 months ahead of the deadline. Honda takes pride in its many innovative features and offerings, including eSP, ACG starter motor and fuel efficiency.

Honda offers 6-year warranty package (3 years standard + 3 years optional extended warranty) for its product. At the moment the company is offering finance schemes with benefits up to Rs. 10,000 for its BSVI lineup. HMSI will be in an even better position next month as the company moves to 100 percent BSVI production beginning February 2020.

All Honda BSVI engines work in conjunction with Enhanced Smart Power (eSP) tech, which integrates ACG Starter motor, and reduced frictional losses with Programmed Fuel Injection(PGM-Fi).

And BSVI transition revolves around the premise of customer benefits. Activa 6G mileage stands improved by 10 percent, and SP 125 mileage by 16 percent. All new Activa 125 BSVI benefits from 26 new patents (applied for). Honda 125cc PGM-Fi HET engine with eSP works to improve mileage by 13 percent.

Segment first features include Side Stand Indicator with Engine Inhibitor, digital analogue meter, integrated dual function switch and external fuel lid, Idling Stop System, and front glove box. The company celebrates 2020 with the Power of 6. New Activa 6G gets power from a 110cc HET PGM-Fi engine with eSP. It features ACG motor for silent start, and enhanced Smart Tumble Technology (eSTT).

The improved scooter features telescopic suspension, an integrated dual function switch, malfunction light, new engine start stop switch, external fuel lid, passing switch, DC LED headlamp, and 3-step adjustable rear suspension. The scooter offers increased floor space, bigger 12-inch front wheel, and a longer wheelbase.
The following events are planned for the upcoming week throughout the region:  Jurassic Quest, featuring more than 100 life-like dinosaurs, dinosaur themed rides, live dinosaur shows and more, opens Saturday and runs through Jan. 23 at the Pennsylvania Convention...
Modi government's restrictions on import of refined palm oil from Malaysia seems like a blessing in disguise for domestic edible oil manufacturers like Adani Wilmar, Emami Agrotech, Cargill, Gokul Agro Resources and Patanjali Ayurved, which recently acquired bankrupt edible oil major Ruchi Soya.

All these companies have been struggling with underutilisation of their capacities. The cost of imported refined palm oil from Malaysia is much cheaper than those refined in India, leading to a major underutilisation of refinery capacities.

Also read: After palm oil, India may impose import curbs on other crucial items from Malaysia

Irked by Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's criticism on domestic issues like CAA (the Citizenship Amendment Act) and Kashmir, the Modi government has come up with curbs on exports from the Southeast Asian country. Kuala Lumpur's refusal to revoke the permanent resident status of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik has also become a contentious issue in the trade relations between the Asian countries. India is the world's biggest palm oil buyer and is a major market for the world's second-largest producer Malaysia. Palm oil accounts for around 45 per cent of India's edible oil consumption.

BV Mehta, executive director, the Solvent Extractor's Association of India (SEAI), says the capacity utilisation of domestic edible oil refineries has come down 40 per cent in 2019 from 60 per cent in the previous year. "The whole industry was on the verge of a shutdown. There was no other option if the government wouldn't have invoked the restrictions on the import," said Mehta.

Also read: Shun Malaysia, India's palm oil buyers told amid Kashmir standoff

Notably, there's no restriction for importing crude (non-refined) palm oil from Malaysia. It would help the refining companies import the crude and refine it in India, said Mehta. "The industry has been demanding restriction on imports for some time now. We import 9.5 million tonnes (MT) of palm oil every year," he said.

Malaysia's refined palm oil shipments to India surged to about 2.66 MT last year from 650,000 tonnes in 2018, while exports of the crude variety dropped to 1.75 million tonnes from 1.87 million tonnes. Indonesia is the largest crude palm oil (CPO) supplier to India.

Adani Wilmar, which sells edible oil under the Fortune brand, has the largest range of edible oils spanning across the categories of soya, sunflower, mustard, rice bran, groundnut and cottonseed. It can produce 16,800 tonnes of refined oil a day. The reduction in the refined palm oil import is expected to increase the usage of other edible oils, in which players like Adani, Ruchi Soya and Emami are stronger.

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev's Patanjali acquired Ruchi Soya for Rs 4,350 crore through an insolvency process recently. Ahmedabad-based Gokul has all verities of edible oils, besides Palmolein and Vanaspati. Cargill sells Gemini brand of cooking oils, including sunflower, Soyabean, Groundnut and Vanaspati.

In the last decade, the Indian edible oil import has grown at a compounded annual growth rate of over 8 per cent. Around 15 per cent of it is refined oil. The remaining imported crude edible oil is refined in the plants predominantly situated near ports in India.

The existing duty differential between CPO, refined, bleached, and diodised (RBD) oil -- which stands at 7.5 per cent -- protects domestic refiners against competition from imported refined oils to a certain extent. The government on January 1 slashed the import duty on refined palmolein to 45 per cent from 50 per cent, while that on CPO to 37.5 per cent from 40 per cent. The restriction was imposed a week later.

Also read: Malaysia's Mahathir stands by Kashmir comments despite India palm oil boycott
Saudi refutes reports of Indian nurse getting infected by coronavirus

Saudi health ministry sources have refuted news reports of an Indian nurse working in a hospital in Southwestern Saudi Arabia has been infected by the deadly SARS-like coronavirus.

The Saudi Center for Disease Control and Prevention, an agency of the health ministry, denied earlier reports and said no cases of the novel coronavirus has been reported in the kingdom so far

Indias minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan had on Thursday confirmed that a nurse from Kerala employed in a hospital in Saudi Arabia has tested positive for the deadly coronavirus. He also said she has been admitted to the Aseer National Hospital and is recovering well.

The minister said the Sudi authorities have screened about 100 Indian nurses working aat the Al-Hayat hospital, following the threat of coronavirus, and all of them, except one, were tested negative for the virus.

"About 100 Indian nurses mostly from Kerala working at Al-Hayat hospital have been tested and none except one nurse was found infected by coronavirus. Affected nurse is being treated at Aseer National Hospital and is recovering well." Muraleedharan stated in a Twitter message.

He also said he was in touch with the Indian consulate in Jeddah to provide all possible support to the nurses quarantined at Al-Hayat hospital.

"Spoke to @CGIJeddah on Indian nurses quarantined at Al-Hayat Hospital, Khamis Mushait, Saudi Arabia due to Corona virus threat. They are in touch with hospital management and Saudi foreign Ministry. Have asked our Consulate to provide all possible support", he had tweeted.

The Kerala nurse who has tested positive is believed to have got the virus from a Filipino nurse, who was being looked after by her.

Saudia Arabia on Wednesday said it would start screening passengers arriving from China and take other preventive measures following the outbreak in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

The virus, which can pass from person to person, has been reported in Thailand, Japan, South Korea and the United States, raising concerns about its lethality. China has so far reported over 630 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection.
It has received a $5,000 grant through the United Way in the past year, which went a long way toward stockpiling the needed diapers. Burg said that she hopes a Yellowstone Valley Gives program in May will raise another $5,000 at least so they can buy an additional 30,000 diapers.

It's important to know that this is a program that began because of a simple need. A social worker noticed that a client, who was living in a motel, was drying disposable diapers. When the social worker asked why, the woman replied that she washed and reused the diapers for home, but used disposable ones for daycare.

From there, Family Promise learned that there was nowhere to get diapers, and no diaper bank program, as in other communities. From there a few churches and individuals helped grow the program today.

"There has been 40% growth every year for the past five years and that's what we project this year," Burg said.

Even though the growth has been brisk, new outreach, like the mobile diaper bank, has served only Pryor and not branched out to multiple locations.

"We want to make sure our program is stable and dependable," Burg said.

For that, they'll need community support. This is truly a great program, and Billings appears to be ready to demonstrate its generosity.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0

Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
For nearly 50 years, retired Cal State University East Bay Professor Sherman Lewis has sustained a quixotic, one-man campaign to transform a defunct Hayward gravel quarry into a virtually car-free utopian village.

Bayview Village, as he called it, would be a new kind of suburb. It would be a 30-acre pedestrian paradise with 700 units and just 100 parking spots. The parking would be far from the homes and would be leased separately. A free electric village bus would shuttle students to the adjacent Cal State campus and commuters to the Hayward BART Station. Village vans would cart children to school and families to shopping or cultural outings.

Proximity, density and design, Lewis said, would make walking a major form of transportation.

But while some of Lewis ideas may be regarded as far-fetched and unrealistic, much of Haywards current vision for the property was shaped by him. At the end of January, developers are expected to submit plans for the former gravel pit and the outlines of the plan reflect Lewis priorities, though some details differ.

The city is calling for a dense development with 500 student housing beds and 500 other housing units. Developers are asked to come up with plans for shuttles connecting the property to both Cal State and BART. There is no minimum parking requirement  developers can include as little parking as they want, unusual for a suburban project.

We are selling to an audience that doesnt need a routine use of a car  Cal State people who are two minutes up the hill. People who work downtown and take BART. They are six minutes down the hill by bus, Lewis said. Im an environmental extremist. I have a vision of the future.

Hayward officials say Lewis plan has driven much of the conversation about the future of the quarry  whose steep hills and pits are covered in grass, dirt, shrubs and eucalyptus trees. But his insistence that there be only 100 spots could kill developer interest.

In terms of the densities, it very much meets what Sherman was trying to do, Hayward Mayor Barbara Halliday said. Obviously, we are not prepared to ask developers to follow his plan for parking, which is almost nonexistent. We dont want to tie developers hands by eliminating parking.

Halliday, who lives near the quarry, said that she would support a parking-light project in the flatlands closer to BART.

That hill is steep even for bicyclists, she said. Its a demanding trek. Im not sure that is where car-free works best.

New car-free and car-light projects are slowly gaining traction. In San Francisco, a 101-unit apartment project with no parking on a Muni line won a key approval from the Planning Commission on Thursday. In Oakland, developer Patrick Kennedy is trying to build 1,000 units at the West Oakland BART Station with only 59 parking spots. San Francisco developer Culdesac broke ground last year on a massive car-free development in Tempe, Ariz.

But the Bay Area suburbs have seen few housing projects light on parking.

Lewis saw the potential starting in 1972, while the concept of smart growth was in its infancy. He became interested in the quarry when he and a group of residents fought a proposed Route 238 bypass in the area. He spent time imagining what could be built on the site as an alternative to six lanes of car-choked asphalt. It took until 2010 until the bypass idea was finally dropped after multiple lawsuits had dragged on for decades.

The abandoned bypass project left Caltrans with about 400 parcels in Hayward and unincorporated Alameda County. Hayward ended up working out a deal with the state agency to take ownership of dozens of parcels totaling 200 acres. In all, the city expects about 2,000 homes to be built on the lots. On one site, Trumark Homes is proposing 75 homes. On another, Eden Housing is building 180 affordable apartments and a charter school. On a third site near the South Hayward BART Station, True Life Communities is putting up 190 homes.

Halliday said Sherman was a big part of killing the bypass and deserves some credit for Haywards parcels.

It would have cut Hayward in half and really emphasized the divisions we already have between the flatlands and the hills, the mayor said. Its good the freeway was not built.

Hayward has a development pipeline of nearly 3,700 units, about half of which are under construction, according to city spokesman Chuck Finnie. Much of the housing is clustered around the citys two BART stations, where the city recently raised height limits to 11 stories.

City officials say it will be up to developers to deem how much parking makes sense at the quarry site.

Its very difficult to finance a project in Hayward with no parking, said Deputy City Manager Jennifer Ott. Im not sure the market in Hayward is ready for that. If this were downtown San Francisco, Id be with him.

Still, she said that the market will test Lewis plan.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

We have tried to be as aggressive as we can be considering this is a more suburban location, Ott said.

Kennedy, the developer who has pushed for car-light and car-free projects, said that building with no parking at the quarry would be tough because the site is in the Hayward Hills.

That will be an uphill, upwind battle, literally, he said. We dont build unless it is an easy 10-minute walk to a BART station. It has to be an easy walk on a dark and rainy night. We are all-in on car-free development but it has to be really convenient.

Starting and maintaining a shuttle system is logistically complicated and costly, he said.

Its a big deal to provide transportation for 700 households, he said. Building in the Bay Area is hard enough without adding something like that.

Meanwhile, Lewis hasnt given up on his car-light village, but he is resigned to the likelihood that it will take a Hail Mary to pull off.

Bittersweet is the right phase, he said. Its sweet because we stopped the freeway. Its sweet because well get fairly dense housing. But its bitter because we are not getting the Bayview Village stuff.

He said he is looking for a developer able to see into the future.

These developer guys are very smart about what has worked in the past, but they tend to look in the rearview mirror, he said.

J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jdineen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfjkdineen
Martin Luther King Jr. Day was celebrated on Monday, with local observances including a march in Corvallis at Oregon State University that drew close to 200 participants singing We Shall Overcome.

And, yes, theres still much to overcome in the name of liberty and equality, even in the mid-Willamette Valley.

While its clear that Oregon and Linn and Benton counties are far better off in terms of social justice than they were 50 years ago or even 25 years ago, problems persist.

Weve reported on some of these issues, such as racist bumper stickers being put on residents cars at a Corvallis store, neo-Nazis trying to rile residents with anti-Semitic slogans and getting into a brawl in downtown Corvallis, Nazis putting racist fliers on cars during the Veterans Day parade in Albany, a questionable and forcible arrest of an African-American bicyclist near the OSU campus, and Lebanon High School students wearing blackface. (In the latter case we have to wonder: Where were the adults who were supposed to be supervising these teens?)

But regular incidents that arent featured in news stories perhaps are more insidious.

Reporter Bennett Hall documented in a Tuesday article that the local chapter of the NAACP gets phone calls from parents and school administrators about children being called the N-word on a daily basis. The MLK Peace March at OSU ended at the beautiful Memorial Union, where Albany City Council member Alex Johnson II spoke to the crowd, recalling a business call in which a potential customer told him that she didnt do business with people like him. She used the N-word when she said it.

The Albany Democrat-Herald and Corvallis Gazette-Times Facebook pages occasionally get comments from people who are comfortable posting outright racist memes and slurs, sometimes with their actual profiles that include their places of work. (We usually delete such comments and automatically ban the profile responsible.) Often, these comments are directed against the mid-valleys growing Hispanic population.

A few years ago, we published a photo of a black man proposing to a white woman on the front page of the D-H. We received a handful of letters to the editor lambasting our leadership for daring to show something so awful and detrimental to society. Oh, the moral decay! These mid-valley residents wanted their racist letters printed, and they included their names, addresses and phone numbers. They were unashamed of their ignorance. Per policy, we declined to publish these diatribes.

And, believe it or not, every year we receive complaints about our coverage of the MLK Peace March at OSU and other related stories. The federal holiday makes a few people uncomfortable.

So, again, theres still a fight for equality happening here, and its not just limited to issues of race.

The keynote speaker for OSU's MLK celebration was Raquel Willis, a black, queer, transgender activist. Willis persuasively argued that King's battle for equality must be extended to members of the LGBTQ+ community, immigrants, people who identify as nonbinary and others who are marginalized.

Thankfully, the topic of gay marriage no longer seems to be a hot-button issue nowadays. We dont deny that homophobia continues to exist, or that some people still dont approve of gay marriage due to religious principles. Oregonians seem to have developed a bit of a libertarian position on the matter: As long as youre not bothering me, Im not going to bother you, so live the life you love. Today even some small towns have openly gay and lesbian married couples. And the prejudices are perhaps more rapidly disappearing with the younger generation. Same-sex couples hold hands in the hallways and breezeways of high schools in Linn and Benton counties.

We see more problematic viewpoints regarding trans and nonbinary individuals. In the future, perhaps 25 or 50 years from now, we hope that perceptions about these communities change, and prejudices abate.

One of the great things about America is the concept of liberty and justice for all. Well continue to argue that position forever, and hope it applies from sea to shining sea.

MLK volunteerism: Heres a big shout-out to all the volunteers who were part of OSUs MLK celebration. Thank you very much for your community service. Over the weekend, there were 220 volunteers who put in 680 hours of work on 17 projects, making Corvallis and the mid-valley a better place to live.

Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0
One of the very rst bullets comes in through the open window above the toilet where Luca is standing, Jeanine Cummins writes in the first sentence of the opening chapter of American Dirt, her latest novel, a so-called social-justice thriller. These clumsily placed first words, apparently, were enough to inspire media deity Oprah Winfrey to select, on Tuesday morning, the much-discussed book for her global audience of readers, unleashing a flood of discourse in the wake of that selection.

Its no surprise that within this introduction the tableau for the rest of the novel is set: Strap in, dear reader, because something incredibly hard to digest this way comes. Each page and chapter continues this way, putting its very disenfranchised, very brown Mexican immigrant characters through one harrowing scene after another. Lemony Snicket, eat your heart out.

This storytelling soil has been harvested to exhaustion in both the United States and Mexico (see: Netflixs Narcos or any given season of a telenovela with a cartel at the plot's center), but it would perhaps be marginally more digestible if, say, Cummins were a member of this community. She isnt. Her online presence proudly proclaims she is Irlandaisa/Boricua/Persona, and maybe persona is the most apt identity in the mix here. In a New York Times op-ed, she plainly described herself, stating, "I am white. The grandmother I shared with Julie and Robin was Puerto Rican, and their father is half Lebanese. But in every practical way, my family is mostly white.

Still, her novel lurches forward, collecting a smattering of cliches along the way like wayward pieces of gum underfoot: She throws in some quinceaneras, drug cartel violence, and a little italicized Spanglish for good measure, holding up these moments to an ostensibly American audience, as if begging them to observe a particularly gnarled car wreck; Want to know what its really like to be a poor, sad Mexican immigrant? Wait till you hear this.

Story continues

This is not a review of the novel itself; many others have taken on this task with excellent, incisive, and some lackluster degrees of success. Chicana writer and artist Myriam Gurba was early to capture the novels failings most succinctly, writing in December for Tropics of Meta, Dirt is a Frankenstein of a book, a clumsy and distorted spectacle, and while some white critics have compared Cummins to Steinbeck, I think a more apt comparison is to Vanilla Ice. Gurbas subsequent tweets exposing the shockingly tasteless fanfare of the novels launch have reached viral status, exposing the vulgar ability of the publishing world to turn real-life experiences into decorative symbols of an aped persona.

Mexican immigrants to the United States and their experiences at the border are simply missing from not only the pages of Cummins latest effort but from the cultural context, which gave way to its exaltation in the first place.

Ultimately, I find the disappointing issues within this catastrophe to be facets of the same flawed prism through which experiences are viewed when they are not our own. From a purely literary perspective, the novels prose fails because of an innate gap in knowledge; simply put, its a problem of not knowing enough about an experience to portray it believably, because of lack of experience or lack of depth of research  and, perhaps, empathy.

But this knowledge gap widens to a chasm when you take a closer look at the world that gave way to this book. To start, there was likely a dearth of Latinx, or specifically Mexican, editors at the publishing house where Dirt was picked up, in the marketing departments that served it up to largely white American audiences, and in the decision-making offices at the film studio set to turn the story into a feature film. And of equal concern is how this chasm appears on the desks of editors who first reviewed this book and thought it deserved glowing reviews, including from Oprahs Book Club, which gave the book its most effusive and pervasive platform.

Mexican immigrants to the United States and their experiences at the border are simply missing from the pages of Cummins latest effort and from the cultural context which gave way to its exaltation in the first place. Dirt shouts at readers that it is here to do the work of social justice, that its pages contain a window to tragedies that are happening today (right in front of you, if only you were aware enough to see it!), but its less a window than a funhouse mirror, reflecting a vision of whiteness back on itself to disturbing effect.

Last night, Dirt's publisher, Flatiron Books, released a statement on Twitter regarding the controversy, stating in part, "The concerns that have been raised, including the question of who gets to tell which stories, are valid ones in relation to literature and we welcome the conversation." This has never been a reductive discussion of who gets to tell which stories, nor one of gatekeeping  even lived experience is not a one-for-one stand-in for thoughtful analysis of the nature of oppression; its that this novel was a shoddy attempt at depicting a personal experience and analyzing the politics of a humanitarian crisis, to harmful effect.

Its true. This is a cultural moment starved for stories that center nonwhite voices, and it is a moment when the Mexican immigrant experience is also increasingly complex. But it is also a moment for storytellers, like any other in history, inextricably tied to historical structures that regularly prevent stories from being told from marginalized points of view. So writers, well-intentioned as they may be (I am suspicious if Cummins really set out to be), are left to wrestle with some stark realities: that the work they create may invalidate and subvert the work done by the audiences they wish to serve; that their opportunistic efforts may prevent marginalized people from pursuing similar endeavors; and that, ultimately, the entire pursuit was never worthwhile in the first place.

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue
That 49-by-69-inch photograph was part of a display that showed the 2017 march from one perspective and, viewed from another angle, shifted to show a 1913 black-and-white image of a womens suffrage march, also in Washington. The large photograph, known as a lenticular image, has been replaced by two smaller photographs: one of the 1913 march and the original, unedited photograph of the 2017 march. The agencys printed apology is posted on a sign between the two images.

Archivist David Ferriero said in a statement Wednesday that the agency is having the lenticular image of the 1913 and 2017 marches refabricated without alterations and will install it in its original location as soon as it is available.

Ferriero, who has led the agency since being appointed by President Barack Obama in 2009, said in the statement that he took full responsibility for the decision and the broader concerns it has raised. The decision to blur the photograph, he said, was made without any external direction whatsoever.

In the lengthy statement, titled Accepting Responsibility, Working to Rebuild Your Trust, and published on the agencys website, Ferriero said officials thought at the time that their decision had been an acceptable and prudent choice.
The pain of losing a child is an utterly inconsolable grief.



Heart shattering,

soul destroying

grief.#RIPEnochMpianza#ParktownBoysCamp must be held liable and #ParktownBoys must stop their toxic, colonial, orientation activities. How could they let this happen? ????  Suntosh Pillay (@suntoshpillay) January 17, 2020

school must be sued. How can they let the learners go rafting on a raft they made themselves? Also letting the parents know a day later probably means the school itself didn't know the child was missing that whole time. Negligence is written all over this case. ?? #ParktownBoys https://t.co/kFZged3ppy  Nandi*89*???? (@Nandi_Pia) January 17, 2020

Acumen Media has listed the week's biggest news stories in South Africa. The week has been plagued by the devastating news of school children losing their lives.South Africans are still trying to wrap their heads, and have expressed outrage, around the death of Enoch Mpianzi - a grade eight pupil at Parktown Boys High School - who died during an orientation camp at the Nyati Lodge.In Diepsloot, a young schoolgirl was hit and killed by a bus during civil unrest related to xenophobia in the area.Elsewhere in the country, a truck delivering food to the Lekgolo Primary School in Limpopo ploughed into a school wall that collapsed onto pupils, killing them in the process.And, in Durban, a teacher was shot and critically injured at the Buhlebethu Primary School in the Inanda township in Durban.
Shares in Tullow Oil slipped on reports the Irish-founded exploration company could exit its interest in Kenya.

Tullow and French oil major Total are looking to reduce their stakes in Kenyas first oil development, according to banking and industry sources. Tullow  which has not commented on the talk  could, via the sale, exit the project completely amid uncertainty over its launch.

The two oil and gas producers have, according to the sources, hired French bank Natixis to run the joint sale process for Blocks 10 BA, 10 BB, and 13T in the South Lokichar Basin.

Tullow, which operates the project, last year indicated it intended to sell up to 20% of its 50% stake in the blocks.

However, the sources said it is now willing to sell the entire stake after disappointing exploration results in Guyana and production problems in Ghana that prompted the ousting of its chief executive and wiped out nearly half of the companys market value.

French oil major Total, meanwhile, aims to sell up to half of its 25% stake in the Kenyan project, said the sources.

The entire project is valued at between $1.25bn to $2bn, but it is hard to be precise because the development has yet to receive a final investment decision.

Tullow this month said it was still targeting such an investment decision by the end of 2020, with production starting in 2022, describing the timeline as challenging.

The fields already produce about 2,000 barrels of oil per day as part of an early production system.

The oil is trucked from Turkana to the port city of Mombasa. A first cargo of 250,000 barrels was shipped on a tanker last August.

The project partners have also agreed with the Kenyan government to develop a crude oil pipeline from Lokichar to Lamu on Kenyas coast.

Tullow and Toronto-listed Africa Oil, which holds a 25% stake in the blocks, first discovered crude oil in the Lokichar basin in 2012.

Tullow estimates the fields contain 560m barrels in proven and probable reserves and expects them to produce up to 100,000 barrels per day from 2022.

Tullows share price fell 64% last year on the back of disappointing drilling results, cut production forecasts, and an end to dividend payments.

Additional reporting Reuters
PARIS - French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday responded harshly to critics who maintain that France is turning into a sort of illiberal regime, and told them to "go try dictatorships and you'll see".



On Friday, Paris braced for another day of protests as Macron's controversial pension reform heads to the cabinet.



Speaking to Radio J while in flight returning from Israel, Macron particularly lamented the introduction "in our society, in a seditious way, with extraordinarily reprehensible political speeches, of the idea according to which we are no longer a democracy, that instead, a form of dictatorship has been introduced".



"Go to a dictatorship!" Macron said.



"A dictatorship is a regime in which an individual or a clan decides the laws. A dictatorship is a regime where the leaders don't change, ever. If this is France, go try a dictatorship and see. A dictatorship justifies hate. A dictatorship justifies violence to get out of it, but in a democracy there is a fundamental principle: respect for others, the prohibition of violence and the fight against hate," Macron said.


SASKATOON - As Canadian public health agencies prepare to deal with a new viral illness, a specialized lab in Saskatoon is using its research on different strains of the coronavirus to help develop a vaccine.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/1/2020 (719 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As Canadian public health agencies make preparations to deal with a new viral illness, a specialized lab in Saskatchewan is using its research on different strains of the coronavirus to help develop a vaccine. Executive Director Volker Gerdts, shown in a handout photo, says the University of Saskatchewan's Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization has received permission from the Public Health Agency of Canada to start working on a vaccine. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO

SASKATOON - As Canadian public health agencies prepare to deal with a new viral illness, a specialized lab in Saskatoon is using its research on different strains of the coronavirus to help develop a vaccine.

The University of Saskatchewan's Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre, also known as VIDO-InterVac, has received permission from the Public Health Agency of Canada to focus on the threat.

"People need to work together and collaborate and share the information," said its executive director, Volker Gerdts.

The deadly coronavirus, first linked to a market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, has been connected to 26 deaths and infections in hundreds of people. South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and the United States have each reported at least one case of the virus.

There have been no confirmed cases in Canada and officials say the risk of an outbreak remains low.

About five or six people in Canada are being monitored, including those with a travel history to the Wuhan area and with symptoms of the illness. Respiratory samples are being sent to the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg.

"Emerging diseases arrive and, because of all the travel we do and the connectiveness we have right now, the world becomes smaller and smaller and there's a better chance for these pathogens to quickly spread around the globe," Gerdts said.

The Saskatchewan lab was developed in the wake of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS, outbreak in 2003 to ensure that Canada could be prepared for emerging disease and illness, he added.

Researchers there have spent a significant amount of time focusing on pathogens like coronaviruses. Gerdts said they've successfully developed a vaccine for coronavirus strains in cattle and pigs.

"We have expertise in working with them."

While coronaviruses are relatively small, they are known for mutating and jumping species, which is why they cause so many problems.

Gerdts explained the coronavirus strain in pigs had not been seen in North America until two years ago. But within a year it had affected 10 million of the animals.

Colleagues in China have made the outbreak-specific coronavirus genome sequence available to researchers around the world, Gerdts said. His lab is now using it to hopefully find a way to help.

The lab also has clearance to handle samples of the pathogen and is attempting to get samples from China or the U.S. If that's not possible, it will order synthetic gene fragments.

The goal is to have the first vaccine candidates ready for testing in animals within six to eight weeks, Gerdts said. But human trials are at least a year away.

Gerdts said Canada has shown a leading role in developing vaccines, including one for the Ebola virus, and there's a need to have more capacity to manufacture them here.

If his lab had a manufacturing facility that he's been advocating for, he said production of a coronavirus vaccine for human testing could happen quicker.

Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, said Canadian research is part of a global effort and will be shared with the World Health Organization.

"We currently do not have a specific vaccine against this novel coronavirus," she said. "With a global effort on preparedness, I think that's something that we need to strive for."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 24, 2020.

 By Kelly Geraldine Malone in Winnipeg
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has claimed that some people from Kashmir, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) University and Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) have come to disrupt the law and order situation in the state.

"I have received inputs that some people from Kashmir, Jamia Millia University and Aligarh Muslim University have come to Uttarakhand with the intention to disrupt the law and order situation by provoking people," Rawat said in a statement on Thursday.

The chief minister also said that people have the right to hold peaceful protests, but the government will not allow anyone to provoke people.

Responding to Trivendra Singh Rawat's comment, J & K Students Association Spokesperson Nasir Khuehami said, "This is bizarre, rather shocking. This is not acceptable at any cost. Uttrakhand CM should immediately take back his statement. The way he is behaving is totally condemnable in harshest words."

"The CM must either prove his claims or take back his words. We request Kashmiri students should remain silent, they should not react to the Statement given by Uttrakhand CM on Kashmir. We urge all Kashmiri studying to desist from any activity that could disrupt peace," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Goldman Sachs' chairman and CEO David Solomon at the 50th World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on 21 January 21. Photo: Denis Balibouse/Reuters

The chief executive of Goldman Sachs (GS) has said the bank wont work on stock market listings of companies unless they have at least one diverse candidate on their boards.

Starting on July 1 in the US and Europe, were not going to take a company public unless theres at least one diverse board candidate with a focus on women, David Solomon told CNBC in an interview at Davos on Thursday, and were going to move towards 2021 requesting two.

We realise this is a small step but its a step in the right direction.

The move makes Goldman one of the first investment banks to mandate diversity among clients. Goldman itself was once viewed as the ultimate old boys club  New York Magazine ran an article titled The Head of Goldman Sachs Will Always Be Bald in 2011  but the bank has worked to improve diversity in recent years.

READ MORE: Why are female entrepreneurs still missing out on funding?

We have four women out of 11 [on the board], we have a black lead director, Solomon said. I really value the diverse perspectives Im getting that are helping me run the company.

Solomon said the move was not just about taking a stance on an issue but also good for business. He highlighted that initial public offerings (IPOs) of companies in the US with at least one woman on their board had performed better than those without over the last four years.

We might miss some business but in the long run this is the best advice for companies that want to drive premium returns for their shareholders, Solomon said.

Goldman will work with companies that lack board diversity to help them find people to put on their boards, Solomon said.

Over 60 companies across the US and Europe went public with no female board members over the last two years.

While Goldmans pledge will likely be cheered, the fact that it is only demanding women on boards from US and European clients may open it up to some criticism. Asia has the worst record when it comes to diversity on boards, meaning Goldman could be accused of only mandating the target in areas where it is easy to meet.
Aditya Rao, who was arrested for planting Improvised explosive device (IED) at Mangaluru airport on January 20, was brought to the airport on Friday for recreation of the crime scene as part of the investigation process.

Yesterday, one more case was registered against Rao in connection with a hoax call to the terminal manager of the airport on January 20, police said.

"One more case has been registered against Aditya Rao at Bajpe Police station for a hoax call to the terminal manager of Mangaluru International Airport on January 20," said PS Harsha, Mangalore Commissioner of Police on Thursday.

Earlier, Harsha informed that Rao, who surrendered before the Bengaluru Police, is now in the custody of Mangaluru Police.

"Our investigation team arrested Aditya Rao in Bengaluru in connection with the planting of an explosive device at Mangaluru airport. We produced the accused before Bengaluru's first JMFC court and the court issued a transit warrant," Harsha said.

"We have brought him to Mangaluru from Bengaluru and now the accused is in our custody. Our investigation team will interrogate him. We will investigate all aspects. He will be produced before Mangaluru 6th JMFC Court," he added.

Rao hails from Udupi and has engineering and MBA degrees.

According to the police, the IED was recovered from a bag at the Mangaluru airport. It was later defused in an open field by the personnel of the bomb disposal squad.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
London: A British entrepreneur's proposal to harvest the fur of koalas killed in the bushfire catastrophe and sell it as a public fundraiser has been condemned as "grotesque" and "sick".

Ryan-Mark Parsons suggested skinning the animals and making scarves for wealthy fur owners during a morning television appearance that has prompted widespread ridicule and thrown further international attention on the devastating toll the disaster has inflicted on Australia's world renowned wildlife.

"I don't think it is a sick idea because you have to take into account that the purpose of this is to raise money for the injured animals in the rescue centres," the former Apprentice (UK) contestant said.

"I'm not saying we need to slaughter koalas. In fact I love koalas. If there was a koala here I'd hug a koala."
G Ps in the UK have been told to place suspected coronavirus victims in isolation as tests on nine patients continue.

As the death toll in China rose to 25 today with more than 800 infected, authorities in the country imposed lockdowns on at least 10 cities near Wuhan, where the virus is believed to have originated, effectively putting 33 million people into quarantine.

Sections of the Great Wall of China and Disneyland in Shanghai were also closed.

Public Health England said 14 people had been tested in the UK, with five confirmed negative and nine awaiting results.

Five patients were in Scotland and a sixth in Belfast. Most were thought to be returning Chinese students. There are more than 120,000 Chinese students at UK colleges.

26 coronavirus deaths have been reported in China (Reuters) / REUTERS

One patient was reported to be in the care of Hillingdon hospital, the nearest NHS facility to Heathrow.

In China, authorities rushed to build a hospital to treat victims. There are fears of a rise in infections as millions travel to celebrate New Year.

Mayor Sadiq Khan was asked last night by a Chinese student about Londons preparations, and said: There is no reason to be alarmed.

He added he had been in touch with Public Health England yesterday and had been told there are no cases in London. Hillingdon hospital was unable to provide an update this morning.

People wearing masks walk through the Ginza shopping district / Getty Images

Mr Khan said Chinese New Year celebrations would continue as planned in Trafalgar Square on Sunday.

We will keep an eye on what happens in Wuhan to make sure we are ready if, God forbid, this virus comes to our country, he said.

Guys and St Thomas NHS trust, which will take the lead if patients are diagnosed with coronavirus in London, said: We are one of a network of centres in England which take patients with high consequence infectious diseases.

Preparations are already in place across that network to accept any confirmed cases of coronavirus.

The Department of Health has issued advice to doctors on how to treat victims. Coronavirus is classified as an airborne high consequence infectious disease in the UK.

Personal protective equipment is essential and patients should be treated in isolation rooms.

The advice states that coronaviruses in general are mainly transmitted by large respiratory droplets and direct or indirect contact with infected secretions.

It says: In the absence of effective drugs or a vaccine, control of this disease relies on the prompt identification, appropriate risk assessment, management and isolation of possible cases, and the investigation and follow up of close contacts to minimise potential onward transmission.

Guidance from Public Health England says doctors should check the travel history of patients.

An employee sprays disinfectant on a train as a precaution / AP

If they suspect a patient has coronavirus, they should be placed in a room away from other patients and staff with the door shut.

The World Health Organisation yesterday stopped short of declaring the epidemic to be of international concern.

Professor Peter Piot, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine who first discovered ebola, said the outbreak was at a critical phase.

He added: There cannot be any complacency as to the need for global action.

All of the deaths have been in China but the virus has been detected in Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the United States.

The respiratory disease is thought to have been spread by snakes or bats sold in markets in Wuhan.

Listen to today's episode of The Leader:
New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/24/2020 -- Photosensitive glass, also known as photo-structurable glass (PSG) or photo-machinable glass, is a crystal-clear glass, which belongs to the lithium-silicate family of glasses. This glass captures an image of a mask by microscopic metallic particles when it is exposed to short wave radiations such as ultraviolet light (UV). It possesses few characteristics in common with glass ceramics such as transparency, high strength & toughness, chemical durability, and zero or low porosity. This material has a limited array of applications, ranging from portraits & figures, photographic murals, 3D images, decorative windows, displays, ornamental tiles, and others



The Top key vendors in Photosensitive Glass Market include are Corning Incorporated, HOYA Corporation, Schott AG, IPG Photonics Corporation, and Gaffer Glass.



Trend Insight Report - Request Free PDF Sample Copy of Photosensitive Glass Market at https://www.marketgrowthinsight.com/sample/24908



Apart from this, the valuable document weighs upon the performance of the industry on the basis of a product service, end-use, geography and end customer.



The growth of the global photosynthetic glass market is majorly driven by increase in demand for photosynthetic glass owing to the development of the construction sector. This material is widely used in the commercial sector to aesthetically enhance the surroundings and in industrial sector specifically in the electronics industry to produce compact devices and components. The trend for micro-circuits through microfabrication in the electronics industry is expected to drive the adoption of photosensitive glass, thereby offering lucrative growth opportunities over the coming years. However, the major challenge that hampers the market growth is the high cost of photosensitive glass. On the contrary, increase in applications of photosensitive glass across various end-use industries is anticipated to create lucrative growth opportunities for the market during the forecast period.



A quick look at the industry trends and opportunities

The researchers find out why sales of Photosensitive Glass are projected to surge in the coming years. The study covers the trends that will strongly favor the industry during the forecast period, 2019 to 2025. Besides this, the study uncovers important facts associated with lucrative growth and opportunities that lie ahead for the Photosensitive Glass industry.



#This Reports Includes Segmental analysis, Regional analysis, Research Methodology, Competitive Landscape, Learn how to build the strategy and business case to implement Order Here@ https://www.marketgrowthinsight.com/checkout/24908



On the basis of the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate for each application, including

Construction

Ornaments

Decorative

Electronics

Automotive



North America emerged as a largest region in terms of growth due to established construction industry and economically strong nature. Europe is the second largest market in the global photosensitive glass market driven by increase in demand from France. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the key market during the forecast period due to growth in use of photosensitive glass in electronics and rise in construction activities.



Region wise performance of the Photosensitive Glass industry

This report studies the global Photosensitive Glass Market status and forecast, categorizes the global Photosensitive Glass Market size (value & volume) by key players, type, application, and region. This report focuses on the top players in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia India and Other regions (Middle East & Africa, Central & South America).



Key points from TOC :



CHAPTER 6: COMPANY PROFILES



6.1. CORNING INCORPORATED

6.1.1. Company overview

6.1.2. Company snapshot

6.1.3. Operating business segments

6.1.4. Product portfolio

6.1.5. Business performance



6.2. GAFFER GLASS

6.2.1. Company overview

6.2.2. Company snapshot

6.2.3. Product portfolio



6.3. HOYA CORPORATION

6.3.1. Company overview

6.3.2. Company snapshot

6.3.3. Operating business segments

6.3.4. Product portfolio

6.3.5. Business performance



6.4. IPG PHOTONICS CORPORATION

6.4.1. Company overview

6.4.2. Company snapshot

6.4.3. Product portfolio

6.4.4. Business performance



6.5. SCHOTT AG

6.5.1. Company overview

6.5.2. Company snapshot

6.5.3. Operating business segments

6.5.4. Product portfolio

6.5.5. Business performance

6.5.6. Key strategic moves and developments



Continue..



Browse Full RD with TOC of This Report @ https://www.marketgrowthinsight.com/24908/photosensitive-glass-market



This Photosensitive Glass Market report holds answers to some important questions like:



- What is the size of occupied by the prominent leaders for the forecast period, 2019 to 2025? What will be the share and the growth rate of the Photosensitive Glass Market during the forecast period?



- What are the future prospects for the Photosensitive Glass industry in the coming years?



- Which trends are likely to contribute to the development rate of the industry during the forecast period, 2019 to 2025?



- What are the future prospects of the Photosensitive Glass industry for the forecast period, 2019 to 2025?



- Which countries are expected to grow at the fastest rate?



- Which factors have attributed to an increased sale worldwide?



- What is the present status of competitive development?



About Market Growth Insight:

Market Growth Insight is a one stop solution for market research reports in various business categories. We are serving 100+ clients with 10000+ diverse industry reports and our reports are developed to simplify strategic decision making, on the basis of comprehensive and in-depth significant information, established through wide ranging analysis and latest industry trends.



We are striving to provide the best customer friendly services and appropriate business information to accomplish your ideas.



Contact

2nd Floor, Manikchand Ikon, B-Wing, Dhole Patil Road,

Sangamwadi, Pune 411 001, Maharashtra,India.

+1 347 767 5477 (US)

+44 131 463 4161 (UK)

+ 91 8956 049 020 (IN)

Email: Sales@marketgrowthinsight.com

Website- https://www.marketgrowthinsight.com

Follow Us:- LinkedIn | Twitter | Google+ | Facebook




Haiti - News : Zapping...





Arrest of Gang Leader "Kirikou"

Thursday, January 23 in the Ducis area at Riviere des Mornes, working-class district of Les Cayes (South Dept.) agents of the Departmental Police of Order Maintenance Unit (UDMO) of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) proceeded to the arrest of the dangerous Gang Leader of the Savannah district, Cesar Diene, alias "General Kirikou" who had repeatedly thwarted arrest attempts. "Kirikou" is believed to be responsible for several cases of murder, kidnapping and armed robbery.



Croix-des-Bouquets : Wild assault

Thursday at Croix-des-Bouquets unidentified individuals riddled with bullets the vehicle driven by Gaudy Salomon, a former police officer of the Intervention Corps of Order Maintenance (CIMO) who had just looked for his daughter and another child at school. Claudy Salomon died in this savage attack, as well of one of the two children, the other seriously injured, was rushed to hospital.



The DJ G. Petidie assassinated

Thursday morning, the very famous DJ in Jacmel, Gregory Petidie (25 years old) was fatally wounded with stabbing guns following an argument with a person identified as Agena Mickelson belonging to a rival neighborhood... Rushed to hospital Saint-Michel de Jacmel, the DJ unfortunately did not survive his injuries. In retaliation, Gregory fans torched 4 houses in the lower part of the city and erected barricades in several streets of Jacmel. Agena Mickelson was arrested later today in a suburb of Jacmel, by the Haitian National Police (PNH).



The substitute for the Government Commissioner placed on availability

Jean Roudy Aly the Minister of Justice sent a letter to Me Souvenir Jenty, Substitute for the Government Commissioner to the Court of First Instance of Port-au-Prince, announcing his availability.



Passing away eath of former Minister of Justice Delatour

Thursday January 23, the former Minister of Justice and former militant Duvaleriste, Me Calixte Delatour (September 30, 2002 - February 29, 2004 under the Government of Aristide) passed away surrounded by his loved ones, at the age of 84 years after a long illness.



USA : Haiti must set a firm date for the elections

Haiti must set a firm date for the next election, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said Thursday in an interview with the Miami Herald "We need to have the elections. [...] That is important [...]" .



HL/ HaitiLibre


















WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  An innovation that helps speed the design of fishing rods, skis and cell phone electronics soon will help NASA do its work in space.

AnalySwift LLC, a Purdue University-affiliated commercial software provider, has received a $125,000 Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant from NASA. The STTR award will help the company further develop its SwiftComp software, technology that provides efficient, high-fidelity modeling of deployable structures made of high-strain composites.

This is an outstanding recognition and validation of our technology, said Allan Wood, president and CEO of AnalySwift. NASA is going to be able to use the software as it designs devices and structures to help achieve success in space exploration, including deployable structures and living vessels used in a space environment.

Wood said the software would help NASA engineers model high-strain composites with a tradeoff between efficiency and accuracy that were unreachable using more conventional methods.

A composite is a material made from two or more different materials that when combined are stronger, lighter or have other advantages over those individual materials by themselves. A high-strain composite experience strains much higher than most other uses of composites.

Wood said NASA is looking to use the software technology, in part, to study deployables made of high-strain composites that are lightweight and feature time- and temperature-dependent behavior.

In addition to deployable composite booms, NASA could leverage the software for structures such as living vessels, foldable panels, hinges and reflectors, as well as lightweight structures such as satellite buses, landers, rovers, solar arrays and antennas. Other applications include highly flexible wings for future aircraft and highly fatigue- and damage-tolerant structures for revolutionary vertical lift aircraft.

The technology was developed by Wenbin Yu, a professor of aeronautics and astronautics in Purdues College of Engineering.

The unique synergistic relationship between Yus computational mechanics research group at Purdue and AnalySwift, with its SwiftComp simulation software, makes it a very efficient transition mechanism of new material and structures fundamental theory developments into the commercial world, said Juan Fernandez, a research aerospace engineer with NASA. The ultimate goal is to increase the capabilities of this commercial computational tool so that others in the high-strain composites community can benefit from it and help advance the field, while using it to satisfy current and future NASA program modeling needs.

The software also has been licensed to companies and universities worldwide, including those using it for work on satellites and mobile phone components, including printed circuit boards.

The software reduces analysis time from hours to minutes, Wood said. "SwiftComp takes details of the fundamental building block of materials and structures as input, then outputs the structural properties needed for macroscopic analysis. It can be used for composite beams, plates and shells, and 3D structures, for both micromechanical and structural modeling.

The company licensed the technology from the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization.

This project will help expand the application of SwiftComp to composite structures and materials used in space environments featuring temperature- and time-dependent behavior, Yu said.

For more information on licensing a Purdue innovation, contact the Office of Technology Commercialization at otcip@prf.org.

About AnalySwift

AnalySwift, LLC is a provider of composite simulation software, which enables an unprecedented combination of efficiency and accuracy, including multiphysics structural and micromechanics modeling. Drawing on cutting edge university technology, AnalySwifts powerful solutions provide customers a competitive advantage through drastic reductions in engineering time, virtual testing earlier in the design process, and handling of more complex composite structures. The technologies deliver the accuracy of detailed 3D FEA at the efficiency of simple engineering models, cutting analysis time by orders of magnitude. SwiftComp is licensed from Purdue Research Foundation. VABS is licensed from Utah State University, and Georgia Institute of Technology. AnalySwift is a proud member of the ANSYS Preferred Partner Program and the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI). Contact AnalySwift at info@analyswift.com.

About Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization

The Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S. Services provided by this office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the university's academic activities through commercializing, licensing and protecting Purdue intellectual property. The office is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, which received the 2019 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Place from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Visit the Office of Technology Commercialization for more information.

Writer: Chris Adam, 765-588-3341, cladam@prf.org

Source: Allan Wood, 801-599-5879, allanwood@analyswift.com
NCP chief had written letter seeking probe in matter.

Mumbai: The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government is contemplating setting up an Special Investigation Team (SIT) within 15 days if Pune police fails to justify charges pressed against the accused arrested in connection with Bhima-Koregaon riots on January 1, 2018, sources in Manatralaya have said.

Pune police on Thursday briefed state deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and home minister Anil Deshmukh about the status of the investigation in the case. The meeting assumes significance as NCP chief Sharad Pawar last month demanded that a SIT be set up under a retired judge to probe the action taken by Pune Police.

A Pune Police team, including IPS officer Ravindra Kadam, who was the joint commissioner of police at the time of incident, and chief investigating officer, ACP Shivaji Pawar, gave a presentation on the cases related to Bhima-Koregaon and Elgar Parishad violence.

After holding the review meeting, home minister Anil Desmukh, said, We conducted one meeting. Another meeting will be taken in the coming days. After taking stock of everything, a decision will be taken whether SIT is needed or not.

The home minister further added, We were reviewing the chargesheet, what evidences were gathered. As several activists have met us stating that they have been illegally framed in this case, we are ascertaining whether there is any fact in it or not.

Maharashtra director general of police Subodh Jaiswal and state intelligence commissioner Rashmi Shukla also attended the review meeting. Sources also said that a discussion also took place on the scope of investigation into the alleged tapping of phones of the arrested activists.

Mr Deshmukh also said that the cyber cell of Maharashtra police has been asked to look into various complaints of snooping/phone tapping that came in during the previous regime. The inquiry is being done following complaints of snooping on opposition leaders especially during the government formation period.

The government in the meeting also took cognisance of the two letters written by NCP chief Sharad Pawar on January 10, demanding SIT on the cooked up charges framed against a dozen activists, following the Elgar Parishad-Koregaon Bhima violence.

The Pune Police probing the alleged links between the Elgar Parishad conclave on December 31, 2017 and the caste clashes around Bhima-Koregaon the next day had used the term urban Naxal to target some activists.

While the Pune city police arrested some human rights activists in the case, their rural counterparts had booked Hindutva leaders Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide for allegedly inciting violence.

Ekbote was granted bail by the Supreme Court, while Bhide was never arrested. The Pune Police has claimed the conclave was backed by Maoists. The parishad, they alleged, instigated violence near the Koregaon Bhima war memorial on January 1, 2018.
There were 14 arrests for sex crimes in Fort Bend County from Jan. 12- Jan. 18. Listed below are the names of the suspects and the currently known details of their alleged crimes. All defendants on this list are innocent until proven guilty.

Ellis Antonio Deases, age 31, was arrested and charged with a first degree felony for the alledged continual sexual abuse of a child under the age of 14. He has also been charged with four second degree felonies of indecency with a child. He is currently being held at the Hays County jail.

Darius Miguel Dunham, age 25, was arrested and charged with alleged indecent exposure with a child. Dunham has a prior arrest for allegedly exposing himself in a Walgreens in January of 2018.

Marx Dwayne Gayden, Jr. was arrested for the alleged sexual assault of a child. Gayden, age 23, was also charged with the unlawful carrying of a firearm. Gayden has prior convictions for possession of marijuana and burglary of a habitation.

Osciel Gonzalez, age 36, was arrested for the alleged sexual assault of a child. He is currently being held at the Hays County jail.

Ryan Vaughan Hartman, age 27, was arrested and charged with sexual assault.

Michael Christopher Holthaus, age 22, was arrested and charged with second degree felony sexual assault of a child.

Christopher Hurley, age 39, was arrested for allegedly failing to register as a sex offender. Hurley, a resident of Indiana, allegedly moved to Rosenberg but did not update his registration to reflect his relocation. The national sex offender registry describes Hurley as a sexually violent predator who was found guilty of rape in 2012.

Gary Limon, age 47, was arrested for allegedly threatening to publish intimate visual images of a female victim.

Francisco Sigfredo Orta, age 34, was arrested and charged with two counts of sexual assault of a child.

Arielle Picon, age 28, was arrested and charged with the alleged sexual assault of a child. Picon has a prior conviction of sexual assault of a child under the age of 17. She served six years in prison before her release.

Erik Rodolfo Robles, age 30, was arrested and charged with sexual assault. According to arrest records, Robles allegedly raped a woman on Dec. 13, 2019.

Jamie Saucedo, age 50, was arrested and charged with aggravated kidnapping and sexual abuse as well as continuous violence against a family member and criminal mischief.

Tyson Charles Surgers, age 33, was arrested and charged with two counts of felony aggravated sexual assault of a child. According to the arrest report from the Missouri City Police Department, Surgers sexually assaulted a child under the age of 15 in October of 2014.

Tate David Telschow, age 26, from Katy, was arrested and charged with the online solicitation of sexual contact with a minor. Court documents allege that Telschow communicated over the internet with a detective who was posing as a minor. Telschow then allegedly attempted to solicit the detective for sexual intercourse.

claire.goodman@chron.com
DTZ Investors recently acquired Tesco's Irish Distribution Centre in Dublin, Ireland on behalf of KTB Investment Securities and KTB Asset Management (KTB). KTB and DTZ Investors were advised by the Capital Markets and Debt Structured Finance teams of Cushman Wakefield (NYSE: CWK).

The 788,000-square-foot warehouse is a purpose-built facility and benefits from a lease guaranteed by Tesco plc until 2032 and annual upwards only indexation in line with CPI. Tesco is one of the world's largest retail and grocery brands and continues to expand in Ireland. The distribution center is essential to their operations providing dry-goods distribution to the entire Tesco portfolio of stores across Ireland.

David Peacock, Associate Director at DTZ Investors said, "This off-market acquisition is an exceptional example of identifying a suitable investment opportunity that meets our client's investment objectives. The income profile, in terms of length and escalation, and strength of the Tesco plc credit provides for very attractive income investment characteristics. The transaction profile is further enhanced when considered against the backdrop of the very restricted supply of logistics assets of scale in Ireland and the building's importance to Tesco's Irish operations."

Jonghan Kim, Partner, Capital Markets EMEA at Cushman Wakefield said, "It was a great pleasure working with KTB and DTZ Investors on this off-market transaction. It is another example of Cushman Wakefield's Capital Markets teams working together to source long lease off-market assets in Europe on behalf of Korean capital."

The transaction is DTZ Investors' third acquisition in 2019 on behalf of South Korean clients, following the successful acquisitions of Main Point Pankrac, Prague ($145 million) and Queens Towers, Amsterdam ($145 million) earlier this year.

The purchaser was also advised by Ashurst LLP, Walkers Global and KPMG.

About Cushman Wakefield

Cushman Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) is a leading global real estate services firm that delivers exceptional value for real estate occupiers and owners. Cushman Wakefield is among the largest real estate services firms with approximately 51,000 employees in 400 offices and 70 countries. In 2018, the firm had revenue of $8.2 billion across core services of property, facilities and project management, leasing, capital markets, valuation and other services. To learn more, visit www.cushmanwakefield.com or follow @CushWake on Twitter.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005262/en/

Contacts:

For more information, please contact:

Jonghan 'Jay' Kim

Partner, Capital Markets EMEA

London, Europe

+44 (0)748 773 5236

Jonghan.Kim@cushwake.com



Hena Park

Director, Marketing Communications

Seoul, Korea

+82 3708 8883

hena.park@cushwake.com
The Costa del Sol stand makes up a big part of the Andalusian space at Fitur this week. Here local town halls are working together to promote their destinations.

As usual, the city of Malaga had a separate stand, and this year Marbella and Nerja also chose to be independent of the Costa stand. "Marbella is a flagship of the Costa del Sol and we ought to have our own, personalised presence at Fitur," explained mayor Angeles Munoz. The resort announced a bid to be culinary capital of Spain in 2021.

The Malaga city delegation spent time on Wednesday meeting representatives of cruise companies and signing a deal with a major Chinese tour operator.

Meanwhile, back on the main Costa del Sol stand there was also an emphasis on presenting the area's resorts as off-season, winter destinations. Torremolinos stressed how it had regenerated itself and Estepona announced a new Italian-designed residential development for a vacant plot on the seafront.
The NCUAs TIP (Trade, Industry or Profession) charter offers credit unions the opportunity to serve a highly specific, narrowly defined group. Rules surrounding the charter are strict, stating this group must share a common bond by virtue of producing similar products, providing similar services or participating in the same type of business, thus TIP Charter is available only to single common bond credit unions.

In general, excluding credit unions operating in multiple states or nationally, a geographic limitation is required for the charter. This usually corresponds to an institutions current or planned operational area.

Yet despite such restrictions, the TIP Charter also presents an intriguing pathway to field of membership expansion.

The TIP Charter was introduced in 2003, and since then has been implemented by many institutions of varying sizes and scopes. CUCollaborate spoke with representatives of three such credit unions to better understand their experience.
New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/24/2020 -- The significant rise in lifestyle-related diseases and the developments in healthcare infrastructure are expected to influence the demand for pharmaceuticals in Saudi Arabia. In 2016, the Saudi Arabia pharmaceutical market is anticipated to procure value worth US$ 5,209.5 Mn at a y-o-y growth of 6.0 % over 2015. The mounting demand for branded drug products will continue to incite the growth of the Saudi Arabian pharmaceutical market in 2016.



The demand for pharmaceuticals in Saudi Arabia is expected to register substantial growth owing to the increasing penetration of health insurance companies and the rising incidence rate of non-communicable diseases. Furthermore, the exceptional rise in the per capita income of Saudi Arabia is also expected to foster the demand for branded pharmaceutical drugs. Another key factor driving the growth of the pharmaceutical market in Saudi Arabia is the country's strategic move to allow 100% FDI in the pharmaceuticals sector. Although, the shortage of profound indigenous research capacity in the pharmaceutical industry and the delayed registration of drug and medicine patents is expected to limit the expansion of the market in 2016 and beyond.



Download the sample copy of Report with table of contents and Figures @: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gc-1733



Based on the product type, the pharmaceutical market in Saudi Arabia is expected to witness an upsurge in the prescription-type branded drug products. In terms of market value, the branded drugs are estimated to reach US$ 2,760.8 Mn by 2016-end. The demand for generic drugs is projected to secure steady growth, attributing to the insisting promotion of generic drug adoption by healthcare insurance providers.



On the basis of the diseases, the pharmaceutical drugs used for treatment of cardiovascular diseases will continue exhibiting robust growth in 2016. The demand for cardiovascular medications will continue to surge due to the prominence of circulatory disorders in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the rising prevalence of disorders related to body sugar levels is expected to make diabetes a rapidly growing disease-based sub-segment in the Saudi Arabia pharmaceutical market.



Preview Analysis of Saudi Arabia Pharmaceutical Market: Supportive Government Reforms and Rising Diseases Awareness to Fuel Revenue Growth from Branded Pharmaceuticals in Saudi Arabia: Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2016-2026 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/saudi-arabia-pharmaceutical-market



The pharmaceutical market in Saudi Arabia is also segmented on the basis of distribution channel, where retail pharmacies will continue to account for 80% market share compared to hospital pharmacies. The westernised modernisation of retail pharmacies in Saudi Arabia has led to the availability of a wide range drugs and medicinal products, thereby attaining a considerable growth in the retail pharmacy sub-segment in 2016 and further.



The rising resource potential in Saudi Arabia is projected to positively reform the production environment for pharmaceutical manufacturers. In order to expand the market's size, structuring alliances with well-established native companies is predicted to be a key strategy for global pharmaceutical leaders. The key players in the Saudi Arabia pharmaceutical market include Novartis AG, SPIMACO, Pfizer Inc., and Glaxosmithkline plc., Jamjoom Pharma, and Tabuk Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Co. among others.



Buy this report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/1733



Our advisory services are aimed at helping you with specific, customized insights that are relevant to your specific challenges. Let us know about your challenges and our trusted advisors will connect with you: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-1733
A California man has been convicted by a federal jury in Seattle of sexually assaulting an unconscious young woman during on a Norwegian Air flight from London to Seattle.

Babak Rezapour, 42, of Van Nuys, was convicted Wednesday of abusive sexual contact in a special aircraft jurisdiction and abusive sexual contact with an incapacitated victim.

The jury deliberated for more than two hours following a five-day jury trial in which Rezapour denied the allegations. He faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced on April 24.

Babak Rezapour, 42, has been convicted of repeatedly sexually assaulting a 22-year-old woman on a Norwegian Air flight from London to Seattle in 2018 (stock image)

The charges allege Rezapour repeatedly assaulted the 22-year-old woman on the 10-hour flight on January 10, 2018.

The female passenger had taken prescribed anti-anxiety and anti-nausea medicine and drank two glasses of wine, including one purchased for her by Rezapour, court documents said.

Afterward, she 'described feeling hazy and had difficulty remaining awake.'

According to court records and testimony presented at trial, the victim repeatedly awoke up to find Rezapour groping her under her bra, rubbing her thighs and feet, touching her genitals or placing her hand on his exposed penis.

The man used his jacket to shield what he was doing from other passengers.

The complaint states that a Norwegian Air crew member later found the woman 'visibly shaken and crying' while crouched near the restrooms. The woman told the crew member what happened, and she was moved to the front of the plane, documents said.

One crew member questioned Rezapour, who asked if he could apologize to his seatmate. When asked why he would need to apologize, he said he might have accidentally kicked her, the complaint said.

Police met the plane upon landing; Rezapour denied that he had touched the woman but witnesses said otherwise. Lab tests later showed that his DNA was inside the womans underwear, according to the court records.

Passengers who testified at trial described seeing Rezapour move into the seat next to the victim, contradicting his statements to police that he had stayed in his aisle seat with an open seat between them.

In multiple statements to different investigators following the incident, Rezapour change his story.
This content is expired!

Unfortunely this content is expired and cannot be viewed anymore; if You are the owner of this content please login to our Website, go to our access panel and enable this content again.
Moroccan fishermen at the port of Larache. EFE/ZACARIAS GARCIA

The Spanish foreign minister traveled to Morocco on Friday amid diplomatic tension over Rabats attempt to take control of waters near Spains Canary Islands.

Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs Arancha Gonzalez Laya. JOHN THYS (AFP)

Arancha Gonzalez Laya was due to meet with her Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, to convey the message that there is no scope for unilateral action in the delimitation of territorial waters, a matter that should be resolved through agreements.

Although Rabats goal is to appropriate the waters off Western Sahara, a disputed territory that is partially occupied by Morocco and partly controlled by the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, the project could have an impact on Spanish waters around the Canary Islands, which lie in the Atlantic Ocean around 100 kilometers from the Moroccan coast.

Gonzalez Laya, who was sworn into office last week, had originally been planning a trip to Rabat to discuss other issues such as immigration control and relations with the European Union.

But these plans have been altered by the Moroccan parliaments recent approval of two bills establishing a maritime area where the north African country would have exclusive rights.

Just as we discussed with Morocco during these last few weeks there will be no facts-on-the-ground policies or unilateral actions. This has been underscored today by Moroccan Foreign Minister Bourita in the House of Representatives.

These bills have no effect in terms of international law because they are not backed by the United Nations, but they are a message about Moroccos intention to reinforce control over waters it claims as its own. Following their passage in the House of Representatives, they still need to be ratified by the Senate and signed by King Mohammed VI.

Valuable mineral

The bills set the maritime borders at 12 nautical miles off the coast of Western Sahara, a territory whose sovereignty remains in dispute after Spain withdrew in 1975. They also establish an exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles that could overlap with Canary Islands waters.

There is also overlap in the continental shelf of both countries at a spot where a 2016 expedition located the worlds largest known deposit of tellurium, one of the rarest minerals on Earth and of great use in technology to make solar panels and conductors for mobile devices. The site is located in an underwater volcanic mountain chain known as Tropic.

After her Rabat visit, the Spanish minister will visit the Canary Islands, where local authorities have expressed concern over Rabats intentions. On Saturday, Gonzalez Laya is scheduled to meet with the regional leader of the archipelago, Angel Victor Torres.

English version by Susana Urra.
The New Year is a perfect time for IT departments to reflect on the past, consider the present, and plan for a better future. For many, that means gaining the benefits of the cloud and the transformative capabilities of software-defined data centers in 2020.

They wont be alone. Cloud adoption continues to accelerate as organizations look to the cloud for performance gains and ways to eliminate the headaches and costs associated with traditional, hardware-based data centers that cant keep up with the explosion of data and the expansion of networks occurring across industries.

The VMware Cloud Verified distinction was created to address these realities. Its purpose has always been to provide customers like Consilio and Homes.com with the assurance that theyre working with a provider that possesses the know-how needed to deploy a high-performance, software-defined data centerone thats able to deliver the capabilities enterprises need as a service using proven and trusted VMware technologies.

For the rapidly growing number of providers around the world that earned the VMware Cloud Verified distinction, 2019 was a remarkable yearone in which clients from virtually every industry turned to them for the solutions and expertise required to excel in the cloud.

We looked to stalwarts in this prestigious group to uncover the Top Seven reasons it pays to be choosy when selecting a cloud provider. Resolve to keep these seven simple factors in mind to ensure that your cloud journey is a success this year.

Peace of Mind: Using technology you know and trust is the first step toward peace of mind. For Mariola Skowronska, co-owner of Ergonet, an IT services provider based in odz, Poland, that peace of mind begins with VMware. Being VMware Cloud Verified enables us to deliver the interoperability and flexibility that fast-growing companies in Poland demand and provides them with the peace of mind that comes from knowing that the services we offer from data centers right here in Poland are based on the best technology available, she says.

Using technology you know and trust is the first step toward peace of mind. For Mariola Skowronska, co-owner of Ergonet, an IT services provider based in odz, Poland, that peace of mind begins with VMware. Being VMware Cloud Verified enables us to deliver the interoperability and flexibility that fast-growing companies in Poland demand and provides them with the peace of mind that comes from knowing that the services we offer from data centers right here in Poland are based on the best technology available, she says. Scalability: The ability to easily scale IT infrastructure and systems is imperative as the pace of business continues to increase and demands additional networking, compute, and storage capabilities. Alexander Tugov, product visionary director at Selectel, an IT services company in Russia, believes scalability is crucial when looking at new technologies. Clients want that scalability, he notes, to economically support their adoption of technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, the Internet of Thingsespecially the Industrial Internetas well as augmented and virtual reality.

The ability to easily scale IT infrastructure and systems is imperative as the pace of business continues to increase and demands additional networking, compute, and storage capabilities. Alexander Tugov, product visionary director at Selectel, an IT services company in Russia, believes scalability is crucial when looking at new technologies. Clients want that scalability, he notes, to economically support their adoption of technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, the Internet of Thingsespecially the Industrial Internetas well as augmented and virtual reality. Security and Data Protection: Data is the lifeblood of every enterprise. Losing it or seeing it compromised can have a disastrous impact. The cloud is the answer, but enterprises remain rightfully cognizant that their data will no longer be kept on-premises, that security is of crucial importance, and that regulatory requirements must be addressed, says Josef Vasek, product manager, cloud solutions at O2 IT Services, a rapidly growing IT services company based in Prague. Thats why its crucial that we not only deliver the expertise our customers need, but back it up with a network thats based on proven VMware technology they trust.

Data is the lifeblood of every enterprise. Losing it or seeing it compromised can have a disastrous impact. The cloud is the answer, but enterprises remain rightfully cognizant that their data will no longer be kept on-premises, that security is of crucial importance, and that regulatory requirements must be addressed, says Josef Vasek, product manager, cloud solutions at O2 IT Services, a rapidly growing IT services company based in Prague. Thats why its crucial that we not only deliver the expertise our customers need, but back it up with a network thats based on proven VMware technology they trust. Agility: In the the blink of an eye, business developments can call for greater computing resources. As Sudesh Shaw, vice president of cloud at Singapore-based Singtel, one of the worlds largest telecommunications companies, explains, If you take a step back and look at the big picture, cloud is really an enabler in the digital transformation now occurring as businesses work to be more agile in how they serve their customers, achieve savings, and operate more efficiently, he says. In all cases, Singtel works to simplify its customers cloud journeys by providing them with the new capabilities they need, the guidance required to utilize them with evolving legacy systems, and the flexibility to grow in the future.

In the the blink of an eye, business developments can call for greater computing resources. As Sudesh Shaw, vice president of cloud at Singapore-based Singtel, one of the worlds largest telecommunications companies, explains, If you take a step back and look at the big picture, cloud is really an enabler in the digital transformation now occurring as businesses work to be more agile in how they serve their customers, achieve savings, and operate more efficiently, he says. In all cases, Singtel works to simplify its customers cloud journeys by providing them with the new capabilities they need, the guidance required to utilize them with evolving legacy systems, and the flexibility to grow in the future. The Full Stack: A high-performance, software-defined data center provides the networking, storage, and compute performance enterprises need to ensure that they always achieve compatibility and maintain choice and control. Sam V. Kumar, the founder and president of NewCloud, a cloud computing and communications provider based in Denver, puts it this way: Most of the businesses in the Fortune 2,000 and the segments we serve already rely on solutions from VMware, so its important for them to know that we offer a full cloud stack based on VMwares technology and are highly skilled using its solutions.

A high-performance, software-defined data center provides the networking, storage, and compute performance enterprises need to ensure that they always achieve compatibility and maintain choice and control. Sam V. Kumar, the founder and president of NewCloud, a cloud computing and communications provider based in Denver, puts it this way: Most of the businesses in the Fortune 2,000 and the segments we serve already rely on solutions from VMware, so its important for them to know that we offer a full cloud stack based on VMwares technology and are highly skilled using its solutions. Expertise: Choosing a partner with industry-specific skills can be a game changer. Healthcare is a great example. The healthcare IT landscape is highly complex and overwhelming for many institutions, says Scott Richert, the CTO of Mercy Technology Services, part of the Mercy Health System in the southwest U.S. We help hospitals and other care providers take the risk and cost of out of their digital transformations and shorten their timelines by enabling them to take advantage of the trails we blazed. When you can find people who have been through what youre facing, and who wake up every morning and have to do the same things themselves, thats the golden ticket.

Choosing a partner with industry-specific skills can be a game changer. Healthcare is a great example. The healthcare IT landscape is highly complex and overwhelming for many institutions, says Scott Richert, the CTO of Mercy Technology Services, part of the Mercy Health System in the southwest U.S. We help hospitals and other care providers take the risk and cost of out of their digital transformations and shorten their timelines by enabling them to take advantage of the trails we blazed. When you can find people who have been through what youre facing, and who wake up every morning and have to do the same things themselves, thats the golden ticket. Global and Local Strengths: Businesses need technologies such as those from VMware that are proven globally and backed with local experience. Data sovereignty is one example. Australia has specific guidelines related to the consumption of cloud services by federal government agencies, says Brad Bastow, AUClouds first CTO. AUClouds services are built from the ground up with compliance requirements incorporated into our technical and operational controls. This can be demonstrated by our Australian Sovereigntyour guarantee that data hosted in our cloud never leaves Australia. All of our operational staff are also Australian security cleared.

Keeping these considerations in mind will ensure that you choose the right partner for your cloud journey, whether youre just beginning your initial migration or moving to a multi-cloud approach. For more information on the VMware providers listed in this article and others that provide Cloud Verified services, visit https://cloud.vmware.com/providers/vmware-cloud-verified.
Shiv Sena leader Deepak Kesarkar on Friday said that all the evidence against the activists held in Bhima Koregaon case has already been submitted to the court.

Mumbai: Shiv Sena leader Deepak Kesarkar on Friday said that all the evidence against the activists held in Bhima Koregaon case has already been submitted to the court.

He said the judicial commission probing the Bhima Koregaon violence case can examine the evidence (against the activists).

His statement comes over a month after NCP chief Sharad Pawar demanded that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) be set up under a retired judge to probe the action taken by Pune police against activists in the Elgar Parishad case. He had termed the police action as "wrong" and "vengeful".

Talking to PTI on Friday, Kesarkar, who was Minister of State for Home in the previous Devendra Fadnavis government, said, "A judicial commission is probing the Koregaon Bhima violence case. All the evidence against the activists in the Elgar Parishad case has already been submitted to the court."

The state government had set up the judicial commission under former Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court, JN Patel, to inquire into the violence that took place during the 200th commemoration of the battle of Koregaon Bhima on January 1, 2018.

"The judicial commission can check if the evidence submitted to the court is correct or not," Kesarkar said.

According to Pune police, the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017, was supported by Maoists and inflammatory speeches made at the event led to caste violence at the Koregaon Bhima war memorial in the district the next day.

The Left-leaning activists arrested during the probe had links with Maoists, the Pune police had claimed. They had booked the activists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The Pune Police had arrested nine activists  Sudhir Dhawale, Rona Wilson, Surendra Gadling, Mahesh Raut, Shoma Sen, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Sudha Bharadwaj and Varavara Rao  in connection with Elgar Parishad case.
By Rasana Gasimova

Israel seeks to develop both business relations and people-to-people ties with Azerbaijan, Israeli Ambassador George Deek said at a press-conference held in Baku on January 24.

Deek said that the two countries are developing the cooperation in the tourism sector, noting that the number of tourists coming from Israel to Azerbaijan was 10,000 people in 2016, whereas in 2019 this figure reached 60,000 tourists.

The countries have an agreement on direct flights which are operated five times a week. We plan to bring the number of flights up to seven, he added.

Deek also noted that the number of Azerbaijani tourists visiting Israel is very low. He expressed hope that increasing the number of flights will help increase the number of tourists from Azerbaijan to Israel. We also try to simplify visa procedures between the countries and ensure digitalization of this system.

Deek said that the Israeli Foreign Ministry does not urge Israelis not to come to Azerbaijan.

"On the contrary, the desire of Israeli tourists to visit Azerbaijan is always welcomed by the Israeli Foreign Ministry. From time to time, the Israeli Foreign Ministry warns Israelis living in all parts of the world to avoid visiting unsafe countries. This applies to all countries, including Azerbaijan. This is connected with precautionary measures, he stressed.

Deek noted that Azerbaijan will be represented by a pavilion at the international tourism exhibition to be held in Israel next month: The delegation from Azerbaijan will also participate in the event dedicated to cyber technologies that will be held in Israel next week, he said.

He further stressed that relations in the agricultural sphere between the two countries are successfully developing.

Deek noted that Azerbaijan is Israels firend, saying that Azerbaijan is a country where representatives of different nations and religions live in peace and security.

"Tolerance and mutual respect stand at the heart of this country. In an unstable region, Azerbaijan and Israel are the strongholds of peace, stability and security, he said.

Touching on other spheres of cooperation, Deek emphasized that most of oil imported by Israel comes from Azerbaijan. "Relations between countries are developing dynamically in the field of security and the fight against terrorism," he added.

The ambassador noted that Israel and Azerbaijan share the view that the world should be free from aggression and terror.

Israel, like other countries in the world, believes that we must live in a safe world. Israel has always supported the struggle against Nazism and appreciates Azerbaijan's contribution in this struggle," Deek said.

Speaking about the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Deek noted that Israel fully supports Azerbaijan's territorial integrity.

"We know what a conflict is, and we fully support the efforts of the countries of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Israel will support any agreement that will be reached between the two countries, he said.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Russell Cordes, 49, - from Dover, Kent - took his own life just three days after he had returned home to discover police searching his house for child porn- and a BBC crew filming outside

A father took his own life just three days after he had returned home to discover police searching his house for child porn - and a BBC documentary crew filming outside.

Russell Cordes, 49, was found dead at his home in Dover, Kent, after taking an overdose of prescription medication on April 18 last year.

On April 15, police carried out a raid on his home on Oswald Road after they received intelligence that indecent images of children had been downloaded and made available to share from an IP address linked to him.

Mr Cordes was not arrested, the inquest at Maidstone Coroners' Court heard.

One indecent image had been downloaded by Mr Cordes, the Independent Office for Police Conduct later reported.

Police were working with Channel 4 on a documentary, which aims to show the work of officers who identify and apprehend offenders involved in child sexual abuse.

The camera crew, from the BBC's standalone production arm BBC studios, filmed outside during the raid.

They continued to film outside the property when Mr Cordes arrived home - and he told them that they did not have his consent to appear on camera.

The crew had 40 seconds of footage of Mr Cordes taken during the day's filming.

Mr Cordes, 49, was found dead at his home after taking an overdose of prescription medication on April 18 last year

A laptop and a mobile phone were seized from the house.

Mr Cordes's family have now accused the police of having 'blood on its hands' over its handling of the case.

They also pointed the finger at the BBC for being a 'catalyst' for his death.

Kent Police's Detective Constable Darren Bassett said: 'He was asked if he had seen any indecent images of children. He said he had but it wasn't something he had searched for.

'I explained to him if it was an accident, then it wasn't anything to worry about because we would be able to see what search terms and websites he used.'

The camera crew, from the BBC's standalone production arm BBC studios, continued to film outside the property when Mr Cordes arrived home - and he told them that they did not have his consent to appear on camera. Pictured: Mr Cordes with his daughter Drew, shared by Drew on social media

An interview was set up for the following day at a police station in Canterbury - but Mr Cordes never showed up.

Two days later, police community support officers discovered Mr Cordes dead following calls from concerned neighbours.

Police community support officers who discovered Mr Cordes, after concerned calls from neighbours, said a note was also found in the house which referenced 'stigma' and said that 'he was sorry but could be happy now'.

During the inquest - which resumed yesterday - his family quizzed DC Bassett on why no welfare checks had been carried out before police and the camera crew arrived.

His step mother Heather Cordes asked: 'Did you ask Russell whether he suffered from depression or anxiety?'

Mr Cordes's daughter Drew (pictured with Mr Cordes) attended the hearing and paid tribute to her father. She said: 'My father always put me first. There was not a moment I didn't feel love and adored by him. We were incredibly close'

He replied: 'You take somebody at face value. There was no reason for me to believe there was any underlying issues.'

His sister, Michele Cordes, blamed Kent Police for his death, when questioning DC Darren Bassett.

She said: 'You have got blood on your hands.'

How Sir Cliff Richard's life was 'effectively turned upside down' following live coverage of a police raid at his home Sir Cliff Richard was the subject of a lengthy South Yorkshire Police investigation, centering on the accusations of four men dating between 1958 and 1983. The original claim was later found to be littered with inaccuracies. The first man to accuse Sir Cliff was found to suffer with 'severe' mental illness and schizophrenia. Following a tip-off, the BBC filmed detectives raiding Sir Cliff Richard's Berkshire home in August 2014 in connection with the police investigation. Sir Cliff Richard was the subject of a lengthy South Yorkshire Police investigation Sir Cliff was never arrested or charged. His case was discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service, citing 'insufficient evidence to prosecute'. This lead to him being publicly named as part of the probe. A High Court judge ruled the BBC had invaded his privacy by broadcasting the raid live on TV and he was awarded 210,000 in damages. Advertisement

Coroner Katrina Hepburn asked DC Bassett whether there was any duty to carry out welfare checks before a search warrant.

He replied: 'We carry out checks to confirm who lives at the address but their medical records wouldn't be available to us.'

Mr Cordes's daughter Drew attended the hearing and paid tribute to her father.

She said: 'My father always put me first. There was not a moment I didn't feel love and adored by him. We were incredibly close.'

She said that after her father lost his job at Currys, where he had been for 20 years, he had suicidal thoughts and had even written a note.

However, after after he secured a new position at P&O Ferries, he was much happier and in a 'good place'.

She added: 'When I spoke to him on 12 April over text, I got no indication of anything wrong. I got the impression he was thinking to the future.

'My concern is that the presence of the BBC film crew was the catalyst to him taking his own life. The stress of the situation was completely unnecessary.'

The inquest was halted in the summer after it emerged that the IOPC was conducting its own investigation into the circumstances surrounding his suicide.

The IOPC report found that no officers had behaved in a manner that warranted prosecution or disciplinary action.

But it did accept that the presence of BBC crew caused Mr Cordes 'more upset and distress'.

Summing up, Ms Hepburn said she was satisfied that Mr Cordes took an overdose of prescription medication with the intention to take his own life.

She said: 'His mind was made up. He may well have taken into account the recent event with the police investigation.

'There's evidence in his note with 'the stigma'. That may well have been the police investigation itself.'

Ms Hepburn said the presence of the BBC film crew could have been a 'background factor', causing him further stress, but was unlikely to have been the sole reason.

She added: 'If you have a film crew filming a search warrant being executed then this may well be something that causes them to become a higher risk than they might otherwise have been without the film crew. It is already a stressful situation.'

Superintendent John Phillips, of Kent Police's Professional Standards Department, said: 'Officers attended an address in Dover to execute a warrant on 15 April 2019.

On April 15, police carried out a raid on his home on Oswald Road (pictured) after they received intelligence that indecent images of children had been downloaded and made available to share from an IP address linked to him

'No arrest was made but an appointment to visit a police station in Kent was arranged for the following day for a voluntary interview.

'The man did not attend the police station and was subsequently found deceased at his home.

'Kent Police referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct as is usual for a death after police contact.

'The IOPC suggested a learning point relating to consideration whether camera crews should accompany officers in future.

'Now the inquest has taken place, force policy relating to media presence during search warrants will be reviewed to establish any learning.'



An IOPC spokesperson said: 'Following the death of Mr Russell Cordes, Kent Police referred themselves to IOPC, as is usual after someone dies or is seriously injured following contact with the police. We assessed the referral and decided that Kent Police should investigate and report their findings to us for review.

'We received their report in August 2019 and agreed that it did not indicate that a person serving with the police may have committed a criminal offence or behaved in a manner which would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings.

'However, we suggested they review their decision to have allowed a film crew to accompany the officers and consider whether any lessons can be learned for similar circumstances in the future.'

Mr Cordes was not arrested, the inquest at Maidstone Coroners' Court (pictured) heard

A police spokesperson said: 'Kent Police has been facilitating a documentary series to be aired on Channel 4 which aims to show the work of officers whose job it is to identify and apprehend offenders involved in child sexual abuse.

'Filming covers cases from the start of investigations to the charge and conviction of perpetrators while showing the challenges officers face in securing prosecutions and, ultimately, protecting children.

'Kent Police takes this vital area of police work exceptionally seriously and we are working to ensure the very highest standard of legal compliance and editorial rigour is applied to the broadcast of this extremely complex and sensitive area of policing.

'It is hoped that any eventual series will lead to a better understanding of child sexual abuse, the policing of it and the impact which this type of offending has on victims and those close to them.'

A spokesman for BBC Studios said: 'Our sincere condolences go out to the family.

'BBC Studios were filming an observational documentary series for Channel Four following the work of Kent Police.

'The crew accompanied the police to an address in Dover, where they were exercising a warrant.

'None of this recorded material will be used in the series.'
Ryan Gosling and Ana De Armas in Blade Runner 2049

Denis Villeneuve has revealed his interest in overseeing a new Blade Runner movie.

However, rather than simply being a direct follow-up to his sequel Blade Runner 2049, the French Canadian director told Empire that he would only be interested in returning to this world if the movie wasnt connected to the originals.

Read More: Blade Runner fans point out classic film is no longer set in the future

Its such an inspiring place, the Blade Runner world  The problem I have is the word sequel. I think cinema needs original stories.

But if you ask me if Id like to revisit this universe in a different way, I can say yes. It would need to be a project on its own. Something disconnected from both other movies. A detective noir story set in the future.

Canadian director and member of the Feature Film Jury Denis Villeneuve gestures as he arrives on stage on May 8, 2018 during the opening ceremony of the 71st edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France. (Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP) (Photo credit should read ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Villeneuve almost made it seem like it was his destiny to eventually make another Blade Runner movie, as he went on to tell the magazine, I wake up sometimes in the night dreaming about it.

While it is commendable that Villeneuve is adamant about seeing more original movies from Hollywood, and hopefully has several ideas of his own lined up to soon put into production, it should be noted that his upcoming follow-up to Blade Runner 2049 is actually a remake of David Lynchs 1984 sci-fi epic Dune, which itself was based on Frank Herberts 1965 book.

Read More: 'Blade Runner' fans spot strange coincidence in Rutger Hauer's death

Fingers crossed that news of either another Blade Runner movie, or of an original film from Villeneuve, will be announced around the time that Dune is released on December 18, 2020.

Although the fact that the filmmaker previously said that he wanted to adapt Dune into two films suggests that hes going to be pretty busy for the foreseeable future.
Siemens to double business in Ukraine in next three years

Siemens business in Ukraine has doubled over the past three years, the company expects to maintain such growth rates in the next three years, Director General of Siemens Ukraine Maciej Tomasz Zielinski has said.

"In the industries where we work  in energy, in the food industry, in business processes  we consider this possible with the right policy of the government of the country," he told Interfax-Ukraine on the sidelines of the Ukrainian House, organized by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, WNISEF and Horizon Capital in Davos.

According to him, the matter concerns the continuing of the policy of energy independence, increasing production efficiency, further developing the agricultural sector that can feed the whole of Europe and even more.

In addition, the expert noted a great development potential of the Ukrainian industry due to its digital transformation.

"There are not many countries that would be as good as Ukraine and have the potential for a leap," he said.

At the same time, he called on Ukrainian companies to be more flexible, more market-oriented and customer oriented.

"Siemens offers technologies that improve efficiency and help our customers be more successful," he added.

Siemens Ukraine, founded in 1997, is a supplier of products, services and integrated solutions for the energy sector, industry, transport, building automation and urban infrastructure. The central office is located in Kyiv, the regional branches are in Lviv, Dnipro, Kryvy Rih, Odesa, and Kharkiv.
WASHINGTON  Republicans in the Senate appear unmoved by the Democratic push for witnesses in President Donald Trumps impeachment trial despite persistent appeals from Rep. Adam Schiff and the other House prosecutors.

Over three days of arguments, Democrats warned that the senators will live to regret not delving deeper into Trumps dealings with Ukraine. One of the managers, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, even told them it was treacherous to vote against gathering more evidence.

Yet theres no indication the Democrats are moving closer to persuading four Republicans to break with their party in a critical vote expected next week  the minimum needed to reach a majority for subpoenas and extend a trial that seems on track for Trumps acquittal.

As someone who has enjoyed really fairly strong working relationships with a lot of my colleagues, Ive been struck by how little outreach and conversation there has been about calling witnesses, said Delaware Sen. Chris Coons, a Democrat who has often been at the center of bipartisan negotiations.

I understand that we are in a very partisan and divided environment, but Im hoping that some conversations will begin. But so far there have been strikingly few.

Most Republicans have solidified around the argument that the House should have sued for the witnesses who refused to testify in the House on Trumps orders, rather than looked to the Senate to compel their testimony. Others have suggested that the case hasnt been convincing enough.

The central witness that Democrats are seeking is former national security adviser John Bolton, who was present for many of the episodes examined in the Houses impeachment inquiry. Bolton, who often clashed with Trump, refused to talk to House investigators but has said he would testify in a Senate trial.

Republicans have little interest.

We have heard plenty, said Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, the Senates No. 3 Republican. They shouldnt need any more information to make the final decision.

A GOP senator who is in a tough re-election this year, Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner, also appeared to dismiss the idea Friday as he stood behind the closing doors of an elevator.

Weve heard from a lot of impeachment witnesses, Gardner said, referring to those who testified in the House.

Republicans say privately that beyond the potential for damaging information to come out about Trump, they dont believe it would benefit themselves politically to hear witnesses. One top GOP aide said theres no political gain in working with Democrats  and no reward inside the Senate for tackling the idea.

A senior Senate Republican said that the virtual certainty of a Trump acquittal, and that witnesses are unlikely to move public opinion, cements their views. Democrats only need a simple majority of the Senate to call witnesses, but two-thirds of the chamber must vote to convict. Both Republicans requested anonymity to discuss internal party deliberations.

Those dynamics could certainly change in a fast-moving trial where evidence has continued to come out. Democrats are hoping for a dramatic moment similar to when the late Sen. John McCain unexpectedly voted in 2017 against legislation that would have led to repeal of President Barack Obamas health care law, killing the bill.

And Schiff and the impeachment managers are working to convince Republicans, one by one.

This is not a trial over a speeding ticket or shoplifting, Schiff told senators during arguments Friday. This is an impeachment trial involving the president of the United States. These witnesses have important first-hand testimony to offer. The House wishes to call them in the name of the American people, and the American people overwhelmingly want to hear what they have to say.

According to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, about 7 in 10 respondents  including majorities of Republicans and Democrats  said Trump should allow top aides to appear as witnesses. The poll showed the public slightly more likely to say the Senate should convict and remove Trump from office than to say it should not, 45% to 40%. But a sizable percentage, 14%, said they didnt know enough to have an opinion.

The battle for witnesses has been largely focused on four Republicans: Maine Sen. Susan Collins, a moderate up for re-election who has said she is likely to want to hear from them; Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, who has said he wants to hear from Bolton; Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who worked with Collins to ensure there would be a vote on witnesses; and Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander, who has so far remained quiet on how he will vote.

Alexander is thought to be the the least certain of the four. I think the question is, do we need more evidence? Do we need to hear witnesses? Do we need more documents? Alexander said Friday. He said that question can only be answered after both the prosecution and the presidents defense finish their arguments, likely the middle of the next week.

Collins and Murkowski also took issue late Friday when Schiff repeated an anonymously sourced report that the White House would punish Republicans who voted against Trump.

As Democrats see it, they are only one or two votes away from a trial that could bring heaps of new evidence against Trump. There are 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats in the Senate, and a tie vote would mean the failure of a motion to call witnesses.

The Republican resistance to hearing more evidence has been infuriating to Democrats who say the GOP is trying to cover up Trumps wrongdoing. The two articles of impeachment charge him with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress after he pushed Ukraine to announce investigations of Democrats. At the time, Trump was withholding military aid to the country.

Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, says he doesnt see any kind of bipartisan group forming to negotiate the witness question, and charged that his Republican colleagues wont stand up to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. The GOP leader has strongly supported Trump and signaled that he doesnt want to prolong the trial with new documents and testimony.

This place is replete with head fakes that were going to stand up to McConnell, said Brown, referring to Republicans. And in the end it looks like 52 sheep and McConnell.
Megyn Kelly has reignited the blackface controversy that got her fired from NBC Universal, complaining in a tweet that umbrella company Universal didn't have a problem when Robert Downey Jr. wore blackface in 2008 film Tropic Thunder.

Kelly got a $69million payout when she was axed from the network after she told Today show viewers she didn't see anything wrong with people wearing blackface up for the sake of a Halloween costume.

On Wednesday, she caused upset again with Tropic Thunder actress Yvette Nicole Brown calling her a 'privileged twit' for comparing her offensive comments to Downey Jr.'s in a recent interview.

'R. Downey Jr: wears blackface for Universal w/o regret bc it 'sparked a necessary convo.' Univer.: yay Robert!

'Me: Never worn blackface but had one of those 'necessary convos' re how standard seems to have changed over time.NBC-Univer: F.U.! Cancelled!'

Megyn Kelly (left) has complained that Universal rewarded Robert Downey Jr. for his satirical Tropic Thunder (pictured right) role in 2008 as an actor who wrongly wore blackface. Downey Jr. recently said that he doesn't regret his role as it highlighted that blackface is wrong but to consider doing that again is a 'necessary meditation'

Kelly lost her job in 2018 for saying it's okay to wear blackface on Halloween and Wednesday claimed her comment was one of those 'necessary convos'

Tropic Thunder actress Yvette Nicole Brown called her a 'privileged twit' for comparing her offensive comments to Downey Jr.'s in a recent interview

She posted on social media after Downey Jr. said he has no regrets about playing the Kirk Lazarus - an Australian method actor, who sparks controversy by having a 'pigmentation alteration' procedure as he prepares to play a black character.

He said it was because it showed how wrong it was to wear blackface - which was used in the early film industry instead of hiring black actors and regularly portrayed black people as dangerous and uneducated.

Kelly ended up out of a job when she challenged her TV panel in October 2018: 'But what is racist? You truly do get in trouble if you are a white person who puts on blackface at Halloween or a black person who puts on whiteface for Halloween. That was OK when I was a kid, as long as you were dressing like a character.'

Yvette Nicole Brown, who played Peck's (Matthew McConaughey) assistant in 2008's Tropic Thunder, blasted Kelly for not understanding that Downey was not promoting blackface himself but highlighting why it is wrong via parody.

'This privileged twit still doesn't get it. She will NEVER get it. Can someone tell @MegynKelly that her 'confusion' as to why blackface is problematic expressed on the @NBC show she did not earn nor deserved was not a #NecessaryConversation? #ThisHorribleChick #FixItJesus.'

Yvette Nicole Brown played Peck's (Matthew McConaughey) assistant in Tropic Thunder

One social media said she's 'missing the point' and another called her 'an awful human being'

Social media users addressed that Downey Jr. was portraying a character who wore blackface and parodied the idea of it to highlight it's wrong

Some social media users explained the history of blackface and why it is so controversial

A woman claiming to have been a classmate of Kelly's said she's an embarrassment and unfortunately a very poor reflection of those she grew up with'

One man shared online: 'Robert Downey Jr. wasn't wearing blackface himself. He was playing a character wearing blackface. There is a difference.'

Another wrote on Twitter: 'Robert Downey Jr.'s role was a parody *of* blackface. Megyn Kelly is a parody of a news anchor.'

'True Blackface ( minstrel shows) were designed to belittle and dehumanize African Americans In Tropic Thunder, RDJ and crew are satirizing self-important celebrities who are unaware of the effects of their decisions on other people and groups. Kinda like you,' one person explained.

A woman claiming to have been a classmate added: 'I went to high school with Megyn Kelly and I can assure you that no one wore blackface for Halloween in our town.

'She's an embarrassment and unfortunately a very poor reflection of those she grew up with. She's also not fully accurate regarding her personal history.'

Downey Jr. was asked about the heavily criticized role - for which he was nominated for multiple awards including an Oscar - during an interview on The Joe Rogan Experience.

Others showed support for Kelly after her tweet complaining about the reception Downey Jr. has received for his view

When Rogan asked him if he would accept the 2008 Ben Stiller-produced movie part today, the actor said: 'When Ben called and said 'hey I'm doing this thing,' I think Sean Penn had passed on it or something like thatpossibly wisely.

'And I thought, 'Yeah I'll do that after Iron Man.' And then I started thinking, 'This is a terrible idea; wait a minute.''

'Then I thought, 'Well, hold on, dude, get real here, where is your heart?' And my heart is, a), I get to be black for a summer in my mind, so there's something in it for me. The other thing is, I get to hold up to nature the insane self-involved hypocrisy of artists and what they think they're allowed to do on occasionjust my opinion.'

'And also Ben, who is a master artist and director, probably the closest thing to Charlie Chaplin that I've experienced... he knew exactly what the vision for this was; he executed it.'

Some of Chaplin's movies featured blackface at the expense of African Americans, which was common at the time.

He continued: 'It was impossible to not have it be an offensive nightmare of a movie, and 90 percent of my black friends are like, 'Dude, that was great.'''

Starring role: Robert plays Australian method actor Kirk Lazarus in Tropic Thunder, a character that sparked controversy by having a 'pigmentation alteration' procedure as he prepared to play a black character

'What about the other 10 percent?' Rogan asked.

'You know, I can't disagree with thembut I know where my heart was,' Downey said.

'And I think that it's never an excuse to do something that is out of place and not of its time, but to me it was just putting a, it was a blasting cap onand by the way, I think White Chicks came out pretty soon after that, and I was like, 'I love that! That was great!''

When host Rogan offered that you couldn't do blackface today, the actor responded: 'It's an interesting and necessary meditation on, 'Where is the pendulum?' Downey offered at one point. 'Why is the pendulum right? Where is the pendulum maybe cutting a little into what could be perceived as heart in the right place openness of its time?''

'But again, I mean, you know, there's a morality clause here on this planet. And it's a big price to pay, and I think having a moral psychology is job one. So sometimes you've just gotta go, 'Yeah, I effed up.' Again, not in my defense, but Tropic Thunder was about how wrong that is. So I take exception.'

Rogan asked if anyone on Robert's team or an family or friends had tried to talk him out of it. He admitted 'my mother was horrified. 'Bobby, I'm telling ya, I have a bad feeling about this.' I was like, 'Yeah me too, mom.''

The actor continued: 'Then I thought, 'Well, hold on, dude, where is your heart?' And my heart is I get to be black for a summer in my mind, so there's something in it for me

At the time the actor received critical acclaim for his performance and was nominated in the Supporting Actor category at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards. Heath Ledger won all of those for his role as The Joker in The Dark Knight.

Tropic Thunder also attracted criticism upon its release from the the disability advocacy community over the character Simple Jack.

The film shows Stiller's character Tugg Speedman attempting to revive his career after starring in a movie called Simple Jack, about a mentally-challenged farm boy.

A coalition of more than 20 disability advocacy groups objected to Tropic Thunder's repeated use of the word 'retard' with groups picketing screenings of the film.

Stiller defended the film, stating at the time: 'We screened the movie so many times and this didn't come up until very late ... in the context of the film I think it's really clear, they were making fun of the actors and actors who try to use serious subjects to win awards.'

Co-writer Etan Cohen also stated: 'Some people have taken this as making fun of handicapped people, but we're really trying to make fun of the actors who use this material as fodder for acclaim.'
New Delhi, Jan 24 (IANS) Advocate A.P. Singh, lawyer for three of the four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya gang-rape case again moved an application before a Delhi court seeking directions to the Tihar Jail authorities to supply him the relevant documents in order to exercise the remaining legal remedies available with the convicts -- Vinay Pawan and Akshay.

Singh, in his plea filed before the Patiala House Court sought urgent orders of the court in order to file a mercy petition of Vinay Sharma and in relation to requests for documents for convicts Vinay Sharma, Pawan Kumar Gupta and Akshay Kumar Singh.

He further said that the convicts undertook several steps to obtain relevant information necessary for filing the mercy petitions. In regular interval, the convicts requested the concerned authority to supply documents pertaining to their medical records from 2012 to 2015 and 2019-2020, records of cellular confinement, records of the amount earned in prison through labour, records of educational and reformative activities like Tihar Olympics and Painting, etc.

"Despite multiple requests, the documents pertaining to convict Vinay Sharma had not been provided and further similar documents should be directed to be provided for convicts Pawan Gupta and Akshay Thakur from the superintendents of the respective jails," the application said.

The court had recently issued death warrant against the convicts and fixed February 1 as the date of execution of the death penalty.

The 23-year-old victim was brutally gangraped and tortured on December 16, 2012, which later led to her death. All the six accused were arrested and charged with sexual assault and murder. One of the accused was a minor and appeared before a juvenile justice court, while another accused committed suicide in Tihar Jail.

Four of the convicts were sentenced to death by a trial court in September 2013, and the verdict was confirmed by the Delhi High Court in March 2014 and subsequently upheld by the Supreme Court in May 2017, which also dismissed their review petitions.

A Juvenile involved in the crime was convicted by a juvenile justice board and released from a reformation home after serving a three-year term.

anb/dpb
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) has announced that Kentucky has adopted e-recording and joined Simplifiles network.

Kentucky followed in the steps of the other 48 US states that have authorized e-recording of deeds, mortgages, and other documents to enable quicker and more cost-effective land-record transactions. Only Vermont has yet to permit e-recording.

We are delighted to welcome Hardin and Jefferson counties to our e-recording network, Simplifile President Paul Clifford said. We look forward to helping additional Kentucky municipalities get up and running  a process that usually takes only days  so they can take advantage of e-recordings significant time and cost savings.
This day next week, Friday January 31 the UK will leave Europe.

With Brexit just one week away, concerns this week over water quality issues on Lough Melvin and possible discharge from the Fermanagh side of the lake.

Cllr Justin Warnock said discharge was discovered coming from the Garrison side into the Leitrim side before Christmas.

He also noted there are ongoing issues over algae bloom.



He reiterated that Lough Melvin is a source of drinking water for some houses in South Donegal.

He asked Leitrim County Council: What contingency plan will be in place between our local authority and Fermanagh Omagh District Council for water quality issues in Lough Melvin aft

er Brexit on January 31?

He asked specifically who will police the lake?

The council said they will continue to sample Lough Melvin and all samples are sent to the EPA, this process will not change post Brexit.



Lough Melvin has been selected as a Priority Area of Action by EPA and others under the River Basin Management Plan.

Leitrim County Council has representatives on Border Regional Water and Environment Operational Groups.

Leitrim County Council said they engage with Fermanagh Omagh District Council regularly and this will continue after Brexit.

Cllr Warnock said this is an ongoing issue and many are concerned that the lakes water quality seems to be deteriorating, especially anglers.



Cllr Warnock brought up similar issues over discharge from the Garrison side which made its way over to Kinlough in 2017.

Also read: Dumping and litter remain a "serious" issue in Leitrim
The Nuremberg and Tokyo trials contributed significantly to the development of international criminal law and served as models for a new series of international criminal tribunals that were established in the 1990s.





by Wedyan Al Madani





These  rather unfortunate  days some voices in Europe are trying, in a quite ahistorical fashion, to question the very fundaments of the antifascist legacy. Dangerous and highly destructive equitation attempts are on the way. Still, this legacy is what finally made the Old continent human and peaceful  a role model to admire and for the rest of us to follow.





The Nuremberg Trials









These regrettable equitationsmake it worth to revisit the Nuremberg and Tokyo trials, which are essential pillars of the Human Rights charter brokered right after under the OUN auspices. Consequently, a very legacy of these trials is extraordinary and far reaching. Itrepresents a core building material of the house called Modern Europe  something that theDirector of International Institute IFIMES, Dr. Zijad Becirovic repeatedly stresses in his media appearances, as one of the bold but ratherrare voices of the right direction and historical responsibility awareness today.





Conclusively, the importance of tribunals is hard to overstate. Its reaffirmation today is needed like never since the very end of WWII.





* * * *





Noam Chomsky once said, For the powerful, crimes are those that others commit. This was not the case for Germany and Japan post-World War II. The victorious Allied powers established the first international criminal tribunals to prosecute political and military officials for war crimes and other atrocities committed during wartime. The four major Allied governments; the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union, set up the International Military Tribunal (Nuremberg trials) in Nuremberg, Germany, to prosecute and punish the major war criminals of the European Axis.





The tribunal presided over a combined trial of senior Nazi political and military leaders, as well as several Nazi organizations. The less-recognized International Military Tribunal for the Far East was created (Tokyo trials) in Tokyo, Japan, following the 1946 proclamation by Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers, U.S. Army General Douglas MacArthur. The tribunal presided over a series of trials of senior Japanese political and military leaders to prosecute and punish Far Eastern war criminals. The Nuremberg and Tokyo trials differed in several important aspects including their origins, compositions, and jurisdictions.





The Allied powers established the policy that international tribunals in Europe and in the Far East after World War II would focus on, most importantly, a decision on individual criminal liability for crimes against peace. The Allied governments, and specifically the United States, sought after this policy as a solid step toward organizing an international legal system for discouraging future aggressors and averting the sort of war devastation that the Axis aggression had caused. This US-enlivened policy, first presented at Nuremberg, was repeated and pursued precisely at Tokyo. Luc Reydams and Jan Wouters argued that The Nuremberg and Tokyo Charters were drafted by a handful of statesmen from the highest echelons of government for whom an international tribunal was not a goal unto itself, but a means to a very specific end. The Tokyo Charter, necessitated that the principal charges against the defendants be crimes against peace while deeming charges on war crimes and crimes against humanity as discretionary. Therefore, a great part of the court battles at Tokyo rotated around substantiating aggressive war charges, despite the fact that proof of Japanese wartime atrocities was, truth be told, likewise exhibited.





In June 1945, the day of the signing of the United Nations Charter at the San Francisco Conference, delegations of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union, negotiated in London on the regulating principles for prosecuting war criminals. It is noteworthy that the respective heads of these delegations; Robert Jackson, David Maxwell Fyfe, General I.T. Nikitchenko, and Robert Falco later served in notable roles at the International Military Tribunal. Meeting in Potsdam to discuss the future of Germany and Europe, Truman, Churchill, and Stalin affirmed the London talks.





In August 1945, the four major Allied governments signed the 1945 London Agreement, which established the International Military Tribunal. The Charter of the International Military Tribunal was adjoined to the London Agreement and defined the tribunals constitution, functions, and jurisdiction . One judge from each of the Allied governments formed the Nuremberg tribunal, the Allied powers also supplied a team of prosecutors. The Nuremberg Charter also provided that the International Military Tribunal had the authority to prosecute and punish persons who committed any of the following crimes: Crimes Against Peace (planning and making war), War Crimes (responsibility for crimes during war), Crimes Against Humanity (racial persecution), and Conspiracy to Commit other Crimes.





The tribunal held its opening session in the Palace of Justice in Nuremberg, and the trials lasted from November 1945 to October 1946. Twenty-two Nazi political and military leaders were indicted, including Hermann Goering, Rudolph Hess, Joachim von Ribbentrop, Alfred Rosenberg, and Albert Speer. The tribunal found nineteen individual defendants guilty and sentenced them to punishments that ranged from death by hanging to fifteen years of imprisonment. Three defendants were found that they are not guilty, one committed suicide before the trial, and one did not stand trial due to physical or mental illness.





Unlike the International Military Tribunal, the International Military Tribunal for the Far East was not created by an international agreement, but it nonetheless emerged from international agreements to prosecute Japanese war criminals. In July 1945, the United States, the United Kingdom, and China signed the Potsdam Declaration, in which they stated that We do not intend that the Japanese shall be enslaved as a race or destroyed as a nation, but stern justice shall be meted out to all war criminals, including those who have visited cruelties upon our prisoners. The Japanese Government shall remove all obstacles to the revival and strengthening of democratic tendencies among the Japanese people. Freedom of speech, of religion, and of thought, as well as respect for the fundamental human rights shall be established.  and urged the Japanese government to, proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces, and to provide proper and adequate assurances of their good faith in such action.  The war in Europe had ended but the war with Japan was continuing at the time the Potsdam Declaration was signed. Nonetheless, the Potsdam Declaration was not signed by the Soviet Union because it did not declare war on Japan until the United States dropped the second atomic bomb on the city of Nagasaki.





Japan surrendered on the 14th of August 1945, six days later. Officials of the US State Department leaned toward holding an intergovernmental conference to establish special international tribunals, but the State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee came up with the plan to use the power of the Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers, General Douglas MacArthur, mindful of the experience with the London Conference where Justice Robert Jackson had enormous difficulty coming to an agreement with other delegations on the Nuremberg Charter.





At the following Moscow Conference, held in December 1945, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union with affirmation from China agreed to a basic structure to occupy Japan. General MacArthur was granted authority to issue all orders for the implementation of the Terms of Surrender, the occupation and control of Japan, and all directives supplementary thereto. 





In January 1946, General Douglas MacArthur issued a special proclamation to establish the International Military Tribunal for the Far East. The Charter for the International Military Tribunal for the Far East was adjoined to the proclamation. Similar to the Nuremberg Charter, it outlined the composition, functions, and jurisdiction of the tribunal. The Charter provided for General Douglas MacArthur to assign judges to the International Military Tribunal for the Far East from the countries that had signed Japans instrument of surrender: Australia, Canada, China, France, the Netherlands, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as British India and the Philippines. Each of these countries also had a team of prosecutors. As with the International Military Tribunal, the International Military Tribunal for the Far East had jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for Crimes Against Peace, War Crimes, and Crimes Against Humanity . However, the International Military Tribunal for the Far East had jurisdiction over crimes that occurred over a greater period of time, from the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931 to Japans surrender in 1945.





The International Military Tribunal for the Far East oversaw the prosecution of twenty-five Japanese political and military leaders. The Emperor of Japan Hirohito and other members of the imperial family were not indicted. In fact, the Allied governments allowed Emperor Hirohito to retain his position on the throne, albeit with diminished status. The trials took place from May 1946 to November 1948. The International Military Tribunal for the Far East found all defendants guilty and sentenced them to punishments ranging from death to seven years imprisonment.





The Nuremberg and Tokyo trials contributed significantly to the development of international criminal law and served as models for a new series of international criminal tribunals that were established in the 1990s. Moreover, the reference to crimes against peace, war crimes, and crimes against humanity in the International Military Tribunal Charter represented the first time these terms were used and defined in an international instrument. These terms and definitions were also adopted in the Charter of the International Military Tribunal for the Far East,and have been depicted and expanded in a succession of international legal instruments since that time. The conclusions of the Nuremberg trials also served as models for the Genocide Convention 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 and paved the way for the establishment of the International Criminal Court.





In conclusion, the Nuremberg and Tokyo trials legacy itself is extraordinary, and its importance is hard to overstate. Nuremberg and the international communitys experience with the ad hoc tribunals demonstrate that international justice doesnt have to be perfect to begood. Holding up Nuremberg to an impossible, imagined standard is neither fair norproductive.





We cannot forget that the Nuremberg and Tokyo trials and, fifty years later, the establishment of the International Criminal Court aimed to safeguard peace in all regions of the world. The achievements of these great trials in elevating justice and law over inhumanity and war give promise for a better tomorrow by paving the way to deal with international crimes. Furthermore, the international system has made huge contributions to the birth and development of modern international law.





About the author: Wedyan Al Madani is a Saudi scholar. She is Jeddah-based Legal Advisor, and specialist in international law and relations.









References





Bard, M. G. (2002). The Nuremberg trials. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven Press.

Brook, T. (2001). The Tokyo Judgment and the Rape of Nanking. The Journal of Asian Studies, 60(3), 673-700. doi:10.2307/2700106

Carnegie Endowment for international peace. (n.d.). The Potsdam declaration: August 2, 1945. New York.

Cho, J. M., Roberts, L. M., &Spang, C. W. (2016). Transnational encounters between Germany and Japan: perceptions of partnership in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.

Crawford, J. (2012). Brownlies Principles of Public International Law. Oxford University Press.

Janis, M. W., & Noyes, J. E. (2006). Cases and commentary on international law. St. Paul, MN: Thomson/West.

Piccigallo, P. R. (2011). The Japanese on Trial: Allied War Crimes Operations in the East, 1945-1951. Austin: University of Texas Press.

Reydams, L., Wouters, J., &Ryngaert, C. (2012). The Politics of Establishing International Criminal Tribunals. International Prosecutors, 680. doi:

10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199554294.003.0002

Taulbee, J. L. (2018). War Crimes and Trials: A Primary Source Guide. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, LLC.

United Nations, the Charter of the International Military Tribunal (Nuremberg Charter) retrieved from: https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/documents/atrocity-crimes/Doc.2_Charter%20of%20IMT%201945.pdf
By PTI

BEIJING: The India embassy in China has cancelled the Republic Day ceremony in view of the coronavirus outbreak which has killed 25 people and infected over 800 others. The Indian mission on Friday took to social media to announce the cancelation of the celebrations scheduled for January 26.

We take this occasion to wish all the Indian expatriate community in China a very happy Republic Day.  India in China (@EOIBeijing) January 24, 2020

"In view of the evolving situation due to the coronavirus outbreak in China as well as the decision of the Chinese authorities to cancel public gathering and events,@EOIBeijing has also decided to call off the Republic Day reception scheduled to be held @EOIBeijing on January 26th," the embassy said on Twitter.

According to the latest reports, the death toll in the deadly coronavirus has climbed to 25 with confirmed cases rising sharply to 830, mostly in China's Hubei province.

Beijing has reported 26 cases so far. China has locked down eight cities including Wuhan to prevent the virus from spreading. On Thursday, the embassy hosted Republic day reception in which Chinese officials and members of Beijing-based diplomatic community took part. Vice Foreign Minister and China's former ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui was the Chief Guest at the reception.

There is also a global concern over the health of foreign nationals, including Indians, caught in the midst.

ALSO READ| South Korea confirms 50-year-old man as second case of coronavirus

The railway network ceased to function in as many as five cities  Wuhan, Huanggang, Ezhou, Chibi and Zhijiang  and people were advised to avoid non-essential travel.

Also, Lunar New Year events were cancelled in Beijing, as China scrambled to limit transmission of the virus that killed one more person on Thursday, taking the toll to 18. In Hong Kong, two-holiday camps were converted into quarantine zones.

There was confusion about an Indian infected in Saudi Arabia, as initial reports said a nurse hailing from Kerala tested positive. Later, the Indian mission in Jeddah tweeted she was suffering from a different strain of coronavirus  MERS-CoV  and not the Wuhan virus, called 2019-nCoV.

She hails from Ettumanoor in Kottayam and works at the Al-Hayat National Hospital in the Khamis Mushait region. She reportedly got infected after exposure to a Filipino patient at the hospital. The affected nurse is recovering well, junior foreign minister V Muraleedharan had tweeted earlier.

There were also reports of 30 other nurses from Kerala being quarantined at the hospital, though minister Muraleedharan claimed all other Indian nurses there tested negative for the virus. With the virus creating panic, parents of students from Karnataka studying in different universities of Wuhan and other cities in China were worried about their wellbeing. Also, there are about 40 Keralite families in Beijing.

The Union Health Ministry said over 12,000 passengers from China have been screened at airports so far, but no positive case was found.

Addressing the gathering, Indian ambassador to China Vikram Misri said that 2020 is an important year for the bilateral ties as it marks the 70th year of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

ALSO READ| Coronavirus outbreak: Hotlines set up for assistance to Indians in China

"It is worth noting that India was one of the first non-socialist countries to recognise the People's Republic of China (PRC). This is an important opportunity to review our journey and set new goals together," he said.

Misri said that the second informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held at Chennai last year was highly successful and productive. "It provided new impetus for the growth of the India-China relations across the political, military-economic and trade, cultural and people-to-people relations," he said.

The Indian envoy said that a broader and deeper relations between the two countries can enable to serve as a factor of stability in a complex and evolving world. Seventy events will be held to mark the 70th year of diplomatic relations between the two neighbours.

(With ENS Inputs)
SpaceX is now aiming or Jan. 27 to launch its next Starlink satellite mission on a Falcon 9 rocket. The rocket has flown twice before and launched SpaceX's first Crew Dragon test flight in 2019.

Dismal rocket landing weather has prompted SpaceX to postpone the launch of its next Starlink satellite mission by another three days, with liftoff now set for Monday, Jan. 27.

The private spaceflight company had hoped to launch its next 60 Starlink internet satellites earlier this week, but delayed the mission to no earlier than Friday (Jan. 24) due to bad weather at its rocket landing site. On Thursday, SpaceX pushed the launch back again, to no earlier than Monday.

"Weather in the recovery area continues to be unfavorable so team is now targeting Monday, January 27 for launch of Starlink, pending Range availability," SpaceX officials said in a Twitter update.

Video: See SpaceX's 1st Starlink Satellites in the Night Sky

In Photos: SpaceX Launches Third Batch of 60 Starlink Satellites to Orbit

SpaceX test-fired the Falcon 9 rocket that will launch this batch of Starlink satellites on Monday (Jan. 20) with hopes to launch the mission by mid-week, but ultimately targeted Friday for the liftoff due to weather conditions at the booster's recovery site in the Atlantic Ocean. SpaceX will use a drone ship as a floating landing pad to recover the Falcon 9 rocket's first stage.

The Falcon 9 rocket for this mission, called Starlink-3, has flown two missions before, one to launch SpaceX's Crew Dragon Demo-1 mission from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida and the other to loft three Canadian satellites from at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

The Starlink-3 mission will be SpaceXs fourth launch to grow its Starlink megaconstellation of satellites, which are designed to provide high-speed broadband internet service from space.

Related: Why SpaceX's Starlink satellites caught astronomers off guard

SpaceX has launched 180 satellites into orbit over three launches, one in May 2019, the second in November 2019 and the third earlier this month. The most recent launch on Jan. 6 made SpaceX the operator of the largest satellite constellation in the world.

SpaceX ultimately plans to fly a megaconstellation of 40,000 Starlink satellites to provide broadband internet to remote and underserved parts of the world. Elon Musk, the company's founder and CEO, has said SpaceX will need at least 400 satellites in orbit to begin "minor" service coverage and 800 satellites for moderate coverage.

Email Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com or follow him @tariqjmalik. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Instagram.
Harry Dunn's father has described the meeting with Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom as 'promising'.

Tim Dunn said: 'Some things we agree on and some things we don't agree on. But I feel like she's behind us, I really do.'

Speaking after a meeting with Harry's family, Ms Leadsom said: 'We've been talking about the frustrating news that the extradition was refused yesterday by the US government.

Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom (left) pictured with Harry Dunn's mother (centre), his stepfather Bruce Charles (second right) and family lawyer Radd Seiger (far right)

Harry Dunn (right), 19, died when his motorcycle crashed in a head-on collision with a car allegedly driven by Anne Sacoolas (left), 42, on August 27 last year

'Obviously Harry's family are disappointed and very upset by that, but equally very determined that the driver of the car that killed Harry Dunn should be brought back to the United Kingdom to face justice.

'We are absolutely united in our determination to get justice for Harry.'

Ms Leadsom added: 'I've been talking with Harry's family about what the next steps are and it will take some time to consider what the government's next steps should be. But I am working on that with my colleagues in government.'

Ms Leadsom said she could not comment on whether the government would block any future extradition proceedings, adding: 'We just heard that news last night. It was obviously very disappointing and I will be seeing what more can be done on behalf of Harry's family.'

Addressing what she said to the US ambassador on Friday morning, Ms Leadsom said: 'I expressed my disappointment on behalf of Harry's family, but also really importantly for the local community near to the RAF Croughton base.

'It's very concerning that this, which was at its heart a tragic road accident - which does unfortunately happen all the time, right across the world - but in this instance, the fact that there is no justice for Harry, makes the pain of losing him so much worse and that's what we have to address.'

Pushed on what was said in the meeting with the US ambassador, Ms Leadsom said: 'I don't want to comment on that meeting, it was, of course, very cordial.

'The relationship between the UK and the US is a very deep and long-standing and very good relationship - and we do have frank conversations - but I don't want to comment on that meeting.'

Tim Dunn, the father of Harry Dunn, outside South Northamptonshire Council offices in Towchester, following today's meeting with Ms Leadsom

Ms Leadsom and mother Charlotte Charles, who said the meeting went 'really well'. She said the family are feeling 'very much supported' by Ms Leadsom and the rest of the government

The Business Secretary leaving the council offices, following the US' refusal to extradite Ms Sacoolas. Ms Leadsom described the news as 'frustrating' and 'very disappointing'

Asked if the Prime Minister was going to comment on the case, Ms Leadsom said: 'The Prime Minister is very much on the side of the family in their desire to see justice done for Harry.

'All of us in government are working to that end.'

Commenting on the meeting with Ms Leadsom, Harry Dunn's mother Charlotte Charles said: 'The meeting went well with Andrea - it went really well.

'There's points that she's given us which she's going to take away and has fully assured us that she'll be working on, and we're very much feeling supported by her and the rest of the government.

'It's going to take time, it's not an overnight thing, but we'll get there.'

Speaking about what the family now wants after the extradition request was refused, Charlotte Charles said: 'She has to come back.

'I still don't understand how she can even live with herself and carry on with her life and drive.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, pictured, has turned down the extradition request for Mrs Sacoolas, family spokesman Mr Seiger said

'I don't understand that, she must be made of different stuff to us, I don't know. But she has to come back, one way or another.'

Meanwhile, the Foreign Secretary has said the Government 'would have acted differently' from the US secretary of state after he refused to return the suspect charged with causing the death of Harry Dunn to the UK.

Dominic Raab appeared to suggest he would have agreed to extradite 42-year-old Anne Sacoolas if he was put in the same position as Mike Pompeo.

Mr Raab said the rejection of an extradition request for her 'amounts to a denial of justice' and that the Foreign Office believes she should return to the UK.

Earlier today, Harry's family slammed the 'indefensible' US decision to block the deportation of Anne Sacoolas in a 'dark day for the special relationship' and demanded a meeting with Boris Johnson.

America yesterday refused to hand over a diplomat's wife who is accused of killing a 19-year-old British biker in a crash near a US airbase.

Mr Dunn was killed in a head-on collision with a car on August 27 last year near RAF Croughton, in Northamptonshire.

Ms Sacoolas, 42, the wife of a US intelligence official, is believed to have been driving on the wrong side of the road and was charged with causing death by dangerous driving. But she claimed diplomatic immunity and flew to the US.

Asked if the Prime Minister was doing enough, family spokesman Radd Seiger told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I have to say at the moment not. We did not welcome his public comments last week.

'He is the leader of the gang, he aspired to be Prime Minister. History was made last night when the Americans decided not to return her.

The parents of Harry Dunn, Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn (left and centre) along with their family lawyer and representative Radd Seiger (right) pictured together on Good Morning Britain in December

'That's the first time in history that the United States has turned down an extradition request. It's one of the darkest days in the history of this special relationship.

'Boris Johnson wanted to be Prime Minister, he is now being tested severely. I expect him today to rise to that challenge and come and meet with me and the family and tell us what he's going to do about it.'

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has said the Government is disappointed about the decision not to extradite Harry Dunn crash suspect Anne Sacoolas to the UK, adding: 'We feel this amounts to a denial of justice, and we believe Anne Sacoolas should return to the UK. We are now urgently considering our options.'

Mr Seiger, told MailOnline last night: 'The family are not at all surprised at these developments and are taking it in their stride having factored it in to their planning and strategy.

'This is a lawless corrupt administration that appears intent on attacking even it's closest international ally. If Trump and Pompeo think this is an end to the matter, they have another thing coming to them. Team Harry will sit down with the Government tomorrow (Fri) and work out our next steps. And next steps there will be. The whole world is on Team Harry's side. This is not a battle the US Government is going to win.'

Today he told Good Morning Britain: 'History was made last night. This is the first time the US have ever refused an extradition request from the UK. It's one of the darkest days in the history of the special relationship.'

He added: 'It's a completely indefensible decision both legally and morally.'

Reacting to Mr Raab's comments on the extradition refusal, the teenager's family said: 'We are obviously grateful for any intervention that the Foreign Office (FCO) is making on our behalf.

'However, the fact remains that the FCO are still defending the judicial review proceedings.

The PM (pictured on BBC Breakfast) played down expectations of a legal breakthrough

'It remains our position that intelligence officers at RAF Croughton have diplomatic immunity and that if we dare challenge that in court they will seek to effectively make us bankrupt if the we lose the case by forcing us to pay legal costs.

'That amounts to a huge arm around the US Government's position that their (the US) personnel are free to come to the UK, kill UK citizens or shed their blood, and then get on the next plane back home.

'How they have the front to maintain that position after last night's decision is a complete mystery to us and should trouble everyone on this side of the pond.

'As things stand, it matters more to the FCO that the status quo be maintained and protected than the lives of their own people and their families' ability to seek justice in the event of the worst happening.

'If we have that wrong, they are more than welcome to make that concession now or meet with us to explain why they will not do so.'

Mr Seiger said: 'What it threw up unfortunately is just the corrupt nature of this [Trump] administration that seems intent upon taking a wrecking ball to every institution there is.'

Boris Johnson last week said the chance of the suspect ever returning to the UK was very low.

Mr Seiger last week said the Prime Minister's comments made on BBC Breakfast were 'a very powerful blow' which have 'done real damage' to his bid to bring the wife of an American intelligence officer back to Britain to face justice.

'I was watching the BBC Breakfast interview in disbelief - my jaw hit the floor,' he told MailOnline. 'We are incandescent with rage,' he said.

Demanding a greater show of support from the PM, Mr Seiger questioned whether the Mr Johnson is more interested in currying favour with President Trump than supporting the grieving parents of a British citizen.

'Boris Johnson's comments have made my job ten times harder. We were beginning to make real progress,' he said.

'We felt that although we weren't supported by authorities initially, through hard work and dialogue, we were building bridges.

'Home Secretary Priti Patel reached out - along with our MP Andrea Leadsom - and we were bringing the government and Harry's family together.

'When he [Boris Johnson] spoke on BBC Breakfast I was in disbelief. It wasn't the public line we agreed on.'

Mr Seiger added: 'It's not just about Harry anymore, it's about the ability to allow a sovereign nation to apply the laws of the land to the foreign visitors.

'Everyone right up to the Home Secretary agrees with this - all except for Boris who is off in La La Land.'

Mr Seiger also revealed that Harry's mother Charlotte had begun therapy to begin to process his son's death, adding: 'It was especially difficult over the holiday season.'
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's teachings continue to inform the mission of social activism in the United States and beyond, according to a published article in Hiplatina.

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." 50 years after his death, Martin Luther King is still one of the most celebrated human rights and social activists the world over.

He would be 89 years old if he was still alive today. His life as an activist was not easy. The government, Civil rights leaders, and other activists did not like him. Dr. King was trying to make a change, but his family was harassed by police in 1963 and he spent 11 days in Birmingham jail where he was depicted as a violent person despite his calls for non-violence.

Dr. King's memory is always remembered by Blacks and Afro-Americans who struggled in the United States until today. It's easy to look around and feel like nothing has changed, but the reality is black and brown Americans are no longer struggling for their basic human rights.

Despite this, some Latinas continue the legacy of Dr. King Jr.. They are social activists who believe in the philosophical mindset of Dr. King as a civil and social activist. To get to know them more, here are some details:

1. Sylvia Mendez

The California State legislature determined in 1855 that school boards could not use its government funding to educate the Hispanics and Latinos or the non-American children. This became the starting point of Mendez and five other Mexican-American families to file a case known as Mendez vs. Westminster or Sylvias Case which was upheld in 1947 to desegregate schools in California.

This became the first case in the history of the United States to rule in favor of the desegregation that became a precedent in Brown vs. The Board of Education. Her legacy continued through the advocating for the rights of every Latino and their access to education. And with this, she received a Congressional Medal of Freedom in February 2011 which was awarded by former President Barack Obama.

2. Monica Ramirez

She is an author and the one who created the movement to elevate Latina Pay Day. Ramirez is an award-winning civil rights lawyer who advocates the largest Latina equal payday and the first in the United States to represent female farmworkers against gender discrimination and workplace violence.

She earned her Masters in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School. At present, she is the Deputy Director for the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement.

3. Isa Noyola

Isa Noyola is a translatina immigrant rights activist. She's the deputy director at Transgender Law Center and known as the national leader in the LGBTQ immigrant rights movement. She works extensively for the release of transgender women from ICE detention and ends all deportations.

Moreover, she is also affiliated as part of the #Not1more campaign, sits on the advisory board of TAJA coalition, El/La para Translatinas, and Familia: Trans, Queer Liberation Movement. Most of all, she has organized the first-ever trans-anti-violence that brought together more than 100 activists coming from women of color to address the epidemic violence towards trans.

4. Gloria Lucas

She teaches a seminar on why eating disorders in Brown and Indigenous women are social justice issues. She discussed why conversations about body image don't confront the inherit colorism and racism within the makeup of the beauty industry.

5. Nancy Morejon

She was directly influenced by the Black Liberation Movement in the United States. She is known for her works in issues that encompass ethnicity, gender, history, politics, and Afro-Cuban identity. She is the best known and most translated female poet of the post-revolutionary in Cuba.

Along with her influence and dedication, she received the Critic's Prize in 1986 and Cuba's National Prize for Literature in 2001. At present, she works at the Caribbean Studies Center at Casa de las Americas, Havana.
New Delhi: Following an uproar over BJP leader Kapil Mishra's controversial tweet, in which he likened the Delhi assembly election to India versus Pakistan contest, the Election Commission on Friday (January 24) asked Twitter to take down the post.

The Election Commission's action came after the office of the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer wrote to the EC to remove the tweet posted by Mishra on Thursday, EC officials said.

The Delhi CEO Office has also issued a show-cause notice to Mishra, who has been fielded by the BJP from the Model Town constituency, they said.

In the tweet, Mishra, a former minister in the Arvind Kejriwal cabinet, said the February 8 election will be a contest between India and Pakistan in Delhi.

In its criticism of opposition parties over their protest against the citizenship law, the BJP has been accusing them of speaking "Pakistan's language".
Former Thomas Cook Unit Condor Sold to Polish Airline Group

The parent company of Polish carrier LOT is buying German airline Condor, creating a new European airline group.

Condor was formerly part of Thomas Cook Group, but it has been searching for a new owner since the latters collapse in September. To keep flying over the quieter winter months, Condor secured a loan of $419 million (380 million) from the German federal government and the state of Hesse.

Although the parties gave no purchase figure, Rafa Milczarski, president of the management board of Polish Aviation Group (PGL), LOTs owner, called it a fair price and one that enabled Condor to pay back the loan.

The acquisition of Condor fits perfectly into PGLs strategy. It also secures the future of Condor and offers stability and great opportunities to its employees, customers, and business partners, Milczarski said in a statement.

We want to develop Condors iconic brand in Germany and also introduce it to other markets in Europe. We wholeheartedly welcome all Condor employees to the PGL family and invite them to build together one of the greatest aviation groups in Europe.

Join Us at Skift Forum Europe in Madrid on March 2425

LOT was the surprise winner of a sales process that attracted a high double-digit number of initial bidders. Six of these gave indicative offers before three put forward binding offers. Other interested parties included buyout groups Apollo and Greybull, Reuters reported.

Condors German rival Lufthansa initially expressed an interest but subsequently dropped out. Competition concerns made any deal between the two unlikely.

The rationale for LOT seems to be the complementary nature of the Condor business. The German airline is predominantly a leisure carrier, flying tourists to destinations across the world. This isnt a market that LOT has much exposure to.

Condor will continue as a stand-alone brand with its own management team. Together the two airlines carry around 20 million passengers a year.

Story continues

The Polish leisure market is a sizeable one as evidenced by Ryanairs development of its Buzz brand. This move could allow LOT to access that market as well as to gain a potential foothold in the competitive German market with a respected brand, John Strickland, a UK-based aviation consultant, said.

Milczarski knows the acquisition represents a challenge. He acknowledged at a press conference that Condor needed to replace its aging fleet of Boeing 767 long-haul aircraft. It could potentially order 30 aircraft over the next three years, 10 of which would go to LOT.

The deal is expected to close by April once it has secured antitrust approvals and Condor has exited insolvency protection proceedings.

A Big Deal?

Observers of European airline industry have expected further consolidation across the market with the big airline groups adding to their businesses while smaller carriers drop out of the market.

The LOT-Condor deal offers up a curveball with two smaller players joining forces.

We fail to see the strategic imperative for LOT or significant synergy benefits for the two companies, which make us doubt the long-term success of this transaction. As such, we do not see a meaningful impact to other European airlines, Daniel Roeska, senior research analyst at broker Bernstein, said in a note to investors.

Register now for Skift Forum Europe in Madrid on March 2425

Subscribe to Skift newsletters covering the business of travel, restaurants, and wellness.
Huawei fake protest paid actors Meng Wanzhou

CBC/Twitter

Two women say they were duped into protesting in favor of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou at an extradition hearing in Vancouver, Canada.

They said they were offered between 100 and 150 Canadian dollars to show up and hold signs, along with around 20 others.

Both said they didn't realize what they were being asked to do, and regret it.

Visit Business Insider's home page for more stories.

Unsuspecting members of the public in Canada appear to have been paid by an unknown organization to pretend to be supporters of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou at her recent extradition hearing.

Two members of a crowd of about 20 say they were given money to hold signs and participate in a protest while Wanzhou tried to avoid being extradited to the US on fraud charges.

Meng Wanzhou Huawei trial fake protest

Getty Images

According to the participants who spoke out, they and others in the group were assembled at the British Columbia Superior Court in Vancouver, and told to hold up signs saying "Free Ms Meng" and "Trump Stop Bullying."

One participant, an actor called Julia Hackstaff, said she was conned into believing she was playing the role of a protester, without realizing it was a real event. She described her experience in a Facebook post the following day

CBC British Columbia (@cbcnewsbc) January 22, 2020

A second, warehouse worker Ken Bonson, said she was told a vague story about "something to do with a protest" the next morning. She told her story to the Toronto Star newspaper.

Hackstaff said she was offered 100 Canadian dollars ($76), while Bonson said she and a friend were both offered 150 ($114).

Neither realized what was going on until they showed up, were given pre-written signs, and expected to act like supporters of Wanzhou. Neither knows who was ultimately footing the bill. Huawei has denied involvement.

Georgina Smyth, a reporter for the Canada's CBC News, said there was "something very strange" about the protest, since nobody wanted to discuss Meng's case and did not like answering questions.

Story continues

On Facebook, Hackstaff said she was "victim of a filthy cheap scam that has deeply hurt me." She said she left after five minutes and didn't get paid.

Bonson says she did get paid, but felt bad about keeping the money so gave it to her partner. She said she was offered another payment to go back a different day, but declined.

She told the Star: "I'm honestly pretty ashamed and embarrassed and wish I never went... I want this to be something I can put behind me."

Meng, whose father is Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei, has been detained in Canada since late 2018. She is accused of defrauding the bank HSBC by lying about the purpose of a shell company that did business with Iran, defying US sanctions.

Canadian authorities arrested her while she was trying to change flights in Vancouver, on the request of the US government. The court hearing this week is Meng's chance to convince Canada not to extradite her.

Lawyers for Meng argued that she is really wanted for breaking US sanctions, which is not a crime in Canada, and therefore means she should be let go.

Canadian government lawyers argue that the heart of her case is fraud, which is also illegal in Canada.

On Thursday the case ended without immediate resolution. According to the Associated Press, the judge in the case said she would announce a decision at an unspecified later date.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A Minneapolis student works at a polling place Jan. 21

In the 2018 midterm elections, Faye Darga was too young to vote, but she wasnt too young to help. As a junior at Edgewood High School in Madison, Wisconsin, Darga signed up as a poll worker at her teachers suggestion.

We're the next generation, so at some point we're going to be doing this work and we want to learn, Darga said.

Even though 16- and 17-year-olds are allowed to be poll workers in most states including Wisconsin, not all election officials have sought them out. At a time when clerks around the nation are struggling to recruit enough poll workers, students say they can be part of the solution.

High school students comprised about 16% of poll workers in Minneapolis, which is a national model for student recruitment. However, they make up less than 1% of poll workers in Milwaukee, an election official estimated.

Faye Darga, senior at Edgewood High School in Madison, served as a poll worker in 2018.

In 2016, Milwaukee precincts were among the half of Wisconsin polling places that reported difficulty recruiting enough poll workers, who can choose to either volunteer or be paid. When polls are short on workers, there are longer lines for voters and fewer people to assist people with disabilities or other needs.

It's a rising national issue: About 70% of election officials said they had a hard time recruiting poll workers in 2018, compared with less than half in 2008 and 2012, according to a survey by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.

In some instances, people walk away, said Shauntay Nelson, state director for All Voting is Local who has served as a poll worker in Milwaukee. Overall, it creates an atmosphere of impatience and frustration, and we dont want that to be the atmosphere.

Just 8% of the states polling places had 16- and 17-year-olds serve as poll workers in 2016, according to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel analysis of state data. State officials stopped collecting this information after 2016.

In Wisconsin and nationally, less than one-fifth of poll workers were younger than 41 in the most recent data, while more than two-thirds were 61 or older.

Story continues

Election officials whove hired student poll workers say that in addition to helping them meet recruitment goals, students tend to be tech-savvy, more diverse and more likely able to help translate for voters who speak other languages.

When the polling place staff look like you, its a more welcoming environment, said Mike Quieto, assistant clerk in Madison.

Madison has a particularly robust program for recruiting student poll workers. But Quieto looks to Minneapolis as a model.

Handling the highest voter turnout in the nation for the midterm elections, Minneapolis had 400 high school students working at 131 of its 132 polling places.

There were so many high school student applicants that the city referred some to neighboring areas.

Students work at a polling place in Minneapolis.

They love it, and theyre our future generation, so its a win-win situation, said Grace Wachlarowicz, assistant city clerk and director of elections for Minneapolis.

Minneapolis has used student poll workers since the 1990s but expanded the program in recent years, hiring a part-time staff person who focuses entirely on student workers. They lean on school staff and students who coordinate recruitment in some schools.

Because the student population is more racially and ethnically diverse, Wachlarowicz said, the city has moved closer to its goal of having poll workers reflect the diversity of the communities they serve.

About 44% of the student poll workers spoke two or more languages, and most of those students reported using their language skills to assist voters.

More than 100 Somali-speaking students applied in 2018. Others spoke Spanish, Hmong, Oromo, Amharic and other languages.

Most of the students said the experience improved their skills of working as a team, holding respectful dialogue and solving problems, according to a survey. Most also said they felt more connected to their community and more likely to vote when they turn 18.

Students in Madison shared similar sentiments.

Its a unique hands-on experience youre not going to get in a classroom, said Michael Mays, a senior at Edgewood High School. I just thought it was a really great experience to talk with people. There were a ton of people clearly really passionate and excited about voting.

Michael Mays, a senior at Edgewood High School, served as a poll worker in 2018.

Quieto said the students hes worked with have been reliable and bring fresh perspectives.

Theyre magnificent, Quieto said. They pay attention in training, theyre a new set of eyes. Sometimes weve had high school workers say, Thats not what we were told in training, are you sure thats right? And all the adults stop and think, As a matter of fact, youre right.

In Wauwatosa, Clerk Melanie Kollmansberger said voters have been happy with high school poll workers and she hopes to recruit more.

We have received a lot of positive feedback about high school students, she said.

Minnesota election officials rated their satisfaction with student workers as a 4.67 out of 5, where 5 meant thrilled, according to a 2019 survey by Minnesota Civic Youth, which offers resources for election officials working with students.

Madison officials also work with the University of Wisconsin-Madison to recruit college students  in friendly competition with the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, which had the highest voter turnout in the midterms of the largest public universities in the nation.

We want to beat Minnesota this year. We were joking about having a gigantic ballot pen that we pass back and forth," Quieto said.

In Milwaukee, officials havent recruited as many high school students. Neil Albrecht, executive director of Milwaukees Election Commission, said officials have seen success with a few high-achieving Milwaukee schools but struggled with others.

A Minneapolis student works at a polling place Jan. 21

Albrecht said while he would like to get more high school students involved, Milwaukee faces greater challenges with poverty than Minneapolis. About 83% of Milwaukee students qualify as economically disadvantaged, compared with 36% in Minneapolis.

When their focus is on meeting education standards on the most basic level, I think its hard for them to engage with us and have students take a day off and work at a polling place, Albrecht said.

Milwaukee also doesnt pay poll workers as much as comparable cities. Milwaukees rate is $8.67 an hour, compared with Green Bays $9.33, Madisons $13.62, Chicagos $15.33 and Minneapolis $17.15.

Albrecht said the pay certainly isnt sufficient compensation for the complexity of the duties they perform. He noted the job has become harder with increased political pressure and voter ID laws.

Polling places have really become battlegrounds in the state of Wisconsin, Albrecht said. It can create an unpleasant experience for people who receive a stipend but are really for the most part volunteering.

While volunteering as a poll worker used to be a natural transition among retirees, Albrecht said interest is waning.

Thats something Wachlarowicz has noticed, too, in Minneapolis. Its why her team is so invested in younger people.

Thats why were trying to re-energize our future generations, she said.

Follow Rory Linanne on Twitter: @RoryLinnane.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 2020 election: How teens can help the shortage of U.S. poll workers
Kendra Espinoza of Kalispell, Montana, center, stands with her daughters Naomi and Sarah outside the U.S. Supreme Court, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020 in Washington. Espinoza is the lead plaintiff in a case the court heard Wednesday that could make it easier to use public money to pay for religious schooling in many states. Espinoza's daughters attend the Stillwater Christian School in Kalispell, near Glacier National Park. Read more

What rights do parents have when it comes to how their children get educated?

That question is at the crux of a case before the U.S. Supreme Court that could alter the landscape of public education  especially in Pennsylvania.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court heard arguments in Espinoza v. Montana, prompted by a mother who tried to send her daughters to a Christian school using a tax credit-funded scholarship program.

The Montana Department of Revenue, reacting to the states ban on providing aid for religious education, barred credits from being used for religious schools. The Montana Supreme Courts decision to invalidate the entire program is now being challenged.

Its surely a coincidence that this case came before the court on the advent of National School Choice Week, a week  kicking off Sunday  created and celebrated by those who promote alternatives to traditional public education, including vouchers, tax credit scholarship programs, and charter schools. Those supporting Kendra Espinoza, including the Center for Education Reform, argue that parents have a constitutional right to direct their childrens education.

Parents rights to send their children to the schools they wish have been settled in a number of court cases that go back nearly a century. But advocates are arguing that parents not only have the right to send their children to any school they wish, but that the state should support their decisions by paying tuition to religious and private schools with public money.

Naturally, thats an outrage to anyone who supports the separation of church and state, and who advocates on behalf of the responsible and transparent spending of public money. (We count ourselves in both camps.)

This case has potentially deep significance for Pennsylvania, since the commonwealth has an extreme educational tax credit program that funds $210 million in scholarships for private and religious schools; Montanas program was capped at $3 million. (Montana capped the tax credit that people were able to receive at $150. In Pennsylvania, its $750,000.) In June, Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed an expansion of the program.

Diverting the already limited resources for public education to religious and private schools would be disastrous. Such a decision would further decimate public education, creating even more inequity and inflicting damage on children like English language learners, in addition to children with disabilities and other physical, intellectual, or social limitations who are cut off from private school options. It would fly in the face of the bedrock separation of church and state, as well as the need for accountability and transparency of public money.

School choice advocates argue that every child learns differently, and parents have a right to choose the kind of school best suited to their childs needs. But the public education system was designed as a public benefit, with a different purpose in mind: to provide education to every person, despite their special or specific needs and limitations.

Those advocates arent wrong in demanding better options for public education and its current failures. We all should be demanding that. Schools supported by all should work for all. Parents can make a different choice, but shouldnt rely on the rest of us to pay for it.
Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will conduct a special one-hour tour on Chickamauga Battlefield on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 2 p.m. focusing on African American stories associated with the battlefield. This program begins at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center and will car caravan to various locations."There are countless stories to be told on Chickamauga Battlefield, but until recently, some of the accounts, long buried and seemingly forgotten, have resurfaced," officials said."These are the stories of the African American participants who, though not officially soldiers, still risked life and limb as they worked toward seizing their freedom. We hope you will join us for this special tour as we bring to life some of these African American narratives."For more information about upcoming programs at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, contact the Lookout Mountain Visitor Center at 423-821-7786, the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at 706-866-9241, or visit the parks website at www.nps.gov/chch.
Dowling recovering at home after long hospital stay

State Rep. Matthew Dowling has returned home after suffering a one-vehicle crash in October. Dowling represents parts of Somerset County.
Just four years ago, the telecommunications and internet giant Verizon was forced to pay a fine of $1.35 million to the FCC, for inserting supercookies into users' online data that would track the online activities of the companys own customers all over the internetwithout telling them.

Now, Verizon wants internet users to trust the company to protect their privacy, rather than continually violate it, launching a new search engine designed to compete with Google. Unlike that dominant search engine, Verizon claims that its new service, OneSearch, will not use trackers to record users online activity.

Such trackers from Google, as well as social media platforms such as Facebook have been detected on sites across the internet, including about 75 percent of all porn sites, according to one recent study.

The search service also guards users search histories, and does not assemble profiles of users based on their search requests.

You can search the internet with increased confidence, knowing your personal and search data isn't being tracked, stored, or shared with advertisers, Verizon said in a statement, quoted by the tech site Motherboard.

Verizons new search engine is actually just new privacy infrastructure built over results that are provided the the existing search engine Bing, owned by Microsoft, according to Motherboard.

But Verizons promises to protect user privacy have been greeted with skepticism, given the companys checkered history of covertly hoovering up customer data. As the British site The Register reported, in 2014 the telecom mega-firm was hit with a $7.4 million FCC fine for its failure to tell customers that it was using their personal information for marketing purposes.

And in 2018, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden accused Verizon of selling information the locations of users phones to third-party companies which then resold the data to police, and to large corporations. The data was then used in some instances by law enforcement to keep tabs on judges and law enforcement officials, and by financial institutions to secretly check the locations of credit card applicants.

Not only has Verizon been a major player in numerous consumer privacy scandals, it has worked tirelessly to ensure that the government cant hold it accountable for any of them, Motherboard wrote, citing the firms lobbying efforts against FCC privacy rules and other oversight regulations.

How well the new search engine will received remains open to question, as well. Verizon has recently attempted to launch its own app store, and even a YouTube-style streaming service, but neither managed to gain traction in the marketplace.

Photo By OneSearch Screen Capture
Some smugglers drive it across the border from Canada. Others sneak it through airports or send it in the mail, wrapping the contraband in T-shirts and towels to deceive the authorities. A few even make it at home.

But this is no international drug ring. It is the black market for Scottish haggis, a savory pudding of boiled sheep innards wrapped in a sheeps stomach.

On Saturday, Scots across the world will dine on haggis to celebrate the birthday of Robert Burns, the 18th-century Scottish poet. But for haggis purists in the United States, celebrating Burns Night can be a challenge. Since the 1970s, the Department of Agricultures food-safety division has banned the sale of sheep lungs, which give traditional haggis its distinctive crumbly texture.

Many of the millions of Americans with Scottish ancestry have happily settled for an increasingly wide array of lung-less haggis (or, repulsed by the thought of eating sheep innards, avoided the dish entirely). For decades, however, a small but impassioned contingent has resorted to illicit methods to bring authentic haggis onto American soil, motivated by a commitment to tradition and a fondness for the taste and texture of boiled lung.
Not another Picasso show? Year after year they come  Picasso in old age, Picasso starting out in Paris, Picasso in 1932, Picassos ceramics.

And if you missed those shows, fret not, you can catch up at the dedicated Picasso museums just a little further afield  in the South of France, at Antibes and Ceret, and above all in Paris.

Pablo here, Pablo there, Pablo everywhere is there really more to see or to say?

Well, the first thing to make clear is that the Royal Academys new exhibition is a gargantuan, generous show.

Andrew Marr is pictured at the new Picasso exhibition, at the Royal Academy, Piccadilly in front of 'Femme a leur toilette'. If you are interested in modern art in any way, you simply have to see this show

Picasso And Paper might lead you to expect something slightly tiddly and narrow: a few prints, a few Perspex cabinets containing marginalia, notebooks and preparatory drawings for the real stuff.

Far from it. Drawing was central to Picassos art and life; and with only a few oil paintings and sculptures included, it is nevertheless a giant, sprawling review of his entire lifes work.

You could spend a week  no, a month  here and still not be bored. There is so much to see, there is a danger of coming out with bruised eyeballs.

If you have ever felt that you have never quite got Pablo Picasso, or that you dont have a good overview of his achievements, then this is the show to come to.

The very first room reminds us that, when it comes to making images, this man could do anything. From the beginning, he was a magician.

Picassos Le Dejeuner Sur LHerbe, after Manet, from 1962 is seen above. Its often said that Picasso changed his style when he changed his lovers but, wandering around this show, that seems a bit shallow

There are tiny little paper cut-outs of a dove and a dog, made when he was all of nine years old. They are clever, witty and startlingly assured.

And then, only a few years after that, at 11 or 12, he is drawing academic studies in art college  nudes, antique sculptures  of which most painters would be proud in their prime.

Already he had an instinct for light and dark and a flowing line, that even good artists struggle for a lifetime to achieve.

By the time he arrived in Paris, still a very young man, Picasso was making portraits in charcoal and pastel that seethe and hiss with energy.

There is a page of sketches, as he practises drawing hands, in which he shows himself stripped to the waist, sketchbook in hand, cocky as they come, already a young conqueror.

The problem was, of course, that if Picasso could draw anything at all with such liquid ease and self-assurance, how would he manage to avoid boredom? Could he manage not to be glib?

He had a relentlessly curious, self-critical mind. You can see it in his torrent of tiny drawings, constantly questioning himself. In many ways the notebooks, where you see him thinking aloud, are among the most fascinating things here.

Seated Woman (Dora) from the late 1930s is pictured above. If you have ever felt that you have never quite got Pablo Picasso, or that you dont have a good overview of his achievements, then this is the show to come to. The very first room reminds us that, when it comes to making images, this man could do anything

There is at least one substantial preparatory drawing over which he has scribbled furiously  a bad failure, to his mind.

All his life, this restlessness made him a compulsive remaker of his art. The blue period, the rose period, the Demoiselles dAvignon, and the African masks, Cubism, neoclassicismevery year or two a radical fresh start, charging off in a fresh direction.

Its often said that Picasso changed his style when he changed his lovers but, wandering around this show, that seems a bit shallow.

It was more that, as soon as he achieved anything, he felt the need to challenge and critique it. He could not stand repeat- ing himself.

There is more than enough mainstream work on paper to fill an ordinary exhibition.

There are luscious, erotic Conte crayon drawings, wiry line portraits of famous figures such as French artist and writer Jean Cocteau and the composer Igor Stravinsky, and of course the famous lithographs, which show him as a printmaker in the league of Rembrandt himself.

As ever with the good artist, even if you think you know the work from reproductions its worth coming to see for yourself.

There is a coloured etching and engraving in the room of his Minotaur pictures, the Minotauromachy, in which innocence  armed only with a candle and flowers  confronts raging, slaughter-crazed male sexuality.

This picture, not so very big, is so complicated, subtle and detailed you could look at it for hours.

Minotaurs! The big problem with Picasso, of course, is his attitude to women. There is anger and sadism not just in the life, but in the work as well, a joint-splitting of the female form which goes well beyond the playful.

But the Minotaur pictures remind us that Picasso was also profoundly self-critical. He knew he could be foul.

Well aware of the horror the inflamed man can wreak, his portrayal of the bovine, horned, thickly tousled bulls heads, snorting and rolling their eyes, are also a self-hating self-portrait.

Drawing was central to Picassos art and life; and with only a few oil paintings and sculptures included, it is nevertheless a giant, sprawling review of his entire lifes work. You could spend a week  no, a month  here and still not be bored. The artist is pictured in 1946

But what makes this show so worth the ticket is how far beyond familiar Picasso it goes.

He was a compulsive doodler and decorator. Here are gathered scraps of all kinds of paper from his childhood to his dotage. There are tiny torn table napkins, which become the heads of animals, some with cigarette burns for eyes.

There is the front page of a Paris newspaper, reporting military manoeuvres before the Second World War, desperately drawn and doodled all over.

There are the envelopes of letters sent by friends which, again, Picassos fingers just could not leave alone.

So we have him in all moods, from the highly serious to the rude and playful. A set of etchings, made during the Spanish Civil War, mock Franco with a savagery that no newspaper cartoonist  not Searle, not Scarfe  has matched.

The Spanish dictator becomes a kind of mad, hairy root vegetable, with a comic moustache and enormous testicles, as he embarks on an orgy of killing and destruction. Its both horrible and very funny.

The scale of the work here ranges from giant to minuscule. The biggest thing on display is a collage Picasso made in the winter of 1937, of women at their toilet.

At its centre squats the photographer and artist Dora Maar (who has just had a good show of her own work at Tate Modern). She is redly gasping, her dark eyes staring as two of Picassos other mistresses comb her hair and present a mirror, which seems to show not her reflection but the painters.

The whole thing is composed of pieces of cut-out wallpaper; it is a kind of domestic Guernica, his anti-war masterpiece that memorialised the bombing of the ancient Basque city during the Spanish Civil War.

At the other end of the scale are torn and scratched tiny paper pieces, making knives and forks, dancers, masks and skulls, so small that even pressed between glass they seem to be barely there at all.

Then there are his Cubist guitars, made out of small pieces of cloth, string, painted cardboard and newspaper; beautiful tricks from scraps. At times, he can seem almost like a childrens entertainer, constantly turning one thing into something else.

Towards the end of the show there is a remarkable film of Picasso drawing. He was working with new-fangled American felt pens, which so saturated the paper the coloured marks could be filmed in real time from the other side.

The effect is that you see the drawing happening as his hand moves. Its almost like watching his mind working. I found it entirely mesmerising.

Then the show ends, as did Picassos life, with deliberately clumsy works full of an old mans desperate erotic yearning during the swinging 60s, a million miles from the deft, swaggering late 19th century drawing with which it began. Overall, despite the humour, bright colour and occasional sentimental tributes, this is a dark show. Any proper representation of Picasso must be.

Because, I suppose, all shows now must try to attract the widest possible audience, including children, there are little jokey notices aimed at the young. But the truth is, children ought to be kept well away from this show in particular and Picasso in general. There is too much grief and anger, too much rape, too much murder.

So perhaps it is no great surprise that the mild-mannered British took a while to fall in love with the dark and provocative Spaniard.

A famous story has the president of the Royal Academy, Sir Alfred Munnings, leaving the building where this show takes place in 1949, and asking Winston Churchill what he would do if he saw Picasso walking down Piccadilly in front of them.

Girl In A Hat With Her Hands Clasped, 1921. As ever with the good artist, even if you think you know the work from reproductions its worth coming to see for yourself

According to Munnings, Churchill  who disapproved of Picassos non-representional style and left-wing politics  replied: Kick him up the arse, Alf.

The former prime minister was embarrassed and angry about the anecdote, but it captures a little of the official hostility to Picasso, which lasted long after the Second World War.

While Picasso spent the war in Nazi-occupied Paris, he was regularly harassed by the Gestapo. During one search of his apartment, an officer saw a photograph of Guernica.

Did you do that? the German asked Picasso. No, he replied, You did.

It is thanks to the huge generosity of the Picasso Museum in Paris, which has loaned a large proportion of the best works here, that he gets his own back on Churchill and co now.

Indeed, the director of the Musee Picasso has dryly mused that its nice to see its London branch finally opening in Piccadilly. Well, Pariss loss for the next few weeks, is Londons gain.

If you are interested in modern art in any way, you simply have to see this show. Give yourself a lot of time and, if necessary, borrow one of the collapsible chairs they offer.

Its grey outside but do make the effort. I cant imagine there will be a more comprehensive and thoughtful exhibition of this giant of modern art in my lifetime.

But do not come here, please, expecting to be soothed. Scornful of his rivals, touchy, promiscuous and blazing with anger about the politics of his time, Pablo Picasso was about as tranquilising as a barbed-wire massage.

With magic in his fingers, and a flickering, butterfly mind, arts ultimate shape-shifter ended up forcing himself to create ugly images: because thats how he found the world he lived in to be.

Never fall for sugar-coating, or think great art should be calming. Picasso is better than that.

Picasso And Paper is at the Royal Academy, London, until April 13.
SHIAWASSEE COUNTY, MI -- Two men ran frantic and terrified from Mark Latunskis basement on separate occasions just months before Kevin Bacon was allegedly slain at the home, according to 911 calls released to The Flint Journal-MLive on Jan. 23, 2019.

Latunski, 50, has since been charged with open murder and mutilation of a body in connection with the Dec. 28, 2019 death of 25-year-old Bacon.

Bacon, who is not related to the actor of the same name, was stabbed in the back, his body hung from his ankles, his throat cut and parts of him were eaten, say police who searched the house of the man accused of killing him, possibly on Christmas Eve or early Christmas Day.

The Flint Journal-MLive obtained the 911 calls from Shiawassee County Dispatch through a Freedom of Information Act request.

The first man called 911 on Oct. 10, 2019. He told the dispatcher he came from New York to Michigan.

The man, whose name is redacted in the 911 call, tells the dispatcher he was in the state for work purposes. He describes a man hitting on him at the bus station upon his arrival and going out to grab a drink.

What we know so far about the grisly slaying of Kevin Bacon

The man tells the dispatcher he later woke up in the basement of a home.

I dont know if he drugged me, he says. I woke up in the ... basement. Chained in the basement.

The man said he used a butcher knife to cut a leather strap on his ankle which was connected to a metal chain. He said he then fled the house.

He says he carried the knife out of the home and wouldnt put it down until he saw police.

Im from New York. Im walking down the street with a butchers knife. Sweetheart, I need help," he tells the dispatcher.

The man also tells the dispatcher hes lost and doesnt know what direction hes headed in, which is why he called 911. He says he doesnt want to make a criminal case out of it and that it was not a kidnapping situation.

Michigan State Police Lt. David Kaiser confirmed troopers were called to the area and provided the man a ride to a local gas station. The man then contacted Latunski and returned to the home on the same evening, according to Kaiser.

31 Small Michigan town rocked by shocking crime

Nobody wanted the police there. Nobody wanted to file charges, Kaiser said. A lot of times people have a professional life and personal life. They dont want to intertwine the two. Their personal life is very secret, very protected.

Similarly, no charges were pressed in a Nov. 25, 2019 incident in which a 29-year-old man wearing a leather kilt ran from the home. His name is also redacted from the recording of the 911 call.

The man tells a dispatcher he escaped from a home where he was chained up in the basement. He says he was being chased.

Im trying to get away from some creepy guy, the man says at the beginning of the call. He had me tied up in his basement.

The man tells the dispatcher he doesnt know where he is.

I dont know where Im at, he says.

An overcast sky settles atop West Tyrrell Road from the viewpoint of the driveway of Mark D. Latunski's house on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020 in Bennington Township. (Jake May | MLive.com)Jake May | MLive.com

Police later discovered the reason he was being chased was that he left the home and the leather kilt was expensive.

Hes after me, the man says.

The man says he ran down the road and talked to someone who helped tell him where he was at.

Man wearing only leather kilt ran from murder suspects rural Michigan home in November

Nobody said anything illegal happened, said Kaiser of both incidents. If you dont have a victim, nothing illegal happened.

Charges can be filed by the state on behalf of a victim in a domestic situation, but Kaiser said these incidents dont fall under those guidelines.

Latunski remains in the Shiawassee County Jail without bond.

Shiawassee Chief District Judge Ward L. Clarkson approved a motion submitted for Latunksi by a public defender to undergo competency and forensic evaluations.

Latunski will now be moved from the Shiawassee County Jail to the Center for Forensic Psychiatry near Saline for the evaluations. The process may take from 60-90 days, if not longer, and further court sessions are on hold until the report is submitted.

Judge approves competency test for suspect in Kevin Bacon case

Parents of slain Swartz Creek man talk about son, homicide investigation
- President Akufo-Addo has opened up about one of Ghana's biggest challenges being unemployment, and has revealed what he is doing to solve it

- According to him, the solution cannot just be getting employed in the public sector but also seeking to do something for oneself

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

President Akufo-Addo has opened up about one of Ghana's biggest challenges being unemployment, and has revealed what he is doing to solve it.

Speaking to China Global Television Network group (CGTN)s Tian Wei at the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Akufo-Addo stated that he is constantly seeking to create employment opportunities for the youth in Ghana.

According to him, the solution cannot just be getting employed in the public sector but also seeking to do something for oneself.

READ ALSO: Gifty Anti says it all in new video; opens up about being crippled as a child

the biggest issue for our country and indeed the continent of Africa is finding work for our young people. As you know Africa is the youngest continent in the world, in terms of the population.

So, the solution cannot just be public sector work, it has to be private sector development, and that means entrepreneurship. So, were putting a lot of emphasis on young people to become entrepreneurs, so that they can work for themselves and create jobs for others. President Akufo-Addo said.

President Akufo-Addo disclosed that one of such endeavours was what brought the Jack Ma to Ghana to help develop ideas for entrepreneurship to help develop th private sector

READ ALSO: Bawumia is Akufo-Addos hype man - Bulldog jabs NPP government

In other news, Lawrence Nana Asiamah Hanson, popularly known as Bulldog has described President Nana Akufo-Addo and his Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia as liars.

According to the artiste manager, the Akufo-Addo administration is the worst government Ghana has over seen or had.

The showbiz pundit also described the Vice President of the republic as the hype man or President Nana Addo.

READ ALSO: Honest man returns GHC151k he found at an ATM to bank

Ghanaian Traders Share Thoughts on Sales During Christmas | #Yencomgh

Enjoyed reading our story? Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news!

Source: YEN.com.gh
In December 2018, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) hailed a record export-import turnover of $482.2 billion, which was a very impressive achievement, greatly contributed to economic growth.

One year later, the record was broken, with the country reaping a new record of $517 billion and $10 billion in trade surplus  something that had never been dreamed of previously.

A ceremony has been held by the MoIT to welcome the fruits, deemed as one of the largest events in the economic picture in 2019.

So far, Vietnam has developed to join the group of 30 leading export-import economies in the world, as well as witnessed a strong progression of its imports and exports over the years. The countrys total import and export turnover in the last 20 years reached almost $4 trillion. Regarding the number of export markets, Vietnam had only 24 such markets in 2011 with the export turnover of at least $1 billion each, with the number of markets rising to over 30 now.

Commenting on Vietnams trade picture, Nguyen Phu Trong, Party General Secretary, State President stated, Thats a quite impressive attainment, especially in the context that exports from many nations suffered from a steep decline or even zero growth. Vietnam once again broken its export-import turnover record in 2019.

With such an outstanding achievement, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc also remarked that the number of export products has become increasingly diversified, and the countrys export structure has remarkably changed.

Boosted restructuring

According to the MoIT, the structure of export goods has continued to improve over the past few years, with a shrinking proportion of raw exports and more processed and industrial products.

This is in line with the implementation of the countrys import and export strategy for the 2011-2020 period, with an orientation towards 2030 to enable Vietnamese products to participate more deeply in the global value chains.

Unlike in previous years, the export growth did not come mainly from agricultural and aquatic products but from industrial products, said Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai.

Specifically, while the exports of agricultural and aquatic products and minerals decreased by 4.5 and 9.7 per cent on-year, those of processed industrial goods climbed by 10 per cent in 2019.

The MoIT pointed out that key products maintained high on-year growth rates, with computer exports increasing by 20 per cent, wood and wooden products by 18.2 per cent, and footwear by 12.7 per cent.

For instance, phones and components lead Vietnamese exports, mostly contributed by Samsung which turned the country into its global manufacturing hub, employing 35 per cent of the groups global staff and providing up to 40 per cent of its products.

Two weeks ago, Samsung announced that it sold 6.7 million 5G phones in 2019 between the Galaxy S10 5G and the Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G, marking better-than-expected sales for devices supporting the next-generation mobile standard. Meanwhile, Samsung is likely to release a new foldable flip phone in February before the upcoming release of its flagship Galaxy S11.

Hai remarked that in 2019, Vietnamese businesses proved gradually bigger exporters.

In previous years, foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) consistently reported higher export growth than domestic counterparts, but they were overtaken this year.

In 2019, the exports of domestic businesses hit $82.1 billion, up 17.7 per cent on-year, twice as high as the growth rate of FIEs.

Over the last two decades, Vietnams export growth of manufactured products has been in the double digits, far higher than its regional neighbours. This achievement can be attributed to the governments proactive foreign direct investment attraction policy and the rapid integration into the world economy, owing also to the free trade agreements (FTAs) Vietnam has signed and enforced with many trade partners in recent years.

Taking full advantage

Hai said that restructuring will be one of the key solutions to develop and expand Vietnams exports in the near future. Accordingly, businesses will need to diversify their markets to avoid putting their eggs in one basket and the use of non-tariff barriers of the target countries, such as technical barriers and anti-dumping rules.

Vietnam has so far signed 13 FTAs with many important partners, including Japan, Chile, South Korea, and the Eurasian Economic Union.

Especially, Vietnam and 10 Asia-Pacific nations signed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership a year ago, while the EU-Vietnam FTA was signed in last June.

With the FTAs signed, Vietnam is becoming one of the worlds most important investment destinations because investing in the country would mean companies can approach almost all major markets in the world.

Vietnams FTA network has nearly 100 partners in the five biggest market areas on the globe, including Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Asia Pacific.

Initial statistics show that Vietnamese businesses have taken advantage of the opportunities provided by FTAs. The total value of preferential certificates of origin accounts for about 37 per cent of the total export turnover to FTA partner markets, according to the MoITs annual report for 2019.

In the time to come, well continue to pay attention to removing technical and trade barriers, and monitoring the trade protection measures of importing countries to promptly inform related authorities and enterprises as well as cut trade barriers for Vietnamese exports, said Hai.

However, industry experts agree that it would be difficult to restructure Vietnams exports and achieve higher export turnover if there is no proper understanding of each specific product category.

The Vietnam Industry White Paper 2019 noted that, If Vietnam is to achieve the set targets for 2025 and 2030, the country should focus on developing a number of manufacturing sectors, including food processing, textile and garment, leather and footwear, electronics, and vehicles. In addition, the machinery industry may also have a positive impact on the manufacturing industry, both in terms of scale, growth, and efficiency, and should be further developed in the future.

Meanwhile, for stronger export performance contributing to sustainable economic and social development, Truong Hai Auto Corporation (THACO) general director Pham Van Tai said at the MoITs year-end review that the government should prioritise the development of the supporting industries and issue appropriate incentives. THACO has set up a post-2018 strategy to join the global value chain with the creation of international automobile brands manufactured in Vietnam and exported to Southeast Asia.

Pham Tat Thang, a senior researcher at the MoITs Institute of Trade Research, warned that as the US-China trade dispute has not ended yet, there might be unpredictable impacts lying in wait for global trade, which could badly affect Vietnam and the region as a whole.

Vietnam needs to avoid the potential disadvantages arising from trade conflicts between major economies. In particular, Vietnam needs to pay special attention to the issue of certificates of origin, and invest in high value-added products to create world-class brands, as well as remove export barriers, Thang suggested.
If a thousand companies make their own smart light bulb, do a thousand companies also have to design a light switch app to control them?

Kraftful, a company out of Y Combinator's Summer 2019 class, doesn't think so. Kraftful builds the myriad components that an IoT/smart home company might need, puzzle piecing them together into apps for each company without requiring them to reinvent the light switch (or the padlock button, or the smart thermostat dial) for the nth time.

Because no company wants an app that looks identical to a competitor's, much of what Kraftful produces is built to be tailored to each company's branding  all the surface-level stuff, like iconography, fonts, colors, etc. are all customizable. Under the hood, though, everything is built to be reusable.

This focus on finding the parts that can be built once makes sense, especially given the team's background. CEO Yana Welinder and CTO Nicky Leach were previously head of Product and a senior engineer, respectively, at IFTTT  the web service made up of a zillion reusable, interlinking "recipe" applets that let you hook just about anything (Gmail, Instagram, your cat's litter box, whatever) into anything else to let one trigger actions on the other.

Kraftful founders Nicky Leach and Yana Welinder

So why now? More smart devices are coming onto the market every day, many of them from legacy appliance companies that don't have much (or any) history in building smartphone apps. Good apps are the exception  the Philips Hue app is one of the better ones out there, and even it's a little wonky sometimes. Many of them are... really bad.

Bad apps get bad App Store reviews, and bad reviews dent sales. And even for those who dive in and buy it without checking the reviews first, bad apps means returned devices. According to this iQor survey from 2018, 22% of smart home customers give up and return the products before getting them to work.

Story continues

"We kind of looked around and realized that 80% of all smart home apps have zero, one or two stars on the App Store," Welinder tells me.

Knowing what's working and what's not with buyers is a strength of Kraftful's approach; behind the scenes, they can run all sorts of analytics on how users are actually interacting with components in the apps they're powering and adjust all of them accordingly. If they make a tweak to the setup process in one app, do more users actually get all the way through it? Great. Now roll that out everywhere.

"If you look at some of the leading smart lock apps, they all have very... very similar interfaces. They've basically gotten to a standardized user experience, but they've all be developed individually," says Welinder. "So all of these companies are spending the resources designing and developing these apps, but they're not getting the benefit of being standardized across the board and being able to leverage data from all of these apps to be able to improve them all at once"

Kraftful builds the app for both iOS and Android, tailors it to the brand's needs, offers cloud functionality like push notifications and activity history, provides analytics for insights on how users are actually using an app and keeps everything working as OS updates roll out and as device display sizes grow ever larger.

Of course, the entire concept of a dedicated app for a smart home device has some pretty fierce competition  between Apple's HomeKit and Google Home, the platform makers themselves seem pretty set on gobbling up much of the functionality. But most buyers still expect their shiny devices to have their own apps  something branded and purpose-built, something for the manual to point them to. Power users, meanwhile, will always want to do things beyond what the all-encompassing solutions like HomeKit/Home are built for.

Folks at Google seem to agree with Kraftful's approach  the team counts the Google Assistant Investments Program as one of the investors in the $1 million they've raised. Other investors include YC, F7 Ventures, Cleo Capital, Julia Collins (co-founder of Zume Pizza and Planet Forward), Lukas Biewald (co-founder of CrowdFlower), Nicolas Pinto (co-founder of Perceptio) and a number of other angel investors.

Welinder tells me they're already working with multiple companies to start powering their apps; NDAs prevent her from saying who, at this point, but she notes that they're "some of the largest brands that provide smart lights, plugs/switches, thermostats and other smart home products."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 20:10:10|Editor: Wang Yamei

Video Player Close

NAIROBI, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Desert locusts that have been causing havoc in the east and Horn of African region are likely to move to Uganda, South Sudan and southwest Ethiopia, a senior official at the Desert Locust Control Organization (DLCO) said on Friday.

Stephen Njoka, director-general of the DLCO, said the insects that were reported in northern Kenya in December 2019 are now moving toward Baringo and Turkana in southwestern Kenya.

"The risk of spread to the three countries is very high given the limited control activities in some countries, and the high mobility and reproductive potential of the locust," Njoka told journalists in Nairobi.

He said that DLCO had projected to stop the locusts from moving further to Baringo and Turkana counties, but it appears they may move further into Uganda, South Sudan and southwestern Ethiopia.

The DLCO and its partners are well equipped with pesticides and aircraft ready to manage the fast-moving insects, Njoka said.

In addition to spraying, the partners have also trained relevant government officials from 20 counties in Kenya and will train additional teams next week, he said.

Bukar Tijani, United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization assistant director-general and regional representative for Africa, said desert locust invasion continues to threaten food security and livelihoods in the eastern African region.

Efforts are being made to control the swarms and safeguard people's livelihoods and food security, and avert further worsening of the food crisis, he said.

According to experts, large swarms of desert locusts continue to destroy crops and pastures across parts of Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya.
The logo of Mahindra and Mahindra is seen at a showroom in Mumbai

By Ben Klayman

DETROIT (Reuters) - A U.S. regulator said it will review part of a recommendation made last fall that India's Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd infringed upon the intellectual property rights of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' Jeep SUV design.

The International Trade Commission (ITC) on Wednesday said it would review an administrative law judge's initial determination last November that Mahindra's Roxor off-road utility vehicle infringed on the "trade dress" of FCA's Jeep. The judge recommended the commission bar entry of Mahindra vehicles or parts that infringe and issue a cease-and-desist order.

Trade dress consists of the unique characteristics that make a product stand apart and is generally accepted as identified with that product by the public. For example, FCA sees Jeep's grille and round headlights as distinct to the brand.

The commission, which in September 2018 initially opened its investigation, said on Wednesday it is targeting completion of the inquiry by March 20.

If the ITC recommends a form of remedy, the U.S. Trade Representative would have 60 days to approve, disapprove or take no action on that determination.

Mahindra, which previously has called FCA's claims without merit, on Thursday welcomed the commission's review.

"We are optimistic that the ITC will in its review conclude that FCA did not establish previously unclaimed U.S. rights in trade dress and that there was no infringement of either trade dress or registered trademarks," the company said in an emailed statement.

Mahindra said it has launched its model year 2020 Roxor with what it described as "significant styling changes" and said it would make additional changes if the ITC required it.

FCA was unconcerned the commission will overturn the judge's initial recommendation.

"Review is a part of the commission process," the Italian-American automaker said in an emailed statement on Thursday. "Based on the facts and law, FCA US remains confident the administrative law judge's initial determination of violation by Mahindra will be adopted by the commission."

The Roxor is assembled in Auburn Hills, north of Detroit, by Mahindra's North American subsidiary.

(Reporting by Ben Klayman in Detroit; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Its one thing to say good journalism protects communities, but quite another to see it in action. Sometimes, it takes a shape that even the journalist could not have expected. Sometimes, it sheds light on dark corners that too long have gone unnoticed, exposing what dangers lurk in those shadows.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/1/2020 (719 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

Its one thing to say good journalism protects communities, but quite another to see it in action. Sometimes, it takes a shape that even the journalist could not have expected. Sometimes, it sheds light on dark corners that too long have gone unnoticed, exposing what dangers lurk in those shadows.

Over the last week, the truth of that shook Winnipeg all over again when the FBI arrested six members of a far-right terrorist militia called The Base. The accused include Patrik Mathews, a Canadian Forces reservist who fled south after a Free Press investigation by journalist Ryan Thorpe uncovered his identity.

Homegrown hate: Coverage of a neo-Nazi recruiter in Winnipeg Click to Expand Posted: 11:56 AM Sep. 13, 2019 Read Ryan Thorpe's story on infiltrating a neo-Nazi paramilitary group, and the Free Press' follow-up coverage. Read Full Story

Now, Mathews and the others are charged with a variety of U.S. federal offences. Court documents filed in the case, outlining the evidence against Mathews and others, are chilling  and in ways that demand our ongoing attention.

According to those documents, Mathews spoke of wanting to start a civil war. He told the other members of the hate group that he "only exists for the white revolution." He said he wished that hed booby-trapped the weapons cache in his Beausejour home, so that RCMP would have been blown up when they raided it last summer.

And he urged bloodshed, including the murder of two innocent people who engaged in anti-fascist advocacy. He called for a mass attack at a gun rights rally in Virginia that was brimming with white supremacist militia groups, apparently in hopes of inciting even wider violence and triggering a full-blown race war.

Throughout this, he also spewed racist and anti-Semitic hate, recorded a video of himself in a gas mask calling for other white supremacists to "derail some f-----g trains, kill some people and poison some water supplies." Oh, and also he wanted to see my Free Press colleague murdered for exposing him.

Thankfully, none of that happened. Instead, the Free Press investigation triggered a series of events that led to Mathews fleeing into the arms of FBI agents. Now, he is in custody in Maryland and facing federal charges. The judge who denied his request for bail called him a "very dangerous person."

This latest chapter puts into stark perspective how remarkable Thorpes work on this story was, and how necessary that work is to properly combat the spread of white supremacist terrorism.

To put it another way: had Thorpe simply written a story about the appearance of neo-Nazi recruitment posters in Winnipeg, thus amplifying the message without any personal cost to the perpetrators, its quite likely Mathews would still be in Manitoba, still recruiting, still plotting to shed blood for the sake of "white revolution."

Its clear from court documents the FBI has been closely monitoring Mathews, and The Base, for some time (William J. Hennessy Jr. / Free Press files)

If that sends a chill through your spine, well, it should. Because what the Mathews case illuminates is how little we know about the white supremacist movements that are boiling under societys surface; so as news of the arrests of Mathews and other members of The Base settles, it leaves lingering questions.

Its clear from court documents the FBI has been closely monitoring The Base for some time. Investigators had infiltrated their communication networks, at least one of their apartments was under video surveillance, and one undercover agent had become close enough with the group to be privy to their plans.

Yet in Canada, the RCMP seemed to be caught off guard by the original Free Press revelations about Mathews. Within hours of it being published, they raided his home and seized firearms, yet he was still able to escape to the United States days later, slipping under the radar until he landed on FBI surveillance.

With all this in mind, it is well beyond time for the public to get a better understanding of what the RCMP and other relevant agencies are doing to monitor white supremacist terrorism. I dont expect the RCMP to spill details of open investigations, but it remains unclear whether sufficient resources are being directed to this threat.

Recognized, relieved Click to Expand Patrik Mathews outside his home in Beausejour in 2019. Posted: 7:00 PM Jan. 23, 2020 Greenbelt, Md.  As Patrik Mathews was led into U.S. federal court in Greenbelt, Md., Wednesday morning, his head was on a swivel. He seemed to scan the faces  lawyers, journalists, law enforcement  that lined the dark wooden benches in the courtroom. Read Full Story

On that note, what of the military? Mathews served as a Canadian Forces reservist, where he received training in weapons and explosives that he allegedly hoped to use to murder civilians. This is a well-trodden path: a 2018 military intelligence report identified 16 extremist hate-group members in the Forces.

Given the nature of its work, as well as the unique capabilities and responsibilities of its command, the military must ensure that it is not a training ground for terrorists. Even before the Mathews news broke last year, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan was being taken to task over the issue; the response then was unsatisfactory.

Now, with the extent of the evidence against Mathews laid bare, it is time to ask again. We need to hear more about what the Forces are doing, and what they plan to do, to keep white supremacists and terrorists out of the military, to ensure that the purveyors of hate are not getting a paid education in violent means.

Heres one more question: surely, someone in Mathews life had to have had an inkling that he was veering into toxic ideology; given the intensity of his hatred, as revealed through court documents and the Free Press investigation, its hard to believe it didnt seep out into his interactions. Nobody is that good an actor.

Meanwhile, all signs indicate neo-Nazi groups such as The Base are growing in size, confidence and ambition. Academics, journalists and anti-fascist organizers who study them have been sounding the alarm for years, as they have watched the ideology of hate surge both online and in public.

Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Above all, the one thing to remember is that this hatred is not just online or at rallies. Those who espouse it live among us, walk among us, are linked to our friends and family.

Above all, the one thing to remember is that this hatred is not just online or at rallies. Those who espouse it live among us, walk among us, are linked to our friends and family. They find safety to organize in our communities  often discovering that their embrace of hate carries little social or personal cost.

So what is being done to give everyday citizens the tools to protect themselves from would-be terrorists in their communities and take away those safe havens? What is being done to promote de-radicalization? Right now, the majority of that work is being done by grassroots advocates  or reporters  at real risk to themselves.

This story isnt over, but it could have gone in a different, horrifying direction. Mathews and his associates were sloppy. Their bravado made them incautious, and that got them arrested. There are others out there who have the same objectives, but who will not make the same mistakes.

What Canadians deserve to know now is what we can do  and what is being done  to keep us safe.

melissa.martin@freepress.mb.ca
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky notes that the Ukrainian people, like no one else, understand well the Holocaust tragedy that occurred with the Jews during World War II.

Before a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Friday, Zelensky said: "The Ukrainian people, like no one else, understand the tragedy and the large number of lost lives of Ukrainian Jews during World War II. And I've been thinking for a long time about what to tell you during our personal meeting. Our personal meetings are always open and pleasant. I want to tell you very sincere words, to all the people of Israel, and to all the Jews of the world."
More than a year after the first Democratic presidential campaigns kicked off, voters will finally start the process of voting to pick a nominee with the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 3.

The caucus process is convoluted compared with straightforward primary votes, but the outcome has a big impact on the entire country's political landscape: The victor and close runners-up get a significant boost heading into the rest of the primary season.

The Iowa Democratic Party is "preparing for the biggest turnout in our modern caucus history," said communications director Mandy McClure. The party has also made some significant changes to the caucuses this year.

Here's what you need to know about the 2020 Iowa caucuses.

Q: When are the Iowa caucuses, and how can I follow them?

A: This year's caucuses will be held on Monday, Feb. 3, starting at 7 p.m. Central time at more than 1,600 precinct locations in Iowa, plus some out-of-state locations where there are a lot of Iowa residents.

Coverage on national news outlets will be abundant and easy to find. We'll have full coverage and results at washingtonpost.com and a live show broadcasting from Iowa. You can sign up here for alerts on your phone.

Q: What are the Iowa caucuses, and why do they matter so much?

A: Let's tackle the second question first: They matter because they are first. About a year after candidates start campaigning, we finally get actual votes.

This means Iowans have a lot of influence on the rest of the presidential nomination process. It's a position they cherish, and it garners them a ton of attention from candidates and national media. Winning Iowa doesn't always translate to a candidate winning the party's nomination, but the results typically provide a winnowing of the field. There is a saying that "there are only three tickets out of Iowa" for presidential candidates. That may not be precisely the case, especially this year, but it is true that a bad finish in Iowa has signified the end of many campaigns.

Instead of holding a straightforward primary vote like most states, Iowans hold caucuses to determine how many delegates to the Democratic National Convention are allocated to each candidate. We'll get into the weeds of how they work in a moment.

Q: What is the February political calendar

A: Timothy Hagle, a political science professor at the University of Iowa, says the state has stuck with caucuses because they encourage more engagement and a tradition of grass-roots politicking. That tradition got Iowa moved to the front of the primary calendar in the first place when Democrats changed their nominating process after the chaotic 1968 Democratic convention.

Democratic hopefuls, noting its positioning, started putting an emphasis on the state in their campaigns. Underdog candidates such as Jimmy Carter in 1976 and Barack Obama in 2008 used a victory in the Iowa caucuses to gain momentum that took them all the way to the Democratic nomination. But the caucuses aren't always predictive. The 2016 Republican winner of the Iowa caucuses was Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

Q: How do the Iowa caucuses work?

A: Iowans who are registered with their party and will be 18 by Election Day are eligible to caucus. The Democratic and Republican caucuses work a little differently. President Trump doesn't face a serious primary challenge, so everyone's going to focus on the Democrats this year.

Registered Democratic voters head to their designated precinct location, places such as gymnasiums, school cafeterias, churches and union halls. There are 1,678 precincts in Iowa this year, plus more than 90 satellite precincts, 28 of which are outside the state.

The caucus chairs will open the proceedings and voters are likely to get last-minute pitches from representatives from the campaigns. After that, voting for their preferred presidential candidate starts.

So begins the nation's most consequential game of musical chairs.

Caucus-goers divide themselves into groups based on their preferred candidate, physically going to stand with their fellow supporters. At most precincts, a Democratic candidate needs to get the support of at least 15% of the votes at the caucus site to be considered "viable," which means they get to hang on to their voters and get some delegates. The voters who chose viable candidates in the first round are locked in; they are not allowed to defect to other candidates in the second round of voting. They hand in a card with their choice and they can go home. (Those cards will create a paper trail in case a recount is ordered.)

When the figurative music stops, no candidates want to be in a situation where their group consists of a couple of people standing in a corner by themselves, but they're not totally done for if that's the case. They move into the next round, known as realignment.

Supporters of the nonviable candidates have a few options. They can go join a group supporting a viable candidate, or a different candidate who is close to the viability threshold and needs help hitting 15%. Or, they could try to woo caucus-goers away from other nonviable candidates to help support their candidate. Or, they can just stick with their original pick, hand in their card and go home. In the realignment stage, well-organized campaigns will have representatives scurrying around trying to win over voters to their side.

Q:What happens when voting is over?

A: It's time to translate those results into delegates. Delegates, after all, are the point of presidential primaries and caucuses. It's delegates, not the sheer number of votes, that political parties count to determine who will be their nominee.

After the alignments, the viable candidates will be allocated what's called "State Delegate Equivalents," according to their performance at that site.

These delegates, through a process involving Democratic Party math and the state convention, will eventually correlate to the number of national delegates a candidate gets at the national conventions.

The Iowa Democratic Party doesn't declare a winner, but historically the person with the most SDEs has been considered the winner. However, with the first- and second-round results being reported out this year, it's conceivable candidates could have more opportunities to spin the results in their favor.

Registered Republican voters show up at their caucus site, hear some speeches and vote for their preferred candidate. The votes are counted and the delegates are elected to the county convention based on the proportion of support a candidate receives.

Q: What is different this year?

A: The Democrats have made some pretty significant changes to their caucus system this year in an attempt to make it more open, transparent and efficient, McClure said. They are also trying to clean up some things that have caused controversy in past caucuses.

Q:What are the main changes?

AL There are going to be only two "alignment" rounds this year, so, fewer rounds of musical chairs.

Once candidates hits the 15% viability threshold at a precinct caucus, their status as viable is locked in. The candidate can gain more voters in the second alignment round by trying to lure voters from nonviable candidates, but they don't have to worry about losing any. In the past, people could defect in subsequent realignment rounds, which caused all kinds of chaos.

The party will be reporting out the results of both the first and second alignment, which Hagle said gives candidates more opportunities to spin results in their favor if they improve in the second round.

The Iowa Democratic Party has opened up more than 90 satellite caucus sites for registered Iowa voters in the state, around the country and internationally in an attempt to make their primary more accessible. Some of the satellite sites will serve residents who are most comfortable in a language other than English, while others will allow people to caucus in a location other than their home precinct in case they're unable to get there in time. Out-of-state satellite caucuses will occur in places where enough full-time residents spend the winter to merit satellite caucuses, such as Florida and Arizona, and on some out-of-state college campuses. There are also three international locations: Paris; Glasgow, Scotland; and Tblisi, Georgia. The Iowa party had proposed virtual caucuses in an effort to make the process more accessible to all Iowa Democrats, but the Democratic National Committee declined the change, over security concerns.

Q: Who is leading the polls for the Iowa caucuses (and who else is running)?

A: Heading into the caucuses, the top four Democratic contenders in Iowa are Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., former vice president Joe Biden, former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.

A Washington Post average of polling in Iowa this January finds those four nearly even: Biden (22%), Sanders (19%), Buttigieg (18%) and Warren (17%). That's tighter than the race is nationally between those four.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., is at 8% in Iowa according to The Post's average. Several other Democratic candidates are running, but all their support in Iowa is at less than 3%, including Sen. Michael F. Bennet, D-Colo., tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg, businessman Tom Steyer and former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick.

A January Monmouth University poll took stock of voters' second choices, because the voters supporting many of those candidates will get a chance to pick that second choice. You can read about how that games out here.

Despite the "three tickets out of Iowa" logic, Hagle said that with such a crowded field, and four top contenders jockeying at the top of the Democratic polls, there may be more leeway this time. "We just don't know what's going to happen on caucus night in terms of those four people," he said.

Q: Why are the caucuses controversial?

A: Iowa cherishes its status as the "first in the nation" to vote for president. But with that comes a great deal of influence on the primary process - and regular questions about why Iowa should have it.

Iowa's population is 90% white, and critics of the current primary calendar, such as former Housing and Urban Development secretary Julian Castro, say the state does not reflect the changing demographics of the country nor the Democrats' diverse coalition of voters.

"We've changed in the 50 years since order was established - and I believe it's time our primaries reflect our nation's diversity," he tweeted in November. Castro has since dropped out of the presidential race after failing to garner the necessary support to qualify for the debates. Out of a historically diverse field of candidates, only white candidates qualified for the Jan. 14 debate, the final Democratic debate before the Iowa caucuses.
Universities have been criticised after the number of black academics in leadership positions fell to zero in official figures.

The most recent numbers, covering 2018 to 2019, published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) reveal that the number of black academics in leadership positions officially stands at zero.

The year before, 2017 to 2018, the agencys data recorded five black academics in the most senior roles.

Due to the way the statistics are rounded, there could still be up to two in 2018/19, but the official count stands at zero.

Universities Minister Chris Skidmore said: It is unacceptable that the number of black academic staff in senior positions has fallen, as this does not represent our British society. Universities need to make more progress and I urge all vice-chancellors to address the barriers that are holding back black and ethnic minority staff from senior positions.

A June 2019 file photo shows Education minister Chris Skidmore on Downing Street. Skidmore today said: It is unacceptable that the number of black academic staff in senior positions has fallen, as this does not represent our British society'

A true representation of Britain at the top levels of our universities will support the progression of BME staff, as well as improving students experience.

The latest figures published by the HESA shows the number holding top academic roles has officially dropped to zero.

Overall in 2018-19, there were 540 academics working in the top managerial jobs, and of these 475 were white.

A total of 15 were recorded as coming from an Asian background, five from a mixed background, and a further five from another background.

The ethnicity of the rest was not known.

A general view of the Newcastle University building in Town Moor, Newcastle. Overall in 2018-19, there were 540 academics working in the top managerial jobs, and of these 475 were white

The figures also show there were 11,860 people working in non-academic top jobs as managers, directors and senior officials at UK institutions in 2018/19.

Of these, the HESA data officially records 185 were black, 10,510 were white, 410 were Asian, 165 were from a mixed background, 50 were another ethnicity, and the ethnicity of the rest was not known.

HESAs figures show that overall, there were 217,065 academics working at UK universities in 2018/19.

Of the 199,245 whose ethnicity was known, 83 per cent were from a white background and 10 per cent were Asian, while academics from black, mixed and other backgrounds each made up 2 per cent.
- The weatherman said parts of the southwest, central and Nairobi area will experience rainfall of more than 20mm in 24hrs

- The rains will intensify to more than 30mm in 24hrs from Saturday, January 25

- On Tuesday, January 28 and Wednesday, January 29, western and central Rift Valley regions are expected to receive more than 40mm of rainfall in 24hrs

- Residents in the mentioned areas were advised to be on the lookout for potential flash floods

The Kenya Meteorological Department has once again issued a heavy rain alert in different parts of the country for the next one week until Thursday, January 30.

The weatherman said parts of the southwest, central and Nairobi area will experience rainfall of more than 20mm in 24hrs.

READ ALSO: Mombasa: Aisha Jumwa's press conference disrupted by pro-BBI youth

The weatherman has warned of another round of heavy rains, flash floods across country for the next one week.

Source: Original

READ ALSO: Rare migratory bird flies over 6,900km from Finland to Kenya

In a statement on its social media pages, the met department said the rain would be expected to spread to western, southeastern, coast and north-eastern regions on Friday 24th January 2020.

Rainfall of more than 20mm in 24hrs is expected from Thursday January 23, in parts of the Southwest, Central and Nairobi area. The rainfall is expected to spread to western, Southeastern, coast and northeastern regions on Friday January 24, part of the statement read.

The rains will intensify to more than 30mm in 24hrs from Saturday, January 25, to Monday, January 27, over the coast, southeast, central including Nairobi area, western and parts of northeastern regions.

The coverage and intensity will reduce over southeastern, northeastern and the coast from Tuesday, January 28.

On Tuesday, January 28 and Wednesday, January 29, western and central Rift Valley regions are expected to receive more than 40mm of rainfall in 24hrs.

Source: Original

READ ALSO: Wakili wa jiji amzawadi mpita njia KSh 1M

However, on Tuesday, January 28 and Wednesday, January 29, western and central Rift Valley regions are expected to receive more than 40mm of rainfall in 24hrs.

The rainfall is projected to reduce as from Thursday, January, 30, over most parts of the country.

Kenyans were advised to be on the lookout for potential flash floods.

Source: UGC

The areas of concern are pointed out as Nairobi, Nyeri, Kiambu, Nyandarua, Laikipia, Muranga, Embu, Meru, Kirinyaga, Tharaka Nithi, Kitui, Machakos, Makueni, Taita Taveta, Busia and Kisii.

Other are Nyamira, Kericho, Bomet, Nakuru, Baringo, Samburu, West Pokot, Narok, Migori, Nandi, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Vihiga, Bungoma, Homa Bay, Busia, Kisumu, Siaya, Kakamega, parts of Kajiado, Nakuru, Isiolo, Marsabit, Mandera, Wajir, Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, parts of Tana River and Lamu.

Residents in the mentioned areas were advised to be on the lookout for potential flash floods.

Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news.

Are Kenyans happy with the leaders they elected? | Tuko TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 07:36:06|Editor: Shi Yinglun

Video Player Close

LIMA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- A gas tanker truck exploded early Thursday in a populous district of Peru's capital Lima, killing one person and injuring up to 50 others, local police said.

Juan Garate, division chief for the city's South Police 2 precinct, said the blast caused a gas leak and subsequent fire that spread to at least eight homes at the intersection of Pastor Sevilla and Villa del Mar avenues.

According to the police report, the truck operated by the Transgas company crashed into a mechanics shop, and the impact caused the explosion.

Carlos Malpica, who was with the city's Mobile Emergency Treatment System (SAMU), said some 20 of the injured sustained serious burns and were taken to the Villa el Salvador Hospital for treatment, while another dozen victims were being treated on site.

Peru's Health Ministry said at least 11 minors were injured in the blast and taken to the National Children's Health Institute (INSN) to receive specialized care.

Electric power was temporarily cut off in the neighborhood to prevent further accidents due to leaks, said Calidda, the utility company that serves the area.

Prosecutor Milagros Milla went to the site with an inspector to begin efforts to identify the fatal victim, the Public Ministry said.
Twitter users all around the globe vented their anger at Sudanese authorities after horrifying online images of emaciated lions in a wildlife park in Sudan went viral. Tweeple started an online campaign to save a group of starving African lions from a zoo in Sudan amid economic turmoil in the country that has prevented them from getting enough food.

Once the distressing images of the emaciated beasts went viral, social media users expressed feelings of anger and disappointment over the mistreatment of the lions. They also asked government officials to take action that ensures their survival by securing a better habitat.

A user on microblogging site Twitter asked the Sudan Prime Minister to look into the situation and wrote, Mr. Prime Minister of Sudan @SudanPMHamdok, I am sorry for bothering you but I did not know to whom I address my appeal and scream out loud to save the lions in this Zoo at #Sudan #khartoum. Please help these starving lions, this is against humanity.

Mr. Prime Minister of Sudan @SudanPMHamdok,

I am sorry for bothering you but I did not know to whom I address my appeal and scream outloud to save the lions in this Zoo at #Sudan #khartoum. Please help these starving lions, this is against humanity.

Respect 

   pic.twitter.com/FKUfN0dnOd  GhinA  (@GhinaNahfawi) January 18, 2020

Animals were supposed to be let roaming free in the wild not in the cage or a zoo! wrote another Twitter user. Its not a zoo its a concentration camp, commented a thrid, The Parks owners should be locked in a cage to starve, wrote a fourth.

That hard-hearted in charge should be held accountable for such a hideous crime. It is heartbreaking to see animals suffering, wrote a fifth.
Congress-ruled Rajasthan has allocated 100 residential plots in Jaipur at 50% subsidy to refugees from Pakistan, officials said. The plots were allotted last week and the officials added that more will be granted to Pakistani refugees, who have been granted citizenship over the last few years across the state.

Jaipur Development Authority (JDA)s zone deputy commissioner, Abu Sufiyan, said the allotment was pending since 2014 and it was decided to allot the land to the eligible migrants immediately. He added the allotment process was done as per rules after proper scrutiny.

According to Hindu Singh Sodha, the president of Seemant Lok Sagthan, an organisation of the refugees, around 1.35 refugees have come from Pakistan to Rajasthan since 1965. Around 1.10 lakh of them have been given citizenship and 25,000 are yet to get it.

The move to allot the plots comes amid countrywide protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA that was passed last month to fast-track the citizenship process for non-Muslims, who have entered India from Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh before 2015.

The Rajasthan government plans to bring a resolution against the CAA during the state assembly session starting from January 24. Earlier on Friday, Congress-ruled Punjab became the second state after Kerala to pass a resolution in the state assembly against the CAA, seeking revocation of the changes made to the law. Kerala has also moved the Supreme Court against the law.

Opponents of the CAA insist it is discriminatory and unconstitutional as it leaves out the Muslims and links faith to citizenship in a secular country. They say it could result in the expulsion or detentions of the Muslims unable to provide the documentation if the law is seen in the context of a proposed pan-India National Register of Citizens (NRC). A process to identify undocumented immigrants in Assam led to the exclusion of around 2 million people from the NRC last year.

Union home minister Amit Shah started the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)s campaign in favour of the CAA in Rajasthans Jodhpur on January 3 and said the amended law will help the Pakistani refugees based in the state that borders Pakistan.

Sodha welcomed the move to grant land on concessional rates. We will be approaching the state government to provide similar concessions to other Hindu refugees also, he said.

The JDA issued the allotment letters to Pakistani migrants for residential plots in the Khusar Extension Housing Scheme. The land was allotted at 50% subsidised rates, said Rajasthans urban development and housing minister Shanti Dhariwal

A JDA official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the process to allot the land was initiated in 2013 when the Congress was in power. He added the government last year invited applications for the allotments. Around 400 applications were received, which after verification reduced to 100. The land was allocated after verification of details.

Opposition BJP spokesperson Mukesh Pareek cited the Congresss opposition to the CAA and accused it of double standards. On one hand, it is protesting against the CAA and on the other distributing lease deeds to Pakistani Hindu migrants but is not publicising it. It would have been better had the Congress leaders participated in the distribution of allotment letters but they could not as they are opposing the CAA.

Officials said none of the Congress leaders participated in the ceremony, where the JDA commissioner T Ravikanth distributed lease deeds to Hindu refugees.

The Congress does not see everything from a political angle. It was a welfare work and the land was allotted to help and support the poor. It is the Congress government which expedited the process of land allotment, said Archana Sharma, Congress spokesperson.
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has rejected allegations that the former BJP-Shiv Sena government led by him had tapped phones of politicians including Sharad Pawar and the present Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections and the State assembly elections last year. Fadnavis also backed any government agency probing the allegations and bringing out the truth.

Phone tapping of opposition leaders is not a tradition of Maharashtra. Our government never gave such an order. The present state government is free to do any probe by any agency, Fadnavis was quoted by news agency ANI as saying.

Earlier today, Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Anil Deshmukh claimed that phones of Congress and NCP leaders were tapped by the previous BJP-Shiv Sena government in the state misusing the government machinery and in violation of laws.

When the BJP government was in power in Maharashtra, before the general and legislative assembly elections, they tapped phones of NCP and Congress leaders to keep a tab on their activities, Deshmukh had said, creating a flutter in state politics.

His suggestion was backed by Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut, who tweeted that a senior BJP leader had told him about his phone getting tapped.

Your phone is being tapped, a senior BJP minister had told me, Raut claimed in a tweet and said it was a routine job for the home ministry as phone-tapping had become the new norm in politics.

Phone tapping is done in politics these days. I dont take it very seriously. Home Ministry is habituated to do phone tapping and keep an eye on their opponents. But in spite of them indulging in phone tapping, we formed the govt in Maharashtra, Raut said in another tweet on the matter.

Fadnavis, however, rejected the conspiracy theory and said those laying the charge had little political credibility. He also said that Shiv Sena was part of the State home ministry in his government. Senas Deepak Kesarkar was the Minister of State for Home (Rural), Finance and Planning between December 2014 and July 2016.

The whole nation knows the political credibility of the people who have made complaints about this issue, Fadnavis was quoted saying by the agency.

Deshmukh had alleged that the BJP government had misused the machinery and sent officials to Israel to obtain phone-tapping software.

He announced the probe and Fadnavis welcomed it by saying, the issue should be investigated as soon as possible to bring the truth out in front of the people.
Following are the latest Corporate Social Responsibility news releases and story ideas available from Business Wire. These recaps, curated by Business Wire, provide reporters and bloggers around the globe instant access to the latest news releases, providing relevant and trending content to share with their audiences. Discover more news via Business Wires Hot Topic recaps or create a custom news feed specific to your needs here. This service is provided at no charge to members of the media and financial communities.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200123005087/en/

NEW YORK -- Voya Financial Earns 100% on the Human Rights Campaigns 2020 Corporate Equality Index  for 15th Consecutive Year Source: Voya Financial, Inc.

TORONTO -- Facedrive Announces Continued Growth in 2019 Source: Facedrive Inc.

NEW YORK -- Voya Financial Included in 2020 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index for Commitment to Advancing Women in the Workplace Source: Voya Financial, Inc.

PITTSBURGH -- PPG Foundation Supports Australian Bushfires Relief Efforts Source: PPG

SALISBURY, N.C. -- Food Lion Earns Top Marks in 2020 Corporate Equality Index Source: Food Lion

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Sealed Air Reinvents Its Iconic BUBBLE WRAP Brand Packaging Material Using Recycled Content Source: Sealed Air Corporation

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- GE Appliances Receives Perfect Score on HRC Corporate Equality Index Source: GE Appliances

PORTLAND, Ore. -- The Standard Earns Best Place to Work Designation and Perfect Score on 2020 Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index Source: The Standard

SEATTLE -- Starbucks Commits to a Resource-Positive Future, Giving More than It Takes from the Planet Source: Starbucks Coffee Company

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Horace Mann included in 2020 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index Source: Horace Mann

TOKYO -- Kao Wins a Place in the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World List Source: Kao Corporation

PURCHASE, N.Y. -- Mastercard and Partners Launch Priceless Planet Coalition to Act on Climate Change Source: Mastercard Incorporated

SAN FRANCISCO & COLUMBIA, Md. -- Wells Fargo and Enterprise Community Partners Launch the Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge Source: Wells Fargo & Company

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Walmart and The Walmart Foundation announce $500,000 commitment to assist Puerto Rico with earthquake relief and recovery Source: Walmart Inc.

AMSTERDAM -- Tommy Hilfiger Announces Tommy Hilfiger Fashion Frontier Challenge Social Entrepreneur Finalists Source: PVH Corp.

About Business Wire

Business Wire, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is the global leader in news release distribution and regulatory disclosure. Investor relations, public relations, public policy and marketing professionals rely on Business Wire for secure and accurate distribution of market-moving news and multimedia. Founded in 1961, Business Wire is a trusted source for news organizations, journalists, investment professionals, and regulatory authorities, delivering news directly into editorial systems and leading online news sources via its multi-patented NX Network. Business Wire has 18 newsrooms worldwide to meet the needs of communications professionals and news media.

Learn more at www.businesswire.com. Follow us on Twitter @businesswire.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200123005087/en/
He was released from police station immediately after the departure of the Russian president

On the evening of January 22, Jerusalem police detained a man on suspicion of organizing an assassination attempt on Russian President Vladimir Putin. Vesti news agency reported that.

A man approached a police officer and asked if Vladimir Putin arrived at the Yad Vashem memorial complex. She replied that he had not arrived and asked why the man needed this information. He replied that he wanted to "remove him."

The man was immediately taken to the police station. On the morning of January 23, the court first extended the detainees stay in the department for another day, and then, at the request of the defense, it still allowed the man to be released immediately after Putin left.

As we reported, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky did not meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Israel. Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of Russia's head of the state said this.

The official added that the meeting did not take place because Zelensky canceled his participation in the World Forum of the Holocaust Victims where Putin was present.

He added that Putin came to Bethlehem to negotiate with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.
Shahdara, known for its mouth-watering street food, boasts large markets of clothes, especially wedding dresses, ornaments and also the availability of groceries at reasonable prices.

Situated on the banks of the river Yamuna, it's also known as the oldest inhabited areas of the city and an integral part of Purani Dilli. However, the Shahdara district is one of the newly formed districts in the national capital.

Delhi Metro too started its operations from Shahdara, the first station on the Red Line and premier station of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.

However, the area has a long way to go as far as development is concerned. Narrow lanes lead to traffic jams in the area, especially near the Chhota Bazaar area. It becomes worse during rains.

Poor traffic management and lack of sidewalks just add to the chaos and turn it in an accident-prone area, especially for pedestrians. Unauthorised colonies, slums and illegal constructions abound in the area. Old sewage system, water shortage during summers and frequent outages are the problems that need early attention.

The proximity of Shahdara to the UP border has turned in into a heaven for criminals, who cross the border -- from both sides -- after committing petty crimes like theft and snatching, and heinous crimes such as murder and offences against women.

Beggars, including children and even toddlers, particularly near Shahdara and Mansarovar Park Metro stations, are a menace and paint an ugly picture of the area. Factories of various shapes and sizes employ child labourers in numbers and often force them to work in hazardous environment.

Lack of proper parking spaces often trigger scuffles. Broken roads, garbage strewn on streets and high pollution are other conspicuous features that people living here or commuting to can easily relate to.

A mohalla clinic was opened near the Mansarovar Metro station, but it remained non-operational until recently.

While the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has re-nominated sitting MLA Ram Niwas Goyal, the and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have named Narendra Nath and Sanjay Goyal, respectively, for the February 8 elections to the 70-member Delhi Assembly.

Of the 1,88,578 voters in the Assembly seat, 99,090 are men and 89,483 women. For whom they have voted would be known on February 11.
After admitting to slapping a policewoman amid claims she had consumed three grams of cocaine, it's been a tough week for Kyle Sandilands' troubled girlfriend.

So Tegan Kynaston, 34, made sure to take some time off to relax with friends, as she went for a cosy brunch with John Ibrahim.

The girlfriend of the KIIS radio host clutched her $3,400 Balmain designer handbag as she hugged the Kings Cross identity.

She was seen smiling with the businessman, who put his arm around her, before appearing to get into her boyfriend's $350,000 Bentley.

Tegan Kynaston, 34, (pictured, left) looked happy and relaxed after going to a cafe with Kings Cross identity John Ibrahim (right)

Tegan Kynaston (pictured, left) and John Ibrahim (right) even enjoyed a tender hug as they said goodbye

Facing Waverley Local Court this week, she pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer in Bondi last month after a blazing row with her older boyfriend, 48.

The court heard she had taken three grams of cocaine before slapping the woman across the face.

The former King Cross nightclub owner was spotted enjoying brunch with the troubled Sydney socialite at Uliveto cafe.

His own girlfriend Sarah Budge was recently cleared of charges of gun possession after police allegedly found an unauthorised Glock 26 pistol in her bedroom.

Tegan Kynaston (pictured) showed off her $3,400 Balmain handbag as she was seen getting into what appeared to be Kyle Sandiland's Bentley

Mr Ibrahim was not linked to the charge.

He is a long-time friend of Sandilands, who has been dating Ms Kynaston for several months.

On Tuesday, her lawyer Greg Goold entered a guilty plea to assaulting a police officer after the couple had a lover's spat on the side of the road.

Mr Goold said Ms Kynaston would seek to have the matter dealt with under the Mental Health Act.

She was spotted rowing with Sandilands, who had been driving his Bentley on Beach Road at Bondi, on the morning of December 7.

Ms Kynaston (pictured, right), 34, and Sandilands (left), 48, were involved in a spat in Bondi in December. When police were called Miss Kynaston slapped an officer in the face

John Ibrahim (pictured, right) is understood to be good friends with radio star Kyle Sandilands, who has been dating Tegan Kynaston (left) since last year

John Ibrahim (pictured, right) and Tegan Kynaston (left) hugged as they left Uliveto cafe in Kings Cross

Sandilands had reportedly asked a bystander to call police after an altercation with Ms Kynaston and when officers arrived, she assaulted a female officer.

Ms Kynaston was handcuffed and restrained on a stretcher then taken to Prince of Wales Hospital.

'Whilst in the ambulance the accused has informed the ambulance officer that she had consumed three grams of cocaine during the night,' the facts stated.

'Whilst waiting for hospital staff the accused has asked to speak to Constable Goonewardene, where she has stated 'I am sorry for hitting you, I just took all my anger out on you'.'

The communications director (pictured outside court) was seen in a dispute with Sandilands on Beach Road at Bondi on the morning of Saturday, December 7

She was previously Sandiland's personal assistant, and is now communications director for his company King Kyle Pty Ltd.

Mr Goold told the court his client had an appointment with a psychiatrist on March 17.

If the matter is dealt with under the Mental Health Act it may not lead to a criminal conviction.

Ms Kynaston is already on a bond for possessing cocaine after being caught with about half a gram of the drug outside a Surry Hills pub in March 2018.

Ms Kynaston (pictured) is already on a bond for possessing cocaine after being caught with about half a gram of the drug outside a Surry Hills pub in March 2018

Kyle unexpectedly announced his split from long-term girlfriend Imogen Anthony (pictured) 28, live on The Kyle & Jackie O Show in November after eight years together

Having insisted for weeks they were just friends and colleagues, Miss Kynaston confirmed their relationship on New Year's Eve.

She used Instagram to share a picture of her kissing Sandilands on the cheek in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The radio star announced his split from girlfriend of eight years, 28-year-old Imogen Anthony, live on The Kyle & Jackie O Show on November 5.

'We haven't been with each other for quite a few months now,' Sandilands said. 'Unfortunately it's run its course.'

Ms Kynaston is due back in the same court on April 14.
Former Maharashtra minister Deepak Kesarkar on Friday refuted the snoopgate allegations against the BJP and said, "These kinds of allegations have been put before as well." Speaking about it, he said, "We weren't given any information about it. Our work was not even divided for the last five years. So this subject was never with me. But, I would still say that if they had some spy in Israel, then the problems through which our country is going through, they should find out what the terrorists are doing. And if we are taking the technology from Israel, then I don't think there is a harm in it."

He further added, "If someone taps some politician's phone, then we can take an objection over it. The inquiry is going on, so till the time it is done, I think it is wrong to raise this issue. Home Department is the most sensitive department. If something is proven after the inquiry, then an action can be taken."

'Happens several times'

According to Kesarkar, these kinds of allegations are levelled several times. He said, "These kinds of allegations have been put before as well. Even during the Congress rule, it has been alleged several times that the opposition's phones are tapped. It was alleged that Shiv Sena's phones were tapped during the Congress regime as well."

Read: Tanushree Dutta Controversy: Shiv Sena MLA Deepak Kesarkar Clarifies His Stance

Read: ECI asks Twitter to delete BJP leader Kapil Mishra's controversial 'India Vs Pak' tweet

Maha Govt probes Wiretapping allegations

Amid the BJP-Shiv Sena tussle, state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh revealed that the Thackeray-led Maharashtra government has initiated a probe against BJP over wiretapping allegations. He claimed that the previous government had sent its officials to Israel to procure the spyware to snoop on NCP and Congress leaders prior to the elections. Likening the Maharashtra snoop gate allegations to the 'Pegasus snoop gate', he said that the BJP government had done this for political gains.

Read: 'RSS, BJP are proponents of lies': CPM slams Karandlaje for 'no water for Hindus' tweet

Read: "You Cannot Accuse A Person Of Nana Patekar Status," Says Shiv Sena MLA Deepak Kesarkar
Four Routt Catholic High School students will be among thousands marching outside the U.S. Capitol today during the March for Life rally in Washington, D.C.

The annual march take place close to the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion in the United States, to protest the decision.

Routt junior Grace Rawe has been on the trip twice before and said the number of people who turn out for it is inspiring.

There are tens of thousands of people on the march, Rawe said. Its amazing to see the number of people that are against abortion.

Senior Kirby Peters is participating in the march for the first time.

I think itll be cool to see everyone marching in front of the Capitol, Peters said.

For Peters, abortion is a personal topic  her younger sister was adopted.

My mom was explaining why I was going and my sister asked why they couldnt just put the baby up for adoption, Peters said.

According to the Diocese of Springfield, the Routt students are among 400 people attending the march from the diocese.

The group will visit Arlington National Cemetery, participate in a Mass at St. Peters Basilica in Washington with Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield, attend the Life is Very Good Youth Rally at George Mason University, speak with U.S. Reps. Darin LaHood and Rodney Davis or their staff, and participate in a Mass at Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

When she returns to school, Peters hopes to share with her classmates her experiences on the trip, she said.

I want them to know how important this movement is, Peters said. Its an election year and some will be able to choose who they want in office, who they really support.

Rawe said this year is special, because the Supreme Court is preparing to hear June Medical Services v. Gee, a case involving a Louisiana abortion law that requires doctors or organizations performing abortions to have admitting rights at a hospital  a requirement that would limit the number of agencies or doctors able to provide abortion services.

The case could lead to discussion on the decision in Roe v. Wade.

We have a chance to shut it down, Rawe said.
ASHGABAT, Tukrmenistan, Jan. 24

By Huseyn Hasanov - Trend:

The 9th meeting of the Turkmen-German Joint Working Group was held in Ashgabat, Trend reports referring to Turkmenistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The delegation of Turkmenistan was headed by the Minister of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations of the country Orazmyrat Gurbannazarov.

During the negotiations, issues of bilateral cooperation affecting various sectors of the economy were discussed.

The meeting participants considered promising projects in the field of oil and gas industry, finance and healthcare. The possibilities of organizing professional development programs for specialists were also considered.

The parties made proposals for the further development of the investment climate in both countries, the report said.

Meanwhile, German companies such as Siemens, Daimler, Claas, Rohde & Schwarz, Dresser-Rand, MAN, Bosch and others make a significant contribution to the implementation of long-term projects in Turkmenistan.

In 2016, 167 investment projects and contracts with German capital worth $540 million and about 555 million euro in total were registered in Turkmenistan. Data for recent years have not been published.
New Delhi [India], Jan 24 (ANI): Delhi Election Commission's returning officer on Friday issued a notice to BJP leader Kapil Mishra over his tweet in which he termed Delhi assembly elections as an India vs Pakistan clash.



Earlier, the Election Commission of India sought a report from Delhi's Chief Electoral Officer on Mishra's tweet.

Mishra had on January 23rd tweeted '...On 8th February there will be a contest between India and Pakistan on the streets of Delhi.'

A report in this regard is required to be submitted by Delhi CEO to ECI within 24 hours.

According to sources, the Election Commission is mulling over taking strong action against BJP candidate Kapil Mishra.

Earlier on Thursday, while speaking to ANI about his tweet, Mishra had said, "'Mini Pakistans' have been created at many places in Delhi. Shaheen Bagh is being replicated at various places. Other places like Inder Lok, Chand Bagh have also become mini Pakistan. Protesters are disturbing common people by blocking the road, shutting areas, schools, etc."

On January 22, Aam Aadmi Party had written to the Election Commission alleging "wrongful acceptance of nomination forms of BJP candidate Kapil Mishra from Model Town constituency" and demanded cancellation of his candidature. (ANI)


Dr. Assadi joins dicentra as Clinical Research Scientist and Data Specialist Dr. Assadis experience in research protocol development, statistical design and data analytics will be an extremely beneficial addition to our CRO and the clients we represent, said Peter Wojewnik, VP of Growth, Marketing & Sales, dicentra.

dicentra, a leading Contract Research Organization (CRO) and global consulting firm for the life sciences and food industries, is pleased to announce that Dr. Homa Assadi has joined as Clinical Research Scientist and Data Specialist, at their head office and research site in Toronto, Canada.

Dr. Assadis extensive experience pertains to research protocol development, statistical design, project management and research manuscript writing. This work, relating to a wide variety of emerging therapeutics, will be an asset to dicentras clinical team and has earned Dr. Assadi global recognition, who has presented her work at over 12 international conferences. With the recent addition of Dr. Assadi, dicentras clinical team will continue to provide superior CRO services to the nutraceutical industry with an unwavering focus on research integrity and data quality.

We welcome Dr. Assadi to dicentra. Together, our team is excited for the continued growth and success of many new projects this year, said Peter Wojewnik, VP of Growth, Marketing & Sales, dicentra. Dr. Assadis experience in research protocol development, statistical design and data analytics will be an extremely beneficial addition to our CRO and the clients we represent.

Dr. Assadi holds a Ph.D. in Biomedical Physics from the Department of Physics at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada, an M.Sc. in Physics from Azad University in Tehran, Iran, and a B.Sc. in Physics from Esfahan University in Iran.

I am excited to bring my unique visioning ability to dicentra. My background in research science and my experience in research development, data management, data analysis, medical and SOP writing will help to facilitate dicentras continued CRO growth. said Dr. Assadi, Clinical Research Scientist and Data Specialist, dicentra. In addition, my extensive knowledge of ICH-GCP guidelines are critical for research integrity from the outset of study design. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to bring these strengths and effective data management strategies to the clinical research team at dicentra.

About dicentra

dicentra is a Contract Research Organization and professional consulting firm that specializes in addressing all matters related to safety, quality, and compliance for all product categories in the life sciences and food industries. We evaluate, implement, and provide all the necessary support for your products and operations, allowing you to gain market access while building confidence in your brand. We achieve this through our four business divisions: Life Sciences, Food Safety & Quality, Global Certifications, and Clinical Trials. Since our inception in 2002, we have completed over 18,000 projects and serviced over 1,200 companies internationally.

dicentra is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario and has an office in Guelph, Ontario. For more information, visit dicentra.com.
Combine harvesters crop soybeans during a demonstration for the press, in Campo Novo do Parecis, about 400km northwest from the capital city of Cuiaba, in Mato Grosso, Brazil. Yasuyoshi Chiba | AFP | Getty Images

Just over a week after the U.S. and China signed a critical "phase one" trade agreement, it's still unclear how a key aspect will play out. China agreed to buy at least $200 billion more in U.S. goods and services relative to the 2017 level over the next two years. The projected purchases include at least $32 billion more in agricultural products, with an unspecified amount of soybeans. So far, doubts remain about how quickly such a ramp-up can occur, especially given seasonality and the fact that Chinese tariffs of 30% on U.S. soybeans officially remain in place. China is the world's largest consumer of soybeans, which are used in animal feed and cooking oil. U.S. farmers also face competition with Brazil, whose soybean exports to the Asian giant increased by more than a third amid U.S.-China trade tensions. Brazilian sales will likely be hit by the requirement to buy more from the U.S., although it's still not clear to what extent, Sergio Amaral, honorary president of the China-Brazil Business Council and former Brazilian ambassador to the U.S., said in a phone interview. "The business (community) now is trying to react, to adjust to the declarations," he said. "But ... how can you make a forecast, if you don't have details on how it's going to operate?"

Narrow window for US soybeans

"Right now, the U.S. soybeans sales window is very small," Xiaoping Zhang, regional director of greater China for the U.S. Soybean Export Council, said according to a CNBC translation of his Mandarin-language remarks. Zhang pointed out it typically takes at least a month for imports to be processed, which leaves little time for new orders before the current U.S. sales season ends in April. Meanwhile, as the southern hemisphere enters fall and winter, Brazilian soybeans are about to come onto the market. As a result, Zhang does not expect Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans will significantly increase until at least the second half of the year. He noted that as of Jan. 9, China has made new purchases of U.S. soybeans, but the volume is small. China kicked off a week-long Lunar New Year holiday on Friday, but is canceling many public festivities in an effort to limit the spread of a new virus that has killed 25 people.

China's already diversifying

Some analysts doubt whether the U.S. will even be able to grow enough soybeans for China to buy. "This is quite an ambitious timeline for both sides, not just in terms of China ramping up its domestic purchases, but (the) U.S. stepping up its production," said Nick Marro, global trade lead at The Economist Intelligence Unit. "Long term, if you're creating this artificial demand, (it) could put U.S. farmers in a difficult situation." U.S. soybean exports to China dropped sharply in the second half of 2018, and U.S. government data shows American farmland for soybeans dropped by about 15% in 2019 to about 76 million acres. On the other hand, Brazil increased its soybean acreage by 3% in the current marketing year to a record 36.9 million hectares (91.2 million acres), the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service said in a January report. If the weather cooperates, the report said Brazil is expected to overtake the U.S. as the world's largest producer of soybeans. Chinese oil plants are also more willing to buy South American soybeans due to their slightly higher protein content, according to He Lin, director of the agricultural products research and development center at Hangzhou-based Nanhua Futures. The South American country's share of Chinese soybean imports has increased from about half to three-quarters in the last three years, according to China Customs data accessed through Wind Information.

Tariffs still an uncertainty
Something interesting happened on Thursday, and it wasn't just Brexit becoming official as of January 31. The Church of England released a statement that's bizarre by 21st-century standards when it took a stand against modern moral culture. This occurred in the form of a new pastoral guidance from the Church of England bishops stating that sex should be confined to (heterosexual) marriages:

The statement from the House of Bishops says the church's teaching on marriage "remains unchanged", claiming sex outside of marriage is "falling short of God's purpose for human beings". It adds: "For Christians, marriage  that is the lifelong union between a man and a woman, contracted with the making of vows  remains the proper context for sexual activity." However the church seeks to "uphold that standard" in its approach to civil partnerships and to "affirm the value of committed, sexually abstinent friendships". Those in mixed- or same-sex civil partnerships can still be ordained  but only if they abstain from sex, the bishops added. But members of the clergy are also instructed not to provide a blessing for couples registering a civil partnership.

England has been at the forefront of gay "marriage" and the breakdown of traditional marriages. This makes the bishops' guidance a big deal.

Leftists are predictably outraged. What's really funny, in a sad way, is that leftists think there's something wrong with a church having standards. For them, church is a feel-good place where you go, are told God loves you, and then you get on with doing whatever the heck you please.

If you were looking for any proof that the Church of England @churchofengland is completely out of touch with the lives of, well, basically everyone in England... look no further. https://t.co/SRo507mt6q  David Mac Dougall (@davidmacdougall) January 23, 2020

You do know that people will have sex regardless of your policy right? https://t.co/7IWolb4aHl  Philip Normal (@philipnormal) January 23, 2020

Dear Church of England, and Churches everywhere (99% of which are run by men):



Evolve. Thats all. Just stop fighting evolution. Stop judging others and focus on...



Evolving. Thanks. pic.twitter.com/DZXJCDafyy  Carol Johnson AKA Cleo Everest (@CleoEverest) January 23, 2020

Even some clergy in the Church of England are upset. Whatever this gal's reason was for becoming a clergy person in the Church of England, it apparently didn't have anything to do with passing on core biblical principles to her parishioners:

I, along with, I imagine, lots of other clergy in the Church of England, would really appreciate your prayers today. Can't bring myself to wear a collar, but otherwise trying to push through as normal.  Alice Jolley (@mthr_alice) January 23, 2020

There were also several people who showed off their erudition by pointing out that Henry VIII lived a debauched life. There are two problems with this.

The first is the failure to recognize that standards shouldn't be ditched just because people, even the people who founded an institution, don't follow them. Religion is supposed to elevate us, not keep us company as we wallow in the moral gutter.

Second, and much more significantly, Henry's choices weren't driven by debauchery. Henry was fanatically committed to having a son to take the throne after he died.

The reason for this fanaticism was that there was no way he could look into the future and see his daughter Elizabeth's splendid reign. All he could do was look into the past, going back almost to William the Conqueror, and see the disasters that resulted when a king died without a strong adult male to inherit his throne. That was the primary reason Henry broke with the Catholic Church and why he so brutally worked his way through wives.

Here's just one example of that foolish, uninformed trend in tweets:

Married couples also say until death do us part.



The guy who invented the Church of England married 6 wives, divorced 2 and beheaded another 2 https://t.co/iRKVlWGFfy pic.twitter.com/x9CDazoZGj  Jim Caddick (@Caddicarus) January 23, 2020

There were some who stood up for the bishops' decision:

Breaking news from Mount Sinai circa 1312 BCE https://t.co/iaEINmJxgz  Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) January 23, 2020

The Church of England says sex is for married heterosexual couples only. This is only shocking to people who think that churches have to cave to what they want. This rule has been in place for centuries. https://t.co/q5NOpFlr2m  Carmine Sabia (@CarmineSabia) January 23, 2020

For traditionalists, the modern Church of England is generally leftist in its social and political orientation. Nevertheless, the bishops did something important when they reaffirmed traditional teachings about sex and marriage. By doing so, they reminded people that religion can be a harsh taskmaster, but its demands come with the promise that both this life and the afterlife will be better for complying with those moral demands.
Car-free Market Street What you need to know now about the rebirth of SFs main drag, sans private cars.

Car-free Market Street What you need to know now about the rebirth of SFs main drag, sans private cars.

A once-radical idea to purge all private cars from Market Street becomes reality on Wednesday.

New turn lanes will stripe the roadway, diverting traffic from a transit spine thats intended to be a grand promenade, rife with bicycles and clattering streetcars. The citys new quick-build procedures allowed transit officials to banish automobiles east of 10th Street within three months of approving the project. Meanwhile, a more substantive redesign is inching forward.

Eventually the old lollipop traffic signals will get a full overhaul, gray pavers will replace the red sidewalk bricks, and officials will swap the green bunker toilets for a more futuristic model.

Already, transit backers and city officials are contemplating what comes next. Shift the 14-Mission over to Market? Ban cars on a nearby alleyway in the South of Market area? Anxious motorists grit their teeth, preparing for an even more circuitous drive downtown.

The long-term effects of this transformation remain unknown. Boosters hope to reduce vehicle collisions and create a more inviting city core. But other goals seem elusive: No one can quite predict the future of Mid-Market, a troubled stretch that draws theatergoers as well as transients and drug dealers.

For now, heres what you need to know:

How many drivers use Market Street, anyway? Not as many as you might think. According to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, 200 to 400 cars travel in each direction on Market Street every hour during the peak commute. Thats roughly half the number on Mission Street, which sees 500 to 900 cars per hour in each direction.

People wait for the bus on Market Street in San Francisco, California, on Monday, Oct. 7, 2019. People wait for the bus on Market Street in San Francisco, California, on Monday, Oct. 7, 2019. Photo: Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle 2019 Photo: Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle 2019 Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Car-free Market: What happens to the side streets? And where will they ban cars next? 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Traffic wasnt always that sparse. The city gradually steered cars off the thoroughfare by installing forced detours in 2009, adding more turn restrictions over the years to stymie east-west travel. Many of the vehicles that currently use Market are Uber and Lyft cars, and those drivers will face the biggest shock. As of Wednesday, they will be relegated to loading zones on side streets.

Is this going to speed up the buses? With rapid, subway-like service in the center lane, Muni estimates that 464,000 riders who board buses on Market Street every day will save lots of time. Faster service unimpeded by automobiles would shorten each trip by 15% to 25%, according to transportation planners.

From a transit perspective, Market is the beating heart of the city, with 200 buses and streetcars running down the strip per hour at the busiest times, while BART and Muni Metro subway trains rattle underneath. Roughly 500,000 people walk along Market each day, and 650 cyclists roll through each hour during the peak commute.

What about parking? Parking on Market, already limited to six metered spaces east of Spear Street, will disappear entirely with the redesign. The more drastic change will occur on cross streets and side streets, where 227 spaces will be converted to commercial loading.

Once this is done, people will see it was a great idea, said Donald Shoup, a professor of urban planning at UCLA who specializes in the economics of parking. He pointed to studies showing that streets are safer, and more productive, when curb space is used for short-term loading instead of car storage. It saves Uber and Lyft passengers from having to step out in the middle of traffic, and opens space for many more people to arrive and leave.

If you look at Paris, Vienna, or Madrid, all great cities are moving in this direction, Shoup said. San Francisco will be very proud of this once its finished.

Wont pedestrians wander into the bike lanes? Distracted people, absorbed with cell phones or earbuds, pose a risk  mostly to themselves  on any bustling artery. So do rule-flouting cyclists  a wide buffer between the bike lane and the sidewalk will include bike racks, benches, trees and historic lampposts.

If cars are pushed off Market, will they start flooding Mission? Not according to the transportation agencys preliminary traffic analysis, said department chief Jeffrey Tumlin. Yet its hard to predict motorist behavior  in the real world, drivers dont always follow traffic analysis models.

Were going to be watching carefully and collecting data, Tumlin said. And were ready to make adjustments.

That could include shifting Munis 14-Mission bus to Market Street, which will have more transit capacity once the private cars are gone.

Should cars be banned on side streets, too? Why stop at Market Street when we could turn the whole downtown core into a free-flowing utopia for bikes and buses? The prospect makes some advocates giddy, but Tumlin said it might cause problems.

Market Street itself is not essential for the through-movement of car traffic, because it doesnt actually go anywhere, Tumlin said. But closing the cross streets would have a significant impact on the overall mobility system, and would tend to push traffic from one street to a parallel street. So thats not something were looking at now.

He noted, however, that he would happily entertain proposals from merchants or community groups that want to close their streets to automobile traffic.

What longer-term changes are coming to Market Street? Its too early to say whether Market will become the urban utopia that captivated planners and politicians for years. But changes are afoot: The sidewalks will be widened from 35 to 37 feet and resurfaced with concrete pavers. Crews will repave the street with concrete instead of asphalt. A new loop near United Nations Plaza will allow streetcars to shuttle back and forth, carrying more tourists.

Once complete, the project will revamp a 2.2-mile stretch from the Embarcadero to Octavia Boulevard, at an estimated cost of $604 million.

Separately, BART plans to install glass-and-steel canopies over its station entrances, protecting the escalators from downpours and giving the street a cleaner feel.

Which streets are next? Transit advocates already want to extend the car-free ideal to other San Francisco arteries. The most immediate and desirable target is John F. Kennedy Drive in Golden Gate Park, a road where cars mix uneasily with cyclists, skateboarders and rollerbladers. Its among the citys high-injury roadways  the 13% of streets that account for 75% of traffic injuries and fatalities. In 2016, cyclist Heather Miller was killed by a hit-and-run driver on John F. Kennedy Drive near 30th Avenue, a crash that jolted the city.

This is a place that people come for recreation and fresh air, said Olivia Gamboa, a doctor in the Richmond District who helped organize a ride along JFK this Sunday, to press for the removal of automobiles. Its ultimately up to Phil Ginsburg, general manager of the Recreation and Park Department, to decide whether to pursue a ban.

Advocates have also eyed the Tenderloin  another area known for road mayhem and fatalities  as a potential car-free zone. They have the ear of Supervisor Matt Haney, who invited the transportation agency to study that part of his district.

Rachel Swan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rachelswan
24.01.2020 LISTEN

Newly sworn-in assembly members of the Bongo District Assembly in the Upper East Region have been admonished to desist from promising their electoral areas things they know they cannot provide.

They have been told to rather work in synergy with the assembly to propel development.

Like other political positions where officeholders have sources of funding to execute promises they make to constituents, assembly members have no or very little capacity to deliver on promises without funding sources.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of 37 elected assembly members and 30 government appointees in Bongo, District Chief Executive (DCE) Peter Ayinbisa admonished assembly members to properly engage community members for their urgent needs to attract government support for the holistic development of the area.

As Assembly members, you must be mindful of your roles in the various communities. We have seen instances where assembly members go to promise heaven and everything and when they are elected they are unable to fulfill those promises. And if you do this, the next time you are coming for their votes, they will tell you, you have not fulfilled your promises.

The assembly member's job is a sacrificial one without any emoluments or salary and that is why I wish to appeal to all community members to be mindful of their expectations from their assembly members. I also appeal to our assembly members to engage community members to properly define their needs in a way that will attract the assembly and central government for support, he said.

Mr. Ayinbisa tasked assembly members to foster tight collaboration with management and departments of the assembly to meet the development aspirations of residents.

We all owe the assembly the duty and responsibility to protect and support it to function effectively and I can assure all and sundry that decisions of the assembly shall be effectively implemented to satisfy the developmental needs of our people.

He further urged assembly members to rekindle communal spirit among the youth in the respective electoral areas through effective engagement to foster development in their communities.

For his part, Deputy Upper East Regional Minister Frank Fuseine admonished assembly members to come up with innovative mechanisms to increase their internally generated funds for developmental projects in their area.

I urge assembly members to take advantage of automation and other innovative systems developed by the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to improve their internally generated funds. This can be achieved if street naming and property addressing is pursued vigorously, working hand-in-hand with the National Digital Property Addressing System and the Ghana Post GPS. Assembly members should devise special client sensitive approaches to mobilize these rates, devoid of challenges to the rate payers, he stated.

citinewsroom
KAMPALA  The rescue last week of roughly 100 children and young Ugandan women in Kenya as they prepared to fly to the United Arab Emirates to labour as domestic workers, reinforces the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) recent assessment that human trafficking has become a menace in East Africa over the past decade.

The International Organization for Migrations (IOM) staff in Kenya are all too familiar with these sorts of cases.

Last May 19 Ugandan girls were rescued and in Sept 2018, nearly 60 others were rescued as they prepared to board a flight to Oman.

Sadly, there are similar stories from countries across the region, said Mohammed Abdiker, IOM Regional Director for the East and Horn of Africa.

It is important to ensure countries have policies and legislation in place to address the violations of migrant workers rights, smuggling and trafficking in persons as well as combatting organized crime.

A two-day forum of Labour and Social Protection Ministers and high-level government officials from the East and Horn of Africa this week signed a regional cooperation agreement that is an important step in that direction, making it harder for human traffickers to exploit young people looking for work in Gulf states.

The agreement, finalized signed Tuesday at a forum hosted by the Kenyan government, with support from IOM and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), aims to harmonize labour migration policies in the region to make labour migration, safe, orderly and humane by establishing a common platform for engagement with the Gulf states and other countries that are major employers of African migrants.

Attendees from Kenya, Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania.

The lack of harmonized labour migration policies means migrants risk exploitation and abuse through unfair practices including excessive working hours, passport confiscation, confinement and denial of salary.

Representatives also agreed to form a Regional Ministerial Labour and Social Protection Forum, with a rotational chairmanship.

This committee, with additional membership from development partners, will take the lead in driving the implementation of key agreements from the Forum, said Kenyas cabinet secretary for Labour and Social Protection Simon Chelugui.

It will also advise and provide progress reports to the ministers in charge of Labour Migration in the region on the Agenda of this and subsequent forums.

The ministers agreed to cooperate on the provision of diplomatic and consular assistance for migrant workers, especially in countries where some states did not have diplomatic representation, and committed themselves to expand bilateral labour migration agreements beyond the level of unskilled workers, such as domestic workers, to incorporate other professionals.

IOM recorded at least 140,000 people migrating on the Eastern route from the Horn of Africa to Yemen risking their lives in dangerous water crossings.

These journeys usually start in Ethiopias rural communities of Oromia, Amhara, and Tigray regions, passing through Obock on Djiboutis coast, or from Somalias Puntland region.

Yemen, however, is not their destination. Almost 90 percent of migrants arriving in Yemen last year were bound for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, whose long-established Ethiopian community comprises a considerable portion of some estimated five million undocumented migrants living in the kingdom.

IOM Regional Director Mohammed Abdiker, explained that the countries of the region face a challenging employment picture, and need to grow by at least 6 percent annually for the next two decades just to absorb a young, rapidly-growing workforce.

However, economic growth alone is not sufficient; it needs to be accompanied by a structural transformation in the infrastructure and service sectors for true job creation, Abdiker said.

The lack of economic opportunity and the expectation to find better livelihoods elsewhere, continue to constitute two of the major push and pull factors for migration.

Related
A U.S. Border Patrol agent is accused of soliciting a 16-year-old girl online and exchanging nude photos with her via a messaging app.

Spencer Allen Cox, 24, was arrested Thursday and charged with online solicitation of a minor-meet with the intent of sexual contact. His bail was set at $25,000.

Cox has been with the Border Patrol for four years and is assigned to the Uvalde Station, officials said.

The U.S. Border Patrol stresses honor and integrity in every aspect of our mission, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said. We do not tolerate criminal activity within our ranks, and we fully cooperate with any criminal or administrative investigations of alleged misconduct by any of our personnel, on or off duty.

In November, the teenager told police shed been on the run for several weeks, Coxs arrest warrant affidavit states.

She said she met several older males who gave her money and shelter in exchange for sexual acts, but would not identify any of the men, the affidavit says.

San Antonio police applied for a search warrant for the teens Snapchat account. The information obtained by the warrant included a photo of Cox in uniform, his username, and conversations between him and the girl.

Police said the girl informed Cox in a message that she was 16 years old. He acknowledged her disclosure, but the two continued to communicate anyway, investigators said.

When detectives later questioned Cox about the exchange, he said he believed he was drunk at that point in their discussion, the affidavit said.

Sexually explicit images of himself were sent to the girls account, the affidavit said, and Cox allegedly offered money in exchange for images of the girl.

The messages also discuss Coxs desire to have intercourse with the girl, the affidavit says.

The two also discussed meeting up for a car date to hook up on three separate occasions, the girl told police. She said they did not meet.

Cox admitted to using the term car date, but intended it to be an actual date, not for anything sexual, the affidavit states.

Jacob Beltran is a reporter covering San Antonio and Bexar County. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jbeltran@express-news.net | Twitter: @JBfromSA
For the past week, Hong Kong retail store owner Dora Ho has been wearing a medical mask wherever she goes. She doesnt let her husband leave the house without one, either.

The couple have a dozen boxes of them at home, and started their stockpile as news reports began to pour in about a deadly, pneumonia-like coronavirus that first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

As well as the standard 3-ply and 4-ply masks, Ho has a box of 3M-made N95s, which have been increasingly expensive and difficult to find in Hong Kong since the Wuhan outbreak started grabbing headlines. N95 masks are typically used on construction sites, but they were commonly worn by Hongkongers during the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Theyre very hard to breathe in, says Ho, 35. But this is just in case things get worse.

People wearing masks walk on a street in Kwun Tong district of Hong Kong on Jan. 23, 2020. | Paul YeungBloomberg/Getty Images

Many in Hong Kong are similarly apprehensive and the streets and subway trains are thronged with masked crowdsironically, given that the authorities sought to ban face masks at public gatherings in October to deter participation in the anti-government protests that have raged across the city for months.

The heightened concern comes as the number of confirmed cases of the deadly coronavirus in mainland China climbed to 830 on Friday with at least 26 deaths. The virus has spread to Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam and the United States.

Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter by clicking on this link, and please send any tips, leads, and stories to virus@time.com.

There have been two confirmed cases in Hong Kong and public health officials have assured residents that there is no evidence of a widespread outbreak.

But its easy to see why locals are nervous: theyve been here before. SARS infected close to 2,000 people in 2003, casting a pall over the city for six months. Years later, relics of that outbreak have remained part of daily life in Hong Kong, such as the ubiquitous use of hand sanitizer (unknown before SARS), or the introduction in restaurants of two pairs of chopsticks at each place setting (one pair to eat with, the other pair to dip into communal dishes when you want to pick up a morsel). At karaoke bars, customers put disposable protective coverings over their microphones to guard against germs. And medical masks, rarely seen outside of hospitals before SARS, are now part of everyday life, even when there isnt a new coronavirus to contend with.



Story continues

Read more: Heres What Its Like in Wuhan, the Chinese City at the Center of the Deadly Coronavirus Outbreak

SARS hit Hong Kong hard, killing almost 300 in the city out of over 700 deaths worldwide. The crisis also battered the local economy, pushing unemployment to a record high and sending property pricessome of the most expensive in the worldplummeting.

During those months, the normally bustling city turned into a ghost town as residents minimized any unnecessary movement beyond the confines of their homes. Restaurants and hotels stood empty. People stopped greeting each other with a kiss on the cheekmany were even too nervous to shake hands.



Ho was a university student in Hong Kong when SARS broke out. She recalls her classes being canceled and not seeing her friends on weeks on end. I stayed home most of the time, she says. Everyone was too scared to go out.

Weve been through this already

Wuhan, home to 11 million people, and 12 neighboring cities are currently on lockdown, with air and rail links suspended. Chinas Culture and Tourism Bureau also announced that all large-scale new year festivities during the Lunar New Year will be canceled in view of the outbreak.

But there are concerns that the virus could be spread by the mass movement of millions traveling across the country to visit family during the holiday, which beings on Jan. 25. (Guan Yi, a virology expert at the University of Hong Kong, has warned that the Wuhan coronavirus could be at least 10 times the scale of SARS.)



Read more: The Wuhan Coronavirus Is Spreading Fast. Will Doctors Be Able to Find a Treatment Before the Outbreak Ends?

Anna Wong, a 24-year-old civil servant, says she normally goes with her family to Zhongshan, in Guangdong province in Southern China, to visit relatives every Lunar New Year. But this will be the first time shes spending the holiday in Hong Kong. We dont think it is worth the risk, Wong says.

Chinese authorities were widely criticized for covering up the SARS crisis in 2003. Many believe that under-reporting of cases in the early stages ultimately caused hundreds of deaths that could have been prevented, and while some argue that Chinese authorities learned their lesson Wong is skeptical.

Weve been through this already, she says, echoing the sentiments of many in Hong Kong. Im scared because those on the mainland are not aware. They believe everything is under control.

People cover their faces with sanitary masks as they take photos at a shopping mall after the first cases of coronavirus from Wuhan, China were confirmed in Hong Kong. | Miguel CandelaSOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images

For Samantha Ng, 55, the situation today has an eerie sense of deja vu. The news cycle is dominated with updates about more cases being discovered, and so many people are wearing face masks, she says. This is just like in 2002, before we really knew what SARS was.

Back then, mainland Chinese thronged to Hong Kong and bought up stocks of white vinegar and a Chinese medicinal plant, Isatidis Radix, driving up prices, Ng recalls. Fumigating a room with steamed vinegar, and boiling the plant in water and drinking the concoction, were said to be effective precautions for warding off the virusclaims that were later proved false.

I think we have all learned from the past, and we are more alert now, Ng says.

Still, she wears a face mask whenever she leaves the house, and is careful to avoid crowded places. During SARS, she checked her temperature at least twice a day, as advised by her family doctor, even when she was feeling fine. Its a habit she says she could easily pick up againafter all, she did that daily for almost six months, and taught her then eight-year-old daughter to do the same.

No one thought SARS would kill hundreds of people, she says. It turned Hong Kong into a dead city. I hope we never return to that.
Compton College Receives $400,000 Grant for Guided Pathways

The Compton Community College District (CCCD) was awarded a $400,000 grant from the College Futures Foundation to support Compton Colleges implementation of its Tartar Completion by Design (Guided Pathways), Dual Enrollment, block scheduling, and transfer partnerships.

To close achievement gaps and increase graduation and retention rates, Compton College has adopted the Tartar Completion by Design framework to guide the colleges priorities, decision-making, and evaluations. The Guided Pathways system has four main goals:

Create clear curricular pathways to employment and further education.

Help students choose and enter their pathway.

Help students stay on their path.

Ensure learning is happening with intentional outcomes.

We are extremely grateful to the College Futures Foundation for awarding this grant to Compton College, said Compton College President/CEO, Keith Curry. The programs supported by this grant will enable Compton College to reach more equitable student outcomes for the communities served by our district. The Tartar Completion by Design program strives to create a faster path to graduation, transfer, and good-pay jobs.

ADVERTISEMENT

Many community colleges, for example, are experiencing promising improvements in student retention and graduation rates after implementing guided pathways. The new Guided Pathways system groups similar majors together, known as meta-majors, allowing students with similar majors to be distinguished with their niche and take classes across all potential career paths. The Guided Pathways provide clear, educationally relevant program mapswhich include specific course sequences, progress milestones, and program learning outcomesthat are aligned with what will be expected of students upon program completion in the workforce and in education at the next level in a given field.

Students are helped from the start to explore academic and career options, choose a program of study, and develop a plan based on the program maps. These plans simplify student decision-making, and enable the college to provide predictable schedules, frequent feedback, and targeted support as needed to help students stay on track and complete their programs more efficiently.

Another program employed to speed up college completion rates is Dual Enrollment, which enables high school students to get a head start on their college education by taking college classes while still in high school. Dual Enrollment classes are offered at local high schools and provide no-fee advanced academic or career and technical education instruction for high school students capable of advanced work. In order to provide increased access and equity to all students, Compton College has increased the number of dual enrollment courses offered at local high schools through Afternoon College courses, Early College courses at the Compton Early College High School, as well as through AB 288 College courses at Compton and Parmount unified school districts high schools. This grant will help Compton College expand its offerings throughout all local school districts.

With the support of Compton College faculty, staff, and administrators, we created a grant proposal that will help us achieve our Compton College 2024 goals, said Compton College Dean of Counseling and Guided Pathways, Cesar Jimenez. The College Futures Foundation will help us move the needle toward closing the equity achievement gap by supporting our innovative work with dual enrollment, guided pathways, opt-out scheduling, block scheduling, and professional development. This is a game-changer for the college and our students will benefit greatly.

The overall goal for Compton College Guided Pathways implementation via the Tartar Completion by Design program is to improve student completion and success rates by 2023-2024. Compton Colleges five strategic initiatives will serve as the blueprint for all College planning and guide the Colleges operations as it implements Tartar Completion by Design to focus on the student experience and organize strategies and measurable outcomes around students connection, entry, progress, completion, and transition to employment or transfer to a four-year institution.

We are excited to partner with Compton College in this ground-breaking work, said Shawn Whalen, Program Director at College Futures Foundation. Their commitment to designing a college that supports all the talented students they serve to achieve their academic and career goals is a model for others to follow.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Compton College 2024 comprehensive master plan is available online:

http://www.compton.edu/adminandoperations/masterplan/Compton-College-2024.pdf
Eamonn Harrison is alleged to have driven a container full of people being trafficked to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge.

A truck driver wanted in the United Kingdom in connection with the discovery of 39 bodies in a refrigerated container outside London can be extradited from Ireland, a judge has ruled.

Eamonn Harrison, from Mayobridge in Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland, appeared at the High Court in Dublin on Friday in relation to a European Arrest Warrant seeking his extradition to the UK.

The 23-year-old is wanted for his alleged role in transporting the trailer in which the bodies of eight women and 31 men, all Vietnamese nationals, were found on an industrial park in Grays, Essex, in the early hours of October 23.

Two of the dead were only 15 years old.

The court previously heard that Harrison had been accused of 41 offences  39 counts of manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, one human trafficking offence, and one count of assisting unlawful immigration.

He is alleged to have driven the container to the port of Zeebrugge in Belgium, and later signed the shipping notice for it.

191023111425761

The 31 men and eight women are believed to have paid people traffickers for their clandestine transit into England.

British police have charged 25-year-old Maurice Robinson, also from Northern Ireland, with 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to traffic people. They say he drove the cab of the truck to Purfleet, England, where it picked up the container, which had arrived by ferry from Zeebrugge.

Justice Donald Binchy on Friday said after hearing very comprehensive arguments from both sides, he had decided to approve Harrisons extradition.

He said there was nothing in law to preclude the surrender of Harrison.

Justice Binchys judgement will be published in full next Monday after the judge said it would not be helpful for him to try to summarise his decision to the court.

Potential appeal

Defence counsel Tony McGillicuddy said he will decide whether to appeal after reading the full judgement next week.

Harrison, wearing glasses, a purple jumper, multi-coloured shirt and blue jeans, showed little emotion when the judge granted the order.

The judge said he considered making the order today, however he deferred his decision to allow the defence time to consider an appeal.

The judgement runs to some 50 pages, and the judge said he wanted to give the defence team time to consider it.

It would not be fair to put such pressure if the respondent chooses to appeal, he added.

McGillicuddy said that was a better position to adopt, adding that he had a number of other concerns to consider  including Brexit.

Harrison was remanded into custody and will appear in Dublins High Court on February 4.
The Madras High Court on Friday dismissed a petition filed against actor over his remarks on rationalist leader E V Ramasamy "Periyar" as the petitioners withdrew the plea.

Justice P Rajamanickam was hearing the petition by Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam, a fringe outfit.

State Public Prosecutor A Natarajan submitted the petitioners had approached the court without seeking the alternative remedy available to them.

Justice Rajamanickam asked the counsel for the petitioners if they would withdraw the petition.

After the counsels admitted they would do so, the judge recorded the same and dismissed the plea.

made the controversial remarks against Periyar recently at an event organised here by Tamil magazine 'Thuglak'.

"In 1971, at Salem, Periyar took out a rally in which the undressed images of Lord Sriramachandramoorthy and Sita - with a garland of sandal-featured ....," he had said.
DAVOS, Switzerland - Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg has brushed off criticism and mockery from the U.S. Treasury chief, saying Friday his comments have of course no effect on her and fellow campaigners.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/1/2020 (718 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg poses for media as she arrives for a news conference in Davos, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. The 50th annual meeting of the forum is taking place in Davos from Jan. 21 until Jan. 24, 2020 (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

DAVOS, Switzerland - Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg has brushed off criticism and mockery from the U.S. Treasury chief, saying Friday his comments have of course no effect on her and fellow campaigners.

The 17-year-old Swedish star's comments marked a final coda to the four-day World Economic Forum summit in Davos, where a major theme was tension between environmental activists who want to protect the Earth and Trump administration officials and business titans who want to exploit its resources for jobs, profits and economic growth.

Many of the 3,000-odd business leaders, government officials, U.N. representatives, civil society advocates and other elites on hand have found themselves somewhere along the spectrum between the positions staked out by Trump and Thunberg. She sat in on Trump's speech Tuesday to the forum, but that did little to bridge their ideological differences.

Climate activists Isabelle Axelsson, Loukina Tille, Vanessa Nakate, Greta Thunberg, and Luisa Neubaue,, from left, arrive for a news conference in Davos, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. The 50th annual meeting of the forum is taking place in Davos from Jan. 21 until Jan. 24, 2020 (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

On Friday, Thunberg, who has been battling the flu this week, kept her lucidity and apologized for her low energy - a term Trump has often used to mock rivals - as she spoke out again in favour of science and facts, and set off on yet another Fridays for Future march through snowy Davos streets.

At a news conference before the march, she acknowledged young climate activists are being criticized all the time in comments like those from U.S. Treasury chief Steven Mnuchin.

Mnuchin had a day earlier dismissed Thunbergs suggestion that governments and companies cut back dramatically on fossil fuels with a condescending barb.

Is she the chief economist? Who is she? Im confused, he said. Then, following a brief pause, he said it was a joke.

Steven Mnuchin, Secretary of the Treasury of the United States addresses a plenary session on the final day of the 50th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, WEF, in Davos, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. The meeting brings together entrepreneurs, scientists, corporate and political leaders in Davos from January 21 to 24. (Alessandro della Valle/Keystone via AP)

After she goes and studies economics in college, she can come back and explain that to us, he added.

Thunberg insisted that her priority was drawing attention and action to concerns about global warming.

We cannot care about those kinds of things, said the Swede, who was selected as Times Person of the Year for 2019.

The situation is not being treated like the crisis it is, she said alongside fellow activists Vanessa Nakate of Uganda, Loukina Tille of Switzerland, Luisa Neubauer of Germany, and Isabelle Axelsson of Sweden.

Thunberg and her climate advocates have also come in for criticism from some longstanding environmental advocates over tactics, if not necessarily their ambitions.

Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Famed primatologist Jane Goodall warned about gloom and doom messages that cause some young people to lose hope.

It doesnt help when young people stand up and point fingers and blame people. That doesnt work. The only way it works is to tell stories and to get to peoples hearts, and some of these young people I know have such amazing stories, and they really are changing the way people think," Goodall said in an interview Thursday. But not in an aggressive way.

A press handler for Thunberg said she wasn't available to respond to those comments.

Marco Lambertini, director general of WWF, defended Thunberg as the biggest catalyst for change" over the past year.

You may argue at the way she says it - some people are a bit upset - but fundamentally you need to listen to young people, that we are stealing their futures and their opportunities, he said. ___

David Keyton and Adam Pemble contributed to this report.
Since its emergence from Wuhan, China, on New Years Eve 2019, novel coronavirus, 2019-nCoV, is spreading rapidly, escalating domestic and international concerns, and leading to calls for emergency declarations.

By now one might think that we are globally prepared for these type of threats given the successful control of prior coronaviruses like SARS and MERS since 2002. Yet, as Catharine I. Paules, Hilary D. Marsto, and Anthony S. Fauci note in the Journal of the American Medical Association, [t]he emergence of yet another outbreak of human disease caused by a [coronavirus]  underscores the perpetual challenge of emerging infectious diseases and the importance of sustained preparedness.

Advertisement

It is a contemporary challenge seemingly lost on the World Health Organization, Chinese government authorities, and other national leaders. On Thursday, after considering all available evidence, WHOs emergency committee voted against declaring a state of public health emergency of international concern, or PHEIC. Invoking the emergency is more than political posturing. PHEICs trigger implementation of the International Health Regulations modernized in 2007 specifically in response to lessons learned from SARS.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

WHOs committee reached this decision even though it is expected that further international exportation of cases may appear in any country. Subject to subsequent reconsideration, its conclusion seems ill-fated in the face of a rapidly spreading condition transmitted from human-to-human with no known cure, treatment, or vaccine, and a fatality rate that already approaches 4 percent.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Perhaps seeking to avoid another global debacle from its mishandling and blatant misrepresentation of the spread of SARS in 2002, Chinese authorities have significantly ramped up their responses. Many of their actions to date, however, are overly aggressive, inviolate of human rights, and ineffective in quelling the emerging outbreak.

Chinese officials have created a cordon sanitaire around Wuhan and multiple other cities identified as hotbeds for 2019-nCoV incubation and spread. They basically have blocked 35+ million people from leaving their jurisdictional boundaries. With thousands of flights canceled, outsiders are prevented from entry as well.

People stuck in Wuhan and elsewhere are further restricted in their movements about their communities. Those with signs of infection are inundating local hospitals where they are processed and screened. Hundreds of infected individuals have been forced into isolation. More than a dozen health care workers have become infected in attempting to treat index cases.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Worse still, Chinese media and other sources are downplaying the public health threat. Recent Chinese broadcasts have avoided portraying 2019-nCoV as an extant risk to populations. Social media platforms are helping to expose government-sanctioned disinformation but also distributing falsified rumors about the virus and fears of retaliatory efforts for failing to report symptoms. Some Chinese officials have taken a harsh approach to assure public health compliance. A temporary social media post by a Communist Party committee stated that anyone deliberately hiding disease infection in China will be forever nailed to historys pillar of shame.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Other countries are imposing travel restrictions against Chinese citizens. North Korea has already closed its borders to foreign tourists despite lucrative resources they bring to its struggling economy. With history as a guide, some countries will soon consider restricting flights into and out of China despite WHO guidance.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Emerging infectious diseases like 2019-nCoV understandably contribute to public apprehension, which is then exacerbated by these sorts of overly aggressive governmental responses. Ideally, public health measures should be predicated on specific epidemiologic findings and proven interventions tied directly to actual risks supported by solid epi data. Admittedly, it is tough to deploy public health measures when available data are sketchy or untrusted.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Consequently, international health entities and national or regional governments sometimes 1) revert to safe decisions to avoid political controversy (for instance, WHOs decision not to declare a PHEIC) or 2) employ highly restrictive measures to limit public health repercussions (for instance, Chinese city quarantines/travel restrictions). The truth is that neither approach actually works.

What does work are lawful, ethical, and human rights-based interventions that entail public health powers that are tailored to specific risks and encourage people to voluntarily comply where possible to accomplish legitimate, communal objectives.

Advertisement

Take, for example, public health interventions to assure safe air travel. Global flights unquestionably present risks of spreading diseases. Multiple countries, including the U.S., already have documented 2019-nCoV cases arriving within their borders through air travel. More cases will assuredly surface. Yet shutting down air travel is not an option economically nor is it beneficial from a public health perspective. Most passengers and crew members present no risks of infection of 2019-nCoV.

Rather than restricting or prohibiting flights from China as some countries (including China) have done in prior outbreaks, U.S. public health authorities are wisely implementing noninvasive screening efforts for select flights to assess health risks among passengers or crew members.

Advertisement

Advertisement

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initiated enhanced screening for 2019-nCoV initially at 3 U.S. airports (JFK, LAX, SFO) on Jan. 17. Two additional airports (ORD, ATL) were designated soon thereafter. Enhanced screening methods employ surveillance to track potential cases within airports receiving the vast majority of passengers from affected countries. Such passengers are initially questioned and participate in noninvasive temperature checks at exit and entry points.

Advertisement

It is rare that more invasive measures like quarantine and isolation are needed following airport screening. Very few passengers are actually found to be infectious through these screening measures. When WHO declared a PHEIC on Aug. 8, 2014, concerning Ebola in West Africa, countries with active transmissions conducted exit screening at international airports. In Sierra Leones Freetown International Airport, 166,242 passengers underwent Ebola exit screening between September 2014 and February 2016. Ten passengers were identified as potentially symptomatic; five were denied travel because they were infected with malaria and typhoid (two cases), but not Ebola. Entry screening techniques employed at several U.S. airports during the same outbreak rendered no confirmed cases over a 30-day span in 2014.

Advertisement

While the efficacy of noninvasive, limited airport screenings for infectious diseases like Ebola and 2019-nCoV may be questioned, its legality and utility are not. WHO and the CDC view such screening as an essential component of global response efforts to raise global awareness, derail prospective ill-travelers, track and monitor potential cases, and instill confidence among all passengers in the continued safety of air travel.

So whats a key take-away from emerging approaches? Real-time responses are needed, but not if they infringe human rights without justification. As with prior outbreaks, the best approach to protect populations is matching accurate data with good science and respect for individual rights.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
The presidents of the European Commission and European Council are due to sign the Withdrawal Agreement as Britains divorce from Brussels is finalised in the coming days.

The Queen gave royal assent to the legislation for Boris Johnsons Brexit deal, paving the way for the UK to leave the European Union with an agreement at the end of January  almost four years after 2016s Leave vote.

Following MPs and peers voting to approve the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement and Queen Elizabeths rubber stamping, commission president Ursula von der Leyen and council president Charles Michel are on Friday expected to sign-off on the document that will allow Britain to leave the EU next week.

The agreement still needs to be approved by the European Parliament before Brexit day, with a vote expected on January 29.

The Withdrawal Agreement has received Royal Assent and is now law. We will leave the EU on January 31st   Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) January 23, 2020

The Prime Minister hailed the crossing of the Brexit finish line after the EU Withdrawal Agreement Act passed into law, despite months of looming fresh negotiations with Brussels to agree a trade deal.

The UK is set to enter a transition period in February, during which the relationship with Brussels will remain the same while trade talks are finalised before the tight December 31 deadline.

Mr Johnson was handed another boost, following news of the legislations royal assent, after the US signalled it was willing to prioritise striking a trade deal with Britain.

The Brexit Act has been given Royal Assent.



Were leaving  next Friday. pic.twitter.com/FcAkWrTwNp  Department for Exiting the EU (@DExEUgov) January 23, 2020

The Daily Express reported that US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin  who attended the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday  said a deal by the end of 2020 would mean an aggressive timeline, but insisted it was an absolute priority for Donald Trumps administration.

The Governments withdrawal legislation cleared Parliament on Wednesday after peers, who had tried to secure additional rights including for unaccompanied child refugees, bowed to the will of MPs once the elected chamber overturned their demands.

The PM said the nation would move forwards as one United Kingdom, adding: At times it felt like we would never cross the Brexit finish line, but weve done it.

Now we can put the rancour and division of the past three years behind us and focus on delivering a bright, exciting future  with better hospitals and schools, safer streets and opportunity spread to every corner of our country.
Janina is a close friend of Meghan's and took the Sussexes' Christmas card photo

Comes after Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, stepped back from royal life

Balloon message read: 'No longer available for things that make me feel like s***'

Meghan Markles close friend Janina Gavankar has shared a message about 'no longer being available for things that make me feel like s*** in an Instagram post after Megxit.

The star of The Morning Show and True Blood, 39, is good friends with Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle, 38, and took the photograph for the couple's Christmas card this year.

Janina shared a snap of a strongly worded message made out of bright and colourful balloons on her Instagram stories yesterday.

It was announced on Saturday that from the spring, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will stop using their HRH titles, spend the majority of their time living in Canada, and cease carrying out royal duties on behalf of the Queen.

Meghan Markle's close friend Janina Gavankar, 39, shared the balloon message which read 'No longer available for things that make me feel like s***' on her Instagram stories yesterday

The American actress, who has been close friends with Meghan, 38, for 15 years, has previously spoken about wanting the Sussexes to be given 'as much privacy as possible'

Janina shared the photograph with her 169,000 followers on Instagram last night, which showed bright pink balloons on a garish neon yellow background.

The message read: 'No longer available for things that make me feel like s***.'

American actress Janina was asked by her friend Meghan to take the image for the couple's Christmas card this year.

The photograph shows her and husband Prince Harry with their seven-month-old son Archie in the foreground.

Janina snapped the photograph of Meghan with Prince Harry and baby Archie used for the couple's Christmas card this year (pictured)

Janina described Meghan as 'one of her best friends' when she released the original photograph from the holiday card in December last year.

She has been friends with Meghan for more than 15 years, and attended the 2018 Royal Wedding and said she did not announce her invite before being pictured arriving at Windsor Castle.

Speaking in May 2018, she also said she hoped the couple would get 'as much privacy as possible'.

She added: 'As much as the world will allow them, I hope for more. Truly.'

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have now quit royal life, renounced their titles and are currently in Canada (pictured, on their last public appearance together before the news)

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have now quit royal life and renounced their HRH titles, it was announced on Saturday.

They are due to split their time between London and Canada, where Jessica and Meghan's mother Doria Ragland are predicted to be more actively involved in their son Archie's upbringing.

The Sussexes will no longer be able to perform royal duties, as part of their deal to step down as senior royals.




Unlike other overseas markets which may discriminate unfairly according to ethnicity or even education, the local home loan market acts more fairly

By: Hitesh Khan/

A new Northwestern University analysis finds that racial disparities in the United States mortgage market suggest that discrimination in loan denial and cost has not declined much over the previous 30 to 40 years, yet discrimination in the housing market has decreased during the same time period.

The report showed:

Black and Hispanic borrowers more likely to be rejected when they apply for a loan; more likely to receive a high-cost mortgage

Housing discrimination leads to persistent neighborhood segregation

Discrimination in mortgage market makes it more difficult for minority households to build wealth through housing

Northwestern researchers examined how discrimination in housing and mortgage lending against blacks, Latinos and Asians has changed over the last 40 years by performing a meta-analysis of existing studies since the late 1970s to the present.

We find declines in most forms of discrimination, especially the more extreme forms like falsely claiming an advertised unit is no longer available, said Lincoln Quillian, lead author of the study and professor of sociology in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences at Northwestern. There is less reduction and considerable persisting discrimination in more subtle differences in treatment between whites and minorities.

For example, in about 10% audits in which a white and an African-American auditor were sent to apply for the same unit after 2005, the white auditor was recommended more units than the African-American auditor. These trends hold in both the large HUD (Housing and Urban Development)-sponsored housing audits, which others have examined with similar findings to us, and in smaller correspondence studies.

In the mortgage market the researchers found that racial gaps in loan denial have declined only slightly, and racial gaps in mortgage cost have not declined at all, suggesting persistent racial discrimination. Black and Hispanic borrowers are more likely to be rejected when they apply for a loan and are more likely to receive a high-cost mortgage.

Story continues

It was distressing to find no evidence of reduced discrimination in the mortgage market over the last 35 years, said Quillian, also a faculty fellow with the Universitys Institute for Policy Research. Discrimination in the mortgage market makes it more difficult for minority households to build wealth through housing, contributing to racial wealth gaps. Discrimination in the housing market increases housing insecurity for minority households and contributes to persistent neighborhood segregation. These results help account for why black home ownership has not increased over the last 35 years.

The reduction in the most exclusionary forms of housing discrimination suggests that in most cases discrimination will not block persistent efforts by black or Hispanic households to move into white or affluent neighborhoods.

We believe that more subtle forms of discrimination will steer households with weaker neighborhood preferences toward own-race neighborhoods, helping to maintain residential segregation, Quillian said.

In sum, the researchers say, the results suggest that anti-discrimination enforcement in the housing and mortgage markets should continue, and efforts should be increased to ensure that all home seekers receive equal treatment regardless of their race or ethnic background.

local home loan market

iCompareLoans Home Loan Report (TM)

Mr Paul Ho, chief mortgage officer at iCompareLoan, said unlike in the US, there is no such unfair discrimination in the local home loan market.

The local home loan market is largely depend on the borrowers capacity to pay and less on other factors. Although on the surface it may seem like women are unfairly discriminated, it could actually be that women do not refinance home loan as regularly as men do, thereby end up paying more home loan interest cost.

In the local home loan market, womens TDSR tends to be less and may impact their ability to refinance

A large percentage of women in Singapore are employed, which means that a significant percentage of them enjoy the freedom to borrow money, obtain loans, or be part of any exclusive loan programs. Such freedom to borrow includes loan programs and financial assistance from independent and private financial organisations  and these are not just limited to credit cards but also extends to mortgage loans, even automotive financial assistance.

Mortgage statistics suggests that women are still lagging behind men when it comes to purchasing property. Statistics show that more than half of property buyers are men, with 57 percent of mortgage applicants being male and the remaining 43 percent of applicants being female.

Mortgage consultants have offered that this statistic could be due to a number of factors, such as the difference between the spending power of single men and single women. Another factor could be that women generally tend to invest more conservatively, as compared to men.

The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in an occasional paper titled Singapores Adjusted Gender Pay Gap said that Singapores adjusted gender pay gap (GPG) at 6.0% is significantly lower than the unadjusted GPG of 16.3%. With the pay gap between men and women being lower than many other countries including the United States of America and Canada, women should be able to get access to the same quantum of home loans that men are eligible for. Whether you are a men or a women, it is best to speak to a mortgage broker, who can point you to the best home loans in town.

In the local home loan market, whatever gender you are, so long as you have a job and credit record, getting a home loan or whatever loan you want is not really a problem and so should not affect womens ability to obtain home loans.

The post Local home loan market does not discriminate unfairly unlike other markets appeared first on iCompareLoan Resources.
New Delhi: The hearing on the petitions filed against the removal of 370 granting special state status to Jammu and Kashmir be sent to the big constitution bench or not? The Constitution Bench of five judges of the Supreme Court on Thursday reserved the decision in the matter of whether or not to deliver before the big Constitution Bench of seven or nine judges.

Raj Thackeray's son Amit enters in Maharashtra politics

A five-member constitution bench headed by Justice NV Ramana reserved the verdict after hearing the arguments of the petitioners and the central government. On behalf of the petitioners, Dinesh Dwivedi, Rajeev Dhawan, and Sanjay Parikh argued, while Attorney General KK Venugopal presented the side of the Modi government. Earlier, while opening the hearing, Mr. Venugopal has argued that the separatists have been raising the issue of the referendum there because he wanted to make Jammu and Kashmir a separate sovereign state.

Voting for National Assembly in Nepal, so many candidates enter the electoral fray

He said that Maharaja Hari Singh had sought India's help because the rebels had entered there. There were criminal incidents and statistics show that the separatists have been trained from Pakistan so that destruction can be done here. The Attorney General said the referendum was not a permanent solution. He gave information about historical events one by one in front of the Constitution Bench, as well as detailed information about the merger of Kashmir into India and the formation of Jammu and Kashmir Constituent Assembly.

MP Tulsi Gabbard filed case of defamation against this person
[January 24, 2020] Solar for All NOLA: New City Program Makes Clean Energy Accessible and Affordable to All New Orleans Homeowners

NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell today announced Solar for All NOLA, a clean-energy initiative offering the financial and resiliency benefits of rooftop solar to all New Orleanians. Solar for All NOLA will be led by the Greater New Orleans Housing Alliance (GNOHA), a nonprofit that has been a tireless advocate for affordable housing  including affordable energy bills  for New Orleans' most vulnerable working families and retirees. GNOHA will work with two respected local solar businesses  PosiGen Solar and Solar Alternatives  to provide free solar evaluations to all homeowners and small business owners interested in seeing if clean energy can save them money on their utility bills. "We are excited to finally bring the Solar For All campaign to our home base of New Orleans," said Tom Neyhart, PosiGen CEO. "We've already launched successful Solar For All programs together with the Mayors of seven Connecticut cities, and feel confident New Orleanians will benefit from it as well. New Orleans has the worst energy poverty in America. Hoeowners here desperately need the savings and resiliency benefits rooftop solar provides and we are proud to be able to offer it to them."



The program underscores Mayor Cantrell's commitment to reduce energy costs for lower-income families and those on fixed incomes, while creating quality jobs and making New Orleans more climate resilient. "We are committed to building stronger and sustainable green infrastructure for our city  especially for our homeowners and small business owners, in particular our most vulnerable residents," said Mayor Cantrell. "This effort gives families and people in our city the chance to do the right thing for the environment, the right thing for their household budget, and it puts New Orleans at the forefront of smart, creative, clean energy." Through PosiGen, Solar for All NOLA offers 100 percent of solar feasible homeowners a financing solution, with either a no-money-down, no-credit requirement solar lease with energy-efficiency upgrades. Traditional financing is for eligible homeowners and small business owners who wish to purchase their system through Solar Alternatives. The unique accessibility of this campaign brings solar and energy efficiency to homeowners who are left out of traditional programs and who can benefit the most from energy savings.

"Energy costs are a huge burden for homeowners already struggling to pay their bills," said Andreanecia Morris, Executive Director of GNOHA. "We are excited about this program because it puts homeowners in control of their energy costs." Solar for All NOLA has launched a year-long campaign in 2020. Interested customers will be able to contact the PosiGen and Solar Alternative teams directly to sign up for a no-cost solar home or business assessment, or they can utilize GNOHA staff to assist them with this service. Press Contact:

Amy Barrios

[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/solar-for-all-nola-new-city-program-makes-clean-energy-accessible-and-affordable-to-all-new-orleans-homeowners-300993022.html SOURCE PosiGen

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Thursday said that states have to gear up for high economic activities to make Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of USD five trillion economy, a "reality".

Yediyurappa made his presence felt at the Economic Forum's (WEF) 'Strategic Outlook: India' session which was addressed by Union Minister Piyush Goyal.

The Chief Minister who got an occasion, to sum up, the panel discussions said. "States' growth is vital for the country's economy as all economic activities in India happen in states. If we have to make Prime Minister Narendra Modi's five trillion economy a reality, then states have to gear up for high economic activities."

He continued, "My home state of Karnataka has a state GDP of 250 billion dollars and a growing rate of nine per cent. We are here at the WEF to meet investors and industrialists to invite them to invest and grow their business in India", adding that "he is optimistic and looking forward eagerly to see investors making a rush to Karnataka."

"I am delighted to know that investors have taken note of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of five trillion economy. I am feeling elated following WEF selecting him for summing up and commenting on the session's deliberations" he said while thanking the WEF organisers for giving an opportunity to speak at the forum.

Union minister Piyush Goal also addressed and participated in the panel discussion.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
LIMERICKS Local Enterprise Office has launched its Training & Development Programme for 2020. The Training & Development programme 2020 contains over 70 training programmes as well as information on business advice clinics running throughout the year and is targeted at small business owners.

The programme also contains details of other initiatives such as the Website Development Grant and Assistance towards attendance at Trade Shows.

Launching the programme, Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr Michael Sheahan said: The LEO Limerick Training and Development Brochure for 2020 has something for every small business to assist them in their development and growth. With the various supports available for entrepreneurs through the Local Enterprise Office, there has never been a better time to start, grow or locate your business in Limerick.

LEO Limerick provides a first-stop shop system of enterprise supports to start-ups and small businesses across the country. Located in Patrick Street, Limerick, LEO provides funding for projects in the manufacturing and internationally traded services sector.

The organisation also provides training and mentoring support to Pre-Start and Start Up Companies, entrepreneurs and micro-businesses to assist them in their development, performance and growth.

Copies of the training and development programme 2020 are available at www.localenterprise.ie/Limerick or telephone on 061-557499.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 24

By Huseyn Safarov  Trend:

Azerbaijans regional policy focus is that the interests of big regional and international centers of power are aligned in Azerbaijan within the projects implemented in the country, rather than clash, Head of the South Caucasus Club of Political Analysts Ilgar Valizade told Trend.

During the Strategic View: Eurasia panel meeting, which was held as part of the World Economic Forum in Davos, the Azerbaijani president answered a tricky question of a moderator. "Which of the powerful forces of Eurasia - Moscow or Beijing, would you call in case of necessity?" the moderator asked. The president answered that he would call to Baku. The presidents response was justified and laconic. The response fully expresses Azerbaijans foreign policy priorities.

The political analyst stressed that Azerbaijan pursues an independent policy in the region.

"This can be seen in the example of the implementation of the project for the development of oil and gas fields in Azerbaijan, where the US, Russian and Iranian companies are cooperating, head of the club added. No one is trying to harm the interests of each other because they understand and respect Azerbaijans interests, which is the country in which these projects are implemented.

It is very important to stress that Azerbaijans balanced position allows the country to play a key role in the regional security system for a long time, Valizade added.

For all these international and regional players, Baku is a partner in a dialogue on security, on the development of economic cooperation, and a partner in political dialogue, the analyst noted.

The expert also commented on the intention to create a regional center of the World Economic Forum in Azerbaijan. Valizade said that the creation of a regional economic center in Baku is another evidence that in the South Caucasus region, a dialogue with leading business representatives within the economic agenda is formed with direct participation, and in some cases - at the initiative of Baku.

At the initiative of Azerbaijan, a great number of large-scale projects are being implemented in the country, which have regional significance and go beyond the framework of the South Caucasus region, the expert added. In addition, transport and communication routes, multimodal routes such as North-South, East-West, South-West, Lapis Lazuli corridor pass through Azerbaijan.

The Caspian Sea-Black Sea corridor system is also being formed, noted the analyst. A new energy map is being formed with the implementation of large-scale energy projects. In recent years, Baku has been actively implementing transit projects related to the laying of the most important main fiber-optic cable lines of trans-regional significance. Of course, all this is a condition for Baku to play the role of an interactive platform, because a very big circle of participants, both economic entities and political players, is engaged in these projects. Apparently, the easiest way to facilitate these dialogues is in the place where it will be more productive, that is, in Baku."

The political analyst touched on the issue of joint development of the Nakhchivan and Goshadash fields in Azerbaijan with the Russian company Lukoil. He noted that the promising Nakhchivan and Goshadash fields were discovered by Azerbaijani geologists back in Soviet times.

"In particular, the Nakhchivan field, in addition to oil, also contains a significant amount of gas condensate. And of course, an agreement on the development of these fields will enable other companies and investors to pay attention to those places that are within the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea," Ilgar Valizade said.

"Among other things, Goshadash may become a continuation of large-scale projects implemented by Lukoil. On the other hand, this enables Azerbaijan to establish close cooperation with Russian oil companies already on its territory, in particular, at the Goshadash field. Here you can also note a great opportunity for the exchange of technologies, the opportunity to create some kind of joint oil infrastructure. In addition, we can talk about a new level of cooperation between the oil workers of Azerbaijan and Russia. In other words, this is a very profitable project for both Azerbaijan and Russia," concluded the political analyst.
While addressing a gathering in Biaora in Rajgarh district on Wednesday, Yadav made an objectionable statement on the Rajgarh Collector. He said the Collector feeds the Congressmen on her lap and slaps BJP members. The Congress had raised strong objections to the statement made by Yadav.

Bhopal, Jan 25 (IANS) BJP leader and former state minister Badrilal Yadav, who made objectionable remarks against Rajgarh Collector Nidhi Nivedita, was arrested on Friday. He was later released on bail against a personal bond of Rs 20,000.

BJP spokesperson Rajneesh Aggarwal said the party had disowned Yadav's disputed statement. He said his parry believed in protesting democratically.

Yadav had made the speech in the presence of former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, State BJP President Rakesh Singh, Leader of Opposition Gopal Bhargava and party General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya. They ignored Yadav's outrageous speech and filed an FIR against the Collector for slapping a BJP worker.

Rajgarh Superintendent of Police (SP) Pradeep Sharma said that former state minister Badrilal Yadav was arrested from his residence on Friday. A case was registered against him on Thursday under Sections 294 and 188 of the IPC.

Sharma said Yadav was produced before the first class judge's court who released him on bail on a personal bond of Rs 20,000.

Inspector D.P. Lohia, in-charge of Biaora City Police Station, said that apart from this case, Yadav was also arrested in an old case under Section 188 of the IPC. He was released on bail in this case too.

Collector Nidhi Nivedita and her deputy Priya Verma had allegedly manhandled some protesters for using abusive language against police officers and senior officials who acted against them for violating restrictive orders under Section 144. The rallyists had also physically attacked the Collector and her deputy.

In another significant case against another political leader, special court judge Suresh Singh, designated to deal with criminal cases against elected leaders, on Friday sentenced former minister and current MLA from Bhojpur, Surendra Patwa, to six months' jail and imposed a fine of Rs 30 lakh for failing to repay loans taken from a finance company.

A bungalow belonging to Patwa in Indore was already attached by the district magistrate's court for non-recovery of loan amount. Patwa is the nephew and political heir of former Chief Minister Sunderlal Patwa.

He had mortgaged his property to borrow Rs 14 crore from a Jaipur firm. He was already facing prosecution.

In 2017, Patwa borrowed Rs 12 lakh from Prakash, a resident of Indore, and Rs 8 lakh from his spouse Meenakshi. He had handed them cheques for Rs 20 lakh, which had bounced. Patwa was therefore asked to pay the couple Rs 30 lakh.

naidu/arm
Facial recognition system and drones are part of the measures taken by Delhi Police ahead of the Republic Day in the national capital where 10,000 security personnel have been to maintain vigil, officials said.

This year Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro will be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade and special security arrangements have been made for the visiting dignitary, DCP (New Delhi Zone) Eish Singhal said.

Sharpshooters and snipers will be deployed atop high-rise buildings to keep a watch on the 8-km-long parade route from Rajpath to the Red Fort on January 26, officials said.

Hundreds of CCTV cameras have also been deployed in view of the security arrangements, including at least 150 cameras in areas covering Red Fort, Chandni Chowk and Yamuna Khadar, the officials added.

"We have a four-layer security arrangement. Inner, middle, outer and one along the border areas across the national capital," Singhal said, adding that drones will be also deployed.

"Around 5,000 to 6,000 Delhi Police personnel have been deployed in New Delhi district along with 50 companies of paramilitary forces," he added.

The main zone of Rajpath will be closed till 12 pm on Sunday.

The police have also asked hotels, taxi and auto drivers to remain alert. In view of the heightened security, patrolling in public places has been intensified.

"We have intensified patrolling in public places. Group patrolling, night patrolling and vehicle checking is being carried out with the help of Central Armed Police Forces. Frisking at metro stations, railway stations, airport and bus terminals has also been tightened," a senior police official said.

Police personnel have been directed to stay alert since Delhi polls are also around the corner. Anti-terror measures like tenant and servant verification, border checking, security of vital installations, malls and markets, patrolling in heavy footfall areas are being taken, they said.

The security personnel have identified vulnerable spots such as crowded markets, railway stations, bus stands and other high-value establishments and efforts are being made to secure them with deployment of extra police force.

A traffic advisory has also been issued about the police's elaborate arrangement for route diversions for the Republic Day.

No traffic will be allowed on Rajpath from Vijay Chowk to India Gate from 6 pm on Saturday till the parade gets over on Sunday.

Flying of sub-conventional aerial platforms like para-gliders, para-motors, hang gliders, UAVs, UASs, microlight aircraft, remotely piloted aircraft, hot air balloons, small size powered aircraft, quadcopters or para jumping from aircraft are prohibited over the jurisdiction of the National Capital Territory of Delhi till February 15, according to an advisory.

It has also asked people to report to the nearest police station in case any unidentified object or suspicious person is seen.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
French scientists have reported on an international mission to one of the most desolate regions of Antarctica, where they spent more than a month gathering data to help predict sea level changes and understand the Earth's climate history.

The team, which includes 10 scientists, three logisticians and a doctor, spent most of December and January crossing one of the most arid and remote parts of the continent in one of the longest missions of its kind.

Having returned to the Franco-Italian research station Concordia, which sits about 1,600 kilometres from the South Pole, they reported details of their mission via satellite link to a comfortable room at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) campus in Paris, more than 15,600 kilometres away.

They travelled 1,370 kilometres from Concordia into unknown territory, said Jerome Chappellaz, director of the French Polar Institute, who was present at the CNRS to introduce the mission. It's the first time scientists have ever gone there.

Glazed surfaces and mega-dunes

Called the East Antarctic International Ice Sheet Traverse (EAIIST), the mission's aim was to gather snow and ice samples and install devices to better understand a landscape that scientists believe looked largely the same during the ice age.

It's very flat, very white, very bright and quite cold, said Pete Akers, an American postdoctoral researcher with the Institute for Environmental Geophysics in Grenoble. Up here on the plateau, you're so high and so far from the ocean, it's hard for clouds, moisture and storms to get here.

The team chose the plateau as a site for its research due to extreme dryness and isolation that mean the land contains some of the purest and oldest ice and snow on the continent. Scientists are also interested in two features of the landscape: glazed surfaces and mega-dunes.

Glazed surfaces are icy surfaces with virtually no snow accumulation that cover up to 1.5 million square kilometres of Antarctica, or as much as 15 percent of the whole continent.

Mega-dunes, surface undulations created by sustained winds spread over so large an area they are only visible on satellite images, cover another 500,000 square kilometres.

Understanding their age and formation is essential to interpreting the data contained in ice cores, long rods of ice drilled from the ground. The farther down from which the ice cores are extracted, the farther back in time they can measure the Earth's climate.

Compensating for rising sea levels

The mission was also designed following a report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that identifies Antarctica as an unknown factor when it comes to rising sea levels.

What scares scientists who specialise in the area the most is the instability of the Antarctic continent, Joel Savarino said, comparing the continent with Greenland, where melting is increasing but in a predictable and essentially linear manner.

With Antarctica, it's completely different, he said. There is the possibility of a catastrophic ice breakup on many parts of Antarctica. It's an unstable systemwe already know of places where it's happening, but there are immense hydrographic basins that could be completely submerged.

Scientists suspect a warming climate may also boost precipitation in the interior of Antarctica, boosting precipitation and thereby storing mass and acting as a kind of break to the sea level rise.

What we expect in a warmer world is that more water from the ocean is transferred to the interior of the Antarctic continent to produce snowfall and accumulation, Jerome Chappellaz explained.

The EAIIST mission gathered hundreds of samples in order to understand how snow accumulates in the plateau over time.

We are sure it will not be strong enough to compensate the amount of ice that is lost every year, but it's a partial compensation. The question is how much? Chappellaz said, explaining that current climate models suggest the phenomenon could translate to 5 to 7 centimetres less of an increase by the end of the century.

It doesn't sound like a lot, but we talk about a future sea level increase of 20 to 80 centimetres by the end of the century, which matters a lot to society, he explained. So this question of 5 to 7 centimetres that may be compensated in Antarctica matters for policymakers and decision makers.
New Delhi:

Delhi Assembly Elections 2020: Delhi poll authorities have asked police to file an FIR against Kapil Mishra - the BJP candidate from Model Town seat - in connection with his controversial tweet likening the February 8 Delhi assembly election to a contest between India and Pakistan. Delhi CEO Ranbir Singh wrote to police asking to register the case under Section 123 of the Representation of Peoples Act.

"The returning officer (RO) has directed the Delhi Police to file an FIR against Kapil Mishra in connection with his controversial tweet," a source in the Delhi CEO Office told PTI.

The poll body had earlier asked Twitter to remove the post that referred to protest spots in the city as "mini-Pakistans", terming it as a "highly objectionable" comment that "appeals to communal feelings". Twitter deleted the controversial posts on Friday evening.

Kapil Mishra, who was a minister in the outgoing Arvind Kejriwal government before a bitter falling out with Aam Aadmi Party leaders, had crossed over to the BJP and is the partys candidate from Model Town.

A show cause notice was also issued to him by the poll authorities for "violation of the poll code".

>

In his explantion Mishra claimed that Pakistans proxies were likely to be present at Shaheen Bagh- ground zero for protests against the amended citizenship law. He also claimed that he was only responding to AAPs Manish Sisodia in his tweet.

"Who is playing the Hindu-Muslim card? Manish Sisodia who says he is with Shaheen Bagh protesters? Priyanka Gandhi who supports those who burned vehicles at Turkman Gate in Delhi? Kejriwal who is distributing Rs 5 lakh to hooligans? Who are giving tickets to people like Amanatullah and Shoaib Iqbal, known for making provocative speeches?" Mishra said in his tweet posted in Hindi.
Ugandan comedienne Anne Kansiime's youthful lover Skylanta has for the first time shared with the world what it takes to date the entertainer.

The young man who was initially Anne's employee disclosed that dating Kansiime is quite an uphill task.

READ ALSO: Outrage as high school bans Black teenager from own graduation for his long dreadlocks

READ ALSO: Serikali yangu itamaliza ufisadi, Ruto aahidi

Speaking to Pulse Uganda, Skylanta stated being with the comedian is like doing examinations everyday as it is a difficult affair.

He held Kansiime is complicated but he is used to her and knows exactly how to deal and handle her.

''I want to tell you this from my heart, out of love for Anne, dating her is an examination I face on a daily basis. Imagine doing a mathematics paper everyday, and on a weekend, they give you physics and chemistry, that is Anne,'' he said.

READ ALSO: Floyd Mayweather to charge fans KSh 20k for selfies with him

READ ALSO: Mike Sonko's daughter left feeling like princess after senator lover surprises her with lovely roses

Skylanta, however, stated the relationship has helped him big time since the comedienne usually challenge him.

''There is a beautiful side of all this. She challenges me to be better. She challenges me interlectually and we talk about important things,'' he added.

Skylanta's revelation came about two years after going public with their relationship.

Before Sky, Kansiime was married but parted way with the hubby over a myriad of issues, money being one of them.

Kansiime's flame with Skylanta sparked debates online with many people bashing her for getting in a relationship with a man younger than her.

Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly.

I have lived without lungs for 7 years because of smoking | Tuko TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
Gail (India) rose 0.96% to Rs 130.85 after the company filed an application with Supreme Court seeking clarification on the provisional assessment orders received from the Department of Telecommunication (DoT).

In an exchange filing made after market hours yesterday, the company said that it had received provisional assessment orders towards annual license fees in respect of IP-II license for several financial years from the Office of Controller of Communication Accounts, DoT, Ministry of Communications, Government of India.

Infrastructure provider category- I (IP-I) are those infrastructure providers who provide assets such as dark fibre, right of way, duct space and towers to the licensees of telecom services.

GAIL reportedly has a vast network of gas pipelines and it laid optic fibre along it to provide bandwidth to third parties. Issuance of IP-II licence was reportedly discontinued in December 2005.

DoT had submitted an allegedly total outstanding amount of Rs 1,83,076 crore including interests and penalty computed on the entire revenues of the company, which were refuted by the company being an unrelated matter to the terms & conditions of the license.

Gail said that based on the legal opinion sought in this regard and facts of the case, the amount assessed in provisional assessment orders are legally not tenable. In this regard, the company has filed an application with Supreme Court on 23 January 2020 for seeking clarification of the judgment passed.

GAIL India processes and distributes natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas. Government of India held 52.13% stake in the company as on 31 December 2019.

On a consolidated basis, the company reported 34.7% decline in net profit to Rs 1167.07crore on a 5.7% fall in net sales to Rs 18235.45 crore in Q2 September 2019 over Q2 September 2018.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Its been a quiet winter on the Hunter Pence front despite a remarkable bounceback effort that made him a finalist for 2019 Comeback Player of the Year honors in the American League. The veteran outfielder tells MLB.coms T.R. Sullivan (Twitter link), though, that he intends to play in 2020 and has been training and talking with multiple clubs about a deal. The Rangers, Pence acknowledged, are not one of those clubs.

Many wrote Pence off after a woeful finish to a seven-year run with the Giants. Originally a deadline acquisition by the San Francisco organization, Pence re-upped on a five-year, $90MM contract and hit quite well in the first three seasons of the deal. However, his offensive output deflated in his final two years with the Giants, as he batted just .249/.297/.368 over the course of 231 games.

Pence went to the Dominican Winter League in the 2018-19 offseason intent on revamping his swing mechanics, and any changes that he made appear to have yielded overwhelmingly positive results. He not only won a roster spot coming out of camp with his hometown Rangers (after settling on a minor league deal); he turned in his best offensive work since 2013. Pence looked reborn with a .297/.358/.552 slash, 18 homers, 17 doubles and a triple through 286 plate appearances. Groin and back strains limited his time on the field, but Pence demonstrated plenty of encouraging secondary trends in 2019.

His walk rate was at its best level since 2016, and Pences 21.8 percent strikeout rate marked an improvement over his 2018 level. Beyond that, his hard-hit rate soared (33.1 percent in 18, 42.6 percent in 19), as did his average exit velocity (88 mph vs. 91.4 mph) and barrel rate (5.1 percent vs. 9.1 percent).

As a 36-year-old corner outfielder/designated hitter who no longer appears to be a quality defender in the outfield corners, Pence is perhaps best limited to a part-time role  perhaps with an AL club that can afford to give him some at-bats in the DH spot. But considering his success in 2019, theres little reason that to think that a club wouldnt take a chance on a once-again productive veteran who is, by all accounts, revered in the clubhouse.
Head of Ukrainian state hopes to maintain the high dynamics of cooperation after the parliamentary elections in Israel take place

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky met with Israeli Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein and expressed his expectations for high dynamics after the parliamentary elections in Israel take place. This was reported on the Presidents website.

"Participants of the meeting welcomed the traditionally active bilateral political dialogue and expressed their hope for maintaining its high dynamics after the parliamentary elections in Israel take place," the statement reads.

The head of Ukrainian state stressed that the ratification of the free trade agreement between the states by the Israeli side is a very important step.

As we reported earlier, Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukrainian delegation gave their places at the World Holocaust Forum to the victims of Holocaust as Ukraines President informed on Facebook.

We came to Israel and found out that a lot of people who survived this horrific tragedy cannot visit the World Holocaust Forum due to the tremendous interest to the event and the limited number of places. We decided to give my place and places of the delegation of Ukraine to these courageous, unique people. The press reports that some ministers of the Israeli government did the same, he wrote.
China, the worlds largest greenhouse gas emission emitter, will be the key to the global action to fight carbon emissions and climate change, leading environmental economist Lord Nicholas Stern said at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

We are at a critical point now where the decisions that shape the world will be taken in China, Lord Stern, Chair of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, said, as carried by the NS Business outlet.

According to Lord Stern, China needs to reduce its reliance on coal, which continues to drive emissions despite the massive uptake of renewable energy sources.

Despite a rise in renewables, China continues to expand its coal-fired plant fleet, and although Beijing continues with its coal-to-gas switch policy, its coal capacity will continue to grow in the coming years.

According to the BP Energy Outlook 2019, coal demand in China peaked in 2013, but the country will remain the worlds largest consumer of coal throughout the next two decades, accounting for 39 percent of global coal demand in 2040. Carbon emissions in China are expected to peak in 2022, as per BPs estimates.

China has pledged that its total CO2 emissions would peak by 2030 and its carbon intensity would fall sharply by then.

Chinas greenhouse gas emissions jumped by 53.5 percent in the decade between 2005 and 2014, according to Chinese government figures that Beijing is obliged to report as a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Carbon emissions data from China is opaque, but the country is required to regularly report data to the United Nations. China has previously reported carbon emission data for 2005 and 2010.

According to a Greenpeace analysis on Chinese data, Chinas CO2 emissions rose by some 3 percent in 2018, which was the biggest rise since at least 2013.

Climate Action Tracker rates Chinas commitment to action as highly insufficient and not at all consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Mohammed bin Salman using phone

Bandar Algaloud/Saudi Royal Court

Saudi officials close to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (know in the West as MBS) told The Wall Street Journal that they were aware of plans to hack Jeff Bezos' phone.

The unnamed officials also said that senior adviser to the crown prince, Saud al-Qahtani, was also involved in the hacking as part of a broader intimidation campaign against Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, who was murdered in October 2018 at the hands of Saudi agents.

On Wednesday, UN experts published a report on the hacking allegations, calling for an "immediate investigation by US and other relevant authorities" into any role MBS may have played.

The UN experts suggested that MBS may have been targeting Bezos because of his ownership of The Washington Post.

The Saudi government has called the allegations "absurd" and called for an investigation into the claims.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Saudi officials close to crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, referred to as MBS, said they were aware of plans to hack Jeff Bezos' phone, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The Guardian first reported on Tuesday that forensic analysis revealed that the Amazon CEO's mobile phone was hacked after a number belonging to MBS sent an unsolicited video over WhatsApp to Bezos that contained a malicious file. A source familiar with the matter told The Guardian said that large amounts of data were extracted from Bezos' phone within hours.

The Financial Times followed up with another report on Tuesday citing a forensic analysis conducted by FTI Consulting, a business advisory firm hired by Jeff Bezos, which said that within hours of the file being sent to Bezos from the crown prince's personal number, a "massive and unauthorized" amount of data began to be extracted in a campaign that escalated "for months."

Story continues

The hack is believed to have happened after Bezos and MBS exchanged friendly messages on WhatsApp on May 1, 2018, weeks after they had met at a dinner in Los Angeles while the prince was in the US on official business.

The Saudi government has called the allegations "absurd" and called for an investigation into the claims.

According to The Journal, however, it appears those closest to the prince knew of the plan to steal Bezos' data.

These officials told The Journal that they were "aware" of a plan to hack Bezos' phone but not of attempts to use that information for blackmail.

The officials told The Journal that senior adviser to MBS, Saud al-Qahtani, was also involved in the hacking as part of a broader intimidation campaign against Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident and columnist for The Washington Post, who was murdered at the Saudi Embassy in Istanbul in October 2018 at the hands of Saudi agents.

The crown prince is widely believed to have been behind the killing, though the royal court has blamed the assassination on rogue agents.

The Saudi government did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Bezos' team began investigating suspicious activity on his phone in January 2019 after The National Enquirer published a story about him having an affair. Bezos has since accused the tabloid's parent company American Media Inc., of blackmailing him by threatening to publish his nude images.

Representatives for Bezos did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Bezos' attorney told the Guardian that Bezos is "cooperating with investigations" into the hacking.

On Wednesday, UN experts published a report on the hacking allegations, calling for an "immediate investigation by US and other relevant authorities" into any role the crown prince may have played.

The UN experts suggested that Prince Mohammed may have been targeting Bezos because of his ownership of The Washington Post.

"The information we have received suggests the possible involvement of the crown prince in surveillance of Mr. Bezos, in an effort to influence, if not silence, The Washington Post's reporting on Saudi Arabia," UN experts Agnes Callamard and David Kaye said in the statement.

Callamard reiterated her thoughts in an interview with PBS News Hour on Wednesday. According to News Hour foreign affairs correspondent Ali Rogin, Callamard said in the interview that there is no other hypothesis that makes sense other than that the crown prince hacked Bezos' phone.

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan responded to the allegations in a video posted to Twitter on Wednesday,calling the notion that the crown prince would hack Bezos' phone "absolutely silly."

He also slammed the UN report, saying that the allegations were based on forensic analyses that contained "no hard evidence to substantiate the claims it's making."

Read the original article on Business Insider
The family of the Indian student who was stabbed in Canada has requested the MEA officials to assist them with the issuance of a visa at the earliest so that they could meet their daughter who is in a critical condition in a hospital in Toronto.

Speaking to ANI, Albert Rajkumar, the father of the victim, said that he received the news about the attack on his 23-year-old daughter by an unidentified assailant at the York University's campus in Toronto from the Canadian Police. The family was told that their daughter was battling for life in the hospital.

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has directed the MEA officials to arrange a visa for the victim's family.

"Deeply shocked to learn of the serious attack on Rachel Albert, an Indian student in Toronto, Canada. Am asking MEA officials to help with her family's visa. Family members may immediately contact us on +91 9873983884," Jaishankar tweeted.

The incident was brought to light by Twitter user Ronald, who had reached out to the Foreign Minister to seek his help in the matter.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The family of Chattanooga chef Neville Forsythe invites the community to Chef Neville Forsythe: An Eclectic Celebration at Barking Legs Theater on Saturday, Feb. 1.

Music takes center stage at this event with two bands that have history with Chef Neville and the Forsythe family. Beginning at 7:30 p.m., this evening of "fun and reflection" will feature performances from Fresh Mind and The 4th Ward Afro-Klezmer Orchestra.

Guests will enjoy Chef Nevilles favorite signature cocktail, the Voodoo Rhum Punch served by Tiki enthusiast Evan Lipson, while listening to reggae, rock, jazz and pop throughout the night. Smoked jerk wings will be provided by the River Street Deli and Bruce Weiss, who was an apprentice with Chef Neville.

The event will culminate with a dance party led by DJ Hubbs and will include some of Chef Nevilles favorite music.

Tickets for the event are $20/person and available here. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Neville Osmond Forsythe, Sr. Scholarship in its work to increase opportunities for aspiring culinary students and provide assistance to deserving local Boy Scouts, reflecting two of the passions that drove Chef Nevilles commitment to his community and family. Corporate support for the scholarship fund has been provided by the Scenic City Angels and Townsend Atelier. Community members unable to attend the event who wish to contribute to the scholarship are invited to donate online.

About Chef Neville



A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and Navy veteran, Neville Forsythe brought his growing family to Chattanooga in 1986 to pursue his career at the Fairyland Club. Chef Neville became known throughout the community for his passion for the culinary arts and his kindness and in 1991 started Chefs Underground, one of the first fine dining restaurants in town and a venue that supported the creative community by hosting performers like Leroy Jenkins, Blast, Quintron, Melted Men and the Gold Sparkle Band.



About the bands

Members of the The 4th Ward Afro-Klezmer Orchestra performed at Chefs Underground years ago and the eight-piece jazz orchest a will honor Chef Neville by playing original compositions and arrangements that combine West African influenced rhythms with Eastern European Klezmer melodies. Creative Loafing celebrates the Orchestra, saying that sense of old-world style mixes with humor thats both classy and rollicking to produce an old-world sound, attitude and direction.



Fresh Mind, a band that got its start at Mrs. Bs Reggae Cafe, Chattanoogas first authentic Jamaican food destination, will have the crowd dancing and rocking away to their genre-mixing sound. With hints of reggae, rock, jazz and blues, their high energy performances leave guests feeling great. Born and raised in Jamaica, their front man James Snider incorporates Jamaican vibes in his music with reggae rhythms and steel pan solos.












[Update: The Pentagon now says 50 troops sustained brain injuries in the strike.]

WASHINGTON  The Defense Department said Friday that 34 American service members have traumatic brain injuries from Iranian airstrikes on Al Asad Air Base in Iraq, contradicting President Trumps dismissal of injuries among American troops this week.

A Pentagon spokesman, Jonathan Hoffman, told a news conference that eight of the affected service members have returned to the United States from an American military hospital in Germany.

On Wednesday, Mr. Trump dismissed concussion symptoms felt by the troops as not very serious, even as the Pentagon acknowledged that a number of American service members were being studied for possible traumatic brain injury caused by the attack.

I heard they had headaches, Mr. Trump said at a news conference in Davos, Switzerland. I dont consider them very serious injuries relative to other injuries I have seen.
Some puzzles buried in the House's articles of impeachment may not be solved during the Senate trial. For instance, why did President Donald Trump ask Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to announce an investigation of Burisma, the Ukrainian gas company on whose board Hunter Biden served? Democrats have assumed that Trump was targetingpolitical rival, former vice president Joseph Biden, trying to tar him with the implication of corruption.

But the Kremlin does not need assistance from Trump - much less from Rudolph Giuliani - to find or manufacture dirt in Ukraine about Trump's political rivals. Russia has highly trained professionals for that: kompromat , or compromising material, and blackmail are key Kremlin tools.

Trump's claim that he was concerned about corruption in Ukraine makes sense if it was aimed at tarnishing Zelensky's reputation, not Biden's. I'll explain below.

The House has been framing the president of Ukraine as a David to Russia President Vladimir Putin's Goliath. Witnesses in the House impeachment inquiry emphasized Ukraine's need for U.S. help to defend its territory from Russia. Yet Ukraine is not powerless. Zelensky's vision of politics and political leadership have the potential to help loosen Putin's grip on power within Russia at the grass roots.

Even as Putin moved last week to change the Russian constitution to prolong his rule, Zelensky is attracting increasing interest from Russian people. Russians knew and loved Zelensky, who worked in television comedy and satire for two decades before he became president. Some Gen X and millennial Russians, who have known only Putin as leader all their lives, described Zelensky's election as a thrilling shock.

For Russians, Zelensky's internet-based messaging offers a positive alternative to Putinism. Zelensky uses clear, simple language to communicate with his audiences. A native Russian speaker from an industrial city in eastern Ukraine, Zelensky lacks the Moscow accent that grates on so many Russians who live outside the capital.

In mid-December, a major Russian television network aired the first three episodes of Zelensky's sitcom Servant of the People , in which he played a history teacher suddenly elected president. Then the network abruptly canceled the series, calling its airing a "marketing ploy" - and implicitly acknowledging Russian viewers' interest in the show.

Zelensky's warm, sincere, and creative presidential New Year's address broke the Russian Internet. It reached No. 7 on Russian YouTube and elicited tens of thousands of positive responses from within Russia, despite state surveillance of social media (in Russia, even a "like" in the wrong place can result in trouble). Since then, one of the many videos that have compared Zelensky's greeting favorably with the formal, cookie-cutter greetings of the presidents of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan received over a million views and thousands of supportive, personal comments from Russia.

To understand why Zelensky interests Russians who are ready for a change, it's necessary to understand why many Russians are tired of politics as usual.

Russian politicians rule their country using a combination of standard and back channels and patron-client networks. Russians call this approach to governance sistema . Ukrainian politicians also ruled their country in this way. When presidential candidate Zelensky vowed to "break this system," Ukrainians elected him in a landslide.

Heading into the third decade of Putin's rule, Russians face social problems many Americans would recognize. These include a postponed retirement and difficulty getting access to quality health care. A Russian joke cracks, "we live in a country where pizza arrives faster than the ambulance."

But the way sistema works limits Russians' vision of and ability to influence politics. Strict constraints on freedom of assembly and legal attacks on opposition figures like Alexei Navalny limit how Russians can air their disagreements. Protesters have looked for creative ways to express their discontent. When Russian showman Maksim Galkin satirized Putin, nearly 3 million people watched. Many Russians lauded his courage; Galkin compared himself with Zelensky.

Zelensky's election buoyed Russian liberals because his election represented a real choice. But he also appeals to Russians who do not see themselves as liberals. As a showman, Zelensky and his comedy troupe worked to influence Ukrainian society by telling the truth about everyday life. The late Czech playwright and president Vaclav Havel called such work "the living humus from which genuine political change usually springs." As president, Zelensky offers an alternative vision of leadership that seems genuine and sincere.

For decades, politicians, journalists and academics in and beyond Ukraine categorized Ukrainians as pro-western or pro-Russian. In his New Year's greeting, Zelensky challenged this paradigm, describing Ukrainians in terms of a full range of human experience. He asked, "Who convinced us that our differences matter? What if it's not so? Just think about it: Is there really little that unites us?" He added, "This must become our national idea: to learn to live together with respect, for the future of your country."

Ukrainians elected Zelensky to fight corruption. His anti-establishment political party, made up of people with few political entanglements, rose to power in parliament by invoking Zelensky's brand. Zelensky's reputation among Ukrainian voters now depends on his personal conduct. If impeachment evidence were to suggest any capitulation to Trump, Zelensky himself risks being seen as corrupt and losing public support.

Trump allegedly pressured Zelensky only to announce, not to conduct, an investigation of Burisma. Absent the media coverage prompted by the whistleblower's report, Americans are unlikely to have paid much attention. But for Ukrainians, the announcement alone would have been enough to discredit Zelensky. And Putin would have been the main beneficiary of such an announcement.

If the impeachment trial, with or without new evidence or revelations, portrays Zelensky as having taken Trump's bait, Trump's actions toward Ukraine will have helped Putin by undermining Zelensky's presidency, discrediting a man who offers an appealing alternative vision of politics.

But if Zelensky emerges from the U.S. impeachment with his reputation intact, his message to Russians fed up with politics as usual may retain its appeal. Eventually, Putin could face the very thing that more than a decade of Russian domestic and foreign policy was designed to avoid: a revolution from within. In the biblical story, David slew Goliath.

- - -

Pisano is associate professor of politics at the New School for Social Research in New York. She is the author of The Post-Soviet Potemkin Village: Politics and Property Rights in the Black Earth (Cambridge University Press, 2008). For other commentary from The Monkey Cage, an independent blog anchored by political scientists from universities around the country, see www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - The United Nations on Friday condemned the harassment of humanitarian staff and looting of humanitarian premises in the restive region of North Darfur, saying such actions are more than disturbing to the international body
Nicky Hilton was as chic as can be on Friday afternoon in New York City.

The sister of Paris Hilton had on a smart, conservative suit that showed off her legs and a pair of high heels as she attended the Hudson River Park Friends Playground Committee luncheon at Current at Chelsea Piers in New York City.

The star had fun posing with a clutch purse that looked like an old-fashioned cell phone from the 1980s.

Leggy mama: Nicky Hilton was as chic as can be on Friday afternoon in New York City. The sister of Paris Hilton had on a smart, conservative suit that showed off her legs at the Hudson River Park Friends Playground Committee luncheon at Current at Chelsea Piers in NYC

Call me! The star had fun posing with a clutch purse that looked like an old-fashioned cell phone from the 1980s. The designer is Judith Leiber and it costs almost $6,000

The clutch is made by Judith Leiber, whom Kim Kardashian and sisters Khloe and Kylie are big fans of.

Leiber sells the item on her website that she says is made with crystals with silver toned metal hardware and metallic leather lined interior.

There is also a removable classic long shoulder chain.

Fancy for lunch: The wife of financier James Rothschild swept her blonde hair up in a chignon

The cost is $5,695.

The wife of financier James Rothschild swept her blonde hair up in a chignon.

Her suit appeared to be a Chanel suit with it's white, grey and black pattern and pewter buttons up the front and on the wrists.

New friends: The cover girl was also seen posing with Rachel Blumenthal and Stephanie Hochman

The skirt seemed extra short as it went far above her knee.

Nicky added heels that were likely from her own shoe collection. They were black pumps with a sweet white bow in the front.

The cover girl was also seen posing with Rachel Blumenthal and Stephanie Hochman.

The icon: Her sister Paris Hilton from the untitled Paris documentary spoke during the YouTube segment of the 2020 Winter TCA Tour at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena on January 18

Nicky has two daughters, Lily Grace, three, and Teddy, one.

The East Coast native shares her little ones with husband James Rothschild, whom she wed in 2015.

Prior to their union, Nicky was wed to ex-husband Todd Meister for less than three months in 2004.
ARISS educational radio contact with school in Portugal

An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Agrupamento de Escolas Serafim Leite, Sao Joao da Madeira, Portugal.

The event is scheduled on Monday 27 January 2020 at approximately 16.33 UTC, which is 17.33 CEWT.

The contact is expected to be conducted in English. The contact will be a direct between astronaut Luca Parmitano KF5KPD and CS2ASL. The contact should be audible over parts of Europe. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.800 MHz narrowband FM downlink.

School oinformation:

The Serafim Leite Schools is located in the north of Portugal in the city of Sao Joao da Madeira. It was born in 1957, and during this 60 years of existence it has been growing. It started by being a school with only the grammar and today has all levels of education: First cycle, Second cycle, Third cycle and Secondary.

Currently it has more than 1200 students and 110 teachers that are distributed in three buildings that make up the Serafim Leite schools cluster.

Its identity is closely linked to vocational education that is a national reference in vocational education. The training offer includes Electronics, Computer, Mechanical, Audiovisual, Markting, Science and Technology, Socioeconomic Sciences, Visual Arts and recurrent adult education.

It is a school where children arrive still small in their parents' arms and leave the school like men and women who are already graduated with a high degree of knowledge. It is in this educational environment where human and social values are privileged that our students grow with the notion that humanity is urgently required to take action to reverse the global warming of the earth, making their own school an Eco-School.

The astronaut could be our eyes helping us to look the Earth in another way.

Students First Names & Questions:

1. Clara: What is your daily routine like on board?

2. Frederico: When you have a health problem what do you do? Are there any doctors on board?

3. Catarina: When astronauts go to space for how long do they stay there?

4. Mariana: Do you miss family?

5. Marcelo: Do you remember the very first moment that you look outside de ISS and saw the planet earth? What did you felt and did you think of someone special?

6. Joana: How do you bath in a ship?

7. Alexandra: How can you get water in space?

8. Tiago: What is it like to live in the ISS?

9. Sebastiao: What kind of experiences take place from the ISS and what are the advantages of making them from there?

10. Maria: How is it possible to create an atmosphere within the ISS?

11. Joao: Is the perception of time on board of the ISS different from the one you have on Earth?

12. Gabriel: How many hours of exercise should an astronaut do each day?

13. Bruna: What effects does space flight have on the human body, and what do you feel?

14. Maria: When you are not working what do you do?

15. Rodrigo: Being a different profession how old did you realize you wanted to be an astronaut?

16. Ines: What do you miss the most about Earth?

17. Eduardo: How can weightlessness influence the health of astronauts?

18. Rita: Tell us about your adventure in space?

19. Diva: How can you communicate with your family?

20. Vania: Do you feel scared when you are in space?

21. Ana: How and where do they sleep?

22. Daniela: How long do astronauts train to perform space missions?

23. Sara Correia: Do you have any specific food when you are on missions?

24. Alexandre: In an emergency situation can you all return to Earth?

About ARISS

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station: NASA, CSA, ESA, Roscosmos, JAXA.

In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS National Lab and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or public forums. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org.

73,

Gaston Bertels ON4WF
Mexican troops used tear gas to detain 800 migrants who surged into Mexico Thursday after wading across a river on the country's southern border with Guatemala. National Guard forces in the southern state of Chiapas prevented them from continuing their journey by forming a human fence along a road, as panic erupted among some of the migrants. The Central Americans, who were trekking on foot towards the city of Ciudad Hidalgo, were intercepted by troops who used tear gas and scuffled with the migrants to halt their progress, an AFP journalist at the scene reported. The Interior Ministry later said 800 migrants of Central American origin were "rescued" after crossing the border at the Suchiate River. Following their detention, the migrants were taken to buses run by the National Migration Institute, the agency that will determine their official immigration status and manage deportations. Officials said that they were still looking for another 200 migrants who managed to avoid detention. Thousands of Central Americans have crossed Mexico toward the United States in caravans in recent years, fleeing chronic poverty and brutal gang violence in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. The so-called "2020 Caravan" left Honduras on January 14, gathering an estimated 3,500 people as it made its way across Guatemala. The bulk of the caravan crossed into Mexico at the weekend. Mexican National Guard troops also fired tear gas on Monday to force back migrants attempting to enter the country, leading to scenes of chaos as huge crowds of people flailed across the Suchiate River. About 500 were able to enter the country illegally, though more than 400 of them were later arrested at a roadblock. The Interior Ministry said it deported 460 Hondurans via official planes and buses following Monday's clashes. - 'Peacefully' - "We want to speak with President Lopez Obrador directly," read one long cloth banner held up as the migrants walked Thursday. Others waved flags from their countries, as well as a giant US banner. "We are coming peacefully," some of the migrants shouted. Others distributed apparently unofficial forms requesting refuge in Mexico. - Pressure from Trump - Mexico's migration authority said the country was ready to welcome foreigners as long as they entered the country in a manner that was "lawful, safe and orderly." Officials have begun implementing a government plan to offer jobs and shelter to migrants to encourage them to stay in southern Mexico. However, most want to be allowed to move freely through Mexico to the US border, citing their intention to seek asylum in the United States to escape poverty and gang violence in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, an anti-establishment leftist who came to office vowing to protect migrants' rights, said 4,000 jobs were available to migrants from the new caravan if they remain in southern Mexico. Mexico faces pressure to keep migrants from crossing its northern border from US President Donald Trump, who last year threatened to impose steep tariffs if the country did not do more to stop a surge of undocumented Central Americans. Lopez Obrador deployed some 26,000 troops to the country's borders in response. Central American migrants are blocked by members of the Mexican National Guard in Chiapas State on January 23 Central American migrants cross the Suchiate River on January 23 Members of the Mexican National Guard scuffle with Central American migrants in Chiapas State on January 23 Route of migrant caravans in Central America heading towards the United States. Central American migrants cross the Suchiate River from Guatemala into Mexico on January 23 Aerial view of Central American migrants - mostly Hondurans heading in a caravan to the US - holding banners and a US flag after crossing the Suchiate River into Mexico from Guatemala
The one-off Structural Blue Lexus LC 500 coupe convertible that the luxury car maker sent to the January 17 Barrett-Jackson auction got sold off for USD 2 million, doing a quick 3-minute span on the auction block before being confirmed to its proud owner.

First unveiled at the 2019 LA Auto Show, the auctioned-off LC 500 convertible is also the first of its kind to roll off the assembly line, with vehicle identification number (VIN) 100001. As if that wasnt enough to make it unique, Lexus gave it further distinguishing embellishments to truly make it distinctive car.

Based on the Structural Blue Inspiration Series that uses nano particles to achieve the deepest blue possible, the LC 500 coupe convertible features carbon fiber scuff plates marked with LC Inspiration Series Launch Exclusive 1 of 1, along with a custom-made Aluminum Hardcase Zero Halliburton luggage set, to name a few of its unique features.

pressroom.lexus.com

The winning bidder is not the only winner in this story, because proceeds from the action will be split between the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Bob Woodruff Foundation, benefitting many young and old individuals and giving them a chance at a better life that they wouldnt have achieved otherwise.

Were so excited this unique LC 500 Convertible generate 2 million dollars that will be split between the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Bob Woodruff Foundation, said David Christ, Group Vice President and General Manager of Lexus. Were grateful for having such a great partner in Barrett-Jackson, and Im proud of our Lexus team and what we were able to accomplish together, but none of it would be possible without such an impressive winning bid!

The money going to Boys & Girls Clubs of America will be used to fund afterschool activities and create a safe environment for children and young adults across the country.

The portion that goes to Bob Woodruff foundation will be used to create programs that meet the emerging and long-term needs of veterans and service members, as well as their families.

Story continues

The all-new 2021 LC Convertible will arrive at North American dealerships starting this summer, and trickle down to other global markets, which will hopefully include the Philippines.

barrett-jackson.com

Also read:

The post One-of-a-Kind Lexus LC 500 Convertible Sells for USD 2M at Charity Auction appeared first on Carmudi Philippines.
When they moved from Washington, D.C., to New York City in 2014, Peter Ostrega and Samantha Angelo had a vision for their future, and it was peculiarly related to the narrow views of their small apartment on the Lower East Side. The only thing we could see from our living room, which faced a back alley, was this modern building going up, says Ostrega, a tall, sharply dressed European. We started fantasizing about living in a space like that but had no way of accomplishing it at the time. Ostrega was still finding his footing in the field of legal technology consulting, and his wife had recently left her position as a clarinet player for The Presidents Own, the oldest military band in the country. I was ready to make a change, so I took the plunge, adds Angelo, a svelte blonde with runway looks, referring to her decision to quit music to become a fashion stylist and creative director.

Five years and several smart career moves later, the couple were finally able to purchase their dream home: a window-walled residential unit atop Ian Shragers Public Hotel, which occupies the Herzog & de Meurondesigned building they had coveted from their creaky old rental on nearby Mott Street. It was a big moment for us to make that happen, says Ostrega. Its been an incredible journey, and its an incredible place to live.

While both he and his wife have a strong sense of style (just look to Angelos website, The Eye Travels, with images of the pair at various social events), they decided to work with a professional to help them turn the rather cold, minimalist bones of the 2,000-square-foot apartment into a home filled with luminous colors and flowing silhouettes. A friend suggested they talk to Armann Ortega, a young interior designer with a background in film who immediately clicked with the couple. They looked like they walked out of a movie set, says Ortega of meeting them for the first time. She was wearing a bubble-gum pink pantsuit, chunky Maison Margiela shoes, and huge glasses, and I thought, Theres a lot to work with here. They were my inspiration for the whole project.

Story continues

Scarface Meets Herzog & de Meuron in This Stylish Couple's Aerie

See the video.

Ortega was not only inspired by his clients glamorous and often nostalgia-tinged sartorial choices but also by their artistic tastes. Ostrega and Angelo are fans of the Brian De Palma movie Scarface, so the designer let his imagination wander over to Miami, circa 1980, to come up with the look of the propertys office, which features a custom terrazzo desk embedded with bits of mirror, a Mies van der Rohe Brno chair upholstered in fuchsia velvet, and a vintage Art Deco rug in matching hues. There are even more explicit De Palma vibes in the bedroom, which is awash in a deep burgundy wall paint with an intensely matte, textured finish, and decorated with a large abstract photograph simulating dark billowy clouds. We wanted to make the space feel very dreamy, like a smoky midnight scene, says Ostrega. The rest of the apartment is very bright. Indeed, most of the home has an uplifting palette of saturated pastels, along with pops of purple and blue. Add to that rows of 10-foot-tall windows that flood the space with sunlight during the day and Manhattans urban glitter at night, and the result is nothing short of cinematic.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
LAKEWOOD, Ohio -- Its a good thing Garfield Middle School math teacher Barb Lynch decided last year to get a passport just for the heck of it.

Shes going to need it next summer when she attends the International Congress on Mathematical Education 14 (ICME) in Shanghai, China.

The longtime Lakewood City Schools educator found out late last month that she had received a National Council of Teachers of Mathematics travel grant for the Asian trip, which takes place July 10-19.

I was really surprised, Lynch said. I heard more than 300 people applied, and they only give out the grant to about 50 people.

I saw the list of the recipients -- about three-fourths are from colleges, professors and maybe curriculum advisers -- with the rest being high school and middle school teachers from all over the United States. I guess I handed in an awesome application.

ICME is held every four years and offers an opportunity for educators from the United States to discuss issues related to mathematics education with international leaders from developed and developing countries.

Grant recipients have the opportunity to interact with mathematics educators from around the world, listen to world-renowned scholars in mathematics and mathematics education, and take part in a focused study group dealing with a wide range of topics.

As a gifted program teacher at Garfield Middle School, Lynch will be participating in the focus group involved with activities and research on students who have special needs, including giftedness and creativity.

There are about 5,000 people attending from all over the world, Lynch said. To be honest, I dont know what to expect. I know its different from any other conference Ive been to. As part of the grant, I have to create a written report and a PowerPoint (presentation), with the hope whatever I write will get picked up by a journal.

Hopefully, with my knowledge of kids education, Ill be able to share my thoughts and receive thoughts from others. Overall, I think itll make me a better teacher.

Garfield Middle School Principal Robin Beavers said she wasnt surprised to learn that Lynch had received the grant.

Shes driven, dedicated and the epitome of an excellent teacher, Beavers said. Her selection for this program simply highlights what we have been fortunate to witness from Barb for years at Garfield Middle School.

"Having a teacher go overseas for learning embodies the global awareness and growth mindset we strive to provide for our students.

As lifelong learners, we must be the example students look up to for guidance and modeling. Parents can see this as an example of how our teachers strive to be the very best in their subject matter in order to be the very best for our students.

Lynch has been on quite a run of late. In addition to her recent grant award, last year she was selected a teacher of the year by the Greater Cleveland Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

So what does this gifted math teacher have planned for 2021?

I dont know yet, laughed Lynch. I have to get through the summer.

Read more news from the Sun Post Herald.
PITTSBURGH, Jan. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- United States Steel Corporation (NYSE:X) today announced the relaunch of the United States Steel Foundation Sons & Daughters Scholarship Program. The U. S. Steel Sons and Daughters Scholarships Program supports high-achieving children of U. S. Steel employees who wish to pursue higher education. Created in 1995, the U. S. Steel Sons & Daughters Scholarships Program has awarded scholarships to 417 scholars in the United States.



The U. S. Steel Sons & Daughters Scholarships Program is a competitive scholarship program with a limited number of awards. Selection of awardees will be based on demonstrated financial need, past academic performance and future potential, school and community activities, work experience, career and educational aspirations and goals, personal or family circumstances and a recommendation.

We are thrilled to relaunch the U. S. Steel Sons and Daughters Scholarships to help the children of our employees achieve their academic and career goals, said Richard L. Fruehauf, Foundation chairman and United States Steel Corporation senior vice president. This program allows U. S. Steel to offer additional support to our employees and their families consistent with our commitment to fostering a culture of caring across the company.

Applicants must be the children of active, full-time employees of U. S. Steel, which includes the company's Transtar subsidiary railroads in the United States and expatriate employees based at U. S. Steel Kosice in the Slovak Republic. Children is defined as natural children, step-children, legally adopted children and legal wards.

In addition, applicants must also meet one of the following two criteria:

Be a current high school senior who plans to enroll in a full-time undergraduate course of study at an accredited two- or four-year college or university or vocational-technical school in the United States for the entire 2020-2021 academic year; or

Be a high school graduate in the classes of 2017, 2018 or 2019 who plans to enroll or is currently enrolled in a full-time undergraduate course of study at an accredited two- or four-year college or university or vocational-technical school in the United States for the entire 2020-2021 academic year.

Story continues

Awards of $2,500 and $5,000 are available to eligible applicants. Interested students may read the full program and eligibility guidelines, as well as apply online, at Scholarship Americas U. S. Steel Sons & Daughters Program page, https://learnmore.scholarsapply.org/ussteel , between Jan. 15 and Feb. 26, 2020. Awards will be announced in late April 2020.





2020- 006

United States Steel Corporation, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa., is a leading integrated steel producer and Fortune 250 company with major operations in the United States and Central Europe. For more information about U. S. Steel, please visit www.ussteel.com .
If you've ever entered a company's office as a visitor or contractor, you probably know the routine: check in with a receptionist, figure out who invited you, print out a badge and get on your merry way. Brussels, Belgium and New York-based Proxyclick aims to streamline this process, while also helping businesses keep their people and assets secure. As the company announced today, it has raised a $15 million Series B round led by Five Elms Capital, together with previous investor Join Capital.

In total, Proxyclick says its systems have now been used to register more than 30 million visitors in 7,000 locations around the world. In the U.K. alone, more than 1,000 locations use the company's tools. Current customers include L'Oreal, Vodafone, Revolut, PepsiCo and Airbnb, as well as a number of other Fortune 500 firms.

Gregory Blondeau, founder and CEO of Proxyclick, stresses that the company believes that paper logbooks, which are still in use in many companies, are simply not an acceptable solution anymore, not in the least because that record is often permanent and visible to other visitors.

Proxyclick's founding team.

"We all agree it is not acceptable to have those paper logbooks at the entrance where everyone can see previous visitors," he said. "It is also not normal for companies to store visitors digital data indefinitely. We already propose automatic data deletion in order to respect visitor privacy. In a few weeks, well enable companies to delete sensitive data such as visitor photos sooner than other data. Security should not be an excuse to exploit or hold visitor data longer than required."

What also makes Proxyclick stand out from similar solutions is that it integrates with a lot of existing systems for access control (including C-Cure and Lenel systems). With that, users can ensure that a visitor only has access to specific parts of a building, too.

In addition, though, it also supports existing meeting rooms, calendaring and parking systems, and integrates with Wi-Fi credentialing tools so your visitors don't have to keep asking for the password to get online.

Story continues

Like similar systems, Proxyclick provides businesses with a tablet-based sign-in service that also allows them to get consent and NDA signatures right during the sign-in process. If necessary, the system also can compare the photos it takes to print out badges with those on a government-issued ID to ensure your visitors are who they say they are.

Blondeau noted that the whole industry is changing, too. "Visitor management is becoming mainstream, it is transitioning from a local, office-related subject handled by facility managers to a global, security and privacy-driven priority handled by chief information security officers. Scope, decision drivers and key people involved are not the same as in the early days," he said.

It's no surprise then that the company plans to use the new funding to accelerate its roadmap. Specifically, it's looking to integrate its solution with more third-party systems with a focus on physical security features and facial recognition, as well as additional new enterprise features.
London's top share index surged 1.6 per cent on Friday after the World Health Organisation issued a measured assessment of the new coronavirus and fresh data showed the economy bouncing back from its slowdown.

While the WHO termed the coronavirus outbreak 'an emergency in China', it refrained from declaring it an epidemic of international concern.

The FTSE 100 looks set to end a four-day losing streak and record its best day in more than a month. The FTSE 250 also climbed back 1.2 per cent.

UK and global markets had followed the Asian indices downward when the virus first broke out.

UK indices were up as WHO calms virus fears and the UK private sector showed growth

FXTM market analyst Han Tan suggested dealers were also taking heart from China's efforts to lock down the epicentre of the outbreak, potentially limiting its spread and impact.

China has suspended public transport in 10 cities and a media report suggested that a hospital to treat infected people will be constructed by as soon as Monday.

Worries over the spread of the virus, which is being likened to the 2002-2003 spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), have knocked risk sentiment this week.

Oanda analyst Jeffrey Halley said: 'The virus itself is not the issue from an economic perspective; instead, it is the self-perpetuating negative feedback loop on economic activity that it creates.'

It has also emerged that economic activity in the UK strengthened as private sector confidence was bolstered by Boris Johnson's General Election win.

The flash IHS Markit/CIPS composite purchasing managers index (PMI), a preliminary report before the final data is released next week, jumped to a reading of 52.4 for December. Any reading above 50 reflects growth.

The UK has begun to monitor all flights from the areas affected by the virus

It represents a significant rebound from a reading of 49.3 in December and was ahead of analysts' forecasts of 50.7.

The preliminary figures showed significant upturns in the services and manufacturing sectors over the month.

The flash services activity index reported a 16-month high of 52.9, as businesses said greater political certainty had had a positive impact on consumer spending.

Meanwhile, the manufacturing output index rose sharply to 49.5, from 45.6 in December, as its contraction significantly slowed.

Employment numbers also increased for the second consecutive month, with marginal growth across both the services and manufacturing sectors.

Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit, said: 'The survey data indicate an encouraging start to 2020 for the UK economy.

'Intensifying political and economic uncertainty ahead of the general election has started to ease, encouraging more spending and helping push business expectations of future growth to its highest since mid-2015.

'The uplift in sentiment about the outlook hints at even better growth to come, but confidence needs to continue to rise to ensure this solid start to the year has legs.'

The figures could also weaken the prospect of an imminent rate cut by the Bank of England, following comments from policymakers that they were considering actions to stimulate growth.

Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said: 'Markets now see just a 43 per cent chance that the Monetary Policy Committee will cut Bank Rate on January 30, down from 50 per cent before the PMI was released and a peak of 75 per cent last week.

'That probability still looks too high to us.'

Duncan Brock, group director at the Chartered Institute for Procurement and Supply, said: '2020 has started on a positive note with this sudden change in momentum.

'However, that's where the story will end until this uncorked trickle of new orders and activity turns into a flood for businesses hit by hesitancy in the last three years.

'Business activity will need to be buoyed up by the prospect of strong negotiations around the UK's exit from the EU to return them to strength in the years to come.'
Walmart's new grocery-picking Alphabot robots make online grocery delivery a breeze.

Most Walmart customers just want fast, efficient service  especially those that have signed up for the retailers home delivery feature that brings their orders directly to their doors without them ever having to leave the house.

Current Delivery Options

For some time now, Walmart has offered home delivery, recently increasing its Delivery Unlimited service to more than 1,400 locations. In three US cities, theyve also debuted InHome Delivery, which already serves over 1 million Walmart customers. The company also employs 50,000 personal shoppers to fill orders for its online clientele.

Upgrades on the Horizon

The Walmart Alphabot system is made up of several small grocery-picking robots.

To make its delivery service faster and more efficient, as well as to free up employees to provide better customer service and choose produce and meat for remote orders, Walmart is turning to cutting-edge technology.

The conglomerate recently partnered with the Massachusetts-based Alert Innovation to create a grocery-choosing robot program called Alphabot. The robotic operation is currently being housed in a 20,000-square-foot warehouse space in the back of the Walmart Supercenter store in Salem, New Hampshire, where its also expected to make its official debut.

How It Works

Self-directed carts and about 30 small, cubic robots circle around inside a massive shelving system, picking and packing grocery orders from a selection of about 4,500 items. They travel throughout the stores huge, high-density storage system to fill their baskets with shelf-stable foods, as well as frozen and refrigerated items.

One of Walmart's in-store grocery pickup kiosks.

The Alphabot robots move vertically and horizontally, shifting thousands of blue bins around the shelving system as they group orders for delivery and pickup. The bots then deliver the items to store associates assigned to fill online orders swiftly and accurately.

Brian Roth, a Senior Manager of Pickup Automation and Digital Operations for Walmart U.S., explains: By assembling and delivering orders to associates, Alphabot is streamlining the order process, allowing associates to do their jobs with greater speed and efficiency.

Story continues

Walmart employees sort baskets full of food to meet customers' online grocery orders.

The other advantages of the Alphabot system benefit both the customers and Walmart employees. Roth adds that ultimately, this will lower dispense times, increase accuracy, and improve the entirety of pickup grocery. And it will help free associates to focus on service and selling while the technology handles the more mundane, repeatable tasks.

Moving Forward

The company stresses that the Alphabot program is still in its early stages, anticipating problems and glitches that will have to be worked out later down the road. Spokespeople have said the New Hampshire project will be studied, refined, and perfected. Most importantly, Walmart is anxious to get feedback from store associates and customers to tweak problems before the system is considered for other locations.

A Walmart grocery delivery truck.

The system is currently working at a small part of its future capacity. It was built to accommodate up to 20,000 products, and itll employ about 20 more grocery-picking robots in the future. Automated grocery systems comparable to Alphabot are projected to pick and pack orders as much as 10 times quicker than a human can. This could very well be a windfall for Walmart to rapidly expand as the demand for online grocery services continues to rise.
Metra stations on the low-coverage list included the Palos Park SouthWest Service stop, where 89% of roads within a half a mile had no sidewalks; Fox Lake on the Milwaukee District North line, where 77% of roads have no sidewalks; and both Ingleside on the Milwaukee District North Line and Medinah on the Milwaukee West, where 83% of roads had no sidewalks, the report said.
(Bloomberg) -- Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has defended the city-states new fake news law amid criticisms that his government has been using it to target opposition leaders and critics.

Singapores legislation deals with a very narrow problem, which is when untrue, deliberate untruths are posted online which have public policy implications, public order implications and which are false, Lee said in an interview Thursday with Bloombergs Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait. The main function of the law requires online platforms to post a government-issued correction alongside the original allegation, while providing the offender an outlet to challenge the directive in court.

People can make up their minds which is which and the truth will out, I hope, he said. One could hardly ask for greater transparency.

As governments around the world struggle to moderate the flow of disinformation in elections, Singapore in October moved to introduce the law. With general elections expected well before the April 2021 deadline, Lees government has said the law is not aimed at stifling free speech and is enforced independently of the election cycle.

Outrageous Allegations

Since the law passed, the Southeast Asian city-state has invoked it in five cases involving the likes of Facebook and Yahoo!, requiring the companies publish correction notices alongside the posts. Any company found in breach of the law and refuses to comply with corrective orders issued by the government could face fines of up to S$1 million (US$740,631), while individuals may serve up to 10 years in prison.

In the most recent use of the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act on Wednesday, the Ministry of Home Affairs ordered correction directions against Malaysia-based group Lawyers for Liberty regarding its statement about Singapores protocol for handling executions. The order was also sent to digital media giant Yahoo! and two other parties that shared the untrue, baseless and preposterous allegations.

Story continues

It made outrageous allegations about how executions are supposed to be taking place, the 67-year-old leader said in the interview.

The government ordered internet providers to block access for users in Singapore to the statement on Thursday, after the group did not comply with the correction directive.

N. Surendran, the co-founder of Lawyers for Liberty, rejected the governments characterization of his organizations statement and said he was disappointed with the orders.

Foreign Interference

Singapores government is also considering a separate bill targeting foreign interference that would give authorities powers to make targeted, surgical interventions to investigate hostile information campaigns from abroad, Law Minister K Shanmugam said during a speech in September.

Foreign interference legislation has been passed in Taiwan and Australia to stop reported meddling by China and other nations, while Canada passed a similar law last year aimed at protecting its democratic institutions.

Operations such as those Russia is alleged to have carried out in the U.S. presidential election or in Britain during the Brexit referendum may be exacerbating existing fault lines and weaknesses in order to sharpen conflicts and contradictions and stoke social disorder, Lee said. It happens.

To contact the reporter on this story: Philip J. Heijmans in Singapore at pheijmans1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Ruth Pollard at rpollard2@bloomberg.net, Joyce Koh

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 23, 2020 / NextSource Materials Inc. (NEXT.TO) (NSRCF) ("NextSource" or "the Company") announces board of director changes to the Company as it prepares for the transition from a mining development company to a future producing entity.

Following the voting results of the shareholders in respect of the election of Directors at its Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders held in Toronto on December 2, 2019, in accordance with the policies of the TSX and the Company's majority voting policy, Mr. John Sanderson and Mr. Dalton Larson each submitted an offer to resign from the Board. After careful consideration, the Board has accepted their respective resignations.

Craig Scherba, President and CEO of NextSource stated, "Both Mr. Sanderson and Mr. Larson established an ethos of strong corporate governance at NextSource which served and will continue to serve the Company well in its transformation from a development company to a future producer. It has been both an honour and a pleasure having John and Dalton on our Board, and we would like to thank them for the innumerable contributions they both have made to the Company over their tenure. I speak for everyone at NextSource in wishing John and Dalton the very best."

The Company is pleased to announce that it has appointed current director Mr. Dean Comand as Chairman of the Board, and would like to welcome newly appointed members, Mr. Chris Kruba and Dr. David McNeely, to the Board of Directors. All will serve as independent, non-executive directors. The Board has determined that it will not immediately fill the vacancies created by the resignation of Mr. Sanderson and Mr. Larson but will consider future candidates at the appropriate time to best serve the needs of the Corporation.

NextSource is now at the stage of raising the mine capital and once secured, will be able to immediately begin mine construction. The appointment of Mr. Comand to the Chairman of the Board position, and election of Mr. Kruba and Mr. McNeely to the board of directors strengthens the Company by bringing extensive expertise in mine engineering, mine operations, manufacturing, M&A and social responsibility and governance.

Story continues

ABOUT NEXTSOURCE MATERIALS INC.

NextSource Materials Inc. is a mine development company based in Toronto, Canada, that is developing its 100%-owned Molo Graphite Project in southern Madagascar. The Molo Graphite Project is a fully permitted, feasibility-stage project that ranks as one of the largest-known and highest quality flake graphite deposits in the world and is the only project with SuperFlake graphite.

For further information contact: +1.416.364.4911 or info@nextsourcematerials.com

Brent Nykoliation, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development at brent@nextsourcematerials.com or Craig Scherba, President and CEO at craig@nextsourcematerials.com

Safe Harbour: This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors that may cause NextSource Materials Inc. results to differ materially from expectations. These include risks relating to market fluctuations, property performance and other risks. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe" and "confident" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. NextSource Materials Inc. believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in, or incorporated by reference into, this press release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. NextSource Materials Inc. undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.



SOURCE: NextSource Materials Inc.





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/573987/NextSource-Materials-Announces-Board-Changes




A defence solicitor for two of the four men charged with the abduction and false imprisonment of Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney has criticised the length of time it is taking for a file to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Solicitor Alan Gannon said that his clients, who were in custody since November, were entitled to a presumption of innocence and that the State cant just keeping remanding the defendants in custody on a rolling basis while waiting for a file to be prepared for the DPP.

Mr Gannon urged Judge Deirdre Gearty at Harristown District Court in Roscommon on Friday morning to refuse jurisdiction in the case. He said that it was clear from the serious allegations that the matter would not be heard at District Court level and that refusing jurisdiction would put pressure on the DPP to proceed with the case.

His clients, Darren Redmond, 25, from Caledon Road, East Wall, Dublin and Alan O'Brien, 38, of Shelmalier Road, East Wall, refused consent to be remanded in custody for a month.

A third defendant, who cant be identified for legal reasons, also refused consent with his barrister Pat OSullivan stating that his client wanted the matter to move on.

A fourth defendant, Luke O'Reilly, 66, from Mullahoran Lower, Kilcogy, Co Cavan, last week consented to a remand in custody to February 14.

Kieran Madigan, State solicitor for Roscommon, told Judge Gearty the investigation was complex and that significant progress had been made by gardai investigating the abduction and false imprisonment of Mr Lunney in Cavan in September.

Mr Madigan said gardai were confident that a file would be sent to the DPP by next Friday, January 31.

Mr Madigan said that the investigation amounted to over 1,000 lines of enquiry, over 440 statements and hours of CCTV footage from a number of counties. A previous court sitting heard that the investigation was being carried out in two jurisdictions.

Judge Gearty initially remanded the three defendants in custody for a week but after being informed that there is no sitting of Harristown District Court, which is located beside Castlerea Prison, next week, she remanded the three men in custody until February 7.
The Taliban, in a rambling commentary published on their website, expressed frustration with what they describe as additional US demands in peace talks even after they had offered a reduction of violence.

They have not publicly outlined what that would entail and did not explain the new Washington demands.

The insurgents' gesture of reduced violence, though never quantified, was meant to open a window for the signing of a peace agreement that could see the withdrawal of US troops and the end to the 18-year war in Afghanistan, America's longest conflict.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International said in a statement Friday that to talk about a reduction of violence was an absurdity. In a conflict marked by attacks on civilians, the term 'violence reduction' is an absurdity. There can be no acceptable level of violence," said Omar Waraich, deputy South Asia director at Amnesty.

The United States and the Afghan Taliban must commit to abide by the laws of war and end all attacks on Afghan civilians, he added.

Earlier, Taliban officials familiar with the talks told The Associated Press the Taliban had offered a cease-fire, lasting seven to 10 days, to Washington's peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad durig their latest round of talks last week in the Gulf Arab state of Qatar, where the Taliban maintain a political office.

However, Khalilzad had previously sought a more comprehensive end to the fighting and it was never known whether Washington would have agreed to a temporary truce. The U.S. State Department has withheld comment.

In their late Thursday commentary, the Taliban accused Washington of wasting time" and said the talks with Khalilzad had become bogged down over a definition of reduction of violence. The tone was surprisingly harsh following earlier optimistic tweets from Taliban political spokesman Sohail Shaheen who hinted the insurgents and Khalilzad were close to an understanding.

The Taliban also said Khalilzad is seeking additional assurances on behalf of the Kabul government, with which the Taliban have refused direct talks.

They also balked at a U.S. statement following President Donald Trump's meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Davos, Switzerland, earlier this week during which the U.S. president "reiterated the need for a significant and lasting reduction in violence by the Taliban that would facilitate meaningful negotiations on Afghanistan's future.

Previously Khalilzad had said any agreement to withdraw troops from Afghanistan will go hand in hand with negotiations between the two sides in the conflict.

And even if direct talks with the Taliban were to be held, it also remains unclear who would negotiate for Kabul after preliminary results of the presidential election last September giving Ghani the win are being contested. The election commission has yet to announce the final winner in the contest.

The Afghan president's spokesman, Sediq Sediqqi, said that Ghani has a small team ready to negotiate but bickering has marred efforts to cobble together a team that anyone other than Ghani loyalists can agree upon. Ghani's political opponents say they have been consulted but that their suggestions have been ignored.

The Taliban today control or hold sway over roughly half of Afghanistan and continue to stage near-daily attacks targeting Afghan and U.S. forces, Kabul government officials or those seen as linked to the government. Scores of Afghan civilians have also been killed in the crossfire and by roadside bombs planted by militants or in anti-Taliban operations undertaken by government forces assisted by American troops.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two high-performing institutions join growing Tennessee franchise

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CapStar Financial Holdings, Inc. (CapStar) (CSTR), the parent company of CapStar Bank, announced today the signing of definitive merger agreements with FCB Corporation (FCB), its wholly owned subsidiary The First National Bank of Manchester (FNBM), and The Bank of Waynesboro (BOW) providing for FCB to merge with and into CapStar and for FNBM and BOW to merge with and into CapStar Bank. As of December 31, 2019, FCB and BOW had total combined assets of $467 million. Upon completion of the transaction, CapStar is expected to have total consolidated assets of approximately $2.5 billion.



We are pleased to join forces with these outstanding organizations whom have proudly served their communities for over 115 years and rank among Tennessees highest performers on Net Interest Margin and Return on Assets, said Timothy K. Schools, President and CEO of CapStar. This strategic partnership will mutually benefit each of the companies employees, customers, and shareholders. Importantly, the combination continues to strengthen CapStars funding capabilities while providing more granular and higher-yielding loan opportunities; deepens our local banking efforts in dynamic Middle Tennessee offering access into the fast-growing Rutherford County market; and creates additional scale allowing us to serve larger relationships, diversify our risks, and increase shareholder value and liquidity. We look forward to working with First National Bank and Bank of Waynesboro employees and serving their customers and communities.

Under the terms of the merger agreements, FCB and BOW shareholders will receive 3,634,218 CapStar common shares and $26.4 million in cash, subject to certain adjustments, totaling $85.1 million based on the closing price of CapStars common stock on January 22, 2020. CapStar expects the transaction to be approximately 5% and 14% accretive to earnings per common share in 2020 and 2021, respectively, and tangible book value per share dilution that is anticipated to be earned back in less than three years. Pending regulatory and shareholder approvals and the satisfaction of certain other customary closing conditions, the acquisition is expected to be finalized in late second or early third quarter of 2020.

Story continues

We are excited to partner with CapStar, said Timothy L. Spry, President and Chief Executive Officer of The First National Bank of Manchester. In their recent partnership with Athens Federal, CapStar demonstrated a deep commitment to their employees, customers, and local community. We believe this combination will better align our resources, expand our product offerings and technology solutions, and enhance our financial strength allowing us to better serve our markets.

CapStar is the very best partner for us to create the most trusted community bank in the communities we serve, said William B. Bryant, President and CEO of The Bank of Waynesboro. With Ken Webb and other members of their team being from South Central, Tennessee, CapStar has unique local knowledge of our markets and will help us continue to provide outstanding customer service to our existing customers as well as expand our reach to new customers in bigger and better ways.

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. served as financial advisor and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen, & Katz served as legal advisor to CapStar. ProBank Austin served as financial advisor and Butler Snow LLP served as legal advisor to FCB. Mercer Capital rendered a fairness opinion to the special committee of the board of directors of BOW.

In addition to the information contained within this press release, an investor presentation has been posted to CapStars website (www.capstarbank.com).

Webcast and Conference Call Information

CapStar Financial Holdings, Inc. will host a conference call to discuss the announced transactions and companys financial results at 8:30 a.m. CT on Friday, January 24, 2020. An online replay will be available approximately an hour following the conclusion of the live broadcast.

About CapStar Financial Holdings, Inc.

CapStar Financial Holdings, Inc. is a bank holding company headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee and operates primarily through its wholly owned subsidiary, CapStar Bank. CapStar Bank, with assets of $2.03 billion, provides a relationship-based banking experience to small to mid-sized private businesses, professionals, and individuals. Focused on delivering superior flexibility, responsiveness, and customer service, CapStar serves customers through highly-skilled employees, digital channels, as well as 13 locations in seven Tennessee counties. The bank was recognized by Greenwich Associates, an international marketing firm, as a national Customer Experience Leader for U.S. Commercial Small Business Banking, U.S. Commercial Middle Market Banking, and U.S. Retail Banking.

For more information about CapStar, please visit www.capstarbank.com.

About The First National Bank of Manchester

The First National Bank of Manchester, with assets of $292 million, was chartered on August 2, 1900 and has operated continuously in Coffee County. The bank's primary mission has been to serve the banking needs of its local community, and this mission continues to be the primary driving force behind the bank today. Today, it operates four locations across Cannon, Coffee, and Rutherford Counties.

For more information about The First National Bank of Manchester, please visit www.fnbmwm.com.

About The Bank of Waynesboro

The Bank of Waynesboro, with assets of $175 million, was chartered on February 16, 1904 and has operated continuously in Wayne County. The bank's core values center around a strong commitment to customer service and extensive contributions to a vast number of community activities. Today, it operates five locations in Lawrence and Wayne Counties.

For more information about The Bank of Waynesboro, please visit www.thebankofwaynesboro.com .

Forward Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements may include: management plans relating to the proposed transactions; the expected timing of the completion of the proposed transactions; the ability to complete the proposed transactions; the ability to obtain the required regulatory, shareholder or other approvals; any statements of the plans and objectives of management for future operations, products or services, including the execution of integration plans relating to the proposed transactions; any statements of expectation or belief; projections related to certain financial metrics or other benefits of the proposed transactions; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as believe, expect, anticipate, intend, seek, plan, will, would, target, outlook, estimate, forecast, project and other similar words and expressions or negatives of these words. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time and are beyond the control of CapStar. Because forward-looking statements are by their nature, to different degrees, uncertain and subject to assumptions, actual results or future events could differ, possibly materially, from those that CapStar anticipated in its forward-looking statements, and future results could differ materially from historical performance. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those included under Item 1A Risk Factors in CapStars Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and those disclosed in CapStars other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), as well as the possibility that expected benefits of the proposed transactions may not materialize in the time frame expected or at all, or may be more costly to achieve; the proposed transactions may not be timely completed, if at all; that prior to the completion of the proposed transactions or thereafter, CapStars, FCBs and BOWs respective businesses may not perform as expected due to transaction-related uncertainty or other factors; that the parties are unable to successfully implement integration strategies related to the proposed transactions; that required regulatory, shareholder or other approvals are not obtained or other customary closing conditions are not satisfied in a timely manner or at all; reputational risks and the reaction of the companies shareholders, customers, employees or other constituents to the proposed transaction; and diversion of management time on merger-related matters. These risks, as well as other risks associated with the proposed transactions, will be more fully discussed in the registration statement on Form S-4 that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transactions. While the list of factors presented here is, and the list of factors presented in the registration statement on Form S-4 will be, considered representative, no such lists should be considered to be a complete statement of all potential risks and uncertainties. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements. For any forward-looking statements made in this communication or in any documents, CapStar claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. CapStar does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date on which the forward-looking statement is made.

Important Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed transactions, CapStar will file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 to register the shares of CapStars common stock to be issued in connection with the proposed transactions. The registration statement will include a proxy statements/prospectus, which will be sent to the shareholders of FCB and BOW seeking their approval of the proposed transactions.

INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4, THE PROXY STATEMENTS/PROSPECTUS INCLUDED WITHIN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-4 AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THESE DOCUMENTS DO AND WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT CAPSTAR, FCB, BOW AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTIONS.

When filed, this document and other documents relating to the proposed transactions filed by CapStar with the SEC can be obtained free of charge from the SECs website at www.sec.gov. These documents also can be obtained free of charge by accessing CapStars website at https://ir.capstarbank.com/ under the tab Financials & Filings. Alternatively, these documents, when available, can be obtained free of charge from CapStar upon written request to CapStar Financial Holdings, Inc., 1201 Demonbreun Street, Suite 700, Nashville, Tennessee 37203, Attention: Investor Relations or by calling (615) 732-6455.

For more information:



Rob Anderson

Chief Financial Officer

CapStar Bank

(615) 732-6470

Bill Bryant

President and Chief Executive Officer

The Bank of Waynesboro

(931) 244-8476

Tim Spry

President and Chief Executive Officer

The First National Bank of Manchester

(615) 563-8011
OTTAWA COUNTY, MI  A Twin Lake man was killed Friday, Jan. 24, after his car was struck broadside by a cement truck.

The 30-year-old victims name was not released pending notification of family.

The crash was reported at 7:22 a.m. on Port Sheldon Street at 104th Avenue in Ottawa Countys Olive Township.

The investigation showed that the man who was killed was driving a Honda north on 104th when he stopped for a stop sign. He then pulled out in the path of the eastbound cement truck. The truck hit the Honda in the drivers door, sheriffs Sgt. Eric Westveer said.

The cement truck, which was not loaded, did not have to stop at the intersection. After the crash, the vehicles hit a Chevrolet sedan in the drivers side before coming to a stop in the road.

The driver of that car, a 23-year-old Hudsonville woman, was not hurt. The cement truck driver, a 33-year-old Holland man, also was not hurt.

Police closed Port Sheldon, between 104th and 112th avenues, for nearly three hours while investigating and removing vehicles and debris.

The crash remains under investigation.

Michigans Top 20 restaurants to visit in 2020

Detroit Tigers PA announcer Jay Allen dies

7-hour standoff ends peacefully in Montcalm County
This did harm. Photo: Handout/IRIB TV

After the Iranian government fired a barrage of missiles at U.S. military bases in Iraq earlier this month, many impacted American service members reported suffering from concussion-like symptoms. On Wednesday, the U.S. president was asked about the severity of these soldiers injuries, during a news conference in Davos, Switzerland. I heard they had headaches, Donald Trump replied. No, I dont consider them very serious injuries, relative to other injuries that Ive seen.

On Friday, January 24, the Pentagon announced that 34 U.S. service members had been diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries as an apparent result of their proximity to the exploding Iranian missiles. By Tuesday, that number had grown to an even 50, following a CNN report in which the Pentagon confirmed that an additional 16 service members are suffering from TBI symptoms.

In retaliation for the U.S. governments assassination of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, Tehran launched a missile attack against heavily fortified U.S. bases in Iraq on January 8. Irans decision to strike a hard target  and telegraph its attack  was ostensibly intended to avert mass U.S. casualties, and thus, a major escalation in its conflict with Washington. In this respect, the strike was successful. No Americans were killed in the attack, and initial reports suggested that none were injured either. The Trump administration chose to shrug off the strike, justifiably concluding that it had won the exchange, with Soleimanis life being far more valuable to Iran than undamaged Iraqi bases were to the United States. But while U.S. troops had been safely sheltered in protective bunkers as the missiles rained down on them, many were mere feet away from where the bombs landed. Now, the administration has confirmed that the sound and force of those explosions caused nearly three dozen U.S. service members serious harm.

On the one hand, it seems vastly preferable for Trump to downplay the costs of Irans retaliation than for him to do the opposite. The president may have dismissed American troops potentially incurable brain injuries as mere headaches out of a narcissistic refusal to concede that his Iran policy had had any ill effects. But, to the extent that Trumps willful ignorance about the seriousness of concussions has kept him from igniting another cycle of needless violence, it is probably for the best.

On the other hand, it is hard not to think about what would have happened to Barack Obama, had he dismissed the wounds of U.S. soldiers as not very serious injuries, relative to other injuries that Ive seen, or to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, had she referred to a potential Iranian attack on U.S. installations in the Middle East as a little noise. I suspect that the consequences for each of them would have been quite serious, relative to the tepid blowback that Trump and Mike Pompeo have weathered.

This post has been updated to reflect an increase to the number service members injured in the attack.
Former executive director Deborah Black, 62, who served in the position from November 2016 to August 2017, was charged with theft from a local government entity receiving federal funds. Her co-worker, Victoria Wilson, of Portage, pleaded guilty to one count of theft from a government entity receiving federal funds. Wilson worked as a bookkeeper and interim executive director From February 2018 to February 2019.
People look at a badly damaged building after a 6.8 earthquake struck Elazig city centre in the eastern Turkey, on Jan. 24, 2020. (IHA via AP)

Strong 6.7 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Eastern Turkey, At Least 18 Dead

A 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Turkey on Friday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu described it as serious tremor and said four to five buildings collapsed in Sivrice, The Associated Press reported. The local Disaster and Emergency Management Authority has since updated the death toll to 18, The Independent reported.

Search and rescue teams were sent to the region, and further information is yet to come, Soylu said, reported state media

The tremblor hit about 2 miles east-northeast of Doganyol, located about 100 miles north of the Syrian border.

The USGS said the quake hit at a depth of about 6 miles (10 kilometers).

The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) reported that the earthquake had a magnitude of 6.9. The EMSC added that the quake was also felt in Iraq, Syria, and Israel.

People on social media shared videos of shaking furniture and trembling in various cities across Turkey. One video showed what appeared to be a destroyed building while people attempted to climb into the rubble.

It was felt in Diyarbakir, Adana, Urfa, Hatay & even in Syrias Idlib, one person said on Twitter.

Turkish state-backed news outlet Anadolu posted a video of what appears to a building shaking due to the quake.

On the Anadolu website, a photo showed local people standing outside a building. The outlet didnt report on whether there were injuries or damage.

Doganyol, a town of about 4,500 people, is located in the Eastern Anatolia Region, which has the lowest population density in Turkey.

Turkey is a seismically active area located where the Arabian, Eurasian, and African tectonic plates meet and collide. Most of the country lies along the Anatolian Plate.

About 1,900 years ago, in 115 AD, a major earthquake in Antioch killed around 200,000 people. About 400 years later, in 526 AD, another major earthquake struck near Antiochlocated near the present-day Antakya, Turkeykilling 250,000. Both quakes caused severe damage to the ancient city.

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 1939 near Erzincan left more than 32,000 people dead.
Connecticuts Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport is now home to Pipoca, an almost 2-year-old ocelot, and Leao, a 7-year-old golden lion tamarin.

Both of the new arrivals have spent the past several weeks in quarantine, required for any new arrival. Managed by the AZAs Species Survival Plan (SSP), inter-regional transfers are arranged with careful attention to gene diversity when placing animals in their new homes, the zoo said in a news release.

Pipoca, the Brazilian ocelot, was born on March 13, 2018. She can be found in the Zoos Rainforest Building. For a short period, the glass walls of the habitat will be fully or partially covered with paper to allow Pipoca to gradually adjust to her new surroundings in semi-privacy. As Pipoca becomes more comfortable, the paper will be removed, allowing guests to view her in a newly refurbished habitat.

Ocelots (Leopardus pardalis) are medium-sized, solitary cats native to the southwestern United States, Mexico, and Central and South America. Ocelots once ranged in large numbers from Arizona to Arkansas and Louisiana, but the fur and pet trades decimated the population. In the United States, fewer than 60 ocelots remain in two small populations 20 miles apart in south Texas near the Mexican border. These largely nocturnal cats use keen sight and hearing to hunt rabbits, rodents, iguanas, fish, and frogs. They also take to the trees and stalk monkeys or birds. Unlike many cats, they do not avoid water and can swim well.

Leao, the golden lion tamarin, arrived several weeks ago and has been undergoing a period of adjustment to his new surroundings. He can be found in the Rainforest Building as well. Considered the most beautiful of the four tamarin species, the golden lion tamarin is named for the thick mane of hair around his neck, reminiscent of the great cats of Africa. Golden lion tamarins live primarily in the trees. They sleep in hollows at night and forage by day while traveling from branch to branch. Long fingers help them stay aloft and snare insects, fruit, lizards, and birds.

Pipoca and Leao are both beautiful young animals that we are sure will quickly become Zoo favorites, Gregg Dancho, zoo director, said in the release. The Rainforest Building features multiple animals from tropical South America, including a black howler monkey, white-faced saki monkeys, Goeldis monkey, two-toed sloth, vampire bats, Yacare caimans and more. Its a wonderful place to learn about the diversity of life found in rainforests.

For more information, visit www.beardsleyzoo.org
A militia member uses a digital thermometer to take a driver's temperature at a checkpoint at a highway toll gate in Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province on Thursday. China closed off a city of more than 11 million people Thursday in an unprecedented effort to try to contain a deadly new viral illness. Read more

More than half of the 566 flights scheduled from China's Wuhan international airport were canceled Thursday, giving U.S. health officials a brief respite as they focused on the logistics of rerouting U.S.-bound travelers from the region to one of five airports for special screening.

The U.S. airports have been designated as enhanced screening points for travelers arriving from the region believed to be the epicenter of a new strain of coronavirus that has killed at least 25 people and sickened more than 800 in China. The virus has also been detected in at least five other countries in Asia, and in the United States.

Public health officials continue to say the coronavirus poses a low risk to the American public, but say the enhanced screenings, which began at three U.S. airports last week and expanded to two more this week, are part of their "proactive preparedness precautions."

 READ MORE: Philly-area company gets $9 million grant to develop vaccine for new Chinese coronavirus

In effort to contain the virus, authorities in Wuhan have shut down the region's transportation network, including its three railway stations, 13 bus stations and its entire subway network. It is not clear when service, including flights out of Wuhan Tianhe International Airport will be restored.

Once flights to the United States resume, the plan is to funnel travelers from Wuhan to airports in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco, where they will be screened for the virus. If cleared, they will be allowed to continue to their final destination, officials with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control said.

Passengers from Wuhan who did not arrive in the United States at one of those five airports have been given information about the virus that details about what they should do if they think they are infected, a CDC spokeswoman said Thursday.

 READ MORE: China building a hospital to treat virus, expands lockdowns

Since last week, travelers from Wuhan who arrived at John F. Kennedy, Los Angeles and San Francisco International airports, have been required to go through enhanced health screenings, including having their temperatures taken with a noncontact thermometer. This week, health officials added Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson and Chicago's O'Hare International airports to the list. Screenings at those airports began Wednesday.

CDC officials said more than 1,200 travelers have been screened.

Doug Yakel, spokesman for San Francisco International, said a flight from Wuhan, scheduled to arrived Thursday, was canceled. He was not certain whether another nonstop flight scheduled to arrive Saturday would also be canceled.

Even though travelers have stopped arriving from Wuhan, CDC officials said staff will remain in place.

As part of the screenings, travelers are asked about their travels and whether they are experiencing any of the symptoms associated with the virus, including elevated temperature.

Those who appear healthy are sent on their way, but not before they are given cards in English or Mandarin, advising what they should do if they start to feel ill. Those with elevated temperatures are being held for additional screening to determine whether they might be infected with the coronavirus and need to be hospitalized.

 READ MORE: First coronavirus case identified in U.S.; man had traveled to China

Public health officials have mixed views about whether airport screening will prove effective at stopping the virus' spread.

"On the positive side, this is a demonstration that public health authorities are taking this threat seriously," said Josh Michaud, associate director for global health policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation. "But we don't how effective these will be because we are still learning about the virus."

Those views appear to be shifting.

The World Health Organization had previously not recommended airport screening saying Jan. 10 that: "It is generally considered that entry screening offers little benefit, while requiring considerable resources."

However, on Thursday, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the organization was now recommending that, "All countries have in place as part of their comprehensive measures screening at airports and at health-care facilities."

The first U.S. case was not caught through airport screening in part because the man, a resident of Washington state, arrived before the new measures were put into place.

When he arrived back in Seattle, he reported feeling sick, called his doctor and was later hospitalized. Officials are monitoring him but said he is not considered seriously ill.

The CDC said Thursday that health officials in Texas notified it about a potential case of coronavirus there. Health officials in Brazos County, Texas - home to Texas A&M University and about 100 miles northwest of Houston - said they are investigating a patient who meets the definition of a potential case of the virus. The patient contracted a respiratory illness within two weeks of traveling in Wuhan and is being isolated at home in accordance with recommendations from the CDC.

Michaud, of the Kaiser Family Foundation, said in 2003, airport screening was heavily used by many countries to screen travelers for SARS, but follow-up studies found that the effort was largely ineffective. Instead, many of those infected with SARS were identified through regular channels - monitoring those who had come in contact with individuals who had been infected.

"What it comes down to is a cost-benefit analysis," he said. "Airport screening [involves] a lot of effort, a lot of labor, a lot of costs - and you have to weigh that against the likelihood of finding a case."

And while some public health officials view airport screenings as more of a cosmetic measure, he said, there is something to be said for doing so if it eases fears.

The key, he said, is to ensure that efforts to screen travelers don't take away from other surveillance efforts.

U.S. health officials have tried to limit the impact on airports, focusing screening efforts at the five which receive the greatest number of passengers from the affected region. JFK and San Francisco International are the only U.S. airports with nonstop flights from Wuhan, while LAX has a large number of connecting passengers.

Coronaviruses are part of a large family of viruses that range from the common cold to more-serious respiratory diseases. The strain identified in China is related to two other coronaviruses that caused major outbreaks in recent years, Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS, and severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS.

Chinese officials first detected this new strain of the virus on Dec. 31 in Wuhan. They initially linked it to an unsanitary food market where seafood and mammals were sold for human consumption. Scientist said people who were sickened were likely to have eaten something infected with the virus.

In a news release, Chicago airport commissioner Jamie Rhee said the screenings at O'Hare would only impact a small number of travelers.

"The broader traveling public and airport employees are not at risk," she added. "Nevertheless, we will continue to take this seriously, as well as continue working with our partners to ensure the airport community is fully informed."

In a statement Thursday evening, Lori Bassani, president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, which represents those who fly for American Airlines, said airlines need to provide crew members with the most updated information possible, including how to identify signs of the illness and how to manage potentially ill travelers.

"The health of our crew members and passengers is a top priority for us and we refuse to compromise their health or safety in any way," Bassani said. "I am urging American Airlines and all airlines to do everything humanly possible to contain the outbreak and minimize any chance of exposure. We will continue to speak out to ensure airlines are erring on the side of caution and putting our members' health first in these dangerous times."

Washington Post writer Anna Fifield in Beijing contributed to this article.
Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Deepak Kesarkar on Friday said that proofs in the Bhima Koregoan case will be given to commission of inquiry probing the issue and it was for the panel to decide the further course of action.

"I want to say one thing that there is a commission to investigate this case and whatever proof is there, it will be handed over to the Commission. And, also whoever has been booked, the police have the evidence against them. It is up to the Commission to decide what has to be done ahead," he said.

The remarks of Kesarkar came a day after a high-level meeting, attended by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, reviewed Bhima Koregaon cases.After the meeting, Deshmukh said that there would soon be another meeting in this regard.

On January 1, 2018, violence erupted during the 200th-anniversary celebrations of Bhima-Koregaon battle.

The violence had left one dead and several others injured. Police had filed 58 cases against 162 people.A few days back, NCP chief Sharad Pawar had said at a programme in Pune that the review of cases related to Bhima-Koregaon protest was a must.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Raouf Mazou, who has just been appointed to serve as UNHCR's Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, speaking at World Refugee Day event in Kenya in 2017.  UNHCR/Tobin Jones

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi today welcomed the appointment of Raouf Mazou as Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, a crucial role for overseeing UNHCRs responses to refugee situations worldwide.

Mr. Mazou, a Congolese national, replaces Mr. George Okoth-Obbo, who has recently been appointed as head of Secretariat to the UN Secretary Generals High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the appointment of Mr. Mazou earlier on Friday, and Mr. Mazou is expected to take up his new position shortly. The roles of High Commissioner, Deputy High Commissioner, Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, and Assistant High Commissioner for Protection together comprise the top four positions in UNHCRs senior management structure.

I am delighted to see Raouf being appointed to this role, said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. His extensive experience at UNHCR, working in refugee situations in West and East Africa and more recently as head of UNHCRs Africa Bureau in Geneva, makes him well placed to lead the essential work of UNHCR in delivering protection of refugees and other displaced populations as well as solutions to their plights in the many complex environments in which we work.
The most guarded men in Indias largest prison, which houses over 18,000 inmates, are not Mumbai underworld gangster Chhota Rajan, Delhis biggest don Neeraj Bawana, or Bihars strongman turned politician Mohammad Shahabuddin; they are the four convicts of the December 16 gang rape and murder case, who are due to be hanged on February 1 according to the latest court directive.

Prison officials said on condition of anonymity that Mukesh Singh (32), Pawan Kumar Gupta (25), Akshay Thakur (31) and Vinay Sharma (26), who were moved on January 16 to Tihars Jail No 3, where the death sentence will be carried out, are on suicide watch the likes of which Tihar has never seen before.

The four prisoners are lodged separately in single cells in a section of the prisons high-risk ward. The living space, about six feet by eight feet, has an open front guarded by prison bars; there are no iron railings or beams overhead; no part of the cell can be covered with any cloth; for each cell, there are two guards on duty round-the-clock; and even when the prisoners use the attached toilet, their heads are visible from above a small stone partition.

The cells are checked twice every day for any prohibited item that may have been sneaked in. In addition, each cell has two CCTV cameras -- and the live feed is monitored round-the-clock from a control room in the jail superintendents office, and an office in the prison headquarters.

Before the four men were moved to these cells, the guards checked that there was no loose nail in the wall or any loose pieces of metal that could be used to hurt oneself.

The only way in which these prisoners can hurt themselves is by banging their heads against the wall. This is common method adopted by prisoners to frame the other prisoners, jail officers or postpone their hanging. In their case, even if they do this, the guards can open the cells lock within seconds and stop them, said a senior prison officer, who asked not to be named.

What has prompted this unprecedented level of security, said a second jail official, is that the fifth accused in the case, Ram Singh, was found hanging in the bathroom of the general ward of Jail No 3 on March 11, 2013 in one of the most high-profile incidents of a prison death in India. This case is different. Even if one of them takes their life, it is going to cost jobs at the highest level. It wont be wrong to say that the case is politically important for everyone, the second officer added.

Apart from the heightened security, the four are being medically examined by a prison doctor every day. A third prison officer, who did not wish to be named, said, the four men are examined once a day and a report is sent to the prison headquarters.

Their weight and physical condition is noted. It is part of a report that has to be prepared once a day. Except Pawan, the others have not displayed signs of anxiety. Maybe they believe that the hanging will be postponed again. Pawan sometimes refuses to eat, the third officer said.

Prison expert Sunil Gupta, who was Tihars law officer for over three decades until his retirement in 2015, said that prisoners on death row are extremely vulnerable. I have supervised eight hangings. The security of the four men is very important. They may try hurting themselves so that the prison officers are accused of violence and the hanging is postponed again. At the same time, the four should also be counselled by religious leaders too. We used to do it, he said.

The second officer said that the men are indeed being counselled.

The four are on death row for the gang rape and brutal assault of a 23-year-old physiotherapy student inside a moving bus on December 16, 2012. The young woman died in a hospital in Singapore on December 29.

A city court first issued the death warrant for January 22 at 7am, and then changed it to February 1 at 6am over a legal technicality that calls for a 14-day gap between rejection of a mercy plea and the execution. Lawyers for the convicts, however, have argued that while one of the four (Mukesh Singh) has utilised all his legal options, the other three still have remedies available.Meanwhile, jail officials have started preparations for the hanging. HT reported January 13 that authorities have widened the gallows so that the four can be hanged simultaneously. Earlier, no more than two people could be hanged at the same time in Tihar

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
In a letter to the CM, the BJP leader stressed that Mr Modis photograph is missing from government advertisements.

Mumbai: The BJP has taken objection to the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modis photograph is conspicuous by its absence from the advertisements of the Maharashtra government.

Leader of the Opposition Devendra Fadnavis Thursday wrote to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray claiming that the state government is defying the order of the Supreme Court as well as its own resolution pertaining to government advertisements.

In a letter to the CM, the BJP leader stressed that Mr Modis photograph is missing from government advertisements.

Citing the Supreme Courts orders dated May 13, 2015 and March 18, 2016, Mr Fadnavis said that the apex court has given detailed guidelines about publication of advertisements.

You would be aware of it, Mr Fadnavis added. After studying both orders of the Supreme Court, the Directorate General of Information and Public Relations (DGIPR) issued a circular/government resolution (GR) on August 11, 2017.

However, the government has grossly defied its own orders, Mr Fadnavis said. According to the circular, photos of the PM and chief minister must be published in all advertisements of the government, local bodies, public undertakings and organisations.

The former chief minister said that despite 100 per cent funds given by the central government to the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Scheme, the PMs photo is missing. An advertisement on purchasing tur under this scheme has been published carrying only the chief ministers photograph. Therefore, you (the CM) are requested to direct the concerned department to follow the directions of the SC henceforth while issuing any advertisement, Mr Fadnavis said.
Families fight for justice nearly four decades after El Salvador soldiers shot dead more than 200 in August 1982.

San Vicente, El Salvador  Six white caskets sat in a row before an altar set up on the patio of a house in the Salvadoran community of Amatitan Abajo.

They held the remains of six people who were killed alongside 200 others by Salvadoran soldiers in what has been labelled the August 1982 El Calabozo massacre.

We have a lot of emotions today, said Margarita Realegeno Bonilla, who waited nearly 38 years to finally lay to rest her six family members, including her parents and siblings, the youngest who was eight.

Realegeno Bonilla joined a small congregation of mainly elderly men and women who gathered to hold a burial.

Now that God gives us the opportunity, we feel better knowing that they are going to be buried safely, Realegeno Bonilla told Al Jazeera.

Fridays ceremony was one small step forward in a decades-long crusade for justice and reparations for victims of the El Calabozo massacre, which included women, children and the elderly.

Fernando Bonilla Realegeno carries a small coffin holding the bones of his father Jose Bonilla, who was killed when Fernando was in his early 20s, as relatives receive the remains of six family members who were killed in a 1982 massacre [Salvador Melendez/AP Photo]

An estimated 75,000 people were killed during El Salvadors civil war, a conflict between left-wing rebel groups and US-backed state forces that lasted from 1980 to 1992. Worried about the spread of communism during the Cold War, the administration of former US President Ronald Reagan poured billions of dollars into the Salvadoran government.

After the war, a UN truth commission documented various crimes against humanity, including forced disappearance, torture and massacres of unarmed peasants. About 85 percent of abuses were carried out by state forces. But to this day, no one has been held accountable for any of these crimes in a Salvadoran courtroom. Instead, justice and truth have evaded victims like Realegeno Bonilla, leaving the trauma of these crimes as an open wound unable to heal.

All of this is so difficult for us, said Margaritas sister Maria Berta Realegeno Bonilla, 63, shortly before receiving the remains from the morgue in San Salvador on Thursday. What I ask for is justice and reparations.

They burned everything, everything

In August 1982, the Salvadoran military launched an operation in San Vicente, a rural area that was a guerrilla stronghold at the time. The army sent about 6,000 troops to rid the area of rebel presence. Some were from the elite Atlacatl Battalion, which was trained at the controversial School of the Americas, now known to have taught torture and other illegal tactics.

Unarmed peasants, including many women, children and elderly, fled in fear. Troops surrounded the community on all sides until they eventually reached an area along the Amatitan river known as El Calabozo, according to survivors. They had nowhere else to go. They surrendered, but soldiers gunned them down, survivors said. Then, they burned the bodies with chemicals and threw them in the river, scattering the remains and making it more difficult to investigate, according to lawyers representing the victims.

Margarita Realegeno Bonilla stands just outside the burial site for her relatives killed in the El Calabozo massacre [Anna-Cat Brigida/Al Jazeera]

They did everything possible so that the evidence would not exist, said David Morales, director of strategic litigation with San Salvador-based human rights organisation Cristosal and lawyer representing the El Calabozo victims.

They burned everything, everything, Maria Berta Realegeno said.

Some from the community, including Margarita Realegeno Bonilla and Maria Berta Realegeno were able to flee before the operation.

Joaquin Portillo, 63, was shot while fleeing with his wife, one of the Realegeno Bonilla sisters. But he survived by playing dead until the soldiers left.

When it was safe, he buried his wife and her family as best he could. His testimony helped identify the bodies years later.

Its a reminder so that we dont forget, Portillo told Al Jazeera Friday at the service. They were people who were unarmed, including kids, and they (the soldiers) didnt have to do that.

The coffins of the remains returned to the Realegeno Bonilla family lay as the community prepares to take part in a small ceremony before their burial [Anna-Cat Brigida/Al Jazeera]

Two weeks after the massacre, the Salvadoran military told The Washington Post that it had investigated the case and found no evidence of a massacre. To this day, the Salvadoran military maintains this stance on the case. NGOs have called for the military to release important documents to aid human rights trials, but the military has failed to do so. The UN truth commission found no evidence of a military investigation.

Fight for justice

Lawyers for the victims first came forward to open a case against the perpetrators of the massacre in 1992, shortly after the signing of a peace accord agreement. But their hopes of justice were soon squashed.

The legislative assembly passed an amnesty law in 1993 that prevented the case from moving forward in a Salvadoran court.

In 2016, the countrys Supreme Court overturned the amnesty law on the grounds that it was unconstitutional. Lawyers representing the victims of the El Calabozo massacre moved for the case to be reopened. Police and the attorney generals office began to investigate. Members of the Realegeno Bonilla family provided testimony, which led to the identification of the remains of the six victims.

All of this is so difficult for us. What I ask for is justice and reparations. Margarita Realegeno Bonilla

Now, lawyers are waiting for documents from the military in order for the case to continue to the trial phase. But the documents they have received so far are incomplete or damaged. The military says that some documents do not exist, according to Irene Gomez, a lawyer for the victims.

This case has been open for 29 years, but there are still no results. [The lack of military documents] just makes it go slower, said Gomez. The slower the case advances, the more revictimisation for the families.

In August 2019, the countrys ombudsman called on the president to use his power to open the military archives and on the attorney general to investigate the case. President Nayib Bukele, who took office in June 2019, has not commented on the massacre, but has promised justice for civil war-era abuses. Neither responded to a request for comment from Al Jazeera before publication.

The victims family calls on the government to provide reparations and pave the way for a trial.

We ask for justice for the perpetrators of the massacre, said Portillo. Because it was very unjust.
New Delhi, Jan 24 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday took a jibe at former BJP President Amit Shah, saying not just Wifi, but battery charging was also free in Delhi as his government was giving free 200 units of electricity.

Kejriwal made the remarks on Shah's statement which he made during a campaign rally on Thursday. Shah had said that while Kejriwal had promised free Wifi to the city, Shah's "mobile battery got drained, but cannot spot any wifi spot".

Kejriwal, in Hindi, responded that his government has ensured that not just free wifi, but free battery charging was also available.

"In Delhi, electricity up to 200 units is free." Delhi is going for polls on February 8 and the BJP and AAP are contesting against each other.
2.4k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

Trump is throwing a tantrum because his impeachment defense will start on Saturday, a day of the week of low TV viewership.

Trump tweeted:

After having been treated unbelievably unfairly in the House, and then having to endure hour after hour of lies, fraud & deception by Shifty Schiff, Cryin Chuck Schumer & their crew, looks like my lawyers will be forced to start on Saturday, which is called Death Valley in T.V.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 24, 2020

Trump doesnt have any idea how the impeachment trial was set up, so he is lying. Mitch McConnell and the Republican majority set the schedule. Democrats proposed moving everything up a day and finishing on Friday night/Saturday. Trumps lawyers opposed it, and Senate Republicans voted it down.

Trump is correct on one point. The viewership for Trumps impeachment defense is going to be low. His Biden conspiracies are going to be banished to the weekend where few people will see them, but it is his own fault.

If the president and Mitch McConnell had agreed to a fair and unrushed trial schedule, Trumps defense wouldnt be starting over the weekend. Trump can only blame himself for the sham impeachment trial that he and Mitch McConnell have cooked up.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

Follow Jason Easley on Facebook
Kelly Ripa's daughter may be away at college but her talk show mom still pays the bills and that's why she "shut down" Lola Consuelos' debit card after the 18-year-old kept ordering Postmates. On Tuesday's episode of "Live with Kelly and Ryan," the 49-year-old mom of three discussed her New York University freshman daughter's spending habits. Despite having a meal plan at school, Ripa revealed that Lola had been opting for the popular food delivery app quite a bit and her parents were stuck with the bill.

Related:

Kelly Ripa Says 'We Shut Down That Debit Card' After Seeing Daughter Lola's Postmates Bill

Racking Up Bills!

I didnt know our daughter had Postmates, she told Ryan Seacrest and their audience. Shes at college and we signed her up for a meal plan, cause were not monsters. We signed her up for a meal program. Revealing Lola "doesnt like the meals at school so she was ordering Postmates, Kelly Ripa explained, Heres what would happen. She would order the $7 salad but it would cost $25 dollars to have it delivered three blocks in New York City.

Shut Down!

All Postmates users know all those taxes and delivery fees quickly add up. So when Kelly Ripa and her husband, Mark Consuelos, got the monthly bill, they were shocked and wanted to show Lola that money doesn't grow on trees. Oh we shut down that debit card account she had, the host revealed. Lola Consuelos is the famous couple's second child and things got emotional when they dropped her off at her dorms back in August.

College Kids!

Both Kelly Ripa and her "Riverdale" star husband paid tribute to their daughter after shipping her down the road to college. "The nest is getting roomy," Ripa said at the time. 2 down 1 to go, Consuelos shared. While NYU isn't far from home, Kelly Ripa wants Lola and her oldest child, who also attends the college, to make the most of their experience. "Your friends go, At least shes nearby and I go, Yeah, but thats not good because if she feels homesick, I have to say to her, No, you cant come home, youre gonna have to work it out  whatever youre going through, figure it out," she said.
We know our people are what makes our organization stand out, so we do everything we can to prioritize their health and improve their quality of life. Were honored to have those efforts recognized," says Carrie Johansen, Vice President of Human Resources.

Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc. is pleased to be recognized as one of the Healthiest Employers of Utah in 2019.

PRMI was awarded second place in Springbuks annual Healthiest Employers awards program, which honors organizations that prioritize their employees health. The program analyzes companies adoption of programs that promote healthy lifestyles, such as biometric screenings, fitness and nutrition programs and other educational services that promote well-being.

The award highlights PRMIs efforts to prevent illness and create a healthier workplace. At PRMI, we have always been committed to the well-being of our employees, says Carrie Johansen, PRMIs Vice President of Human Resources. We know our people are what makes our organization stand out, so we do everything we can to prioritize their health and improve their quality of life. Were honored to have those efforts recognized.

Primary Residential Mortgage, Inc. (PRMI) is a nationwide, multibillion-dollar operation cofounded in 1998 by Dave Zitting, Jeff Zitting and Steve Chapman. Its top leaders are authorities in the mortgage industry. With over 240 branches, licensing in 49 states and more than 1,700 employees, PRMI has been repeatedly recognized as a top mortgage lender and was inducted into the 2018 Ellie Mae Hall of Fame for Excellence in Compliance.

For more information, call 800-255-2792 ext. 1000252, visit http://www.primaryresidentialmortgage.com, or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. PRMI is an Equal Housing Lender. NMLS #3094.

Corporate Media Contact

Maddi Hardy

Public Relations Coordinator

mhardy@primeres.com

1.800.255.2792
It was a beautiful sunny day and the beach was packed with Aussies of all types, backgrounds and species.

Down near the waters edge, a young jellyfish couple lay on the sand, soaking up the rays, both wishing theyd brought hats. One jellyfish said to the other, Careful, I think your blubber is drying out, and the other one said, Its not blubber! You know that Im retaining water. Why do you have to be so mean?

Then it rolled away in disgust, after a tiny wave tipped it sideways. The first jellyfish huffed and said, Fine. Be like that. Im going in for a swim, then it lay on the sand and waited for the tide to come in. It would be a six-hour wait, but totally worth it.

Beachgoers cool off after another sweltering day. Credit:Louise Kennerley

Further back on the sand, a group of teenage seagulls stood in a circle, playing a fun beach-game of Chip or Stick? The rules were simple: one seagull picked up something that looked like a chip, then all the other seagulls tried to grab it off them  and the seagull that wound up with a stick was the loser and all the other seagulls laughed and squawked, Stick, stick, youre a dick!
B oris Johnson has signed the Brexit withdrawal agreement ahead of Britain's departure from the EU next week.

The Prime Minister said the UK can now "move forward as one country" after he put his signature to the document in Downing Street on Friday afternoon.

Earlier in the day, the presidents of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, formally signed the agreement in Brussels.

The Queen gave royal assent to the legislation on Thursday after the legislation cleared both Houses of Parliament.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson signed the agreement ahead of the UK's exit from the European Union on January 31 / Twitter/@borisjohnson

Mr Johnson said: "The signing of the Withdrawal Agreement is a fantastic moment, which finally delivers the result of the 2016 referendum and brings to an end far too many years of argument and division.

"We can now move forward as one country - with a Government focused upon delivering better public services, greater opportunity and unleashing the potential of every corner of our brilliant United Kingdom, while building a strong new relationship with the EU as friends and sovereign equals."

Boris Johnson attends celebrations for Chinese Lunar New Year 1 /13 Boris Johnson attends celebrations for Chinese Lunar New Year Prime Minister Boris Johnson reacts as he hosts a Chinese New Year reception at 10 Downing Street AFP via Getty Images PA PA AFP via Getty Images Reuters AFP via Getty Images Reuters Reuters AFP via Getty Images Reuters

The PM signed the document with a Parker fountain pen in an anteroom outside the Cabinet Room in Number 10, witnessed by EU and Foreign Office officials who transported the treaty from Brussels.

The European Parliament is now expected to vote to approve the agreement on Wednesday, paving the way for the UK to leave next Friday, January 31.

It will mark the start of an 11-month transition period, during which the UK will continue to follow EU rules, before the final break with Brussels at the end of the year.

President of the European Council Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sign the withdrawal agreement as EU Chief Brexit Negotiator Michel Barnier looks on / PA

Mr Johnson has said he wants to negotiate a comprehensive free trade deal with the EU by the end of the year.

However Mrs von der Leyen and other senior EU figures have warned the Government's stated intention to end the UK's alignment with EU regulations means it will be impossible to achieve within such a tight timetable.

Brexit: 7 days until Britain is scheduled to leave the EU

In February, Britain and the EU will begin negotiations on their future ties, racing to strike new relationships for trade, security and a host of other areas by the end of 2020.

Mr Johnson insists he won't agree to any delays in those talks beyond the end of the year. The UK is also keen to begin talks on a free trade deal with the United States, and intends to negotiate simultaneously with the EU and the US.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said a deal with Britain was 'an absolute priority' of President Trump / AFP via Getty Images

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos on Thursday, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said a deal with Britain was "an absolute priority of President Trump and we expect to complete that within this year."

US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said a trade deal between the two countries shouldn't be too difficult because their economies are similar.

"Both are very heavily services oriented and within services, such as financial services, there's already a pretty high degree of integration and coordination, so it should be much easier mechanically," he said in Davos.

Ross sought to dampen concerns that a trade deal would mean higher drug prices in the U.K. as U.S. pharmaceutical companies look to gain concessions from Britain's state-run National Health Service.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif., Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumer Watchdog called on the Medical Board of California to fulfill its mission to protect health care consumers and immediately suspend the license of Bakersfield physician Dr. Jason Helliwell.

Helliwell overdosed a mother during childbirth while on probation for gross negligence in the care of six patients. While on probation, Dr. Helliwell was charged with 32 felony counts, which he had a duty to report to the medical board.

"Dr. Jason Helliwell is a clear and present danger to patients," Consumer Watchdog's President Jamie Court and patient advocate Michele Ramos wrote in a letter to Board President Denise Pines and Interim Director Christine Lally. "The lives of Bakersfield women are at risk. In order to protect the safety of Bakersfield patients, the Medical Board of California must take immediate action."

In the letter, Consumer Watchdog noted that a physician on probation must follow and obey all federal, state, and local laws.

Read Consumer Watchdog's full letter here: https://www.consumerwatchdog.org/sites/default/files/2020-01/Ltr-Medical%20Board%20of%20CA-Dr.%20Jason%20Helliwell%20Suspension-B_1-22-20.pdf

"On January 10, 2020, a patient died while under the care of Dr. Jason Helliwell," the letter to the board stated.

"Dr. Helliwell was on probation and has again abused his license by ordering two injections (above the toxic dosage) of Fentanyl to a full-term pregnant 27-year-old woman that presented in labor at Memorial Hospital in Bakersfield, California," the letter continued.

"While the patient, who was only 2 cm. dilated, was told she would be sent home, Dr. Helliwell decided to admit her to the hospital and ordered a second injection of Fentanyl," the letter said. "Following the second injection, the patient passed out, suffered a seizure, and became unresponsive. An emergency C-section was conducted, the baby survived, and the patient died."

Following the death of the 27-year-old pregnant woman, her family had to organize a car wash fundraiser last weekend in order to raise funds for her memorial service.

"Dr. Helliwell has a long history of dishonesty, negligence, sexual misconduct, and criminal conduct," the letter continued. "The Medical Board of California has been aware of Dr. Helliwell's negligence since June 2011 when they issued a Public Letter of Reprimand against his medical license. Since then, he has harmed at least six patients and had ongoing sexual encounters with another. Upon information and belief, we believe he has harmed more patients than that, some of which did not complain or lead to public discipline."

"A dangerous doctor is on the loose in Bakersfield after what would seem to be clear violations of his probation," the letter said. "On behalf of Bakersfield consumers, Consumer Watchdog calls upon the Medical Board of California to immediately suspend Dr. Jason Helliwell's medical license."

The letter noted: "Dr. Helliwell has shown not only extreme negligence as a physician but also a critical lack of ethical judgment when he engaged in repeated sexual encounters from January 2011 through February 2013 with a 23-year-old patient. He would meet his patient in various locations including his medical office for sex. When Dr. Helliwell would engage in sexual intercourse with his young patient, he would pay her cash for the encounter. It is unfathomable that Dr. Helliwell has been allowed to continue to practice medicine."

"In addition to the negligence and sexual misconduct, Dr. Helliwell was arrested on September 9, 2019. Kern County Court records show that Jason Helliwell Court Case# BF178139A has been charged with 32 felony counts ranging from grand theft property, scheming to defraud a health program, and conspiring to commit a crime. In September 2015, Dr. Helliwell's Bakersfield medical office was raided by state insurance investigators. According to California Business and Professions Code 802.1, he was required to report to the Medical Board of California that felony charges had been filed against him. Whether Dr. Helliwell reported the 32 felony charges filed against him or not, he should have had his license revoked at that time. Certainly, there is no question that he violated his probation."

"We call on the Medical Board of California to uphold their mission to protect health care consumers," said consumer advocate Michele Ramos. "The disciplinary actions taken by the Medical Board were inadequate and allowed him to continue to engage in dangerous practice with Bakersfield patients. It is time for the Medical Board of California to take action to protect the community of Bakersfield."

SOURCE Consumer Watchdog

Related Links

http://www.consumerwatchdog.org


The AAP government on Thursday told the Delhi High Court that unauthorised colonies in forest areas are prohibited from regularisation under the Centre's October 2019 notification to regularise illegal settlements in the city.

In an affidavit placed before a bench of justices G S Sistani and A J Bhambhani, the Delhi government said the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Recognition of Property Rights of Residents in Unauthorised Colonies) Regulations, 2019, clearly states that no rights shall be recognised over land in reserved or notified forests.

The Delhi government, represented by its additional standing counsel Sanjoy Ghose, also said that even under the Urban Development Ministry's Revised Guidelines of 2007 for regularisation of unauthorised colonies in Delhi, settlements which in part or entirely fell in notified or reserved forests were not to be considered for the relief.

"It is therefore submitted that the regulations themselves incorporate a bar on conferment or recognition of any right on any land or part of it which form part of any form of forest or protected/reserved area," it said.

The affidavit was filed in response to the court's query on December 23 to the Delhi government whether it was going to regularise encroachments on forest lands in the national capital.

The bench had raised the query after it was told by the amicus curiae, senior advocate Kailash Vasudev, that while regularising over 1,700 unauthorised colonies in the national capital, those in forest areas might also be regularised.

In its affidavit, the Delhi government further said there are currently 170 unauthorised colonies which in part or completely fall in different forest area categories, including wildlife sanctuary, notified reserve forests, morphological ridge, deemed forests and unclassified forests.

Deemed forests are those with 250 trees per hectare land and unclassified forests are any patch of land which is shown as forest in any government record, the affidavit said.

It also said the Delhi government's Forest and Wildlife department has already identified forests or forest land on 174 maps and the Revenue department was in the process of demarcation of forest-revenue boundary.

The affidavit was filed in a PIL initiated by the court in 2015 on the issue of poor air quality in Delhi. The matter is listed for hearing next on January 31.

The high court had earlier noted that this matter was pending since February 9, 2015, and detailed orders have been passed from time-to-time for taking steps to curb air pollution in Delhi.

However, if the measures suggested from time-to-time had been seriously implemented, pollution levels in Delhi would not have been as alarming as they are now, the bench had said.
The sides also reaffirmed mutual intention to develop the bilateral political dialogue.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting with Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, during which the officials discussed the situation when citizens of Ukraine are increasingly being denied entry to Israel.

Read alsoZelensky, Rivlin discuss bilateral relations between Ukraine, Israel

"A solution to this issue should remain the focus of the authorities of both countries. The parties should continue working together for the final settlement of the situation in the near future," Zelensky said, according to his press service.

The sides also reaffirmed mutual intention to develop the bilateral political dialogue.

They also noted the existing potential for boosting trade, economic and investment cooperation between Ukraine and Israel. Zelensky is hopeful that the bilateral free trade agreement Ukraine ratified in August 2019 would enter into force as soon as possible.

Earlier, Zelensky and Netanyahu agreed to finally resolve the issue of mass denial of crossing the Israeli border to Ukrainians.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 07:53:07|Editor: ZD

Video Player Close

MADRID, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Atletico Madrid were the victims of one of the biggest Copa del Rey upsets in recent seasons on Thursday night when they were knocked out of the competition by third tier Cultural de Leonesa.

Diego Simeone fielded a relatively strong starting 11 against the side who are second in Group II of the Segunda B and despite not impressing, his side took the lead through Angel Correa.

However, Julio Castaneda equalized with seven minutes to play and Sergio Benito finished off a flowing move from the home side with 12 minutes left to play to see Atletico tumble out.

Simeone's men were not the only top flight side to crash out on a night of surprises in the Copa as second division Mirandes added to their giant killing reputation with a 2-1 win over Celta Vigo after extra time.

Matheus Aias put Mirantes from the penalty spot after 28 minutes and after Pione Sista scored a fine equalizing goal 15 minutes from time, Mirandes recovered to force extra time and Antonio Sanchez fired home the winner with six minutes to go just after Alvaro Rey had a penalty saved for the home side after Rafinha committed a professional foul, which also saw him send off.

Second Division Rayo Vallecano scored a 118th minute equalizer against Betis before knocking the top flight side out in a penalty shoot out after their game had ended 2-2 after 120 minutes. It was a frustrating night for Betis' Joaquin Sanchez, who scored his side's first goal, but then missed in the penalty shoot out.

Third tier Badajoz knocked Eibar out of the competition with an impressive 3-1 win.

Kingsley Fobi, Alex Corredera and Pablo Vazquez were the heroes for Badajoz as Eibar dominated but could only score through Charles.

Leganes were the only top flight side to win on the night as Jonathan Silva's 44th minute goal gave them a 1-0 win away to third tier Ebro.
A Russian national pleaded guilty this week to running a carding website called Cardplanet that helped people commit credit-card fraud.

Last year, the Russian man Aleksei Burkov (29) was accused of running an online criminal marketplace, called Cardplanet, that helped crooks to organize more than $20 million in credit card fraud. In November, the suspect has been extradited to the US to face criminal charges.

Burkov was also operating another invite-only cybercrime forum, to obtain membership prospective members needed three existing members to vouch for their good reputation in the cybercrime community. The membership also requested a sum of money, normally $5,000, as insurance. Cardplanet was offering for sale stolen credit-card numbers for a price ranging from $3 to $60.

The suspect was arrested in Israel in 2015, his case made the headlines multiple times because media speculated a possible prisoner swap with Naama Issachar, an Israeli-American that was arrested in Russia on cannabis charges. In October, the Israel justice minister approved the extradition of Alexei Burkov to the United States.

Burkov entered the plea to charges including fraud and money laundering in a federal court in Alexandria.

A Russian national pleaded guilty today to charges related to his operation of two websites devoted to the facilitation of payment card fraud, computer hacking and other crimes. reads the press release published by the Department of Justice. Aleksei Burkov, 29, pleaded guilty before Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III to access device fraud and conspiracy to commit computer intrusion, identity theft, wire and access device fraud and money laundering. Sentencing is scheduled for May 8, 2020.

In court, Burkov admitted to running a second website on an invite-only basis that was also for sale stolen payment data.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 8, 2020, Burkov faces a prison sentence of up to 15 years.

Pierluigi Paganini
Two years later, Mr. da Silva, the widely popular former president who was the favorite candidate for the 2018 presidential election, was barred from running and thrown in jail in what seemed like the perfect ending to a long-running reality show.

Sergio Moro, the judge responsible for Mr. da Silvas imprisonment, was rewarded with an appointment as justice minister after Mr. Bolsonaro won the presidency. The election of Mr. Bolsonaro, an obscure, homophobic and misogynistic far-right-wing congressman, was itself a result of an extraordinary disinformation campaign on social media. Over 98 percent of his electorate was exposed to one or more fake-news headlines during the campaign, and nearly 90 percent of his supporters believed they were true, according to study by Avaaz, an online nonprofit organization. His government has mastered the art of manipulating the truth.

In The Edge of Democracy I trace Brazils political history in recent decades through my own family story. My grandfather co-founded one of the countrys largest construction companies, which was one of the contractors investigated by Operation Car Wash. My parents, who were left-wing militants, were arrested during the dictatorship (1964-1985) and, then, spent years underground doing grass-roots work with students and workers in the south of Brazil.

Their ideas made me believe that a better Brazil, one that is less unequal and not ruled by corrupt and authoritarian elites, was possible. I voted for Mr. da Silva with the hope that he would bring about much-needed political change. Then I saw him forming alliances with the countrys oligarchy, a grim reminder of the practices and the corruption he claimed to end.

People around the world who have watched the documentary have identified with my fears and hopes, and my attempt to discern the facts from all the fiction shaping Brazils future. They connect with my film because they see their democracies under a similar peril. What initially felt like isolated cases (in India, Brazil and Turkey) has turned into a global epidemic. The film criticizes leaders who attempt to silence divergent thinking. Maybe this is the reason some authoritarian far-right politicians, in Brazil and abroad, want to brand journalistic efforts to unveil the truth as fiction and fake news.

It is interesting that Lugenpresse, or Lying press, was a slogan widely used in Germany during the Third Reich to discredit any journalist who disagreed with the governments position.

Efforts to discredit an honest press have been particularly devastating in my country. However, the influence of disinformation campaigns extends well beyond partisan politics. Since 2019, far-right elites and religious conservative groups have been waging a culture war at levels not seen since the hard years of military dictatorship.
Chinas deadly coronavirus outbreak is dominating headlines worldwide, raising fears of a global epidemic.

Since the first sufferer was infected in the city of Wuhan - capital of Hubei province - at the end of last year, the virus has spread to major cities like Beijing and Shanghai.

READ MORE: How did China's coronavirus outbreak start?

It has even crossed national borders, with the US, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Taiwan all confirming cases.

The death toll stood at 18 on Thursday, all in Wuhan, with Chinese authorities confirming more than 630 people are battling the virus.

One expert claims, however, numbers are rising by the minute - with up to 9,700 cases in Wuhan alone.

How deadly is the new coronavirus?

With the strain - 2019-nCoV - virtually unheard of a month ago, estimations are based on limited data.

Statistics point to a death rate of 2%, meaning that for every 50 people who catch the virus, one will die, Yahoo UK reported.

Of the cases that end up in hospital, between 15% and 20% are said to be severe, defined as needing ventilation.

Fatalities are occurring as a result of pneumonia, which comes about when a respiratory infection causes the alveoli (air sacs) in the lungs to become inflamed and filled with fluid or pus, according to the American Lung Association.

The lungs then struggle to draw in air, resulting in reduced oxygen in the bloodstream.

Without treatment the end is inevitable, said the charity Medecins Sans Frontieres.

Deaths occurs because of asphyxiation.

READ MORE: Billions of journeys to celebrate Chinese New Year raise fears coronavirus will spread worldwide

Genetic analyses reveal 2019-nCoV is more closely related to fellow coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) than any other strain.

Sars made headlines in the early 2000s after 774 people died across dozens of countries.

Professor Neil Ferguson, from Imperial College London, claims Sars was nearly universally severe.

Whereas 2019-nCoV cases are being described as mild for the most part.

Story continues

Chinese officials were notoriously tight lipped about the Sars epidemic.

The authorities have been much more open about the outbreak, investigated the infection much more rapidly and thoroughly, and shared that information with the international community, Professor Paul Hunter, from the University of East Anglia, said.

The authorities have also initiated very strong control measures in affected cities.

The causative virus was also identified substantially earlier in this epidemic.

As a result of this increased openness and better management in neighbouring countries should be able to prepare well in advance of any cases that may arrive on their shores.

Coronaviruses are a class of pathogens that cause everything from the common cold to life-threatening epidemics like Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers).

Six previous coronaviruses are known to infect people, with 2019-nCoV being the seventh.

The new coronavirus strain likely originated at a seafood market in Wuhan.

The market also sold a range of processed and live meat including donkeys, poultry, camels, foxes, badgers, hedgehogs and rats.

READ MORE: China's coronavirus could have same death rate as Spanish flu pandemic that killed 50m people

Most of those who initially fell ill worked at, or visited, the market.

Viruses like 2019-nCoV mutate all the time, allowing them to jump between species.

Scientists from Peking University in Beijing believe 2019-nCoV likely started in bats.

These then got eaten by snakes, which acted as an intermediate host, before the virus spread to humans.

Professor Hunter argued, however, it is not known with certainty and may never be definitively proved.

Like other coronavirus strains, 2019-nCoV typically starts with flu-like symptoms, including fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

Symptoms can come on in as little as two days or as long as two weeks after exposure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In severe cases, patients develop pneumonia.

Who is most likely to be affected by the new coronavirus?

The new strain has the potential to infect anyone.

Novel viruses spread much faster because we have no immunity, Professor Ferguson said.

China's National Health Commission announced the youngest victim to date was 48 and the eldest 89.

Most were elderly and suffering other health issues, like Parkinsons or diabetes, it added.

Other strains of coronavirus tend to only trigger serious complications - like pneumonia or bronchitis - in the elderly, young or those with pre-existing medical conditions.

How does the new coronavirus spread?

China's National Health Commission confirmed the virus can spread from person-to-person.

Coronaviruses are usually transmitted via coughing, sneezing, shaking hands or touching a contaminated object.

READ MORE: China's coronavirus 'may be missed at airport screenings in newly infected travellers'

The virus enters the body if contaminated hands touch the eyes, nose or mouth.

In rare cases, faecal contamination can be to blame.

Exposure to the mysterious animal behind the outbreak could also lead to infection.

The CDC stresses some viruses are highly contagious and others less so. It is unclear where 2019-nCoV stands.

How is the new coronavirus treated?

There is no specific treatment for coronaviruses, according to the CDC.

If the infection triggers pneumonia, doctors work to combat the complication.

When a virus is to blame  like 2019-nCoV  pneumonia may be treated via antiviral medication, according to the American Lung Association.

Professor Peter Horby - from the University of Oxford - said, however, there is likely no effective anti-viral, with care being supportive.

US health officials are working on a vaccine against 2019-nCoV; however, it will likely be months before the first stage of trials are underway and more than a year before it could be available to the public, CNN reported.

For now, the World Health Organization advises people eat only well-cooked food, avoid spitting in public and stay away from sick animals.

The CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using an alcohol-based sanitiser.

People should also stay home if they feel unwell, disinfect objects and cough or sneeze into a tissue, which they then throw away.
Louisiana is doing a better job than most states in letting parents know how public schools are performing in the wake of a federal law that sparked major changes, a national review released Wednesday says.

But the state also suffers from some of the same shortcomings as others, including white students dominating A-rated schools and black students filling those with failing marks, according to the Alliance for Excellent Education, a nonprofit group in Washington, D.C.

In Louisiana, black students make up an average of 47% of public schools but typically only 22% of an A-rated public school in the state.

Black youngsters comprise 83 percent of a typical F-rated school in Louisiana, the group says.

If we have a school system that is truly equitable, we would expect the typical student body of an A-school to be very similar to the student body of an F-school, said Anne Hyslop, the alliances assistant director for policy, development and government relations.

We know that historically under-served students are still lagging behind and that we have these large achievement gaps, she said. It is just really powerful to see the numbers and see how large those gaps are.

The snapshot is one of the first of its kind to rate schools in the first year of changes triggered by the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, or ESSA.

Louisiana won federal approval of its plan for complying with the law in 2017 after months of controversy, including criticism of the final product by Gov. John Bel Edwards and teacher unions.

The law is largely aimed at spurring new policies to help struggling students, and one of the key changes for public schools here makes it easier to earn an A-rating.

The 11-member state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, which has four new members, is set to hold a forum on how the changes are working on Tuesday at 1 p.m.

BESE sets state policies for about 720,000 public school students statewide.

The previous panel approved the states plan to comply with the federal law 7-4.

Officials of the state Department of Education did not respond Wednesday to requests for comment on the review.

The alliance studied Louisiana and nine other states and the impact of the new rules in 2017-18, the first school year they took effect.

The review says that, while states often fail to send consistent signals on school quality to parents and others, Louisiana does a better job than most.

It says some states hand out top ratings to public schools even though they have lots of struggling black students and others historically under-served.

The group notes that A-rated schools in Louisiana were not also targeted for required improvements by state officials.

Schools with B-ratings can face scrutiny, and the report says 10% percent of B schools were identified as having at least one consistently under-performing group of students.

Louisiana was also cited for being the lone state that identifies schools because their out-of-school disciplinary practices are far higher than the the national average.

The study says 38% of schools identified as needing targeted support were classified that way in part because of discipline rates twice the U.S. average.

Louisiana was the only state that said We think we have a problem with excessive rates and we are going to try to tackle that, Hyslop said.

Two reports in 2017 highlighted the issue.

A study done by the Education Alliance for New Orleans says black students in Louisiana public schools are twice as likely as white students to face suspensions.

One done by state officials says public schools are too quick to toss students with behavior problems.

The state was chided for failing to target for improvements 11% of F-rated schools and 19% of D-rated schools.

Hyslop said states can adhere to federal law without designating every D- and F-rated school for comprehensive changes.

They just dont have the capacity to help all of those schools improve, she said. There is a concern about over-identifying schools.

The group said its mission is to promote the transformation of high schools to ensure that graduates are prepared for post-secondary education and success in life.

The findings released Wednesday are the first of a series, with future reviews comparing state efforts.

Other states studied were Mississippi, Florida, Washington, Ohio, Indiana, Arizona, Connecticut, Michigan and New Mexico.

Copyright (c) 2020, The Advocate . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency.
Ex-VIM Airlines top managers challenge court order to return overpaid wage worth $450k

 flickr.com/Anna Zvereva

10:39 24/01/2020

MOSCOW, January 24 (RAPSI)  The wife of the former co-president of VIM Airlines Rashid Mursekayev, Svetlana, has filed an appeal against recovery of wages totaling to 28.9 million rubles (over $450,000) which had been paid in excess to her and her husband, according to the courts of Commercial Court of Tatarstan

In late December, the court ordered Mursekayev and his wife to return the overpaid funds. The court therefore declared salary orders as well as accounting and paying scale up wages registered in March 2017 invalid upon an application lodged by bankruptcy trustee Alexander Maksimov.

In July, the court extended bankruptcy proceedings against VIM Airlines for six months upon a motion by Maksimov.

In April, he filed claims to recover over 7.5 million rubles (about $120,000) of overpaid salary and compensation for employment agreement termination from 17 ex-managers of the air carrier. He also demanded invalidation of salary orders as well as accounting and paying scale up wages from January 2018 to late March 2019 invalid and collection of compensation from the former managers.

On September 26, 2018, the court declared VIM Airlines bankrupt on the request of the company RNGO. Earlier in August, the court granted an application filed by the company, including a 3 billion-ruble ($44 million) debt into the creditors demands list.

On October 17, 2017, a criminal case was launched over premeditated bankruptcy of VIM Airlines. In September of the same year the court returned a bankruptcy claim against the airline back to the Deposit Insurance Agency (DIA). According to the court, due to the social tensions surrounding the activities of the airline, the applicant decided to recall the motion.

Investigators believe that certain top managers and owners of the air carrier intentionally made losing bargains in 2016 and 2017 including those aimed at siphoning of assets abroad. The deals led to enormous financial outlay and undoubtedly resulted in the companys failure to pay debts to creditors in full.

According to investigators, employees of VIM Airlines continued to sell tickets to clients despite being aware that the airline was not able to transfer passengers because there were not enough funds to buy fuel. Investigators believe that the employees embezzled more than one million rubles ($17,000).

VIM Airlines CEO and chief accountant Alexander Kochnev and Yekaterina Panteleyeva have been arrested as part of the case. Co-owners of VIM Airlines Rashid Mursekayev and Svetlana Mursekayeva fled Russia and are currently residing abroad, according to investigators. Allegedly Mursekayev and Kalashnikova fled Russia to hide from investigative authorities. In December, the Basmanny District Court of Moscow issued an arrest warrant for Mursekayev in absentia.
Should hospice professionals be forced to assist the suicides of their patients who want to die? Not too long ago, the answer to that question would have been an emphatic Of course not! Hospice is not about making people dead. Rather, it seeks to help terminally ill patients live well through intensive medical, spiritual, psychological, and social treatments to alleviate the pain and emotional suffering that dying people and their families may experience

Dont tell that to the provincial government of British Columbia. After the Supreme Court of Canada conjured a right for anyone diagnosed with a serious medical condition that causes irremediable suffering to receive lethal-injection euthanasia, British Columbia passed a law requiring all medical facilities that receive at least 50 percent of their funding from the government to participate in what north of the 46th parallel is known euphemistically as medical assistance in dying (MAiD). When Delta Hospice Society, in Delta, British Columbia, announced that it would adhere to the hospice movements founding philosophy by banning euthanasia in its facility, the provinces minister of health threatened to cut off all provincial funding. Delta has until February 3 to yield to the euthanasia imperative or face a catastrophic financial crisis.

The power of the purse can be very persuasive, but Delta has not surrendered. Instead, searching for a compromise, it has offered to cut from its annual budget, of $3 million (Canadian dollars), $750,000 of the $1.4 million that it currently receives from the province. That would reduce the portion of its budget that comes from public funding to a point below the 50 percent legal threshold, allowing Delta to continue serving dying patients while maintaining its philosophical integrity. As of this writing, the authorities have not responded to Deltas offer.

On the face of it, the governments heavy-handedness makes no logical sense. Everyone acknowledges that Delta provides a very valuable service to the community. And its not as if the small hospice, with a mere ten beds, has the power to materially impede access to euthanasia in British Columbia, a province of nearly 5 million people. Indeed, since euthanasia was legalized in 2016, only three Delta patients have asked to be killed  and they were able to obtain their desired end by simply returning home or transferring to a hospital directly next door to the hospice. So, what gives?

Story continues

Angeline Ireland, president of Delta, perceives a direct connection to socialism. When I asked her in an email interview why she thought the government was trying to force the hospices participation, she replied, I would only be speculating, but primarily, I think it is ideological and agenda driven. Our provincial government is currently run by socialists. The Left has never valued human life. In socialized medicine the state controls and is all powerful. She also believes there is a connection to the costs of health care. I also wonder how much of it is driven by economics. HPC [hospice palliative care] is far more expensive than euthanasia.

Delta is a secular facility, so what are its bases for refusing to kill? The administrators merely want the freedom to operate the facility according to the precepts of hospice moral philosophy. HPC and Euthanasia are diametrically opposed, Ireland tells me. Our health-care discipline has been practiced for 40 years in Canada and in that time has excelled in providing pain- and symptom-management to people. A patient can be stabilized to live out their life the best way possible. We have seen that people offered Hospice Palliative Care tend not to want euthanasia.

I asked how Deltas patients would be affected if the province agreed to cut its support of the hospice by $750,000. She told me that other programs, such as bereavement services for survivors and a layer of administration, would have to be cut until new sources of private or philanthropic funding could be found. But she was adamant that dying patients would not be affected, as Delta will focus exclusively on our hospice.

And if the government refuses Deltas compromise and terminates all financial support? Ireland identified a bitter irony. Over the last 20 years, we have subsidized the government healthcare system by raising $30 million and giving 750,000 voluntary labor hours directly into community healthcare, she notes. But she remains adamant: We will not provide euthanasia. If the government withdraws all its funding, we will try to operate on a privately funded downsized version. We will look for other partners to help us carry on our work.

Will Delta go to court in that circumstance? Yes. We have not done anything wrong, Ireland says. We have not defaulted on our contract. There is nothing in our contract which obliges us to perform euthanasia or have it provided on our premises. However, seeking justice is expensive. We could be on the right side of the law and the right side of history, but it will take $400 an hour to hire a lawyer to seek our remedy. Most not-for-profit organizations dont have the luxury of standing up against Big Government, who have at their disposal seemingly unlimited legal resources.

And what if all efforts at obtaining relief fail? While Ireland didnt say it, one presumes that Delta would close the hospice rather than yield to the governments orders to kill. Notably, the minister of health seems fine with that prospect.

Of course, this controversy isnt really about Delta. British Columbia is sending a clarion message to all health-care providers: resistance to the euthanasia imperative is futile. Ireland understands the stakes. We believe the nation is looking at our situation and [that it] will have a profound impact on other hospices. If the government can coerce us into killing our patients, they can force any hospice into doing it.

The Delta coercion has ramifications far beyond the hospice sector. Canada is in the process of expanding health categories that qualify for doctor-administered death. Quebec just opened the door to allowing those with mental illness that is deemed incurable to receive euthanasia. The country also seems on the verge of requiring that a person diagnosed with progressive dementia be able to sign a legally binding written directive that she be killed when she becomes incapacitated. Also being seriously debated is the legalization of pediatric euthanasia, perhaps without parental permission in the case of mature children. Meanwhile, euthanasia and organ-harvesting have already been conjoined in the country  a utilitarian plum to society, celebrated and promoted in the media. If Delta can be compelled to board the euthanasia train, so too can psychiatric institutions, pediatric hospitals, nursing homes, memory-support facilities, and organ-transplant centers.

And it isnt just medical facilities that are feeling the heat. In Ontario, an ethics rule of the provincial medical association requires doctors to participate in euthanasia, by either doing the deed or finding a doctor who will. A court of appeals has ruled that the requirement is binding, even if it violates a doctors religious beliefs. If doctors dont want to be complicit in euthanasia, the court sniffed, they should either find another career or restrict their practices to such fields as podiatry, in which they wont be asked to administer death.

What can the United States learn from all this? First, single-payer health care  socialized medicine  allows the government to control the medical profession with an iron fist and harness the sector into advancing controversial social policies. Second, euthanasia is an aggressive social pathogen that brooks no dissent. Once a society widely accepts the underlying premise that killing is an acceptable answer to suffering, access to euthanasia eventually becomes a right that the government must guarantee at the expense of the freedom of conscience of medical practitioners. Finally, access to euthanasia comes to matter more than the ability to assure quality treatment, with the authorities willing to accept a brain drain from the health-care sector rather than allow conscientious objection.

Canada is our closest cultural cousin: We had better be careful, or the same thing could happen here. If we dont want that, we should reject assisted suicide and focus our national energies on caring instead of killing.

More from National Review
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Phenom People , the global leader in Talent Experience Management (TXM), today announced additional speakers for its annual Talent Experience Conference, IAMPHENOM , on March 35, 2020 at the Philadelphia 201 Hotel.



The SHRM- and HRCI-accredited event boasts keynote, panel and breakout sessions, an expo hall and networking celebrations. Industry-renowned speakers and analysts will present on the impact of artificial intelligence, the changing role of HR and the transformation of talent experiences across candidates, recruiters, employees and management.

Recently announced speakers include:

Josh Bersin, Global Industry Analyst and Founder at Josh Bersin Academy

Malika Al-Bejawi, Global University Relations Leader at Baker Hughes

Kathy Flynn, Vice President of Talent Acquisition at CenturyLink

Ashley Cheretes, Head of Employer Brand & Recruitment Marketing at Cigna

Joyce Bender, Host of the radio talk show Disability Matters

Heather Moffitt, Global Talent Acquisition Technology Manager at GE

Mitchell Schwartz, Vice President, Head of Global Talent Acquisition at Micro Focus

Colleen Stratton, Global Leader, Workforce Development at SEI

IAMPHENOM brings together some of the most innovative HR practitioners and dynamic speakers in the industry, said Jonathan Dale, vice president of marketing at Phenom People. CHROs, talent leaders and recruiters come to IAMPHENOM to discover cutting-edge strategies and best practices that evolve the talent experience.

Proceeds from tickets sold in January will benefit WIRES (Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Services) in their mission to rescue wildlife from the Australian bushfires.

IAMPHENOM registration is available at www.iamphenom.com .

About Phenom People

Phenom People is a global HR technology company with a mission to help a billion people find the right job. We do this through an AI-based SaaS platform called Talent Experience Management.

For more information, please visit www.phenompeople.com .

Media Contact:

Derek Herman

Phenom People

derek.herman@phenompeople.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4a5d640e-b3e5-4c9a-8f86-cff46fec5fcf
(ANSA) - Rome, January 24 - Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri said Friday that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening its strategic partnership with Ministry of Defence of Qatar. "The programs indicated in the MOU include, among others, the design, construction and management of the naval base, whole warship fleet management, the application of new technologies such as digital radar and cybersecurity, as well as the supply of cutting-edge naval vessels and submarines," Fincantieri said in a statement.

The MOU comes after the company signed an contract worth close to four billion euros with the Qatari Ministry of Defence in June 2016 for the construction of seven surface vessels currently being built in the Group's Italian shipyards. The contract included the construction of four corvettes of over 100 meters in length, one amphibious vessel and two patrol vessels, as well as support services in Qatar for an additional 10 years after delivery.


DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Turkish foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday that Russia's S-400 air defense system was compatible with NATO, which needed to set up a working group to study it.

"The claim is that the S400 and F-35s are incompatible. That's the claim. Here is our proposal, lets have a working group and NATO can chair this and let's let experts make the assessment and come back to us," he said.

"We believe the S400 and F-35 are compatible," Cavusoglu said during a panel discussion at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

"It does not pose any threats to the NATO system or to NATO allies," he added.

(This story corrects to F-35s (not F-45s) after clarification by Cavusoglu)

(Reporting by Luke Baker; Editing by Alexander Smith)
Yoga Guru Ramdev on Friday advised the students of JNU and other universities to stay away from and focus on their studies rather than protesting and participating in demonstrations.

He said it is not appropriate for students to "spread violence and anarchy" and indulge in demonstrations.

While addressing a press briefing here, he claimed that India was being defamed in the world for the last several months as "there is no other work going on here except violence, anger, demonstrations and anarchy".

"I would appeal not only to JNU but students from the other universities to leave the 'aandolan' (protests) to the political parties otherwise they will be rendered unemployed. They (students) should focus on their careers and nurture their talents," Ramdev said.

According to the yoga guru, students should focus on "nation building" and leave the path of violence, anarchy and protests.

"Students have been raising slogans for aazadi. If it is the aazadi of Gandhi, Nehru and Bhagat Singh, it can be understood but if slogans are raised for aazadi as by Jinnah, then it is sedition and treachery. (Har samay aazadi ke narey lagana and usme bhi jab Gandhi, Nehru aur Bhagat wali aazadi ki baat hoti hai to samajh me aati hai per jab Jinnah waali aazadi ke nare lagte hai to ye desh ke sath sarasar gaddari aur dhokhadhadi hai," he said.

Taking a dig at the opposition political parties, Ramdev said they should understand that the country has given the mandate to Narendra Modi till 2024 and they should await their turn.

"The opposition parties should also have some patience," he said, adding that they can protest and hold demonstrations as it is their right but they should also focus on nation building.

Ramdev, who has acquired Ruchi Soya, an edible oil production company, said the country should focus on reduction of dependence on imports of palm oil, sunflower oil and other oils.

He also objected to recent remarks by the Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on the revocation of Article 370.

"We are dependent on Malaysia and Indonesia for that (oil imports). Sometimes, the heads of those nations also comment on our internal issues as whether Article 370 should be removed or not or whether CAA should be implemented or not," he said.

Raising the Kashmir issue at the UN, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad had on September 30 last year alleged that India had "invaded and occupied" Jammu and Kashmir and asked New Delhi to work with Pakistan to resolve the issue.

The government had on January 8 imposed restrictions on imports of refined palm oil, apparently to discourage the inbound shipment of the commodity from Malaysia.

Ramdev also appealed to people to respect entrepreneurs and businesses of this country in order to make the country a five trillion dollar-economy.

"The respect which we give to religious places, Parliament and other institutions, the same respect should also be extended to entrepreneurship, industry and business," he said, adding that people do not look at business as a respectable profession.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
RACINE  A 20-year-old Racine man who reportedly robbed a local Mexican restaurant multiple times in 2016 and allegedly shot at a group of people in a separate 2019 incident, is facing 10 felony charges.

Auston C. Harris, of the 1200 block of Reed Court, is charged with four counts of armed robbery, possession of a firearm by an adjudicated delinquent and three counts of possession of a firearm by a felon after reportedly robbing Taqueria Aranda, 1501 Prospect St., four times at gunpoint

Harris is also facing a charge of first-degree recklessly endangering safety with the use of a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm by a felon after he reportedly shot into a crowd of people after an incident at Coasters Bar, 1301 N. Main St.

Taqueria Aranda robberies

According to the criminal complaints:

On Sept. 22, 2016, a masked robber entered Taqueria Aranda, pointed a gun at the clerks head and demanded money from the register. The robber took approximately $300 and fled.

The restaurant was robbed by gunpoint on Oct. 6, when a masked robber again entered the restaurant, pointed a gun at the clerks head, took approximately $300 from the cash register and fled. Store employees believed it was the same person who initially robbed the restaurant.

Another armed robbery occurred on Oct. 10. This time, the suspect was wearing white Nike Air Force One sneakers and left footprints outside the restaurant and dropped money behind the register on the floor and then fled.

The business was robbed again at gunpoint on Dec. 1. This time, the masked robber stuffed money from the cash register in pockets, stealing approximately $550.

All of the robberies were captured by surveillance camera, and appeared to be committed using two different guns.

An investigator reviewed firearms that were recovered between Oct. 10 and Dec. 1. A revolver recovered on Oct. 18 during a civil trouble call appeared similar to one of the guns used in the robberies. During the civil trouble call, Harris was arrested.

Police learned that Harris, whose address is two-tenths of a mile from Taqueria Aranda, was arrested by the Kenosha Police Department for a shooting on Oct. 10, 2016, the same day as one of the robberies. He was released on Oct. 1, 2019.

A search of Harriss bedroom turned up Nike shoes with the same treads as ones used in one of the robberies, as well as a black ski mask and handgun cleaning kit.

Shooting charge

Harris was also charged Thursday for a shooting incident that occurred on Nov. 28 on Ninth Street and Parker Avenue.

A victim said he was at Coasters Bar, 1301 N. Main St., when a fight broke out. People scattered onto nearby Hubbard Street and seeing that at least one person had a handgun, the victim got in his vehicle to leave. As he left, someone threw a beer bottle through his drivers side window.

One of the victims friends contacted the person who threw the beer bottle and said that he would need to pay for the damage or meet the victim later to fight it out. The man agreed to meet and fight.

The two met to fight, and said that 25 to 30 people were present. Harris reportedly pulled out a handgun and shot at a group of people who were standing with the victim.

One of the victims friends identified Harris.

As of Thursday afternoon, Harris remained in custody on a $50,000 cash bond for the armed robbery case and $25,000 cash bond for the November shooting incident, online jail records indicate.

A preliminary hearing has been set for Wednesday at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave., online court records show.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 6 Sad 3 Angry 4

Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
Abdul Mumuni, believed to be a National Security operative has been stabbed to death in Awoshie, a suburb in Accra.

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

According to a Graphiconline report, he was stabbed by his friend Emmanuel Gyeabour, 32.

Abdul was accused by his friend, Emmanuel for failing to donate towards the funeral of his late dad.

READ ALSO: Akufo-Addo, Mahama good at spotting fine and juicy women - Allotey Jacobs

The sad incident which occurred late night Wednesday, January 22 has shocked residents of Awoshie.

The angry mob arrested the suspect and sent him to the Anyah Police Station.

In other news the police are investing the owner of Zen Filling Station in Mankessim in the Central Region over the robbery incident which lead to the death of a police officer.

The police arrested Isaac Eshun also known as Nana Nyeiku VII, to assist with investigations on the robbery attempt which to the demise of Lance Corporal Kingsley Boahen and injury to two officers when they responded to a distress call at about 0200hours on Wednesday, January 22 from the ZEN filling station.

READ ALSO: Bawumia is Akufo-Addos hype man - Bulldog jabs NPP government

Mr Eshun is in the custody of the Central Regional Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

The police during its investigations suspects the spent cartridges retrieved from the murder scene were fired from the shotgun and pistol belonging to Mr Eshun.

ATTENTION: Read the best news on Ghana #1 news app. Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that the United States of America has said it will no longer issue visas to foreigners who want to give birth in the country.

Aljazeera reports that the administration of Donald Trump on Thursday, January, 23, disclosed that the new visa rules are aimed at restricting women from travelling to the United States to give birth so their children can have a coveted US passport.

Adwowa Obeng suffers from Alopecia, a disorder that results in unpredictable hair loss.| #Yencomgh

READ ALSO: Ghana Air Force plane overruns apron during routine engine run

Have national and human interest issues to discuss? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Source: YEN.com.gh
Kathmandu/IBNS: Nepal has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the first Sagarmatha Sambaad talks to discuss the global, regional and national issues, Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said on Friday, media reported.

The first edition of Sagarmatha Sambad themed "Climate Change, Mountains and the Future of Humanity" will be held from Feb 2 to 4.

The invitation has been already sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office and confirmation is awaited, Gyawali said.

Heads of all the SAARC nations have been sent the invitation for the dialogue, including Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, and Nepal would be happy to host them so that they can hold discussions on challenges facing the region, he added.

The dialogue has been named after the world's highest peak Sagarmatha [Mt Everest] which also means friendship, he said.

The Sambaad or the dialogue is aimed at creating a consensus among the south Asian leaders on the climate crisis and encourage them to use their political will power to tackle the negative impacts of climate change, he added.

The member states of SAARC are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared that about 400,000 refugees are moving from Syrias Idlib to the Turkish border due to escalation of the armed conflict in the region, reports RIA Novosti.

We cant solve the issue by sending with tents. This is why we have declared mobilization with the Red Crescent. First, we will set up a city for 10,000 refugees and will continue in the zone free of terrorists along the entire length of the border, Erdogan said during a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Turkey.

Angela Merkel expressed gratitude for Turkeys humanitarian efforts in Syria.

I believe the EU will provide assistance. People traveling from Idlib to Turkey need to spend the winter. We need to build normal homes, not set up tents, and Germany can take part in the efforts, Merkel said.
Photograph: Gerald Herbert/AP

Three months after the partial collapse of the Hard Rock hotel construction site on the tip of New Orleanss historic French Quarter, a macabre reminder of the tragedy that claimed three lives was visible to passersby this week.

Among the collapsed buildings twisted remains and rubble, the dangling legs of a wedged corpse were revealed to the public after a tarpaulin sheet covering the body was blown away by wind.

Related: Hard Rock Hotel collapse reminds New Orleans of undocumented workers' plight

The gruesome sight came as city officials are scrambling to dismantle the 18-storey, 350-room hotel, which remains an eyesore and still holds the trapped remains of two workers, Quinnyon Wimberly and Jose Ponce Arreola.

After images of the exposed corpse provoked outrage on social media, city firefighters installed a new tarp on Wednesday afternoon. As of Thursday morning the covering remained intact, as police maintained a heavy presence around the collapsed building.

The mayor of New Orleans, LaToya Cantrell, urged members of the public and the media not to photograph or share images of the body.

To be clear: capturing or sharing images of the victims in such a condition is irresponsible, it is indefensible, and it is not who we are as New Orleanians, a statement from the mayors office read. We urge news outlets, residents, and social media users to have nothing to do with making a tragic situation needlessly worse.

Cantrell has faced significant criticism for her handling of the saga and it remains unclear if the collapse is being criminally investigated. Last week, city officials announced new plans to implode the building by mid-March, after the firm that owns the site  1031 Canal Street Development  had lobbied for a gradual demolition process that would have extended into next year.

The mayors office said on Wednesday that respectful recovery of the remains is still a top priority but that the buildings continued instability had made recovery extremely difficult and very dangerous. One of the bodies is trapped over 11 storeys above street level.

Story continues

A spokeswoman for the mayors office declined to comment further on Thursday.

The city is preparing for the annual Mardi Gras season, which draws about a million tourists to New Orleans in February and brings in about $400m to the local economy.

The collapse has also drawn attention to the plight of the citys undocumented community after one worker, Delmer Joel Ramirez Palma, was deported to Honduras by federal authorities, having been hospitalized due to injuries sustained during the incident.

Ramirez Palma had alerted authorities to dangers in the construction process before the collapse and was interviewed by Spanish language TV in the aftermath. He had lived in New Orleans for 18 years.

Several lawsuits have been filed against the projects developers and contracts, citing allegations of negligence. Plaintiffs include both bystanders and workers injured during the collapse.
24.01.2020 LISTEN

Versatile Ghanaian Comedian Benson Nana Yaw Oduro Boateng known by his stage name Funny Face says he has had experience and lessons from his previous marriage that will guide him on his union with her current wife.

Funny Face told this reporter in a video interview that he virtually follows all his wifes instructions unlike previous times with his ex-wife.

According to him, all he wants now is peace to prevail and have a lovely home.

The comedian further noted that he takes partial responsibility for the failure of his first marriage and would not want anybody to blame it all on his ex-wife.

Funny Face was adjudged the best Comedian in the year 2006 at the then popular stand-up comedy show Toli Masters organized by the defunct Radio Gold and has since risen to National fame.

He has performed at various prestigious national events including A night of laughs, Vodafone Ghana Music Awards red carpet hosting among others.

Funny Face has recently found love in hosting children events and entertaining kids across the country. This has earned him the accolade as The Childrens President.

He is storming the scenes very soon with a series dubbed Kasoa Trotro.

Watch the video below
Christian country musical group Summit Trace will appear in Orangeburg on Sunday.

The North Carolina-based group will be in concert at St. Paul's United Methodist Church at 6 p.m. Sunday. The church is located at 1356 Amelia St, Orangeburg.

According to their website, Summit Traces, goal for the evening is to usher in the presence of God and celebrate the Christian message. They feel privileged and honored to enjoy the freedom to honor Christ with any and all of their abilities.

Their purpose is obvious. These people love great songs, know how to deliver them, and obviously love God and ministry!

No admission will be charged but a love offering will be received.

Find out more about the band at www.summittraceonline.com.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
The Forgotten Army

Director - Kabir Khan

Cast - Sunny Kaushal, Sharvari, Rohit Choudhary, Karanvir Malhotra, MK Raina, R Badree, TJ Bhanu, Shruti Seth

Director Kabir Khan said in a recent interview that while he can forgive poor filmmaking, he can never forgive poor politics. The politics of his first show as a creator, Amazon Primes The Forgotten Army, may be above reproach, but the filmmaking certainly isnt.

There were many ways in which the five-episode war drama could have gone wrong, especially in todays volatile climate, when history can be reshaped to suit popular sentiments. But before you can heave a sigh of relief at the show not falling into the same torrent of nationalistic pride that consumed recent historicals such as Manikarnika and Tanhaji, it drowns in its own good intentions.

Watch the Forgotten Army trailer here:

Among its many faults is a narrative that merely grazes its subject without ever penetrating its depths, like a poorly aimed bullet against an enemys skin. It honours the bravery of real heroes by reducing them to composite characters, effectively diluting their achievements by chucking in multiple storylines into the mix, in a manner that doesnt do a single one of them any favours.

The Forgotten Army aims for the poignancy of HBOs Band of Brothers, but displays none of the patience.

For instance, a character who mocks another in episode one for being the black sheep of the family gushes that it would be an honour for him if theyd travel to a protest together in episode three. This would be a fine progression for either of them had the show taken its time in fleshing them out. But all were told, essentially, is that one of them is a student of journalism with some vague idea about making a difference, and the other is a PTSD-ridden war veteran. One chill-out session and proximately 15 minutes of screen-time cant transform their equation.

Khan frames the show in two timelines, with the same character at different ages  one timeline is set in the past, during World War 2, and the other is set in the late 90s  monumentally complicating an already disjointed structure. Before we can settle into one storyline, were hurled across decades, once again forced to form a connection to characters we know next to nothing about. What motivates the soldier Surinder Sodhi (Sunny Kaushal), besides a strong sense of duty? Whom is he fighting for  is he a traitor or a true nationalist? Is a passionately delivered call to arms all it takes to rally thousands towards an uncertain cause?

All these questions are addressed with only a slight interest, which is fine, but did they learn nothing from the mistakes made by films like Pearl Harbor, whose insistence on shoehorning in a romantic subplot against the backdrop of a real tragedy was summed up by a scathing New York Times headline: War is hell, but very pretty?There is a similar romantic track in The Forgotten Army, involving Surinder, who should, in all honesty, have been concerned with graver matters, and a young photographer with a misplaced sense of identity. Another subplot, with feminist overtones, must have sounded like a good idea on paper, but exists as if in a vacuum.

Newcomer Sharvari, in a still from Amazons The Forgotten Army.

The show jumps back and forth between these two timelines with the subtlety of a cannonball to the chest  a scene on a train in 1943 is mirrored by a similar scene in 1996; when a character goes to a certain country in the 40s, he makes sure to visit the same countries again in the present day timeline.

The episodes, at 20-25 minutes long, are too short to sell the personal struggles of these people, especially Surinder, whose past as a soldier in the Indian National Army still haunts him, many years later.

With such a restrictive runtime, Khan and his writers are forced to deliver exposition in a rather blunt manner. So when the elder Surinder asks his grand nephew, Amar, if hes heard of the Battle of Singapore, the angsty teenager proceeds to recite a hypothetical Wikipedia entry about the historical event, as if hed memorised it just moments before. To be clear, both Surinder and Amar are aware of the battle. The recitation was merely for the audiences convenience, perhaps because the writers assumed that even in the year 2020, we prefer context be spoon-fed to us and not conveyed dramatically.

To have a stilted young actor deliver dialogue as dry as this is boring enough, but to have one of the biggest stars in the country narrate what are essentially episode recaps, is pointless. I will not reveal whom Kabir Khan has cast to do this narration, but I will tell you this: Its not Salman.

Sunny Kaushal, in a still from The Forgotten Army.

Its quite obvious that Amazon spent good money on the show, but in a trend that is slowly becoming overwhelming clear, Indian filmmakers seem to equate scale with CGI. There isnt a single computer-generated shot that cant immediately be indentified for what it is. Instead of seamlessly blending into the background and servicing the story, the shoddy CGI draws attention to itself, thereby distracting from the emotional core of what is happening.

On one of the few occasions that Subhash Chandra Bose makes an appearance  despite being the founder of the INA, he mostly remains a background presence  hes facing a sea of CGI soldiers, cloned with perhaps the same technology they used to animate crowds in FIFA video games, circa 2002.

Also read: Bard of Blood review: Emraan Hashmis Netflix series pales in comparison to Amazons Family Man

For some strange reason that I cant quite understand, Khan has shot the show with long lenses, inadvertently creating a metaphorical chasm between the audience and the characters, as if the literal one hed already constructed with the writing wasnt enough. The action set-pieces have little sense of geography, robbing them of urgency and cohesion. An early battle scene meant to evoke classic Hollywood war movies resembles a playground brawl more than anything else.

It remains to be seen if an undemanding crowd takes to the The Forgotten Army, but ask yourself this: can a show that is itself at risk of being forgotten be relied upon to shed light on a forgotten piece of history?

Follow @htshowbiz for more

The author tweets @RohanNaahar
She was standing in line for the attraction at Animal Kingdom notorious for its wait times since opening in 2017. Turning around, she realized a man  a 46-year-old from Brazil  was urinating in the queue. His back was turned as he attempted to hide himself, although the woman could still see, according to the March incident report.
Anticipation can be really important aspect of a journey. For six months before the most expensive holiday I have ever booked, I relished the prospect of sailing aboard an Adventure Canada ship from Greenland to Quebec.

It turned out to be the worst holiday I have ever had. As the planned itinerary fell apart and the trip increasingly seemed to be run for the benefit of the staff rather than the passengers, morale disintegrated.

We were finally put out of the ship, and our misery, in Baffin Island rather than Quebec. But I had still banked the benefit derived from looking forward to a voyage.

Barbara K and her travel companion have been looking forward to a voyage, too. They have booked a cruise-and-stay trip in Asia, lasting five weeks and taking in India, Cambodia, Vietnam and Hong Kong before arriving at the Chinese port of Tianjin in mid-May. They travel to Beijing and onto Shanghai by rail.

But with newspaper front pages this week reading UK On Killer Virus Alert and World War Flu, the joy of anticipation has been elbowed out by apprehension.

Wuhan Coronavirus has brought tragedy for some families who have lost loved ones. The respiratory virus is causing enormous stress for people in the now-closed cities in China, and worry worldwide as the number of suspected cases rises.

Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Show all 154 1 /154 Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Paramedics wearing personal protective equipment carry patient on a stretcher on to an ambulance in North Point district in Hong Kong, China Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A medical worker wearing protective gear takes a rest as he waits for ambulances carrying patients infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus at an entrance of a hospital in Daegu, South Korea YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A medical worker sprays disinfectant on an ambulance after carrying a patient infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus at a hospital in Daegu YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People wearing protective face masks shop at a supermarket in Casalpusterlengo, one the northern Italian towns placed under lockdown due to the new coronavirus outbreak EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A trolley bus is disinfected amid fears over the spread of the novel coronavirus in Pyongyang, North Korea REUTERS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers wearing protective gear spray disinfectant as a precaution against the COVID-19 coronavirus in a local market in Daegu, South Korea AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing a protective facemask walks outside a nearly empty shopping mall at lunch time in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing protective facemask and gloves puts a drawing made by a girl living in the area asking residents to wear protective gear, next to a quarantine notice for people who have travelled and a notice asking people to register outside a residential compound in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman is taken into an ambulance amid a coronavirus outbreak in northern Italy REUTERS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ambulances and health workers are seen outside the Padua's hospital, northern Italy EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers in coaches leave MoD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire after being repatriated to the UK from a cruise ship hit by the coronavirus in Yokohama, Japan and head to Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People rest in a temporary hospital situated in the Tazihu Gymnasium in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Buddhist monks wearing protective face masks pray during a blessing ceremony for the people affected by the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, at a temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia REUTERS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers wearing protective gears carry a patient infecting with a new coronavirus to a hospital in Chuncheon, South Korea AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Soldiers in hazmat suits sanitize cargo from a China Airlines plane at the Taoyuan International Airport in Taoyuan City, Taiwan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Barricades are seen to block the entrance a the gate of a local mall in a nearly empty area in Beijing, China Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A vendor wearing a protective facemask waits for customers at a shop in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus The body temperature of an Iraqi child returning from Iran is measured upon her arrival at the Najaf International Airport AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Volunteers hand out free facemasks at a shopping district in Quezon city, Metro Manila, Philippines Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers wearing protective gears carry a patient suspected of contracting the new coronavirus toward an ambulance at Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo, South Korea AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A worker disinfects a shop at a market in Shanghai AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A restaurant worker wearing protective clothing as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus passing a bag of food to a customer on the street outside their restaurant in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A recovered patient is discharged from Leishenshan Hospital, the newly-built makeshift hospital for novel coronavirus patients, in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Volunteers in protective suits disinfect a factory with sanitising equipment in Huzhou, China China Daily via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers in protective suits attend to a patient inside an isolated ward of Wuhan Red Cross Hospital Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A drone operated by the Suwon municipal government flies around Changyong Middle School spraying disinfectant, in Suwon, South Korea EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers transfer medical waste at Leishenshan Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing a protective mask rides a bicycle with his children in Guangzhou, China EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Volunteers in protective suits disinfect a railway station as the country is hit by an outbreak of the new coronavirus, in Changsha, Hunan province, China cnsphoto via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman repatriated from Wuhan carries a child as she walks upon her arrival at the Van Don airport in Vietnam's Quang Ninh province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff checking the body temperature of a patient who has displayed mild symptoms of the COVID-19 coronavirus, at an exhibition centre converted into a hospital in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A medical worker in protective suit transports oxygen tanks at Wuhan Red Cross Hospital Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Boys wearing protection masks, gloves and modified water bottles sit on a cart at the airport arrival terminal in Guangzhou EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Employees work on a production line manufacturing protective suits at a clothing factory in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province cnsphoto via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers in protective suits move a patient at an isolated ward of a hospital in Caidian district following an outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan China Daily via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A worker in protective clothing, including face mask and gloves, carries a bucket as he works inside of The County Oak Medical Centre in Brighton, southern England, after it closed for "urgent operational health and safety reasons", following reports a member of staff was infected with the strain of the novel coronavirus AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers of the ecology and environment bureau collect samples from the sewage system of a hospital in Xinle, Hebei province China Daily via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man in protective clothing cleaning the County Oak Medical Centre GP practice The British government warned the outbreak of novel coronavirus was a "serious and imminent threat" and reported four new cases that brought the total recorded in the country to eight. Two hospitals The Royal Free and Guys and St Thomas', have both been designated as "isolation" facilities, with both currently housing Britons who have returned from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the outbreak PA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to the newly completed Huoshenshan temporary field Hospital in Wuhan. The global coronavirus death toll rose again with Hong Kong announcing its first death from the outbreak on 4 February EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of staff wait as coaches carrying Coronavirus evacuees arrive at Kents Hill Park Training and Conference Centre, in Milton Keynes, after being repatriated to the UK from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan PA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A crew member of the cruise ship Diamond Princess talks to a worker wearing protective gear standing near the vessel, where dozens of passengers were tested positive for coronavirus, at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Doctors scan a patient's lungs at Huoshenshan temporary hospital built for patients diagnosed with coronavirus in Wuhan Xinhua News Agency/AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People wearing protective suits walk from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, with around 3,600 people quarantined onboard due to fears of the new coronavirus, at the Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Indonesians who arrived from Wuhan are sprayed with antiseptic at Hang Nadim Airport in Batam. People evacuated from the Chinese city at the centre of a deadly virus outbreak, were transported to a quarantine zone on a remote island at the edge of the South China Sea, shortly after landing Indonesian Foreign Ministry via AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman wears a protective mask as she shops in a market in Beijing Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members hugging each other in an isolation ward at a hospital in Zouping in China's easter Shandong province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A portrait of Dr Li Wenliang is left at Li's hospital in Wuhan. He is regarded a whistleblower on the outbreak and died of the coronavirus which triggered wide-spread mourning on Chinese media Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Officers in protective gear enter the cruise ship Diamond Princess, where people tested positive for coronavirus, after the ship arrived at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, south of Tokyo Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Firefighters and personnel from the health ministry participate in a drill to prepare for the potential arrival of passengers infected with the coronavirus at the Viru Viru International Airport, in Santa Cruz, Bolivia Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Scientists are at work in the VirPath university laboratory as they try to find an effective treatment against the new Sars-like coronavirus AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers in protective suits attend to patients at the Wuhan International Conference and Exhibition Center, which has been converted into a makeshift hospital to receive patients with mild symptoms caused by the virus Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A girl wears a mask as a preventive measure against the coronavirus outbreak, in Bangkok, Thailand Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man is transferred from the World Dream cruise ship to an ambulance at the Kai Tak cruise terminal in Hong Kong as health officials conduct inspections AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers from a disinfection service company enter Lotte Department Store in central Seoul, South Korea EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man who arrived from Hubei province talks with police at a checkpoint at the Jiujiang Yangtze River Bridge Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A doctor holds a handheld digital thermometer near health officials preparing a health check for arriving passengers from China at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A resident walks across an empty track in Wuhan Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A scientific staff member works in a secure laboratory, researching the coronavirus, at the Pasteur Institute in Dakar AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members preparing equipment to meet passengers of a military plane, which evacuated citizens of Russia and ex-Soviet countries from China's Wuhan province Vsluh.ru via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Staff wearing protective suits as they prepare to disinfect a Vietnam Airlines plane at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi Vietnam Airlines/AFP/Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A South Korean person, who was evacuated from Wuhan, arrives at the National Medical Center after showing suspected symptoms of novel coronavirus, in Seoul EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Officers in protective gear escort a person (under the blue sheet) who was on board cruise ship Diamond Princess and was tested positive for coronavirus Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A doctor being disinfected by his colleague at a quarantine zone in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Buses carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan, arrive at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Indonesian health officials conduct an exercise drill in transporting a patient requiring isolation at the Belawan port in Medan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus The Pasteur Institute in Dakar, designated by the African Union as one of the two reference centres in Africa for the detection of the new coronavirus that appeared in China, is hosting experts from 15 countries on the continent this weekend to prepare them to deal with the disease AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A government worker disinfects a co-worker after visiting a quarantined woman's home in Qingdao EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An aerial view of the deserted roads and bridges in Wuhan Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers hold a strike outside the Hospital Authority as they demand for Hong Kong to close its border with China to reduce the coronavirus spreading Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A person has their tempriture checked in Qingdao, China EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion, when viewed electron microscopically Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/AFP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Malaysian nationals being directed from a bus by health officials in protective suits as they arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, after being evacuated from Wuhan Malaysia's Ministry of Health/AFP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People hoping to buy face masks crowd outside a medical supply shop that was raided by police for allegedly hoarding and overpricing the masks, as public fear over China's Wuhan Coronavirus grow in Manila, Philippines. The Philippine government has been heavily criticized after failing to immediately implement travel restrictions from China, the source of a deadly coronavirus that has now killed hundreds and infected thousands more Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Residents wearing masks and raincoats volunteer to take temperature of passengers following the outbreak of a new coronavirus at a bus stop at Tin Shui Wai, a border town in Hong Kong Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Italian citizens repatriated from Wuhan going though a health control zone after landing at the Mario De Bernardi military airport in Pratica di Mare, south of Rome, prior to be placed in quarantine Italian Defence Ministry/AFP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers arrange beds in a 2,000-bed mobile hospital, set up in an exhibition center, in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A doctor checks conditions of occupants in a hotel accommodating isolated people in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members wearing protective clothing to help stop the spread of a deadly virus which began in the city of Wuhan, arrive with a patient at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital. The Chinese army deployed medical specialists to the epicentre of the spiralling viral outbreak that has killed and spread around the world AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A baby wearing a protective face mask is pushed by a woman as they arrive from Shenzhen to Hong Kong at Lo Wu MTR station AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A health worker checks the temperature of a woman entering a subway station in Beijing Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A young child wears a protective mask and is covered in plastic while waiting to check in to a flight at Beijing Capital Airport The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday declared the coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ambulance crews arrive at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, as it prepares for a return flight from Wuhan, China. Eighty-three Britons and 27 foreign nationals who were trapped in Wuhan are being flown back to the UK Tom Maddick / SWNS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman carries a baby wearing a protective mask as they exit the arrival hall at Hong Kong High Speed Rail Station Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Camp beds at a Medical Assessment Center set up at the airport in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on the eve of the arrival of German citizens evacuated from Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Funeral parlour staff members in protective suits help a colleague with disinfection after they transferred a body at a hospital in Wuhan Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Muslims wearing masks pray for the victims of coronavirus at a mosque in Ahmedabad, India Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical officials waiting for people who wants to check the novel coronavirus at Myeongdong shopping district Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Children wear plastic bottles as makeshift homemade protection and protective masks while waiting to check in to a flight at Beijing Capital Airport Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A patient assisted by medical staff gets off an ambulance in Wuhan AFP/Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People line up to buy face masks from a medical supply company in Nanning, southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Countries began evacuating their citizens from the Chinese city hardest-hit by a new virus that has now infected more people in China than were sickened in the country by SARS Chinatopix via AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Millions spent their normally festive Lunar New Year holiday under lockdown Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Children with face masks wash their hands before prayer at Erawan shrine in Bangkok. Thailand has detected eight Coronavirus cases so far AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An Indonesian health officer points at the screen of a thermal scanner for passengers China confirmed that the deadly Wuhan coronavirus virus can be transmitted between humans AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Hospital workers wearing protective eyewear and masks examine an Indonesian student who returned from China in quarantine at a hospital in Banda Aceh AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ambulance staff dispose of an outfit at the hospital in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A person checks the temperature of a passenger to help stop the spread of a deadly virus as he arrives at the Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International airport in Palembang AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Nepali students, wearing face masks, attend a class at Matribhumi School in Bhaktapur, on the outskirts of Kathmandu AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Two Buddhist monks wear face masks while walking along a street in Yangon AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Staff disinfecting a residential area in Ruichang, part of Jiujiang in China's central Jiangxi province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers are seen at the construction site of a new hospital being built to treat patients from a deadly virus outbreak in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on January 27, 2020. - China is rushing to build a new hospital in a staggering 10 days to treat patients at the epicentre of a deadly virus outbreak that has stricken thousands of people, state media reported on January 24. (Photo by Hector RETAMAL / AFP) (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images) HECTOR RETAMAL AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Vapor blurs the goggles of an ambulance driver while they work, in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers producing facemasks at a factory in Yangzhou AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff getting on an ambulance in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A vendor of traditional masks wears a facial mask at his shop in Thamel EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An airport official checks the temperature of a passenger upon his arrival at the Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members arrive with a patient at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An ambulance driver talking with medical staff in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Wuhan Hygiene Emergency Response Team leave the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market The new coronavirus appears to have its origins in a seafood market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, a popular transport hub AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers produce protective suits at a factory in Nantong AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers scanned by thermal imaging for body temperature as they go through health measures and procedures after they landed at Rome's Fiumicino airport on a southern airlines flight from Wuhan Aeroporto Di Roma/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A Thai royal guard wears a mask while on duty at the Grand Palace in Bangkok EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing a face mask rides a nearly empty subway train in Beijing AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A shopper wearing goggles with a face mask and gloves uses a self checkout machine at a supermarket in Wuhan AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to Jinyintan hospital EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of the Italian Red Cross putting on protective gear, getting ready to give health checks to passengers that landed at Rome's Fiumicino airport on a southern airlines flight from Wuhan Aeroporto Di Roma/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A member of the Hong Kong government's Civil Aid Service gestures at the entrance to the Lady MacLehose Holiday Village which is being used as one of two quarantine centres for people who have been in close proximity with suspected cases of a SARS-type virus. Hong Kong will turn two holiday camps, including a former military barracks, into quarantine zones for people who may have come into contact with carriers of the Wuhan virus, officials announced AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff wearing protective suits at the Zhongnan hospital in Wuhan STR/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A Malaysia Health official checks passengers going through a thermal scanner upon their arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Staff disinfecting Yingtan North Railway Station, China China banned trains and planes from leaving the major city at the centre of a virus outbreak on January 23, seeking to seal off its 11 million people to contain the contagious disease that has claimed lives and spread to other countries AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A passenger walks past a quarantine control station at Narita airport, Japan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Patients queue up to seek treatment in Wuhan Tongji Hospital Fever Clinic, in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Quarantine workers spray disinfectant at Incheon International Airport, South Korea EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A member of staff checks the temperature of a guest entering the casino of the New Orient Landmark hotel in Macau, after it reported its first case of the new SARS-like virus AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to Jin Yintan hospital Little is known about the new disease which, if confirmed, would be only the seventh coronavirus known to science that can infect humans Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of the Three Gorges Medical Laboratory offering free masks to the public in Yichang, China AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Gabriel Leung, right, chair professor of public health medicine at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong, speaks about the extent of the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak in China AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of staff of the Wuhan Hygiene Emergency Response Team conducting searches on the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A quarantine officer at Incheon International Airport, South Korea, uses an electronic thermometer to check the temperature of passengers arriving by plane from Wuhan The virus causes symptoms of viral pneumonia, and has already led to several deaths EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A screen shows cancelled flights at Tianhe airport in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to Jinyintan hospital EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Health officials hand out information about the current coronavirus at Kuala Lumpur International Airport AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A store owner argues with security guards as he attempts to enter the closed Huanan wholesale seafood market AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers producing facemasks at a factory in Handan, China's northern Hebei province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff and security personnel stop patients' family members from being too close to the Jinyintan hospital Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus maya-goodfellowAn airport staff member uses a temperature gun to check people leaving Wuhan Tianhe International Airport AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A rescue worker walks past a notice about new coronavirus that has broken out in China Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Health officials wear face masks at an inspection site at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members carry a patient into the Jinyintan hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A staff member checks body temperature of a child after a train from Wuhan arrived at Hangzhou Railway Station in Hangzhou AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A quarantine station measures passenger body temperatures at Narita Airport JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers walk past a notice displayed near a quarantine control station at Narita airport EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers walk past a poster alerting on coronavirus screening ahead upon their arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An employee sprays disinfectant on a train, as a precaution against coronavirus, at Suseo Station in Seoul EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Kazakh sanitary-epidemiological service worker uses a thermal scanner to detect travellers from China who may have symptoms possibly connected with the previously unknown coronavirus, at Almaty International Airport, Kazakhstan Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Pharmacist Liu Zhuzhen stands near a sign reading "face masks are sold out" at her pharmacy in Shanghai AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus The Wuhan Medical Treatment Center, EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A worker in a protective suit at the closed seafood market in Wuhan Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers wear protective face masks at the departure hall of a high speed train station in Hong Kong AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A notice for passengers from Wuhan Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wears a mask while riding on mobike past the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market Getty

Barbara writes: Coronavirus is becoming an obvious concern. We need to know our options if we decided not to continue, or indeed cancel the whole tour entirely.

I have written back to say I dont know how the new coronavirus will evolve over the next few months. It may spread across the globe and cause widespread harm as well as massive disruption. More optimistically, new cases might peak soon but then subside; if previous killer virus scares are typical, concern will soon dwindle.

Fortunately Barbara has booked a package holiday  so, in the unfortunate and unlikely event that Foreign Office was to warn against travel to China, she would be entitled to a full refund.

At present the Foreign Office advises only against travel to the Wuhan region. There is no obligation for a travel firm to change their standard terms and conditions for a journey beginning 12 weeks from now.

Committing well in advance for an extensive trip to a dozen different destinations that are susceptible to a range of events including extreme weather, terrorism and pandemic indicates a healthy appetite for risk.

Yet this sad episode is a reminder that, while anticipation has plenty of value, there is nothing wrong with being risk averse. If you share Barbaras concerns, think carefully about when to book your next trip.

Whatever happens, I hope travellers will continue to practise scrupulous personal hygiene: washing hands frequently with soap, and avoiding close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing. If you, like me, are averse to risk, that will increase the odds significantly in your favour.
EDMONTONAn Alberta researcher is taking Premier Jason Kenney to task for citing an article featuring her work as proof that supervised injection sites are hurting Alberta communities.

Em Pijl said she knew the biggest risk with her research into the unintended consequences of putting a supervised consumption site in Lethbridge, Alta., was that people might try and point to the findings as reason to pull funding for the facility.

Shes unimpressed the Alberta government now seems to be doing just that.

On Thursday, the University of Lethbridge professor, who released her study this month, criticized Kenney for his inflammatory tweet about it the day before.

Kenney called supervised consumption locations NDP drug sites and used an article about her study to say more data confirms the sites have hit local communities with an increase in crime and anti-social behaviour.

I think hes trying to make people feel really angry and upset  all this virtue-signalling about how bad the NDP is, and these programs, and those people, Pijl told the Star.

I dont think its constructive in any way.

Earlier this week, Kenney was asked by reporters about a review that his government had requested after striking a panel to tour the province and investigate the consequences of the sites. He said its possible some of the sites  there are seven in Alberta  could be closed or relocated.

Kenney said hed seen a preliminary report from the panel and that, It underscores the concerns that we have had about the negative impact on people and on communities as a result of at least some of the drug-injection sites.

Theyre now more than injections. ... Theyre just illegal drug sites.

Supervised consumption sites are locations where people with addictions can consume opioids and other substances in a controlled environment, close to help if they overdose and to a network that can support them.

Research into the benefits of supervised consumption sites has shown they save lives and play a significant role in harm reduction.

Pijls study was narrow in that it focused on the perceptions of those who are affected by the site in Lethbridge, a small southern city and home to North Americas busiest site, clocking around 663 visits per day.

Her study used a questionnaire to measure how people in the area around the site perceive anti-social behaviour and social disorder. It was sent out to people in several different zones of the city and sought to measure their perceptions of social disorder. Focus groups were held and five surveys were sent out, garnering hundreds of responses.

The study noted that it had requested crime and call-out data from the Lethbridge Police Service but that after three requests, the service failed to provide any usable data.

She stressed that her study should be placed alongside other research focused on other sites in different cities, such as Vancouver and Sydney, Australia.

It should also be contextualized with research into the accompanying benefits and life-saving measures.

If Kenney were to use her study to help form public policy, I would have to school him on the purpose of the report, Pijl said.

I was trying to shed light on the unintended consequences and that is totally unrelated to the benefits of supervised consumption.

What the study mainly shows is that Alberta is facing a drug crisis and that there needs to be mitigation programs, compassion for both drug users and business people, detox measures, housing initiatives and rehabilitation, Pijl said.

She also said that the negative impacts of the site in Lethbridge shouldnt be discounted. People there raise real concerns about discarded needles, social disorder and effects on business.

We cant say that everything is due to the SCS, she said, adding that some social ills being driven up could be due to the drug crisis accelerating and poverty becoming worse across the spectrum.

That said, there are a couple of points where things did markedly change in this (area) and that was just related to some specific behaviours  throwing needles, discarding needles inappropriately, debris and things like that.

Pijl noted that many of these issues were observable in the downtown part of Lethbridge since 2016, its just that in 2018, the placement of the site in a separate area brought some of that with it.

She cautioned that pulling funding for the site wont make those things go away. Taking out the service will cause overdose deaths, she said.

(The study) does not speak to the merits of supervised consumption, Pijl said. I think people need to stop seeing drug use as a moral failing.

The UCP government has set aside $140 million to bolster mental health and addiction services and pledged to open 4,000 treatment spaces.

Christine Myatt, a spokesperson for the premiers office, said in an emailed statement that, We do not oppose harm reduction as part of a continuum of care.

We believe that not nearly enough emphasis has been placed on treatment and recovery and we plan to change that, she said.

She added that while they have serious concerns with the impact of the sites on some areas, the review is ongoing and that funding for the sites will remain until the government is done looking over the results.

With files from The Canadian Press.

Read more about:
Ministers have no idea how much HS2 will end up costing, a damning report reveals today.

The high-speed rail project is running wildly over budget and will not deliver good value for money, according to a probe by the National Audit Office.

The Government spending watchdog says the benefit to the immediate economy will be as low as 80p for every 1 spent on phase one from London to Birmingham. This rises to a meagre 1.40 for every 1 invested in the full line connecting the capital to the North.

The high-speed rail project is running wildly over budget and will not deliver good value for money, according to a probe by the National Audit Office

Construction work on the project must begin by the end of March if the first phase of HS2 is to open between 2029 and 2033 as planned, the report warns

Construction work on the project must begin by the end of March if the first phase of HS2 is to open between 2029 and 2033 as planned, the report warns.

Even so, full passenger services from Euston to the Midlands might not begin until 2036, ten years later than scheduled and the full line could take 20 years to finish. So far 7.4billion has been spent without a single piece of track being laid. The Prime Minister and senior ministers will decide within weeks whether to go ahead with the troubled project, scale it back or scrap it entirely. The NAOs findings will fuel calls for a major rethink of the scheme, the official cost of which could hit 106billion  triple the original 32billion estimate.

Investigators also found that the number of HS2 staff has doubled since 2016 to 1,250.

In all, HS2s official cost estimate of 88billion, set by the Department for Transport (DfT) in September last year, is 58 per cent more than the available funding of 55.7billion.

The report says HS2s early 7billion contingency fund was not enough to cover significant increases in cost which emerged as issues came to light.

It is impossible to say how much HS2 will cost overall as the second phase of the line, from Birmingham to Manchester and Leeds, is at a very early stage, the NAO added. The ambitious programme will take decades, the watchdog concluded.

In not fully and openly recognising the programmes risks from the outset, the Department and HS2 Ltd have not adequately managed the risks to value for money, it said.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has commissioned extra data on potential alternatives to HS2 before making a final decision on its future next month.

Last night Andy McDonald, Labour transport spokesman, accused the Tories of woeful political leadership over HS2. A DfT spokesman said: We recognise that there have been significant underestimations of both the cost and schedule of HS2 in the past which is why we commissioned the Oakervee review to provide advice on whether and how to proceed with HS2.
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Affinity Gaming ("Affinity") today announced that it has completed the previously announced sale of the Golden Gates, Golden Gulch and Mardi Gras casino properties in Black Hawk, Colorado, to Twin River Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TRWH) for $51 million, subject to customary adjustments.

"We are pleased to complete the sale of these three casino properties as we sharpen our focus on Affinity's other key markets in Nevada and the Midwest," said Mary Beth Higgins, Chief Executive Officer of Affinity Gaming. "We remain committed to driving sustainable, long-term growth, while further enhancing Affinity as a local casino leader by continually improving the customer and guest experience at our properties."

Golden Gates, Golden Gulch and Mardi Gras are located in close proximity to one another along a half-mile strip of casino and casino-hotel properties in the historic mining town of Black Hawk, Colorado. Affinity acquired the three Black Hawk casinos in 2012 and over the past 8 years has worked to enhance the combined 36,000 square feet of gaming space, which today features nearly 20 table games, approximately 700 slots and a poker parlor. The properties also offer three restaurants and 24/7 bars, and one of the only parking garages in the market, with 700 spaces.

Affiliates of Z Capital Partners, the private equity management arm of Z Capital Group, closed their take-private acquisition of Affinity in 2017.

About Affinity

Affinity Gaming is a diversified casino gaming company headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. The company's casino operations consist of 8 casinos, five of which are located in Nevada, two in Missouri and one in Iowa. For more information about Affinity Gaming, please visit its website: www.affinitygaming.com.

About Z Capital Group

Z Capital is a leading, privately held global investment firm having approximately $2.8 billion of assets under management across complementary opportunistic, value-oriented private equity and credit businesses.

Z Capital's investors are some of the largest and most sophisticated global institutional investors including public and corporate pension funds, university endowments, foundations, sovereign wealth funds, central banks, and insurance companies. The Z Capital investment strategies are described at www.zcapgroup.net.

Media Contacts



Jonathan Keehner / Tim Ragones / Kate Clark

Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

212-355-4449

SOURCE Affinity Gaming
A Westjet aircraft prepares to depart the airport in St. Johns on Jan. 22, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Andrew Vaughan)

Hopes for Normalcy in Life and Death Slowly Return to St. Johns, Newfoundland After Blizzard Emergency

ST. JOHNS, N.L.Theres hope in St. Johns, N.L., that the daily concerns of lifeand deathwill slowly begin returning to normal over the weekend.

Jan. 23 marked the provincial capitals seventh day under a state of emergency that was declared on Jan. 17 as a recordsetting blizzard dropped more than 76 centimetres of snow in some areas.

However, the city has said after days of military and civilian efforts to clear snow from streets and parking lots, it is expecting the emergency status to be lifted by Jan. 25.

That was welcome news for Robert Barrett, the director of Barretts Funeral Home, who said hes heard from families awaiting word on when they could hold wakes and funerals for relatives whove died in recent days.

Bodies have been kept at hospital morgues, and Barrett said municipal rules only permitted him to begin transporting them to his facility on Jan. 23.

We have people who passed away a week ago and families havent been able to start their grieving or visitations, he said in an interview. It will be a relief for our families that they can move forward and go through the grieving and healing process.

Rev. Cecil Critch, a Roman Catholic priest at the Basilica of St. John the Baptist, said with churches closed there have been no funerals nor other religious sacraments at the cathedral since Jan. 17. He estimated on a normal weekend, about 1,000 people attend masses.

Its very difficult for the families who are grieving, Critch said during a telephone interview. A funeral is part of the grieving process. Youre trying to go through it, and then a week goes by and you dont have the funeral yet.

Critch said hes looking forward to hundreds of parishioners returning to mass on Sunday, Jan. 26, and planning a homily around texts that deal with the healing of rifts within a Christian community.

Rev. Roger Whalen, the archdeacon and rector of the nearby Anglican cathedral of St. John the Baptist, said parishioners want to come together again, and hes received emails hoping the state of emergency is lifted by the weekend.

Some people are able to enjoy each others company in the snow, but many people cant do that. So being able to gather in community is very important to them, he said.

As of the evening of Jan. 22, about 400 Armed Forces personnel were on the ground in the region and had completed an estimated 380 tasks of an assigned 450.

The city has been updating residents on a daily basis about businesses permitted to open as snowclearing continues.

Mayor Danny Breen did not give a dollar figure about what the cleanup has cost so far, but said he would work with the provincial and federal government to potentially recover the costs.

Breen said during a media scrum on Jan. 22 that The state of emergency will remain in effect, we expect, until Saturday morning at 6 a.m.

However, all medical, dental and health practitioners, as well as veterinarians, were allowed to open at 8 a.m. on Jan. 23.
Dublin, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Cardiac Pacemaker Market - Global Outlook and Forecast 2020-2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



The Global Cardiac Pacemaker Market is Expected to Grow at a CAGR of Over 2% During the Period 2019-2025.



Key Market Insights

The analysis of the cardiac pacemaker market provides sizing and growth opportunities for the forecast period 2020-2025.

Offers sizing and growth prospects of the market for the forecast period 2020-2025.

Provides comprehensive insights on the latest industry trends, forecast, and growth drivers in the market.

Includes a detailed analysis of growth drivers, challenges, and investment opportunities.

Delivers a complete overview of segments and the regional outlook of the market.

Offers an exhaustive summary of the vendor landscape, competitive analysis, and key strategies to gain a competitive advantage.

The growing prevalence of abnormal cardiac rhythm disorders, coupled with the increasing elderly population, which is prone to cardiac arrhythmias, is expected to drive the global cardiac pacemaker market. Advancements in technology and engineering provide clinicians innovative ways to care for the aging population. Cardiac pacing, particularly, has witnessed a series of game-changing technologies in the past several years spurred by low-power electronics, high-density batteries, and innovative software designs. Such innovations are expected to drive the cardiac pacemaker market.



The global cardiac pacemaker market is witnessing rapid technological advancements and significantly affected by new product launches. All the companies that primarily derive revenue from cardiac pacemakers are expected to grow at a positive rate. Multiple product launches and diversified product portfolio is likely to fuel their growth in recent years.



The global cardiac pacemaker market is likely to post an incremental growth of over $500 million by 2025. North America dominates the global market with over 30% revenue share, is expected to continue its dominance position during the forecast period. APAC is expected to grow at a faster rate, with a CAGR of over 4% during the period 2019-2025.



The following factors are likely to contribute to the growth of the cardiac pacemaker market during the forecast period:

Increasing Demand for MRI-conditional Cardiac Pacemakers

Technological Advancements & Increasing Focus on Product Innovations

Increase in Target Patient Population with Cardiac Arrhythmias

Increasing Demand for Wireless & Automated Pacemakers Integrated with Remote Monitoring



Cardiac Pacemaker Market: Segmentation



This research report includes detailed segmentation by products, technology, implantability, end-user, and geography.

The MRI-conditional segment accounted for over 50% of market revenue share in 2019 and is expected to grow at a faster rate in the near future as several pieces of research have confirmed that over 70% of patients implanted with pacemakers require MRI scan during their lifespan. Many public organizations recommend implanting MRI-conditional ones to minimize the risk associated with MRI scans.



Moreover, several public and private insurance companies offer reimbursement coverage for MRI scans for patients implanted with MRI-conditional devices, which increase affordability thereby driving the market. Advancements in technology are influencing the market positively as traditional pacemakers are expected to malfunction, thus leading to complications. Hence, the increased complications related to traditional devices are likely to decrease the share of this equipment.



Dual-chamber technology is accounted for the major share. This type of technology is likely to continue its dominance due to the increasing number of patients with abnormal heart rhythm defects. These models are highly efficient in treating cardiac arrhythmias. Besides, the number of vendors offering such pacemakers is growing as many patients prefer this type. Biventricular cardiac pacemakers/CRT-P is growing at a rapid pace as these devices minimize heart failure chances and efficiently treat rhythm disorders. All these advantages, along with increased public and private reimbursement coverage, are expected to boost the segment.



Implantable pacemakers are growing at a rapid pace due to the increase in the geriatric population and the rise in arrhythmia and abnormal cardiovascular disorder prevalence rates. Advancements in technology, including the introduction of leadless, MRI-compatible, and other remote monitoring pacemaker devices have fueled the demand for implantable ones, and the segment is expected to contribute significantly to the market. External pacemakers are expected to grow at a steady pace due to the increased number of patients opting for temporary cardiac devices.



Hospitals are the major end-user segment as a significant number of patients prefer to undergo surgeries in these settings due to better reimbursement policies. The growing aging population and the increasing prevalence of abnormal cardiovascular disorders are the other major factors contributing to the increase in implantation in hospitals.



North America accounts for a major share in the global cardiac pacemaker market. It is expected to grow at a steady rate on account of the growing volume of surgeries for treating several abnormal heart rhythms and the availability of advanced healthcare infrastructure and constant technological innovations. Europe is likely to grow at a healthy rate due to the accessibility of advanced healthcare services, especially for heart valve repair and replacement procedures.



Also, the increasing incidence of abnormal heart rhythm, the rapid adoption of advanced cardiac pacemakers, and high healthcare expenditures are projected to increase the European market. Factors responsible for the growth of APAC are vendors' initiatives in spreading awareness and the rise in abnormal rhythm incidences due to change in living patterns, stress, and old age.



Insights by Vendors



The global cardiac pacemaker market is highly competitive and characterized by the presence of vendors offering a wide range of advanced and innovative cardiac pacemakers. Going forward, R&D activities is expected to become crucial for companies to maintain revenue growth in the coming years. Global players with their huge infrastructure, marketing strategies, distribution network, and R&D support are likely to expanding their footprint in the market. Thus, small and emerging vendors find it increasingly difficult to compete with them in terms of innovation, brand image, technology, and price.



Key Vendors

Medtronic

Boston Scientific

MicroPort Scientific

Abbott

BIOTRONIK

Other Vendors

Galix Biomedical Instrumentation

Lepu Medical

MEDICO

Osypka Medical

OSCOR

Shree Pacetronix

Vitatron

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/m3w19x

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.
By Jon Healey

Ever since Republicans began clamoring for Hunter Biden to testify in President Trumps impeachment hearings, Ive wondered why Democrats didnt just say yes.

And now, according to the Washington Post, a few Senate Democrats are trying to make it happen, offering to support calling former Vice President Joe Bidens son to testify in the Senate in exchange for Republicans agreeing to call former Trump national security adviser John Bolton. Heres hoping they find the votes to make it happen.

Yes, I know! The younger Biden isnt on trial here  Trump is. And yes, I know! Its weird and hypocritical for Republicans who argue that corporations should be free to manage their own affairs would complain about a Ukrainian company doing what U.S. businesses do all the time: giving board seats to people whose main qualification appears to be their political connections. Ahem, Paul Ryan sits on the board of Fox Corp. Other examples are legion.

Besides, the Senate should hear from Bolton, acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and any other witness with firsthand knowledge of Trumps actions regarding Ukraine last summer. Its astounding that a member of Congress sitting in judgment of Trump would simply accept the White Houses brushoff and Trumps attempt to hide his bad acts behind a shield of executive privilege.

But heres the thing, as the elder Biden is fond of saying. Most Republicans appear to be unpersuadable on that issue, and Democrats need at least four GOP defectors in order to call Bolton and company. Meanwhile, bringing Hunter Biden in to testify cant possibly make him or his dad look any worse than Republicans have tried to make them look already. The GOPs had a field day talking about the younger Bidens supposed lack of qualifications and his personal history. If called to testify, he could at least punch back.

More important, it could help vent the smoke that Trumps defenders have been blowing all over the impeachment process.

Trump and his personal attorney/dirt-digger, Rudolph W. Giuliani, have tried to paint the Bidens as corrupt in order to make the presidents self-serving actions look defensible. According to their narrative, Joe Biden strong-armed Ukraine to fire a prosecutor that was investigating Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company that had given Hunter a lucrative board seat.

The evidence gathered by the House and by journalists whove interviewed Ukrainian officials tells a completely different story. The problems at Burisma focused on the oligarch who founded it, a former government minister named Mykola Zlochevsky. The corruption allegations against Zlochevsky began well before Biden joined the board, as did the investigations into his actions  not to mention the accusations that Ukrainian prosecutors werent doing enough to bring Zlochevsky to justice.

There were, in fact, multiple governments besides the Obama administration pushing Ukraine to dump the prosecutors who failed to act against Zlochevsky and replace them with someone who would. Joe Biden wasnt protecting Burisma, he was doing just the opposite.

And its not as if Ukraine was rushing to put Hunter Biden in prison and his father put a stop to that. The target, remember, was Zlochevsky, not Burismas board.

Letting Hunter Biden and/or his father testify could punch more holes in the argument by Trumps defenders that the president was merely trying to root out corruption when he leaned on new Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate the Bidens. The more likely explanation was that Trump wanted Ukraine to cast a cloud over Joe Biden, who was (and remains) the front-runner for the Democratic nomination to face Trump in November. Remember, witnesses testified during the House impeachment inquiry that Trump and Giuliani wanted top Ukrainian officials to announce an investigation into the Bidens, not necessarily complete one.

The more interesting half of the deal, of course, would be hearing from Bolton  someone whos actually relevant to Trumps impeachment because he has firsthand knowledge of the discussions surrounding the security aid to Ukraine that Trump put on hold. If having a Biden sideshow is the only way to secure Boltons testimony, it would be worth the price.

Jon Healey is the Los Angeles Times deputy editorial page editor.

The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
Russian ombudsman Moskalkova visits convicted Israeli Naama Issachar in penal colony

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

14:18 24/01/2020

MOSCOW, January 24 (RAPSI)  Russias High Commissioner for Human Rights Tatiana Moskalkova on Friday met with Israeli citizen Naama Issachar sentenced to 7.5 years for trafficking and possession of drugs in a penal colony, the ombudsmans press service reports.

Moskalkova communicated to the convict, checked her jail conditions and quality of medical care. According to the rights commissioner, the woman is generally in a good mood.

The Israeli also did not complain about the incarceration conditions, the ombudsman stated.

Earlier, the warden of the penal colony in the Moscow Region, where Naama Issachar serves her sentence, was reprimanded for unlawfully denying her visitations of her mother.

According to Moskalkova, last year first deputy mayor of the town of Ashkelon in Israel asked her to protect Issachars rights; the ombudsman promised to sort out the situation.




BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 24

By Leman Zeynalova - Trend:

Israel highly appreciates Azerbaijan's contribution to the fight against Nazism, Israeli Ambassador to Azerbaijan George Deek said at a press conference in Baku, Trend reports.

The ambassador noted that one of the areas of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel is security.

"Israel and Azerbaijan share the view that the world should be free from aggression and terror. Israel, like other countries in the world, believes that we must live in a safe world. Israel has always supported the struggle against Nazism and appreciates the Azerbaijan's contribution in this struggle," George Deek said.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
India and the US have agreed to resolve amicably a dispute over American import duties on certain Indian steel products, wherein Washington is yet to fully comply with the WTO rulings, an official said.

The WTO dispute resolution body has ruled against the US in this case stating that the high duty imposed by America on certain hot-rolled carbon steel flat products from India was inconsistent with various provisions of the WTO's Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures.

The US agreed to resolve the matter amicably as the appellate body of the WTO's dispute settlement mechanism has become dysfunctional since last month.

America has failed to fully comply with a six-year-old ruling of the WTO's dispute panel over import duties on certain Indian steel products which has endorsed India's belief that not only the practices followed by the US, the law itself violates WTO agreements, the official said.

The compliance panel has found that the US has not complied with the rulings and recommendations of the dispute panel.

India has dragged the US in WTO in 2012, alleging that Washington's move to impose high duties on imports of certain Indian steel products are global trade rules.

In December 2014, the WTO dispute panel had ruled against the US imposing high countervailing duties on imports of certain Indian steel products.

Later the WTO's appellate body too ruled that the high duties imposed by the US were inconsistent with various provisions of the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures.

Then in June 2017, India again moved the WTO alleging that America has not fully complied with those rulings.

India had stated that a reasonable period of time for the US to comply with the WTO's ruling had expired on April 18, 2016.

According to a communication of the WTO, both the countries "continue to engage in good faith discussions to seek a positive solution to this dispute".

It said that on December 18, 2019, the US notified the Dispute Settlement Body of its decision to appeal the report by the compliance panel.

The US did not file a notice of appeal or an appellant submission because at this time no division of the appellate body can be established to hear this appeal.

It may be noted that it is the US which has not been agreeing to the appointment of WTO's appellate body members.

At present, only one member is there in the body whereas there should be seven and the quorum required is at least three to hear appeals.
In this Oct. 31, 2019, photo, attendees walk past a display for 5G services from Chinese technology firm Huawei at the PT Expo in Beijing. Chinese tech giant Huawei is asking a U.S. federal court to throw out a rule that bars rural phone carriers from using government money to purchase its equipment on security grounds, announced Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. Read more

Despite the truce in the U.S.-China trade wars, the tech wars between Washington and Beijing are intensifying.

Most immediate is the struggle over who will build the new, superfast 5G (fifth-generation) cellular networks that will revolutionize the way we live -- by empowering the use of artificial intelligence and other cutting-edge technologies.

Huawei is a name you should know.

As Chinas leading telecoms company, Huawei is the global leader in the race to build 5G networks, followed well behind by the European firms Nokia and Ericsson. However, Washington is trying to ban Huawei from doing business with the USA or our allies, for fear that the Chinese military could insert a backdoor into its equipment for spying.

 READ MORE: Talk of a new cold war between the U.S. and China is misleading I Trudy Rubin

Yet the United States has no telecoms giant to compete with Huawei. This is as important a part of the story as the curbs on the tech company.

Visiting Huawei headquarters

In November, I traveled to the high-tech city of Shenzhen to visit Huawei and learn the reaction to the U.S. ban.

The Huawei headquarters is a huge, sprawling campus of low-slung buildings and expansive greenery, with new facilities under construction. I was ushered into an ornate reception hall with marble floors, a ceiling three stories high, and an Italianate sculpture of three nymphs arm in arm on a lobby fountain.

Then I was drawn into the 21st-century tech wars as I whirled around the Galileo showroom, and got briefed on Huaweis ongoing 5G rollout in China. A speedy rollout fits into Xi Jinpings pledge to make China the dominant player in 10 key technologies by 2025.

One statistic that caught my attention: Huawei spent $15.3 billion on research and development in 2018 -- beating Microsoft, Apple, and Intel -- and helping to give it an edge in 5G technology.

Moreover, despite the Trump administrations ban, the companys 2019 revenues surged 18 percent (no doubt in part because Huawei phones, also banned in the United States, have such a crisp and gorgeous screen at half or one-fourth the price of an iPhone).

I asked Catherine Chen, a senior vice president and Huawei board member, what would happen if President Donald Trump eliminates all loopholes to the ban on Huawei purchases of U.S. components. I dont think it will have much of an impact on us, especially not for 5G, she said. (U.S. tech experts say Huawei has stockpiled at least a years worth of such components and Huawei is also working on developing its own.)

Chen was also optimistic about Huaweis global prospects. (It now operates in 170 countries with 194,000 workers.) I asked about future problems for Huawei phones, if they are denied access by the ban to the Google ecosystem of apps, such as Google Maps. This would seriously impact exports.

Chen said the company is seeking foreign partners and app developers to work on an alternative ecosystem to Googles. Just since my visit, the Dutch digital mapping company TomTom closed a deal with Huawei.

Not surprisingly, Chen was at the ready when I asked about Chinas 2017 national security law that requires Chinese companies to cooperate with the government and army.

I really like this question, she said. She pulled out materials explaining Huaweis structure as a private shareholding company, and insisted that the 2017 law doesnt require any Chinese company to install back doors or collect intelligence.

Every U.S. expert on digital security Ive asked is skeptical about Huaweis claims, given Xi Jinpings focus on top-down controls. The security issue is real, says Adam Segal, director of the Digital and Cyberspace Policy Program at the Council on Foreign Relations. The administration is right to ban it from U.S. networks. The question is how do you weigh the security concerns vs. the costs.

A national disgrace

And cost matters. For example, cheaper Huawei gear has been used by small U.S. carriers in rural areas where large U.S. telecoms companies wont go.

And those nations that wish to install 5G equipment soon know Huawei can move forward quickly and more cheaply than Nokia or Ericsson. Such factors have drawn countries from Hungary to India to resist administration demands for a ban. The European Union is undecided, and even Britain is questioning whether risk can be mitigated by keeping Huawei out of core parts of the 5G network.

What is most apparent is that, if the administration wants to ban Huawei, it must have a robust strategy to facilitate competition. Its not enough to hobble Huawei, says Segal. We have to start to think differently.

 READ MORE: In Beijing, cutting edge technology looms large I Trudy Rubin

That would require strong, focused White House leadership on funding basic research, encouraging private-public collaboration, and keeping talented foreign Ph.D. scholars in this country.

There are Pentagon and think tank studies that lay out the way forward, and even bipartisan bills pending in Congress. But no White House direction, no Sputnik moment, no Manhattan Project for 5G, let alone for 6G. Much easier just to denounce China.

This is a national disgrace.

No surprise, then, that when Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei suggested he was willing to license the companys 5G technology to an American firm, there were no takers. It is not clear that any U.S. company could make a competitive product, says Segal.

I was struck by Chens self-confidence that, despite U.S. pressure, Huawei will keep developing new technologies and selling its products worldwide.

If the United States wants to dominate the race for 5G, it has to look beyond the Huawei ban. Whats required is a White House with a plan to get this country back in the competitive game.
Billionaire investor George Soros has said the biggest and most frightening setback to open societies comes from India where a democratically elected Narendra Modi is creating a Hindu nationalist state, imposing punitive measures on Kashmir, a semi-autonomous Muslim region, and threatening to deprive millions of Muslims of their citizenship.

Soros also said he would commit $1 billion to start a global university to fight authoritarian governments and the climate crisis, calling them twin challenges that threaten the survival of civilisation.

His comments came at the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos and add to the growing chorus of criticism of India, especially over restrictions, including the blocking of internet access, in Kashmir, and a new citizenship law. The latest issue of The Economist magazine has a cover story titled Intolerant India: How Modi is endangering the worlds biggest democracy.

Both were criticised by members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the government. Vijay Chauthaiwale, in charge of the BJPs foreign affairs department, tweeted: We thought the Brits left in 1947! But the editors of The Economist are still living in the colonial era. They are furious when 600 million Indians do not follow their explicit instructions of not voting Modi.

Soros has announced a billion dollar fund to interfere in the politics of India, China, etc to ostensibly fight authoritarian despots. This was exactly the language used by 19th century European thinkers to justify colonisation, said Sanjeev Sanyal, the principal economic adviser in the Ministry of Finance.

Soros also expressed concern about an overheated US economy, the dominance of Facebook, and criticised Chinas Xi Jinping, Brazils Jair Bolsonaro, US President Donald Trump whom he termed a con man and the ultimate narcissist, and the Indian Prime Minister.

Theres nothing to stop them, he said about Facebook. I think there is a kind of informal mutual assistance operation or agreement developing between Trump and Facebook. Facebook will work to re-elect Trump and Trump will work to protect Facebook.

He criticised the US and China, for being ruled by would-be or actual dictators and named India among the countries where nationalism is making further headway.

Stating that he had hoped that things will improve, including on international cooperation, Soros said that instead nationalism had made headway across the world.

The 89-year old, who has been a big donor for Democrats in the US, said the strongest powers -- the US, China and Russia -- have remained in the hands of would-be or actual dictators and the ranks of authoritarian rulers continued to grow.

In Latin America, a humanitarian catastrophe has continued to unfold, he said.

On the relationship between the United States and China, he said it has become incredibly complicated and difficult to understand.

He said the two presidents, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, face internal constraints and various enemies.

Both try to extend the powers of their office to its limit and beyond. While they have found some mutually beneficial reasons to cooperate, their motivations are completely different.

Soros said Trump is willing to sacrifice the national interests for his personal interests and he will do practically anything to win re-election.

By contrast, Xi is eager to exploit Trumps weaknesses and use artificial intelligence to achieve total control over his people, he claimed.

Soros, however, said Xis success is far from assured. One of Chinas vulnerabilities is that it still depends on the United States to supply it with the microprocessors it needs to dominate the 5G market and to fully implement the social credit system that is a threat to open societies, he said, questioning the ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and saying the project required giving large loans, some of which will never be repaid. China can ill-afford this because its budget deficit has increased and its trade surplus has diminished, he added.

Since Xi Jinping has centralised power in his hands, Chinas economic policy has also lost its flexibility and inventiveness, Soros said.

Still, he added, taking into account the climate emergency and the worldwide unrest, its not an exaggeration to say that 2020 and the next few years will determine not only the fate of Xi and Trump, but also the fate of the world.

Soross new university network, the Open Society University Network, will offer an international platform for teaching and research, the 89-year old said. As a long-term strategy our best hope lies in access to quality education that reinforces the autonomy of the individual by cultivating critical thinking and emphasising academic freedom, he said.

Soros has become a lightning rod for his political views and philanthropic efforts. He has also closed his hedge fund. His $25 billion Soros Fund Management now mostly manages money for the Open Society Foundations, a network of philanthropies.
Resident of Karvatchar (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic) Alexander Kananyan, who has declared a hunger strike, met with Minister of State of Artsakh Grigory Martirosyan, but wont stop his hunger strike. This is what he reported on his Facebook page.

Dear compatriots, today I had a meeting with Minister of State of Artsakh Grigory Martirosyan. The meeting was held in a constructive atmosphere of mutual respect. I express gratitude to the Minister of State for his efforts to reach an agreement, but I state that the political leadership of Artsakh doesnt fully understand the gravity of the situation and the inevitability of unconditionally suspending construction of a small hydroelectric station in Karvatchar.

Thus, I will continue my hunger strike, and with a sense of responsibility, I warn that any encroachment to restart construction of the hydroelectric station will lead to sharp deterioration of the situation. I urge the political leadership of Artsakh to realize the incompatibility of construction of the hydroelectric station in Karvatchar with the imperative of national security of Armenia and be reasonable, he stated.
- Bulldog has jabbed President Akufo-Addo and his NPP government

- According to the controversial artiste manager, the NPP have lied to Ghanaians

- He also said Vice President Bawumia is best, a "hype man" for Akufo-Addo

- Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

Lawrence Nana Asiamah Hanson, popularly known as Bulldog has described President Nana Akufo-Addo and his Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia as liars.

According to the artiste manager, the Akufo-Addo administration is the worst government Ghana has over seen or had.

The showbiz pundit also described the Vice President of the republic as the hype man or President Nana Addo.

READ ALSO: Birth tourism: US imposes visa restriction on pregnant women

He opined that all politicians lie but Akufo-Addo prior to the 2016 elections gave the impression he was the right man who would do something different for Ghana.

"Akufo-Addo seemed or looked like he was going to be different. When he started his campaign and was talking and talking, you know, he is the worst president ever, Bulldog said in an interview on 3FM.

He added that President must even resign and his vice must be jailed. He [President Akufo-Addo and his hype man, Bawumia have failed Ghanaians.

ATTENTION: Read the best news on Ghana #1 news app. Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana

Bulldog is a known supporter and fan of National Democratic Congress(NDC) flag bearer, John Mahama.

READ ALSO: You are free to boycott voter registration - John Boadu tells NDC

He even campaigned for him in the 2016 general election which Mahama woefully lost to Akufo-Addo.

Meanwhile, Bulldog's assertion has generated mixed opinions and views from social media. Below are some of the comments of Ghanaians;

Eric shares in Bulldog's views

Samuel thinks Bulldog can make his opinions heard without sounding insulting

Thomas agrees, Akufo-Addo is the most corrupt leader in Ghana's history.

Acquah says Bulldog is NDC nad must be ignored.

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that a Ghana Air Force plane with registration number GHF552 on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 overrun the apron of the Air Force base in Accra.

According to a statement signed by the director of public affairs of the Military, Col. Aggrey Quarshie, the incident did not record any casualties.

Yenkasa: Nigerian Traders in Ghana React to Opposition by their Ghanaian Counterparts | #Yencomgh

READ ALSO: Emmanuel Adebayor spotted buying roadside coconut (Photos)

Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Source: YEN.com.gh
Lawyers for the third-place finisher in Houston city council District Bs election told a judge Friday that the city erred in failing to declare an opponent ineligible because of her felony conviction and asked the court to throw out the votes that landed Cynthia Bailey in a still-to-be-scheduled runoff.

The judge, they said, should discount the votes Bailey received in the Nov. 5 election and put their client, Renee Jefferson-Smith, into the runoff against top vote-getter Tarsha Jackson.

Visiting Judge Grant Dorfman did not make a ruling Friday, but said he hoped to have a decision by the end of next week.

The litigation centers on whether candidate Bailey, who finished second in the November general election and qualified for a runoff with Jackson, is eligible to run for and hold public office.

Jefferson-Smiths legal team argued that Baileys well-documented 2007 felony conviction makes her ineligible to run under state law, and the city should have declared her as such when they they submitted a packet of supporting documents to the city secretary on Nov. 13. Bailey served 18 months of a 10-year sentence for stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in checks from North Forest Independent School District.

Jefferson-Smith is basing her case on a state law that says a person cannot run for elected office if he or she has been finally convicted of a felony from which they have not been pardoned or otherwise released from its resulting disabilities.

The law does not define resulting disabilities and courts have interpreted it differently. Bailey has said she can run because she completed her sentence and can vote. Jefferson-Smiths team has cited at least one case in which a candidate similarly disclosed a conviction and then was almost immediately removed from the Galveston City Council under the same law.

The City of Houston received documents from Jefferson-Smiths lawyers on Nov. 13  a week after Election Day, but before city council canvassed the results. The documents included a Harris County record of Baileys conviction and a Texas Attorney General opinion stating that restored voting rights do not mean a restored ability to run for office.

They are not allowed to ignore conclusive proof of ineligibility, said Lindsay Roberts, a lawyer for Jefferson-Smith. They have to make that determination of eligibility and, importantly, they have to do so before certification.

Attorneys for the city rejected those claims, arguing the submitted documents did not conclusively prove that Bailey had not been cleared of those resulting disabilities. They also said the documents were sent and received after Jefferson-Smith already had lost two court rulings in a separate lawsuit.

In that case, filed two days after the election and separate from the one heard Friday, Jefferson-Smith asked a judge for an emergency order  and then a preliminary injunction  declaring Bailey ineligible. Both requests were denied, and the First Court of Appeals and Texas Supreme Court have upheld those rejections.

With those initial denials in mind, Senior Assistant City Attorney Suzanne Chauvin said, the city council certified the results Nov. 18, as it is required by law to do.

Essentially, theyre saying we should have second-guessed two rulings by the district court, Chauvin said.

Baileys lawyer, Oliver Brown, argued the current lawsuit did not constitute a proper election contest. Instead, he said, Jefferson-Smiths team essentially had copied its first lawsuit in a different court because it did not receive a favorable ruling the first time.

Jefferson-Smith filed the case heard Friday, an election contest formally disputing the results, about a week after the first lawsuit. County officials say the second lawsuit forced them to pull the District B runoff from the December ballot, when a dozen other city runoffs were decided.

Larry Veselka, an attorney for candidate Jackson, said the city had the opportunity to declare Bailey ineligible and declined to do so. The runoff should continue with the top two candidates, he said.

We have to get going, Veselka said.

He proposed aiming for a resolution by mid-March so the runoff can be placed on the May 2 ballot. By that time, Veselka pointed out, whoever wins the election already will have missed four months of her new term. Jerry Davis, the District B incumbent who was barred from running for reelection because of term limits, remains in the seat.

Dorfmans ruling will not necessarily settle the matter. The losing side still could appeal.

dylan.mcguinness@chron.com
Technavio has been monitoring the pasta market and it is poised to grow by USD 11.42 billion during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of 5% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005185/en/

Technavio announced its latest market research report titled global pasta market 2019-2023. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Increasing number of product launches have been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, the use of preservatives and health concerns might hamper market growth. Request a free sample report

Pasta Market 2019-2023: Segmentation

Pasta Market is segmented as below:

Product

Dried pasta

Chilled/Fresh pasta

Canned/Preserved pasta

Geographic segmentation

Americas

APAC

EMEA

To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR30341

Pasta Market 2019-2023: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our pasta marketreport covers the following areas:

Pasta Market size

Pasta Market trends

Pasta Market industry analysis

This study identifies prominence of health and wellness pasta as one of the prime reasons driving the pasta market growth during the next few years.

Pasta Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the pasta market, including some of the vendors such as Barilla, Ebro Foods, F.lli De Cecco di Filippo Fara San Martino, Nestle and TreeHouse Foods. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the pasta market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports.

Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform

Pasta Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023

Detailed information on factors that will assist pasta market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the pasta market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the pasta market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of pasta market vendors

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005185/en/

Contacts:

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: media@technavio.com

Website: https://www.technavio.com/
T he US State Department has claimed that extraditing a diplomat's wife suspected of causing the death of British teenager Harry Dunn would have "set an extraordinarily troubling precedent".

The spokesman for the department, responsible for foreign diplomacy, confirmed it had declined to send the suspect in the death of Harry Dunn Anne Sacoolas back to the UK.

While expressing condolences to the Dunn family, they said Sacoolas was "involved in a tragic vehicle accident" and said she had "immunity from criminal jurisdiction".

At the time the accident occurred, and for the duration of her stay in the UK, the U.S. citizen driver, in this case, had immunity from criminal jurisdiction, the spokesman said.

"If the United States were to grant the UKs extradition request, it would render the invocation of diplomatic immunity a practical nullity and would set an extraordinarily troubling precedent.

Pompeo has denied the extradition request / AP

Dominic Raab responded to the refusal has said the UK Government "would have acted differently if this had been a UK diplomat serving in the US".

The Foreign Secretary said the Government is "disappointed" with the decision to block the request, which he said he called the US ambassador Mike Pompeo about. 

The 19-year-olds parents Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn were informed of Mike Pompeos decision to refuse the request in a phone call with their constituency MP, Andrea Leadsom, on Thursday.

The Dunn family said the US decision was one of the darkest days for the two countries' special relationship.

Lawyers acting on behalf of the Dunn family have said it is the first time in the 100-year history of the extradition treaty that such a request had been turned down by the US.

Anne Sacoolas has claimed diplomatic immunity in her home country and her lawyers said she would not return to the UK voluntarily / PA

The teenager died when his motorbike crashed into a car outside RAF Croughton in August last year.

Mrs Sacoolas, 42, claimed diplomatic immunity following the crash and was able to return to her home country, sparking an international controversy.

Mr Raab said: I called the US ambassador earlier to express the Governments disappointment about this decision.

We feel this amounts to a denial of justice, and we believe Anne Sacoolas should return to the UK.

We are now urgently considering our options. I also explained that the UK would have acted differently if this had been a UK diplomat serving in the US.

I emphasised that work to improve road safety on and around the Croughton base must continue, and the need to resolve the issue whereby family members at RAF Croughton are immune from criminal prosecution.

Buisness Secretary Andrea Leadsom, the constituency MP for Harry Dunns family, has said the suspect charged with causing the teenagers death should come back to the UK.

In a tweet, Ms Leadsom said: I am deeply sorry that extradition has been refused.

This was a tragic road accident where a much loved young man died.

His family are heartbroken. The person who has been charged by the CPS should come back to the U.K. #Justiceforharry.

Despite the rejection, the Dunn family were remaining resolute that they will get justice one day.

Family spokesman Radd Seiger told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: I can assure your listeners this morning that despite the development last night we know for sure that she will be coming back one day, there is no other way forward.

The reality is that this administration, which we say is behaving lawlessly and taking a wrecking ball to one of the greatest alliances in the world, they wont be around forever whereas that extradition request will be.
Results of the SGL Shareholder meeting to approve the scheme relating to the internal restructuring of SGL

Posted by Publisher Internet

On 4 October 2019, SGL and Sibanye-Stillwater announced the commencement of an internal restructuring process to create a new holding company and listings for the Group to be effected by way of a scheme of arrangement (the ?Scheme?),? On 5 December 2019, SGL posted the transaction documents and notice of scheme meeting to Shareholders of SGL (?SGL Shareholders?), including the circular (?Scheme Circular?)which contained, among other things, the Scheme Conditions Precedent, the requisite resolutions for the approval of the Scheme, a notice convening a general meeting of the SGL Shareholders (?Scheme Meeting?), a form of proxy and a form of surrender and transfer. All capitalised terms contained in this announcement have the same meaning ascribed to them in the Scheme Circular, unless otherwise defined.

SGL and Sibanye-Stillwater are pleased to announce that all resolutions for the approval of the Scheme, were passed by the requisite majority of votes at the Scheme Meeting held at the SGL Academy at 09:00 (South African standard time) this morning.

Results of the Scheme Meeting

The resolutions proposed at the Scheme Meeting, the percentage of SGL Shares (including the SGL Shares represented by the SGL ADSs) voted for and against each resolution, as well as those which abstained, are set out below

Next steps and timetable

Completion of the Scheme remains subject to the satisfaction or (where applicable) waiver of the outstanding Scheme Conditions Precedent as set out in the Scheme Circular. Such Scheme Conditions Precedent include, amongst others, the Independent Board confirming there has been no Material Adverse Change and the issue by the Takeover Regulation Panel of a compliance certificate with respect to the Scheme and its implementation as contemplated in section 121(b)(i) of the Companies Act. Subject to the satisfaction or waiver (as applicable) of such Scheme Conditions Precedent, a Finalisation Date announcement will be made, the expected Finalisation Date is 11?February?2020.

The expected timetable of principal events for the implementation of the Scheme remains as set out on pages 11 and 12 of the Scheme Circular available on https://www.sibanyestillwater.com/news-investors/news/holding-entity-change/.? If any of the key dates set out in the timetable change, the revised dates and/or times will be notified to SGL Shareholders through a public announcement.

RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT

The board of directors of the Company accepts responsibility for the information contained in this announcement and confirms that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, the information is true and does not omit anything likely to affect the importance of the information.

Contact:

Email: ir@sibanyestillwater.com

James Wellsted

Head of Investor Relations

+27 (0) 83 453 4014?

Sponsor: J.P. Morgan Equities South Africa Proprietary Limited?

In Europe:

Swiss Resource Capital AG

Jochen Staiger

info@resource-capital.ch

www.resource-capital.ch

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Where relevant, these actions are subject to the appropriate consultations and approvals.

Certain statements included in this announcement about SGL and Sibanye-Stillwater, as well as oral statements that may be made by SGL, Sibanye-Stillwater, or by officers, directors or employees acting on their behalf related to the subject matter hereof, may constitute or are based on forward-looking statements, including ?forward-looking statements? within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts, and are generally preceded by, followed by or include the words ?target?, ?would?, ?potential?, ?aim?, ?forsee?, ?may?, ?will?, ?should?, ?expect?, ?envisage?, ?intend?, ?plan?, ?project?, ?estimate?, ?anticipate?, ?believe?, ?hope?, ?can?, ?is designed to? or similar phrases. These forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon the current expectations and assumptions of senior management regarding anticipated developments and other factors affecting the Sibanye-Stillwater group and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results.

SGL and Sibanye-Stillwater undertake no obligation and do not intend to update publicly or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this announcement or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, save as may be required by applicable law. Further details of potential risks and uncertainties affecting the Group are described in the Group?s filings with the JSE and the SEC, including in the SGL Annual Report on Form 20-F 2018 and the 2019 Form F-4 (and any amendments thereto).

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

This announcement is for informational purposes only and does not constitute or form part of an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe to any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. This announcement is not an offer of securities for sale into the United States. No offering of securities shall be made in the United States except pursuant to registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (the ?Securities Act?), or an exemption therefrom.

In connection with the Scheme, Sibanye-Stillwater has filed a registration statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-234096), which includes important information with respect to the Scheme. The final registration statement on Form F-4 has been made available to the relevant security holders of SGL.

The release, publication or distribution of this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in such jurisdictions into which this announcement is released, published or distributed should inform themselves about and observe such restrictions.

SHAREHOLDERS IN THE UNITED STATES AND ADS HOLDERS OF SGL ARE URGED TO READ THE US REGISTRATION STATEMENT REGARDING THE PROPOSED SCHEME CAREFULLY AND IN ITS ENTIRETY, INCLUDING THE EXHIBITS THERETO AND ANY DOCUMENTS PREVIOUSLY FILED WITH THE SEC AND INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE IT CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT SGL, SIBANYE-STILLWATER AND THE PROPOSED SCHEME.

Shareholders and ADS holders are able to obtain free copies of the US Scheme offer document, as well as other filings containing information about SGL and Sibanye-Stillwater, without charge, at the SEC?s website at http://www.sec.gov. Shareholders and ADS holders are also able to obtain these documents, without charge, from SGL?s website at http://www.sibanyestillwater.com.

This announcement does not constitute an offer or a solicitation in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. An offer will not be made in, nor will deposits be accepted in, any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction. However, if an offer is made, Sibanye-Stillwater may, in its sole discretion, take such action as it may deem necessary to extend an offer in any such jurisdiction.
(CNN)  Much is still unknown about the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak and health officials are urging vigilance.

That means travelers crisscrossing the globe should be aware of the virus, steer clear of heavily impacted areas and exercise some of the same kinds of preventive measures they'd use to avoid influenza and other illnesses.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has raised its travel advisory for Wuhan, China, to the highest level. The "Warning - Level 3" status urges travelers to avoid all nonessential travel to Wuhan.

Travelers should "remain alert if traveling to other parts of China" by avoiding contact with sick people, animals and animal markets, the CDC recommends. Other parts of China currently carry a Level 1 advisory.

The United Kingdom's Foreign and Commonwealth Office has also advised against nonessential travel to Wuhan.

The Wuhan coronavirus does not yet constitute a public health emergency of international concern, the World Health Organization announced Thursday.

"Make no mistake. This is an emergency in China, but it has not yet become a global health emergency," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Thursday. "It may yet become one."

Advice for travelers

With so much uncertainty, exercising caution is key. Medical professionals offer this advice in response to travel concerns:

Q: How worried should travelers outside the most impacted areas be about the Wuhan coronavirus?

In this era of global travel, you can never say the risk is zero of being exposed to something, says Dr. Yoko Furuya, medical director of infection prevention and control at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

But most of the cases so far have involved Wuhan and surrounding cities.

"While the risk is not going to be zero, generally speaking there's not going to be a particularly elevated risk" outside that area, she says.

It's not a big concern for US travelers traveling domestically, says Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of medicine in Vanderbilt University's division of infectious diseases.

Travelers heading to China should be more concerned, he adds.

"As a matter of fact, I have heard colleagues say to a patient or two, "Gee, do you have to go to China right now? Why don't you wait a little bit?"

People who have traveled to Wuhan in the last two weeks and are feeling sick with fever, cough or are having difficulty breathing should seek medical attention right away and call ahead to inform providers of recent travel and symptoms, according to CDC guidelines.

Q: Is travel less safe in general because other passengers could be coming from Wuhan and nearby cities?

No, says Schaffner. He compared the Wuhan virus to influenza, which by the time flu season is over "will have caused literally thousands of hospitalizations and unfortunately several thousand deaths."

"The coronavirus will be a blip on the horizon in comparison, but we have a little outbreak of corona anxiety at the present time because it's new, it's mysterious ..."

Every business traveler should be on alert and informed of what's going on around them, says Dr. Robert Quigley, senior vice president and regional medical director at International SOS & MedAire. The medical assistance company supports workforces around the globe.

The globalization of the workforce means we don't know if someone at O'Hare airport in Chicago might walk by a coughing passenger just in from Wuhan. That's why universal precautions like those used to prevent the spread of influenza would apply for any traveler, he adds.

"This just gives us a heightened awareness and a reminder to be careful," says Quigley.

Q: Are precautions like face masks and hand sanitizer effective?

Schaffner has received a lot of questions about whether people should be wearing masks to avoid infection.

He realizes it's culturally very common in Asia, but he says the CDC doesn't recommend it for the general public because "the scientific basis showing that people in the community wearing masks actually has any benefit is very thin and questionable."

More fitted respirator masks may be used in medical settings, but are generally impractical for the general public, Schaffner says.

"Good hand hygiene is always a really good idea to protect yourself from any viruses and other pathogens in your environment," says Furuya.

The CDC recommends washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. An alcohol-based hand sanitizer can be used when soap and water are not available.

Q: What precautions should travelers to other parts of China take?

Nonessential travel to Wuhan is discouraged, and travel to other parts of China should be undertaken with caution.

Quigley recommends a flexible itinerary that can be adapted to new information and guidance as it becomes available. He also suggests allowing extra time as health screenings have been implemented around many transportation hubs. Avoid traveling with any flu-like symptoms.

Schaffner urges travelers to "stay away from those live animal markets, please. And try to avoid people who are coughing and sneezing. Of course, we do have a lot of influenza out there, but it's still good advice. And do an awful lot of hand hygiene."

Since the source of the virus is still unknown, Schaffner also encourages visitors to rural China to stay away from agricultural animals such as chickens and pigs.

The CDC also advises avoiding animals, animal markets and products such as uncooked meat.

Q: Is air travel more vulnerable because of its global reach?

For parts of the world outside of the heavily affected region, air travel is likely where more of the risk will lie, says Furuya, because of the increased likelihood of encountering international travelers from areas with high incidence of the virus.

"When it comes to the global spread of outbreaks, air travel is usually how things kind of spread quickly from country to country," she says.

Schaffner says the spread of winter respiratory illnesses on airplanes is always a concern. "More than once, I'm quite certain personally that I have acquired a winter virus on the aircraft while traveling or working my way through crowded airports," he says.

Frequent and vigorous hand washing is again critical to reducing viral transmissions.

Clearly this is of particular concern in China right now as citizens there are traveling en masse for Lunar New Year celebrations, he adds.

Many of the large public celebrations have been canceled to stem the spread of the virus.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Wuhan coronavirus: Is it safe to travel?"
BERLIN  On Wednesday afternoon, about 300 protesters gathered in front of a municipal building in the southeast of Berlin, dancing and holding signs. All clubs are beautiful, one placard said; The day I stop dancing is the day I stop breathing, read another.

Accompanied by loud techno music, they had come to protest the impending closure of Griessmuehle, a well-known nightclub. As has happened to numerous Berlin venues in recent years, the club is being evicted because new owners plan to redevelop the site.

Several politicians addressed the crowd, including Martin Hikel, the mayor of the Neukolln district, where the protest took place. There is a consensus among parties that club culture should be protected, he told the demonstrators, adding that there was the political will to take action on the issue.
Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all.

Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe

By Emily Henderson and Jessica P. Ogilvie

At a community meeting last night, city officials unveiled a master plan for the redesign of the Silver Lake Reservoir.

The design, which is still open to tweaks before it's formally accepted, includes more walking and jogging paths, nature and wildlife habitats, a great lawn and water overlooks, an educational center and re-imagined dog parks.

A rendering of the proposed plan for the Silver Lake Reservoir (Courtesy L.A. Bureau of Engineering)

"The master plan... includes prioritizing habitat for nature and wildlife, but it also includes a lot of spaces for people," said Sarah Ullman, the co-chair of the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council's reservoir committee. "It strives to make the reservoir a more equitable place and a more accessible place for people and wildlife at the same time."

The project got underway in March of 2018 after approval from the L.A. City Council. Landscape architecture and planning firm Hargreaves Jones, whose recent work includes Zaryadye Park in Moscow, Scissortail Park in Oklahoma City and Crescent Park in New Orleans, will be the lead design consultant.

Chee Salette will serve as the local landscape architect. The Glendale-based firm is also designing the Taylor Yard Park in Frogtown.

A rendering of the proposed plan for the Silver Lake Reservoir (Courtesy L.A. Bureau of Engineering)

Feelings haven't always been friendly towards installing more parks and walkways around the reservoir. After the basin was drained in 2015, subsequent community meetings became contentious as locals demanded that it be refilled, not redesigned.

But those involved with the current plan are hopeful that they've landed on a solid compromise. At a community meeting in November, Hargreave Jones presented three possible designs for the reservoir and solicited public feedback via an online questionnaire.

According to Ullman, almost 4,000 people have responded to the surveys altogether.

"We're really looking at this as sort of a shared vision for the reservoir and [its] future," she said.

A rendering of the proposed plan for the Silver Lake Reservoir (Courtesy L.A. Bureau of Engineering)

A rendering of the proposed plan for the Silver Lake Reservoir (Courtesy L.A. Bureau of Engineering)

Thursday's community meeting was the fourth such gathering. The city hopes to unveil a final design in May at the fifth and final community meeting, and to hold a celebration at that time.

Construction, however, likely won't start for several years.

"This is simply the initial design phase," said Ullman. "And then we will have to apply for grants and for funding from the city and elsewhere... So it's still, you know, quite a few years away."
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

TORONTO, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Caldwell Investment Management Ltd. is pleased to announce that the Caldwell Canadian Value Momentum Fund (the Fund) has been awarded the 2019 FundGrade A+ Award for delivering consistently strong performance with minimal volatility. This marks the second consecutive year that the Fund has been honored with this FundGrade Award.

The Caldwell Canadian Value Momentum Fund was recognized for its exceptional performance over the past year within a peer group of approximately 380 other funds in the Canadian Equity category. A key factor in the Funds outperformance has been its demonstrated ability to protect investor capital during periods of market decline. In that regard, the Fund boasts a category-best downside capture ratio of 17.9% over the past five years ending December 31, 2019*. In addition, the Fund ranks in the top 1% of all Canadian equity mutual funds for the 5-year period, ending December 31, 2019.

Congratulations to Jennifer Radman, our lead PM on the Fund, and to the rest of the Canadian Value Momentum Fund team, said Brendan Caldwell, President and CEO of Caldwell Investment Management Ltd. This prestigious award recognizes the consistency of the Funds disciplined investment process as well as the ability and care exercised by our portfolio management team over the past year.

The Caldwell Canadian Value Momentum Fund employs a rigorous and repeatable investment process based on the unique combination of quantitative discovery and traditional, bottom-up fundamental analysis. The Fund seeks to capitalize on investment opportunities offering the most attractive risk-adjusted return potential, regardless of market capitalization and industry categorization. The Fund invests in a concentrated portfolio that looks vastly different than the composite index and is comprised of Canadian stocks which are often overlooked or are inaccessible to larger competing funds. The end result is a portfolio containing the best attributes of both value and momentum investment styles.

About Caldwell Investment Management Ltd.

Established in 1990, and founded by Thomas S. Caldwell C.M., Caldwell Investment Management Ltd. (Caldwell) provides investment management services to pooled and mutual funds. Caldwell has established and maintained its reputation for excellence in the investment management industry, providing innovative investment solutions to meet the requirements of individual and institutional investors. Caldwell practices Thoughtful Investing, applying a disciplined and prudent long-term investment approach. Capital preservation is the key to investment success.

*Series F downside capture ratio of 17.9% represents a statistical measure of the overall performance in down-markets and is used to evaluate performance relative to an index during periods of index decline.

December 31, 2019 Series A performance is 1 Yr: 15.1%, 3 Yr: 7.2%, 5 Yr: 9.6%, PSD (15/08/2011): 10.0%. The Canadian Equity Category, of which the Fund is a constituent, had 377 mutual funds at 31/12/2019.

Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees & expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. The indicated rates of return are the historical annual compounded total returns including changes in unit value & reinvestment of all distribution & do not take into account sales, redemption, distribution or optional charges or income taxes payable by any unitholder that would have reduced returns. Mutual funds are not guaranteed; their values change frequently & past performance may not be repeated.

FundGrade A+ is used with permission from Fundata Canada Inc., all rights reserved. The annual FundGrade A+ Awards are presented by Fundata Canada Inc. to recognize the best of the best among Canadian investment funds. The FundGrade A+ calculation is supplemental to the monthly FundGrade ratings and is calculated at the end of each calendar year. The FundGrade rating system evaluates funds based on their risk-adjusted performance, measured by Sharpe Ratio, Sortino Ratio, and Information Ratio. The score for each ratio is calculated individually, covering all time periods from 2 to 10 years. The scores are then weighted equally in calculating a monthly FundGrade. The top 10% of funds earn an A Grade; the next 20% of funds earn a B Grade; the next 40% of funds earn a C Grade; the next 20% of funds receive a D Grade; and the lowest 10% of funds receive an E Grade. To be eligible, a fund must have received a FundGrade rating every month in the previous year. The FundGrade A+ uses a GPA-style calculation, where each monthly FundGrade from A to E receives a score from 4 to 0, respectively. A funds average score for the year determines its GPA. Any fund with a GPA of 3.5 or greater is awarded a FundGrade A+ Award. For more information, see www.FundGradeAwards.com. Although Fundata makes every effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained herein, the accuracy is not guaranteed by Fundata.

For additional information, please contact:

Richard Faiella, Senior Vice President, at 1-800-256-2441
An MBBS intern was killed while her room-mate suffered serious burns after a fire broke out in their hostel room at a private medical college on Nainital Road, police said on Friday.

Prima facie the fire started on Thursday night from a heater kept in the room of PG hostel of SRMS Medical College, police said.

DIG Rajesh Pandey said the incident occurred around 3 am.

The security guard informed medical college authorities about smoke emanating from a room following which police and fire brigade rushed to the spot, Pandey said.

Sukriti Singh, a resident of Patna, was killed while her



room-mate Ritika suffered serious burns in the incident.

The body has been sent for post-mortem.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistani troops fired mortar shells on forward posts and villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Friday, official said.

Heavy firing from across the border was also reported from the Digwar sector in the district, they said.

Indian troops gave a befitting reply, the officials said.

Pakistani troops on Thursday had targeted posts and villages in the Gulpur and Karmara belts along the LoC in Poonch, they said, adding that a school building was damaged.

Schools in some areas along the LoC were closed on Friday by authorities due to the ceasefire violations by Pakistan, the officials said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In 2020, practical measures will be adopted within the scope of the Work Armenia Strategy. This is what Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia Arman Udumyan said during the event marking the end of the EU4Youth: Better Skills for Better Future regional program today.

According to him, the year 2019 was a year of development of the policy and action plan, and this year there will be meetings with the private sector and civil society representatives for the development of specific actions. He added that the EU4Youth: Better Skills for Better Future program is in line with the Armenian governments aspiration to introduce a new quality education system. It is important for schoolchildren and university students to gain not only narrow knowledge, but also skills that are required by employers, the deputy minister emphasized.

The Work Armenia Strategy is targeted at the development of human capital, the promotion of employment and the increase of the living standard of people through institutional reforms and self-establishment of professionals.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Purdue Universitys Public Health Emergency Planning Committee is actively monitoring the status of novel coronavirus 2019 (2019-nCoV). There are no cases reported on campus or in the state of Indiana at this time.

The PHEPC is in contact with the Tippecanoe County Health Department and follows guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The most up-to-date information can be found on the CDC situation summary page.

2019-nCoV, a lower respiratory infection accompanied by a fever, originated in Wuhan City, in Chinas Hubei Province. It has caused more than a dozen deaths worldwide, with two non-fatal cases detected in the United States. While information on how nCoV spreads is not fully known at this time, thorough hand washing (sing Happy Birthday twice while washing), staying away from people who are ill and covering coughs are effective methods to prevent the spread of viruses.

All students who visit Purdue University Student Health Services will be asked if they have traveled to China in the past 14 days. If they meet the criteria for possible nCoV infection, they will be placed in isolation and evaluated by a health care provider. Based on the evaluation, they may be transferred to a local hospital for ongoing care.
New Delhi, Jan 24 : A photograph of an Uttar Pradesh Police officer going into a snake-infested well to rescue three puppies has gone viral on the social media and the internet is all praises for him.

The 'Call 112', a Twitter page (@112UttarPradesh) dedicated to the emergency services in Uttar Pradesh, posted the photograph with a caption in Hindi that explained the entire scene.

According to the tweet, the incident took place in Amroha on January 22. The residents noticed that three puppies had fallen into the snake-infested well, but no one could gather courage to rescue them. Then, the police official risked his life and climbed inside the well using a ladder and safely took out all the three puppies.

As soon as the photo was posted, it went viral and the social media got filled with tweets praising the courage of the Indian Police Force.

Twitterati have flooded the social media with their reactions.

A user wrote: "This act deserves a thousand claps. Salute to humanity." Another wrote: "Well done @112UttarPradesh Proud of you @dgpup requesting dgp sir to give them award or appreciate them for this Good work." A post read: "Wonderful. Congratulations. Hey shri @dgpup please reward these brave-hearts. They are true son of soil. I salute these men." A Tweeple remarked: "God bless you good man for saving puppies from snakes. Thank you. I hope they were checked out by a vet. God bless you and puppies."
Israeli police launched a manhunt Friday after an apparent arson attack, accompanied by Hebrew-language graffiti, at a mosque in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem. "Police were summoned to a mosque in Beit Safafa, in Jerusalem, following a report of arson in one of the building's rooms and spraying of graffiti on a nearby wall outside the building," a police statement said. "A widescale search is taking place in Jerusalem," police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told AFP. "We believe that the incident took place overnight. We are searching for suspects." The spokesman would not say if police viewed it as a hate crime. The graffiti, on a wall in the mosque compound and viewed by an AFP journalist, contained the name Kumi Ori, a small settlement outpost in the north of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The Times of Israel newspaper said Friday that the wildcat outpost "is home to seven families along with roughly a dozen extremist Israeli teens". "Earlier this month security forces razed a pair of illegally built settler homes in the outpost," it reported. All settlements on occupied Palestinian land are considered illegal under international law, but Israel distinguishes between those it has approved and those it has not. The paper said that "a number of young settlers living there were involved in a string of violent attacks on Palestinians and (Israeli) security forces." Police said that nobody was injured in the mosque incident. The attack had the appearance of a "price tag" attack, a euphemism for Jewish nationalist-motivated hate crimes that generally target Palestinian or Arab Israeli property in revenge for nationalistic attacks against Israelis or Israeli government moves against unauthorised outposts like Kumi Ori. "This is price tag," Israeli Arab lawmaker Osama Saadi told AFP at the scene. "The settlers didn't only write words, they also burnt the place and they burnt a Koran," said Saadi, who lives in the area. Ismail Awwad, the local mayor, said he called the police after he found apparent evidence of arson, pointing to an empty can he said had contained petrol or some other accelerant and scorchmarks in the burnt room. "The fire in the mosque burned in many straight lines which is a sign that somebody poured inflammable material," he said. There was damage to an interior prayer room but the building's structure was unharmed. In December, more than 160 cars were vandalised in the Shuafaat neighbourhood of east Jerusalem with anti-Arab slogans scrawled nearby. The slogans read "Arabs=enemies", "There is no room in the country for enemies" and "When Jews are stabbed we aren't silent". The attackers were described by a local resident as "masked settlers."
President Trump Makes Pro-life History

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Liberty Counsel

Jan. 23, 2020



WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- President Donald Trump is demonstrating his commitment to pro-life values as the first president in history to speak in person at the March for Life Rally on Friday, January 24 in Washington, D.C.

Last year, Vice President Mike Pence made a surprise appearance and the president also gave a message of support for the cause to attendees via a live video feed. Presidents Ronald Reagan, George Bush, and George W. Bush all addressed the March for Life but their remarks were pre-taped or they were aired via a live video call.

The 47th annual March for Life Rally, which marks the anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton abortion opinions, will take place at noon at 12th St. on the National Mall, in between Madison Drive and Jefferson Drive. Participants will then march to the Supreme Court building on Capitol Hill at approximately 1:00 p.m.

This year's theme is "Life Empowers: Pro-life Is Pro-Woman" and the purpose of the march is to end abortion by "uniting, educating and mobilizing pro-life people in the public square."

Prior to the March for Life, Liberty Counsel and Faith & Liberty are sponsoring the 26th annual National Memorial for the Preborn and Their Mothers and Fathers tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. at Constitution Hall, 1776 D St., NW in Washington, D.C. The public is invited to participate in this prayer service along with clergy and laity on behalf of all people who have been devastated by abortion in America.

The National Memorial for the Preborn and Their Mothers and Fathers will conclude at 10:30 a.m. before the March for Life Rally which begins at 11 a.m. at 12th St. on the National Mall, in between Madison Drive and Jefferson Drive. Participants will then march to the Supreme Court building on Capitol Hill at approximately 1:00 p.m.

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, "This is an unprecedented time in history as President Donald Trump demonstrates his commitment to the sanctity of human life as the first president to speak in person at the March for Life Rally. Through his judicial appointments and support of pro-life legislation, President Trump has been the most consistent and unwavering president who is a champion for life. I am very encouraged that this administration will soon help eradicate legalized human genocide and make the womb a safe place in America once again," said Staver.

Liberty Counsel is a nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics. Liberty Counsel provides broadcast quality TV interviews via Hi-Def Skype and LTN at no cost.



SOURCE Liberty Counsel



CONTACT: Mat Staver, 407-875-1776, Liberty@LC.org



Related Links



lc.org/


Ukraine through the gas measuring station Drozdovychi has begun virtual reverse of natural gas from Poland, expects its launch from Slovakia and Hungary, Head of Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine LLC (GTSOU) Serhiy Makogon has reported.

"Gas supplies from Poland have already begun by substitution (virtual reverse) through the Drozdovychi station," he said on Facebook.

To date, the volume of virtual imports from Poland is 5.5 million cubic meters. Since now transit to this country is 9.1 million cubic meters, 3.6 million cubic meters will be physically delivered to Poland, the head of the GTSOU said.

Makogon recalled that earlier, according to the previous transit contract with the Russian Federation, virtual reverse operations were not available to Ukraine: all volumes of gas had to be physically exported to Poland through Drozdovychi, and the volume necessary for Ukraine, in turn, was returned back through Hermanowice. Currently, there are no such restrictions; the country can import the entire amount of gas that physically goes there from Poland through virtual reverse supplies.

"Import from Poland also includes import of gas from the Polish LNG terminal. That is, right now, Ukraine can commercially import up to 9 million cubic meters per day or 3.3 billion cubic meters of gas from the Polish terminal via virtual reverse. I repeat: physically, the Ukrainian gas transmission system is ready to accept up to 6.6 billion cubic meters per year from Poland, but so far Poland, until the completion of a number of works in its gas transmission system, can only physically supply about 2 billion cubic meters," the head of the gas transmission operator said.

"We expect that in the near future virtual reverse supplies will be launched in Slovakia and Hungary. The operators of these countries are working on this task. For our par, we are ready," Makogon said.

Virtual reverses supplies involve the exchange of natural gas between gas transmission system operators when the gas does not physically move across the border and the parties offset.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 09:35:17|Editor: ZD

Video Player Close

TRIPOLI, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Thursday said it voluntarily deported more than 200 migrants from Libya to their countries of origin so far in January.

"Under the EU (European Union)-IOM Joint Initiative, IOM Libya has so far facilitated the return of 222 migrants this month," the IOM tweeted.

The organization carries out the voluntary humanitarian return program, which arranges the return of migrants stranded in Libya to their countries of origin.

"Due to the prolonged armed conflict in Libya, hundreds of migrants are requesting assistance to return to their countries of origin," the IOM added.

The IOM recently said that almost 10,000 migrants have been voluntarily returned from Libya to their countries of origins in 2019.

Thousands of migrants, mostly Africans, attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe from Libya because of the insecurity and chaos in the North African country since the 2011 uprising, which toppled its late leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Many migrants are detained in reception centers in Libya despite international calls for closing those centers.

The UN-backed government and the east-based army have been violently fighting for control of the capital Tripoli since early April, killing and injuring thousands of people including migrants.
Connagh Howard has been dumped from the Love Island villa.

The hunk, 27, bid a sad farewell to South Africa on Friday's show after he missed out on being chosen in the re-coupling, despite sharing a kiss with Rebecca Gormley days earlier, who instead paired up with Luke Trotman.

The recoupling proved to be full of drama as Siannise Fudge was left fuming by Rebecca's decision to steal Luke, leaving her with the difficult call to choose Nas Majeed, sending Connagh home.

Scroll down for video

Gone: Connagh Howard has become the second Islander to be dumped from the Love Island villa after failing to be paired up with one of the girls in a tense re-coupling

The recoupling proved to be a dramatic one, as the girls debated whether they wanted to stick with their current partners, or choose one of newcomers Luke M or Luke T.

Leanne Amaning was up first, and inevitably chose to stick with her beau Mike Boateng, despite enjoying a date with Luke T earlier in the day.

Shaughna Phillips eagerly chose to stay with Callum Jones, even after his head was briefly turned by newcomer Rebecca earlier in the week, insisting their relationship was 'a marathon not a sprint.'

Dramatic: In a surprise move, Rebecca Gormley chose to be paired up with newcomer Luke Trotman, despite hinting in earlier days she could have feelings for Connor

As Rebecca stood to make her decision, she said: 'From the moment I've met him I'm non-stop laughing with him, I absolutely love how confident he is.

'We have so much to talk about and he's not exactly bad looking, I can't wait to be in a couple with this guy.'

She then announced that she had decided to pair up with Luke T, sparking a furious reaction from Siannise.

Shocking: Fans also weren't impressed by the sly move, especially as it meant this was the second man that Rebecca had managed to tempt away from Siannise

Fans also weren't impressed by the sly move, especially as it meant this was the second man that Rebecca had managed to tempt away from Siannise.

While several posted hilarious memes to display the chaoes that Rebecca had caused in the villa, one posted: 'Rebecca kissed Connor G and said she hope she didn't give him the wrong impression.'

Another wrote: 'SHANICE HAS HAD HER MAN TAKEN TWICE BY REBECCA.'

At odds: The recoupling proved to be a dramatic one, as the girls debated whether they wanted to stick with their current partners, or choose one of newcomers Luke M or Luke T.

He's mine! For Leanne Amaning it was an easy decision as she chose to stick with Mike Boateng

Delighted: Even after his head was turned by Rebecca earlier in the week, Callum Jones was staying with gorgeous Shaughna Phillips

Paige also decided to stay with Finley Tapp despite admitting she was hugely conflicted about her decision.

She said: 'He is funny, charming and since arriving in the villa things have become interesting, today I believe it was a bit of a battle between the head and the heart, but I've not known him for long I believe this is the right choice.'

Jess Gale - who previously coupled up with Nas - was next, and she decided to give things a go with Luke Mabbott.

She admitted: 'I believe has adds fun and excitement to the villa, I think he is an interesting guy with something about him and I would like to get to know him more and I'm excited for what is to come.'

My call: As Rebecca stood to make her decision, it proved to be a surprise for many fans as she opted to couple up with Luke T

Cute: Having previously been coupled up with Nas, Jess Gale decided to give a romance a go with newcomer and Justin Bieber lookalike Luke Mabbott

Outraged: Siannise struggled to hide her fury, at having Luke stolen from her, and was left with the difficult decision to choose which male Islander wouldn't be sent home

In a surprise twist, this meant it was down to Siannise to decide whether Nas or Connagh would be heading home, and the brunette was quick to confess she wasn't pleased to make the decision given her original choice had been already taken.

She said: 'The boy I've not chosen he's the life and soul of the villa, he makes me laugh 24/7, his personality is amazing and it doesn't go unnoticed with anyone, he always pushes me to be the best I can be, and I would love for him to find the chance to find the girl of his dreams and be happy.'

Siannise then announced that she decided to stick with Nas, meaning Connagh would be heading home.

The beauty couldn't hide her fury that Rebecca had swooped in and chosen Luke T, later saying in the Beach Hut: 'It's a kick in the teeth, she's gone behind my back, there's no loyalty there.'

Which one? It came down to Nas - who is yet to form a connection with any girl in the villa - or Connagh, who had been interested in Rebecca

Sweet: Siannise decided to choose Nas and give him another chance to find love on the show, meaning Connagh would be sent home

Angry: Siannise couldn't hide her fury that Rebecca had chosen Luke T, later saying in the Beach Hut: 'It's a kick in the teeth, she's gone behind my back, there's no loyalty there'

Connagh did manage to clear the air with Rebecca before exiting the villa, as she apologised for giving him the wrong impression and insisted he was a 'really nice guy.'

As he headed out of the villa, Connagh admitted it was 'bittersweet' that he was leaving the show, but he insisted there were 'no hard feelings' with any of the girls who didn't choose him.

At the end of the show it was then revealed that viewers could now vote for their favourite couple, but both Lukes and their respective female partners - Jess and Rebecca - immune.

The couples with the fewest votes would risk being dumped from the island, the results would be revealed on Sunday night.

Love Island continues on Sunday at 9pm on ITV2.
You have permission to edit this article.

Edit Close
Naveen Aggarwal

The governments bold decision to reduce the corporate tax rate by way of an ordinance in 2019 was seen as a welcome move by the industry. The reduction positions India more competitively with other global economies, apart from the reduced tax rate for new manufacturers that seems to have reinforced the governments ambition to become a global manufacturing hub.

While the industry acknowledges that these are steps in the right direction, one would agree that the tax cuts, by themselves, may not be sufficient to stimulate private sector capex and jumpstart the economy over the short to medium term. The government needs to address other areas by adding more levers with meaningful firepower to help improve the investment attractiveness quotient. The Budget 2020 provides the perfect platform to add more rigour to corporate tax and push towards greater maturity in other areas.

Aim to bring down the cost of doing business

The government should contemplate a shift from the current dividend distribution tax (DDT) to the classic withholding tax model with respect to shareholder profit distribution. This approach would shift the tax burden on dividends from corporates to shareholders. Once this shift comes into effect, tax on dividends will be governed by a tax treaty and become creditable in the shareholder jurisdiction.

Push towards a more stable and predictable tax regime

No growth in todays time can be sustained without the hope and promise of a clear, stable and predictable operating environment. A critical growth engine adding to the certainty is dispute resolution and litigation management. According to the FY20 receipt budget released by the Ministry of Finance, as of March 31, 2018, a total of 462,824 direct tax cases were pending before various appellate forums, involving a tax demand of Rs 6.23 lakh-crore. The recent step by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) prescribing monetary thresholds for filing appeals by the tax department before the appellate tribunal and higher forums is seen as a welcome move. However, a lot more needs to be done on this front. Some of the thought provokers for the government are:

Could there be an amnesty scheme for direct tax?

Based on the success of Sabka Vikas (Legacy Dispute Resolution) Scheme for service tax and excise matters, feasibility of a similar amnesty scheme should be evaluated for long-pending direct tax cases. While a litigation resolution scheme for direct taxes was introduced in 2016, it had limited takers within the taxpayer community as it entailed full payment of the disputed tax and conceding only a portion of interest and penalty amount.

Taking a cue from the indirect tax scheme, the proposed framework for any such direct tax-related amnesty scheme should help create a win-win situation for both the government and taxpayers where the former may consider partial collection of disputed taxes and granting relaxation on interest, penalty and prosecution.

Can an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism be introduced?

Given Indias position against introducing mandatory arbitration, the government could look at other alternative dispute resolution mechanisms such as mediation or conciliation. These mechanisms have found reasonable success in other developed economies, including the United States and the EU (European Union). Apart from being faster and more cost-effective than the conventional approach, the ADR mechanism seems to have driven more commitment to arrive at a resolution.

Can we bring legislative amendments to expedite disposal of cases?

Focussed efforts are required to clear the backlog of cases before the Authority for Advance Rulings (AAR) and conclude Advance Pricing Agreements (APAs)  the two prevalent routes of multinationals for certainty on tax issues. While these channels were introduced to reduce the multi-layer litigation framework and inject a sense of certainty, their effectiveness seems to have got diluted on account of slowdown in administrative machinery and the disposal rate. An important step would thus be to regularise the functioning of AAR and introduce statutory timelines for disposal of matters through legislative amendments.

Providing certainty to avoid litigation

Clarity on some of the newly-introduced provisions such as Significant Economic Presence (SEP), applicability of the General Anti Avoidance Rules (GAAR) as against the Principal Purpose Test, thin-capitalisation and the like through a clarificatory circular or amendments can go a long way in preventing protracted litigation.

In summary, a strong dispute resolution mechanism coupled with a holistic and competitive tax rate will help form a potent force for attracting investments across growth sectors. Given the stagflation headwinds the economy is experiencing, the finance minister has her task well cut out. There is a need to fix the structural weaknesses and create a sustainable growth-oriented tax ecosystem to help drive the governments global manufacturing and $5 trillion ambition.
An Alabama teenager has been arrested for allegedly killing his mother and twin 13-year-old brothers.

The victimsidentified as Holli Christina Durham, age 36; Branson Durham, age 13; and Baron Durham, age 13were found dead of apparent stab wounds inside a house in Munford, Alabama, the Talladega County Sheriffs Office said.

The victims son and older brother, 16-year-old Landon Durham, faces a capital murder charge for all three killings, Talladega County District Attorney Steve Giddens told CNN affiliate WBRC. Durham is being charged as an adult.

According to Giddens, Durham allegedly killed them probably sometime early Tuesday morning. Asked if Durham went to school after the alleged murders, Giddens said, I was told that he did, yes.

Suzanne Lacey, the superintendent of Talladega County Schools, called the killings a tragedy.

Like any small town, when tragedy strikes, it affects the entire community, including the school community, Lacey said. Our focus is to support the school family during this difficult time.

Authorities have not released a motive for the murders. Durham is expected to make a first court appearance on Friday.

Durhams arrest marks the second time in a week that a teenager in the US has been accused of murdering his mother and siblings.

Colin Jeffery Haynie, 16, faces four counts of aggravated murder in the shooting deaths of his mother and three younger siblings at their home in Grantsville, Utah. He confessed to the murders, according to prosecutors. Haynie also faces one count of attempted aggravated murder for his father, who was the only survivor.

The-CNN-Wire

 &  2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved.
Stock Market January 2018 Repeats in 2020  Yikes!

Our research team caught a very interesting price pattern that correlates with the Put/Call ratio. We are alerting our friends and followers with this research post of this exciting, yet unconfirmed, set up today.

In late 2017, the US stock market rallied from July through December with moderately low volatility throughout this span of time. Near the end of 2017, the US stock market price activity stalled, then began a renewed price rally in early 2018 (see the first BLUE & YELLOW BOX on the chart below). Then, in January 2018, a very broad market reversion event took place which ultimately resulted in a very broad market correction in October through December 2018 of just over 20%.

The current price rally ending 2019 and starting 2020 is strangely similar to the price setup that occurred in 2017 and 2018. Weve seen a broad melt-up price pattern over the last 5+ months of 2019 with moderately low volatility. We experienced a moderate price stall near the end of 2019 and experienced a broader renewed upside price rally in early 2020 (see the second BLUE and YELLOW BOX on the chart below). We believe this could be a setup for a potential price reversion event in the near future  all we need is confirmation of the downside price rotation to take place.

A deeper price reversion event at this price level that equals the previous reversion event would push the SPY price towards the $265 price level  a 68 point price drop. If such an event took place, we would be looking at a -15% to -25% potential price correction from current levels.

Lets take a look at other charts and data that may confirm our research

Weekly SPY (S&P 500) Index Chart  Jan 2018 and Jan 2020

Weekly VIX Chart

This Weekly VIX chart highlights the consolidation of volatility that set up in late 2017 and late 2019. Pay special attention to how broadly the VIX spiked in early 2018. This spike happened because of the consolidation of volatility near lower extremes over the past 16+ months. Given the recent volatility throughout 2018 and 2018, a downside price move of a similar range would likely propel the VIX to levels above 40~45. Price would need to collapse below our expected range in order for VIX to spike above 50. A move of this nature would suggest a downside price move beyond 25% to 30%  pushing the SPY below $240.

Again, our research team believes this is an unconfirmed price pattern setup. We want you to be aware of what we are seeing in the chart and be prepared if it confirms in the future.

Daily Put/Call Ratio Chart

Another interesting aspect of this setup is the correlation to the PUT/CALL ratio on the chart below. Every instance of the Put/Call ratio that fell below 0.80 for an extended period of time (2014, 2018 and now), prompted a downside price reversion of -10% to -15%. Additionally, each instance of this setup (2014 and 2018) prompted an extended period of price volatility and rotation.

In 2014, the initial downside price reversion prompted a -13% to -15% price correction followed by nearly 8 to 10 months of extended price rotation before finally entering a new bullish price trend in late 2016. Additionally, in 2018, the initial downside price reversion event wiped out nearly 12% of the value on the initial downside price move from this event. Subsequently, over the next 12+ months, a second downside price move wiped out over 20% of the value from the SPY.

The current setup suggests any potential downside price reversion resulting from this setup we are alerting you to could easily target -12% to -15% on an initial reversion event. Ultimately, the rest of 2020 could result in a very volatile year of price rotation if history teaches us anything.

Remember, this is not a confirmed trading trigger. This is a warning that a price and technical setup is occurring in the markets that may become of real value to you in the immediate future. The combination of these three charts, the SPY, the VIX and the PUT/CALL ratio, should be enough for you to understand there are real risks of a price reversion event setting up in the markets right now. All we need to confirm this setup would be for a broader market breakdown event to begin to take place. Then, we would watch what happens to the SPY near the $295 to $300 level.

Please pay attention to this setup as our researchers believe this could be a much bigger event than many people believe. Our research team believes a price reversion event is essential for the US stock market to continue to climb higher in 2020. Thus, some type of downside price move MUST happen before we can attempt any further upside price advancement.

As a technical analysis and trader since 1997 I have been through a few bull/bear market cycles, I have a good pulse on the market and timing key turning points for both short-term swing trading and long-term investment capital. The opportunities are massive/life-changing if handled properly.

Join my Wealth Building Newsletter if you like what you read here and ride my coattails as I navigate these financial markets and build wealth while others lose nearly everything they own.

Chris Vermeulen

www.TheTechnicalTraders.com

Chris Vermeulen has been involved in the markets since 1997 and is the founder of Technical Traders Ltd. He is an internationally recognized technical analyst, trader, and is the author of the book: 7 Steps to Win With Logic



Through years of research, trading and helping individual traders around the world. He learned that many traders have great trading ideas, but they lack one thing, they struggle to execute trades in a systematic way for consistent results. Chris helps educate traders with a three-hour video course that can change your trading results for the better.



His mission is to help his clients boost their trading performance while reducing market exposure and portfolio volatility.



He is a regular speaker on HoweStreet.com, and the FinancialSurvivorNetwork radio shows. Chris was also featured on the cover of AmalgaTrader Magazine, and contributes articles to several leading financial hubs like MarketOracle.co.uk

Disclaimer: Nothing in this report should be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell any securities mentioned. Technical Traders Ltd., its owners and the author of this report are not registered broker-dealers or financial advisors. Before investing in any securities, you should consult with your financial advisor and a registered broker-dealer. Never make an investment based solely on what you read in an online or printed report, including this report, especially if the investment involves a small, thinly-traded company that isnt well known. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report has been paid by Cardiff Energy Corp. In addition, the author owns shares of Cardiff Energy Corp. and would also benefit from volume and price appreciation of its stock. The information provided here within should not be construed as a financial analysis but rather as an advertisement. The authors views and opinions regarding the companies featured in reports are his own views and are based on information that he has researched independently and has received, which the author assumes to be reliable. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content of this report, nor its fitness for any particular purpose. Lastly, the author does not guarantee that any of the companies mentioned in the reports will perform as expected, and any comparisons made to other companies may not be valid or come into effect.

Chris Vermeulen Archive

 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.




BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 24

Trend:

Issues related to the prospects for economic development, restoration of stability and environmental balance in the world are discussed at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos every year, Azerbaijani MP Sona Aliyeva told Trend.

"The forum plays an important role in terms of informing a wide audience about the Azerbaijani economy. More than 300 plenary meetings, round tables, as well as mini-summits with the participation of statesmen are held annually within the forum. No official documents are accepted here. The forum only gives an opportunity to meet and discuss many key issues of the global economy and establish new business contacts in an informal atmosphere," the MP said.

Seventeen years of Azerbaijans participation in WEF and its growing activity from year to year are associated with the country's long success under the capable guidance of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

For the first time in January 2007, President Aliyev attended the forum The Growing Influence of Oil Geopolitics under the motto Shift of the global balance of power. As a result of the successful implementation of energy projects by Azerbaijan, the country's growing role in ensuring the energy security of the world is highly praised. This gives confidence that the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum oil and gas pipelines, stimulating the development of other projects, will continue to contribute to the growth of the country's influence," Sona Aliyeva added.

Azerbaijans participation along with other countries in the discussions entitled The role of solar energy in the energy sector, Oil and gas geopolitics: new frontiers and others within the forums allowed the country to widely demonstrate its capabilities in this field.

All this shows that in our modern multi-polar world, the solution of the arising geopolitical and geoeconomic issues as well as problems associated with the fourth industrial revolution, and the emergence of new challenges and opportunities create the need for the development of various business ties and discussions, the MP noted.

"Failure to take necessary measures in this direction may lead to a deepening geoeconomic and even geopolitical crisis. Such a danger to the world, living in new planetary boundaries, is very clear and in some aspects is already really felt. This factor creates the need to renew relations between people, states, governments and companies, as well as to enter a new stage in global cooperation," she said.

Sona Aliyeva noted that the high value of the policy pursued by President Ilham Aliyev is not only in the fact that the country has achieved great success and received high political, economic and social dividends, but also in the fact that the head of state managed to combine such conflicting concepts in the realities of rapid globalization as universality and uniqueness, which play an important role in the domestic and foreign policy of the country.

"President Ilham Aliyev considering uniqueness and universality to be equally important factors, has prevented the negative consequences of each of them, and thanks to his right political course, Azerbaijan has maintained its independent position in all spheres," Sona Aliyeva said.

"At the same time, observing the principle of optimal universality and optimal uniqueness in his management policy, instead of mandatory universality or mandatory uniqueness, the president turned Azerbaijan into an island of stability, a center of geopolitical integration and multiculturalism, a safe place for events and meetings of an international level. As a result of this successful policy, Azerbaijan implements many projects based on equal and mutually beneficial cooperation with other developed countries," Sona Aliyeva said.
A Saudi health ministry affiliate said on Thursday there were no cases of coronavirus in the kingdom, denying earlier reports of an expatriate resident being infected.

Riyad: A Saudi health ministry affiliate said on Thursday there were no cases of coronavirus in the kingdom, denying earlier reports of an expatriate resident being infected.

Earlier, Indias minister of state for external affairs said an Indian nurse working at a hospital in southwestern Saudi Arabia has been infected by the coronavirus and was being treated, amid an outbreak that has killed 18 people in China.

But the Saudi Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a tweet that there were no cases of the novel coronavirus so far.

The kingdom said on Wednesday it would start screening passengers arriving from China and take other preventive measures following the outbreak in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

The virus, which can pass from person to person, has been reported in Thailand, Japan, and South Korea, raising concerns about its spread through international air travel. More than 630 people have been infected, mostly in China, but cases have been detected as far away as the United States.

Elsewhere in the Gulf region, Qatar called on its citizens in China to exercise caution against the virus, the state news agency reported on Thursday.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched a six-week consultation on the implementation of upcoming allergen labelling legislation.

From 1 October 2021, food that is packaged on-site before a consumer selects or orders it will be required to have an ingredients list with the allergens emphasised on it. The FSA is now consulting on updates to its existing technical guidance to help businesses and enforcement authorities as they work towards implementing them ahead of the deadline.

Stakeholders in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are invited to respond as the guidance is expected to cover all three nations. Guidance for Scotland will be produced by Food Standards Scotland.

Consistent and accurate labelling can be life-saving for those living with a food allergy or hypersensitivity. This short consultation on updates to our Technical Guidance on food allergen labelling is an important next step in the process to ensure that food businesses and enforcement authorities are ready for October 2021, said FSA chief executive Emily Miles.

The legislative changes were introduced by the government in September 2019 after a UK-wide consultation following the death of teenager Natasha Ednan-Laperouse. She died after eating a Pret A Manger baguette that contained sesame, to which she was allergic.

However, some trade bodies raised concerns about its impact. The British Sandwich Association, for example, said it could lead to a greater risk to consumers due to cross-contamination. UK Hospitality, meanwhile, branded the law a retrograde step.

To view the consultation and supporting documents, click here.
Photograph: Joshua Roberts/Reuters

Donald Trumps threat to assert executive privilege in his impeachment defense to try to curb testimony by his former national security adviser John Bolton is an attempt to silence a key witness and could undermine constitutional principles, ex-justice department officials and legal scholars warn.

Bolton, a controversial figure whom a former colleague has testified had grave doubts about Trumps pressure tactics to get Ukraine to investigate his potential 2020 rival Joe Biden, has indicated he would testify before the impeachment trial if he were subpoenaed.

Trumps move comes after his absolute immunity claims during the House impeachment inquiry, which helped thwart testimony by other current and former top aides, such as the ex-White House counsel Don McGahn, sparking court challenges and a federal judges ruling that presidents are not kings.

Trumps hardball legal tactics in the House prompted the second impeachment article of obstruction of Congress. The lead impeachment manager, the congressman Adam Schiff, said last Thursday: In the history of the republic, no president has ever ordered the complete defiance of an impeachment inquiry, stressing that nine administration officials had not complied with House subpoenas.

The key impeachment article charges Trump with abusing his office to benefit his 2020 campaign by secretly withholding almost $400m in military aid to Ukraine and a Washington DC meeting with its president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, unless Kyiv publicly announced an inquiry into the former vice-president Joe Biden, and his son Hunters past ties to a Ukrainian energy firm.

Related: Trump's conduct is not America first, Democrats argue at impeachment trial

In their legal rebuttal to the impeachment charges, Trumps lawyers said he unequivocally denies each and every allegation in both articles of impeachment.

But the prospect of Boltons testimony seems to unnerve Trump. In a Fox News interview, Trump said invoking executive privilege if Bolton testified would be for the sake of future presidents, a move that could curb, but not block entirely, potentially harmful testimony by Bolton.

Story continues

In Davos on Wednesday, Trump told reporters that Bolton testimony would raise some national security problems, noting too that Bolton had departed probably not on the best of terms  You dont like people testifying when they didnt leave on good terms.

Whether Bolton testifies wont be clear unless a majority of the Senate votes to allow witnesses, which most of Trumps Republican allies are expected to oppose. Four GOP members would have to join Democrats for new witnesses to testify.

Ex-justice department officials say Trump has escalated his use of dubious legal tactics, including claims of absolute immunity and executive privilege, in impeachment battles.

What Trump is doing is a wholesale attempt to silence key witnesses who might have relevant testimony, said Joshua Geltzer, who was a senior justice lawyer in the area of national security during the Obama administration and is a visiting professor at Georgetown University Law Center.

Other ex-prosecutors share Geltzers concerns about Trumps executive privilege threats.

The idea that a president would invoke executive privilege to block his own impeachment is pretty close to frivolous, said Paul Rosenzweig, an ex-prosecutor who was a senior counsel on Ken Starrs team during the Clinton impeachment. It shows the extent to which Trump is willing to go to assert executive privilege that hasnt really existed before.

Rosenzweig, now a senior fellow on national and cybersecurity at the non-partisan R Street Institute, added: If the Senate lets him get away with it, [that] would be the ultimate example of undermining separation of powers, and a new example of Republican cravenness.

A protester holds a sign outside the impeachment trial on Thursday. Photograph: Erik S Lesser/EPA

Pressure for more witnesses has been increasing.

The House intelligence committee recently released a trove of incriminating documents and text messages from Lev Parnas, an indicted ally of Trumps personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani who worked to dig up dirt on the Bidens and pressure Zelenskiy to investigate their Ukraine roles. Parnas, a Ukrainian American, recently told Rachel Maddow that Trump had been aware of everything and knew exactly what was going on.

But even if Trump asserts executive privilege, that wouldnt stop Bolton or others from answering certain questions that might hurt Trump, says the ex-federal prosecutor Michael Zeldin.

For instance, if Bolton was asked why he said Giuliani was a hand grenade whos going to blow everybody up, as House testimony by a colleague indicated, assertion of executive privilege should not prevent him from answering, Zeldin said.

A few moderate GOP senators, led by Susan Collins, seem to be moving to support witnesses. Collins said last Thursday that she would likely support calling witnesses, and she has reportedly been talking to four like-minded senators, enhancing the chances of some new witness testimony.

The White House would be wasting its time to meet with and lobby those four senators against calling witnesses or issuing subpoenas, said the veteran Republican operative Charlie Black.

The Washington Post reported on Monday that the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, had been talking to Trumps lawyers about a controversial fallback plan, if Bolton testifies: questioning could take place in secret to limit public attention.

Such a move in an impeachment trial could backfire legally, said Rosenzweig. To classify Boltons testimony solely to conceal Trumps violations of law, is itself a violation of law, he said.

---Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK---
Blue Flowers isnt quite an epistolary novel  the chapters alternate between A.s letters and a third-person narrative of Marcoss increasingly disordered life  but in choosing an anachronistic literary form, Saavedra seems to wish to cloak A. in the romance of the genre. Think of 18th-century heroines  La Nouvelle Heloise and Letters of a Portuguese Nun, women dying of and for love  or perhaps of Story of O, also conceived as a kind of letter to a lover, whose plaintive, eroticized submissiveness A. often echoes. The epistolary form enables Saavedra to introduce anonymity and missed encounters into a modern world defined by traceability and instant communication. But this raises the stakes, and, despite Hahns able translation, the results are mixed. While Marcos  profoundly alienated from his ex-wife and 3-year-old daughter, unwilling to rise to his girlfriends expectations and adrift amid the unpacked boxes that litter his apartment  is fully embodied, A. is strangely bloodless. Ultimately, A.s story of a brutal love marked by a series of humiliations, both physical and psychological, is at once too abstract and too familiar to make Marcoss obsession with her, or his transformation, convincing.

RESISTANCE

By Julian Fuks

Translated by Daniel Hahn

154 pp. Charco. Paper, $15.95.

Questions of betrayal and belonging also animate Resistance, Fukss fourth book, a winner of Brazils prestigious Jabuti prize. The novels narrator is, like Fuks himself, the child of leftist activists in Argentinas Dirty War, now living in exile in Sao Paulo. He is one of three children, the eldest of whom is adopted, and it is the mystery of this brothers origins that becomes the novels putative subject. I chant over and over that my brother is a son and the question always springs to my lips: Whose son?

From the beginning, the narrator worries, against all logic, that this brother may be the child of one of Argentinas disappeared, but he never resolves this uncertainty, increasingly aware that what is at issue is his own desire for belonging. The truth of his brothers birth is ultimately secondary to larger patterns of loss and displacement. If his parents have suffered one variety of exile, they have imposed another on their offspring. Buenos Aires is what we all felt jettisoned from as long as they werent allowed back  even if some of us, my sister and I, had never set our tiny feet on its pavements. Can exile be inherited? Might we, the little ones, be as expatriate as our parents?

The answer is, of course, yes and Fukss skill lies in his quiet exploration of how exclusion  willed or imposed  shapes experience within families. Like much autofiction, this slim novel, skillfully translated by Hahn, is preoccupied with the act of narration: how, even whether, to write about those we know. I cant decide if this is a story, the narrator wonders early in the novel. Later, his mother, having read the book we too are reading, reflects, You dont lie the way writers usually lie, and yet a lie is constructed all the same.

Lies go in all directions, as Fuks has already signaled. Speaking of his brothers adoption he writes that what had once been a word became unsayable and of his parents he notes that almost everything they tell me they contradict. Exile is itself a kind of lie, one that requires severing the present self from the past, that past self increasingly false, buried beneath layers of retold stories. The resistance of the novels title, then, is not just literal, but also figurative  the resistance of truth, nostalgia, silence and, ultimately, narratives.
A woman in Missouri booked a hotel through Booking.com. But when she realized she had booked the incorrect date, she did a Google search for the website's customer service line, and that's where things went wrong.

The woman found a number that appeared to be legitimate. The customer service representative she reached instructed her to pay for the hotel with prepaid gift cards. She sent $120, and before she knew it, the money had disappeared.

"Obviously, we know she was not talking to Booking.com," says Amy Nofziger, director of fraud victim support at AARP, which received more than 70,000 calls last year from people who lost money to such scams, including the Missouri woman.

Criminals are always looking for new opportunities to defraud unsuspecting travelers. If you know the warning signs, you can protect yourself.

"It is hard because we all want to go on these fantastic trips and want to get the best prices," Nofziger says. "But we have to know what the red flags are."

Gift card fraud

Scammers like gift cards because they're like cash: untraceable and untrackable.

Nofziger says scammers place ads to game the search engine, producing results that look like legitimate travel websites. They'll then ask unsuspecting customers to pay with prepaid gift cards from iTunes, Amazon or Google Play. That's a huge red flag.

"The thing to do is verify youre on the website you want to be on," she advises. "(Booking.com) isnt going to ask for prepaid gift cards."

Retail stores that sell prepaid gift cards train their employees to recognize signs of fraud, according to AARP.

Still, Nofziger notes the scammers have found ways to avoid detection: They'll instruct their victims to lie about the purpose of their card purchase or to use a self-checkout kiosk where an employee might not be present to ask questions.

Scammers like gift cards because they're like cash: Untraceable and untrackable.

"Its a new currency of fraud," Nofziger says.

Credit cards usually offer the best protection from fraud, she adds. "Gift cards are for family and friends only,"

Story continues

Overseas scams

Travel-related scams can cost consumers as little as a few hundred dollars or as much as hundreds of thousands. Though older Americans often fall victim to these schemes, it can happen to younger people as well. And travel fraud has become a global enterprise.

"Its all over the world," laments Yolanda Parra, director of American citizen services at the U.S. State Department in Washington. "Its not just coming from one region."

According to the FBI, Americans reported $362 million lost to overseas scams in 2018, up from $211 million in 2017.

Parra says the damage from most scams falls into the $3,000-to-$5,000 range, but she's seen some cases reach as high as $300,000 to $400,000.

"Theres a lot of money leaving our country," she notes.

There are romance scams on dating sites, where a person will pull at the heartstrings of a prospective target, claiming to be injured or sick and in urgent need of money. Or they might say they're a member of the U.S. military, and they need money to get back to a base or travel to the United States.

Other overseas schemes target older Americans, with scammers pretending to be their children or grandchildren or claiming they are contacting the seniors on the relative's behalf.

Of course, it is all lies.

"Its really kind of pathetic and sad," Parra says.

She says one woman sent $200,000 because her overseas contact said he was in a car accident. Some people even sell their homes or use their home equity to send money overseas.

Parra noted that the State Department can send money overseas on behalf of U.S. citizens, and also can verify the citizenship of the recipient.

"Once you wire that money, there is no recourse," she points out.

Where to get help

You can contact these entities if you think you might be the victim of a travel scam. They can also help you avoid travel fraud in the first place.

AARP

U.S. State Department

Federal Trade Commission

Better Business Bureau

Tips from Rick Steves: Defend yourself against 21st-century travel scams

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Travel scams: Crooks use prepaid gift cards, fake deals to con victims
BERLIN  A man shot and killed his parents and four other members of his family then telephoned the police to turn himself in, the authorities said Friday, after the multiple killings at an inn that traumatized a small town in southwestern Germany.

The police said they had no motive for why the 26-year-old German citizen had turned his 9 mm handgun on his family at the inn in the town of Rat am See in Baden-Wurttemberg, where the shooter and at least some of victims were believed to have lived.

The victims included three women aged, 36, 56 and 62 and three men, aged 36, 65 and 69. Their names were not immediately released, in keeping with German privacy laws.

We are currently working on the assumption of a domestic dispute, since all of the victims seem to be related, said Reiner Moller, the head of the police force in nearby Aalen, at a hastily called news conference hours after the shooting.
Looking to make a comeback from the blue wave of 2018where multiple offices in Harris County, and Texas overall, were flipped from Republican to DemocratGOP candidates for Texas First District Court of Appeals Place 5 Justice pleaded their case to be the partys candidate during a Harris County Pachyderm Club meeting Jan. 21.

The four Republican candidates, Terry Adams, Levi Benton, Chad Bridges and James Lombardino, answered questions from the HCPC president SJ Swanson about their campaign plans, reasons for running and opinions on other candidates during the lunch meeting at Tonys in downtown Houston.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Democratic congressional candidates take on Trump, Rep. Dan Crenshaw

Past experience

Benton, past judge appointed to the Texas 215th District Court from 1999 to 2008 and current lawyer with his own practice, said he has experience serving as an arbitrator as well as handling litigation.

Well over 100 reported cases appealed to my orders and judgments, Benton said. If you were to examine that record you will find that I have been faithful to the law, faithful to precedent. Not a single decision out there that will disappoint you or embarrass you or me and my family for that matter.

Bridges, a former Texas 240th District Court Judge voted out in 2018, said that with his 22 years of prosecutor experience along with criminal law and appellate work experience, he would help reduce the current case load of the First Courta promise that each candidate made during the lunch.

I started off handling matters of death penalty litigation, Bridges said. When the governor had appointed me, he appointed me to a bench in the general jurisdiction. I handled the civil and criminal cases.

Adams said he has a diverse experience after more than 30 years practicing law and handling appeals in the U.S Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the Supreme Court.

Lombardino said his past handling civil, family and criminal cases after serving as judge of the 308th District Court of Harris County for eight years increases his ability to reduce the current caseload.

They need an accelerated appeal in the Court of Appeals, Lombardino said. I will be a good candidate and a good justice because Im familiar with all of these areas of the law. I also think that since 2009 there hasnt been a family law judge on the Court of Appeals.

Reaching voters

When asked by Swanson how they plan to run their campaigns for the primary and beyond, candidates said they would focus on not only their base in Harris County, but rural counties as well.

I think its important to ask for all groups to look at who has a path to victory, Benton said. We have to have a candidate that will attract independent voters. I think I best bring that characteristic.

Bridges said he is working with the Indo-American PAC as well as reaching out to local conservatives. Meanwhile Adams and Benton said they would target unregistered and independent voters, respectively.

What I do to help the party in general, and part of our campaigning, is to work on people who are not registered to vote, Adams said. We are contacting those who are at a fork in the trail and didnt ever register to vote. We have been very successful in terms of our upward response rate in people that actually register.

Democrat candidates

Democrat candidates Amparo Guerra and Timothy Hootman are also running for Place 5.

Amparo served as the associate municipal judge for the City of Houston from 2005 to 2010, advocated for healthcare at the U.S. and Mexico border and clerked for U.S. District Judge Filemon Vela.

Hootman has handled appeals to each appellate court in Texas, argued in the Supreme Court and has legal experience dating back to 1992.

The primary election is March 3. The deadline to register to vote is Feb. 3.

chevall.pryce@chron.com

Top hits: Get Houston Chronicle stories sent directly to your inbox
Parliament passed the 2020 Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure, amounting to approximately EC$1.2 billion, late Wednesday Finance Minister Camillo Gonsalves presented an exact figure of EC$1,186,351,151, a figure he said represented an 11.2 percent increase over the 2019 approved Estimates.





It is broken down as follows: Recurrent Expenditure, inclusive of amortization and sinking fund contributions, EC$875,583,941; Capital Expenditure, EC$310,767,210.





Revenue to support the expenditure is expected to be comprised of EC$680,039,100 on the Current Revenue side and EC$506,312,051 in capital receipts.





Current expenditure exclusive of amortization and sinking fund contributions amounted to EC$678,033,515.





No increase in tax rates





According to Gonsalves, there was a marked increase in the current revenue over the 2019 figure, and this was based on the anticipation that there will be improved economic growth during the year, and improved collection of taxes with the passage of the Tax Administration Act in December 2019.





As per taxes, revenue from tax sources was expected to grow by 3 percent, generating EC$585.7 million to the Consolidated Fund, with non-tax sources expected to generate EC$94.4 million.





And while all major tax types were expected to contribute to the overall increase, the Finance Minister indicated that the figures projected were not a reflection that the taxes (rates) were being increased.





Taxes on income and profits were expected to increase by EC$3.4 million; taxes on goods and services were expected to increase by EC$9.2 million; and taxes on international trade and transactions by EC$5 million.

The Recurrent Expenditure of EC$875.6 million was made up of Current Expenditure of EC$678 million, amortization amounting to EC$152.5 million and sinking fund contributions EC$45 million.





Wages and salaries, EC$331.2 million, accounted for the largest portion of the budget increase, followed by debt service  EC$267.9 million.





Other items include: pensions  EC$60.2 million; other transfers  EC$124.2 million; goods and services  EC$93.2 million.





Election budget





Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Godwin Friday, in his response, fingered the government for presenting an election budget.





"The budget is significantly larger in 2020. It is growing bigger, faster, so its very clear to me and the people that the minister and government are responding to the point that this is an election year  this is an election budget, Friday told Parliament.





"We are now permanently the billion-dollar budget, he declared, and questioned the real meaning for the people of this country.





Dr. Friday questioned the governments ability to spend the money allocated in the 2020 budget, saying that the budget continued to be a "big, fat lie.





He described it as "a continuation of the same pattern that we have all become familiar with in this House, adding that the government indicated its intent to spend EC$310 million in capital projects, knowing it was not attainable.





The Opposition Leader pointed to revenue/receipts for which there were no source(s). This, he said, was the governments way of utilizing an accounting device to make the budget add up.





He went on to accuse the government of not having the money to execute the projects outlined.





So, what did all this mean? According to Friday it meant that the projects that needed immediate attention, such as roads, will not be able to be executed because there is a lack of funding.












Inner-city ratepayers will spend as much as $20,000 on an Australia Day 'mourning' ceremony to recognise how colonisation has negatively affected indigenous people.

The ceremony at Alfred Square in Melbourne's St Kilda will run for an hour from 6am on Sunday and will be held in collaboration with the Boonwurrung Land and Sea Council.

City of Port Phillip council will then at 11am hold a citizenship ceremony, which officials said is 'presented in harmony' with the mourning event.

Invasion Day protesters gather at Flinders Street Station in Melbourne on Australia Day 2019. City of Port Phillip council is holding a 'mourning ceremony' on January 26 to recognise how colonisation has negatively affected indigenous people

The idea for the early morning reflection ceremony was promoted in October as a 'morning of mourning' by the council's mayor Dick Gross.

'There is no doubt that elements of Australia Day are controversial,' he said.

'The First Nations paid an undeniable price from European 'settlement'and we need to acknowledge this.'

The council will spend $20,000 on proceedings, and Australia Day Council funds have also been committed towards the event.

Funds from the Australia Day Council will be used for 'cultural delivery aspects', the Herald Sun reported.

Whittlesea Council, in Melbourne's north, will also hold a minute's silence and an official 'mourning ceremony' to pay respect to the Stolen Generations on Australia Day.

The inner-city council's mayor Dick Gross said in October Australia needed to recognise the price First Nations people paid for 'settlement' (pictured Invasion Day protesters in Melbourne in 2019)

Guest speakers will be required to acknowledge 'past injustices in our nation's history'.

It comes after Darebin and Yarra councils in Melbourne were both stripped of their right to hold citizenship ceremonies in 2017 after announcing they were scrapping Australia Day celebrations.

A survey from The Institute of Public Affairs earlier this week revealed Australia Day celebrations on January 26 are wanted by more than 70 per cent of Australians.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - A federal grand jury on Thursday indicted a southwest Missouri physician accused of receiving tens of thousands of dollars in kickbacks for prescribing fentanyl spray to hundreds of patients in a $2.4 million medical fraud scheme.

Randall D. Halley, 63, of Nixa, was charged in a 29-count indictment in Springfield.

Halley operated a private medical practice, Ozark Community Hospital-Christian County Clinic in Nixa, from 2004 to June 2019. He also was medical director of medical or residential care facilities in Springfield, Ozark and Marionville.

Halleys attorney, Thomas Carver, of Springfield, said his client disputes the allegations and was confident he would be found not guilty.

Its an overreaction by the government as part of pain management prosecutions around the county, Carver said. This is a pattern throughout the U.S. and we look forward to proving that (Halley) has done nothing to endanger any human being and has done his best to assist people who have a long history of chronic pain.

The indictment also includes a forfeiture allegation, which would require Halley to forfeit at least $2.4 million to the government. The indictment says the forfeiture amount included property derived from proceeds Halley and obtained by prescribing large quantities of fentanyl spray.

The indictment alleges Halley wrote more than 355 prescriptions for fentanyl spray from May 2013 through March 2019. During that time, prosecutors say, he was paid $92,225 in kickbacks by pharmaceutical company in Chandler, Arizona, that produced the spray. The product is prescribed for management of breakthrough pain in adult cancer patients who are already medicated with a long-acting painkiller. The fentanyl spray is a potent opioid that rapidly enters a patients bloodstream after being sprayed under the tongue.

Halley is accused of prescribing the fentanyl spray to patients who didnt have cancer, or breakthrough cancer pain, or did not have insurance coverage for the spray. Prosecutors allege he submitted false claims that patients had cancer or breakthrough cancer pain, and also for patients who had recovered from cancer, were in remission or had pain unrelated to cancer.

Halley also refused patients requests to switch from fentanyl spray to another pain relief medication, even when the patients suffered side effects or had little or no pain relief from the spray, according to the indictment.

Halley is charged with receiving kickbacks from the pharmaceutical company from February 2013 to March 2019 as an inducement to prescribe the spray or to increase patients dosages.

The pharmaceutical company, which was not named in the indictment, paid providers to give educational programs concerning fentanyl spray to other health care providers. The indictment alleges the program was a sham designed to reward providers who prescribed large amounts of fentanyl spray. Halley participated in the speakers program, according to the indictment, from April 2013 to August 2017, involving about 27 programs throughout Missouri.

Halley also is charged with using someone elses registration to further the distribution of a controlled substance. He would allegedly pre-sign prescriptions so two his employees could conduct the office visits and issue the prescriptions, despite not being legally qualified to do so.
A&E waiting times worsen across Wales during very challenging December for hospitals

This article is old - Published: Friday, Jan 24th, 2020

A&E departments across Wales recorded their worst ever waiting times last month.

72.1 per cent of patients were seen within the four hour target during December  below the target of 95 per cent.

A series of messages urging the members of the public in to choose well and consider whether A&E is needed were sent by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board during the month  with the Wrexham Maelor Hospital experiencing increased demand.

Figures released yesterday show that just over 52 per cent of people who visited the hospitals emergency department were seen within the four hour period.

This is 10 percentage points down on its own figures for November 2019, and more than five percentage points worse than last months record low.

Overall 5,131 people visited Wrexham Maelors A&E during December  a slight increase on the 5,036 who visited in November.

73.2 per cent were seen within eight hours and 83.4 per cent were seen locally within 12 hours.

Across Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board 66.8 per cent of patients were seen within the target time.

Minister for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething, has responded to the latest NHS performance statistics and announced an extra 10m, on top of the 30m earlier this year, to support health and social care delivery in recognition of increased pressure this winter.

Minister for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething said: I would like to thank front line staff for their hard work and skill during what was a very challenging December.

Last month saw record high demand on the ambulance service, the highest number of attendance at emergency departments for any December and record numbers of emergency admissions for over 75 year olds.

There has been a welcome reduction in delayed transfers of care but too many patients are spending long periods in emergency departments waiting for a hospital bed.

We want Health Boards to work with partners to improve the flow of patients through the hospital system and out into the community, and I have made an extra 10m available to support improvement in this area.

The ambulance service faced significant pressure, with average daily red calls increasing to the highest on record and exceeding 100 for the first time. We are disappointed the target was not achieved although more patients in the red category received a response within the target time than last December.

Demand on emergency departments is also affecting the delivery of planned treatments at hospitals. This is being made worse by doctors reducing their hours because of changes to HMRC pension tax rules by the UK Government.

By the end of December, this had led to about 3,200 sessions lost, affecting nearly 27,000 patients. I have called on the UK Government to resolve this matter urgently.

Our hard-working, dedicated NHS staff have been working tirelessly throughout the year and it is clear demand is only set to grow. For that reason we need to transform the way we deliver health and social care in the future.

However Shadow Health Minister  Angela Burns AM/AC  described the figures as disturbing.

She said: The health minister must announce what remedial action he is going to take, and a definite timeframe in which to deliver it.

In those critical times when people attend A&E departments, they need the reassurance that they will be seen not as soon as possible, but within  and well within  the waiting periods set by this Welsh Labour Government and its health minister.

And lets be clear: our hardworking NHS Wales staff are there to deliver the best care that they can, but they, too, are being let down by mismanagement at the top. Its a credit to them that they manage to cope under such circumstances.

This Welsh Labour administration created this crisis, and doesnt seem that it can solve it.
She is one of Britain's most acclaimed actresses best known for her role in Downton Abbey.

And Michelle Dockery enjoyed a break from her hectic schedule as she visited the beach in Malibu, California with her friends this week.

The Lady Mary Crawley star, 38, cut a casual figure in a black sweater and boyfriend jeans as she chatted with her pals, snapped some selfies and took a paddle in the sea.

Beach day: Michelle Dockery enjoyed a break from her hectic schedule as she visited the beach in Malibu, California with her friends this week

Relaxed: The Lady Mary Crawley star, 38, cut a casual figure in a black sweater and boyfriend jeans as she chatted with her pals, snapped some selfies and took a paddle in the sea

The beauty wrapped up in a tan and red checked scarf and wore a cross-body bag,

Her raven locks were styled in soft waves while the star wore a light palette of make-up.

Making the most of her day off, Michelle was seen walking up and down the beach, taking in the scenic views before walking onto the rocks.

2020 will be a busy year for Michelle who is set to star in drama, Defending Jacob, alongside Marvel star Chris Evans.

Barefoot stroll: The beauty wrapped up in a tan and red checked scarf and wore a cross-body bag as she walked barefoot across the beach

Beach chic: Her raven locks were styled in soft waves while the star wore a light palette of make-up

Explore: Michelle and her friends were seen walking on the rocks as they enjoyed their day

Casual cool: Michelle took her walking boots off for a quick dip in the sea before a walk on the rocks

Scenic: Michelle looked relaxed as she took in the stunning views in California

The actors plays the parents of suspected teen killer Jacob Barber, played by Jaeden.

Based on the gripping 2012 New York Times best selling novel by William Landay, the drama follows Chris' character Andy Barber, an assistant district attorney who is investigating the murder of teen Ben Rifkin - a classmate of his son Jacob.

After searching Jacob's room, he discovers a knife that fits the description of the murderer's knife. He is left defending his son from the murder.

Photo time: Michelle looked delighted as she took a scenic photo with her pals on the rocks

Radiant; The star looked gorgeous as she walked on the golden sands with her friends

Delight: Michelle took a dip in the freezing waters during the blustery day

Chat: The pals looked happy as they walked along and chatted

Walk: The trio soaked up the winter sun as they enjoyed a day of leisure

Michelle, is also appearing on the big screen in Guy Ritchie's ensemble caper The Gentlemen.

Michelle recently spoke to PORTER magazine about an exciting time for female actors.

'I do feel I stepped into this industry at a time when things were really beginning to change, especially for women,' she explained.

'It's the golden age of television, where creators have the luxury of writing 10 hours as opposed to just two, so there's room to explore a character in greater depth.

'It's now becoming much more normal to start a job or to read a part and for me to have a dialogue with the creators  if there are moments where its felt the female character is not involved, for example  whereas I guess in the past, it would have felt like more of a fight.'

Leisure time: Michelle showed her pals something on her phone as the group chatted

Fun in the sun; Michelle looked casually chic as she spent quality time with her friends

Wow factor: The group looked happy as they enjoyed a casual walk on the beach stateside

Views: Michelle looked fascinated by the rocks as she spoke with her friend

Walk: Michelle looked relaxed as she enjoyed the day with friends

It was also recently confirmed a second Downton Abbey movie is in the works, according to the show's creator Julian Fellowes who revealed the exciting news this week.

There has been much talk about the widely-discussed sequel following the roaring success of the first movie, which was a follow-up to the ITV series.

While chatting during the Winter TCA press tour session to promote his new ITV drama Belgravia, he confirmed work will start on the movie when he finishes writing his upcoming HBO drama The Gilded Age.

LA life: The group were in good spirits as they walked down to the beach together

Banter: Michelle laughed as she took her shoes off for the quick paddle in the ocean

When he was asked about the sequel, Julian all but confirmed the news when he said: 'Give us a break, guv. Not until I've finished the scripts for The Gilded Age'.

The first Downton movie was a record-breaking success that earned 136million when it was released in September 2019 and fans will now get another chance to see the Crawley family.

Back in December, movie producer Gareth Neame echoed Julian in revealing a return is coming as he too confirmed that a sequel is in the works.

Gareth told The Hollywood Reporter that after the first film's huge success there have been early talks about making a follow-up, after they were left 'holding their breath' regarding the reaction to the film.

Photo: Michelle looked radiant as she took a photo with her friends

Footprints in the sands: The ladies hit a rocky patch as they continued their saunter down the beach




A Libyan man who was convicted in connection with the deadly 2012 attack on American diplomatic compound in Benghazi has been sentenced to more than 19 years in prison. Mustafa al-Imam, 47, was reportedly captured by United States special forces in Libya and brought to US for trial.

Last year, a jury also convicted him of conspiring to support extremist militia that launched the fiery assaults on US compounds and sentenced him to a total of 236 months behind the bars. According to international media reports, Mustafa was charged with conspiracy to provide material support and resources to terrorists and maliciously destroying and injuring a dwelling and placing lives in jeopardy.

The attack back in September 2012 killed US ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans. However, Mustafa was not convicted of murder as his attorneys claimed that he made a 'tremendous mistake' by just damaging and looting US property after the attacks and further insisted that there was no evidence that he intended to harm any Americans.

READ: Democrats Struggle To Build Broad Support On Eve Of Voting

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement said tha Mustafa's sentencing sends a strong message to those who would attempt to commit such a heinous crime.

An assistant US attorney John Cummings wrote in a court filling, In the current geopolitical environment, terrorists must understand that there are harsh consequences for attacking diplomatic posts and harming U.S. personnel  particularly a U.S. Ambassador.

The federal prosecutors asked the US District Judge Christopher Cooper to send a message to other contemplating attacks on the American's overseas. They further said that t=Mustafa deserves a maximum 35-year sentence. They also argued that the 47-year-old had also entered the US compound and took sensitive material that identified the location of the CIA annexe about a mile away from the mission as the evacuation point for Department of State personnel.

READ: Trump, A Late Convert To Cause, To Join Anti-abortion Rally

Second militant convicted in the attack

Mustafa is the second militant to be convicted in the attacks of Benghazi. According to reports, the head of the Islamist militia who directed the siege, Ahmed Abu Khattala was also convicted back in 2017 on terrorism-related charges and was sentenced to 22 years in prison.

He was allegedly accused of driving to the diplomatic mission and breaching the main gate with militants who attacked with assault rifles, grenades and other weapons. Khattala was convicted of destroying US government property, discharging a firearm during a violent crime and two counts of providing support to a terror organisation.

(With AP inputs)

READ: Democrats Argue right Matters In Trump Impeachment Trial

READ: Donald Trump Shares Photoshopped Pic With Obama, Netizens Call Him 'jealous'
TORONTO, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Vizetto Inc., is pleased to announce that they have reached an agreement with V2 Indonesia for them to become the Indonesian master distributor for Reactiv SUITE. This agreement gives Reactiv SUITE a market presence and local customer support in the Indonesian marketplace, as the company continues its rollout of Reactiv SUITE with global premier partners.

"V2 Indonesia has always been at the forefront of A/V technologies and we have a track record of introducing next generation products into the market," said Rudi Hidayat, CEO of V2 Indonesia. "Reactiv SUITE is revolutionizing the way people communicate and share by creating a "Digital Table" where multiple remote users can simultaneously access, push and manipulate any type of content as if it were a piece of paper"

"It was an amazing and exciting experience to launch Reactiv SUITE during Jakarta AV Week," remarked Av Utukuri, CEO of Vizetto Inc., "Indonesia is a unique market where team members within a company can be spread over a large distance. By implementing Reactiv SUITE into their workflow, Indonesian companies can dramatically lower travel costs, gain efficiency in communication and drive bottom line results. We are excited to be part of this opportunity."

Founded in 1992, V2 Indonesia is the leading provider of audio-visual technology in Indonesia. The company is focused on future technology for its clients. The addition of Reactiv SUITE to V2's product lineup gives V2's customers access to a robust and feature rich application that enables the ability to present, collaborate and create content on interactive digital whiteboards and laptop computers. V2 launched Reactiv SUITE at Jakarta AV Week during the week of October 9th, where Av Utukuri, CEO of Vizetto Inc., demonstrated the power of Reactiv SUITE to a packed audience during a 45-minute keynote address on the future of meetings.

Vizetto Inc., is a Canadian company that develops Reactiv SUITE; software that enables remote creativity for organizations. This new partnership between two great companies further validates Vizetto's mission of ensuring the best possible user experience for the digital meeting space.

SOURCE Vizetto Inc.

Related Links

https://www.vizetto.com


Pete Buttigieg can only be considered a moderate by the drastically-skewed scale of the 2020 presidential election campaign.

The former mayor of South Bend, Ind. wants to expand free health care and allow Medicare to compete with private insurance. He wants free tuition for 80 percent of American teens and higher taxes on the rich to employ millions of people to rebuild the countrys infrastructure.

Mayor Petes policies harken back to a New Deal liberalism not seen since World War II, but thats not necessarily a bad thing. In an era of growing income inequality, rising middle-class anger and an out-of-touch elite, offering all-you-can-eat cake, some of his proposals are reasonable.

Over the past few weeks, Ive written columns looking at Elizabeth Warrens energy policy, Bernie Sanders socialism, and President Donald Trumps fulfillment of campaign promises. Before the Texas primary election on March 3, Ill look at the economic and health policies of the top Democratic candidates.

Buttigieg, 38, has positioned himself as a moderate in the 2020 race, which by historical standards, is a dubious claim. But when compared to Warren and Sanders, hes practically a conservative.

More: Health care lobby won in 2019, voters have a chance to win in 2020

To address the crisis in U.S. health care, Buttigieg offers Medicare for All Who Want It, an unwieldy and derivative moniker for a commonsense solution.

What Im offering is a choice, he explained at the CNN-Des Moines Register debate. You dont have to be in my plan if theres another plan that you would rather keep. And theres no need to kick Americans off the plans that they want in order to deliver health care for all.

Republicans have murdered this proposal every time its arisen since the Clinton Administration. But I think it offers a fabulous test for the business communitys claim that anything government can do, they can do better.

After all, President Ronald Reagan is the one who pushed for private companies to take over tasks historically performed by the government. If private plans are so good, then insurers should have nothing to fear from Medicare.

Buttigiegs proposal would also solve the free-rider problem, where you and I pay more because so many people dont have insurance. Everyone would be covered, which will solve a lot of problems.

Buttigieg is Clintonian in many other ways, which infuriates both the left and the right.

Under a President Pete, the federal government would require businesses to boost lower- and middle-class standards of living. He would raise the minimum wage to $15 for 25 million Americans, expand the earned income tax credit for the working poor and require paid sick leave and 12 weeks of family and medical leave.

Simultaneously, Buttigieg would spend taxpayer money building affordable housing, subsidizing childcare and providing free tuition.

Where Republicans say tax cuts pay for themselves with increased business activity, Buttigiegs campaign argues that tax spending will partially pay for itself through higher consumer activity.

The difference is that Buttigieg knows hell need to pay for at least part of his spending, and hes ready to roll back Trumps tax cuts. Yet he still claims he will not be as loose with the public pocketbook as his rivals.

Weve got to move past a Washington mentality that suggests that the bigness of plans only consists of how many trillions of dollars they put through the Treasury, he said at the debate. Weve got to be making sure that we target our tax dollars where they will make the biggest difference.

More: Bidens son was playing off his name, and its too common

Even that mild form of fiscal conservatism has landed Buttigieg in hot water with the left. They want Medicare for All, with no other options. They want free college tuition for rich kids as well as poor. And worst of all, they found out Wall Street Pete once wore a suit to work.

Buttigieg spent nearly three years as an associate at McKinsey & Company, the evil empire of consulting firms. Hes also accepted campaign money from millionaire investors, not just wage slaves.

Ironically, the man who would be the youngest president in U.S. history is despised by voters under 35, according to a Quinnipiac poll. Hes lucky they are also the least likely to show up to the polls.

Americans are dissatisfied with the status quo, but deeply divided over how to fix the nation. Of the Democratic candidates, Buttigieg offers some of the most conventionally liberal solutions to our problems.

Buttigieg will disappoint those looking for radical change because he promises the Great Society, not a socialist revolution. Moderates, though, may find he strikes a respectable balance in an age of extremism.

Tomlinson writes commentary about business, economics and policy.

twitter.com/cltomlinson

chris.tomlinson@chron.com
Hours after a blast awoke thousands in the Houston area, neighbors with homes damaged by the early morning warehouse explosion began filing lawsuits, attorneys flocked to the Gessner area and a local judge issued an order to preserve evidence.

At 9 a.m.  four-and-half hours after the startling explosion  lawyer Robert S. Kwok sent a text blast to former clients offering his services. He got dozens of responses from people asking what they should do. Just after noon, Kwok filed a lawsuit in state court on behalf of families with homes across the bayou from the explosion, suing to preserve the evidence.

Another lawyer had submitted paperwork just before him, a suit for a woman whose home was destroyed about a mile from the Watson Grinding and Manufacturing warehouse. Judge Tanya Garrison, of the 157th Judicial District Court, held an emergency 2 p.m. hearing, where she approved a temporary restraining order prohibiting the company from changing, altering or destroying any tangible evidence related to the explosion.

The judge ordered an injunction for 14 days during which the defense must preserve materials that could become evidence in the civil lawsuits.She set a follow-up hearing Feb. 7.

Now Playing: West Houston building explosion Video: Houston Chronicle

Plaintiffs lawyer Tony Buzbee, who ran an unsuccessful bid to unseat Houstons mayor in 2019, sued Watson, Centerpoint and several other entities Friday afternoon for negligence in personal injury on behalf of another four victims. This lawsuit claims residents suffered injuries to their necks, backs and other body parts, in addition to severe damage to their homes and property.

A statement from CenterPoint released on Sunday read: "Watson Grinding and Manufacturing was not a CenterPoint Energy natural gas customer at the time of the incident. Together with other first responders, CenterPoint Energy worked to protect the safety of our customers in the affected areas and ensure the integrity of our systems following the incident."

A statement released by Watson late Friday did not address the lawsuits, but expressed sympathy to the victims and an eagerness to cooperate with investigators.

Police allowed at least two lawyers into a restricted command post near the site by the afternoon, according to chatter broadcast on a police scanner. The judges order allows attorneys experts to begin investigating once the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and other agencies have completed their work.

Sophie S. Navarro, one of the clients who won the temporary injunction, said in court documents that the explosion shattered windows, cracked walls and destroyed fixtures at her home a mile from the site, making it uninhabitable. She woke up and thought her house was about to collapse, said her lawyer Eric Dick.

Her homes foundation is broken, her doors wont shut properly and shingles fell off the roof, the suit says. Dick estimated it may cost more than $50,000 to repair. Navarro is suing the company for failing to properly secure and refrigerate chemicals and ensure public safety. She is seeking damages in excess of $1 million.

She didnt ask to be put in the situation. She had a rude awakening, her lawyer said. He ended the day with 12 clients from the explosion, and thinks the case could be expanded to a class action.

Kwok now represents 13 plaintiffs. He said the Watson case will likely evolve into a mass tort involving several hundred claimants. Kwok sought a swift injunction on behalf of Rigoberto Miranda Jr. and Ingrid Miranda and their relatives Daniel and Erica Bravo, who live nearby.

The Miranda family awoke to find their ceiling falling in on them while they slept, Kwok said. Their home moved 6 inches off its foundation, he said, as if someone had unsnapped it off a Lego set.

The state bar jumped into the fray, warning the public about the perils of illegal ambulance-chasing lawyers who may come knocking. About half an hour after the judge issued the injunction for Miranda and the other plaintiffs, the State Bar of Texas issued a press release with the specified goal of educating the public about improper solicitation in the wake of the northwest Houston plant explosion.

The State Bar of Texas reminds the public that in many cases it is a crime in Texas for a lawyer or someone representing a lawyer to contact a person for purposes of legal representation if the person has not first requested the call or personal visit, the news release states.

Attorney Tom Carse became an expert in ambulance chasing, or barratry, after he filed 39 lawsuits against lawyers who illegally solicited business in the wake of disasters, often showing up at victims homes unannounced.

The bottom line is its the underbelly of this profession, Carse said. Youve got lawyers who cant make an honest living doing it the right way so they cheat in various ways.  They hit these people at the time when theyre the most vulnerable and they dont make intelligent decisions.

But Kwok defended his swift action Friday morning of notifying his client base via text about their rights.

You move quickly in these case because evidence gets lost or destroyed or altered and (the judges) order prohibits them from doing just that, he said. The focus is to determine the root cause and all potential responsible parties.

Houstonians have survived four explosions in the past 12 months, he noted. And the majority of the time the people who suffered damages dont get the full measure of their damages recovered, he said.

Samantha Ketterer and Jay R. Jordan contributed.

gabrielle.banks@chron.com

shelby.webb@chron.com
A view of the St. Thomas of Villanova Church from the pedestrian bridge on the Villanova University campus. Read more

The head of an extremist neo-Nazi group under investigation by U.S. counterterrorism officials was revealed Friday to be a man with strong Philadelphia-area connections, including graduating from a prestigious New Jersey prep school and attending a Main Line university in the 1990s, according to the British newspaper the Guardian.

Rinaldo Nazzaro, 46, previously known by the aliases Norman Spear and Roman Wolf, is reportedly the founder of The Base, a white nationalist group formed in 2018, which has advocated for a race war and creation of a white ethnostate in the Pacific Northwest.

The Guardian, whose investigation relied partially on material provided by a whistleblower inside The Base, also reported that a Rinaldo Nazzaro is identified as a 1991 graduate of the Delbarton School, a Morristown, N.J., Catholic preparatory school.

We can confirm that Rinaldo Nazzaro was a 1991 graduate of Delbarton School, Anthony S. Cicatiello, a spokesperson for the school, said in a statement Friday. He has donated to Delbarton in the past and we have no knowledge of his activities.

A Villanova spokesperson told The Inquirer on Friday that a student named Ronald Nazzaro attended the university from 1991 to 1994, then withdrew before graduating. The student newspaper at the time listed him as a philosophy major.

Nazzaro could not be reached by The Inquirer on Friday afternoon, and did not respond to requests for comment from the Guardian and BBC. He has held an address in North Bergen, N.J., but is now believed to be living in Russia. A video posted online in March showed him in Russia wearing a T-shirt with the image of President Vladimir Putin and the words Russia, absolute power.

In court documents, U.S. law enforcement officials have described The Base as an extremist group that seeks to accelerate the downfall of the United States government, incite a race war, and establish a white ethno-state.

Seven members of the group were arrested this month on charges that included conspiracy to commit murder. Some allegedly discussed inciting violence at Mondays gun-rights rally in Virginia in hopes of starting a civil war, authorities said.

The Inquirer reported in November that federal authorities arrested another man affiliated with The Base, Richard Tobin, of Camden County, for allegedly ordering the vandalism of synagogues in Michigan and Wisconsin.

Authorities said Tobin, 18, had envisioned the vandalized synagogues as part of a nationwide campaign he had dubbed Operation Kristallnacht  a reference to the organized ransacking of Jewish homes, schools, and hospitals by Nazi paramilitaries and civilians in Germany in 1938.

Court documents say Tobin admitted to his involvement in an online forum for white supremacists identified in court papers only as Group 1. Details from the affidavit correspond to The Base, which describes itself as a white protection league and shares manuals on carrying out lone-wolf terror tactics, bomb-making, chemical weapons, and guerrilla warfare.

Until Friday, however, Nazzaros true identity had been a mystery.

The BBC, which also published an investigation of Nazzaro, traced him and his Russian wife to a property in St. Petersburg that was purchased in July 2018. Nazzaros New Jersey address was used for an entity called Base Global that has purchased land in Washington state, the location for a planned white homeland," the BBC reported.

The Guardian was able to locate only one photograph of a man believed to be Nazzaro using his real name, from a question-of-the-day section in the Villanovan, the universitys student newspaper, in 1994. A source who had met Norman Spear in person told the newspaper he believes that the 1994 photo of Nazzaro is the same person he met.

The question in the campus newspaper was: What woman in history do you admire most and why?

Nazzaros answer: Mary Magdalene, because she was the closest apostle to Jesus.
A massive explosion at a manufacturing building ripped through a Houston neighborhood early January 24 morning, injuring several people and damaging homes while sending out blast waves detected for miles around, officials and media said.

Smoke poured out from inside the structure in the predawn darkness about two hours after the blast as emergency vehicle lights flashed and first responders blocked access and checked for damage, aerial video from KTRK television showed.

No fatalities were reported, but one employee was unaccounted for, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said, according to the Houston Chronicle.

The moment of the explosion, around 4:25 a.m. CST (1025 GMT), was captured on a home security camera, also aired on KTRK, that showed a blinding flash in the distance, followed by a fireball.

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the blast was felt as far away as 14 miles (22 km), based on social media reports.

"(The explosion) knocked us all out of our bed, it was so strong," Mark Brady told KPRC television. "It busted out every window in our house. It busted everybody's garage door in around here. ... It's a war zone over here."

Another neighbor identified only as Kim said her family was trapped in her home until rescued.

"The whole house is ruined," Kim said. "The whole ceiling crashed down on all of us. We were all trapped in there, and a nice family came and helped us out. It's trashed. It's just trashed. ... Every house was devastated."

KTRK, the local ABC affiliate, said the blast appeared to have originated at Watson Grinding and Manufacturing, a machining and manufacturing company. The explosion took place on Gessner Road in northwestern Houston, city police wrote on Twitter.

"The owner of Watson Grinding tells us it was a propylene gas explosion, which sent two people to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries," KTRK reporter Marla Carter wrote on Twitter.

Propylene is a colorless, flammable, liquefied gas that has several industrial uses.

The debris field from the explosion spread about a half mile (1 km) wide, but there were no known toxic gases emitted from the blast, Police Chief Art Acevedo said.

The explosion damaged several homes in the area, the Houston Chronicle reported, showing pictures of homes with windows blown in and debris scattered.

At least two people had cuts on their faces after their windows were blown in, according to pictures published on the Chronicle website.

"This is still an active scene," Houston Fire Chief Samuel PeAa posted on Twitter. "We will advise of the possible cause of the explosion as soon as we have concrete info."

A hazardous materials team was responding to the area and at least one person was taken to the hospital, the Houston Fire Department wrote on Twitter.

Mike Iscovitz, a meteorologist with the local Fox News channel, said the huge blast had shown up on local weather radar and was felt more than 20 miles (32 km) away.

"Radar clearly shows this brief FLASH of reflectivity from NW Houston," he tweeted.

Houston, a major hub for the oil and gas industry, is the fourth largest city in the United States with a population of some 2.3 million.
A hot potato: Twitter has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Clearview AI, a company notorious for creating a database of facial recognition profiles using photos scraped from public sources. The social giant wants all the data scraped from its service to be deleted, as it violates its policies for content usage.

Twitter recently demanded that Clearview AI remove the data it collected from the public profiles of its users, after news broke that the latter had been scraping photos from the service for years and selling facial recognition software to law enforcement.

Clearview AI has been flying under the radar in a sea of apps and services, but an investigation from the New York Times revealed that Clearview has managed to gather more than 3 billion photos from big online platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and even Venmo, which have been used by the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and 600 other agencies from around the world as a means to quickly identify suspects.

The New York Times says in its report that Clearview AI will "end privacy as we know it," and they may not be mistaken.

The way the service works is that you upload a photo of a person you're looking for and the app will use scour through its huge photo database to find a match using AI. Since these were scraped from many online profiles, the search has a chance of yielding a full name, an email address, and other details.

It's worth noting that at least for now, the service isn't available for the general public, but there's plenty of speculation among investors that it may well be in the near future.

Services like Facebook offer an option that prevents your profile from appearing in search engine results, which means it won't be scraped by Clearview AI. Still, if someone took a picture that includes you and uploaded it somewhere online, that has a chance of being scraped as well. A recent court fight between hiQ Labs and Linkedin set a precedent that scraping public online data doesn't violate any law.

Interestingly, Clearview AI has updated its privacy policy to allow anyone to request the removal of any content it has from your online profiles. The catch is that in order to do that you have to provide a "name, a headshot and a photo of a government-issued ID to facilitate the processing of your request." Furthermore, there's no guarantee that they'll honor your request, which is more worrying.

Between Chinese tech companies that are apparently shaping UN facial recognition standards and companies like Clearview AI, law enforcement sees big potential in these tools to fight crime, but regulators are worried they open up a new avenue of abuse. Senator Ed Markey recently sent a letter to Clearview AI CEO, Hoan Ton-That, where he noted that "any technology with the ability to collect and analyze individuals biometric information has alarming potential to impinge on the publics civil liberties and privacy."

The senator is concerned that the service "is capable of fundamentally dismantling Americans' expectation that they can move, assemble, or simply appear in public without being identified." He asked the company to list its customers and explain if its employees have access to the images uploaded in the database, as well as how it complies with Childrens Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
The John Cotton Dana Award is one of the most prestigious awards given to libraries and honors outstanding library public relations.

The American Library Association (ALA) is now accepting submissions for the 2020 John Cotton Dana Award (JCD). The John Cotton Dana Award is one of the most prestigious awards given to libraries and honors outstanding library public relations. Eight $10,000 awards will be provided by the H.W. Wilson Foundation in 2020.

The awards are managed by the Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA) division of ALA, and judges are associated with this division. The 2020 John Cotton Dana Awards will be presented to winners at the 2020 ALA Annual awards ceremony sponsored by ALA and EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO).

Libraries of all types and sizes are encouraged to submit entries for a 2020 John Cotton Dana Award. Entries should highlight a strategic communications campaign from the past year. Examples of past campaigns have included rebranding efforts, promotion of archives and special collections, awareness campaigns, community partnerships and special events. Entries may be submitted by any library, Friends group, consulting agency or service provider, unless they are represented on the JCD committee.

Entries for the JCD Award are organized around needs assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation. Entrants are asked to submit documentation to show the scope and effectiveness of their campaign. Examples of these documents may include initial assessments and research, processes for implementation, goals met, creative output, media releases, media coverage and other metrics that establish results.

Applications for the 2020 John Cotton Dana Award are to be submitted electronically and received by March 13, 2020. For more information, including entry documents, visit: https://www.ebsco.com/about/scholarship-awards/john-cotton-dana.

About the John Cotton Dana Award

The John Cotton Dana Award was inaugurated by The H.W. Wilson Company at the 1946 annual conference of the American Library Association. It was named after John Cotton Dana (1856-1929), a librarian called the father of the modern library. The Awards are funded by the H.W. Wilson Foundation.

About the H.W. Wilson Foundation

The Foundation was established by Halsey W. Wilson in 1952 to support the needs of company employees and retirees. Since 1957, The H.W. Wilson Foundation has focused on providing financial assistance to causes having the greatest impact on improving the spirit, mind and body of the greatest number of people through aid, support and cooperation with charitable, benevolent, educational and religious institutions. Major donors to the Foundation included Mr. and Mrs. H.W. Wilson, and the H.W. Wilson Company. http://thwwf.org/

About EBSCO Information Services

EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) is the leading discovery service provider for libraries worldwide with more than 10,000 discovery customers in over 100 countries. EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS) provides each institution with a comprehensive, single search box for its entire collection, offering unparalleled relevance ranking quality and extensive customization. EBSCO is also the preeminent provider of online research content for libraries, including hundreds of research databases, historical archives, point-of-care medical reference, and corporate learning tools serving millions of end users at tens of thousands of institutions. EBSCO is the leading provider of electronic journals & books for libraries, with subscription management for more than 360,000 serials, including more than 57,000 e-journals, as well as online access to more than 800,000 e-books. For more information, visit the EBSCO website at: http://www.ebsco.com. EBSCO Information Services is a division of EBSCO Industries Inc., a family owned company since 1944.

###

For more information, please contact:

Kathleen McEvoy

Vice President of Communications

(800) 653-2726 ext. 2594

kmcevoy@ebsco.com
Mumbai, Jan 24 : Actress Sanya Malhotra enjoys to pack her bags and hit the road. She says she is someone who lives for creating experiences worth remembering.

The "Badhaai Ho" actress has many films in her kitty like "Ludo", "Shakuntala Devi" and "Pagglait" but she manages to find time for travelling.

Image Source: IANS News

She was recently spotted at various locations of Doha.

Reminiscing on her trip to Doha, Sanya shared: "I am an avid traveler and someone who lives for creating experiences worth remembering. I go on a lot of trips, be it for work or for a vacation."

Image Source: IANS News

"However, this trip to Doha is truly unforgettable as my journey with Qatar Airways itself was so warm and the hospitality was absolutely amazing. I love shopping and adventure and Qatar offered both and helped me make memories that I would never forget," she added.

Image Source: IANS News

-- Syndicated from IANS
Burma Myanmar Girls Trafficked to China from Shan, Militia Detains Suspects

The China-Myanmar border gate at Muse, where many Myanmar women have been trafficked into China, in August 2019. / The Irrawaddy

Lu Nan and Seng Hkawn, two ethnic Kachin girls from northern Shan State, have been missing for two months and were likely trafficked into China, according to the Kachin Literature and Culture Organization (KLC), a Kachin community-based group.

On Thursday, the KLC published information about the two missing girls, Lu Nan, 19, and Seng Hkawn, 18, and asked people to contact the organization with any information. The two girls are from Kawng Kha Village in Kutkai Township.

A local militia in Kawng Kha has detained four people who the KLC says transported the girls into China. Roi Seng, a KLC representative, said that on Tuesday, KLC members tried to open a lawsuit against the detainees for human trafficking but that when they went to the Kutkai police station, the police told them they did not have strong enough evidence against the suspects.

If we do not have strong evidence against them, we will just waste our time. Therefore, the police told us to find more evidence, Roi Seng said.

The KLC and the local militia were hoping to transfer the detainees into police custody, but police told the KLC that the police could not detain people for more than 24 hours if they did not have enough evidence of a crime.

Lu Nan and Seng Hkawn reportedly told their friends on WeChat on Nov. 30 that they had been trafficked into Chinas Shandong Province, though its unknown where the girls are in the province.

We tried to get [the girls] voices from WeChat because that will be strong evidence, said Roi Seng.

The two girls had been working in the Kokang Self-Administered Zone when they met Phan Awng and Tu Raing, two of the people now detained by the local militia. The two men told Lun Nan and Seng Hkwan that they would help the girls find better jobs with higher salaries in China. The girls left home with the two men on Nov. 28 and traveled to the border of China.

After crossing the border at the Man Wing Gate in Muse, Phan Awng and Tu Raing passed the two girls on to two women who claimed to work as agents for migrant workers in China. The two victims realized they had been trafficked when they arrived in Shandong and contacted their friends on WeChat.

On Jan. 18, the families of the two victims approached the KLC to ask for help in searching for the girls.

Roi Seng said KLC members are trying to collect more evidence and she will go back to the police station soon. She added that if the police say the evidence still isnt strong enough to open a human trafficking case, she would open a missing persons case.

U Kyaw Nyunt, an officer with an anti-human trafficking police force on the China-Myanmar border, told The Irrawaddy Friday that victims families informed police in Muse on Jan. 20 that the two girls were trafficked in China.

Our police force has an ongoing investigation into this case, so we cant share any details about it yet, he said.

According to the anti-human trafficking police in Muse, there have been many cases of Myanmar women who are trafficked into China and forced to marry Chinese men.

Chinas one-child policy, which ended in 2015, and the countrys strong cultural preference for sons pushed millions of pregnant women into sex-selective abortions and caused many families to abandon female children or choose female infanticide. This produced a shortage of women in the country and as a result, many women from Myanmar and other neighboring countries including Cambodia, Laos and North Korea were trafficked into China.

Trafficked Myanmar women have often been sent to remote areas of China where local men struggle to find women.

Shandong Province has become infamous for human trafficking cases and most women from Myanmar who are trafficked are sent to Shandong, according to the KLC.

We believe that they were trafficked, as they were sent to Shandong, said Roi Seng.

In 2019, the police arrested 732 people for involvement in human trafficking. According to anti-human trafficking police, 358 people were trafficked in total, including 297 women and 61 men. Yangon Region and Shan State each recorded 65 cases, the highest number of any region or state in the country.

You may also like these stories:

Wuhan Flights to Myanmar Stopped Amid Coronavirus

Myanmar Military Denies Using Drones to Attack Arakan Army Troops
VANCOUVERStores are filled with red and gold decorations, rat shaped key chains representing the year of the rat in the Chinese zodiac are for sale, promotions featuring traditionally lucky numbers and company branded lucky red envelopes are everywhere  its clearly time to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

But these celebrations in Canada werent always this obvious.

Kevin Huang moved to the Vancouver area from Taipei when he was seven. Growing up in the North Shore area of the city, he recalled the lack of newspaper coverage and advertisements surrounding the Lunar New Year.

Now, he is the executive director of the Hua Foundation, which seeks to bridge cultural gaps between Chinese communities and other groups in Vancouver.

In recent years, many companies have embraced the holiday in a big way, selling Lunar New Year versions of their products and offering red and gold packaging in an attempt to woo customers who celebrate this time of year. But some say this has resulted in the holiday becoming extremely commercial, with many companies relying on easy stereotypes that oversimplify the reason for the celebration.

Sephora is one retailer that has embraced the Lunar New Year, offering a chance to win $888 for any customer who spends $88. This is in reference to the number eight, which is considered very lucky in some Asian cultures.

Some other examples include the restaurant Cafe Crepe selling something called Hong Kong fog and golden panda crepes, and Universal Studios in California, which is celebrating the occasion with special appearances from characters in the film Kung Fu Panada and a special menu of oogway eggrolls and beef pho.

Holidays are opportune moments for cross-cultural exchange, said Huang. Its a time when people can learn about other cultures through food, stories and customs.

Like red envelopes (called hongbao in Mandarin and lai see in Cantonese), which usually contain money  or sometimes candy  and are given as gifts during special occasions like the new year or weddings.

Every Lunar New Year, Chinese people all over the world engage in a time honored tradition where money is gifted in little red envelopes known as . While this tradition is practiced with many variations, generally family elders gift these red pockets to the young, who return the favor once they are grown and married. Thus the cycle of good fortune is received and returned in kind.

Huang said Nikes Lunar New Year ad campaign, which plays on the age-old tradition of younger people politely refusing a red envelope from elders multiple times until they eventually accept, did a good job of respecting the culture behind the holiday.

It spoke to a cultural expectation and element that wasnt stereotypical. It was clever.

Huang highlighted another example from years past that he found impressive: In 2018 TransLink, Metro Vancouvers transportation authority, handed out red envelopes embossed with Chinese characters reading safe travels. Inside was a copy of the regions transit map.

Its serving the public. I personally thought that was brilliant.

But most organizations are not quite hitting the right note when it comes to celebrating the Lunar New Year, said Will Tao, an immigration lawyer and community advocate.

Its easy to just draw up the stereotypes  put up some rats, put up some eights and some nines, and they think Asian people will be happy, he said.

Its this idea of oversimplifying Chinese and Asian cultures. They think very simple messaging is all that works with our very simple minds.

According to Tao, the origins of Lunar New Year lie in celebrating family ties and wishing good health to loved ones.

Some new year festivities and traditions started as superstitions, like sweeping the house in the days leading up to the new year to make room for good luck and lighting fireworks to ward off evil spirits. For many poor families, eating meat and buying a set of new clothes were special occasions reserved for the new year.

Its kind of ironic that it has been morphed into a holiday that now, is arguably about one of the greatest threats we face, which is over consumption and consumerism, said Tao.

Huang agreed that most Western companies have a lot of work to do. Even something as simple as using the term Lunar New Year instead of Chinese New Year shows a deeper level of cultural understanding, since many other cultures besides the Chinese celebrate Lunar New Year, he explained.

He said companies would also do well to use both simplified and traditional Chinese characters in their Lunar New Year marketing material.

People from Hong Kong and Taiwan generally use traditional characters, whereas people from Mainland China generally use simplified Chinese. These are seemingly small differences that mean a lot to diaspora communities, Huang said.

I do hope that organizations, especially ones operating in very diverse places in Canada and Vancouver, we do our due diligence, said Huang.

If were talking about our branding and marketing to certain communities, we should do it in a way thats not tokenistic and in a way that is genuine.

Read more about:
Representative image

An outbreak of a new coronavirus that began in the central Chinese city of Wuhan has killed 26 people and infected more than 800 globally.

The virus has caused alarm because it is still too early to know just how dangerous it is and how easily it spreads between people. And because it is new, humans have not been able to build any immunity to it.

Here is what we know so far:

- There were 830 confirmed cases and 26 people had died in China, the National Health Commission said.

- China is to take stricter and more targeted measures to curb the spread, state television reported, citing a State Council meeting on virus control on Friday.

- The previously unknown strain is believed to have emerged late last year from illegally traded wildlife at an animal market in Wuhan.

- Thailand has five cases, Singapore and Taiwan three, Japan, Vietnam and South Korea with two apiece, and Nepal and the United States one each.

- In India, meanwhile, on January 24, the Ministry of Health said that there are three suspected cases of the virus in India. While two are from Mumbai, one is reported from Hyderabad, and they are under observation, news agency ANI has reported.

- Meanwhile, India's neighbour Nepal also confirmed a case of the deadly virus, identifying the infected person as a Nepali student who recently returned from the Chinese city of Wuhan, local media reports said.

- The WHO said that while the outbreak was an emergency for China, it was not yet a global health emergency.

- China says the virus is mutating and can be transmitted through human contact.

- Those most affected are older people and those with underlying health conditions.

- Three research teams are to start work on developing potential vaccines, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations said. The plan is to have at least one potential vaccine in clinical trials by June.

- Preliminary research suggests the virus was passed to humans from snakes, but Chinese government medical adviser Zhong Nanshan has also identified badgers and rats as possible sources.

So, what is coronavirus?

Seven different coronaviruses, that scientists know of, can infect people and make them sick, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In rare cases, they are zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted from animals to humans.

However, the virus causing the current outbreak is different from those previously identified, according to Chinese scientists.

How did it begin?

In Chinas Wuhan, the outbreak of the virus has been linked to a large seafood and animal market, suggesting a possible zoonotic origin to the outbreak. But, Zhong Nanshan, a renowned scientist at the National Health Commission who helped expose the scale of the SARS outbreak, said patients could contract the new virus without having visited the city.

"Currently, it can be said it is affirmative that there is the phenomenon of human-to-human transmission," he said in an interview with CCTV. In Guangdong, two patients were infected by family members who visited Wuhan, Zhong explained.

How dangerous is it?

A Chinese government expert has said that the virus was contagious between humans, fuelling fears of a major outbreak as millions of Chinese travel for the Lunar New Year holiday in humanity's biggest migration.

The countries have gone on alert in the backdrop of Chinese travelling for Lunar New Year. Authorities in Thailand and in Japan have already identified at least three cases, all involving recent travel from China. South Korea reported its first case on January 20, when a 35-year-old Chinese woman from Wuhan tested positive for the new coronavirus one day after arriving at Seoul's Incheon airport.

China has so far reported nine deaths from the new virus.

Coronavirus symptoms

Initial symptoms of the novel (new) coronavirus include fever, cough, tightness of the chest and shortness of breath. For those with a weakened immune system, the elderly and the very young, there's a chance the virus could cause a lower, and much more serious, respiratory tract illness like pneumonia or bronchitis, says CDC.

Coronavirus treatment

There are currently no vaccines available to protect one against human coronavirus infection or treatments for illnesses caused by it, says CDC.

Most people with common human coronavirus illness will recover on their own.

Taking doctors prescribed medication for pain and fever, drinking plenty of fluids, getting rest and sleep as much as possible, will help to relieve the symptoms, experts say at CDCP.

What is China doing about it?

China, in the past, has made major breakthroughs in responding to infectious diseases including establishing a system for the early detection of 300 known pathogens and the screening, identifying and detection of unknown pathogens, the Ministry of Science and Technology has said highlighting China's ability to cope up with the new virus.

Wuhan, a city of 11 million, is under severe travel restrictions, with urban transport shut and outgoing flights suspended.

China has advised people to avoid crowds and 10 cities in the central province of Hubei, where Wuhan is located, have suspended some transport, the Hubei Daily reported.

Beijing has closed tourist access to the Forbidden City and cancelled large gatherings, including two Lunar New Year temple fairs, and closed part of the Great Wall.

Walt Disney Co's Shanghai Disney Resort will be closed from Saturday.

Donald's suspends business in five cities in Hubei. Airports around the world have stepped up screening.

China's central bank is temporarily raising the upper limit on small bank batch payments to 500 million yuan ($72.42 million) until Jan. 30, to ease fund transfers.

The China Development Bank has also granted a 2 billion yuan ($290 million) emergency loan to Wuhan.

How is India preparing against the virus?

In the wake of the virus outbreak in China, the health ministry has sought from the Ministry of External Affairs details of those who have applied for an Indian visa since December 31 so that they can be counselled.

The MEA has also been requested to disseminate travel advisory to Indian Embassies in China and adjoining countries in local languages for wider circulation and passenger information, the health ministry said in a statement.

The Union health secretary has also written to states and Union Territories to review their preparedness, identify gaps and strengthen core capacities in the area of surveillance, laboratory support and in particular, hospital preparedness in terms of isolation and ventilator management of patients with severe respiratory illness.

Meanwhile, global equity markets rebounded as investors took in positive economic data from Europe and worried less about the potential economic toll of the outbreak.

Some experts believe the virus is not as dangerous as the 2002-03 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) that killed nearly 800 people, and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which has killed more than 700 people since 2012.

(With inputs from Reuters)
While the news cycle continues to focus its gaze on British royals, European monarchies are giving them a run for their money with a show-stopping display in Tokyo, Japan.

Some of Europe's most glamorous royals celebrated the White Tie Court Banquet in Japan with colourful displays of fashion diplomacy and just the right sprinkle of sparkle to satiate the appetite of royal watchers the world over. The event at Japan's Imperial Palace honours Emperor Naruhito's enthronement and allows for one of the rare occasions to gather incomparable regal style, outside of a royal wedding or funeral.

It's a centuries old tradition that celebrates the pomp and circumstance associated with royal families.

The Netherlands' Queen Maxima led the arrivals in a a colourful couture gown by Dutch designer Jan Taminiau, a favourite of hers for black tie events, showcasing the finest of her country's fashion, clasping a black woven clutch by Isla and wearing the unofficial uniform of female guests: a delicate belt to keep her sash in check. The show-stopper was the Ruby Peacock tiara, a favourite with Maxima, dating back to 1897 during Queen Wilhelmina's reign.

Expand Close Netherland's King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima arrive at the Imperial Palace for the court banquet in Tokyo on October 22, 2019 / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Netherland's King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima arrive at the Imperial Palace for the court banquet in Tokyo on October 22, 2019

Queen Letizia of Spain continued her campaign as the world's best dressed royal in two jaw-dropping ensembles, the first of which was a Matilde Cano number she wore to the coronation, adding a contemporary edge with a Nana Golmar flat hairband and jewels by Spanish brand Anso Rena. But it was her breathtaking arrival to the evening ceremony in a fuschia ballgown with floral white embroidery by Carolina Herrera, that stood out among a sea of impeccably dressed royals.

Her choice of the Fleur de Lys tiara is among the most revered in the Spanish family's vault and only used on exceptional occasions.

Denmark's Crown Princess Mary, often considered the most influential style icon with workwear in particular, stuck to her usual muted tones, this time in a lilac off the shoulder gown with embellished cape detail by Valentino and the Edwardian tiara.

Meanwhile, Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria, stepping in for her mother Queen Sonja and joining her father King Harald for the festivities opted for a nude lace dress. Belgium's Queen Mathilde, one of the most underrated icons, chose a glittering gold cap sleeve gown; the perfect follow-up to her formal blush pink dress with floor length cape detail and pillbox hat earlier in the day.
Sophie Monk was one of the original members of early 2000's Australian girl group Bardot.

And on Friday, the 40-year-old reality star proved she still had her singing chops, belting out her throwback hit single Poison during an appearance on The Kyle and Jackie O Show.

Meanwhile, her duet partner Jackie 'O' Henderson should stick to her day job.

Don't quit your day job: Radio host Jackie 'O' Henderson (pictured right) 'absolutely murdered' the Bardot hit single Poison with former member Sophie Monk (pictured left) during KIIS FM's Duets segment on Friday

The two blonde bombshells joined forces in a segment called Friday Duets.

Sophie started off the nostalgic number while harmonising with the 44-year-old radio host.

Her talented vocals were blended into Jackie's passable mediocrity, until she hit her first iconic solo line: 'with just one kiss, I will blow your mind.'

Throwback! Sophie (pictured centre) was one of the original members of early 2000's Australian girl group Bardot, and she proved she still had her singing chops, belting out her hit single Poison

Stunners: The two blonde bombshells joined forces in a segment on the Kyle and Jackie O Show called Friday Duets

Jackie hit the next line solo, her voice cracking at the end as she attempted to hit the high note.

Her co-host Kyle Sandilands cackled at the error before Sophie repeated the line, showing how it's done.

'We're killing it,' Sophie said after they finished the first chorus.

Gal pals: Sophie's talented vocals were blended into Jackie's passable mediocrity, until she hit her first iconic solo line 'with just one kiss, I will blow your mind'

'You're absolutely murdering it,' Kyle replied.

They continued on with the song together until they reached 'the whispering bit'.

The women put on sultry voices as they spoke: 'Don't give empty reasons baby, 'cause I don't want your lies. Don't think you can deceive this poison deep inside.'

The women put on sultry voices as they spoke: 'Don't give empty reasons baby, 'cause I don't want your lies. Don't think you can deceive this poison deep inside'

The Australian girl group Bardot was formed in 1999 on the reality television series Popstars.

The show was a new concept for Australian audiences in the early 2000's, airing before similar programs like Australian Idol, so it gained high ratings and media attention.

After the group disbanded in 2002, Sophie went on to sign a solo contract with Warner Music Australia.

Her first single Inside Outside was released the same year, peaking at no.5 on the ARIA's singles chart.

Blast from the past! The Australian girl group Bardot were formed in 1999 on the reality television series Popstars. Sophie pictured second right

Sophie re-solidified herself as a household name when she joined Australia's Got Talent as a judge in 2015.

She went on to win The Celebrity Apprentice Australia in the same year, later starring in The Bachelorette and most recently acting as the host of Love Island Australia.

According to New Idea, Sophie is set to take over for Sonia Kruger as the host on The Voice.
THE vice president of operations and general manager of Bai Hotel Cebu Alfred Reyes was declared the 24th Mabuhay Gold awardee by the Association of Human Resources Managers in the Hospitality Industry (AHRM) during the Awards Night held at the Manila Marriott Hotel on Nov. 18, 2019.

The Mabuhay Awards is an annual service excellence awards program organized by the AHRM. The program aims not only to recognize and reward exemplary staff in the industry, but also upholds outstanding service excellence commitment among the industry professionals.

Last years Mabuhay Award carried the theme, Going Beyond.

In his more than 30 years of being a hotelier, Reyes now joins the roster of the most notable names in the history of the tourism industryMabuhay Gold Awardees that include former tourism secretary Mina Gabor (2000), Sen. Richard Gordon (2001), former tourism undersecretary Evelyn Pantig (2004), taipan Lucio Tan (2005), Arthur Gindap (2007), Vanessa Suatengco (2008) and Lyceum of the Philippines Universitys Roberto Laurel (2015).

Humble beginnings

Even during the early years of his career, Reyes always found ways to provide service beyond expectations.

As a young front desk clerk at Cebu Plaza Hotel, Reyes found ways to provide guests with an exceptionally warm welcome and efficient service that were some of Cebu Plaza Hotels trademarks.

After three years with Cebu Plaza Hotel, and in constant pursuit of ways to improve himself and to learn more, Reyes left his hometown Cebu to pursue a career in the hospitality industry in Manila. After a decade of learning and gathering experience from the capital city, Reyes returned to Cebu as the general manager of the Waterfront Airport Hotel and Casino.

The recognition of his exceptional talent did not escape the attention of the international industry players. He was soon offered positions overseas, which he gladly took and excelled in.

Reyes returned to the Philippines and took the reins of Linden Suites under Swiss-Belhotel International.

Story continues

In all the hotels and businesses he handled, Reyes trademark of going beyond excellence left an indelible mark.

He continues to make his mark not only in the businesses he manages but also in the people he works with. Never selfish about sharing his knowledge, Reyes mentors the professionals he works with so that they too, will leave a mark in this industry.

Now as vice president for operations and general manager of Bai Hotel Cebu, Reyes has proved to be steps ahead in ensuring that he and his team provide globally competitive service and amenities.

Even after more than three decades of working in the industry, his passion and his drive to set the bar for service par excellence has not diminished.

With Reyes at the helm of its operations, Bai Hotel Cebu is already considered an industry leader. At two years of operation, Bai Hotel Cebu has established a standard of a holistically sustainable hotel. Not only does it provide outstanding amenities and hospitality to its guests, it also maintains environmental consciousness and sound community service all while providing for a healthy milieu for mentoring its personnel. (PR)
T hree US firefighters who died when their air tanker crashed while battling fires in Australia have been identified.

Captain Ian McBeth, 45, first officer Paul Clyde Hudson, 43, and flight engineer Rick A DeMorgan Jr, 44, were killed in New South Wales (NSW) on Thursday.

The cause of the C-130 crash is not known and investigations into the incident have been complicated by the areas active bushfire status.

Officials lost contact with the plane shortly before 1.30pm local time (2.30am GMT) just after it dumped a large load of retardant on a fire in the Snowy Mountains, south of Canberra.

Three dead as water tanker plane crashes in Australia

Coulson Aviation, a Canadian firm that owns the plane, released a statement on Friday naming the crew.

It said Mr McBeth, from Great Falls in Montana, was a highly qualified and respected C-130 pilot with many years fighting fire, both in the military and with Coulson Aviation.

His love for his wife Bowdie and children Abigail, Calvin and Ella was "evident for anyone who spent time around him", it added.

Mr Hudson, from Buckeye in Arizona, had previously served for two decades in the US Marine Corps, including as a C-130 pilot. He is survived by his wife, Noreen.

Australia fires - In pictures 1 /78 Australia fires - In pictures A firefighter hosing down trees and flying embers in an effort to secure nearby houses from bushfires near the town of Nowra in the Australian state of New South Wales in December AFP via Getty Images An aerial view of bushfires burning south of Canberra Getty Images Adelaide wildlife rescuer Simon Adamczyk is seen with a koala rescued at a burning forest on Kangaroo Island in January Reuters German tourists Julia Wasmiller and Jessica Pryor pose for a photo at Mrs Macquarie's chair, wearing face masks due to heavy smoke in December Getty Images A small aircraft dumps fire retardant behind houses at the foot of Mount Tennant as the fire front of the Orroral Valley fire creeps through the Namadgi National Park on January 30, 2020 in Canberra, Australia Getty Images A pyrocumulonimbus cloud is generated by the intense Orroral Valley bushfire buring to the south of Canberra. Getty Images Eugenie Bouchard of Canada takes a moment to catch her breath during her qualifying match against Xiaodi You of China during 2020 Australian Open Qualifying at Melbourne Park Getty Images Bernard Tomic of Australia receives medical attention in his match against Denis Kudla of the USA during 2020 Australian Open Qualifying at Melbourne Park Getty Images Massive smoke rising from wildfires burning in East Gippsland, Victoria in January AP Smoke looms over Sydney A kangaroo jumps in a field amidst smoke from a bushfire at Snowy Valley, Australia in January AFP via Getty Images Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison visits a resident's property in an area devastated by bushfires in Sarsfield, Victoria state in January POOL/AFP via Getty Images An injured koala rests in a washing basket at the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park in January Getty Images A pedestrian wears a mask as smoke shrouds the Australian capital of Canberra, Australia in January AP A large smoke plume is seen over a sheep property in the Parndana region in January Getty Images NSW's National Parks and Wildlife Service staff prepare to air-drop carrots for animals in bushfire-stricken areas, in Newnes, Wollemi National Park, New South Wales in January via Reuters A wallaby eats a carrot after NSW's National Parks and Wildlife Service staff air-dropped them in bushfire-stricken areas around Wollemi and Yengo National Parks, New South Wales in January via Reuters Nurses feed an injured male koala at Adelaide Koala Rescue in January Getty Images A woodchip mill burnt by bushfires is seen as smoke rises in Eden in Australia's New South Wales in January AFP via Getty Images Kylie Minogue donates to the cause @kylieminogue Cars line up to leave the town of Batemans Bay in New South Wales to head north in January AFP via Getty Images HMAS Choules off the coast of Victoria, Australia in January Reuters The property of Lyle Stewart is razed to the ground at Nerrigundah, Australia in January AP Rural Fire Service firefighter Trevor Stewart views a flank of in Tumburumba, Australia Getty Images A plane flies in the tobacco-coloured skies over Auckland, New Zealand, as smoke from the wildfires traveled from Australia in January Getty Images An orange glow darkens the sky in Auckland city from the wildfires in Australia Getty Images Kiahan Bellchambers and her brother Jesse Bellchambers looking for belongings amongst the ruins of their house destroyed during bushfires in Batlow, in Australia's New South Wales state in January AFP via Getty Images Lieutenant Kynan Lang from the 10th/27th Battalion visits the scene where his uncle and cousin died in a bushfire to place a memorial on Kangaroo Island, Australia in January via Reuters A firefighters backs away from the flames after lighting a controlled burn near Tomerong, Australia AP Black ash and fire debris is washed up on Boydtown Beach and the banks of the Nullica River in Eden, Australia REUTERS Barb Copus holds a rescued baby brushtail possum at the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park in the Parndana region on Kangaroo Island, Australia Getty Images A burnt car is seen after bushfire in Batlow, in Australia's New South Wales state in January AFP via Getty Images A burning gum tree is felled to stop it from falling on a car in Corbago, as bushfires continue in New South Wales, Australia in January Reuters General view of the Dunn Road fire in January Getty Images Australian Army CH-47 Chinooks from the 5th Aviation Regiment deliver hay bales to remote bushfire-affected farms on Kangaroo Island, Australia via Reuters Volunteer and carer Tracy Dodd holds a kangaroo with burnt feet pads after being rescued from bushfires in Australia's Blue Mountains area in December Reuters Thick smoke from wildfires shroud the Sydney Opera House in December AP A property burns from bushfires in Balmoral, 150km southwest of Sydney in December AFP via Getty Images A fireman fights a bushfire to protect a property in Balmoral, 150km southwest of Sydney in December AFP via Getty Images Helicopters dump water on bushfires as they approach homes located on the outskirts of the town of Bargo in December Getty Images Australian wildfires turn sky red in December brendanh_au/Twitter Firemen inspect a house recently destroyed by bushfires on the outskirts of the town of Bargo in December Getty Images Firemen prepare as a bushfire approaches homes on the outskirts of the town of Bargo in December Getty Images Monitoring the Tianjara fire from a helicopter in the Moreton and Jerrawangala National Park in December Getty Images People wear face masks to protect from the pollution over Sydney Harbour in December Getty Images A fire approaches the village of Nerrigundah, Australia in December AP An old car burns from bushfires in Balmoral AFP via Getty Images The remains of burnt out buildings are seen along main street in the New South Wales town of Cobargo in December AFP via Getty Images Wildfires rage under plumes of smoke in Bairnsdale, Australia in December AP A horse trying to move away from nearby bushfires at a residential property near the town of Nowra in the Australian state of New South Wales in December AFP via Getty Images Fire and thick smoke remains the village of Nerrigundah, Australia in December AP Gary Hinton stands amongst rubble after fires devastated the New South Wales town of Cobargo in December AFP via Getty Images A helicopter drops fire retardent to protect a property in Balmoral in December AFP via Getty Images The sky glows red as bushfires continue to rage in Mallacoota, Victoria, Australia in December via Reuters A fire and rescue team inspect the damage around Torrington in Glen Innes, Australia in November Getty Images Flames from an out of control bushfire seen from a nearby residential area in Harrington, Australia in November AFP via Getty Images Bushfires taken from a plane in over north eastern New South Wales in November AFP via Getty Images An Air-crane water bombing helicopter drops water on a bushfire in Harrington, Australia in November Reuters Haze blanketing Manly Beach, Sydney in November Sydney Coaches via Reuters

Mr DeMorgan served in the US Air Force for 18 years as a flight engineer on the C-130.

His passion was always flying and his children Lucas and Logan, Coulson Aviation said.

Firefighters in Australia held a minute's silence and flags on official buildings in NSW were flown at half-mast as a mark of respect on Friday.

At a farewell for 32 US firefighters who were returning home after weeks on duty, Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said: "We will forever be indebted to the enormous contribution and indeed the ultimate sacrifice that's been paid as a result of these extraordinary individuals doing a remarkable job.

Investigators will visit the one-kilometre long crash site on Friday to retrieve the planes black box cockpit voice recorder.

Coulson Aviation grounded its other large air tankers immediately after the crash but said on Friday they would be returning to work "in the very near future".
Tens of thousands of Iraqis have begun Friday flocking in capital Baghdad for a million-strong march called by popular cleric Moqtada Sadr who has demanded the withdrawal of US forces from the country following the assassination early this month of Irans top military commander Qassem Soleimani and the deputy leader of Iraqi Iran-backed paramilitary forces, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Iraqis, men, women and children from various cities began at early hours of Friday gathering in the Jadiriyah district of east Baghdad, near the citys University.

Thursday, in buildup to the demonstration, Sadr who controls the largest block in the parliament urged Iraqis of various ages to join the protest in view of defending the countrys independence and sovereignty.

Oh women, men and youth of the country, the time is now upon us to defend the country, its sovereignty and dependence, the Shiite cleric said in a Tweet.

Spread the word of an independent future Iraq that will be ruled by the righteous; an Iraq which will not know of corruption nor aggression he added, calling on Iraqis to expel the tyrants.

The call came after Soleimani and Muhandis were assassinated in US airstrikes at Baghdad airport early this month. Iran and Iraq condemned airstrikes. Iran vowed revenge and fired few days later a dozen missiles against two military bases controlled by US forces.

There are about 5,000 forces stationed in Iraq following the US invasion of the country in 2003.

The Iraqi parliament two days after the air strike passed a resolution demanding the American forces to leave.

President Donald Trump threatened Baghdad with sanctions if US forces pull out from the Iraqi territory.
Goods bound for North Korea at a customs checkpoint near the border in Dandong, China, in a file photo.

North Korean residents are terrified about the rapid spread of Wuhan pneumonia caused by the coronavirus, but despite those fears, trade with China is continuing as normal.

Named after the city in central China where the outbreak first occurred, Wuhan pneumonia has spread all over China and beyond, with confirmed cases in Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, and the United States.

The residents fear that if the virus were to cross the Yalu, North Korea would be ill-equipped to contain the spread because of a poor quarantine system.

A resident from North Hamgyong province told RFAs Korean Service Wednesday that news of Wuhan pneumonia outbreaks is the hottest topic these days.

Theres this untreatable new pneumonia in China that is quickly killing so many people, the source said.

We all know that once you get this new-type pneumonia, there is no cure and it leads to death, so we are nervously afraid.

The source said that news of the virus isnt coming from media sources, Rather, trade workers and smugglers who live in the area near the Chinese border and make frequent trips to China are bringing back tales of the disease.

They say that if you get a cough and a high fever, its deadly, because there is no proper cure for the disease. People are really worried, the source said.

Some of the residents who are aware of the disease are rushing to the local markets to buy antibiotics and medicines while they still can, the source added.

The source said that residents are especially worried because Chinas medical infrastructure is superior to North Koreas.

If it cant be treated in China, it will be completely incurable for us. We are helpless every single time a virus breaks out in China. It always spreads to North Korea, the source said.

The source recalled how North Korea handled the SARS (2002-2003) and MERS (2012-2015) outbreaks.

When SARS and MERS were spreading, quarantine authorities isolated residents who lived close to the border or visited China. [They were held] as a group for months, suffering greatly, said the source.

Trade unaffected

Even with residents widespread fears, trade between China and North Korea has shown no signs of slowing down. Sources in the Sinuiju Customs office in North Pyongan province report large quantities of food and building materials are entering North Korea from Dandong, just across the Sino-Korean border.

Trade is completely normal, a trade source in China told RFA Wednesday.

In fact, its increasing as the Lunar New Year holiday approaches, the second source said.

The second source said that authorities are in fact taking some precautions to prevent the spread of the virus.

[Because authorities are] concerned about the spread of pneumonia, warehouses are urgently being inspected with shipping documents, said the second source.

These days, trade deals between North Korea and China are mostly construction materials and tobacco, but since yesterday a large amount of food, including fruit, condiments, and beef are being sold because of the Lunar New Year, the second source added.

The source said that both the Dandong and Sinuiju customs offices are aware of the potential risks and have devised contingency plans.

[They] are going to operate normally until the day before the Lunar New Year [Jan. 24], regardless of Wuhan pneumonia, but both offices announced that they will be closed from the 25th to the 27th for the holiday, before reopening on the 28th, the second source said.

The international train to Pyongyang was suspended because it is mostly used by Chinese tourists, and trade workers can take a small bus [from Dandong] to the Sinuiju Customs office and then get health and customs inspections there, the second source added.

A trade official in North Pyongan Province told RFA Thursday that In the event that the virus continues to spread through China and neighboring countries after the Lunar New Year holiday, [North Korea and China] have agreed to shut down their customs offices in Sinuiju and Dandong and suspend trade.

WHO ready to act

But should the virus make its way into North Korea, the World Health Organization (WHO) told RFA that it is ready to step in immediately.

For all member states and all countries, the provisions are the same, [as well as] the recommendations on how to deal with the virus, said WHO Spokesperson Christian Lindmeier from the Geneva headquarters over the phone Thursday.

If the member states reach out to [the] WHO to ask [for] support, we are already ready to support [them]. That goes [for] all member states in the same way, he said.

Lindmeier also said he was not aware of any coronavirus infections in North Korea as of the time of interview.

During the SARS outbreak in 2002-2003, North Korea was able to take swift action to prevent the disease from crossing over into its territory. It shut down flights between Pyongyang and Beijing and sealed off the Sino-Korean border.

During the MERS outbreak in 2015, which affected South Korea substantially, Pyongyang was able to prevent the spread of MERS by South Korean visitors to the then-active inter-Korean industrial complex in Kaesong by borrowing health screening equipment from Seoul. It also promoted preventative measures through the state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper.

Reported by Jieun Kim, Hyemin Son and Soyoung Kim for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
More evidence of sovereignty

For years, Vietnams leading Han-Nom archive and research centre has effectively fulfilled the task of collecting relevant materials and has now entered the stage of digitising them.

The institutes researchers were also meticulous in looking for and collecting ancient documents related to Vietnam at foreign archives centres. Dr Tran Trong Duong, a member of the institutes scientific council, said that this approach is highly important because such centres hold valuable materials that Vietnam does not possess.

Dr Duong recalled in 2016, some researchers of the institute visited the Keio Institute of Oriental Classics - Shido Bunko - in Tokyo, Japan, and found a map entitled Hoang Le Canh Hung Ban Do, which contains important information about Vietnams Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos.

Since they were unable to buy back the original map, the Vietnamese researchers asked the Japanese side to provide them with a digitised version. The map illustrated the route from the capital Thang Long (present-day Hanoi) to the Champa Kingdom and was much more detailed than other maps.

The researchers then used scientific methods to compare the writings and illustration of the Hoang Le Canh Hung Ban Do with those in another map entitled Thien Nam Tu Chi Lo Do Thu as well as other ancient maps in order to learn about the name Yellow Sand or Hoang Sa.

This is a significant material, which, along with other materials, aids in the research on the history of the Hoang Sa Islands as well as the development of Vietnamese people occupying and exercising sovereignty over this archipelago.

Excellent achievements

In recent years, the institute has worked with other agencies to hold many international workshops, including one on the Vietnamese Confucian examination system (1075-1919) and its legacy, which was jointly held by the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS), the Institute of History, the Institute of Han-Nom Studies and the Harvard-Yenching Institute of the United States.

The institute also sent delegations to attend international workshops on writings and woodblocks in Japan. A highlight in the institutes international publication record was a series of articles by three of the institutes researchers (Trinh Khac Manh, Nguyen Tuan Cuong and Tran Trong Duong) on ancient Vietnamese writings published in a SCOPUS journal.

Duong said People often think that when doing research about Han-Nom, you have to work with ancient materials, so it is very difficult to publish internationally. But its quite to the contrary; international academia is very interested in this matter, especially in original materials. Other researchers of the institute have also published their research in English, in addition to Chinese, Japanese and French.

Expectations on Vietnamica

The discussion would be incomplete without mentioning Vietnamica, a project on historical research and data processing of ancient Vietnamese inscriptions that is sponsored by the European Research Council (European Union). The project aims to study the history of donations made to village temples through inscriptions, to digitise materials about Vietnam stored in Europe and Vietnam, and to offer training on epigraphy.

The project was initiated by Professor Philippe Papin from the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes (EPHE), a French higher education institution. EPHE has been working with the Vietnam National University through the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and with the VASS through the Institute of Han-Nom Studies. At the launch of Vietnamica on November 4, 2019, Professor Nguyen Quang Thuan, a former VASS President, described it is an important event in the field of social sciences and humanities in Vietnam in 2019.

The launch of the Vietnamica project office at the Vietnam National University

According to Jean-Paul de Gaudemar, director of AUF, which is responsible for managing the projects finances, the AUF will support the promotion of research results and achievements so that scientific values will be first disseminated to the AUF community, with the membership of nearly 1,000 universities and research institutes.

The Institute of Han-Nom Studies expects that this inter-disciplinary project will digitise original historical data archived in Europe and Vietnam as well as inscriptions in Vietnam, helping to create a common database on Han-Nom culture for all domestic and foreign researchers.

Professor Philippe Papin during a field trip to Bac Ninh with researchers of the Institute of Han-Nom Studies
Rosie Perez arrives for the continuation of Harvey Weinstein's trial on 24 January 2020 in New York City: Jeenah Moon/Getty Images

Actor Rosie Perez delivered dramatic testimony after being called to the stand as a witness for Harvey Weinsteins criminal trial on Friday.

The Do the Right Thing actor testified that actor Annabella Sciorra told her in the mid-Nineties that Weinstein had allegedly raped her but that she couldnt go to the police because hed destroy me.

Perez said Sciorra, her friend, had told at some point in 1993, her voice shaking on the phone, that something had happened to her: I think it was rape.

The actor said she asked if Sciorra knew who had attacked her, but Sciorra wouldnt say at the time. But months later, on another phone call from London, Perez said Sciorra named Weinstein.

Please go to the police, Perez said she told her friend. She said Sciorra responded: I cant  hed destroy me.

On Thursday, Sciorra told jurors that the then-powerful movie producer allegedly pushed his way into her New York apartment, pinned her on a bed and forced himself on her in 1993 or 1994.

She said Perez was one of a few people she told about the alleged encounter before coming forward publicly in 2017.

Weinstein has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex. He is accused of raping a woman in 2013 and performing a forcible sex act on another woman in 2006. Weinstein has pleaded not guilty.

Earlier on Friday, the prosecution called to the stand a forensic psychiatrist providing expert testimony on survivors of sexual assault  explaining for example that most sex assault victims continue to have contact with their attackers.

If convicted on the most serious charges, Weinstein could spend the rest of his life in prison. His trial is expected to last for at least three more weeks in New York City.

Additional reporting by agencies

Read more

Inside the courtroom at Harvey Weinstein's trial
A man has been charged with the murder of the UK's worst paedophile Richard Huckle.

Paul Fitzgerald, 29, an inmate at HMP Full Sutton, East Yorkshire, is charged in full connection with the child sex offender's death on October 13.

Huckle, who was reportedly stabbed in his cell with a makeshift blade, was serving 22 life sentences for a campaign of rape against children aged between six months and 12 years in Malaysia.

The freelance photographer, 33, from Ashford, Kent, awarded himself "pedopoints" for abusing 191 children, and sold images of his depravity on the dark web.

In online posts he bragged about Malaysian youths being easier to abuse than those from richer Western backgrounds.

The English tutor used his teaching qualification to gain access to children in an impoverished community where he raped babies, toddlers and children.

Huckle, known as the "gap year paedophile", was intercepted and arrested at Gatwick Airport while arriving to spend Christmas with his family in 2014 after a National Crime Agency operation.

At the time of his arrest, he was writing a manual to teach fellow paedophiles how to carry out child sex offences without detection.

Officers found more than 20,000 indecent images and videos on his encrypted laptop, however they were unable to crack other files.
As of Saturday, 241 people in Illinois had been tested for the virus, with seven people testing positive  and four of the seven having their illness confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of all those tested, 191 have received negative results and 44 were still pending. The state health department also has been watching a few hundred people for symptoms, including some of those whove already been tested.
President Trump on Friday unveiled the new logo for the Space Force, America's newest branch of the military, and it looks a lot like the emblem for the Starfleet command from the show Star Trek.

The president was mocked on social media by those who pointed out the striking resemblance between the two insignia.

In the Star Trek franchise that began in the 1960s, Starfleet is a fictional organization controlled by the United Federation of Planets.

President Trump on Friday unveiled the new logo for the Space Force

Social media users pointed out that the Space Force logo (left) looks a lot like the insignia from the Starfleet Command (right) as seen on Star Trek

Star Trek was a television series that aired in the mid-1960s. It then evolved into a franchise that included films, animated series, theme parks, and exhibits. One of the earlier stars of the TV series, William Shatner, is seen above as Captain James T. Kirk in this 1968 file photo

The Starfleet is the space force through which various species conduct deep space exploration, research, defense, peacekeeping, and diplomacy.

On Twitter, Trump was accused of plagiarism and intellectual property theft.

'Starfleet called. They want their insignia back,' tweeted one Twitter user.

Another Twitter user quipped: 'The only difference here is that the Space Force will be more like Spaceballs instead of Starfleet.'

George Takei (far right), who played Hikaru Sulu in the film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, reacted on Twitter to the new logo

Takei, a frequent critic of Trump, tweeted: 'Ahem. We are expecting some royalties from this..'

Takei wrote in a subsequent tweet: 'I feel like Melania must have had a hand in copyi - I mean, designing this.'

The reference to Melania Trump (left) was a speech given by the first lady during the Republican National Convention in the summer of 2016. Observers later noted that the speech given by Melania Trump bore many similarities to remarks delivered by Michelle Obama (right) during her address before the Democratic National Committee in Denver in 2008

One Twitter user responded to Takei by posting a meme showing Jean-Luc Picard, the captain of the starship USS Enterprise, putting his hand against his forehead

Another Twitter user wrote: 'Can the first mission of Space Force be launching Trump and his entire administration into the sun? Asking for a friend.'

Spaceballs is a reference to the 1987 Mel Brooks comedy which parodies Star Wars and other sci-fi movies and series like Star Trek, Planet of the Apes, and others.

Another Twitter user wrote: 'The estate of Gene Rodenberry should sue you for every penny you have...'

Rodenberry was the writer and creator behind the Star Trek television series.

George Takei, who played Hikaru Sulu in the original Star Trek TV series, tweeted: 'Ahem. We are expecting some royalties from this..'

Takei, who is a frequent critic of Trump, wrote in a subsequent tweet: 'I feel like Melania must have had a hand in copyi - I mean, designing this.'

Others on social media noted that the logo also bore a resemblance to other insignia used by the Air Force

The Russian space agency also used a similar looking logo, according to one social media user

The reference to Melania Trump was a speech given by the first lady during the Republican National Convention in the summer of 2016.

Observers later noted that the speech given by Melania Trump bore many similarities to remarks delivered by Michelle Obama during her address before the Democratic National Committee in Denver in 2008.

Announcements made by Trump and the administration about the Space Force often draw ridicule from critics.

On Saturday, the Space Force has debuted its new utility uniform and service nametape.

'The first #SpaceForce utility uniform nametapes have touched down in the Pentagon,' tweeted @SpaceForceDoD.

Military.com reported that four-star rank on the uniform, as well as the Command Space Operations badge over the new navy blue-embroidered service nametape indicated that the showcased uniform belonged to Gen. John Raymond, the new - and first - commander of the US Space Force.

The uniform in the photo also showed off a United States Space Command patch and a full-color American flag.

Despite its celestial nature of the command, Space Force appears to be using a traditional earth-tone camo pattern for its daily-use, utility uniform.

The lack of a cosmic-themed uniform raised eyebrows on social media.

'How many trees are you expecting to find in space?' author James Felton tweeted, prompting a Twitter user to respond with a Star Wars reference: 'Come on, Jim. You know how difficult it is to defeat Ewoks in battle.'

The US Space Force tweeted out this image of a uniform bearing its new official nametape

Space Force's tweet about the earth-toned utility uniform and its nametape was mocked

Twitter users were quick to question why the space-themed military branch was using forest-colored camo, forcing Space Force to tweeted a few explanations

One Twitter user posted photos of a forest-hued camo and a black swatch, noting: 'I know this is hard to understand, but on the left there is a picture of camouflage and on the right there is a picture of space. Study these carefully until you can see the difference.'

'Have you been to a part of space where this camouflage would blend in?' tweeted Walter Shaub, the former director of the US Office of Government Ethics.

'Camo in space? WTF? More wasted tax dollars. Great job!' wrote a Twitter user, which prompted a response from the Space Force.

'USSF is utilizing current Army/Air Force uniforms, saving costs of designing/producing a new one. Members will look like their joint counterparts theyll be working with, on the ground,' Space Force tweeted.

'Buried lede: we had a ton of camo,' snarked actor Michael McKean.

When one Twitter user asked, 'Sorry for the question but why do we need camo in space?'

Space Force responded by tweeting: 'We dont. Space Operators are on the ground, on Earth working with joint partners like the @usairforce and @USArmy. Hence utilizing their uniform.'

The fact that Space Force is repurposing its uniform from the Air Force and Army shouldn't come as a surprise, though.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 20:25:11|Editor: mingmei

Video Player Close

ISTANBUL, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Turkey's popular tourism destinations are flooded with Chinese visitors, who are enjoying their seven-day Chinese Lunar New Year holiday there.

Ali Can Aksu, head of the Turkish Hotel Managers Association, noted that the occupancy of the hotels in destinations popular among Chinese tourists has seen an over 28 percent year-on-year increase.

The week-long Chinese holiday starts on Friday.

Cappadocia in the central Anatolian province of Nevsehir was once again the most preferred destination during the Spring Festival holiday, followed by the country's biggest city Istanbul, Aksu said.

"Surprisingly, Turkey's southeastern part, including the provinces of Gaziantep and Sanliurfa, which were previously not on their agenda, attracted many Chinese people this year," Aksu told Xinhua.

He said the gastronomy tourism in Gaziantep gained momentum after the city has been added to the list in the gastronomy category of UNESCO's Creative Cities Network in 2015.

The archeological site of Gobeklitepe in Sanliurfa has become the driving force of tourism in the region, and is now receiving more Chinese tourists who are keen on culture, Aksu said.

"Chinese tourists in Turkey are mainly aged between 38 and 50 years," he said, noting that tourism sectors should take steps accordingly to attract more Chinese visitors during the next Spring Festival.

In his view, airlines of both countries should increase the number of direct flights to these destinations.

Serdar Ibis, a co-founder of Dorak Tour, an inbound travel company based in Istanbul, said Turkey needs to invest more in promotion in China, including attending fairs and organizing activities to introduce the Turkish culture.

"Turkey should host Chinese celebrities, and bloggers who can contribute a lot to our advertisement there," Ibis told Xinhua.

"Chinese people, especially young generations, are dependent on social media. A good sharing of Turkey would have a tremendous impact on tourism," he added.

Ibis expects Turkey to host around 700,000 Chinese tourists by the end of this year, while Aksu projects the number at up to 1 million.

During the first 11 months of last year, Turkey received 403,739 Chinese tourists, up from 369,952 during the same period of 2018, according to the Culture and Tourism Ministry.
KALISPELL  A Whitefish man who pleaded guilty by reason of a mental disorder to killing his father has been sentenced to 20 years in the state mental hospital.

District Judge Robert Allison sentenced Tanner Hosek, 28, Thursday to 40 years in the custody of the Department of Public Health and Human Services with 20 suspended. Hosek appeared in court via video from the Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs. He was given credit for more than 560 days already served.

Hosek pleaded guilty in November to mitigated deliberate homicide the July 2018 stabbing death of Eric Hosek, 65.

Tanner Hosek was diagnosed with schizophrenia and was a ward of his parents at the time of the stabbing, court records said.

Hosek's attorney, Will Managhan, asked the judge to suspend 30 years of the sentence.

"He's clearly mentally disabled and I don't think sending Mr. Hosek to 40 years is necessary," Managhan said. "I don't think 40 years will be necessary for Mr. Hosek to be fit for release. "

Hosek's mother also favored a 10-year commitment, Flathead County Travis Ahner said. He noted the health department is required to do an annual review to determine where Hosek would be placed.

If the health department determines Hosek is no longer mentally ill, the agency can recommend another placement or that he be released, both attorneys said.

Allison asked Hosek if he had anything to say. "I'm sorry this happened," Hosek responded.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
WASHINGTON (AP)  It was just four years ago that a political committee supporting one of Donald Trumps Republican rivals unveiled an ad slamming his views on abortion, complete with footage from a 1999 interview in which he declared, I am pro-choice in every respect."

Now, as he heads into the 2020 election, Trump will become the first sitting president to address the March for Life, taking the stage Friday at the annual anti-abortion-rights gathering that is one of the movements highest profile and most symbolic events.

It's Trump's latest nod to the white evangelical voters who have proven to be among his most loyal backers. And it makes clear that, as he tries to stitch together a winning coalition for reelection, Trump is counting on the support of his base of conservative activists to help bring him across the finish line.

I think its a brilliant move," said Ralph Reed, chair of the Faith and Freedom Coalition and one of Trump's most prominent evangelical supporters. Reed said the president's appearance would energize and remind pro-life voters what a great friend this president and administration has been.

It also shows how much times have changed.

Past presidents who opposed abortion rights, including Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush, steered clear of personally attending the march to avoid being too closely associated with demonstrators eager to outlaw the procedure. They sent remarks for others to deliver, spoke via telephone hookup or invited organizers to visit the White House.

Over the last 10 years, however, the Republican Party has undergone a revolution," displaying a new willingness to "embrace the issue as not only being morally right but politically smart," said Mallory Quigley, a spokeswoman for the Susan B. Anthony List and Women Speak Out PAC. The group is planning to spend $52 million this cycle to help elect candidates opposed to abortion rights. Its president, Marjorie Dannenfelser, will serve as national co-chair of a new campaign coalition, Pro-life Voices for Trump."

Indeed, among both Republicans and Democrats, there is a greater appetite for hard-line positions for and against abortion rights.

There used to be a middle in this country and candidates would not want to alienate the middle," said Ari Fleischer, who served as White House press secretary under President George W. Bush. "And it just seems that that is over and that both parties play to their bases to get maximum turnout from their base.

In addition, Flesicher said, Trump is far less tethered to tradition than past presidents and happy to go where his predecessors havent."

During his first three years in office, Trump has embraced socially conservative policies, particularly on the issue of abortion. He's appointing judges who oppose abortion, cutting taxpayer funding for abortion services and painting Democrats who support abortion rights as extreme in their views.

President Trump has done more for the pro-life community than any other president, so it is fitting that he would be the first president in history to attend the March for Life on the National Mall," said White House spokesman Judd Deere.

During a video address last year, Trump sent a clear message to the thousands of people braving the cold on the National Mall. As president, I will always defend the first right in our Declaration of Independence, the right to life, he said.

The rhetoric underscored Trump's dramatic evolution on the issue from his days as a freewheeling New York deal-maker, when he described himself as very pro-choice in a 1999 interview on NBCs Meet the Press."

During his 2016 campaign for the Republican nomination, Trump said his views had changed and that he was now opposed to abortion, but for three exceptions: In the case of rape, incest and when the life of the mother is at risk.

Yet Trump's unfamiliarity with the language of abortion activism was clear, including when he offered a bungled response during a televised town hall and was forced to clarify his position on abortion three times in a single day.

Asked, hypothetically, what would happen if abortion were outlawed, Trump said there would have to "be some form of punishment" for women who have them, prompting a backlash that managed to unite abortion rights activists and opponents, including organizers of the March for Life.

Asked to clarify his position, Trump's campaign initially issued a statement saying he believed the issue should rest with state governments. He later issued a second statement that said doctors, not women, should be punished for illegal abortions.

Since that time, however, Trump has  to the shock of many  become a darling of the anti-abortion movement.

These voters who are pro-life love Donald Trump and they will crawl across broken glass to get him re-elected," said Reed, who expressed amazement at the transformation. Whatever you think of this president, there is no question that both at a policy level and politically, he has masterfully capitalized on his pro-life position in a way I think no one could have envisioned four years ago,

Critics, for their part, accuse Trump of using the march to try to distract from his impeachment trial in the Senate.

Ilyse Hogue, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, called it an act of desperation, plain and simple, and accused Trump of taking refuge in his ability to whip up a radical anti-choice base, spewing falsehoods when he feels threatened. Alexis McGill Johnson, acting president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, accused the president of carrying out a full-out assault on our health and our rights.

While Trump stands with the small number of Americans who want politicians to interfere with their personal health decisions, well be standing with the nearly 80 percent of Americans who support abortion access," she said.
The decision by Rosanna Davison and her husband to look for a surrogate to carry their baby shows the lengths to which some couples go to realise their dream, writes Sharon Ni Chonchuir.

ROSANNA Davison experienced one of the happiest moments of her life when her daughter Sophia was born on November 21 last year.

It was the culmination of what had been a difficult journey to parenthood for the 35-year-old nutritionist and former Miss World and her husband Wes Quirke.

In February 2018, following years of fertility testing, treatment and multiple miscarriages, the couple decided that gestational surrogacy was the only way for them to have a biological child of their own.

They travelled to Ukraine, the only country in Europe that allows for legal commercial surrogacy, where a clinic arranged for a surrogate to carry their baby.

Davison was as emotional and exhausted as any new mother when she spoke to Feelgood recently.

Everything seems to take twice as long with a hungry newborn to feed around the clock, but motherhood has been amazing so far, she said.

The memory of the birth is still fresh in her mind. Watching Sophia being born and cutting her umbilical cord was the most overwhelming, emotional and terrifying experience. Our lives are all about her now.

Davison isnt the only celebrity who opted to use a surrogate as a solution to fertility problems. Nicole Kidman, Tyra Banks and Sarah Jessica Parker brought children into the world with the help of a surrogate.

And after suffering from complications during her second pregnancy, Kim Kardashian chose to use a gestational carrier for her third and fourth children with Kanye West.

LEGAL LIMBO

In Ireland, surrogacy exists in a legislative vacuum. There is no legislation, which means its neither legal nor illegal.

This creates uncertainty for would-be parents, but it hasnt stopped those who see surrogacy as their only chance of creating a family.

According to figures released by the Department of Foreign Affairs, 137 emergency travel certificates were issued to children born abroad as a result of surrogacy arrangements in the years between 2015 and 2019.

Surrogacy happens in Ireland too, although its much rarer. On a recent episode of The Late Late Show, Becky Loftus Dore from Co Westmeath spoke about her experience.

The mother of four offered to carry a baby for a couple who had struggled to have a child. This act of altruistic surrogacy resulted in a baby boy being born last April.

So, what exactly is surrogacy? Essentially, its where a woman bears a child for another woman or same-sex couple.

An embryo is created using the mans sperm and an egg, says John Kennedy, medical director of the Sims Fertility Clinic in Dublin.

That egg could be donated in the case of same-sex couples or a woman with low ovarian reserve, or it could be the womans own egg. The embryo is implanted in a woman of proven fertility and good general health. The child is then handed over once its delivered.

In traditional surrogacy, the surrogate carried a child conceived using her egg and sperm from the intended father. This meant the surrogate was genetically related to the child, which complicated matters.

Gestational surrogacy is now more common. This is where the surrogate carries a child conceived using the egg of the intended mother or other egg donor. The resulting child then has no biological link to the surrogate.

Surrogacy can also be altruistic or commercial. Loftus Dore offered to do it for her friends and no money changed hands.

In the case of Davison and the 25 or so couples who travel abroad every year, their surrogates are paid for their services.

Rosanna Davison with husband Wes Qurike and their daughter Sophia

Surrogacys success rates are high.

Theyre higher than IVF because its the quality of the eggs that determine success, says Dr Kennedy. Because so many donor eggs are used in surrogacy, the success rate is anything up to 80% depending on the clinic.

Most Irish couples availing of surrogacy services abroad go to one of four countries: Ukraine, Cyprus, the US and Canada.

Cyprus has no regulation regarding surrogacy which means clinics here can transfer embryos to surrogates without technically breaking any law. The other jurisdictions have their own terms and conditions.

In Ukraine, surrogacy services cost approximately 40,000 but they are only available to married heterosexual couples who have medical proof that they havent been able to have children.

This means that same-sex couples have to travel to Canada or the US where surrogacy services can cost up to 150,000.

SYSTEM OVERHAUL

Cost is just one of the complicating factors. Tracy Horan is one of four family law solicitors specialising in surrogacy law. She believes the entire system needs to be overhauled.

People have most likely been through an incredibly difficult time trying to conceive before deciding to have a baby through surrogacy, she says. We need to make things more open and transparent for them.

Establishing parentage is one of the main hurdles under current Irish law. As it stands, the woman who gives birth to a child is the mother, regardless of who supplied the egg. This means the surrogate is the childs legal parent and guardian.

If the surrogate is married, her husband automatically becomes the childs legal father. This can be disproven using DNA testing, which has to be done before the Department of Foreign Affairs will issue an emergency travel certificate, which, combined with other legal documentation, will allow the intending parents to bring their baby home to Ireland.

Once they get home, they must start proceedings for a declaration of parentage. This can take up to 18 months, says Ms Horan.

But it only relates to the father. The mother can only apply to become the childs guardian after two years of residing with the child if she is married to the father or after three years if they are cohabiting.

The entire process can cost up to 15,000 and there are many potential pitfalls.

The mother is in a risky situation, says Dr Kennedy.

Theres a small chance the surrogate could come looking for the child. There could also be an acrimonious separation that turns ugly and the child could suffer as a result. It hasnt happened yet in Ireland but its only a matter of time.

John Waterstone, medical director of the Waterstone Fertility Clinic in Cork, agrees.

In the US, states that are pro-surrogacy have pre-birth orders giving everyone black and white legal rights and making the intending parents the legal parents from before the child is born, he says.

This protects everyone, including the surrogate. There was a case in 2014 when an Australian couple abandoned their baby when he was born with Down syndrome to a surrogate mother in Thailand. That wouldnt happen if the law was clearcut from the beginning.

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT

Because the surrogacy process is so complicated, legal support is recommended from the very beginning. Psychological support may be needed too.

According to the National Infertility Support and Information Group, surrogacy can take a significant emotional toll.

People can feel at a loss as to where to turn and often will not even confide in family or friends, says Gillian Keegan, spokesperson for the group.

We hold regular surrogacy support group meetings where people can share experiences and emotions and receive peer-to-peer support from those on a similar journey.

John Duffy, 45 and from Co Louth, was one such person. After five years of failed IVF treatments, he and his wife Catriona had their son through surrogacy in 2014.

Those IVF treatments took a huge financial and psychological toll, but we still wanted to have a baby and we knew our only option was surrogacy, he says.

They chose a clinic in India. We went over on a medical visa, had IVF, and met our surrogate, says Duffy.

They found the process strange.

It was weird meeting her, knowing she was going to do something so intimate for us when she was a virtual stranger. Then we had to come home and endure the dreaded two-week wait, which as anyone who has had IVF treatment will know is torturous.

When we got news of a pregnancy, we were over the moon and from then on, we were kept informed with scans and updates sent by email.

We werent there when he was born but we were in India within 24 hours of the birth, so I have to say it was a very detached pregnancy.

This didnt detract from the pleasure he took in first setting eyes on his son.

It was a magical moment, all the more so because it had been such a long time coming, he says.

Parents who are considering embarking on similar surrogacy journeys may be interested in attending a conference in Dublin on March 22, run by international organisation Growing Families.

Its not the first such conference in Ireland. At our first event in 2015, we expected 60 attendees and over 130 came, all desperate for an answer to their family-building problems, says Sam Everingham, global director of Growing Families.

Since then, the demand for information and support has been massive.

LEGISLATION NEEDED

There is an immediate need for surrogacy legislation in Ireland. Were currently working off guidelines issued in 2012 but we need clear legislation, says Ms Horan.

The Government is seeking to provide this in the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill 2017, which is working its way through the Oireachtas. However, there are concerns about the proposed legislation.

It only covers altruistic surrogacy in Ireland, says Dr Kennedy.

Because most people dont have someone who will voluntarily carry a baby for them, the majority will still have to travel. So, we are failing to address the actual situation and legislating for something that doesnt exist.

Dr Waterstone was president of the Irish Fertility Society in 2018 when it was asked to give feedback to the Oireachtas on the proposed legislation.

We felt it was so restrictive that it amounted to a practical ban on surrogacy, he says.

If implemented, it will make it illegal for couples to go abroad or advertise for surrogates in Ireland. It will penalise medical and legal professionals who advise couples on what to do and where to go, with potential fines of up to 100,000 and custodial sentences of up to five years.

The surrogate birth mother will still be recognised as the legal mother in the first instance and her partner will be presumed to be the father. As a medical professional, I believe it will infringe my duty to help people.

Horan believes the legislation in its current format will make things worse.

If it comes into law, it will drive surrogacy underground again, which is not what we want in modern Ireland, she says.

Dr Kennedy believes we need to have this conversation as a society, not just in the Dail.

The more people become aware, the more pressure that will be brought to bear on government to come up with real solutions that will help people, he says.

In the meantime, couples such as Rosanna Davison and Wes Quirke continue to overcome medical, legal and emotional hurdles that block their path to parenthood.

We decided to share our story to give hope to others in our position and to show that surrogacy is a feasible route to parenthood, says Rosanna.

Our surrogate was an incredible, strong lady and we feel immense gratitude to her for giving us the most amazing gift of all, she says.
Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

As part of his misbegotten campaign to be considered for a Nobel Peace Prize, President Trump is moving forward with a plan developed by his son-in-law to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On Thursday, the administration took a major step toward delivering Jared Kushners long-delayed proposal, when Vice-President Mike Pence announced an invitation to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to meet in Washington next week. The opposition was invited, too  just not the obvious choice for the summit. Rather than include Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in a talk to determine an agreement between Israel and Palestine, Pence extended the invitation to Netanyahus challenger in the March election, Benny Gantz.

At a larger scale, the Trump administration has not welcomed Palestinian leaders to the table as Kushner has drawn up his peace plan  which the president said would be released prior to the Tuesday meeting. They want to be able to say that they have our input, Mahmoud al-Aloul, the vice-chairman of Palestines ruling Fatah Party, told the Washington Post. But [Trump] is not doing this to help us, but to help his friend Netanyahu. Palestinian leadership has refused all Trump administration outreach since the U.S. recognized Jerusalem as the Israeli capital in 2018  including ten invitations in recent weeks to discuss the plan.

The Trump administration previously delayed rolling out the plan as to not interfere with Israeli elections; but with a third vote in under a year coming in March, U.S. officials told the Post that avoiding favorites is no longer a concern. (The Netanyahu bias has also been quite apparent in other moves, such as the relocation of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.)

There is another reason for delaying a proposal first developed in the early months of Trumps presidency: Its notoriously bad. According to a description of the draft in Vicki Wards 2019 book Kushner, Inc., it involves at least five countries, not including Palestine, coordinating to provide aid or redraw boundaries, with no concessions provided by Israel. In recent public statements, the White House has also dropped its references to a two-state solution.

The plan was so flawed that upon its proposed rollout in June, Trump allies lobbied for a delay. Pro-Israel voices close to the administration reportedly worried that it could trigger violence or forever kill efforts to craft a two-state solution, while Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that one might argue that it is unexecutable and might not gain traction.

Though the president is still confident in his son-in-laws designs for the region, in a speech in December, he may have unintentionally presented a more likely outcome for the conflict thats dragged on for 72 years: If Jared Kushner cant do it, it cant be done.
Meghan Markle's half-sister Samantha called radio DJ Kyle Sandilands a 'rude pig' in leaked emails on Monday, three years after he hung up on her mid-interview.

And on Friday's Kyle and Jackie O show, the 48-year-old made a crass remark upon learning Samantha would appear on the program next week, ending her boycott.

'See you next Tuesday,' Kyle excitedly said, referencing a common euphemistic backronym for the 'C' word.

Shock value: Kyle Sandilands made a very crass remark on his KIIS FM breakfast show on Friday, upon learning Meghan Markle's half-sister Samantha had ended her three year boycott of the program and would be appearing next week

Kyle reacted with shock after his co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson broke the news to him at the end of Friday's show.

'If you got me to bet a million dollars Samantha Markle would ever come on this show again, I would have said "no way in hell",' he responded.

'It's amazing how people can turn around, and now she loves me,' he continued.

After asking a producer which day the Duchess of Sussex's scorned half-sister would appear, Kyle erupted into laughter.

Vocal: Reacting to the news, Kyle excitedly said, 'See you next Tuesday,' referencing a common euphemistic backronym for the 'C' word

'Okay, Samantha. See you next Tuesday. Perfect, absolutely perfect,' he said.

The likelihood she would return to the program appeared slim on Monday's show, when Kyle read aloud an email exchange between Samantha and a KIIS FM producer.

'Tell Kyle to make a public apology! And then please ask me again! He was an a**!' she replied to an interview request.

In a follow-up email, she wrote: 'Tell him I'll do it [an interview] if he does the show wearing a diaper and a pacifier while apologising. LOL!'

Holds a grudge: Samantha, who is pictured on Seven's Sunrise on Monday, initially turned down a request to appear on the radio show. Kyle famously terminated their 2017 interview mid-call

Bitter: Samantha called Kyle a 'rude pig' in leaked emails shared on Monday, insisting she wanted an apology before she would ever return to the show. Pictured on UK's This Morning a week ago

KIIS FM newsreader Brooklyn Ross then asked, 'Did she really write that?' to which Kyle responded: 'Yeah, she wrote it!'

A third email from Samantha read: 'No, he called my book a "s**t book" before I could even tell him what it was about, and hung up on me for shock value.

'What a rude pig, [he] shouldn't have a job. I worked in radio a while back and he's not funny, he's just a piece of dung.'

But that wasn't the end of it, as Samantha followed up with yet another email.

Family: Samantha is the daughter of retired lighting technician Thomas Markle Snr. - Meghan's father - and his first wife, Roslyn. Mr Markle is pictured in a British TV interview on Saturday

The final email stated: 'Maybe you should plug my book and admit you knew nothing about it. As the world sees, I was right [about Meghan] all along.'

Kyle famously hung up on Samantha in April 2017 when she tried to promote her book, The Diary of Princess Pushy's Sister, on his program.

After Samantha repeatedly denied that her book, The Diary of Princess Pushy's Sister, was a 'horrible tell-all', Kyle terminated the call.

Afterwards, he yelled: 'Don't use your sister's name to trick media organisations into pushing your s**t book!'

End of an era: Meghan and Harry (pictured on January 7) are stepping down from royal duties and sacrificing their HRH titles after striking a deal with the Queen last weekend

Samantha, a mother of three, is the daughter of retired Hollywood lighting technician Thomas Markle Snr. - Meghan's father - and his first wife, Roslyn.

Thomas was later married to Doria Ragland between 1979 and 1988. They had only one child together, Meghan, who was born on August 4, 1981.

Meghan and Harry are stepping down from royal duties and sacrificing their HRH titles after striking a deal with the Queen over the weekend.
GILLETTE  A Gillette teenager who brought two handguns to a middle school here in 2018 was convicted Friday of three felonies, setting up a May sentencing hearing and certain imprisonment.

Dale Warner, 15, appeared in Campbell County District Court wearing handcuffs and clothing stamped with the mark of a juvenile detention center. Family members  including his father and brother  sat behind him in the first row of the courtroom for the roughly hourlong hearing.

Although the hearing had been scheduled to hash out details for Warners trial on nine counts of attempted first-degree murder, Judge Michael Deegan said shortly after his 11:15 a.m. arrival that lawyers had indicated theyd agreed to a plea deal. That agreement  which required Warners conviction on lesser charges as well as his imprisonment  means the cancellation of the trial and at least the beginning of a conclusion to a case that dates back 14 months.

In November 2018, Warner brought two handguns and ammunition to Sage Valley Junior High, the middle school he then attended. He was disarmed peacefully after a classmate told the principal about the weapons. Police arrested him the same day and prosecutors soon decided to charge Warner, then 14, in adult court with nine counts of attempted first-degree murder. He has since been incarcerated in lieu of a $275,000 cash-only bail requirement.

The plea agreement Warner entered into Friday morning called for dismissal of the attempted murder charges. Instead, Warner pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a deadly weapon with unlawful intent and no contest to a charge of aggravated assault. The pleas guarantee that Warner will serve prison time but the amount could vary.

Lawyers agreed to recommend at Warners May sentencing hearing that he serve between four and a half and five years in prison on each of the weapon possession charges and three to 10 years on the assault conviction. Prosecutors will be able to ask that Warner serve the three charges one after another, while Warners public defenders can ask that the weapon possession convictions run at the same time.

After lawyers outlined the plea deal, Deegan ran Warner through a series of procedural questions regarding the agreement, his understanding of his rights and his relationship with his lawyers. Warner frequently turned and whispered to State Public Defender Diane Lozano before responding to the judges inquiries. One question stumped the defendant momentarily.

How long have you gone in school? the judge asked. Warner remained silent and then looked at Lozano.

The judge modified his question: Or had you gone?

Warner was in the eighth grade at the time, he said. Hes now a ninth grader, his lawyers said, after accounting for the school work hes completed while incarcerated.

After entering his pleas, Warner told the judge he took two semi-automatic pistols from his fathers truck. One was loaded.

His father didnt know hed taken the guns, Warner said, and he went to school to threaten his English class. The choice of class was somewhat random, Warner said: he did well in the subject, got along with the other students and the teacher.

I was suffering a lot of pain from my biological fathers death, he told the judge, adding that he wanted attention. His biological father had died days before the incident.

I didnt know how to handle it, Warner said. So I just took the guns and tried to get myself into jail.

His classmate told Principal Terry Quinn, Warner said. The administrator defused the situation.

The judge then found Warner guilty of the three crimes, including the assault charge to which the 15-year-old had pleaded no contest. A sheriffs sergeant led the boy from the courtroom.

Warner will spend most of his prison time in a juvenile detention center in Omaha, said Jefferson Coombs, one of the public defenders representing Warner in the case. Coombs told the Star-Tribune shortly after the hearing that after Warner turns 18, in August 2022, hes expected to return to Wyoming to serve the remainder of his sentence. Depending on the judges determination at sentencing and credit earned for good behavior while incarcerated, Warner could be free on parole as early as 2024, estimated Coombs.

If the judge sides with prosecutors at sentencing, Warner would likely not be eligible for parole until 2027. Because Wyoming does not have a juvenile prison and Coombs is too young to serve his time with adults, Coombs said he expects the Corrections Department to have Warner incarcerated in a juvenile facility in Omaha, Nebraska.

Scott Warner, Dales adopted father, said afterward that the state of Wyoming wasnt providing the help that his son needed. He said his son had intended to kill himself at school.

He made a bad decision, Warner said, adding that God intervened and saved that kid.

I just pray this (plea deal) will turn out being something that will actually help my son out and not hurt him, he said.

Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 8 Angry 0

Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.

Shane Sanderson Crime and Courts Reporter Shane Sanderson joined the Star-Tribune in 2017. He covers courts and law enforcement agencies in Natrona County and across the state. Shane studied journalism at the University of Missouri and worked at newspapers there before moving to Wyoming. Follow Shane Sanderson Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
I talked with some of our reporters about the article. This is an edited version of those conversations.

What did you think when this story broke?

SHEERA FRENKEL: Last year started off with The National Enquirer publishing photos and texts from Mr. Bezos phone. It seemed like history repeating itself.

My first reaction was to get the forensic report. I wanted to see exactly what the investigators had found and why they seemed so confident in their assertion that the Saudi crown prince had personally been involved in the hacking.

MATTHEW ROSENBERG: That the malware came straight from M.B.S.s WhatsApp account blew me away. Its one thing to say the Saudis hacked a phone  intel services around the world hack phones. Lord knows the Americans do it all the time.

But its a whole other thing to say that the crown prince was personally involved. Its amazing. He meets Mr. Bezos on a visit to the United States. They strike up a casual conversation over WhatsApp  and then he uses the in to plant spyware!

It really challenges the idea that the elite are a group apart. Until now, its always looked like the elite left it to their minions to battle it out in business or politics or espionage or whatever while they met up in places like Davos and, you know, kept it on the level with one another. I guess Mohammed bin Salman really does play by his own rules.

The exchange of the texts themselves happened in 2018. Why is this all coming out now?

KAREN WEISE: There is a documentary screening at the Sundance Film Festival on Friday about the Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggis murder. According to The Post, one of the United Nations experts is on camera connecting M.B.S. to the hack of Mr. Bezos phone. Best I can tell, the United Nations experts wanted to make their statements public before the film screened.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pistol Bay Mining Inc. (TSX-V - PST; Frankfurt - OQS2, OTC/Pink Sheet symbol SLTFF) (Pistol Bay or the Company) reports that it has negotiated an agreement expediting the option agreement with Aurcrest Gold Inc. which includes the Garnet Lake/ Arrow Zone and the Fredart/Copperload properties subject to the TSX approval.



The Garnet Lake/Arrow Zone and the Fredart/Copperload properties both have NI43-101 resources. Pistol Bay negotiated an expedited agreement for the final 2 years of the option agreement for 100% interest in the properties.

The Aurcrest option agreement includes other claims besides Fredart/Copperload and Garnet Lake/Arrow Zone.

Garnet Lake/Arrow Zone has a NI43-101 resource of



3% Zn equivalent cutoff:

Indicated Resource 2,071,000 tonnes @ 5.92% Zn, 0.75% Cu, 21.1 g/t Ag and 0.58 g/t Au

Inferred Resource 120,550 tonnes @ 2.60% Zn, 0.56% Cu, 18.6 g/t Ag and 0.40 g/t Au

5% Zn equivalent cutoff:

Indicated Resource 1,762,000 tonnes @ 6.75% Zn, 0.79% Cu, 22.3 g/t Ag and 0.61 g/t Au

Inferred Resource 51,630 tonnes @ 3.86% Zn, 0.79% Cu, 23.9 g/t Ag and 0.58 g/t Au

10% Zn equivalent cutoff:

Indicated Resource 633,000 tonnes @ 14.3 Zn, 1.11% Cu, 31.7 g/t Ag and 0.85 g/t Au



Copperlode A or Fredart Zone has non-compliant NI 43-101



A historical mineral resource of 386,000 t grading 1.56% copper and 33.6 g/t silver

Four conductors with lengths of 400, 850, 900 and 950 metres over a length of 6.5 km.

Re: Pistol Bay Mining Inc. (the Company) Option to Earn a 100% Interest in the Confederation Lake Property from AurCrest Gold Inc. (AurCrest)



Referring to the option agreement dated October 21, 2016, as amended February 8, 2019 and October 1, 2019 between the Company and AurCrest (collectively, the Option Agreement). The Company and AurCrest agree that Section 2 of the Option Agreement is hereby amended and the Company shall exercise the Option on the following basis:



a) Paying to AurCrest $50,000 (the Final Cash Payment) on or before January 28, 2020



b) Issuing to AurCrest, effective January 28, 2020 (the Effective Date), 2 million common shares of the Company (the Final Share Issuance), 500,000 common shares of which shall be legended and restricted from trading for four months and one day from the Effective Date and 1,500,000 common shares of which shall be legended and restricted from trading for six months from the Effective Date, with the Final Share Issuance delivered to AurCrest within three (3) business days following the Effective Date; and



c) Upon final payment, the title of the properties will be transferred to Pistol Bay Mining Inc. (the Company).



About Pistol Bay Mining Inc.

Pistol Bay Mining Inc. is a diversified Junior Canadian Mineral Exploration Company with a focus on zinc and base metal properties in North America. The company is also actively pursuing the right opportunity in other resources to enhance shareholders value. For additional information please visit the Company website at www.pistolbaymininginc.com or contact Charles Desjardins at pistolbaymining@gmail.com .

On Behalf of the Board of Directors

PISTOL BAY MINING INC.

Charles Desjardins,

President and Director

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward Looking Statements:

Statements included in this announcement, including statements concerning of the Companys plans, intentions and expectations, which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words including anticipates, believes, intends, estimates, expects and similar expressions. The Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements, including without limitation those relating to the Companys future operations and business prospects, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements.
The ongoing fight to contain Australias massive wildfires claimed the lives of three American firefighters who crashed in a remote area in New South Wales on Thursday while flying an air tanker that had been used to battle California wildfires.

The C-130 Hercules was based in California last year, where it was used to train Cal Fire crews. It also was deployed to fight the Kincade Fire in Sonoma County and other conflagrations.

This year, however, the jet tanker was contracted to the New South Wales Rural Fire Service for the Australian fire season. It was owned by Coulson Aviation, a family-owned Canadian company.

In a statement, Coulson said the C-130 departed from Richmond, New South Wales, with a load of fire retardant and was on a firebombing mission at the time of the crash. On Thursday it also identified the three victims as Capt. Ian H. McBeth, 44, of Great Falls, Mont.; 1st Officer Paul Clyde Hudson, 42, of Buckeye, Ariz.; and flight engineer Rick DeMorgan Jr., 43, of Navarro, Fla.

In a statement released Thursday afternoon, Gov. Newsom said that he and his wife Jennifer Siebel extend our sincere condolences to the families of the crew, their friends and loved ones, and our own Cal Fire family who worked, fought fires, and trained with the crew of Tanker 134.

The release from the governors office included an expression of sympathy from Cal Fire Chief Thom Porter.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family, friends, and colleagues of the crew from Tanker 134 that were lost during a tragic crash while battling the devastating Australia fires, Porter said. CalFire stands with you during this difficult time.

Australias Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said on Twitter that the firefighting community across the world will be devastated by this tragedy.

Fire Tracker Follow wildfires across the state Latest updates on wildfires burning across Northern and Southern California

Sincere condolences to the families, friends & colleagues of 3 US residents killed in a C-130 air tanker crash near Cooma today, McCormack tweeted.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said it planned to deploy investigators to the crash site to collect evidence, analyze any recorded data, review weather information and interview witnesses. Investigators expect to release a preliminary report of their findings within the next 30 days, bureau officials said, but could release information to the relevant stakeholders if they find critical safety issues during their investigation.

Coulson Aviation will also send a team to assist in emergency operations, according to the aviation company.

The lives lost in Thursdays crash bring the death toll in Australias four-month series of fires to at least 33. Since the blazes began in earnest in September, upward of 25 million acres have burned.

John King and Lauren Hernandez are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jking@sfchronicle.com lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JohnKingSFChron @LaurenPorFavor
Davos: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan claimed that he met with a brick wall when he approached Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a peace proposal, soon after assuming office.

In an interview to Foreign Policy magazine on the sidelines of WEF 2020 here, Khan also said he told Modi that Pakistan will act firmly if it was given evidence of any involvement in the Pulwama terror attack, but India instead bombed Pakistan.

Tensions have escalated between the two countries, following India withdrawing the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019. Even since, Khan has been trying to seek global intervention to de-escalate the tensions between the two countries.

On Thursday, India's External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar categorically ruled out any third party role on the Kashmir issue, asserting that any issue between the two countries should be resolved bilaterally.

In the interview, Khan said that he is a firm believer that military means are not a solution to ending conflicts. After assuming office, I immediately reached out to Prime Minister Modi. I was amazed by the reaction I got, which was quite weird.

The subcontinent hosts the greatest number of poor people in the world, and the best way to fight poverty is to have a trading relationship between the two countries rather than spending money on arms. This is what I said to the Indian Prime Minister. But I was met by brick wall, Khan said.

Khan took charge as Prime Minister in August 2018. Referring to the suicide attack in Pulwama, Khan said he immediately told Modi ,if you can give us any actionable intelligence (that Pakistanis were involved), we will act on it. But rather than do so, they bombed us.

Noting that the both countries are not close to conflict right now, Khan said that it is important that the UN and the US act.

When asked about US President Donald Trumps close relationship with Modi, Khan said the relationship is understandable because India is a huge market. My concern is not about the US-India relationship. My concern is the direction in which India is going, Khan said.

Khan also sought to compare the events in India to what happened in Nazi Germany.

Between 1930 and 1934, Germany went from a liberal democracy to a fascist, totalitarian, racist state. If you look at what is happening in India under the BJP in the last five years, look where it's heading, you'll see the danger. And you're talking about a huge country of 1.3 billion people that is nuclear-armed, he said.
Heeding a call by powerful Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr, protesters in Baghdad demand an end to foreign interference.

Baghdad, Iraq  As thousands of Iraqis headed to an upscale Baghdad neighbourhood, heeding influential Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadrs calls to participate in a million-man march, they had to contend with road closures and a heavier than usual security presence.

Sadr, head of Sairoon, the largest coalition bloc in parliament, has capitalised on rising regional tensions, which soared after the United States assassinated Iranian military general Qassem Soleimani on Iraqi soil.

The January 3 US military drone strike also killed Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, an Iraqi commander of the pro-Iranian Hashd al-Shabi militias (also called the Popular Mobilisation Forces or PMF).

As calls for an end to interference grew louder, the Iraqi parliament on January 5 backed a nonbinding resolution for all foreign troops  including 5,200 US soldiers  to leave the country.

Those calls were renewed at Fridays rally at Jadriya, a neighbourhood where politicians live and work.

Todays protest is a referendum called for by the Iraqi people who consider the presence of US forces within the country a danger to them and to the region, civil servant Asad al-Hashemi told Al Jazeera.

The US is the reason for the corruption and all of our misfortunes.

He said the US presence stokes dissent and increases the likelihood of people acting out against it on our terrain, thus turning Iraq into an ongoing battlefield for competing geopolitical interests.

We want to reclaim our sovereignty back.

A soldier stands in a building overlooking the protest in Jadriya neighbourhood of Baghdad [Emma Francis/Al Jazeera]

On Wednesday, Iraqi President Barham Saleh met US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The two leaders agreed on the need to keep US forces in Iraq, much to the consternation of the pro-Sadr protesters.

Mohammed Jasim al-Kinani, 55, one of the leaders of the southern Kinani tribe, called the Salih-Trump meeting unacceptable.

The people should take it upon themselves to follow through the parliaments vote of expelling US forces from Iraq, he said.

Get rid of US forces

The number of demonstrators suggested tens of thousands rather than a million, but their demands of an end to foreign interference  with particular emphasis on the US withdrawal  were vociferous nonetheless.

Mariam, an 18-year-old high school student, attended the protest with her mother and sisters.

Im here today to protest against the United States occupying our lands, she told Al Jazeera. We want to liberate our country from these chains of oppression. Weve been suppressed and hurt by the USs own interests in the region so we want them out of Iraq.

Tribal leader Mohammed Jasim al-Kinani, right, said the Trump-Salih meeting on Friday where both leaders agreed to keep US soldiers in the country was unacceptable [Emma Francis/Al Jazeera]

In addition to the sea of Iraqi flags, many protesters, young and old, had plain white flags tied around their shoulders  a tribute to Sadrs late father, the Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Sadeq al-Sadr.

The elder Sadr was known to wear a white cloth which symbolised a shroud, representing that he was ready for death whenever.

Thabet al-Yasiri, who is unemployed, travelled from Samawa, a southern city, to attend.

This is my first time protesting since the anti-government demonstrations began last October, he said. First we have to get rid of the US forces, then we should focus on tackling government corruption and reforms.

Ranging protest movements

Meanwhile, a separate and large anti-government protest movement centred in Tahrir Square has gripped the capital and the Shia-majority south for almost four months, with Iraqis demanding complete overhaul of the political landscape, early elections and more accountability.

At least 500 protesters have been killed, and while Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi stepped down, he continues to act in a caretaker capacity.

On Friday, protesters in Tahrir Square derided Sadrs march as a show of support for the government.

The Sadr current want an end to foreign interference by the same system we are protesting against, protester Ali Adnan said, speaking from the barricaded Jumhuriyah Bridge just off Tahrir Square.

The 23-year-old, who is from the southern city of Basra, said the October protest movement is different because it is youth-led and not called for by a specific political party.

We want a democratic, sovereign, national and transparent government  thats all. Were sick of these parties and the muhasasa [quota-based political] system, Adnan said.

But several people in Jadriya expressed said that the two movements overlap.

Todays protest in Jadriya is calling for one of the same demands as the anti-government movement, which is an end to foreign interference and corruption, Sheikh Hussein Karbalai, a cleric from Karbala, told Al Jazeera.

We believe the US is the source of the corruption in this country and thats one of the reasons they must get out of our affairs.
MINNEAPOLIS  China has imprisoned a University of Minnesota student for unflattering social media posts about President Xi Jinping, according to a report on the news website Axios.

Chinese court records reportedly show Luo Daiqing was detained by Chinese police in July in his hometown of Wuhan for posting over 40 comments on Twitter "denigrating a national leaders image and indecent pictures," according to the report.

The tweets were published in September and October 2018 while he was studying in the Twin Cities, the report said.

Luo, a liberal arts student, was sentenced in November to six months in prison for "provocation," Axios reported.

U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Nebraska, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued a statement calling for Luos release.

ADVERTISEMENT

"Dont forget that the Chinese Communist Party has banned Twitter, so the only people who even saw these tweets were the goons charged with monitoring Chinese citizens while theyre enjoying freedom here in the United States. This is what ruthless and paranoid totalitarianism looks like," Sasse said.

As of the fall semester, the Us Twin Cities campus had 2,755 students from China, accounting for 42 percent of its foreign enrollment, U records show.




President Moon Jae-in said Friday lack of progress in denuclearization talks between North Korea and the United States was the most regrettable thing for him last year, along with a slower-than-expected improvement in the living conditions of South Koreans.







He especially mentioned the no-deal Hanoi summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and the North's leader Kim Jong-un during a phone interview with an SBS radio program.







"If there had been some headway in the North Korea-U.S. dialogue, (we) could have advanced peace on the Korean Peninsula and South-North cooperation," he said.







He also cited separated families living on the other side of the border of the two Koreas, as he was speaking on the occasion of the Lunar New Year, called Seol in Korean. It's one of the biggest annual celebrations for Koreans.







Moon recalled his mother who died in late October last year at the age of 92.







Moon's mother fled North Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War in the historic Heungman evacuation operation. But all of her family members failed to leave the communist nation,







Moon said his mother met with her youngest sister during a 2004 inter-Korean family reunion event held at Mount Kumgang. Moon and his son took her to the venue.







"I think that was the best thing I've done for her throughout her lifetime," Moon said.







But he said he failed to keep his promise to visit the mother's hometown, which is now in North Korea, together with her. (Yonhap)


New Delhi, Jan 24 : The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' plea seeking review of its verdict holding that he will have to face trial for allegedly failing to disclose details of two criminal cases pending in his 2014 election affidavit.

A bench of Justices Arun Mishra, Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose said: "Application seeking oral hearing of review petitions in open court is/are allowed. List review petitions before the court." On October 1, 2019, in a major setback to Fadnavis, the Supreme Court set aside a Bombay High Court order that prevented the trial court from examining a poll-related complaint against him.

A bench headed by then Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and comprising Justices Gupta and Bose set aside the High Court's clean chit, which held that he should not to be tried for the alleged offences under the Representation of Peoples Act.

"In the light of the view that we have taken and in view of the clear averment made in the complaint to the effect that the First Respondent (Fadnavis) had knowledge of the two cases against him which was not mentioned in the affidavit filed by him along with his nomination papers," said the court in its judgement.

The apex court allowed the trial court to examine if he concealed criminal cases in his nomination papers.

A complaint was filed by Satish Ukey against Fadanvis in the magistrate's court seeking his prosecution for not disclosing all the details of pending criminal cases. Ukey had alleged Fadnavis, in 2014 election affidavit, did not disclose pending two criminal cases against him.

The magistrate dismissed the complaint. In revision, the sessions judge, Nagpur remanded the matter to the trial court for consideration. Aggrieved, Fadnavis moved the High Court, which set aside the order of the sessions judge by its judgment May 3, 2018.

The apex court has set aside concurrent clean chit by the trial court and Bombay High Court to Fadnavis. "We unhesitatingly arrive at the conclusion that the order of the trial court upheld by the High Court by the judgment and order dated May 3, 2018 is legally not tenable and the same deserves to be set aside which we hereby do. The complaint of the appellant (Satish Ukey) will be considered afresh by the trial court from the stage where it was interdicted by the order dated May 30, 2016," the court said.

Making observation on non-disclosure of information, the apex court said that such information should be furnished in Form 26, which includes information concerning cases in which a competent court has taken cognizance. According to the provisions, if a candidate fails to furnish or gives false or conceals information in his nomination paper, especially about pending criminal cases, then the person may face six months jail term or fine or both.
Amnesty International on Thursday urged Nigerian authorities to halt the forced evictions of shanties and waterfront communities in the economic hub of Lagos.

Lagos has in recent years seen repeated forcible evictions of poor communities living in prime locations, especially along the waterfront, as developers look to cash in by building high-end properties.

On Tuesday, the Nigerian Navy fired into the air to evict some 10,000 residents of Tarkwa Bay in the latest mass eviction around the city.

Bulldozers rumbled into Tarkwa Bay, a semi-rural area on an island in the city of some 20 million, as part of an operation the military say is aimed officially at stopping the looting of nearby oil pipelines.

"The Nigerian authorities must immediately halt the violent and unlawful evictions that rendered thousands of residents of Tarkwa Bay,"homeless, said Amnesty International in a statement.

It said the authorities should respect the rights of the people to safety and housing.

"What is happening at Tarkwa Bay, Lagos is a violation of human rights. It is unacceptable that the Nigerian government are evicting people in the most violent manner and destroying their homes without genuine consultations, adequate notice, alternative accommodation or access to remedies," said Osai Ojigho Director Amnesty International Nigeria.

"The attacks on poor communities of Lagos must end. Throwing many families into endless misery is not the best way of addressing allegations of crime and urban planning failures of the authorities," he said.

"We call for a halt to ongoing forced evictions," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Wini Austin

austinwi@grinnell.edu

In the past two months, the 2020 Democratic primary field dwindled to twelve candidates as Julian Castro and Senators Kamala Harris and Cory Booker dropped out of the race. For their student supporters in Grinnell, the news was met with a mixture of frustration, disappointment and acceptance.

Rebecca Fox 23 was president of the group Students for Kamala until Harris dropped out of the race on Dec. 3. Fox, who hails from Houston, worked on Beto ORourkes senate campaign before diving into Grinnells political scene. She knew she wanted to get involved with a campaign and decided to support Kamala Harris after talking to the campaigns local organizer.

Fox was struck by Harriss policies, as well as the perspective she brought to the presidential race as a woman of color.

I was interested in  a lot of her policies for rural America and rural Iowa, especially being here, her plans to prevent gun violence  and the fact that shes a black woman running for president.  I think its something that we really needed, said Fox.

As president of Students for Kamala, Fox worked at a phone bank, canvassed and hosted weekly meetings and tabling sessions on campus. Student support, however, wasnt strong. According to Fox, only five or six people would usually show up to the meetings.

Fox remembers clearly the Tuesday in December when Harris abruptly dropped out of the race due to funding issues. She said that even the organizers in Harris Des Moines headquarters didnt see the decision coming.

It was disappointing. Ive worked on campaigns before, but Ive never worked on a winning campaign. It was discouraging to be on another one, especially of someone who I really look up to, said Fox. I got to see in person  how open she was to listening to everyone  so it was really disappointing to see that she is not going to be our president.

Campus aversion to Harris, Fox believes, was due to stigma surrounding Harriss legal career. The California Senator was formerly District Attorney of San Francisco and Attorney General of California. She came under fire during her campaign for enforcing criminal justice policies which many progressives argue were racist and ineffective, unfairly targeting people of color and raising incarceration rates.

After making peace with the conclusion of Harriss run, Fox has committed to caucusing for Elizabeth Warren and is helping out with her campaign.

A month after Harris dropped out, Julian Castro suspended his campaign on Jan. 2. Castro was the secretary of housing and urban development in the Obama administration, and the only Latino candidate in the 2020 presidential race.

Oscar Buchanan 21 interned with the Castro campaign last summer, after seeing the politician speak at the College last February. He was drawn to Castros focus on underrepresented and marginalized groups in the U.S. and saw Castros focus on policing and immigration issues as ahead of the curve in the Democratic field.

He centers the issues around the people who have the least amount of voice in the process, said Buchanan. Even when he got questions like How will this affect the middle class? He was like, No, we also need to talk about the poor and the working poor, we need to talk about race and these issues that dont get centered as much.

Buchanan spent the summer driving around Des Moines, talking to small businesses about endorsing Castro or hosting events for the campaign. Unlike many campaign interns, he was paid $15 an hour, in line with Castros call for raising the minimum wage.

When Castro announced he was suspending his campaign, Buchanan was surprised. I expected him to stick in because a lot of what he talked about was the importance of pushing through it and sticking with it, he said. Candidates like him drop out before the caucuses, and then theres never a record of that, yes, some people were willing to vote for this candidate. According to Castro and Harris campaigns, the fate of their candidacy came down to financial struggles. But for many of the supporters of Harris and Castro, fundraising issues were a symptom of more structural obstacles.

Its nice that so many people of color and women were able to run, but its sad that they are the ones dropping out, said Buchanan. The comparison with Castro, Booker and Buttigiegif you compare them based on experience, Booker and Castro would be more qualified.  The federal agency Julian Castro ran had more people in it than Pete Buttigieg had voters in his town.

Buchanan wondered whether the Democratic nominating process hindered the success of candidates of color. I think Iowa is part of the problem.  The first two states [to vote] are whiter and older than the nation as a whole, he said.

In the wake of Castros exit, Buchanan has decided to volunteer for Bernie Sanders. As the smaller candidates drop out, many of their supporters are finding their way to the frontrunners, joining the majority of politically active students at Grinnell.

Allie Pearce 20 and Oliver Willett 21 co-lead Campus Democrats, a student group which has co-hosted and organized events with Democratic campaigns and candidates over the past year. Pearce has observed that, at Grinnell, students whose candidates have dropped out tend to realign with further left candidates such as Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren

People like Cory Booker, Julian Castro and Kamala Harris, who ran on unity messages, were kind of overlooked in favor of these big sweeping ideas and bold change, said Pearce.

On the other hand, Willett sees the candidates exits as a positive sign. I think it means progress, right? I mean were getting closer to a candidate and consolidating the field, he said. And there wasnt much support with Castro and Harris.
This is how things look at the moment from the perspective of Blue and Whites leadership, which has been rapidly losing altitude over the past few days: President Donald Trumps deal of the century is not a historic Israeli-Palestinian peace proposal, but a deal between Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In short, the president is rescuing Netanyahu from his political death, and in return, Netanyahu will help Trumps 2020 reelection campaign, using all the tools at his disposal (and he has quite a few) to mobilize the evangelical component of Trump's base, and that's just for starters.

Trump is trying to prove his vitality and responsible leadership at the height of his Senate impeachment trial by hosting Netanyahu along with Blue and White leader Benny Gantz at the White House on Jan. 28 to present his Middle East peace plan. Meanwhile, Netanyahu is pounding the Blue and White election agenda into dust and throwing the Knesset discussions over his immunity from prosecution into the political trash bin. On Jan. 28 in the United States, television screens will be split between the impeachment trial and the White House summit. In Israel, screens will be split three-ways: on the right, Trumps trial; on the left, Netanyahus immunity proceedings; and in the middle, Netanyahu, king of the White House.

Gantz, who on a clear day could already smell the heady scent of the Prime Ministers Office, will be dragged by his hair to the White House on the same day the Knesset is supposed to vote on forming a committee to debate Netanyahus request for immunity from prosecution on corruption charges. In popular parlance, Trump and Netanyahu have screwed Gantz. A senior Blue and White source told Al-Monitor that he is convinced the latest developments were completely orchestrated: Netanyahu coordinated with Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, who scheduled the Knesset debate for Jan. 28. At the same time, Netanyahu coordinated with the White House, which invited Netanyahu and Gantz to meet Trump that same day.

Gantz will now have to decide what to do about the immunity debate. If he insists that it proceed as scheduled, he will look like a petty politician challenging a prime minister who is on a historic, diplomatic mission. If he postpones the debate, he could miss the immunity boat as it sails toward the March 2 election deadline. Thus, Gantz only has bad choices. Netanyahu, once on his political deathbed, is now in recuperation  running the show, overseeing historic moves, dictating the pace  while his people are busy building Gantzs political coffin.

One of Gantzs closest associates, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Al-Monitor, If it were possible to fly a drone over the White House, we would see the gentleman David Friedman [US ambassador to Israel], Jared Kushner [Trumps adviser and son-in-law], the pro-settlement lobby and a host of Chabad rabbis digging a deep hole for Benny Gantz. This group [the settlers and the Chabad adherents] has full access to the White House and especially to Misters Kushner and Friedman. They set the tone and they run the system.

According to top Blue and White sources, never has a US administration interfered in such a crass and blatant manner in domestic Israeli politics on the eve of elections. Out of 365 days on the calendar, the White House chose to invite Netanyahu and Gantz on the very day of the vote expected to approve the formation of an immunity committee, said the Gantz associate. A historic coincidence, indeed.

That is not Gantz's only problem. According to leaks from Netanyahus camp, Trumps historic peace plan is, in fact, an unprecedented boon for Israel. The plan, according to leaks, would allow Netanyahu to annex and impose Israeli sovereignty over all the West Bank settlements. If the Palestinians reject it, a certainty, Netanyahu will also be able to annex the Jordan Valley. With that, Netanyahu will officially be declared king of Israel, bring back Likud voters who jumped ship in the September 2019 elections and draw closer to garnering the 61-seat majority he needs to form a government, a target that appeared an insurmountable hurdle only moments ago.

Some in the Blue and White urged Gantz to decline the Trump invitation issued at Netanyahus initiative. He will look like an extra on a film set, an uninvited guest at a royal wedding, one Blue and White senior told Al-Monitor on the condition of anonymity. Although they did invite him, they will not miss an opportunity to humiliate him, to present him as a junior aide to the person running the show, which is Netanyahu. Given these circumstances, he [Gantz] would be better off staying home. This opinion is a minority view within Blue and White.

We do not have the privilege of turning down an invitation from the president of the United States, said another Blue and White source, speaking on the condition of anonymity. We have to see the glass a quarter full and try to leverage it. Gantz is part of the move, his invitation to the White House proves the Americans are taking into account that they may have to do business with him after the elections. It is not so horrible.

There is also a middle ground between the opposing views. Gantz should make his arrival in Washington conditional on full participation in the process, another senior Blue and White source said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. He must send representatives to take part in the discussions with the White House on the peace plan. They should nail down every detail of the visit, even including photo angles, Gantzs position during the event and the meeting he will get with Trump, in the same format and with the same pomp as Netanyahu. Absent all of that, he should simply not go.

Not everyone in the Blue and White leadership is convinced that Trump is the one rushing to Netanyahus aid. The president is not completely involved, one of Gantzs close associates told Al-Monitor on the condition of anonymity. He is being activated by remote control. He is being sold a facade showing that the Washington summit is good for him in light of the impeachment proceedings. Those running the show are the people of the pro-Israel lobby at the White House, led by Friedman and Kushner. They are the ones mobilizing the president and hitching him to the Netanyahu salvage operation. Trump is indifferent.

Gantz now faces the most significant challenge of his brief political career. Netanyahu has devised the perfect ambush, sending Gantz into crossfire from which it will be hard to emerge unscathed. Gantz had been leading Netanyahu in the polls in recent weeks by three to five Knesset seats. Netanyahu is now expected to bridge that gap and perhaps even go beyond it. In terms of Netanyahu's suitability for the premiership, he is expected to go up in the polls, returning to his previous lead, which Gantz had been consistently chipping away over the past year.

Netanyahu will now take advantage of the new agenda until election day. He will squeeze this lemon to the very end and dictate the pace, another senior Blue and White source said on the condition of anonymity. We will end up wishing for President Reuven Rivlins [previous] compromise proposal [for rotating prime ministers].
Nepal, which is holding on to the Chairmanship of the SAARC grouping since 2014, is "ready and very eager" to handover the position to Pakistan, Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said on Friday, hoping that New Delhi and Islamabad can sort out their differences through negotiations, keeping in mind the challenges facing the region.

The minister also assured India that Nepal will not allow its soil to be used against any of its neighbours and the Himalayan country will not participate in any great games.

"Nepal is not only ready but very very eager and in hurry to handover this Chairmanship of SAARC (to Pakistan) because we have been carrying this baggage for more than four years," Gyawali told a group of visiting Indian journalists at a briefing on 'Sagarmatha Sambad' at the Nepalese Foreign Ministry here.

"So we want to look at the summit at the earliest," he said and hoped that there will be some meeting point to mitigate the differences and organise the next summit.

The last SAARC Summit in 2014 was held in Kathmandu, which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The 2016 SAARC summit was to be held in Islamabad. But after the terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18 that year, India expressed its inability to participate in the summit due to "prevailing circumstances".

The summit was called off after Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to participate in the Islamabad meet.

Gyawali said that India and Pakistan can sort out their differences through negotiations, keeping in mind the challenges facing the region.

"Nepal strongly believes in regionalism and multilateralism. So, we all know there are problem but no problem is immune that cannot be solved through negotiations or discussions," he said.

In the last three years, India has been distancing itself from the SAARC, citing security challenge facing the region from terror networks based in Pakistan, which is also a member of the grouping.

Gyawali said the leaders of all SAARC countries, including Prime Minister Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan, have been invited to 'Sagarmatha Sambad' and Nepal would be happy to host all the regional leaders and provide them some moments where they can discuss informally how can they develop the regional cooperation.

"It will be a fantastic idea" for all SAARC leaders to be present at the Saagarmatha, he said.

The Sambad (dialogue) is named after the world's tallest mountain Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) which is also a symbol of friendship, he added.

"We have some common identities but what is ironical is that this region is least integrated in terms of physical connectivity, digital connectivity, economy, trade and many more. The largest chunk of the poverty is a big concern for the policy makers and governments in this region," Gyawali said.

In December last, Prime Minister Modi said that India's efforts for greater collaboration among the SAARC countries have repeatedly been challenged with threats and acts of terrorism, in an oblique reference to Pakistan.

In a letter to the SAARC secretariat to mark the founding day of the bloc on December Prime Minister Modi said all countries in the region should take effective steps to defeat the scourge of terrorism and the forces which support it.

Such efforts, he said, would generate greater trust and confidence to build a stronger SAARC.

Pakistan Prime Minister Khan, in his message on the 35th SAARC Charter Day, expressed the hope that the hiatus created in SAARC's continuous progression would be removed.

Khan said Pakistan believes the effective and result-oriented regional cooperation can only be achieved by adhering to the cardinal principles of sovereign equality and mutual respect as enshrined in the SAARC Charter.

SAARC summits are usually held biennially and hosted by member states in alphabetical order. The member state hosting the summit assumes the Chair of the Association.

On December 8, 1985 at the first SAARC Summit in Dhaka, the leaders of the seven South Asian states - the Maldives, India, Bhutan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka - signed a charter to establish the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Afghanistan became the eight SAARC member in 2007.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The three critical risk factors for India are high dependence on agriculture with about 700 million exposed to climate shocks, a large coastline with the most populous economic hubs, and a heavy reliance on fossil fuels, according to a new entity formed to battle the climate crisis by the coming together of several major Indian philanthropic organisations.

Earlier this week, philanthropic organisations focused on education and health care collaborated on finding solutions for the challenge posed by the climate crisis and created the India Climate Collaborative (ICC), which will fund climate crisis solutions in India.

At least 10 major philanthropies -- run by captains of industry including Ratan Tata, Anand Mahindra, Rohini Nilekani, Nadir Godrej, Aditi and Rishad Premji, and Hemendra Kothari, among others -- are part of the new initiative.

It will work with a number of research and academic organisations, including The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri), Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology & the Environment, Centre for Policy Research, Centre for Science & Environment, Indian School of Business, Oxford University, World Resources Institute, and Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundations.

Any effort to deal with climate change is good. Its great to see foundations are coming together but we have to see what kind of work they promote. We need critical voices coming out of the south both in terms of global climate negotiations and where do we see us going. For example, the concept of net zero, is it compatible with the principle of equity? We are seeing new challenges now in terms of impacts also like locust infestation is linked to climate change..., said Sunita Narain, director general of Centre for Science and Environment.

In one of its first analyses, published on their official website, ICC said that only about 7% of the total philanthropic funding in India is presently going to climate-focused projects -- something that they aim to change. According to the India Philanthropy Report 2019 by Bain and Company, private funds raised in India for the entire social sector in 2018 were about Rs 70,000 crore, out of which an estimated Rs 43,000 crore was from individual philanthropists.

Most of the funding is going to education, health care, then agriculture, rural livelihoods, but funding for climate change is very less. We aim to raise this funding from less than 10% to at least 20% in the coming years, said Shloka Nath, executive director of ICC and head of sustainability at Tata Trusts.

ICC pointed out that the telltale signs of the climate crisis  Indias five warmest years were recorded in the past 15 years, average annual rainfall is decreasing, and extreme weather events are increasing -- make India particularly vulnerable.

The new entity aims to identify India-specific solutions and mainly focus on air, water, land and energy sectors. Our collective leadership through the ICC will indicate to the world that Indian philanthropy is ready to be a leader in climate action, said Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Trusts, in the ICC statement.

ICC says philanthropy may play an important role in helping India achieve its nationally determined contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement and provide global leadership to ensure a fair and equitable climate dialogue.

Nath said ICC plans to engage at the 26th session of the Conference of Parties at Glasgow, where countries are expected to update their NDCs to meet the Paris Agreement target of keeping global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The India Climate Collaboration is a step in the right direction. It will ensure collective action which is always more impactful than actions taken in isolation, said Karan Mangotra, associate director and climate finance expert at TERI.
No matter what wars have ensued in the box office thanks to the Sankranti blockbusters, the portrayal of heroines in both the films is equally disturbing.

Telugu cinema had two reasons to celebrate this Sankranti. Both the Mahesh Babu-starrer Sarileru Neekevvaru and the Allu Arjun-starrer Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo have turned out to be big grossers.

But the manner in which the leading ladies in both films have been portrayed gives us much food for thought. Unhealthy food at that  one that begets the question Has Telugu cinema really progressed?

The swooning bimbo

To begin with, both Sarileru Neekevvaru and Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo are rigidly mainstream  formula films. The do-gooder heroes in each film take on the villainous forces etc. In both the films, the heroines, who are ultimately relegated to playing the romantic lead, are no more than decorative props. What makes matters worse is that the characters are placed in deplorably regressive roles.

In Sarileru Neekevvaru, Rashmika Mandana spends all her screen time (which isnt much, honestly) extolling the emotional and physical virtues of the hero. Every time she sees Mahesh Babu, Rashmika goes into a swoon. Her eyes roll, her lips tremble and she stammers. Every dialogue she has in the film is about how cute and handsome the hero is.

In brief, she has no life apart from stalking and raving over the man she has chosen. It is obvious that if she has one, its only with her cute, handsome, etc. man.

The voyeurs muse

Quite similarly, Pooja Hedges characterisation in Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo is a joke, only a little worse off than Rashmikas in Sarileru Neekevvaru. She plays a successful, rich and confident single woman. But the minute she sees the hero, she turns into a bundle of nerves. In a blatant endorsement of voyeurism and objectification, Allu Arjun keeps gawking at Hegdes legs, not once but many times over in the film. Its like a running joke in the film, although the squirmy looks Arjun gives the heroine would make any sane and sensible girl creep out. There is an entire song and dance in the film in which Allu Arjun sings about his heroines legs. And Pooja is shown enjoying it!

In an interview, she was asked about her heros leggy obsession and her reply was a classic. Pooja Hedge is quoted as saying, There are films where people have sexually objectified navel of heroines, but Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo doesnt do that.

All right, then. From the navel the heros gaze has gone down to the legs. Hopefully soon, he will be drooling over his beloveds feet the way Raj Kumar did in Kamal Amrohis Pakeezah. But hey! Thats another story.
Russia's consumer rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor recommends Russian tourists to abstain from visiting China amidst the outbreak of the new coronavirus in the country.

"Rospotrebnadzor recommends Russian tourists to abstain from visiting China until the epidemiological situation stabilizes," the statement reads.



The watchdog also advised Russian tourists going to China to avoid going to zoos or events involving animals, to wear masks, wash hands frequently and consume only cooked food and bottled water.



According to the latest reports, 830 people were infected with the new coronavirus, and 25 people died. Several cases of the new coronavirus were also confirmed in other countries - three in Thailand, two in Vietnam, two in Japan, one each in South Korea, Singapore and the United States, TASS reported.
MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn., Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Summit Companies ("Summit"), a premier fire and life safety company, announced the recent completion of three strategic acquisitions by the company's subsidiaries. With these acquisitions, Summit continues to build a national footprint. The January 2020 add-on acquisition of Farmington Fire Equipment establishes a presence for Summit in New Mexico and Colorado. The December 2019 add-on acquisitions of Bay Line Fire Protection (Saginaw, Michigan) and Byrd's Fire Protection (Salt Lake City, Utah) complement existing branch locations acquired earlier by Summit in those states.

Since CI Capital's investment in September 2017, Summit has pursued an aggressive expansion strategy to build a premier, national fire and life safety business. Summit has completed 33 add-on acquisitions during that time, both establishing new territories and improving density and operational efficiency in existing territories. Through its subsidiaries, Summit now operates branches in 14 states  Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin  and provides its services throughout the rest of the country through a growing national accounts division.

Coinciding with this continued geographic expansion, Summit has launched a new website  www.summitcompanies.com  with a refreshed branding strategy to reflect the current national organization and the breadth of its fire and life safety services. The company's new website better serves as a portal for prospective and existing customers to access the many services provided by Summit.

"We are very proud to welcome the teams from Bay Line Fire Protection, Byrd's Fire Protection, and Farmington Fire Equipment to Summit. Each of these businesses is comprised of well-respected experts in their territories who share Summit's commitment to providing excellent customer service," said Jeff Evrard, CEO of Summit Companies. "With these acquisitions and our upgraded online presence, Summit furthers its goal of providing more complete service offerings and ease of access to local and national customers."

ABOUT SUMMIT COMPANIES

Summit Companies is a premier fire and life safety company with a growing national presence. Since 1999, Summit has been a leader in the fire and life safety space with experience and capabilities that create a one-stop-shop solution for fire detection and fire suppression on a local and national scale. Summit's subsidiaries meet all of a customer's requirements for fire protection, fire security, consulting and engineering services. Summit is owned by management and CI Capital Partners. Learn more at: https://www.SummitCompanies.com.

ABOUT CI CAPITAL PARTNERS

CI Capital Partners LLC is a leading North American private equity investment firm that has invested in middle-market companies since 1993. CI Capital forms partnerships with experienced management teams and entrepreneurs to build substantial businesses through add-on acquisitions, organic growth, and operational improvements. Since inception, CI Capital and its portfolio companies have made over 350 acquisitions representing approximately $10 billion in enterprise value. For more information on CI Capital Partners, please visit www.cicapllc.com.

Media Contact:

Daniel Yunger

KEKST&Co.

212.521.4800

SOURCE Summit Companies

Related Links

https://summitcompanies.com


Trey Edward Shults confides he was a "bit depressed" when he began penning the first draft of Waves. "I felt a bit misunderstood and had things going on with my life, and I just wanted to put, as crazy as it sounds, everything where I'm at as a human being into something," elaborates the 31-year-old American, best known as the director and writer of the drama Krisha and the psychological horror It Comes At Night.

"Putting it all out there, there's no way I could be misunderstood, I guess."

The result of this cathartic process is a semi-autobiographical story of one family pushed to the brink of destruction.

Through love, connection, communication and atonement, they find rebirth and renewal.

It's an African-American family at the centre of the emotive drama, which Texas-born Shults explains came about because of star Kelvin Harrison Jnr.

After working together on 2017's It Comes At Night, the pair had grown closer and closer and were desperate to do another project together.

So, when the filmmaker told the Louisiana-born actor about Waves, and the broad strokes of the story, the 25-year-old said he wanted to play the part of Tyler - a budding high-school wrestling star with a bright future ahead of him.

The duo ended up collaborating on the script together for months, talking a lot about their own lives as 17-year-olds.

"It was really about finding the commonality in our experiences," reflects Shults.

"That's why it starts at such a personal, autobiographical level, but then, at the end of the day, I'm a white dude and this is a black family, and that's purely because of Kelvin, and we wanted to do this thing together.

"But we felt if we were going to do that, collaboration was everything, because it had to feel real and it had to feel nuanced."

"Trey asked me a lot of questions on the romantic relationships, my relationship with my father, with my sister, and we got to talk a lot about race and coming from the South," echoes Harrison Jnr.

"I had some insights as to what Louisiana was like and just what the black experience was like."

Waves is Shults' third feature and he has assembled a stellar cast; as well as Harrison Jnr, there's Sterling K Brown, Taylor Russell, Lucas Hedges, Alexa Demie, and Renee Elise Goldsberry.

Set against the vibrant landscape of south Florida, it has a unique structure, as it traces the two different trajectories of Tyler and his sister Emily, as they search for meaning and identity in the wake of trauma.

"I thought it was so fascinating, just the way that the story is split; you don't really see that in cinema," notes Vancouver-born Russell (25), who takes on the role of Emily.

"Very few films do it in this way and it all has a purpose. So I was really enticed and excited by that challenge.

"It's a big thing to switch the movie over like that, it needs to be done in such a fine-tuned way. So, I loved that."

Interestingly, Shults not only uses the camera to suddenly completely change the perspective of the story, but also to create a sense of motion as certain moments play out on screen.

"The movie is designed as an immersive, subjective experience, living through these character's eyes... especially the brother and the sister," suggests the director.

"I just wanted to be honest with them. And to me, sometimes when you're that age, driving with the person you love, that can be the most freeing, beautiful thing in the world.

"To me, the closest way to get a camera to feel that way is to spin it in 360s with them."

We see how Brown's character - stern and uncompromising patriarch Ronald - is pushing son Tyler to excel in wrestling, pressing him to lift weights for long hours in the family's sprawling suburban home.

In one particularly powerful scene, he says the line, 'We are not afforded the luxury of being average'. This stands out as a meaningful conversation and was something that resonated with 43-year-old Brown, star of US TV drama This Is Us.

"It is a way with which I was raised, it is something that I believe to be true presently - that there's not as much latitude for failure. Or that your failures have different consequences than your counterparts' failures do."

The Missouri-born actor adds he thinks one of the 'failings' of the character in the first half of the film is that "he doesn't really allow space for his son to speak back to him".

"There's not a dialogue that transpires between these two people, it's like, 'This is how you're going to do things in my house'," he says.

"And I recognise the need to have rules for parents to have their children abide by, but it's nice when the children feel as if they have a say in the rules being created for their benefit.

"So, it doesn't dismiss the truthfulness of the statement, but I just think there needs to be the space for him to respond as if his opinion is as valuable as anybody else in the house."

The part of Tyler and Emily's mother, Catherine, is portrayed by Goldsberry (49), probably best known for her role in musical phenomenon Hamilton on Broadway.

Addressing the exploration of parental love, the California-born star says: "What we learn in this movie and what we see in terms of what every family needs to be - especially African-American families - is, yes, that pressure needs to be there, but what's so important to go with that message is, 'We will be here for you, no matter what happens'.

"What parents do in general is we balance each other out. So Ronald tends to really hit hard with one message with this child, and seems a little softer with this child, and I think Catherine tends to be softer with this child, and harder with this child.

"All of those complicated dynamics are really reflective of what we do in families."
Washington

Democrats argued that President Donald Trump sought a phony investigation of a political rival and pursued a discredited conspiracy theory about Ukraine, while restless senators played with a new toy Thursday during Trump's impeachment trial. Highlights of Thursday's session:

'Political' investigation

Pressing their case for a second day, Democrats said there was no evidence that former Vice President Joe Biden did anything improper in dealings with Ukraine. Rebutting a central Trump claim, Democrats said the president sought a political investigation of Biden by Ukraine to sway the 2020 election in his favor.

"There was no basis for the investigation the president was pursuing and pushing. None. He was doing it only for his own political benefit," said Rep. Sylvia Garcia of Texas, a Democratic prosecutor.

Similarly, Democrats said Trump and his allies, including his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, pushed a bogus, Kremlin-pushed conspiracy theory that Ukraine, not Russia, meddled in the 2016 U.S. election.

Putin gets religion?

Democratic senators laughed as Schiff joked that Trump had "made a religious man out of Vladimir Putin," a reference to a comment by Putin last November: "Thank God," he told an economic forum in Moscow, "no one is accusing us of interfering in the U.S. elections anymore; now they're accusing Ukraine."

The discredited theory that blames Ukraine for interfering in the 2016 elections is no laughing matter, Schiff said, calling it central to the impeachment charges. Trump is accused of seeking the Ukraine investigation  and a probe of Joe Biden and his son, Hunter  for his own political benefit while holding back congressionally approved military aid as leverage.

Fidget spinners to the rescue

As senators sat through endless hours of arguments on impeachment, they found a new outlet to focus their attention: fidget spinners.

Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., handed out the toys to his colleagues before Thursday's trial proceedings began. A fidget spinner is a small toy designed to be spun between the fingers, relieving stress or boredom.

Burr was seen playing with a blue spinner while listening to arguments by Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., an impeachment manager. Other senators, including Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and Pat Toomey, R-Pa., were also seen with spinners on their desks.

Speaking up outside Senate

While senators are pledged to silence during the trial proceedings  and deprived of their phones and other electronics  they are speaking out during breaks in the action.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a top Trump defender, challenged the Democratic argument about the Bidens' dealings in Ukraine. The White House and some congressional Republicans have raised questions about Hunter Biden's lucrative job on the board of a Ukrainian natural gas company, and Joe Biden's successful efforts to force the firing of a corrupt Ukrainian prosecutor. There's been no evidence of wrongdoing by either Biden.

"I know a lot about the Trump family and their dealings in Russia," Graham said. "I don't know anything about the Biden connection. You're going to hear more about that."

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, meanwhile, rebutted Republican senators who lamented they heard nothing new from House prosecutors. Republicans voted nine times this week to block Democratic amendments for new witnesses and documents.

"If they want new stuff, there is plenty of it," Schumer said at a news conference before Thursday's session. "As the (Democratic) managers made clear, a lot of the documents are sitting there, all compiled, all ready to go, with simply a vote of four Republicans to subpoena them."

What's ahead

Democrats are expected to wrap up their arguments Friday, with Trump's legal team set to make its case for up to three days beginning Saturday. Jay Sekulow, a lawyer for Trump, deflected rumors that the defense may wrap up in a single day.

"We're going to use a sufficient amount of time to defend our case and point out the inconsistencies of their case. We're not going to run out the clock," he said. "I am confident that whether it is (completed) Saturday or Monday or Tuesday that the case will be made defending the president. I have no doubt."
NEWTOWN BOROUGH >> The Newtown Borough Council welcomes the new year with three new members of council and a new borough mayor. District Court Judge Mick Petrucci was on hand on January 3 to administer the oath of office to the towns new mayor, Republican John Burke, who replaces longtime mayor Charles Corky Swartz who decided not to run for...
Official statistics show the current population of Coin to be 22,147 but, using the amount of rubbish collected in the municipality as a guide, the council is convinced the true figure is between 27,000 and 28,000 and is starting a campaign to encourage permanent residents who are not on the 'padron', or population register, to go to the town hall and sign up.

The mayor, Francisco Santos, says the council is missing out on State and regional funding, because this is based on the number of registered inhabitants. "It's money we are not receiving and cannot use to improve infrastructure, services and other projects which benefit the people who live here," he says.

The local authority believes a considerable number of British residents are not yet on the 'padron' and has arranged a meeting with the British consulate next month to ask for their collaboration and support for the campaign. It is believed between 1,500 and 2,000 British people who live in the town or the nearby countryside have yet to register. A similar campaign in Marbella added a further 10,000 names.

In November, the provincial government of Malaga began its own campaign to encourage British residents to register at their local town halls, in response to Britain's withdrawal from the European Union. According to official figures, there are 50,000 British people living in Malaga province.
NEW YORK - "Do the Right Thing" actress Rosie Perez testified Friday that fellow screen star Annabella Sciorra told her in the mid-1990s that Harvey Weinstein had raped her but that she couldn't go to the police because he'd destroy me.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/1/2020 (718 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Donna Rotunno, attorney for Harvey Weinstein, arrives at court for his rape and sexual assault trial in New York, Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

NEW YORK - "Do the Right Thing" actress Rosie Perez testified Friday that fellow screen star Annabella Sciorra told her in the mid-1990s that Harvey Weinstein had raped her but that she couldn't go to the police because he'd destroy me.

Taking the stand at the former Hollywood mogul's rape trial, Perez said her friend Sciorra had told at some point in 1993, her voice shaking on the phone, that something had happened to her: I think it was rape."

Perez said she asked if Sciorra knew who had attacked her, but Sciorra wouldn't say at the time. But months later, on another phone call from London, she said Weinstein was harassing her and she was scared, Perez said.

I said, Hes the one that raped you, and they both began crying, Perez testified.

Please go to the police, Perez said she told her friend. She said Sciorra responded: I cant  hed destroy me."

Attorney Gloria Allred arrives for the Harvey Weinstein rape trial, in New York, Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

On Thursday, Sciorra told jurors that the movie producer pushed his way into her New York apartment, pinned her on a bed and forced himself on her in 1993 or 1994. She said Perez was one of a few people she told about the encounter before coming forward publicly in 2017.

Weinstein denies ever having nonconsensual sex. His lawyers said Perez shouldnt be allowed to testify, but Judge James Burke decided to allow it.

Defence lawyer Damon Cheronis pressed Perez on why she didnt go to police, or to Sciorras home, when the actress first told her about the alleged assault.

Files are delivered to the Harvey Weinstein rape and sexual assault trial in New York, Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Because I was being respectful, Perez said.

Weinstein, the studio boss whose downfall energized the #MeToo movement, is charged with forcibly performing oral sex on former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in his New York apartment in 2006 and raping an aspiring actress in a New York hotel room in 2013. Sciorra is among four additional accusers who are expected to testify against him as part of an effort by prosecutors to show that Weinstein made a habit of preying on women.

The 67-year-old producer of such Oscar-winning movies as Chicago and The King's Speech could get life in prison if convicted.

Actress Rosie Perez arrives for Harvey Weinstein's rape trial, Friday, Jan. 24, 2020 in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Sciorra, 59, is best known for her work on The Sopranos. Perez, 55, was in 1989's Do the Right Thing and 1993s Fearless," which brought her an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.

Sciorra told the jury that she spiraled into cutting herself and drinking heavily after the alleged rape. On Friday, friend and fashion model Kara Young testified that a fidgety Sciorra seemed a mess, with long cuts on her legs, when the two watched the Academy Awards together in 1994.

Weinstein's lawyers seized on Sciorra's actions after the alleged assault, asking such questions as why Sciorra made the 1997 Weinstein-produced film Cop Land" if he had raped her a few years earlier. Sciorra said she wasnt aware of Weinsteins involvement until she had agreed to appear in the movie.

Harvey Weinstein leaves court at the end of the day for his trial on charges of rape and sexual assault, Friday, Jan. 24, 2020 in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

The defence has also questioned why Weinstein's accusers stayed in friendly contact for years with a man they say had assaulted them. Prosecutors sought to give jurors some answers Friday from a forensic psychiatrist who testified about the same topic at the Pennsylvania trial that led to Bill Cosbys 2018 conviction on charges of sexually assaulting a woman.

Dr. Barbara Ziv told Weinstein's jury of seven men and five women that most sex-assault victims continue to have contact with their attackers, who often threaten retaliation if the victims tell anyone what happened.

Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Victims are hoping that this is just an aberration, she said, and they tell themselves: "'I can put it in a box and forget about it. I dont want it to get worse.  I can handle this physical trauma, but God forbid this ruins the rest of my life.'

Victims can end up blaming themselves without knowing that their behaviour is entirely expected, said Ziv, who has described herself as an expert on sexual assault victim behaviour" who has evaluated more than 1,000 such people.

She did not, however, evaluate any of Weinstein's accusers, and his lawyers seized on that point.

The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they have been victims of sexual assault, unless they come forward publicly, as Sciorra and others have done.

___

Follow Tom Hays at twitter.com/aptomhays and Michael Sisak at twitter.com/mikesisak
Australia is both a continent and a country. It is located to the south of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, in the southeast part of the Indian Ocean. New Zealand lies to its east, and most of the Indian Ocean lies to its west. Antarctica can be found to Australias south. The Australian continent consists of the mainland, as well as the island of Tasmania, which lies to the south of mainland, across the Bass Strait. It also includes many smaller islands, such as Kangaroo Island, Christmas Island, and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. Australia is the worlds smallest continent, though it is also the sixth-largest country in the world. The total land area of Australia is 7,682,300 sq. km.

What Makes Australia A Continent?

7 continents of the world.

Defining a continent can be tricky. In fact, there is even disagreement on how many continents there are in the world. For example, many people in Russia, the rest of Eastern Europe, and Japan consider Europe and Asia to be one continent, known as Eurasia. In some countries, North and South America are considered one continent, while Europe and Asia are divided. There are even some who believe that Europe, Asia, and Africa should be considered one united continent because they are all joined together by land. The most prevailing view, however, is that there are seven continents in the world, and one of them is Australia.

There is also a widely accepted view of what a continent is. This view defines a continent as a large, continuous, distinct landmass, preferably separated by a vast expanse of water. This definition is problematic because many of todays continents are not separated by vast expanses of water. In fact, all the continents are connected by land to at least one other continent, with one exception: Australia. Australia is surrounded by vast expanses of water on all sides. Thus, one could argue that it meets the prevailing definition of a continent better than most other continents.

What Makes Australia A Country?

In addition to being a continent, Australia is also a country, which is officially known as the Commonwealth of Australia. The country was officially created in 1901, when the British Parliament allowed the six separate British colonies on the continent to unite into one dominion. From then on, Australia governed its own domestic affairs, though its foreign policy was still determined by the British government, as Australia was a dominion of the British Empire. In 1931, however, the British government approved what was known as the Statute of Westminster, which gave Australia and the other dominions of the British Empire control over foreign policy, though this law was not formally adopted by Australia until 1942. Thus, Australia became a fully sovereign country.

Administrative Divisions

States and territories of Australia.

Todays Commonwealth of Australia is a constitutional monarchy, which means that the British monarch is the head of state, but serves only a ceremonial function, whereas the real power lies in the hands of the Australian people and their elected representatives. Australia is structured as a federation, similar to how the United States is structured. The Australian federation consists of six entities known as states, and ten other entities known as territories. The states are New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. These states have certain powers delegated to them under the Australian constitution, while other powers are the exclusive domain of the countrys federal government, based in the Australian capital, Canberra.

In contrast, the territories either have varying degrees of autonomy, or are under the direct control of the federal government. The two mainland territories, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), where Canberra is located, and the Northern Territory have been given limited self-governing powers by the federal government. The website of the Australian federal government notes that these two territories are treated very much as if they were states because of their sizeable populations. Another territory, Norfolk Island, used to have self-governing powers, but these were largely taken away by the federal government in 2015. Australias eight other territories are under the direct control of the federal government.

Federal Government

Inside House of Representatives, the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia in Canberra, Australia.

The federal government of Australia has an executive branch led by a Prime Minister, who heads a cabinet. The legislative branch of Australias government is known as the parliament. It is a bicameral legislature, which means that it has two legislative organs or houses. The lower house is known as the House of Representatives. The upper house is known as the Senate. Like the U.S. House of Representatives, the Australian counterpart is structured on a representation by population model, which means that the more populous areas of the country have more representatives than less populated areas. The Australian senate also resembles the US Senate. Each Australian state elects 12 senators, while the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Region elect two each. In addition, the Australian judicial branch operates very much like the federal judiciary in the US. The High Court of Australia is the equivalent of the US Supreme Court. The state governments of Australia largely parallel the structure of the federal government. Thus, they have their own executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

Economy

Australian dollars.

As a sovereign state, Australia not only has its own government, but its own economy as well. This includes its own currency, the Australian dollar. The economy of Australia, valued at about 1.323 trillion U.S. dollars, is the 13th largest in the world, and one of the wealthiest in the Asia-Pacific region. Australias economy has also been rated the 3rd freest economy in the world, according to the 2021 Index of Economic Freedom. Moreover, Australia has free trade agreements with 15 different countries, including the U.S., China, Japan, South Korea, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

National Identity

Aboriginal Australians man dancing traditional dance during Australia Day celebrations.In 2016 Australian CensusEditorial credit: ChameleonsEye / Shutterstock.com

What else makes Australia a country? Its people, of course. More than 25 million people call Australia home. Often nicknamed, The Land Down Under, because of its location in the worlds southern hemisphere, Australia has a national identity all its own. This identity is often popularized in movies and TV, but there is a lot more to it than what appears on the big or small screen. Australians are often known for having egalitarian views, meaning that they are very supportive of concepts like universal healthcare and publicly-funded education. Australians are also very diverse, with a variety of different population groups ranging from the indigenous Aborigine groups that lived in the country thousands of years before any Europeans arrived, to growing numbers of Asians and Africans. Thus, Australia is a lot more than kangaroos, boomerangs, and Fosters beer.
loading.........

Malibu, CA, Jan 24, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Join Ellis Martin for a conversation with Gerald Panneton, the Executive Chairman of TerraX Minerals ( CVE:TXR ) ( OTCMKTS:TRXXF ) TerraX owns a 100% interest in the Yellowknife City Gold Project, encompassing 783 sq km of contiguous land within 12 kilometers of the city of Yellowknife.The Project is located in the prolific Yellowknife greenstone belt, covering 70 kilometers of strike length along the main mineralized break in proximity to the former high-grade Con and Giant gold mines which have produced over 14 million ounces of gold. The Yellowknife City Gold Project is close to vital infrastructure, including all-season roads, air transportation, service providers, hydro-electric power and skilled tradespeople. Mr. Panneton was the founder of Detour Gold which was recently acquired by Kirkland Lake for $4.9 billion Canadian dollars. With a history of mind building successfully and retiring three times, we ask why again, and why now in the Northwest Territories of Canada. This segment was recorded in the Vancouver, Canada studios of The Ellis Martin Report.To view the interview, please visit:About Gold Terra Resource Corp.

Gold Terra Resource Corp. (CVE:YGT) (OTCMKTS:YGTFF) owns a 100% interest in the Yellowknife City Gold ("YCG") Project, encompassing 790 sq km of contiguous land within 12 kilometers of the city of Yellowknife. The Project is located in the prolific Yellowknife greenstone belt, covering 70 kilometers of strike length along the main mineralized break in proximity to the former high-grade Con and Giant gold mines which have produced over 14 million ounces of gold. The YCG Project is close to vital infrastructure, including all-season roads, air transportation, service providers, hydro-electric power and skilled tradespeople. On November 4, 2019, Gold Terra announced an Inferred mineral resource of 735,000 ounces of gold for the YCG Project, consisting of a pit constrained Inferred mineral resource of 11.6 million tonnes averaging 1.4 g/t for 523,000 ounces of contained gold and an underground Inferred mineral resource of 1.2 million tonnes averaging 5.7 g/t for 212,000 ounces of contained gold.

About The Ellis Martin Report

The Ellis Martin Report (TEMR) is an internet based radio program showcasing potentially undervalued companies to an audience of potential retail investors and fund managers that comprise our listening audience. TEMR is broadcasted on the VoiceAmerica Business Channel and The Opportunity Radio Network. CEO and company interviews are paid for by those represented on the program.
Winnipeg Free Press columnist Niigaan Sinclair is being honoured by the Manitoba Museum as a local leader who will shape the future of the province.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/1/2020 (719 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Winnipeg Free Press columnist Niigaan Sinclair is being honoured by the Manitoba Museum as a local leader who will shape the future of the province.

Sinclair, who joined the newspaper in 2018, is one of five Manitobans selected by the museum's board of governors to be celebrated at the institution's annual Tribute Gala in April, an event that will coincide with the museum's 50th anniversary.

"This year, as we celebrate our last 50 years and consider our future, the museum asked past Tribute honourees to identify leaders of tomorrow," wrote James Cohen, the board's chairman. "These people have the vision and drive to propel Manitoba's future for the next 10, 20, or even 50 years."

In his tenure as a columnist, Sinclair  an accomplished academic and an Anishinaabe who was born and raised on Treaty 1 territory  has written extensively on matters such as inequity, Indigenous rights and politics, both local and national. In 2019, he was awarded the National Newspaper Award as the country's top columnist, a prestigious honour that recognized his voice and incisive writing style.

Free Press editor Paul Samyn said the Manitoba Museum tribute recognizes Sinclair's impact on the community as a journalist and educator.

"Niigaan is a wonderful asset to the Free Press because he is able to leverage the power of our platform to make this province better by way of his ideas and insights," Samyn said. "We are delighted that Niigaan's contributions today are being recognized as ones that will build a better tomorrow for all of us."

Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

The four other honourees have equally impressive resumes, and have made strong impacts on the city.

Abdikheir Ahmed, director of Immigration Partnership Winnipeg, has played a key role in the lives of thousands of newcomers, advocating for their rights and working to ensure they thrive in the city. He previously served as the executive director of the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba and is a recipient of the Order of the Buffalo Hunt, one of the province's highest civilian honours.

Jamie Isaac, a local curator and artist, has been a key cog in the province's arts scene, curating or co-curating several shows at the Winnipeg Art Gallery featuring Indigenous artists. A member of Sagkeeng First Nation, she was a member of the Canada Council's Indigenous delegation at several international events. Her focus is on decolonization and Indigenization.

Local jewellery designer Hilary Druxman has used her handiwork to raise more than $500,000 for charity through her Good Works initiative. In over 25 years of design, her work has gained a following around the world.

Hannah Taylor, who was the recipient of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal for her work with the Ladybug Foundation, an organization dedicated to fighting poverty, will also be honoured. Taylor, a law student at the University of Manitoba, founded the organization when she was seven, raising millions of dollars for shelters, food banks and other causes across the country.

Past honourees include the Free Press, Babs and Gail Asper, the Chipman family and former premier Gary Doer.
UPPER THUMB  Those doing business at the Tuscola County Courthouse will soon no longer have to leave their cellphones or other electronic devices in their vehicles.

Earlier this month the Michigan Supreme Court adopted amendments to court rules that not only explicitly allow the public to bring cell phones into courthouses and courtrooms, but other handheld electronic devices as well.

The previous rulings on electronic devices in courthouses varied widely from county to country and court to court.

Six years ago, Tuscola County implemented a ban of all electronics in the courthouse and put up signs stating that.

Although the Supreme Courts ruling doesnt start until May 1, Tuscola County will begin allowing electronic devices Monday, Feb. 3.

The comments we received and testimony we heard that cell phone access was essential to self-represented litigants was compelling, said Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormick about the ruling. We appreciate the willingness of local courts to implement this reform that will help make sure the doors to our courts are open to all.

Tuscola implemented the ban on electronic devices in 2013 on the requests of those who were judges at that time. Since then, all three courts have new judges, but that does not mean a mindset change.

Tuscolas judges share concerns ringing phones will interrupt court proceedings even though the new regulations stipulate phones are to be silenced while in court and cannot be used to make or receive calls when court is in session.

The consensus was that because cellphones are so much a part of everyday life, there will be someone who will forget to silence their phone, and the security and integrity of the court could be compromised.

Other restrictions in the new ruling include that the public: cannot communicate with any courtroom participant or photograph or record any juror or potential jurors, cannot record court proceedings without the judges permission, and cannot record or photograph people in the courthouse without their consent.

The new rules do not affect the ability of the media to record court proceedings  with permission of the officiating judge.

Also, inside the courtroom, a judge has the authority to terminate activity they deem is disruptive or distracting to court proceeding, or contrary to the administration of justice. Judges also have the authority to sanction violators.

The new ruling will allow the public to use a cellphone or other electronic device to: retrieve or store information, access the internet and send/receive text messages as long as the user is silent; and reproduce court documents as long as the process leaves no marks and does not unreasonably interfere with operation of the clerks office.
live bse live

nse live Volume Todays L/H More 

Real estate firm Godrej Properties Ltd (GPL) has launched a luxury residential project at the iconic RK Studios in south Mumbais tony Chembur neighbourhood. The company is launching Collectors Edition three and four-bedroom residences, it said in a statement.

The architecture of these luxury homes is inspired by Bombay Art Deco. The development will offer state-of-the-art amenities, plush specifications and strong security attributes.

We will seek to ensure we celebrate the remarkable legacy of this site with a landmark development that delivers an outstanding lifestyle for its residents, said Pirojsha Godrej, Executive Chairman, Godrej Properties.

Founded in 1948, the eponymous studio was the headquarters of cinema legend Raj Kapoors film production, RK Films, with many iconic movies shot on its premises.

GPL bought the 2.2-acre plot, which offers about 3.5 lakh sq ft of saleable area, in 2019. The company did not disclose the deal value.

Located on the main Sion-Trombay Road with a well-developed social and civic infrastructure, Godrej RKS offers connectivity to all parts of Mumbai through a network of key roads.

As per an analysis by ICICI Securities, Godrej Properties acquired the land parcel for an estimated cost of Rs 2 billion and GPL is offering 146 units across three wings.

Our channel checks indicate base ticket sizes ranging from Rs 60-110 million ($1-1.5mn), which implies a potential sale value of over Rs 10 billion for this project, the analysis said.

While H1 FY20 gross sales bookings of Rs 23.4 billion were up 44% YoY, a strong response to the RK Studios launch may enable GPL to surpass its FY19 gross sales bookings of Rs 53.2 billion. We retain our sell rating, with a revised target price of Rs 772 per share (earlier Rs761), as we factor in higher realisations from the RK Studios project, it added.

The analysis has said that RK Studios launch may provide sales momentum to the Mumbai market.

The Maharashtra RERA website says the project will have 146 luxury residential units -- 25 2BHKs, 93 3BHKs and 28 4BHKs. The possession date is December 31, 2023.

GPL would initially offer 99 units across three and four-BHKs having a base ticket size of Rs 60-110 million for carpet areas ranging from 1,315-2,258sft which implies carpet area pricing of Rs43,000-48,000/psf or Rs28,000-30,000/psf on saleable area basis assuming an efficiency ratio of 36%, the analysis said.

The analysis noted that the project could potentially generate over Rs10 billion in revenue for GPL over the next three-four years.

Pricing is at a 15-20% premium to other projects in the vicinity and ticket sizes are at par with luxury projects in Lower Parel and Worli in Central Mumbai.

A strong response to the project would indicate GPLs brand strength and capability to attract demand in an overall sluggish Mumbai luxury housing market, ICICI Securities said.

Assuming a construction cost of Rs 6,000 psf including FSI/approval costs, the project will have an estimated total cost of Rs 4.1 billion (including Rs 2 billion land cost) and GPL may achieve an EBITDA margin of over 60% in this project considering the revenue potential of over Rs 10 billion, it said.
Fourteen people in UK tested for coronavirus

More than a dozen people in the UK have now been tested for the coronavirus after an outbreak of the deadly disease in China.

Fourteen people were tested for the virus, with five confirmed negative and nine still awaiting results, Public Health England (PHE) said last night.

It came as Health Secretary Matt Hancock said there is an "increased likelihood" of cases occurring.

Some 25 people have died of the virus and there has been more than 800 cases reported in the past three weeks, including several outside of China.

US refuse extradition request for Harry Dunn suspect

An extradition request for the woman charged with causing the death of British teenager Harry Dunn has been turned down by the US.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo denied the request for Anne Sacoolas to be returned to the UK, the 19-year-old crash victim's family spokesman said.

The teenager was killed when his motorbike crashed into a car outside a US military base in Northamptonshire on August 27 last year.

Mrs Sacoolas, 42, was charged with causing his death by dangerous driving by the Crown Prosecution Service in December.

EU leaders set to sign-off on withdrawal deal

Boris Johnsons Brexit deal will today be signed off by EU leaders as the UKs divorce from Brussels is finalised before next weeks deadline.

The European Commission and European Council presidents are due to sign the Withdrawal Agreement later after it was given royal assent by the Queen.

It will still need to be approved by the European Parliament before Brexit day on January 31, with a vote expected two days before.

Impeachment prosecutors: No president has abused power like Trump

No US president has abused power the way Donald Trump did towards Ukraine, impeachment trial prosecutors have said.

In the second day of arguments at Mr Trump's trial in the Senate, Democrats focused on the first article of impeachment, abuse of power.

Mr Trump is accused of seeking a political investigation into 2020-presidential candidate Joe Biden from Ukraine for his own gain to sway the election.

Jerrold Nadler, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said the nation's founders would be shocked by the presidents actions.

New Love Island arrivals sweep Jess and Siannise off on dates

Two new boys last night arrived in the Love Island villa and immediately swept Jess Gale and Siannise Fudge off on dates.

The public voted for Luke Mabbott and Luke Trotman to take them out after they were introduced to their fellow islanders.

Luke T will be going on his date with Siannise, while Luke M is heading out with Jess.

Before the Lukes arrived, Shaughna Phillips had told Siannise that "it's operation get you a new man!"

On this day...

1848: James Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's sawmill in California to spark the great Gold Rush.

1916: Conscription was introduced in Britain.

1935: Canned beer went on sale for the first time, made by Krueger brewery of Richmond, Virginia.

1976: Margaret Thatcher was dubbed The Iron Lady in the Soviet newspaper Red Star, after a speech about the Communist threat.

1986: Staff of The Sun and News of the World newspapers were told they were moving to London's Docklands - the start of a press exodus from Fleet Street.
Two paintings by noted artist Sir Alfred Munnings that hung in Marylou Whitneys Kentucky home are going up for sale at Sothebys in New York City  one of which the auction house expects to fetch $3.5 million.

Sothebys Chairman Ben Doller called Munnings Mahmoud Being Saddled for the Derby, from 1936, a 10 out of 10.

Its a fantastic painting, Doller said. Munnings was one of the great painters of the 20th century. The scale is fantastic. He captures the color of the horse  the coat of the horse. He has the trainer saddling the horse, he has the owner with the top hat, the jockey. Its a tour de force.

The large painting, 39-by-51 inches, was commissioned by Mahmouds owner, Aga Khan III. Whitneys husband, Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, bought the horse and the painting in 1940. It goes up for sale next Friday, Jan. 31, as the centerpiece of the 19th Century European Art auction. (Even though the painting was made in the 20th century, Doller explained that it is in the style of 19th-century sporting art of which Munnings is regarded as one of last masters.)

The second Whitney painting, a smaller Munnings oil on canvas, My Horse Anarchist, is currently gathering bidders on the Sothebys website. The depiction of Munnings own horse with a stable boy holding its reins, is expected the sell for between $200,000 to $300,000. On Friday afternoon, the top bid was $140,000.

When reached on Friday, Whitneys husband John Hendrickson said he is selling the paintings as well as some of her jewelry at Sothebys to raise funds to pay off estate taxes. He said he will also sell Whitneys Thomas Hart Benton painting through Sothebys as well.

I hate to part with it, but it was a business decision, Hendrickson said.

The Sothebys items are a fraction of what Hendrickson will be auctioning off. He said 99.9 percent of Whitney's belongings that will go up for sale will be sold this summer in Saratoga Springs in order to raise funds for a permanent clinic on the Saratoga Race Courses backstretch. Items to be sold then include jewelry and one of her cars, a Jaguar.

"I think Marylou would be very happy that her belongings are going to something greater than herself, said Hendrickson who took part in Whitneys ongoing outreach to backstretch workers, which was among the philanthropist's favorite Saratoga Springs charities.

Doller agrees that Whitney would be pleased.

She was generous to a fault, Doller said. John is doing everything she would have wanted. Turn her things into money so the money can be useful. I absolutely have no doubt he is honoring everything.

Mahmoud Being Saddled for the Derby is certainly valuable. In 2000, Doller said he sold a smaller 20-by-30 inch version of the painting that Munnings did on panel for Mahmouds trainer Frank Butters. That sold for $3.8 million.

While sporting art has lost some of its value after the financial crisis of 2007, Doller said this painting is also significant because Mahmoud is an ancestor to many great thoroughbred champions including Northern Dancer.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Its subject is an important horse and its Marylous, Doller said. Its a great painting with a great provenance.

He also said the painting was well-cared for, as is everything in the Whitney collection.

When asked why people give up items this precious, Doller said Its a real obligation to own a painting like this.

By selling these items to pay taxes, Hendrickson said he will be able to keep all of Whitneys properties.

Im not planning on making any changes, Hendrickson said. I liked the lifestyle we had together.

But he added, Its lonely without her.
British actor Daniel Craig has confirmed that "No Time To Die" will be his last film as James Bond.

The actor made the revelation during an appearance on "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert".

Asked by host if he was done with Bond, Craig replied "Yes. It's done."



The 51-year-old star made his first appearance as Bond in 2006''s "Casino Royale", and went on to reprise his role in "Quantum of Solace (2008), "Skyfall" (2012), and "Spectre" (2015).

Craig also shared the reason for bringing "Fleabag" creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge on board to work on the "No Time to Die" script.

"I knew she was great from 'Fleabag'. But I watched 'Killing Eve', and I saw what she did with that, and I just thought it was just spectacular," he said.

"No Time To Die", directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, is scheduled to be released on April 8.

The movie also features Lea Seydoux reprising her "Spectre" role of psychologist Dr. Madeleine Swann; Jeffrey Wright as CIA operative Felix Letter; Rory Kinnear, who portrays Tanner and Naomie Harris, who plays Moneypenny. Ben Whishaw is back as Q and Ralph Fiennes is also returning as M.

Rami Malek plays the main antagonist in the film.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Outspoken retired army colonel has taken part in many inter-Korean talks but lacks experience in negotiations with US.

North Korea has named as its new foreign minister a former senior army officer with little experience in dealings with the United States, in a possible indication it will take a harder line with Washington in stalled nuclear negotiations.

The new post for Ri Son Gwon was disclosed Friday in a Korean Central News Agency dispatch that said he attended a reception for foreign diplomats in Pyongyang on Thursday.

South Korean and other outside media previously reported North Korea had recently informed foreign diplomats in Pyongyang of Ris job.

In his speech at the banquet, Comrade Ri Son Gwon said the Korean people have turned out in the general offensive to break through head-on the barriers to the advance of socialist construction by dint of self-reliance  and made public the foreign policy stand of the (North Korean) government, KCNA said.

Ri, an outspoken retired army colonel who recently headed a government body responsible for relations with South Korea, has taken part in numerous inter-Korean talks over the past 15 years. But he lacks experience in negotiations with the US.





In South Korea, he is most known for what was seen as rude remarks to South Korean businessmen visiting Pyongyang in September 2018.

While they were eating naengmyeon, Korean traditional cold noodles, Ri asked them: Are naengmyeon going down your throats? in apparent dissatisfaction with a lack of progress in efforts to promote inter-Korean economic projects. Many conservatives in South Korea strongly criticised him.

Former foreign ministers whereabouts unknown

Ri replaced Ri Yong Ho, a career diplomat with broad experiences in dealings with the US and South Korea who had taken part in nuclear negotiations with Washington since early 2018.

It was not immediately known what happened to Ri Yong Ho, whose name was last mentioned in KCNA last August.

Analyst Cheong Seong-Chang at South Koreas private Sejong Institute said Ri Son Gwons appointment signalled North Korea would further harden its stance on the US and bolster its push to cement its position as a nuclear state.

It was not immediately known what happened to former Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, whose name was last mentioned in KCNA last August [File: Jon Chol Jin/AP]

From now on, its difficult to expect meaningful progress in North Korea-U.S. diplomacy, Cheong said.

Nuclear talks between the US and North Korea have progressed little since the breakdown of the second summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Vietnam in February 2019.

Kim recently said North Korea would bolster its nuclear arsenal and unveil a new strategic weapon after the US failed to meet a year-end deadline set by him to make concessions.

A senior State Department official told reporters on Wednesday that Washington was aware of Ri Son Gwons reported appointment and hopes North Korea will understand the importance of resuming diplomacy.

Theres nothing to be gained by not talking. Its only to their benefit, so we encourage them to talk, the official said on condition of anonymity because he wasnt authorised to speak publicly to the matter.

It is slow, patient, steady diplomacy. Were going to stick with that plan.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk speaks during the unveiling of the new Tesla Model Y in California on March 14, 2019. Getty Images

Elon Musk hasn't become a household name by chance. The founder and CEO of SpaceX, CEO of Tesla, and co-founder of Neuralink (to name just a few of his ventures) is clearly unafraid of hard work, and he knows what it takes to go from innovative idea to undeniable success.

The most surprising ingredient? Failure.

For a serial entrepreneur and one of the globe's richest people, Musk demonstrates a healthy amount of humility. In an interview at an energy conference in Norway, he offers a piece of advice to anyone looking to start a business:

You should take the approach that you're wrong. Your goal is to be less wrong.

The benefit of being wrong

By "wrong," Musk isn't saying that you should assume your business idea is a bad one. Instead, he's highlighting the importance of a growth mindset in a characteristically succinct and memorable way.

You obviously believe in your idea if you're willing to put in the work needed to try and make it a reality, but Musk's words are a caution against letting that belief and optimism cloud your ability to think objectively and look for improvement.

As Musk points out, "When you first start a company, there's lots of optimism and things are great. Happiness, at first, is high. Then, you encounter all sorts of issues and happiness will steadily decline and you'll go through a whole world of hurt."

By adopting a growth mindset and assuming "you're wrong" from the start, you'll be able to spot impending issues earlier and minimize the inevitable pain and suffering Musk describes.

There are lots of strategies out there to encourage the adoption of a growth mindset, but these are the ones that Musk himself relies on.

1. Seize the opportunity to be better than the rest.

When Musk sought to land a miniature greenhouse on Mars as part of the Mars Oasis project, he went to Russia to shop for refurbished intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). When quoted a price of $8 million per rocket, he reasoned that it was possible to make more affordable rockets by starting his own company. As he points out, "If you're entering an existing marketplace against large, entrenched competitors, your product or service needs to be much better than theirs." The secret sauce of SpaceX? Making major rocket components reusable to lower the price.

2. Seek out criticism.

Musk takes the quest for criticism seriously because he thinks that few things are more important for a successful business. As he explains, "A well thought out critique of whatever you're doing is as valuable as gold. You should seek that from everyone you can but particularly your friends. Usually, your friends know what's wrong, but they don't want to tell you because they don't want to hurt you." Instead of relying on them to offer their advice, actively seek it out.

3. Surround yourself with the best.

In addition to his bachelor's degrees in economics and physics, Musk has additional experience in a wide variety of fields. Despite all this knowledge, he's still aware that he doesn't have all the answers, and he gets advice from the people around him regularly. Even if you don't agree with their input, Musk advises that "you at least want to listen very carefully to what they say."

To an outsider, it might appear that Musk has the Midas touch, but the technology entrepreneur has no such false notion. Instead, he recognizes that there are no guarantees, and he readily admits that "Tesla almost didn't succeed. It came very close to failure."
For the first time since the 1954, biologists found evidence that the federally protected eastern indigo snake is breeding on its own in Alabama.

A collection of government agencies and universities have been trying to reintroduce the indigo snake for years in the Conecuh National Forest in south Alabama, and a young, 27-inch snake captured last week appears to be the offspring of the reintroduced apex predator.

Were releasing these snakes that are all generally about two years old, with the hope, and the expectation that eventually the snakes will survive from year to year and breed in the wild, said Jim Godwin, a biologist with the Alabama Natural Heritage Program at Auburn University, who is leading the indigo restoration efforts in Alabama.

Its very exciting for us to find this young snake that confirms one measure of success that weve been after all along.

MORE: Snakes of Pennsylvania: 21 species, 3 of them venomous

The indigo snake reintroduction program is part of an attempt to restore Alabamas longleaf pine forest ecosystem, where the indigo snake serves as the top predator. It is not venomous, and literally eats copperheads and rattlesnakes for breakfast.

The eastern indigo snake is the longest snake native to North America, reaching lengths of up to nine feet, though more typically maxing out at around seven feet long.

While missing from Alabama since the 1950s, the indigo snake is still hanging on in Florida and south Georgia. Now, for the first time in seven decades, the eastern indigo is reproducing on its own in Alabama.

Over decades, the combination of habitat loss, collection for the pet trade and gassing in rattlesnake rodeos put the species on the brink of extinction. The indigo earned a listing as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

The snake was a part of Alabama, Godwin said. Not well known, but a part of Alabama and southern Alabama. And as the importance of the longleaf pine ecosystem has really come out in the last couple of decades, weve been missing pieces of that, restoring that ecosystem.

Longleaf pine forests, which once covered much of the Southeast, have been reduced to about 3 percent of their historic range. The remaining longleaf forests are mostly in isolated clusters like Conecuh National Forest.

Godwin said the efforts to reintroduce the snake are in their 14th year, with more than 160 snakes released into the wild since 2010. All snakes released are about two years old and carry unique tags so that researchers can identify the snakes if theyre recaptured.

The snake captured this month was estimated to be about seven to eight months old and did not carry a tag. Godwin said he did not want to provide additional details about the snakes location because there are still concerns about poaching.

Godwin said the snake was discovered by a research team from Auburn investigating gopher tortoise burrows in the National Forest. Indigo snakes are closely associated with gopher tortoise burrows in Alabama, especially in the winter. Godwin said the snakes will take shelter in the burrows on cold days, and roam about looking to reproduce on warm, sunny days during the winter.
In Jamaican Patwah, Yaad means home. When opening their first restaurant, Alexis Mercure and Orlando Roberts wanted the food to taste like home. So they named it Yaad Food Jamaican Restaurant, serving authentic Jamaican food in Springfield.

Now, the couple is expanding, opening a second location in Western Massachusetts.

Roberts immigrated to America from Jamaica when he was in middle school, taking a love for cooking influenced by his grandmother with him.

This is everyday cooking for us. You know, this is what we would eat on a daily basis, said Roberts. "From curry chicken to stewed chicken, to jerk chicken. All this stuff is authentic Jamaican.

The success of the restaurant has left many wanting more. People visit the Springfield restaurant from across the region, according to Mercure.

Over the years we've just gotten more and more busy, said Mercure. And it's awesome.

The new location will be the old Cabot Street Pub, 66 Cabot St. in Chicopee. Roberts is spending most days in Chicopee now preparing the building for opening day in February.

The second location will be more than a restaurant. Roberts said he and Mercure are applying for a liquor license to be able to serve alcohol for customers while they enjoy their meals.

A portion of the space will also serve as a small store.

Were going to cater to the neighborhood and also what the neighborhood requires, said Roberts. Were going with the basic everyday convenience store with a good amount of groceries.

The couple opened Yaad Food Jamaican Restaurant in Springfield five years ago when Roberts was just 21 years old and Mercure was 24. Half a decade later, Mercure initially had some worries about the expansion.

I was nervous, but then the post on Facebook, kind of just blew up and put me a little bit more at ease, said Mercure. Just seeing how much support we have. So now, Im excited.

Many have taken to Facebook to show their love for the food served. Some, in quite a humorous fashion.

I didnt appreciate the food being so incredible after a few bites I knew I was in trouble, said one review online. The owner came out and I told him how dare you prepare such a delicious meal now I need a nap.

The Springfield restaurant is located at 89 Main St., Indian Orchard and open Monday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 18: Actor Bradley Cooper attends the 2019 Arthur Miller Foundation Honors event at Kimpton Hotel Eventi on November 18, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage)

After both writing and directing the critically acclaimed remake of A Star Is Born, Bradley Cooper became one of the most respected creative talents in Hollywood.

Especially when this was coupled with his starring roles in the likes of The Hangover, American Hustle, and American Sniper. Thats exactly why Todd Phillips, who Cooper previously worked with on The Hangover franchise, sought the actor to be a producer on Joker.

Read More: Joaquin Phoenix thanks his 'favourite actor' Heath Ledger as he grabs Joker gong at the SAG Awards

It turns out that Cooper proved to be a key figure during post production on Joker, especially when it came to editing the film. Thats according to Jeff Groth, who actually edited Joker, and recently told Collider that Cooper provided some much needed insight to improve the quasi comic-book movie.

Joaquin Phoenix in Joker

We kept this one pretty close to us. We screened it more personally for people and filmmakers. Bradley Cooper definitely came in a couple of times. He was a producer on the movie, but he definitely watched the movie many times and sat with us. We could call him if we got stuck with something and be like, Hey, can you come over and take a look at things?

Read More: 'Joker': How copyright struggles and awkward clown shoes shaped Joaquin Phoenix's twisted look

He doesnt miss a thing (laughs). He would watch stuff and he would pick out even some of the smallest things and what are some of the things that he can be picked out for us to address. He was definitely a huge help. I think he got a lot more experience in editing than most people would realise.

Coopers input worked wonders, too, as Joker was recently nominated for 11 nominations at the Academy Awards. As a producer, Cooper could even make it to the stage, too, but only if Joker wins the Best Picture gong.
The European Union on Friday named an ambassador to post-Brexit Britain, to take up his duties on February 1, the United Kingdom's first day outside the bloc.

The nomination of Joao Vale de Almeida, previously Brussels' top envoy to the UN and to the US, came after top EU officials signed the UK's divorce papers.

Early in his long career with the European Commission, Vale de Almeida was on the team of spokespersons that fielded questions from journalists -- including one Boris Johnson, who was a Brussels-based correspondent three decades ago and is now British prime minister.

The EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced in a statement that the appointment of an ambassador was necessary because, from February 1, "the United Kingdom will be a third country".

As a consequence, the EU will maintain in the UK a "delegation" -- analogous to an embassy -- just as it does in other non-EU countries such as Turkey, the US or Australia.

Vale de Almeida, a 62-year-old Portuguese national, is "the first head of the future EU delegation to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland," Borrell's statement said.

Britain had been notified of the appointment, he said.

As such, he will be a key figure watching over implementation of the divorce deal and in contributing to negotiations that will decide future relations between Britain and the EU.

During his time as EU ambassador to the US between 2010 and 2014, Vale de Almeida participated in talks on an EU-US trade accord, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, that US President Donald Trump ended up stopping.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Georgia Northwestern Technical College Foundation was presented with a donation of $10,000 from The Georgia Power Foundation, Inc. to be used to assist outstanding students with their tuition, books and supplies, fees and other needs.



We deeply appreciate this support from the Georgia Power Foundation, Lauretta Hannon, director of Institutional Advancement for GNTC said. Donations like these really make a difference and go a long way in helping GNTC students achieve their educational dreams.



The check was presented to President Dr. Heidi Popham earlier this month before GNTCs board of directors meeting by Cassandra Wheeler, regional director for Georgia Power and Floyd County representative for GNTCs board of directors.



Georgia Power is proud to invest in Georgia Northwestern Technical Colleges future, Ms. Wheeler said. We believe in making the communities we serve better, ensuring that partners like Georgia Northwestern have the tools and resources they need to prepare and empower Georgia students for future careers.



According to Ms. Wheeler, education is at the core of the companys workforce development strategy and the goal of Georgia Power is two-fold. The first is to increase graduation rates and ensure a trained, motivated workforce for Georgia Power and other energy businesses in the state; and the second, to create targeted programs and cultivate a pool of talented candidates for high demand jobs such as electrical lineworkers.



Highlighting their longstanding relationship, the company and GNTC established the Georgia Power Technical Education Center in Rockmart to help ensure its workers are trained on the same equipment they will use on the job, she said.



Located on GNTCs Polk County Campus, the Georgia Power Technical Education Center was launched in January of 2009 as a collaborative effort between GNTC, Georgia Power, the Southern Company and more than two dozen vendors.



"Georgia Power's promise to 2.6 million customers rests on the cornerstones of value, reliability, customer service and stewardship and the company remains committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average," officials said. "The GNTC Foundation was established to encourage private contributions in order to build and maintain outstanding academic and support programs at the college. Donations to the Foundation support areas of institutional need including scholarships to deserving students, equipment purchases, materials for the library and staff development."






TWRAs Jack Swearengin is retiring after 33 years of service with TWRA. He started his career with the agency in 1987 as a technician on the newly formed streams crew in Region 3. Mr. Swearengin was promoted twice in his career and retires as a Manager 2. His longevity on this crew is unsurpassed.

Mr. Swearengin saw considerable advancement in fisheries management throughout his career. Electroshocking studies, those that stun fish temporarily for counts, first conducted on streams in the region utilized electric shockers built by the crew of weed-eater motors. Today, the equipment weighs less than five pounds and is run on batteries. One of the first studies Mr. Swearengin was involved with was that of smallmouth bass and rock bass, his favorite fish. We learned so much about these fish in Tennessees streams that could be applied towards better management. We found 10 to 12 inch fish that were 10 years old, he said. We were also the first crew to survey the Hiwassee River, heading down the river with a guide in a boat.

Mr. Swearengin is known for his patience, ingenuity and steadiness when entering and maneuvering small streams in the mountainous region. His accomplishments throughout his career include being awarded Biologist of the Year. Jack has always cared not only about the resource, but about fishing and providing opportunities for anglers, shared Region 3 Fisheries Program Manager, Mark Thurman. Hes always been involved in giving back to the community through Field Days with the Jackson County High School.

One of Mr. Swearengins favorite projects during his career was the muskellunge study and reintroduction in the Collins River watershed and other areas of the state. When searching for muskellunge during the reintroduction process in the late 1980s Mr. Swearengin stopped into a local Morgan County shop for a break. People were naturally interested in what the crew was doing in the area. Mr. Swearengin shared that he was looking for musky. Locals shared that he wouldnt find any. When Mr. Swearengin later found a fish, collected to ensure proper genetic stocking of others to the area, he took it back to the shop to share. Those gathered at the store responded, Thats not a musky. Thats a jack-fish and we can tell you right where to find them. Mr. Swearengin went to the location and did. His willingness to share and listen allowed for a more successful project in the area.

When asked what he would miss about the agency Mr. Swearengin said, Working with my buddies. Even on the worst days of work, we had fun together. Mr. Swearengin shared a story of being on the Caney Fork River in a terrible thunderstorm. It was terrible. We took the lids off of the fish coolers and held them over our heads to keep from getting pelted. We looked at each other and just howled with laughter. If you can laugh through a thunderstorm like that, youre in good shape.

Mr. Swearengin shared that he would miss this comradery and doing good things for the resource together most.

Mr. Swearengin praised his coworkers for never leaving a stone unturned, asking hard questions for the betterment of fisheries science and encouraging each other to learn. Theyre a hard-working bunch and Ill miss them. Regional Streams Fisheries Coordinator Travis Scott stated, We will miss Jacks knowledge. Hes been with this crew since its inception and easily recalled studies performed in previous years. Weve benefitted from his knowledge.

TWRA wishes Mr. Swearengin tight lines and a steady hand. If you see him wading on the Roaring River, say hello and enjoy the great story hes bound to share.
Westerville, OH -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/24/2020 -- No More Phone Tag is celebrating 29 years of leadership, professional brilliance and consistent growth. The Ohio based company provides on-call answering services to physicians, healthcare centers and property management firms, US-wide. The services are technology driven, HIPAA complaint, and available in Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Russian, and other languages. No More Phone Tag leverages updated technologies to take a full backup of the client's current system, or change it outright. Other technologies, such as, but not limited to, voice mail transcription, web controls, automation and disaster recovery systems are there to help clients breathe easy.



The spokesperson at No More Phone Tag stated, "No More Phone Tag is a viable alternative to the traditional after-hour answering services that are marred by latency and discrepancies. We use proven protocols and the latest technology to deliver seamless experiences. We take calls on the client's behalf during lunch, afterhours and other busy schedules. Our call handlers pick the call in the first ring and take the message or escalate the call to the right person. The message is prioritized for urgency. The really urgent messages are relayed in three seconds flat but the non-urgent ones are relayed on the next working day at a convenient time."



With No More Phone Tag's patch through service, the doctor on call can skip blocking his/her number when responding to the patient. The doctor's number is concealed and the number of the practice is displayed. The company customizes the call escalation process to the client's schedule, allows real-time changes, and supports multiple doctors at a time. The need for forwarding calls is negated through automation but No More Phone Tag can deploy a dedicated receptionist to transfer clients' call to their cell phones. The company follows HIPAA guidelines to keep ensure anonymity to the patients' privacy and health information.



The spokesperson further stated, "No More Phone Tag has served healthcare and property management sectors for close to three decades. Over the years, we have grown and so have our track record. Presently, we handle 300,000 medical calls every month, 10,000 a day. We flaunt almost 100 percent retention rates, as our clients severe their ties with us only when they quit their practice. In fact, over 90 percent of doctors stick with us after trying it out. We hold true to our values, work ethics and professionalism, and our clients hold true to us."



Another redeeming feature of No More Phone Tag's service is a competitive, flat rate pricing policy. The company charges $69 a month for all call answering services. No hidden costs, no additional fee for minutes, calls, patches, and more are applicable. Therefore, those looking for Medical telephone answering service know their exact monthly outgo beforehand, and hence, can plan their finances accordingly. A 14 days trail is also provided to help clients make informed decisions. More info is available on No More Phone Tag Inc.



About No More Phone Tag

Since the year 1991, No More Phone Tag has been the leader in the US call answering service market. Foundation of Walter Lundstrom, the company is associated with customized, reliable and cost-effective answering solutions for medical, healthcare and property management sectors. Over the years, No More Phone Tag has established itself as the only stop needed for doctors answering services.



Contact Information:



No More Phone Tag

787 S. State Street,

Suite B Westerville,

Ohio, 43081

Ph: (614) 895-2820

Toll- Free: 1-800-929-1202

Website: https://www.nomorephonetag.com
Almost 10 years have passed and I barely remember the old black and white photograph.

But I remember the man who held it.

It happened in March 2010.

My late husband, Chuck, and I had gone to an event commemorating the 65th anniversary of the end of the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II.

We were at the Strategic Air and Space Museum at Ashland.

My mission?

I was sent to find and interview area veterans who were at the banquet. I found 87-year-old Francis Wood of Oakland.

Francis was a 22-year-old Marine when he landed on the tiny South Pacific island  said to be the site of one of the bloodiest battles of World War II.

Francis remembered the explosions and gunfire and how American forces were pinned down on the Japanese-held island.

As a young Marine, he drove an amphibious landing craft onto the shore during the battle. His job was to take equipment to the island and transport wounded back to a hospital ship.

The shelling was intense.

At night, the skies were brighter than the daylight with the flares going up, he said, showing me a magazine with a nighttime photo.

Francis didnt think hed make it out alive.

And many men didnt.

Allied forces suffered more than 26,000 casualties with more than 6,000 killed in action. More than 21,000 Japanese soldiers died either in combat or by ritual suicide.

Decades later, Francis still remembered seeing bodies of Marines laid side by side in a long trench.

The bodies were placed in the makeshift grave.

Francis even had a photograph of the trench with bodies, which he secretly sent home to his wife along with a necklace.

He showed me the photo. It didnt look like modern-day photos with lots of detail, but you got the picture.

After interviewing Francis, I found another veteran, Bill Stewart, 84, of Wahoo.

Bill was 18 years old when he was part of the amphibious forces of the Navy Reserves. He took Marines and supplies to the beach. He remembered a landing craft tank filled with men being hit by a mortar.

During our interview, Bill said that at one point, he thought hed seen a long slit in the ground, filled with bodies, during the battle.

But 65 years had passed since then and he wondered if hed only dreamed it.

You didnt dream it, I said.

I grabbed that poor mans arm and dragged him across the room to meet Francis, who showed him the photograph.

At the same time, Francis wife, Arla Mae, wondered if theyd get in trouble for having such a photo.

Bill shook his head, no.

The two men visited. I eventually made my way to a table where Chuck and I ate with other dinner guests.

Id felt a little guilty leaving Chuck while Id hurried off to interview veterans, but my good-natured husband was happy because hed gotten to see the inside of a B-52 bomber.

Arla Mae and Francis died in 2012 and my husband in 2013. Im not sure what happened to Bill.

I remember being pleased because Id been able to show Bill that what he experienced wasnt a dream, but real.

Years later, I wondered if Id done him a favor or not.

Maybe I should have just let him think what hed seen was a dream?

Yet on Sunday, I was talking to a friend, who thought it was good that Bill and Francis were able to talk.

Maybe they  and even I were in the right place.

At the right time.

Recently, I was thinking about another woman who was in just the right place, too.

Her name was Rebekah and her story is in the book of Genesis.

It begins with an old man named Abraham, an ancestor of Jesus.

God has blessed Abraham greatly with lots of livestock, gold and silver.

Now Abraham wants to find a wife for his son, Isaac.

But Abraham doesnt want his boy marrying any of the neighbor girls in Canaan where they live.

God has called Abraham and his descendants to live differently than their idol-worshiping neighbors.

So Abraham sends his chief servant on a mission to his former homeland. Abraham says God will send his angel ahead of the servant, whos supposed to find a wife for Isaac there.

The servant heads out with camels and lots of choice gifts and arrives in the city of Nahor in Mesopotamia.

Its evening when he makes the camels kneel down outside the city by a well.

This is the time when the women come out to get water.

The servant, whos a godly man, prays for help.

He asks God to indicate which woman hed like the servant to take back for Isaac to marry.

How will the servant know?

Hell ask one of the women to let down the jar of water shes carrying so he can have a drink.

And if she lets him have a drink  and then offers to give water to his camels  the servant will know this is the woman that God has chosen.

Before the servants even done talking to God, a beautiful young woman fills her jar with water.

The servant runs to meet her.

Please give me a little water to drink from your jar, he says.

Obviously, no one told this woman not to talk to strangers.

Anyway, the woman agrees and quickly lets him have a drink.

I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking, she says.

The woman quickly empties her jar into a trough and runs again to get more water until she has enough for all of his camels.

Abrahams servant watches silently to see if this is the right woman.

When the camels are done drinking (no I dont know how long that took), the man asks whose daughter she is and if theres room at her dads house to spend the night.

Guess who she is?

Yep, its Rebekah.

Rebekah says theres plenty of room for him and enough food for the camels, too.

The servant will realize that hes in the right place and worships God.

He meets Rebekahs dad and brother and tells them the whole story.

This thing has come from the Lord, they say.

Rebekah agrees to go with the servant and become Isaacs spouse.

In modern society where some folks would be nervous about a blind date  let alone marriage to someone theyve never seen  this can seem like an incredible act of faith.

But I love how Isaac and Rebekah meet.

Hes out meditating in a field when she arrives. She gets off a camel and covers herself with her veil.

Isaac takes Rebekah to meet his mom, Sarah.

Rebekah and Isaac will become husband and wife.

Talk about being in the right place at the right time.

Think about it.

How could Rebekah have known when she went to get some water how her life would change?

Now, I dont advise letting our loved ones go off with just anybody who crosses our paths.

This godly servant was on a divinely inspired and guided mission; Rebekahs family interviewed him and sent along some other women with her.

I do believe God orchestrates situations. Did he orchestrate my meeting with those two World War II veterans years ago? I dont know.

But I do know how very grateful I am to all the people whove served our country in the military throughout the years.

And Im so thankful to God who continues to amaze me in many ways.

Tammy Real-McKeighan is news editor of the Fremont Tribune. She writes a weekly spiritual column.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
The owner of a nightclub in the Village of Tangipahoa is suing the board of alderman for denying her a business license, claiming the denial is clear retaliation for a previous, ongoing lawsuit.

The villages three aldermen voted at their Jan. 14 meeting to approve the occupational licenses of three other businesses, including another bar, but did not approve Club 81s license.

LaToia Williams, the owner, filed a lawsuit Wednesday in 21st Judicial District Court seeking a temporary restraining order that would prohibit the aldermen from interfering with her business. A hearing will likely come soon, but in the meantime the club remains closed.

The meeting minutes say Club 81 was denied due to the pending lawsuit, referring to ongoing civil litigation in which attorney Charles Brumfield is claims the board violated open meeting law and public record violations in previous meetings about the nightclub.

Alderman Rickey Coleman said Thursday the denial isn't the result of a personal issue between the board and the club. He said its because the club won't follow a law restricting closing time to 2 a.m. that the alderman passed but the mayor vetoed.

The rift between the board of alderman and Club 81 goes back to mid-2019 when the board sought to restrict the clubs hours through a barroom ordinance.

Club 81 opens on Friday nights from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m. but the aldermen tried to force it to close two hours earlier. They claimed it was unsafe for one club to stay open so late when all others in surrounding towns close at midnight or 2 a.m.

All three aldermen approved the ordinance, but Mayor Trashica Robinson vetoed it. Then the towns clerk suddenly quit in July, leaving the town hall shuttered and nobody to put the ordinance on record anyway. Its been dormant since then.

Coleman said he plans to renew a vote on the restricted hours ordinance in the future despite the mayors previous veto. He said he voted to deny the license because Club 81 did not agree to close at 2 a.m.

Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

He said the previous lawsuit  the one regarding public records and open meetings  did play a part in his decision.

You want to get a license and be open at the time you want to open but still have a lawsuit at the same time? Thats not right, he said, adding that he would feel the same whether it was Club 81 bringing action or another village business.

Tangipahoa aldermen violated public meetings law, donation regulations, club owner's lawsuit claims The owners of a now-controversial nightclub in the Village of Tangipahoa have filed suit against the Board of Aldermen, claiming the board vio

Alderman Shelia Martin did not return a call for this story and Alderman Debra Cyprian declined to comment.

All this drama is made about Club 81, its not about Club 81 and it never has been its always been about getting some law and ordinances in our town, Coleman said.

Williams, however, believes it is personal and a direct retaliation.

Theyve been saying the reason is theres unfinished business with ordinances but other businesses and the other barroom in town were renewed.  Its essentially them retaliating against me because theres a lawsuit, she said.

The club has been operating in the village for decades. It was founded in the 1990s by the late ex-Baltimore Raven Michael Jackson Dyson, Williams father.

When he died in 2017, Williams and her mother, Vanessa Williams, began operating the club.

The business has been closed for approximately a month for renovations, meaning Club 81 hasnt yet lost any business from not having a license. But Williams said she hopes to be able to operate by Feb. 14, when a grand reopening had already been planned.
Thousands of protesters marching in Baghdad have called for American troops to leave Iraq, in a show of anger over the killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and an Iraqi militia leader by the US.

Muqtada al-Sadr, an influential Shia cleric whose party won the largest number of seats in Iraqs 2018 parliamentary elections, had called for a million-man march in the capital.

Although the demonstration on Friday failed to attract that number, tens of thousands of Mr Sadrs supporters from Baghdad and Iraqs southern provinces attended before dispersing after a few hours.

Protesters chanted, No, no America, and, Get out, occupier.

Mr Sadr has long opposed all foreign interference in Iraq. His followers, who number in the millions, fought US troops after the ousting of Saddam Hussein in 2003. In recent years, he has formed close ties with Iran.

The cleric joined a chorus of condemnation of the US from across the Iraqi political spectrum over the killing of Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a militia leader aligned with Iran, on 3 January.

Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Show all 24 1 /24 Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions Iranian mourners gather around a vehicle carrying the coffin of top general Qasem Soleimani during the final stage of funeral processions, in his hometown Kerman. Soleimani was killed outside Baghdad airport in a drone strike ordered by US President Donald Trump, ratcheting up tensions with Iran which has vowed "severe revenge" AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Iranian people carry a coffin of Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani during a funeral procession in Tehran Official Khamenei website via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions The assassination of the 62-year-old heightened international concern about a new war in the volatile, oil-rich Middle East and rattled financial markets AFP via Getty Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions West Asia News Agency via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Mourners packed the streets of Tehran for ceremonies to pay homage to Soleimani, who spearheaded Iran's Middle East operations as commander of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force and was killed in a US drone strike on January 3 Iranian Supreme Leader's Office/EPA Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Iranians set a US and an Israeli flag on fire during the funeral procession AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, centre, with Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, second left, and President Hassan Rouhani, third left, standing next to him as he leads a prayer over the caskets of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis at Tehran University Khamenei.IR/AFP via Getty Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, left, openly weeps as he leads a prayer over the coffin of Qassem Soleimani AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Mourners holding posters of Qassem Soleimani AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Coffins of Soleimani and others who were killed in Iraq by a US drone strike, are carried on a truck surrounded by mourners during a funeral procession, at the Enqelab-e-Eslami (Islamic Revolution) square AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions An Iranian mourner holds a placard AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Downtown Tehran was brought to a standstill as mourners flooded the Iranian capital Khamenei.IR/AFP via Getty Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Former Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps chief Mohamad Ali Jafari prays on the coffins of Qasem Soleimani and of other victims during their funeral ceremony EPA Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran EPA Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran EPA Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions West Asia News Agency via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Official Khamenei website via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions AFP via Getty Images Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Kerman - Final stage of funeral processions West Asia News Agency via Reuters Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran Satellite image Maxar Technologies/AP Qassem Soleimani: Mourners fill Iran streets for funeral Tehran EPA

In response to the public outcry, Iraqs parliament passed a non-binding resolution calling on the government to expel foreign troops from the country. Kurdish and most Sunni lawmakers boycotted the vote.

About 5,200 US troops are currently stationed in Iraq, where they train and assist armed forces in the fight against Isis. Washington has reacted coolly to suggestions that it withdraw from the country, and has instead increased its overall troop presence in the region to counter what it says is a growing threat from Iran.

In a statement on Friday, Mr Sadr issued a list of conditions for American military presence in Iraq. The list includes cancelling existing security agreements, closing US military bases, ending the work of American security companies and closing off access to Iraqi airspace.

If the conditions were met, the statement said, the resistance will temporarily stop until the last soldier leaves Iraq, the cleric said, referring to American troops.

The American forces should leave, an 18-year-old protester, Amer Saad, told the Associated Press. I am ready to fight against the Americans if Muqtada al-Sadr asks us.

The protest comes in the midst of a separate, months-long anti-government movement that has called for an end to all foreign interference in Iraq, both US and Iranian, and the overthrow of the countrys corrupt political elite.

Iraqs government, together with Iran-backed militia groups, have brutally cracked down on the protests, killing more than 600 people since October. Rights groups have documented the use of live ammunition against protesters, as well as intimidation, arrest and kidnap.

Over just two days this week, 10 people were killed in Baghdad, Basra, Karbala and Diyala, according to the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights.

This worrying evidence signals that the Iraqi security forces have resumed their lethal campaign of repression against protesters who are simply exercising their rights to freedom of expression and to peaceful assembly, said Lynn Maalouf, Amnesty Internationals Middle East research director.

This latest escalation is a clear indication that the Iraqi authorities have no intention whatsoever to genuinely put an end to these grave violations.

Tensions between the US and Iran have skyrocketed since the killing of Soleimani by a US drone strike. As the head of Irans Quds Force, the general was responsible for the Iranian Revolutionary Guards foreign operations. His primary mission was to build a resistance axis of Shia proxies that would project Irans regional might and act as a counter to US and Israeli power in the Middle East.

Iran responded to the killing by firing a barrage of missiles at US military bases in Iraq, and promised to force American troops from the region.

The current tensions have their roots in a decision by the US president, Donald Trump, to walk away from the internationally brokered nuclear deal and impose harsh sanctions on Tehran.

Iran has since reduced its commitments to the agreement, and stepped away even further in the wake of Soleimanis killing, announcing it would ignore all limitations on enriching uranium that were set down in the pact.

With agencies
Last year, the Kerala Government had announced that the state will make its tourist destinations disabled-friendly by 2021. Now Kerala Tourism's Barrier-Free Tourism Project has won global recognition, as the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) made a special mention as an Emerging Global Destination in the Accessible Destination Awards 2019.

The recognition was for the implementation of the project in the central Kerala district of Thrissur, which thus became Indias only destination to win the honour. Kerala has been the first state to work as per the UNWTO guidelines on making tourist destinations disabled-friendly.

The award is instituted by the World Tourism Organization and ONCE Foundation that works for people with disabilities. The awards at the Spanish capital were given away as part of FITUR Trade Fair, which is a meeting point of tourism professionals the world over and the second-biggest global gathering of travel and tourism professionals.

It was in March last year that Kerala Tourism launched the barrier-free project with the view of making 120 destinations across the state disabled-friendly. In October, Kerala Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran had said that 98 destinations out of the 120 tourist spots across the state which were identified for the first phase have already been made completely specially-abled friendly.

Thrissur, also known as the cultural capital of Kerala, is one of the first few destinations in the state to have created the necessary infrastructure in all major destinations.

The work in Thrissur district has been completed on the beaches of Azhikode and Snehatheeram, the hill destination of Vilangankunnu and the scenic dams in Poomala and Vazhani.

BCCL

Under the ongoing major development projects, the work is being implemented in Chavakkad Beach, Peechi and Thumboormuzhi. The facilities include ramps, accessible toilets, lactation rooms, Braille pamphlets, signage, touch-screen kiosks, audio and sign aids, wheelchairs and walking aids. They have been made available in major tourist destinations in the district.

Tactile paths for the visually-challenged was created for the first time in Kerala in Azhikode and Snehatheeram, while a wheelchair-accessible sunset viewpoint is the highlight of Vilangankunnu. There is ramp access for the boating area in Poomala, while Vazhani became the first access-friendly in the state. As part of the ongoing project, the famous Thumboormuzhi hanging bridge and viewpoints will soon turn disabled-friendly.

BCCL

The Thrissur District Promotion Council has already received the coveted status as a listed supplier of PANTOU (Promoting Accessible Tourism Around the World) network based in Europe in 2018.

Hailing the achievement, Kerala Tourism Minister Shri Kadakampally Surendran said We deserve this honour. It will enhance Keralas reputation as a global tourist destination.

BCCL

Kerala Tourism Secretary Smt Rani George said the UNWTO recognition is a result of Keralas keenness in meeting the new-age international requirements.

Shri Bala Kiran said Kerala Tourism is working towards making all its travel destinations disabled-friendly. The UNWTO award is an incentive for us to meet the target, he added.
Over the last two decades, the health sciences have been transformed by genomics, which has provided insights into genetic risk factors for human disease. While powerful, the genomics revolution has also revealed the limits of genetic determinants, which account for only a fraction of total disease risk. A new article in the journal Science argues that a similar large-scale effort is needed to ensure a more complete picture of disease risk by accounting for the exposome, defined as our cumulative exposure to environmental agents such as chemical pollutants.

The article by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health; Utrecht University, the Netherlands; University of Luxembourg; and Northeastern University reviews progress in assessing the components of the exposome and its implications on human health.

"Our genes are not our destiny, nor do they provide a complete picture of our risk for disease," says senior author Gary Miller, PhD, Vice Dean for Research Strategy and Innovation and professor of environmental health sciences at the Columbia Mailman School. "Our health is also shaped by what we eat and do, our experiences, and where we live and work."

"Less than half of the nongenetic risk burden for disease is accounted for, suggesting the existence of environmental risk factors, exposure to which may largely be preventable," says first author Roel Vermeulen, Professor of Environmental Epidemiology and Exposome Science at Utrecht University. "With growing recognition of the important role nongenetic factors play in disease, we need a coordinated and international effort to characterize the exposome at a scale comparable to that of the human genome."

What Is the Exposome?

The exposome was conceived by the scientist Christopher Wild in 2005 as a way to represent the environmental, nongenetic, drivers of health and disease. These exposures are not restricted to the thousands of chemicals that enter our bodies through the air, water, or food, for example, but also our body's response to our environment, including the built environment and social circumstances, through inflammation, oxidative stress, infections, and gut flora, for example.

advertisement

Embracing Complexity

Traditionally, our understanding of the health effects of chemicals has come from epidemiological and toxicological studies that analyze one or a small number of pollutants at a time. "However, our exposures are not a simple sum of a handful of chemicals," the authors write. To capture a fuller picture of environmental exposures, scientists are beginning to employ environment-wide association studies (EWAS), the exposome equivalent of genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Complementing GWAS, EWAS studies take advantage of high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) to measure small molecules originating in the environment, such as air pollution, pesticides, plasticizers, and flame retardants, as well as nutrients and biological metabolites.

"A reductionist approach might isolate the role of a single variable, but it will inadequately capture the complexity of the exposome," the authors write. "The challenge in understanding the role of the exposome on our health lies not only in the large number of chemical exposures in our daily lives, but also in the complex ways that they interact with cells."

Scaling Up

Among the challenges to exposome research are that enrollment in studies of nongenetic environmental exposures remains relatively low. Sample sizes in excess of 100,000 are needed to explain a substantial portion of the genomic heritability of common chronic diseases. The authors posit that similar or even greater sample sizes are required for future environmental studies. A step in that direction, efforts are underway to create a Human Exposome Project representing environmental and biological exposures for tens of thousands of people, large enough to identify the most prevalent and strongest chemical risk factors, although larger studies are needed to understand the impact of many exposome factors in combination. In addition to sample size, the authors call for improvements in screening technology and data resources to identify associations; network theory to elucidate the constellation of the chemical environment and its biological consequences; and replication in independent studies and the use of methods to establish causation.

Exposome Research for Policy and Personalized Medicine

Large-scale exposome studies will give regulatory bodies new information on those chemicals that have the largest adverse effects on health. "If systematic analysis reveals major adverse effects on human health from exposure to currently approved or potential replacement chemicals, then those compounds should be removed from the marketplace," the authors write. Moreover, data on the effects of classes of chemicals on specific biological pathways known to be perturbed could help in the design of new compounds with minimal impact on human health and the environment. "Current research approaches and regulatory policies fail to address the chemical complexity of our world," the authors write.

In the realm of medicine, more complete information on the impact of nongenetic factors and chemical exposures would also enable the creation of an exposome risk score (ERS) akin to the polygenic risk score (PRS) which could give individuals and their clinicians a better understanding of their likelihood of developing certain diseases.

"Consolidating knowledge garnered from GWAS [genome-wide association studies] and EWAS [environment-wide association studies]," the authors conclude, "would allow us to map the gene and environment interface, which is where nature meets nurture and chemistry meets biology."
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 24)  President Rodrigo Duterte said the United States' lack of respect for Philippine sovereignty is the reason he has pivoted away from America and towards China and Russia.

In an interview with a Russian government-funded television network that aired on Friday, Duterte explained why he has sought stronger ties with non-traditional partners China and Russia.

"It's because they respect the sovereignty of the country which America is totally, totally, lacking," Duterte said.

"It's not only the Philippines but all over the world they do not respect sovereignties of the government," he added.

Duterte lamented how the US continues to treat the Philippines as a "vassal state" despite gaining independence more than a century ago. The US is the Philippines' longstanding ally, but one of the military agreements between the two countries may soon be scrapped.

Duterte recently ordered the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement after the American government canceled the visa of a Filipino senator who previously led his bloody war on drugs.

Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa was former chief of the Philippine National Police from 2016 to 2018, when more than 4,000 people were killed in anti-drug operations. Dela Rosa said the US Embassy did not explain why his visa was voided, but he acknowledged it has something to do with alleged extrajudicial killings under his watch.

Aside from scrapping the two-decade deal that allows US troops to enter the Philippines without passport and visa limitations, Duterte also declined American President Donald Trump's invitation for him to visit the US for a meeting with other leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

READ: Dela Rosa to urge Duterte to reconsider visiting US

Malacanang said Dela Rosa's invalidated visa was among the reasons for Duterte's refusal to set foot in the US. Duterte's spokesman, Salvador Panelo also said Duterte feels he would not be welcomed well by some American senators, and that he might even be denied entry  considering that he supposedly tops the list of Filipino officials banned in the US over the detention of opposition Senator Leila de Lima.

The US' 2020 budget law contains a provision that allows the ban on De Lima's accusers. Early this year, the US Senate also passed a bipartisan resolution asking Trump, to deny US entry to and freeze the assets of Filipino officials involved in drug war killings and in De Lima;s detention.

Malacanang has repeatedly said there are no state-sanctioned killings and the country's independent courts can prosecute and punish if ever there are police abuses.

US 'antagonizing the Chinese'

Duterte also hit the US for "always antagonizing the Chinese," and said he refuses to "dovetail under American foreign policy."

Washington calls out Beijing's alleged militarization of disputed areas in the South China Sea, including those occupied and claimed by Manila. The US does not claim any part of the global waterway but conducts freedom of navigation operations and criticizes China's actions.

Duterte admitted he has been soft on China, saying he "cannot afford" an aggressive stance that could result in war with the East Asian giant for fear of losing Filipino lives.

He added the US might just want "to take advantage and make a pretext that they are defending the Philippines and it will go... beyond our control."

By the end of the interview, however, Duterte clarified that he thinks Trump does not really intend to go to war, describing the tough-talking American leader as a "nice person."
Nine firefighters and a 59-year-old man were injured Thursday after a large fire broke out at a beloved community center in Manhattans Chinatown that holds offices of the Museum of Chinese in America.

The man was rescued from the fifth floor of the building and was reported to be in serious but stable condition, fire officials said. The firefighters suffered minor injuries.

The man told firefighters that no other people were inside, said Thomas Richardson, the deputy chief of operations at the New York Fire Department, during a news conference early Friday.

About 200 firefighters and emergency personnel responded to the blaze, which began around 8:40 p.m. Firefighters were still at the scene at 7 a.m. on Friday.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief, Raj Thackeray has said that the party will take out a huge rally on February 9 in Mumbai to drive "illegal infiltrators" from Pakistan and Bangladesh, out of India. (Photo: File)

Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief, Raj Thackeray has said that the party will take out a huge rally on February 9 in Mumbai to drive "illegal infiltrators" from Pakistan and Bangladesh, out of India.

Thackeray addressed a public meeting during 'Maha Adhiveshan' (mega meeting) at the NESCO Ground here on Thursday.

"We will take out a huge rally on February 9 to drive illegal infiltrators from Pakistan and Bangladesh, out of India. There can be a debate on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) but why should we shelter someone who has come from outside illegally?" Thackeray said.

"I will meet the state Home Minister or Chief Minister over some issues. Muslim clerics in India go to other countries, nobody knows what do they do, even the police can't go there," he added.

Raj Thackeray-led MNS yesterday launched its new party flag, ahead of its day-long Maha adhiveshan (mega meeting).

The new saffron-coloured flag of the party also features Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's, Raj Mudra.

Raj Thackeray's son Amit Thackeray has also been inducted into the party, today.

In December last year, Raj Thackeray had said that the illegal immigrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh should be thrown out of the country irrespective of their religion.

He had said that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act is uncalled for as it will increase the burden on India which is allegedly not able to cater to the needs of its own people.

"India is not Dharamshala. People coming from Bangladesh and Pakistan should be thrown out. India had not taken the contract of humanity," Raj Thackeray had said while addressing a press conference in Pune.

As per the reports, there has been speculation that the BJP will support Raj Thackeray in rebranding his party after the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena joined hands with the Congress and NCP to form a government in Maharashtra.
A man has been charged over a stash of high-powered guns following raids linked to the EastLink execution of Melbourne fruiterer Paul Virgona.

Anti-bike Echo Taskforce detectives arrested Andrew Heil on Friday after uncovering a cache of guns, including a high-powered submachine gun, in a raid at a Port Melbourne storage facility linked to the Mongols outlaw bikie gang.

The 30-year-old Carrum Downs man has been charged with eight offences including possessing three handguns, two longarms and the submachine gun, as well as ammunition.

Andrew Heil arrives at the Melbourne Magistrates Court after being charged over a cache of weapons. Credit:AAP

Mr Heil failed to front Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday afternoon, instead remaining in the court's cells. He made no application for bail.
Alexander Hamilton is having yet another moment.

Two-hundred-and-thirty-two years after he published the lions share of the Federalist Papers and four years since he posthumously became a Broadway musical star, one of the countrys Founding Fathers is back, receiving top billing at President Donald Trumps Senate impeachment trial.

House Democrats trying to remove Trump from office keep quoting Hamilton and some of his most important written works to make their case. The same goes for Trumps lawyers and his Republican defenders on Capitol Hill, who are making the exact opposite case using the same Hamilton essays.

Its another phenomenon of the minimal precedent and history that exists on presidential impeachments. The Constitution itself offers scant details about how Congress should handle impeachment  and the Constitutional Convention debates that created the final product survive only through incomplete notes. Enter Hamilton and the Federalist Papers. The writings were created to push the Constitution through to ratification. But today, they offer rare guidance for anyone who must deal with putting into practice the little-used impeachment mechanism.

We pivot back to Hamilton primarily because hes enormously eloquent and articulate and he spells out that which is not spelled out in the Constitution, said Brenda Wineapple, author of The Impeachers, a recent book about the events surrounding Andrew Johnsons 1868 impeachment trial, the first in U.S. history involving a president.

Anything in the Federalist Papers  in this case Hamilton  is as close to the thinking of the framers of the Constitution as we've got, added Don Ritchie, the historian emeritus of the Senate.

This time, Hamiltons role in the Trump proceedings would work well as a featured part of any impeachment trial drinking game  one in which the players would almost certainly end up drunk.

The countrys first Treasury secretary and confidant to President George Washington got nine mentions in the House Democrats initial brief filed last weekend weekend. Trumps own brief name-checked Hamilton 24 times.

Story continues

The dueling Hamilton name-checks then spilled onto the Senate floor.

During the prosectutors opening presentations Wednesday, lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff started with a Hamilton quote raising concerns in a letter to Washington about a future chief executive unprincipled in private life, desperate in his fortune, bold in his temper, possessed of considerable talents, having the advantage of military habits  

Democrats leaned on Hamilton to argue that the Founding Fathers gave future lawmakers wide discretion when deciding whether a presidents conduct merited the landmark punishment of removal from office.

Hamilton was a wise man. He foresaw dangers far ahead of his time, House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler said at the start of his Senate floor remarks on Thursday.

Theyre taking the wrong quotes from the Founding Fathers, shot back Jay Sekulow, one of Trumps personal attorneys, on Thursday night, noting the specific Hamilton comment Schiff presented on the Senate floor wasnt from the Federalist Papers.

Yes, the Trump era has been good for Hamilton. Sekulow, for his part, has been studying up on the Federalist Papers for well over a year.

Good reading actually and very much relevant today, he texted in 2018, when the presidents attorneys were focused on special counsel Robert Muellers Russia probe.

But its the Ukraine scandal  and an impeachment that hinges on the presidents attempts to get a foreign leader to open investigations into his political opponents  that has thrust Hamiltons work into the spotlight.

An Atlantic profile last fall of Sen. Mitt Romney noted that the Utah lawmaker  a rare GOP Trump critic  was preparing for the eventual Senate impeachment trial with a copy of the Federalist Papers.

Earlier this month, Republican Sen. Mike Lee wrote a Fox News op-ed that cited a specific Hamilton essay (No. 66) to argue that the Senate follows the House in the impeachment process to guard against the danger of persecution, from the prevalency of a factious spirit.

Lee added his own commentary: Considering how deeply divided our nation is, there can be little doubt that a factious spirit is driving this impeachment.

President Donald Trump's personal attorney Jay Sekulow arrives at the Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Trumps lawyers quoted that exact same Hamilton line in their opening brief last weekend, adding, Now, perhaps as never before, it is essential for the Senate to fulfill the role Hamilton envisioned for it.

On and off Capitol Hill, the plethora of Hamilton references have gotten noticed.

Schiff quoted Hamilton so many times today he was nominated for five Tony awards, Jimmy Kimmel joked Wednesday night during his opening monologue.

Indeed, it was the hit Broadway musical about Hamiltons life that first helped transform the 18th century figure from the Founding Father who died in a duel to a dominant 21st century cultural force.

But even Lin-Manuel Miranda, the playwright who reimagined Hamiltons life story as a hip-hop-infused musical, is surprised to see his subject get drawn into politics  let alone the impeachment drama.

I never anticipated how it would catch on with people in power, and how often I hear politicians and people who work in D.C. quoting the show. Its mind-boggling to me, Miranda said in remarks to a freelance journalist shortly after one of the early impeachment witnesses referenced his play.

In fact, Hamilton had a presence on the impeachment stage well before his Broadway turn.

The Federalist Papers werent even a century old when Congress debated Johnsons impeachment in 1867 and 1868. Lawmakers were trying to oust Abraham Lincolns successor over his handling of reconstruction after the Civil War. One key question lawmakers had: Could a president be removed from office for misconduct that wasnt also a criminally indictable offense?

According to Wineapples book, a Massachusetts House Republican who ultimately prosecuted the president on the Senate floor cited Hamiltons essay early on to argue yes, unethical behavior that isnt criminal can still be impeachable. The unethical behavior in question was a refusal to recognize the Congress that Rep. George Boutwell argued was tantamount to virtually dissolv[ing] the government.

In such a case, Boutwell asked, should the House and Senate be impotent and unable to proceed by process of impeachment to secure his removal from office simply because such behavior is not necessarily an indictable crime?

Its a question that has been resurrected for the Trump era. The president and his allies are accusing Democrats of pushing impeachment without alleging any crime. Democrats counter that impeachments high crimes and misdemeanors standard extends beyond indictable crimes to broader presidential misconduct.

Hamilton was similarly a supporting player in 1998, when Republicans launched impeachment proceedings against President Bill Clinton over allegations the Democratic president lied to a federal grand jury about his sexual relationship with a White House intern.

Independent counsel Kenneth Starr, whod been investigating the Democratic president for four years, quoted Hamilton in his much-anticipated final report that called for impeachment by noting the presidents corrupt use of office for personal gain or some improper use.

Democrats pushed back at the time against Starr, who is now a member of the Trump impeachment defense team. In one footnote-packed brief, Clintons White House and personal lawyers cited Hamiltons description of impeachment as a method of NATIONAL inquest into the conduct of public men that should only be undertaken with the utmost in seriousness and delicacy.

We would be better off listening to what Hamilton said to [James] Madison than what [Monica] Lewinsky said to [Linda] Tripp, California Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren said in an AP story from December 1998, referring to the two women at the center of the Clinton saga.

The article noted that Lofgren  who is now an impeachment manager in the Trump case  was spotted thumbing through a paperback copy of the Federalist Papers during the Clinton hearings in the Judiciary Committee.

That both sides of such a high-stakes political fight would draw their own lessons from history shouldnt come as a surprise. Gene Healy, a vice president at the libertarian Cato Institute said Hamilton himself sort of predicted this would happen in one of his often-quoted essays, Federalist Paper No. 65.

Hamilton wrote that impeachment will seldom fail to agitate the passions of the whole community, and to divide it into parties more or less friendly or inimical to the accused.

Pols and pundits tend to reach for the history books whenever we have a fight over a presidential impeachment, Healy said. But thanks to partisanship and motivated reasoning, they tend to use history badly.

Its like the Talmud, explained Wineapple, the Johnson impeachment biographer, referencing the ancient Jewish text. Even with all the best intentions, the reading becomes a matter of critical interpretation. It can give people a real headache. It becomes difficult. Its not supposed to be easy.

Correction: This story has been updated to reflect it's been four years since "Hamilton" the musical premiered.
The latest victim of the retail apocalypse? Birthday cards.

Papyrus, the greeting card and stationery chain, will close all its stores in the United States and Canada after its parent company filed for bankruptcy, another casualty of the long-running decline of mall-based retail.

Schurman Fine Papers, which operates 254 stores, including the Papyrus brand as well as the American Greetings and Carlton Card chains, filed for bankruptcy protection on Thursday. All three store chains will close, but the branded cards they sell will still be available at other retailers.

We regret that we are closing all our stores, Papyrus wrote in a message on its Facebook page. We hope that through our artistic, thoughtful greeting cards and our personal expression products that we were able to inspire you to celebrate and honor the special people in your lives.

In its filing, Schurman Fine Papers said business had declined as part of the general downturn in the brick-and-mortar retail industry. In recent years, greeting-card sales have dropped and retailers have cut back on the amount of aisle space devoted to paper cards, as consumers switch to digital alternatives.
By AFP

WUHAN (China): Chinese authorities rapidly expanded a mammoth quarantine effort aimed at containing a deadly contagion on Friday to 13 cities and a staggering 41 million people, as nervous residents were checked for fevers and the death toll climbed to 26.

While the World Health Organization (WHO) held off on declaring a global emergency despite confirmed cases in half a dozen other countries, China expanded its lockdown to cover an area with a total population greater than Canada's.

A range of Lunar New Year festivities have been cancelled, while temporary closures of Beijing's Forbidden City, Shanghai's Disneyland and a section of the Great Wall were announced to prevent the disease from spreading further.

The previously unknown virus has caused alarm because of its similarity to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which killed hundreds across mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003.

The WHO said China faced a national emergency but stopped short of making a declaration that would have prompted greater global cooperation, including possible trade and travel restrictions.

ALSO READ | Amid worry over its students, India cancels Republic Day ceremony in Beijing

The outbreak emerged in late December in Wuhan, an industrial and transport hub of 11 million people in China's centre, spreading to several other countries including the United States.

China is in the midst of its Lunar New Year holiday, a typically joyous time of family gatherings and public festivities.

But on Friday Wuhan was a ghost town, its streets deserted and stores shuttered.

Worried patients

Hospitals visited by AFP journalists bustled with worried patients being screened by staff wearing full-body protective suits.

At a temperature-check station, a medical staffer in bodysuit, face mask and goggles took a thermometer from a middle-aged woman, pausing to examine the reading before quickly turning back to the patient.

"Have you registered? Then go and see the doctor," the staffer said.

One 35-year-old man surnamed Li voiced the fears of many.

"I have a fever and cough, so I'm worried that I'm infected," he said.

"I don't know the results yet."

With hundreds of millions of people on the move across China for the holiday, the government has halted all travel out of Wuhan, shut down its public transport and told residents to stay home. Deepening the isolation, there were few flights available to the city.

"This year we have a very scary Chinese New Year. People are not going outside because of the virus," said a taxi driver in the city, who asked not to be named.

But said a prolonged shutdown should not pose food-shortage problems because many Chinese had stocked up for the holiday.

A militia member uses a digital thermometer to take a drivers temperature | AP

Besides Wuhan, 12 other smaller cities nearby have battened down the hatches, with most of them going public on Friday with various measures ranging from closing public venues and restricting large gatherings to halting public transportation and asking citizens not to leave their cities.

Several of the cities have populations numbering several million, led by Huanggang, which has 7.5 million.

The pathogen -- 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) -- has caused many outlets in Shanghai, Beijing and other cities to sell out their stocks of face masks.

As reports surfaced of bed shortages in Wuhan hospitals, state media said authorities were rushing to build a new facility devoted to the outbreak in a mind-blowing 10 days.

The Wuhan hospital is targeted to be ready by February 3. Dozens of excavators and trucks were filmed working on the site by state television.

ALSO READ | Hotlines set up for assistance to Indians in China

To discourage nationwide travel, the government has said all tickets for rail, air, road, or water transport could be exchanged for a refund.

On Friday, staff in full body protective suits were seen checking the temperatures of people entering a subway station in Beijing.

Thermal cameras scanned passengers arriving at Beijing's West Railway Station.

'Work as one'

Chinese authorities said the number of cases leapt overnight to more than 800, with 177 in serious condition. There were another 1,072 suspected cases.

Officials also said that a virus patient died in Heilongjiang province in China's far northeast, the second death outside the Wuhan epicentre.

People at Singapore's Changi Airport | AP

Beijing has been praised for its response in contrast to SARS, when it took months to report the disease and initially denied WHO experts any access.

Gao Fu, head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, asked China's people to forego New Year gatherings this year and confine themselves at home until the all-clear.

"If we all work as one, we can contain the virus in Wuhan and add no more cases exported from Wuhan, so as to stem the virus nationwide," Gao told state TV.

Beijing has cancelled popular New Year public events at temples in the capital, the historic Forbidden City will close from Saturday, and Shanghai Disneyland said it also will shut down for an indefinite period from Saturday to protect visitors and staff.
WALSENBURG, Colo.  One of two inmates who escaped from a jail in a small Colorado town by locking a guard in a cell has been arrested after being found in the crawl space of a home, authorities said Wednesday.

Jerry Williams was arrested Tuesday after tips led state and local authorities to a home in Walsenburg, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) southeast of the jail in Westcliffe where he and Bryan Webb escaped on Jan. 13.

Authorities obtained a warrant to search the home where the pair had reportedly been hiding but only found Williams, who had been jailed on suspicion of attempted murder and other crimes. Williams, 39, of La Junta, initially refused to come out of the crawl space but eventually did after a deputy used pepper spray, the Custer County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

Webb, 30, is from Walsenburg. He had been jailed in the Custer County jail in Westcliffe on drug charges and suspicion of assaulting a police officer.

Williams and Webb are accused of escaping the six-cell jail after hitting a deputy as she conducted rounds. They allegedly threw her in a cell and was automatically locked inside when the doors closed. An inmate in another cell alerted another deputy.
A homeless man jailed for stealing from victims of the Manchester Arena terror attack is back in prison after breaching the conditions of his early release.

Chris Parker was hailed a hero in the aftermath of the atrocity, with strangers donating more than 50,000 to get him off the streets after he claimed he ran inside the venue to help immediately after the blast.

But in reality he was a heartless thief who stole from the stricken and desperate and, in 2018, he was jailed for four years and three months.

Chris Parker was hailed a hero in the aftermath of the atrocity, with strangers donating more than 50,000 to get him off the streets after he claimed he ran inside the venue to help immediately after the blast

He was released on licence about half way through his sentence but on January 8 police made a public appeal to the public to help track him down, saying he had breached the terms of his release.

He has now been tracked down and officials at the Ministry of Justice confirmed that Parker is now back in custody.

CCTV recovered by police showed Parker wandering around the foyer area of the Arena amid the dying and injured before looking through bags.

He was arrested, and in January 2018 admitted to stealing a purse belonging to Pauline Healey, whose 14-year-old granddaughter Sorrell Leczkowski was killed in the atrocity.

The then 33-year-old also stole an iPhone from a teenager who cannot be named for legal reasons and took photos of the wounded.

Prosecutors said that Parker did provide 'some limited assistance' to the injured, but Manchester Crown Court heard he 'equally' took the opportunity to steal from people.

As emergency services helped those wounded in the Manchester Terror attack of May 2017, Parker stole bank cards and mobile phones from the dead and injured

Police issued an appeal on January 8 to track down Parker after he breached the conditions of his early release from a four-year jail term

As well as admitting two counts of theft, he also pleaded guilty to one count of fraud, after using Mrs Healey's stolen bank card in a McDonald's in Manchester between May 23 and May 26 - days after the attack that claimed the lives of 22 people.

Following his appearance in court, a GoFundMe page launched to to help him was shut down and the thousands of people who donated were able to request a refund.

Earlier this month, GMP appealed to the public to help locate Parker, saying he had breached the terms of his release.

The force refused to confirm that he had been recalled to prison.

However, a spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said he was now back in custody.
The 2003 Tony-winning musical Hairspray is heading back out on a North American tour, reuniting the show's original director Jack O'Brien and choreographer Jerry Mitchell. The tour will launch this fall, fittingly at the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, Maryland (November 10-15).

Based on the 1988 John Waters movie, Hairspray is the story of 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad in 1960s Baltimore as she sets out to dance her way onto TV's most popular show. The new touring production will feature Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman's beloved score of hit songs including "Welcome to the 60's," "Good Morning Baltimore," "It Takes Two," "You Can't Stop the Beat," and "Ladies Choice" from the 2007 musical film adaption.

Hairspray premiered at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theater in June 2002. Its Broadway transfer won eight 2003 Tony Awards including Best Musical, and became the longest-running musical to play the Neil Simon Theatre, running 2,642 performances from July 18, 2002-January 4, 2009. It is the 22nd-longest-running show in Broadway history.
President Donald Trump commended Tesla CEO Elon Musk during the World Economic Forum in Davos Switzerland. The POTUS was quoted as saying "We have to protect our genius," according to an article published in CNBC News.

Elon Musk is the second richest immigrant living in the United States and his net worth is $22.3 billion. His contribution to space travel and electric cars is truly astounding, hence it is not surprising anymore why Musk has a big value not only to the president of the United States, but also to the economy.

President Donald Trump said expressed during the World Economic Forum in Davos Switzerland that Elon Musk is one of the world's greatest geniuses. He even compared the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX to Thomas Edison to give a logical comparison as to how genius Musk is.

During the interview of Trump with Joe-Kernen, co-host of Squawk Box, he said, "Musk is one of our great geniuses, and we have to protect our genius."

Furthermore, the president added, "You know, we have to protect Thomas Edison and we have to protect all of these people that came up with originally the light bulb and the wheel and all of these things. And he's one of our very smart people and we want to cherish those people."

Meanwhile, in an interview with Elon Musk in 2008, he said that Edison and Tesla are the names he used to name his electric auto company. Both were role models but Musk preferred Edison.

The comment of the president about Elon Musk came after the shares of Tesla skyrocketed recently, doubling it since September last year. This hits an all-time high after all-time high. The stock market value of Tesla was set to reach $100 billion. This made their market capitalization greater if compared to the combined market value of General Motors and Ford.

In its third-quarter earnings reports in October, Tesla stock has been on a tear after the well-known car maker surprisingly announced its profits. Since then, the stock was just more than $250 per share.

However, the journey of Musk's in the business industry wasn't easy at all. His now-infamous 'funding secured' on Aug. 7 sent the stock spiking but it also marked the chaotic ride of the company and Elon Musk. In the next 16 months that followed, Tesla stock recorded a bottom low just under $177 per share in June before boomeranging back up.

President Trump recalled those rough times of Elon musk and said: "You go back a year and they were talking about the end of the company. And now all of a sudden they're talking about these great things."

The president also shared astonishingly about what Musk's commercial company SpaceX has accomplished most especially with rockets that land themselves during his interview with CNBC on Wednesday. President Trump said: "I spoke to him very recently, and he's also doing the rockets. He likes rockets. And he does good at rockets, too, by the way. I never saw where the engines come down with no wings, no anything, and they're landing. I said I've never seen that before."
Thousands rallied in Baghdad on Friday to demand that American troops leave the country, though their numbers fell short of the "million-man" march called for by an influential Shiite cleric.

The rally came amid heightened anti-US sentiment after a US drone strike earlier this month killed a top Iranian general in the Iraqi capital.

Since mid-morning, large crowds gathered on the Muslim day of prayers as loudspeakers blasted "No, no America!" at a central square in Baghdad.

A child held up a poster reading, "Death to America. Death to Israel."



But by the afternoon the rally had failed to reach the critical numbers called for by radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

Apparently seeking to show control, al-Sadr's supporters did not engage in altercations with security forces or target the separate, anti-government protests in neighboring Tahrir Square, a possibility feared by activists in the lead-up to Friday's march.

Officials and experts said the rally was the cleric's attempt to capitalise on brewing anti-American feeling and show he had the upper-hand on the Iraqi street as negotiations among political elites over who should be the next prime minister stumble on.

In his weekly Friday sermon, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's most revered Shiite cleric, called on political parties stop stalling and move the talks forward.

"The formation of the new government is constitutionally long overdue, it is necessary for the various parties concerned to cooperate," al-Sistani said in a sermon delivered via a representative, "it is an important step toward resolving the current crisis."



Roads and bridges leading to the heavily fortified Green Zone, the seat of Iraq's government and home to several foreign embassies, including the US Embassy, were blocked off by concrete barriers. Iraqi security forces stood guard, blocking access to the gates to the zone.

There was a heavy security presence as the protesters, mostly Shiites hailing from the capital but also Iraq's southern provinces, walked on foot to an assembly point in Baghdad's Jadriya neighborhood, waving Iraqi flags and wearing symbolic white shrouds.

Al-Sadr, whose party won the most seats in the May 2018 parliamentary elections, had called for a "million-man" demonstration to demand the withdrawal of American troops following the US drone strike near Baghdad's airport that killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and senior Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

The killing sparked the ire of Iraqi officials from across the political spectrum.

According to U.S. military officials, rather than draw down, Americans have poured 20,000 additional troops in the Middle East to counter what Washington describes as an escalating threat from Iran.

There are around 5,200 US troops in Iraq, where they help train and assist Iraqi forces in the fight against the Islamic State group.

Iran has long sought the withdrawal of American forces from neighboring Iraq, but the US strike that killed Soleimani in Baghdad has added new impetus to the effort.

In a statement Friday, al-Sadr whose followers fought U.S. troops after the 2003 US-led invasion to oust dictator Saddam Hussein issued a list of conditions for American military presence in Iraq.

The list includes cancelling existing security agreements, closing US military bases, ending the work of American security companies and closing off access to Iraqi airspace.

If the conditions were met, the statement said, "the resistance will temporarily stop until the last soldier leaves Iraq," al-Sadr said, referring to American troops.

Al-Sadr, once a huge thorn in the side of the American occupation after the 2003 invasion, derives political capital from his ability to call on supporters to clog streets and paralyse all movement in Baghdad.

Friday's rally came at a critical time as rival political blocs are jockeying over the selection of a premier to replace outgoing Adel Abdul-Mahdi.

It was supported by mainstream Shiite parties, including that of al-Sadr's political rival Hadi al-Ameri, who heads the Fatah bloc in parliament, as well as the Popular Mobilization Units, an umbrella group comprised of an array of militias, including Iran-backed groups.

Al-Sadr "proved once again he can amass the crowds to take them to the street, cleverly prevented any targeting of protesters in Tahrir Square," tweeted Farhad Alaadin, head of the Iraqi Advisory Council and a former presidential adviser.

In response to a public outcry over the U.S. airstrike that killed Soleimani and al-Muhandis, Iraq's parliament passed a non-binding resolution this month, calling on the government to expel foreign troops from the country.

Kurdish and most Sunni lawmakers boycotted the vote.

"The American forces should leave," said an 18-year-old protester, Amer Saad.

"I am ready to fight against the Americans if Muqtada al-Sadr asks us."



Police and militiamen of the Popular Mobilization Units also closed off roads leading to the protest site, in both Karada and Jadriya neighborhoods of Baghdad. In Tahrir Square, anti-government protesters carefully eyed al-Sadr's anti-U.S. rally but no confrontation took place.

As the anti-US demonstration dwindled away by the early afternoon, the anti-government protesters remained in their sit-in.

"I am not against the Sadrist movement's demonstrations today, but if Muqtada asks for the exit of the Americans and non-intervention, he should raise the same slogan against Iranian interference, to be honest," said one of the anti-government protesters, Yahya Mohammed.

In neighboring Iran, Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said the Baghdad march on Friday was a countdown" to expelling US forces.

"It indicated that Iraqi people are the flagship on the path of expelling the US from the region," he said.

Cleric Mohammad Hassan Abutorabifard who led Friday prayers in the Iranian capital, Tehran, told worshipers that Iraqis at the rally stood by Iranians" following Soleimani's killing.

"The legitimacy of the West-appointed puppet rulers in the region has totally collapsed," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BETHESDA, Maryland, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- Daily low-dose aspirin, from as early as the sixth week of pregnancy through the 36th week, may lower the risk for preterm birth among first-time mothers, suggests a study funded by the National Institutes of Health. The clinical trial, which involved more than 11,000 women in several low- and middle-income countries, found that women taking daily low-dose aspirin were 11% less likely to deliver before the 37th week of pregnancy, compared to those given a placebo.

The study was conducted by Matthew K. Hoffman, M.D., of ChristianaCare in Newark, Delaware, and colleagues in the Global Network for Women's and Children's Health Research, a clinical trials network funded by NIH's Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). It appears in The Lancet.

"Our results suggest that low-dose aspirin therapy in early pregnancy could provide an inexpensive way to lower the preterm birth rate in first-time mothers," said study author Marion Koso-Thomas, M.D., of NICHD's Pregnancy and Perinatology Branch.

Preterm birth is the most common cause of infant death and the leading cause of long-term neurological disability in children. According to the study authors, advances in newborn care have improved survival for preterm infants, but this care is limited or unavailable in many parts of the world. Earlier studies have suggested that low-dose aspirin may reduce the risk of preterm birth and preeclampsia, a potentially life-threatening blood pressure disorder of pregnancy. However, these studies were not large enough to statistically determine the therapy's effectiveness in reducing preterm birth.

The researchers enrolled 11,976 women with a first-time pregnancy from seven sites in India, Pakistan, Zambia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guatemala and Kenya. Roughly half were assigned at random to receive 81 milligrams of aspirin daily; the other group received a daily placebo. Women were included in the study only if they maintained a pregnancy for more than 20 weeks.

Preterm birth (before 37 weeks) occurred in 11.6% of the women who took aspirin and in 13.1% of the women who took the placebo. Similarly, birth before 34 weeks (early preterm delivery) occurred in 3.3% of the aspirin group and 4% of the placebo group (a 25% reduction). Women in the aspirin group also had a lower rate of perinatal mortality (stillbirth or newborn death in the first seven days of life), compared to the placebo group (45.7 per 1,000 births vs 53.6 per 1,000 births). The risk of high blood pressure disorders of pregnancy at term did not differ significantly between the groups.

The authors note that the low cost and safety of low-dose aspirin therapy suggest that it could be easily adapted for widescale use.

Reference

Hoffman, MK, et al. Low dose aspirin for the prevention of preterm delivery in nulliparous women with a singleton pregnancy (ASPIRIN): a randomized multi-country placebo controlled trial. The Lancet. 2019.

About the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): NICHD leads research and training to understand human development, improve reproductive health, enhance the lives of children and adolescents, and optimize abilities for all. For more information, visit http://www.nichd.nih.gov.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov

SOURCE Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Related Links

http://www.nih.gov


French President Emmanuel Macron, who is in Jerusalem to attend a large Holocaust remembrance event, recently got involved in an altercation with Israeli security officers. While visiting the Church of Saint Anne, which belongs to the French government and is considered to be a French territory, Macron was filmed admonishing the security officers for apparently trying to follow him into the church. In the now-viral video Macron can be heard demanding the Israeli security to leave the Jerusalem basilica and saying 'I don't like what you did in front of me'.

In the video, one can hear Macron say, Everybody knows the rules. I don't like what you did in front of me. Nobody has to provoke nobody. Go out -- outside, please! Please respect the rules, they are for centuries. They will not change with me, I can tell you.

READ: France's Macron Cool To Israeli Request To Criticize ICC

French President #EmmanuelMacron has confronted #Israelipolice during a tour of the Old City of #Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/jpug2mHq1a  Nahed Omer (@nahed_omer) January 23, 2020

The Roman Catholic church dates back to the 12th century and was gifted to Napolean III by the Ottoman Sultan in 1856. France also views it as a provocation when Israeli police enter the church's sandstone complex. However, while speaking to an international media outlet, Macron described the incident as a 'moment of irritation' and further said that it ended pleasantly.

READ: Netanyahu, Macron Meet Ahead Of Holocaust Forum

Macron apologises

The Israeli police also reportedly said that the when Macron arrived at the church 'there was discussion' between both the nation's security officers about entering with the president and once the delegation finished the visit, the French President apologised and shook hands with the security personnel. According to reports, Israel's Shin Bet domestic security agency also said that in accordance with the pre-established coordination of security arrangements, a police officer and an officer of the Shin Bet accompanied the french president and his men into the church.

The incident also reminded many of 1996 incident when late former President Jacques Chirac visited Jerusalem during which he also grew testy with Israeli security personnel who were urging him to move on. According to reports, Chirac refused to see armed men enter French territory. He further also declined to enter Saint Anne until Israeli police left.

READ: France's Macron Makes Big Push For More Foreign Investment

READ: Merkel Welcomes Macron Ahead Of Berlin Conference On Libya

(Image source: This_Fake_World_Is_A_Farce/Twitter)
This news release is not for distribution or dissemination in the United States of America.

As a result of a review by staff of the Ontario Securities Commission, we are issuing the following news release regarding our disclosure on the Daniel's Harbour Property.

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 23, 2020 / Ubique Minerals Limited (CSE:UBQ) ("Ubique or the Company") reports that it has filed an amended NI 43-101 report for its Zinc exploration project in Daniel's Harbour, Newfoundland, based on guidance from the Ontario Security Commission ("OSC").

On review of previous disclosures about the project, the OSC staff had advised the following amendments to the NI 43-101 report filed on SEDAR in August 2018:

Removal of references to sources of technical information from Item 3 "Reliance on Other Experts". Inclusion of cautionary language required by section 2.4 of NI 43-101, while referencing historical estimates, and Removal of references to adjacent property information sourced from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador's online Mineral Occurrence Database system

The amended report is available under the Ubique profile at www.sedar.com and on the Company website at www.ubiqueminerals.com.

Ubique also announces the results of the balance of the drill holes completed in the 2019 drill program for which the first results were announced by press release dated October 21st, 2019. Seven holes were completed in the drill program of which the first three holes (UM29 - UM31) were reported previously. Holes UM 32, 33 and 34 were drilled in the vicinity of the P Zone on Ubique's 100% owned mineral license and failed to intersect any zinc values of significance (>4% zinc) but they have helped define the boundaries of the P Zone zinc deposit which is still open along strike to the northeast.

Drill hole UM35 was a vertical hole drilled on the MinKap option property in the area of the historic N Zone drilling. Ubique personnel were unable to find the collar of the historic drill hole C513 that had intersected 6.78% zinc over 13.6 feet from a depth of 461.0 feet in a vertical hole. The collar position for vertical hole UM35 was determined by triangulation from other historic features in the area. The hole intersected several intervals with zinc grades in excess of 1% zinc (see table below) but the average does not compare with the historic hole. Further drilling is being considered to relocate the N Zone mineralization.

From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Zinc % 130.39 131.29 0.90 0.32 135.90 136.12 0.22 1.61 139.76 140.19 0.43 3.63 140.85 141.25 0.40 3.40 141.87 142.40 0.53 1.18



Zinc mineralized intervals identified in the core logging were sampled by half core sawing, with one half of the core shipped to Atlantic Analytical Laboratories of Springdale, Newfoundland for assaying. Atlantic Analytical is an ISO 17025 registered laboratory. Appropriate standards and blanks were inserted into the samples sequence for quality control in accordance with Ubique's standard QA/QC protocol which was developed for the drill program in 2018 (see press release dated November 30th, 2018).

Further historical research by Ubique personnel has identified another area with historic drill intersections which needs drilling to confirm the location, grades and determine the extent of a potential deposit. This target has been named the R Zone and is in the vicinity of historically mined zones C, D and E on the MinKap Option Mineral Licenses area. The key identifier for this zone is historic drill hole #1890, a vertical hole which intersected 11.59% zinc over 32.0 feet from a depth of 44.1 feet. The surrounding zones were shallow enough to be mined as open pits and the intersection in drill hole #1890 suggests a similar depth for the R Zone. Field work will be required, once the ground is clear of snow, to search for the relevant historic drill hole collars.

An Officer and Director of the Company has exercised 250,000 options for common shares of Ubique Minerals Ltd at $0.10 per share. He has also purchased 1,000 shares from the market.

About Ubique Minerals Limited.

Ubique Minerals Limited is a zinc exploration company listed on the CSE (CSE:UBQ). It has focused on exploration of its 100% owned Daniel's Harbour zinc property in Newfoundland and was initially funded for two years by private equity including that from Greenbank Capital Inc (CSE:GBC and OTCMKTS:GRNBF and FRA:2TL). Ubique became a publicly listed company in September 2018. Ubique undertook one drilling program on its Daniel's Harbour zinc project in 2017 and two more drilling campaigns in 2018, and one in 2019 which were successful in delineating zinc mineralization extending from the vicinity of former mine workings. Ubique has an experienced management group with a record of multiple discoveries of deposits worldwide, and has an extensive database of historic exploration results from the Daniel's Harbour area. For more information on Ubique please contact Gerald Harper, CEO, at (416) 232-9114 or by email gharper@ubiquezinc.com or see www.ubiqueminerals.com

More information regarding Ubique's exploration activities and results will be found on their website at www.ubiqueminerals.com

Dr. Gerald Harper, P.Geo.(Ont), P.Eng.(NL), the CEO of Ubique, is the qualified person as defined by NI 43-101 responsible for the technical data presented herein and has reviewed and approved this release.

Forward-Looking Information: This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business and trading in the common stock of Ubique Minerals Limited., the raising of additional capital and the future development of the business. The forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the company's management. Although the company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because Ubique can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. These forward-looking statements are

made as of the date of this press release and Ubique disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Ubique Minerals Limited

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/574017/Ubique-Files-an-Amended-NI-43-101-Report-for-Its-Daniels-Harbour-Zinc-Exploration-Project
To buttress his point Mr Venugopal referred to the preamble and other provisions of Jammu and Kashmir Constitution.

New Delhi: Ruling out plebiscite to determine the status of Jammu and Kashmir since the state is an integral part of India, the Centre on Thursday told the Supreme Court that British wanted J&K should go to Pakistan and not remain with India.

The question of plebiscite does not arise as J&K Constitution says that the state is an integral part of India, said attorney-general K.K. Venugopal, addressing a five-judge Constitution Bench.

The five-judge Constitution Bench of Justices N.V. Ramana, S.K. Kaul, R. Subhash Reddy, B.R. Gavai and Surya Kant on Thursday continued hearing various pleas challenging the abrogation of Article 370, which conferred special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The bench reserved its judgment on a plea by veteran journalist Prem Shankar Jha, PUCL, and the J&K High Court Bar Association seeking that the matter be referred to a larger 7-judge Constitution Bench.

Mr Jha and the J&K High Court Bar Associa-tion have contended that, though in a different perspective, a five judge constitution bench in 1959 and later in 1969 had dealt with Article 370 and both the judgments were conflicting.

Addressing the constitution bench on the status of J&K, the attorney-general said that the J&K Constitution, which unequivocally says that the state was an integral part of the India, was framed by a Constituent Assembly having 25 popularly elected representatives.

To buttress his point Mr Venugopal referred to the preamble and other provisions of Jammu and Kashmir Constitution.

The Centres rejection of plebiscite to determine the status of Jammu and Kashmir apparently came in response to the arguments by senior counsel Zafar Ahmed Shah who had contended that integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India was limited to the integration of territories with Centre controlling defence, external affairs and communication and not other issues internal to the State.
VAN, Turkey - Decades ago, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan prompted thousands of people to flee to neighboring Iran. Now, many of these refugees are once again seeking a new home in a new land, Turkey, desperate to escape the dire economic conditions fueled by U.S. sanctions on Tehran.

Tens of thousands made the dangerous, cross-border trek last year into Turkey, a U.S. ally that is already heaving under the burden of refugees fleeing unrest on its borders.

Turkish authorities are grappling with nearly 4 million refugees. This is the world's largest population of displaced people, according to the United Nations, including more than 170,000 registered Afghan refugees. Turkey has struggled to contain the influx even as aid agencies say the number of arrivals from Iran is on the rise.

In the eastern Turkish city of Van, about 50 miles west of the Iranian border, a growing number of Afghan refugees are forced to sleep on the streets and in public parks and bus terminals, barred by Turkish authorities from traveling farther. Many of them were either born in Iran or lived there for years.

This fresh crisis is one of the unintended consequences of President Donald Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign, which his administration hopes will compel Tehran to negotiate an end to its nuclear energy and ballistic missile programs.

The strategy includes a broad trade embargo with restrictions on banking transactions, oil exports, supplies to Iran's automotive sector and more. Last month, Iran abruptly raised the price of gas to shore up funds for cash handouts, setting off a wave of nationwide unrest, including in areas with large Afghan communities.

Afghans make up the largest group of people crossing the border illegally into Turkey, according to Interior Ministry data. The government says more than 184,000 undocumented Afghans crossed last year - up from about 100,000 in all of 2018. The government does not distinguish between Afghans who lived in Iran before crossing into Turkey and those who simply transited through Iran.

Many more Afghans have slipped over the border undetected, local refugee aid organizations say, the majority of them fleeing hardship in Iran.

Refugees who have made the journey describe harrowing treks over rugged terrain littered with the corpses of those who perished along the way. Some collapsed from exhaustion or were separated from their families amid the chaos and wandered off in the dark. Others say they were shot at by Turkish or Iranian security forces or abandoned by smugglers charging the equivalent of thousands of dollars to hustle them across.

Ramazan, a man from Afghanistan's Ghazni province who uses only one name, recently arrived with his three children. As they walked through the mountain passages at night, he said, his wife fell from the ridge. He could hear her screams from the canyon, he said, but the smugglers forced them to keep walking.

"We walked for 24 hours. We could see the bodies of people who fell to their deaths. People had broken arms and broken legs. Some of the elderly were left behind," said Maryam Fazly, an Afghan mother of six who said she had lived in Tehran for 10 years.

The soft-spoken widow from northern Afghanistan was sitting forlorn with her children in a grassy lot at the main bus terminal in Van. They had arrived just days earlier, fearing they could no longer survive in Iran.

Police have ordered refugees to squat at the bus station while local authorities prepare to register the new arrivals. Once processed, they are either transferred to another city, moved into a guarded tent camp or, in some cases, deported to Afghanistan, a place many of them have never even seen.

Iran hosts about 1 million Afghan refugees who are registered with the United Nations and permitted to work in certain industries. Afghans began arriving in large numbers following the 1979 Soviet invasion of their country.

Aid agencies and the U.N. say that as many as 3 million Afghans live in Iran, most of whom are undocumented and, therefore, uniquely vulnerable to economic and social strife.

On a recent afternoon at the Van bus station, dozens of Afghan families napped together on woven carpets in the grass while women bathed children in a small fountain and hung laundry on a rusty chain-link fence. One man in a gray suit, an Afghan who said he had lived in Iran for 30 years, wandered the parking lot with a warm kettle, pouring tea for his fellow refugees.

"A lot of Afghans are leaving Iran for Turkey because of the economic situation. Everything got worse for us because of America's new policies toward Iran," said Tamana Ghulami, 20, a refugee who had lived in Tehran with her Afghan husband, an out-of-work tailor.

The couple traveled to Van with relatives who say they left Afghanistan over the summer because of threats from Taliban insurgents in their farming village in the north. The extended family said they sought a more stable life in Turkey or Europe.

"In Iran, there are no jobs and there are even fewer jobs for Afghan refugees," said Ghulami, a turquoise-and-gold-patterned scarf framing her face. "Everything is expensive, and we have no authorization to work. We knew that we wouldn't even be able to afford having children if we stayed there."

Ghulami's tale of poverty and insecurity was echoed by dozens of other refugees at the bus station. In Iran, they said, they had eked out a meager existence as part of a migrant underclass, taking menial jobs as day laborers, farmhands, tailors and blacksmiths. They faced discrimination at work and on the streets, living under the constant threat of deportation and regular abuse by police.

When the United States reimposed sanctions in 2018, Afghans were among the first to suffer the fallout. Imports fell and prices rose, putting basic food items out of reach for many Afghan families. Business owners halted payments to employees or laid off workers, citing the drop in trade.

"I worked in the basement of a shop making shoes. But even as prices grew higher, my salary stayed the same," said Reza Ahmadi, 23. He said he left Afghanistan as a child when the Taliban were in control and had lived in Iran ever since.

"When the sanctions started, our boss stopped paying us on time or he would pay us less than what we were owed. One day I would have work and the next day there would be none," he said. "It was so hard."

According to the Norwegian Refugee Council, the largest of only five international nongovernmental aid agencies working in Iran, even the delivery of aid to Afghan refugees is at risk because banks are refusing to transfer money because of the sanctions.

"We are hitting brick walls on every side," Jan Egeland, the organization's secretary general, said in a statement.

As a result, Egeland said, "the number of Afghans in need has nearly doubled and pushed almost 3 million people into emergency levels of hunger."

Rajaba Rezai, 50, arrived in Iran from Afghanistan's Samangan province as a teenager. Despite Iran's labor restrictions on Afghans, Rezai said, he eventually managed to open a plastics manufacturing workshop in the city of Qom, where he produced rubber sandals sold in local bazaars.

But the Trump administration sanctioned Iran's largest petrochemical holding company and more than three dozen of its subsidiaries. Soon, the synthetic plastic polymer that Rajaba needed to manufacture the shoes became unaffordable. Then, customers stopped placing orders. So, after more than three decades in Iran, Rajaba sold his factory and fled to Turkey with his wife and children.

"We could barely tolerate our lives before, but then we simply could not handle the situation anymore," Rajaba said from his sparse apartment in Van. "I had no money and no life. We decided to escape from this hell."

Rajaba, like the other refugees, described a perilous trip across the border with his wife, who was pregnant at the time.

At a cemetery north of Van, the growing number of freshly dug graves is a testament to the dangers of the journey - and how many are making the trek.

Seyyed Mustafa Hashimi, an Afghan who has lived in Van for more than a decade, oversees the burials. In recent months, authorities have had to expand the cemetery to accommodate the rising number of Afghan refugees dying along the way.

Some of those buried here, on a gentle slope near the central train station, were killed in road accidents as smugglers transported them from the border. Others perished on mountain trails and were retrieved by Turkish forces. Most of them died this year.

Many carried no identification. Their graves include a simple cement marker painted with a mix of numbers and letters.

"If the morgue cannot find their families, either dead or alive, they will call me and I will bury them - without any name, without anything," said Mohammed Hussein Soltani, 34, an Afghan imam who volunteers to wash and prepare the bodies for burial.

"They lost hope in their lives, so they came here," he said. "But there is no solution."
Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

San Francisco, 23 January 2020: The Report Agricultural Biotechnology Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Application (Vaccine, Flower Culturing, Biofuels), Organism (Plants, Animals, Microbes), By Region And Segment Forecasts, 2019  2025

The global agricultural biotechnology market size is expected to reach USD 161.45 billion by 2025 growing at a CAGR of 7.07%, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Advent of unique genetic resources and genome modification tools is anticipated to enhance understanding of plant biology over the coming years. Additionally, a rise in demand for biofuel owing to depletion of conventional fuel is further projected to propel the market growth.

Penetration of genetic engineering tools has been recognized as a solution to overcome the pitfalls of conventional vaccine production. Genetically engineered vaccines have the potential of transforming the vaccine development scenario in the future. These products are continuously assessed by vaccine developing companies to understand the significance of recombinant vaccines in clinical as well as economical aspects which has made significant contributions to the revenue generated by vaccine development application segment in 2018.

Development of transgenic livestock is expected to immensely impact the improvement of nutrition, human health, animal welfare, reducing diseased livestock, and enhancing environmental protection. Moreover, genetic modification carried out in stem cells, livestock, and others are attributed to result in high-quality food and more yield from livestock. Some of the frequently adopted techniques for the development of transgenic animals include recombinant retroviruses, pronuclear Injection, sperm-mediated DNA transfer, embryonic stem cells, germ cell transplantation, and nuclear transfer Cloning.

Access Research Report of Agricultural Biotechnology Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/agricultural-biotechnology-market

Further key findings from the study suggest:

Transgenic crops & animals segment accounted for the highest revenue generated in 2018 and is anticipated to maintain this trend throughout the forecast period

Vaccine development segment is set to grow at the fastest pace from 2019-2025

Agricultural biotechnology for plants has dominated with respect to market share and is projected to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period

Agricultural biotechnology for animals is the fastest growing organism type segment from 2019-2025

North America is the leading regional market due to the high penetration of novel biotechnology tools

In addition, a number of public-private partnerships has grown significantly in this region. These initiatives allow the development and maintenance of public infrastructure, agriculture, and healthcare programs in North America

Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing regional market owing to supportive climatic conditions in different countries, which allows multiple growing seasons in a single year

A robust network of local agricultural biotechnology manufacturers has significantly contributed to the revenue generated by Asia Pacific

Some of the key participants in agricultural biotechnology market are KWS SAAT SE & Co. KGaA, Corteva, MITSUI & CO., LTD, Evogene Ltd., Valent BioSciences LLC, and Bayer AG among others

Browse more reports of this category by Grand View Research at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry/biotechnology

Grand View Research has segmented the global agricultural biotechnology market on the basis of application, organism type, and region:

Agricultural Biotechnology Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2014 - 2025)

Vaccine Development

Transgenic Crops & Animals

Antibiotic Development

Nutritional Supplements

Flower Culturing

Biofuels

Agricultural Biotechnology Organism Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2014 - 2025)

Plants Conventional Techniques Established Genetic Modification New Breeding Techniques

Animals Conventional Techniques Established Genetic Modification New Breeding Techniques

Microbes Conventional Techniques Established Genetic Modification New Breeding Techniques



Agricultural Biotechnology Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Billion, 2014 - 2025)

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

MEA

Access Press Release of Agricultural Biotechnology Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-agricultural-biotechnology-market

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.

For More Information: www.grandviewresearch.com
Heavy rain kills dozens in Madagascar



Antananarivo, Jan 24 (AFP) Jan 24, 2020



At least 21 people have died in Madagascar following almost a week of torrential rain in the north-west of the island, the government said on Friday.

The tropical Indian Ocean nation is in the midst of an intense six-month rainy season that often leads to casualties and widespread damage.

Flooding in the districts of Mitsinjo and Maevatanana has claimed at least 21 lives since Sunday, and 20 more people are still missing and thousands have been displaced, the National Bureau of Disaster Risk Management (BNGRC) announced on Friday.

Strips of road were swept away by the rains and access to affected areas has been cut off.

The BNGRC warned that flooding in lowland and rice-growing areas posed a risk of "food insecurity and malnutrition".

A disruption in the supply of basic goods could also lead to surge in prices, it added.

Prime Minister Christian Ntsay declared the situation a "national loss".

"The government is calling on national figures and international partners to help the Malagasy people with emergency aid, early recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction," spokeswoman Lalatiana Andriatongarivo said in a statement.

The rainy season usually stretches from October to April in Madagascar, a former French colony off Africa's southeastern coast.

Global warming has increased the risk and intensity of flooding, as the atmosphere holds more water and rainfall patterns are disrupted.

Nine people were killed in January 2019 after heavy rains caused a building to collapse in the capital Antananarivo.

During this period, the country is also often hit by cyclones and other tropical storms.

Cyclone Belna landed in the northwest last month, killing at least two people and displacing hundreds.
By Associated Press

JOHANNESBURG: Even as destroyed US military aircraft smoldered from an al-Shabab attack that killed three Americans this month in Kenya, the al-Qaida-linked group issued a taunting message to African troops: The US will abandon you just as it did the Kurds.

Islamic extremists are already exploiting possible US military cuts in Africa that have caused a rare bipartisan outcry in Washington, with lawmakers stressing the need to counter China and Russia and contain a growing threat from Islamic State group affiliates.

Heres a look at the issue that has caused alarm among some US security allies, while the US probes the deadliest attack against its military in Africa since 2017.

What's at stake?

Worried US partners have pointed out the poor timing of reducing the US military presence: Africas extremist groups "set a record pace of activity in 2019" with more than 10,400 killings, a doubling of activity since 2013, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies says in a new report.

The US Africa Command, signaling concern over the Pentagons potential cuts, has emphasized the Somalia-based al-Shabab as a threat after its leader in November made an unprecedented call to attack Americans wherever they are.

Neither China nor Russia is doing much to counter Africa's extremist groups, US Africa Command officials added in a briefing last week.

The Pentagon's possible reduction of US troops in Africa is part of a worldwide review by Defense Secretary Mark Esper, who is looking for ways to tighten the focus on China and Russia. It is not known when a decision will be announced, but officials say Esper has made clear the US will not withdraw from Africa entirely.

France, which held a counterterror summit with West African leaders this month, has been blunt about the need for US military support in the Sahel, the region just below the Sahara Desert, as groups linked to al-Qaida and IS move closer to well-populated coastal cities in countries like Ghana and Ivory Coast.

The French are increasing their presence in West Africa against what is now Africa's most serious extremist threat, this month announcing additional troops for its 4,500-strong operation in the Sahel and last month carrying out its first armed drone strike there.

If the Americans were to decide to withdraw from Africa, it would be bad news for us. I confirm it, French President Emmanuel Macron said at the summit. I hope I can convince President Trump that the fight against terrorism, in which he is deeply engaged, is also at stake in this region.

The US , in turn, calls the French presence critical in the Sahel, which Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has suggested as the next focus for the global anti-IS coalition.

The French have more in the Sahel than we have US service members on the entire (African) continent, Maj. Gen. William Gayler, the US Africa Command director of operations, acknowledged last week. He called for a larger European contribution to support them.

The US has about 5,200 Africa Command personnel, troops and others, on the continent, plus about 800 other Department of Defense personnel.

Why are lawmakers speaking out?

High-profile Republicans and Democrats have warned the Trump administration that cutting the US military presence in Africa would hand over influence on the youthful, booming continent of 1.2 billion people to an assertive China and Russia.

That goes directly against national security strategy, the lawmakers say.

Both countries view Africa as a critical battlefield to fulfill their global ambitions and challenge US interests including along critical maritime routes, the Senate Armed Services Committee chairman, Jim Inhofe, said Friday. "Significant" US troop cuts are being considered, he said.

Other lawmakers pointed out the recent establishment of Chinas first overseas military base in the Horn of Africa nation of Djibouti  a short distance from the US military's only permanent base in Africa  as well as growing Russian activity via mercenaries and military cooperation deals.

The presence in Africa of about a dozen extremist groups linked to al-Qaida or IS, including an IS-linked offshoot of Boko Haram in Nigeria, also has raised concern.

Any withdrawal or reduction would likely result in a surge in violent extremist attacks on the continent and beyond, senators Lindsey Graham and Chris Coons wrote to the defense secretary last week.

What was that about Americans killed in Kenya?

The al-Shabab attack in Kenya slipped largely under the global radar as the US and Iran faced off over the US killing of Iran's top military commander. But the Jan. 5 attack was notable as al-Shabab's first against US forces in Kenya, East Africa's economic hub.

According to internal Kenyan police reports seen by The Associated Press and US Africa Command statements, the al-Shabab fighters killed a US service member and two Defense Department contractors, wounded two other Defense Department members and destroyed several US aircraft and vehicles at an airfield used for counterterror activities.

The US on Thursday identified the Americans killed as US Army Spc. Henry J. Mayfield, Jr and US contractors Bruce Triplett and Dustin Harrison. An investigation continues and extra troop protection has been put in place, the statement said, while acknowledging that the enemy achieved a degree of success in its attack.

A very small US force ... absolutely repelled the al-Shabab attackers away from the airfield. They did that under fire, Gayler with the US Africa Command told reporters last week. But the extremist group blared its attack as a propaganda win, releasing images of masked fighters posing next to aircraft in flames.

The US has increasingly targeted al-Shabab in Somalia under Trump, saying it carried out 63 airstrikes against the group last year and killed more than 320 fighters.

But even US officials have expressed concern about another looming military withdrawal that could jolt security in East Africa  the planned pullout of nearly 20,000 African Union forces from Somalia by next year. Somali forces are meant to take over security but are widely seen as not ready.
Donald Trump, with an eye towards his re-election campaign, reminded a key part of his conservative political base of all he has done to chip away at abortion rights since becoming president.

"Since my first day in office, I've taken historic action to support America's families and to protect the unborn," he said at the March for Life rally on the National Mall, becoming the first US president to address the event in person. "When we see the image of the baby in the womb, we glimpse the majesty of God's creation."

He walked the anti-abortion crowd through the actions he has taken since January 2017, reminding them "we issued a landmark pro-life rule to govern the use of Title X taxpayer funding."

Mr Trump also portrayed himself as fighting Democrats in Congress who want to change laws to make it easier for women to end pregnancies.

"I notified Congress that I would veto any legislation that weakens pro-life policies or that encourages the destruction of human life," he said to loud cheers. "As the Bible teaches us, each person is wonderfully made."

Protests across US after abortion laws enforced Show all 20 1 /20 Protests across US after abortion laws enforced Protests across US after abortion laws enforced Missouri AFP/Getty Protests across US after abortion laws enforced Alabama Getty Protests across US after abortion laws enforced New York AFP/Getty Protests across US after abortion laws enforced Georgia Getty Protests across US after abortion laws enforced Atlanta Getty Protests across US after abortion laws enforced Alabama AFP/Getty Protests across US after abortion laws enforced Missouri Getty Protests across US after abortion laws enforced Alabama AFP/Getty Protests across US after abortion laws enforced Georgia Getty Protests across US after abortion laws enforced Georgia Getty Protests across US after abortion laws enforced Missouri AFP/Getty Protests across US after abortion laws enforced Washington, DC Getty Protests across US after abortion laws enforced Louisiana AFP/Getty Protests across US after abortion laws enforced Louisiana AFP/Getty Protests across US after abortion laws enforced Missouri AFP/Getty Protests across US after abortion laws enforced Missouri AFP/Getty Protests across US after abortion laws enforced Missouri AFP/Getty Protests across US after abortion laws enforced Washington, DC AFP/Getty Protests across US after abortion laws enforced Georgia Getty Protests across US after abortion laws enforced Alabama AFP/Getty

Trump rarely speaks about his own faith, but he invoked a higher power several times on Friday.

"We've taken decisive action, religious liberty - so important, religious liberty," he said. "Very strongly attacked in our nation. You see it better than anyone. But we are stopping it.

"Sadly, the far left is actively working to erase our God-given rights, shut down faith-based charities, ban religious believers from the public square and silence Americans who believe in the sanctity of life," Mr Trump said.

He even contended House Democrats impeached him and are arguing for the Senate to remove him because he is pushing a conservative agenda. "They are coming after me because I am fighting for you. ... We will win because we know how to win," he said at the March for Life on the National Mall.

Notably, he also reminded the large audience that he put two conservative justices on the Supreme Court, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh - both are staunchly pro-life. And conservative voters say they think about Supreme Court vacancies more than liberal voters do, according to reams of polling data.

The United States has "never had a stronger defender in the White House," he said, hammering home his point.

The event was an official White House policy affair, but his brief time on the Mall felt more like one of his campaign rallies.

He came out to Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA," which is his rally introduction song. He left to the Rolling Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want."

The president, always thinking about his re-election bid, became the first chief executive to address the march in person. In doing so, he excited part of his conservative political base months before an election that political strategists say likely will come down to which side can get their base to the voting booth in big numbers.

New polling conducted this month by the nonpartisan Gallup organisation shows that bloc's views on the subject remain largely unchanged. But Gallup found overall disatisfaction with abortion laws now stands at 58 percent, the highest figure since it began asking voters in 2002. Democratic and independent voters want less strict abortion laws, but Mr Trump has shown little interest in expanding his political base, again and again trying to please conservatives.

Mr Trump has fully endorsed the pro-life movement after anti-abortion groups and activists worried as he took office that he might not live up to promises he made them as a candidate in 2016.

But he was greeted warmly when he arrived on the National Mall on Friday afternoon.

That's because he has endorsed the kind of abortion ban favoured by the pro-life movement. (He has said he supports exceptions for rape and incest cases, as well as when the life of a mother is at risk.) Mr Trump also frequently mentions at political rallies and some official White House events that he supports banning abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy.

As he did Friday, Mr Trump is never shy when reminding a specific group that he has kept his campaign promises.

"When I ran for office, I pledged to stand for life. And as President, that's exactly what I've done. And I have kept my promise, and I think everybody here understands that fully," he told a pro-life group in May 2018.

But also fuelling America's fight over abortion are powerful groups that support a woman's right to choose to end a pregnancy.

One is NARAL Pro-Choice America says in a statement on its website that the president "has already shown his anti-woman agenda in his actions." The group also raised alarms about Mr Trump's "support for a number of anti-choice policies that would have a devastating impact on women nationwide."

But anti-abortion organisations and GOP lawmakers hailed him for being the first president to address the group in person, and for his policy actions.

House minority leader Kevin McCarthy on Friday said the Trump administration "has made significant strides in the fight for life. He has appointed pro-life judges, slashed taxpayer funding for abortion providers, and created a new office for conscience protection at the Department of Health and Human Services. His advocacy and initiative has moved our country in the right direction and I am optimistic we will continue to make meaningful progress.
The Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission approved another agreement with the Athens Housing Authority in the renovation plans of Bethel Midtown Village and sent an e-scooter plan to the Athens in Motion Commission on Jan. 7.
On Tuesday, January 28, at 10.30, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency will host a press conference on the subject: "Political Refugees in Ukraine: Between Irresponsibility of State Migration Service and Indecision of Judicial Authorities." Participants include representative of NGO Human Rights Movement of Crimea Damir Minadirov, co-founder of NGO Azan Association of Muslim Refugees Anvar Derkach, political migrants Ildar Valiyev and Marat Akhmetov, Head of the Hizb ut-Tahrir information office in Ukraine Fazyl Amzayev (8/5a Reitarska Street). Registration on the spot requires press documents.
On the 40th anniversary in 1985, ABC News anchor Peter Jennings visited Auschwitz with Elie Wiesel, the Nobel laureate and Auschwitz survivor, to consider the horror of Nazi genocide. Jennings asked a logical question: How could the Jews of Europe have become victims in their own countries? How did they not recognize the German intention to exterminate the Jews? Why did they seemingly submit so easily? Wiesel had taken up this same question in his acclaimed memoir Night, in which Moishe the Beadle returned home to warn villagers after he survived a far-off Nazi massacre. No one believed him. His tale was too fantastical. The Jews put trust in a society that reviled them. Many Jews did flee before the war, but many did not.
Dividend paying stocks like Global International Credit Group Limited (HKG:1669) tend to be popular with investors, and for good reason - some research suggests a significant amount of all stock market returns come from reinvested dividends. Yet sometimes, investors buy a popular dividend stock because of its yield, and then lose money if the company's dividend doesn't live up to expectations.

With a goodly-sized dividend yield despite a relatively short payment history, investors might be wondering if Global International Credit Group is a new dividend aristocrat in the making. We'd agree the yield does look enticing. There are a few simple ways to reduce the risks of buying Global International Credit Group for its dividend, and we'll go through these below.

Click the interactive chart for our full dividend analysis

SEHK:1669 Historical Dividend Yield, January 23rd 2020

Payout ratios

Dividends are usually paid out of company earnings. If a company is paying more than it earns, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. So we need to form a view on if a company's dividend is sustainable, relative to its net profit after tax. In the last year, Global International Credit Group paid out 30% of its profit as dividends. This is a medium payout level that leaves enough capital in the business to fund opportunities that might arise, while also rewarding shareholders. Plus, there is room to increase the payout ratio over time.

Remember, you can always get a snapshot of Global International Credit Group's latest financial position, by checking our visualisation of its financial health.

Dividend Volatility

From the perspective of an income investor who wants to earn dividends for many years, there is not much point buying a stock if its dividend is regularly cut or is not reliable. Looking at the data, we can see that Global International Credit Group has been paying a dividend for the past five years. During the past five-year period, the first annual payment was HK$0.027 in 2015, compared to HK$0.054 last year. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 15% a year over that time. The growth in dividends has not been linear, but the CAGR is a decent approximation of the rate of change over this time frame.

Story continues

It's not great to see that the payment has been cut in the past. We're generally more wary of companies that have cut their dividend before, as they tend to perform worse in an economic downturn.

Dividend Growth Potential

With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to see if earnings per share (EPS) are growing. Why take the risk of a dividend getting cut, unless there's a good chance of bigger dividends in future? Earnings have grown at around 4.0% a year for the past five years, which is better than seeing them shrink! Global International Credit Group is paying out less than half of its earnings, which we like. Earnings per share growth have grown slowly, which is not great, but if the retained earnings can be reinvested effectively, future growth may be stronger.

Conclusion

To summarise, shareholders should always check that Global International Credit Group's dividends are affordable, that its dividend payments are relatively stable, and that it has decent prospects for growing its earnings and dividend. We're glad to see Global International Credit Group has a low payout ratio, as this suggests earnings are being reinvested in the business. Second, earnings growth has been ordinary, and its history of dividend payments is chequered - having cut its dividend at least once in the past. While we're not hugely bearish on it, overall we think there are potentially better dividend stocks than Global International Credit Group out there.

See if management have their own wealth at stake, by checking insider shareholdings in Global International Credit Group stock.

If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of dividend stocks yielding above 3%.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
[January 24, 2020] Arkansas Nonprofit Received $440K to Construct 56-Unit Housing Development

Strategic Community Investments of Fort Smith, Arkansas, was recently awarded a $440,000 Affordable Housing Program (AHP) grant from Arvest Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas). The grant will help fund the construction of Electric Park, a 56-unit apartment and four-plex community for low- to very low-income, special-needs, elderly and homeless individuals. Strategic Community Investments is the nonprofit development company for the project and sister organization of Fort Smith Housing Authority (FSHA). Its mission is to advance affordable housing through community and economic development projects such as Electric Park. FSHA Executive Director Mitchell Minnick said the AHP grant was the boost the project needed to get off the ground. "The AHP funds are going to be very impactful to the project," said Mr. Minnick. "We previously applied for a federal low-income housing tax credit last year to get started. However, we were unsuccessful. Now that we have these committed funds, Strategic Community Investments can apply through the Arkansas state agency for the tax credits." The construction of Electric Park is expected to begin in November 2020 and be completed by late 2021. Electric Park will be a mixed-income rental development containing single unit apartment and four-plex buildings. The complex will include 12 units earmarked for market rate tenants. The remainder of the development will be reserved for lower income, special-needs and homeless tenants. Virgil Miller, group CRA director of Arvest Bank Operations, said the program gives the bank an opportunity to create an impact at the micro-level of the community it serves. "We are happy to be part of this project to help revitalize the Fort Smith community and cultvate Strategic Community Investments' mission," said Mr. Miller. "Providing safe, decent and affordable housing could not be accomplished without our partnership with FHLB Dallas."



FHLB Dallas awards AHP grants annually through members like Arvest Bank to support the creation or rehabilitation of affordable housing units, among other uses. In 2019, FHLB Dallas awarded $17 million in AHP grants to 35 projects that will result in 2,122 new or renovated housing units. Of that, $2 million was awarded to Arkansas projects, and will result in 231 new or rehabilitated housing units. "FHLB Dallas is proud to work with member institutions such as Arvest Bank to provide various programs like AHP and enhance their relationship with customers and the community," said Greg Hettrick, first vice president and director of Community Investment at FHLB Dallas.

Mr. Minnick said the AHP grant will make a great difference to the Fort Smith community. "When outside institutions such as Arvest Bank and FHLB Dallas have the willingness and ability to invest in a local community, our citizens know that our organization is on the right track and doing everything we can for the people of Fort Smith to provide safe, decent and affordable housing," said Mr. Minnick. For more information about the AHP, visit fhlb.com/ahp. About Arvest Bank Arvest Bank, named by Forbes magazine as one of the "World's Best Banks" for 2019, operates more than 260 bank branches in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas through a group of 14 locally managed banks, each with its own board and management team. These banks serve customers in more than 135 communities, with extended weekday banking hours at many locations. Arvest also provides a wide range of banking services including loans, deposits, treasury management, credit cards, mortgage loans and mortgage servicing. Arvest is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC. About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank system created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $73.8 billion as of September 30, 2019, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced advances and other credit products to approximately 815 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. Visit fhlb.com for more information. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005444/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
[January 24, 2020] Axalta Announces New Wood Coatings Distributor for Greater Chicago area

HIGH POINT, N.C., Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Axalta (NYSE: AXTA), a leading global supplier of liquid and powder coatings, today announced an exciting partnership with JC Licht, a premier paint retailer with nearly 40 locations in Chicago and surrounding suburbs. JC Licht will stock Axalta's wide variety of technologies, including lacquers, catalyzed coatings, ultra-violet (UV) curables, stains, glazes and dyes. "JC Licht is a dynamic company with an impressive reputation in the region. Their experience and knowledgeable staff makes the team an ideal partner for us, and Axalta is thrilled to work with them," said Wade Arnold, Vice President of Industrial Wood Coatings for Axalta. "This partnership will support our growth in the Chicago area and allow us to better serve the market." "JC Licht offers the finest paint and paint-related products, along with advice at the highest levels, to create an unmatched resource within the painting and decorating industry," said Elliot Greenberg, President and CEO for JC Licht. "We are looking forward to our collaboration with Axalta and are confident their experience and in-depth knowledge of the industrial wood coatings market will help us deliver first-class coatings solutions to our customers." Axalta provides innovative coating technologies to its world-class distribution partners, and ensures their success through dedicated training and comprehensive marketing and sales support. Axalta coatings provide durbility and rich color to applications such as cabinetry, furniture, millwork, etc.



For more information on Axalta industrial wood coatings, visit www.axaltawoodcoatings.com. For more information on JC Licht, visit www.jclicht.com

About Axalta Axalta is a leading global company focused solely on coatings and providing customers with innovative, colorful, beautiful and sustainable solutions. From light OEM vehicles, commercial vehicles and refinish applications to electric motors, buildings and pipelines, our coatings are designed to prevent corrosion, increase productivity and enable the materials we coat to last longer. With more than 150 years of experience in the coatings industry, the approximately 14,000 people of Axalta continue to find ways to serve our more than 100,000 customers in 130 countries better every day with the finest coatings, application systems and technology. For more information visit axalta.com and follow us @Axalta on Twitter and on LinkedIn. Contact

Vanessa Navarro

D +1 856 313 9825

[email protected]

axalta.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/axalta-announces-new-wood-coatings-distributor-for-greater-chicago-area-300992959.html SOURCE Axalta

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
A migrant boat ferrying 20 Indonesian workers sank on its way to Malaysia on January 21 and rescuers have found 10 survivors and were conducting a search operation on Thursday for ten missing workers, according to the reports. The rescue team said that they have recovered one body. Pekanbaru rescue spokesperson, Kukuh Widodo said that the boat began leaking and sank about an hour after leaving Rupat island in the Bengkalis regency late Tuesday. Kukuh said that the 10 survivors are identified mostly belonging from North Sumatra and were rescued with life jackets.

READ: 7 Killed As Migrant Boats Capsizes In Lake In Eastern Turkey

One passenger's body recovered: Police

Sigit Adiwuryant, Bengkalis Local Police Chief confirmed that later on Thursday one passenger's body had been recovered. The emergency services and rescuers involve the Indonesian navy and local water police who used an inflatable boat to search the spot where the boat submerged. The local police chief said that the survivors told them the trip was illegal and were not verified and not carrying any documents. Boats and ferries are common means of transportation in the island nation with more than 17,000 islands. Accidents caused by overcrowding and poor safety standards are very common.

READ: Toll Rises To 63 In Migrant Boat Capsizing Off Mauritania

60 migrants lost their lives

In a similar incident, around 60 migrants lost their lives in a boat crash that took place off the coast of Mauritius. Sources have reported that the boat with the migrants was heading for Spain and reportedly crashed some 15 miles from the city of Nouadhibou on December 4. As per the reports of the International Organisation of Migration, the boat had originated from the Gambia with 150 passengers in total. The rescue operation that was conducted found 57 bodies. 83 of the passengers survived. According to one of the survivors, the boat had left the Gambia on November 27.

READ: Migrant Boat Crashes Off Mauritian Coast With 150 Passengers, 57 Dead

READ: 9 Dead, 22 Rescued After Migrant Boat Capsizes Off Italian Island

READ: 4 Fishermen Rescued By Lankan Navy After Their Boat Capsizes
George Soros has pledged $1 billion towards a new university network project which will battle "the erosion of civil society in a world increasingly ruled by would-be and actual dictators and beset by climate change".

Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos on January 23, the US-based financier and philanthropist added that "humanity was at a turning point" and that the coming years would determine the fate of rulers such as US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and the world itself.

He described the plan of the Open Society University Network (OSUN) as "the most important project of my life" and would be an international platform for teaching and research that existing universities all over the world would be able to join.

"To demonstrate our commitment to OSUN, we are contributing $1 billion to it," said Soros in his traditional annual Davos address. It would seek to reach out to "places in need of high-quality education and in serving neglected populations" such as refugees, prisoners, the Roma and other displaced peoples like the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar, he said.

"We live at a transformational moment in history. The survival of open societies is endangered and we face an even greater crisis: climate change," said the Hungarian-born billionaire.

He expressed grief that the world's strongest powers -- the US, China and Russia under President Vladimir Putin -- were "in the hands of would-be or actual dictators and the ranks of authoritarian rulers continued to grow."

With nationalism making further headway around the world, Soros said that the "biggest and most frightening setback" was in India, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "creating a Hindu nationalist state."

He again slammed Trump, describing the US leader as a "conman and the ultimate narcissist" but said the current surge in economic strength for the United States may have come too soon for the US leader as he faces re-election later this year.

"Trump... has managed to overheat an already buoyant economy. An overheated economy can't be kept at the boiling point for too long," warned Soros, credited with correctly predicting major market swings in his career as an investor.

"If all this happened close to the election it would have assured his election. His problem is that the election is still 10 months away and, in a revolutionary situation, that's a lifetime."

But Soros also expressed particular alarm over Xi, who he said had broken with Communist Party tradition by concentrating power around himself, with the Chinese economy losing its previous flexibility.

While Xi Jinping "became a dictator as soon as he gained sufficient strength" his "success is far from assured" as demographics caused by the one-child policy work against China.

He said that most troublingly, Xi was seeking to bring into existence "a new type of authoritarian system and a new type of human being who is willing to surrender his personal autonomy in order to stay out of trouble." "Once lost, personal autonomy will be difficult to recover. An open society would have no place in such a world."
Passive investing in index funds can generate returns that roughly match the overall market. But one can do better than that by picking better than average stocks (as part of a diversified portfolio). For example, the Hebei Construction Group Corporation Limited (HKG:1727) share price is up 37% in the last year, clearly besting the market return of around 3.5% (not including dividends). So that should have shareholders smiling. Note that businesses generally develop over the long term, so the returns over the last year might not reflect a long term trend.

View our latest analysis for Hebei Construction Group

While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS).

Over the last twelve months, Hebei Construction Group actually shrank its EPS by 49%.

This means it's unlikely the market is judging the company based on earnings growth. Therefore, it seems likely that investors are putting more weight on metrics other than EPS, at the moment.

Absent any improvement, we don't think a thirst for dividends is pushing up the Hebei Construction Group's share price. Rather, we'd posit that the revenue increase of 16% might be more meaningful. Revenue growth often does precede earnings growth, so some investors might be willing to forgo profits today because they have their eyes fixed firmly on the future.

The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers).

SEHK:1727 Income Statement, January 23rd 2020

It's probably worth noting that the CEO is paid less than the median at similar sized companies. It's always worth keeping an eye on CEO pay, but a more important question is whether the company will grow earnings throughout the years. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on Hebei Construction Group's earnings, revenue and cash flow.

Story continues

What About Dividends?

As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. As it happens, Hebei Construction Group's TSR for the last year was 44%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return.

A Different Perspective

It's nice to see that Hebei Construction Group shareholders have gained 44% over the last year , including dividends . We regret to report that the share price is down 4.9% over ninety days. It may simply be that the share price got ahead of itself, although there may have been fundamental developments that are weighing on it. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. To that end, you should learn about the 4 warning signs we've spotted with Hebei Construction Group (including 1 which is is a bit unpleasant) .

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies we expect will grow earnings.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on HK exchanges.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Tulsi Gabbard, the Democratic presidential contender, on January 22 reportedly sued Hillary Clinton for defamation and is now seeking $50 million in damages for harming her reputation. According to international media reports, Gabbard alleged that Clinton tarnished her reputation by suggesting her to be a 'Russian asset' and 'favourite of the Russians'. The lawsuit has been filed in the Southern District of New York and it further suggests that Gabbard suffered an economic loss to be proven at trial.

Gabbard has reportedly said in the lawsuit that Clinton got exactly what she wanted by lying about Gabbard and she harmed her political and personal rival's reputation and ongoing presidential campaign. It further also said that the statement by Clinton had started a damaging whisper campaign based on baseless, but vicious, untruths. The lawsuit also said that Gabbard seeks to hold Clinton and the political elites accountable for distorting the truth in the middle of a critical presidential election.

READ: Hillary Clinton Claims "nobody Likes" Bernie Sanders; Alleges 'sexism' In His Campaign

Tiff between Clinton and Gabbard

Gabbard's lawsuit comes after Clinton made remarks back in October claiming that she is the 'favourite of Russians' and addressed her as a 'Russian asset'. Clinton said, in an apparent reference to Gabbard. "I'm not making any predictions but I think they've got their eye on somebody who is currently in the Democratic primary and are grooming her to be the third-party candidate.

READ: Hillary Clinton Appointed As Chancellor Of Queen's University Belfast In Ireland

However, after Clinton's comments in October Gabbard lashed out at the former First Lady, Hillary Clinton and called her 'the queen of warmongers'. Gabbard in a tweet said, You, the queen of warmongers, embodiment of corruption, and personification of the rot that has sickened the Democratic Party for so long, have finally come out from behind the curtain. From the day I announced my candidacy, there have been powerful allies in the corporate media and war machine, afraid of the threat I pose. Its now clear that this primary is between you and me. Dont cowardly hide behind your proxies. Join the race directly.

Further Senator Bernie Sanders also came out in support of his fellow 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful Tulsi Gabbard and claimed that Gabbard has always put the country before her life and it is atrocious to suggest that she is a foreign asset. He further said in a tweet, People can disagree on issues, but it is outrageous for anyone to suggest that Tulsi is a foreign asset.

READ: Hillary Clintons Message On National Run For Office Day

READ: Hillary Clinton: British Coverage Of Meghan 'racist', Want To Hug Her
Air Transport Safety Bureau chief commissioner Greg Hood said investigators would be most interested in recovering the planes cockpit voice recorder to learn what exchanges may have been in the cockpit during the final moments. Its a particularly complicated site at the moment - its an active bushfire area," he said. Monaro Police district commander Paul Condon, left, and ATSB chief commissioner Greg Hood address the media on Friday. Credit:Wolter Peeters Mr Hood said the firefighters died in the selfless pursuit of the prevention of loss of life and property". Several witnesses to the crash will also be crucial to helping determine the sequence of events during the afternoon, when dry, hot northwesterly winds were gusting up to 70 kilometres an hour over the Snowy Monaro.

Flight tracking shows the C-130 was travelling east and then veered north-west, dropping altitude and speed, hooking south in a tight arc before contact with the aircraft was lost near Peak View. Initial accounts of the crash said the plane turned into a ball of flames on impact. NSW Police Superintendent Paul Condon said debris from the plane was strewn across more than a kilometre and there was not much intact at all. Its obvious that the plane has impacted heavily. The crash site covers a good kilometre just in length, he said. The C-130 Hercules is renowned for its versatility and toughness, according to senior firefighters, who praised the ex-US military pilots as just incredible and described the risky conditions they flew through as hellish. Its the most hostile flying conditions you could think of outside war, one said.

Captain McBeths sister-in-law described the 44-year-old father of three as a wonderful father and amazing husband. Former Coulson C-130 crew member Bob Maddern said the companys pilots were total professionals, who trained for the untrainable. A C-130 Hercules drops fire retardant over southern California. Credit:USAF via Getty Images The crew I flew with were US military and never once give me cause for concern as to their capabilities, he said. While we had a lot of humour in our conversations into and out of the drop areas, once there, they were absolutely totally professional in every way.

Former US Navy Top Gun pilot Kevin Sullivan said the C-130 Hercules were rock solid airplanes used throughout the world, but water bombing bushfires at low altitude was inherently risky and required specialised experience. Many of these pilots have extensive military experience in the C130. It is low altitude flying and its extremely challenging, he said. You have enormous temperature changes, up drafts, pyroclastic lightning, bad visibility caused by the fires, and they are flying in areas of high terrain. Mr Sullivan, a former Qantas captain who saved an A330 passenger jet from disaster in 2008, said it would take enormous discipline to fly in such a high-stress environment. These pilots came a long way to help save lives and property here. It takes a lot of discipline to fly the aircraft, identify the drop zone and avoid the terrain, he said.

Accident forensics and investigation expert Geoff Dell said investigators would be considering all possibilities ranging from bird strike to pre-existing aircraft damage to try to determine the cause of the Hercules crash. Firefighters work to save a property in the NSW Southern Highlands on Thursday. Credit:Nick Moir At this stage, you cant discount anything - you have to have an open mind. They will be looking in the wreckage for any pre-existing damage  [and] will be looking if anything fell off, said Dr Dell, an associate professor at Central Queensland University and a former Qantas safety manager. Dr Dell said investigators would be combing the aircrafts maintenance log, the pilots medical and flying history, operating procedures and any high G-force occurrences. If you have a situation where the air frame gets loaded to near or maximum G-force [gravitational] limit, it needs to be inspected for damage, he said. But that becomes problematic because it is difficult [to detect] unless it creates a crack.
The Trump administration threatened on Friday to withhold federal money from California if the state does not drop its requirement that private insurers cover abortions.

In an announcement on the morning of the March for Life, the high-profile annual anti-abortion rights demonstration, the Department of Health and Human Services said it would give California 30 days to commit to lifting the requirement. If the state does not do so, the administration said it will take steps to cut off money from one or more federal funding streams.

People should not be forced to participate, or pay for, or cover other peoples abortions, said Roger Severino, director of the Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services.

The administration issued a notice of violation, declaring that California was not complying with the federal Weldon Amendment, which says that certain funds can be withheld if a state or local government discriminates against a health care entity for not providing or paying for abortions.
LEAKEY, Texas, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has acquired a conservation easement on 1,640 acres owned by landowner Gary Krause, preserving its unique natural features for future generations.

The easement was funded in part by the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Texas Farm and Ranch Lands Conservation Program, overseen by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). Mr. Krause donated part of the value of the easement as a charitable contribution.

by Charles Kruvand.

Located in Real County, the Krause Ranch features hundreds of natural springs creating a five-mile-long aquatic network feeding the West Frio River, which flows through the ranch. The springs and the river host several species of aquatic life only found in pristine, undisturbed conditions. These species disappear as the waters flow to developed areas.

The ranch also features dinosaur footprints, fossils, parts of a historic 1800's wagon trail, signs of Native American habitation, and innumerable species of flora and fauna unique to Texas.

The conservation easement details perpetual development restrictions which the Krause family and any future owners must follow, preserving the natural features of the property and limiting human impact.

"This was a great opportunity for USDA-NRCS to partner with the Krause family and other conservation minded partners to protect working agriculture lands in the Texas Hill Country from future non-agriculture use developments," said Darren Clark, NRCS easement program manager. "The conservation easement further provides a means for preserving traditional farm and ranch values as well as protecting the natural resources."

"The Krause Ranch is a great example of the Texas Farm and Ranch Land Conservation Program's primary mission; a working ranch, a prolific watershed in the Edwards Aquifer contributing zone, home to several species of concern, and a landowner dedicated to protecting the resource," said Chris Abernathy, who manages the TPWD program.

Both the NRCS and TPWD programs are designed to conserve private land, especially productive farms and ranches which are valuable for sustaining native wildlife and the health of natural watersheds. TPWD botanists, biologists, geologists and hydrologists have been studying the ranch and have identified rare and threatened species. A long-term study of one spring alone has shown that it supplies over a billion gallons of water a year to the Frio River.

NRCS has assessed the grasslands on the ranch and will continue to advise optimum grazing and brush management. "We are constantly undoing the damage of the past," Krause said. "Without the buffalo, cattle grazing is better for the land than no grazing at all. Cedar has taken over the grasslands resulting in loss of topsoil, springs drying up and the disappearance of some creeks and rivers. For each acre of land cleared of cedar, the streamflow of the creeks and rivers can supply an additional 500 gallons of water a year into the Edwards Aquifer, which is the primary source of water for San Antonio."

"The springs on Krause Ranch are a true Texas treasure," added Sky Lewey, resource protection and education director at the Nueces River Authority.

TNC holds the easement and will be responsible for perpetually monitoring and enforcing the agreement with scheduled access to the site subject to the landowner's wishes. Sustainability and minimal impact are key to the conservation of the property and its resources.

Gary Krause will continue to own and operate the ranch. "Most of the past 35 years was spent earning the money to purchase the land as I searched for interest from different organizations," Krause said. "There are numerous organizations dedicated to land preservation and conservation. I kept inquiring until I found this program. It is a 4-way partnership with USDA, TPWD, TNC, and the landowner that is sustainable and beneficial for all parties."

"Gary Krause acquired this ranch to conserve it, recognizing that it's an example of the Hill Country at its most scenic and most natural," said David Bezanson, TNC's protection and easement manager. "We're very honored that he chose to work with us to accomplish that lifetime goal."

Texas A&M University Press is interested in publishing a book featuring the Krause Ranch story. The book will feature work of three noted photographers showing the ranch's beauty and a narrative by well-published Texas historian Thad Sitton describing the settlement of the area and Krause's stewardship. The book is expected to be published in 2021.

For additional information, please visit www.krauseranch.org or email [email protected].

Photographs: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/nlqclzqeq221gnz/AABTX0j-S21nRu50IpIFVXD4a?dl=0

https://www.charleskruvand.com/krause-ranch-frio-river.html

Related Files

Photographers.docx

Related Images

winter-grasses-in-the-frio-river.jpg

Winter Grasses in the Frio River on the Krause Ranch

by Charles Kruvand.

SOURCE Krause Ranch Conservation Area

Related Links

https://krauseranch.com


Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 24)  Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa on Friday confirmed he's not the only Filipino official with an invalidated United States visa.

Dela Rosa told reporters an active police general, whom he refused to name, is facing the same fate.

"Kansela talaga visa niya, inadvise na siya (His visa was really canceled, he has been advised already)," Dela Rosa said in a media briefing.

He refused to give more details, but added that the same official told him that a retired police general was barred from going to the US also because of visa problems.

Dela Rosa stressed he has not verified the information about the retired police general, along with talks that the US also canceled the visa of those who served key positions when he was chief of the Philippine National Police from 2016 to 2018.

"Meron akong balita na lahat yata raw ng nakapwesto during my time ay nacancel (ang visa). Balita lang hindi hindi pa yan confirmed," Dela Rosa said.

[Translation: I received news that the visas of those who served posts during my time were all canceled. That's not yet confirmed.]

President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Dela Rosa as top cop in 2016, entrusting him to lead the bloody war on drugs until his retirement from the police force in April 2018. Government data show more than 4,000 suspects killed in anti-drug operations from 2016 to 2018. The government's death toll is now at around 6,000, but local and international human rights groups said there could be thousands more.

Dela Rosa earlier confirmed reports that his tourist visa has been canceled, and acknowledged it might be related to alleged extrajudicial killings under his watch as PNP Chief. Malacanang has repeatedly said there are no state-sanctioned killings, and that any possible abuse committed by law enforcement officials will be prosecuted by the country's independent courts.

The revocation of Dela Rosa's visa did not sit well with Duterte, who threatened Thursday night to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippines and the United States if Washington does not "correct" its move.

That same night, Duterte already ordered to "start the process" of terminating the VFA, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo confirmed Friday. The 1998 agreement allows the American soliders to freely enter the Philippines without passport and visa limitations. It also states that the US government can retain jurisdiction over its military personnel if ever they commit crimes in the Philippines.

Dela Rosa said the move to end the two-decade agreement wasn't just about him but of "one-sided foreign relations."

"Mga sundalo nila libreng pumasok, lumabas dito sa ating teritoryo at nandito ang isang senador ng republika e barred from coming to their territory and nangyari because of their intention to tinker with our domestic affairs," Dela Rosa said.

[Translation: Their soldiers are free to enter and leave our territory but here's a senator of the republic being barred from coming to their territory and this happened because of their intention to tinker with our domestic affairs.]
Gareth Bale has another dark year with Real Madrid Real Madrid Played just 15 of 29 matches this term

Injuries have long plagued Gareth Bale's Real Madrid career, and the 2019/20 campaign has been no different with the Welsh international living through another bleak year with Los Blancos.

A mild ankle sprain picked up in the first half of the Copa del Rey victory over Unionistas de Salamanca is the latest ailment on Bale's rap-sheet and he will miss Sunday's LaLiga Santander clash with Real Valladolid.

Thus far this season he has played just 15 of the 29 matches the club have been involved in, which is around 50 percent.

There are fans in Madrid who have a great deal of distaste for Bale for what is perceived to be a poor attitude towards the club, and this is exacerbated by the fact he asked the club not to report on the specifics of one of his injuries which prevented him from playing.

A lot of the distrust stems back to the summer when Real Madrid publicly put the forward on the market, only for a move to China to collapse.

Zinedine Zidane then wanted to move forward without any problem and consider the player another member of his squad, yet the problems resurfaced on October 1, 2019.

Zidane left Bale out of the Champions League squad against Club Brugge, but then he played five days later against Granada.

A muscle injury then kept him out for six matches, but he returned to represent his national team, Wales, in the Euro 2020 qualifiers, which left Real Madrid supporters livid.

He then played three matches before being injured again with another muscle problem, but he would only miss one match.

It seemed as though Bale was back on the right path, only for an illness to strike and he missed the trip to Saudi Arabia for the Supercopa de Espana, as well as the LaLiga Santander match with Sevilla.

He reappeared and scored against Unionistas, but felt an ankle problem in the first 10 minutes of play, he was eventually substituted after 53 minutes and will miss the next match.

It has been an injury rollercoaster all season long, and the 2019/20 season will remain as one of the bleaker of his spell in Spain, unless there is a miraculous turnaround in fortune from now until May.
The Late Triassic Period (237-201 million years ago) was a time of great diversity. Dinosaurs we just coming into their own, archosaurs were vying for dominance, and the ancestors of mammals were scurrying around in the undergrowth.

Among them was a group of animals called phytosaurs. Looking a lot like modern crocodiles, their fossils are well known from North America and Europe, as well as Morocco, Brazil, Madagascar and India.

But despite southern Africa containing ample rocks from the right age and plenty of Triassic fossil sites, the remains of phytosaurs have been conspicuously absent from this region. Now, a team of international palaeontologists have published a new paper showcasing phytosaur fossils from northern Zimbabwe.

Prof Paul Barret, a dinosaur researcher at the Museum, helped document the fossils and the sites from which they were discovered along with his South African, Zimbabwean and American colleagues.

'This is the first discovery of phytosaurs from southern Africa,' says Paul. 'It provides us with our first snapshot of an mostly aquatic environment from this part of the world, which was part of the ecological puzzle that was missing before.'
Since 2000, San Antonians have voted every five years to dedicate a portion of our sales taxes to the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program, or EAPP. Residents are rightfully proud of a program recognized internationally as an elegant solution to protecting our primary source of water.

Absent adequate regulation to protect the quality of San Antonios Edwards Aquifer water supply, we have opted to pay those who own land in the Edwards watershed for the ecological services they provide. Perhaps we could be saved this expense were the Edwards Aquifer Authority to exercise its authority to limit impervious cover on the recharge and contiguous contributing zones.

Efforts to preserve water quality through regulation, however, have been relatively ineffective. City of San Antonio water quality ordinances enacted in 1995 had been largely ignored, as claims of vested rights to exempt development from regulation were still being validated as recently as 2015. Thus, advocates in San Antonio had to look at the purchase of land and conservation easements as the most certain way to protect the primary source of San Antonios water supply.

Recently, we have heard it said that purchasing development rights in Medina and Uvalde counties, where 70 percent of our Edwards Aquifer water supplies enter the aquifer as stormwater recharge, is not needed as these lands are not in immediate danger of being developed. We contend that as long as Texas permits direct discharge of sewage effluent from new wastewater treatment plants into waterways that recharge the Edwards, lands in critical watersheds are in need of permanent protection.

Some are of the opinion that the EAPP is no longer needed. Experts disagree. A water policy analysis commissioned by San Antonio and Fair Oaks Ranch recommended a commitment to protecting 35 percent of the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone through the acquisition of conservation easements. And a recently issued report by the Edwards Aquifer Authority, Considerations for the Future of the City of San Antonios Edwards Aquifer Protection Program, concludes it appears prudent that an effort to continue to acquire sensitive areas within this watershed should remain a focus for the foreseeable future to help ensure the long-term protection of the Citys primary water source, the Edwards Aquifer.

About a year ago, when we first heard that plans were afoot to reallocate the sales taxes to Connect SA, the 15 San Antonio member groups of the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, or GEAA, responded unanimously that they want to retain full funding from the 1/8-cent sales tax for the EAPP and greenway trails and request that City Council put reauthorization of these programs up for a vote in 2020.

Since then, we have met a number of times with Mayor Ron Nirenberg as he scrambles to come up with plans to continue funding the EAPP. No mention has been made as to how the greenways trails will be funded.

The latest attempt to secure alternative funding is to flip the EAPP to SAWS. At a recent SAWS board meeting, it was opined that the best SAWS could do would be to fund the EAPP at half the current level, which may require a rate increase at a future date. This is totally unacceptable.

In the spirit of compromise, some of our local member groups have indicated that they could support putting measures to reallocate sales tax funding for the EAPP and the greenway trails program for two years on the November 2020 ballot. The ballot measure would authorize two years funding as follows:

$18 million/year to fund the land acquisition program for the EAPP.

$2 million/year to fund projects to improve water quality.

$16 million/year to fund the greenway trails.

This would enable these programs to continue through 2022, by which time we would know whether efforts in passing legislation in 2021 would allow the EAPP as it currently exists to be funded by bonds, as was proposed by Nirenberg. We contend that thoughtful planning is needed to secure alternative funding to continue these popular programs at their current levels.

GEAA groups all agree that some measure for reauthorizing sales tax for the EAPP and the greenway trails should be on the ballot. We believe it is more democratic  and respectful  to allow the residents of San Antonio to choose whether they would like to continue funding for the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program and the greenway trails, or reallocate this funding to Connect SA.

If you would like the chance to vote on reauthorizing funding for the EAPP (Proposition 1) and greenway trails (Proposition 2) this year, please contact your City Council representatives.

Annalisa Peace is the executive director of the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance.
Members of the Congress's youth wing took out a mega protest march in Agartala on Friday against the CAA and the proposed nationwide NRC.

Congress leader Krishna Allavaru, who led the march, said the government should concentrate on issues like unemployment and price rise rather than enacting laws like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

"The BJP before coming to power made a poll pledge that 50,000 jobs would be created, but did not keep its words. So, we think people should be vocal about this," he said.

"We do not want the NPR, the NRC, and the CAA," Allaveru added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Burden of paying contractual employees in state-run educational institutions cannot be put on students and the government has to find the funds, the Delhi High Court said on Friday, asking the Jawaharlal Nehru University to allow those who have not yet registered for the winter session to do so under the old hostel manual.

The observation came after Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand, appearing for JNU, told the court hostel fees were hiked on a direction by the University Grants Commission, to all varsities, that they have to pay salaries of daily wage/contractual/out-sourced staff employed by them.

The ASG, assisted by advocates Harsh Ahuja and Kushal Sharma, said 90 per cent of JNU students have paid the increased fee and it would not be fair to allow the remaining 10 per cent to register for the winter semester as per the older hostel manual.

To this, the court said, "Those who have paid, have paid. If 90 per cent have paid, then your financial concerns have been more or less taken care of. Rest of the funds you can arrange. For now engage with students, have a dialogue with them".

"The burden of paying contractual employees salary cannot be put on students in government-run institutions. You (varsity) need to find the money. Maybe the Ministry of Human Resource Development can find the funds. The government has to fund public eduction. It cannot get out of it," Justice Rajiv Shakdher said.

He also issued notices to JNU, the ministry and UGC, seeking their stand on a plea by JNU Students Union against the new hostel manual.

The court said students of the reserved category, who come in the remaining 10 per cent, can also register as per the old manual and they should get registered within a week.

It directed the varsity to not levy late payment charges or penalty on students registering after the court's order.

Senior advocate Akhil Sibal, appearing for the students union, told the court since the election of 2018-19, the varsity has stopped engaging with student leaders and their views are being sought "less and less" on issues concerning the students.

The JNUSU office-bearers, in their plea filed through advocate Abhik Chimni, have challenged the minutes of the separate meetings held by the Inter Hostel Administration (IHA), the Executive Council and a high-level committee to amend and later approve the new manual, saying they were not consulted at any stage of the proceedings.

The entire process was conducted in a "tearing hurry" by the varsity, which went ahead and implemented the manual mid-term even as students were involved in talks with the HRD Ministry, Sibal told the court.

On this, the court said to JNU it should have included the representatives of the students union in its meetings on amending the hostel manual.

It asked if the HRD Ministry can engage in a dialogue with students why can't the varsity do the same.

The JNUSU's petition has sought directions to quash the new hostel manual "illegally approved by the IHA as the decisions taken by the IHA are malafide, arbitrary and illegal and adversely affect the students".

It has claimed the decisions to amend the hostel manual are contrary to provisions of the JNU Act, 1966, Statutes, Ordinances and the Hostel Manual.

"The amendments include reducing JNUSU representation in IHA, increased rates as applicable to hostel residents and also brought amendments to clauses of the Hostel Manual adversely affecting reserved category students in the University," the plea submitted.

Earlier, the rent was Rs 10 and Rs 20 for double and single-occupancy rooms respectively.

The rent for all students, including those with Junior Research Fellowship, Senior Research Fellowship and other equivalent scholarships or fellowships, for single and double-seater rooms has been hiked to Rs 600 and Rs 300 per month.

The rent for Below Poverty Line (BPL) category students for double and single-seater rooms has been increased to Rs 150 and Rs 300 per month respectively.

Earlier, there was no utility and service charge, but now the university will charge BPL students Rs 500 and other students Rs 1,000 for the same.

On utility charges, ASG Anand told the court that it has been waived for the current session.

The petition has also challenged the minutes of IHA Meeting which states that mess services sanitation services, room charges, amongst others category of charges will be increased by 10 per cent every academic year.

The Executive Council of JNU showed total "non-application of mind" when creating a 'Below Poverty Line' category of students, the plea contended.

On this, the ASG said it was actually economically weaker section (EWS) and not BPL category.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
William Gibson, the writer who coined the term cyberspace and whose novel Neuromancer heavily influenced the film The Matrix, has spent a lifetime imagining surreal and noirish possibilities for human development. But Donald Trumps victory threw him off balance. I think it took me about three months to come out of the shock of his actually having been elected, Gibson told me. And when he finally did come out of it, Gibson still wasnt quite sure what to do with the manuscript hed been working on, about a young woman in modern-day San Francisco, since the world hed situated her in seemed to have suddenly disappeared.

If I had somehow been able to finish it, by the time it was published, it would have just been this lost thing, he said, completely out of time and unconcerned with what I immediately saw as being the beginning of something extraordinary, and almost certainly something extraordinarily bad.

In the end, he turned the new book into a sequel to his 2014 novel, The Peripheral. Part of The Peripheral is set in a 22nd century where the world as we know it has been wiped out by a confluence of events known as The Jackpot, which is, as Gibson put it to me, all the bad stuff that were worried about now coming true. Eighty percent of the population has died, and many of the survivors live under the authority of a hereditary oligarchy descended from Russian kleptocrats. People in that future have developed the ability to use data to reach back in time, but when they do, rather than changing the course of events, they inaugurate new, parallel continuums, called stubs.

Much of the new book, Agency, takes place in a stub where Hillary Clinton won the election and Brexit never happened. Characters from the future  from Gibsons extrapolated version of our own dark timeline  try to help people in the alternate past avoid a similarly cataclysmic fate. The question looming over the book is not whether the future will be horrifying but whether theres even the possibility of a future that isnt.
Bird Home Automation records positive annual balance

Posted by Publisher Internet

Bird Home Automation records a positive balance for 2019. Compared to the previous year, the German manufacturer of DoorBird IP video intercoms increased annual revenues by more than 20 percent. The demand for the company?s smart intercoms rose worldwide. The strongest performing markets were the United States, Germany and France.

Last year, Bird Home Automation also increased its staff, and now has over 120 employees working in the company?s headquarters in Berlin and its sales office in San Francisco. The most personnel were hired in production and shipping, as well as development and technical support. Additionally, the company almost doubled its Berlin-based production facility space to approximately 2,000 square meters.

?We have grown very significantly in the past year. Our team is split between two locations in Germany and the United States, and every employee plays an important part in the success of our brand DoorBird,? says CEO Sascha Keller. ?Increasing the size of our production and logistics center, and simultaneously optimizing internal processes has allowed us to launch a number of new products including IP intercoms and our first IP video indoor station. We were also able to address many customer requests for additional home automation integrations. In the future we will continue to expand and improve all aspects of our company.?

Since its founding in 2014, Bird Home Automation has continuously invested in the research and development of its proprietary IP technology. Sascha Keller and Dr. Bernd Muller founded the company as a spin-off of their established cloud-based audio and video streaming business to better accommodate the rapidly growing door communication division. The two founders released their first IP-based intercoms as early as 2009 under the 1000eyes and myintercom brands. Today, the company?s portfolio includes high-quality IP intercoms and accessories for residential and commercial buildings. Worldwide there are more than 100,000 DoorBird devices in use.

About Bird Home Automation Group

The Bird Home Automation Group develops, produces and markets high-quality IP video door intercoms under the trademark ?DoorBird? around the world. The company?s headquarters and production plant are located in Berlin, Germany, with a further office in San Francisco, USA. ?DoorBird? stands for the combination of exclusive design with the most innovative IP technology in the field of door communication. The products are made from corrosion-resistant precious metals and manufactured in Germany according to the highest quality standards. For more information, visit www.doorbird.com.
Vodafone is the most complained about broadband, mobile and landline provider, new data has revealed.

It is the second report in a row it has been ranked the worst telecoms firm for broadband - the main bulk of customer gripes relate to faults, service and installation problems, according to Ofcom.

The watchdog has published the latest league tables on the complaints it has received about the Britain's major home phone, broadband, mobile and pay-TV firms.

It found that TalkTalk was the next most complained about landline provider, closely followed by Plusnet, both with an average of 17 complaints per 100,000 customers.

Voda-moan: Vodafone was the most complained about telecoms firm for broadband, landline and mobile

Ofcom reveals the most complained about firms every three month period by looking at how many complaints were made per 100,000 customers.

It revealed that there was a small increase in the number of complaints it received for broadband, mobile and pay-TV compared to last quarter  figures for landline services broadly stayed the same.

While Vodafone got the most complaints, EE and Sky attracted the least complaints among broadband providers, both getting just an average of five per 100,000 customers.

Vodafone also got the most complaints for landline providers with TalkTalk and Plusnet following closely behind, according to the data from July to September 2019.

Ofcom has revealed the most complained about telecoms companies for the different sectors

Vodafone was the most complained about mobile firm whilst Virgin is the worst for pay TV

Complaints handling was the biggest issue raised regarding TalkTalk. By comparison, EE attracted the fewest complaints among landline providers.

For mobile providers, Vodafone and Virgin Mobile were the most complained-about with the main reason being complaints handling.

A Virgin Media spokesperson said: 'We are completely committed to improving our customers' experience and, alongside a renewed strategy and focus, we are investing to provide the very best service.'

A Vodafone spokesperson said: 'The long-term trends in complaint numbers are improving and we are giving home broadband customer service our full attention.

'This includes our technical teams working closely with our infrastructure partner to fix any faults at the broadband street cabinet as quickly as possible.'

Change: Graph showing how complaints have changed in each sector over the last four years

On the other end of the table, Tesco Mobile was the least complained about pay-monthly mobile provider with just one complaint per 100,000 customers.

Virgin Media remained the most complained-about pay-TV provider, with handling of complaints being the primary reason.

There was an average of 14 complaints per 100,000 customers, followed closely by BT with 12.

Sky continued to attract the least complaints for pay-TV.

Fergal Farragher, Ofcom's director of consumer policy, said: 'People have never had more choice in the phone and broadband markets.

'It's also never been easier to switch your service. So companies that don't prioritise great service could see customers leaving them for ones that do.'

How landline complaints have changed in the last few years, showing a substantial decrease

How broadband complaints have changed in the last few years, showing a major decrease

Jodi Hamilton, relationships director at Ombudsman Services, which investigates unresolved telecoms complaints, added: 'Customer service and complaint handling are key battlegrounds in the fight to retain and attract customers in the ultra-competitive telecoms sector.

'We work with communications providers that belong to our scheme to help them improve their complaint handling, for the benefit of consumers.

'Any consumer with a broadband, mobile or landline issue should contact their provider in the first instance.

'If the company cannot resolve the complaint within eight weeks, we might be able to help.'

However, there were also concerns from experts that not enough people were complaining about problems they have encountered.

Richard Neudegg, head of regulation at uSwitch, said: 'Complaints about mobile, broadband and landline to Ofcom have fallen to historic lows over the last decade, so it's disappointing to see a slight increase this time around.

'We hope this isn't a sign that telecoms providers have taken their eye off the ball, as there is still room for improvement.

'If you are unhappy with the service you're paying for and you're out of contract, it's easy to switch to a better deal.

'Don't hesitate to complain to your provider. If you have a problem or aren't happy with the service you are paying for, let them know.

'If you are still unhappy, you can take your complaint to the appropriate ombudsman services, who will review your case free of charge.'
The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to enforce an e-stamping system in order to effectively check the sale of fake ones and prevent stamp scams in the state.

"The system will come into force with immediate effect. The step will also curtail expenses incurred on printing and cartage of paper stamps," Stamps and Registration Principal Secretary Vina Kumari Mina said in a statement here on Friday.

She said that central records-keeping authority, the Stock Holding Corporation of India, had been authorised to issue e-stamp certificates of all values.

"For using stamp papers available in all treasuries of the state, a provision has been made to keep both the physical stamps and total e-stamps in circulation. These systems will be fully replaced in the future by the e-stamping system," she added.

The principal secretary said that the stamp sellers had been authorised to function as authorised stamp collection centres by amending Rule 13 of the e-stamping rules.

She said that the Inspector General, Stamps had been directed to contract stamp sellers as authorised stamp collection centres and ensure basic training to them.

So far 226 stamp dealers have been granted permission to function as authorised collection centres.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
DMK president MK Stalin on Friday said that the state government should not allow the process of Population Register (NPR) to be conducted in Tamil Nadu.

"Tamil Nadu government should not allow the process of NPR. DMK is going to meet the people and going to start the signature campaign from February 2 to 8 against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the Register of Citizens (NRC)," Stalin said.

An all-party meeting of the DMK and its allies, headed by the party president Stalin, took place at the party's headquarters here on Friday, to discuss the next course of action on protests against the NPR, NRC and CAA.

Elaborating on the party's strategy over the issue, he added, "All the alliance party leaders and cadres will also involve in this signature campaign. We will complete the campaign and will submit the memorandum to the President of India."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah may say that he will not take back the CAA but we will continue to protest, the DMK president stated.

MDMK Chief Vaiko, Tamil Nadu Congress chief KS Azhagiri, BCK chief Thirumavalavan, CPI state chief Mutharasan, CPM state chief Balakrishnan, MMK chief Jawahirulla also participated in the meeting.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Montreal, Canada  Fri, January 24, 2020 16:07 719 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2060de7b2 2 Entertainment Cirque-du-Soleil,China,Canada,health,coronavirus Free

The iconic Canadian acrobatic troupe Cirque du Soleil announced Thursday that its shows in Hangzhou, China, is canceled due to concerns over a coronavirus outbreak in the country.

The call was made in response to Chinese officials' requests to close all indoor activities with 100 or more people in attendance in order to contain the outbreak, the company said in a statement.

"Right now, we all have the responsibility to step up, and to do preventive activities. We are going to keep leading in this effort by putting people's health and safety as our top priority," Cirque du Soleil head Daniel Lamarre said in the statement.

"The Land of Fantasy", which opened last year, is Cirque du Soleil's first resident show in China.

Read also: Snakes could be the original source of the new coronavirus outbreak in China

Hangzhou, in the eastern province of Zhejiang, is about 700 kilometers from the city of Wuhan, where the SARS-like virus emerged at a seafood and animal market in December.

China has confirmed 830 cases of the infection with 25 deaths and has implemented an effective quarantine of some 20 million people in multiple cities ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.

Several other countries, including Thailand and the United States, have reported confirmed cases, though the World Health Organization on Thursday stopped short of declaring a so-called a public health emergency of international concern.
US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin today said the White House wants to agree a post-Brexit trade deal with the UK before the end of the year.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the senior ally of Donald Trump said Britain is 'top of the list of trade agreements' which the US administration wants to get in the books.

Describing the UK as 'our number one ally', Mr Mnuchin said the US 'look forward' to concluding an agreement with Downing Street 'this year'.

He said: 'The UK is our number one ally and it would be at the top of the list of trade agreements. We look forward to getting that done this year.'

His comments represent a massive boost for Boris Johnson as the Prime Minister prepares the government for post-Brexit trade talks.

Steven Mnuchin, the US Treasury Secretary pictured in Davos, Switzerland today, said of a trade deal with the UK: 'We look forward to getting that done this year.'

As a member of the European Union the UK is currently barred from negotiating its own trade deals.

But as soon as Britain splits from Brussels on January 31 at 11pm it will be able to pursue its own agreements.

The UK is expected to negotiate a deal with the US at the same time as it discusses one with the EU.

Brexiteers hope the dual talks strategy and the prospect of a swift deal with the US will stop the EU from dragging its feet during talks.

Meanwhile, today it emerged that the PM also wants to target a quick trade deal with Japan to show Brussels the UK is ready to move speedily.

The EU must agree a mandate for trade talks with the UK and it can only do that once Britain has left the bloc.

That means the start of negotiations could be delayed until the end of February or even the start of March.

Once the UK leaves the EU at the end of this month the two sides will enter a standstill transition period when the terms of the future partnership will be hammered out.

That transition period will finish in December and Mr Johnson is adamant he will not sanction an extension, insisting the end of the year must be viewed as a hard deadline for a deal to be done.

Mr Mnuchin's comments represent a massive boost to Boris Johnson, pictured in Downing Street today celebrating Chinese New Year, who is hoping the prospect of a swift US trade deal will prompt the EU to also move quickly on a future partnership agreement

But the EU does not believe 11 months is long enough to agree a comprehensive deal, raising the prospect of the transition period ending without a full agreement in place.

If the UK has a trade deal with the US already agreed it would lessen the impact of a chaotic split from the EU at the end of the year and make the bloc more likely to work at pace, Brexiteers have argued.

Mr Mnuchin's intervention came as it was reported that the EU has accepted the transition period will not be extended.

A senior official with the bloc said: 'We can assume at this point that the transition period will end on December 31, 2020.'
Police are investigating after someone wrote a message threatening a school shooting on the wall of a Lane County high school bathroom.

Junction City police said staff discovered the message around 3 p.m. Thursday, which said that the author was going to shoot up the school tomorrow, presumably Friday, Jan. 24.

Police began looking into the threat and are reviewing footage from the schools new video surveillance system.

Junction City High School administrators sent a message to teachers and parents saying that school would be in session on Friday, but there would be an increased police presence and there would be counselors available to support students. They asked parents to contact the school if they plan to keep their children home, or if their children know anything about the threat.

Police asked anyone with information about the threat to call 541-998-1245.

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Veteran dance choreographer and Hokkien Chinese migrant Mrs L Zhang has not missed a Lunar Festival since 1996.

With Sydney's Chinese New Year celebrations becoming increasingly popular, what began as a "small scale collaboration between Chinese organisations", she says, has since "grown year by year, livelier, bigger, more festive, to what is now an unparalleled and exceptional festival."

Mrs Zhang watches on as the dance group perform their moves. Credit:Nick Moir

Mrs Zhang, 81, is an "honorary choreographer and team leader" for the Australian Hokkien Huay Kuan Association, a community cultural organisation that has participated in the Lunar Festival for more than a decade.

She established the association's first dance group in 2007: a troupe of "extremely dedicated" amateur dance enthusiasts whose catalogue of skills include square dancing, Chinese waist drumming, and "much more complicated and challenging" folk dancing.
There are thousands of travel destinations around the world that are worth sacrificing every penny for. However, some of the iconic and most hyped destinations do not deserve the accolade. As a traveler, you look forward to visiting some of these popular destinations only to be disappointed when you get there because the excitement on paper is really not there. However, you may be surprised that some of the overlooked travel destinations are the real deal. Here are ten overrated and ten underrated travel destinations around the world.

20. Underrated: the Bahamas

Although the Caribbean islands are isolated, they are some of the perfect travel destinations. The Bahamas, comprising of about 700 islands, is a Caribbean cation spot. The island has some of the gorgeous sandy beaches, historical sites, luxury hotels, and museums. Some of the popular attractions are the Atlantis Resort, Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, pink sand at Harbor Island, and the Nassau straw market among other attractions. The Bahamas is the place to go if you want to escape to a secluded place for a holiday

19. Overrated: Mexico

Mexicans always praise their country as an authentic holiday destination for reasons such as cool weather, sandy beaches, and plenty of food. For many travelers, Mexico is a dream destination, but is the country worth the hype? Although places such as Cancun can be really cheap to visit, some little costs here and there makes the overall cost of visiting these places even more expensive. Some of the beaches are untidy with piles of trashes scattered all over and smelling excessively bad. Locals can sometimes be aggressive to tourists.

18. Overrated: France

Although France is on nearly everyones travel bucket list, it is one of the most overhyped travel destinations in Europe. The French cities are cities of limited appeals with very little to offer other than sights. The country has witnessed sustained riots in most parts, especially Paris, where the transport system and other services have been brought to a halt. Some of the tourist attractions in the country are overrated and you may be forced to fight through the crowd to access them.

17. Underrated: Portugal

Due to its location on the western tip of Europe, Portugal does receive as many visitors as other European countries. However, this underrated country is rich in culture and history. From breathtaking landscape to food, architecture, music, and people, the country has a lot to offer. The beaches are amazing and the food is outstanding. The people there are friends and willing to show you around the country. If you enjoy wine, you may want to sample Portuguese wine.

16. Overrated: London

London has plenty of attractions including London Eye, Buckingham Palace, Tower of London, and Westminster among other attractions. However, visiting these places is costly and most often locks out tourists on a budget. Restaurants and public transport also charge exorbitant prices for their services. Apart from the cost, Londons weather does not favor most of the outdoor enthusiasts. The city experiences 11-15 days of rain every month as well as occasional heatwaves, especially during summer.

15. Underrated: Bucharest

Bucharest is one of Europes freshest party hub with a lot on offer, especially for nightlife lovers. Many people refer to it as Paris of Eastern Europe because parts of the city are modeled after Paris, France. The city is beautiful and cheap and the people there are sweet and friendly. The culture is vibrant and recovering from past political activities. Attractions in Bucharest include the Old City Center, Palace of Parliament (second-largest administrative building in the world), and Therme.

14. Overrated: Japan

Japan may be one of the top travel destinations in the world but it is also one of the overrated places. Most of the attraction sites, especially in big cities such as Osaka and Japan are overcrowded that it makes it almost impossible for you to enjoy what is on offer. Although some of the sites are nice, they offer very little attraction. Some of the overrated sites include the Golden Temple in Kyoto, Tokyo Sky Tree, and Tokyos Imperial Palace. You will spend an upward of 500 yens and two hours waiting time to access some of these places.

13. Underrated: Korea

South Korea is an underrated travel destination for many people for various reasons compared to nearby countries such as China and Japan. However, Korea is special and unique for those who venture further than the promoted sites. The charisma, food, and action of the country stand out in East Asia. Seoul is the most visited country in Korea, rightfully so because of the vibrant life and wide range of attractions such as Changdeok-gung Palace and COEX Mall. While in Korea, you can also take a ride to DMZ to understand the North Korean-South Korean relations.

12. Overrated: Bali

Bali is a dream paradise for many travelers who plan to visit it. It is rich in stunning nature, rice paddies, and waterfalls. With all the hype surrounding Bali, many people go there expecting big things from the island only to realize that it is just one of the overrated destinations. First, Bali is a tourist-populated island. The small island is bursting with people, some of who camp there for weeks. Secondly, prices for highly inflated for basics such as taxis, food, and accommodation. Finally, because of the high number of tourists, traffic is horrendous as the roads cannot withstand the population boom.

11. Underrated: Philippines

Apart from Manila, you may not know any other thing about the Philippines. However, this island country comprising of more than 7,000 islands is a hidden treasure with plenty to offer its visitors. The Philippines has a scenic countryside that will make you want to live there forever. The rivers are gorgeous with hidden underwater caves and cliffs on the side. Other amazing features include the Chocolate Hills in Bohol which are lush green in monsoon season and turn brown in the dry season. The pristine beaches are well preserved and clean.

10. Overrated: Iceland

Anyone who has ever been to Iceland will agree that the country is overrated. During peak seasons, tourists outnumber the locals, meaning that the quality of services is likely to be low. Some of the iconic sites are not exactly what they seem. For instance, the geyser is just a pool and water and while the Blue Lagoon contains not so clean water. Most of the sites and services are also overpriced and far from nothing special.

9. Underrated: Denmark

Denmark is not just about Copenhagen and Aarhus, the two most beautiful cities in the country. However, the country has so many other places and sites that often offer an insight into the Scandinavian culture. The small city of rskbing will take you down through history. This city has a stunning landscape with 17th-century buildings. Part of Denmarks history and culture can also be discovered in the city of Sor. Another human-made wonder in Demark that with certainly impress you is the world map created by stone in Klejtrup Lake.

8. Overrated: Thailand

If you are thinking of visiting Thailand, it will be better if you researched well before committing your money. Thailand is a beautiful country with gentle slopes and tropical sandy beaches. But like most countries, the experience may not be good for some travelers. Some places are not worth your money. For instance, Pattaya is more of a damping site for the citys garbage while Phuket is just an ordinary island with mediocre beaches. Some of the islands such as Koh Phi Phi are not suitable for children because of what goes on there.

7. Underrated: Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is another unexpected gem in Asia. It is located in the Indian Ocean and geographically separated from the Indian subcontinent by Palk Strait and the Gulf of Myanmar. The country has some of the glittering shores, warm weather all year round, breathtaking mountain view, and serene waterfall. The crystal clear Indian Ocean offers a perfect spot for surfers and bathers. One of the things you will surely enjoy in Sri Lanka is the delectable cuisine of all variety. The locals are friendly and generous with their history and culture.

6. Overrated: Amsterdam

Amsterdam is one of the best cities in Europe, with a host of joints and tourist attractions around it. However, the Redlight District has been a hotbed of criminal activities in the past. Criminals have been attacking and sometimes killing both locals and visitors. Apart from security, Amsterdam is pretty small and feels like a town rather than a city and can be done in just one weekend. Anne Frank's house is incredibly overhyped and has very little content to offer. Amsterdam has little to offer when it comes to food. The cuisine mainly consists of meat and starchy vegetables.

5. Underrated: Bruges

Belgium is one of the most underrated travel destinations in Europe. The small city of Bruges is even overshadowed by Brussels, the countrys capital. Bruges is a World Heritage Site and one of the worlds best-preserved Renaissance cities in the world. Most of the buildings across the city date back to the 12th century. With its location at the center of Europe, museums, canals, and architecture, Bruges is a haven for tourists. Madonna of Bruges is an artistic treasure with top collections of the artwork of top artists such as Michelangelo.

4. Overrated: Niagara Falls

The famous Niagara Falls is located on the US-Canada border and known the world over for its beauty. It also falls with the highest flow rate in the world. However, apart from the waterfalls, it really has nothing else to offer visitors. There are no decent accommodations round. The town is ghastly with fast food joints and souvenir shops. Visitors looking for good food and accommodation are forced to drive for another half an hour to hotels in Niagara-on-the-Lake

3. Underrated: Victoria Falls

The Victoria Falls are one of the true wonders of nature in Africa. The falls are the fulcrum of Zimbabwes tourism industry. Victoria Fall is more than double the height of the Niagara Fall. It is formed by the waters of the cascading waters of the Zambezi River. Some of the activities at the falls include ziplining, bungee jumping, rafting, taking a dip in the Devils Pool, and gorge swinging. Excellent wild animals are also available at the Victoria Falls such as elephants and lion.

2. Overrated: Las Vegas

Las Vegas is a popular destination because of the vibrant nightlife, endless parties, and gambling. It is a particularly popular destination for the young-rich who are looking to spend their money. However, if you are looking to plan a trip for the sake of traveling, you are better off avoiding this flashy spot. Les Vegas lacks authenticity and culture of its own. From casinos to high-end restaurants to nightlife, everything there is greatly influenced by the tourists who visit the city.

1. Underrated: New Orleans

New Orleans is one of the most underrated cities in the US. However, you will not go wrong if you choose to visit New Orleans. The city offers some of the most beautiful architecture in the country and great seafood. The Big Easy always has a festival happening such as the Jazz and Heritage Festival and French Quarter Festival. The locals are friendly and ready to help in any way possible. While in New Orleans, you may want to listen and learn the NOLA accent. The city is also diverse with several languages spoken around.
In the mid to late 2000s, Ireland needed a group like The High Kings. The heyday of ballad groups like The Clancy Brothers and The Dubliners was a distant memory for generations of music fans, and to have another bunch of Irish lads taking up the baton and continuing the tradition was great news to thousands of fans worldwide.

We could sing well, play our instruments well and harmonise well, says founding member Darren Holden, humbly underselling the skill sets of the individual members.

The four immediately clicked as a creative unit as well as friends, and they sensed something special was taking place.

The self-titled debut album, released in 2008, reached a highly impressive number two on Billboard Magazines World Music chart.

Also read: Longford band Brave Giant to lay on free St Christopher's Big Apple gig

It was during their second tour of the US in 2011, however, that everybody involved realised the fanbase was growing into something that no one had predicted. Subsequently, the groups tour of Ireland sold out within hours.

With the stamp of approval from the likes of Christy Moore and Ronnie Drew, The High Kings had achieved what many had thought impossible: they were moving the Irish ballad tradition into the here and now, carrying along with them the steadfast older fans while simultaneously bringing it to a new audience.

By their third album, under the encouragement of producer Sharon Shannon, the band were beginning to introduce original material  ballad style, but with contemporary touches  along with the old favourites, something they have continued to do in the years since including this past Christmas with their highly successful, self-penned single Christmas the Way I Remember.

Dont miss this chance to experience the magic of The High Kings yourself when the true heirs of Irelands folk heritage come to Carrick-on-Shannon this Saturday, January 25.

Tickets are 33.50 (at the Landmark or from Ticketmaster.ie).

Also read: Longford Arms Hotel to host Atlantic Mills reunion night
The company pitching a high-pollution iron plant in northern New Brunswick says the provincial government should get other industries and emitters to cut their emissions to accommodate the new facility.

Maritime Iron acknowledges in its environmental impact assessment document that "implementing the project will make it difficult for New Brunswick to achieve its current aspirational climate change goal" once the plant begins operating in 2022.

But the company boldly proposes that the province simply encourage other emitters to scale back their emissions enough to stay on target.

"Before 2030, New Brunswick would need to identify opportunities to meet this target through reductions across all sectors, including continued efforts and cooperation by the industrial sector as well as reductions in the transportation and electricity sectors," the document says.

The document says the proposed plant, which would process iron ore into pig iron, would create a net increase of 2.3 million tonnes in greenhouse gas emissions.

How the province would find corresponding reductions elsewhere isn't clear.

"Will it need to reach down into the refinery and reduce greenhouse gases there? Will it have to reach down into the forest sector and reduce emissions there?" asked Lois Corbett of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick.

"Where will those other tonnes, millions of tonnes, come from?"

Emission targets in reach

The province's legislated emissions goal for this year is 14.8 million tonnes, and for 2030 it's 10.7 million tonnes. It also has a second, less stringent 2030 goal, 14.1 million tonnes, tied to Canada's Paris climate plan objectives.

New Brunswick's emissions in 2017 were 14.3 million tonnes, below the legislated 2020 target and close to the 2030 Paris target.

To stay close to those targets would require offsetting Maritime Iron's 2.3 million tonnes of emissions reductions.

Story continues

CBC

To put that in perspective, the required offset represents three-quarters of what the Irving Oil refinery emits in greenhouse gases annually, about three million tonnes.

The offset would be nine times what J.D. Irving's four biggest polluting plants put out. Three JDI mills and its Atlantic Wallboard plant emitted 259,000 tonnes of CO2 in 2017.

Maritime Iron did not respond to a request for comment.

Think-tank says industry did its part

While the company is calling for reductions in industrial, transportation and electricity sectors to make room for its increased emissions, the head of a Saint John energy think-tank says industry has already done its part.

"To date, from 2005 to 2020, most of the heavy lifting, the reductions, have been on the backs of oil refining and electricity generation," said Colleen d'Entremont, president of the Atlantica Energy Centre, which is funded by large energy producers and users.

"Now is the time, from 2020 to 2030, for the rest of the sectors to try and make the same gains," she said.

Most of New Brunswick's emissions reductions since 2005 have been attributed to the closures of large forestry mills and power plants.

D'Entremont said there have been "very, very few gains" reducing emissions from transportation, including cars and buses, during the same period. Those emissions were four million tonnes in 2017.

Last year, Irving Oil's director of growth and strategy Andy Carson told a Senate committee there was "a role for us to play" in reducing emissions and fighting climate change. He called it "a very, very significant and important issue" for the province's only oil refiner.

But in December 2019 Reuters news agency reported that the company had quietly dropped its goal of reducing carbon emissions by 17 per cent from 2005 levels by this year.

The company did not respond to a request for comment on Maritime Iron's suggestion about reduced emissions among industrial plants.

JDI vice-president Mary Keith said in an email the company's mills have already exceeded both 2030 reduction targets and the company's forestry operations are a carbon sink, with trees absorbing more carbon dioxide than mills emit.

She said the company would not comment on Maritime Iron's proposal other than to suggest that a federal plan to plant more than two million trees could help offset the iron plant's emissions.

'A really good test case'

D'Entremont said Maritime Iron represents "a really good test case" of whether the province can increase economic activity and create jobs while also hitting emissions targets.

"How are we as a collective going to address the fact that carbon emissions are going to go up?" she said. "What other activities do we have going on that are going to reduce them in other ways?"

Joseph Tunney/CBC

She called for the province to fund more technology that would allow "all of us" to reduce emissions and said small nuclear reactors and NB Power's proposed smart meters could play a role.

This week, MLAs on a legislative committee voted to amend the government's carbon-pricing bill for large industry to tie it to the more stringent legislated targets.

The amended bill now says explicitly the pricing system's goal is to regulate emissions "in order to facilitate the achievement" of the targets.

Maritime Iron proposes to link its iron plant to NB Power's generating station so it can sell gas byproduct to the generating station, allowing it to cut its use of coal.

The two facilities combined would emit 4.9 million tonnes of greenhouse gases, or 2.3 million more than what Belledune now emits on its own.

Elena Mantagaris/Maritime Iron

The company argues that Maritime Iron's location will reduce shipping distances for both raw iron ore and finished pig iron, lowering emissions from ocean-going freighters.

That and the company's new processing technology will contribute to global emissions reductions even while increasing emissions in New Brunswick, the company says.

The existing federal climate plan doesn't allow provinces to get credit for emissions created outside their boundaries, and no international credit-trading regime exists.
A new Oakland bar slated to open early next month has big plans to combine two favorites under one roof: cocktails and Asian desserts.

Viridian, located in North Oakland at 2216 Broadway, will offer decadent options like black sesame chocolate cake and Thai tea tiramisu that range from $6 to $11.

Oakland natives and childhood friends William Tsui and Raymond Gee are behind the project that also had a pop-up at Michelin star chef Brandon Jews Moongate Lounge in San Francisco.

According to Eater, the concept behind Viridian was something the two friends discussed four years ago when they dreamed of opening a business that could offer drinks and dim sum.

This past fall, as Tsui recalls, when their real estate broker told them that the Plum Bar spot was available, right in the heart of Uptown Oakland, their response was pretty straightforward: F--K yeah, Eater wrote.

Plum Bar closed last October after eight years in business.

"Having a dessert and cocktail bar seems like a foreign concept, but what drove us to this idea was in our travels," Tsai told SFGATE.

During a recent trip to Bali, Tsui visited Room 4 Dessert by chef Will Goldfarb. The restaurant is known for its dessert courses that are paired with alcoholic drinks.

"Being overseas, you see this concept more often," Tsui told SFGATE. "We wanted to bring that here to the Bay Area, and what better market?"

The spot will also offer a few savory options on the menu that include steamed barbeque pork buns and chili garlic milk buns. You'll even find chicken nuggets. There are eight different cocktails priced at $13, but if youd rather wash down those savory dishes with a beer or glass of wine, it will have those too.

Tsui, former bar director at Lazy Bear, and Gee, assistant general manager at Noodle Theory Provisions, co-own the business with Jeremy Chiu. The three have teamed up with executive chef Amanda Hoang, who was the pastry chef at Bird Dog in Palo Alto. Eater wrote that Alice Kim, former pastry sous chef at Lazy Bear, has consulted on the food menu and Alison Kwan will act as general manager.

Viridian is expected to open in February, though a specific date is not known at this time. Eater reports that the Oakland bar will open six days a week from 4 p.m. to midnight on Monday to Thursday and 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include co-owner William Tsui's comments on his upcoming bar opening.

Susana Guerrero is an SFGATE digital reporter. Email: Susana.Guerrero@sfgate.com | Twitter: @SusyGuerrero3
Samantha Martinez wasnt even pregnant yet but she was already worrying about where her future child might go to school.

Walking with her husband near their Humber Bay Shores condo a few years ago, she saw a sign from the Toronto District School Board warning incoming residents at a nearby development that their kids werent guaranteed to get into area schools.

I thought, OK no, I cant risk that, Martinez, 31, remembers.

The way the housing market is, and schools, you never know, you kind of have to plan for these things ahead of time.

So after they welcomed daughter Isabella in 2019 the couple decided to move to a semi-detached rental home in Bloor West Village, steps from two schools, and a few blocks from her parents. They already owned their condo, but couldnt afford to buy a home in the area, and for them, the location was worth it.

While boomers typically bought homes near the school they wanted their kids to go to, millennials like the Martinezes who are ready to have kids but priced out of the market are now renting for the same reason. And that means young parents are facing a whole new set of challenges, trying to create a stable environment for kids in a precarious housing market with faint supply.

Schools are the biggest factor renters are interested in when choosing where to move, over things such as parks and transit, according to new Toronto-specific data from Local Logic, which contributed to a new Rentals.ca report.

The data on rental interest is based on what indicators people looking for rentals are clicking on. They can see scores for things such as parks, restaurants and shopping, as well as schools. In Toronto, the sample includes about 5.5 million listing views coming from around four million users, according to Matt Danison, CEO of Rentals.ca. Schools were the highest interest factor for people looking at two-, three- and four-bedroom rentals, and the second-highest interest factor for one bedrooms, just behind transit friendliness.

The report, which forecasts the rental market for 2020 (spoiler alert it predicts rents will continue to rise in Toronto) says prices will be particularly high around schools, as theres not supply to match demand.

In a lot of residential, historically single-family home neighbourhoods there just arent as many condos or apartment buildings catered towards rentals, Danison said. Although there are some homes divided up into apartments, they cant make up the gap.

What were seeing is families of four sometimes squeezing into a one or two bedroom and trying to just make things work because of pricing and supply the way it is, he added.

And the new builds that are coming forth in the market, in 2020, were seeing more of the units overall being smaller in unit size.

Even if people can afford one of those smaller condos, they wont necessarily be able to get their kids into a nearby school.

The signs like Martinez saw at the new development near her condo dont mean kids absolutely wont get a spot at local schools, said TDSB spokesperson Ryan Bird. They mean a spot is not guaranteed if parents buy in new developments and schools are full.

Martinez, an insurance professional, and her husband still own their old condo, but rent it out. For now, theyre happy with their decision to lease.

Its important to Martinez for her daughter, now almost 11 months, to one day go to a neighbourhood school and be close to both herself and her mom, wholl help out with daycare.

Thats ultimately why we decided to take this place, she said. The rent, which is in the $3,000 range, was more than they wanted to pay. But they have the entire three-bedroom home to themselves.

I thought, it was too good to be true because theres two schools on either side.

Its also important to her that Isabella have the community connections that going to a close school brings, such as having school friends nearby.

And Martinez said they wouldnt have been able to afford owning a similar home in that neighbourhood, or anywhere in the city really. According to 2018 home sales data provided by Zolo.ca, analyzed by the Stars Patty Winsa, Runnymede-Bloor West Village is one of the more expensive neighbourhoods in Toronto. The median sale price for a home there was $1.22 million, requiring an annual family income of more than $200,000.

That same analysis showed that in every one of the citys 140 neighbourhoods, the income needed to purchase a median-priced single-family house  even with a 20 per cent down payment  is tens of thousands of dollars more than what a typical median-income family living there earns.

Its a crunch many others across the GTA are feeling.

Jen Berg, in her late 30s, and her husband are raising two kids in a two-bedroom Mimico apartment they chose in part for its walking distance to David Hornell Junior School, which teaches kindergarten to Grade 5.

Their son was a newborn and their daughter wasnt even born yet when they moved in 10 years ago. But, like Martinez, Berg was already thinking about her kids education. She wanted them to have the experience of going to a school with only younger kids, like she did.

Happily ensconced in their two bedroom in a Mimico sixplex, theyre within walking distance of bake sales and concerts at their small but mighty school, she added. Sure theyd love more space, but theyve looked into prices before and the math just doesnt add up.

Even tiny bungalows in the neighbourhood go for at least $700,000, so owning is out of the question. And with rents much higher than when they arrived a decade ago, theyre apartment stuck.

Theres no way that we would ever leave, Berg said. Unless, sure, if we won $70 million.

Karen Andrews, a staff lawyer with the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario, said what were seeing is a shift away from the old idea of buying a starter home before starting a family.

That ship has sailed, she said. Housing prices are now so high that even middle-class families cant afford them, and rents are so high they cant save up even if they could afford the down payment.

An elite few can count on the bank of mom and dad.

But with a lot of competition for the same neighbourhoods, and a low vacancy rate, theres no meaningful choice, and everybody feels very precarious.

And unlike home ownership, renting can leave families vulnerable to having to switch school districts if the landlord sells the place, renovates, or wants to move themselves or a family member in, Andrews said.

I think giving a child stability in a neighbourhood, with community, with neighbours, with a local school, with their friends, this is very important to them, and I think we as a society should care. We dont want kids feeling disrupted and dislocated.

Kids may also have special needs such as autistic therapy, or be in French immersion, which not every school offers. There can also be more competition for neighbourhoods that are seen as having good schools.

Not every school has equal access to fundraising opportunities, parents who are wealthy, active parent-teacher association, said urban planner Shannon Holness.

Single parents and racialized families, newcomers and people on social assistant are at a particular disadvantage, given theres such stiff competition for apartments.

A lot of families are at the mercy of individual landlords, who can chose to rent to you or not, Holness said.

And, she added, amenities such as parks, daycare and schools, havent kept up with the density of new condo developments. Instead, more new developments have private spaces such as pools only for the condo residents that can leave out other neighbours.

The challenge for families today is that a lot of new developments that are being built arent family friendly, she said.

For tenant advocate Geordie Dent, this is all yet another sign of the ongoing housing crisis.

Were building for investors. Were not building for people to live in, if we were you wouldnt see the number of shoebox condos that we have, said Dent, with the Federation of Metro Tenants Associations.

Shoebox condos that no ones really going to live in, except families that are cramming in because they have no where else to go.
LUCKNOW UP has experienced a longer spell of winter this year. While December saw intense cold wave, January has been a story of fog, rain and cold winds that sent a chill down peoples spine.

Heavy showers lashed many parts of the state on January 16 and 17 and dense fog crippled normal life. The district administration had to order closure of schools on a few occasions due to inclement weather.

The mercury had plummeted to 0.7 degrees Celsius in Lucknow on December 31.

All this is due to western disturbances. This year, intense cold spell began from mid December. There are indications that the weather may take another U-turn, which will result in a drop in temperatures, said JP Gupta, Met director.

It may rain again on January 28-29, especially in the northern parts of the state. This will lead to another winter spell, he said.

Dhruv Sen Singh, professor in geology department, Lucknow University, said: This is a temporary phase. But this extended cold weather explains clearly that anthropogenically induced global warming is a very minor issue before the natural system. Climate and weather change are 100%natural, whereas pollution, which is man driven, will only accelerate or moderate the rate of climate or weather change.

Environmentalist VK Joshi said, Western disturbances have aggravated the winter. If you ask me as a layman, I have not seen such a long winter spell here in my life.

The Meteorological Centre (Lucknow) warned of dense fog at isolated places over the state. In Lucknow, mist/shallow fog was likely in the morning with clear sky later on. Maximum and minimum temperatures will be around 22 and 7 degrees Celsius, respectively.

Expect rain on Jan 28-29

This is due to western disturbances. This year, intense cold spell began from mid December. There are indications that the weather may take another U-turn, which will result in a drop in temperatures, said JP Gupta, Met director.

It may rain again on January 28-29, especially in the northern parts of the state. This will lead to another spell of chill, he said.
(Alliance News) - RBG Holdings PLC on Friday said 2020 "looks promising" as it has delivered "substantial progress" in 2019 despite a "challenging" business environment.

The stock was up 1.5% at 100.00 pence a share on Friday afternoon in London.

The legal services firm said it expects its annual results to be "significantly" ahead of prior year.

Therefore, it would pay an interim dividend for the six months to the end of 2019, of 3p per share, taking its 2019 payout to 5p. In April, RBG declared a dividend of 2.8p for the last eight months of 2018. RBG floated on the London Stock Exchange in May 2018 after raising GBP43 million in its initial public offering.

In September, Rosenblatt acquired sell-side corporate finance boutique Convex Capital for a total of GBP22 million and changed its name to RBG following the acquisition.

RBG - formerly known as Rosenblatt - said revenue growth was aided by contributions from its dispute resolution practice area, litigation finance and the acquisition of Convex Capital Ltd.

The company's law operations, meanwhile, had steady performance, it said, particularly from its dispute resolution practice.

The corporate division - which is focused on commercial transactions - saw reduced billings as a result of uncertainty caused by Brexit. However, RBG said that Convex contributed "incremental" revenue, adding that it expects to see further benefits in 2020.

"2019 has been a year of substantial progress, with the group continuing to perform well in a challenging business environment. We are beginning to see the benefits from our focus on litigation finance opportunities," said RBG Chief Executive Nicola Foulston.

RBG said it currently has GBP2.2 million invested in 11 cases which have not concluded.

Looking ahead, Foulston said: "2020 already looks promising, especially in our corporate division, where there has been a pickup in activity post the election. I am very positive about the future of the group."

In addition, RBG said it has appointed Keith Hamill to as new chair, effective immediately, replacing Stephen Davidson, who is stepping down to focus on his other board appointments.

Hamill is currently a non-executive director of luggage manufacturer & retailer Samsonite, and chair of leisure services provider Horsforth Holdings Group. He also served as chair of hotel business Travelodge Hotels Ltd, food manufacturer Premier Foods PLC, and menswear company Moss Bros Group PLC.

By Ife Taiwo; ifetaiwo@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
January 24, 2020





Web proxies are popular tools used to protect private information when surfing the web. They hide your geographic location and the IP address of your computer, making it difficult for websites and scammers to track your browsing activity. They do this by serving as intermediaries between your computer and the rest of the public web.







Think of the proxy like a middleman in a transaction. Instead of communicating directly with the website or server youre attempting to connect to your computer instead says what it wants to a proxy. The proxy then connects to the website, retrieves the information youre looking for, and returns the results to you.

The different kinds of web proxies

Though finding a web proxy is a simple matter of searching Google (News - Alert), you might find yourself faced with a wall of options that can be daunting to sift through. This is a quick rundown of the different kinds of web proxies and the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Stay away from free proxies!

Unless youre only looking to get around a geographical restriction to gain access to something youre reading, you shouldnt use free proxies. Remember, youre sending your private information through their servers, and you have no idea whos reading it. If youre thinking of logging into your private social media or sending sensitive data, think twice about using a free proxy service to do it.

Datacenter proxies

Datacenter proxies are what people usually mean when they talk about proxies. These are artificially-created IP addresses that live in datacenters. There can be thousands of different IP addresses within the same sub-network. Theyre cheap, fast, and theyre plentiful. However, since theyre all still tied to a shared physical location, theres always that risk of someone getting entire swathes of IP addresses banned (including the one youre using).

Residential proxies

Residential proxies are individual IP addresses assigned by an ISP. Unlike datacenter proxies, which are virtual addresses within a sub-network of a single datacenter location, each residential proxy is an actual physical location in the world. Residential proxies are hard to acquire, so any residential proxy servers are likely to charge you an arm and a leg for their service. The upside is that since theyre tied to a physical address and an official ISP, websites typically are more lenient with the kinds of activities theyll allow from them.

Dedicated proxies

A dedicated proxy, as its name implies, is a proxy address that is assigned to a single user at a time. Theyre the opposite of public proxies where thousands of users might share a single IP address at any given moment. These are much more secure than public proxies but only really good for personal use. If youre thinking of performing automated activities through a web proxy, you might want to reconsider.

Rotating proxy servers

Rotating proxy servers keep you anonymous by changing your IP address at random. These are great for web scraping and automated bots since the constantly changing IP address makes it hard for websites to detect any suspicious activity. One of our sources about rotating proxy servers - https://proxyway.com/.

What are proxies used for?

Proxies have many purposes beyond home computer security. Proxies are useful for a million different things, from getting around access restrictions to digital marketing. Here are just a few of the ways people are using web proxies:

Web proxies and web scraping for market analysis, price comparison, and sentiment analysis

Businesses are using web scraping to perform all sorts of tasks, from analyzing buyer sentiment across social media to comparing prices across different markets. However, all that data becomes pointless the moment it is out-of-date. To ensure their information is always relevant, these businesses have their web scraping tools checking and re-checking data round the clock.

Websites dont like all this extra traffic, however, and often ban addresses with excessive activity. To ensure their web scrapers can continue to do their work unhindered, businesses pair them with proxies. Since these scrapers are accessing these websites through multiple different proxies, the websites have no idea theyre all coming from a single source.

Social media marketing and web proxies

Modern marketing has become highly automated and digitized. With social media bots, you can influence the conversation around your product and interact directly with your consumers. Social media bots are tied to individual social media accounts and are designed to behave and interact just like a real person would. They create a buzz by liking posts and directing discussion toward a brand or product. Many businesses have social media bots numbering from the low hundreds to several thousand, each running their own social media account and silently influencing brand discussion on the internet.

Many social media platforms dont allow for multiple accounts under a single name or from a single location. They track your IP address and general location and will block any computer that is suspiciously tied to too many accounts. To circumvent this rule, businesses use rotating proxies that automatically assign a unique address for each bot. Usually, these rotating proxies will switch proxies every few minutes, or with every web request, the bot sends. You can found more information about proxy using on social media marketing https://bitrebels.com/social/social-media-sites-incentives/.

Proxies for saving bandwidth and faster browsing

Due to the nature of proxies as an intermediary between your computer and the internet, theyre often associated with slow or unstable connections. This is true for most free proxies  thats one of the reasons why you should avoid them! However, many professional proxy services have unique data compression and web caching technology that makes web browsing even faster!

These work by storing a copy of every web page its users access in a cache. When another user tries to access that page, the server checks if theres been a recent change in its content. If not, then it simply serves you the cached version, saving you from having to download all the materials again.

Getting around internet restrictions to access blocked content

Weve talked about how proxies can hide your computer information from the websites youre accessing, but did you know that the websites youre visiting are hidden from your ISP? Your ISP can only see that youre connecting to a proxy address, but they have no idea what sites that proxy is fetching for you.

This is the most common use for proxies  getting around internet restrictions. Many countries throughout the world have limited or censored the internet. In countries like Indonesia, more than 70,000 websites are blocked by the local government. Users can get around these restrictions through the use of a proxy.

Hoarding limited-edition products and manipulating online polls

Web proxies are also used for personal gain, and many of the kinds of activities that require a proxy could be considered shady or outright malicious.

Some online sales sell limited numbers of special items in flash sales and promotions. They often limit these sales to one per customer, but with a proxy, you can connect from multiple addresses and get around this limit.

Online polls can also be manipulated in this way. Users hoping to influence the results of these polls will often connect from multiple devices, and numerous proxy addresses then cast their votes. Then they switch IP addresses  rinse and repeat.

Conclusion

Web proxies act as the middleman in all your transactions on the internet. Your computer tells the proxy what data it wants, then the proxy communicates with the server and fetches that data for you. The server never knows that you were the one who sent the original request.

There are many different kinds of proxy servers, but the best option for personal use would be a dedicated residential proxy. Dedicated proxies give each user their unique proxy address, and no other user can use it while youre still online. Residential proxies dont share a sub-network, so if one gets banned, it doesnt affect any other addresses in the proxy network.

If youre looking to do some heavy-duty automation that requires web proxies, rotating dedicated residential proxies are the way to go. Other than the benefits of dedicated residential proxies mentioned above, rotating proxies also change your IP address constantly, making it very difficult for websites to track your activities.
Mumbai, Jan 24 : Actress Kriti Sanon's latest photoshoot for Harper's Bazaar India has left fans in awe of her fashion statement.

Kriti's cover was shot in Switzerland's scenic city Lucerne. Dressed in cosy jackets and sporting a slicked back look with kohled eyes, Kriti is definitely imparting winter fashion goals in the true sense.

"Take me back to Siwtzerland," she captioned one of the images.

"Cutie," a user commented on the picture.

"Winter fashion goals," another user wrote.

On the film front, Kriti, who wooed the audience with her roles in "Housefull 4" and "Luka Chuppi" last year, will be seen in "Mimi" and "Bachchan Pandey" in 2020.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
A 23-year-old man and his companion were fined for multiple violations of regulations on traffic safety on Wednesday after a video which captured the two men showering themselves with water from a bucket while riding a motorbike in the southern province of Binh Duong went viral on the Internet.

Traffic police in Binh Duongs Dau Tieng District said on Wednesday that they had summoned Huynh Thanh Khanh, residing in Long Hoa Commune, for his involvement in the video.

The viral clip recorded two shirtless men taking an on-the-go' shower while they were riding a motorbike without wearing crash helmets.

In the video, the two men appeared to have their heads covered with lather before a man sitting in the back seat started pouring water from a bucket onto the other man who was steering the vehicle.

They carried a box of beer cans on the vehicles center luggage rack while the water bucket was placed between the two men.

Two Vietnamese men take an 'on-the-go' shower while riding a motorbike in the southern province of Binh Duong.

The driver was heard saying he was on a rush to a drink party.

The video was captioned When your friends rush you for a drink and was shared more than 45,000 times after it was uploaded on social networks.

Based on the license plate number of the motorbike in the video, police were able to track down the two men in question.

Accordingly, Huynh Thanh Khanh, 23, was determined as the driver.

Both Khanh and his companion were fined a total of VND1.8 million (US$77.76) for driving without a drivers license, riding and boarding a motorbike without wearing crash helmets, riding a motorbike without rear-view mirrors, and driving without a civil insurance certificate.

In addition, the person who lent Khanh the motorbike was also fined VND1.4 million ($60.48) for lending the vehicle to an unqualified driver.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
By Express News Service

KOCHI: The three-day India International Travel Mart (IITM), one of the premier travel and tourism exhibitions in the country, commenced at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Kadavanthra on Thursday. The exhibition was launched by Razaidi Abd Rahim, director, Tourism Malaysia.

We are glad to bring Malaysia tourism to Kerala. Malaysia and India are closely associated in terms of tourism. I am sure IITM will help the growth of tourism and its allied sectors, Razaidi Abd Rahim said.

Paulose Mathew, chairman of Travel Agents Federation of India, said the tourism sector was becoming one of chief economic contributors to the GDP of India and Kerala. Even as more tourists arrive in India, there has been a growth in the number of outbound tourists from India and Kerala, he said.

The travel mart is bringing together over 125 participants from over 20 Indian states and more than seven countries, showcasing their products and packages in travel, tour and hospitality sectors. The three-day event is organised by Sphere Travel Media and Exhibitions. Around 15,000 visitors are expected to visit the exhibition this year.

Abu Dhabi, Turkey, Malaysia, China, Nepal, Sri Lanka are the international participants, out of which Abu Dhabi and Malaysia are the partner countries. The event will attract more than 3,000 travel agents from Kerala, making it one of the biggest travel events in the region. More than 15,000 holidaymakers are also expected to visit. The exhibitors are offering attractive discounts for spot bookings, said Rohit Hangal, director, Sphere Travel Media. Diverse tourism products from Kerala have also been showcased in the exhibition. Hotels and resorts from various parts of India are providing attractive tour offers.
Hillary Clinton appears to have made a public show of support towards Meghan Markle by sharing one of her inspirational quotes on Instagram.

The former US Secretary of State, 72, uploaded a post featuring a comment the duchess made in February 2018 to her page yesterday.

The quote, written in purple against a green background, read: 'Women don't need to find a voice. They have a voice. They need to feel empowered to use it, and people need to be encouraged to listen.'

Meghan made the remark during a Q&A session about women's empowerment at the first Royal Foundation forum held with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the Aviva offices in London.

Hillary Clinton, pictured in October in Fort Lauderdale, Florida during her 'What Happened' book tour, appears to have made a public show of support towards Meghan Markle by sharing one of her inspirational quotes on Instagram

The former US Secretary of State, 72, uploaded a post featuring a comment the duchess made in February 2018 to her page yesterday

Earlier this month Meghan and Prince Harry quit as senior members of the Royal Family - having already split from their joint charity with Prince William and Kate Middleton in June last year.

Mrs Clinton's post received more than 70,000 likes, with many of her 4.5 million followers sharing applauding emojis in response.

The former first lady has previously spoken favourably of Meghan, hailing her as 'gutsy' in interview with The Sunday Times Magazine in October.

She added: 'I'm a huge Meghan Markle fan.'

Mrs Clinton also revealed she wanted to put her arms around the duchess and comfort her over the 'racist and sexist treatment' she has received.

The former first lady has previously spoken favourably of Meghan, pictured at Canada House earlier this month, hailing her as 'gutsy' in interview with The Sunday Times Magazine in October

Speaking to Emma Barnett on Radio 5 Live in November, the ex-politician said the treatment of Meghan over the past three years has been 'heartbreaking and wrong'.

She appeared on the programme with her daughter Chelsea, who said the duchess had 'absolutely' faced a racially charged backlash after her relationship with Harry began in 2016.

Mrs Clinton said: 'I think even if you go back and look at social media from the time the engagement was announced, race was clearly an element in it.

'And to think that some of your - what we would call mainstream - media actually allowed that to be printed in their pages, or amplified, was heartbreaking and wrong.

Meghan made the remark during a Q&A session about women's empowerment at the first Royal Foundation forum held with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the Aviva offices in London in February 2018 (pictured)

'She has made her own way in the world. And then she falls in love, and he falls in love with her, and everybody should be celebrating that because it is a true love story. You can just look at them and see that.'

The former first lady said her maternal instincts drove her to give advice and support to Meghan.

She continued: 'I feel as a mother I just want to put my arms around her. Oh my God, I want to hug her!

'I want to tell her to hang in there, don't let those bad guys get you down. Keep going, do what you think is right.'

The former first lady, pictured at Swansea University in November, said her maternal instincts drove her to give advice and support to Meghan

In November it emerged Meghan secretly invited Mrs Clinton to visit her at Frogmore Cottage, her Windsor home.

According to sources, the two women hugged during what was described as something of a 'fan girl' meeting.

Prince Harry and six-month-old Archie were there and Mrs Clinton, 72, even got to have a cuddle of the royal baby and told Meghan about Chelsea's new baby son, Jasper, her third grand-child.

Earlier this month Meghan and Harry announced they were stepping back as senior members of the Royal Family and dividing their time between the UK and North America.

Earlier this month Meghan and Harry, pictured at Canada House earlier this month, announced they were stepping back as senior members of the Royal Family and dividing their time between the UK and North America

Meghan jetted back to Canada, where the couple spent their six week break and the festive period, following a public engagement at Canada House. Harry followed her there on Monday.

The couple have vowed to become financially independent, and plan to make a living by providing voiceovers and producing documentaries on 'worthy' issues such as mental health and climate change.

The couple plan to continue 'marketing' themselves under the Sussex Royal brand for the time being, even though they have agreed not to use their HRH titles in the future, it is understood.

In November it emerged Meghan secretly invited Mrs Clinton to visit her at Frogmore Cottage, her Windsor home, and had a cuddle with baby Archie (pictured with his parents in South Africa in September)

The duke and duchess want to follow in the footsteps of former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle, as well as setting up a Clinton Foundation-style charity, the Daily Mail has been told.

The path taken by Mrs Obama after her time as First Lady - and indeed the career Hillary Clinton has carved out - may well be an inspiration to Meghan as she looks to her future.

Recent books written by Mrs Obama and Mrs Clinton topped bestseller lists and were accompanied by tours where they filled venues like rock stars.
The student who arrived in Kochi was admitted to the Ernakulam Medical College hospital after he showed symptoms of fever. He has been admitted to the isolation ward for close surveillance. He had earlier taken treatment at a private hospital which referred him to medical college hospital.

THIRUVANANTHPAURAM: Two Malayalee medical students who returned from China recently have been placed under observation in Kochi and Kottayam respectively for suspected coronavirus infection even as the Kerala health department issued a series of guidelines to check possible outbreak in the state.

The student who arrived in Kochi was admitted to the Ernakulam Medical College hospital after he showed symptoms of fever. He has been admitted to the isolation ward for close surveillance. He had earlier taken treatment at a private hospital which referred him to medical college hospital.

Health authorities said the samples containing his body fluids would be despatched to the National Institute of Virology, Pune, for laboratory investigations. He will continue to remain under observation till the hospital receives the reports from the Pune institute.

A girl who is pursuing her medical course in China has been kept under observation in Kottayam. She returned to Kerala recently. District health authorities said that though she has not presented any symptoms, she has been kept under observation to comply with the treatment protocol. The authorities here said that 46 Indian students of Wuhan Medical College including Mala-yalees who are stranded there at the moment, are safe.

The health authorities directed all airports and seaports to continue with high surveillance in the wake of coronavirus outbreak in China. In the event of people returning from China or other places, presenting suspected symptoms coronavirus, they should be immediately taken to isolation wards set up in medical college hospitals in the state.

The authorities have directed that all persons coming from China should get in touch with district medical officers of the respective districts. The health department has also arranged an exclusive number Disha 1056 and land line 0471-2552056 for conveying any information related to suspected corona virus.

Nurse in saudi tests positive for MERS virus

It has been confirmed that a Malayalee nurse in Saudi Arbaia had tested positive for the MERS coronavirus. Dr Tarik Al Azraqi, chairman, Scien-tific Regional Infection Control Committee, Aseer Region, has confirmed that the nurse being treated at Aseer National Hospital is suffering from MERS-CoV & not 2019-NCoV (Wuhan).

Her condition is said to have improved and she has been shifted out from the ICU to a ward.

Of the 30 nurses of the hospital who were kept under observation, 23 have reported for duty.
Democratic House impeachment managers are expected to argue Friday that President Donald Trump obstructed Congress' investigation into his dealings with Ukraine. It's the final day for the seven House managers, led by Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., to state their case that Trump should be convicted and removed from office. On Thursday, Democrats laid out their arguments that Trump met the standard for impeachment by pushing Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to announce probes into his political rivals and a debunked conspiracy about the 2016 presidential election while millions of dollars in congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine was being withheld. Schiff gave an impassioned speech late Thursday at the close of the day's proceedings, folding a searing attack on Trump's character into a sweeping appeal to senators' common sense. In America, Schiff said, "Right is supposed to matter."

"It's what's made us the greatest nation on Earth. No Constitution can protect us if right doesn't matter anymore, and you know you can't trust this president to do what's right for this country. You can trust he will do what's right for Donald Trump." The proceedings ended around 10:30 p.m. ET. When the Senate convenes at 1 p.m. Friday, Democrats are expected to detail their argument that Trump, by refusing to hand over any documents to the House and by pressuring witnesses not to cooperate with the impeachment inquiry, is guilty of obstruction of Congress. The Democrats have 24 hours total, spread out over three days, to state their case. Trump's lawyers will have the same time to present the president's defense. They are expected to start Saturday  a time slot that Trump grumbled about on Twitter as "Death Valley in T.V." Trump TWEET Senators, who are required to remain silent during the trial proceedings, will then have 16 cumulative hours to ask questions of the House managers and the defense team in writing. Under Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's rules, the Senate will then get to vote on whether to produce documents and witnesses in the trial that Republican and Democratic lawmakers have been pushing for. Amendments to issue subpoenas beforehand for a slew of documents and witnesses were shot down Tuesday. But Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has pressed Republicans to support calling witnesses when it comes up for a vote. Democrats need four Republicans to vote with them. Even if they win that battle, it remains unlikely that two-thirds of the Senate will vote to convict and remove the president from office.

House impeachment managers Reps. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., left, and Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., are seen in the Capitol before the continuation of the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on Thursday, January 23, 2020. Tom Williams | CQ-Roll Call | Getty Images
S ex Education star Aimee Lou Wood revealed how her West End debut was almost derailed by a supportive text message from her father.

The 24-year-old, who made her name in the hit Netlix show and plays Sonya in the Chekhov classic Uncle Vanya, admitted she tried not to think about her terrifying rise to fame.

She said: My Dad texted me just before I was about to go on stage and said, Youve got one million followers on Instagram. I was like, Dad, its not the right time to remind me that Im quite observed. So I try not to think it about and just take it day to day and enjoy the experience.

Woods Sex Education co-stars Gillian Anderson, Alistair Petrie and Connor Swindells, who is also her boyfriend, were in the audience last night.

She said she hoped Netflix would commission a third series, but that she wanted to balance her screen career with regular theatre work.

She said: I know a lot of screen actors who think they left it too long to go back on stage and now they have really bad stage fright.
The Navy is reportedly investigating videos found on the website Pornhub that they believe show unsuspecting service members through a peephole in a bathroom.

The videos were discovered earlier this month by an agent from the Naval Criminal Investigative Series, according to a report by NBC News.

Several reportedly show sailors and Marines in uniform, with visible name patches.

Some civilians also appear to have been captured on camera, officials have said.

Officials were not aware of any sexual acts being caught on the videos, however the footage does reportedly show people changing their clothes.

Pornhub website homepage: Shutterstock / Pe3k

It is not clear when the footage was captured, but it appears that some of the individuals were assigned to the USS Emory S Land, which is a vessel that supplies submarines and is assigned to a port in Guam.

As investigators conduct their evaluation, the pornographic website has taken down the clips.

NCIS agents have also begun to notify people who appear to have been in the footage, with legal advocates helping out in that effort.
A local rapper blamed allegations of sexual assault and human trafficking on his "current success," according to an arrest affidavit.

William Bouldin, 32, also known by his stage name Milli Mars, was charged with trafficking of a person after he allegedly engaged in forced sex acts for compensation with a 34-year-old woman, the affidavit continued. This comes after 27-year-old Ashanti Pearnell Johnson was arrested earlier this month on trafficking of a person charges in connection with the same incident.

The victim told police on Sept. 8 she was supposed to go to a house party with Johnson at an apartment northwest of downtown, but when they arrived, there was only Bouldin and another man there. She said Johnson and Bouldin began to act strangely and lured the victim into a bedroom where she was sexually assaulted, the affidavit said.

READ ALSO: Woman arrested on Northwest Side on human trafficking charges

The assault only ended after the other man heard the victim screaming for help in the bedroom and told them all to leave, the affidavit said.

Bouldin later apologized to the victim after she messaged him on Facebook later that day and said Johnson had planned the sexual encounter days in advance, the affidavit said. Bouldin also allegedly paid Johnson to arrange the encounter, the victim said.

When police questioned Bouldin, he was asked if he knew of any females who would make sexual assault allegations against him and he allegedly told police that "he believed the allegations were made against him because of his current success," the affidavit said. He also told police he had two ex-girlfriends who had verbally threatened him.

FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox

When police asked him about the incident with Johnson, Bouldin said he had only invited the women over for drinks and later got intimate with the victim when they kissed in the bedroom, the affidavit said. He said Johnson had asked him for money in exchange for the visit, but Bouldin got upset because "he never paid for prostitutes and told the females to leave," the affidavit continued.

Johnson allegedly told police Bouldin had agreed to pay her $200 for her company but then only paid her half when she declined to have sex with him, but then the victim volunteered to have sex with Bouldin for the money, the affidavit said. Police said Johnson's claims contradicted evidence they already had.

Bouldin was arrested Wednesday on the trafficking charges. He is being held on a $30,000 bail.

Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news reporter and general assignment writer. Read her on our breaking news site, MySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway
Fragile X syndrome is a debilitating genetic neurodevelopmental disorder that affects people worldwide, but many doctors don't know anything about it, let alone have the resources to properly diagnose or treat it.

The UC Davis MIND Institute is home to several of the world's leading experts in fragile X syndrome and works globally to educate clinicians and families on how to identify, test and provide care for those born with the disorder, often associated with autism.

This multimedia story documents one such outreach effort in Serbia and the lives of the Cvijetic family and their search for help for their 6-year-old son, Demetrije.

Diagnosed with fragile X syndrome through the efforts of a MIND Institute-trained physician, the affectionate boy has never attended school, cannot speak or feed himself with a spoon or fork. His parents desperately hope he can someday have a productive life.

MIND Institute experts in fragile X syndrome are available for media interviews about their international work and ongoing research. They include:

Randi Hagerman, a pediatrician and professor at UC Davis, and one of the world's leading experts on fragile X syndrome and related conditions and their treatment.

Leonard Abbeduto, a psychologist and director of the UC Davis MIND Institute who is internationally renowned for his work on the development and use of language in individuals with intellectual disabilities, including those with fragile X syndrome.

David Hessl, a child clinical psychologist and professor at UC Davis whose expertise include the cognitive, emotional and behavioral evaluation of children with fragile X syndrome.

The MIND Institute will next bring their expertise to Cartagena, Colombia for the Pan-American Conference of Neurodevelopment: Autism and Fragile X Syndrome, April 16-17 and then to Quito, Ecuador for another conference April 20-21.
Out of the over three million people screened recently for non-communicable diseases like hypertension, diabetes and cancer in Madhya Pradesh, 86 per cent are being given treatment, a senior health official said Friday.

The screening was done over 45 days, said Dr Saloni Sidana, Additional Director, National Health Mission (NHM) Madhya Pradesh.

"The burden of hypertension is high in Madhya Pradesh and the state government is prioritising it as a public health issue. The MP government screened over three million people for non-communicable diseases like hypertension, diabetes and cancer in the past 45 days, of which 86 per cent have been put on treatment," Sidana said.

She was speaking at a dialogue on hypertension management and elimination of trans-fatty acids held here, which was attended by media persons, policy makers, medical fraternity and members of civil society.

Follow-up is an integral part of the screening, and those diagnosed with hypertension have been put on treatment right from day one, the official said.

The screening process has also brought to light the high prevalence and low level of awareness about NCDs in rural areas, she said, adding that the measures to to strengthen the screening process include training of ASHA (accredited social health activist) workers on use of non-invasive blood pressure machines.

Dr Rajeev Gupta, professor of cardiology at state-run Gandhi Medical College (GMC), said hypertension is one of the leading risk factors for death and disability in Madhya Pradesh, and emphasised the importance of prevention and control of blood pressure.

Gupta said there was need to monitor early morning rise of blood pressure, especially between 4 am and 9 am, which he informed led to a high number of cardiovascular events.

"Pre-hypertension among the younger population is a cause of concern," Gupta added.

Madhya Pradesh Food and Drug Administration Joint Controller DK Nagendra spoke on how enhancement of laboratory facilities, including a microbiology lab, will help the state achieve the status of being free from industrially produced trans fats by 2022.

"The setting up of new labs in Gwalior, Indore and Jabalpur will enhance our testing capabilities," he noted.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Consumer Voice COO Ashim Sanyal said it was time the country took concerted efforts in line with the World Health Organisation's REPLACE strategy to eliminate trans fats from the food system by 2022.

REPLACE stands for Review (RE), Promote, Legislate, Assess, Create and Enforce.

The Delhi-based Consumer Voice has been spreading awareness about the ill effects of trans-fatty acids on health.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Nanboya.jp scored 43 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team

This CoolSocial report was updated on 20 Dec 2012, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.

The total number of people who shared the nanboya homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the nanboya homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if nanboya has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the nanboya homepage on StumbleUpon. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the nanboya homepage on Twitter + the total number of nanboya followers (if nanboya has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the nanboya homepage on Delicious.

Basic Information

PAGE TITLE  DESCRIPTION 12 KEYWORDS  OTHER KEYWORDS



CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. The title found in the head section of the homepage. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage.

Domain and Server

DOCTYPE XHTML 1.0 Transitional CHARSET AND LANGUAGE Japanese SHIFT_JISJapanese DETECTED LANGUAGE Japanese Japanese SERVER Apache (PHP/5.2.14) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Linux Linux

The language of nanboya.jp as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) Character set and language of the site. Operative System running on the server. Type of server and offered services.

Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world.

Referring domains for nanboya.jp by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines.

Facebook link

FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND

Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The URL of the found Facebook page. The type of Facebook page. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. The total number of people who like website Facebook page.

Twitter account link

TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND
She is a fashion icon who launched her clothing label in 2009, with a flagship store opening five years later.

And Victoria Beckham looked suitably stylish as she 'played shop girl' at her Dover Street shop in London on Friday.

The Spice Girl, 45, cut a chic figure as she filmed the shop floor while clad in a pair of high-waisted fawn cigarette pants paired with a tailored white blouse with black trim.

Scroll down for video

Stylish: Victoria Beckham looked suitably stylish as she 'played shop girl' at her Dover Street shop in London on Friday

The star added a splash of colour with neon yellow stiletto heels.

Her brunette tresses were styled in a sleek centre-part, flicked out at the ends, with a radiant palette of make-up enhancing her pretty features.

VB was clearly proud of her store as she showed off the stunning clothes, immaculate reception area and ceiling-to-floor mirrors.

Wow factor: The Spice Girl, 45, cut a chic figure as she filmed the shop floor while clad in a pair of high-waisted fawn cigarette pants paired with a tailored white blouse

Enviable wardrobe: The star showed off her immaculate shop floor complete with designer gear

In 2018 losses at Victoria Beckham Limited rose dramatically to 12.5million after demand for the former Spice Girl's range of 2,000 dresses and 1,000 handbags slumped.

Victoria's high-end clothes are sold in stores around the world but struggling sales and high costs have seen losses grow in each of the past four years.

The mother-of-four's fashion label has lost 34.7million since it launched ten years ago, and has been repeatedly bailed out by her husband. David and Victoria have an estimated combined net worth of 355m.

The mother-of-four has recently returned from Paris, after being invited to Men's Fashion Week by creative director of Dior Homme Kim Jones.


Representative image

Pakistan rejected US criticism of the USD 60 billion CPEC under China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), saying the project has helped the cash-strapped country to "fill the gaps" in energy, infrastructure, industrialisation and job creation.

Senior US diplomat Alice Wells has said there is no transparency in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the firms blacklisted by the World Bank have got contracts under the project, which will increase the country's debt burden.

Wells, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia who is on a four-day visit to Pakistan, made the remarks while speaking at a think tank event on Tuesday.

The Chinese embassy here also rejected her remarks as a "negative propaganda" against the CPEC.

"Although you can never wake up a person who is pretending to be asleep, we have to make our position clear and reject the negative propaganda by the US," the embassy's spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday.

At the weekly media briefing on Thursday, Foreign Office spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said China has helped Pakistan to "fill the gaps in energy, infrastructure, industrialisation and job creation".

"CPEC was not being financed only through loans or non-concessional financing with sovereign guarantees. The CPEC debt amounts to USD 4.9 billion which is not even 10 per cent of the country's total debt," she said.

The CPEC is a planned network of roads, railways and energy projects linking China's resource-rich Xinjiang province with Pakistan's strategic Gwadar Port on the Arabian Sea.

The project was launched in 2015 when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Pakistan and it now envisages investment of over USD 60 billion in different projects of development in Pakistan.

Highlighting the achievements under the CPEC, Farooqui said 7,000 MW power projects worth USD 12.4 billion have reached completion stage.

Responding to a question on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the spokesperson said Pakistan has taken a whole range of steps to meet the requirements of the FATF.

"We remain closely engaged with the FATF members, including the US," she said.

The FATF in October decided to keep Pakistan on its 'Grey' list for failure to curb funnelling of funds to terror groups LeT, JeM and others.

If not removed off the list by April, Pakistan may move to a blacklist of countries that face severe economic sanctions, such as Iran.

Pakistan has submitted a 650-page review report to the FATF on January 8. The report was submitted in response to 150 questions raised by the FATF regarding new Pakistani policies on money laundering. The report outlined the steps taken by Pakistan between October 2019 to January 2020 to implement the group's recommendations.

Farooqui also welcomed Donald Trump's offer of mediation on the Kashmir issue and hoped that the desire of the US President would be translated into some kind of action.

During a meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday, Trump said the US is watching the developments between India and Pakistan over Kashmir "very closely" and repeated his offer to "help" resolve the longstanding dispute between the two neighbours.

Trump has repeatedly offered to mediate following India's August 5 decision to revoke the special status to Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcate the state into two Union Territories, evoking strong reactions from Pakistan which has been trying to internationalise the issue.

New Delhi has defended its move, saying Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and the issue was strictly internal to the country, and the special status provisions only gave rise to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

Although President Trump has offered to mediate on the Kashmir issue in the past, New Delhi has told Washington that it is a bilateral matter between India and Pakistan and there is no scope for any third-party mediation.

To a question on India getting S-400 missiles, Farooqui said Pakistan has repeatedly expressed concerns over the induction of ballistic missile defense system in the region.

"Such destabilising systems can undermine regional stability and may lead to an unnecessary arms race," she said, adding that Pakistan has proposed discussion on a strategic restraint regime for South Asia to avoid the induction of the destabilising weapons.

Russia has started production of S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile systems for India and all the five units will be delivered by 2025.
Themed Miracles of books, the event featured over 60,000 book titles from prestigious publishing houses.

A wide variety of attractive activities will be held during the festival, including an exhibition on documents and photos to mark the 90th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3), an exhibition themed Saigon  Ho Chi Minh City in the revolution for national liberation (1930-1975), and an exhibition on calligraphic books of President Ho Chi Minhs teachings.

The model of DK1 rig house

In addition, a model of DK1 rig house is being showcased at the festival, contributing to inspiring the spirit of protecting the countrys sovereignty over its seas and islands.

Notably, 16 newspaper covers, which were selected from the competition Spring Newspapers Covers, are also being introduced to the visitors.

The organising board also designed a model themed The sky of knowledge, with books of various sizes connected with led lights to create a sparkling sky.

Visitors to the festival will have the chance to join activities imbued with the traditional values of Tet Festival, such as folk games, asking for calligraphy letters and making to he (toy figurines).

The Book Street Festival will run until January 28 (the fourth day of the first lunar month).
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 12:44:32|Editor: ZD

Video Player Close

SYDNEY, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Although the devastation of Australia's unprecedented bushfire crisis has been widespread, the nation's top tourism boss is adamant that Australia is still open for business and ready to welcome tourists from China and across the world.

With a whole-of-government review currently underway looking at how fire-affected communities in Australia can get back on their feet, Managing Director of Tourism Australia Phillipa Harrison said the country's tourism sector will have a huge role to play.

"Tourism is the lifeblood of many of these communities," she said, noting that the sector employs one in 13 people in Australia and contributes 60 billion Australian dollars (41 billion U.S. dollars) to the GDP.

"When it goes down, not only is the tourism sector impacted but all of the businesses around the tourism industry that rely on visitors to the region are impacted," she said.

While Harrison reiterated that it's important not to minimize the despair caused by this year's bushfire season, she explained there is a false perception that Australia has become a no-go zone for travelers -- mainly due to inaccurate information circulating on social media.

"There have been a lot of well-meaning people who have shared misinformation and maps that are actually just incorrect and while they've done it from a good place, it's actually done more harm than good," she said.

One such map shows almost all of the continent as being on fire. In reality, Harrison pointed out that all of Australia's major cities along with the iconic Great Barrier Reef and more, are very safe to visit and remain unaffected by fire.

"The reason that people love Australia is that they love our lifestyle, they love our flora and fauna, they love our pristine beaches and all of that still exists. So what we are saying to people is check it out and see it for yourself," she said.

"We have already seen green shoots coming back from fire-affected areas. The land is resilient. We are resilient. We will get back on our feet but the quickest way to do that is by getting back to normal, having tourists come and visit us, and enjoying all the things they've always loved about Australia."

Currently on the eve of Sydney's Lunar New Year celebrations -- the largest Spring Festival anywhere outside of Asia -- Harrison said the 16-day period is the peak season for Chinese travelers visiting Australia.

"China is our No. 1 market," she said.

"We are ready and waiting to welcome guests from China and we would say, by any chance, if you haven't booked anything now, please come and visit us because we're ready to accept you and wish you happy new year."

Accurate information regarding Australia's ongoing bushfire situation can be found at australia.com and australia.cn.
The script for Colin Trevorrows Star Wars film, which was scrapped in favour of JJ Abramss The Rise of Skywalker, has been confirmed to be real.

Jurassic World director Trevorrow stepped down from the project in September 2017 after reportedly clashing with Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy.

Following its leak, fans perused the leaked script to see which direction the Star Wars franchise would have gone in had Trevorrow stayed on as director.

Disney never commented on the reports, but Trevorrow has now confirmed the leaks legitimacy  and his ideas were wildly different to Abramss (spoilers for The Rise of Skywalker below).

Firstly, the script reveals the films original title and opening crawl, which you can find here.

Star Wars films  ranked worst to best Show all 11 1 /11 Star Wars films  ranked worst to best Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 11. Star Wars: Episode II  Attack of the Clones (2002) The prequel trilogy has lived on in infamy, but the true low point of this low point in the Star Wars franchise must be Attack of the Clones, the dry, crusted middle of the cinematic sandwich. While Revenge of the Sith has some sense of completion and The Phantom Menace has some sense of wonder, all Attack of the Clones has is a CGI Yoda bopping about the screen like an unswattable fly while battling Christopher Lees Count Dooku. Its a film driven by unnecessary desires: from the space politics, to Boba Fetts backstory, to Padme and Anakins romance. The latter is the most insufferable, since George Lucas never had much of an ear for dialogue, as notoriously pointed out by Harrison Ford when he declared on set: George, you can type this s***, but you sure as hell cant say it. Which leads us to one of the worst line readings in cinematic history, when Hayden Christensens Anakin laments: I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating  and it gets everywhere. Rex Features Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 10. Star Wars: Episode III  Revenge of the Sith (2005) Hollywood has increasingly made the assumption that darker means better when it comes to cinema  it explains why the Harry Potter films look like they were made while someone gradually turned down the dimmer switch on the studio lights. Of course, audiences know that darker sometimes means that your protagonist-turned-villain becomes a youngling-murdering, amateur street magician-looking sourpuss. Anakins arc here comes to a whimper of an ending, underlined by the much-derided decision to have Darth Vaders first moments onscreen involve him howling Noooooo! up to the sky like a mournful hound. That said, Ewan McGregor confirms here that he managed to escape the franchise largely unscathed, as this instalment sees him have the most fun with the clunky dialogue (see: Hello there! and I have the high ground!). Rex Features Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 9. Star Wars: Episode I  The Phantom Menace (1999) The Phantom Menace escapes slightly ahead of the rest of the prequel trilogy, if only for the fact it remembers these films are meant to be fun once in a while. The pod race  its a good scene! Darth Maul is all looks, zero follow through  its embarrassing to act like youve won, only to be cut in half and sent hurtling down an exhaust pipe  but his inclusion in the film did introduce one of the best musical themes in Star Wars history, John Williamss Duel of the Fates. However, the space politics are a particular drag here, with all the talk of trade disputes, and, of course, it's obligatory to mention the terror that is Jar Jar Binks. Rex Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 8. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) Although its the weakest of the new generation of Star Wars films, Solo still holds up as a fun romp worthy of Han Solos rascal reputation. Alden Ehrenreich picks up on enough of Harrison Fords mannerisms to sell the character without sliding into imitation, while Donald Glover is a scene stealer from the very moment he walks on screen as Lando Calrissian. Its a lost opportunity, then, that the film is otherwise slowed down by an impulse to offer backstory to as many aspects of Hans character as possible. Did we really need to know how we got the name Solo? Really? Rex Features Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 7. Star Wars: Episode IX  The Rise of Skywalker Director JJ Abrams, like the hero of an ancient prophecy, was destined to make both enemies and allies with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. There will be arguments. And there will be arguments about the arguments. There will be obsessive deconstructions and over-interpretations of each frame and intake of breath. But, at the end of the day, this is still a Star Wars film in its very bones, muscle, and sinew. Whatever controversy Abrams might have brewed up with his artistic choices, he still captures magnificently the soul of this series: that unwavering hope that the powerless can win, despite the odds. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 6. Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) Theres a lot to wrap up in the concluding chapter of the original trilogy. The result is a few odd turns for the sake of plot convenience. What does one do with a character as enigmatic as Boba Fett? Why, have him topple into the Sarlacc pit within the first 20 minutes! How does one put to rest the love triangle hinted at in A New Hope? Why, insert a revelation that Luke and Leia are, in fact, brother and sister! Even the second Death Star oddly feels sillier than The Force Awakens and its third attempt at a giant ball in space, since The First Order at least had the excuse that their obsessive admiration of the Empire may have clouded their judgement. That said, theres still plenty of charm to be found here and the Ewoks arent all that bad. Before you dismiss them as irritating merchandise opportunities, its worth remembering that they have absolutely no qualms about killing and eating people. Rex Features Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 5. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) If Rogue One is any indication of Disneys plans for the franchise and its future, then theres no cause for concern. The first of the A Star Wars Story spin-offs, it shifts into gear with ease, soothing audiences by not straying too far from the familiar timeline while introducing a full set of new characters and a grittier tone. Stylistically, it feels more like a Vietnam War movie and is proof of how far a gifted director like Gareth Edwards can stray from the franchises usual formula and still feel grounded in the same world. Plus, you have to admire the guts it takes to deliver an ending like that Rex Features Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 4. Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015) Disney made a very smart move with The Force Awakens. As the first Star Wars film of a new generation, it not only had to make its own mark, but feel familiar enough that it welcomed fans back with open arms. The balance is hit perfectly here. Thats largely due to the films new trio of central heroes, who radiate the same kind of warmth, bravery, and spirit that carved a special place in peoples hearts when they were first introduced to the franchises original stars. Daisy Ridleys Rey, John Boyegas Finn, and Oscar Isaacs Poe honour Star Wars's past while striding into its unknown future. It also helps that the film has landed on a villain like Kylo Ren (Adam Driver), whose drive and complexity may see him surpass even Darth Vader by the end of his story in Episode IX. Rex Features Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 3. Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017) Any divisiveness the film attracted certainly proved one thing: heres a Star Wars film that actually took a creative risk. And what a bold, ambitious, and ultimately beautiful risk that was. Director Rian Johnson took the cinematic legacy presented before him and added a new richness to its textures. He allowed heroism to go beyond the clean divide between good and evil; through Luke and Rey, we were taught not to be ashamed of our doubts but to grow stronger because of them. We were taught not to use destiny as a crutch, but to know when to forge our own paths. The Last Jedi is a soulful film told through some of the most striking cinematography of the entire franchise. Rex Features Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 2. Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) Its the place where it all began. The Star Wars franchise has only become the success it is today because of how purely revolutionary the first instalment was as a piece of Hollywood filmmaking. It is, to this day, one of the most successful examples of the modern epic, endlessly imitated but so rarely with the same heart or ambition. George Lucas tapped into one of the most timeless qualities of storytelling: its ability to let us see and understand our own world through the eyes of another. Star Wars has become so iconic because, even on such a grand scale, we know and relate to the emotions at hand  fear, love, or a desire to do whats right. Rex Features Star Wars films  ranked worst to best 1. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) The Empire Strikes Back is remarkable in its ability to pursue real emotional stakes. Its closing moments, the final note to its symphony of sacrifice and tragedy, leaves us with the single, delicate emotion that is hope, blooming in the darkness as our heroes set out to save Han and restore the Rebel Alliance. What A New Hope built up by making us fall in love with these characters, The Empire Strikes Back recouped in sharing with us their pain and their fears. Darth Vaders reveal that hes Lukes father has, of course, found its place in history, but theres an equal sense of emotional resonance in the moment Leia and Han depart, moments before hes trapped in carbonite. When Leias I love you is returned by Hans I know  a line written by Harrison Ford himself  were reminded of how magical Star Warss sense of storytelling can be, condensing everything that these two characters feel for each other into five simple words. Rex Features

Concept art of his film also leaked with one photo showing R2-D2 looking worse for wear. Was he planning to kill the droid? The director has made it clear on Twitter this was never part of his plan.

The most interesting aspect from the leaked screenplay, which was co-written by Trevorrow and Derek Connolly, is the absence of Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) who, save for a mention in the breakdown, doesnt appear to feature in the film.

Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) would have had a far darker arc than he had in The Rise of Skywalker. According to the script, he would have spent the film haunted by the ghost of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) in Darth Vaders old castle. There, he would have found a Sith device that put him on the path to Palpatines Sith teacher, Tor Valum.

Trevorrow also wrote it so that its revealed Ren killed Reys parents who were, in fact, nobody important to the franchise after all.

After the Force Ghosts of Luke, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda return to help Rey in her attempts to bring Ren to the good side, he is extinguished.

Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up

Just like Abrams, Trevorrow didnt envision that Rey and Kylo kiss, either. According to recent reports, Abrams was left unsatisfied by several orders made by Disney in relation to his finished film.

Other things that would have undoubtedly scored praise from fans include: a heist story arc for BB-8 and Rose Tico (meaning Kelly Marie Tran, who received just 76 seconds of screen-time in The Rise of Skywalker, would have had a far bigger role to play), Chewbacca (Joonas Suotamo) piloting an X-Wing and Finn (John Boyega) and Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) stealing a Star Destroyer.

Abramss The Rise of Skywalker, released last month, has divided critics and audiences, with some highlighting the movies sense of adventure and others criticising it for its moments of fan service.

Consequently, the film has a critical score of 54 per cent on review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes  one of the lowest for any movie in the long-running Star Wars franchise. Its audience score sits at 86 per cent, though, which is 43 per cent higher than the score amassed by Rian Johnsons previous Star Wars film, The Last Jedi.

The 65 best movie insults of all time Show all 49 1 /49 The 65 best movie insults of all time The 65 best movie insults of all time Avengers Assemble (2012) "This is my bargain, you mewling quim." Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) "Hey, where'd you get those clothes, the toilet store?" DreamWorks Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Bad Moms (2016) "Well, you look like a bag of d***s" REX The 65 best movie insults of all time Blade: Trinity (2004) "You c*ck-juggling thunderc***!" New Line Cinema The 65 best movie insults of all time The Breakfast Club (1985) "Does Barry Manilow know that you raid his wardrobe?" Universal Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Bridget Jones's Diary (2001) "If staying here means working within 10 yards of you, frankly, I'd rather have a job wiping Saddam Hussein's arse." Universal Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Bull Durham (1988) "From what I hear, you couldn't hit water if you fell out of a f***ing boat." Orion Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time The Campaign (2012) "You know what the difference between your momma and a washing machine is? When I dump a load in a machine, the machine doesn't follow me around for three weeks." Warner Bros Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Casino (1995) "You horse manure smelling motherf***er, you." Universal Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Closer (2004) "Go f*** yourself, you WRITER!" Columbia Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Con Air (1997) "You're somewhere between a cockroach and that white stuff that accumulates at the corner of your mouth when you're really thirsty." Buena Vista Pictures Distribution The 65 best movie insults of all time The Death of Stalin (2017) "You smell like rendered horse, you burning a**hole." eOne Films The 65 best movie insults of all time Donnie Darko (2001) "You can go suck a f***." Pandora Cinema The 65 best movie insults of all time Duck Soup (1933) "He may look like an idiot and talk like an idiot but don't let that fool you  he really is an idiot." Paramount Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Erin Brockovich (2000) "That's all you got, lady - two wrong feet and f***ing ugly shoes." Columbia Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time The Favourite (2018) "You look like a badger." Fox Searchlight Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time A Fish Called Wanda (1988) "To call you stupid would be an insult to stupid people." The 65 best movie insults of all time Gangs of New York (2002) I dont give a tuppeny f*** about your moral conundrum, you meat-headed s*** sack. Miramax Films The 65 best movie insults of all time The Hangover (2009) "You are literally too stupid to insult." Warner Bros. Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time His Girl Friday (1940) "Listen, you insignificant, square-toed, pimple-headed spy!" Columbia Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Home Alone (1990) "You're what the French call: 'les incompetents'." DON SMETZER/20TH CENTURY FOX/The Kobal Collection/WireImage.com The 65 best movie insults of all time In Bruges (2008) "YOU'RE AN INANIMATE F***ING OBJECT!" Universal Studios/Focus Features The 65 best movie insults of all time Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) Perry: "Look up 'idiot' in the dictionary. You know what you'll find?" : "Look up 'idiot' in the dictionary. You know what you'll find?" Harry: "A picture of me?" Perry: "No! The definition of the word idiot, which you f***ing are." REX The 65 best movie insults of all time Knocked Up "Your face looks like Robin Williams' knuckles. The 65 best movie insults of all time The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) "Were you always this stupid or did you take lessons?" The 65 best movie insults of all time The Man Who Came to Dinner (1942) "My great aunt Jennifer ate a whole box of candy every day of her life. She lived to be 102 and when she'd been dead three days, she looked better than you do now." Warner Bros. The 65 best movie insults of all time Matilda (1996) "Your mummy is a TWIT." TriStar Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time The Mist (2007) Ill tell you what. The day I need a friend like you, Ill just have myself a little squat and s*** one out. REX The 65 best movie insults of all time Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) "Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries." EMI Films The 65 best movie insults of all time National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) If any of you are looking for any last-minute gift ideas for me, I have one. I'd like Frank Shirley, my boss, right here tonight. I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, d***less, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey s*** he is." The 65 best movie insults of all time Parenthood (1989) "I wouldn't live with you if the world were flooded with piss and you lived in a tree." Universal Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Phantom Thread (2018) "Are you a special agent sent here to ruin my evening and possibly my entire life?" REX The 65 best movie insults of all time Point Break (1991) "You're a real blue flame special, aren't you, son? Young, dumb and full of cum. What I don't know is how you got assigned here. Guess we must just have ourselves an asshole shortage, huh?" REX The 65 best movie insults of all time The Princess Bride (1987) "I'll explain and I'll use small words so that you'll be sure to understand, you warthog faced buffoon." Vestron Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Say Anything (1989) "I got a question: if you guys know so much about women, how come you're here on a Saturday night completely alone drinking beers with no women anywhere?" The 65 best movie insults of all time Scarface (1983) "Even if I were blind, desperate, starved and begging for it on a desert island, you'd be the last thing I'd ever f***." Universal Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time School of Rock (2004) "You're tacky and I hate you" The 65 best movie insults of all time Sexy Beast (2000) "You're the f***ing problem you f***ing Dr White honkin' jam-rag f***ing spunk-bubble!" REX The 65 best movie insults of all time She's All That (1999) "To everyone here who matters, you're spam. You're vapour. A waste of perfectly good yearbook space." Miramax Films The 65 best movie insults of all time Shrek (2000) "You dense, irritating, miniature beast of a burden." REX The 65 best movie insults of all time Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) "Why, you stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf herder." 20th Century Fox The 65 best movie insults of all time Step Brothers (2008) "You're not a doctor. You're a big fat curly headed f***." REX The 65 best movie insults of all time There Will Be Blood (2007) "You're just the afterbirth, Eli, slithered out on your mother's filth. They should have put you in glass jar on a mantelpiece." Paramount Vantage/Miramax Films The 65 best movie insults of all time Three Amigos (1986) "You dirt-eating piece of slime. You scum-sucking pig. You son of a motherless goat." Orion Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Toy Story (1995) "You are a sad strange little man, and you have my pity." Buena Vista Pictures Distribution The 65 best movie insults of all time Wayne's World (1992) "Benjamin is nobody's friend. If Benjamin were an ice cream flavour, he'd be pralines and d***." Paramount Pictures The 65 best movie insults of all time Withnail & I (1987) "Monty, you terrible c***." HandMade Films The 65 best movie insults of all time The Wizard of Oz (1939) "You clinking, clanking, clattering collection of caliginous junk!" Loew's, Inc. The 65 best movie insults of all time The Women (1939) "You wanna see a bad facelift? Helen Danvers, two o'clock. She looks like she's re-entering the Earth's atmosphere." REX

A full breakdown of Trevorrows alleged leaked script can be found on Reddit.

Abrams recently revealed what he believes to be the answer to one of The Rise of Skywalkers biggest mysteries: what Finn was about to say to Rey before getting sucked into the quicksand in Pasaana.

Find a list of every unexpected cameo in the film here.
A coalition of nine rebel groups from two conflict areas in Sudan on Friday signed a preliminary agreement with the government after weeks of talks in a key step towards a final peace deal.

The peace talks began in October in South Sudan and aim to end conflicts in Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan, where rebels have fought bloody campaigns against marginalisation by Khartoum under ousted president Omar al-Bashir.

The latest deal covers key issues around land, giving local authorities the right to make their own laws, power sharing, and the creation of a unified national army.

It was signed by groups from the Blue Nile area and Darfur, however rebels from South Kordofan -- who are demanding an autonomous state -- did not as they press further demands.

"With this agreement, there (are) so many details including the issues of land that (were) resolved," said Adi Idriss, chairman of the coalition, the Sudan Revolutionary Front.

The agreement also addressed legislature for the two areas and gave them the chance to make their laws and to regulate local issues, he said.

The land issues refer to a contentious deal signed under Bashir which gave investors fertile land under 100-year leases. This has been scrapped and leases will be reduced to less than 20 years.

Idriss also said the agreement covered creating a national Sudan army.

"In Sudan there are so many armies and militias and the rebels also have their forces and ... it talks about how to reintegrate all these forces into one national army," he said.

More details on what was agreed regarding power sharing and local autonomy were not immediately available.

Sudanese paramilitary commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, best known by his nickname "Hemeti", signed the deal on behalf of Khartoum.

"Signing this agreement shows our political will as the government of Sudan to peace and this peace will change the lives of all the people of Sudan better than ever before."



Parties from all three conflict-hit regions signed a declaration of principles to allow humanitarian access into conflict-hit areas of the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan, Darfur and the Blue Nile.

The talks are taking place in Juba, in South Sudan, which broke away from Khartoum in 2011 to become an independent state.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir is mediating, as he himself is engaged in peace talks to end a bloody six-year war in his own country, that have faced numerous delays and hurdles.

"I am happy that you have reached this agreement, although it is not the final agreement and hope you will reach the final one in few weeks," said Kiir.

"Let me tell you, there is nothing better than peace because with peace you can get anything you want.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Cincinnati, OH (45221)

Today

Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. High 44F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A few clouds. Low around 30F. Winds light and variable.
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has called on the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons to channel its intervention toward providing permanent resettlement homes for internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Governor Zulum said concentrating humanitarian interventions on IDP camps does not help the recovery and resettlement programmes of the government.

He said significant interventions from major humanitarian outfits like the refugee commission should address the problems of displacement in a more permanent and sustainable manner.

The decade-long Boko Haram insurgency has caused the displacement of nearly 2 million persons.

The governor said rebuilding permanent home would enhance the return of IDPs to their reclaimed communities.

Speaking while hosting a delegation of top officials from the Refugee Commission, led by its chief executive, Lado Mohammed, and a representative of Qatar Foundation, Governor Zulum said there is a need to move the phase of intervention from palliative measures to something sustainable.

Mr Zulum said the state will continue to provide and coordinate donor humanitarian interventions for the welfare of displaced persons.

We are happy with all your interventions,  he said. However, we will request that you do not focus on IDP camps but rather on stabilisation for the IDPs and by that, I mean contributing in the construction of resettlement houses which can be allocated to households as their permanent places to live and we then provide them with means of livelihoods to sustain themselves.

As a government, we are moving from the phase of enhancing IDP camps to resettlement. By resettlement, I do not mean having to go and build houses elsewhere, the houses could be near the IDP camps, we will provide the land.

Governor Zulum said his government has established an agency for the coordination of all humanitarian donors and development activities in the state.

He explained that the purpose of streamlining activities of donor outfits coming to the state was geared towards preventing duplications of interventions for displaced communities.

He added that coordinating the influx of intervention gives a clear policy direction for the state government who will be taking lead in determining its priorities.

Mr Mohammed, a Federal Commissioner in charge of the Refugee Commission, said the Qatar Foundation was interested in building a resettlement camp in Borno state; hence, he said it requested for land which Governor Zulum granted.

The federal commissioner also disclosed that his commission had trained a number of displaced persons on vocational skills and established some businesses for them.
January 24 : British actor and model Amy Jackson rocked the world renowned Paris Fashion Week 2020. The actress stunned all, turning heads in different haute couture brand clothing.

The actress, who was last seen in Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar starrer 2.0, dropped a stunning picture from Paris on her Instagram handle, flaunting her toned post baby body. Donned in an Antonio Grimaldi ensemble, Amy looked gorgeous. The Singh Is Bliing actress wore a stylist beige-coloured pleated long top with deep neckline. The diva teamed it with a pair of same shade pants. The actress belted her waist with the same material, accentuating her slim waistline. Amy opted for pretty defined eyes, nude lips, and razor sharp cheekbones. Even though Amy has perfect cheeks, she opted for a little bit of help with contour makeup.

Amy Jackson, who is engaged to Greek businessman George Panayiotou, welcomed their baby son Andreas in 2019. She will soon get married to George Panayiotou in Italy. Amy is fond of posting picture on her Instagram page, cuddling her bundle of joy. On the work front, the actress is taking a break from films for the time being and concentrating more on modelling projects.
The Department of Health in the south-central Vietnamese province of Khanh Hoa has initiated epidemiological surveillance after two Chinese citizens tested positive for novel coronavirus (nCoV) in Ho Chi Minh City following their stay in the province.

The two patients are Li Ding, 66, and his son, 28-year-old Li Zichao.

Li Ding and his wife arrived in Hanoi from Wuhan City, China on January 13, before heading to Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province on a domestic flight on January 17.

Li Zichao, who has lived in the Mekong Delta province of Long An for the past four months, also went to Nha Trang to see his parents.

The family stayed at a hotel in Nha Trang from January 17 to 19 before traveling to Ho Chi Minh City by train.

The father got a fever on January 17, while his son had similar symptoms on January 20.

They were admitted to Cho Ray Hospital in the southern metropolis on Wednesday night.

Their coronavirus infection was announced on Thursday.

Their fevers have subsided after receiving treatment and the patients are now able to consume food and drinks.

Although the two Chinese citizens were found infected by the coronavirus in Ho Chi Minh City several days after they left Nha Trang, carrying out the epidemiological surveillance is still necessary and in accordance with procedures, said Dr. Bui Xuan Minh, director of the Khanh Hoa Department of Health.

The health department previously installed five remote body thermometers at Cam Ran airport to monitor international visitors to Khanh Hoa Province.

No international tourists have been found carrying the coronavirus in the province so far, Dr. Minh elaborated.

A pneumonia outbreak, caused by a new strain of the coronavirus family that caused SARS and MERS, first surfaced in Wuhan City in December.

The disease has spread to many countries and territories, while China's National Health Commission has confirmed 541 infection cases and 17 deaths as of January 23.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Health has warned people to keep a distance from people with acute respiratory infections and wear a mask when talking to them.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
AKRON, Ohio  A law enforcement task force arrested a fugitive in Akron on Thursday and seized a stolen gun, drugs, cash and drug-distribution supplies from the house where he was staying, according to police.

Juan Sheppard, 30, of Akron, had active warrants for weapons under disability and a parole violation, according to police. As a result of Thursdays search, he has been charged with possession of drugs, trafficking drugs, receiving stolen property and possession of marijuana, Akron Municipal Court records show.

Around 2:20 p.m. Thursday, members of the U.S. Marshals Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force, the Akron Police Departments Anti-Violence Bureau and agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration responded to a home on the 700 block of Raymond Street on Akrons West Side to search for Sheppard, police said.

When the task force arrived, Sheppard tried to run out the back door, but was met by officers and arrested, police said.

Law enforcement seized a stolen .40 caliber handgun, 11 pounds of methamphetamine, Oxycodone pills, 45 grams of marijuana, three cell phones, about $13,000 cash and items used to prepare and package drugs for distribution during a search of a home on the 700 block of Raymond Street on Akron's West Side, according to police.

During a search of the home, officers found a stolen .40 caliber handgun, 11 pounds of methamphetamine, Oxycodone pills, 45 grams of marijuana, three cell phones, about $13,000 cash and items used to prepare and package drugs for distribution, according to police.

Sheppard is scheduled to appear in court Saturday morning for an arraignment, court records show.

To comment on this story, visit Fridays crime and courts comment section.

Want more Akron news? Sign up for cleveland.coms Rubber City Daily, an email newsletter delivered at 5:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.
With 41 people confirmed dead and more than 1,000 infected, China has cut all transportation links into and out of Wuhan  a city of 11 million where the new virus originated  and 13 other cites across the center of the country, as celebrations of the Lunar New Year began Friday. Normally, 400 million people could be expected to travel across Asia during the Spring Festival, but the government has adopted a drastic course of action in the face of the health crisis.
[January 24, 2020] Australian Broadcasters Shine on Global Stage at BIGO Awards Gala 2020, Held in Singapore

SINGAPORE, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading technology company from Singapore, BIGO Technology (BIGO), the company responsible for popular new age communication platforms like Bigo Live (Live Streaming), Likee (Short-form Videos), and imo (Video Communication) hosted the first ever BIGO Gala Awards 2020 for talented broadcasters, on January 15, 2020, at the Capitol Theatre in Singapore. The event recognized and felicitated live-streaming hosts who have performed exceptionally well on Bigo Live over the past year. The ceremony was held in a grand fashion with a red-carpet affair attended by some of the biggest names on Bigo Live, who flew in from all over the world, joined by hundreds of their top fans who showed up in support. More than 75 broadcasters were awarded at this ceremony bringing the total number of attendees to close to 1,000. The 4 categories of award winners were "Top Regional Broadcaster", "Top Regional Family", "Top Global Broadcaster" and "Top Global Family"; indicating the best of the best in both the regions and across the globe. Bigo Live is rising fast in popularity around the world, where it has reached a total of around 22 million Monthly Active Users (MAUs). Live-streaming hasbecome a worldwide phenomenon, as millennials feel the need to be constantly connected, and such platforms such as Bigo Live, allow them to stay connected, meet different people and share new experiences. Many of the award winners also took this opportunity to connect with their fans, even broadcasting live while receiving their award.



Winner of the "Top Regional Family" representative Samir, who comes from one of the strongest families in Australia claims that being here in Singapore gives him validation that teamwork pays off. He intends to grow his family and to eventually be one of the top families in the world. Winner of the "Top Regional Broadcaster" Annie, or better known from her nickname "little fish" is a K-pop champion dancer. She shares that she is happy to share her love for K-pop while encouraging her viewers to try out some of her dance moves. "K-pop is not only a dance form; it is also a way to exercise. I'm glad that I've the opportunity to influence my followers to stay healthy, have fun and dance!" Marzicon on the other hand attributes her wider social circle to Bigo Live.

Speaking about awards and live streaming space, Mike Ong, Vice President of BIGO Technology said, "With the proliferation of live streaming around Asia Pacific, we want to hone this space in Singapore by inaugurating the BIGO Gala Awards here, as we believe, no matter where our expansion plans lead us to, Singapore will always be BIGO's home. Despite Singapore being small, it is a highly connected location making it a perfect market to launch this event. As the demand for content increases and mobile penetration rises, the live streaming phenomenon will continue to play a pivotal role in driving the industry. With the company now having over 330 million MAUs in over 150 countries worldwide, it is highly paramount to honour and celebrate the live streaming hosts who have performed exceptionally well on our platform over the past year. Our community is the very heart and soul of BIGO, and we want to recognize and appreciate their dedication and commitment to their art." The BIGO Gala Awards 2020 Guest-of-Honour, Mr. Howie Lau, Chief Industry Development Officer at the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) agreed that the BIGO Awards Gala 2020 marked the growing significance of live streaming, giving credit to the winners who have made a difference in the platform. Snippets of the ceremony will be aired in Southeast Asia, Middle East, U.S.A. Japan and Taiwan. About BIGO Technology BIGO is a fast-growing Singapore technology company established in 2014. BIGO operates products and services in more than 150 countries in the world. BIGO's products include Bigo Live (global livestreaming platform), Likee (global short video creation platform) and imo (global video communication platform). Visit BIGO's website for more information on their brand and products. Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200124/2701695-1 SOURCE BIGO Technology

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
REMSEN, N.Y. -- The Remsen community is coming together to hold a benefit and raise money for the family of 9-year-old Everett Newman.

The young boy lost his life in a house fire on Dec. 18, 2019. The boy's mother and grandfather tried desperately to rescue Everett from the burning home.

The Newman family benefit will be at the Rome Polish Home, at 415 South George St., in Rome. It will be on Feb. 1, 2020 at 2:00pm.

Tickets are $10 per person. Kids ages 10 and under are free.

They will have food and drinks, live bands as well as some 50/50 raffles and Chinese auctions.
(Kitco News) - Gold prices are lower in early U.S. futures trading Friday. The safe-haven metal on this day is being pressured by upbeat trader and investor attitudes to end the trading week, despite the specter of the coronavirus outbreak worsening. The metals are also pressured in part by the steep drop in crude oil prices, which hit a two-month low Thursday. February gold futures were last down $8.00 an ounce at 1,557.50. March Comex silver prices were last up $0.001 at $17.83 an ounce.

Asian and European stock markets were mostly up overnight. U.S. stock indexes are pointed higher openings when the New York day session begins. European markets were boosted from some upbeat economic data Friday, as the composite purchasing managers index (PMI) came in at 50.9 in January, unchanged from December. The German manufacturing PMI for January came in at 45.2 and beat market expectations. The German manufacturing PMI was reported at 43.7 in December. A reading above 50.0 suggests expansion. European traders were encouraged that economic workhorse Germany is seeing its manufacturing sector improve.

The marketplace this week has waffled on the coronavirus illness that is impacting China and has now killed at least 26 of its citizens, with nearly 1,000 contracting the illness and several cities in China on lockdown. One day the markets are spooked by the matter and then next day they seem to ignore it. Reports Friday said the breakout of coronavirus could lop off over 1% of Chinas annual GDP, especially as the main holiday in China, the Lunar New Year, starts this weekend. At least one case of the virus has been found in the U.S. and one has been reported in Singapore. The U.S. State Department on Thursday advised U.S. citizens to reconsider traveling to the impacted regions of China. Its likely this situation will get worse before it gets better.

The key outside markets today see crude oil prices weaker and trading around $55.35 a barrel. Prices Thursday hit a two-month low as prices are in a steep near-term downtrend. Meantime, the U.S. dollar index is higher and hit a seven-week high overnight, as the USDX is trending up.

U.S. economic data due for release Friday includes the U.S. flash services PMI and the manufacturing PMI.

Technically, the gold bulls have the overall near-term technical advantage, but the January spike high is still strong chart resistance to overcome. A price uptrend is still in place on the daily chart. Bulls next upside price objective is to produce a close in February futures above solid resistance at the September high of $1,571.70. Bears' next near-term downside price objective is pushing futures prices below solid technical support at $1,525.00. First resistance is seen at the overnight high of $1,562.90 and then at this weeks high of $1,568.80. First support is seen at $1,550.00 and then at $1,541.00. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 6.5

March silver futures bulls and bears are on a level overall near-term technical playing field. Silver bulls' next upside price breakout objective is closing prices above solid technical resistance at the January high of $18.895 an ounce. The next downside price breakout objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at $17.00. First resistance is seen at Thursdays high of $17.91 and then at $18.00. Next support is seen at this weeks low of $17.59 and then at $17.50. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 5.0.
Strides Pharma Science announced that its step]down wholly owned subsidiary, Strides Pharma Global, Singapore, has received tentative approval for Triamcinolone Acetonide Ointment USP, 0.05% from the United States Food & Drug Administration (USFDA).

While it was amongst the few Competitive Generic Therapy (CGT) designated products for Strides, another generic company received approval prior to the company's approval.

Consequently, the final approval for Strides will be effective 30 May 2020 when the company will launch the product.

According to IQVIA MAT data, the US market for Triamcinolone Acetonide Ointment USP, 0.05% is approximately US$ 20 Mn. The product will be manufactured at the companyfs Oral dosage facility at Bangalore and will be marketed by Strides Pharma Inc. in the US market.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By PTI

ALIGARH: The students' coordination committee of the AMU on Thursday burnt an effigy of the varsity's Dean near Baab-e-Syed gate and demanded police action against him for allegedly threatening students opposing the CAA.

Former AMU Students' Union President and spokesman of the Students' Coordination Committee Faizul Hasan has lodged a complaint with Senior Superintendent of Police Akash Kulhari in this regard, the students' body said.

In the complaint, Hasan alleged that while AMU Vice Chancellor Tariq Mansoor was on Wednesday persuading protesting medicos to resume attending classes, newly appointed Dean of Students' Welfare Mujahid Beg allegedly told them to be "thankful" as only hands of some of the students were broken in the police action on December 15 and "no one had been killed".

Students of the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College are boycotting classes as part of the continuing anti-CAA protest at the campus.

The Dean's remarks infuriated the agitating students who felt that they were being threatened and pressurised to call off their stir.

When contacted, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) spokesperson Shafey Kidwai admitted that some of the "off the cuff remarks" by the Dean might have caused confusion.

"He had, however, no intention of threatening the protesting students but was just reminding them of some past events which the university had witnessed and which were even worse than today's crisis," Kidwai clarified.

He said that the Vice Chancellor's initiative was part of an ongoing outreach programme to persuade the protesting students in different faculties to start attending classes "even while continuing with their peaceful protest against what they feel is unjust legislation".

Meanwhile, seven students including two former leaders were booked by the police for brandishing their shoes at university Proctor Afifullah Khan after he objected to outsiders joining the protest on the campus.

According to circle officer Anil Samania, Nadeem Ansari, the former vice president of students' union and Hamza Sufian were booked under relevant sections of the IPC following a written complaint by the proctors' office.

The incident happened on January 17 when a large number of students were protesting on the campus and the proctor reportedly objected to the presence of some outsiders.

Students at AMU on Thursday also held a meeting to register support for film star Nasiruddin Shah, an alumnus of AMU, who they alleged was being targeted by sections of social media for voicing his support for anti-CAA protests.

The varsity's teachers' body -- Aligarh Muslim University Teachers' Association (AMUTA) took out a procession demanding a judicial inquiry into last month's campus violence.

They also passed a resolution urging AMU students to end their boycott of classes and exams while simultaneously carrying out peaceful protests against CAA.
He shook his head.

The protest was concentrated in Baghdad, and people were brought in from other cities to participate rather than holding smaller simultaneous demonstrations across the country.

Although the event was carefully organized and scripted by Mr. al-Sadr, a populist anti-American Shiite cleric, and given heft by Iraqi armed groups close to Iran, it also reflected a genuine desire shared by Iraqis to have a government and economy that serves the Iraqi people and not outside interests, many participants said.

Delivering on that may prove to be virtually impossible. But the United States recent actions in Iraq drew the wrath of many and distaste even among some Iraqis who support the United States presence.

It is particularly galling to many that the United States still has troops in Iraq and many people point out that while Iran also has influence, it does so without imposing its troops on the country. The armed groups that are part of the Popular Mobilization, even though they are backed by Iran, are not perceived in the same way.

We dont need any foreign troops to be in Iraq, we need Iraq for Iraqis, said Hoda Hashimi, an employee in the Ministry of Trade in Baghdad. We dont want Americans to leave, we want the troops to leave  we want America to support our country but with contracts, not troops.

This demonstration  unlike those in Tahrir Square in central Baghdad, which have gone on for months and involve a ragtag group of antigovernment protesters with homemade signs and a range of backgrounds  is heavily orchestrated rather than a spontaneous outpouring of feeling.

Participants were recruited, transported by buses provided by the organizers and given signs, flags and sometimes food. The vast majority of the participants are Shiite Muslims, who are the main constituency of the cleric Mr. al-Sadr and the armed groups close to Iran.
A test is understood to have been carried out at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast (Paul Faith/PA)

The Governments Cobra emergency committee has met to discuss the threat to the UK from coronavirus as nine people wait to see if they have the virus.

The meeting in Whitehall was chaired by Health Secretary Matt Hancock, after 14 people in the UK were tested for the virus, with five given the all-clear.

Professor Paul Cosford, emeritus medical director at PHE, has said it is still early days in the course of the virus, but stressed that most of those affected abroad are making a good recovery.

But he added it is highly likely that cases would be seen in the UK.

Mr Hancock said the risk to the UK public remains low as he left the Cabinet Office.

We have just held a Cobra meeting on the coronavirus concerns, he said.

As I made clear to the House yesterday, the clinical advice is that the risk to the public remains low and the chief medical officer will be making a full statement later today.

The Scottish Government confirmed on Thursday that five people were being tested after presenting with symptoms of the illness, while it was understood that another patient was tested at Belfasts Royal Victoria Hospital.

Two of those being tested in Scotland had been diagnosed with flu after travelling to Wuhan in China  the origin of the global outbreak.

NEW BLOG: Wuhan novel coronavirus: what you need to know https://t.co/9vOzpEOscA  UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) January 24, 2020

Downing Street said four out of five suspected cases in Scotland were believed to involve Chinese nationals.

Meanwhile, the official death toll in China has risen to 26 with more than 830 confirmed cases.

The Chinese city of Wuhan is rapidly building a new 1,000-bed hospital to treat victims of a new coronavirus, while Disneyland Shanghai and parts of the Great Wall of China have been closed to visitors.

Reuters reported that hospitals in Wuhan are struggling to cope due to medical shortages.

Almost 30 million people and 10 cities in China are now facing travel restrictions.

Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Prof Cosford said: I think its highly likely that we will have cases in the UK.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, he said anyone who has travelled to Wuhan in the last two weeks and returned to the UK, and who has symptoms, must get in touch with the NHS.

Symptoms of coronavirus include fever, sneezing and coughing.

Prof Cosford said: We will not be surprised if people return from China to the UK with the infection, the important thing is that if you are one of those people and you develop symptoms you get in touch quickly.

Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp (PA Graphics)

We are testing anybody who meets the criteria. The numbers arent the important thing, the important thing is that anybody who has been to Wuhan in the last 14 days and has symptoms, respiratory symptoms that could represent this virus  that we ask them to phone NHS 111 and then we can arrange any appropriate testing.

He said there was no precise figure for how many people have been in contact with the NHS who may have symptoms.

He added: Its important that while you do make contact with us, that you keep yourself away from too many other people, because of course if you have been infected, its important that we prevent spread.

All our GPs and hospitals across the country have had a letter from the Chief Medical Officer and the medical director at NHS England and us at Public Health England, so that if somebody does present and they are worried, if they do meet our criteria, that they will be put somewhere where they wont infect other people while theyre assessed and while we can get them tested.

Asked if face masks could provide protection, Prof Cosford said PHE was not advising people to use face masks at the moment, but is monitoring developments carefully.

Expand Close The death toll is increasing in China (Chinatopix/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp The death toll is increasing in China (Chinatopix/AP)

If a GP suspects a patient has coronavirus, they should be placed in a room away from other patients and staff with the door closed, the PHE guidance states.

They should not be allowed to use communal toilet facilities or be physically examined, it adds.

A letter from the Chief Medical Officer to clinical staff said anyone who is confirmed as having the virus will be transferred to an Airborne High Consequences Infectious Disease centre (HCID).

According to Public Health England, there are four interim Airborne HCID centres in England  two in London, one in Liverpool and one in Newcastle.

Prof Cosford said: These are early days with this virus, the vast majority of people who are infected do seem to be getting better.

The people who have sadly died do seem to have other conditions that might make them more likely to suffer badly with this virus.

In a statement to the Commons on Thursday, Mr Hancock said while there is an increased likelihood that cases may arise in this country, we are well prepared and well equipped to deal with them.

Also on Thursday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said it is too early to declare an international public health emergency over the outbreak given its restrictive and binary nature.

Speaking at a press conference, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, said: Make no mistake, this is though an emergency in China.

But it has not yet become a global health emergency.

It may yet become one.

Other cases have been reported in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the US and Vietnam.

Expand Close Passengers wear masks as they arrive at Manilas international airport in the Philippines (Aaron Favila/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Passengers wear masks as they arrive at Manilas international airport in the Philippines (Aaron Favila/AP)

Dr Tedros said: We know that most of those who have died had underlying health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes or cardiovascular disease, that weakened their immune systems.

We know that there is human-to-human transmission in China, but for now it appears limited to family groups and health workers caring for infected patients.

At this time, there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission outside China, but that doesnt mean it wont happen.

The UK is monitoring direct flights arriving into the UK from China as a precaution.

Passengers are receiving leaflets and advice on what to do if they develop symptoms, and a PHE health team is on stand-by at Heathrow.
A firestorm of criticism from across the political spectrum was ignited by the news that I had accepted an invitation to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, one of the most elite gatherings of corporate CEOs and world leaders. Now Im headed to London to meet with a few founders of the Extinction Rebellion, one of the most influential climate protest movements.

Knowing only of my journey to Davos, my activist peers on the left ridiculed me as naive, reactionary and a sell-out. Those on the right cited my acceptance as proof that radical activists only critique elites because they wish they were elites. Others orchestrated a wave of character assassinations, fabrications and bullying on social media.

The denunciations hurt. But I cant say that I was surprised. As a lifelong activist, I knew my presence in Davos would be reputational suicide.

And yet, I also knew that I must go to Davos and London, despite the significant social and emotional costs, because  to put it in stark terms  the survival of human civilization depends on a new relationship between activists and elites.

Convinced that the climate emergency was forcing activists and elites into an uneasy alliance, it was impossible for me to turn down the invitation to Davos. The World Economic Forum is undeniably one of the few places where this kind of discussion could ever be had. After all, where else could I hope to get in the room with the worlds most powerful people?

Ill admit that I was surprised when the World Economic Forum did not balk at facilitating this difficult discussion. Instead, I was impressed by their ability to make it happen.

The closed-door, off-the-record conversation between corporate leaders, social movement activists, civil society and labor union representatives was organized by the World Economic Forum and held in a secure space adjacent to the main conference center. This allowed activists to attend who were otherwise not invited to the Forum. The discussion was held under the Chatham House Rule. While I will not disclose the specifics of who was present, I will share what was said.

First, a general outline of who was in the room.

The meeting was moderated by a leader in civil society whose organization operates in dozens of countries. The two corporations present are global brands with over 500,000 employees combined. On behalf of labor was a union with over 25 million members in over 150 countries. And there were militant activists from a range of movements.

 My generation will not give up without a fight' Greta Thunberg tells Davos summit

I presented a brief outline of the activist strategy manifesto An Alliance of Opposites and spent most of the remainder of the session listening. I wanted to know if a united front between these different social forces was possible in the service of the greater cause of climate mobilization. Could activists pause the class war temporarily to focus on climate? Would corporations be willing to facilitate disruptive climate protests, if it meant they could keep their wealth? Would governments tolerate the mobilization if it meant they could keep their political power?

The discussion was lively and courteous. It was not easy.

Activists felt that it was tremendously difficult to put aside the strategy of rectifying income inequality before, or as the first step toward, tackling climate. Corporations felt uneasy with the possibility of the social mobilization spiralling out of control and were reluctant to accept that the movement could not happen without disruptive, unruly protest. Unions did not feel adequately represented in the strategy Id outlined.

The end result was that everyone present was astonished by the hunger for the conversation on all sides. No one wanted it to end and we had to be repeatedly asked to leave the room.

In the days that followed, I spoke with many powerful and wealthy people at Davos. And to each I made the pitch for a united front for climate. Their reactions largely echoed what I heard in the private session.

If youre wondering how I got here in the first place, my long march to the World Economic Forum began with the defeat of Occupy Wall Street, a social movement that I helped found and that spread to 82 countries and 1,000 cities in 2011. I rebelled against the failure of this movement by devoting the remaining decade to understanding what wed done wrong. Why hadnt our global protest, one of the biggest in human history, achieved the goal of getting money out of politics and decreasing the political power of the 1 per cent?

At first I thought it was a failure of strategy. Or maybe it was the tactics wed used. I considered whether activist culture was producing the wrong kinds of activists and I worked on new methods for teaching activism. But it was only relatively recently that I realized Id been pursuing the wrong question.

The most remarkable thing about Occupy was not its failure but its unique characteristics as a social phenomenon: its speed, scale and efficiency. Occupy spread globally, inconceivably quickly, mobilizing millions of diverse people in many different countries. And it cost a pittance to create.

The appropriate question to ask about Occupy is therefore not why did it fail, but rather: what can a social phenomenon like Occupy be used to achieve?

Viewed from this perspective, the Occupy model, stripped of its ideology, is a solution in search of a problem. Well, there just happens to be an existentially pressing global problem for which a massively unprecedented social mobilization is desperately needed  the climate emergency.

I made the same argument to elites in Davos as I intend to make to activists in London: it is imperative that we utilize the capacity of social movements to mobilize humanity for dramatic climate mitigation efforts.

This entails a reorientation of activism and a break with 300 years of activist strategy.

Davos 2020 - in pictures Show all 14 1 /14 Davos 2020 - in pictures Davos 2020 - in pictures U.S. President Donald Trump walks out of the Marine One helicopter as he arrives for the 50th World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, January 21, 2020 REUTERS Davos 2020 - in pictures Spotters gather on a viewpoint to take pictures of Air Force One (not pictured), carrying US President Donald J. Donald Trump, as it lands at Zurich Airport, Switzerland, 21 January 2020. Trump arrived in Switzerland to attend the 50th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos EPA Davos 2020 - in pictures U.S. President Donald Trump waves as he arrives for the 50th World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, January 21, 2020 REUTERS Davos 2020 - in pictures A Secret Service agent takes a photo as the Marine One helicopter carrying U.S. President Donald Trump flies nearby en route to the Word Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland January 21, 2020 REUTERS Davos 2020 - in pictures US President Donald J. Trump smiles before addressing a plenary session during the 50th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, 21 January 2020. The meeting brings together entrepreneurs, scientists, corporate and political leaders in Davos under the topic 'Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World' from 21 to 24 January 2020 EPA Davos 2020 - in pictures Ivanka Trump, special adviser to the president and senior advisor Jared Kushner listen as U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a speech during the 50th World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 21, 2020 REUTERS Davos 2020 - in pictures Artists from Fete des Vignerons perform a song "Ranz des Vaches" before U.S. President Donald Trump's speech during the 50th World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 21, 2020 REUTERS Davos 2020 - in pictures US President Donald J. Trump (R, red tie) walks in the Congress Centre after addressing a plenary session during the 50th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, 21 January 2020. The meeting brings together entrepreneurs, scientists, corporate and political leaders in Davos under the topic 'Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World' from 21 to 24 January 2020 EPA Davos 2020 - in pictures Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg addresses a panel session during the 50th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, 21 January 2020. The meeting brings together entrepreneurs, scientists, corporate and political leaders in Davos under the topic 'Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World' from 21 to 24 January 2020 EPA Davos 2020 - in pictures Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg (C) listens to a speech by US President Donald J. Trump at a plenary session during the 50th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, 21 January 2020. The meeting brings together entrepreneurs, scientists, corporate and political leaders in Davos under the topic 'Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World' from 21 to 24 January 2020 EPA Davos 2020 - in pictures U.S. President Donald Trump speaks dutring a bilateral meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during the 50th World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 21, 2020 REUTERS Davos 2020 - in pictures Demonstration organized by Juso Schweiz (Young Socialist Party) on the sideline of the 50th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, WEF, in Davos, Switzerland, 21 January 2020. The meeting brings together enterpreneurs, scientists, chief executive and political leaders in Davos January 21 to 24 EPA Davos 2020 - in pictures Governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney attends a session at the 50th World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 21, 202 Reuters Davos 2020 - in pictures U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with the President of the Swiss Confederation Simonetta Sommaruga during a bilateral meeting at the 50th World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland REUTERS

To claim that social activists can create the scale of climate mobilization that is necessary  it will need to be at least 10 times bigger than Occupy  without the, at minimum, tacit support and resources of the existing power structures is dangerously naive.

At the same time, elites must acknowledge social movements are a valuable, and rare, opportunity for mobilizing people. For governments and corporations to pretend that they will be able to mitigate climate change without the active, engaged support of grassroots activists is a hopeless delusion. Whether elites like it or not, activists are unique in their capacity to create social movements that get everyday people to act collectively.

Activist strategy must adapt to the climate emergency just as corporate strategy must adapt too.

Now, as I depart the World Economic Forum for the Extinction Rebellion, I feel cautiously optimistic that as the climate emergency becomes increasingly pressing, the obvious need for an unprecedented mobilization will force both activists and elites to accept the only viable solution: we need a new relationship.

Micah White is the co-creator of Occupy Wall Street, author of The End of Protest: A New Playbook for Revolution and founder of Activist Graduate School, an online school for activists
Death comes to us all but Seamus Mallon almost seemed invincible to me. So it was with a heavy heart that I discovered he was seriously ill a few weeks ago.

In October we went to Rices Hotel in Poyntzpass where he had lunch, sank a couple of Guinness, followed by a small Jameson. He wasnt in reminiscing form. No, he was being the Mallon of old. A force of nature as he let rip on the political stagnation at Stormont and the near collapse of the British political system over Brexit. I suggested those could be the themes for his next book but he rather prophetically said: What would I say? I dont have another one in me!

It was such a privilege to work with someone like Seamus Mallon. No two days were the same. It was like trying to stand up on a roller coaster. But people, me included, were just drawn to him. When he spoke it was with grave consideration. Everyone listened. They listened in London, in Dublin and in Washington.

Read More

Eventually they listened in Belfast too. Unionists initially regarded Mallon as their bete noir. He was a constant critic of political and partisan policing. He campaigned for the disbandment of the UDR and was a constant thorn in side of the Northern Ireland Office and their securocrats. But unionists would also recognise Mallon as a man with whom they could eventually do business.

Seamus was completely fearless. He was also a man of great empathy and emotion. He had also great spontaneity. Once after a win on the horses he dispatched me to Maddens Bar in Newry to buy two bottles of Champagne or as close as they had to it. Phil Caplan, then an American intern who was sweeping out pigeon droppings in the loft of our office, was completely blown away by being invited to join in the celebrations with the Honourable Member for Newry and Armagh.

Caplan went on to be President Clintons staff secretary who would later greet Seamus at the White House.

When Seamus Mallon hit the green benches at Westminster as an MP they knew a very different force had arrived in Parliament. He may have quoted Wordsworths Westminster Bridge as he gazed on the majestic edifice but once inside those halls he slew his opponents with a deadly fervour. And it was not always words that struck opponents. Government ministers quivered when on the receiving end of the infamous Mallon glare. Those working for him also tried to avoid that glare.

Canvassing for Seamus Mallon was a dream. Everyone felt they knew him. He relished canvassing and meeting people, even if the area was hostile. Mallon had no fear of plastic paddy republicanism. He was an authentic patriot. Seamus knew the folly of trying to bomb and shoot a pathway to a united Ireland. His roadmap to a new Ireland was based on people and built on partnership.

Once canvassing for Joe Hendron in what was locally known as RPG Avenue, the canvass team was set upon by republican agitators. SDLP canvassers rushed to leave the street until Mallon took hold of the loud hailer and shouted: Hold ground, no one runs! It was like being led by General Patton. Local residents came out to shake his hand. Mallon was not one to escape by the backdoor when there was a wall to walk through.

Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Former deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon has died PACEMAKER BELFAST 13/12/99 First Minister David Trimble and Dep First Minister Seamus Mallon sit opposate Mary Harney Taoinshada and the Taoiseah Bartie Ahern at the Historic first meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in Armagh today. Picture Pacemaker PACEMAKER BELFAST 03/09/98 President Clinton is shown the view of Belfast from the top steps of Parliament Buildings this morning by First minister David Trimble and his Deputy Seamus Mallon and Prime Minister Tony Blair. PACEMAKER BELFAST 9/7/99 First and Deputy first ministers David Trimble and Seamus Mallon share a joke and a laugh as they both graduated from Queens University in Belfast this afternoon, both recieved houourary docterates for their work in the Peace Process. PACEMAKER BELFAST 02/11/98 Irish PM Bertie Aherne shakes hannds with Northern Ireland's first minister David Trimble and his deputy Seamus Mallon as he arrives at Stormont for talks this evening. 02/04/08 Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern has announced he is to resign in May. Mr Ahern, 56, has been taoiseach since June 1997 and has been a member of the Irish Parliament for 31 years. PACEMAKER BELFAST 13/12/2000 US President Bill Clinton pictured posing for their official photograph before their crunch talks this morning with Prime Minister Tony Blair and First and Deputy First ministers David Trimble and Seamus Mallon during his visit to Stormont this morning. PACEMAKER PRESS INTL. BELFAST. Annual SDLP Conference in Belfast Europa Hotel. John Hume (leader) and Seamus Mallon. 28/29/30 Jan 1983. 82/83/bw Annual SDLP Conference in Belfast Europa Hotel. John Hume (leader) and Seamus Mallon and Sean Farren. 28/29/30 Jan 1983. PACEMAKER BELFAST Archive Seamus Mallon SDLP deputy leader PACEMAKER BELFAST APRIL 1988 PF CONGREESMAN JOE KENNEDY AN A VISIT TO NEWRY AND CROSSMAGLEN WITH SEAMUS MALLON, PICTURED BEING CONFRONTED BY SINN FEIN COUNCILLOR JIM McALLISTER IN CROSSMAGLEN. 227/88/BW/C Seamus Mallon. Pacemaker Seamus Mallon outside Stormont. Pacemaker PACEMAKER BELFAST 07/07/98 Northern Ireland's first and second ministers David Trimble and Seamus Mallon pictured at at Stormont Press conference this morning where they both said that progress had been made in the behind the scenes negotiations over the Drumcree Stand-off but also said that there was still a long way to go and both sides should be prepared to give a little. PACEMAKER BELFAST Archive Seamus Mallon SDLP deputy leader PACEMAKER BELFAST 29/11/99 The SDLP team led by leader John Hume arrive at Stormont on monday Morning to start the process of selecting ministers for the Devolved Government PACEMAKER BELFAST 10/4/1998 The Good Friday Agreement signing. SDLP party leader John Hume and his talks team emerge from Castle Buildings to give their take on the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. PACEMAKER BELFAST 6/9/99 SDLP deputy leader Seamus mallon heads his party talks to waiting press at Stormont this afternoon before going into talks with senator George Mitchell at Castle buildings. PACEMAKER BELFAST Archive Seamus Mallon SDLP deputy leader PACEMAKER BELFAST 29/5/00 First Minister David Trimbel and Dep First Minister Seamus Mallon break for coffee when they met today to start planing for the new Northern Ireland Executive which will be operational from tomorrow. PACEMAKER BELFAST 26/2/2001 The First and deputy First minister's David Trimble and Seamus Mallon today set out their Programme for Government to the Northern Ireland Asembly which will run for three years from April 2001. The programme will be debated in the house next week. PACEMAKER PRESS INTL. BELFAST. SDLP Annual Conference in Forum Hotel. Shirley Williams Special Guest. 9/11/85. 1185/85/bwc Pacemaker press 10/11/12 Seamus Mallon attends the SDLP's annual conference held at the armagh City hotel. picture Mark Marlow/pacemaker press Seamus Mallon Pictured with his granddaughter Lara Lenny. Pacemaker PACEMAKER, BELFAST, 7/10/98: First Minister David Trimble and his Deputy, Seamus Mallon together on the day they were elected to their new roles in the Northern Ireland Assembly. PACEMAKER BELFAST Archive Seamus Mallon SDLP deputy leader Former SDLP Party Leader John Hume shakes the hand of Seamus Mallon after he ruled himself out for the post of Second Minister of the new Northern Ireland Assembly and nominated his Deputy Seamus Mallon instead Pacemaker press 10/11/12 Seamus Mallon and Brid Rodgers attend the SDLP's annual conference held at the armagh City hotel. picture Mark Marlow/pacemaker press PACEMAKER BELFAST 11/11/2001 Former Deputy leader of the SDLP Seamus Mallon pictured at the party's annual conference at the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle Co Down this afternoon. PACEMAKER BELFAST 7/11/00 First Minister David Trimble and Dep. First Minister Seamus Mallon enjoy a joke after they unvailed the new peace statue at stormont today. The statue was donated by Coventary Cathedril and is a replica of ones in Berlin and Hiroshema. PACEMAKER BELFAST 20/02/2015 Seamus Mllon Seamus Mallon Pictured with Cardinal Sean Brady. PACEMAKER BELFAST Archive Seamus Mallon SDLP deputy leader PACEMAKER BELFAST 23/06/98 SDLP deputy leader Seamus Mallon canvassing in Milford Co Armagh this afternoon in the run up to Thursday's Assembly elections in Ulster. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON/PACEMAKER PACEMAKER BELFAST 20/02/2015 Seamus Mllon Seamus Mallon Pictured with Former SDLP Leader Mark Durkan Seamus Mallon, 1979. Pacemaker Pacemaker Bfst Ltd 4-3-98 Tommy Canavan(Right) Brother of Pub Owner with Ulster Unionist Leader David Trimble and SDLP Deputy Leader Seamus Mallon in Poyntzpass were they visited the Two Familys of the men killed. PACEMAKER BELFAST archive 07/01/1980 The SDLP leadership Seamus Mallon (right) John Hume (centre) and Eddie McGrady (left). Meeting Humphrey Atkins and the Northern Irelnd government PACEMAKER BELFAST ARCHIVE 9th November 1980 Seamus Mallon (centre) at SDLP annual Conference in Newcastle Co Down with Don Canning (left) and Kevin Murphy (right) PACEMAKER BFST 05-10-99: SDLP Deputy Leader Seamus Mallon during his speech to delegates at their party conference at Belfast's Wellington Park Hotel. PACEMAKER BELFAST 23/06/98 "Election Apathy" SDLP deputy leader Seamus Mallon finds yet another empty house as he canvasses in Milford Co Armagh this afternoon in the run up to Thursdays Assembly elections. PACEMAKER BELFAST JUNE 1987 BM SEAMUS MALLON AFTER RETAINING SEAT NEWRY AND ARMAGH WITH WIFE GERALDINE AND DAUGHTER ORLA. 602/87/BW PACEMAKER BELFAST 20/02/2015 Seamus Mllon Seamus Mallon Pictured with his Daughter Orla Lenny her daughter Lara Lenny and her husband Mark Lenny. PACEMAKER BELFAST ARCHIVE 91 30 APRIL 1991 577/91 FIRST DAY OF STORMONT TALKS SDLP PARTY JOE HENDRON (L), JOHN HUME (C), EDDIE MCGRADDY (R), SEAMUS MALLON (FR) PACEMAKER BELFAST 10/04/98 SDLP leaders John Hume, Seamus Mallon and Eddie McGraddy talk to the press after the deal at Stormont today. Good Friday Agreement day PACEMAKER BELFAST archive 30/01/1984 SDLP leaders John Hume & Seamus Mallon at annual Conference at the Forum Hotel PACEMAKER, BELFAST, 15/8/2011: Former SDLP leaders Seamus Mallon and John Hume chat at the funeral of the journalist James Kelly in Belfast today. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON PACEMAKER BELFAST archive 30/01/1984 SDLP deputy leaderSeamus Mallon with Brid Rodgers & Raurai Quinn at annual Conference at the Forum Hotel PACEMAKER BELFAST ARCHIVE 15th November 1981 Seamus Mallon & Brid Rodgers at the SDLP annual Conference at the Slieve Donard Hotel 1981 PACEMAKER BELFAST Archive Seamus Mallon SDLP deputy leader / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Former deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon has died

Some of the best moments with Seamus were often when alone driving him from Dublin or to Belfast, or from Newry to Markethill after a canvass. He told story after story. The best yarns were about him doing bouncer at events for the late promoter Jim Aiken; or working as a student in a bar in Warrenpoint with former Ulster Unionist peer Ken Maginnis; or stormy SDLP Executive meetings back in the 1970s when it was rife with disparate and strong personalities. Mallon lost none of the colour in the telling.

Seamus could of course be stubborn. He was someone who had to be convinced but once on side he was a colossus of strength. Taking office during the most tense moments of Drumcree tested Mallons mettle. He literally held the partnership with David Trimble together.

After being called in by Mallon to help with Press during those trying days we both stayed in the awful Castle Buildings at night with little to no resources and no change of clothes until Mo Mowlam (Mallons great friend) kindly arranged for us to stay in the Stormont Hotel.

Tiring of sandwiches and tea, Mallon, who loved Chinese food, sent me out to cross the loyalist barricades at the bottom of Stormont to have a Chinese banquet brought in for Trimble, Lord Rogan and others to share. But he pushed his luck by asking me to source a bottle of Jameson at the top of the Newtownards Road!

If Hume was the architect of the Good Friday Agreement, Mallon was the builder. It was often left to Seamus to line up the bricks and cement them. Much is made of the differences between Mallon and Hume, but those of us close to them knew those differences were about approach and personality. They were not seismic.

Indeed, Hume and Mallon were an odd couple very much like the original Odd Couple  Oscar Madison and Felix Ungar  they got on in their own way. Seamus Mallon was an inspirational figure. He could argue with you but not fall out. He could be critical and then offer help. After retiring he was invited to his alma mater, the Abbey Grammar in Newry, to unveil his portrait. Before the unveiling he said: I can only ask for mercy or justice.

That was Seamus. Thankfully through his recent book this last of the great political lions had one more roar. May he now rest in peace.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his condolences to the Ukrainian people and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in connection with the tragedy of the Ukrainian plane shot down in Tehran on January 8 and noted that democratic countries prevented from hiding the real cause of this disaster.

"I also want to express my sincere condolences to the Ukrainian people and you personally for the tragedy of the downed Ukrainian plane in Iran. The fact that the 'Iranian revolution forces' took responsibility was clear to us from the very beginning who was to blame for this disaster. They tried to hide this, but, in the end, the democratic world forced them to acknowledge this great tragedy," he said before meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Jerusalem on Friday.
It was announced this week that the Energia Family Business Awards will take place on the 15th of May 2020 at the Intercontinental Hotel, Dublin. The theme of the event is growing through generations this year.



Now in its 2nd year, The Energia Family Business Awards celebrate the families, heritage, and success of some of Irelands most incredible long-running businesses.

The Awards include 18 categories, each of which recognises the outstanding achievements of family-owned businesses in Ireland throughout all sectors and industries.



Last years awards saw entries from over 200 family businesses, with 18 companies being crowned as winners.



Entries for this year's awards are now open. Categories include:

Family Food and Drink Producer of the Year

Transport and Logistics Family Business of the Year

Family Business Longevity Award

Innovative Family Business Award

Retail and Wholesale Family Business of the Year

Manufacturing and Engineering Family Business of the Year

International Family Business of the Year

Tech Family Business of the Year

Energia Sustainable Family Business of the Year

Family Business CSR Award



Speaking about the launch of the Family Business Awards, Head of Sales at Energia, Alan Mulcahy said, "We are delighted to again support the Family Business Awards and we are confident that it will prove even more popular this year. Family businesses are an important part of the foundations of the Irish economy and communities all across Ireland, with over 75 percent of them contributing to more than 50 percent of Irelands GDP."

He added, "We are calling on businesses from across Ireland to participate in the 2020 Energia Family Business Awards as an opportunity to showcase their own success and the overall vibrancy of the family business sector in Ireland."



Source: www.businessworld.ie
Ultratech Cement rose 0.98% to Rs 4574 after the cement major reported Q3 December 2019 results during trading hours today, 24 January 2020.

On consolidated basis, Ultratech Cement's net profit jumped 79.80% to Rs 712 crore in Q3 December 2019 as against Rs 396 crore reported in Q3 December 2018. Net sales declined 1.15% to Rs 10,176 crore on YoY basis.

Under the Sabka Vishwas (Legacy dispute Resolution) Scheme 2019, announced by the Government of India, the company has provided a one-time expense of Rs 133.23 crore as part of other expenses, against various disputed liabilities.

Profit before tax (PBT) stood at Rs 997.43 crore in Q3 December 2019, up by 68.89% from Rs 590.59 crore in Q3 December 2018. Profit before Interest, Depreciation and Tax (PBIDT) stood at Rs 2141 crore in Q3 December 2019 as against Rs 1707 Q3 December 2018, rising by 25.42%.

In its outlook, the company said that signs of revival were visible in some markets during the latter part of Q3FY20. This, together with the government's firm commitment to revive the economy and the thrust on infrastructure spending augur well for the growth of cement demand. UltraTech, with its presence across all the zones in the country, is the best positioned to take advantage of the revival in cement demand, despite the anomalies that may get created in demand patterns in some parts of the country due to extraneous reasons.

The scheme of demerger for acquiring the cement business of Century Textiles and Industries became effective from 1 October 2019. The company's financials were restated from 20th May 2018, to include the financials of the acquired Century cement business, in terms of the National Company Law Tribunal, Mumbai Bench, sanctioning the Scheme of Demerger.

The plants have been ramping up production month on month touching a capacity utilisation of 79% in December 2019. The company has put in place a cost reduction plan to bring the operations in line with its existing standards. 55% of sales from the Century plants in December were under Ultra Tech brand. Brand integration is underway and is expected to reach 84% by Q2FY21. The overall integration s likely to be completed by end of Q2FY21. Given its vast experience in integrating acquired units and bringing them up to its operating standards, the company is confident on replicating the same at the acquired Century cement plants.

UltraTech Cement manufactures a range of products that cater to construction needs from foundation to finish, including Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), Portland Blast Furnace Slag Cement (PSC), Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC), white cement including white cement-based products and ready mix concrete.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Do you believe in ghosts? You might just after witnessing The Woman in Black, the theatrical ghost story now making audiences scream and jump out of their seats at the McKittrick Hotel. Even if you think the story is weak tea (and I do), the stagecraft will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand at attention.

The Woman in Black is Stephen Mallatratt's stage adaptation of Susan Hill's 1983 gothic novel about a creepy old house on a marshy coast of England and the specter that haunts it. Solicitor Arthur Kipps (David Acton) recounts his eerie visit to Eel Marsh House, when he was sent to collect documents and order the affairs of the recently deceased resident, Alice Drablow. In order to tell this story, he has beseeched the help of an actor (Ben Porter), who eventually takes over the central role while Kipps plays all of the other parts  all except for one: the mysterious woman in black.

Ben Porter appears in The Woman in Black off-Broadway.

( Jenny Anderson)

This metatheatrical frame is the invention of Mallatratt, whose adaptation has greatly contributed to the enduring fame of this middling ghost story: The play has run continuously on the West End since 1989, making it the second-longest-running play in London, behind The Mousetrap. While the B-movie plot is not one for the horror hall of fame, the mere act of placing it in a darkened theater while flawlessly executing tried-and-true scare tactics makes this a play that you can't help responding to with little yelps and jumps.

This New York staging is directed by Robin Herford, who also helmed the London production. While Herford toys with environmental staging (this run is subtitled "a ghost play in a pub"), he misses several opportunities to truly take advantage of the spooky surroundings of the McKittrick, which, of course, is home to the apex predator of immersive theater. While Porter does take a heart-pounding walk through the audience, his heavy breath amplified so that he seems to be breathing down our necks, most of the action takes place safely on the makeshift stage in front of us. Viewers need not worry about apparitions materializing behind them, and the only spirits hiding behind the bar are the ones you can imbibe.

Ben Porter stands under Anshuman Bhatia's lighting design in The Woman in Black.

( Jenny Anderson)

Still, Herford and company do plenty to scare us in this mostly traditional staging, proving that the fastest way to trigger someone's fear is not by invading their physical space, but by infiltrating their mind. Sound designer Sebastian Frost does this with abrupt, bone-chilling sound cues that seem to come from all directions; lighting designer Anshuman Bhatia achieves multiple ghostly effects, and regularly plunges us into total darkness.

As performers, Acton and Porter both fully inhabit this ghostly world, bringing us along on their terrifying journey. Even though the program only lists two actors, we feel the sinking suspicion that they (and by extension we) are not alone.

It's not a brilliant work of drama, but if you're looking for a midwinter fright, The Woman in Black is your ticket.
Regarding Breed: Bloomberg gives Dems best chance to win (Page 1, Jan. 23): Its not surprising that current San Francisco Mayor London Breed would give her endorsement to former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg for the 2020 Democratic presidential race, given their similar job experiences and prominent political statures.

However, in this era of growing income inequality, does this country really need another New York seventy-something-year-old billionaire replacing the one who is already occupying the White House?

Hazel Underwood, Milpitas

Kudos to GOPs Weld

I was encouraged by reading GOPs Weld wants Trump removed (Jan. 22) but why wasnt this on the front page? Ive been wondering why more Republican leaders havent stepped up to challenge President Trump. I would think this provides one of the greatest opportunities in American history to make a name for oneself.

He or she could be remembered as doing a great service for our country. Although I am a Democrat, I am not against all Republicans  I am not one to spew divisive rhetoric like that of our president.

Someone with reasonable values and who vows to fight climate change is a breath of fresh air.

Gail Husson, San Leandro

Beware of falling iguanas

South Florida might be an appealing destination during the cold winter months, but it seems to have an unusual weather problem. According to Falling iguanas (News of the Day, Jan. 23), local residents in that part of the country were warned to be on the lookout for these invasive reptiles (with males weighing up to 20 pounds!) dropping from trees due to very low morning temperatures.

Imagine tuning in for weather information about South Florida before traveling there and hearing this forecast: Partly cloudy, with a 50% chance of falling iguanas.

Demetrius McDaniel, Oakland

Believe in Greta Thunberg

Regarding Trump, teen activist spar over climate (Jan. 22): President Trump has met his match. Greta Thunberg spoke after Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday. The differences were jarring. She spoke in complete, coherent sentences. Trump rambled on as only he can. She is fully invested in addressing climate change and its serious ramifications.

Trump denies its existence. She is believed by thinking people. Trump is not. My hope is that Thunberg endorses whichever candidate the Democrats put up. A little added boost come November cant hurt.

Michael Haworth, Vallejo

Fair trial isnt the goal

Heres a theory on why the Senate apparently does not wish to call witnesses or subpoena documents. A fair trial is intended to get to the truth; that is not possible without evidence in the form of documents or testimony. Nor is it possible without the enforcement required to ensure disclosure of all, not part of, such evidence. Thus, the Senate does not wish to subpoena witnesses nor documents because that would allow the enforcement mechanisms to be activated: perjury and contempt. Sadly, the same two words that characterize most current political discourse today.

Roy Hodgkinson, Orinda

A crisis for freedom

Listening to the impeachment hearings, I think of my father who served in WWII. At my dads 90th birthday, he and his friends shared their efforts in preserving freedom in the world. We heard remarkable stories of valor, stories of loss and friendships and even some humorous anecdotes that helped relieve the intensity of that great effort and sacrifice that was required. For the first time, I am glad my father is not alive to hear this. He would grieve if he knew of this current threat to the ideals he fought for and his friends died for.

He would shake his head at the self-serving nature of this president after his humble service and self-sacrifice. We were taught that no promise was too small to keep and truth should always be maintained. We are in a crisis for freedom once again. This is one of those crossroads that historians revisit as a turning point in the evolution of mankind. As I recall the stories of selflessness shared that day, I pray that good people will put aside partisan politics and preserve the democracy and human decency for which my father and friends served their country.

Susanne Reed, Stockton

Effects of capitalism

Regarding One issue solved (Jan. 21): As much as the plight of the homeless women who occupied a house in Oakland breaks my heart, I agree with the Alameda County Superior Court judge who ruled that the women had no right to seize the house. I am glad that the problem is being solved for them amicably, but the solution here represents no more than a drop in the bucket of the homeless problem in this country. The problem is systemic.

We have a capitalist economy that is becoming less regulated, and we saw the effects of capitalism in its purest form being played out on Magnolia Street. Capitalism must be regulated in order to benefit all those in society, but no one person (a landlord) or business should have to pay the price for the failure of our political system to regulate our economy and to provide relief to those who need it. Elections matter: Vote!
A Lane County judge blocked Oregon child welfare officials from sending a foster child to live at an Idaho facility earlier this month after the boys attorney pointed out a technicality that could impact the states ability to place more foster children there.

The Department of Human Services sends more foster children to live at Mountain Home Academy in southern Idaho than any other facility outside Oregon. The state pays Mountain Home thousands of dollars every day to care for the boys it has sent there.

A 1975 law says facilities that take in Oregon foster children must be incorporated. Mountain Home is a limited liability company, a type of business that is not incorporated.

The law was adopted before limited liability companies existed, so lawmakers at the time did not consciously exclude LLCs from caring for foster children. But the law was never updated to include LLCs in the 26 years they have been legal, and the Lane County court ruled DHS must follow it.

The judge refused to send the boy there because of the incorporation requirement, confirmed three people who attended the Jan. 8 hearing in Eugene.

Despite the ruling, state child welfare officials contend the 1975 law applies only to facilities licensed in Oregon, not those operating outside the state. DHS will still consider sending additional foster children to live at Mountain Home if necessary, said Jake Sunderland, an agency spokesman.

A judge made a ruling in a child-specific case, he said.

Senate Human Services Chair Sara Gelser, D-Corvallis, has brought intense scrutiny to the states practice of placing foster children outside Oregon and attended the Jan. 8 hearing. She said she believes DHS will halt sending more foster children to live at Mountain Home. The judge found the language of the law plainly did not allow it.

Thats a lot of time to invest in a potential placement for a kid if they know that theres a problem, Gelser said.

Located 100 miles from the Oregon border, Mountain Home cares for nearly half of the 20 foster children living outside the state. All its residents are male. Some Oregon boys sent to live there remained at Mountain Home for more than two years, Gelser said.

A fence surrounds the facility, Gelser recalled from a visit there earlier this month with DHS officials, including Director Fariborz Pakseresht and Child Welfare Director Rebecca Jones Gaston. Gelser found Mountain Home Staff caring and engaged and left impressed with the quality of its educational program.

The facility didnt raise the level of concern that Ive had against some of the facilities Ive seen, she said.

Mountain Home, like the four other out-of-state facilities where Oregon foster children live, is owned by an umbrella business based in Alabama called Sequel Youth and Family Services.

Gelser has traveled to many of the facilities and others used by DHS in the past. Child welfare officials relied increasingly on providers outside Oregon after they agreed in February 2018 to severely limit their practice of housing children in hotels in response to a federal lawsuit.

Gelser has voiced consistent concerns about the treatment of children at the out-of-state programs, as well as the states oversight of the childrens care. At one Senate hearing last year, she questioned child welfare officials why she learned before they did that an Oregon child had been hospitalized after he was beaten at a Sequel facility in Iowa. At a different Senate hearing months later, she said Sequel executives gave state officials demonstrably false information about the level of care they provide.

Gelser championed a bill passed last year that requires Oregon DHS to post basic details online about the children sent to live outside the state and the programs at which they reside.

Amid the scrutiny, state officials have drastically reduced the number of children living out of state by sending fewer away and by bringing others back to their home state.

People are working really, really hard, Gelser said.

In the daily lives of foster children, it likely makes no difference whether they reside in a facility operated by a limited liability company or a corporation, several lawyers told The Oregonian/OregonLive.

The problem is that both of those create a for-profit paradigm, said Alan Reynoldson, a Newport attorney who has represented a foster child sent to live outside Oregon. He was not involved in the Lane County case.

Corporations and companies face an inherent conflict of interest between the children they serve and the owners who expect profits, he said.

The bottom line is they take in money and make a profit if they can reduce their costs enough, he said.

Executives at Sequel said they are in close contact with DHS and would comply with any necessary legal requirements.

We will continue to work collaboratively with the state to address the significant needs of Oregons at-risk youth while meeting all state and federal requirements, the company said in a statement.

As it stands, DHS doesnt include the incorporation requirement in its contracts with out-of-state facilities, Sunderland said.

We did not see a specific safety reason to parse out the difference, he said.

Lawmakers did update the law in 2019 to add county-operated programs to the list of approved providers. The change was one of many to bring state law in line with federal legislation. Limited liability companies were never added.

The impact of the law first came to light when Gelser tweeted about the court hearing.

The boys attorney did not return multiple messages left to comment about the case, and a woman who answered the phone at Judge Jay McAlpins office said Lane County judges cant comment on rulings they issue.

Gelser and two others who attended the hearing said the judge delivered his ruling with an admonition: The state does not have enough capacity to make sure foster children have the specialized care they need inside Oregon.

It was sobering, because there werent a lot of good options for this kid, she said.

Traveling to the facilities is important, Gelser said, so state officials can understand more about the types of services they need to build up inside the state.

Foster children who are able to return end up a variety of places, from back with their families to independent living programs to similar facilities in Oregon, Gelser said. Some age out of foster care.

On the final day of December, 20 Oregon foster children remained out of state. Nine were younger than 15.

-- Molly Young

myoung@oregonian.com

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.

Read more:
OTTAWA - Independent senators may have to curb their enthusiasm for amending government legislation now that they're operating in a minority Parliament, the government's new representative in the Senate suggested Friday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/1/2020 (718 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Senate of Canada building and Senate Chamber are pictured in Ottawa on Monday, Feb. 18, 2019. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is tapping Sen. Marc Gold, a constitutional law expert and former chair of the Jewish Federations of Canada, to serve as the Liberal government's representative in the upper chamber. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA - Independent senators may have to curb their enthusiasm for amending government legislation now that they're operating in a minority Parliament, the government's new representative in the Senate suggested Friday.

Sen. Marc Gold noted that never before has a minority government had to function alongside a more independent, less partisan Senate.

It's not yet clear how that will play out.

"This is unprecedented in Canadian history," Gold, a constitutional law expert and former chair of the Jewish Federations of Canada, said shortly after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his appointment.

As government representative, Gold is now responsible for shepherding government legislation through the upper house, a tricky role in a place that has become increasingly more activist since Trudeau began transforming the so-called chamber of sober second thought.

Since taking office in 2015, Trudeau has dramatically changed the makeup and operation of the upper house, appointing only independents recommended by an arm's-length advisory body. The Independent Senators Group now has 50 members, the Conservatives have 23 and the Canadian Senators Group 13. There are 12 non-affiliated senators and seven vacancies in the 105-seat chamber.

The Senate passed 88 government bills during Trudeau's first mandate  29 of them with amendments proposed by the Senate and accepted by the government.

Gold, who became a senator in 2016 and previously sat with the Independent Senators Group, said he's proud of the work senators have done to improve legislation in the past. But he said they'll now have to keep in mind that any bill that lands in the Senate will be the product of compromises worked out in the House of Commons, where the Trudeau government will need the support of at least one major opposition party to pass legislation and survive confidence votes. Any further tinkering by senators could upset that balance.

"I think senators will understand now that the legislation that's coming to us is the product of compromise and I think that will be reflected in the way in which individual senators and the Senate as a whole responds," he said.

During Trudeau's first mandate, senators did not defeat any government legislation and ultimately deferred to the will of the elected House of Commons whenever the government rejected amendments proposed by the Senate.

Gold said that's a sign of a "growing maturity" among senators, who recognize the constitutional role of the Senate as a "complementary chamber" in which "we're not elected, we add value but we shouldn't overreach."

And as long as they stick to that, he said: "It'll all work out fine. I'm confident that this Senate will make this Parliament work."

The Quebec senator replaces Sen. Peter Harder, a former senior bureaucrat who had served as government representative in the Senate since 2016. He stepped down from the position in November, although he remains a senator.

"Senator Gold's long record of personal and professional achievement, together with his commitment to promoting human rights and Canada's regional diversity, will help us find common ground in the Senate as we invest in and protect our communities, create good middle-class jobs, and fight climate change," Trudeau said in a statement.

Gold said he believes strongly in the reforms Trudeau has instituted to transform the Senate into a independent chamber of sober second thought, rather than the partisan echo chamber many believed it to be during decades of purely partisan appointments.

While taking on the role of government representative means he'll no longer be entirely independent, Gold said he sees the role as also representing the interests of the Senate back to the government.

"So, in that sense, my role as government representative falls into line with my role as an independent senator or the senator that I chose to be when I applied for this gig. So it's coherent and I'm comfortable that it's a step in my evolution as a senator and in the evolution of the Senate," he said.

A briefing note provided to Trudeau shortly after his re-election noted that overall, 24 vacancies are expected to pop up by the end of 2023. That does not include other senators who may step down prior to reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75.

The memo also notes that the Liberal platform promised to amend the Parliament of Canada Act "to reflect the Senate's new, non-partisan role." However, the remainder of what officials wrote has been redacted from the document because it is deemed sensitive government advice.

The legislation, which governs the allocation of resources to partisan government and Opposition caucuses in the Senate, does not reflect the changes that have occurred over the past four years. Gold said there's no question in his mind that the act and the rules and practices of the Senate "have to be brought into line to reflect the reality of an increasingly independent Senate."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 24, 2020.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version erroneously attributed a statement to Sen. Marc Gold.
Democrats may fall short of securing the minimum number of Republican senators needed to bring new witnesses into President Trump's impeachment trial, 10 senior staffers to key Senate Republicans tell Axios.

The big picture: As of Thursday night, the prevailing view emerging among Republican Senate aides was that Democrats  who need four GOP senators' votes and not to lose any from their own party  will struggle to get more than three.

Why this matters: The calling of additional witnesses  in particular Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton  appears to be the Democrats' last hope of inserting even a slight detour into what currently seems like a straight road to Trump's acquittal.

Without extra witnesses, Trump's impeachment could be over by the end of next week.

Details: Dems' initial targets included Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Cory Gardner of Colorado, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Joni Ernst of Iowa.

These are senators who, for different reasons, had been seen as potentially persuadable to hearing more evidence beyond what the House Democrats gathered in their impeachment proceedings.

But Tillis is now a no, and colleagues and aides also believe Ernst and Gardner will be.

Among the remaining core of four, Alexander may be tougher to persuade than the other three, said current and former aides who have known him for years.

Collins, Murkowski and Romney all have been clear they're open to witnesses, while, as Politico notes, Alexander has not.

What we're hearing: Alexander is extremely close to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a key reason these associates are skeptical he'd ultimately cause problems for him.

One GOP aide said their relationship is one of the closest colleague relationships McConnell has on the Hill.

But Alexander's openness to bipartisan compromise and willingness to challenge Trump has made him distinctive in a deeply partisan era. He's retiring from his Tennessee seat in the fall and may have an eye toward his legacy.

"Lamar is truly undecided on witnesses. Remember he is a lawyer himself and was a damn good one in private practice," a source familiar with his thinking told Axios. "You hear the Houses case. You hear the presidents response. You ask questions. Then you decide if witnesses are needed."

Between the lines: Just because some senators pushed to guarantee there would be a vote to witnesses if a majority supported that, it doesn't mean they'll vote to hear from witnesses when the time comes, a Senate GOP aide said.

Murkowski indicated to reporters Thursday a frustration that House Democrats didn't want to take the time in court to try to force witnesses, but that if the Senate votes for witnesses that's likely where it would end up anyway.

Behind the scenes: At a private lunch on Thursday, chiefs of staff to Republican senators agreed that one moment in particular had backfired on Democrats: when House Judiciary chair Jerry Nadler declared on the Senate floor that any senator who refused to vote for more witnesses would "be complicit in the president's cover up."

Republican senators reacted furiously to that suggestion  and it wasn't just the reliable Trump allies who expressed outrage: Collins told reporters she was "stunned" by Nadler's rhetoric, prompting her to send a note to Chief Justice John Roberts who later admonished both sides over their behavior.

I took it as offensive, Murkowski told reporters Wednesday. As one who is listening attentively and working hard to get to a fair process, I was offended.

Another moment that has been whipping up outrage inside the Republican conference was Schiff's suggestion that the 2020 election result cannot be trusted.

Schiff said Wednesday that Trump's "attempt to use the powers of the presidency to cheat in an election" shows that his "misconduct cannot be decided at the ballot boxfor we cannot be assured that the vote will be fairly won."

Worth noting: It's impossible to predict the thinking of senators who have remained largely inscrutable during impeachment.
Tskaltubo (pictured in January 2020), a short drive from Georgias second city of Kutaisi, was once famous for its curative spring water and elegant Soviet spas and sanatoriums.

Bathers in Tskaltubo during its Soviet heyday Spring water in the town fizzles with radon, a radioactive gas which American environmental agencies call a health risk, but has long been used in Europe to treat a variety of health conditions.

A frieze of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin on a bathhouse in Tskaltubo

A private bath with a mosaic of horseshoe crabs where Stalin soaked himself in 1951.

Tskaltubos railway station, where trains used to arrive directly from Moscow. After the U.S.S.R.s collapse, the Soviet workers, exercising their right to rest, stopped crowding through these doors -- leaving Tskaltubos 22 sanatoriums and bubbling baths to lay empty.

A boarded-up theater in one of Tskaltubos Stalin-era sanatoriums.

Ivy creeping over the perimeter fence to a ruined spa.

After the 1992-1993 war in Abkhazia (pictured), thousands of ethnic Georgians who were driven out of their homes in the Georgian region were given apartments in Tskaltubos state-owned sanatoriums.

A resident of the Stalin-era Metallurgy sanatorium, once reserved for the Soviet Unions metal workers, that now houses families from Abkhazia.

Hotel Sakartvelo, which is partly occupied by refugee families. In 2012, as Tskaltubos elegant buildings were beginning to literally fall apart, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili vowed to turn the town into the best place in Europe within four years. The town has since been granted millions of dollars in funding from the World Bank for public projects and attracted some investment.

A Georgian couple relax between treatments in the Tskaltubo Balneological Resort, which operates the only two Soviet-era spas still working in the town.

Dancing communist pioneer children are the centerpiece of a communal bath in the resort.

A Stalin-era theater in the Tskaltubo Spa Resort, which was once reserved for the Soviet Defense Ministry.

The Tskaltubo Spa Resort was refurbished, then reopened in 2011, and now operates as a privately owned four-star hotel and convention center.

But most of Tskaltubos sanatoriums and spas, like this one in the center of town, look like sets from a postapocalyptic film.

In October 2019, Bidzina Ivanishvili, a businessman and highly influential political figure in Georgia whose wealth is estimated at $4.9 billion, declared his intention to buy and refurbish all of Tskaltubos state-owned spas and sanatoriums and build new housing for the refugees still living inside.

In a statement, Ivanishvili described the condition of the once grand buildings of Tskaltubo as depressing and predicted his purchase would serve as an icebreaker that would attract other investors to the town.

An abandoned swimming pool facility in a Tskaltubo sanatorium In a recent interview, Ivanishvili vowed to transfer ownership of Tskaltubos sanatoriums to any investor, at any stage of their reconstruction if they can match the money he spends on restoration.

But many in Georgia have reacted with alarm to the proposed purchase, with some reports suggesting the portfolio of properties, like this sanatorium in the town center, could be sold to Ivanishvili for the symbolic sum of 1 lari ($0.35). Critics say the purchase is effectively a land grab.

Creepers overtaking an abandoned Tskaltubo spa. Of the 15 state-owned properties Ivanishvili plans to purchase, four will probably be demolished due to their advanced state of decay. The remaining portfolio has been valued at many millions of dollars. 

A griffin at the entrance to a Tskaltubo sanatorium where several dozen refugee families live. Saakashvili, a longtime political rival of Ivanishvili, reacted to the planned purchase by declaring there has never been such a large-scale robbery in the history of Georgia by any of its invaders.

Madonna Mushkudiani (pictured with her granddaughter), who has lived in a Tskaltubo sanatorium since fleeing Abkhazia in the 1990s, says she and her neighbors are overwhelmingly positive about the Ivanishvili purchase. Mushkudiani says the billionaire is not just making promises, hes already constructed buildings for us and she plans to move into her new housing in 2021.
If you know of local business openings or closings, please notify us here.

 Pocono Dessert Co. opens women owned coffee and dessert shop at 2185 PA-611 in Swiftwater

 Handmade Mystic opens crystal shop at 2 S. 4th Street in Emmaus

 Anne Baum named first president of Lehigh Valley Reilly Children's Hospital

 Lashes by Gab opens location at the Promenade Shops of Saucon Valley, across from the movie theater

 Elite Salon & Suites to open at the Promenade Shops of Saucon Valley in 2022. Independent salon owners will have their own suite space within the store

 Purr Haus opens at 27 South Seventh Street in Emmaus. The boutique will offer a collection of pet supplies and cat-themed apparel.

. The Hummus House opens Bethlehem location at 518 E. Third Street

 New beauty studio, Glow Factory, opens at 1708 Washington Blvd. in Easton

 New salon, Mirror Beauty Studio, to open at 2002 Hanover Avenue in Allentown. Grand opening set for Dec. 3.

 A Red Wing shoe store will open on Airport Road in Allentown at the site of the former Zoup! restaurant.

 Paisley & Company Bath Boutique & Fragrance Bar in Kutztown reopens for in-person shopping

 Bitty & Beau's Coffee opens at 74 W. Broad Street in Bethlehem

 American Family Care opens urgent care center in the County Line Plaza, off of Route 113 near Souderton, Bucks County

 Charming Charlie, a women's contemporary fashion and accessories retailer, will return to the Outlets at Wind Creek.

 All Weather Selvedge Denim Co. (AW) opens at The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley in suite 608, next to Evolve Salon & Spa.

 PrimoHoagies, the casual restaurant known for its gourmet hoagies, plans to open two restaurants in Stroudsburg.

 Laura McLain, executive director of the Slate Belt Chamber of Commerce, will retire at the end of 2021 after 21+ years of service.
The Southern Poverty Law Center, as Power Line readers know, is one of Americas pre-eminent hate groups. It smears those with whom it disagrees, and the media, politicians, and, in some cases, law enforcement are happy to take its hate campaign seriously. So fighting back against the lavishly funded, but utterly corrupt, SPLC is important.

Happily, one organization smeared by the SPLC, the American Freedom Law Center, has taken the offensive. AFLC is located in Michigan, and Michigans left-wing Attorney General and Director of the Department of Civil Rights (since fired) announced their intention to begin a campaign of surveillance and potential criminal prosecution based on lists provided by the SPLC. The American Freedom Law Center, one of the conservative organizations targeted by the far-left SPLC, sued. The defendant government officials moved to dismiss.

In an excellent opinion, Federal Judge Paul Maloney denied the motions and allowed the case to go forward to the discovery stage, which will, among other things, bring to light any communications between the Michigan officials and the SPLC. The full opinion is here. These are some excerpts:

By implicitly endorsing SPLCs list of hate groups, which includes AFLC, the announcement of the Policy Directive injured AFLC. Remember, AFLC asserts its activities are entirely lawful.

As, of course, they are.

AFLC has established both a harm to its reputation and a credible fear that it will be targeted by the State of Michigan under the Policy Directive. The Court has already explained how the announcement of the Policy Directive damaged AFLCs reputation. As pled, AFLC reasonably fears that it will be a target for investigation and surveillance. AFLC pleads that Defendants publicly announced that they would be commencing official investigations and surveillance of all the hate groups identified by SPLC that are located in Michigan. (Compl.  22 PageID.58.) The fact that the hate crimes unit is still being established and that it will only prosecute crimes does not undermine AFLCs credible fears of future surveillance. Furthermore, AFLC pleads that the database will not be used to track actual crimes, but incidents. Thus, even if AFLC is never prosecuted, the information gathered through the surveillance and investigation would be recorded in the database and might be used against AFLC in other ways. Based on the record at this point in the litigation, the reason AFLC has been swept up in this new initiative is because of its legal, constitutionally-protected activities, activities with which SPLC disagrees.

PJ Media covered Judge Maloneys order, and quoted AFLC co-founder and Senior Counsel Robert Muise:

The judges powerful and exceedingly favorable decision should send a strong message to the Michigan attorney general that she will not be allowed to weaponize her office to target political opponents. It should also send a strong message to government officials who side with the George Soros-funded and radically partisan SPLC that their day of reckoning is coming. Know this: We will not allow you to trample on our constitutional rights.

Weaponizing law enforcement against political opponents has become a go-to strategy in the Lefts playbook. The Southern Poverty Law Center is a disgraceful hate organization that eventually, one hopes, will be driven out of business by defamation lawsuits. In the meantime, government officials who use the SPLCs partisan smears as a basis for unconstitutional actions need to be sued. Kudos to the American Freedom Law Center for taking the fight to the far Left.
The number of illegal Bangladeshi migrants apprehended while trying to return to their country has increased since December last year, Inspector General of BSF (South Bengal Frontier) Y B Khurania said on Friday. The development comes days after the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) was enacted.

Speaking to reporters, Khurania said that the outflow of such illegal Bangladeshi migrants is highest through North 24 Parganas district which shares border with Bangladesh.

We have noticed that in the last one month there has been an increase in the outflow of illegal Bangladeshi migrants who are trying to return to their home country after illegally entering India. Out of the 268 illegal Bangladeshi migrants we apprehended in January majority were trying to return to their home country, said Khurania .

He also said that in 2019, BSF apprehended 2194 illegal Bangladeshi migrants, a majority of whom were nabbed while trying to sneak into India.

The illegal Bangladeshi migrants mostly worked as sweepers, mason and housekeepers in Bengaluru and northern India, said Khurania.

West Bengal shares about 2000 km of border with Bangladesh, a large portion of which is unfenced and some of it is riverine.

The issue of illegal Bangladeshi migrants has been a bone of contention between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and BJP in West Bengal. The state BJP leadership has repeatedly claimed that these illegal migrants will be deported from the country after NRC is held in the state. However, TMC alleged that it was nothing but a ploy to drive out Bengalis from the country.

The BJP has been trying to counter TMCs charge claiming that with CAA Bengali Hindu refugees from Bangladesh will get Indian citizenship.
Reuters

Popular video app TikTok said on Thursday it had partnered with Merlin, bringing its users a wider choice of music from the labels and distributors associated with the digital rights company.

TikTok, owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance, allows users to create and share short videos with special effects, and is hugely popular in Southeast Asia, including India.

Merlin is a UK-based nonprofit group that negotiates with the likes of Spotify SA, Facebook Inc-owned Instagram and Alphabet Inc's YouTube Music, on behalf of more than 20,000 independent record labels and distributors and handles routing payments.
RTL Today contributor Thomas Tutton takes a look at the Luxembourgers who joined up with Allied forces to fight against Germany during the First World War.

As we learned last week, after some initial stumbles, the German Empire launched its occupation of Luxembourg on August 2nd, 1914.

There was no question of formal resistance, as Luxembourgs 400-man army was ordered to stand down by Grand Duchess Marie Adelaide.

For the duration of the war, it was extremely difficult for Luxembourgers behind German lines to join up with Allied forces, although some were able to escape the Grand Duchy through Switzerland.

Those already living abroad, however, had no such issues, and thousands of young men of Luxembourgish origin would end up fighting in Allied armies in the years 1914-18.

The Foreign Legion

Probably the largest group of Luxembourgish volunteers served with the French Foreign Legion.

On August 5th, 1914, as Paris learnt of the occupation of the Grand Duchy, an appeal to arms was launched by Francois Schwiesthal, a Luxembourgish resident of the French capital.

The appeal was soon published in the form of posters across the various Parisian quartiers where thousands of Luxembourgers lived. (picture)

Eyewitness accounts reveal that on the day of registration, August 21st, a crowd of up to 3,000 Luxembourgers amassed at Les Invalides to sign up to fight, although historian David Heal has argued that this number was inflated by including women and children.

On the battlefield, Luxembourgers were often split up due to the Foreign Legions tradition of amalgamating foreign volunteers.

Nonetheless, at the lower level there were often opportunities for Luxembourgish soldiers to fight side by side: the 7th Company of the First Foreign Legion, which was heavily involved during the Battle of the Somme, was made up almost entirely of Luxembourgers.

Over a century later, there is still little agreement on just how many men of Luxembourgish origin served in the French armies, with estimates varying from 500 to 3,000.

Unsurprisingly, death totals are also unclear, although one author has listed the names of 294 Luxembourgers believed to have passed away in French service.

The Luxembourg-Americans

The great wave of emigration from the Grand Duchy to the United States in the 19th and early 20th centuries ensured there was a substantial pool of young Luxembourg-Americans ready to serve in the US Army once President Woodrow Wilson finally declared war on Germany in 1917.

US Army records from World War I collected by author David Heal feature family names such as Cigrand, Evert, Clement and Schaack  all of which might be familiar to readers of our series on noteworthy Americans of Luxembourgish heritage.

Heal estimates that up to 1200 first-, second- or even third-generation Luxembourgers would eventually fight in Europe with the American Expeditionary Force (AEF).

And when the Grand Duchy was finally liberated by the AEF in November 1918, some took the opportunity to visit their ancestral homes for the first time.

Among them was Hubert H. Hostert, who spent Christmas 1918 with his grandmother near Mersch before being discharged in May 1919.

For others, though, the return to Luxembourg would not turn out so well: Corporal Peter Mauer, of Luxembourgish origin, died of pneumonia in the capital in February 1919.

Mauer was one of the dozens of Luxembourg-Americans who would never make it back to the US after World War I, although precise numbers are unknown.

Belgian Army and Others

The third-largest contingent of Luxembourgish volunteers served in the Belgian Army, which had around 200-250 Luxembourgers, but there was also a handful of Luxembourgers in other Allied armies that fought in the Great War.

David Heal has found records of five men of Luxembourgish stock in the British Army, including a Mathias Arendt, who died in Italy in 1918.

An additional two Luxembourgish men enlisted in the Italian Army, while a dozen more fought with the Canadians.

The Bigger Picture

The Gelle Fra on Place de la Constitution stands as a monument to the Luxembourgers who served in World War I. Sadly, we will never know exactly how many young men of Luxembourgish origin served during the conflict, nor how many died.

The recent commercial success of 1917, a war epic directed by Sam Mendes, has again demonstrated our enduring fascination with the events of 1914-18.

And its worth bearing in mind that fighting on the same side as those upper-class British generals were a generation of young Luxembourgers who fought and died to resist those who had invaded their homeland.

Next week, we will take a look at those who remained in Luxembourg, to explore what life was like under the German occupation of 1914-18.
Bern [Switzerland], Jan 24 (ANI): The smallest gold coin in the world featuring legendary scientist Albert Einstein has been recently minted by Switzerland, reported Fox News.



The gold coin of about 0.12 inches of diameter has been made by state-owned Swissmint and features the scientist sticking out his tongue.

The size of the coin weighing /500th of an ounce is so small that it comes along with a magnifying glass for observing Einstein's cheeky image.

The price of each gold coin has been pegged at USD 205 and only 999 of these have been made by producers.

Famed physicist Einstein was granted Swiss citizenship in the year 1901 and he was also a recipient of the 1921 Noble Prize for physics.

"Swissmint drew inspiration from Albert Einstein, not least because of his determination and patience," Fox News quoted a news release. (ANI)


Shocking footage shows what appears to be a donkey being dragged behind a truck as it hurtles along a road in Peru.

The dead animal is attached to the Isuzu lorry, which is painted with religious imagery, by two lengths of rope - one tied to its forelegs, the other to its hindquarters.

The incident is believed to have occurred on an otherwise deserted stretch of road in Chiclayo, in the Lambayeqye region.

The dead animal was spotted being dragged behind a truck in what is believed to be the Chiclayo area of Peru

It is not known when the distressing footage was taken but it was uploaded to news website Punto Aparte's Facebook page two weeks ago by Jose Alvines.

Some users on social media have suggested the animal is in fact a horse - with one poster saying it was a dead mare which was later dumped at a farmhouse in Utcubamba, further inland.

Donkeys still act as a beast of burden in rural parts of Peru and are frequently used by farmers to carry loads or pull carts.

The animals are generally well looked after as they are a vital resource for agricultural communities in the region.

Along with other pack animals - including llamas, mules and horses - donkeys, which can comfortably carry a 40kg load, are also widely used to help establish base camps for climbers in the Andes.
French protesters prepared to hit the streets on Friday for a fresh day of demonstrations against the government's pension reform, which will be officially unveiled after weeks of strikes by unions warning that millions of people will have to work longer. Union leaders themselves acknowledge it is a now-or-never moment before the draft law heads to parliament, where President Emmanuel Macron's party holds a majority and is widely expected to push through the overhaul by summer. In Paris, protesters will march through the city to a square a stone's throw from the Elysee Palace, where ministers will meet to officially unveil the reform. "We're going to show that faced with this acceleration, this stubbornness by the government, ours is just as strong," Yves Veyrier of the hard-line Force Ouvriere (FO) union told France Info radio on Thursday. It will be the seventh day of mass rallies since a crippling transport strike was launched on December 5 by unions hoping to force Macron to back down on his push for a "universal" pension system. The reform would sweep away 42 separate regimes, some dating back hundreds of years, that offer early retirement and other benefits to public-sector workers as well as lawyers, physiotherapists and even Paris Opera employees. But critics say the new points-based system will effectively force millions of people to work longer, even though the government has temporarily dropped a plan to push back the age for a full pension to 64 from 62. Metro traffic in the capital was again seriously disrupted on Friday, the 51st day of strikes, though services had almost returned to normal this week as unions shifted their focus to power cuts, port blockades and other protests. Rail traffic was less affected, with most TGV and international trains operating as normal, and a majority of regional trains still running. But the Eiffel Tower will again be shut for the day as some workers join the protests, the company operating the monument said. - Limited economic hit - Paris police are again bracing for potential violence after previous rallies were marred by vandalism and clashes with security forces, often by far-left "black bloc" protesters, leading to dozens of injuries and arrests. But the government has faced accusations of condoning heavy-handed police tactics after a series of videos showing officers striking detained marchers or firing rubber bullets at point-blank range drew outrage on social media. Yet despite a series of concessions, including a pledge to police, pilots and many transport workers that they will still be able to stop working before the official retirement age, the government has largely held firm with a reform promised by Macron during his 2017 presidential campaign. He says the new system will be more transparent and fairer, in particular to women and low-income workers such as farmers. Macron also appears determined to succeed where previous governments have failed when tackling France's sprawling pension system. So far, the strike does not appear to have only mildly dented France's economy overall, though many businesses reported steep revenue declines over the crucial holiday shopping season, especially in Paris. Analysts at IHS Markit reported on Friday that its index of French economic activity slowed in January from the month before, "signalling the slowest rate of expansion since last September". "While there were warnings of softer conditions in the service sector, linked to national railway strikes, manufacturing displayed mild signs of revival," it said. France's largest union, the moderate CFTD, has suspended its strike ahead of talks with the government on how to finance the pension overhaul, but other unions are insisting the plan be dropped completely. On Friday, the FO and the CGT, the powerhouse unions in the public sector, called for a new day of walkouts for January 29. Protesters marched with torches in Strasbourg, eastern France, on Thursday against the French government's pension overhaul.
Were Banning Facial Recognition. Were Missing the Point.

The whole point of modern surveillance is to treat people differently, and facial recognition technologies are only a small part of that.

Spanish translation

Communities across the United States are starting to ban facial recognition technologies. In May of last year, San Francisco banned facial recognition; the neighboring city of Oakland soon followed, as did Somerville and Brookline in Massachusetts (a statewide ban may follow). In December, San Diego suspended a facial recognition program in advance of a new statewide law, which declared it illegal, coming into effect. Forty major music festivals pledged not to use the technology, and activists are calling for a nationwide ban. Many Democratic presidential candidates support at least a partial ban on the technology.

These efforts are well intentioned, but facial recognition bans are the wrong way to fight against modern surveillance. Focusing on one particular identification method misconstrues the nature of the surveillance society were in the process of building. Ubiquitous mass surveillance is increasingly the norm. In countries like China, a surveillance infrastructure is being built by the government for social control. In countries like the United States, its being built by corporations in order to influence our buying behavior, and is incidentally used by the government.

In all cases, modern mass surveillance has three broad components: identification, correlation and discrimination. Lets take them in turn.

Facial recognition is a technology that can be used to identify people without their knowledge or consent. It relies on the prevalence of cameras, which are becoming both more powerful and smaller, and machine learning technologies that can match the output of these cameras with images from a database of existing photos.

But thats just one identification technology among many. People can be identified at a distance by their heart beat or by their gait, using a laser-based system. Cameras are so good that they can read fingerprints and iris patterns from meters away. And even without any of these technologies, we can always be identified because our smartphones broadcast unique numbers called MAC addresses. Other things identify us as well: our phone numbers, our credit card numbers, the license plates on our cars. China, for example, uses multiple identification technologies to support its surveillance state.

Once we are identified, the data about who we are and what we are doing can be correlated with other data collected at other times. This might be movement data, which can be used to follow us as we move throughout our day. It can be purchasing data, internet browsing data, or data about who we talk to via email or text. It might be data about our income, ethnicity, lifestyle, profession and interests. There is an entire industry of data brokers who make a living analyzing and augmenting data about who we are  using surveillance data collected by all sorts of companies and then sold without our knowledge or consent.

There is a huge  and almost entirely unregulated  data broker industry in the United States that trades on our information. This is how large internet companies like Google and Facebook make their money. Its not just that they know who we are, its that they correlate what they know about us to create profiles about who we are and what our interests are. This is why many companies buy license plate data from states. Its also why companies like Google are buying health records, and part of the reason Google bought the company Fitbit, along with all of its data.

The whole purpose of this process is for companies  and governments  to treat individuals differently. We are shown different ads on the internet and receive different offers for credit cards. Smart billboards display different advertisements based on who we are. In the future, we might be treated differently when we walk into a store, just as we currently are when we visit websites.

The point is that it doesnt matter which technology is used to identify people. That there currently is no comprehensive database of heart beats or gaits doesnt make the technologies that gather them any less effective. And most of the time, it doesnt matter if identification isnt tied to a real name. Whats important is that we can be consistently identified over time. We might be completely anonymous in a system that uses unique cookies to track us as we browse the internet, but the same process of correlation and discrimination still occurs. Its the same with faces; we can be tracked as we move around a store or shopping mall, even if that tracking isnt tied to a specific name. And that anonymity is fragile: If we ever order something online with a credit card, or purchase something with a credit card in a store, then suddenly our real names are attached to what was anonymous tracking information.

Regulating this system means addressing all three steps of the process. A ban on facial recognition wont make any difference if, in response, surveillance systems switch to identifying people by smartphone MAC addresses. The problem is that we are being identified without our knowledge or consent, and society needs rules about when that is permissible.

Similarly, we need rules about how our data can be combined with other data, and then bought and sold without our knowledge or consent. The data broker industry is almost entirely unregulated; theres only one law  passed in Vermont in 2018  that requires data brokers to register and explain in broad terms what kind of data they collect. The large internet surveillance companies like Facebook and Google collect dossiers on us more detailed than those of any police state of the previous century. Reasonable laws would prevent the worst of their abuses.

Finally, we need better rules about when and how it is permissible for companies to discriminate. Discrimination based on protected characteristics like race and gender is already illegal, but those rules are ineffectual against the current technologies of surveillance and control. When people can be identified and their data correlated at a speed and scale previously unseen, we need new rules.

Today, facial recognition technologies are receiving the brunt of the tech backlash, but focusing on them misses the point. We need to have a serious conversation about all the technologies of identification, correlation and discrimination, and decide how much we as a society want to be spied on by governments and corporations  and what sorts of influence we want them to have over our lives.

Categories: Privacy and Surveillance
Biomedical data scientists at the Stanford University School of Medicine have shown that the number of genes a cell uses to make RNA is a reliable indicator of how developed the cell is, a finding that could make it easier to target cancer-causing genes.

Cells that initiate cancer are thought to be stem cells, which are hard-to-find cells that can reproduce themselves and develop, or differentiate, into more specialized tissue, such as skin or muscle -- or, when they go bad, into cancer.

"Right now, targeted therapies are focused on specific genes or molecules, the vast majority of which may not be specific to cancer stem cells," said Aaron Newman, PhD, assistant professor of biomedical data science and a member of the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine. "Usually these therapies don't work for very long. But if you can identify the least-differentiated cells and then look for markers specific to them, it's no longer a guessing game to find the genes to target."

The study's finding is also significant because identifying stem cells of various tissue types is an important step toward regenerating damaged or malfunctioning tissues.

What the scientists showed is that as stem cells become more differentiated and more like adult cells, they express fewer and fewer genes. Previously, other researchers had noticed this correlation and thought it might be an interesting coincidence. But Newman and his colleagues were the first to sort through thousands of single-cell genetic tests in public databases and prove this pattern was consistent and reliable.

Newman and MD-PhD student Gunsagar Gulati combined the measurement of the number of genes expressed in a cell with the measurement of the number of RNA copies created per gene as the basis for a computer algorithm, CytoTRACE, designed to determine how developmentally advanced cells are.

A paper describing the research is being published online Jan. 24 in Science. Newman is the senior author. Gulati and Shaheen Sikandar, PhD, an instructor at the institute, share lead authorship.

Tumor cells are diverse

Cancerous tumors can contain many millions of cells, each of which may have thousands of gene mutations. The cells in a tumor are diverse. Most will be differentiated cells that die out naturally on their own, while relatively few are the more dangerous cancer stem cells, or tumor-initiating cells. These cells are hard to find and therefore hard to characterize using current methods, but far easier to find with CytoTRACE.

"As a cancer researcher, what I find most exciting is that this tool helps us find the tumor-initiating cells that have long been known to be responsible for resistance to treatment, metastasis and relapse after treatment," Sikandar said.

Michael Clarke, MD, one of the authors of the paper, was the first researcher to identify cancer stem cells in a solid tumor. A professor of medicine at Stanford, Clarke said that CytoTRACE, which analyzes data on all the RNA created in a single cell, can quickly recapitulate research that takes years using traditional methods. "The way that we currently find cell markers for cancer stem cells is to make educated guesses about which markers will likely be important, then sort those cells and look for stem cell activity," said Clarke, the Karel H. and Avice N. Beekhuis Professor in Cancer Biology and associate director of the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine.

Researchers can look at relatively few markers at a time, so it takes a lot of sorting and analysis, and in the end, they will likely be only partially successful in finding good markers of the stem cells they are looking for, he said. "What CytoTRACE allows us to do is first find the stem or progenitor cells, then look at what unique markers they have on them."

In the paper, the researchers describe using CytoTRACE to query single-cell RNA data for triple-negative breast cancer, a type of tumor that is rarer but more dangerous because tumor growth doesn't rely on the biochemical pathways that physicians usually target to treat breast cancer. Not only did CytoTRACE identify known markers of cancer stem cells, it also spotted a marker that had not been previously been thought to be important. "This one gene looks like it has amazing potential as a therapeutic," Clarke said.

Potential tool for hunting other disease-linked stem cells

CytoTRACE also has the potential to transform how researchers hunt for stem cells associated with other diseases, Newman said. "This tool could also be useful in finding treatments for disorders such as Alzheimer's or other degenerative diseases where loss of stem cell function might be part of the disease process," he said.

Regenerative medicine, in which diseased or damaged tissue is repaired through the activity of stem cells, requires the ability to isolate purified populations of stem cells specific to a given tissue. To regrow bone, the heart or the eyes, for example, researchers must first find the stem cells responsible for regrowing those organs. Finding the markers that are specific to these normal stem cells has been much like the process for finding cancer stem cell markers, the researchers say -- that is, the product of educated guesses, luck and a lot of work in the lab. CytoTRACE could significantly shorten that process.

"One of the main motivations behind developing CytoTRACE was to create a tool for rapid and accurate identification of stem cells in humans," Gulati said. "But another important question we hope to answer is how the inner workings of a cell change as the cell transforms from one state to another. This research opens up a whole new avenue of research to study how global changes in gene expression and DNA structure influence a cell's state."

Overall, Newman said, the study shows the power and promise of using big data to advance biology and medicine through computer research that complements discoveries made in the lab.

"It wouldn't have been possible to gather all this data in our lab, but by using public databases and asking the right questions, it's more and more possible to make fundamental discoveries in biology and medicine," he said.

###

Other Stanford co-authors of the study are associate professor of surgery Frederick Dirbas, MD; research scientist Feiqiao Yu, PhD; laboratory manager Dalong Qian; former postdoctoral scholars Ferenc Sheeren, PhD, Neethan Lobo, PhD, Maider Zabala, PhD, and Shang Cai, PhD; former instructor Robert Hsieh, MD, PhD; graduate students Daniel Wesche and Anoop Manjunath; former graduate student Mark Berger; former Stanford undergraduate Francisco Lagan; and former intern Anjan Bharadwaj.

The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health (R00CA187192-03, 5R01CA100225-09, PHS-CA09302), the Stinehart-Reed Foundation, Stanford Bio-X, the Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Fund for Cancer Research, the U.S. Department of Defense, the National Science Foundation and the Stanford Medical Science Training Program.

The Stanford University School of Medicine consistently ranks among the nation's top medical schools, integrating research, medical education, patient care and community service. For more news about the school, please visit http://med.stanford.edu/school.html. The medical school is part of Stanford Medicine, which includes Stanford Health Care and Stanford Children's Health. For information about all three, please visithttp://med.stanford.edu.

Print media contact: Christopher Vaughan at (650) 736-8849 (vaughan1@stanford.edu)

Broadcast media contact: Margarita Gallardo at (650) 723-7897 (mjgallardo@stanford.edu)
Entertainment Watch the Gasparilla Pirate festival parade live stream from Tampa, Florida

Gasparilla Priate Fest live

24.01.2020 11:58:15 - Live streaming of the Gasparilla pirate invasion. TV coverage and live webcam stream.



(live-PR.com) - The Gasparilla Pirate Festival returns to Tampa this weekend, with the usual display of festivities, including the re-staged invasion, the parade and fireworks.



To watch a live stream of the main events:



www.myworldevents.com/parade/gasparilla-pirate-festival.html



Event information



The Gasparilla Pirate Festival is a large parade and a host of related community events held in Tampa, Florida almost every year since 1904. The theme of the festivities - The Gasparilla Pirate Festival returns to Tampa this weekend, with the usual display of festivities, including the re-staged invasion, the parade and fireworks.To watch a live stream of the main events:Event informationThe Gasparilla Pirate Festival is a large parade and a host of related community events held in Tampa, Florida almost every year since 1904. The theme of the festivities is an invasion by the mythical pirate Jose Gaspar (also known as Gasparilla), who is a popular figure in Florida folklore even though there is no evidence that he actually existed. The focal point of Gasparilla is the Parade of Pirates, which is held on the last Saturday in January and is often referred to as the Gasparilla Parade. Since its inception, it has been organized by Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla (YMKG), an organization modeled after the "krewes" that participate in Mardi Gras in New Orleans. On Gasparilla Day, members of YMKG sail into downtown Tampa aboard their large replica pirate ship and demand that the mayor hand over the key to the city. Afterwards, they stage a "victory parade" along Bayshore Boulevard accompanied by dozens of other krewes and community organizations.



The two other major parades during Tampa's Gasparilla season are the Gasparilla Children's Parade, which is held on Bayshore Boulevard one week before the main parade, and the Sant'Yago Illuminated Knight Parade, which is organized by the Krewe of the Knights of Sant'Yago in the historic neighborhood of Ybor City two weeks after the main parade. Each of these events typically draw about 100,000 revelers.



Gasparilla began in 1904 as an informal pirate parade that was only a small part of a larger community celebration, such as Tampa's May Day festival. It was first held as a stand-alone event in 1913, and over the decades, it has grown from humble beginnings to become third largest parade in the United States with a local economic impact of over $20 million and an average attendance of about 300,000. Eventually, it expanded into a "Gasparilla season" which runs from approximately mid-January to mid-March. Besides the three large parades, the city of Tampa hosts many other related events during this time, including the Gasparilla Film Festival, the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, the Gasparilla Distance Classic, and the Gasparilla Music Festival, along with an ever-changing lineup of minor events. The Gasparilla Parade of Pirates was once closely connected with the Florida State Fair, which was held at Plant Field near downtown Tampa at the end of the traditional parade route. The fair moved to a much larger location east of Tampa in the mid-1970s, but it still takes place during Gasparilla season.



The first Gasparilla parade was held in May 1904, after Tampa Tribune society editor Louise Frances Dodge and Tampa's director of customs George Hardee combined the legend of the dashing pirate with elements of a New Orleans Mardi Gras / Carnivale festival to give Tampa's relatively sedate May Day celebration a new theme with local connections.[36] Early Gasparilla "invasions" was conducted on horseback or early automobiles, and though they were considered a success, the 1906 edition was the last Gasparilla parade held until 1910, when it was revived as part of a community celebration marking the opening of the Panama Canal. The 1913 "Gasparilla Carnival" was the first time that Gasparilla was organized as an independent event. Though the Gasparilla parade has been a stand-alone event ever since, the parade route once ended at the old Florida State Fairgrounds at Plant Field, drawing many thousands of participants to the combined festivities.

is an invasion by the mythical pirate Jose Gaspar (also known as Gasparilla), who is a popular figure in Florida folklore even though there is no evidence that he actually existed. The focal point of Gasparilla is the Parade of Pirates, which is held on the last Saturday in January and is often referred to as the Gasparilla Parade. Since its inception, it has been organized by Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla (YMKG), an organization modeled after the "krewes" that participate in Mardi Gras in New Orleans. On Gasparilla Day, members of YMKG sail into downtown Tampa aboard their large replica pirate ship and demand that the mayor hand over the key to the city. Afterwards, they stage a "victory parade" along Bayshore Boulevard accompanied by dozens of other krewes and community organizations.The two other major parades during Tampa's Gasparilla season are the Gasparilla Children's Parade, which is held on Bayshore Boulevard one week before the main parade, and the Sant'Yago Illuminated Knight Parade, which is organized by the Krewe of the Knights of Sant'Yago in the historic neighborhood of Ybor City two weeks after the main parade. Each of these events typically draw about 100,000 revelers.Gasparilla began in 1904 as an informal pirate parade that was only a small part of a larger community celebration, such as Tampa's May Day festival. It was first held as a stand-alone event in 1913, and over the decades, it has grown from humble beginnings to become third largest parade in the United States with a local economic impact of over $20 million and an average attendance of about 300,000. Eventually, it expanded into a "Gasparilla season" which runs from approximately mid-January to mid-March. Besides the three large parades, the city of Tampa hosts many other related events during this time, including the Gasparilla Film Festival, the Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, the Gasparilla Distance Classic, and the Gasparilla Music Festival, along with an ever-changing lineup of minor events. The Gasparilla Parade of Pirates was once closely connected with the Florida State Fair, which was held at Plant Field near downtown Tampa at the end of the traditional parade route. The fair moved to a much larger location east of Tampa in the mid-1970s, but it still takes place during Gasparilla season.The first Gasparilla parade was held in May 1904, after Tampa Tribune society editor Louise Frances Dodge and Tampa's director of customs George Hardee combined the legend of the dashing pirate with elements of a New Orleans Mardi Gras / Carnivale festival to give Tampa's relatively sedate May Day celebration a new theme with local connections.[36] Early Gasparilla "invasions" was conducted on horseback or early automobiles, and though they were considered a success, the 1906 edition was the last Gasparilla parade held until 1910, when it was revived as part of a community celebration marking the opening of the Panama Canal. The 1913 "Gasparilla Carnival" was the first time that Gasparilla was organized as an independent event. Though the Gasparilla parade has been a stand-alone event ever since, the parade route once ended at the old Florida State Fairgrounds at Plant Field, drawing many thousands of participants to the combined festivities. Author:

Martin Kerrigan

e-mail

Web: http://www.myworldevents.com

Phone: 0035799813173 24.01.2020 11:58:15 -

Disclaimer: If you have any questions regarding information in this article please contact the author. Please do not contact Live-PR.com. We are not able to assist you. Live-PR.com disclaims content contained in this article. Live-PR.com is not authorized to give any information about content and not responsible for content posted by third party.
The Supreme Court on Friday exempted Sahara group chief Subrata Roy and two other directors from personal appearance till "further orders" in a case related to their alleged failure in depositing Rs 25,700 crore in the SEBI-Sahara account for returning investors' money.

The top court, on January 31 last year, had directed Roy and two other directors, Ravi Shankar Dubey and Ashok Roy Choudhary, to personally appear before it "to enable the court to pass appropriate orders so that the law can take its own course and reach the desired conclusion".

It had said that the efforts of the Sahara group to pay back did not "inspire the confidence of the court" as its order for deposit of Rs 25,700 crore has not been complied with so far.

Roy was sent to the Tihar Jail by the apex court on March 4, 2014 and came out on parole after spending over two years in prison on May 6, 2016 to perform the last rites of his mother Chhabi Roy. He has been out of prison since then.

Roy and two other directors were present in the court on Friday.

A bench, comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant Friday, took note of the plea of senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for Roy, and granted them exemption from personal appearance.

"The contemnors (Roy and others) are exempted from personal appearance till further orders," the bench said, adding that it would fix the matter on a non-miscellaneous day to accord extensive hearing.

The bench headed by the CJI, which was hearing the case for the first time in present combination of judges, asked the lawyers to provide subject-wise charts of pending applications and said it would hear it for the entire day.

Singh urged the court that the Delhi Police escort, given to Roy, be withdrawn as it was not required.

Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain, appearing for the Delhi Police, alleged that Roy uses his private guards and does not allow police personnel to accompany him most of the times despite a specific order in this regard.

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) also opposed the plea of Roy on withdrawal of security guards and said they were deployed at his expenditure to ensure his presence in court and pay back the money.

The bench said it will not pass any order on this aspect and assured lawyers that the case will be listed soon for the hearing.

Earlier, the apex court had noted that the Sahara group has already deposited around Rs 20,000 crore in the SEBI-Sahara account, which includes Rs 15,000 crore and Rs 4,800 crore interest.

The Sahara group was directed in August 2012 to pay around Rs 25,700 crore.

"You are unable to deposit the money. We will ask whosoever is the person has to appear in person," the bench had said while declining the plea for grant of more opportunities for making payment of around Rs 5,000 crore dues.

In July 2018, the auctioning process of Sahara group's prized Aamby Valley properties was put off by the Supreme Court after it was informed that the auction notice did not elicit any response from prospective buyers.

Senior advocate Arvind Datar, appearing for the SEBI, had said that the total amount was Rs 25,781.23 crore, of which around Rs 15,000 crore principal amount has already been deposited by the group. With interest, the deposited amount would come to around Rs 20,000 crore.

Roy and two other directors were arrested for failure of the group's two companies -- Sahara India Real Estate Corporation (SIRECL) and Sahara Housing Investment Corp Ltd (SHICL) -- to comply with the court's August 31, 2012 order to return Rs 25,000 crore to their investors.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The year 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration camp, and the ending of the Holocaust and World War II. In 2005, the United Nations (UN) designated January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On this day, the UN encourages everyone to honor the lives of the nearly two-thirds of Europe's Jews murdered by Nazi Germany's vicious acts of genocide and remember the perils of allowing unrestrained hatred to grow. At the age of seven, Dr. Erica Miller and her family, along with thousands of other Jews, were imprisoned for four years in a Nazi holding camp in Mogilev, Ukraine, before being liberated by the Russians. As a Holocaust survivor, Dr. Miller understands the critical importance of commemorating and honoring the six million Holocaust victims. "We need to remember those who perished in the Holocaust and empower ourselves to be vigilant to minimize the opportunity that it will occur again," says Dr. Miller.

Dr. Erica Miller

This hatred did not end with the Holocaust. There is a disturbing resurgence of anti-Semitism. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), an anti-hate organization, recorded more than 1,800 anti-Semitic incidents in the United States in 2018, including an increase in physical assaults. The ADL compared the number of anti-Semitic incidents in 2013 with 2018 and reported a 150-percent increase in these incidents, including the murder of 11 Jews worshipping at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, PA. Dr. Miller, who holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, believes this increase in anti-Semitism is not new. "The ugly head of anti-Semitism has shown up many times in our history," Dr. Miller says. "I've lived long enough to see that it was horrific during the Holocaust with the Nazis and then it calmed down and now it's coming up again."

Dr. Miller believes education about anti-Semitism, the Holocaust and bullying is critical for reducing hostility and prejudice against Jews. As an international best-selling author and inspirational speaker, she engages with young and old about basic human rights and the importance of caring for others. "You have to start early and teach children," Dr. Miller says. "Education brings that awareness of the connection between anti-Semitism, bullying and lack of kindness. Anti-Semitism is happening all over the world. We need to use our voices against discrimination towards anybody." Another tool she suggests is partnering with organizations fighting anti-Semitism, including StandWithUs, Hillel and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), to ensure that all generations never forget what happened during the Holocaust. "We're not alone," she says. "We can engage in communities with these organizations to combat this brutality and horrific negative information about Jews and anti-Semitism. We can be there for each other."

For further information about Dr. Miller, visit www.drericamiller.com, or contact Gerri Knilans, [email protected], 805 496-8850.

SOURCE Dr. Erica Miller

Related Links

https://drericamiller.com


Nicolas Asfouri/Getty

HONG KONGThe Chinese government has imposed transit bans on at least eight cities to limit the spread of the contagious coronavirus that has killed at least 26 people as of Friday afternoon and surfaced as far away as the United States, where one case is confirmed and two are under observation. Yet the World Health Organization still has not declared a global health emergency.

New Suspected Coronavirus Cases Pop Up in Two States

In China, the youngest fatality is 36 years old, and patients are dying outside of the province where the virus first appeared. Enormous metropolitan centers like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou are on alert to try to limit the spread of the illness, but Chinese authorities so far have not been able to wall in the contagion that has erupted during the massive holiday travel season ahead of the Lunar New Year on Saturday.

Wuhan, where a now-shuttered meat and poultry market saw the origin of the outbreak, was the first city to undergo mass quarantine on Thursday; anyone who attempts to leave the city without permission from the government can face up to seven years in jail. Public transportation services were also halted in nearby Huanggang, Ezhou, Xiantao, Zhijian, Chibi, Jingmen, and Qianjiang. In all, more than 26 million people are in the quarantine zone.

People who managed to leave Wuhan before the lockdown told The Daily Beast that the lack of reliable information from state-run news sources compounded the chaos that was felt in the city this week. Healthy adults seem to recover just fine, one man said. But we didnt know about the scale [of infection] or what to be cautious about.

After the Wuhan mayor came under fire for mismanaging matters during the outbreaks onset, city-level officials in other parts of the country arent taking any chances. In Guangzhou, a major city in southern China, officials are actively locating travelers who entered the city after leaving Wuhan, even requiring those who display no symptoms to undergo self-quarantine for two weeksthe maximum incubation period for other deadly coronaviruses, known as SARS and MERS, that together infected many thousands and killed more than a thousand during epidemics in previous years.

Story continues

Coronavirus Patient Had Close Contact With 16 in Washington State

The World Health Organization has been monitoring the spread of the virus. But after two days of deliberation, the WHO said it is not time to declare an international health emergency, even though outside of China there are confirmed infections in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and Singapore, as well as in the United States.

Elsewhere, suspected infections have appeared in the Philippines, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Australia, and Italy. Officials in the Philippines are in the process of repatriating 135 Chinese nationals who flew into the country from Wuhan earlier in the week.

At a press conference held in Geneva on Thursday, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom said, Make no mistake. This is an emergency in China, but it has not yet become a global health emergency. It may yet become one.  It is likely that we will see more cases in other parts of China and other countries.

Declaring a global health emergency would be a blow to the international legitimacy of the Chinese Communist Party, whose officials in Wuhan initially downplayed the severity of the contagions spread only for higher authorities to later institute a quarantine that is impacting tens of millions of people.

A WHO declaration would demand a coordinated international response to combat the spread of a disease that threatens the well-being of large populations. It also means there are implications for public health beyond the affected states national border, and countries around the world have an obligation to respond as quickly as possible.

We now know that the coronavirus can be transmitted from human hosts to other humans and that infection can lead to complications that result in death. We also know that about one-quarter of the people who have been infected develop severe symptoms. But scientists are still trying to identify the virus' other key characteristics. For now, it is unclear just how infectious the virus is, or, critically, at what stage of infection a person begins to spread it to new potential hosts.

Airports around the world are screening arriving passengers by checking their body temperatures, but that measure may not be an effective way of isolating potential coronavirus carriers if they are not exhibiting symptoms.

Chinas National Health Commission released some details about the first 17 people who died after falling sick, and some of them did not run fevers. The virus incubation periodpossibly between one and two weeksalso means it can lie dormant in human bodies as they travel across borders or continents.

Hospitals in some parts of Chinaparticularly in Hubei, the province where cities are under mass quarantineare slammed with people seeking medical tests or assistance. These facilities are short-staffed, and supplies are far from enough to handle the volume.

The fear is that cramped hospitals, like those in Wuhan and surrounding areas where hundreds pack into a waiting room for hours on end to seek tests or medical assistance, can lead to a spike in infections, possibly even cultivating a super-spreaderan individual who is extremely contagious and infects a disproportionate number of people, particularly in densely populated areas.

In the United States, officials have identified suspected infections in California and Texas on top of the countrys first confirmed case in Washington state. The traveler who arrived at Los Angeles International Airport departed Mexico City on an American Airlines flight and was taken to a local hospital while experiencing flu-like symptoms. In Brazos County, Texas, a student of Texas A&M University has been isolated for precautionary testing.

The Chinese central government said it will build a new hospital in six days specifically to treat coronavirus patients. It will be modeled after a facility constructed in Beijing in 2003 to handle the SARS epidemic. For now, hospitals in Wuhan are asking for donations of medical suppliessurgical masks, protective goggles, and more. Doctors and nurses are stretched thin, and theyre waiting for any assistance that can be had.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!

Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
It was all very different for Leo Varadkar back in 2010. He was a Fine Gael opposition spokesperson with a reputation for saying things other politicians wouldn't. Varadkar's comments often saw him in the headlines and not always for good reasons.

But he didn't mind, he liked being different to the other TDs and Fine Gael were happy to have an attack dog to take on Fianna Fail.

The 'Hot Press' interview was a rite of passage for politicians, especially those who were seeking to connect with the youth vote. And 30-year-old Leo Varadkar was certainly trying to corner that market.

During the interview with the music magazine in May 2010, Varadkar was asked if he was "into rave culture" which was popular at the time. He said he wasn't. He was then asked if he had experimented with ecstasy or any other illegal drugs as a teen? Varadkar laughed and asked: "What did (then Taoiseach) Brian Cowen say to you, again?"

He added: "Not since I've held elected office, anyway. I've been extremely law-abiding since I've been elected to politics." Cowen previously told 'Hot Press' he smoked cannabis in college.

Varadkar was also asked if he smoked cannabis. "I did a bit in my college years, yeah. But I wouldn't be advocating that anybody else do the same - particularly being more aware now of the evidence linking cannabis smoking to schizophrenia."

He was also asked about the rise of head shops, which sold synthetic drugs and hallucinogenics. "It would be almost impossible to actually ban head shops because they'll always be one step ahead of the law, and it might make more sense to try and regulate them," Varadkar said.

It was a very different interview for a politician, especially one from the usually conservative Fine Gael party. Don't forget, at the time Varadkar was also comparing travelling to the UK for an abortion to going to Amsterdam to smoke a joint. So he still had some work to do on his liberal credentials. Last night on the Virgin Media General Election debate, Varadkar vividly remembered this interview.

Pat Kenny had just spoken to the Taoiseach and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin about the scourge of drug gangs and the violence they have unleashed on our country.

Kenny suggested recreational drug users funding these gangs should bear some responsibility for their crimes. He then asked the two leaders if they had done drugs.

"No I never have," Martin said firmly. Varadkar seemed caught off guard and said he answered the questions "truthfully" when interviewed by 'Hot Press'. Martin sniggered as Kenny pushed Varadkar on whether he'd taken drugs.

"Yes, it was obviously a long time ago," the Taoiseach finally responded. Varadkar was well-prepared for the debate but he didn't see that one coming.

Part of Fine Gael's election strategy has been to appeal to young voters who see Varadkar as a modern European leader. Recreational drug use would not be a big deal for most people aged between 18 and 40.

The Taoiseach could have owned his use of drugs before saying he regretted what he has done in the past and wouldn't encourage others to take illegal substances. Of course, we still don't know what exactly it is he has taken.

Older voters and those with conservative views will be disappointed the leader of the 'law and order' party took drugs. Younger voters may also be disappointed that their new liberal hero struggled to answer the question.

In 2020, it does feel like quite a dated question but the outbreak of violence perpetrated by drugs gangs does make it a pertinent election issue. Varadkar will be under pressure to clarify what he has taken in the past.

He may look to his counterpart in Britain, Boris Johnson, who before the UK general election admitted to taking cocaine and romped home with a historic majority.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 22:49:28|Editor: Mu Xuequan

Video Player Close

TAIPEI, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Millions of people in Taiwan are rushing home as the seven-day traditional Chinese New Year holiday began Thursday.

The first wave of railway passengers emerged from Thursday to Friday morning with about 626,000 people taking the railways Thursday, according to the island's railway authorities.

The high-speed railway, the most popular and efficient transport within the island, has added 424 trains from Jan. 21 to 30 to a total of 1,793 ones, up 30 percent over normal days. Eight slower trains have been added along the routes linking the less populated eastern regions of the island.

Passengers have been able to book tickets via mobile phone apps, telephone, website and convenience stores since Dec. 25.

"It took less time than usual to get a ticket. I normally buy my ticket right before I get on the train. But due to the holiday season, I reserved the ticket online much earlier," said a passenger surnamed Chang, who lives in Taipei and planned to return to his hometown Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan.

From Jan. 23 to 29, all major highways and expressways across the island are free of charge between midnight and 5 a.m. During the rest of the day, drivers will be charged a single rate to ease traffic.

As of Friday morning, except for a few sections, most of the highways reported moderate traffic.

According to the island's transport department, the peak time of traffic from north to south will appear on Sunday while the traffic rush from south to north will be on Jan. 28, the second to last day of the holiday.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 04:09:51|Editor: Mu Xuequan

Video Player Close

ATHENS, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Greek government on Thursday signed two loan agreements in Athens with the European Investment Bank (EIB) to the tune of 330 million euros (365 million U.S. dollars) to support projects in various sectors, including the construction of a new airport on Crete Island, Greek national news agency AMNA reported.

Under the first of the two agreements signed at the Greek Finance Ministry, the EIB will provide an 180-million-euro loan to support the construction of the new Heraklion international airport.

The airport will replace the existing one which during the summer tourism season is heavily congested, according to an e-mailed EIB press release.

The 28-year EIB loan will finance the state contribution to the 517-million-euro project and construction is expected to last five years, AMNA added.

"Today marks a key milestone in the history of aviation in Greece that will unlock the full tourism potential of the beautiful island of Crete," said Greek Finance Minister Christos Staikouras.

Under the second agreement, EIB will also further support priority investment projects intended to enhance energy efficiency, tackle climate change, improve small business competitiveness, accelerate research and innovation, and support health, education, culture and urban regeneration initiatives across Greece, according to AMNA.

The 150-million-euro loan is part of a 18.6 billion euro investment program in the framework of the Partnership Agreement 2014-2020 that has been financing small and medium-sized priority schemes across Greece since 2014, according to an EIB press statement.(1 euro= 1.1 U.S. dollars)
The Emir of Kano, His Highness, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has cautioned over the rising tension between Christians and Muslims in Nigeria. The Emir of Kano at the Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace was of the view that ignorance is precipitating the tension between Christians and Muslims in the country.

Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, representing the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar III , at the Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace, in his opening speech, advocated the need for political leaders Nigeria to protect the interest of the poor and less privileged in the society. He decried the high rate of crime and the deepening poverty in the country, making a case for good governance.

The Emir added that traditional and religious leaders are supposed to hold political leaders in the country to account for their actions but lamented: we are being cowed into silence.

PV: 0
Cleaning, cooking, raising the children and putting her husbands every need first  its all in a days work for the rising number of women in their 30s and 40s who class themselves as a so called Tradwife.

Raised to believe they could have it all, theyve had a go at smashing the glass ceiling but have since quit their careers for a more submissive life at home that has echoes of 1950s Britain.

Back then, with scant opportunities beyond the home, women had little choice but to be housewives, and many longed to cast off the shackles of domestic life.

Small wonder, then, that critics have denounced the Tradwife trend as the ultimate betrayal of feminism, claiming it panders to misogyny and the Stepford Wife stereotype.

Others believe that choosing to leave a career to be a housewife whos reliant on her husbands income is feminism in action.

Here, four Tradwives reveal all

We now spend our time flirting not fighting

Alena Kate Pettitt, 34, lives in Gloucestershire with her husband, a 48-year-old software programmer, and their seven-year-old son.

Shes spearheading the traditional housewife trend in the UK and is founder of The Darling Academy lifestyle blog. She says:

On a typical day, Ill iron the shirts my husbands chosen for the working week, while a beef stew simmers on the hob, and a banana cake rises in the oven.

Then theres vacuuming, laundry and tidying to be done to ensure that the house is calm.

Far from being downtrodden and suppressed, Alena Kate Pettitt says her marriage is more playful since she became a Tradwife. She says: 'We flirt more than we fight, because were both so happy'

I always tidy my hair, check my make-up, and spritz on some perfume that I know my husband loves  ready to greet him as he steps through the door.

Its a sign of love and respect for my husband  and vital for my own self-esteem  as it shows him that I fancy him as much now as I did when we got together.

It keeps the zing in our marriage; what man wants to be greeted by someone in tracksuit bottoms, or not at all?

Ive been vilified for my 1950s style approach to being a traditional wife.

Yet its a choice and although I dont advocate that every womans place is in the home, its time we celebrate the importance of the role for those that feel it is.

Far from being downtrodden and suppressed, my marriage is more playful since Ive become a Tradwife. We flirt more than we fight, because were both so happy.

My generation grew up with the Spice Girls and a narrative that women should go out and smash glass ceilings.

At first I succumbed to the zeitgeist with a career in the beauty industry in London  but I wasnt happy.

When I met my husband 12 years ago I secretly longed to be a homemaker. With strong traditional values of his own, he sensed this and said he could support us both if I gave up work.

But society dictated that without a career Id be worthless, so I resisted for a while.

In the meantime we were both stressed and spent what little time we had together at home arguing over the chores.

Finally, in 2009, I accepted his offer, leaving my job and salary behind. Friends couldnt compute why Id give up my financial independence. But being a housewife is a career thats allowed my family  and marriage  to flourish.

Im certainly not an oppressed little woman at home. Im actually quite feisty and this is my choice.

I know there are some extremists within the Tradwife movement, but for me its about taking the best parts of that golden 1950s age and applying them to a modern marriage  its worked wonders for ours.

What he says, goes, and that's fine

Stacey McCall, 33, lives in Cheshire with her 36-year-old husband, who works in aviation, and their children aged ten and eight. She says:

A few weeks ago, my husband and I were trying to decide where to go for our summer holiday this year. I quite fancied the Canaries, but my husband was set on Cape Verde.

Did I stamp my feet and argue until I got my way? Of course not: were going to Cape Verde, its booked and I couldnt be happier.

Its only right that he gets the casting vote on our big expenditures; as the wage earner, he pays for it all.

Similarly, if we are making a big purchase, such as a new TV or computer, while he always values my opinion, the ultimate decision is his.

Does that make me an oppressed wife, who is setting back the feminist movement decades? Thats for others to decide.

All I know is that this set-up makes us very happy.

Stacey McCall says she and her husband both longed for a more traditional family life where she was at home with the children and did the chores, and her husband went to work

After having our children, I returned to work as a technical administrator for several years thinking it would be more manageable than returning to my former banking career. But we were all unhappy and stressed.

The children were always in after-school clubs, the house was a mess, wed eat takeaways because we were too tired to cook, and my husband and I bickered and rarely had time for each other.

We both longed for a more traditional family life where I was at home with the children and did the chores and he went to work.

When he got a promotion and a salary increase in late 2018 I was finally able to become a Tradwife.

Forward 14 months and the house is tidy, the children are content, the marital squabbling has stopped and we eat homecooked meals every night. We flirt, we laugh and our marriage has never been stronger.

I provide structure and stability, and by putting my husband, children and home first, I keep stress levels to a minimum. He tells me the job I do at home is more important than any other.

Ive also had the time to get involved with the local community  in the way women in the 1950s did  and helped set up a neighbourhood watch scheme.

Far from betraying feminism, being a Tradwife is empowering and has enabled me to take back control of my life.

The stress and anxiety of trying to hold down a career while also running a home and being an attentive wife and mother are long gone. Sometimes the old ways really are the best.

I manage the house so he can focus on his job

Laura Lightbody, 37, lives in Shropshire with husband Tyrone, 35, a hospital doctor, and their five children aged seven, five, four, two and nine months. She says:

Since leaving my career almost five years ago to become a housewife, my marriage and family life have been magically transformed.

I fought against it at first, after we had our first two children. Wed always planned to have five kids and I was adamant Id be the ultimate modern woman and juggle family with my career.

Laura Lightbody says her once chaotic home is a 'well-oiled machine'. She says: 'Tyrone arrives home to a calm house and the evenings are ours to enjoy'

But the reality of attempting to do that was awful.

Both exhausted from work, Tyrone and I would argue about everything from who was making dinner to who was most tired. The house was a mess, there was no routine and I felt guilty because I wasnt being the parent, employee or partner I wanted to be  or anything near the homemaker my own mum was.

Increasingly I reflected on that, and when I was pregnant with our third child Tyrone and I agreed enough was enough. After working out our finances we made the choice that Id become a traditional housewife and its been liberating as we now have two clearly defined roles.

My job is managing the home and our children, removing all of that stress so Tyrone can focus on his career.

I take my job very seriously, including devising a weekly meal plan of homecooked food so that theres something nutritious on the table for my husband and children each evening.

I have a wall planner detailing Tyrones shifts and the childrens activities. Our once chaotic home is a well-oiled machine. Tyrone arrives home to a calm house and the evenings are ours to enjoy.

Although hes the breadwinner, he respects my input and we discuss financial decisions and make them together. As a couple were happier and more respectful of each other than weve ever been.

But its important to me that Tyrone also gets to see me as a woman, not just a housewife and mother. I take pride in my appearance, wear light make-up, and do my hair.

We make a point of going out for dinner occasionally and I make a big effort then to wear stylish clothes and just be me again.

People said to me: Youll be bored! But how can it be a waste to invest time in my husband and children? True feminism is about choice and, as a Tradwife, thats what I have.

I lost 8st and my man loves it

Sarah Dunkley, 32, gave up her teaching career in 2015 to become a Tradwife. She lives in Kent with her husband Ben, also 32, a prison services manager, and their daughters Eleanor, two, and Grace, five months. She says:

Since becoming a housewife Ive worked really hard to make my husband happy  and my proudest achievement has been totally transforming my appearance.

Since handing over the reins to him, Ive had time to go to the gym, eat properly and do my hair and make-up. In fact, Ive lost more than 8 stone.

Yes, I did it for me, but I adore how much Ben loves the new me. He often comments hes got an entirely new wife at home.

What husband  or wife  wouldnt want that? It was all so different when I worked 14-hours a day as a teacher.

Sarah Dunkley says friends are perplexed that she is a housewife. 'But Im not downtrodden, this is my choice and its been the making of our family', she says

Overweight, exhausted and resentful, with barely any time for my husband, I longed to be a housewife and do things properly.

When we bought our house and decided to start a family, we both saw it as the right time for me to make the switch.

Two months before I became pregnant in 2015, I gave up my career and threw myself into being a homemaker.

Although I briefly felt conflicted about the time I had spent on my education  ultimately it wasnt a hard decision.

Plus, were incredibly fortunate that Ben earns enough so that we can sustain the lifestyle we want to.

In return for Bens financial support, I feel a huge responsibility to keep a lovely home thats a tidy and stress- free environment for him.

He always greets me with a kiss, and I love hearing about his day. Both our mums were housewives who were responsible for domestic life and prided themselves on reducing stress for our fathers. I want that for my husband, too.

Now, my days are spent being attentive to our daughters, playing with them and taking them to activities.

I ensure the house is clean and tidy, and my husbands favourite foods  always homemade  are ready to eat when he gets home.

Friends are perplexed that Im a housewife. But Im not downtrodden, this is my choice and its been the making of our family.

I benefit hugely, too. By getting all the chores done during the day, Ben and I can cuddle up on the sofa in the evening and talk and laugh  really enjoy each other like we used to in the early days of our relationship.

If thats old fashioned  well, it works for us.
Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

To learn Biblical answers to your financial questions, you can #AskChuck @AskCrown your questions by clicking here. Questions used may be lightly edited for length or clarity.

Dear Chuck,

I am not married but would like to be one day, but who knows? Should I plan to live as a lifetime single in my financial planning?

Single but Hopeful

Dear Single but Hopeful,

First, I am glad you are interested in marriage! While there is nothing inferior with being single, whether by choice or otherwise, marriage is a means which God designed for us to experience the priceless riches of a family. The world needs more strong, Godly families. I also applaud your wisdom evidenced by the forward-looking question you have asked. Heres my simple, direct answer: You need to manage your money for an unknown future. This is actually what all faithful stewards do, married or not.

Preparing for an Unknown Future

Solomon tells us in Ecclesiastes 8:7, Since no one knows the future, who can tell someone else what is to come? You and I and everyone else in the world do not know what tomorrow will bring  whether we will be married or single, whether the economy will go up or crash, whether we will be healthy or weak or even whether we will live or die. The wise acknowledge the uncertainty of tomorrow and prepare spiritually and financially. So here is my basic advice to help you be ready for tomorrow.

Spend Less Than You Earn

This is the key to good stewardship. It is essential as a single or as a married person.

Frugal spending now will strongly impact your lifestyle decisions. The freedom you have as a single person provides flexibility to plan ahead while still enjoying the fruit of your labor. Keep a budget. Now is the time to stop overspending. Avoid impulsive and extravagant purchases. Learn to wait at least 24 hours before making a buying decision. Or, like my wife, put things in your online shopping cart but dont buy them immediately. Analyze the pros and cons of the item, compare prices, check your motivation for buying and pray for discernment as to whether its a necessary purchase.

Maximize Income

Use your free time to increase your skill sets in a radically changing work environment. This can be done through extra education or via a mentor. Ask for a raise or start a side job. Enroll in our online classes to expand your financial knowledge. You dont need to set a goal to get rich; just be faithful and excellent at what you do, God will honor that with better compensation in the long term.

Give

Establish this habit now to experience a lifetime of joyful giving. If 10% is daunting, start with 1%, then increase it every month until arriving at 10%. You may desire to exceed that, but 10% should be a minimum you strive for. It will be an opportunity for you to trust God with the remaining 90%. In fact, you may find yourself sacrificing in other areas so you can give as the Lord leads. For us, it means driving older cars, cooking meals at home, shopping sales for clothes, etc. so we can give to others.

Establish an Emergency Fund

Emergencies happen, and usually when they are least expected. That is why it is critical to always be prepared. Job loss, illness, accidents, extended family situations all contribute to emergency needs. Replacing tires or appliances are not emergencies because they are inevitable maintenance costs. The absolute minimum should be $1,000. Most experts recommend enough funds to cover at least three to six-months worth of living expenses. 40% of Americans cant cover a $1,000 emergency expense. Dont be in that 40%!

Eliminate Debt

Pay off student debt, car loans, credit card debt and any personal loans. A clean slate communicates self-control and financial wholeness to a person you may want to marry in the future. The two most popular methods for debt repayment are the debt snowball and debt avalanche. Avoid consumer debt in the future. When using credit cards, always pay them off, in full, at the end of each month. Educate yourself on the truth about debt. Use Christian Credit Counselors if you have a problem with carrying credit card balances.

Housing

This is typically the biggest expense in budgets, but it need not be. Especially while you are single. Roommates can cut rental costs and help pay down a mortgage when buying a home. Proper maintenance will prevent penalties and costly expenses. Always avoid too much house and analyze if renting or buying is best for you at this stage of life.

Stay Healthy and Have Savings

Take care of yourself through healthy eating, consistent exercise, and adequate sleep. Discipline yourself to stop any vices. These steps will strengthen the possibility of living a productive life. Max out 401k contributions and HSA plans, if available.

Seek Accountability

Learn from those who practice sound financial principles. Read biographies. Meet with like-minded Christians and find a mentor who will guide you on your financial journey. Analyze your friendships. Do they propel you to live in obedience to Christ? Are they impacting you positively? Or, are they a negative influence? Choose to spend time with those that propel you to be better in all areas of your life.

Enjoy Life

Whether single or married, live in gratitude for all Gods given you. Dont neglect to take vacations. Serve on mission trips. Read to broaden your knowledge and volunteer in your community.

Live One Day at a Time

Develop your spiritual life and Christian community. Attend church regularly and get involved serving where your gifts and skills can bless others. Read through the Bible on a regular basis and participate in a Bible study. A Christian worldview is necessary in making wise financial decisions. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2 ESV). Renewing your mind daily will guard your heart and keep you on the right path. We only have today, so live at peace where you are right now; trust God for your tomorrow.
On Jan. 27, 1945, the Soviet Red Army liberated the Auschwitz death camp in German-occupied Poland. The Germans had already fled westward, leaving behind the bodies of prisoners who had been shot and thousands of sick and starving survivors.

Now, 75 years after the liberation, hundreds of survivors from across the world will travel to Auschwitz and other locations to mark the anniversary this week and next week.

More than 1.1 million Jews were killed in Auschwitz and the adjacent Birkenau death camp in gas chambers or from starvation, disease and forced labor in the meticulous Nazi effort to rid Europe of its Jews. Overall, the Holocaust claimed 6 million Jewish lives, wiping out a third of world Jewry.

The main ceremony will be the World Holocaust Forum today, Jan. 23, in which dozens of world leaders will arrive in Jerusalem for the largest-ever gathering focused on commemorating the genocide and combating modern-day anti-Semitism. Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron, Britain's Prince Charles and the presidents of Germany, Italy and Austria are among the more than 40 dignitaries who will be attending the event.
As it struggles with its energy needs, Iraq is set to hold a fifth bidding round for exploration and development of natural gas fields in an eastern province of the country.

Iraq has approved contracts for exploration for the fifth round, Reuters quoted the government as saying in a statement.

In a previous bidding round in 2018, no international oil major won any exploration and development contracts in Iraqs auction of 11 oil and gas blocks, as the bidding attracted just oneunsuccessfulbid by a major company, Eni, while other Big Oil firms decided not to bid. Iraq awarded six of the 11 blocks to Middle East and China-based companies, while five of the exploration areas up for grabs failed to attract any bids.

The exploration contracts in the fifth round will be for fields in the province of Diyala in eastern Iraq, which are expected to produce over 750 million cubic feet of natural gas within three years.

Much of the gas and associated gas produced in oil wells in Iraq is currently being flared, which costs Iraq potential revenues from gas sales. Due to insufficient capacity to process its own gas, Iraq imports natural gas for its needs from its neighbor Iran.



Related: Oil Prices Head Lower Despite Small Crude Draw

Major Iraqi power plants are dependent on Iranian natural gas supply, and Iraq also imports electricity from Iran, as Baghdads power generation is not enough to ensure domestic supply.

Iraq may have serious problems in securing its energy needs if the United States doesnt extend a waiver for an Iraqi bank to process payments for Iraqs imports of electricity and natural gas from Iran, the head of the Iraqi bank told AFP earlier this week.

The U.S. has regularly extended the waivers for Iraq to continue buying natural gas and electricity from Iran, even after the U.S. slapped sanctions on Iran and continued to ramp up those sanctions over the past year.

The waiver for the Iraqi bank handling the payments to Iran in Iraqi dinars expires next month. If the U.S. doesnt extend the waiver, the bankTrade Bank of Iraq (TBI)will stop processing payments, the head of the bank Faisal al-Haimus told AFP on Tuesday.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
The day after the 2016 election, the liberals in this country began their hate parade towards Donald Trump. Shocked he vanquished a career politician for the highest office in the land, they could not contain their hatred nor disdain towards our president. Politicians were worried about being exposed. The media and the Hollywood types continue to flail at Trump from all sides.

In his three years in office, President Trump has accomplished more than the previous four presidents did in their combined 28 years. Record stock markets, lowest unemployment in 60 years , reduced taxes to increase personal wealth and spending, getting rid of a terrible NAFTA deal, pulling the United States out of the controversial nuclear agreement former President Barack Obama struck with Iran, getting NATO and the World Trade Organization to realize we are no longer the worlds piggy bank, choosing Supreme Court justices who support a document that has served us for 243 years. The list is endless. I cant wait to see what his second term brings.

Gary Heldt,

Bay Village
Identity and access management in 2022 - what will the future look like?

As we enter into 2022, there is still a level of uncertainty in place. Its unclear what the future holds, as companies around the world still contend with the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote working has been encouraged by most organisations and the move to a hybrid working system has become business as usual, for the majority of businesses. Some have reduced their office space or done away with their locations altogether. Following best security practices With all this change in place, there are problems to deal with. According to research, 32.7% of IT admins say they are concerned about employees using unsecured networks to carry out that work. Alongside this, 74% of IT admins thought that remote work makes it harder for employees to follow best security practices. This need to manage security around remote work is no longer temporary. Instead, companies have to build permanent strategies around remote work and security. The coming year will also create a different landscape for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs). Here are some key predictions for next year and what to start preparing for in 2022: The reality of SMB spending around security will hit home SMBs had to undertake significant investments to adapt to remote working SMBs had to undertake significant investments to adapt to remote working, especially in comparison to their size. They had to undertake significant digital transformation projects that made it possible to deliver services remotely, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Weve seen a shift in mindset for these companies, which are now more tech-focused in their approach to problem solving. According to our research, 45% of SMBs plan to increase their spending towards IT services in 2022. Around half of all organisations think their IT budgets are adequate for their needs, while 14.5% of those surveyed believe they will need more, to cover all that needs to be done. Identity management spending to support remote work For others, the COVID-19 pandemic led to over-spending, just to get ahead of things and they will spend in 2022, looking at what they should keep and what they can reduce their spending on. Areas like identity management will stay in place, as companies struggle to support remote work and security, without this in place. However, on-premise IT spending will be reduced or cut, as those solutions are not relevant for the new work model. Services that rely on on-premise IT will be cut or replaced. The device will lead the way for security We rely on our phones to work and to communicate. In 2022, they will become central to how we manage access, to all our assets and locations, IT and physical. When employees can use company devices and their own phones for work, security is more difficult. IT teams have to ensure that theyre prepared for this, by making sure that these devices can be trusted. Wide use of digital certificates and strong MFA factors Rather than requiring a separate smart card or fingerprint reader, devices can be used for access using push authentication There are multiple ways that companies can achieve this, for example - By using digital certificates to identify company devices as trusted, an agent, or strong MFA factors, like a FIDO security key or mobile push authentication. Whichever approach you choose, this can prevent unauthorised access to IT assets and applications, and these same devices can be used for authentication into physical locations too. Rather than requiring a separate smart card or fingerprint reader, devices can be used for access using push authentication. Understanding human behaviour Alongside this, it is important to understand human behaviour. Anything that introduces an extra step for authentication can lead to employees taking workarounds. To stop this, it is important to put an employee education process in place, in order to emphasize on the importance of security. The next step is to think about adopting passwordless security, to further reduce friction and increase adoption. Lastly, as devices become the starting point for security and trust, remote device management will be needed too. More companies will need to manage devices remotely, from wiping an asset remotely if it gets lost or stolen, through to de-provisioning users easily and removing their access rights, when they leave the company. Identity will be a layer cake Zero Trust approaches to security Identity management relies on being able to trust that someone is who they say they are. Zero Trust approaches to security can support this effectively, particularly when aligned with least privilege access models. In order to turn theory into practical easy-to-deploy steps, companies need to use contextual access, as part of their identity management strategy. This involves looking at the context that employees will work in and putting together the right management approach for those circumstances. For typical employee behaviour, using two factor authentication might be enough to help them work, without security getting in the way. How enterprises manage, access and store identity data There will also be a shift in how enterprises manage, access, and store that identity data over time For areas where security is more important, additional security policies can be put over the top, to ensure that only the right people have access. A step-up in authentication can be added, based on the sensitivity of resources or risk-based adaptive authentication policies might be needed. There will also be a shift in how enterprises manage, access, and store that identity data over time, so that it aligns more closely with those use cases. Identity management critical to secure assets in 2022 There are bigger conversations taking place around digital identity for citizenship, as more services move online as well. Any moves that take place in this arena will affect how businesses think about their identity management processes too, encouraging them to look at their requirements in more detail. Overall, 2022 will be the year when identity will be critical to how companies keep their assets secure and their employees productive. With employees working remotely and businesses becoming decentralised, identity strategies will have to take the same approach. This will put the emphasis on strong identity management as the starting point for all security planning.
Organoids have become an important tool for studying many disease processes and testing potential drugs. Now, they are being used in a surprising and unexpected way: for the production of snake venom. On January 23 in the journal Cell, researchers are reporting that they have created organoids of the venom glands of the Cape coral snake (Aspidelaps lubricus cowlesi) and that these glands are capable of producing venom.

"More than 100,000 people die from snake bites every year, mostly in developing countries. Yet the methods for manufacturing antivenom haven't changed since the 19th century," says senior author Hans Clevers of the Hubrecht Institute for Developmental Biology and Stem Cell Research at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. "It's clear there is a huge unmet medical need for new treatments."

He adds: "Every snake has dozens of different components in their venom. These are extremely potent molecules that are designed to stop prey from running away. They affect systems as varied as the brain, neuromuscular junctions, blood coagulation, and more. Many of them have potential bioprospecting applications for new drugs."

Clevers' lab traditionally focuses on organoids made from human and mouse cells. But some of his students decided to study stem cells and develop organoids from reptiles. "This is a field that does not exist, so they thought it was interesting to study the most iconic reptilian organ, the snake venom gland," he says. "Once we grew the venom glands as organoids, we realized that they make a lot of venom."

The investigators started with the Cape coral snake because they knew a breeder who was able to supply some fertilized eggs. The snakes were removed from the eggs before hatching, and small pieces of tissue were removed from various organs and placed into gels, along with growth factors. In addition to the venom glands, the researchers also made organoids of the snake liver, pancreas, and gut.

"It would have been difficult to isolate stem cells from these snakes because we don't know what they look like," Clevers explains. "But it turned out we didn't need to. The cells soon began dividing and forming structures." In fact, he says, the venom gland organoids grew so fast that in just one week, they were able to break them apart and re-plate them, generating hundreds of plates within two months. He notes that if it could be commercialized, this method would be much more efficient than the way venom is currently produced -- by raising snakes on farms and milking their glands.

The researchers were able to identify at least four distinct types of cells within the venom gland organoids. They confirmed that the venom peptides produced were biologically active and resembled the components of venom from live snakes.

A challenge of the work was determining gene-expression levels in the venom gland organoids. "The genomes of most snakes have not been annotated," Clevers says. The investigators were able to identify certain genes that were active under expansion conditions, suggesting that these pathways -- including most importantly the Wnt pathway -- may play a role in reptilian stem cell growth.

One of the collaborators on the study was Freek Vonk, a herpetologist and well-known Dutch television host who Clevers calls "the Steve Irwin of Holland." Vonk is affiliated with Leiden University and the Naturalis Biodiversity Center.
Donald Trumps legal team will begin a simple and straightforward case beginning Saturday to convince senators the president did nothing wrong with Ukraine. It comes a day after House Democrats wrapped their case to remove him by urging senators to avoid being fooled by his attorneys  with one offering a stern warning to Senate Republicans.

A White House official said on Friday that the presidents attorneys intend to answer some of the Democratic sides many allegations  and its a safe bet to assume their client will be watching closely from the White House  possibly even live-tweeting his own defence.

This will be the defence opening statement tomorrow. Could there be some surprises? Sure, said the official, granted anonymity to be candid. We reserve the right to hold some things in our back pocket.

Jay Sekulow, one of Mr Trumps attorneys, told reporters on Capitol Hill he expects the team will only use about three of its allotted eight hours during the Senates rare Saturday session.

A source with the Trump legal team told reporters Friday evening to expect a Saturday preview of the defence sides remaining two days of case-making.

Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Show all 26 1 /26 Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Donald Trump Accused of abusing his office by pressing the Ukrainian president in a July phone call to help dig up dirt on Joe Biden, who may be his Democratic rival in the 2020 election. He also believes that Hillary Clintons deleted emails - a key factor in the 2016 election - may be in Ukraine, although it is not clear why. EPA Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal The Whistleblower Believed to be a CIA agent who spent time at the White House, his complaint was largely based on second and third-hand accounts from worried White House staff. Although this is not unusual for such complaints, Trump and his supporters have seized on it to imply that his information is not reliable. Expected to give evidence to Congress voluntarily and in secret. Getty Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal The Second Whistleblower The lawyer for the first intelligence whistleblower is also representing a second whistleblower regarding the President's actions. Attorney Mark Zaid said that he and other lawyers on his team are now representing the second person, who is said to work in the intelligence community and has first-hand knowledge that supports claims made by the first whistleblower and has spoken to the intelligence community's inspector general. The second whistleblower has not yet filed their own complaint, but does not need to to be considered an official whistleblower. Getty Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Rudy Giuliani Former mayor of New York, whose management of the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in 2001 won him worldwide praise. As Trumps personal attorney he has been trying to find compromising material about the presidents enemies in Ukraine in what some have termed a shadow foreign policy. In a series of eccentric TV appearances he has claimed that the US state department asked him to get involved. Giuliani insists that he is fighting corruption on Trumps behalf and has called himself a hero. AP Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Volodymyr Zelensky The newly elected Ukrainian president - a former comic actor best known for playing a man who becomes president by accident - is seen frantically agreeing with Trump in the partial transcript of their July phone call released by the White House. With a Russian-backed insurgency in the east of his country, and the Crimea region seized by Vladimir Putin in 2014, Zelensky will have been eager to please his American counterpart, who had suspended vital military aid before their phone conversation. He says there was no pressure on him from Trump to do him the favour he was asked for. Zelensky appeared at an awkward press conference with Trump in New York during the United Nations general assembly, looking particularly uncomfortable when the American suggested he take part in talks with Putin. AFP/Getty Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Mike Pence The vice-president was not on the controversial July call to the Ukrainian president but did get a read-out later. However, Trump announced that Pence had had one or two phone conversations of a similar nature, dragging him into the crisis. Pence himself denies any knowledge of any wrongdoing and has insisted that there is no issue with Trumps actions. It has been speculated that Trump involved Pence as an insurance policy - if both are removed from power the presidency would go to Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, something no Republican would allow. AP Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Rick Perry Trump reportedly told a meeting of Republicans that he made the controversial call to the Ukrainian president at the urging of his own energy secretary, Rick Perry, and that he didnt even want to. The president apparently said that Perry wanted him to talk about liquefied natural gas - although there is no mention of it in the partial transcript of the phone call released by the White House. It is thought that Perry will step down from his role at the end of the year. Getty Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Joe Biden The former vice-president is one of the frontrunners to win the Democratic nomination, which would make him Trumps opponent in the 2020 election. Trump says that Biden pressured Ukraine to sack a prosecutor who was investigating an energy company that Bidens son Hunter was on the board of, refusing to release US aid until this was done. However, pressure to fire the prosecutor came on a wide front from western countries. It is also believed that the investigation into the company, Burisma, had long been dormant. Reuters Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Hunter Biden Joe Bidens son has been accused of corruption by the president because of his business dealings in Ukraine and China. However, Trump has yet to produce any evidence of corruption and Bidens lawyer insists he has done nothing wrong. AP Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal William Barr The attorney-general, who proved his loyalty to Trump with his handling of the Mueller report, was mentioned in the Ukraine call as someone president Volodymyr Zelensky should talk to about following up Trumps preoccupations with the Bidens and the Clinton emails. Nancy Pelosi has accused Barr of being part of a cover-up of a cover-up. AP Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Mike Pompeo The secretary of state initially implied he knew little about the Ukraine phone call - but it later emerged that he was listening in at the time. He has since suggested that asking foreign leaders for favours is simply how international politics works. Gordon Sondland testified that Pompeo was "in the loop" and knew what was happening in Ukraine. Pompeo has been criticised for not standing up for diplomats under his command when they were publicly criticised by the president. AFP via Getty Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Nancy Pelosi The Democratic Speaker of the House had long resisted calls from within her own party to back a formal impeachment process against the president, apparently fearing a backlash from voters. On September 24, amid reports of the Ukraine call and the day before the White House released a partial transcript of it, she relented and announced an inquiry, saying: The president must be held accountable. No one is above the law. Getty Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Adam Schiff Democratic chairman of the House intelligence committee, one of the three committees leading the inquiry. He was criticized by Republicans for giving what he called a parody of the Ukraine phone call during a hearing, with Trump and others saying he had been pretending that his damning characterisation was a verbatim reading of the phone call. He has also been criticised for claiming that his committee had had no contact with the whistleblower, only for it to emerge that the intelligence agent had contacted a staff member on the committee for guidance before filing the complaint. The Washington Post awarded Schiff a four Pinocchios rating, its worst rating for a dishonest statement. Reuters Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman Florida-based businessmen and Republican donors Lev Parnas (pictured with Rudy Giuliani) and Igor Fruman were arrested on suspicion of campaign finance violations at Dulles International Airport near Washington DC on 9 October. Separately the Associated Press has reported that they were both involved in efforts to replace the management of Ukraine's gas company, Naftogaz, with new bosses who would steer lucrative contracts towards companies controlled by Trump allies. There is no suggestion of any criminal activity in these efforts. Reuters Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal William Taylor The most senior US diplomat in Ukraine and the former ambassador there. As one of the first two witnesses in the public impeachment hearings, Taylor dropped an early bombshell by revealing that one of his staff  later identified as diplomat David Holmes  overheard a phone conversation in which Donald Trump could be heard asking about investigations the very day after asking the Ukrainian president to investigate his political enemies. Taylor expressed his concern at reported plans to withhold US aid in return for political smears against Trumps opponents, saying: It's one thing to try to leverage a meeting in the White House. It's another thing, I thought, to leverage security assistance -- security assistance to a country at war, dependent on both the security assistance and the demonstration of support." Getty Images Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal George Kent A state department official who appeared alongside William Taylor wearing a bow tie that was later mocked by the president. He accused Rudy Giuliani, Mr Trumps personal lawyer, of leading a campaign of lies against Marie Yovanovitch, who was forced out of her job as US ambassador to Ukraine for apparently standing in the way of efforts to smear Democrats. Getty Images Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Marie Yovanovitch One of the most striking witnesses to give evidence at the public hearings, the former US ambassador to Ukraine received a rare round of applause as she left the committee room after testifying. Canadian-born Yovanovitch was attacked on Twitter by Donald Trump while she was actually testifying, giving Democrats the chance to ask her to respond. She said she found the attack very intimidating. Trump had already threatened her in his 25 July phone call to the Ukrainian president saying: Shes going to go through some things. Yovanovitch said she was shocked, appalled and devastated by the threat and by the way she was forced out of her job without explanation. REUTERS Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Alexander Vindman A decorated Iraq War veteran and an immigrant from the former Soviet Union, Lt Col Vindman began his evidence with an eye-catching statement about the freedoms America afforded him and his family to speak truth to power without fear of punishment. One of the few witnesses to have actually listened to Trumps 25 July call with the Ukrainian president, he said he found the conversation so inappropriate that he was compelled to report it to the White House counsel. Trump later mocked him for wearing his military uniform and insisting on being addressed by his rank. Getty Images Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Jennifer Williams A state department official acting as a Russia expert for vice-president Mike Pence, Ms Williams also listened in on the 25 July phone call. She testified that she found it unusual because it focused on domestic politics in terms of Trump asking a foreign leader to investigate his political opponents. Getty Images Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Kurt Volker The former special envoy to Ukraine was one of the few people giving evidence who was on the Republican witness list although what he had to say may not have been too helpful to their cause. He dismissed the idea that Joe Biden had done anything corrupt, a theory spun without evidence by the president and his allies. He said that he thought the US should be supporting Ukraines reforms and that the scheme to find dirt on Democrats did not serve the national interest. Getty Images Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Tim Morrison An expert on the National Security Council and another witness on the Republican list. He testified that he did not think the president had done anything illegal but admitted that he feared it would create a political storm if it became public. He said he believed the moving the record of the controversial 25 July phone call to a top security server had been an innocent mistake. Getty Images Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Gordon Sondland In explosive testimony, one of the men at the centre of the scandal got right to the point in his opening testimony: Was there a quid pro quo? Yes, said the US ambassador to the EU who was a prime mover in efforts in Ukraine to link the release of military aid with investigations into the presidents political opponents. He said that everyone knew what was going on, implicating vice-president Mike Pence and secretary of state Mike Pompeo. The effect of his evidence is perhaps best illustrated by the reaction of Mr Trump who went from calling Sondland a great American a few weeks earlier to claiming that he barely knew him. AP Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Laura Cooper A Pentagon official, Cooper said Ukrainian officials knew that US aid was being withheld before it became public knowledge in August  undermining a Republican argument that there cant have been a quid pro quo between aid and investigations if the Ukrainians didnt know that aid was being withheld. Getty Images Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal David Hale The third most senior official at the state department. Hale testified about the treatment of Marie Yovanovitch and the smear campaign that culminated in her being recalled from her posting as US ambassador to Ukraine. He said: I believe that she should have been able to stay at post and continue to do the outstanding work. EPA Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal Fiona Hill Arguably the most confident and self-possessed of the witnesses in the public hearings phase, the Durham-born former NSC Russia expert began by warning Republicans not to keep repeating Kremlin-backed conspiracy theories. In a distinctive northeastern English accent, Dr Hill went on to describe how she had argued with Gordon Sondland about his interference in Ukraine matters until she realised that while she and her colleagues were focused on national security, Sondland was being involved in a domestic political errand. She said: I did say to him, Ambassador Sondland, Gordon, this is going to blow up. And here we are. AP Trump impeachment: Who's who in the Ukraine scandal David Holmes The Ukraine-based diplomat described being in a restaurant in Kiev with Gordon Sondland while the latter phoned Donald Trump. Holmes said he could hear the president on the other end of the line  because his voice was so loud and distinctive and because Sondland had to hold the phone away from his ear  asking about the investigations and whether the Ukrainian president would cooperate. REUTERS

Notably, the source said the team will spend time on former vice president Joe Biden, which will hang a new 2020 election cloud over the proceedings  and likely garner the approval of the president, who has favoured a muscular defence that attacks the former VPs son, Hunter, for his business dealings in Ukraine while his father was fighting corruption there.

Well be presenting a strong rebuttal to what weve heard the last few days, the source said, promising a more detailed presentation on Monday that includes a robust defence of all the charges. Saying the three days will focus on their claim that the president didnt do anything wrong, the source said Trump teams case will be simple and straightforward.

One former White House official believes that will be the case on Tuesday and Wednesday, the defence teams other days to present its case.

My hunch is that Trump would love to strut into the State of the Union [on 4 February] waving his acquittal. I wouldnt be surprised to see his lawyers take less than the allotted 24 hours, maybe a full day less, said William Galston of the nonpartisan Brookings Institution, who worked in the Clinton White House.

If so, as I understand it, Tuesday and Wednesday would be given over the questions, followed by pivotal votes on witnesses and evidence on Thursday, he added. If theres a majority for additional witnesses and/or documents, Trump wont be acquitted by 4 February. If there isnt, he probably would be.

As House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff delivered another lengthy plea to senators that Mr Trump must be removed from office, White House counsellor Kellyanne Conway mocked him from the White House briefing room. He described the president as a threat to national security. She charged Mr Schiff and other Democrats with wasting the countrys time with a repetitive presentation that is in its third day. But it was Mr Schiff who had a warning for the 53 Republican senators sitting in front of him.

It could be you, he said in the silent chamber. I dont care how close you are to this president. Do you think for a moment that he wouldnt investigate you if it was in his political interests?

He is who he is. That will not change, Mr Schiff said, predicting the president will solicit foreign help again. That was part of a closing day message that Mr Trump tried to cheat at the start of the 2020 US presidential election

The opposition party began wrapping up their case by focusing on a $391m military aid package Mr Trump himself ordered frozen during the same period he and his aides, including former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, were pressing Ukrainian leaders to announce investigations of top US Democratic politicians.

Colorado congressman Jason Crow, a military veteran, led off Democrats last eight hours of case-making. And he quickly went directly at acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, saying the former GOP congressman confirmed that Mr Trump ordered his aides and surrogates to set up a quid pro quo with Ukraines new president.

When pressed that he had just confirmed the quid pro quo that the president had been denying, he doubled down, Mr Crow said of Mr Mulvaneys 17 October press conference at the White House. He knew exactly what was going on in the Oval Office. Mr Mulvaney confirmed why the president ordered the hold.

The Democratic impeachment manager was referring to Mr Mulvaneys explosive session with reporters that prompted unsuccessful efforts by House and Senate Democrats to force his testimony.

Democrats believe Mr Trumps request of Ukraines president during a 25 July phone call to do us a favour, though, after Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned wanting to buy more US-made antitank systems amounts to a quid pro quo and shows Mr Trump abused his office. They impeached him on one count of abuse or power over that call, and on another for obstructing their investigation.

Back in October, Mr Mulvaney had a message for his former House colleagues and others who believe what Mr Trump did was corrupt and deserves to cost him the presidency: Get over it: theres going to be political influence in foreign policy.

Recommended New recording allegedly captures Trump demanding Yovanavitch be fired

Obama did it in one way, he said of Mr Trumps predecessor. Mr Mulvaney told shocked reporters. Were doing it a different way.

Mr Crow noted that the White House only lifted the freeze on the Ukraine aid monies after it was made public in press reports.

It wasnt lifted for any legitimate reason, the politician told senators. It was only lifted because president Trump had gotten caught.

New York congressman Hakeem Jeffries, mentioned in Washington circles as a possible House speaker candidate once Nancy Pelosi retires, went further after he took over for Mr Crow.

The president tried to cheat. He got caught, Mr Jeffries said. And then he worked hard to cover it up.

Congresswoman Val Demings of Florida, one of the Democratic managers, told senators Mr Trump is guilty of a constitutional crime. She also implored GOP politicians to join Democrats in calling for the testimony of current and former White House officials, which the president says he would block by invoking executive privilege.

So far, however, no Republican senator has said they intend to do so next week when the chamber will have such votes.

Ms Demings comments came as House Democrats began laying out their case for the second impeachment article, this one on obstructing Congress. His obstruction is ongoing, she said after Mr Trump earlier this week said of potential evidence in the case: We have all the material, they dont. He did not elaborate, and Ms Conway on Friday declined to answer a question about what he meant.

Mr Trump blocked 71 requests for information from various federal agencies during House Democrats probe, said congresswoman Sylvia Garcia of Texas, another manager. She accused the president of waging a relentless public relations effort to attack and discredit the House impeachment probe, noting he called it a coup and fraud against the American people.

Mr Crow earlier explained Democrats view of why the aid freeze mattered for Washington and a key eastern European ally.

The delay wasnt meaningless. Just ask Ukrainians sitting in trenches today, he said, adding they are still waiting on millions in aid that hasnt reached them.

The fact the hold was on was important. Russia was looking for any sign of weakness, Mr Crow said of the volatile situation there. The damage was done.
New Delhi, Jan 24 : Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel met Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi along with his council of ministers as he said the state Cabinet will also discuss the anti-CAA resolution.

Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi praised the state unit and Chief Minister for the win in the urban local body polls. The Chief Minister while speaking on the CAA after the event said that the "CAA is diversionary tactics of the BJP as economy is sinking and unemployment is rising and the state cabinet will discuss the anti-CAA resolution." Interim President of the party Sonia Gandhi has instructed the government to work for the people so that after five years the people again vote for the party.

In Chhattisgarh, Congress has swept the mayoral elections with winning all the 10 municipalities and 60 per cent of towns 75 per cent of the urban local bodies. The party is happy since the urban voters were considered to be with the BJP.
A woman who twice refused to provide breath specimens during the course of an investigation into alleged drink driving, has claimed this was down to a clash of personality with the police officer.

Before East Tyrone Magistrates Court was Shannon Creighton (25) from Millrace Mews, Moneymore who pleaded guilty to both offences. Outlining the details of the case a prosecuting lawyer explained police were carrying out a patrol in Cookstown at 2.45am on December 18.

They approached a blue car in a car park in which there were a number of occupants.

Creighton was in the driver seat and said she was the owner of the vehicle, the engine of which was running.

An odour of alcohol was detected from generally within the car, and as the person in the driver seat Creighton was asked to provide a preliminary sample, but refused.

She was arrested and once in custody, refused to provide an evidential specimen.

At court a defending lawyer said his client contended the matter was down to, a clash of personality with the police officer.

He continued, She stupidly became stubborn, having become embarrassed at being asked for a specimen.

However, Creighton it was contended, is adamant she had not been drinking.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan told her, You say there was clash of personality with police. That is stupid.

"They are simply doing their job. You were indeed stupid.

He imposed fines totalling 300 and disqualified driving for 42 days.
"The Ottoman archive in Ferguson's book emerges not just as a repository of the past, but a means of forging the present of discursive power, whether in the seventeenth or the twenty-first century," wrote Dr. Benjamin Fortna, the chair of this year's book prize committee. Ferguson was honored at the recent Middle East Studies Conference reception in New Orleans.

Ferguson, a scholar and professor of Ottoman and Middle Eastern History, was also recently awarded a summer stipend from the National Endowment for the Humanities. She will use the funding to research her new book on archival ventures and last acts of ruling sovereigns of the Habsburg and Ottoman Empires.

"I am deeply honored by this esteemed award, and by the recognition from an organization that I have also served in the past as treasurer and board member," Ferguson said. "It unites my commitments to both research and professional service."

The Ottoman and Turkish Studies Association's citation includes the following on Ferguson's work: "The Proper Order of Things crisply engages with key debates in the fields of early modern comparative history and critical theory. The book weaves these literatures into its arguments derived from a mountain of Ottoman textual sources, eschewing facile attempts to try to show how the Ottoman Empire was 'just like everyone else' by importing ideas from other fields. As such, this book works to advance these other fields from the empire looking out, not the other way around. If indeed the Ottoman Empire floated on a sea of documents, Heather Ferguson captains a new ship to sail those waters, even finding bays and inlets we never knew existed."

"Heather Ferguson is an admired and respected scholar whose work is transformational," said Peter Uvin, Dean of the Faculty and Vice-President for Academic Affairs at Claremont McKenna College. "We are proud that she has been recognized for her work."

Contact: Gilien Silsby, 213-500-8673, [email protected]

SOURCE Claremont McKenna College

Related Links

http://www.cmc.edu


Robert Eggers' first film was so scary it got him banned from Poland. The Witch was so terrifying that, shortly after its release four years ago, America's Satanic Temple organised a series of screenings, complete with rituals, in major cities.

At the time, Eggers was about to travel to Eastern Europe to scout film locations. However, word reached the Polish Film Commission, who told him in no uncertain terms he would not be welcome in the staunchly Catholic country. A week of diplomatic wrangling ensued before the embargo was lifted.

"I've never met a Satanist I didn't like," Eggers says, "but I'm also not one."

The 36-year-old's new film, The Lighthouse, is set in the late 19th century and partly inspired by a grisly incident at Smalls Lighthouse off the Pembrokeshire coast in 1801.

It's a strange tale of two men - played by Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson - holed up together on the edge of the North Atlantic.

The elder is fanatically protective of the light itself, which the younger comes to believe contains a secret.

Yet he too has things to hide from his older colleague, and as the weather worsens and time seems to seize up, all kinds of skeletons come scuttling out of the dark. The film itself feels like an obscene relic dredged up from the deep.

It was shot in crusty black and white by cinematographer Jarin Blaschke, while the director and his brother Max wrote the script in a florid maritime dialect, inspired by real-life lighthouse keepers' journals.

Eggers harks back to the "dark day" on which he and Max realised Dafoe's character didn't sound entirely unlike The Simpsons' Sea Captain.

As a solution, they gave Patt- inson a line in which he accuses the old salt of sounding "like a goddam parody".

Video of the Day

"Rest assured, we knew exactly what we had," Eggers says.

Yet when the time came to unveil The Lighthouse at last year's Cannes Film Festival, the director found himself racked by last-minute doubt.

He and his two leads were waiting backstage when Patt- inson suddenly suggested the trio should brace themselves for boos.

"Rob was saying, 'When they boo you at Cannes, it's like the world goes into slow-motion'," Eggers says.

As it happened, the film's reception was rapturous: even Dafoe, the grizzled veteran of the three, was seen wiping away a tear of relief on stage.

Eggers is currently living in Northern Ireland, preparing to shoot a Viking revenge saga called The Northman, which will star Nicole Kidman, Dafoe and Claes Bang, the BBC's suave new Dracula.

He grew up 60 miles north of Salem, in the rural New England that has served as a setting for both of his films to date.

The son of a Shakespeare professor, he became interested in directing as a teenager, but had been fascinated by the nuts and bolts of film craft since early childhood.

He wore home-made costumes to school - Star Wars characters, Dick Tracy, Conan the Barbarian - "until I got beaten up for it".

In his 20s, he worked as a set dresser and designer on everything from glossy fashion shoots to Sesame Street, while in his spare time he wrote and directed the short films that led to The Witch.

The period detail in that first feature is immaculate, but The Lighthouse was a true set designer's dream.

Lighthouses tend to be found in the middle of nowhere, at the ends of dirt tracks untravers- able by film crew trucks, so this meant a new lighthouse had to be built especially for the film, in a place that only looked like the end of the world.

Cape Forchu, on the southwesterly tip of Nova Scotia, was selected, and Eggers remembers visiting the place in horizontal rain and nervously eyeing "all the warning signs with little stick figures getting washed out to sea".

"We were aware it was an incredibly punishing location," he says. "It was exactly what we wanted, and it completely delivered. It beat us down day after day after day, and we needed that."

The lighthouse his crew built was 22 metres tall - "as short as it could be while still looking like an iconic lighthouse".

The interior scenes were shot on a sound stage near Halifax, where cast and crew were grateful of respite from the local climate.

Pattinson had contacted Eggers after seeing The Witch to ask if there was anything they might collaborate on, and the director sent over an unfinished screenplay featuring a character he describes as "a posh, cigar-smoking, sherry-drinking, Victorian gentleman".

"But Rob replied, 'There's no challenge'," Eggers says. "He was only interested in doing something challenging."

So, two years later, the former Twilight star found him- self stumbling over rocks in a gale, covered head to toe in freezing, foul-smelling slime while Eggers blasted him in the face with salt water from a hosepipe.

Pattinson later said he came close to punching Eggers during one of those scenes, though Eggers doesn't remember feeling threatened.

"It just felt like we were all hard at work," he says.

In some wordless sequences, Eggers directed Pattinson in the silent movie style, describing the character's thought processes out loud and having him react in the moment.

"Rob is open to anything," Eggers says. "He wants to surprise everybody and surprise himself."

Early in the film, Pattinson's character gets embroiled in an increasingly bitter feud with a seagull, and it was in these scenes that Eggers' new industry connections paid off.

So, while he and Max had written a prominent role for a seagull - a film called The Lighthouse could hardly not have one - Eggers was galled by the prospect of working with birds.

Enter his producer Chris Columbus, who directed the first two Harry Potter films, and was able to put Eggers in touch with the guy who had done his owls.

"He had three seagulls who work in motion pictures in the UK and they were incredible," he says. "Classically trained British actors."

Does he see the film as a classic of the horror genre?

"There's lots to unpack there," he says, before identifying a strain of ambitious, dark and weird independent films that flared up in the wake of Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan.

Horror today, he continues, is roughly equivalent to science-fiction in the Seventies.

"People have always been intrigued by and afraid of the darkness inside them," he says.

"It's quite a big part of the human experience. We just have to keep relearning how to embrace it."

The Lighthouse is in cinemas from January 31
Explained: What is the Preamble of the Indian Constitution

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 24: The Maharashtra Government in an order said that reciting the preamble of the Indian Constitution would be mandatory in schools. It also said that the collective reading of the Preamble would have to be carried out rural local bodies before flag hoisting ceremonies starting from January 26 onwards.

What is the Preamble of the Indian Constitution.

The Preamble is a brief introductory statement of the Constitution that sets out the guiding purpose, principles and philosophy of the Indian Constitution.

The 42nd amendment of the Constitution effected in 1976 amended the preamble to determine India as a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular and Democratic Republic.

Explained: What happened to the Kashmir Pandits 30 years ago

Kailash Vijayvargiya identified Bangladeshis by their 'strange meal'| OneIndia News

The Preamble:

WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:

JUSTICE, social, economic and political;

LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;

EQUALITY of status and of opportunity;

and to promote among them all

FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;

Key words in the Preamble:

Sovereign: India is an independent authority and is not the dominion of any external power

India is an independent authority and is not the dominion of any external power Socialist: Achievement of the socialist ends through democratic means

Achievement of the socialist ends through democratic means Secular: All religions in India get equal respect, protection, support from the state

All religions in India get equal respect, protection, support from the state Democratic: The authority of the will of the people expressed in an election

The authority of the will of the people expressed in an election Republic: Head of the state elected directly or indirectly- Prime Minister, President
The Massachusetts statewide unemployment rate was down one-tenth of a percentage point at 2.8 percent, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced Friday.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' preliminary job estimates in say Massachusetts lost 5,000 jobs in December. Over the month, the private sector lost 4,500 jobs as losses occurred in Professional, Scientific and Business Services; Manufacturing; Financial Activities; Education and Health Services; and Other Services.

Job gains occurred in Leisure and Hospitality along with Trade, Transportation and Utilities while the jobs level in Information and Construction remained unchanged over the month. Government lost jobs over the month.

Over the year, from December 2018 to December 2019, Massachusetts has added 44,800 jobs, according to the release

The December unemployment rate was seven-tenths of a percentage point lower than the national rate of 3.5 percent reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Preliminary job estimates indicate that Massachusetts added nearly 45,000 jobs in 2019. Education and Health Services once again led the way, posting a 23,900 gain, which accounted for 1 out every 2 jobs added in the Commonwealth last year. The statewide unemployment rate remained low  finishing at 2.8%. And the labor force participation rate held steady at 67.8%, 4.7% above the national average, Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta said in a news release.

New local jobless numbers won't be out until later this week, but in November, Springfield as a city posted an unemployment rate higher than both the state and national averages at 4.4%, according to the state. That was an improvement over both the 4.8% unemployment rate posted a month earlier in October and a year earlier in November 2018.

As a region, Greater Springfield fared better and was closer to the statewide average. The November 2018 unemployment rate in Greater Springfield was 2.8 percent, down from 3 percent in October and from 3.1% a year earlier in November of 2018.

In December 2019, the statewide labor force increased by 6,700 from 3,8 million people in November, as 7,800 more residents were employed and 1,000 fewer residents were unemployed over the month.

Unemployment numbers and jobs numbers often don't match up. Unemployment numbers come from a survey of households. Jobs numbers come from a survey of employers.

The Massachusetts labor force participation rate  the total number of residents 16 or older who worked or were unemployed and actively sought work in the last four weeks  increased one-tenth of a percentage point to 67.8 percent. Compared to December 2018, the labor force participation rate remained unchanged.

Job trends broken down by sector of the economy:
When a garda detective drew his pistol and aimed it at Mark Hennessy, he was confronted by the kind of life or death decision that every officer dreads being forced to make.

Garda A, a dedicated and experienced officer, could see the killer "looked like a man possessed" and shouted a number of times at him "armed police, drop the f***ing knife". When he opened fire, he did so in the belief Hennessy was about to kill Jastine Valdez, the young woman he had randomly abducted near Enniskerry, Co Wicklow.

It was a moment of inexplicable madness that has left everyone, including the dead man's wife and family, trying to comprehend what triggered Hennessy's meltdown.

The detective, who has given 18 years of service, went into work on Sunday, May 20, 2018 - his day off - to help his colleagues in the search for Jastine.

However, little did he know that a short time later he would, for the first time in his career, fire a shot at another human being because he genuinely believed there was no other choice left open to him if he was to save the life of an innocent victim. The garda concerned felt he was fully justified in using lethal force to bring a highly dangerous situation under control and prevent a further tragedy.

In his evidence, Garda A gave a rare and graphic insight of what must be every officer's worst nightmare as the scene unfolded after gardai surrounded Hennessy's car in the Cherrywood Business Park.

He told the jury in the Coroner's Court: "He (Hennessy) was in the driver seat, he was moving from side to side. He looked uneasy and agitated. He looked straight at me. He looked like a man possessed; he held the knife at the window and pointed it at me.

"I was concerned for Jastine Valdez's safety.

"I blocked the Nissan to the front and another unmarked car blocked it to the rear.

"I put out an urgent assistance request. Mark Hennessy was moving around in the front of the vehicle in a very agitated state. He was struggling with something in the front passenger footwell area.

"I shouted at him: 'Armed police, drop the f***ing knife.' I took up position and began drawing my weapon from the holster.

"I observed the knife moving from a higher position and saw it was being lowered into skin. I thought he was slitting Jastine Valdez's throat. I had to take decisive action.

"I took aim at Mark Hennessy and discharged the firearm, there was no other option open to me."

A jury yesterday recorded a narrative verdict into Hennessy's death and issued a number of recommendations, including the establishment of one central communications radio channel for gardai in emergency situations.

At the time of the shooting, the officer's colleagues told how he was traumatised when it was discovered the Filipino student was not in Hennessy's Nissan Qashqai.

One colleague told me at the time of the incident: "He [Garda A] was traumatised and deeply upset that he had killed another person but it was even more tragic because this was the only person who could tell us what he had done with Jastine."

When her body was discovered the following afternoon in dense woodland, forensic examination found she had been strangled to death within 45 minutes of her abduction.

The conclusion of the inquest draws the curtain on a dreadful tragedy that has directly affected three families - the families of the victim, the killer and the garda who did his duty.

His colleagues say while he is hugely relieved a line has been drawn under this tragic event, the past almost 20 months have been "very hard" on him.

One question the inquest could not answer was: Why? Why did Hennessy, a father of two children including a new-born baby, suddenly go out and commit such a shocking crime? No one will ever know.
When bail reform was debated last year, the New York State Legislature considered adding a public-safety provision for a small subset of serious cases. But many proponents of reform, especially defense lawyers, feared such a provision would give judges too much leeway to impose preventive detention. The Legislature and Gov. Andrew Cuomo instead struck a compromise that left money bail as an option for almost all violent crimes, the same small subset of serious cases for which a public-safety provision was considered and rejected. Now the governor is mostly defending bail reform, but he also called it an ongoing process in his budget address Tuesday.

If New York decides to tweak its law, it should do so based on months, not weeks, of data. Any amendments should safeguard the principle that the state cannot have two systems of justice, one for the rich and one for the poor. If the Legislature decides to allow judges to detain people for the sake of public safety, it should also eliminate money bail entirely, so that wealthy people arent released while others facing the same charges are jailed. And a public-safety provision should apply only to serious offenses, and require a hearing with facts showing that the person is likely to threaten someone elses physical safety.

The results of bail reform in New Jersey show the benefits of staying the course. In 2017, New Jersey courts essentially stopped imposing cash bail for all criminal charges. Early on, opponents said things like, Nobodys afraid to commit crimes anymore, and one mother sued the state after her son was killed, allegedly by a man who had been released on a gun possession charge. The New Jersey Supreme Court made it easier to detain people accused of gun crimes or repeat offenses, but otherwise, the state weathered the criticism. In 2017, according to state data, less than 3 percent of people released before trial were rearrested for a serious violent felony or for gun possession. On any given day in 2018, 6,000 fewer people were in jail than had been six years earlier. At the same time, violent crime in New Jersey continued to fall.

The experience of other states also shows the value of another element of New Yorks new law: reducing the time that prosecutors have to turn over evidence in their possession to the defense. New Yorks so-called blindfold law had allowed prosecutors to withhold key evidence until the morning of trial, and had contributed to wrongful convictions, according to the state bar association.

North Carolina and Texas enacted laws in the last decade requiring broad disclosure of evidence, known as discovery. At first, prosecutors said the requirements were unworkable and put witnesses and victims at risk by potentially disclosing their identities. But judges in those states  and in New York  can limit disclosure when necessary. Over time, the laws in North Carolina and Texas proved their worth. A 2016 study of North Carolinas law found that 91 percent of prosecutors reported the law was working well. Texas prosecutors have urged New York to view their state as a model for discovery practices.

Studies show that it takes only two or three days behind bars to increase the risk that someone charged with a minor, nonviolent crime will be arrested again. It may seem counterintuitive, but jailing people leads to less, not more, public safety. Jail destabilizes people who may already be struggling to pay the rent or get to work. Fear-mongering makes for spicy headlines but terrible policy. New Yorkers should not give in to it.

Insha Rahman is the director of strategy and new initiatives at the Vera Institute of Justice.
Philippine president issues threat after US move to cancel visa of a political ally who oversaw the deadly drug war.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte warned the United States late on Thursday that he would cancel an agreement on the deployment of American troops and equipment for exercises, if Washington did not reinstate the visa of a political ally, who oversaw his deadly war on drugs.

Visibly upset, Duterte vented his anger over the US decision to deny entry to Ronaldo dela Rosa, a former police chief who is now a senator.

Dela Rosa said the US embassy in the Philippines did not explain why his visa had been cancelled but that he believed it was most likely because of allegations of extrajudicial killings during his more than two-year term as police chief.

Dela Rosa was the chief enforcer of Dutertes anti-narcotics crackdown, which has resulted in deaths of more than 5,000 people, mostly small-time drug dealers. Police say victims were shot by officers in self-defence.

Human rights watchdogs, however, said the death toll in the drug war could be as high as 27,000. They also said many were defenceless victims.





If you do not do the correction, one, I will terminate the bases, the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). I will finish that son of a bitch, Duterte said in a wide-ranging speech before former Communist rebels.

I am giving the government and the American government one month from now.

Joint US-Philippine military exercises

The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), signed in 1998, accorded legal status to thousands of US troops who were rotated in the country for regular military exercises and humanitarian assistance operations.

The VFA replaces a previous long-standing agreement, which allowed US naval and air bases in the Philippines for decades.

The US and the Philippines conduct between one to two joint military exercises annually. In October 2019, there were an estimated 1,400 US Marines who participated in a military exercise with 600 Filipino troops.

Delfin Lorezana, Dutertes defence minister, declined to comment when asked if he agreed with the presidents plan.

Duterte makes no secret of his disdain for the US, and what he considers its hypocrisy and interference, though he acknowledges that most Filipinos and his military have high regard for their countrys former colonial ruler.

The US and the Philippines conduct between one to two joint military exercises annually [File: Erik De Castro/Reuters]

The US is the Philippiness biggest defence ally and millions of Filipinos have relatives who are American citizens.

Last month, Duterte banned US senators Richard Durbin and Patrick Leahy from visiting the Philippines after they introduced a provision in the US Congress.

The provision calls for banning entry to the US to anyone involved in locking up Philippine senator Leila de Lima, a former justice minister and Dutertes top critic who was jailed in 2017 on drug charges after leading an investigation into thousands of deaths during the anti-narcotics campaign.

In an interview with Al Jazeera, de Lima called the charges bulls**t.

She has won numerous awards from human rights groups, which consider her a prisoner of conscience.

The US Embassy in Manila could not immediately be reached for comment outside office hours.
As the world marks the 75 years since Jews were liberated from Auschwitz concentration camp, several global leaders arrived in Jerusalem to attend the World Holocaust Forum on January 23. This is also the largest-ever gathering focussed on commemorating the Holocaust and tackling anti-Semitism in the present-day and age. More than 40 dignitaries are attending the event including Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron, Britains Prince Charles, US Vice President Mike Pence and the presidents of Germany, Italy and Austria.

Both, Putin and Pence had arrived on Thursday and were reportedly scheduled to meet Israeli leaders before and after the main event. The three-hour-long event is headlined as 'Remembering the Holocaust: Fighting Antisemitism' and is taking place at Jerusalem's Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial. According to reports, the meet is organised to project a united front while commemorating the genocide of Europeans Jews amid the growing anti-Jewish violence in the continent as well as around the world.

Read - Polish President May Boycott Holocaust Remembrance In Israel

Israeli President urges leaders to 'shape future'

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin urged the world leaders who assembled for a dinner at his official residence to 'leave history for the historians'. He further added that the role of global leaders is to 'shape the future'.

According to international reports, the event marks one of the largest gatherings in Israeli history as leaders rallied from all over the globe. With regard to the cascade of delegations, nearly 10,000 police officers have been reportedly deployed in Jerusalem while major highways and large parts of the city were shut down ahead of the event.

Read - Netanyahu, Macron Meet Ahead Of Holocaust Forum

The organisation's president Moshe Kantor reportedly said that the event 'sends a powerful message' against anti-Semitism which is 'unacceptable danger for all societies'. According to international reports, Kantor said World Holocaust Forum provides hope to Jews all around the world that extremism can be countered with values of moderation and toleration.

He then referred to several anti-Semitic attacks in Europe and said in a press conference that 'Jewish life in Europe is again under threat'. He added, 'its a sad picture of trembling communities hiding behind high fences'.

Read - Event Marks Holocaust Anniversary In Romania

Read - Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu Previews World Leaders' Holocaust Forum

(With inputs from Agencies)
Australia's huge bushfires are forecast to help drive global atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide to one of the fastest annual increases on record.

Average carbon dioxide levels reached about 411.5 parts per million (ppm) in the atmosphere in 2019, adding to a steady climb propelled by human activities, according to a calculation of figures released by Britain's Met Office.

However, the pace could accelerate this year, in part because of the carbon being released by the Australian fires.

"A forecast of the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide shows that 2020 will witness one of the largest annual rises in concentration since measurements began at Mauna Loa, in Hawaii, in 1958," the Met Office said in a statement.
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.

Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.

If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .

Support our mission and join our community now.
(Newser)  Officers making a traffic stop on Interstate 15 in Arizona noticed the driver "would not make eye contact with deputies and appeared extremely nervous," ABC reports. So they called for a drug-sniffing dog that, the Mohave County Sheriff's Department report said, sniffed drugsalmost $3.7 million worth. The payload included 66 pounds of a liquid substance that tested positive for methamphetamine, six bricks of a white powder that tested positive for cocaine, 2.2 pounds of a substance that tested positive for MDMA and 1,000 packages of candy-infused THC products, the sheriff's office said.

story continues below

The driver, Logan Lewis Pederson, 30, of Sandy, Utah, was arrested this week and charged with six felonies, per the Verde Independent. He's being held in an adult detention facility on $300,000 bail. (Read more drug bust stories.)
A Delhi court Friday extended by four days the custodial interrogation of NRI businessman C C Thampi, arrested by the ED in connection with its money laundering probe against Robert Vadra in a case related to acquisition of alleged illegal assets abroad.

Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar extended the accused's custody with the Enforcement Directorate in the case involving Vadra, son-in-law of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

ED's advocate Amit Mahajan said the probe was incomplete and Thampi's further custody was required to confront him with two persons.

The probe agency, however, did not disclose the names of the persons who will be called to join the investigation.

Thampi was produced before the court on expiry of his three-day ED custody granted earlier.

The case relates to allegations of money laundering in the purchase of a London-based property -- located at 12, Bryanston Square -- worth 1.9 million pounds, which is allegedly owned by Vadra.

Seeking his further custody, the agency told the court that his interrogation was required to unearth the larger conspiracy.

Mahajan told the court that during the earlier custody, three persons were called to join the probe but only one appeared.

"Some progress was made during the earlier remand. Three witnesses were summoned, but only one came. Fresh summons have been issued to the two who will be confronted with the accused and, therefore, more days are required," Mahajan said.

He added that during the last three days, more financial transactions have surfaced.

The agency, also represented by advocates N K Matta and Atul Tripathi, told the court that the pre-arrest bail of the co-accused -- Vadra and his close aide Manoj Arora -- has been challenged.

Another co-accused, Sanjay Bhandari, is absconding and RCN has been issued against him, the agency further submitted.

Opposing the ED's application for further custody, Thampi's advocate told the court that the agency only wanted to force him to give answers.

He further said the main beneficiary was on anticipatory bail and no purpose would be solved by extending his custodial interrogation.

Thampi was arrested by the ED last week. He is stated to be "controlling" Dubai-based company Sky Lite. In 2009, Bhandari's firm Santech FZE purchased a London asset from a private company which was acquired by Sky Lite.

Vadra is alleged to have acquired this London-based asset, and few purported emails between him and Bhandari, regarding renovation of the London flat, are part of the evidence in the case.

The agency claimed that Thampi met Vadra through an aide of his mother-in-law, while the latter reportedly told the ED that he only met him on board an Emirates flight some years ago.

Thampi, during his earlier grilling session with the ED, claimed that Vadra had stayed at the Bryanston Square property in London. Vadra, in his statement made to the agency, denied the claim.

The agency said that Thampi's arrest and subsequent custodial grilling will unravel the "missing links" in the case where the ED has charged Vadra with acquiring illegal assets abroad in coordination with Bhandari.

Thampi has been charged by the agency in the past in alleged illegal hawala dealings and land purchase case in the country in 2017 in alleged contravention of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

It had also issued a FEMA show cause notice to Thampi for alleged violation of foreign exchange laws to the tune of over Rs 1,000 crore in the purchase of vast tracts of land in Kerala.

The firms that are being investigated by the ED, as part of the two FEMA show cause notices issued against him, include Holiday City Centre Private Limited, Holiday Properties Private Limited and Holiday Bekal Resorts Private Limited.

The ED said Thampi is also under the scanner for his reported dealings with some politicians and bureaucrats.

The agency earlier told a court that it had received information about various new properties in London which belong to Vadra. These include two houses -- one worth 5 million GBP and the other valued at 4 million GBP, six other flats and more properties.

Vadra has consistently denied these charges and has said he will cooperate in the probe. He said he was being "hounded and harassed" to subserve political ends.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The European Union ordered its customs officials to register flat-rolled stainless steel imports from China, Taiwan and Indonesia, widening the threat of tariffs on the shipments.

The step is part of an inquiry into whether Chinese, Taiwanese and Indonesian producers of hot-rolled, stainless-steel sheets and coils sold them in the EU below cost, a practice known as dumping. The move also covers a parallel EU probe of alleged trade-distorting subsidies to the manufacturers in China and Indonesia.
Two were fathers. One served in the Marines for 20 years. All three were American firefighters who had gone to Australia to battle the ferocious, deadly blazes  and all three died this week in a fiery crash on a hill near a wildlife sanctuary.

The men, all former service members in their 40s, worked for Coulson Aviation, a private company in Canada that has worked with firefighters in the United States and elsewhere to suppress fires. They died after taking off on one of the companys large air tankers, a Lockheed C-130, on a mission to suppress the bush fires that have killed more than 30 people.

The crash took place in the mountains south of Canberra, Australias capital. Five firefighters had already been killed this fire season as millions of acres of land have been charred and more than 2,500 homes have burned down.

Here is what we know about the three men who died in the crash.

Ian H. McBeth, 44, Captain

A father of three from Montana

Mr. McBeth, of Great Falls, Mont., was a father of three who had served with both the Wyoming and Montana National Guards, Coulson Aviation said in a statement. He had flown C-130 planes for his entire career and spent many years fighting fires while in the military and with Coulson.
By Express News Service

PALAKKAD: Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Thursday said in matters affecting the relationship of the state government with the Centre, other states or the Supreme court, the state is bound to inform the Governor. The problem arises when rules are ignored, Khan told reporters at the Guesthouse here on Thursday. I am the representative of the President of India, and not of the Central government, he said. It is my duty to protect the Constitution. I have taken an oath to protect and defend the law. If I dont defend a law, not just CAA, passed by Parliament and for which the President, whom I represent, has given his assent, I have no business to be here, said Khan.

There is a breach of propriety and protocol when the Governor comes to know about the issue of the state government approaching the Supreme Court through the newspapers, he said. People have the right to disagree with the laws, including CAA, and I respect it. I am only insisting that if there are differences, the Constitution has a mechanism to resolve it. The state cannot decide whether a particular law is unconstitutional. If one considers a particular piece of legislation as unconstitutional, there are higher courts to decide on it. With regard to other differences, there is a civilised way to resolve them through discussions by sitting across the table, he said.

The Governor said citizenship is purely a Central subject and the state has no business in it. The case related to the constitutional validity of the CAA is in the Supreme Court and it will be settled there. The law is above everyone and the Constitution cannot be used for extraneous purposes. The business of the government is transacted as per the laws, which the elected representatives themselves have laid down. My duty is to uphold this law, he said. When pointed out that the Governor had come in for severe criticism from various quarters for his confrontationist stand on the CAA issue, Khan said: It is not correct. Many past governors had been criticised by politicians. He said a former governor was even criticised for the dress she wore.

Asked about the policy speech to be delivered by the Governor on January 29, which contains the state governments stance on CAA, Khan said: I have not seen the draft copy of the speech. I will do my duty.
Google, following the trend it follows every year, has set the I/O conference at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California this year too. The event will kick start on May 12th and go through until the 11th. At the conference, Google is expected to introduce Android 11 and updates to its products.

Last year at the I/O Google introduced Android Q, after that it changed the name to Android 10, so we can expect Android 11 this year. Before the official announcement of Android 11, Google should release the developers beta sometime in March giving the company a good 45 days time to beta test the OS and shape it for I/O.

Cosmos aligned. Well be back at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View for this years #GoogleIO on May 12-14! pic.twitter.com/3bZqriaoi1  Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) January 24, 2020

Like every time, the company has not officially announced the dates immediately instead, it had shared a puzzle like last time and users on Twitter are fast enough to decode the dates. The companys CEO Sundar Pichai later shared the dates few hours after the puzzle was cracked.

Last year the company also introduced Duplex on the web, next-gen 10x faster Google Assistant, Driving mode, AR in Google Search, Google Lens on Google Go, New Google Lens features and more.

Google has still not updated its official I/O page and there is no information about the registration, but they are expected to open sometime at the end of February.

Via
WEF: Investor Soros flays Trump, Modi and Xi for nationalist fervor

US investor and philanthropist George Soros has pledged to battle the erosion of civil society in a world increasingly ruled by nationalists, whom he called "would-be and actual dictators," and beset by climate change. He also pledged one billion dollars for a new university network project to spread his vision of an open society.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Soros said the rise of nationalism across the globe was the great enemy of open society where businesses can flourish. He said humanity was at a turning point and the coming years would determine the fate of rulers like President Donald Trump, China's Xi Jinping and Indias Narendra Modi as well as the world itself.

"Nationalism, far from being reversed, made further headway." According to Soros, the biggest and "most frightening setback," came in India "where a democratically elected Narendra Modi is creating a Hindu nationalist state, imposing punitive measures on Kashmir, a semi-autonomous Muslim region, and threatening to deprive millions of Muslims of their citizenship."

On the US economy, Soros said, President Trump's economic team is overheating the economy. "An overheated economy can't be kept boiling for too long," he said. "If all this had happened closer to the elections, it would have assured his re-election. His problem is that the elections are still 10 months away and in a revolutionary situation, that is a lifetime."

"President Trump is a con man and the ultimate narcissist who wants the world to revolve around him. When his fantasy of becoming president came true, his narcissism developed a pathological dimension. Indeed, he has transgressed the limits imposed on the presidency by the Constitution and has been impeached for it," Soros said.

On US-China relations, Soros said, Trump "is willing to sacrifice the national interests for his personal interests and he will do practically anything to win re-election. By contrast, Xi Jinping is eager to exploit Trump's weaknesses and use artificial intelligence to achieve total control over his people."

He also mentioned Brexit, a humanitarian and environmental crisis in South America and the global rise of authoritarianism as major challenges. The strongest powers, the US, China and Russia remained in the hands of would-be or actual dictators and the ranks of authoritarian rulers continued to grow, he said.
The supermarket giant is scrapping plastic wrapping from all all tinned food. Photo: Getty

Tesco (TSCO.L) is removing plastic wrapping from all its multipack tins as part of a pledge to cut down on plastic waste.

The supermarket says the move will save 350 million tonnes of plastic a year.

The changes will begin on 2 March, when Tesco will stop ordering plastic-wrapped multipacks. Customers could continue to see some plastic-wrapped items on shelves after this time as sells down remaining stocks.

Plastic wrapping will be scrapped from all all tinned food, including store-cupboard staples like baked beans, sweetcorn, soup, tuna, and tinned tomatoes. The changes will apply to all Tesco own-brand tins as well as major canned food brands such as Heinz, Green Giant, John West, and Princes.

READ MORE: Morrisons to axe 3,000 manager roles to hire new shop floor staff

More than 40% of Tesco customers buy tinned multipacks, with 183,000 sold in stores across the UK every day.

The supermarket giant said the removal of multipacks will not mean that customers will pay more as they would be replaced with permanent multi-buy deals on individual tins.

The company said the pledge will remove 67 million pieces of plastic from its stores, taking it another step closer to its aim of cutting out one billion pieces from its own products by the end of 2020.

Tesco chief executive Dave Lewis said: We are removing all unnecessary and non-recyclable plastic from Tesco.

As part of this work, removing plastic-wrapped multipacks from every Tesco store in the UK will cut 350 million tonnes of plastic from the environment every year and customers will still benefit from the same great value multipack price.

At the end 2019, Tesco removed all hard-to-recycle materials from its own-brand products and is working with suppliers to do the same. The group has warned 1,500 suppliers that packaging will be a deciding factor on which products are sold in its stores.

READ MORE: Professor warns climate change will make food less nutritious

Tesco sells over 100 million Heinz products in plastic-wrapped multipacks every year.

Heinz said it is looking into similar initiatives with other retailers, estimating that if it could be implemented across the entire market, it would help reduce carbon emissions by as much as 3,300 tonnes.

Georgiana de Noronha, president of Kraft Heinz in Northern Europe, said: While we know we have more to do, this initiative is good news for the environment, and for the millions of people who enjoy Heinz varieties every day, as theyll still be able to benefit from the same great value for money our multipacks provide.
Ukraine's ambassador to Romania has expressed "regret" over what he called the "incorrect translation" of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's Day of Unity address that has upset Bucharest.

In his video address on January 22, Zelenskiy recalled the short-lived 1919 agreement known as the Unification Act, which was meant to establish a unified Ukrainian state at the end of World War I.

The English translation quoted Zelenskiy as saying that the northern part of a region of the former Austro-Hungarian empire was "occupied" by Romania.

Zelenskiy's use of the word "occupied" prompted the Romanian Foreign Ministry to summon Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksandr Bankov.

Bucharest says that the unification of the territory with Romania under the name of Bucovina was internationally recognized in 1919 by the Treaty of Saint-Germain between the Allied powers and Austria.

The northern part of the historical Principality of Moldova was annexed by the Hapsburg empire in 1775, becoming known as Bukowina. The territory became part of Romania at the end of World War I, but its northern half was annexed by the Soviet Union following the 1939 treaty between Moscow and Nazi Germany known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.

After the demise of the U.S.S.R. in 1991, the territory became part of Ukraine.

In a Facebook post on January 23, Bankov said Zelenskiy's address was incorrectly translated, and pointed to the corrected version of the translation, where the word "occupied" was replaced with the word "taken."

"I sincerely regret this unpleasant situation," Bankov said, adding that "in the end, this is the result of an incorrect translation and baseless interpretations."

"Affirmations such as 'Romania is being accused by Ukraine's president that it occupied northern Bucovina' or 'President V. Zelenskiy supports a Putin-style aggressive revisionism' are the result of absolutely wrong interpretations," Bankov said.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to end a pact key to annual war games with American troops if the US does not restore the travel visa of an official who oversaw his drug war.

It is the latest in a long line of Dutertes threats to shrink or sever ties with historical ally Washington, which have periodically followed criticism of his deadly narcotics crackdown.

Duterte spoke after Ronald Dela Rosa, the former national police chief who is now a senator, said the US had cancelled his visa but did not tell him why.

Dela Rosa was the first enforcer of Dutertes internationally condemned campaign, in which police say they have killed just over 5,500 alleged dealers and users.

Human rights advocates say the true toll is four times higher, and could amount to crimes against humanity.

The US State Department and the embassy in Manila have not responded to requests for comment about Dela Rosas visa.

Duterte went on the attack in a speech late Thursday.

Now, they wont let Bato go to America, he said, using Dela Rosas nickname.

If you do not make a correction there, one, I will terminate the bases  Visiting Forces Agreement, Duterte added. Im giving the American government one month from now.

The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) outlines the rules governing conduct of US troops participating in joint military exercises in the Philippines.

The pact gave legal cover for the resumption of large-scale war games between the two allies after the US military closed its Philippine bases in the 1990s amid rising anti-US sentiment.

Duterte also threatened in 2016 to cancel the agreement, but has generally attacked ties with the US, including an announced separation from its former colonial master.

Until now the president has not made good on those threats, some of which came after then US president Barack Obama was critical of Dutertes crackdown in 2016.

Relations between Washington and Manila under President Donald Trump, who has voiced support for Duterte, are on a stronger footing.

However, recent criticism from US lawmakers has introduced new tensions.

The Philippines in December barred US senators Richard Durbin and Patrick Leahy, who were behind a measure to prevent officials involved in the incarceration of Senator Leila de Lima from entering the US.

De Lima, one of the highest-profile critics of Dutertes narcotics crackdown, has been held since February 2017 over a drug charge that she claims was fabricated to silence her.
Mumbai, Jan 24 : Sensex gained 226 points on Friday while the broader Nifty closed at 12,248 points led by gains in private banks such as ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank and HDFC Bank.

Indian markets gained as global crude oil prices fell over 1 per cent. Oil prices are falling as the coronavirus outbreak in China is feared to dent economic activity in the long run.

"Market was in a consolidation mood on account of lack of fresh triggers and caution ahead of Budget which played on the minds of investors. Globally too, completion of the US-China deal has provided an opportunity for the investors to book profits as the event has ended in line with the expectation," said Vinod Nair of Geojit Financial Services.

Broader market continued to outperform the benchmark indices such as the Nifty Midcap. All the sectors ended in green except pharma stocks. Metals and media were the top gainers followed by banks and FMCG counters.

Rahul Gupta of Emkay Global Financial Services said the upcoming Union Budget will keep rupee on the edge and it is expected to trade in a range of 71.05 and 71.60 and can act as a major resistance.

Meanwhile, fears that the outbreak of coronavirus in China may disrupt economic activity and global growth has sent the global stock markets tumbling.

Chinese health authorities on Friday said that 830 cases of pneumonia caused by coronavirus were confirmed in 29 provincial-level regions in the country. The virus has so far claimed 26 lives.

A sharp adverse reaction from Asian, US and European markets was witnessed because China is entering one of its busiest travel periods on account of its Lunar New Year holiday. The virus outbreak could hurt demand.
Your employer could soon start deducting 20 per cent of your salary in case you fail to provide your PAN (Permanent Account Number) and Aadhaar details to them. This latest rule of the CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes), which came into effect on January 16, will be applicable for all those who earn above Rs 2.5 lakh per annum.

With this rule, the CBDT aims to keep a close eye on TDS (Tax Deducted at Source) payments and revenue earned via this segment, which amounted to around 37 per cent of the total direct tax collection in FY19.

According to an 86-page circular issued by the CBDT, employees have to quote PAN and Aadhaar details compulsorily as per the Section 206-AA of the Income Tax Act. The circular reads, "Section 206AA in the Act makes furnishing of PAN or Aadhaar number, as the case may be, by the employee compulsory in case of receipt of any sum or income of amount,on which tax is deductible."

The circular states that in case an employee fails to provide the required details, the employer is responsible to make deductions either at the tax rate on the employee's salary or 20 per cent or above.

In case, your income is below Rs 2.5 lakh per annum, no tax will be deducted. After several deductions, if the salary attracts approx 20 per cent tax, the TDS rate of 20 per cent will apply. In case your salary attracts a 30 per cent tax rate, your employer will compute the average tax rate, i.e., employee's total tax liability divided by total annual income. If the average tax rate turns out to be 20 per cent, the TDS would be 20 per cent.

Employees will, however, be exempted from paying education and health cess at 4 per cent rate in case the deduction made is at a higher rate. According to the CBDT, the lack of PAN or Aadhaar details is creating problems in giving credit. Tax deducters are, therefore, advised to collect and quote correct Aadhaar or PAN details, details in the TDS statements for salaries in the Form 24Q, which is for tax deducted from salaries.

Also read: Mood of the Nation survey: 46% believe FM Sitharaman failed to handle economic slowdown; needs more time

Also read: India slips 10 places to 51 position in Democracy Index
The United States says 34 of its soldiers have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries following this months Iranian missile attack on a military base in Iraq.



Half of the troops have returned to their duties in Iraq, while the other 17 are still under medical observation, Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman told reporters on January 24.



President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials initially said no American had been injured or killed in the Iranian attack on the Ain al-Asad Air Base in western Iraq. But the U.S. military last week said 11 U.S. troops had been treated for concussion symptoms after the attack.



Asked about the apparent discrepancy this week, Trump said: "I heard that they had headaches, and a couple of other things, but I would say, and I can report, it's not very serious."



On January 8, Iran carried out a ballistic missile attack on Ain al-Asad and another air base hosting U.S. troops in Iraq in retaliation for a January 3 U.S. drone missile strike that killed a top Iranian military commander, Major General Qasem Soleimani.



There were some 1,500 U.S. soldiers at the Ain al-Asad base at the time of the attack. Most had been huddling in bunkers after being alerted about the incoming missiles.



Hoffman said that eight service members who had been previously transported to Germany to receive treatment arrived back in the United States on January 24.



The nine other soldiers who were flown to Germany "are still undergoing evaluation and treatment there," he added.

Based on reporting by AP, Reuters, and AFP
Fevers, coughs and breathing difficulties are the most common symptoms of a new deadly strain of coronavirus from China, but they are by no means the only signs.

People suffering from diarrhoea should beware because it may also indicate the onset of the life-threatening infection, doctors have warned.

The new coronavirus ravaging Asia is far more contagious than previously thought and someone who is infected can spread it with just a simple cough or a sneeze.

Originating in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, the virus has so far killed 26 people and infected more than 920 in at least 10 countries and regions within three weeks.

Originating in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, the new strain of coronavirus has so far killed 26 people and infected more than 920 in at least 10 countries and regions within three weeks

One 45-year-old man in Wuhan was diagnosed with the virus after going to the hospital because of diarrhoea, revealed Prof. Yu Honggang, director at the Department of Digestive Diseases of Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University.

The medic told Xinhua News Agency that the male patient recently went to his department for advice after suffering from the acute bowel problem for three days.

After discovering that the man had been in contact with people infected with the coronavirus, Prof. Yu's team gave him a CT scan of the chest as a preventative measure - even though he did not show any signs of respiratory diseases.

To doctors' surprise, the screening showed that the man had ground glass opacity in both of his lungs, indicating an infection. A specialised new coronavirus test kit also came back with positive results.

The man was confirmed to be struck down with the virus.

Doctors in China have said that digestive diseases, nervous system diseases and eye diseases could also signify the onset of a life-threatening infection triggered the virus, apart from the more common symptoms, including fevers, coughs and breathing difficulties

Prof. Chen Guozhong, a leading researcher of the new coronavirus, pointed out that in multiple confirmed cases the patients had only got digestive diseases at the beginning, such as lack of appetite, lack of strength, lack of energy, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Prof. Chen, director of the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, also associated the following symptoms to the coronavirus:

Nervous system diseases such as headache

Cardiovascular diseases such as heart palpitations and oppression in the chest

Eye diseases such as p ink eye

Minor muscle aches in the limbs or around the waist

The Mayor of Wuhan, the ground zero of the outbreak, has admitted that 14 medics in the city caught the virus from one patient because the hospital had neglected the patient's symptoms

The experts have warned patients with the above symptoms to take extra care and carry out self-quarantine if necessary.

Their advice came after the Mayor of Wuhan admitted that 14 medics in the city caught the virus from one patient because the hospital had neglected the patient's symptoms.

Speaking to the state broadcaster CCTV on Tuesday, Mayor Zhou Xianwang said: 'The cross-infection at the Union Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology happened to a patient from the department of neurology, not the department of infectious diseases.

'Because the department of neurology neglected the fact that this patient had been infected by this new strain of coronavirus before being admitted into hospital, therefore after surgery the patient had a fever, it was at that time that one doctor and 13 nurses were infected.

'This lesson is profound - that is there should be no negligence whatsoever in the control and prevention, and strict control and prevent should be applied on every detail and every link.'

China's deadly new virus could have infected 350,000 people in a single city by the end of the month, according to experts who warn doctors are only diagnosing one in every 20 cases

China's deadly new virus could have infected 350,000 people in a single city by the end of the month, according to experts who warn doctors are only diagnosing one in every 20 cases.

China went into lockdown today as authorities and businesses scrambled to shut tourist attractions and public transport systems in a bid to stop the spread of the deadly new coronavirus that has killed at least 26 people.

Construction workers are putting in huge efforts to build a new hospital from scratch in Wuhan  the city at the centre of the outbreak  within just five days, after being order to do so by the government.

In a drastic turn of events, part of the Great Wall of China and Disneyland in Shanghai were closed today as authorities desperately try to stop people spreading the Wuhan coronavirus.

Thirteen cities, home to around 40million people, are reported to have followed Wuhan's example and gone into some form of lockdown in the past 24 hours with public transport halted and roads closed.

And a report written by researchers from England, Scotland and Florida, has predicted that a staggering 250,000  potentially up to 350,0000  people may be infected just in Wuhan by the beginning of February.

A second patient was diagnosed in the US today  a woman in Chicago  and 63 other people in 22 states are being monitored for possible cases . Across the Atlantic, British authorities have tested 14 people but all were negative  a small number of other people are expected to go through tests today.
Opalesque Industry Update - WithumSmith+Brown (Withum) PC, a top nationally ranked advisory and CPA firm, has announced the appointment of Kim Waldman to its New York City office team where she will spearhead all business development initiatives for its Financial Services Group. In this role, the Fairfield County, CT resident will serve as a conduit for expanding Withum's client relationships while elevating the firm's overall competitive positioning. Waldman possesses more than 20 years' accounting and business development experience within the alternative-investment and digital-asset industries. Throughout the course of her career, she has collaborated with asset managers, institutional investors, enterprises and industry partners to address complex fund administration and operational solutions. Prior to joining Withum, Waldman most recently held leadership roles at a top crypto and data management solutions provider as well as a national accounting and consulting firm specializing in audits and tax issues for private companies, the investment industry and real estate and private equity groups. "Kim's background in both financial services and crypto asset solutions are a tremendous value add to our talented Financial Services team as well as Withum's diverse client base," said Tom Angell, practice leader of Withum's Financial Service Group. "We welcome her contributions and track-record of success in identifying the latest challenges faced by asset managers and the creativity for which she is known in structuring solutions that address middle- and back-office needs with the alternative investment sector." Withum's Financial Services Group is a one-stop resource for a diverse roster of private equity, hedge funds and venture capital clients, including domestic funds, offshore funds and fund of funds. From startups to long-established organizations, the group's team of auditors, tax professionals and internal quality control specialists are committed to advancing each entity's strategies and objectives while ensuring reporting standards and tax compliance. Waldman has forged numerous relationships with some of the industry's most prominent alternative investment entities. She will continue to build and foster relationships with both emerging and well-established organizations. "The alternative investment landscape is evolving at such a rapid pace in terms of technology and regulation that asset managers are more reliant than ever on advisory, tax and audit services from a financial services industry leader like Withum," said Waldman. "I'm eager to assist current and prospective clients by matching them with Withum's experts in order to leverage assets, employ the most effective solutions and build on their collaborative capabilities at the highest levels." Established in 1974, Withum is a national top-ranking public accounting firm providing advisory, tax and audit services to businesses and individuals on a local-to-global scale. In addition to its New York office and Princeton, N.J., headquarters, additional offices are located in major financial centers including Boston, MA; Irvine, CA; Philadelphia, PA; Washington, DC and Orlando. Withum is an independent member of HLB, the global advisory and accounting network.
Actress Mira Sorvino took to Twitter on Thursday afternoon to blast Court TV pundits for 'trying to poke holes' in Annabella Sciorra's testimony at Harvey Weinstein's trial.

In the tweet, Sorvino wrote: 'OmG. @CourtTV how dare you continue to bring on criminal defense attorneys to try and poke holes in Annabellas testimony.

'She DID tell her best friends! And when Harvey came to my high rise in the middle of the night, he got by my doorman at 2am and appeared at my door too.'

Sorvino's tweet came shortly after Sciorra testified that Weinstein pinned her hands behind her head and violently raped her more than 25 years ago, becoming the first accuser to take the stand against the former Hollywood producer in his sexual assault trial.

Her tweet was referring to a portion of Sciorra's testimony in which she said Weinstein also sent her packages with Valium and a box of chocolate penises and turned up early one morning at her Cannes Film Festival hotel room in his underwear with the body oil and the videotape.

Sciorra said he left after she frantically pushed buttons on the room phone to summon help.

Actress Mira Sorvino took to Twitter Thursday afternoon to blast Court TV pundits for 'trying to poke holes' in Annabella Sciorra's testimony

'She DID tell her best friends! And when Harvey came to my high rise in the middle of the night, he got by my doorman at 2 am and appeared at my door too,' Sorvino tweeted

Throughout the day on Thursday, Court TV hosts discussed the case and at one point questioned what kind of approach the defense should take to cross-examine Sciorra.

Ted Rowlands commented that the defense might go 'after the fact that she was living in a condo or an apartment that had a door person and that he [Weinstein] couldn't have just appeared in front of her apartment door'.

Host, Vinnia Politan, then said: 'I think the only chance the defense has to undermine her credibility is if they have her telling this story in an inconsistent manner and maybe gave a different version to someone else.

'If that happens then you can cross examine her on that but if her story has been consistent... I don't know where you go.'

During her testimony on Thursday, Sciorra told the New York jury of seven men and five women: 'He had intercourse with me as I tried to fight, but I couldn't fight anymore because he had my hands locked.'

Weinstein, sitting at the defense table, appeared mostly to be looking down. The 67-year-old has pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting two women, Mimi Haleyi and Jessica Mann. He has said all of his sexual encounters with women were consensual.

The trial is a watershed moment for the #MeToo movement, in which women have gone public with allegations against powerful men in business and politics.

Since 2017, more than 80 women, including many famous actresses, have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct.

Weinstein reshaped the independent film industry with critically acclaimed pictures such as The English Patient and Shakespeare in Love.

Actresses Ellen Barkin, Sorvino and Rosanna Arquette sent Twitter messages of support to Sciorra, best known for her role in HBO's The Sopranos. Barkin was in the courtroom.

During her testimony on Thursday, Sciorra told the New York jury of seven men and five women: 'He had intercourse with me as I tried to fight, but I couldn't fight anymore because he had my hands locked'

Sciorra's (pictured) allegation from the winter of 1993-94 is too old to be charged as a separate crime, but prosecutors hope it will show that Weinstein was a repeat sexual predator, a charge that could put him in prison for life

Sciorra's allegation from the winter of 1993-94 is too old to be charged as a separate crime, but prosecutors hope it will show that Weinstein was a repeat sexual predator, a charge that could put him in prison for life.

On Wednesday, Weinstein's lawyer said during opening statements that Sciorra had in the past described the encounter as consensual.

Defense attorneys said that emails from the accusers to Weinstein would show they maintained warm relations, which could undermine a case that appears to rely primarily on the testimony of the accusers.

Sciorra told the jury that the evening had started with Weinstein giving her a ride home from an Irish restaurant. After dropping her off, he knocked on her door and came inside uninvited.

Then, she said, he dragged her into her bedroom and pinned her hands down behind her head.

She testified that after forcing intercourse on her, he performed oral sex on her as she protested.

'It was just so disgusting that my body started to shake in a way that was very unusual,' she said. 'It was like a seizure or something.'

One of Weinstein's attorneys, Donna Rotunno, methodically sought to undercut Sciorra's account.

Rotunno repeatedly asked Sciorra if she had tried to get away from Weinstein and whether she had fought back during the alleged rape.

Weinstein, 67, has pleaded not guilty to charges of assaulting two women, Mimi Haleyi and Jessica Mann

Sciorra said she did not recall the details but repeated that she felt she could not escape.

'He was frightening,' she said.

During rapid-fire questioning, Rotunno grilled Sciorra about whether she had called the police, gone to the hospital or told anyone she had been raped.

Sciorra said she had not.

'At the time, I didn't understand that it was rape,' she said.

The actress spoke softly but maintained her composure during the cross-examination.

Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast said on Wednesday that the women kept in touch with Weinstein because they 'felt trapped'.

She told jurors they should not discount the allegations simply because Weinstein did not fit the profile of a rapist grabbing victims 'in a back alley'.

Sciorra told prosecutors that she saw Weinstein several weeks later at a dinner where she tried to confront him and told him how she fainted during the alleged attack.

She said he responded by saying: 'That's what all the nice Catholic girls say.'

Sciorra said Weinstein leaned in and said: 'This remains between you and I.'

Though he laughed, his tone was 'very menacing,' Sciorra said.
Bhopal, Jan 25 : BJP leader and former state minister Badrilal Yadav, who made objectionable remarks against Rajgarh Collector Nidhi Nivedita, was arrested on Friday. He was later released on bail against a personal bond of Rs 20,000.

While addressing a gathering in Biaora in Rajgarh district on Wednesday, Yadav made an objectionable statement on the Rajgarh Collector. He said the Collector feeds the Congressmen on her lap and slaps BJP members. The Congress had raised strong objections to the statement made by Yadav.

BJP spokesperson Rajneesh Aggarwal said the party had disowned Yadav's disputed statement. He said his parry believed in protesting democratically.

Yadav had made the speech in the presence of former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, State BJP President Rakesh Singh, Leader of Opposition Gopal Bhargava and party General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya. They ignored Yadav's outrageous speech and filed an FIR against the Collector for slapping a BJP worker.

Rajgarh Superintendent of Police (SP) Pradeep Sharma said that former state minister Badrilal Yadav was arrested from his residence on Friday. A case was registered against him on Thursday under Sections 294 and 188 of the IPC.

Sharma said Yadav was produced before the first class judge's court who released him on bail on a personal bond of Rs 20,000.

Inspector D.P. Lohia, in-charge of Biaora City Police Station, said that apart from this case, Yadav was also arrested in an old case under Section 188 of the IPC. He was released on bail in this case too.

Collector Nidhi Nivedita and her deputy Priya Verma had allegedly manhandled some protesters for using abusive language against police officers and senior officials who acted against them for violating restrictive orders under Section 144. The rallyists had also physically attacked the Collector and her deputy.

In another significant case against another political leader, special court judge Suresh Singh, designated to deal with criminal cases against elected leaders, on Friday sentenced former minister and current MLA from Bhojpur, Surendra Patwa, to six months' jail and imposed a fine of Rs 30 lakh for failing to repay loans taken from a finance company.

A bungalow belonging to Patwa in Indore was already attached by the district magistrate's court for non-recovery of loan amount. Patwa is the nephew and political heir of former Chief Minister Sunderlal Patwa.

He had mortgaged his property to borrow Rs 14 crore from a Jaipur firm. He was already facing prosecution.

In 2017, Patwa borrowed Rs 12 lakh from Prakash, a resident of Indore, and Rs 8 lakh from his spouse Meenakshi. He had handed them cheques for Rs 20 lakh, which had bounced. Patwa was therefore asked to pay the couple Rs 30 lakh.
(Natural News) The International Space Station (ISS) is now open for business, as NASA has announced a plan to allow tourists to visit ISS starting in 2020. Per year, two private astronaut missions will be allowed to board the ISS for a 30-day trip. This will be very expensive, considering all of the life support systems and necessary supplies that need to be financed, and it is expected to cost private individuals at least $35,000 per night.

Today is a very remarkable day, said NASA Chief Financial Officer Jeff DeWit in a press conference announcing their decision. NASA is opening the International Space Station to commercial opportunities and marketing these opportunities as weve never done before. According to NASA, the new space tourism missions will be entirely privately funded, and some of them may launch as early as 2020.

Space commercialization becoming a reality

DeWits announcement makes it possible for companies to engage in profit-making activities on the station. The private astronauts will be shuttled to the ISS by spacecraft developed by SpaceX or Boeing under NASAs Commercial Crew Program. The two companies have been working for months through setbacks to get their spacecraft ready by 2020.

Christina Koch, a NASA astronaut, is supportive of the announcement, saying that a vibrant economy in low-Earth orbit can act as a driving element to making space travel and the ISS more accessible to all Americans. Furthermore, she adds that private companies are important to NASA as they can further integrate with the government space agency by testing new technologies, training future astronauts and even developing ways to maintain a sustainable human presence in low-Earth orbit.

NASA is arguing that some revenue from commercial activities is necessary and will help the agency focus its resources on their plans to return to the moon by the year 2024  a major goal of the Trump administration.

In line with this, the agency has stated that it will be making one station port available for commercial modules and that parts of the ISS will be opened for tourists as well as for commercial filming. Furthermore, NASA is officially allocating five percent of its annual crew resources and cargo capability for possible commercial enterprises. Currently, more than 50 companies are already using the ISS, enlisting the aid of NASAs astronauts for research and development. DeWit believes that NASA may have profitable ventures in space manufacturing, regenerative medicine and bioengineering in the near future.

Space tourism is nothing new

Less than 600 people have been to space since Yuri Gagarins manned spaceflight in 1961. Of those, only seven have officially gone to space as tourists, with the first being American Dennis Tito, who spent $20 million on a ticket for an eight-day stay aboard the ISS. He is the first person who can be classified as a space tourist. The last known space tourist was Guy Laliberte of Canada, who visited the ISS for nearly eleven days in 2009. (Related: A luxury space hotel will be open for business in just a few years.)

All seven space tourists went to space aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft and had their flights arranged by Virginia-based company Space Adventures. NASA had previously banned tourists from boarding its space shuttles due to fears surrounding the 2003 Columbia disaster, which killed all seven crew members of the space shuttle.

The number of space tourists is expected to snowball as NASA relaxes its rules regarding tourists, and space flights become more accessible for the affluent.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

MJPortal.com

SpaceTourismGuide.com
An Airbus A320 United Continental passenger plane rolls on take off at Newark Liberty International airport.

Two planes were struck by a lasers, which temporarily blinded one of the pilots, as they flew into Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport in Florida Wednesday night.

Both planes landed safely.

"[They] were intentionally targeted and struck by bursts of a laser light as they were approaching," Ted Kohuth, chief of police at the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority, told USA TODAY.

One of the planes was a small aircraft, a Cessna Skyhawk, and the other was a United Airbus A320 coming in from Newark, New Jersey.

When the laser struck the Cessna Skyhawk between 7:25 pm and 8:15 p.m., the pilot's sight was "temporarily impaired," according to Kohuth. The pilot reported that his vision was still blurry 40 minutes after the incident and was taken to a local medical center, then discharged, according to a police report obtained by USA TODAY.

'Serious safety issue:' Lasers a growing concern for aircraft pilots

Less than an hour later, around 8:55 p.m., an inbound United commercial flight reported "intense green laser light," before landing without issue.

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office was notified of the incident and deployed a helicopter to search the surrounding area.

Police found and apprehended 41-year-old Charlie Chapman Jr. in a construction site on a forklift, according to the police report. He was arrested on multiple charges for multiple offenses, according to the report.

Video footage from MCSO of the arrests shows Chapman pointing the laser at the police helicopter before throwing other objects at the aviation unit.

Chapman told police that he believed he was pointing his laser at a drone, not an airplane, according to the police report.

Kohuth said he thought there was no way it could be accidental.

"Aiming a laser at an aircraft is a serious safety risk and violates state and federal law," Kohuth said. "Many high-powered lasers can completely incapacitate pilots who are responsible to fly safely to their destinations and may be carrying hundreds of passengers."

Story continues

Legislation that President Obama signed into law in 2012 criminalized pointing a laser at an aircraft. The crime is punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

"Shining a laser into the cockpit of an aircraft is not only criminal, it is a serious safety issue for pilots," U.S. Attorney David Hickton in Pittsburgh said after the law was approved. "Many high-powered lasers can completely incapacitate pilots, who are trying to fly safely to their destinations, and often times with hundreds of passengers aboard."

.

How to stay healthy: On a plane as coronavirus, flu, colds raise travel concerns

Contributing: Bart Jansen

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: United flight: Man arrested after shining laser at multiple planes
The coroner praised the family of Mark Hennessy for being dignified in their grief

Two families lives were changed irreparably by the abduction and killing of Jastine Valdez, an inquest into her killer's death heard.

The jury recorded a narrative verdict last night in the case of Hennessy who died after being shot by a garda the day after Jastine had been abducted.

The officer, known as Garda A, had previously given evidence he believed Ms Valdez (24) was in the car and Hennessy was about to slit her throat. He said that "there was no other option open to me".

At the conclusion of the inquest, coroner Dr Myra Cullinane said this has been "most difficult for those involved and in particular the family of the late Mark Hennessy".

She said that the tragic events over 48 hours in May 2018 were "exceptionally unusual in this society".

The public were very moved by the plight of Jastine Valdez, and closely followed the garda response at that time, she said

"But the outcome has meant that two families' lives have been changed irreparably."

The coroner said that over the course of the hearing, "we have heard of brave acts on behalf of members of the public, and the assisstance of voluntary organisations and first reponders, sadly without the desired outcome".

She extended her condolences to the family of Hennessy (40), and said that the members who had attended the inquest, had been "dignified" in their grief. The inquest concluded last night after three days of evidence were heard.

It was told that the Hennessy family do not believe there was any malice involved in the shooting of Mark Hennessy.

"In relation to Detective Garda A the family are of the view that his view was reasonably held, that there was no malice in this situation," Dermot Hickey, solicitor for his parents said.

Gratitude

"The family wish to express their gratitude to the jury and all parties involved in this investigation, criminal and civil."

During his evidence, Garda A had told the inquest: "I was focused on Mark Hennessy and the actions within the vehicle. I was in great fear that Jastine Valdez was in the vehicle and she was in imminent danger."

Hennessy was prounounced dead at the scene of the incident on May 20, 2018 in Cherrywood Business Park.

The body of Jastine Valdez was located at 3pm on May 21, the day after Hennessy's death, in thick gorse and undergrowth at Pucks Castle, Rathmichael, Co Dublin.

On May 19, she had been abducted in broad daylight on a busy road at 6.20pm, after taking the bus from Bray to Enniskerry village arriving there at around 6pm.

An intensive search had been under way for the student.

Last night, after recording the narrative verdict, the jury also made a series of recommendations.

They said that in emergency situations there should be one central communications channel that provides information to all relevant personnel involved.

They also recommended emergency response training for all gardai.

Dr Cullinane said she would review the recommendations and draw them to the attention of the appropriate agencies.

Meanwhile, the inquest also heard that a post-incident manager position is to be created to deal with fatal firearm incidents involving gardai, to act as a conduit between the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) and the officer involved. The post-incident manager will be a member of the gardai.

The jury endorsed this development as part of their recommendations.

The system is not in place yet but has been operating well in the UK and will be adopted soon here, Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) Senior Investigator Nicholas Harden told the hearing.
Sitges Hills Villa Ltd. are pleased to announce the first of several new additions to their portfolio of high-quality holiday villas in the Sitges area of Catalunya for the 2020 season.



(TRAVPR.COM) UNITED KINGDOM - January 24th, 2020 - Villa Avanti is a stylish designer villa enjoying an elevated position amongst the pine covered hills of Mas Mila, just a pleasant 12-minute drive from Sitges and the coast. This contemporary property enjoys wonderful countryside views and a fantastic 8m x 4m infinity pool, and the company are confident it will be a very popular addition to their holiday portfolio.

As well as the infinity pool, Villa Avanti also offers a variety of outdoor dining spaces and chill-out areas making it ideal for a highly relaxing family holiday in the Mediterranean sun.

The thoughtful layout of the villa combined with the extensive use of glass in the design means that every room in Villa Avanti is filled with bright Mediterranean light and enjoys panoramic views across the hills of the Garraf Natural Park.



The fully air-conditioned interior is both modern and stylish, with attractive mixed parquet and tiled floors throughout. With 4 bedroom and 3.5 bathrooms, Villa Avanti can comfortably sleep 9 guests.

The villa offers holidaymakers a peaceful retreat in a tranquil and beautiful environment, and yet still enjoys easy access to amenities, attractions and the coast.

The highly popular seaside resort of Sitges with its bars, cafes, boutiques, restaurants and fantastic sandy beaches is just a 12-minute drive, and the centre of Barcelona (Placa d' Espanya) and its international airport can be reached within 40 minutes.

The Garraf Natural Parc is adjacent to the property and offers hundreds of kilometres of beautiful walking and mountain bike trails for all abilities.

Villa Avanti is available all year around exclusively from Sitges Hills Villas with weekly prices ranging from 1,350 Euros in low season to 2,650 Euros in peak summer weeks.

For more information please see https://www.sitgeshillsvillas.com/property-villa-avanti-mas-mila.html or call us on +44 (0)20 3287 6597 or send an email to info(@)sitgeshillsvillas.com.

About Sitges Hills Villas

Sitges Hills Villas is a hand-picked and personally inspected collection of high-quality holiday villas in and around the popular seaside town of Sitges in Spain. Each property has been selected for its unique character and idyllic setting and is equipped to the high standards. The company have been operating since 2009 and have developed an intimate knowledge of all their holiday rentals and can advise guests on the best choice for their holiday. A locally based management team and concierge desk is on hand to ensure that guest's holidays in the Sitges area runs as smoothly and enjoyably as possible. All the villas in the collection are licensed holiday homes and comply fully with all local laws and insurance requirements.

###
Nepal has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the first Sagarmatha Sambaad forum to be held in April to deliberate on the most prominent issues of global, regional and national significance, Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said on Friday.

The first edition of the Sagarmatha Sambaad is scheduled to be held from April 2 to 4 on the theme "Climate Change, Mountains and the Future of Humanity," he told a group of visiting Indian reporters.

"We have invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and are awaiting the confirmation," Gyawali said.

He said leaders of all SAARC countries, including Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, have been invited and Nepal would be happy to host all the regional leaders so that they can have discussions amongst themselves on the challenges facing the region.

The Sambaad (dialogue) is named after the world's tallest mountain Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) which is also a symbol of friendship, Gyawali said.

Gyawali said the main objectives of the first edition of the Sambad are to forge a common consensus among countries on the impending climate crisis and encourage political leaders to mobilise their political willpower to tackle its menace.

It also hopes to create awareness among participants and the world about the direct relation that exists between the climate change and mountain ecology.

Nepal has the icy peaks of some of the world's highest mountains.

The dialogue would make an effort to promote and demonstrate its resolve to make it a welcoming ground for all stakeholders for impartial, transparent, open discussion and free flow of thoughts and ideas, officials said.

To be held every biennially, the Sambaad hopes to draw global leaders, including heads of state/government, parliamentarians, policymakers, leaders from the inter-governmental organisations, the private sector, the civil society, think tanks, women and the media to discuss on the ways of cooperation, exchange of ideas and sharing of experiences on prominent global issues.

The member states of SAARC are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

In the last three years, India has been distancing itself from the SAARC, citing security challenges facing the region from terror networks based in Pakistan, which is also a member of the grouping.

The last SAARC Summit in 2014 was held in Kathmandu. The 2016 SAARC summit was to be held in Islamabad. But after the terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18 that year, India expressed its inability to participate in the summit due to "prevailing circumstances".

The summit was called off after Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to participate in the Islamabad meet.

SAARC summits are usually held biennially and hosted by member states in alphabetical order.
EDWARDSVILLE  The accused murderer of Randy Gori was indicted Thursday on several felony charges, pleading not guilty to all of them.

Timothy M. Banowetz, 28, of Wentzville, Missouri, was indicted for three counts of first degree murder, three counts of armed robbery, three counts of aggravated unlawful restraint and aggravated offenses relating to a motor vehicle.
Rome to limit tourist access to Trevi Fountain.

Rome's city council assembly has backed plans to install a barrier around the famed Trevi Fountain to protect the Baroque monument from hordes of tourists.

The motion, which will be put to Rome mayor Virginia Raggi to implement, will see a protective barrier for the basin of the Trevi Fountain to prevent people from sitting.

Over the last year Rome police have been stopping tourists from sitting around the Trevi Fountain, as part of strict new measures to safeguard the city's heritage.

The installation of a barrier would prevent crowds from getting near the waters of the fountain, where tourists queue up in their thousands each day to throw the customary coin.

Trevi Fountain cordoned off on 13 July 2019 due to the excessive amount of tourists.

In recent years the Trevi Fountain has witnessed an increasing amount of bad behaviour, from tourists jumping into the water naked and climbing the monument, to fighting over "selfie space" and even pouring alcohol into the fountain's waters.

The Baroque masterpiece was in the news again this week, with plans to open a secret balcony overlooking the fountain.

Photos La Repubblica
Bengaluru, Jan 24 (UNI) Strides on Friday announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Strides Pharma Global Pvt Limited, Singapore received tentative approval for Triamcinolone Acetonide Ointment from the United States Food & Drug Administration (USFDA).



The final approval for Strides would be effective 30 May 2020 when the company would launch the product, according to a press release here on Friday.







According to IQVIA MAT data, the US market for Triamcinolone Acetonide Ointment USP, 0.05 per cent was approximately USD 20 Million. The product would be manufactured at the companys Oral dosage facility at Bangalore and would be marketed by Strides Pharma Inc in the US market.







The company has 102 cumulative and a fillings with USFDA of which 69 ANDAs have been approved and 33 were pending approval.



UNI MSP JTS 1427
The Personal History of David Copperfield (PG)

Rating:

Verdict: What the Dickens!

The Man Who Killed Don Quixote (15)

Rating:

Verdict: Incoherent fun

Years pass without a single film based on an autobiographical novel about an aspiring young writer emerging out of genteel impoverishment in the mid19th century . . . then, what do you know, two come along in quick succession.

Moreover, there are further similarities between Greta Gerwigs beguiling Little Women and Armando Iannuccis vision of Charles Dickenss most personal story.

Both directors have taken bold liberties with their source material, Gerwig by tinkering with the chronology of Louisa May Alcotts novel and Iannucci, well, with pretty much everything.

Engaging: Dev Patel as David Copperfield in Armando Iannucci's new film 'The Personal History of David Copperfield', written with Simon Blackwell

Most conspicuously of all, he has given David Copperfield a racially diverse cast, starting with Dev Patel (and Jairaj Varsani as the younger incarnation) in the title role. Likewise, the bibulous lawyer Mr Wickfield is played by Benedict Wong, an actor of Hong Kong-Chinese heritage, with black actress Rosalind Eleazar as Wickfields noble daughter, Agnes.

What this might do to Laurence Foxs blood pressure, heaven knows. As you may be aware, hes the actor revelling in the social-media spotlight following a racism brouhaha on BBC1s Question Time last week.

Fox has since attacked the Oscar-nominated World War I film 1917 for its forced diversity in featuring an incongruous Sikh soldier.

He aint seen nothing yet.

But then, Dickens was a master at portraying contemporary society, which is why the adjective Dickensian is so often interchangeable with Victorian.

And that is what Iannucci has done. With costumes, sets and language, he has rooted the story firmly in the era in which it was created. Yet by populating it with characters of different ethnic backgrounds, he evokes Britain today, as well as Britain in 1850. Im quite sure Dickens would have approved.

Besides, the man behind the biting TV satire The Thick Of It, whose last film was 2017s The Death Of Stalin (in which Jason Isaacs memorably played the monstrous General Zhukov with a broad Yorkshire accent), was never remotely likely to give us a conventional interpretation of David Copperfield.

Iannucci even throws in some surreal flourishes of which Terry Gilliam (see The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, right) would be proud; a giant hand that intervenes at one point seems almost calculatedly Pythonesque.

In some ways, however, this picture is a victim of its own exuberance, because when that flags, its easy to be reminded that a 600-page novel and a two-hour film form an uneasy equation. Some storylines have had to be sacrificed altogether, and others greatly condensed.

We dont see the whole trajectory of the ghastly Uriah Heeps story, which is a shame, because he is splendidly played by Ben Whishaw with a pudding-bowl haircut.

Patel with Hugh Laurie (left), who plays Aunt Betsey Troddler's benignly addled cousin and lodger, Mr Dick, and Tilda Swinton (right) playing Betsey

Still, on the whole, Iannucci deals deftly with the challenge.

Ingeniously, he casts the same actress (Morfydd Clark) both as Davids enfeebled mother and frivolous future crush, Dora Spenlow, a nice shorthand way of showing us that he yearned for a mother figure.

For the most part, the film bowls along cheerfully, beginning with the grown-up David on stage introducing his life story, then striding across Kentish fields to be present at his own birth.

Patel, never the most subtle of performers, is in his element in a role that actually benefits from a degree of over-acting. Hes an engaging lead. Better still, we are quickly introduced to some of the most cherishable Dickensian characters, such as the housekeeper Peggotty (warmly played by Daisy May Cooper) and Davids eccentric aunt, Betsey Trotwood.

The latter is a gift of a role for a great actress. In the 1999 BBC adaptation she was played by Maggie Smith, and in the 1969 film by Edith Evans. There arent many who could take hold of that baton without fumbling it. But Tilda Swinton is every bit the equal of her illustrious forebears in the part, extracting every ounce of comedy from her double-act with Hugh Laurie, who is a delight as Betseys benignly addled cousin and lodger, Mr Dick.

Written by Iannucci with Simon Blackwell, the film rattles through what Dickens called the vicissitudes of Davids life, from his cruel exile at the hands of his horrible stepfather to the travails of work in a bottling factory and his experiences lodging with the hard-up Micawber family.

As Mr Micawber, Peter Capaldi (also following in mighty footsteps : Bob Hoskins in 1999, Ralph Richardson in 1969) seems more suffused in gloom than the character ought to be.

On the other hand, his verbosity made me realise for the first time that Jimmy Perry and David Croft must surely have had Micawber in mind when they created Corporal Jones in Dads Army. That, in turn, is a reminder that Iannucci, by adapting Dickens, has become part of a precious comic lineage. Some will feel that he has betrayed it, but, with certain minor reservations, I reckon hes enhanced it.

Terry Gilliams efforts to enhance the legend of Don Quixote stretch back more than 30 years.

Tilting at windmills: Adam Driver (left) playing Toby, an American director, and Jonathan Pryce (right) playing a humble shoemaker in The Man Who Killed Don Quixote

There was a documentary recounting the crazy misadventures hed had in trying to get the film made, and even that was made nearly 20 years ago. So hats off to him for sticking with it.

Although it is overlong and often incoherent, theres something irresistibly bonkers and warm-hearted about The Man Who Killed Don Quixote.

Adam Driver (who was at elementary school when the project was first mooted) plays Toby, an American director who, in Spain to shoot a commercial, encounters the humble shoemaker (Jonathan Pryce, on glorious form) he cast as Don Quixote in a student film he made years earlier.

The old boy has come to believe that he really is the great loopy romantic of Miguel de Cervantes 17th-century story, and mistakes Toby for his squire, Sancho Panza. Before long, Toby believes it, too.

From then on, their adventures play out in a typically Gilliamesque blur of fact and fantasy (see almost every other film he has ever made).

It certainly wont be everyones jug of sangria. But I swigged it whole, mostly with pleasure.

Scream queen brings class to a house of horror

The Grudge (15)

Rating:

Verdict: Creaky and shrieky

This is the second U.S. remake of a 2002 Japanese horror film, but dont let that fool you into thinking theres anything very sophisticated about it.

Its a standard haunted-house chiller, but quite ably done, with some solid performances led by Andrea Riseborough.

She plays a widowed detective, Muldoon, just arrived in a strange new town (and, boy, is it strange) with her young son.

Lin Shaye in the horror film 'The Grudge'. She has also starred in A Nightmare On Elm Street and the Insidious movies and is one of the most enduring scream queens

All too soon she becomes acquainted with the terrible curse, imported from Japan, of 44 Reyburn Drive. Basically, everyone who steps foot in the house  residents, estate agents, whatever  is destined for a grisly end.Unless, of course, Muldoon can work out how to get rid of the angry, homicidal spirits once and for all.

So which horror-film cliche will she choose? A priest with a crucifix or a can of kerosene and a lighter? Ill let you find out for yourself. That said, writer-director Nicolas Pesce keeps his film creaking and shrieking along within a taut 94 minutes, filling it with some disagreeable images even by the standards of the genre.

Also, insofar as any of us are ever happy to see a batty old woman wielding a knife, its good to find her being played by horror veteran Lin Shaye, whose numerous credits include A Nightmare On Elm Street and the Insidious movies. Shes not the most famous scream queen, but shes one of the most enduring.

Great for young fans, but its not for Nans!

Paw Patrol: Ready, Race, Rescue (U)

Rating:

Verdict: Fires on only one cylinder

Heres a big-screen version of the Nickelodeon TV series, and a spin-off in more ways than one, in which an unscrupulous racing driver called The Cheetah (get it?) uses fair means but mostly foul to get the better of her goodie-goodie rival The Whoosh (who bears a distinct resemblance to Lewis Hamilton).

Marshall, a plucky if accident-prone dalmation gets to take the wheel when The Whoosh, his idol, is indisposed in the big-screen version of the Nickelodeon TV series

Helping The Whoosh prevail are our team of doggie heroes, and in particular Marshall, a plucky if accident-prone dalmation who even gets to take the wheel when The Whoosh, his idol, is indisposed.

All this might just about distract the under-eights, but thats probably the age cut-off before children twig that the voice-acting is pretty lousy and even the animation is under-powered.

As for accompanying grandparents, they will surely think back wistfully to the Hanna-Barbera TV cartoon Wacky Races, which, back in the late Sixties, covered the same ground with much more wit and pizzazz.
Byun was a tank driver with a military unit in northern Gyeonggi Province until she had gender reassignment surgery in Thailand while on leave late last year. The Army had warned Byun that she would not be able to return duty afterwards since the loss of genitals is considered a physical disability and gender dysphoria is classified as a mental illness.

In a meeting on Wednesday, the Army decided that sergeant Byun Hee-soo is no longer fit to serve as a soldier under Korean military regulations.

The Army has discharged Korea's first-ever transgender soldier although she sought to continue serving after a sex-change operation during leave.

But Byun insisted on going through with the male-to-female surgery and pleaded to stay in the Army. In a physical checkup after returning to her unit she was diagnosed with a physical disability, which requires soldiers to be discharged.

This legal clause saved the Army from considering the hairier question of LGBT rights.

"The decision was based on [the soldier's] results for the mandatory physical checkup and proper legal procedure. The decision has nothing to do with [the soldier's] transgender status or other personal reasons," the Army said in a statement.

Byun sought to delay the decision since she has applied to a court to be officially recognized as a woman and the ruling is pending. But the Army said letting the case drag on "could affect [Korea's] defense capabilities," although it acknowledged that the issue needs to be debated.

Byun in a tearful press conference Wednesday pleaded with the Army to reconsider its decision. "It was my dream to become a soldier since I was a child and I wish to continue serving as a female soldier," she said. " I will continue fighting until I can return to the Army."
A worker in protective suits checks the temperature of a passenger arriving at the Xianning North Station on the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations, in Xianning, a city bordering Wuhan to the north, in Hubei province, China on Jan. 24, 2020. (Martin Pollard/Reuters)

At Least 9 People Being Tested for Wuhan Coronavirus in Northern California

At least nine people are being tested for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus in a northern California county, health officials said.

Officials with the Alameda County Health Department told KRON4 that there are no confirmed cases out of the nine-plus people showing symptoms.

The patients either traveled to Wuhan, China, within the past 14 days or were in contact with someone else who was exposed to the virus.

The virus, also known as the Wuhan coronavirus, started spreading in the Chinese city last month. It has since spread to at least six other countries, including the United States.

Health officials said the patients had a high fever and a cough and that samples were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for testing.

Officials told NBC that fewer than 10 people were being tested for coronavirus.

We started receiving reports of potential cases and we have investigated those and if there have been a situation where they meet criteria for exposure and symptoms we have some of those for testing, Alameda County Public Health Director Erica Pan said. Criteria include the travel to Wuhan or exposure to confirmed cases.

Patients who are entering local hospitals were told to put on masks if they recently traveled to Wuhan.

A woman wears a protective mask near the Chinatown section of New York City on Jan. 23, 2020, amid a growing number of cases worldwide of the Wuhan coronavirus. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images)

In a guidance checklist (pdf) released for health workers managing patients who might have the Novel Coronavirus, the department said that anyone reporting a fever, (T >100.4 F or >38 C), lower respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath), and travel to Wuhan City, China within 14 days prior to illness should be immediately placed in a negative pressure airborne isolation room.

Samples should be tested from three different categories, including lower respiratory, upper respiratory, and serum.

The sole confirmed case in America is in Washington state, north of California. That patient is a male in his 30s who traveled to Wuhan.

Officials in New Jersey ruled out a case this week while officials in Texas announced a possible case. That patient is a student at Texas A&M between 20 and 30 years old who is considered low-risk.

In California, a sick person who landed on Wednesday was taken for medical treatment after displaying flu-like symptoms. Officials didnt say where the patient traveled apart from noting he or she flew in from Mexico City.

The coronavirus death toll in China has steadily climbed as it also reached more regions and provinces of China.

Officials in China have locked down 13 cities in Hubei province, where Wuhan is located. Public transportation has been shut down and people were told not to leave unless they had special circumstances. In at least some cities, airports were closed to outbound travel.
Repurpose Your Christmas Tree to Grow Food, and More!

With the Christmas season officially over, many of us will be disposing of our living Christmas trees. While most municipalities will repurpose your Christmas tree for you by chipping them into mulch; you may like to consider other options for extending the life of your tree. Wildlife habitat Evergreen trees
Missouris freshman senator Josh Hawley has made a political and philosophical splash since he took office last year.

Philosophically, Hawley has tried to revive in America a conservative case for the role of community and our local institutions against what he calls the myth of the Promethean self. The Promethean self creates her own reality, her own truth, he said in an ambitious speech recently. She forges her own meaning. And this effort at self-creation is a solitary business. The demands of community too often get in the way.

This philosophical critique is what informs Hawleys populist political rhetoric, in which he pits the struggling communities of the American middle against the class of coastal disciples of Prometheus. And one of his targets has been Silicon Valley.

He chastises Silicon Valleys titans for their insipid business models, targeting kids with addictive pay-for-gameplay, and for their selective censorship of conservative voices, censorship that perhaps shouldnt be allowed in businesses that benefit from being regulated as neutral platforms. He targets them for their cooperation with the Chinese government.

But I think that for Hawley this distrust of Silicon Valley goes down to the philosophical level as well. After all, what is social media but an abstracted world, facilitated conversations and social performances that have been exfiltrated from a real, existing social context? Big Internet provides powerful illusions that the Promethean self-creation is truly possible.

All of this should please someone like me. Ive been arguing for a decade that conservatives needed to pay more attention to the function of communities. My own book from last year specifically rejects what it calls the myth of liberation which encourages us to believe we can create our selves. In the place of this myth, I tried to build a bridge between family and national identity, one that grounds us and gives us a role in a home, and a homeland around it.

Story continues

But caring about the American nation means I cant help but notice that the individual is one of Americas inherited romantic archetypes. The American mythology of self-invention and reinvention cannot be extirpated in its entirety as a mere philosophical error. And it cannot withstand sustained rebuke outside a few relatively small circles, filled with creaky conservatives like me.

Our history brims with the frontiersman and the immigrant who leave a home and strike out for some new adventure, building a new home and a new life for themselves. I would say, as a conservative, that this mythology has to be elevated and channeled by great works of art, and even by statesmen, for the good of the commonweal. But we cant just get past us.

Hawley is surely correct that Silicon Valleys products conduce to a sort of Promethean delusion. And thats something worth opposing. But, at the same time, Silicon Valley is a new kind of enclosure movement: Its closing another dimension of the American frontier. It forbids self-reinvention. Helen Andrews described something of this in her account of how viral outrages seem to follow people throughout their lives because of Google and the Internet.

She recounted how a man, Geoffrey Weglarz, had been caught on video throwing a sandwich back at a pregnant server. Weglarz was at the time struggling through divorce and unemployment. But the viral rage the video inspired drove him into hiding. He tried changing his name to escape the permanent record that Google had made for him, one available to any employer or prospective second wife. He killed himself in a parked car and wasnt discovered for a week. If anyone needed American individualism  the chance to pick up, move, and rebuild a life out West it was Geoffrey Weglarz. But this was nearly impossible in an age of total information awareness.

America needs stronger communities, and Hawley is right to tilt hard against a naked and self-seeking individualist streak among American elites. But America loses something essential about itself when it no longer has a frontier  a place further to the West, geographically or metaphorically  where men who are repenting of their sins, or running from ugly fate, can start over again and contribute to a community that is grateful to have a reinvented individual as its neighbor.

More from National Review
A Co Kildare man living in the Chinese city at the centre of the deadly coronavirus outbreak in recent days has described the city as being almost like a ghost town as precautions are being made to prevent the spread of the virus.

Ben Kavanagh is working as a teacher in Wuhan, the capital of central Chinas Hubei province. This Saturday marks Chinese New Year with hundreds of thousands of people commuting to and from the country in recent days for the celebrations.

There has been 571 cases of the Coronavirus and 17 deaths so far in Wuhan - with residents advised not to travel. The city is at the centre of the contagious infection, which has been linked to a seafood market, has a population of 11 million people.

You are allowed out, but there are so many rumours and people are worried, its better not to. It's almost like a ghost town," Mr Kavanagh told RTE's Morning Ireland.

He explained that prices for some products such as celery have tripled in price due to shortages in recent days. "I have enough water for a few more days, but I will probably have to head out to the shops for food,"explained Mr Kavanagh.

Mr Kavanagh said that when he ventures out he will wear a surgical mask as well as swim goggles over his mouth, nose and eyes to try avoid contracting the virus.

It is understood that no cases of coronavirus has been reported in Ireland, but staff in airports and in the health service have been told to be on heightened awareness of people with respiratory symptoms who have returned from Wuhan in China, where the coronavirus first emerged earlier this month, or who have been in close contact with people with the disease.

Arrangements have been made for a special incident response team from the ambulance services to transport suspected cases of infection to hospital, where patients will be placed in isolation.

GPs have been told to isolate patients who satisfy these criteria in side-rooms, pending transfer to hospital.

Symptoms of the coronavirus include flu symptoms such as a runny nose, headache, cough, sore throat, as well as a general feeling of being unwell.
Russian officials are weighing the possible risks of selling missile defense equipment to Iran following the military escalation between the Islamic Republic and the United States triggered by the Jan. 3 US assassination of Qasem Soleimani, leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) Quds Force. Some among Russia's political elite believe closer military-technical cooperation would benefit both countries.

[We need to] offer Iran an agreement on military cooperation and urgently sell the most modern weapons so that no one dares throw anything in the direction of Iran, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, leader of Russias Liberal Democratic Party, said earlier this month. He expressed confidence that the S-400 or S-500 missile defense systems would be able to close the entire sky over Iran.

Russia had previously considered selling military equipment to Iran, whose capabilities are now significantly limited by the UN arms embargo related to its nuclear program, but that should end in the fall of 2020, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov emphasized in December.

The latest annual report by the US Defense Intelligence Agency states, Irans potential acquisitions after the lifting of UNSCR 2231 restrictions include Russian Su-30 fighters, Yak-130 trainers and T-90 MBTs. It adds, Tehran has also shown interest in acquiring S-400 air defense systems and Bastion coastal defense systems from Russia.

While traditionally skeptical of such reports, Russian experts concede moves are possible in the case of anti-aircraft defense systems. In 2016, Iranian Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan had noted that Tehran would not buy the S-400 Triumph because its purchase of Russia's S-300PMU2 anti-aircraft missile system met its needs for long-range systems. The Iranian military also uses its own Bavar-373 long-range air defense system, which is considered equivalent to the S-300.

Two Russian military sources who spoke to Al-Monitor on the condition of anonymity said that negotiations for Iran to buy Russian weaponry, including the latest equipment, intensified in April 2019 during the 8th Moscow Conference on International Security organized by the Ministry of Defense. In May, Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami attended an inter-agency consultation in Moscow. Bloomberg reported at the time that Russia had not responded to Irans official inquiries regarding a potential S-400 purchase.

Ruslan Pukhov, head of the Moscow Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, noted back then that such hardening by Iran could lead to escalation in the region. If the Russian side decides to supply the S-400 to Iran, this would be a direct challenge to Moscows partners in the Middle East, Pukhov warned, adding that if Russia rejected such a request from Iran, this means it wants to develop ties with Saudi Arabia and Israel and preserve a chance for talks with Trump.

Nonetheless, during the Russia's Army  2019 International Military-Technical Forum in June, representatives of the country's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation announced its readiness to supply Iran with an indefinite number of S-400 systems. Meanwhile, Iraq is reportedly in discussions with Russia to purchase defense systems.

In August, Russia and Iran signed an agreement on naval and military cooperation, the details of which have not been disclosed. Russian media interpreted the expansion in cooperation to extend beyond conducting joint exercises to cover parameters for military-technical cooperation, including air defense systems. Indeed, the US policy of maximum pressure on Tehran could push Russia to provide means of deterrence for the victim of aggression, as some Russian experts view Iran.

Russia had previously decided to supply the Iranians with an S-300 system to beef up their defense capabilities and stimulate negotiations on the Joint Comprehensive Action Plan (JCPOA) nuclear deal. That's how Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov explained the decision after the Russian president lifted the ban on S-300 deliveries to Iran in 2015.

Military-technical cooperation with Iran, however, would make Russia a target of international pressure. This happened in the case of Iran's accidental downing of a Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737-800 near Tehran on Jan. 8, killing all 176 passengers on board. On Jan. 14, Volodymyr Yelchenko, Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, said that those who gave the order to fire on the plane, and possibly those who supplied these missiles, which were Russian, should be held responsible for the crash. Yelchenko believes there are many components to the tragedy, including the alleged Russian footprint in the form of the Tor missile system. He stressed that it is necessary to talk about a certain international responsibility.

Russian experts are uncertain about Moscow exploiting the current crisis to promote arms and military equipment deals with Tehran. Andrey Frolov, a military analyst and editor in chief of the journal Eksport Vooruzheniy (Arms Export), told Al-Monitor that the purchase of air defense systems is not a priority for Iran. Covering the whole country would be enormously expensive, whereas projects to protect key facilities have already been funded.

A hypothetically possible option is military consulting by Moscow primarily in terms of personnel training  how to service and respond to situations. Moreover, in recent years, foreigners from all over the world have been studying at Russian military universities, Frolov said.

Iran builds air defense [weapons] by integrating Russian systems with the development of its own military-industrial complex, Frolov further noted, explaining that if outside experts were brought in as consultants or trainers, Iran would have to disclose some of the characteristics of its air defense systems, which it is unlikely to do.

Another Russian military expert, Yury Lyamin, told Al-Monitor that over the past decade the Iranians have developed medium- and long-range air defense systems and promised to introduce a new short-range system in the near future, along with developing and producing new radars.

Iran's systems are outdated, leading Lyamin to assert, An acquisition of some new Russian systems is quite possible, but we must consider the structure and tasks facing Iranian air defense, which are often very specific, and financial resources are now limited.

The downing of the Ukrainian airliner raises questions about the qualifications of the Iranian air defense forces and the system used by the army and the IRGC for responding to emergency situations.

First of all, Iran must determine what should be improved and in what order, and then Russia might offer options for strengthening and modernization, Lyamin said. In general, I would note that improvement and modernization of the air defense system should reduce the risk of such tragic cases, since more advanced detection systems, automated control and communication systems reduce the likelihood of erroneous identification.

He stressed that the air defense systems used by Iran's army and the IRGC could be modernized, depending on the specific system, or replaced.

The IRGC still has the outdated Chinese HQ-2J air defense system in service, Lyamin said. This is actually a modernized version of the S-75, which hardly makes sense for further upgrade. Satellite images of recent years already show how their positions in the most important areas have been replaced by new Iranian medium-range air defense systems. On the other hand, the IRGC also has Tor-M1, which has quite the potential for further modernization.
Patriotism is not about who does and does not count as an Australian, but lending a hand to those who need it.

That's the sentiment to be put by Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek in an Australia Day address at the Sydney Opera House on Sunday.

The former Labor deputy leader says this summer has seen communities at their most vulnerable and the country at its most generous.

The former Labor deputy leader (pictured right) says this summer has seen communities at their most vulnerable and the country at its most generous

'Without pause or hesitation, people have accepted their duty to each other as citizens, as neighbours, as fellow human beings,' she says.

'This has been patriotism at its practical best; patriotism as the thread connecting us all as Australians.'

She will call for all school students to be taught the Australian citizenship pledge, which states: 'From this time forward, I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people, whose democratic beliefs I share, whose rights and liberties I respect, and whose laws I will uphold and obey.'

Ms Plibersek, a daughter of Slovenian migrants, rejected the argument that patriotism is about exclusion and defining the boundary of who does and does not count as an Australian.

'Patriotism, like mateship, is about solidarity. It's about what we owe each other as citizens.

'Patriotism is the knowledge that we're not alone in this life; that our neighbours are there to share our struggles; that we have 25 million people in our corner when we need it.

'To love your country is not to assume it's better than others. Patriots don't need to feel superior to feel proud.'

The Sydney MP used the speech to link patriotism with support for action on climate change.

'Because patriotism is not a single act. It's not something we do in summer and forget by winter.

'Patriotism is an ongoing commitment to your country - and an ongoing commitment to the people with whom you share it.'
More than two years after Leigh Corfman filed a defamation lawsuit against Roy Moore, it appears the case may be moving toward a trial date.

Corfman, who claimed she was sexually molested by Moore in the late 1970s when she was 14 and he was 32, has asked a judge to call a hearing to set a trial date and Circuit Judge John Rochester agreed Friday to do it.

Moore has repeatedly denied Corfman's accusations.

The judge set a hearing for Feb. 20 in Ashland, where Rochester is the presiding circuit judge, in response to Corfman's request for a status/scheduling conference. At that point, a trial date could be set for the lawsuit.

The hearing also comes less than two weeks before Alabama voters go to the polls in the Super Tuesday primaries. Moore is on the ballot, seeking the Republican nomination for Senate.

Corfman filed her lawsuit against Moore on Jan. 4, 2018 -- less than a month after he lost the 2017 special Senate election to Doug Jones. She claimed she was defamed by comments made by Moore and his campaign after she came forward in a November 2017 story in The Washington Post.

Moore filed a countersuit against Corfman in April 2018 in which he described her lawsuit as frivolous and groundless.
As India is gearing up for the 71st Republic Day celebrations on January 26, the buzz around the chief guest for the ceremony has already started. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, the chief guest for the Republic Day parade, is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on January 24 for a four-day state visit to India.

Bolsonaro will hold talks with President Ramnath Kovind the next day followed by talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He will also address business leaders of both countries at the India-Brazil business forum on January 27 as both countries are looking to seal 20 pacts across defence, agriculture, healthcare, and mineral.

Read: Republic Day 2020: Songs That Will Make You Feel Proud As An Indian

Global leaders gracing the event

Since 1950, India has been inviting global leaders for the Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest every year, barring 1952, 1953, and 1966. Indonesian President Sukarno was the first foreign leader to attend Indias Republic Day ceremony as the chief guest in 1950.

In PM Modis first term, former President of the United States Barack Obama was the chief guest in 2015, while former French President Francois Hollande was the chief guest in the following year. Indias attempt to strengthen ties with the United Arab Emirates was visible when in 2017 Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan attended the Republic Day parade as a chief guest.

Read: Republic Day: Major Nikhil Maurya,Tarun Rathee To Lead Parachute Regiment At Parade

Last year, leaders of all the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were invited for the Republic Day parade as a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modis Act East policy. The leaders included the Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, Thailands Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha, and Indonesian President Joko Widodo, among other leaders of the South-East Asian countries.

Other important personalities who graced the event in the past include Queen Elizabeth II in 1961, UKs Chief of Defence Staff Lord Louis Mountbatten in 1964, Nelson Mandela in 1995, Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2007 and Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe in 2014.

Read: Indian Embassy In Beijing Calls Off Republic Day Ceremony Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

Read: "Dhanush" System, Army Air Defence Contingent To Take Part In Republic Day Parade
The natural gas-rich Haynesville Shale of East Texas and northern Louisiana was the biggest single loser in this week's rig count, which remained almost flat.

In figures released early Friday afternoon, the Baker Hughes Rig Count shows there are 794 drilling rigs in operation in the United States, a decline of two rigs from the previous week.

Texas saw four drilling rigs pulled from the field during the past week, followed by Wyoming with two. Those losses, however, were offset by four new drilling rigs deployed in New Mexico.

Looking at individual shale plays, the Haynesville Shale lost two drilling rigs, more than any other shale play and dropping its total to 43.

Oil & Gas: U.S. shale industry facing biggest test since 2015 downturn

The rig count for the Permian Basin of West Texas and southeastern New Mexico is recovering after seeing three weeks of declines in the New Year that dropped the number of active rigs below 400.

Figures released Friday show there are 405 drilling rigs in the Permian Basin. The shale play accounts for more than half of the drilling activity in the United States.

Fuel Fix: Get daily energy news headlines in your inbox

Houston-based Baker Hughes releases a weekly count of active drilling rigs, which is considered to be an important barometer of oil and natural gas activity.

New oil rig activity provides business for many subcontractors in the field. According to a July 2014 study from Rice University, each drilling rig results in the creation of 37 jobs immediately and 224 jobs in the long run.

Read the latest oil and gas news from HoustonChronicle.com
The president of the Philippines renewed a threat to terminate an accord which allows American forces to train in the country unless Washington restores a visa for a political ally linked to human rights violations. President Rodrigo Duterte said in an expletives-laced speech on Thursday night that he would give notice to the United States terminating the Visiting Forces Agreement, or VFA, if the reported cancellation of the entry visa of Senator Ronald dela Rosa was not corrected.

"I'm warning you ... if you won't correct this, I will terminate the ... Visiting Forces Agreement. I'll end that son of a bitch," Duterte said in televised remarks in central Leyte province. The security accord took effect in 1999 and provides the legal cover for American troops to enter the Philippines for joint training with Filipino troops.

A separate defence pact subsequently signed by the treaty allies in 2014, the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement, allowed the extended stay of US forces and authorized them to build and maintain barracks and other facilities in designated Philippine military camps. There was no immediate reaction from US officials. The Philippines' Department of Justice said on Friday it would study how the agreement's abrogation could be done. Despite Duterte's critical stance, US-Philippine defence ties have remained robust and joint military exercises even increased in numbers last year.
AgeChecked founder and CEO Alastair Graham insisted its systems for handling data were secure

The government is being sued for 3 million in damages by firms who developed software for a planned online 'porn ban' for children before the idea was scrapped.

Four firms who started work on age verification systems after the Government announced it wanted to block access to adult sites for under 18s are taking legal action at the High Court.

The plan, unveiled to much fanfare in April last year, was scrapped by ministers in October after fears over privacy and data security.

AgeChecked, VeriMe, AVYourself and AVSecure are seeking a judicial review of the decision taken by Culture Secretary Baroness Morgan.

They say that the fears over data security were unfounded and want the scheme to go ahead - and if it does not then want damages for work already done.

AgeChecked founder and CEO Alastair Graham said: 'Politicians simply cannot keep putting this off particularly when ministers have given no clue about what they imagine would be a better answer than the one Parliament already agreed.

'The age verification sector developed certified technology to guarantee privacy and data security for consumers, abiding by a new standard created by the BSI.

'AgeChecked provides anonymous age verification, and it does not retain any personal data.

Four firms who started work on age verification systems after the Government announced it wanted to block access to adult sites for under 18s are taking legal action at the High Court

Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan (right) announced that a new law forcing people to prove they are 18 or over to access content would not be going ahead. But Labour counterpart Tom Watson (left) said: 'This whole process has been a shambles'

'Our legal advice is that ministers are simply not allowed to ignore laws passed by Parliament.

'They should either implement the law passed almost 3 years ago, or tell the industry and the public exactly what will replace it, and when.'

The move, which applied to sites whose content is more than a third pornographic, was designed to cut the number of children who are freely able to access extreme material on the internet.

How was porn age verification meant to work? The new law was designed to force Britons wanting to visit porn websites to prove they were old enough to do so. It outlined several ways to do this: In person with a 'porn pass': You would be able to go into a shop and buy a card which will contain a code for an online age-checking system. This would be anonymous but you would have to show some proof of your age to staff to purchase it.

Digital ID apps: These work in a similar way to the code cards but you put your details into them directly, meaning you share proof of age details with them. AgeID, has been set up by MindGeek, which owns several popular adult sites. Another is called 1Account. They work as a plug-in to the sites so you do not have to keep entering your information.

Mobile phone settings: The BBFC said people could 'use their mobile phone if the adult filters have been removed'. These methods raised concerns about handing sensitive identification information to third parties. In June computer security expert Alan Woodward at the University of Surrey, called the process 'ineffective' and said the BBFC was 'not equipped' to deal with regulation. He also highlighted the security issues of the policy, as age check firms that users will be required to register with in order to access pornography will hold every users details, making it a 'juicy target' for hackers. A voluntary certification scheme, known as the Age-verification Certificate (AVC), was also due to be available to assess the data security standards of the companies that provide these solutions. Advertisement

But it was criticised by freedom campaigners and others who feared that making people give personal details leaves them open to fraud and blackmail.

Under the new law companies running porn websites would have had to make users prove they are over 18, or face punishments including being blocked in the UK, being barred from receiving electronic payments or being delisted from search engines.

This means that punters will have to use one of several ways of proving their age, including picking up a 'porn pas' from the local newsagent.

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) said in April that 18 'determined teenagers will find ways to access pornography'.

The legislation, announced in April, had already been delayed twice before it was finally scrapped in October.

In a written statement to MPs at the time, Ms Morgan said the Government 'will not be commencing Part Three of the Digital Economy Act 2017 concerning age verification for online pornography'.

'The Digital Economy Act objectives will therefore be delivered through our proposed online harms regulatory regime.' she wrote.

'This course of action will give the regulator discretion on the most effective means for companies to meet their duty of care.'

This means it will be left to the BBFC and other non-governmental bodies to police adult content online as they see fit.

The decision by the firms to seek a judicial review has been criticised by online privacy groups.

Jim Killock, executive director of the Open Rights Group said: 'These companies are asking us to trust them with records of millions of people's sexual preferences, with huge commercial reasons to use that data for profiling and advertising.

'The adult industry has a terrible record on data security. We're being asked to hope they don't repeat the many, many times they have lost personal data, with the result that blackmail scams and worse proliferates.

'The government did the responsible thing when it admitted its plans were not ready to proceed.

'Age Verification must not be pushed forward until there is compulsory privacy regulation put in place.'
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: Seen as an attempt to buy peace with the Meiteis (Manipuris) ahead of the signing of final Naga accord, major Naga insurgent group National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN-IM) held a meeting with a delegation of Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI).

The meeting was held at the outfits central headquarters, Hebron, in Nagalands Dimapur district three days ago. The NSCN-IM was led by its general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah.

There are speculations the Centre will create two autonomous councils, one each in Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, as a part of the final Naga accord.

The COCOMI, which is a conglomerate of several civil society organisations, stands opposed to any changes in Manipurs existing administrative setups. It had staged a series of demonstrations on the streets of Imphal last year to reiterate its stand on Manipurs territorial integrity when the Centre was about to sign the Naga pact but eventually held it up.

The Imphal Valley, where the Meiteis live, will surely also oppose any autonomous or territorial council that will remotely administer Manipurs Naga areas from Nagaland or any other state. Secondly, if the agreement largely protects the interests of the Nagas of Manipur, the NSCN-IM will owe an explanation to fellow Nagas living across Nagaland, Arunachal and Assam.

COCOMI convenor Sunil Karam told this newspaper the meeting with the NSCN-IM was held without any agenda on the table.

It was a meeting where the issue of peaceful co-existence was discussed. It had no agenda. Uncle Muivah also insisted on peaceful co-existence, Karam said.

He said neither the COCOMI delegation nor Muivah had raised the issue of autonomous/territorial council.

After returning to Imphal, Karam told journalists that if the Naga agreement is about protecting interests under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution or by creating an autonomous council or territorial council, it shouldnt be based on ethnic lines.

During a meeting that we had with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in December, he said if the Manipur part comes (while signing the Naga accord), the government will consult the stakeholders of Manipur. We are waiting and watching. If the Centre fails to fulfil what it committed, we will resort to an agitation, Karam warned.

Centres peace negotiations with the various Naga rebel groups concluded last year.
MILAN, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Italian phone carrier Wind Tre could cut its workforce by more than 20% over three years, threatening as many as 1,500 jobs, a union official said on Friday, as price competition in a crowded market combine with lower margins for telecom operators.

Owned by CK Hutchison, the ports-to-telecoms arm of retired billionaire Li Ka-shing's businesses, Wind Tre is Italy's third-largest mobile operator, with a market share of 28.1%, according to data from Italian communication watchdog AGCOM.

In a meeting with trade unions on Thursday, Wind Tre executives had told trade union representatives the company sees potentially 1,500 redundancies out of a workforce of around 7,000, Riccardo Saccone of SLC-CGIL union told Reuters.

Wind Tre agreed to start negotiations with trade unions in a bid to manage the staff cuts with financial incentives, re-skilling programmes and in-sourcing part of its operations, Saccone said.

A spokesman for Wind Tre said the company wishes to manage the process in agreement with trade unions. (Reporting by Elvira Pollina; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)
Among the key findings: 74% of American adults engage with the arts via electronic media, 54.3% attend arts events, and 53.7% create or perform art themselves. Three states, D.C. and metro Cleveland have particularly high rates of attendance at performances, while Vermont, Montana, and metro Dallas lead in art show attendance, and nearly 90% of adults in greater Philadelphia and Baltimore engage with the arts via electronic media.  National Endowment for the Arts
The Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified campaign on the amended citizenship law through its door-to-door programme in which at least three of the partys senior state or central leaders are taking part every day, with district leaders following up in their respective areas.

Ever since the programme was launched in Delhi by union home minister Amit Shah on January 5, the partys Bengal unit has carried out more than 100 campaigns, visiting thousands of people in their homes and neighbourhoods to speak about the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). The door-to-door campaign is being conducted alongside colourful pro-CAA rallies that the party has named Abhinandan Yatra.

On Friday, BJP national general secretary (organisation) Shiv Prakash and several state leaders campaigned in different districts throughout the day. Shiv Prakash visited people in different parts of Sonarpur in the South 24 Parganas. He visited about 70 houses in the Jagaddal area, said Gautam Chowdhury, the BJP zonal convenor who accompanied Shiv Prakash.

The close interactions have also triggered tension in many places. On Thursday night, for example, there was a clash between BJP and Trinamool Congress supporters in the posh Jodhpur Park area of south Kolkata. A local youth and a police sub-inspector were allegedly slashed with knives.

BJP workers set up a road block outside the local Lake police station for several hours on Friday morning after four of them were arrested. A police officer and some TMC workers verbally abused members of our Mahila Morcha (womens front) who were campaigning on CAA. Police assaulted and arrested an 18-year-old girl along the others. We have decided to bring charges against the police under Protection of Children from Sexual Abuse (POCSO) Act, said BJP state general secretary Sayantan Basu.

Talking about his personal experience during door-to-door campaigns, Basu said, Out of every 25 people I meet, 20 listen patiently and agree with us. Some remain noncommittal while at least one opposes the law.

TMC leader and minister of state for parliamentary affairs Tapas Roy said, BJP is spreading tension during these campaigns because it has realised that people are united against it and voices are being raised even in foreign countries. These are signs of desperation.
Detroit Man Says Bank Refused to Cash His Check After He Received Racial Discrimination Settlement

A Detroit man is seeking legal action against a local bank that he says discriminated against him when he recently attempted to cash checks from a previous racial discrimination lawsuit.

Sauntore Thomas sued TCF Bank in Wayne County, Michigan on Wednesday after claiming that they refused to deposit his checks and treated him unfairly due to his race, according to a complaint filed in state court by his lawyer Deborah Gordon and obtained by PEOPLE.

Ironically, the checks Thomas, 44, was trying to cash at the time were from a previous racial discrimination lawsuit that he settled with his former employer on Jan. 13, the complaint states.

A spokesperson for TCF Bank did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment.

According to the complaint, Thomas, a U.S. Air Force veteran who was honorably discharged in 1998, went to TCF Bank on Jan. 21 to deposit the checks. The Detroit resident had an account open with the bank since 2018, the complaint indicated.

TCF Bank spokesman Tom Wennerberg reportedly told the Detroit Free Press that Thomas had three separate checks of various amounts to cash  one for $59,000, another for $27,000 and the last for $13,000.

While at the counter, Thomas told the assistant branch manager that he would like to open a savings account, deposit the checks, and draw out some cash. He also requested that the bank provide him a new debit card, as the CCV number was no longer visible on his old card, the complaint states.

RELATED: Two Black Women Suing Fox News For Racial Discrimination and Harassment

However, Thomas claims in the complaint that his requests were met with suspicion and denial.

In the document, he alleged that the female employee told him that the checks needed to be verified, but claimed their system was down. She later asked him how he obtained the money and then went into a back area to call in the checks but secretly called Livonia Police instead to report that Thomas was attempting to deposit fraudulent checks.

Story continues

Four officers arrived at the scene to investigate the matter, citing reports of a problem with Thomas checks by the employee, according to the complaint.

Thomas explained that the checks were part of his lawsuit that he received earlier that day and provided the information of his lawyer, who says she spoke to authorities on the phone to confirm her clients story.

Despite Gordons support, the bank refused to deposit the checks and subsequently filed a police report for check fraud, the complaint states.

The Livonia Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment.

RELATED VIDEO: President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama Share Their Own Experiences with Racial Discrimination

Frustrated, Thomas withdrew all the money from his open account at TCF bank, before closing it and leaving, according to the document.

Not long after, he went to a different bank, opened a new account, and successfully deposited his checks, which were cleared the next morning, according to the complaint.

Speaking to PEOPLE on Thursday, Gordon says, The checks he presented at the bank were 100% legitimate. I got on the phone with the bank and also with the police who had been called and explained everything.

It did not matter, Gordon continues of Thomas, who she said had never been arrested or involved with the law enforcement. My client was intimidated and afraid but kept his composure. The ordeal lasted about 1 and  hours. He left the bank empty-handed with no explanation and no apology.

Another bank in Detroit took the checks, deposited them in the normal manner and the money was available to him 12 hours later, Gordon adds. He was clearly stereotyped based on his race.

Thomas is now suing TCF Bank, claiming in the complaint that his race was a factor in [the banks] decision to treat him less favorably than other individuals, refuse to deposit his checks, accuse him of a crime, call the police to the scene, and file a police report for possessing and/or trying to deposit fraudulent checks.

He is seeking compensatory, punitive and liquidated damages from the incident, which caused him outrage and humiliation, mental anguish, anxiety, physical and emotional distress, and loss of the ordinary pleasures of life.

RELATED: MoNique Sues Netflix for Race and Gender Discrimination, Claims She Got a Biased Offer

In a statement to the Detroit Free Press, TCF Bank apologized for the incident and involving local authorities.

We apologize for the experience Mr. Thomas had at our banker center. Local police should not have been involved. We strongly condemn racism and discrimination of any kind, the bank said. We take extra precautions involving large deposits and requests for cash and in this case, we were unable to validate the checks presented by Mr. Thomas and regret we could not meet his needs.

TCF Bank is a diverse business serving a diverse community and we abhor racism in all forms, the bank added. Mr. Thomas transaction was handled like any other transactions involving requests for large amounts of cash. We regret any inconvenience to Mr. Thomas.

Wennerberg also spoke to the outlet and argued that the bank was taking precautionary actions because they were unable to verify the checks were part of a lawsuit and it was a highly, highly unusual request.

The bank spokesperson alleged Thomas only had 52 cents in the account he wanted to deposit two checks into, that he wanted to cash the $13,000 check, and that he claimed his debit card wasnt working so he needed a new one, according to the Detroit Free Press.

We disagree with that, Wennerberg told the local outlet of whether they engaged in discriminatory actions. We were looking at the behavior, the asks that he was making.

Since the dramatic ordeal unfolded on Tuesday, the fraud complaint with the police had been closed, Gordon confirmed.

Now her client is simply demanding racial justice again, for the second time in less than eight months.

I didnt deserve treatment like that when I knew that the check was not fraudulent, Thomas told the Detroit Free Press. They discriminated against me because Im black. None of this would have happened if I were white.
New Delhi :

Curfew has been imposed in the Lohardaga town of Jharkhand after violence broke out during a pro- Citizenship Amendment Act rally taken out by Vishva Hindu Parishad. "Curfew imposed in Lohardaga. Schools-colleges to remain closed for 2 days. After this, the decision will be taken as per the situation. Situation under control. Extra forces deployed," Lohardaga District Collector said. According to reports, stones were hurled at the rally when it reached the Amlatoli Chowk area of the state. The reportedly led to a clash like situation and several shops were burnt and some vehicles were set on fire. This further sparked tensions in the area forcing concerned authorities to impose Section 144 in the area. A large number of security forces have been deployed by the administration to prevent any untoward incident. Section 144 prohibits the assembly of more than 4 persons in the area to keep the situation under control.

Violence erupted yesterday in Lohardaga town after a march, supporting Citizenship Amendment Act and National Register of Citizens, was taken out by members of Vishva Hindu Parishad during which stone-pelting allegedly took place while it was passing through Amla Toli, ANI reported.

Lohardaga Deputy Commissioner Akanksha Ranjan has confirmed that Section 144 has been imposed in the area. Ranjan said that and investigation has also been launched into the matter.

Seers at VHP programme back CAA

The Vishva Hindu Parishad has said it will go to village to village to remove confusion over the Citizenship Amendment Act and seers present at its Virat Sant Sammelan backed the legislation. Amarkantak mahamandleshwar Hariharanand Sarswati said the country had been divided on the basis of religion once and same situation was being created now through anti-CAA protests.

He said initially arson took place and now an emotional blackmail is being done with protesters being paid for it. Swami Vishvesh Prapannacharya said the legislation brought by the Union government should be supported as it protected people.

Meanwhile, the Ramjanmabhoomi Ramalaya Nyas at a separate programme unveiled a model of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Trust secretary Avimukteshwaranand said they were committed to the construction of a grand Ram temple.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin will visit Almaty to participate in a meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Councils meeting, a cabinet source said.



"Preparations for the trip are underway," TASS cited the source as saying.



The trip to Kazakhstan may become Mishustins first foreign visit.



The Kazakh Foreign Ministry said earlier that the meeting would involve the prime ministers of Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Moldova (an observer country), as well as the chairman of the board of the Eurasian Economic Commission.
The Chinese Association in Greater Charleston has announced the cancellation of this years Spring Festival celebration of the Lunar New Year due to the coronavirus. The event was scheduled to take place Sunday at Burke High School.

A press release issued from the organization on Friday stated: "In recent days, the development of the novel coronavirus infections in China has pulled the heartstrings of many community members in Charleston."

The organizers of the event anticipated around 500 attendees.

The new virus was discovered to be the cause of a respiratory illness outbreak in Wuhan, China. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus spreads similarly to the influenza virus, through respiratory droplets from an infected person being spread through coughs and sneezes. Symptoms of the virus include fever, shortness of breaths and coughs.

As of Friday afternoon, the number of confirmed cases around the world climbed sharply to more than 850, with at least 25 deaths, all of them in China.

Two cases of the virus have been announced in the U.S.  one in Washington state and one in Chicago. The first U.S. case announced earlier this week was of a Washington state man who recently returned from a trip to Wuhan. On Friday, the second stateside case of the virus was confirmed by the CDC in Chicago in a woman in her 60s who traveled to Wuhan in December.

Three of the nine airlines operating at Charleston International Airport offer service to Chicago. American and United fly to OHare International while Southwest flies to Chicago Midway International.

Charleston airport CEO Paul Campbell said the airport doesnt have any specific plans on how to check people to see if they are infected. That responsibility, he said, rests with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency at points of entry for flights coming in from China or other foreign countries and with the airlines, he said.

The airlines are putting in all kinds of stops and checks. If they see something suspicious, a sick person, on a flight coming in, the airlines will alert us, Campbell said. If we see something that looks fishy or looks funny, we will check it out."

Theres not much else the airport can do, he said.

Campbell said that if someone came off a plane in Charleston who appeared ill, they would treat the person the same way they would any other in-flight medical emergency, which includes transporting them to the hospital.

The CDC said that though the virus has reached the U.S., it has not been found to be spreading throughout the country. They also note that there are no additional precautions they recommend the general public to take outside of avoiding exposure and practicing everyday preventive measures such as hand-washing.

In response to the virus being diagnosed in the U.S., some hospitals began to flag patients who both showed symptoms of fever and respiratory illness and recently traveled to China.

Lowcountry hospital systems Roper St. Francis Healthcare, the Medical University of South Carolina, East Cooper Medical Center and the Trident Health System all said via spokespeople that they will continue to ask patients about foreign travel when they come in with fever and respiratory symptoms.

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control also plans to be proactive with following any CDC recommendations regarding evaluation, surveillance and responses to the virus.

The annual Chinese New Year event in Charleston is the first announced cancellation in the area.

"Considering that many performers and audience members are children and senior citizens and that the venue of the celebration belongs to a local school, which always takes public health issues seriously, the Chinese Association, after serious discussions, has regrettably decided to cancel the event," the association said in a statement.

The association extended its wishes to all friends of the Chinese community in greater Charleston for an auspicious year of the Rat. It also extended wishes for the safety and health of those stricken with the coronavirus, their families and medical workers.

Warren Wise and Jerrel Floyd contributed to the report.
By Simon Robinson

DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Colombia's President Ivan Duque said technology companies were welcome in his country, but they had to operate on a level playing field with local firms.

"It's smart regulation to level the field and to  not  have unfair competition among parties," he told Reuters at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum.

Duque's comments follow a court order late last year against ride-hailing company Uber Technologies Inc. The Andean country has ordered Uber to cease operations after a judge said it violated competition rules.

Uber said it will stop operating in Colombia at the end of January, but has called the legal ruling "arbitrary" and a violation of its right to due process. It has also said it will use all legal avenues to defend the rights of its 2 million users and 88,000 drivers in the country.

Colombia's regulators have sparred with other start-ups, including delivery juggernaut Rappi, over whether they are complying with e-commerce and labor laws.

"What you cannot tolerate in Colombia, in any place, is that you have unfair competition," Duque said, pointing to controversies around Uber in countries such as Germany, Spain and the United States.

"There's no policy against technology as an instrument to connect consumers and the sellers of a product."

Entrepreneurs have said Colombia's regulations are out-dated and may threaten its status as the region's second-most popular destination for entrepreneurial investment after much larger Brazil.

But Duque said Colombia was open for business.

"Colombia is a country that has been very attractive for technology. Colombia is a country that has rule of law."

(Editing by Alexander Smith)
The HDFC Bank has chosen global executive search firm Egon Zehnder to identify a successor to managing director Aditya Puri, the country's top private lender said on Thursday.

Reuters had reported earlier on Thursday that the HDFC Bank board had tapped the global head-hunting firm in a bid to end a boardroom impasse over Puri's successor and zero in on a candidate.

Four sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters that a six-member internal search committee, appointed in November last year, has been unable to reach a consensus on selecting a successor to Puri, who has been at the helm of HDFC Bank since its inception in 1994.

"Egon Zehnder has been recommended by the search committee and unanimously appointed by the bank's board," Neeraj Jha, a spokesman for HDFC Bank, said in an email.

Puri, whose term comes to an end in October this year, is also an adviser to the search committee.

"The latest decision to hire a global advisory firm has been taken after the search committee members realised that they have been struggling to come to a consensus on the final name," said a source familiar with the internal deliberations among members of the committee.

"The deadline for Puri's successor is nearing ... the bank will have to appoint someone who can continue to push for growth despite an economic slowdown," the source added. According to HDFC Bank, Puri is 69 years old.

As per regulations, the bank will need to get approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), before any new appointment can be confirmed. HDFC Bank is one of three domestic lenders that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has designated as "too big to fail".

Egon Zehnder, which declined to comment on the matter, had in 2018 also helped Axis Bank, another private lender, to find its chief executive officer.

A second source at HDFC said the differences between the top leadership over the succession has been the crucial reason for the delay in identifying a new managing director.

The sources said Puri and Deepak Parekh, the chairman of India's largest housing finance company HDFC (HDFC.NS) which owns a minority stake in the bank, have been at loggerheads over the bank's succession plan, with both advocating their preferred candidates to secure the job.

Puri's preferred choices include HDFC Bank's executive directors Bhavesh Zaveri, Sashidhar Jagdishan and Kaizad Bharucha, said three of the sources.

Two of those sources also said Parekh has been rooting to reinstate Paresh Sukhtankar, who resigned as Puri's deputy in 2018.

Sukhtankar, who joined the bank alongside Puri in 1994 was widely expected to be Puri's successor. Reasons behind his departure remain unclear.

Regarding questions about names in the fray and differences between Puri and Parekh, HDFC Bank's Jha said that "information is speculative and incorrect".

Parekh and Puri personally did not respond to requests for comment on Thursday.

Sources said the search committee, in a bid to defuse the tension, had also contacted top banking executives working overseas to find a candidate acceptable to Puri and Parekh.

The board members held preliminary discussions with Indian-origin bankers Piyush Gupta, CEO of DBS Group, and Ajay Banga, CEO of Mastercard Inc, about the job, two of the sources said.

The outcome of these discussions was unclear.

A spokesman at DBS Group told Reuters in an email that "Piyush is happy at DBS and has no plans to leave".

Seth Eisen, senior vice president of communications at Mastercard, said Banga has not had any conversation with HDFC Bank regarding the position.

Also read: SBI customers take note! Banking services may get impacted on Jan 31st, Feb 1

Also read: Luxury flats up for sale at Mumbai's iconic RK Studios; prices start Rs 5.7 crore

Analysts tracking the bank said Puri has run it with an iron hand, preventing it from accruing a high level of bad loans at a time when most of its peers were struggling.

"The new successor needs to have a vision to be able to spot opportunities and constantly stay ahead of the curve which is what Puri has been doing," said Suresh Ganapathy, head of financial services research at Macquarie.

Puri, the highest paid banker in India with remuneration of 136.7 million rupees ($1.92 million) excluding stock options, had been seeking another term as managing director, two of the sources said.

However, RBI has been firm that chief executives of private banks must retire at the age of 70.
The Habit Restaurants Inc (HABT.O), known as the Habit Burger Grill, plans to put a plant-based meat patty from Impossible Foods Inc on its menu in the second half of this year as a limited-time offering, Trend reports citing Reuters.

The agreement would put a third plant-based meat producer on the map among YUM! Brands Inc (YUM.N) restaurants. Yum said earlier this month that it would acquire Habit, a California-based burger chain with over 280 stores nationwide, for about $375 million.

Habit would join Yum brands KFC and Pizza Hut, which ran short tests last year of plant-based chicken nuggets from Beyond Meat Inc (BYND.O) and a plant-based sausage topping called Incogmeato from Kellogg Cos (K.N) Morningstar Farms, respectively.

In probably the second half of the year, well do a system-wide (limited time offering) with Impossible, Habit Chief Executive Office Russ Bendel told Reuters in a phone interview on Friday.

Consumer hunger for plant-based meat alternatives has raged, with more retail stores selling the products and more big fast food chains putting them on their menus.

At times, that has led to shortages as producers struggled to scale up fast enough to meet demand.

In October, Bendel said during an earnings call that Habit had tested the Impossible patty in 2018 and liked it, but that it was impossible to secure supply chain... throughout (2019), according to a transcript.

Supply shortages left White Castle, among other restaurants, without patties for its Impossible Slider sandwiches in June.

More recently, however, the major plant-based meat producers have brought more points of production and distribution on line and helped mitigate supply concerns, Bendel told Reuters.

Impossible declined to comment for this story.

Habit has tested a number of plant-based meat alternatives but been working more closely with Impossible for a burger sandwich, Bendel said.

On the burger side, it just fit our needs, he said.

While known for its lower-priced grilled burgers, which cost about $4, about 40 percent of Habits entrees are items other than burgers, including a sushi-grade ahi tuna sandwich, he said.

About 85 percent of Habit locations are on in the western United States. It has 8 stores in China and is developing a number of stores in Cambodia.

The transaction with Yum could close in the second quarter of this year, Bendel said. Shareholders must still approve the merger.
Is Societe Fermiere du Casino Municipal de Cannes (EPA:FCMC) a good dividend stock? How can we tell? Dividend paying companies with growing earnings can be highly rewarding in the long term. Unfortunately, it's common for investors to be enticed in by the seemingly attractive yield, and lose money when the company has to cut its dividend payments.

In this case, Societe Fermiere du Casino Municipal de Cannes likely looks attractive to investors, given its 3.6% dividend yield and a payment history of over ten years. We'd guess that plenty of investors have purchased it for the income. Some simple analysis can offer a lot of insights when buying a company for its dividend, and we'll go through this below.

Click the interactive chart for our full dividend analysis

ENXTPA:FCMC Historical Dividend Yield, January 24th 2020

Payout ratios

Dividends are usually paid out of company earnings. If a company is paying more than it earns, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. As a result, we should always investigate whether a company can afford its dividend, measured as a percentage of a company's net income after tax. Societe Fermiere du Casino Municipal de Cannes paid out 68% of its profit as dividends, over the trailing twelve month period. This is a healthy payout ratio, and while it does limit the amount of earnings that can be reinvested in the business, there is also some room to lift the payout ratio over time.

While the above analysis focuses on dividends relative to a company's earnings, we do note Societe Fermiere du Casino Municipal de Cannes's strong net cash position, which will let it pay larger dividends for a time, should it choose.

Consider getting our latest analysis on Societe Fermiere du Casino Municipal de Cannes's financial position here.

Dividend Volatility

Before buying a stock for its income, we want to see if the dividends have been stable in the past, and if the company has a track record of maintaining its dividend. For the purpose of this article, we only scrutinise the last decade of Societe Fermiere du Casino Municipal de Cannes's dividend payments. The dividend has been cut on at least one occasion historically. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was 40.15 in 2010, compared to 60.00 last year. Dividends per share have grown at approximately 4.1% per year over this time. Societe Fermiere du Casino Municipal de Cannes's dividend payments have fluctuated, so it hasn't grown 4.1% every year, but the CAGR is a useful rule of thumb for approximating the historical growth.

Story continues

Modest growth in the dividend is good to see, but we think this is offset by historical cuts to the payments. It is hard to live on a dividend income if the company's earnings are not consistent.

Dividend Growth Potential

Given that the dividend has been cut in the past, we need to check if earnings are growing and if that might lead to stronger dividends in the future. It's good to see Societe Fermiere du Casino Municipal de Cannes has been growing its earnings per share at 15% a year over the past five years. Earnings per share have been growing rapidly, but given that it is paying out more than half of its earnings as dividends, we wonder how Societe Fermiere du Casino Municipal de Cannes will keep funding its growth projects in the future.

Conclusion

To summarise, shareholders should always check that Societe Fermiere du Casino Municipal de Cannes's dividends are affordable, that its dividend payments are relatively stable, and that it has decent prospects for growing its earnings and dividend. First, we think Societe Fermiere du Casino Municipal de Cannes has an acceptable payout ratio. Next, earnings growth has been good, but unfortunately the dividend has been cut at least once in the past. Overall we think Societe Fermiere du Casino Municipal de Cannes is an interesting dividend stock, although it could be better.

You can also discover whether shareholders are aligned with insider interests by checking our visualisation of insider shareholdings and trades in Societe Fermiere du Casino Municipal de Cannes stock.

If you are a dividend investor, you might also want to look at our curated list of dividend stocks yielding above 3%.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Rising economic inequality in the United States is closely tied to the high concentration of capital asset ownership, especially corporate stocks and real estate, and to increases in the price of those assets in recent decades. These in turn are closely related to the structural transformation of the economy over 50 years, especially the decline of unionized manufacturing in the Midwest and the rise of finance on the East coast and of the technology sector  mainly information and aerospace  in the West.

At the national level, this process has had two main effects on American political life. One is the rise of oligarchs and their designated agents, especially in the Democratic Party, initially in the Clinton era, to the point today that billionaires openly contest the nomination for the Presidency. Oligarchs have long dominated the Republican Party, so now American politics has become, to a large degree, a contest between billionaires of different stripes, mediated by other billionaires in control of the major media, both traditional and social. This much is obvious to any observer.

Much less obvious has been the effect of the new pattern of inequalities on the outcome of American presidential elections. The peculiar institutional context of those elections is that they are indirect, conducted through an Electoral College apportioned roughly by population and elected state-by-state, mostly on a winner-takes-all basis. While rising national inequality has had no clear-cut effect on the division of the popular vote between the two major parties, we have shown in a new paper that, in close elections since 1992, rising inequalities within American states have become a decisive factor in determining the state-by-state outcomes, and thus the Electoral College and the presidency.

The logic of this development lies in the peculiar economic alignments of the two main American parties. The Democrats were once an alliance of multi-racial Northern labor with Southern whites in the era of Jim Crow. They have become a coalition of well-to-do city-dwellers, mostly professionals and office workers, and low-income minorities, both Black and Hispanic. The party thus broadly dominates the two tails of the income distribution, high and low. The Republicans, though always in thrall to the very wealthiest, draw their voting base from suburbs, smaller cities, towns and rural areas, overwhelmingly white, and broadly in the middle of the national income distribution.

Our approach to this issue draws on the techniques developed for measuring inequality within countries, using sectoral and industrial data on payrolls and employment, and applied over more than twenty years in the work of the University of Texas Inequality Project. Adapting these techniques to the data-rich environment of the United States permitted us to develop good estimates of changing inequality within states on an annual basis, going back to 1969, and up to 2014 so far. Previously, measures of inequality within states had only been available for years before 2000 on a decennial basis, as many states are too small for the regular Current Population Survey to provide reliable inequality estimates. We were thus able to assess the relationship between changing economic inequalities after 1969 in each state and their Electoral College outcomes for all of the relatively close elections of this century, specifically 2000, 2004, 2012 and 2016.

Up through the 1980s, inequality within American states was generally greatest in the Deep South, reflecting the racial divide, economic underdevelopment and the legacy of plantation slavery. In more recent years, the locus of rising inequality has shifted to the North and West. California, a major example, was once mainly white and suburban, reliably raising up Republicans from Nixon to Reagan. Today it is a checkerboard of tech wealth, lower-income Hispanic Americans and immigrants, solidly Democratic.

Our annual measures of inequality in each American state show that the largest increases from 1989 to 2014 occurred in California, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, Nevada, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Washington, Illinois and the District of Columbia. All of these states voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016. And of the twenty states with the smallest increases in inequality, all but two (New Mexico and Minnesota) voted for Donald Trump, and in the case of Minnesota, Mrs. Clintons margin was a bare 1.2%.

This clear relationship foretells ongoing developments in American politics. In the Upper Midwest, the states that are credited with electing Trump in 2016  Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin  are drifting away from their longstanding Democratic allegiance, as their cities decay and their working class and minority populations age and shrink. These states were very close in 2016 and could be recovered in 2020 with a small shift in overall public opinion, but things will become increasingly challenging for Democratic contenders in the years to come. Per contra, across the South and Southwest, and especially in Arizona, Texas and Georgia, the cities and non-white populations are growing relative to the suburbs and the countryside. Arizona could tip to the Democrats (as California and Nevada already have) as early as 2020; Texas and Georgia are further off, and subject to statewide campaigns of voter suppression aimed at discouraging minority voters and prolonging Republican control. But the demographics are inexorable and those obstacles will fall over time.

The current dilemma for the Democrats is that the Roosevelt era is long over, and the Clinton coalition is not sufficient any longer, having been worn down by deindustrialization and deunionization  but the Southern transition is not yet mature. So the Democrats in 2020 face a choice between an appeal aimed at retrieving the upper Midwest, and working to accelerate the dawn of a Democratic South. Each strategy has particular policy characteristics  especially with respect to trade, infrastructure and climate change  that may cause problems in the other region. And there is no guarantee that policies and campaign appeals chosen for 2020  and possibly implemented in the event of a Democratic victory  will still be appropriate for 2024 and beyond.

It is possible, of course, that the 2020 election will be resolved on other issues, perhaps the dangerous questions of war and peace, perhaps the publics divided view of the idiosyncratic incumbent, Donald Trump. It is also possible  though we believe very unlikely  that an economic crisis or a recession could supervene and drive the result. But in the event that the world survives the rocky opening of the present election year, and the American economy continues on its long-standing slow-but-steady course, the most likely thing would be that the battle lines of 2016 will form anew, and the election will be fought over similar territory and similar issues. In that case, we expect the result to conform to the pattern of recent years, with the South somewhat more contested by Democrats than in the past and the Midwest somewhat more difficult for them. As in 2016, a Democratic advantage in the popular vote could again prove worthless, for under the American system presidential elections are fought and decided in the contestable states  and these are neither the most egalitarian nor the most unequal.
A sleepout will take place outside the offices of South Dublin County Council calling on representatives to reverse a decision to raise rents for council housing tenants.

The proposal to raise the rent by 3 a week across the board was passed in November last year.

The demonstration is being held to highlight what they feel to be the local authority's lack of urgency on tackling the housing crisis.

Patrick Nelis, a member of the South West Dublin Housing Action, says the increase is "cruel".

"The budget was proposed by the Chief Executive and supported by the ruling alliance of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, the Green Party and two Independents," said Mr Nelis.

"It includes a rent increase of 3 per week on all council tenant households and we are doing this because the increase is cruel."

Mr Nelis said that the fact it doesn't take people's income into account is very unfair.

"The council can't attack the most vulnerable in our society so we are urging the council to reverse the decision on raising the rent.

"We deal with some of these families and individuals who are struggling with bills and food.

"This is going to be another struggle to add to what these families cannot afford."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 24

By Huseyn Safarov  Trend:

Azerbaijan's participation in such a significant World Economic Forum is important and necessary, Director of a regional branch of the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation Pavel Klachkov told Trend.

The political scientist noted that at a panel meeting, which was attended by the president of Mongolia, the head of the International Financial Center and the management of VTB Bank, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev voiced a number of important theses and topics related to the internal situation in Azerbaijan and the country's situation in the world, as well as security issues in the region and global environmental issues.

"As part of the forum, Ilham Aliyev also met with Georgian Prime Minister Georgi Gakharia. They talked about the implementation of transport and energy projects. This creates a worthy image of Baku as a reliable partner in the eyes of any participant in the world market, and shows that you can rely on Azerbaijan. It also indicates that Azerbaijan, both economically and politically, is a stably developing country," Klachkov said.

"Moreover, Azerbaijan pays great attention to ecology and environmental protection. Indeed, it is not for nothing that one of the main topics of the 50th World Economic Forum in Davos was the environmental situation in the world and climatic changes that lead to global warming."

Azerbaijan is making an invaluable contribution to the fight against climate change, the expert said. Azerbaijan is also ahead of many countries in reducing carbon emissions into the atmosphere.

"The participation of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in the World Economic Forum will increase economic competitiveness and further improve the country's image as many people have read the article by President Aliyev, which was posted on the official website of the World Economic Forum, Klachkov added.

The article says that Azerbaijan, constantly maintaining the ecological balance, that is, protecting environment, is striving for the social and economic development of its citizens, the expert added.

The participation of the president also ensures the participation of the whole country in the further development of the world economy, Klachkov said.

"I would say that this is an inextricable combination of economic, political and environmental projects and Azerbaijans true direction in addressing many issues related to the country's participation in various international projects, the expert said. These factors open the door to the future of the Republic of Azerbaijan and this future will be safe and successful."
This is an opinion column.

The Edmund Pettus Bridge has become shorthand for a flashpoint in American history  when African-Americans seized the birthright promised them by the Fifteenth Amendment, not by force, but by persistence and unblinking courage.

Its an image ingrained in our memory  white men with clubs and in uniforms, men who had sworn to uphold the law, beating marchers intent on fulfilling the law.

And there at the front of those marchers, John Lewis, then a young man from Troy, Alabama, wearing a tightly-knotted tie beneath a khaki trench coat, a backpack strapped over his shoulders. A state police officer cracked Lewiss skull that day.

We call it Bloody Sunday, but it was Lewiss blood among all the others.

This month, Lewis  who has been in Congress for 32 years and has served as a national conscience in Americas more misguided moments  announced he has pancreatic cancer. Its a disease that, for even people of such means as Steve Jobs, comes with a certain end.

To honor Lewis while theres time, an online petition has gathered more than 8,000 signatures of people all over the world asking Alabama to rename that bridge.

In addition to giving Lewis an honor while he lives, theres the parallel issue of whether the Pettus name belongs on the bridge in the first place. Pettus served as a colonel in the Confederate army. Although, he had a habit of getting caught by the Union and ended his service with what is suspected to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the leg. After the war, he served in the U.S. Senate, and also, as grand dragon of the Alabama Ku Klux Klan.

Despite the petitioners excellent intentions, Im not sure renaming the bridge for Lewis is a fitting honor, and my colleague Roy Johnson has made a compelling argument that the irony of the Edmund Pettus Bridge is a greater testament than the bridges nameplate.

But even if 

Even if it were inarguably the right thing to do.

Even if those signatories could persuade Alabama to agree.

Even if the Department of Transportation or the Governors office consented.

Even if 

What they ask would be illegal.

Because in Alabama we have a law against such things, right or wrong. Mostly wrong.

ADVANCE FOR TUESDAY, DEC. 28, AND YEAR-END EDITIONS -FILE- Alabama State troopers swing billy clubs to break up a civil rights voting march in Selma, Ala., March 7, 1965. Race has defined the Alabama of the last 100 years like nothing else. In Selma, officers beat back blacks attempting to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge on a march to Montgomery. The graphic footage of the mayhem helped build support for the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which guaranteed ballot access to Southern blacks. (AP Photo) phph

In 2017, the Alabama Legislature passed the Memorial Preservation Act, which forbids the relocation, removal, alteration, renaming, or other disturbance of any architecturally significant building, memorial building, memorial street, or monument located on public property.

As it often does, the Legislature passed a law without considering the consequences.

If the bridge were less than 40 years old, the Committee on Alabama Monument Protection could give a waiver to change the name, but the Edmund Pettus Bridge was built in 1940 and the states monument law doesnt have another side door through which to allow an exception.

Now, there are buildings and structures throughout this state that even the governor may not change in any way, even to preserve them or make them useful in a modern age. In Birmingham, the city government isnt sure whether it can upgrade Legion Field, named in honor of the American Legion. The weather and time will likely have its way, instead.

The law is not practical, but worse, its not moral.

Throughout Alabama, majority-black cities are being forced to memorialize and to honor men who fought to preserve slavery.

Men like Pettus.

Its an unjust law.

When John Lewis crossed that bridge in Selma, he did so to fight unjust laws. In his 32 years in Congress, hes stood in the way of unjust laws.

And yet, unjust laws remain.

If theres an appropriate honor for Lewis, its not putting his name on that bridge in Selma. Instead, the greatest honor is to repeal the law that would keep Pettus name there long after Lewis is gone.

Kyle Whitmire is the state political columnist for the Alabama Media Group.

You can follow his work on his Facebook page, The War on Dumb.

And on Twitter.

And on Instagram.

The War on Dumb is a thing on Facebook now, too. Expect better, demand better, come help Alabama do better. https://t.co/B2JeYkFWSf pic.twitter.com/GugqXDdsMC  Kyle Whitmire (@WarOnDumb) December 18, 2019

More columns by Kyle Whitmire
The last will of a millionaire judge nicknamed 'Sid Vicious' should be torn up because his dementia was so bad he couldn't turn on his Sky TV box when it was written, his son has told the High Court.

Lord Sydney Templeman's 580,000 home in Devon is at the centre of a legal battle after he gave it to his second wife's stepdaughters instead of his barrister son Michael Templeman, 68, when he died aged 94 in 2014.

Mr Templeman, who inherited 120,000, says his father, whose earned the nickname 'Sid Vicious' because of his fierce reputation as a judge, was too ill to use a remote control when he wrote his last will in 2008.

He also claims that his father's memory was so bad he wrote a journal to remind him of things and had copious crib sheets about 'what not to worry about' - although his brother, a vicar, says the will should stand.

Twice-widowed Lord Templeman left his 580,000 home, Mellowstone, near Exeter, to Sarah Edworthy, 66, and Jane Goss-Custard, 70, the stepdaughters of his second wife, Sheila.

They say Lord Templeman knew his own mind despite his health and 'loved them and looked on them as daughters' - and they in turn supported him when their mother died and cared for him before he died.

If the will is overturned, Sarah and Jane will get just 18,000 each while Michael and his sibling Rev Peter splitting the bulk of the estate, which was valued at 817,000.

The will of Lord Sydney Templeman (rig will and 580,000 home in Devon is at the centre of a legal battle after he gave it to his second wife's stepdaughters instead of his barrister son Michael Templeman, 68, (right outside court)

Lord Templeman left his 580,000 Exeter home to Sarah Edworthy, 66, and Jane Goss-Custard, 70, the stepdaughters of his second wife, Sheila.

Mr Templeman claims the will should be overturned but Sarah and Jane insist their step-father knew what he was doing and that they are fully entitled to the proceeds of sale of the house, which until Sheila's 2008 death had belonged to her.

And they claim the retired judge was no more than 'slightly forgetful' by the time the will was made, with Mrs Edworthy arguing: 'I can understand somebody of 80-odd not being able to use a Sky control.'

Lord Templeman was a senior judge for decades and was well known for making bold decisions, and was nicknamed 'Sid Vicious' by barristers after the anarchic bass player of the Sex Pistols.

In 1981 he ruled that a baby girl with Down's syndrome should get life-saving surgery - when her parents believed she should be allowed to die.

Knocking back their claim at the Court of Appeal despite knowing the girl could only have her life extended by two to three months he said: 'I have no doubt that it is the duty of this court to decide that the child must live. It is not for the court to say that a life of that description ought to be extinguished.'

As a barrister he had a fair few skirmishes over wills, representing Tony Hancock's wife after his suicide in Sydney in 1970, successfully arguing it was wrong that his mother should get most of his money.

Mr Justice Fancourt at London's High Court is now being asked to untangle the row over his will, which has pitted Lord Templeman's son and stepdaughters against each other in the very courts where he sat.

Giving evidence about the former peer and judge's state of mind towards the end of his life, Mr Templeman said: 'His memory was not working well and he was not thinking clearly.'

But the sisters' barrister Alexander Learmonth, said the scrupulously fair lord's decision to pass Mellowstone to the sisters was understandable, given it had been 'their family home'.

'Lord Templeman was by all accounts - including Mr and Mrs Templeman's - a man for whom fairness was an important consideration,' he said.

'There is no reason for this court to think that the 2008 will does not represent Lord Templeman's true wishes at the time.'

The court heard Lord Templeman married his first wife, Margaret Rowles, in 1946 and had two sons, Michael, and the Rev Peter Templeman, who does not contest the validity of the will.

He retired from the House of Lords judicial committee in 1994 and married second wife, Sheila Edworthy, in 1996, treating her stepdaughters, Sarah and Jane, as his own, said the barrister.

Mellowstone had been built by Sheila and her first husband, Sarah and Jane's father John Edworthy, in 1974. The sisters described it as their 'family home' of over 40 years and Lord Templeman moved in following the marriage.

Sarah Edworthy, 66, (left outside court) and Jane Goss-Custard, 70, (right outside court) the stepdaughters of the judge's second wife, Sheila, says that he was sound of mind and loved them when he wrote his final will

His own property, Manor Heath, in Woking, Surrey, was sold for 815,000 in 1997 and the proceeds split between him and his two sons, Michael, and the Rev Peter.

Earlier wills of Lord Templeman divided all of his estate between his sons, their spouses and his grandchildren - but he had a change of heart following Sheila's death in 2008, Mr Learmonth said.

A new will was drawn up and signed, leaving Mellowstone - which he had himself inherited from Sheila - to Jane and Sarah.

His own sons would inherit most of what was left of the 817,000 estate, having already received over 200,000 each as gifts in the years before his death.

'Lord Templeman was clearly very close to Mrs Goss-Custard and Mrs Edworthy and they were plainly devoted to him,' the barrister told the judge.

'Mrs Edworthy often went on holiday with him and Sheila, and she and Mrs Goss-Custard both supported him during Sheila's final illness and did not abandon him following Sheila's death.

'Quite the opposite - they continued to help and comfort him after her death, as they did for the six years after his last will.

'Eileen Turnham, Lord Templeman's sister, says that Lord Templeman loved them and looked on them as daughters.'

Challenging the validity of the new will, Michael Templeman says his father's failing memory in 2008 meant he did not have 'testamentary capacity' to make it.

He was so badly affected that he could not operate his Sky TV remote and family members feared that he sometimes forgot to eat at night, he said.

Mr Templeman had had to email Jane, who lived close to Lord Templeman, to ask her to leave him written instructions on how to use the remote, he told the judge.

Despite being financially secure, his dad frequently worried 'irrationally' about his income and tax, and carried a sheaf of crib sheets to remind him 'what not to worry about'.

'He constantly needed to be reminded,' said Michael. 'His default setting was to worry irrationally and he needed the papers to stop him worrying.'

He said his father and Sheila had agreed in 2004 what to do with their estates and neither of their wills at that time left the house to the sisters.

Jane and Sarah had already received a major windfall when Sheila passed onto them shares in a 'very very desirable' 870,000 waterfront property in Cornwall.

In then going back on that by making the new will in 2008, there was 'the strongest possible evidence that he had forgotten' what was agreed, said Mr Templeman.

The validity of the will was also called into question by the fact that the ex-judge had allowed minor errors to go uncorrected, he says.

But the sisters claim Lord Templeman was no more than 'slightly forgetful' when he made the final will in 2008.

Jane, from Lympstone, near Exeter, said: 'For the first year or two following Sheila's death, he coped very well, although he was very sad. He was an 88-year-old man living alone, recently widowed and he carried on very well.'

'He was very close to us, but Michael and Peter were his sons and he loved them. We spent a lot of time with him. We did grow to love him and I think he loved us. It's been said by a few people that he looked on us as his daughters.'

Ms Edworthy, a former teacher from Newport, south Wales, talked to Lord Templeman every night and would sometimes have to talk him through using the TV remote over the phone, the court heard.

But she said she too sometimes had problems with it, and added: 'I can understand somebody of 80-odd years not being able to use a Sky control.'

Mr Learmonth pointed to evidence from renowned old-age psychiatrist, Prof Robert Howard, who said Lord Templeman was 'very likely' to have had capacity to make the will.

Even by the time of his death, his dementia was still only in the 'mild to moderate' range, the professor said.

Lord Templeman's great intellect would have enabled him to cope with Alzheimer's better than most, a phenomenon known as 'cognitive reserve', said the barrister.

Mr Templeman had also himself accepted gifts of large sums of money 'without quibble' when his father handed out more than 500,000 to members of his family between 2009 and 2011, said the barrister.

If the 2008 will is upheld, Sarah and Jane will get the proceeds of sale of Mellowstone after tax, with Michael and Rev Peter splitting the bulk of what is left of the estate, which was valued at 817,000.

If the will is overturned, Sarah and Jane will get 18,000 each, with the rest split between Michael, Peter and Lord Templeman's six grandchildren.

The hearing continues, but Mr Justice Fancourt is expected to reserve his decision until a later date.
The IMO says meeting future demand within the health sector should be a priority for the next Government.

There is cross-party approval for the ten-year Slaintecare plan which aims to transform services, with many interest groups calling for the full implementation of the initiative.
Open source

The concession competition has ended in Ukraine, as a result of which the Olvia port in Mykolaiv will be transferred to Qatars QTerminals. Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk reported this on his Telegram channel.

According to him, the leading port operator of Qatar is investing 138,6 million dollars in the Ukrainian state-owned enterprise. The head of government also noted that, as a result, the Ukrainian budget will receive 3,3 million dollars of annual payments and 3,2 million dollars for the development of the local infrastructure of the Mykolaiv region.

Ukraine's PM reminded that this was the best way to attract investment in the port, while the company would remain fully state-owned.

"I am sure that the experienced investor will modernize the infrastructure of the port, attract new cargoes and routes, as well as contribute to the enrichment and development of Mykolaiv and Ukraine," he emphasized.

As we reported earlier, Ukraines Cabinet of Ministers will sign a partnership agreement with Deutsche Bahn in February this year. Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk wrote about it on his Facebook page.

"Now our team is in talks with the German side about further cooperation in operational activities, provision of advisory services on the part of the German railway," Honcharuk said.
The Madras High Court on Friday declared as null and void the elections held to the South Indian Artistes Association, apex body of actors, in June last year and ordered fresh polls.

Justice K Kalyana Sundaram, who passed the order on various petitions filed on the matter, directed that elections to the posts of office-bearers of the association be conducted afresh within three months and appointed Justice B Gokuldas as the election officer.

"In the ultimate analysis, this Court has no hesitation to hold that the decisions taken by the Executive Committee of the petitioner association in the meetings held after the expiry of their tenure i.e., on 18.10.2018 and the actions taken pursuant to the same are invalid in law and not binding on the members of the Association," he said in the order.

He also said the Special Officer appointed by the government shall continue to discharge her duties till declaration of the results and the new office bearers assume office.

The court had earlier stayed counting of votes in view of alleged irregularities in postal ballots and that the announcement for the elections was issued after the tenure of the office-bearers ended.

The Tamil Nadu government had informed the court that the elections were invalid as they were not conducted in accordance with the bylaws of the association.

The series of litigations started after the Registrar of Societies passed an order deferring the election to the association indefinitely in view of the allegations that name of 61 members were allegedly removed from the rolls just days before the election.

Challenging the order, actor Vishal, the general secretary of the association, moved the high court. After several rounds of hearings, the high court finally permitted the conduct of election on June 23 last year.

There were allegations that the state government was interfering in the affairs of the association by appointing a special officer to manage the affairs of the body.

The state government through its counsel submitted that the Registrar of Societies had every right to inquire into the complaints filed by members of the association and if needed to appoint special officers to monitor the affairs of the association.

The state further stated that as per bye-laws of the association, there is no provision to extend the tenure of the existing office bearers and hence the election conducted by office bearers whose term were expired are invalid.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
T he violent storm that has lashed parts of Spain with heavy rains, powerful winds and huge waves has now killed at least 13 people.

Spanish authorities said four people were still missing after Storm Gloria triggered floods, collapsed bridges and swept away roads.

Catalan authorities confirmed two more deaths on Thursday night after a man was swept out to sea while fishing in the coastal town of Ametlla de Mar and another was found dead in his car after floods in Cabaces.

Strong winds blow thick sea foam through the streets of Tossa De Mar, Catalonia / SILVIA RAGOLTA SOMS via REUTERS

The national weather authority said the storm had begun to recede but more than 100 roads remained closed and tens of thousands of students were kept out of school.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said: "I think what's important right now is that we're all united, that we work shoulder-to-shoulder and cooperate, as we are doing.

Noting that the storm had hit just as the area readied itself for the tourist season, Mr Sanchez said his government had called an emergency meeting for Friday to help reestablish normality, guarantee security and immediate and medium-term needs.

Dramatic Moment Strong Wave Crashes Into Homes In Mallorca

Winds of up to 90mph and waves up to 13.5 metres high slammed into seafront shops and wiped out beaches and boardwalks in parts of the peninsula on Sunday.

Frothy sea foam carpeted several streets in the small town of Tossa de Mar near Barcelona.

Hundreds of thousands of people were left without power as the storm covered roads in snow, flooded farmlands and poured saltwater into the Ebro delta in northeastern Spain, swallowing thousands of hectares of rice paddies.

A 69-year-old man was pulled into the sea by a wave in Catalonia and another died in the province of Almeria as hail pounded a greenhouse where he had been working.

The prime minister said that while every meteorological phenomenon could not be attributed to climate change, it was evident that it was having an impact.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 24

By Matanat Nasibova - Trend:

Ganja Instrumentation Plant, a large industrial enterprise in Azerbaijan, plans to establish exports of LED lamps in 2020, considering the great demand in the market, a source at the company told Trend.

"The volume of production of these goods amounted to over 3,000 units in 2019. This year, the company plans to significantly increase this figure in order to fully cover demand in the domestic market, as well as establish supplies abroad. Neighboring Georgia is considered as a potential market for supplies," the source said.

Ganja Instrumentation Plant is one of the largest Azerbaijani enterprises in the field of instrument making, engaged in the development and production of measuring instruments, automatic and automated control systems.

The plants activity is aimed at developing and raising the level of instrument making in Azerbaijan and creating modern, high-quality water meters, gas pressure regulators and other measuring instruments that are in demand in the market within the country and abroad.

The plant is located on the territory covering more than five hectares. The production area is 6,000 square meters.

The plant has employed around 170 people.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @MatanatNasibova
The Mirror Crackd from Side to Side, an iconic detective fiction, written by Agatha Christie was adapted for the stage by award-winning playwright Rachel Wagstaff, who has also adapted Paula Hawkinss The Girl On The Train, among others. The play was directed by theatre-director and designer Melly Still. Now, re-contextualised for the first time, for an Indian audience, by writer Ayeesha Menon, the play will be staged at the NCPA.

Still, who is also directing this Indian version, says she came to India last year and spent some time meeting people to find out what they thought about the story and if it would be an interesting prospect to reimagine it for an Indian audience. She also believes that all of Christies stories spoke of the socio-political times she was living in. Everyone seemed to be excited about the idea and thats why we went ahead with it. I asked people I knew and met, if the story were to be made in India, where and when should it be made because it needed to have that social background, Still says.

Set in 1976, the mystery revolves around a fading Bollywood actor Mamta (Sonali Kulkarni) hosting a dinner party at her villa in Goa, following a drinks session, the night ends in a murder. This is the first time I am getting to work with such a fantastic crew. It didnt feel like we were in rehearsals but it felt more like an acting workshop. All the actors discovered the script together. We spoke about each others characters and it wasnt about mugging up lines. Our director is extremely frank and sincere. She had done this play earlier but she wanted to explore the play with us all over again, says Sonali, who has acted in numerous plays and films.

Shernaz Patel, who will be playing a house-bound Miss Mistry (the Indian Miss Marple) says the story is not about who did what, but one gets to know a lot about each individual character. Talking about her own character, Shernaz says, Miss Mistry is a 76-year-old spinster. The world looks and perceives her as a spinster. She is extremely well-travelled, bright and intelligent. She loves solving murders, it gives her a new lease on life. She is also grappling with ageing. She is vulnerable but at the same time has this ability to go about solving mysteries by understanding what people are like. Its about the emotional ability to unmask and unravel people which she has, and playing that has been rewarding and satisfying.

Actor Shernaz Patel during a rehearsal session

Actor Denzil Smith, who plays Superintendent of Police Daniel DMello, emphasises on how this traditional whodunnit tries to focus on the why as much as the who. Agatha Christie has always been relevant and people seem to enjoy the whodunnit as a genre and nobody better than Christie who epitomises it, he says.

Then, does Mirror Crackd makes sense in an Indian context? Kulkarni is of the belief that the play is a very clean Indian adaptation. We are all Indian actors with an Indian accent, you will not smell anything foreign in this adaptation, she says. Shernaz is of the opinion that a Bollywood actor might move to Goa to pursue a quiet life.

Smith says, A good story is eternal. If the story is good structurally, it can be set anywhere, and this is one of those stories.

More Info:

What: Mirror Crackd

Where: Jamshed Bhabha Theatre, NCPA, Nariman Point

When: January 30 to February 9, at 7.30pm.
New Delhi:

Babulal Marandis Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) on Friday has announced that the party has withdrawn its support from Hemant Soren led Jharkhand government. Announcing the decision, party leader Abhay Singh said that the party has withdrawn its support from the Jharkhand government. Raj Bhavan

The expansion of the Hemant Soren ministry slated for Friday has been postponed following a request of the chief minister, Raj Bhavan sources said earlier. "The cabinet expansion has been postponed on the request of the chief minister. A new date has not been set as the CM has to recommend another date," they said.

Soren called on Governor Droupadi Murmu and urged her to postpone Friday's programme as his mind is "grief-stricken" at the killing of seven villagers at Burugulikera by "Pathalgarhi" movement supporters.

Jharkhand: Curfew in Lohardaga after violence at pro-CAA rally

Curfew has been imposed in Jharkhands Lohardaga district following violence at a pro-CAA rally on Thursday, an official statement said. Stones were hurled at a rally taken out in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Amlatoli Chowk area, sparking tensions, police said.

Some two-wheelers were set on fire following the attack, they said. Curfew has been imposed in the entire district in the wake of law and order problems, the statement said on Friday.

The district magistrate, in the statement, appealed to the people to maintain peace and not lend an ear to rumours, warning of stringent action against anyone indulging in arson or ransacking. The administration has urged people to inform about any untoward situation at 06526-222513 or 100. Security has been beefed up across the district following the incident, police said.
Maharashtra: The myth of sustainable development in Mumbais infrastructure projects

by Stalin Dayanand

January 24,2020 | Source: EPW

Over the past five years, India has seen a rapid and frenzied execution of projects, mostly classified as infrastructure projects. This category of projects is like a bottomless pit, which keeps sinking the environment deeper and deeper into its abyss. Never before in the history of independent India has there been such a brutal assault on the ecology and environment. The undeniable truth that ecosystems were being permanently decimated did not ring alarm bells in the minds of the planners, the executers, the proposed ultimate beneficiaries or losers. Even if they did, few mustered the courage and conviction to speak for the environment and nature.



Go away, Go away, Go away, or else force will be used against you read the banner. For a moment, I thought that I had travelled back in time to the British era when the British would use similar boards to warn Indians not to assemble in public. I wondered if I was dreaming, and pinched myself only to find that I was not. This was a banner in the Aarey Milk Colony, put up by the local police station against the ordinary peace-loving citizens who were engaged in the longest battle anywhere in the world to save an urban forest. The young and old, rich and poor, educated and illiterate had all closed ranks and presented a united resistance to the government of the day that was hell-bent on destroying Mumbais green lungs, the Aarey Milk Colony.



Biodiversity in Aarey



The forestlands of 1,280 hectare (ha) that stand today, giving Mumbai lower temperatures, more oxygen, and a recreational space, while simultaneously accommodating an array of flora and fauna, were listed and protected under the Indian Forest (Conservation) Act and Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1974. A service centre for a metro project (The ColabaSantacruz Electronic Export Processing Zone [SEEPZ] Metro 3) was extended beyond its last stop at SEEPZ to about a kilometre into a no-development zone and a forest area. The explanation given for this transgression was that there was no other space in the city for this service centre except in this green forested area as described in the project proponents own order. The land that was selected was a mixture of a densely wooded area, with grasslands, marshes, and three rivulets, right on the banks of one of Mumbais longest rivers, the Mithi river. With 86 species of trees found on the plot, the land was also a favourite spot to sight wildlife like rock pythons, leopards, about 76 types of birds, and medicinal plants, all of which have been documented by eminent academicians like Rajendra Shinde, who heads the botany department of St Xaviers College. The rebuttal by the government denying the ecological importance of the land was summed up in one sentence: The land does not reflect as a forest as per government land records (Times of India 2019; Telegraph 2019).



This counterargument is akin to identifying the data from a radio-collared tiger as that belonging to a civet cat because the records said so, and that since the data said that the radio-collar was of a civet cat, the tiger should stop being recognised as a tiger. This absurd argument was put forward, and troll armies on social media gleefully spread this misinformation, defaming citizens and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) protesting against the governments decisions. What were the citizens trying to do? They were pleading with the government to correct its records and declare the area as a forest.



A series of litigations and scores of protests on the ground have been going on for the last five years. The courts have treaded with extreme caution to ensure that all sides and issues have been heard and the case decided on merit. The legal battle has finally landed at the apex courts doorsteps. This perfectly avoidable litigation has dragged on simply because of the governments adamant and arrogant attitude, one bordering on indignation and pompousness. This litigation was avoidable if the state accepted its mistake in not identifying the Aarey lands as forests. If that was done, all these battles would not have to be fought.



The citizens call for a public debate for over five years was never accepted. Instead, a whole new approach, which was unheard of during the history of earlier governments, was adopted. Exorbitant amounts of public money were recklessly spent to spread misinformation. Full-page ads in all newspapers were published, and videos released on social media. A section of trolls was engaged especially to intimidate and defame NGOs and cast aspersions on citizens selflessly fighting tooth and nail to save Mumbais forests (Johari 2019; Satija 2019).



The Coastal Road



It is said you cannot have your cake and eat it too. Whoever said this has not met the government in Maharashtra, which managed to convince people that the metro projects were a godsend and would reduce pollution, save fuel, reduce traffic, and even sequester more carbon than trees. So, did the answer to climate change have to be the building of more metro lines and the making of more service stations, while replacing and removing trees at a breakneck speed?



The very same absurd logic was used for the coastal road too. If the metro would reduce traffic, pray, what would the coastal road do? Make cars evaporate into thin air? The coastal road would ensure that thousands or more cars make it to the southern end of the city and create a traffic and parking nightmare for South Mumbai. The question that comes to peoples mind is that why is this being done. The answer is that if there is a traffic and parking nightmare in South Mumbai, it becomes a reason to demolish its heritage facade and replace it with monstrous commercial/residential towers with ample parking space. The driving logic is simple, create a crisis and profit from it.



Let us assume here for a minute that the coastal road is a necessity. The original plan was to build the road on stilts to avoid damage to the coastline and ecology. It seemed like a good idea until we look at what happened later. This condition or safeguard was dumped since it was expensive, and hence, it was decided that reclamation would be undertaken instead. The reclamation proposed was for 90 ha. Out of this 90 ha, the reclamation for the road was 20 ha and the remaining was to create land for the city. Yes, the sea was to recede by 90 ha because Mumbais planners felt the need to create more land for the city! This plan was envisioned for a city that is predicted to be severely affected along with Mangaluru due to the rising sea levels. This suicidal mission has been aborted, albeit for now, by the judiciary, which clearly declared that this was not an infrastructure project, but an area development project. The matter is pending final adjudication in the apex court. But, shockingly, the court has allowed the destruction to continue while saying that the case would be heard in April 2020.



There is no logic or reasoning as to why a court of law, which is meant to uphold the law, has chosen to allow its violation and kept the matter pending for disposal. This is nothing but an evident attempt to tell citizens that they dare not try to save the environment, and that the precautionary principle meant to protect the environment can be ignored. What good will come out of the final hearing in April? Will the damaged shoreline with its natural rocky areas which are being pulverised be remodelled? Centuries of natures landscaping will be lost forever. The risk of inundation and the loss of beaches is inevitable, but then, the judiciary in this case seems to believe that the government can possibly recreate the original shoreline...



The findings and judgment of the court do not convey any justice or transparency, being blatantly biased and in favour of the government. The fundamental belief that the government knows best itself is a flawed understanding. If the governments did what they needed to, then citizens would not be compelled to fight in order to save the environment. If the governments did what they needed to, then we would not be staring at climate change, rising temperatures, pollution and rising sea levels, loss of ecology, etc. This direction of the apex court has undone decades of earlier judicial interventions, which have managed to save the remaining fragments of biodiversity in our country. It can only go downhill from here for the environment.



Jawaharlal Nehru Port



The largest wetland in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region is vanishing by the minute. The wetlands of Uran were among the best in the world. A mixture of waterbodies, grasslands, reeds, marshes, lakes, etc, made this place like none other. At any given point of time, over two lakh birds of at least 100 or more species could be spotted in the wetlands of Uran. Students of ornithology were asked to go to Uran to learn about birds, such was its beauty. But, what happened next was that the Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) was proposed in the same area, initiating the degradation of the wetlands. Uran has transformed into a dust bowl from a thriving wetland. Anyone who wants to see how a wetland can be destroyed, must visit Uran and see the horror with their own eyes. The JNPT project has spelt the death of the entire zone.



Was this avoidable? Yes. The truth should have been told to the Ministry of Environment and Forests at the beginning of the project itself. Even today, the truth is hidden from the people. The project takes permissions or environment clearances in a piecemeal fashion to avoid intense scrutiny. So far, three terminals have been built and a fourth one has just got approval. All wetland areas near the landing berth areas have been reclaimed and decimated beyond repair. With just four terminals on the ground, most of Urans wetlands have vanished. The nearby fishing villages have been severely affected by the loss of fisheries. Flooding of villages has become common due to the rampant reclamation undertaken. The fact of the matter is that 14 terminals are proposed (Asian Age 2019), and if they are completed, nothing will survive in terms of ecology or coastal communities. Birds or even wetlands will become a rare event, like the sighting of a total solar eclipse. Seeing carpets of wetland birds in Uran is now history. A few hundred birds are still clinging on to what they see as their homes in the hope that human greed will reduce and they will be spared. But, no such luck is coming their way. Was this damage avoidable? Yes. The landing terminal could have been made with just the ancillary facilities, being located a couple of kilometres inland would have helped the port and ecology to coexist. A little compassion and honesty in planning would have made that possible.
MELBOURNE, Australia  Five players seeded in the top 10 had been knocked out of the Australian Open across the mens and womens draws on Friday, and Roger Federer appeared ready to join their exodus.

On the same court where Serena Williams and the reigning Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka had suffered stunning defeats just hours earlier, Federer trailed by 8-4 in a first-to-10 tiebreaker at the end of the fifth set against John Millman of Australia. Federer was two points from defeat in a bruising match that had stretched past four hours, then suddenly rallied, reeling off six straight points to snatch a 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (10-8) victory to reach the fourth round.

Oh God, it was tough, Federer said in his on-court interview. Thank God it was a super tiebreaker, otherwise I would have lost this one. John played a great match  he might as well have been out here as well doing the interview.

Federer was helped by the final-set tiebreaker going to 10 points, a format this tournament adopted last year, instead of ending at 7 like the match-ending tiebreakers used at the United States Open and at Wimbledon.
As youre reading this Im on my way home. Well, on my way from one home (Australia) to another (UK).

Its been a whirlwind trip, especially on the back of my travels to the US for CES. Suffice to say, Ill be looking forward to not getting on another plane anytime soon.

Right now though, it is an unavoidable necessity.

Unfortunately, this means I also didnt have time to prepare a new article for you today. But, I do have something better. A timely piece from the archives that is as poignant today as it was then. The below article was previously published on 26 January 2017.

So please enjoy, and Ill talk to you again next week.

Regards,

Sam

The War on Fake News Starts Here: Are You Really Celebrating Australia Day?

Happy Straya Day.

For many Aussies, 26 January is a special, sacred day.

A day to start that special backyard project you promised your wife about this time last year. A sacred day to spend at the pub, sinking beers with the mates. A special day to not rock up to work  yet still make a buck. Or indeed, the most sacred day every few years when its on a Thursday and you chuck a sickie on the Friday for an extra-long weekend.

Of course, Im not suggesting the average Australian doesnt really care about Australia Dayactually, yes I am.

Hand on heart, tell me this national day is more than just another early day off work in the year. Honestly, tell me that you sit back and consider the actual ramifications of this day. Are you thankful for the arrival of convict ships and white settlement in 1788?

Is that your own thought process? Or someone elses?

You know what Australia Day really is? Its the countrys first example of fake news. And weve all bought into it.

Let me expand on that thought a little more

Download your FREE report now, to discover Three Exciting Tech Trends and Three Small-Cap Stocks that could Explode in 2020.

Nice words around a horrific situation

Heres a paragraph from the governments Australia Day website:

Australia Day, 26 January, is the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet of 11 convict ships from Great Britain, and the raising of the Union Jack at Sydney Cove by its commander Captain Arthur Phillip, in 1788.

According to the website, this day represents contemporary Australia. It talks about our bright future. It even tries to remind us that its more than just barbeques and fireworks.

The truth is there right in front of us, though. Arrival of convict ships. Great Britain. The raising of the Union Jack. It all sounds very Australian, doesnt it?

The fact is, Australia Day celebrates the invasion of our great country by the British. Thats it in a nutshell.

Now, this isnt a political grandstand about the merits of Australia Day. Im not here to debate when, or if, this national holiday should even exist. Im not an expert on the First Fleet, white settlement in Australia, the Stolen Generation, or Aboriginal land rights.

But Im going to point out the fact that were supposed to celebrate some prisoners on some ships, and a British bloke claiming land that wasnt rightfully his.

Those are the facts. You decide what to do with them.

It feels as though Australians (myself included) are, from a young age, conned into thinking that Australia Day should be a great day. The significance overshadows the real facts. The nice words forced into our vulnerable young minds hide a truly horrific time in Australias history.

That, my friends, is what fake news is. Its a story that someone feeds you in such a way that distorts and bends the truth. It makes you look left while you get a knife in the right.

This day in history is significant. No doubt about it. But a celebration it is not. And I dont blame you for having a barbeque and some beers on your day off. I blame the government and the media, which, for 229 years, have fed us fake news about Australia Day.

Youre going to hear more about fake news this year. Its going to be one of the biggest issues of the year. It might even be the biggest issue of our rapidly changing world.

People have figured out that you can write just about anything online these days and get away with it. The number of posts, blogs, and articles that appear under false names, no names, or pseudonyms is astounding.

And like how people in the 50s took what was said on TV as gospelpeople in the 2010s are taking things they see online as gospel, too.

The power to influence the masses these days is incredible. If you have a big enough audience, you can say almost anything and do whatever you like  such as become president.

What you say doesnt even have to make sense. It doesnt have to be kind. It can be angry, rude, hurtful, wrongit can be alternative facts and it simply doesnt matter anymore.

Its a whole new media landscape where everything is true until proven not to be. It used to be the other way around. And thats a big problem.

Today, the real war begins

I left Facebook because I was fed up with fake news. Ive stopped watching the nightly news and mainstream newspapers for similar reasons. I simply have no faith that theyre telling the truth about following an agenda.

Ive always believed in looking outside mainstream, traditional channels for information though. It means doing my own investigations into bigger issues and forming my own views, not those of others. Its time-consuming and challenging to do. And then to put those views out in a public forum, like Money Morning, is no easy feat. You should see some of the emails we get from time to time!

FREE report: 10 ripping Aussie mining stocks to buy now.

There are a lot of sources out there that do great work. They get real information, and process it into coherent views and tangible advice without distorting fact. I like to think were one of those sources.

And for those that arent, watch out. Im on a rampage this year. Ill be calling you out for the fake news you are. For the anonymous bloggers, the research houses operating under pseudonyms, those who claim to be in the know, but havent got the balls to put their name to their work  Im coming.

Today, the war on fake news begins. And Im starting it.

Regards,

Sam Volkering,

Editor, Money Morning
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and AAP leader Manish Sisodia challenged Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday to show one government school in any BJP-ruled state that is comparable to government schools of the national capital.

Shah, on Thursday, attacked the AAP, asking how many schools were constructed by its government in Delhi. Responding to Shah, Sisodia invited the former BJP president to his Patparganj assembly constituency to visit the newly built 'school of excellence' there.

"I don't know whether he is looking for a school in Delhi or the sky using his binoculars. We have not just constructed new schools, but also refurbished the old to a great extent," he said, challenging Shah to show a single government school of comparable standards built in any BJP-ruled state.

Had the seven BJP MPs of Delhi done any work for people, he alleged, the party's central leadership would not have to resort to 'jumlas' or be "confused" about issues to attack the Arvind Kejriwal government.

"I again wish to state that you (Shah) are most welcome to come to talk to us about real issues, but please don't conjure things up," he said.

He also said of the 2,80,000 CCTV cameras that were to be installed, the government has installed more than 2,00,000 cameras and the process is on to install the remaining.

Reacting to Shah's comment that his phone's battery died trying to find free Wi-Fi service of the AAP government, Sisodia said he is worried about this because if "India's Hon'ble Home Minister's phone battery runs out of charge the nation will come to a standstill".

"The Delhi government has a system to provide free electricity up to 200 units, I request him to keep his phone charged always, because he won't be able to use the free Wi-Fi on a dead phone," he said.

Sisodia said the AAP government will install 11,000 WiFi hotspots across Delhi and it has already launched more than 1,000 such hotspots.

"If he accompanies me to any major market area, I will show him the spots" said Sisodia.

"Yesterday, the Hon'ble Home Minister of India made some statements during his rally in Delhi and I think it's appreciable that he is talking about the work done in Delhi. We had said we have entered the political arena to transform the manner in which is conducted and Shah himself provides ample proof of the manner in which we have changed the narrative," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ms. Crowley fact-checked Mr. Romney when he wrongly claimed it took Mr. Obama 14 days to call an attack in Benghazi, Libya, an act of terror.

The meeting between Mr. Parscale and Mr. Fahrenkopf ended after 45 minutes with no resolution.

Since then, Mr. Parscale has told people that he was investigating other options for hosting the debates. It is not clear which outside firms he or other officials are talking to, and the campaign declined to provide any details.

We want to have debates that are fair and are more geared toward informing the American people than to boosting the careers of the moderators, Tim Murtaugh, a spokesman for Mr. Trumps campaign, said of the meeting.

The commission has scheduled three presidential debates, to be held on college campuses in late September and October, as well as one vice-presidential debate.

Mr. Trump has been discussing the possibility of sitting out the general election debates for months. He has harbored bad feelings about the debate commission since the 2016 election, when he accused them of putting him at a disadvantage on purpose by giving him a defective mic at the first debate. (Mr. Trump was clearly audible to television viewers, but the commission said a technical malfunction affected the volume of his voice in the debate hall.)

After The New York Times reported that Mr. Trump had discussed the possibility of sitting the debates out, he wrote on Twitter that he wanted to face off against his eventual Democratic opponent. But he said that the problem is that the so-called Commission on Presidential Debates is stacked with Trump Haters & Never Trumpers.

He added that there are many options, including doing them directly & avoiding the nasty politics of this very biased Commission. I will make a decision at an appropriate time but in the meantime, the Commission on Presidential Debates is NOT authorized to speak for me (or Rs)!
It began at a historic press conference in Cairo Jan. 15. Israels Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz and his Egyptian counterpart Tarek El-Molla announced that Israel would begin pumping natural gas to Egypt. It was the final accord of a turbulent decade for Steinitz, which began in 2009, when he was appointed finance minister. This was followed by the discovery of vast natural gas fields in Israel (Tamar and Leviathan), which resulted in years of bitter social, economic and environmental battles. At the center of all this fighting were the gas tycoons and social activists, with Steinitz fighting both, first in his capacity as finance minister, from 2009-2013, and later as minister of energy, 2015-today. Activists took to the streets to demonstrate against him and even threatened to destroy his political career.

As he waited in Cairo airport that evening for his flight back to Israel, Steinitz could see the TV monitors playing clips from the press conference. Watching himself standing beside his Egyptian counterpart, with the flags of Egypt and Israel behind him, he felt as if he had just closed a circle. It was the first time the Egyptian public was exposed to this important example of economic cooperation between the two countries.

On another occasion, Molla called it the biggest instance of cooperation between Egypt and Israel since the signing of the 1979 peace treaty. The natural gas discoveries and ensuing export agreements not only ensure that Israel will enjoy energy independence in the next decade. It also grants it the status of a regional geopolitical power and strengthens its common interests with Egypt and Jordan, to whom Israel will also be exporting gas.

The timing could not have been better for Steinitz. This week saw the release of his book The Battle Over the Gas (Yedioth Aharonoth), which describes a decade of squabbles and fighting. It all began in 2010, during his first visit to the gas platform in the middle of the Mediterranean, as guest of gas tycoon Yitzhak Tshuva. It was Tshuva, together with American gas company Noble Energy, who was responsible for discovering the vast Tamar and Leviathan natural gas reserves. What Steinitz describes as a pastoral moment was the beginning of a big adventure, which ended with Israel pumping gas to Egypt and Jordan.

Israel didnt really treat this as a major event, Steinitz told Al-Monitor. I imagine that it is hard to swallow the idea that someone on the right signed this agreement, but its real importance is that it strengthens the axis of peace. Egypt is just the beginning. The plan is that much of the gas will be exported via Egypt to Europe, too. This will expand cooperation between Israel and Egypt. A journalist told me that if I had been an energy minister from [left-wing] Meretz or the Labor Party, green organizations and the entire media would lift me up on their shoulders as a hero.

This claim is interesting and worthy of further investigation. Regardless, there can be no doubt that Israels transformation into a regional exporter of natural gas is an economic and geopolitical drama.

Steinitz said that gas exports will cut the cost of electricity, but thats just a small part of it. There are two other huge benefits. State revenues will increase by $100 million-$150 million over the next 30 years, and the contribution to the economy will be even greater, because it will spare the country the cost of importing energy.

Steinitz could not stress enough that, apart from the economic and geopolitical advantages of this natural gas, it also offers environmental advantages. Thanks to gas, we are able to cut pollution in Israel dramatically. We will all be healthier because of it. We will save the lives of tens of thousands of Israelis, thanks to natural gas.

Steinitz, who has a doctoral degree in philosophy, began his career in academia. He was a popular lecturer on the philosophy of science, an author and a Peace Now anti-occupation activist. Having reached new conclusions about the geopolitical situation after the signing of the 1993 Oslo Accord, he crossed the lines and joined the Likud. He decided to turn the battles he waged over Israels gas resources into a book, which offers easy access to his experiences during the years he served as minister of finance and later, of energy. The book provides a glimpse behind the curtains concealing those events. There are unflattering portraits of various politicians, some of them still in office, as well as an anecdote about how one strategic consultant warned him that the gas tycoons would kill his political career. This occurred at the height of the Sheshinski Committee debates, which concluded that gas companies future profits should be cut considerably. Steinitz also uses the book to settle accounts with politicians from the center-left, like Knesset member Miki Haimovich of the Blue and White party, who wanted the gas to be left in the ground.

While his book is a subjective account that reads like a personal quest, it reflects the entire era, including events that are still subject to bitter debate. Critics claim that Steinitz actually acted against the public interest.

The truth is the exact opposite, Steinitz said. This struggle changed the relationship between capital and government in Israel. For the first time, we have proved that if the finance minister and the entire government want, and if they have the backing of the prime minister, the state can win these fights. It is also a huge boost to Israels geopolitical status. We are members of an organization [the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum], which was formed as a result of my meeting in Washington with the Egyptian energy minister. Other members include Cyprus, Italy, Greece, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority. Now France has asked for membership, and more Arab states may yet join in the future.

One person who was quick to try and score points off the historic event of Israel pumping gas to Egypt was Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He tweeted Jan. 17: We have become an energy power. The significance of this is enormous. We will have hundreds of billions of shekels to invest in the education of our children, our health, the welfare of our parents and in strengthening our economy. I fought for the gas project blueprint so that Israel could become an influential exporter of gas on an international scale 

Netanyahu remained true to course by downplaying Steinitzs contribution to this process. My one comment to Netanyahu would be that he needs to give more credit to people, Steinitz said. Still, I am grateful for all the heavy support he gave me at all the major crossroads in this venture, and particularly with the outline for the natural gas project. Besides, people can always give more credit.
A traveller wears a mask, after arriving on a direct flight from China, as Canada's Public Health Agency added a screening question for visitors and began displaying messages in several airports urging travellers to report flu-like symptoms in efforts to prevent any introduction of coronavirus, at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada January 24, 2020. REUTERS/Jennifer Gauthier

The new strain of coronavirus has reached Europe after France confirmed three cases.

A 48-year-old man is being treated in a Bordeaux hospital in the southwest of the country after testing positive.

He had passed through the Chinese city of Wuhan - the epicentre of the outbreak - before arriving in France on Wednesday.

Two other people are in hospital in Paris. They also travelled to China and are believed to belong to the same family.

Health minister Agnes Buzyn said France has developed a test doctors can use to quickly diagnose patients and this was one reason why it was the first European nation to confirm cases.

Ms Buzyn predicted there would probably be more positive tests in her country.

It comes as the United States announced a second case after a woman was found to have contracted the strain.

She is in her 60s and is being treated in a Chicago hospital where she is reportedly doing well. She had travelled to Wuhan in December before flying home to Illinois.

China announced today it is building a new 1,000-bed hospital in just six days to treat victims of the virus.

Work has started on the structure in Wuhan in the style of a facility Beijing constructed during the SARS epidemic 17 years ago.

Machinery including 35 diggers and 10 bulldozers arrived at the site on Thursday night, with the aim of the hospital being operational by 3 February.

It comes as the coronavirus death toll in China increased to 41 and the number of confirmed cases around the world was 1,287.

Lockdowns to contain the new virus have been extended to at least 10 cities - including nine in Hubei province - effectively isolating 33 million people.

Restrictions include the suspension of public transport services, while some cities have also shut public venues such as temples and cinemas.

Authorities have warned of more stringent and targeted measures.

"The spread of the virus has not been cut off. Local authorities should take more responsibility and have a stronger sense of urgency," state broadcaster CCTV said.

Story continues

British grandmother trapped in Wuhan

Veronica Theobald, from Lancaster, is visiting her grandson, Kharn Lambert, who has lived in the city for five years.

The 81-year-old has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and has not left the house where she is staying in over a week.

She was due to fly back to England on Monday - but she is unable to with the city in lockdown.

Mr Lambert, a PE teacher, said: "There is no knowing how long she will have to stay here, and I'm worried about her running out of the medication she needs for her health so I'm in constant contact with the British embassy.

"I do worry if I have to go out for whatever reason that I will bring something back into the house and she will become infected and fall ill.

"My family at home are extremely concerned about her, but I'm trying hard to reassure them that I am taking the best care of her as I can."

Is it a global health emergency?

Not yet.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the outbreak an emergency but said it was "too early" to consider it a "public health emergency of international concern" given "its restrictive and binary nature".

WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: "Make no mistake, though, this is an emergency in China.

"But it has not yet become a global health emergency. It may yet become one."

What do we know about the new virus?

There is no vaccine for the new viral infection, which can cause pneumonia and can be passed from person to person .

The symptoms include fever, coughing and difficulty breathing.

Though the origin of the virus has yet to be identified, the WHO has said the primary source is probably an animal.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses ranging from the common cold to severe diseases such as SARS - which killed nearly 800 people during the 2002-03 outbreak.

When a new strain emerges that has not yet been identified, as with the current outbreak, it becomes known as a novel coronavirus (nCoV).

:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker

What about the rest of the world?

Overseas, five cases have been found in Thailand, three in Singapore and Taiwan, two in the US, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam and the autonomous region of Macau, and one in Nepal.

In Singapore, schools have asked parents to declare their overseas holiday plans as authorities screen travellers at air, land and sea checkpoints to combat the spread of the deadly virus.

Airports around the world - including in Dubai, Australia and South Africa - have stepped up screening of travellers arriving from affected regions.

In the UK, 14 people have been checked for coronavirus - all have tested negative, Public Health England said.

Measures are also in force in the UK to guard against the virus, including taking aircraft to a special designated area of Heathrow's Terminal 4 .
A Louisiana woman who was fatally shot inside her home is leaving behind five daughters, including a five-year-old who is suffering from cancer.

Police said Kalisca Williams, 26, was shot Tuesday by 32-year-old Terrence Brown after he allegedly got into an argument with another person, fired his handgun and fatally struck Williams.

Williams was pronounced dead in her Bossier City home around 11:10 p.m..

Brown was arrested on a warrant for second-degree murder.

My mama was my best friend, Williams eight-year-old daughter Tarodjanay James told KTBS.

Williams family said Kalisca was pregnant when she was fatally shot and her mother died two years ago.

We told them that their mom went home, Williams grandmother Ruthie Washington said, KTBS reports. Their mom went to heaven with their grandmother. They just fell on the floor screaming and hollering.

Theyre going to hang in there with me and Im going to hang in there with them, said Washington, who is the great-grandmother of the children.

Terrence Brown | Bossier City Police

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLEs free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Neighbor Arlene Castillo said the neighborhood has become more dangerous in recent years.

Many families on this street have lived here for generations, she said, according to KSLA. And this neighborhood used to be a safe place. My parents would let me ride my bike by myself. But because of the drug activity, I wont even allow my grandkids to play outside without supervision.

Brown is being held in Bossier City jail. No bond has been set.

It is unclear if he has entered a plea or retained an attorney.

Anyone who may have information on the crime is asked to contact the Bossier City Police Department at 318-741-8610 or anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
The construction of the Iasi-Targu Mures and Sibiu-Pitesti motorways are two of the Government's greater priorities, Prime Minister Ludovic Orban said in Iasi on Friday.

Attending the events dedicated to the Unification of the Romanian Principalities, the head of the Executive showed that both motorways "are fundamental to ensure the connection between the historical provinces"."Our objective is to finance the Unirii [Union - ed.n.] motorway, both the feasibility study and the construction, from European funds, through the multi-annual financial exercise 2021-2027. There are two greater priorities: the Unirii motorway and Sibiu-Pitesti motorway, which are fundamental to ensures the connection between the historical provinces and, especially for you, to really ensure the connection to the motorway European transport network. Moreover, we are already preparing, you know very well that the President of Romania was the one who organized the meeting of the Three Seas where the financing of a motorway project to ensure the north-south connection in the east of the European Union was put in place. This project, which corresponds largely with the Pan European Corridor IX, will be focus of our persistence and efforts to obtain funding and to complete it," said Orban.He gave assurances that, at the next government meeting, the Iasi-Targu Mures motorway project will be transferred from the Strategy and Forecast Committee to the Ministry of Transport.At the same time, the prime minister spoke about the need to modernize the railway line that connects the north of the country with Bucharest."Also, we have budgeted for - and we will certainly accomplish it - ensuring the modernization of the railway, the main railway network that crosses Moldova, something that has never been done, by purchasing the most modern technology that provides capital repair or modernization where necessary," the prime minister went on to say.
Two children are thought to have died when a school bus crashed in Berka vor dem Hainich, near Eisenach, Germany (dpa via AP)

Two children are thought to have died and around 20 others injured after a school bus slid off a road into a ditch in Germany.

The bus reportedly crashed in thick fog near Eisenach in the state of Thuringia at about 7.30am on Thursday morning.

Police said several children were seriously injured after the bus slid down a slope into a stream.

Mit groer Besturzung erreicht mich die Nachricht vom tragischen Schulbusunfall in Berka/Hainich. Zwei tote Schulkinder sind zu beklagen und ich trauere mit den Eltern und Angehorigen. Den Verletzten wunsche ich eine schnelle Genesung und den Eltern wollen wir beistehen.  Bodo Ramelow (@bodoramelow) January 23, 2020

More information was expected to be released in a press conference later on Thursday morning.

Thuringia's prime minister Bodo Ramelow wrote on Twitter: The news of the tragic school bus accident in Berka / Hainich reaches me with great dismay.

READ MORE

John Bercow has bullying complaint filed against him by former official which 'would impact his peerage'

London teenager was killed with 'gun for hire' used in three other shootings

There are two dead school children and I mourn with the parents and relatives.

I wish the injured a speedy recovery and we want to assist the parents.

The bus is believed to have been travelling from Eisenach to Berka when it slid on slippery roads.

---Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK---
Couples are invited to laugh together on Wednesday, Feb. 12 from 6-8 p.m. during an evening about the humor that hearing loss and miscommunication brings to couples, with nationally known comic Moody Molavi.

The event will take place at the Jewish Cultural Center, 5461 North Terrace Road. Laugh, learn ways to express yourself with your partner, and listen to hearing health tips. This Valentines Day celebration event is presented by The Speech & Hearing Center in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga. Tickets are $30 per person and include heavy hors d'oeuvres, cocktails and entry to the event. Tickets are available at the Speech and Hearing website https://www.speechhearing.com or by clicking this link.

Mr. Molavi is originally from Chattanooga and he and his wife experience the seriousness and humor of hearing loss on a daily basis. His wife received her first pair of hearing aids from Chattanooga nonprofit, The Speech & Hearing Center.



"The Speech & Hearing Center, a non-profit established in 1953, focuses on education, support and services, including the most cutting edge high tech hearing aids in the industry," officials said. "The staff and board of directors believe everyone, no matter what their income level, deserves access to the best care to improve communication and enrich their life."



The Jewish Cultural Center, funded by the Jewish Federation of Greater Chattanooga, offers programs, classes and exhibits, social services and a preschoolall rooted in Jewish values. The Center and its programs are open to everyone regardless of religious affiliation.
Seoul: North Korea has named a sharp-tongued former army officer with little foreign policy experience as its top diplomat, in a possible indication it will take a harder line with Washington in stalled nuclear negotiations.

Sharp-tongued Ri Son Gwon in 2018. Credit:AP

Ri Son Gwon's new title as Foreign Minister was disclosed on Friday in a Korean Central News Agency dispatch that said he attended a reception for foreign diplomats in Pyongyang the previous day.

South Korean and other outside media outlets have recently reported North Korea informed foreign diplomats in Pyongyang of Ri's job last week.

In his speech at the banquet, "Comrade Ri Son Gwon said that the Korean people have turned out in the general offensive to break through head-on the barriers to the advance of socialist construction by dint of self-reliance ... and made public the foreign policy stand of the (North Korean) government," KCNA said.
Investigators searched the Yerevan apartment of Hrayr Tovmasian, the chairman of Armenias Constitutional Court, on Friday one month after indicting him on charges which he rejects as politically motivated.

They did not confiscate any documents kept there, according to Tovmasian and his lawyers.

Tovmasian was charged with two counts of abuse of power. Prosecutor-General Artur Davtian said late last month that he unlawfully privatized an office in Yerevan and forced state notaries to rent other premises de facto belonging to him when he served as Armenias justice minister from 2010-2014.

Tovmasian strongly denies the accusations, saying that they are part of the Armenian governments intensifying efforts to force him to resign.

The chief justice claimed that officers of the Special Investigative Service (SIS) raided his home for the same reason. The current authorities are seeking to quickly get rid of me as chairman of the Constitutional Court, and that is being done in a very crude and open manner, he told journalists after the search.

Tovmasian stressed that he has no intention to step down and remains undaunted by the possibility of his arrest. Its my cross which I have to bear, he said.

His lawyers claimed, meanwhile, that the search was conducted illegally because the SIS investigators failed to give their client a copy of the search warrant issued by a Yerevan court. The SIS was quick to deny that.

The law-enforcement agency has brought the same charges against Norayr Panosian, a former Justice Ministry official related to Tovmasian. He too denies them.

Panosian was arrested in late September. Armenias Court of Appeals freed him in early November, questioning the credibility of the charges. The SIS altered them before arresting Panosian again on January 9.

The Armenian government and investigators maintain that there are no political motives behind the high-profile case.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian implicitly demanded in August the resignation of Tovmasian and other Constitutional Court judges who were installed before he came to power in the 2018 Velvet Revolution. He accused them of maintaining links with Armenias former leadership and impeding reforms which he says are aimed at creating a truly independent judiciary.

Pashinians critics say that he is on the contrary seeking to gain control over all Armenian courts.

Tovmasian was indicted on December 27 one day after President Armen Sarkissian signed into law a controversial government bill giving seven of the nine Constitutional Court judgesfinancial incentives to resign before the end of their mandate. None of those judges has accepted the proposed early retirement so far.
The agenda and vision for reforms within the Police of Armenia were considered during a consultation convened by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan today.

In the beginning, Prime Minister Pashinyan stated the following about the topic: Overall, police reforms have been on our governments agenda since its formation, and I believe this is one of our major issues today. I must state the fact that, overall, the police have met and continue to meet their objectives after the non-violent, velvet and peoples revolution that took place in Armenia in 2018, but we must all state that, in the new public and political realities, we need new police within the contextual meaning of the word. Generally speaking, the major goal of this process must be to establish new relations between police and citizens.

We have held various discussions and considered various models, but in general, I believe the conclusion is that we need to refrain from taking piecemeal steps in the case of police and other cases, and all of our actions must be strategic.

Issues related to the main directions for police reforms, the course of development of the strategy and implementation of that strategy were considered and international cooperation was touched upon during the consultation.
URBANA, Ill. - The U.S. and China recently agreed to a phase one trade deal that aims to resolve the current trade war between the two countries. But that is just the latest development in longstanding and complicated U.S.-Chinese trade disputes.

China has consistently used tariff rate quotas to restrict grain imports, and in 2016 the U.S. launched a complaint to the World Trade Organization (WTO) over China's implementation of tariff rate quotas on wheat, corn and rice. In their report, issued in April 2019, WTO sided with the U.S., but did not provide an assessment of the effect on U.S. exports.

A new study from University of Illinois, published in Agricultural Economics, quantifies those effects and shows that China's tariff quota administration significantly affected U.S. grain exports, particularly for wheat.

"Our analysis shows that if China hadn't used trade policies to restrict trade, wheat imports from the U.S. could have been more than 80% higher in 2017. That's a value of around $300 million," says Bowen Chen, a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics at U of I. Chen is lead author on the study, which was conducted as part of his doctoral dissertation.

The dispute concerns China's administration of tariff rate quotas (TRQ), a policy instrument intended to regulate imports. Tariff rate quotas establish two tiers of tariffs, with a lower tariff for in-quota imports and a much higher tariff for out-of-quota imports. Chinese tariffs for grain commodities were 1% for in-quota and 65% for out-of-quota imports.

The system is intended to allow some access for imports at a low tariff rate, while the second-tier tariffs provide protection for domestic commodities. Under the TRQ agreement, China is obligated to import certain quantities of grain at the low tariff level. However, the U.S. contended that these obligations were not fulfilled, and that China's imports of corn, wheat and rice were far below in-quota quantities.

Chen and his colleagues analyzed trade and price data to assess the impact of Chinese TRQ policies on U.S. grain exports. They also sought to explore the rationale behind the grain quota administration in order to better inform policy initiatives and trade negotiations.

The researchers obtained monthly trade data for grain commodities from 2013 to 2017, using information from a United Nations database and the Ministry of Commerce in China. They also looked at domestic price data published by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture. Using the trade and price data, they estimated the import demand elasticities for corn, wheat and rice.

"We estimate how the prices would have been reduced if China was not imposing the tariffs. Then we simulate how the quantities would change based on the price and elasticity," Chen says.

Overall, the researchers concluded that China's 2017 grain imports could have been $1.4 billion or 40% higher. Wheat imports from the U.S. could have been $324 million or 83% higher without the restrictive policies. Corn and rice imports were affected to a lesser extent.

Chen cautions that those results are contingent on Chinese domestic prices being equal to world prices, assuming that China would not maintain high prices to support domestic production.

"If China liberated their import policy and reduced domestic price support, such market policy reforms would alleviate pressure from trading partners," Chen says. "However, they may not be interested in full trade liberalization at this time."

Chen explains that China has used TQR as a trade policy instrument to stabilize domestic prices and restrict imports, and his research can help understand why they engage in this practice.

"These restrictions will make foreign commodities more expensive and give more incentive for domestic producers, so China can eat more domestically produced food," he says.

"China wants to feed itself and be less dependent on other suppliers. Furthermore, China has huge grain stocks and want to use them. Finally, international prices are volatile, so for food security reasons they don't want prices to fluctuate too much. They want to have stable food prices so people can feel safe, buying the same food with the same budget."

Chen says the study can have implications for trade negotiators and policy makers, both in the U.S. and China, by showing the effect the TQR policy has on trade.

The new phase one trade deal stipulates that tariff rate quota administration not be used to prevent the full utilization of agricultural tariff rate quotas. The implementation of the trade deal will likely benefit U.S. grain exports to China, Chen notes.

Soybean trade is an important part of the trade negotiations between the U.S. and China, and that will be the topic for Chen's next research project.

"We will quantify the impact on U.S. soybean exports to China, calculating how exports have been reduced by the trade war in the last year. That's what I'm currently working on," he says.

###

The paper, "Tariff quota administration in China's grain markets: an empirical assessment," is published in Agricultural Economics.

Authors are Bowen Chen, Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois; and Nelson Villoria and Tian Xia, Kansas State University. Funding was provided by USDA NIFA and a Hatch-Multistate project.
Rebecca Judd's magnesium salt swimming pool at her $7.3million mansion was covered in thick dirt this week when wild dust storms reached Melbourne.

But luckily for the AFL WAG, the pool is now back to its pristine best.

In an Instagram Story clip on Friday, the 36-year-old showed off the pool's sparkling clean water after she enlisted the help of professional cleaners.

She got lucky! Rebecca Judd, 36, revealed her sparkling clean magnesium salt swimming pool on Friday, after inundating the pool boys with dirty calls following dust storms in Melbourne

'Fighting back,' Rebecca captioned a Boomerang clip of the pool at her Spanish Colonial home.

On Thursday, the mother-of-four shared a video to Instagram Stories of how her pool had been affected by the orange haze brought on by Melbourne's wild dust storms.

'We are slowly fighting back from the dust storm. I've had my pool guy over this morning,' Rebecca said, as she recorded the murky water in her once-pristine pool.

Phew! 'Fighting back,' the AFL WAG and businesswoman captioned a Boomerang clip of the pool at her Spanish Colonial home after she enlisted the help of professional cleaners

No expenses were spared on the property's renovations by Rebecca and AFL star husband Chris Judd, who decided to transform the old fibreglass pool into a luxurious magnesium salt pool.

'We did a bit of back-washing and now we're going to leave the filter on for 72 hours and hope that this bad boy [pool] clears up,' Rebecca said.

She also panned the camera to the ground, as she added: 'I've hosed down all of the tiles that were orange, which is still a little bit orange and the grout is still orange. They were meant to be a nice, silver-grey colour.'

'We're slowly fighting back from the dust storm': On Thursday, Rebecca shared a video to Instagram Stories of how her pool was affected after Melbourne's dust storms

'They were meant to be a nice, silver-grey colour': The mother-of-four said after she had hosed down the pool tiles, that they still remained dirty and orange

Pictured: In December, Rebecca treated fans to a tour of her spacious new abode, including her pool on her renovation series, The Style School

While red dirt and dust settled on the Victorian capital on Wednesday night, the dust storm had actually been swept across from South Australia.

Many Melbourne homes and pools were blanketed in thick dirt, which Rebecca joked: 'Sorry to the pool guys inundated with thousands of calls this morning.'

In December, Rebecca treated fans to a tour of her spacious new abode, including her pool, on her renovation series, The Style School.

'It's meant to be really good for eczema and muscle release... your hair and skin': Rebecca claimed there were several benefits to choosing a magnesium salt pool for their family

She claimed there were several benefits to choosing a magnesium salt pool for their family.

'It makes the water so clear, it's amazing. You don't get that chlorine smell at all. It's meant to be really good for eczema and muscle release, so if you're really sore you can bathe in the magnesium salts pool. It's like a muscle therapy bath,' she said.

Rebecca also told her followers that a magnesium salt pool is 'better for your hair and skin and leaves you refreshed'.

The Jaggad founder and husband Chris share four children: son Oscar, eight, daughter Billie, five, and three-year-old twin sons Tom and Darcy.
The measure is the latest in a series of steps the Trump administration has taken to combat what it describes as a pressing security threat: Chinas acquisition of advanced technologies that could give the country both a commercial and a military edge. Many of those efforts have focused on Huawei, which sells global telecom equipment that American officials fear will give Beijing new channels for control and surveillance. Huawei says that its networks are secure and that it does not spy for the Chinese government.

Tensions between the United States and China have eased since the countries concluded a Phase 1 trade deal. But the fate of Huawei, and the American companies that supply it, continues to hang in the balance. Last May, the Trump administration placed Huawei on a United States blacklist and moved to cut off shipments of certain goods, software and technology to the Chinese firm. In order to keep selling certain products to Huawei, companies had to apply for  and obtain  a special license.

The restrictions threatened to cut off lucrative sales for a number of American tech companies that supplied components to Huawei, including Intel, Micron and Google. Some firms, eager to continue selling to Huawei, took advantage of a loophole that allowed them to sell products made outside the United States to Huawei without a government license, as long as the products contained less than 25 percent of certain types of sensitive American content.

The proposed measure, which applies only to Huawei, would lower that threshold to 10 percent from 25 percent. It would also expand the rule so that all types of American content would count toward that 10 percent threshold.

Such a change would expand the rules reach beyond sensitive types of technology to include American software, chips and other components that are widely available and that Huawei could easily purchase from Taiwanese, Korean and Japanese manufacturers instead.
Anirban Lahiri handled the tougher South Course at Torrey Pines better than many of the big names till he came to the back nine in the first round of Farmers Insurance Open here.

After being two-under through 11 holes, India's Lahiri had a nightmarish stretch from 14th to the 17th, as he bogeyed three times and double bogeyed once. He ended with three-over 75 and was tied 119.

Tiger Woods, who has won an incredible number of times on this course, and is looking for his record-breaking 83rd PGA Tour title this week, shot his best opening round of the year since 2011.

He shot three-under 69 on the North Course. Woods birdied three of the four Par-5s, and had five birdies against two bogeys and was tied 21.

Woods was still happy. Woods has not broken 70 in his first round of the year since a 69 on the North at Torrey in 2011.

Sebastian Cappelen on the South Course and Keegan Bradley on the North Course shot 66 each to share the opening-round lead.

Rory McIlroy, with a new driver and playing in the group in front of Woods, shot 67 as he chases a win that could make him world No. 1 for the first time in four years.

Cappelen, a rookie from Denmark, who plays the piano and the guitar, shot five birdies against one bogey on the front stretch and then had three birdies against one bogey on the back for 66.

Bradley, at the relatively easier North course, had a bogey-free round with an eagle and a birdie on front nine and then three birdies on the back nine.

Playing at the event for the third time after missing the cut in 2016 and finishing tied 54 in 2018, Lahiri hit eight of the 14 fairways and nine of the 18 greens in regulation.

Lahiri had a slice of luck as he drove into the rough on the fourth, but chipped in his third shot from over 50 feet for a birdie.

Then, on the Par-5 sixth, he again chipped for a birdie from just 20 feet and just off the green to get to two-under. He turned in two-under and missed an eight footer for a birdie on 10th.

He bogeyed the par-4 12th as he got onto the green in three and two-putted for his first bogey. Then, on par4 14th, Lahiri was on the green in two, and then three-putted including a missed par putt from inside three feet to fall to even par for the round.

On the par-4 15th, Lahiri went into the native area and took a penalty and did not have a great third shot in the rough. He ended with a double bogey after hitting the green in 4.

The troubles continued on the par-3 16thas he two-putted from 10 feet for another bogey and dropped to three-over for the round.

On the par-4 17th, Lahiri went into the fairway bunker and missed an eight-foot par putt to go four-over.

Finally he stopped the run as he chipped to seven feet on 18th and holed it for a birdie and finished three-over 75.

It was a rough ride for some of the big names, too, as Justin Rose, Gary Woodland and Rickie Fowler, all playing on the South Course shot three-over 75 each and were way down in tied 119 with Lahiri.

Francesco Molinari was further down at tied 152 in the 156-field.

Woods said, "It was nice to kind of keep the round going a little bit."



"Overall, pleased to shoot something in the 60s today. I could probably, maybe could have gotten one or two more out of my round today. But overall, I felt like it was a good start.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Express News Service

MADURAI: Wouldn't it be fun to cook over 600 recipes of Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai cuisine in much less time than usually required, yet using less water and no LPG?

Meet Robochef, worlds first automated kitchen, where the only manual intervention required is to place the ingredients inside various hoppers and the press of a button takes care of the cooking.

Chennai-based engineer-turned-innovator Saravanan Sundaramoorthy, introduced his brainchild in the city on Thursday.

Addressing media persons, the 30-year-old Founder-CEO of the start-up, Robochef, said, The automated kitchen was developed over five-and-a-half years by a team of 12 engineers. Its pre-programmed to cook more than 600 recipes in various cuisine. Some of the Indian delicacies that can be made include 28 varieties of biriyani, vegetarian or non-vegetarian curries and desserts like payasam, kesari. All you have to do is to place all the necessary ingredients inside various hoppers of the stainless steel equipment and press a button on the display screen or mobile application.

The Robochef is pre-programmed to clean and chop vegetables, grind spices and cook the ingredients in right proportions with the help of sensors, using fireless cooking method, Saravanan said.

Available in two variants - commercial kitchen (priced at Rs 25 lakh onwards) and domestic kitchen Rs 6 lakh onwards), Robochef, which holds 18 patents, was launched in Chennai in May last and has found clientele in 12 back-end caterers.

Can cook for 10,000

Consuming 1.5 unit power per hour, this automated kitchen can cook using less water. It can cook for 1,000 to 10,000 people. All you do is place the ingredients inside hoppers and press a button.
Goop launches new t-shirt collection prior to Netflix programme. [Photo: Goop]

Yahoo is committed to finding you the best products at the best prices. We may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Prices were correct at the time of publication.

Gwyneth Paltrows lifestyle brand, Goop, has launched a range of T-shirts to celebrate its new Netflix series.

The Goop Lab, which premiered on Friday, gives a look behind the scenes at the Oscar award-winning actress and her Goop team as they tackle challenging, and often controversial, wellness topics - from psychedelic psychotherapy to energy work.

The special-edition merch under Paltrows G.Label fashion brand, includes a white tee with the slogan Its only a vulva, which retails for 60.

The vagina-related T-shirt follows the launch of Paltrows This smells like my vagina candle, which sold-out within days.

Vulva Tee | 60 from Goop

The collection is made up of six designs, each of which corresponds to a different episode of the Netflix series.

Other slogans include Cold shower?, Cant drain me of this energy and Psychonaut, which is the definition of someone who explores altered states of consciousness.

Each tee boasts an oversized style and is made out of a soft cotton-modal fabric - ideal for a good ol Netflix binge.

Cant Drain Me Of This Energy | 60 from Goop

Although many may deem the tees as rather pricey, one hundred percent of the profits from the tees will be donated to the Australia Wildfire Fund.

The tops are available in sizes XS - XL and can be purchased in the US, Canada, UK and EU.

Watch the latest videos from Yahoo Style UK:
System error

error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.

context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951

/var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149



Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f0482c910a8)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f0482c9a408)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f0482c910a8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f0482c9a408)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f0482c99d60)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f0482c9a408)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f0482c9a408)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f0482272ca8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f0482d11cd8)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f0482d11cd8)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
Around 80 Muslim leaders of the BJP in Madhya Pradesh on Friday resigned from the primary membership of the party in protest over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, calling it a "divisive" measure.

One of the leaders, Rajik Qureshi Farshiwala, said around 80 Muslim partymen have resigned from the BJP's primary membership after writing to the newly-appointed national president, J P Nadda, on Thursday.

These leaders, who dubbed the CAA "a divisive provision made on religious grounds", include several office- bearers of the BJP's minority cell, he said.

"It was becoming increasingly difficult for us to participate in our community's events after the CAA came into existence (in December 2019).

"At these events, people used to curse us and ask us how long we plan to keep quiet on a divisive law like the CAA?" he said.

"Persecuted refugees of any community should get Indian citizenship. You cannot decide that a particular person is an intruder or a terrorist merely on the basis of religion," Farshiwala added.

In their letter, the Muslim leaders stated, "Citizens have right to equality under Article 14 of the Indian Constitution. But the BJP-led Central Government is implementing the CAA on religious grounds.

"This is an act of dividing the country and against the basic spirit of the Constitution."



Some of the leaders who have resigned are considered close to BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya.

When asked about the development, Vijayvargiya on Thursday evening said, "I am not aware of the matter. But we will explain (about the CAA) if a person is being misled.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prince Harry has backed plans to create a new multi-million pound museum honouring the Royal Marines in one of his last acts as Captain General of the unit.

The Duke of Sussex said the 'rich and impressive history' of the Royal Navy corps should be preserved and called for 5million to be raised to help launch the museum.

Penning a letter to support the project was one of Prince Harry's last acts as Captain General of the Royal Marines before he revealed he and wife Meghan Markle would be stepping down from royal duties.

Prince Harry has backed plans to create a new multi-million pound museum honouring the Royal Marines in one of his last acts as Captain General of the unit. Pictured is a CGI rendition of the museum

The Duke of Sussex called for 5million to be raised to help launch the museum. Pictured is a CGI rendition of the museum

Cutting ties with the royal family means the Duke will be stripped of his rank - which is his highest profile military title.

He has been trying to reassure charities and organisations that he will still be supporting them.

He is not expected to give up his private backing for military charities, and could continue his involvement with the Invictus Games for injured soldiers and veterans.

In a letter to heritage chiefs at the National Museum of the Royal Navy, which was today revealed for the first time, the 35-year-old said he is 'delighted' at plans for a Royal Marines Museum.

The attraction is set to be built in Portsmouth's Historic Dockyard, Hampshire, Prince Harry said the site is in the 'appropriate place' to honour the Navy.

In the letter he said: 'I am exceptionally proud to be the Captain General of the Royal Marines. It is an organisation with such a rich and impressive history, a history that should be on display for all to see.

'I was therefore delighted to hear of the plans to create the new Royal Marines Museum in the heart of Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

Harry in a Spartan armoured vehicle in February 2008 in Helmand province, Afghanistan

'This move is important as it puts the Royal Marines Museum in its appropriate place, fully integrated as part of the Royal Navy's history, accompanying the many wonderful exhibits already in the dockyard.

'It is part of a wider duty we have to preserve the corps' heritage and historic artefacts, demonstrating the contribution the Royal Marines have made, and continue to make, around the globe to as wide an audience as possible.'

The Army veteran warned there are still 'challenges' that have to be overcome before the museum is opened and called on people to throw their support behind the bid and donate to a fundraising campaign.

In the October letter he added: 'To succeed, we must raise 5million in the next two years.

The Duke of Sussex has supported the Walking With The Wounded charity over the past ten years - including by trekking across the South Pole with 12 injured servicemen in 2013 (above)

'This is something I fully support and would encourage those who admire the Royal Marines, their achievements and the values they represent, to consider how they might support this worthy cause.'

Prince Harry was made Captain General of the Royal Marines in 2017, taking over from his grandfather, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip - who had held the title for 64 years.

The rank is the ceremonial head of the elite unit, and Prince Harry was entitled to wear Royal Marines museum.

Harry, who announced on January 8 that he is stepping down as a senior royal, also joined wounded veterans for a 1,000-mile walk of Britain in 2015.

It emerged on Saturday that Harry is being stripped of a number of military roles including Captain General of the Royal Marines, the ceremonial head of the Corps.

He will also lose Honorary Air Commandant of Royal Air Force Base Honington, and Honorary Commodore-in-Chief of Small Ships and Diving, Royal Naval Command.

Harry visits West Point Military Academy in New York in June 2010 (left) and with his regiment The Blue and Royals at a Remembrance Sunday parade in Windsor in November 2007 (right)

Harry will also be barred from wearing his military uniform after stepping back from Armed Forces appointments, although he can still wear his medals at engagements.

From this spring, he will stop using HRH, spend most of his time living in Canada and pay back the taxpayers' millions spent renovating his Frogmore home with Meghan.

After training at Sandhurst, Harry was commissioned as an officer in the Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals in April 2006.

Earlier this week Prince Harry flew to Canada to be with the Duchess of Sussex and their son, Archie, following their announcement that they are stepping down from royal duties.

During his ten years in the Army, he undertook two operational tours of Afghanistan and qualified as an Apache helicopter commander.

His second tour of Helmand, in 2012, is believed to be one of the few times in his life that the Prince truly found contentment away from the restrictions and pressures of Royal life.

Harry also joined wounded military veterans for a 1,000-mile walk of Britain in 2015 (above)

Known as 'Captain Wales' by his comrades, he proudly told one fellow soldier: 'I've got the best of both worlds. I get to do all this. I can fly helicopters. I can shine a spotlight on the work I want to do.'

It was the Army which offered Harry his first taste of life away from being a royal.

Harry's military career ended in June 2015 but he has remained a passionate supporter of the Armed Forces and was handed a number of ceremonial military titles.

He said at the time: 'Luckily for me, I will continue to wear the uniform and mix with fellow servicemen and women for the rest of my life, helping where I can.'

His highest profile military title is as Captain General of the Royal Marines, a role he was handed by the Queen in December 2017, succeeding the Duke of Edinburgh.

As the ceremonial head of the elite unit, Harry is entitled to wear the uniform and insignia equivalent to a Field Marshal.

His two-year association compares with the 64-year term of his grandfather.

Harry will also quit his role as the Commodore-in-Chief Small Ships and Diving in the Royal Navy and as the Honorary Air Commandant at RAF Honington in Suffolk.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 04:03:50|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during the 5th World Holocaust Forum at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, on Jan. 23, 2020. Dozens of world leaders gathered on Thursday in Jerusalem to commemorate 75 years for the liberation of the Auschwitz camp and called on to combat the resurgence of modern-day anti-Semitism. (Yonatan Sindel/JINI via Xinhua)

JERUSALEM, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of world leaders gathered on Thursday in Jerusalem to commemorate 75 years for the liberation of the Auschwitz camp and called on to combat the resurgence of modern-day anti-Semitism.

More than 40 royalties, presidents, and prime ministers took part in the 5th World Holocaust Forum, held this year in Jerusalem.

The gathering culminated in a ceremony at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, where the leaders made speeches pledging to remember the Holocaust and to take measures against the rising of anti-Semitism.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed his "deepest sorrow" for the killing of 6 million Jews by the Nazis.

He conveyed remorse on behalf of his country. "This also must be said here: The perpetrators were human beings. They were Germans. Those who murdered, those who planned and helped in the murdering, the many who silently toed the line: They were Germans," he said.

"Today we join together to say no to anti-Semitism! No to hatred!" he said.

Also addressing the gathering, Britain's Prince Charles warned: "hatred and intolerance still lurk in the human heart."

He added that lessons of the Holocaust are still "searingly relevant" and told the forum that "we must be fearless in confronting falsehoods and resolute in resisting words and acts of violence."

Russian President Vladimir Putin urged a summit in 2020 of leaders of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council to "defend peace" in the wake of global instability.

French President Emmanuel Macron lamented that "after all that has passed, anti-Semitism and the scourge of anti-Semitism has returned, and with it, xenophobia and intolerance have also raised their ugly heads."

"We will not allow ourselves to stand by in silence" in face of modern-day anti-Semitism, he vowed. "We promise to remember and to take steps. Remember, never forget."
By Express News Service

BHOPAL: A septuagenarian anti-CAA and NRC activist allegedly set himself ablaze near a busy road crossing in full public view in Indore on Friday evening and is stated critical at the MY Hospital with around 90 per cent burns.

Seventy-two-year-old Ramesh Chandra Prajapat (a resident of Indores Prajapat Nagar) who is a Communist Party of India (Marxist) member had been actively participating in anti-CAA and NRC protests and allegedly set self ablaze near the Gita Bhawan crossing.

He is in an extremely critical state, owing to which recording his statements are difficult. Prima facie it seems he has set self afire, said Tukoganj police station in-charge Nirmal Shrivas.

A pamphlet in Hindi against CAA-NRC-NPR was recovered from the man's pocket.

Ramesh Chandra Prajapat is a retired government employee, who was actively taking part in the anti-CAA and NRC protests in the city, but its still not clear what prompted him for the extreme step, said CPI (M) leader Kailash Limbodiya.
Notice she didnt say noble: Joe Biden is the inert gas candidate, writes Lili Loofbourow. To voters who are simply exhausted by an era of anger, emergencies, and infighting, he offers a refreshing lack of reactionand that might be why hell win.

Irrevocable: In 2017, the Supreme Court gave Arkansas the OK to execute Ledell Lee, despite major flaws and inconsistencies in the case against him. Now a new lawsuit led by the ACLU seeks to prove he was innocentand challenge the constitutionality of the death penalty head-on. Jeremy Stahl reports on the case.

Advertisement

Take me to church: A Methodist church in Minnesota made national headlines when a local newspaper alleged that church leaders were attempting to push out the older members of the congregation in order to attract younger churchgoers. Longtime attendees are upset, and leaders deny theyre discriminating against anyonethey say theyre trying to ensure the churchs survival. Ruth Graham talked to the worshippers at Grove United Methodist Church to figure out whats really going on.

Never the psychic: Goop started as a joke, but now it has a Netflix show. What is The Goop Lab selling, though? According to Willa Paskin, every New Agey, almost scientific thing youve ever heard about, but also Gwyneth Paltrow herself.

For fun: Zion Williamson shoots lightning bolts from his hands.

OK, not really, but he is high-fiving a million angels,

Vicky
In January, the FDA approved an all-new double-combination therapy for clearance of airway in patients affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This new inhaler device, which is a combination of the companys VersaPAP and Aerobika products, has been designed by Monaghan Medical Corporation.

The FDA also cleared NuvoAirs Air Next, a portable, home-use spirometer device, in the same month. The respiratory monitoring device, which can be connected to iOS and Android devices via Blutooth LE, is also for patients with COPD.

Last December, CSA Medical attained CE Mark for its RejuvenAir device. Earlier last year, RejuvenAir was classified as a Breakthrough Device by the FDA and had attained unconditional Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) clearance to initiate pivotal clinical trials on COPD patients. The device specializes in treating COPD patients who are also suffering from chronic bronchitis.

A newly-designed assisted breathing device, Right Air vest, is likely to be commercially launched soon. The device is also focused on enhancing the quality of life of COPD patients.

With MedTech companies vying to tap the exponential growth in COPD market through the introduction of cutting-edge technology and regulatory authorities across the globe prioritizing the launch of these products, there are a number of stocks that deserve investors attention now. Lets take a closer look.

COPD Treatment: A Booming Market

Per a report by MordorIntelligence, the global COPD devices market is anticipated to see a CAGR of 5.2% from 2020 to 2025. The encouraging projection has been largely backed by the steady rise in geriatric population, increasing percentage of smokers and chronic respiratory diseases (owing to urbanization and pollution levels), enhanced healthcare infrastructure and high healthcare expenditure.

Robust demand for point-of-care diagnostics and home care therapeutic devices has also been driving the market. Increasing portability and convenience of use of such devices, government initiatives to raise awareness, technological innovation and solid funding in clinical trials have been working in favor as well.

Story continues

One of the key trends within the COPD management device market is the increasing adoption of non-invasive and multimodal ventilation. Some of the most crucial technological solutions in this market are therapeutic, monitoring and diagnostic devices along with consumables & accessories. The therapeutic devices can be further categorized into ventilators, nebulizers, humidifiers, oxygen concentrators, inhalers, reusable resuscitators, nitric oxide delivery units, and oxygen hoods.

A few key industry players gaining traction within the COPD space are Masimo Corporation MASI and ResMed RMD.

3 Stocks to Focus On

Here are three MedTech stocks that have been exhibiting significant potential in the COPD management space:

ResMed: In January, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company acquired Propeller Health, a digital therapeutics company that specializes in connected health solutions for people living with COPD. By the end of first-quarter fiscal 2020, the company achieved a milestone of more than 100,000 enrolments for the Propeller ecosystem.

Resmed also has more than 11 million patients being monitored with the AirView software, the companys cloud-based platform for managing COPD. Around the same time, the company announced the complete launch of its portable oxygen concentrator  Mobi  in the United States for such patients.

In the past year, the companys shares have outperformed the industry. The stock has rallied 70.6% compared with the industrys 19.9% rise. The companys revenue growth rate over the last five years has been 11.8% and earnings growth rate has been 10.5%.

Royal Philips PHG: This Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company has been progressing well within the Sleep & Respiratory Care segment of its Personal Health business. Lately, the segment has been witnessing exceptional growth driven by the rollout of the DreamStation portfolio. The company has been gaining traction for its industry-leading home ventilation offerings, viz. the new Trilogy Evo ventilator platform. Trilogy Evo facilitates easy management of chronic conditions such as COPD by enabling physicians and care providers to store their patient information in a single secure location.

In the past three months, the companys shares have outperformed the industry. The stock has rallied 13.5% compared with the industrys 11.4% rise. The companys earnings growth rate over the last five years has been 27.3%. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Boston Scientific BSX: This Zacks Rank #3 company is a leading manufacturer of medical devices and products used in various interventional medical specialties. In May 2017, the company had announced favorable outcomes from a clinical prospective study of bronchial thermoplasty (BT), which assessed patients who have been treated with the companys Alair System. The study proved that BT reduced the incidence of complications in patients suffering from chronic asthma.

In the past year, the companys shares have outperformed the Zacks Medical sector. The stock has rallied 16.3% compared with the sectors 6.2% rise. The companys revenue growth rate over the last five years has been 8.3% and earnings growth rate has been 15%.





Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020

In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-hold tickers for the entirety of 2020?

Last year's 2019 Zacks Top 10 Stocks portfolio returned gains as high as +102.7%. Now a brand-new portfolio has been handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Dont miss your chance to get in on these long-term buys.

Access Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020 today >>



Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



Koninklijke Philips N.V. (PHG) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Masimo Corporation (MASI) : Free Stock Analysis Report



ResMed Inc. (RMD) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Boston Scientific Corporation (BSX) : Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
WASHINGTON  For a few gripping minutes, Rep. Adam Schiff, the lead impeachment prosecutor against President Donald Trump, had made the restless Senate snap to attention.

Voice cracking as he spoke, Schiff made an impassioned plea late Thursday for removing Trump from office, framing the choice in moral terms. If right doesnt matter, were lost, he said.

You know you cant trust this president do whats right for this country, Schiff said. You can trust he will do whats right for Donald Trump. Hell do it now. Hes done it before. Hell do it for the next several months, hell do it in the election if hes allowed to. This is why if you find him guilty you must find that he should be removed. Because right matters.

Reactions to the speech were as divided as the country. Democrats gushed, tweeting glowing words about the California Democrats rousing late-night speech. Republicans said they were unconvinced, and strenuously rejected the idea that Trump cant be trusted.

Still, even some Republicans gave Schiff grudging respect for the skill of his arguments.

I thought he was passionate and his case has been well articulated, said South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Senate Republican. Still, he added, in the end its all going to come down to the facts, the law and the what people think is the threshold for whats an impeachable offense.

Schiff is unlikely to win over enough GOP senators to convict Trump, as most are solidly supporting the president. But for his articulate presentations to the Senate he has won praise from some senators like South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, who shook his hand and told him he was doing a good job after the first day of House arguments.

Schiff is the face of the Houses impeachment case against Trump, which has made him the principal target of Trumps ire. Though he has six managers by his side, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed Schiff, her confidant, as the lead impeachment manager. He is setting the tone of the prosecutions case, working methodically to convince even his most ardent detractors that Trump deserves to be removed from office.

In a way I do feel like Im introducing myself to a number of the senators, Schiff said in an interview with The Associated Press before arguments resumed on Thursday. He said many of them are familiar only with conservative criticism of him, and they are finding Im not the demon that Im portrayed as on Fox.

Schiff said he wishes that the Graham exchange wasnt caught on camera, because it was nice to have a private moment. And I dont want to discourage that kind of thing. But I very much appreciated his comments.

Though Graham has ridiculed the case against the Republican president and heaped scorn on Democrats like Schiff, he said on Thursday he believes the California Democrat is well spoken and did a good job of creating a tapestry, taking bits and pieces of evidence and emails and giving a rhetorical flourish  sometimes effectively, sometimes a little over the top.

Other Republicans had similar words. Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt said the Democrats had admirable presentations, even though he found them repetitive and said he didnt learn much new. Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst says shes not a fan of Schiff, but believes he has been presenting a calm, level case against the president.

Graham, who was an impeachment manager himself in President Bill Clintons 1999 trial, again complimented the House impeachment managers Friday on the way they have conducted themselves, but said he was less impressed with Schiffs closing speech on Thursday evening.

He told me that I have to get rid of this president now, because I cant trust him to do whats best for the country because hell only do whats best for Donald Trump, Graham said. That decision needs to be made by the voters.

Schiff, who represents parts of Hollywood, has been a frequent target of conservatives since the then GOP-led House Intelligence Committee started investigating Trumps ties to Russia in the 2016 election. He was frequently on television questioning Trumps actions.

The criticism intensified, though, when Democrats took the House majority in early 2019 and he became chairman of the intelligence panel. And it reached a full-on roar as he took charge of the impeachment investigation of Trumps dealings with Ukraine last fall.

Trump has trained his ire on the congressman on Twitter and elsewhere, alternatively calling him shifty, sleazy, and liddle. He has also turned his name into a vulgarity, occasionally calling him Schitt on Twitter, and dubbed him pencil neck at a campaign rally. Trump tweeted about Schiff only a handful of times in 2017 and 2018, but hundreds of times since Democrats gained the House majority.

In contrast to the president, Schiff has tried to set a non-combative tone on the Senate floor, with conciliatory words to the Senate. He said at the start of his arguments on Wednesday that he was deeply grateful for their attention and understands that its hard to sit and listen four hours on end.

His appeals came hours after Chief Justice John Roberts, who is presiding, admonished both the House managers and Trumps defense team for using language that is not conducive to civil discourse.

Roberts comments came around 1 a.m. Wednesday after another impeachment manager, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, charged that the White House lawyers were lying and that GOP senators votes against witnesses were treacherous. Trumps defense team responded that Nadler should apologize to the president and the American people.

The next morning, before the trial resumed, the impeachment managers gathered for a news conference. When asked about Roberts comments, Schiff was the only one who spoke. Youre going to have tempers flare when trials go into the wee hours, Schiff said, and that happens in every courtroom in America.

But we are going to try to keep focused on the facts, Schiff said. The presidents team would like nothing more than to provoke a bitter conflict.

Schiff told The AP on Thursday that when talking on the Senate floor, he is trying not to make the case personal and he wants to show respect for the senators and for the chief justice, present the evidence, make the appeals to have a fair trial, and thats the best I can do.

His House GOP colleagues were less complimentary than the senators.

I dont agree with Lindsey Grahams analysis that theyre doing a good job, said North Carolina Rep. Mark Meadows, one of several Republican House members who are consulting with the White House lawyers. Ive had to look in the cabinet for a bottle of No-Doz. When you look at Adam Schiffs performance, I think what we all have come to understand is, thats exactly what it is, its a performance.

Senate Democrats, on the other hand, have been thrilled. Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow said Thursday evening that I think you could have heard a pin drop when Schiff gave his closing speech.

Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy tweeted that senators leaving for the night were awestruck.

___

Associated Press writers Alan Fram and Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.
Many investors are still learning about the various metrics that can be useful when analysing a stock. This article is for those who would like to learn about Return On Equity (ROE). To keep the lesson grounded in practicality, we'll use ROE to better understand Braime Group PLC (LON:BMT).

Over the last twelve months Braime Group has recorded a ROE of 16%. That means that for every 1 worth of shareholders' equity, it generated 0.16 in profit.

See our latest analysis for Braime Group

How Do I Calculate ROE?

The formula for return on equity is:

Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations)  Shareholders' Equity

Or for Braime Group:

16% = UK2.2m  UK14m (Based on the trailing twelve months to June 2019.)

Most know that net profit is the total earnings after all expenses, but the concept of shareholders' equity is a little more complicated. It is the capital paid in by shareholders, plus any retained earnings. Shareholders' equity can be calculated by subtracting the total liabilities of the company from the total assets of the company.

What Does ROE Mean?

ROE looks at the amount a company earns relative to the money it has kept within the business. The 'return' is the amount earned after tax over the last twelve months. That means that the higher the ROE, the more profitable the company is. So, all else equal, investors should like a high ROE. Clearly, then, one can use ROE to compare different companies.

Does Braime Group Have A Good ROE?

One simple way to determine if a company has a good return on equity is to compare it to the average for its industry. Importantly, this is far from a perfect measure, because companies differ significantly within the same industry classification. If you look at the image below, you can see Braime Group has a similar ROE to the average in the Trade Distributors industry classification (14%).

AIM:BMT Past Revenue and Net Income, January 24th 2020

That's not overly surprising. ROE can give us a view about company quality, but many investors also look to other factors, such as whether there are insiders buying shares. If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them).

Story continues

Why You Should Consider Debt When Looking At ROE

Companies usually need to invest money to grow their profits. The cash for investment can come from prior year profits (retained earnings), issuing new shares, or borrowing. In the first two cases, the ROE will capture this use of capital to grow. In the latter case, the debt used for growth will improve returns, but won't affect the total equity. That will make the ROE look better than if no debt was used.

Braime Group's Debt And Its 16% ROE

Although Braime Group does use debt, its debt to equity ratio of 0.27 is still low. The fact that it achieved a fairly good ROE with only modest debt suggests the business might be worth putting on your watchlist. Judicious use of debt to improve returns can certainly be a good thing, although it does elevate risk slightly and reduce future optionality.

But It's Just One Metric

Return on equity is useful for comparing the quality of different businesses. A company that can achieve a high return on equity without debt could be considered a high quality business. All else being equal, a higher ROE is better.

Having said that, while ROE is a useful indicator of business quality, you'll have to look at a whole range of factors to determine the right price to buy a stock. The rate at which profits are likely to grow, relative to the expectations of profit growth reflected in the current price, must be considered, too. So I think it may be worth checking this free this detailed graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow.

But note: Braime Group may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
In the piece, he writes about the desecration of his East Village apartment building, once home to outcasts and freaks, in his view the only rightful heirs to a downtown life. It was now the address of Kaylas and Hayleys and Ashleys with their generic habits and empty minds, their AirPods and blank stares and Amazon addictions. One of his neighbors, he tells us, is from Wisconsin.

These new people are completists, he writes. If they dont have professional furnishers, they order entire apartments through the mail in their first week. He mourns the loss of a time when people appointed apartments with the discarded lamps and night stands they found on the street, even as a freegan movement thrives in New York despite whatever preferences his own neighbors have for the bland efficiency of West Elm.

In my 30-odd years of living in New York  I, too, am a transplant  I have met three people from Ohio, two of whom moved back, one an accountant who complained about the citys high taxes. The idea that the city is being colonized by Midwesterners or others from elsewhere in the country is itself not supported by statistics. In fact, the opposite is true.

Two years ago, a study from the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College looked at data from the census and the Internal Revenue Service to determine migration patterns in and out of New York. What researchers found is that while the citys population grew by 362,000 residents between 2010 and 2016, net domestic migration was down by approximately 525,000 people, meaning that more people moved out of the city than moved in.

New York dispersed more people to surrounding suburban counties and a number of large urban counties around the country than it received.

Presumably some portion of the population moving to New York, one of the most expensive cities in the world, from other parts of the country, are compelled by job opportunities that have dried up in Indianapolis or Columbus or somewhere else. At the same time, foreign immigration to communities beyond the Northeast means that you can eat decent Mongolian food in Sioux City. The sophistications of New York  the diversity, the bohemianism, creativity and acceptance which made it unlike anywhere else  have been in the process of a slow, successful export.

When Andy Warhol and Patti Smith, the patron saints of downtown cool, arrived in New York, they were misfits from somewhere else, and they brought with them an outsize ambition both for success and to live freely, as they were. Would they come now? Maybe they wouldnt bother. And maybe that doesnt bear the weight of tragedy we give it.
As Micheal Martin began to address the elephant in the room, white smoke suddenly appeared. "Is that Leo?" the Fianna Fail leader joked as steam from a vent in the wall behind engulfed him.

He carried on anyway, keen to put the matter of a possible post-election coalition with Fine Gael to bed having twice evaded the question on Tuesday night. "We will not be entering into a grand coalition," he insisted.

That matter comprehensively dispatched with, he was keen to move on to more pressing matters - a pre-lunch canvass of the Blackpitts area of south inner-city Dublin.

Mr Martin makes a virtue out of his door-knocking all year round, but during an election the intensity is even greater. Such was the pace he was setting as he roamed the streets, Fianna Fail election candidate Senator Catherine Ardagh had to ask him to slow down. Mr Martin was apologetic - and not for the first time.

He is well aware he walks fast, but then he is anxious to go places, primarily Government Buildings and the office of the Taoiseach.

Ms Ardagh, who gave birth to twins in recent weeks, will have to get elected if Mr Martin is to succeed in that goal.

She is a decent prospect in four-seat Dublin South-Central, having missed out by just 35 votes in 2016.

Every vote will count, hence Mr Martin's desire to get on as many doors as possible.

But, in what is turning into one of the most desirable places to live in Dublin 8, there were few people at home at this hour of the day. Much like the TV debate the night before, it was a slow start for the Fianna Fail leader with knocked doors going unanswered and those that did open up reluctant to speak as the press pack loitered. "I'm sorry now there's lots of people following me around from a media perspective," Mr Martin told a young woman who, off camera, praised his debate performance.

A few doors away, Mr Martin found a more willing participant, Margaret, who invited him - and everyone else - inside. "There's loads of people in this house. We've loads of refugees that you let in as well," she joked. "Do you want to meet them? Have you got a cheque in your pocket?"

Once in the door, there was an amicable but brief exchange. "Oh God, I'll be in trouble if I am caught with you," she told Mr Martin. He took that as a cue to leave but not before imploring them to contact Ms Ardagh if they had any issues.

In contrast to Mr Varadkar, the Fianna Fail leader is more of a natural on the campaign trail. That's unsurprising given his decades of experience. He is warm, polite and listens intently, particularly when more difficult personal issues are raised by voters. That said, it is often much easier engaging with voters when you are in opposition.

Mr Martin encountered none of the hostility that might have awaited a government politician - but nor did he hear any of the voter anger Fianna Fail TDs around the country say exists towards Fine Gael.

Barry Lyons, a health worker, spoke to Mr Martin about respite care, saying there needs to be more facilities opened in north Dublin. "If I won the EuroMillions the first thing I'd do is try to sort out parents with children who have autism," he said. He was undecided when asked if he would vote Fianna Fail. "I always leave it to the 11th hour."

A few doors down William O'Donnell (79) was exercised by pensions, but also the fact he only recently discovered his entitlement to allowances for utility bills. "There should be a package given to people when they retire," he said. Mr Martin agreed - a privilege afforded to him as an opposition TD. He may not have it much longer.
In yet another setback to YSR Congress party president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, a special court in Hyderabad on Friday dismissed his petition seeking exemption from personal appearances in the money laundering cases filed against him by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The special court dealing with Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and ED cases in the Nampally criminal court complex ruled that Jagan should compulsorily appear before it for the next hearing on January 31, failing which appropriate orders will be passed.

Jagan appealed for exemption from attending the court personally in connection with the ED cases citing his official obligations as the chief minister. He requested that his co-accused from Jagathi Publications be allowed to appear on his behalf in the ED cases.

The ED had recently attached assets worth Rs 863 crore belonging to Jagan and his associates in connection with its probe into alleged money laundering in an infrastructure project in Andhra Pradesh. Jagans companies are accused of having laundered money and benefitting from the contracts handed out by the government during his father YSR Reddys tenure as the State chief minister. Jagan has spent 16 months in jail between May 2012 to September 2013 in the nine-year-long case. He is currently out on bail.

The ED argued that Jagan, who was the prime accused in all the five charge sheets filed in the money laundering cases, cannot be exempted from personal appearance as he could influence the witnesses using his authority. The court agreed with the ED and dismissed Jagans plea.

The court, however, exempted Jagan from appearing in the court for this week but said he should compulsorily attend the hearings from the next week.

On January 3, the court had given a similar order, dismissing his petition seeking exemption from personal appearances in the CBI cases. As a result, Jagan was forced to attend the court in Hyderabad on January 10.

However, Jagan obtained exemptions from attending the court on January 17 and 24, citing important official assignments. On Friday, the court expressed its displeasure against him for seeking exemptions regularly.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
'My outfits are designed for real, everyday women,' she said

Head designer Mim Harvey says all her designs are created with versatility

Originally launched in 2015, the Harvey The Label outfit is still super popular

An Australian fashion brand has released a stylish, versatile shirt that can be worn more than fifteen different ways to suit various occasions and seasons.

Mim Harvey, head designer of Harvey The Label, said the $99.95 High Times Multiway Shirt is one of the brand's 'core collection pieces' and was first released in 2015 when the brand launched.

Since then the sell-out shirt continues to be a customer favourite, along with many of the Adelaide-based brand's other multiway pieces including the Stone Jumpsuit.

'My outfits are designed for real, everyday women and the versatile style encourages customers to experiment and get creative with their looks,' she said.

The High Times Multiway Shirt is one of Harvey The Label's 'core collection pieces' and was first released in 2015. The shirt is sold in two colours but both are currently sold out

While it may seem staggering to think one shirt can be worn so many different ways, the garment is super easy to style due to the clever design and lightweight fabric.

Some options including tying up the front fabric at either the front or back, flipping the outfit back to front and wearing backless, tucking in the collar to create an off the shoulder look, and the list goes on.

Like the High Times Shirt, each Harvey The Label outfit is designed with versatility in mind to allow the looks to be worn by women of all shapes and sizes.

'I want to make women feel confident and comfortable in their own skin - my multiway designs are all about having fun and experimenting with the outfits to suit you,' Mim explained.

Mim describes the label as 'slow fashion' with only 50 garments of each piece produced, adding a sense of exclusivity.

Scroll down for video

Multiway is the way to go to avoid constantly buying new outfits. Some wearable options for the High Times Shirt include tying the front fabric at either the front or back (pictured above)

Another alternate option is to tie the sleeves around the waist and wear as a half-dress over another outfit (pictured above)

The brand also received praise in September 2018 and was invited to show their collection in New York Fashion Week's Fashion Palette, capturing the attention of global brands such as The Iconic.

'It was such an incredible experience! It really showed other major labels that we're not just a small pop-up brand,' Mim said.

From originally starting out at small markets around the city to now having their own residency store in the east end of Adelaide, Mim is excited to continue growing the brand and designing more outfits.

Other multiway pieces include the Stone Jumpsuit, the Paloma Playsuit, the Florence Tiered Dress and the Aria Button Up Dress.

Due to high amounts of customer requests, the High Times Shirt is also sold in black but is currently sold-out.
A blockbuster 5billion deal for Britain to sell 48 Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Saudi Arabia has been shelved following the fallout over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

It is a huge blow for the UK's biggest defence company, BAE Systems, as the deal was expected to help save thousands of jobs in the north of England.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed a celebrated 'memorandum of intent' over the agreement in March 2018.

A blockbuster 5billion deal for Britain to sell 48 Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Saudi Arabia has been shelved following the fallout over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi (pictured)

But the deal has been kicked into the long grass after Germany, which sells crucial parts for the jets, imposed an arms sale ban following Mr Khashoggi's murder.

The pact is expected to be raised next week when the Saudi foreign minister flies in for talks with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.

A Saudi source said: 'Obviously we want this to move forward and we share the same opinion as the UK in that this German decision should not affect a bilateral arms agreement.'

The deal has been kicked into the long grass after Germany, which sells crucial parts for the jets, imposed an arms sale ban following Mr Khashoggi's murder

They confirmed the purchase would now not go ahead unless Germany lifted the ban.

The British aerospace and defence company generated 14 per cent of its 2018 group sales in Saudi Arabia  highlighting how any political moves are high-stakes decisions.

The pact is expected to be raised next week when the Saudi foreign minister flies in for talks with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (pictured)

Intense lobbying has been underway for months by UK officials. The kingdom bought 72 jets from BAE in 2007 in a 4.4billion deal. The Crown Prince then signed preliminary agreements for 48 more.

It was hoped the deal would secure thousands of jobs, including at the company's Warton and Samlesbury plants in Lancashire. But in October 2018, Khashoggi, a critic of the Saudi royal family, was brutally killed at the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul, leading to worldwide condemnation.

The CIA alleged the Crown Prince had ordered Khashoggi's assassination, which he denies. This week it was also claimed he had hacked the phone of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. As it stands, Berlin will not sanction new deals until March 31 at the earliest.

BAE builds the jet as a member of a pan-European consortium including Airbus.

Former armed forces minister Mark Francois said: 'Losing this contract could threaten hundreds if not thousands of British jobs. There is an increasing concern about Germany's reliability as an industrial partner on military equipment.'

A spokesman for BAE said: 'We continue to work closely with industry partners and the UK Government to continue to fulfil our contractual support arrangements in KSA on the key European collaboration programmes.'

Theresa May, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and Boris Johnson pictured together in London in 2018

Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi (right) enters the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey in October 2018

A Government spokesman said: 'The UK Government continues to support ongoing discussion... It would be inappropriate to comment further on commercial negotiations.'
Chronic alcohol abuse and hepatitis can injure the liver, often leading to a buildup of collagen and scar tissue. Understanding this process, known as liver fibrosis, could help researchers develop new ways to prevent or treat conditions such as alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and nonalcoholic flatty liver disease (NAFLD).

In a study published January 23, 2020 by Gastroenterology, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine demonstrated for the first time that liver fibrosis progression could potentially be addressed by manipulating a special population of liver cells called hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).

In the liver, HSCs are found in three forms: naive in healthy people, activated in people with liver disease and inactivated in people who have recovered from liver fibrosis. In both mouse and human liver tissue, the researchers discovered they can control this cellular switch by activating or inhibiting specific transcription factors, molecules that turn genes "on" or "off."

We are excited to discover that HSCs have this flexibility, and that we can change their type by manipulating the molecules involved. These insights may allow us to develop new ways to stop the progression of liver fibrosis." Tatiana Kisseleva, MD, PhD, associate professor of surgery at UC San Diego School of Medicine

Kisseleva led the study with first author Xiao Liu, a researcher in her lab.

In healthy people, naive HSCs store vitamin A and support normal liver function -; filtering blood, metabolizing drugs and producing bile acids to aid digestion. But in alcoholic liver disease or hepatitis, HSCs become activated and start producing collagen, a hallmark of fibrosis.

The goals of the study, Kisseleva said, were to 1) understand the mechanism that switches HSCs from their naive to their active state and 2) find ways to stop the process and inactivate collagen-producing HSCs.

Kisseleva and her team identified several transcription factors that distinguish active HSCs from naive HSCs, and studied them in human liver samples and mouse models. Some of the transcription factors they found prevent activation of HSCs or inactivate them. When the levels of each of these naive-associated transcription factors were reduced in mouse HSCs, the cells became activated, increased their collagen production and promoted fibrosis. Liver fibrosis was more severe in mice lacking these transcription factors.

The researchers also took the opposite approach, stimulating one of these transcription factors, PPAR, with a chemical called rosiglitazone. In mice treated with rosiglitazone, the researchers observed liver fibrosis regression and faster resolution of fibrous scars than in untreated mice.

"We essentially found that we can help PPAR put a stop to collagen production by activated HSCs," Kisseleva said.

New therapeutic targets are urgently needed for liver fibrosis, she said. According to the US National Institutes of Health, weight loss is the only known method for reducing liver fibrosis associated with NAFLD and NASH. Therapeutic drugs to slow the progression of disease are only available in advanced stages, where NASH has led to liver cirrhosis. Alcoholic liver disease is most commonly treated with corticosteroids, but they are not highly effective. Early liver transplantation is the only proven cure, but is offered only at select medical centers to a limited number of patients.

To further their efforts, Kisseleva and team are now exploring the role of other transcription factors involved in maintaining HSC naivete, and searching for activators and inhibitors. They also plan to take a closer look at the genes these transcription factors are regulating, and determine if they can be directly targeted to inactivate HSCs.
PATRICIA OConnors next door neighbour said he did not see anything out of the ordinary on the night she was allegedly murdered, and that the family were very nice people.

Sam Lin told the Central Criminal Court the O'Connors had been good neighbours and they had never spoken to him about his CCTV.

He said gardai investigating Ms OConnors death came and took the hard drive from the system, which had a camera mounted on the front of his house.

Kieran Greene (34) denies murdering his partners mother, Patricia O'Connor (61) at the house they shared at Mountainview Park, Rathfarnham, on May 29, 2017.

The grandmother's remains were found scattered over a 30km-wide area in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains between June 10 and 14, that year.

He is on trial alongside three other people who have pleaded not guilty to impeding the investigation - his then-partner, Louise O'Connor (41), her daughter Stephanie OConnor (22), and Louise O'Connor's ex-partner, Keith Johnston (43).

The jury has heard Mr Greene handed himself in to gardai and told them he had killed Patricia in self defence in a row when she attacked him with a hurley, then buried her, dug her up, dismembered the body and dumped the remains.

He said he had acted alone at all times, but later retracted this account and told gardai he had agreed to take the blame and alleged it was Patricia's husband Gus O'Connor who killed her with a metal bar. He also told gardai Mr Johnston had dismembered and scattered the body parts.

Today, next door neighbour, Sam Lin said he had bought his home in 2010 and knew the OConnors.

He agreed with Roisin Lacey SC that they were very nice people and good neighbours and if he worked late and the alarm went off they would let him know.

They were good to you in that regard, Ms Lacey said.

He knew Gus OConnor and his wife Patricia in particular, as well as Louise OConnor, Kieran Greene and their children, who would play with his own young son like normal children.

The first he knew about the case was on June 13, 2017, when he saw gardai at the house next door. They called in to him and looked at his CCTV system - he had a camera on the front of his house.

The next day, Gda Barry Turner came and took his CCTV hard drive with permission.

Mr Lin told gardai on the night of June 29, he did not himself see anything out of the ordinary.

He did notice over a period of weeks following on from that that the children had not been out playing or calling for his son, although the weather had been bad.

Cross-examined by George Burns BL, for Stephanie OConnor, Mr Lin said his neighbours had never talked to him about his CCTV.

Earlier, the jury heard two men gardai believe were Mr Greene and Mr Johnston were seen buying tools and other items at shops in Tallaght on June 9, 2017.

Gardai found receipts in the O'Connors' house and car and bought matching items in "controlled purchases" at the shops. Some of these were compared with items found by the murder investigation team - two hacksaws and an axe found in undergrowth near a river in Tallaght and wellington boots found at Mountainview Park.

Detective Garda James Doolan told Gerardine Small BL, prosecuting, he went too B&Q on Belgard Road in Tallaght on June 20, 2017 with a receipt that had been found at the house at Mountainview Park.

He viewed CCTV from the store on June 9.

This showed two men he believed to be Mr Greene and Mr Johnston purchasing a number of items. The manager looked up the point of sale receipt from that purchase and collected the exact items that had been purchased by the two men on June 9.

Det Gda Doolan indicated that these were: 30 extra strong black rubble sacks at 10, two pairs of builders gloves at 1.90; a JCB brand tenon saw priced 13.70; two McAllister adjustable hacksaws at 13.75 and a light duty protection sheet priced 9.75.

Having been told they were on the receipt that had been found, Det Gda Doolan asked to carry out a controlled purchase of the exact items.

The items he bought were all shown to the court and jury.

Two hacksaws that had been found by gardai at Dodder Valley Park in Tallaght on January 2, 2018 were then shown to the jury, as were comparison photos of the two sets of hacksaws, side by side.

In cross-examination, Edmund Sweetman BL, for Mr Greene, asked Det Gda Doolan to take one of the heavy duty rubble rubble sacks and to test with his hands, the possibility that you could rip them with your hands.

He tested this and said its strong, yeah.

The sack was then passed in turn to each member of the jury to test it themselves.

Gda Gareth Collins then gave evidence of going to Woodies in Tallaght on June 20, 2019 with another receipt that had been found at the house.

He watched CCTV footage matching the time and date and saw who he believed was Mr Greene and Mr Johnston. One man selected two small axes and the two then continued around the shop and selected a pack of knife blades, which were brought to the checkout, where Mr Greene paid for them with cash.

Gda Collins asked the manager to provide the exact items that were purchased, for reference purposes. He could only provide the 10-pack blades as the axes were sold out.

The following day, June 21, he went to Woodies at Longmile Road with the code for the axes and selected ones that were identical to the items that had been purchased in the Tallaght branch on June 9.

They were two small orange and black fiberglass-handled axes at 12.99 each.

The jury was shown the items purchased by the gardai, as well as an axe that had been found by gardai at the Dodder Valley Park in January 2018.

They were also shown side-by side comparison photos of the axes.

Also on June 20, Gda Collins went to Shoezone at the Square in Tallaght with a receipt dated June 9 at 4.49pm, found at the house at Mountainview Park. This was for two pairs of green size-9 wellington boots, at 12.99. The shop provided him with two pairs of the exact same boots that had been purchased.

The jury was shown these, and two pairs of wellington boots that were found by gardai at the house at Mountainview Park.

Cross-examined by Mr Sweetman, Gda Collins said the two sets of boots looked very similar and they were all size nines.

Detective Garda Maurice Hickey said he went to Mr Price on Airton Road in Tallaght on June 19 to carry out another test purchase, this time in relation to a receipt found in a pocket under the steering wheel of the Toyota Corolla that Kieran Greene had driven.

Det Gda Hickey bought a jerry can, vinyl tape, and tow rope as per the receipt, while two utility knives were not in stock and were purchased later that day at another branch.

These were all shown to the jury.

Det Gda Hickey told Mr Sweetman a jerry can was for holding flammable fluids such as petrol and diesel.

He was not aware that any such items were found by investigating gardai.

According to the charges of impeding Mr Greenes prosecution, Stephanie OConnor is alleged to have disguised herself as her grandmother on the night of her alleged murder to pretend that she was still alive, while her mother Louise is accused of agreeing to this.

Mr Johnston is alleged to have assisted Mr Greene in buying implements to use in the concealment of Patricia OConnors remains, and to have refurbished the bathroom at the house to destroy or conceal evidence.

The trial continues before the jury and Mr Justice Paul McDermott.
A 700-pound moose got stuck on an active railroad bridge in Vermont before being rescued with a large crane and relocated by state wildlife officials.

On Wednesday, Vermont Fish & Wildlife received reports that the massive animal was stuck on railroad tracks near Route 103 near Cavendish.

Footage shows the moose sitting with its back hooves caught in a railroad track while game wardens and wildlife biologists look on.

On Wednesday, a 700-pound moose got stuck on railroad tracks near Cavendish, Vermont

When a game warden approaches the moose with a tranquilizer gun, the moose stirs in an attempt to runaway but cannot break free.

The crew is able to safely sedate the moose and place it in a large sling attached to a crane.

Using the crane, the rescue crew slowly lifts the moose into the air and onto a waiting railroad vehicle.

A game warden used a tranquilizer gun to sedate the moose before the rescue effort began

Rescue crews loaded the massive moose into a sling and used a large crane to transfer the animal from the tracks to a railroad vehicle

They laid the moose onto a bed of snow and his propped up on two plastic crates.

The railroad vehicle then drive down the tracks and several miles out of town to transport the moose to a wooded area.

Once the moose is awake and alert, it slowly wanders into the into the woods with minimal injuries.

Rescue crews stood near the moose while the railroad vehicle traveled several miles away from town to a wooded area

The moose was released into the wild and only suffered minimal injuries

Vermont Fish & Wildlife said that it's not often these types of rescue missions are successful.

'The focus of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is on population level threats to species, and it is rare that this kind of intervention makes sense because of the risk posed to the animal and responders,' they wrote.

'Such recoveries are many times not successful. Its great to see that in this case it ended well for those involved and for this very fortunate moose.'

Vermont Fish & Wildlife reports that moose in the area are 'increasingly under stress' because of climate change.

'Wildlife biologists are concerned that warmer falls and early springs are increasing winter tick numbers that can have detrimental effects on moose,' they wrote.

Winter ticks are a parasite that sucks the blood from moose and makes them weak. On a single moose, there can be tens of thousands of winter ticks.

The department is monitoring the moose population and working to secure the animal's overall health.
Todd McFarlane talks about his first Spawn team book and the culmination of the 'Year of Spawn'

The comic book icon looks back at the 'Year of Spawn' and forward to his first-ever team book The Scorched
MONTREAL - An American murder suspect nabbed in Halifax will remain detained until February, when he'll have another hearing to determine whether he's admissible to Canada, a member of the Immigration and Review Board ruled Friday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/1/2020 (719 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MONTREAL - An American murder suspect nabbed in Halifax will remain detained until February, when he'll have another hearing to determine whether he's admissible to Canada, a member of the Immigration and Review Board ruled Friday.

Derek Cameron Whisenand was scheduled to appear before the board Friday morning for both a detention review and an admissibility hearing, but refused to leave his cell in Halifax.

Derek Whisenand, age 27, is seen in this handout photo provided July 9, 2019. A U.S. murder suspect arrested in Halifax just before the New Year was living on the lam in a tent with his dog, according documents filed with the Immigration and Refugee Board. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Cavalier County Sheriff's Department

A board member maintained Whisenand's detention on the basis he was a flight risk and a danger to the Canadian public.

Dianne Tordoff also agreed to proceed with a hearing on admissibillty on Feb. 11, regardless of whether Whisenand has secured counsel by then. The admissibility hearing scheduled for Friday was adjourned because Whisenand had the right to be present.

"But if a person refuses to attend, the board must proceed with celerity  we can't just keep postponing the hearing," Tordoff said.

Whisenand, 28, is a suspect in the June 2019 death of a 78-year-old man in Eastland County, Texas, about 170 kilometres southwest of the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

He has been detained since his Dec. 30 arrest, which came after police responded to a call about the shoplifting of work boots at a Walmart in the city's Bayer's Lake area.

A police report filed as an exhibit in connection with his detention said Whisenand had been living in a tent in the woods with his dog near the busy shopping district.

According to the report by Halifax regional police, he was arrested after leading officers on a foot chase and only stopped after a constable threatened to use her Taser on him.

The police report alleged the fugitive was wearing brand-new beige work boots that still had the price tags on them.

He was evasive with Halifax officers and gave a false name  Christian Bates  before the officer found a tattered U.S. social security card with his real name on it, without a birth date, the report states.

After giving police his date of birth, he allegedly pleaded with them to let him go on a promise to appear so he could fetch his dog at the campsite.

Police confirmed they found a tent, clothing, dishes and dog food in a wooded area not far from where the alleged theft took place. The dog was seized by animal control officers.

Whisenand was subsequently turned over to the Canada Border Services Agency and has refused to answer questions from immigration officials.

In July, RCMP warned that he had illegally crossed into Canada near Haskett, Man., sometime during the week of June 24.

Authorities in North Dakota said Whisenand's vehicle was found about three kilometres from the Canadian border.

Whisenand hasn't explained how he got to Nova Scotia, but he was believed to have gotten a ride from the border to Winnipeg, then headed towards Atlantic Canada.

He has no family or friends in Canada and has been detained at the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility.

Whisenand didn't participate in his initial hearing on Jan. 2 and told the board at the second one on Jan. 8 that he wished to consult with a lawyer before proceeding on the issue of admissibility.

Michel Gallant, a CBSA hearing officer, said Friday that officers have tried to interview Whisenand, but he's rebuffed their attempts.

Gallant also said the U.S. consulate in Halifax will provide an emergency travel document if Whisenand is ultimately ordered removed.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 24, 2020.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, January 24, 2020 11:05 719 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2060cc8b1 1 News travel,Instagram,Big-7-Travel,destination Free

Travel publication Big 7 Travel released its 2020 list of the "most Instagrammable places in the world", with Bali ranking eighth.

The destinations are ranked in order of their visual allure and popularity on social media.

To compile the list, Big 7 Travel selected the winners by analyzing the amount of hashtags per destination, surveying the publication's 1.5 million readers and conducting a vote among a panel of travel experts.

These are the places where you'll find sweeping stretches of coastline, historical monuments, kitsch cocktail bars and more street art than you can possibly imagine, said Sarah Clayton-Lea, Big 7 Travels head of content, in a statement.

Bali was ranked at number eight, being described as "paradise" with white sandy beaches, waterfalls, cute swings and floating breakfast.

The Edge villa resort in Uluwatu was mentioned by the publication for its famous infinity pools.

Read also: Indonesia among 2019's 'most Instagrammable places in the world'

This years most Instagrammable destination is Australia's Sydney, which received the honor thanks to the citys vibrant and beautiful scenery.

Cities that also made it into the top 20 include Croatia's Dubrovnik and Paris. These cities received high scores due to their pastel-colored streets, lively markets and photo spots.

Other Instagrammable places in the Top 50 to add to your must-visit include Istanbul in Turkey and Cusco in Peru, Sarah added. (dpk/wng)

Below is the top 10 list of most Instragrammable places in 2020 according to Big 7 Travel:

1. Sydney, Australia

2. Hong Kong

3. Dubai, United Arab Emirates

4. New York City, United States

5. Singapore

6. Tokyo, Japan

7. Lisbon, Portugal

8. Bali, Indonesia

9. London, England

10. Jaipur, India
Photograph: Carolyn Kaster/AP

In Floridas renowned I-4 corridor, as everywhere else across the country, the all-consuming spectacle of Donald Trumps impeachment trial is playing out on every television station, on radio and online.

Related: Trump impeachment trial: Democrats press case for president's removal  live

But in this place where millions of swing voters provide one of the nations most authentic barometers of any White House hopefuls political standing, there is evidence that the impeachment proceedings are not resonating with the electorate in a way both sides might have hoped.

A Guardian study of a cross-section of central Florida voters  Democratic and Republican; retired and working; white, black and Hispanic; US-born and immigrant  revealed attitudes ranging mostly from indifference to moderate engagement. That matters here: the I-4 corridor is the swing state within a swing state and where the battle for Florida will be fought in 2020s election.

Even among those residents who say they are following developments closely, many believe the outcome is a foregone conclusion, or that the partisan and rancorous nature of events in the US Senate will switch people off to the significance of the occasion.

Im following it to a certain extent, Id say its important but Im certainly not overwhelmed by it, Im not driven by it, said Mike Banks, 52, a property manager from Orlando, which sits in the middle of the corridor which tracks the 132-mile east-west interstate 4 from Daytona Beach to St Petersburg.

Banks, who says he is an independent voter, backed Trump in the 2016 election, but is undecided who to vote for in November. His choice, he insists, wont be influenced by the impeachment trial.

At first I liked Trump because of the business thing, but I keep everything open, you know? he said.

He said he was aware of the unpopularity of Trump for many, but also felt the Democrats couldnt take his vote for granted.

I wont vote for a Democrat [merely] because Im black, I wouldnt vote for Trump, because people hate him. Whoever goes up against Trump, well see.

Story continues

Mark Kramer, a 41-year-old consulting engineer from Orlando, believes the trial is a black eye for the US.

I think this is actually going to give more rise to Trump Nation either as almost martyrdom or as a victor Mark Kramer

Regardless of political views, weve consumed far too many taxpayer resources on these proceedings and speaking as someone who was privy to the Clinton proceedings back in the 90s, we cant be so partisan that we just wait for a moment to strike, on both sides of the aisle, he said.

Fortunately or unfortunately, its a foregone conclusion how the outcome will be. In the Senate, just as in the Clinton years, it will not go forward, and as a political tactic I think this is actually going to give more rise to Trump Nation either as almost martyrdom or as a victor.

Such voices from the corridor have been prominent in every presidential election of modern times. While Floridas northern counties are staunchly Republican, and Democrats rely on solid support from the heavily populated metropolitan counties of the south-east, it is the 6 million swing voters of the states central belt who determine the destination of Floridas 29 electoral college votes.

For half a century, Florida has backed every election winner except Bill Clinton in 1992, and in 2016 Trump won the state from Hillary Clinton by fewer than 113,000 from 9.4m cast.

The state barely was Republican in the last election and its a huge prize, said Jim Yarbrough, 73, from Winter Park.

The people on both sides of the fence will show up at the polls in November and this referendum, the impeachment referendum, will be settled once and for all then. [The impeachment trial] will absolutely have an impact in the context of turnout. The liberal base and the conservative base are very invested in this coming election and they will show up.

Jared Witt, a craft brewery manager from Baldwin Park, explains the perceived lack of interest in impeachment because its not going to go anywhere.

Are people not excited about it because they know its going to get shut down in the Senate? Impeachment is a theoretical, like, thats great, that there was a sentiment in the House that went that direction, but functionally it doesnt mean anything, he said.

Related: Hillary Clinton is done trying to be liked | Moira Donegan

The people who are pro-Trump have doubled down every step along the way where hes done something you would think would shoot him in the foot. Hes [like] a petulant two-year-old, just celebrating the negative.

For Margaret Dos Santos, 66, an immigrant from Chile and an undecided voter who lives in Longwood, healthcare and social security take precedence over impeachment in her decision-making process. I voted for [Trump] hoping there would be some changes but it hasnt been done, she said. I want to see what comes. Im not really happy with what we have, but the economy is doing better.

I dont watch TV very much and I havent been watching the impeachment. For retired people like me, the things we worry about are our wellbeing, Medicare and Medicaid.

Zoila Sagadraca, a travel agent from Winter Park who immigrated to the US from Peru 19 years ago, is another more outraged by Trumps record in office than his alleged misdeeds over Ukraine that led to his impeachment.

America is not getting great because of his ideas, she said. His own persona is false, hes a fraud. People dont see it because they dont want to read. But you dont have to be a journalist, or a lawyer or a writer, youve just got to be interested in who is the president, whos the person that will influence the country where you live.

For Maggie OHalloran, director of education at a Winter Park holistic school, impeachment is about accountability.

In terms of the media, Im not sure its important for us to only focus on impeachment. There are a lot of other things going on as relevant to the future, but it is taking up a lot of bandwidth, she said.
Each of these escalation points appear designed to bait Mr. Trump into reinforcing the false narrative that there are only two choices when it comes to Iran: war, or a return to the flawed 2015 nuclear deal. If Iran could make war seem imminent, so the thought goes, it might indirectly force Mr. Trump into relieving sanctions (assuring the regimes survival), perhaps even without entering direct negotiations.

To his credit, President Trump recognized those traps for what they were and exercised strategic patience. Indeed, Mr. Trump could have responded to each provocation with a proportional military response. After a day of flag waving, the national mood might well have shifted against Mr. Trump, forcing him to offer sanctions relief prematurely without achieving any long-term national security objectives.

This may indeed have been what Qassim Suleimani thought he would achieve following the killing of an American contractor and an attack on the United States embassy in Iraq. Instead, Mr. Trump surprised Iran by striking its top terror strategist, and then surprised it once again by responding to Irans ballistic missile retaliation with a return to strategic patience. Mr. Trump emerges from the past few weeks in a stronger position. The maximum pressure campaign remains fully intact with political space to increase the sanctions pressure even further. Iran faces a backlash at home and abroad after its downing of a Ukrainian passenger jet. Mr. Trumps critics who warned that his policies would spark a third world war now seem to have gotten ahead of themselves.

Many wrongly believe the United States has already reached full maximum pressure on Iran. In truth, several critical pressure points remain untapped. The administration this month rolled out fresh sanctions targeting Irans construction, mining and manufacturing sectors, along with the first step in a crackdown on violators of American sanctions on Iranian metals and petrochemicals. Sanctions targeting Iranian state shipping lines are set to take effect in June and could be expedited for more immediate impact.

Another potential target: Irans financial sector in its entirety. In 2018, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, and Representative Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, proposed legislation imposing sanctions on Irans financial sector, which the United States recently determined to be a primary jurisdiction of money-laundering concern. The effect could be destabilizing, immediately cutting off all non-sanctioned banks inside Iran from international commerce, forcing their disconnection from the global financial messaging system known as SWIFT and rendering all remaining foreign exchange reserves held outside Iran inaccessible for any purpose.
The partition of India and Pakistan was perhaps one of the most heartbreaking events of history. Thousands were displaced overnight - people lost their homes and became victims of sectarian violence. More than 14 million people were displaced at the time, and about one million died. Even today, its ripples are felt in our culture - through movies, books and some, through people who live to tell their stories.

Pic Courtesy: Facebook

Sparsh Ahuja and Ameena Malak had a tete-a-tete about the ways in which 1947 partition affected their grandparents - Ahujas grandfather, Ishar Das Arora, was 7 years old when the Indian subcontinent was divided into two by the British, creating India and Pakistan; Malaks grandfather, Ahmed Rafiq, moved from the Indian city of Hoshiarpur to Pakistans Lahore.

Pic Courtesy: Facebook



Both their grandparents yearn to go back home and see the places where they were born and that's how the idea for ''Project Dastaan' was born.

Project Dastaan is an Oxford University-backed (South Asia Programme) peace project, which reconnects refugees of the 1947 Partition with their ancestral homes and communities, using film and virtual reality to communicate their stories to the world.

Mohammad Hussein Dar from Project Dastaan on Vimeo.

At its heart, the Project is a poignant commentary on its own absurdity. By taking these refugees back, we are trying to highlight the cultural impact of decades of divisive foreign policy and sectarian conflict on the subcontinent. This is a task for policymakers, not university students. In an ideal world, a project like this shouldnt exist, says Sparsh Ahuja, Founder & CEO of Project Dastaan.

The Project seeks to promote a cultural dialogue between the three countries - Pakistan, Bangladesh and India - to educate younger generations about the common ancestries of their predecessors, and most importantly, immortalise the experiences of those who suffered under colonialism.



The Project is divided into three parts:

One is a The Social Impact Program that helps track down the childhood homes and villages of partition witnesses, and films them in in 360 video.

projectdastaan.org

The second is the Child of Empire - a flagship VR experience of the project through which these migration stories will also be used as an educational tool to teach partition history.

The third is a feature documentary called The Lost Migration, and it shares first-hand survivor narratives through documentary-style storytelling.

I think Dastaan is ultimately about stripping away the layers of politics and trying to solve a very simple problem: that children forced to leave their homes, have never been able to go back again," says Sam Dalrymple, Co-Founder & Operations Lead.







According to a statement shared with Indiatimes, 'These films showcase the people and places that the witness most wants to see again through VR experiences  the chaotic sounds of a long-forgot- ten Sindhi bazaar, the serenity of a Punjabi pind, or the Baul harmonies echoing through an ancient Bengali gaon'.

projectdastaan.org

The project was founded by a group of Oxford University students from Pakistan and India in 2018, and it is backed by the Oxford University South Asian Studies Programme,

Thanks for your support!  https://t.co/tvYThY70G9  Project Dastaan (@ProjectDastaan) January 23, 2020





The mentors at Project Dastaan are a panel of historians, educationists, and activists like Malala Yousafzai (Nobel Peace Prize Recipient), Gabo Arora (former Creative Director at the UN), Suroosh Alvi (Co-Founder of Vice Media), and celebrated authors such as William Dalrymple and Aanchal Malhotra.

Sayyed and Musarrat Abrar from Project Dastaan on Vimeo.

Project Dastaan is at a stage where we are looking for financial support to sustain our peace-making efforts. We are hopeful that people will come forward to help us by donating and giving public endorsement to the Project so that we can reach more people, raising funds and awareness. Saadia Gardezi, Co-Founder & Pakistan Lead.



Speaking to Indiatimes, Abu Sufiyan, head of the project in Delhi, said that they have achieved 50% goal of crowdfunding and managed to get people to contribute, despite the ongoing protests against the CAA and NRC.





According to the crowdfunding platform, 'by donating to our cause you can help the last surviving first-hand witnesses of Partition to be heard, and to revisit something they have yearned for all their life and also help educate younger generations about the common ancestries of their grandparent's generations'.
Montana Barbaro has reunited with her distraught mother for the second time in her life.

Now 15, Montana was just three weeks old when she was snatched from her car seat in a suburban shopping centre car park before being found two days later.

Last week, she went missing again.

Montana Barbaro, 15, has been missing from her Truganina home since January 18.

Police said Montana disappeared from her Truganina home in Melbourne's outer west on January 18 about 9pm. When she remained missing on Friday afternoon, they issued a public plea for help saying she was known to spend time in both Avondale Heights and Taylors Lakes.
There's been a notable change in appetite for Hutchison China MediTech Limited (LON:HCM) shares in the week since its third-quarter report, with the stock down 18% to UK3.64. Hutchison China MediTech beat revenue forecasts by a solid 13%, hitting US$49m. Statutory losses also increased, with a per-share loss of US$0.11, slightly larger than what analysts were expecting. Following the result, analysts have updated their earnings model, and it would be good to know whether they think there's been a strong change in the company's prospects, or if it's business as usual. We thought readers would find it interesting to see analysts' latest (statutory) post-earnings forecasts for next year.

See our latest analysis for Hutchison China MediTech

AIM:HCM Past and Future Earnings, January 24th 2020

Taking into account the latest results, the latest consensus from Hutchison China MediTech's nine analysts is for revenues of US$214.3m in 2020, which would reflect a modest 4.7% improvement in sales compared to the last 12 months. Losses are predicted to fall substantially, shrinking 70% (on a statutory basis) to US$0.24. Before this latest report, the consensus had been expecting revenues of US$212.4m and US$0.24 per share in losses. Although the revenue estimates have not really changed, we can see there's been a earnings per share expectations, suggesting that analysts have become more bullish after the latest result.

As a result there was no major change to the consensus price target of US$6.32, implying that the business is trading roughly in line with analyst expectations despite ongoing losses. There's another way to think about price targets though, and that's to look at the range of price targets put forward by analysts, because a wide range of estimates could suggest a diverse view on possible outcomes for the business. The most optimistic Hutchison China MediTech analyst has a price target of US$7.74 per share, while the most pessimistic values it at US$4.69. This shows there is still quite a bit of diversity in estimates, but analysts don't appear to be totally split on the stock as though it might be a success or failure situation.

Story continues

It can also be useful to step back and take a broader view of how analyst forecasts compare to Hutchison China MediTech's performance in recent years. It's pretty clear that analysts expect Hutchison China MediTech's revenue growth will slow down substantially, with revenues next year expected to grow 4.7%, compared to a historical growth rate of 13% over the past five years. By way of comparison, other companies in this market with analyst coverage, are forecast to grow their revenue at 7.1% per year. So it's pretty clear that, while revenue growth is expected to slow down, analysts still expect the wider market to grow faster than Hutchison China MediTech.

The Bottom Line

The most important thing to note from these estimates is that the consensus increased its forecast losses next year, suggesting all may not be well at Hutchison China MediTech. Fortunately, analysts also reconfirmed their revenue estimates, suggesting sales are tracking in line with expectations - although our data does suggest that Hutchison China MediTech's revenues are expected to perform worse than the wider market. The consensus price target held steady at US$6.32, with the latest estimates not enough to have an impact on analysts' estimated valuations.

With that said, the long-term trajectory of the company's earnings is a lot more important than next year. We have estimates - from multiple Hutchison China MediTech analysts - going out to 2024, and you can see them free on our platform here.

You can also see our analysis of Hutchison China MediTech's Board and CEO remuneration and experience, and whether company insiders have been buying stock.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
The population of the world has been increasing steadily over the years. In 1950, the total population of the world was about 2.6 billion people. By 1999, this population had more than doubled to about 6 billion individuals. Today, the global population is estimated to be at least 7 billion.

Naturally, different countries around the world have different growth rates. On average, developing countries tend to have faster growth rates than developed countries. There are several reasons for this including access to birth control, religious freedom, women's rights, life expectancy, and more. However, developing countries can have low population rates just as developed countries can experience high population rates. According to the World Bank, the country with the highest population growth rate in the world is Oman at 4.7%.

Factors Affecting Population Growth

Life expectancy affects population growth. Recent trends have seen an increase in the global lifespan of people by around three years. Some of this longevity has been experienced in certain countries in Africa where population growth was already high. As more people live long enough to reproduce in countries with high fertility rates, then the population will increase at a high rate.

Countries can also grow in population through migration. Compared to other factors, migration is not a strong influence of a nations population except in special cases. For example, countries that border war-torn countries may see a massive influx of migration from their neighbors. Data shows that between 2000 and 2015, about 2.8 million people per year moved to other countries as a result of political instability and violence.

Other factors that affect population growth include access to healthcare, political and economic instability, and the availability of space. These are all referred to as push and pull factors.

Countries with the Highest Population Growth

Oman - 4.7%

Officially known as the Sultanate of Oman, Oman has the worlds highest population growth rate. Located in the southwestern region of Asia, the country has an estimated population of 4.83 million people as of 2018, which is rapid growth from 2.77 million in 2010. Most of the population, about 50%, lives in the Batinah coastal plain and Muscat. The current life expectancy in Oman is around 75.7 years while the median age stands at 25.6 years. Currently, the rate of birth stands at 24 births per every 1,000 people whereas the mortality rate is 3.3 people per every 1,000. A higher rate of birth, a low death rate, and immigration have all contributed to the high growth rate of Omans population.

Bahrain - 4.6%

Similar to Oman, Bahrain has a large population of immigrants who come to the Arab island nation in search of jobs. Many of these immigrants, who make up just over half of the population, come from South Asia or Southeast Asia. Immigration is the main reason behind the yearly population increase in Bahrain.

Nauru - 4.5%

The tiny Pacific nation of Nauru is growing its population quickly. However, as the country's population is small and hovers around 10,000, it is not experiencing a population boom in the same way as other countries on this list. Because of Nauru's small population, small fluctuations are just felt more strongly in the country.

Niger - 3.8%

Niger, in northwestern Africa, is growing at a rate of 3.8% per year. The population of Niger in the mid-20th century was only around 4 million. Today, it stands at 20 million and is growing quickly. Family planning is reportedly a taboo topic in Niger. The average woman in the country gives birth to around 7.6 children.

Equatorial Guinea - 3.7%

Equatorial Guinea, Africa's only Espanglophone country, also has one of the world's quickest-growing populations. It also happens to be one of the richest countries in Africa, although its riches are not evenly dispersed among the population. There is one birth in Equatorial Guinea approximately every 12 minutes. The average age in the country is 22.2 years.

Problems Associated With Population Growth

A few of the many problems associated with population growth include overcrowding, lack of housing, lack of services, and pollution. Some scientists predict that the world can comfortably support up to 10 billion people.
ISLAMABAD - The Taliban, in a rambling commentary published on their website, expressed frustration with what they describe as additional U.S. demands in peace talks  even after they had offered a reduction of violence. They have not publicly outlined what that would entail and did not explain the new Washington demands.

The insurgents gesture of reduced violence, though never quantified, was meant to open a window for the signing of a peace agreement that could see the withdrawal of U.S. troops and the end to the 18-year war in Afghanistan, Americas longest conflict.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International said in a statement Friday that to talk about a reduction of violence was an absurdity.

In a conflict marked by attacks on civilians, the term violence reduction is an absurdity. There can be no acceptable level of violence, said Omar Waraich, deputy South Asia director at Amnesty.

The United States and the Afghan Taliban must commit to abide by the laws of war and end all attacks on Afghan civilians, he added.

Earlier, Taliban officials familiar with the talks told The Associated Press the Taliban had offered a cease-fire, lasting seven to 10 days, to Washingtons peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad durig their latest round of talks last week in the Gulf Arab state of Qatar, where the Taliban maintain a political office.

However, Khalilzad had previously sought a more comprehensive end to the fighting and it was never known whether Washington would have agreed to a temporary truce. The U.S. State Department has withheld comment.

In their late Thursday commentary, the Taliban accused Washington of wasting time and said the talks with Khalilzad had become bogged down over a definition of reduction of violence. The tone was surprisingly harsh following earlier optimistic tweets from Taliban political spokesman Sohail Shaheen who hinted the insurgents and Khalilzad were close to an understanding.

The Taliban also said Khalilzad is seeking additional assurances on behalf of the Kabul government, with which the Taliban have refused direct talks.

They also balked at a U.S. statement following President Donald Trumps meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Davos, Switzerland, earlier this week during which the U.S. president reiterated the need for a significant and lasting reduction in violence by the Taliban that would facilitate meaningful negotiations on Afghanistans future.

Previously Khalilzad had said any agreement to withdraw troops from Afghanistan will go hand in hand with negotiations between the two sides in the conflict.

And even if direct talks with the Taliban were to be held, it also remains unclear who would negotiate for Kabul after preliminary results of the presidential election last September giving Ghani the win are being contested. The election commission has yet to announce the final winner in the contest.

The Afghan presidents spokesman, Sediq Sediqqi, said that Ghani has a small team ready to negotiate but bickering has marred efforts to cobble together a team that anyone other than Ghani loyalists can agree upon. Ghanis political opponents say they have been consulted but that their suggestions have been ignored.

The Taliban today control or hold sway over roughly half of Afghanistan and continue to stage near-daily attacks targeting Afghan and U.S. forces, Kabul government officials or those seen as linked to the government. Scores of Afghan civilians have also been killed in the crossfire and by roadside bombs planted by militants or in anti-Taliban operations undertaken by government forces assisted by American troops.
Singapore has confirmed two more cases of the recent outbreak of deadly coronavirus, according to its health ministry on January 24. It was just after a day the island nation identified its first case of the infection that originated from China. The health ministry said that it expected more imported cases due to the huge influx of people travelling from China. The deadly virus has killed 25 people and infected more than 800 people. In a bid to take precautionary measures, China has locked down five cities on January 24, including Wuhan, suspending all public transport to contain the deadly virus that has infected more than 830 people and left 25 others dead, as per reports. It also cancelled the celebrations of Lunar New Year recently.

READ: China: Almost 20 Million People Quarantined, Transport Suspended

Authorities suspend public transport

Chinese authorities announced the suspension of public transport in five cities - Huanggang, Ezhou, Zhijiang, Qianjiang and Wuhan in Hubei province on Thursday evening, according to the official media reports. The decision has been made after the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee meeting on the night of January 22. WHOs Director-General, in a statement, said that there was an excellent discussion during the committee meeting and was very impressed by the detail and depth of Chinas presentation. The decision over declaring it a public health emergency has not been made. The Director-General said that he will decide after appropriate consideration of all the evidence. China placed its city, Wuhan, the centre of coronavirus epidemic under effective quarantine on January 23 with trains and flights suspended, subways halted and large events called off as doctors with their full-body protective gear treat the patients.

READ: China Seals 5 Cities In A Bid To Prevent Coronavirus Spread

China cancels Lunar New Year celebrations

It is a drastic step taken by the government to prevent the contagious disease that has killed 25, affected hundreds and reached other countries. The authorities in Wuhan, a major transport hub with seafood market suspended public buses and subways and ordered that the residents should not leave the city of 11 million people "without any proper reasons". The decision was taken amid hundreds of people are travelling across China for the Lunar New Year holiday, that starts on Friday. The city's tourism and culture department cancelled all group tours until February 8, as per the reports. The mayor of the city of Wuhan in China has reportedly urged citizens not to travel outside China during the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday that witnesses the largest annual migration of the citizens.

READ: Social Controls, SARS Experience Help China Close Off Cities

READ: China's New Virus Is Spreading Rapidly, Here's A List Of Countries With Confirmed Cases
Rajesh Kumar Thakur By

Express News Service

PATNA: Bihar's deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi on Friday made a scathing attack on main opposition party RJD for playing a kind of "pseudo-politics" in the name of backward castes.

Terming the RJD a party of pseudo-politics, Modi said that it (RJD) had vehemently opposed the 10 per cent reservation given to the poor of the upper castes by Narendra Modi government as it had abolished the 3 per cent reservation given to the backward as well as the poor of the upper caste by (late) Karpoori Thakur in Bihar.

Speaking at the Karpoori Jayanti function, Modi said: "The people of Bihar will not forgive those, who opposed the reservation of the poor of the upper castes."

Citing figures to substantiate his claims, Modi said the RJD had given only five tickets to the backward society out of its 100 seats in 2015 assembly elections.

"While the BJP had given 25 tickets in the same elections to the candidates belonging to different backward communities. It is in record to show how the RJD has always been misleading the backward society by its hollow political rhetorics and rituals," he alleged.

He further attacked the RJD saying that only 3 out of 80 of RJD MLAs are from backward society whereas 12 out of 53 MLAs of BJP are from different backward society.

"Not only this, seven MPs of the NDA in the present Lok Sabha belong to the ultra-backwards society. These realities are on the record to show pseudo-politics being played by the RJD in the name of backward society," he said.

He also lambasted the RJD for taking no step to ensure education add empowerment for girls during its 15 years of rules in the state.

"The NDA government has provided more than one crore bicycles amongst the school going girls under the cycle scheme whereas the RJD has provided a terror time to stop the girls from going schools," he lamented, adding that the bicycle incentive by the NDA had encouraged a huge number of girls to pass the matriculation examination in 2019-20.
SANTA CLARA, Calif., Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

EBITDA for the Quarter stood at INR 1103 Million

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8814d2d3-deb1-4f16-b524-a8c9cb4488d8

MANAGEMENT COMMENTARY

Mr. Raju Vegesna, Chairman, said, Most enterprises are viewing the current environment as an opportunity to reskill and reengineer their people and processes and be ready for the Digital economy of tomorrow. This drives both increased consumption of Sifys infrastructure offerings, as well as increasing utilization of our digital transformation skills and services.

Mr. Kamal Nath, CEO, said, Our vision and strategy to align and lead with hybrid and multi-cloud models, supported by our relevant infrastructure investments, has put us strongly in the Digital transformation pursuit of customers. Our cloud-aligned network and security transformation services are other areas which are not only supporting the customers cloud adoption journey but have also opened up growth areas for us. We would continue to drive and strengthen this motion going forward.

Mr. M P Vijay Kumar, CFO, said, We continue to invest with prudence on our capacity expansion, in particular Data Centers and in people for enhancing our scale of managed services.

While revenue and EBITDA have grown, the net profit has been tempered by the depreciation on new capacity and related interest expense. The tax expense is due to the Company being subject to income tax as the benefit of past losses has been utilised in full until last year.

Our cash balance at the end of the quarter stands at INR 2204 Million.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Sify Technologies Limited Unaudited Consolidated Income Statement as per IFRS (In INR millions) Quarter ended Quarter ended Quarter ended Description December December September 2019 2018 2019 Revenue 5,891 5,732 5,807 3 % Cost of Revenues (3,729 ) (3,775 ) (3,650 ) Selling, General and Administrative Expenses (1,059 ) (1,169 ) (1,096 ) EBITDA 1,103 788 1,061 40 % Depreciation and Amortisation expense (603 ) (368 ) (527 ) 64 % Net Finance Expenses (255 ) (175 ) (261 ) Other Income (including exchange gain) 1 67 15 Other Expenses (including exchange loss) 3 (8 ) Profit before tax 249 312 280 -20 % Income tax expense (85 ) - (89 ) Profit for the period 164 312 191 -47 % Profit attributable to: Reconciliation with Non-GAAP measure Profit for the period 164 312 191 Add: Depreciation and Amortisation expense 603 368 527 Net Finance Expenses 255 175 261 Other Expenses (including exchange loss) (3 ) - 8 Income tax expense 85 89 Less: Other Income (including exchange gain) (1 ) (67 ) (15 ) EBITDA 1,103 788 1,061 Quarter ended December 31, 2019 Rs Mln Capex Spent for Q3 1,089 Cash Balance 2,204



BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c0cf9175-6a7d-44d7-8750-a7484d91270f

GROWTH DRIVERS

The primary growth driver in the market continues to be cloud adoption, led by digital initiatives and transformation. This trend is triggering movement of workloads from on-premise Data Centers to hyperscale Public Cloud and hosted Private Cloud in varied degrees, based on the digital objectives of the Enterprises. This results in transformation of the traditional network architecture, and transformation at the edge which connects the end user. The need for digital services like analytics, data lakes, IoT, etc are shifting the balance to adoption of hyperscale Public Cloud vs Private Cloud. Collectively, these trends are generating opportunities for full scale Cloud, DC and Network service providers with digital services skills.



KEY WINS

Highlights of our major wins in the quarter include:

Customers choosing Sify for migration of their on-premise data center to multi-cloud platforms like Cloudinfinit, AWS and Azure. They also entrusted Sify with management and security.

Customers choosing Sify as their DC Hosting partner as they embrace hybrid cloud strategy.

Customers choosing Sify as their Digital services partner.

Customers choosing Sify as their Network Transformation and Management partner as they migrate to Cloud-ready network.

A consolidated summary of the key highlights during the quarter is noted below:

Data Center Centric IT Services highlights include:

6 customers contracted to have their workload migrated from their on-premise DC to multi-cloud, including one of Indias largest retail chain and clients from Financial services, Supply chain and logistics, Metallurgy, Heavy Engineering and Industrial Chemicals.

4 customers contracted for greenfield Cloud implementation from verticals such as the Retail merchandising, Power, Corporate Registry, Logistics and a State Government.

7 new customers contracted for services on Public Cloud and Cloudinfinit platform.

6 customers, including one of Indias large private banks, moved their IT infrastructure from competitor Data Center to Sify DC, while 3 customers migrated from their on-premise Data Center to Sify DC. These were across Retail, Banking, IoT services, Financial services, Food processing and Cloud Telephony.

2 public sector banks contracted Sify to commission Private cloud at their Data Centers.

2 clients from Financial services and Logistics, contracted Sify to modernize their Data center.

4 clients including a retail major, a diversified multinational and a power sector PSU contracted for the design, supply and deployment of their on-premise DC.

12 customers have contracted Sify for Cloud managed services.

A government department contracted for a large Online Assessment project.

Telecom Centric Services added 49 new customers in the quarter. These include

A media major, an international automobile brand, logistics player and a fashion label contracted with Sify for Cloud interconnections.

Multiple banks, an NBFC, an Insurance PSU and a Pharma major contracted with Sify for a complete network build.

An international payment services company, a paint manufacturer and an Energy major contracted for managed and secure SD-WAN services.

About Sify Technologies

Sify Technologies is Indias most comprehensive ICT service & solution provider. With Cloud at the core of our solutions portfolio, Sify is focussed on the changing ICT requirements of the emerging Digital economy and the resultant demands from large, mid and small-sized businesses.

Sifys infrastructure comprising the largest MPLS network, top-of-the-line DCs, partnership with global technology majors, vast expertise in business transformation solutions modelled on the cloud make it the first choice of start-ups, incoming Enterprises and even large Enterprises on the verge of a revamp,

More than 10000 businesses across multiple verticals have taken advantage of our unassailable trinity of Data Centers, Networks and Security services and conduct their business seamlessly from more than 1600 cities in India. Internationally, Sify has presence across North America, the United Kingdom and Singapore.

Sify, www.sify.com , Sify Technologies and www.sifytechnologies.com are registered trademarks of Sify Technologies Limited

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. Sify undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements.

For a discussion of the risks associated with Sifys business, please see the discussion under the caption Risk Factors in the companys Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended March 31, 2019, which has been filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and is available by accessing the database maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov , and Sifys other reports filed with the SEC.

For further information, please contact:
Late last year, Labor MP Anne Aly went to a medical appointment in her northern Perth electorate of Cowan.

"I came [to Australia] when I was two, my family's been here for 50 years. The first question the woman behind the desk asks me - in one of the most multicultural suburbs in my electorate - is: 'Where are you from? Because you're not from Australia'."

Labor's Anne Aly says Australia needs to revisit its understanding of multiculturalism. Credit:Mick Tsikas

Dr Aly, who was born in Egypt, said she often had similar interactions.

"How long do I have to be in this country, how long do people have to be in this country, before they can own being Australian?"
Taylor Swift says in a forthcoming Netflix documentary that she wishes she commented on politics for the first time in 2016 to help defeat President Trump, rather than breaking her silence ahead of the 2018 midterm elections, per The Daily Beast.

What happened: A pivotal scene in "Miss Americana" shows Swift holed up with her family and public relations staff, preparing to endorse Democrat Phil Bredesen for Senate in Tennessee on Instagram. Told that the move might prompt the public to think she's simultaneously condemning the president, Swift responds, "I dont care if they write that. I'm sad I didn't say it two years ago."

Her publicist also warns her that Trump could personally come after her  to which Swift responds, "F--k that. I don't care."

The big picture: Swift's Instagram endorsement of Bredesen, who eventually lost the race, called out his Republican opponent, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, for voting against reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act and refusing to support same-sex marriage.

In the documentary, Swift rails on Blackburn: "I can't see another commercial [with] her disguising these policies behind the words 'Tennessee Christian values. I live in Tennessee. I am Christian. That's not what we stand for."

She also calls her "Trump in a wig."

Flashback: Swift cites the backlash to the Dixie Chicks' decision to speak out against former President George W. Bush in 2004 as a reason for why she kept silent on politics for so long.

"My moral code as a kid and now was the need to be thought of as good. Overall, the main thing I always strived to be was, like, a good girl," she says to open the documentary.

Go deeper: Taylor Swift explains why she didn't endorse Hillary Clinton in 2016
WASINGTON, D.C. -- A terrorist leader is dead. Scratch that. Several terrorist leaders are dead. Chief among them was Qassem Soleimani, the late leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Councils (IRGC) deadly and ruthless Quds Force. He was responsible for the death of countless civilians in many nations. He directed subsidiary groups to attack American infrastructure and personnel for years. This wasnt a foreign government official, or a revered general. He was the textbook definition of a bad guy. So bad, in fact, that retired Gen. David Petraeus said killing Soleimani was more significant than the killing of Osama bin Laden.

As Noah Rothman of Commentary Magazine pointed out, Irans recent strikes on a U.S. military installation were not the beginning of the current hostilities. American forces in Iraq have been under attack for two months by groups with ties to Iran at the direction of Soleimani, according to Reuters. Unfortunately, media coverage of Irans missile strikes did little to inform Americans of the true scope of the situation. Proportionate American responses such as retaliatory strikes at the end of last year did not serve to subdue the ambitions of the terror financier. Instead, Soleimani worked to ratchet up and continue rocket attacks, and coordinated with an Iraqi terror group attempting to overrun the American embassy in Baghdad.

But taking out Soleimani was not just about retribution for the last few months of rocket attacks and the marshaling of terror groups in Iraq. He and his Quds Force, which was designated by the Treasury Department in 2007 as supporting terrorist groups, have been brazenly operating around the world for years. Whether it was supporting Hezbollah or financing terror activities from Afghanistan to Syria, Soleimanis reign of terror was vast and brutal, targeting Americans, American allies, and innocent civilians.

Despite the decades of cruelty and violence, as part of the misguided nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), billions of dollars were used in an attempt to buy the Iranians cooperation and likely found their way into the hands of the IRGC. It ought to be clear now that relaxing sanctions and offering cash bribes while giving Iran an unacceptably long leash on inspections of military installations was not working. Some critics of the JCPOA contend Irans multiple testing of ballistic missiles violated the spirit, if not the text of the agreement, as Iran insisted on a watered-down version to replace U.N. prohibitions on testing. After President Donald Trump wisely pulled the United States out of the JCPOA, Iran blatantly violated its terms, despite the pacts EU members continuing to adhere to it.

U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs represents Ohio's 7th Congressional District in Washington, D.C.

President Theodore Roosevelt was famous for his phrase on foreign policy, Speak softly and carry a big stick. American strength and the judicious, measured use of it is necessary in fostering global stability.

While not every conflict around the world requires American intervention, the decades-long effort by Iran to create a regional hegemony demanded a big-stick response after several ineffective years of speaking softly. Not only did we rid the world of a top terror mastermind, we put Iran on its heels and forced them to realize there are real consequences to their actions.

Yet incredibly, at the most critical moment, when the United States requires maximum leverage and flexibility to keep Iran boxed in a corner, Speaker Nancy Pelosi passed a resolution intended to limit our ability to respond to future Iranian attacks on American personnel in Iraq.

For now, the ball is in Irans court. It should always be the policy of the United States to prevent belligerent nation-states such as Iran to achieve nuclear weapons capability. As President Trump told the nation Jan. 8, The United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it.

The Iranian government can choose to move forward with their nuclear ambitions and continue to direct proxy terrorist groups at great risk, with the prospect of serious consequences, including additional economic sanctions. Alternatively, it can seek another way, one towards a more productive and less violent future.

Republican U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs of Holmes County represents Ohios 7th Congressional District, which also includes the city of Canton, parts of Lorain and Medina counties, and reaches into part or all of other counties in north-central Ohio.

Editors note: The description of the contours of the 7th Congressional District appended to this op-ed was corrected at 8:40 a.m.

************************************

Have something to say about this topic? Use the comments to share your thoughts. Then, stay informed when readers reply to your comments by using the Follow option at the top of the comments, and look for updates via the small blue bell in the lower right as you look at more stories on cleveland.com.
Audrey Oberio, 6, of Maryland, had prenatal surgery for spina bifida, a spinal cord defect, and now enjoys softball, as well as dance and horseback riding. Read more

Seven years ago, when she was about 20 weeks pregnant, Jackie Oberio got news no mother-to-be wants to receive: her unborn daughter had spina bifida, a spinal cord birth defect that can cause partial paralysis.

Mild forms of spina bifida lead to few or minor complications. But Oberios unborn child was diagnosed with the most serious form of spina bifida, myelomeningocele, which meant she might be unable to walk on her own and have limited bowel and bladder control.

Oberio and her husband, Gideon, who live in Maryland, sought out second opinions from multiple specialists, none of whom were at all encouraging.

Eventually, a doctor referred the young couple to Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, where doctors were performing prenatal spina bifida surgery with promising results.

Hope is the word that always comes to mind," Oberio recalled. "It was a time we really felt hopeless, the way the previous doctors had described what was going on. CHOP didnt make it seem like it was going to be easy, but they made it sound like things could be OK and that she could be happy.

There is no cure for spina bifida and even children who receive corrective surgery before birth will need lifelong treatment. But a paper published in 2011 showed that children who received prenatal surgery to correct myelomeningocele had better outcomes than children who had surgery after birth. In a follow-up paper, published Friday in the journal Pediatrics, researchers found the physical and emotional benefits of prenatal surgery have continued as the children have grown up.

 READ MORE: Spina bifida study offers new hope for fetal surgery

It is extremely gratifying to see that the positive results from the initial MOMS trial endure into childhood, said N. Scott Adzick, surgeon-in-chief at CHOP and director of the hospitals Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment.

Spina bifida, which affects one in 1,500 births in the United States, occurs when the neural tube fails to close, exposing the spinal cord and nerves. The neural tube  which develops into the spinal cord, spine, brain, and skull  is formed within the first few weeks of pregnancy. CHOP researchers found that the condition grows worse later in pregnancy, when the opening exposes the developing spinal cord to amniotic fluid, which further affects development.

By surgically closing the neural tube in the womb, doctors can limit the opportunities for additional damage, said Adzick, who is a co-author of the newly published study.

In their initial study, researchers found children who had prenatal surgery were better able to walk 2 years after the surgery and had better motor function than children who had corrective surgery after birth. The study ended in 2010, after 183 surgeries.

Researchers checked in with 161 of those children for the follow-up study, which was conducted between 2011 and 2017. By then, the children were between ages 6 and 10.

As school-age children, researchers found those who had prenatal surgery were more likely to be walking independently, had better motor and cognitive skills, better bladder control, and were less likely to need a shunt, used to treat brain swelling common among children with neural tube defects.

Vanderbilt University and the University of California, San Francisco, also participated in the study.

CHOP began performing prenatal spina bifida surgery in 1998. But when Oberio learned of her daughters diagnosis in 2013, the operation was a new and wild concept to her.

It was scary, she said. But I just felt she was always going to be this fighter. ... She felt like a horse galloping every time they hooked me up to the monitors.

Now 6 years old, Audrey is still taking life at a gallop. She takes jazz and tap-dancing classes, rides horses, and plays softball.

At the beginning of every school year she and her mom make a presentation to the class about spina bifida, answering questions and letting other kids pass around a spare pair of the leg braces she wears. She proudly shows off the train-track scar at the base of her spine.

I know everyone thinks their kids are amazing, but Audrey is. Shes a light, Oberio said.
The San Francisco Movement Arts Festival will bring more than 300 performers to Grace Cathedral on Friday, organizers said.

The pre-show festivities get underway at 5:30 p.m. followed by the show at 6 p.m. at the church at 1100 California St. in San Francisco.

Ninety-five percent of the performers will be women, including mother and daughter duets. The cathedral will be transformed into multiple stages for the sixth annual live art show.

Two former Alameda County sheriff's deputies have pleaded no contest to a single count of assault under the color of authority for allowing an inmate to throw feces and urine at another inmate in a maximum security unit at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin in 2016.

The plea agreement for Sarah Krause and Stephen Sarcos allows them to avoid having to serve time in prison for their actions.

Krause, who pleaded no contest to a felony assault charge, will be placed on 5 years' felony probation and have to serve 240 hours of community service and pay $1,800 in fines when she is formally sentenced by Alameda County Superior Court Judge Kevin Murphy next month.

And if she successfully completes her probation she can petition the court to reduce the charge to a misdemeanor.

Sarcos, who pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor assault count, will be placed on 3 years' probation, pay $1,240 in fines and perform 180 hours of community service.

An arrest was made in an investigation into 69 incidents of vehicles being hit by objects in Monterey and San Benito counties, California Highway Patrol officials said Thursday.

Charles Lafferty, 52, with ties to Monterey and adjacent counties, was arrested Wednesday in Nipomo in San Luis Obispo County.

Lafferty was taken to the Monterey County jail and is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Vehicles started being hit by projectiles on Feb. 19 of last year on state Highway 156 and U.S. Highway 101 in the Prunedale area of Monterey County and Highway 156 in San Benito County.

CHP officials believe Lafferty used a slingshot and glass marbles. Four adults and one child suffered minor injuries when they were hit by shattering glass, Officer Chad Cavender said.

State wildlife officials are closely monitoring a wine spill that occurred Wednesday at a Sonoma County winery, a spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said Thursday.

At about 1:30 p.m., at least one person at Rodney Strong Winery discovered a leak in a blending tank, which held about 90,000 gallons of wine, winery spokesperson Chris O'Gorman said.

O'Gorman said some of the wine from the leaking tank flowed into a building and entered a creek. He said over half of the wine was saved.

"We are investigating this apparent mechanical failure," O'Gorman said. "We are deeply concerned and are doing everything in our power to protect our waterways."

State wildlife officials are not sure whether the spill will harm fish and/or wildlife but they have not seen any impacts yet.

A young man was shot in the face Thursday afternoon in Oakley, East Contra Costa Fire Protection District officials said.

Firefighters were called at 2:14 p.m. to provide medical aid at Hill Avenue and Main Street.

An 18-year-old man was down on the ground with a bullet wound to the face. The man was flown to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek and may have a traumatic head injury, according to fire officials.

Police said that before the shooting two people were fighting when a third person drew a gun and shot one of the people fighting.

The shooting prompted the lockdown of Gehringer Elementary School, which is about one block away.

BART directors at a meeting in Oakland Thursday approved a contract for construction of 22 canopies over entrances to four BART stations along Market Street in San Francisco.

The contract includes $64 million for 19 canopies and an option to build three more when funding is identified.

The locations are BART's Embarcadero, Montgomery Street, Powell Street and Civic Center stations. Construction will take seven years because only one entrance to each station will be closed at a time.

BART officials said the canopies will protect new escalators approved last year and will also increase security and cleanliness.

Funding for the new canopies will come from voter-approved city, regional and state measures providing for transit improvements.

Friday will be mostly cloudy with patchy fog in the morning. Highs will be around 60 degrees. West winds will be 5 to 10 mph.

Friday night will be mostly cloudy with a slight chance of rain. There will be patchy fog after midnight. Lows will be in the lower 50s. West winds will be 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday will be mostly cloudy with patchy fog in the morning. There will be a chance of rain in the afternoon. Highs will be in the lower 60s. West winds will be 5 to 10 mph.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Budget, Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), in a 2018 photo. (Astrid Riecken/Getty Images)

GAO Says Federal Trust Fund Bankruptcy Crisis Extends Far Beyond Social Security, Medicare

WASHINGTONA new report contains blunt warning signs of an approaching fiscal crisis in federal trust funds backing Social Security, Medicare, flood insurance, and many other programs, according to Senate Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.).

The GAOs new report is another warning sign that Social Security, Medicare, and other trust fund programs on which many Americans rely are in danger of going broke, Enzi said Jan. 23 in releasing the Government Accounting Office (GAO) analysis.

Congress will need to work in a bipartisan manner to safeguard these programs to ensure they are able to provide for those who need them now, and in the future, Enzi said in a statement accompanying the release.

Enzi and budget panel member Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) requested the report, which took more than a year to complete.

Braun said the report highlights the need for political leaders to confront the trust fund problem without further delays.

The nation is $23 trillion in debt and is now running trillion-dollar deficits, Braun said in the statement. Congress needs to come together and make tough decisions to preserve these trust fund programs that so many Americans depend on for their way of lifefor today and for generations to come.

The collective total for all federal trust fund balances increased between fiscal years 2014 and 2018, according to Enzi and Braun, but that balance will begin declining in 2022, with decreases in Social Security and the Medicare Hospital Insurance funds leading the way.

A senior Senate Republican aide, speaking on background on Jan. 24, told The Epoch Times that the crucial message from the GAO analysis is that while every major federal department has trust funds, many of them are not fully supported by dedicated revenues and are in danger of becoming insolvent in the near future.

The aide pointed to examples in the GAO report of the most seriously deficient trust funds, including:

By 2022, the federal Highway Trust Fund will be so depleted that its income will be insufficient to meet projected obligations for infrastructure repairs and construction.

By 2025, the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC) multi-employer trust fund is rapidly depleting and will not be able to pay full benefits in plans that go insolvent.

By 2026, the Medicare Hospital Insurance Trust Fund will be so depleted that its income will only be sufficient to pay 89 percent of scheduled benefits.

By 2034, the Social Security Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) trust fund will be so depleted that its income will only fund 77 percent of scheduled benefits.

When such trust funds income and assets arent big enough to pay promised benefits, Congress has few options: appropriate tax dollars from the governments general revenues to cover the difference, which may require reduced spending in other areas such as national defense; decrease the promised payments, or increase federal levies on individuals and corporations.

In addition, many of the federal trust funds are linked to programs that legally entitle recipients to the benefits, thus potentially prompting an explosion of litigation in legal challenges to congressional actions to lower payments.

Of the 23 largest trust funds and other dedicated funds we reviewed, 13 have entitlement authority, which legally requires payments to individuals or governments that meet the requirements of the programs, GAO stated in its report.

For example, OASI beneficiaries are legally entitled to benefits based on a formula that takes into account the time they spent working and their earnings, among other factors.

Program sustainability is ultimately determined by whether the government as a whole has the economic capacity to finance the claims on the trust funds at the cost of other competing priorities, GAO stated.

The report noted that hundreds of programs across the federal government are supported in whole or in part by a trust fund or other dedicated fund. A total of 398 such trust funds were identified by GAO across the federal government.

But the problems underlying the trust fund crisis are even more basic than insufficient assets to cover promised payments, according to a spokesman for a Chicago-based group that is highly critical of federal accounting practices.

Consider how the GAO report discusses the spending in these categories using the commonly-accepted term, mandatory spending, Truth in Accounting (TIA) Research Director Bill Bergman told The Epoch Times on Jan. 24.

Yet the reasons the government has given for not including these unfunded obligations as debts on the balance sheet include an argument that government controls the law and can change the law at any time. If that is true, why do they call it mandatory spending? Bergman asked.

Another labeling mechanism greasing the wheels for our kick-the-can-down-the-road approach to these programs has been the simple fact that they are called Trust Funds, even though they arent trusts, and dont have any funds in them. At least the report puts trust funds in quotes, and acknowledges they are really accounting mechanisms, he said.

Such practices, he added, have helped to anesthetize the public and our representatives in Washington.

Contact Mark Tapscott at Mark.Tapscott@epochtimes.nyc
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  Is it a sign of grassroots democracy in an authoritarian social structure, or yet another sign of the exclusion of women in a patriarchal society? In the Gaza Strip, a family held elections to designate a family head and a board to manage family affairs, but kept the family's women out of it.

This Palestinian family is huge by Western standards. Even though women were not allowed to vote or be elected, more than 450 cast ballots for the family head and his management" board. Males over age 16 carrying the same last name  Khadri  were able to vote.

Palestinian society is a patriarchal community and there is no place for women [to take up a leadership position], Dardah al-Shaer, a professor of sociology at Al-Aqsa University in the Gaza Strip, told Al-Monitor.

Despite the shortcoming [the exclusion of women], the family election is a good way to organize the ties between family members and to preserve good relations with other families and tribes, he said.

The family election comes at a time when all forms of electoral democracy have been disrupted in the coastal enclave. In 2006, Hamas, won a landslide victory in the elections in the strip, marking the beginning of the Palestinian division between Fatah, which rules in the West Bank, and Hamas. There have only been local elections in the West Bank and none in the Gaza Strip since.

With no electoral process since 2006, Gazans today ages 31 and younger have never voted as they were under 18, the legal age for voting, when the last elections were held.

In the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, Palestinians are still waiting for President Mahmoud Abbas to issue a presidential decree to set a date for the anticipated general and presidential elections, while Israel continues to refuse to allow voters to go to the polls in East Jerusalem, putting everything on hold.

The Khadri familys members chose a chief as well as a board of 10 out of 20 candidates. A supervisory committee formed within the family surveyed the process, counted the votes and calculated the turnout, which was an impressive 85%.

Jamal al-Khadri, the head of the supervisory committee and a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, told Al-Monitor that the elections took place in three stages. The first was to choose the head. Then people cast a vote to choose six senior members  those above the age of 50  for the board. A third vote was cast to elect four junior council members between the ages of 20 and 50.

The election is a significant step toward the consolidation of family democracy and to give young men an opportunity to exercise their electoral rights, which have been suspended since 2006, he told Al-Monitor.

Khodr al-Khadri, 66, was elected as the family head and head of the management board. He is a retiree from the Palestinian Ministry of Health and holds a bachelor's degree in trade. This is the first time a chairman and members of the board are elected in the family, he told Al-Monitor, noting that 457 members of the Khadri family had cast votes.

In order to present himself as the head, a candidate had to gather 200 signatures from adult members of the family.

Khodr al-Khadri said the elected family management board will be tasked with strengthening the social bonds between its members and providing assistance and advice. It will also intervene to resolve differences and conflicts that may arise.

The board, rather like a parliament, will form committees on social, legal and educational matters. It will also establish a family fund that will collect money from well-off members to be distributed to the needy.

While there is no specific time frame for holding elections, Khodr al-Khadri said the elected board is currently preparing regulations to set a term for the board and to regulate its work and define its tasks.

Zuheir al-Khadri, 45 and the youngest member on the family board, is an employee at the Ministry of Interior in Gaza and got the most votes of the junior council candidates.

These family elections are a dream come true for every Palestinian young man seeking to have status in society in the absence of any form of democratic elections on the Palestinian territories, Zuheir al-Khadri told Al-Monitor.

He said the family allowed those over the age of 20 to run for a seat on the familys management board in a bid to strengthen the role of young people in society and offer them an opportunity to take up a tribal position within the family. He said 70% of the family members are young people, but that when it came to voting for the junior members of the council they chose to vote for older candidates.

Other families in the coastal enclave have held elections to elect a management board, including the Skik, Attallah and Akila families.

The Skik family held its elections Jan. 3 in Gaza City, with the participation of 2,000 members to designate the head of the tribe, and 10 members out of 25 candidates for the family board.

This is the first time I have voted. I was 14 when the last elections took place in the Gaza Strip, 28-year-old Abdel Ghafour Skik told Al-Monitor.

He said the vote was carried out under the supervision of a committee that has representatives of the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme Committee for Tribal Affairs, an official body affiliated with the Palestinian Liberation Organization.

I believe it is necessary for all families in the Gaza Strip to hold elections in a bid to preserve the unity of their families, while our political leaders failed to maintain the unity of the homeland, Skik concluded.
SAN RAFAEL (BCN)

San Rafael police arrested a San Jose woman Wednesday on suspicion of stealing $5,700 worth of clothing from Victoria's Secret stores.

The Victoria's Secret store in the Northgate Mall in Terra Linda called police around 7:45 p.m. about a woman who left the store without paying for merchandise, Lt. Dan Fink said.

Based on the suspect's description, Officer Thomas Collins believed the suspect also stole clothing from the Victoria's Secret store in San Rafael on Jan. 15, Fink said.

Collins followed a silver BMW X3 that was heading north on Las Gallinas Avenue near the mall onto southbound U.S. Highway 101 and stopped the car in the 1800 block of Lincoln Avenue in San Rafael, Fink said.

The BMW driver, Harmonie Taylor, 26, of San Jose, gave Collins a false name and denied being at the store in the Northgate Mall, but Collins noticed a Victoria's Secret bag behind the front passenger seat, Fink said.

Collins found clothing items worth $2,700 from the San Rafael store, some with the security tags still attached, during a search of the vehicle, and $3,000 worth of additional items stolen from another Victoria's Secret store whose location is unknown, Fink said.

Taylor was arrested on suspicion of burglary, false personation of another, possession of stolen property and three outstanding warrants. She was booked into the Marin County Jail, Fink said.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
By Rasana Gasimova

Azerbaijans agricultural products were showcased during the Azerbaijani agricultural products: Fair and degustation event held in Dubai, UAE on January 22.

The event was organized by the Ministry of Agriculture with the organizational support of Agrarian Procurement and Supply OJSC, Azerbaijans Trade Representative Office in UAE, and Azerbaijans Embassy in the UAE.

The event aimed to introduce local agricultural and food products having great export potential, to explore new export channels and to establish business ties.

Addressing the event, Azerbaijans Trade Representative to the UAE Elnur Aliyev made a presentation on trade and economic, historical and cultural relations between the two countries.

He spoke about the exports potential of Azerbaijani products to the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf market, as well as the current state and prospects of development of bilateral trade between the countries.

Chairperson of the board of Agrarian Procurement and Supply OJSC Leyla Mammadova said that agricultural reforms carried out in recent years have played an important role in the development of the countrys non-oil sector.

The recent activities undertaken by Agriculture Ministry to increase agricultural production contribute to the development of this sector. As production volumes increase, it is important to properly organize sales in domestic and foreign markets, Mammadova said.

Speaking at the event, Azerbaijani Ambassador to the UAE Mahir Aliyev noted that it significantly contributes to the development of relations between the two countries.

As part of the event, the participants got acquainted with the exhibition of Azerbaijani agricultural and food products. Along with Agrarian Procurement and Supply OJSC, Azerbaijani food producers and agribusinessmen also presented their products.

Azerbaijan and UAE countries are working to strengthen economic and trade cooperation. One of the recent steps taken in that direction was the opening of Azerbaijans trade House in Dubai in January 2019.

In November 2019, the fourth Azerbaijan-UAE Trade forum was held in Baku. The Azerbaijan-UAE Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Trade and Technical Cooperation also significantly contributes to the progress observed in bilateral trade relations in the non-oil sector.

In December 2019, the countrys export mission to Dubai was organized. It included representatives of Azerbaijani companies involved in the production of food, textile products, building materials and in tourism sector.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
U.S. President Donald Trump will hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his political opponent, Blue and White leader Benny Gantz on January 28, the White House's press service reported.

"President Donald Trump will welcome Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to the White House on January 28, 2020. Benjamin Gantz, Blue and White Chairman, has also accepted the Presidents invitation to come to Washington," the statement reads.

It was also noted that the U.S. and Israel are strong partners, and Netanyahus visit is an opportunity to discuss shared regional and national security interests.
A meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, should they deem it necessary, could be arranged at any moment, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

The Kremlin spokesman explained that "there are no plans for it" at the moment. "Yet we must note that the two presidents have engaged in quite a constructive working contact," TASS cited him as saying.

According to the spokesman, the meeting can be arranged at any moment, should the presidents deem it necessary.
Norfolk Southern Corporation NSC is scheduled to report fourth-quarter 2019 results on Jan 29, before the market opens.

The company has a decent track record with respect to earnings per share, having outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the last four quarters.

Norfolk Southern Corporation Price and EPS Surprise

Norfolk Southern Corporation Price and EPS Surprise

Norfolk Southern Corporation price-eps-surprise | Norfolk Southern Corporation Quote

Given this backdrop, lets delve into the factors that might have influenced the companys quarterly performance.

Akin to the past few quarters, freight volumes are likely to have been bleak in the December-end quarter. Consequently, its top-line number is likely to reflect the negative impact of declining shipment volumes. Notably, according to the latest Cass Freight Shipments Index report, North American freight shipments declined in October, November and December last year.

Within the Merchandise segment, the automotive sub-group is expected to have performed poorly due to sluggish vehicle production in the United States. Additionally, lackluster utility coal shipments are expected to have most likely dented the Coal segments fourth-quarter performance. Evidently, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Coal and Merchandise volumes indicates 18% and 4.7% year-over-year decline, respectively. Also, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for overall volumes suggests an 8.3% year-over-year rise.

However, Norfolk Southerns bottom-line number is likely to reflect the positive impact of the companys cost-control efforts. With reduced costs, the operating ratio (operating expenses as a percentage of revenues) is anticipated to have improved as has been the case in the first three quarters of 2019. Lower the value of this key metric, the better.

Highlights of Q3 Earnings

In the last reported quarter, the company delivered a positive earnings surprise of 0.4%. Moreover, the bottom lines improved year over year, owing to lower costs.Meanwhile, total revenues surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate but declined year over year due to disappointing revenues in the coal and intermodal units.

Story continues

Earnings Whispers

With the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the companys fourth-quarter earnings being revised 0.9% downward in the past 60 days mainly due to declining volumes, an earnings beat may not be too difficult for Norfolk Southern in the to-be-reported quarter.

In fact, our proven model conclusively shows a beat for Norfolk Southern this earnings season based on the combination of the following two key ingredients: a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Earnings ESP: Norfolk Southern has an Earnings ESP of +0.36% as the Most Accurate estimate is pegged at $2.30, higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.

Zacks Rank: Norfolk Southern currently carries a Zacks Rank of 3.

Other Stocks to Consider

Investors interested in the broader Transportation sector may also consider Canadian Pacific Railway Limited CP, Alaska Air Group ALK and Spirit Airlines SAVE, as these stocks possess the right combination of elements to come up with an earnings beat in their upcoming releases.

Canadian Pacific has an Earnings ESP of +0.39% and currently carries a Zacks Rank #3. The company will announce fourth-quarter financial numbers on Jan 29.

Alaska Air has an Earnings ESP of +1.89% and holds a Zacks Rank of 3, at present. The company is set to report quarterly figures on Jan 28.

Spirit Airlines has an Earnings ESP of +3.24% and is a Zacks #2 Ranked stock. It is expected to release fourth-quarter numbers on Feb 5.

Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020



In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-hold tickers for the entirety of 2020?



Last year's 2019 Zacks Top 10 Stocks portfolio returned gains as high as +102.7%. Now a brand-new portfolio has been handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Dont miss your chance to get in on these long-term buys.



Access Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020 today >>



Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



Alaska Air Group, Inc. (ALK) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Spirit Airlines, Inc. (SAVE) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (CP) : Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has met with Israeli businessmen in Jerusalem and called on them to invest in Ukraine.

"Today in front of you is Ukraine  young, very energetic, aspiring to change, learn technologies, become economically liberal. Ukraine wants to see big investment," the head of state said during the meeting, according to the presidential press service.

Zelensky also said that the laws aimed at supporting businesses are being adopted in Ukraine, in particular the laws on the prevention of tax havens, on deregulation and on concession.

"As soon as we pass the laws, we can see the results at once. For example, we have launched the concession of seaports. We have held tenders, and money is already being invested in one of the ports. More than $1 billion will be invested in it," he said.

The president also presented investment programs and spoke about modern projects aimed at facilitating the life of businesses and people in Ukraine.

"We want to be among the world's technology development leaders. We are working on a big project "The State in a Smartphone." All possible public services will be available in a smartphone," he said and showed on the example of his smartphone how the system would work.

In particular, driving licenses and various documents would be issued with the help of a mobile application.

The participants of the meeting agreed that Ukraine should improve its tax system, reduce on the influence of the state bureaucracy on businesses and protect investment from corruption.

Representatives of digital and IT businesses, owners of construction, infrastructure development companies and equipment producers, top managers of venture capital funds and other companies participated in the meeting.
Gistme.net scored 40 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team

This CoolSocial report was updated on 11 May 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.

The total number of people who shared the gistme homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the gistme homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if gistme has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the gistme homepage on StumbleUpon. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the gistme homepage on Twitter + the total number of gistme followers (if gistme has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the gistme homepage on Delicious.

Basic Information

PAGE TITLE gistme.net DESCRIPTION gistme.net is powered by 'Sunmail Hosting' and firmly recommends you to use most of their services: domain name registration, website hosting, virtual server, semi-dedicated server and dedicated hosting services. KEYWORDS domain name registration, website hosting, virtual servers, semi-dedicated server, dedicated hosting OTHER KEYWORDS hosting, dedicated, domain, domains, server, web hosting, domains dot



CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. The title found in the head section of the homepage. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage.

Domain and Server

DOCTYPE HTML 5.0 CHARSET AND LANGUAGE UTF-8 DETECTED LANGUAGE English English SERVER Apache/2.2.24 (Unix) mod_ssl/2.2.24 OpenSSL/1.0.0d mod_fcgid/2.3.7 mod_auth_pgsql/2.0.3 OPERATIVE SYSTEM Linux Linux

The language of gistme.net as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) Character set and language of the site. Operative System running on the server. Type of server and offered services.

Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world.

Referring domains for gistme.net by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines.

Facebook link

FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND

Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The URL of the found Facebook page. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. The type of Facebook page. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file.

Twitter account link

TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND
Appointment

24 January 2020

Seasoned hotelier Torsten M. van Dullemen has been appointed as General Manager of Mandarin Oriental, Washington DC. Van Dullemen is also Area Vice President of Operations for the Northeast United States overseeing Mandarin Oriental, Boston and Mandarin Oriental, New York.

Most recently, Van Dullemen held the position of General Manager at The Excelsior, Hong Kong and was Area Vice President for South China. With over 30 years of hospitality experience and nearly two decades of service with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Van Dullemen has held several key positions with the Group including General Manager of The Landmark Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong, General Manager of the former Mandarin Oriental, Manila and Mandarin Oriental, Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai. Additionally, he was the Hotel Manager of the Group's award-winning Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok property, and Resident Manager at Mandarin Oriental, Hyde Park, London. Prior to joining Mandarin Oriental, Van Dullemen was General Manager for The Oberoi, Udaivilas in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.

A graduate of Hotelschool The Hague, Institute for Hotel Management and Cornell University, Van Dullemen is also a member of MENSA International. In 2016 Van Dullemen was the recipient of the BMW 'General Manager of the Year' hotelier award for Greater China.

Originally from the Netherlands, Van Dullemen has a broad knowledge of the international luxury hospitality industry and speaks several languages including Dutch, German, French, and Italian. Van Dullemen is an accomplished triathlete and participates in international triathlon competitions. In his personal time, he enjoys spending time with family, reading, and being outdoors.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) was engrossed in a book during Thursday's impeachment proceedings, but one thing managed to make her look up: Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) referring to Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a Purple Heart recipient, as an "American patriot."

"How patriotic is it to badmouth and ridicule our great nation in front of Russia, America's greatest enemy?" Blackburn tweeted. She did not give any examples of Vindman speaking ill of the United States in front of Russia.

Vindman, the director of European Affairs for the White House National Security Council, was on President Trump's July 25 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and became concerned when he heard Trump request an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden. Vindman is also a veteran who served in the Iraq War, and received a Purple Heart for wounds he suffered in an IED attack.

Senators aren't supposed to be using electronics during the trial, but Blackburn tweeted throughout the afternoon and evening. Over multiple tweets, she accused Vindman of leaking sensitive material, being "vindictive," and wanting to "take Trump out." She appears to have a fixation with both Vindman and the idea of him being vindictive; in November, Blackburn tweeted, "Vindictive Vindman is the 'whistleblower's' handler." This remains her pinned tweet.

More stories from theweek.com

Trump debuts official Space Force logo  and it's literally a ripoff of Star Trek

Mike Pompeo reportedly angrily challenged a reporter to find Ukraine on a map. She did.

Donald Trump and the moral decline of the pro-life movement


WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Americans are looking forward to the benefits of longer lives  especially the opportunity to spend more time with family  but recognize the need for significant changes in society to support increasing longevity, according to a poll from the Longevity Project and Morning Consult. Developed in collaboration with the Stanford Center on Longevity (SCL), the Longevity Project supports research and fosters public dialogue on the far-reaching impact of increased longevity.

In the new poll, Americans displayed heightened awareness of the trend toward increased longevity and expressed general optimism about the benefits of living longer. "At the same time that we begin to look forward to the rewards of longer life, we need to understand that we must change the way we live. We need to make major changes to the ways we fund longer lives, manage longer careers, and even how we organize and engage with our families," said Laura Carstensen, a professor at Stanford University and the founding director of the SCL.

Key results include:

Americans are aware of the general trend toward longevity . A majority of respondents report a belief that they will live longer than their parents. According to the poll, 63% say that it is likely they will live longer than their parents, 16% say it is not likely, with 21% having no opinion.

. A majority of respondents report a belief that they will live longer than their parents. According to the poll, 63% say that it is likely they will live longer than their parents, 16% say it is not likely, with 21% having no opinion. Most Americans see positive value in longer lives, with 52% identifying more time with their family as a positive impact and 41% citing new experiences as a positive result of living longer.

with 52% identifying more time with their family as a positive impact and 41% citing new experiences as a positive result of living longer. Longevity is seen as a net positive for the economy. Fifty-three percent of respondents view longer life as a plus for the economy, while only 23% view it as a negative. Older workers are considered a major asset, with an overwhelming majority agreeing that older workers are good mentors (84%), help companies serve older customers (80%), and are more mature in their dealings with coworkers and display stronger organizational citizenship (77%). Most respondents also believe that work quality improves with age (66%).

Despite the positives associated with longevity, many Americans, especially younger Americans, see a need for major changes to support longer life:

Americans are concerned about the current retirement financing system and are open to significant changes. Many respondents expressed concern about the state of their retirement savings and ability to save for longer lives (48% feel that they are not saving enough for retirement and 50% feel unprepared to save for retirement). Younger Americans are particularly skeptical about the adequacy of the traditional pillars of retirement (only 16% of Generation Z see Social Security as important to their retirement plan, compared to 43% of baby boomers). Due to persistent concerns about current funding options, many respondents expressed strong interest in new policy initiatives designed to increase retirement savings: 54% expressed support for personal savings plans offered by the government (compared to 11% opposed), and 59% expressed support for a legal requirement that all employers offer 401(k) plans (compared to 10% opposed).

Many respondents expressed concern about the state of their retirement savings and ability to save for longer lives (48% feel that they are not saving enough for retirement and 50% feel unprepared to save for retirement). Younger Americans are particularly skeptical about the adequacy of the traditional pillars of retirement (only 16% of Generation Z see Social Security as important to their retirement plan, compared to 43% of baby boomers). Due to persistent concerns about current funding options, many respondents expressed strong interest in new policy initiatives designed to increase retirement savings: 54% expressed support for personal savings plans offered by the government (compared to 11% opposed), and 59% expressed support for a legal requirement that all employers offer 401(k) plans (compared to 10% opposed). Americans are strongly in support of a more age diverse workforce, but few see their employers making effective efforts. 76% of respondents cite age diversity as an important consideration for employers, a figure higher than that for gender, racial or LGBTQ+ diversity. But only 12% of employed respondents report that their employers are actively recruiting older workers, 13% implementing multigenerational work groups, 17% providing physical accommodations for older workers, and 24% providing training to stay current on new technologies.

76% of respondents cite age diversity as an important consideration for employers, a figure higher than that for gender, racial or LGBTQ+ diversity. But only 12% of employed respondents report that their employers are actively recruiting older workers, 13% implementing multigenerational work groups, 17% providing physical accommodations for older workers, and 24% providing training to stay current on new technologies. Younger Americans envision a redefinition of family to accommodate longer lives. Younger respondents envision a more integrated role for families in the future. Generation Z respondents cite family financing of their retirement as important (28%), more than those who cite corporate retirement plans as important (27%). Planning to use your retirement savings to support adult children is deemed important by 41% of all Americans, but by 53% of Generation Z and 52% of millennials. Building retirement savings to support a multigenerational family (i.e. grandchildren) is valued by 50% of all Americans but by 62% of Generation Z and 60% of millennials. And when asked what they expect to be doing at age 65, 48% of Generation Z indicate they expect to be taking care of their children, or their children's families, compared to just 23% overall.

"Americans are looking forward to longer lives," said Ken Stern, chair of the Longevity Project. "But many Americans do not think our current system adequately supports them, which is why so many people feel unprepared for retirement and why many Americans express support for significant policy changes, like requiring all employers to offer 401(k) plans. This is an important signal to policy makers and business leaders to rethink how we work, live, learn and finance longer lives."

In the coming months, the Longevity Project, along with its corporate partners Principal Financial Group, Wells Fargo and Instructure, will dive more deeply into the specific areas identified in this survey, to further illustrate Americans views of the future and to offer insights and solutions for the financing, education, and work issues of the new age of longevity.

View the full research findings at www.longevity-project.com.

Contact: Kaila Lewis

[email protected]

(443) 433-6113

SOURCE Longevity Project

Related Links

http://www.longevity-project.com


An increase in the capacity of Ireland's regional airports must be a priority for the next government, the Irish Travel Agents Association has said.

ITAA chief executive, Pat Dawson, said Ireland's travel agents and tour operators wanted to see more air connectivity from the airports outside the capital.

When you consider that Dublin Airport has 87% of the capacity; proportionately, that has to be corrected, said Mr Dawson.

35m people are flying out of Dublin Airport, compared to 2.7m out of Cork.

Mr Dawson, who was speaking at the Holiday World Show at the RDS in Dublin which runs until Sunday, said air connectivity had a huge impact on tourism.

We need more connectivity out of our smaller airports both for business and economic reasons. The regions are being decimated, he said.

Over 2,000 travel experts from over 55 countries will be at the show to help visitors plan a holiday and take advantage of special offers and deals.

Mr Dawson said 64 travel agents and tour operators who are members of the ITAA had stands at the show.

"So far this year travel agents have reported an 11% increase in sales. We feel very positive about 2020," said Mr Dawson.

The show, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, will have many prizes on offer throughout the three-day event.

Over 1,000 exhibitors from all corners of the world will be offering safaris in Africa, cruises along the Caribbean, the culinary delights of Asia and everything in-between.

For those planning their dream destination for their wedding and honeymoon help is at hand to plan that intimate getaway or larger family celebration.

Top wedding destinations exhibiting at the show include Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Cuba and The Bahamas.

Popular all year round now is the tiny Mediterranean island of Malta that is less than the size of Co Louth.

Portugal with its medieval castles, cobblestoned villages and golden beaches, is also fast becoming a favourite wedding destination for couples.

Austria is an increasingly popular wedding destination. Venue options include castles, churches and even a little chapel in the heart of a salt mine.

New exhibitors from South America, Argentina, Columbia and Peru will be hoping to entice people to go further afield for a holiday with a difference.

There is also an international line up of adventure holiday experts to satisfy those with a more adventurous spirit.
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Ingalls Shipbuilding has awarded nearly $100,000 in grants for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)-related initiatives from schools and educational organizations in Mississippi and Alabama.

This is the 12th year Ingalls has presented the STEM grants, which now total more than $1 million.

These projects expose students to innovative concepts, sharpen their critical thinking skills and broaden their understanding of technology-driven professions, said Edmond Hughes, Ingalls vice president of human resources and administration.

Ingalls is committed to partnering with educators early to promote student engagement in these vital academic disciplines.

Twenty-eight schools received grants this year, including local schools:

East Central High School : Students will learn advanced scientific applications for ceramics through designing, firing and glazing their own utilitarian ceramic piece. $4,913

East Central Middle School : Funds will be used to purchase kits that allow students to experience planning, building and programming robots to perform specific tasks. $4,900

Gautier High School : Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) students will register as hobbyists with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and use a drone to capture video footage and create maps and 3D models. $2,169

Moss Point High School Career & Technical Education : Students will be exposed to real-world medical scenarios through the use of a virtual simulation system that enhances knowledge of patient care. $4,990

Moss Point High School Career & Technical Education : Engineering software will be used by students to design, build and race miniature cars propelled by carbon dioxide cartridges. $3,200

Ocean Springs High School : Students will build and launch model rockets using NASAs design process and document each step, collecting data to further investigate the nature of rockets. $2,628

Ocean Springs Upper Elementary School : Using a tablet and a bot, students will be introduced to coding and robotics. $4,960

St. Martin High School: Students will earn a UAS license from the FAA. They will learn about, build and compete with drones. $4,999

Gautier youth sets three state fishing records

GAUTIER, Mississippi -- An 11-year-old Gautier boy had three state fishing records certified by the Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources.

Blake Bosarge set the state records using conventional tackle for Knobbed Porgy (Calamus nodosus) with a fish weighing 1 pound, 4.8 ounces; a Spanish Flag (Gonioplectrus hispanus) with a fish weighing 10.98 ounces; Vermilion Snapper (Rhomboplites aurorubens) with a fish weighing 2 pounds, 9 ounces.

Rodolfich named to states Administrator Advisory Council

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Pascagoula/Gautier superintendent Wayne Rodolfich is one of 19 education leaders from across Mississippi named to Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemanns Administrator Advisory Council.

For Mississippi to succeed, our public schools must succeed, said Hosemann, who plans to name a separate advisory council of teachers in early February. This requires us to listen to educators and address their needs. I look forward to working with this group and other administrators to continue advancing student achievement and supporting our schools.

The Advisory Council includes representatives from each of nine regions: Northeast, Golden Triangle, East Central, Pine Belt, Coast, Capitol Area, Southwest, Delta, and North Mississippi. It includes superintendents; elementary, middle, and high school principals; and career and technical, special education, and curriculum and instruction directors.

Working with Senate Education Chairman Dennis DeBar Jr. and Vice Chairman David Blount, Hosemanns team will keep the Advisory Council informed about legislation relevant to public schools as the Senate moves throughout the 2020 Legislative Session. Hosemann has asked members to share concerns they may be grappling with in their districts.

During the summertime, Hosemann plans to call on members to participate in various study groups to examine potential legislation for the 2021 Legislative Session.
The FSB does not disclose the detainee's name.

Russia's FSB Federal Security Service has detained a resident of occupied Crimea who allegedly "set caches with ammunition and explosives on the instructions of the Ukrainian special services."

Read alsoRussian woman with FSB ties tried to get hired by Ukraine defense ministry, SBU says

"During a search operation, nine electric detonators, three fuses, delayed-action detonators and blasting explosives with a total mass of over 5 kg were found and seized in the caches uncovered in the city of Simferopol," the FSB's press service told UNIAN.

The Investigative Department of Russia's FSB in occupied Crimea and the city of Sevastopol initiated criminal proceedings against the detainee under Part 2 of Article 222, Part 2 of Article 222.1 of the Criminal Code of Russia (illegal acquisition, storage, transportation of explosives and ammunition committed by a group of persons in a preliminary conspiracy).

"The search operation and investigative actions are underway. According to a court decision, a preventive measure in the form of detention has been selected against the suspect," it said.

The FSB does not disclose the detainee's name.
A group of six Rural Fire Service volunteer firefighters have been injured on the NSW south coast.

The crew were travelling in a water tanker when it rolled at around 11pm as they were battling the Clyde Mountain fire in Eurobodalla.

Two ambulance crews were called to the scene and assessed the six firies suffering from minor head injuries, lower back pain and neck pain, a NSW Ambulance told Yahoo News Australia.

Four of the firies were admitted to hospital overnight with suspected spinal injuries. Source: Sam Mooy/Getty

Four were admitted to Batemans Bay Hospital overnight with possible spinal injuries, a hospital spokeswoman told Yahoo News Australia.

Two have since been discharged and all are in stable condition, she said.

The crash occurred just hours after three US firefighters died when their air tanker crashed while battling bushfires in southern NSW.

The crash occurred just hours after three US firies died when their air tanker crashed while battling bushfires in souther NSW. Source: AAP

Investigators will on Friday begin piecing together the events that caused the C130 water tanker to crash in the Snowy Mountains on Thursday afternoon.

The plane, known as Zeus, was owned and operated by Canada-based company Coulson Aviation and contracted to the RFS.

The three firefighters - seconded to Australia from the US - died after the plane smashed into the ground 50km northeast of Cooma and exploded in a large fireball, NSW RFS commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said.

Footage from the ground in the aftermath of the air tanker crash. Source: Today via Twitter/ Byron Kaye

The plane was located about 1.15pm on a private property at Peak View.

The three men were aged 42, 43 and 45, and Mr Fitzsimmons said they were experienced and trained in the use of the C130 tankers for firefighting.

The cause of the plane crash remains unclear.

Audio has emerged of the moment stunned ground staff called for help after witnessing the crash.

Three fire fighters have tragically been killed, their water-bombing aircraft crashing in New South Wales. #9Today pic.twitter.com/F2dprzAU0H  The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) January 23, 2020

Fire comms message red speak to your captain. Message this is red, the man on the ground says in the call to Rural Fire Service command.

Story continues

The audio, aired on the Today show on Friday morning, briefly becomes inaudible before someone says: Crashed.

Yeah fire comms... It's just a ball of flames... over, the man finishes.

- with AAP

More to come.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Diaspora Greeks, Konstantinos Vlasis, met at his office today with the Canadian Ambassador to Athens, Mark Allen.

During the meeting, which took place in a very friendly atmosphere, the Canadian Ambassador referred to the excellent level of bilateral relations and, among other things, the Canadian business presence in Greece and the prospects for even broader cooperation between the two countries.

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed Greeces special interest in the Greek community of Canada and expressed his intention to visit the country.
[The stream is slated to start at 12:15 a.m. ET. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time.]

President Donald Trump is expected to address Friday's March for Life rally in person, making him the first sitting president to attend the Washington protest against the landmark Roe vs. Wade ruling in its 47-year history.

The rally begins just before his impeachment trial in the Senate resumes with another day of evidence from House Democrats, who on Thursday laid out a forceful argument for the first article of impeachment against the president.

Trump made his announcement to attend the protest in a Twitter post Wednesday, the 47th anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortions.

"See you on Friday...Big Crowd!" Trump said, replying to a tweet from the March for Life account promoting the event.

Trump tweet

Other presidents have addressed the rally via phone or through a video message.

The rally  one of the anti-abortion movement's premier events  has been held annually since 1974, a year after the Roe ruling.

Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement Thursday that the White House is the "most pro-life administration in this country's history."

"We are proud to be 'the Department of Life' and will continue protecting life and lives while upholding the fundamental freedoms and inherent dignity of all Americans," Azar said.

Jeanne Mancini, March for Life president, said in a tweet that the president would be welcome at the rally.

"We are excited to share the love and energy of the March for Life with you in person, thank you for coming!" she said.

Jeanne tweet

Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube.
Ravalli County voters will decide if the Bitterroot College will become independent this May.

The Bitterroot Valley Community College Initiative received enough signatures by community members in favor of putting the proposal of an independent college on the ballot for May 5.

We have 5,360 certified signatures, said Candy Lubansky, president of the Bitterroot College Advisory Council and a volunteer on the Ravalli County Workforce Alliance. There were about 15 of us that since the fair have tried to attend every event we could. After the typical summer and fall events were over we hit the streets and talked with as many people as we could.

Lubansky said the signature collection team appreciates the community support during the signature gathering process.

There were a wide variety of people in our county, places of work and employers, that let us be outside their place of work or let us be inside and on those cold days that was so nice, Lubansky said. We have quite an extensive list of people to send thank you notes too.

She said that as she was gathering signatures she found that the community was well-informed.

I thought that 98% of the people I encountered were very interested and informed or asked really good questions about the many implications, Lubansky said. It was very rewarding and I was really glad to meet my neighbors in Ravalli County.

She said the next phase will also be a lot of work for the Ravalli County Workforce Alliance but enjoyable as they answer questions and have conversations with community members.

Well be helping people understand thoroughly and deeply what we are trying to work toward, Lubansky said. Well be sharing our vision, what outcomes we are looking for with the community college and what the benefits are to the community.

To detail the next steps, the Ravalli County Workforce Alliance will meet at 4 p.m. each Friday at the Ravalli County Economic Development Authority (RECEDA) office, 274 Old Corvallis Rd. Suite A, in Hamilton.

Lubansky said the push is on as time is passing quickly to get out the information to voters. She said that after the community members vote yes, the initiative goes to the legislature as part of the Montana process.

The legislature has to approve it and well probably have a question and answer session with them, Lubansky said. After their approval it becomes very procedural. It could take a year and a half but that is an uninformed guess on my part.

The goal is to become independent and able to respond to the workforce needs of the community.

RCEDA Executive Director Julie Foster praised the signature-gatherers for their hard work and the citizens for signing to get the proposal on the ballot.

This community recognizes that training for the tradespeople, HVAC, welding, electricians, agriculture, construction trades are necessary for our small businesses to be successful, Foster said. We cant rely on others because we have not been getting what we need in Ravalli County for over 30 years. Now, push through and vote!

Love 4 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1
Any therapist worth spending the money to see will tell you that the first step in addressing an issue is to admit that there is a problem in the first place. Maybe that's what Leo Varadkar had in mind during the television debate on Wednesday evening when he admitted that he finds it hard to show empathy towards the plight of the many people suffering in our country.

On the other hand, it is more likely a public relations strategy devised by spin doctors to soften the Taoiseach's image as someone who appears to lack compassion for those who are struggling.

I can picture the scene as Mr Varadkar's handlers readied him for the debate. "Show a bit of vulnerability let the people know you find it hard to express emotion," or some such shtick.

Hollywood dramatics in politics is nothing new. Nor is playing the sympathy card. People are human after all, and that includes politicians.

One thinks back to Bertie Ahern discussing the break-up of his marriage live on the 'Six One News' during the 2007 General Election.

But, Leo Varadkar's problems run deeper. He has led a government that often appears indifferent to the plight of ordinary people.

He has presided over an administration where unthinkable things like children being raised in cramped hotel rooms become the new ordinary.

Whether it is Eoghan Murphy in housing or Simon Harris in health, this government has a compassion deficit.

As homelessness figures continue to remain shamefully high, Mr Murphy often gives off the appearance of being a disinterested bystander rather than the man charged with tackling the crisis.

In health, hundreds of thousands of people are languishing on hospital waiting lists. People are making the long journey from Kerry to Belfast to get cataracts treated because in the Republic it's not uncommon to wait for years in virtual blindness for such an operation.

What is the reaction from Simon Harris? Well, it ranges from throwing his arms in the air as if shouting "it was broken when I got here", to hammering his critics on social media.

This attitude also infects the backbenches. Kate O'Connell, the self-consciously liberal representative from Dublin Bay South, left me speechless recently after describing the scenes of chaos when she had occasion to bring her child to an accident and emergency unit.

How Ms O'Connell could be so out of touch from a crisis that is reported in the newspapers on a daily basis is quite simply staggering.

Fine Gael started out the campaign blaming Fianna Fail for everything - and there is much to lay the blame for at the feet of that party - but now the strategy seems to have switched to admitting crises in housing and health and pleading for more time to fix the issues.

The problem with this approach is that the party has been in office for nine years and people are impatient with pleas for more time. In the last general election, the party got a hammering for the woefully out of touch 'keep the recovery going' slogan. This time round, it still appears deaf to the real challenges that people experience.

On the face of it, the economy is in good health. But most people expected that to happen anyway and don't particularly credit Fine Gael with anything akin to rocket science in this sphere, particularly given the seemingly out of control spend on the new national children's hospital.

And it's not just the crises in health and homelessness that are affecting sentiment towards this government.

Families earning good salaries in Dublin have very little prospect of ever owning a home in the capital with the current neoliberal commodification of homes. A rising tide does not lift all boats, it makes homes more and more out of reach of ordinary families; and Leo thinking that the election campaign was the time to talk about his satisfaction at buying a home in his early 20s was, to put it politely, absolutely tone deaf.

The attitude on display from the current government on a whole range of issues appears to be a shrug of the shoulders and a stoic assumption that such real world scenarios are 'just one of those things'.

Fine Gael will also struggle to overcome the incumbency factor. Fresh ideas in the heat of an election campaign beg the obvious questions that if the party knew how to fix things over the last nine years, why didn't it? And if it didn't, why get another chance?

In public relations, they say that people may not remember exactly what you did, or what you said, but they will always remember how you made them feel.

Few voters put much research into voting, fewer still parse manifestos and policy documents.

They vote for the people who they feel can understand where they're coming from, can walk a little bit in their shoes and can empathise with their struggles and triumphs.

So far, Fine Gael is being found wanting on this crucial measure. The biggest own goals in this campaign, so far, are down to the display of a basic lack of compassion and empathy.

Both are at the heart of the crisis around healthcare and housing and evident in thinking that it's OK to tell people who have worked all their lives to sign on the dole for a year.

Fine Gael used to style itself as a Christian Democratic party in the mould of its European counterparts. In recent years, social democracy has been the trend.

If the party wants another chance at government then it would do well to re-find the basic Christian principles of treating people with a bit of dignity and fairness.

As things stand, the big winner in this election will be the party that convinces people that it cares about them and wants to be in government to treat the rest of us with a bit of fairness and decency.
Minnesota farmers are going undercover, and the Mower County Soil & Water Conservation District wants to help. The district is organizing a series of free "Cover Crops 101" classes in Southeast Minnesota.

The events will give growers firsthand information on the benefits and obstacles of planting cover crops.

Cover crops are generally unharvested crops planted between rotations of regular cash crops such as corn and soybeans. Cover crops are used to keep soil in place, improve soil health and improve water quality. Popular cover crops include cereal rye, crimson clover and oilseed radish.

Austin Township farmer Tom Cotter, who has used cover crops on his farm, and T.J. Kartes, a Blooming Prairie-based seed distributor will lead each session along with Mower Soil and Water Conservation Districts soil scientist, Steve Lawler.

Their experience can help farmers employ cover crops in the most effective and economical way.

ADVERTISEMENT

"Farmers continue to be very interested in cover crops and soil health, but want more quality information to help them make decisions for their operation," Lawler said in a statement about the classes.

The classes will bring Cotters and Lawlers experience using the crops. The two have also tried different crops and techniques at the Sustainable Answer Acre in Mower County.

Farmers might not have the financial luxury to experiment with what does and doesnt work as economical cover crops. Waiting a full season to measure results might be a risk, too. Thats why Cotter, Lawler and other partners experiment on the Sustainable Answer Acre  so farmers dont have to experiment on their own land.

"These classes will give the basics and show methods that have been effective for us," Lawler said.

Currently, most farmers till their fields after harvest. The tradition to till and leave the soil empty dates back to the 1700s, when Englishman and influential farmer Jethro Tull argued that growers should till their soil until it was pulverized into powder and leave it bare through the winter. For farmers at the time, a black field was a sign of prosperity.

That view is starting to change. However, that change is coming slowly.

Last winter, less than 1% of crop ground in Minnesota showed evidence of winter planting, according to the Conservation Technology Information Center .

A class will be held Feb. 4 in Rochester from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Cascade Town Hall, 2025 75th St. N.E. That class will be hosted by Olmsted Soil & Water Conservation District. Another class is planned for March in Winona. Exact date and location is still pending.

ADVERTISEMENT
Keira has decided to tell the Mail what happened to her, in order to highlight her plight and, she says, serve as a warning to others. Whatever the rights and wrongs of the protagonists in the legal action, her moving story gives us a piercing insight into the emotive area of transgender treatment

At first sight Keira Bell looks and sounds like a teenage boy.

She has a deep voice, a flat chest, and shaves most mornings to stop dark stubble covering her face.

It is only her tiny hands and delicate arms which tell you that she was born a girl.

They are the parts of her 23-year-old body that have not changed, despite the drugs prescribed to her after she visited Britain's most respected child gender-identity clinic, the Tavistock in London.

'I am constantly taken for a boy,' she says today. 'I get called 'Sir' when I speak to officials. I worry what women think when they see me using their loos or changing rooms. I am living in a world where I do not fit in as a male or as a female. I am stuck between the two sexes.'

For this tragic state of affairs Keira blames the treatment that began at the Tavistock in North London when, at 16, she no longer wanted to be a girl and asked for help.

After three one-hour appointments, she was prescribed hormone blockers to halt the development of her female body.

Put on what she calls a 'roller coaster' journey, she was soon being given the male hormone testosterone to change her appearance. Three years ago, she had her breasts removed, in an operation paid for by the NHS.

Despite that dramatic step, this story has taken an extraordinary twist. For Keira has now changed her mind about being a man. She believes it is an impossible quest, and is trying to reverse the process.

This week it was revealed she is the key witness in a landmark High Court case against the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the clinic.

The legal action questions the basis on which the Tavistock's Gender Identity Service obtains consent to treat youngsters  some of them as young as 12.

So controversial is the high-profile case that some lawyers expect it to end up in the Supreme Court, the UK's highest judicial body, for a decision on how gender reassignment treatment should be authorised for those who haven't reached adulthood.

This week, in a statement, Keira said: 'I don't believe children and young people can consent to the use of powerful, experimental hormone drugs like I did. Hormone-changing drugs and surgery do not work for everyone, and it certainly should not be offered to someone under 18.'

Keira (pictured as a little girl) blames the treatment that began at the Tavistock in North London when, at 16, she no longer wanted to be a girl and asked for help. After three one-hour appointments, she was prescribed hormone blockers to halt the development of her female body

Keira has decided to tell the Mail what happened to her, in order to highlight her plight and, she says, serve as a warning to others.

Whatever the rights and wrongs of the protagonists in the legal action, her moving story gives us a piercing insight into the emotive area of transgender treatment.

Keira was brought up in Hertfordshire, with two younger sisters, by her single mother, as her parents had divorced. Her father, who served in the U.S. military in Britain and has since settled here, lived a few miles away, and she saw him often as she was growing up.

She was always a tomboy. She did not like wearing skirts, and can still vividly remember two occasions when she was forced by her family to go out in a dress.

'Once was when I was five or six and a bridesmaid. I was nervous, but I did it,' she says.

'The other time I was in Tenerife with my mother's relatives. They expected me to wear a dress, so I did.'

She twists those elegant hands as she explains what happened next.

'At 14, I was pitched a question by my mother, about me being such a tomboy. She asked me if I was a lesbian, so I said no. She asked me if I wanted to be a boy and I said no, too.'

She changed her name and sex on her driving licence and birth certificate, calling herself Quincy (after musician Quincy Jones) as she liked the sound of it. She also altered her name by deed poll, and got a government-authorised Gender Recognition Certificate making her officially male. Yet her worries were growing. Keira is pictured above as a man

But the question set Keira thinking that she might be what was then called transsexual, and today is known as transgender.

'The idea was disgusting to me,' she tells me. 'Wanting to change sex was not glorified as it is now. It was still relatively unknown. Yet the idea stuck in my mind and it didn't go away.'

Keira's road to the invasive treatment she blames for blighting her life, began after she started to persistently play truant at school.

An odd one out, she insisted on wearing trousers  most female pupils there chose skirts  and rarely had friends of either sex.

When she continually refused to turn up at class as a result of bullying, she was referred to a therapist.

She told him of her thoughts that she wanted to be a boy. 'I felt I was not being listened to at school and blamed it on being a girl,' she explains.

'I did not feel respected as a young woman compared with young men. I thought life would be better for me if I changed my sex.'

Very soon, she was referred to her local doctor who, in turn, sent her to the child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) near her home. From there, because of her belief that she was born in the wrong body, she was given treatment at the Tavistock

It was a day she remembers well. 'My dad drove me to London, although he was very worried about the whole thing. I was, I admit, desperate to start my transition to male from female. I thought it would change everything.'

At the Tavistock, she says, there was 'no resistance' to her dream, even though she was little more than a child. Keira had entered puberty and her periods had begun. 'The Tavistock gave me hormone blockers to stop my female development. It was like turning off a tap,' she says.

'I had symptoms similar to the menopause when a woman's hormones drop. I had hot flushes, I found it difficult to sleep, my sex drive disappeared. I was given calcium tablets because my bones weakened.'

It seems incredible, but Keira claims she was not warned by the Tavistock therapists of the dreadful symptoms ahead. 'My female hormones had been flushing through my body and, suddenly, a curtain came down on them. It felt pretty bad,' she recalls ruefully.

Worse for her was the disappointment that her body did not suddenly change from female to male.

Her breasts, which she had been binding with a cloth she bought from a transgender internet site, did not instantly disappear. 'I was in nowhere land,' she says.

Yet back she went to the Tavistock, where tests were run to see if she was ready for the next stage of her treatment after nearly a year on blockers.

'I was prescribed regular injections of testosterone to make me physically change sex,' she says.

A few months later, she noticed the first wispy hairs growing on her chin. At last something was happening. Keira was pleased.

She was referred to the Gender Identity Clinic in West London, which treats adults planning to change sex.

After getting two 'opinions' from experts there, she was sent to a hospital in Brighton, East Sussex, for a double mastectomy.

'I was 20 and excited,' she says. 'I had been binding my breasts for years. I did not like their appearance. I wanted to get rid of them.'

By now, she had a full beard, her sex drive returned, and her voice was deep. 'My dad had given up on me.

He took me to Brighton but was upset. I went in one night and was operated on the next day by a top consultant. My breasts were gone.

'No one at the clinic sat me down beforehand and said: 'Are you certain you want this?' It was all very quick.'

Keira now believes she wasn't thinking straight, saying: 'My main reason for wanting the operation was that it meant I didn't have to flatten my breasts with the binder, which I'd used for years and is painful.'

It was at this stage that she began to have doubts about becoming a boy. Although she'd had teenage romances with both female and male partners, now she was lonely and felt she didn't fit in either world.

She started to work, first as an apprentice at a video gaming business, then at an electronics shop.

At the Tavistock, she says, there was 'no resistance' to her dream, even though she was little more than a child. Keira had entered puberty and her periods had begun. 'The Tavistock gave me hormone blockers to stop my female development. It was like turning off a tap,' she says

'The shop accepted me as a man. I used the male loos,' she says.

'But when I went out socially, which was rare, I never knew which loo to use. I was neither one thing nor the other.'

Despite her doubts, she pressed on. She changed her name and sex on her driving licence and birth certificate, calling herself Quincy (after musician Quincy Jones) as she liked the sound of it. She also altered her name by deed poll, and got a government-authorised Gender Recognition Certificate making her officially male.

Yet her worries were growing. 'I didn't want to tell my dad I had made a mistake,' she recalls. 'It was embarrassing changing my mind. When I went online to social chat rooms to talk about it, the pro-transgender lobby kept saying: 'Oh, it's normal to have doubts.' '

Finally, she took action. In January last year, soon after her 22nd birthday, she had her final testosterone injection. They were always given every few months by a nurse at her GP surgery. 'I decided never to go again,' she says.

But, after years of having hormones pumped into your body, the clock is not easily turned back. It is true that her periods returned and she slowly began to regain a more feminine figure around her hips. Yet her beard still grows.

'I don't know if I will ever really look like a woman again,' she admits. 'I feel I was a guinea pig at the Tavistock, and I don't think anyone knows what will happen to my body in the future.' Even the question of whether she will be able to have children is in doubt.

She has started buying women's clothes and using female loos again, but says: 'I worry about it every time in case women think I am a man. I get nervous. I have short hair but I am growing it and, perhaps, that will make a difference.'

Last year she plucked up the courage to tell her father about her change of heart.

The man who cried when his daughter declared she was becoming a boy, cried again.

'He was so happy. I think he hopes I will suddenly become very girly and buy dresses,' she says.

'He gave me some bath gels for a Christmas present. They were very feminine and prettily wrapped. I haven't used them yet, but I probably will,' she says with a smile.

There is another problem. By law she is male, and she faces the bureaucratic nightmare of changing official paperwork back to say she is female.

This week it was revealed she is the key witness in a landmark High Court case against the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the clinic. The legal action questions the basis on which the Tavistock's Gender Identity Service obtains consent to treat youngsters  some of them as young as 12. She is pictured above with Susan Evans, who is leading the action

'If I committed a crime, I would be put in a male prison,' she explains. 'I want to get the gender recognition document annulled.'

Campaigners supporting Keira's court battle say the number of young people regretting a sex change is rising.

A new charity, The Detransition Advocacy Network, has been set up to help them. Its founder Charlie Evans was born female but lived as a man for nearly a decade before accepting her birth sex.

She says she has been contacted by 'hundreds of young adults'  some only 19 or 20  who claim the treatment has not solved their problems.

Yet, demand for gender identity treatment is growing. More than 13,500 people are on waiting lists, according to BBC research earlier this month.

The Government has also launched an inquiry into the explosion in the number of children wanting to change sex.

In 2009/10, 40 girls under 18 were referred to doctors for gender treatment in England.

By 2017/18, the number had soared to 1,806. Over the same period, annual referrals for boys increased from 57 to 713.

The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust has told the Mail that their gender identity service has an international reputation for being cautious about treatments and is monitored closely by NHS England.

'It has a high level of reported satisfaction and is rated 'Good' by the Care Quality Commission,' said a spokesperson. The Trust has refused to comment further because of the ongoing legal action.

However, in the High Court this week Keira's barrister, Jeremy Hyam QC, explained: 'What is challenged is the clinic's current and continuing practice of prescribing puberty-suppressing hormone blockers and, subsequently, cross-sex hormones, to children under the age of 18.'

Keira herself said: 'The treatment needs to change so that it does not put young people, like me, on a torturous and unnecessary path that is life-changing. I feel like I've been lied to because it did not make me feel any better.'

As she struggles to return to life as a woman, she adds, with feeling: 'I don't want any more kids to suffer like me.'

crowdjustice.com/case/protect-children/
Family Research Council to Host ProLifeCon 2020

NEWS PROVIDED BY

Family Research Council

Jan. 23, 2020



WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- On January 24, Family Research Council will host the 15th annual ProLifeCon Digital Action Summit, the largest annual gathering of digital pro-life activists. This year's event will focus on the plight of Born Alive Abortion Survivors, babies who are left to die after surviving an attempted abortion.

Confirmed speakers include: Alex Azar, Secretary of HHS; Chris Baggett, Vice President of Donor Development for Human Coalition; Ryan and Bethany Bomberger, Co-founders of the Radiance Foundation; Claire Culwell, abortion survivor; Quena Gonzalez, Director of State & Local Affairs at FRC; Kristan Hawkins, President of Students for Life; Chuck Konzelman, Director of the Unplanned Movie; Jennie Lichter, Deputy Director of the White House Domestic Policy Counsel; Melissa Ohden, abortion survivor; Tony Perkins, President of FRC; Patricia Rucker, West Virginia State Senator; Connor Semelsberger, Legislative Assistant at FRC; Roger Severino, Director of the HHS Office for Civil Rights; Bernadette Tasy, California State Captain of Students for Life Action; and Petra Wallenmeyer, Content Director for Human Defense Initiative.

Patrina Mosley, FRC's Director of Life, Culture, and Women's Advocacy, offered the following remarks:

"We are so excited to enter our 15th year in gathering digital pro-life activists from around the country and recognizing those in political leadership who are championing human dignity. The platform for changing hearts and minds and advocating for the least of these, especially born-alive infants, is largely taking place in digital spaces.

"From social media to films, to videos, graphics, and web-based technology that reaches abortion-vulnerable women, we want to take this time to learn from each other, share our successes, and discuss what there is still left to do in establishing a culture of life," concluded Mosley.

WHEN: The event will run from 8 am to 11 am EST on January 24.

WHERE: Family Research Council will host the event in their offices at 801 G St NW, Washington, D.C.

To schedule an interview with Patrina Mosley, please contact media@frc.org. To register for the event, please visit this link. The livestream of the event can be viewed here.



SOURCE Family Research Council

CONTACT: J.P. Duffy or Joshua Arnold, 866-FRC-NEWS, 866-372-6397



Related Links



https://frc.org


Lets not dismiss the Senate impeachment trial as a kangaroo court. Thats an insult to kangaroos, who lately have been suffering enough.

President Donald Trump and Senate Republican leaders seem to be planning a rushed, sham trial with no witnesses and limited evidence. This reminds me of a trial I once monitored of a Chinese journalist in Beijing: The proceedings were held in a majestic court building with high ceilings, plush courtrooms, crisp microphones and attentive security officers, all overseen by solemn judges  everything a justice system might want, except justice.

Whats at stake in this trial is the basic idea that Americas leader is accountable for misconduct. Without that concept, we may have a grand Senate chamber and eloquent speeches, but our democracy rings hollow. Without that principle of equality before the law, our grand Senate under Mitch McConnell simply becomes an American analogue of Chinas rubber-stamp National Peoples Congress.

McConnells grim determination to see no evidence and hear no witnesses is particularly hypocritical because in 1999, during the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton, he did favor allowing witnesses. Its certainly not unusual to have a witness in an impeachment trial, he said.

Lindsey Graham, a member of the House and an impeachment manager at the time, was even more blunt. If theres any doubt, call witnesses, he urged.

In every trial that there has ever been in the Senate regarding impeachment, witnesses were called, Graham noted then. By the count of House Democrats, the average number of witnesses is now 33 for each of the past impeachment trials.

Knowing that John Bolton as national security adviser referred to the Ukraine mess as a drug deal, why would senators not want to clarify what he meant? Why risk covering up a cover-up?

There are less strained arguments that McConnell and others could make against removing Trump from office. They could say that the presidents conduct, while improper, did not rise to the level requiring removal.

Instead, Trump and his defenders are pursuing a line of defense that would create an imperial, unchecked presidency, because its not clear what would ever merit impeachment and removal by their standards.

Trumps team even suggests that abuse of power itself cannot be grounds for impeachment, calling it the House Democrats newly invented abuse of power theory.

Newly invented? Abuse of power was central to the discussions of impeachment at the Constitutional Convention. Alexander Hamilton said that impeachment was the remedy for the abuse or violation of some public trust. It was also the basis for articles of impeachment approved by the House Judiciary Committee against both Clinton and Richard Nixon. (The full House rejected that article against Clinton, and Nixon resigned before a full House vote.)

Frank Bowman III, a constitutional law scholar who is cited in the presidents legal brief, called that same brief a well-crafted piece of sophistry.

Trump and his supporters simply make assertions without regard to reality. This is an echo in the impeachment domain of the 16,241 false or misleading statements Trump made in his first three years in office, by the count of the Washington Post.

For example, Trumps backers insist that impeachment and conviction require a violation of a particular criminal statute, even though most scholars agree that is not the case. Indeed, one early impeachment was of a judge who presided while drunk, which was not a violation of criminal law.

Trumps lawyers argue that removal from office would amount to nullifying an election and subverting the will of the American people. Under that reasoning, despite the Constitution, a president could never be removed  and in that case, a president is untouchable.

Suppose Trump fawned over Vladimir Putin to the point of returning Alaska to Russia?

As it happens, Alaska isnt my example, but that of Alan Dershowitz, the presidents lawyer. Assume Putin decides to retake Alaska, the way he retook Crimea, Dershowitz wrote in a 2018 book. Assume further that a president allows him to do it, because he believed that Russia has a legitimate claim to its original territory. Even that would not merit impeachment and removal by Dershowitzs standards.

Note to Alaska Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan: Your thoughts, comrades?

Do we really think that there should be no checks on a rogue president as he handed Alaska over to Putin  or Florida to Spain, while were at it? Must we tolerate an out-of control ruler who engages, in the words of the Declaration of Independence, in a long train of abuses and usurpations?

Thats the kind of system that we rebelled against in 1776.

Twitter.com/NickKristof
Ahmedabad:

Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said on Thursday that those agitating against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and seeking Azadi should be allowed to leave the country if they wanted freedom. He was speaking at a programme here on the occasion of birth anniversary of nationalist icon Subhas Chandra Bose.

The country got freedom in 1947, but you see some people gather and shout slogans of azadi. From whom you want freedom? Do you want freedom from your parents? You want freedom from your husband? I dont understand, Patel said.

India is a free country and the biggest democracy of the world, he said.

If they want freedom from India, we should request Prime Minister Narendra Modi to open the borders and they can go wherever they want, the BJP leader added. He also alleged that the police was attacked in a pre-planned manner in Ahmedabad during the anti-CAA protest.

In the city, if you want a bag of stones, it is difficult to get, but truckload of stones were stored on the terrace, with which our policemen and policewomen were attacked, the deputy CM claimed.

But they forgot that this is not Kashmir, you are living in Gujarat, Patel added.

We have taken all the steps that could be taken against those involved. Some people have not been able to sleep for two months due to the measures we took, Patel said.

We have the IIM-A here, where just 15 students gather and protest against CAA by standing outside the institute. I dont know from which states they have come here to study. I dont have any problem with them as they are only students, but I have a problem with their parents who have not trained them properly, he said.

The CAA does not take away anybodys citizenship, he said. In Delhis Shahin Bag, members of only one community are on dharna, I need not say anything more. This has exposed who are feeling affected by the law, Patel said.

(Hyderabad MP Asaduddin) Owaisi is speaking against the act. This community is hoping that as Muslims ruled over India for 800 years, if these so-called secular, leftists continue to rule India then at some point they can come back to power in this country, Patel said.

The Indian Constitution and democracy will survive as long as good people are in majority. You have to understand what I mean by good people, he added.

Or else, you are seeing what is happening in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, thousands of people are getting killed, reports of blasts are coming every day, Patel said.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he will release details of his long-delayed peace plan for the Middle East before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his election rival Benny Gantz visit the White House next week.

The political aspects of the peace initiative have been closely guarded. Only the economic proposals have been unveiled.

Trump discussed the timing of the plan's release with two architects of the plan, senior advisers Jared Kushner and Avi Berkowitz, on Air Force One while returning to Washington from Switzerland on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One en route to the Miami area for a political event, Trump said Palestinians might react negatively to his plan at first, but that "it's actually very positive for them."

"It's a great plan," said Trump, who will meet with Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday. "It's a plan that really would work."

Vice President Mike Pence, on a visit to Jerusalem, extended an invitation to Netanyahu and Gantz to make the visit. It was not immediately clear whether Trump would meet the two leaders separately or together.

The Trump Middle East peace proposal is a document, dozens of pages long, that addresses in detail the thorny political issues between Israel and the Palestinians, such as the status of Jerusalem.

U.S. officials made no mention of inviting the Palestinians, and Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said: "We warn Israel and the U.S. administration not to cross any red lines."

Trump indicated his administration had spoken "briefly" to the Palestinians and would speak to them again "in a period of time."

Netanyahu said he had accepted the U.S. invitation. His office said he would fly to the United States on Sunday. A Gantz spokesman did not respond when asked whether Gantz had accepted Trumps invitation.

Netanyahu, a veteran right-wing Israeli leader, faces political and legal troubles at home - he is heading for his third election in less than a year, and was indicted on criminal charges in November. He denies any wrongdoing.

Story continues

Israeli political analysts viewed Trump's invitation as a boost to Netanyahu, his right-wing ally.

Netanyahu's principal domestic political rival Gantz, a centrist former general, this week lifted his objection to having the peace plan be published before Israel's March election. He had previously objected to it as interference in the vote.

Long-delayed plan

The launch of Trump's plan to end the decades-long conflict between Israel and the Palestinians has been delayed numerous times over the last two years.

A source familiar with the peace team's thinking said bringing both Netanyahu and Gantz in on the details is aimed at defusing any suggestion that Trump might be favoring one Israeli candidate over another.

Trump is facing his own political clock, preoccupied with his bid for re-election in November, and could ill afford to wait for months for Israel to decide who its next prime minister will be, the source said.

"If we waited we could be in the same position four months from now and never put out the plan," the source said.

The political proposal is the product of three years of work by Kushner, Berkowitz and former envoy Jason Greenblatt. Kushner proposed a $50 billion economic plan for the Middle East last July at a conference in Bahrain.

Kushner and Berkowitz had been scheduled to visit Israel and Saudi Arabia after attending the World Economic Conference in Davos, Switzerland, this week, but opted instead to discuss the issue with Trump on his flight home, the source said.

Policy reversal

Israeli-Palestinian peace talks collapsed in 2014 and Palestinians have called Trumps proposal dead in the water, even before its publication, citing what they see as his pro-Israel policies.

The Trump administration has reversed decades of U.S. policy on the conflict, refraining from endorsing the two-state solution - the longtime international formula which envisages a Palestinian state co-existing with Israel.

It has also recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moved its embassy there. More recently, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced in November that the United States no longer viewed Israels settlements on West Bank land as "inconsistent with international law".

Palestinians and most of the international community view the settlements as illegal under international law. Israel disputes this, citing historical, biblical and political ties to the land, as well as security needs.

Netanyahu announced during an election campaign last September that he intends to annex the Jordan Valley, a large swathe of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Israel captured the West Bank in a 1967 war and Palestinians, who signed interim peace deals with Israel in the 1990s, seek to make the area part of a future state.

Abbas's Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank, has publicly refused to engage politically with the Trump administration.

They fear the plan will dash their hopes for an independent state in the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.

Trump, who will seek a second term in a Nov. 3 election, faces his own problems at home with Democrats seeking to oust the Republican president on impeachment charges of abusing power and obstructing Congress.

(REUTERS)
Veteran actor Bill Murray is confident that Jason Reitman's "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" will honour the legacy of the franchise and live up to the expectations of fans.

The 68-year-old actor is coming back as paranormal investigator Peter Venkman, a part he played in the first two "Ghostbusters" movies opposite Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson.

Aykroyd and Hudson are returning for the new film, while Ramis passed away in 2014.

"Well, we are a man down. That's the deal. And that's the story that we're telling, that's the story they've written," Murray told Vanity Fair.

According to the outlet, Murray, Aykroyd and Hudson have meaningful roles in the movie, but "they won't be the central heroes this time".

Murray said he has read the script and it has a lot of "emotion".

"The script is good. It's got lots of emotion in it. It's got lots of family in it, with through lines that are really interesting. It's gonna work," Murray said.

Reitman has directed the film from a screenplay he co-wrote with Gil Kenan. The project is being headlined by Paul Rudd, Finn Wolfhard, Carrie Coon and McKenna Grace.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Nepal Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali on Friday said that his country is not only ready but "eager and in hurry" to hand over the chairmanship of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

"Nepal is not only ready but eager and in hurry, to hand over the chairmanship of SAARC because we are carrying the baggage since more than 4 years, we were supposed to hand over in 2016," he said at a press conference here.

SAARC is a regional intergovernmental organisation and geopolitical union of states in South Asia, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal, and the Maldives.

The 18th SAARC summit was the last annual meeting attended by India that took place in Kathmandu in 2014.

Pakistan was to host the next summit in 2016, but, the summit was cancelled after India decided against participating in it following the terror attack at a military camp at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir.

Other countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to participate and the meeting was called off following India's decision to exit the summit to step up diplomatic pressure on Pakistan.

In December last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that efforts for greater collaboration among SAARC member states have been repeatedly challenged with threats and acts of terror and such an environment impedes the shared objective of realising the regional body's full potential.

"SAARC has made progress, but more needs to be done. Our efforts for greater collaboration have repeatedly been challenged with threats and acts of terrorism. Such an environment impedes our shared objective of realising the full potential of SAARC," Prime Minister Modi had said in a letter addressed to the SAARC Secretariat.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Friday, January 24, 2020

Travis Kupp, a member of our Emerging Fellows program initiates publishing a series of blog posts to inspect the widespread assumption that Asia is the rising star of this century. This is his first post in our EF blog. The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the APF or its other members.

Many eyes lately seem to be on Asia, and with good reason. Over the last 30 years, few regions of the world have transformed as dramatically as the Asian continent. Its rise in global economic, political, and cultural influence a difficult reality to ignore. However, Asia is anything but a monolith and there is no guarantee that the next 30 years will unfold as a continuation of recent tendencies. The future of the continent will depend on how its constituent powers navigate their differences in light of forces largely beyond their individual control.

Where Asia was once, in eyes of the West, nothing more than the Eastern shore of the Aegean Sea, Europe and the world have come to better understand the significance of this third of the planet's total land area. The first millennium and a half of the common era saw Asian civilizations push the geographical limits of their ambition and develop the most important trade routes of Afro-Eurasia. Then came the centuries of Western colonialism and exploitation. Not until the tumultuous wars of the 20th century did much of the continent gradually emancipate from foreign hegemony and regain control of its destiny, though in a vastly different international playing field. The legacy of unbridled resource extraction, imposed ideologies, and poorly drawn borderlines left by alien governments challenges Asia to the present day.

From this starting position, the nations of Asia have stepped into the 21st century on different paths. Today, East Asia continues to emerge with China as an overwhelming center of gravity and North Korea as a potential radical force. The Southeast is taking the spotlight for low-end manufacturing and export growth. India still struggles with its neighbor Pakistan, the key to future of the South. West Asia, which makes up a large part of the Middle East, is redefining its identity for a post-oil future. Central Asia, meanwhile, sits at the literal crossroads of Russia and China with the potential to benefit tremendously from the latters Belt and Road Initiative. The majority of the Asian population resides in nations that have managed to integrate into the functioning core of the globalized world, namely in India, China, and few of their neighbors. Whether Southeast, West, and Central Asia follow suit, however, remains to be seen and is far from guaranteed.

Headlines of a flourishing Asia, on some metrics, mask the fact that this development has not been geographically homogenous nor is it entirely stable. Already the sustainability of broad economic growth is under question, especially considering the global environmental dynamics at play. Chinas long reach West across land and South across sea has raised alarms locally and internationally, triggering realignment in trade and security relationships. The future holds additional challenges for the continent in the form of demographic changes driven by aging populations, and migration and more border disputes as resources become scarce and the effects of climate change intensify. All this in a part of the world where regionalism has historically had a distinctly different flavor from a European or an African Union, which begs the question of whether thinking of Asia as a unit is even a fruitful exercise.

The urgent global attention given to Asia is warranted. Each part of the continent has transformed uniquely in recent decades with ambitions of economic growth, political control, or technological superiority. Whether any given ethnic or ideological group in the region is able to manifest these dreams or not, the interaction of those pursuits with the environment and the world ordereven if less connected or cooperative in some scenarioswill be a significant determining factor in the futures of all other nation-states. Though its future is uncertain, what plays out in Asia over the coming three decades will have decisive and lasting impact on planetary systems and the fate of humanity.

 Travis Kupp 2020
Nationwide, more than 2,000 people had been screened for the virus as of Thursday, and 63 patients in 22 states were being investigated Friday because of possible signs of the virus, according to the CDC. Local officials refused to say how many of those patients are in Chicago or in Illinois, but they are trying to identify others who traveled to Wuhan before the two confirmed cases. Still, Arwady and other public health officials said the risk to the general public remains low despite the confirmation of the case.
LOS ANGELES - Want to find a legal marijuana shop in California? Grab your smartphone.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/1/2020 (719 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

File - In this Friday, April 5, 2019, file photo, a customer takes a photo of large jars of marijuana from on display for sale at Rev-Up a cannabis marketplace in Los Angeles. California is trying a new strategy to cut into the state's huge illegal marijuana market. State regulators have proposed rules that would require legal shops to post their unique quick response code certificates in storefront windows to help consumers identify licensed businesses. Shoppers would use their smartphones to scan the familiar, black-and-white codes, similar to a bar code, to determine if a business is selling legal, tested cannabis products. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)

LOS ANGELES - Want to find a legal marijuana shop in California? Grab your smartphone.

In another step to curb the state's flourishing illegal pot market, California regulators proposed rules Thursday that would require legal shops to post a unique black-and-white code in storefront windows to help consumers identify licensed businesses.

Shoppers could use their smartphones to scan the familiar, boxy label known as a QR code  similar to a bar code  to determine if a business is selling legal, tested cannabis products.

File - In this June 28, 2017, file photo, workers put barcode stickers on jars of marijuana at the Desert Grown Farms cultivation facility in Las Vegas. California is trying a new strategy to cut into the state's huge illegal marijuana market. State regulators have proposed rules that would require legal shops to post their unique quick response code certificates in storefront windows to help consumers identify licensed businesses. Shoppers would use their smartphones to scan the familiar, black-and-white codes, similar to a bar code, to determine if a business is selling legal, tested cannabis products. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

The codes also would be required when transporting or delivering cannabis.

The proposed regulations will help consumers avoid purchasing cannabis goods from unlicensed businesses, said Lori Ajax, who heads the state's Bureau of Cannabis Control. These requirements will also assist law enforcement in distinguishing between legal and illegal transportation of cannabis goods.

California  the world's largest legal pot market  kicked off broad, legal sales in January 2018. But the illicit market has continued to thrive, with consumers spending roughly $3 in the states underground pot economy for every $1 in the legal one, a report from industry advisers Arcview Market Research and BDS Analytics estimated last year.

Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Hefty tax rates have been blamed for steering consumers into the illicit market, where shops are often indistinguishable from legal ones and operate in plain sight.

Last year, the state mounted a publicity campaign  Get #weedwise  to encourage consumers to verify that their purchases are tested and legal. Ads were posted on social media and billboards promoting a state website where shoppers can quickly check if a shop is licensed.

The advertising campaign makes a simple argument: You don't know what you're getting if you buy illegal products.

The state also has sought to increase enforcement to shut down illegal shops and cultivation sites.

___

Blood is a member of AP's marijuana beat team. Follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MichaelRBloodAP. Follow AP's complete marijuana coverage: https://apnews.com/Marijuana.
SIOUX CITY -- The voting registration of Woodbury County Supervisor Jeremy Taylor was cancelled on Friday morning, after a ruling by the county's top elections official after a rare hearing took place Thursday.

Gill, the county auditor, weighed various evidence, including water consumption history and a mortgage document, during the hearing, which followed a challenge filed by Maria Rundquist, a Sioux City resident who claimed state law should require Taylor to register at a different Sioux City address.

In a decision Gill sent to both Rundquist and Taylor, and which was posted on the Woodbury County's website, he wrote that the preponderence of evidence showed Taylor's voting residence should be his home on Christy Road, not the Grandview address where he is currently registered.

Gill in his ruling cited an exhibit from Thursday of Taylor's mortgage on the Christy Road home, which says that property must be used as his "principal residence."

Taylor and his wife, Kim, own two homes -- one at 3215 Grandview Blvd. that Taylor has had since 2003, and another at 5202 Christy Road, which the couple purchased in May 2019.

Rundquist filed a State of Iowa Voter Registration Challenge on the basis that Taylor wasn't a legal resident of the Grandview address that he used to register to vote.

During Thursday's testimony, Taylor said he has "taken great steps" to maintain his legal residency at the Grandview Boulevard home, staying there four nights per week, even though it's a hardship to miss his wife and six children, who spend 90 percent of their time in their larger home on Christy Road.

Gill said Taylor testified he intends to remain at the Grandview residence, and noted Rundquist gave evidence "which indicates that this may not always be the case." Gill said the 2019 mortgage showed differently.

"Mr. Taylor represented to his lender that his residence was located at 5202 Christy Road."

Rundquist introduced copies of city water bills that showed zeros for water consumption at the Grandview home for six of the last seven months ending on Jan. 3.

Gill wrote the Grandview address showed a "dramatic decrease in water consumption in June of 2019, the month after Mr. Taylor purchased the Christy Road property. This evidence is inconsistent with the testimony of Mr. Taylor which indicated he spends more than half of his nights at the Grandview Boulevard address."

During Thursday's hearing, Taylor also produced his drivers license, vehicle registration, pay stubs, mail and tax returns that all listed the Grandview address as his legal residence.

Gill wrote, "While these documents indicate the address various entities and organizations have on file for Mr. Taylor, they say nothing about where he was actually living." Gill's final conclusion followed that statement in the three-page ruling, saying Taylor's voting registration "is hereby cancelled."

Taylor will hold a 1 p.m. Friday press conference to address the ruling.

The ruling is a setback for Taylor, while yet another important hearing concerning his residency beckons on Monday.

At 10 a.m. Monday in the county courthouse, a three-person panel comprised of county Attorney P.J. Jennings, county Treasurer Mike Clayton and Gill will hear a challenge filed by another citizen who claims that Taylor should be forced to resign from the board of supervisors because he no longer lives in the district in which he was elected in November 2018.

There also could be an impact on Taylor's candidacy for the Iowa 4th District congressional position.

Two months after winning his second term in Woodbury County's District 2 in November 2018, Taylor launched his campaign for the Iowa 4th congressional district seat held by Rep. Steve King. Three other Republican challengers also are seeking the party's nomination in the June primary.

In campaign finance disclosure documents for both his county office and the federal race, Taylor listed the house at 3215 Grandview Blvd. as his residence. The filing period for 2020 election candidates to file with the Iowa Secretary of State office runs from Feb. 24 through March 13.

In the Thursday hearing, Taylor submitted statements from five neighbors living in three homes in the 3200 block of Grandview who vouched for him. One resident, Toan Nguyen, said, "I see him come and go frequently and believe he resides in our neighborhood."

Speaking in support of Rundquist, Eric Wissling, who lives within a block of Taylor at 33rd Street, said he's driven by the Grandview home in recent weeks.

"I have not seen him in the neighborhood, anybody in the home, since last summer," Wissling said.

During Thursday's hearing, Gill cited county records that show Taylor listed his voter registration address at Grandview Boulevard in 2003, switched it to Pierce Street in 2010, switched back to Grandview in 2013, reverted to Pierce Street in 2015 and then back to Grandview in March 2018.

"The situation was, we were back and forth," Taylor explained under Gill's questioning.

Gill pointed to the rarity of voting registration challenges, saying it was only the second such challenge in his 24 years as county auditor.

Love 9 Funny 4 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made headlines around the world when they announced their exit from the monarchy last week, but they still are not the most popular members of the royal family. A new poll suggests that Prince William is still the most popular royal in the U.K., despite all of Harry and Meghans recent drama. Heres a quick rundown on which royals are the most and least popular with the public.

Prince William | Daniel Leal-Olivas  WPA Pool/Getty Images

Prince William remains the most popular royal

The royal family has experienced a lot of upheaval in recent months. Harry and Meghan have been fighting an ongoing war against British tabloids and opened up about their struggles in a shocking documentary a few months ago.

The royal family was then rocked by Prince Andrews sex scandal, which ultimately led to his resignation this past fall.

But the biggest drama to hit the royal family came last week when Harry and Meghan announced that they are stepping down as senior members of the royal family. They also declared that they want to become financially independent and are looking to move to North America for part of the year.

Despite all of this headline-making drama, a new poll with Delta showed that Prince William is still the most popular member of the royal family. According to Express, the poll was broken down into age groups, with Prince William winning the majority across the board.

Inside the latest poll

The age groups in the poll include Millennials (20s and 30s), Generation X (40s and 50s), and Baby Boomers (60s and over). While William took the top spot among all groups, Meghan performed the worst in all categories.

Prince Charles, meanwhile, did not perform well with Millennials and was only two percentage points ahead of Meghan.

Fortunately, most people agreed that the monarchy should remain in place, though there is a shift on that front with the younger generation. In fact, 20 percent of Millennials felt like the monarchy should be done away with entirely.

It should be noted that only five members of the royal family were featured in the poll: Prince Charles, Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle. Queen Elizabeth, who remains one of the most popular royals ever, was not included in the poll.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announce their royal exit

After months of fighting negative press, Harry and Meghan had enough of the drama and announced their exit from the royal spotlight last week.

The couple made the stunning announcement via social media. They reportedly did not inform other members of the royal family ahead of time, catching everyone else by surprise.

After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution, the couple shared. We intend to step back as senior members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.

Shortly after the announcement, Queen Elizabeth summoned Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince Harry to her Sandringham estate for a special media. She later issued a statement in support of Harry and Meghans decision.

It remains to be seen if Harry and Meghan will ever return to their posts as senior members of the royal family. Before they stepped down, however, it was reportedly Charles dream to keep them in the inner circle.

Inside Prince Charles plan for Prince Harry

Before Harry and Meghan tied the knot, Charles allegedly hoped that Harry would support his older brother throughout his time on the throne. Charles has reportedly wanted to slim down the monarchy to key individuals, but Harry was always supposed to be in that group.

Everything changed, of course, after Harry met Meghan. And when the pair welcomed their first child last spring, Harrys wife and son took priority over the rest of the royal family.

With Harry and Meghan stepping down, Charles dream of Prince William having his brother at his side will likely not come to pass. Things could change in the coming years, but it sounds like Harry and Meghan are content with making their way out of the spotlight.

Meghan recently flew back to Canada while Harry appeared for his first public outing since the announcement this week. He is expected to reunite with Meghan in Canada in the coming days.

Prince William has not commented publicly on Harry and Meghans royal exit.
Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Friday said that the Central government has handed over the investigation of the Bhima-Koregaon case to the Investigation Agency (NIA) without the State government's permission.

"As the Home Minister of the State, I am raising my objection to it," said Deshmukh while speaking to reporters here.

Speaking about the reports of withdrawal of NCP chief Sharad Pawar's security, Deshmukh said, "He had Z+ security, he has served as the CM of Maharashtra for several years. The decision to withdraw his security is by the Central government, this is not good."

In a high-level meeting at the State Secretariat on Thursday, Deshmukh along with senior police officers took a review of the Bhima-Koregaon cases.

On January 1, 2018, violence had erupted during the 200th-anniversary celebrations of the Bhima-Koregaon battle.

One person lost his life while several others were injured in the incident. Police had filed 58 cases against 162 people.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Attorney Carl Ras Iva Williams, now in private practice, has assessed the Amnesty Act as giving guidelines for a period to surrender your ganja.

To set this country on a path towards establishing a Medical Marijuana Industry (MMI), Parliament, in December 2018 passed into law the Medicinal Cannabis Industry Bill and the Cannabis Cultivation (Amnesty) Act.





However, controversial issues continue to loom, especially as it relates to the Amnesty for marijuana cultivators.





What is clear, is that a number of persons have been led to believe that since the passage of the Amnesty Bill, they can legally grow cannabis, even without a cultivators licence, and that when the Amnesty kicks in, they can sell to investors who have received licences.





One of the persons encouraging farmers and others to plant cannabis while they await a cultivators licence, is JuniorSpirit Cottle, President of the Cannabis Revival Committee (CRC) and a liaison person for the newly-established Medicinal Cannabis Authority.





Cottle admitted to this fact last week Tuesday night when he called the Current Affairs interactive programme on NICE Radio, to respond to concerns over the police raid of a marijuana field at Richmond, North Leeward.





"Is me (who) tell the man plant weed (marijuana), you know. You see the same man whose weed they raid? Is me, Spirit, who encouraged the man (to plant) weed and that is what vex me with the police. Me, Spirit, in a meeting tell the man  ah say watch nuh man, now is amnesty. I am a traditional grower, if you see man plant weed, plant weed too, Cottle said.





Calling to the said programme last week Tuesday night, former Prosecutor for the Crown Carl Ras Iva Williams stated: "When I hear these men talk, they make me feel so bad. Why they keep hiding in this medicinal marijuana cloak? Which marijuana is not medicinal? They cant show me, they cant produce any marijuana that is not medicinal.





"And Spirit talking about amnesty. Amnesty is not to allow people to grow marijuana. Amnesty is to make them surrender the marijuana  that is what it is for - not to give them freedom to grow it. Its for them to surrender what theyre growing, and to take police there for them to see how much they have and where they have it, and for them to bring it in and to sign to say youve been acting contrary to the law  you is a criminal.





That is what you have to sign to.





The former prosecutor added: "What kind of foolishness Spirit telling people in this country about amnesty?





What amnesty is about? Amnesty is for them to plant marijuana?





Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves stated last year that the amnesty law will kick-in when "traditional cultivators whove received licences, both individually and in group - when they get those licences and they start.





"They make the application for the amnesty  thats when the amnesty kicks in.





"The fact that a man grow weed, they catch him at sea with 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 pounds, the amnesty dont apply to that. How the amnesty apply to that? Dr. Gonsalves said then.
The Ukrainian president says he is content with the political dialogue between Ukraine and Israel.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Israeli counterpart Reuven Rivlin have discussed bilateral relations between the two states.

"I am convinced that we should further develop our close ties dynamically," Zelensky said while on a working visit to Israel, according to the president's press service.

The Ukrainian president said he was content with the political dialogue between Ukraine and Israel.

Read alsoZelensky: Ukraine delegation to Israel forum gives own invitations to Holocaust survivors

He emphasized that Israel was one of Ukraine's key trading partners in the Middle East region.

"I am convinced that the free trade agreement signed between our countries in January 2019 will contribute to the further growth of mutual trade. The implementation of its provisions can help increase trade turnover up to US$2 billion in the short term," Zelensky said.

The Ukrainian president also expressed solidarity with the people of Israel in honoring the memory of Holocaust victims.

"We stand in full solidarity with the people of Israel in honoring the memory of the Holocaust victims," he said.

According to Zelensky, this horrific disaster of the Nazi terror times killed over one million Jews and more than four million Ukrainians and representatives of other nationalities in Ukraine.

"The tragedy of Babyn Yar is known all over the world. In 2020, the construction of the Babyn Yar Holocaust Memorial Center is planned to begin in Ukraine. It should include the Ukrainian Holocaust Museum and the Babyn Yar Victims Memorial Museum," he said.

Zelensky emphasized that he and the government would pay due attention to the given issue.
DES MOINES  Senate Republicans, on a party-line committee vote, approved a resolution Thursday giving Iowa voters a chance to amend the state constitution to specify there is no right to abortion or public funding of the procedure.

Sen. Jake Chapman, R-Adel, told members of the Senate State Government Committee that Senate Joint Resolution 21 is needed to correct a judicial overreach by the Iowa Supreme Court that usurped legislative authority by essentially creating a right that did not exist before the courts 5-2 ruling to strike down an abortion limit in 2018.

What we had was five unelected judges with the power of the gavel to rewrite our state constitution, Chapman said before the 10-5 committee vote. This is judicial tyranny. Do we want to cede our power  the peoples power  to unelected judges across the street to rewrite our constitution? Its our responsibility, not the courts.

Senators voted to place on the debate calendar a proposed amendment that eventually could come before Iowa voters to declare the Iowa Constitution shall not be construed to recognize, grant or secure a right to abortion or to require the public funding of abortion.

SJR21 must pass both the Iowa Senate and the Iowa House in exactly the same form this session and then win support of the 89th Iowa General Assembly elected in November before the measure would come before Iowa voters as early as the 2022 general election.

Republicans said the action was necessitated by the Iowa Supreme Court ruling striking down a 72-hour waiting period before Iowa women could undergo an abortion. Justices found that women in Iowa have a fundamental right to make medical decisions for themselves, and that any state effort to restrict rights must clear the strict scrutiny of serving a compelling governmental interest.

Constitutions are written to give rights to people, not take them away, said Sen. Todd Taylor, D-Cedar Rapids, in support the court decision based on the constitutions equal protection and due process clauses. We, state senators, do not have the ability to take peoples rights and freedoms away, and yet here we are.

Sen. Claire Celsi, D-West Des Moines, said the resolution was a GOP attempt to weaponize the state constitution to eliminate rights that we currently have as part of a coordinated effort to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationally.

Republicans complain of activist, unelected judges making these decisions on behalf of Iowans. But whats ironic is that Republicans in Iowa and nationally are working to stack the courts with judges that will rule in their favor on the issue of abortion, she said.

If successful, GOP legislators will be back to pursue the waiting period, a heartbeat bill and other abortion limits, Celsi said, from the trash heap of history and pass them without fear of the Iowa Supreme Court overturning their laws.

However, Chapman said the motivation for Thursdays action was a desire to keep intact the checks and balances envisioned by the framers of the Iowa Constitution.

This is about the people having their voice through the elective body to represent their will, he said. Unfortunately the court usurped the legislative branch and in that decision actually invented a fundamental right to an abortion.

Any plain reading of our state constitution reveals no such right. In effect, the Iowa Supreme Court amended the Iowa Constitution. They overstepped their authority in that decision, Chapman added.

Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, R-Ankeny, said the earliest the proposed amendment would be eligible for Senate floor debate would be next Wednesday or Thursday, but added, it would probably be after that. Im not sure.

House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, said discussions are ongoing between the House and Senate on the language and he is confident that Iowans support the resolution.

We arent going to just rush through the process just to try to get it off our plate. We want to make sure the language we have is the right language, he told reporters.

Im not going to endorse any specific piece of language right now until we have more input from our caucus, but weve started down that path, he added. Getting it right I think is going to be the important piece, not just doing it quickly.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0
RED WING -- Approving not one but two Jefferson School purchase agreements could happen Feb. 3.

Superintendent Karsten Anderson shared progress updates at Tuesdays Red Wing School Board meeting.

Anderson announced a plan to create two separate purchase agreements. One agreement was for $200,000 between Red Wing School District and Jim Patterson for the building. The other was for $100,000 between the district and the city for the park/green space. Patterson and a donor then will give $100,000 to the city and, in the end, the district would get $300,000 and the city would get 0.7 acre park land at no additional cost.

On Friday, Anderson told the Republican Eagle that Patterson had signed. Now the City Council will consider the matter Monday, Jan. 27.

Anderson says having two separate purchase agreements makes it easier to give the land directly to the city.

ADVERTISEMENT

"Its frustrating for all of us to take a little extra time to make sure this is done right, but I actually feel better now about the arrangements, because I think it will be crystal clear as far as the school district getting the park parcel to the city, because it will be in a separate purchase agreement," Anderson said Tuesday.

If the City Council approves its part of the deal, the School Board could place it on its Feb. 3 agenda for approval.

Both purchase agreements will close simultaneously and are contingent on one another, Anderson said.

Calendar and schedule updates

The board approved the school calendar for the 2020-21 year at Tuesdays meeting. School will start Monday, Aug. 31, which is a week before Labor Day.

"We can do that because we will have at least $400,000 worth of construction projects in the summer of 2021, that enables us to claim a waiver from the state," Anderson said.

If students started after Labor Day, kept a weeklong March Spring Break and had graduation fall on the first Friday in June, students would have very few days off during the spring and teachers would have to cram most of their training at the beginning of the school year.

"It sure is nice from the student perspective, the parent perspective and the teacher perspective and the employees perspective that we have periodic three-day weekends," Anderson said.

Finally the board voted on the issue of the Red Wing High School schedule. Some adjustments have been made since Republican Eagles last publication on the topic, including an earlier start and finish time, slightly shorter block times, an added eighth grade lunch period and a section for clubs on Wednesdays.

ADVERTISEMENT

David Scheerer, student representative, expressed disapproval of the schedule, pointing out that the schedule is inconsistent and confusing. Research also suggests that early start times harm students.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that middle and high school start at 8:30 a.m. or later to allow students the time they need to sleep. Red Wing High School currently starts at 8:01 a.m. The schedule approved Tuesday calls for a 7:45 a.m. start time Monday, Thursday and Friday, and 8 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.

The proposed start times could be adjusted to begin later, but the whole schedule would have to shift, which could impact after-school sports.

The updated schedule allows the district to keep their one-tier bus system. Bus pick-up times would remain the same throughout the week. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays students would have more downtime before school starts, according to Principal George Nemanich.

The board unanimously approved the schedule which will begin in the 2020-21 year.

The next Red Wing School Board meeting is at 6 p.m. Feb. 3 at Red Wing City Hall.

School board pay increases

At the boards Jan. 13 workshop, members discussed their salaries for 2020 and came up with six options. Recently elected Chair Pam Roe presented the options at the Jan. 21 meeting: no pay increase, $200 increase, $400 increase, $650 increase, $1,000 increase or $1,400 increase on members current base salary. Many of the options included an additional $30 per meeting for the Teacher Negotiations Committee and the Non-Certified Negotiations Committee.

Anderson referenced school board salary data from the Minnesota School Boards Association comparing Red Wing to other Minnesota school districts. He added that the data list was brought forth during the organizational meeting in early January.

ADVERTISEMENT

"Clearly we are in the lower portion of that list," Anderson said.

Board members approved increasing the base pay by $400 and adding the extra $30 payment per meeting to those serving on the two negotiations committee. The new board salaries are:

$3,700 - chair

$3,500 - clerk

$3,000 - directors

This is an estimated additional $3,880 for the year.

"It's not about making money, it's about putting the time in to do the job that needs to be done here," Vice Chair Arlen Diercks said. "There are sacrifices board members have to make, whether it's hiring babysitters to take care of their kids at home or its having a spouse take a vacation day so they can go to the MSBA conference or whatever it is."

The board has also discussed paying members per committee meeting attended. It was decided that the negotiations committee would be a trial for this idea.

The increased pay could be more of an incentive for people to run for School Board, according to some of the board members.
By ANI

NEW DELHI: After Delhi Election Commission's returning officer issued a notice to Kapil Mishra over his tweet calling Delhi Assembly election as India vs Pakistan clash, the BJP candidate from Model Town said that he finds nothing wrong in his statement and stands by it.

"I received a notice from Election Commission last night. I will give my reply today. I don't think I said anything wrong. Speaking truth is not a crime in this country. I spoke the truth. I stand by my statement," Mishra said.



ALSO READ: BJP candidate Kapil Mishra terms Delhi polls contest between India, Pakistan, faces flak

"Roads are encroached upon in Shaheen Bagh. People are not being allowed to go to schools, offices, hospitals, inciting slogans are being raised. The shamelessness with which Manish Sisodia said he stands with Shaheen Bagh means that this is a political movement," he added.

Earlier, the Election Commission of India sought a report from Delhi's Chief Electoral Officer on Mishra's tweet.

Mishra had on January 23 tweeted ":...On 8th February there will be a contest between India and Pakistan on the streets of Delhi."

Kapil Mishra, BJP on his statement on #DelhiElections2020: I received a notice from Election Commission last night, I'll give my reply today. I don't think I said anything wrong. Speaking truth is not a crime in this country. I spoke the truth. I stand by my statement. pic.twitter.com/dgxUmDw6CM  ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2020

According to sources, the Election Commission is mulling over taking strong action against BJP candidate Kapil Mishra.

On January 22, Aam Aadmi Party had written to the Election Commission alleging "wrongful acceptance of nomination forms of BJP candidate Kapil Mishra from Model Town constituency" and demanded cancellation of his candidature.
And it didnt take me long Thursday to see that Scott Weinstein, the director, got what mattered most even though most directors dont. He has cast actors who can play high school kids. Actually, this is not so much a matter of physical appearance or even of age, but of understanding the mix of braggadocio and insecurity that makes up teenagers, who really dont change much with the times. At the risk of spoiling the dramatic tension  please!  the best moment in this production is the transformation of Sandy (Leryn Turlington). In all those crummy national tours you saw, she changed, right? She dropped her old persona to please her guy. Not here. Sure, she dresses up a bit but she looks ridiculous and Weinstein and Turlington  who plays a nervous kid, not an ingenue on her way to the casting office and a new life  make clear she is still the same Sandy. She hasnt really changed. Teenagers cannot transform overnight.
01/23/2020

By Ed Brennen

Given the chances of a snowstorm in New England in mid-January, it was risky for the American Meteorological Society (AMS) to hold its 100th annual meeting in Boston.





Turns out the thousands of meteorologists, climate scientists, hydrologists and academics  including many faculty, students and alumni from the Kennedy College of Sciences  who descended on the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center for the weeklong event were better off packing shorts and T-shirts than winter coats and snow boots.





On the conferences opening weekend (Jan. 11-12), temperatures soared to 70 degrees in Boston on consecutive January days for the first time since record-keeping began in 1872. That Sunday, Boston hit a record high of 74 degrees  more than 40 degrees above average.





Its totally bizarre. It felt like summer, says Frank Colby , a professor in the Department of Environmental, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences ( EEAS ) who presented his research on why weather models had trouble forecasting the track of 2018s Hurricane Florence at the annual meeting.





I like warm weather, but something about 74 degrees in January feels so strange that I cant enjoy it, adds EEAS Prof. Mathew Barlow , who had several students presenting research throughout the week.

Photo by Ed Brennen Assoc. Prof. of Environmental Sciences Juliette Rooney-Varga discusses the En-ROADS climate solutions simulator with conference-goers following her panel discussion.



The unusually warm weather provided a fitting backdrop to what UML participants say was the overriding theme of the convention: climate change.





Thats what we should be seeing, because climate change is a real thing, and its a serious problem, Colby says. If we dont do something soon, were going to see flooding in Boston. The Seaports going to be underwater.





As part of the annual meetings conference on climate variability and change, Assoc. Prof. of Environmental Sciences Juliette Rooney-Varga led a panel discussion that examined how integrated assessment models  namely the En-ROADS climate solutions simulator that shes helped develop through her work with Climate Interactive  can influence the technological, political and economic approaches to the issue.

We want to give people the tools they need to learn for themselves, because we know from social science research that showing people climate research doesnt work, says Rooney-Varga, who is director of UMLs Climate Change Initiative . Once weve got those tools in place, (En-ROADS presents) them in a format that you dont need a Ph.D. or supercomputers to run.

Photo by Ed Brennen EEAS Prof. Mathew Barlow, center, and post-doctoral research associate Laurie Agel pose with their research collaborator, Mathias Collins, at the AMS annual meeting.



Laurie Agel, who earned her Ph.D. in marine sciences and technology from UML in 2018 (as part of the systemwide joint degree program) and now works with Barlow as a post-doctoral research associate, made two presentations: one on how computer models simulate extreme precipitation in the Northeast and another that examined how conditions such as rain, snow and soil moisture impact flooding in the Charles and Mystic river basins.





The flooding topic was an offshoot of working with extreme precipitation, but now I find it very interesting, and I want to keep going with it, says Agel, who plans to continue her research with the Merrimack River.





At the poster presentations, David Coe, a third-year Ph.D. candidate in marine sciences and technology, shared his research on summerlike weather extending into the fall season in New England, resulting in shorter winters and a shift in the growing season.





For the past three years, Coe has used the Python programming language to analyze atmospheric data clusters dating back to 1970. At the conference, he learned how to integrate Python with machine learning to analyze even larger data sets.





Pythons one of the most widely used programming languages for meteorology, so learning more about how to fit it to what were using for this cluster has been really helpful, says Coe, a Leominster native and Double River Hawk who earned his bachelors and masters degrees in atmospheric science and meteorology.

Photo by Ed Brennen Ph.D. student David Coe explains his research on shifts in the fall season in New England during the poster presentations.



This was the third AMS conference for graduate student Michael Follensbee, but first as a poster presenter. Follensbee, who expects to complete a masters degree in atmospheric science in May, has worked for the past year and a half with Barlow on his National Science Foundation-funded research on changes in the Siberian hydroclimate. Follensbee is specifically looking at the precursors to the precursors of a polar vortex to better predict when cold snaps may occur.





The research Ive done has been outside my comfort zone in terms of meteorology, says Follensbee, a Vermont native who earned their bachelors degree in atmospheric science from Cornell University. Professor Barlow helped me figure this out and feel comfortable enough about where I could continue the research. Im happy to have brought it to the next step.





Follensbee, who brought resume copies and made business cards for the conference, enjoyed learning how colleagues at other institutions are answering climate-related questions.





Im hearing so many different sides beyond just the bubble of research that Im doing, even though its all about the same values and measurements, Follensbee says. Its opened myself up to a whole new world of meteorology, science and research.

Photo by Ed Brennen EEAS Prof. Frank Colby, left, poses with, from left, alumni Beth Krajewski and Kim Calden, student Alex Przybylowicz and alum Henry Goodwin during the poster presentations.



The balmy opening weekend included a student conference, where environmental science major Eric Roy presented on his work with Prof. Daniel Obrist on mercury pollution in forests , Lena Dziechowski participated on a graduate student panel and undergraduate students Danny Couto, Alex Przybylowicz, Stephen Sullivan and Roy also conducted student-led weather discussions. Students also took part in a career fair, and Assoc. Teaching Prof. Lori Weeden organized family-friendly weather games at the EEAS table at WeatherFest.





For Colby, having the AMS annual meeting in Boston this year meant running into many former students. Among them was Robert Hallowell 85, a member of UMLs first graduating class in meteorology and a longtime research scientist at the MIT Lincoln Laboratory.





A lot of our alumni still live in the area, so its been really great, says Colby, whose department is reinstating the bachelor of science in meteorology this fall.





During the poster session, Colby caught up with another former student, Beth Krajewski 01, 09, an Amesbury native who earned her bachelors degree in meteorology and masters in atmospheric science.

Photo by courtesy Kennedy College of Sciences students man the EEAS table during the AMS annual meeting's student conference.



Krajewski now works as director of aviation operations for IBMs The Weather Company in Andover, providing airlines and airports with weather forecasting services and technology such as cockpit applications for pilots.





A lot of UMass Lowell alumni work on our team. Its great, says Krajewski, an occasional guest lecturer in Colbys atmospheric science classes and a big proponent of the EEAS department.





Ive always said to people when theyre looking at different schools that UMass Lowell is nice because its a small enough program where you get one-on-one support from your professors, she says. Its a tough major, but everyone bands together and works hard to get through all the math and physics.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 24

By Huseyn Safarov - Trend:

Expectations of growth in cargo transportation in Azerbaijan in 2020 are well justified, an expert on international governance, Director of the Caucasus Center for Political Analysis Ahmad Alili told Trend.

The expert noted that Azerbaijan has been actively investing in its infrastructure over the past few years.

"This mainly concerns the increase in the transit potential of the country. The head of state several times mentioned the development priorities of the country's transport sector in his speeches, so the fact that special attention is paid to this matter is quite obvious," the expert said.

"The capital, which has been invested in this sector for all time, should now yield results and work for the benefit of the country's overall economy. The indicators of cargo transportation using all types of transport infrastructure should be increasing every year."

The expert considers the interest of other countries in the transit routes that pass through Azerbaijan to be one of the main factors in the growth of cargo transportation.

"China has several routes for delivering its goods to European markets. But, at present, the safest route is the one that passes through Central Asia and Azerbaijan. Naturally, when China and other countries see that the route passing through Azerbaijan is safer than alternative ones, their interest in increasing freight traffic grows, and this directly affects the overall growth in freight traffic through Azerbaijan," Ahmad Alili said.

"The development of Azerbaijan's non-oil sector is the second factor in the growth of cargo transportation. When a country develops its non-oil sector, it has products for export, and this, in turn, leads to the fact that the volume of cargo transportation increases significantly."

The latest report of the Davos World Economic Forum indicated that Azerbaijan ranks 12th in the world in terms of air transport efficiency, 11th in terms of the railways efficiency, and 27th in terms of the quality of roads. In general, Azerbaijan ranks 34th in the world in terms of transport infrastructure, which is a very high indicator.
By PTI

JAIPUR: The Citizenship (Amendment) Act is "unconstitutional" and the central government must withdraw it, former Union minister Yashwant Sinha said on Thursday.

Sinha also demanded a judicial probe into the violence that broke out in several parts of the country against the amended law, particularly in BJP ruled states.

"The government is trying to divert public attention but such diversion will not last long. It is temporary. The government should withdraw the CAA as it is unconstitutional," he said here.

"There are a number of problems and issues in the country which includes the issues of farmers, youth and unemployment. There is an atmosphere of unrest and the government should fulfil its constitutional duty without doing any discrimination on the basis of caste and religion," he added.

Sinha will extend his support to a rally which scheduled to be organised on Friday against the CAA, National Register of Citizens and the National Population Register (NPR).
Sonny Grosso, the true-blue New York City police detective who with his gung-ho partner made the record heroin bust that inspired the Oscar-winning film The French Connection, died on Jan. 22 at his home in Manhattan. He was 89.

His death was confirmed by his longtime companion, Christina Kraus.

A product of East Harlem and the Upper West Side of Manhattan, Mr. Grosso rose to the rank of detective first grade in the New York Police Department faster than any predecessor. He followed his 22 years on the force with a second career as a television producer and consultant for television shows about law enforcement, including Kojak, Baretta and Night Heat, and for the movie The Godfather, in which he played a detective named Phil.

Until he died, Mr. Grosso carried his off-duty .38-caliber Colt revolver, the very same gun that was taped to the tank of a toilet and fired (using blanks) by Al Pacino in a mob hit in The Godfather.
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], Jan 24 (ANI): A protest was staged against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) last night in the Moghalpura area here.



According to Moghalpura Police, on the intervening night of January 23 and 24, a few people including women staged a protest against the CAA and NRC in the limits of Moghalpura police.



"The protesters had obtained permission from the police station and staged a protest. Immediately after this, an extra force was called in and a few protesters were taken into preventive custody. They were shifted to Goshamahal police grounds and Moghalpura police station to ensure that no untoward incident occurred," police said.

"The protesters were later released," police added. (ANI).


Albany

Mavis Discount Tire, the national auto repair retailer that has come under scrutiny for it alleged role in the 2018 limo crash in Schoharie, is seeking to have all of the civil lawsuits seeking money on behalf of the victims' families handled together by a judge in Albany.

Meanwhile, lawyers for the families are now seeking to have the legal coordination of the cases done instead in Montgomery County where the majority of the victims were from.

"We agreed to do it in Montgomery County, but it's a totally discretionary thing as to what the court decides to do," said Albany attorney Salvatore Ferlazzo, who represents the family of Amanda Rivenburg, one of the 20 people who died in the Oct. 6, 2018 crash.

A month after the crash, Ferlazzo filed what was then the first civil suit on behalf of any of the victims in state Supreme Court in Albany. The suit named the owner of the limo company, Shahed Hussain, as well as his son, Nauman Hussain, who is facing charges of manslaughter in Schoharie County Court and is scheduled to go to trial in May.

Back in December attorneys for Mavis applied to the New York State Litigation Panel to have the 11 civil lawsuits filed so far in the limo crash case be handled by a judge in Albany County, even though the majority of the suits have been filed in state Supreme Courts in Montgomery and Saratoga counties.

Mavis has been dragged into the case by lawyers representing the victims' families as well as defense attorneys for Nauman Hussain, who have alleged that the company's Saratoga Springs shop did shoddy brake work on the stretch Ford Excursion limo involved in the crash and illegally inspected the vehicle just months before the disaster.

"The allegations against Mavis are wrong, and Mavis bears no legal responsibility for the accident," lawyers for Mavis wrote in a Dec. 13 filing with the state panel.

A decision could be made by March. A Mavis spokeswoman declined to comment beyond the court filing.

Mavis asserts it was named a defendant only after attorneys for the families realized that the Hussains' insurance policy on the limo was capped at $500,000, or $25,000 per victim.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Mavis was drawn into the criminal case against Nauman Hussain after a former Mavis employee in the company's Saratoga Springs shop told investigators that workers had falsified invoices for service, including brake work, on the Excursion limo, although prosecutors in Schoharie County have argued that issue didn't contribute to the crash, which has been blamed on catastrophic brake failure.

Nauman Hussain's father, Shahed Hussain has never been questioned or charged in the criminal case despite being the official owner of the limo company and the Excursion. Shahed Hussain has a long history as an undercover informant for the FBI on anti-terrorism cases and has been living in Pakistan since before the crash. Because of that, attorneys in the civil cases have been unable so far to track down the elder Hussain and serve him with their lawsuits.

Civil lawsuits that are coordinated together can go back and be tried in the counties where they were originally filed. Ferlazzo noted that while he and other lawyers that have filed cases on behalf of victims' families have been cooperating, it is unclear what they will decided to do. They could potentially seek to consolidate their cases into one, although Ferlazzo doesn't know if that would ultimately happen since the injuries to the 20 victims were so vastly different, and they all had different family circumstances that impact potential damages.

"It really depends," Ferlazzo said.
(Newser)  Some 36 years after he was first seen carrying out dubious ESP research at Columbia University, Dr. Peter Venkman is back. Vanity Fair has confirmed that Bill Murray will be reprising his role as one of the original Ghostbusters in upcoming sequel Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Fellow Ghostbusters Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson will also be returning, but they will be without Harold Ramis, who died in 2014. "Well, we are a man down. That's the deal," Murray told the magazine during filming in Canada last fall. "And that's the story we're telling, that's the story they've written."

story continues below

Ramis played Egon Spengler, and the new movie, which focuses on a new generation of Ghostbusters led by Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard, involves a mysterious find in the old Spengler mansion, CNET reports. Sigourney Weaver and Annie Potts will also be reprising their roles, but Rick Moranis, who has largely withdrawn from acting, will not appear in the sequel. It is being directed by Jason Reitman, son of Ivan Reitman, who directed the first two Ghostbusters movies. "If I think about who Im making this movie for, its my father," Jason Reitman told Vanity Fair. "We all know what its like to be told stories by our parents. Im really honored to get a chance to tell one back to him from the world he brought to life." (Read more Ghostbusters stories.)
OTTAWA - Senior officials advising Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have pressed him gently to rethink how the Liberals have chosen the Queen's representatives in Canada as he gets ready to make another such decision.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/1/2020 (718 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to members of caucus on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Thursday, January 23, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

OTTAWA - Senior officials advising Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have pressed him gently to rethink how the Liberals have chosen the Queen's representatives in Canada as he gets ready to make another such decision.

The task of coming up with candidates for vice-regal appointments  including Gov. Gen. Julie Payette, who was named in 2017  has been with the Prime Minister's Office and its bureaucratic arm, the Privy Council Office after the Liberals abandoned a previously used outside advisory board.

A memo given to Trudeau shortly after the Liberals won re-election last fall suggests the process could be ready for a change.

The memo, which The Canadian Press obtained through the Access to Information Act, says that Trudeau could consider "re-engaging" the advisory committee to "give greater structure to the identification of potential candidates."

Already, Trudeau has a vice-regal appointment that needs to be made.

Ontario Lt.-Gov. Elizabeth Dowdeswell reached the end of her five-year term during the federal election, when it would have been politically inappropriate for Trudeau to name her successor. She will remain in the position until her replacement is named.

Three more vice-regal appointments will likely be needed by the end of 2020, as the five-year terms for the lieutenant-governors of Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec are set to expire.

A spokeswoman for Trudeau said "there is no formal selection process" for lieutenant-governor appointments, adding they are made by cabinet on the prime minister's advice. Trudeau has used this informal process six times since coming to office.

"Rigorous search for candidates takes place to ensure that eminently qualified Canadians are selected to fill vice-regal and territorial commissioner positions, as demonstrated by previous appointments," Chantal Gagnon said in an email.

Under the Conservatives, there had been an advisory committee to offer up names for the governor general and provincial lieutenant-governors. The list wasn't binding, but it was developed through detailed consideration by experts about what the job entailed and who would make a good candidate.

Former prime minister Stephen Harper first created an ad hoc advisory committee when his government needed to find a new governor general in 2010, a process that led to the choice of David Johnston for the top job at Rideau Hall.

Harper, like Trudeau now, had a minority government, making the role of representative to the Queen key to maintaining some parliamentary stability.

Harper made the committee a permanent body in 2012, arguing that a non-partisan approach to vice-regal appointments was important for the country.

According to the memo, the advisory committee hasn't met since 2015. Instead, the Liberals pulled the process inside the PMO, despite using independent advisory boards to recommend names for both the Senate and the Supreme Court.

Penny Collenette, who was former prime minister Jean Chretien's director of appointments for four years, said it's often easy to come up with a list of eminent Canadians for vice-regal positions  the Order of Canada or similar provincial honours is a place to start  but tougher to get agreement on a successful candidate.

Whether it's an advisory committee, or within the PMO, the key is to consult widely and ensure discretion, Collenette said, pointing to the onerous gag order imposed on anyone called about a judicial appointment.

"There's not a perfect process," said Collenette, now an adjunct law professor at the University of Ottawa.

"It helps to consult as widely as possible, providing people are discreet. It's not helpful if you consult widely and then it turns into gossip."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 24, 2020.
YPSILANTI TWP., MI - Shenita Draw and her familys Gault Village neighbors continue to circle the wagons in the wake of her son Trey Matthews death two weeks ago.

Cody Winchester, who lives a few blocks from the Draws, was devastated by Matthews emotional vigil on Jan. 13. That motivated her to organize a fundraiser for the family with Bobcat Bonnies, 200 W. Michigan Ave. in Ypsilanti.

On Monday, Jan. 27, the gastropub will donate 10% of all sales to the Draws, primarily to assist with burial costs.

Winchester saw Shenita, also known as Shonne, struggling during the walk to Nancy Park the night of the vigil. The neighbor accompanied Draw that night and said her heart still breaks for the mother.

Not only did she lose her son, Winchester said, but she cant afford to bury him.

The 21-year-old was shot at the park about 8:19 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11, said Derrick Jackson, Washtenaw County Sheriffs Office spokesman.

Winchester said the killing has motivated her to help, but not without the cost of a lost sense of security.

Were a really close-knit community, she said. I walk through the park with my dog...and I feel our space has been invaded.

She reached out to Bobcat Bonnies owner Matt Bruskard and assistant general manager Lauren Canning to set up the fundraiser. Canning said everyone at the restaurant are Ypsi locals" who want to help our community in anyway we could.

Winchester and Canning are calling the fundraiser a Dine to Donate. Canning said the restaurant also did one on Dec. 3 for April Austin, a senior at Eastern Michigan battling multiple sclerosis.

The Dine to Donate coincides with the HisNameIsTrey GoFundMe organized by Stephanie Odum and Lori White. The two have collected more than $4,500 from 119 donors.

The family-approved fundraiser aims to collect at least $10,000 to cover funeral, burial and cremation costs. The link is here.

The hashtag HisNameIsTrey was created by Matthews family to put a name to the shooting, rather than Matthews being a statistic, Draw said.

Theres a lot of black men that are young, but are losing their lives, she said at the vigil. I want my son to make a difference. I want his life to mean something, because it meant something to me.

Dont let Trey be a statistic, family mourns slain man in vigil

Fundraiser for slain Ypsilanti Township mans burial aims for $10K

21-year-old killed in Saturday night shooting in Ypsilanti Township
Burma Wuhan Flights to Myanmar Stopped Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

Mandalay International Airport. / Irrawaddy

Mandalay  China Eastern Airlines (CEA) announced Friday that its direct flights from the Chinese city of Wuhan to Mandalay have been canceled.

Following the Wuhan lockdown, as China banned travel to Wuhan after the coronavirus outbreak, the airline said it would refund passengers.

China extended travel bans to cities near Wuhan today.

Passengers with CEA and Shanghai Airlines could apply for a free refund for tickets, a CEA statement said.

The Mandalay office said the flight scheduled to land in Mandalay tonight had been canceled.

A flight to Yangon from Wuhan landed on Thursday morning, soon after China imposed its travel restrictions on the city.

The Department of Civil Aviation has reportedly instructed airlines flying from Wuhan and other affected regions to perform checks.

It is unclear how Wuhan tourists stranded in Mandalay will travel home.

An official from Mandalay International Airport said passengers, especially those from China, were being screened with the cooperation of the Ministry of Health.

CEA operates two direct flights between Wuhan and Mandalay per week with a capacity of around 90 passengers and crew.

The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism said more than 370,000 Chinese tourists flew to Mandalay in 2019.

The Chinese authorities said 26 deaths had been reported due to the coronavirus and 177 out of 830 cases were severe.

The disease has reportedly been found in Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Japan, Vietnam and the United States.

Numerous students from Myanmar studying in Wuhan are affected by the lockdown.

The Myanmar Embassy in Beijing called on citizens in the country to follow the emergency regulations issued to prevent infection.

It called on students in affected areas to contact the embassy to help coordinate with the Chinese authorities.

You may also like these stories:

China Coronavirus Infects 830, Kills 26 as Lunar New Year Holiday Begins

China Building 1,000-Bed Hospital Over the Weekend to Treat Coronavirus
Bujumbura, Burundi (PANA) - Burundi on Thursday launched a campaign for the cultivation of cashew as a new cash crop to support coffee, tea, cotton and tobacco
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 24

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has met with Mayor of the Swiss town of Montreux, Co-chairman of the Azerbaijan-Switzerland Friendship Group Laurent Wehrli in Davos.

The steady development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Switzerland was hailed at the meeting. Laurent Wehrli said that he was appointed as the co-chairman of the Azerbaijan friendship group in the Swiss parliament two months ago. He pointed out that he would spare no effort to further enhance relations between Azerbaijan and Switzerland, including the legislative bodies of both countries during his tenure.

During the conversation, the sides exchanged views on the establishment of cooperation between the cities of Azerbaijan and Switzerland. It was noted that the town of Montreux and the Sabail district of the city of Baku had recently become sister cities.

The activities of Azerbaijani companies in Switzerland were highlighted, and the importance of further expanding relations between the countries companies was emphasized at the meeting.
Three French nationals and one Iraqi working with a French Christian charity in Iraq have been missing since Monday, the group announced Friday. The four men with SOS Chretiens d'Orient (Christians of the Middle East) went missing near the French embassy in Baghdad, the organisation's director Benjamin Blanchard told a news conference in Paris. No ransom demand has been received as yet and no group has claimed responsibility for their disappearance, he added. SOS Chretiens d'Orient has been working with persecuted Christians in Iraq since 2014 when Islamic State jihadists overran the province of Mosul, displacing tens of thousands of minority Christians and Yazidis. It is principally active in the Iraqi Kurdish capital Arbil, where many Christians sought refuge. The missing workers were in Baghdad "to renew their visas and register the association with Iraqi authorities," Blanchard said. They were also due to inspect the group's activities in the city, including the opening of a new school. They left their hotel by car for a meeting "which posed no problem," Blanchard said, adding that French and Iraqi authorities were working together to try locate them. However they did not return and the charity sought in vain to contact them on Tuesday before contacting the French authorities early Wednesday. - Help Christians stay - The charity's director described the men as "experienced staff members who have been working with us for years" and who had "perfect knowledge of conflict zones". He declined to give the men's identities. The French foreign ministry and the French embassy in Iraq refused to comment on their disappearance. "The French and Iraqi authorities are coordinating today on the enquiry and to retrace their steps," said Blanchard, stressing that he was in "close contact" with the worried families. Baghdad has been gripped by demonstrations for several months. The protests initially targeted a government widely seen as corrupt and meddling by neighbouring Iran. But in recent weeks America's military presence in Iraq has become a hot-button issue since a US drone strike killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and a top Iraqi commander in Baghdad on January 3. SOS Chretiens d'Orient, which is also active in Syria, Lebanon and Egypt, is one of several Western charities working with Christians in the Middle East. The aim of the group is to "help Christian communities remain (in the region) and rebuild" their lives, Blanchard said. - Persecution after Saddam fell - The organisation, which is fiercely critical of Islam, portraying it as a threat to Christianity in the Middle East, drew criticism in the past for sending young French volunteers to Syria and Iraq for months at a time. Photos regularly published by the non-government organisaiton on Twitter show volunteers visiting Christian families in Arbil and conducting French language classes. Before the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, the number of Christians in Iraq, home to one of the world's oldest Christian populations, ran to an estimated 1.5 million. After the fall of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein they suffered widespread persecution, culminating with the purges carried out by IS in 2014. By the summer of 2019, their number had fallen to around 250,000, Arbil Archbishop Bashar Warda said during a speech in Britain last year, warning the community was "close to extinction". Several Western countries including France had nationals kidnapped by armed groups in Syria in 2013 and 2014 but in recent years the situation has eased. Radio France Internationale said Friday that two of its freelancers were kidnapped briefly last month before being released. Currently, the only French person confirmed being held hostage anywhere in the world is Sophie Petronin, an elderly charity worker abducted by gunmen in northern Mali in December 2016. No group claimed responsibility for kidnapping until July 2017, when Al-Qaeda's Mali branch released a video showing her.
SHIAWASSEE COUNTY, MI  A New York man in Michigan on business found himself running in the middle of the night from Mark Latunskis home, a 911 call obtained by MLive reveals.

Latunski, 50, is accused of murdering 25-year-old Kevin Bacon at the Bennington Township home and eating part of the body. Hes charged with open murder and mutilation of a body.

The New York man, whose name is redacted in a 911 call obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by Flint Journal-MLive, tells the dispatcher he was in the state for work purposes.

The 911 call is one of two released to MLive on Jan. 23.

He describes a man hitting on him at the bus station upon his arrival and going out to grab a drink.

The man tells the dispatcher he later woke up in the basement of a home.

I dont know if he drugged me, he says. I woke up in the ... basement. Chained in the basement.

The man said he used a butcher knife to cut a leather strap on his ankle which was connected to a metal chain. He said he then fled the house.

He says he carried the knife out of the home and wouldnt put it down until he saw police.

Im from New York. Im walking down the street with a butchers knife. Sweetheart, I need help," he tells the dispatcher.

The man also tells the dispatcher hes lost and doesnt know what direction hes headed in, which is why he called 911. He says he doesnt want to make a criminal case out of it and that it was not a kidnapping situation.

Michigan State Police Lt. David Kaiser confirmed troopers were called to the area and provided the man a ride to a local gas station. The man then contacted Latunski and returned to the home on the same evening, according to Kaiser.

Man arraigned on murder, mutilation charges in Kevin Bacon case

Missing Swartz Creek man found dead; one arrested on murder charge

Judge approves competency test for suspect in Kevin Bacon case

Murder, cannibalism case leaves small Michigan town reeling
Married father-of-three Ihenagwa was described as the lynchpin of an operation exploiting a trend among young people to dabble in prescription-only medication

A pharmacy worker who sold prescription medication worth more than 2million to drug dealers was yesterday jailed for six years.

David Ihenagwa, 40, used his position as a medicines purchaser at his mothers respected high street pharmacy to buy more than 1.65 million highly-addictive Class B and Class C pills.

His buyers collected the painkillers and sleeping pills by the van-load and paid in cash.

Married father-of-three Ihenagwa was described as the lynchpin of an operation exploiting a trend among young people to dabble in prescription-only medication.

His conviction is the first following a crackdown by the governments Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency [MHRA].

In 2018 the Daily Mail told how pharmacists and wholesalers were working with criminal gangs to sell dangerous drugs to youngsters. Last year, this newspaper revealed that 50 pharmacies across Britain were under investigation and 86 people, including 14 pharmacists, had been arrested. Croydon Crown Court heard yesterday how Ihenagwa purchased pills to sell to a mystery third party who picked them from Norlington Chemist in east London.

Over eight months to April 2016, Ihenagwa, of Edmonton, north London, bought 356,000 Class B codeine phosphate tablets and at least 1.3 million Class C tablets including tramadol, diazepam, sleeping drug zopiclone and lorazepam.

All of the drugs are highly addictive, yet are sold on the streets or online for as little as 1 per pill. Users suffer horrific withdrawal symptoms, including insomnia, tremors, vomiting and suicidal thoughts.

An undated file photo of Croydon Crown Court. The court heard yesterday how Ihenagwa purchased pills to sell to a mystery third party who picked them from Norlington Chemist in east London

Ihenagwas criminality was exposed when an MHRA raid on an address in Stoke-on-Trent discovered 13,000 pills in a box with his pharmacys details.

Ihenagwa claimed that he had been approached by an unnamed third party, who said they needed to buy medication for troops in Africa and Iran.

He said he believed the buyers were bona fide, but there is no paper trail and Ihenagwa has declined to identify them.

A 2013 photograph shows a packet of highly addictive Codeine Phosphate, which Ihenagwa bought by the truck-load during a one-year period

Ihenagwa claimed he only sold drugs worth 70,000 and made a 20 per cent profit. But the MHRA valued the street value of the drugs at 2.2million.

Defending Ihenagwa, John Benson QC said: This was a very unsophisticated way of going about what was unquestionably illegal activity.

Ihenagwa admitted one count of supplying a Class B drug and four of supplying Class C controlled drugs.

Sentencing him to six years in prison Judge Daniel Flahive said: You were the lynchpin, the conduit, without whom the drugs would not have ended up in the hands of those who were not authorised to have them.

The MHRA said: Those who sell medicines illegally are exploiting vulnerable people and have no regard for their health.
Words are, arguably, the most powerful thing in the world, especially the word arguably. which can, arguably, destroy the best of anything. But lets get past that.

Words start wars, bring about peace, inflame passion, end relationships, incite joy, bring about depression, and are used in the creation of contrasting alliterations that can really aggravate readers. Of course, as powerful as words are they will never be able to influence a Trumper to become a non-Tumper, or a non-Trumper to slap his forehead and say, Wow! Ive got this guy all wrong! -- So, let us embrace the futility in arguing about politics, and move along to what I want to talk about, which is the power of words to change ones mood. To perhaps alter ones outlook on life.

Take Pink Floyd for instance. -- What? Work with me here.-- A couple of days ago I was feeling a bit down, so I decided to go to YouTube and listen to Pink Floyds song Wish You Were Here written by band member, Roger Waters. When I get a bit down, I dont care to listen to happy music. It tends to have an adverse effect on me. Much like someone saying, Hey, snap out of it! As if thinking Ill say Wow! I never thought of that! Sort of like the non-Trumper I mentioned above.

Wish You Were Here is a beautifully written, sad song that came at a time when Pink Floyd had accomplished more than ever thought they would. They were rich and famous, yet, found they had lost their sense of camaraderie and creativity. They also lost one of their band members, Syd Barrett, who allowed hallucinogens to pretty much take him to the Dark Side. In short, the band was experiencing one of those what-do-we-do-now episodes.

One thing Roger Waters did was write lyrics to a song that expressed what the members of the band were feeling. I cant come close to identifying with what they were experiencing. But the song really touched me. I wrestled with including some of the lyrics in this article, but the words that move me most, may not mean much to you. Thats the beauty and the mystery of poetry. I would like to recommend that a few of you go on-line and take a listen to Wish You Were Here.

Fortunately, at the moment, Im just as pert as can be, largely due to my search for uplifting words to pass along to you. Waiting for you, I started reading some uplifting words. I wanted the article to end on a happier note. I collected some comments from an Alan S. Bame, who wrote, Dont stress over the little things. Youve already overcome so much in your life. You have good memories and bad ones, but the important thing is the present. Dont let the past drag you down and dont let the future frighten you. Feel good in the now. Small issues will soon be forgotten. If that wasnt such a long thought, Id ask Kay to sew it on a T-Shirt for me. And she would tell me to take a flying leap into something unpleasant.

Concerning the tendency of the less young to delve into the past, Bame wrote Never use the phrase: Back in my time Your time is now. As long as youre alive, you are part of this time. You may have been younger, but you are still YOU now, having fun and enjoying life. I like this Bame guy.

Now let me show you some puns that might keep us on the happy track. -- England has no kidney bank, but it does have a Liverpool. I have not a clue as to who first came up with that. Nor do I know where this one originated. -- Police were summoned to a daycare center where a three-year-old was resisting a rest. All right, thats just too cute.

Were on a roll here. Lets look at some bumper stickers. -- Your kid may be an honors student, but you're still an idiot. Thats way over the top. Pretty much why its so funny. This one is just mean as it can be. -- Learn from your parents' mistakes - use birth control. I seriously doubt the author was referring to us. Perhaps some people we know.

Moving right along. Warning: Dates in Calendar are closer than they appear. I got a smile out of that. -- Give me ambiguity or give me something else. -- Lets hear it from the ladies: All men are idiots, and I married their King. Ladies, before passing this one along to your husband, please know that he is not going to slap his forehead and say, You are so right!

Heres a quote from someone whose name youll recognize. -- America is the only country where a significant proportion of the population believes that professional wrestling is real but the moon landing was faked. David Letterman -- I went ahead and included this quote even knowing that wrestling fans are, arguably, the most fanatic people on the planet. I wouldnt have even thought of writing that without including the arguably.

hayter.mark@gmail.com
Mumbai, Jan 24 : A day after the Maharashtra government ordered a probe into allegations of phone -tapping by the previous Bharatiya Janata Party-led government, former Chief Minister and current Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis rubbished the charges, here on Friday.

"It is not in our culture to tap the phones of political opponents in the state. This is absolutely baseless. The (then) government had never issued any such orders," Fadnavis said in a statement.

He alleged that the political credentials of the person who has lodged the complaint (senior Congressman Digvijaya Singh) is known to the whole country.

"Despite this, if the state government wants, it is free to investigate in any manner it deems fit. The truth must come out before the people. If required go to Israel and probe," Fadnavis said.

Pointing out that during his government, the Minister of State for Home was from the Shiv Sena, he urged that the probe must be completed at the earliest and its report must be placed before the people.

His statement came a day after Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said that the state government had ordered a probe into complaints of tapping of many phones as had been ordered by the erstwhile BJP-led regime, who misused the official machinery.

"We have received many such complaints. The phones of senior leaders like Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar, (now) CM Uddhav Thackeray and Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, to track with whom they were communicating, especially during the formation of the (Maha Vikas Aghadi) government, Deshmukh said.

The Maharashtra Police's Cyber Cell has been ordered to look into various complaints of this telephonic surveillance.

Referring to senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh's revelations that a Maharashtra government official had gone to Israel for this purpose, Deshmukh said the probe will find out who was sent (to Israel) and whether it was official.

"Is the @OfficeofUT going to give details in public that who was behind snooping and tapping in Maharashtra. Who were the officers of Maharashtra Govt who went to Israel to talk to NSO the brain behind malware Pegasus," Singh had tweeted.

The issue has evoked sharp reactions from the three ruling MVA partners, Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress with several leaders and ministers, including Jayant Patil, Nawab Malik, Jitendra Awhad, Sachin Sawant, and others slamming the former BJP government for the alleged wire-tapping.
India and Brazil are set to sign 15 agreements to boost cooperation in a wide-range of areas like oil and gas, mining and cyber security after talks between Brazilian President Jair Messias Bolsonaro and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday.

Bolsonaro arrived here on Friday, accompanied by his daughter Laura Bolsonaro, daughter-in-law Leticia Firmo, eight ministers, four members of the Brazilian parliament and a large business delegation.

The Brazilian president is in India primarily to grace the Republic Day celebrations on Sunday as chief guest and explore ways to boost trade ties with India at a time when both the large economies are hit by slowdowns.

Hours after he arrived, Bolsonaro visited the Akshardham temple along with a number of officials.

India's ties with Brazil, the largest country in Latin America, has been on an upswing in the last few years. The country has a population of 210 million with USD 1.8 trillion economy.

On Saturday, Modi and Bolsonaro will hold extensive talks with an aim to "re-energise" the already close and strategic ties between the two countries, officials said.

After the talks, both sides will sign 15 agreements which will include an investment cooperation and facilitation treaty, an agreement on social security, a pact on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters and an MoU on cooperation in bioenergy, they said.

Separate pacts will also be signed to provide for cooperation in areas of cyber security, health and medicine, oil and natural gas, geology and mining and scientific research, they said.

The two sides are also expected to unveil an "action plan" setting specific goals for deeper cooperation in a range of key areas.

"The visit of President Bolsonaro is an extremely important visit. It will be an opportunity to re-energise our strategic partnership and take it forward in a focused manner," Secretary (East) in the External Affairs Ministry Vijay Thakur Singh said at a press conference on Thursday.

This is the first visit of President Bolsonaro to India.

Bolsonaro, a former army captain, won a landslide victory in Brazil's presidential election in October 2018 and took the reins of the country in January last year.

India-Brazil ties have been on an upswing in the last few years.

The volume of bilateral trade was USD 8.2 billion in 2018-19. This included USD 3.8 billion worth of Indian exports to Brazil and USD 4.4 million as imports by India. Both the governments feel there is huge potential to enhance the bilateral trade further.

Major Indian exports to Brazil include agro-chemicals, synthetic yarns, auto components and parts, pharmaceuticals and petroleum products. Brazilian exports to India include crude oil, gold, vegetable oil, sugar and bulk mineral and ores.

Indian investments in Brazil were around USD 6 billion and Brazilian investments in India are estimated at USD 1 billion in 2018.

Brazilian investments in India are mainly in automobiles, IT, mining, energy and biofuels sectors. India has invested in Brazil's IT, pharmaceutical, energy, agri-business, mining and engineering sectors.
One of the greatest changes in the art world in recent years wont be seen in galleries because it is happening online. Digitisation programs have accelerated in the past five years and most state art institutions now have more than half of their collections online, changing the way we approach art and rapidly turning the world into a virtual gallery.

By the end of this year, Art UK, a cultural resource founded in 2003, will have completed a photographic catalogue of every piece of publicly owned painting and sculpture in Britain.

London's National Portrait Gallery has an IT Gallery that allows young visitors to search and discover great works of art for themselves. Credit:Getty Images

At home, meanwhile, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) now has 92 per cent of its collection online (up from just 11 per cent in 2014). The National Gallery of Australia has digitised 60 per cent and the National Museum of Australia 68 per cent of their collections.

These numbers are still dwarfed by the big international aggregation sites that helped foster the global digitisation of visual culture  Wikimedia Commons, Europeana and to a lesser extent Google Arts & Culture. But governments and state institutions are now finishing the task of hanging the worlds art online.
wellesenterprises/iStock(WASHINGTON) -- Now: There are 616 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus in China, and 17 people have died from it.



The majority of the sickened patients are in China, with Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam and the United States all confirming exported coronavirus cases.



College student quarantined in Texas



Health authorities in Texas are investigating a suspected coronavirus case in a Texas A&M student, according to the local health department.



The student, who recently traveled to Wuhan, went to an emergency department yesterday with a cough and congestion.



"The patient we're tracking had very mild symptoms," Dr. Eric Wilke, of the Brazos County Health Department, said at a Thursday news conference.



The patient is in isolation at home as health care workers are performing tests to determine whether the student contracted the coronavirus. Wilke said the department expects to have results back from the CDC in Atlanta by Monday at the latest.



Should the case be confirmed, health officials will begin contact tracing to determine with which individuals he came in contact and whether to monitor them.



Wilke did not say whether the student lived on campus.



China's expands travel ban



China extended its severe travel ban to additional cities, cutting off travel for 20 million people during a time when millions are expected to be traveling for Chinese New Year.



The quarantine began Thursday in Wuhan, the city at the center of the coronavirus outbreak. Authorities shut down transportation in the 11-million-person city, prohibiting people from using buses, trains or ferries, and canceling flights and trains leaving Wuhan.



Those travel restrictions have been extended to the nearby cities of Huanggang and Ezhou, both in China's Hubei province.



WHO decides not to declare an emergency



After two days of deliberation, the World Health Organization decided not to declare the coronavirus outbreak a "public health emergency of international concern" on Thursday.



"Make no mistake. This is still an emergency in China," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general at WHO, said at a news conference after Thursday's meeting. "It has not yet become a global health emergency. It may yet become one."



Part of that decision hinged on the fact there's been no evidence of human-to-human transmission outside of China so far. Additionally, disease transmission appears to be limited to close family groups and health care workers, according to the WHO.



Coronavirus concerns has airport in Los Angeles on high alert



A traveler who arrived at Los Angeles International Airport from Mexico City on Wednesday night was transported to a hospital for medical evaluation after he showed signs of being sick. American Airlines confirmed that the patient had flown with with the airline and that the person was being evaluated at a local medical center for "precautionary reasons."



While the airline is coordinating with the CDC, it's not yet known what the patient's symptoms were or whether they traveled to Wuhan.



Surveillance at airports has intensifies around the country, with airports in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta and Chicago all screening travelers from Wuhan.



Doctors are treating the coronavirus patient in Seattle in a bio-containment room



The first patient in the United States to contract the new coronavirus is a man in his 30s from Washington state who traveled to Wuhan but said he didn't visit the seafood and live-animal market where the virus likely originated.



Doctors in a medical center near Seattle are treating the patient in a 20-by-20 bio-contaminant room. Doctors are using a robot with stethoscope to care for the patient, while limiting their contact with the virus. Four specially trained nurses in hazmat suits and security guards are on watch around the clock.



Only a handful of health care workers have entered the room to treat the patient, who is doing well, according to doctors at the medical center.



The patient's care includes extra fluids and Tylenol for his fever and cough, symptoms he probably could manage at home if he hadn't been diagnosed with coronavirus.



What people who died of coronavirus had in common



China's health commission released details about the 17 people who have died so far in the outbreak, the majority of whom have been men, older people or those with underlying health problems.



Those findings mirrored what officials from the World Health Organization described during a Wednesday news conference. Many of the people with severe forms of the new coronavirus were men older than 40 who had existing health issues.



WHO officials were quick to note that this demographic information doesn't mean younger people aren't affected by the new coronavirus. Instead, it's likely that the disease affects older people more severely, which was also true in the SARS outbreak.



Scientists have competing theories about the animal behind the outbreak



Coronavirsus, a family of viruses that include SARS, MERS and the common cold, can jump from animal to human hosts.



Scientists have competing theories about the animal source behind the virus. In addition to bats, which scientists have speculated about since the beginning of the outbreak, and which were implicated in the SARS outbreak, a group of researchers published paper this week, theorizing that snakes are the most likely reservoir behind the outbreak. Neither theory has been confirmed.



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Bahrain ranks 41st in the Global Talent Competitive Index (GTCI) 2020, which looks into the ability of a country to attract, grow, and retain talents. Region-wise, Bahrain, which lies in the North Africa and Western Asia region, is placed 6th with a score of 50.35.

The index rates Bahrain, having a population of 1.57 million, as one of the top-performing countries when it comes to attracting talent. The index is based on research done by INSEAD in partnership with The Adecco Group and Google.

The six metrics used to decide a countrys rank are - enable, attract, grow, retain, vocational skills and global knowledge skills. This new GTCI report focuses on Global Talent in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, following the path initially explored by the GTCI 2017 theme of Talent and Technology, said Bruno Lanvin, Executive Director for Global Indices, INSEAD and Felipe Monteiro Academic Director of the Global Talent Competitiveness Index; Affiliate Professor of Strategy, INSEAD.

The talent competition, and labour markets in general, have started to be impacted by the rise of AI; this trend will not diminish in the foreseeable future, the report added.

UAE leads in the region

The United Arab Emirates, ranked 22nd globally, enjoys a leading position in the North Africa and Western Asia region with a score of 62.63, after Israel with a score of 65.66. Closely following is Qatar with a global ranking of 29. Saudi Arabia, with a score of 51.48, is ranked 40th globally and 5th regionally.

Following Bahrain in the region are Oman (rank 7), Azerbaijan (8th), Armenia (9th), Jordan (10th), Kuwait (11th), Georgia (12th), Turkey (13th) and Tunisia (14th) among others. The top 3 positions in this years index are occupied by Switzerland, the United States, and Singapore.

Switzerland (1st) remains the outright leader in the GTCI by virtue of its strong performances in almost every dimension. The worst-performing upper-middle-income country is Venezuela, which has primarily suffered from a worsening ability to enable and attract talent.

Thus, Northern America and Europewith the greatest shares of high-income countriesare the two best-performing regions, followed by Eastern, Southeastern Asia and Oceania, the report said.
Air Force F-16 fighter jet takeoff

US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Heidi Goodsell

US airmen based in Italy hit the road in order to show off their ability to rapidly deploy and equip F-16 fighter jets to keep fighting.

The drill, called exercise Agile Buzzard, was a demonstration of Agile Combat Employment, a concept that calls for the US Air Force to be more flexible and prepared.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

US Air Force airmen and F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 31st Fighter Wing rapidly deployed to Decimomannu Air Base, Italy, January 13-16, for exercise Agile Buzzard.

Agile Buzzard was one of the first exercises to incorporate elements from the developing operational concept known as Agile Combat Employment, or ACE.

This concept calls for forces to operate more fluidly in locations with varying levels of capacity and support. This ensures US Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa are ready for any potential contingencies.

"Agile Combat Employment is a fairly new concept," said Maj. Michael Watts, 510th Fighter Squadron operations supervisor. "We take our aircraft somewhere without all the accommodations of our home station, but are still able to turn around our aircraft and ready them for combat."

Air Force F-16 fighter jet

US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Heidi GoodsellTraining exercises like Agile Buzzard enhance the wing's ability to take command and control of a region, as well as deliver lethal airpower more effectively and efficiently anywhere in the world. Additionally they are designed to enhance partner interoperability, maintain joint readiness, and assure US regional allies.

Air Force F-16 fighter jet

US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Heidi Goodsell"This exercise is meant to give us a chance to try this type of operation for the first time at a base other than Aviano," said Watts. "This is our opportunity to try ACE at a base we don't have everything we normally have and still be able to execute the mission."

Air Force F-16 fighter jet

US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Heidi GoodsellAs part of the exercise, maintainers practiced Integrated Combat Turns, or ICT, in which airmen refueled and loaded weapon systems onto fighter jets while engines were running. The F-16s later departed to conduct air-to-ground training, and redeployed to the 31st FW at Aviano Air Base.

Story continues

Air Force bomb

US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Heidi GoodsellUS airmen and Italian forces were able to extend their joint operational war-fighting capabilities during Agile Buzzard through tactical training, the successful partnership resulting in progressive relationships in regional security and coalition operations.

Air Force bomb

US Air Force/Staff Sgt. Heidi Goodsell

Read the original article on Business Insider
COOS BAY, Ore. -- The Jordan Cove Energy Project withdrew an essential application for it's 229-mile-long natural gas pipeline project Friday, leaving its future in question.

A letter informed the Oregon Department of State Lands that they would be withdrawing an application for a "removal-fill" permit, which would allow the project to dredge a navigation channel for a terminal in Coos Bay and build the pipeline across the state's waterways.

Without the permit, the project is not possible, officials said.

According to officials, earlier this week the department denied Jordan Cove's fifth request to extend the project's deadline due to a lack of requested application items. Before the application was pulled, a decision would have been rendered at the end of the month.

A spokesman for the Jordan Cove Project indicated the firm is not dropping the plan and instead is awaiting possible federal approval.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is still expected to approve or deny the project after a public comment period.

If the company decides to pursue the removal-fill permit again, it will need to file an entirely new application. Officials said that means the process will restart, meaning more review and public comment.
Police in Ho Chi Minh City have arrested a 20-year-old man for possessing a large amount of firecrackers and attempting to sell them for a profit.

The police unit in District 5 confirmed on Thursday they had apprehended Luong Vinh Long, 20, for the illegal storage of firecrackers.

On the morning of the same day, a team of on-duty officers caught Long standing in front of Ong Bon Pagoda on Hai Thuong Lang Ong Street and carrying a large cardboard box.

As the young man was showing some suspicious signs, the officers decided to check what was inside the box.

Before the policemen could take a look, Long already admitted he was carrying a total of 2,500 units of round-shaped firecrackers and 120 fireworks tubes.

At the police station, Long claimed he has been selling confetti cannons in front of Ong Bon Pagoda for the past two years.

As many customers asked him whether he sold firecrackers, Long decided to purchase the products from a seller on Facebook.

At around 3:00 am on Thursday, Long received the firecrackers from an unidentified man and paid him VND19 million (US$817).

He was about to sell the products to his customers when he was caught red-handed by police officers.

Lighting firecrackers used to be one of the common activities to celebrate the Lunar New Year in Vietnam.

Since 1995, firecrackers have been banned by the law as they create a high risk of fire and explosion.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Toronto police have charged a 37-year-old man with first-degree murder in a fatal apartment fire in Scarborough this month.

On Jan. 13, at around 3 a.m., emergency crews responded to a fire at an 18th-floor apartment unit at 25 Bay Mills Blvd., near Sheppard Avenue East and Warden Avenue.

When firefighters arrived, the unit was fully engulfed. After extinguishing the fire, they found 49-year-old Maryna Kudzianiuk suffering from serious injuries. She was taken to hospital where she later died.

An autopsy conducted the next day determined her death was a homicide, police said.

On Jan. 18, police charged 37-year-old Ricardo Mirabelles of Toronto with first-degree murder. He is expected to appear in court Monday.

Alex Bedlitsky, a close family friend of Kudzianiuk, said she didnt have any enemies.

She was the nicest person I knew, really, Bedlitsky told toronto.com in an interview this month. She was like a second mother to me.
Sri Lanka has been gaining immense popularity as a tourist destination. With its tropical forests, rich wildlife and other touristy things to do in Sri Lanka, one can definitely make this country their next holiday trip. Galle in Sri Lanka has become a popular tourist hub and sees a huge number of footfalls throughout the year. Here is a list of top things to do in Galle:

Galle Fort

If one is looking for the top things to do in Galle, then visiting Galle Fort is a must. Galle Fort in Sri Lanka is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city. It has a rich historical and architectural heritage. Galle Fort was first constructed in the late 16th century by the Portuguese but later fortified by the Dutch. The fort now houses a museum, picturesque villas, administrative offices, antique shops, cafes and stores. The Galle Fort is opened 24 hours and tourists can visit it anytime.

Also Read: Bhrigu Lake Trek Itinerary; Here Is How One Can Reach This Beautiful Lake On Foot

Dutch Reformed Church

One of the top things to do in Galle, Sri Lanka is taking a stroll around the Dutch Reformed Church. It is an ancient building located within the premises of Galle Fort. The Church dates back to the 18th century during the Dutch period. One can check out the many tombstones which date back to the 18th century. The floor of the Church is marked with gravestones while the pulpit is carved from the Malaysian wood, calamander. The timings for the Church is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Also Read: Bora Bora Islands: Top Things To Do In This Mesmerising Destination

Spa at Unawatuna

Sri Lanka, especially Galle is famous for its many spas and wellness centers. One can go for a massage and get rid of all the stress and body toxins on their holiday. Having a spa session in Unawatuna is one of the top things to do in Galle. The spa therapy includes physiotherapy, body massage, face massage and deep tissue massage. Some spas also offer yoga and meditation packages. The timing at the Unawatuna Spa is 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. or 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Also Read: Heritage Hotels That One Can Plan Their Stay In During Their Trip To Shimla

Also Read: Hippie Places In India Where One Can Go To Enjoy The Typical Hippie Culture

Image Source: Shutterstock
HURON COUNTY  Huron County Chief Judge David Herrington and Circuit Court Judge Gerald Prill are in favor of the Supreme Courts recent rule change to allow cellphones in court rooms.

The courts here require the phones be off or silent, Herrington said. We dont have a ban on cellphones in the court room. I support this revised court rule because I think cellphones are an integral part of peoples lives.

Herrington said he thinks the change will cause no issues as long as people are respectful and follow the rules.

Previously, rules regarding cell phones and other personal electronic devices varied county to county and court to court, according to the Michigan Supreme Court.

We have always, at least for the circuit court, I always wanted them silenced to prevent disruption or distraction from the proceedings, Prill said. Certainly, come May 1, I am following the rule. I am going to try and do it a little earlier if I can.

Under the new rule, which is effective May 1, the public will be able to bring cell phones and other electronic devices, such as a tablet or laptop, into the courtrooms with a few restrictions.

The devices will be allowed to retrieve and store information, access the internet and sent or receive text messages as long as the user and device are silent. The devices will also be allowed to reproduce court documents, as long as it leaves no marks and doesn't interfere with the operation of the clerks office. The restrictions under the rules state the public will not be able to communicate with any courtroom participant, photograph or record any juror or potential juror, record court proceedings without the permission of the judge, or record or photograph people in the court without their consent.

Prill said he believes the primary reason for the change is because of the varying rules from county to county, which he said interfered with the admission of evidence from digital devices.

It gives the litigant, first and foremost, the ability to bring whatever evidence they want to bring in, Prill said.

Prill added that it also provides the opportunity for people to investigate certain aspects of the laws.

I have no problem with the rule because we have already been doing this, Prill said.

The only concern either judge expressed with the rule, is the ability to text, because it could cause parties involved in court cases to be distracted and not paying attention to the proceedings.

My own personal feeling, I dont like people texting in the courtroom, Prill said. I have had a witness that was on the witness stand texting.

However, the rules also allow for judges or court administrators to limit or terminate activity that is deemed disruptive to court operations or compromises court security.
A top Trump official has compared people who support abortion to those who argued in favour of keeping slavery in the US, according to local media.

Betsy DeVos, the US education secretary, reportedly told a Christian university that opponents to the anti-abortion and anti-slavery movements both ignored the moral side to the debate.

She said Abraham Lincoln  the US president who fought to end to slavery  too contented with the pro-choice arguments of his day, according to the Colorado Times Recorder.

They suggested that a states choice to be a slave or to be free had no moral question in it, she reportedly told Colorado Christian University. President Lincoln reminded those pro-choicers that is a vast portion of the American people that do not look upon that matter as being this very little thing.

They look upon it as a vast moral evil.

Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Show all 11 1 /11 Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Pro-choice campaigners stood outside the Stormont Estate on Monday 21 October with the word "decriminalised" spelt out in front of them as some of Stormonts assembly members returned to the chamber for the first time in nearly three years. A group of Northern Irish lawmakers returned to parliament in a failed last-minute protest at the decriminalisation of abortion in the region. AFP via Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Attendees at a pro-choice press conference embraced one another ahead of the meeting of the Stormont Assembly on abortion rights and same-sex marriage in Belfast. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland A member of pro-choice group Alliance for Choice smiled as she and others marched in support of abortion rights in Belfast, Northern Ireland, following a pro-choice press conference. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Members of pro-choice groups Alliance for Choice and Pro Life held demonstrations outside Stormont on Monday 21 October as a last-minute attempt to stop the decriminalisation of abortion in Northern Ireland was made by the Democratic Unionist party. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland A rally was held in Dublin City centre on Monday 21 October in celebration of the eminent decriminalisation of abortion and same-sex marriage. PA Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Equal marriage campaigners Martha Brown and Louise McCullough celebrated at Maverick Bar in Belfast as same-sex marriage and abortion were legalised in Northern Ireland. PA Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Members of pro-choice group Alliance for Choice made their way to Stormont carrying abortion rights signs. Getty Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Kellie Turtle and Emma Campbell embraced as members of pro-choice group Alliance for Choice held a press conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Activist Ashleigh Topley wiped away her tears during the Alliance for Choice press conference on Monday 21 October. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Members of Alliance for Group embraced one another after their pro-choice press conference. Getty Images Celebrations as abortion is decriminalised in Northern Ireland Abortion rights campaigners marched through the streets of Belfast ahead of the meeting of the Stormont Assembly on abortion rights and same-sex marriage. Getty

The Trump administration has repeatedly pushed to curb abortion rights in the US, ordering tax-payer funded family planning clinics to stop referring women for abortions earlier this week and promoting anti-abortion figures to important roles, including on the Supreme Court.

Ms DeVos, who is known for her religious conservatism, reportedly told the Christian university: There are many in the pro-life movement who heroically work to make abortion unconstitutional.

Tonight, lets talk about making it unthinkable.

The education secretary tweeted after the event: We had a robust discussion about this administrations commitment to safeguarding the religious liberty and First Amendment rights of all students.

Ms DeVos has a history of opposing LGBT+ and abortion rights, and once told an interviewer that she wanted to help advance Gods kingdom through US schooling.

Mike Pence, the religious US vice-president, has also defended his administrations anti-abortion stance in the past during a speech to a Christian university, saying they stood without apology for the sanctity of human life.

Organisers of anti-abortion rally, March for Life, recently announced that Mr Trump is set to become the first ever US president to attend.

Over the past few years, US states have been proposing stricter abortion laws, with Tennessees governor announcing this week that he plans to ban women from aborting foetuses once a heartbeat can be detected.

Similar legislation has been passed in other states, such as Mississippi and Georgia, only to be struck down in courts.

Recommended Over 200 congresspeople sign letter urging Supreme Court to strike Roe

However, Americans have been warned that an increasingly conservative Supreme Court could threaten womens constitutional right to abortion.

Research has shown that most US citizens believe abortion should be legal.

Seventy-nine per cent of those polled said that women  along with their doctors  should decide whether they should continue with a pregnancy, rather than politicians.
Getting appointed to a cushy county job is nothing new in New Jersey local politics.

But what if youve previously signed a settlement agreement saying that you would never apply for a job in that county. Can you still take the gig?

Thats the situation in which Tim Pino, who was recently appointed undersheriff in Somerset County, now finds himself.

Pino unsuccessfully ran for the GOP ticket in the Somerset County sheriffs race in June. After Pino lost the primary, he endorsed the Democrat Darrin Russo over the Republican candidate William Parenti  an endorsement Russo made a point to publicize. When Russo won, he appointed Pino as undersheriff, effective Jan. 1.

But the Democratic-led Somerset County freeholder board says this appointment shouldnt go forward, citing a settlement that Pino reached with the county in 2016.

That settlement came about after Pino, who previously ran the K-9 division under former Sheriff Frank Provenzano, failed to get a promotion to a chiefs position and threatened to sue for the difference in salary. (Provenzano declined to comment.) The county eventually came to an agreement that Pino, who was serving as a captain, would be allowed to retire as acting chief with retroactive compensation. In return, Pino agreed that hes not to apply to work with Somerset County in the future. (The settlement does not state how much he was paid.)

Complicating matters is that the settlement was handwritten and signed on a legal pad. The document, reviewed by NJ Advance Media, looks like it was ripped out of a college students notebook, hastily written to catch every word said by a professor giving a lecture. It contains incomplete, bulleted phrases. Some words are crossed out.

Yet the county views it as an official settlement document and the attorney who drafted insists its not unusual.

These terms are frequently put in handwriting, attorney Mark Ruderman said. Theyre not typed up.

Others are more skeptical. Marc H. Pfeiffer, a senior policy fellow at Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, said the settlement is an unusual circumstance that requires consideration.

The lawyers are going to have to look at the circumstances surrounding the original agreement and what the current freeholders think and figure out what they want to do from there, he said.

The freeholders would seem to agree. In a Jan. 15 letter from county attorney William T. Cooper III to Russo, Cooper said the Somerset County freeholders discussed the terms of the settlement agreement at an executive session on Jan. 14 and agreed not to waive the provision.

Pino is not about to go down without a fight. He has retained an attorney and plans to push back against the county. He doesnt dispute the legitimacy of the handwritten settlement  but instead argues that because he didnt seek out the undersheriff position, he should be allowed to accept it.

This was an appointed position, not a position he ever applied for, Pinos attorney, Patrick Toscano, said a response to the county. Toscano called the countys attempts to block Pinos appointment as wrongful and puerile.

In an interview, Pino said, There is absolutely nothing (in the settlement) that I cant be a political appointee. I was a certified candidate for sheriff. There were zero issues with me coming back to the county.

The squabble comes amid a seismic shift in the political landscape in Somerset County. Democrats, for the first time since 1965, took control of the freeholder board. Russo became the first Democrat to hold the sheriffs position in a half-century.

The Republicans dont appear to be making an uproar  at least publicly.

One of the remaining Republican freeholders, Brian Levine, said in an interview he doesnt see an issue with Pino joining the new administration.

He has to run a good office for himself, Levine said of Russos picks for undersheriff. I know hes sincere and Ill think hell do whats good for his department.

Years ago, Levine was mayor of Franklin Township when Russo was a lieutenant in the police department.

He was a good officer as far as I know, Levine said. It doesnt seem like a real issue for me personally.

NJ Advance Media also reached out to Somerset County Republican Chairman Al Gaburo, but he didnt return multiple calls for comment.

Freeholder Director Shanel Robinson said she couldnt comment on the issue because its a personnel matter.

Russo did not return a phone call to his cellphone seeking comment.

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
The person pronounced dead in an armed robbery and shooting Thursday night in Allentown was the perpetrator of a robbery spree, authorities announced.

Darrell Mussa, 27, of the 1900 block of Glendale Ave. in West Bethlehem, had just robbed Pennsylvania Avenue Cold Beer and Beverages at gunpoint, about 8:45 p.m. at 1452 Pennsylvania Ave., Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin said in a news release.

Mussa then went next door to Drake's Pizza in the Allentown strip mall on the border with Bethlehem and again displayed a handgun as he committed a second armed robbery, Martin said.

"While Mussa was committing that second robbery, the victim of the beverage facility robbery confronted Mussa inside Drakes Pizza," Martin says in the release.

The first victim was armed with a legally possessed semiautomatic handgun and shot Mussa as Mussa pointed his gun at the victim and was turning to flee, according to Martin.

Mussa made it into the parking lot where he collapsed and was later pronounced dead at a St. Luke's University Health Network facility. Following an autopsy Friday, Mussa was found to have died of multiple gunshot wounds and Lehigh County Coroner Eric Minnich ruled the death homicide.

Martin reviewed the findings of investigators, including in-store video from Drake's, and ruled the homicide of Mussa "justifiable on the grounds of self-defense," according to the release.

The release does not identify the beer distributor victim who shot Mussa.

The strip mall is owned by Samir Dayoub, according to Lehigh County property records. The liquor license for Pennsylvania Avenue Cold Beer & Beverages lists Samir Dayoub as president of the business and Michael Dayoub as manager.

Efforts to reach the Dayoubs for comment were not immediately successful.

The beer distributor and Drake's Pizza were both closed early Friday afternoon, as commerce continued at other businesses in the strip mall. Calls later in the afternoon to both businesses involved in the incident went unanswered.

A clerk at the A1 Stop convenience store in the mall told lehighvalleylive.com the owner of the beer distributor owns the entire property and keeps a careful watch on the four businesses there.

The incident marked the second ruling in two days from Martin of justifiable homicide in the killing of a robber in Allentown. Martin on Thursday announced that same ruling in the case of a 48-year-old man who broke into a home in the 700 block of North 11th Street and began assaulting a juvenile occupant, who then fatally stabbed the intruder, identified as Allentown resident Luis Nieves.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Seven babies died due to failings at one of the country's largest hospital trusts, it emerged yesterday as a leaked report claimed consultants there regularly refused to work evenings and weekends.

East Kent said it 'wholeheartedly apologised' to the bereaved parents over deaths dating back to 2016.

Families have raised significant concerns over maternity care at the trust, which delivers around 7,000 babies a year.

Harry Richford was born at the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (QEQM) Hospital in Margate in November 2017 after he suffered complications in his delivery and aftercare, dying just seven days later.

And now a 2016 review into the trust by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has emerged claiming three or four consultants 'consistently' failed to attend the maternity wards out of hours on weekends and evenings.

The report, uncovered by Harry's grandfather, Derek Richford, and seen by The Independent, said: 'This unacceptable practice has continued not to be addressed despite repeated incident reporting, with the result that this unit has developed a culture of failing to challenge these poorly performing consultants.'

Pictured: Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital, where Harry Richford was born, only to die seven days later

Meanwhile Dawn Powell's son Archie died at the Queen Elizabeth in Margate last February after staff failed to spot he had the common Group B strep infection and told his parents he was just 'singing to them' as he struggled for breath.

She said: 'We've got this void in our lives where he should be.'

The trust is likely to be criticised today at the conclusion of an inquest into the death of baby Harry.

He was born in November 2017 at the same hospital, but died days later after complications. His mother told the inquest in Sandwich, Kent, she gave birth in 'a room full of panicking people'.

The trust  which has five hospitals and community clinics  has apologised.

The seven avoidable deaths were identified by a BBC investigation.

The seven avoidable deaths were identified by a BBC investigation. They also include that of Tallulah-Rai Edwards, who was stillborn in January last year.

In the 36th week of pregnancy, her mother became anxious about the baby's slowed movement and went to hospital for monitoring.

But despite struggling to get a good heart-rate reading, midwives sent her home, saying they were satisfied with what they recorded. Two days later, the baby was found to have died.

Tallulah-Rai's father, Nick, said: 'We have to live with it for the rest of our lives. They don't. They've probably forgotten who we are now.'

Hallie-Rae Leek died in April 2017, four days after birth. The midwife struggled to find a heart-rate and irreparable damage had been done when she was delivered.

Her mother Becca said: 'It makes me feel angry that there's so many cases of negligence, that babies are suffering and dying.'

Archie Batten died under the trust's care after his mother was taken to hospital by ambulance despite initially being told to drive 38 miles because her local one was shut (file image)

Archie Batten died in September last year, shortly after birth. When his mother called the Queen Elizabeth to say she was in labour, she was told to drive herself 38 miles to another hospital, the William Harvey. There were also two stillbirths in 2016.

It is the latest maternity scandal to hit the NHS. An inquiry into the Shrewsbury and Telford trust is examining 900 cases of babies who may have died or been left disabled due to failings.

East Kent Hospital Trust said: 'We wholeheartedly apologise to families for whom we could have done things differently.'

It has made changes including investing in more maternity equipment.

Dr Clea Harmer of stillbirth and neonatal death charity Sands said: 'The UK should be one of the safest places in the world in which to have a baby.

'Sadly, this is a stark reminder that we are currently a long way from that reality.'
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 06:59:04|Editor: Mu Xuequan

Video Player Close

MEXICO CITY, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of Central American migrants early Thursday crossed the shallow Suchiate River separating Guatemala and southern Mexico on their northward trek to the United States.

Local media said the migrants, who had gathered in the Guatemalan city of Tecun Uman, walked across unimpeded just past 6 a.m. local time (12:00 GMT), entering Ciudad Hidalgo, in Mexico's southeastern Chiapas state.

Earlier in the week, members of Mexico's National Guard deployed along the riverbanks prevented most of the migrants from rushing the border.

This time, the migrants formed a column and continued on foot toward Tapachula, the next town along the migrant route, as media outlets broadcast their advance.

Authorities were monitoring the caravan's progress and offering aid to those who needed it, a Chiapas state Civil Protection delegate, Julio Cesar Cueto, told local daily Diario del Sur.

Given the high temperatures of between 35 and 37 degrees Celcius, migrants were offered drinking water and attention in case they needed to rest, he said.

"We know about this migrant caravan that is coming through. They crossed the border irregularly. And in regard to humanitarian aid, we have ambulances and Civil Protection personnel watching to see they don't have some accident," said Cueto.

The mostly Honduran migrants fleeing poverty and violence set out from northern Honduras last week and are demanding to be allowed to reach the U.S. border.

However, Mexican immigration authorities have explained that the law does not make allowances for the free passage of migrants simply because they are headed to another destination, and called on each migrant to apply for entry on an individual basis.

The National Immigration Institute (INM) issued a statement on Wednesday, saying agents had detained 2,100 undocumented migrants in one day at different points along the southern border.

Mexican daily Reforma reported some 200 National Guard troops were stationed farther along the migrant route, some 18 kilometers from Ciudad Hidalgo, in an apparent bid to prevent the migrants from advancing.
A Chinese patient in Northern Ireland remained in isolation last night as tests are awaited to find out if he has the killer coronavirus.

The suspected case came as five other patients were being tested for the virus in Scotland, heightening fears it has already spread to Europe.

The patient who was being monitored at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast showed symptoms that could be linked to the virus, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan and has infected more than 830 people, killing 18.

The man is believed to have travelled to Northern Ireland from Wuhan at the weekend and had fever and other flu-like symptoms.

It takes around 24 hours for a test to confirm or rule out the virus.

It comes as safety measures were stepped up in the Republic yesterday as hospitals, GPs and the ambulance service were issued with guidelines on how to care for a patient suspected of having the virus and how to manage the risk to others, including health staff.

Expand Close Vietnam's Vice Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son (R) talks with a man at an isolated section of a hospital where two Chinese citizens had tested positive for coronavirus, in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam January 23, 2020. Thanh Chung/VNA via REUTERS. / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Vietnam's Vice Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son (R) talks with a man at an isolated section of a hospital where two Chinese citizens had tested positive for coronavirus, in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam January 23, 2020. Thanh Chung/VNA via REUTERS.

The guide from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) highlights the need to isolate the patient, with staff taking standard precautions including the wearing of a long-sleeved gown, a face shield or goggles.

The HSE wrote to Dublin Airport Authority last Friday detailing what was required in infection control in the event of a suspected case and the need to stay informed about the evolving health risk.

Further phone contact with airport authorities has also been made this week.

Read More

A HSE spokesman said that as part of the State's National Emergency planning process there were plans in place already which have been tested over the years.

Expand Close Dr Michael Ryan, Executive Director of WHO Health Emergencies Programme speaks during a news conference following the second meeting of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee for Pneumonia due to the Novel Coronavirus 2019-nCoV in Geneva, Switzerland January 23, 2020. Christopher Black/WHO/Handout / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Dr Michael Ryan, Executive Director of WHO Health Emergencies Programme speaks during a news conference following the second meeting of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee for Pneumonia due to the Novel Coronavirus 2019-nCoV in Geneva, Switzerland January 23, 2020. Christopher Black/WHO/Handout

Dr John Cuddihy, of the HPSC, said the risk to Ireland was low and it helped that there were no direct flights here from Wuhan.

A number of suspected cases have already presented to hospitals here including the Mater Hospital but none of them had to be tested so far.

The virus has spread to the US, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and Taiwan.

There were 477 patients on trolleys across the country yesterday and although the winter flu is waning there are fears about the potential impact overcrowding may have if a case of the coronavirus emerges.

Expand Close Francisco Alvarez, the regional public health officer, speaks to dockworkers about the new coronavirus, in the port of Valparaiso, Chile January 23, 2020. REUTERS/Rodrigo Garrido / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Francisco Alvarez, the regional public health officer, speaks to dockworkers about the new coronavirus, in the port of Valparaiso, Chile January 23, 2020. REUTERS/Rodrigo Garrido

HSE officials said yesterday patients at potential risk would be asked about recent travel to China and isolated if there is a chance they might be infected.

The alert is raised if a patient who is showing respiratory symptoms had been in Wuhan in the 14 days before the onset of illness.

The deaths from the virus have so far been in older patients who have had underlying illnesses.

In the past week, the number of patients over 75 attending A&E departments has risen.

Dr Sam McConkey, a Dublin specialist in infectious diseases, said much the same controls were implemented in hospital for a suspected case of the coronavirus as there would be fir the flu.

Expand Close A man stands in front of a screen showing that multiple departure flights have been cancelled after the city was locked down following the outbreak of a new coronavirus, at an airport in Wuhan, Hubei province, China January 23, 2020. cnsphoto via REUTERS / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp A man stands in front of a screen showing that multiple departure flights have been cancelled after the city was locked down following the outbreak of a new coronavirus, at an airport in Wuhan, Hubei province, China January 23, 2020. cnsphoto via REUTERS

"The same precautions are in place," he said.

His fear was that the new virus will mutate and it would affect organs such as the liver and the bowels.

He said the public should be reassured that when a case of Sars, another coronavirus, was detected here some years ago it was contained and did not spread.

Asked about the likelihood of a case here, he said there would definitely be one in Europe at some stage.

The areas most at risk are countries that have direct flights from Wuhan.

"It is early days but people are getting mobilised here, and sit up and notice," he added.

Expand Close Passengers wear protective face masks at the departure hall of the high speed train station in Hong Kong, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. China closed off a city of more than 11 million people Thursday, halting transportation and warning against public gatherings, to try to stop the spread of a deadly new virus that has sickened hundreds and spread to other cities and countries in the Lunar New Year travel rush. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Passengers wear protective face masks at the departure hall of the high speed train station in Hong Kong, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. China closed off a city of more than 11 million people Thursday, halting transportation and warning against public gatherings, to try to stop the spread of a deadly new virus that has sickened hundreds and spread to other cities and countries in the Lunar New Year travel rush. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

The HPSC said three airports in the EU had direct flight connections to Wuhan and there were indirect flight connections to other EU hubs.

Paris has six weekly flights, London has three flights a week and Rome has a similar number.

The HPSC said there was currently a moderate likelihood of infection for European travellers visiting Wuhan.

The Chinese New Year celebrations starting today will increase travel to and from China, increasing the chances of the virus being spread further.

Death toll

The death toll in China's coronavirus outbreak has risen to 25 with 830 cases confirmed, the country's National Health Commission said on Friday.

The update also confirmed the first death outside the central province of Hubei, where the virus is thought to have originated.

The health commission in Hebei, a northern province bordering Beijing, said an 80-year-old man died after showing symptoms on his return from a two-month stay in Wuhan to see relatives.

Wuhan is the capital of Hubei and has been the epicentre of the outbreak, first detected last month.

The revised death toll came a day after Chinese authorities moved to lock down at least three cities with a combined population of more than 25 million people in an unprecedented effort to contain the deadly new virus, which has spread to other parts of the world during the busy Lunar New Year travel period.
TORONTO, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With winter in full swing across the country, Sunwing is helping Canadians escape the cold and head to paradise for less with their Deals of the Decade Sale! From now until January 31, 2020, sun-seekers can save up to $2020 per couple on their 2020 winter vacation to some of the most luxurious resorts across the Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. Deals this amazing will sell out fast; winter-weary travellers will want to book now to make sure they dont get left out in the cold.



Vacationers can swap out salt-covered roads for salty sea breezes when they stay at top-rated luxury resort Royalton Punta Cana Resort and Casino . This Dominican Republic resort is located along the shores of world-famous Bavaro Beach, where guests can spend sunny days strolling along the sand and enjoying All-In Luxury amenities including reservation-free dining at gourmet restaurants.

Also included in the promotion is Royalton Suites Cancun Resort and Spa , one of Cancuns newest luxury properties. The resort is ideal for travellers seeking a high-end vacation experience, where they can spend their days lounging by the sparkling infinity pool or exploring downtown Cancun. After a picture-perfect day in paradise, guests can retire to elegant suites with accommodation options that can sleep five or more.

Sun-seekers can leave winter weather behind when they book their Cuban getaway for less at Paradisus Los Cayos in Cayo Santa Maria , where the sun is always shining. The recipient of the TripAdvisor 2019 Certificate of Excellence, the breathtaking property is nestled on a pristine white-sand beach perfect for soaking up the sun. For an enhanced level of service, guests can upgrade to Royal Service or The Reserve room categories to enjoy added amenities and access to exclusive resort areas.

For more information or to book, visit www.sunwing.ca or contact your travel agent.

About Sunwing

The largest integrated travel company in North America, Sunwing has more flights to the south than any other leisure carrier with convenient direct service from over 33 airports across Canada to more than 45 popular sun destinations across the U.S.A., Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. This scale enables Sunwing to offer customers exclusive deals at top-rated resorts in the most popular vacation destinations as well as cruise packages and seasonal domestic flight service. Sunwing is consistently voted the top leisure airline by travel agents and is the perennial winner of the Consumer Choice Award. Customers can look forward to starting their vacation off with award-winning inflight service, which features a complimentary glass of sparkling wine*, non-alcoholic beverage service; together with a buy on board menu of light meals and snacks, including kids choices, the World Famous Original Smoked Meat from the iconic Montreal-based Schwartzs Deli along with delicious menu options inspired by Food Network Canada Celebrity Chef, Lynn Crawford. Sunwing customers also benefit from the assistance of the companys own knowledgeable destination representatives, who greet them upon arrival and support them throughout their vacation journey. Sunwing supports the communities where it operates through the Sunwing Foundation, a charitable initiative focused on the support and development of youth and humanitarian aid. Sunwing matches all donations the Foundation receives through its Spare Change Program on board Sunwing Airlines, no administrative fees are collected and 100% of the proceeds go to charity.

*Service may be unavailable on select flights

For all media enquiries, please contact:

Rachel Goldrick

Senior Corporate Communications Manager

Sunwing Vacations

1-800-387-5602 | media@sunwing.ca

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/56505881-78eb-4ba8-9690-67a5f6344753
WASHINGTON - The Trump administration is making a concession on its proposed minimum fuel economy requirement for new vehicles, but environmental groups and a key Democratic senator complain it does not go far enough, and still falls well below the requirements set under the Obama administration.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/1/2020 (719 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WASHINGTON - The Trump administration is making a concession on its proposed minimum fuel economy requirement for new vehicles, but environmental groups and a key Democratic senator complain it does not go far enough, and still falls well below the requirements set under the Obama administration.

Fuel economy standards would increase 1.5% per year from 2021 through 2026 under the new proposal. That's a reversal from the Trump administration's proposal in 2018, which sought to freeze the standards at 2020 levels.

Environmentalists and Delaware Sen. Tom Carper hardly cheered the move, which doesn't come close to the 5% annual increase that the Obama administration had mandated.

Carper, senior Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee, released some details of the latest fuel-standards proposal in a letter Wednesday urging the administration to scrap its new mileage proposal as ineffective and costly.

My offices review of the draft final rule indicates that it utterly fails to provide any demonstrable safety, environmental or economic benefit to consumers or the country, Carper wrote in a letter to the Office of Management and Budget.

The office reviews proposed regulations before they are finalized and printed in the Federal Register. The administration hasnt released the numbers, but they are detailed in Carpers letter to Paul Ray, a management and budget administrator.

The Trump administration has billed its mileage standards as safer and less costly to motorists, but theres a growing chorus of critics disputing that, including the Trump EPAs own scientific advisory board. The mileage rollback has become one of the most fiercely contested rollback efforts by the administration, prompting legal battles with California and other states and splitting loyalties of top automakers.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which develops fuel economy rules, wouldnt comment Thursday. It reissued a statement saying the rule will improve fuel economy, cut pollution and make vehicles more affordable.

When the Trump administration released its proposed Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient Vehicles Rule" in 2018, it calculated that the rule would save 12,700 lives in car crashes through model year 2029. The logic was that relaxed fuel mileage standards would cut the cost of vehicles, making them more affordable and increasing sales. Since new vehicles are safer, lives would be saved.

The proposal pegged the cost of meeting Obama-era requirements at $2,700 per vehicle and said buyers would save that much per car by 2025.

But Carper wrote that the administrations final proposal claims total savings of 474 lives through 2029. That number doesnt include deaths associated with increased air pollution from less-efficient vehicles, Carper wrote.

Those 470 prevented traffic fatalities are nowhere near enough to offset the premature deaths related to the 80 billion gallons of additional gasoline consumption in the administrations proposal, Dave Cooke, senior vehicles analyst for the Union of Concerned Scientists, said in a separate statement.

Under calculations in the proposal, the purchase price would drop by $1,083 per vehicle under the revised standards, Carper wrote. But that would be erased by the cost of operating vehicles with lower fuel economy, which adds $1,423 to the cost, Carper wrote.

Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Adding hundreds of dollars to the cost of each vehicle would seem to be the opposite of the more affordable vehicles the SAFE rule promised, his letter said.

Last year, the administrations proposed fuel economy freeze touched off a huge legal fight with California, which has authority under the Clean Air Act to set its own greenhouse gas emissions, and by extension, gas mileage standards. Trump revoked Californias authority, and the state challenged the decision in court.

Later, the auto industry split on the matter with four companies, Ford, BMW, Volkswagen and Honda, siding with California. Most other automakers went with Trump.

Many automakers have been lobbying for a rollback from the Obama standards, but say they're willing to support a smaller increase. They contend that buyers have shifted so quickly to trucks and SUVs that they are having trouble meeting the current standards.

____

Krisher reported from Detroit.
Global leaders expressed hope for better economic growth with lesser trade tensions and a safer planet with commitments to work in areas like climate change, as the 50th annual meeting of the ended here on Friday.

In the closing session, IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said the world is a better place today but economic growth still remains sluggish, though the momentum is expected to pick pace.

She also said the Indian is expected to bounce back, while she named Indonesia and Vietnam as the new bright spots in the emerging world, a place earlier occupied by India.

Borge Brende, President of (WEF), in his closing remarks said the 50th annual meeting has been truly remarkable.

"It was remarkable due to the real progress that we created together on a spectrum of issues, on public/private collaboration, which is crucial.

"We laid the basis for a decade of delivery. The National Business Council, incorporating 140 of the world's largest companies, agreed to support efforts to develop a core set of common metrics and disclosures that could be used to measure private sector progress against key environmental, social and governance goals," Brende said.

He also drew attention to initiatives to promote entrepreneurship in Africa, work with the OECD to promote inclusive and sustainable growth globally, introduction of a reskilling revolution and many other key deliverables and commitments.

"On civil society, the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship announced that its community has improved the lives of more than 622 million people in 190 countries since 2000," said Brende. "A new multi-stakeholder effort aimed at supporting efforts to grow, conserve and restore 1 trillion trees by the end of the decade was announced."



"A new multi-stakeholder partnership - SDG 500 - was launched to mobilise $500 million towards achieving the SDGs in emerging markets to a series of six blended finance funds.

"Last, but extremely important, CEPI (the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations) today announced three programmes to develop vaccines against the Coronavirus," he added.
Latika Vashist has argued compellingly for the need for forgiveness in these pages.

Mukesh Singh and the others have had no counselling, no working with facing what they did and Asha Devi only wants them dead.

In the small window between the mercy petition and the seemingly inevitable moment of the hanging of the rapists for which everyone from Arvind Kejriwal to Asha Devi (the victims mother) cannot seem to wait, in this nation of bayers for blood, perhaps it is too much to ask ourselves to reflect a little.

Even if you are not convinced by the sheer ineffectuality of the death penalty in stopping structural crimes like rape (despite the overwhelming evidence) or are controlled by the inability to think at all, and, therefore, rely, like my ex-neighbour does, on YouTube videos that tell her that the juvenile, who, she insists, was the most brutal of the rapists (never mind the absurdity of setting up such a scale) is enjoying life in a hotel in South India and will commit rape again and even if you, like she, forgets her religion (shes Christian) and says it is okay to kill them because they killed the victim, perhaps you could ask of yourself some of the questions I asked her.

She has been a victim of domestic violence for decades. I asked her why she did not hit her husband back as she believes in tit for tat justice. Perhaps you could ask yourself whether you would accept being done to you what you routinely do to others, from everyday to egregious forms of violence? Is justice doing to others what has been done to you or vice versa? So do you need to become a rapist if you have been raped or someone you love has been raped?

Latika Vashist has argued compellingly for the need for forgiveness in these pages. But she moves too quickly from the moment where the mothers met in court to the laws inability to deal with it. I think we should return to that moment and stay with it.

Rebecca Godfrey in her book Under The Bridge tracks the story of the murder of Reena Virk, a young teenaged girl in Canadas British Columbia, at the hands of a gang, but, more importantly, the path toward restorative justice for one of the murderers, Warren Glowatski, with the parents of the victim.

The mother of the victim, Suman Virk, unlike Asha Devi, faced at least one murderer of her daughter and worked toward his restoration. The second murderer, a woman, Kelly Ellard, refused that process, refused to take responsibility and is still in jail.

Canada, like Britain, has a system where a team (of doctors, psychologists, social workers) works with people who have committed crimes, especially as young people (Kelly was 14 when she murdered Virk). Kelly has shown great improvement over the years. She may well reach a stage where she understands the gravity of what she has done and takes responsibility for it.

So the second question I asked my neighbour (and would like to ask Mr Kejriwal) is what is the better outcome? A man on parole who has confronted his crime, taken responsibility and worked with his victims family to restore himself and them or a woman who does not take responsibility and denies her crime? Or is a dead body the best?

Mukesh Singh and the others have had no counselling, no working with facing what they did and Asha Devi only wants them dead. Singhs mother only wants him alive. Both women are locked in their respective positions: one nurturing revenge, like a holy plant; the other holding on to the idea of her sons life and nothing else.

This is a failure of much more than the legal system. This is a failure of a system that has no respect for psychologists, for social workers, for the need to work with pain, suffering and difficulty with empathy and a restorative impulse. Both the rapists and both mothers needed counselling over the years. No one provided it.

No one says this is easy. Suman Virk, for all her compassion with Warren, found it difficult to accept how the Parole Board treated Kelly. She thought they were giving her too much of a good time (Kelly was allowed a conjugal visit with her boyfriend; she subsequently had a child in jail and was allowed more and more outside visits on parole). So, my third question to my neighbour was: why does her husband show no remorse? Why has he never apologised? Why did he hit her again recently?

We saw people berating Mukesh Singh for showing no remorse in Leslee Udwins Indias Daughter. This showed no actual sense of his locked-down, doctored (by right-wing lawyers whom we saw in the film) and damaged responses, his silence as the list of the victims injuries were read out to him. No, my neighbour said, her husband did have remorse. He has changed for the better, stopped drinking. You have no idea how he was, she said.

Do we allow for the fact of people changing? Do we allow for human development?

Which led me to my last question. Did not people pity her for her alcoholic husband? Dub her South Indian? Dismiss her problems as endemic to Christians? So why was she repeating these othering moves with the rapists?

It is easy to think the worst about people we do not know. People from another class, caste, religion, gender, social background. However, the framework of masculinity that the rapists share is not very different from Indian hegemonic masculinity across class, caste, religion and region. To shove it on to the bodies of these working class, lower caste men is convenient. To want them dead is a way to flush down what is uncomfortable knowledge about ourselves.

Hanging them is not just a way to eradicate them, it is a way to eradicate our complicity in their crime through screaming for another crime. Or asking for it placidly and unthinkingly as Arvind Kejriwal did.
The 49ers victory parade, if they win the Super Bowl a week from Sunday, will be in San Francisco, according to former Mayor Willie Brown.

You will not be wrong by printing that they are coming to San Francisco for the parade, Brown said in a phone interview Thursday evening.

The Chronicle called Brown after hearing reports that he has been involved in the parade talks. He stressed that he is not officially involved in any negotiations or plans, but when asked if he could confirm the reports of a San Francisco parade, Brown responded:

Well, Im not inside of the 49ers chambers, but the time that I was near the doorway, I heard positive discussions, in which I am proud to say that (a parade) will be right here in our town. The only question is, how in the hell do we pay for it? Brown said.

Another source, who requested anonymity because of proximity to the matter, told The Chronicle the parade would likely run down Market Street on Feb. 5.

Brown, in dismissing any notion that Santa Clara would host the victory parade, cited the contentious and sometimes litigious relationship between the 49ers organization and that city  the owner of Levis Stadium, which is operated by the Santa Clara Stadium Authority.

And besides that, Brown said, theres no way you can have a parade in Santa Clara. What do they have, one shopping mall?

The location of the parade has been a point of conversation leading up to the Super Bowl, given that the team plays 50 miles south of San Francisco. Chronicle columnist Ann Killion opined on the debate: South Bay or North Bay?

Past 49ers championship parades have been down Market Street in the city of their birth, wrote Killion. The most off-the-chain parade was January 1982 after their first Super Bowl victory, when city officials were overwhelmed by the numbers in attendance; fans climbed Muni buses and Market was so mobbed that police diverted the action to Howard Street.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

The cost of the parade could prove to be a point of negotiation. Traditionally, the city and the team split the costs.

When asked about whether the 49ers would help pay the cost of a parade, like other teams have done in the past, Brown said it would be likely.

I would think that San Francisco will have to do the same with the 49ers.

The 49ers say they are solely focused on Super Bowl LIV in Miami.

Scott Ostler is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: sostler@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @scottostler
Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn made nine movies together and off screen carried on a not-so-secret quarter century extramarital love affair. Still regarded as perhaps the greatest and most natural screen actor of all time, Tracy was nominated for nine Oscars and won two; Hepburn had 12 Oscar nominations and a record four Oscars and is the American Film Institutes greatest woman film legend.

Tuesday nights Adams Rib is probably the best of their films together, and theirs is only one of this films great collaborations. George Cukor directed Hepburn in ten films, three of them with Tracy. It was the second of seven films in which Cukor collaborated with one or both of the husband-wife screenwriting team of Garson Kanin and Ruth Gordon (of Rosemarys Baby and Harold and Maude renown), including this and the three others Kanin and Gordon wrote together, making it one of the most formative director-writer teams, as well as husband and wife screenwriting teams.

In Adams Rib Tracy and Hepburn play married opposing lawyers on a case of a woman who shot and wounded her philandering husband. Although at times dated, this film was way ahead of its time dealing with sexual politics. The film creaks with age, for example, when on the witness stand the philandering husband, played by Tom Ewell, casually admits he batted his wife around and lost interest in her when she got fat.

Movies influence and reflect their times. The husbands indifferent cruelty is disturbing to us today. In real life Judy Holliday, who plays the wife had tremendous Broadway success in Born Yesterday, written by Kanin, but almost did not get the role in the movie when Columbia studios bought the film rights. Studio head Harry Cohn, widely disliked for his boorish behavior even by Hollywood standards, refused to cast Holliday, because, he said, she was a "fat, Jewish broad.

When Hepburn learned of Cohns attitude, she took up the young actress cause. Hepburn urged director Cukor to keep the camera on Holliday during several of their shared scenes and leaked stories to the media saying the young actress was stealing the film from the screen legends. Cohn got the message and finally cast Holliday in Born Yesterday, directed by Cukor, for which she won the Best Actress Oscar, beating out Bette Davis in All About Eve and Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard. Hepburn later said, It was the kind of thing you do because people have done it for you.

While of its time Adams Rib can still speak to us today. When Hepburns attorney says, "An unwritten law stands in back of a man who fights to defend his home. Apply the same to this maltreated mother. We ask no more. Equality!, I heard it echo in Laura Derns attorney, in the current Oscar nominated Marriage Story, when she says We can accept an imperfect dad. We love them for their fallibilities, but people absolutely dont accept those same failings in mothers.

Selected in 1992 for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant, Adams Rib is 22nd in the 2000 American Film Institute AFIs 100 Years 100 Laughs, and #7 in AFIs 2008 top Romantic Comedy Film list. Its a special movie. Try not to miss it Tuesday night.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
By IANS

BHOPAL: In a second wave of resignations, more than 80 members of the BJP minority cell in Madhya Pradesh quit on Thursday. In the first instance last week, nearly 50 members had quit the cell even as the party struggled to contain nationwide protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

Most resignations on Thursday came from the Indore-Malwa-Nimar region, traditionally a stronghold of the party. The party is now witnessing fissures within as minority leaders are unable to satisfactorily answer queries from the community.

As many as 48 members of the minority cell had quit the party in Bhopal over the legislation as protests continued all over the state. The ones who have quit have pointed to growing discrimination within the party.

"When did you last see a government passing a law in Parliament and then reach every door to seek support for it," asked Ateeq Mohammad, who till recently supported the BJP even after the passing of CAA and a proposed nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC).

He said he was not a member of the party while many of his relatives have been. "There is a disillusion writ large on my family members' faces," he said.

Adil Khan, who quit the BJP as its Bhopal district minority cell Vice President last week, said that he would join the nation-wide protests over the new citizenship law.

Ateeq Mohammad said that minority community members, who have been in the BJP fold for over a decade, never felt the discriminatory attitude during the tenure of Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The ones who have quit said the party has been short on democracy even in the past. But the new trend showed desperation since the party lost power in the state with frustration manifesting into shrill reactions.

The lack of direction in the actions of the Central leadership has resulted in some leaders hijacking the organisation in the state, they alleged.

The BJP, on its part, has refuted the allegations and accused the Congress and the Leftists of misleading people.

"Community leaders and Communists who work against the interest of the country have misled our workers, who don't understand the issue properly," Leader of Opposition Gopal Bhargava of the BJP had said on Tuesday.

Some majority community leaders feel the Hindu-Muslim debate must end at the earliest and economy, employment and development must come back on the party's national and state agenda.

BJP General Secretary Kailash Vijayavagiya denied knowledge about the resignations and said that he would speak to individual leaders to check on the matter. "They have apparently been misled by vested interests and the party leadership will certainly address their concerns," he said.

Aseem Iqbal Khan, the minority cell General Secretary of the party's Indore unit, said the new issues cropping up from now onwards would be like Uniform Civil Code and population control, where the minority community will be subjected to fresh barbs.

"The vested interests would be cultivating their voters at our expense. The hate campaign is peaking up again," he said.
A gun brought to school by a west Alabama first-grader discharged in his pocket and now the parents are facing criminal charges.

The incident happened Friday morning at J.E. Hobbs Elementary School. According to Wilcox County Schools Superintendent Andre Saulsberry, who posted about the incident on his Facebook page, the gun discharged while in the 6-year-olds pocket. No one was injured but the bullet put a hole in a wall.

The Camden Police Department, the Wilcox county Department of Human Resources and the superintendent were contacted immediately, and the school was placed on lockdown. All students and staff are safe, and we appreciate the leadership of Principal Laister and Assistant Principal Freeman, Saulsberry wrote.

Wilcox County District Attorney Michael Jackson said the students parents are being charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, which is a misdemeanor. This story will be updated if more information becomes available.

In another school system in the state  Chilton County  a Verbena elementary student was found with a BB gun at school, also Friday. Authorities said the students were never in danger and the situation was quickly handled by school administrators and school resource officers.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 24

Trend:

Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has warned citizens in connection with the situation in China, Trend reports referring to the ministry Jan. 24.

Azerbaijani citizens planning to travel to China are advised to be careful, comply with requirements of the World Health Organization (WHO) and take into account the situation in the country.

Citizens of Azerbaijan who permanently, temporarily reside or stay in China on a visit are advised to abide by the rules announced in the country and, in connection with any problem encountered, contact the relevant Chinese healthcare authorities and the Azerbaijani Embassy in Beijing.

Azerbaijani citizens who permanently, temporarily reside or on a visit abroad, are advised to contact embassies and consulates, as well as register there for provision of the necessary assistance in emergency cases and other dangerous situations.

Chinese coronavirus has infected hundreds since the outbreak began in Wuhan city in China in December.

The death toll in China's viral outbreak has risen to 25, with the number of confirmed cases also leaping to 830, the Chinese government said.

China has effectively quarantined nearly 20 million people across Wuhan and some nearby cities in response to the virus, and announced measures to curb its spread nationwide as hundreds of millions of people began travelling across the country this week for the Lunar New Year holiday.
The Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, on Friday, said that Godwin Obaseki will be re-elected Governor of Edo State.

He said nothing will stop the governors re-election because he has done well and deserves to continue in office.

Mr Obaseki is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) while Mr Umahi is a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Edo governor has been locked in a supremacy battle with his predecessor, Adams Oshiomhole, who is also the National Chairman of the APC.

The governor, who is completing his first term, has indicated interest to run for a second term, but there are fears he may be denied the partys governorship ticket due to his tussle with Mr Oshiomhole.

Neither the APC nor the PDP has held its governorship primaries to pick its candidate for the election that holds later this year. However, the PDP candidate that challenged Mr Obaseki in 2016, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, defected to the APC last year.

Endorsement

Mr Umahi expressed his stance while addressing Mr Obasekis wife, Betsy, and other Southern governors wives who were on a courtesy call to him in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.

The women were in the state for the Southern Nigeria Governors Wives Forum quarterly meeting.

Mr Umahi said: Power belongs to God and no matter what anybody will do, it is God that has the final say and I can assure you Ma, you know as an apostle of the most high God, I also prophesize. And because of the good work your husband is doing for the people of Edo State, no man can unseat him.

READ ALSO:

Even in our NEC meeting, when Obaseki speaks, you see Economics. You see a man that came from private sector background. And so, we cant wish that away. So, congratulations to you in advance and to all of us.

You know the governors; we have so many elections. First is the primary, second one is the poll, then the third one is the tribunal. Then another one is the appeal and then the election of the elections is the Supreme Court.

Gov. Umahi with Mrs Betsy Obaseki

So, it is not an easy thing and if the hand of God is not upon you, you cant scale through all these hurdles. And so, it is God who has brought all of us to leadership and I say double congratulations to all of us.

Commendation for Buhari

Mr Umahi also said President Muhammadu Buhari has done a lot in the fight against corruption.

He said the recent Transparency International rating which ranked Nigeria as one of the worst in terms of graft was not a true reflection of the situation in the country since Buhari came into office.

Mr Umahi, however, said there is need for a slight change of tactics in the fight against corruption in the country.

The challenges we face are not peculiar to Nigeria alone. When the Transparency International rated Nigeria very low in fighting corruption, it is not because we are as corrupt as they said, it is because our handlers need to change in the tactics of fighting corruption and this is what the Transparency International is talking.

Mr President has done quite a lot in real fight against corruption but we need to change tactics, we need to stop media trial, we need to do more of proactive kind of fighting corruption than reactive one.

Mr Umahi also said the President has been very good to all the Governors not minding their political parties.

He is not partisan at all and that is why we continue to support him and any governor that castigates the president should have his head examined.

He also described Mrs Buhari as a gift for Nigeria.

Women are the stabilisers the government as they are part and parcel of Gods blessing to Nigeria, he said.

Earlier, head of the forum and Edo First Lady, Betsy Obaseki, thanked the governor for the warm hospitality they had received since their arrival in the state.

Advertisements



She said the wife of the president, Aisha Buhari, formed the group on assumption of office to bring about synergy among the wives of southern governors.

She said: the wife of the president, when she came onboard and met the northern governors wives forum decided to etablish one for southern governors wives. The whole essence is for us to collaborate, to interact to bring new ideas to assist our husbands.

The wives of 10 governors were in attendance at the meeting. They include those of Edo, Ebonyi, Abia, Enugu, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Ekiti, Oyo and Osun.
A savage meat-eating dinosaur the size of a bus that slashed its prey to death has been recognised as a new species 30 years after its remains were dug up in Utah.

Scientists uncovered remains of the meat-eating Allosaurus jimmadseni  which roamed the North American flood plains 155 million years ago  back in 1990.

A study of the bones of A. jimmadseni has been published in PeerJ after seven painstaking years spent preparing the bones for analysis.

The 4,000-pound beast reached lengths of up to 29 feet and, much like the Tyrannosaurs rex, it ran on two legs.

However, studies of the new remains revealed that A.jimmadsenis longer arms would have made it an even better hunter than the notoriously blood-thirsty T. rex.

Allosaurus jimmadseni, a spectacular horned and crested dinosaur the size of a bus that slashed and ripped its prey to death, was been dug up in the Badlands of Utah

WHAT ARE THE THREE GEOLOGIC ERAS? The Mesozoic Era is a the name given to the period from 250 million to 65 million years ago. The era is divided into three major periods: Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous. Mesozoic was the age of the dinosaurs and lasted almost 180 million years. The Mesozoic Era followed the Paleozoic Era, during which arthropods, molluscs, fish and amphibians all evolved. Mesozoic was followed by the Cenozoic Era, during which the continents assumed the configuration that we know today. Advertisement

Recognising a new species of dinosaur in rocks that have been intensely investigated for over 150 years is an outstanding experience of discovery, said Dr Daniel Chure, a retired palaeontologist at the Dinosaur National Monument in north-eastern Utah and co-lead author on the study.

Allosaurus jimmadseni is a great example of just how much more we have to learn about the world of dinosaurs.

A.jimmadseni is geologically the oldest species belonging to the Allosaurus genus  translating as 'different reptile'  from the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.

This new species from the genus had 80 teeth and three razor-sharp claws at the end of each arm for slicing apart and eating other dinosaurs.

It would have been the apex predator in the ecosystem of the time, scientists believe.

Adults hunted by overpowering their prey, possibly in small groups.

The study of the fully arranged bone showed that it had several unique features, including a narrow skull with low facial crests extending from the horns in front of the eyes.

Previously, palaeontologists thought there was only one species of Allosaurus in Jurassic North America  the Allosaurus fragilis.

But the study has revealed A.jimmadseni evolved at least five million years before its cousin A. fragilis - which was first described in 1877.

An artist's impression of the Allosaurus jimmadseni species attacking juvenile sauropod

Both species differ in their skeletal details, which is why A.jimmadseni has been described as a new species entirely.

The skull of Allosaurus jimmadseni is more lightly built than its later relative Allosaurus fragilis, suggesting a different feeding behaviour between the two, said co lead author Professor Mark Loewen, of the Natural History Museum of Utah.

However, the new dinosaur's head was flatter and weaker than A. fragilis, and it had worse eyesight, with a narrower field of vision  suggesting it had more difficulty catching its prey.

Assembled skeleton of the Allosaurus jimmadseni at Dinosaur National Monument in Utah

Comparison of the bones indicate Allosaurus jimmadseni possessed a unique upper jaw and cheeks, while a decorative crest stretched from its horns to the eyes, just in front of the nose.

This exciting new study illustrates the importance of continued paleontological investigations on public lands in the West, said Dr Brent Breithaupt, the regional paleontologist for the Bureau of Land Management, Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Discovery of this new taxon of dinosaur will provide important information about the life and times of Jurassic dinosaurs and represents another unique component of America's Heritage.

Sketches of the skull of Allosaurus jimmadseni. The new discovery is much rarer than its descendant Allosaurus fragilis - and they differ in their skeletal details

A.jimmadseni inhabited the flood plains of western North America during the Late Jurassic period, evolving around 155 million years ago, at least five million years before Allosaurus fragilis.

Paleontologists say A. jimmadseni would have lived on the semi-arid Morrison Formation floodplains throughout the western interior of North America  including land that's now part of Utah, Colorado and Wyoming.

Early Morrison Formation dinosaurs were replaced by some of the most famous dinosaurs of the Late Jurassic period, including Diplodocus and Stegosaurus.

The new species almost complete skeleton has been unveiled at the Natural History Museum of Utah.

Paleontologist James Madsen Jr assembles a composite skeleton of Allosaurus from the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry

Professor Madsen Jr maps Allosaurus bones at the Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry in Utah

It was back in 1990 that George Engelmann of the University of Nebraska, Omaha initially discovered the initial skeleton of the new species within Dinosaur National Monument, a national park bordering Colorado and Utah that preserves an abundance of dinosaur fossils.

Six years after the headless skeleton was collected, the radioactive skull belonging to the skeleton was uncovered using a radiation detector by Ramal Jones of the University of Utah.

A. jimmadseni has been named after Utah's state palaeontologist James H Madsen Jr, who died in 2009 after excavating and studying tens of thousands of Allosaurus bones.
This board agreed, based on its experience, that (there were) perceived shortcomings in the existing ethics ordinance and a concerted effort was needed to research, to review, to identify best practices in local government jurisdictions and codes of ethics across the country, said Juliet Sorensen, who led the process of rewriting the ethics code. The goal ultimately is to bring the ethics ordinance up to what our research shows is the best possible standard for codes of ethics for local governments across the country.
Last year the government set itself a target to provide all households in India with clean drinking water by 2024. Currently, as per reports, there are 14 crore households which do not have water supply. As the government is working to meet this target, it has also decided to put a cost on water.

Government is working to put a cost on water, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister, Jal Shakti, told Business Today on the sidelines of the FICCI Water Awards today in Delhi.

He added, "Every person in the village who is getting piped drinking water should pay certain charges for its usage and maintenance."

He said that almost all state governments have agreed to this proposal and they have started working in this direction.

He said the water charges will be imposed on the beneficiaries as and when the water connection reaches their villages.

"Apart from the recurring expenditure, we have decided in Jal Jeevan Mission that the operation and maintenance of the water resources and its infrastructure will be given to the villagers," he said.

The idea is not so much to earn revenue but inculcate sense of responsibility and ownership amongst them towards water. He said, "The vision of the Prime Minister is that this move will instill a sense of ownership amongst the villagers as they would have contributed to the vision of making drinking water available in their village a reality."

To cultivate this sense of ownership, 10 per cent of the total cost of putting up the infrastructure will have to come from the villagers themselves.

"We have decided 10 per cent of the cost of infrastructure required to set up water connection in the village will have to be collected by the villagers themselves. It can be in the form of cash, kind, or labour. We will not keep the money ourselves but will put it in a treasury fund and transfer it to the village so they can utilise it for its operation and maintenance," said Shekhawat.

ALSO READ: Why top posts in RBI, PSBs, state-owned insurance firms take too long to fill

ALSO READ: Bank of Baroda posts loss of Rs 1,407 crore in December quarter
The Trump administration plans to unveil efforts on Friday to crack down on counterfeit and pirated goods sold on major e-commerce sites and urge companies to do more to vet third-party sellers and increase self-policing efforts.

Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf and White House adviser Peter Navarro will be among officials at a news conference on Friday to discuss the effort at the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center in Arlington, Virginia, administration officials said on Thursday.

Foreign sellers face little risk of prosecution, an administration official told Reuters, so strong U.S. government action "is necessary to fundamentally realign incentive structures."

Law enforcement agencies are planning "immediate actions" to identify counterfeit goods and seek "all available statutory authorities to pursue civil fines and other penalties against these entities," according to a DHS report reported by the Wall Street Journal on Thursday and confirmed by an administration official.

The Trump administration is also seeking legal authority "to explicitly permit the government to seek injunctive relief against third-party marketplaces and other intermediaries dealing in counterfeit merchandise," the official confirmed.

The official said that if companies adopt the best practices, the administration believes it will substantially reduce trafficking in counterfeit and pirated goods.

In April, President Donald Trump ordered a crackdown on counterfeit products on third-party online marketplaces, asking for more information on how the United States can better track and curb such sales.

A memo signed by Trump said that the value of global trade in counterfeit and pirated goods may rise to half a trillion dollars a year, with about 20% of this trade infringing on U.S. intellectual property.

"The president has decided it is time to clean up this Wild West of counterfeiting and trafficking,a Navarro said in April.

Companies including Amazon.com Inc, eBay Inc and Chinas Alibaba Group Holding Ltd have policies that ban counterfeit goods and have pointed to their investments in programs to keep fakes off their platforms.

Amazon said last year it "invests heavily in proactive measures to prevent counterfeit goods from ever reaching our stores. In 2018 alone, we spent over $400M fighting counterfeits, fraud, and other forms of abuse." Amazon declined comment ahead of Friday's announcement.

A China-U.S. trade deal signed this month requires China to adopt improved criminal and civil procedures to combat online infringement, pirated and counterfeit goods.
Human-to-human transmission of this animal virus has now been reported. " Species jumping of zoonotic (animal) diseases is a constant threat, especially when humans live close to animals," stated Physicians for Civil Defense president Jane M. Orient, M.D. "Mutations and mixing and matching in genetic material of viral strains can produce highly transmissible, lethal strains to which humans have no immunity."

The report of 800 cases in China, centered in the city of Wuhan, is believed to be a gross underestimate, and a few cases have been reported in Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, and the U.S., Dr. Orient stated.

At a Wuhan hospital, staff members are reportedly not being allowed to resign or leave the city.

Symptoms include fever, fatigue, and difficulty breathing. Patients may get a severe pneumonia.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)which on Tuesday activated its Emergency Response Systemsaid it had been preparing for the possibility of 2019-nCoV entering the U.S. "for weeks."

The CDC claims to have made great strides in preparedness since the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) crisis in 2003. Yet despite spending $80 billion on a National Biologic Defense, the U.S. is arguably no better prepared than it was in 1918, when the great influenza pandemic killed more people than the Black Death, according to Steven Hatfill, M.D., and coauthors in their new book Three Seconds until Midnight.

Vaccine and effective antiviral drugs are lacking, and in an epidemic non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) would be key. These include eye protection, N-95 masks, hand sanitizers, and disinfection of surfaces, where infective virus can persist for days, when caring for a sick person, Dr. Orient noted.

Individuals and local authorities must be alert and prepared and not depend on a timely federal response, Dr. Orient stated.

Physicians for Civil Defense distributes information to help to save lives in the event of war or other disaster.

Contact: Jane M. Orient, M.D., (520) 323-3110, [email protected]

SOURCE Physicians for Civil Defense

Related Links

http://www.physiciansforcivildefense.org


The market expects United States Steel (X) to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on lower revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended December 2019. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

The earnings report, which is expected to be released on January 30, 2020, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus Estimate

This steel maker is expected to post quarterly loss of $1.14 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -162.6%.

Revenues are expected to be $2.71 billion, down 26.5% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions Trend

The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 24.44% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings Whisper

Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Story continues

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for U.S. Steel?

For U.S. Steel, the Most Accurate Estimate is the same as the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that there are no recent analyst views which differ from what have been considered to derive the consensus estimate. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of 0%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #4.

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that U.S. Steel will beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?

While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that U.S. Steel would post a loss of $0.29 per share when it actually produced a loss of $0.21, delivering a surprise of +27.59%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times.

Bottom Line

An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

U.S. Steel doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.



Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



United States Steel Corporation (X) : Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Bail was set Thursday for a Port Richmond man charged in a South Shore home invasion and a burglary on the North Shore earlier this month.

A Criminal Court judge ordered that Gustavo Ramos, 33, of Port Richmond Avenue, be held on $75,000 bond or $25,000 cash for charges that include burglary and assault, according to court records.

Court records show Ramos had a warrant for his arrest at the time of both incidents after he was charged in October with the unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Ramos attorney did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.

At least two adults in the courtroom Wednesday -- when Ramos initially was expected to be arraigned -- identified themselves to a court officer as family of the defendant, before exiting the building.

I TOOK TWO CHECKBOOKS

On Jan. 3, Ramos was at a home on Copper Leaf Terrace in Todt Hill when, according to police, he removed checkbooks.

Upon his arrest, he allegedly said to investigators, I took two checkbooks from Nick.

Prosecutors said the victim noticed one of the checkbooks missing from his workspace on Jan. 9, and the other missing from his shelf in his sky parlor on Jan. 20.

HOME INVASION SPARKS MANHUNT

On the morning of Jan. 13, Ramos allegedly rang the doorbell at a home on the 300 block of Manhattan Street in Tottenville.

When the homeowner answered, he showed her a checkbook and pen, asking if it was hers. It wasnt immediately clear if the checkbook was in any way tied to the items removed from the Todt Hill home.

Ramos then forced his way into the home, pushing the 58-year-old woman against the wall, causing substantial pain in her back and ribs, the criminal complaint reads.

4 Cops probe burglary report in Tottenville

The victim, who at the time was watching her baby granddaughter, was able to fight him off.

I started beating him as hard as I could and said youre not going to do this to me, not today," she told the Advance days after the incident.

According to a source with knowledge of the investigation, Ramos had previously done work in the womans home.

Ramos is due back in court Jan. 27.
Dailey & Wells Communications was no slam dunk in 2018 when local officials prepared to award a 15-year, $108 million contract for a first responder radio system.

Firefighters made it clear that they preferred the Motorola system employed by a competing bidder, Central Electric, over the Harris system used by Dailey & Wells.

Nonetheless, Dailey & Wells, a San Antonio-based firm, got the nod from a 14-member Executive Evaluation Committee, which included two assistant chief deputies in Javier Salazars sheriffs office.

There was little to separate the two companies in most of the categories on the committees scoring matrix, with the exception of experience, where Dailey & Wells, which had held the radio contract with the city since 2004, had the advantage.

The contract represented a partnership among the city, the county and CPS Energy, but the selection process created sufficient controversy for County Commissioner Kevin Wolff to suggest that the county might pull out of the deal and choose its own radio system provider.

Our job at the county is to provide the best possible systems for our first responders and the citizens we represent, he said. If the city is unable to provide that through their selection and pricing process, I, as a representative of the county, would not hesitate to spend the money necessary to achieve the goal of the best possible system.

In the end, however, the county accepted the citys choice and maintained the partnership.

All of this is relevant because of a jarring recent development involving Dailey & Wells.

On ExpressNews.com: S.A. firm at center of West Texas federal corruption case

Last week, federal prosecutors charged former San Angelo Police Chief Timothy Ray Vasquez with accepting $134,000 in bribes to help Dailey & Wells score more than $11 million in radio system contracts in San Angelo. The indictment alleges that Dailey & Wells and two of its affiliates made a series of payments, over an eight-year period, to Vasquez.

If convicted, Vasquez faces up to 70 years in federal prison.

The San Angelo scandal has brought renewed scrutiny to Dailey & Wells San Antonio contract and how the company scored the lucrative deal.

This much is clear: Richard and Joanne Wells, the CEO and senior vice president for the radio system vendor, donate a lot of money to local politicians, and they dont seem to be guided by any discernible ideological or philosophical compass.

Ten of the 11 current members of the San Antonio City Council, including Mayor Ron Nirenberg, have benefited from Dailey & Wells largess since 2017. (The lone exception: first-term East Side Councilwoman Jada Andrews-Sullivan).

Im not saying its an effort to buy influence, but its hard to find a compelling alternative explanation for donating to an impassioned progressive such as Ana Sandoval, for example, while also contributing to a dedicated conservative such as Clayton Perry.

Donating to both of those council members is basically saying that you want to see the city take dramatic action on climate change while also wanting the city to take absolutely no action on climate change.

Of course, you can only purchase so much influence at City Hall because the city of San Antonio allows individual donors to contribute no more than $500 to a council candidate and $1,000 to a mayoral candidate per campaign cycle.

At the county level, however, anything goes. No contribution limits, no term limits, no restrictions on donations from entities seeking contracts with the county.

Since 2014, Richard and Joanne Wells have contributed $164,000 to city and county officeholders, more than $140,000 of it to county officials. That includes $45,000 to Salazar and $30,000 to County Judge Nelson Wolff.

On ExpressNews.com: Wolff calls on legislators to reform campaign finance laws

The issue also has come up in the Republican primary race for Precinct 3 county commissioner, with former Judge Tom Rickhoff targeting one of his rivals, public elations executive Trish DeBerry, for accepting a $10,000 donation from Dailey & Wells executives. (DeBerry says she will donate the money to charity. Nirenberg and Nelson Wolff have made similar announcements.)

Another Precinct 3 contender, marketing coordinator Ellen Pfeiffer, has made contributions and term limits a fundamental part of her campaign. Given that the county is under the jurisdiction of the state, any such reform would require a collaborative effort with state lawmakers.

It wont be an easy lift. In June 2018, Nelson Wolff sent a letter to the San Antonio legislative delegation, urging them to consider state fundraising limits and suggesting a $2,500 cap for individual donations. The idea was a good one, but it didnt go anywhere.

One possible approach  used in 2009 to allow El Paso County to create a new ethics commission  would be to craft a state campaign finance bill so that its strictly tailored to Bexar County and therefore wouldnt meet opposition from legislators in other parts of the state.

Were only beginning to learn about the Dailey & Wells story. But we know enough to realize that theres too much money, coming from too many questionable places, in our county politics.

Gilbert Garcia is a columnist covering the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470
A teenager arrested in connection with the murder of Co Cork student Cameron Blair has been charged, gardai have said.

The 20-year-old Cork Institute of Technology student was fatally injured at a house on the Bandon Road in Cork last week.

The second year student from Ballinascarty in west Cork was taken to Cork University Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

The incident happened during a house party in the popular student area.

Speaking at Anglesea Street Garda Station, Chief Superintendent Barry McPolin said: Todays charges into the murder of Cameron Blair highlight that we in An Garda Siochana are continuing our unrelenting efforts in tackling serious crime.

The accused, who is in his late teens, was due to appear at a special sitting of Cork City District Court on Friday night.
A BJP MLA from Waghodia in Gujarat's Vadodara district on Friday said he would slap the revenue department official who denies him permission to set up a 30-foot steel statue of Hanuman in a lake in his constituency.

Legislator Madhu Shrivastav said the file for approval for the statue was stuck at the revenue department under minister Kaushik Patel, and threatened to resign as MLA and from the BJP if he was not given permission soon.

Shrivastav, a six-time MLA and chairperson of state- run Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation, also misbehaved with journalists who went to speak to him while covering the issue.

"I have already spent Rs 3 crore on this project. The RCC work has started and order has been placed for a 30-foot steel Hanuman statue. However the file is pending with Kaushik Patel. I'm not being given permission despite making several representations," he said.

"I will resign as MLA and from the party if I am not given permission. Even if I'm denied approval, I will install the statue. I don't understand what is the problem of officials working under Patel. I guarantee you I will slap the official who will deny me permission," Shrivastav said.

Later during the day, Shrivastav abused some reporters covering the issue and tried to snatch the camera of one of the media teams.

While Gujarat BJP spokesperson Bharat Pandya said the party will take action against the MLA for his behaviour, state Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said it was not necessary all demands put forth should be accepted.

"There are guidelines for preservation of lakes, ponds and rivers. It is necessary the lake structure is not damaged. The Revenue department is working on approval for Madhubhai's proposal," the deputy CM said.

"However, it is not possible for the government to accept all the demands, as we need to work as per rules and regulations" he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 09:31:16|Editor: Yurou

Video Player Close

GENEVA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday that it was "too early" to declare the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in China a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), while warning that the number of cases may rise as many about the virus remain unknown.

"I am not declaring a public health emergency of the international concern today. As it was yesterday, the Emergency Committee was divided over whether the outbreak of novel coronavirus represents a PHEIC or not," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a press conference after a closed-door meeting of the Emergency Committee (EC).

"Make no mistake, though, this is an emergency in China. But it has not yet become a global health emergency. It may yet become one," Tedros said, adding that WHO's risk assessment is that the outbreak is a very high risk in China, and a high risk regionally and globally.

"I wish to reiterate that the fact I am not declaring a PHEIC today should not be taken as a sign that WHO does not think the situation is serious, or that we are not taking it seriously," the WHO chief said.

The UN health agency extended its Emergency Committee discussions on whether to declare a PHEIC from Wednesday to Thursday.

The PHEIC is defined by the WHO as an extraordinary event that is determined to constitute a public health risk to other states through the international spread of disease and to potentially require a coordinated international response.

Tedros said that 584 cases have now been reported to WHO, including 17 deaths. A total of 575 of those cases and all of the deaths have been reported in China, with other cases reported in Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.

Tedros said China has taken measures it believes appropriate to contain the spread of coronavirus in Wuhan, where the virus appears to have originated, and other cities, and WHO hoped that they will be both effective and short in their duration.

He thanked the Chinese government for its cooperation and transparency. The government has been successful in isolating and sequencing the virus very quickly and has shared that genetic sequence with the WHO and the international community.

For the moment, WHO does not recommend any broader restrictions on travel or trade, and recommends exit screening at airports as part of a comprehensive set of containment measures. All countries should have in place measures to detect cases of coronavirus, including at health facilities, Tedros said.

"The advice to the DG (Director-General) is that now it is not the time. It is too early to consider this event is a public health emergency of international concern," said Didier Houssin, chair of the EC and an adviser to France's national health security agency.

According to Houssin, the WHO received from health authorities in China very precise information about the evolution of the epidemic. The WHO had learned that the public transport suspension in Wuhan and some neighboring cities was not directly related to a specific evolution of the epidemic.
After remaining in police custody for a week, Congress leader Hardik Patel was a free man on Friday as he was granted bail by two courts in different towns.

On Thursday, Patel walked out of Sabarmati Central Jail here after getting bail in a sedition case registered here in 2015.

But as soon as he came out, he was arrested by a police team from Mansa town in Gandhinagar in a 2017 case where he is accused of addressing a rally without police permission.

On Friday afternoon, a court in Mansa granted Patel bail after the police produced him before it and did not seek his custody.

The Patidar quota agitation leader was then arrested by a police team from Siddhpur town of Patan district, who were waiting outside the court premises, said an official.

Hardik is facing a case in Siddhpur for allegedly addressing a poll rally without permission during the 2017 Gujarat Assembly elections, he said.

"He was arrested because a non-bailable warrant was issued by the local court against him as he had skipped some hearings," the official said.

He was produced before Chief Judicial magistrate T H Dave who granted the Congress leader bail as Patel gave assurance that he would remain present for future court proceedings, said his lawyer, Asif Khan Pathan.

Patel, who led the 2015 quota agitation of the Patidar community, is facing 25 cases, including two for sedition.

On January 18, Patel was arrested by the crime branch of Viramgam tehsil in Ahmedabad district for failing to appear before the trial court which is hearing a sedition case against him.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Britain on Friday rebuked the United States for refusing to extradite a diplomat's wife charged over a car crash that killed a British teenager, calling it a "denial of justice".

The case of Anne Sacoolas has been a thorn in London's close relations with Washington, stirring up debates over the limits of diplomatic immunity in cases unrelated to national security.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he expressed disappointment at the decision in a call to Woody Johnson, the US ambassador to Britain.

"We feel this amounts to a denial of justice, and we believe Anne Sacoolas should return to the UK. We are now urgently considering our options," said Raab.

"The UK would have acted differently if this had been a UK diplomat serving in the US." Harry Dunn, 19, died in August when his motorcycle collided with a car driving on the wrong side of the road near an air force base in Croughton, central England, used by the US military as a communications hub.

Sacoolas, who has admitted to being the driver, was charged by British police with causing death by dangerous driving.

However, she has cited immunity while refusing to return to Britain to face justice, as Dunn's parents have demanded.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has decided to reject Britain's extradition request.

Dunn's parents were informed of the decision in a phone call with their MP on Thursday and "were not at all surprised", said family spokesman Radd Seiger.

"This is a lawless, corrupt administration that appears intent on attacking even its closest international ally," he said.

"If Trump and Pompeo think this is an end to the matter, they have another thing coming to them," he said, saying the family would meet the government to discuss their next steps.

Dunn's parents, Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn, visited the White House in October to meet US President Donald Trump.

They said he was warm and welcoming but they criticised the White House's attempts to engineer a snap meeting with Sacoolas, who was in a room next door with photographers.

The US State Department confirmed it had rejected the request, saying Sacoolas had immunity from criminal jurisdiction during her stay in the UK.

"If the United States were to grant the UK's extradition request, it would render the invocation of diplomatic immunity a practical nullity and would set an extraordinarily troubling precedent," it said in a statement.

The case has been a political headache for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is cultivating trade relations with Washington in a bid to offset the potential damage of Britain's withdrawal from the EU.

Trump has called the crash a "terrible accident", saying it was common for Americans in Britain to have difficulty driving on the left side of the road.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)




5G is finally here! It comes bearing phenomenal potential for business but also new 5G security risks. Find out 5G business security risks & how to manage them.

5G has finally arrived in the US. Very soon, an old 4G cellular network will seem as outdated as the phonograph, With 5G data moves at speeds you never before thought possible.

But the 5G launch is a soft one.

As if we can't handle the speed it offers all at once; providers will slowly ramp it up over the next two years to its unbridled potential.

Now's the time to explore both 5G benefits and 5G security risks for business before you unleash the full power of 5G on your business.

Tristan Stewart from Integrated365 in Dallas, TX shares what you need to know.

The Benefits of 5G for Business

The latest generation of the cellular network doesn't just increase speed. It has an enhanced infrastructure that will simply put, make it work better, along with every device you put on that network.

Older generations have to deal with buffering, load time, too many users slowing the network and the like. Compared to that, 5G is like a city completely overhauling its roadways so that traffic jams, traffic accidents and any other possible commuting annoyance you might encounter becomes a thing of the past.

Let's look at some specifics:

Full data encryption and ultimate data integrity

Supports up to one million devices per square kilometer. No more unreliable speeds when you're in a stadium or have too many devices on your business network.

5G will operate at increased capacity on 4G infrastructure while that hardware is upgraded. That's part of the reason it will take two years to go entirely 5G.

5G uses shorter, denser millimeter waves that can carry astounding amounts of data for short distances, which will undoubtedly change how the 5G infrastructure manages those waves.

5G Business Security Risks

Full encryption is definitely an important step. We may soon no longer have to be as concerned about using free wi-fi or unsecured networks where data may be intercepted.

However, business security is still a mutual responsibility. Hackers could take advantage of failed authentication on the carrier's side as well as that of the data senders and receivers.

AT&T's annual Cybersecurity Report highlights three primary 5G security risks that businesses and individuals will need to manage, such as:

Bigger network - 5G must achieve more than any system in the past had to handle. The bigger something becomes, the harder it is to monitor and manage effectively. This may give those who seek to exploit 5G weaknesses a way in. More IoT - Internet of Things (IoT) isn't going away and many IoT devices are still vulnerable. If something doesn't change, 5G will help hackers compromise devices faster. If that's your parent's pacemaker on a 5G network, that really matters. Authentication overload - 5G will need to authenticate billions of devices in a small area. Once again, we have to think beyond phones and tablets. The average household now has eight or more IoT devices. Alexa, Google Nest, Fitbit, Amazon Dash, Ring doorbell camera, smartTVs, smart locks, smart lights, just to name a few.

Additionally, 5G is software, so like all software, it could be vulnerable to malware.

And 5G is so big that mobile carriers won't be able to manage it themselves. They'll have to expand their supplier network. This means more hands in the pot and more significant opportunities for a rogue employee or contractor to compromise security intentionally or through negligence.

Manage 5G Business Security Risks

As business leaders, we'll need to adopt a business security model in which we screen anything before placing it on the network. Today, that includes any device, including IoT, as well as third-party applications. In the future, it could expand to other things we can't currently imagine.

Additionally, we'll need to recognize the limitations of humans. With something as expansive and intricate as 5G, we need to invest in machine learning and advanced monitoring to gather the intelligence we need to identify and respond to threats at 5G speed.

There's still a lot we don't know about 5G as a cybersecurity community, so it's vital that you stay informed and up-to-date.
Indian Bank's net NPAs as a percentage of assets reduced to 3.5% during October-December 2019-20 from 4.42% in the year-ago period.

Chennai: State-owned Indian Bank on Friday reported 62.3 percent jump in net profit at Rs 247.16 crore for December quarter 2019-20, mainly due to reduction in bad loans.

The bank's profit in the year-ago period stood at Rs 152.26 crore. Total income during the quarter under review was Rs 6,505.62 crore, up from Rs 5,269.10 crore in the same period a year ago, Indian Bank said.

The bank's net non-performing assets (NPAs) as a percentage of assets reduced to 3.5 percent during October-December 2019-20 from 4.42 percent in the year-ago period.

Similarly, the percentage of gross NPA was lower at 7.2 percent as against 7.46 percent.

In absolute terms, net NPAs stood at Rs 6,487.58 crore. This compares with Rs 7,571.07 crore in the third quarter of

the last financial year.

The bank further said it had made provisioning of Rs 1,529.26 crore towards bad loans and contingencies. During

October-December 2018-19, the provisioning stood at Rs 923.67 crore.

The bank has provided Rs 1,004 crore for divergence in provisioning and also re-classified three standard accounts

amounting to Rs 184 crore as fresh NPA, Indian Bank said.

Briefing reporters, Indian Bank Managing Director and CEO Padmaja Chunduru said the third-quarter results were very

much in line with expectations.

"If you recall last quarter also we were talking of building the balance sheet strength and its resilience. I think that is very visible this quarter because there is secular growth across all verticals," she said.

To a query, she said the fresh NPA was from an account of DHFL and added the bank has more control over such accounts.

She said the net interest income and other income were under control while gross NPA was maintained at the same level of last quarter.

Chunduru said the bank during the quarter surpassed the Rs 4 lakh crore business mark during the quarter ending

31 December 2019.

Following the Centre's move to merge Indian Bank with Allahabad Bank, she said the business mark would double in

size by June 2020.

"The growth in business has been faster in the last two years and we expect it would be very fast going forward also,"

she said.

Asked if a name has been decided following the merger with Allahabad Bank, Chunduru said "we have discussed with

Allahabad Bank, we are discussing with our own staff and their staff."

"The name would be acceptable to everyone and would be something reflecting the country's own ethos. As of now Indian Bank name appeals to everyone," she said.

She said information technology major Tata Consultancy Services has been roped in as the IT partner for both the

banks (Indian Bank and Allahabad Bank) as the core banking system of both the banks were on same platform.
In a move that seems pretty darn obvious in hindsight, iconic Irish whiskey brand Jameson has announced the first U.S. availability of a new limited edition product: Jameson Cold Brew. This coffee-infused Irish whiskey will be hitting store shelves in the near future, and is available for pre-order online as of today. It previously saw limited release outside the U.S.

According to the company, Jameson Cold Brew is the same triple distilled, smooth Irish whiskey that Jameson fans crave, however, its special because of the natural cold brew flavor. The spirit does contain caffeine, the equivalent of about half an espresso shot, per serving. The bold taste of cold brew coffee flavor, paired with the smooth quality that Jameson is known for, creates a carefully crafted liquid that is too delicious to turn down. Its a new spin on the classic pairing of Irish Whiskey and coffee.

Who can resist natural flavor, right? Still, it is indeed an obvious flavor pairing for Irish whiskey, given that Irish coffee has been a popular libation for more than a century. This new product weighs in at a more moderate 30% ABV (60 proof), putting it into the high end of what are essentially coffee liqueurs (for comparison, Kahlua is 20% ABV), while presumably still being strong enough to drink neat, or on ice. Its not entirely clear how the company feels consumers are most likely to drink this, although they include a few minimalist recipes, like the below Jameson Cold Brewtini, which is as follows:

- 2-parts Jameson Cold Brew

- 1-part Cold Brew coffee

- -parts simple syrup.

- Combine, shake with ice, and strain into a martini glass.

Sweet, boozy coffee. Whats not to like? In terms of neat drinking, the company says the 100% Arabica beans from Brazil and Colombia impart a rich coffee aroma and smooth finish, notes of toasted oak and dark chocolate. They also suggest mixing it with cola, which sounds  questionable  if you ask us, but who knows? At least the Brewtini looks nice, as pictured below. Time will tell if Jameson Cold Brew proves to be the latest caffeine-laden, alcoholic frat party sensation.
We had to wait all the way until January 24th of 2020, but bonds finally offered their first real shred of willingness to challenge the established range of late 2019. When we talk about ranges, we use 10yr Treasuries for these reasons. In 10yr terms, the range has been 1.71 to 1.95%, which is reasonably narrow for a 3 month+ time frame.

It looked like the range would be quickly crushed as war with Iran quickly entered the realm of possibility on the night of the missile attacks against Iraqi air bases. But with the de-escalation the following day, the range was actually strongly reinforced. Rates have been trickling since then without more than a 5bp move in 10yr yields until today. That same move also breaks us well below the 1.71% boundary to close at 1.686%.

As we often discuss, the first break beyond a technical level requires some confirmation. That makes Monday important from a technical standpoint. It also makes the coronavirus news cycle important as it appears to be the key ingredient in this particular range breakout.

Next week also has a ton of econ data as well as Fed announcement and press conference on Wednesday. A big bounce in Treasuries would be mitigated to some extent by likely outperformance on the part of MBS (they've underperformed this week, despite moving in a friendly direction).
Eighty people who have returned to Kerala from China over the past few days have been kept under surveillance by health officials in the state for possible exposure to the coronavirus that has created panic across the world, health officials said on Friday.

While seven people, who had shown mild symptoms of fever, cough and sore throat, were being treated at various health facilities in the state, 73 others have been put under home surveillance, officials said.

All of them have travel history to China.

Meanwhile, an update from the Cochin International Airport said 24 passengers underwent screening for Coronavirus at the airport on Friday but no suspicious case was reported.

Two persons are under observation in hospitals in Ernakulam district, according to officials.

The government has advised those under home surveillance to remain at home for 28 days from the date of their departure from China.

Health officials also directed them not to mingle with anyone for the safety of their near and dear ones.

If they show any symptoms of fever, cough and breathing problem, then the health officials should be immediately informed, they said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Last year, at Trumps request, the Commerce Department produced a report determining that imports of autos and automotive parts somehow also put America at grave risk, and that it thereby needs to do something to increase American-owned production. Precisely how your Subaru or Honda, or some foreign-made part buried somewhere in your Ford, compromises U.S. security is unclear; that Commerce Department report has never been released.
The impact of the tobacco display ban on young people's attitudes to smoking has been analysed by University of Stirling experts.

The five-year public health study also looked at the effect of the ban on young people's exposure to point-of-sale tobacco promotions and the likelihood of them taking up smoking - as well as the potential for e-cigarettes to influence smoking initiation.

Professor Sally Haw, of Stirling's Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, and colleagues found the ban on point-of-sale tobacco displays "had been a great success", with retailer compliance high at 98%. This has led to reduction in exposure to tobacco products, however the message that tobacco is still available and still for sale remains very prominent.

She added: "Our research demonstrated that legislation banning tobacco displays at point-of-sale was appropriate and has had a positive impact on young people's attitudes towards smoking and their susceptibility to becoming smokers in the future.

"We believe that the research will inform not only future policy developments in this country but also in other countries, where policymakers may be considering introducing similar legislation."

Professor Haw's team recommend:

Limiting tobacco retail outlet density.

Reducing the visible presence of gantries and other smoking-related products by regulating the size, design and position of storage units and the use of generic signage to indicate tobacco availability.

Focusing policy on reducing parental smoking, particularly in front of children, and encouraging parents to keep products out of sight.

Targeting schoolchildren with 'good news' messages about the decline in youth smoking prevalence.

Enforcing existing regulations to prevent the use of retailer incentives and rewards by tobacco company representatives.

Prohibiting e-cigarette advertising in the external environment, on billboards, and at bus stops.

Holding a debate as to whether e-cigarette promotions should be banned at point-of-sale.

In the UK, a ban on the open display of tobacco products at the point-of-sale was phased in between 2012 and 2015. In 2012, large stores and supermarkets in England, Wales and Northern Ireland had to put tobacco products out of sight, before Scotland followed suit in 2013. Across the UK, smaller stores had until 2015 to adapt their displays to cover tobacco products.

The University of Stirling led the DISPLAY study - funded by the National Institute for Health Research and published in the Public Health Research journal - and worked alongside the Universities of Edinburgh and St Andrews and ScotCen Social Research.

E-cigarettes emerged as an issue in some focus group discussions with young people in 2013 and, therefore, became an area of interest for the research team. They found that:

The percentage of young people who had used an e-cigarette increased from 14.3% in 2014 to 33.7% in 2017. In 2017, this compared with only 21.1% who had tried cigarettes.

Regular e-cigarette use in secondary school pupils is less common, especially among those who have never smoked.

Study participants' recall of e-cigarette advertisements was a significant predictor of future e-cigarette use.

Young people who have never smoked but had tried an e-cigarette, were more likely than those who had never tried an e-cigarette to go on to take up smoking at both one-year and two-year follow-up.

The DISPLAY study was conducted between 2013 and 2017 in four communities: two urban, two small town; and two medium/low deprivation and two high deprivation. The team conducted: annual mapping of tobacco retail outlets; annual marketing audits of retail premises that sold tobacco; semi-structured interviews with small retailers from matched communities; annual surveys of schoolchildren, resulting in 14,344 completed questionnaires from 6,612 pupils over five years; and a total of 80 focus groups with S2 and S4 pupils.

Sheila Duffy, Chief Executive of Ash Scotland, said: "I welcome the important research published today by the University of Stirling, which underlines the world-leading measures being taken in Scotland to close down the visibility of tobacco and protect young people from a predatory industry.

"The research demonstrates that the legislation has been effective in reducing risk of young people taking up smoking.

"Very interestingly, during this research, the team uncovered an unexpected emerging awareness of e-cigarettes amongst schoolchildren and identified a link between study participants' recall of e-cigarette advertisements and future e-cigarette use. This confirms the findings of international evidence reviews and should help inform the Scottish Government's drive to close down the visibility of e-cigarettes in Scotland in order to protect future generations."

###

Professor Haw and colleagues will debate their findings and wider policy issues about the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) today [January 24] at the 'Looking Back, Looking Forwards: Evidence into Public Health Action' Conference - attended by the Dr Gregor Smith, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Scotland - at Edinburgh's Pollok Halls.

The conference will also include talks from Stirling experts Dr Crawford Moodie; Dr Martine Stead; Associate Professor Dr Sean Semple and Professor Kate Hunt, among several others.

The new paper, The impact of the point-of-sale tobacco display ban on young people in Scotland: before-and-after study, is published now.
The United Nation's highest court has ordered Myanmar to prevent genocide from being committed against the Rohingya Muslim minority on January 23. The International court of justice ordered the country to take emergency provisional measures and urged to halt all persecution of the ethnic group including killing, raping, and destroying homes and villages. Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf, the court's president said that the ICJ is of the opinion that the Rohingya in Myanmar remain extremely vulnerable.

It was a unanimous decision when the court also ruled that it has the authority to consider a genocide case against Myanmar by creating international legal obligations on the country. ICJ has ordered Myanmar to take effective measures to prevent the destruction and ensure the preservation of evidence related to its acts against the Muslim minority.

Rohingyas hail ICJ ruling

A Rohingya activist, Yasmin Ullah who currently lives in Canada was reportedly present in the court for the historic ruling and hailed the judges saying it means so much to the community. After nearly an hour-long session at the Great Hall of Justice, judges have also asked the country to report back in four months with the measures Myanmar has taken to comply with the court's orders. After these four months, the ICJ has ordered the country to report back after every six months through the world court.

Read - Court To Rule In Case Accusing Myanmar Of Rohingya Genocide

Today, having the judges unanimously agree to the protection of Rohingya means so much to us because were now allowed to exist and its legally binding, she told reporters on the steps of the court

This is good news. We thank the court as it has reflected our hope for justice. The verdict proves that Myanmar has become a nation of torturers, 39-year-old Abdul Jalil told an international agency through the phone.

However, Jalil also added, Myanmar has become a notorious state. We do not have confidence in it. There is little chance that Myanmar will listen.

Read - Fighting For LGBT Rights In Myanmar With A 'pink Pinky'

Nearly 740,000 Rohingya were forced to flee into camps in Bangladesh after the military of Myanmar launched a violent crackdown on the group in 2017. This, according to the UN officials was 'genocide'. This case in the International Court of Justice was the first legal attempt by the peace-making body to bring the country into justice over the crisis. It was also a rare example of a country suing another over an issue to which it is not directly a party. The tiny west African state of The Gambia, which is acting on behalf of the 57-nation Organisation of Islamic Corporation asked the court to halt the 'ongoing genocidal actions'.

Read - India Hands Relief Material To Rakhine Residents In Myanmar As Per Dec'17 Agreement

Read - Myanmar: Govt-appointed Commission Fails To Find genocidal Intent Against Rohingya

(With AP inputs)
Apple has slammed EU plans that would see it forced to ditch its Lightning cable in Europe.

The US tech giant has warned that replacing it with a universal charger could cost consumers up to 1.5billion and would produce an 'unprecedented volume of electronic waste'.

European Parliament recently discussed the possibility of making smartphone makers use a common charging port, which could force Apple to adopt the USB-C.

Apple also argues the legislation, if passed, could 'stifle innovation'.

Scroll down for video

The EU parliament is now debating making it mandatory for all new phones to have a 'common charger'. with the USB-C (pictured) the obvious option

'Legislation would have a direct negative impact by disrupting the hundreds of millions of active devices and accessories used by our European customers and even more Apple customers worldwide, creating an unprecedented volume of electronic waste and greatly inconveniencing users,' a spokesperson said.

'We believe regulation that forces conformity across the type of connector built into all smartphones stifles innovation rather than encouraging it, and would harm consumers in Europe and the economy as a whole,' Apple said in a statement.

It said regulation was not needed as the industry is already moving to USB-C through a connector or cable assembly.

'We hope the (European) Commission will continue to seek a solution that does not restrict the industry's ability to innovate,' Apple said in a statement.

Apple moved away from its original 30-pin connector in 2012 when the lightning cable emerged with the release of the iPhone 4. Lightning cables are now on the verge of extinction (stock)

WHICH APPLE DEVICES USE THE LIGHTNING CABLE? Apple released its 'Lightning' charger in 2012, and all of its iPhones are charged this way. Most Android devices now use USB-C, including the Oppo Reno3, Huawei P30 and OnePlus7Pro. The latest iPad Pro uses USB-C. Apple already sells a Lightning port to USB-C charging cable. The iPad, the iPad Air and the iPad mini use the Lightning cable, but the iPad Pro is powered by USB-C. Advertisement

According to estimates, old chargers generate more than 51,000 tonnes of electronic waste per year.

Apple chargers sell for roughly 20 ($25) for an official cable and replica versions are also available for far less.

A study by Copenhagen Economics commissioned by Apple found the total cost to consumers from a regulatory-mandated move to a common charger would be at least 1.5 billion, outweighing the 13 million in associated environmental benefits.

The European Commission, which acts as the executive for the EU, has been pushing for a common charger for more than a decade.

In 2009, a voluntary pledge was signed by the likes of Apple, Nokia and Samsung to make chargers compatible with the micro-USB standard.

While many went on to adopt micro-USB, Apple went ahead with its own Lightning port in 2012 and sold a micro-USB adaptor instead.

Some smartphone makers have now evolved to USB-C, which charges devices faster than the old micro-USB.

Apple also moved to USB-C on the iPad Pro tablet, as well as MacBook laptops.

Apple released its 'Lightning' charger in 2012, and all of its iPhones are charged this way.
About two weeks after Mr. Bezos Medium post, Mr. de Becker hired FTI Consulting to do the forensic analysis of the billionaires iPhone. In March, Mr. de Becker said he had high confidence that Saudi Arabia had hacked Mr. Bezos phone. The FTI Consulting report that was made public this week did not offer evidence of a link between the hacking and the Enquirer story.

American Media has said that it obtained information about the affair from Ms. Sanchezs brother, Michael Sanchez, a Hollywood talent agent whom people at The Enquirer have described as a longtime source of information and tips.

Mr. Sanchez and American Media executed a nondisclosure agreement on Oct. 18, 2018, concerning certain information, photographs and text messages documenting an affair between Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, according to a contract between the two parties reviewed by The New York Times.

Eight days later, Mr. Sanchez granted American Media the right to publish and license the text messages and photographs he had provided in exchange for $200,000, according to the contract and four people with knowledge of the arrangement.

The single source of our reporting has been well documented, American Media said in a statement. In September of 2018, Michael Sanchez began providing all materials and information to our reporters. Any suggestion that a third party was involved in or in any way influenced our reporting is false.

After federal agents and prosecutors examined allegations of wrongdoing by American Media in connection with the Bezos story last year, the company provided evidence showing them that Ms. Sanchez had provided text messages and compromising photos of Mr. Bezos to her brother, who passed them along to the tabloid, according to four people with knowledge of the situation.

That does not preclude the possibility that Saudi Arabia could have sent other useful information to The Enquirer. Nor were Mr. Bezos and his investigators off-base in suspecting a possible link between the tabloid and the kingdom. American Media and Saudi Arabia had both tried to build relationships with Mr. Trump, and one way to the presidents heart could have been an attack on Mr. Bezos, whom Mr. Trump once referred to as Jeff Bozo in a Twitter post.
As Ontarios courts grapple with the possibility of having to retry dozens of cases due to a ruling this week on jury-selection changes, critics are slamming the federal and provincial governments for courtroom chaos they say was avoidable.

Potentially dozens of criminal convictions, including some for murder and sexual assault, have been thrown into jeopardy and may be headed for costly and lengthy new trials, following a Thursday ruling from the Ontario Court of Appeal on the federal changes to jury selection.

Among the changes, which took effect Sept. 19, was the removal of what were known as peremptory challenges.

These allowed the Crown and defence in a criminal case to each reject a certain number of potential jurors without having to give an explanation.

The top court upheld the ban on peremptory challenges as constitutional.

But it found that an accused person who opted for a trial by jury prior to Sept. 19 still had the right to use peremptory challenges, even if jury selection only took place after Sept. 19.

The ruling will potentially affect dozens of jury cases that have been heard since Sept. 19, including some that continue, in which peremptory challenges had been denied during jury selection.

Within hours of the ruling being released Thursday, judges at Torontos Superior Court pulled the plug on two cases  one dealing with murder charges, the other sexual assault  by declaring mistrials.

The ruling may also affect the high-profile College Street Bar sexual assault trial, in which the bars owner and manager were convicted in November of sexually assaulting and drugging a 24-year-old woman over several hours at the downtown Toronto establishment.

One of the convicted men in the case, Gavin MacMillan, indicated in his notice of appeal, filed on the same day the Court of Appeal released its ruling, that he is seeking to have his conviction overturned based on the trial judges refusal to allow him peremptory challenges during jury selection.

The vice-president of the Criminal Lawyers Association, Daniel Brown, said the potential for dozens of retrials could have been avoided if the federal government had explicitly stated in its legislation that the changes to jury selection were to only apply to new cases after Sept. 19.

Brown also said the provincial government, which is responsible for prosecuting most criminal offences in Ontario, could have asked the Court of Appeal long ago in what is known as a reference case for legal guidance on whether the changes apply to continuing cases or, prospectively, to new cases.

Neither of those things happened. Neither the attorney general of Canada, David Lametti, nor the attorney general of Ontario, Doug Downey, were available for interviews Friday to offer explanations. (Downey told reporters at a media availability that the ministry was reviewing the ruling and he couldnt comment further.)

I think the drafters of the legislation failed to make their intentions clear in the drafting process. This isnt the first piece of legislation thats ever been written where something is intended to apply only prospectively. A simple indication of that in the legislation would have resolved all of these problems, Brown told the Star.

This could have been easily resolved with a reference case (by the Ontario government) to the Court of Appeal, with a single question put to them: Is this legislation prospective or retrospective? And if the answer was that it was only prospective, then they would have known on the front-end how to address all of these cases.

None of this would have happened if the Ontario government had taken a more proactive approach to this litigation.

Ontario NDP attorney general critic Gurratan Singh said Downey must explain why the government didnt seek guidance earlier from the Court of Appeal. He also said the government must immediately come up with a plan to handle a possible influx of dozens of cases sent back for retrials, in what is already an under-resourced court system handling hundreds of cases at the moment.

We know that this has a potential to create further backlog in an already backlogged system and thats why I was really disheartened today that there was silence from the attorney general on this matter, Singh said. We dont need silence on this matter. We immediately need a plan put forward on how the attorney general is going to address this further backlog in a manner that doesnt revictimize victims.

The chaos that Ontarios court system now finds itself in can trace its roots back to early 2018, when former federal justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould introduced Bill C-75, the Liberal governments massive piece of legislation revamping the justice system. (Wilson-Raybould did not respond to the Stars requests for comment Friday.)

The elimination of peremptory challenges, included in Bill C-75, was sparked by the Gerald Stanley trial in Saskatchewan, in which Stanley was acquitted of second-degree murder in the death of Colten Boushie, an Indigenous man. Media reports at the time said the defence had been using peremptory challenges to reject any potential juror who appeared Indigenous.

A number of legal organizations which appeared before the House of Commons justice committee or which submitted briefs prior to Bill C-75 becoming law had argued against abolishing peremptory challenges completely. Some expressed concern that the government was moving too swiftly on that issue and that further study was warranted, with a view of reforming that aspect of jury selection, not scrapping it completely.

Some groups highlighted that peremptory challenges were also often used by the defence in trying to craft a more diverse jury when the accused person was racialized or Indigenous.

By removing peremptory challenges, it will be more difficult to remove jurors who are suspected of having a bias, including a racial bias, which is arguably what this amendment was aiming to prevent, the Federation of Ontario Law Associations said in its brief to the committee.
Video footage has emerged showing the moment officers shot dead a suspect holding an airsoft gun after repeatedly demanding that he drop the weapon.

Body and dashcam footage released Thursday shows officers shooting Gabriel Strickland, 25, on New Year's Day in Nevada County, California.

Officers responded to a 911 call that Strickland was walking around with a firearm at 10000 block of Walker Drive at around noon.

After Strickland told them he was holding an airsoft gun, one replied: 'We don't know that's a fake gun ... you could have painted that.'

Body and dashcam footage released Thursday shows officers shooting Gabriel Strickland, 25, on New Year's Day in Nevada County, California (pictured: the suspect is on his feet at first before dropping to his knees)

A few minutes pass before they started moving toward the suspect with their rifles and handguns drawn. Although Strickland dropped to his knees he continued pointing the weapon - which they believed to be a shotgun - at the deputies

'You don't understand that I really don't give a f---,' Strickland told them at one point.

A few minutes passed before they started moving toward the suspect with their rifles and handguns drawn. Although Strickland dropped to his knees, he continued pointing the weapon at them. The deputies believed it to be a shotgun.

They got within yards of the suspect and attempted to subdue him with a taser but missed twice. Shortly after, they opened fire and around 10 rounds were let off.

Just as they opened fire, one of the officers appeared to have disarmed Strickland with a metal baton but quickly leapt back from the firing line.

Strickland went limp and was rapidly surrounded by the officers.

Nevada County Sheriff Shannon Moon said the deputies tried to save his life at the scene but he was taken to Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital and pronounced dead, the Sacramento Bee reported.

The officers approach the suspect, some are holding long firearms, others with handguns

Nevada County Sheriff Shannon Moon said the deputies tried to save his life at the scene but he was taken to Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital and pronounced dead

Nevada County Assistant District Attorney Chris Walsh said the air rifle's orange tip appeared to have been broken off the barrel and made it appear more like a real firearm.

Strickland was also known to law enforcement and had made previous 'suicide by cop' statements.

Investigations are ongoing as to whether the incident was handled appropriately by the officers and deputies.
Gaines, who was charged in federal court following a joint investigation by the FBI and Wilmette police, was taken into custody Tuesday in Dekalb. He remains in federal custody, police said.
A female police officer has died after a vehicle she pulled over during a traffic stop sped away, dragging her for a block along the road before it crashed into a tree in Newport News, Virginia.

Katherine, 'Katie' Thyne, 24, a mother-of-one, leaves behind a two-year-old daughter, after what should have been a routine check on the 1400 block of 16th Street turned into tragedy.

At a press conference this morning Newport News Police chief Steve Drew said the young officer was one of two who were talking to the driver on Thursday evening, in the area of 16th Street and Walnut Avenue.

Officer Katherine Thyne died after a routine traffic stop turned to tragedy when the driver drove off and she was caught in the car door and dragged for a block along the road

He said the officers were investigating potential drug-related issues linked to the male driver of the car and his female passenger, though an arrest had not been made.

Mr Drew said the man put his foot on the pedal and accelerated away .

'One officer was able to step out of the way, she was not,' he said. 'She was inside the door, between the door and the vehicle, she was dragged about a block and the vehicle struck a tree and there was an impact there.'

Chief of police Steve Drew was set to give a press conference this morning

The driver of the vehicle, who the officers were questioning about drug-related issues, sped away after the incident yesterday but crashed nearby and has been arrested and taken into custody.

The police chief said Thyne suffered multiple injuries and was taken to a local hospital where she died, despite the medical professionals' best efforts.

'Medical personnel did a phenomenal job...the nursing staff, the surgeons they did outstanding work, very respectful,' he said in an emotional statement on the death of his colleague.

Mr Drew also paid an emotional tribute to his fallen colleague. At times during the press conference the officer broke off mid-sentence, as he struggled to contain his tears.

Police chief Steve Drew struggled to contain his emotions as he talked through the events that led up to the death of his young colleague, a 24-year-old mother-of-one

A screen grab taken from a live video of the press conference shows a smiling portrait of Officer Thyne (on the left) along with another image of her and the police chief in the far right

Mr Drew recalled the moment he met the young aspiring officer.

'I remember when I met her, she sat across from me, in my office,' he said. 'This is what she wanted to do, she wanted to be in law enforcement, and she wanted to do it in this city.

'She was very active in the community, if you ever met her, if you ever saw her, all she would do was smile, you would almost start to laugh at her because she was always smiling.'

Mr said the loss of such a dedicated officer would be challenging for the community, for her colleagues and her loved ones.

'Katie was a true hero, she served this community, so as we move forward there is a lot of healing that has to take place.'

'It's okay to cry...Officer Thyne was our family, and that's how she should be treated and remembered,' he said.
Alleged ringleader, who worked as cleaning woman at the palace, reportedly confessed to stealing 36 luxury watches.

Fifteen people have gone on trial in Morocco over the theft of dozens of luxury watches and other pieces of jewellery from one of King Mohammed VIs royal palaces.

The 15 suspects, who appeared in a court in the capital Rabat on Friday, are believed to be the members of a gang that carried out the raid on the palace in Marrakesh last month, according to the AFP news agency.

The main suspect, a 46-year-old female employee at the palace, is reported to have been aided by the palaces security staff and some Moroccan jewellers.

Reports say the alleged ringleader, who worked as a cleaning woman in the royal household, has confessed to the robberies.

The woman, who is alleged to have stolen 36 watches, had many of them melted down and sold on to gold merchants.

The 14 other suspects, all men, are gold traders or intermediaries, and have denied any involvement in the robberies.

King Mohammed VI is known to have a large collection of expensive timepieces and jewellery.

He has a taste for luxury cars, paintings and watches, and was shown in an Instagram post in September 2018 with a Patek Philippe diamond-encrusted watch in white gold with an estimated value of $1.2m.

The 56-year-old monarch was listed by Forbes magazine in 2014 as one of the worlds richest men with wealth estimated at more than $2.5bn.
Kolkata:

The BSF said on Friday that there has been an increase in the outflow of illegal Bangladeshi migrants to their home country over the past one month, following the enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Act or CAA. A top official of the paramilitary force said there has been a spike in the number of illegal settlers apprehended since last month. The outflow has been highest through the borders in the North 24 Parganas district, BSF Inspector General (South Bengal Frontier) YB Khurania said.

"There has been some increase in outflow of illegal Bangladeshi migrants to the bordering country in last one month... In January alone, we had apprehended 268 illegal Bangladeshi migrants, most of who were trying to sneak into the neighbouring country," Khurania told reporters.

Those leaving were mostly engaged as masons, maids and housekeepers in the country, another Border Security Force (BSF) official said. "The highest outflow is via North 24 Parganas district. They (migrants) were mostly based in Bengaluru and north India. Some were involved in paltry jobs such as masons, maids, housekeepers and sweepers," he said.

In 2019, the BSF had apprehended 2,194 Bangladeshis, most of them caught while trying to illegally sneak into India. But since December last year, things have changed, the official said. West Bengal shares about 2,216.7-km border with Bangladesh, a large part of which is unfenced. According to BSF sources, troopers were not stopping the immigrants from crossing over to their home country, except in cases when they were found to be smuggling goods.

"Only when they are concealing any contraband or trying to smuggle something to Bangladesh, we are apprehending them. Otherwise, we are taking a note of their particulars and details and letting them go back," one of the sources said.

According to the BSF, one of the biggest achievements of the South Bengal Frontier in 2019 has been putting a check on cross-border cattle smuggling. "In 2018, the number of cattle seized was around 39,995 and in 2019 it had come down to 31,210. This year so far the figure is just 1,301," he said.

The CAA seeks to provide Indian citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis who moved to India on or before December 31, 2014, having fled religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The law has emerged as a major political flashpoint in West Bengal, with the TMC opposing the contentious legislation tooth and nail, and the BJP pressing for its implementation.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
The suspect in the robbery of First Mid Bank and Trust in Champaign on 1/22/2020.
China virus toll jumps to 25 dead with 830 confirmed cases: govt

WORLD: The death toll in Chinas viral outbreak has risen to 25, with the number of confirmed cases also leaping to 830, the government said on Friday (Jan 24).

ChinesehealthCoronavirusCOVID-19

By AFP

Friday 24 January 2020, 09:08AM

China has classified the outbreak in the same category as the SARS epidemic. Photo: AFP

The National Health Commission said authorities were examining 1,072 suspected cases of the virus that first emerged in central city of Wuhan. Photo: AFP

A woman wears a protective mask at Tiananmen Gate in Beijing. China is halting public transport and closing highway toll stations in two more cities in Hubei province, the epicentre of a deadly virus outbreak. Photo: AFP

The National Health Commission said authorities were also examining 1,072 suspected cases of the virus that first emerged in central city of Wuhan.

The markedly higher numbers were released just hours after the World Health Organization stopped short of declaring the situation to be a global health emergency.

China has effectively quarantined nearly 20 million people across Wuhan and some nearby cities in response to the virus, and announced measures to curb its spread nationwide as hundreds of millions of people began travelling across the country this week for the Chinese New Year holiday.

Streets and shopping centres in Wuhan, a major industrial and transport hub, are now eerily quiet after authorities told residents not to leave the city of 11mn, where most of the cases have been identified.

The National Health Commission said the death toll was revised upward following eight new deaths on Thursday, and 259 new cases reported across the country.

Out of the total 830 confirmed cases, 177 were in serious condition, it added.

Thirty-four people have been cured and discharged.

The respiratory virus emerged from a seafood and animal market in Wuhan and cases have been reported as far away as the United States.

The new virus has caused alarm because of its similarity to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which killed nearly 650 people across mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003.

But after two days of talks to determine the level of global concern, the WHO stopped short of declaring a so-called public health emergency of international concern  a declaration used for the gravest epidemics.

This is an emergency in China, but it has not yet become a global health emergency, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in Geneva.

WHO had postponed its decision by a day, after Chinese authorities announced unprecedented measures to rein in the spread of the virus.

End of the world

Beijing cancelled massive gatherings that usually attract throngs at temples during the New Year holiday, while the historic Forbidden City will close from Saturday.

Streets and shopping centres in Wuhan were eerily quiet after authorities told residents not to leave the major city of 11 million people, where most of the cases have been identified.

Trains and planes out of Wuhan were indefinitely suspended and tollways on roads out the city were closed, leading to fear and panic for those who were trapped.

We are feeling as though it is the end of the world, said one Wuhan resident on Chinas Twitter-like Weibo platform, voicing concerns about shortages of food and disinfectant.

Authorities in neighbouring Huanggang city also announced public transport and train services would be suspended at midnight, while people were told to not leave the city of 7.5mn.

Ezhou, a city in Hubei province with a population of 1.1mn, announced the train station had been closed earlier in the day, while three other cities in the province announced restrictions on their public transport or roads.

Effective and short

Tedros hailed China for taking measures it believes appropriate to contain the spread of coronavirus in Wuhan and other cities.

He stressed though that we hope that they will be both effective and short in their duration.

WHO emergency committee chairman Didier Houssin meanwhile told reporters that after receiving precise information from Chinese authorities, the health experts had determined that the travel restrictions were not directly related to a specific evolution of the epidemiology in the city.

More than 580 people have been infected with the virus across China  with most cases found in Wuhan, where a seafood market that illegally sold wild animals has been identified as the epicentre of the outbreak.

China meanwhile confirmed Thursday the first death from the virus outside the epicentre, bringing the total number of deaths to 18.

The health commission in northern Hebei province  which borders Beijing  said an 80-year-old man diagnosed with the new virus had died.

The other 17 fatalities have all been people aged 48 to 89 and had pre-existing health conditions, Chinese health authorities said Thursday.

The first case of the new virus was confirmed on Dec 31, and it has since been detected in Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and the United States. Singapore and Vietnam confirmed their first cases on Thursday.

Spreading between people

Animals are suspected to be the primary source of the outbreak, with studies published this week suggesting the virus may have originated in bats or snakes.

The WHO has confirmed that the new virus can be passed between people, at least those in close contact. Chinese health officials warned it could mutate and spread further.

But Tedros stressed Thursday there was so far no evidence of human-to-human transmission outside China.

If WHO had declared a global emergency, it would prompt countries to intensify their cooperation towards reining in the virus, including possibly on trade and travel restrictions  something the organisation is not recommending for the time being.

Countries have already increased efforts to stop the spread of the pathogen  known by its technical name 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)  with thermal screening of all passengers arriving from China at airports in a number of countries.

Several companies have also begun exploring developing a vaccine for the virus, with hopes that initial clinical trials could be carried out within months.

Tedros meanwhile hailed China for quickly spotting the new virus and for its cooperation and transparency in sharing vital information about it with the international community.

But a senior US State Department official said Washington was still concerned about transparency in the Chinese government.

During the SARS epidemic, the Chinese government took months to report the disease and initially denied WHO experts any access.

WHOs emergency committee stressed the need for international vigilance and information sharing, and recommended a new meeting in a matter of days to examine the situation further.
Four employees of French Christian NGO missing in Baghdad



Paris, Jan 24 (AFP) Jan 24, 2020



Four employees of a French Christian NGO, three French nationals and one Iraqi, have been missing in Baghdad since Monday, the charity announced Friday.

The four men working with the influential SOS Chretiens d'Orient (Christians of the Middle East) charity went missing near the French embassy in the Iraqi capital, the organisation's director Benjamin Blanchard told a news conference in Paris.

No ransom demand has been received as yet and no group has claimed responsibility for their disappearance, he added.

SOS Chretiens d'Orient has been working with persecuted Christians in Iraq since 2014 when Islamic State jihadists overran the province of Mosul, displacing tens of thousands of minority Christians and Yazidis.

It is principally active in the Iraqi Kurdish capital Arbil, where many Christians sought refuge.

The missing workers were in Baghdad "to renew their visas and register the association with Iraqi authorities," Blanchard said.

They were also due to inspect the group's activities in the city, including the opening of a new school.

They left their hotel by car for a meeting "which posed no problem," Blanchard said, adding that French and Iraqi authorities were working together to try locate them.

The NGO's director described the men as "experienced staff members who have been working with us for years" and who had "perfect knowledge of conflict zones".

He refused to give the men's identities.



- Helping Christians remain in Mideast -



The French foreign ministry and the French embassy in Iraq refused to comment on their disappearance.

Baghdad has been gripped by demonstrations for several months.

The protests initially targeted a government widely seen as corrupt and meddling by neighbouring Iran.

But in recent weeks America's military presence in Iraq has become a hot-button issue in Iraq since a US drone strike killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and a top Iraqi commander in Baghdad on January 3.

SOS Chretiens d'Orient, which is also active in Syria, Lebanon and Egypt, is one of several Western charities working with Christians in the Middle East.

The aim of the group is to "help Christian communities remain (in the region) and rebuild" their lives, Blanchard said.

The organisation, which is fiercely critical of Islam, portraying it as a threat to Christianity in the Middle East, drew criticism in the past for sending young French volunteers to Syria and Iraq for months at a time.

Photos regularly published by the NGO on Twitter show volunteers visiting Christian families in Arbil and conducting French language classes.

Before the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, the number of Christians in Iraq, home to one of the world's oldest Christian populations, ran to an estimated 1.5 million.

After the fall of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein they suffered widespread persecution, culminating with the purges carried out by IS in 2014.

By the summer of 2019, their number had fallen to around 250,000, Arbil Archbishop Bashar Warda said during a speech in Britain last year, warning the community was "close to extinction".

Several Western countries including France had nationals kidnapped by armed groups in Syria in 2013 and 2014 but in recent years the situation has eased.

Currently, the only French person confirmed being held hostage anywhere in the world is Sophie Petronin, an elderly charity worker abducted by gunmen in northern Mali in December 2016.

No group claimed responsibility for kidnapping until July 2017, when Al-Qaeda's Mali branch released a video showing her.
A campaign by Deir Ezzor 24 is hoping to persuade people to stop using weapons indiscriminately and to consider the safety of others.

Deir Ezzor 24 network has carried out an awareness-raising campaign that targets the civilians and military personnel in Deir ez-Zor, under the title No to Weapons.

At first, the campaign was launched on Jul. 25, 2019, in the eastern Deir ez-Zor countryside (eastern Euphrates), such as in the cities of Ash-Shahil and al-Bussairah, and the areas of al-Shaitat and al-Suwar. It included several activities, such as the distribution of awareness leaflets, urging the people of Deir ez-Zor to stay away from the indiscriminate use of weapons. The campaign focused on the youth, who are the people using weapons indiscriminately most, especially at weddings and celebrations, and sometimes during conflicts or even fighting for personal motives.

The network also conducted meetings on the ground with many actors, tribal figures, and influential community figures, in addition to groups of young people, during which it explained the dangers of the indiscriminate use of weapons, discussed their use in the areas of Deir ez-Zor, and showed examples of many incidents that led to negative consequences, some of which claimed innocent human lives.

In its second phase, the No to Weapons campaign was carried out by Deir Ezzor 24 network into the countryside of Hassakeh governorate in al-Shaddadi city and Tel Hamis town, and in al-Suwar city in the northern Deir ez-Zor countryside for the second time. The campaign was received favorably by the people, as they have suffered a lot from the uncontrolled and indiscriminate use of weapons by civilians, who use them commonly at weddings, in fights and at parades, which have caused many tragedies among the people of these areas.

The administrations of the areas of Tel Hamis, al-Shaddadi and al-Suwar praised the campaign and called for its continuation, as it has a positive effect in facing this negative phenomenon.

It is indicated that the No to Weapons campaign is continuing and will reach other areas in the Deir ez-Zor countryside, and the provinces of Raqqa and Hassakeh, until it achieves its goals in reducing the disasters caused by the indiscriminate use of weapons.

This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Napa Police responded to two unrelated stabbings in a two-hour period early Friday morning. The first incident was reported at 12:43 a.m. at an apartment complex on the 300 block of Collier Boulevard in southwest Napa. A male came to a residence and reported he had been stabbed, police said.

The victim had multiple stab wounds and is receiving medical care, police said.

The case is under investigation. Additional details were not available.

At 2:20 a.m., officers were dispatched to Little Caesars Pizza on the 2300 block of California Boulevard where a male and a victim were in a physical altercation, police said. The victim was treated for stab wounds at Queen of the Valley Medical Center, police said.

Police arrested Vishal D. Ghiya, 29 who was booked into the Napa County jail for a possible charge of assault with a deadly weapon, police said.

You can reach City Editor Kevin Courtney at kcourtney@napanews.com or at 707-256-2217.

Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
WILLOWS, Calif. - Hundreds of thousands of snow geese make our area home during the winter months, and theyre bringing with them tourism dollars.

Representatives at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge told Action News Now the birds play an invaluable role in supporting the local economy and environment.

Biologists counted roughly a million birds coming through the North State in December alone. Only 600,000 will survive the long migration. Some 377,000 of those birds counted were ducks and snow geese.

Action News Now spoke with several business owners who said they have seen customers come from all across the country and even as far as Amsterdam. Refuge representatives said some 200 thousand visitors come through the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge complex every year to see the animals.

The birds begin their 3,000-mile flight back north for the summer starting February.

If youd like to visit the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge and see all the birds before theyre gone, you can get a day pass to visit the refuge for just $6.
ONION LAKE, SASK.A Saskatchewan First Nation has declared a state of emergency and is looking for provincial and federal government help to stop drug- and gang-related violence in its community.

The chief and council of the Onion Lake Cree Nation met this week to discuss possible solutions and issued a news release on Thursday.

It said there have been three deaths in the community in the past two months related to drugs and gangs, numerous high-speed chases and violent crimes.

It added that on just one day this week there was another high-speed pursuit, the discovery of a missing mans body and the crash of a stolen vehicle into the bands arena.

Braden Richard Bull, who was 32, had been reported missing on Jan. 17.

The release said officials found what is believed to have been gang-affiliated graffiti inside the vehicle that hit and damaged the arena.

The RCMP are working hard and trying their best but they need more help, said Onion Lake Chief Henry Lewis. Their resources are stretched too thin and our community needs the support of both levels of government before it gets worse.

We need the government to come to our tables and help us create a gang strategy and find solutions that will work for our nation, he said.

We need to increase policing resources, bring in external gang units or whatever is necessary to help our community members feel safe.

Onion Lake straddles the Alberta-Saskatchewan boundary about 50 kilometres north of Lloydminster.
If you had asked her a month ago, Monica Lewinsky would have been adamant: She wanted very much to be excluded from this narrativethe narrative of President Trumps impeachment, that is.

newsflash: you can talk about impeachment w/o tagging me. *curtsies*, the former White House intern wrote on Twitter on Dec. 16. Back in November, she was asking the Chicago Tribune to please refrain from illustrating its impeachment coverage with photos of her. Its apparently almost impossible to think of the concept of impeachment without landing on the last time a president was impeached, and thus, the affair that led to it, but Lewinsky was asking everyone to try.

Advertisement

Well, that was before last weeks announcement that Ken Starr would join President Trumps impeachment defense team, at which point Lewinsky gave up on all that.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

this is definitely an are you fucking kidding me? kinda day, she posted that morning, commenting on the Starr deja vu without referring explicitly to the man who led impeachment proceedings against Clintonand published a detailed report where the entire country could read about a young womans sexual dalliances with the president. Since then, Lewinsky has offered a few other oblique thoughts on the impeachment trial, signaling a reluctant embrace of a role she was drafted for involuntarily: the impeachment commentator America didnt know it needed.

so, what happened in the news today?



(thats me joking... night, kids!)  Monica Lewinsky (@MonicaLewinsky) January 22, 2020

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Lewinskys inability to keep from weighing in on impeachment drama on Twitter is representative of a larger challenge of being Monica Lewinsky in 2020: She seems to want to both move on from the scandal that made her infamous, but also have the public re-examine that scandal and reckon with just how unfairly she was treated during it. (Shes now serving as a producer on the coming installment of American Crime Story based on the Clinton scandal.) She might be just as surprised as anyone to be finding all the ways the Trump impeachment has helped highlight those injustices.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

In truth, recontextualizing her past has been a fruitful pursuit for Lewinsky, who has found success in recent years in transforming the public image the Clinton years imposed on her and carving out a role for herself as an anti-bullying advocate. Though this role may be more inextricable from her past, when she was cast as a ditzy temptress and the frequent butt of jokes, than she would like, a post-#MeToo climate more primed to recognize sexism and abuses of power has left her well-positioned for this work. And in between TED Talks and Vanity Fair articles, her Twitter account provides a natural platform for offering commentary on the news of the day, a place where she can easily switch between providing incisive commentary, retweeting her famous friends, and making light of her notoriety. Lewinsky may have wanted to sit this impeachment out, but it turns out it needed her, and thankfully she answered the call.
(Newser)  Stepping up its efforts against criticism of the government by its citizens abroad, as well as those at home, China has sentenced a student to prison over tweets he sent while attending college in the US. Luo Daiqing, 20, was arrested last July in his hometown of Wuhan after he returned from the University of Minnesota, Axios reports. November court documents said Luo "used his Twitter account to post more than 40 comments denigrating a national leader's image and indecent pictures." The tweets "created a negative social impact," the filing said. Luo was give a six-month term, with the time he had spent in detention to count toward the six months. Luo confessed to using a false identity to post altered pictures, the court said, and deleted them later. Human rights groups have suspected China of coercing confessions.

story continues below

The account had retweeted images of Winnie the Pooh, which has been frowned upon since the character was compared to President Xi Jinping. Sen. Ben Sasse, a Nebraska Republican and Intelligence Committee member, demanded China release Luo. "The Chinese Communist Party has banned Twitter, so the only people who even saw these tweets were the goons charged with monitoring Chinese citizens while they're enjoying freedom here in the United States," Sasse said, per Time. Chinese students in the US are aware that they may be watched by their government. "This is what ruthless and paranoid totalitarianism looks like," Sasse said. (Read more China censorship stories.)
William Barr, U.S. attorney general, speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, May 1, 2019.

All three companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Any changes to the law could have implications for companies such as Facebook , Alphabet 's Google and Twitter which publish large amounts of user content with only limited ability to monitor it for offensive language and imagery.

A U.S. government source said the department plans to invite a wide range of interested parties to the conference to examine the future of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, including representatives of industry, Congress, "thought leaders" and officials of President Donald Trump's cabinet.

The U.S. Justice Department is planning to hold a conference to discuss the future of a current federal law which largely exempts online platforms from legal liability for the material their users post, sources familiar with the plans said on Friday.

The tech publication "The Information" reported on Friday that the department was planning to hold what it described as a "workshop" on the law's future in February. But the source familiar with the government's plans said a date for the event has not yet been fixed.

Plans for such a conference come in the wake of a speech last month in which U.S. Attorney General William Barr said that the Justice Department was "studying Section 230 and its scope." Barr said that "many are concerned that Section 230 immunity has been extended far beyond what Congress originally intended."

Barr said current law had "enabled platforms to absolve themselves completely of responsibility for policing their platforms, while blocking or removing third-party speech - including political speech - selectively, and with impunity."

Some lawmakers and experts want the companies to bear more responsibility for policing their services, which could steeply increase costs for the internet giants.

Several professors across the United States who study laws around speech and expression on the internet were invited to the event, according to four people asked to attend. Two said they had not been given details on the event's timing, participants or structure.

Emma Llanso, director of the Free Expression Project at the Center for Democracy & Technology, said the Justice Department is considering holding public panels and private meetings, according to an invitation she received this week.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday claimed that Mahmud Hassan, a Bangladesh-based terrorist had conducted recce of public places in Bengaluru, for terror acts during his nine months stay from November 2018 to July 2019.

The NIA said Mahmud and Mohamad Saad Hussain, members of Ansar-al-Islam, a banned terrorist organization in Bangladesh, were arrested in Mizoram in July last year after they were caught by villagers in Mamit district suspecting them to be illegal migrants. The case was later handed over to the NIA.

Both the accused illegally crossed the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura in November, 2018. They concealed their location and identity based on fake Aadhaar cards. These fake Aadhaar cards were given to them by their handlers in Bangladesh. Investigation further revealed that accused Mahmud Hassan alias Shariful Islam had traveled from Agartala to Bengaluru in pursuance to

conspiracy of terrorist acts in India and stayed in Bengaluru between November, 2018 and July, 2019.

During his stay in Bengaluru, he conducted recce of some public places in Bengaluru, the NIA said in a statement.

The agency filed a charge sheet against the duo on Friday in a special NIA court in Aizawl, Mizoram.

The statement said that investigation also revealed that on the instructions of his handler, the accused financially assisted an arrested member of Ansarullah Bangla, another terrorist group, who is lodged in Kolkata jail.

Both the accused later criminally conspired, as per the directions of their handlers in Bangladesh and tried to procure weapons from various places in Tripura and Mizoram in pursuance of the conspiracy of committing terrorist acts in India.

During investigation, large amount of incriminating documents were recovered from their digital devices, said the statement.

The NIA said Mahmud alis Shariful Islam, 25, hails from Barherchar village in Narsingdi district (Dhaka division) while Hussain, 31, was a resident of Doharpar village in Magura district in Bangladesh.

Both have been charged under Section 120b, 419, 465, 468, and 471 of IPC, Section 14 of Foreigners Act and Section 18 Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in a case (No. RC-11/ 2019) re-registered in NIAs Guwahati office. The NIA is probing the activities of Ansar-al-Islam in India.
Iran and Russia have reacted strongly to a statement by the top U.S. diplomat dealing with Iran, that if the new Qods Force commander continues in the path of his predecessor, Qassem Soleimani by killing Americans, he will face the same fate.

The reactions of both Iran and Russia were quick, signalling that tensions simmer under the cover of a pause in escalation which has been apparent since Iran launched ballistic missiles at two bases in Iraq housing U.S. troops.

While the condemnation of Hook's statement by the Islamic republic came as no surprise, Russian foreign ministry's reaction was much needed support for Iran, which finds itself in diplomatic and economic isolation.

I state once again that such statements are unacceptable for us. Such remarks have been made beyond rights and law, and representatives of world states are not entitled to utter them, Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said at a news briefing in the capital Moscow on Thursday.

Earlier in the day her Iranian counterpart Abbas Mousavi had said that the latest remarks by the U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook were "exposing United States' targeted and state terrorism". Mousavi said the United States, after Israel, is the second "regime to officially announce that it has employed the resources of its government and armed forces for terrorist acts and that it will continue them in the future.

Mousavi also called the threat "a clear sign of "weakness, desperation, and confusion" among the officials of the American regime".

The targeted killing of Soleimani near Baghdad Airport on January 3 hugely escalated tensions in the region which culminated in an Iranian attack on Ain al-Assad and another base in northern Iraq which hosted American and other Coalition troops with ballistic missiles. The attack reportedly had no human casualty. However, the United States has admitted that some of its soldiers were injured in the attack.

Soleimani had special relations with Russian leaders and according to Western intelligence sources had even visited Moscow in July 2015 and met with the Russian President and Defense Minister despite a travel ban and UN Security Council resolutions barring him from leaving Iran.

His successor, General Esmail Qaani has vowed to follow his path and at least, for the time being, has shown no deviation from the path of his slain predecessor.

On Soleimani's initiative, Iran and Russia formed an alliance in support of the Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad which saved him from defeat at the hands of his opponents in the civil war. Reportedly, Soleimani convinced Vladimir Putin that if Russia would provide air support, Iran and its proxies could defeat the rebels on the ground.

The U.S. Special Representative for Iran, Brian Hook, made the threat against the new Qods commander in an interview with London-based Asharq Al-Awsat  on the sidelines of Davos Conference. In this interview Hook maintained that Soleimani's killing, who he called "the world's most dangerous terrorist", is going to make the Middle East a safer place because it will create a "void that the regime will not be able to fill".

Following Hooks statement, The U.S. once again showed its determination to follow the "maximum pressure" policy against Iran by sanctioning a string of companies it accused of helping sell Iranian oil and petrochemicals, repatriating the proceeds for use by the Qods Force.

Soleimani had first been designated a "terrorist" and sanctioned by the U.S in 2005 and then in 2011 by the U.S. treasury department for an alleged failed plot to assassinate the Saudi Ambassador to the United States in Washington D.C.

The New Commander of the Qods Force, General Qaani, has personally not shown any reaction to the threat made against him.
About a week ago, news arrived of the European Union (EU) contemplating passing legislature that would force all companies selling gadgets in the EU to have a common charging port. As expected, Apple has pushed back, warning the EU about the potential negative consequences of such a legislature, citing possible risks of stifling innovation in the tech space.

If the EU does pass the legislation with this new regulation, it is quite clear that the company that would stand to lose the most would be Apple. This is due to fact that Apple continues to use its proprietary Lightning Connector on the iPhone to this day. Android phones on the other hand, for the most part, have already switched to the USB Type-C port for charging.

It is unclear as to what Apple would do in case the legislation does get passed. Would it comply and engineer an iPhone that charges via USB-C or would it try and fight the legislation long enough until it releases the rumoured port-less iPhone in 2021? However, it is important to note that the iPad Pro has already switched to USB-C, showing that Apple isnt against the port completely.

Apple does strongly feel that the legislation would cause more problems that it solves. Primarily, Apple warns against the stifling of innovation as this regulation would stop companies from looking into further development of the charging port. Apple also believes that the environmental cost of users switching from the Lightning Port to USB-C will be enormous and this will only cause irritation among users.

In a statement Apple said, We believe regulation that forces conformity across the type of connector built into all smartphones stifles innovation rather than encouraging it, and would harm consumers in Europe and the economy as a whole. We hope the (European) Commission will continue to seek a solution that does not restrict the industrys ability to innovate

Source
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: IT and Industries Minister KT Rama Rao, who is currently participating in the World Economic Forum (WEF) summit in Davos, received a rare honour on Thursday.

The WEF invited KTR to attend the Informal Gathering of World Economic Leaders (IGWEL) where he participated in a meeting titled Keeping Pace Technology - Technology Governance at Crossroads.

Usually, the heads of governments or policy-makers in the Central governments would only be allowed to take part in the IGWEL. However, Rama Rao too was invited to the gathering by the WEF. He attended the IGWEL along with Serbia Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, Poland Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, Estonia Prime Minister Juri Ratas and several senior Ministers from Brazil, Singapore, Korea, Indonesia, Oman, Ithiopia, Botswana and other countries. Meanwhile, the IT Minister continued to hold back-to-back bilateral meetings with industry leaders from across the world on Thursday, the third day of the WEF summit which is being held at Davos.

KTR meets with Saudi and Korean Ministers

During an interaction with Saudi Communications Minister Abdullah Alswaha at a business gathering in Davos, KTR invited the former to visit Hyderabad to explore potential collaboration opportunities. Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra also met KTR.

Camilla Sylvest, EVP, Commercial Strategy and Corporate Affairs Novo Nordisk, Danish multinational pharmaceutical company, called on KTR at Telangana Pavilion in Davos. Possible collaboration with RICH and BioAsia were discussed at the meeting.

At another meeting, Sanjay Mehrotra, chief executive of Micron Technology, met Rama Rao and held discussions on partnering to support Hyderabads economic development. The IT Minister also met Coca Cola CEO James Quincey at a business gathering on the sidelines of WEF summit. He had a brief conversation with YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki. During their interaction, the latter informed the Minister that Hyderabad was a priority centre for YouTube.

KTR also met Minister of SMEs and Startups of the Republic of Korea Park Young-Sun. During the meeting, the latter emphasised the need for deregulation with respect to innovative enterprises
A South Armagh man who attacked two male teachers who were out socialising in Dundalk was identified after one of the victims took photos of him and shared them on social media, Dundalk Circuit Court heard last Friay.

Ryan McGroder (23) of New Road, Silverbridge admitted two counts of assault causing harm, at Park Street, Dundalk on April 17th 2017.

Both victims were out socialising with the girlfriend of one of the injured parties and were walking down on Park Street, after failing to get a taxi, when what was described in court as a sexualised comment was made about the woman.

Her boyfriend told the defendant to keep his mouth shut, but Ryan McGroder approached and struck him a punch to the face  causing him to fall to the ground, followed by a scuffle.

After the victim got up off the ground he rang the gardai and took two photos of the defendant which he shared on Whats App and a friend got in touch to identify Ryan McGroder.

The second victim  who had travelled from Dublin to join the couple on the night out, told gardai he remembered someone shouting inappropriate remarks and then Ryan McGroder looking up at him after hitting the first man.

His next memory was of being up against a wall being helped by three or four people. Hed suffered cuts to his head, forehead and bruising and has not returned to Dundalk since the assault as he doesnt feel safe there.

The first victim  who suffered a chipped tooth and fracture at his right elbow, which he was advised was a degenerative injury, said in a victim impact statement said he suffers from flashbacks. He doesnt feel safe in his home town.

The court heard Mr. McGroder had no previous convictions north or south of the border and works as a volunteer helping a local homeless charity and with the Louth Traveller Movement.

The Defence barrister said he had instructions that his client was not the individual who had made remarks, which he claimed were along the line of the woman being gorgeous.

He said they had come from someone else and the defendant also claimed hed been acting in self-defence.

The barrister told the court client is a student at DkIT and stressed that a conviction would have an impact on his plans to become a teacher.

He added that 5,000 could be made available for the injured parties if given time.

Judge John O Connor adjourned sentencing to June 30th and indicated he was recommending a 12 month suspended sentence for each assault to allow for payment of the money and to see that the defendant is of good behaviour, as submitted to the court.
Im old. Theres no getting around it. My age is the same number as that famous highway that a long-ago popular song urged Americans to get their kicks on.

Im on Medicare, get senior discounts at restaurants and work out three times a week at Senior Services Plus. I also take a yoga class. If I must be an old guy, then Im determined to be a muscular, agile old guy.

Besides Medicare and those senior discounts, another benefit of being old is having a bit of fun by telling Millennials and Generation Zers when-I-was-your-age stories. When young persons use their cell phones in my book shop, I might say, When I was your age and wanted to call someone when I was away from home, I had to use a phone booth. They were hot in the summer, cold in the winter and drunks sometimes threw up in them. It was rough!

Heres another favorite. You say youre going to rent a movie on Netflix? When I was your age and wanted to rent a movie, I had to drive all the way to Blockbuster, hope there would be at least one VHS tape left in stock and then stand in line forever to get checked out.

I also tell them about seeing Janis Joplin at the Mississippi River Festival just a year before her death. Yes, the Who are still around today, but I tell my book shops young patrons that I saw them perform when Keith Moon and John Entwistle were still alive and rocking.

Politically-active young persons perk up their ears when I tell them about attending events at Southern Illinois University that featured long-ago radicals such as Jane Fonda and William Kunstler. Fonda had visited Hanoi just a few months earlier, which caused a heckler in the audience to denounce her as Hanoi Jane. Kunstler was best known for defending the Chicago Seven, which included such New Left luminaries as Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin and Tom Hayden. Young persons who are historically literate find such memories fascinating.

This Baby Boomer also enjoys listening to those young persons who share their life stories. I might be old, but Im not too old to learn.

Boomers, Generation Xers, Millennials, Zers as well as members of the Silent and Greatest generations get along well with each other in my book shop. Thats why I was so surprised to learn about a church in Minnesota that has decided the old and young should be consigned to different houses of worship.

The Grove United Methodist Church in Cottage Grove, Minnesota will close in June and then re-opened in November. It isnt being closed for renovations. It will be locked up so that members of its congregation, most of whom are past 60, can find new churches. Dan Wetterstrom, the pastor of Grove UMC, denied media reports that congregants were asked to stay away from their church for two years.  They were requested to move to an alternative worship for 15 to 18 months, he said. Congregants can then return to Grove UMC, if they have any desire to do so.

It seems that Grove UMC wants to reinvent itself as a youth-oriented church. The churchs leadership has decided that pews of gray-haired congregants are a turn-off for the young, so its time for a purge of the elderly. Evidently, the powers-that-be at Grove UMC arent familiar with the admonition of Psalm 71:9: Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.

Church members are expected to maintain the church while its closed. Well, I guess someone has to keep the place looking spiffy for all those youngsters who are expected to show up later. Continued financial support of the church is also expected from the old-timers. While their presence isnt appreciated, their dollars are still welcomed with open arms.

We Baby Boomers wont take age discrimination lying down. Were veterans of the civil rights and anti-war movements. We cut our teeth on protests.

John J. Dunphy is the Godfrey Fifteenth Precinct Democratic Committeeperson and is recording secretary for the Godfrey Democrats.
On the night Eastons charter school fired its operations manager, its new solicitor vowed to help the school turn the page and write a new chapter in its brief but controversial history.

The board at Easton Arts Academy Elementary Charter School voted unanimously Thursday night to fire Operations Manager Jacqueline Zupko. She was suspended without pay on Jan. 17, according to board president Michelle Zattoni.

She violated the schools information technology and personnel policies, Zattoni said Tuesday. Zupko couldnt be reached for comment Thursday.

Zupko was sued by a former principal who accused her of rigging grades. She was one of three administrators to come under fire by employees in a special report published by lehighvalleylive.com. She was accused of contributing to a toxic work environment at the school.

The other two administrators are also gone. CEO Joanna Hughes was fired last month. Chief Administrative Officer Shawn Ferrara left in June.

The board voted last month to fire solicitor Brian Leinhauser. The school is now represented by the Philadelphia law firm of Sand and Saidel. Attorney Daniel H. Saidel said he was brought in to review the schools policies, procedures, computerization and efficiency. His goal is to create a business atmosphere where everything is transparent, moral and ethical.

Were way in the beginning of the process, Saidel said Thursday after the school board meeting. Hes been an attorney and an accountant for about 40 years and has represented charter schools for 20 years.

Principal William Wright is serving as the interim CEO. Saidel said the process is still underway to find a permanent CEO.

Im very happy to be here and I hopefully will aid you people in getting results you want from the school. Thats our goal and thats our mission as a law firm, Saidel said at the meeting.

The school continues to negotiate a contract with Alt Ed Solutions, a company run by former Northampton Area School District Superintendent Angelo R. Senese. Alt Ed will help provide a smooth transition from Hughes departure until a permanent CEO is named.

The school at 30 N. Fourth St. in Easton was founded in 2017. Charter schools are funded through local tax dollars but privately run.

Other moves

In addition to approving Zupkos termination, the board approved these personnel measures:

The board accepted the resignation of school board member Frank Pologruto, effective Jan. 21. That will make two empty seats. The five current members are Zattoni, Leigh Miller, Sharon Jermany, Michael Lieberman and Trisha Beegle.

The board promoted human resources assistant Conni Eckmart to interim human resources manager

Teacher John Andreadis was made the school arts coordinator. Beth Peters was stripped of that duty.

The board accepted the resignation of Dolly Cary as assistant to the CEO, effective Jan. 2.

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.
Mixed reactions have trailed a comedy skit in which Ismaila Mustapha, Nigerian Instagram celebrity better known as Mompha, was featured b...

Broda shaggi just did a skit of how mompha was convicted in less than 3 minutes.



mompha was convicted by EFCC after showing them where his source of income,they still called him a fraudstar because he lives a lavish life style.



Mompha gave EFFC money & suddenly became friends  QUDUS (@QdPaper) January 23, 2020

Mompha is now an IG comedian probably cos the EFCC seized his passport. Baba for don travel back to Dubai  https://t.co/vZ1rxIRJ29  Kelvin (@IgweOfficial) January 23, 2020

Everyone has a price, you just have to find out what it is. Brodashaggi is rebranding the image of Mompha here. PR work! https://t.co/1ROdFnTgqA  Adelowo Oguntola (@AdelowoOguntola) January 23, 2020

Mompha is using Broda Shaggi to do the work of Olivia Pope...



Narrative rewriting...



Mompha's equivalent of Naira Marley's



"Am I a Yahoo boy"...  The Kingmaker (@SmithVinci) January 23, 2020

Mixed reactions have trailed a comedy skit in which Ismaila Mustapha, Nigerian Instagram celebrity better known as Mompha, was featured by popular Instagram comedian, Broda Shaggi.Mompha, who is known for his extravagant lifestyle, had fizzled into the spotlight in 2019 after he was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged money laundering.In the over three minutes video, Broda Shaggi plays the role of a police officer edged by an accomplice, also a police officer. Both officers wielding guns stop a car on a street for a security check.The driver of the car turns out to be Mompha, who takes down the cars windscreen and is immediately recognised by the police officers.Police don release you?, Broda Shaggi asks.Who be Police? I be criminal, Mompha retorts. Youre a criminal!, responds Broda Shaggi.Nigerian police will never tolerate and laugh with a criminal, he continues. Mompha reiterates he is not a criminal and shouldnt be addressed as such.I am not a criminal, stop calling me a criminal, he says.Broda Shaggi then proceeds to request for the car documents and drivers license which Mompha duly obliges.He is then asked to come out of the car while Broda Shaggi accuses him of trying to run away.He argues Mompha  who owns a collection of exotic cars including Ferrari and Lamborghini  is driving a Toyota Camry so he could disguise himself.Mompha responds by saying that is the ploy that suits the country as it likes to bring people on top, down.No be wetin una country want? Una like to bring person wey don big down, he said.The video has since elicited a flurry of reactions on social media platforms especially Twitter.Read the reactions below:
Hiring professional designers to guide you through a home revamp can get you what you want, which doesnt necessarily have to be what TV home improvement shows tell us, writes Carol OCallaghan.

HAVE we had enough yet of Dermot Bannons new house? Well, Ive had sufficient reminders over several series that the only option seems to be the relentless open-plan triad of spaces rubber-stamped across his projects.

Happily, away from the gogglebox experience, architects and interior designers are doing clever things which dont necessarily involve bulldozing walls and months of builders booting it through the house.

This I was reminded of during the week over pots of tea and yummy homemade scones in a modern family home in Farran, Co Cork, where three main rooms have been transformed without the ear-splitting staccato of a Kango hammer.

Its the residence of a software company manager, his wife whos a stay-at-home mum, and two young sons. They wisely delayed certain aspects of the interior design until the children grew out of the house-wrecking, rascal stage.

In the bespoke master bedroom, details like moving electrics were included so as not to interrupt the bedroom mural. Picture: Larry Cummins

Built five years ago, the spacious two-storey, four-bedroomed dwelling had masses of potential to add beauty and style which theyve now done with the help of interior designer Sinead Cassidy, in a project which started in April 2019 with finishing touches added by November.

They wanted to take their time and get it right, Sinead says.

We focused on the main bedroom, living room and dining area which all needed to be comfortable, beautiful and practical.

With that, out comes the iPad for the before pictures, showing the living room with furniture from the couples previous home which no longer met their needs, and a dominating television on the chimney breast.

New furniture was needed which would be conducive to family nights in, along with colour and texture, Sinead adds.

The main bedroom lacked calm and the dining room furniture wasnt big enough to accommodate family and guests. I was given carte blanche to come up with ideas, but longevity was a key part of the brief. Once the budget was established, I went shopping with the client to show her furniture and pick out the big items.

In the living room Sinead introduced dark blue to the chimney breast, a colour picked up in the large L-shaped family sofa upholstered in soft chenille for a mix of style and practicality.

On the dark laminate floor sits a cream rug with splashes of blue, while either side of the chimney breast new white built-in units offer storage and display space.

By contrast, curtains in a striking orange with taupe geometric detail drape the main windows. But not to overpower the space, two picture windows are treated in muted tones.

Comfort, beauty and practicality were the guiding themes of the homes interior. Picture: Larry Cummins

A large pocket door offers a semi-open plan arrangement through to the dining room where an extendable pedestal table now seats twelve.

Leather upholstered chairs pick up on the light grey walls, and a mossy green sofa adds additional space for relaxation in proximity to the kitchen.

In the master bedroom, everything had to go, says Sinead, including an exercise machine, to make it calm and restful.

A new bespoke super-king bed is sited against an abstract wall mural which is the only decoration in a restful, light grey scheme.

In the living room, dark blue was introduced to the chimney breast, a colour picked up in the large L-shaped family sofa upholstered in soft chenille. Picture: Larry Cummins

Bespoke lockers and a comfortable armchair with footstool and occasional table complete the look, which Sinead sums up as contemporary but without being minimalist.

As she points out details like moving electrics so as not to interrupt the bedroom mural, and the choice of dark blue on the living room chimney breast so the television blends in, its a reminder of the value of bringing in a professional to attend to this level of detail.

It also illustrates how developing a relationship with a designer who takes time to understand your needs can open up all sorts of intriguing possibilities.

Would you ever think to have a mural in the bedroom?

Above all, the project demonstrates how a home has to evolve over time as the needs of the residents change.

Leather-upholstered chairs pick up the grey colour theme in the dining area. Picture: Larry Cummins

But once you start, taking the time to get it right eliminates what could be costly mistakes or choices lacking longevity.

You have to ask the client if they want it to last five or 10 years, Sinead adds.

What do they want to keep and discard? Then they should focus on the priority areas and be brave and open-minded. Its not a fast turnover business.

Tradesmen are involved and there are waiting times for furniture. My advice is patience and do it right.
Prosecutors John Cummings and Karen P.W. Seifert said Imam should serve the maximum 15- and 20-year prison sentences his two convictions allowed for back to back, as punishment for an attack designed to maximize the pain and humiliation it would cause the United States on the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Cooper agreed to sentence Imam to nearly the maximum, but declined to stack the sentences, saying both counts charged Imam with the same underlying conduct.
Nepal said on Friday that it will not be part of any alliance which is "targeted" to a friendly country and would play a "sensitive role" to protect the "genuine interests" of its neighbouring countries, amidst China's increasing foray in the Himalayan nation.

Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said that Nepal has "time and again made it clear that our soil will not be misused against the critical interests of both our neighbouring countries."



"Nepal will not be a part of any alliance which is targeted to another neighbour or friend...and Nepal will play a sensitive role to protect the genuine interests of our neighbouring countries," Gyawali told a group of visiting Indian journalists at a briefing here.

The Nepal government led by Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli has moved closer to China in recent years, firming up connectivity network, specially the trans-Himalayan project.

China has been investing heavily in Nepal in the last few years to enhance the connectivity and infrastructure. The two countries signed eight agreements in 2018 for developing major infrastructure projects in the land-locked Himalayan nation to further deepen bilateral ties.

Gyawali said Nepal will not allow to be a ground where the big powers may have their contestations. "We just want to develop our friendship. We have nothing to share the big strategies or global agenda," he said.

"So as a developing country, Nepal needs support not only in goodwill and moral support but resources also, because we have a big resource gap...," he said.

He said India and China can play a very important role to preserve the spirit of globalisation and spirit of regionalism. "Nepal does not think there is any contest between India and China in the Himalayan nation," Gyawali said.

"Nepal's geo-location is an opportunity, because to be located between two largest markets of the globe, between the two most populous countries of the globe and two most emerging economies of the globe offers a lot," he said.

"It is an opportunity to be located between two most prominent powers of the region and which are emerging as a global power as well," he added.

Nepal and China last year elevated their bilateral ties to strategic partnership of cooperation after the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the country - the first by a Chinese president after 23 years. The two sides also agreed to respect and accommodate each other's concerns and core interests.

The USD 2.75 billion trans-Himalayan project under China's controversial Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is considered to be one of the most ambitious infrastructure plans ever undertaken by the Chinese government abroad.

India has been severely critical of the BRI, the pet project of the Chinese president, as it comprises the USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

"We are very careful and we are quite sensitive, and we are able enough to demarcate the development assistance and other strategies...," Gyawali said.

"Amity with all and enmity with none is the guidepost of our foreign engagements and foreign policy fundamentals," he said.

"Being guided by the principles of non-alignment in charter, global peace and Panchasheel, we have always maintained friendly relations with neighbouring countries and big powers as well," Gyawali said in response to a question.

Gyawali said Nepal was "encouraged by the recent engagements, contacts, meetings and understandings between the leaders of India and China" after the Wuhan meeting and the very recent Chennai meeting.

"We are encouraged because the more engagements and understandings between the two neighbours contribute a lot for the regional stability and regional prosperity as well," he said, referring to Mamallapuram summit where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi held extensive one-on-one talks spread over two days as part of their second informal summit.

Gyawali said a prosperous India and a prosperous China is an opportunity for Nepal. "We have told them that a stable, prosperous and peaceful Nepal is also in favour of them," he added.

"We think that the problems we are facing now -- climate change, poverty, terrorism, trafficking and many more -- cannot be dealt by a single country alone (no matter) how big, how powerful it is," the minister said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A podiatrist accused of killing his wife and dog in their Singapore home could avoid the death penalty if it's found that a psychiatric condition played a part in her alleged murder.

Paul Leslie Quirk, 48, was charged after his wife Christina Khoo Gek Hwa, 43, was found dead in a third floor condo in the residential estate of Compassvale Bow on January 3.

Quirk will now undergo a further three weeks of psychiatric testing at the request of prosecutors.

But if a mental condition is found to have contributed to Ms Khoo Gek Hwa's alleged murder, he could avoid death by hanging, Nine News reported.

Paul Leslie Quirk is accused of murdering his wife Christina Khoo Gek Hwa in Singapore

Quirk appeared in Singapore's State Courts via video link on Friday for a brief hearing.

He only spoke to say 'English please' when asked his preferred language.

His court appearance comes three weeks after police were called to the couple's home when neighbours claim they heard the blood-curdling screams of Ms Khoo Gek Hwa.

Other residents also allegedly saw Quirk armed with a large stick, and throwing their pet dog over the balcony.

'On 3 January 2020 at 12.07pm, the police received a call for assistance at a residential unit at 125 Compassvale Bow,' a police statement read.

'Upon arrival, a 43-year-old woman was found unresponsive in the unit and was subsequently pronounced dead at scene by paramedics.

'Preliminary investigations revealed that both the deceased and the man are known to each other. Police investigations are ongoing.'

Paul Quirk (pictured with his wife) has been charged with one count of murder and remanded in custody to reappear in court later this month

Quirk was charged with murder the following day.

Quirk moved to Singapore in 2016, where he worked as a senior podiatrist at Tan Tock Seng Hospital until November 2017.

He has 17 years of experience as a podiatrist in Melbourne, according to his LinkedIn bio.

'I decided to venture to Singapore with my passion in podiatry, hoping to share my experience and knowledge to the local community,' the bio states.

Registry of Marriages records showed Quirk and his wife married in August 2017.

Neighbours said they often saw the couple appear happy and normal while lounging in the pool area of their apartment complex.

Shocked patients of Quirk took to social media to share their disbelief at his murder charge.

'The shocking thing is I met him three weeks ago for a podiatrist appointment. [He was] your typical outgoing Aussie who would explain things on a simpler level,' a woman wrote.

Another former patient described him as a 'friendly chap'.

Quirk was remanded in the medical unit of Changi prison and will face court again in mid-February.
Byford is gone  for real this time. Photo: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Its common for a top official in the government (or in any organization) to get forced out after a fight over who should take the blame for something that has gone wrong. More unusually, Andy Byfords departure as the head of New York City Transit seems to have been driven in part by a dispute over who should get credit for something that has gone right: The subways are not as unreliable and delay-prone as they were two years ago, and Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has ultimate control over the citys subway system, seems to have been annoyed about how much credit went to Byford, also known as train daddy to his fans.

Colleagues say both men have supersize egos and wanted credit for the subways success, the New York Times wrote, in a line trimmed from later versions of a story about Byfords departure.

I dont mean to make the dispute sound entirely petty. Byfords resignation letter makes clear his displeasure with a Metropolitan Transportation Authority reorganization that would have reduced his responsibilities by centralizing more functions across MTA agencies, effectively demoting him. Of course, steps Cuomo took to reduce Byfords power may have been driven by their disputes, including a conflict of visions about how to fix the Hurricane Sandydamaged L-train tunnel under the East River that led to responsibility for that project being moved from NYC Transit to MTA Capital Construction, a separate arm of the MTA.

Byford has a not-unreasonable case for taking a victory lap. He has developed and implemented much of a plan to fix faulty speed controls, which has led to a material improvement in subway reliability and on-time performance. And he promulgated a longer-range plan to improve subway service that now has significant funding approved by the state legislature. His work isnt all done, but he can plausibly say hes laid the groundwork for continued improvement even without his continued presence.

While I think Byford has done a good job and Im sorry to see him go, I am somewhat uncomfortable with the deification of Byford that we have seen in the press and among non-Cuomo politicians. Council Speaker Corey Johnson says he is DEVASTATED about Byfords departure. That a single transit agency head is so important that railfans are calling him daddy, even half in jest, reflects not Byfords singular importance but the overall dysfunction of the MTA bureaucracy, which leads us to search for a savior who can overcome impossible odds rather than a competent manager who can just run the subway.

A recurring theme with the departures of well-liked transportation executives in New York  you may recall we went through this with Jay Walder a few years ago  is that Cuomo seems to have been a difficult boss to work for. But the perfect boss is not always hands-off. A hands-on governor who engaged directly with the MTA by standing up for riders when negotiating with unions, contractors, and neighborhood interests would be the right kind of meddlesome boss. This is who Cuomo should strive to be when he oversees the next head of NYC Transit.

Cuomos instinct that has driven many of his interventions at the MTA  that the authority is stuck in its ways, and therefore makes choices that are too expensive and take too long  is broadly correct. And in the high-profile case of the L-train tubes, I believe he swooped in and imposed the correct solution on the authority, even if he did so two years late and in a manner that was embarrassing to people who had been involved in extensive planning for a yearlong subway shutdown.

But in other cases, such as his fixation on the idea that the subways should use wireless signaling to save time and money, Cuomos desire for faster-and-easier seems out of step with actual technological capabilities. And sometimes, Cuomos MTA interventions tend toward hobbyism, stepping in where he can cut a ribbon, propose a shiny capital project, or save Brooklyn commuters from a year of disruption; and stepping back where serving MTA riders well would involve tough choices that upset some other constituency.

A lot of what the MTA (and also the Port Authority) needs most from the governor would be very hard and unpleasant work: Negotiating better union contracts that dont burden the authority with impractical work rules and unsustainable costs; streamlining planning processes and standing up to neighborhood objectors who delay and add costs to capital projects. In these areas, Cuomos actions have often been the opposite of what commuters need.

He has been reluctant to take on the entrenched interests that lead to overbuilt, poorly designed, too-expensive capital projects. At Penn Station, he is pushing to proceed with a station expansion that will require condemnation of an entire city block of midtown Manhattan to add platforms and tracks, instead of modernizing operating schedules so New York can operate with a smaller number of downtown station platform tracks as seen in cities like Paris. In Queens, his quest to build a rail link to LaGuardia Airport is hemmed in by a bizarre requirement that construction cause no disruptions to neighborhoods or existing roadways, and as a result he is pushing to build a train would run backward, away from Manhattan, connecting to an infrequent branch line of the Long Island Rail Road, and costing nearly $2 billion. Everyone from Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to the New York Post editorial board thinks this is a dumb idea.

Cuomos record on capital projects is not uniformly bad. To his credit, he has pushed through a needed third-track expansion of the Long Island Rail Road main line that has long been delayed in large part due to vociferous community objections in the parts of Nassau County where the line runs. As a Manhattan resident, Id love to see that spirit brought to projects within New York City.

As for MTA union contracts, heres what the Times reported about Cuomos approach to those in 2017:

Several M.T.A. officials involved in negotiating recent contracts said that there was one reason they accepted the unions terms: Mr. Cuomo. The governor, who is closely aligned with the union and has received $165,000 in campaign contributions from the labor group, once dispatched a top aide to deliver a message, they said. Pay the union and worry about finding the money later, the aide said, according to two former M.T.A. officials who were in the room.

Mr. Cuomos office said in a statement that the M.T.A. handled its own labor negotiations and that campaign contributions had not influenced any of his actions, the Times also reported. As with all things MTA, when things go right it was Cuomos doing, and when they go wrong it was somebody elses.

I dont mean this as a knock against Byford, but one reason he had such quick success fixing the subways reliability woes was that he was fixing one of the easiest problems to fix at the MTA. The trains are slower because they slowed the trains down was the headline of Aaron Gordons 2018 Village Voice feature finally explaining the mysterious decay of subway speeds and reliability: It wasnt because of a multibillion-dollar backlog of deferred maintenance, like in the 1970s. It was because of dumb operational decisions that imposed too many, too-low speed restrictions in the subway system, and because of a failure to calibrate speed-controlling equipment correctly, which led drivers to undershoot the already-too-low speed limits, lest they trip a faulty speed sensor and get unfairly written up for speeding. This wasnt a problem that could be fixed overnight, but it could be fixed pretty quickly and cheaply, by subway standards.

The MTAs next problems are going to be more complicated and more expensive to fix. Fixing them wont just require the next Byford. It will require a governor whose meddling in the MTA is more constructive, more consistent, and more focused on problems that involve some pain or trade-offs. Cuomo has considerable political talents and, as he showed with health care in the early years of his governorship, a willingness to knock heads, save money, and fix old systems when he finds it necessary. Its time he brings that side of him to his transportation responsibilities.
IT IS movie award season and Irish designers and their luxury creations were the stars of the silver screen this week.

A photographer who is accustomed to training his lens on A-listers such as Michael Fassbender, Emma Watson, Eddie Redmayne and Helen Mirren has propelled homegrown makers onto the red carpet.

So is the title of an inspirational short film by acclaimed photographer Boo George that had its premiere at Showcase  Irelands Creative Expo 2020, on Sunday.

Bear in mind London and US-based Boo is the photographer who put Kim Kardashian on the cover of Elle Magazine for the first time.

A native of Bray, Co Wicklow, the photographer also previously worked with Louis Vuitton, Calvin Klein, Hermes, Emporio Armani, Dior, Joseph and Ralph Lauren and has shot Victoria Beckham for Spanish Vogue.

SPOTLIGHT

Produced by Design & Crafts Council of Ireland (DCI), So throws the spotlight on Irelands luxurious crafts.

So, which means comfort, ease and luxury, in Irish, is the second film produced and commissioned by DCCI to promote Irish makers overseas.

The emotive movie stars Irelands gorgeous textiles, accessories and jewellery produced by 22 Irish designers and markers.

Boo George worked with fashion director Paula Hughes on the project, which captures a magical day in the life of a couple as they escape the city to the countryside, weaving the landscapes, the people and the designs in an evocative and contemporary visual narrative.

PASSION

Boo is an amazing character. He has photographed so many huge stars in fashion and design, working for the very best publications and luxury brands, yet he stays down to earth, committed to the quality of his craft, according to Brian McGee, market development director at DCI, who was also the project director for So. He is also passionate about Ireland and was so generous with his amazing team and his time to make such a beautiful piece of film.

The true stars of So are the clothes, jewellery and accessories, all coming from Showcase, added Mr McGee. To this end we have been privileged to work with Paula Hughes who has delivered a masterclass in styling and fashion direction, he said.

The Irish brands featured in So were chosen because their products are not just beautiful and contemporary, but also have a timeless quality and all the attributes that make them certain to become future heirlooms, added Mr McGee.

SUSTAINABILITY

The message of sustainability is at the core of what makes the work of Irish designers and makers so relevant and desirable globally.

The Irish designers and makers whose work is featured in So are Bernie Murphy, Criostal na Rinne, Dubarry, Fawe, Fisherman Out of Ireland, Hanna Hats, Inner Island, IrelandsEye, Jennifer Kinnear, John Hanly & Co Ltd, Juvi, Lou Brennan, Mackintosh of Ireland, Magee 1866, McConnell Woollen Mills, McNutt of Donegal, Reuben Avenue, Ros Duke, Scribble & Stone, Soilse Candles, Studio Donegal and The Dualist.

Following its inaugural screening at Showcase, So was released online and is available to view at www.showcaseireland.com/why-visit/films.

So is the second in a trilogy of films on Irish textiles planned by DCCI. The first film, Fi premiered at Showcase 2019 and subsequently screened in Paris, Tokyo and New York.

Paula Hughes is one of Irelands most celebrated creative fashion directors. Based between Dublin and London, she has worked with some of the worlds leading brand names, including Swarovski, Harrods, and Harvey Nichols. As a stylist and director she has worked with some of the most famous personalities in fashion including Cara Delevingne, Daisy Lowe and Olivia Palermo.

Showcase  Irelands Creative Expo attracts the buying teams from over 2,760 retailers from across the world, generating sales orders of over 20 million during the four days of the show.

HOME WINNERS

And from the red carpet to rugs, because were all about interiors, we were waiting with bated breath to see who would take the gong for overall best product in the Home category.

Lets hope McNutt of Donegal has a super-fabulous mantelpiece as it is there that this awards new home will be, thanks to McNutts woollen rug. Located in the seaside village of Downings, on the Wild Atlantic Way, McNutt of Donegal has been producing some of the worlds finest weaves for over 60 years.

Highly commended were woodturner Roy Humphreys, who is based in Mohill, Co Leitrim, for his wooden bowl and Saille Baskets, a maker based in Banteer, Co Cork, which was honoured for its woven contemporary basket.
New Delhi, Jan 24 : Ride-hailing major Ola on Friday said that it would not penalise a driver who allegedly accused a rider here of being "anti-national" after overhearing him talking about the poor state of the economy with a friend over phone.

"We are respectful of all personal views and like India's democratic values, we encourage healthy exchange of thoughts. None of the parties involved in this case have been penalised from using the platform and we urge everyone to respect difference of opinion at all times," Ola said in a statement.

This is despite the fact that soon after the rider complained about the behaviour of the driver, Ola apologised to the rider.

"We are sorry about your bad experience. We have reported the driver-partner for corrective action and we would ensure to avoid these instances in the future. Hope to serve you better," Ola said.

The rider, Kanav Sharma, described his ordeal in a series of tweets on Friday.

"Took @Olacabs yesterday. Driver overheard my phone conversation where I was talking about India's economic situation. He said, 'only 6 years of Modi government, how can you blame economy?' It is Congress' fault of 70 years. I asked him, so what all wrongs did Congress do," Sharma, a management consultant, said in a tweet.

As the conversation progressed, the driver said that "Congress created JNU which is a prositution hub of Tukde Tukde gang. You know who was Nehru? He was India's first PM but his grandfather was a Muslim who converted to Hinduism to fool Indian people." When Sharma asked the driver to check the facts, the driver said, "You are one of those anti-national people who find everything wrong with the government. You must also be against CAA and NRC." "I said yes I am against these. He continued, 'where was your opposition when Kashmiri Pandits were raped and murdered'," Sharma said in a tweet.

Sharma alleged that the driver abused him even after he wanted to rescue himself from the debate.

Tagging Ola Cabs in a tweet, Sharma said, "It would be much better if your drivers would focus on driving than overhearing conversations and tagging people as anti-nationals during their driving duties." But soon after Ola apologised for the incident, many people on Twitter threatened to boycott the service of the ride hailing major.

Early on Friday morning, #BoycottOla started trending as many people tweeted in support of the driver.
Michael Farmer: More children are being taken into care. All too often that means being put on a conveyer belt to crime.

Lord Farmer is a former Treasurer of the Conservative Party.

With the word Brexit banished from the lips of those who work in and around Downing Street, the Government is, at last, turning its full attention to the domestic agenda.

A radical shake-up of the Civil Service is on the cards, and other mooted reforms aim to make the Government less London-centric, improve military procurement, introduce tougher sentences for criminals, and boost NHS spending.

These are all important, but I would also urge Mr Johnson to press ahead with a big R-review of Children in Care as a priority. The system he has inherited is at breaking point. It needs to be looked at, root and branch  and through a relational lens. Does the system ensure our most vulnerable children have the relationships which are, for all of us, the very essence of life?

The Review also needs to address the fact that the number of children being drawn into it is growing: between 2009/10 and 2016/17, the total number of looked-after children increased by 17 per cent, from 64,460 to 75,420. The number of local authority court applications to take children into care rose by over a fifth (22 per cent) and the number of children on a child protection plan increased by 38 per cent, from 39,100 to 53,790.

At the same time, the profile of those taken into care has changed dramatically, driven by a growing share of older children and teenage care entrants, many of whom have more complex needs.

Some of the change in the profile of those in care is down to unaccompanied children arriving in the UK, but equally, there has been a significant rise in Section 20 applications, where parents effectively hand over their children to social services because they can no longer cope  a harrowing decision for any parent to have to take.

Worse still are the outcomes of those children and young people in the states charge. In 2017, just 2.7 per cent of children who had been looked after for 12 months or more achieved GCSEs in English language and literature, maths, science, geography or history, and a language, compared to 21.9 per cent of the general population

It is not just in the field of education that we are failing these vulnerable children. On average those in care have worse mental and emotional wellbeing, are more vulnerable to poor physical health, substance misuse, early pregnancies and are more likely to be known to the criminal justice system.

Now, this might seem like an unlikely subject for a former metal trader and Treasurer of the Conservative Party to champion, but I speak from a childhood lived under the dark cloud of parental alcoholism with all the stigma of neglect, shame and poverty this entails. If I had not been sent to a state boarding school and experienced stable relationships, I would likely have ended up in care myself.

I have also conducted two reviews for the Ministry of Justice on the importance of family and other relational ties to reduce reoffending and the intergenerational transmission of crime. The first looked at male prisoners, the second more broadly at female offenders. My primary recommendation was that the importance of relationships should be the golden thread running through the criminal justice system. This has been accepted by the Government not least because their own research found that prisoners who receive family visits are 39 per cent less likely to reoffend than those who do not.

So the broadly acknowledged failure of the current care system is also not simply a question of money, even if some claim it is. Local authorities in England spent nearly 8 billion in 2017/18, indeed many overspent. If the Review is limited to bickering about resources, it will fail. It must be far more ambitious in scope than a focus on resources  or on those already in the system.

We have to do far more to prevent children from coming into care in the first place, where possible. The answer to our high levels of fractured family relationships is not to sever existing ties but to do more, earlier, to strengthen families. Hence my strong support for the Conservative manifesto commitment to champion Family Hubs.

We must also prevent the care system from being a conveyor belt into crime, or other highly detrimental outcomes. Just this week, the Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall said that young boys caught up in county lines drugs gangs should be seen as victims, not criminals. He points to the gap in family support as a root cause and he is right. Dysfunctional homes and the lack of family security in these childrens lives drives them into these gangs.

Currently, relationships are either treated as disposable or are under-exploited. My two prison reviews and a lifetime of experience have taught me the paramount importance of children finding a connection. Someone who is irrationally committed to you, who will support and guide you, and provide the unconditional love so many of us take for granted. The Government is alive to this and has developed the Lifelong Links programme through its Innovation Fund, but this programmes DNA has to be replicated throughout the care system  and in the lives of care leavers in prison.

Adopting this relational lens will fundamentally reset the care system and thereby enable a generation of children, tens of thousands of lives, to escape the trap of low expectations, poverty and crime.
Kolkata/IBNS: Even after Union Home Minister Amit Shah ruled out rolling back the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) despite nationwide protests, agitating women camping at Kolkata's Park Circus Maidan-now dubbed as the eastern metropolis's Shaheen Bagh- too refused to budge down.

Park Circus, the neighbourhood of central-east Kolkata with a big Muslim population, is a hustle-bustle locality with its seven roads meeting at a point and several eateries and restaurants thronged on the footpaths.

Park Circus Maidan, a ground at one corner of the seven-point crossing, is witnessing continued protests against the CAA for two weeks now quite resembling the Shaheen Bagh protests in New Delhi though the latter leads by few more weeks.

Common women- mostly Muslim- could be tracked immediately if one moves towards a big tent erected at the centre of the ground. Giving a message of unity, the tent bears the posters of various revolutionaries, poets, freedom fighters of India- Rabindranath Tagore, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Khudiram Bose, Ashfaqulla Khan, Raja Rammohan Roy to name a few.

A young woman named Saima Ansari, who was clad in burkha with Indian Flag drawn on her face, resonated the voice of youth saying, "We want Azadi."

When asked about her demands for the continuous protest, Ansari said, "We are all one and we should be left like that only. We are not on the streets without a purpose. We have our own works too. We are on roads because of people like Modi."

But CAA is not about taking away citizenship but granting it to the minorities of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Then why are you protesting?

Sensing the question, Ansari went for an all-out attack saying the Act is nothing but a tool to divide people on the basis of religion (Hindus and Muslims).

"We are against CAA because of partiality. They should not have done partiality. They are dividing Hindus and Muslims, so people are worried. They are trying to create a fight between Hindus and Muslims.... Even a small boy will say Modi is a bad person. No one speaks good about him," an angry young woman told IBNS.

What is CAA and why it is contentious?

The CAA, which was Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB) before it was passed by Indian Parliament, aims to grant citizenship to Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi but not Muslim refugees who came to India before Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh before 2015.

But the Opposition political parties- at least the major ones like Congress, Left, Trinamool Congress (TMC), DMK, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)- jumped to slam the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for hurting the secular fabric of the nation, more vehemently after the law was passed by both the houses of Parliament with a comfortable margin.

Ansari, however, feels the CAA is just a "trap" to fulfill the BJP's bigger agenda. "These are traps to draw people towards them and fulfill their purpose," she said in a fluent Hindi.

The NRC twist to CAA

Though few political parties are taking a neutral stand on the CAA, National Register of Citizens (NRC) is vehemently opposed by even BJP's heavyweight ally Janata Dal (United) which is led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

After the widespread protests took place across the country following the passage of the new citizenship law in Parliament, Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah had to backtrack on NRC.

Going flashback to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections or even Shah's last Kolkata visit, the saffron party had made it clear that NRC will follow the implementation of CAA to throw out all infiltrators (who will actually be Muslim refugees as CAA will grant citizenship to minorities of the three neighbouring nations).

"These have been said so that the protests stop," said Ansari who was immediately followed by a middle-aged woman, Janhara Begum, who confessed that she fears the implementation of NRC with CAA.

When IBNS asked whether she fears the implementation of NRC with CAA, Begum said, "Of course. We are fighting for our own rights...... If it is their country, then it is mine too. If it is not my country, then India is not their country also."

Daring the Prime Minister and his government, which secured a landslide victory in the 2019 General Elections and is now facing a protest, Begum poured out her anger and said, "Our forefathers are from India. Do we have to furnish proofs of it?"

She reminded a couplet by lyricist and poet Dr. Rahat Indori which reads, "Sabhi ka Khoon shaamil yahan ki mitti me/ Kisi ke baap ka hindustan thodi hai."

"We will die where we have been born," slowly added young Afreen Alam.

Shahnaz Begum, a Bengali Muslim, pointed out a different aspect to their protests against the CAA much similar to what has happened in Assam.

Contrary to the statement by other women who were blatantly accusing the Modi government of hurting the secular fabric of the nation, Shahnaz Begum completely opposed to the idea of granting citizenship to the refugees irrespective of their religions.

"Our own citizens are not getting enough food to eat, how will they feed citizens of other countries? Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs of India are not getting food to eat, how would the refugees get it? They can't feed their own children. How will they feed children of neighbours?" the woman asked.

Why Assam protests are different?

Contrary to the protests across the nation, the Assamese people are opposing to the idea of granting citizenship to any of the refugees fearing an alteration of the social status quo with the influx of the immigrants from other nations.

Not to forget, Assam has already suffered an NRC which had excluded 19 lakh people of the state with majority of them being Hindus.

Ball in the court

Amid the ongoing protests and the Centre's stubborn rhetoric, the matter is now in the land of the Supreme Court which will hear a clutch of petitions, which are at least 140, in February again after the Centre provides a response on the petitions challenging the CAA.

Meanwhile, several non-BJP ruled states have said they will not implement CAA, which has been notified by the Union Home Ministry with effect from Jan 10, though Kapil Sibal, a Congress man and legal eagle, doubted whether the Opposition can actually disobey the law of the land.
A white professor at an Indiana university apologized to a black student and his classmates after he called campus police Tuesday because the senior wouldn't move his seat.

A video posted on social media shows the the Ball State University student, Sultan 'Mustafa' Benson, being asked to move to the front of the class room by a campus cop.

When the officer asked if Benson was being disruptive, he receives a collective, 'No!' three times from several students.

Benson had been originally asked by the professor to sit in back of the class when his assigned seat in front was taken by another student.

When another front seat became available, the professor asked Benson to move again, but having already been settled in the back, the student failed to see why he had to relocate.

Scroll down for video

Ball State University student, Sultan 'Mustafa' Benson (pictured), said he refused when he was asked to move to the front of his class room by a white professor on Tuesday, and as a result, the instructor called campus police

Video footage posted on social media shows when a white professor at Ball State University in Indiana called campus police on a black student who wouldn't move his seat in class Tuesday

Ball State University Marketing Professor Shaeen Bona has been at the school since 1983. Bona apologized to a student, who is black, for asking him to move to the front of his class Tuesday, after the student already was sitting in the back, and where he already was told to sit

Benson is seen in the footage posted online declining the instructor's request to move and leaves. He later tweeted he was 'totally disappointed' by the incident, to which the university responded back that it was conducting a review of what happened.

The professor, Shaheen Bona, later wrote to Benson and the class to say he was charged with providing an 'excellent educational experience'.

'I am sorry that my actions today did not contribute to that,' Benson wrote, the Star Press reports.

Benson, in an interview with the news outlet, complained the university wasn't treating the incident as a 'discrimination act'.

He called it 'a big issue, a huge issue,' that cops were called to the class, because once the authorities were summoned, the outcome 'could have gone several different ways.'

'I don't think they're getting the concept of that yet,' he told the Star Press.

'I really want Ball State to do something,' he also told WTTV.

'I don't know man, I want them to do something that stands out that's different. I don't want anybody else to feel like this,' he added in his comments to the news outlet.

Ball State University student Sultan 'Mustafa' Benson, who is black and was apologized to by a white professor who called campus police on him after he asked him to move to the front of his class, tweeted he was 'totally disappointed by the incident.'

Benson (pictured) said he wants Ball State 'to do something that stands out that's different. I don't want anybody else to feel like this,' he added in his comments to the news outlet'

University President Geoffrey S. Mearns wrote the student body on Thursday to say that he was out of town attending alumni events in California, but aware of the incident and taking action.

Mearns said he was in touch with Provost Susan Rivera-Mills 'monitoring the situation,' and that Bona's decision was 'a gross error of judgement,' and an 'unwarranted overreaction.'

He said school officials met with Bona, who has been at Ball State since 1983, to express their 'collective concerns that the situation had unnecessarily escalated, and that corrective measures were put in place. Those included 'appropriate training and oversight of the professor going forward.'

The president added that officials were meeting with Benson and the students from the class. He laid out several actions the school would be taking when he returned to campus, including scheduling a meeting next week with the Black Faculty and Staff Association 'to seek their guidance on how we can continue to create a more inclusive campus community.'

Mearns also said he would reach out to the leadership of the Black Alumni Constituent Society to seek out 'their counsel as well'.

Benson provided the Star Press his version of what happened.

University President Geoffrey S. Mearns wrote the student body a letter (pictured) on Thursday to say that he was out of town attending alumni events in California, but aware of the incident and taking action

Bona's class had assigned seating, and Benson originally had been in the second row. But when he arrived Tuesday he found another student sitting where he was supposed to be, and moved to a back row seat, as instructed by Bona.

Once in the back, he set up his laptop and had plugged it into a wall outlet.

When another student vacated a seat in the front, Bona asked Benson to move, but he wouldn't comply, reports the Star Press.

'I was not acting out, I was not talking on my cell phone, I was learning, I was following the lesson plan,' said Benson, who declined to move seats because his computer was still charging.
Imperfect Union: How Jessie and John Fremont Mapped the West, Invented Celebrity, and Helped Cause the Civil War

By Steve Inskeep

Penguin Press. 449 pp. $32

---

Rarely has good fortune become so calamitous as after gold was discovered in California in 1848. The recent war with Mexico that resulted in the acquisition of the American Southwest had reopened the debate over slavery in the western territories, but the sparring was mostly symbolic and prospective. The Southwest was chiefly desert and almost entirely uninhabited by people whose political opinions would have to be taken into account. Its climate unsuited it to the plantation agriculture that supported slavery in the South. The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 was still largely unsettled after nearly five decades in America's possession; the Southwest might not require a decision about slavery until the 20th century. By then the forces of modernization that had rendered slavery anachronistic in the North might well do so in the South, and it would die of its own weight.

The discovery of gold eliminated this possibility. The sudden peopling of California by the gold rush erased the buffer of time. California filled with enough residents to qualify for statehood, and when Congress was slow to provide a government that could protect the Californians from armed robbers, arsonists and other agents of insecurity, they created a government of their own. They wrote a constitution and sent it to Washington for approval.

They also sent John C. Fremont, half of the subject of this fine new book by Steve Inskeep, as one of California's inaugural senators. Fremont's entry into politics was as surprising as the emergence of California, and it reflected the same forces. The bastard son of a French immigrant and his adulterous paramour, Fremont had clawed his way out of obscurity by attaching himself to powerful men. And to one woman - the other half of Inskeep's "Imperfect Union" - even more ambitious than he.

Jessie Benton's father had hoped for a boy. She herself often regretted being female, for it meant she would have to work twice as hard to attain anything like the influence of Thomas Hart Benton, a senator from Missouri since that state's founding. And she would have to be crafty, for where her father could browbeat or occasionally shoot opponents, women were expected to be more demure.

Jessie met John Fremont when John escorted Jessie's older sister to a concert. Whether the spark that resulted was passion or ambition was difficult to say. Not that either felt obliged to parse the matter; the one motive served the other. Jessie defied her father, who wanted a big wedding with a groom of good family, and eloped with John. When they broke the news and the senator ordered John to leave and never return, Jessie said she would go with him. Her will proved stronger than her father's: Thomas Benton resigned himself to making the best of the bad situation by making the most of his son-in-law's career.

Benton's special project was the West, which became John and Jessie Fremont's project, too. Inskeep covered an earlier American West in his book "Jacksonland," on Andrew Jackson and the Cherokees; in "Imperfect Union," he follows John Fremont on various expeditions of discovery across the Rocky Mountains, the Great Basin, the Cascade Range and the Sierra Nevada. Jessie Fremont is never far behind, in the telling if not the traveling, for she served as co-author, editor and promoter of the accounts that made John Fremont a hero of the armchair explorers who snatched the stirring narratives from bookshops around the country.

Inskeep's day job is journalism; he hosts NPR's "Morning Edition." His journalist's eye for detail and nuance serves his readers well. His account of the dumb luck of the Fremonts in becoming insanely wealthy in California - a property that John bought for a ranch proved to sit atop the Mother Lode - makes clear how capricious fortune could be in that singular moment of American history.

And as a journalist, Inskeep recognizes spin when he sees it. He cross-checks the Fremonts' accounts of the Western journeys with diaries kept by other members of the expeditions, who acknowledged John Fremont's courage but saw it shade into foolhardiness that could have killed them all. Inskeep situates the Fremont story in the context of the bluster of "Manifest Destiny," which pronounced divine intent in American expansion. In this case, he might have discounted the rhetoric even more than he does. Then and now, it's not obvious that anyone really took the providential formulation seriously. One of the first deliberate sound bites in American history, the slogan rationalized what people wanted to do for other reasons, without convincing skeptics.

Inskeep traces the rise of John and Jessie Fremont, culminating in his nomination for president by the new Republican Party in 1856. This narrative arc suits the author's story of the invention of celebrity in 19th-century America. The decline Inskeep leaves to a brief epilogue. And it's in the decline that the Fremonts' fate parallels that of America after the gold rush. The fight over California produced the Compromise of 1850, in which the North conceded to the South the Fugitive Slave Act in exchange for Southern acquiescence in California's admission as a free state. The fugitive law outraged anti-slavery sentiment in the North and helped spawn the anti-slavery Republican Party, which was perceived by white Southerners as a threat to their way of life. The election of Republican Abraham Lincoln in 1860 triggered Southern secession and the Civil War.

Sudden wealth was a disaster for the Fremonts, too. John Fremont squandered their fortune on bad investments, eventually losing it all, and his reputation along with it. Nor did the gold do anything good for their marriage - but that might have suffered anyway, once Jessie discovered that John was out of his element in politics and would never make her the wife of a president. Imperfect union indeed. But the more fascinating for it.

---

Brands teaches at the University of Texas at Austin. His most recent book is "Dreams of El Dorado: A History of the American West."
Authorities said a man came into a Subway in Germantown on Oct. 24 and demanded cash. He vaulted over a counter and threatened an employee with a knife. The employee jumped over the counter to flee, according to police and court documents. The man tried to chase the employee but fell when he jumped over the counter and hit his head on the floor, documents said. Police said the man fled without any cash.
Ireland could be one of the losers in a "race to the bottom" if a deal to reform company taxes at a global level is not reached this month.

The Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is rushing to broker the outlines of a deal by the end of January that could form the basis for a definitive agreement among more than 130 countries by the end of this year.

The Department of Finance estimates that in the event of a deal being struck that would see multinationals taxed on profits where their goods and services are consumed, the Exchequer may face 800m to 2bn in lost annual revenues.

James Stewart of Trinity College told a conference organised by the TASC think-tank that the OECD proposals were flawed. "The OECD proposals are weak, complicated and are probably weakening further," Professor Stewart said.

Just a week ago, it appeared that the OECD plans, which would divvy up a proportion of company profits for multinationals over a certain size, were dead in the water as France and the US faced off over digital taxes. While France has now backed down, others look as if they will scupper any tough deal.

The UK is pushing ahead with its own tax for now, while other large nations like India and Indonesia will simply not agree to have an OECD deal imposed on them.

"The Irish Government agrees with the OECD," Professor Stewart said. "The EU proposals are much more rational, far more sensible and they would cost the Irish Government quite a lot of money."

Professor Stewart said that the UK proposals alone would cost the State 160m a year.

Apple CEO Tim Cook told the Irish Independent this week that he backed the OECD approach.

"I think the place for that to happen is at a worldwide level, because you can bet that each country is going to have a different point of view," he said. "And so the OECD, I think, is the place for this."

The State has become steadily more dependent on company tax revenues to fund spending, and eight in 10 euro it receives come from multinational companies.

The tax take from companies last year hit a record 10.4bn, or 19pc of all tax revenues.

The former head of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council has warned company tax revenues could be running as much as 6bn ahead of what is warranted by Ireland's underlying economic performance.

Seamus Coffey said a set of more aggressive tax proposals from the EU would be a bigger threat than Brexit.
The BET index, which includes the most-traded 16 companies listed on the Romanian stock exchange, except for the Financial Investment Companies (SIFs), went up by 35 percent in 2019, the largest yearly growth rate in the last decade posted by the Romanian stock market and the second increase rate in 2019 among EU capital markets, according to the Bucharest Stock Exchange report.

"The BET index, which includes the most-traded 16 companies listed on the Romanian stock exchange, except for the Financial Investment Companies, went up by 35 percent in 2019. It is the largest yearly growth rate in the last decade posted by the Romanian stock market and the second increase rate in 2019 among EU capital markets, according to the Bucharest Stock Exchange report. Accounting for dividends, the market spiked up by 47 percent," the cited document informs.

At the level of the European Union, Romania was surpassed only by Greece (+49 percent).

In context, Adrian Tanase, the BVB CEO, reminded that 2019 was the year in which all the criteria for promotion to the status of secondary emerging market were met.

"The year 2019 was the building year: we laid the foundations of the Central Counterparty Clearing company (CCP), a fundamental entity for developing market liquidity, and paved the way to meet all the criteria to be promoted to the Secondary Emerging Market status. The priorities for 2020 aim at the logical continuation of this construction: the process to authorize and implement the CCP, which will allow the relaunch of the derivatives market, improve the efficiency of the stock exchange operations for the capital market participants, promote the Romanian companies in the FTSE Russell indices for Emerging Markets, and, last but not least, continue our efforts to significantly improve population participation in the capital market," Adrian Tanase specified.

He also affirms that 2020 can be even better for the Romanian stock exchange, insofar as the state resumes the listing process, frozen over the last 5 years, to sell minority stakes in state-owned companies such as Hidroelectrica or CEC Bank. Adrian Tanase also highlighted in context that the listing of Hidroelectrica is almost decisive for Romania to receive the Emerging Market status also from the global index provider MSCI.

"For enhanced relevance, the weight of the Romanian companies listed on the stock exchange should double and reach 20 percent in the next 10 years, and this can be achieved through the involvement and support of the state authorities," the BVB representative explained.

The global index provider FTSE Russell announced on September 26, 2019, that Romania would be promoted from Frontier Market to Secondary Emerging Market status. The decision will become effective as of September 2020. The shares of the Romanian companies that meet the eligibility criteria for the FTSE Russell indices are Romgaz, Banca Transilvania and BRD-Groupe Societe Generale. Five other companies could join FTSE Russell indices for Emerging Markets should they meet the liquidity criterion at the next assessment. The five companies are: Electrica, Nuclearelectrica, OMV Petrom, Transelectrica, and Transgaz.

BVB approved at the end of last year a pilot program for intermediaries that act or intend to act as Market Maker for shares, in order to enhance the liquidity of those shares. Following this update, which became effective starting from January 1, 2020, the target for the Market Making activity is to reach at least 15 percent of the total trading activity in equities, the BVB report specifies.

The total trading value for equities accounted for more than EUR 2 billion at the end of 2019. By the last trading session in December, the capitalization of the Romanian companies listed on BVB amounted to RON 111.5 billion or EUR 23.3 billion.
(CNN)  Some of the world's biggest advertisers have joined forces with Facebook, YouTube and Twitter in an attempt to prevent harmful online content messing with their campaigns.

Companies such as Procter & Gamble, Kellogg, Adidas, Unilever, and PepsiCola, are worried that their ads can pop up next to content they don't want associated with their brands, such as violent or terrorist videos and hate speech.

The Global Alliance for Responsible Media, which represents 60 companies, ad agencies, industry associations and digital platforms, announced at the World Economic Forum on Thursday a series of measures it says will help keep harmful content offline and away from advertisements.

Taken together, the companies and agencies represent $97 billion of advertising spend. And every year, a bigger chunk of those budgets is spent with digital platforms.

In an interview on the sidelines of the WEF's annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Marc Pritchard, chief brand officer at P&G, said he wants a responsible and transparent system.

"I really want the same standards that we have on TV, radio and print," Pritchard told CNN Business.

The alliance says it will establish a shared standard to determine what content is harmful; common tools that can be used to ensure ads don't appear next to that content; and metrics so that the industry can assess how successful they are at blocking and taking down harmful content.

"We just don't want bad content out there, and you especially don't want your brands next to it and you certainly don't want your funds next to it funding these bad actors," Pritchard said.

The problem of ads appearing next to harmful content used to be a near-daily headache, Pritchard said. In 2016, P&G and other companies started calling for greater transparency from the digital media platforms so they could understand what's being seen, where and by whom.

"Once we started getting that data, around 2017, we started finding there were some problems," Pritchard said.

That led to P&G suspending all their advertisements on YouTube for more than a year. Now P&G only advertises on select channels on the Google-owned platform, Pritchard said.

Google's president of brand solutions Kirk Perry said in a statement that finding a shared understanding of how to identify and treat harmful content is "an important step."

Carolyn Everson, Facebook's vice president of global marketing solutions, said in a statement that the company's "commitment to safety and partnering across the industry is unwavering."

Pritchard said there had been progress in recent years on removing harmful content, but he called on all digital media platforms to go much further.

"They should all be doing better, seriously," he said. "They all should be doing better and we as advertisers should all be doing our part and our agencies should be doing their part."

This story was first published on CNN.com "These brands spend nearly $100 billion on ads. They want Facebook and Google to raise their game"
Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) leader Babulal Marandi, who was also Jharkhand's first Chief Minister (Image: Twitter/@yourBabulal)

Former Jharkhand chief minister Babulal Marandi's Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) has withdrawn support from Hemant Soren's coalition government in the state.

JVM (P) leader Abhay Singh told news agency ANI that the party has withdrawn its support from Hemant Soren-led JMM-Congress-RJD government in Jharkhand.

It was reported earlier that Marandi's party is all set to join with the BJP.

This is a developing story. More details awaited.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Trump administration's efforts to curtail the phenomenon of birth tourism is an important step in ending this blatant abuse of birthright citizenship policy, says the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). Each year, tens of thousands of foreign nationals, in the late stages of pregnancy, arrive under false pretense with the intent of giving birth in the United States in order to procure U.S. citizenship for the child, and likely for the entire family down the road.

Even worse, the gaping loopholes in our birthright citizenship policies have spawned lucrative businesses that facilitate this increasing abuse. "Shady entrepreneurs are profiting handsomely from this practice, American taxpayers are stuck with costs, and the value of U.S. citizenship is further diminished," argued Dan Stein, president of FAIR.

"The Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment, ratified in 1868, was clearly intended to guarantee that emancipated slaves would properly be recognized as U.S. citizens. It is a fundamental misapplication of this clause that the U.S.-born children of illegal aliens are granted automatic citizenship under the clause, much less the offspring of people who wander in here, under false pretenses, for no other purpose than to give birth on U.S. soil," Stein continued.

Under the rule issued by the State Department, consular officers who issue visas to travelers will be instructed to deny visas to women whom they suspect are seeking to enter the United States in order to give birth. "Establishing the purpose of a foreign national's request to the enter the United States on a temporary visa is precisely the function of a consular officer," noted Stein. "Giving birth in the United States is not a valid reason for seeking a visa. Concealing the true intent of a visa request is automatically grounds for denial, and it is the job of State Department employees to make these sorts of determinations."

The administration's move has further exposed the so-called immigration advocacy networks' true intent, which is erasing any meaning of what it means to be an American citizen. In an indignant Tweet, the Center for American Progress, which was closely aligned with the Obama administration, protested that the new State Department policy "is the exact opposite of a fair & humane immigration system."

"Critics of the new rule are engaging in blatant falsehoods to defend the indefensible," charged Stein. "This isn't even an immigration issue. The people in question are not immigrants; they're tourists  and they are not even being honest about why they are seeking to enter the United States. Anyone who claims that we cannot deny entry to such people, are essentially arguing that there are no legitimate grounds to deny admission to anyone, for any reason, except possibly known criminals and terrorists.

"In the absence of long overdue congressional enactment of legislation that would limit birthright citizenship to the offspring of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents, as the framers of the 14th Amendment clearly intended, the Trump administration should be commended for its efforts to curb the practice of birth tourism," concluded Stein.

Contact: Matthew Tragesser, 202-328-7004 or [email protected]

ABOUT FAIR

Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With over 2 million members and supporters nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced.

SOURCE Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR)

Related Links

http://www.fairus.org


Steve Coogan on Terry Jones: he was the heart and voice of Monty Python Guardian

Ex-Wells Fargo CEO banned from banking, must pay $17.5M fine for role in fake-accounts scandal Des Moines Register

Ronald Reagans October Surprise Plot Was Real After All Jacobin. Did anyone ever doubt this was true?

NASA has now decided what it is going to send to the moon next year MIT Technology Review

Lets make recess great again Treehugger

Yes Minister Fan Fiction Craig Murray

Guillotine Wtach

Jeff Bezos, Tabloid Man NYT. I dont mean to pile on Jeff Bezos  actually, yes I do!

Planet Just Had Costliest Decade for Global Natural Disasters: Insurance Industry Report Common Dreams

Poland: Lawmakers give green light to judge muzzle law Deutsche Welle

Syraqistan

Class Warfare

Davos

THE OPENING STATEMENTS IN THE HARVEY WEINSTEIN TRIAL AND THE UNDERMINING OF #METOO New Yorker

2020

JS:

This is insane. The climate crisispresents mutually beneficial *investment opportunities*, particularly in climate-resilient urban infrastructure.  Warren Shes pitching climate change to Wall St. as a profit source. Goldman Sachs will not save us.https://t.co/BP104QJvH0  Samuel D. Finkelstein II (@CANCEL_SAM) 22 January 2020

Impeachment

Our Famously Free Press

How the Washington Post pulled off the hardest trick in journalism Columbia Journalism Review. No time to shred this today  so I leave it up to you, dear readers, to do so. The Enemies of Writing The Atlantic

Health Care

Australia Apocalypse

Counting the cost of Australias raging inferno Asia Times

737 Max

737 Max engine software revised to address icing thrust loss Flight Global

India

China?

Juiian Assange

Trump Transition

Big Brother IS Watching You Watch

Antidote du Jour (via):

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
The Prime Minister said the UK can now move forward as one country

Boris Johnson has heralded the end of far too many years of argument and division as he signed the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement ahead of Britains departure from the EU next week.

The Prime Minister said the UK can now move forward as one country after he put his signature to the document in Downing Street on Friday afternoon.

Earlier in the day, the presidents of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, formally signed the agreement in Brussels.

The Queen gave royal assent to the legislation on Thursday after the legislation cleared both Houses of Parliament.

Today PM @BorisJohnson signed the Withdrawal Agreement for the UK to leave the EU on January 31st. pic.twitter.com/ToVQMOUZeb  UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) January 24, 2020

Mr Johnson said: The signing of the Withdrawal Agreement is a fantastic moment, which finally delivers the result of the 2016 referendum and brings to an end far too many years of argument and division.

We can now move forward as one country  with a Government focused upon delivering better public services, greater opportunity and unleashing the potential of every corner of our brilliant United Kingdom, while building a strong new relationship with the EU as friends and sovereign equals.

The PM signed the document with a Parker fountain pen in an anteroom outside the Cabinet Room in Number 10, witnessed by EU and Foreign Office officials who transported the treaty from Brussels.

The European Parliament is now expected to vote to approve the agreement on Wednesday, paving the way for the UK to leave next Friday, January 31.

Today I signed the UK Withdrawal Agreement for the EU together with @vonderleyen



Things will inevitably change but our friendship will remain. We start a new chapter as partners and allies.



Hate decrire ensemble cette nouvelle page. pic.twitter.com/a7zmGeBwZS  Charles Michel (@eucopresident) January 24, 2020

It will mark the start of an 11-month transition period, during which the UK will continue to follow EU rules, before the final break with Brussels at the end of the year.

Mr Johnson has said he wants to negotiate a comprehensive free trade deal with the EU by the end of the year.

However, Mrs von der Leyen and other senior EU figures have warned the Governments stated intention to end the UKs alignment with EU regulations means it will be impossible to achieve within such a tight timetable.
Mohiussunnath Chowdhury (pictured in a court sketch) said most of what he told the officers was 'prison banter'

An alleged jihadist has told a jury his boasts about committing a terrorist attack to undercover police officers was just 'bravado' to try to 'fit in'.

Mohiussunnath Chowdhury said most of what he told the officers, who he believed were 'good Muslims', was 'exaggeration' and 'prison banter', Woolwich Crown Court heard.

Giving evidence today, the 28-year-old said he wanted to 'impress' new friends following his release from custody after being cleared of terrorism over an attack on two police officers with a sword outside Buckingham Palace in August 2017.

But he insisted he always steered the conversation away from actually committing any acts of terrorism, saying that got 'too real' for him.

'I wanted that validation, that acceptance. But I didn't want to actually do anything,' he said.

Prosecutors allege Chowdhury was planning to kill members of the public at busy tourist hotspots including London's Madame Tussauds and the Gay Pride parade last year but was unwittingly confiding in undercover officers who had him under surveillance.

He even bragged about deceiving the jury which cleared him in December 2018 over the sword attack outside the Queen's London residence, prosecutor Duncan Atkinson QC said earlier in the trial.

Chowdhury was cleared of launching a Samurai sword attack on police outside Buckingham Palace in London (file photo)

Chowdhury told the court a recording of him boasting to the officers about an 'iconic' terror attack on Madame Tussauds was him referring to another inmate's plot.

'I wasn't suggesting that I would attack it and they should attack it. This is a completely false allegation,' he added.

It was claimed the only reason Chowdhury joined a firearms course was because he was interested in guns as a hobby.

His barrister Simon Csoka QC asked him: 'Did you stop and think about how that might be perceived?'

'I just thought I was a free man, I shouldn't have to restrict myself,' replied Chowdhury.

Prosecutors allege Chowdhury was planning to kill members of the public at the Gay Pride parade last year (pictured)

The court heard that following his arrest he was approached in Belmarsh prison by Muslim inmates who treated him 'like a hero' and he decided to 'play along'.

He said: 'I kind of learned to talk the talk. For me, it was survival thing.'

Chowdhury said he felt 'worthless' because he lived in the UK while Muslims were being killed in the Middle East.

'I was living in this bubble when there is so much suffering going on,' he said.

Chowdhury said he became 'suicidal' in August 2017 after hearing of the bombing of a wedding in Yemen on the news and felt 'complicit' for what was happening in the region, which he felt was a result of the UK Government's actions.

He said: 'I felt I had blood on my hands at this point.'

The former Uber driver said he was trying to find 'guys with guns' but insisted he had no intention of hurting innocent people, pointing to the fact he had been had driven by crowds of innocent people.

Chowdhury said: 'They were trying to relate it to the London Bridge attacks.

A police image of the sword used during the incident outside Buckingham Palace in London. Chowdhury claimed at an Old Bailey trial he wanted to be killed by police and had no intention of hurting anyone but himself

Another photograph of the sword allegedly used in the incident at Buckingham Palace

The hilt of the sword allegedly used outside Buckingham Palace is pictured above

'Obviously I could have used my car, that was my most powerful weapon. I didn't do anything like that.'

Chowdhury said he never intended to hurt the two unarmed police officers, who suffered injuries to their hands while fighting to disarm him as he shouted 'Allahu Akbar' [God is the greatest].

He claimed at that Old Bailey trial he wanted to be killed by police and had no intention of hurting anyone but himself.

Chowdhury from Luton, Bedfordshire, denies engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts, collecting information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, and disseminating terrorist publications.

His sister, Sneha Chowdhury, 25, of the same address, denies two charges of failing to disclose information about acts of terrorism.
Global Healthcare Consulting Services Market Research Report by Type of Service (IT Consulting and Digital Consulting), Component (Solutions and Services), Application (Operations Management, Financial and Population Health) and End User (Hospitals, Clinics and Life Science Companies)  Forecast till 2024

Over recent years, the global healthcare consulting services market is growing invariably. The burgeoning healthcare sector witnessing rising numbers of healthcare facilities is a key driving force behind the growth of the market. Also, the increasing globalization, rising demand for healthcare products, and the addition of new features in the healthcare industry create huge market demand. Resultantly, there is an increase in revenue generation in the healthcare consulting services market across the globe.

Latest Free Sample PDF Available @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/7860

According to Market Research Future (MRFR), the global Healthcare Consulting Services Market is poised to create a significant revenue pocket by 2024. In its recently published analysis, MRFR also asserts that the market would register a CAGR of around 10.4% throughout the forecast period (2019-2024). Rising competition in the healthcare sector has encouraged major companies to focus on the improvement of their business strategies along with product designing, development, and marketing.

On the other hand, there are large numbers of similar technologies & services available in the market. Lack of expertise in differentiating mapped services & solutions or low product differentiation is a key factor impeding the growth of the market. Nevertheless, the high demand to improve care services by enhancing operations would support the market growth over the assessment period, acting as a critical driving force to the market.

Global Healthcare Consulting Services Market  Segments

The market is segmented into five dynamics to widen the scope of understanding,

By Type of Service : IT Consulting and Digital Consulting.

By Component : Solutions and Services.

By Application : Operations Management, Financial, Population Health, and others.

By End-user : Hospitals, Clinics, Life Science Companies, and others.

By Regions : Europe, North America, APAC, and the Rest-of-the-World (RoW).

Healthcare Consulting Services Market  Regional analysis

North America dominates the global healthcare consulting services market with the largest market share. Factors such as the presence of a large number of healthcare companies and increasing competition in the healthcare industry act as major tailwinds for the regional market growth.

To churn the market competition, healthcare companies in the region prefer consulting service provider for new strategies and solutions. Besides, transition in the healthcare sector towards value-based care delivery, high per capita healthcare expenditures along with the rising funds invested into R&D for the development of new technologies are supporting the growth of the regional market.

Europe stands second in the global healthcare consulting services market. Growing emphasis on the uptake of healthcare IT consulting and digital consulting for operations management drive the market growth in the region.

Additionally, factors such as financial support from the governments in the healthcare sector, huge patient population, and an increasing number of hospitals boost the growth of the regional market. Also, the rising adoption of software in rising numbers of life science companies creates a substantial market demand in this region.

The healthcare consulting services market in the Asia Pacific region is emerging as one of the lucrative markets, globally. The continually rising population demanding quality care and increasing numbers of healthcare facilities in the region foster the growth of the regional market.

Besides, increasing initiatives taken by public & private organizations fuel the growth of the healthcare consulting services in the APAC region. Highly populous countries like China and India lead the APAC market, achieving the highest benefits of healthcare consulting solutions & services. Moreover, increasing demand to improve operations management in the growing numbers of healthcare facilities in the region influences the growth of the regional market.

Healthcare Consulting Services Market  Competitive Analysis

Highly competitive, the healthcare consulting services market appears fragmented due to the presence of many well-established players. To gain a substantial share in the market, innovation, M&A activities, brand reinforcement, and collaboration remain the key trends for these players. Players acquire promising companies in emerging markets to expand their footprints. They strive to develop customized solutions & services incorporating the latest technology and practices.

Major Players:

Players leading the global healthcare consulting services market Accenture Consulting (US), McKinsey and Company (US), Cognizant (US), Deloitte Consulting (US), Ernst and Young (UK), Bain and Company (US), Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (US), Huron Consulting (US), KPMG (Switzerland), PWC (UK), and The Boston Consulting Group (US), among others.

Industry/ Innovation/ Related News

October 15, 2019  Binder Dijker Otte (BDO  Belgium), a business advisory firm, announced the acquisition of Arteria, a Dutch healthcare consultancy, to boost its management consulting portfolio in the Netherlands. Alongside consultancy, BDO provides a broader mix of services to its healthcare clients, covering accountancy, assurance, tax, mergers & acquisitions, and legal.

The acquisition aligns with BDOs strategic ambition to expand its Advisory and position in the healthcare sector. The deal marks BDOs first acquisition in the Netherlands, after 2016, when BDO had purchased the Business Consultancy practice of software company CompLions. In 2018, BDO bolstered its Advisory division with two consulting firms in Belgium.

OBTAIN RESEARCH REPORT DETAILS WITH TOC @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/healthcare-consulting-services-market-7860

About Market Research Future:

At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.

MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.

In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.

Contact:

Market Research Future

Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers

Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar,

Pune  411028

Maharashtra, India

+1 646 845 9312

Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], Jan 24 (ANI): Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday accused the previous BJP led state government of not providing appropriate funds for development in the state.



"The earlier government cut back on the funds and that is why it did not reach the people. Nowhere did the money reach properly, at some places less was received while in others more than what was needed arrived," Pawar told reporters here.

He further said that the Maha Vikas Aghadi government is working with a special focus on eradicating unemployment and farmers' issues.

"The most important topics in the state right now are those of employment to the youth and solving the farmers' crisis and we are working on both the fronts," Pawar said.

He added that the government is seeking to develop tourist spots in and around the state for promoting tourism, which will generate employment.

Pawar said, "The tourists can also stay at all the government guest houses. The tourist spots will be developed which will lead to more revenue for the government." (ANI)


MISSION  Rey Anzaldua stepped onto his wooden dock on the Rio Grande to bemoan the rapid progress of a shiny steel border wall looming over the carrizo cane at the edge of his 70-acre property.

Its un-American, he said. It shouldnt happen in the U.S.

Blocked in court until a judge recently lifted a restraining order, the 18-foot high-wall of galvanized steel bollards, a privately funded project, is gaining about 1,000 feet a day as crews race to build 3 miles along a bend in the river.

It should be complete this week.

The wall is the latest flash point in President Donald Trumps plan to erect hundreds of miles of border fencing to deter immigration.

Now Playing: Fisher Sand and Gravel Co. is building 3 miles of border wall along the Rio Grande south of Mission, Texas. Video: Bob Owen

Built by North Dakota-based Fisher Sand and Gravel Co. on land it agreed to purchase, the wall is about 11 yards from the river on the floodplain. The U.S. government joined the nearby National Butterfly Center and other opponents in suing to block construction, citing concerns the barrier will worsen flooding and could change the rivers course.

The wall hasnt been approved by the International Boundary and Water Commission, a treaty organization that regulates construction and water use along the Rio Grande by both the U.S. and Mexico.

The commission also sued Fisher, arguing that hydrology tests the company submitted contained very little substance.

This will really hurt, said Anzaldua, a former U.S. customs agent. Itll push water through here and Ill lose land. Well lose several acres of land to flooding.

Despite the opposition, Fisher Sand and Gravel is plowing ahead, spending $40 million of its own funds to demonstrate it can build the wall faster than the government and in a way that will provide greater security.

Because the barrier is close to the river, the company says, migrants will have little room to maneuver between river and wall.

Mike Fisher

When the government sees we can go faster, build something that lasts longer and is way more effective, theyll figure out a way to purchase it, CEO Tommy Fisher said.

By contrast, government-funded walls flanking the Rio Grande typically are built on levees set back from the river by distances ranging from a few hundred feet to a mile or more. A road is cut between those walls and the river to allow patrols by border agents.

Ironically, Customs and Border Protection soon will build such a levee wall within sight of the Fisher wall, creating an unplanned double barrier.

It makes no sense at all, said Javier Pena, an attorney representing the National Butterfly Center. Its a misguided attempt by the company to use it as a billboard to advertise their new construction to the federal government.

Governments wall

Fisher Sand and Gravel and its subsidiary, Fisher Industries, have become major players in Trumps push to spend billions on the wall, a signature promise of his 2016 campaign, when he said he would force Mexico to pay for it.

The company gained attention last year when it built a short stretch of privately funded wall near El Paso.

After failing to win government bids, the company filed a complaint with the Government Accountability Office. As Fisher was promoting his wall design on Fox News, Trump reportedly urged Homeland Security officials to consider Fisher Sand and Gravel for a wall contract funded with Defense Department money that the president diverted for wall construction.

Soon after, the company won a $400 million government contract to build 31 miles of a border wall in Arizona.

The Defense Departments inspector general began an investigation into the Arizona contract in December after a congressman raised concerns about improper bidding that may have been influenced by Trump.

Fisher has contributed thousands of dollars to Republican candidates, and his companys expenditures on lobbying of Homeland Security officials have increased from $5,000 in 2017 to $75,000 in 2018, according to the nonprofit, nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics in Washington.

In 2018, North Dakota Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer invited Fisher to Trumps State of the Union address.

Asked about his relationship with the president, Fisher said: I dont talk to President Trump.

The bottom line is were showing them how to do it. Were giving them a model to buy a finished product, and Im hoping he (Trump) will take the right thing, Fisher said. Hes a businessman; its faster and its cheaper.

The Rio Grande Valley, with the highest concentration of migrant crossings on the U.S.-Mexico border, has 55 miles of border wall funded during the administration of President George W. Bush through the Secure Fence Act of 2006.

Under Trump, 110 miles of wall have been budgeted for construction in the Valley. Only about a mile of that has been built so far.

Along the nearly 2,000-mile length of the border, 91 miles of barrier have been built under the Trump administration. Of that, 90 miles was replacement of old fencing with the steel bollard model, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The administrations goal was to build almost 600 miles of new wall by the end of this year.

Before Trump took office, there were 654 miles of border wall. Now theres 655 miles.

The fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently lifted a stay that had barred the Trump administration from diverting $3.6 billion from the Pentagon to fund 175 miles of border wall.

The Border Patrol, which has supported Trumps plans for more border walls, wouldnt comment on Fishers project.

Bob Owen /Staff photographer

Were not involved with the building of their wall because we already have our own design, and our own plans, said Carmen Qualia, head of the CBP border wall team in the Rio Grande Valley sector. For us, operations still go on regardless of what gets built on the property.

Gods barrier

The governments standard border wall is made up of brown steel bollards that often are placed miles north of the Rio Grande because of the 1970 Boundary Treaty. The agreement was intended to prevent flooding in border communities, and to keep the river from changing its course and thereby altering the international border.

Fishers wall of galvanized steel has material resembling plastic wrap still clinging to its base. Its bollards have not yet been marked by high water or debris.

It looks like Americans built it, doesnt it? Fisher said of the material.

He said his wall doesnt need a 150-foot enforcement zone, a cleared pathway for vehicles, cameras, lights and technology thats a required feature in Homeland Securitys border wall plans.

Building on the river is the ultimate enforcement zone, he said. We use Gods barrier.

To adjacent property owners and the National Butterfly Center, the wall is anything but divine. They say building a wall so close to the river could cause damage to nearby property and natural habitats.

Every property owner in Texas is entitled to use their property however they want, build however they want, unless what they build on their private properties will affect others, said Pena, the butterfly center lawyer.

Fisher scoffed at the notion that his wall could damage the butterfly center.

I did some research on butterflies, he said. They like shiny things. Theyre going to love our fence.

Sally Spener, spokeswoman for the International Boundary and Water Commission, said the organization reviews hydrology reports on construction along the Rio Grande, to ensure U.S. and Mexican communities arent flooded and that the rivers path remains unchanged. The line marking the border is in the middle of the river, so changing the flow would alter the border.

Bob Owen /Staff photographer

If someone wants to construct in the floodplain, we need to review the project and determine if it would create a prohibited obstruction or deflection, Spener said.

A loss

Anzaldua has spent all his 75 years on the same patch of family land along the river. Now he stands to lose a large swath to the governments planned levee wall, squeezing his property between the governments wall and the private wall.

Anzaldua and dozens of other property owners are fighting the governments attempts to take their land through condemnation.

Its like the government was abusing us, and now the private people are, too, Anzaldua said.

In a way, the private border wall is nothing new. His life here has been shaped by national politics around border security. Its evident in the property itself.

Standing on his dock that cloudy morning, a pickup with a large sensor in its bed for detecting migrants stood to his left. It was being manned by four National Guard agents from Georgia, who said they were temporarily assigned to the border.

Below Anzaldua, slightly submerged in the river and slapping lightly against the dock, was a deflated green raft  used by members of an asylum-seeking family who recently crossed before the Border Patrol arrested them.

Behind him, the dirt road leading into his property was full of potholes, which he said were caused by Border Patrol all-terrain vehicles.

And beyond the road rose a levee that cuts through the brush on his property. There, the government wants to build the wall segment that he is fighting in court. He said he expects to lose, but he hopes the suit will delay progress on the wall until a new president takes office.

Weve lost so much to the government, and were tired of it, he said. And were not like our parents. Our parents would say Leave it to God. Were not saying leave it to God. Were saying, Were going to fight you.

Silvia Foster-Frau covers immigration news in the San Antonio, Bexar County and South Texas area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | sfosterfrau@express-news.net | Twitter: @SilviaElenaFF
The haul is less than the amount of marijuana the California Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies destroy in a typical a year  the CHP alone in 2018 seized more than 80 tons of cannabis  but it reflects a growing emphasis on disrupting the black market by the state departments California created after voters legalized marijuana in 2016.
: The Madras High Court on Friday dismissed a petition filed against actor Rajinikanth over his remarks on rationalist leader E V Ramasamy "Periyar" as the petitioner withdrew the plea.

Justice P Rajamanickam was hearing a petition by the secretary of Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam, a fringe outfit, seeking direction to the police to file a case against the actor.

State Public Prosecutor A Natarajan submitted the petitioner had approached the court without seeking the alternative remedy available to them.

Referring to a High Court judgment which clearly mentioned the procedures to be adopted for approaching the court, he said the petitioner had filed the complaint only on January 18 and without even waiting for the outcome directly approached (the court) for a direction to the police to register a FIR.

The Public Prosecutor further submitted there was no second thought that Periyar was a great leader and an icon of the Dravidian movement and said the actor spoke only on the basis of an article published in a magazine.

Anyhow action will be taken as per law, he added.

The judge asked the counsel for the petitioner if he would withdraw the petition.

After the counsel agreed to do so, the judge recorded the same and dismissed the plea.

In his plea, Umapathy, secretary of Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam, alleged that Rajinikanth had made false and fraudulent statements insulting the Dravidian stalwart and followers of Periyar while speaking at the golden jubilee celebrations of Tamil magazine 'Thuglak' here recently.

He contended that "Rajinikanth made false and fraudulent statements insulting Dravidian ideologists and the followers of Thanthai Periyar with an intention to provoke breach of public peace by promoting enmity and hatred among the people of Tamil Nadu in the name of religion."



The petitioner also submitted he filed a complaint with the Triplicane police in the city on January 18 but no FIR had been registered.

Contending the actor's speech clearly attracted Sections 153A, 504 and 505 of the IPC, the petitioner said the police ought to have registered a case.

He submitted the court was moved seeking for a direction to register a case against the actor.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Mr. Collins called his son, who owned more than five million Innate shares, most of it bought by his father. In the six-minute call, Chris Collins told his son that he should try to sell the shares before the trial results became public.

He should have said no from the beginning, a lawyer for Cameron Collins told Judge Broderick on Thursday. He should have stood up to his father.

But Mr. Collins was shaken by how distraught his father sounded and wanted to make him feel better.

He was my hero, Mr. Collins said in court on Thursday, his voice breaking through tears. He always seemed to do the right thing, and I always trusted him.

After getting the call from his father, Cameron Collins was torn for another reason: He knew that he would soon be proposing to Ms. Zarsky, and that he had information that could help her parents. They were shareholders because of his encouragement.

Ms. Zarskys father, Stephen, had put $143,900  most of his retirement savings  into Innate shares, according to a court filing.

Mr. Collins said he feared what would happen to his relationship with Ms. Zarsky if her parents lost their money. He decided to tell them about the failed drug trial. He let them start selling their shares first, and agreed to stagger his own selling to avoid depressing the stocks price before everyone else sold.

The tip spread quickly from there. Cameron Collins shared it with a friend. Ms. Zarskys father told his brother and another friend. Many of those involved were able to sell their shares before the trial results became public. Innate shares dropped 92 percent after that.
Representative image

The new chief of the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation, Ranjit Singh Deol, sounded non-committal on the future of the controversial car-shed in the green lung of the megapolis, but is resolute in getting the ambitious Colaba-Seepz line completed on time.

The largest metro line  the 33-km fully underground Colaba-Bandra-Seepz -- has run into a controversy after the then BJP-led government pushed ahead with the plan to have the car-shed built in the heart of Aarey Colony, one of the few green lungs of the city, against stiff opposition from the public and also from the then ruling ally Shiv Sena.

On his first day in office, Deol told PTI that his priority is to ensure timely completion of the ambitious line-3 but said he will thoroughly review the entire project first.

"The project faces many challenges but I don't have an in-depth knowledge about it as I have taken charge just today. I will have to first review the project. But my priority is to get the project completed on time," Deol said.

When specifically asked about the future of the controversial car-shed project in Aarey, Deol sounded non-committal saying, I have to review the entire project. But the priority is timely completion.

It can be noted that the project ran into controversy after the Shiv Sena leaders led by Aditya Thackeray had opposed the construction of the car-shed in the run-up to the Assembly polls as there was huge public opposition to the felling of trees.

Deol's predecessor Ashwini Bhide came under flak for her defence of felling the trees in Aarey for the metro carshed.

As public opposition mounted the then Devendra Fadnavis government rushed to the Bombay High Court which allowed the project. But the greens challenged it in the Supreme Court, which also let the same but with riders as the colony is home to tens of hundreds of flora and fauna.

The project had already cost close to 2,141 trees.

The 33-km long fully underground Colaba-Bandra-Seepz metro-3 is among the most ambitious of the 13 metro lines coming up in the megapolis.

Prior to the new job, Deol was the vice-chairman and managing director of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation.

It can be noted that the junior Thackeray, who is also the present tourism and environment minister, had last year sought Bhide's transfer for felling the trees at the Aarey Colony.

Last December, MMRC had claimed that the entire tunneling for the 33-km corridor will be over by September.

Apart from this, the corporation hopes to complete 70 percent of civil works and get the first rolling stock by this December, MMRC said in a statement.
A hero policeman has proposed to his girlfriend, a fellow Met officer who raced to the scene after he was attacked with a machete and stayed at his bedside as he recovered in hospital.

Pc Stuart Outten, 29, was set upon with a 2ft-long rusty machete by handyman Muhammad Rodwan when a routine traffic stop spiralled into violence.

The officers long-term partner Lizzie Mathews was among dozens of officers who went to the scene after hearing about the attack on police radio, desperate to help as Pc Outten was taken to hospital in a critical condition.

Pc Outten told the Standard that he proposed to Pc Mathews during a trip to New York in October, popping the question at the 1,200ft One World Observatory in the Freedom Tower.

After everything Lizzie has been through, its the least I could do, he said. She said yes thankfully and we celebrated at the observation deck.

We havent set a date but think well get married in a couple years as wed like to get a house first. Got to get the priorities straight.

Rodwan, 56, was cleared yesterday of attempted murder but convicted of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. He was today sentenced to 16 years, with an extra three years on licence. It is an extended sentence so Rodwan will have to serve at least two-thirds of the term.

Handyman Found Not Guilty Of Trying To Kill Pc Stuart Outten

Footage showed Pc Outten being slashed several times, leaving him with six deep cuts to his head and a fractured skull. Despite bleeding heavily, he managed to bring down Rodwan with a 50,000-volt Taser as the attacker ran towards him with the weapon held aloft.

The Met-issued X2 Taser was fitted with a second shot in case the first should fail, which it did during the incident in Leyton on August 8 last year.

Pc Stuart Outten discharges his Taser at Muhammad Rodwan / PA

Pc Outten, the first recipient of the Evening Standards Progress 1000 London Hero Award, said: Everything happened so quickly, there was almost no time to allow fear or any other emotion. When I shot him the first time, it didnt work. I was on the ground, pretty much on my back. I thought, Right Ive got one more shot. If this doesnt work, Im dead.

Pc Outten, 29, arrests his attacker despite having suffered six blows to the head from a 2ft long blade / Met Police

Pc Outten and Pc Helen Brooks had pulled over Rodwans van for being uninsured, and the handyman, from Luton, claimed he got angry because he is always being stopped by police.

But Pc Outten said computer checks done at the time revealed that Rodwan had never been stopped by the Met. He added: From what I can see, there has been no remorse. I think to this day he thinks what he did was right.

After returning to work last year in an office role, Pc Outten expects to be back on the beat in Waltham Forest by next month. Im chomping at the bit. I need to get back on the street doing what I love doing as soon as possible, he said.
Residents of what is called the Ahmednagar area in the town of Meerut in West Uttar Pradesh have been patrolling their neighbourhood at night for a month

He adjusted his muffler and rearranged the ski cap on his head before stepping out of the little grocery store. "It's time to shut shop and join the group," Anees could see his own breath when he uttered those words. In the biting cold, he walked through the pitch-dark narrow street dotted with one-room houses and open sewers running alongside. A few hundred metres on, around 10 to 15 men had gathered around a bonfire at the crossroads. They planned to spend the night there guarding the area from the police.

Residents of what is called the Ahmednagar area in the town of Meerut in West Uttar Pradesh have been at it for a month. "We do not want the police to barge into our homes late in the night and disturb women and children," said Anees. "If the police arrives, we present ourselves and talk to them."

On 20 December, 2019, protests opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register for Citizens (NRC) turned violent in several parts of Uttar Pradesh. Twenty-three protesters have died so far in the state  all Muslims. Six of them were killed in Meerut. Harrowing reports of police brutality and religious profiling by the police have emerged since then.

Three of the six killed in Meerut lived in the Ahmednagar area. Ram Arj, Superintendent of Police, Crime, Meerut, said the police has so far arrested 56 people, and "a lot of arresting remains to be done." He added, "The police has not harassed anyone, we are investigating and doing our job."

But residents say the three killed in the Ahmednagar area died of bullets fired by the police, and since their deaths, the police has been "harassing common citizens and framing innocents to absolve itself from culpability".

"Ever since that day, we have hardly managed to get any sleep," said Anees, hunched over, rubbing his palms against each other and holding them over the bonfire to stay warm. "The police presence is supposed to be reassuring. Here, its behaviour has ensured people get terrorised instead."

Mohammad Salauddin, 35, who lost his brother Aleem, 24, said the police fired at protesters to kill. "If they wanted to placate protests, they could have fired below waist-height," he said, sitting in his dimly-lit home. Aleem, he said, took a bullet to the head, and died on the spot. "The police initially said he died because a stone smashed into his head. But his head was split wide open. A stone does not cause that."

Aleem worked as a cook at a roadside eatery. Salauddin, who washes utensils at another hotel, has still not received the post-mortem report. He is physically-impaired, and it is even more troublesome for him to keep running around. "We carried out his funeral the following night," he said, "I, along with three relatives, claimed the body. None of my friends or neighbours came along because they were scared of being targeted by the police."

That anxiety the night after the unrest still lingers on a month later. Parvez, sitting next to Anees around the bonfire, said a cat jumped on his roof the other night, and the noise made him wonder if it was the police raiding the area. "When I saw the cat, I heaved a sigh of relief," he said, "Our mental peace has been completely disturbed for the past month. Belonging to a particular religion is enough to be a suspect these days. When a few of us opened up to each other about it, we thought of this idea of gathering every night, and watching over the area. We do it until sunrise in rotation."

The residents know they are powerless, and their patrolling is hardly an impediment if the police decides to use force and have its way. A few residents have been picked up during the day. The nights basically create an illusion of fortification. "We are aware of it," said Anees, matter-of-factly, "But we feel a bit of reassurance in a group. At home, with family members, we feel exposed and insecure."

The whole ordeal has exacted an economic cost on the residents. "The market and shops here used be open and bustling till 1 am," said Anees, "But, for the past month, there is pin-drop silence after eight or nine o'clock at night. Nobody wants to stay outdoors after sunset. And nobody wants to be seen especially around this area."

Along with shopkeepers, daily-wage labourers have also been hit economically by the social strife. Jafar, 17, said his parents do not let him work outside the area, or after sunset. "There are power looms and factories that run 24 hours a day," he said. "Now I have to get work in power looms in our area and that too during the day. It has restricted my opportunities, but my parents are adamant. They fear I won't return if I go too far. The paranoia is serious. People have also stopped attending weddings out of fear of being late."

The night that this reporter visited the area was eerie and tensions were simmering in the air. Normalcy seemed like a fantasy for the residents living on the edge. Eid-ul-Hasan, 48, had spent the day in unsuccessfully trying to get the post-mortem report of his son, Asif, who died at the age of 20. "I have been running from pillar-to-post, but I have not yet received any concrete answers," he said, "They keep asking me to go from one police station to another."

Asif used to drive an e-rickshaw to help the family make its ends meet. When the protests turned violent, Hasan said, he was caught in the middle of nowhere. "He took a bullet to the chest," he said, adjusting his shawl around his upper body. "Those who took him to the hospital told me he fell to a police bullet."

Hasan too joins the group at night sometimes after his work  especially when he feels lonely. He has to wrap an extra shawl around himself and ensure his ears are not exposed through his torn ski cap. But winters are a small price to pay, Hasan said. The group around the bonfire may not be providing immaculate protection, but it offers much needed solace.
They are set to become fashion's favourite new duo when they present Netflix's new show: Next In Fashion.

And Alexa Chung and Tan France certainly looked the part when they stepped out on Friday at the launch party and Q&A for the show, held at at Mortimer House in London.

Alexa, 36, was her usual stylish self in a white floral midi dress that fell below her knees. The elegant fit of the dress featured a ruffle under her bust with a v shaped neckline and quirky shoulder pads.

Dream team: Alexa Chung and Tan France posed for snaps at the launch party and Q&A for their new show: Next In Fashion held at Mortimer House in London on Friday

The model-turned-designer wore her trademark bob in a middle part that fell in loose waves and accentuated her natural beauty with a barely-thee-makeup-palette.

The TV presenter elongated her lithe limbs in a pair of pointed leopard print heels that added a quirky touch to the sophisticated look.

She posed alongside the gorgeous Tan France, 36, who looked as chic as ever in a black boiler suit.

Stunning: Alexa, 36, was her usual stylish self in a white floral midi dress that fell below her knees

Stylish duo: The elegant fit of the dress featured a ruffle under her bust with a v shaped neckline and quirky shoulder pads

The Queer Eye star paired the playful ensemble with a pair of patent black boots with gold lettering.

He wore his silver hair in its usual voluminous quiff style.

The pair answered questions from journalist Scarlett Russell while they enjoyed their morning cup of tea.

Natural beauty: The model-turned-designer wore her trademark bob in a middle part that fell in loose waves and accentuated her natural beauty with a barely-thee-makeup-palette

Chic as ever: She posed alongside the gorgeous Tan France, 36, who looked as chic as ever in a black boiler suit

Stylish pair:T he Queer Eye star paired the playful ensemble with a pair of patent black boots with gold lettering

Next In Fashion is Netflix's latest competition show set to hit the streaming service on January 29.

Although the competition series is similar to that of Project Runway, which model Karlie Kloss now hosts, with designers competing against each other through collections they create, the show also puts its own spin on the industry

Alexa and Tan scoured fashion talent across the world to select designers who have already worked with the greats of the industry.

Tea time: The pair answered questions from journalist Scarlett Russell while they enjoyed their morning cup of tea

Fashion forward: Also there was Global Buying Director of NET-A-PORTER Elizabeth Von Der Goltz

Designers boast to previously working with household names like Alexander Wang and Stella McCartney, an experience that sets these competitors a part from other fashion competition shows.

According to the trailer, France and Chung are looking to find the next designer who can also become a household name with their innovative and showstopping creations.

'Who amongst you is a household name?' France questioned the 18 contestants at the start of the trailer.

Lots to say: Tan wore his trade mark silver locks in a voluminous quiff style, he enjoyed a cup of tea while he answered questions

His question was then met with raised eyebrows and concerned looks from all the designers, but they were ready to compete.

'Thats exactly why were here today,' Chung told the designers.

Not only are France and Chung notable people in the fashion industry, but there will also be a series of guest judges appearing week to week throughout the competition to judge the designers.

Exciting: Next In Fashion is Netflix's latest competition show set to hit the streaming service on January 29

Guest judges set to appear include Instagram's Eva Chen, designer Tommy Hilfiger, designer Prabal Gurung, designer Kerby Jean-Raymond, model Adriana Lima, and celebrity stylist Elizabeth Stewart.

The competition show is similar to hits like Project Runway in that designers will compete week to week in different challenges.

They will then appear in front of the judges after displaying the collection created for that week.

Boho vibes: The show is in partner ship with fashion website NET-A-PORTER. Elizabeth attended alongside the company's Global Marketing and Communications Director Dana Gers

Although the show starts out with 18 designers, these numbers will quickly dwindle as the judges decide who has what it takes...and who doesn't.

The stakes are high for the talent competition, as it is offering the winner $250,000 and the opportunity to display their collection with Net-a-Porter, an online store offering a curated selection of designer wear.

All 10 episodes of the competition show will air on January 29, giving fans the opportunity to binge watch and discover the winner within hours of starting the series.

Laughing: Alexa and Tan have scoured fashion talent across the world to select designers who have already worked with the greats of the industry

Dapper: Not only are France and Chung notable people in the fashion industry, but there will also be a series of guest judges appearing week to week throughout the competition

Alexa and Tan's new show launch comes as Variety revealed that Netflix is expected to spend a staggering $17.3 billion on content in 2020 - an impressive $2 billion increase on its 2019 spend.

According to a report from Wall Street firm BMO Capital Markets, the streaming giant will spend the majority of that sum on original content - like Next in Fashion - and also includes deals with Nickelodeon and Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss.
The idea of paid protesters is a favorite of the right, though as always, the thing you accuse your opponents of inevitably turns out to be the thing you're doing yourself (Trump paid actors to cheer his presidential campaign announcement and big industry groups pay actors to protest regulations that undermine their profits).

The Trump administration has been seeking to extradite Huawei heiress/exec Meng Wanzhou since they had her arrested by Canadian authorities in late 2018.

This week saw a crucial juncture in that legal wrangle, when Meng Wanzhou faced a judge over her objections to her extradition. Cameras were barred from the courtroom, but outside of it there was a lively demonstration of pro-Huawei/pro-China protesters, with a very different makeup to the usual protesters who have taken up Ms Weng's cause, who are primarily mainland Chinese students who are studying in Canada.

By contrast, these protesters were primarily not of Chinese origin, and they all sported red, homemade protest signs decrying the Trump administration, calling for "equal justice," and seeking the return of "Michael" (two Canadians, both named Michael, have been detained by Chinese authorities in retaliation for Meng's arrest).

Bob Mackin of The Breaker attended the protest and talked to these protesters and found them both curiously reticent to speak about their cause, and also singularly ignorant about the cause they were supporting. Mackin asked several of the protesters if they'd been paid to attend the event, but none admitted it at the time.





Subsequently, some of the protesters have contacted Mackin to say that they were paid to be there, and moreover, that they believed they were performing as extras in a music video. One told Mackin that they were confused when he started questioning them because no one had shouted "action." They also say they were never paid their promised $100.

The protesters say they were hired through an obfuscated chain of recruiters and producers. The video of the protesters did not play prominently in US and Canadian news, but it was featured heavily on Chinese state media, where it was used as evidence that everyday Canadians were outraged that their justice system had been hijacked by the Trump regime.

Mackin discusses the story in detail on the latest Canadaland podcast, where host Jesse Brown makes the excellent point that this illustrates just how difficult it is to field convincing paid protesters that stand up to even cursory scrutiny.

The video itself is a hilarious, sad pantomime wherein the protesters are seriously confused and increasingly alarmed as they realize what's going on.



"That was the promise [$100 to be in a music video], and then it was like, when there was all these cameras, for a long time I believed it was filming a scene where someone was coming out of a car," he said. "So I was genuinely like, OK, fine to do this. Then reporters start showing up and, I don't feel great about this anymore. I haven't done anything wrong."

Happening now: students parroting the message of ex-Chretien chief of staff Eddie Goldenberg await Meng Wanzhou's arrival at the Law Courts. Are they paid to be here? #cdnpoli #bcpoli #humanrights pic.twitter.com/02HaTcJN1d  theBreaker.news (@theBreakerNews) January 20, 2020

Exclusive: Man says he was tricked to be in pro-Meng Wanzhou protest [Bob Mackin/The Breaker]



(Image: thumbnail from a photo by Bob Mackin)
[January 24, 2020] HighRes Biosolutions and Novo Nordisk partner to transform drug discovery in automated Lab of the Future

HighRes Biosolutions and Novo Nordisk A/S today announced that they will collaborate to design a state-of-the-art robotic platform for high-throughput biologics engineering and characterisation. The integration of a multi-system robotics platform with sophisticated software control architecture will enable a digital transformation and accelerated discovery for Novo Nordisk's peptide and large molecule therapeutics research. "In order to maintain our leadership within biologics engineering we are investing in a fully automated and digital design platform. This investment is linked to our build-up in AI and advanced analytics and demonstrates Novo Nordisk's commitment as a world leading biologics research company," said Lars Fogh Iversen, senior vice president, Global Research Technologies, Novo Nordisk. The platform will comprise several highly automated and integrated cells for production, characterisation and functional analysis of thousands of biologic compounds every month. Its scope covers the full range from small synthetic peptides to recombinantly expressed large proteins and will also include chemical modification of the molecules. The ambition is to build a system that is fully integrated with a modern data infrastructure and the data science and machine learning capabilities in Novo Nordisk. Ira Hoffman (News - Alert), CEO of HighRes Biosolutions, said: "We are very excited to be working with Novo Nordisk on their Lab of the Future. We believe that the combination of our capabilities, products and vision make us the ideal partner for their digital transformation." About Novo Nordisk Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with more than 95 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. This heritage has given us experience and capabilities that also enable us to help people defeat obesity,haemophilia, growth disorders and other serious chronic diseases. Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs approximately 42,200 people in 80 countries and markets its products in more than 170 countries. For more information, visit novonordisk.com, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube.



About HighRes Biosolutions HighRes Biosolutions improves human health through life science robotics. The company designs and builds innovative laboratory automation systems, dynamic scheduling software, and lab automation instruments that accelerate and streamline discovery. HighRes offers highly flexible, modular solutions that provide its clients with the ability to scale and reconfigure their automation equipment as their assays or technology changes. Visit www.highresbio.com or follow HighResBio on LinkedIn.

For further information please contact: [email protected] View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005116/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
An Iowa man whom police said eluded police custody after being taken to a hospital was ordered held on $50,000 unconditional bail in Olmsted County District Court on Thursday morning.

Storm Losee Mensch, of Riceville, Iowa, is charged with felony theft, theft of a motor vehicle and fifth-degree controlled substance crime-possession.

Mensch made his first appearance in court Thursday morning on the felony charges. Judge Jacob Allen set unconditional bail at $50,000. He did not set conditional bail. Mensch's next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 5.

The 20-year-old was arrested on Jan. 17 after police said he stole a 2017 Chevrolet pickup truck from a business parking lot. The son of the owner of the truck had called police that day to report the truck missing. Using the vehicle's OnStar, police were able to determine that it was parked in the Menards off of South Broadway.

Officers went to the truck's location and spoke with witnesses as well as two people found in the truck. Mensch was eventually identified as the driver of the truck. He reportedly told police that the night before, his car went into a ditch in South Rochester, so he and two passengers got out of it. Mensch said he came across the truck in a lot and that the keys were in the ignition, so he took it, according to the criminal complaint.

ADVERTISEMENT

Police reportedly found a number of small baggies and vials as well as other drug paraphernalia in the stolen truck.

Mensch was taken to the Olmsted County Adult Detention Center. Once there, he told police he had ingested an "8 ball" of methamphetamine and was taken to Mayo Clinic Hospital-Saint Marys, according to court records.

"Police were later informed that Mensch had fled from St. Mary's," the complaint reads. "Mensch could not be located."

He was arrested nearly a week later.

Mensch was also cited for possession of stolen property for allegedly stealing a license plate from a vehicle earlier in the month. He pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge Thursday and was sentenced by Judge Allen to a year of probation and two days in jail. Mensch received credit for two days already served.
India plans to increase import duties on more than 50 items including electronics, electrical goods, chemicals and handicrafts, targeting about $56 billion worth of imports from China and elsewhere, officials and industry sources said. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman could make the announcement when she presents her annual budget for 2020/21 on Feb. 1, along with other stimulus measures to revive sagging economic growth, one of the government officials said. Higher customs duties are likely to hit goods such as mobile phone chargers, industrial chemicals, lamps, wooden ...
WASHINGTON  Just weeks before voting starts in what is expected to be U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellars toughest re-election fight in years, a dark money group is flooding his South Texas district with ads supporting him.

The nonprofit American Workers for Progress has poured more than $720,000 into ads in Austin, San Antonio, Laredo, McAllen, Brownsville and Harlingen, according to Advertising Analytics, a private firm that tracks political advertising.

Little is known about the newly formed group. A longtime Democratic operative listed as its president declined to comment. Cuellar's campaign spokesman says he knows nothing about the group, as does the state Democratic party.

Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

Nonetheless, the heavy spending is a sign of how nervous some in Cuellar's orbit are that Jessica Cisneros, a 26-year-old immigration attorney from Laredo who has become a star in progressive circles, could end his 15-year stint in Congress.

The race will provide an early indication in 2020 of the electability of several progressive hopefuls in Texas. They argue that a key to turning the state blue will be reaching voters who have not made a habit of voting in the past, especially young and minority voters, who they believe can be energized by an unflinching progressive message.

Cisneros has raised nearly $1 million in her insurgent effort to take down Cuellar  an impressive haul for a political newcomer in a district long considered safe  and shes drawn major endorsements from progressive groups, including Justice Democrats, the group that helped U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez defeat a longtime incumbent in New York.

Cuellar already has more than $3 million on hand to defend himself, as well as the backing of the Democratic establishment, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The dark money spending was first reported by POLITICO.

Thats real money, as they say, said Ben Ray, a spokesman for EMILYs List, another progressive organization that is backing Cisneros. Hes got three million damn dollars on hand and his team says theyre cruising, I didnt think he needed help.

For subscribers: Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar moves to stave off primary challenge from progressive Cisneros

Cisneros campaign was more pointed about the dark money in the race.

"Congressman Cuellar has spent his career protecting the interests of his corporate donors and Republican special interests instead of the people of South Texas, said campaign manager Danny Diaz. We know he's trying to hide the groups that have stood by him his entire career  so it's no surprise that no one is being transparent about where these hundreds of thousands of dollars are coming from."

American Workers for Progress is led by Gilberto Ocanas, a former deputy executive director of the Democratic National Committee and longtime Democratic operative. Ocanas declined to comment.

I've never heard of them and don't know anything about them, said Colin Strother, Cuellars campaign spokesman. I do know that our opponent's entire campaign has been orchestrated, directed, staffed, and funded by an out-of-state special interest group.

American Workers for Progress so far has spent more than $340,000 in San Antonio, more than $104,000 in Laredo, more than $242,000 across the Harlingen-Weslaco-Brownsville-McAllen markets and more than $27,000 in Austin, according to Advertising Analytics.

For subscribers: Emboldened Democrats say its a myth that progressives cant take Texas

The ads focus on health care: Congressman Henry Cuellar fought to protect Obamacare and is standing with Nancy Pelosi to lower drug prices, it says. Henry Cuellar is delivering, fighting for quality healthcare and lower drug prices Texas families can afford.

ben.wermund@chron.com
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 19:23:06|Editor: Yurou

Video Player Close

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (2nd L) attends the opening ceremony of the Turkish-German University with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (3rd L) in Istanbul, Turkey, Jan. 24, 2020. Merkel on Friday said her country appreciates Turkey's efforts in hosting millions of Syrian refugees on its soil. (Turkish Presidency/Handout via Xinhua)

ISTANBUL, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday said her country appreciates Turkey's efforts in hosting millions of Syrian refugees on its soil.

Attending the opening ceremony of the Turkish-German University in Istanbul with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Merkel said Turkey also gives the refugees the hope to rebuild their country when they go back to hometown.

"These efforts deserve our thanks and appreciation," the chancellor noted.

Turkey is hosting over 3.6 million Syrian refugees, costing more than 40 billion dollars up to now.

Ankara agreed to help curb the flow of illegal migrants to Europe under a deal signed with the European Union in March 2016, in return for a total of 6 billion euros in financial aid for the refugees.

The issue has been causing strains in ties between the bloc and Turkey, as Ankara has been urging the European countries to increase the funding. Turkish authorities earlier said only 2.3 billion euros, or 2.6 billion U.S. dollars, in aid from the EU reached Syrian refugees.

For his part, Erdogan said the conflicts in the region have been affecting not only the neighboring countries but also all the European countries, including Germany.

"We hope that the international community should not repeat the mistake that was conducted in Syria, and it must not be the same in Libya," he said.

The Turkish leader also warned that the chaotic environment in Libya might also affect the whole Mediterranean basin if peace is not established as soon as possible.

"Terror groups like Daesh (the Islamic State) and Al-Qaida should not once again grow in this country," Erdogan said. "For this purpose, we need to accelerate the resolution process."

Libya has been torn by a raging civil war between the UN-recognized Government of National Accord and the Libyan National Army.

The international community has been trying to push the warring parties to compromise on a sustainable cease-fire. During the international conference in Berlin last week, the participant countries reiterated that there can be no military solution in Libya.

Erdogan and Merkel will have a meeting later in the day to discuss regional issues, including that related with Syria and Libya, as well as bilateral relations.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is providing health officials around the world with situational updates and guidance on the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, which was first identified in the Chinese city of Wuhan on New Years Eve.

Coronaviruses were first described in the 1960s and derive their name for their characteristic appearance under electron microscopes, where they resemble a royal crown or solar corona. Coronaviruses cause diseases in mammals and birds, with symptoms of diarrhea in farm animals such as pigs and cows and respiratory symptoms in birds. The lethal infection of humans has been rare historically.

Since the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) first emerged at the end of December, there have been 570 cases of people developing a pneumonia-like respiratory illness. There have been 553 confirmed illnesses and 17 fatalities reported in mainland Chinaa three percent fatality rate. Cases have now been confirmed in Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and the United States. Possible cases are being investigated in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.

Though scientists had thought that the virus could spread only from animal to person, evidence has emerged that person-to-person infection is occurring, though authorities still surmise that such infections are limited. The World Health Organization (WHO) has delayed declaring an international emergency, though it is reconsidering the matter again today.

Dr. Didier Houssin, the chair of an emergency committee convened by WHO, told a press conference yesterday that it was too early to consider that this event is a public health emergency of international concern. WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in Geneva: Our team is on the ground in China as we speak, working with local experts and officials to investigate the outbreak and get more information.

Chinese authorities moved this week to effectively lock down and isolate Wuhan, a city of more than 11 million people and the seventh most populous Chinese city. They have canceled planes and trains leaving the city and suspended local transportations such as buses and subways. The news of these measures has inundated Chinese social media.

The virus has emerged on the eve of the Chinese New Year, which falls on January 25. Hundreds of millions of people travel to visit families across China and abroad. According to Xinhuanet, there will be three billion trips during the travel rush from January 10 to February 18 for family reunions and travel. Such a mass movement could make the outbreak an international pandemic.

Concerns about the viruss potential to mutate and become more infective and virulent have senior Chinese health officials extremely uneasy, leading to the drastic measures before the holiday commences. The experiences of 2003 remain fresh, when the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus, also known as the Asian Avian Flu, spread across 32 countries, with over 8,000 cases and 800 deaths reported. SARS was the first occurrence of a coronavirus where human-to-human transmission was documented.

Additionally, in September 2012, the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) epidemic germinated in Saudi Arabia and spread to 27 countries. The epidemiologic investigation led to two slaughterhouses where camels were slaughtered. Saudi Arabia imports thousands of camels from African nations, which were found infected with MERS. The virus was found on meat destined for supermarkets.

Human-to-human transmission of MERS was first reported in May 2013 in France. However, researchers noted that the virus spread slowly among humans, suggesting a regression in its virulence. By the end of October of 2013, Saudi Arabia had reported 124 cases, with a high fatality rate of 52 deaths. The disease itself has since entrenched itself in human communities. As of December 2019, WHO has confirmed 2,468 cases of MERS infection, with 851 fatalities.

According to WHO China, the outbreak of the new SARS-related 2019-nCoV virus was first recognized on December 31, 2019, when it was informed of cases of pneumonia-like illness of an unknown vector in Wuhan. By January 3, 44 cases had been identified. On January 11, the National Health Commission China confirmed that the epicenter of the disease had been traced to a seafood market in the city. In less than three weeks, the virus has spread across China and internationally.

The first confirmed fatality was a 61-year-old man, a regular shopper at the seafood market where vendors sold processed meats and live animals such as donkeys, sheep, camels, fox, badgers, hedgehogs and snakes. Authorities believe that the narrow corridors of the market and tight stalls provided the ideal opportunity for this outbreak. Incidentally, researchers had discovered that SARS came from a population of bats endemic in Chinas Yunnan province. However, experts have yet to identify the animal species that enabled the Wuhan coronavirus to spread.

Wuhan is a major travel hub in China, with more than 30,000 people flying out on an average day. Nearly 6,000 foreign-invested enterprises from at least 80 countries are operating in city. Its major industries include optoelectronic, automobile manufacturing, iron and steel manufacturing, pharmaceutical and biologic engineering. With the suspension of transportation and the ban on gathering, tens of thousands of workers could be laid off.

The epidemic crisis has exacerbated existing social tensions. Many residents of Wuhan had heard of the outbreaks in Hong Kong before they were informed of the developments in their city. Through social media, people are asking family living abroad of news of events. On the Chinese microblogging website, one user wrote: If the government wants us to trust them, they should be trustworthy, first. If we have lost confidence in them, the government needs to reflect on itself instead of shutting people up.

Chinese authorities have extended the lockdown in Wuhan to several nearby cities. In Beijing, major Chinese New Year festivities that attract large crowds have been cancelled. Such a level of containment is unprecedented in modern history and questions have been raised as to the real effectiveness of such draconian measures.

James G. Hodge Jr., the director of the Center for Public Health Law and Policy at Arizona State University, told the New York Times yesterday that quarantines are effective when they isolate those infected or suspected of infection. Instead, he commented, the Chinese authorities have drawn a line around the city and said, No-one in and no-one out. That type of thing is obviously an excessive response.

The Chinese government, however, is taking such extreme measures primarily to calm corporate investors, as concerns are being raised in financial markets about the implications of the epidemic for Chinas economic growth.
New Delhi: The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in the national capital has set up an isolation ward and kept beds ready for providing treatment to any suspected case of novel coronavirus infection. Novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from the common cold to acute respiratory syndromes, but the virus that has so far killed 25 people and affected 830 in China is a novel strain and not seen before.

It emerged from a seafood and animal market in China's Wuhan and is suspected to have spread to as far as the United States.

According to the World Health Organisation, the common symptoms of the novel coronavirus strain include respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria said, "We have an isolation ward and we have beds kept ready for providing care and treatment for suspected coronavirus cases in Delhi or elsewhere in India."

"All precautionary measures - in terms of personal protection equipment for healthcare workers to prevent the spread of the disease while treating infected patients -- are in place," he said.

Live TV

Guleria said that hospital preparedness with regard to management and infection prevention control facilities has been also reviewed. "If need be, we have the capacity to increase our isolation ward facilities and provide treatment to such patients."

As a precautionary measure, people should maintain good standards of hand hygiene, avoid travelling in crowded places and use masks. Any person having slight symptoms of cough, fever and weakness should immediately report to the nearest health facility, he said.

According to the AIIMS director, as of now, there is no definite treatment, antibiotics or vaccines available for combating the particular virus strain and only supportive treatment for pneumonia is given. One has to follow preventive medication strategies, he said.

Two persons who returned from China have been kept under medical observation in Mumbai for possible exposure to novel coronavirus. As many as 1,789 passengers underwent thermal screening at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport for the coronavirus since January 19 and two of them, who had travelled to China, have been admitted to Kasturba Hospital.

WHO on Thursday said the deadly virus outbreak in China and beyond does not yet constitute a global emergency as it urged Beijing to keep its lockdown of some 20 million people "short". "I am not declaring a public health emergency of international concern today," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters after a two-day emergency meeting in Geneva on the virus.

The global health body has confirmed that the new virus can be passed between people, at least those in close contact. Chinese health officials warned it could mutate and spread further. The Union health ministry has said that 12,828 passengers from 60 flights have been screened for novel coronavirus infection till January 22 but no positive case has been detected in the country so far. Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan is reviewing the evolving scenario and preparedness status.

She has asked states and union territories to review hospital preparedness in terms of isolation and ventilator management of critically ill patients, identify gaps and strengthen core capacities in the area of surveillance and laboratory support, an official statement said.

Thermal screening is being done at the international airports of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Cochin. The civil aviation ministry has asked airlines to follow the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines for managing and notifying anybody reporting illness on flights originating from China and disembarking in India.

A travel advisory was issued on January 17 and put up on the ministry's website and also on the Twitter handle for wider circulation.
In view of the ongoing anti-CAA protests, the district administration has deployed additional police force in sensitive localities of the city as a precautionary measure to ensure peace after Friday prayers.

ADM (City), Rakesh Kumar Malpani, said additional police force has been deployed at Upper Court, Shah Jamal and Jamalpur localities as a precautionary measure.

The ADM said anyone who tries to violate Section 144 would be dealt with sternly.

On December 20, there were protests in some parts of the city after the Friday prayers against the Citizenship (Amendment Act) . The authorities are taking precautionary measures in view of this as well as ongoing anti-CAA protests in the city for the past couple of days.

In an alleged crackdown on protesters on Thursday evening, police detained a Delhi based journalist, Shaheen Abdullah near the Eidgah at Shah Jamal locality while he was live streaming the ongoing protest by women.

For the past three days, a large number of women had been protesting inside the Eidgah complex against the CAA.

Abdullah, who works for Maktub Media, a website and is presently a student at Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi, was later let off by the police at Thana Delhi Gate when a large number of protesters started gathering at the police station.

Police, however, said they had been given permission only for two days and Thursday's protest was illegal as they violated section 144.

Abdullah later told newspersons that he had shown the police his press identity card but this did not deter them from detaining him and two other persons who were accompanying him.

SSP, Akash Kulhari told PTI, Abdullah was legally detained under Section 151 of IPC as he was trying to breach peace.

In another case, the police have booked two AMU students, Naim Ali and Mohammad Asif, for allegedly coaxing two minors to participate in the dharna inside the AMU campus on January 20.

Circle Officer Anil Samania said they have been booked following a complaint by the President of the Child Welfare Committee Dr Vishesh Gupta.

Samania said anyone who tries to exploit minors would be similarly charged.

In another instance, a private citizen was sent a notice by the police to explain how a protest was held in front of his house near Dodhpur locality under Civil Lines police station.

Khwaja Hasan Jibran, who was out of town on a month long vacation, was served this notice four days back when he returned to town.

Jibran, who is the son of late Khwaja Haleem, a senior cabinet minister in the earlier Mulayam Singh government in Uttar Pradesh, said he was totally unaware why the protesters had chosen the road on which his house is located to hold a protest.

He said apparently some protesters, during the dharna, had entered his compound to drink water from a tap.

More than half a dozen policemen are deployed in front of his house to prevent any further dharna.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Since the start of his administration, President Donald Trump has been restricting all forms of immigration, and recently the president has further intensified his anti-immigration efforts by coming out with new visa restrictions aimed at restricting "birth tourism," according to an article by NBC News.

Birth tourism refers to the practice of some pregnant women wherein they would travel to the U.S. to give birth so their children can have a coveted U.S. passport.

Birth tourism has been a lucrative business not only in the U.S. but also in other countries. American companies even take advantage of this by producing advertisements and charging up to $80,000 to facilitate the practice, including offering hotel rooms and medical care. Most women who take this advantage come from countries Russia and China.

Coming to the U.S. to give birth is fundamentally legal. In fact, women are often honest about their intentions when applying for visas and even show signed contracts with doctors and hospitals. However, there are scattered cases of authorities arresting operators of birth tourism agencies for visa fraud or tax evasion even before Trump took over the presidency.

Although there are no figures on how many foreign women travel to the U.S. specifically to give birth, the Center for Immigration Studies, a group that advocates for stricter immigration laws, provided an estimate that about 36,000 foreign-born women gave birth in the U.S., then left the country in 2012.

Two officials who asked not to be named and have the knowledge of the plans revealed to The Associated Press that the State Department planned to publicize the rules Thursday which targets pregnant women travelling on tourist visas. In one draft of the regulations, they would be required to provide another legitimate reason to come to the U.S.

The POTUS has been rallying against the issue of birthright citizenship which states that, under the Constitution, anyone born in the U.S. is considered a citizen. Trump has previously threatened to end it, but many scholars and members of his administration claim that it's not easy to implement.

According to the State Department spokesperson, the draft rule is "intended to address the national security and law enforcement risks associated with birth tourism, including criminal activity associated with the birth tourism industry."

Regulating tourist visas for pregnant women is one way to get at the issue, but there are loopholes on the implementation of the said restriction such as the way officers would determine whether a woman is pregnant to begin with, and whether a woman could get turned away by border officers who suspect she may be just by looking at her.

As of writing, consular officers right now have not received any order to raise questions relating to the restriction during visa interviews to determine whether a woman is pregnant or intends to become so. But they would have to make sure whether a visa applicant would be coming to the U.S. primarily to give birth.

When Trump ran in 2016, he promised to crack down on illegal immigration during his campaign and spent much of his first term fighting lawsuits trying to halt his anti-immigrant efforts including building a wall along the southern border to prohibit the entry of citizens from several majority-Muslim countries and cracking down on migrants seeking asylum in the U.S.
2.2k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

Secretly recorded audio of a dinner at the Trump Hotel captured Donald Trump ordering the firing of former Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch.

ABC News has the recording and reported:

The recording appears to contradict statements by President Trump and support the narrative that has been offered by Parnas during broadcast interviews in recent days. Sources familiar with the recording said the recording was made during an intimate April 30, 2018, dinner at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C.

.

Get rid of her! is what the voice that appears to be President Trumps is heard saying. Get her out tomorrow. I dont care. Get her out tomorrow. Take her out. Okay? Do it.

It only took a $375,000 donation to Trumps super PAC to get a dinner with the president where Giulianis associates got him to fire his own ambassador to Ukraine. All they had to tell Trump was that she was badmouthing him, and immediately flew into a rage and ordered her taken out.

The tape backs up public statements made by Lev Parnas, who has told the same story about the firing of the former ambassador to Ukraine in television interviews. Trumps claim that he didnt know Parnas was a lie. Trumps story about why the Ukraine ambassador was fired is another lie.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said that he doesnt have the tape of the dinner, but it is a safe bet that Congress soon will.

More information will continue to come out long after the impeachment trial ends.

The Ukraine scandal isnt going away, but Trumps presidency soon might be.

Democrats are close to getting the votes to have witnesses at Trumps trial, and tape is another moment that could push one Republican Senator over the edge.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

Follow Jason Easley on Facebook

.
Dublin, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Will Copper Switch-off Come Soon?" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.



Based on operators' first-hand experiences with copper switchoff initiatives in Europe, Asia, and North America, this report aims at providing an in-depth view of how copper decommissioning initiatives take place, of what is at stake for the various parties and of how players are balancing the many diverse and sometimes countervailing interests at work behind the switch-off of legacy networks.

As deployments of ultra-high speed networks continue their progress, operators have to decide on the fate of their legacy copper networks. Literally, they must deal with their exit from the era of copper.

Aging copper-based infrastructure is increasingly costly to maintain, especially when the operator is confronted with customers' growing expectations for network performance and quality of service impacted by FTTP standards.

Over the past couple of years, incumbents have started to announce their copper switch-off dates and implement the dismantling of their legacy networks.

However, NGA deployment plans are not going universally at the same pace, and although the migration to fibre is ongoing steadily, a significant proportion of broadband accesses still relies on ADSL.

Key Topics Covered



1. Executive summary

2. The copper switch-off: current status

2.1. What is copper switch-off'?

2.2. Maintaining both fibre and legacy networks puts operators under pressure

2.3. Decommissioning copper networks should enable significant savings

2.4. Decommissioning copper involves four major steps

2.5. Client migration is a critical aspect of legacy network shutdown

2.6. The complexity of copper switch-off processes demands investment efforts

2.7. The entire telecommunications ecosystem is impacted by the copper switch-off

3. Drivers and obstacles to decommissioning copper

3.1. Switching off copper is incentivised by financial and political aspects

3.2. However, switching off legacy networks demands long-term investments

3.3. The copper switch-off becomes profitable in the longer run

4. Worldwide copper switch-off Outlook

4.1. The copper incumbents have been gradually announcing roadmaps to shutdown

5. Case studies - Copper switch-off initiatives

5.1. Telenor - Norway

5.1.1. Norwegian NRA mandates operators to comply with broadband universal service obligations

5.1.2. Telenor's well-advanced project will be a game-changer for the Norwegian broadband market

5.2. China Unicom - China

5.2.1. Broadband China strategy is accelerating large-scale fibre rollout

5.2.2. Strong government support stimulated China Unicom copper switch-off projects

5.3. Telefonica - Spain

5.3.1. Fast FTTH deployments enabled good level of fibre coverage in line with Spanish Digital Agenda

5.3.2. Telefonica project eyes, first and foremost, being a commercial operation

5.4. Orange - France

5.4.1. ADSL remains the dominant access while FTTH deployments are ongoing

5.4.2. The Orange copper switch-off initiative is a complex operational project with a long pathway to return on investment

6. Conclusions

Companies Mentioned



AT&T

China Mobile

China Telecom

China Unicom

KPN

Openreach

Orange

Portugal Telecom

Swisscom

Telecom Italia

Telefonica

Telenor

Telstra

Telia

Verizon

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/r6855w

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.
Prince Charles spoke of Palestinian 'freedom, justice and equality' yesterday - as the US prepared a peace plan expected to favour Israel.

The Prince of Wales, 71, made the comments as he addressed a reception in Bethlehem celebrating the ties between Britain and the region.

Donald Trump's Middle East initiative is intended to finally resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, it is believed to grant Israel more territory, as well as other concessions.

Charles is currently on a two-day royal visit to Jerusalem and Bethlehem in the Palestinian Occupied Territories, including a visit of the Palestinian occupied territories.

The royal trip is significant as the Queen has never made an official visit to Israel or Palestinian territories.

Prince Charles, 71, said he wished the Palestinian people 'freedom, justice and equality' today while making a historic first visit to the Occupied Palestinian Territories (pictured, speaking at a reception in Bethlehem)

The royal viewed religious icons as he attended a reception for Palestinian Christians at the Casa Nova Franciscan pilgrim house in Bethlehem

Speaking to a reception of clerics from different denominations at the Franciscan pilgrim house in Bethlehem, Charles said: I have endeavoured to build bridges between different religions so that we might learn from each other and be stronger together as a result.

'It breaks my heart, therefore, that we should continue to see so much suffering and division. No one arriving in Bethlehem today could miss the signs of continued hardship and the situation you face.

And I can only join you, and all communities, in your prayers for a just and lasting peace.

We must pursue this cause with faith and determination, striving to heal the wounds which have caused such pain. It is my dearest wish that the future will bring freedom, justice and equality to all Palestinians, enabling you to thrive and prosper.

He began his historic visit to the West Bank with a symbolic gesture of unity by walking through Bethlehem with Muslim and Christian leaders from the Mosque of Omar to the Church of the Nativity, said to be built on the site of Jesuss birth.

Prince Charles made the speech while attending a reception for Palestinian christians at the Casa Nova Franciscan pilgrim house in Bethlehem in the Occupied Palestinian Territories on the second day of his visit to the region

The royal could be seen beaming and chatting with fellow attendees at PIlgrim House earlier today

The governor of Bethlehem, Kamel Hmeid, told Charles how Christians and Muslims lived as neighbours successfully for centuries after Jerusalem was conquered by Caliph Omar in 637AD. Charles said the message of religious co-existence was a wonderful example.

Amnesty International UK praised the prince's comments, saying he had offered 'genuine sympathy and solidarity with Palestinians' over what it said were their years of suffering.

Palestinian health minister Dr Mai Kaileh was the senior political representative at the event.

She told the prince of her hope that 'history will change' and Palestinians will be 'given our right as Palestinian people with an independent state and Jerusalem as our capital'.

Charles also stopped to chat with a group of Palestinian refugees, among them Dr Abdelfattah Abu Srour, director of the Al Rowwad Centre in Aida refugee camp.

Prince Chalres made his speech while at a Franciscan pilgrim house close to the Church of the Nativity, where he spoke with church leaders and health and education officials (pictured)

The royal appeared in high spirits at the event earlier today, which took place on his second day in the region

He told the royal visitor that he works with children as young as eight who, when asked what they want to be when they grow up, have responded 'that they want to die because nobody cares'.

He said the prince replied: 'It is painful to hear that.'

Charles also spoke with another refugee, Rua Ahmad Abuoda, a 20-year-old engineering student and member of a women's empowerment group which works with mothers and disabled children in the Aida and Al-Azzeh refugee camps.

She said: 'I spoke to him about disabled children. Some of them have been injured through Israeli soldiers and conflict.'

Kerry Moscogiuri, Amnesty International UK's campaigns director, said: 'Prince Charles's words will resonate with many Palestinians because they appear to signal a recognition that half a century of Israeli military occupation has produced huge injustice.

Prince Charles met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the official residence in Bethlehem, shaking his hand before sitting down for an official photocall and chat

The meeting took place on the second day of his two-day visit to Palestine and Israel, after he toured Bethlehem and Jerusalem earlier in the day

'In a discreet yet meaningful fashion, Prince Charles appears to have offered genuine sympathy and solidarity with Palestinians over their years of suffering.

'One concrete step towards freedom, justice and equality for Palestinians must include the UK Government finally banning the sale in the UK of goods from the illegal Israeli settlements.'

The prince had been invited to the territories by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and when they sat down for talks at his official residence in Bethlehem he praised Charles for his support.

Speaking though an interpreter Mr Abbas thanked the prince for supporting the 'case of Palestine' and said: 'We hope in the near future Britain is going to recognise the state of Palestine.

The Prince of Wales began an historic first visit to the Occupied Palestinian Territories by touring Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ today, visiting the Mosque of Omar

The mosque is opposite the Church of the Nativity (pictured) which contains a grotto said to be the site where Jesus was born

The Prince of Wales during an ecumenical service at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on the second day of his visit

The Prince of Wales is currently on a two-day trip to the Middle East, meeting with the President of Israel Reuven Rivlin, Holocaust survivors and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Charles began his historic first visit to the West Bank with a gesture of unity - walking through Bethlehem with Muslim and Christian leaders.

Earlier in the day, Prince Charles, whose visit to Bethlehem was not announced in advance, walked into the Mosque of Omar surrounded by a crowd.

The mosque is opposite the Church of the Nativity which contains a grotto said to be the site where Jesus was born.

His visit to Bethlehem was not announced in advance and he appeared at ease with the crowd around him as he walked into the Mosque of Omar

Britain's Prince Charles shakes hands with people as he arrives to visit Omar mosque in Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank of Palestine

The Manger inside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on the second day of the Prince of Wales' visit

His appearance came after he gave a speech during a Holocaust memorial ceremony attended by some 40 world leaders in Jerusalem on the first day of his visit.

Charles paid homage to his grandmother, Princess Alice, for sheltering Jews in Nazi-occupied Greece during World War II, on Thursday.

Princess Alice of Battenberg and Greece was the mother-in-law of Britain's Queen Elizabeth. A devout Christian, she died in London in 1969 and had asked to be buried in Jerusalem, next to her aunt, who like Alice had become a nun and founded a convent.

Pictured: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales arrives at the Mosque of Omar in Jerusalem,

Charles' tour  the highest level visit by a member of the monarchy to Israel and the Palestinian areas  marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau

Prince Charles meets with Palestinian Muslim clerics outside Bethlehem's Omar Ben al-Khattab mosque

The Prince of Wales (second left) is shown the manger during a visit to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on the second day of his visit

The Prince of Wales (centre) during a visit to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on the second day of his visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories

Prince Charles (C) signs the guest book during his visit to Omar mosque in Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank

During his speech Prince Charles also urged nations to learn the 'lessons' of the Holocaust as he joined world leaders, amid the continued conflict of the Israel occupied Palestinian territories.

Charles' tour  the highest level visit by a member of the monarchy to Israel and the Palestinian areas  marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the former Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau.

The heir to the throne's visit follows one made by his son the Duke of Cambridge who toured Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories in 2018.

Charles has travelled to Jerusalem to attend the funerals of President Shimon Peres in 2016 and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995.

Prince Charles (L) visits the compound of the Church of the Nativity

Children wait for the arrival of Britain's Charles, Prince of Wales in Manger Square in Bethlehem

Pictured: Prince Charles visits the Mosque of Omar in Bethlehem

Charles has travelled to Jerusalem to attend the funerals of President Shimon Peres in 2016 and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995 - he is seen at the Church of Nativity

The Prince of Wales is shown traditional items of food during a visit to a traditional olive grove and fruit orchard in an historic convent in Bethlehem on the second day of his trip

The Prince of Wales takes part in a planting ceremony during a visit to a traditional olive grove and fruit orchard in an historic convent in Bethlehem

rince of Wales, poses for a picture with nuns and clergymen at the Russian Orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene on the Mount of Olives, Bethlehem
[January 24, 2020] Shuman, Glenn & Stecker Investigates CURO Group Holdings, Inc.

Shuman, Glenn & Stecker announces that it is investigating potential shareholder claims against certain officers and directors of CURO Group Holdings, Inc. ("CURO" or the "Company") (NYSE: CURO). CURO is a consumer finance company focusing on payday loans, single-pay loans and ancillary financial products. The Firm's investigation relates to allegations raised in a class action complaint filed against the Company and certain of its senior offiers in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas. The lawsuit alleges that between July 31, 2018 and October 24, 2018, CURO consistently touted the ongoing success of transitioning its Canadian inventory products from Single-Pay Loans to Open-End Loans and reaffirmed its 2018 full-year financial guidance. Despite these positive assurances of the transition, on October 24, 2018, CURO disclosed disappointing results for the Company's third quarter, including Canadian revenue that had decreased by $4.4 million, provision for losses that had increased by $8.7 million, and an adjusted EBITDA that decreased by $15.36 million. On this news, CURO's stock price fell $7.69, or almost 34%, to close at $15.18 per share. The lawsuit further alleges that certain of the Company's senior officers and directors sold approximately $33 million worth of CURO stock in a May 2018 stock offering at a price of $23.00 per share, just prior to the disclosure of disappointing third quarter results. CURO's stock trades for approximately $10 per share as of the date of this release. On December 3, 2019, the federal judge denied CURO's motion to dismiss the claims, paving the way for litigation to proceed towards trial.



If you currently own CURO common stock and are interested in discussing your rights, or have information relating to this investigation, please contact Brett Stecker toll free at (866) 569-4531 or email Mr. Stecker at [email protected]. Shuman, Glenn & Stecker represents investors throughout the nation, concentrating its practice in stockholder litigation.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005335/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
10 College scholarship programs that Latino students should look into in pursuing their college degree, according to a published article in Remezcla.

The number of Latino students who are pursuing their college degree has skyrocketed since 2000. An increase of 27 percent was significantly seen in 2015 from 22 percent in 2000. However, there still a problem when it comes to the graduation gap between Latinos and Americans.

According to experts, the educational disparity between Latinos and Americans is due to their demographics. Latinos are statistically more likely coming from low-income families which means that this tends to be one of the factors why there are few Latinos who graduate in college.

To help Latinos who want to pursue their degree in college, there is no need for reading numerous winning scholarship essays we have already listed 10 scholarship programs that they can apply:

The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers Scholarships believed that "Financial needs is the no.1 reason why Hispanic students cannot complete their bachelor's degree," The has been offering 150 scholarships that help Latino students pay their tuition in college. Their scholarship program is exclusively for students only who are pursuing an education in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The scholarship application this year will start in April.

The Ascend Educational Fund accepts applicants regardless of their immigration status. This means that even the undocumented immigrants can apply in this scholarship program. This education fund is intended for first and second-degree immigrants who live in New York City and graduated from New York City High School and plans to pursue their college degree in public or private colleges and universities regardless of their ethnicity, national origin, and immigration status. Successful applicants will receive $2,500 to $20,000 for their educational needs.

This is another scholarship that is geared to help undocumented immigrants. They are very explicit in their website that applicants do not need to have a DACA status to apply in their scholarship program. Meanwhile, the Anhelo Project Dream Scholarship Application is intended for students who are currently living and looking for support to pay their tuition in the state of Illinois. To successfully get the scholarship, applicants must demonstrate leadership skills, academic competitiveness, community involvement, and financial need.

This scholarship is for applicants who have at least one parent of Latino descent. Applicants must demonstrate sufficient academic achievement, community involvement, and financial need. Along with this, there will be a phone interview or in-person to gauge the potential of the recipients. The deadline for the application is on Feb. 5, 2020.

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences is working to help many Latinos achieve their dreams in conquering Hollywood just like other students from other races and ethnicity but are financially constraint. Through the help of the Randy Falco Scholarship, they help students coming from Latino descent who want to pursue their television career by awarding $10,000. There are no schedules for the application that are released yet, but it is expected to be in mid-March this year.

This scholarship is intended for students who are from Latino descent who demonstrate significant leadership capabilities and have the desire to serve effectively the community. The group has awarded $1.3 million funds in the Latino community. Moreover, there is no need for an applicant to be a U.S. citizen to apply. The application is expected to be in November 2020.

Applicants of this scholarship program must be enrolled in accredited LVN or LPN, associate, diploma, baccalaureate, and graduate nursing program or have been a member of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses for at least six months. Moreover, the recipient of this scholarship program is selected based on their need, course of study, and supporting application materials. Take note that the scholarship application starts from March 1 to April 1.

The scholarship program was created by Colgate-Palmolive products company to help Hispanic students in college by providing financial assistance. The scholarship grant is categorized into three categories such as Gold, Silver, and Bronze. One national category of scholarship worth $15,000. To qualify in this scholarship grant, the applicant must possess academic excellence, dedication to community service, and dedication of leadership in the community. The application will be in September 2020.

This is intended for minority students who live in the state of Florida and are planning to pursue their education in teaching. Applicants must have at least a GPA of 2.5, attended the annual symposium of Florida Fund for Minority Teachers. Most importantly, they must be willing to teach in the number of years equivalent to the number of years that the scholarship was received. The application period for the school year 2021-2022 will start at the end of this year.

The mission statement of the group is to "provide scholarships and support services to as many exceptional Hispanic American students as possible." This is the most all-encompassing scholarship program among the list. The award funds to all majors and graduate fields. The scholarship grant ranges from $500 to $5,000 and is awarded on a merit-based or competitive basis.
RoseAnn DeMoro, a close friend and staunch supporter of Bernie Sanders, has been so stinging in her criticism of Sanders's rivals and detractors that his campaign has called her and asked her to "tone it down," she said.

The former head of an influential nurses union isn't letting up.

"We're not programmed," DeMoro said in an interview. "There's no lockstep here."

As Sanders, I-Vt., has risen in the polls and clashed more sharply with his opponents, a dilemma has emerged for his campaign - how to rein in his fervent following and merge it with a Democratic Party he and his supporters have frequently fought.

It's become a central question for the Sanders candidacy as many Democrats are desperately seeking a nominee who can unite the party against President Donald Trump - and one his campaign is addressing with new urgency.

Campaign officials have been pressing surrogates and other allies not to escalate combustible disputes that have recently become more personal, according to people with knowledge of the situation, including a tense fight with Joe Biden, an altercation with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and a renewed schism with Hillary Clinton.

Sanders issued a rare apology this week to Biden after a prominent supporter wrote an opinion article declaring that the former vice president has a "big corruption problem." And after Clinton slammed Sanders, he sidestepped her comments instead of rebuking her.

But many Sanders supporters, and even some campaign aides, are inclined to take a more aggressive approach that they say will highlight important differences. DeMoro said Biden has a "character issue," and she sarcastically thanked Clinton for drawing "a lot of neutral people" to Sanders with her attacks.

Zephyr Teachout, the Sanders supporter who wrote that Biden had a corruption troubles, defended her op-ed in an email to The Washington Post, suggesting that the issue of corruption remains crucial in deciding which Democrat is best to take on Trump.

"We can't let Trump and Trumpism make us stop talking about systemic corruption because he has abused the term, and tried to destroy its meaning, and because his own corruption is so grotesque," she said.

Some close Sanders allies acknowledged the difficulty of balancing the passions of his loyal backers, inspired by his calls for a political revolution and his staunchly liberal platform, with the need to demonstrate a broader unity. The task is crucial, they said, as Sanders seeks to woo Democrats in Iowa, where voters are known for rejecting negative politics, ahead of the state's Feb. 3 caucuses.

"This is a moment for our campaign to show we are capable of uniting not just our base but the broader Democratic Party and country - and healing a nation that is deeply divided," sad Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., a national co-chair of the Sanders campaign.

Khanna drew parallels to the test then-Sen. Barack Obama faced in 2008 when revelations about racially charged sermons by his pastor, Jeremiah Wright, threatened to derail his campaign. Obama rose to the occasion with a unifying call and by showing leadership, Khanna said, and Sanders has similarly met the moment "by making it clear that everyone in this movement has to live up to his values and standards."

Adding to Sanders's challenge are old wounds from his 2016 battle with Clinton that were reopened this week by her scathing assessment of her former rival. "Nobody likes him," she said of Sanders in a new documentary. She followed that up with comments published Tuesday in The Hollywood Reporter, in which she accused Sanders of supporting sexist attacks. Clinton later sought to soften her remarks.

Sanders opted not to engage her, instead issuing a brief written statement saying his focus was on serving as a juror in Trump's Senate impeachment trial. Despite being peppered by questions from reporters at the Capitol, Sanders has studiously declined to criticize his former rival.

Sanders supporters such as DeMoro, however, are not holding back, portraying Clinton as a has-been. "I think she must be unaware of how low her favorables are," DeMoro said. "It really outraged a lot of people. It activated a lot of neutral people. Thank you, Hillary, thank you."

DeMoro said that although Sanders is often reluctant to stoke personal fights, his supporters want him to throw more aggressive counterpunches. "Bernie's thing is he doesn't like the personalization thing - he's too good for that," she said. "In the base, if you will, we often feel like Bernie should hit back harder, because we feel insulted by the fact that they take such swipes at him."

Sanders has long walked a careful line with the Democratic establishment. He's refused to join the party, calling himself an independent and a democratic socialist. At the same time, he's worked closely with Democratic leaders in the Senate and almost always voted with them, and in turn, he has received an influential leadership post.

Sanders's explosive rise threatens that balance. Many Democrats say he has not moved swiftly enough to defuse his supporters' attacks, which they worry could hurt the party.

"I don't think he's done enough," said Rufus Gifford, who served as finance director for Obama's 2012 campaign and has raised money for Biden. "I don't believe, dating back to 2016, that the campaign apparatus has done enough to tamp the negativity down."

Champions of Sanders disagree. They note that he has frequently pledged to support whoever emerges as the Democratic nominee. He also sent an email to supporters at the outset of his campaign urging them to be respectful of his opponents. Ben Cohen, a national co-chair of the Sanders campaign, said the campaign recently distributed a note reinforcing that approach.

Sanders has often said that he is not in the business of disparaging his rivals in a personal way, preferring instead to draw contrasts over policy. As he put it on the campaign trail in New Hampshire last weekend, "Should we be engaged in ugly personal attacks against each other? I think not." He added, "Why do you run for office if you don't talk about your vision and your record?"

But the line between policy critiques and personal attacks is not always clear - especially to his backers - and even as Sanders has sought to tamp down some tensions, he has been stoking others. A fight has intensified this week over Sanders's claims that Biden has not been a strong defender of Social Security, which Biden forcefully disputes. Each candidate put out a video critical of the other.

In Teachout's op-ed, which a Sanders aide said the senator did not know of in advance, she argued that Biden is too cozy with big donors from the credit card, health-care and fossil fuel industries, which Sanders routinely attacks on the campaign trail.

"I know it seems crazy, but a lot of the voters we need - independents and people who might stay home - will look at Biden and Trump and say: 'They're all dirty,' " Teachout wrote.

Sanders adviser David Sirota, who has aggressively gone after Biden on social media, highlighted Teachout's op-ed in his Bern Notice newsletter. Sirota declined to comment.

Associating Biden with corruption - an attack also leveled by Trump - did not sit well with Sanders. "It is absolutely not my view that Joe is corrupt in any way, and I'm sorry that that op-ed appeared," Sanders said in a Monday interview with CBS News, hours after the article was published.

Biden told the Iowa television station WHO that Sanders also apologized in person, and he thanked the senator.

Sanders has also criticized the tactics of other supporters. One Sanders aide publicized a video this month that showed clips of Biden talking about Social Security, which fact-checkers said had been edited in a misleading way. Sanders acknowledged Sunday that the video should have had "the whole context," though he reiterated his case that Biden has not been a strong supporter of Social Security.

In the CBS interview, Sanders made a broad request to his backers: "I appeal to my supporters: Please, engage in civil discourse." Still, he said, his partisans were not the only ones crossing the line, and he encouraged everyone to "have a debate on the issues."

The clash between Sanders and Warren focused on a more personal matter, involving a private conversation in 2018. Warren says that when she asserted that a woman could defeat Trump, Sanders disagreed; he forcefully denies having done so.

Sanders has appeared eager to defuse the matter, but once again the actions of his followers did not always match his message. Scores of social media users identifying themselves as his supporters used snake icons to attack Warren as duplicitous and touted a #NeverWarren hashtag.

- - -

The Washington Post's Chelsea Janes contributed to this report.
A French patrol boat has intercepted a vessel carrying 11 migrants in the English Channel.

Border forces were alerted at 7.50am today to a report of a boat four nautical miles north-east of Calais, French maritime authorities said.

The migrants - including a woman and two children - were recovered by the Jacques Oudart Fourmentin patrol boat and taken to Calais.

It came as air temperatures in Dover, Kent, were as low as 4C.

The migrants are all now safe, but French authorities reiterated their warnings against crossing the busy shipping lanes and dangerous waters.

The migrants - including a woman and two children - were recovered by the Jacques Oudart Fourmentin patrol boat (file image) and taken to Calais

It comes a day after at least 18 migrants were intercepted in the Channel on Thursday - seven of whom were taken to the UK by Border Force officials.

The men - who presented themselves as Syrian nationals - were taken into the Port of Dover.

On Wednesday 50 migrants were intercepted by UK and French authorities as they attempted to cross the channel.

A further 21 were detained in Dover on Tuesday, while 14 were intercepted while trying to get from Belgium to the UK.

A boat was detected about four and a half miles north of Calais at about 1.45am on Thursday morning, carrying the 11 migrants. It has been picked up French authorities

The image above shows an empty rubber dinghy after three boats were intercepted by border force officials on Tuesday

Tony Eastaugh, Home Office Director for Crime & Enforcement, said: 'We are tackling illegal migrant crossings on all fronts with every agency including Border Force, Immigration Enforcement, NCA and policing teams working in tandem with the French and Belgian authorities.

'We have extra patrols on French beaches, drones, specialist vehicles and detection equipment which has been deployed to stop small boats leaving European shores.

'And it's working. Last year one hundred people smugglers were convicted for a total of 320 years.'

The National Crime Agency this week said that migrants trying to reach the UK from France are using 'surge' tactics to overwhelm patrols.

Officers were seen giving migrants blankets to wrap around themselves as they got off boats in Dover on Monday

Steve Reynolds, who works at the agency told the BBC that if a large number of migrants depart on the same day then they are 'more likely to get through'.

Weather conditions are said to have been 'perfect' to cross the Channel in the night, with a calm sea - but the temperatures would have been 'very cold'.

A Home Office spokesperson said: 'Those who seek to come to the UK unlawfully and the ruthless criminals who facilitate journeys are all breaking the law and endangering lives.

'There has been a doubling of patrols on French beaches and drones, specialist vehicles and detection equipment have been deployed to stop small boats leaving French shores and arriving in the UK illegally.

'Individuals who reach the UK illegally should be in no doubt about our determination to return them to Europe as it is an established principle that those in need of protection should claim asylum in the first safe country they reach.'

Last year 336 migrants arrived just in August, including 86 in one day.

At least two desperate asylum seekers are known to have died while trying to reach the UK.

One of them was a 48-year-old Iraqi man who attempted to swim across using diver fins and plastic bottles as a makeshift life jacket.

The other was a woman who fell overboard while crossing with other migrants.
Fredo Cuomo, the incompetent younger brother of New York's Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and a CNN host, went on a concern-trolling spree at Davos. Seems he found much to criticize in secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin for telling teen climate activist Greta Thunberg to get a degree in economics before she starts spouting off with advice for America.

It didn't end well for him.

Here was his tweet:

Why do these trumpers think it is ok to go at a kid? https://t.co/RYY2IrJPL3  Christopher C. Cuomo (@ChrisCuomo) January 23, 2020

Here is a sample of what he launched for himself from it:

Nick Sandmann was 16 when CNN doxed and harassed him. https://t.co/xeMFX199OT  Mike Cernovich (@Cernovich) January 23, 2020

Does this face look familiar Mr. Cupmo? How much did your network pay him again? pic.twitter.com/N4jS4uegms  The Major   (@saltymarine80) January 23, 2020

Oh and Id argue this is much worse for children than pointing out their lack of economic policy expertise. pic.twitter.com/HI0gWrfEOt  Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) January 23, 2020

This pretty well showed that the station he's the face of isn't interested in kids. It's interested in Getting Trump, even if it's through Mnuchin.

The Twitterers hastened to remind him that his network had to shell out a seven-figure payout for calling young teenage Nick Sandmann a "most punchable face" and baying to destroy him on false grounds, the only real crime being that he wore a "MAGA" hat while he was being harassed by multiple leftists.

Seems the last thing Fredo ought to be doing is lecturing Steve Mnuchin about whom he can encourage to go get any economics degree. Mnuchin, in fact, was doing young Greta a favor.

CNN is the one with egg all over its face based on its atrocious treatment of Sandmann. Fredo has beclowned himself.
United Way names new board members

New United Way board members are Tom Murrill, Trina Stokes, Lisa Richmond, Stephanie Barbosa and Michael Willey. Not pictured is Hector Marmolejo.

United Way of Henderson County has added six community leaders to its 2020 Board of Directors.

The new members are Stephanie Barbosa, Hector Marmolejo, Tom Murrill, Lisa Richmond, Trina Stokes and Michael Willey.

We are excited to have these new members bring their perspectives and expertise to the United Way of Henderson County Board, said Executive Director Denise Cumbee Long. We work across many sectors to improve the health, education, and financial stability of all people in our county. We value the collective wisdom and leadership of our dedicated board members who are passionate about making our community a better place, she added.

Outreach Coordinator for the Henderson County Sheriffs Office, Barbosa serves as the liaison to the Latino community, she works to build relationships and foster a mutual bond with the community by participating in community events and by helping the Henderson County Sheriffs Office overcome cultural and language barriers. She is a graduate of Hendersonville High School, and was the former Victim Witness Coordinator and Criminal Judicial Management assistant at the District Attorneys office.

Marmolejo, senior operations manager at Kimberly-Clark Berkeley Mill, has 17 years of manufacturing, supply chain and operations leadership experience. He started his career at KC in the Tlaxcala facility in Mexico in 2001 and was transferred to the US in 2008. He is a graduate of Universidad de las Americas in Mexico with a minor in Process Simulation from Texas A&M University in College Station. Marmolejo also holds an MBA in Global Business from Georgia Tech.

Murrill is a retired veteran of hospitality and service industries with more than 40 years of legal and business experience. He recently served as a Loaned Executive with UWHC. Prior to retirement, Murrill served as Vice President Chief People Officer (CPO) for The Krystal Company. He also previously served as Vice President of Human Resources &Attorney for Western Global Airlines, and is the former Vice President, Chief Human Resource Officer at Silver Airways. Murrill is a Marine Corps Vietnam veteran, he is a graduate of California State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree and holds a degree in law from Pepperdine University.

Richmond, senior HR manager at GE Current, has lived and worked in the region for 15 years with a career spanning from newspaper business to innovative technology and manufacturing. Her personal mission is to put the human back into Human Resources. She previously served on the Innovate Anderson board of directors in South Carolina, is a graduate of Leadership Anderson, and has been active in volunteer work for most of her career. Richmond grew up in Maryville, TN and attended Auburn University.

Stokes, executive director for Council on Aging in Henderson County, works diligently with her team to ensure older adults in Henderson County have access to the vital services they need to live independently. In addition to her work at Council on Aging, she currently serves as the Chair for the Henderson County Partnership for Health. She holds an undergraduate degree from the University of NC-Asheville and a masters in business from the University of Tennessee.

President of Hatteras Capital Advisors, Willey joined the executive search industry in the summer of 2013 and has quickly built a solid rapport with his clients. He is dedicated to building relationships with construction firms that are working within the institutional, commercial, healthcare and industrial sectors. Willey is highly involved in giving back to the Hendersonville community, and he has volunteered extensively with United Way, serving as a Loaned Executive and on a funding panel. He is also a graduate of UWHCs Rising Leaders program. He holds a Bachelors in Business Administration and Management from the University of Tennessee.
Advertisement

By Rep. Richard Heath

Jan. 24, 2020 | WESTERN KENTUCKY

By Rep. Richard Heath Jan. 24, 2020 | 11:28 AM | WESTERN KENTUCKY

The pace really picked up during week three of the 2019 General Assembly, with legislation on its way to the Senate for consideration after clearing both House committees and the full House. Already almost 600 bills and resolutions have been filed for consideration in both the House and Senate, and there are still four weeks before the deadline for requesting a bill be drafted.



The first bill to pass the House this session was, quite fittingly, a nod to our agricultural heritage. House Bill 236 is part of our ongoing effort to help Kentucky farmers growing industrial hemp. Its provisions will bring our state further in line with federal guidelines in order to promote the hemp industry. The measure has the support of many in the agricultural community, including Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles. HB 236 now goes to the Senate for consideration.



Another pro-farming bill, HB 308, was filed this week and I look forward to the discussion it brings about how critical it is to keep farm land dedicated to agriculture as well as how we can support young people who would like to begin farming. This measure would establish a tax credit as an incentive for those who currently farm to sell land and assets to those who are beginning their farming career. If passed, House Bill 308 would provide a tax credit when land and assets are sold to a beginning farmer. The maximum amount of credit that can be claimed under House Bill 308 is $25,000 per year and farmers must be Kentucky residents to qualify for the credit.



The House voted unanimously to approve legislation honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while defending our nation. The bill, HB 17, would designate the Honor and Remember flag as the state's emblem of the service and sacrifice of the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces. Kentuckians have been defending this nation since before we were a state, and more than 11,000 Kentuckians have died in combat in the century since World War I.



A veterans nursing home in Bowling Green is one step closer to reality after members of the House Appropriations and Revenue Committee approved the bill and sent it to the full House for consideration. House Bill 24 appropriates $2.5 million for design and preconstruction from the General Fund to the Department of Veterans Affairs. This funding comes in addition to the $10.5 million in state bond funding that was allocated by the 2017 General Assembly.



Of course, the budget still remains our top priority this session. Budget subcommittees have already begun meeting, but we look forward to hearing from Governor Andy Beshear about his budget proposal. The Governors budget speech is scheduled for this Tuesday, January 28 at 7 p.m. EST and will be shown live on Kentucky Educational Televisions website, www.ket.org.



I hope to continue updating you on our work in Frankfort. If you have any questions or comments about this session, I can be reached during the week from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. (EST) through the toll-free message line at 1-800-372-7181. They will ask you to share contact information, but I will get the message and I do indeed appreciate hearing from constituents. You can also contact me via e-mail at richard.heath@lrc.ky.gov. You can keep track of committee meetings and potential legislation through the Kentucky Legislature Home Page at www.legislature.ky.gov.
Google "my boss is" and you get fill-in-the-blanks like "toxic," "unbearable," "crazy," and "abusive." (You also get an array of words not fit to print.)

Even if you've never had a truly terrible boss, chances are you've worked for someone who wasn't nearly as good as that person thought he or she was. And according to organizational psychologist and former lecturer at Harvard and Stanford, Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, statistically that person is far more likely to be a man than a woman.

The author of ten 10 books and over 150 scientific papers, Dr. Chamorro-Premuzic knows what he's talking about, and he asserts the following: men are both more likely to be inaccurate in their perception of their own talents and more likely to succeed in their careers.

Why do they succeed more often? In part because when you fool yourself into believing you're excellent at what you do, you're better at fooling other people, too.

According to Chamorro-Premuzic, while women are under-represented in leadership positions, the bigger problem is that most leaders are incompetent. This is disturbing because whether you're looking at leadership in business or politics, incompetent leaders wreak havoc wherever they go. They provoke low levels of engagement, prompt burnout and stress, and damage both trust and productivity.

There are three primary reasons why so many incompetent men become leaders. First, a lot of people have trouble distinguishing between confidence and competence.

"Across cultures and countries, we tend to assume that confident people have more potential for leadership," says Chamorro-Premuzic, "but in any area of talent, including leadership, there is very little overlap between confidence (how good people think they are at something) and competence (how good they actually are at something)."

Second, people love charisma. As a culture we're obsessed with it, especially since the advent of mass media. However, charming individuals who can make others laugh or be outrageous do not necessarily make the best leaders. In fact, Chamorro-Premuzic argues, "the best leaders are humble rather than charismatic, to the point of being boring."

Third, as a culture we tend to find narcissistic people fascinating. "We've always admired famous people," says Chamorro-Premuzic, "but our admiration for people who admire themselves or are famous for just being famous has been rising for decades." (Kanye and the Kardashians come to mind.)

This is particularly problematic because narcissists see leadership as something to which they're entitled--and don't really care about taking care of others. They demonstrate a marked lack of empathy, which not only leaves them unable to authentically bond with their teams, but means they frequently act without integrity and take risks that are ill-advised. They tend to be bad for the people around them and bad for the business overall.

By contrast, "the best leaders keep their narcissism in check," says Chamorro-Premuzic. "They care a lot about other people, including what they think of them, and they spend a great deal of time worrying about their reputation, which is why there are very few scandals about them."

So how do you prevent an incompetent man from becoming your next leader?

First of all, look for the qualities that actually make for excellent leaders; don't be seduced by charisma. Says Chamorro-Premuzic, "Instead of falling for people who are confident, narcissistic and charismatic, we should promote people because of competence, humility and integrity.

Interestingly, Chamorro-Premuzic adds that just doing this "would also lead to a higher proportion of female than male leaders -- large-scale scientific studies show that women score higher than men on measures of competence, humility and integrity."

Second, don't just trust your instincts. Don't fixate on the impression you got from the sole job interview. Your intuition isn't always accurate. Do deeper research on this person, especially researching their humility, integrity, and empathy skills. Are they a good listener? Do their former colleagues rate them high when it comes to integrity? Remember that someone who's excellent at what they do and humble may look boring. That's OK.

Third, when seeking to help more women in your organization advance, change the culture so that you're not unconsciously encouraging women to act more like incompetent men. For example, don't tell women to "lean in" when they don't have the skills to back it up. Don't tell them to spend more time advancing their own interests or engaging in self-promotion.

The solution to getting higher-quality leaders is not by telling modest, steady people to advocate for themselves more. It's to seek out humble, empathetic, emotionally safe, reliable people who are good at what they do and put them in leadership positions.
Its another gorgeous day in California.

Asa Taccone is taking full advantage by making time for himself.

I feel good, he says. I was just saying to my friends the other day that I feel the most satisfied with my life for the first time in 15 years. Its great.

Taccone is one-half of the indie band Electric Guest. He and Matthew Compton have been creating music together since the bands inception in 2011. The duo will perform at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, at Launchpad.

In October, Electric Guest released its third album, Kin. The album, on Atlantic Records, is the bands major-label debut.

The writing and recording process took about a year, which surprised Taccone.

We had only been with indie labels before, Taccone says. I think I was really nervous with a major label because I imagined this endless back-and-forth with songs. When we submitted the 14 or 15 songs to the label, they really liked it. It was a great journey on this one.

Completing Kin in under a year is the quickest the band has completed an album.

The first album took a few years, and the second album took about five years, Taccone says.

I learned on this album to complete the task and dont be so precious about it, he says. I tried to not overanalyze the process. I wanted to get back to the child instinct of when I first starting making music. It was a lot easier and more fluid.

Taccone says if there were no deadline, he would have written for another year.

Add to that the million demos that havent seen the light of day, he says. I have a tendency to let my thinking and process endlessly spin. If it was up to me, I would never release anything.

Its been about seven years since Electric Guest performed in Albuquerque.

Taccone recalls the last show in town.

New Mexico is the one place where me and Matthew got into a raging fight, he says. We finished the show and we were packing up. We were so broke, and we did a merch count and something was off. He thought I was skimming and we had a full-blown argument. We dont fight often, but it was one of the biggest weve had. We were tired, broke and just trying to make it.
Supplier News

24 January 2020

Winnow, the hospitality tech firm who tackle food waste in commercial kitchens with Artificial Intelligence (AI), has appointed Jess Tausig (formerly ex Head of Business Development, Global Strategic Accounts at Sodexo) as their new Managing Director for Europe.

Jess' arrival into the company follows a successful year for Winnow, with the launch of Winnow Vision, an AI-enabled technology which gives chefs powerful insight to help them cut waste by over 50% on average, and leads to significant cost reductions trusted by brands like IKEA and IHG. In addition, the company also celebrated their largest fundraising to date and notably being ranked as the 78th fastest growing company in Europe.

Jess has joined Winnow to manage operations and accelerate business development in the European market. Jess brings with her a wealth of experience and demonstrated history of working in the facilities services industry. This includes, during her tenure at Sodexo, working as Head of European Business Development across the corporate services segment, with delivery of $350m top line revenue growth annually and 100% retention as a key achievement during this time.

Kevin Duffy, co-founder of Winnow says, "We're excited to have Jess join; she is an outstanding addition to the team, bringing deep understanding of the hospitality market and a track record of success there. With Jess' help, we believe we can both deepen partnerships with our existing enterprise customers and create new ones, to deliver meaningful change at the global scale of their businesses."

Using a camera, a set of smart scales and the same type of machine learning technology found in autonomous vehicles, Winnow Vision 'learns' to recognise different foods being thrown in the bin and calculates the financial and environmental cost of this discarded food to commercial kitchens.

Businesses and chefs can then adjust their food purchasing decisions accordingly, reducing their spending and tackling a fundamental problem of food waste: overproduction. A typical kitchen would expect to cut food waste in half within a year, saving 3%-8% on food purchasing costs.

Globally, a third of all food never reaches our forks. If food waste were a country, it would be the third largest emitter of greenhouse gasses after the USA and China. Food waste is also a completely unnecessary financial burden for businesses to bear, costing the global economy around $1 trillion in lost output - equivalent to around 1.5 percent of global GDP. Food waste costs commercial kitchens between 5 and 15 percent of all food purchased, with some kitchens wasting up to 20 percent of all the food they buy. Food waste costs the hospitality industry alone around $100bn every year - a number that Winnow's aims to slash.

About Winnow

Winnow develops cutting-edge digital tools to help chefs run more profitable, sustainable kitchens. Launched in a single staff restaurant in 2013, Winnow is trusted today by thousands of chefs in over 40 countries, where kitchens' food waste is consistently cut in half. Together Winnow and its partners are saving over 25 million meals a year from the bin: the equivalent of $37 million in food cost savings for our clients. For more info: www.winnowsolutions.com
Ahead of the Supreme Court hearing next week on the telecom operators' plea on their (AGR) outstandings, the Department of Telecom (DoT) is readying the payment schedule for the telcos whereby they may have to pay the principal and penalty amounts immediately, official sources said on Friday.

Though this standby payment plan is being readied, everything, however, depends on the apex court decision, the sources added.

Vodafone Idea Ltd (VIL), Bharti Airtel (Airtel) and Tata Teleservices Ltd (TTL) jointly filed a modification application in the Supreme Court on Monday, seeking more time to pay their AGR dues to the government which stands at Rs 1.02 lakh crore.

They are expected to present a definite payment plan for the court's consideration and the DoT is expected to respond according to the court decision.

"DoT is waiting for the Supreme Court hearing and its directions next week. But at the same time it has made a roadmap as well, that if the honorable court allows telcos to negotiate with the government on the AGR payment schedule, DoT may ask them to clear the principal and penalty amount immediately and interest amount can be given over the next few weeks, as decided," an official said.

This payment schedule not be staggered over a six-month period, while the schedule only be finalised after the Supreme Court decision next week, the source added.

This is bound to dash the hopes of operators like Airtel or Vodafone Idea who are hoping that the government spreads out the AGR due payments over a long period between 10-20 years.

The penalty and interest amount forms 80 per cent of the total individual dues.

The total AGR dues of Airtel are Rs 35,500 crore. Airtel had said that as of September 30, it has provisioned for Rs 34,260 crore as liabilities from AGR that comprise the principal of Rs 8,747 crore, interest of Rs 15,446 crore, penalty of Rs 3,760 crore and interest on penalty of Rs 6,307 crore.

Vodafone Idea faces an AGR due of Rs 53,038 crore, including Rs 24,729 crore as spectrum usage charges (SUC), and Rs 28,309 crore towards licence fees. The company's board recently approved modifications in the use of their Rs 25,000-crore rights issue proceeds to pay Rs 2,826.1 crore towards the AGR dues.

Airtel has raised $3 billion through equity and debt funds from investors for paying AGR dues.

(Anjana Das can be contacted at anjana.d@ians.in )

--IANS

ana/sn/bc
By PTI

NEW DELHI: A group of 154 "conscious, responsible and concerned citizens" on Friday urged President Ram Nath Kovind to take action against those indulging in violence in the name of protests against the CAA and the NRC and "safeguard" the country's democratic institutions.

The group consists of people who have retired from top government and constitutional posts and intellectuals.

Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) Chairman and former chief justice of Sikkim High Court Permod Kohli, who led the delegation that called on the President, alleged that some political elements were sponsoring the "violent protestors" and there is also an "external dimension to the disturbances being created".

He, however, did not name any political party or individual "instigating" the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the National Population Register and the National Register of Citizens The delegates said they were concerned about the move to "divide" the country by "some groups" to create a "vicious atmosphere".

We have no objection if the stir is peaceful without any inconvenience to the public, they added.

The signatories to the memorandum, submitted to the President, include 11 former high court judges, 72 ex-bureaucrats including IAS, IPS, IFS officers and former ambassadors of India, 56 ex-top defence officers, intellectuals, academicians and medical professionals.

The memorandum said the "conscious, responsible and concerned citizens" want the Centre to "look into the matter with all seriousness and safeguard the democratic institutions of the country and take stern action against such forces".

"Whenever India faced challenges on its borders and encountered the onslaught of some of the foreign invaders, it was more because of internal chicanery of individuals and small groups of people for their personal agendas and benefits who have from time to time tried to break the fabric of India's unity and cohesiveness.

We are seeing this phenomenon again.

" It alleged that the protests, "while ostensibly claiming to oppose the policies" of the Centre are in effect "designed to destroy the very fabric" of India and harm its unity and integrity.

"The fear-mongering which is being spread across the length and breadth of India appears to be motivated and with a sinister design to harm the nation," the memorandum added.

"The CAA does not impact on Indian citizens and hence claims that a citizen's rights and liberties are being infringed, does not stand scrutiny," it said.

Others signatories include former Rajya Sabha secretary-general Yogendra Narain, former Kerala chief secretary C V Anand Bose, former ambassador G S Iyer, former RAW chief Sanjiv Tripathi, ITBP ex-DGP S K Kain, former Delhi Police commissioner R S Gupta, former Army staff deputy chief N S Malik, ex-president Institute of Cost Accountants of India Chandra Wadhwa and former NCW chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. Convicted murderer Ashot Manukyan has been paroled after serving 24 years from his life sentence.

He was released from prison on January 24, his lawyer Narek Aloyan told ARMENPRESS.

He had been found guilty of murdering three servicemen and was sentenced to death penalty when capital punishment was still used in Armenia. Then, when it was abolished, his sentence was changed to life imprisonment.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
The Philadelphia District Attorneys Office (DAO) has charged insurance adjuster Michael R. Shelly with insurance fraud, forgery, theft by deception and theft by failure to make required disposition of funds for stealing more than $722,000 from Bridesburg, Penn.-based manufacturer Philly Rubber Inc.

As the owner of Zenith Public Adjusters, Michael Shelly had a responsibility to clients that included local businesses like Philly Rubber to help them with their insurance claims in a responsible and ethical way, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said in a press release issued by his office. Instead, Shelly stole Philly Rubbers settlement checks.

Philly Rubber Inc. is a manufacturer of gaskets and other rubber and foam products. In January of 2019, a sprinkler pipe in the factory burst, causing extensive water damage to the business materials, machinery and work spaces. Zenith Public Adjusters was contracted to negotiate insurance claims on behalf of Philly Rubber.

As the owner of Zenith Public Adjusters, Shelly inspected the damage to Philly Rubbers factory, met with the owner of Philly Rubber on several occasions and provided some water remediation services and assistance with the manufacturers insurance claim.

At some point, Shelly stopped returning Philly Rubbers phone calls and emails, nor was he present in his Broomall, Penn., office. In November 2019, the owner of Philly Rubber learned that their insurance claim had been closed and multiple settlement checks totaling more than $722,000 had been cashed by Shelly. Eventually, Shelly contacted the owners of Philly Rubber and agreed to send a check, but never did.

The DAO Insurance Fraud Unit began investigating Zenith Public Adjusters after the owner and manager of Philly Rubber contacted Philadelphia detectives assigned to the DAO. A warrant for Shellys arrest was issued on January 14, and Shelly turned himself in to DAO detectives on Thursday, January 16.

His next court date is scheduled for February 24 in courtroom 406 of the Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice. Members of the business community and general public who believe they have been taken advantage of by Michael Shelly or Zenith Public Adjusters should contact the DAO Insurance Fraud Unit.

Source: The Philadelphia District Attorneys Office

Topics Fraud Abuse Molestation Manufacturing
CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Friday slammed BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje for her tweet in which she had alleged that Hindus of Kuttipuram in Malappuram were being denied water as they supported CAA, and said that the "ruling party should stop producing fake news".

"This is a fabricated story. It has been proven that it was total falsehood and therefore a case has been filed for spreading falsehood and creating enmity between people. That has to be done because based on this type of false news circulating, they (BJP) are creating an atmosphere of hate and violence which is not in the interests of the country," Yechury told ANI here.

"BJP should stop doing fake news production, it is really harming the unity of the country and is against the country's interest," he said.

The Kerala Police registered a case against Karandlaje and others under Section 153 (A) of the IPC for putting out posts on social media that Hindu families in Malappuram were not given water for extending their support to the CAA.

The case was registered based on a complaint by Subhash Chandran KR, a Supreme Court advocate and resident of Malappuram.

Yechury also supported the statement of Maharashtra Home Minister regarding phone tapping of opposition leaders during the previous BJP government in Maharashtra.

"If the Home Minister of Maharashtra is making such revelations then obviously all the doubts in the mind of political leaders since 2014 are correct. Indulging in this sort of spying to get control over what others are doing is something which is totally unacceptable in a democracy," he said.

"The right to privacy is a fundamental right and the BJP is violating the right. Therefore, I hope the investigation will concretise how things were happening and the culprit must be punished."

Earlier today, Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Anil Deshmukh had said that the previous BJP government in the state had engaged in the tapping of phones of Congress and NCP leaders.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Michael Blythe poses next to Tommy Wiseau, who has appeared at the Clay Theatre on more than one occasion for his ritual screenings of "The Room."

The single screen of a cinematic fixture in the heart of Pacific Heights will be fading to black this Sunday after over a century showing midnight cult classics and arthouse features.

The Clay has served as a hub for the late night genre, ritually screening low budget repertory classics with encouraged audience participation like "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and Tommy Wiseaus "The Room," which is hosted by manager and projectionist Michael Blythe and reportedly draws hundreds to the theater each month.

Landmark Theatres confirmed with SFGATE the Clay Theatre on Fillmore Street would show its last movie on Sunday, Jan. 26. When asked for the reason behind the closure, the theater did not provide any additional information. But according to a Datebook interview with Landmarks president, Paul Serwitz, the theater had been steadily losing money for the last six years. (The chain took over the Clay in 1991.)

Much of Landmarks DNA is in older theaters like the Clay, but weve put many efforts into making the Clay work and are unable to operate it viably, he told Datebook.

The Clay reportedly opened in 1910 as a nickelodeon movie house, later focusing on foreign programming when the theater rebranded as "The Clay International" in 1935. The art deco theater made San Francisco history in 1972 when it pioneered the first midnight movie in the city with a premiere of John Waters exploitation comedy Pink Flamingos.

Even so, this isnt the first stumbling block in the Clays shaky history. The theater nearly closed in 2010 after Landmark reportedly decided it could no longer afford to continue operating it, and the San Francisco Film Society (now SFFILM) attempted to negotiate with landlord Balgobind Jaiswal to help keep it afloat.

But in what was supposed to be the Clays final hour, Jaiswal reportedly struck a deal with Landmarks former CEO, Ted Mundorff. Though Jaiswal said it wasnt "a permanent solution," reducing the cost of rent in order to keep things running was something he could do to "buy time" while they determined next steps.

Later that night, a sold-out audience gloomily filed into the theater for a midnight screening of Rocky Horror they thought would be their last. But the good news was jubilantly revealed onstage before the show began  and the crowd went wild.

It went from a funeral to a celebration real quick, said Blythe at the time. The next day, he changed the marquee to a simple declaration: The show goes on!

Its unlikely history will repeat itself at the Clays (very) last screening of Rocky Horror this Saturday.

Over the decades, a slew of offbeat celebrities appeared at the iconic local theater. In 1985, the cast of spaghetti western satire Lust in the Dust  including Divine from Pink Flamingos, Tab Hunter and Cesar Romero  stamped their hands and feet in wet concrete outside of the Clay.

Around the same time, beatnik legend William S. Burroughs visited the theater and posed for a photo with staff, albeit impatiently and after a few too many drinks. (He reportedly snapped at the photographer to take the goddamn picture.)

Some of the other unique talent to visit the theater included Monty Python and the Holy Grail star John Cleese, J-horror filmmaker Takashi Miike (Audition, 13 Assassins) as well as Carl Yorke  one of four actors Italian police reportedly thought had been killed in the making of the 1980 pseudo-snuff horror film Cannibal Holocaust.

On the more wholesome side, Pixar actors Dave Foley, who voiced Flik in A Bugs Life and Terry in Monsters University and Janeane Garofalo, known for her role as Colette in Ratatouille also visited the theater in the past, according to Blythe. Months before the theaters near-closure 2010, Weird Al Yankovic introduced a screening of his pre-Anchorman news station comedy UHF.

But Tommy Wiseau may have been the only celebrity to return to the theater on numerous occasions for Blythes monthly screenings of The Room.

Hes a cool dude and has lots of history in San Francisco, Blythe told SFGATE.

On one occasion, Blythe added, the actor-director was accompanied by costar (and Walnut Creek native) Greg Sestero before he wrote The Disaster Artist, which was adapted into a 2017 film starring James Franco.

While Blythe said he was bummed he didnt know last months screening of The Room would be the last at the Clay, it seems possible he could keep the longstanding tradition going at another theater in San Francisco.

But he wont say for sure.

Quoting Wiseaus character in the film, Blythe joked, "I cannot tell you, its confidential."

Tickets are still available for The Rocky Horror Picture Show with a live performance by the Bawdy Caste this Saturday at the Clay Theatre. Honeyland will be the final movie to show on Sunday, with three screenings at 3:15, 5:20 and 7:25 p.m.

Amanda Bartlett is an SFGATE associate digital reporter. Email: amanda.bartlett@sfgate.com | Twitter: @byabartlett
US President Donald Trump intends to unveil his plan for a Middle East settlement before meeting with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington on January 28, AFP reported.

Palestinians who were not invited to meet with Netanyahu at the White House immediately rejected the talks organized by the US, as they reject the peace plan, which has been in development since 2017.

The economic part of the plan was announced last June. It provides $ 50 billion in international investment in Palestine and neighboring Arab states over 10 years.

Palestinians who refuse to talk to the Trump administration since he recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel reject the peace plan because it seems to bury the two-state solution, which for decades has been the cornerstone of international diplomacy to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict .

Trump noted that he was pleased that Netanyahu and his main rival in the election, Benny Gantz, would come to the White House in the middle of the election campaign. Israeli elections will be held on March 2.

When asked if he contacted the Palestinians, Trump said they had spoken with them briefly, but would tlks to them after a while.

However, Palestine has already stated its rejection of the White House peace plan.
Gazprom pays Ukraine for twice the volume of gas pumped

19:10, 24.01.20 3724

Gas TSO of Ukraine transmitted 2 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia to the EU, having received payment for 4.272 bcm.
A lot of information has leaked regarding upcoming Samsungs Galaxy S flagships. Now, the Galaxy S20 series names are official, as two models have received Thailand certification (NBTC).

Galaxy S20 names official alongside model numbers

With model numbers SM-G980F/DS and SM-G985F/DS, these two devices have been officially named as the Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S20+ respectively. The model numbers themselves correspond to the next Galaxies, seeing that the Galaxy S10 series had model numbers SM-G970, SM-G973, and SM-G975.

The SM-G973 model number corresponds to the regular S10. SM-G80 corresponds to the regular Galaxy S20. There will be no Galaxy S20e as an S10e counterpart. The SM-G975 corresponds to the Galaxy S10+, and SM-G985 to the Galaxy S20+. The use of the letter F in the model numbers corresponds to carrier unlocked models. DS stands for Dual SIM, for those who are wondering.

Advertisement

Why the Galaxy S20 series is the successor to the Galaxy S10 series

Some may wonder why it is that Galaxy S20 is the next-generation series from the Galaxy S10 series. The answer is that Samsung wants to help customers remember its device names. Galaxy S20 for the year 2020 makes a lot of sense versus Galaxy S11 for the year 2020. The more memorable the name, the more likely consumers will identify with the product. Its impossible to expect greater sales when customers ask, What version of the Galaxy is it this time? I cant remember. That happens more in carrier retail stores than one might think.

Samsung does this quite a bit. Remember the Galaxy Note 7? It was originally to be 6 instead, but Samsung moved the number up in-step with the Galaxy S7 series. The new phone names are in step with the year, and will match each year in the decades to come. That is, if Samsungs new device numbering system continues.

Galaxy S20 and Galaxy S20+ specs

The Galaxy S20 series is expected to showcase three phones, though the Thailand certification only provides two (S20 and S20+). There is no Galaxy S20 Ultra in sight, though time will likely remedy that.

Advertisement

Samsung wont reveal a Galaxy S20e, as the company has eliminated its affordable flagship from the equation. All three Galaxy S20 models are expected to feature Qualcomms Snapdragon 865/Samsungs Exynos 990 SoC, 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and 120Hz refresh rate. Also, all three models will have microSD card slots and come with IP68 water and dust resistance. Software-wise, theyll all feature Googles Android 10 system update with Samsungs One UI overlay on top. One new feature Samsung may introduce at the unveiling is Quick Share, its S-Beam successor and Apple AirDrop rival.

Apart from these similarities, the S20 will have a 6.2-inch panel, while the Galaxy S20 will have a 6.7-inch display. The Galaxy S20 Ultra will boast a 6.9-inch panel alongside the largest battery capacity (5000mAh). The S20 and S20+ will still have good battery sizes (4000 and 4500mAh), but theyll likely be no match for the Ultra. 4G and 5G models will be supported, though 4G models may not be available in all world markets.

Samsung will unveil the Galaxy S20 series at its Galaxy Unpacked 2020 event on February 11, 2020.
One of Indias major real estate players DLF has announced that it will be investing Rs 5,000 crore to build a commercial project in Chennai.

DLF is well-known for its projects in Delhi-NCR, particularly Gurugram.

The amount will be invested in Chennai by DLF in a phased manner, to develop a 6.8 sq feet commercial project to be known as DLF Downtown, news agency PTI reported.

The foundation stone of DLF Downtown was laid by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami.

DLF Downtown, which will be coming up Taramani in Chennai, is the companys fourth project in the capital of Tamil Nadu.

The real estate firm will begin construction of DLF Downtown by delivering around 2.5 million sq feet of area in the first phase, DLF CEO Mohit Gujral told at the foundation stone laying function.

Gujral added that Tamil Nadu has immense talent as well as favorable business environment and therefore, it has been a destination of choice for many corporates and multi-national companies (MNCs).

DLF Downtown project will be spread across 27 acres and is expected to be completed in 5-6 years. The project will be developed by DLFs joint venture firm with GIC named DLF Cyber City Developers Limited (DCCDL).

The new project will also have commercial area, mostly office spaces, that would be constructed over 6.8 million sq feet in different phases.

Once the project becomes operational, DLF Downtown will help provide additional 70,000 direct and 6,000 ancillary employment to people.

After Gurugram, Chennai will be DLFs second largest market. DLF is the countrys largest realty firm.
WASHINGTON  They came blowing whistles. They came carrying signs. They came dressed as handmaids. They came holding military-style rifles.

They were Americans protesting over the past week, and the events that attracted them  the Womens March on Saturday, a pro-gun rally in Virginia on Monday and Fridays anti-abortion march in Washington  provided a frenetic backdrop to the more subdued but equally contentious impeachment proceedings unfolding in the Senate. In a resonant flourish, President Trump spoke to the anti-abortion marchers as senators pondered his fate a few blocks away.

It is a strange political moment, and one that raises the question: What do American partisans think of one another? It is true that most Americans dont follow politics much. But what is happening among the four in 10 who do? How worried should we really be about polarization in the United States?

In almost 50 interviews at all three rallies with activists on the left and right, many people said they still found some common cause with the other side. The subjects of their ire were politicians, not regular people. But many others said they disliked and even feared the other side. Democrats described Republicans with words like invasive species and missing brain cells. Young Democratic women said they would not consider dating Republican men. (Its not a good look, one said.) Republicans described Democrats as dangerous, and brainwashed and acting in a way that defied common sense. Impeachment, said one 85-year-old Republican, amounted to bovine defecation.
File image

On allegations by current Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh that the previous BJP government misused machinery to tap the phones of Opposition leaders, former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said the current administration was free to probe the charges.

Denying the allegations levelled against him by the current Maha Vikas Aghadi government, Fadnavis told news agency ANI, Phone tapping of Opposition leaders is not a tradition of Maharashtra. Our government never gave such an order.

The present state government is free to do any probe by any agency. Even Shiv Sena leaders were a part of state home ministry then, he retorted.

On January 23, Deshmukh had directed the cyber cell of the state police department to look into the complaints of phone-tapping and snooping of leaders who were then in the opposition.

"The cyber cell of Maharashtra police has been asked to look into the various complaints of snooping/phone tapping that came in during the previous government. The inquiry is being done following complaints of snooping on opposition leaders, especially during the formation of (Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi) government," Deshmukh told PTI.

He also told reporters that the state government is looking to identify officers, who had allegedly been sent to Israel to study the snooping software during the previous dispensation. "There were reports that some officers were sent to Israel to study the snooping software. We are finding out who had gone to Israel and whether there was any official engagement," Deshmukh said.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut has said that a BJP leader had informed him that his phone was being tapped by the Fadnavis government. I said if anybody wants to listen to what I am saying I welcome it. I am Balasaheb's chela (disciple), whatever I do, I do it openly," Raut said.
By Express News Service

MALAPPURAM: As many as 21 Scheduled Caste families in Cherukkunnu colony in Kuttipuram panchayat near here have allegedly been denied drinking water for seven days for participating in a recent Jana Jagratha Sammelanam, a programme held by BJP to explain the positive sides of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in Kottakkal.

The issue received social media attention on Thursday as Shobha Karandlaje, MP from Karnataka, tweeted the incident with a photo in which Seva Bharati members were seen supplying drinking water to the people.

Karandlaje also wrote that Kerala is taking baby steps to become another Kashmir.

The tweet went viral on social media after she tagged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president J P Nadda.

According to residents in the colony, the incident that led to the current controversy occurred last Friday. One Muslim family in the colony used to supply three buckets of drinking water each to the remaining 21 families in the colony. For other purposes, the 21 families need to travel to a water source one kilometre away from the colony.

When TNIE visited the colony, members of these families admitted that they had been denied drinking water by the Muslim family.

We were denied drinking water because our husbands participated in a meeting organised to gather support for the CAA. A woman member of the family that used to supply drinking water told us they had pressure from some people and organisations in the area. Some people told the family that they should not give drinking water to us because CAA is a threat to the people in their community, said Raji Ajil Kumar, a resident.

The residents also said they are being avoided by others for working for BJP after the Central government enacted CAA.

People in the area will not even talk to us properly because we are pro-BJP. They will not even give us daily wage jobs they used to give us early, said Mohanan T K, a BJP member in the colony.

Family denies CAA link

However, members of the Muslim family denied the allegations.

We did not tell them anything about CAA when we were forced to discontinue supplying drinking water to the colony. They are creating an unnecessary controversy. We collect drinking water from a water source one kilometre away from my home using a pump. There was some technical problems with the pump, said Sainuddin, the eldest member of the family.

The family also said BJP members in the colony are creating a controversy over a silly issue.

As the issue hogged the limelight, local body authorities stepped in. They visited the colony on Thursday and promised a quick solution to the drinking water problem.

The drinking water crisis is not a new issue in the area. All people in the colony have been depending on the same water source one kilometre away. However, the CAA angle was used to give the problem a different colour.

People in the colony have been maintaining peace and water issue is expected to be resolved by the district administration and local body authorities through talks on Friday.

Complaint against Karandlaje

Subash Chandran, a Supreme Court lawyer, lodged a complaint with Malappuram SP U Abdul Kareem against Karandlaje for spreading a wrong message on social media and trying to destroy religious harmony and peace in the district.

In the complaint, he mentioned the BJP leader from Karnataka through her Facebook post tried to show the Muslim majority Malappuram district in Kerala as an area of extremists.

The BJP supporters widely shared Karandlajes Facebook post in North India. He asked the police chief to take strict action against Karandlaje.

How the row broke out

Twenty-one SC families in Kuttipuram panchayat allegedly denied drinking water for attending a BJP-sponsored programme to give greater clarity to CAA,.

Issue became viral after Shobha Karandlaje, BJP MP from Karnataka tweeted about the incident
Reno, Nev. - To better understand the organization of the brain and the perceptual tendencies in humans, a team of four scientists are recording video from four head-mounted cameras - with eyetracking and head movement - and assembling a massive video database with more than 240 hours of first-person video that can be used by researchers everywhere.

"The brain is adapted to the world around us, but we don't have good data on what the world actually looks like to human observers," Mark Lescroart, an assistant professor and neuroscientist in the psychology department at the University of Nevada, Reno said. "There are no collections of videos that sample the world the way that humans do - Hollywood cinematographers don't zip the cameras around as fast as human eyes move, so movies don't really reflect the way we take in the world."

The team of neuroscientists and social scientists is setting out to build a visual database that can be used to more accurately reflect human activity. They will create the vast gallery of videos that show what people see as they go about their daily activities. Their Visual Experience Database can be used to support research and impact future research in fields that rely on the analysis and recognition of images, including neuroscience, vision science, cognitive science, artificial intelligence and possibly digital humanities and art.

To gather the videos, the scientists designed a headset/glasses device to use in collecting the data. While early versions look like a prototype for a Borg device, the team is streamlining the system to keep the weight down and improve wearability. It has two cameras facing forward to see the world and two cameras facing the eyes to track eye movement. There will be five headsets for each of the four labs participating in the research.

The subjects wearing the headsets for the visual data gathering will vary in age from 5 to 70 years old. They'll go to a variety of spaces and engage in many activities: to museums, libraries, shopping, commuting, riding bikes, walking. The research team will analyze cues for 3D space perception and how people commonly experience walls, corners, landmarks and other built structures in the world. A sample of what the cameras see shows the eyes moving and the head turning to look at people and objects.

"We wanted to use mini-computers, but they weren't robust enough to handle our needs, so we ended up with a laptop in a backpack, it makes the headset a little more user-friendly so our subjects wouldn't be distracted by the tech," Paul MacNeilage, assistant professor and neuroscientist in the College of Science at the University of Nevada, Reno, said. "We decided to go with a Pupil Labs product for the base and added devices to it. We didn't want it to be too distracting for others, either."

The system must be able to collect GPS data, run four cameras, access software, have a decent power supply, record three video streams at once, utilize an internal motion sensor and an accelerometer. The technology is much more involved than the stationary devices that are typically used in the lab for eye-tracking studies with a chin rest and a display.

"This is definitely not the same type of studies on eye movement that are done in the lab, with chin rest and a display showing pictures of the environment," MacNeilage said. "This is out in the real world with people interacting with their environment."

This is especially important to MacNeilage, who runs the Self Motion Lab at the University of Nevada, Reno, where graduate students are involved in the groundbreaking research.

"The system measures head and body movement through space," he said. "This allows us to reconstruct visual input moment to moment and get insights on sensory-motor control. No existing database includes head motion."

MacNeilage, Lescroart and graduate student Christian Sinnott tried out the headset, taking it outdoors. They got a few weird looks from those they passed on the street.

"This is like research in the wild," Lescroart said. "Walking across campus and looking for objects will let us see how behavior changes when trying to navigate our environment. We'll be able to ask 'how does info we select change depending on tasks?' We'll see what it looks like when people move their heads and walk."

"We're building a first-person view video database to provide visual data that is more in line with human experience, which should help artificial intelligence make human-like decisions," MacNeilage, one of the team members and an assistant professor and neuroscientist in the College of Science at the University of Nevada, Reno, said. "We aim to find out what does it look like when people walk and move their heads to navigate through the world. We use a simple paradigm, find out how people sample the visual environment with their eyes."

Another use for the visual database is informing artificial intelligence. While artificial intelligence is coming to the forefront of technology, it only works as well as the quality of the data that it is trained on. Instead of systems functioning based only on photos and videos curated from the internet, the team of scientists sees its database as a new source of more accurate data.

"We aim to build our database with biases based on human perception,"MacNeilage said. Other visual databases used for AI have a built in bias. For example, photographers focus on particular objects for certain purposes, whether a commercial or a documentary video; or security cameras with fixed positions. "So scientists need more and better databases. Our database will have biases consistent with human behavior, which could be an advantage for AI."

Current artificial intelligence systems that recognize visual content require millions of training examples to achieve good performance. The databases used to train such systems often take photos and videos from the internet, and thus do not represent the content that humans see on a daily basis. This new database will introduce human-centered biases into the AI systems that can have serious, positive implications for AI-based applications such as self-driving cars.

Between all data sources, the team anticipates that there will be approximately 80 GB of data generated per recording hour, for a total of about 20 terabytes of raw data.

All data will be uploaded and stored in a central location on the University of Nevada, Reno high performance "Pronghorn" cluster of computer servers housed in the Tahoe Reno Data Center, a state-of-the-art facility operated by Switch, headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, with a data center in Reno.

From the 20 terabytes of raw data, the team will catalog at least 240 hours of the headcentered video, including the head and eye movements. They will make these data freely available to the public, which will enable scientists, historians and even artists to benefit from the rich resource.

The team includes lead researcher Michelle Greene, an assistant professor of neuroscience and computational vision scientist from Bates College in Maine; Lescroart; MacNeilage; and Benjamin Balas, a visual and cognitive neuroscientist and associate professor of psychology at North Dakota State University.

The various targets of this project will continue MacNeilage's investigations of head movements in natural environments, and will continue Lescroart's investigation of structural scene representations. The database as a whole will provide a highly valuable source of stimuli for ongoing fMRI experiments. It will continue Greene's investigation of the statistics of object location and co-occurrence and visual search; and will continue Balas' investigation of environmental effects on the development of perception.

###
PR-Inside.com: 2020-01-24 09:05:03

Ghana ranks second highest receiving country for remittances

Forty Three Percent Growth in Remittances to Africa in 2019

Enquiries:

WorldRemit

Rachel Matthews: media@worldremit.com

Leading mobile payments company WorldRemit saw a 43% growth in remittances to Africa from higher income nations in 2019.

The top five countries receiving remittances from the diaspora in 2019 included, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, with Nigeria receiving the most remittances.

The top sending countries to the region included the United States, Australia, Canada, and Sweden, with the UK sending the most remittances.

The diaspora plays a key role in Africa's development story, today the value of remittances is three times larger than official development assistance (ODA), and forecasted to become higher than foreign direct investment for a handful of African countries in 2019.

The growth of digital and mobile penetration across the continent has contributed to the growth in remittances. WorldRemit has and continues to partner with both mobile money and bricks and mortar agents to increase accessibility to all our customers regardless of whether they are in a city or a remote village on the continent.

In addition to digital growth within the continent, the diaspora is also changing its pattern of frequency, value, and reason for sending money back home. Apart from the traditional reasons for sending money to their native countries, members of the diaspora are increasingly looking at ways to be part of what is happening back home.

A great example is Ghana, In 2019 after the launch of the Year of Return, Ghana extended citizenship to over 100 African-American's as well as enacting the Immigration Act which provides for a Right of Abode for any Person of African descent in the Diaspora to travel to and from the country without hindrance. After a successful 2019, President Akuffo-Addo launched a new initiative Beyond the Return which is a drive to see people from the diaspora invest in Ghana via business start-ups, property acquisition, relocating or investment vehicles which the government is setting up.

At WorldRemit, it is important to continue to remain affordable, fast, simple, secure and accessible for the growing market and ever-changing dynamic continent.

About WorldRemit

WorldRemit has disrupted an industry previously dominated by offline legacy players by taking international money transfers online - making them safer, faster and lower-cost. We currently send from 50 to 150 countries, operate in 6,500 money transfer corridors worldwide and employ over 800 people worldwide.

On the sending side WorldRemit is 100% digital (cashless), increasing convenience and enhancing security. For those receiving money, the company offers a wide range of options including bank deposit, cash collection, mobile airtime top-up and mobile money.

Backed by Accel, TCV and Leapfrog  WorldRemits headquarters are in London, UK with a global presence in the United States, Canada, South Africa, Japan, Singapore, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005
A bidding war for Village Roadshow is threatening to erupt with buyout firm BGH Capital attempting to outmuscle rival Pacific Equity Partners with a $770 million offer for the beleaguered entertainment company.

BGH Capital, led by well known former investment bankers Robin Bishop, Ben Gray and Simon Harle, proposed on Friday to buy Village shares for $4, valuing the business at more than $770 million. The proposal comes a month after the ASX-listed company fielded a takeover offer from PEP worth $3.90 per share.

Rival bidders are looking to snap up the beleaguered cinema operator. Credit:Scott McNaughton

"BGH has indicated it is willing to offer all cash consideration or a combination of cash and unlisted shares (subject to caps and scale back provisions) in a newly incorporated holding company," Village said in a statement to the Australian Securities Exchange.

Village Roadshow, which traces its roots to a drive in movie theatre established in 1954, owns cinemas around the country and theme parks including Sea World and Warner Bros Movie World on the Gold Coast. It also has a film distribution business.
Amid tensions between India and Pakistan, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan is unlikely to attend the 19th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meet scheduled to be held in India around the year-end.

India Today, citing a highly placed source in the Pakistan government, confirmed the development, saying Khan could skip the meet but might send a ministerial-level delegation. However, India is yet to send formal invitations to all eight member nations, including Pakistan.

Though foreign minister or senior Cabinet ministers attend the 'Heads of State' meet, as per practice India and Pakistan PMs also take part as Russian President (Vladimir Putin), Chinese President (Xi Jinping) and other important dignitaries attend it.

The SCO is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation, which was formed on June 15, 2001. The SCO comprises eight member states -- India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Its main goals are strengthening mutual trust and neighbourliness among the member states and promoting their effective cooperation in politics, trade, the economy, research, technology and culture.

Also read: World will realise Pakistan's strategic potential once relations with India normalise, says Imran Khan

Meanwhile, the Pakistan foreign ministry sources told India Today that Imran Khan would first discuss the matter with his Cabinet members after he returns from the World Economic Forum 2020 in Davos, Switzerland. Both Modi and Imran were last seen together during the SCO Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, in June, 2019. They will again face each other the SCO summit level meeting for 2020 in St Petersburg, Russia.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, in a special address at the WEF 2020, said on Wednesday that the world will realise the true strategic economic potential of his country when the relationship with India becomes normal, but that has "unfortunately" not been great. He also said his vision is to make Pakistan a welfare state and asserted that economic growth is not possible without peace and stability.

Also watch:
WASHINGTON, D.C.In a decision released this morning, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has reinstated the lawsuit filed by the Woodhull Freedom Foundation and several co-plaintiffs to overturn the FOSTA law.

The original complaint was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon in mid-2018 for alleged lack of standing by the plaintiffs, which include, besides Woodhull, the Internet Archive, Human Rights Watch, and individuals Alex Andrews and Eric Koszyk.

The plaintiffs argue FOSTA violates the U.S. Constitution in several ways, most specifically the speech and the due process clauses of the First and Fifth Amendments, as well as Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, and the lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction to keep the law from taking effect. A rundown of the complaint's main points may be found here.

While the lawsuit is formally against the United States of America and Attorney General William Barr, 26 U.S. Attorneys and Attorneys General of nearly half the states in the Union filed an amicus brief opposing getting rid of FOSTA.

The appeal was argued on September 20, 2019, before federal appeals court judges Judith W. Rogers, Thomas B. Griffith and Gregory G. Katsas, with Rogers delivering the opinion of the court, finding that "at least two of the plaintiffs" in the case in fact do have standing to contest the law.

Judge Rogers' opinion recites some of the history of FOSTA and the origin of Section 230, as well as how both related to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, which allowed trafficking victims to bring civil suits against internet service providers despite the protections given such providers by Section 230. The judge then recites the "sense of Congress" that FOSTA was "never intended to provide legal protection to websites that unlawfully promote and facilitate prostitution and websites that facilitate traffickers in advertising the sale of unlawful sex acts with sex trafficking victims," that no such exception can be found anywhere in the original law. She then recites some of the devastating effects FOSTA has had on sexually oriented websites, most of which had nothing to do with putting potential clients in contact with sex work providers.

Judge Rogers then delved into the allegations of the Woodhull lawsuit, noting that, in sum, it argued that "(1) FOSTAs content-based restrictions are overbroad and fail to satisfy strict scrutiny; and (2) FOSTAs restrictions on speech are impermissibly vague, as well as that "FOSTA contains an unconstitutional ex post facto provision." The judge also gives a rundown of how each plaintiff's activities may come under FOSTA scrutiny.

"The district court ruled that plaintiffs Woodhull, Human Rights Watch, Andrews, and the Internet Archive lacked standing to bring a pre-enforcement challenge to FOSTA, interpreting FOSTA not to apply to their described conduct and finding that they lacked a credible threat of prosecution," Judge Rogers writes, and that, "Additionally, the district court ruled that Koszyk failed to establish redressability because his injury was the result of Craigslists decision to remove his advertisementsa discretionary decision by a third party not before the court."

But the panel found that Andrews and Koszyk did indeed have standing, based on the government's agreement that a "plaintiffs non-frivolous contention regarding the meaning of a statute must be taken as correct for purposes of standing." In Andrews' case, that included a violation of her right to discuss sexual issues on the internet, including hosting a "ratings and review website," Rate That Rescue, which provided services to the sex work community.

"Because Andrews website allows sex workers to share information about online payment processors like PayPal, Andrews has alleged 'some desired conduct ... that might trigger an enforcement action'," the opinion states, adding, "On this record, there is also ample reason to conclude that the threat of future enforcement against Andrews is substantial."

The panel concluded that Koszyk also has standing since, in his case, "Where 'a plaintiffs asserted injury arises from the governments allegedly unlawful regulation ... of someone else, ... causation and redressability ordinarily hinge on the response of the regulated (or regulable) third party.'" That "someone else" was Craigslist, which ditched its Personals section, where Koszyk advertised his services, for fear of the feds coming after Craigslist for allegedly facilitating prostitution. Moreover, the panel held that if FOSTA were overturned, Craigslist could again allow Personal ads and Koszyk would be back in business.

"Accordingly," the opinion's main section concludes, "because Andrews and Koszyk have established their Article III standing to bring a pre-enforcement challenge to FOSTAAndrews has alleged intended conduct that is arguably proscribed by FOSTA and the threat of future enforcement is substantial, while Koszyk has demonstrated that a favorable decision would create a significant increase in likelihood that he would obtain reliefwe reverse the order dismissing the complaint for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction and remand the case to the district court for further proceedings."

Judge Katsas also filed a concurring opinion, taking issue with the majority's reading of "all [of FOSTA's] key statutory terms, including "prostitution of another person," and "promote," which he feels the majority has defined in a way other than the dictionary definition.

"Properly construed, FOSTA does not arguably cover the advocacy, education, assistance, or archiving done by plaintiffs Woodhull Freedom Foundation, Human Rights Watch, and Internet Archive," Judge Katsas claims. "Nor does it arguably cover Andrewss website insofar as it provides information about 'support and rescue' organizations that either discourage prostitution altogether or seek to mitigate its harmfulness." Nevertheless, he concurred in the panel's final judgment on the question of standing.

We are thrilled with the victory in this incredibly important case, said Ricci Levy, President and CEO of Woodhull Freedom Foundation. We are committed to fighting this unconstitutional and dangerous law to the end.

The panel, however, remanded the entire lawsuit back to the district courtpresumably Judge Leonwho might conceivably, despite his prior ruling, find that more plaintiffs than Andrews and Koszyk may continue to contest FOSTA, since the appeals panel did say "at least two of the plaintiffs" have standing, meaning that possibly all of them do. What is clear, however, is that all plaintiffs will be party to that hearing, and the adult industry can only wait to see what will happen then.

The plaintiffs' case was argued by prominent First Amendment attorney Robert L. Corn-Revere, and was joined on the briefs by well-known industry advocate Lawrence G. Walters, as well as Ronald G. London, Daphne Keller, David Greene, Aaron Mackey, and Corynne McSherry.

The entire legal team worked tirelessly in this appeal, and we are happy to see that the constitutional challenge is moving forward, said Walters, General Counsel to Woodhull. "We look forward to finally addressing the merits of our constitutional challenge to FOSTA in the district court, and remain optimistic that the law will be struck down."

The full text of the decision may be found here.
In this 1990 file photo, Frank Sinatra gestures to the crowd during a reprise of "New York, New York" at a concert in New York's Radio City Music Hall. Read more

You, too, can live like the Chairman of the Board. Or at least you could be using one of his toilets, if youve got a spare few grand laying around.

About 200 items from Frank Sinatras Chairman Suite in Atlantic Citys original Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino will hit the auction block on Sunday, courtesy of Swedesboros S&S Auction. The opportunity gives us mere mortals the chance to own a piece of American history, S&S sales manager David Berenblit said.

Its nonsense. Its insanity, Berenblit said of Sinatras suite furnishings. This guy had some gravitas. He could have the best of the best, and thats evident when youre looking at this furniture.

Most recently known as the now-closed Atlantic Club Casino Hotel, the Golden Nugget  not to be confused with the casino currently operating  opened in Atlantic City in the early 1980s at the direction of casino mogul Steve Wynn. A few years later, the Atlantic City Press reported, Wynn had a large apartment constructed on the 23rd floor to entice Sinatra to perform at the Golden Nugget exclusively.

As part of the deal, Berenblit said, Wynn basically gave [Sinatra] a blank check to furnish the apartment, and Sinatra decorated the space with lavish items from around the world.

Among the items are opulent chandeliers, impossibly expensive clocks, and art pieces befitting Ol Blue Eyes himself. Here are some of the most Sinatra-y items hitting the auction block, which you can bid on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. in person at S&S Auction, or online at LiveAuctioneers.com.

As Berenblit said, not everyone needs a marble toilet with a gilded seat to sit at, but evidently the Chairman did. This piece is made of carved gray Italian marble with black and white veins, and comes from luxury bathroom fixture maker Sherle Wagner. With an expected sales price of $2,000 to $4,000, its about as opulent as a toilet can reasonably be.

If you need a water fixture that is more lavish than a carved marble toilet, consider this bronze fountain from sculptor Enid Yandell that is dated 1909. As Berenblit notes, not everybody has their own private fountain, but you could, for an estimated $30,000 to $50,000.

With this particular item, you could own a bed that Sinatra actually slept in, Berenblit said. Bolstered by a king-size brass frame, this Art Deco headboard features etched glass in a sunrise motif and an upholstered headboard that should have you sleeping like Sinatra, even if you cant sing like him.

Sinatra was a guy who lived following sex, Berenblit said, so this massive display of erotic art is particularly appropriate. Measuring 16 feet long and more than six feet tall, the piece was created in the mid-1900s, and shows all manner of sexual positions, in Berenblits words. This gives a whole other meaning to I did it my way.

These monumental Romanesque obelisks are out of this world in Berenblits words, and not just because they look like alien artifacts. That otherworldly look comes from their black marble construction, which is offset by inlays of malachite (the stone of intention and balance, for the metaphysical among us). At nearly six feet tall, these pieces are balanced atop gilt bronze turtles, and could sell for as much as $9,000.

As they say, time is money, and keeping track of it with this piece could cost you upward of $50,000 if auction estimates are correct  though thats a bargain, considering that a similar clock went for more than $500,000 at a Sothebys auction. Created by Ferdinand Berthoud, Sinatras version stands more than eight feet tall, and is constructed of ebonized wood, gilt bronze, and marble. It is similar to another Berthoud piece in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

If Sinatras toilets, clocks, and art pieces dont do it for you, how about something a little more musical? This Yamaha baby grand piano comes straight from the Chairmans Atlantic City suite, and could go for upward of $20,000. And, yes, the bench is included.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, January 24, 2020

It started with a boisterous drumroll, followed by the Crash! and Clang! of cymbals. The sound of the loud percussion filled the mall, which became the entryway for a barongsai (lion dance) performance that evening.

It was part of the Chinese New Year celebration, also known as Imlek, which falls on Saturday.

to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content

e-Post daily digital newspaper

No advertisements, no interruptions

Privileged access to our events and programs

Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login
The kidnapped Chair of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has been executed by members of the terrorist group Boko Haram.

Rev Lawan Andimi was abducted in Adamawa state on 2 January by terrorists wearing military fatigues after they ransacked Michika town and forced him into a vehicle.

Nigerian investigative journalist and Boko Haram expert Ahmed Salkida tweeted on Tuesday that he had received a video of the beheadings of Rev Andimi and an unnamed soldier at 2.42pm.

Mr Salkida wrote: "To break some news items can traumatize. I'm battling with one of such. Reverend Andimi, abducted by #BokoHaram was executed yesterday. Rev. Andimi was a church leader, a father to his children and the community he served. My condolences go to his family."

In a video message released after his abduction, Rev Andimi had appealed to his colleagues at CAN and Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria (EYN  Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) to petition the Adamawa state governor and other officials on his behalf to secure his release.

He had spoken of his confidence at being reunited with his family and colleagues "by the grace of God" but also said that he was trusting God "because all conditions [in which one] finds himself is in the hands of God".

"If the opportunity has not been granted, maybe it is the will of God," he said.

He ended his message by comforting his loved ones and telling them to give thanks to God.

"Don't cry, don't worry, but thank God for everything," he said.

Mervyn Thomas, chief executive of Christian Solidarity Worldwide condemned Rev Andimi's murder.

"CSW condemns the brutal murder of Reverend Andimi in the strongest terms, and we extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends and denomination," he said.

"As Christians, knowing there is life after death, we nevertheless value the gift of this life, and we join in mourning an uncommonly courageous man, who despite knowing death was a very real prospect, maintained a calm and deep faith that will continue to inspire for generations."

"The resurgence of both factions of Boko Haram is emblematic of the increasing insecurity in the country, and Nigerian civilians are bearing the brunt of it. In view of the multiplicity of armed non state actors currently operating in Nigeria, CSW reiterates that rising levels of insecurity throughout the country constitute a threat to sustainable investment and development.

"Once again, we urge the Government of the United Kingdom to raise the alarming deterioration in security with President Buhari, impressing upon him the urgent need for a comprehensive and effective solution, and offering assistance if necessary."
Animal welfare is being overlooked in the General Election campaign sidelined by candidates, according to the Green Party hopeful who is contesting the Laois Offaly constituency.

Senator Pippa Hackett has highlighted animal welfare as an election issue after a report that three puppies which were thrown from a car near Rhode in Co Offaly and the conviction of a man for animal cruelty near Tullamore.

Ms Hackett is the partys Spokesperson on Animal Welfare and an animal lover.

This is always one aspect that is overlooked by most candidates in elections. It is constantly sidelined by politicians as unimportant, and while they are busy chasing headlines in other areas, animal welfare gets ignored.

One thing I always notice when out canvassing, that almost every house I knock on has at least one pet, sometimes more, and mainly dogs, so pets are important to people in Offaly. I always have to laugh when people come to the door, and their overexcited canine friend wants to get out to greet me first. Ive actually had dogs pull my canvassing card back through letterboxes  hopefully not to chew up!

In conjunction with the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA), the Green Party has called on the government to implement responsible pet ownership into the school curriculum. How we treat our animals is a reflection of our society as a whole. If we can educate our children from an early age on how best to look after their pets, then we are teaching them some important moral values which they will hopefully nurture in other aspects throughout their lives.

I have visited the Offaly Dog Pound in Tullamore and seen the work they do to rescue and rehome dogs. Animal welfare charities like the OSPCA are almost wholly reliant on the public for support, and they work incredibly hard to help and protect neglected animals.

"I have seen the great work that is done by these organisations, and virtually all by volunteers. The Green Party has a very close working relationship with the ISPCA and other welfare groups, and we all want to see the best protection for our animals.

Despite what the other candidates and political parties think about animal welfare, rest assured that animal welfare is high on the agenda of the Green Party. We are the only party with a dedicated animal welfare policy, and we are constantly working to improve it, in conjunction with other relevant bodies. It was the Greens that began the process to stop fur farming here in Ireland, and we have called on stricter law enforcement and penalties for those responsible for animal cruelty.

"The level of support for animal welfare organisations from the government is totally insufficient, and having consistently demanded an increase in funding for this sector for years, this is just one aspect we are looking to fulfil should we get the chance to go into government," she said.
T ests for coronavirus on 14 people in the UK have come back negative but there are checks ongoing on other people, according to the Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty.

Speaking after the Government held crisis talks on the threat, Professor Chris Whitty said: COBRA met today to discuss the situation in Wuhan, China, and elsewhere in Asia.

I am working closely with the other UK Chief Medical Officers. We all agree that the risk to the UK public remains low, but there may well be cases in the UK at some stage.

"We have tried and tested measures in place to respond. The UK is well prepared for these types of incidents, with excellent readiness against infectious diseases.

There are no confirmed cases in the UK to date. We have been carefully monitoring the situation in Wuhan, China, since the beginning of the outbreak and are now implementing our planned response."

AFP via Getty Images

He added: A Public Health hub will be set up in Heathrow from today. This consists of clinicians and other public health officials, in addition to existing port health measures.

The World Health Organization has rightly responded quickly and China has introduced strong public health measures.

It comes as a Chicago woman became the second US patient diagnosed with the new pneumonia-like virus from China, health officials announced.

The 60-year-old woman returned from China on January 13 without showing any signs of illness, but a few days later she called her doctor to report feeling sick.

Coronavirus - In pictures 1 /106 Coronavirus - In pictures A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" is seen on an underground station platform Getty Images Customers wearing face masks shop at the pork counter of a supermarket following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan, Hubei province Reuters Westminster Bridge is deserted in London the day after Prime Minister Boris Johnson put the UK in lockdown PA Canadian passengers Chris & Anna Joiner ask for help onboard the MS Zaandam, Holland America Line cruise ship, during the coronavirus outbreak, off the shores of Panama City via Reuters A man crosses a nearly empty 5th Avenue in midtown Manhattan during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in New York City Reuters The London Eye is pictured lit blue in support of the NHS, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Commuters cope with Coronavirus Jeremy Selwyn Milan's Piazza del Duomo empty AFP via Getty Images People in protective clothing walk past rows of beds at a temporary 2,000-bed hospital for COVID-19 coronavirus patients set up by the Iranian army at the international exhibition center in northern Tehran, Iran AP Martina Papponetti, 25, an ICU nurse at the Humanitas Gavazzeni Hospital in Bergamo, Italy poses for a portrait at the end of her shift AP Pope Francis celebrating a daily mass alone in the Santa Marta chapel at the Vatican, as part of precautionary measures against the spread of the new coronavirus COVID-19 AFP via Getty Imag Vysheyshaya Liga - FC Torpedo-BelAZ Zhodino v FC Belshina Bobruisk - Torpedo Stadium, Zhodino, Belarus, March 27, 2020 Players in action during the match despite most sport being cancelled around the world as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Hanks and Wilson both have coronavirus Tom Hanks General view of an emergency makeshift field hospital as it is set up at Pacaembu Stadium for coronavirus (COVID-19) patients with a capacity of 200 beds in Sao Paulo, Brazil Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour despite Prime Minister Boris Johnson calling on people to stay away from pubs, clubs and theatres, work from home if possible and avoid all non-essential contacts and travel in order to reduce the impact of the coronavirus pandemic PA Naomi Campbell catches a flight in a hazmat suit with goggles, a surgical mask and rubber gloves @naomi Sophie and Emily Ward pose for a photograph with their hand-drawn picture of rainbows and a message on their window in St Helens, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Corona virus outbreak. PA Shoppers queue outside a branch of Costco, in Croydon, south London, on the weekend after Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered pubs and restaurants across the country to close PA Charing Cross Tube Bakerloo Line very quiet at 8.15am Jeremy Selwyn A woman with a plastic box over her head on the London Underground. PA A Racegoer attend Cheltenham Festival on Ladies Day wearing a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits a laboratory at the Public Health England National Infection Service in Colindale PA A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A couple kiss in Milano Centrale railway station in Milan on March 8, 2020 AFP via Getty Images A combination picture shows visitors wearing protective face masks following an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) looking at blooming cherry blossom nd a pigeon walking at an closed cherry blossom viewing spot during the first weekend after Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike (not pictured) urged Tokyo residents to stay indoors, in a bid to keep the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from spreading Reuters This combination photo created on March 5, 2020 shows tourists visiting Angkor Wat temple in Siem Reap province on March 16, 2019 (top) and on March 5, 2020 AFP via Getty Images Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump looks at the $2.2 trillion coronavirus aid package bill as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Vice President Mike Pence stand by during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House Reuters A satellite image shows an empty South Beach during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Miami, via Reuters General view inside the empty stadium as the two teams line up prior to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund at Parc des Princes UEFA via Getty Images A Sainsbury's supermarket in Cambridge is among those to sell out of antibacterial hand sanitizer PA Tents and ambulances are set up next to the Princess Cruises Grand Princess cruise as it sits docked in the Port of Oakland on March 09, 2020 in Oakland, California. The Princess Cruises Grand Princess has been held from docking until today as at least 21 people on board have tested positive for COVID-19 also known as the Coronavirus Getty Images Medical staff produce traditional Chinese medicine to treat patients infected by the COVID-19 coronavirus at a hospital in Wuhan AFP via Getty Images Army soldiers wearing protective suits spray disinfectant as a precaution against the new coronavirus at a shopping street in Seoul, South Korea AP Russian President Vladimir Putin wearing protective gear walks at a hospital for patients infected with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the outskirts of Moscow via Reuters A woman who has recovered from the COVID-19 is disinfected by volunteers as she arrives at a hotel for a 14-day quarantine AFP via Getty Images Passengers on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship are seen as the ship arrives at Daikoku Pier where it is being resupplied and newly diagnosed coronavirus cases taken for treatment as it remains in quarantine after a number of the 3,700 people on board were diagnosed with coronavirus Getty Images Dave Abel pictured in hospital in Japan Manchester United fans in the stands during the Premier League match at Old Trafford PA Police officers wearing masks stand in front of the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in La Caleta, in the Canary Island of Tenerife AP Carnival revellers wear protective face masks at Venice Carnival Reuters A general view is pictured of Burbage Primary School in Buxton, Derbyshire after the closure of the school as a pupil's parent has tested positive for the novel coronavirus COVID-19 AFP via Getty Images People wearing face masks walk past the Olympic rings in front of the new National Stadium, the main stadium for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Game Getty Images People leave Kents Hill Park Training and Conference Centre in Milton Keynes where Coronavirus evacuees are due to be released from quarantine today and allowed to go home PA Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA A woman wears a mask while crossing London Bridg Getty Images A general view of Worthing Hospital in West Sussex PA Passengers relax on board the Holland America-operated Westerdam cruise ship, which has been denied permission to dock in Thailand over coronavirus fears via Reuters A child waves as she sits in a vehicle carrying residents evacuated from a public housing building, following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, outside Hong Mei House, at Cheung Hong Estate in Hong Kong Reuters A woman wearing a Minnie Mouse face mask looks at her mobile phone in Beijing on February 11, 2020 AFP via Getty Images The Costa Smeralda cruise ship of Costa Crociere, carrying around 6,000 passengers, is docked at the Italian port of Civitavecchia after a health alert due to a Chinese couple and a possible link to coronavirus on board, in Civitavecchia, Italy Reuters A patient covered with a bed sheet at an exhibition centre converted into a hospital as it starts to accept patients displaying mild symptoms of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan AFP via Getty Images A medical official takes the body temperature of a man at the departure hall of the airport in Changsha, Hunan Province, as the country is hit by an outbreak of a new coronavirus, China Reuters The view of the Wuhan International Conference and Exhibition Center Getty Images A plane carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, arrives at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire A police vehicle enters the gates of the Royal Air Force station RAF Brize Norton in Carterton AFP via Getty Images Passengers wear face masks as the push their luggage after arriving from a flight at Terminal 5 of London Heathrow Airport AFP via Getty Images French citizens arrive and settle aboard of an evacuation plane with destination southeastern France, before departure from Wuhan Airport (WUH), China AFP via Getty Images Police stand at a checkpoint at the Jiujiang Yangtze River Bridge that crosses from Hubei province in Jiujiang, Jiangxi province, China Reuters A member of staff at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside prepares for a bus carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China PA Doctor Paul McKay, who is working on an vaccine for the 2019-nCoV strain of the novel coronavirus, poses for a photograph with bacteria containing fragments of coronavirus DNA, at Imperial College School of Medicine (ICSM) in Londo AFP via Getty Images Workers produce masks at the Thai Hospital Product Company Ltd. factory in Bangkok AFP via Getty Images Passengers wearing face masks are seen on a bus after disembarking from the Costa Smeralda cruise ship, after tests on a woman from Macau with suspected coronavirus came back negative, in Civitavecchia, Italy Reuters People hoard bottles of alcohol after the Philippine government confirmed the first case of the new coronavirus in the country, in Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines Reuters Taking precautions: with fears growing that the coronavirus will spread from China, a health official checks a womans temperature on the underground in Beijing Getty Images An empty road is seen in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on January 27, 2020, amid a deadly virus outbreak which began in the city AFP via Getty Images Students wearing masks meditate prior to a lesson at a high school in Phnom Penh, Cambodia AP Medical staff at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital wear protective clothing to help stop the spread of a deadly virus AFP via Getty Images Staff move bio-waste containers past the entrance of the Wuhan Medical Treatment Center, where some infected with a new virus are being treated, in Wuhan, China AP Workers driving excavators at the construction site of a field hospital In Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The builders will complete the 1,000-bed hospital by February 3 to cope with the surge of 2019-nCoV patients in the city Getty Images Buddhist monks wear masks as they walk near Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodi AP A woman and a child wearing protective masks walk toward check-in counters at Daxing international airport in Beijing AFP via Getty Images An employee sprays disinfectant on a train as a precaution against a new coronavirus at Suseo Station in Seoul, South Korea AP A policeman wearing a mask walks past a quarantine notice about the outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan, China at an arrival hall of Haneda airport in Tokyo, Japan Reuters Paramilitary police wear face masks as they stand guard at Tiananmen Gate adjacent to Tiananmen Square in Beijing AP The resident wear masks to buy vegetables in the market in Wuhan Getty Images Staff sell masks at a Yifeng Pharmacy in Wuhan AP Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV AP

Doctors with the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the woman is in hospital to prevent spread of the coronavirus and is doing well, and people she had close contact with are being monitored.

As the infection crisis escalated in China, Professor Paul Cosford, medical director at Public Health England, said it was highly likely that the virus would reach the UK.

No cases of the deadly virus, which can be fatal, have yet been confirmed in the UK.

The Cobra meeting, chaired by Health Secretary Matt Hancock, was called to urgently ensure precautionary measures are in place to deal with the virus if it does spread to Britain.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock / PA

Medical experts were at every UK airport today and information on the virus is being given to passengers returning from China.

Education ministers and others were attending the Whitehall meeting, amid concerns over the return of students to the UK around the Chinese New Year.

A family travels back home for the Lunar New Year holidays / AFP via Getty Images

Universities were being put on alert over how to respond to the infection threat.

Professor Cosford told the BBC that he will not be surprised if people come back from China to the UK with the virus.

He added: Its highly likely that we will have cases in the UK  and of course every so often we do get new infections coming from the animal kingdom such as this one.

He also stressed that most of those affected abroad are making a good recovery.

The official death toll in China has risen to 26, with more than 830 confirmed cases.

GPs in the UK have now been told to place suspected victims in isolation.

Five patients were in Scotland and a sixth in Belfast. Most were thought to be returning Chinese students.

Medical staffs sterilize the main building of Jinyintan Hospital / Getty Images

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the risk to the UK public from the coronavirus remains low after chairing a Cobra committee meeting in Whitehall.

Exiting the Cabinet Office, Mr Hancock said: We have just held a Cobra meeting on the coronavirus concerns.

As I made clear to the House yesterday, the clinical advice is that the risk to the public remains low and the chief medical officer will be making a full statement later today.

He did not answer any questions before entering his ministerial car.

An advisory sign hangs on the door of the health centre in Ivalo, Finland / via REUTERS

Chinese authorities have imposed lockdowns on at least 10 cities near Wuhan, where the virus is believed to have originated, effectively putting 33 million people into quarantine. Sections of the Great Wall of China and Disneyland in Shanghai were also shut.

The authorities also rushed to build a hospital to treat victims. There are fears of a rise in infections as millions travel to celebrate New Year.

Mayor Sadiq Khan was asked last night by a Chinese student about Londons preparations, and said: There is no reason to be alarmed.

He added he had been in touch with Public Health England yesterday and had been told there are no cases in London.

Mr Khan said Chinese New Year celebrations would continue as planned in Trafalgar Square on Sunday.

We will keep an eye on what happens in Wuhan to make sure we are ready if, God forbid, this virus comes to our country, he said.
In his state-of-the-nation address this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin did not say a word about Belarus. But the fate and the future of Russia's smaller western neighbor could be affected by the proposals made by Putin.



In his address, Putin unveiled plans to recalibrate Russias power structure by changing the constitution more radically than at any time since its adoption in 1993. Many Kremlin watchers interpreted it as one of the clearest signs yet that Putin does not plan to exit the Russian political stage in 2024, when his current term ends and he is barred from seeking reelection.



So, how does that relate to Belarus? Simple. Growing Russian pressure on Belarus to integrate more closely, consummating a merger that was set in motion years ago but exists mainly on paper, suggested that Putin might be eyeing the top spot in the so-called union state as a way to stay in power after 2024. But those efforts have sputtered amid objections by Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka and protests on the streets of Minsk.



And now Putins plans to rejigger Russias constitution and shift the balance of power between government branches suggests the post at the head of a full-blown union with Belarus could be seen by the Kremlin as superfluous -- or just harder to nail down than changes in Russia itself.



Putins project means that the union state through which it was assumed he would extend his power has been rejected, Belarusian political analyst Valer Karbalevich said in a commentary for RFE/RLs Belarus Service.



Should Belarusians, worried their nation was on the verge of being swallowed by its far bigger, more powerful neighbor, now breathe a sigh of relief?



Not exactly, said John Lough, an assistant fellow of the Russia and Eurasia Program at London-based think tank Chatham House.



Deepening integration with Belarus is definitely not off the table but a union state does not look like the vehicle that will keep Putin in power, Lough told RFE/RL.



And while Putin may have a range of options for remaining in power, Belarus is limited in its ability to choose geopolitical partners, Lough said.



Belarus is going to remain in Russias orbit since it has no alternative, he said. But for now, Russia remains dependent on Lukashenka.

Long-Term Project

Russia and Belarus have been discussing deeper integration for more than two decades, and their leaders signed a treaty in 1999 to create a union state. But there is little to it in reality because they have failed to agree on key points, including a single currency.



In December, the Kremlin had been hoping the sides would mark 20 years since the union treaty by signing off on dozens of road maps setting out specifics of integration. But that did not happen and the government of authoritarian leader Lukashenka -- who has repeatedly pledged not to cede Belarusian sovereignty -- allowed street protests against a closer merger play out without a police crackdown.



The December developments suggested that Lukashenka, who was warned by Putin back in 2002 that integration might make him into little more than a regional governor, had once again headed off a merger on Russias terms. But pressure may persist.



Cheap energy has long been the carrot Moscow has dangled in front of Minsk to get its way. Belarus is heavily reliant on Russia for fuel and funding and is a key transit route for Russian energy supplies to Europe.



Moscow suspended oil supplies to Belarus earlier this month amid the stalled integration talks.

Some supplies of Russian oil resumed on January 4. Two Russian oil firms, controlled by tycoon Mikhail Gutseriyev, supply Belarus with oil essential to minimum operations at its two refineries at Navapolatsk and Mazyr.



On January 21, Lukashenka said Belarus could not secure from other sources the total amount of oil that it now receives from Russia. He said Belarus needs to diversify and should work to import no more than 40 percent of its needs from Russia.



Another 30 percent we should import from the Baltics, and the remaining 30 percent through Ukraine, Lukashenka told a government meeting.



His comments came the same day Belarus announced its first oil shipment from Norway.

Energy Dependency

Belarusian state-run oil company Belneftekhim said its subsidiary bought 80,000 metric tons of crude from Norway, with the shipment to be delivered via rail to Belarusian refineries in the next few days.



That announced shipment comes amid other recent efforts to diversify the countrys energy providers.



On January 14, Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Dzmitry Krutoy said Minsk had asked several European countries, as well as Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, to sell Belarus oil.



Importing oil from alternative sources is more expensive for Belarus than cheap Russian supplies, said Karbalevich. He said Minsk is trying to gain leverage, to blackmail Moscow as negotiations plug on.



Belarus has long complained about the gas price it gets from Russia, saying Minsk should be paying the same as the neighboring Russian region of Smolensk given that the countries are trying to set up a union state.



The Belarusian government also says it stands to lose hundreds of millions of dollars a year from changes to Russian tax policy and wants compensation.



Russia says the subsidies it pays to Belarus cost its state coffers billions of dollars.



At his annual press conference in December 2019, Putin said he saw no point in providing Belarus with a gas discount until the integration project had advanced.



Decisions that were made...related to the build up of the union state. At best, the key decisions have not been implemented. Simply speaking, 90 percent has not been done, he said.



According to Lough, alternative energy sources are not a realistic choice for Belarus, offering no clear way to escape Russia's grip.



Moscow is trying to push [Lukashenka] to accept closer integration but he is resisting any moves that will undermine the countrys sovereignty, Lough said. He is currently looking for some alternatives to Russian oil and gas supplies but it is hard to see how these can be obtained at more competitive prices. He and the Russians both know this.



Ultimately, Lukashenka has only himself to blame for Belaruss predicament, Karbalevich said, because he has failed to reform the countrys largely Soviet-era economy and has relied on cheap Russian energy.

But everything will soon change. From 2024, Russian oil will be supplied to Belarus at world prices, he said.



Besides alternative energy sources, Lukashenka seems to be seeking closer ties with the West, an oft-repeated tactic the wily Belarusian strongman resorts to in times of trouble with Moscow.



Seeking closer ties with the EU, which in 2016 lifted most sanctions imposed against Belarus over its record on rights and democracy, Lukashenka visited Vienna on November 12 for his first trip to an EU country in three years.



Relations with the United States have been on the mend as well. The two countries announced last September that they plan to resume hosting ambassadors after an 11-year hiatus.



Washington and Minsk began to reconsider their frosty relationship after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and began supporting separatist formations in eastern Ukraine, raising concerns in Belarus about its own territorial integrity.

WATCH: What Belarusians Think Of Possible Unification With Russia

Amid a sign of those warmer ties, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is due to travel to Minsk on February 1 in a visit originally scheduled for early January but postponed by Washington amid heightened tensions with Iran.



Pompeo would be the highest-level U.S. official to visit Belarus since diplomatic relations with the United States were frayed more than a decade ago. He would also be the second U.S. secretary of state to ever visit independent Belarus, after Warren Christopher in 1993. A year later in 1994, then-President Bill Clinton visited Belarus.



According to Lough, however, such overtures can only go so far.



The EU remains wary of dealing with Lukashenka and has no desire to further aggravate relations with Russia. It has a short-time horizon and is not yet thinking of the post-Lukashenka scenarios, he said.
A Bismarck man with an aviation career that spans seven decades is being inducted into the North Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame.

Allen Sauter developed a love for aviation as a child on his Harvey-area family farm, where he worked as a flagger for a local crop duster. On Christmas Day in 1957, he soloed in a 1946 J-3 Cub on skis at the age of 16.

He joined the Army in 1958 and attended helicopter maintenance school. He flew all of the aircraft in the Army base flying squadron, including the L-17, L-18, L-19, L-21 and L-26.

He returned to North Dakota in 1962 and began work as a commercial pilot for Combs Airways and Red Baron Lines, flying passengers and cargo throughout the Midwest. He also was active in the Civil Air Patrol, serving as a captain and flight instructor.

In the 1970s, he served as the chief flight instructor for Mid-State Aviation in Bismarck, where he wrote the first Federal Aviation Administration-approved multiengine curriculum for private, commercial and flight instructor pilots in the state. He also wrote and obtained FAA approval for the new GI Bill flight school in North Dakota.

Allen served as an FAA-certified gold seal flight instructor and as an FAA designated pilot examiner in North Dakota. He trained pilots of all levels, from private pilots in Piper Cubs to commercial pilots flying twin-engine jets.

After completing his career with the FAA, he began his own Bismarck-based aircraft pilot service company, which employed three pilots. Over a span of 14 years his business flew doctors and nurses from Bismarck to rural communities throughout the Midwest.

Allen received numerous awards, most notably the Orville and Wilbur Wright Master Pilot Award for 50 years of continuous medical certification with no accidents and no violations of FAA regulations. He has provided instruction to nearly 650 certified pilots throughout his career. He has flown 55 aircraft, as well as three helicopter models. He has accumulated more than 32,200 hours of flight time.

Sauter's induction ceremony is March 3 at the Upper Midwest Aviation Symposium banquet in Minot. The social begins at 6 p.m. and the banquet follows at 7 p.m. To buy tickets, go to https://ndacaero.com. Sauter will join 44 others in the Aviation Hall of Fame. For more information on the hall, go to https://ndacaero.com/hall-of-fame.

Love 8 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0
U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood expressed optimism Thursday about the state of trade negotiations with the U.S.s fellow North American countries and China, and explained why he decided to vote against the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.

The articles passed the House of Representatives and a trial now is being conducted in the U.S. Senate.

LaHood, who serves on the Houses Ways and Means Committee  which has authority over U.S. trade  has been a supporter of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The USMCA passed both the House and Senate with bipartisan support and Trump is expected to sign the agreement Wednesday.

It adds provisions on issues  such as technology and cross-border data flow  the North American Free Trade Agreement did not cover when it was negotiated, LaHood said, adding that the agreement also opens up Canadian markets for U.S. agricultural goods  such as dairy, wheat and pork  that previously faced tariffs and other trade barriers. LaHood referred to the USMCA as the largest trade agreement the U.S. has ever negotiated.

A USMCA rules-of-origin provision for truck manufacturing also will help American manufacturing, LaHood said. The provision requires an increased percentage of materials used to build trucks sold in the U.S. must come from the U.S. The provision ensures that there are markets to which to send U.S.-made truck parts, LaHood said.

This is a good agreement for agriculture, its a good agreement for manufacturing and its a good agreement for financial services, too, LaHood said.

Because 40% of the products Illinois grows, produces and manufactures goes to Canada or Mexico, LaHood said, he expects the trade agreement to create jobs in his district.

In an easing of a trade war started in 2018, the U.S. also signed a Phase 1 trade deal with China. While Congress didnt vote on the agreement, LaHood was involved in the process as a member of the Ways and Means Committee and as co-chair of the Houses U.S.-China Working Group.

The tariffs the two countries placed on each other closed off the market for farmers in his district, he said, noting the new deal opens up the market for corn and soybeans. The deal is expected to lead to close to $16 billion in agriculture purchases over the next two years, he said.

Trade with China is vitally important to our farmers  25% of the soybeans grown in Morgan County got to China every year, he said.

The deal with China does not address forced technology transfers, under which the U.S. believes China is stealing U.S. technology, but those will be addressed in Phase 2, LaHood said.

LaHood emphasized the accomplishment of the U.S. reaching trade deals with the United States four major trading partners  China, Canada, Mexico and Japan, with whom the U.S. signed a trade deal Jan. 1.

On impeachment, LaHood  a former federal prosecutor  said he read the documents and the whistle-blower report on Trumps call to the Ukrainian president and he believes the threshold for high crimes and misdemeanors was not met. LaHood views impeachment as the nuclear option and sees the current process as a waste of time, he said.

He prefers the 2020 election to decide Trumps fate.

Under our Constitution, the power is in the people, LaHood said. Lets let the election decide this is my view on this.

LaHood said looking into corruption in Ukraine, which is what Trump claims he was doing, is part of Trumps presidential duties. LaHood asked if every presidents phone calls to foreign leaders could meet the standards of behavior placed on Trump.

If we scrutinized every phone call that every president had made to a foreign leader  whether that was President Obama or President Bush or President Clinton, LaHood said, youd want to impeach every president.

He believes the impeachment effort stems from some Democrats efforts to undo the 2016 election, he said.

LaHood also encouraged people in his district fill out the U.S. Census and said he is looking forward to working on a federal infrastructure bill and addressing the high cost of health care this year.
Earlier this week, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) had this to say:

The Democratic Party is not a left party, the Democratic Party is a center, or center-conservative party. We cant even get a floor vote on Medicare for All, not even a floor vote that gets voted down. We cant even get a vote on it, so this is not a left party. There are left members inside the Democratic Party that are working to try to make that shift happen.

As a Democratic County Party Chair, I am very much part of the Democratic Party and I work an enormous amount of hours each week to help make sure we elect Democrats from the bottom of the ticket to the top. My paycheck for this is the same each month: zero dollars and zero cents. I do it because its important to me that our candidates are victorious. SO, when I saw AOCs comments, I was, to be frank, insulted and tweeted about it:

I love AOC but I'm a Democratic Party Chair and to have her describe me as a center-conservative is insulting. Good for energizing her base, I suppose, but not particularly energizing to people like me who put in enormous amounts of time, energy, and passion for no paycheck. https://t.co/34nYF4sIiy  Chris Savage (@Eclectablog) January 20, 2020

It was a bit of a throw away tweet that I shot off in a pique of irritation but it ended up getting a fair amount of attention, at least for me. AOCs supporters immediately began progressivesplaining me, telling me that she wasnt talking about me. Or that if Im insulted then Im clearly a center-conservative by definition. Or that, compared to the whole wide world, the USA IS center-conservative. And on and on and on.

I have a different perspective on this. First, being on the left is, to me, a very situational thing. For example, whats left in Elissa Slotkins MI-08 Congressional district or Haley Stevens MI-11 district is a whole lot different than what left looks like in AOCs district. If we want to elect a Democrat in districts like these instead of having a bought-and-paid for corporate shill like Mike Bishop (hes the Republican incumbent Slotkin defeated in 2018) or foreclosure vulture David Trott for the foreseeable future (hes the Republican incumbent Stevens replaced in 2018), that persons views are going to be less to the left than AOCs, to be sure. But they are hardly conservative. And it certainly doesnt matter where on the political spectrum they in comparison France or Sweden or all of these other truly left countries.

Second, when I look at the Democratic Party platform and what the Democratic Party members in Congress have done since they retook control in 2018, I see a VERY left party. Take a look at their first piece of legislation, H.R. 1, the For the People Act:

The For The People Act of 2019 (H.R. 1, 2019) is a bill introduced and passed in the United States House of Representatives to expand voting rights, limit partisan gerrymandering, strengthen ethics rules, and limit the influence of private donor money in politics. It was introduced by John Sarbanes (D-MD) on January 3, 2019, on behalf of the newly elected Democratic majority as the first official legislation of the 116th United States Congress. The bill was passed by the House on March 8, 2019 by a vote of 234193 along strict party lines.

In addition to this, House Democrats have passed hundreds of left-leaning bills to reform our election laws and protect our elections, to extend civil rights protections to members of the LGBTQ community, protect the DREAMERS, to eliminate the pay gap between men and women, to require universal background checks in the sale of guns, and so much more. These are left pieces of legislation by all accounts and, of course, Republican Mitch McConnell wont let any of them get a vote in the Senate.

So, who are these center-conservative Democrats that AOC is referring to? Is it the Democratic National Committee (DNC) or the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) or some other political group like these? Maybe. But heres the thing: those groups have almost NO impact on my and my teams work at the grassroots level. And I contend that the Democratic Party IS the grassroots organizers and volunteers.

At our level, where we are actually talking to people on their doorsteps. Were not shaping policy or deciding whether or not to allow a floor vote on Medicare for All. Were simply advocating for our candidates, candidates chosen by voters in the primary, not by us. In fact, were not even allowed to advocate for one candidate over another until after the primary. Is it perfect in every local party organization? No, of course not. But on the whole, across the USA, the Democratic Party is comprised of wide array of Democrats from a diverse set of backgrounds, all fighting to elect Democrats and keep Republicans from controlling our government. And, compared to those Republicans  and thats the measure of left we should be focused on  what we decidedly NOT are centrists. We are left.

So, as much as I love AOC  and, having watched her political trajectory and seen her speak in person, I really DO love her  this sort of rhetoric is insulting. And so is rhetoric like this:

[Ocasio-Cortez] said the Congressional Progressive Caucus should start kicking people out if they stray too far from the party line. Other caucuses within the Democratic Party in Congress require applications, Ocasio-Cortez pointed out. But they let anybody who the cat dragged in call themselves a progressive. Theres no standard, she said. The same goes for the party as a whole: Democrats can be too big of a tent.

Im not a centrist, much less a center-conservative but I consider myself and those like me across the country who work our butts off for the Democratic Party to BE the Democratic Party and I certainly do NOT believe that our tent is too big. It would be nice not to be written off in a leftier-than-thou fashion by someone with such a prominent voice.

This is important not just to people like me who have volunteered for the Democratic Party for years. Its important to activists who are new to politics, who were energized by the election of Donald Trump and have stepped up to make change. Its hard to feel energized and motivated when Democratic Party stalwarts like AOC are writing them off as center-conservatives.

Heres the thing: if we want to move the Overton Window as it exists in our areas to the left so that what is seen as left is increasingly more progressive, we need to start working to support progressive candidates who can WIN, people the Democratic Party at the grassroots level can rally behind.

One way to do this is to support young progressives with programs like Run for Something. LOLGOP and I, in partnership with Jordan Zakarin at Progressives Everywhere, are working to raise $10,000 for Run for Something. You can read LOLGOPs excellent post about why we think this is so absolutely crucial HERE. And you can make a donation to help us raise $10,000 HERE.

If we do this, we can help fill the political pipeline with people who will continue to push the Overton Window to the left and help fill Congress with people who will be there to help AOC and her colleagues to pass left-leaning bills and achieve their progressive goals. Because if theres one thing we can say for certain, Republicans like Mike Bishop in MI-08, David Trott in MI-11, or any of the other truly conservative Republican members of Congress around the country will NEVER do that.

[CC photo credit: Stale Grut / NRKbeta]
At least six Malian soldiers were killed and several wounded in an overnight attack in central Mali, the army said on Thursday.

The troops came under fire from unidentified armed men in Dioungani, an area in the countrys volatile Mopti region near the border with Burkina Faso, the army said on Twitter.

It gave a provisional toll of six dead and several wounded without giving further details.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.



Two soldiers were killed in the Mopti region on Tuesday when their convoy hit a roadside bomb.

Mali has struggled to contain an armed uprising that erupted in the north in 2012 and has killed thousands of soldiers and civilians in the years since.

More than 140 Malian soldiers reportedly died in attacks between September and December alone.

The conflict has engulfed the centre of the country and spread to neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger  despite the presence of 4,500 French troops in the Sahel region, plus a 13,000-strong UN peacekeeping force.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
New PSPO to tackle anti-social behaviour in and around town set for approval

This article is old - Published: Friday, Jan 24th, 2020

A new public space protection order (PSPO) to help reduce anti-social behaviour and drug taking in Wrexham town centre could soon be introduced.

Executive board members will next week discuss giving the go ahead to the order, which will also cover parts of Rhosddu.

It comes after the two previous PSPOs lapsed during last summer.

The two orders covering Rhosddu and the town centre were piloted for three years in 2016 when issues with anti-social behaviour and drug taking were making both local and national headlines. Images of individuals in the bus station and surrounding areas resulted in some publications branding Wrexham a Zombie or Spice town*  with negative perceptions of the town that next weeks report acknowledges that some people still have several years on.

The report before councillors states that although the levels of anti-social behaviour have dropped, members of the public remember the issues from 2016 and that ongoing work is needed to reassure them and re-establish the reputation that Wrexham town centre is safe.

Over the last 12 months a total of 95 complaints have been received by the community safety, town centre and public protection sections of the council.

These relate to substance misuse and discarded needles, begging, rough sleeping, encampments and general anti-social behaviour.

The below chart shows the the number of anti social behaviour incidents recorded within the PSPO area since 2015. The red line indicates when the PSPO was put in place and the red dots highlight high signal(s) which are periods where incidents are higher than the predicted number. The council add, Although there was a slight peak in May 2019 the incidents appear to have decreased by over 50% from September 2018 onwards.

Last year Wrexham Council undertook a public consultation asking for feedback on whether a revised PSPO should be introduced in the town.

More than 700 people took part in the process, which asked the public whether they would like to see elements of the previous PSPO continue along with deterring begging.

However the report states that after considering the evidence submitted as part of the consultation and the findings of the Equality Impact Assessment, the condition in relation to begging has been removed.

Begging is noted on the below incident location map for 2019. In 2019 seven fixed penalty notices were issued for begging and under influence of drugs or alcohol, with zero paid and six awaiting court action. 2018 saw a spike of 119 FPNs issued, with just five in 2017. Out of the 119 FPNs in 2017, just four were paid.

If approved the order will be place across the town centre and Rhosddu for three years.

Although the PSPOs were initially introduced to act as a deterrent, giving the police and town centre wardens powers to warn people of the consequences of their behaviour, a more holistic and joined up approach was soon adopted by the council, police, health board and various other agencies.

This resulted in the creation of the Gold group in 2017 in a bid to tackle local issues with substance misuse and provide support to service users. It oversaw the NPS Taskforce, which was created to consider new and innovative ways of addressing the visible and vulnerable cohort in the town centre.

The project also saw the everyone in a room, including users approach  which saw the likes of North Wales Police, Wrexham Council, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and housing agencies come together under one roof to offer their services to the visible vulnerable.

Three years later the scheme is one that has continued to provide support to those in need around the town.

Speaking ahead of next weeks meeting, Cllr Hugh Jones, lead member for communities, partnerships, public protection and community safety, said: If you take the PSPO away we dont have an effective means of supporting the visible vulnerable while tackling anti-social behaviour in the town centre.

The work that weve done in Wrexham has been recognised in terms of awards that have been received from the police and crime commissioner.

Other authorities from across the United Kingdom have come to Wrexham to see the work that we are doing.

It is an important part of our holistic and comprehensive approach to responding to the issues surrounding the visible vulnerable in the town centre.

The report will be considered for approval by executive board members at 10am on Tuesday 28th January. The meeting will also be webcast on the Wrexham Council website.

* (We thought we would include the below from last year  as the report discusses a perception survey  we wrote about that earlier this year. The prize remains unclaimed, and it appears the self-branding has not been challenged anywhere else.)
For a dollar  should Bill Clinton be impeached? Photo: Getty Images

Regardless of execution, you can always count on a Ryan Murphy show to assemble a delightfully chosen cast. In the case of the upcoming American Crime Story: Impeachment, starring Beanie Feldstein as Monica Lewinsky and Clive Owen as Bill Clinton, the Murphy-produced production has taken an especially creative direction with some of its conservative historical figures. Billy Eichner, previously incorporated into American Horror Story, will play conservative aggregator Matt Drudge, who first broke the news of the Lewinsky scandal in the Drudge Report. Its also worth noting that Eichner is gay, and that Drudge was once named on Outs Power 50 list, though Drudge denied he loved sex with men.

Glows Betty Gilpin, meanwhile, will put her blondeness to use as Ann Coulter, who wrote her first book, High Crimes and Misdemeanors: The Case Against Bill Clinton, about the impeachment process and worked with the lawyers representing Clinton accuser Paula Jones (played on the series by Annaleigh Ashford). Gilpin, notably, starred in the movie The Hunt, which Universal shelved after it came under fire from right-wing commentators and Trump himself. All in all, two very wry casting choices. Youve gotta respect a troll of the trolls.
US financier and philanthropist on Thursday pledged $1 billion for a new university network project to battle the erosion of civil society in a world increasingly ruled by would-be and actual dictators and beset by climate change.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum 2020 here, Soros said humanity was at a turning point and the coming years would determine the fate of rulers like US President Donald Trump and Chinas Xi Jinping, as well as the world itself.

We live at a transformational moment in history. The survival of open societies is endangered and we face an even greater crisis: Climate change, said the Hungarian-born billionaire.

He described the plan of the Open Society University Network (OSUN) as the most important project of my life and said it would be an platform for teaching and research that existing universities all over the world would be able to join.

As a long-term strategy our best hope lies in access to quality education, specifically an education that reinforces the autonomy of the individual by cultivating critical thinking and emphasising academic freedom, Soros said.

The OSUN will be launched through a partnership of the Soros-backed Central European University (CEU) and Bard College. Soros, whose CEU was forced to shift out of Hungary after pressure from the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, said the project was needed at a time when open society was at more risk than ever.

The network would seek to reach out to places in need of high-quality education and in serving neglected populations such as refugees, prisoners, the Roma and other displaced peoples like the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar, he said. To demonstrate our commitment to OSUN, we are contributing $1 billion to it, said Soros in his traditional annual Davos address.

He expressed grief that the worlds strongest powers  the United States, China and Russia  were in the hands of would-be or actual dictators and the ranks of authoritarian rulers continued to grow.

With nationalism making further headway around the world, Soros said that the biggest and most frightening setback was in India, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of creating a Hindu nationalist state.

He described the US leader as a conman and the ultimate narcissist but said the current surge in economic strength for the US might have come too soon for the US leader as he faces re-election later this year.

Trump... has managed to overheat an already buoyant economy. An overheated economy cant be kept at boiling point for too long, warned Soros, credited with correctly predicting major market swings in his career as an investor.

If all this happened close to the election it would have assured his election. His problem is that the election is still 10 months away and, in a revolutionary situation, thats a lifetime.

However, Soros also expressed particular alarm over Xi, who he said had broken with Communist Party tradition by concentrating power around himself, with the Chinese economy losing its previous flexibility.

By contrast, Xi is eager to exploit Trump's weaknesses and use artificial intelligence to achieve total control over his people, he claimed.



Soros, however, said Xi's success is far from assured. One of Chinas vulnerabilities is that it still depends on the US to supply it with the microprocessors it needs to dominate the 5G market and to fully implement the social credit system that is a threat to open societies, he said.

"Since Xi Jinping has centralised power in his hands, China's economic policy has also lost its flexibility and inventiveness," Soros said. To make matters worse for Xi, the Trump administration has developed a comprehensive and bipartisan policy towards China, which has declared that China is a strategic rival, he added.

Soros further claimed Trump didn't have a strategic plan when he authorised the launching of a missile that killed the leader of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Suleimani, and an Iraqi pro-Iranian militia commander. But Trump has an unfailing instinct that tells him how his faithful followers would respond to his actions, he said.

Soros announced that he was creating a new university network to better prepare students for current and future global challenges.



He said he is endowing the network with US$1 billion and asking other philanthropists to contribute. The network, which will operate throughout the world, has been named the Open Society University Network (OSUN). It will integrate teaching and research across higher education institutions worldwide.
What do 30 years of providing innovative bioanalytical technology solutions look like? Oksana Sirenko, Senior Scien https://t.co/DDIEH9Ca8l

321.. BLAST OFF with @Agilent on a journey through automated sample preparation. Register for our Automation Webi https://t.co/weHNt2Yvix

SLAS 2019 will provide a unique combination of education, access to innovative technologies and intelligent peer networking, delivering unmatched value for professionals and students looking to discover the latest life sciences technologies and how they can be applied to drive research objectives.

Looking for a sneak peek of meeting content?

View the Conference Preview.

Access the Event Scheduler and start planning your itinerary.

Make plans to arrive early and join us for half-day, full-day or two-day in-depth Short Courses designed to help attendees gain critical skills in a variety of topics critical to the laboratory science and technology community. More than 20 courses are offered on Saturday and Sunday, February 2-3. View the Short Course program and reserve your seat now.

We're currently accepting poster abstracts for presentation. Students, research scientists, engineers, academics and business leaders are encouraged to submit before the January 21, 2019 deadline. Learn more.
Pursuant to its size and diversity, India has never been effectively managed from one place and one law. Definitely at the entry of the East India Company in the country, the Mughal emperor Jahangir ruled it from Agra through Subhadars and Dewans in subhas (provinces) spread over the Mughal Empire.

The British also did the same as they started acquiring territories in the country, maintaining their monopoly over the administration. The natives started demanding their participation in the administration from the closing days of the 18th century, which was conceded initially in 1909, given some effect in 1919, and again later in 1935, though it always remained defective in one respect or another.

As the British rule started nearing its end by 1940 and the Muslim League started demanding a separate state, the Cabinet Mission announced a complex plan in 1946 providing for a federal structure comprising a Union of India of Provinces and the Indian states in which the Union would have the power to deal with only the subjects of defence, foreign affairs and communication with ancillary power to raise the finance for these subjects.

The Constituent Assembly elected under this plan adopted an Objectives Resolution for the making of the Constitution on those lines, assigning only three subjects to the Union while the rest were left for the states.

While initially the process of making the Constitution started on these lines, on June 3, 1947, the Viceroy declared the partition of the country into two independent dominions. The declaration removed all shackles on the Constituent Assembly, which decided to have a federal constitution with a strong central government and states with enumerated powers. Following this decision, constitutional adviser BN Rau was asked to prepare a draft of the Constitution, which he did diligently and placed before the drafting committee in October 1947. Article 1 (1) of the draft read: As from the date of commencement of this Constitution India shall be a Federation.

Working on the draft, the drafting committee of the Constituent Assembly changed Article 1 in its draft to read: India shall be a Union of States. It converted all references to Federation or Federal to Union except references to Federal Court.

In his covering letter presenting the draft to the President of the Constituent Assembly, BR Ambedkar wrote, It will be noticed that the committee has used the term Union instead of Federation. Nothing much turns on the name, but the committee has preferred to follow the language of the preamble to the British North America Act, 1867, and considered that there are advantages in describing India as a Union although its Constitution may be federal in structure.

After the commencement of the Constitution in 1950, constitutional scholars struggled to find the true nature of the Constitution from unitary to federal to quasi-federal, cooperative federal, etc.

When for the first time the issue was raised in the Supreme Court in 1962, by a majority of 6 to 1, it held that it was not true to any federal scheme while the dissenting single judge strongly argued that it was federal. Later, a majority of judges in the Kesavananda Bharati case in 1973 included federalism as part of the basic structure of the Constitution; in the SR Bommai case in 1994 and in a number of cases since then, the court has held that federalism is part of the basic structure of our Constitution.

The SR Bommai case related to the power of the Centre to dismiss the duly elected government of a state, if the President is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the government of the state cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.

As we all know, the satisfaction of the President is the satisfaction of his council of ministers at the Centre consisting of a party or a coalition of parties, which may be opposed to the party in power in the concerned state. Just to get that opposition party government dismissed, the council of ministers may give wrong information to the President, who cannot do more than asking the council of ministers to reconsider their decision. If on reconsideration, the council sticks to its original position, the President has to approve the decision of the council.

However, following the Bommai case, the Supreme Court, as well as some of the high courts, have invalidated dismissal of state governments after asking a test of the strength of the political parties in the state on the floor of the state assembly and restored the dismissed government to its position.

This is a development based on the principle of democracy, which besides being one of the basic features of our Constitution is also one of the three strands of a seamless web that, according to Granville Austin, the Constitution creates along with social revolution and unity of the nation.

If democracy stands above federalism in our Constitution and a majority of the states pass resolutions in their legislative assemblies against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, can the Supreme Court ignore this fact and not hold that the law is against the basic structure of equality and secularism and therefore, unconstitutional and void ab initio? If the doctrine of basic structure applies to invalidate executive action since Bommai, it must also apply to legislative act with greater force, as has been held by the Supreme Court in more than one case.

Distribution of powers between the Centre and the states and the kind of federal structure it provides or conceives is not the sole basis for the validity of a law or executive action. Equally, if not more important, are the issues relating to the fundamental rights and foundational principles that constitute the basic structure of the Constitution. Some of them are expressed in the Preamble of the Constitution whose reading is being recommended and promoted by the current government. If the government means what it says or recommends, it must abide by what the Constitution and its Preamble say and prescribe. If it does not so abide, it must be deemed to be acting against or in violation of the Constitution. Let us hope all governments, current and future act strictly according to the Constitution, and not even in slight violation of it.

The writer is professor emeritus, University of Delhi
Delhi Police on Friday lodged an FIR against BJP candidate Kapil Mishra in connection with his controversial tweet in which he likened the election in the city to an India versus Pakistan contest, sources said.

The FIR was filed following directions of the poll authorities, they said.

It was lodged at the Model Town Police Station under Section 125 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the sources said.

Twitter, meanwhile, removed the controversial tweet following the directions of the Election Commission.

"This Tweet from @KapilMishra_IND has been withheld in India in response to a legal demand," Twitter wrote on the platform along with an impression of the old tweet.

Earlier in the day, the Election Commission had asked Twitter to "take appropriate action" as the controversial tweet aroused communal sentiments. The EC had also said that Twitter should intimate it about the action taken.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Thousands of supporters of populist Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr gathered in Baghdad on Friday for a rally to demand the ouster of US troops, putting the protest-hit capital on edge.

The march rattled the separate, months-old protest movement that has gripped the capital and Shiite-majority south since October, demanding a government overhaul, early elections and more accountability.

Thousands of men, women and children massed under grey skies in the Jadiriyah district of east Baghdad, chanting "Get out, get out, occupier!"

Some waved signs in Arabic and English reading "Death to America" and one protester carried a cardboard cut-out of US President Donald Trump on the gallows.

A representative of Sadr took to the stage at the protest site and read out a statement by the influential Shiite cleric and populist politician.

It called for all foreign forces to leave Iraq, the cancellation of Iraq's security agreements with the United States, the closure of Iraqi airspace to US military and surveillance aircraft and for Trump not to be "arrogant" when addressing Iraqi officials.

"If all this is implemented, we will deal with it as a non-occupying country -- otherwise it will be considered a country hostile to Iraq," the statement said.

About two hours into the rally, protesters began peeling away from the square but thousands lingered.

America's military presence has been a hot-button issue in Iraq since a US strike killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and a top Iraqi commander outside Baghdad airport on January 3.

Around 5,200 US troops are in Iraq to lead a global coalition in fighting the Islamic State group, but Iraq said the strike against Soleimani violated that mandate.

Joint US-Iraqi operations were paused and outraged parliamentarians voted for all foreign forces to leave.

Baghdad said it wanted to discuss a timeline for departure but US special envoy for the anti-IS coalition, James Jeffrey, said Thursday there was no "real engagement".

'Million-strong' march

Long opposed to the US troop presence, Sadr seized on the public anger over the drone strike to call "a million-strong, peaceful, unified demonstration to condemn the American presence and its violations".

Pro-Iran factions from the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force, usually rivals of Sadr, agreed to join.

Qais al-Khazali, a Hashed commander once mentored by Sadr but now counted among his top competitors, endorsed the rally.

"To Trump, the fool -- the people's message of rejection was clear: if you don't leave voluntarily, you'll be ousted despite yourself," he tweeted.

Iraq's top Shiite authority, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani, did not explicitly back the rally in his weekly sermon on Friday but said Iraqis had a right to protest "peacefully" in support of their country's sovereignty.

The sermon, read by a representative, said parties were "very late" in forming a new government to replace the cabinet of premier Adel Abdel Mahdi.

Abdel Mahdi has acted in a caretaker role since resigning in December, as the anti-governments protests reached a fever pitch.

They were soon overshadowed by spiralling US-Iran tensions and protesters had feared being totally eclipsed by Sadr's rival rally.

There had been worries Sadr's supporters might attack anti-regime protest camps in Baghdad's Tahrir Square, the presidential palace or the high-security Green Zone, home to the US embassy and other foreign missions.

The move would not be without precedent for Sadr, who urged followers to storm the Green Zone in 2016 in a challenge to the government over undelivered reforms.

But there were no attempts on Friday morning to breach government zones or head to Tahrir.

Sadr hedges bets

Sadr, 46, battled US forces at the head of his Mehdi Army militia after the 2003 US-led invasion but is a fickle politician, notorious for switching alliances quickly.

He backed anti-government protests when they erupted in October -- but also controls parliament's largest bloc and his followers hold top ministerial positions.

His spokesman Saleh al-Obeidy hinted that while others unequivocally blamed either the United States or Iran for Iraq's instability, Sadr would choose a middle path.

"We believe that both are behind this ruin, and Sadr is trying to balance between the two," he said.

Harith Hasan of the Carnegie Middle East Center said Sadr was trying to sustain his "multiple identities".

"On the one hand, (he seeks to) position himself as the leader of a reform movement, as a populist, as anti-establishment," Hasan told AFP.

"On the other hand, he also wants to sustain his image as the leader of the resistance to the 'American occupation'," partly to win favour with Iran.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Iran had launched several missiles on January 8 targeting a military base in Iraq (Photo Credit: Pixabay)

New Delhi:

Thirty-four US troops suffered traumatic brain injuries or concussion in the recent Iranian air strike on 8 January targeting a military base in Iraq housing American personnel, the Pentagon said on Friday.

"Thirty-four total members have been diagonosed with concussions and TBI (traumatic brain injury)," Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman told reporters.

US President Donald Trump had initially said that no Americans were injured in the strike on the Ain al-Asad base in western Iraq earlier this month although authorities later reported that 11 troops were injured.

The Pentagon spokesman, Jonathan Hoffman, said on Friday that eight service members who had been previously transported to Germany had been moved to the United States. Hoffman said the service members were transported earlier Friday and would receive treatment at either Walter Reed military hospital or their home bases.

The strike was a reprisal for the US drone strike assassination of the Iranian General Qassem Suleimani.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
The directive of not using WhatsApp was given to UN officials last June. A ban specifically targetting Whatsapp has left experts in disbelief.

The United Nations (UN) has barred officials from communicating on WhatsApp citing accusations made against the Saudi Arabia crown prince back in 2018. The crown prince was accused of using the app to allegedly hack the phone of Amazon chief executive Jeff Bezos. It is not supported as a secure mechanism, a UN spokesman said on Thursday. UN experts say they had details pointing to possible involvement of Saudi Arabias crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman in the alleged 2018 cyberattack on Bezos. As a result, senior officials at the UN have been instructed not to use WhatsApp.

Based on the forensic report by Washington-based FTI Consulting, the UN called for an immediate investigation by the US and other authorities. The report claims Bezos iPhone was hacked by a malicious video file sent from a WhatsApp account used by the crown prince of Saudi Arabia. While there is no proof of that happening, Farhan Haq, a UN spokesman said, the senior officials at the UN have been instructed not to use WhatsApp, its not supported as a secure mechanism.

The directive to stop using WhatsApp was given to UN officials last June. When asked about the move by the UN, WhatsApp Director of Communications Carl Woog said, Every private message is protected by end-to-end encryption to help prevent WhatsApp or others from viewing chats. The encryption technology that we developed with Signal is highly regarded by security experts and remains the best available for people around the world.

A ban specifically targeting WhatsApp has left experts in disbelief. According to Oded Vanunu, Researcher at Tel Aviv-based security consultancy Checkpoint that regularly points out security flaws in popular messaging apps, WhatsApp takes security seriously compared to the other social media messaging platforms. He added, Every application has vulnerabilities that can be exploited in some way.

Source
Remember the entire 'Visa Mata' controversy a couple of years ago, when the then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was on the receiving end of a vicious right wing troll attack for helping an interfaith couple who were allegedly harassed by a passport officer?

Swaraj who was one of the most popular ministers of the first Narendra Modi-led union cabinet had made a name for herself by helping those who had reached out to her on Twitter for passport and visa issues was called 'Visa Mata' by trolls after she transferred the passport department official for allegedly humiliating the inter-faith couple.

#Visa #Mata Wkg to decimate Sanatana Dharma Rashtra; @Swamy39 pls put stop to visa issuing to chrislamist commie missionary jehadi cabal by #Sushma pic.twitter.com/bkaUaetawS  N.Srinivasa Murthy * Sanatana Foot Soldier (@Uthisthabharata) June 22, 2018

While that was a shocking case, it is just one of the several instances women politicians in the country face on a regular basis.

Women politicians in India face a shocking scale of abuse on Twitter, new research by Amnesty International India has revealed.

AFP

The report titled, Troll Patrol India: Exposing Online Abuse Faced by Women Politicians in India, analyzed more than 114,000 tweets sent to 95 women politicians in the three months during and after last years general elections in India.



The research found that women are targeted with abuse online not just for their opinions - but also for various identities, such as gender, religion, caste, and marital status.

The 95 politicians held a variety of views spanning the political spectrum. The tweets were decoded through the microsite Troll Patrol India by more than 1,900 digital volunteers from 82 countries - of which 1,095 were from India.

Amnestys research found that 13.8% of the tweets in the study were either problematic or abusive.

Abuse experienced by Indian politicians around the 2019 General Elections was high.

13.8% of the tweets, or 1 in every 7 tweets was either problematic or abusive.

This means, on average, each woman politician received 113 problematic or abusive tweets every day.

The study also found that women politicians from marginalized communities were disproportionately targeted. Muslim women politicians received 94.1% more ethnic or religious slurs than women from other religions. Women politicians who are Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backwards Classes received 59% more caste-based abuse compared to women from General castes.

BCCL

While over the years the social media platform has evolved into an indispensable tool for political engagement, campaigning and activism, women are regularly and relentlessly subjected to abuse on the platform, which has a silencing effect on them, Avinash Kumar, Amnesty International Indias Executive Director, said.

Many women politicians said that Twitter is failing in its responsibility to respect womens rights online.

BJP Shazia Ilmi said, More women should be entering politics. But the price that I pay is too much for what I choose to do. The price includes being trolled incessantly, being the victim of online harassment, having a lot of remarks passed about what I look like, my marital status, why I have or dont have children, etc. - all the filthiest things you can think of. If they dont like my strong opinions, they do not remark on my work but call me a whore in every language that is used in India.

Aam Aadmi Party leader Atishi said It is not the role of each woman to individually ensure her safety in public space. For example, if a woman steps out in public transport, it is the governments role to ensure that they are safe there. Similarly, if there is a women who is accessing social media on Twitter, it is the responsibility of the platform to ensure that it is a safe and secure space for women.
Zareen Khan's upcoming release Hum Bhi Akele Tum Bhi Akele had bagged the Best Film Audience Choice Award at the HBO South Asian International Film Festival in New York. And the actress has now garnered love for her role in the film at the Rajasthan International Film Festival (RIFF) 2020, held in Jaipur from 18-22 January.

Zareen Khan was presented with the Best Actress Award for Hum Bhi Akele Tum Bhi Akele at RIFF 2020. While sharing her big win on social media, she also mentioned that the win is very close to her since she received this award on the same day that she had embarked her journey 10 years ago in Bollywood. It was also in Jaipur that her debut Bollywood film, the Salman Khan starrer Veer, was shot.

The Instagram caption by Zareen also read, "I feel overwhelmed on receiving this award. Hum Bhi Akele, Tum Bhi Akele already won the best film award in South Asian international film awards that happened in New York. And now Rajasthan International film festival has awarded me the best actress Hindi feature film."

"This award is going to always be very special for me because, I received it exactly on the same day that marked my 10 years in this industry and also from the same city where my first film Veer was shot," she added.

Talking about Hum Bhi Akele Tum Bhi Akele, Zareen Khan told ANI, "My next film is 'Hum Bhi Akele Tum Bhi Akele' which is a beautiful human story about two individuals. The story of this movie is quite near to my heart, as many of my friends belong to the LGBTQ community. I have seen their struggles, as they can roam freely outside but can't tell about themselves to their families. It is high time that they should get justice."

The film's screenplay was also selected as one of the 10 best screenplays from Asia in November 2018 for the Official Selection at the South Asian Film Market (SAFM) in Singapore.

Helmed by Harish Vyas, Hum Bhi Akele Tum Bhi Akele also stars Anshuman Jha and Gurfateh Pirzada. it is scheduled for a Valentine's Day (February 14) 2020 release alongside the new version of Love Aaj Kal which has Sara Ali Khan and Kartik Aaryan in the lead.

Ayushmann Khurrana Is Making LGBTQA+ Proud With Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan Trailer
A student who tweeted a cartoon of Winnie the Pooh in connection with President Xi Jinping while studying in the U.S. was jailed for six months on his return to China for the summer vacation last year.



The Wuchang District People's Court in the central city of Wuhan announced on Jan. 22 that Luo Daiqing, a student at the University of Minnesota, had been arrested and sentenced to six months' imprisonment for "posting a tweet criticizing President Xi Jinping, general secretary of the [ruling] Chinese Communist Party on Twitter."



Luo, 25, was accused of posting dozens of "comments and inappropriate images insulting to the leader of this country" while studying in the U.S. in September and October 2018, the court said.



Among the tweets cited by the court in evidence against Lu was a depiction of President Xi as Winnie the Pooh, whose likeness has been banned from China's tightly controlled internet after a number of memes likening the fictional bear to the president went viral.



Luo was detained on July 12, 2019 by police in his hometown of Wuhan after he returned to China for the summer vacation, it said.



He was handed a six-month jail term on Nov. 5, 2019 for "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble," a charge frequently used to target peaceful critics of the government.



Luo was released on Jan. 11, 2020 after time in pretrial detention was included as part of his sentence, but declined to say much when contacted by RFA on Thursday.



Taking a break



Asked if the media reports about him were correct, Luo said: "Pretty much! The online reports are pretty factual."



But he declined to say whether he remains under surveillance or police restrictions or whether he has plans to resume his studies in the U.S.



"My situation right now is that I am taking a break," he said.



Luo had also tweeted images depicting Xi as Lawrence Limburger, the villain in the Biker Mice From Mars cartoon, along with satirical reference to ruling Chinese Communist Party slogans, including "No national security without online security."



Senator Ben Sasse of the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee hit out at the sentence, saying that Twitter is blocked by government censorship and can't be accessed inside China's Great Firewall.



"The Chinese Communist Party ought to release Luo Daiqing immediately, and the University of Minnesota ought to give him a full-ride scholarship," Sasse said in a statement.



"Don't forget that the Chinese Communist Party has banned Twitter, so the only people who even saw these tweets were the goons charged with monitoring Chinese citizens while they're enjoying freedom here in the United States," the statement said.



"This is what ruthless and paranoid totalitarianism looks like."



A University of Minnesota spokesman said the school has received no information about the case.



Luo's defense lawyer Hu Jibin declined to comment on the case when contacted by RFA on Thursday.



Global reach



Sulaiman Gu, a graduate student at the University of Georgia, said Luo's jailing is similar to the February 2017 jailing of Kwon Pyong by a court in the northeastern province of Jilin for posting a selfie wearing a T-shirt criticizing Chinese president Xi Jinping.



Kwon Pyong, an ethnic Korean whose name in Mandarin is Quan Ping, was jailed for subversion after he "used words, images and video to insult and slander this country's government and the socialist system" on social media, according to the indictment.



"This case reminds me of the Kwon Pyong case three years ago. That also involved a student studying in the United States, who also ridiculed Xi Jinping," Gu said, adding that Kwon had planned to take his protest to the streets in China.



"Here, China is exercising cyber sovereignty over the U.S. internet and implementing global control over speech on U.S. soil," he said.



Kwon, a graduate of Iowa State University, had previously spoken out online in support of dozens of detained Chinese human rights lawyers, as well as Guangzhou-based rights activist Guo Feixiong.



He was detained on Sept. 30, 2016 after posting selfies wearing a T-shirt with several satirical nicknames for President Xi, including "Xitler," and "Baozi Xi" in a reference to the president's widely publicized visit to a regular restaurant to eat baozi, or steamed pork buns, with local people.



Personality cult



Gu said both cases show that Xi is highly image-conscious and is building a personality cult around himself.



"Xi Jinping ... has been established by the regime as an unattainable idol, a god against whom blasphemy is not permitted," Gu said. "But he is not a god, so we should redouble our efforts to blaspheme against him."



Wu Lebao, an international student at the Australian National University, said Beijing has wielded an unprecedented level of power over Chinese students on overseas campuses since Xi came to power in 2012.



"They now have an outrageous level of control over overseas students, and I think the [government-backed] Chinese Students and Scholars Associations (CSSA) have played a disgraceful role here," Wu said.



"The U.S. should consider banning the CSSAs and making them legally responsible for their actions."



Liu Dasheng, a freelance journalist living in the United States, said the jailing of Luo shows how long Beijing's arm has become.



"This is all about what they call long-arm jurisdiction, and I think it violates U.S. sovereignty, not just freedom of speech," Liu told RFA.



"If this case is handled in this way, won't it then be possible for them to retaliate against any Chinese person overseas on their return to China?"



Reported by Ng Yik-tung and Sing Man for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Jia Ao for the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
Establishing controls for lawful secondary data processing when consent alone is not enough

LONDON and BRUSSELS, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- An industry led discussion on the implementation of pseudonymisation as a technological safeguard alongside data protection legislation was one of the main highlights of day two of the 13th International CPDP Data Protection and Artificial Intelligence Conference being held in Brussels this week.

During an interactive panel session moderated by Gary LaFever, Co-founder, CEO and General Counsel of data privacy and enablement technology provider, Anonos , a number of leading experts from across the privacy and data protection industry discussed the technical and organizational controls necessary for lawful AI and secondary data processing when consent is not enough.

The panel included Giuseppe D'Acquisto, senior technology advisor for the Italian Data Protection Authority, Ailidh Callander, a lawyer at Privacy International, Steffen Weiss, legal counsel for data protection and head of international affairs at the German Society for Data Protection and Data Security; and Magali Feys, a specialist technology lawyer at AContrario.Law.

Pseudonymisation , which is legally defined for the first time at the EU level in the GDPR, was widely discussed as a positive technological solution for enabling the ethical and legal processing of data for secondary purposes when consent is not enough on its own to satisfy legitimate interest. Key to this, the panel advocated, is the need for technology solutions to go hand in hand with privacy and data protection policies and regulations in not only helping to enforce legal and best practices, but also to enable the multiple possibilities to share, collaborate and innovate with data lawfully and ethically.

The panel discussed how Articles 25 and 32 of the GDPR refer to pseudonymisation as both an innovation enabler and a protection mechanism. While much attention has been focused on pseudonymisation as a means of making data more secure, panellists advocated the need for more attention on its role as an innovation enabler by generating protected identities with appropriate and necessary safeguards.

Further discussions advocated the need for technological solutions, including pseudonymisation, to be thought of as a means of companies and organisations being able to provide evidence of demonstrable accountability. Panellists agreed, there is a need for underlying frameworks and transparent policies that technology helps to enforce.

Gary LaFever, Co-founder, CEO and General Counsel of data privacy and enablement technology provider, Anonos , commented: "In today's data-driven world, new technical measures are necessary to balance data innovation and protection of individual privacy rights when consent is not enough. The use of consent as a GDPR legal basis for repurposing personal data is severely restricted; this is particularly relevant in the case of iterative secondary processing of personal data required for analytics, machine learning, and AI. New technical safeguards like pseudonymisation overcome limitations of consent to ensure protection of individual privacy rights while still enabling data-driven innovation."

Anonos has been working in the data protection and enablement space since 2012 enabling lawful data use for numerous companies across the globe. Recognised by IDC, Gartner and Forrester, Anonos is more than just GDPR compliance technology. It engineers privacy into solutions to enable lawful Analytics and Big Data to enable ongoing innovation for a range of industries and disciplines.

As one of the world's leading conferences in data protection, CPDP gathers academics, lawyers, practitioners, policy makers, industry and civil society from all over the world to exchange ideas and discuss the latest emerging issues and trends relating to legal, regulatory, academic and technological development in privacy and data protection.

About Anonos

Anonos enables lawful analytics, AI and ML that preserves 100% of data accuracy while expanding opportunities to ethically share and combine data. Anonos Pseudonymisation and Data Protection by Design & by Default technology reconciles conflicts between protecting the rights of individuals and achieving business and societal objectives to use, share, combine and relink data in a lawful manner. Anonos patented Variant Twins enable sharing, collaboration, and analytics of personal data by technologically enforcing dynamic, fine-grained privacy, security and data protection policies in compliance with the GDPR, CCPA and other evolving data privacy regulations. https://www.anonos.com

About CPDP

CPDP is a non-profit platform originally founded in 2007 by research groups from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, the Universite de Namur and Tilburg University. The platform was joined in the following years by the Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique and the Fraunhofer Institut fur System und Innovationsforschung and has now grown into a platform carried by 20 academic centers of excellence from the EU, the US and beyond. As a world-leading multidisciplinary conference CPDP offers the cutting edge in legal, regulatory, academic and technological development in privacy and data protection. Within an atmosphere of independence and mutual respect, CPDP gathers academics, lawyers, practitioners, policy-makers, industry and civil society from all over the world in Brussels, offering them an arena to exchange ideas and discuss the latest emerging issues and trends. This unique multidisciplinary formula has served to make CPDP one of the leading data protection and privacy conferences in Europe and around the world.

Media Contacts

Liberty Communications on behalf of Anonos

liberty@anonos.com

+44 203 514 1801

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/466044/Anonos_Logo.jpg
Markets regulator Sebi has levied a penalty of Rs 18.80 lakh on Scan Steels Ltd for indulging in fraudulent trading in the stock options segment of the BSE.

The matter pertains to a probe conducted by the regulator between April 2014 and September 2015 after observing large scale reversal of trades in stock options segment of the BSE by certain entities including Scan Steels that led to creation of artificial volume.

The probe found that the trades executed by the company "were not genuine trades and being non-genuine, created an appearance of artificial trading volumes" in the stock options contracts.

It further noted that Scan Steels has entered into 324 non-genuine transactions in 113 stock option contracts which demonstrates the repetitive nature of the default on its part and by executing such trades, the company violated the provisions of PFUTP (Prohibition of Fraudulent and Unfair Trade Practices) norms.

Consequently, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), in an order passed on Thursday, imposed "a penalty of Rs 18.80 lakh on the noticee viz Scan Steels Limited".

In a separate order on Friday, the regulator imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on Viju Babulal Jain, one of the directors of ShivamShree Business Ltd, for violating insider trading norms.

Sebi observed that from November 6, 2015, Jain started disposing of his shareholding and on November 27, 2015 the value of the disposed holding was over Rs 14.47 lakh, thus exceeding Rs 10 lakh.

Jain was required to make the disclosure to the company about the number of securities disposed of within two trading days. However, no such disclosure was made by him and thus violated the PIT (Prohibition of Insider Trading) norms.

Being one of the directors of the company, Jain was an insider who is not allowed to take opposite position of his own trades within six months of the transaction without getting explicit relaxation from the compliance officer with proper reason.

In this case, Jain bought and sold shares within six months without obtaining a proper reasoned relaxation from the compliance officer and made of profit of more than Rs 1 lakh. By this, he violated the code of conduct adopted by the company for insider trading.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The PSNI has released images of men they want to speak to in connection with disorder and attacks on officers in north Belfast over the summer.

The images relate to a number of incidents last summer, including at the New Lodge bonfire which was built by republicans to commemorate the introduction of internment on August 9 1971.

The bonfire caused safety concerns due to its proximity to nearby flats and contractors were later called to remove it.

Two young people climbed on top of the bonfire and large crowds gathered, later injuring three police officers during a 10-hour standoff.

Detective Chief Inspector Mary White said: "Over the course of a number of days, there were a small number of people in the area who were intent on causing incidents of disorder and attacking police officers.

"We remain committed to identifying those involved in a range of incidents across Belfast last summer and we will be relentless in our pursuit in order to bring these offenders before the Courts."

She encouraged the people in the images to contact police directly, as well as others who are able to identify any of the individuals.

"Anyone who may be able to identify any of these individuals or provide any information about them such as their name, address or age is urged to contact detectives at Musgrave Police Station on 101.





"Alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

Earlier this month, the PSNI announced they had identified all four men after images were released of those involved in disorder at the Avoniel Leisure Centre in east Belfast in July.

Protestors caused disruption at the site after Belfast City Council attempted to remove an Eleventh night bonfire.
Chinese New Year in Las Vegas, NV at Kung Fu Thai & Chinese Restaurant Since holding our first Lion Dance in 1975 at the corner of 3rd street and Fremont in Downtown Las Vegas, keeping up with this Legacy has been a joyful occasion

Kung Fu Thai & Chinese Restaurant will be holding their annual Lion Dance ceremony in front of the Diner, on Sunday January 26, 2020, at 12:00 noon. The performance will once again be made by the martial artist from the Lohan School of Shaolin.

Since holding our first Lion Dance in 1975 at the corner of 3rd street and Fremont in Downtown Las Vegas, keeping up with this Legacy has been a joyful occasion, says Alan Wong, General Manager of Kung Fu Restaurant. Its not only Joyful for our associates, but, to see that our customers, whose background makeup, are like that of the United Nations, come by year after year to experience Joy, in celebrating and witnessing the ceremony, just brings warm feelings to my heart. Said Wong.

In keeping with tradition, we will be handing out the Red Envelopes or Red Packets to any diners who wish to donate monetary gifts to the Lions as they pass by the tables and booths. Gifts given in this manner is like throwing coins into a fountain to Westerners. Giving a Red Envelope with monetary donations in it to the Lions, is considered a Good omen in starting out a New Year. Chinese believe that performing such act, is to will in, Good Luck to the person in the New Year, as well as warding off Evil in ones endeavors.

Monetary donations are usually given in even denominations, while avoiding anything with the number 4, since the number four pronounced in Chinese means Death. At the same time avoid giving anything ending in an odd denomination since it is associated with funerals, with the exception of the last odd number in a natural number set, the number 9, which is associated with progress to the Chinese.

To see more information about Kung Fu Thai & Chinese Restaurant visit https://www.kungfuplaza.com/. To see past Lion dance performances click on our Facebook page link on the website. The kitchen is open Every day of the year for Lunch and dinner starting from 11:00am to 10:30pm Pacific Time. Diners to Kung Fu has the option of Dining in, order Take Out, or they could have their meals delivered with our in-house delivery staff, well even cater their next event. Located at 3505 S. Valley View Boulevard., Las Vegas, NV 89103 USA, the Diner is just  mile west of the Venetian Resort on the Las Vegas Strip. For more information or reservations, call 702-247-4120.
In his first public statement after his release on from prison, Joseph Odok, a Nigerian lawyer charged with terrorism for criticising Cross River governor, Ben Ayade, has called for the release of a Nigerian journalist, Agba Jalingo, from prison.

Mr Jalingo, the publisher of CrossRiverWatch, is facing treason charges.

He was arrested on August 22 over a report alleging that Mr Ayade diverted N500 million belonging to the state.

Mr Odok and Mr Jalingo are from Cross River. The two men have been together in Calabar prison, awaiting trial, before Mr Odok was granted bail on January 21.

I am yet to appreciate those who stood up for my release and feel first thing I should do is to ask for the immediate release of an innocent man and my friend, Agba Jalingo, Mr Odok wrote on his Facebook page on Thursday.

We got so close as cell mates in prison and would have felt better if we were both released together but as fate made it, I was granted bail before him not for any reason but for what only God knows why.

Agba Jalingo is innocent and the prison should never be his home. I join all lovers of democracy to call on the CRS government to immediately release Agba Jalingo, the lawyer said.

READ ALSO:

Mr Odok said he would do a special appreciation message to people who campaigned for his freedom. I am now happily joined to my family in Abuja, he said.

I am so sorry my write up is coming this late, the police refused to give me my phone on grounds that it was given as an exhibit, I had no access to my phone all this while, I have lost some numbers too and hope to garner them soonest. Thank you all, he added.

Mr Odok appealed to Nigerians to join him in the #ReleaseAgbaJalingoNow campaign on Twitter.

Mr Jalingo recently released prison notes through which he said he would not bow to force and urged the people of Cross River to be resolute against dictatorship.

Dictatorship has never defeated goodwill and a determined people. Even if I end up not standing with you in the summit, remain strong and be rest assured that the arc of life is on our side and we will win, he said in one of the prison notes.

When this wind has finished blowing yonder, and it shall soon; we will look back and be glad we stuck our necks on the guillotine and history will only be fair to us, our people shall be free, the will of God would have been done and Gods name will be glorified, he said.

Mr Jalingos trial was in November listed among 10 most urgent cases of threats to press freedom around the world.

Amnesty International and several other organisations have been calling for Mr Jalingos release from prison.
The e-ticketing racket has turned into a multi-crore market for scamsters and in an interesting development, the mastermind behind the e-ticketing racket has reached out to Railway Police Force (RPF) chief.

Hamid Ashraf, the prime accused, who is in Dubai, has claimed that arresting him or other people will not put an end to the e-ticketing racket. According to Ashraf, loopholes in IRCTCs security system will enable other scamster to develop similar 'illegal' software and take advantage of these loopholes.

Ashraf fled to Dubai while on bail in 2016 after being nabbed in a similar racket.

The Times of India reported that Ashraf claimed he had repeatedly flagged loopholes that could be exploited by scamsters in the IT security system developed by the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS). In a text message addressed to Arun Kumar, RPF director-general, Ashraf said: "The agencies did not take measures to plug the loopholes and so how can you hold me responsible? People did not pay heed to the details I had shared with them; all of them thought I was mad."

Ashraf claimed that government agencies were unable to fix the security issue despite his many warnings through "more than 500 emails and WhatsApp messages". In his messages, Ashraf has also offered to help the IRCTC and CRIS to secure the system. The main accused also said that he would be willing to work for the Indian Railways if paid a monthly salary of Rs 2,00,000 as an 'ethical' hacker, something which is commonly seen in leading IT companies.
[January 24, 2020] Generex Biotechnology Announces Interview with Richard Purcell, Executive Vice President of R&D

MIRAMAR, Fla., Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Generex Biotechnology Corporation (OTCQB:GNBT) today announced that Richard Purcell, the companys Executive Vice President of Research & Development conducted an interview with Mike Elliott of CEO Roadshow, which is available at:

http://ceoroadshow.com/ceoroadshow-interview-with-richard-purcell-vp-of-drug-rd-for-generex-biotechnology-gnbt/ or https://youtu.be/7w7R4UlkHf4 During the interview, Mr. Purcell spoke about rebuilding Generex in 2019 and transforming the company through acquisitions and restructuring to create a new vision for delivering care for patients with chronic and complex health needs. Mr. Purcell stated, We are partnering with large primary care and specialty physician practices through patient-focused MSOs that are designed to deliver integrated and collaborative care. In the coming era of outcomes-driven medicine, NuGenerex Health is building end-to-end solutions that improve patient outcomes and enhance practice profitability. We are dedicated to strengthening the doctor/patient relationship by providing cutting edge drugs, medical devices, therapies, and serices from the NuGenerex family of subsidiary companies. In 2020, we are poised for growth. We plan to restart our orthopedic/podiatric MSO with new product lines from our subsidiaries Olaregen, Pantheon and MediSource, and the introduction of our software and service offering, DME-IQ. In addition, we plan to launch our integrated care model for diabetes with our physician partners in Arizona. And perhaps most exciting, the ALTuCELL acquisition is expected to close in the near future, and we plan to initiate a clinical development program to treat and potentially cure diabetes with cellular therapy.



About Generex Biotechnology Corp.

Generex Biotechnology is an integrated healthcare holding company with end-to-end solutions for patient centric care from rapid diagnosis through delivery of personalized therapies. Generex is building a new kind of healthcare company that extends beyond traditional models providing support to physicians in an MSO network, and ongoing relationships with patients to improve the patient experience and access to optimal care. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release and oral statements made from time to time by Generex representatives in respect of the same subject matter may contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements can be identified by introductory words such as "expects," "plan," "believes," "will," "achieve," "anticipate," "would," "should," "subject to" or words of similar meaning, and by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements frequently are used in discussing potential product applications, potential collaborations, product development activities, clinical studies, regulatory submissions and approvals, and similar operating matters. Many factors may cause actual results to differ from forward-looking statements, including inaccurate assumptions and a broad variety of risks and uncertainties, some of which are known and others of which are not. Known risks and uncertainties include those identified from time to time in the reports filed by Generex with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which should be considered together with any forward-looking statement. No forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future results or events, and one should avoid placing undue reliance on such statements. Generex undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Generex claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements that is contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. Generex Contact: Generex Biotechnology Corporation Joseph Moscato

646-599-6222 Todd Falls

1-800-391-6755 Extension 222

[email protected]

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Since winning the Palme dOr at the Cannes Film Festival, Parasite has been a consensus favorite among critics, audiences and awards judges, and a coronation for its Korean director, Bong Joon Ho, whos been a favorite in cinephile circles for years. But is there any consensus on what it is, exactly? Is it a thriller? A dark comedy? A family melodrama? A piece of social commentary? Even the meaning of the title is up for debate, perhaps recalling Bongs earlier breakthrough, The Host, which was also perplexing when it was released in 2007.

Word-of-mouth recommendations for Parasite have boiled down to just go see it, O.K.?, because the less you know about the film going in, the more delighted youll be by its exquisitely calibrated series of surprises. Its about a poor family infiltrating the lives of a wealthy one, but the way they do it  and what awaits both as they become more entangled  rewards the viewer with such diverse riches as white-knuckle tension, class resentment and great gales of laughter. It is genuinely unclassifiable.

Where to watch Parasite: Stream it on Hulu or buy it on iTunes, Amazon, Vudu and Google Play.

As part of the New Korean Cinema that electrified the festival circuit in the early 2000s and beyond, Bong joined directors like Kim Ki-duk (The Isle), Park Chan-wook (Oldboy) and Kim Jee-woon (A Tale of Two Sisters) in reinvigorating genre pictures with stylistic bravado and a willingness to play around with tone.

More than any of his Korean contemporaries, however, Bong has consistently defied categorization, with seven films that snake across the borders that normally separate creature features from family tragedies from grim procedurals from slapstick comedies. All of Bongs seven features are currently available to stream, so its a good time to track the progression of one of the worlds most exciting and unpredictable filmmakers.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 24

Trend:

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has met with Chief Executive Officer of Equinor Eldar Saetre in Davos.

The Garabagh field project was discussed at the meeting. Noting that Equinor came to Azerbaijan in 1994, the president said that the country attached great importance to its activities.

The sides also exchanged views on projects on alternative energy sources.
(Bloomberg) -- China is doing a better job and the world community is more prepared in dealing with the new coronavirus than they were during the 2002 to 2003 SARS episode, Germanys health minister said in an interview.

Theres a big difference to SARS. We have a much more transparent China, Jens Spahn told Bloomberg TV on Friday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. The action of China is much more effective in the first days already.

The World Health Organization on Thursday stopped short of calling the new SARS-like virus from central China a global health emergency.

Chinese official have imposed travel restrictions on millions of people as Singapore reported a case of the new virus.

Read More:

WHO Says Coronavirus Remains Local Chinese Emergency for NowSingapore Reports Virus Case as China Limits Some TravelWuhan Virus Lockdown Casts Cloud Over Industry & Tech HubMapping the Outbreak of Chinas Coronavirus

Global health authorities are also better prepared today, said Spahn.

We learned a lot because of SARS. The WTO has reformed, developed permanent institutions of exchange, the 39-year-old former under-secretary of finance said. We know what do. Thats an important signal for people back home too.

G20 health ministers have been rehearsing for emergencies since SARS and Ebola, he added.

Our national health systems in Europe and in the U.S., by the way in many western countries -- we are able to deal with this. As soon as somebody is found with this infection, hell be put in an isolated station, said Spahn.

The virus is believed to have emerged last month in a seafood and wildlife market in Wuhan, spreading from infected animals to humans.

To contact the reporters on this story: Arne Delfs in Berlin at adelfs@bloomberg.net;Francine Lacqua in Davos, Switzerland at flacqua@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Ben Sills at bsills@bloomberg.net, Raymond Colitt, Andrew Blackman

Story continues

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Controversial mummy blogger Constance Hall's trip to Bali has ended in dramatic fashion after her husband was reportedly banned from boarding a Jetstar flight.

The couple were due to board a flight home from Denpasar to Perth on Thursday night when her husband Denim Cooke was stopped at the boarding gate.

It's understood he was shirtless and rude to Jetstar crew after another passenger alerted staff about his behaviour, The Weekend West reported.

Constance Hall was with her husband Denim Cooke when he was reportedly not allowed to board a Jetstar flight home from Bali to Perth on Thursday night

According to the publication, Ms Hall was allowed to board flight JQ107 but chose to stay behind in Bali with her husband.

It's understood none of the couple's seven children were present at the time.

Details of the pre-flight drama were revealed after a passenger on the same flight posted on Facebook about the incident.

'Constance Hall and her man, kicked off our flight.....before we even take-off....thank f*** for that,' they posted.

'Her fella was being a jerk... Constance calmed down getting on the plane, but her fella was still carrying on.

They later added: 'In fairness, Constance was restrained and normal.....it was her man that was acting a peanut.'

A passenger on the same flight told Daily Mail Australia Mr Cooke (left) was taken off the flight

The couple were on the Indonesian holiday island when their trip home to Perth was delayed

The passenger played down the incident when contacted by Daily Mail Australia.

'Ms Hall did all she could to quell the situation and they left amicably, without further incident,' they said.

A fellow passenger has since posted online the pilot had told them they were 'delayed taking off due to passenger issues'.

A Jetstar spokesman told Daily Mail Australia it could not provide any information about specific customers on board the flight.

He confirmed flight JQ107 from Bali to Perth was slightly delayed due to operational reasons because the previous flight was 35 minutes late in arriving.

'Safety is our number one priority and passengers who travel must be able to follow crew instructions,' the spokesman said.

The mummy blogger makes no secret of the couple's relationship issues on social media

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Hall and her agent for comment.

Ms Hall told The Weekend West the incident didn't really have anything to do with her.

'It was my husband. I will have to ask him to get back to you,' she said.

Ms Hall announced on Facebook she was in a relationship Mr Cooke in April 2017 less than three weeks after she publicly announced her split from her husband of six years Bill Mahon.

The couple married nine months later and celebrated their second wedding anniversary this month.

Hall, who has four children from her previous marriage, later welcomed her fifth with Mr Cooke and is a stepmother to his two children.

Constance Hall (pictured) was allowed to board but chose to stay behind with her husband

Constance and Denim have a child together and six between them from previous marriages

Ms Hall is not shy about airing the couple's relationship troubles on social media.

Late last year, Ms Hall admitted her marriage had 'suffered' as she struggled to make ends financially following her appearance on Dancing With the Stars.

'Amongst all of this my relationship with Denz really suffered,' she wrote.

'Everyone was noticing that I wasn't posting as much about us because I didn't know what to say. I didn't know what was going on.'

She also previously live-streamed a therapy session with her husband to sort through 'the problems in our marriage after slamming him for 'going off into his man cave' when they have an argument'.

Ms Hall told a media outlet Thursday night's incident didn't really have anything to do with her

The self-proclaimed 'bogan from Freo' claimed men 'need to step up' in a recent 60 Minutes interview.

'I'm not trying to p*** off the white Australian man, but I don't care if I do,' Ms Hall said.

'I really think women should rule the world and we should be the bosses of everything, and it should be a matriarchal country.'

Ms Hall became an overnight sensation in 2016, thanks to her post on parental sex, on her blog, The Not So Secret Life of Us.
Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board has reportedly issued showcause notices to Adani Gas over non-disclosure of crucial information during bidding process for city gas distribution projects. The notices seek to cancel licences of the Gautam Adani-promoted gas company and slap a penalty of Rs 400 crore against the company, reports said.

Adani Gas had bid for city gas distribution projects using net worth calculation of Adani Enterprises without disclosing the scheme of arrangement between the two companies, CNBC Awaaz reported. Adani Gas was later demerged from its holding company, Adani Enterprises as part of a restricting programme.

Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), however, sees this as a violation of law on grounds that the restructuring changes the shareholding pattern of Adani Gas, and is not in contravention of city gas distribution regulations.

ALSO READ: Adani Group aims to become world's largest solar power player by 2025

In response, Adani Gas claimed that the company is fully compliant and have transparently represented facts in adherence to compliance and disclosure norms, CNBC Awaaz quoted company spokesperson as saying. The company stated that all concerned authorities were informed about the reorganisation and required information has been shared with PNGRVB.

PNGRB is also yet to approve Adani Gas' deal with Total SA for sale of 37.4 per cent stake since the regulations do not allow shareholding of current promoters to dip below 51 per cent, the report further said.

Meanwhile, Bombay Stock Exchange has sought clarification from Adani Gas on media reports that suggest that the company stock tanked 13 per cent on the back of notices from PNGRB.

ALSO READ: Siemens to support Adani coal project in Australia despite protests
Photo: DPP Law/Flickr

Missed the most recent top news in Fresno? Read on for everything you need to know.

Pier 1 furniture store at River Park robbed at gunpoint

The Pier 1 furniture store at River Park was robbed at gunpoint Thursday morning, according to the Fresno Police Department.



Read the full story on CBS47 Fresno.

2 Fresno County men arrested for allegedly possessing child porn; one works at CRMC

29-year-old Louis Tusing and 68-year-old Mark Forney were arrested after deputies found electronic devices containing child porn in their homes.

Read the full story on ABC30 Action News.

Can your tongue take it? Fresno restaurants chicken is so spicy, a waivers involved.

This new restaurant in Fresno makes you sign a waiver if you order a meal with its spiciest chicken.

Read the full story on The Fresno Bee.

Local businesses continue to feel impact as High-Speed Rail construction continues

On Wednesday, The California High-Speed Rail met at Fresno City Hall to ask local businesses to help with the engineering and maintenance of the track.



Read the full story on KSEE24 News.

This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
TriMet on Thursday held a party in east Portlands Centennial neighborhood to celebrate the imminent start of construction on the transit agencys first high-capacity bus line, a $175 million project along Division Street.

Local, regional and federal politicians gathered underneath a rain-soaked canopy adorned with large orange paper lanterns and a brightly colored collage backdropping the stage with the phrase A Division of Possibilities affixed behind the speakers.

Thursdays ceremony was billed as a formal announcement that the project received an $87.4 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration. The grant was no surprise; TriMet last April learned it would likely receive federal funding and was on a short list of projects recommended.

Yet local leaders heaped praise on the federal agency for recognizing the projects importance. And K. Jane Williams, the acting administrator of the federal agency, attended the ceremony to present a large ceremonial check.

TriMet has built several spurs of its expansive light-rail network, most recently the 2015 extension to Milwaukie, but so far it hadnt dipped into high-capacity bus service. C-Tran has one bus rapid transit line in service and a second on the way by 2023. Seattles King County Metro has six high-capacity lines in service, with another six in the works.

TriMet says its new 60-foot articulated buses on Division will arrive every 12 minutes or sooner and have the capacity to carry significantly more riders -- more than 80, compared to the 50-60 people on a typical 40-foot bus -- and allow passengers to board or exit from two additional doors. TriMet projects the line would have time savings of up to 20%, but officials didnt immediately provide data on what that means in terms of minutes saved.

Roberta Altstadt, a TriMet spokeswoman, said the agency was hesitant to provide a firm time savings because there are a number of unknowns. But staffers are projecting approximately a 10-minute savings, though the transit agency said its waiting to see how dedicated bus lanes and traffic signal priority measures work in practice to speed up the transit service. She said the entire route, during rush hour traffic, often takes 80 minutes to traverse. Most riders dont travel the entire route; many connect or transfer to other north-south buses on 82nd Avenue or elsewhere.

U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Portland, told the crowd that while hes proud of the light-rail and streetcar services he helped shepherd through during his decades in political office, the bus is vital. The bus is the backbone of our system, Blumenauer said. Make no mistake, and this project will be able to come to fruition much more quickly than if we are talking about something with more bells and whistles, he said.

Williams said more transit agencies are applying for funding to support high-capacity bus projects like the Division line. Its a really efficient way to move people more quickly and more affordably, she said in an interview. The Trump administration since 2017 has approved 25 transit projects for federal funding, totaling more than $7.6 billion.

Many of the speakers, including Blumenauer, who grew up in the area and attended nearby Centennial High School, talked about the importance of bringing more reliable and better service to a diverse and underserved neighborhood. Its going to pay off, Blumenauer said of the project. This is who we are and who we want to be.

TriMet chose Portland-based Raimore Construction as its general contractor on the project. The agency and Raimore leaders said the contract, which is expected to go before the transit agencys board in March, is the largest ever awarded to a business recognized by the state as a disadvantaged business enterprise.

Jeff Moreland, Raimores president, said his company first landed work with TriMet in 1999 on the Yellow Line light-rail project. Since then, he said, the company has grown , and added expertise, and the past two decades are culminating in this project. This project is about economic empowerment and career development through employment, he said. This project is about a company who represents the community working in the community in order to serve the community.

The project is expected to create some 650 construction jobs and what TriMet says are more than 780 indirect or induced jobs.

About the project $175 million: Estimated cost, with largest share from federal government 15 miles: Length of the route 9,100: Number of current daily bus trips on Line 2

Moreland said this job is proof that giving minority-owned businesses a chance pays off. At Raimore we dont do minority participation and inclusion. We actually are minority participation and inclusion, he said of his company, which primarily employs people of color.

The bus project is expected to finish by fall 2022. Stretches of Division Street will be under construction for the better part of the next two years.

Outer Division, the wide arterial broadly from 82nd Avenue east to Gresham city limit, will see particular changes.

Portland transportation crews are starting work on a separate $7 million series of projects this year to add center medians to improve safety and eliminate left turns, increase lighting and add miles of protected bike lanes.

The city hopes that by making it safer to bike it can encourage riders to use the area. According to city bike counts from last summer, riders avoid Division. An estimate of bicycle counts on Division at 96th Avenue captured just 65 riders on a summer day. At 122nd Avenue and Division, the city tallied some 125 riders. A city transportation spokesman said thats roughly 90% less than the ridership figures elsewhere in the city on a similar day.

A map of the station plan on Division Street.

Division Street is one of the deadliest in the city, historically, for bicyclists and motorists. The most recent traffic volumes west of 129th Avenue captured more than 31,000 motorists (cumulative).

Duncan Hwang, associate director of the nonprofit Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon, said projects like this create benefits and burdens that wont be equally felt by all."

"The construction period and permanent changes to the streetscape will be very disruptive for many current local businesses along Division, Hwang said in a statement. We encourage our public agencies to work closely with businesses and community partners to ensure they have the ability to stay and thrive both during construction and after the project is complete.

Planning with neighbors and the cities of Gresham and Portland started in 2014 along the 15-mile stretch of Southeast Division Street.

The bus route will include 42 new stations with real-time bus arrival information, shelters and benches, lighting and other amenities. Much of the corridor today has little to no shelter. Many of the bus stops are on narrow sidewalks with no place to sit or stand out of the elements.

The project will include 20 new marked crosswalk, 4.5 miles of protected bike lanes and long stretches of new sidewalks in Portland and Gresham.

Doug Kelsey, TriMets general manager, said the new service will speed up travel for transit users.

Having a bus that sits next to traffic is a loser, he said, noting that the route will include some dedicated travel lanes.

While there will be one long stretch  eastbound from 111th Avenue to 122nd  of a dedicated bus lane that private vehicles will still be allowed to use to turn right  buses will still be in car traffic for the vast majority of the 15-mile stretch.

According to TriMet, there are 28 blocks of dedicated bus or business access lanes.

Most of the 9,200 daily riders who use the current Line 2 dont take it all the way into downtown from east Portland. Thousands connect to north-south lines on 82nd or 122nd avenues.

Time savings are less substantive on inner Division neighborhoods, such as through the bustling Richmond neighborhood. Here, there are two narrow lanes and few places where TriMet can give buses a leg up.

TriMet planners said the routes will include signal priority every three - to - four blocks, so buses will get an advantage at clogged intersections.

-- Andrew Theen; atheen@oregonian.com; 503-294-4026; @andrewtheen

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Sleuths of Railway Protection Force (RPF) have zeroed in on a Chennai based I-Ticketing company for massive money laundering in the multi-crore ticketing scandal which has links to an international terror funding syndicate. The racket was busted with the help of a Bengaluru-based girl who honey-trapped the mastermind of the pan-Indian racket, Ghulam Mustafa, top sources in the RPF told IANS.

On the role of the Bengaluru girl for laying the honey trap for Ghulam Mustafa, RPF Director General Arun Kumar said he cannot share details of the investigation at this stage, but confirmed that one girl had honey-trapped the kingpin of the entire e-ticketing scam which has its roots in Dubai.

Sources said the girl arranged a meeting with Mustafa, who had gone underground for several months after RPF swooped down on his syndicate in Bangalore. Mustafa, who led an ultra luxury life, was lured by the girl pretending to be looking for a lucrative job. The sleuths had cracked Mustafas personal phone lists and identified the girl, who later agreed to help the law enforcing agency in cracking one of the biggest rail ticketing rackets in India.

Sources said Mustafa Ghulam and Dubai-based Hamid Ashraf operated through over 250 agents spread across India. The gang used an advanced software to buy e-rail tickets which were sold at premium prices. The ticketing racket was spread almost in every district of the country, sources said.

Every month a profit of more than Rs 15 crore was being transferred to Mustafas personal accounts. However, this amount seems to be a tip of the iceberg. We suspect that a massive amount was being transferred abroad. Investigation reveals that a Chennai-based company was linked with the syndicate in transferring funds, said a source.

The RPF has sought help of Central agencies under Finance Ministry to unearth the international hawala and crypto-currency links of the syndicate which stretches from Bangladesh to Pakistan.

Sources said Indias external intelligence agency is also looking into the terror links of Ashraf and Mustafa. Ashraf, who operates from Dubai, allegedly has links with Pakistan-based outfits. He was earlier reportedly involved in a bomb blast in Uttar Pradesh. Besides Ashraf, kingpin Mustafa Ghulam had been in touch with several terror suspects in Dhaka and was also in touch with jehadi elements in Pakistan.

However, the RPF requires more evidence to conclude that Ashraf and Mustafa were operating with terror outfits and that a part of earning from the ticketing scam was being shared with terror networks.
The couple recently visited Canada House in London to thank the country for its hospitality: Getty

Thousands of Canadians have signed a petition demanding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pay for their own security costs, amid mounting concern the country could be saddled with a bill costing millions of dollars.

Since the couple announced they were giving up formal royal duties and public money, they have been holed up in a $20m private mansion on a secluded cove on Canadas Victoria Island.

When they leave the property they are escorted by a number of bodyguards, several of whom are British. In recent days, the guards have also been filming cars driving past, many of them belonging to international media.

Prime minister Justin Trudeau has to date failed to say what agreements have been made to cover such costs.

Reports in the UK media say he told the Queen that Canada would foot the bill, but Mr Trudeau told Canadian reporters this week: I have not spoken to Her Majesty directly. Discussions continue to be ongoing and I have no updates at this moment.

Campaigners behind an online petition calling on the royal couple to pay their own costs, said they had gathered at least 90,000 signatures. The petition, addressed to Mr Trudeau, reads: Canadians wish the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan, all the best as they seek financial independence. That goal is important because Canadian taxpayers shouldnt have to cover the couples bills.

Aaron Wudrick, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, a campaign group dedicated to lower taxes, less waste and accountable government told The Independent there was no personal animosity aimed at the royal couple, who are living in the town of North Saanich, 20 miles north of Victoria, the largest town on Vancouver Island.

In the last two weeks I received lots of phone calls from people saying the couple were welcome here, but that they did not want to pay for them, said Mr Wudrick.

I think in recent weeks, that feeling has become more clear. Canada is a welcoming country, but some people excited they are here are viewing them as wealthy celebrities, rather than official members of the royal family where there is a protocol.

Story continues

He added: They are coming here because they want to leave the royal family, but part of that is paying their own bills.

Earlier month, the Globe and Mail quoted security experts who suggested the annual cost of protecting Harry, Meghan and their eight-month-old son Archie, could reach C$10m. (5.8m)

The point made in Mr Wudrichs petition, first reported by the New York Post, was echoed by many residents in the part of Vancouver Island where the royal couple are living. While having offered them a warm welcome, and even helping them avoid media scrutiny, there is a view Canadians should not pay.

I think the point is, they are either private citizens or members of the royal family, said Bruce Welsh, 70, a former musician and radio show host in Sidney. If they are private citizens, they should not need security guards. Either way, Canada should not be paying.

Mena Brash, a retired political scientist who was having coffee in the Georgia Cafe on Thursday morning, said Mr Trudeau would be required to study what laws existed.

If theres an agreement in place, we will have to pay it. A petition will not make any difference, she said.

Michael Phillips, 73, who moved to Canada from Britain three decades ago, described himself as an arch anti-royalist. He said he thought the media should leave the couple in peace, but said Canadians should not bear the cost of that privacy.

Canadians should not pay a single cent, he said. The royal family should be disbanded and they should all be allowed to live their own lives.

Read more

Royal family: Is Prince Harry still in the line of succession?

Canadian shopkeeper who served Prince Harry glad he returned home

Oprah defends Meghan Markle and Prince Harrys royal exit

Meghan Markles father admits he lied to Prince Harry about photos
The divorce rate among Syrian refugees in Sweden is rising, with some using it as a way to get out of forced marriage reports Zaman Al Wasl.

As a result of the changing social conditions and the psychological pressure, as well as the difference in laws between Sweden and Syria, divorce rates among refugees have steadily increased.

Iman Shahoud, a Syrian legal advisor and former jurist in Aleppo, said that a variety of factors have contributed to the increase of divorce cases among refugees in Sweden, including the freedom that allowed some women to get out of forced marriages for example. These cases can also be the result of financial greed, with the husband wishing to remain in control of the financial aids provided by the state to the wife. Usually, this leads to disputes between the spouses, which in turn lead to divorce.

Most Syrians who arrived in Sweden were asylum seekers who fled the Syrian War that began nine years ago.

According to statistics, of the 120,000 Syrians who settled in Sweden, 50,000 of them are women.

The social climate in Europe, which accepts divorced women and gives them comprehensive guarantees and rights, has encouraged Syrian women to seek divorce and choose to live independently, whether with or without their children.

Shahoud pointed out that some divorce cases among refugees and immigrants in Europe are unfortunately counterfeit and cases of fraud against the host countries. Some spouses agree to get a divorce and perhaps registering it in the state, when in reality its a scheme to obtain two separate houses and additional salaries and guarantees. According to her, this reflects the greed and exploitation of the laws of the country in order to increase income.

Judge Mohamed Nour Hamidi, Secretary-General of the Syrian Justice Rally, indicated that the transition of the Syrian family from a semi-closed society to an open one and the absolute freedom it allows away from restrictions, customs, traditions, religious and social barriers, as well as financial sufficiency and independence, has empowered the Syrian woman. This paved the way for extensive differences that can often lead to divorce.

This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
The human asset network had been operating in Liman district of Donetsk region.

Counterintelligence operatives of the Security Service of Ukraine have exposed the "DPR" militants' spy network functioning along the line of contact in war-torn Donbas.

The network had been operating in Liman district of Donetsk region, the SBU press service says.

Operatives and detectives identified two informants, residents of Liman, who had been cooperating with the militants.

The perpetrators, both female locals, underwent a detailed briefing in the occupied Donetsk, where they had visited on personal affairs.

"The curators worked out their tasks, communication channels, and agreed on coded language for transferring data terrorists required," the report said.

On the instructions of DPR curators who are part of one of the sabotage and reconnaissance units, their assets had been collecting and transmitting via electronic channels intelligence about the Ukraine Army, military personnel, armament, location, and maneuvers in the Joint Forces Operation zone.

Read alsoRussian woman with FSB ties tried to get hired by Ukraine defense ministry, SBU says

The obtained data was used by Russian mercenaries in plotting military operations and sabotage.

It is noted that at the end of last year, as part of the criminal proceedings, investigators and counterintelligence operatives detained one of the informants in Liman. Her accomplice was also detained later.

During the raid, security officials seized evidence proving their spy work in favor of the illegal armed group of the DPR terrorist organization.

Both defendants in criminal proceedings were charged with participation in a terrorist organization and the promotion of its activities.

SBU counterintelligence agents also identified their curators and documented their criminal activities before charging them with participation in a terrorist organization.
European consumers can benefit from the use of the Ukrainian gas transmission system (GTS) and underground gas storage facilities.

"The use of Ukrainian infrastructure will help the GTS operator to raise money and will be an advantage for European consumers," CEO of Naftogaz of Ukraine Andriy Kobolyev said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

He stressed that Ukraine's gas transmission system can be used not only for the transit of Russian gas.

"Gas can be transported from south to north. Thus, Poland can receive gas from Slovakia," Kobolyev added.

The CEO of Naftogaz of Ukraine also suggested that European traders may use Ukrainian gas storage facilities.

"Everyone knows that the capacities of our storage facilities are excessive for Ukrainian consumers. At least 10 billion cubic meters of storage facilities can serve the needs of European consumers," Kobolyev said.

ol
A man has been charged with the murder of a 61-year-old woman in north-west London.

Officers were called to a report of a disturbance at an address in Waverley Avenue, Chingford, at 11.35pm on Wednesday.

A woman was found at the scene suffering from head injuries. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

On Friday, Mitchell Denahy, 24, was charged with murdering 61-year-old Beverley Denahy.

Mitchell was detained at the scene and remains in police custody.
Mumbai: Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Thursday alleged that the previous Devendra Fadnavis dispensation misused government machinery to tap the phones of opposition leaders, and an inquiry has been ordered in this regard. Talking to reporters here, he said the cyber cell of the state police department has been directed to look into the complaints of phone-tapping and snooping of leaders who were then in the opposition.

He said the government is also trying to find those officers, who had been reportedly sent to Israel to study the snooping software then.

"The cyber cell of Maharashtra police has been asked to look into the various complaints of snooping/phone tapping that came in during the previous government. The inquiry is being done following complaints of snooping on opposition leaders, especially during the formation of (Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi) government," Deshmukh said. "There is no doubt that the previous dispensation has misused the government machinery to tap of phones of leaders from opposition parties," he said.

"There were reports that some officers were sent to Israel to study the snooping software. We are finding out who had gone to Israel and whether there was any official engagement," Deshmukh said.

Live TV

On Friday (January 24) Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut also alleged that a senior BJP minister of the previous government had warned him that his phone was being tapped. "Your phone is being tapped. This was told to me by a senior BJP minister earlier. I told him whoever wishes to listen to my conversations is free to do so. I am a disciple of Balasaheb Thackeray, I don't do anything secretly," Raut said in a tweet on Friday.
Investors have noted that the number of aircraft in Vietnam is low compared with regional countries.

Overly hot development is the phrase used by many analysts when commenting about the development of the aviation market in Vietnam in recent years. The analysts cite the number of new air carriers joining the market and the big orders of aircraft that airlines have signed with aircraft manufacturers recently.





However, Dinh Viet Thang, head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), thinks the word hot should be used only when the development has gone beyond control. In the case of Vietnam, the word rapid development is more suitable.



In 2008-2019, Vietnam witnessed the 17.1 percent growth rate in number of passengers and 13.8 percent in cargo transportation. As such, the transport output in Vietnam increased by 4.86 times in passengers and 3.66 times in cargo.



Regarding the transport of Vietnams airlines, the number of passengers increased by 5.2 times compared with 2008 and the volume of cargo by 3.2 times. The fleet increased by 3.5 times. As for air route network, the number of domestic routes increased by 2.4 times and international routes 2.44.

In 2008-2019, Vietnam witnessed the 17.1 percent growth rate in number of passengers and 13.8 percent in cargo transportation. As such, the transport output in Vietnam increased by 4.86 times in passengers and 3.66 times in cargo.

Dinh Viet Phuong, deputy CEO of Vietjet Air, Duong Tri Thanh, CEO of Vietnam Airlines, and Lai Xuan Thanh, president of the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) all agreed that though the market has developed rapidly, there is still room for other investors.



According to Phuong, Vietnam has nearly 100 million people and nearly 200 airplanes, which means that there are two airplanes for 1 million people. The figure is modest compared to that of Malaysia and Thailand.



Is the capability of airports high enough? Does Vietnam have enough airplanes? The answer is no, Phuong said.



We need new airplanes and new air carriers to satisfy demand. It is quite normal, he said.



However, the current infrastructure situation is problematic. Vietjet, for example, receives requests to increase transport capacity from localities.



Phuong said that the Ministry of Transport and CAAV, as state management agencies, have to take responsibility for this.



Nawal Taneja, an international aviation expert, also said it is not a problem that Vietnams aviation industry is witnessing a high growth rate.



He affirmed that high growth is good for the economy and for people, and Vietnam needs to continue growing.



Vietnam has been developing rapidly in the last three years, he said, adding that it is good to provide nonstop flights to the US.

Kim Chi

Vietnam Airlines deploys self-service kiosks to speed up check-in services The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines announced on January 14 that all passengers flying with the airline will be able to carry out self-service check-in service at kiosks when departing from Hanoi, Da Nang, Nha Trang, and HCM City.
Marled and patterned, these black and white Alber socks are from Folks latest drop of functional yet stylish accessories. Knitted using a stretch infused cotton mix, theyre made in Portugal and signed off with the brands signed navy blue leather tab.

89% Cotton, 10% Polyamide, 1% Elastane

Ribbed Cuffs

Leather Brand Tab

Made in Portugal
Get this newsletter in your inbox Monday-Friday by signing up at subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters.

Top stories for Friday, Jan. 24

LC- The Oregonian

ROSE QUARTER: Oregons top transportation decisionmakers on Thursday agreed to delay until March a key vote on what to do with a more than $715 million project on Interstate 5 through the Rose Quarter and to further study how to build covers spanning the highway to accommodate multistory buildings. Key issues: Whether an environmental impact statement is needed, and the freeways long-term impact on black neighborhoods. (Randy L. Rasmussen/Oregonian file photo)

GRADUATION RATES: Portland Public Schools posted an uptick in its district-wide graduation rate, to nearly 81%, for the 10th consecutive year in 2019. But achievement essentially flatlined for some student groups and declined for others. Statewide, the graduation rate rose to 80% for the class of 2019, with narrower racial and economic inequities.

HOUSING DISCRIMINATION: Oregon Labor Commissioner Val Hoyle and Sen. Shemia Fagan, D-Portland, plan to push to require increased enforcement of fair housing laws throughout the state. A Senate bill proposal calls for allocating $299,000 for Bureau of Labor and Industries investigations of complaints about housing discrimination, Hoyle said.

DIVISION STREET TRANSIT: TriMet on Thursday celebrated the imminent start of construction on the $175 million Division Transit Project. The 15-mile stretch of improvements will bring high-capacity buses to a key street in Portland and Gresham, as well as more than 40 new stations.

JORDAN COVE: State regulators have rejected a request from backers of a proposed liquefied natural gas export terminal in Coos Bay to extend their application for an important permit, saying critical information is lacking. The request is part of the seemingly never-ending permitting saga for the proposed terminal and a 230-mile feeder pipeline that would stretch across southern Oregon to a gas hub near Klamath Countys border with California.

WATER PROTECTIONS: U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, an Oregon Republican, hailed the Trump administrations lifting of federal protections Thursday for some of the nations millions of miles of streams, arroyos and wetlands. Walden said Oregon farmers and ranchers had expressed concerns to him for years about what they considered burdensome Obama-era regulations.

Snap of the day

AP

CLIMATE LAWSUIT: Supporters of the Juliana v. United States climate lawsuit by a group of youth plaintiffs hold caricatures of U.S. presidents at a June rally in Portland. The Jan. 17 dismissal of the case in the Ninth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals is not the end of the story, write two Oregon environmental law professors: (T)his case is important not only because it seeks to force the federal government to phase out fossil fuels, but also because it frames the climate crisis in terms of fundamental constitutional rights. (Steve Dipaola/Associated Press)

More news

Intel reports robust sales growth, silent on layoffs as stock jumps

Xerox begins proxy fight for control of HP

Portlands latest TechTown video spotlights firms diversity efforts

Cyberattack takes down Tillamook Countys computers, phones, website

Meth binges, violent outbursts trail husband accused of using power saw on wife

Oregon woman convicted of hate crime arrested, accused of macing neighbor

Teen cancer patient Kylee Dixon undergoes successful surgery, report says

Firefighting plane owned by Oregon company crashes in Australia; 3 Americans killed

How yurts helped save Oregon parks  from the guy who brought them: Peak Northwest podcast

Find more at oregonlive.com

Weather and traffic

The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for Tillamook and a flood watch for the northern Oregon coast and Coast Range through 2 p.m. Friday and is cautioning about possible landslides. In Portland, Friday morning will be wet, but a bit of a break comes by the afternoon. The weekend looks soggy. High 54, low 47.

In downtown Portland, the Water Bureau has rescheduled road work along Southwest Naito Parkway for 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday. Crews will temporarily close one lane of Naito in each direction from Southwest Harrison to Market streets.

Get the latest forecast at oregonlive.com/weather

Stay up to date on traffic conditions at oregonlive.com/commuting

Advice

Ask Amy: Teen wants to go live with Dad, Mom says no

Dear Abby: Clingy friend drops away completely when told to back off

Dear Annie: Womans digestive problem has her mother looking for help

Find more, including today's horoscope, at oregonlive.com

Today's comics

Click here to see today's comics

Today's obituaries

Click here to find area deaths reported recently

Today in history

In 1848: James W. Marshall discovered a gold nugget at Sutters Mill in northern California, a discovery that led to the gold rush of 49.

In 1984: Apple Computer began selling its first Macintosh model, which boasted a built-in 9-inch monochrome display, a clock rate of 8 megahertz and 128k of RAM

.In 1989: Confessed serial killer Theodore Bundy, whose victims included Oregon State University student Roberta Kathy Parks, was executed in Floridas electric chair.

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
LOS ANGELES  If you havent given much thought to the correlation between flying planes and milking cows, the actor David Corenswet may be your man.

Mr. Corenswet, 26, came to attention last year in The Politician, Ryan Murphys addictive twist on high school feudalism for Netflix. With his arctic blue eyes and dimples deep enough to serve martinis in, he was the high school crush who seemed too good to be true.

On a languid Sunday afternoon, Mr. Corenswet elaborated on the bovine-aviation nexus as he headed to a flight simulator class at Van Nuys Airport, a busy hub in the heart of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles. It was something to do with working with your hands, and seeing the fruits of your labor, he said.

It was the same reason his sister, a law student who spent a year working for the World Bank on global poverty, wanted to be a farmer.
Though Australia is known as young and free, it turns out its government has been taking fashion shaming tips from China: in a move as sacrilegious as a deconstructed sausage sandwich, The Coalition has asked local councils to enforce a smart casual dress code at their Australia Day citizenship ceremonies.

As The Melville Times reported on Wednesday, The clothing crackdown is part of the Governments new Australian Citizenship Ceremonies Code, which forces councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on January 26 and enforce a dress code.

While some Mayors and councils are upholding this federal move (Western Australias Melville being one of them), others  like one council in Sydneys Inner West  have refused to impose the coalitions dress code for Australia Day ceremonies.

As Guardian Australia reports, At least one inner Sydney council says it will not be imposing the dress codes for citizenship ceremonies on Australia Day, while the peak body for local government in New South Wales has criticised them as needless red tape.

wear a bikini or a ballgown. who cares other than an officious and out of date government https://t.co/AI3yRgD9lr  pj (@pjsubi) January 23, 2020

Darcy Byrne, the mayor of this area, says his council will not develop the dress code: There are people recovering from losing everything, from losing family members in the bushfires, and this is what the Department of Home Affairs and Minister Coleman are saying needs to be prescribed urgently? Its beyond a joke, its beyond belief, he told Guardian Australia.

This is an inane, undergraduate culture wars stunt from the government, and citizenship ceremonies should be above that.

A Department of Home Affairs spokesperson said that while there was no specific code, councils must set standards that reflect the occasions significance, while also being reflective of their community and climate.

Citizenship is the ultimate privilege a nation can bestow on someone who comes to Australia, and the requirement to introduce a dress code ensures we maintain and continue to recognise the significance and formality of a citizenship ceremony.

The only problem? Smart casual attire, particularly on a public holiday, is about the most un-Austalian thing anyone can imagine. And so the move, though it was announced last year, is now  again  being mocked as Australia Day approaches.

Hello and welcome to our Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony please ensure you keep yourself nice unlike all the actual citizens. https://t.co/Bh9KDiS89n  F Onthemoon (@firstdogonmoon) January 24, 2020

From pointing out that very few citizens dress nice to events themselves, to emphasising the Aussie art of dressing down, the Twitterati have shown their displeasure.

Truly Canberra is out of touch when were thongs, stubbies and a Jackie Howe not an appropriate dress code for Australia Day.. https://t.co/6kvOvAEdpG  Brett Milne (@brettmilne) January 23, 2020

While Mayor Bryne is clearly capitalising politically too (in his response to the request), the point remains that a smart casual dress code for any Australia Day ceremony is faintly ridiculous.

Read Next
Alan Dershowitz was in line at Mar-a-Lagos lavish Christmas Eve buffet last month when President Donald Trump stopped to chat.

The retired Harvard law professor had already been asked by Trump's legal team to assist with the defense at his impeachment trial and, with the case opening in a matter of weeks, the president wanted to know: Was he onboard?

He said, Everybody wants to do this thing, but I want you,'" Dershowitz recalled in an interview with The Associated Press.

Dershowitz, whose clients have included O.J. Simpson, Claus von Bulow and Mike Tyson, ultimately said yes, joining a legal team that, starting Saturday, will present the defense at only the third impeachment trial of a American president in U.S. history.

Trumps attorneys say Dershowitz and Ken Starr, the former independent counsel during President Bill Clinton's impeachment, will have discrete functions that they will be addressing" at trial.

Dershowitz's task is to make the argument  widely rejected among scholars  that an impeachable offense requires criminal-like conduct. Dershowitz joked Thursday that if he sounded sniffly, it was because he'd been buried in musty history and law books to prepare.

While it's just another high-profile case in a career full of them, Dershowitz's defense of Trump has befuddled associates, friends and former students, who struggle to make sense of his forceful advocacy for the president and who fervently disagree with the legal positions he's taken and even the facts he's advanced in Trump's defense.

Rubbish is how one law professor who studied under Dershowitz, Frank Bowman at the University of Missouri, described his views on impeachable offenses. A longtime Harvard Law School colleague, Laurence Tribe, wrote in a Washington Post opinion piece that the argument has died a thousand deaths" but nonetheless staggers on like a vengeful zombie." Some, meanwhile, have seized on video of a 1998 interview when Dershowitz expressed virtually the opposite view of what he's saying now about an impeachable offense requiring a crime.

FILE - In this Dec. 2, 2019, file photo, attorney Alan Dershowitz talks to the press outside federal court, in New York. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)AP

For his part, Dershowitz maintains there's nothing inconsistent or unusual about the positions he's taking.

Though he's been a vocal defender of Trump the last three years, he insists it's not about this particular president. Rather, he's trying to prevent impeachment from being weaponized into a partisan process," where any president can be removed over non-criminal abuses of power.

Ive always taken positions that are principled and often unpopular and often in defense of people I dont particularly support," Dershowitz said, citing his defense of Neo-Nazis who wanted the right to march through Skokie, Illinois.

I havent changed at all. Ive had the same consistent policy of defending people I dont like, people I do like, without regard to party, without regard to partisanship."

Nancy Gertner, a retired federal judge in Boston who has known Dershowitz for years, says it's true that he hasn't changed  he still gravitates toward the media spotlight, high-profile cases and positions he thinks will prove how principled he is."

But she says it's impossible to reconcile his statements on behalf of Trump, and his extraordinarily expansive view of presidential authorities, with the civil libertarian bent he's expressed over the decades and his stated opposition to unchecked government power. Some of what she's heard him say is horrifying."

Ive known him for a very long time," she said. Ive never seen anything like this."

Even before he made the case against impeachment in a book, Dershowitz has defended as lawful some of Trump's most scrutinized actions. In op-eds and TV appearances, he has accused special counsel Robert Mueller of partisan bias, ridiculed the idea Trump could have obstructed justice by firing his FBI chief and said presidents enjoy more power than kings.

A civil libertarian should be concerned about deploying the levers of power for the wrong purposes," said Gertner, who is now a senior Harvard law lecturer. These are not civil liberties positions. These are positions to garner attention to put him in the position that he now is in, which is to represent the president.

Harvey Silverglate, a friend of Dershowitz's for more than 50 years, said his positions on Trump clearly make him unpopular among the legal intelligentsia nationwide." But he said Dershowitz specializes in cases where the defense is difficult or unique, and the client unpopular.

Though Trump may not be an underdog in the conventional sense, Silverglate wrote in an email, his impeachment does present just the kind of case, challenge and client for which Dershowitz is perfect  a high-profile assault on an individual who has powerful enemies and who is being prosecuted.'"

Dershowitz says he's convinced that the same people criticizing him would be applauding him if he was prosecuting the House impeachment case. The attacks, he said, have been ferocious." He calls it a shoe on the other foot test."

People say Im not a constitutional lawyer because they dont like the side Im on," Dershowitz said. They say Im too old, Im a has-been."

Trump has watched Dershowitz defend him on Fox News for years, sometimes tweeting links to the lawyer's statements that he finds especially helpful. Through the Mueller investigation and into impeachment he has been enamored with the possibility of assembling a legal dream team.

But White House aides cautioned Trump against bringing Dershowitz onto his team, concerned that Dershowitz was a self-promoter whose showboating style wouldn't put Trump's interests first.

They also feared Dershowitz's ties to Jeffrey Epstein and the surrounding legal drama would be a distraction for the defense. Trump overruled them.

According to one person familiar with the decision, Trump wanted the appearance of a bipartisan defense team. And he has always valued attorneys who can make the case to the public on Fox News, his preferred platform.

By the time of their Christmas Eve conversation, Dershowitz had already been approached about a role on the team. But his wife, who was with him that evening at Mar-a-Lago, was more apprehensive, concerned he'd lose his independence.

Trump sought to offer reassurance on that point, saying that while he appreciated that concern, it was nonetheless important to consider how important this was for the future of the country and for precedent and all that," Dershowitz recalled.

Within days, his participation was settled.

People have already said that my arguments will be bonkers or errant nonsense," Dershowitz said. My only point is: Listen. Im going to lay out a very serious constitutional argument. Maybe youll agree with it or maybe you wont, but lets have a debate on the merits."
UPDATE: 11:13 p.m., Friday, Jan. 24, 2020 - The bodies of three Americans who died when a water-bombing plane crashed while battling Australias unprecedented wildfire crisis have been retrieved as their families arrive in Sydney.

The firefighters died when their C-130 Hercules tanker crashed on Thursday after dumping fire retardant on an out-of-control blaze northeast of the town of Cooma in southern New South Wales state.

A police statement says their bodies were retrieved from a still-active fire zone. They were taken to Sydney.

Their relatives who began arriving Saturday will be offered an opportunity to visit the hillside crash site.

---

UPDATE: 6:47 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020 - The firefighters killed in Australia were from Montana, Arizona and Florida.

Coulson Aviation says 44-year-old Captain Ian H. McBeth of Montana leaves behind his wife, three kids, parents and three siblings.

McBeth spent his whole career flying C-130's and was a highly qualified and respected pilot who loved his family, according to Coulson Aviation. They also shared in 2018 he earned his initial attack qualification.

In addition to serving with Coulson Aviation, he also served in the military and was previously a member of the Wyoming Air National Gaurd before becoming a member of the Montana Air National Gaurd.

From Arizona, First Officer Paul Clyde Hudson was 42-years-old and is survived by his wife.

Since graduating from the Naval Academy in 1999, the Coulson Aviation says Hudson spent the last twenty years serving in the United States Marine Corp including the position of C-130 pilot.

Hudson retired as a Lt. Colonel and received multiple decorations during his career. The Coulson Aviation shared he also had a Masters in both Business Administration and Information Technology Management from the Naval Postgraduate School.

Flight Engineer Rick A DeMorgan Jr. was from Florida and is survived by his two children, parents and sister.

The 43-year-old was a flight engineer on the C-130 for 18 years while he served in the U.S. Air Force.

Coulson Aviation says DeMorgan had thousands of hours as a flight engineer and thousands of hours in a combat environment. They also shared he had a passion for his children and flying.

---

SACRAMENTO, Calif (AP) - California's governor says the three American flight crew members who died when their aerial water tanker crashed while battling wildfires in southeastern Australia were part of a crew on a California-based tanker.

Gov. Gavin Newsom in a statement on Thursday did not identify the crew members but called them heroes.

ORIGINAL STORY: Three Americans dead after firefighting water bomber crashes in rural Australia

The premier of Australia's New South Wales state confirmed the crash deaths in the Snowy Monaro region as Australia attempts to deal with an unprecedented fire season that has left a large swath of destruction.

Canada-based Coulson Aviation says one of its Lockheed large air tankers was lost after it left Richmond in New South Wales with retardant for a firebombing mission.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 24) The Philippine government is now working on the process of terminating its Visiting Forces Agreement with the United Statesa day after President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to scrap the 1998 deal over the cancellation of Senator Ronald Bato Dela Rosas visa

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte already gave the order Thursday night despite previously setting a one-month deadline for the US government to reverse its decision on the senators visa.

Eh apparently hindi na nasunod kasi tinanong ko siya (Duterte) kagabi eh, "When will the process start?" "Tonight, Panelo told reporters in a chance interview in Malacanang on Friday.

[Translation: Apparently it was not followed because I asked him last night, When will the process start? Tonight.]

The process of starting it has commenced or will commence today, Panelo said, noting he has already relayed the order to Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Teddyboy Locsin Jr.

Locsin, for his part, said he has already called Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana for them to start the termination process.

Called Sec Lorenzana as Vice ChairI am Chair of VFAto start process of terminating USVFA. Step 1 calling the Senate Foreign Relations Committee because on our side it is a treaty; on US side Executive Agreement, the countrys top diplomat said in a tweet.

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea is also set to meet with US Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim to discuss the latest developments on this issue, Panelo added.

The VFA is the first of two agreements between Washington and Manila about the treatment of their troops when they are in the US or the Philippines.

Among the provisions of the deal include lax visa and passport policies for US troops, and rights of US government to retain jurisdiction over military personnel, among others.

The VFA can be terminated by either the Philippines or the US by writing to the other party that they want to end the agreement. Expiration, however, will come 180 days from the time either party notifies each other.

Whether the Senate needs to concur with the termination of the treaty is still unclear, as the Constitution only says the upper chamber's nod is needed for a treaty to come into force. This same question is the subject of petitions before the Supreme Court assailing Duterte's withdrawal of the Philippines from the International Criminal Court.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the department has now been tasked to study the "proper procedure" of the deal's termination process.

No Congress approval needed

On the other hand, Lorenzana said the termination of the VFA does not need the approval of the Congress. Hence, the government may unilaterally initiate the termination.

"The termination of the VFA may be unilaterally initiated by the Philippines, and it is well within the right of the Philippine government to do so if it determines that the agreement no longer redounds to our national interest," said Lorenzana in a latest statement.

"Such a termination does not need the approval of the Philippine Congress. All that is required is that a notice of termination be served to the US government."

Lorenzana earlier said that authorities are just waiting for the next move of the US.

The ball is in the US hand. Lets see how they react to (Dutertes) statement , Lorenzana said in a message to reporters.

He also said he understands why the President was displeased with Washingtons move to cancel Dela Rosa's visa.

He said the chief executive was only being true to his promise of supporting those who helped launch the administrations flagship anti-illegal drugs campaign.

It is a direct affront to (Duterte) being the architect of the drug war that he started upon his assumption of office, the Defense Secretary said.

He ordered Bato, then the newly installed Chief PNP (Philippine National Police), to launch the drug war and enjoined the entire PNP to do their duties and pledged to would back them up. That he would take responsibility for their official actions. That he would go to prison for them.

'Not my fault'

Dela Rosa meanwhile hit back at critics and netizens who blamed him for the President's ultimatum.

"Kasalanan ko ba 'yun? Bakit nila ako sisisihin? Di ko kasalanan 'yun. It's purely an executive decision na ginagawa ng Pangulo," Dela Rosa said in a media briefing, debunking claims he asked for Duterte's help.

[Translation: Is it my fault? Why would they blame me? It's not my fault. It's purely an executive decision made by the President.]

Dutertes warning also drew mixed reactions from fellow government officials and lawmakers.

Locsin, in an earlier tweet, said he found the Presidents statement as a good move.

Senator Kiko Pangilinan, on the other hand, said it would be better for the executive branch to focus on more pressing issuesparticularly the relief efforts for those affected by the Taal Volcano eruption as well as monitoring the outbreak of the new coronavirus in China.

CNN Philippines Alyssa Rola, Eimor Santos, and Xave Gregorio contributed to this report.
Estonias scheduled spectrum auction has stalled following a legal challenge from a smaller local player.

Tallinns Circuit Court last month ruled in favour of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications (MKM)s plan to issue three 5G licences in the 3400MHz-3800MHz band. Fixed and IoT provider Levikom has now appealed against this decision and aims to take its case to the Supreme Court.

The local firm first challenged the Ministrys proposals in March 2019, arguing that offering just three licences would stymie competition as it was inherently advantageous to the countrys three incumbent mobile operators. Levikom argues that both national and regional licences should be put to auction, enabling smaller players to begin offering 5G.

However, the challenge has been complicated by reports that Levikom has outstanding tax bills, which would have precluded the provider from participating in the 5G auctions in the first place.

Laura Laaster of the MKM said: The court dispute has no doubt slowed down the process of issuing frequency permits and consequently the development of 5G networks. At the same time, we cannot say Estonia has fallen far behind other countries.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 24, 2020 / Blue Moon Zinc Corp. (TSXV:MOON)(OTC PINK:BMOOF) ("Blue Moon" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its exploration partner, Platina Resources Limited ("Platina"), has intersected high grade mineralization in their first drill hole from the recently completed drilling program at the Blue Moon zinc-copper-gold project. The current drilling program was successful in expanding the high-grade mineralization cut in hole BMZ78 in 2018.

Hole BMZ79 intersected a significant zones of high-grade zinc mineralisation, in the form of sphalerite, including (Not true width. True width approximately 55%.):

7.47 metres (24.5 feet) at 25.55% zinc, 0.87% copper, 0.68 g/t gold and 17 g/t silver for a zinc equivalence ("ZnEq") of 28.46% from 412.81 metres, including:

3.05 metres (10.0 feet) at 49.60% zinc, 1.39% copper, 0.91 g/t gold and 30 g/t silver for a ZnEq of 54.11% from 414.65 metres.

A second zone of zinc mineralisation in the same hole from 450 metres, included:

10.96 metres (36.0 feet) at 3.11% zinc, 0.47% copper and 0.27 % lead for a ZnEq of 4.62% from 450.37 metres, including:

2.08 metres (6.8 feet) at 4.2% zinc for a ZnEq of 5.24% from 457.16 metres.

The high-grade zone of BMZ79 includes the highest zinc interval ever intercepted in the project to date, 1.71 metres (5.6 feet) at 51.9% zinc, 1.49% copper, 0.05% lead, 0.85 g/t gold and 31.9 g/t silver from 414.65 metres.

The high grade mineralised intercept in Hole BMZ79 is 50 metres (164 feet) above and eight metres (26 feet) south of the high grade mineralisation intercepted by the 2018 Blue Moon Zinc diamond hole BMZ78. The intercept extends the size of the high grade zone of mineralisation within the Main mineralised horizon. The Main mineralised horizon also intersected some interesting anomalies of gold and silver (see Table 2).

The stage 1 drilling program totalled 1,132 metres (3,714 feet) and tested the northern border of the mineral resource as well as extend the zone of high-grade mineralisation near hole BMZ78 which was drilled by Blue Moon in 2018 (see January 18, 2019 release). Hole BMZ80, the second hole in the program, has assay results pending.

Platina is currently paying 100% of the drill program costs and can earn an initial 50% interest in the Blue Moon project by incurring $3 million including the drilling of a minimum 10,000 metres and payment to the Company of $250,000. Platina can increase its interests to 70% by incurring an additional $3.75 million including the completion of a pre-feasibility study and payment to the Company of $500,000.

DRILL TABLE

Collar locations for the first two holes are outlined in Table 1.

Table 1 - Drill hole collar location and intercept information Drill Hole East North RL Azimuth Dip Hole Depth (M) BMZ79 742493 4161170 388 253 -58 560 BMZ80 742495 416172 388 264 -57 572

Mineralised intersections for Hole BMZ79 are outlined in Table 2.

Table 2 - Drill hole intercepts information (downhole Intersections in metres) Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Thickness (m) Zinc Grade (%Zn) Copper Grade (%Cu) Lead Grade (%Pb) Gold Grade (g/t Au) Silver Grade (g/t Ag) ZnEq (%) BMZ79 412.81 420.28 7.47 25.55 0.87 0.02 0.68 17.39 28.46 including 414.65 417.70 3.05 49.60 1.39 0.05 0.91 30.32 54.11 BMZ79 450.37 461.33 10.96 3.11 0.47 0.27 0.16 4.49 4.62 including 457.16 459.24 2.08 4.22 0.24 0.33 0.08 3.3 5.24 Note: Thickness are not true width. True width is approximately 55 % of core length.

DRILL HOLE LOCATION MAP

Figure 1: Plan view showing Platina's phase 1 drill hole collar location (BMZ79 and BMZ80) both placed in the same pad as BMZ78, drilled by Blue Moon Zinc in 2018. The figure includes surface projection of the mineralised interval intercepted by BMZ79(reported in this release) and BMZ80 (assay pending) as well as an approximate surface projection of the main VMS mineralised zone.

Figure 2: Cross section looking north (70 metres envelope) showing collar location, path and mineralised intervals intercepted by BMZ79 with respect to previous hole BMZ78 (drilled in same pad by Blue Moon Zinc in 2018) and historical drill holes with zinc % mineralised zones.

Figure 3: Massive sulphide mineralised interception at hole BMZ79 from 414.96 metres to 417.30 metres downhole depth corresponding to the highest zinc grade interval returned by this hole, 3.05 metres at 49.60% zinc, 1.39% copper, 0.91 g/t gold and 30 g/t silver from 414.65 metres. Massive Sulphide mineralisation mostly follows primary foliation in the hosting rhyolite rock. Sphalerite is pale brown; chalcopyrite bright yellow. Pyrite completes the visible sulphide assemblage.

Figure 4: Massive sulphide mineralised interception at hole BMZ79 from 417.3 metres to 420.28 metres downhole depth. Sulphide mineralisation both follows cross-cut primary foliation in the hosting rhyolite rock. Sphalerite is pale brown; chalcopyrite bright yellow. Pyrite completes the visible sulphide assemblage

Quality Assurance/Quality Control

Drilling completed on the project in 2019 was supervised on-site by Dr. Gustavo Delendatti, a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. Dr Delendatti collected and tracked samples and implemented a full QA/QC program using blanks, standards and duplicates to monitor analytical accuracy and precision. Drill core was logged and sampled in a secure core processing and storage facility located at the Blue Moon site in Mariposa County, California. Core samples from the program were cut in half using a diamond bladed rock saw, sealed onsite, and were delivered directly by Platina to the ALS laboratories lab facility in Reno Nevada, for sample preparation and analysis whereas the Four Acid ICP-AES multi-element package (33 elements) for zinc, copper, lead and silver ICP as well as the base metals overlimits has been conducted at ALS Vancouver, both international accredited laboratory under ISO/IEC 17025 standards. Diamond Core samples were analyzed using a combination of ALS's ME-ICP61 process for low level concentrations (ICP-ES 4 acid digestion ). Base metals over limits have been finalized with Assay Grade Four Acid ICP and titration. Gold assaying was completed with FA430, a 30-gram fire assay with ICP-AAS finish and gravimetric finish for over limits. Silver over limits had gravimetric finish. Base metal over-limits were finalized with titration Zn-VOL50 (zinc), Cu-VOL61 (Copper), Pb-VOL70 (Lead) and a silica wash was used between high-grade samples to ensure no sample carry-over. No material differences were found in any of the Platina's quality control samples nor ALS internal QAQC samples. No QA/QC concerns were observed with the results shown in this report.

Zinc Equivalent Calculation (ZnEq)

The ZnEq formula and the underlying parameters used in its formulation are set out below:

Metal Price (US$) Recovery (%) Factor Zinc 1.30/lb 95 24.70 Silver 17.00/oz 65 11.05 Copper 3.00/lb 93 55.80 Gold 1,250.00/oz 70 875.00 Lead 1.00/lb 95 19.00

The metal prices and the recoveries selected represent reasonable estimates of long-term metal prices and potential recoveries of metal in concentrate as detailed in the NI 43-101 filed on SEDAR on November 20, 2018. The equation to calculate ZnEq is as follows:

ZnEq = (Zn%*24.70 + Cu%*55.80 + Pb%*19.00 + Ag(oz/t)*11.05 + Au(oz/t)*875.00) / 24.70.

About Blue Moon

Blue Moon (TSX.V: MOON; OTC: BMOOF) is currently advancing its Blue Moon polymetallic deposit which contains zinc, gold, copper and silver in partnership with Platina Resources Limited. The deposit is open at depth and along strike. The Blue Moon 43-101 Mineral Resource includes 7.8 million inferred tons at 8.07% zinc equivalent, which includes 771 million pounds of 4.95% zinc, 300,000 ounces of gold at 0.04 oz/t, 71 million pounds of 0.46% copper, and 10 million ounces of silver at 1.33 oz/t. The 43-101 was filed on www.sedar.com on November 20, 2018. The Company also holds 100% of the Yava polymetallic project in Nunavut that is on strike to Glencore's Hackett River deposit. More information is available on the company's web site (www.bluemoonmining.com).

Qualified Persons

John McClintock, P. Eng, a Director of the Company, is a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this press release.

For more information please contact:

Patrick McGrath, CEO

1-832-499-6009

pmcgrath@bluemoonmining.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Resource estimates included in this news release are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions set forth in the relevant technical report and otherwise, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices for zinc, the results of future exploration, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses and titles, changes in government policies regarding mining, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date it is expressed in this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

The securities referenced in this news release have not and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements.

SOURCE: Blue Moon Resources

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/574031/Blue-Moon-Drilling-Intersects-Significant-Zinc-Mineralization
EC asks Twitter to remove BJP leader Kapil Mishra's 'India Vs Pak' tweet

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Jan 24: The Election Commission has asked Twitter to remove a controversial tweet by BJP's Kapil Mishra, a candidate for the upcoming Delhi assembly polls, in which he likened the election in the city to India versus Pakistan contest.

The Election Commission's action came after the office of the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer wrote to the EC to remove the tweet posted by Mishra on Thursday, EC officials said.

Kapil Mishra, BJP: Roads are encroached upon in Shaheen Bagh, people aren't being allowed to go to schools, offices, hospitals, inciting slogans are being raised. The shamelessness with which Manish Sisodia said he stands with Shaheen Bagh means that this is a political movement. https://t.co/PpYXzFMfm1  ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2020

The Delhi CEO Office has also issued a show-cause notice to Mishra, who has been fielded by the BJP from the Model Town constituency, they said. In the tweet, Mishra, a former minister in the Arvind Kejriwal cabinet, said the February 8 election will be a contest between India and Pakistan in Delhi.

Delhi Assembly poll: Nominations of nearly 698 candidates found valid post scrutiny

In its criticism of opposition parties over their protest against the citizenship law, the BJP has been accusing them of speaking "Pakistan's language".

This isn't the first time, last year, Mishra was criticized for a tweet with communal overtones during Diwali, and the post was later taken down by Twitter for violating its guidelines. Mishra is pitted against AAP MLA Akhileshpati Tripathi.
LONDON (AP)  The Latest on the outbreak of the new coronavirus in China (all times local):

6:20 p.m.

The World Health Organization says a viral illness in China that has sickened hundreds of people is not yet a global health emergency.

The decision came after Chinese authorities moved to lock down three cities on Thursday and canceled major events in the capital, Beijing, during the Lunar New Year holiday period to try to contain the new virus.

The United Nations health agency announced the decision after independent experts spent two days assessing information about the spread of the newly identified coronavirus.

WHO defines a global emergency as an extraordinary event that constitutes a risk to other countries and requires a coordinated international response. Previous global emergencies have been declared for the emergence of Zika virus in the Americas, the swine flu pandemic, and polio.

A declaration of a global emergency typically brings greater money and resources, but may also prompt nervous foreign governments to restrict travel and trade to affected countries. Deciding whether an outbreak amounts to an international crisis therefore can also be politically fraught.

In 2014, WHO resisted declaring the devastating Ebola epidemic in West Africa to be a global emergency because it feared the announcement would anger Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. When WHO made its last emergency declaration in July, related to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Congo, the Congolese health minister resisted the characterization and suggested the decision was made to raise funds for certain humanitarian actors.

Hundreds of people infected with the new virus have fallen ill in China, and 17 have died. The first cases appeared last month in Wuhan, an industrial and transportation hub in central China.

Other cases have been reported in the United States, Japan, South Korea and Thailand. Singapore, Vietnam and Hong Kong reported their first cases Thursday.

Story continues

___

2:45 p.m.

Vietnams Health Ministry says a Chinese father and son, who were hospitalized on Wednesday with fevers, have tested positive with the new coronavirus. It said this marks the first such cases in Vietnam.

The ministry on Thursday said Li Ding, 66, from Wuhan, China arrived in Hanoi on Jan. 13 then traveled south to meet up with his 28-year-old son Li Zichao, who works in Vietnam. The two then went to Ho Chi Minh city.

The father got a fever on Jan. 17 and the son got the same symptoms three days later, according to Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Sang, head of tropical diseases at Cho Ray hospital in Ho Chi Minh city. The son has contracted the virus from his father, the doctor was quoted as saying.

China, meanwhile, has decided to lock down three cities including Wuhan that are home to more than 18 million people in an unprecedented effort to try to contain the deadly new viral illness that has sickened hundreds.

-

2 p.m.

Singapores Ministry of Health says the country has confirmed its first case of the new coronavirus, a 66-year-old Chinese national from Wuhan.

The ministry said late Thursday the man arrived in Singapore with his family on Jan. 20. It said the man is now in isolation in a hospital in the Southeast Asian city-state.

The statement said health officials are also investigating another suspected case, after a preliminary test for the virus was positive. That person is a 53-year-old woman from Wuhan.

China, meanwhile, has decided to lock down three cities including Wuhan that are home to more than 18 million people in an unprecedented effort to try to contain the deadly new viral illness that has sickened hundreds.

___

3 a.m.

China has decided to lock down three cities that are home to more than 18 million people in an unprecedented effort to try to contain a deadly new viral illness that has sickened hundreds and spread to other cities and countries in the Lunar New Year travel rush.

Police, SWAT teams and paramilitary troops guarded Wuhan's train station, where metal barriers blocked the entrances at 10 a.m. sharp. Only travelers holding tickets for the last trains were allowed to enter, with those booked for later trains being turned away.

Normally bustling streets, shopping malls, restaurants and other public spaces in the city of 11 million people were eerily quiet. In addition to the train station, airport, ferry, subway and bus services were also halted.

Similar measures will take effect from Friday in the nearby cities of Huanggang and Ezhou.

In the capital Beijing, authorities canceled major events" indefinitely, including traditional temple fairs that are a staple of Lunar New Year holiday celebrations,
By Express News Service

BENGALURU: While the Bengaluru city police have concluded that the mysterious blast that injured Shantinagar Congress MLA NA Haris and four others is a firecracker, the MLA has demanded that a thorough probe into the matter be conducted. He said that the object that hit him did not look like a firecracker. Speaking to reporters after he was discharged from hospital, Haris clarified that he had no political or personal opponents.

There could be people who are jealous of my success. Thus, its better to probe the matter. Even the Home Minister had called me and assured an impartial probe into this, he said. Police have registered an FIR and are investigating the case.
After being told to leave the site, Williamson went across the street to the church and confronted a youth pastor for the church. Williamson told him that it was unethical to use non-union labor and offered to get his guys, according to the release.
Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site.

There are 34 cases in the U.S. and tens of thousands of cases around the world, with the largest number by far in China.

The U.S. government has imposed quarantines for citizens returning from the epicenter of the outbreak and has banned non-citizen visitors from China. The State Department says travelers should not go to China.

The World Health Organization has declared an international health emergency, and the U.S. has declared a public health emergency.

The virus causes respiratory problems that can range from a mild cough to severe pneumonia.

This article is being updated as the situation changes.

The coronavirus that emerged in Wuhan, China, at the end of last year has led to a global health emergency that includes a State Department do not travel to China advisory and quarantines for some U.S. citizens who return home from there. The virus can lead to a disease dubbed COVID-19, marked by respiratory problems that can range from a mild cough to severe pneumonia.

In China, there have already been at least 77,150 confirmed cases of the disease and at least 2,593 deaths, according to a Johns Hopkins University database that aggregates government data.

There are at least 2,077 confirmed cases outside of China, according to the World Health Organization, in at least 29 different countries, with significant outbreaks outside China so far in countries including South Korea, Italy, and Japan. So far, there have been at least 33 deaths from the virus reported outside of mainland China.

In the U.S., there have been 34 confirmed cases of the virus. Eighteen of those cases were in Americans evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, where there was a large COVID-19 outbreak; eleven were in people who had traveled to China; two were in close contacts of those travelers; and three were in people flown out of Wuhan, the capital of the Chinese province of Hubei, by the U.S. Department of State.

Story continues

The U.S. government has also issued strong warnings and put dramatic measures into place for American travelers.

Since Jan. 30, the State Department has had a Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory in effect, saying travelers should not go to China. Furthermore, any U.S. citizen who has been in Hubei in the previous 14 days will be subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon entry. Any U.S. citizen who has been to mainland China in the previous 14 days will be screened upon entry, then subject to up to 14 days of monitored self-quarantine. And any foreign national who has been to China in the previous 14 days will be denied entry into the U.S., unless they are an immediate family member of a citizen or permanent resident. (More information for travelers, below.)

U.S. officials have also quarantined more than 1,000 citizens who were flown out of the outbreak's epicenter and from the Diamond Princess cruise ship (via Japan) on government-chartered planes.

In briefings with the media, officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have explained why they have implemented quarantines and what they hope to accomplishadding that these measures may change as the situation develops.

While we recognize this is an unprecedented action, we are facing an unprecedented public health threat, Nancy Messonnier, M.D., director of the CDCs National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said on Jan. 31, after the first mandatory quarantine was announced.

This strategy is not meant to catch every single traveler returning from China with novel coronavirusgiven the nature of the virus and how its spreading, that would be impossible, Messonnier said on Feb. 3, after additional travel restrictions and screenings were announced. The goal here is to slow the entry of the virus into the United States.

If we take strong measures now, we may be able to blunt the impact of the virus on the United States, Messonnier said later. We are preparing as if this were the next pandemic.

On Feb. 5, Messonnier called the government's actions the beginning of what could be a long response.

Chinese authorities, meanwhile, have shut down transit within and departing from more than a dozen cities, including Wuhan, which is home to more than 11 million people, about 650 miles south of Beijing.



On Jan. 30, the WHO declared a public health emergency of international concern, citing the new coronaviruss spread to many countries and evidence of human-to-human transmission outside of China. The next day, Alex Azar, the secretary of Health and Human Services, declared a public health emergency in the U.S.

Currently, the spread of the new coronavirus outside of China seems to be slow, but could accelerate, said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Ph.D., the director-general of WHO, Feb. 9 on Twitter. We may only be seeing the tip of the iceberg.

In the U.S., health officials have emphasized that currently, the risk to the general public in the U.S. remains low. Still, said the CDCs Messonnier, we can and should be prepared for this new virus to gain a foothold in the U.S.

Heres what we know so far about COVID-19.

What Is This New Virus?

The International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses announced on Feb. 11 that what had previously been referred to as 2019 novel coronavirus now has an official name: severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease caused by this new virus has another name, announced by the WHO the same day: coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Both names indicate that the new pathogen is part of a large family of viruses known as coronaviruses. (Under a microscope, these viruses look like they have a crown, or corona.)

Coronaviruses are very common in animals, and many strains affect humans, according to Thomas File, M.D., president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). Most known coronaviruses cause mild conditions, such as the common cold and conjunctivitis, but the new virus is not the first time a coronavirus has led to hospitalizations and deaths.

We have seen very serious manifestations of symptoms from other novel coronaviruses such as SARS and MERS, File says. In 2002 to 2003, an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) sickened more than 8,000 people and killed 774. Almost 10 years later, another coronavirus, known as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), emerged and has since infected 2,499 people and killed 861.

According to a study published Jan. 23 in JAMA, the fatality rate so far for the new virus seems to be lower than that of either SARS or MERS. But its too soon to know for sure, File says, because theres no accurate gauge on the number of people who are sick. Many casesespecially less serious onescould still be unreported.

While theres a lot that we dont yet know about SARS-CoV-2, researchers have genetically sequenced the pathogen, which provides some context for whats happening, what sort of virus this is, and how it may be transmitted.

From the genetic analysis, it does look like China detected this outbreak in humans very quickly, says Lisa Maragakis, M.D., the hospital epidemiologist at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and the senior director of infection prevention at The Johns Hopkins Health System. Most of the confirmed cases in humans are similar enough genetically that it doesnt appear to have been spreading for very longthough we dont yet know how effective steps taken to stop the spread of the illness will be, she says.

According to the CDC, many of the first COVID-19 cases had links to a large seafood and live animal market in Wuhan. Genetic analysis has shown that the new virus has some similarities to other coronaviruses that circulate in bats and snakes.

How Does This Coronavirus Spread?

Respiratory viruses can vary greatly in terms of how quickly they spread.

Though the first cases of the new coronavirus seem to have spread from animals to people, the virus can also spread from person to person. Since those first reports, the virus has continued to spread rapidly throughout China, the CDCs Messonnier said. In the U.S., however, people should know that this virus is not spreading in your community.

An early analysis of the first 425 confirmed cases estimated that each infected person was spreading the virus to approximately 2.2 other people, according to a study published Jan. 29 in the New England Journal of Medicine. But the authors caution that this is a preliminary number, that its subject to change, and that the goal of control measures is to drive this number down.

As a respiratory virus, the coronavirus is likely to spread in air droplets when someone coughs or sneezes, according to File at the IDSA. If thats the case, people within 5 or 6 feet of an infected person are most likely to get sick. Some respiratory viruses, including others in the coronavirus family, are known to spread when people touch a surface contaminated with infectious droplets, then touch their own nose, mouth, or eyes. And some respiratory viruses also remain aloft longer and spread through the air farther, according to Maragakis, so healthcare workers have been told to wear personal protective equipment.

Although a number of healthcare workers have been infected so far1,716 in China as of Feb. 14we dont have details on what protective equipment they were or weren't wearing. Messonnier, of the CDC, said that based on what scientists have seen so far, the new virus seems to mainly spread to close contactspeople within 6 feet of a patient when they cough or sneeze. There are currently no known infections among healthcare workers in the U.S.

In an analysis of 138 novel coronavirus cases at one Wuhan hospital, published Feb. 7 in JAMA, doctors concluded that 57 of those were people infected in the hospitalincluding 40 healthcare workers and 17 patients originally hospitalized for unrelated reasons. The significant in-hospital spread may be in part because the symptoms were not immediately recognized in some patients. Early diagnosis and isolation are key, the authors write.

With the new coronavirus, people appear to get sick in a time frame of a couple of days to two weeks after being exposed.

Some reports have indicated that the virus may be contagious before people show symptoms. But experts who spoke to Science magazine said those reports may be flawed, in part because many people likely have mild symptoms without necessarily appearing very ill.

Most outbreaks are primarily driven by diseases spread while people show symptoms, according to Anthony Fauci, M.D., director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), who spoke at a Jan. 28 press conference.

At present, theres no reason to think the pathogen could be transmitted through food or via consumer goods, according to a scientific risk assessment group thats part of the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture. Other coronaviruses similar to the new one don't last very long on surfaces, says the CDC, which means transmission via a surfaces after days or weeks would be highly unlikely. There is no evidence to support transmission of 2019-nCoV associated with imported goods and there have not been any cases of 2019-nCoV in the United States associated with imported goods, according to the CDC.

What Are the Symptoms?

There have been a wide range of symptoms so far, ranging from mild to severe. In most cases, people have had a fever and cough. In the more severe cases, people have developed pneumonia.

Based on data from roughly 17,000 reports, about 82 percent of the cases of novel coronavirus are considered mild, 15 percent are severe, 3 percent are critical, and less than 2 percent are fatal, according to Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, an epidemiologist who shared those numbers at a WHO press briefing on Feb. 7. It's likely that those proportions will continue to change, she added.

Plus, Robert Redfield, M.D., the CDC director, emphasized at a separate press briefing on the same day that many mild cases likely remain unreported and uncounted.

Who Is at Risk?

Most of the known cases are clustered in and around Wuhan, and in people who have recently returned from the region. Were still in the early phases of understanding which segments of the population are most at risk of infection and complications, according to Maragakis.

In general, elderly patients and those with underlying diseases tend to do worse with any pneumonia, says Richard Wunderink, M.D., a professor of medicine at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago who has written about coronaviruses. However, younger people may be [more likely to catch the virus] for multiple social rather than medical reasons.

Taking precautions may be especially important for healthcare workers, who were disproportionately affected by the SARS epidemic, Wunderink says.

For Americans, the two main risk factors are recent travel to Hubei province and close contact with people who have traveled recently to Hubei province. People who are not in one of those two groups do not need to be concerned at this point, the CDCs Messonnier said in late January.

What Should Travelers Know About the Virus?

The State Department said on Jan. 31 that travelers should not go to China, stepping up its earlier reconsider travel to China message. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo cited the spread of the virus and WHOs emergency designation in making the announcement on Twitter.

British Airways announced on Jan. 29 that it was canceling all flights to and from mainland China, after the British Foreign Office advised avoiding all nonessential travel to the country. Later that same day, Lufthansa announced it would also suspend all flights to and from mainland China through Sunday, and Air Canada announced it would suspend all direct flights to Beijing and Shanghai through Feb. 29.

After the State Department upgraded its travel warning, American Airlines, Delta, and United announced they would temporarily suspend all regular flights to mainland China from the U.S. (The airlines sites have more information on the specific dates of the suspensions and what to do if you have a booking.)

In general, travelers should remain vigilant and keep up to date with the latest advisories from the CDC, Maragakis says. The CDC as of Monday has issued additional travel alerts for Japan and South Korea, saying that older adults and people with chronic medical conditions should reconsider nonessential travel.

Currently, any U.S. citizen who has been in Hubei during the previous 14 days will be quarantined upon arrival in the U.S. Anyone who has been in mainland China will be screened. And any noncitizen who has been in China during the previous 14 days will be denied entry. As of Wednesday, more than 30,000 passengers had been screened, according to the CDC.

Passengers who were evacuated from Wuhan on government-chartered planes are being quarantined on military bases in the U.S. As of Feb. 12, there were more than 600 such passengers under quarantine, according to the CDC. (The first 195 people who were flown out completed their 14-day quarantine and were released on Feb. 11. None tested positive for the new virus.) For those flying commercial, federal agencies coordinate with each state and local government to identify potential quarantine facilities, according to a CDC spokesperson, who declined to specify how many people are under quarantine or where they are being housed.

The mandatory quarantines go beyond what has been put in place during previous outbreaks, such as swine flu. Health officials say that's because they learned about the new virus with enough time to try to intervene. What was different about this one was that the outbreak was caught so early before it got to the United States, said the CDC's Messonnier. We had this window of time in which we could intervene and slow it down.

Whatever restrictions the government implements, one important line of defense is travelers themselves. People who have recently traveled to an affected area should contact health officials if they notice any symptoms of infection. The CDC is distributing hundreds of thousands of educational cards to arriving travelers so that people can be on the lookout for any symptoms that might be the new coronavirus.

In the case of the first two U.S. patients identified, both had re-entered the U.S. before airport screening of those coming from Wuhan had begun. They each contacted their healthcare providers because of their symptoms and travel history.

How Should You Protect Yourself?

If you are in or have to travel to an affected region, Maragakis says you should take the same precautions as you might for any respiratory condition: Try to avoid sick people, wash your hands frequently, cover your nose and mouth if you cough or sneeze, and try not to go out if you are sick.

The CDC does not recommend the use of face masks by the general public in the U.S., Messonnier said during a Jan. 30 media briefing.

Otherwise, although this is the beginning of what could be a large outbreak, she says, its far away from the U.S. And at this point, there have been only a relatively small number of cases outside of China. Still, the new outbreak should serve as a reminder that very severe respiratory viruses tend to circulate every few years.

We do have tens of thousands of people who die of flu every year in this country, she says. To protect yourself from that, she and File agree, you should get a flu shot.

What Experts Still Don't Know

Almost every day, were learning things we didnt know before, the CDC's Redfield said at a late-January press conference.



We still need to learn exactly how the virus spreads from person to person and how likely people are to get sick when theyre exposed, Maragakis says.

We also need more data to understand the mortality rate, File says.

Overall, says File, who was in China in March 2003 when WHO first issued a travel advisory for SARS, this is almost like deja vu. But in this case, at least, the virus seems to have been identified much more quickly.

The CDC describes this as a rapidly evolving situation, and says information will be updated as it becomes available.

Editors Note: This article was originally published Jan. 23.





More from Consumer Reports:

Top pick tires for 2016

Best used cars for $25,000 and less

7 best mattresses for couples





Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright  2020, Consumer Reports, Inc.
By Trend

Some 83 foreigners received refugee status in Azerbaijan, head of the Azerbaijani State Migration Service Vusal Huseynov said.

Some 2,101 people live in the country in accordance with the mandate of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani State Migration Service.

"Despite there are citizens of various countries who have received refugee status, most of them are citizens of Afghanistan, Huseynov said. Among the refugees there are also citizens of Iran, Syria, Russia and Egypt."

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
The United States on Thursday said it blacklisted two companies based in Hong Kong, one in Shanghai and one in Dubai for helping Iran's state-owned National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) export millions of dollars of goods in violation of U.S. sanctions.

The U.S. Treasury Department said it imposed sanctions on the Hong Kong-based Triliance Petrochemical Co. Ltd and Sage Energy HK Limited, China-based Peakview Industry Co Ltd and United Arab Emirates-based Beneathco DMCC.

The sanctions would freeze all assets held by the companies that fall under U.S. jurisdiction, generally bar U.S. companies and individuals from dealing with them, and potentially subject non-U.S. financial institutions that knowingly facilitate "significant transactions" for them to U.S. sanctions.

In addition, the U.S. government-imposed sanctions on two other companies, Jiaxiang Industry Hong Kong Limited and Shandong Oiwangwa Petrochemical Co Ltd, and two individuals, Ali Bayandrian, who is linked to Triliance Petroleum, and Zhiqing Wang, a Chinese national linked to Shandong Oiwangwa.

The announcements are the latest step in the U.S. "maximum pressure" campaign designed to squeeze the Iranian economy to try to force Iran to accept greater constraints on its nuclear program, regional activities and pursuit of ballistic missiles.

U.S.-Iranian tensions have risen since the U.S. decision to abandon the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, its subsequent re-imposition of U.S. sanctions on the Islamic Republic, attacks on Saudi oil facilities blamed on Iran and the U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani in early January.
The Election Commission has asked Twitter to remove a controversial tweet by BJP's Kapil Mishra in which he likened the election in the city to an India versus Pakistan contest.

New Delhi: The Election Commission has asked Twitter to remove a controversial tweet by BJP's Kapil Mishra, a candidate for the upcoming Delhi Assembly polls, in which he likened the election in the city to an India versus Pakistan contest.

The Election Commission's action came after the office of the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer wrote to the EC to remove the tweet posted by Mishra on Thursday, EC officials said.

The Delhi CEO Office has also issued a show-cause notice to Mishra, who has been fielded by the BJP from the Model Town constituency, they said.

"We took cognisance of the tweet, and wrote to EC last night seeking its removal. The EC then asked Twitter to remove his tweet. The tweet is a violation of the Model Code of Conduct and the Representation of the People Act, so we have taken action," Delhi CEO Ranbir Singh said.

"We have also issued a show cause notice to Kapil Mishra," he said.

In the tweet on Thursday, Mishra, a former minister in the Arvind Kejriwal cabinet, said the 8 February election will be a contest between India and Pakistan in Delhi.

In its criticism of opposition parties over their protest against the citizenship law, the BJP has been accusing them of speaking "Pakistan's language".

Authorities at the Delhi CEO Office had earlier said that social media posts are being constantly monitored to check for any provocative or inflammatory posts or tweets being made by users, related to the polls.

The election will be a triangular fight involving the Aam Aadmi Party, Bharatiya Janata Party, and the Congress.

Polling will be held on 8 February and the results declared on 11 February.

In a series of tweets in Hindi on Thursday, Mishra had also lashed out at anti-CAA protesters in Shaheen Bagh and other places in the city.

"India vs Pakistan 8th February Delhi. There will a contest on Delhi road's between India and Pakistan on 8 February."

8 8              Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishra_IND) January 23, 2020

"Pakistan has already entered Shaheen Bagh and small pockets of Pakistan are being created in Delhi," he had tweeted.

In another post, Mishra claimed that the BJP will win the February 8 polls and Kejriwal will resign from his post when votes are counted.

The former AAP leader was removed as a minister by Kejriwal in 2017. Last year, he was also disqualified as AAP MLA under the anti-defection law. Mishra faces AAP MLA Akhileshpati Tripathi in the elections.

Nominations of nearly 700 candidates for the Delhi elections were found to be valid by poll authorities after scrutiny, officials said on Thursday.

According to the final electoral roll, over 1.46 crore people are eligible to exercise their franchise.
In recent months, headlines in newspapers across the country warned about a drug that killed thousands of Americans in 2018 alone and ruined countless more lives.

Its not fentanyl.

Its methamphetamine  or meth for short.

The hit series Breaking Bad brought the realities of meth and its production into Americas living rooms, but meth use isnt new. Meth first gained traction in the United States during the 1990s and grew into the 2000s. At that time it was usually made in home labs with pseudoephedrine, an ingredient commonly found in drugstore cold medicines. The ease by which this deadly drug was made led to the introduction and passage of the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005, which banned over-the-counter sale of cold medicines that contain pseudoephedrine. Basement meth labs have mostly become a thing of the past because of these restrictions, which are still in place. The meth on the market today comes primarily from Mexico. This new strain is cheaper, more potent and even easier to access, increasing its appeal to new users as well as those who are addicted to it.

Aside from meths potential for addiction, its use additionally presents the risk of overdose death by increasing heart rate and blood pressure, which can lead to a stroke or a heart attack. Prolonged meth use can also damage the liver and other organs, resulting in serious illness that can cause death. Provisional data from the federal government shows there were about 13,000 deaths involving meth nationwide in 2018, more than twice as many as in 2015.

A particularly dangerous form of meth consumption involves polydrug use, in which it is combined with one or more other substances. The National Institute of Drug Abuse reports that in 2017, 50 percent of all meth-related deaths also involved an opioid, with half of those cases attributed to fentanyl. In many instances, the user is unaware that fentanyl has been added to the meth they are using.

At Mountainside, our admissions reflect what is happening on a national level. In 2019, we saw a significant increase in clients who use meth  more than three times the number of people compared to 2018, with the majority using it in combination with other substances. Nearly 40 percent of these polydrug use clients combine meth with opioids, including fentanyl  a particularly deadly mix. This underscores the urgent need for effective, evidence-based treatment methods.

At the present time, unlike for opioids, no medication has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to successfully treat meth addiction, reduce its cravings, or reverse the effects of a meth overdose. For now, treatment for meth consists mostly of behavioral therapies designed to help reduce anxiety and change underlying thoughts and beliefs that contribute to addictive behaviors.

There are many lessons to be learned from the opioid crisis, and one of the most significant is that we need to act quickly if we want to halt a potential meth epidemic. We have a chance to curtail it before it gains a stronger foothold over our country, communities and households.

A huge step forward in the fight to curb and treat meth addiction is the recent passage of a bill that allows states to access federal money that was allocated to combat the opioid crisis in their communities. This is especially important for Western and Midwestern states, where, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, law enforcement agencies are reporting an increase in meth use, in many cases surpassing that of fentanyl.

However, this is only one step. We call on lawmakers at all levels of the government to change, implement or enforce legislation that:

allocates federal funding to support the research and testing of medication to treat meth addiction and to reverse an overdose;

supports assessment, referral and treatment for co-occurring mental health disorders, as well as enforces state and federal laws that require insurance parity for mental health and substance use disorders; and

removes administrative and other barriers to treatment-based rehabilitation programs.

Lets help to make sure that people in need receive the care and support they need. A healthy society benefits us all.

Andre Basso is chief operating officer of Mountainside Treatment Center in North Canaan.
With the current weather conditions in the region, the following Air Mauritius flights for 24 January 2020, have been rescheduled in order to avoid cancellations should the weather deteriorate further (all timings local).

Flights to Mauritius

Note 1: Flight MK 321/25 January has been delayed and will now operate as MK5321/25 January.

Note 2: Passengers have already been rebooked on other flights

Note 3: Flights potponed due to planned closure of airport in Reunion.

Air Mauritius is closely monitoring the evolution of weather conditions and will adapt their operations accordingly. Passengers will be kept informed of the evolution of the situation by our Call Centre, through regular communiques as well as on our website and social media platform.

Air Mauritius regrets inconveniences caused and wishes to reiterate that the safety of its passengers and crew is its topmost priority.

Partager et informez vous aussi......

0 shares Share

Tweet

LinkedIn

Articles similaires
Lima, Jan. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lima, PERU, January 23rd, 2020  Credicorp Ltd. announces to its shareholders and the market that its 4Q19 Earnings Release Report will be released on Wednesday February 5th, 2020 after market close.



Credicorps Conference Call to discuss such results will be held on Thursday February 6th, 2020 at 9:30 am EST (9:30 am Lima, Peru Time). The call will be host by: Walter Bayly, CEO, Alvaro Correa, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Gianfranco Ferrari, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Reynaldo Llosa, Chief Risk Officer, Cesar Rios, Chief Financial Officer and Investor Relations Team.

To access the call, please dial:

1 800 933 4955 within the U.S.

1 334 323 7224 from outside the U.S.

Passcode: 643525

The conference call will also be webcast live, to accessed please visit our website:

www.credicorpnet.com

An accompanying presentation will be posted prior to the call / webcast, in section: Financials, Conference Call: Q4 2019. To replay the call, a webcast replay audio file will be posted on the companys website approximately in the afternoon on the same day of the conference call.





Credicorp reminds you that we filed our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31st, 2018 (2018 Form 20-F) with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30th, 2019. The 2018 Form 20-F includes audited consolidated financial statements of Credicorp and its subsidiaries as of December 31st, 2017 and 2018 and for the years ended December 31st, 2016, 2017 and 2018 under IFRS. Our 2018 Form 20-F can be downloaded from Credicorps website: www.credicorpnet.com. Holders of Credicorps securities and any other interested parties may request a hard copy of our 2018 Form 20-F, free of charge, by filling out the form located on the link mail request on Credicorps website.





About Credicorp

Credicorp Ltd. (BAP) is the leading financial services holding company in Peru with presence in Chile, Colombia and Bolivia. Credicorp has a diversified business portfolio organized into four lines of business: Universal Banking, through Banco de Credito del Peru - BCP and Banco de Credito de Bolivia; Microfinance, through Mibanco and Encumbra; Insurance & Pension Funds, through Grupo Pacifico and Prima AFP; and Investment Banking & Wealth Management, through Credicorp Capital, Wealth Management at BCP and Atlantic Security Bank.

Story continues

For further information please contact the IR team:

investorrelations@credicorpperu.com

Investor Relations

Credicorp Ltd.

Attachment
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 20:12:10|Editor: Wang Yamei

Video Player Close

LONDON, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Cutting-edge advanced X-ray body scanners, developed specifically for Britain's prison service, will be installed at jails posing the greatest risk of smuggling, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) announced Friday.

The new X-ray body scanners, costing almost 37 million U.S. dollars, will be capable of producing instant images, revealing internally concealed contraband, including drugs, mobile phones and weapons.

"The images produced by the scanner provide a level of detail inside the body that has not been seen before in the Prison Service," said the MoJ, with prisons in Birmingham, Liverpool and Winchester earmarked as the first three to receive the equipment.

According to the MoJ, the new security measures will be introduced at 16 of Britain's most challenging jails, with high volumes of remand prisoners, in a major government crackdown on crime behind bars.

Efforts will also be made to tackle drugs and violence in the country's prisons, including the installation of X-ray baggage scanners and metal-detection equipment, phone-blocking technology and digital forensics facilities.

Prisons Minister Lucy Frazer said, "New technology is a vital part of our efforts to stop those determined to wreak havoc in our jails. These scanners will help to stem the flow of contraband into jails and allow officers to focus on rehabilitation."

The installation at the 16 prisons will begin in spring, with all scanners expected to be in place by the summer. The technology is set to be introduced in other prisons across Britain later this year.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 24

Trend:

Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 22 times, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said on Jan. 24, Trend reports.

The Armenian armed forces were using large caliber machine guns and sniper rifles.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
By Jerri-Lynn Scofield, who has worked as a securities lawyer and a derivatives trader. She is currently writing a book about textile artisans.

Just a short post, conveying some good news in a skirmish in the ongoing war on cash: a victory for all us who buy things in New York City.

The New York City Council approved legislation on Thursday that bans stores, restaurants, and other retail establishments from refusing to accept cash.

Businesses that dont comply will be smacked with fines ranging from $1000 to $1500.

According to USA Today :

No longer in New York City will brick-and-mortar businesses have the right to refuse cash and effectively discriminate against customers who lack access to credit and debit, Ritchie Torres, the bills chief sponsor said in an emailed statement. The marketplace of the future must accommodate the needs of vulnerable New Yorkers.

There was little dissent over the measure that Torres introduced in November 2018 and which was approved by a 433 margin. according to the Daily Mail.

By making this move, New York joins other cities and states that have prohibited cashless businesses, including New Jersey, Philadelphia, and San Francisio. Massachusetts has long set the standard here, with a provision dating to 1978 that requires business to accept cash, according to The New York Times. Chicago is now mulling a similar measure.

New York is resisting what USA Today extols as a growing trend:

A growing number of restaurants and other retailers have stopped accepting cash in order to speed up transactions, reduce the risk of theft and accommodate the increased use of credit and debit cards, as well as digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, to buy services and products

No Bills Larger Than $20

The measure allows businesses to refuse to accept bills larger than $20.

The measure will take effect ninety days after city mayor Bill deBlasio signs it. de Blasio has thirty days in which ti decide whether or not to sign the legislation, and he has said he supports the bills intent, and intends to put it through a review process. Given the overwhelming support for the measure in the city council it is extremely unlikely he will veto the bill.

As the Daily News reports:

Mayor de Blasios administration expressed support for the cashless ban during a February 2019 hearing on an earlier version of the bill. The legislation was since amended to allow stores to refuse larger bills after the administration noted some businesses worry about accepting them because they can put the store and employees at risk. Casey Adams, then an official with the Department of Consumer Affairs, said during the hearing that a restaurant owner estimated that accepting cash would force him to increase prices at least 10%. But the administration still supported the essence of the bill.

We believe that businesses should accept cash, Adams said during the hearing. They shouldnt send the message to underbanked and unbanked New Yorkers that they cant access goods or services at those businesses.

Cash Bans Disproportionately Hurt the Poor

Many press accounts mention the exclusionary impact of the move towards cashlesss transactions on those who lack access to a bank account, a credit or debit card. According to in the Daily Mail:

In the introduction for the motion Thursday morning, Rafael L Espinal, chair of the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Business Licensing, said he wanted to draw attention to some unintended consequences of cashless technologies. In a modern financial hub like New York City it might be easy to assume everyone has easy access to banking facilities and technologies that allow cashless transactions  unfortunately this is not the case, he said. Espinal said that cashless-only stores are marginalizing disadvantaged groups, because many residents in New York dont have access to a bank account. Across the city there are large populations who are disconnected from formal banking institutions. In 2013 close to 12% of the citys population were completely unbanked, he said.

This is not the only service for which the City Council wishes to ensure access by the underbanked. According to the New York Times;

But New York City officials have also targeted ride-sharing and meal-delivery apps, as well as facial recognition for building entries  all in an effort to blunt the impact of advancing technology on those who are unable to use it because of financial circumstances, unwilling to for philosophical reasons or vulnerable to its darker aspects.

Another problem with cashless payment systems mentioned by the New York Times is their vulnerability to hacking by cybercriminals who steal personal data.

Cashless Transactions Benefit Banksters, and Allow Monitoring of Our Economic Lives

Yet Ive yet to see anyone unpack two insidious aspects of the war on cash: to see the monster glowering, smacking its lips, and chowing down on each and every cashless transaction.

First, by insisting on cashless forms of payments, businesses allow those glowering banksters to siphon off a small portion of every transaction in the form of their fee for using these cashless payments systems. They already get their pound of flesh from me in so many ways, why should I also allow them a bite  even a tiny one  out of my bagel? But this aspect of the creeping financialization of everything isnt mentioned in the press accounts discussing the New York City move.

Second, by forcing us to go cashfree, businesses and restaurants make our preferences apparent to financial overlords. and other who hoover up financial data. (Mis)use of same is not the exclusive purview of cybercirminals. Why should my sushi habit or or my coffee preferences be yet another thing that can be assessed and analyzed, and monetized behind the scenes? Shouldnt these be secrets that can be limited to me and the businesses that I patronize?

Kudos to the city Council for requiring New York City businesses to accept cash.
New Delhi, Jan 24 : India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) has downgraded Vodafone Idea Ltd's (VIL) Rs 3,500 crore long-term issuer rating to 'BBB-' from 'BBB' while maintaining it on rating watch negative.

India Ratings said it continues to take a consolidated view of VIL and all of its subsidiaries while arriving at the ratings because of the close operational and strategic linkages among them.

In a statement, it said that the downgrade reflects the crystallisation of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) related liabilities for VIL post the Supreme Court's adverse ruling on January 16, 2020, dismissing the review petition filed by telecom companies (telcos).

The SC ruling provides clarity on the AGR liabilities that are payable by VIL to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), which was earlier contingent upon the outcome of the review petition.

The apex court has, however, agreed to hear the modification application filed by telcos next week.

In this application, the telcos have requested modification in the original Supreme Court order dated October 24, 2019, to decide upon the payment schedule for AGR liabilities and any other relief measures with DoT.

Furthermore, the DoT has decided not to take any coercive action against telcos if they fail to comply with the SC's October 24 order.

India Ratings has said that a deterioration in medium-term liquidity is likely. VIL has classified Rs 102 billion from non-current borrowing to current maturity of long-term borrowing in Q4FY19 for not meeting certain covenants in the financing documents.

"So far, there is a lack of clarity on whether the banks have waived off the covenants. Under the current situation, the risk of acceleration of payment is high, given the company's weak liquidity situation and concern on its going concern status (in the absence of government support). Any payment acceleration on VIL's financial liability will have a negative impact on the rating," the rating agency said.

As of March 31, 2019, Aditya Birla Group (ABG) held a 26 per cent stake in VIL, predominantly through Grasim Industries Ltd (11.6 per cent,), Hindalco Industries Ltd (2.6 per cent), Birla TMT Holdings Private Ltd and IGH Holdings Private Ltd (about 4 per cent each) and other ABG investment entities. Vodafone Plc held a 45.3 per cent stake in VIL, as of March 31, 2019.

Since January 2018, around Rs 483 billion has been infused in the erstwhile Idea Cellular Ltd, erstwhile Vodafone India Ltd and VIL, through capital infusion and/or asset sale.

The most recent capital infusion has been the promoter's contribution of Rs 179 billion in the rights issue. Till India Ratings' last review in November 2019, India Ratings was factoring in likely support from ABG to VIL, but factored in weakening of support from Vodafone Plc.

However, continuation of support from the ABG remains contingent on financial viability of the business, which in the current context looks challenging to India Ratings.

Vodafone Plc has ring-fenced its India business to two assets - its 42 per cent stake in Indus Towers and its 45.3 per cent stake in VIL. Vodafone Plc funded its contribution of Rs 110 billion towards rights issue indirectly through a loan secured against its Indian assets. Furthermore, it aims to utilise proceeds from the sale of its 42 per cent stake in Indus Towers (about Rs 192 billion as per Ind-Ra's estimates) to repay its contribution of Rs 110 billion, thereby significantly limiting Vodafone Plc's ability to support VIL beyond FY21-1HFY22.

Assuming Vodafone Plc monetises its 42 per cent stake in Indus Tower for Rs 192 billion cash and utilises the proceeds for repayment of Rs 110 billion of loan, the total funding flexibility with Vodafone Plc to support VIL would be about Rs 82 billion.

The ratings action also mentions the continued weak operational performance. VIL's subscriber market share (visitor location register) declined to 30.5 per cent in November 2019, as against 36 per cent in March 2019.

Its revenue market share declined to about 27.2 per cent in 2QFY20, as against about 32 per cent in 4QFY19.

Reliance Jio Incomm Ltd has continued to remain aggressive in subscriber acquisition and has become the largest player in terms of subscribers and revenue.

Competition risk still persists in the sector which may put VIL's market share at continued risk. India Ratings believes the subscriber base is unlikely to show a meaningful recovery in the near-to-medium term, given the sustained competitive pressures, it said.
Bengaluru: In what could be termed as a major blow to the rebel MLAs who helped to install Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Karnataka, six months back, the Chief Minister, B.S.Yediyurappa, on Friday, categorically stated that defeated rebel MLAs in recent the bye-elections, will not be inducted into his cabinet, which likely to be expanded within in a week.

Mr Yediyurappa, who landed in Bengaluru after a five-day visit to Davos, Switzerland, said that the Cabinet expansion will take place in three or four days.

Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, will be visiting Bengaluru on Saturday, after discussing with him I will go for an expansion. There is no question of inducting defeated former MLAs to the Cabinet, said Mr. Yediyurappa. Former MLAs, H.Vishwanth and M.T.B. Nagaraj were defeated in the bye elections from Hunasuru and Hoskote Assembly constituencies respectively. Thus both prominent Kuruba leaders are ruled out to enter BSY cabinet.

In fact, all these days, Mr. Yediyurappa assured that he will not break the promises given to all 17 rebel MLAs who had switched over to BJP from the Congress and JD(S) after dethroning H.D. Kumaraswary headed coalition government. Mr. Yediyurappa repeatedly assured interest of all rebel MLAs will be taken care including Cabinet birth to all notwithstanding bye-elections results.

The sudden U-turn of the Chief Minister, soon after he returned from Davos, came as big shock to the rebel MLAs.

Among 17 MLAs, 12 MLAs have been re-elected under the BJP ticket in the recently held bye-elections. For two constituencies bye-elections are yet to be announced.

Sources close to BJP state unit, said that the BJP central leadership has not given permission to the Chief Minister to induct all 12 newly elected MLAs to the Cabinet. Party central leadership has instructed the Chief Minister to take only 6 to 8 MLAs who came from Congress and JD(S). If the Chief Minister inducts half a dozen MLAs, it would lead to another turmoil in the party. Rebel MLAs who are presently intact, will not allow Mr. Yediyurappa to sleep peacefully, sources in the state BJP unit said.
When we last saw Sabrina, she had recently found out that her dad was not the Spellman she adored but Lucifer himself, also known as Lucifer Morningstar, also known as the Dark Lord, also known as Satan, because this show will never give a thing or a person or a demon just one name when it could throw out, like, five or six options to keep your friendly neighborhood recapper on her toes/going slowly insane. So the Dark Lord wanted Sabrina  who, again, is his daughter  to reign at his side as his bride (??) and be the Queen of Hell. (Is she not already, by birth, its princess? Seems like were all making this harder than it needs to be!) For reasons, the Dark Lord could only be captured in a few specific types of prisons, one of which is the body of a mortal: Nick Scratch, Sabrinas boyfriend who was lying to her because he was working with Lucifer this whole time but also, whatever, he loved her! He is very cute! Harvey is boring! We have to root for the men we have!

So they trapped Lucifer in Nicks body and sent him to hell with Lilith, who has both brought the real Wardwell back to life and is still wearing Wardwells skin-suit because Wardwell is a smokin vixen. And hey, no judgment here. Id probably keep that body, too. Like how weve all accidentally stolen something from Rent the Runway; we hail a relatable queen (of hell). Meanwhile, Faustis Blackwood, being a misogynist and all-around scumbag, ran off after trying to kill his whole coven. Prudence, his daughter who he disowned, and Ambrose, who is hooking up with Prudence because people that attractive will always find each other, are hunting him down. Zelda and Hilda are running whatever is left of the Academy/Church of Night.

One of the things about this show that is regularly crazy-making is how it has failed to build a world that makes any coherent sense or is even remotely consistent. Like: Is there more to the coven than just the students at the Academy? Dont any of these teens have parents? Where are THEY? Also, witches talk about hell as if it is their equivalent of heaven. (A helpful person is a hellsend, for instance.) But hell is still this awful place full of nightmare torture where nobody wants to end up. So  do witches also have a heaven? Why do witches suffer in hell if hell is really their heaven?

But, like mortals on an ill-advised quest to the underworld, we press on. Sabrina wants to get her boyfriend back from hell. She doesnt have to worry about her aunts finding out, as they are distracted: All the former Academy students have been bunking at the Spellman house, but its time to get them out of Zeldas perfect hair, so she can have hot water again. Zelda will reign as Directrix of the school, which will reopen, and by the end of the episode they swap out the prayers so everyone is praising Lilith instead of the Dark Lord. Using a glamour and some bewitched honey cake, the aunts convince a few members of the Council that Blackwood is still in residence and is not, in fact, on the lam, and that nothing is amiss here. (Even though male members of the Council have noticed that theyre lacking in virility and wonder if Blackwood could maybe tell them anything about that. Is that seriously what happens when Lucifer is out of commission? Nobody can get hard in this magic kingdom? What a weird, weird world.)

As for Blackwood, Prudence  as usual, the best-dressed person on this show by miles  and Ambrose track him to New Orleans, where they meet Mambo Marie. Using some real-deal voodoo mixed with blood magic, she reveals Blackwood is in Scotland.

Sabrina, without consulting any of the adults in her life, decides to just open the gates of hell all by herself. I mean, Harvey is there, but she is essentially alone because he is useless. Where will she put Lucifers body once she has it? She has no idea. BRINA. Her planning skills are as abysmal as ever.

Wardwell  the real one  has returned to Greendale High and shes teaching the kids Dantes Inferno, naturally. Sabrinas mortal friends continue to try to keep her engaged at Baxter High by encouraging her to do things like try out for cheerleading and be in our band while she is preoccupied with get my boyfriend back from Satan, who is also my estranged father, and who is currently trapped in hell.

Sabrina realizes she could get into hell through a window instead of the front door, so she swings by Dorians to ask him if one of his portraits is a portal to hell. It is, because sure! Hes feeling hideous because he has a pimple, and if I understand this episode correctly, he agrees to let Sabrina and her trio of mortal sidekicks into hell and bring them back safely as long as they make sure to pick up some haunted Clearasil. They could all die doing this, I guess, but no one seems too concerned about that. Theyre just like, plucky and down for a field trip. I eagerly await the day when this show figures out what the stakes of these misadventures are supposed to be. Maybe later this season?

The teens wash up on the shores of hell, where they meet this Hollister model demon, who is just hanging out with his shirt open like hes posing for the cover of a romance novel in the underworld. (I admire this shows commitment to featuring chiseled, shirtless men as frequently as possible, regardless of whether it is plausible or even relevant to the plot for them to be half-naked.) What follows is an exceedingly long (this episode clocks in at nearly an hour!) upside-down version of The Wizard of Oz, as these kids traipse along a blood-path through some spooOOOOooOooky obstacles to Pandemonium, the capital city where Lilith sits atop a throne that looks like a Fisher-Price play set spray-painted gold. On the way, they pass people youve probably forgotten about  Harveys brother, Theos uncle, Principal Hawthorne, Rozs grandma  who are moaning to be set free from their little torture-prisons. Its a lot of janky, Halloween-y nonsense.

Lilith thwarts their journey until she decides to change her mind about that, which doesnt really make sense considering she and Sabrina were totally on the same page about what was going to happen at the end of last season  Lilith in hell, guarding Nick/Lucifer, while Sabrina sorted things out on Earth  but okay. She keeps Nicks tongue in a jar of formaldehyde.

So Lilith explains to Sabrina that shes having trouble maintaining her grip on her kingdom, since nobody recognizes her right to rule. And what she could really use is a formal coronation from Sabrina Morningstar, who is of royal blood. Seems simple enough, so itll probably be a disaster.

The demons cry treason because Lilith is a concubine whose brief reign  shes been on the throne a month  has thrown all the realms into chaos. Who should rule instead? The beach demon, whose name is Caliban. His platform: restore stability, conquer the Earth and make it the tenth circle of hell. Not looking good for Greendale! Just as Wardwell stage-whispers the obvious to Sabrina (this is a coup), Sabrinas dad eyeball-zaps her inside of Nicks body (?) for a little father-daughter chat. Hes mad that his disappointment of a daughter wont take the throne to restore balance in hell, because if theres no balance in hell, theres no balance on Earth or in heaven. Its basic cosmology, he tells her. He essentially says Lilith is unelectable. Then Nick appears, also shirtless, to make out with Sabrina. If Sabrina claims the throne, she can save her boyfriend. Though this also means bringing Lucifer out of hell, since hes in Nicks body, and probably this is something Lucifer wants and could benefit from, Sabrina has decided that rescuing her boyfriend is priority number one.

So she announces that shes going to be queen, even though the demons are all she doesnt even live here and honestly, they are not wrong! She appoints Lilith as her regent and dismisses the infernal court. Her friends stand there like dopey, useless bridesmaids. Lilith warns Sabrina that this gambit might have bought her a little time but those demons will be coming back to take what they believe is theirs. Sabrina takes this lesson to heart by going back to Greendale and declaring her intentions to cheerlead. They store Nick in the school dungeon in chains forged of Damascus steel inside a salt circle so, not a major improvement on hell, but at least he has his tongue back.

Ongoing mysteries: How is Sabrina supposed to do her Queen of Hell duties (assuming she has any) and continue attending school in Greendale? Is the coven the same thing as the Academy, or are there members outside of the school who we dont really see? Did any of these kids have parents or families, and if so, why does everyone have to stay at the Spellmans while the school is closed? How long before the aunts find out about Sabrinas extracurricular jaunt to hell?
TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Widget, a Florida-based manufacturer and distributor of premium hemp-derived CBD products, will attend ECRM's Hemp/CBD Health & Beauty Care Program, Jan. 27-30, at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront. The parent company of Hemp Bombs, Nature's Script and Pure Paws Hemp CBD product lines, Global Widget is partnering at the event with CB Distributors Inc., a leading wholesaler for the retail industry.

"As a leading manufacturer of CBD products in retail markets, we know that many category managers in the industry continue to seek education and guidance in incorporating the bestselling practices for CBD to their customers," said Vince Gillen, vice president of sales for Global Widget. "We have strong relationships with leading distribution partners like CB Distributors, and together we strive to provide the best resources possible to ensure the long-term success of our brands in brick-and-mortar locations. This includes vertical integration with extraction and proven scalability to meet our supply chain demands."

Global Widget is a pioneer in the CBD industry, setting the gold standard since 2016 for CBD manufacturing, distribution and sales in the retailing space. The company's CBD-infused products can be found in more than 25,000 convenience stores around the nation and in several other countries.

Retailers can learn more about partnering with Global Widget to offer its leading CBD brands to customers by visiting https://global-widget.com/wholesale-cbd/.

"We are proud to partner in the CBD industry with a trusted and experienced vendor such as Global Widget," said Carlos Bengoa, president, CB Distributors. "With over 20 years of experience supplying retailers and distributors with high-quality products, we know retailers seek education and guidance in emerging products from reputable brands."

Both CB Distributors and Global Widget will be featured at the event Jan. 27-30 to answer questions and educate buyers on the current state of the CBD industry, how to incorporate CBD into their planning and inventory, and ways to help drive category success year-round.

About Global Widget:

Global Widget, headquartered in Tampa, Florida, is the leading industrial hemp-derived CBD products manufacturer and distributor committed to revolutionizing the industry, starting with our consumer product lines Hemp Bombs, Nature's Script, and Pure Paws Hemp. Our competitive advantage is driven by our cGMP manufacturing standards and proven distribution model that lead to premium products and keeps our distributors, wholesalers and affiliates growing in step with a rapidly emerging industry. With our 110,000 square foot facilities in the U.S., we are constantly raising the bar on how to deliver the industry's best CBD experience through our formulation and multistage lab testing, our marketing and partnership support materials, and our focus on compliance. By establishing trust and strong relationships with our business partners, we help them identify market opportunities that reach consumers who strive to improve their lives through quality CBD products that enhance their lifestyle and wellbeing. Learn more at www.globalwidget.com.

Media Contact:

Joe Agostinelli, PR Manager

813.497.5083 | [email protected]

SOURCE Global Widget

Related Links

global-widget.com


Corks Live at the Marquee looks set to continue despite the concert series having to move from its current site following this years gigs.

Promoter Peter Aiken is in talks with Cork City Council regarding a new location for the series, which has become an institution in the city.

This is because the owners of the current site at Cork Showgrounds are set to start development works after the series finishes this summer.

Glenveagh Properties has plans for up to 1,000 homes on the site.

That the 5,000-capacity marquee  which has been operating every year since 2005  has to make way for the development has led to fears the concert series could be lost forever.

However, that now looks unlikely.

Mr Aiken said yesterday: At the moment I am talking to Cork City Council and we are hoping we are going to have it on a site that is hopefully not too far [away].

Asked if he is confident he will have a venue this time next year, he said: Yes, we would like it to be in or around the region where we are at the moment. We dont want to move too far.

Asked if a new site is found, will it be, in effect, business as usual, the music promoter said: If everything lines up, hopefully.

Mr Aiken was speaking at an event to announce acts for this summers series, and he said in the future, the gigs could be back on the same site.

What theyre going to do on the marquee site, theyre going to have to build a lot of stuff around it before they can build everything on it.

The list of acts who have performed at Live at the Marquee reads like a whos who of the music world. They include Elton John, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Sting, and Lady Gaga. This years lineup includes Diana Ross and Tom Jones.

Its been a great 15 years. Id love to do 20 years, said Mr Aiken. That would be a nice even number to round it off.
CHERRY HILL, N.J., Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- "It's an exciting time for Supply Management groups everywhere," said Corcentric Senior Vice President of Source-to-Pay Joe Payne, "this should make for perhaps the most exciting ISM Conference and ExecIn Forum yet." In addition to sponsoring the Institute for Supply Management (ISM)'s Annual Conference, Corcentric's Source-to-Pay team will once again host the ExecIn Forum. An invitation-only component of ISM2020, the two-day event provides executives with additional opportunities to network, exchange insights, and discuss the future of their function.

ISM2020, the year's premier supply chain event, will take place from April 26-29. 2020, in Boston, Massachusetts. In addition to thousands of Procurement and Supply Management professionals, the conference welcomes former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and former Secretary of Defense Gen. James Mattis as keynote speakers.

ExecIn attendees will enjoy private sessions with both keynote speakers as well as high-impact sessions hosted by Fortune 500 Procurement executives.

"ExecIn makes the year's top conference even better," says Joe Payne. "Past iterations have inspired competitors to put aside their differences and work together toward addressing common pain points. With so many new challenges and opportunities facing Procurement, this year's forum should see even more collaboration and constructive discussions."

ISM2020 and ExecIn's agendas are still under construction. It is already clear, however, that attendees can expect a diverse agenda focused on "Revolutionary Ideas." Topics of discussion will include America's ongoing trade war, the battle to secure world-class talent, and the digital tools every Procurement group should have in their arsenal.

All ISM2020 attendees are encouraged to visit Booth #501 to meet Corcentric's industry-leading team and learn more about their approach to spend management. Executives interested in the ExecIn Forum should reach out to Ken Gaul ([email protected]) for additional information.

About Corcentric

Corcentric is a leading provider of source-to-pay and order-to-cash solutions for businesses in the United States and Europe. Corcentric's procurement, accounts payable, and accounts receivable solutions empower companies to spend smarter, optimize cash flow, and drive profitability. Corcentric was named a 2019 '50 Providers to Know' by Spend Matters and a leader in IDC Marketscape: Worldwide SaaS and Cloud-Enabled Automation in 2019. Since 1996, more than 6,000 customers from the middle market to the Fortune 1000 have used Corcentric to reduce costs and improve working capital. Learn more at corcentric.com.

Media Contacts

P (800) 608-0809

corcentric.com

Bennett Glace

Marketing Associate

(267) 913-6275

[email protected]

SOURCE Corcentric

Related Links

http://www.corcentric.com


Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription.

Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service.
The leader of a Neo-Nazi terror group, which has been the subject of federal investigations recently in an attempt to thwart domestic terrorist attacks, has intermittently resided at a New Jersey apartment, according to the Guardian.

Through an investigation, the newspaper identified the man who operates under the aliases Norman Spear and Roman Wolf," as Rinaldo Nazzaro, 46, the leader of the Base, a white supremacy group that has expressed interest in starting an all-out race war while specifically targeting African Americans and Jewish people, according to the Guardian.

The Base, according to the Guardian, is known to use encrypted apps to organize group planned terror campaigns, vandalize synagogues and establish armed training camps. The Guardian reported that Nazzaro bought 10 acres of secluded land in Washington state in 2018 under a company with an address connected to a New Jersey apartment that has belonged to a Nazzaro family member since 1998.

Nazzaro has reportedly lived there sparingly with his wife, a Russian native who he married in New York in 2012. The New Jersey apartment is Nazzaros last known address, according to the Guardian. Nazzaro is now living in Russia, according to BBC.

The Delbarton School confirmed that a man named Rinaldo Nazzaro was a 1991 graduate of the school and had previously donated to the Morristown school. A spokesman said the school has no knowledge of his activities."

Seven alleged members of the Base have been charged by federal authorities earlier this month, including three charged with conspiracy to commit murder in Georgia as they allegedly plotted to kill a couple in retaliation for exposing white supremacists online.

A member of the Base was charged by federal authorities in New Jersey in November for conspiring with a hate group against the rights of minorities, including Jewish people.

Authorities say that Richard Tobin  from his Brooklawn home  allegedly directed members of a the Base to vandalize minority-owned properties through online platforms and encrypted messaging applications. Two Midwest synagogues were allegedly vandalized at the direction of the 18-year-old.

Tobin, a volunteer firefighter in his hometown, also expressed a desire to let loose with a machete after becoming enraged by the number of African Americans at the Menlo Park Mall in Edison, authorities said.

Federal authorities described Tobin as a white supremacist who is triggered by the state of the country.

Tobin is currently being detained pending the outcome of his case.

According to the Guardian, prosecutors said Tobin believed that Norman Spear, the leader of the Base, was a Russian spy.

This story has been updated to include a comment from the Delbarton School.

Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. Follow on Twitter @monavage.Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips

Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
(Natural News) That beautiful glow you see on beaches at night may actually be the biological equivalent of warning sirens, according to a new study.

In a study published in the journal Current Biology and supported by the Swedish Research Council, researchers found that for at least one dinoflagellate species (Lingulodinium polyedra), bioluminescence functions as a defense mechanism that helps them ward off predatory copepod grazers.

That bioluminescence, in addition to being a beautiful light phenomenon in the sea, is a defensive mechanism that some species of plankton use to ward off their enemies, Andrew Prevett of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, said in their paper.

According to Prevett, the bioluminescent cells within the dinoflagellates can sense the concentrations of the copepod grazers and turn up the light when needed. The researchers said that this ability helps to better protect the unicellular organisms from the grazers, letting them survive longer to reproduce and therefore compete better with the other plankton.

The primary source of flow-agitated bioluminescence in coastal regions, according to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, dinoflagellates are microscopic organisms known for their mixotrophic behavior, which means they combine photosynthesis with the ingestion of prey. Currently, there are about 2,000 species of dinoflagellates known worldwide, with 220 known to live exclusively in freshwater habitats. The microscopic organisms have also been linked to toxic red tide. (Related: EXTINCTION approaching: Glowing blue tears in Chinas seas are TOXIC and steadily growing every year, warn scientists.)

The researchers, in their paper, said they were able to observe this behavior by watching a combination of high-speed and low-light sensitive videos.

Prevett and his fellow researcher Erik Selander, as well as their collaborators at the Technical University of Denmark, revealed that the dinoflagellates bioluminescent cells flash upon contact with the copepod grazer. The copepod then reacts by rapidly rejecting the flashing cell, seemingly unharmed.

According to the researchers, observational data gathered from the West Coast of Sweden support their studys prediction that the presence of copepod grazers would have a positive effect on the abundance of bioluminescent L. polyedra. They noted that while the single-celled, bioluminescent dinoflagellates are usually poor competitors compared to other plankton because of their slow growth rates, the copepods reject them in favor of grazing on more poorly defended but otherwise faster-growing plankton species.

The researchers added that while they expected the increased bioluminescence to result in reduced grazing by copepods, they were still surprised by just how great the reduction was.

Earlier studies had shown that dinoflagellates with naturally brighter bioluminescence than L. polyedra were grazed less but still required cell concentrations to be relatively high before all grazing on the bioluminescent cells ceased, Prevett said. L. polyedra abundance in our study is low by comparison, and we were surprised at how effective the bioluminescence defense became despite this.

Despite these observations however, the researchers said it is still unclear just how the bioluminescence helps the dinoflagellates.

According to Prevett, there are three popular theories as to how bioluminescence protects dinoflagellates. The first is that it acts as aposematic coloration, a warning to potential grazers that the cell is toxic or harmful to the grazer, one way or another. The second is that the flash of bioluminescence behaves like a flash-bang and startles the copepod, disorienting it long enough for the dinoflagellate to escape. The third theory suggests that the flash acts as a form of burglar alarm, attracting the attention of a larger visual predator, like a fish, which could track and consume the predatory copepods.

The researchers noted that there is evidence to support each of these theories, as well as the possibility that bioluminescence-derived protection could be a combination of some or all of the above.

Sources include:

ScienceDaily.com

Cell.com

Scripps.UCSD.edu

Ocean.SI.edu
Fijian soldiers performed a ceremonial war dance as they prepared to assist Australian Defence Forces in relieving communities affected by major bushfires in Victorias Gippsland region.

Troops from Fiji arrived in Victoria on January 22 and began to assist communities by clearing fallen burned trees from a major highway.

Australian Defence Minister Linda Reynolds welcomed the Fijian contingent, posting to Twitter Vinaka to our Fijian vuvale with a video of the Fijians singing in thanks to catering staff.

The cibi is a Fijian a war dance that originates back to the nations warring times with its Pacific neighbours. Similar to the New Zealand haka, the dance is performed by Fijian rugby players before international games.

Around 6 per cent of Victorias total land mass has been burnt in the 2019-2020 fire season, according to the Country Fire Authority. Credit: East Gippsland Shire Council via Storyful
New Delhi, Jan 24 : Reacting to reports of having received a notice from the petroleum regulator, which news dented company stocks in Friday trade, Adani Gas (AGL) clarified on Friday that it is in full compliance of the applicable rules and has responded to the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board of India (PNGRB).

Adani Gas stocks tanked up to 14 per cent to Rs 148 on the BSE on Friday following reports that the PNGRB has sent a notice to the company for not disclosing crucial information regarding a scheme of arrangement with Adani Enterprises.

Adani Gas said that all concerned authorities were intimated about the proceedings pertaining reorganization of AGL through the media, newspapers, disclosures, public listing and bid submissions.

"We have duly responded to PNGRB with all required information's to close the matter. Our project work at all GAs are going on in full swing and with the facilitation and support of PNGRB and all authorities we are committed to deliver CNG and piped gas to millions of our consumers on fast track basis", an Adani Gas spokesperson said.

According to media reports, Adani Gas has bid for gas projects using networth calculations of the Gautam Adani-led Adani Enterprises and that the company's shareholding changes and restructuring violated the city gas distribution regulations.

The reports also said PNGRB is seeking to cancel the company's licences and levy a Rs 400 crore penalty for the violations.

"We are guided by the principles of corporate governance. It should be noted that we are fully compliant and have transparently represented facts in totality adhering to norms of compliance and disclosure. There is no question of penalties as same are not applicable and moreover Adani Gas is in full compliance of applicable rules/laws", the spokesperson said.

Other Adani group stocks also declined in intra-day trade on Friday -- Adani Enterprises (down 5 per cent to Rs 219), Adani Green Energy (down 5 per cent to Rs 183), Adani Power (down 1 per cent to Rs 62.60), Adani Transmission (down 1.72 per cent to Rs 327), Adani Ports (down 1.4 per cent at Rs 380.50) on the BSE.
Ukrainian GTS operator launches virtual gas reverse flow from Poland

22:30, 24.01.20 2369

The company expects a similar flow will be launched with Slovakia and Hungary soon.
MADISON, Wis. - Army officials have quietly ordered an investigation into allegations that leaders of an Illinois-based reserve unit mishandled sexual assault complaints and retaliated against a whistleblower, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press.

Illinois Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth sent a letter to Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy on Jan. 15 requesting an investigation. Their letter cited an AP story about allegations that commanders in the had improperly opened internal investigations into at least two sexual assault complaints, suspended a victim advocate after she alerted Army criminal investigators to the probes and placed a victim on a firing range with someone she had accused of sexual harassment, causing her to fear for her life.

According to a Jan. 16 memo obtained by the AP, Maj. Gen. A.C. Roper has appointed two officers to look into the allegations. He told at least one of them that the investigation takes priority over her other duties.

Multiple Army Reserve spokesmen didnt return emails seeking comment on the investigation. The 416ths spokesman, Jason Proseus, also didnt respond to emails.

Aides to Durbin and Duckworth said they have received no notification that an investigation is underway.

The 416th, based in the Chicago suburb of Darien, provides technical and engineering support for U.S. military forces. It serves as the headquarters for nearly 11,000 soldiers in 26 states west of the Mississippi River.

Amy Braley Franck, a civilian sexual assault victim advocate with the 416th, has alleged that commanders launched internal investigations into at least two sexual assault cases, one in 2018 and another last year.

Federal law and Department of Defence policy require that commanders refer sexual assault complaints to criminal investigators in their respective branches to avoid biased investigations. Commanders who dont follow the proper channels can face reprimand, removal from command or a court martial.

The Wisconsin National Guards top commander, Adj. Gen. Donald Dunbar, resigned in December after a federal review found he had been launching internal sexual assault investigations rather than forwarding complaints to the National Guard Bureau. Hes still under Air Force investigation.

Braley Franck also has alleged that the units sexual assault co-ordinator was indifferent to the woman who was worried about going to the range with the subject of her sexual harassment complaint, and that the 416th went months without holding a sexual assault management meeting, even though the DOD requires such meetings monthly.

Braley Francks commanders suspended her in November in what she believes was retaliation for alerting Army criminal investigators to the internal probes.

She said an investigator met with her Thursday and told her before the interview began that she wouldnt be allowed to discuss the meeting with Durbin or Duckworths offices. Braley Franck said she refused to abide by that condition and the investigator, Brig. Gen Susan Henderson, then ended the meeting.

___

Follow Todd Richmond on Twitter at http://twitter.com/trichmond1
The Wyoming Public Services Commission will host a public comment hearing in Rock Springs Jan. 29, continuing with its investigation into Rocky Mountain Powers plan to retire two units at the Jim Bridger Power Plant.

The hearing is scheduled to take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Rock Springs City Hall.

Michelle Irwin, a local member of the Powder River Basin Resource Council, said the group is supportive of the process.

We want to ensure that rates and reliability are addressed adequately, she said.

However, while she sees the potential for people to talk about local economic im...
[January 24, 2020] The Standard Recognizes Disability and Absence Management Leader

Standard Insurance Company, The Standard, maintains a one of a kind quarterly award honoring employers that have achieved excellence with the Workplace Possibilities? program - a unique, proactive approach to help prevent and manage absence and disability in the workplace. Hennepin County, a Minnesota county dedicated to upholding the values of the Workplace Possibilities Champions award, was recognized as the latest quarterly award winner. "Hennepin County is a model organization dedicated to improving employee well-being and mental health with a flexible approach," says Brian Kost, senior director of the Workplace Possibilities program at The Standard. "This commitment to supporting their employees' effective stay-at-work and return-to-work programs since 2009 is a testament to their Total Rewards benefits philosophy. We're proud to award Hennepin County - communities that represents more than one million Minnesota residents and our oldest Workplace Possibilities client - with this well-deserved recognition." The Hennepin County Total Rewards strategy is a long-term plan developed to support organizational goals while meeting the needs of a multigenerational workforce through an array of benefits. In addition to providing competitive compensation rates, career development opportunities, retirement assistance and other talent-retention tactics, Hennepin County created a plan that ensures quality long- and short-term disability coverage, including the Workplace Possibilities program, offered by The Standard. "We are pleased to be exceeding expectations for our implementation of Workplace Possibilities and ongoing partnership with The Standard," say Hennepin County's Leave and Accommodation Management Office. "As part of our Total Rewards strategy, we are committed to ensuring employees can access and rely upon the Workplace Possibilities program, quality long- and short-term disability coverage, and other offerings."



The Workplace Possibilities program encourages employers to rethink their disability programs to help keep employees at work and increase productivity. The program helps employers save time and money by: Identifying opportunities to keep employees, who may be at risk of absence or disability, on the job.

Supporting those who take leave to come back to work quicker through accommodations, modifications and other resources. The Workplace Possibilities Champions award recognizes employers that are exceeding expectations for their implementation and ongoing partnership with the Workplace Possibilities program.

The winning organization is selected based on a list of criteria, which includes: Initiating employee referrals to the program

Promoting the program to managers, supervisors and other staff members

Partnering with The Standard to customize accommodations for employees

Training managers, supervisors and team leaders about the program

Excelling in change management To schedule an interview with Brian Kost from The Standard and/or the Hennepin County Leave and Accommodation Management Office, please contact Katie Best at [email protected]. About The Standard The Standard is a family of companies dedicated to helping customers achieve financial well-being and peace of mind. In business since 1906, we are a leading provider of financial protection products and services for employers and individuals. Our products include group and individual disability insurance, group life, dental and vision insurance, voluntary (employee-paid) benefits, absence management services, and retirement plans and annuities for employers and individuals. For more information about The Standard, visit www.standard.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. The Standard is the marketing name for StanCorp Financial Group, Inc., and its subsidiaries: Standard Insurance Company, The Standard Life Insurance Company of New York, Standard Retirement Services, Inc., StanCorp Mortgage Investors, Inc., StanCorp Investment Advisers, Inc., StanCorp Real Estate, LLC, and StanCorp Equities, Inc. For more news from The Standard, visit: https://newsroom.standard.com/. About Hennepin County By putting the customer first, Hennepin County employees work every day to achieve its mission, vision and goals. Hennepin County strives to improve its services through proactive, innovative public stewardship, and it is committed to reducing disparities and making a long-term impact by focusing on outcomes in education, employment, health, housing, income, justice and transportation. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005013/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
In the power of the resurrection cycles of poverty and addictions can be broken.

When our sons were still in high school, we gathered them up, along with my parents, and went to south Mississippi to visit the places my parents had grown up and started their lives. We saw the house where my father lived, a kudzu covered dog trot sharecroppers shack outside of Bay Springs. We saw the school he attended and the roller-skating rink where my dad and mom first met.

We called it the Glenn Historical Tour and it changed my sons lives forever. My sons had heard my fathers stories. They had heard him talk about how poor his family was, but they had always heard my father tell about his reality in funny stories. Dad had always told the boys that his family was so poor that at Christmas, they would sit around and exchange glances.

Now, thats a funny story and my father was a master story teller. For that reason, I dont think my sons understood the full reality of the poverty my father knew as a child. Now, they were seeing it. They sat on the front porch of the old home place and listened again as Dad told his stories. This time, he began pointing to the places where the stories happened, and this time, my sons understood the journey my father had made.

My grandfather died when my Dad was 9 years old. My grandfathers death threw the family into poverty. Trying to get away from the crushing poverty, my grandmother abandoned my father and his little brother when my father was sixteen. My dad cut one load of pulp wood every week, sold it for $25, and thats the money my father and uncle lived on.

My dad ran a gas station, roller-skating rink, and worked as a doctors assistant. He joined the Air Force and learned electronics. That opened the avenue into the middle class for my mom and dad. During that week, my sons began to understand the price my father had paid for the life we now enjoyed. My father broke the poverty cycle in my family. Because of his hard work, I was able to go to college and find a career that allowed my sons to go to college.

What would have happened if my father didnt break the cycle? Then, it would have fallen to me to do so. That would have changed everything.

I probably wouldnt be a pastor. I would have had to make other life choices. I wouldnt have been able to afford the education required.

I wouldnt have met Jeannie, my wife. I met her at seminary. If I wasnt going into the ministry, I wouldnt have been at seminary.

That means we wouldnt have had Chris and Craig. Youre here, I told them, because your grandfather broke the cycle.

I will always be grateful for the price my father was willing to pay for our family.

I tell his story often. One, because Im proud of him, and second, I end up talking to a lot of people who are trapped in cycles  cycles of addictions, bad decisions, bad relationships and so forth. They dont believe they can get out of these cycles. They are convinced theyre trapped. They dont think they can ever be free. They see themselves as victims of the cycle.

Child abusers, most of the time, were abused as children. Addicts, most of the time, have addicts in their families. On and on it goes. The sins of the fathers are indeed visited upon the children.

We see this relentless cycle in the story of Israels journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. God would bless and Israel would thrive. Success would lead Israel to become inattentive and complacent. Their attitude toward sin would become more and more casual. This casualness would lead to several warnings from God, and then, after everything else had failed, God would bring a harsh judgment on His people. Israel would repent and the cycle would start all over again.

The Hebrews believed time had a destination, that history was going somewhere. Other world views saw time as a circle, constantly retracing its own steps. Whether we realize it or not, most of us see time as a circle and we see ourselves trapped in this same old cycle.

The resurrection is the breaking of that cycle. While Easter is celebrated as Christs victory over death, we forget the resurrection gives us power over all the little deaths we deal with every day. Cycles of anger and defensiveness, pettiness and jealousy, greed and envy  all cause our days to circle in frustration and self-defeat.

Christ promised to make all things new, including us. We need not be victims of our anger, resentments or grudges. We dont have to be trapped in the violent circle of repaying evil for evil. Yesterdays mistakes do not hold us hostage in todays present.

It takes a little faith. It takes a little work, but in the power of the Risen Christ, we can break the cycles that are breaking us.

Give your family a gift that will make a difference for generations  a life free of cycles of repeating failures. Christ has opened the future for us. As Paul reminded the Galatians, For freedom Christ has made us free. Stand firm then and do not submit to a yoke of slavery again (Galatians 5:1, CSB).
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  New Mexico is preparing to make what advocates describe as an unprecedented investment in serving people with developmental disabilities  thousands of whom wait years to receive services.

A spending package backed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and a key legislative panel calls for ramping up state funding to remove about 300 people from the waiting list, to establish a program that helps people who remain on the waiting list and to boost reimbursement rates for front-line care providers.

The increases are part of a broader $318 million general-fund budget recommendation  an 8% increase over this year  for the Department of Health.

Its unprecedented, said James Jackson, a public policy associate for the advocacy group Disability Rights New Mexico. This is far and away the largest requested funding increase for developmental disabilities thats ever been made.

The new funding is aimed at helping launch an overhaul of the state-run program that helps people with developmental disabilities and addressing the decadelong wait thousands of New Mexico families endure as they seek services.

About 5,000 people are on the Developmental Disability Waiver waiting list  a figure that grew about 43% over a recent five-year period.

Roughly half of those waiting are children, meaning they can receive some services at school, but many are adults waiting to receive funding for services they qualify for.

Overall, the average wait is up to 13 years.

Advocates for people with disabilities filled the Roundhouse on Thursday to raise awareness and lobby for the increased funding.

I strongly believe people with disabilities need to be heard, Laura Marie Matthews, an Albuquerque resident with a learning disability, said Thursday. We need action.

Robert Kegel, a Santa Fe retiree whose son lives in a group home in Alamogordo, said low wages have created a crisis in recruiting employees to work with people who are developmentally disabled.

But he said he is happy to see money proposed in the budget to help providers and address other needs.

Thats the best weve done ever, I think, Kegel said.

The state budget package now under consideration by the House Appropriations and Finance Committee includes increases of:

 $5 million to launch a supports waiver that would provide at least limited services to 2,000 people on the waiting list. They or their families would be able to  within budgetary limits  choose among employment help, respite care, vehicle modifications and transportation, as well as other services.

 $7.5 million to remove about 300 people from the waiting list and provide them services. The governors goal is to eliminate the backlog over six years.

 $4.5 million to $5.9 million to improve reimbursement for people or companies providing services to people with development disabilities.

Rep. Melanie Stansbury, an Albuquerque Democrat and member of the appropriations committee, said the new funding for providers is critical.

Some staff members caring for people with developmental disabilities  in, say, a group home  make the minimum wage, advocates say.

These providers, in a lot of cases, are making poverty-level wages, Stansbury said in a recent budget hearing, and theyre taking care of the individuals in our communities who have the highest needs.

Democratic Rep. Harry Garcia of Grants told his colleagues that the increased services are important  not just for the individuals themselves, but also for their families.

Without this, he said, people taking care of them suffer. They are human, too.

Health Secretary Kathy Kunkel told lawmakers that the department is working to control costs, too. The agency is reviewing outlier budgets to determine why they are so high, she said, and receiving technical help from the National Association of Developmental Disabilities Supports Directors.

The state budget proposal for next year  covering the Health Department and other agencies  is now under review in the House appropriations committee and expected to be taken by up the full House by Feb. 5, the midway point of the 30-day legislative session.

The developmental disability services are broadly known as a waiver program because the federal government, for some states, has waived the requirement to use a nursing home or other institutional setting to provide the help.

Prescription drugs Proposal would look into purchasing drugs from Canada A4 Online Prescription drugs


Zelensky's use of the word "occupied" prompted the Romanian Foreign Ministry to summon Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksandr Bankov.

Ukraine's ambassador to Romania has expressed "regret" over what he called the "incorrect translation" of President Volodymyr Zelensky's Day of Unity address that has upset Bucharest.

In his video address on January 22, Zelensky recalled the short-lived 1919 agreement known as the Unification Act, which was meant to establish a unified Ukrainian state at the end of World War I. The English translation quoted Zelensky as saying that the northern part of a region of the former Austro-Hungarian empire was "occupied" by Romania, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported.

Zelensky's use of the word "occupied" prompted the Romanian Foreign Ministry to summon Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksandr Bankov.

Bucharest says that the unification of the territory with Romania under the name of Bucovina was internationally recognized in 1919 by the Treaty of Saint-Germain between the Allied powers and Austria.

Read also"Lost in translation": Arakhamia says never meant U-turn on Ukraine's Eurointegration plans

The northern part of the historical Principality of Moldova was annexed by the Hapsburg empire in 1775, becoming known as Bukowina. The territory became part of Romania at the end of World War I, but its northern half was annexed by the Soviet Union following the 1939 treaty between Moscow and Nazi Germany known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.

After the demise of the U.S.S.R. in 1991, the territory became part of Ukraine.

In a Facebook post on January 23, Bankov said Zelensky's address was incorrectly translated, and pointed to the corrected version of the translation, where the word "occupied" was replaced with the word "taken."

"I sincerely regret this unpleasant situation," Bankov said, adding that "in the end, this is the result of an incorrect translation and baseless interpretations."

"Affirmations such as 'Romania is being accused by Ukraine's president that it occupied northern Bucovina' or 'President V. Zelensky supports a Putin-style aggressive revisionism' are the result of absolutely wrong interpretations," Bankov said.
Paint makers are seeking the Centre's move to improve consumer sentiments and boost demand in the forthcoming Union budget, instead of any consideration of further tax cut for the sector.

Initially, a 28 percent GST was levied on paints, but with demand from the industry, the government had brought down the rate by 10 percent to 18 percent in July 2018.

"With the economy having slowed down over the last one year, the government should take steps to improve consumer sentiments and boost demand through tax incentives and increased spending in the infrastructure sector," Berger Paints managing director and CEO Abhijit Roy said in his pre- budget wish.

Country's largest paint maker Asian Paint's Chief Operating Officer Amit Syngle said it is always "good if there is a tax cut" but the industry is "not hopeful of such a step" from the government.

"The government should enable consumers to spend more. It can come through tax breaks and any other forms," Syngle said.

Roy emphasised on the need for consumer sentiments rather than seeking Goods and Services Tax cut from 18 percent now.

"As a next step to the reduction of the corporate tax rates, we hope for the rationalisation of the direct tax code which would put more disposable money in the pocket of the tax payers. This will help enhancing consumer sentiments, higher consumption and an overall positive multiplier effect on the economy, Roy said echoing Syngle.

Roy also sought incentives for individuals to invest in housing and realty sector through more tax benefits.

"This should go a long way in boosting consumer confidence and would kick start a positive cycle for all industries related to construction segment," he added.
The man who fired shots at Erebuni Plaza hotel yesterday has refused to testify. This is what Head of the Information and Public Relations Department of the Department of the Investigative Committee of Armenia Naira Harutyunyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am today.

Yesterday at 2:40 p.m. the police received an alarm according to which there was an armed person firing shots at Erebuni Plaza hotel. The person who had fired gunshots at the hotel was disarmed and transported to the police station.

Acting Chief of Police Arman Sargsyan led negotiations with the person who had fired shots at the hotel, and after the negotiations, the person delivered the weapon, surrendered to the police and was transported to the police station.

In relation to the incident, a criminal case has been instituted under particular articles of the Criminal Code, including an article for taking hostage (using violence dangerous for life or health; using a weapon or some other item as a weapon; against two or more persons), an article for illegal procurement, transportation, keeping or carrying of weapons, explosives or explosive devices) and an article for willful destruction or spoilage of property (committed by arson, explosion or other publicly dangerous method).
The Sena subsequently joined hands with the NCP and Congress to form a coalition government.

Mumbai: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut has put the partys allies into a quandary by saying that they too are welcome to join chief minister Uddhav Thackeray in his visit to Ayodhya in March to mark the completion of 100 days in power.

The Rajya Sabha MP Wednesday announced that the CM will soon be visiting Ayodhya and that he has invited the ruling alliance partners  NCP and Congress  to join him in the visit. Offering prayers to Lord Ram has nothing to do with the common minimum programme decided by the three parties while forming the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, Mr Raut said.

The Sena, Congress and NCP  ideologically different parties  had agreed on a common minimum programme on the basis of which they came together to form the government. Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray will visit Ayodhya on the completion of 100 days in power to seek the blessings of Lord Ram. We want that our alliance leaders should also come along. Rahul Gandhi also visits several temples, Mr Raut said.

The government has started working with full force and it will definitely complete five years. This is all due to the blessings of Prabhu Shri Ram. After completion of 100 days of government, the CM will visit Ayodhya and chart out the future course of action after seeking Lord Rams blessings, he tweeted.

Mr Thackeray had put off his November visit to Ayodhya, after the NCP core committee resolved to form an alternative government in the state. The Sena subsequently joined hands with the NCP and Congress to form a coalition government.

Mr Thackeray was sworn in as the CM on November 28, 2019. Mr Thackeray last visited Ayodhya in June 2019 and offered prayers at the makeshift Ram Lalla temple along with 18 newly-elected MPs of his party.
The march called by Moqtada al-Sadr aims to pressure Washington to pull out its troops, but many anti-government protesters fear it could overshadow their separate, months-long demonstrations that have challenged Iran-backed Shi'ite groups' grip on power.

Sadr opposes all foreign interference in Iraq but has recently aligned himself more closely with Iran, whose allies have dominated state institutions since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Throngs of marchers started gathering early on Friday at al-Hurriya Square in central Baghdad and near the city's main university, Reuters witnesses said.

Marchers avoided Tahrir square, symbol of mass protests against Iraq' ruling elites.
Vienna: The Nazi death camp where more than one million people perished was liberated on January 27, 1945 and the day is commemorated as International Holocaust Remembrance Day worldwide.

KL Auschwitz-Birkenau was a complex of over 40 concentration and extermination camps operated by the Third Reich near Oswiecim in occupied Poland during World War II.
As U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to host Israeli leaders in Washington to reveal details of his long-delayed Middle East peace plan, Palestinians warned on Friday that no deal could work without them on board.

Trump invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his chief rival centrist former general Benny Gantz to the White House next week, saying he would unveil the plan before his Tuesday meeting with Netanyahu.

But Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said there had been no communication with the Trump administration, and that no peace deal could be implemented without "the approval of the Palestinian people and the Palestinian leadership".

"This is the only way if they are serious, if they are looking for stability in the whole region," Rudeinah said.

Israeli-Palestinian peace talks collapsed in 2014 and Palestinians have called Trump's proposal dead in the water, even before its publication, citing what they see as his pro-Israel policies.

The Palestinians have boycotted political dealings with the Trump administration since it reversed decades of U.S. policy on the conflict, splintering the international consensus.

It has refused to endorse the two-state solution - the longtime international peace formula that envisages a Palestinian state established in territory that Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war.

The Trump administration also recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moved its embassy there, and announced that Washington no longer views Israeli settlements on occupied West Bank land as "inconsistent with international law".

Palestinians and most of the international community see the settlements as illegal under the 1949 Geneva Conventions that bar populating land captured in war. Israel disputes this, citing historical, biblical and political connections to the land, as well as security needs.

Palestinians obtained limited self-rule in parts of the West Bank under mid-1990s interim peace accords. They now seek East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state comprising the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Israel withdrew from tiny Gaza in 2005.

Trump, speaking to reporters on his flight home from the World Economic Forum in Davos, acknowledged Palestinians might react negatively to his plan at first but that "it's actually very positive for them".

"It's a great plan. It's a plan that really would work."

By contrast Netanyahu immediately accepted Trump's invite.

"I think the president is seeking to give Israel the peace and security that it deserves," Netanyahu said on Thursday.

Gantz's office did not immediately confirm whether he accepted Trumps invitation.

Clashing perspectives

The political aspects of Trump's peace initiative have been kept under wraps. Only the economic proposals have been unveiled, anchored by a $50 billion regional development plan - which Palestinians spurned as it did not address an end to Israeli occupation.

Israeli headlines on Friday referred to the "Trump Summit" and "Trump Deal". Nahum Barnea, a political analyst in Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, expected "an American green light" for Israel to annex West Bank settlement blocs and the Jordan Valley, which forms the border with Jordan to the east.

Palestinian newspapers highlighted warnings that such moves would end peace chances and pitch the region into a "new phase".

In Tel Aviv, Israelis appeared generally supportive of their leaders going to Washington, even without Palestinians.

"We don't have to go back to the previous peace process that was signed over 25, 30 years ago, said Yael Rozencwajg, 41, a tech executive from Tel Aviv. "The situation has completely changed since then. Trump has started recognising that."

In explaining the U.S. change of stance on settlements this month, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the new approach would actually advance peace with the Palestinians "by (speaking) the truth when the facts lead to it".

Palestinians challenged the U.S. and Israeli stances.

In al-Auja, a Jordan Valley village flanked by Israeli settlements, Salim Abu Kharbesh, 59, said: We are the inhabitants of the land, and they have come to us in spite of us, and in violence. They own nothing in this land."

In Gaza, now ruled by Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas which has fought several wars with Israel, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said no U.S. plan could alter realities on the ground.

"Our people will not accept it, and will confront it with all their might," he said.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


In the past month or so, students across India have taken to streets, even boycotting classes, for a variety of reasons  from attacks on university campuses to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). These protests are not limited only to Delhi. They have spread to educational institutions across the country. Even in Karnataka, where student body elections were banned in 1989, there have been campus protests.

And then, there is Shaheen Bagh in New Delhi, where common women have been protesting against the CAA for more than a month by blocking a road connecting Delhi and Noida.

Business Standard spoke to a number of students from different colleges about the reason for their participation in these protests and tried to find out what makes these demonstrations different from others in the past.
In this June 4, 1969, file photo, Bobby Rush, deputy defense minister of the Illinois Black Panther party, center, reads a statement at a news conference after an early morning raid on Chicago Panther headquarters by FBI agents. At left is Jose "Cha Cha" Jimenez, chairman of the Young Lord, a Chicago-area Puerto Rican group. "The First Rainbow Coalition," a new PBS documentary, is exploring a little-known movement in 1960s Chicago that brought together blacks, Latinos, and poor whites from Appalachia that later resulted in the upending of politics in the American Midwest. (EK / AP)
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- Few things can bring together Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the leader of Israels main opposition party, Benny Gantz. President Donald Trumps long-awaited peace plan is one of them.

Netanyahu and Gantz, whose parties will face one another for the third time in a year in Marchs elections, will be arriving in Washington next week, where the president is expected to brief them on what he has called the ultimate deal.

Israeli leaders historically have chafed at U.S. plans to impose peace terms, preferring instead for Americans to broker peace negotiations. The Trump plan is different. In Israel, it is already being called the deal of the century. While the White House has not yet released any details, administration officials tell me a preview of some of the plans parameters can be found in a March 2019 speech delivered by U.S. Ambassador David Friedman.

In the speech, Friedman argues that putting off the peace process risks leaving the deal-making to a future administration  one that would not be as friendly to Israel as Trumps. Can we leave this to an administration that may not understand the need for Israel to maintain overriding security control of Judea and Samaria and a permanent defense position in the Jordan valley? he asked, using the biblical names of the territory that comprise the West Bank.

It was not merely a throwaway line. Both Netanyahu and Gantz have said they would begin annexation of key areas of the Jordan River valley, though Gantz has said he would do this in conjunction with the international community. Needless to say, this has been a red line for the Palestinian Authority.

Friedman also raised the issue of Jerusalem in that speech (not surprising, since he helped orchestrate moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem). I think that even three millennia ago, King David recognized that Israels enemies would seek to undermine the centrality of Jerusalem to the state of Israel and to mischaracterize and vilify the Jewish state, he said.

Story continues

Here, administration officials say, Friedman is reinforcing another element of the peace plan: that East and West Jerusalem will remain under Israeli sovereignty. Prior peace negotiations have put off the final status of Jerusalem. Palestinians claim the city, known in Arabic as al-Quds, as their capital. In the final weeks of the presidency of Barack Obama, the U.S. abstained from a UN Security Council vote that declared Israels presence in East Jerusalem was occupied territory. Israel unified the city after the Six Day War in 1967.

Other Washington sources who have been briefed on the plan tell me the Palestinians will have to recognize Israel as a Jewish state as a condition for accepting the territory carved out of the West Bank and Gaza Strip that would make up their future state. This was a key demand from Netanyahu during the Obama administration, but unlike Trump, Obama did not endorse this position during negotiations.

So Trumps vision for a two-state solution will almost certainly be rejected by the Palestinians. Ten years ago, such an open rejection would have been a diplomatic disaster for the U.S. Until recently, Arab states conditioned cooperation against Iran and on counterterrorism to a viable peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. If a U.S. president had offered the Trump plan in 2010, he would have jeopardized that cooperation.

Now the world is a different place. Countries such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt no longer view counterterrorism or opposition to Iran as a favor to the U.S. It is a matter of national survival.

The main risk for Trumps plan is that it could embolden Israel to take steps that would make it much harder to reach a peace deal with the Palestinians. In this sense, Trumps proposal could encourage Israeli unilateralism. If Palestinians reject the plan, as expected, it could become an instrument that facilitates an American blessing of an Israeli annexation, said David Makovsky, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

That is a danger. But there is also a chance that Trumps departure from the prior peace-process consensus could spur the Palestinians to make new compromises. That wont happen right away. If the president is re-elected in November, however, the Palestinian leadership may reconsider their options.

Last year, the presidents son-in-law, Jared Kushner, unveiled an economic plan in Bahrain, promising to help raise $50 billion in private and regional government investment if the Palestinians accepted a peace deal with Israel. The Palestinian Authority boycotted that event. If they are looking at four more years of Trump in the White House, that bribe will be a tempting alternative to the cold shoulder the Palestinians have received for most of Trumps first term.

To contact the author of this story: Eli Lake at elake1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Newman at mnewman43@bloomberg.net

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Eli Lake is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering national security and foreign policy. He was the senior national security correspondent for the Daily Beast and covered national security and intelligence for the Washington Times, the New York Sun and UPI.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
When my second book came out last year, I took the promotional route a bit differently and launched a university speaking tour. Over the course of the 2018-'19 school year, I visited dozens of colleges across the continental United States, including Harvard, Yale and the University of Michigan. I met hundreds of students and sold hundreds of book, and if I could do it, you certainly can, too.

My thought process was all about exposure. I knew that college students (having been one of them just one year prior) were open to learning tactical tools that could help them in the real world or otherwise. I knew that on-campus organizations were always looking for more material and that these organizations had a bit of a budget.

Based on my recent and successful experience, heres how to start a university speaking tour of your own.

1. Create a talk loosely based on your book.

The key word here is loosely. You dont want to get in front of students and tell them all the core components of your book, because then there will be no incentive for them to buy it afterwards. Knowing that stories are remembered up to 22 times more than facts, I centered the majority of my talk around the stories I found most interesting in my book, which kept the audience engaged. Many of todays non-fiction books assert frameworks and rules of thumb, which is great, but can easily make eyes glaze over.

Bullet-point key themes and stories from your book, then bring them into a larger narrative. Ideally, students should walk away from the presentation knowing a bit about you and why you wrote the book, but most importantly, how the books central stories can apply to their own life.

2. Pitch to your target market within colleges.

The magic question: Who do I pitch to within the colleges? Contrary to popular opinion, your first time doing a tour will not yield immediate access to the entire student body, unless you have a bit of celebrity status and a recognizable name. But that doesnt mean you cant have an impact.

Ask yourself which ideal college student would benefit from your book and talk material. Is your book geared toward issues of social justice? The political science department or a social-justice club on campus would be a good place to start. My book was about womens entrepreneurship, and I was able to broaden that definition to general entrepreneurship so that my talk could appeal to all entrepreneurship groups, independent of gender. But I got creative, too. My talk, with a few adjustments, also worked for a liberal-arts program.

Remember that these campus organizations want to know that your content, should they take the time (and maybe the budget) to bring you in, will greatly benefit the students. If its hazy why your content is the perfect fit for their group, youre unlikely to get a reply.

3. Get crystal clear on how students will benefit.

Its vital that before you even get on that stage, you have a clear list of all the ways students will benefit from the information youre offering. A good way to conceptualize this is to start with a burning problem that you can solve. Maybe your book is about interview skills, which would be a great presentation at a career-services event. What is the problem that youre solving? Perhaps you have a statistic about the number of college students who feel ill-equipped to perform well in an interview. How does your content solve it?

Spelling out this clear problem and solution in your pitch will create the urgency to bring you in, and will also immediately alert students to the importance of your material. If its clear how paying attention to your presentation will help them, theyre more likely to take notes, snap pictures of your presentation and purchase your book afterward. And creating material that truly resonates with them and a problem in their lives is more likely to lead to referrals and positive word of mouth.

4. Utilize each speaking engagement to get another.

When youre first starting a speaking tour, there will be many cold emails. Positioned the right way, with a problem and solution pitch, they should yield a high success rate. Still, warm emails are even better. After you speak at one college, ask the organizer if theyd be open to introducing you to someone they know at another college or at another department within the school.

Its also a good idea to get pictures and testimonials at each school you speak at. This will lend greater credibility to your reputation, and you can include the testimonials in every consecutive pitch you send to another college.

5. Capture the audience.

I used to think that just giving my book a shoutout and putting my Instagram handle on the last slide would do an effective job of capturing the audience. While it did work to an extent, I missed out on capturing audiences in a more effective way: an email list. Pass around a piece of paper and pen so each student can write down their name and email, and immediately enter each into your database when you get home or back to your hotel. That way, if you release other products or services related to your book or talk, youll have a group of subscribers who are already interested.

Similarly, dont just put up your social handles and expect that every student will follow you of their own volition. At some point in my talk, I would announce, Everyone take out your phones and follow me! and also tell them to direct message me with questions via Instagram as opposed to emailing me.

6. Dont be afraid to invest in yourself.

Finally, remember that the beginning of a university speaking tour isnt going to be lucrative. In fact, I didnt ask for a single dollar for my first five talks. I invested in my own travel expenses to show up at these schools, which is what you have to do to gain that experience, those testimonials and a list of places you can say youve spoken at. Most importantly, its what you have to do to get the exposure necessary to sell book copies.

By all means, take advantage of universities within driving distance from where you currently live, but dont be afraid to take a transcontinental flight to speak at a university on the other side of the country. The fact you traveled shows how much you care about the content, and that matters to students and organizers. I guarantee it will yield a larger audience size and a better experience for everyone.

Students out there want to hear what you have to say, no matter what your content is, how old you are or what your prior speaking experience is. If you feel the call on your heart to launch your own tour, follow these repeatable steps to forever alter your career.

Related:

Social Media Tops Digital Advertising With 28% Share: DAN Report

6 Essential Influencer-Marketing Truths Every E-Commerce Brand Should Know

Overhaul Your SMS Marketing With These 4 Genius Tips



Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, January 24, 2020 18:08 719 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2060e5ed1 1 Politics Hasto-Kristiyanto,PDI-P,harun-masiku,KPU,bribery,election-dispute,house-of-representatives Free

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Friday questioned the secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Hasto Kristiyanto over an alleged bribery case that has implicated some of the partys members.

Hasto arrived at the KPK headquarters at around 10 a.m. and left the building at 3:05 p.m. In between, the antigraft body grilled Hasto as a witness in the case.

I promised that I would attend the KPKs questioning if necessary. And now, I have kept my word, as it is my responsibility as an Indonesian citizen to respect all law enforcement activities, Hasto told reporters after the session.

Hasto said that he was asked 24 questions during the five-hour session, including a question regarding his relationship with the main suspect in the case, Harun Masiku, who has been declared a fugitive by the antigraft body.

Hasto said he only knew Harun as one of the smartest members of the party, considering that Harun had received a Chevening scholarship from the government of the United Kingdom and is one of the few experts on international economic law in Indonesia.

Harun has such a good track record as a law expert, there are few Indonesians who have similar accomplishments, Hasto said. But still, I dont know where he is right now, he added.

Hasto encouraged Harun to turn himself in to the KPK, saying that Harun should not be afraid because the PDI-P's legal team, which was established last week, had gathered significant evidence to prove that Harun was a victim in the case.

According to a thorough study conducted by our legal team, Harun was a victim of the misuse of authority by another suspect. We have told our members not to commit any crimes, including bribery, if they want to be part of the party, he said.

The case pertains to a dispute between the General Elections Commission (KPU) and the PDI-P over who should take over a legislative seat left vacant by deceased PDI-P politician Nazaruddin Kiemas in the South Sumatra I electoral district. The KPU gave the seat to Riezky Aprilia, who won the second highest number of votes in the April 17, 2019, legislative election with 44,402 votes. The PDI-P had requested the seat be given to Harun, even though he received only 5,878 votes and three other members of the PDI-P, besides Riezky, won more votes than him.

On Jan. 8, the KPK arrested KPU commissioner Wahyu Setiawan for allegedly accepting Rp 600 million (US$43,950) in bribes from Harun via PDI-P members Agustiani Tio Fridelina and Syaiful. The four suspects have been charged with bribery and, except for Harun who has been declared a fugitive, are now in KPK custody. (glh)
Taipei, Jan 25 : Two individuals were confirmed to be infected by the novel coronavirus that caused pneumonia, raising the total confirmed cases in Taiwan to three, the island's epidemic monitoring agency said on Friday.

The two new cases were a woman from the Chinese mainland and a man from Taiwan, who were both in their 50s and arrived in Taiwan on January 21, the agency said, adding that they have both been to Wuhan of central China, the Xinhua news agency reported.

The woman went to hospital on January 23 after having fever while the man showed symptoms of flu on January 20 and went to hospital on January 23.

The patients have received treatment in isolation wards, the agency said.

A total of 30 people who had close contacts with the patients are currently healthy and being closely monitored, the agency said.
It was yet another epic failure of political punditry. Go back to the early months of Joe Bidens presidential campaign and read what the consultants and commentators were saying about him: His support is just name recognition; hell fade! Hes too old! Hes running a zombie campaign! The party has moved left and hes out of touch! He voted for the crime bill!

Almost everybody was bearish on Joe. But now look where we are, weeks from actual voting. If the polls are to be believed, Biden will win Iowa, hell come in second in New Hampshire, he will easily win Nevada, he will dominate in South Carolina. Hes now tied for the lead in California and hes way ahead in Texas.

I dont know if hell win the nomination (both he and Bernie Sanders look strong), but this is not where a lot of people six months ago thought wed be.

Its the 947th consecutive sign that we in the coastal chattering classes have not cured our insularity problem. Its the 947th case in which we see that every second you spend on Twitter detracts from your knowledge of American politics, and that the only cure to this insularity disease is constant travel and interviewing, close attention to state and local data and raw abject humility about the fact that the attitudes and academic degrees that you think make you clever are actually the attitudes and academic degrees that separate you from the real texture of American life.
SANTA FE  In 30-day legislative sessions, the magic word for moving a bill forward is germane.

Only bills deemed to be germane can be considered in New Mexicos 30-day sessions, and theres been disagreement among some top-ranking state senators about what bills meet that definition.

Specifically, the Senate Committees Committee held up a bill creating a tax deduction for broadband infrastructure, Senate Bill 17, earlier this week before eventually deeming it germane.

Tax credit bills have in recent years been automatically ruled germane, but some senators questioned whether that policy should be changed.

I think if you put five lawyers in a room youd get five different answers, quipped Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, during a Senate Committees Committee meeting this week.

As background: The state Constitution limits 30-day sessions to budget and revenue bills, and those added to the sessions agenda by the governor.

A 1966 attorney generals opinion raised questions about whether proposed tax breaks meet the definition of revenue bills, because their aim is usually to create business growth, not generate revenue.

Bills that are ultimately ruled not germane typically languish in the chamber theyre filed in, without being acted upon, until the legislative session ends.
Stephen Harrison became the CEO of Forterra plc (LON:FORT) in 2016. First, this article will compare CEO compensation with compensation at similar sized companies. After that, we will consider the growth in the business. And finally - as a second measure of performance - we will look at the returns shareholders have received over the last few years. This process should give us an idea about how appropriately the CEO is paid.

See our latest analysis for Forterra

How Does Stephen Harrison's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies?

According to our data, Forterra plc has a market capitalization of UK669m, and paid its CEO total annual compensation worth UK860k over the year to December 2018. While we always look at total compensation first, we note that the salary component is less, at UK418k. We looked at a group of companies with market capitalizations from UK305m to UK1.2b, and the median CEO total compensation was UK888k.

So Stephen Harrison is paid around the average of the companies we looked at. While this data point isn't particularly informative alone, it gains more meaning when considered with business performance.

You can see a visual representation of the CEO compensation at Forterra, below.

LSE:FORT CEO Compensation, January 24th 2020

Is Forterra plc Growing?

Over the last three years Forterra plc has grown its earnings per share (EPS) by an average of 34% per year (using a line of best fit). In the last year, its revenue is up 9.4%.

This shows that the company has improved itself over the last few years. Good news for shareholders. It's also good to see modest revenue growth, suggesting the underlying business is healthy. Shareholders might be interested in this free visualization of analyst forecasts.

Has Forterra plc Been A Good Investment?

I think that the total shareholder return of 110%, over three years, would leave most Forterra plc shareholders smiling. So they may not be at all concerned if the CEO were to be paid more than is normal for companies around the same size.

Story continues

In Summary...

Remuneration for Stephen Harrison is close enough to the median pay for a CEO of a similar sized company .

Shareholders would surely be happy to see that shareholder returns have been great, and the earnings per share are up. So one could argue the CEO compensation is quite modest, if you consider company performance! Whatever your view on compensation, you might want to check if insiders are buying or selling Forterra shares (free trial).

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
By ANI

GENEVA: The World Health Organistion (WHO) on Thursday said that it was 'too early' to declare the outbreak of coronavirus in China as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).

The WHO made this decision during the second meeting of the International Health Regulations (IHR) on Thursday.

Twenty-five people have been killed after developing pneumonia-like symptoms and at least 830 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported in China by the end of Thursday.

Out of 25 deaths, 24 deaths were reported in Hubei Province, while one took place in Hebei Province, Xinhua reported.



ALSO READ: Coronavirus death toll moves to 25 as Chinese government seals off more cities

"I am not declaring a public health emergency of international concern today. As it was yesterday, the Emergency Committee was divided over whether the outbreak of novel coronavirus represents a PHEIC or not," Xinhua quoted WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a press conference after a closed-door meeting of the Emergency Committee, as saying.

"Make no mistake, though, this is an emergency in China. But it has not yet become a global health emergency. It may yet become one," Tedros said, adding that WHO's risk assessment is that the outbreak is a very high risk in China, and a high risk regionally and globally.



ALSO READ: Kerala nurse found positive for coronavirus suffers from MERS-CoV, not 2019-NCoV

"I wish to reiterate that the fact I am not declaring a PHEIC today should not be taken as a sign that WHO does not think the situation is serious, or that we are not taking it seriously," the WHO chief said.

Chinese state-media agency has reported that so far 34 cases of coronavirus have been cured and discharged following treatment.

The deadly virus has originated from the city of Wuhan in the month of December and since then cases have been reported in the United States and several Asian cities other than China, including South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Meanwhile, the second confirmed case of coronavirus has been reported in Japan, reported Sputnik.

The authorities in Wuhan city and Huanggang city have imposed a complete travel ban on local residents, in a bid to curb the spread of the deadly virus. The ban issued by command authority in the city said that from 10:00 am on Thursday, urban buses, subways, ferries and long-distance passenger transport would be suspended in the city. Flights and trains departing from Wuhan will also be suspended.

Countries have started screening process in order to prevent the outbreak of the virus in their respective country. India also on Thursday said that people coming from the Asian country will have to mandatorily go through a screening process at airports in India.
Trump has no defense at all, Harvard law professor Laurence Tribe, an influential figure among impeachment Democrats, tweeted recently.

The case is uncontested, Democratic House impeachment manager Rep. Hakeem Jeffries said.

They cant contest the facts, said lead Democratic impeachment manager Rep. Adam Schiff.

In the last month or so, it has become commonplace for Democrats and their allies in the press to argue that President Trump simply has no defense against the two articles of impeachment passed by the House. Republicans disagreed, and vigorously defended the president in House hearings, but the fact was, the White House had not released a comprehensive defense in the nearly four months since Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the beginning of impeachment proceedings.

Until now.

On Monday the White House released a 110-page defense memorandum signed by White House counsel Pat Cipollone and Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow. In it, the two lawyers address the substance of the Democratic charges against the president: the Trump-Zelensky phone call of July 25, 2019, the decision to withhold and later deliver security assistance to Ukraine, the legitimacy of Trumps concerns about Ukrainian activities in the 2016 election, the case of Hunter Biden, and more.

In other words, all the things the presidents adversaries said he could not address  all those things are addressed in the Cipollone-Sekulow memo.

The lawyers also criticize the process of impeachment in the House, and the definition of an impeachable offense. Taken together, the memo is the across-the-board defense that many Republicans have long wanted the White House to mount.

On the substance of the abuse-of-power article against the president, Cipollone and Sekulow present a detailed analysis of the Trump-Zelensky call and events surrounding it. The rough transcript of the call released by the White House on Sept. 25 shows the president did nothing wrong, they write. Trumps discussion of burden-sharing has been a consistent theme of his presidency.

As far as the presidents discussion of the 2016 election was concerned, Uncovering potential foreign interference in U.S. elections is always a legitimate goal, whatever the source of the interference and whether or not it fits with Democrats preferred narrative. There were, in fact, legitimate concerns about Ukrainian efforts to influence the 2016 election, and it was not improper for the president to inquire about them.

It was also legitimate to bring up the issue of Hunter Biden and Burisma, the lawyers argue. Public reports indicate that then-Vice President Joe Biden threatened withholding U.S. loan guarantees to secure the dismissal of a Ukrainian prosecutor, even though Biden was, at the time, operating under what appeared to be, at the very least, a serious conflict of interest, they write.

Then there was the issue of the temporarily withheld assistance. There was no discussion of the paused security assistance on the July 25 call, Cipollone and Sekulow write. The Ukrainians have said there was no pressure on them, and they did not know that security assistance had been paused at the time of the call. House Democrats charge is further disproved by the straightforward fact that not a single witness with actual knowledge ever testified that the president suggested any connection between announcing investigations and security assistance, the memo says.

Cipollone and Sekulow single out for special criticism Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union who offered changing testimony to House impeachers. House Democrats base their case [for a quid pro quo] on witnesses who offer nothing but speculation, they write. Worse, it is speculation that traces back to one source: Sondland. Other witnesses repeatedly invoked things that Ambassador Sondland had said in a chain of hearsay that would never be admitted in any court.

On the issue of process, Cipollone and Sekulow argue that House Democrats cut so many corners in the impeachment inquiry that the White House had legitimate reasons not to participate. Finally, on the question of impeachable offenses, they argue that abuse of power is not only not a crime but is far too broad and ill-defined to be impeachable. As far as obstruction of Congress is concerned, they argue that in the face of a reckless impeachment investigation, the White House simply asserted legitimate constitutional rights, and the assertion of legitimate constitutional rights cannot be an impeachable offense.

All in all, it was an argument that heartened many Republican defenders of the president.

I think it effectively lays out why this impeachment proceeding is flawed on every basis  factually, legally and constitutionally, said GOP Rep. John Ratcliffe. The complete deprivation of due process alone, where the presidents counsel was forbidden from participating during the first 71 days of the impeachment inquiry, should result in a dismissal of both articles at the onset of the trial proceedings.

Now, the important question is how Senate Republicans will react. Many have not followed the details of impeachment closely. The Cipollone-Sekulow memo gives them the first all-inclusive defense of the president anyone has seen. It will likely become the template for Republican defenses in the contentious days and weeks to come.

Byron York is chief political correspondent for The Washington Examiner.
Veteran actor and talk show host Simi Garewal took to twitter to back Kangana Ranaut's stand on public execution of rapists. She states that such heinous crimes should have a public punishment to set an example.

Kangana earlier this week, during the promotion of Panga was asked about the death sentence given to the four convicts of the 2012 Delhi gang-rape. She said, "A person who has committed such a gruesome crime should not be considered a minor. He should be hanged publicly to set an example. Nirbhaya's parents are fighting this battle for a long time. Killing the convict quietly will be of no use as you won't be able to set an example."

Simi Garewal later backed the actress on her statement and wrote on Twitter, "As per my earlier tweet, I agree with #Kangana @Rangoli_A. There should be a public hanging of the criminal rapists. Set an example. Let it instill fear of the law." She also shared a picture of her 2019 tweet.

As per my earlier tweet, I agree with #Kangana @Rangoli_A. There should be a public hanging of the criminal rapists. Set an example. Let it instill fear of the law. pic.twitter.com/8S2bjtB7AJ  Simi Garewal (@Simi_Garewal) January 23, 2020

However, Simi didn't like Kangana's harsh words for Indian Lawyer, Indira Jaising. She said, "#IndiraJaising is a fine woman & a brilliant lawyer. She has spent a lifetime fighting for women's rights, for justice. I've never met her but have followed her crusade with admiration & #respect"

Kangana was unhappy with Indria Jaising's oppose for the death penalty, during the event she said, "She should be kept in jail along with the convicts. How can these women pity the convicts? It is these kinds of women who give birth to such monsters."

On the work front, Kangana is currently gearing up for the release of Panga. The film releasing in cinema screens today has already garnered some praise from critics and audience alike. Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Panga, also stars Richa Chaddha, Neena Gupta and Jassi Gill.

Panga Twitter Review: Fans Laud Kangana Ranaut's Performance

ALSO READ: Kangana Ranaut On Nirbhaya Case: Such Criminals Should Be Hanged Publicly To Set An Example


France has declared its first confirmed cases of the deadly coronavirus, following a statement from the nation's heath minister.

Speaking to French media, Agnes Buzyn said one case of the virus had been confirmed in Bordeaux while the second had been found near Paris - marking the first confirmed cases of the novel virus in Europe.

Shortly afterwards a third case, believed to be a family member of one of those to have already been announced, was confirmed in the country.

The minister, who said both of the initial cases had travelled to China, added that she expects more to emerge within the nation's borders.

"We see how difficult it is in today's world to close the frontiers. In reality, it's not possible," she said

Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Show all 154 1 /154 Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Paramedics wearing personal protective equipment carry patient on a stretcher on to an ambulance in North Point district in Hong Kong, China Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A medical worker wearing protective gear takes a rest as he waits for ambulances carrying patients infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus at an entrance of a hospital in Daegu, South Korea YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A medical worker sprays disinfectant on an ambulance after carrying a patient infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus at a hospital in Daegu YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People wearing protective face masks shop at a supermarket in Casalpusterlengo, one the northern Italian towns placed under lockdown due to the new coronavirus outbreak EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A trolley bus is disinfected amid fears over the spread of the novel coronavirus in Pyongyang, North Korea REUTERS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers wearing protective gear spray disinfectant as a precaution against the COVID-19 coronavirus in a local market in Daegu, South Korea AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing a protective facemask walks outside a nearly empty shopping mall at lunch time in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing protective facemask and gloves puts a drawing made by a girl living in the area asking residents to wear protective gear, next to a quarantine notice for people who have travelled and a notice asking people to register outside a residential compound in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman is taken into an ambulance amid a coronavirus outbreak in northern Italy REUTERS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ambulances and health workers are seen outside the Padua's hospital, northern Italy EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers in coaches leave MoD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire after being repatriated to the UK from a cruise ship hit by the coronavirus in Yokohama, Japan and head to Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People rest in a temporary hospital situated in the Tazihu Gymnasium in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Buddhist monks wearing protective face masks pray during a blessing ceremony for the people affected by the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, at a temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia REUTERS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers wearing protective gears carry a patient infecting with a new coronavirus to a hospital in Chuncheon, South Korea AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Soldiers in hazmat suits sanitize cargo from a China Airlines plane at the Taoyuan International Airport in Taoyuan City, Taiwan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Barricades are seen to block the entrance a the gate of a local mall in a nearly empty area in Beijing, China Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A vendor wearing a protective facemask waits for customers at a shop in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus The body temperature of an Iraqi child returning from Iran is measured upon her arrival at the Najaf International Airport AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Volunteers hand out free facemasks at a shopping district in Quezon city, Metro Manila, Philippines Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers wearing protective gears carry a patient suspected of contracting the new coronavirus toward an ambulance at Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo, South Korea AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A worker disinfects a shop at a market in Shanghai AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A restaurant worker wearing protective clothing as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus passing a bag of food to a customer on the street outside their restaurant in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A recovered patient is discharged from Leishenshan Hospital, the newly-built makeshift hospital for novel coronavirus patients, in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Volunteers in protective suits disinfect a factory with sanitising equipment in Huzhou, China China Daily via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers in protective suits attend to a patient inside an isolated ward of Wuhan Red Cross Hospital Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A drone operated by the Suwon municipal government flies around Changyong Middle School spraying disinfectant, in Suwon, South Korea EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers transfer medical waste at Leishenshan Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing a protective mask rides a bicycle with his children in Guangzhou, China EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Volunteers in protective suits disinfect a railway station as the country is hit by an outbreak of the new coronavirus, in Changsha, Hunan province, China cnsphoto via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman repatriated from Wuhan carries a child as she walks upon her arrival at the Van Don airport in Vietnam's Quang Ninh province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff checking the body temperature of a patient who has displayed mild symptoms of the COVID-19 coronavirus, at an exhibition centre converted into a hospital in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A medical worker in protective suit transports oxygen tanks at Wuhan Red Cross Hospital Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Boys wearing protection masks, gloves and modified water bottles sit on a cart at the airport arrival terminal in Guangzhou EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Employees work on a production line manufacturing protective suits at a clothing factory in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province cnsphoto via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers in protective suits move a patient at an isolated ward of a hospital in Caidian district following an outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan China Daily via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A worker in protective clothing, including face mask and gloves, carries a bucket as he works inside of The County Oak Medical Centre in Brighton, southern England, after it closed for "urgent operational health and safety reasons", following reports a member of staff was infected with the strain of the novel coronavirus AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers of the ecology and environment bureau collect samples from the sewage system of a hospital in Xinle, Hebei province China Daily via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man in protective clothing cleaning the County Oak Medical Centre GP practice The British government warned the outbreak of novel coronavirus was a "serious and imminent threat" and reported four new cases that brought the total recorded in the country to eight. Two hospitals The Royal Free and Guys and St Thomas', have both been designated as "isolation" facilities, with both currently housing Britons who have returned from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the outbreak PA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to the newly completed Huoshenshan temporary field Hospital in Wuhan. The global coronavirus death toll rose again with Hong Kong announcing its first death from the outbreak on 4 February EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of staff wait as coaches carrying Coronavirus evacuees arrive at Kents Hill Park Training and Conference Centre, in Milton Keynes, after being repatriated to the UK from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan PA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A crew member of the cruise ship Diamond Princess talks to a worker wearing protective gear standing near the vessel, where dozens of passengers were tested positive for coronavirus, at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Doctors scan a patient's lungs at Huoshenshan temporary hospital built for patients diagnosed with coronavirus in Wuhan Xinhua News Agency/AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People wearing protective suits walk from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, with around 3,600 people quarantined onboard due to fears of the new coronavirus, at the Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Indonesians who arrived from Wuhan are sprayed with antiseptic at Hang Nadim Airport in Batam. People evacuated from the Chinese city at the centre of a deadly virus outbreak, were transported to a quarantine zone on a remote island at the edge of the South China Sea, shortly after landing Indonesian Foreign Ministry via AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman wears a protective mask as she shops in a market in Beijing Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members hugging each other in an isolation ward at a hospital in Zouping in China's easter Shandong province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A portrait of Dr Li Wenliang is left at Li's hospital in Wuhan. He is regarded a whistleblower on the outbreak and died of the coronavirus which triggered wide-spread mourning on Chinese media Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Officers in protective gear enter the cruise ship Diamond Princess, where people tested positive for coronavirus, after the ship arrived at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, south of Tokyo Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Firefighters and personnel from the health ministry participate in a drill to prepare for the potential arrival of passengers infected with the coronavirus at the Viru Viru International Airport, in Santa Cruz, Bolivia Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Scientists are at work in the VirPath university laboratory as they try to find an effective treatment against the new Sars-like coronavirus AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers in protective suits attend to patients at the Wuhan International Conference and Exhibition Center, which has been converted into a makeshift hospital to receive patients with mild symptoms caused by the virus Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A girl wears a mask as a preventive measure against the coronavirus outbreak, in Bangkok, Thailand Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man is transferred from the World Dream cruise ship to an ambulance at the Kai Tak cruise terminal in Hong Kong as health officials conduct inspections AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers from a disinfection service company enter Lotte Department Store in central Seoul, South Korea EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man who arrived from Hubei province talks with police at a checkpoint at the Jiujiang Yangtze River Bridge Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A doctor holds a handheld digital thermometer near health officials preparing a health check for arriving passengers from China at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A resident walks across an empty track in Wuhan Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A scientific staff member works in a secure laboratory, researching the coronavirus, at the Pasteur Institute in Dakar AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members preparing equipment to meet passengers of a military plane, which evacuated citizens of Russia and ex-Soviet countries from China's Wuhan province Vsluh.ru via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Staff wearing protective suits as they prepare to disinfect a Vietnam Airlines plane at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi Vietnam Airlines/AFP/Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A South Korean person, who was evacuated from Wuhan, arrives at the National Medical Center after showing suspected symptoms of novel coronavirus, in Seoul EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Officers in protective gear escort a person (under the blue sheet) who was on board cruise ship Diamond Princess and was tested positive for coronavirus Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A doctor being disinfected by his colleague at a quarantine zone in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Buses carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan, arrive at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Indonesian health officials conduct an exercise drill in transporting a patient requiring isolation at the Belawan port in Medan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus The Pasteur Institute in Dakar, designated by the African Union as one of the two reference centres in Africa for the detection of the new coronavirus that appeared in China, is hosting experts from 15 countries on the continent this weekend to prepare them to deal with the disease AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A government worker disinfects a co-worker after visiting a quarantined woman's home in Qingdao EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An aerial view of the deserted roads and bridges in Wuhan Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers hold a strike outside the Hospital Authority as they demand for Hong Kong to close its border with China to reduce the coronavirus spreading Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A person has their tempriture checked in Qingdao, China EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion, when viewed electron microscopically Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/AFP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Malaysian nationals being directed from a bus by health officials in protective suits as they arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, after being evacuated from Wuhan Malaysia's Ministry of Health/AFP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People hoping to buy face masks crowd outside a medical supply shop that was raided by police for allegedly hoarding and overpricing the masks, as public fear over China's Wuhan Coronavirus grow in Manila, Philippines. The Philippine government has been heavily criticized after failing to immediately implement travel restrictions from China, the source of a deadly coronavirus that has now killed hundreds and infected thousands more Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Residents wearing masks and raincoats volunteer to take temperature of passengers following the outbreak of a new coronavirus at a bus stop at Tin Shui Wai, a border town in Hong Kong Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Italian citizens repatriated from Wuhan going though a health control zone after landing at the Mario De Bernardi military airport in Pratica di Mare, south of Rome, prior to be placed in quarantine Italian Defence Ministry/AFP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers arrange beds in a 2,000-bed mobile hospital, set up in an exhibition center, in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A doctor checks conditions of occupants in a hotel accommodating isolated people in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members wearing protective clothing to help stop the spread of a deadly virus which began in the city of Wuhan, arrive with a patient at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital. The Chinese army deployed medical specialists to the epicentre of the spiralling viral outbreak that has killed and spread around the world AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A baby wearing a protective face mask is pushed by a woman as they arrive from Shenzhen to Hong Kong at Lo Wu MTR station AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A health worker checks the temperature of a woman entering a subway station in Beijing Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A young child wears a protective mask and is covered in plastic while waiting to check in to a flight at Beijing Capital Airport The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday declared the coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ambulance crews arrive at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, as it prepares for a return flight from Wuhan, China. Eighty-three Britons and 27 foreign nationals who were trapped in Wuhan are being flown back to the UK Tom Maddick / SWNS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman carries a baby wearing a protective mask as they exit the arrival hall at Hong Kong High Speed Rail Station Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Camp beds at a Medical Assessment Center set up at the airport in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on the eve of the arrival of German citizens evacuated from Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Funeral parlour staff members in protective suits help a colleague with disinfection after they transferred a body at a hospital in Wuhan Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Muslims wearing masks pray for the victims of coronavirus at a mosque in Ahmedabad, India Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical officials waiting for people who wants to check the novel coronavirus at Myeongdong shopping district Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Children wear plastic bottles as makeshift homemade protection and protective masks while waiting to check in to a flight at Beijing Capital Airport Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A patient assisted by medical staff gets off an ambulance in Wuhan AFP/Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People line up to buy face masks from a medical supply company in Nanning, southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Countries began evacuating their citizens from the Chinese city hardest-hit by a new virus that has now infected more people in China than were sickened in the country by SARS Chinatopix via AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Millions spent their normally festive Lunar New Year holiday under lockdown Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Children with face masks wash their hands before prayer at Erawan shrine in Bangkok. Thailand has detected eight Coronavirus cases so far AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An Indonesian health officer points at the screen of a thermal scanner for passengers China confirmed that the deadly Wuhan coronavirus virus can be transmitted between humans AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Hospital workers wearing protective eyewear and masks examine an Indonesian student who returned from China in quarantine at a hospital in Banda Aceh AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ambulance staff dispose of an outfit at the hospital in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A person checks the temperature of a passenger to help stop the spread of a deadly virus as he arrives at the Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International airport in Palembang AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Nepali students, wearing face masks, attend a class at Matribhumi School in Bhaktapur, on the outskirts of Kathmandu AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Two Buddhist monks wear face masks while walking along a street in Yangon AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Staff disinfecting a residential area in Ruichang, part of Jiujiang in China's central Jiangxi province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers are seen at the construction site of a new hospital being built to treat patients from a deadly virus outbreak in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on January 27, 2020. - China is rushing to build a new hospital in a staggering 10 days to treat patients at the epicentre of a deadly virus outbreak that has stricken thousands of people, state media reported on January 24. (Photo by Hector RETAMAL / AFP) (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images) HECTOR RETAMAL AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Vapor blurs the goggles of an ambulance driver while they work, in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers producing facemasks at a factory in Yangzhou AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff getting on an ambulance in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A vendor of traditional masks wears a facial mask at his shop in Thamel EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An airport official checks the temperature of a passenger upon his arrival at the Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members arrive with a patient at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An ambulance driver talking with medical staff in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Wuhan Hygiene Emergency Response Team leave the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market The new coronavirus appears to have its origins in a seafood market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, a popular transport hub AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers produce protective suits at a factory in Nantong AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers scanned by thermal imaging for body temperature as they go through health measures and procedures after they landed at Rome's Fiumicino airport on a southern airlines flight from Wuhan Aeroporto Di Roma/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A Thai royal guard wears a mask while on duty at the Grand Palace in Bangkok EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing a face mask rides a nearly empty subway train in Beijing AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A shopper wearing goggles with a face mask and gloves uses a self checkout machine at a supermarket in Wuhan AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to Jinyintan hospital EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of the Italian Red Cross putting on protective gear, getting ready to give health checks to passengers that landed at Rome's Fiumicino airport on a southern airlines flight from Wuhan Aeroporto Di Roma/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A member of the Hong Kong government's Civil Aid Service gestures at the entrance to the Lady MacLehose Holiday Village which is being used as one of two quarantine centres for people who have been in close proximity with suspected cases of a SARS-type virus. Hong Kong will turn two holiday camps, including a former military barracks, into quarantine zones for people who may have come into contact with carriers of the Wuhan virus, officials announced AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff wearing protective suits at the Zhongnan hospital in Wuhan STR/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A Malaysia Health official checks passengers going through a thermal scanner upon their arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Staff disinfecting Yingtan North Railway Station, China China banned trains and planes from leaving the major city at the centre of a virus outbreak on January 23, seeking to seal off its 11 million people to contain the contagious disease that has claimed lives and spread to other countries AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A passenger walks past a quarantine control station at Narita airport, Japan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Patients queue up to seek treatment in Wuhan Tongji Hospital Fever Clinic, in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Quarantine workers spray disinfectant at Incheon International Airport, South Korea EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A member of staff checks the temperature of a guest entering the casino of the New Orient Landmark hotel in Macau, after it reported its first case of the new SARS-like virus AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to Jin Yintan hospital Little is known about the new disease which, if confirmed, would be only the seventh coronavirus known to science that can infect humans Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of the Three Gorges Medical Laboratory offering free masks to the public in Yichang, China AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Gabriel Leung, right, chair professor of public health medicine at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong, speaks about the extent of the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak in China AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of staff of the Wuhan Hygiene Emergency Response Team conducting searches on the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A quarantine officer at Incheon International Airport, South Korea, uses an electronic thermometer to check the temperature of passengers arriving by plane from Wuhan The virus causes symptoms of viral pneumonia, and has already led to several deaths EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A screen shows cancelled flights at Tianhe airport in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to Jinyintan hospital EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Health officials hand out information about the current coronavirus at Kuala Lumpur International Airport AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A store owner argues with security guards as he attempts to enter the closed Huanan wholesale seafood market AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers producing facemasks at a factory in Handan, China's northern Hebei province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff and security personnel stop patients' family members from being too close to the Jinyintan hospital Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus maya-goodfellowAn airport staff member uses a temperature gun to check people leaving Wuhan Tianhe International Airport AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A rescue worker walks past a notice about new coronavirus that has broken out in China Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Health officials wear face masks at an inspection site at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members carry a patient into the Jinyintan hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A staff member checks body temperature of a child after a train from Wuhan arrived at Hangzhou Railway Station in Hangzhou AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A quarantine station measures passenger body temperatures at Narita Airport JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers walk past a notice displayed near a quarantine control station at Narita airport EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers walk past a poster alerting on coronavirus screening ahead upon their arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An employee sprays disinfectant on a train, as a precaution against coronavirus, at Suseo Station in Seoul EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Kazakh sanitary-epidemiological service worker uses a thermal scanner to detect travellers from China who may have symptoms possibly connected with the previously unknown coronavirus, at Almaty International Airport, Kazakhstan Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Pharmacist Liu Zhuzhen stands near a sign reading "face masks are sold out" at her pharmacy in Shanghai AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus The Wuhan Medical Treatment Center, EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A worker in a protective suit at the closed seafood market in Wuhan Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers wear protective face masks at the departure hall of a high speed train station in Hong Kong AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A notice for passengers from Wuhan Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wears a mask while riding on mobike past the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market Getty

The minister added that she believed the development of a rapid diagnostic test within France was one of the reasons the country had been the first in Europe to confirm a case.

"You have to treat an epidemic as you would a fire, that's to say find the source very quickly," she added.

She confirmed the Bordeaux patient is a 48-year-old Frenchman of Chinese origin, and was taken to hospital after presenting classic flu-like symptoms having passed through Wuhan

They were in contact with about 10 people before he was taken into care, the minister said. French authorities are seeking to contact them.

The second, who also travelled to China, is receiving treatment in a hospital in Paris - although little is known of the circumstances surrounding their infection.

So far 939 cases have been confirmed globally, with 916 of those in China. Some 26 deaths have also been confirmed as having been caused by the disease.

Earlier on Friday a case of the virus was confirmed in Chicago, Illinois - marking the second instance of the illness in the US to be confirmed by the country's Centres for Disease Control.

The agency said it has 63 patients under investigation from 22 states, with two confirmed positive cases and 11 negative, so far.

It comes after a woman who travelled to France from Wuhan was tracked down after claiming she took drugs to mask potential symptoms of a deadly virus at the airport, according to authorities.

Ms Yan posted on Chinese social media that she took antipyretics and managed to pass through checks at the airport and enter French territory after suffering from a fever and a cough.

The Chinese ambassador received calls and emails from several Chinese citizens about the post, and contacted the woman to tell her to phone emergency services immediately, according to a spokesperson from Beijing's embassy in Paris.
Fudan University announced that it has suspended campus tours for outside visitors from Friday as a precaution against the spread of a coronavirus-related pneumonia outbreak.

Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Shanghai Theater Academy, Shanghai University and Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts have also decided to postpone their admission tests. New exam schedules will be released later.

The announcements were made in light of an outbreak of coronavirus-related pneumonia and the Ministry of Educations recent notices on epidemic prevention and control.

Tsinghua University and Peking University in Beijing have also both suspended campus tours from Friday and all prior reservations have been canceled.

Some artistic colleges, including the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, China Academy of Art in Zhejiang Province and Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts in Shaanxi Province have also announced the postponement of admission tests.

The ministry released a notice on Thursday calling for higher education institutions to take measures to prevent and control the disease, and adjust teaching arrangements in the next semester if necessary.

It asked educational authorities and schools not to organize large-scale activities or tests. For those which must continue as scheduled, organizers have to make emergency plans and adjust test settings while also reporting to health and education authorities.

It also asked educational authorities to tell students in their jurisdictions not to participate in competitions, exhibitions, tests and other large-scale activities held by social organizations.

The notice stressed that educational administrations and colleges in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province and epicenter of the pneumonia outbreak, should educate all faculty and students with knowledge of preventing the disease.

They are also asked to issue alerts to students remaining on campus and tell them not to go outside, if possible, and not to linger in crowded places. Schools are also asked to prevent outsiders from randomly entering campuses and cancel visits from tourism groups.
Troubled reality star Suzi Taylor will appear in court over allegations she assaulted a woman in a hotel lobby before stealing her phone.

The ex-TV star, 49, was arrested at 12:30pm on Thursday at a hotel in Caxton Street, Brisbane.

She has been charged with one count of stealing and one count of common assault, she is due to appear in court next month, the Courier-Mail reported.

The incident is the latest in a string of run-ins with the law.

The former model is awaiting trial after being accused of luring her alleged honeypot' victim to her luxury Brisbane apartment then beating him when he refused to hand over his bank details.

The Block star Suzi Taylor (pictured) has been accused of 'honey trapping' a Tinder date after she allegedly held him against his will

Just weeks earlier she was arrested outside her cousin's home in Brisbane where she was meant to be living as part of her strict bail conditions.

Her cousin told police Taylor hadn't been at the house from New Year's Eve until January 8 - which is in breach of the rules.

Southport Magistrates Court was told Taylor left the house on Christmas Day, saying she was visiting her children, and stayed in a halfway house.

Taylor's lawyer told the court the cousin had 'ratted' on her to police because she was jealous about who looked better in a pair of jeans.

Magistrate Pamela Dowse fined Taylor $300 after she pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching bail, but did not record a conviction, the Courier Mail reported.

Taylor told waiting media she 'lost a little bit of weight in prison so I needed a new pair of jeans' as she walked free on Saturday morning.

Queensland Police alleged the former reality star (pictured) and nude model then allegedly demanded money from the man but he refused to give anything to her

The former Penthouse Pet and nude model (pictured) denied having any affiliations with bikie gangs or owing them money

Taylor starred on The Block in 2015 but has since been charged with a number of offences relating to the incident involving the man she met on a dating app.

After discovering her 33-year-old victim had no cash on him, police claim she said she needed it to pay off 'rebels and bikies' chasing her for money.

She is alleged to have called for her flatmate and co-accused, Ali Ebrahimi, to come and help her, who soon tied the man up with a phone charger.

Along with Taylor, he is claimed to have then beat the victim while demanding the PIN to his phone to transfer themselves money.

Taylor allegedly told Ebrahimi: 'No, he isn't going anywhere, he has been here hours now. I have bills to pay, I have Rebels and bikies coming to my house chasing me for money, so I am not letting him go until I get my money.'

The former Penthouse Pet and nude model denied having any affiliations with bikie gangs or owing them money.

Taylor (pictured) was released on bail on December 16 under strict conditions, including not going to New Farm where the flat is located, or talking to Ebrahimi

Court documents allege the midnight liaison on October 29 went very wrong minutes after the unsuspecting man walked in the door.

Taylor, 49, had invited him for a drink via a message on another dating app, Plenty of Fish, and soon said they should 'take this into the bedroom'.

As they lay on her bed kissing, the former star of The Block, who the man knew as 'Katie', whipped off her top to expose her breasts - then allegedly made her demand.

'If you want to go any further you need to cough up some money... This is what I do for a living and my time is my money,' she allegedly said, the Courier Mail reported.

The man said in his statement filed with the court he was blindsided by this demand because he thought the encounter was a hookup not him hiring a prostitute.

'I believe by this comment Katie was implying that I needed to pay her for sex. This comment completely shocked me, and I have then said 'I am not paying for anything',' he told police.

Police in other court documents allege Taylor, who was in 2003 fined $600 for prostitution, is earning money 'by illegal means'.

Taylor starred alongside best friend Yvonne 'Voni' Cosier (pictured together) in the 2015 season of Channel Nine's The Block

Mother-of-three Suzi Taylor (pictured) allegedly demanded her Tinder date pay her $500 for sex because she owed money to 'bikies and rebels'

The mother-of-three in her statement said she didn't believe she was a drug addict, and didn't know what police meant in their allegation.

The Tinder date said after he refused to pay $500 he 'owed' her, she yelled that he was a pr**k, an a**ehole, and a thief, the man's statement alleged.

He told police she then called out to her flatmate and co-accused Ali Ebrahimi, 22, 'this guy has no money', who then came in the room.

Ebrahimi allegedly tied him to the bed with a phone charger before he and Taylor beat him while demanding the PIN to his phone to transfer themselves money.

Taylor allegedly told Ebrahimi: 'No, he isn't going anywhere, he has been here hours now. I have bills to pay, I have Rebels and bikies coming to my house chasing me for money, so I am not letting him go until I get my money.'

Prior to starring on The Block, Suzi posed nude for Penthouse magazine in the early 90s and once dated INXS star Michael Hutchence

The former Penthouse Pet and nude model in her statement denies having any affiliations with bikie gangs or owing them money.

The man alleged that after being beaten for some time, he gave up his PIN and Ebrahimi walked to an ATM at the New Farm IGA supermarket and stole $950.

'You better make sure this number is correct. If I come back here and it's not the right number you're dead,' Ebrahimi allegedly said before he left the flat.

Court documents state the alleged victim picked Taylor and Ebrahimi out of a photo board and posed for photographs of his bruises.

Taylor is charged with deprivation of liberty, unlawful detention, assault occasioning bodily harm in company, extortion, and drug possession.

Her lawyers told the court she denies the charges and intends to dispute the man's version of events at trial.

She previously claimed in court that she wasn't even on either of the dating apps she allegedly met and contacted the man on.

Taylor was released on bail on December 16 under strict conditions, including not going to New Farm where the flat is located, or talking to Ebrahimi.

She also has to report to police three days a week, not possess drugs or drink to excess, live at her cousin's Gold Coast home, and has an 8pm curfew.

She next faces Brisbane Magistrates Court on February 3.

Taylor was also pictured partying with troubled ex-NRL star Greg Inglis (pictured together) during a three-day bender in May
[January 24, 2020] Mickey Smith Jr. Is the Recipient of the 2020 Music Educator Award Presented by the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum

Recording Academy:







WHO: Mickey Smith Jr. of Maplewood Middle School in Sulphur, Louisiana, is the recipient of the 2020 Music Educator Award presented by the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum. In addition, nine music teachers have been announced as finalists for the award. Initial nominations were submitted from all 50 states. Nominations and applications for the 2021 Music Educator Award are now open via www.grammymusicteacher.com. A complete list of the winner and finalists is below.

Music Educator Award Recipient School Name City State Mickey Smith Jr. Maplewood Middle School Sulphur La. Finalists School Name City State Elizabeth Bennett Buffalo Grove High School Buffalo Grove Ill. Stephen Cox (News - Alert) Eastland High School Eastland Texas Victor de los Santos Santa Ana High School Santa Ana Calif. Geoffrey Gould Swift (News - Alert) River Elementary School Belchertown Mass. Elizabeth Hering Churchill High School Livonia Mich. Jason Majerczak Drexel Hill Middle School Drexel Hill Pa. Chris Maunu Arvada West High School Arvada Colo. Lynne Ruda Lancaster High School Lancaster N.Y. Kokoe Tanaka-Suwan Bronx Global Learning Institute for Girls Bronx N.Y. WHAT: A partnership and joint presentation of the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum, the Music Educator Award was established to recognize current educators (kindergarten through college, public and private schools) who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education and who demonstrate a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining music education in schools. The award is open to current U.S. music teachers, and anyone can nominate a teacher-students, parents, friends, colleagues, community members, school deans, and administrators. Teachers are also able to nominate themselves, and nominated teachers are notified and invited to fill out an application. Each year, one recipient is selected from 10 finalists and recognized for their remarkable impact on students' lives. The 2020 honoree will be in Los Angeles, the host city of the GRAMMY Awards, and will be recognized during GRAMMY Week. The recipient will also attend the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards ceremony on Jan. 26 and a range of GRAMMY Museum events. The winner will receive a $10,000 honorarium with a matching school grant. The nine additional finalists will receive a $1,000 honorarium, and their schools will also receive matching grants. The grants provided to the finalists and schools are made possible by the generosity and support of the GRAMMY Museum's Education Champion Ford Motor Company (News - Alert) Fund. In addition, the American Choral Directors Association, National Association for Music Education, NAMM Foundation, and National Education Association support this program through outreach to their constituencies. BIO: Mickey Smith Jr.'s mission is to reach every student who enters his classroom. Smith serves as the lead band director at Maplewood Middle School in Sulphur, Louisiana. Under his direction, the band has grown more than 500 percent and now encompasses nearly 50 percent of the total school population. His goal is to help provide a quality education to each child in his classroom and throughout his community by promoting positive learning experiences where children not only grow musically, but personally too. Smith sees music and education as opportunities for all to discover the best in others and themselves. Through his nonprofit, MusicMakers2U, Smith provides instruments to children in the community. Throughout the school year, Smith conveys a message to students that each one of them has a "sound." Smith describes his personal "sound" as his ability to entertain, educate and elevate everyone to excellence. This is made evident as he demonstrates the power of music by emotionally connecting with students, educators and audiences throughout his entire community and across the country. ABOUT THE GRAMMY MUSEUM Established in 2008, the GRAMMY Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating a greater understanding of the history and significance of music through exhibits, education, grants, preservation initiatives, and public programming. Paying tribute to our collective musical heritage, the Museum explores and celebrates all aspects of the art form-from the technology of the recording process to the legends who've made lasting marks on our cultural identity. For more information, visit www.grammymuseum.org, "like" the GRAMMY Museum on Facebook, and follow @GRAMMYMuseum on Twitter (News - Alert) and Instagram. ABOUT THE RECORDING ACADEMY The Recording Academy represents the voices of performers, songwriters, producers, engineers, and all music professionals. Dedicated to ensuring the recording arts remain a thriving part of our shared cultural heritage, the Academy honors music's history while investing in its future through the GRAMMY Museum, advocates on behalf of music creators, supports music people in times of need through MusiCares, and celebrates artistic excellence through the GRAMMY Awards - music's only peer-recognized accolade and highest achievement. As the world's leading society of music professionals, we work year-round to foster a more inspiring world for creators. For more information about the Academy, please visit www.grammy.com. For breaking news and exclusive content, follow @RecordingAcad on Twitter, "like" Recording Academy on Facebook, and join the Recording Academy's social communities on Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. About Ford Motor Company Fund As the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, Ford Fund's mission is to strengthen communities and help make people's lives better. Working with dealers and nonprofit partners in more than 60 countries, Ford Fund provides access to opportunities and resources that help people reach their full potential. Since 1949, Ford Fund has invested more than $2 billion in programs that support education, promote safe driving, enrich community life and encourage employee volunteering. For more information, visit www.fordfund.org or join us at @FordFund on Facebook (News - Alert) and Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005063/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
As they head into Day 4 of impeachment trial, Democrats hope to leave senators wanting more

As the impeachment trial of U.S. President Donald Trump enters its fourth day in the U.S. Senate, stamina is waning.

Among viewers at home, interest has dropped off  from about 11 million viewers to a little less than eight million, a mere six per cent of those expected to vote in the November 2020 election.

In the halls of the Senate, the press corps is getting restless, still chasing every media availability but privately cursing the long hours they've put in covering a trial that has stretched beyond nine hours each of the past three days.

On the Senate floor, while some senators keenly flip through massive binders of supporting documentation, highlighting relevant sections, others slouch, yawn or slip in and out of the chamber, where strict rules dictate they're only allowed to consume milk or water.

Democrats are hoping they can sustain the punishing pace for at least one more day as they wrap up their case against the president Friday and make a final push to convince the Senate and the American people that Trump's attempt to pressure Ukraine to investigate a political rival was a brazen abuse of power intended to give him an advantage in the 2020 election.

"It is an unprecedented betrayal of the national interest," said Jerrold Nadler, one of seven Democratic legislators, or so-called managers, prosecuting the case, Thursday.

"It is a shocking corruption of the election process. And it is without doubt a crime against the constitution, warranting  demanding  removal from office."

WATCH | Jerrold Nadler lays out the case for abuse of power:

'Effective use of the House evidence'

The Democrats have been using video clips of testimony from the House impeachment hearings last year and Trump's own statements to methodically weave a director's commentary of sorts, chronicling a by now familiar story: Trump's withholding of $400 million US in military aid and a White House meeting as a means of pressuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son Hunter and revive a discredited theory that Ukraine, not Russia, had interfered in the 2016 U.S. election.

Story continues

"This is actually a very effective use of the House evidence because it digests the moments that constitute evidence for the Democrats," said Kathleen Hall Jamieson, an expert in political communication at the University of Pennsylvania who runs FactCheck.org.

Mary F. Calvert/Reuters

And while much of the testimony was familiar to anyone who paid attention during the House hearings, several senators from both sides of the aisle admitted they were hearing some of it for the first time.

"This may have been the first time that they have heard the entire case presented sequentially," Jamieson said. "And they are having a very different experience than the public has had, because very few in the public are watching from one o'clock until whenever the proceedings [end]."

Although several of Trump's defenders in and outside the Senate denounced the presentation as same old, same old, Republicans might end up using their own samples of House testimony to rebut the Democrats' case when they begin presenting their defence Saturday.

'The breach between the parties'

It would be a mistake for the lawyers representing Trump to discount evidence of misconduct altogether, said Michael Gerhardt, an expert on constitutional law and the legislative process at the North Carolina School of Law.

Instead, they should clearly spell out how the Senate should assess whether it rises to the level of an impeachable offence.

"Merely saying all he did was perfect is shameful. It is false and leads any neutral observers to lose confidence in their case," said Gerhardt.

Jacquelyn Martin/The Associated Press

Gerhardt was a witness for both sides in the 1999 impeachment trial of Bill Clinton and in the Trump impeachment hearings in the House, and Nadler played some of his testimony at the start of Thursday's session.

He says he regrets that there are no joint witnesses in the current impeachment process.

"The breach between the parties is much worse than it was 20 years ago, and it was bad then."

Whetting senators' appetite

The importance of hearing from additional witnesses, such as former national security adviser John Bolton and acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, has been a key focus for the Democrats. It will likely come up again in their final day of arguments as they attempt to prove the second article of impeachment and show that Trump obstructed Congress by stymying the inquiry into how he handled the Ukraine matter.

They'll need to convince at least two Republicans (along with the two independents, who are expected to vote with Democrats) to get the 51-member majority they need to vote in favour of calling of witnesses once Trump's defence team presents their case.

Adam Schiff, the congressman leading the prosecution, has goaded senators over the past two days, hinting at the incriminating details that might be in the diplomatic cables and other subpoenaed documents that the Democrats have also requested but that the White House has thus far refused to release.

"They're yours for the asking," he told senators on the first day of arguments.

WATCH | Adam Schiff calls on senators to demand the release of subpoenaed documents:

"As they built the narrative, they would establish what they knew, argue that it was strong enough to impeach based on what they knew and then say, 'But wouldn't you also want to know this?'" Louis Seidman, a professor of constitutional law at Georgetown University Law Center, said of the Democrats' strategy.

Most Americans want to hear from witnesses

It's a strategy that seems to be tapping into public sentiment. An ABC News/Washington Post poll taken Jan. 20-23 found that 66 per cent of Americans, including 45 per cent of Republicans, agreed that the Senate should call new witnesses to testify.

"They have to sustain public support for witnesses. In fact, get it to increase if they can, because that puts pressure on the susceptible Republicans who might be willing to vote that way," Seidman said.

Joshua Roberts/Reuters

Rick Scott, of Florida, is one of those Republicans. But he told reporters Thursday that Democrats had their chance to pursue witnesses during the House hearings and could have gone to court to fight the president's refusal to comply with their subpoenas.

He and other Republicans have, however, said they want Hunter Biden to testify about his association with Ukrainian energy company Burisma, where he was a paid member of the board from 2014 to 2019. Trump and other Republicans have alleged Joe Biden pressured Ukraine to dismiss the country's prosecutor general in order to shield Burisma from a corruption investigation.

In their arguments Thursday, Democrats tried to debunk that theory and show that Biden's actions were part a wider international effort to root out corruption.

"The whole idea of a fair trial is you bring in relevant witnesses," said Democratic senator and presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren on her way into the Senate chamber Wednesday.

Julio Cortez/The Associated Press

"Relevant witnesses here are people who know what Donald Trump did and what his intent was and what its impact was on our national security and on the security of the Ukraine. Hunter Biden doesn't have any knowledge of that or any bearing on that."

Her fellow presidential candidate Senator Amy Klobuchar said she's been keeping the pressure up on her Republican colleagues, urging them to at least agree to hear from witnesses, even if they don't vote to remove Trump from office.

"Why are you here if you're not going to stand up?" she said she told senators.

Jacquelyn Martin/The Associated Press

'Unprecedented coverup'

Democrats used strong language in their presentation to the Senate to characterize Trump's attempt to get Ukraine to announce investigations that the House managers said served only his own interests: "plot," "scheme," "unprecedented coverup." (He countered with some of his favourite terms: Nadler was a "sleazebag"; Schiff a "con job" and the trial "a hoax," he said from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.)

They went to great lengths to underscore the gravity of the charges and the historic nature of the process, repeatedly invoking the so-called Framers of the Constitution.

"Impeachment is not for petty offences," Nadler said on the second day of arguments. "It does not apply to acts that are merely unwise or unpopular. "

And if there was any doubt about just how sombre of an occasion it was, the opening words of the sergeant at arms at the start of every session were there to remind us: "Hear ye! Hear ye! Hear ye! All persons are commanded to keep silent, on pain of imprisonment."

As were the stern security staff who were quick to reprimand reporters and lookers-on for the smallest infraction, handing them a photocopied list of rules, with the one they've violated emphatically underlined: no cellphones, no talking, no eating, no leaning, no standing.

WATCH | Adam Schiff they'll be authors of their own decline if they don't hold Trump accountable:

Democrats argue against leaving Trump's fate to voters

In advance of their final day of arguments, the managers presenting the Democrats' case issued a warning to those who might be convinced Trump abused the power of his office but hesitant to remove him.

"The president's misconduct cannot be decided at the ballot box," Schiff said near the end of another nine-hour-plus session. "For we cannot be assured that the vote will be fairly won."

But it will take more than that to convince Trump's most vocal defenders in the Senate that he must go.

"When it comes to replacing this president nine months-plus from the election, you've got an uphill battle with me, because I really do believe that the best group people to pick a president are the voters," Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham told reporters.

Handout/U.S. Senate TV/Reuters

Even Seidman, who supports the impeachment process, thinks a vote to remove Trump would be risky and potentially destabilizing given that a percentage of Americans would find such a process tantamount to a coup d'etat.

It's also highly unlikely to happen, contingent as it is on a two-thirds majority in the Republican-controlled chamber, where Democrats hold 47 of 100 seats.

But that doesn't necessarily mean the impeachment process is a futile exercise, said Seidman.

"There is the impact that this has on the American people, on Trump's chances for re-election, on his historical reputation, on how much political power he has going forward," he said.

WATCH | Adam Schiff warns of dire consequences if Trump remains in office:
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Staten Island hospital physicians are on heightened alert for novel coronavirus Friday, as a second case has been confirmed in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

We are on very, very high alert for coronavirus now, said Dr. Harry Kopolovich, chairman of the emergency department at Richmond University Medical Center. "Our local health services are fully aware and prepared to deal with a pandemic if one does in effect occur.

In both U.S. cases, which occurred in Chicago and Seattle, the disease affected people who had recently traveled to Wuhan, China, the CDC said. The patients were immediately isolated in their respective hospitals, federal health authorities have said.

A patient at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey who was evaluated Thursday night for possible infection was determined not to have the disease, the hospital said. The virus has also been detected in Thailand, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea.

During a press briefing Friday morning, CDC directors warned that the United States will likely see more cases in the coming days. Doctors have said oftentimes that patients are carrying the virus but do not display symptoms.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said on Friday that the city is acting on the assumption that coronavirus cases in New York City are inevitable because the city has the largest Chinese immigrant population in any city outside of Asia and many have traveled to the affected city of Wuhan, China.

The mayor said Friday that new information suggests that the virus is spread only through prolonged exposure. "It is not a situation as with some other diseases, where a single contact would be enough,'' he said. Its important to just go about your lives, continue living as you have.''

Yet, the mayor urged New Yorkers to be vigilant about any prolonged exposure to anyone who might have the disease. "In which case the answer is the same -- get to a doctor,'' he said. Get help immediately.

Introduced as 2019-CoV, novel coronavirus has caused severe illness and hundreds of deaths. Other patients have had more mild symptoms and have been discharged, according to the CDC, which still considers the threat to the U.S. public to be low at this time.

Symptoms include fever, cough and trouble breathing. No cases have yet been reported in New York state, according to the city Department of Health. The mysterious virus has killed at least 26 people and sickened more than 800 others in mainland China, forcing the country to shut down public transportation and close off major cities in an effort to halt the spread of the virus during the Lunar New Year travel rush.

At all three Staten Island hospital sites, physicians are on high alert for patients exhibiting flu symptoms who have recently traveled in China. Precautions in play at both RUMC and Staten Island University Hospitals north and south sites include more robust triage screenings for patients, the wearing of surgical masks by staff and patients, and the use of isolation rooms when appropriate.

"My concern with coronavirus is that it is a novel virus with very little known about transmissibility, virulence and duration of illness, said Kopolovich. Additionally, information coming out of China historically tends to be sterilized before reaching the west.

The ED chair stressed that he didnt want to spread fear or excessive concern. With respect to specifics, common-sense precautions must prevail,'' he said. Hand-washing and good overall hygiene must be paramount."

"At SIUH, emergency department staffs are preparing for the care of a potential coronavirus patient,'' said Dr. Nicole J. Berwald, chairwoman of the emergency department at both sites. "This means we are educating ourselves on what is known to date regarding transmission, presenting symptoms, risk to various patient populations, etc.''

The CDC said it has been proactively preparing for the introduction of the virus in the United States for weeks, including alerting clinicians on Jan. 8 to be on the lookout for patients with respiratory symptoms and a history of travel to Wuhan, China.

In the emergency department at Richmond University Medical Center, posters warn patients in several languages. (Courtesy of Richmond University Medical Center.)

Staten Island hospitals are following CDC guidelines for testing and management of novel coronavirus. Currently, testing for this virus must take place at CDC, but the agency has pledged to make the tests available with domestic partners in coming weeks.

At SIUH, plans have been put into play to identify patients as early in their care as possible, Berwald said, noting that electronic systems at the hospitals have also been updated to prompt pertinent questions to identify patients who should be considered for a coronavirus diagnosis.

Currently, the CDC is checking travelers from China for fever and other symptoms at JFK airport, as well as at airports in San Francisco and Los Angeles.

It is expected that New York City cases are most likely to occur in neighborhoods with high Chinese populations, officials have said.
A former New Mexico State University student faces up to three years in prison for allegedly shooting a pledge in the leg during a fraternity hazing incident.

Miguel 'JJ' Altamirano, 21, has been charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after he allegedly shot Jonathan Sillas in the leg during a Kappa Sigma fraternity event in November of last year.

Sillas - a criminal justice major at the university - was ordered to face away from members of the fraternity during an initiation event, ABC News reports.

Scroll down for video

Miguel 'JJ' Altamirano, 21, was charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after he allegedly shot Jonathan Sillas (pictured) in the leg during a Kappa Sigma fraternity event in November of last year

The student was shocked when he was shot in the leg, having expected to be paddled from behind.

'One of the guys pulled me to the side and he was like, 'We didn't do this to you' and I was like, 'What are you talking about?' and then he told me to turn around,' Sillas said.

'I was just like thinking that they would just hit me with a paddle or something like that. I'm not like too scared about that.'

The student was shocked when he was shot in the leg, having expected to be paddled from behind during the initiation event. Pictured Kappa Sigma Fraternity

Sillas started to panic once he realized that the student had a gun.

'Whenever I turned around, he reached and pulled the gun out of the backpack,' Sillas explained to KVIA. 'I wasn't watching but I heard him click it and then I started freaking out.'

C.J. McEllhinney, who is representing the defendant, says his client didn't mean to intentionally shoot Sillas. He added that the students had been 'joking around'.

Kappa Sigma has been suspended until the fall semester of 2024

'The evidence in this case is consistent with negligent handling of a firearm and not the crime of aggravated assault,' McEllhinney said on Thursday. 'It is not uncommon for the State of New Mexico to overcharge criminal defendants.'

Altamirano was expelled from the school in November, according to his lawyer.

'My client never intended to hurt anyone and is remorseful that Mr. Sillas was injured,' McEllhinney said. This unfortunate incident occurred in the context of a fraternity event.'

Kappa Sigma has been suspended until the fall semester of 2024.
DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Friday, January 24, expressed support for President Rodrigo Duterte's threat to scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States, saying the cancellation of a senator's US visa is a "direct affront" to the President and his drug war.

I can understand why PRRD is peeved by the cancellation of Senator Batos visa because of alleged extrajudicial killings in connection with the drug war. Most especially that Bato was specifically targeted, Lorenzana said in a statement, referring to Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa.

He noted that Dela Rosa, who is a former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, launched Duterte's war on illegal drugs in 2016.

It is a direct affront to PRRD being the architect of the drug war that he started upon his assumption of office. He ordered Bato, then the newly installed Chief PNP, to launch the drug war and enjoined the entire PNP to do their duties and pledged to would back them up. That he would take responsibility for their official actions. That he would go to prison for them. He is just being true to his promise, he added.

Lorenzana said the ball is already in the hands of the US government to react to the statement of Duterte.

No more bases. They have to start to talk to us because they have to go," Duterte had said.

Dela Rosa, who announced Wednesday that his US visa had been cancelled, said he was not aware of the reason for the cancellation.

But he said he had heard reports that it was related to the drug war which he led after being appointed as the chief PNP when Duterte took office in 2016. (SunStar Philippines)
The European Parliament will meet on January 29 to discuss and ratify the agreement.

President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen have signed an agreement on the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union.

Read alsoZelensky: Right moment for Ukraine to join EU after Brexit

"Today I signed the UK Withdrawal Agreement for the EU together with @vonderleyen," Michel wrote on Twitter on January 24, 2020.

"Things will inevitably change but our friendship will remain. We start a new chapter as partners and allies. Hate d'ecrire ensemble cette nouvelle page [Look forward to writing this new page together]," he tweeted.

"@eucopresident Charles Michel and I have just signed the Agreement on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU, opening the way for its ratification by the European Parliament," Ursula von der Leyen said on Twitter.

The European Parliament will meet on January 29 to discuss and ratify the agreement.

Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday signed the Brexit bill and thus paved the way for the country to leave the EU next week.

Britain will officially leave the European Union on January 31.
He then rattled off what he regarded as the 15 most important concepts, in no particular order. From those Ill explain, in order, the five I consider to be most significant.

Many economists consider opp cost to be the single most important and fundamental concept in economics. Credit:Gabrielle Charotte

More than a year ago, the boss of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Rod Sims  surely the most experienced senior econocrat evading retirement in Canberra  began a speech by saying economics had become too mathematical and that to be a good economist all you needed was a deep intuitive feel for 10 or 15 concepts.

If youve ever had the feeling you ought to know a lot more about economics than you do  even if only to make it harder for economists to bamboozle you  heres my long-weekend special offer: the key concepts of the discipline explained in one article. As many as I can fit, anyway.

The first is one you should have heard of: opportunity cost.

Many economists consider opp cost to be the single most important and fundamental concept in economics, and the disciplines most useful contribution to the betterment of mankind. Indeed, thats the view Professor John Quiggin, of the University of Queensland, takes in his book Economics in Two Lessons, which I recommend as the best book to introduce you to economics.

Quiggin says the opportunity cost of anything of value is what you must give up to get it. Our wants are almost infinite, but our resources are limited, so we have to make choices. Economists eternal message to individuals and to the community is: think carefully before you spend your money, make sure youre spending it on what you really want because you cant spend it twice.

Really? That complicated, huh? Quiggin says the lesson of opportunity cost is easy to state but hard to learn. We keep forgetting to apply it. For instance, Prime Minister Scott Morrison is saying hes not going to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions if the opportunity cost is to endanger jobs in the coal industry.

Sounds fair enough until you realise hes saying jobs in a particular industry matter more to him than us doing all we can to help reduce global warming (which will destroy jobs in many industries).
Press Release

24 January 2020

Madrid, Spain - The role of tourism in the new European Green Deal was highlighted at the FITUR trade fair. On the back of the recent launch of the Green Deal, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) invited Ministers of Tourism from across Europe and representatives from the European Parliament and the European Travel Commission (ETC) to Madrid for a high-level conversation on the vital role the tourism sector will play if the ambitious sustainability goals are to be met.

Advertisements

The Green Deal will form an integral part of the Commission's strategy to implement the UN's 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals and pledges to make Europe the first carbon-neutral continent by 2050. Recognizing the role that tourism will play in achieving this, UNWTO used the occasion of FITUR to provide a platform for EU and non-EU stakeholders, including representatives from both the public and private sectors. Established at the start of a new five-year period for the European Commission, this platform will advocate for tourism to be a central part of the Green Deal.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said: "The tourism sector has an obligation to use its unique power to lead the response to the climate emergency and ensure responsible growth. UNWTO is committed to accelerating progress towards low carbon emission tourism, and I am delighted to see that, in this regard, UNWTO and the European Commission are on the same page."

The Secretary of State for Tourism of Spain, the country that hosts UNWTO, Isabel Oliver, added: "A more prominent presence in the political structure of the European Union would allow the importance of tourism to be put on the agenda as a lever to achieve the challenges that European policy has identified, including the Green Deal."

The FITUR event also provided a platform for Croatia, which currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, to present its priorities for tourism. Frano Matusic, Secretary of State for Tourism of Croatia, addressed his fellow Ministers and public and private sector leaders, highlighting his country's commitment to sustainability and low-carbon growth.

Mr. Matusic, said: "Tourism is a significant economic factor in the world GDP, but at the same time it affects the preservation of cultural heritage, the environment, the labor market, infrastructure, etc. As these challenges are common to all Member States, it is important to address these issues in a systematic manner at the both European and global level. Implementation and promotion of sustainable development policies are the backbone of Croatia's EU Council Presidency in the field of tourism, and Croatia will therefore continue to strengthen its co-operation initiative precisely to ensure tourism's success in the future."

According to the latest UNWTO data, the EU28 Member States received 577 million international tourists in 2019, a 3% increase on the previous year. In 2018, receipts generated by international tourism generated 407 billion euros across all 28 states, around 33% of the world total. The UNWTO data also shows that Europe continues to be the leading global region for tourist numbers, welcoming 51% of all arrivals in 2019.
Music is a common language. One that transcends borders and division. It has the potential to lift our souls, speak to our higher selves and open our hearts and minds.

This is the essence of the Gurwitz 2020 San Antonio International Piano Competition. It is a wonderful opportunity for music lovers of all ages to listen to and celebrate some of the brightest rising stars in classical piano from around the world. The music begins Sunday with a free concert at the Pearl Stable, showcasing the contests judges. Free concerts will occur throughout the week as the competition unfolds.

Founded in 1983 by music lovers (the first competition was in 1984) and previously known as the San Antonio International Piano Competition, this event is now under the umbrella of Musical Bridges Around the World. It has been rebranded as the Gurwitz 2020 San Antonio International Piano Competition to honor Ruth Jean Gurwitz, a great supporter of piano music who helped raise the profile of the competition with her volunteer work.

Musical Bridges Around the World has built on this foundation. The nonprofit, led by CEO Anya Grokhovski, a Russian-born concert pianist, has broadened the competition in interesting ways, raising its stature while reflecting the groups global focus and emphasis on making music accessible.

What began as a field of 76 young talents has been winnowed to 12. They come from Italy, Russia, South Korea, China, Canada and Ukraine. They will begin performing Monday and Tuesday.

As the competition narrows, in some ways it also broadens. For example, on Wednesday, semifinalists will perform music of Latin or Spanish origin  a nod to San Antonio and our unique citys place in the world.

On Friday, three finalists will improvise with members of Yo-Yo Mas Silkroad Ensemble. They will join percussionist John Hadfield and clarinetist Kinan Azmeh to perform Murmurs From the Exile, which was commissioned for the competition and composed by San Antonios very own Ethan Wickman. Its here the players will have the opportunity to improvise  possibly pushing them out of their comfort zones.

Nobody in the world of classical piano does that, Grokhovski said during a recent Editorial Board meeting.

On Saturday, finalists perform with the San Antonio Symphony at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts  the only concert that is not free, although tickets are reasonably priced.

The talent level is world-class  reflected in the Gurwitzs acceptance as a member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions  and the music will be sublime.

But what makes this competition so significant is how it brings piano music to so many parts of San Antonio. There are the free concerts, which are a gift to the community. But there will also be masterclasses and workshops with university students, visits by musicians to area schools, and organizers have said more than 3,500 children will attend these concerts.

Who knows what will spark in their young minds and hearts. That is the gift of music, a common language to be cherished by all.

If this sounds pretty good to you, head online to musicalbridges.org/gurwitz-2020/ to find out more about the competition and various concerts.
A homeless man stands with a cart of his belongings on a street in Los Angeles, Calif., on Jan. 8, 2020. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

Homelessness Key Issue at 2020s First Budget Hearing in California

The pressing issue of homelessness took center stage at the California State Assemblys first budget hearing on Jan. 22.

Governor Gavin Newsom announced his 202021 budget Jan. 10, and will be finalized this summer after a series of hearings examining its proposals.

According to Budget Vice Chair Jay Obernolte (R-Big Bear Lake) and legislative analyst Gabriel Petek, California is entering its eleventh year of economic expansionthe longest in state history since World War II.

Newsoms $222.2 billion budget is balanced and includes $153 in the general fund, said Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Finance Vivek Viswanathan. He projected operating surpluses in the following three years and $21 billion in reserves by years end.

While the overall tone of the hearing was positive toward the budget proposals, Assemblymembers noted some shortcomings in plans to address homelessness, and a heated discussion arose around groundwater management.

Homelessness

Assemblywoman Luz M. Rivas (D-Arleta) commended Newsoms prioritization of the homelessness crisis. Were all feeling this crisis statewide, she said. I feel a sense of urgency that our state be effective in resolving this crisis. And I think the investments in this budget show that the governor also feels that.

Rivas suggested restructuring and streamlining the entities overseeing the homlessness programs funded in the budget.

Assemblyman Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) also said he was happy the budget emphasized help for the homelessness. However, he said, the $75 million package falls short of what we should be doing.

Bloom wants to see more rent subsidies. He said that 133 people are being housed per day in Los Angeles County, but 150 are becoming homeless because they cant afford the rent.

These are ongoing issues that are not really one-time concerns, he added. I want to urge the administration to find an ongoing supply of funds to address these issues that are not going to go away this year, they are not going to go away next year, and wed like to foresee the time when we reach equilibrium  on this issue.

James C. Ramos (D-Highland) said crisis residency treatments for mental health issues need to be extended. We need crisis residency treatment longer term [in order] to help make sure that were getting people equipped  to be successful in the homes were trying to get them to, he said.

In this file image a homeless person sleeps by his shopping cart on a downtown sidewalk in the early morning hours of April 19, 2006, in Los Angeles, Calif. (David McNew/Getty Images)

Committee Chair Philip Y. Ting (D-San Francisco) said the budget plans for addressing homelessness are good, but he noted the realistic limitations they will encounter. Even in this administrations tenure, we probably wont be able to solve the problem just given how long it takes to construct housing, how long it takes to construct permanent supportive housing, he said.

Even if everything went perfectly during all of our tenure, we could only hope to really make a dent going into the next administration, frankly.

Sustainable Groundwater Management Act

The most combative exchange between the Assembly and the Department of Finance centered around the impact of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in the San Joaquin Valley.

SGMA is a three-bill legislative package that was signed into law by former Governor Jerry Brown in 2014. The motive for the law was to bring groundwater basins into balanced levels of pumping and recharge by about 2040.

Assemblyman Devon J. Mathis (R-Visalia) said some projections have estimated a loss of up to $2 billion.

Have you guys done any projections on the crop loss due to the implications of SGMA? Mathis asked, citing a potential 30 percent decline in productivity. If the San Joaquin Valley becomes a dust bowl because of loss of water due to SGMA [and] environmental regulationsand our row croppers dont plant, your entire budget could be shot. Is that on your radar?

Low waters at Lake Success in East Porterville, a town in Californias San Joaquin Valley, during a drought on Feb. 11, 2015. (David McNew/Getty Images)

Sergio Aguilar, principal program budget analyst for the Department of Finance, said he was not aware of specific numbers on crop loss.

Aguilar mentioned several SGMA-related investments in the budgetsincluding a $395 million bond set aside for SGMA implementationbefore Mathis cut him off.

If we cant move the water, none of those other programs are really going to be effective, Mathis countered. Thats not going to help with row croppers deciding on whether or not theyre going to plant this season or not.  Put yourself in their shoes. If you had to make a decision today, what are you going to do?

Mathis contended that the row croppers decision could skew the entire budget.

We dont have any additional proposals other than the SGMA-related investments and water-related investments that we do include in the budget, Aguilar said.

Thats what I think everybodys afraid of, Mathis said. We can talk about how were going to have surplus and everything else, but if this actually happens, and the valley actually does a 30 percent drop, its going to skew the entire thing.

Mathis responded to Aguilars following interjection by concluding, So were going to spend more money to study what we should have already done. Thats fantastic.

As the meeting approached adjournment, Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale) commented on the rapidly diminishing number of attendees as he addressed the Department of Finance members.

You guys have done a pretty commendable job of performing what I would feel comfortable characterizing as the Capitals version of So You Think You Can Dance, he said. Except, in that competition, the contestants dissipatenot the judges. And it seems like weve lost several judges.

In the sparsely populated room, Lackey lamented that allocations for Californias rape crisis centers had dropped from $5 million to $45,000 over the course of one year.

With the record-breaking budget year that weve been talking about and the positive economic outlook  I find it really troubling that the administration has chosen to defund the rape crisis centers, he said.

Lackey anticipated Viswanathans response by noting the ongoing investment of $1.8 million for various related programs. Still, he said, the drop from $5 million to $1.8 million is a dramatic reduction.

Two budget subcommittee hearings are scheduled during the next few weeks. The first, on resources and transportation, is scheduled for Jan. 31. The second, on public safety, is scheduled for Feb. 25.
A British teacher and suspected member of a sick paedophile ring accused of producing nine million child porn images has offered to be chemically castrated at trial.

Samuel Kinge, 38, from Harlow, appeared in court in Dendermonde, Belgium, this morning alongside three other alleged paedophiles in the country's largest ever child pornography case.

Some of the other men's own family were allegedly used to make their vile films - which also featured vulnerable youngsters from India who were promised food and money in exchange for performing sex acts.

Pictures and videos of thousands of children from across the world were found stashed in the ring members' houses.

Lawyer Kris Luyckx from Child Focus said the men 'remain dangerous for life' and 'have created a manual "How do I abuse children in the most horrible way possible"

Samuel Kinge, 38, from Harlow, appeared in court in Dendermonde, Belgium, this morning alongside three other alleged paedophiles in the country's largest ever child pornography case

A back view of the bench of the accused in the trial of five men - three Belgians, a Dutchman and a British - accused of being at the heart of a paedophile network in Dendermonde, Belgium

A back view one of the accused during the trial of five suspected paedophiles in Belgium today

Kinge told the court: 'I have never wanted to harm anyone, and acknowledge the pain I have caused to the families involved,' according to Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad.

'In a sense of loneliness and a search for friendship, I came in contact with peers online. I got trapped by it, and it was hard to get back out.

'But it was a fantasy, I would never do those things for real. Watching those images helped me deal with pressure and stress, but now I feel great shame.

'I have tried everything to heal: sports, church, music... But I live with fear. I am therefore prepared for chemical castration.'

Belgians Dimitry D, 34, Michael T, 40, Niels M, 31, and Dutchman Lars de R, 28, are also standing trial.

Files seized by police detail the horrific log of their ring and throw light on how they would rent out their own children for each other's sexual pleasure.

The ring would regularly meet in public places for the children to be abused - Niels M brought his children to a playpark and wrote: 'But whoever wants to play with... children will have to pay'.

Their taste for underage children was laid bare in chat message where one wrote: 'I also do everything under the age of six. Favo age around five.'

The men are accused with producing images and videos between 2004 and 2017, before they were finally caught.

In May 2015, Michael T was caught photographing children on Blankenberge, sparking a police raid on his home.

Some of the files found stashed in the suspected paedophiles' houses, leading to their trial

Belgians Michael T, 40, Niels M, 31, and Dutchman Lars de R, 28, also appeared in court this morning (back of the heads pictured)

They discovered a haul of child porn and also evidence linking him with Dimitry, who was also found to have indecent files.

After trawling through the files, Europol were alarmed that so many of the pictures and videos had not been seen in circulation before.

Suspecting they were producing their own, they launched 'Operation Azrael' across several European countries which eventually implicated all five men.

Lawyer Kris Luyckx from Child Focus said the men 'remain dangerous for life' and 'have created a manual "How do I abuse children in the most horrible way possible".'

Niels M today told the court that he had been abused himself but denied touching his own family members.

Lars de R reportedly broke down in tears and sobbed: 'I knew that what I felt was not right.'

Dimitry D was not present but sent a lawyer to represent him.

The trial continues.
ROME, N.Y.  The Rite Aid at 1727 Black River Boulevard in Rome is the latest of many stores that plan to close since Walgreens took over ownership in 2018.

The Rome store is set to close on Monday, Feb. 10.

People who use this Rite Aid to fill prescriptions will have prescription records transferred to the Walgreens on Black River Boulevard after the store closes.

Walgreens plans to convert the stores that do not close to the Walgreens brand.
Tourists wear face masks as they visit Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Jan. 24, 2020, as France confirmed two coronavirus cases, the first in Europe. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

France Confirms Two Cases of Coronavirus, the First in Europe

French officials said two patients tested positive for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, marking the first confirmed cases in Europe.

The virus originated in Wuhan, China, and has now spread to at least eight countries.

We have two cases, French Health Minister Agnes Buzyn told reporters in Paris. We will probably have other cases.

The minister said she believes that one reason why France is the first European country to have confirmed cases is that it has developed a test allowing medics to rapidly diagnose the sickened.

One of people sickened, a 48-year-old man, passed through Wuhan, the epicenter in China for the virus, before traveling to France on Wednesday, the minister said. That person is hospitalized in the southwestern city of Bordeaux. The other person is hospitalized in Paris.

The minister said that that person also traveled to China but that she has little other information about the case. It was confirmed shortly before she spoke at a news conference.

Patients with the coronavirus in China have died. The virus has since spread to the United States, Japan, South Korea, Nepal, Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand.

Workers driving excavators at the construction site of a field hospital in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China on Jan. 24, 2020. The builders will complete the 1,000-bed hospital by February 3 to cope with the surge of 2019-nCoV patients in the city. (Getty Images)

In one case, a 35-year-old female went to a hospital in Wuhan and was diagnosed before traveling to Korea the next day, Jan. 19. Authorities detected a fever and sent her for testing, which confirmed the coronavirus, the World Health Organization (WHO) said. The woman didnt visit the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, nor did she have known contact with confirmed 2019-nCoV cases or wild animals in Wuhan city.

A male between 30 and 39 who lives in Japan returned to the country on Jan. 6 from a trip to Wuhan, where he developed a fever. He told authorities he was in close contact with a person with pneumonia. The man was released from the hospital on Jan. 15 and was staying at home, WHO said.

Authorities in the United States on Friday confirmed the second case in the country. A Chicago resident who returned from Wuhan earlier in the month started displaying symptoms and was isolated before tests showed she had the virus.

China, meanwhile, continues expanding quarantines in Hubei Province, where Wuhan is located, shutting down public transportation and some airports. At least 13 cities are now locked down, isolating some 40 million people.

The disease has spread to every region in the country except Tibet.

Outside the epicenter, there were major closures of events to celebrate the upcoming Lunar New Year and tourist attractions, including Beijings Forbidden City, some sections of the Great Wall, and Shanghai Disneyland.

Frank Fang and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Seventy-five years after the liberation of Auschwitz, anti-Semitism is on the rise across the Western world. This trend, and the weak response to it, is a harbinger of democratic decay, writes Ana Palacio

Yesterday, world leaders gathered in Jerusalem to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz.

At a time when anti-Semitism is on the rise across the democratic world, recalling the lessons of this painful history could not be more important. These are difficult times for liberal democracy. Institutions are under strain. Rules and norms are being challenged and, in some cases, shamelessly flouted. Societies are becoming increasingly polarised and fragmented. And the toxic isms of the past  ethno-nationalism, populism, anti-Semitism  are being revived.

Whereas ethno-nationalism and populism have been dominating debates for years  particularly since the Brexit referendum and US president Donald Trumps electoral victory in 2016  the resurgence of anti-Semitism has been less discussed. And yet the evidence of this trend is abundant  and chilling.

In Hungary and elsewhere, the dog-whistle demonisation of the Holocaust survivor George Soros has gone on for years. In the UK, a leaked document revealed relentless incidents of anti-Semitism within the Labour Party. During the yellow-vest protests in France, a prominent Jewish intellectual was met with cries of dirty Zionist.

Violent anti-Semitic hate crimes  from an arson attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris to shootings at synagogues in Pittsburgh and eastern Germany  are also on the rise. In France, police reports indicate anti-Semitic incidents rose by 74% from 2017 to 2018.

Likewise, according to a forthcoming report from the Centre for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, anti-Semitic hate crimes in Americas three largest cities (New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago) are on track to reach an 18-year high. The German governments anti-Semitism commissioner has warned Jewish men not to wear yarmulkes (the traditional Jewish head covering) in public.

It has been said that anti-Semitism is a red flag for a society. Attacks on the Jewish community portend attacks on other groups. The German pastor Martin Niemollers post-Second World War confession eloquently captures this progression: First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out  because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out  because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out  because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me  and there was no one left to speak for me.

But the risks of rising anti-Semitism run even deeper. The rejection of anti-Semitism lies at the root of modern Western liberalism, and forms the foundation of our societies. Nowhere is this truer than in the EU, which was founded explicitly on the goal of preventing the horrors of the Second World War from ever being repeated.

Indeed, even beyond rules, institutions, and the rule of law, the EU is based on respect for human dignity  a priority born from and sustained by the memory of the Holocaust. Europes never again mantra has always been more aspiration than reality. The Srebrenica massacre in 1995, and, more broadly, the war and ethnic cleansing that accompanied the breakup of Yugoslavia, clearly defied it.

But the soul-searching that followed the Balkan conflict suggests Europeans at the very least recognised the betrayal of their fundamental values. Such self-reflection is much harder to come by these days. Mentions of anti-Semitism are often shrugged off or even cynically rationalised. Displays of outrage or solidarity lack depth, with discussions hijacked by arguments about Israeli  or even US  policies.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Aleksey Nikolskyi/AP)

Meanwhile, liberal democracy weakens. Two reasons for this weak response are worthy of particular attention. The first is the fading of memory. The history of anti-Semitism in Europe is nearly as old as Europe itself. But the last 70 years have brought a remarkable respite, because of the indelible mark the Holocaust left on those who had lived through, or near, it. But nearly all of them have died. Younger generations view this singularly horrific event as yet another tragedy of history, and thus do not fully appreciate the scale or urgency of the threat anti-Semitism poses.

The second reason is the erosion of democratic principles and institutions. In this sense, anti-Semitism is a canary in the coal mine, showing us just how toxic and divisive our social and political discourse has become. The instrumentalisation of the most basic rules, norms, and principles to advance personal or partisan objectives threatens to unmoor our societies. If we cannot agree that anti-Semitism has no place in our societies, what can we agree on?

The resurgence of anti-Semitism  and the weak response to it  is a harbinger of democratic decay. The commemoration of the liberation of Auschwitz will hold a mirror up to our societies. We can either avert our eyes and allow ourselves to reach the point where there is no one left to speak for us, or we can recognise the threat we face  and confront it head on.

Ana Palacio is former foreign affairs minister of Spain and former senior vice-president and general counsel of the World Bank Group.
What are South Africans to make of the murmurs that its governing party, the African National Congress (ANC), plans to recall Cyril Ramaphosa as president of the republic at its next National General Council in June? That's where the party will meet to review if government has implemented its policies.

Apparently the motivation for the removal will be that Ramaphosa has not implemented the party's 2017 national conference resolutions.

The mere suggestion of a recall is not surprising. The ANC has recalled two of its four previous presidents, Thabo Mbeki in 2008 and Jacob Zuma early last year. And, like his predecessors, Ramaphosa has formidable detractors within the party who see him as a menace to their livelihood and freedom.

There's no doubting their determination to throttle the success of this presidency. But Ramaphosa's detractors are unlikely to succeed in their rumoured bid. And, their failure will not be because they've suddenly become weak within the administration.

On the contrary, ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule, Ramaphosa's main nemesis, is much stronger now than he's ever been. He has appointed multiple individuals to bolster his grip. These are all individuals who've been marginalised by Ramaphosa's presidency on account of malfeasance and, as a result, are similarly opposed to his presidency. They include former cabinet ministers Nomvula Mokonyane, Malusi Gigaba and Des van Rooyen.

Conversely, Ramaphosa's influence in the ANC's administration has been weakened by the departure of Zizi Kodwa, Senzo Mchunu and Fikile Mbalula from the ANC's headquarters to cabinet.

The odds against Ramaphosa's removal lie in several factors. These relate to the weakness of the supposed gripe, its timing and the likely backlash.

A weak case

The complaint that Ramaphosa's presidency has not implemented its conference resolutions, especially on the expropriation of land without compensation, and nationalisation of the South African Reserve Bank, is unconvincing and self-implicating.

Ramaphosa has been persistently vocal on the land question and parliament is currently considering a bill to give effect to the resolution. Deliberations on the bill consider both fair and reasonable compensation as well as expropriation in the instance of refusing a fair price. Both these considerations are in line with the caution of the resolution that the land question be handled in a way that redresses the injustice of dispossession, without disrupting food supply.

A similar commitment is evident on the central bank. Ramaphosa has reiterated the intention to put the bank under public ownership, but only if there's money to buy out the private shareholders. For any criticism on this point to gain support within the rank-and-file of the ANC, it must make a case for urgency and identify funds that should be diverted from what most would view as more pressing matters.

This will be difficult. Firstly, it's proving hard to show that public ownership of the bank will allow government to influence the bank's decisions. Even under state ownership, the resolution insists that the bank should still remain independent, which is also guaranteed by the Constitution. This questions the rationale for insisting on ownership without influence.

The truth is that the idea had little to do with policy. It was originally mooted by those wanting to protect the Gupta family as allegations of state capture mounted. The family's beneficiaries in the ANC sought to gain control of the central bank so that its regulatory powers could be used to punish commercial banks that were closing the family's accounts.

These efforts backfired. The Gupta proxies could not mount a convincing argument for removing the independence of the central bank. Now they have a resolution that is meaningless, but are simply insisting on fake bravado.

Besides the weakness of their gripe, Ramaphosa's detractors are vulnerable on the same point they wish to use against him. There's little movement on organisational reforms. These relate to, among others, modernising registration for party membership by taking it online to minimise manipulation. Another is to bolster the powers of the party's integrity commission by making its recommendations binding, as resolved by conference.

These are all administrative matters that are handled by the secretary-general, Magashule. He is actually guilty of the charge that he seeks to throw at Ramaphosa.

Bad timing

Nor is the timing for removing Ramaphosa suitable. Local government elections are scheduled for next year. Most ANC-controlled municipalities are plagued by maladministration, and corruption is rife.

The blame lies squarely with the ruling party.

Take the Eastern Cape's Makana municipality, for instance. The party ran that municipality into the ground and the provincial government, which has the responsibility to intervene, did nothing. It took the High Court to stem the rot by ordering that the Council be dissolved and the municipality put under administration for failing to promote a healthy and sustainable environment for the community.

Ramaphosa is currently leading an initiative that involves all levels of government to aid struggling municipalities. This initiative will most likely become the mainstay of the election campaign next year. The ANC is desperate to improve on the lowly 54% it received in 2016.

The various steps he's taken, combined with his broader reform agenda, makes anyone who suggests his removal look deranged. Most in the ANC may be wrongheaded, but still want to remain in power. To retain power, they accept that they need Ramaphosa.

That said, Ramaphosa's reelection at the next ANC conference in 2022 is not guaranteed.

Big risks ahead

Prospects of Ramaphosa's reelection hinge on his public ratings. He is more popular outside the ANC. That's why the ANC elected him in 2017: to win the 2019 election.

Once it appears that Ramaphosa no longer enjoys better public ratings, he stands a high risk of not being reelected party president, especially if the membership system remains unchanged. Most current members are rented  paid by one faction or another  to vote in one way or another.

Given this risk, it goes without saying that Ramaphosa needs to accelerate reforms. Most urgent is improving operations at the power utility Eskom. Power blackouts are the biggest source of unhappiness, and are spoiling the public mood. More importantly they disrupt economic activity, leading to retrenchments. This, in turn, stifles the major promise of his presidency  job creation.

Unfortunately, reducing unemployment will take a while to achieve. This then makes fighting corruption, and the actual conviction of those implicated, key issues that will retain public support behind him. And he needs to urgently to take drastic measures to strengthen law enforcement agencies. National director of public prosecutions Shamila Batohi continues to face resistance, for instance, from some prosecutors within the National Prosecution Authority. They are stifling attempts at prosecuting cases arising out of state capture.

Ultimately, though, it is critical that Ramaphosa appreciates that salvation lies outside the ANC rather inside. He has to please the public more than his party. Public approval is his defence against enemies within.

The author's new book, Anatomy of the ANC in Power: Insights from Port Elizabeth, 1990 to 2019, will be published by the HSRC Press in March 2020.

Mcebisi Ndletyana received funding from National Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences. He is affiliated with CASAC.

By Mcebisi Ndletyana, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Johannesburg
An insurer cannot ignore a $4,869.99 bill for a tube of compounded pain cream on the grounds that the medication is unnecessary without first filing a utilization review petition, a Pennsylvania appellate court ruled.

The decision Thursday by the Commonwealth Court to overturn a decision by the state Bureau of Workers Compensation resolves one dispute in a long battle between insurers and pharmacies that cater to injured workers. Other volleys have included a failed lawsuit by a major insurer that alleged fraud and failed attempts by Republican lawmakers to adopt a drug formulary for the state workers compensation system.

Workers First Pharmacy petitioned the bureaus Medical Fee Review Section after Gallagher Basset Services refused to pay for a tube of pain cream prescribed by Dr. Samuel Grodofsky. Arch Insurance was the carrier on risk for employer, Bayada Home Health Care.

A hearing officer found that Gallagher Bassett had refused to pay for the pain cream because it did not believe the medication was related to the work injury, which was a shoulder strain.

The hearing officer noted that claimant Adriana Lozano had accepted a $15,000 settlement when she signed a compromise and release agreement. Lozano had stated that she understood the agreement to mean that her employer was not required to pay for any medications that were not related to her injury. Since nothing in the compromise and release agreement said that the pain cream was related to the shoulder injury, the judge found that Gallagher Bassett and grounds to refuse payment.

The Commonwealth Court, however, said the Medical Fee Review Office missed a very important step: Utilization review.

The court said that Pennsylvanias workers compensation scheme lays out a clear process when insurers believe they are not obligated to pay a medical providers bill: They can refer the case to a utilization review organization to determine the reasonableness and necessity of a treatment request. Otherwise, they must pay the bill in 30 days.

Had employer sought utilization review, its 30-day deadline to pay pharmacys invoice would have been stayed, the appellate panels opinion says. Claimant may be under treatment for an array of medical problems, only some of which relate to the work injury. It is for the utilization review organization to sort this out.

The court noted that in 2018, it had ruled in Amour Pharmacy I v. Bureau of Workers Compensation that it would violate medical providers due process rights to allow employers to use compromise and release agreements with claimants to abrogate liability for the cost of services. That case also involved a bill for compounded pain cream.

Pain creams in general and Workers First Pharmacy in particular have been contentious issue in Pennsylvania ever since the Philadelphia Inquirer reported on the issue in 2017. The newspaper found that partners for the politically influential Pond Lehocky law firm were major owners of Workers First and had been asking doctors to refer the workers compensation claimants the represented to the pharmacy. Pond Lehocky first said they were doing a service to injured workers by supplying needed drugs, but later they sold their interest in Workers First, according to the Inquirer.

The controversy incited Republican lawmakers to seek reforms. The legislature passed a bill to mandate adoption of a workers compensation drug formulary that would have barred compounded drugs. Gov. Tom Wolf, however, voted the legislation in April 2019.

In the meantime, insurers have turned to the civil courts to stem costs. They have not been winning.

In September, a Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas dismissed a lawsuit filed by Liberty Mutual that claimed 18 doctors who had a financial interest in pharmacies defrauded the carrier out of $4.7 million by prescribing compound pain creams that cost nearly $8,000 per tube.

The court ruled that the doctors had complied with the law by disclosing their financial interest in the pharmacies to their patients. The court also found that there was no evidence the doctors were paid kickbacks  in the form of dividends from their stock in the pharmacies  in exchange for prescribing the creams, as Liberty Mutual had alleged.

Research by the Workers Compensation Institute shows that compounded drugs make up a larger share of costs in Pennsylvania than all but one of 27 states studied. Compound drugs made up 7% of prescription payments in Pennsylvania in early 2018. Only Arkansas, at 8%, paid a larger share of prescription payments for compounds.

On the other hand, the report shows Pennsylvania has drastically reduced spending on compounds after passing legislation in 2014 that capped maximum prices to 110% of Average Wholesale Price. The share of spending on compounds dropped to 7% total prescription costs in 2018 from 34% in 2015, according to WCRI.
Rabat (AFP) - Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez on Friday acknowledged Morocco's "right" to chart its territorial waters but said such a move must respect international regulations.

Her remarks, at a joint news conference in Rabat with her Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita, came after Morocco adopted two laws extending its legal jurisdiction over disputed Western Sahara.

The laws voted by parliament on Wednesday integrate waters off the coast of the former Spanish colony into Morocco's maritime territory.

"Morocco has the right to delineate a territorial maritime zone... (but it must) respect the rules and norms of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea... and international law," Spain's top diplomat said.

Bourita said Wednesday's vote to delineate Morocco's maritime territory was "a sovereign act in line with international law".

"Morocco delineated its frontiers... as Spain did before it. This could lead to some overlaps and that is why we seek dialogue," he added.

The Spanish foreign minister, whose country's Canary Islands lie less than 100 kilometres (60 miles) from the Moroccan coast, said Bourita assured her "there will be no politics of faits accompli or unilateral decisions" and that "dialogue" will prevail to reach common solutions that satisfy all parties.

Morocco considers Western Sahara an integral part of the kingdom after Spain withdrew from the phosphate-rich territory in 1975.

The vast desert territory is disputed by the Algerian-backed Polisario Front, which seeks independence for Western Sahara. Morocco has instead offered autonomy.

In the works for years, the delimitation of the maritime territory, whose status is still unresolved, has in the past sparked tensions between Morocco and Spain, particularly after oil exploration in the area.

In mid-December, the Spanish government reminded Morocco that the delimitation of maritime borders with neighbouring countries was governed by "mutual agreement".

On Wednesday, Bourita told parliament: "We do not want to impose a fait accompli, but we are ready to engage in dialogue with Spain in the framework of our essential rights and sovereignty."
The journalist behind 'Good News Movement' Instagram page championed by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has revealed that she's yet to speak to the royal couple.

Michelle Figueroa, from Boston, is founder of the positive-news Instagram @goodnews_movement, which was followed by the @SussexRoyal account early in January.

She told People magazine that she sent Meghan Markle, 38, and Prince Harry, 35, a direct message and said she 'hasn't heard back' from the couple or their staff, joking: 'I figured, you know, just let it be. Theyre plenty busy.'

Michelle also revealed she was given 'no heads up at all' before her Instagram page was featured by the couple for January.

Michelle Figueroa, from Boston, runs the 'Good News Movement' Instagram page championed by the Duke, 35, and Duchess of Sussex, 38, but revealed the couple haven't contacted her

Michelle said she had no idea that Meghan and Harry had followed on her page and was, in fact, trying to have a digital detox while on holiday in Puerto Rico when the news hit.

When she powered her phone back up, she found she had an unusual amount of notifications, and found one message which congratulated her on 'the prince' who was following her.

Although she had no idea how Meghan and Prince Harry found her page, she counts celebrities including Kristen Bell, Jennifer Garner and Katie Couric among her followers.

She also featured a story about Meghan in February 2019, sharing a post about her visit to Bristol charity One25 when she wrote empowering notes of support on bananas for sex workers.

The journalist said she 'hadn't heard back' from the royal couple after she sent them a direct message (pictured, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in London earlier this month)

Michelle revealed that after the royal couple followed her account, she decided to reach out to them, but is yet to hear back.

She said: 'I just sent them a note, a direct message, in appreciation. But I havent heard back and I figured, you know, just let it be. Theyre plenty busy.'

When the couple followed her account at the start of January, she shared her own Instagram post about the experience.

At the time, she wrote: 'Extremely honored and humbled to learn that @SussexRoyal chose me for their monthly feature and that I am the only account they currently follow.'

Earlier this month, Michelle shared a post saying she felt 'extremely honored and humbled' to be featured by the royal couple on Instagram

She went on: 'This is a labor of love to show the good-news in the World and to use this platform to inspire acts of kindness.

'Their support will only multiply our efforts and good-news will reign. You all have been instrumental in growing this so I share this news as OUR accomplishment.'

She added: 'What a way to start 2020.'

Revealing they were following the account at the start of January, Prince Harry and Meghan said they wanted to 'shine a spotlight' on the @goodnews_movement.

The account had previously featured a story about Meghan writing positive messages for sex workers on bananas in February 2019

As part of their work in the New Year, they are choosing a different Instagram account each month to remind followers of 'all the good that is happening in the world.'

Harry and Meghan's latest post on their official lnstagram account read: 'Happy New Year! For 2020 we will be continuing our tradition of highlighting accounts that inspire, and that remind us of all the good that is happening in the world.

'However, this time we will be focusing on just one account each month. For January, we would like to shine a spotlight on @goodnews_movement.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced at the start of January that they hoped to 'shine a spotlight' on the @goodnews_movement as they choose a different Instagram account each month to remind followers of 'all the good that is happening in the world.'

'This journalist run-page covers and celebrates acts of kindness and good-news in our global community. We hope it brings you joy!'

The goodnews_movement, which currently has 330,000 followers, describes itself as a journalist-run page for 'good-news only' which celebrates community heroes and acts of kindness across the globe.

Recent stories that it covers include plans by Greyhound to give homeless, young people free tickets to return home or to a safe place, as well as other stories about donations given to refuge shelters over the Christmas period.
WASHINGTON - House impeachment managers laid out the heart of their abuse-of-power case against President Donald Trump on Thursday - charging that his efforts to pressure Ukraine into political investigations were precisely what the nation's founders wanted to guard against when they empowered Congress to remove a president from office.

The Democrats also detailed their defense of former vice president Joe Biden's actions regarding Ukraine in anticipation that it will be a major portion of the White House's defense later this week, saying Biden's actions were in line with official U.S. policy at the time and not done to benefit an energy company connected to his son.

But a significant number of Senate Republicans remained unmoved and played down the case from House managers, dismissing it as repetitive and unpersuasive as they sought to counter Democrats' narrative at a time when Trump's lawyers must stay silent in the Senate Chamber.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., who led the case for Democrats on Thursday, cited "abuse, betrayal and corruption" as not only the offenses that the nation feared the most when they wrote the Constitution, but also those alleged abuses at the core of Trump's dealings with Ukraine.

"The president's abuse of power, his betrayal of the national interest, and his corruption of our elections plainly qualify as great and dangerous offenses," Nadler said. "President Trump has made clear in word and deed that he will persist in such conduct if he is not removed from power."

During his arguments, Nadler also drew liberally from past comments made by key Trump allies, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Attorney General William Barr and lawyer Alan Dershowitz, who all argued there doesn't have to be a statutory crime committed to impeach a president.

In one of many video clips played on the Senate floor during the trial, Graham - then serving as a House manager in former president Bill Clinton's 1999 impeachment trial - defined "high crimes" more loosely than he does now as one of Trump's staunchest defenders.

"It's just when you start using your office, and you're acting in a way that hurts people, you've committed a high crime," Graham said on the Senate floor in the clip from 1999. He was not in the chamber Thursday when his quote was played, but later told reporters that the use of his previous comments was "fair game" and recommended that the White House do the same with Democrats when Trump's lawyers begin their defense of the president.

Nadler made a case to the Senate that it would be unreasonable to expect Congress to envision all types of potential presidential corruption and pass laws explicitly forbidding it.

"The Constitution is not a suicide pact," Nadler said. "It does not leave us stuck with presidents who abuse their power in unforeseen ways that threaten our security and democracy. Until recently, it did not occur to me that our president would call a foreign leader and demand a sham investigation meant to kneecap his political opponents, all in exchange for releasing vital military aid that the president was already required by law to provide."

Trump was impeached Dec. 18, with Democrats accusing him of withholding nearly $400 million in military aid and a White House visit coveted by Ukraine in exchange for launching investigations into Biden and his son Hunter, as well as a discredited theory that the eastern European nation interfered in the 2016 election. Trump and his counsel have maintained he did nothing improper when he asked Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky in a July 25 call to probe the two matters.

In addition to the abuse-of-power charge, Democrats also impeached Trump on a second article of impeachment: that he obstructed congressional attempts to investigate the Ukraine matter.

But the second official day of the House impeachment managers' arguments centered on the Democrats' abuse-of-power claims. They will wrap up their case Friday. Trump's team will launch its defense of the president on Saturday, with the key question of whether the Senate will subpoena new witnesses or documents set to be decided around the middle of next week.

The Senate may only come in for a few hours Saturday morning rather then spending a full day on the trial, in part because Trump did not want much of his defense to be aired on Saturday, when the public may be focused on weekend plans rather than the news, according to a GOP official who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private conversations.

Outside the Senate chamber on Thursday, GOP senators and the president's legal team fanned out across the airwaves to push back against the Democrats' case.

Echoing a comment from several Senate Republicans, Trump attorney Jay Sekulow said "we're hearing the same things over and over" from the House Democrats.

Meanwhile, even if some Republicans didn't outright reject the Democrats' case that there did not need to be an underlying crime for a president to be impeached, most continued to dismiss the overall argument made by the impeachment managers.

"I don't think that anything they've actually alleged - any of the 'abuses' - they have actual evidence for," Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said during a break in the trial.

White House officials said Thursday that West Wing aides and Trump's lawyers will continue to be a frequent presence at the Capitol in the coming days as the president's team works to defend him. Aggressive public relations and press availabilities are a key part of that strategy, one Republican strategist familiar with the planning said.

"This is going to be more than the president tweeting," the strategist said, adding that the strategy would include Sekulow addressing the media at microphones set up in the Capitol and Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., "huddling with 100 reporters" in the hallways.

Trump did tweet Thursday, insisting that Democrats are opposed to a witness deal because they are afraid of what the people called to testify by the GOP would reveal. Democrats have repeatedly said they oppose a witness trade because they believe the witnesses Republicans want are irrelevant to the case.

"The Democrats don't want a Witness Trade because Shifty Schiff, the Biden's, the fake Whistleblower (& his lawyer), the second Whistleblower (who vanished after I released the Transcripts), the so-called 'informer', & many other Democrat disasters, would be a BIG problem for them!" Trump tweeted.

Though the Republicans' top desired witness remains Hunter Biden, Graham told reporters Thursday that scrutinizing the former vice president's son's service on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian gas company, would be better handled through the "oversight" process than by calling him as a witness during the impeachment trial.

The Bidens played a prominent role in the House Democrats' arguments Thursday, as Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, another impeachment manager, sought to debunk the allegations that Joe Biden did anything nefarious in his dealings with Ukraine during his time as vice president.

"The allegations against Biden are completely groundless," Garcia said, detailing how the former vice president's efforts to oust the Ukrainian prosecutor general were in line with official U.S. policy and supported by international allies.

But Republican senators said the focus on the Bidens by Democrats made the former vice president and his son fair game for Trump's defense team.

"It means when President Trump's lawyers stand up and present their defense, that they are going to have the opportunity to present the very significant evidence that's supported and still supports a serious investigation into corruption at Burisma and ultimately whether Joe Biden participated in that corruption," Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, told reporters Thursday evening.

In 2016, Biden was the Obama administration's point person on Ukraine policy and led a pressure campaign on the Ukrainian government to fire its top prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, whom the administration believed was not doing enough to root out corruption among Ukraine's politicians. Shokin had previously investigated Burisma, but Hunter Biden was not accused of any wrongdoing.

Garcia noted that Trump and Republicans didn't focus on Biden's actions toward Ukraine until 2019, when "Biden became the front-runner for the Democratic nomination and polls showed that he had the largest head-to-head lead against President Trump. That became a problem."

She also referenced a letter from Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., Rob Portman, R-Ohio, Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., and other senators in the Ukraine Caucus to argue that Biden's desire to see Shokin removed reflected official U.S. policy and was not a sign of personal corruption.

As Garcia spoke, a visibly upset and red-faced Johnson rose from his seat, approached Portman and whispered in his ear. Portman reacted impassively, but his comments did not appear to calm Johnson, who departed the floor for the Republican cloakroom moments later. Johnson, a fierce ally of Trump, said in October that he did not recall signing the letter.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the lead impeachment manager, addressed the other investigation that Trump wanted Zelensky to launch, saying the president floated a "very specific conspiracy theory" that it was Ukraine, not Russia, that hacked the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton's campaign in 2016 despite there being no evidence to support the claim.

"This theory was brought to you by the Kremlin," Schiff said. "So we're not talking about generic interference . . . what Donald Trump wanted investigated or announced, this completely bogus, Kremlin-pushed conspiracy theory."

Earlier, Garcia played clips of news interviews from FBI director Christopher Wray and Tom Bossert, a former homeland security aide at the White House, refuting the Ukraine interference theory.

Before the trial officially began Thursday afternoon, dozens of senators from both parties entered a secure facility in the Senate basement to view a classified document provided by Jennifer Williams, a national security adviser to Vice President Mike Pence.

The document was made available under an agreement between Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., announced Wednesday. The document had been previously submitted to the House Intelligence Committee.

Some senators spent only a few minutes in the facility; others stayed for the better part of an hour. Several Democrats emerged to say they didn't understand why the document had been classified.

"I don't believe it's being withheld from the public for national security reasons. It may be withheld for political security reasons," said Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill.

- - -

The Washington Post's Elise Viebeck, Felicia Sonmez, Colby Itkowitz, Mike DeBonis and Robert Costa contributed to this report.
Trinamool Congress has decided to continue its protests against CAA and NRC and will make it the party's main poll plank in the West Bengal civic elections

Kolkata: The ruling Trinamool Congress on Friday decided to continue its protests against CAA and NRC and will make it the party's main poll plank in the coming civic polls in West Bengal.

The civic polls will be held in 107 municipalities across the state and in Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) in April-May 2020.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday held a closed-door meeting with party functionaries during the day and discussed TMC's strategy for the West Bengal civic elections.

According to party sources, during the meeting Banerjee, who is the TMC supremo, asked its leaders to intensify the campaign against NRC and CAA across the state and reach out to the people with the developmental work it had done in the last eight years.

"It has been decided that our protest against CAA will continue till it is revoked. We will carry out a door-to-door campaign against both CAA and NRC and will be our poll plank in the coming civic poll," said a senior TMC leader on condition of anonymity.

TMC is at the forefront of the opposition to the contentious CAA, proposed NRC and the NPR.

The party has already conducted a survey to assess its support base and the penetration of BJP in the state. The survey will play a key role in adopting the strategy and in the selection of candidates for the civic polls, the sources said.

The civic polls, in which about 60 per cent voters of the state will be eligible to take part, are being tipped as the "mini assembly election" ahead of the crucial 2021 state polls.

The polls have assumed significance as the BJP has emerged as a tough challenger to the ruling Trinamool Congress by making deep inroads in the state and pushing the opposition Congress and Left Front to distant third and fourth spots respectively.

TMC secretary-general Partha Chatterjee said the party will organise human chains in various parts of the state to protest against the contentious law.

"Our party supremeo will conduct three rallies in February to protest against CAA and NRC," he added.

The BJP had bagged 18 of the 42 seats, just four short of the TMC in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The TMC's tally had come down from 34 in 2014 to 22 seats.

Following its poor show, the TMC has roped in poll strategist Prashant Kishor and his team I-PAC to evolve strategies ahead of the assembly elections in 2021.

PTI PNT KK KK 01242140 NNNN
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 14:03:37|Editor: Yurou

Video Player Close

COLOMBO, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's cabinet of ministers has approved a proposal to allow a travel company based in China to process visas for Chinese tourists wanting to visit the island country, local media reported on Friday.

The Chinese company will be using the Chinese language Electronic Travel Authorization System (ETA), Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawardena said on Thursday.

Gunawardena said Sri Lanka's Department of Emigration and Immigration has been following the ETA system since 2012 for issuance of visas to tourists from a range of countries.

However, Chinese tourists have found it difficult to use the ETA system as it is available only in English. Therefore, many Chinese tourists go to travel agents and face delays, Gunawardena said.

"It was decided to allow a sub-agent based in China to provide the service in Chinese," the minister said.

The Chinese company approved is Travelson International Travel Services (Shanghai) Limited.

Last year Sri Lanka received over 160,000 tourists from China, making it the second largest market for Sri Lanka tourism after India.
A mother who was caught carrying 22,600 cigarettes and 200lbs of tobacco at Manchester Airport told officials that the substances were for her own use.

Leila Messaoudi, 43, from Blackpool, claimed the products, which were contained inside eight bags of luggage, were all for her when she was stopped by staff at the airport following a flight from Dubai via London Heathrow.

Messaoudi, who was stopped as she arrived at Terminal 3 in May 2018, said she had not been aware that what she had done was illegal- a claim the judge said was 'difficult to accept'.

Leila Messaoudi (pictured), 43, from Blackpool, Lancashire, was caught with 200lbs of tobacco, and 22,600 mixed brand cigarettes at Manchester Airport

Prosecuting, Sarah Johnston told how Messaoudi was spotted by border force officers with eight bags of luggage.

The mother told them she had been to Dubai for five days, and admitted that she had tobacco and cigarettes within her luggage.

When asked how many, she said 'a few' and when asked again, she conceded she had 'too many'.

A search of her luggage revealed she had 199.5lbs of tobacco, as well as 22,600 mixed brand cigarettes.

Messaoudi told officers that her flights had been booked by a man named 'Steve', who she said was a friend of hers.

When she was interviewed, she claimed that the tobacco and cigarettes were for her own personal use.

She had bought the items from the duty-free store at Dubai airport, alongside additional luggage in which to store them, she said.

A subsequent analysis of her phone confirmed her claim that her friend 'Steve' had booked her flights.

Defending, Harriet Tighe said Messaoudi is remorseful for the 'opportunistic one-off offence'.

Ms Tighe said Messaoudi initially believed what she was doing was permitted, a claim the judge said he found 'difficult to accept'.

The mother told staff at Manchester Airport that the substances were all for her. (GV of Manchester Airport)

Messaoudi, who used to work as a cleaner, had recently separated from her husband after their relationship broke down, the court was told.

She pleaded guilty to one count of fraudulent evasion of duties.

Sentencing, Judge Michael Leeming said the loss to HMRC was 'not insubstantial' but that the scheme was 'not particularly sophisticated'.

Judge Leeming said: 'It would have obviously taken years and years for those cigarettes and tobacco to be consumed by you,' Judge Michael Leeming said.

Messaoudi, from Blackpool, Lancashire, was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for 12 months.

She must carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and attend 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
A new coronavirus has killed 25 people in China and infected more than 800, the government said on Friday, as the World Health Organisation declared it an emergency but stopped short of declaring the epidemic of international concern.

Chinas National Health Commission said 830 cases had been confirmed so far and 25 people had died as of Thursday. Most of the cases are in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where the virus is believed to have originated late last year.

Non-fatal cases have been found in at least seven other countries.

Also Watch l Coronavirus: Death toll rises; India screens China travellers at 7 airports

Health officials fear the transmission rate could accelerate as hundreds of millions of Chinese travel at home and abroad during week-long holidays for the Lunar New Year, which begins on Saturday.

Nonetheless, it was a bit too early to consider the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, WHO Emergency Committee panel chair Didier Houssin said after the body met in Geneva. Such a designation would have required countries to step up the international response.

Make no mistake, though, this is an emergency in China, said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

It has not yet become a global health emergency. It may yet become one, he said.

Scrambling to contain the outbreak, the local government in Wuhan, a city of 11 million people in Hubei province, suspended most transport on Thursday, including outgoing flights, and people were told not to leave. Hours later, neighbouring Huanggang, a city of about 7 million people, announced similar measures.

The lockdown of 11 million people is unprecedented in public health history, said Gauden Galea, the WHOs representative in Beijing.

The organisation said, however, that it was not yet recommending any broader restrictions on travel or trade.

The previously unknown virus strain is believed to have emerged from illegally traded wildlife at an animal market in Wuhan.

It has created alarm because there are a number of unknowns surrounding it. It is too early to know just how dangerous it is and how easily it spreads between people.

There is no vaccine for the virus, which can spread through respiratory transmission. Symptoms include fever, difficulty breathing and coughing.
Additional Background

The CDC said that although initial reports were that 2019-nCoV spread only from animals to people, there are now indications that the virus is being transmitted from person to person. It remains unclear, however, how easily it can spread between people.

In addition to the hundreds of cases of 2019-nCoV infection that Chinese health officials have reported throughout China, cases also have been confirmed in Taiwan, Thailand, Japan and South Korea. Multiple countries, including the United States, have begun screening incoming air travelers from Wuhan for the virus.

According to CDC officials, coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, with some causing respiratory illness in people and others circulating among animals such as camels, cats and bats, the CDC said. Rarely, animal coronaviruses have evolved to infect humans and even to spread between people. Such was the case with severe acute respiratory syndrome, first detected in Asia in 2003, and Middle East respiratory syndrome, which first arose in Saudi Arabia in 2012.

Person-to-person spread of SARS and MERS is thought to have occurred between close contacts via respiratory droplets -- similar to how influenza and other respiratory pathogens spread. The precise transmission method of 2019-nCoV, however, remains unclear, said the CDC.

Symptoms associated with 2019-nCoV have included fever, cough and trouble breathing. Although severe illness and even deaths have been reported in China, many other patients have experienced milder illness.

Because only limited person-to-person spread of the virus has been confirmed in Asia, the CDC said it continues to consider that the overall risk 2019-nCoV poses to the American public remains low at this time.

Guidance for Family Physicians

The CDC issued a Health Alert Network advisory about the outbreak on Jan. 17, providing early interim guidance for health care professionals, including specifics on evaluating patients with suspected 2019-nCoV infection, as well as information about prevention and infection control.

The agency is now offering more detailed interim guidance for health care professionals, including clinical criteria for evaluating patients under investigation for the infection and recommendations for reporting, testing and specimen collection.

LeRoy said family physicians should start preparing to handle possible 2019-nCoV cases by placing signage in the waiting room asking patients to self-report any recent travel to China, which will alert staff to provide these patients with surgical masks and flag their charts to obtain a more detailed history.

The CDC recommends family physicians consider pneumonia related to the outbreak in patients who present with severe respiratory symptoms and who have traveled to Wuhan since Dec. 1, had onset of illness within two weeks of returning and who do not have another known diagnosis that would explain their illness.

If a patient presents with an acute respiratory illness and travel history to China (or other areas of the globe where 2019-nCoV is prevalent), it is essential that physicians immediately notify infection control personnel and report the individual to local and state health departments so confirmatory testing can be performed, LeRoy emphasized.

"Enhanced universal precautions (i.e., 20-second handwashing, gloves, mask, goggles, gown) should also be used with these individuals if they are demonstrating signs of an acute respiratory illness," he added.

If available, staff should designate a dedicated exam room to isolate patients with suspected 2019-nCoV infection for triaging and providing care for these individuals, LeRoy said.

"At this point in time, the CDC reports that it remains unclear how 'easily or sustainably' the virus is spreading between humans," he said. "Therefore, the use of surgical masks for these patients and isolation from other at-risk patients in your office is the best precaution."

The CDC has established a 2019-nCoV Incident Management Emergency Response System and developed a rapid test specific for the virus that should be available to public health departments within the next several weeks, LeRoy said.

Finally, the agency said it will continue to update its guidance, which the AAFP will relay to members as that information becomes available.

More From AAFP

Familydoctor.org: Novel Coronavirus
People line up outside a drugstore to buy masks in Shanghai, China on Jan. 24, 2020. (Aly Song/Reuters)

Minnesota Isolates Two Patients as CDC Tests for Coronavirus

Minnesota health officials said two patients have been isolated on suspicion of having Wuhan coronavirus.

We currently have two specimens that are at CDC for testing, state Department of Health Infectious Disease Director Kris Ehresmann told reporters at a press conference on Friday.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has been inundated with specimens so Minnesota officials arent sure how long it will be before they get the samples back. In general, similar tests take several days to get back.

Both patients traveled to Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the disease. They were both isolated at home.

These individuals have not been ill enough to require hospitalization. Theyve had mild illness, Ehresmann said.

Officials have identified people who were in contact with both patients and are following up with them to see if they had symptoms.

The situation in the state is considered low-risk, officials said, but people should be vigilant if theyve recently traveled to affected areas of China or been in contact with anyone who has.

People wearing masks shop at a market in Wuhan, Hubei province, China on Jan. 23, 2020, in this still image taken from video. (China News Service/via Reuters TV)

The Minnesota Department of Health said in a Jan. 24 statement that information from past outbreaks shows that finding cases quickly and responding to them effectively is key.

That rapid response helps ensure that the ill person receives the care they need, and it lessens the chance of other people getting sick. Fortunately, Minnesota has a strong disease surveillance system in place that includes partnerships with hospital and clinic systems as well as local health departments, it said.

Health care providers across the state were told to alert the department if a person who recently traveled to Wuhan became sick with respiratory symptoms.

If any samples test positive, the public will be told as quickly as possible, officials said.

The department said people should stay at home when theyre sick, cover their mouths when coughing, and frequently wash their hands. Anyone planning a trip to China should be aware of the situation. If they just returned from China and feel sick, they should call their doctor and report the symptoms and travel history.

Federal officials have told Americans not to travel to Wuhan and to be cautious when traveling to other parts of China. Hubei Province, where Wuhan is located, has around a dozen cities on lockdown as Chinese officials try to contain the outbreak.

Two cases have been confirmed in the United States: one in Washington state and one in Chicago, Illinois. The CDC is investigating 63 patients across 22 states; 11 have tested negative so far.

Cases have been confirmed in Japan, South Korea, Nepal, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

France confirmed cases on Friday, the first in Europe.
Gustavo Leone is stepping down as director of the Medical University of South Carolina's Hollings Cancer Center.

Leone plans to join the Medical College of Wisconsin Cancer Center as its director. He has led the Hollings Cancer Center since 2017.

The Hollings professionals are a dedicated, talented team and I am grateful for my time serving as their leader and colleague, Leone said in a press release.

While the center searches for permanent leadership, Leone will work with Denis Guttridge, who will step up as interim director of the center once Leone makes his official departure in April.

Guttridge previously served as the center's associate director of translational science.

Denis is well equipped to nurture the multidisciplinary and collaborative group of innovative scientists at our cancer center, Dr. Patrick Cawley, CEO for MUSC Health and vice president for Health Affairs, said in a press release. "We look forward to supporting Denis as we plan and execute a national search for the permanent Hollings leader."

During Leone's tenure as director, the center was awarded its highest score ever in 2019 when it renewed its position as a National Cancer Institute Cancer Center. Hollings is the only cancer center in South Carolina with the status and one of 70 centers in the U.S. with a NCI designation.

Leone also launched the LOWVELO bike ride in November, which acts as a fundraiser to help support cancer research. He established seven transdisciplinary cancer teams through his recruitment of researchers.

We thank Dr. Leone for his many contributions to our institution and we wish him well in his future endeavors, Lisa Saladin, MUSC's executive vice president for academic affairs and provost, said in a press release.
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 24 : After numerous rounds of talks at various levels in Kerala and in Delhi, the Congress high command on Friday finally released its first list of 47 office-bearers of the state unit.

The list, comprising 12 Vice Presidents, 34 General Secretaries and a Treasurer, was released by party's General Secretary, Organisation, K.C.Venugopal, who is also a Keralite.

"The remaining posts like PCC Secretaries and executive committee will be announced before February 10," he said.

The high command was deeply upset with the jumbo-sized list of 125 office bearers that was submitted by the state top brass and so far it appears that, despite huge pressure, no legislator or parliamentarian has been included.

Among those who figure in the first list include former Chief Minister K.Karunakaran's daughter Padmaja Venugopal as Vice President.

The first list appears to be loaded in favour of former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy , who presently leads the biggest faction, followed by the grouping led by Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala.
Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required.

Your Full Name: (optional)

Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required.
At the end of last year, Russian envoy Nikolai Kudashev said that Moscow is hopeful about reaching a free trade agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and India by 2020, The Diplomat writes in the article Russias Strategy in Central Asia: Inviting India to Balance China. Strengthening his statement, Kudashev stressed that in the past year, Russo-Indian relations have experienced extraordinary developments. In addition, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to meet frequently in 2020, including in Moscows Red Square for the annual Victory Day celebration, which demonstrates the importance Russia attaches to the meeting.

Currently, the EAEU, an exclusive international organization for regional economic integration in the post-Soviet Union area, encompasses Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. However, the idea of India linking up with the EAEU brings a sense of deja vu. Like the enlargement of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), this appears to be a Russian tactic of using India to balance Chinas increasing economic power in Central Asia.

In 2017, India and Pakistan officially became permanent members of the SCO. It was the first time the organization had expanded since it took its current form in 2001, doing away with a 2008 agreement to temporarily halt consideration of new members. Since 2008, Russia had begun to look more favorably on the issue of membership expansion, particularly absorbing India as a member, which eventually broke open the SCOs expansion issues. Russia pushed to bring India into the SCO, while another dominant power within the SCO, China, reluctantly agreed with Russias proposal on the condition that Pakistan should also be invited.

Therefore, we cannot help but ask: What will happen if India is invited into the EAEU? What does that say about Sino-Russian relations in Central Asia?

Due to the increasingly close Sino-Russian relations, Russia would never publicly admit a desire to curb Chinas influence in Central Asia. Instead, Moscow will act strategically through the goal of greater economic cooperation with India.

Due to pressure from the United States, China and Russia have consolidated their cooperation not only in the political sphere  which has been a consistent fact for decades and been noticed globally  but also in the economic arena. In the past, Sino-Russian relations were often described as being hot in politics, cold in economics and hot at the official level, and cold at the peoples level. But nowadays this narrative has been transformed. China has been Russias largest trading partner for nine consecutive years. In 2019, Sino-Russian trade continued to grow after surpassing $100 billion for the first time in 2018. In the same year, the Siberian Gas Pipeline and the first road bridge linking Russia and China were built, deepening bilateral economic ties. In terms of people-to-people exchanges, in 2018, more than 2 million Chinese tourists traveled to Russia and nearly 2.5 million Russians traveled to China.

However, the high level of political trust and the extensive economic cooperation between the two countries does not mean there is no Sino-Russian competition in Central Asia. In reality, with the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Chinas economic power has boomed in Central Asia. According to Dr. Adil Miankhel, by April 2017, China had invested $304.9 billion in the region, in sectors including transport, communication, energy infrastructure, financial linkages, technology transfer and trade facilitation. Compared to the economic power of China, particularly the volume of funds for infrastructure in the framework of the BRI, Russia and its rigid, protectionist, and politicized Eurasian projects pale, Benno Zogg argues. Thus over time, Alexander Gabuev says, Central Asia has been incrementally affected by the BRI and become more reliant on Chinas investment and trade, and yet the Kremlin considers it to be part of Russian historic sphere of influence.

In order to play this geopolitical game and maintain good relations with China at the same time, the Russian government accepted membership in the BRI by issuing a joint statement with China on May 8, 2015, pledging to cooperate on jointly constructing the EAEU and the BRI. The EEU [a previous acronym for the EAEU] and Silk Road projects can harmoniously supplement each other, Putin said at the time.

However, Professor Jeanne L. Wilson noted that this declaration with China was signed by Russia unilaterally, even though the presidents of Kazakhstan and Belarus, fellow EAEU members, were also present in Moscow at that time. Arguably, these Central Asian countries would not want their trade relations with China restricted within a Russia-centric framework. This, Wilson notes, explains why the longtime first president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, has been adamant that the EEU is to function solely as an economic, not a political structure. In order to reduce the suspicion of EAEU members and the world, Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov has also stated that the EAEU is not a political unification.

Since the disintegration of the USSR, even as the Central Asian countries remain strongly attached to Russia in the fields of security, economy, and culture, they have become independent and enjoy full sovereignty. In order to enhance their own national identity, some Central Asian countries have endeavored to de-Russianize themselves, such as limiting the use of Russian language and promoting local languages in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, albeit on the precondition of not offending the Russian government. In this context, increasing trade with China and cooperating with the BRI  in other words enhancing the influence of China  not only accords with the economic interests of Central Asian nations and their political elites, but also indirectly promotes their nation building. That strong motivation can be seen in the attitudes of Central Asian governments toward occasional anti-China protests. According to Bradley Jardine, anti-Chinese sentiments are on the rise in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan due to the abuse of Chinas Muslim population. However, governments in both Central Asian states have sought to stifle news of the camps from spreading by arresting or fining prominent activists and anti-China protesters.

Even though in 2019, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and the prime ministers of the EAEU members jointly issued a Joint Statement on the Entry into Force of the Economic and Trade Cooperation Agreement between China and the EAEU, the economic cooperation between China/the BRI and the EAEU in practice still looks gloomy. Based on a series of in-depth interviews, Gabuev believes that China and Russia have built intellectual and bureaucratic frameworks to accommodate mutual interests in Central Asia, including ideas of linking up the BRI with the EAEU. However, there are still many problems that prevent true EAEU-BRI coordination such as the vague description of the BRI, the different perspectives of top-down decision-making in the two countries, and low engagement from local businessmen in such a link-up. More importantly, not only do Central Asian countries prefer to deal with China bilaterally, but China also prioritizes cooperation with Central Asian countries on a bilateral basis, rather than through the EAEU. Thus, despite some multinational projects that requires multilateral coordination, the 2019 joint statement looks more like a political comfort to help Russia save face.

A free trade agreement between the EAEU and India would be an effective strategic step to contain the economic influence of China in Central Asia. However, considering the previous lessons learned from both the SCO and the BRI in Central Asia, it is possible that Central Asian countries will prefer to bypass the EAEU to cooperate with India bilaterally. Russia may already know this. That said, inviting India to join might still conform to Moscows interests if Russia finds a multiplayer-competition in Central Asia more appealing than a China-dominated landscape.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is urging a federal judge to reject Pacific Gas and Electrics blueprint for getting out of bankruptcy and renewing his threat to lead a bid to turn the beleaguered utility into a government-run operation.

In a court filing this week, Newsoms lawyers gave a sternly worded rebuke of PG&Es plan, escalating the intrigue in the year-old case that will determine the fate of the nations largest utility. PG&E is trying to dig out of a financial hole created by more than $50 billion in claims stemming from a series of catastrophic wildfires that have been blamed on the San Francisco company.

The Democratic governors misgivings cast more uncertainty on PG&Es hopes to emerge from bankruptcy by June 30 even as it makes progress on other fronts. The San Francisco company rid itself of another irritant Wednesday by striking a deal with a group of bondholders that had been pushing a competing reorganization plan that had been opposed by PG&Es management.

The truce requires the bondholders to drop their alternative proposal in exchange for PG&E paying them more money than it had originally intended. The company didnt immediately disclose all the financial details, but said it included raising money through a refinancing that would save its customers about $1 billion.

Now Newsom appears to pose PG&Es most formidable stumbling block.

Although he doesnt have the power to block PG&Es preferred route out of bankruptcy, the Democratic governor has tremendous leverage because the companys plan hinges on its ability to draw upon a special insurance fund California created last summer to help insulate utilities from potential wildfire losses in the future. PG&E needs the approval of its top California regulator, the Public Utilities Commission, whose current president, Marybel Batjer, was appointed to the job by Newsom last summer.

In Wednesdays filing, Newsom asserted that PG&E is trying to pressure the Public Utilities Commission into accepting a sub-optimal plan.

In a statement, PG&E promised additional changes to the plan are forthcoming. We will continue to engage with the Governors office to address his concerns.

Newsom fired his latest salvo on the eve of a scheduled hearing before U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Dennis Montali that will cover a wide range of unresolved issues in the complex case.

Newsom told Montali that PG&Es current plan doesnt meet the requirements needed to participate in the states wildfire fund, echoing a point he first made in a Dec. 13 letter to the company informing management the proposal needed a dramatic overhaul.

In his latest objection, Newsom expressed frustration that PG&E hasnt budged much since he sent that letter nearly six weeks ago despite further talks with representatives from his office. He is clearly not happy with what has been going on behind closed doors, and he is trying to telegraph that to Judge Montali, said University of California Hastings College of the Law professor Jared Ellias, who has been closely following the PG&E case.

Newsom fired his latest salvo on the eve of a scheduled hearing before Montali that will cover a wide range of unresolved issues in the complex case.

Although PG&E has won Montalis approval of settlements that will pay a total of $25.5 billion to wildfire victims, insurers and government agencies, the company is still working on the financing to cover those deals while also leaving enough money to pay for billions of dollars in improvements needed for its electricity transmission system.

Newsom blasted PG&Es agreement to pay more than $1 billion in fees to secure financing that he fears will saddle the company with too much debt and undercut its ability to pay for the badly needed upgrades. Without those improvements, PG&E would be more likely to ignite even more fires in the future and probably resort to deliberate blackouts inconveniencing hundreds of thousands of customers to reduce the risks during hot, dry and windy conditions that are expected to become more intense amid climate change.

The governor also has demanded that PG&E replace its entire 14-member board of directors, including current CEO Bill Johnson, even though the company already did a major overhaul of that body responsible for overseeing the utilitys management.

Newsom didnt provide any details about how California might finance a takeover of a company with a market value that has been fluctuating between $5 billion and $40 billion in recent years. The elected leaders in various cities and counties in PG&Es sprawling service area also have expressed support for transforming the utility into a non-profit cooperative owned by the government, but analysts still believe that is unlikely to happen.

Related:

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics California Wildfire
Its possible that this coronavirus may not be highly contagious, and it may not be all that deadly. We also do not know yet how many people have mild coronavirus infections but have not come to medical attention, especially because the illness begins with mild to moderate respiratory tract symptoms, similar to those of the common cold, including coughing, fever, sniffles and congestion. Based on data from other coronaviruses, experts believe the incubation period for this new coronavirus is about five days (the range runs from two to 14 days), but we do not yet know how efficiently this coronavirus spreads from infected person to healthy person. And because antibodies for coronavirus do not tend to remain in the body all that long, it is possible for someone to contract a cold with coronavirus and then, four months later, catch the virus again.
A legal battle between Old Mutual, the South African-based pan-African investment, savings and insurance group, and its chief executive officer Peter Moyo has dominated news headlines in the country for the past eight months.

The drama has involved vitriolic public attacks, numerous court cases and claims and counter claims from both parties. It is seldom that such extensive publicity is given to the dismissal of a chief executive of a listed company and to the inner conflicts in a company. These matters are usually resolved internally.

The publicity given to the Moyo saga has brought to the fore some important lessons that should be noted by company directors. The first is about what it says about directors disclosing conflicts of interest. The second is about how tricky it is to reinstate a director once they have been dismissed. In my research I found a few cases where courts have indeed reinstated executive directors. But the process is complicated because relationships have invariably turned sour.

The other useful lesson is what the Old Mutual events tell us about the role of directors  even after they have been fired. Based on my research findings I argue that directors still owe certain duties to the company, such as loyalty, even after they are fired. And that sticking to company policies on engagement with the media is the wise thing to do.

How the saga unfolded

In the middle of last year Old Mutual dismissed Moyo as its CEO because of a breakdown of trust and conflict of business interest. The action was taken because of questions around a dividend payment by an investment firm co-founded and partly owned by Moyo.

A month later a judge ordered Moyo to be temporarily reinstated. But Old Mutual refused to allow him access to his office pending its appeal of this decision. Moyo then launched an application to hold the Old Mutual board in contempt of court.

Early this year a full bench of three judges held that Moyo had been properly dismissed.

The sorry saga isn't over yet. Moyo is insisting on his reinstatement and is appealing the judgment. He is also continuing with an application for contractual and reputational damages, a contempt of court application and an application to declare the entire Old Mutual board delinquent.

The lessons

The Moyo saga highlights the importance of a director's duty to disclose any conflicts of interests. The Companies Act sets out the rules relating to the disclosure of a director's personal financial interests in the company's business.

Directors stand in a fiduciary relationship to their company. This means that they must act with loyalty and in good faith. They must not put themselves in a position where their personal interests conflict with their duties to the company. If they have personal interests in a particular matter, they must disclose them to the board. And after disclosure they must not take part in board decisions relating to that matter.

Failure to comply could have serious consequences. For instance, it could render the entire transaction invalid.

Another lesson to be learned from the Moyo saga is that it's complicated to reinstate executive directors. I did find cases In my research where courts had indeed reinstated executive directors. But the close relationship between a board and an executive director makes it tricky.

The position of a chief executive of a company requires a special relationship of trust and confidence. Old Mutual said that it has lost trust and confidence in Moyo because of his conflict of interest. Moyo in turn said that he lost trust and confidence in the chairman and the directors. He said publicly that he was taking action to have the entire Old Mutual board declared delinquent.

Because of the clear breakdown in trust and confidence, the court said that there was no realistic prospect of Moyo ever being reinstated.

In another case the Constitutional Court also did not reinstate two directors who had been unlawfully dismissed by the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans because it found that their relationship had disintegrated beyond repair.

A court will not readily order the reinstatement of a director where the relationship with the board has broken down. If directors wish to be reinstated after leaving, they must demonstrate that their relationship with the company is still viable.

The dos and don'ts, even after leaving

The other reason Old Mutual cited for losing trust and confidence in Moyo was that he'd given public interviews to the media after his suspension in which he criticised Old Mutual. The company said these negative statements breached its media policy and harmed its reputation. It also said that Moyo acted against its interests and that he had not acted according to the standards expected of a chief executive, even though he had been suspended.

Negative publicity about a company can discredit it, and harm the directors' reputation. It can also affect the company's share price. The negative publicity suffered by Old Mutual caused its share price to drop by as much as 9,3%.

As fiduciaries, directors must act in good faith and in the best interests of the company. South Africa's corporate governance code  King IV  recommends that directors should act ethically, beyond mere legal compliance, and that directors should set the tone for an ethical organisational culture.

As I found, even after a director leaves his company, he still owes certain fiduciary duties to the company, such as a duty of loyalty.

Directors should be careful not to breach their company's media policy  if there is one  even after they leave the company. They should exercise caution in the public statements they make about the company. Making negative statements can lead to the relationship breaking down even further, making their reinstatement impossible. It could also limit their chances of being appointed to other boards because of the fear that they may again harm the company's reputation.

Rehana Cassim does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

By Rehana Cassim, Associate Professor in Company Law, University of South Africa
Foreign faces during travel rush time

By:Wu Qiong | From:english.eastday.com | 2020-01-23 13:38

During the Spring Festival travel rush, transportation hubs, like airports and railway stations across the country have geared up for the worlds largest annual human migration. Among the workers, many foreign staff are also working hard to guarantee the safe and smooth transport.

Massias Franz is from France. He is a flight attendant at China Eastern Airlines. This year is his third year serving passengers during the Spring Festival travel rush.

As the captain of flight MU5337, Christopher Peter Elliott got up very early on Jan.21. While asking his children to hurry up eating their breakfast, he put on his uniform, ready to leave for work.

Before taking off, Christopher Peter Elliott was doing a walk-around inspection.

Besides Christopher and Massias, there is another foreign staff member on flight MU5337: a Japanese female attendant. After graduating from Osaka Ohtani University, she has learned Chinese in a Chinese-language school in Shanghai and has worked for China Eastern Airlines for 4.5 years.

As of 2019, there have been 1,364 foreign staff working in different positions at the airline company. Among them, more than 350 are flight attendants from South Korea, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. Like their Chinese colleagues, they are busy serving the passengers these days.





(Photos/Cao Lei)
 Flash

Dozens of world leaders gathered on Thursday in Jerusalem to commemorate 75 years for the liberation of the Auschwitz camp and called on to combat the resurgence of modern-day anti-Semitism.

More than 40 royalties, presidents, and prime ministers took part in the 5th World Holocaust Forum, held this year in Jerusalem.

The gathering culminated in a ceremony at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, where the leaders made speeches pledging to remember the Holocaust and to take measures against the rising of anti-Semitism.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed his "deepest sorrow" for the killing of 6 million Jews by the Nazis.

He conveyed remorse on behalf of his country. "This also must be said here: The perpetrators were human beings. They were Germans. Those who murdered, those who planned and helped in the murdering, the many who silently toed the line: They were Germans," he said.

"Today we join together to say no to anti-Semitism! No to hatred!" he said.

Also addressing the gathering, Britain's Prince Charles warned: "hatred and intolerance still lurk in the human heart."

He added that lessons of the Holocaust are still "searingly relevant" and told the forum that "we must be fearless in confronting falsehoods and resolute in resisting words and acts of violence."

Russian President Vladimir Putin urged a summit in 2020 of leaders of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council to "defend peace" in the wake of global instability.

French President Emmanuel Macron lamented that "after all that has passed, anti-Semitism and the scourge of anti-Semitism has returned, and with it, xenophobia and intolerance have also raised their ugly heads."

"We will not allow ourselves to stand by in silence" in face of modern-day anti-Semitism, he vowed. "We promise to remember and to take steps. Remember, never forget."




Technavio has been monitoring the global business information market and it is poised to grow by USD 32.04 billion during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of 5% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005195/en/

Technavio announced its latest market research report titled global business information market 2019-2023. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Need to adapt enterprise business strategies to changing customer preferences has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, threat of data misappropriation and theft might hamper market growth. Request a free sample report

Business Information Market 2019-2023: Segmentation

Business Information Market is segmented as below:

End-User

BFSI

Healthcare and Life Sciences

Manufacturing

Retail

Others

Geographic segmentation

Americas

APAC

EMEA

To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR30019

Business Information Market 2019-2023: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our business information market report covers the following areas:

Business Information Market size

Business Information Market trends

Business Information Market industry analysis

This study identifies automation in gathering business information as one of the prime reasons driving the business information market growth during the next few years.

Business Information Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the business information market, including some of the vendors such as Bloomberg, Equifax, Experian Information Solutions, Thomson Reuters and Wolters Kluwer. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the business information market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports.

Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform

Business Information Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023

Detailed information on factors that will assist business information market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the business information market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the business information market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of business information market vendors

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005195/en/

Contacts:

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: media@technavio.com

Website: https://www.technavio.com/
Pharmaceutical Analytical Testing Outsourcing Market is expected to register a CAGR of 8.6% to reach USD 8,095.0 million till 2023.

The pharmaceutical analytical testing outsourcing market is growing rapidly mainly due to the burgeoning healthcare and pharmaceutical sector. With the improving economic conditions globally, over the last decade, the healthcare expenditures are increasing too, witnessing the expanding quality healthcare scenarios. Resultantly, the demand for therapeutic medicines and devices has been increasing dramatically. Consecutively, the R&D activities for new drug discovery have increased drastically,

Latest Free Sample PDF Available @https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/7188

Additional factors that are supporting the market growth include continuous advances in research and development (R&D) activities for new drug discoveries which is increasing the demand for pharmaceutical analytical testing outsourcing services. Furthermore, factors such as the increased utilization of medication revelation processes, growing interest and the success ration of adequacy trials.

Conversely, factors such as the delayed quality approvals and regulatory audits conducted in outsourcing laboratories are impeding the growth of the market. Nevertheless, factors such as the emergence of new healthcare technologies and rapid advancements like pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), bioanalysis, and bioequivalence are expected to support the growth of the market over the review period.

Pharmaceutical Analytical Testing Outsourcing Market  Segmentation

For ease of understanding, the market is segmented into four key dynamics: 

By Product Type : Raw Materials, Finished Products, and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) among others.

By Services: Bioanalytical Testing, Method Development & Validation, and Stability Testing among others.

By End-user: Pharmaceutical & Biopharmaceutical Companies and Contract Research Organizations among others.

By Regions: North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Rest-of-the-World.

Pharmaceutical Analytical Testing Outsourcing Market  Geographical Analysis

The North American region, heading with the presence of major market players dominates the global Pharmaceutical Analytical Testing Outsourcing Market. Factors such as the increasing number of R&D activities for breakthrough drug discoveries to meet the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases in the region substantiate the growth of the regional market.

Moreover, factors such as the presence of a well-established healthcare sector and higher expenditure on healthcare foster the growth of the regional market. The US backed by the rapid uptake of new techniques for developments of new medicines accounts for the key contributor to the regional market.

The pharmaceutical analytical testing outsourcing market in the European region accounts for the second-largest market, globally, growing at a considerable CAGR. Factors such as the well-penetrated healthcare sector led by the resurging economy in the region are fostering the growth of the market in this region. Moreover, increasing government support and funding for the R&D activities and the presence of an enormous patient pool will drive the regional market during the review period.

The Asia Pacific pharmaceutical analytical testing outsourcing market has emerged as a profitable market, globally. The market is mainly led by rapidly developing countries such as China and India due to their vast population, the fastest growing healthcare sector, and large unmet clinical needs in these countries. Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia among the other South East Asian countries are projected to contribute to the growth of the regional market significantly.

Global Pharmaceutical Analytical Testing Outsourcing Market  Competitive Analysis

Fiercely competitive, the pharmaceutical analytical testing outsourcing market appears to be fragmented with the presence of several well-established and small players. These players incorporate strategic initiatives such as collaboration, acquisition, expansion, strategic partnership, and technology launch. Top players invest heavily in R&D and clinical trials to develop effective drugs.

Major Players:

Key players leading the global pharmaceutical analytical testing outsourcing market include Toxikon, Inc, SGS SA, Eurofins Scientific, Intertek Group plc, Pace Analytical Services LLC, Pharmaceutical Product Development, LLC, Boston Analytical, Exova Group plc, Charles River Laboratories International, Inc, Merck KGaA, West Pharmaceutical Services, WuXi AppTec, and Source BioScience among others.

Industry/Innovation/ Related News:

March 19, 2019 - Alcami Corporation (the US), a leading global provider of contract pharmaceutical development and manufacturing services launched its new biopharmaceutical development, analytical testing, manufacturing, and packaging enterprise  Alcami Biologics. The new firm will be involved in the advancement of the commercialization of a broad range of biological products for the treatment of complex medical conditions with unmet needs.

Alcami Corporation confirmed that the new company is launched in response to increased market demand for outsourced biological drug development services.

List Of Table:

TABLE 1 LIST OF ASSUMPTIONS 16

TABLE 2 PRIMARY INTERVIEWS 18

TABLE 3 GLOBAL PHARMACEUTICAL ANALYTICAL TESTING OUTSOURCING MARKET, BY PRODUCT TYPE, 2015 TO 2023 (USD MILLION) 29

TABLE 4 GLOBAL PHARMACEUTICAL ANALYTICAL TESTING OUTSOURCING MARKET, FOR RAW MATERIALS, BY REGION, 2015 TO 2023 (USD MILLION) 30

TABLE 5 GLOBAL PHARMACEUTICAL ANALYTICAL TESTING OUTSOURCING MARKET, FOR FINISHED PRODUCTS, BY REGION, 2015 TO 2023 (USD MILLION) 30

TABLE 6 GLOBAL PHARMACEUTICAL ANALYTICAL TESTING OUTSOURCING MARKET, FOR ACTIVE PHARMACEUTICAL INGREDIENTS, BY REGION, 2015 TO 2023 (USD MILLION) 31

TABLE 7 GLOBAL PHARMACEUTICAL ANALYTICAL TESTING OUTSOURCING MARKET, BY SERVICES, 2015 TO 2023 (USD MILLION) 33

TABLE 8 GLOBAL PHARMACEUTICAL ANALYTICAL TESTING OUTSOURCING MARKET, FOR BIOANALYTICAL TESTING, BY REGION, 2015 TO 2023 (USD MILLION) 34

TABLE 9 GLOBAL PHARMACEUTICAL ANALYTICAL TESTING OUTSOURCING MARKET, FOR METHOD DEVELOPMENT & VALIDATION, BY REGION, 2015 TO 2023 (USD MILLION) 34

TABLE 10 GLOBAL PHARMACEUTICAL ANALYTICAL TESTING OUTSOURCING MARKET, FOR STABILITY TESTING, BY REGION, 2015 TO 2023 (USD MILLION) 35

OBTAIN RESEARCH REPORT DETAILS WITH TOC @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/pharmaceutical-analytical-testing-outsourcing-market-7188

About Market Research Future:

At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.

MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.

In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.

Contact:

Market Research Future

Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers

Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar,

Pune  411028

Maharashtra, India

+1 646 845 9312

Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
The family of a four-year-old Muslim girl in West Bengal, who was worshipped as the human form of Goddess Durga, has moved the Supreme Court against the amended citizenship law, calling it discriminatory.

Fatimas maternal uncle, Md Ahmed, filed the petition in the top court on Wednesday.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), as well as the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR), will divide the society. We are all citizens of this country. How can people, especially the poor, provide proof of their origin after so many years? the businessman at Kamarhati in the North 24 Parganas district asked.

Women across India will be the worst affected by NRC. They are married off early and most of them face discrimination. Few families buy a property or register a business in the name of women. Hence, showing legal documents is a challenge for them, Ahmed argued.

Ahmeds petition is one of the more than 140 similar pleas filed before the top court till Wednesday. The Supreme Court had on Wednesday refused to stay the implementation of CAA.

Ahmeds petition has been listed for hearing. The court said all the petitions will be heard together by the Constitution bench, said former advocate general and ex-mayor of Kolkata, Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, who is representing Ahmed.

Kumari Puja

Fatima, whose father Muhammad Tahir runs a grocery store near Fatehpur Sikri in Agra, was worshipped as the human form of the goddess by Tamal Dutta, an engineer at Kamarhati municipality, and his lawyer wife Moushumi during Durga Puja in October last year.

The couple decided to follow the example set by Swami Vivekananda in 1898, 121 years after he worshipped the daughter of a Muslim boatman in Kashmir. Fatimas mother Bushra Bibi said she felt honoured.

HT reported the rare incident weeks before the puja took place. The puja was later covered by a wide section of the media.

Kumari or Kanya Puja is the worship of girls who have not attained puberty and is a part of the Navratri celebrations in central and northern India.

Although it is performed in many homes and temples during Durga Puja in Bengal, no family is known to have worshipped a Muslim girl in recent history, priests, HT spoke to, had said.

In 1901, Vivekananda started the ritual during Durga Puja at Belur Math in West Bengals Howrah district. It has been continuing since then and draws millions of devotees.

Interestingly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spent a night at Belur Math when he was in Kolkata on January 11 and 12.

Many youths are being misguided. CAA is not about taking away citizenship but to give citizenship. CAA is only an amendment for those persecuted in Pakistan... Should we send these people back to die in Pakistan?... Is this noble work or not? Modi had asked during his address at Belur Math.

The opposition took jabs at the Prime Minister, alleging that he used the Math and Bengals feelings for Vivekananda to propagate his political agenda.

The Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJPs) state unit general secretary, Sayantan Basu, said the state has millions of illegal migrants.

People who are filing petitions are refusing to admit that neither Hindu refugees nor illegal Muslim migrants are citizens of India, Basu said.

There are at least 10 million illegal migrants in Bengal and they are scared of being exposed. The Centre will identify them. They comprise the main vote bank of Trinamool Congress, he added.

The amended citizenship law will allow the government to fast-track Indian citizenship to non-Muslim minorities from six religions who came to India from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan before December 31, 2014.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
They have jetted to tropical Mauritius for their honeymoon, three months after tying the knot.

And Lisa Faulkner and John Torode looked more smitten than ever as they shared a series of romantic snaps from their break to Instagram on Friday.

Former Masterchef star Lisa, 47, showed off her incredible bikini body in a skimpy scarlet two-piece in a cheeky photo taken by chef husband John, 54.

Soulmates: Lisa Faulkner and John Torode looked more smitten than ever as they shared a series of romantic snaps from their break to Instagram on Friday

Wow: Former Masterchef star Lisa, 47, showed off her incredible bikini body in a skimpy scarlet two-piece in a cheeky photo taken by chef husband John, 54

The beauty revealed her slim waist and pert derriere in the candid snap taken by Masterchef presenter John, who captioned the photo: 'Bottoms Up! A truly wonderful honeymoon with my girl.'

John also shared a stunning photo of the pair posing in front of a tropical lagoon with Lisa wowing in a printed maxi dress while the hunk looked dapper in a crisp shirt and cream shorts.

A third photo showed John in a pair of swimming trunks enjoying a refreshing dip in the sea.

Lisa and John looked smitten as they posed for several loved-up selfies with Lisa revealing they had spent their break 'laughing and kissing.'

Tropical: John also shared a stunning photo of the pair posing in front of a tropical lagoon with Lisa wowing in a printed maxi dress

Smitten: Lisa and John looked smitten as they posed for several loved-up selfies with Lisa revealing they had spent their break 'laughing and kissing'

She wrote: 'Well we have had the best time on our honeymoon in Mauritius @luxgrandgaube such a beautiful and romantic place where we have been properly looked after.

'The staff and food and rooms and whole hotel have been amazing and I dont want to leave!! We have spent the whole time just us together laughing and chatting and kissing, enjoying each others company in the sunshine and the rain.

'I love you @johntorodecooks thank you for a wonderful honeymoon .'

The couple have been in wedded bliss since tying the knot in a romantic ceremony in October and have had a 'wonderful success' with their morning cooking show, Weekend Kitchen.

Scenic: A third photo showed John in a pair of swimming trunks enjoying a refreshing dip in the sea

End of the trip: Lisa shared a snap of her suitcase as she and John prepared to head home

Finally: The pair have been keeping fans updated with their break - with Lisa wowing in a bikini on Thursday, as she celebrated the sunshine coming out following days of torrential rain

On New Year's Day John took to Instagram to thank his and Lisa's fans for their support over 2019, writing that it had been a 'beauty' as he got to marry his 'love'.

He penned: 'A little thank you from us for all your lovely comments over the past year. Its been a beauty. I got to marry my love @lisafaulknercooks... what a wedding that was, all your wishes and kindness grateful received and the joy from you all not overlooked.

'John and Lisas Weekend Kitchen has been a wonderful success thanks to all of you. Thank you for watching and we LOVE all the pics of what you are cooking too. So in 2020, dont stop. Happy New Year everyone. Happy Happy New Year.'

John and Lisa married in a romantic autumnal ceremony at Aynhoe Park in Northamptonshire.

They celebrated their one month anniversary at the end of November where they both shared heartfelt posts to each other.

The celebrity chef gushed over his love with a post which read: 'Married 4 weeks today.. our first dance. B****y hell you are gorgeous, properly gorgeous. Love you.'

Lisa and John, who have been dating since 2015, tied the knot at the swanky Aynhoe Park in Banbury in front of a host of celebrity friends and family.
The three EU flags: As early as November 2017, the EU decided to establish a Public Prosecutor's Office, and now the decision has been approved by the Cabinet. The EU is missing billions of euros every year, for example, because fraudsters are hijacking subsidies. In future, criminals will have a harder time of it, thanks to a new authority.

The German government has set the course for the establishment of the European Public Prosecutor's Office. According to Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht, the Federal Cabinet approved the draft law on Wednesday, which lays the foundations for the European Public Prosecutor's Office to begin work at the end of 2020. The authority is to be the first independent and decentralised public prosecutor's office in the EU to prosecute crimes such as subsidy fraud, corruption and cross-border VAT fraud.

The European Public Prosecutor's Office is a major step towards combating cross-border economic crime more effectively and sends a clear signal against the misuse of EU funds. We are creating a common EU law enforcement authority that can investigate quickly and effectively across national borders. To this end, the knowledge of investigators from 22 member states will be brought together. said Justice, Lambrecht

The EU is still losing a lot of money

According to Lambrecht, EU countries lose billions of euros every year through VAT fraud alone. The EU also suffers great financial damage through fraud with EU funds and corruption offences. The EU regulation establishing the European Public Prosecutor's Office had already come into force in November 2017, about 22 of the 28 EU states are participating in this enhanced cooperation.

In September 2019, the European Parliament and the Council agreed to appoint Laura Codruta Kovesi, former head of the Romanian anti-corruption agency, as the first European Public Prosecutor General. The European Public Prosecutor will be based in Luxembourg.

Francis Tawiah (Duisburg - Germany)
The Delhi Police on January 24 filed an FIR against BJP candidate from Model Town, Kapil Mishra.

Earlier, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Delhi had asked the Delhi Police to file an FIR against Mishra.

Earlier in the day, the Election Commission of India (EC) had asked Mishra to remove his controversial tweet in which he compared the election in New Delhi to an 'India versus Pakistan' contest.

Mishra, an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) rebel, had said that the February 8 Delhi Assembly election will be a contest between India and Pakistan.

Without specifically mentioning the movement against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, Mishra had attacked the protests at Shaheen Bagh and other places in the national capital.

EC's action had come after the office of the Delhi CEO wrote to the poll body to remove the tweet posted by Mishra on January 23.

The office of Delhi CEO also issued a show cause notice to Mishra, though CNN News18 quoted him as saying that he stands by his statement.

"I don't think I said anything wrong. Speaking the truth is not a crime in this country. I spoke the truth. I stand by my statement," Mishra said, adding, "If you make tiny Pakistans, then India will stand against it".

In its criticism of opposition parties over their protest against the citizenship law, the BJP has been accusing them of speaking "Pakistan's language".
Guwahati/IBNS: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed a charge sheet against two Bangladeshi nationals in connection with a terror-related case of Ansar-al-Islam.

The charge sheet has been filed against two Bangladeshi accused Mahmud Hassan alias Shariful Islam and Mohamad Saad Hussain alias Mohamad Sayad Hussain in the NIA special court at Aizwal in Mizoram.

The case was re-registered by NIA on Sept 17, 2019, which had arisen out of FIR at Marpara police station under Mamit district of Mizoram.

According to the reports, two suspected Bangladeshi nationals were detained by the villagers of Silsuri when they could not produce the valid documents and gave unsatisfactory replies to the queries about their antecedents and purpose of presence in the area.

They were later handed over to the BSF personnel of Silsuri Border Out-Post (BOP) who in turn handed over the two accused to Marpara police station.

The local police registered the case for investigation which was later handed over to NIA.

During the investigation, the NIA established the identity of the accused as 25-year-old Mahmud Hassan alias Shariful Islam of Barherchar village in Narsingdi, Dhaka Division, Bangladesh and 31-year-old Mohamad Saad Hussain alias Mohamad Sayad Hussain of Doharpar village in Magura, Division Khulna, Bangladesh.

The premier investigation agency has also established that both the accused are members of Ansar-al-Islam, a banned terrorist organization in Bangladesh.

Both the accused crossed the international border of India and Bangladesh illegally entered the state of Tripura in November 2018.

They concealed their location and identity based on fake Aadhaar cards and the fake Aadhaar cards were given to them by their handlers in Bangladesh.

The investigation further revealed that accused Mahmud Hassan alias Shariful Islam had travelled from Agartala to Bangalore in pursuance to conspiracy of terrorist acts in India and stayed in Bangalore for eight to nine months (November 2018 to July 2019).

During his stay in Bangalore, he conducted a recce of some public places in Bangalore. The investigation has also revealed that on instructions of his handler, the accused financially assisted another arrested ABT (Ansarullah Bangla Team) member lodged in Kolkata jail.

ABT is another banned terrorist organization in Bangladesh. Both the accused later criminally conspired, as per directions of their handlers in Bangladesh and tried to procure weapons from various places in the State of Tripura and Mizoram in pursuance of the conspiracy of committing terrorist acts in India.

During the investigation, a large number of incriminating documents were recovered from their seized digital devices.

Further investigation is going on.

(By Hemanta Kumar Nath, Guwahati)




Don't call into question the patriotism of a Purple Heart recipient and expect to walk away unscathed.

On Thursday, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) tweeted several inflammatory things about Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the director of European Affairs for the White House National Security Council. Vindman was on President Trump's July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and while testifying before House impeachment investigators, Vindman said he was troubled by Trump's request that Ukraine open an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden, and knew he had to inform superiors.

During the afternoon's impeachment proceedings, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) called Vindman an "American patriot," which led to Blackburn tweeting, "How patriotic is it to badmouth and ridicule our great nation in front of Russia, America's greatest enemy?"

Vindman's lawyer David Pressman reacted swiftly, saying in a statement, "This difficult moment in our country calls for seriousness and seriousness of purpose. Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman has sacrificed enormously for our country. He believes in our country. And he believes in our country's great institutions, including the United States Senate." Vindman served in the Iraq War, and received a Purple Heart for injuries he sustained in an IED attack.

"That a member of the Senate  at a moment when the Senate is undertaking its most solemn responsibility  would choose to take to Twitter to spread slander about a member of the military is testament to cowardice," Pressman continued. "While Sen. Blackburn fires off defamatory tweets, Lt. Col. Vindman will continue to do what he has always done: serve our country dutifully and with honor."

More stories from theweek.com

Trump debuts official Space Force logo  and it's literally a ripoff of Star Trek

Lindsey Graham: 'Let's not be too hard' on Adam Schiff, Democrats

Pompeo responds to NPR reporter, says story is another example of 'unhinged' media


WASHINGTON - As suspected hate crimes soared in the District of Columbia in recent years, worried activists repeatedly turned to federal prosecutors for information about cases but received little.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, which handles most criminal cases in the capital, said it was not keeping track of hate crime prosecutions.

That changed Wednesday when prosecutors released long-sought statistics showing that hate-crime prosecutions rose sharply in D.C. last year after plummeting to their lowest point in at least a decade.

The office said at a community meeting that it had charged 11 incidents from 2019 as hate crimes - double the total in 2017 and 2018 combined.

The figures are the first released since Jessie Liu took over as U.S. attorney for D.C. in 2017. They came in response to pressure from local officials and activists, who criticized Liu after The Washington Post revealed last summer that hate-crime prosecutions had fallen to record lows while hate-crime reports were at record highs.

"We are scrutinizing these cases," Renata Cooper, an assistant U.S. attorney and special counsel for policy and legislative affairs, said after the meeting. "I don't think we ought to be penalized for acknowledging that, in response to community feedback, that is what we are doing."

Local officials and activists welcomed the uptick.

"The statistics seem to indicate a step in the right direction," said Mike Silverstein a neighborhood commissioner.

"I think it's a good start," added Monika Nemeth, another neighborhood commissioner. "There looks like there is more transparency."

"When we have accountability, we have hope," said Ruby Corado, a prominent D.C. advocate for LGBTQ rights.

D.C. is the only place in the country where local crimes are prosecuted by the U.S. attorney's office, whose leader is appointed by the president. Advocates say the setup makes it hard to hold prosecutors accountable, especially in a city where Donald Trump won 4% of the vote in 2016.

D.C. police referred a record 113 cases as suspected hate crimes in 2017 and 2018; the U.S. attorney's office charged five of them as bias-related crimes, and none have resulted in hate-crime convictions, The Post found. Three cases ended in convictions but not for hate crimes, and one case was dropped. The fifth case is ongoing.

Liu's office recently charged two older cases - one from 2017 and another from 2018 - as hate crimes, bringing the combined total for those two years to seven.

On Wednesday, prosecutors announced that they had already eclipsed that tally for 2019 - with the possibility of charging more 2019 incidents as hate crimes in the months to come.

The statistics were presented at a meeting of the Hate Bias Task Force, which includes police, prosecutors and advocacy group leaders.

There were 201 suspected hate crimes in 2019, down slightly from the record high a year earlier of 204, police announced.

"We're not going to drop the confetti and balloons yet," Lt. Brett Parson, commander of the Special Liaison Branch, told those in attendance. "But we are hoping this is now a trend we see in the next several years, that it plateaus or begins to drop."

Police have a lower threshold for labeling an incident a hate crime than prosecutors, who must prove bias beyond a reasonable doubt to secure a hate crime conviction, Parson noted.

Brittany Keil, a veteran prosecutor who was one of two hate crime coordinators appointed by Liu last summer as a response to community outrage, said the U.S. attorney's office filed some kind of charges in 43 of the 52 cases that police referred for prosecution.

Eight of those cases were charged as hate crimes, Keil said. Prosecutors also filed bias enhancements in three cases that had not been flagged by police as hate crimes.

"We are actively looking at these cases and prosecuting them appropriately," she said.

In two of the 11 hate crime cases, however, prosecutors dropped the bias enhancement as part of a plea deal, Keil said. Five cases are set for trial, and four more have hearings scheduled.

Last month, a Post analysis of thousands of Superior Court records found that the U.S. attorney's office had charged seven incidents from 2019 as hate crimes. That analysis did not include four cases revealed by prosecutors on Wednesday. One case was not filed until this month. And in three others, the bias enhancement was not listed in the online court docket.
It took five decades for global elites to put climate change at the center of the World Economic Forum, the annual gathering in Davos, Switzerland, that's meant to shape the future and solve planet-sized problems. This year, with rising temperatures and cutting emissions finally dominating the agenda, it seemed almost no one could stop talking about it.

"Something which was largely on the periphery of finance has come into the mainstream," Mark Carney, a Davos regular and the governor of the Bank of England, said at the Bloomberg Climate Forum. "These issues have moved very swiftly from being corporate social responsibility issues or more niche issues within finance to fundamental value drivers."

The usual contradictions between green talk and the world's rich and influential descending onto the Swiss ski resort in private jets and limousines were made more stark by this climate focus. Yet the calls for action didn't come primarily from young activists like Greta Thunberg, who returned for her second consecutive year of speeches and planned a climate strike on Friday to mark the end of the event.

"The climate and the environment are a hot topic," Thunberg said of this new focus. "But if you see it from another perspective, pretty much nothing has been done, since global CO2 emissions have not been reduced."

For the first time, environmental issues made up the entire top-five risks ranked by WEF's members. Even the names given to meeting sessions in the program had changed. Two years ago, attendees could listen to a discussion titled "The New Energy Era." This year, there was "The Future of Fossil Fuels."

How to address climate questions took the center of debates, with alarms sounded by powerful people. "Climate change is becoming an investment risk," agreed Blackrock Chief Executive Officer Larry Fink in remarks this week. "This is becoming a dominant theme with more of our investors."

Fink fired the starting gun last week, shortly before heading to Davos and wearing a global warming-themed scarf, by sending a letter to investors in the roughly $7 trillion asset-management firm declaring that arrival of a "fundamental reshaping of finance." Now BlackRock plans to adopt climate considerations in its strategy and press for more companies to embrace environmental benchmarks.

But the lack of global standards on what makes businesses environmentally responsible remains a palpable concern. Even BlackRock is likely to remain invested in coal, and a common complaint among executives at Davos was that they can't be the ones setting the standards.

"I say to our clients, 'I don't want to be the sharp end of the spear,' " enforcing industry standards, said Michael Corbat, chief executive officer at Citigroup Inc. "You should set those, you get proper buy-in, and we will be here to support you."

Standards are hard to find. The international community failed to agree on rules to set up a global carbon market at COP25, the annual United Nations climate conference held in December. That left governments, financial institutions and companies scrambling to figure out how much emissions are worth and how much to voluntarily pay for offsetting their toll on the climate.

With no rules for a global carbon market, the European Union is determined to protect its own, which has been working for over a decade. The region is targeting carbon neutrality by 2050 and is considering imposing taxes on imports linked to high carbon dioxide emissions as part of a strategy to force trade partners to become greener.

"There is no point in only reducing greenhouse-gas emissions at home if we increase imports of CO2 from abroad," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told a Davos audience. "It is a climate issue, but it is also an issue of fairness towards our businesses and workers - we will protect them from unfair competition."

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told a closing panel that a carbon tax would be a "tax on hard working people" as he bet on technological advances to help tackle environmental challenges.

Davos attendees, including the U.K.'s Prince Charles, voiced support for a carbon tax. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said reducing emissions could be a " matter of survival" for Europe. But a carbon tax could also test Europe's ties with China just as the leadership in Beijing faces pressure to set ambitious climate targets in its next five-year plan. At the same time, there was talk at Davos about how China's fractious relationship with the U.S. would challenge any effort to rein in emissions.

"The trade war and the U.S. withdrawal of the Paris Agreement took away the pressure on China almost entirely," said Ma Jun, the director of the Beijing-based Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, one of the country's top climate groups. "This is a moment of confusion and of different opinions."

Davos found space for conflicting views. Outside the forum, a costumed protester dressed as a plutocrat with a cigar and a money-filled briefcase posed for photos a few feet away from man saying earnestly, "What we need is to promote a circular economy." Someone etched the slogan "Act on Climate" into the snow near the helicopter landing zone used by U.S. President Donald Trump. His speech here included swipes at unnamed environmental alarmists. "We are clean and beautiful and everything's good," he told an audience that included Thunberg and other young climate activists. "We must reject the perennial prophets of doom and their predictions of the apocalypse."

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Ian Bremmer, president of consulting firm Eurasia Group, noticed how reaction to Trump's policies isn't uniformly negative at Davos. "You can have Greta here, you can have a bunch of people talking about climate and sustainability," he told Bloomberg TV, "but the reality is that Trump doesn't drive people crazy at Davos the way he does in the United States."

Towards the end of the week, Mnuchin questioned the 17-year-old activist's authority to talk about economic issues. "After she goes and studies economics in college," he said, "she can go back and explain that to us." Thunberg made her reply in a tweet, citing scientific research.

From Thunberg's perspective, as she explained at Davos, the demonstrations that took millions to the streets last year were unexpectedly successful in making elites talk more like climate activists. But she saw little sign of progress beyond that talk. At a press conference on Friday, she declared the forum a failure on addressing the case for climate action.

"Before we came here, we had a few demands for the WEF, and the demands have been completely ignored," she said. "Of course we expected nothing less."

The Swedish teen sounded alarm bells at Davos in 2019 with a speech that famously declared: "Our house is on fire." This year she made her disdain for those she blames for rising greenhouse-gas emissions even more clear. "We are not telling you to keep talking about reaching 'net-zero emissions' or 'carbon neutrality' by cheating and fiddling around with numbers," Thunberg said. "The facts are clear, but they're still too uncomfortable for you to address."

(Updates adding paragraph 13 with Mnuchin on carbon tax, adds Thunberg quote in paragraph before last.)

_ _ _

With assistance from Bloomberg's Yuliya Fedorinova, Jake Rudnitsky, Akshat Rathi, Viren Vaghela, Josh Wingrove, Javier Blas and Saleha Mohsin.
Refuting the allegations of Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale on Friday said that the previous state government had no need for tapping the phones of Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule, and Sanjay Raut.

"There was no need of tapping the phones of Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule, and Sanjay Raut during the earlier government rule," Athawale said while speaking to ANI.

Earlier today, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had said that the previous BJP government in the state had engaged in the tapping of phones of Congress and NCP leaders.

"When the BJP government was in power in Maharashtra, before the general and legislative assembly elections, they tapped phones of NCP and Congress leaders to keep a tab on their activities. They sent their officials to Israel to get the software for phone-tapping. We have started an investigation of the matter," Deshmukh had told reporters.

Also, Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut alleged that a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party had informed him about the tapping of his phone."Your phone is being tapped, I have been informed by a senior BJP minister," Raut claimed in a tweet.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The former finance director of Jazzercise was sentenced Tuesday to more than seven years in prison for embezzling what authorities say was upwards of $1 million from the Carlsbad-based company and its owners, possibly to feed a gambling habit.

Sherri O. Potts  who spent nearly nine years as the corporate director of finance for the physical-fitness firm  was arrested in Carlsbad in October on 50 theft-related charges, including forgery, fraudulent appropriation and grand theft by an employee.

She pleaded guilty in March to one count of grand theft, three counts of forgery and one count of failing to report the stolen money on her tax returns. She also admitted that she stole more than $500,000.

Superior Court Judge Michael Washington sentenced the 60-year-old Fallbrook resident to seven years, eight months in prison.

Advertisement

Deputy District Attorney Anna Winn said Potts will be eligible for release after serving two years.

.. Most people would agree that someone who steals $1 million should be locked up for longer than two years, but this is the practical effect of the new laws that California voters have passed, said Winn, referring to recent changes that grant early release to nonviolent offenders.

A tearful Potts apologized in court to the companys owners, said her attorney Joel Bailey.

According to court documents, authorities suspected much of the stolen money was siphoned from petty cash funds, an average of $10,000 a month, for a few years. The company uncovered the embezzlement in 2014, after Potts was let go.

Winn said Potts routinely arranged for an average of $12,000 a month to be delivered into the companys petty cash fund. The companys actual petty cash needs were really around only $2,000 a month.

Carlsbad police investigators found that, from 2007 to 2013, Potts deposited more than $900,000 in cash and non-payroll checks into her accounts.

The investigation also revealed that 48 forged checks  more than $150,000  had been written from the personal accounts of Jazzercize owners Jack and Judi Sheppard Missett. The money went to pay for Potts personal expenses, including credit card payments.

The suspected thefts were uncovered after Potts was fired from Jazzercise, which boasts more than 7,800 instructors in 32 countries.

After she was let go, Potts contacted a former coworker to return $9,000 of petty cash in her possession. But it was more petty cash than she should have had, and that triggered the company to bring in forensic auditors.

According to court documents, police investigators learned that for many years Potts regularly gambled at Pala Casino, favoring slot machines in particular. From 2008 to 2013, police said, she gambled more than $900,000 a year in slots  and some years, it was more than $1 million. Casino records also show that she lost an average of $200,000 a year for most of those years.

Winn said that after the discovery of the theft, Potts cashed out her retirement account and turned over $250,000 to Jazzercise.

teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com

(760) 529-4945

Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT
A special court in Meerut has issued a non-bailable warrant against sub-inspector Deepak Malik for not appearing before it in connection with the murder case of Samajwadi Party leader Muzaffar Rana, wherein he is an investigating officer.

According to government lawyer Sirajuddin Alvi, the court issued the non-bailable warrant against Malik on Thursday as he has not been appearing before it for a long time to produce evidence in the case.

It asked the district magistrate and the Muzaffarnagar Senior Superintendent of Police to produce the sub-inspector (SI) before it on February 6, 2020, the next date of hearing in the case, he said.

Samajwadi Party leader Muzaffar Rana was shot dead in a clash between supporters of the SP and the RLD at a polling centre during local bodies' polls on October 28, 2006.

The main accused, former Muzaffarnagar MP Kadir Rana who made his Lok Sabha debut in the 2009 elections on a BSP ticket, was associated with the RLD at the time of the incident.

He was named an accused in the murder case along with his brother and former MLA Noor Salim and two others.

The trial in the case was shifted from Muzaffarnagar to Meerut in 2007 by the Allahabad High Court on an appeal by the victim's family.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
White House trade adviser Peter Navarro listens to a news conference outside of the West Wing of the White House

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration plans to unveil efforts on Friday to crack down on counterfeit and pirated goods sold on major e-commerce sites and urge companies to do more to vet third-party sellers and increase self-policing efforts.

Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf and White House adviser Peter Navarro will be among officials at a news conference on Friday to discuss the effort at the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center in Arlington, Virginia, administration officials said on Thursday.

Foreign sellers face little risk of prosecution, an administration official told Reuters, so strong U.S. government action "is necessary to fundamentally realign incentive structures."

Law enforcement agencies are planning "immediate actions" to identify counterfeit goods and seek "all available statutory authorities to pursue civil fines and other penalties against these entities," according to a DHS report reported by the Wall Street Journal on Thursday and confirmed by an administration official.

The Trump administration is also seeking legal authority "to explicitly permit the government to seek injunctive relief against third-party marketplaces and other intermediaries dealing in counterfeit merchandise," the official confirmed.

The official said that if companies adopt the best practices, the administration believes it will substantially reduce trafficking in counterfeit and pirated goods.

In April, President Donald Trump ordered a crackdown on counterfeit products on third-party online marketplaces, asking for more information on how the United States can better track and curb such sales.

A memo signed by Trump said that the value of global trade in counterfeit and pirated goods may rise to half a trillion dollars a year, with about 20% of this trade infringing on U.S. intellectual property.

"The president has decided it is time to clean up this Wild West of counterfeiting and trafficking, Navarro said in April.

Companies including Amazon.com Inc <AMZN.O>, eBay Inc <EBAY.O> and Chinas Alibaba Group Holding Ltd <BABA.N> have policies that ban counterfeit goods and have pointed to their investments in programs to keep fakes off their platforms.

Story continues

Amazon said last year it "invests heavily in proactive measures to prevent counterfeit goods from ever reaching our stores. In 2018 alone, we spent over $400M fighting counterfeits, fraud, and other forms of abuse." Amazon declined comment ahead of Friday's announcement.

A China-U.S. trade deal signed this month requires China to adopt improved criminal and civil procedures to combat online infringement, pirated and counterfeit goods.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Peter Cooney)
China's quarantine of more than 35 million people, almost certainly the largest in modern public health history, is surprising and troubling experts who said such drastic restrictions rarely work and often backfire.

In the United States, mandatory limits on movement for people in whole cities or regions have received little serious consideration in planning for disease outbreaks like the coronavirus infection now sweeping across China,according to public health authorities and a review of government reports.

"This is just mind boggling: This is the mother of all quarantines," said University of Michigan medical historian Howard Markel. "I could never have imagined it."

Cordoning off a region like China's Hubei province pens the sick together with the uninfected. It increases the burden on authorities, who must ensure the flow of food, water and other supplies to the quarantined area. It is nearly impossible to enforce. And it sows distrust in government at a time when public support is essential, prompting people to evade the restrictions or refuse to report their symptoms, experts said.

"The first and golden rule of public health is you have to gain the trust of the population, and this is likely to drive the epidemic underground," said Lawrence Gostin, a professor of Global Health Law at Georgetown University. "The truth is those kinds of lockdowns are very rare and never effective."

From a practical standpoint, "Where does one draw the line?," asked Leana Wen, the former health commissioner for the city of Baltimore. "Many people work in the city and live in neighboring counties, and vice versa. Would people be separated from their families? How would every road be blocked? How would supplies reach residents?

"We worked on numerous contingency plans to respond to outbreaks and other public health crises," she added. "To my knowledge, our health department had not considered a citywide quarantine."

With at least 26 people confirmed dead and 830 infected, China has cut all transportation links into and out of Wuhan - a city of 11 million where the new virus originated - and 13 other cites across the center of the country, as celebrations of the new year began Friday. Normally, 400 million people could be expected to travel across Asia during the Spring Festival, but the government has adopted a drastic course of action in the face of the health crisis.

"They're doing it because people who are in political leadership always think that if you do something dramatic and visible that you'll gain popular support," Gostin said. "They couldn't have any sound public health advice."

The Chinese may gain some advantage from the quarantine if it helps reduce travel and increase "social distancing," a reliable tactic in the spread of infectious disease that means keeping people apart as much as possible, said Tom Frieden, former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Like many things, it depends on how you do it," Frieden said. "Cordoning off a city would have a positive impact if that reduces travel and the amount of mixing you have."

Recent quarantine attempts have met with little success. During the Ebola epidemic of 2014, an attempt to cordon off the West Point slum in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, sparked violent clashes and evasion of the lockdown, including by residents who bribed their way in and out. During the same crisis, Sierra Leone locked down most of its population for three days, which may have led to underreporting of symptoms.

But a five-day shutdown of businesses across Mexico may have helped slow the spread of the H1N1 swine flu there in 2009.

More than a century ago, authorities tried but quickly abandoned partial quarantines of Philadelphia and Chicago during the 1918 flu pandemic that killed as many as 40 million people worldwide and more than a half-million in the United States.

During the second wave of that epidemic, however, a few tiny communities, such as a naval base in San Francisco Bay and the mining town of Gunnison, Colorado, were able to block the fluby voluntarily cutting off all contact with the outside world, according to a 2006 study led by Markel.

Quarantining millions of people may be easier in an authoritarian country like China. But even in the United States, authorities have broad power to order quarantines as a last resort. In a 2007 report to the CDC on responding to a flu pandemic, an expert panel makes no recommendation to use mandatory lockdowns, even in the most severe, or "Category 5" outbreak - one in which an astronomical 2 percent of those diagnosed with an infection die.

Rather, the report says authorities should rely on voluntary isolation of the sick at home; voluntary quarantine at home of uninfected people with sick family members; limiting activities in schools; limiting or banning mass gatherings; social distancing and encouraging people to work from home.

These would be added to typical public health measures such as surveillance of the spread of the disease and tracing the contacts of sick people.

In 2006, the Homeland Security Council and CDC released a 233-page strategy that warned a modern pandemic could kill as many as 200,000 to 2 million Americans.

The unlikely use of "geographic quarantine" would result in "the detention, within an epidemic zone, of persons who may or may not have been exposed to the pathogen in question," according to the report.

But the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza noted that a virus is likely to quickly surface in more than one location. When that occurs, the success of a geographic quarantine would be "profoundly limited," effectively making it a remote option for curbing a pandemic.

"The implementation of conventional geographic quarantine imposes significant opportunity costs and may result in the diversion of significant resources and assets that might be used to better effect supporting less draconian disease-containment measures," according to the report.

Still, the document called on state and local governments to devise their own pandemic strategies that at least include the possibility of a widespread quarantine - one that would probably be ordered by state or local governments and enforced by National Guard troops if necessary.

"If directed by the President pursuant to the Insurrection Act, the military may suppress domestic unrest associated with resistance to a state quarantine," the document stated, referring to the 1807 law that outlines presidential power to combat domestic unrest.

States have developed their own plans for responding to pandemics. A 2014 report by the Illinois Department of Public Health declares that the state has "absolute authority in matters of quarantine and isolation, and may declare and enforce quarantine when none exists."

But the document says the practice would most likely be used only in highly localized settings, such as restricting the movements of a group of nursing home residents or airline passengers who may have been exposed to a disease but are not yet symptomatic.

"Quarantine . . . is not effective in controlling multiple influenza outbreaks because the disease spreads too rapidly to identify and to control chains of transmission," it states. But like the Homeland Security report, Illinois' strategy appears to keep the door open for a more widespread use of quarantine in extreme circumstances.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 19:46:08|Editor: mingmei

Video Player Close

KAMPALA, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Ugandan health minister Ruth Aceng on Friday confirmed that three people have been killed in a yellow fever outbreak in the midwestern and northwestern parts of the east African country.

Two adult men, who were 18 and 21 and dealing in cutting and trading timber between Uganda and neighboring South Sudan, succumbed to the virus in the northwestern district of Moyo earlier this month, and a third male victim, a 37-year-old cattle keeper, died last November in the midwestern district of Buliisa, the minister said.

The cattle keeper's wife, 38, also tested positive of the yellow fever virus, on Jan. 22.

"Blood samples were withdrawn and sent for testing at Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI). Results from UVRI confirmed yellow fever infection," Aceng said.

She said the health ministry and the World Health Organization have dispatched rapid response teams to Moyo and Buliisa districts to "support investigations, active search for cases, community mobilization and sensitization."

Uganda has requested yellow fever vaccines from the International Coordination Group that manages global stock piles of yellow fever and meningitis vaccines, Aceng said.

"We anticipate that within the next two weeks, vaccines will be available and vaccination will commence in Moyo and Buliisa districts," she said.

Aceng said her ministry has applied wth the Global Vaccine Alliance and the WHO for inclusion of the yellow fever vaccination into its routine immunization schedule.

"Having faced four outbreaks, Uganda now qualifies to introduce yellow fever vaccine as a long-term measure to prevent yellow fever outbreaks," she said.

The minister said all travelers in and out of the country must be vaccinated against yellow fever.

"Travelers are urged to comply with this travel requirement to ensure the risk of spread of yellow fever through international travel is minimized," Aceng said.

"The ministry would also like to re-assure Ugandans and all other residents that with the experience and expertise available in the country, the disease will be contained," she said.

The yellow fever is mostly caused by a type of mosquitoes called "Aedes Aepyti" found in the tropics and sub-tropics. It is transmitted from person to person through mosquitoes, although there are also forest monkeys that transmit it.

According to the ministry, symptoms of the disease include high fever, headache, general body aches, fatigue, vomiting, blood in urine or stool and yellow discoloration of skin or eyes. If not detected and treated on time, the disease will affect the blood and the victims will experience renal failure and possible coma.
A senior civil servant claimed a taxi home at taxpayers' expense because it was raining when he left the office.

Glyn Williams, whose job as a Home Office mandarin pays 99,000 a year, was reimbursed 9 for the trip on September 26 last year.

'Worked late and heavy downpour.

Glyn Williams (pictured), whose job as a Home Office mandarin pays 99,000 a year, was reimbursed 9 for the trip on September 26 last year

'Took taxi from the station to home,' he wrote in his claim, which was among those revealed in a batch of official documents last night.

Mr Williams, who is director general of the Borders, Immigration and Citizenship Systems Policy and Strategy Group, is based in Westminster.

He also claimed 8 for a taxi home on July 10 because he 'left office after 10pm' and recouped another 3.30 after having to change from a train to the Tube on his way to work because of a track fire.

Mr Williams, who is director general of the Borders, Immigration and Citizenship Systems Policy and Strategy Group, is based in Westminster. Pictured: Home Office

The civil servant also claimed 4,641 for air and taxi fares during a 'return trip to India for a high-level conference with key partners'.

Mr Williams' main duty is providing 'effective policy advice to support the Government's objective of reducing net migration'.

He must also 'support an effective asylum system'.
Gold prices have had a very strong start to the New Year, with global uncertainties working in its favour. From the start of 2020, metal has traded in a broad range of $1,520 to $1,580 considering the uncertainties that took a toll on market, demand for safe haven asset has risen. Gold prices were supported at lower levels following a significant escalation in uncertainties like trade conflict between US and China, Brexit issue and tensions in Middle East. But in recent past an ease-off was witnessed due to certain developments in these uncertainties.

Central banks dovish stance and series of rate cuts last year also lent support to the metal prices. Consistent gold buying by few central banks like Russia, China, Turkey and others have been building the investors confidence too.

Trade truce between US and China have created quite a havoc in the market, 18 month long trade deal saw a lot of retaliatory moves from both the countries, although it took some time before both the countries calmed their actions and decided to sign Phase one of trade deal on Jan, 15th 2020. Phase one does show certain developments benefitting both sides although, few pain points still remain which continues to give support to the metal prices. China has agreed to buy more goods and services from the US according to market considerations; on the other hand U.S. has agreed to remove tariffs levied on China only after phase two deal so that US can use it as a negotiating card. On other hand, after reelection of PM Boris Johnson chances of Brexit have turned bright which is expected to close by January end. The continuous Middle East tensions and recent tiff between US and Iran took gold to its new highs on domestic front.

Apart from uncertainties there are various ratios which helps to gauge global economies trends and how gold as an asset class is likely to perform amidst the macro economic backdrop. In this report we have tried to analyze 3 different ratios which basically indicate about the risk-on and risk-off sentiment in market and are commonly used to benchmark gold to other commodities. To our surprise, all three ratios that we analyzed are indicating further bullishness for gold as compared to other asset classes.

Gold-Silver Ratio

Ratios are just division of two commodities hence forms a part of numerator and denominator so it is important to take into consideration that many times numerator might stay stable and latter might perform and vice versa.

All these ratios are used as a tool by many market experts to gauge trend and performance of precious metal sector, as and when uncertainties increase people shift to safe haven asset, resulting in increase in the ratio, hence it becomes a good indicator of economic health too.

This ratio tells us that how many ounce of silver it will take to buy 1 ounce of gold. Last year, ratio had reached to its all-time highs of ~93, although after an ease off in uncertainties higher levels could not sustain.

2019 started with a very positive note for gold. With trade war uncertainties escalating, Brexit issue being dragged for over 3 years and tussle increasing between US and Middle East acted as a great mix for precious metal pack.

We expect that this year central banks will play a major role in supporting gold prices as most of the central banks have hinted that they are likely to hold rates. On other hand, BoE governor has also hinted to cut rates if needed suggesting that dovish outlook still is not out of picture. Geopolitical tensions, which have cooled off if starts to escalate again could, extend gains for precious metal. With gold, silver also rallied although there was a difference in pace of their movement resulting in gold silver ratio to touch its highs. Hence as seen in the chart if ratio goes up, it will suggest that gold will rally and silver will be stable and catch golds rally later or it will underperform. At current levels 88 looks like a strong resistance if breached it will further open doors to touch again its all-time highs of 93.

Also read: Gold climbs to Rs 40,157 per 10 gram, up 0.47% for the week

Gold-Oil Ratio

Gold-Oil ratio tells us that how many barrels of oil you can buy with one ounce of gold. On an average over the last 35 years, gold to oil ratio ranges around 16.7. It has hit a low of 6.32 in 2005, and has made a high of 36.5 in 2016.

The ratio according to chart clearly shows that there is a good potential of it to go up that means that gold being the numerator will outperform oil. Golds fundamental looks strong as mentioned above, although with geo political tensions and other demand supply factors crude oil seems to be under pressure.

The fundamentals for crude seem to paint a bearish picture as US and China trade tiff has impacted sentiments. Other than that, various sanctions by US on Iran, Venezuela and other countries could support crude prices, but at the same time President Trump makes all efforts to keep prices low. Also various steps by OPEC+ countries in terms of production cuts have had impact on the crude prices. As seen in chart, ratio has broken trend line and looks positive suggesting gold has a stronger bias than oil. Hence, gold might rally higher and crude oil might stay stable or see a dip.

Also read: Mandatory hallmarking of gold: Should you be worried about your uncertified jewellery?

Gold-Copper Ratio

Most economists and central bankers use stats to justify their optimism. These economic data are important to gauge a short term impact in market, although overall health of economy can also be looked by few ratios, like gold-copper ratio.

Gold and copper dont bear a direct relationship to each other. Gold is well-known as a safe haven asset. Investors like gold when market pessimism runs high, on other hand Copper is in demand when optimism is increasing as it is heavily used in many sectors of the industrial economy, hence it is also a well-known indicator of global economic health.

This ratio tells us how many ounces of copper it takes to buy one ounce of gold, less copper it takes to buy an ounce of gold, lower the ratio and vice versa. Rising gold-copper ratio shows a weakening economy. Similarly, coppers outperformance over gold signals a positive outlook for economic growth going forward

Coppers fundamentals look quite positive due to various factors like, optimism around the trade war between US and China. Now since phase one of the trade deal agreement has been signed, overall sentiment about the trade war has turned positive, also falling inventories on LME & Shanghai and gradual revival in global growth and Industrial activities generally favours copper.

Even though both the metals here i.e. gold and copper looks positive, the pace of gold will be faster than that of copper resulting in the ratio to rise up. As seen in this chart also it can be seen that, the ratio looks decisive, where 540-541 level is a strong support and only if that level is breached the ratio will see a downside.

Outlook:

Now that the Phase One deal is done and tensions in Middle East are getting settled we expect that focus will shift to what major central bank do in their policy meeting. At the same time, how fundamentals start to behave will be important to watch. US economy has seen effects of trade war in past year, manufacturing PMI number fell to the lowest levels since June 2009. It is not only the US but also Euro Zone, UK as well Japan who have had a subdued growth in the past few years. From Federal Reserve to ECB to BoE everyone in their policy meeting has showed concerns over slowing economy and maintained an accommodative stance for the whole year.

It will be important to see whether growth of these major economies starts to pick up and that will reflect in risk-on or risk-off sentiment in the market. In this current situation we expect that gold prices could consolidate, but any hiccups related to growth, employment or trade from these major economies could start to reflect on gold prices. As we mentioned above that central banks this year will be playing a major role as continued dovish stance, gold buying by few major economies and pick up in ETF buying and rise CFTC position could continue to extend gains for precious metal.

The ratios mentioned also suggests that gold is ought to outperform other metals it is compared with. These ratios show an important long term picture for the respective commodities hence giving a better scenario analysis for market participants.

We continue to maintain our positive bias on gold, targeting the level Rs 41,200 followed by Rs 42,700 with supports at Rs 38,600. On COMEX, major resistance is at $1,590 followed by $1,630 maintaining support at $1,520 followed $1480.

(The author is Vice President, Commodity & Currency Research, Motilal Oswal)

The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah

24.01.2020 LISTEN

Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, the Director of Elections of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has said the posture of the Electoral Commission (EC) on the compilation of a new biometric voters register threatens the countrys peace and democratic development.

He said the EC, by its stance, had shown grave disrespect to the commissions Eminent Advisory Committee, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and other well-meaning Ghanaians who had agreed to mediate in the disagreement over the compilation of a new biometric voters register.

Mr Afriyie Ankrah, whose party is a member of the Inter-party Resistance Against the New Voters Register, explained that the groups decision to suspend its demonstrations and other planned activities was to show respect to the personalities involved in the mediation.

He gave an assurance that it would resume and escalate its planned activities to compel the EC to listen to reason if the mediation failed.

He said Ghanas democracy was the envy of many in the world and Africa and the EC must be mindful not to plunge the country into chaos.

Listen to reason

Mr Afriyie Ankrah said the EC had so far failed to advance any cogent arguments to justify its decision to procure a new biometric voter management system (BVMS) and compile a new voters register.

He said for 18 respectable civil society organisations (CSOs) and other experts to shoot down the ECs reasons for the new register showed that the commission had no basis.

What is the ECs motivation for insisting on pursuing the same path that others had kicked against? he asked.

It is a procurement scam. After all, the EC just procured more of the devices for the referendum on the creation of new regions, as well as the district level elections in December, last year, he added.

Registration

Mr Afriyie Ankrah said it was not possible for the EC to compile the new register in six weeks, as it had outlined, especially when the National Identification Authority (NIA) had taken more than a year to register only 7.2 million, with about half of those registered yet to receive their cards.

Moreover, he said, the EC kept giving contradictory figures of the projected number of voters to be registered, saying: In one breath, the EC projects 10 million, and in another, 17 million voters to be registered.

Where is its projection coming from? he asked.

He reminded the EC that voter registration had a history of creating more tension in the country than even voting day, hence the need for the commission to tread cautiously.

In response to the question as to why the coalition would not encourage its members to register, he said the wastage involved in undertaking the exercise, as well as the timing, should not be countenanced by any reasonable Ghanaian.

Legal backing

Mr Afriyie Ankrah asked the EC to rethink its argument of independence, since the same Constitution reminded the independent institutions about the need for their actions to be reasonable.

The EC must seek to build consensus and not take a posture that is not good for our democracy. Truth is one, he said.

He said there was trouble in neighbouring countries all based on electoral issues and said the EC must be mindful of that and help Ghana preserve its image as an oasis of peace.

---graphic.com.gh
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  When a driver needed to have his car towed near the Bradley Avenue exit on the Staten Island Expressway on Jan. 18, 2019, Queens-based Runway Towing Corporation came to his assistance and towed the car to the nearest exit about one mile away.

However, the driver alleges the company charged him $225, plus $9.80 in tolls when none were incurred on the route -- which is $109 more than legally permitted.

That claim is one of 31 included in a massive class-action lawsuit filed recently in Brooklyn Federal Court which alleges Runway engaged in a fraudulent scheme to overcharge consumers, business persons and insurance companies, by charging rates that are between 50% and over 100% in excess of the rates permitted."

Several of the allegations stem from incidents on the Staten Island Expressway, the Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway and the West Shore Expressway, on which Runway is granted a monopoly to tow vehicles as part of the New York City Arterial Program overseen by the NYPD, according to the complaint.

Runway also operates on the Korean War Veterans Parkway, the complaints states.

OVERCHARGES AND DIFFERENT INVOICES

Four of the six towing instances that happened on Staten Island required the company to drive less than 10 miles, but it eventually ended up overcharging in each case, the complaint alleges.

Drivers who operate passenger vehicles are supposed to be charged $125 for the first 10 miles and $4 for any additional mile after, according to towing regulations, invoices issued by Runway and shared with the Advance and NYPD regulations.

Should a vehicle be between 10,000 pounds and 18,000 pounds, the price would rise to $175 and $10 for each additional mile, according to NYPD regulations.

In case of vehicles between 18,000 pounds and 26,000 pounds the towing price would jump to $250, while for vehicles over 26,000 pounds it would be $300, the regulations indicate.

On one occasion, on Feb. 28, 2019, Runway drove a vehicle for seven miles  from the last exit on the Brooklyn-bound Staten Island Expressway, just before the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, to Avenue P and 65th Street in Brooklyn  and charged the customer $225 instead of the required $125, the complaint alleges.

Additionally, Runway charged $47 for storage charges even though there was no storage of the vehicle, according to the complaint.

After adding $11.68 in tolls and $19.97 in taxes, Runway charged the customer $303.65, but then offered a cash flat rate, offering to lower the total to $250, the complaint alleges.

In another instance, on Jan. 13, 2019, Runway towed a vehicle from the West Shore Expressway to South Ozone, Queens -- where the towing company is based  adding up costs to $1,000 for a trucking company, the complaint alleges.

If you are from Staten Island, why do you have to go to Queens to get your car back? asked Gary Rosen, the lawyer who filed the class-action suit.

In the sixth case, on Dec. 18, 2018, a Chevy Mini-Bus was towed to the nearest exit available on the Staten Island Expressway for a total of fewer than 10 miles and the company charged the driver $11.98 for tolls, even though Runway did not incur any on the route, according to the complaint.

Runway, however, did not limit itself to overcharging consumers, but also provided them with invoices that were lacking a detailed breakdown of the prices and the customers bill of rights, as required by law, the complaint alleges.

A publicly-available sample of an invoice shows that the NYPD requires its contractors who tow vehicles to provide the price breakdown of towing services, storage prices, gasoline delivery and costs for replacing a flat tire. (Click here to download.)

The NYPD and the Department of Consumer Affairs have been knowingly permitting the overcharging of consumers and business owners by Runway and have not provided the enforcement" the New York Administrative Code requires to stop the overcharging of consumers and businesses by Runway, the complaint alleges.

A GRANTED MONOPOLY

While the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) licenses and regulates tow truck companies, the NYPD runs and regulates the citys tow program for highways, a DCA spokeswoman said.

But even after receiving a license from the Department of Consumer Affairs, not every towing company is allowed to tow vehicles on the 17 New York City highways, which are all part of the arterial program, according to regulations from the NYPD.

A private towing company has to receive a license from the DCA and then apply to become part of the arterial program, which the NYPD oversees.

In the past, NYPD issued permits to approved towing vendors selected by a competitive application process, a recent copy of an NYPD application for tow services states.

Of the 17 arterial highways, Runway operates on seven.

However, the NYPD application sample obtained by the Advance shows that applicants may submit applications for up to three segments that are part of the Arterial Highway Program.

It is not clear why Runway is able to operate on seven segments, but an NYPD spokeswoman told the Advance that the department awarded four towing companies rights to operate on various segments of the New York City arterial program: Autorama Towing, located in the Bronx; Universe Towing, located in the Bronx; Knights Collision Experts Inc., located in Bushwick, and Runway Towing Co.

There are no allegations made against the other companies in the class-action lawsuit.

It has been and is detrimental to the consumers and business owners who travel on the New York City Arterial Highways, where they are forced to use Runway, who has blatantly regularly engaged in overcharging consumers and business persons and engaged in unlawful conduct to motorists while operating on seven of the 17 New York City Arterial Highways for which the NYPD has granted runway a monopoly, the complaint alleges.

A spokeswoman from DCA said the department could not comment on pending litigations.

The NYPD will review any lawsuit when and if we are served, an NYPD spokeswoman told the Advance.

After multiple requests, a receptionist at Runway said a manager was not immediately available to return a phone call seeking comment and asked an Advance reporter to leave contact information. A Runway representative has yet to contact a reporter with a comment.

A lawyer representing Runway also did not return multiple calls seeking comment.

The complaint further alleges that the NYPD also knew that between Oct. 1, 2018 and Sept. 30, 2019, Runways license was suspended but it continued to tow vehicles.

All of the cars listed in the lawsuit that Runway towed on Staten Island occurred during that time.

PRIOR CONTROVERSY

In 2018, Runway was at the center of another controversy when Breen Bros. Towing, which served the Staten Island community for over 40 years, filed a lawsuit against the NYPD for wrongful contract termination.

The NYPD awarded the highways the Staten Island company was operating on, the Staten Island Expressway and West Shore Expressway, to Runway.

Our contract was terminated without cause for what the city calls convenience, said manager Joseph Breen previously in an interview with the Advance. Weve been here a long time and being able to service the residents of Staten Island means a lot to us.
A British woman has been accused of killing her toddler in Finland, police have said.

Officers were called to a home in Espoo, 11 miles west of Helsinki, on Sunday.

They found the deceased child, believed to be two years old, following "a domestic crime in a private home", Finnish Police said in a statement.

The British woman, believed to be 35, appeared in Western Uusimaa District Court on Wednesday, with local media reporting she was in a wheelchair.

Police said the woman has confessed to the killing.

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: "We are in contact with the Finnish authorities following the death of a Canadian-British child in Finland.

"Our staff are providing consular support and are in contact with the Canadian government."

Local media reported the family had returned to Finland last January and had also lived in Canada, the UK and China.

Police said they were treating the matter as a murder but provided no further information.

"Due to legislation restricting the publicity of pre-trial material, we will not be able to provide more detailed information at this stage and hardly any later," said crime commissioner Ilmari Hallamaa.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 20:20:11|Editor: Wang Yamei

Video Player Close

LUSAKA, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Zambia's governing party on Friday sent a message of goodwill to the Chinese people on the occasion to mark the Lunar New Year.

The Patriotic Front (PF) said it wishes the Chinese people as well as the Communist Party of China (CPC) success in future endeavors as well as a prosperous New Year.

Antonio Mwanza, Deputy Media Director of the governing party, said the party has collaborated well with the Chinese ruling party in many areas over the years and was grateful for the support given.

The party, he said, has benefited from capacity building programs from the CPC such as youth training programs and would like such collaboration to continue.

According to him, the Zambian governing party was keen to learn more from the CPC on party and resource mobilization.

"On this occasion of the Chinese New Year, we are grateful to the Chinese people for the support they have rendered to us in various areas and we wish them well and a prosperous New Year," he told Xinhua.
This article contains spoilers for the first episode of 'Star Trek: Picard'.

Star Trek: Picard, a brand-new drama that brings back fan-favorite character Jean-Luc Picard in an entirely new way, premiered yesterday on CBS All Access. The show is set two decades after the end of the last The Next Generation movie, the critically panned Nemesis, and follows threads set up in that film -- the centrality of the Romulans, the marriage of Deanna Troi and William Riker and the death of Data, the beloved android played by Brent Spiner.

The new series, which has already been renewed for a second season, opens with Jean-Luc Picard living a very different life than he used to. He's retired from Starfleet and returned to his family vineyards in La Barre, France. He lives a quiet life, but from the beginning, it's clear it's a little too contemplative. He has too much time to think about the past, about his regrets and the life he misses.

It doesn't take long for the show to fill in the gaps of what happened: After the Romulan supernova (which was first introduced in the J. J. Abrams Star Trek reboot), then-Admiral Picard convinced Starfleet to relocate the Romulans. But after a terrorist attack from rogue artificial lifeforms, Starfleet decided to pull back and focus on its own woes rather than helping a people traditionally considered an enemy. Jean-Luc fundamentally disagreed with that course of action.

Everything changes in an instant when the mysterious Dahj (played by Hamilton actress Isa Briones), who's being hunted by unknown forces, shows up on the former captain's doorstep. Her special abilities signal that she's something different, and indeed, Jean-Luc figures out that she may somehow be connected to Data. But Dahj is murdered before he has the chance to learn more, and it isn't until he visits Dr. Agnes Jurati (the always-excellent Alison Pill) that he finds out that Dahj may be the result of artificial intelligence cloning, and if that's the case, because they're created in pairs, she has a twin out there. It's safe to say that Jean-Luc sees Soji, Dahj's twin, as his chance at redemption, because he failed to protect Data all those years ago.

Story continues

It's a fantastic premise on multiple levels, delivering the science and technology that fans have come to expect from the series in a way that is approachable for new fans. It's also daring -- it's clear that this first episode barely scratches the surface. The narrative storytelling in this series is going to be different than we've seen before from the franchise.

STAR TREK: PICARD

In an era when nostalgia seems to dominate programming, and networks and studios seem content with endless reboots and continuations of old shows and movies, it might be easy to think that Star Trek: Picard is more of the same. After all, doesn't bringing back this kind of universally loved character seem like a sure bet, especially after the mixed reactions to Star Trek: Discovery?

However, it's not that simple. Star Trek: Picard may bring back characters and be a continuation of a story set in motion over 30 years ago, but it's an entirely new development for the franchise. In reality, Star Trek: Picard is the prestige drama the franchise has been waiting for -- a significant departure from what's come before.

In this bold new story, Picard is in a very different situation than we last saw him. The man is the same, but the world has changed. That was Stewart's condition for returning to the role that made him a household name. "What I wanted to -- hoped we would -- address, and what I talked about in our early meetings before I accepted the offer, was that we would not be reflecting The Next Generation so much as the world the way it is today," Stewart told Engadget in a roundtable interview. "And how it has changed in the 19 years since we wrapped [Nemesis]. Because it has changed, and it is mostly changing in ways that are not good for the world, from Brexit to global warming."

"When we meet Picard, the circumstances of his life were very different than we would expect... But he is still very fundamentally Picard," said Alex Kurtzman, the mastermind behind the Star Trek franchise. "That was the key for us, making sure that, while circumstances have changed him, he's still the great leader that he was."

Star Trek has always been an allegory for the world we live in. But, as Stewart pointed out, we are currently very divided. And it was important to him and to Kurtzman that the show stay true to the nature of Star Trek by reflecting what we are facing.

STAR TREK: PICARD

"Star Trek has always been an amazing mirror that holds itself up to now, as is all the great science fiction," said Kurtzman. "And yes, it is a utopian vision of the future. Yes, it is an optimistic vision of the future in which our best selves rise to the top, in which all the things that divide us now, are afterthoughts... But you can't tell a political story that's allegorical without hitting what we're dealing with right now."

It's not just the world events that have altered, though. Between The Next Generation's premier in 1987 and now, television has changed drastically. While the traditional alien-of-the-week stories are certainly beloved by many audiences, those kinds of narratives no longer reflect the sophisticated storytelling that writers are able to do with television. Star Trek: Discovery does a solid job balancing those episodic narratives and larger arcs. But television these days is dynamic, and the producers are showing us that the Star Trek franchise is as well.

It was important to the production team to differentiate Picard from its predecessor. "I think if this just felt like it's Discovery: The Next Chapter... I think that wouldn't work," said executive producer Heather Kadin. "It looks different, it feels different and it's much more thoughtful and pensive, and it's not as big. There are no huge space battles, and not to say there won't be a space battle, but it's not what we're leading with."

"There are no huge space battles, and not to say there won't be a space battle, but it's not what we're leading with."

Multiple cast members, writers and producers have described the series as a 10-hour film, rather than a season of individual episodes. That makes Picard an incredibly risky endeavor, even perhaps more than Discovery was. The new flagship show of the franchise had a rocky start and took some time to find its footing, but it has evolved into an exciting and emotional series with many devoted fans (and also plenty of people who pretend like it doesn't exist).

Part of the problem is that as the single Star Trek show, Discovery had to be everything for everyone. It had to satisfy long-time fans who relied on the predictability of Star Trek's normal formula of storytelling while also drawing in new viewers who have become accustomed to a different kind of television show. On top of that, it was struggling under the weight of being launched on a subscription-only service, CBS All Access, that was trying to establish itself through its Star Trek offering.

That's a lot of expectation for a single show to carry, and I believe Discovery has met and exceeded those challenges as well as can be hoped. But now it has Picard to share the reins with, promising to be an entirely different kind of show and signaling that each iteration of Star Trek will be different to what came before.

STAR TREK: PICARD

The challenge that Picard faces is satisfying the legions of The Next Generation fans while also appealing to people who may only vaguely know who Jean-Luc Picard is or why he's important. It's a show dependent on the history that's come before, and yet needs to stand on its own two feet at the same time.

That tension, between new viewers and old fans, is something that writers and producers have been grappling with from the very beginning of this show. Akiva Goldsman, executive producer of Star Trek: Picard, said creating a show with such a deep history that was also welcoming to all viewers was "complicated."

"In anything that you're writing, if there's a lot of backstory... you don't necessarily start your story at the very beginning. You typically start in the middle of things then fill the audience in," explained Michael Chabon, the showrunner for Star Trek: Picard. "There are clumsy ways of doing that and there are artful ways of doing that, and you try to find the more artful ways."

'Picard' has accomplished its mission beautifully.

Goldsman explained that their approach to Star Trek: Picard was to treat it more as traditional science fiction and less like Star Trek. "It's not to say that Star Trek isn't science fiction," he hurried to clarify. But you also can't assume that audiences have the information you need them to know to tell a story, even in a franchise as deep as Star Trek. "So the question is how do you parse out, how do you titrate the narrative exposition along with the emotion in ways to carry the audience along with you?" said Goldsman.

That fine balance is what Star Trek: Picard is hoping to achieve in its 10-episode freshman run. Telling a story relevant to the world around us, which will be meaningful to longtime fans while also delivering something different to what has come before, all through one of the most beloved characters in modern television history. It's no easy feat and yet judging from the first three episodes (which comprise the first act of the inaugural season), Picard has accomplished its mission beautifully.

Images: CBS Interactive
And he worries about the large hospital systems that swallow up smaller nonprofit agencies, which is something Renz could face, he said. Its one of the reasons the 2018 merger of the Renz Center and the Ecker Center for Mental Health was important; the two agencies reduced overhead costs with the move and remained local, he said.
Bengaluru, Jan 24 : A human trafficking and international prostitution racket was busted here by the city's Crime Branch and three people arrested, an official said on Friday.

"Two Bangladeshi girls, aged around 20, have been rescued and sent to a women's care home," DCP, Central Crime Branch, Kuldeep Jain to IANS.

The arrested persons were identified as Lipi, Mondal and Hussain, he said, adding Lipi and Hussain are from Bangladesh while Mondal is from Delhi.

The accused first brought a Bangladeshi girl here, rented a home and started exploring the city for flesh trade. The second girl was brought here later.

The three were produced before a local court, which sent them to judicial custody, Jain said.
A mother was left red-faced when a baffled school parent texted her a snap of a 'friendship bracelet' their daughters had exchanged - which turned out to be a vibrator.

Kahla Maneely, 26, from Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, said her heart 'sank to the pit of her stomach' when she realised her daughter Myla Eisenhower, five, had given her friend her partner's vibrating penis ring.

The mortified parent received a text from a fellow mother with a picture of the toy, which joked that her daughter 'might have been in your stuff lol'.

A hilarious text exchange shows her apologetic text to the schoolgirl's mother, which reassures her that the sex aid wasn't used, before receiving a light-hearted response.

Under intense grilling from Kahla and 29-year-old electrician dad Brady Eisenhower, the guilty schoolgirl confessed she'd rummaged through a bedside cabinet before school on Monday.

Kahla Maneely, 26, from Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, said her heart 'sank to the pit of her stomach' when she realised her daughter Myla Eisenhower, five, had given her friend her partner's vibrating penis ring

Under intense grilling from Kahla and 29-year-old electrician dad Brady Eisenhower, the guilty schoolgirl confessed she'd rummaged through a bedside cabinet before school on Monday

The youngester had proudly sported the vibrating purple 'bracelet' at school and handed it over to her pal on the bus home.

Full-time mother-of-three Kahla said she hopes that after their chat and a five-minute 'time out' Myla has learned her lesson and won't snoop around in their bedroom again.

Kahla said: 'When I saw the picture on the text it took me a second to put two and two together and my heart sank down to the pit of my stomach.

'I didn't know what to do, I've never been that embarrassed in my whole life.

'I spent ten minutes just staring at my phone trying to think of a good response because I didn't know what to say.

The mortified parent received a text from a fellow mother with a picture of the toy, which joked that her daughter 'might have been in your stuff lol'

A hilarious text exchange shows her apologetic text to the schoolgirl's mother, which reassures her that the sex aid wasn't used, before receiving a light-hearted response

'I was thinking 'what if that was my kid who came home from school wearing that as a bracelet?' What would I do?

'I texted her back and as soon as I sent it I laughed so hard I couldn't breathe, I thought I was going to pass out from not being able to catch my breath.

'It was important for me to let her know it was brand new and hadn't been used because that would have been disgusting.

'I wanted to reassure her that her daughter wasn't wearing a used ring as a bracelet.'

She added: 'I'm very happy her mom handled that so great, I'm so thankful that she didn't flip out.'

The text message from the school mother read: 'Hey Myla gave this to **** on the bus today? She might have been in your stuff lol.'

Kahla replied: 'Wow, I am mortified!! I don't even know what to say. I am so sorry! 'I can assure you though that it was NOT used! We just got a 4 pack and I just went to check and 1 was missing. She probably thought it was a ring.'

Full-time mother-of-three Kahla said she hopes that after their chat and a five-minute 'time out' Myla has learned her lesson and won't snoop around in their bedroom again.

The youngester had proudly sported the vibrating purple 'bracelet' at school and handed it over to her pal on the bus home.

The friend's mother then replied: 'Lol it's ok. I didn't even realise it to [sic] she took it off.

'She said she only gave it to her when they got off the bus so Myla must have had it on all day. Lol. I said this is one for the books lol kids.'

Kahla replied: 'Omg, she probably wore it all day at school. 'I have to go check all of her belongings now. Thank god it wasn't show and tell today.'

Kahla, who is also mum to 18-month-old Maxine Eisenhower and three-year-old McKenna Eisenhower, said she picked up Myla from the bus stop as usual at 4pm on Monday.

She then prepared dinner as she listened to Myla chat excitedly about what she'd been up to at school that day.

It was only as the family of five sat down for their evening meal that Kahla's phone pinged, that they discovered the accidental x-rated incident.

Kahla, who is also mum to 18-month-old Maxine Eisenhower and three-year-old McKenna Eisenhower, had sat down for their evening meal that Kahla's phone pinged, that they discovered the accidental x-rated incident

When they quizzed Myla about whether she'd been through their belongings she tried to deny it, but eventually crumbled

When they quizzed Myla about whether she'd been through their belongings she tried to deny it, but eventually crumbled.

It transpired that Myla crept into their bedroom, had a rummage through a bedroom drawer and squirreled away what she believed was a new piece of jewellery.

The kind-hearted girl even passed it on to a friend on the school bus home as a friendship token.

Kahla said: 'When I was reading the texts Myla was looking at me not having a clue what was going on.

'I asked her 'did you go through Daddy's stuff?' She tried to lie at first, but then asked me what it was as it was 'really stretchy', I told her to mind her business.

'She definitely made it vibrate while she was wearing it - it only lasts for about 20 minutes. 'I've been laughing about it ever since it happened. I just keep cracking up imagining that poor little girl coming home with that bracelet on to show her mom.

'I'm very happy her mom handled that so great. 'The box containing the items was in his top drawer which has boxers in it.

'They were under everything and pushed to the back so she definitely went rooting for it.'

It transpired that Myla crept into their bedroom, had a rummage through a bedroom drawer and squirreled away what she believed was a new piece of jewellery. The kind-hearted girl even passed it on to a friend on the school bus home as a friendship token

Kahla said the whole family had learned lessons from the x-rated incident - they've now moved the aids from the previous hiding place and Myla has learned not to go snooping in her parents' room (text exchange seen)

Kahla said the whole family had learned lessons from the x-rated incident - they've now moved the aids from the previous hiding place and Myla has learned not to go snooping in her parents' room.

Kahla said: 'When we asked Myla about it she started to look a little bit scared as she knows she's not allowed to go through our stuff we've since moved them from their usual spot.

'We sat her down and talked to her about it, then she was on time out for five minutes in her room. 'She then apologised, so I hope she's learned her lesson not to do that again.'
By Express News Service

BHOPAL: A day after the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress coalition government in Maharashtra resolved to make reading of the Preamble to the Constitution compulsory in schools, the Congress government in adjoining Madhya Pradesh has followed suit.

The School Education Department decided on Wednesday to make reading out of the Preamble compulsory for students in all government schools in the state every Saturday.

In every primary school and middle school, the students, during the Assembly, will read out the Preamble under the guidance of the headmaster/teacher.

In High School and Higher Secondary School, the students will recite the Preamble under the guidance of the schools principal during the Bal Sabha, which is held every Saturday.

Welcoming the move, the opposition BJP said that the government should also be ready to face questions from school students pertaining to the Constitution.

The Uddhav Thackeray government on January 21 made its collective reading at all schools mandatory before prayer every day from January 26 in Maharashtra.

By making the collective reading of the Preamble a central feature of the anti-CAA protests, the agitators had sought to reaffirm their faith in the Constitution and in its sovereign, secular and democratic nature.

According to a circular issued by the Maharashtra government, the collective reading of the Preamble from this Republic Day in all primary and secondary will help the students imbibe the values of Sarvobhaum Sanvidhanache Janhit Sarvanche (Constitution is supreme for the welfare of all).

If the Preamble is internalised at a young and tender age, then the students will cherish it in all walks of life, read the notification, a copy of which is with this newspaper.

District education officers in the state have been tasked with monitoring and reviewing its implementation. Maharashtra has around 1.10 lakh primary, secondary and private schools. Ashish Shelar, former education minister and senior BJP leader, welcomed the notification.

But after reading the Preamble, if someone says Bharat Mata Ki Jai or Vande Mataram, they should not be boycotted or ill-treated, he, however, said sarcastically.

When the common minimum programme of the ruling Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi was drafted, the Congress had insisted on inserting the word secular in its preamble.

Ravindra Waikar, a Shiv Sena legislator, said the Maharashtra governments decision will not stoke any controversy.

Reading the Preamble is always good. It will help students know the Constitution at a tender age, he said.

Inculcating values

Values of justice, freedom, equality and fraternity form the core of our Constitution. Its directive principles, duties and rights should be taught at a young age. If students properly imbibe those values, they will grow into responsible, civilized and cultured citizens, the notification said.
Desir expressed the readiness to participate in the discussion with the authorities and hold the due diligence review of the draft law

OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Desir Open source

OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Desir expressed concern and criticized the Ukrainian bill on the fight against disinformation as the OSCE reported.

I understand the need to fight against disinformation, especially in the context of the current conflict in and around Ukraine. But this should not be done at the expense of media freedom and through state interference in the content of the media and in the organization of journalism activities in the country. Moreover, the current Ukrainian legislation already provides mechanisms to counteract socially dangerous information, Desir said.

He reminded that during the fight against disinformation, it is necessary to observe the right of everyone for the freedom of expression, which is enshrined in the Constitution of Ukraine and the commitment of the country before the OSCE and other international institutions.

The OSCE representative noted that the few associations of mass media and non-governmental organizations, which deal with the issues of the freedom of media, the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine and European Federation of Journalists strongly criticized the new bill, mostly because it provides the excessive state regulation and control over mass media and it harms the self-governance of the journalists.

Desir expressed the readiness to participate in the discussion with the authorities and hold the due diligence review of the draft law to be sure that it will not influence the freedom of media and negatively and it fully corresponds with the international standards.

Earlier, the Ministry of Culture told about the bill that will regulate the media sphere in Ukraine: in particular, how they will fight fake news, what should be the format of news and responsibility for disinformation.

Later, Ukrainian Minister of Culture Volodymyr Borodyansky, commenting on the ministry's initiative to regulate the media sphere in Ukraine, assured that freedom of speech in Ukraine would not suffer.
Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh on Friday hit out at the Union government, claiming that it has transferred the probe of the 2018 Koregaon-Bhima violence case to the National Investigation Agency without the state government's consent.

The case was being probed by the Pune Police.

Deshmukh tweeted on Friday evening that the Centre took this decision after the new Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress government in Maharashtra decided to "go to the root of the matter".

"...I condemn this decision. This is against the Constitution," the minister, who belongs to the NCP, added.

Violence had broken out near Koregaon-Bhima war memorial in Pune district on January 1, 2018.

Dalits visit the memorial in large numbers as it commemorates victory of British forces which included Dalit Mahar soldiers over the army of the Brahmin Peshwa rulers of Pune in 1818.

The police had claimed that provocative speeches at Elgar Parishad conclave in Pune on December 31, 2017, led to the violence, and Maoists were behind the conclave.

They later arrested several Left-leaning activists including Telugu poet Varavara Rao and Sudha Bharadwaj for alleged links to Maoists.

The Nationalist Congress Party sought to know why the Centre suddenly lost faith in the state police.

Within a day of NCP president Sharad Pawar demanding probe by a Special Investigation Team in the Koregaon-Bhima violence, the Ministry of Home Affairs transferred the case to the NIA, said NCP spokesperson Mahesh Tapase.

"What is the BJP afraid of? Why have they suddenly lost faith in Maharashtra Police?" he asked.

Some media reports had said that Pawar had written to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray that the violence was the result of a conspiracy hatched by the then BJP-led government in the state with the help of police, and had sought an SIT probe.

Incidentally, as per the NIA Act, when the Centre deems any case fit to be probed by the NIA, the state police has to transfer relevant records to the Central agency.

Earlier in the day, another NCP leader and minister Jitendra Awhad alleged that the Koregaon-Bhima violence case was a "conspiracy" of the previous BJP-led government to malign the image of activists sympathetic to Dalit causes.

"Taking action against those who recite poems of Namdeo Dhasal (a Marathi poet and Dalit activist) and arresting people on allegations of plotting to kill (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi is too much. The case should be

investigated again," the minister had said.

During the probe, Pune Police had claimed that Maoists and their supporters in urban areas were discussing a "Rajiv Gandhi-type" assissination plan against Modi.
Northville Elementary School in New Milford this week launched a pilot program to reduce waste.

The program aims to eliminate the need of having both plastic forks and spoons in the cafeteria.

Instead, sporks have been introduced.

The idea was conceived in mid-December by students in Doranne Kovals second-grade class during their opinion writing unit.

The kids did a really amazing job, Koval said.

The pilot program to replace forks and spoons with sporks began Tuesday and will continue through Valentines Day.

At that time, students will survey staff and fellow students to find out how the sporks were received.

We believe New Milford Public Schools should switch to using sporks instead of both spoons and forks because it will be better for our environment, cost less and be easier for students and cafeteria staff, the students summarized in a poster-sized project book they presented to Northville administrators and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kerry Parker in recent days.

Im impressed with what you wrote, Parker said last Friday during her visit to Kovals classroom. A lot of work went into this presentation. You surveyed the entire school.

Koval said students discussed a variety of topics at the start of the writing unit.

At first, about eight students latched onto the wastefulness of having forks and spoons in the cafeteria. Soon after, the entire class of 19 agreed.

The project blossomed in a matter of weeks.

Students researched the impact of plastic on the environment, explored alternative options and outlined the proposals cost savings.

Since plastic is made from gas and oil, using less plastic should save us gas and oil for our cars and heat for our homes, Jonathan Perdigoto wrote.

Emma Russell described the impact of plastic on animals.

Scientists have found tiny plastic in animals that have died, she wrote. Sporks will reduce the amount of plastic that we are using. This will be better for the animals.

They compiled their essays and data in a book and presented their proposal to Principal Gwen Gallagher and Director of Food Services at Northville Sandra Sullivan Jan. 10 and Parker Jan. 17.

During the classroom presentation with Parker, students exhibited several utensil options.

Among them, a spork wrapped in a plastic sleeve and a cloth bag with reusable utensils, including a fork, knife and spoon.

The sample bamboo utensils were shown to the students by a representative from the Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority, who saw the students presentation Jan. 10 while visiting the school.

Parker plans to visit Northville and dine with the students during the pilot spork program.

In their presentation, students explained the cost savings of using sporks and the ease of use for staff and students.

They priced sporks, forks and spoons on Amazon and worked out the cost effectiveness.

One student discovered the total for a box of forks and a box of spoons was $28.24, whereas a box of sporks costs $10.65. Thats a cost savings of $17.59, the student wrote.

Chelsea Whaley suggested using the money we save (using just sporks) to buy food from local farmers and help our community.

Maira Lateef wrote how the use of sporks will make it easier for students to hold their tray and utensils because they only need one of two utensils - a spork and a knife.

In her essay, London Na emphasized how a spork can even be used for soup.

You can scoop the broth and poke the chicken with a spork, she said. Theres no need to switch utensils, so it saves time.

Should the use of sporks be received well and implanted permanently, students have suggested what to do with the excess forks and spoons.

Suggestions included using them up before sporks are used all the time and donating them to other schools or organizations that may need them.

The students arent just thinking green about sporks.

They also suggested having a recyling bin on hand to collect utensils so the plastic can be used for something else, getting rid of straws and starting a program that includes students bringing their own resuable utensils and washable napkins from home and getting a discount on snacks.
Thomas Tyavwva Maji - like many other rice farmers and millers - is struggling to take advantage of rising prices in Nigeria.

He's planting more rice than ever but a lack of machinery or irrigation, limited manual labor and no spare cash for fertilizers mean there's a limit to what he can achieve.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) RICE FARMER, THOMAS TYAWWA MAJI, SAYING:

"We don't have tractor, we have not been accessing fertilizer, we have not been accessing chemicals and all that, even the harvester we have not been accessing, so our production is very low, but if those things are provided we will have a bumper harvest."

It's a similar story across Nigeria's paddy fields, leaving the country's average yield per hectare at just over two tons - half the global average.

That's a problem for the government which wants to boost the country's agriculture, a sector that accounts for nearly a third of GDP.

President Muhammadu Buhari's mission to make Nigeria self-sufficient in rice has seen imports banned across land borders, and hit with hefty tariffs in ports.

Last year, land borders were closed altogether to stamp out smuggling.

The government claims success, saying rice production is up from 7.2 million tons in 2015 to 9.2 million last year.

But agricultural data specialist Gro Intelligence disagrees. It puts output at 4.9 million tons.

At Wurukum Rice Mill in Makurdi, Iveren Asan says new buyers have surfaced since the borders were closed but that she's struggling to produce more.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) RICE MILLER, IVEREN ASAN, SAYING:

"We can't meet the demand because we are doing some of the processes manually so we cannot meet the demand."

Her income has increased, but not by enough to buy new machines.

With demand outstripping supply, a 50kg bag now costs nearly double what it did in July, meaning it is Nigerian consumers - who typically spend upwards of 70% of their incomes on food - who are feeling the squeeze.
A Saudi social media influencer, who criticized Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, has claimed that Saudi agents attempted to kidnap him on American soil.

Abdulrahman Almutairi, 27, told The Daily Beast that an unidentified Saudi man accompanied Almutairi's father on a flight to San Diego to take Almutairi against his will and bring him back to Saudi Arabia.

But the FBI intercepted Almutairi's father and the man believed to work for the Saudi royal court.

After the incident, Almutairi said he was told of the plot by the FBI.

'I was shown a picture of someone who came with my dad, who I didn't recognize,' he said.

Almutairi said the FBI sent his father and the man back on a flight to Saudi Arabia.

According to Almutairi, who has a large social media presence of more than 200,000 followers, the Saudi government 'realized I was a threat' after he publicly criticized Salman over Khashoggi's October 2018 murder.

Social media influencer, Abdulrahman Almutairi (left), 27, who criticized Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (right) over the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, has claimed that Saudi agents attempted to kidnap him on American soil

But the FBI (file image) intercepted the man believed to work for the Saudi royal court at LAX. After the incident, Almutairi said he was told of the plot by the FBI

According to Almutairi, who has a large social media presence of more than 200,000 followers, the Saudi government 'realized I was a threat' after he publicly criticized Salman over Khashoggi's (pictured) October 2018 murder

He said he started receiving death threats and that's when he knew that 'if I go back to Saudi Arabia, I'll be killed in the airport'.

Almutairi's story comes just days after it was revealed that Jeff Bezos' phone was hacked after he received a WhatsApp video file from the personal account of Salman.

Cybersecurity experts said Thursday there were still many unanswered questions from an investigation commissioned by Bezos that concluded the billionaire's cellphone was hacked, apparently after receiving the video file with malicious spyware.

The experts said the evidence in the privately commissioned report does not show with certainty that Bezos' phone was actually hacked, much less how it was compromised or what kind of malware was used.

The report on the investigation, which was managed by FTI Consulting and overseen by Anthony Ferrante, a former head of the FBI's Cyber Division, was made public Wednesday.

In it, investigators said a digital forensic review concluded with 'medium to high confidence' that Bezos' phone was compromised via malware sent from a WhatsApp account used by Salman.

Two UN experts issued their own take on the report's findings, calling on the US to investigate further.

They said it appeared the Amazon founder may have been targeted because of his ownership of The Washington Post, which was publishing reports critical of the crown prince by columnist Khashoggi.

Khashoggi was killed by Saudi agents inside the kingdom's consulate in Turkey in October 2018, five months after Bezos' phone was apparently hacked.

The report's conclusions drew heavily from the unusually high volume of data that left Bezos' iPhone X within 24 hours of receiving the video file from Salman's WhatsApp account on May 1, 2018, a month after the two exchanged phone numbers.

Almutairi's story comes just days after it was revealed that Jeff Bezos' phone was hacked after he received a WhatsApp video file from the personal account of Salman

Bezos pictured during a previous meeting with Bin Salman in Riyadh in 2016. The pair initially had a good relationship, which soured over coverage of Saudi Arabia in the Washington Post, which Bezos owns

The size of the file, the investigators suggested, indicated a malware payload may have been included.

Investigators said Bezos' phone began transmitting large volumes of data - an increase of some 29,000 per cent - after receiving the video file.

The report further pointed to messages later sent from the prince's WhatsApp account to Bezos that showed 'apparent awareness' of private information.

One included a meme with a photo of a woman the report said resembled Lauren Sanchez who Bezos was having an extramarital relationship with before going public with his divorce in January 2019.

Another, sent two days after Bezos was briefed in phone calls last February about a Saudi online campaign against him, advised the technology mogul that what he was hearing was not true.

'There is nothing against you or amazon from me or Saudi Arabia,' the message said.

The report additionally pointed to Saudi Arabia's documented use of spyware against critics and other adversaries as further potential proof.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud called the allegations 'purely conjecture' and said if there was real evidence, the kingdom looked forward to seeing it.

Cybersecurity experts said that while it was likely a hack occurred, the investigation did not prove that definitively.

'In some ways, the investigation is very incomplete. ... The conclusions theyve drawn I dont think are supported by the evidence. They veered off into conjecture,' said Robert Pritchard, the director of UK-based consultancy Cyber Security Expert.

Similarly, the former chief security officer at Facebook, who now directs a cyber policy center at Stanford, wrote that the report is filled with circumstantial evidence, but no smoking gun.

'The funny thing is that it looks like FTI potentially has the murder weapon sitting right there, they just haven't figured out how to test it,' Alex Stamos wrote on Twitter.

One sticking point centered on WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption, which the report said made it 'virtually impossible to decrypt contents of the downloader to determine if it contained malicious code' - meaning the investigators could not conclude whether the video file sent from Salman's WhatsApp account was infected and used to hack Bezos' phone.

Bill Marczak, a senior research fellow at Citizen Lab, disputed that assertion, saying it is possible to decrypt the contents of a WhatsApp file.

In a post written for The Medium that presents ways to further the investigation, Marczak shared a link to decryption instructions and code.

The FTI investigators did not reach out to WhatsApp to seek assistance, a Facebook spokesperson said.

Fears have been raised that Salman could have amassed compromising information on dozens of wealthy, famous and powerful figures after he was accused of hacking Bezos' phone. He's pictured with President Donald Trump and and Jared Kushner

Salman's first meeting was with Kushner and Ivanka Trump (right) in 2017, and it is thought he swapped WhatsApp messages with Kushner afterwards - just as he did with Bezos

FTI's Ferrante did not respond to emails and text messages seeking comment. The company said in a statement that all FTI's work for clients is confidential and that the company does not 'comment on, confirm or deny client engagements.'

Matt Suiche, a French entrepreneur based in Dubai who founded cybersecurity firm Comae Technologies, said the video file was presumably on the iPhone because the report showed a screenshot of it.

If the file had been deleted, he said the report should have stated this or explained why it was not possible to retrieve it.

'They're not doing that. It shows poor quality of the investigation,' Suiche said.

Still, security professionals and the report itself said the fact that investigators failed to identify any embedded malicious code does not mean there wasn't a hack because sophisticated spyware can erase itself, leaving no trace.

Steve Morgan, founder and editor-in-chief at Cybersecurity Ventures, a cybersecurity research firm in New York, said the report makes reasonable assumptions and speculations, but does not claim 100 per cent certainty or proof.

'Given their detailed analysis and all of the evidence they reviewed, their conclusions are reasonable,' Morgan said.

'The tools they used, including forensic software and hardware from Cellebrite, are widely acknowledged to be amongst the best available,' he said.

Theresa Payton, founder and CEO of Fortalice Solutions, said the report is credible in her opinion, but leaves some questions unanswered, including whether the crown prince's WhatsApp account may have been hacked by a third party, meaning he was not the true attacker.

'Unless Mohammed bin Salman has a thorough forensic review of dates, times, phone logs, geocoded locations, and logins, itll be hard to know for sure who was behind that WhatsApp message,' she said.
Via The Tennessean

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a controversial measure Friday that would let religious adoption agencies deny service to same-sex couples. The move comes after several groups, including the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, urged Lee not to sign the legislation. The law allows adoption agencies to refuse to participate in a child placement if doing so would violate the agencys written religious or moral convictions or policies. Under the law, which immediately takes effect, the state will be barred from denying an agencys license or grant application for public funds because of a refusal to place a child with a family based on religious objections.

This bill was a direct result of being led by Project Blitz. The first thing to know about Project Blitz is that it was launched in 2015 by the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation, the National Legal Foundation, and Wallbuilders.

Wallbuilders was founded by David Barton, the Republican operative and discredited revisionist historian who rejects the separation of church and state, claiming that the United States was founded as a Christian nation

Remember,these people are pro-life until the child is born, and then they dont give a damn.
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Israel, where he took part in Holocaust remembrance Day events, as well as unveil the Leningrad siege defenders monument. In addition, he was expected to hold talks with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It was also assumed that the Russian leader would visit Bethlehem to negotiate with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

Experts emphasized that the meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, which was meant to discuss the Middle East issues, most likely, was formal. The talks between Abbas and Putin will not cause serious breakthroughs, it should be seen as a symbolic support for the Israeli-Palestinian settlement.

In contrast, a meeting with Netanyahu was seen as of the utmost importance right from the beginning. First of all, from the position of the Israeli leader. Netanyahu can expect to get whists before the Knesset (parliament) elections - the third extraordinary election over the past year. The Israeli prime minister who likes to flaunt his almost friendly relations with Putin, and who used this during the penultimate election, can once again jumped on this idea in the light of the case of Naama Issachar, an Israeli woman jailed for drug smuggling in Russia. Meeting with the girls mother was on Vladimir Putin's agenda, and this is a serious argument in favor of the fact that the Russian president can issue pardon for the Israeli woman. Well, it is hard to imagine - why should the Russian leader spend time on such a meeting, if not?! Certainly not to complain to a heartbroken woman that "she had raised a bad daughter." And the Israeli prime minister could try to use the liberation of Naama Issachar for the election campaign.

Along with this, Israeli experts said that, on the contrary, perhaps it would be better for Netanyahu to distance himself from this story. First, it demonstrates that his relations with Putin are not that close, and maybe even vice versa - what kind of friendship they have if an Israeli citizen was put to jail for a few grams of hashish,which is hardly considered an offense in Israel. Second, there is talk that the liberation of Naama Issachar can happen in some connection with the transfer of the Russian Compound in Jerusalem to Russia, and all this is somehow ambiguous. Third, usually the same electoral move does not work twice in Israel, and if once the Putin factor helped to win part of Russian-speaking voters, now its probably not worth to wait the success to be repeated. Especially since Netanyahu was not able to form the Cabinet twice.

Fourth, Vladimir Putin's visit to Israel is especially important not in light of the mentioned above, but because it's the first visit after the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani. Israel welcomed the successful U.S. operation. Russia's attitude is the opposite. At the same time, Israel does not hide certain hopes that Russia will be able to appropriately influence pro-Iranian groups in Syria, aggressively hostile to Israel and extremely hurt by the killing of Soleimani.

Fifth, perhaps thats why Vladimir Putins reception in Jerusalem as guest No. 1 with having a 'first word' at Holocaust remembrance Day events, the unveiling of the Leningrad siege defenders monument, amid numerous high-ranking guests - 47 heads of state and parliamentary chairmen from Europe, America and Australia, had the double meaning.



Sixth, one of these meanings is Israel's once again emphasized recognition of the USSR crucial role of the in the war against Nazis, while a number of states are busy rewriting history and manipulating well-known facts in order to belittle Moscow's merits.

Needless to say that the Russian president took advantage of the opportunities provided by Israel. It is worthwhile to note that the receiving side would probably want a little more certainty with the issue of Naama Issachar. But, of course, the president isn't obliged to to make any promises on such a issue. After meeting the mother of the convicted girl, the Russian leader delicately noted that he was convinced that she comes from a good family and said: "Everything is going to be alright with her. I am aware of the position of [Israeli] Prime Minister who asks to make an appropriate decision. All that will certainly be taken into account when the final decision is made."

Against such a general background, President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky's visit seems completely disastrous. His speech was denied by the hosts. Probably his flirtations with Ukrainian nationalists haven't gone unnoticed by Israelis. He was also denied a meeting with Vladimir Putin. The Russian side explained it with the lack of time - the originally planned two-day visit of the Russian President was cut to one day due to the difficult situation in connection with the government reshuffle. However, he found the time for meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.

But it wouldn't be Putin if he just took advantage of the opportunities provided, and the triumph would not be complete without a powerful exclamation mark. And he put it, proposing to hold an "important and symbolic" meeting of the heads of the permanent members of the UN Security Council - Russia, China, the U.S., France and Britain. The countries, as the Russian leader said, which bear special responsibility for the situation in the modern world: world leaders should confront the rising tide of anti-Semitism fueling hate and do everything to protect peace. According to Putin, the meeting could be held at any point of the world that is convenient: "Russia is ready for such a serious discussion. We plan to send corresponding messages to these countries' leaders without delay." He believes that one of the topics that could be discussed at such a meeting is Libya. But there are a lot of complex urgent problems now. And French president Macron backed this proposal, while calling Putin "my dear friend": "We must protect peace."
Actor Cuba Gooding Jr. arrives on Jan. 22 at the Manhattan Criminal Court, where a judge ruled two additional women can take the witness stand in the actor's trial. (Photo: AFP via Getty Images)

Cuba Gooding Jr.'s groping trial will begin on Apr. 21, a judge declared Wednesday. Gooding has been charged with forcible touching and sexual abuse stemming from three alleged incidents. Judge Curtis Farber ruled that two additional women who have accused the 52-year-old actor of unwanted sexual touching will be allowed to testify.

The New York Times reports the Manhattan district attorneys office asked to put 19 witnesses on the stand to show that the actor has exhibited similar predatory behaviour for years.

One of the women the judge will allow accuses Gooding of having grabbed her backside and licked her neck at a New York hotel bar in 2013. The other woman claims the Oscar-winning actor groped and forcibly kissed her at a bar in California in 2018.

Read more: Reports: Cuba Gooding Jr. accused of sexual misconduct by 3 additional women

Judge Farber said in his order that admitting all 19 witnesses would result in "undue prejudice," but that the "probative value of admitting a limited selection of incidents outweighs any such prejudice."

Cuba Gooding Jr. arrives at court in lower Manhattan on January 22, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images)

One of Goodings attorneys, Mark J. Heller, told the Times he considered the judges ruling to be a "tremendous victory" for the defence. Heller has said that when a celebrity is charged with a criminal offence, people tend to "come out of the woodwork with allegations that are all over the place and, for the most part, arent provable."

Gooding arrived late on Wednesday to court  the same building where opening arguments began in Harvey Weinstein's rape trial. According to Page Six, the actor was scolded by the judge.

"The case was called for 9:30 a.m. Why are you late?" Farber said as Gooding strolled in at 10:02am.

Cuba Gooding Jr. arrives at court in lower Manhattan on January 22, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images)

"I apologise, we hit traffic," Gooding's other attorney, Peter Toumbekis, explained.

"You have to leave early next time," Farber ordered.

The Jerry Maguire star was arrested in June 2019 after allegedly groping a woman's breast at a Manhattan club. He has maintained no wrongdoing. Since then, an additional 21 women have come forward with allegations of unwanted touching by the actor. He was hit with additional charges from two other incidents, from 2018, in which he allegedly pinched a woman's behind at the Tao Downtown nightclub and allegedly forcibly kissed a female server at Upper East Side hotspot LAVO.

Gooding faces a total of six counts. Each case involves two misdemeanour charges, of forcible touching and third-degree sexual abuse. He faces a maximum penalty of one year in jail.
KENT COUNTY, MI  Prosecutors will not retry James Chance on a perjury charge related to son Jared Chances killing of a young woman and mutilation of her body.

The 77-year-old father was recently convicted by a Kent County Circuit Court jury for being an accessory after the fact to the mutilation of Ashley Youngs body.

The jury acquitted James Chance, a retired Rock Island, Illinois, police officer, on one perjury charge but could not reach agree on a second perjury charge, resulting in a mistrial on that count.

Jared Chance, 30, killed and dismembered Young, 31, a Kalamazoo-area woman, on Nov. 29, 2018, at his home in the 900 block of Franklin Street SE. He called his parents on Dec. 1, 2018, and asked for a ride to their Holland home for the weekend. He brought the victims body parts and other items  including a reciprocating saw and her clothes  with him.

He brought of the items back to Grand Rapids the next day. The saw was left under the couch in his parents living room.

The prosecution contended that the father lied about the time of day and route they took back to Holland after picking up in Grand Rapids. He told police it was dark out when they got home though other evidence showed it was shortly after noon.

The prosecution suggested that evidence  the victims head, feet and hands have not been found  could have been destroyed on the trip back to Holland.

We had argued that he lied about the time of his return home and his path home to cover up what happened on the return trip, Prosecutor Chris Becker said in a statement.

Because the jury found him not guilty of perjury regarding the time the family returned home, we would not be able to argue that was a lie at any retrial. We would be left with trying to prove that James Chance lied when he said I think the family went directly home, and that he knew that the statement was false when he made it, as stated under state criminal jury instructions.

Young was friend to Jared Chance. She was last seen alive early Nov. 29 with him. Her torso was found Dec. 2 in his basement.

Jared Chances mother, Barbara Chance, 64, pleaded no contest to being an accessory after the fact and perjury. Under advisory sentencing guidelines, she faces up to one year in jail when sentenced next. Her husband likely faces up to six months in jail when sentenced in March.

Becker wrote: We respect and appreciate the decision of the jury holding James Chance accountable for assisting his son after the murder, and we will seek an appropriate and proportionate sentence for that crime.

Man who killed, mutilated woman to blame, not his father, defense says

Mother of man who killed, mutilated young woman pleads before her jury trial

Jury struggles to reach verdict for killer Jared Chances father
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a plea challenging the imposition of National Security Act (NSA) in few states as also in the national capital amid anti-CAA protests.

A bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Indira Banerjee said that it cannot pass a blanket order with regard to the imposition of NSA and asked lawyer M.L. Sharma to withdraw the plea.

The apex court asked Mr Sharma to file a fresh petition or an interim application in pending pleas on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) giving specific details of violations of NSA.

Mr Sharmas plea said NSA has been imposed to curb and pressure people protesting aga-inst the CAA, National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC).

Delhis Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on January 10 extended detaining powers to Delhi Police under the NSA for a three-month period starting January 19. This allows police to detain a person for 12 months without trial.

Mr Sharma had made the Ministry of Home Affairs and the governments of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pra-desh and Manipur parties to the plea, which termed the notification, allowing police to invoke NSA to detain persons, as unconstitutional and violative of fundamental rights gua-ranteed under Article 19 (1) (freedom of speech and expression) and 21 (right to life) of the Constitution.

Seeking quashing of the notification, the plea said : The cause of actions arose on Janu-ary 10, when respondents (states) imposed NSA Act for next three months with effect from January 19 in Delhi as well as in Andhra Pra-desh by the state government to arrest and detain...For protests against a person holding office of the prime minister and ministers in the Central government.

It had also sought a direction that it be declared that the NSA cannot be used against protesters.

The plea had also sought a compensation of Rs 50,00,000 each to those who have been detained so far under the NSA for mental agony, defamation in society and loss of reputation. Protests are taking place at various places in the country against CAA and NPR.
OTTAWACanada will work with allies to strike back at foreign cyberattackers and impose costs that make them understand the price of their wrongdoing, advisers have told Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Malicious state-sponsored cyber acts affect national security and economic prosperity interests, says a newly released briefing note to Trudeau on the dangers to Canada from the online realm.

Addressing these threats requires both better security at home and co-ordinated international actions.

The note, obtained by The Canadian Press through the Access to Information Act, was included in materials to help prepare Trudeau for his second mandate following the Liberal victory in the October election.

Several passages deemed too sensitive to disclose were blacked out of the document.

The briefing note underscores the evolving threat to Canada on a new and often shadowy virtual battlefield.

The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, a federal agency that monitors brewing online threats, has warned that state-sponsored players can conduct sophisticated influence operations by posing as regular people.

Online operatives create social media accounts or hijack existing profiles, and even set up troll farms of employees paid to comment on traditional media websites, social media and anywhere else they can reach their target audience, the centre said in a December 2018 report.

As a country with its own cybercapabilities, Canada is well-positioned to help shape an international strategic framework for cyberspace and advance Ottawas global peace and security interests, the briefing note to Trudeau says.

Canada has pursued a two-pronged strategy: develop and promote universal understanding of appropriate state behaviour in cyberspace, and help form co-ordinated mechanisms among like-minded countries to hold malicious actors to account.

Rules and norms in cyberspace are critical, but they must be supplemented with measures to impose costs on hostile actors, the note stresses.

It says that goal applies whether the attacks are prohibited under international law, unacceptable under non-binding international norms, or deemed a threat to Canadas security or interests.

Canada and its allies consider malicious cyber acts to be a major threat and believe that malicious actors will change their behaviour only when the costs outweigh the benefits.

The principal international forum for advancing discussions on responsible state behaviour in cyberspace is the United Nations Group of Governmental Experts. In addition, the G7 countries have set up the Rapid Response Mechanism to react to emerging digital threats.

Deterrence begins with strong cyberdefence, led by the Centre for Cyber Security, to make it harder for hackers to gain access to important systems, the briefing note says.

Deterrence in cyberspace is also about what Canada is prepared to do to respond to the threat.

The Communications Security Establishments electronic spy service, now has a mandate to conduct foreign cyberoperations, giving Ottawa the means to respond to serious foreign threats, international crises or events as part of a broader strategic approach and based on Canadas foreign policy objectives, the note says.

The CSE could be given the green light to proactively stop or impede foreign cyberthreats before they damage Canadian systems or information holdings, and conduct online operations to advance national objectives, it adds.
The government on Friday announced appointment of L V Prabhakar as managing director and CEO of Canara Bank.

He will replace R A Sankara Narayanan who demits office on January 31.

The central government appoints L V Prabhakar as MD and CEO with effect from February 1, 2020, and up to the date of his attaining the age of superannuation December 31, 2022 or until further orders, an official order said.

Prabhakar, currently executive director at Punjab National Bank. Prior to joining PNB in 2018, he served Allahabad Bank in various capacities.

He took over the reins of Executive Director PNB at a tumultuous time when Nirav Modi fraud was unearthed. For a long period of time he single-handedly managed the responsibilities of three executive directors.

He has spearheaded recovery efforts of the bank. During his tenure, the gross domestic business increased by Rs 1 lakh crore to landmark figure of Rs 11.45 lakh crore with gross recovery of more than Rs 20,000 crore.

His zest for perfection and workmanship was exemplified by the fact that for a long period of time he single-handedly managed the responsibilities of three Executive Directors & brought the Bank back on upward trajectory.

He has also been serving on Board of PNB Housing Finance Ltd. & PNB MetLife India Insurance Company as non-executive director.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
MODESTO, Calif., Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The world's best-selling, most in-demand cannabis varieties are coming to Modesto with the grand opening of Cookies' newest flagship cannabis dispensary located in the heart of California's Central Valley.

Opening on January 25, 2020, this special location marks the seventh store opening for Cookies since 2018 and one of the most expansive locations to date. Not only will Modesto shoppers get access to the most legendary cannabis products in the world in a contemporary, licensed, and secure store; store visitors will also have the opportunity to shop an exclusive, Modesto-inspired line of clothing and accessories designed by internationally-recognized lifestyle clothing brand, CookiesSF.

Designed by UK design firm Brinkworth, the soft blue and crisp white retail space at 1944 W. Orangeburg Avenue features multiple viewing and purchasing stations for checking out Cookies' unparalleled cultivars including Cereal Milk, Gary Payton, Grenadine, Ocean Beach, Pancakes, Berry Pie and Collins Avenue.

Cookies Modesto will feature the entire lineup of Cookies' world-class genetics as well as products from the entire family of Cookies brands including Lemonnade, Runtz, Powerzzzup, Minntz, and Grandiflora.

The iconic seed bank displays that can be found in Cookies locations across the US will be one of the biggest installations the retailer has seen to date in Modesto and will provide visitors with opportunities to learn more about the history of Cookies' game-changing genetics, historic moments in the timeline of Cookies the brand and the origin stories of some of the brands' most famous cultivars. Unmissable, this display will undoubtedly provoke 'grammable moments for everyone to snap a photo in front of the installation and capture the unmistakable spirit of Cookies.

No other company better represents the intersection of culture and cannabis than Cookies. Known worldwide for its legendary genetics and iconic blue branding, Cookies remains the industry's benchmark. Remaining true to it's fame, Cookies Modesto will become the ultimate destination for exclusive CookiesSF Modesto merchandise and the world-renowned, game-changing genetics that have made Cookies a name synonymous with quality.

Said Berner, founder and CEO of Cookies on the move to Modesto, "The Central Valley has always been a big supporter of my music and clothing long before any of the other markets we are currently in. These fans have been requesting Cookies flower for a very long time. We felt it was necessary to prioritize The Valley as soon as the opportunity arose."

Cookies Modesto will be opening on January 25 with a special ribbon cutting ceremony at 8:40am and the official doors opening at 9am. The first 200 customers will receive a free goodie bag.

For media interviews with Berner, as well as store tours and high-resolution photos and videos, email [email protected].

About Cookies

Curated for the connoisseur, the Cookies brand leads global cannabis culture from its headquarters in the Bay Area, California. Born from humble beginnings in a San Francisco Mission District garage, and dedicated from day one to excellent genetics and authentic culture, Cookies was officially founded in 2012 by the top-selling, award-winning Bay Area rapper and entrepreneur Berner, and his partner Jai, a leading Bay Area cultivator and breeder of Girl Scout Cookies, Gelato, and other top-selling strains of contemporary cannabis.

Subject to constant knock-offs and counterfeits, Cookies has the most in-demand, fast-moving, premium-priced cannabis products in the world, with a library of over 50 cannabis varieties and product lines including indoor, outdoor, and sungrown flower, pre-rolls, vape carts, edibles, and gel caps. Cookies' flagship stores across the United States are stocked with elite, designer, high-end cannabis varieties grown in-house for unparalleled product quality control. Cookies' ensures excellence and authenticityfrom product execution to the final consumer retail experience. And Cookies' deep talent roster gives them an edge over new market entrants that lack Cookies' decades of combined institutional knowledge of both the plant and the culture.

Since its inception, Cookies has been adamant in driving the conversation surrounding social justice within the cannabis industry and is one of the pioneers of the social equity movement, partnering with and championing the voice of equity applicants to launch products, open stores, and develop new categories for the brand.

To stay tuned for upcoming news on new stores in California, and new partners in other states, sign up for updates at www.cookiescalifornia.com

SOURCE Cookies

Related Links

https://cookiescalifornia.com


Three young children were found dead in their family home in Dublin as a chilling note reading 'call 999, dont go upstairs' was found taped to the window.

Police are investigating whether the two boys and one girl - understood to all be from the same family and aged four, eight and ten - could have suffocated at their home in Newcastle, South Dublin.

Officers were called to the house after a woman in her 40s was found wandering the streets in a distressed state at around 7pm.

Three young children were found dead in their family home in Dublin as a chilling note reading 'call 999, dont go upstairs' was found taped to the window. Pictured: Police at the scene

Police are investigating whether the two boys and one girl - understood to all have been from the same family and aged four, eight and ten - could have suffocated at their home in Newcastle, South Dublin. Pictured: An ambulance outside the house

Officers were called to the house after a woman in her 40s was found wandering the streets in a distressed state at around 7pm. Pictured: Police at the scene today

The woman, believed to be the children's mother, intimated to local people that something was wrong at her family home.

Gardai found her on the street near her house it was only when they entered the home that they came upon the deeply disturbing scene and saw the bodies of the three small children.

Police were looking into whether the children were drugged or poisoned but are now investigating the possibility that they were suffocated, The Sun reports.

The woman, believed to be the children's mother, intimated to local people that something was wrong at her family home. Pictured: Tributes at the scene

Gardai found her on the street near her house it was only when they entered the home that they came upon the deeply disturbing scene and saw the bodies of the three small children. Pictured: An ambulance at the scene today

There was no sign of a break-in at the house, sources said. Pictured: Police at the scene

The mother-of-three was taken to Tallaght hospital for treatment. Pictured: Police at the scene last night

The mother-of-three was taken to Tallaght hospital for treatment.

There was no sign of a break-in at the house, sources said.

Security insiders stressed last night that the investigation into the tragic events was at a very early stage.

The estate where the young family lived, Parsons Court, is made up of both houses and apartments.

Postmortem examinations will be carried out on the victims to find out exactly how they died.

The Garda Technical Bureau has also been alerted and a detailed forensic examination in the area was being carried out.

Security insiders stressed last night that the investigation into the tragic events was at a very early stage. Pictured: Tributes at the scene

Gardai from Clondalkin Garda Station have begun an investigation and are to carry out house-to-house inquiries in the area.

They appealed for witnesses or anyone with information to contact them.

The Garda said in a statement: Gardai are currently attending the scene of an incident at a domestic house in Newcastle, Co. Dublin.

The bodies of three children, two boys and a girl, have been discovered. Gardai are currently investigating the circumstances of their unexplained deaths, the statement read.

The Garda Technical Bureau has also been alerted and a detailed forensic examination in the area was being carried out. Pictured: Police at the scene

A female in her 40s has been taken to Tallaght Hospital. Anyone with any information in relation to this incident is asked to contact Clondalkin Garda Station on 01 666 7600 where an incident room has been established.

Councillor for the area Emer Higgins described the events as an 'unimaginable tragedy'.

'My thoughts are with everybody impacted,' said the Fine Gael representative.

'This is a really tight-knit community, it's a small area, it's a quiet area, and it's just unthinkable that something like this could be happening on our doorstep.

'It's so tragic. It's unbelievable that three young people's lives could be cut short like that, in what seems to be a particularly tragic case.'
BATESVILLE, Ind., Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hillenbrand, Inc. (NYSE: HI) will hold a conference call and simultaneous webcast Thursday, February 6, 2020, at 8:00 a.m. ET. They will discuss the results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2020, which ended December 31, 2019. The live webcast, including a slide presentation, will be available at http://ir.hillenbrand.com under the "Events & Presentations" tab and will be archived on the company's investor relations website through Friday, March 6, 2020.

To access the conference call, listeners in the United States and Canada may dial +1 (833) 241-7251, and international callers may dial +1 (647) 689-4215. Please use conference call ID number 5373374. A replay of the call will be available until midnight ET, Thursday, February 20, 2020, by dialing +1 (800) 585-8367 toll free in the United States and Canada or +1 (416) 621-4642 internationally and using the conference ID number 5373374.

Hillenbrand will issue a press release reporting its results after the market closes on Wednesday, February 5, 2020. The full text of the release and financials will be available at http://ir.hillenbrand.com.

About Hillenbrand

Hillenbrand (www.Hillenbrand.com) is a global diversified industrial company with businesses that serve a wide variety of industries around the world. We pursue profitable growth and robust cash generation to drive increased value for our shareholders. Hillenbrand's portfolio includes industrial businesses such as Coperion, Milacron Injection Molding & Extrusion, and Mold-Masters, in addition to Batesville, a recognized leader in the death care industry in North America. Hillenbrand is publicly traded on the NYSE under "HI."

CONTACTS



Investor Relations for Hillenbrand

Rich Dudley, Senior Director, Investor Relations

Phone: 812-931-5001

E-mail: [email protected]

Corporate Communications for Hillenbrand

Tory Flynn, Director, Corporate Communications

Phone: 812-931-5024

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Hillenbrand, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.hillenbrand.com


CHICAGOA Chicago woman who returned from a visit to China earlier this month has been diagnosed with the respiratory coronavirus that has sickened hundreds in China, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health.

The woman, who is in her 60s, remained hospitalized Friday and her condition had been stabilized, said Dr. Allison Arwady, the commissioner for the Chicago Department of Public Health, on a news call with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The woman travelled to Wuhan, China, in late December and on Jan. 13 returned to Chicago, Arwady said.

Nationwide, more than 2,000 people had been screened for the virus as of Thursday, and 63 patients in 22 states were being investigated Friday because of possible signs of the virus, according to the CDC.

The Chicago woman didnt have any symptoms while travelling, but she began to feel unwell a couple days after arriving home, Arwady said. Her doctor asked about her travel history and worked with the CDC to test the woman for the virus, Arwady said.

There werent any other Chicago or Illinois residents who travelled with the woman, Arwady said.

Officials did not say what hospital the woman was being treated at, but they do know she had not taken public transportation in Chicago and had not attended large gatherings, Arwady said. The woman had limited close contact at her home before she was hospitalized.

The Chicago resident is the second confirmed coronavirus case in the United States. Earlier this week, a Washington state resident in his 30s was diagnosed with the virus. He had travelled to the same region of China as the woman.

Read more about:
The BSF said on Friday that there has been an increase in the outflow of illegal Bangladeshi migrants to their home country over the past one month, following the enactment of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA.

A top official of the paramilitary force said there has been a spike in the number of illegal settlers apprehended since last month.

The outflow has been highest through the borders in the North 24 Parganas district, BSF Inspector General (South Bengal Frontier) Y B Khurania said.

"There has been some increase in outflow of illegal Bangladeshi migrants to the bordering country in last one month... In January alone, we had apprehended 268 illegal Bangladeshi migrants, most of who were trying to sneak into the neighbouring country," Khurania told reporters.

Those leaving were mostly engaged as masons, maids and housekeepers in the country, another Border Security Force (BSF) official said.

"The highest outflow is via North 24 Parganas district. They (migrants) were mostly based in Bengaluru and north India. Some were involved in paltry jobs such as masons, maids, housekeepers and sweepers," he said.

In 2019, the BSF had apprehended 2,194 Bangladeshis, most of them caught while trying to illegally sneak into India. But since December last year, things have changed, the official said.

West Bengal shares about 2,216.7-km border with Bangladesh, a large part of which is unfenced.

According to BSF sources, troopers were not stopping the immigrants from crossing over to their home country, except in cases when they were found to be smuggling goods.

"Only when they are concealing any contraband or trying to smuggle something to Bangladesh, we are apprehending them. Otherwise, we are taking a note of their particulars and details and letting them go back," one of the sources said.

According to the BSF, one of the biggest achievements of the South Bengal Frontier in 2019 has been putting a check on cross-border cattle smuggling.

"In 2018, the number of cattle seized was around 39,995 and in 2019 it had come down to 31,210. This year so far the figure is just 1,301," he said.

The CAA seeks to provide Indian citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis who moved to India on or before December 31, 2014, having fled religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The law has emerged as a major political flashpoint in West Bengal, with the TMC opposing the contentious legislation tooth and nail, and the BJP pressing for its implementation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hyderabad, Jan 24 : The world's largest meditation centre of its kind, which can accommodate 100,000 people at a time, is all set to be inaugurated on January 28 in the global headquarters of Heartfulness on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

The centre will be unveiled to mark the 75th anniversary of the Heartfulness Institute at Kanha Shantivanam in the presence of over 40,000 "abhyasis" or practitioners of Heartfulness.

Daaji, the global guide of Heartfulness, will dedicate the centre to the first guide of Heartfulness who was fondly called as Lalaji. Yoga guru Baba Ramdev will be present on the occasion, the Heartfuless Institute said on Friday.

The magnificent structure, comprising one central hall and eight secondary halls, is spread over 30 acres and can accommodate 100,000 practitioners at one go, making it the largest closed meditation centre in the world.

The meditation centre when lit up at night looks resplendent and can easily match the grandeur of other popular global structures such as the Sydney harbour.

"Built with the primary aim to impart meditation to the largest number of people at one go this meditation centre will be one of the most recognised symbols in the world in years to come. Recognised not just due to its magnificence, but as a symbol of human transformation," said Daaji.

To mark the 75th anniversary of the Institute, a three-day session will be held during January 28-30 , February 2-4 and February 7-9. The sessions will host 1.2 lakh practitioners as part of mass meditation activity.

President of India Ramnath Kovind and Anna Hazare will address the practitioners on February 2 and February 7 respectively. Baba Ramdev will deliver his address on January 29. Several state Governors are expected to be part of the list of prominent people attending the celebrations.

The Heartfulness facility is spread over 1,400 acres and is a self-sustained ecosystem that can host 40,000 plus people, self-sustained kitchen that can make food for 100,000 people in a day, an upcoming 350 bed Ayush medical facility, nursery of six lakh saplings and several lakh trees that have been planted over the last four years.
A man who lived with the stench of poo in his rental house after the sewage system repeatedly overflowed has been awarded thousands of dollars in compensation.

The Canberra man rented the property between 2015 and 2018 during which sewage flowed into the house eight times and seeped into the walls and carpet, the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal heard this week.

The overflows seeped up through the bathroom floor, toilet, and laundry floor and twice covered the vinyl floor of the family room.

Despite the tenant cleaning up the mess and throwing away bathmats and towels the smell persisted due to the house absorbing the sewage, reports the ABC.

A man who lived with the stench of poo in his rental house after the sewage system repeatedly overflowed has been awarded thousands of dollars in compensation (stock image)

'The stench in the house was permanently present, even after the tenant's cleaning,' ACAT said when handing down its decision.

The man even had to relocate his access visits with his son due to the smell.

Despite repeated visits from a plumber to deal with the overflow, which they found was due to tree roots blocking pipes, the problem was not permanently fixed.

'It seems the respondent was content with a reactive mode of response to the problem,' the tribunal said.

The man vacated the rental property in 2018 and the subsequent tenant also reported the issue.

The owner of the house filed a claim with ACAT in 2019 for rent and water arrears and the tenant also filed a claim for compensation and return of bond.

The tribunal this week found the landlord was 'in breach of [their] duty to repair in respect of each incident after the first one'.

They awarded the tenant $8,000 in compensation minus rent arrears bringing the total to $6,000.
London: Governor-General David Hurley says Australia should have a national debate about whether to ban the swastika amid fresh warnings by world leaders of a steady reawakening of anti-Semitism across the globe.

Reverend Canon Christopher Collingwood and Joshua Daniels light some of the 600 candles shaped as a Star of David on the floor of York Minster as part of a commemoration for Holocaust Memorial Day. Credit:Getty

"That symbol provokes, to those who know and understand it, a great fear, and it represents something that we found reprehensible enough to send our country to war to fight against," the former defence force chief told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

"Whether we ban things because they're reprehensible ... that's an issue for us to discuss further. I think [a debate] would be a sensible thing to do."

General Hurley, who joined world leaders in Israel this week ahead of the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz extermination camp, condemned the flying of a Nazi flag above a home in regional Victoria and said the country must remain "very, very wary" of any resurgence in anti-Semitic behaviour.
New Delhi, Jan 24 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday said it has filed a chargesheet against two Bangladeshi terrorists of the Ansar-al-Islam outfit, who had entered India illegally and concealed their identity by procuring fake Aadhaar cards.

An NIA spokesperson here said that the chargesheet against the two terrorists was filed in a Special NIA court in Mizoram capital Aizawl under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, Foreigners Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The anti-terror probe agency said it filed the chargesheet against Mahmud Hassan alias Shariful Islam and Mohamad Sa'ad Hussain alias Mohamad Sayad Hussain, who were detained by villagers in Silsuri when they could not produce valid documents and gave unsatisfactory replies about their antecedents and presence in the area in July 2019.

The spokesperson said that both of them were handed over to the BSF personnel of Silsuri Border Out-Post (BOP) who in turn handed over the two accused to Marpara police.

"During investigation, identity of the accused as Hassan and Hussain as residents of Bangladesh and also established that both the accused are members of Ansar-al-Islam, a banned terrorist organization in Bangladesh," the spokesperson said.

He claimed that both crossed the India-Bangladesh border along Tripura illegally in November 2018.

"They concealed their location and identity based on fake Aadhaar cards. These fake Aadhaar cards were given to them by their handlers in Bangladesh," he said.

"Investigation further revealed that accused Hassan had travelled from Agartala to Bengaluru in pursuance to the conspiracy of terrorist acts in India and stayed in Bengaluru for eight to nine months from November 2018 to July 2019," he said.

The officer said that during his stay in Bengaluru, Hassan conducted a recce of some public places and also on instructions of his handler he financially assisted another arrested ABT (Ansarullah Bangla Team) member lodged in Kolkata jail. According to the NIA, ABT is another banned terrorist organisation in Bangladesh.

"Both the accused later criminally conspired, as per directions of their handlers in Bangladesh and tried to procure weapons from various places in Tripura and Mizoram in pursuance of the conspiracy of committing terrorist acts in India," he said.

The officer added that during investigation, a large amount of incriminating documents were recovered from their seized digital devices.

Mizoram police registered a case in this regard in July last year, which was taken over by the NIA in September.
Nancy Pnacek of Midland was recently awarded the First Families of Michigan certification from the Michigan Genealogical Council (MGC) out of Lansing.

Faye Ebach, MGC representative, awarded the certification and a pin at the Midland Genealogical Society's (MGS) monthly January meeting. In addition, Pnacek's ancestors will be added to a database of early Michigan pioneers.

"It is an honor to present this First Families Certificate to Nancy," Ebach stated. "Hers is one of the first applications to be accepted and approved by the MGC for this program."

The Michigan Pre-Statehood and First Families certificates are offered by the Michigan Genealogical Council to honor Michigan ancestors who settled the Great Lakes State. Pre-Statehood certification applies for ancestors who arrived in Michigan before statehood on Jan. 26, 1837. First Families certification applies for ancestors who arrived in Michigan between Jan. 26, 1837 and Dec. 31, 1880. In Pnacek's case, she was able to trace her great-grandfather Charles Thornton, who was born in Clinton County in 1868.

"The interesting thing about this family is that everyone told me my great-grandfather was born in New York State," Pnacek explained. "However, this had been a brick wall for me along that family line because I never found any documentation of him being born there, though I was able to find his parents in New York. Finally, thanks to volunteer efforts to digitize Michigan birth records, I was able to find a record for him born in Bengal Township. I never even knew they lived that far south, and I definitely would never have looked in Michigan for a birth record for him, always believing the family moved here after he was born."

"I'm so proud to have been award this certification and to know my family has been part of Michigan's rich history. So much so that I'm already working on First Families certification for my Mom's side of the family, with ancestors having immigrated to Detroit in the 1850's from Ireland."

For more information about the Michigan Pre-Statehood and First Families certification program, visit https://mimgc.org/ or email certificates@mimgc.org.
Shares of Infosys on Friday managed to pare some losses after falling over 1 per cent during the day amid reports that market watchdog Sebi is likely to call for forensic audit of books of the company on whistleblower allegations of financial irregularities at the firm.

The scrip declined 1.37 per cent to Rs 773.80 during the day on the BSE. Later, it closed at Rs 782.95, down 0.20 per cent.

At the NSE, shares of the company fell 1.37 per cent to Rs 773.60 during the day. It, however, narrowed the losses to close 0.17 per cent lower at Rs 783.

Infosys on Friday said it has not received any request from Sebi for conducting further investigation in the whistleblower case where top executives were accused of rigging the company's balance sheet.

Sources had said Sebi is likely to call for a forensic audit of books of Infosys.

Earlier this month, Infosys had said its audit committee had found no evidence of financial impropriety or executive misconduct, virtually giving a clean chit to CEO Salil Parekh and CFO Nilanjan Roy who had been accused by anonymous whistleblowers.

"The company has not received any request from Sebi to conduct further audits as reported by media on January 23, 2020," Infosys said in a regulatory filing on Friday.

In October, Infosys had informed stock exchanges of having received anonymous whistleblower complaints alleging certain unethical practices by the top management. It then started a probe into the matter and roped in external investigators.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Dividend paying stocks like Great Wall Motor Company Limited (HKG:2333) tend to be popular with investors, and for good reason - some research suggests a significant amount of all stock market returns come from reinvested dividends. Yet sometimes, investors buy a stock for its dividend and lose money because the share price falls by more than they earned in dividend payments.

In this case, Great Wall Motor likely looks attractive to investors, given its 5.6% dividend yield and a payment history of over ten years. It would not be a surprise to discover that many investors buy it for the dividends. There are a few simple ways to reduce the risks of buying Great Wall Motor for its dividend, and we'll go through these below.

Click the interactive chart for our full dividend analysis

SEHK:2333 Historical Dividend Yield, January 24th 2020

Payout ratios

Dividends are typically paid from company earnings. If a company pays more in dividends than it earned, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. So we need to form a view on if a company's dividend is sustainable, relative to its net profit after tax. In the last year, Great Wall Motor paid out 63% of its profit as dividends. A payout ratio above 50% generally implies a business is reaching maturity, although it is still possible to reinvest in the business or increase the dividend over time.

In addition to comparing dividends against profits, we should inspect whether the company generated enough cash to pay its dividend. Great Wall Motor paid out 61% of its cash flow as dividends last year, which is within a reasonable range for the average corporation. It's positive to see that Great Wall Motor's dividend is covered by both profits and cash flow, since this is generally a sign that the dividend is sustainable, and a lower payout ratio usually suggests a greater margin of safety before the dividend gets cut.

While the above analysis focuses on dividends relative to a company's earnings, we do note Great Wall Motor's strong net cash position, which will let it pay larger dividends for a time, should it choose.

Story continues

Remember, you can always get a snapshot of Great Wall Motor's latest financial position, by checking our visualisation of its financial health.

Dividend Volatility

From the perspective of an income investor who wants to earn dividends for many years, there is not much point buying a stock if its dividend is regularly cut or is not reliable. Great Wall Motor has been paying dividends for a long time, but for the purpose of this analysis, we only examine the past 10 years of payments. This dividend has been unstable, which we define as having been cut one or more times over this time. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was CN0.011 in 2010, compared to CN0.29 last year. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 39% a year over that time. Great Wall Motor's dividend payments have fluctuated, so it hasn't grown 39% every year, but the CAGR is a useful rule of thumb for approximating the historical growth.

So, its dividends have grown at a rapid rate over this time, but payments have been cut in the past. The stock may still be worth considering as part of a diversified dividend portfolio.

Dividend Growth Potential

With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to see if earnings per share (EPS) are growing. Why take the risk of a dividend getting cut, unless there's a good chance of bigger dividends in future? Great Wall Motor's earnings per share have shrunk at 13% a year over the past five years. A sharp decline in earnings per share is not great from from a dividend perspective, as even conservative payout ratios can come under pressure if earnings fall far enough.

Conclusion

Dividend investors should always want to know if a) a company's dividends are affordable, b) if there is a track record of consistent payments, and c) if the dividend is capable of growing. Great Wall Motor's is paying out more than half its income as dividends, but at least the dividend is covered by both reported earnings and cashflow. Earnings per share are down, and Great Wall Motor's dividend has been cut at least once in the past, which is disappointing. With this information in mind, we think Great Wall Motor may not be an ideal dividend stock.

Given that earnings are not growing, the dividend does not look nearly so attractive. Very few businesses see earnings consistently shrink year after year in perpetuity though, and so it might be worth seeing what the 34 analysts we track are forecasting for the future.

We have also put together a list of global stocks with a market capitalisation above $1bn and yielding more 3%.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Cleveland, Ohio, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Independence-based developer and owner of single-family apartment homes, Redwood Living Inc. (Redwood), has named real estate industry veteran Kevin Kwiatkowski as the companys new Vice President of Acquisitions.



Kwiatkowski will immediately integrate into Redwoods portfolio of rental properties in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, North Carolina and South Carolina, working with land brokers and helping to propel Redwoods expansion plans into new markets. He will leverage his prior industry experience to help Redwood meet their goals in 2020 and beyond.



At Redwood, our core values and culture are the cornerstones of our business, said David Conwill, CEO, Redwood. Kevin is an exceptional real estate developer who operates with high integrity and strong core values. We are ecstatic to bring him into the Redwood family as we build upon an already remarkable acquisition team, and pursue Redwoods vision and mission of delivering Redwood Apartment Neighborhoods throughout Suburban America.



Kwiatkowski brings over 20 years of experience in real estate acquisition, entitlement, and land development, including over 15 years with two of the top five national homebuilders, NVR Inc. and Pulte Group. He began his career in Ypsilanti Twp., Mich., where he served as the Townships Community & Economic Development Director. Kwiatkowski is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Master of Science in Urban and Regional Planning.



Currently, Redwood owns and manages over 10,000 units in nearly 100 neighborhoods across six states, with plans for another 2,000 new units in 2020. Redwoods signature single-story apartments with attached garages situated in welcoming, green-centric neighborhood settings provide residents all the comforts of home plus the conveniences of a maintenance-free lifestyle.



####

About Redwood Living, Inc.

Redwood Living, Inc. (Redwood) is an innovative development and property management company with neighborhoods in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, North Carolina and South Carolina. The company believes that the growth of the rental population demands the response that Redwood provides. The success of this approach continues to be validated in new markets. Redwood is a company that believes in its mission, product and amazing people. It creates a simplified, relaxed lifestyle for residents, and offers a rewarding atmosphere for its employees. For more information, visit www.byredwood.com.

Attachment
Mumbai, Jan 24 (UNI) Car Major, Maruti Suzuki commenced exports of its chartbuster S-PRESSO to overseas markets.



The consignments have left for global markets including parts of Asia, Latin America and Africa regions.



Mr Kenichi Ayukawa, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India Limited said, "S-PRESSO is a true symbol of Make in India. The car stands testament to our commitment to offer best in design, technology and safety to our customers both locally and globally. S-PRESSO is widely appreciated by customers in India and we are confident of its acceptance in international markets. With S-PRESSO we are looking to make in-roads in many new markets."



In India, S-PRESSO was quick to feature amongst country's top 10 bestselling cars within a month of its launch. The Company has sold over 35,000 units of S-PRESSO since its launch in September 2019 in the domestic market.



S-PRESSO is poised to match the needs of a dynamic, stylish and youthful customer. Spacious interiors, ample space, dashboard accents, bold front facia and single aperture headlamps are a few top-rated features that have struck the right cord with customers in India. Additionally, S-PRESSO is being appreciated by customers, for its commanding seating position, good road visibility and the peppy pickup.



UNI JS SB 1445
MIAMI, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Guess & Co. Corporation is pleased to announce its current Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is responsible for overall governance of Guess & Co. Corporation. These directors are serving until the companys next Annual Meeting of Shareholders in 2020 at which time they may be re-elected to the Board of Directors by a majority vote of shareholders:



Jerry D. Guess, Director & Chairman

Jerry D. Guess is director and chairman of the Board of Directors of Guess & Co. Corporation. Mr. Guess has over 15 years of business and professional experience. A serial entrepreneur, he started his first business when he was 13 years old. He launched a public relations and marketing firm at the age of 15 years old. When he was 16 years old, he started a holding company that grew rapidly within a few months. Mr. Guess began acquiring companies when he was 17 years of age. Despite personal setbacks, Mr. Guess decided to launch a mission-driven company when he founded Guess & Co. Corporation in 2017. Determined to positively impact society, Mr. Guess assembled a Board of Directors and management team while initially serving in a non-executive capacity as a principal. Mr. Guess completed business coursework at Adams State University. He was appointed chairman of Guess & Co. Corporation in January of 2019. As chairman, Mr. Guess oversees the Board of Directors of Guess & Co. Corporation. He is a member of the Executive Committee.

Michelle Stewart, Director & Deputy Chairman

Michelle Stewart is principal shareholder, director and deputy chairman of the Board of Directors of Guess & Co. Corporation. As a seasoned business professional, Ms. Stewart has over 20 years of business and transaction experience. She began her career as a real estate investor in residential properties throughout the U.S. Ms. Stewart joined Guess & Co. Corporation as executive vice-president and managing director. In that position she was responsible for corporate planning and development. She was promoted to senior executive vice-president and chief corporate officer and had responsibility for revenue and acquisition planning. She was appointed vice-chairman in February of 2018. She retired from Guess & Co. Corporation in November of 2018. During her retirement she served as chief executive officer of a for-profit social enterprise company. She returned to Guess & Co. Corporation in February of 2019 and was appointed deputy chairman. Prior to joining Guess & Co. Corporation, Ms. Stewart was partner and manager in a business financing company. Ms. Stewart has closed over $500 million in transactions during her career. As deputy chairman, Ms. Stewart works with the chairman to oversee the Board of Directors of Guess & Co. Corporation.

Mitchell M. Cohen, Director & Lead Director

Mitchell M. Cohen is shareholder and lead director of Guess & Co. Corporation. Mr. Cohen is chief executive officer of Pursuit Management LLC, a New York based investment firm that operates a private asset purchasing platform. He has more than 30 years of financial, operations and general business experience as a senior executive at several public and private companies. He is the former interim chief financial officer of a publicly traded investment management company and the Special Trustee of Consumer Debt Trust, a trust established to acquire distressed debt. Mr. Cohen spent five years as the chief financial officer and secretary of Asta Funding, Inc., a publicly traded company that acquires and liquidates distressed consumer receivables. During his tenure, Mr. Cohen assisted in acquiring approximately $15 billion of consumer receivables for liquidation, completed several mergers, and managed a portfolio of over 300 pools of distressed assets. In recent years, he has underwritten, and sourced for investors, pools totaling over $300 million. As lead director, Mr. Cohen oversees governance of the board of directors. He is also chairman of the Audit Committee.

James R. Jackson, Director

James Jackson is shareholder and director of Guess & Co. Corporation. Mr. Jackson is a seasoned business professional with over 35 years of experience. He earned a Business degree from Winston-Salem Business College. Mr. Jackson joined Wachovia Bank and was appointed charitable trust officer in their Wealth Management Group. In that position, he was responsible for managing trust accounts including routine administration and tax reporting. Mr. Jackson retired from Wachovia (now Wells Fargo) after over 37 years of service. Mr. Jackson joined Guess & Co. Corporation as special adviser. As director, Mr. Jackson is chairman of the nominating and governance committee, a member of the executive committee and a member of the audit committee of the Board of Directors.

Paris N. Smith, Director

Paris N. Smith is shareholder and director of Guess & Co. Corporation. Ms. Smith served as initial and interim lead director of Guess & Co. Corporation at the company's launch in 2017. Prior to Guess & Co. Corporation, Ms. Smith was Lead Director for a multi-million dollar diversified private holding company following her tenure as vice-chairman and secretary. Ms. Smith is an experienced business and cyber security professional with over a decade of experience. She completed studies at University of North Carolina at Charlotte before studying Network Security at ECPI College of Technology. Ms. Smith earned a Cyber Security Degree from Strayer University. She has held several technology management positions including serving as deputy director of technology for the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Committee. Most recently, Ms. Smith has been an electronic discovery and forensics analyst for the government. Ms. Smith holds an active Top-Secret/SCI Clearance. She is a member of the Audit and Nominating and Governance committees of the Guess & Co. Corporation Board of Directors. Ms. Smith was re-appointed to the Board of Directors in March of 2019.

About Guess & Co. Corporation

Guess & Co. Corporation is an emerging global stewardship solutions company with energy, health care, technology and real estate businesses. We partner with communities, companies and governments to improve the welfare of people. Guess & Co. Corporation is a registered contractor with the U.S. Government to provide solutions to federal government agencies and members of our company have active top-secret/SCI clearances. We are based in Miami, Florida and have over 20 subsidiaries. Guess & Co. Corporation was founded in August of 2017. The management team of Guess & Co. Corporation has over 50 years of combined experience.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c8a0e310-7671-4a35-8393-6b4420066ed8

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7aab76e9-d0cc-4eec-abb9-befaa94f59a8

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6c352e5e-4564-492f-8f40-873066faaf01

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/caf11a3e-c91f-498e-9858-a0a45b1abc30

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7de7dc84-e142-4f38-b0b7-d73270743166
The Madhya Pradesh government's anti-mafia drive was showing results and hundreds of arrests had been made in several sectors over the past six months, state public relations minister PC Sharma said on Friday.

He said action was concentrated on 11 sectors in which the mafia had made inroads, and added that the drive will be taken up in smaller towns once clean-up work in the major cities is completed.

He said action was being taken against mafia connected with drugs, adulteration, blackmail, extortion, encroachment, as well as those involved in sectors like land, chit fund, mining transport and housing cooperatives.

"We took action against 615 mafia elements in the real estate sector, 694 in liquor, 150 in adulteration, 149 in extortion, 65 in housing cooperative sector. During the drive against illegal mining, 1330 cases were registered, in addition to 8294 for illegal transportation of minerals and 531 for illegal storage," Sharma said.

He said, post this action, the state government will receive over Rs 1200 crore in mining revenue against the Rs 223 crore collected under the previous BJP regime.

"We arrested over 4,200 drug traffickers and seized 12.11 kilograms of smack, 172 kilograms of poppy and over 10,000 kgs of ganja apart from other narcotics during the drive," he added.

He said 108 police cases were registered in connection with food adulteration, and 41 traders were arrested under the stringent National Security Act for the crime.

The liquor mafia grew unchecked during the previous BJP regime but the Kamal Nath government had arrested 694 persons during its anti-mafia drive, while 67 women were freed from an illegal dance bar being run in Indore under the garb of a media organisation, Sharma claimed.

Sharma refuted BJP allegations that the anti-mafia drive was an excuse to target the saffron party's workers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Daniel R. DePetris is a fellow at Defense Priorities and a columnist at the Washington Examiner.

On Dec. 24, The New York Times reported that Defense Secretary Mark Esper was conducting a reassessment of the global U.S. military force posture, part of which involved considering the withdrawal of some of the 6,000 to 7,000 U.S. troops stationed in Africa. The arguments for a troop reduction are compelling -- though that hasn't stopped Capitol Hill from throwing a fit over the potential drawdown of troops in a region of the world that is, at best, peripheral to U.S. interests.

The report quickly ricocheted on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers in both the House and Senate are asking the Pentagon to rethink a troop reduction in the U.S. Africa Command theater of operations. Reps. Adam Smith and Mac Thornberry, the chairman and ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, wrote a letter to Esper urging him to "carefully consider the adverse implications of reducing our force posture in Africa." That letter was delivered days after Sens. Lindsey Graham and Chris Coons stressed similar opposition to the idea.

The Trump administration is getting a lot of heat for even considering a force reduction in the Sahel, an area currently struggling with challenges including poverty, unemployment and terrorism. Esper will have to expend considerable time and attention explaining why such a reduction is necessary. However, the rationale for proceeding with the reduction is sound.

For one, the Pentagon's plans for the AFRICOM theater of operations should not be a surprise. The Trump administration published the National Security Strategy and the National Defense Strategy more than two years ago, documents that rightly put China and Russia at the center of Washington's grand strategy for the decade ahead. The focus on China specifically was a U.S. strategy shift that was long overdue after nearly two consecutive decades that consisted of rotating tens of thousands of American troops, trainers, advisers and special operators through Afghanistan, Iraq, the Persian Gulf and the Horn of Africa.

As the U.S. military was fighting multiple highly expensive and endless wars against a growing array of regional and locally based terrorist groups, China was using the time to expand its diplomatic presence around the world and sharpen its economic might. In 2008, China's GDP was $4.594 trillion; by 2018, the figure reached $13.6 trillion. While Washington was spending hundreds of billions of dollars on wasteful nation-building projects in Iraq and Afghanistan, Beijing was building itself into a global power.

The Trump administration's emphasis on great power competition was a welcome acknowledgment from the U.S. national security establishment that Washington could no longer afford to devote precious lives and limited resources to the wrong priorities. The troop review in the Sahel is the next logical step along the continuum, one that shouldn't be avoided just because it causes discomfort in certain quarters.

U.S. national security policy should involve setting reasonable goals, matching those goals with the appropriate resources, and always evaluating whether vital U.S. security interests are truly at stake. One of the major mistakes of the 21st century is the Washington foreign policy community's unwillingness to understand which objectives are directly relevant to U.S. security and prosperity and which are best left for other allies and partners to manage. The political instability, internal crises and social dysfunction that characterize the Sahel do not rise to the level of a vital U.S. security concern.

Rather than trying to preserve a U.S. military presence in the Sahel that over time could easily grow into another permanent deployment, lawmakers should assist the administration in prodding the Europeans to get far more involved in the region over the long term. Greater European security and economic investment would not be an act of charity; as events over the last several years have shown, what happens in Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mauritania impacts Europe far more than it impacts the United States. Nowhere is this more visible than in the migration crisis that has divided the European Union since 2014, a byproduct of political persecution, terrorism and the absence of economic opportunities in the Sahel and West African regions.

The EU has referred to the Sahel as a "strategic priority" for the bloc. Yet with the notable exception of France, which just sent an additional 220 soldiers on top of the 4,500 forces it has already deployed, European states have chosen to pretend the problem doesn't exist. A token presence of European trainers can hardly be called a commitment befitting a strategic priority.

After the death of 13 French soldiers in Mali last November, French President Emmanuel Macron appealed to his fellow Europeans for an increase in their own contributions to the counterterrorism campaign. As Washington plans on troop withdrawals, it should serve as a force multiplier and amplify Macron's call. Indeed, if Europe wants to be taken seriously on foreign affairs again, its leaders need to embrace the lead role in security challenges that directly affect the continent.

The United States is still the world's most powerful country, but even Uncle Sam doesn't have unlimited resources. The Pentagon should block out the noise and proceed with its plans to cut the bloat from AFRICOM. As Beijing rises, we can't afford to find ourselves caught unprepared for the century ahead that will be defined by great power competition. Failing to follow through will turn U.S. national security and defense strategies into a worthless academic exercise.

-- The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to live their lives away from the United Kingdom appeared to be a good idea for them. However, the small details of their life post-royalty could spark anger among Brits.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will "no longer receive public funds for Royal duties" as they have quit the royal family. As soon as their HRH titles were stripped from them, they lifted a burden from the taxpayers since the people no longer have to fund them.

Nonetheless, news about the continuous funding of the royal couple's huge security bill could infuruatre taxpayers sooner or later.

According to recent reports, it was confirmed that Prince Harry and Meghan will continue to enjoy their lives with protection officers, who will receive a pay of 60,000 per year and will be paid overtime. They also plan to send the officers back to the U.K and replace the staff every two weeks.

If this will push through, they can expect the taxpayers to start a protest since, in the past, they already spent 32million for their royal wedding and 2.4million-worth of renovations to their home in Windsor (which they will reportedly pay back as it "will remain their U.K. family home.")

According to the computation published by Daily Mail, each protection officer who will serve the Duke and Duchess will have around 100,000 per year -- including flights, pension and living expenses.

Aside from that luxury, their security team will include the army of Metropolitan Police officers while they live in Canada.

Moreover, before Prince Harry came back to Canada after their crisis meeting, there were two security personnel who guarded the Duchess of Sussex.

What The Experts Said

Buckingham Palace has not addressed the aforementioned issue since it seems they have not yet arrived a concrete security arrangements for Meghan and Prince Harry.

However, a royal expert spoke up and said that the Canadian government might join in with a contribution. Nonetheless, a poll released last week showed that 73 percent of Canadians do not agree with the plan at all, even though Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged before that they would cover some of the cost.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Bill Morneau divulged that they cannot make a decision yet since they fear that the future contribution might not be possible as the taxpayers could object.

Laurel Collins, the current Member of Parliament for Victoria, also stood firm with her belief that Canadians should not shoulder the security costs.

"When it comes to the money our government spends and taxpayer money it's important that we put this into context and think about our priorities," Collins said.

Collins added that they want to prioritize the things that will benefit the country and its people, and spending their funds for the two royals who do not have HRH titles anymore is a different thing.

Despite all these oppositions, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police officials confirmed that Prince Harry and Meghan are entitled to protection and security in the country.

But that means they need 24 Mounties that will exactly suit the couple's security needs. However, it could cost around 1.2million a year, which is truly a load for the taxpayers.
AMHERST  An analysis of health data by a University of Massachusetts doctoral student on more than 100,000 women over 25 years suggests that both pregnancy and breastfeeding may play a role in lowering the risk of early natural menopause.

In our study, women with three or more pregnancies who breastfed exclusively for a total of 7 to 12 months had about a 32 percent lower risk of early menopause compared to women with the same number of children who breastfed exclusively for less than one month, said lead author Christine Langton, who with her advisor Elizabeth Bertone-Johnson of the School Public Health and Health Sciences, undertook the study, in a release.

Their study, published in JAMA Network Open, is said to highlight that pregnancy and breastfeeding generally prevent ovulation and may slow the natural depletion of ovarian follicles that secrete hormones over time, thus lowering the risk for early natural menopause.

Menopause, which usually occurs in women between 45 and 55, happens because the womans ovary stops producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

A woman has reached menopause when she has not had a period for 12 months in a row.

Early natural menopause, defined as the end of menstruation at 45, has been associated with number of increased health risks believed to be associated with the loss of hormones including for cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.

Menopause that happens before age 40 is called premature menopause.

The study also found that compared to women with no full-term pregnancies, women who had two pregnancies had a 16 percent of lower risk of early menopause and women with three pregnancies saw a 22 percent lower risk.

Langton and Bertone-Johnson, joined by other colleagues, conducted their prospective, population-based study within the on-going Nurses Health Study II cohort that began collecting data in 1989.

Response rates for the epidemiological analysis of more than 108,000 women were said to be 85 to 90 percent.

Number of children, menopause status and age were measured at baseline and every two years, while breastfeeding factors were assessed three times during follow-up.

Women in the study were followed until menopause or age 45, hysterectomy, oophorectomy, death, cancer diagnosis or loss to follow-up.

Our study has a lot of strength because of the large sample size, the 26 years of follow-up and the prospective design, Langton said.

Also, at baseline we limited our study to women who were premenopausal, which is a key point.

In addition to Langton and Bertone-Johnson, the research team included Brian Whitcomb, Susan Hankinson and Lynnette Sievert, all of UMass-Amherst; Alexandra Purdue-Smithe, a researcher at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development and JoAnn Manson and Bernard Rosner, both Brigham and Womens Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

The study was sponsored by UM1CA176726 and R01HD078517 from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants be exclusively breastfed for about the first six months of life followed by breastfeeding in combination with the introduction of complementary foods until at least 12 months of age and continuation of breastfeeding for as long as mutually desired by mother and baby.

It is estimated that about 5 percent of women naturally go through early menopause between 40 and 45. Smoking and certain medicines or treatments can cause menopause to come earlier than usual, according to government data.
Developer Paddy McKillen has lost a High Court challenge to a process in which a Government-appointed assessor has been asked to come up with a valuation for shares in the nationalised former Anglo Irish Bank.

Mr McKillen, who was a substantial shareholder in Anglo, last year brought judicial review proceedings over the short timescale the developer was given to respond to the role of the assessor in determining compensation for Anglo shareholders.

Under the Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Act in 2009, the Government provided for the extinguishment of certain rights in the bank, removal of certain people from office and payment of compensation for shareholders. At the time of nationalisation, Anglo shares had a "hope value" of 22 cent.

Nearly 10 years later in November 2018, assessor David Tynan of PwC was appointed to decide on that compensation.

As part of his challenge initiated last June, Mr McKillen was granted a stay on Mr Tynan publishing his final report for the Minister for Finance on the valuation pending determination or the legal proceedings.

Today, Mr Justice Brian O'Moore refused all reliefs sought by Mr McKillen.

Among Mr McKillen's argument were that there was a degree of vagueness about how Mr Tynan's assessment was being carried out and that he had not been given enough time to make submissions to Mr Tynan.

The application was opposed by Mr Tynan.

The judge said evidence was provided on Mr McKillen's behalf from economics professor Constantin Gurdgiev and former AIB director Bernard Somers in relation to shareholding valuation.

Mr McKillen had not satisfied him that either of these two men "qualify as experts" in this field and even if they did their evidence was of "no real value".

It was on the basis of their evidence Mr McKillen made out that he needed certain information to make a meaningful submission to Mr Tynan.

As their evidence was not capable of supporting this, he had not discharged the burden on him of establishing it was information which was required by him to make a meaningful submission to the assessor, the judge said.

He had also not discharged the onus on him of showing Mr Tynan's decision not to provide the information was unreasonable, he said. A refusal to extend the time Mr McKillen had to make a submission was also not unreasonable.

Mr McKillen had also not succeeded in making out a case of objective bias on the part of Mr Tyrnan, he said.
By Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Some sections in the society blame dams for extreme events like August 2019 megaflood in the state, but dams as such do not cause floods, T Rajeshwari, additional secretary, Union Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, has said.

Speaking at the inaugural session of Kerala Floodcon 2020, a national conference organised by the state water resource department in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday, she said dams are infrastructure that need to be maintained properly and operated efficiently in accordance with standard rules to avoid disasters like flood. Around 80 per cent of the dams in the country are more than 25 years old and these may not be meeting the requirements of safe discharging of water, she said. Recognising this, the Government of India launched the Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) in 2012 with financial assistance from World Bank.

Under this scheme, Kerala has 53 dams that need to be rehabilitated. We should also take note that over the years, there has been a major shift in the monsoon pattern and there is a huge variability in terms of intensity of rainfall and its distribution temporarily and spatially. The challenge of climate change has further aggravated the situation. In Kerala, during the 2018 megaflood, the state witnessed 758 mm rainfall on August 19 against the previous highest on the same day of 288 mm, she said.

Further, with the increase in population, there has been a tendency to occupy flood plains which has resulted in damage of more severity. Therefore, the real challenge that we are now confronted with is water management and extreme climate conditions. The floods in Kerala during 2018 and 2019 point to this fact and we have to adopt resilient measures against these uncertain, extreme and devastating flooding. Similarly, the recurring phenomenon of flood in various parts of the country also stresses the need to follow high safety standards for dams to prevent failure that would cause devastating environmental and property damage and loss of lives, she added.
KALAMA  Kalama police removed three people at gunpoint Thursday afternoon after a car they were riding in struck a parked vehicle in the downtown area, Police Chief Ralph Herrera said Thursday.

Two of the occupants  Nickolas Colbert, 21 and Virginia Collins, 38 of Longview  were arrested and booked in the Cowlitz County Jail, Herrera said.

No criminal charges were recommended against the third occupant, Savannah Eastman, 25 of Kalama, and she was released after being dropped off at an area hospital for a courtesy evaluation. Colbert was cleared at an area hospital before being taken to jail, Herrera said, and there were no other injuries reported.

At about 12:13 p.m., officers tried to stop a white Honda, which is believed to have been stolen. The Honda immediately accelerated away from officers and struck a parked green Toyota in front of the Kalama Post Office. There was one person in the parked car, Herrera said.

Because the Honda already was reported stolen and Colbert, the driver, had allegedly tried to elude officers by driving away, Kalama and Woodland police officers along with Cowlitz County sheriffs deputies removed him, Collins and Eastman at gunpoint.

High-risk felony stops are done at gun point for officer and community safety, Herrera said.

Colbert was arrested on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle, felony eluding and two counts of reckless endangerment. Collins was arrested on suspicion of a single felony drug offense.

The roadway is clear and there is no one currently at large in the case, Herrera said.

Love 3 Funny 4 Wow 3 Sad 0 Angry 2

Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
Former President Barack Obama is growing concerned about avowed socialist Senator Bernie Sanders' rise in the primary polls, and may even speak out publicly against the Democratic candidate, according to a new report.

Obama, who has remained notably silent during the Democratic primary, could soon change that policy due to his concern over Sanders' increasingly far-out leftist proposals, friends and associates of the ex-president tell Fox Business Network.

Obama has told people in private that Sanders is both temperamentally and politically unfit to beat President Donald Trump in the 2020 general election, these people say.

Adding to Obama's reported concern is Sanders' 'strident' and 'confrontational' approach to politics, and his track record of shunning compromise in the Senate, according to Fox Business.

Former President Barack Obama is reportedly growing concerned about avowed socialist Senator Bernie Sanders' rise in the primary polls

Obama has told people in private that Sanders (above) is both temperamentally and politically unfit to beat President Donald Trump in the 2020 general election

Obama is said to be concerned that Sanders' far-left proposals would alienate large segments of the Democratic base.

While it's unclear what Sanders proposals Obama might specifically abhor, his 'Medicare for All' policy would dismantle Obama's signature healthcare reforms, and according to some estimates would add $19 trillion to the national debt.

Other Sanders proposals include free college and student loan forgiveness, all funded by significant tax increases.

If Obama did speak out, it would be a sharp departure, in a campaign in which he has so far refused to endorse any candidate, including his former VP Joe Biden.

Obama did obliquely comment on 'Medicare for All', a proposal supported by Sanders and Senator Elizabeth Warren, in November.

'The average American doesn't think we have to completely tear down the system to remake it,' Obama told a gathering of Democratic donors, according to the New York Times.

It comes as Sanders surges in several national and early primary state polls.

The latest RCP polling average shows Biden just 3.7 points ahead of Sanders in Iowa, where caucuses will take place on February 3.

In New Hampshire, where Sanders has regional recognition, the Vermont senator is 4 points ahead of Biden in the latest polling average.

The latest national poll, from Emerson, shows Biden and Sanders neck and neck, with 30 percent and 27 percent respectively, and Warren in distant third with 13 percent.
Exciting martial arts combined with the colorful beauty of the dragon dance will be part of a Chinese New Year performance on Sunday, Jan. 25.

The performance at the Chinese Cultural Center also will feature a lion dance, chi kung and fighting form demonstrations, The Albuquerque Chapter of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance dance troupe, drumming and fireworks.

Everyone in the community is invited to enjoy the celebration of the Lunar New Year. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to get a good view of the performances. This is an outdoor event, so eventgoers should dress appropriately for winter weather.

The Chinese Cultural Center has been hosting Lunar New Year celebrations since 1988. The focus of the center is being a martial arts school for children and adults, and the performances will reflect that. Some background information about the martial arts performances and the traditional dances will be given at the event.

The new year is the Year of the Rat. The lion dance and dragon dance are staples of Chinas largest celebration.

The dragon dance, its to bring prosperity for the new year, specifically to bring rain for the harvest, said Ray Tokuda, head martial arts instructor at the Chinese Cultural Center. I think we have a nine-person dragon. The dragon would chase the pearl of immortality around the parking lot as a good omen for the new year. I think the tradition is to bring rain and a symbol of prosperity.

The lion dance has a traditional story behind it.

Lions are supposed to scare away evil spirits in the new year, so thats the general story of the lion dance, Tokuda said. Apparently, there was a Buddhist monk and the lions helped him scare away evil spirits.

Chinese New Year is a time for new beginnings.

You clean out your house for the new year, Tokuda said. Its a renewal and in China this would be the time all of China closes down for two weeks and everybody goes home. Its their big national holiday like a combination between Christmas and Thanksgiving and kind of both of those rolled into one. Its time for family. Its time to look forward to good things and prosperity for the new year.
Press Release

24 January 2020

Is it possible to capture the majesty and splendour of the Serengeti's endless plains and renowned wildlife reserves in a single image? Through original photography, Canadian artist Nicolas Ruel does just that, telling the story of his transformational Envoy by Four Seasons journey to Savannah's sanctuary, Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti. Using a unique in-camera double-exposure method, the Montreal-based photographer merges distinct subjects to create unique perspectives. Watch here as Ruel uncovers the power of storytelling through his art, truly connecting to the people, experiences and natural wonders of the Serengeti.

Advertisements

"As the influencer marketing space evolves, Four Seasons continues to innovate how we authentically tell our stories, connecting with audiences in new ways and elevating compelling brand content," says Peter Nowlan, Chief Marketing Officer, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. "While we still see value in traditional influencer collaborations, we're also embracing new formats and pursuing innovative mediums that seek to immerse our audience within the world of Four Seasons. Stories like Nicolas' embody the spirit of our Envoy program. His evocative, emotional and artful experience is our vision for Envoy realised on film."

Ruel is the latest artist to collaborate with the world's leading luxury hospitality company as part of Envoy by Four Seasons, the brand's unique, follower-blind approach to influencer marketing. Since the program's launch in 2018, individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures, specialising in an array of art forms, have been invited to share their perspectives and stories. The result is authentic, original content showcasing Four Seasons Envoy's passion for travel and craftsmanship. With more than 1000 global applicants to date, Four Seasons continues to encourage and inspire artists worldwide to apply. Read more about the program and submit an application here.

About Nicolas Ruel

Based in Montreal, Canada, Ruel is known internationally for his work celebrating the intersection of motion, colour and culture. His portfolio spans 70 cities across 40 countries and five continents. Selected from more than a thousand global candidates, Ruel's thoughtful compositions merge two distinct photos to create one captivatingly complex scene.

"When I applied to the Envoy by Four Seasons program, I did not comprehend the impact it would have on my life," says Ruel. "Being fully immersed in the culture of the Serengeti, capturing its beauty on film, and meeting the local community, has been a lifelong dream. As a brand, Four Seasons stands out to me; not simply because of the once-in-a-lifetime experiences they can deliver, but also because they are truly embracing art as a platform for storytelling. And the results speak for themselves."

Experiencing the Serengeti with Four Seasons

From its suite of unforgettable programming and offerings, Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti curated an itinerary for Ruel, featuring a hot air balloon voyage above the Tanzania bush; a full day safari under the guidance of a Four Seasons Maasai guide; a search for the elusive black rhino and other fascinating inhabitants of the Serengeti; an opportunity to experience local Maasai traditions and ceremonies; and excursions to the famed archaeological site of Olduvai Gorge, and to Gong Rock to see its famed rock paintings created by ancient local tribes.

Those inspired to experience the Serengeti first-hand can browse Four Seasons property experiences here.

Ruel's Envoy journey follows that of spoken word artist Marshall Davis Jones, who created a spoken word poem inspired by a stay at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai in Hawaii; Missy Dunaway whose paintings and illustrations reflect upon travels in Hoi An, Vietnam with Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai; and most recently, paper and light artists Hari & Deepti, who journeyed to Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo, creating their masterwork in the days following.

About Envoy by Four Seasons

Launched in November 2018, Envoy by Four Seasons is a pioneering program reimagining the influencer space through a creative and distinctive approach to storytelling. World-class storytellers, content creators and artists across all mediums are invited to collaborate and share what it means to be in the moment, and to connect to diverse cultures, places and experiences as facilitated by Four Seasons.

Read more about Envoy by Four Seasons at fourseasons.com/envoy and follow the hashtag #FSEnvoy on social media for the latest news and updates about the program, and to experience the creative journeys of Four Seasons Envoys.

More About Nicolas Ruel

Nicolas Ruel is a fine art photographer based in Montreal, Quebec. His in-camera double-exposure method - a prevalent feature in his work - creates unique visual signatures. His works have been featured in solo and group exhibitions in Montreal, Toronto, New York, Paris and Tokyo, and are part of numerous public and private collections. He is represented in Canada by Galerie de Bellefeuille.

Instagram: @nicolas_ruel_art

Website: nicolasruel.com
Kuwait's foreign ministry summoned Iran's ambassador Friday after a high-level Iranian official implicated the emirate in the US drone attack that killed top general Qasem Soleimani, official agency KUNA reported.

Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled al-Jarallah expressed Kuwait's "amazement" at the claim that one of its air bases had been among those used to carry out the January 3 attack, KUNA said.

It said he was referring to a statement by Brigadier-General Amirali Hajizadeh, aerospace commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

"MQ-9 UAVs (drones) were flying in the region (at the time of the attack) that had mostly taken off from Kuwait's Ali al-Salem" base, Hajizadeh told Iranian state television Thursday.

Jarallah told the ambassador, Mohammed Irani, that Kuwait had already denied any role in the deadly attack in Baghdad.

He said such a claim "risks damaging relations" between Kuwait and Iran.

Soleimani had been at the centre of power-broking in the region for two decades as chief of Iran's external operations Quds Force of the elite Revolutionary Guards.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
London: Australia's bushfires are contributing to one of the biggest annual increases in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere since record-keeping began more than 60 years ago, according to a forecast published by Britain's Met Office on Friday.

While human-caused greenhouse gas emissions are responsible for the bulk of the increase in CO2 levels, Australia's bushfires have made the problem measurably worse, underscoring the impact of the catastrophe on the global climate system.

"A forecast of the atmospheric concentration of carbon-dioxide shows that 2020 will witness one of the largest annual rises in concentration since measurements began at Mauna Loa, in Hawaii, 1958," the Met Office said in a statement.

It said the atmospheric concentration of CO2 is expected to peak above 417 parts per million in May, with the average for the year forecast to be 414.2  0.6ppm. This annual average represents a 2.74  0.57 ppm rise on the 2019 average.

Concentrations of CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere have already far surpassed what scientists consider to be safe limits.

At a climate summit in Madrid in December, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that 400 ppm had once been considered "an unthinkable tipping point."

The last time there was a comparable concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere was between 3 and 5 million years ago, when the temperature was between 2 and 3 degrees Celsius warmer and sea levels were 10 to 20 metres higher than today, scientists say.

Although the data series started in 1958 has always shown CO2 concentrations increasing year-on-year, driven by fossil fuel burning and deforestation, the rate of rise has not been perfectly even, the Met Office said.

Fluctations in the amount of CO2 absorbed by tropical forests and other natural carbon sinks can affect overall levels of the gas in the atmosphere.

"Overall these are expected to be weaker than normal for a second year running," said Richard Betts, of the Met Office Hadley Centre and University of Exeter.

This year, the Met forecasts that the impact of weather patterns on global ecosystems will increase the annual human-caused rise in CO2 concentration by 10%, with emissions from the Australian fires accounting for one-fifth of that increase.

Australia's fires are themselves a foretaste of the kind of catastrophes that are liable to become normal as the planet warms, with prolonged drought and low humidity making arid landscapes more vulnerable to huge blazes, scientists say.

The CO2 forecast underscored the urgency of the task facing negotiators trying to persuade big countries to cut emissions under the 2015 Paris Agreement to combat climate change, which is still nowhere near on track to spare the world from devastating temperature increases.

The accord enters a crucial implementation phase this year, with governments due to submit more ambitious plans for climate action ahead of a summit in Glasgow in November. Australia's government is regarded as among the main laggards.

Last month, the 2020 Climate Change Performance Index rated Australia as one of the worst performers among 57 high-emitters, awarding it 0 out of 100 possible points for its policies.
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration gate at airports, along with federal facilities and military bases, will be off limits starting Oct. 1, 2020, to anyone without a Real ID-compliant identification.

On Friday at Lehigh Valley International Airport, local, state and federal transportation officials gathered about 20 yards from the TSA checkpoint to stress the deadline is fast approaching -- and there will be no exceptions.

"Don't wait. We have about 251 days from today until Real ID goes into effect," said Thomas R. Stoudt, executive director of the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority that owns and operates the airport in Hanover Township, Lehigh County.

Beginning Oct. 1, 2020, if you approach this TSA checkpoint behind me without a Real ID-compliant document -- a drivers license, passport or passport card -- you will miss your flight, Stoudt said during a news conference.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation outlines documents and proof of identification needed to obtain a Real ID-compliant drivers license or identification card at dmv.pa.gov/REALID. The airport authority also lists the steps domestic and international travelers need to take, at realid.flyabe.com, including the documents needed: proof of identity such as valid passport or birth certificate; Social Security card; two proofs of current address; and proof of any legal name changes.

In New Jersey, residents can visit state.nj.us/mvc/realid to learn more about whats required of them, including two proofs of residential address, one proof of Social Security Number and six points of identification.

Michael Kichline, of the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, holds up a passport Friday, Jan. 24, 2020, at Lehigh Valley International Airport to demonstrate one of 15 alternatives to a state-issued driver's license or identification card that comply with federal Real ID requirements. Real ID-compliant documentation will be necessary to fly both domestically and internationally starting Oct. 1, 2020, as well as to enter federal facilities or military bases. Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com

In addition to a drivers license or state ID, there are 15 forms of identification that comply with federal Real ID rules, including passports and the less expensive passport cards.

For Lehigh Valley residents looking to get a Real ID-compliant drivers license or ID the same day, the PennDOT Driver License Center at 1101 MacArthur Road in Whitehall Township can issue one over the counter. It will take about two weeks to receive one in the mail from other license centers. The only difference between a regular license or ID and one that complies with Real ID is a gold star, demonstrating the holder has satisfied the federal requirements proving they are who they say they are.

"From our perspective at TSA, Real ID gives us an important tool in our security toolbox and improves the reliability and accuracy of state-issued identification documents," said Michael Kichline, assistant federal security director eastern Pennsylvania. "And more importantly it prevents and deters terrorists' ability to evade detection by using fraudulent identification."

A gold star embedded in a state-issued driver's license or identification card shows it complies with federal Real ID requirements to fly both domestically and internationally, as well as to enter federal facilities or military bases, starting Oct. 1, 2020. Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com

The Real ID came out of a federal law passed in 2005 to comply with the 9/11 Commissions recommendation to set minimum security standards for state-issued drivers license and identification cards.

Pennsylvania lawmakers fought the requirement, first passing a law in 2012 to say the state would not comply. That was repealed 2017 with a law saying the state would participate in the new regulation but specifying Real ID would be optional and that any cost couldnt be born by taxpayers, said Kurt J. Myers, PennDOT deputy secretary for driver and vehicle services.

As a result, Pennsylvanians opting to get a Real ID-compliant license or ID card must pay a one-time fee of $30, on top of the $30.50 renewal fee. That license or ID is then good for four years on top of however long the regular license would have been valid. New Jersey charges $24.

Pennsylvania began issuing Real ID-compliant identification March 1, 2019, and has completed about 700,000 applications so far, Myers said. That leaves about 2.2 million residents who have not taken action to get their Real ID-compliant documents or who have an alternatively acceptable identification.

Failure to comply could be "embarrassing and costly" for anyone who gets turned away at an airport security check for a trip they've long had planned, Myers said.

We would encourage people to get this done sooner rather than later, he said Friday outside Allentown. Historically speaking, July and August are very busy months for the Department of Transportation in relation to drivers license issuance. And we fully expect that we will be even busier as we get closer to that Oct. 1 date.

Information is available Friday, Jan. 24, 2020, at Lehigh Valley International Airport on Real ID-compliant identification necessary to fly both domestically and internationally starting Oct. 1, 2020. Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
WEST GROVE-Police are searching for a man who allegedly sexually assaulted a woman inside her West Meadows home late Wednesday afternoon.

The suspect, a white man estimated to be in his mid-50s, was still at large as of press time, according to the Southern Chester County Regional Police Department (SCCRPD).

The home invasion occurred at 4:44 p.m. Wednesday, police said, at a residence on the 100 block of Columbine Drive within the West Meadows development, a normally peaceful neighborhood off South Guernsey Road near Old Baltimore Pike.

Police said the man was disguised as a home contractor, and gained entry into the womans home after she answered her front door while on the phone with a relative.

The suspect was let into the residence under the guise of being there to complete recent home repairs, police said. Once inside the residence, the suspect physically assaulted her and she lost consciousness.

The man is described as being bald with a heavy build. During the assault, he was wearing khakis pants, a light blue contractor-style shirt with a dark blue name tag featuring white piping. The name Jeff was embroidered on his shirt, according to police.

The relative on the phone heard the victim screaming and called 911, police said.

Within a minute of being dispatched, police arrived on the scene and found the victim inside the residence, police said. The victim was treated and then transported to Chester County Hospital in West Chester.

The preliminary investigation reveals that the victim was physically and sexually assaulted by the perpetrator, SCCRPD said in a press release on the incident issued Thursday. However, due to investigation integrity, no additional details from the victim are being released at this time.

On Thursday evening, local police were still actively investigating the case with assistance from county law enforcement and the Chester County District Attorneys Office.

Police said a sketch of the suspect could soon be made available to the public.

Police called on residents of the West Meadows community to contact the SCCRPD with any pertinent information, especially people who had either observed unusual activity Wednesday or were in possession of home video surveillance.

To contact the SCCRPD with a tip in this criminal investigation, call 610-268-2907.

For more information, visit www.sccrpd.org.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan  Fri, January 24, 2020 06:35 719 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2060bf66c 1 World crime,Interpol,Interpol-fugitive,Indonesia,murder Free

The National Polices Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB) and the North Sumatra Police have arrested a Pakistani man wanted by Interpol for murder at a rented house in the province's Asahan regency.

The fugitive, identified as Muhammad Luqman Butt, 34, was arrested on Tuesday after spending nine years on the run. Butt, who is also known as Husein Shah or M. Firman, was wanted for the killing of a family in Pakistan.

The head of the crime and violence unit at the North Sumatra Polices general crimes department, Comr. Taryono, said the arrest operation had run smoothly and the suspect had confessed to the murder.

The suspect has admitted his crime. We will return him to Pakistan to go through the legal process, Taryono said on Thursday.

He said the suspect had murdered four members of a family when he was 25 years old in revenge for his own family that had been murdered by the people he then killed. Butt had left his country after the crime and had been moving from place to place ever since, Taryono added.

He has lived in Indonesia since two years ago. He entered through the sea route using a wooden boat from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Dumai, and married an Indonesian woman in Medan. The two of them have lived in a rented house in Asahan for five months, Taryono said.

Fais, the suspects neighbor, said he had rarely seen the suspect and his wife, claiming he had only seen him once throughout the time Butt lived in the neighborhood.

He never interacted with people around here. I only met him once, but we didnt say anything other than shaking hands, Fais told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

He said he was surprised when he found out that Butt was an Interpol fugitive.

I only learned about his real identity when he was arrested by the police, Fais added. (dpk)
A successful businessman was killed when a large gust of wind lifted him 150 feet into the air and smashed him against a cliff while he was kitesurfing, an inquest heard today.

Tom Hutchinson was picked up and slammed twice at high speed into the rock face above a popular holiday beach in the Isle of Wight, causing severe head injuries.

The 52-year-old's younger brother today told how he held his hand as he lay dying following the tragic accident last summer.

He was airlifted to hospital but died later that evening surrounded by his family, the inquest heard.

Tom Hutchinson, 52, was killed when a large gust of wind lifted him 150 feet into the air and smashed him against a cliff while he was kitesurfing, an inquest heard today

Mr Hutchinson - who ran his own successful sailing business - was an experienced kitesurfer who had been practising the adrenaline sport, where a surfboard is propelled across the water by a large kite strapped to the boarder, for 20 years.

Today's inquest heard the sport carries 'enormous risks', such as surprise gusts of wind which can lift boarders out of the sea.

Mr Hutchinson had a home in Valencia, Spain, and a cliff top cottage on the Isle of Wight and was holidaying with his family on the island when the accident happened.

The inquest heard he was swept into the 150-foot cliffs at Compton Bay while kitesurfing in 30mph winds at around 5pm on August 7, 2019.

At the hearing on the Isle of Wight, Mr Hutchinson's family members sobbed as his brother Riff's statement was read to the court.

'Tom was very experienced in the water and when he was young he loved the sea,' he said.

He was airlifted to hospital but died later that evening surrounded by his family, the inquest heard

'I was on the beach at around four in the afternoon and I saw a kitesurfer coming from my left. The person was about 30 or 40 metres away.

'My son was in the water at the time and he shouted that it was Tom.

'The conditions were ideal, the wind was blowing towards the beach which is what you want when you are kitesurfing.

'As I walked towards the cliff end of the beach, I realised I could no longer see Tom's kite out to sea. As I got closer I could see Tom's kite lying on the beach I saw Tom and I could see a gash to his forehead and the top of his head had been smashed open.

The inquest heard he was swept into the 150-foot cliffs at Compton Bay while kitesurfing in 30mph winds at around 5pm on August 7, 2019

'I was holding Tom's hand and begged him to squeeze it but I don't think he did.'

Another witness, Dan Clarke told the court: 'I was on holiday at the time and I had gone for a walk along the cliffs. I could see the kite surfer coming in my direction and I remember thinking it was incredibly windy that day.

'Suddenly a gust took him up into the air and over the cliff face before crashing back down into the cliff.'

Mr Clarke told the court that after the initial impact Mr Hutchinson, who was still attached to his kite, was picked up again by the wind and smashed back into the cliff.

Mr Hutchinson was winched up from the beach to the cliff-top by a team of coastguards and paramedics before being given a blood transfusion and airlifted to hospital.

He was pronounced dead several hours later. Pathologist Dr Adnan Al-Badri, who carried out the postmortem, found that Mr Hutchinson was a fit, healthy, man who had died as a result of 'multiple traumatic injuries.'

Senior Coroner Caroline Sumeray concluded it was an 'accidental death' and told the court: 'Tom was an accomplished kitesurfer who also ran an impressive business. He had an impressive reputation.

'He was someone very experienced but as anyone who knows anything about kitesurfing, it is a sport which carries enormous risk.

'One of the risks you cannot control is being caught be a gust of wind and being picked up and taking in a direction you do not want to go.

'He was caught by a gust of wind and was slammed into a cliff and the impact caused him massive traumatic injuries and he was not able to recover.'

Mr Hutchinson - who grew up on the Isle of Wight - left school at 16 to work with boats, skippering vessels across the Atlantic, and later set up a successful international rigging business - Future Fibres, where he employed his brother.

Speaking outside the inquest, Riff Hutchinson said: 'Me and my brother were very close. We had worked together for 14 years.

'He was very lovable guy. Whenever he walked into the room everything seemed better.'
WASHINGTON - Democratic House prosecutors made an expansive case Thursday at Donald Trump's impeachment trial that he abused power like no other president in history, swept up by a completely bogus Ukraine theory pushed by attorney Rudy Giuliani.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 22/1/2020 (720 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In this image from video, House impeachment manager Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., speaks during the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020. (Senate Television via AP)

WASHINGTON - Democratic House prosecutors made an expansive case Thursday at Donald Trump's impeachment trial that he abused power like no other president in history, swept up by a completely bogus Ukraine theory pushed by attorney Rudy Giuliani.

On Friday, the Democrats will press their final day of arguments before skeptical Republican senators, focusing on the second article of impeachment, obstruction of Congress' investigation.

As the audience of Senate jurors sat through another long day, and night, the prosecutors outlined the charge. They argued that Trump abused power for his own personal political benefit ahead of the 2020 election, even as the nation's top FBI and national security officials were publicly warning off the theory that it was Ukraine, not Russia, that interfered in the 2016 election.

That's what Donald Trump wanted investigated or announced  this completely bogus Kremlin-pushed conspiracy theory, said Rep. Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee who is leading the prosecution, during Thursday's session.

At the close of the evening Schiff made an emotional plea to senators to consider what was at stake as Trump is accused of seeking Ukrainian probes of political foe Joe Biden and Biden's son while holding back congressionally approved military aid as leverage.

A copy of a Senate draft resolution to be offered by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., regarding the procedures during the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump in the U.S. Senate is photographed in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2020. McConnell is proposing a condensed, two-day calendar for opening arguments in Trump's impeachment trial, ground rules that are raising objections from Democrats on the eve of the landmark proceedings. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)

Right matters," he said, quoting Army officer Lt. Col. Alex Vindman who had testified in the House. Otherwise we are lost.

The president is facing trial in the Senate after the House impeached him last month, accusing Trump of abusing his office by asking Ukraine for the investigations while withholding the aid from a U.S. ally at war with bordering Russia. The second article of impeachment accuses him of obstructing Congress by refusing to turn over documents or allow officials to testify in the House probe.

Republicans, growing tired of the long hours of proceedings, have defended Trumps actions as appropriate and cast the process as a politically motivated effort to weaken him in the midst of his reelection campaign. Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, and acquittal is considered likely.

This artist sketch depicts White House counsel Pat Cipollone speaking in the Senate chamber during the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020. (Dana Verkouteren via AP)

The Democrats' challenge is clear as they try to convince not just fidgety senators but an American public divided over the Republican president in an election year.

With Chief Justice John Roberts presiding, Democrats argued on Thursday that Trump's motives were apparent.

No president has ever used his office to compel a foreign nation to help him cheat in our elections, Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, told the senators. He said the nation's founders would be shocked. "The president's conduct is wrong. It is illegal. It is dangerous."

Anticipated events in connection with impeachment of President Donald Trump.;

Democrats scoffed at Trump's claim he had good reasons for pressuring Ukraine to investigate former Vice-President Biden or other political foes.

Rep. Sylvia Garcia of Texas, herself a former judge, aid there is no evidence, nothing, nada to suggest that Biden did anything improper in dealings with Ukraine.

Trump, with Giuliani, pursued investigations of Biden and his son, Hunter, who served on a Ukrainian gas companys board, and sought the probe of debunked theories of what nation was guilty of interference in the 2016 U.S. election.

Chief Justice John Roberts departs the U.S. Capitol Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020, following arguments in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

On dual tracks, Democrats prosecuted their case while answering in advance the arguments expected from the presidents attorneys in the days ahead.

At one point, they showed video of a younger Lindsey Graham, then a South Carolina congressman and now a GOP senator allied with Trump, arguing during Bill Clinton's 1999 impeachment that no crime was needed for impeaching a president. Trumps defence team is now arguing that the impeachment articles against him are invalid because they do not allege he committed a specific crime.

The president's defenders' turn will come Saturday.

Demonstrators protest outside of the U.S. Capitol during the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020.(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

We will be putting on a vigorous defence of both facts, rebutting what they said, and the Constitution, said attorney Jay Sekulow.

Ahead of the day's proceedings, Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri said the Democrats were putting forward admirable presentations. But he said, Theres just not much new here."

During the dinner break, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., said it seemed like Groundhog Day in the Senate.

Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., left, talks with Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, as they walk to the Senate chamber prior to the start of the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

The top Senate Democrat, Chuck Schumer, acknowledged that many senators really don't want to be here.

But Schumer said Schiff has been outlining a compelling case that many Republicans are hearing it for only the first time. He contended they can't help but be glued to his testimony.

Once reluctant to take on impeachment during an election year, Democrats are now marching toward a decision by the Senate that the American public also will judge.

In this image from video, House impeachment manager Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, speaks during the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Senate Television via AP)

Trump blasted the proceedings in a Thursday tweet, declaring them the Most unfair & corrupt hearing in Congressional history!

After the House prosecutors finish, the president's lawyers will have as long as 24 hours. It's unclear how much time they will actually take, but Trump's team is not expected to finish Saturday, according to a person unauthorized to discuss the planning and granted anonymity. The Senate is expected to take only Sunday off and push into next week.

After that senators will face the question of whether they do, or do not, want to call witnesses to testify.

In this image from video, House impeachment manager Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., speaks during the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Senate Television via AP)

Senators were permitted Thursday to review supplemental testimony submitted by an aide to Vice-President Mike Pence, Jennifer Williams, who was among those who had concerns about Trump's actions. Democrats said the testimony, which is classified, bolsters their impeachment case. A lawyer for Williams declined to comment.

Holding the room's attention has been difficult for the Democrats, but senators seemed to pay closer mind to Schiff's testimony that grew dramatic.

Most senators, even Republicans, sat at their desks throughout the afternoon session, as the rules stipulate, and not as many of them were yawning or standing to stretch as during the previous long nights.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speaks to the media before attending the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

To help senators pass the time, the Republican chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Richard Burr of North Carolina, passed out lunch favours of fidget spinners, stress balls and other toys.

Democrats thanked the senators for their time and patience, acknowledging the repetition of some of their presentations.

The impeachment trial is set against the backdrop of the 2020 election. Four senators who are Democratic presidential candidates are off the campaign trail, seated as jurors.

Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

In this image from video, House impeachment manager Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., speaks during the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. (Senate Television via AP)

A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed the public slightly more likely to say the Senate should convict and remove Trump from office than to say it should not, 45% to 40%. But a sizable percentage, 14%, said they didn't know enough to have an opinion.

One issue with wide agreement: Trump should allow top aides to appear as witnesses at the trial. About 7 in 10 said so, including majorities of Republicans and Democrats, according to the poll.

The strategy of more witnesses, though, seemed all but settled. Republicans rejected Democratic efforts to get Trump aides including former national security adviser John Bolton and acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney to testify in back-to-back votes earlier this week.

Senators were likely to repeat that rejection next week.

___

Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick, Alan Fram, Andrew Taylor, Laurie Kellman, Matthew Daly and Padmananda Rama in Washington and Bill Barrow in Osage, Iowa, contributed to this report.
Maharashtra revenue minister and state Congress chief Balasaheb Thorat on Friday hit out at the Centre for reportedly withdrawing the security of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar.

The NCP, earlier in the day, accused the Central government of withdrawing Pawar's security at his official residence in New Delhi.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function here, Thorat said, "Pawar is among the senior national leaders in the country and it is the duty of the government to protect and take due care of such leaders."



"If his security is being withdrawn in such a manner, then it is really wrong," he added.

Thorat also attacked the BJP over the phone tapping row, adding that the ruling party at the Centre was making efforts to jeopardise the basic principles of the Constitution and snooping in this manner was one of them.

Accusing the previous BJP-led Maharashtra government of tapping phones of senior NCP and Congress leaders during the 2019 Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Friday said he has ordered a probe into the matter.

"Looking at the functioning of the BJP at the Central level in the last five years, the contraction of freedom of speech is underway. There is an overall feeling of whether they will allow this democracy to exist? What will happen to the Constitution," Thorat questioned.

Queried on MNS chief Raj Thackeray's speech at the latter's party convention in Mumbai on Thursday and whether it signaled a political realignment in the state, Thorat said his (anti-BJP) speeches during the Lok Sabha polls were very popular.

"He had put forth all issues in an effective way. It was felt that he was taking care to safeguard democracy. Today as well, we have the same expectation from him," Thorat said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The founder of an Arizona pharmaceutical company was ordered to spend 5 1/2 years in prison Thursday for orchestrating a bribery and kickback scheme prosecutors said helped fuel the opioid crisis.

John Kapoor, 76, the former chairman of Insys Therapeutics, was sentenced in Boston's federal court after a jury found him guilty of racketeering conspiracy last May. The 10-week trial revealed sensational details about the company's marketing tactics, including testimony that a sales executive once gave a lap dance to a doctor the company was wooing.

Kapoor was also ordered to pay a $250,000 fine, the maximum under sentencing guidelines.

Insys Therapeutics founder John Kapoor, center, departs federal court in Boston, Thursday after he was sentenced to 5years in prison for orchestrating a bribery and kickback scheme

Subsys, the company's fentanyl-based medication, was approved to treat intense pain in cancer patients but Kapoor's team would identify high prescribers of opioid treatments and pay bribes or kickbacks to doctors to get them to broaden Subsys uses, increasing the number of new prescriptions, as well as dosage prescribed and units sold

He and others were accused of paying millions of dollars in bribes to doctors across the United States to prescribe the companys highly addictive oral fentanyl spray, known as Subsys. The bribes were paid in the form of fees for sham speaking engagements that were billed as educational opportunities for other doctors.

The company was also accused of misleading insurers to get payment approved for the drug, which is meant to treat cancer patients in severe pain and can cost as much as $19,000 a month.

Along with Kapoor, four others from Insys also were convicted last year and two pleaded guilty. All of them have been dealt prison sentences, ranging from a year and a day to nearly three years.

Prosecutors were requesting 15 years in prison for Kapoor, calling him the 'lynch pin' of the operation.

Kapoor was found guilty the previous May of racketeering and conspiracy in a scheme where millions of dollars in bribes were paid to doctors across to prescribe a painkilling spray

'This was in every way a top-down conspiracy that John Kapoor ran,' Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathaniel Yeager said at the hearing. 'He was already a billionaire when this started, and this made him even richer.'

Kapoor's lawyers countered that the scheme was organized by other executives and that Kapoor was never aware of any wrongdoing that could harm patients. They called him an 'immigrant success story,' noting that the India-born Kapoor developed Subsys after seeing his wife suffer and die from breast cancer.

During the hearing Thursday, several patients addressed the court and described their suffering after being prescribed high doses of Subsys by doctors who were paid by Insys.

Some said the drug caused their teeth to fall out and left them with memory loss. Some said they became addicted to the drug for years. One woman, Deborah Fuller, said her family has been in 'constant agonizing grief' since her daughter, Sarah Fuller, died of an overdose at age 32.

Kapoor silently watched them speak and, when he was allowed to address the court, opened with an apology.

United States Attorney Andrew Lelling, center, speaks outside federal court after the sentencing hearing for Insys Therapeutics founder John Kapoor. Lelling told reporters he objected to the sentences in the case, which were far lower than what prosecutors sought

'I'm heartbroken by the words of the patients who spoke here today and those who spoke at the trial,' he said. 'I sincerely apologize to them and their families.'

Still, Kapoor asked the judge to consider his other work developing treatments for AIDS patients and those with heart problems. He requested leniency because of his age, noting that, at 76, his time is 'limited.'

U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs said she took Kapoor's age into account but also recognized the harm caused by his company. Ultimately, she said, it was never clear exactly what role each executive played in the scheme, so she treated Kapoor and two of his executives as 'co-equals at the top of this triangle.'

The two others she referenced were dealt lighter sentenced because they pleaded guilty and cooperated with authorities. Former Insys CEO Michael Babich was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison on Wednesday, while Alec Burlakoff, the former vice president of sales, was sentenced Thursday to more than 2 years.

After the hearing, U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling told reporters he objected to the sentences in the case, which were far lower than what prosecutors sought.

Kapoor along with others in the company were accused of paying millions of dollars in bribes to doctors across the nation to prescribe the company's highly addictive fentanyl spray

'My view is that the public interest demanded higher sentences for these defendants,' Lelling said. 'These guys basically took a publicly traded pharma company and turned it into an engine for corrupting doctors and jeopardizing the health of men and women nationwide.'

Prosecutors also asked the judge to detain Kapoor until he reports to prison on March 5, saying he posed a flight risk because of his wealth and his overseas connections. Burroughs denied the request, saying he has 'behaved like a gentleman' through the case.

During last year's trial, jurors heard from former employees who said Insys made a habit of hiring attractive women as representatives to boost sales of the drug. One former employee testified that a regional sales manager once gave a lap dance at a Chicago nightclub to a doctor whom Insys was pushing to write more prescriptions.

Kapoor is due to serve significantly more prison time than other former senior Insys executives convicted in the bribery and fraud scheme

Jurors were also shown a rap video in which Insys employees danced and rapped around a person dressed as a giant bottle of the fentanyl spray. Prosecutors said the video was shown at a national sales meeting in 2015 and was intended to motivate reps to push Subsys to doctors.

The case was considered the first that sought to hold an opioid maker criminally liable for the drug crisis, which has claimed nearly 400,000 lives over the last two decades. At least two others have since faced criminal charges, but prominent companies including Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, have only faced suits that carry no threat of prison time.

Insys last year reached a $225 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice to end its criminal and civil probes, and the company has since filed for bankruptcy protection. Its not clear whether the company will fully pay whats owed.
They're a talented duo who first hit it off after starring in the same play.

And Damian Lewis and Helen McCrory, 51, looked every inch the happy couple as they attended the press night performance of Uncle Vanya in London on Thursday.

The Homeland actor, 48, put on a dapper display in a long navy coat and tan chinos while his stylish wife kept things casual in jeans and a plush black scarf.

Date night: Damian Lewis, 48, and Helen McCrory, 51, looked every inch the happy couple as they attended the press night performance of Uncle Vanya in London on Thursday

Damian appeared to be in good spirits as he left the theatre and attended the after party at Sophie's.

He donned a v-neck t-shirt and blue scarf with his coat and completed his ensemble with a pair of brown trainers.

Peaky Blinders star Helen looked fantastic in her black jacket and drew attention to her slim frame by wearing a wide belt around her waist.

All wrapped up: The Homeland actor put on a dapper display in a long navy coat and tan chinos

Smile: Helen looked effortlessly stylish at the star-studded event in a black coat which cinched at the waist and a fluffy scarf

She styled her brunette locks into a chic up do for the theatrical night out and added a touch of pink lipstick.

Also seen at the event was theatre producer Sonia Friedman who exuded elegance in a white jacket with chic fluffy sleeves.

Sex Education actors Alistair Petrie and Connor Swindells also attended the press night, with Connor dressing up in a brown striped suit.

Relaxed: The duo kept things casual in trainers and Helen donned a pair of jeans with her jacket

Acting talent: Stephen Mangan and Louise Delamere were also spotted at the press night

While The Split actor Stephen Mangan and his actress wife Louise Delamere, who starred in The Chatterley Affair, looked every inch the sophisticated couple on the red carpet.

Damian and Helen first hit it off while starring in Five Gold Rings at London's Almeida in 2003, and tied the knot four years later.

The celebrity couple now raise their two children, 12-year-old daughter Manon and 11-year-old son Gulliver, at their home in north London.

Party time: After watching the show at the Harold Pinter Theatre, Damian and Helen headed to an afterparty at Sophie's

Looking good: Theatre producer Sonia Freidman looked elegant in a white jacket with fluffy sleeves as she posed with the talented couple

On to the next stop: Damian and Helen linked arms as they made there way to the after party

Smile: Louise looked chic in a polka dot midi skirt as she linked arms with her husband Stephen

Helen revealed to the Radio Times in the past that when she met the actor, it had been love at first sight.

'He just made me laugh a lot. And still does,' she gushed of her husband. 'Of course, everyone in life wants someone to love and be loved by, but I think I was always just engrossed and involved in work.

'And no, the timing was pure fluke, pure chance, it always is, isnt it?'

Dapper: Stephen made sure he was looking his best in a navy blue suit and light blue shirt

Stylish: Gillian Anderson wore a blue coat which was covered in a leopard print pattern

Celebrations: Uncle Vanya director Ian Rickson appeared to be in good spirits after the show

Back in September, Helen and Damian were on hand to help honour finance workers killed in the September 11 attacks, as they took calls on behalf of their chosen charity Cure EB.

Damian, Helen and their children represented Cure EB, a charity dedicated to finding treatments and a cure for painful skin condition Epidermolysis Bullosa.

The actor has a long standing affiliation with the charity and had previously raised money for Cure EB during a previous appearance at the annual event in 2018.

All dressed up: Sex Education stars Alistair Petrie and Connor Swindells also attended the press night in London

Bold: Connor showed off his fashion credentials in a striped brown suit and trainers
I'm a musician. I'm Irish-American, and play Irish music (among other things). And I live in Boston. Naturally, St. Patrick's Day presents me with some potentially lucrative opportunities.

Unfortunately, Gmail is not a very good negotiator:

In case you can't quite tell what's going on in this screenshot: someone asked how much money I wanted in exchange for providing music. Google's "Smart Compose" feature recommended three possible responses I might want give  the first of which was "Free!"

For all the concerns that people might have about machines stealing our jobs, I certainly never expected them to try and trick me into giving my labor away for free as well.

According to Gmail, Smart Compose is "powered by machine learning and will offer suggestions as you type." While I don't typically use the responses that it recommends, the suggestions usually aren't that bad. I have occasionally found them helpful for quick, short responses. I even let Google try its personalization feature on me, which means it should be giving me suggestions that "are tailored to the way [I] normally write, to maintain [my] writing style." In other words, this machine learning mechanism should be based at least somewhat on the actual emails that I send.

But I can assure you: I have never received an email about money or a freelance job of any kind and then immediately replied with, "Free!" (For what it's worth, I have almost certainly answered with "What's your budget?")

Anyway, if you should find yourself in the Boston area on St. Patrick's Day this year, you can hear me sing some Dominic Behan tunes at Turtle Swamp Brewery in Jamaica Plain. But no, I will not be playing for free.
Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg on Friday announced the biggest shake-up of her Cabinet since she took office in 2013, replacing or repositioning two-thirds of ministers in the hope of reviving the Conservative-led coalition's prospects.

Solberg lost her majority in parliament this week following the shock exit from government by the right-wing Progress Party over a decision to bring an ISIS bride home to Norway from Syria.

While Progress has said it will still back Solberg as prime minister, opinion polls point to an overwhelming lead for centre-left opposition parties ahead of a general election in 2021.

Norway's Prime Minister Erna Solberg takes a selfie with her new government in Oslo, Norway on January 24

Solberg said the government would seek to cut the country's carbon emissions, boost security and help modernise the economy.

But working with a minority could make day-to-day management more complex, she told a news conference, adding 'deliberations in parliament will no longer have a foregone conclusion'.

The overall size of the Cabinet was cut by two jobs, and there will be a newcomer in 13 out of the 20 posts, either from inside or outside the current government lineup, including those of finance, oil and energy, justice and transport.

Veteran Conservative Party lawmaker Jan Tore Sanner is moving from the education ministry to become finance minister, in charge of fiscal policy and of overseeing the world's largest sovereign wealth fund with $1.1 trillion in assets.

Tina Bru, 33, a rising star among the Conservatives, will take charge of the oil and energy portfolio, charting the course for western Europe's largest petroleum industry at a time of rising concern over climate change.

Solberg speaks during a press conference in Oslo on Friday. Norway's prime minister on Friday presented her revamped center-right government, four days after the populist Progress Party pulled out of the coalition over the decision to repatriate an Islamic State group-linked woman from a detention camp in Syria

Bru said last November that Norwegian oil firms should speed up their work to replace gas turbines that power many offshore installations, replacing them with power from renewable sources.

Norwegian oil and gas platforms should thus stop emitting carbon dioxide, preferably by 2035, which could cut Norway's overall emissions by a third, Bru told public broadcaster NRK at the time.

Emission cuts from platforms operated by Equinor and others cover only the carbon dioxide related to operations however, and not those that stem from the consumption of oil and gas when used by customers.

Analysts had expected Solberg to shake up her government later this year, but the sudden departure of Progress, including the party's leader, Finance Minister Siv Jensen, led to the moves being brought forward.

Jensen's exit followed Solberg's decision, announced last week, to help a Norwegian woman and her two children return from Syria so that one of the children could receive medical treatment.

Progress had offered to help the children but opposed any assistance for the mother.

Decisions on whether to help women with ties to Islamic State return from Syria has caused controversy in Europe, including in Finland where the recently appointed government settled on a compromise to decide each case individually.

The woman, who has not been named, has denied being affiliated with the Islamist group, her lawyer has said. She remains in police custody at an Oslo hospital, and could eventually be separated from her children and transferred to prison while awaiting trial, police have said.
The Tihar authorities had written to the UP prison officials, seeking the services of two hangmen from the state for the execution.

Ahead of their execution date set by the same judge, all the four death row convictsVinay Shrama (26), Akshay Kumar Singh (31), Mukesh Kumar Singh (32), and Pawan Gupta (25)who are lodged in separate cells in Tihar jail, are yet to inform the authorities about when they want to meet their families for the last time or whom they want to will their property. (Photo: PTI/File)

New Delhi: In yet another development related to the Nirbhaya case, the sessions judge who recently issued death warrants against the four convicts in the 2012 gangrape-and-murder case has been transferred.

According to a letter sent by the registrar general of Delhi high court to the district judge of Patiala House courts, additional sessions judge Satish Kumar Arora has been transferred to the Supreme Court.

Ahead of their execution date set by the same judge, all the four death row convictsVinay Shrama (26), Akshay Kumar Singh (31), Mukesh Kumar Singh (32), and Pawan Gupta (25)who are lodged in separate cells in Tihar jail, are yet to inform the authorities about when they want to meet their families for the last time or whom they want to will their property.

The execution of the convicts is scheduled for 6.00 am on February 1. The dummy execution of the four death row convicts was performed in the prison last week. The jail officials recorded the weights of the convicts and then prepared the dummies accordingly with sacks filled with debris and stones. The execution will take place in Jail No. 3.

The Uttar Pradesh (UP) prison authority has already confirmed to their counterparts in Tihar jail that Pawan Jallad from Meerut will be sent to hang the four convicts.

The Tihar authorities had written to the UP prison officials, seeking the services of two hangmen from the state for the execution.

All the four convicts are likely to be hanged simultaneously. The jail authorities are also holding conversations with them on a daily basis to ensure that they were in a good mental state.

A senior jail official said that after the death warrants were issued, the convicts were asked when they would like to meet their respective families for the last time and if so, who all did they wish to meet, and whether they wanted to make any will. But none of them have responded yet, he added.

The family of all the four convicts are allowed to meet them twice a week but the last date of meeting has not been fixed because they have still not responded.

On Wednesday, in a plea filed by the Centre before the Supreme Court, the Union home ministry said heinous crime convicts are taking the judicial process for a ride.

They demanded fixing a seven-day deadline for execution of the condemned prisoners after issuance of black warrant amid the delay in the hanging of the four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya case.
Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker is a confusing movie, partly because it moves at the pace of an auctioneer trying MDMA for the first time, and partly because it's jam-packed with new characters, magical doohickeys, and other magical doohickeys those first doohickeys lead to. Thankfully, since the movie premiered, we've gotten some interviews with the filmmakers and pieces of merchandise that have cleared up some of these oddities in totally satisfying and not at all confounding ways. Spoilers ahead ...

Chewie Got Whose Medal, Exactly?

After defeating the evil First Order, the Resistance fighters return to their base and celebrate, just like in Return Of The Jedi (minus the corpse-eating). In a moment seemingly inspired by many an internet message board rant, Maz Kanata finally gives Chewbacca the medal Princess Leia so cruelly denied him way back in A New Hope. Yes, it's the exact same medal Luke and Han were given after the Battle of Yavin. Whose is it? Insanely, no one even told Joonas Suotamo, the dude playing Chewbacca. He guessed it "was Han's," and it turns out he was totally right.

Walt Disney Pictures "35 years and he never once thought to take the foil off and eat the chocolate."

According to The Rise Of Skywalker Visual Dictionary, Leia kept Han's medal because it's a memento of what "brought them together 35 years ago." You can barely see her clutching it during her death scene (a close-up of her holding it was in a trailer). Oddly, Maz's tone seems to suggest it's a long-overdue token of appreciation for Chewie, as opposed to some junk she found after his friend's corpse vanished. It's additionally unnecessary because the Star Wars comic series went out of their way multiple times to explain that Chewie did get a medal. For some reason, J.J. Abrams still thought this was a loose end that needed tying up. Perhaps we should just be thankful the movie didn't end with Maz looking straight into the camera and explaining the meaning of "Maclunkey."
M ore than a dozen people in the UK have now been tested for the coronavirus after an outbreak of the deadly disease in China.

Fourteen people were tested for the virus, with five confirmed negative and nine still awaiting results, Public Health England (PHE) said on Thursday night.

It came as Health Secretary Matt Hancock said there is an "increased likelihood" of cases occurring.

Some 25 people have died of the virus and there has been more than 800 cases reported in the past three weeks, including several outside of China.

Matt Hancock Says 'Precautionary Measures' Are Being Taken Amidst Coronavirus Outbreak

The Scottish Government had earlier confirmed that five people were being examined after presenting with symptoms of the illness.

And it is understood that another patient was being tested at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital.

PHE would not give a breakdown of where the people were tested and where the negative results were recorded.

Medical staff carry a box as they walk at the Jinyintan hospital (REUTERS) / Reuters

While none of the UK cases has been confirmed as the virus so far, two of those being tested in Scotland had been diagnosed with influenza after travelling to Wuhan, China.

They all travelled to Scotland from Wuhan, where the outbreak is thought to have originated, within the past two weeks.

Each were showing symptoms of respiratory trouble, a red flag for the virus.

Downing Street said four suspected cases in Scotland were believed to involve Chinese nationals.

It comes after infections expert Professor Jurgen Haas claimed there would likely be "many more cases" around the country.

Health Secretary Mr Hancock said the NHS is "ready to respond appropriately" to any cases that emerge in the UK.

In a statement to the Commons on Thursday, Mr Hancock said while "there is an increased likelihood that cases may arise in this country, we are well prepared and well equipped to deal with them".

Also on Thursday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said it is "too early" to declare an international public health emergency over the outbreak "given its restrictive and binary nature".

Speaking at a press conference, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, said: "Make no mistake, this is though an emergency in China.

"But it has not yet become a global health emergency.

"It may yet become one."

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said there is an "increased likelihood" of cases occurring / PA

He said 584 cases have been reported to the WHO, including 17 deaths, with 575 of the overall cases and all the deaths reported in China.

Other cases have been reported in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the US and Vietnam.

Dr Tedros said: "We know that most of those who have died had underlying health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes or cardiovascular disease, that weakened their immune systems.

"We know that there is human-to-human transmission in China, but for now it appears limited to family groups and health workers caring for infected patients.

"At this time, there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission outside China, but that doesn't mean it won't happen

"There is still a lot we don't know. We don't know the source of this virus, we don't understand how easily it spreads and we don't fully understand its clinical features or severity."

Peter Piot, professor of global health and director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said there were still "many missing pieces in the jigsaw puzzle", adding: "Over the coming days and weeks we will know much more, but there cannot be any complacency as to the need for global action.

"The good news is that the data to date suggest that this virus may have a lower mortality than Sars, we have a diagnostic test and there is greater transparency than decades gone by.

"And that is essential because you cannot deal with a potential pandemic in one country alone."

Prof Haas, head of infection medicine at the University of Edinburgh, said: "We have currently three cases of suspected Wuhan coronavirus in Edinburgh and as far as I understand one case in Glasgow."

He said the cases emerged overnight, adding: "The situation will be pretty similar in pretty much all UK cities with a large number of Chinese students.

"It's not too surprising. My suspicion is that there will probably be many more cases in many other cities in the UK.

"None of the cases I know of have been confirmed."

He said there was only one laboratory testing for the virus, operated by Public Health England (PHE).

The professor said the cases had been flagged up through the PHE infection guidelines, as they travelled to Wuhan within the last 14 days and were showing signs of respiratory symptoms.
China Shuts Transport, Temples, Part Of Great Wall As Virus Toll Hits 26

Cases of the new coronavirus are likely to continue to rise in China and it is too soon to evaluate its severity, a spokesman for the World Health Organisation (WHO) said. "The focus is not so much on the (case) numbers, which we know will go up," WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told a Geneva news briefing, adding that Chinese health authorities had officially reported 830 confirmed cases and 25 deaths. "It's still too early to draw conclusions on how severe the virus is." Read more.

BJP Leader Kailash Vijayvargiya Slammed For 'Poha' Remark On Bangladeshis

In a bizarre statement while speaking at a seminar in Indore, BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya claimed labourers who recently carried out construction work at his house could be Bangladeshis as they had "strange" eating habits. And what's that? Eating only 'poha' (flattened rice). "When a new room was being added at my house recently, I found eating habits of some of the workers 'strange' as they were eating only 'poha' (flattened rice)", he said. Read more.

India Will Soon Get A War Memorial Dedicated Exclusively To Service Animals In Meerut

Every year many Indian soldiers get martyred and in their memory, there are war memorials in our country remembering their sacrifices. If things fall into place, India will soon get an excluive war memorial for its animals including dogs, horses, and mules. In a report published on news agency ANI, the Indian Army's training command is mulling over a proposal to build a war memorial for its animals. "The proposal had been initiated almost two years ago for setting up the war memorial in Meerut for the animals and is now in the training command," Army sources said. Read more.

HC Grants Two Days Parole To Rape Accused To Take Oath As MP

The Allahabad High Court granted parole for two days to Atul Rai, who won last year's Lok Sabha election from Ghosi parliamentary constituency in Mau, Uttar Pradesh, for taking oath as Member of Parliament in New Delhi. Rai is in jail in connection with a rape case and has not yet been able to take oath as an MP because his bail plea was earlier denied by the high court. Read more.

Relief For JNU Students As High Court Allows Them To Register For Next Semester According To Old Hostel Manual, No Late Fees

The Delhi High Court granted relief to the students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) allowing them to register in the next semester as per the old hostel manual within one week. "So far as the remaining students are concerned, they need to register within one week as per the old manual. No late fees will be charged from them too," says Justice Rajiv Shakdar. Read more.

'Doomsday Clock' Closer To Midnight Than Ever

The Doomsday Clock ticked down to 100 seconds to midnight, symbolizing the greatest level of peril to humanity since its creation in 1947 as the threat posed by climate change and a growing nuclear race loomed large. The danger level was compounded by information warfare and disruptive technologies ranging from deepfake video and audio to the militarization of space and the development of hypersonic weapons. Read more.
Organised crime groups based in the UK reportedly generate more money (over 24 million) from selling illegal drugs on the dark web than in any other country in the world.

Knowing this helps us understand how organised crime groups are using the internet to modernise and make money. But it doesnt help us understand what these groups really look like, in terms of their internal organisation, recruitment and general business activity.

In fact, my current research into organised crime in the UK and Europe reveals big gaps in our knowledge. Law enforcement agencies, policymakers and academics have failed to join the dots (or even agree on what those dots are) and achieve a full understanding of organised crime.

Take, for example, the human trafficking network that organised the UK-bound lorry journey that led to the deaths of 39 Vietnamese nationals in 2019. Some arrests have been made, but do we really understand how the groups responsible cooperated to facilitate entry into the UK?

Or consider how the approach to modern slavery centres on the condition of the victims (which should not be ignored), but not the organisations which create it.

We know that most of the victims in the UK are minors, often forced to transport and sell drugs on the streets. But who are the people controlling the victims who suffer domestic servitude, forced labour and sexual exploitation? Who operates the brothels and cannabis factories, the car washes and restaurants where modern slavery is put into practice?

Perhaps we need to use another approach  one that is less centred around the moment a crime is committed, and takes a wider view of the membership and organisational structures of the groups behind those crimes.

The Italian way

Some are critical of the Italian law known as mafia association, which focuses on the criminal network and its membership as being a crime in itself. They believe its implementation risks sending innocent people to prison, while others think the law is specific to the Italian context and its history.

Story continues

But Italian police officials could easily argue that, to a certain extent, their approach is working. In January 2020, the Italian Guardia Di Finanza in Reggio Calabria arrested, among others, a bank manager and a doctor on suspicion of being members of a mafia association, the Ndrangheta.

They were not the usual suspects for a mafia. Yet the polices joined-up approach of looking at all aspects of human behaviour and criminal activities (monitoring meetings, telephone conversations, financial transactions) locally and nationally was able to reveal the extensive power of the criminal network. This investigation highlights how Italian police have the instruments to be able to see the whole network  in particular the side that is hidden within the legal economy, local politics and society.

Again in January 2020, 94 people were arrested on suspicion of having defrauded EU agricultural subsidies. The suspects varied from traditional foot soldiers of the Sicilian mafia to representatives of the local economy and politics. They included a local mayor and an accountant.

This broad and complex approach allows police officers and judges to work in a practical, concrete and cohesive way by looking at the association of the people as a crime. It is the association that seeks to do the harm.

The focus then moves on to the specific wrong doing as a product of a whole group activity  not just the individuals at the lower levels of the chain who do the dirty work, like selling drugs on the street. Its about moving up the chain to intercept the broader supply and importation networks. By looking at the group dynamics, it becomes easier to understand motives and logistics than it is by simply concentrating on standalone crimes.

It is a method which encourages a wider and more informative overview of organised crime. It also acknowledges the intricate nature of how this kind of crime is based both on control of criminal activities and on a money cycle.

This is the way organised crime groups seek to simultaneously make money on the streets from illegal activities (drugs, fake goods) and then transfer their profits to the legal economy (businesses, real estate, genuine luxury goods). In other words, following the money becomes central to targeting organised crime groups  and protecting their victims.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

The Conversation

Felia Allum receives funding from the Leverhulme Trust.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Blaming the ruling AAP in the national capital and Congress for inciting youth and Muslims against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday drew a parallel between how CM Arvind Kejriwal, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan speak.

Speaking at an election rally in Matiala Assembly constituency, the BJP leader invoked repealing of Article 370, Ram Temple, Triple Talaq, and attack on Uri and Pulwama to seek vote for local candidate Rajesh Gehlot.



INTERVIEW | 'State elections are about bread, butter issues' says Atishi on Delhi polls



Pakistan PM Imran Khans statement are similar to Rahul Gandhi and Kejriwals assertion. What relationship do they share? They need to explain, he said.

They (AAP and Congress) are provoking people in Delhi and orchestrating riots. Deputy CM Sisodia, shamelessly, says that we are with Shaheen Bagh. They have vitiated peaceful atmosphere of the city. If they come to power, will Delhi be secure? said Shah.

Senior party leaders including J P Nadda, state chief Manoj Tiwari, Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Goel held several events in different constituencies.



ALSO READ | Delhi poll: Free bus rides for women may translate to votes for AAP

Shah led another rally in Nangloi Jat and a padayatra in Uttam Nagar. Nadda also addressed two meetings in Dwarka and Mehrauli assembly seats.

Launching a scathing attack on AAP, Nadda said that this time the BJP would form government in Delhi.



BJPs record is to work and without being in power in Delhi. Earlier, Kejriwal would say that Modi didnt allow him to work. Now, he is saying that the last five years were good. We have to apprise people about the projects left incomplete by AAP government, he said, adding that his party should be voted for development of the national capital.
P aris launched the latest and the best new designs last week at the big international lifestyle, decor and design trade show Maison et Objet, now in its 25th year.

Seemingly endless aisles of furnishings filled eight vast halls in the northern suburbs.

In tandem in the city itself, the Deco Off interiors event unveiled spring fabrics and papers in more than 60 showrooms and pop-up galleries.

Proudly loud and louche at Maison et Objet was Italian brand Seletti, which covered its floor with willow pattern carpet and hung lurid chairs with rude slogans from the ceiling, above swarms of lit-up spacemen, chameleons, rats and robots.

Qeeboo, also Italian, was equally out of hand.

In a fitting tribute to the city as host, its stop-you-in-your-tracks showpiece was a huge floor lamp modelled on the Eiffel Tower, surrounded by luminous gorillas, teddy bears and skulls, with a line of stoic giraffes, crystal chandeliers suspended from their mouths.

Impresario here is veteran designer Stefano Giovannoni. He launched his warren of multicoloured rabbit stools and lights in Milan four years ago, and now they have bred into an international brand.

Animals were everywhere. At French Ibride, an eviscerated deer revealed storage shelves, while tables perched precariously on ostrich pins or stood four-square on canine paws.

Darkroom's WOODERNISM collection celebrates 10 years with a collection that is made from pigment stained wood

Bizarre prints on aluminium featured hybrids with human hands and rabbit heads, in frocks and ruffs.

Cabinets were softly fringed and dreamlike: no doors, just swish open the fronds. More soberly, circular patio tables were printed with pretty flowers.

From Kent came Debbie Beevor of Quail Ceramics whose menagerie of slip-cast stoneware has jungle/ocean beasts obediently holding flowers and pencils.

The continentals adore eccentricity and the British do it very well, she said, comfortably immersed in panthers, zebras, macaws and sloths.

Londons House of Hackney illustrated its own fairy story, with the prettiest of flowers for walls, tasselled cushions, uptight cats and dogs for lamps, and unicorn bookends.

Nearby, Fenella Smith had drawn a host of dog breeds and scattered them on linens, bags and china.

The Show Must Go On, the new range from ceramicist Melody Rose, features bone china dinnerware decorated with circus characters The Amazing Miss Rose, The Wonderful Alfonso and his Performing Pooch, and The Lovely Berta Beeson. The Lovely Berta is a cross-dressing tightrope walker.

Quieter, good-looking furniture and lighting more than held its own against these wilder styles.

Notable was a darkened room where 16 mobiles gently swayed and turned, as super-slender strips of patinated steel improbably supported glowing globes of light.

This was a universally acknowledged triumph for the shows Designer of the Year, Michael Anastassiades, whose studio is in Camden.

Anastassiades has an impressive string of international clients. These mobile marvels are his own label, and can adapt to any space  you can see one in the COS branch in Regent Street, for example.

Elsewhere, in a similar aesthetic, the Beem group of lovely linear LED lighting was by award-winning Samuel Wilkinson.

Pioneer collection wallpaper in Meadow Goldfield by family partnership MissPrint / Sophie Drury

Another Londoner, Rhonda Drakeford of Darkroom, brought to Paris coloured furniture in blocks of stained wood. Chopping boards in wood salvaged from construction sites were a nice touch.

Rugs, meanwhile, were abstracts for the floor  for example, Doodles by British artist Faye Toogood, with pleasing scribbles and blocks of colour, delivered by Italian brand cc-tapis.

Jaime Hayon, that mischievous Spanish design maverick, covered a huge rectangle with lines of playful portraits, for Spanish rug maker Nanimarquina.

London fashion designer Nitin Goyal introduced the Aadyam Handwoven label, offering beautiful furnishings by three weavers co-operatives in India.
A man convicted of masturbating in public several times is facing new charges less than a year after allegedly ejaculating on a woman at a Portland bookstore.

William James Wimberly Jr. is accused of masturbating in front of two women in separate incidents last month at a Northeast Portland sauna. He faces two counts of misdemeanor public indecency in the case.

The first of two incidents at the Common Ground Wellness Cooperative occurred Dec. 7, when a woman reported Wimberly was masturbating next to her in a co-ed sauna, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Wimberly, 26, didnt have a towel as required by sauna rules, according to the court document. The woman was wearing one.

She reported the incident to Common Ground staff, and a staffer told her Wimberlys name.

A responding Portland police officer looked him up and learned he was on release from custody in a public indecency case and had been convicted of public indecency in the past.

The officer who responded to the first sauna incident later learned of another, which occurred two days later.

A second sauna user saw a man, identified in the affidavit as Wimberly, masturbating. She left and later called to complain.

Melissa Di Rito, general manager at Common Ground, said Wimberly was not a member of the cooperative. She said the alleged incidents occurred on his first two visits, which were within two days of each other. The second accuser, she said, didnt complain until a week later.

We took action immediately after learning about the incidents by banning him from Common Ground and filing a police report, she wrote in an email. We take incidents very seriously, and we took all the necessary actions to ensure a safe and healing experience for our customers.

Wimberly was jailed Dec. 23 and is set to be arraigned on an indictment Friday, Jan. 31.

In July he pleaded not guilty to public indecency and third-degree sexual abuse for allegedly ejaculating on a woman at a Portland bookstore earlier that year. The case remains open.

Wimberly suffers from fetal alcohol syndrome, according to court records.

-- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
An Ohio coroner ruled on Thursday that the death of a baby found in a trash can last year was a homicide.

The boy was found with the umbilical cord still attached in a womens bathroom in Whitcomb Hall at Hiram College last October.

According to a coroner report obtained by the Record-Courier, the child was alive for no longer than an hour and died of asphyxiation due to postpartum inattention.

Scroll down for video

An Ohio coroner ruled on Thursday that the death of a baby found in a trash can last year was a homicide. Investigators at the scene in October 2019

The boy was found with the umbilical cord still attached in a womens bathroom in Whitcomb Hall at Hiram College last October

If the child had received the proper medical attention, it's believed he would have survived.

Hiram Village Police Chief Brian Gregory wrote in a report that the trash bag was discovered on the floor of the womens bathroom tied shut.

Housekeeping staff collected the bag and took it to the back of the building, where maintenance discovered the contents.

The contents of the bag included bloody paper towels, a dark blue hoodie, a pair of womens underwear, and a wrapper for a womens hygiene product.

Gregory said there have been no charges or arrests made and authorities have not released information about the child's mother.

Hiram police are investigating along with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

According to a coroner report, the child was alive for no longer than an hour and died of asphyxiation due to postpartum inattention

Hiram (pictured) is a private liberal arts college with about 1,100 students and is about 40 miles southeast of Cleveland

Hiram College President Dr Lori Varlotta told Cleveland 19: 'It's sad. Its shocking. Words are really inadequate. Really, were in shock.'

Varlotta also said that the colleges dorms are locked, so there shouldnt be anyone in the restrooms who is not a student.

Hiram is a private liberal arts college with about 1,100 students and is about 40 miles southeast of Cleveland.
by Ray Schultz , January 24, 2020

Comcast service has been restored following a Thursday outage, although scattered complaints continued to come in on Friday.

SLOW AS HELL in Eastpointe, Mi, 1/20th speed for the last 3 days, writes one user on downdetector.

Internet down" for the past 2 days in Columbia, MO, another user reports.

However, a Comcast spokesperson told nj.com that service had been restored after a brief outage.

Reports to downdetector fell off markedly after 3:30 Thursday afternoon, and were down to a trickle on Friday afternoon.

The company had suffered a nationwide outage, with the most-reported locations including Chicago, Seattle, San Jose, Miami, Houston, Philadelphia and Denver.
A purportedly "straightforward" form that Northern Ireland businesses will have to fill out to send goods to Great Britain post-Brexit is actually a complex document with "31 data elements", it has emerged.

In October last year, Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay revealed in the Commons that paperwork would be required for the hauliers, prompting anger from DUP MPs.

He later insisted the form would involve "fairly straightforward" data and would not be a burden on business.

Read More

It has now emerged, however, the paperwork will be more complicated than previously suggested, according to a Guardian report.

The Freight Transport Association said hauliers could be fined if they get elements of the "Exit Summary Declaration" wrong and called for it to be ruled out in negotiations.

There are up to 31 data elements in an exit summary declaration required to take goods out of the EU now and post-Brexit (ie out of Northern Ireland) when the mode is road freight. Only two of these are optional, meaning 29 data elements are mandatory," the FTA's head of European policy, Pauline Bastidon said.

When Stephen Barclay confirmed paperwork would be necessary last year, the then-DUP Westminster leader Nigel Dodds warned: ""This will adversely affect the most important trade we have in Northern Ireland."

Mr Barclay responded by waving a one-page form and stating: This is an administrative process, this is an electronic form, this is part of bookings that will be done with the haulier as part of the shipment of goods and actually involves fairly straightforward data in terms of who is exporting, who is importing and what the nature of the goods are."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson even said, during a visit to Northern Ireland, that business leaders could "throw the form in the bin".

Seamus Leheny, policy manager at the Freight Transport Association in Northern Ireland, said: Its the haulier who must complete the paperwork. The concern is if a mistake is made and a load refused on board a ferry, it could then miss its sailing which would have a big impact on just in time loads, especially for the retail trade.

Read More

Earlier this week, a senior EU official warned they would not tolerate any "backsliding" by the UK on the Northern Ireland elements of the Brexit deal.

Stefaan de Rynck, an adviser to the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, also said the UK could face sanctions if it does to implement the necessary checks on goods.

"There are clear commitments on the UK which are legally binding and have to be implemented," he said at an event in London.

"We will not tolerate any backsliding or half measures on this. It is clear what needs to be done by both sides and we will stick to that."
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and AAP leader Manish Sisodia challenged Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday to show one government school in any BJP-ruled state that is comparable to government schools of the national capital.

Shah, on Thursday, attacked the AAP, asking how many schools were constructed by its government in Delhi. Responding to Shah, Sisodia invited the former BJP president to his Patparganj assembly constituency to visit the newly built school of excellence there.

I dont know whether he is looking for a school in Delhi or the sky using his binoculars. We have not just constructed new schools, but also refurbished the old to a great extent, he said, challenging Shah to show a single government school of comparable standards built in any BJP-ruled state.

Had the seven BJP MPs of Delhi done any work for people, he alleged, the partys central leadership would not have to resort to jumlas or be confused about issues to attack the Arvind Kejriwal government.

I again wish to state that you (Shah) are most welcome to come to talk to us about real issues, but please dont conjure things up, he said.

He also said of the 2,80,000 CCTV cameras that were to be installed, the government has installed more than 2,00,000 cameras and the process is on to install the remaining.

Reacting to Shahs comment that his phones battery died trying to find free Wi-Fi service of the AAP government, Sisodia said he is worried about this because if Indias Honble Home Ministers phone battery runs out of charge the nation will come to a standstill.

The Delhi government has a system to provide free electricity up to 200 units, I request him to keep his phone charged always, because he wont be able to use the free Wi-Fi on a dead phone, he said.

Sisodia said the AAP government will install 11,000 WiFi hotspots across Delhi and it has already launched more than 1,000 such hotspots.

If he accompanies me to any major market area, I will show him the spots said Sisodia.

Yesterday, the Honble Home Minister of India made some statements during his rally in Delhi and I think its appreciable that he is talking about the work done in Delhi. We had said we have entered the political arena to transform the manner in which politics is conducted and Shah himself provides ample proof of the manner in which we have changed the narrative, he said.
A lawyer, appearing for two of the four convicts in the Nirbhaya case, is "making fun" of the system by using "tactics" to delay their hanging, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia alleged on Friday.

The AAP leader's comments came after advocate A P Singh on Friday moved a Delhi court alleging that Tihar jail authorities are yet to release the documents required to file curative petitions for Akshay Kumar Singh (31) and Pawan Singh (25).

The laws should be changed for ensuring speedy justice, Sisodia said.

"In the Nirbhaya case, the lawyer is using tactics to delay the execution. In this way, he is making fun of the system.

"We must work together to ensure speedy justice. So that laws can be amended to remove shortcomings," he said in a tweet in Hindi.

The Supreme Court had recently dismissed the curative petition for the other two convicts in the 2012 gangrape and murder case Vinay Kumar Sharma (26) and Mukesh Singh (32).

The hanging of all the four convicts is to take place on February 1 at 6 am, as per a court order.

On the intervening night of December 16 and 17 in 2012, a 23-year-old paramedic student, referred to as Nirbhaya, was gang raped and brutally assaulted in a moving bus in south Delhi by six people before she was thrown out on a road.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-25 03:59:52|Editor: Yurou

Video Player Close

Niki Kerameus, Greek Minister of Education and Religious Affairs, speaks during an event titled "Building International Bridges: Opening Greek Universities to the World" in Athens, Greece, on Jan. 24, 2020. On the occasion of the International Day of Education marked on Friday, the Greek government presented state universities' programs addressed to foreign nationals, inviting more students from all over the world to study in Greece. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

ATHENS, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- On the occasion of the International Day of Education marked on Friday, the Greek government presented state universities' programs addressed to foreign nationals, inviting more students from all over the world to study in Greece.

During the event under the title "Building International Bridges: Opening Greek Universities to the World" hosted at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Greek ministers and rectors of over a dozen Greek universities presented to diplomats and media some of the English language programs foreign students are invited to explore.

"Today, the International Day of Education proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly, is a great opportunity to celebrate our opening to the world, our effort to enhance our bridges with other countries in the field of education," Niki Kerameus, Minister of Education and Religious Affairs said, delivering a speech.

Greece is currently changing the legislative framework to facilitate procedures for collaborations, launches new programs addressed to foreigners and supports further exchanges of researchers, students and professors, the minister noted.

For example, this autumn the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (EKPA) inaugurates the first undergraduate course of study to be conducted in the English language in the country.

The "BA Program in Archaeology, History, and Literature of Ancient Greece" is a four-year program addressed to non-EU students, Kerameus said.

The English language programs aimed particular at non-EU students are of high academic quality and are offered in extremely low tuition fees compared to other countries, the Greek minister stressed.

"There is a growing trend for students to choose Greece as their study destination. I would like to very warmly invite you to come to Greece to invest in education, to enhance our collaborations. I think it is a win win for everybody," she said.

There are currently a total of 81 postgraduate foreign language programs offered by Greek state universities with a total of 537 foreign nationals enrolled, according to data provided by the Greek Foreign Ministry.
Bulgaria is expelling two unnamed Russian diplomats accused of involvement in spying in the Balkan country.



The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry says it summoned the Russian ambassador to Sofia on January 24 and handed him a note declaring the two diplomats -- a consular first secretary and an official at Russia's trade representation -- personae non gratae.

Both were given 48 hours to leave the country, the ministry says.



The Russian Embassy says the two men will leave Bulgaria but insists that no evidence confirming their activities incompatible with their status were presented."

"Russia reserves the right to take tit-for-tat measures," it says in a statement.



Bulgaria, a loyal Moscow ally during communist times, became a member of NATO in 2004 and joined the European Union in 2007.



Earlier in the day, the Prosecutor-General's Office said that both men collected "state secrets in order to transfer it to a foreign state or organization."



One of the two diplomats collected information on Bulgaria's election process, while the other was spying on the EU member state's energy sector and energy-security measures, the office said in a statement.



The statement said a pretrial investigation of the two had begun, adding that they could not be charged due to diplomatic immunity.

In a separate case on January 23, Bulgarian prosecutors announced charges in absentia against three Russians for the attempted murder of a weapons manufacturer, his son, and the production manager of the company.

The Sofia city prosecutor's office said the three unidentified suspects intentionally attempted to poison the victims "by intoxication with an unidentified phosphorus-organic substance."

Prosecutors said the crimes were committed between April 28, 2015, and May 4, 2015, and targeted Emilian Gebrev, owner of EMCO Ltd., his son, Hristo Gebrev, and manager Valentin Takhchiev. All three survived the attacks.

In a statement on January 24, the U.S. Embassy in Sofia said that it "commended" Bulgaria's recent actions "to defend the country's independence and sovereignty from malign influence."

It cited the announcement of the expulsion of the two Russians for espionage and the announcement of charges against the three others for attempted murder.

With reporting by Reuters, Interfax, and TASS
At least it was clean?

At a Northeast Side Mexican restaurant this week, San Antonio health inspectors observed food stored in five-gallon buckets that were previously used to store dish soap. They also noticed employees wearing bracelets and watches while handling food, and soiled knives stored in a container with clean knives.

Those demerits did not earn the lowest score on this week's roundup.

That dubious honor belonged to a West Side seafood restaurant where employees were handling food with their bare hands. The food manager there had "failed to maintain active managerial control of the kitchen."

LAST WEEK'S INSPECTIONS: Rodent droppings, gnats and flies spotted

At a second seafood eatery, this one on Broadway, inspectors spotted "live roaches" under the hand sink. They also saw an employee handle cooked egg rolls barehanded and handle raw chicken then wash their hands without using soap.

A total of 12 eateries failed to score an "A" during inspections by the city's Metropolitan Health District.

Click through the gallery above for a look at the violations spotted by inspectors this week.

Restaurants are graded on a 100-point system where "100" is a perfect score, and demerits are based upon the number of violations found during a regular food establishment inspection. There are three categories of demerits and each is assigned a demerit score between 1 and 3 points, according to the health division.

If you have questions about inspections or complaints about a food establishment, contact the Metropolitan Health District office by calling 3-1-1 or 210-207-6000. Be prepared to provide the name, location, date of incident and details of the incident.
Paul Wells, 60, of Rumney, Cardiff, is today pictured outside Worcester Crown Court. He took items from the Viking treasure trove to fellow dealers to have them valued before they were arranged by others to be sold on the black market

An antiques dealer who conspired with others to conceal a 12 million hoard of ancient buried treasure has been spared jail.

Coin seller Paul Wells, 60, took items from the Viking treasure trove to fellow dealers to have them valued before they were arranged by others to be sold on the black market.

He was convicted of conspiring to conceal the Leominster Hoard, which was uncovered by metal detectorists on farmland in Herefordshire in June 2015.

Experts said the invaluable Anglo Saxon coins and other jewellery dating back 1,100 years, some from the reign of King Alfred, had the capability to 'rewrite history'.

It included a ninth-century gold ring, a dragon's head bracelet, a silver ingot, a fifth crystal rock pendant and up to 300 coins - most of which is still missing.

A court heard Wells inspected some of the items and kept five coins worth up to 75,000 in the handle of a magnifying glass which he later handed to police.

He was due to learn his fate alongside three co-defendants in November but suffered a cardiac arrest after the verdict and had his sentencing adjourned.

The ancient treasure included a ninth-century gold ring, pictured above. The coin dealer was convicted of conspiring to conceal the Leominster Hoard, which was uncovered by metal detectorists on farmland in Herefordshire in June 2015

The ingot from the hoard is pictured above. A court heard how George Powell and Layton Davies unearthed the treasure but tried to cash in on their haul by selling the items on the black market

A Double Emperor coin found in the hoard is pictured above. Experts said the invaluable Anglo Saxon coins and other jewellery dating back 1,100 years, some from the reign of King Alfred, had the capability to 'rewrite history'

The dragon's head bracelet is seen above. All treasure found in the UK belongs to the Crown and a Treasure Valuation Committee decides how it should be shared among the finder and the landowner or tenant

Wells, of Rumney, Cardiff, was sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years at Worcester Crown Court.

The fifth crystal rock pendant is seen above. If George Powell and Layton Davies had declared the treasure they would have been in line to pocket 500,000 each. The hoard was valued at 3 million but experts later said it could be worth 12 million

He was also ordered to carry out 15 days of rehabilitation activity and 240 hours of unpaid work.

Sentencing, Judge Nicholas Cartwright said 'On the findings of the jury, you entered into the agreement to conceal these coins, knowing they were stolen.

'The theft was from those who had an interest in these coins - the Crown, the farmer and the land owner.

'I cannot come to a finding of whether there was financial and personal gain to you.'

Wells, wearing a blue checked shirt, blue fleece and khaki jacket, showed no emotion during the hearing.

No order was made for costs due to an upcoming Proceeds of Crime Act hearing to decide how much should be confiscated from Wells and his co-defendants.

His co-conspirators George Powell, 38, Layton Davies, 51, and Simon Wicks, 57, were previously jailed for a total of 23-and-a-half years between them.

Paul Wells, pictured above outside court today, showed no emotion during the hearing. He was due to learn his fate alongside three co-defendants in November but suffered a cardiac arrest after the verdict and had his sentencing adjourned

A court heard how Powell and Davies unearthed the treasure but tried to cash in on their haul by selling the items on the black market.

By law, the men should have reported the discovery but instead decided to sell the items in small batches to various customers on the black market.

All treasure found in the UK belongs to the Crown and a Treasure Valuation Committee decides how it should be shared among the finder and the landowner or tenant.

The court heard how Powell and Davies approached the National Museum of Wales - after a council worker heard rumours of the find and tracked one of the men down.

The pair signed over three items to the museum, but claimed they found one coin each at different locations - meaning they would not have been subject to the Treasure Act.

If they had declared the treasure they would have been in line to pocket 500,000 each. The hoard was valued at 3 million but experts later said it could be worth 12 million.

His co-conspirators George Powell, 38, Layton Davies, 51, left, and Simon Wicks, 57, right, were previously jailed for a total of 23-and-a-half years between them

Jurors also heard how Powell had only handed over three coins he found to the owner of the land and those were 'not particularly valuable.'

Jurors also heard how George Powell, pictured above, had only handed over three coins he found to the owner of the land and those were 'not particularly valuable'

Only 31 of the coins - worth between 10,000 and 50,000 - and pieces of jewellery have ever been recovered, with the majority of the hoard still missing.

But mobile phone photographs found on Davies' phone by police showed the trove all together as one in a freshly dug hole.

Powell, Davies, Wicks and Wells were previously convicted of conspiring to conceal the treasure.

Powell, Davies and Wicks were also found guilty of conspiring to convert the treasure into cash.

Powell, a warehouse worker, from Newport, Wales, was previously jailed for six years for theft and four years for conspiracy to conceal and convert, totalling ten years.

Davies, of Pontypridd, Wales, a school caretaker, was caged for eight-and-a-half years after receiving five-and-a-half years for theft and three years for concealing the treasure.

Wicks, of Hailsham, East Sussex, received five years imprisonment for his charges which also included breaching conditional discharges for previous convictions.
F acial recognition cameras are to be deployed by the Met across London for the first time to target serious offenders, Scotland Yard has announced.

In a major new move to fight violent crime, watch lists will be developed to carry out live facial checks in locations chosen for the likelihood of catching suspects.

Targets will include those suspected of serious violence, gun and knife crime and child sexual exploitation.

Anyone identified by the scans will be approached by officers, asked to identify themselves and arrested if confirmed to be a wanted person.

Facial recognition cameras are to be deployed by the Met / @sianberry

The dramatic shift in tactics  which follows earlier police trials of facial recognition in London and elsewhere in Britain  is certain to be controversial. Opponents have already complained about the risk of unfair profiling and raised privacy concerns.

But Scotland Yard, which is battling to reduce record levels of knife offending as well as other serious crime threats, today insisted that using new technology was essential.

Announcing the move, Met Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave, said it was an important development which would be vital in assisting us in bearing down on violence.

He said: Facial recognition technology will be particularly useful in helping us tackle knife and gun crime, child sexual exploitation, as well as other serious crimes, and to protect the most vulnerable people.

The public rightly expect us to test and to use emerging technology to tackle crime and stop violent criminals. Bearing down on serious violence is our number one priority and we believe we should explore the value of new technology to help us do that.

Locating people who are wanted by the police is not new. Every day police officers are briefed with images of suspects to look out for, resulting in positive identifications and arrests every day.

"Live facial recognition is about modernising this practice through technology to improve effectiveness and bring more offenders to justice.

The system will target serious offenders / @sianberry

Mr Ephgrave said that wherever cameras were deployed, signs would be put up to alert the public. Leaflets would also be handed out to passers-by to inform them about what is happening.

He emphasised that when a match is made, a visual check will be carried out by an officer before the potential suspect is approached, and cameras would not be used to search speculatively or indiscriminately.

Mr Ephgrave added: The facial recognition technology wont be searching against all wanted people. We will create a bespoke wanted watch list every time we use the technology.

"It will focus on people who are wanted for serious crimes, or high-risk missing persons, based on intelligence that they may be in that area.

This technology is designed to provide a prompt to officers that an individual in a crowd may well be a wanted offender  it isnt a computer or artificial intelligence taking over.

There is still the need for a police officer to review the alert and make a decision on whether they need to speak with them.

Police officers in London / Jack Taylor/Getty Images

The High Court ruled last year in a landmark judgment involving a trial of facial recognition by South Wales Police that the technology was lawful.

The civil rights group Liberty had argued that the use of facial scans was equivalent to the unregulated taking of DNA or fingerprints without consent and called for a total ban.

But the High Court found that police had applied adequate safeguards and complied with both equality and data protection laws.

TODO: define component type apester

In a subsequent ruling, which also covered previous Met trials of facial recognition, the Information Commissioners Office backed the use of the technology, but criticised the lack of a nationwide code of practice or guidelines over its deployment.

The watchdog also said that while there had been a reduction in the number of false matches since 2017, more needed to be done to reduce technology bias.

Listen to today's episode of The Leader:
The 14th annual Rapid River Relic Riders' vintage antique snowmobile show and swap kicked off Friday with an 8 mile ride. Many snowmobilers stated their engines, for this 13th annual ride.

"I think this is a great day to see all these people out here in Rapid River, all this snow 2-3 feet of snow getting ready to go on a Relic vintage ride, said John McGuirk, the Vice President of the Antique Snowmobile Club of America.

Almost 300 riders came out for the ride, a record number. This year, there are some new faces.

This is the first time the Antique Snowmobile Club of America has joined in. This club, works to preserve the history of snowmobiling, by restoring older machines and giving the public an opportunity to see them in action.

"We decided why we can't ride them again? So that's what we are doing, were going to have fun riding them. There's Ski-whizes, and Arctic Cats, and Ski-doos," McGuirk said.

Some traveled a long way.

"It has been a ball so far, just running into old friends again, that I haven't seen, every time I come to Michigan it's always an adventure, said Dave Guenther, the Antique Snowmobile Club of America President.

The event is also fundraiser for local charities and a way for participants to give back to their community.

"It's called a can-a-ride, people bring canned food and cash and that all gets donated to the church, and St. Vincent de Paul, said David Shope, the Rapid River Relic Riders President.

Sleds from across the decades were out on the trails. Riders made their way the Lions Club for lunch together and then it was back to the starting line to warm up around a bonfire. Spirits are high.

"Everybody has fun, makes some new friends, I am so impressed with how many young people I see out here doing this because that's how we need to keep this sport going, said Guenther.

The excitement continues Saturday at the Lions Club. The public is invited out to come see the old snowmobiles, play games and purchase raffles.

For more information visit

.
SPRINGFIELD  Lawmakers return to Springfield for the spring legislative session next week, looking at ways to help stem Illinois population loss.

U.S. Census data shows Illinois led the nation in the past decade in terms of population decline, losing nearly 160,000 in just six years.

Treasurer Michael Frerichs understands people want security and a plan to stabilize the states finances moving forward.

In the Treasurers office were looking for ways to grow our economy, to create opportunities, Frerichs said. If people have good jobs here, they want to stay. Its clear that we have high property taxes and we should do something about that, but people should also be aware that Illinois has had population decline and weve lost congressman ever since the 1920s.

Because of Illinois population decline, demographers have projected the state will lose at least one seat in Congress in the next reapportionment after the 2020 Census.

Frerichs said the states cold winters dont help make Illinois a more attractive destination.

State Sen. Neil Anderson, R-Andalusia, said it was clear that Illinois policies have hindered job growth. As for his Democratic colleagues, he said: behind closed doors a lot of them understand it, but other places I think they just bury their heads in the sand and hope that it all goes away.

Its not going away, Anderson said. The only thing thats going away is people.

Comptroller Susana Mendoza said taxes arent the only issue.

So theres a lot that we can do, Mendoza said. I dont think its all about taxes. I think the quality of life and the ability to have good schools and give people who are graduating from our colleges an incentive to stay in Illinois with good-paying jobs. Those are all part of the equation. Its not like one thing will solve this issue.

State Sen. Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville, agreed that taxes were not the only area where Illinois was an outlier.

Theres a litany of them, Plummer said. Tort reform, workers compensation reform, tax rates, tax structures  until we really address those issues were not going to fix the state of Illinois.
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, the former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have only until January 24, 2020 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX), if they purchased the Companys shares between February 21, 2019, and October 23, 2019, inclusive (the Class Period). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.



What You May Do

If you purchased shares of Baxter and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-bax/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action by overseeing lead counsel with the goal of obtaining a fair and just resolution, you must request this position by application to the Court by January 24, 2020 .

About the Lawsuit

Baxter and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On October 24, 2019, the Company disclosed that it did not expect to file its 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2019 on time due to an internal investigation into certain intra-Company transactions undertaken for the purpose of generating foreign exchange gains or losses[that] resulted in certain misstatements in the Companys previously reported non-operating income related to net foreign exchange gains and that it anticipated restating its financial statements to correct the misstatements. This news caused the price of Baxters shares to decline, injuring shareholders.

The case is Silverman v. Baxter International Inc., et al., 1:19-cv-07786.

About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC

KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nations premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients  including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors  in seeking recoveries for investment losses emanating from corporate fraud or malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California and Louisiana.

To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com.



Contact:
Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

San Francisco, 24 January 2020 : The Report RFID Blood Monitoring Systems Market Analysis by Product (Systems and Tags), by End Use (Blood Banks and Hospital Blood Centers) and Segment Forecasts To 2022

The global RFID blood monitoring systems market is expected to reach USD 511.5 million by 2022, according to a new report by Grand View Research Inc. RFID technology enables automation in data collection, identification, classification and tracking items. Key growth factors attributing for its rapid growth include increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as heart, kidney, lung, liver, and other contagious and non contagious diseases.

RFID tags are attached to blood samples to ensure easy monitoring of the samples in hospitals, blood banks, and diagnostic centers. These RFID tags enable high speed processing of samples without errors and mix-ups. Furthermore, increasing healthcare expenditure, rising demand for preliminary healthcare checkups for early detection and diagnosis are also expected to positively reinforce the market growth in the next seven years.

RFID blood monitoring systems market is segmented on the basis of product into systems and tags. The information stored on the RFID tags is directly scanned and entered into the central data bases. This central data base enables analysis of patient history, type of test performed and the sample used for testing. Technological advancements such as cloud based servers enable easy access to sample information from multiple devices will boost market growth over the next seven years.

RFID blood monitoring systems industry is segmented on the basis of end use as blood banks and hospital blood centers. Blood banks and hospital blood centers are required to have substantial inventory of blood and blood products. RFID tagging is an affordable and systematic inventory management solution for such large scale testing, and storage of blood.

Access Research Report of RFID Blood Monitoring Systems Market @ www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/rfid-blood-monitoring-systems-market

Further key findings from the report suggest:

In 2014, North America held majority of market share of over 50% owing to the presence of advanced healthcare infrastructure, high level collaboration between the industry and stake holders. Furthermore, rapid adoption of technological advanced products to improve patient care, diagnostic efficiency by ensuring sample integrity in storage area and testing are amongst key factors positively reinforcing the growth in the next seven years.

Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest growing region with a CAGR of 23.2% during the next seven years. Key factors attributing to its rapid growth include economic development in countries such as China, Brazil, India, and South Korea. Increasing disease prevalence rates leading to subsequent rise in blood diagnostics and blood inventory management are expected to boost usage rates of RFID blood monitoring systems and tags over the forecast period.

Key players in RFID systems and tags market include Wave Mark, Log Tag, Tagsys RFID Group, Terson Solutions, Solstice Medical LLC, Stanley Innerspace, Logi Tag and Mobile ASpects Inc. Furthermore, with the entry of new players, introduction of technologically advanced, and low cost systems is expected to improve competition over the forecast period.

Browse more reports of this category by Grand View Research at: www.grandviewresearch.com/industry/medical-devices

Grand View Research has segmented the Global RFID Blood Monitoring Systems market on the basis of product and application type

RFID Blood Monitoring Systems Market, Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2012 - 2022)

Systems

Tags

Blood Monitoring Systems Market, End Use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2012 - 2022)

Blood banks

Hospital blood centers

Blood Monitoring Systems Market, Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million) 2012 - 2022)

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

RoW

Access Press Release of RFID Blood Monitoring Systems Market @ www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-rfid-blood-monitoring-systems-market

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.

For More Information: www.grandviewresearch.com
January 23, 2020 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today concluded a visit to Mali that focused on the important and long-standing bilateral relationship between the 2 countries.

Canada and Mali have been close partners for more than 50 years. Canada is one of the primary donors of international assistance to Mali and is actively engaged in efforts to further its peace and security, including through the deployment of military and police expertise to the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). Canada has also been integral in providing essential aeromedical evacuation, transport and logistical support to the mission in Mali.

While in Mali, the Minister met with the President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, as well as with Tiebile Drame, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Amadou Koita, Minister for Malians Living Abroad.

He also met with the leadership of MINUSMA and with Canadian police and military officers currently deployed as part of peacekeeping and stabilization efforts as well as representatives of civil society and of Canadian mining companies.

During his visit, Minister Champagne announced funding for 8 projects totalling more than $78.9 million, as well as the deployment of 2 police trainers to the Alioune Blondin Beye Peacekeeping School in Bamako, Mali.

Minister Champagne will continue to Morocco, where he will meet with Prime Minister Saad al-Din al-Othmani, as well as with Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, to will discuss the strengthening of bilateral relations between the 2 countries in areas of mutual interest such as economic growth, trade, education, gender equality and development.
Advertisement

Muslim and Jewish leaders have today honoured Holocaust victims during what they termed an 'historic' joint visit to the former Nazi German death camp Auschwitz, days ahead of the 75th anniversary of its liberation.

The Saudi head of the Mecca-based Muslim World League (MWL) called the visit to the Holocaust site by some 60 senior Muslim religious and community leaders from across the globe 'a sacred duty and a profound honour.'

MWL secretary general Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa knelt and bowed to the ground as he led Islamic prayers next to the memorial monument honouring the more than one million people - mostly European Jews - that Nazi Germany killed at Auschwitz.

Muslim World League head Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa and American Jewish Committee leader David Harris among those at the infamous gates of the former Nazi German death camp Auschwitz

MWL's Mohammad bin Abdulkarim kneels and bows to the ground as he leads Islamic prayers next to the memorial monument

Dr Mohammad Al-Issa prays alongside other Muslim delegates at the former Nazi concentration camp in Brzezinka, near Oswiecim, Poland

Dr Mohammad Abdulkarim Al-Issa prays next to the memorial monument in the former concentration camp during a 'historic' joint visit

Secretary General of the Muslim World League prays alongside other Muslim leaders next to the memorial monument honouring the more than one million people - mostly European Jews - that Nazi Germany killed at Auschwitz

Secretary General of the Muslim World League Mohammad Al-Issa and CEO of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) David Harris visit the former Nazi German concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz

David Harris, a leader of the New York-based American Jewish Committee (AJC) which organised the visit, said it was the 'most senior Islamic leadership delegation to ever visit Auschwitz or any Nazi German death camp.'

The AJC said that Al-Issa, who is based in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, led a delegation of 62 Muslims, including 25 prominent religious leaders, from some 28 countries during the 'groundbreaking' visit.

At one point, they prayed with their heads pressed on the ground at Birkenau, the largest part of the camp and the most notorious site of Germany's mass murder of European Jews.

The AJC delegation included members of the organization, among them children of Holocaust survivors.

Mohammad Al-Issa visits the former concentration camp alongside Jewish leaders in a poignant trip on Thursday

Dr Mohammad Abdulkarim Al-Issa (front right), Secretary General of the Muslim World League visits Auschwitz with American Jewish Committee (AJC) CEO David Harris (third left)

Secretary General of the Muslim World League Mohammed Al-Issa and CEO of the American Jewish Committee David Harris walk side-by-side

Mohammad Al-Issa walks alongside Muslim and Jewish leaders at the former Nazi concentration camp in Poland

The visit came ahead of memorial ceremonies next Monday at the former Auschwitz camp marking 75 years since the Soviet Red Army liberated it on January 27, 1945

'To be here, among the children of Holocaust survivors and members of the Jewish and Islamic communities, is both a sacred duty and a profound honor,' Al-Issa said. 'The unconscionable crimes to which we bear witness today are truly crimes against humanity. That is to say, a violation of us all, an affront to all of God's children.'

The visit came ahead of memorial ceremonies next Monday at the former Auschwitz camp marking 75 years since the Soviet Red Army liberated it on January 27, 1945.

Auschwitz was the most notorious in a system of death and concentration camps that Nazi Germany operated on territory it occupied across Europe.

Secretary General of the Muslim World League Mohammad Al-Issa carries a candle during his visit to Auschwitz

Mohammad Al-Issa is seen placing a candle at the memorial for the more than one million victims killed at the Nazi death camp

Mohammad Al-Issa called the visit to the Holocaust site by some 60 senior Muslim religious and community leaders from across the globe 'a sacred duty and a profound honour'

Of the six million Jews killed by the Nazis during World War II, a million were murdered at Auschwitz-Birkenau, mostly in its notorious gas chambers, along with tens of thousands of others including Poles, Roma and Soviet prisoners of war.

Operated by the Nazis from 1940 until its liberation in 1945, Auschwitz was part of a vast and brutal network of death and concentration camps across Europe set up as part of Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler's 'Final Solution' of genocide against an estimated 10 million European Jews.

Mohammad Al-Issa speaks during the 'historic' visit on Thursday, marking 75 years since the liberation of the Nazi death camp

Jewish and Muslim leaders stand alongside each other in the former concentration camp. It comes as Saudi Arabia works to be seen abroad as a moderate and modernizing country following decades of adherence to a hard-line interpretation of Islam known as Wahhabism

Once Europe's Jewish heartland, Poland saw 90 percent of its 3.3 million pre-war Jewish citizens killed under Nazi German occupation between 1939 and 1945.

The visit to the concentration camp by MWL delegates comes as Saudi Arabia works to be seen abroad as a moderate and modernizing country following decades of adherence to a hard-line interpretation of Islam known as Wahhabism.

The Muslim World League, under al-Issa's leadership, has embraced the effort.

Across the globe, people marked 75 years since the liberation of the infamous Auschwitz death camp on Thursday. World leaders denounced the rising threat of anti-Semitism and vowed never to forget the lessons of the Holocaust at a solemn ceremony in Jerusalem.

The World Holocaust Forum in Jerusalem, the largest-ever summit of its kind, drew more than 45 world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron, Britain's Prince Charles, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
TORONTOA prominent Canadian aid worker in Nepal has lost his appeal of a conviction for sexually assaulting two children but saw his sentence cut by one year to eight, members of his legal team said on Friday.

Following a hearing that lasted almost four days, the Patan High Court upheld the guilty verdict against Peter Dalglish, an Order of Canada recipient originally from London, Ont.

I am still trying to understand what went wrong, defence lawyer Dennis Edney said from Kathmandu. Its a miscarriage of justice, thats what it is.

Nepalese police alleged Dalglish, 62, had raped two Nepalese boys aged 11 and 14, who were in his mountain home in the village of Kartike, east of the capital. Officers arrested him at home in the early hours of April 8, 2018.

A district court convicted him last June and sentenced him to nine years in prison, despite his denial of any wrongdoing.

Nepalese conservationist Minoj Gautam, who was introduced to Dalglish several years ago by primatologist Jane Goodall, said the Appeal Courts decision was hard to take.

Were just coping with the blow of the order from the High Court, Minoj Gautam said from Kathmandu. We thought we had done very well because we had systematically debunked all the so-called evidence that was produced.

On appeal, Dalglishs lawyers argued his trial had been unfair. They raised inconsistencies in the evidence, what they said were threats and intimidation by investigators, and the fact that neither of the alleged victims or their families had complained about him.

The defence also said both youths had recanted their accusations, and the prosecutors had no solid evidence. They also said the court ignored a ticket and boarding pass that proved Dalglish wasnt where one of the alleged incidents occurred. Other evidence against him included photographs of children published in a book he wrote two decades ago.

For its part, the prosecution focused on testimony from the alleged victims but spent most of its time discussing the sentence.

Dalglish himself gave a touching closing speech to the court about how his daughters picture, showing her topless as a young child, had been used against him, Gautam said. He also described how he had kept up hope despite suffering through a dark period of the past 21 months.

The only reward that he feels like that he has received for helping people ... is this allegation, which has besmirched his reputation beyond recovery, Gautam said.

Ultimately, the two justices hearing the appeal upheld the conviction but cut his sentence to eight years.

Dalglishs legal team is now considering a final appeal to Nepals Supreme Court. However, they are far from optimistic about his chances given the court rulings.

People are not that hopeful, Gautam said. Its a big blow to the trust that we had put in our justice system.

Edney, too, said he had no faith in the Nepalese justice system and noted there was no international treaty to allow Dalglish to serve out his sentence in Canada. He called on the Canadian government to get involved in hopes that a ranking politician in Nepal could effect Dalglishs release.

What needs to be done is for our government to speak to the Nepalese government privately, Edney said.

At the time of Dalglishs arrest, Pushkar Karki, the chief of Nepals Central Investigation Bureau, accused the Canadian of luring children from poor families with promises of education, jobs and trips, then sexually abusing them.

Read more about:
Republicans in Pennsylvania are pushing to gerrymander their states Supreme Court election process. This change would likely disrupt the Democratic majority in the Court in the name of geographic and ideological diversity.

Conversations around diversity in political leaders have long since been relevant, but this one is only the tip of the iceberg for Pennsylvania bipartisanship. Considering state Republicans were accused of unconstitutionally rigging congressional elections in the state and then responded to said accusations with threats to impeach four Democratic justices, we have reasons to speculate about ulterior motives for diversifying the court.

Statewide elections were never an issue when Republicans held the majority before 2002, so what is the motive to change the process? Is public interest still the main priority? These bipartisan schemes tell voters they come second to their leaders separate agendas. The Kavanaugh trials taught us the contentious peril bipartisanship in the courts. Why instigate that?

This controversial measure needs to pass Congress before a public vote, meaning the earliest it could appear is 2021. The measure has already passed the Pennsylvania state house and is being considered in the Senate. Russ Diamond, the measures main sponsor in the House, declined to comment when contacted by The Guardian.

For voters outside of Pennsylvania, the best thing to do is stay informed about legislative changes in (and near) your state, and what they will mean for your vote this year.
HOWELL, MI  Ousted Livingston County District Judge Theresa Brennan will call the Livingston County Jail home for the next six months.

As ordered by visiting Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Paul Cusick, Brennan reported to the jail at 9 a.m., Friday, Jan. 24, to begin her sentence on a perjury conviction, the Livingston County Sheriffs Office confirmed.

Calling probation wholly inadequate, Cusick sentenced Brennan, Jan. 17, to serve the jail term as well as 18 months probation and 200 hours community service.

16 Theresa Brennan sentencing

She was given a week to report to the jail so she could get her affairs in order and so the jail could make necessary accommodations for having a former judge lodged in the facility.

Brennan is being housed in the jail like any other inmate and is not receiving special considerations at this time, Livingston County Undersheriff Jeffrey Warder said.

The jail has standard procedures in place that would modify her lodging arrangement should any issues arise given Brennans former status as a judge, Warder said.

Teflon judges: They wield great power, but are tough to remove

Brennan pleaded guilty Dec. 3 to the felony perjury charge. Charges of misconduct in office and tampering with evidence were dropped as part of a plea agreement, the Michigan Attorney Generals office said in a statement.

On Dec. 19, the state suspended her license to practice law.

The commissions complaint detailed how Brennan lied about her relationship with a Michigan State Police trooper, the lead detective in a double-murder case over which she presided.

The commission also accused Brennan of failing to disclose her relationship with an attorney representing a litigant in a case over which she presided, failing to immediately recuse herself from hearing her own divorce case, tampering with evidence in her own divorce case and lying under oath," according to the Supreme Courts summary of the case.

The defendant in the murder trial, Jerome Kowalski, was sentenced to life in prison, but now faces a new trial this month.

An analysis by The Ann Arbor News/MLive explored how difficult it is to remove judges from office in Michigan. The review of a decade of JTC annual reports and 2018 voting records shows misbehaving judges are more likely to face a private scolding than removal.

Elections, too, are an unlikely avenue of ousting a sitting judge -- Brennan was re-elected twice despite multiple grievances filed against her.

MORE:

Michigan quietly scolded biased, absent judges, records show

Should Michigan stop electing judges? Secretary of State, Supreme Court justice weigh in

6 Michigan judges removed in the last decade
Spirits giant Diageo is expected to post rising profits despite the impact of US whisky tariffs (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Spirits giant Diageo is set to post higher half-year profits and sales as investors wait to learn the impact of US tariffs on its whisky brands.

The Talisker and Singleton maker saw its Scotch whisky exports to the US hit with a 25% tariff on single malt at the end of last year.

The impact of the tax on Diageo will be revealed when it issues its first-half trading update on Thursday January 30.

Alcohol has been one of the areas targeted with additional tariffs in recent trade clashes, so investors will be keen to hear Diageo has weathered the storm so far, said Hargreaves Lansdown equity analyst Nicholas Hyett.

The group exports Scotch whisky around the world, has invested heavily in Asia, and been growing its US bourbon business.

However, shareholders will hope that the companys raft of blended whisky brands, including Johnny Walker and Buchanans, will help to reduce the impact, as these were exempt from Octobers wave of tariffs.

Expand Close Diageo owns gin brands such as Gordons and Tanqueray (Diageo/PA) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Diageo owns gin brands such as Gordons and Tanqueray (Diageo/PA)

Despite the potential impact of the US governments taxation, analysts have forecast 4.2% organic net sales growth for the six months to December.

They also expect organic operating profit growth of 4% for the period, rising to 6% by the end of the financial year.

In September, Diageo hailed a good start to the financial year but warned investors that it is not immune to global trade tensions.

The Guinness owner saw operating profits jump by 9% to 4 billion in its last full financial year.

Investors will also be keen to see how drinks trends have been progressing over the six months and whether Diageos focus on premium brands is bearing fruit.

Premiumisation has been a key trend in drinks for a number of years but Fever-Trees disappointing festive trading update may raise questions over long-term growth for premium brands.

However, Mr Hyett said Diageos more global and more diversified business may help to protect it from any slowdown in the trend.
New Delhi:

Fuel Rates Today: The prices of petrol and diesel prices witnessed a downward trend for the second consecutive day on Friday, January 24. According to the Indian Oil website, the petrol rates were lowered by up to 23 paise while diesel prices were slashed by up to 27 paise across major metro cities of the country.

After todays rate revision, petrol rates are Rs 74.43 per litre in Delhi, Rs 80.03 per litre in Mumbai, Rs 77.04 per litre in Kolkata, and Rs 77.31 per litre in Chennai, respectively. On the other hand, the diesel prices in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai remained at Rs 67.61, Rs 70.88, Rs 69.97, and Rs 71.43 per litre, respectively.

In Noida, petrol is retailing at Rs 75.80 a litre, while diesel price is Rs 67.88 a litre. The price of petrol in Gurugram is Rs 74 a litre while diesel was selling at Rs 66.65 a litre.

India is 84 per cent dependant on imports to meet its oil needs and any spike in global prices has a direct bearing on its economy. Not just imports but even domestic crude oilwhich forms the raw material for making petrol, diesel and other petroleum productsis priced according to international benchmarks. Middle East accounts for more than two-thirds of the countrys oil imports, with Iraq and Saudi Arabia being the top suppliers.

Why Petrol, Diesel Prices Change Every Day?

The fuel prices are in India are revised daily. Petrol and diesel prices are revised every day at 06:00 am to sync it with the variation in global oil prices. Oil marketing companies (OMC) review the global fuel prices and decide petrol and diesel daily. Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum release the new rates at 6 am every morning. Generally, when international crude oil prices gain, prices in India move higher. Other factors also impact the price of fuel like rupee to US dollar exchange rate, cost of crude oil, global cues, demand for fuel, and so on.

Why Fuel Prices Differ In Every City?

The price of fuel includes excise duty, value-added tax (VAT), and dealer commission. As VAT varies from state to state, the price of fuel is different in every city.

For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
The second US case of deadly coronavirus has been confirmed in Chicago, Illinois as dozens get tested across the country, including in New York, health officials say.

On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the patient is a 60-year-old woman who traveled to Wuhan, China - where the virus originated - in late December.

She arrived at O'Hare International Airport on January 13, meaning it has been 11 days since she returned to the US, but did not begin experiencing symptoms until several days later.

Health officials say the woman appears to be 'well' and in stable condition. She is in isolation, but it wasn't revealed which hospital she is in.

Meanwhile, the city of Wuhan is on lockdown with no one allowed to leave the city either by plane or bus

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEOS

Health officials revealed on Friday that they are testing 63 people in 22 states

Other developments in the outbreak include:

Chinese New Year celebrations planned for this weekend have been canceled in Beijing and Hong Kong

Japan confirmed its second case and a fifth patient has been diagnosed in Thailand

Footage has emerged reportedly showing military personnel guarding a train station

Videos from inside hospitals show patients crammed into overcrowded corridors and laid on the floor

Photos have emerged of Chinese construction workers starting urgent building of a new hospital in Wuhan

It comes as health officials reveal they are testing 63 people in 22 states, including four people who were under isolation in New York state.

Doctors also announced that another 43 people came into contact with the first confirmed US patient - a man in his 30s - who is being quarantined in Washington state

So far, 945 people have fallen ill since December, mostly in China. As of Friday, 26 people have died.

The second US case of coronavirus has been confirmed in a 60-year-old woman who traveled to Chicago, Illinois, from Wuhan, China - where the virus originated. Pictured: Passengers wearing masks arrive at O'Hare International Airport on Friday

Celebrations scheduled for the Lunar New Year this weekend have been canceled in Beijing and Hong Kong. Pictured: Medical workers cheer for each other in the ICU of Zhongnan Hospital in Wuhan on Friday

Police holding guns wear face masks outside the Beijing railway station this morning. The virus has so far spread to the USA, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan

Unverified video posted on Twitter appears to show a military vehicle on the streets of Wuhan, where roads have been closed and public transport stopped

Preliminary research suggests the virus was passed to humans from snakes or bats. But, this week, Chinese health officials reported that some cases have been caused by human-to-human transmission. Pictured, left and right: The coronavirus strain

In a tweet on Friday, President Donald Trump thanked President Xi Jinping and China for its 'transparency' in fighting coronavirus

"In 20 years of working on epidemic preparedness, I can't say that I've been more concerned than I am about the current virus."



The CEO of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations says "most global public health leaders are very concerned" about the coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/wxv28BKBVz  Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) January 24, 2020

In a tweet on Friday, President Donald Trump thanked President Xi Jinping and China for its 'transparency' in fighting coronavirus.

'China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus. The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency. It will all work out well. In particular, on behalf of the American People, I want to thank President Xi!' Trump wrote.

'In 20 years of working on epidemic preparedness, I can't say that I've been more concerned than I am about the current virus,' Dr Richard Hatchett, CEO of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations in Davos, Switzerland, told Channel 4.

FIRST CASES REPORTED IN EUROPE On Friday, France became the first European country to report cases of coronavirus. The first patient is a 48-year-old man who had traveled to Wuhan and arrived back in France on Wednesday. He is currently in isolation at a hospital in Bordeaux. The second patient is a man hospitalized in Paris. 'We don't have the history of this patient yet, but we know that his tests came back positive,' Agnes Buzyn, the health minister, told reporters. She said she believes France was the first in Europe to report cases 'because we were very quick in establishing the test and identifying the cases.' Advertisement

He explained that the current virus can cause symptoms ranging from mild to severe, so people who may not know they're infected may be spread the disease.

'The problem is that people who have very mild illness in the middle of flu season...may not even realize that they have this virus and they may continue to move around, they may continue to spread the infection.'

Two people from Minnesota and three people from Michigan are currently being test for coronavirus.

The patients from Michigan have reportedly agreed to remain in isolation until their tests results return, reported the Detroit Free Press.

Also being monitored are two college students, one from Texas A&M University and another from Tennessee Tech University.

For the Texas student, Brazos County Health District officials said the male had 'mild' symptoms that resembled the coronavirus and had traveled to Wuhan recently.

Results of tests will be announced to the public if the patient tests positive for coronavirus.

Officials said the patient is currently being kept isolated at home and that it is safe for student to attend classes.

'This patient did travel to the area of concern in China within the last 14 days and thankfully had mild upper respiratory symptoms, and he was improving,' said Dr Eric Wilke with the Brazos County Health Department.

'I believe the time the patient presented at the emergency department, it was more out of concern,' said Dr Eric Wilke with the Brazos County Health Department.

WHEN ARE PATIENTS CONTAGIOUS? CDC officials are not 100 percent clear on when coronavirus patients are contagious but have said they suspect an incubation period of two to 14 days from exposure. Officials have warned that patients are most contagious after they begin showing symptoms but the disease can spread at a 'much lower rate' when asymptomatic. In the case of the Washington state man, experts say he was unlikely to have transmitted the disease to anyone because he sought treatment immediately after showing symptoms. Advertisement

Meanwhile, the Tennessee Department of Health said it decided to test the student because he or she had 'very mild symptoms' and had a recent concerning travel history that met the criteria for testing.

No results have been confirmed and the student is being kept in isolation.

Los Angeles International Airport was also on high alert after a passenger who arrived on Wednesday was sent to hospital after he or she appeared to be ill.

The unnamed passenger arrived on an American Airlines flight from Mexico City around 7pm, reported CBS Los Angeles.

However, it remains unclear if the passenger is from Mexico City, or if they originated from another city.

Several people in California, particularly in Alameda County and the Bay Area, are also being examined to see if they have the virus that resembles SARS.

On Friday, North Carolina's Department of Health and Human Services also reported that it is investigating a case.

The suspected patient arrived at Raleigh-Durham International Airport on January 23 after having traveled to Wuhan but not to the seafood market to which many early cases have been linked, according to a news release.

News footage from China shows a patient being wheeled out of a Wuhan hospital on a stretcher by medics wearing protective clothing and masks

An unverified video posted on Twitter claims to show members of Central Theater Command  a division of the People's Liberation Army  standing guard outside a train station in Wuhan

A man sprays disinfectant on a train in Seoul, South Korea. South Korea has so far confirmed one case of the coronavirus

CORONAVIRUS: WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR What is this virus? The virus has been identified as a new type of coronavirus. Coronaviruses are a large family of pathogens, most of which cause mild respiratory infections such as the common cold. But coronaviruses can also be deadly. SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, is caused by a coronavirus and killed hundreds of people in China and Hong Kong in the early 2000s. Can it kill? Yes. 25 people have so far died after testing positive for the virus. What are the symptoms? Its symptoms are typically a fever, cough and trouble breathing, but some patients have developed pneumonia, a potentially life-threatening infection that causes inflammation of the small air sacs in the lungs. People carrying the novel coronavirus may only have mild symptoms, such as a sore throat. They may assume they have a common cold and not seek medical attention, experts fear. How is it detected? The virus's genetic sequencing was released by scientists in China to the rest of the world to enable other countries to quickly diagnose potential new cases. This helps other countries respond quickly to disease outbreaks. To contain the virus, airports are detecting infected people with temperature checks. But as with every virus, it has an incubation period, meaning detection is not always possible because symptoms have not appeared yet. How did it start and spread? The first cases identified were among people connected to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan. Cases have since been identified elsewhere which could have been spread through human-to-human transmission. What are countries doing to prevent the spread? Countries in Asia have stepped up airport surveillance. They include Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines. Australia and the US are also screening patients for a high temperature, and the UK announced it will screen passengers returning from Wuhan. Is it similar to anything we've ever seen before? Experts have compared it to the 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The epidemic started in southern China and killed more than 700 people in mainland China, Hong Kong and elsewhere Advertisement

In light of recent developments, the US announced it is pulling most of its diplomats and their families from the consulate general in Wuhan and the State Department issued its strongest travel advisory warning of Level 4: Do Not Travel reserved for countries such as North Korea and Iran.

The very first patient, who is being treated in Washington state, is also being kept in quarantine at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett, outside of Seattle.

The unidentified male, who is his 30s and lives in Snohomish County, had traveled by himself from Wuhan but did not visit any of the markets at the epicenter of the outbreak.

He reportedly had no symptoms upon arrival in the US the virus but, after reading about the outbreak online and developing symptoms, he contacted his doctor.

The patient allegedly sought treatment on January 16 and was tested the following day.

Health officials said he was diagnosed with the virus on Monday, January 20, and is currently in stable condition, but still in quarantine.

Authorities have emphasized that risk to the public is low and said there was no reason to panic.

To limit the spread of the virus the man is currently being treated by a few staff members and a robot.

The robot has a stethoscope attached to take the man's vitals and a large screen so doctors can communicate with him, Dr George Diaz, chief of the infectious disease division at the Providence Regional Medical Center, told CNN.

'The nursing staff in the room move the robot around so we can see the patient in the screen, talk to him,' Dr Diaz told the network.

It remains unclear when the patient will be discharged but the CDC will make the final call on that matter.

'They're looking for ongoing presence of the virus. They're looking to see when the patient is no longer contagious,' Dr Diaz told CNN.

According to The Associated Press, nurses providing care to the patient had previously trained for Ebola patients.

Their protective gear includes hoods with plastic face shields and respirators that circulate filtered air.

All disposable gloves and gowns, as well as linens, are being bagged until the CDC provides instructions on how to dispose of them.

'We have been preparing for this since 2015,' Robin Addison, one of the nurses and co-leader of the hospital's biocontainment team told AP.

Providence Regional Medical Center is one of approximately 150 US hospitals that can test patients with suspected contagious diseases that is provided training money by Congress.

The city of Wuhan is currently on lockdown, with no planes or trains allowed to leave the city and transportation within the city - including buses, subway and ferries - suspended. Pictured: A medical worker checks on a patient in the ICU of Zhongnan Hospital in Wuhan on Friday

So far, there are more than 900 cases - more than 800 of which are in China - worldwide, reaching as far as the US

First reported in China in December 2019, the strain, known as 2019-nCov, is believed to have emerged from illegally traded wildlife at a seafood market in Wuhan, a city 700 miles south of the capital of Beijing.

While preliminary research suggests the virus was passed to humans from snakes, Chinese health officials reported this week that some cases have been caused by human-to-human transmission increasing the risk of it spreading.

In one example, one doctor and 13 nurses who were treating a neurosurgery patient unknown to be carrying the virus were all infected by it.

Aside from China, cases have been confirmed in Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Nepal, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and the US.





Cases are also suspected in Mexico, Colombia, the Philippines, the UK and Australia.

The first European cases were confirmed on Friday with two people in France stricken down.

According to health minister, Agnes Buzyn, one of the cases is a 48-year-old man who traveled to Wuhan and is currently hospitalized in Bordeaux.

The other patient traveled to China as well, but it is unclear where. He or she is currently hospitalized in Paris.

Experts say the difficulty of containing the coronavirus is that so many patients have mild, cold-like symptoms and don't realize they have the infection  but it can quickly turn deadly

Other developments in the outbreak today include:

Chinese New Year celebrations planned for this weekend have been canceled in Beijing and Hong Kong

An estimated 897 people around the world have been infected with coronavirus and 26 have died

Japan confirmed its second case and a fifth patient has been diagnosed in Thailand

Footage has emerged reportedly showing military personnel guarding a train station

Videos from inside hospitals show patients crammed into overcrowded corridors and laid on the floor

Photos have emerged of Chinese construction workers starting urgent building of a new hospital in Wuhan

The Wuhan coronavirus is believed to be milder than its cousin, SARS, and it takes longer for symptoms to appear.

Almost all deaths of the Wuhan coronavirus occurred among older males who had pre-existing conditions, although one death occurred in a 36-year-old man.

There is no cure for the new virus or vaccine to prevent it, and the National Institutes of Health says research to develop a vaccine is in 'very preliminary stages.'

US STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS 'DO NOT TRAVEL' TO WUHAN

The US Department of State has issued its highest travel warning for Wuhan, advising Americans to not travel to the region.

Late on Thursday, officials update its warning from level 2, which means to exercise increased caution, to level 4, which suggests 'do not travel.'

This puts the city of 11 million people on par with countries such as Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, North Korea, Somalia, South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen.

'There is an ongoing outbreak of pneumonia first identified in Wuhan, China, caused by a novel (new) coronavirus,' the advisory on the department's website reads.

Medical workers at Zhongnan Hospital are pictured in protective gear today, Friday January 24

Workers in protective clothing scan the temperatures of patients arriving at Xianning North railway station, close to Wuhan, on the eve of the Chinese New Year celebrations. Pictured today, January 24

'In an effort to contain the novel coronavirus, the Chinese authorities have suspended air and rail travel in the area around Wuhan.'

China, as a whole, remains on a level 2 alert.

Similarly, the CDC issued its highest travel warning for Wuhan, China due to concerns over the new, mysterious coronavirus.

On Thursday, the agency updated its warning from a level 2 alert which means 'practice enhanced precautions' to level 3, which urges Americans to 'avoid unessential travel.'

Public health entry screenings are currently taking place Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, John F Kennedy International Airport in New York and San Francisco International Airport.

NEW YORK CITY MAYOR SAYS CORONAVIRUS IS COMING 'SOON'

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said officials are 'acting on the assumption' that someone in the Big Apple will eventually be diagnosed with coronavirus.

'We in New York City, take this very, very seriously,' de Blasio said at the Office of Emergency Management headquarters in Brooklyn on Friday.

'There's no known cases in New York City, [but] we have seen a spread that is so rapid now...that we have to act on the assumption that there will unfortunately be cases sooner rather than later in New York City,' he said.

Currently, there are no confirmed cases in New York, although four people are in isolation being tested.

One test has come back negative and three are pending results.

Two cases have confirmed in the US, one in Everett, Washington and one in Chicago, Illinois - both of whom traveled to Wuhan before going back to the US.

De Blasio added that all hospitals in the city and healthcare providers are being trained - or have been trained - in how to stop symptoms of the virus.

CALIFORNIA TODDLER HOSPITALIZED WITH DIFFERENT STRAIN OF CORONAVIRUS

A three-year-old girl from California has been hospitalized for more than a month with coronavirus, but it is a different and less severe strain than the one that has killed at least 26 in China.

Aliyah Cardoza, three (pictured), of Azusa, California, has been hospitalized for more than a month with the NL63 strain of the coronavirus

Aliyah Cardoza, from Azusa, was hospitalized on December 23 with what appeared to be common flu symptoms including a fever and a cough.

But, after running several tests, doctors soon diagnosed her with coronavirus, Mycoplasma, acute respiratory syndrome and pneumonia.

Aliyah is currently the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with a breathing tube and a chest tube, according to her mother, Gloria Aguilera.

The strain of coronavirus Aliyah has is known as NL63.

The NL63 strain is different than the 2019-nCoV strain, also known as the Novel Coronavirus, whcih has killed 26 people and sickened hundreds in China and abroad, leading the country to send three cities into lockdown to stop it from spreading.

Read the full story here.

LOCKDOWN EXPANDS IN CHINA AS CORONAVIRUS SPREADS

China expanded its lockdown on Friday to more than 36 million people in an attempt to stop the spread of the deadly coronavirus.

Transportation in and out of Wuhan has been shut down since Wednesday, but at least 12 other cities in the Hubei province have also been shut down.

According to the Associated Press, the population under lockdown is bigger than that of London, Moscow, New York and Paris combined.

In addition, several popular tourist destinations have been shut down including Beijing's Forbidden City, Shanghai Disneyland and other temples.

Lunar New Year celebrations have also been canceled in Beijing and Hong Kong.

CHINA SAYS IT PLANS TO BUILD 1,000-BED HOSPITAL IN 10 DAYS

On Friday, China announced plans to build a 1,000-bed hospital in just 10 days that will be solely dedicated to treating coronavirus patients.

The hospital, which will be in Wuhan - the epicenter of the outbreak - is being modeled after Xiaotangshan Hospital, a temporary medical center that was built in Beijing to treat patients of the SARS outbreak from 2002 to 2004.

The new hospital is expected to be completed and open on February 3.

It comes after dozens of videos have circulated on social media of overcrowded hospitals where patients line hallways from wall to wall.

On China's Twitter-like platform, Weibo, dozens said they or family members had gone to hospitals to get tested but were turned away because staff said they were at capacity.

According to the Associated Press, at least eight hospitals in Wuhan have asked for donations of protective medical gear such as masks, googles and gowns.

Wuhan authorities announced on Friday that it plans to build a new 1,000-bed hospital in just 10 days that will be dedicated to treating coronavirus patients (pictured)

EXPERTS FEAR IT'S TOO LATE FOR A LOCKDOWN OF CHINA

China has been taking unprecedented measures in an effort to stop the new coronavirus from spreading, but experts fear it may be too late.

On Thursday, authorities announced that planes, trains and buses leaving Wuhan were canceled. Tollways on roads out of the city were also shut down.

Additionally, all public transportation within the city would be suspended, including buses, subways and ferries.

China has also closed several tourism attractions and cultural sites including Beijing's Forbidden City, which saw 19 million visitors last year.

City authorities also canceled Lunar New Year events in the nation's capital as well as temple fairs 'to strengthen prevention and support'.

With the deadly virus reaching so many cities in China and so many countries abroad in such a short time frame, many fear measures came too little too late.

'I think we have passed the golden period of control and prevention,' Guan Yi, an expert on viruses at Hong Kong University, told Agence France-Presse.

Yi, who left Wuhan ahead of the lockdown, said many people left ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, which began Friday.

He says many residents could have been incubating the virus 'on their way out of Wuhan.'
Cain Jackson (L) and Nasir Patrice (R) were both victims of knife-crime (PA/GETTY/WARWICKSHIRE POLICE)

Knife crime is on the rise across England and Wales - with one area experiencing a staggering increase of more than 50% in the last year.

According to a new crime report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), police-recorded offences involving a knife or sharp instrument rose to 44,771 - up from 41,858 cases in the previous year.

Police recorded offences in England and Wales have risen from 41,858 to 44,771 cases in a year (GETTY)

The document revealed that Warwickshire saw the highest increase in overall knife-related crime, with a rise of 52%.

It follows the death of Nasir Patrice, who was stabbed to death on Tachbrook Road in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire earlier in January.

Undated handout family handout photo issued by Warwickshire Police of 17-year-old Nasir Patrice,who was fatally stabbed in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire in January (PA)

In October last year, Cain Jackson, 24, was found dead in the street from stab injuries in Rugby.

Knife crime across England and Wales hit a record high in the year to September 2019 - up by 7% on the 12 months previous.

Cain Jackson, 24, was fatally stabbed in the street in Rugby in October 2019 (WARWICKSHIRE POLICE)

The change in the number of offences involving knives or sharp instruments in the latest year varied by police force.

The area that recorded the highest number of police-reported incidents was the West Midlands.

Read more:

The 360: How to stop Britains knife crime epidemic

Heartbreaking photo of toddler pouring earth on fathers grave in bid to stop knife crime

Government's chicken box knife crime campaign branded 'ridiculous' and 'racist'

London saw little change with a 2% increase, compared with a 7% rise in the previous year.

Overall knife incidents also rose by 44% in Suffolk and 48% in West Mercia.

The new figures show the West Midlands recorded a 17 percent rise in crimes involving a knife or sharp object (GETTY)

Meanwhile, West Yorkshire saw a decrease of 8% in the number of overall knife related crimes reported to police.

Last week, data released by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) showed the number of knife crimes resulting in a conviction or caution was the highest in a decade.

There were 22,286 knife and offensive weapon offences formally dealt with by the criminal justice system in England and Wales in the year ending September 2019, according to the figures.

Dangerous weapons handed in to the police during a weapons armistice - United Kingdom.

Helen Ross from the Office for National Statistics Centre for Crime and Justice said of the : In the last year there has been no change in overall levels of crime, however, this hides variations in different types of crime.

Story continues

For example, there have been continued rises in fraud, vehicle offences and robbery, and decreases in burglary and homicide.

Although the number of offences involving a knife has continued to increase, there is a mixed picture across police forces and overall levels of violence remain steady. We have also seen the number of homicides where a knife or sharp instrument was used decrease by a fifth, driven by falls in London.

---Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK---
A 38-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of explosives offences as a bomb squad joined police searching homes in Bradford.

Counter Terrorism Policing North East searched three properties after the 'discovery of some items' on Sutton Avenue.

A CTPE spokeswoman said: 'A man from Bradford has been arrested as part of investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing North East earlier today.'

A man, 38, has been arrested on suspicion of explosives offences. Three properties were raided (pictured) after the 'discovery of some items' on Sutton Avenue, Bradford, earlier today

He was arrested on suspicion of explosives offences and has been taken to a local police station for questioning.

The arrest was 'pre-planned and intelligence-led', according to the spokeswoman.

'Following the discovery of some items at one of the properties in Bradford, EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) have been called to provide specialist advice.

The man has been taken to a local police station for questioning after the raids (pictured). Meanwhile a number of local residents were evacuated as a precautionary measure before the street's cordon was lifted at 3.30pm

'A number of local residents have been evacuated as a precautionary measure while examinations are ongoing.'

Nearby school Hanson Academy was put on lock-down after bomb disposal experts cordoned off the main road.

Soldiers of the Royal Logistics Corps EOD team appeared at the scene.

The incident is thought to have occurred around 11am, according to an eyewitness.

The police cordon was lifted at 3.30pm and residents returned to their homes. .
The Shiv Sena on Friday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government for the drop in Indias rank in the democracy index. In an editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamana, the party alleged there had been attempts to muzzle dissenting voices and this is one of the key reasons for India slipping in the 2019 Democracy Indexs global ranking.

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) released a report earlier this week on the World Democracy Index where India slipped 10 places to 51st position in the 2019 Democracy Indexs global rankings. The report, which ranked over 160 countries, cited erosion of civil liberties in the country as the primary cause of the slip in rank.

Now there is a slide in [Indias] global democracy index ranking, the editorial said. It added, This means how India has slipped on the economic standards on a global level, the standard of democracy has also gone down.

Citing issues like scrapping of Article 370, that provided special status to Jammu and Kashmir, new citizenship law CAA and the proposed NRC, measures which have witnessed protests, the paper said the country had witnessed a churning in the last one year.

In the last one year, the country has witnessed churning over scrapping of Article 370, CAA, NRC, etc. There have been public protests, students protests. JNU-type attacks are used to muzzle the dissenting voices.This is the reason India slipped to 51st position in the Democracy Index, the editorial said.

The editorial asked if the ruling party at the Centre and its supporters would accept the current situation.

Even if the government rejects the [EIU] report, does the ruling party have an answer as to why the country was witnessing a slide, from economic field to democracy? the Sena asked the BJP.

The Sena and the BJP, which had been alliance partners for decades, had broken up last year after the Maharashtra elections. Uddhav Thackeray took over as the chief minister after a brief spell of central rule in the state with two unlikely partners, Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
The mastermind behind the railway e-ticketing scam, Hamid Ashraf who is also being hunted by IB, NIA and RAW  wrote a sensational message to the DG of Railway Protection Force (RPF) listing out information on 25 things which allegedly expose the IRCTC's security system. In a conversation with Zee news, the DG of RPF Arun Kumar confirmed that he has received such a message and now the validity of the message is being investigated.

In the message, Hamid Ashraf wrote that ANMS (the illegal railway e-ticketing software) will be closed forever on January 25 2020, along with the security loopholes of IRCTC portal because unlike Facebook and Google, IRCTC does not have its own security system. He also challenged the DG that after ANMS is shut down will they be able to stop the sale of other illegal software.

Hamid urged Kumar to fix IRCTC's security system which would help ordinary people to book tickets. He suggested that one user should be permitted on one IP address.

Hamid also offered to work with the security team of IRCTC and asked for a salary of Rs 2 lakh.

Live TV

He also suggested that the anti-dumping method should be used which will not allow the IOS and Android software to crack and that ports scanning system will prevent IRCTC from going into bad traffic. He instructed that IRCTC should have its own security system and upload codes on CRIS that will prevent other software from working and create a new black e-ticketing record.

The message also said that the railway system is quite old, which they will understand after 10 years, India needs a cyber army and how ready are the railways for it.

He informed that he had alerted CRIS about the shortcomings of IRCTC several times, but not much attention was given. In the end, he admitted his mistake, he said he will not tamper with the railway software again.

He informed the police that he was with his girlfriend and that he was happy with his life.

The e-ticketing racket was busted by the RPF on January 21 it was investigated to have its roots in Dubai, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The racket is suspected to have generated revenue of Rs 10-15 crore per month, according to Kumar.

The kingpin of the scam, Hamid Ashraf is a resident of Basti district in Uttar Pradesh, and is currently based in Dubai and believed to be operating the fake e-ticketing racket from there. He had been earlier arrested by the CBI.

Hamid, who is also a software developer, is alleged to be involved in the bombing of a Gonda school in 2019, he added.
Tesco has banned all shrink-wrapped multipacks across its own-brand and branded tinned food in a move that will eliminate 350 million tonnes of plastic a year.

The scheme  the first of its kind by a major UK retailer  has seen the supermarket giant join forces with canned food firms including Heinz, John West, Princes and Green Giant to remove all plastic-wrapped multipacks and replace them with multi-buy deals.

The new guidelines, which come into force on Monday, apply to all canned food, including household favourites such as baked beans, sweetcorn, soup and tinned tomatoes.

While Tesco will not place any new orders for plastic-wrapped multipacks, it will continue to sell remaining stock.

The company has confirmed that the pledge will see 67m pieces of plastic removed from its stores, taking it another step nearer its aim of cutting out one billion pieces from its own products by the end of the year.

According to Tesco, more than 40 per cent of its customers buy tinned multipacks, with 183,000 sold across its stores every day.

More than 100 million Heinz products alone are sold in plastic-wrapped multipacks each year through Tesco.

Heinz said it is looking at similar initiatives with other retailers, estimating that if it could be expanded across the entire market, it would help reduce CO2 emissions by as much as 3,300 tonnes.

Dave Lewis, Tesco chief executive, said: We are removing all unnecessary and non-recyclable plastic from Tesco.

As part of this work, removing plastic-wrapped multipacks from every Tesco store in the UK will cut 350 tonnes of plastic from the environment every year and customers will still benefit from the same great value multipack price.

The initiative will see 67m pieces of plastic removed from Tesco stores

Georgiana de Noronha, president of Kraft Heinz in Northern Europe, said: While we know we have more to do, this initiative is good news for the environment, and for the millions of people who enjoy Heinz varieties every day, as theyll still be able to benefit from the same great value for money our multipacks provide.

At the end of last year, Tesco removed all hard-to-recycle materials from its own-brand products and is working with suppliers to do the same.

The group has also warned 1,500 suppliers that packaging will be a deciding factor on which products are sold in its stores.

Ways to reduce your single-use plastic Show all 6 1 /6 Ways to reduce your single-use plastic Ways to reduce your single-use plastic Plastic water bottle for a reusable beverage container Instead of continually buying drinks in plastic bottles you can switch to a reusable beverage container and reduce your single-use of plastics. Selfridges' Bobble 550ml filtered water bottle costs 12.95 and includes a replaceable carbon filter that filters water as you drink, removing chlorine and organic contaminants in the process. You can buy it from selfridges.com Getty/Selfridges Ways to reduce your single-use plastic Coffee cup for a Travel coffee mug It is estimated that the UK throws away around 2.5bn disposable coffee cups a year and almost all are incinerated, exported or sent to landfill because their plastic lining makes them expensive to recycle. The new Latte Levy in the UK means there will now be a 25p charge on every disposable coffee cup bought by consumers. Pret A Manger announced that it will double its discount to 50p in an effort to reduce waste. By swapping to a reusable cup you will be able to help cut the cost of disposable coffee cups. This Keep Cup Brew, cork edition, travel cup in Fika is just one of the many available to purchase. It fits under most commercial coffee machines, is splash-proof and ideal for transporting your coffee whilst on the go. You can buy this particular cup for 19.99 from trouva.com. Getty/Trouva Ways to reduce your single-use plastic Plastic bags for reusable cloth bags An eco-friendly alternative to an ordinary plastic bag is this lightweight shopping bag. It comes with a practical pillowcase pocket and features a black and white ink splatter design. Convenient and durable it also has a matte black spring clip to attach it where you need it. You can buy this from paperchase.co.uk for just 5.00. Getty/Paperchase Ways to reduce your single-use plastic Coffee pods for a pot of coffee Cut your plastic coffee pod usage with a cafetiere. This Barista and Co, 3 Cup Gold Cafetiere, from Habitat offers a simple way to brew and serve in style. Made from borosilicate glass and plated stainless steel with an ergonomically designed handle, the cafetiere is built to last and a pleasure to use; a fine metal filter produces a smooth coffee that retains its natural oils. You can buy it for 30 from habitat.co.uk. Getty/Habitat Ways to reduce your single-use plastic Balloons for eco-friendly decorations Instead of using plastic balloons at your party try swapping them for some eco-friendly bunting. Handmade in Scotland, the bunting comprises thirteen brightly coloured pennants which spell out the words 'Happy Birthday', and uses lettering that has been printed onto 100 per cent recycled card. Included is 11ft of natural jute twine to hang the pennants on, and everything comes packaged in a cello bag. You can buy this bunting from Little Silverleaf on notonthehighstreet.com for 12.50. Getty/notonthehighstreet Ways to reduce your single-use plastic Plastic straw for a reusable bamboo one Swap plastic straws for reusable ones made of bamboo. These straws are handmade in Bali and crafted by local balinese artisans. Made of organic and natural materials they are the best eco-friendly alternative to plastic, steel or glass straws. You can purchase them from Bali Boo on Amazon.co.uk for 13.99. PA/Bali Boo/Amazon

Environmental organisation Greenpeace has praised Tesco for its decision and urged other retailers to follow suit.

Its great that Tesco are getting rid of multipack plastic packaging thats completely pointless and are also pressuring their branded suppliers like Heinz and Branston to do the same Fiona Nicholls, ocean plastics campaigner for Greenpeace UK, told the BBC.

This is such an easy, common sense first step that all supermarkets should have done this long ago. We urge retailers to end the nonsense of double-plastic packaging on all products straight away, and be bolder by introducing reusable and refillable packaging.
Renowned French chef Claude Bosi, who holds two Michelin stars and heads a top restaurant in London, has been refused permanent residence in the UK despite having lived in the country for 23 years.

Mr Bosi posted a letter from the Home Office informing him of their decision to refuse his application, which he made in October 2019.

Expressing his disappointment, Mr Bosi wrote on Instagram: I have been in England for 23 years and today they have sent me this.

I love Britain, I considered until today like home but they just told me after 23 years of tax [and] VAT paid Im not welcome anymore.

He added a hashtag #thankyoubrexit and tagged Boris Johnson, asking: Did I do something wrong?

Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes Show all 8 1 /8 Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes Conservative party leader Boris Johnson drives a JCB through a fake wall POOL/AFP via Getty Images Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes PA Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes AFP via Getty Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes PA Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes REUTERS Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes PA Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes AFP via Getty Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes AFP via Getty

The rejection comes just a week before Brexit is to take place on 31 January.

Mr Bosi is the latest in a string of high-profile individuals within the UK restaurant industry who have had negative experiences when applying for the EU settlement scheme that launched in August 2019.

Under the scheme, EU citizens and their relatives, as well as individuals from the European Economic Area, must apply to confirm their immigration status so they can live and work in the UK after Brexit.

Polish chef Damian Wawrzyniak, who cooked for the royal family and at the London Olympics, was only granted pre-settled status, which expires after five years, after he applied in August.

In September 2019, restaurateur and First Dates star Fred Sirieix was asked to provide proof of five years continuous residence in the UK, despite his passport details showing he had lived in the UK for 27 years.

Mr Sirieix was contacted by the Home Office within 12 hours of tweeting about the request and told a mistake had been made.

He was emailed confirmation of settled status shortly after, reportedly prompting concerns that the Home Office was prioritising help for high profile EU nationals to mitigate negative publicity.

Richard Bertinet, a French baker who founded the Bertinet Kitchen Cookery School and was hailed as a food champion by the BBC in 2010, was also reportedly turned down for permanent settled status even though he has lived in the UK for 31 years.

Mr Bosi moved to the UK in his early twenties and quickly gained recognition for his work. Under his leadership, Overton Grange in Shropshire and his own restaurant, Hibiscus, won a Michelin star each.

He is now the chef-patron at Bibendum restaurant in Chelsea.

The Home Office said Mr Bosis application for permanent residence had not been successful because he did not provide evidence that he satisfied all of the criteria under EU law.

A spokesperson added: Mr Bosi has not applied to the EU Settlement Scheme. He made an application for a permanent residence card  something which EU citizens living in the UK are not required or encouraged to do.

We have spoken to him to help him to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme, which has already guaranteed the rights of over 2.5 million people.

The Home Office said last week more than 2.45 million EU citizens had been approved for settlement via the scheme and there is still a backlog of more than 300,000 applications waiting to be processed.

Those who were not granted settled status may have been granted pre-settled status and would need to apply again for permanent leave to remain after five years.

Additional reporting by agencies
New Delhi, Jan 24 : HC Hong, President and CEO of Samsung Southwest Asia since 2015 and was instrumental in taking India to the top of global smartphone manufacturing map, has moved on into a new role within the company, according to a letter accessed by IANS.

Hong is likely to take over as the head of Samsung's Latin America business, reliable sources told IANS.

"It's been my great privilege to work so closely with you and grow together. During the last five years, we have delighted our consumers and added tremendous value to our business," Hong said in a letter addressed to partners.

In 2015, Hong launched Samsung's 'Make for India' initiative, which focuses on consumer-centric India innovations.

Samsung's 'Make for India' strategy went on to become a huge hit, inspiring competition to launch local programmes for the country later.

Hong was instrumental in putting India firmly at the centre of global smartphone supply chain, with the inauguration of the world's biggest mobile manufacturing factory by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Noida in 2018.

The Noida factory will hit production capacity of 120 million mobile phones annually by 2020.

In Bengaluru, the company inaugurated Samsung Opera House, the world's largest mobile experience centre under his guidance.

"Thank you for your support in every step of that journey -- from 'Make in India' to 'Make for India' and 'Make for the World,' Hong said in the letter.

Hong began his career with Samsung Electronics in 1987 and has been in leadership roles in many countries over the last 30 years.

He was previously President of Samsung Electronics Latin America between 2012 and 2014. He also successfully headed Samsung Electronics' sales subsidiary in Chile during 2009-2011.
He went Instagram official with his new girlfriend, Tegan Kynaston, on New Year's Eve.

And just weeks later, Kyle Sandilands has discussed whether or not he wants children during a candid live discussion on Friday's The Kyle and Jackie O Show.

The 48-year-old - who began dating Tegan following his split from Imogen Anthony last year - was speaking to Sophie Monk about her thoughts on babies, before she asked him if he ever wanted kids himself.

New love: Kyle Sandilands (left) and Tegan Kynaston (right) confirmed their relationship earlier this month - and on Friday, the radio host discussed the possibility of having children live on-air

The ever honest radio star replied: 'I'm not against it, but I don't sit around pining for it and thinking "I wish I had a little Kyle running around".'

He continued: 'What a pain in the a**e that kid would be. All "Dad, dad, dad." - shut up.'

Love Island host Sophie - who revealed she'd frozen her eggs last year - gave a somewhat more positive response, stating: 'I want to wait until the timing is good.'

'I'm not against it, but I don't sit around pining for it and thinking "I wish I had a little Kyle running around"', Kyle responded when asked if he wanted children

The blonde beauty, who is in a serious relationship with boyfriend Joshua Gross, then laughed that it's taken '40 years so far'.

'It's so good though, trust me,' co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson chimed in. 'One day, I hope it happens for you guys.'

On January 1, Tegan confirmed the pair's budding romance by sharing a photo of herself kissing the radio star on the cheek in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

So loved-up! Sophie Monk (right) discussed the possibility of having children with her boyfriend Joshua Gross (right)

In November, she had categorically denied rumours the pair were dating, describing the reports as 'completely not true'.

'We just work together and we're in the Nueva [Sangria] business together with my brother and that's pretty much it,' she told Daily Mail Australia at the time.

Kyle announced he had split from his ex-girlfriend Imogen in November last year.

He told listeners of his KIIS FM radio show they had been living apart 'for several months'.

What gives? In November, Tegan had categorically denied rumours she was dating her employer, describing the reports as 'completely not true'
tech2 News Staff

Background location data or always-on data has been an important source of data points for advertisers over the years. However, Apple and Google had ramped up privacy features in its devices recently that are slowing down location data collection. Both mobile operating systems had rolled out features to restrict the collection of background data through apps.

Coming from a report by Fast Company, marketing firm Location Sciences said that the background location data collected from users fell by 68 percent. This kind of data is shared with advertisers even when the app is closed. However, since the rollout of iOS 13, it allowed users to choose when they want apps to collect their data. It either let the app collect data only when the app is open, only once or always.

The findings came from an analysis between September and October 2019 for a UK-based app that gathered data from two billion background location events. Hence, this report doesnt necessarily show a global or broader perspective of the decline in background location data.

The same feature is also available on Android now and according to the report, half of the users have chosen to share location data only when they were using the app.

With lower access to GPS data, its likely that advertisers and marketers will move to IP addresses for location tracking. The data will be collected via mobile or Wi-Fi networks.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Christopher Nixon Cox, the grandson of President Richard Nixon, met with People's Daily Online West USA as part of an ongoing documentary series "A Story Spanning 40 Years". Mr. Cox was born in 1979, when the United States and the People's Republic of China first established diplomatic relations. In 1972, his grandfather President Nixon embarked on the "ice-breaking journey" in U.S.-China relations, which went on to launch formal diplomatic ties. In his interview with People's Daily Online West USA, he shares his desire to build on the friendship between the two countries that was established 40 years ago.

The grandson of the 37th US President Richard Milhous Nixon, director of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Foundation; Vice President of Asia and Middle East Region and Vice President of Public Policy, BrightSphere Investment Group.

In an interview held in Mr. Cox's New York apartment, he shared that his grandfather was fond of talking about China with him since a young age, and Beijing was the capital he visited most after Washington D.C. Mr. Cox wants to be a new "old friend" of the Chinese people. He has visited China at least 60 times and believes that it is excellent for China to have new old friends to help the relationship continue to prosper into the next generation.

In the documentary, Mr. Cox said, "I would like to pick up the torch and to carry the torch on the next generation of Chinese American thinkers  The Chinese are very logical. You can make arguments to the Chinese and change opinions if you do it based on logic and if you do it based on common interests. And that's really what diplomacy is all about."

Wei Deng

Phone: 669.900.2566

Email: [email protected]

Related Images

christopher-nixon-cox.jpg

Christopher Nixon Cox

The grandson of the 37th US President Richard Milhous Nixon, director of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Foundation; Vice President of Asia and Middle East Region and Vice President of Public Policy, BrightSphere Investment Group.

Related Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Mde7iBkusQ

SOURCE People's Daily Online West USA
Representative image

Thousands of Iraqis rallied at two central Baghdad intersections on Friday after a prominent cleric called for a "million strong" protest against the American military presence, following the U.S. killing of an Iranian general and an Iraqi militia chief.

The march called by Moqtada al-Sadr aims to pressure Washington to pull out its troops, but many anti-government protesters fear it could overshadow their separate, months-long demonstrations that have challenged Iran-backed Shi'ite groups' grip on power.

Sadr opposes all foreign interference in Iraq but has recently aligned himself more closely with Iran, whose allies have dominated state institutions since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Throngs of marchers started gathering early on Friday at al-Hurriya Square in central Baghdad and near around the city's main university, Reuters witnesses said. Marchers avoided Tahrir square, symbol of mass protests against Iraq' ruling elites.

"We want them all out - America, Israel, and the corrupt politicians in government," said Raed Abu Zahra, a health ministry worker from southern city of Samawa, who arrived by bus at night and stayed in Sadr City, a sprawling district of Baghdad controlled by the cleric's followers.

"We support the protests in Tahrir as well, but understand why Sadr held this protest here so it doesn't take attention from theirs," he added.

Men and women marched waving the red, white and black national colours, and chanted slogans against the United States, which leads a military coalition against the Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria.

"DO NOT CROSS THIS BARRIER"

Some were wearing symbolic white robes indicating they're willing to die for their country while others sat looking out over the square from half finished buildings, holding signs reading "No, no, America, no, no, Israel, no, no, colonialists".

Marchers were protected by Sadr's Saraya al-Salam brigades and Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella grouping of Iran-backed Shi'ite militias, witnesses said.

It is unclear if the march will end up at the gates of the U.S. Embassy, the seat of U.S. power in Iraq and the scene of violent clashes last month when militia supporters tried to storm the compound.

Main roads in Baghdad were barricaded by security forces and the city's Green Zone, which houses foreign missions, were blocked off with concrete barriers. Outside the U.S. embassy, a sign reads "Warning. Do not cross this barrier, we will use pre-emptive measures against any attempt to cross".

The U.S. killing of Iranian military mastermind General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad this month has raised the spectre of more civil strife in a country torn by years of sectarian conflict.

For the first time in nearly two years, parliament voted along sectarian lines to press the government to kick out U.S. forces. Shi'ite parties voted in favour, while Sunni Muslim and Kurdish lawmakers boycotted the session.
Veteran TV Actress Bharati Achrekar Feels Senior Actors Are Treated Like Furniture, Laments 30 Yr. Old Actresses Playing Grandmothers
NEW YORK, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Panhellenic Association of Table Olives Processors, Packers and Exporters (PEMETE) and its OLIVE YOU European Table Olives campaign will attend 2020 for the second time, to showcase European table olives from Greece in the highly targeted Middle East market, and further develop valuable and effective relationships with professionals of the food business.



OLIVE YOU in GULFOOD will highlight the modern profile of European table olives, inform visitors about the quality and flavor of the product, and test new commercial types of the most popular varieties of olives (HALKIDIKI, KALAMATA, KONSERVOLIA). At the same time, the trained staff of the campaign will try to identify the perception and consumption habits the visitors have towards this significant European product (preferred varieties, packaging and commercial types), through the campaign questionnaires and gather useful information on the awareness and market trends in United Arab Emirates and other countries of the Middle East.

The 3-year EU co-financed campaign aims to generate awareness and demand for European table olives from Greece in 13 countries around the globe (Germany, Austria, France, UK, Poland, Sweden, USA, Canada, Russia, Australia, Norway, Saudi Arabia and UAE). The campaign, launched in 2017, will run until February 2020 through a wide variety of actions  advertising, events, master-classes, in store tastings, trade shows, press relations etc. - informing consumers and professionals about the unique quality and flavor of the most popular olive varieties, thus increasing table olives exports.

ABOUT PEMETE:

PEMETE (Panhellenic Association of Table Olive Processors, Packers and Exporters) is a professional association, founded in 1970, that promotes the interests of table olive exporters. The members of PEMETE are Greek exporting table olive processing, packaging and exporting companies. All of them process their end products in accordance with the existing Food Safety Regulation 852/2004.

The 53 member-companies of PEMETE represent more than 90% of Greeces exports of table olives to more than 100 countries. These companies export some outstanding and unique Greek table olive varieties, such as: Konservolia farmed in Central Greece, Chalkidiki in Northern Greece, and Kalamata, mainly but not exclusively - farmed in the regions of Etoloakarnania, Laconia and Phtiotida. The greatest advantage of Greek table olives is that the olives ripen naturally on the olive trees.
(Newser)  Vice President Mike Pence told Pope Francis, You made me a hero" back home by granting him a private audience at the Vatican on Friday. The pontiff and the vice president had a private hour-long conversation, per the AP. Pence was beaming when the rest of his delegation was ushered into the papal library after the one-on-one talk. The hero description apparently referred to Pence's roots in a Catholic family. He later became an evangelical Christian. Before journalists were ushered out of the library, Pence told Francis: "I want to extend the warmest greeting on the part of President Donald Trump, who so enjoyed his visit here.'' Pence said Trump had asked him to send along his regards.

story continues below

Pence, his wife, and daughter-in-law were greeted at Rome's Ciampino airport by the US ambassador to the Holy See, Callista Gingrich, and her husband, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Francis smiled warmly throughout the traditional exchange of gifts: Pence presented Francis with a large, plain wooden cross, which he explained was made from wood from a tree on the grounds of the vice president's official residence in Washington. Francis gave Pence five bound books of his writings as pope, as well as a copy of the annual peace message. (The audience came on the same day that Trump is attending an anti-abortion rally in Washington, the first sitting US president to do so in the history of the annual March for Lifes history.)
Four people, including the principal and teacher of a school, who allegedly gangraped a sweeper on the premises of the educational institution were acquitted by a court here due to inordinate delay of four years in filing of the complaint.

Additional Sessions Judge Umed Singh Grewal observed that the delay resulted in the "weak nature of evidence of the victim".

The court acquitted the president, vice president, principal and a teacher of the school accused of raping the woman in 2010.

In her complaint, the woman said that was employed as a sweeper at the school since 2009. On the day of the incident, she was asked to come to work despite being a Sunday on account of an examination being conducted by the National Open School (NOS).

However, she was gangraped by the four men inside the school.

The court observed that the prosecution failed to prove that the NOS conducted the examination in the school of the accused on any Sunday of 2010 due to which the woman's claim of being raped had not been proved.

The woman had also alleged that the officials threatened to fire her if she intimated anybody about the incident because of which she did not lodge an FIR immediately after being raped. She was ultimately fired from the job in March 2013.

However, the court observed that since she was appointed through an NGO, a threatening from the school officials would have had no bearing on her.

"It is held that the prosecution has failed to prove that the victim was employed with the school. Due to being an employee of NGO, it can be said that no threat advanced by the accused persons to terminate the service of the victim, was working upon her," the court said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A march against criminal activity in Drogheda in Co Louth is due to take place tomorrow (Sat) with the Mayor of the town, Cllr Paul Bell, stressing that the escalation in violence continues to cause "misery" in the community.

The march will take place tomorrow (Sat) at 1.30pm from the Bridge of Peace in the town. It is expected to be attended by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar with representatives of the other parties also due to participate.

Cllr Paul Bell told RTE Radio's Morning Ireland that the people of Drogheda were not prepared to endure this ongoing feud.

"We will not tolerate this ongoing feud. The misery that it is bringing to communities both by violence, intimidation and really a situation whereby some areas of our town people are finding it unbearable to live.

The last protest did bring about some change in that Garda resources were increased.

In fairness to An Garda Siochana in Drogheda there has been successes in confronting this type of crime making arrests and basically identifying those who are involved in this trade which is of absolute abhorrence to the people of Drogheda and surrounding areas."

Cllr Bell said that the people of Drogheda were tired of living in a constant state of anxiety and fear.

"The people of Drogheda in some areas are suffering from terror fatigue. But having said that people are coming together. They are beginning to understand that this is a community issue. It is not just a garda issue. It is not just an issue for the legislators of our country. But it is a community issue.

Drogheda in its history has had many challenges over its nine hundred year period and this challenge will be met by the people.

There is an understanding also that people of the town and surrounding areas people know that they have to come together to confront this issue an to support the authorities as they try to address what is a very serious and ongoing feud."

Cllr Bell slammed those who think that their recreational drug use is not contributing to problems in Irish society.

"We want the legislator to address the ongoing issues empowering the Garda Siochana to deal with those involved in this type of activity. It is threatening the democracy of of our state.

We want the term 'recreational drug use' struck out from any kind of vocabulary because there is no such thing as recreational drug use. There is either citizens who use drugs or citizens who do not use drugs. By using drugs it is literally feeding this ongoing criminal activity.

If people are caught using small amounts of cocaine or any type of drug there is a strong belief in the communities that suffer from the affects of those drugs that those people should be held accountable.

The day of excusing people in certain parts of society from drug use has to come to an end."

Drogheda hit the headlines two weeks ago when 17 year old Keane Mulready Woods was killed in a gang feud in the town that has now claimed three lives.

The late Keane Mulready Woods

The teen became involved with one of the major drug gangs in the area at time when a feud with its rival group was beginning to escalate. The partial human remains of the teenager were found in two northside suburbs of Dublin.
Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

As Syrian Christians who grew up in Syria, we are concerned at the ongoing instability in the north. Situated between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, this area is home to a rich diversity of Syrians: Kurds, Arabs, Assyrians, Muslims, Christians, Yazidis and others. Its unconscionable that, after surviving genocidal rampages by ISIS, Christians and other civilians yet again are caught in the crosshairs.

But our Christian brothers and sisters in Syria face much worse, more long-term threats than this latest chaos. Targeted violence against Syrians of all faiths, including Christians, is a daily occurrence in the other two-thirds of the country controlled by a man whose unique sadistic tendencies have shocked the world: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. A member of a minority community himself, Assad has used his status to garner sympathy and set himself up as the protector of Christians. We know better.

In September, the Syrian Network for Human Rights, relied upon for civilian death tolls by the UN since it stopped counting in 2014, released a report counting the number of Christian houses of worship targeted by all parties to the conflict  regime, opposition, ISIS, al-Qaeda and others. The results were damning: of the 124 churches targeted for shelling, bombing or military use since 2011, nearly two-thirds were at the hands of Assads forces, backed up by Russian air power and Iranian militias.

For Assads purposes, minority identity is a useful tool, until its not.

To wit, the ranks of peaceful protesters who took to the streets in 2011 demanding freedom, dignity and an end to corruption and injustice reflected the diversity of Syria. And all were equally targeted by the regime for demanding freedom  facing detention, torture, rape and death  including Christians.

Khalil Maatouk, a Christian human rights lawyer, represented many activists in Syrian courts. He was disappeared into a regime prison in October 2012. Saeed Malki, president of the Syriac Cultural Association, was taken into custody in 2013. Their statuses remain unknown. Bassam Ghaith, who led the Syrian Democratic Peoples Party, was abducted in 2014 and months later the regime told his family he had died of cardiac arrest  the regimes blanket explanation for those whose hearts stop under torture.

Christians likewise are among victims documented in the Caesar photos taken by a regime defector. His 55,000 images present bodies of protesters grotesquely mutilated and tortured almost beyond recognition, if not for the carefully cataloguing practices of Assads machinery of death that include identifying numbers for each victim. The photos are the strongest evidence of war crimes since the Nuremberg trials of the Nazis, according to the former U.S. Ambassador for War Crimes Stephen Rapp. Christians are among those whose eyes were gouged out, bodies electrocuted, stomachs starved and throats slit. Assads leash of protection runs as long as his desire for control, and no further.

It hasnt always been this way for Christians in Syria. Few remember that a Protestant Christian Fares al-Khouri was democratically elected as prime minister of Syria in 1954. Since the rise of the Assad family to power in the 1970 coup detat, however, Christian freedoms have declined. Even after the so-called reforms of 2012, Christians have still been barred from becoming president since the elder Assad took power. Free exercise of religion is restricted under Assads rule: church leaders are controlled and congregations infiltrated with spies to prevent dissent. Resistance to intimidation leads to arrests and execution, even nearby in Lebanon. Syriac Orthodox Archbishop Yohanna Ibrahim and Greek Orthodox Archbishop Boulos Yazigi, both of Aleppo, were abducted in 2013 only days after Bishop Ibrahim, a previous Assad supporter, criticized the regimes brutality against Syrian citizens. The two remain missing. Its no wonder that, as shepherds of their flocks, clergy are under extreme pressure to repeat regime talking points, even in the face of egregious human rights abuses like chemical attacks.

Further, Assad has purposely created escalating extremist dangers to Syrias Christians in the cynical expectation they would have nowhere else to turn than his government for safe harbor. When the United States invaded Iraq in 2003, Assads strategy was simple: send violent extremists across the border to kill U.S. troops as a punishment and warning for toppling a fellow dictator. Immediately following the peaceful protests in March 2011, he employed the same strategy to dilute and poison legitimate, moderate voices for freedom and democracy. According to a former member of Syrias Military Intelligence Directorate, The regime did not just open the door to the prisons and let these extremists out, it facilitated them in their work, in their creation of armed brigades. The regime wanted to tell the world it was fighting al-Qaeda, but the revolution was peaceful in the beginning so it had to build an armed Islamic revolt. It was a specific, deliberate plan and it was easy to carry out. Before he defected from the regime, Affaq Ahmad, the right hand of the head of the notorious Syrian Air Force Intelligence, testified that the regime found the al-Qaeda and ISIS-linked groups who made their way into Syria very useful. How? By allowing jidahist groups to kill minorities, the regime could use that to convince these minorities to rally around the regime.

The ploys results are plain: beheadings, enslavement, rape and genocide of Christians and Yazidis by ISIS, and destruction of churches, torture and death by Assad.

Backed up by Iranian-sponsored proxy militias and Russian warplanes and targeting assistance, Assad has waged a bloody campaign against all Syrian civilians, including Christians. Every day we pray with the psalmist: Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up Your hand. Do not forget the afflicted (Psalm 10:12). Our Christian faith demands we speak up for our Muslim, Alawite, Kurdish, Druze, Assyrian, Arab and Christian brothers and sisters throughout Syria, from the Tigris River to the Mediterranean Sea.

But it must be stated clearly: the United States is flailing in its approach toward Syria. It must take stock of its entire Syria policy, and fix it.

First, the United States must maintain a strong troop presence. A modest military force has essentially created a No Fly Zone in the northeast for years, and is the best bang for our buck in leverage for eventual peace negotiations. Foreign powers know the consequences of attacking U.S. troops and our partners nearby.

Second, the administration must restart $200 million in stabilization aid throughout the country to provide alternatives to both Assad and extremism. Christians and other ethnic and religious minorities throughout the country need assurances that they can live lives free from both hazards and from Iran, which is pursuing its well-trod policy of discrimination and demographic change in Syria as it has in Lebanon and historically Christian areas in Iraq. The State Department should realize the mandate for international religious freedom doesnt stop at Iraqs border  Syria must be a part of the picture.

Finally, stop the slow-motion civilian massacre in Idlib province, where men, women and children  including hundreds of Christians still holding on  are caught between extremists, Russian bombs, Assads troops and a closed Turkish border. While Turkey threatens to unleash the 3.5 million refugees its hosting into Europe, a similar number of internally displaced people are crammed into an area the size of Connecticut. Its a humanitarian disaster already  we cannot let it become the worst catastrophe since the conflict began. President Trump must follow-up on his promise a year ago to stop the killing.

One sign of hope arrived in time for Christmas last year, as Congress and the President came together to sanction war criminals by passing the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act into law. We must build on this bipartisan momentum.

While division, war, oppression and hatred are Assads weapons of choice, Christ teaches unity, peace, freedom and love. Americans and officials in Washington must not ignore the torture of Christians in Assads prisons, the destruction of their churches by regime and Russian bombs, and the general horrors perpetrated on Syrians of all faiths.
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 24 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday asked the state's parliamentarians to take up the matter of deaths of eight Keralites at a resort in Nepal early this week, with the Centre to pursue the matter with the neighbouring country's government.

Vijayan was speaking to the parliamentarians at the customary meeting that the Chief Minister has with all parliamentarians ahead of every session of the parliament.

"The demand has come from the families of the victims for a fair probe on what happened and adequate compensation. For this, you (MPs) should take it up with the Centre. A probe has to be done by the Nepal authorities and the Centre should pursue this with them.

"We (the state government) have already taken the issue with the Centre and will now send a detailed letter on the need for a fair probe by the Nepal authorities," he said.

The eight dead include Praveen Nair, who worked in the UAE and was on a short vacation here, when the tragedy struck the family. His wife Sharanya, a second year M.Pharma student, and their three children, were also killed.

On Friday morning, it was a goodbye that Thiruvananthapuram has perhaps not seen before, as hundreds of people, many of them strangers, came to pay last respects to the five members of the Nair family.

The family of Nair decided to bury the bodies of the three children and cremate the bodies of Praveen and Sharanya. It was also decided to bury the ashes of the couple alongside their three children in the compound of their house.

The second family hailed from Kozhikode and the bodies of Renjith, an IT professional, his wife, who works in a cooperative bank and their younger child, who slept in the same room as that of Nair, arrived at the Kozhikode airport on Friday morning.

State Transport Minister A.K. Saseendran and many others were there to receive the bodies, which were first taken to Ranjith's new home that is almost complete.

From there it was taken to a hall for all to pay their last respects and then to the family home of Renjith where the cremation took place.

Watching everything happening was Ranjith's elder son, seven-year-old Madhav, who escaped that night in Nepal as he was sleeping in another room.

Madhav had arrived from Delhi on Thursday and was unaware of the tragedy as he was busy moving around in a new bicycle, which his relatives had bought to keep him busy.
France announces two cases of deadly new virus from China, which has killed at least 41 people.

China has stepped up its response to a new coronavirus outbreak that has killed 41 people and infected at least 1,287 as of Saturday, placing restrictions on 13 cities, including 12 in Hubei Province  the centre of the outbreak.

At least 36 million people are living in the affected cities, some of which have suspended public transport amid fears that the transmission rate will accelerate as hundreds of millions of Chinese travel for the Lunar New Year.

Health authorities around the world are taking action to prevent a global pandemic, with cases reported in Japan, Thailand, South Korea and the United States.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has acknowledged that the respiratory illness, which has been traced to the city of Wuhan, is an emergency in China. But WHO said it is too early to declare it a global health emergency.

This blog is now closed. You can find the latest updates here.

Friday, January 24

France announces 3rd confirmed case of the coronavirus

France has announced late on Friday the third confirmed case of the conronavirus. Earlier on Friday, officials had confirmed two cases, the first in Europe.

Surgical masks selling out in New Yorks China Town

More than a dozen pharmacies in New York Citys China Town had run out of face masks or only had a few left on Friday.

Pharmacists said hundreds of locals had rushed to buy masks for protection from the newly discovered coronavirus.

First two cases of coronavirus in Europe confirmed in France

French Minister for Solidarity and Health Agnes Buzyn has confirmed two cases of the coronavirus in the country, the first reported incidents of the respiratory illness in Europe.

The first case involved a patient in hospital in the southwestern city of Bordeaux while the other was in Paris, Buzyn told reporters.

First South Asia coronavirus case reported in Nepal

A Nepali student who returned from Wuhan has tested positive for the coronavirus, health officials in Nepal said in a statement, making it the first case reported in South Asia.

The 32-year-old student arrived in Nepal on January 9, and entered the Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital in Kathmandu four days after running a fever and reporting trouble breathing, hospital spokesperson Anup Bastola told AFP.

The results of a sample, sent to Hong Kong, have returned positive, Bastola told AFP, noting that the patient was discharged after recovery.

We are monitoring the patient and he and his family members are healthy. So are all the health workers in the hospital, he added.





Second case of coronavirus in US confirmed

Health officials in the state of Illinois announced the second case of coronavirus in the US, located in the city of Chicago, local media outlet CBS Chicago reported.

According to CBS, the patient is a woman in her 60s, who had travelled to Wuhan in December.

The woman returned from China on January 13 without initially showing any signs of illness, but a few days later, she called her doctor to report feeling sick.

Doctors with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say the woman is hospitalised to prevent the spread of the virus and is doing well, and those she had been in close contact with are being monitored.

Chicago has the 2nd confirmed case of Coronavirus in the US The patient is a woman in her 60s She had traveled to Wuhan in late December, flew back to Chicago January 13@cbschicago https://t.co/znSl5Cgiym  Marissa Parra (@MarParNews) January 24, 2020

Chinas Wuhan gets $290m loan to fight virus

The China Development Bank will give a two billion yuan ($290m) emergency loan to the city of Wuhan to help with virus prevention and treatment work, the citys government said in a statement on Friday.

Wuhan is at the centre of an outbreak of a new coronavirus, in which at least 26 people have died so far, most of them in the city.

Pakistan lacks facilities to diagnose coronavirus: Minister of health

Pakistan does not have the facilities to diagnose coronavirus, State Minister of Health Zafar Mirza said, according to local media outlet Business Recorder.

Zafar added that samples of the new virus will be sent to virology labs in three countries for diagnosis, the Recorder reported.

China to take stricter, more targeted measures to curb coronavirus spread: State TV

China will take stricter and more targeted measures to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, state television reported, citing a state council meeting on virus control.

The spread of the virus has not been cut off  Local authorities should take more responsibility and have a stronger sense of urgency, state media said, without giving more details.

More than 40 million in China affected by travel restrictions

Travel restrictions are affecting more than 40 million people in China amid the new coronavirus outbreak.

Wuhan, where the outbreak began, is effectively in lockdown, with all public transport suspended.

More than a dozen other nearby cities have introduced transport restrictions, with some also shutting public spaces and cancelling Lunar New Year events.

Some prominent tourist attractions have been closed in Beijing and Shanghai.

Twenty-four people have died in Wuhans Hubei Province, one in Hebei Province and another in the northeast Heilongjiang Province.

UK convenes emergency response meeting on new coronavirus

The United Kingdom will convene an emergency response meeting on Friday to discuss measures to contain the new coronavirus, Prime Minister Boris Johnsons spokesman said.

The so-called Cobra meeting will be chaired by Health Secretary Matt Hancock. Johnson will not attend.

WHO expects coronavirus cases to rise in China

A WHO spokesman said the cases of the new coronavirus are likely to continue to rise in China and it is too soon to evaluate the viruss severity.

The focus is not so much on the [case] numbers, which we know will go up, spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told a Geneva news briefing.

200123023649596

Its still too early to draw conclusions on how severe the virus is, said Jasarevic, adding that the WHO and its network of experts may look at treatments and vaccines against Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) for possible use against the coronavirus.

Chinas government forms new group to tackle crisis

Chinas government cabinet has taken control of managing the crisis surrounding the outbreak of the new coronavirus, Al Jazeeras Scott Heidler, reporting from Beijing, said.

Theyve created a special group to deal with the situation and leading that special group is a specialist that was brought in for the SARS [severe acute respiratory syndrome] epidemic back in 2003, he added.

McDonalds to suspend business in five cities in Hubei Province

McDonalds China said it will suspend business in five cities in Hubei Province starting January 24.

The McDonalds suspension in China will begin on January 24 [File: Tyrone Siu/Reuters]

Thailand confirms fifth case of new coronavirus

Thailand has confirmed its fifth case of the new coronavirus, a senior public official said, in the second instance in which a patient was not detected at the airport before entering the country.

The patient is a 33-year-old woman from Wuhan on vacation, Deputy Public Health Minister Sathit Patucha told Reuters News Agency, adding that she was under quarantine at Rajavithi Hospital in Bangkok and her condition was improving.

200122194509687

The woman arrived in Bangkok on January 21 with her daughter and visited a private hospital complaining of a fever, coughing and muscle aches before being transferred to a government hospital on January 23, Sathit said.

Some parts of Great Wall to be closed to visitors

Some sections of Chinas Great Wall near Beijing will be closed to visitors from Saturday onward to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, said state media and the Beijing government office that manages the Badaling part of the wall.

The reconstructed Badaling section is among the most visited parts of the wall.

The Badaling section of the Great Wall of China is among the sites most visited sections [File: Stringer/Reuters]

Other important cultural and touristic sites  including the Forbidden City, the Birds Nest stadium and Shanghai Disneyland  have also been closed.

Beijing, Shanghai urge people from outbreak areas to stay home for 14 days

Beijings city government has urged residents returning from coronavirus outbreak areas to stay at home for 14 days to prevent the viruss spread.

Shanghais government also urged people coming to the city from key areas to stay at home or under centralised quarantine for 14 days.

Asian shares hold steady as China virus fears persist

Share prices held steady on Friday despite investors fears that the new coronavirus outbreak could spread faster with Lunar New Year travel.

Investors took some solace from WHO labelling the outbreak an emergency for China but not for the rest of the world as of yet.

Read the full story here.





Russia suspends flights from Moscow to Wuhan

Flights from Moscow to Wuhan were suspended over fears about the spread of the new coronavirus, Interfax news agency cited an unnamed source as saying.

A search on Aeroflot Russian Airlines website appeared to show no flights between Moscow and Wuhan were running.

Japan raises warning level, tells citizens to avoid Hubei Province

Japan raised its infectious disease advisory level for Chinas Hubei Province to three, telling its citizens not to take any trips there due to the outbreak.

200121192504190

Earlier on Friday, Japan confirmed a second case of the new coronavirus.

UK highly likely to have cases of coronavirus: Health official

Cases of the new coronavirus in the UK are highly likely, one of the countrys top health bosses said.

I think its highly likely that we will have cases in the UK, Professor Paul Cosford, emeritus medical director of Public Health England, told the BBC.

We do have a whole range of plans ready to go when that is the case and these are being implemented now, he said.

Hong Kong hospitals near full capacity

Hong Kongs hospitals are nearing full capacity as the semi-autonomous territory deals with the coronavirus outbreak.

The director of Hong Kongs hospital authority said 97 percent of beds were occupied and a spike was expected after the Lunar New Year.

Some 97 percent of Hong Kongs hospital beds are occupied [cnsphoto via Reuters]

Two cases were confirmed in Hong Kong on Friday, while Al Jazeeras Adrian Brown, reporting from Hong Kong, said there are more than 200 suspected cases in the territory.

Singapore confirms two more cases: Health ministry

Singapore confirmed two more cases of the new coronavirus, the city states health ministry said.

The ministry said it expected more imported cases because of high travel volume from China.

Singapores tally of confirmed cases is now three.





China rushes to build 1,000-bed hospital in Wuhan

China is rushing to build a new hospital in a staggering 10 days to treat patients of the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, state media reported.

The 1,000-bed, 2,323sq-metre (25,000-square-foot) facility is expected to be in use by February 3 to serve the rising number of patients.

In 2003, China erected a hospital on Beijings rural outskirts in barely a week to cater to a rapidly rising number of patients suffering from SARS.

Shanghai Disneyland to be closed

Shanghai Disneyland resort will be closed from Saturday to help prevent the spread of the virus, the theme parks operator said.

In response to the prevention and control of the disease outbreak and in order to ensure the health and safety of our guests and Casts, Shanghai Disney Resort is temporarily closing Shanghai Disneyland, Disneytown, it said on its website.

We will continue to carefully monitor the situation and  announce the reopening date upon confirmation.

China is on a seven-day Lunar New Year holiday starting Friday, a period when Shanghai Disneyland resort would usually be packed with tourists.

Regional airline cancels flights to and from Wuhan

AirAsia, one of the leading regional airlines in Asia, cancelled on Friday all flights to and from the city of Wuhan, following the Chinese governments decision to put the city under lockdown.

The move is meant to assist in controlling the current Wuhan novel coronavirus outbreak situation and comply with Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) requirements, the airline said in a statement.

According to Reuters, at least 10 cities around Wuhan have also been placed on lockdown, as the government attempts to stop the spread of the disease.

China confirms 830 coronavirus cases, with 26 deaths

The number of cases of patients infected rose risen to 830, while the death toll from the virus reached 26, the National Health Commission announced.

Meanwhile, another city near Wuhan halted transport on Friday and closed its river bridge as the country escalated efforts to contain the disease.

Huangshi city in Hubei Province announced that transport routes and a ferry terminal were shut down starting at 02:00 GMT on Friday.

In all, at least 10 cities have already been ordered on lockdown.

Singapore PM: Wuhan virus does not appear to be as deadly as SARS

Singapores prime minister said the city-state is well prepared to tackle the Wuhan coronavirus, adding that it did not appear to be as deadly as the 2003 SARS pandemic.

We are well prepared because we have been gearing up for such a situation ever since we dealt with SARS in 2003, Lee Hsien Loong said in an annual Chinese New Year speech.

MOH [Ministry of Health] has now activated plans to counter the spread of the virus, which so far does not appear to be as deadly as SARS was.

On Thursday, Singapore confirmed its first case of the coronavirus strain and said another case has preliminarily tested positive.

Japan, South Korea confirm new cases of Wuhan virus

Japan confirmed a second case of infection by the new coronavirus from China, the health ministry said.

The infection was confirmed in a man in his 40s who lives in Wuhan and travelled to Japan, the health ministry said in a statement.

The man, who arrived in Japan on Sunday, is currently hospitalised, the ministry said.

South Korea also confirmed the second case of coronavirus that originated from China, according to the countrys Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).

Read all previous updates here.
New Delhi: A day after violence erupted over Citizenship Amendment Act in Jharkhand's Lohardaga town, the authorities on Friday imposed curfew in the area, thus prohibiting assmebly of four or more people at a place.

On Thursday, violence erupted in Lohardaga town after a march, supporting the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and National Population Register (NPR), was taken out by members of Vishva Hindu Parishad during which stone-pelting allegedly took place while it was passing through Amla Toli.

Stones were hurled at the rally taken out in support of the Citizenship Amendment Act in Jharkhand's Lohardaga district on Thursday, sparking tensions in the area, police said. Some two-wheelers were also set ablaze following the attack.

Jharkhand: Violence erupted yesterday in Lohardaga town after a march, supporting #CitizenshipAmendmentAct and National Register of Citizens, was taken out by members of Vishva Hindu Parishad during which stone-pelting allegedly took place while it was passing through Amla Toli. pic.twitter.com/bOXXFV8dUt  ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2020

Deputy Commissioner Akanksha Ranjan and Superintendent of Police Priyadarshi Alok are at the spot to control the situation. A large number of police personnel have also been deployed in the area, official sources said.

Live TV

The Thursday incident was reported while a rally was taken out by some Hindutva outfit in support of CAA. Meanwhile, schools and colleges will also remain closed for two days, Deputy Commissioner Akanksha Ranjan told ANI.
PARIS  Alessandra Facchinetti, the Italian designer who found fame when she inherited the Gucci womens wear mantle from Tom Ford almost two decades ago, has since hopscotched her way through roles with some of the most prestigious names in the fashion business. She held the design helm at Valentino, Moncler and Tods  some stints longer than others  but more recently became part of a coterie of onetime fashion stars appearing to step away from the frenzied game of musical chairs at the top of the luxury industry.

Now, however, Ms. Facchinetti is back. And she has taken on yet another global creative director gig.

Earlier this week, just as the couture shows began for the spring season, Ms. Facchinetti, 47, sat in the gilded dining room of the Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris. Sporting her signature look of a smoky eye and chandelier diamond earrings, clad in immaculate black from head to toe, she proudly unveiled the name of her new employer.

Harlan + Holden, she said, taking a sip of black coffee.

Hang on  Harlan and who?

The brand, which is almost completely unknown in the West, was founded in 2015 in the Philippines by Emmanuel Pineda, descendant of two of the countrys most influential retail families and owner of Adora, a swank department store in Manila.
Polarized is a weekly series featuring Americans from all 50 states sharing their views on the 2020 elections. Click here if you would like to be a part of this project

Krish Mohan, a comic who performs socially conscious comedy nationwide, says the 2016 election inspired him to start talking openly with Donald Trump's supporters about what convinced them to vote for the reality TV star.

But that doesnt mean he agrees with the president or his agenda.

I think the 2016 presidential election really didnt have good candidates, so I cant blame anyone for the choices that they made, he says. But I will listen to why they made those choices so I can get an understanding of whats going on, and a more accurate picture of where we are as a country.

In the age of Trumpism, the mere act of listening to folks with different views is seen by many as a feat. But Mohan seems to enjoy it  and it even helps him make a living. He says Trump supporters have come to his politically-infused shows and shared that they cant trust candidates like Hillary Clinton because they seem out-of-touch and unable to understand the plight of the working class.

Thats why she lost, he adds. I dont really think she knows what average people are going through on a daily basis, and instead of taking a step back and trying to connect with people to understand whats going on  she just kind of blamed it on Russia.

Mohan, who moved to Pennsylvania from India more than 20 years ago and went through the entire immigration process, from renewing visas to his naturalization as a US citizen, says he enjoys talking to people from all walks of life about politics. He says he spends most of his days coming up with political bits for his standup sets, and if a show is successful, he will often hang out afterwards with some of the event organizers and attendees to continue discussing their views on important issues.

In an interview with The Independent this week, Mohan says there are just two Democratic presidential hopefuls who have expressed that same willingness to listen to Trump supporters with an open mind: Bernie Sanders and Tulsi Gabbard.

(Courtesy of Krish Mohan (Courtesy of Krish Mohan)

Interestingly, it seems that at least some of the voters who cast ballots for Trump are listening to them as well.

With Tulsi, I think its because shes a veteran and she is anti-war, Mohan suggests when asked why there seems to be an overlap of voters who would consider supporting Trump, Gabbard and Sanders. I think a lot of diehard Trump supporters jumped on his side because he criticized the interventionist wars that were in in the Middle East.

With Bernie, I think its the fact that hes just willing to sit down and listen to them, he continues, recalling a meeting the Vermont senator had with voters who didnt necessarily support him in West Virginia  a state he won in the 2016 Democratic primaries. These people didnt vote for him, they were kind of nervous about the socialist title, and he just listened to them then said Ill do what I can. Im not your senator, but I know your senator, and Ill see what I can do. I think thats massive.

Mohan says many voters across the country feel invisible and in this election, theyre simply looking for someone to hear their concerns without paying lip service. And that's exactly why he likes both Gabbard and Sanders, along with their plans to lift up the working class, from universal healthcare to lowering the cost for an education.

However, he acknowledges that even Gabbard is playing into the political theater involved with running for office. We spoke just days after the Hawaii congresswoman filed a defamation lawsuit against Clinton for $50 million, seeking damages after the former secretary of state insinuated she was a Russian asset on a podcast last year.

I think Hillary did defame Tulsi, he says. But I have very mixed feelings about it.

Mohan says that Gabbard is right on to hold Clintons feet to the fire for making wild accusations without any proof, but hes not sure anything substantial is going to come out of it.

At the end of the day, I would much rather see her push forward with her campaign and try to get more of her voice  which I think is a very needed voice  out into the public to get more people on board with her message, he continues. And maybe this defamation lawsuit will help do that, but Im not sure.

He adds: Theyve tried to use these defamatory actions to pull away from her campaign, and I think shes basically using their own tools against them  Its an interesting tactic.

Mohan also says he was conflicted with Gabbards initial threats to boycott one of the Democratic debates, since he believes her voice is so necessary to the ongoing primary process.

Joe Biden isnt going to come out and talk about the military industrial complex, he says.

 Tulsi Gabbard explains why she abstained from Trump impeachment vote

He was less conflicted about Gabbards stance on the articles of impeachment drafted against Trump, and supported her calls to censure the president after voting present during the historic vote. In doing so, Gabbard said she was taking a stand for the center and added: This decision of whether to remove Donald Trump or not must be in the hands of voters  I believe they will make that decision.

The 31-year-old comic is still waiting on his voting information after recently becoming a citizen, but plans to support either Sanders or Gabbard in the Pennsylvania primaries. Mohan is a registered Democrat so he can participate in the states closed primary system, though he notes that he doesnt particularly identify as a member of the party.

The state is seen as a battleground in 2020, after Trump managed to win Pennsylvania in part by taking back several counties Barack Obama won in both 2008 and 2012. For now, Mohan says hes somewhat more likely to vote for Sanders over Gabbard, though he seems pretty torn over the two. By the time he casts a ballot in the primary elections, his vote may switch back to Gabbard.

I ask him if hes willing to vote blue no matter who in order to take out the incumbent president, or if he would abstain from voting if one of his two candidates arent the eventual Democratic nominee. Mohan replies that he certainly isnt a blue no matter who Democrat, but stops short of saying he would abstain from voting.

Im looking at what these people stand for and if theyre authentic, he says. But I wouldnt go so far as saying Im one of those Bernie supporters that would vote for Trump as a protest vote. I would make my vote count in a different way.
TORRINGTON  It will be at least another month until New Milfords former information technology director is arraigned on computer crime charges.

Kendrick Protzmann, 52, is facing eight counts of third-degree computer crime and 41 counts of fifth-degree computer crime for allegedly hacking town officials emails last year.

He was originally scheduled for arraignment at state Superior Court in Torrington on Thursday, but that was pushed to the next day.

Protzmann showed up to court Friday morning dressed in a navy jacket, gray slacks and a striped tie. He was joined by his attorney, William Dow, and three other individuals.

Inside the courthouse, a judge granted another continuance request from Dow  pushing Protzmanns arraignment to Feb. 28. The reason for the continuance is not clear.

Protzmann is accused of accessing the town of New Milfords email archive system without authorization 49 times between June 10 and Sept. 9, 2019, while on administrative leave.

[I] wanted to see what was going on around town, Protzmann told police, according to the arrest warrant affidavit obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media this week.

Protzmann served as New Milfords IT director from 2002 to 2019.

On June 10, Mayor Pete Bass presented him with a termination letter, indicating Protzmann was being fired due to unsatisfactory work performance and failure to follow directions, according to the affidavit.

After Protzmann hired an attorney to dispute the towns decision, a settlement agreement was negotiated July 2, placed him on paid administrative leave until Sept. 3, according to the police affidavit.

His access into the email archive system should have been revoked after his termination, but police said that didnt appear to happen.

New Milford officials discovered unauthorized access had been gained into the email server this past fall and contacted police, who launched an investigation Oct. 4.

The gains of unauthorized access were traced back to Protzmann, who admitted to accessing the email server to feed his curiosity habit from his home in Thomaston, his vacation home in Old Lyme and while performing consulting work in Ansonia, according to police.

The company for which Protzmann did the consulting work was Yucatech  the same company that hosts New Milfords town email server, according to the warrant.

Protzmann allegedly downloaded 35 emails to and from high-ranking officials in town, including Bass and Bollaro.

Eight of the emails appeared to be noteworthy because of the private personal data they contained, police said. Many of them involved Protzmann and his separation from the town  but one also looked at information regarding the lawsuit former police chief Shawn Boyne has filed with the town over wrongful termination, as well as letters and employment offers to two new hires.

The towns IT department determined that the emails had been downloaded, but Protzmann denied downloading any of them and police were not able to find any of them on Protzmanns personal computer, according to the affidavit.

Bass declined to comment on Protzmann reading his emails because of the pending case.

According to police, Bollaro found the situation highly concerning as he receives and sends very sensitive information in his emails related to personnel matters, employees confidential information and other labor-related issues.

Protzmann turned himself in to police last Friday after learning there was a warrant out for his arrest.
Skip to:

The exact means by which acupuncture affects the central nervous system is unclear. The practice of acupuncture is widespread  both in the world, and across the body. It can be applied anywhere on the body and is a practice derived from ancient Chinese medicine. It represents a holistic form of treatment, which is posited to work both therapeutically and as a preventative measure.

Acupuncture needles on back. Image Credit: Valery Kraynov / Shutterstock

Today, Western medical acupuncture is used by patients following a diagnosis of disease; through the stimulation of sensory nerves under the skin and muscles, endorphins are released, resulting in effects such as pain relief.

Although the technique has gained widespread practice, its use is not rigorously backed by scientific research. Until now. 2019 has seen a few notable studies demonstrate the efficacy of acupuncture; particularly in preventative medicine.

A Promise for PTSD Patients

In April this year , researchers at the Medical Association of Lombard Acupuncture in Milan published an observational study examining the role of a 5-week course of intervention-based acupuncture in patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of a 6.0 earthquake in Amatrice, Central Italy. The treatment course consisted of four 20-minute acupuncture treatments over consecutive days.

Before treatment, 68% of patients reported having both pain and psychological symptoms; following treatment, an improvement in those reporting these symptoms was seen, with 54.05% of patients reporting marked improvements in psychological symptoms and 60.6% in pain. These findings suggest a possible role for acupuncture in reducing neurologic and psychologic pain.

Warm Acupuncture for A Restful Nights Sleep

Another recent study comes from researchers in Mongolia, who evaluated the effect of Mongolian medical warm acupuncture or moxibustion (burning mugwort over acupuncture points) on rats with insomnia based on positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT), a means of measuring cerebral glucose metabolism.

Warm acupuncture is a prevalent practice in Mongolian culture, used in the treatment of many diseases. To test the effect of acupuncture on insomnia, rats were randomly divided into a normal care group, model group, and warm acupuncture group.

Mongolian medical warm acupuncture or moxibustion (burning mugwort over acupuncture points). Image Credit: Auraikan Sinlaparat / Shutterstock

The research team, headed by Lidao Bao, found that glucose metabolism in the Mongolian medical warm acupuncture group was improved in comparison to the model group. Differential expression of microRNAs in the brain tissues was used as a measure of this effect, with the acupuncture group demonstrating significant changes to levels of miRNA, particularly miR-18 and NDRG2, a protein that inhibits glucose uptake. Collectively, their inhibition regulates glucose metabolism, which researchers suggest providing biological evidence for adapting traditional ethnic medicine for use in modern medicine

Scalp Acupuncture to Stimulate Brain Activation in the Elderly

Finally, researchers from the Southern Medical University, Guangzhou have conducted a prospective clinical trial on 7 patients examining the effect of scalp acupuncture on brain activation in the elderly as determined by functional MRI. According to the International Standard Scalp Acupuncture system, the positioning of acupuncture needles occurs near the midline of the vertex, anterior parietal-temporal oblique line, and the posterior parietal-temporal oblique line.

Acupuncture treatment was associated with enhanced regulation of cognitive and executive control networks. The group concluded that the international standard scalp acupuncture in healthy elderly participants specifically enhances the correlation between the brain regions involved in cognition and implementation of the brain network regulation system and the surrounding adjacent brain regions. Owing to the small size of the group and lack of control, the researchers note that further investigation of scalp acupuncture is necessary.

The results of these studies can be summarised in the words of Co-Guest Editor Nadia Volf, MD, PhD, Paris XI University (Paris, France); "although acupuncture can be a wonderful tool for treating a number of diseases, this therapy can be an even more wonderful tool for preventing them."

Sources Chung, W-Y et al. Modulatory effect of International Standard Scalp Acupuncture on brain activation in the elderly as revealed by resting-state fMRI. Neural Regeneration Research. DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.262590. 2019

Bao, L. et al. Effects of Mongolian medical warm acupuncture on model rats with insomnia based on positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT). Exp Ther Med. DOI: 10.3892/etm.2017.4452. 2019

Moiraghi, C., Poli, P. and Piscitelli, A. An Observational Study on Acupuncture for Earthquake-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: The Experience of the Lombard Association of Medical Acupuncturists/Acupuncture in the World, in Amatrice, Central Italy. Med Acupunct. DOI: 10.1089/acu.2018.1329. 2019

Further Reading
Photo:

Every so often something that seems all wrong will turn out strangely right. Thats what happened during my burger excursion to La Grande Rue, a handsome young wine bar and bottle merchant that shares a kitchen with its sibling restaurant, Savoir.

I snagged a delightful grilled cheese sandwich over the weekend at the gleamy zinc counter seats, and immediately made plans to return for the burger. It was quiet when I entered the dining room  I was the only customer at 1:45 p.m.  so I nabbed the perfect corner two-top, a wooden table fitted out with a leathery banquette and a velvety, studded wing chair.

The Delmore Brothers were singing Blues, Stay Away from Me, and the soundtrack continued on a 1930s-era bent all afternoon, a welcome change of pace from most playlists.

People dont seem to have fully discovered that La Grande Rue serves lunch, but theres an inviting casual menu with items including a croque madame, that grilled cheese on toasted brioche, and a Dr. Seuss Pizza on which sopressata, ricotta, chimichurri and fried egg stands in for green eggs and ham. And theres a very appealing wines-by-the-glass list for folks who find an afternoon glass relaxing and civilized.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Alison Cooks review of Christine Has Blind Goat restaurant

Especially with a good burger. Yeah, I know, its more Texan to drink beer with our burgers, but when there is a first-rate beef grind to be appreciated, Id rather have a nice glass of red to go along. So thats what I ordered at La Grande Rue with my between medium and medium-rare burger, which didnt turn out the way I expected. Heres how it went.

PRICE: $12 for the not-so Le Petit Burger with cheese and French fries; $9 for a glass of Spanish red, the Bodegas Juan Gil Honora Vera Irreverent Red Blend of Grenache, Syrah and Monastrell. Total of $21 before tax and tip.

ORDERING: Full service only. Find a table in either the front wine retail section or around the corner in the long dining room, where you can grab either a table or one of the counter seats at the rear bar.

ARCHITECTURE: Limited salad stuff on top. On a toasty brioche bun goes a swipe of good Dijon mustard, a half-inch beef patty, two thin slices of cheddar, a flock of roasted red cherry tomatoes, and a fan of cornichons sliced lengthwise. The top bun gets a swipe of garlicky aioli.

QUALITY: The beef patty was very well-seared, so I was taken aback to find its interior nearly raw. I mean, practically mooing.

Yet the quality of the beef was so lush and pure that I just kept eating. The effect was kind of like finding an elemental beef tartare inside a wrapper of salt-seasoned and aggressively seared beef. In concert with the brisk flavors of sharp pickle and mustard, set off by mellow cheese and the acid bounce of those roasty tomatoes, that barely cooked beef carried itself surprisingly well.

I could have sent it back on the grounds that it was nowhere near the medium to medium-rare that I had asked for, but after a bite or two I was won over. They need to watch their cooking times here, but theirs is a highly promising burger.

OOZE FACTOR: Not much, because the beef was too rare for juices to have begun springing forth.

LETTER GRADE: B, only because the cooking fell so wide of the mark. I am betting this is an A-quality burger that I will return to eat on my own dime. I hear the burger next door at Savoir, made by the same kitchen, involves Brie and a pretzel roll, and I have high hopes for that one, too.

VALUE: Fair for the quality of ingredients and the inclusion of French fries in the price tag.

BONUS POINTS: I loved having a slightly herbaceous, leggy red to go along, made from some of my favorite grape varietals. And the list is full of fun stuff, including a Cantina della Volta Lambrusco that is made in the champagne style, so that it bubbles rather than murmurs in the glass. Thanks to wine director Emily Tolbert for offering a taste, and for dispensing her wine knowledge.

Flavor: Get the best food newsletter in Houston sent directly to your inbox

MINUS POINTS: The skinny fries, although well seasoned with salt and pepper, are on the pale side, crisp with no textural variations, and cottony interiors that suggest they started out frozen. Theyre good enough with the kitchens aioli, but theyre nothing to dream about.

LOCAL COLOR: The crowd here seems very Heightsian, a mix of well-heeled empty nesters and fashionable young people toting laptops, taking meetings, greeting friends. With the high ceilings, ample spacing and well modulated music, this is an easygoing room. The library of wines for sale makes for good browsing. Parking is at a premium around businesses in the Heights these days, so come prepared to surrender your car to the valet in front of next-door Savoir if you cant score one of the handful of spaces in La Grande Rues front lot.

alison.cook@chron.com

twitter.com/alisoncook
The strong bilateral ties between India and Singapore will do more for the region and the world in the new decade, Indian envoy Jawed Ashraf has said, highlighting the importance of the two countries globally.

High Commissioner Ashraf said the last decade saw the transformation of Singapore-India partnership and this decade we will both rise to our shared aspirations which are very high and to the expectations that others have from us."



"At a time of a multiple transitions and disruptions, the imperatives for a stronger strategic partnership between India and Singapore has never been stronger...when we do more with each other (Singapore-India), we will do more for the region and the world. That is the defining objective of the strategic partnership between India and Singapore," he said.

The envoy was addressing around 1,500 government, community and business leaders from both the countries at the 71 Republic Day Reception on Wednesday, held earlier due to the Lunar New Year holidays this week.

Singapore deputed a senior minister to the Indian National Day Reception. Singapore's Minister of Education, Ong Ye Kung, who has been to India twice since June 2019, was Guest of Honour at the reception representing his government.

In his Republic Day Reception speech, the High Commissioner emphasised that India's international engagement continues to deepen, and "nowhere was it more visible than in the Indo-Pacific Region and in the Act East Policy".

He added, "ASEAN will remain at the centre of our vision. Singapore remains, as always, integral to each of our endeavours".

He listed more than 10 ministerial visits from Singapore to India in the last six months and several from India to Singapore as evidence of growing bilateral engagement.

The High Commissioner noted that bilateral defence cooperation has "deepened and entered new areas of engagement, and we broadened the framework of defence partnership to a regional level in Southeast Asia and in the broader Indo Pacific Region, including through the first trilateral, which as an exercise involving India, Singapore and Thailand."



He highlighted the economic achievements in recent years, where rapid growth was accompanied by "unprecedented expansion in empowerment, inclusion and access to basic needs" for all citizens.

He expressed confidence that the economic fundamentals were strong, and growth momentum will be restored to its long term trend line of over 7 per cent, which would be "increasingly powered by clean energy", even above our international commitments on climate change.

"The trajectory of economic partnership, trade and investments, continues to move upwards," the envoy highlighted.

Singapore has emerged as the largest investor in India and Indian companies, estimated at around 9,000, continue to use Singapore as a base for their global and regional engagements.

India is the third largest source of tourism to Singapore, estimated at about one million a year, and it is growing at a double-digit rate supported by the growing air connectivity between the two countries.

Ashraf also highlighted the work in progress relating to innovations and technologies between the two countries.

It is the spark of innovation and technology that is igniting the rapidly growing partnership for the digital age, said the High Commissioner.

Our start-up eco systems are more deeply connected now. Our youth are working together closely, he said.

India had the largest overseas participation in the Singapore Fintech festival last year. The payment systems of the two countries are becoming inter-operable.

"Together, we are working to craft solutions, based on India Stack, to offer the possibility of digital governance, inclusion, digitalisation of payments to counties in the region and beyond," said Ashraf.

"Singapore creates an environment that nurtures diverse cultures and traditions that has turned this great city into a nursery of Indian cultures, the envoy said as he underlined the people-to-people ties that the two countries have built over decades.

A gala concert was held on January 23, by sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, his two sons Amaan Ali Bangash and Ayaan Ali Bangash jointly with Singapore's Chinese Orchestra at the historic Victoria Concert Hall, the first collaboration of its kind.

The highlight of the concert was the orchestral piece, Samaagam, composed by Amjad Ali Khan and adapted for the Chinese instruments. Singapore's Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong was the guest of honour at the concert.

The concert, the high commissioner said, was a "tribute to the harmonious, multicultural spirit of Singapore." "The inclusive and cosmopolitan world view of India captured in Vasudeva Kutumbakam and the myriad threads that bind our two countries," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Eastern Airways has announced its return to Northern Ireland with a six-times weekly service from George Best Belfast City Airport to the north east of England.

The new route to Teesside International Airport will start on March 9.

Eastern Airways formerly ran a link from Belfast to the Isle of Man for around a year from 2017.

Katy Best, commercial director at the airport, said: "Improving connectivity to and from Northern Ireland is of the utmost importance to the region and we welcome the return of Eastern Airways, a sixth airline partner at Belfast City Airport."

Read More

The airport had been under pressure following financial difficulties at Flybe, which accounts for around 80% of flights out of the airport.

However, Flybe was rescued following an agreement with the Government to put off the payment of air passenger duty. The airport last week denied that it would have to close if Flybe had folded.

The denial came after Tory MP Tobias Ellwood named Belfast City and Southampton airports as possible candidates for closure if the ailing regional airline collapsed.

But the Belfast airport said it was confident Flybe would "provide a long-term, sustainable network to and from Northern Ireland".

In addition to Belfast City Airport, Eastern Airways has announced it will operate services to Dublin, London City, Cardiff and Southampton from Teesside Airport.

The airline will also operate a seasonal service between Teesside and the Isle of Man and increase the number of flights to Aberdeen.

Tony Burgess, managing director of Eastern Airways, said: "We're delighted to now be strengthening our ties with the airport and branching out to bring enhanced connectivity to some new city destinations for business and leisure travellers.

"I'm sure these flights will be popular and we continue to look at how we can further develop our network for all regions."

Aviation, energy and civil engineering group Stobart was announced as the operator of Teesside International in 2019.

Stobart Aviation's Kate Willard said: "These major new routes are great news for the airport, its existing passengers and people across Tees Valley.

"It is very exciting that people can now enjoy the airport's quick and easy passenger experience to reach even more destinations.

"We believe that there is tremendous opportunity for continued growth at Teesside International and Stobart continues to be committed to its success," she added.
China teaches schoolchildren Hong Kong protesters are 'thugs,' 'violent criminals'

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

The Chinese Communist Party is seeking to instill loyalty in the countrys youth and reject wrong ideas and ideology by teaching schoolchildren that those fighting for freedom and democracy in Hong Kong are thugs and separatists, incited by foreign forces.

According to religious liberty magazine Bitter Winter, in October of last year, students in a high school of Fuzhou, the capital of the southeastern province of Fujian, were instructed to buy the recent issue of Current Affairs, a journal published by the CCPs Publicity Department to be used as supplementary teaching material for schools.

Schools in China are government-controlled, and therefore Communist in ideology.

One topic highlighted in the issue was the protests in Hong Kong, with demonstrators portrayed as thugs and separatists, incited by foreign forces.

An article titled Who Is Behind Hong Kong Riots criticizes the United States, claiming that There are many American faces among the violent protesters. Organizations abroad not only instructed the violent activities, but some of them even participated in these vicious attacks.

One teacher from Fuzhou told the outlet that school instructors have to integrate topics as described in the Current Affairs into their lessons to help students develop the sense of ethnic identity and nationality.

Additionally, teachers are told to convince young people to support the Chinese governments decisions on issues concerning Hong Kong.

Our teachers told us that the topic of Hong Kong would be included in college entrance exams. We could get high scores if we know it well, a high school student told Bitter Winter. We must learn whatever we are taught, right or wrong, true or false so that we could get into colleges. We must learn whatever the government tells us to learn.

Hong Kong has been embroiled by more than seven months of protests sparked by a now withdrawn extradition bill that would have transferred individuals accused of crimes to mainland China for trial or extradition.

The protests have since escalated into a larger fight against authorities and Chinese rule in addition to calling for democracy, amnesty for the thousands of demonstrators who've been arrested, and an independent investigation into police actions.

Many Christians engaged with the social movement fear that losing Hong Kongs autonomy and subjecting citizens to Chinas legal system will erode religious freedom. Chinas human rights abuses against Uighur Muslims, Christians, Falun Gong, and other religious minorities are well-documented.

The topic of Hong Kong protests was also included in the midterm exam for the subject of "Politics and the Rule of Law" for the eighth grade in six middle schools in Fujians Zhangzhou city. The exam described the protests as riots perpetrated by thugs and Western anti-China forces.

The government wants to incite hatred toward these protestors through exams, fearing that well learn the truth, a student told Bitter Winter.

Another student from Fuzhou said that teachers in her high school portray Hong Kong protesters as violent criminals and barbarians.

Our teachers never explained to us why people in Hong Kong protest. They only show us videos where people are beaten, the student said. These videos are purposefully selected to demonstrate that protesters are violent.

She added that her math teacher warned her class that they would become the societys rubbish like the Hong Kong thugs, if they didnt follow the rules and discipline and dont love the country.

In recent years, new steps have been taken to tighten the Communist Partys ideological control over schools, teachers, and students.

In a speech delivered at a Beijing seminar attended by teachers from across the country last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on educators to instill patriotism in the countrys youth and reject wrong ideas and ideology.

He also stressed that teachers themselves should have strict self-discipline, be consistent in class and out of class, online and offline, should consciously carry forward the main melody and actively convey positive energy.

In July, it was reported that schoolchildren in China are taught that Christianity is an evil cult and encouraged to hate God.

Last year, teachers were ordered to sign moral commitments pledging to support the leadership of the Communist Party, implement Xis thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics and the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the CCP.

Persecution watchdog group Open Doors USA ranks China at No. 23 on its 2020 World Watch List of 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.

Open Doors CEO David Curry warned that China could be shaping the future of international religious minority oppression through its use of surveillance technologies to monitor Christians and other religious adherents.

He stressed that the data seems to point to the fact that China seems to be resurrecting the god-as-government state.

We are all threatened by this: atheists, Jews, Muslims, everyone, Curry said.

They are using this artificial intelligence and surveillance to a whole new level, he added. All indications show that in 2020  and this is why we are highlighting this  they are bringing these two systems together. They are merging the social scoring system and surveillance and artificial intelligence to give them the tools and the power to oppress the people.
New Delhi :

News Nation senior journalist Deepak Chaurasia and other members of his team were attacked by some miscreants at Delhis Shaheen Bagh on Friday. The News Nation team was reporting about the protests where hundreds of people have been agitating against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act or CAA for over 40 days.

Deepak Chaurasia was reporting from the site when a man wearing yellow pullover tried to stop him. Unfazed by the disturbance, the senior journalist continued to do his work. However, the miscreant allow News Nation to show the report and heckled Chaurasia. Two video journalists, who were accompanying Chaurasia were also attacked by the miscreants and looted their camera.

Narrating his ordeal, Chaurasia said that no police personnel was there at the protest site to protect him. Following the incident, a complaint has been filed by the Delhi police in this incident. An FIR has also been filed on complaint of Chaurasia and DCP South East Delhi Chinmay Biswal assured that action will be taken against the perpetrators.

Hundreds of people, led by women, have been demonstrating at the venue, blocking a key road which links Noida to Delhi. A major part of the crowd swells between 8 pm and 12 pm when the regular protesters are joined by working professionals and businessmen once they return from work. While the protesters has maintained their agitation is completely peaceful, Today's incident has raised serious questions about their claims.

This is not the first time the Shaheen Bagh protests has created a controversy. Earlier this month, seevral BJP leaders claimed that 'Jinnah wali Azadi' slogans were chanted during an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protest at Shaheen Bagh.

A video tweeted by BJP spokesperson Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga shows the protesters raising slogans like 'Gandhi wali Azadi', 'Nehru wali Azadi', etc. At one point, they can also be heard chanting 'Jinnah wali Azadi' in the video.

Watch How Deepak Chaurasia Confronted Mohd Sajid Rashidi Over CAA

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi, Jan 24 : Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Friday noted that the capital's law and order is the responsibility of the Centre and Home Minister Amit Shah, instead of looking for CCTVs and Wifi, should address the Shaheen Bagh protest, which is demanding something from him.

Speaking to the media, Sisodia reminded Shah that if there are any shortcomings in the law and order, he should answer for it.

"To maintain the law and order in Delhi is the responsibility of Home Minister Shah and the Central government. If there is any shortcomings in the law and order, the Home Minister should answer. It is sad that he is busy searching CCTVs with binoculars or is searching Wifi in Delhi with a discharged phone. He is not able to understand that there is some issue in the law and order. This is his responsibility," the Aam Aadmi Party leader said.

Sisodia also said that the protest in Shaheen Bagh is demanding something from Shah, and "he should talk to these people".
MONTREALWhile Prince Harry is shaking up the British monarchy, Canadas Supreme Court is being asked to throw out a law that modified the rules governing succession to the throne.

Two Quebec university professors have asked the countrys highest court to hear their appeal of a ruling issued last October by the provinces Court of Appeal.

In its judgement, the appeal court refused to declare unconstitutional a 2013 Canadian law modifying the rules governing who gets to be named King or Queen of the United Kingdom.

Laval University professors Patrick Taillon and Genevieve Motard filed their application at the end of December.

They say the law brings into question Canadas independence vis-a-vis the United Kingdom. In an interview, Taillon called it a step backward.

Since the 1982 patriation of the Constitution, the British parliament has no right to legislate for Canada.

The Canadian law in question stems from a 2011 meeting of Commonwealth countries, where it was agreed that the rules governing succession to the British throne should be modified to allow a girl or woman to become Queen if she is the oldest heir to the throne. Historically, the oldest female heir would have been set aside in favour of her brother, even if he was born after her.

The changes needed to be adopted in separate laws in all 16 Commonwealth countries in order to come into effect.

Then-prime minister Stephen Harper did so with a federal law that was adopted in 2013.

But the Quebecois professors say changes to the monarchy cannot be made by simple legislation and instead require the consent of the provinces  something that would likely open up constitutional negotiations.

Quebecs appeal court ruled the law was valid and didnt require constitutional amendment. According to an unwritten rule in the Canadian Constitution, the King or Queen of the U.K. automatically becomes the sovereign of Canada, the court said.

But the professors say that unwritten law by definition doesnt exist, and accepting that the British monarch automatically becomes the King or Queen of Canada means accepting that British parliament can make decisions for the Canadian people, they say.

The appeal to the Supreme Court comes as Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, have taken up residence near Victoria, where they will give up public funding and try to become financially independent.

The couple are expected to spend most of their time in Canada, while maintaining a home in England near Windsor Castle, in an attempt to build a more peaceful life.

Taillon and Motards battle has an unlikely ally: The Canadian Royal Heritage Trust, an association of monarchists, agrees with the professors that the 2013 law is a violation of Canadian sovereignty, according to an intervention the group filed with the Supreme Court this week.

And while the group shares the same goal as the professors, their arguments are a little different. The trust says the 2013 law is without effect on the rules of royal succession in Canadian law, said Catherine Mathieu, a lawyer for the non-profit.

The Supreme Court could take several months before it decides whether it will hear the application for appeal.

Read more about:
Consortium News (CN) reported on Tuesday that it has filed libel lawsuits against the Communications Security Establishment (CSE)the Canadian equivalent of the US NSAand a major Canadian television network, Global News, in response to a fabricated report last December that said CN was part of a cyber-influence campaign directed by Russia.

CN reports that Global News published an article on its website on December 10, 2019 titled Canadian eyes only intelligence reports say Canadian leaders attacked in cyber campaigns that was based on a leaked, secret CSE document. The Global News report claimed that CN was the leader of a cyber campaign aimed at smearing Canadas then foreign minister and current deputy prime minister, Chrystia Freeland. It stated, The first attack was a February 2017 report in the online Consortium News followed in quick succession by pro-Russian English language and Russian-language online media.

Part of Communications Security Establishment (CSE) report mentioning Consortium News [Source: Consortiumnews.com]

Global News also published screen shots of the CN website along with captions linking it to Russia. The caption on its news article read, A CSE report says Consortium News was part of an attack from Russia on Chrystia Freelands reputation. The caption on a Global News video broadcast read, Intelligence records obtained exclusively by Global News reveal Russia is one of numerous hostile foreign states that have recently targeted Canada with online smear campaigns.

The Global News report said, The cyber-campaign directed by Russia involved distortions of facts and was timed, targeted and, according to the CSE, pushed the narrative to suggest that Freelands family immigrated to Canada as part of a wave of Nazi-collaborators. While the Global News article was referring to the CN article published on February 17, 2017 by Arina Tuskanova entitled A Nazi skeleton in the Family Closet, it did not contain a link to that article or quote from it in any way.

Tuskanovas article documented how Freelands maternal grandfather, a Ukrainian nationalist, collaborated with the Nazis during their occupation of Poland and war of annihilation against the Soviet Union. Mikhail Chomiak served as the chief editor of a Ukrainian-language daily, published first from Krakow in Nazi-occupied Poland, and after that citys liberation by the Red Army in October 1944, Vienna, that published pro-Nazi and anti-Semitic propaganda.

Although the December Global News report did not share the entirety of the leaked CSE document, it published a partial screen shot of one page and said the document is titled Cyber Influence Events Against Canadian Politicians. Global News also quoted select portions of the leaked report to bolster the intelligence-concocted narrative that CN initiated a pro-Russian disinformation campaign in Canada.

Quoting the CSE document, Global News wrote, A small number of nation states are involved in cyber campaigns against Western democracy, but the national security assessment warns the threat and range of actors involved are growing. And the tactics used by Canadas adversaries include human intelligence operations, online and cyber influence campaigns and the use of state-sponsored or influenced media.

Global News then quoted the following passage from the CSE document, In early spring 2017 and spring 2018, sources linked to Russia popularized MFA (Minister of Foreign Affairs) Freelands family history, very likely intended to cause personal reputational damage in order to discredit the Government of Canadas ongoing diplomatic and military support of Ukraine, to delegitimize Canadas decision to enact the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Offices Act, and the expulsion of several Russian diplomats.

Along with the libel lawsuits, which have been filed by a Toronto law firm, CN is demanding a retraction of the Global News story and an apology. CN has also made a formal Access to Information Request (Canadas freedom of information process) to obtain a copy of the secret CSE report.

The effort to tie CN to so-called Russian disinformation stems from its reporting what in fact is significant biographical information about Freelanda self-described Ukrainian patriot, who had publicly praised her maternal grandparents, saying their experiences had a very big effect on me, and is the leading anti-Russia hawk in Canadas Liberal government.

By March 2017 the story had been picked up by major Canadian newspapers such as the Globe and Mail. When Freeland was asked about the reports about her grandfather at a press conference on March 6, she denounced the reports as part of disinformation on the Russian sideto destabilize Western democracies.

As reported at the time by the World Socialist Web Site, the news that Chrystia Freelands maternal grandfather had edited the pro-Nazi Ukrainian nationalist newspaper Krakivski Visti revealed that it was the Liberal foreign minister who had in fact been involved in spinning disinformation.

Responding to an autobiographical account given by Freeland in which she said her grandfather was a lawyer and journalist before the Second World War, but they [her grandparents] knew the Soviets would invade western Ukraine (and) fled, Tuskanova and CN published a well-researched report on Chomiaks activities during the war.

Tuskanova gave extensive details about how Chomiak relocated from eastern Poland to Nazi-occupied Poland and went to work for the Third Reich under the command of Governor-General Hans Frank, the man who organized the Holocaust in Poland. Chomiaks work was directly supervised by Emil Gassner, the head of the press department in the Polish General Government.

Furthermore, Tuskanova reported that Chomiak comfortably settled his family into a former Jewish (or Aryanized) apartment in Krakow. The editorial offices for Krakivski Visti also were taken from a Jewish owner, Krakows Polish-language Jewish newspaper Nowy Dziennik. Its editor at the time was forced to flee Krakow for Lviv, where he was captured following the Nazi occupation of Galicia and sent to the Belzec extermination camp, where he was murdered along with 600,000 other Jews.

Finally, the CN story said, As the war turned against the Nazis and the Red Army advanced across Ukraine and Poland, Nazi propagandist Emil Gassner took Mykhailo Chomiak in 1944 to Vienna where Krakivski Visti continued to publish. As the Third Reich crumbled, Chomiak left with the retreating German Army and surrendered to the Americans in Bavaria, where he was placed with his family in a special U.S. military intelligence facility in Bad Worishofen, a cluster of hotels situated 78 kilometers from Munich in the foothills of the Alps.

It is notable that Freeland had previously helped to edit a scholarly article in the Journal of Ukrainian Studies in 1996 that revealed details about her grandfathers collaboration with the Nazis as a Ukrainian nationalist publisher and propagandist. The research paper was titled Kravivski Visti and the Jews, 1943: A contribution of Ukrainian Jewish Relations during the Second World War and was written by Freelands uncle, John-Paul Himka, at the time a professor emeritus at the University of Alberta.

While CN has consistently maintained that the sins of a grandfather should not be visited on his descendants, the publishers have also pointed out that Freelands attempt to mislead the public on these important historical facts of her family are indicative of her world view.

The falsification of history, particularly as it pertains to the cover-up or downplaying of the role and the crimes of the Nazisand their Ukrainian nationalist sympathizers and collaborators during World War IIis a recurring theme internationally. It is part of the deliberate encouragement by all factions of the political establishment of far-right groups and neo-Nazi tendencies in the face of growing mass struggles by the working class on every continent.

Meanwhile, the fabricated state-organized media campaign to label the independent news organization CN as the leader of a pro-Russian disinformation campaign in Canada is a warning to the working class and must be exposed. It marks an expansion of the McCarthy-style witch-hunt that is being used by the imperialist powers in an effort to intimidate and silence journalists, like WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange, who are prepared to stand up and report the truth to the public.

The author also recommends:

Canadian media denounces exposure of foreign ministers grandfather as Nazi collaborator

[18 March 2017]

How Canada emerged as a haven for Ukrainian Nazi collaborators

[29 July 2019]
Donald Trump. (AP Photo)

US President Donald Trump said he will release his long-awaited peace plan for the Middle East before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits Washington next week.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One en route to Miami for a political event, Trump said Palestinians might react negatively to his plan at first, but that it would benefit them.

"It's a great plan," said Trump, who will meet with Netanyahu at the White House on January 28. "It's a plan that really would work."
Sthanu R Nair and Sai Shiva Jayanth Reddy By

Recently Tamil Nadu became the first Indian state to introduce a law governing contract farming practice. The law has been drafted based on the Model Contract Farming Act, namely The  State/UT Agricultural Produce and Livestock Contract Farming and Services (Promotion & Facilitation) Act 2018 released by the Centre in May 2018. The Model Act was circulated to the states for their implementation. Other states such as Goa, Karnataka, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh are reported to have started working on their contract farming laws.

The contract farming system involves linking farmers with a known buyer (e.g., agribusiness firm) through a forward contract in which the former promises to supply certain quantity of an agricultural product to the latter within a pre-agreed time frame subject to mutually agreed conditions. Thanks to the support provided by the buyer as part of the contract, the system has the potential to solve problems faced by Indian farmers. They include low crop yield, price and market uncertainty, inadequate access to inputs, technology and credit, high transportation costs and low returns. Besides, the system aids the growth of the food processing industry and integration of farmers into the agricultural value chain.

Despite its worldwide acceptance, the practice is yet to gain higher acceptability in India. This is mainly due to the cautious approach of state governments. They are concerned about the negative fallout of adopting the system. The key concerns are exclusion of small and marginal farmers on the grounds of attaining economies of scale, dominance of buyers in decision-making, payment delays to farmers, rejection of produce for quality reasons, and uncertainty over honouring the contract and its legal enforcement. An ideal way to tackle these concerns is to put in place a practical regulatory framework aimed at safeguarding the interests of the farmers and buyers. The release of the Model Act and TNs follow-up action assumes greater significance in this context. The Act contains various provisions to address the concerns relating to the adoption of the contract farming system.

To start with, the Act proposes setting up an official agency for effective implementation of its various provisions. This is a welcome step as currently there is no formal mechanism to oversee and facilitate the systems working. Over 80% of agricultural households in India are those of small and marginal farmers owning up to five acres of land. This is a significant constraint for adopting the practice as buyers would prefer to engage with farmers having large parcels of land. One viable solution to overcome this is to pool the plots of land owned by small farmers and engage with the buyers collectively. This would not only create a scale effect but also enhance farmers bargaining position. The Act has opened the avenue for such collective engagement among small farmers with a provision to promote Farmer Producer Organisations.

To prevent the dominance of buyers in the contractual arrangement the Model Act (a) provides farmers the power to fix prices for the product together with buyers and an option to enter into contracts with multiple buyers for a minimum of one crop cycle, (b) requires the use of only electronic machines for weighing of produce and (c) encourages forming a Contract Farming Facilitation Group (CFFG) at the village/panchayat level to facilitate activities relating to contract farming.

Rejection of contracted produce by buyers citing quality reasons is a prevalent problem in this arrangement. To tackle it, the Model Act vests the power to devise quality standards in the official agency by engaging experts or on its own. Alternatively, the Act empowers the contracting parties to formulate quality standards on their own or follow established standards or seek a quality assayers help. The delay in settlement of payment to farmers is proposed to be tacked through payment via banks or electronic clearance on the same day, or the next day of product delivery or on a day mutually agreed. In case of default, a penal interest would be levied on the buyer for up to 30 days. Any delay beyond it would be recovered from the buyer as arrears from land revenue. If the product quality can be assessed only later, the Act stipulates that two-thirds of the payment should be made on the date of delivery or a mutually agreeable date.

Contract enforcement is a significant challenge for the system as both parties might breach it due to varied reasons. As per the Model Act, a party breaching a contract is liable to pay compensation in the form of arrears of land revenue. Yet, by mutual consent, parties can modify the contract terms and terminate it. To make matters easier for farmers, the Act warrants the signing of a written contract drafted in the local language. It also requires the official agency to bring together farmers and buyers for discussing and resolving issues emerging from the contract. It proposes a multi-layer dispute resolution mechanism, which includes negotiation by parties personally, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, dispute settlement authority with the power of a civil court, and an opportunity to challenge the authoritys verdict.

Studies across the world, by and large, prove that contract farming practices improve farmers welfare. The Model Act provides a viable regulatory architecture for the hassle-free functioning of the system by balancing the interests of both farmers and buyers. Interestingly, many important provisions in the Act are in conformity with similar laws in countries such as the US, France, Spain, Belgium, Brazil, Argentina, Cambodia, Mozambique and Morocco. Hence, it deserves a chance to be implemented. TN has led the way. Now, it is time for other states to follow its example.

(Deva Prasad M, Assistant Professor at IIM Kozhikode, also contributed to the article)

Sthanu R Nair

Associate Professor of Economics at IIM Kozhikode

Email: srn@iimk.ac.in

Sai Shiva Jayanth Reddy

Research scholar at

IIM Kozhikode
The political science department of the Lucknow University has proposed to introduce a topic on Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in one of its papers on contemporary issues in Indian politics.

Since it is the most debatable topic of the country today teachers of the department are of the view that CAA must be incorporated as a topic and not as a subject or paper in the curriculum, said Shashi Shukla, head, political science department, LU.

Denying reports of introducing CAA as a subject, she said, There is a lot of debate taking place all around on CAA and much has been written about in the press, we felt there is a need for our students to be informed about it in an objective manner and hence we have proposed to introduce CAA as a topic.

This is just a proposal that will come up for discussion at the board of studies. If the faculty board gives its consent, it will be tabled at the academic council meeting for their approval. Only after all these bodies give their go ahead, we will incorporate CAA as a topic in one of the papers, Shukla clarified.

A lot will depend on whether various academic bodies approve the idea or not, she said.

The political science department has also made up its mind to hold their annual debate on CAA on February 15. The debate will be a healthy academic discussion among students, she said.

A lot many people are debating on the subject. Our students should also understand various aspects of the CAA. Hence it was resolved to have a debate on the issue next month. Students from the university and affiliated degree colleges will be encouraged to take part in the event, she said.

This is not the first time that the University of Lucknow went ahead to educate students on Prime Minister Narendra Modi governments policy.

In 2017, Lucknow University (LU) became the first state university in the state to start a six-month certificate course on Goods and Services Tax (GST) from academic session 2017-18. The faculty of commerce was asked to initiate the certificate course.

The decision to start the GST course was taken at the vice chancellors conference. It was decided to include GST in the commerce and management curriculum to create a workforce of GST-trained professionals.
Nebraska politicians applauded the Trump administration's action to lift federal protections Thursday for some of the nation's millions of miles of streams and wetlands.

The action scales back which waterways qualify for protection against pollution and development under the half-century-old Clean Water Act. Many of the targeted regulations were adopted under the Obama administration.

The changes had been sought by industry, developers and farmers, but opposed by environmental advocates and public health officials. They say the changes would make it harder to maintain a clean water supply and would threaten habitat and wildlife.

President Donald Trump has made a priority of the rollback of clean water protections from his first weeks in office. Trump says he is targeting federal rules and regulations that impose unnecessary burdens on businesses.

Chiefs of the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed the new rule before appearing at a builders' convention in Las Vegas.

Members of Nebraskan farm and ranch groups who came together as a coalition dubbed Common Sense Nebraska to fight the Obama-era rules celebrated the announcement.

This new rule provides much needed clarity and certainty to landowners as to their obligations and marks the successful conclusion of the Common Sense Nebraska coalitions ongoing efforts to stop the largest expansion of federal authority over private land in U.S. history," said Steve Nelson, on behalf of the coalition.

Sen. Deb Fischer, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said the move puts Nebraskans back in charge of the state's water resources while addressing the higher costs and federal overreach of the regulations.

I applaud the Trump administration for taking this next step which includes a much narrower definition of 'Waters of the United States' than the 2015 rule," said Fischer, who has lead efforts to stop Obama-era rules.

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts said the new rule builds on the great work the Trump administration has been doing to cut red tape. "The rule respects states rights, and protects our farmers and ranchers from federal government overreach.

Sen. Ben Sasse said the final action on the water rules was a win for the state's farmers and ranchers.

"Bureaucrats have no place regulating puddles in Nebraska, and the Obama administration was wrong for trying this nonsense. No one cares more about land and water resources than our farmers and ranchers. Nebraskans feed the world and are on the leading edge of conservation, he said in a release.

The administration says the changes would allow farmers to plow their fields without fear of unintentionally straying over the banks of a federally protected dry creek, bog or ditch. But the government's own figures show it is real estate developers and those in other nonfarm business sectors that take out the most permits for impinging on wetlands and waterways, and stand to reap the biggest regulatory and financial relief.

The final rule will be published in the Federal Register in the next few days and become effective 60 days after that.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will head to Britain next week to reaffirm the US "special relationship" with the country ahead of its exit from the European Union, the State Department announced Friday. Pompeo will travel to London on January 29, meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to "discuss ways to broaden and deepen trade ties" after Brexit at the end of the month. From there he will head on to Ukraine -- the country at the heart of the ongoing impeachment trial of President Donald Trump who is accused of pressuring his Ukrainian counterpart to investigate a White House rival. Johnson is cultivating Britain's relations with Washington in a bid to offset the potential damage of withdrawal from the EU. But the British government on Friday rebuked the US for refusing to extradite a diplomat's wife charged over a car crash that killed a British teenager, with Raab calling it a "denial of justice." Pompeo had rejected the extradition request, Britain said. The case of Anne Sacoolas has been a recent thorn in London's ties with Washington. Harry Dunn, 19, died in August when his motorcycle collided with a car driven by Sacoolas on the wrong side of the road in Britain. Trump has called the crash a "terrible accident." In Kiev, Pompeo will meet President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is at the center of Trump's impeachment trial. The Democratic prosecution team at the Senate trial has alleged Trump flagrantly tried to force Zelensky to help him tarnish his possible 2020 reelection challenger, former vice president Joe Biden. Trump appears set for exoneration by the Republican-held upper chamber. Key to the impeachment scandal is a July 25 telephone call in which Trump pushed Zelensky to announce a graft investigation of Biden. Trump is accused of withholding nearly $400 million in military aid for Ukraine's war against Russian-backed separatists, and refusing Zelensky a White House meeting unless he opened the probe. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is heading to Britain ahead of Brexit
TORONTO, VILLA CLARA, CANADA - 2015/10/13: Carlton Cards gifts and greeting cards store in Toronto. Carlton Cards founded by Harry Harshman in 1920 is Canadas no. 1 greeting card company. (Photo by Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images)

2020 is off a rocky start for the Canadian retail industry, with several companies announcing store closures this week due to what is being called a challenging and difficult retail environment.

Several retailers, including Carlton Cards, Papyrus, Bench and Ten Thousand Villages, announced this week that they would shutter store locations across the country. This comes shortly after other companies  including Pier 1 Imports, Bose and Links of London  also unveiled plans to close stores.

Carl Boutet, a retail strategist at Studio Rx, said the slew of announcements show that Canada is not immune to the rapidly changing dynamics seen across the retail industry.

This is a moment of catchup, Boutet said in an interview. While Canada is not as overstored as the United States retail market is, he said the rise of e-commerce and changing consumer habits and demographics are making it increasingly difficult to remain competitive in Canada.

I think the majority of the stores that we saw announce this week were very undifferentiated, he said.

These are retail concepts that you could have walked into 20 years ago and they would have looked very similar. They havent adjusted to how our lifestyles have changed in those 20 years.

In total, this weeks announcements means that over 100 stores will close across the country. The factors behind the decision to shutter locations varies.

Ten Thousand Villages, a non-profit organization that sold handcrafted products largely made in the developing world, said Tuesday that it will be closing all of its locations in Canada, a move the groups executive director Rick Cober Bauman called a difficult decision.

With dramatic changes in the Canadian retail landscape and consumer habits, our retail model is no longer viable, he said in a statement.

Benchs Canadian partner Freemark Apparel Brands Group told BNN Bloomberg this week that it will be closing brick-and-mortar stores so the company can focus on its e-commerce and wholesale business. There are currently 24 Bench stores across the country.

Story continues

Bose, meanwhile, said it will close 119 locations in North America, Europe, Japan and Australia, as more customers go online to purchase its products.

Michael LeBlanc, a senior advisor with the Retail Council of Canada, said that while its slightly unusual that the announcements were made within a short span, it is not surprising that they were made following the holiday shopping season.

Just as theres a cold and flu season, theres a season where store closures are announced, LeBlanc said.

What this highlights is just how competitive the retail space is and how transformative it is. Theres not much margin for error or room for a concept that isnt exciting, experiential or not turning out results.

Boutet warns that consumers should expect more store closures in Canada in the year to come.

January is always when the bloodletting happens, he said. But this is not the end.

With files from the Canadian Press
Congratulations, dumondeaubalcon.com got a very good Social Media Impact Score! Show it by adding this HTML code on your site:

Dumondeaubalcon.com scored 81 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 4/5.0 Stars by Social Team

This CoolSocial report was updated on 12 Jul 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.

dumondeaubalcon.com is very popular in Facebook. Furthermore its facebook page has 267 likes.

The total number of people who shared the dumondeaubalcon homepage on StumbleUpon. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the dumondeaubalcon homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if dumondeaubalcon has a Facebook fan page). This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the dumondeaubalcon homepage on Twitter + the total number of dumondeaubalcon followers (if dumondeaubalcon has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the dumondeaubalcon homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. The total number of people who shared the dumondeaubalcon homepage on Delicious.

Basic Information

PAGE TITLE Du Monde Au Balcon - Du Monde Au Balcon DESCRIPTION Le potager urbain sur balcons, terrasses, toits et cours KEYWORDS potager urbain, balcons potager, terrasses, toits, culture en pot OTHER KEYWORDS votre, conseils, potager, en pot, produits, culture, matriel



The title found in the head section of the homepage. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage.

Domain and Server

DOCTYPE XHTML 1.1 CHARSET AND LANGUAGE French UTF-8French DETECTED LANGUAGE French French SERVER Apache (PHP/5.2.17) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Linux Linux

Character set and language of the site. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) Operative System running on the server. The language of dumondeaubalcon.com as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Type of server and offered services.

Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world.

Referring domains for dumondeaubalcon.com by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines.

Facebook link

FACEBOOK PAGE LINK FOUND FACEBOOK PAGE www.facebook.com/dumondeaubalcon DESCRIPTION Le potager urbain sans jardin LIKES 267 PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT 9 PAGE TYPE Small business TIMELINE PAGE TIMELINE

The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The type of Facebook page. The URL of the found Facebook page. The total number of people who like website Facebook page.

Twitter account link

TWITTER PAGE LINK FOUND TWITTER PAGE twitter.com/#!/dumondeaubal DESCRIPTION ACCOUNT CREATED ON LOCATION TWEETS FOLLOWERS LISTED
Rebel Akali leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa on Friday said his main target was to "free" the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the apex religious body of the Sikhs, from the "grip" of former Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal's family.

Dhindsa, a former Union minister, was addressing the first meeting of "Safar-e-Akali Lehar", a movement kickstarted by him last week.

He plans to hold district level meetings to rope in volunteers and workers for a new group which, according to him, will emerge as the "real Akali Dal".

Former Union minister Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, former president of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee Manjit Singh GK, SAD (Taksali) leader Sewa Singh Sekhwan were among those who participated in the meeting here.

Addressing the gathering, Dhindsa said his main target was to "free" the SGPC from the "grip" of the Badals.

Dhindsa had recently rebelled against the party leadership, especially its chief Sukhbir, in a bid to "liberate" the SAD from the Badal family and "revive its lost glory".

He had joined hands with SAD splinter groups including SAD (Taksali).

In reply to a question, Dhindsa said supporting the Congress or any type of alliance with the party for next Assembly elections was "out of question".

"Congress party has hurt the feelings of the Sikhs on several occasions. Moreover, Congress has betrayed the interests of the Punjab," he alleged.

At the meeting, Ramoowalia lashed out at Akalis, saying even the BJP was having "second thoughts" about continuing the tie-up with them.

SAD decided not to contest the Delhi polls after BJP asked the party to reconsider its stand on the Citizenship Amendment Act. SAD has batted for inclusion of Muslims in the CAA.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BOISE  Those who wish to proudly express their support for unborn children could do so on a new proposed license plate.

The Senate Transportation Committee voted Thursday to introduce the Choose Life license plate proposal, clearing the way for a hearing on the bill.

Sen. Regina Bayer, R-Meridian, is the lead sponsor of the bill. More than a dozen Republican lawmakers signed on as co-sponsors.

The plate would be available starting in 2021. It would cost $35 for the initial plate and $25 for each renewal, in addition to standard registration fees.

A portion of those fees would provide grants supporting life-affirming pregnancy resource centers in order to help pregnant women choose life for their babies and to encourage adoption as a positive choice for women with unplanned pregnancies.

Choose Life license plate The Choose Life license plates are offered in 32 states.

Choose Life America advocates for anti-abortion license plates nationwide. Their plates are available in 32 states and the effort has raised $28 million since 2000, according to the organizations website.

The committee moved to introduce both the license plate bill and an unrelated bill immediately following the start of the meeting. Opportunity for discussion was provided and nobody testified to either bill.

The bills were introduced on a party-line vote.

The unrelated bill was from Sen. Lee Heider, R-Twin Falls, and would allow residents to voluntarily donate $5 to organ donation education when registering a vehicle.

Love 3 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1
Parineeti Chopra made her Bollywood debut with the movie Ladies vs Ricky Bahl. Since then, the actor has acted in several movies like Ishaqzaade, Shuddh Desi Romance, Hasee Toh Phasee, and Kesari to name a few. The actor is quite active on her social media, giving her fans a daily update of her activities, movies, and vacations. Currently, Parineeti Chopra is vacationing in the Maldives, giving her fans major vacay goals with her holiday posts.

Parineeti Chopra shared a picture from her vacation where she is seen enjoying the view of the ocean with a hammock in the middle of the ocean. The actor is seen wearing a black monokini and black sunglasses. In the caption of the picture, Parineeti wrote, A hammock in the middle of the ocean? Yes, please.

Also Read| Sonia Mann says she was depressed after getting replaced by Parineeti in 'Jabariya Jodi'

In the second picture, Parineeti is seen simply chilling. The actor kept it comfortable and pulled off a laid-back kind of style for her vacation as she is seen wearing a black dress paired with a hat. In the caption of the picture, Parineeti Chopra shared her feeling and wrote that the ocean makes her happy. The actor called the Maldives her second home and in her caption, she also thanked the resort and the staff for making her stay enjoyable.

Also Read| Parineeti Chopra's winter fashion is turning up the heat and how!

Also Read| Parineeti Chopra, Ayushmann Khurrana's video singing this 90s song is a must-watch

On the work front

Parineeti Chopra was last seen in the movie Jabariya Jodi alongside Sidharth Malhotra. The actor is gearing up for two upcoming releases this year that is Saina, which is a biopic of Indian Badminton player Saina Nehwal and Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar.

Also Read| Parineeti Chopra nails the no-makeup look; See pics

Image Courtesy: Parineeti Chopra Instagram

Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment.
A former care home worker accused of mass killings in Japan has rejected his lawyers' argument that he is mentally unfit to stand trial.

The Yokohama District Court began questioning defendant Satoshi Uematsu on Friday. The 30-year-old is charged with killing 19 people with intellectual disabilities and injuring 26 others at the care home in Sagamihara City in July 2016.

The defendant has admitted to the killings. But his lawyers have entered a not guilty plea, on the grounds that he cannot be held legally responsible due to a mental disorder caused by the use of cannabis.

Asked if he understands the plea, Uematsu said it is a mistake to contest his legal competency, and that he is fit to be held responsible.

The defendant said he gave himself up to police to show that he understood he had committed a crime.

Uematsu repeated his claim that he thought it was okay to kill people with severe disabilities without their consent or those of their families.

He said he had confided his murder plot to about 50 acquaintances and drew laughter from more than half of them. He said he took it as a sign of their agreement.

Uematsu also said he thought he could gain what he called "the right to own money" if he killed people with disabilities.

The defendant spoke clearly during the session, wiping away his sweat once in a while. He is due to be questioned again on Monday.
In 2019, the Russian Federation granted citizenship to 299,422 citizens of Ukraine, according to statistics on the migration situation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation.

In January-December last year, it was precisely this number of Ukrainian citizens who received citizenship of the Russian Federation (accepted, restored, recognized).

Also, for this period a decision was made to issue 53,378 residence permits for Ukrainians; all in all, 155,863 Ukrainians currently live in the Russian Federation by residence permit.

In addition, in 2019, citizens of Ukraine received 53,915 temporary residence permits. Currently, 114,537 Ukrainians are residing under such permissions in the Russian Federation.

Also in 2019, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation counted 550,100 citizens of Ukraine who visited the Russian Federation on private visits, 435,500 - for work, 35,300 - for the purpose of study, 56,800 - as tourists and 56,200 for other reasons.
Most national unions havent picked a favorite yet in the Democratic presidential primary.

Its been a boon for Bernie Sanders.

Rather than harming Sanders, a longtime labor ally who has promised to work to double union membership as president, the reluctance to offer endorsements at the national level has enabled more progressive-minded local unions and labor groups to come out in force for the Vermont senator.

Sanders has already racked up 11 labor endorsements, more than any of his Democratic rivals, most of which are from local, regional and statewide unions. And some are among the most powerful labor organizations in early-voting and Super Tuesday states.

Hes picking up more labor endorsements because the national unions, almost without exception, have not made endorsements, which implicitly or explicitly sets the local and regional unions free, said David Kusnet, a former speechwriter for Bill Clinton who co-authored a book with an ex-AFL-CIO president. He has a lot of friends and fans and supporters in the union movement, and some of them are succeeding in pushing their local labor unions to endorse him.

The local endorsements are filling the political void left by national unions, still gun-shy after the acrimonious 2016 primary election left many rank-and-file members furious that their leaders supported Hillary Clinton over Sanders. Most are staying neutral for now, including some that have longstanding relationships with Joe Biden.

Five unions have come out for Biden, including three international or national unions, and three have gone for Warren, one of which is a national group that also co-endorsed Sanders. None has endorsed Pete Buttigieg.

The support of labor unions such as New Hampshires SEIU Local 1984, which represents more than 10,000 members, gives Sanders a boost of momentum and ground troops in critical early-voting states. Sanders has also won the backing of large teachers local unions in California, which votes on Super Tuesday, and in Nevada.

Story continues

We will have boots on the ground, canvass for him, get out the vote, said Rich Gulla, president of SEIU Local 1984. He's talking good-paying jobs, hes talking health care. I think hes resonating with labor and, quite frankly, with a lot of working people in this country that are finding it more difficult to make ends meet, and I think thats why hes getting the endorsements that hes getting.

Though Biden has fewer unions backing him, he won the support of two international unions that together represent nearly 400,000 U.S. members: the International Association of Fire Fighters and the Iron Workers. Sanders has three national unions behind him.

Given teachers' and nurses close relationships with members in their communities, Sanders team is hopeful that their canvassing will be especially effective.

Its unclear which candidates other labor groups will endorse as the primary unfolds. More building trades are expected to side with Biden at some point, and there is a possibility that some pro-Sanders local unions will put pressure on their national unions to put their weight behind him.

Robert Reich, who served as labor secretary under the Clinton administration, suggested that Sanders success stems from his work courting unions and their members, including by proposing to offer them advantages if Medicare for All passed. Under his plan, businesses whose workers have union-negotiated health care coverage would have to renegotiate their contracts if single-payer became the law of the land  and direct any windfall to the employees.

Sanders has been particularly diligent in appealing to unions and workers. He's proposed expanding union power and doubling union membership during his first four years in office. He's demonstrated solidarity with striking workers, Reich said. Many unions are still weighing other candidates, especially Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden, but Bernie seems to be in the lead right now.

Sanders might also be benefiting from the effort hes made to professionalize his 2020 campaign, including his political operation. In 2016, he had no political director. Analilia Mejia, who previously worked for SEIU and UNITE HERE, is now his national political director.

I come out of the labor movement. My deputy comes out of the labor movement. A bunch of the staff comes out of the labor movement, she said. I was talking to one labor leader and they were like, Its nice to talk to a campaign that understands the difference between a lockout and a strike."

Sanders campaign has also texted and emailed its supporters to encourage them to stand on picket lines and raise money for labor groups.

When I was political director [for unions], the thing I most wanted was a big turnout at my actions. And we were like, Hey, wait  we have a list of people who care about Bernie. Lets tell them they should come out in solidarity, Mejia said.

While Sanders supporters in labor unions are campaigning for him in early states, the pro-Biden Fire Fighters are blanketing the same areas. In Iowa, international leaders are meeting with locals and educating them about the caucus process, including how to persuade people during the second alignment.

That is when you can use the influence, the voice, your reputation with your neighbors to say, Come stand with us. Stand with your firefighters and stand with Joe Biden, said Harold Schaitberger, president of the IAFF. They trust you, they admire you, they hold you in high regard.


(Natural News) The European eel, scientifically known as Anguilla anguilla, is a catadromous fish  meaning it spawns and is born at sea before moving toward freshwater to eat and grow. Throughout their lifespan, these fish travel thousands of miles searching for food while going through several life stages, each marked by a change of color. Once they are ready to spawn, the eels make the journey back to where their lives began in order to make way for the next generation.

These eels used to be widely distributed within European waters. However, they have been exploited to the point that the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) deemed them a critically endangered species. Experts have noted that the number of eels returning to Europe from their spawning grounds in the Sargasso Sea has declined by over 90 percent since the 1980s. Now, recent research has discovered another threat to the survival of this particular species.

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) found that toxic metals like mercury and copper  by-products of industrial activity  could be detected in the ovaries of European eels of spawning age, which could negatively affect their ability to reproduce successfully. As the eels go along their journey back to the spawning grounds, they devour their own skeletons to divert their energy to their reproductive organs. However, this process also means that it is also concentrating the toxic metals they absorbed from the lakes and rivers where they live.

Few people realize just how precarious the European eel population is, said senior author Markus Brinkmann, an eco-toxicologist from the University of Saskatchewan. There has been a dramatic reduction in the numbers of young eels returning to Europes rivers, lakes and coastal areas in the past 40 years, to the point that they are now critically endangered.

Toxicity is in their bones

As previously stated, eels invest a vast majority of their energy in the growth of their ovaries. As the eels swim thousands of kilometers, they undergo a programmed death where they stop feeding and begin to absorb their stomachs and intestines. In addition, they also break down their skeletons and fat-rich muscles as a source of nutrients. Unfortunately, the researchers discovered that toxic metals stored in the bones and muscles of these fish are also transferred to their ovaries during this morbid metamorphosis.

In this study, an international team of researchers managed to provide analytical evidence for the transfer of toxic metals from the eels soft and hard tissues to the ovaries. The team analyzed the physiology of eels ready to lay eggs through computed tomography (CT) scans. Through charting the breakdown of the eelss skeletons, guts, and tissue, they were able to detect high concentrations of toxic metals like cadmium, mercury and manganese in the ovaries of mature female eels. Brinkmann claims that these metals could damage eggs produced by the ovaries and influence the health of the resulting eel larvae. (Related: Toxic heavy metal lead found at 700 times national limit in Chinas water supply.)

While it is not possible to say to what extent metals alone contribute to the dramatic declines in eel populations over the past decades, our findings indicate that metal contamination could be an important factor, added lead author Marko Freese of the Thunen Institute for Fisheries Ecology.

Learn more about these toxic byproducts and find ways to help keep them away from endangered species at Toxins.news.

Sources include:

ScienceDaily.com

EC.Europa.eu

UYCBRedlist.org

PNAS.org


remaining of

Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading.
2.9k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

Former Sen. Claire McCaskill said that Republican Senators tell her that Trump has no idea what he is talking about.

McCaskill said on MSNBC, I mean, thats the thing about the Republican senators in that chamber, they know this guy doesnt know whit about public policy. You should hear stories they tell when they come back from meetings at the White House. I have Republican senators tell me they were in a meeting at the White House with the president on health care and it was clear he had no idea what he was talking about. I mean, what, just yesterday, he does a meeting with the Iraqi leader  Of the Kurdistan in Iraq. And he starts talking about safe zones in Syria. He doesnt even know the difference. So the notion that he is drilled down in Ukraine and is trying to implement public policy, nobody in that chamber believes it.

Video:

Claire McCaskill says on MSNBC that Republican Senators have told her that Trump doesn't know what he is talking about. pic.twitter.com/vPGWIwVBX6  Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 24, 2020

Republican Senators know that Trump is lying. They know that his actions toward Ukraine have nothing to do with public policy because Trump knows nothing and doesnt care about public policy.

Yet, Republicans are going to vote to not convict and remove this president from office.

Every single Republican Senator who votes not to convict Trump is an accomplice to his crimes and must face the verdict of the voters in their home states in November.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

Follow Jason Easley on Facebook
Chhattisgarh government has decided to discuss Indian Constitution in all the government educational institution after Monday prayers every week.

An order in this regard has been issued by School Education Department of the state government on Friday.

Chhattisgarh government has given necessary instructions to all the divisional commissioners and district collectors to implement the orders of the state.

According to the directive issued, the Preamble of the constitution will be discussed in the first week of the month, in the second week a discussion will be held on the Fundamental Rights mentioned in the constitution, in the third week the Fundamental Duty and in the fourth week, the Directive Principles of State Policy.

The idea is that that constitution should be discussed and should be talked about among the young people. The students which are in school and the teachers who are teaching them should be aware and should express their views about the Indian Constitution, said Alok Shukla, secretary School Education Department talking to Hindustan Times.

It is worth mentioning, on the occasion of Constitution Day, which was on the second day of the winter session of the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly; Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had announced that programs will be organized every Monday to make aware the students about the constitution in the educational institutions of the state.

This is welcome decision of the state government. In the present era, everyone is fighting to save the Constitution of India and kids should know the importance of the Constitution. Secondly, teachers should also imbibe the constitution because most of the times they are also biased on the base of religion and caste, said Himanshu Kumar, a human right activist working in Chhattisgarhs Bastar region said.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ritesh Mishra State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh. Reports Maoism, Politics, Mining and important developments from the state. Covered all sorts of extremism in Central India. Reported from Madhya Pradesh for eight years. ...view detail
Strides Pharma Science on Friday said its arm has received tentative nod from US health regulator for triamcinolone acetonide ointment used in treatment of various skin conditions.

In a regulatory filing, the company said "its step-down wholly owned subsidiary, Strides Pharma Global Pte Ltd, Singapore, has received tentative approval for triamcinolone acetonide ointment USP, 0.05 percent from the United States Food & Drug Administration (USFDA)".

The product will be manufactured at the company's oral dosage facility at Bangalore and will be marketed by Strides Pharma Inc in the US market.

"While it was amongst the few competitive generic therapy designated products for Strides, another generic company received approval prior to our approval," the filing said.

Consequently, the final approval for Strides Pharma will be effective 30 May 2020 when the company will launch the product.

According to IQVIA MAT data, the US market for triamcinolone acetonide ointment USP, 0.05 percent is approximately USD 20 million.

The company has 102 cumulative abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) filings with USFDA, of which 69 ANDAs have been approved and 33 are pending approval.

The shares of Strides Pharma Science were trading at Rs 416.40 a piece on BSE, up 1.01 percent from the previous close.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 10:06:20|Editor: Yurou

Video Player Close

BEIJING, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's national observatory on Friday renewed a yellow alert for fog that will shroud parts of the country.

Thick fog enveloped the provinces of Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Jiangsu and Inner Mongolia autonomous region on Friday morning, with visibility in parts of these regions to be reduced to less than 50 meters, the National Meteorological Center said in a statement on its website.

The center suggested drivers in affected regions slow down, while airports, expressways and ports take appropriate safety measures.

China has a three-tier color-coded warning system for fog, with red being the most serious, followed by orange and yellow.

The center also forecast that southern China will brace for rainy and snowy weather over the next three days.

Heavy rain will likely hit parts of Jiangxi, Guangdong and Fujian provinces from Friday to Saturday, while parts of Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou and Hubei will see snow or sleet during the coming three days.
Gender Equality Books at JMH Library

The Ministry of Equality continues to work closely with partners as part of its strategy to raise awareness of equality issues.

Last year, the Ministry for Equality met with Cultural Services to recommended a number of books on gender equality matters that could supplement the John Mackintosh Hall Librarys current provision.

The initial list of books recommended are aimed primarily at children and young people. These books were displayed at the recent fireside chat event organised by the Ministry of Equality at the Garrison Library. Recommended books include fairy tales and non-fiction texts that celebrate the achievements of women in fields where women have been traditionally under-represented, such as science, sport and art.

A number of the recommended books are international best sellers such as, Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo, Prince Cinders and Princess Smartypants by Babette Cole, The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch, Fantastically Great Women who changed the World by Kate Pankhurst and Women in Science and Women in Sport by Rachel Ignotofsky.

Minister for Equality, the Hon Samantha Sacramento MP, said, Thanks to the enthusiasm at Cultural Services, I am very pleased to know that the younger members of our community will be able to access an increasingly broader range of books which challenge gender stereotypes and which promote diversity and inclusion. I am delighted to work with Cultural Services who have responded so positively to our suggestions and recommendations.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 04:27:53|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

An exterior view of the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva. (Xinhua/Liu Qu)

"Make no mistake, though, this is an emergency in China. But it has not yet become a global health emergency. It may yet become one," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Tedros said China has taken measures it believes appropriate to contain the spread of coronavirus in Wuhan and other cities and WHO hoped that they will be both effective and short in their duration. He also thanked the Chinese government for its cooperation and transparency.

GENEVA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The latest on WHO's announcement on the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in China: (all times local)

--

09:15 pm, Jan. 23

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), speaks at a press conference after the WHO emergency committee's meeting on the novel coronavirus in China at its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, Jan. 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Qu)

GENEVA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday that it was "too early" to declare the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in China a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).

"I am not declaring a public health emergency of international concern today. As it was yesterday, the Emergency Committee was divided over whether the outbreak of novel coronavirus represents a PHEIC or not," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a press conference after a closed-door meeting of the Emergency Committee.

"Make no mistake, though, this is an emergency in China. But it has not yet become a global health emergency. It may yet become one," Tedros said, adding that WHO's risk assessment is that the outbreak is a very high risk in China, and a high risk regionally and globally.

"I wish to reiterate that the fact I am not declaring a PHEIC today should not be taken as a sign that WHO does not think the situation is serious, or that we are not taking it seriously," the WHO chief said.

The UN health agency extended its Emergency Committee discussions on whether to declare a PHEIC from Wednesday to Thursday.

The PHEIC is defined by the WHO as an extraordinary event that is determined to constitute a public health risk to other states through the international spread of disease and to potentially require a coordinated international response.

Tedros said that 584 cases have now been reported to WHO, including 17 deaths. A total of 575 of those cases and all of the deaths have been reported in China, with other cases reported in Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the United States and Vietnam.

Tedros said China has taken measures it believes appropriate to contain the spread of coronavirus in Wuhan and other cities and WHO hoped that they will be both effective and short in their duration.

He thanked the Chinese government for its cooperation and transparency. The government has been successful in isolating and sequencing the virus very quickly and has shared that genetic sequence with the WHO and the international community.

For the moment, WHO does not recommend any broader restrictions on travel or trade, and recommends exit screening at airports as part of a comprehensive set of containment measures. All countries should have in place measures to detect cases of coronavirus, including at health facilities, Tedros said.

--

07:30 pm, Jan. 23

Urgent: WHO says too early to declare coronavirus outbreak in China a global health emergency, but it is an emergency in China.
(CNN)  Having negotiated agreements of sorts on trade with China, Mexico, Canada, South Korea and Japan, President Donald Trump is now turning to his next target: the European Union.

Trump made clear at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this week that his administration will move aggressively to negotiate a trade deal with Brussels. And if progress isn't made quickly, he said he'll impose tariffs of up to 25% on cars made in the European Union.

"I wanted to do China first. I wanted to do Mexico and Canada first. But now that we're all done ... we are going to do Europe," he said during an interview with CNBC on Wednesday.

There may be a deal to be done.

Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, met with Trump in Davos, where both leaders pledged to work quickly toward a deal. Von der Leyen told German news agency DPA that an agreement could be reached within weeks.

The transatlantic relationship produced $1.3 trillion in total trade in 2018, according to US government statistics. Counted together, the 28 countries of the EU were the biggest export market for US goods that year.

Yet experts say that aiming for a quick deal means there won't be time to address thorny issues that have for decades prevented the United States and the European Union from completing a comprehensive agreement to boost trade. The latest effort, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, was declared obsolete before it could be finalized.

What sunk the sweeping deal? Activists in Europe were alarmed by the prospect of imports of American genetically-modified crops and meat treated with hormones. The election of Trump, who campaigned in 2016 against new trade agreements, was the final nail in the deal's coffin.

Chad Bown, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said the outline of a new deal is unclear, but it's unlikely to resolve the big regulatory issues that are preventing increased transatlantic trade.

"In a short period of time, I think it's really unlikely that you would be able to tackle the really big agricultural disparity issues between the United States and the European Union," said Bown.

The Trump administration may instead choose another option from its playbook. Since becoming president, Trump has entered negotiations with South Korea, Canada and Mexico that resulted in tweaks to existing trade deals. Talks with China resulted in a "phase one" deal of narrow scope. Japan has also been convinced to sign a limited trade pact in order to avoid new tariffs.

Could he do the same with the European Union?

"With Europe, it's different. We've never come to a full agreement with them on any deal," said Bown. "So it's a really big unknown what they're going to piece together, and actually put into this thing, and call it a trade agreement."

Tariff threat

In recent days, Trump has renewed his threat to hike tariffs on cars made in Europe to 25%.

"Look, if we don't get something, I'm going to have to take action, and the action will be a very high tariffs on their cars and other things that come into our country," Trump said during his interview with CNBC in Davos.

Doing so would strike at the heart of European industry, making cars produced by Volkswagen, BMW and Daimler in their home market more expensive for Americans to purchase. Germany, where manufacturing is mired in recession, can scarcely afford new taxes on its products. But the blowback would also likely dent growth in the United States.

"It would certainly have very significant negative implications" for economic growth both in Europe and the United States, said Torsten Slok, chief economist at Deutsche Bank Securities.

Much would come down to the details, and whether the United States decided to tax completed cars, auto components or both.

There is a risk for miscalculation, according to Bown.

"Europe is not Japan. Europe is not China," he said. "If Trump does auto tariffs on Europe, there is a real sense that the political calculus in Europe would change ... and they would be forced to retaliate, and they are an economy of equal size."

Still, the threat may be enough to bring Europe to the negotiating table.

"The European Union is probably thinking, 'Hey if we can find something to give them, and that keeps tariffs on cars off the table, it makes sense to move forward,'" said Sam Lowe, a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Reform.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking Thursday in Davos, said she hoped a deal could be done with the United States, while reiterating her view that a multilateral trading framework was a better route to global prosperity.

Even a small deal with Europe could be a powerful tool for Trump on the campaign trail. In Davos, the president offered a preview of his reelection pitch to the American people, arguing that his trade deals have boosted the US economy and produced jobs.

"The president, we know, has a history of putting together really small deals and calling them momentous trade agreements," said Bown. "So what he's going to call a trade agreement in this context, we'll have to wait and see."

Julia Horowitz and Mark Thompson contributed reporting. This report was first published on CNN.com, "Trump zeroes in on his next trade target: Europe."
Centre stage: Anna Calvi is arguably one of the UKs most talented artists

Centre stage: Anna Calvi is arguably one of the UKs most talented artists

Anna Calvi has had enough of female artists being treated differently to their male counterparts.

She's sick of women, herself included, being considered an "anomaly" or being relegated to whole other category.

"There's still a tendency to see women as a genre, and there's this idea that there are artists - and then there are female artists," says Calvi, her softly-spoken tone slightly at odds with her condemnation of the business.

"I mean, it's definitely getting better though," she continues.

"When I think back to all the questions I got asked on my first album compared to now, there's a lot less underlying sexism.

"But I still feel that, if you're a woman, you'll get compared to a woman, just because she's a woman, not because your music sounds remotely the same."

The singer-songwriter and guitarist, who has three Mercury Prize nominations under her belt, reveals some of the queries she faced back when she released her critically-acclaimed eponymous debut album in 2011.

We're conducting our interview over the phone, so I imagine she's shaking her head as she recalls people asking her: "When are you going to have children, and when are you going to get married?"

She laughs: "It was like it was the 1950s. And there were a lot of questions about the guitar being phallic and how did I feel about playing a phallic instrument, what's it like being a woman playing a guitar? You know, questions like that."

It's a much-discussed topic, but I want her take on the matter: why does she think women continue to have such a hard time, even in 2020?

"I think it's because, in general in our society, men are trusted until they are proved not to be trusted, and women aren't trusted until they prove that they can be," she assesses.

"People don't want to take a risk and put a woman as a headliner at a festival, for example - they're more likely to do that with a male artist.

"Because, you know, sometimes you do you have a take a risk with an artist. Why someone like St Vincent isn't headlining festivals or Christine And The Queens, I can't understand that. They have such huge followings. It's so strange."

It's not all bad, though. What she does love about the current state of the music industry is how inclusive it is for artists that are "less mainstream, and with music that's a bit more challenging".

"They are all getting coverage and people are really interested in what they're doing," she adds.

"For example, FKA twigs... I don't think you can really call her music pop music, and yet she does really well and she's highly respected.

"It's so great that more left-field artists have more of a platform to get their music across, and that there's an audience that wants to be challenged in that way. It's great and I hope that continues."

It's almost like Calvi (39), is describing herself. While the London-born star's crowd-pleasing music, reminiscent of the likes of David Bowie, PJ Harvey and Jimi Hendrix (among many others) combined with her powerful, operatic-style vocals could hardly be described as challenging or left-field, her clever sidestepping of the very top end of the mainstream is a sign of a true pioneer who has so much more to give than identikit chart-friendly bops, or watered-down versions of her sound.

A varied artist, covering gender, sexuality and female power on her most recent album, 2018's Hunter (another Mercury nominee), Calvi is arguably one of the UK's most talented musicians of the moment.

Although perhaps not a household name to some, there's a chance you will have experienced her sound if you've turned on the TV over the past few months, as she wrote the score for the most recent series of small screen juggernaut Peaky Blinders.

Calvi is looking ahead to album number four, but she says there is pressure over putting out another critically-acclaimed, Mercury-friendly record.

If anything, her next collection going to be her easiest yet.

"I feel like the more you do an album, the more you realise it doesn't have to be everything that you are," she explains.

"It doesn't have to encapsulate your whole life - it's just a period of your life that you're putting to tape."

For now, her passion project is championing small music venues as the ambassador for Independent Venue Week (IVW), a national campaign that will see more than 800 gigs taking place in more than 230 locations across the UK.

Smaller venues are struggling to open their doors because of poor funding and low attendance, particularly in January ("Maybe because it's so cold, nobody wants to go out?" Calvi suggests), but they are a vital part of the UK's music scene, culture and identity.

Calvi will aid IVW, now in its seventh year, by performing an intimate, one-off show at The Windmill in Brixton, London, which will be broadcast on BBC 6 Music as part of radio presenter Steve Lamacq's Homecoming Tour.

For Calvi, it's a subject close to her heart, and one she was keen to support from the off.

"It's such an important cause," she stresses.

"From an artist perspective, being able to play these small venues and really learn your craft is incredibly important, and it's also where I've met other like-minded musicians.

"There's a cross-pollination of ideas that is so essential for developing as an artist. And to see these artists, they need to be given space to realise their full potential.

"To be able to play in these smaller venues is an integral part of that process."
On cross-examination, Damon Cheronis, one of Mr. Weinsteins lawyers, cut straight to that point. Under his questioning, Ms. Perez acknowledged that, even though one of her best friends had just said she was raped, they did not speak for a couple of days.

I tried to  she didnt want to talk about it, Ms. Perez told the jury. She was still very upset.

As months went by, Ms. Perez said, Ms. Sciorra would mention the alleged assault at times, but did not want to share details.

It was very, very traumatic for her, Ms. Perez said, and it was traumatic for me.

Then in 1994, when Ms. Sciorra was in London filming The Innocent Sleep, the two friends spoke by phone. Ms. Sciorra told Ms. Perez that Mr. Weinstein was harassing her  he had banged on the door of her hotel room  and that she was scared he was going to get her again, Ms. Perez said.

It was during that call, Ms. Perez told the jury, that she put two and two together and guessed it was Mr. Weinstein who Ms. Sciorra said had attacked her months earlier. She started screaming, Ms. Perez said. And I tried to calm her down.

Six women are expected to testify against Mr. Weinstein at the trial. He is accused of five felony counts, including rape and predatory sexual assault, and could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted of the last charge.

His lawyers argue that the women who have accused him had sex with him willingly to advance their careers. Prosecutors claim he lured his accusers to meetings with promises of work, and then physically overpowered them.
PM Gakharia meets with EBRD First Vice President in Davos, Switzerland

By Natalia Kochiashvili

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia will participate in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The head of the Georgian government arrived in Davos yesterday.According to the Georgian PMs press office, high-level bilateral political meetings will be held with heads of state and government. The office noted that the economic part of the PMs working visit will be devoted to meetings with the heads of international financial institutions and the world's largest companies.Head of Government of Georgia held a meeting with Jurgen Rigterink, First Vice President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), at the World Economic Forum in Davos.According to Gakharia, the EBRD is a strong supporter of Georgia's development agenda and the government appreciates fruitful cooperation with it.The meeting regarded that Georgia is one of the largest beneficiaries of EBRD investments, and its diversified portfolio offers significant opportunities for development from the energy sector to agriculture.According to them, the role of the EBRD in the formulation of the National Energy Efficiency Strategy as well as its special contribution to the education sector was highlighted as the reform of the sector is one of the top priorities of the Government of Georgia.The meeting highlighted the importance of ensuring the inclusiveness of the economy and increasing access to finance for the private sector. According to the parties, the Investment Council, supported by the EBRD, which is an independent platform for constructive dialogue between businesses, international organizations, donors and the Government of Georgia, aims to promote private sector development.I am very proud that 2019 was the best year for us in terms of investment results in Georgia. We have invested almost $ 300 million over the year, and we have a total credit portfolio of nearly a billion. Thus, we are in a unique position and 70 % of our investments are in the private sector. Cooperation with Georgia is obviously very good. We like the reforms and their continuous progress, said the First Vice President of the EBRD after a meeting with the Georgian PM.During the visit, the PM will also participate in the thematic discussion "New Ambitions for Europe" with European counterparts.The head of government will address the participants of the official event organized for European leaders - "Uniting Europe" and attend a reception on behalf of the Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Professor Klaus Schwab and Hilde Schwab.Among the Georgian delegation are Finance Minister Ivane Machavariani, PMs Advisor on International Affairs Irakli Chikovani and Economic Advisor Beka Liluashvili.According to Liluashvili, Gakharia will hold meetings with senior partners, heads of government and international financial institutions at the highest level. He said that up to 30 meetings are planned within the visit, which includes meetings of both political and economic character, as well as events envisaged by the Davos Economic Forum program.The visit of the Prime Minister of Georgia will end on January 24.
MEXICO CITY - One day after a vigilante group revealed that it was using children as young as 8 as recruits for armed defence patrols, Mexicos president said Thursday that drug cartels too are recruiting ever-younger kids.

The whole issue has sparked a debate in Mexico over the use of children in armed confrontations, with rights groups saying the practice threatens not only kids safety, but their mental health.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said that because social programs are giving more youths opportunities to study or work, drug cartels are having trouble finding gunmen, leading them to recruit children.

The gangs are having trouble getting hit men, so they are recruiting more children and young people, because there is competition, Lopez Obrador said. The thing is, the social programs are giving youths more options, and that is leading them (gangs) to get desperate, and they are looking to reinforce themselves with kids.

Lopez Obrador said the key is to attack the root causes, to stop the breakdown of families, to strengthen values and material welfare, to give attention to young people to avoid them being recruited.

The issue came to a head Wednesday, when a vigilante group in southern Mexico publicly displayed a troop of 19 armed, masked children who had been recruited to act as community police.

The children appeared to range in age from about 8 to 15, and they carried shotguns and rifles. Some of the very youngest carried sticks instead of guns.

They performed rifle drills on a road in the township of Alcozacan in southern Guerrero state. In a nearby town, a local drug gang had killed 10 men and burned most of their bodies, and vigilante organizers said the kids were needed to guard their villages against the drug gang.

The head of the Guerrero state human rights office forcefully condemned the vigilantes, saying they were exposing the children to danger.

We categorically reject the involvement of minors in security roles that put their physical safety, their lives and their development at risk,the office said in a statement.

But the prison and youth advocacy group Reinserta Un Mexicano A.C. said the Guerrero state governments position is irresponsible because authorities there have been systematically negligent in guaranteeing minimal conditions of welfare for these communities and in defending the rights of children in the conflict-torn area.

Drug gang violence has been so bad in Guerrero that thousands of residents have fled remote communities across the state and now live as internally displaced persons.

For example, the vigilantes said many of the children who have been recruited cant continue their education beyond grade school because they are afraid to leave their towns to travel to the nearest middle school.

The vigilantes belong to the Regional Council of Community Authorities, a split-off from a decades-old force known as the CRAC. Since the 1990s, the groups have mostly policed remote indigenous hamlets where regular police seldom venture.

While the community police are supposed to combat minor crimes like fights and public intoxication with traditional indigenous punishments like temporary arrest or community service in lieu of fines, they have been drawn into the dispute with drug gangs.

The vigilantes are fighting the violent Ardillos drug gang, which has been blamed for the Friday killings of 10 area men. But some say the vigilantes themselves have had ties to rival drug gang, the Rojos.
The Centers for Disease Control is testing samples from two Minnesota patients who exhibited flu-like symptoms after traveling to China, for signs of a virus that has raised worldwide concerns of a rapid spread.

Media reports elsewhere said Minnesota health officials suspect coronavirus in the two cases, both found in the Twin Cities. "Suspect is a strong word," said Doug Schultz, spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Health. State officials have solicited reports from health providers in Minnesota to report when they have patients who meet certain criteria -- in particular whether they exhibit "flu-like symptoms" including fever, cough and cold, and if those symptoms emerged within 14 days of traveling to China's Wuhan province, where an outbreak of the coronavirus has killed a reported 26 people and infected 830. The province consists of a population about the size of Canada's.

Samples were transported to CDC in Atlanta, where they are being tested. Results are expected within a handful of days, Schultz said. There have so far been two confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S. -- in Seattle and Chicago -- and there are about 50 cases under observation, including the two in Minnesota.

The two patients are not hospitalized and "both doing well," Schultz said. "It could turn out to be an influenza. ... There's all kinds of things that it could be."

The concern for coronavirus is that there is no current immunization for it. Schultz noted that the known strains of flu, for which there are immunizations, have killed 30 people including one child so far this flu season, and 1,200 have been hospitalized.

ADVERTISEMENT

Practices to prevent the spread of the flu -- handwashing and other common practices -- are similarly effective to combat the spread of coronavirus.

Though vigilant for this new strain of flu, health officials deem "the risk to the general public from the coronavirus is low," Schultz said. "Because it's new, we take it seriously."
High scores in military strength has given Vietnam 31st place in a 2020 global power ranking of 73 economies.

In Southeast Asia, Vietnam's level of global influence is second only to Singapore, which is placed 22nd, according to the latest power ranking released this month by multi-platform publisher U.S. News and World Report.

Among other Southeast Asian peers, Indonesia is ranked 40th, Myanmar 47th, Thailand 49th, the Philippines 51st, and Malaysia 58th.

The ranking assesses the influence of a nation based on five attributes including a country's leadership, economic influence, political influence, international alliances and military power.

Vietnam scored an average 0.9 points on a scale of 10 in power ranking. The country scored highest in military power at 2.8 points, followed by economic influence (0.7) and political influence (0.6). "Strong international alliances" recorded 0.4 points and "a leader" 0.5 points.

Vietnam was ranked 32nd among 80 economies last year.

The U.S. was named the most powerful country in the world, followed by Russia and China. The rest of the top 10 were Germany, the U.K., France, Japan, Israel, South Korea and Saudi Arabia.

Global Firepower, a U.S.-based non-governmental military website that assesses the military power of countries around the world, last year ranked Vietnam's military the 23rd most powerful in the world.

The country's total available active military manpower, estimated at 482,000, puts it among the 10 largest standing armies in the world, according to Global Firepower.

The power ranking is part of the U.S. News and World Report's Best Countries Ranking. In the overall ranking, Vietnam slipped four places to 43rd, performing best in economic growth, heritage and business openness categories.

VOV
France announces three people have the deadly new virus from China and health minister says she expects more cases.

France has announced three cases of a deadly new virus from China, the first in Europe.

The first two confirmed cases were announced on Friday by Agnes Buzyn, the French health minister, who said both people had travelled to China.

The government later updated the number to three.

The minister said she expects more cases.

We have two cases, she said. We will probably have other cases.

One reason why France is the first European country to have confirmed cases is that it has developed a test allowing medics to rapidly diagnose infected people, Buzyn said.

One of the pair, a 48-year-old man, passed through Wuhan, the epicentre in China for the virus, before travelling to France on Wednesday, she said.

That person is hospitalised in the southwestern city of Bordeaux.

The other person is in a Paris hospital.

The minister said that that person also travelled to China but that she has little other information about the case. It was confirmed shortly before she spoke at a news conference.

Earlier, the United States reported its second case, involving a Chicago woman in her 60s who was hospitalised after returning from China.

Transportation was shut down in Wuhan, a city of 11 million, and in at least 12 other cities in central Chinas Hubei Province, encompassing a population bigger than that of New York, London, Paris and Moscow combined.

According to the World Health Organization, signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

In more severe cases, coronavirus can lead to pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

Reports say the incubation period of the virus remains unknown, but other sources say it could be between 10 and 14 days.
OTTAWA  After a rise in violent crime and property theft across the Prairies, the Manitoba government is kicking the tires on boosting punishments for rural crime.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/1/2020 (719 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  After a rise in violent crime and property theft across the Prairies, the Manitoba government is kicking the tires on boosting punishments for rural crime.

"Some provinces have brought forward legislation relative to rural crime and property rights," Manitoba Justice Minister Cliff Cullen told the Free Press. "We're going to have a look at what their legislation says, and see if there's something that might be applicable for the Manitoba context."

The Pallister government says its also moving to address access-to-justice issues in the North, following months of investigative reports by this newspaper.

Early days for justice system to address MMIW report OTTAWA  The Pallister government says its too early to tell how the provinces justice system will respond to the last Junes report from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The inquiry's recommendations include reforming rape laws, giving more autonomy over Indigenous policing, and beefing up police oversight. click to read more OTTAWA  The Pallister government says its too early to tell how the provinces justice system will respond to the last Junes report from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. The inquiry's recommendations include reforming rape laws, giving more autonomy over Indigenous policing, and beefing up police oversight. Manitoba Justice Minister Cliff Cullen said the report garnered general discussion among his colleagues across the country Wednesday. I think it's pretty early on that file to provide examples, he said. They are very extensive, in terms of the recommendations, and some of them are quire far-reaching. Cullens federal counterpart, David Lametti, told reporters Wednesday theyd explored concrete solutions, but didnt specify any. Cullen said Ottawa and the provinces are still reviewing the recommendations. He added a committee of PC ministers are looking into gender-based violence with a heavy focus on what Indigenous women and communities have asked for. Lametti noted part of the response will stem from a November 2018 pledge by all provinces, to increase the use of restorative justice processes by at least five per cent in three years. More than a year later, its unclear how much progress Manitoba is making. Manitoba Justice posts online the number of referrals to restorative justice programs, which has fluctuated, but did not provide a number of overall cases, making it impossible to tabulate what percentage of criminal cases enter that program. Cullen said his colleagues did not discuss Gladue rights Wednesday, which are meant to influence how judges sentence Indigenous offenders.  Dylan Robertson Close

Cullen was speaking after Wednesdays meeting of federal and provincial justice ministers in Victoria, where the Alberta government floated the idea of putting aggravating factors into sentencing law for crimes committed in remote locations.

"That certainly would send a message to criminals, that that sort of activity in rural areas is not going to be tolerated," Cullen said.

In a letter last month, the Alberta government suggested Ottawa could allow judges to beef up jail time for offenders found to have deliberately committed a crime in a remote area, "in recognition of the victim's enhanced vulnerability," or when a criminal refuses to leave a property after a burglary or theft.

Aggravating factors currently apply for crimes against children or police, and those motivated by hate.

In Manitoba, the crime rate outside of the Winnipeg area was 42 per cent higher than in the capital city itself in 2017, the last year Statistics Canada compared those jurisdictions.

In Alberta and Saskatchewan, crime appears to be more common and violent outside the four major cities.

Parliament held hearings on the issue of rural crime in 2018, where Prairie residents spoke about inept emergency-number operators, hours-long response times, and city-based drug dealers preying on small communities.

In Manitoba, the crime rate outside of the Winnipeg area was 42 per cent higher than in the capital city itself in 2017, the last year Statistics Canada compared those jurisdictions. Justice Minister Cliff Cullen and the Manitoba government are considering boosting punishments for rural crime. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Free Press files)

The issue has percolated through racially charged cases such as the 2016 shooting death of Colten Boushie, a First Nations man, on the farm of a white Saskatchewan family.

Cullens provincial counterparts had "a pretty comprehensive discussion about rural crime Its certainly impacting not just those in the Prairie provinces," he said.

"There was a consensus to potentially look at Criminal Code changes; we didn't get into specifics on what that might look like," Cullen said, adding the ministers will report back at their next meeting together this fall.

Much of the issue seems to stem from RCMP under-resourcing. The national police force serves rural detachments based on the funding provided by their province. Increased demand has led the force to consolidate detachments, making it take even longer for police to reach citizens reporting robberies and assaults.

On Wednesday, Cullen said he asked Ottawa for more funding for police in Winnipeg and rural RCMP detachments. Last November, the province earmarked $1.9 million to add 16 Mounties to the roughly 1,000 officers that patrol Manitoba.

He also revealed Manitoba has been pushing to tap into its federal guns-and-gangs allocation to hire more RCMP officers, which isnt allowed under Ottawas current terms. This could explain why the province had only tapped $2.3 million of its $13 million allocation, far less than other provinces.

"There's a signal of some flexibility, so I would say we're cautiously optimistic," Cullen said.

Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

He also reiterated calls by Winnipeg Mayor Brain Bowman and Premier Brian Pallister to have Ottawa crack down on drug smuggling, since officials believe meth from Mexico is contributing to Winnipegs crime surge.

Meanwhile, Cullen has resisted calls by a Manitoba judge for an independent review of backlogged courts in the provinces north, where suspects have waited as long as 51 days for a bail hearing.

"Our government takes the issue of northern justice seriously," he said, in response to an ongoing Free Press investigation on the issue.

Unlike Manitoba, Saskatchewan uses video links in 102 remote locations, mostly police detachments, so suspects can appear in front of a judge for bail hearings, without traveling long distances.

The Pallister government indicated no plan to implement similar technology a month ago, but Cullen now says it is in the works.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
Olivia Culpo recently took a swipe at Jesse Metcalfe after rumours circulated stating that he had cheated on her best friend, Cara Santana.

Yet the stunning model, 27, appeared carefree on Thursday evening when she stepped out in a glitzy jumpsuit to attend a Schwarzkopf Color + Got2b event that saw her launching her new partnership with Color Ultime.

The blogger looked nothing short of sensational in the plunging sequined ensemble that scooped to reveal her bronzed decolletage.

Glamorous: Olivia Culpo, 27, appeared care free on Thursday evening when she stepped out in a glitzy jumpsuit to enjoy a night out in New York after her

Olivia's stylish jumpsuit was covered with sequins and was nipped in at the waist with a belt to accentuate her svelte physique.

The brunette beauty wore her chestnut-hued tresses in bouncy blow dried curls.

The former Miss Universe kept on trend with a pair of silver court shoes to boost her height but kept her accessorises to a minimum.

She gave a glamorous wave to the cameras as she stepped into the car, revealing her collection of diamond studded rings.

Elegant: The blogger looked nothing short of sensational in the plunging sequined ensemble that scooped to reveal her bronzed decolletage

Bye! The former Miss Universe kept on trend with a pair of silver court shoes to boost her height but kept her accessorises to a minimum

Split: Olivia recently took a swipe at Jesse Metcalfe after rumours circulated stating that he had cheated on her best friend, Cara Santana (Cara and Jesse pictured in November 2018)

Earlier on Thursday, Olivia took a thinly-veiled swipe at Jesse on her Instagram Stories when she suggested the actor had been unfaithful to his fiance Cara.

The former Desperate Housewives actor was publicly seen getting close to two different women, it was revealed on Wednesday the couple had gone their separate ways following over 13 years together.

Olivia shared a photo of Rachel McAdams as Regina George in Mean Girls in an Instagram Story post which read, 'Don't cheat... Nobody likes a cheater'.

BFF goals: Earlier on Thursday Olivia took a thinly veiled swipe at Jesse on her Instagram Stories

She then followed up her previous post with a still of Macaulay Culkin holding a BB gun as Home Alone's Kevin McCallister.

Tagging Cara in the post, Olivia captioned it: 'When somebody upsets my best friend.'

Meanwhile, fans have been commenting on the similarity between recent events and Jesse's 2006 romantic comedy, John Tucker Must Die.

'Don't cheat ... nobody likes a cheater': Cara's best friend seemed to throw shade at the situation when she posted a Mean Girls meme of Regina George

Fighting words: She followed it up with another meme of a young Macaulay Culkin holding a rifle in a still from Home Alone

In the film, three popular girls from different cliques - played by Ashanti, Sophia Bush and Arielle Kebbel - team up to exact revenge on their love rat boyfriend after discovering they're all dating him at once.

The trio rope in new girl Kate (Brittany Snow) to play the Lotahario at his own game and make him fall in love with her - only to break his heart.

One fan joked, 'Plot twist its actually publicity for John Tucker Must Die sequel', while another posted, 'Dude theres going to be a sequel to John Tucker Must Die!!!!'

Love rat: Jesse played the titular character in John Tucker Must Die, which saw the anti-hero lying to three different girlfriends - played by Sophia Bush, Ashanti, Sand Arielle Kebbel (left to right from centre)

A third shared: 'The guy from John Tucker Must Die was caught cheating with 2 other women that were NOT his fiancee. I guess history really does repeat itself.

'Once a cheater always a cheater. the women should real life john tucker must die him'.

It was confirmed earlier this week that Jesse and Cara 'split and are not together', according to US Weekly

Reaction: Fans have been commenting on the similarity between recent events and Jesse's 2006 romantic comedy

Sources revealed to DailyMail.com that Cara was completely blindsided by photographs of her fiance being affectionate with two other women this weekend in Los Angeles.

The 35-year-old designer and actress was nowhere in sight this weekend as Jesse stepped out with a pretty blonde  who appeared to be Australian actress Jade Albany  after holding hands with Hungarian model Livia Pillman.

A source revealed that 'he did not cheat on her' and that Cara and Jesse are 'not even living together.'

Over: Jesse and Cara have ended their almost four-year engagement. The pair, pictured together in early January, had been together over 13 years

The pair were last seen together on the red carpet for The Art of Elysium's 13th Annual Celebration - Heaven at Hollywood Paladium on Jan. 4.

She was later spotted the next day attending Golden Globes after-parties without Jesse by her side amid reports that Jesse had packed up and 'moved out' of their home in LA.

DailyMail.com has contacted Jesse's representatives for comment.

The actor was spotted with his arms wrapped around a tall blonde woman outside of a bar in the San Fernando Valley, just hours after he was out and about, holding hands with Livia Pillmann.

Love lost: The pair were last seen together on the red carpet for The Art of Elysium's 13th Annual Celebration - Heaven at Hollywood Paladium on Jan. 4

Despite being engaged for nearly four years, he told Access Hollywood in November that wedding planning was practically 'non existent' as of late due to their demanding schedules.

'Wedding planing is non existent,' he said. 'I've been so busy ... I've literally been out of town the whole year. Cara has been incredibly busy as well ... we're kind of just doing things on our own schedule.'

She recently launched a capsule collection with Kohl's called Cara Santana x Apt. 9 and is filming Kurt. with Matthew Lawrence.
24.01.2020 LISTEN

The Acting General Secretary of the Convention Peoples Party, (CPP) James Kwabena Bomfeh affectionately called Kabila, has called all democracy lovers to endorse and support the Electoral Commissions (EC) decision to acquire a new Biometric Voter Management System (BVMS) ahead of the 2020 election.

He has, therefore, urged persons who oppose the laudable initiative by the EC come up with superior alternatives

Let those with direct superior alternatives raise them and manage what is said as well as how it is said. Otherwise, let all democracy lovers endorse and support the EC for this initiative, Kwabena Bomfeh stated in an opinion piece titled: Of the EC, BVMS, and Resistance.

Some political parties and Civil Society Organizations have condemned the ECs move, saying its a waste of time. The largest opposition party in the country, the NDC and some smaller have embarked on two demonstrations against the compilation of new register within a space of two weeks

However, Mr. Bomfeh, who has been the Director of Elections for the CPP since 2011,

demonstrations and Press Statements/Conferences are legitimate ways to express dissent or drawing attention to grievances but they have limitations when it comes to stopping the EC from embarking on any approved programmed of activities.

As a demonstrator with some record, I would not contemplate deprecating demonstrations but, they become noisy without focus and coordination to overall objectives. The EC has on no occasion said that they are procuring a new BVMS because the present BVR is discredited. So those making that unfounded claim should know that there is no productivity in intellectual masturbation. Or are these demonstrations a test/rehearsal of the strength a party can garner? Or, could it also be a resource mobilizing avenue as the case might be? he stated.

According to him, historically, the authority and mandate of Ghanas Electoral Commission have been exercised under Articles 43, 44, 45, 46 and the Electoral Commission Act, 1993; Act 451 since 1993 with limited or no use of technology. This meant that the EC relied mostly on human judgments which were susceptible to manipulations and abuses thereby questioning the integrity of election outcomes. Elections are organized on the principle of ONE PERSON  ONE VOTE

But, without technology and solely relying on the human factor, this sacred principle was trite betrayed. Once individuals could register in multiples and stay on the register in multiple terms, automatically there could be multiple voting by same persons or a misrepresentation or identity swap voting. This had to give way for something better and reliably credible, he said.

According to the EC, it will save as much as GHC170 million with the acquisition of the new Biometric Voter Management System (BVMS). It explained that the total cost of maintaining the old Biometric System is $74, 364, 500 while the total cost for new BVMS system is estimated at $56,000,000. These include Biometric Voter Registration Kits (BVR) kits and the Biometric Verification Devices (BVD).

Giving a further breakdown of the cost of the entire process, it said the total cost of using the old BVR system for the 2020 election is $38, 692,500.00. This includes; the cost of refurbishment of some BVR kits used in 2016 and the acquisition of new ones. The number of kits used in the 2016 registration was 5,500 and the number of kits that were refurbishable was 1,500 and the unit cost of refurbishment was $3500, pegging the total cost of refurbishment at $5,250,000. The EC further posits that the nation also needs an additional 6500 kits at a unit cost of $5145, pegging the total cost of additional kits at 33,442,500.

However, for the new system, the number of BVR kits required for the 2020 election is 8,000 at a unit cost of $3,000.00, pegging the total cost for the new BVR @$24,000000.

Similarly, the EC intends to acquire some 80,000.00 BVD kits at a unit cost of $400.00 making a total of $32M compared to the $ 35,672,000.00 if it takes the path of refurbishing and purchasing additional BVDs from the previous vendor.

Furthermore, the EC opted against the proposal of the previous vendors to upgrade and refurbish their current datacenters and its equipment for a combined build and 1-year maintenance cost of $ 19M for completely new datacenters equipment with current systems for a combined build and 3-year maintenance cost of $7M.
A man is being treated at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast for symptoms associated with the potentially fatal Wuhan coronavirus.

There are more than 500 confirmed cases of the virus globally, with 17 fatalities in China.

The man is believed to have travelled to Northern Ireland from the city of Wuhan at the weekend and is currently being treated in an isolation ward.

It will be some time before results are returned, and there is no suggestion at this stage that the patient has coronavirus.

The virus causes pneumonia, with those who have fallen ill reported to suffer coughs, fever and breathing difficulties.

The Belfast Health Trust was unable to make any comment.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) also declined to comment directly on the case.

Expand Close Royal Victoria Hospital / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Royal Victoria Hospital

However, PHA confirmed it is monitoring developments regarding the outbreak of the potentially fatal Wuhan coronavirus.

It said it is working with health bodies around the UK and issued advice to any members of the public travelling to or from China.

In a statement they said: "The Public Health Agency is keeping abreast of the changing situation around the Wuhan novel coronavirus, and is liaising with partners across the UK including Public Health England and our local Health Trusts on this issue.

"As part of this, the health service here is monitoring for any potential cases of Wuhan novel coronavirus."

In its advice to the public, the PHA said: "Individuals should seek medical attention if they develop respiratory symptoms within 14 days of visiting Wuhan, either in China or on their return to the UK.

"People who plan to travel should check the travel advice on gov.uk. This is an evolving situation and we will provide updates and further guidance as required."

Yesterday, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council said a trade mission to China is now under review after the outbreak.

The civic visit by a council delegation is due to take place in April.

A spokesperson said it was "currently considering" the planned visit and that it would "closely monitor the situation".

Schools and other academic institutions with students from China have also taken additional precautions as a result of the outbreak.

Bert Robinson, head of boarding at Campbell College, Belfast, confirmed that while there are no boarding students from the affected region, the college houses four students with addresses in other parts of China.

He said: "Each of these boys has already been assessed by our school nurse and in consultation with the GP.

"None of these students are presenting with any symptoms and each student is being assessed on a daily basis as we continue to monitor the situation very closely.

"The health and wellbeing of our pupils is of the utmost importance and we are following all Public Health Agency guidance to ensure the ongoing safety of all our pupils."

A total of six people are being tested for the illness in the UK, five of them in Scotland.

The Chinese government has effectively locked down Wuhan, cancelling planes and trains there and in the nearby city of Huanggang.

Last night, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said it was "too early" to declare an international public health emergency over the outbreak.

It came after infections expert Professor Jurgen Haas claimed there would likely be "many more cases".

The WHO said: "The Emergency Committee on the new #coronavirus (2019-nCoV) considered that it is still too early to declare a public health emergency of international concern given its restrictive and binary nature."

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, said: "Make no mistake, this is though an emergency in China.

"But it has not yet become a global health emergency.

"It may yet become one."

He said 584 cases have been reported to the WHO, including 17 deaths, with 575 of the overall cases and all the deaths reported in China.

Other cases have been reported in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the US and Vietnam.

Dr Tedros said the fact he was not declaring a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) "should not be taken as a sign that WHO does not think the situation is serious".

He added: "We are aware of media reports of suspected cases in other countries, but those cases are still being investigated."
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 20:46:14|Editor: Wang Yamei

Video Player Close

NEW DELHI, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Jair Messias Bolsonaro arrived in New Delhi on Friday for a four-day state visit.

The highlight of his visit will be on Jan. 26 when he will be the "Chief Guest" for this year's Republic Day Parade in the Indian capital.

India will hold the 71st Republic Day Parade this year.

As per the set custom, various tableaux depicting India's art, culture, science and technology and military might are displayed in a march-past at the historic "Rajpath", a road in central Delhi connecting the President's House to the India Gate.

During his stay, the Brazilian president will meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A few bilateral agreements are scheduled to be signed between the two countries, according to the president's official itinerary.
A great man for the one-liners is our Micheal. As we prepared to quiz him about their TV encounter and Leo Varadkars car crash response to that illegal drug question (some cannabis in college but that was a long time ago) the Fianna Fail leader was unexpectedly wreathed in smoke from a nearby ventilation system.

Is that Leo?, he murmured without missing a beat, delivering the kind of zinger that was sadly missing during the debate itself.

Officially he didnt want to go down the road of pursuing that particular issue, although he made clear he didnt buy into the Taoiseachs humility project: privately he had some critical musings about the format of the encounter half interview and half debate.

We were in hipster heaven, in a trendy corner of Dublin South Central where Fianna Fails nearly woman of four years ago, Senator Catherine Ardagh, who missed out by 35 votes, is giving it another shot.

No butcher shops or fast food merchants to wrinkle Micheals nose here. Stopping for a quick coffee with the candidate he had to choose between the Fumbally, where the specials were beetroot burgers and Brazilian vegetarian casserole, and the Olive (homemade green pea soup or chicken and basil pesto salad.) The Olive won out, Catherine Ardaghs four-week-old twins, Darragh and Sean, conveniently on hand for a photo.

Dublin South East is a sprawling urban constituency, stretching from the Liffey as far as Cherry Orchard and Walkinstown in the western suburbs. The Ardagh team had chosen Blackpitts near St Patricks Cathedral to showcase their party leader.

In days gone by, Blackpitts was a byword for grimy deprivation, its name a relic of plague burials in the 14th century. Nowadays its terraces and cul-de-sacs, dotted with trendy conversions and car charging points, are home to Dublins young professionals.

Unfortunately, when Micheal called, they were all out, earning the dual incomes they need to support an inner city lifestyle. In Warrenmount Place, just three doors out of 20 or so opened to the Fianna Fail team.

Eavan Keane listened politely; her West Limerick husband is an FF man but she is independent, she told Mr Martin firmly. After voicing concern about the proliferation of student accommodation she told him  without much conviction  that she would consider supporting Catherine Ardagh. It was much the same story in nearby St Michaels Terrace: door after door remaining stubbornly closed as the team began to fret about the pace of the canvass.

Leo Varadkar with local candidate Emer Currie with members of a ukelele class. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Those who did engage were older residents. William ODonnell raising the familiar subject of the pension gap, raging against the unfairness of shortchanging those who have to retire at 65. Hes worked since he was 14, has never drawn benefits; no one has ever told him what his entitlements are.

Long-time Blackpitts resident, Margaret Humphrey, was only too well aware of those benefits; she dragged Mr Martin into her spotless kitchen, laughingly insisting that he sign her social welfare form.

One younger voter was Barry Lyon, who worked for St Michaels House and bemoaned the dearth of respite places to help older parents of children with special needs.

A gleaming BMW X5 pulled up and local restaurateur, Farhan Malik, took the Fianna Fail leader to task about the lack of engagement with the Pakistani community; they are itching to get involved in politics he insisted, yet none the parties are reaching out.

Data courtesy of The Irish Times

All in all, the morning spent on the doorstep represented a microcosm of inner city Dublin: well off, time-poor couples side by side with older residents who have seen the area change out of all recognition in recent years. Then there are the new Irish, many of them, according to Mr Malik, disengaged from local politics. And of course the Fianna Fail team didnt venture into the canyon-like gated developments that abound in the south inner city, where canvassing is practically impossible.

Its an electorate thats hard to read. Most agree that it is time for a change, but demurred when it was suggested they back Fianna Fail.

Catherine Ardagh was pipped by just a handful of votes last time out leaving Dublin South Central with three left wing seats and no Fianna Fail representative. Her challenge in 2020 is to unseat an incumbent and fend off a possible Green challenge.

For all that, the 37-year-old solicitor should be a TD by the time shes organising her twins first birthday party. There might not have been huge enthusiasm for Fianna Fail on the Blackpitts doorsteps, but the desire for change thats out there should see her across the line.
The Home Office has described the US Secretary of States decision to reject an extradition request for the suspect charged in connection with the death of Harry Dunn as a denial of justice.

The 19-year-olds parents were informed of Mike Pompeos decision in a phone call with their constituency MP, Andrea Leadsom, on Thursday.

In a statement, a Home Office spokeswoman said: We are disappointed in this decision, which appears to be a denial of justice.

We are urgently considering our options.

Mr Dunn was killed when his motorbike crashed into a car outside a US military base in Northamptonshire on August 27 last year.

His family have said they are not surprised by the rejection, but added that it will not be a battle the US government is going to win.

In a statement, the US State Department said that at the time of the accident, and for the duration of her stay in the UK, the US citizen driver in this case had immunity from criminal jurisdiction.

A spokesman said if the US was to grant the UKs extradition request, it would render the invocation of diplomatic immunity a practical nullity and would set an extraordinarily troubling precedent.

He described the US as having a history of close law enforcement co-operation with the UK, and said it values that relationship.

He expressed the State Departments sincere condolences and sympathy to the Dunn family for the loss of their son.

Anne Sacoolas was charged with causing Mr Dunns death by dangerous driving, by the Crown Prosecution Service, in December.

The 42-year-old was granted diplomatic immunity following the crash and was able to return to her home country, sparking an international controversy.

The Home Office submitted an extradition request for her, which the US described as highly inappropriate.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson had previously said the chances of the suspect ever returning to the UK were very low.

Mr Dunns family said they would react fully to the news on Friday morning, but that the fight goes on for justice for their son.

The familys spokesman, Radd Seiger, told BBC Radio 5 that he understood no reason had been given for Washingtons decision.

The reality is they can't give a reason because there is no good reasonRadd Seiger

The reality is they cant give a reason because there is no good reason, he said.

Its simply an unlawful act, and we knew it was coming.

Well simply take it in our stride. Everybodys relaxed, we knew this day was coming.

Earlier, in a short statement, Mr Seiger said: If Trump and Pompeo think this is an end to the matter, they have another think coming. Team Harry will sit down with the Government tomorrow and work out our next steps.

And next steps there will be. The whole world is on Team Harrys side. This is not a battle the US government is going to win.

Mr Seiger also called for a meeting with Mr Johnson after what he described as one of the darkest days in the history of this relationship.

He told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: We did not welcome his public comments last week.

He is the leader of the gang, he aspired to be Prime Minister. History was made last night when the Americans decided not to return her.

Boris Johnson wanted to be Prime Minister, he is now being tested severely. I expect him today to rise to that challenge and come and meet with me and the family and tell us what hes going to do about it.

Expand Close Harry Dunn was killed when his motorbike crashed into a car outside RAF Croughton (Family handout/PA) PA Media / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Harry Dunn was killed when his motorbike crashed into a car outside RAF Croughton (Family handout/PA)

Mr Seiger added that the US administration was taking a wrecking ball to the relationship with the UK.

In a statement released on behalf of the suspect after she was charged in December, Mrs Sacoolass lawyers said: Anne will not return voluntarily to the United Kingdom to face a potential jail sentence for what was a terrible but unintentional accident.

Lawyers acting on behalf of the Dunn family have said it is the first time in the 100-year history of the extradition treaty that such a request has been turned down by the US.
Kolkata, Jan 24 : A one-and-a-half month-old baby died allegedly after three eunuchs broke into a jig carrying the child in Jhargram of West Bengal's West Midnapore district on Friday, police said.

Three eunuchs were arrested following a complaint lodged by the child's parents in Binpur police station.

The child, born on December 13, had a heart problem for which it was earlier admitted at the Jhargram Superspecialty Hospital and released about three weeks back.

On Friday morning, the three eunuchs reached the house at Silda and wanted to dance with it.

The family, however, objected, saying the child was unwell.

However, the eunuchs paid no heed to the objection and went ahead with their dance.

The child soon developed breathing problems and was rushed to the local primary health centre, where it was declared dead.

--IANS ssp/vd

A
RedTerrano BHPian



Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Pune Posts: 704 Thanked: 5,081 Times

Are we there yet? The History of vehicle navigation devices







The story goes thus:

Long ago, King Kubera found one yaksa guilty of some transgression, and exiled him for one year to Central India. The yaksa, left with no choice, had to relocate his residence temporarily. Unfortunately he had to leave his beloved wife behind. Pining away for her, he tried to make the best of the situation, but soon it became unbearable. He chanced upon a passing monsoon cloud, and inspiration struck him. He pleaded the cloud, to take a message across to his wife, Alka, whose domicile back then, was on Mount Kailas.



All the world loves a lover.

The cloud took pity and yielded.



But one problem. How to find Alka?

And so, the yaksa laid down a detailed itinerary for the cloud.



detailed navigation system.

Here is how it would look, if the cloud was a TBHPian and wrote a travelogue!









----------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------

In 1893, Chicago hosted the World's Columbian Exposition, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbuss discovery of the new world, and 46 countries participated.



27,300,000 visitors! Remember it's 1893 we are talking about, where the most predominant mode of transport was either 2 or 4 legs!

So many visitors!

Besides the exposition, spread over 690 acres, so many other places to visit.

In a nutshell, so much prospective bu$ine$$ !!

But how to attract prospective customers?

So someone came up with the brilliant idea ofcane maps!

Exposition map on the front and Chicago tourist attractions on the back



yellow pages.





-----------------------------------------

O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?

No idea my love. Let me check my Plus Fours Route finder, a.k.a. The wrist map!!



In 1921, one John J Bovy hit upon an idea of a wearable map, and he even obtained a patent for it !











This is perhaps the first know instance of a smart watch.



-----------------------------------------

Henry Ford introduced the Model T in 1908 and drove into the history books.

Next year, these ads appeared in The Automobile magazine, which are pretty self explanatory.

Note the mention of a light to enable nocturnal navigation







This is perhaps the first known instance of a vehicle navigation system



-----------------------------------------

It is no surprise that Mr Baldwins idea found traction amongst other manufacturers.

In 1930, Touring Club Italiano introduced the Iter Avto. Drawing heavily on the idea of changeable and scrollable maps, they went one step ahead and synched it up with the cars speedometer.



One small step for Iter Avto.

One giant leap for vehicular navigation





Avanti!



-----------------------------------------

The 1980s saw the dawn of the electronic era. Not surprisingly, it made its way to cars as well.

Gone were the paper scrolls. Gone was the mechanical linking. Those technologies were replaced by manually inserted transparent maps displayed on 6 inch monochrome screens. A blinking dot showed you your current position, which moved along with the car, powered by gas gyroscopes and guided by the cars transmission.









Few years later, the Etak Navigator superseded the Gyrocator.



guided you to your destination.





All devices till now, relied on telemetry fed input. The flaws in such a system were obvious. For long, auto manufacturers had experimented with other methods to determine the location. Come 1995 and satellite based GPS tech was opened up for public consumption.



Henry Ford changed the auto industry back then.

His company did an encore, when they introduced Tripmonitor





Automated: 

Relying solely on satellite triangulation: 



Our journey has ended.

We have safely arrived, precisely at our destination. Kalidasa (4th-5th century CE), is regarded as the greatest Sanskrit poet and dramatist.Around 375CE, he penned down the 120 stanza poem, Meghaduta, a.k.a. Cloud Messenger.The story goes thus:Long ago, King Kubera found one yaksa guilty of some transgression, and exiled him for one year to Central India. The yaksa, left with no choice, had to relocate his residence temporarily. Unfortunately he had to leave his beloved wife behind. Pining away for her, he tried to make the best of the situation, but soon it became unbearable. He chanced upon a passing monsoon cloud, and inspiration struck him. He pleaded the cloud, to take a message across to his wife, Alka, whose domicile back then, was on Mount Kailas.All the world loves a lover.The cloud took pity and yielded.But one problem. How to find Alka?And so, the yaksa laid down a detailed itinerary for the cloud.This is perhaps, the first instance of aHere is how it would look, if the cloud was a TBHPian and wrote a travelogue!In 1893, Chicago hosted the World's Columbian Exposition, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbuss discovery of the new world, and 46 countries participated.In the 6 months it ran, from May to October of that year, the exposition received a mind boggling! Remember it's 1893 we are talking about, where the most predominant mode of transport was either 2 or 4 legs!So many visitors!Besides the exposition, spread over 690 acres, so many other places to visit.In a nutshell, so much prospective bu$ine$$ !!But how to attract prospective customers?So someone came up with the brilliant idea ofcane maps!Exposition map on the front and Chicago tourist attractions on the backThis is perhaps the first known instance of what we would (or rather used to call)In 1921, one John J Bovy hit upon an idea of a wearable map, and he even obtained a patent for it !In 1927, this concept materialised as a product. This was a wrist worn device, with small paper scrolls inside it. The face of the watch of course, showed you the map.The idea was to load the required scroll, and advance it manually using the knobs, to synch with the travel.This is perhaps the first know instance of aHenry Ford introduced the Model T in 1908 and drove into the history books.Next year, these ads appeared in The Automobile magazine, which are pretty self explanatory.Note the mention of a light to enable nocturnal navigationThis is perhaps the first known instance of aIt is no surprise that Mr Baldwins idea found traction amongst other manufacturers.In 1930, Touring Club Italiano introduced the Iter Avto. Drawing heavily on the idea of changeable and scrollable maps, they went one step ahead and synched it up with the cars speedometer.We are getting there now. More reliably than ever.The 1980s saw the dawn of the electronic era. Not surprisingly, it made its way to cars as well.Gone were the paper scrolls. Gone was the mechanical linking. Those technologies were replaced by manually inserted transparent maps displayed on 6 inch monochrome screens. A blinking dot showed you your current position, which moved along with the car, powered by gas gyroscopes and guided by the cars transmission.Honda christened it the Electro Gyrocator but sadly, it didnt catch up much. Probably the cost (~$3000) was prohibitive.Few years later, the Etak Navigator superseded the Gyrocator.Map transparencies were replaced by digital maps stored on cassettes which were plotted on a vector display. It still continued to feed on telemetry fed by the wheel sensors and built in compass. However, there was one further improvement in the Etak. It could translate addresses to latitude/longitude, and as such it was perhaps the first system whichyou to your destination.All devices till now, relied on telemetry fed input. The flaws in such a system were obvious. For long, auto manufacturers had experimented with other methods to determine the location. Come 1995 and satellite based GPS tech was opened up for public consumption.Henry Ford changed the auto industry back then.His company did an encore, when they introduced TripmonitorDigital display: Automated: Relying solely on satellite triangulation: Our journey has ended.We have safely arrived, precisely at our destination. Last edited by RedTerrano : 23rd January 2020 at 19:32 .
The woman who murdered her boyfriend in a parking lot two and a half years ago meekly pled guilty to second-degree murder on a drizzly Thursday afternoon. Emily Brooks, 28, is facing between 15 to 25 years in the Tennessee Department of Corrections for shooting Eric Burchfield during the summer of 2017.

As Criminal Court Judge Don Poole asked Ms. Brooks the requisite questions about her education, choices, and other things, the defendant was barely audible as she went through the questions. However, when asked if she pled guilty to a lesser charge of second-degree murder, Ms. Brooks was loud enough to hear her say yes when asked the important question.

After briefly speaking with Burchfields and Brooks families, prosecutor Crystle Carrion and Ms. Brooks attorneys agreed upon a sentencing date of March 19. At the sentencing, the prosecution will present evidence against Ms. Brooks and the defense will seek a lower term.

In December, Ms. Brooks was involved in a suppression hearing, where her attorneys argued the court should ignore the presence of a gun found in a bag shortly after she tried to escape from police. According to a previous story, Investigator Robin Davenport, who was there when the events occurred, told the court what happened.

He described how the woman who was once described as having long blonde hair appeared before them with a red buzz cut. After being detained, she somehow slipped out of the handcuffs and tried to run away. Just as investigator Davenport tackled her, she tried to reach into a bag lying on the ground. She was then detained a second time.
Southeast Christian Church announces plans for 10th campus, fourth since popular pastor's retirement

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

One of Americas largest evangelical megachurches announced on Sunday that it will launch its 10th campus to better serve thousands of its congregants and underserved populations.

Southeast Christian Church based in Louisville, Kentucky, will launch a new campus just outside Louisville in Bullitt County, according to a post on the churchs Facebook page.

[W]e are showing the love of Jesus to one person at a time living in Bullitt County! the post reads. Please join us as we pray to Catch the Wind in Bullitt County. Stay tuned for more details.

The Louisville Courier-Journal reports that the location of the new Bullitt County campus has not yet been decided. However, the SECC expects the new campus will likely seat around 400 to 600 people.

The plans make sense for the congregation, which has over 22,000 members across two states, because it has several thousand members that live in Bullitt County, said Senior Pastor Kyle Idleman.

"Launching this new campus will give them more opportunities to love, serve and care for their neighbors, co-workers, and friends right where they live," Idleman was quoted as telling the newspaper.

SECC named Heath Barth as the Bullitt County campus pastor. Barth has served for four years as SECCs Bullitt County community pastor.

On Sunday, Barth was interviewed during the service at SECCs Blankenbaker campus.

There is a huge population of people in Bullitt County  82,000 people according to the last census, Barth said. According to some recent surveys, it says that 92 percent of people in Bullitt County dont have a connection to a local church. For us, that is heartbreaking.

There [were] 550 homeless students in Bullitt County Public Schools last year. [Over 48] percent of all kids in Bullitt County arent kindergarten ready, he added. We just recognize that there is an opportunity to unite the body of Christ to really be on impact and on a mission in that community together.

Barth said that previously, over 400 people attended a watch party at an elementary school in Bullitt County where attendees watched the livestream of an SECC service.

There were over 60 folks who registered or attended for whom it was their first experience with Southeast, Barth explained. Its really neat to hear that they didnt get an email from us. They got an email or an invite from a friend who was a Southeast member who said, Hey, come with me.

The Bullitt County campus will be the fourth new SECC campus since former Senior Pastor Dave Stone announced his retirement in September 2018.

Last October, Southeast launched its eighth campus called The Chapel in the Woods in Louisville.

Last September, the church announced the development of a new campus in Shelby County, east of Louisville. The Shelbyville campus does not have a launch date. But the church expects the campus to launch by the end of 2020. The Shelby County campus will be pastored by Max Semenick.

In November 2018, Southeast Christian Church announced a merger with River Valley Christian Church in Goshen to become the seventh SECC congregation. The merger was announced after RVCC Pastor Brandon Braun was diagnosed with leukemia.
Ukraine, Turkey sign protocol on joint projects on armaments, military hardware

02:56, 24.01.20 6800

The sides also outlined priority tasks for 2020.
Reach key decision makers with sales-ready leads that shorten your sales process. Move the needle by delivering funnel qualified leads to your sales team. Learn more

Apple and the U.S. Justice Department are at it again. This time its over cracking a brace of iPhones owned by the Saudi Air Force cadet who killed three sailors in a shooting spree last month at the naval air station in Pensacola, Florida.

At a news conference held Monday to announce the findings of an investigation into the Pensacola incident, U.S. Attorney General William P. Barr called out Apple for refusing to help the FBI recover data on the phones owned by the cadet, Lt. Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, who also was a member of the Royal Saudi Air Force.

We have asked Apple for their help in unlocking the shooters iPhones. So far Apple has not given us any substantive assistance, Barr told reporters, reading from a statement.

This situation perfectly illustrates why it is critical that investigators be able to get access to digital evidence once they have obtained a court order based on probable cause, he continued.

We call on Apple and other technology companies to help us find a solution so that we can better protect the lives of Americans and prevent future attacks, Barr added.

Barrs Comments Refuted

Barrs comments provoked Apple to issue a statement of its own on the subject.

We reject the characterization that Apple has not provided substantive assistance in the Pensacola investigation, Apple said. Our responses to their many requests since the attack have been timely, thorough and are ongoing.

Within hours of the FBIs first request for information, Apple provided the agency with a variety of information for its probe and continued to do so from Dec. 7 to Dec. 14. In response to six additional requests for information, the company provided investigators with iCloud backups, account information, and transactional data for multiple accounts.

The queries resulted in many gigabytes of information that we turned over to investigators. In every instance, we responded with all of the information that we had, Apple said in its statement.

We are continuing to work with the FBI, and our engineering teams recently had a call to provide additional technical assistance, it added. Apple has great respect for the Bureaus work, and we will work tirelessly to help them investigate this tragic attack on our nation.

Backdoors Swing 2 Ways

In its statement, Apple criticized the use of backdoors as a means for law enforcement to obtain data protected by encryption.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

We have always maintained there is no such thing as a backdoor just for the good guys. Backdoors can also be exploited by those who threaten our national security and the data security of our customers, the company stated.

Today, law enforcement has access to more data than ever before in history, so Americans do not have to choose between weakening encryption and solving investigations. We feel strongly encryption is vital to protecting our country and our users data, it continued.

Apple is right to provide strong security to its users, requiring a passcode or biometrics to unlock a phone, maintained Kurt Opsahl, general counsel for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, an online rights advocacy group in San Francisco.

The attorney generals request that Apple re-engineer its phones to break that security imperils millions of innocent Americans and others around the globe, and is a poor trade-off for security policy, he told TechNewsWorld.

Fundamental Disagreement

There is a fundamental disagreement on this issue, observed Tim Erlin, vice president of product management and strategy at Tripwire, a cybersecurity threat detection and prevention company in Portland, Oregon.

Advocates for lawful access believe that the ability to catch criminals outweighs the risks of compromised privacy, and privacy advocates believe that your right to privacy outweighs the governments right to search those devices, he told TechNewsWorld.

Theres no doubt that the ability to bypass a devices encryption compromises privacy. The argument put forth in favor of such access is that its worth it, Erlin said.

No one on either side of the argument  law enforcement or technology  has come up with a means to provide lawful access that cant be abused or exploited by unintended third parties, he continued.

This isnt a new fight for either the U.S. government or Apple, added Erlin. By making a very public request on a very high-profile incident, Barr is aiming to put public pressure on Apple to comply where legal pressure has previously failed to get a result.

Creating Public Pressure

The Justice Department has wanted legislation mandating backdoors to encrypted devices for decades, noted Julian Sanchez, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, a public policy think tank in Washington, D.C.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

They knew before they asked that Apple wasnt going to be able to unlock the phones, he told TechNewsWorld.

Rather, this is about picking a high-profile case to restart that debate and create political pressure for that policy, Sanchez continued.

We know they did this in the San Bernardino case, where an internal watchdog report found that the FBI was so eager for a court fight to make a political point that they didnt put much effort into exploring other ways to crack the phone  even though thats what ultimately worked, he said.

Fourteen people were killed and 22 seriously injured during a terrorist attack four years ago on the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, California. The FBI pressured Apple to crack the phone of one of the terrorists, but the company refused. Eventually, a contractor was found with tools to hack the phone for the FBI.

There are presumably dozens if not hundreds of phones the FBI would like to break into, Sanchez said. They know full well Apple cant do what theyre asking. Theyve decided to stage a public fight over this one because they think its a case that will create political pressure on Congress to give them the policy they want.

Reason for Skepticism

The Justice Department and FBI have been misleading the public about their inability to access data on cellphones, maintained Gregory T. Nojeim, senior counsel at the Center for Democracy & Technology, an online civil liberties and human rights advocacy organization in Washington, D.C.

On one occasion, they overstated by at least a factor of four the number of phones they could not break into, he told TechNewsWorld.

On another occasion, they sued Apple to compel assistance, even though they had a contractor 90 percent of the way to finding a solution. Eventually, the contractor broke into the phone, and the Department of Justice dropped the lawsuit, Nojeim said.

So I think theres reason to be skeptical about FBI claims that its going dark, he observed.

Encryption is important for the functioning of society today, added Nojeim. There are so many opportunities for the FBI to track us and gain information about who we contact and who contacts us. It has more access to more data about more people than at any other time in the history of the country.
Toronto police have charged a behavioural therapist after an eight-year-old boy was allegedly assaulted last week.

The 31-year-old therapist was working with the boy at a home in the Dufferin Street and Queen Street West area on Jan. 17 when the alleged assault took place, police said.

On Thursday, Amelia Chandra was charged with one count of assault and one count of causing bodily harm.

She is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 21.

AlphaBee, a Toronto organization that offers a number of services for children with autism, employed Chandra at the time of the alleged assault.

The organization immediately suspended (Chandra) and removed her from active service, said AlphaBee CEO Dunya Marijan-Winterson, adding that the boys family has been offered support and additional resources.

We have zero tolerance for harassment and abuse of any kind and take these allegations extremely seriously, Marijan-Winterson wrote in an email.

We value the trust families place in us to work with their children each and every day, and we will continue to work hard to earn that trust.
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], Jan 24 (ANI): Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut on Friday alleged that a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party has informed him about the tapping of his phone.

"Your phone is being tapped, I have been informed by a senior BJP minister," Raut claimed in a tweet.In a tweet, he also said that he welcomes whoever wants to overhear his conversation."I am a disciple of Balsaheb Thackeray. I don't say or do anything behind the curtain. So go ahead with it," he added. (ANI)
Amateur Radio to hold public demo of emergency communications on January 25 & 26

Despite modern communications  Internet, cell phones, and email, every year whole regions of the country find themselves in the dark. Tornadoes, fires, storms, ice and even the occasional cutting of fiber optic cables leave people without the means to communicate.

In these cases, the one consistent service that has never failed has been Amateur Radio.

In Caldwell County (North Carolina), amateur radio operators provide emergency communications for the Caldwell County Emergency Operations Center, the American Red Cross, and others.

The Lenoir Amateur Radio Club hams will join with other Amateur Radio operators nationwide in showing their emergency capabilities at Winter Field Day 2020 to be held at 10 Falls Avenue, Granite Falls. This years event will be held in the shadow of the ruins of the Old Shuford Mill, the scene of a devastating fire in Granite Falls a couple years ago. This location provides a setting to remind radio operators and visitors that disasters dont just happen someplace else. Winter Field Day takes place regardless of weather conditions because disasters dont just happen on pretty days.

The event begins at 2:00 pm, Saturday January 25 and continues for 24 hours  through the night and wee hours of the morning  until 2:00 pm, Sunday, January 26. The public is invited to come see ham radios capabilities and disaster readiness as well as have a look at the Clubs Communication and Antenna trailers that can be deployed when needed.

Over the past year, the news has been full of reports of ham radio operators providing critical communications during unexpected emergencies in towns across America, including flooding, wildfires, winter storms, and other events.

When trouble is brewing, amateur radio operators are often the first to provide rescuers with critical information and communications. The fastest way to turn a crisis into a total disaster is to lose communications, said Mitch Mast, President of the Lenoir Amateur Radio Club. Our local hams work closely with Caldwell County Emergency Management and area Skywarn to be ready to provide the most reliable communications in the first critical hours of an event. Because ham radios are not dependent on the Internet, cell towers or other infrastructure, they work when nothing else is available. All our support is free to the served agencies.

In addition to emergency situations, the Lenoir Amateur Radio Club provides communications support for many local public events such as bike races, festivals, and run/walks.

Amateur Radio is a lifetime hobby as well as a critical resource during emergency situations. Entire families are getting their amateur radio licenses so that they will be able to communicate should an emergency event impact their community. Amateur radio skills transfer into employment in the electronics and communications workforce. Come out and get on the air with the help of a local ham and learn how to get your amateur radio license.
Ex-Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes has been forced to phone in her own defense in a civil fraud case unfolding in Arizona after her lawyers quit over non payment.

Holmes, who lives in California, made a call into a Phoenix federal court on Thursday to represent herself without an attorney.

The former executive told a judge in an audio feed into the proceeding that she also would not be handling her own arguments in her defense.

Instead, Holmes said she was going to defend herself by relying on arguments made by attorneys representing co-defendants in the civil suit, reports Bloomberg.

The former top executive of the now-imploded blood testing startup hasn't taken the same approach in criminal proceedings relating to the collapse of Theranos that she's facing in California.

Former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes and lawyer Kevin Downey leave a federal court after a status hearing in California in July. While she's been appearing for her criminal case in San Jose, she's been phoning in her defense in a separate case in Phoenix, Arizona

Elizabeth Holmes, founder and CEO of Theranos, speaks at the Fortune Global Forum in San Francisco. Holmes has been forced to phone in her own defense in a civil fraud case unfolding in Arizona after her lawyers quit over non payment

Despite being able to still wear pricey garbs to the San Jose criminal proceedings -- she arrived just last week wearing an all-grey ensemble that consisted of a $495 Boss sleeveless dress with a $495 Boss jacket to match -- her lack of legal representation in Phoenix raised questions about her finances.

Holmes' net worth before Theranos went down was about $4.5 billion, Bloomberg reports.

One legal observer speculated that if she is running out of funds, Holmes may be prioritizing which court matters more to show up to in person.

'If there's only so much money to go around, staying out of prison is always priority number one, period,' Bill Portanova, a former prosecutor who's now a defense lawyer, but isn't involved in any Theranos litigation, told Bloomberg.

'Lawsuits seek only money, not imprisonment,' he added.

Holmes, 35, a former Stanford University student, started Theranos in Palo Alto on the promise it had developed a way to perform complex blood analysis with a finger prick.

But federal authorities contend Theranos' technology didn't work as billed, and that the company had duped both its investors and clients. She, her ex-boyfriend and former Theranos president Ramesh 'Sunny' Balwani face 11 counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Holmes, who entered a not guilty plea in San Jose federal court to the charges of conspiracy and fraud, could spend up to 20 years in prison, and get slapped with a $250,000 fine if convicted.

In Phoenix, Holmes is answering to charges that stem from an October 2019 complaint alleging that she hadn't paid her attorneys feels.

Court documents show Holmes owed John Dwyer and the lawyer's firm, the Palo Alto-based Cooley, for a year's worth of work on her behalf.

Court documents show Holmes owed John Dwyer and the lawyer's firm, the Palo Alto-based Cooley, for a year's worth of work on her behalf

Holmes' net worth before Theranos went down was about $4.5 billion

The lawyers said at the time that they wanted to quit the case because they don't ever expect to be paid. The documents cited Holmes 'current financial situation'.

'Given Ms. Holmes's current financial situation Cooley has no expectation that Ms. Holmes will ever pay it for its services as her counsel,' they added.

The lawyers were representing Holmes in a separate class-action civil lawsuit filed in US District Court in Phoenix.

A trial date hasn't been set for the civil lawsuit filed against Holmes, Theranos and Walgreens, the firm's retail partner which offered Theranos' blood-testing technology in Arizona and California.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of consumers who paid for Theranos' blood testing service. Holmes' is scheduled to appear in court on February 10 at 10am for a pretrial motions hearing.

Dwyer did not immediately respond when DailyMail.com reached out.

Lawyers on his criminal defense team at Williams & Connolly, based in Washington, DC, also were not immediately available.

Barbara McQuade, a former federal prosecutor now teaching at University of Michigan's law school, said the retainer for a top law firm to handle Holmes' criminal case likely required a high-priced down payment.

'It's possible that she paid Williams & Connolly a large retainer up front that its lawyers are now 'earning,' McQuade said in an email to Bloomberg.

The California case against her claims Theranos, Holmes and Balwani and a one-time partner, the Wallgreens drug store chain, took samples of their blood when the defendants allegedly knew the technology was still under development.

That, prosecutors say, left clients at risk of potentially harmful treatments, or not to seek help when they needed it for medical ailments.

A Walgreens spokesman did not immediately respond when DailyMail.com reached out.
Miami-Dade Department of Corrections

Prosecutors in Florida believe a 60-year-old man building a dungeon under his home is the so-called pillowcase rapist, who authorities say broke into womens houses and concealed his face with pillows and towels in as many as 40 assaults in the state since the 1980s.

Robert Koehler was arrested on 18 January after authorities say they tied his DNA to samples collected from a 1983 case. The sample also matched DNA collected from several other cases between 1981 and 1986, according to the Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office.

Authorities were able to link Koehler to at least 25 cases, although they believe there are other matches to follow, as investigators begin to dive into Koehlers history in the state.

He was charged with two counts of sexual battery with a deadly weapon and remains in custody without bond, according to Brevard County Sheriffs Office records.

Koehlers son Robert, 29, was arrested last year on charges of attempted burglary, domestic violence assault and criminal mischief. Because he was charged with a felony, his DNA was collected and entered into a federal database. But his DNA matched a sample collected in a 1983 rape case in Miami, before the younger Koehler was even born.

On 28 December 1983, a 25-year-old woman was forced to cover her face with a blanket before she was raped and stabbed in the abdomen with a sharp object, which authorities believe was an ice-pick.

Miami-Dade Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said because the DNA was so similar to the then-unknown suspect in custody, it was likely a close familial match.

The offender had to be the mans father, she said.

Koehler, a convicted sex offender following a 1990 rape in Palm Beach, did not have DNA collected in that case. After suspecting him of the 1983 rape, police collected Koehlers DNA from a grocery store cart.

Prosecutors say Koehlers home contained several safes they believe held souvenirs from his victims, including jewellery, and a nail file that may have been used as a weapon during his attacks.

Story continues

Police uncovered a room under the floor or Koehlers house, which Miami-Dade prosecutor Laura Adams described as a dungeon in progress.

She said authorities feared very much that if we had not gotten him into custody that he may have had other plans even worse than what he executed on all of these women from these cases.

Ms Adams said its difficult to say whether Koehler had ever stopped allegedly victimising women after a task force  charged with finding the man responsible for the string of assaults -- had been disbanded 30 years ago.

Read more

Frozen iguanas to fall from trees in Florida, forecasters warn

Luxury yachts caught smuggling Chinese immigrants into Florida

Officer told to act like white supremacist with black murder suspect

Saudi pilot called US nation of evil before shooting, reports say

How Republicans are trying to stop 1.4 million people from voting
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 17:54:58|Editor: Yurou

Video Player Close

Iraqi protesters take part in a demonstration against the presence of U.S. troops in the country, in Baghdad, capital of Iraq, Jan. 24, 2020. Iraqi Shia leader Moqtada al-Sadr on Friday called for a scheduled withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq through peaceful means. Tens of thousands of Iraqis, mainly al-Sadr's followers, gathered to reject the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

BAGHDAD, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Shia leader Moqtada al-Sadr on Friday called for a scheduled withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq through peaceful means.

Al-Sadr made the call in a letter sent to a massive rally of Iraqis in al-Jaderiyah district, central Baghdad. "We will try to pursue all peaceful political, economic, social, cultural and popular means," the leader said.

Tens of thousands of Iraqis, mainly al-Sadr's followers, gathered to reject the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq, in response to an earlier call by al-Sadr.

If the primary goal, which is to schedule the withdrawal of the U.S. forces, is fulfilled, the peaceful means will continue until full withdrawal is realized, al-Sadr said in the letter.

He said full withdrawal can only be achieved by closing all American military bases on Iraqi soil, closing the headquarters of American security companies and ending their work in Iraq, and closing the Iraqi airspace to the military and intelligence flights of the U.S. forces.

He also called on cancelling all security agreements with the United States due to the absence of an international balance in them since concluded, and they were approved during the years of the U.S. occupation of Iraq after 2003.

Referring to the sporadic attacks on facilities and military bases housing U.S. troops, al-Sadr pledged a "pause of all resistance" until the withdrawal of the last U.S. soldier from Iraq.

"We will try to do our utmost not to throw Iraq into another war with the unjust occupier who perched on the chest of Iraq," al-Sadr said.

The Iraqi parliament passed a resolution requiring the government to end the presence of foreign forces in Iraq on Jan. 5, two days after a U.S. drone strike on a convoy at Baghdad airport which killed Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy chief of Iraq's paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces.

Over 5,000 U.S. troops have been deployed in Iraq to support the Iraqi forces in the battles against Islamic State militants, mainly providing training and advising to the Iraqi forces.
US Declines Britains Extradition Request for Diplomats Wife Accused in Teens Death

The United States has declined to extradite a U.S. diplomats wife who was involved in a car crash that killed a British teenager.

British prosecutors had requested the extradition of Anne Sacoolas over the crash last August in which 19-year-old Briton Harry Dunn was killed while riding his motorbike.

But the State Department said on Thursday that Sacoolas had immunity from criminal jurisdiction and that to extradite her would set a precedent.

If the United States were to grant the UKs extradition request, it would render the invocation of diplomatic immunity a practical nullity and would set an extraordinarily troubling precedent, the State Department said.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Friday that he had spoken to the U.S. ambassador in London, Woody Johnson, to express Britains disappointment.

We feel this amounts to a denial of justice, and we believe Anne Sacoolas should return to the UK, Raab added. The UK would have acted differently if this had been a UK diplomat serving in the U.S.

We are now urgently considering our options.

In a Twitter post, Johnson expressed his sincere condolences and sympathy to the Dunn family for their loss.

Today I spoke with Foreign Secretary @DominicRaab and met with @andrealeadsom MP to hear their concerns regarding the Harry Dunn case. I also reiterated to them my sincere condolences and sympathy to the Dunn family for their loss.  Ambassador Johnson (@USAmbUK) January 24, 2020

Dunns family have said Sacoolas was driving on the wrong side of the road at the time of the crash, near an air force base in central England used by the U.S. military.

Sacoolas left Britain shortly after the accident. Her lawyer has said that she will not return voluntarily to potentially face jail for a terrible but unintentional accident.

However Dunns mother Charlotte Charles said Sacoolas had to return to Britain.

Diplomatic immunity or not, like weve said all along it still doesnt cover somebody to run away from laws in our country, she told reporters

She will come back, I dont care how long it takes.

Harry Dunns mother Charlotte Charles poses in front of a banner outside the Buckingham Palace, London, on Dec. 3, 2019. (Dylan Martinez/Reuters)

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said Sacoolas was wrong to use diplomatic immunity to leave Britain and has urged U.S. President Donald Trump to reconsider the American position.

Dunns parents met Trump at the White House in October. Trump hoped to persuade them meet to Sacoolas, who was in the building at the same time, but they declined.

Family spokesman Radd Seiger speaks to the media on behalf of the parents of Harry Dunn, Tim Dunn and Charlotte Charles, after meeting with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab in London, England, on Oct. 9, 2019. (Peter Summers/Getty Images)

By Elizabeth Howcroft and Eric Beech
AUTO LAB TALK RADIO FROM NYC, Saturday January 25, 2020; WNYM Radio AM 970 7-9 AM





Auto Lab Talk Radio on New York City's WNYM Radio AM 970 Is Streamed Worldwide On TheAutoChannel.Com

Car Question or Concern? Automotive Career Opportunity, Call Toll Free 888-692-7234 To Speak With An Auto Lab Expert











Auto Lab is also about the automotive industry, its history, and its culture, presenting the ideas and advice of leading college faculty, authors, and automotive practitioners in a relaxed, conversational interactive format.

Listeners can find audio recordings of the past 20 years of archived Auto Lab shows as simulcast on The Auto Channel; The Auto Lab Index Page includes; Audio-on-Demand Archives, Community College Auto Program Database, Guests Pictures

This Weeks Show: January 25, 2020

In Studio Expert Automotive Panel

Harold Bendell, Major World

Tim Cacace- Master Mechanix

Libby Demarco- Broadway Sunoco

David Goldsmith-Urban Classics

Jerry Pastore- D & J Diagnostics

Johanna Pastore-D & J Diagnostics

Joanne Porcelli, Esq.

Michael Porcelli, Bronx Community College, City University of New York

Nicholas Prague, MTA

Interviews

Robert Erskine, Senior European Correspondent:

Russ Rader Senior Vice President Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

Sharon Sudol , John Russell Senior Correspondents:
For the second time in three years, a senior official in the U.S. Department of Education will visit schools in Wyoming that are outside the traditional mold of public education.

On Friday, Mitchell Zais, the deputy secretary of the Education Department, will visit Cheyennes Poder Academy Secondary School, one of Wyomings few charter schools. Zais will also visit St. Marys, a private Catholic school in the capital. The visit is intended to highlight the importance of education freedom and visit two schools that are rethinking education in order to better serve students, according to a press release from the agency.

In 2017, Education Department Secretary Betsy DeVos visited Caspers Woods Learning Center, which is part of the Natrona County School District and is run by teachers rather than a principal. She also visited St. Stephens Indian High School during that trip.

Were really excited about this visit, Nick Vaughn, the principal of Poders secondary school, said Thursday afternoon. We found out about it when we got back from winter break, so the beginning of the month.

He said Zais visit would last about an hour  its scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday. Vaughn said Zais will see the schools various innovations, including its chess program.

Pat Lane, the principal at St. Marys, said in a brief email that Zais is coming to see our school and to listen to some of our stakeholders views on education within the U.S. and Wyoming.

In a press release announcing the visit, the Education Department wrote that St. Marys is rethinking education by implementing a curriculum that challenges students based on individual talents and strengths.

Michelle Panos, a spokeswoman for the Wyoming Department of Education, said state Superintendent Jillian Balow has forged a good working relationship with DeVos. Balows national prominence heading the Council of Chief State School Officers has increased Wyomings role in the national discussion ... to a level not seen in recent history.

Panos added that the department had learned of the visit several weeks ago. The trip will come a few days before the start of National School Choice Week and Catholic School Week.

Before becoming Education Secretary, DeVos forged a name for herself by promoting charter schools, primarily in Michigan. Balow, through a spokeswoman, said that she has always supported high quality options for education including public schools, virtual education, home school, private schools and charter schools.

Wyoming is largely bereft of charter schools. Natrona County School District, for instance, killed an effort to establish one here several years ago. The central Wyoming district, the states second largest, has its own innovative approach to public education. The district allows for open enrollment, meaning that any student living in Natrona County can apply to attend any school here (with the exception of Roosevelt, the districts alternative school).

Wyoming has other differences and innovations that set it apart from states where charter schools are more prevalent. Its a rural state, where roughly half of the 48 school districts have fewer than 1,000 students, some with only one high school and one middle school. The state spends more than $16,000 per student, in part to support those more rural areas. The funding system is also unique, supported largely by the mineral industry rather than by the broader tax base.

Wyoming students also test well, typically outperforming the national average in elementary and middle school assessments.

In 2017, the Star-Tribune asked DeVos if charter schools or a voucher program was possible in Wyoming, given the states inherent rural nature.

I always think that having more choices for parents to make to really find the right education for each of their children is really important, she said. And its also up to the people of every state to decide how that happens. But what is not negotiable is the notion that every child should have an equal opportunity to get a great education.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0

Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
In the early morning of Thanksgiving eve, Jerry Plaia walked out the front door of his Port Neches home, took in the sight of a giant fireball from the nearby TPC Group plant and shouted a few choice words of surprise. He was still in the gym shorts hed worn to bed.

It was a helluva boom, Plaia said, an understatement that was caught on a home security camera and offered a brief chuckle to a city frazzled by the window-rattling explosion and fire that blazed for more than a week.

The video became a viral sensation after his daughter posted it on Facebook. Two months later, his hometown craft brewery, Neches Brewing Co., is celebrating the incident with a fiery new beer, Helluva Boom Serrano Pepper IPA. The accompanying artwork portrays a cartoon version of Plaia in front of a mushroom-shaped cloud.

On Thursday, Plaias 62nd birthday, he stopped in for a pint of his namesake brew.

Im honestly still kind of shocked it went this far, Plaia said. I was just saying a few curse words and trying to adjust my shorts.

Surrounded by a few friends and his wife, Debbie Plaia, he sipped on the beer and made jokes while wearing a T-shirt with the beer logo on it.

Since the video, Plaia has been recognized in public occasionally, even by a window repairman from Houston who asked to take a selfie with him while at his house.

Debbie Plaia described her husband as a positive kind of guy, but he also can be reflective.

In the aftermath of the explosion, which is still being contained at the site almost two months later, Plaia said he was kind of shook up days after the blast shattered windows and rock homes across his city. Like others in Port Neches, Plaia had worked in the petrochemical industry for more than 30 years, but said the simulated fire he trained around didnt prepare someone to see something like the TPC Group explosion.

Plaia said he was just happy he got to make a few people laugh during a hard time for Southeast Texas.

Im glad I got to do that, I really am, he said. I feel fortunate it happened and I at least got to make people laugh. It dropped the anxiety a bit.

Like the explosion itself, the creation of Helluva Boom also came out of nowhere.

Tyler Blount, owner of Neches Brewing and creator of the beer, told The Enterprise in a December interview that he was thinking of making an explosion-themed beer but wasnt sure exactly how to go about it. He had just started to get back up to speed with his business and home after the explosion damaged both, and didnt want to create something that would rub salt in the wounds of other Port Neches residents.

Thats when Debbie Plaia came in to share her husbands idea.

She said, Jerry thinks you should name a beer Helluva Boom, but I didnt really know what I was going to do with that, Blount said in a Thursday update. We had just started making some IPA that I thought I would use but I didnt know how to make it a boom.

Soon after, Blount was at the local Market Basket picking up some things for the brewery when the produce manager asked him if he wanted some serrano peppers he needed to move out for space. He turned the manager down at first, but then had a quick thought about that odd beer name again.

One 20-pound load of peppers later, Neches Brewing had transformed its crisp Dreamcatcher IPA  itself a nod to the Port Neches-Groves High School Indians  into a spicy but refreshing beer.

Blount said he turned a quarter of that batch into Helluva Boom since he didnt know how it would turn out, but he has been pleasantly surprised. Two of the six kegs had already been emptied after just two days on tap.

Its so weird how it came together and it just so happened to his birthday, Blount said. It couldnt happen to a better person.

What was the verdict from the man of the hour?

It was really good, Plaia said. Its been a good way to spend a birthday.

jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/jdickjournalism
New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present Union Budget 2020-21 on February 1, 2020, and the mobile phone industry is expecting to get a boost from it. In late December 2019, at one of the extensive closed door meetings that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had with various industry vertical heads, a high-profile team representing India`s digital economy outlined the way forward. At the meeting where PM Modi was most candid asking for real time suggestions to boost growth, he was informed that electronics manufacturing, especially handsets and components, had a good chance of becoming India`s largest exports within the next five years. Industry asked him to follow a path of least resistance.

Sources close to developments revealed to IANS that a special incentive scheme for the manufacture of mobile handsets and components will be unveiled in Budget 2020 to give an additional push to the burgeoning sector.

A Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (MSIPS) to promote aggressively a 20-odd component manufacturing ecosystem in the country that will go beyond making mobile phones is on the anvil. This will be an overarching policy which goes beyond interest subvention and credit default guarantee and it will be outside the scope of MeitY (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology) and by an outside department/arm since ministry`s role is that of a policy maker only.

M-SIPS was floated to encourage electronics manufacturing and it ran from 2012 to 2018. It promised multiple incentives for 10 years, including a capital subsidy of 20% in special economic zones (SEZs) and 25% in non-SEZs, and reimbursements of countervailing duty or excise on capital equipment for non-SEZ units.

For some high-capital projects, it also offered reimbursement of Central taxes and duties. The incentives were available for 29 electronic verticals across the manufacturing value chain. The period of benefits was reduced to 5 years from 10 years after it was recalled.

The M-SIPS was created to provide financial incentives across the ESDM (Electronics System Design and Manufacturing) value chain to compensate for cost disability in manufacturing and Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC).

This sector has shown tremendous promise wherein exports have grown from a mere US $200 million three years ago to cross US $2 billion in the year 2019-20 in handsets alone -- a 10x growth in 36 months.

One of the most successful stories around Make in India is mobile handset manufacturing with Noida outside Delhi becoming the new hub. The size of the domestic mobile manufacturing industry in FY 2019-20 is expected to be Rs 1,35,000 crore as against Rs 94,000 in FY 2016-17. Already, India, which has second position in the global mobile handsets market, is projected to grow to 302 million units this year.

This meeting was part of a series of industry meetings hosted by the PM at his residence in the run-up to the Union Budget to be announced on February 1. It was attended by Manu Kapoor, Samsung, Virat Bhatia, Apple India, Soumitra Bhattacharya, Bosch Ltd., and Hari Om Rai, Lava. The industry emphasised that India`s potential for electronics exports was unlimited, especially as labour arbitrage and geopolitical issues were helping the tide in India`s direction.

Only two countries ? China and Vietnam - export handsets and components, while 198 countries are net importers. India needs to become the third, beating Vietnam first and then grabbing share from China. India currently suffers a 9-12% disability vis-a-vis Vietnam and nearly 18% vis-a-vis China as far as handsets and components manufacturing is concerned.

To move manufacturing, especially for the purposes of exports, the government needs to focus on the competitiveness of the sector. The National Policy on Electronics 2019 (NPE-2019) puts the total handsets market at US $190 billion-US $80 billion domestic and US $110 billion exports by 2025-26.

This dovetails perfectly with PM Modi`s aspirational hobby horse -- the `Make in India` programme. In October 2018, at a meeting held in Japan, the PM had declared that, "We are rapidly moving towards being Number One in mobile phone manufacturing". He had expressed a desire for India becoming a global hub in the field of electronics and automobile manufacturing.

Industry remained hopeful about the steps needed to address India`s disability to move it to the next level of production and exports.

The start-up sector also participated in the meeting. Shashank ND of Practo, TVS Mohandas Pai (formerly Infosys, Manipal) and Saurabh Srivastava, Indian Angel Network represented the issues of start-ups. Primary among their concerns was the ability to get bank finance in India for start-ups. It was decided that a meeting of start-ups with leaders of Indian banks will be held shortly and the way forward will be presented to the PMO for taking action.

The software sector in the meeting was represented by CP Gurnani, Tech Mahindra and Rajesh Gopinath, TCS. Tech Mahindra and TCS are among India`s largest exporters of software and over 90% of their revenues come from international markets, such as US and Europe.
Three people were killed in Guinea Thursday during clashes with security officers in the anti-government stronghold of Labe, according to the city's mayor.

Hundreds of thousands of people have protested in the West African state since mid-October over concerns that President Alpha Conde intends to use a planned constitutional reform to extend his mandate.

At least 23 civilians and one gendarme have been killed in the protests to date, according to an AFP tally.

On Thursday, the alliance of opposition groups behind the protests did not call a rally.

But tensions have remained high in the central city of Labe, its mayor Mamadou Aliou Laly Diallo said, and they spilled over into clashes.

"The town has been in turmoil since this morning, the people revolted," Diallo told AFP.

Two people were shot dead in clashes, he said, adding that he thought about ten more were wounded in shooting from security officers.

A third was killed when police opened fire on an ambulance transporting the first two victims, the mayor said.

The third death was confirmed by a medical source.

Gendarme in Labe were not available for comment.

Conde, 81, published a draft constitution last month, arguing that the colonial-era laws needed to be changed.

But his adversaries are convinced he plans to use the reform to stay in office beyond the two presidential terms currently stipulated in the former French colony's constitution.

The president has neither confirmed nor denied that claim.

Tensions have increased recently as the National Front for the Defence of the Constitution (FNDC), an alliance of opposition groups behind the protests, called for open-ended demonstrations.

Opposition parties have also promised to prevent legislative elections in February from taking place.

Conde is a former opposition figure who was jailed under Guinea's previous authoritarian regimes.

He became the first democratically elected president in 2010. Despite initial hopes of a new political dawn, critics say Conde's rule has become increasingly authoritarian.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Morocco is strongly committed to fighting all aspects of corruption through credible efforts that earned the country better ranking in some international indexes, head of the Moroccan government Saad Eddine El Othmani said.

Moroccos ranking in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) improved 6 points in two years, ranking 73rd out of 180 countries in 2019, after it was 90th in 2017.

The crackdown on corrupt officials has also helped the country jump in the Doing Business index to the 53rd place in 2019 among 190 countries.

However, Transparency Internationals 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released Thursday found that a majority of countries are showing little to no improvement in tackling corruption.

The report, which ranked Morocco 80th out of 180 countries, shows that the North African country has dropped seven places on the ranking, after standing 73rd in 2019.

With 41 out of 100, Morocco scored a little higher than the average score in the MENA region, set at 39 out of 100.

According to official figures, corruption rips Morocco of 5% to 7% of its GDP. The country has launched an anti-corruption strategy to eradicate all sorts of bribery, strengthen trust in institutions and improve business climate.

Transparency International noted in its latest report that its analysis shows that corruption is more pervasive in countries where big money can flow freely into electoral campaigns and where governments listen only to the voices of wealthy or well-connected individuals.

The NGO suggests, however, to reduce big money in politics and promote inclusive political decision-making in order to curb corruption.

Transparency International also recommends governments to manage conflicts of interest, control political financing, regulate lobbying activities, tackle preferential treatment, empower citizens, and reinforce checks and balances.
A Divisional High Court in Kogi State has sentenced a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the state, Zacchaeus Atte, to 19 years in prison for stealing N19 million.

Justice J.J Majebi found Mr Atte guilty on seven out of the 11 counts of the charges against him, according to a statement by the ICPC on Friday.

The ICPC said the former commissioner misappropriated funds meant for the raising and distribution of Oil Palm Sprouted Nuts Seedlings to cocoa farmers in Kogi State.

It added that his offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 (ICPC Act).

Read Full Statement

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of Zachaeus Atte, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in Kogi State, North-Central Nigeria.

Mr Atte was convicted on corruption charges by a Kogi State High Court sitting in Okene, Kogi State and presided over by Hon. Justice J.J Majebi. He was found guilty on 7 out of the 11 counts of the charge preferred against him by ICPC.

READ ALSO:

The convict who is to serve a total of 19 years jail term, was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment each on counts 1 and 3 without an option of fine, for collecting the sum of =N=11,937,000:00 and =N=8,873,766:85K respectively, being money meant for the raising and distribution of Oil Palm Sprouted Nuts Seedlings to cocoa farmers in Kogi State but did not raise nor distribute same. This is an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 (ICPC Act).

He was also sentenced on count 2 to five years imprisonment without an option of fine, for receiving the sum of =N=350,000:00 being amount earmarked to defray the transportation costs of the farmers during the cocoa seedlings distribution exercise but failed to do so. This is also an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the ICPC Act.

The former Commissioner was further sentenced to one-year imprisonment each on counts 8 to 11 for spending from the sum of =N=2,849,953:75K being the amount earmarked for the purchase of office equipment on what he called Statewide Sensitization Tour; visit to Lagos from Lokoja on issues of Power Tiller; and Video Coverage contrary to and punishable under section 22(5) of the ICPC Act.

While reading his judgment, the trial judge justified the conviction of the defendant by noting that the ICPC Legal team comprising Late Suberu Enebere Esq., Okey Golden Iwuagu Esq., and Peace Arocha Esq. (Mrs.) had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
TORONTO, Jan. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Platinex Inc. (CSE:PTX) (Platinex or the "Company") announces that it retains a 2.5% NSR royalty on a 19 km strike length of the Big Trout Lake Igneous Complex in northwestern Ontario which comprises 4,987ha. (12,321 acres).

Work on the Big Trout Lake Igneous Complex was halted pending a lands dispute between the Ontario government, and the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug FN (KI). In 2009, Platinex relinquished its property interests to the Ontario government while retaining a 2.5% NSR royalty in perpetuity should some other party acquire the land prior to the end of December, 2034.

In conjunction with the recently signed Canada-U.S. Joint Action Plan on Critical Minerals Collaboration , Platinex approached both the Hon Mr. Greg Rickford, Ontarios Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines and Chief Donny Morris of KI to reinforce with them the strategic importance of platinum, palladium and rhodium as clean energy catalysts in the fight against climate change and remind them that there lies a tremendous opportunity within the Big Trout Lake Igneous Complex to satisfy these needs. This project could reduce Ontarios and Canadas carbon footprint, the worldwide shortage of these commodities, and provide tremendous stimulus for employment and business opportunities for local First Nations communities on their traditional lands. Platinex offered to sell all or a portion of the royalty and provide information and guidance respecting exploration of the property.

Platinex inherited PGE exploration data from International Platinums work in the 1980s which involved the only North America wide exploration for PGE ever conducted focusing on large magmatic systems. Within the Big Trout Lake Igneous Complex four platinum-palladium-rhodium horizons have been identified in the 600 m thick ultramafic zone of the intrusion associated with chromitites having distinctive and correlative litho-geochemical signatures where tested along the 19 km strike length. A 2006 Qualifying Report prepared by R.J. Burnside & Associates Limited filed on SEDAR confirms that 310 core samples in 51 drill holes assayed 1.0 gram/tonne or greater combined Pt+Pd. Examples of individual intersections include an intersection from hole CO81-2 which assayed 9.6 g/tonne combined platinum group elements (PGE) (0.28 oz/tonne) including 2.16g Pt, 6.345g Pd and 0.443g Rh and an intersection in hole BT89-14 12.804g/tonne Pt-Pd combined/ 1.0 m.

Furthermore, the Burnside report also identified separate chromium deposits where a conceptual model has been built containing 140 million tonnes grading 8.4% Cr 2 O 3 and a yet to be determined amount of PGE as a minimum tonnage. Further, based on a composite true width of 40.8 m, a strike length of 12 km and a projected depth of 1,000 m, a conceptual model has been derived containing 1.68 billion tonnes of chromium-PGE mineralization as a maximum tonnage. The anticipated upper and lower limits on grades are 3.47% to 21.78% Cr 2 O 3 for both the lower and the greater conceptual tonnage. There is no assurance that further drilling will confirm these grades and tonnages or the conceptual models or define a reserve or resource. The Cr/Fe ratio of the chromite mineralization ranges from 0.8 to 1.4 and averages 1.0.

With current market imperatives focusing on securing critical metals and a positive political will towards climate change Platinex sees an opportunity for the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug FN and the people of Ontario to profit from renewed exploration of the Big Trout Igneous Complex. The retained NSR, acquired information and exploration approach are all being offered to Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug FN and the Government of Ontario.

About Platinex Inc.

Platinex has been focusing its efforts in assembling a very large property in the Shining Tree gold camp, which has received little modern exploration compared to other gold camps in the Abitibi greenstone Belt. Shares of Platinex are listed for trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol "PTX".

The information presented in this news release has been reviewed and approved by James R. Trusler, Geological Engineer, the Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Qualified Person for exploration on the former Big Trout Lake property, as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

For further information, please contact:

James R Trusler

Tel: (416) 565-5616

Email: jtrusler@platinex.com

Email: To receive Company press releases, please email lparadis@platinex.com and mention Platinex press release on the subject line.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:

This news release may contain forward-looking statements and information based on current expectations. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Such statements include submission of the relevant documentation within the required timeframe and to the satisfaction of the relevant regulators, completing the acquisition of the applicable assets and raising sufficient financing to complete the Company's business strategy. There is no certainty that any of these events will occur. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be correct. We assume no responsibility to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances.

Investing into early stage companies, inherently carries a high degree of risk and investment into securities of the Company shall be considered highly speculative.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Poland's parliament on Thursday approved a controversial draft law aimed at disciplining judges who question government judicial reforms that the European Union says are out of step with the rule of law.

The EU member country's lower house, where lawmakers from the governing right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party hold a majority, thus overturned last week's decision by the opposition-controlled senate to reject the draft law.

The measure, which Supreme Court president Malgorzata Gersdorf has denounced as a "muzzle law", will take effect once it is signed by PiS-allied Polish President Andrzej Duda.

The PiS government argues that the reform will tackle corruption in the judiciary still haunted by communism but opponents insist it is aimed at gagging critical magistrates and so undermines judicial independence.

The opposition called the parliamentary vote Thursday a "coup d'etat".

The measure, which was approved by 234 conservative lawmakers and rejected by 211 opposition lawmakers with nine abstentions, is just one of many controversial judicial reforms the PiS has introduced since taking office in 2015.

It has also created a new KRS judicial council and a disciplinary chamber that critics including top European judicial bodies argue pose a threat to judicial independence.

On Thursday, the Polish Supreme Court ruled that judges nominated by the new KRS and cleared by the disciplinary chamber are unauthorised to make rulings because they are not free from political influence.

"The developments in the Polish legal system over the last several years have led to tremendous uncertainty and chaos as to whether the judges who rule and the courts they form are courts able to administer justice," Supreme Court judge Wlodzimierz Wrobel said at the public hearing.

He added that courts in other countries were at times refusing to cooperate with their counterparts in Poland because of the uncertainty over their independence.

"We are members of the European Union and we committed ourselves to ensuring that our courts are just as independent and impartial as the courts of other countries," Wrobel added.

The justice ministry denounced the Supreme Court's verdict, calling it a "serious violation of the law." The various PiS judicial reforms have sparked widespread protest both at home and in European legal circles. The European Court of Justice has questioned several of the reforms.

Judges from nearly all EU members joined hundreds of their Polish colleagues in Warsaw earlier this month in an unprecedented street protest against the draft law on disciplining judges.

In late 2017, the EU launched unprecedented proceedings against Poland over "systemic threats" posed by the reforms to the rule of law that could see its EU voting rights suspended.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Brad Pitt has joined the list of actors who turned down the lead role in The Matrix, which eventually went to Keanu Reeves and cemented his position as a star.

Pitt reflected on the parts he passed over while accepting the Maltin Modern Master Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in California on January 22, and said he was up for the character of Neo in the 1999 blockbuster, reports aceshowbiz.com.

According to Collider, Pitt said, "I did pass on The Matrix. I took the red pill.That's the only one I'm naming. I wasn't offered two or three. Only the first one. Just to clarify that." The actor added that he never likes discussing the topic of his unrealised projects.

"I come from a place, maybe it's my upbringing, if I didnt get it, then it wasnt mine. I really believe (the role) was never mine. It's not mine. It was someone elses and they go and make it. I really do believe in that. If we were doing a show on the great movies Ive passed on, we would need two nights."

Will Smith, Nicolas Cage, Val Kilmer, Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp were also in talks to star in the film, which spawned two sequels. In 2019, producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura told The Wrap that even Sandra Bullock was approached to front the film.

"We went out to so many people... We were getting desperate. We went to Sandy Bullock and said 'We'll change Neo to a girl.' We sent her the script to see if she was interested in it. And if she was interested in it we would try to make the change," Bonaventura told the website. He added: "It just wasn't something for her at the time. So really it didn't go anywhere."

Reeves and his old The Matrix cast mates, Carrie-Anne Moss and Jada Pinkett Smith are currently circling the start date for a third sequel.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
As last falls California wildfires demonstrated, the demand for aerial firefighters and the dangers they face have never been greater.

The worlds first practical firebomber was a Stearman, a 1939 Boeing 75 that had been converted into a cropduster. In 1955 a California agriculture applicator, Willows Flying Service, cut a hole in the airplanes belly fabric and fitted the chemicals hopper with a flapper hatch that opened when the pilot pulled a rope, releasing 170 gallons of water. That August, the Willows Stearman, flown by ag pilot Vance Nolta, dropped those 170 gallons onto a fire burning in Mendocino National Forest, and then repeated the feat several times. The biplane was a big assist in knocking down hotspots, said one forest ranger. Though a few test drops had been made on controlled grassfires, it was the first time that a real forest fire had been at least partially quenched by free-fall water dropped from the air.

Free-fall water is an important qualifier, for there had been attempts as early as the 1920s to put out fires with airplanes that were literally water bombers. They carried water in wooden kegs, cans, buckets, waxed-paper bags, balloons and other missiles, and they attacked fires with these projectiles. Not surprisingly, the bombs proved to be of greater danger to firefighters on the ground than they were to the fire itself.

In 1956 six U.S. Navy surplus biplane trainers much like the StearmanNaval Aircraft Factory N3Nswere also turned into firebombers, and Willows had itself a squadron of what the local newspapers called aerial firewagons. By the summer of 1957, the Willows fleet was ranging throughout California, answering calls from local fire departments as well as the California Department of Forestry and the U.S. Forest Service.

Willows Flying Service went on to become a pioneer airtanker operator, but it soon became apparent that dropping just water on a raging fire wasnt particularly helpful. The hotter the fire, the more water evaporated before reaching the ground. Adding sodium calcium borate to the water created a heavy slurry, a fire retardant. Though better compounds were soon developed, airtankers were for a long time lumbered with the generic handle borate bombers.

In the mid-1950s, everybody involved in California firefighting was aware of serious research into the potential for fighting fires from the air. Operation Firestop, a multi-agency brainstorming session, began in January 1954, after a particularly bad wildfire season in California left 140,000 acres charred and 14 firemen dead. One of the items on Operation Firestops agenda was discussion of techniques to drop water or firefighting chemicals from the air.

But first, there was a fortuitous event.

In the spring of 1953, Douglas was flying the DC-7 prototype out of Palm Springs Airport, east of Los Angeles, with a big water tank mounted as ballast in what would become the passenger cabin. At the end of flight-testing, the four-engine Doug made a low pass over the Palm Springs runway and dumped its ballast through three six-inch valves in the airplanes belly. The result was a wide, mile-long swath of wetness that quickly caught the attention of the DC-7s pilots as well as observers on the ground. So the LA County Fire Department and California Division of Forestry set brushfires on Rosamund Dry Lake and got Douglas to take a run at them with the DC-7. The small valves released an ineffective mist, however, and the fires flared back up soon after the drop. Douglas increased each valve to 18 inches in diameter, and then demonstrated several times that a lot of free-fall water dumped all at once just might work.

Cal Forestry was particularly impressed, and with the help of the University of Californias School of Forestry set up some well-instrumented testing to quantify the effectiveness of this new way to fight wildfires. An Eastern Aircraft TBM-1C hired from Paul Mantzs movieplane fleet flew the tests. Mantz built a plywood tank into the Avengers torpedo bay, which not surprisingly leaked likewell, a plywood sieve. So he switched to using a Weather Bureau balloon as a container for the slurry. That worked, leak-wise, and when the torpedo bay doors were toggled open, the rubberized balloon bulged out the hole before bursting and dumping the slurry. Ultimately, Mantz installed a metal tank in the TBM, and in 1958 it became the first of many Avengers to work real wildfires when it dropped slurry on a fire at Lake Elsinore. Mantz and his partner Frank Tallman became pioneer firefighting pilots, and increasing numbers of Avengers would become the first war surplus firefighting workhorses.



TBM Avengers were among the first warbirds converted to tankers for firefighting duties. (U.S. Forest Service) TBM Avengers were among the first warbirds converted to tankers for firefighting duties. (U.S. Forest Service)

But before that happened, Operation Firestop testing began at the U.S. Marine Corps Camp Pendleton, north of San Diego, where thousands of acres were put at the disposal of the California firefighting researchers. Mantz flew his TBM over deep Pendleton canyons and made drops during different wind conditions. The canyons were laced with horizontal and vertical steel cables at various heights to hold anemometers and other test instrumentation. Each of the TBMs dumps was analyzed for dispersal, wind drift, effectiveness and other criteria.

Operation Firestop, which ended in the fall of 1954, was responsible for aerial firefighting tools and techniques that, though they have evolved over decades, are still being used today. In the late 1950s, Consolidated PBY-5A amphibians followed the Avengers in the firefighting role, and they starred in Hollywoods take on the airtanker world, the 1989 film Always. The opening features a Catalina firebomber in one of the most memorable aviation movie intros ever shot. PBYs were slow, but they carried a substantial load, and their low-speed capability enhanced the accuracy of retardant drops.

PBYs pioneered the technique called scooping, in which a seaplane waterbomber rapidly force-fills its tanks while step-taxiing, thus obviating the need to land and refill from a ground supply. To be fair, in 1945 Canadian Noorduyn Norseman pilot Carl Crossley fitted his airplane with a pipe through which he could fill a tank with water after landing on a lake. Crossley made three successful drops on an Ontario fire, though the concept was then abandoned.

Today, even single-engine floatplane airtankers scoop to fill their pontoon tanks with water, and in the mid-1960s scooping led to the development of the worlds only purpose-built airtanker, the Canadair CL-215 amphibian, which first flew in 1967 and has since become the Bombardier CL-415 turboprop. The Russians and Japanese have both modified existing flying boats for firefighting duty, and the Chinese have flown a very large four-turboprop amphibian with a firefighting role, but the 215/415 remains the sole production waterbomber.



A Canadair CL-215the worlds only purpose-built airtankerswoops low over a wildfire in Provence, France. (STOCKFOLIO / Alamy) A Canadair CL-215the worlds only purpose-built airtankerswoops low over a wildfire in Provence, France. (STOCKFOLIO / Alamy)

The most spectacular scoopers were the four enormous Martin JRM Mars flying boats bought in 1959 by a consortium of Canadian lumber companies. Fitted with 7,200-gallon tanks, the big boats sucked up a load in 25 seconds. Some scoopers were limited to dropping just water, but the Mars had room for large tanks of additives that could be added to the water in flight to create foam and gelled drops.

Within less than three years, one Mars had crashed, killing its crew of four, and another was destroyed during a typhoon. Only one, Hawaii Mars, remains flying, though in July 2016 owner Wayne Coulson put it up for sale due to high operating costs and lack of firefighting contracts.

Soon after PBYs appeared as airtankers, another Consolidated Navy bird joined them: the PB4Y-2 Privateer, a single-tail patrol bomber derivative of the B-24. Privateers were declared surplus in 1954, and a number of them were snatched up by firebombing operators. So began the warbird years of airtanking, with many military surplus bombers, fighter-bombers and freighters converted to fight fires. Among the earliest were a number of B-17s, 10 Grumman F7F Tigercats, three North American AJ Savagestubby piston twins with an auxiliary Allison J33 jet engineand even a few Northrop P-61 Black Widows.

Sixteen B-25s were also operating in California by 1960, but that July four crashed within a few days. The remaining Mitchells were forever banned from firebombing in that state. Douglas A-26/B-26s, however, were more successful. During the mid-1960s, there were nearly 60 Invaders operating in California alone, though by 1970 most were gonescrapped, sent to Canada or bought for restoration

by warbirders.

After 20 years of service, the TBF/TBM tankers were at the end of their useful lives; many had crashed, and parts were becoming rare. In 1973 three more Avenger tankers crashed (plus three F7Fs in 1974), and the pressure was mounting to find a replacement. The answer: another Grumman, the stubby S-2 antisub twin typically known as the Stoof, for its original S-2F designation. By the mid-2000s, most firefighting Stoofs had been converted to turboprop S-2Ts.

Another warbird that joined the California firefighting fleet during the 1970s was the Dollar Nineteenthe Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar. Some were modified to carry a 3,400-pound-thrust Westinghouse J34 turbojet atop the fuselage, but a combination of structural problems and maintenance-heavy Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Corncob engines grounded the Fairchilds by 1987.

Though they arent airtankers, the small, maneuverable aircraft that carry air attack officers are an important part of the aerial firefighting fleet. Operating directly above the fire, AAOs control every move that airtankers make. They coordinate with ground firefighters, run multiple radio frequencies to control often-complex air traffic, keep an eye on wind and visibility, warn incoming tankers of specific ground hazards, mark the target with smoke and even lead airdrop runs. Sometimes the AAOs arent pilots, since they have enough to do without flying the airplane.

Air attack aircraft usually have been general aviation or ex-military small twins and even light jets, ranging over the years from Beech Barons and Cessna O-2smilitary Skymaster push-pullsto Commander turboprops and Slowtations (Cessna Citations). Today, North American Rockwell OV-10 Broncos have become the gold standard.

Airtankers are separated into four categories, depending on the volume of their slurry/water tanks. Smallest are the SEATs (single-engine air tankers), which are typically modified ag planes such as Grumman Ag-Cats, and light helicopters, all with tanks or Bambi Bucket slingloads of up to 599 gallons capacity.

Next up the spectrum are the Type III medium tankers, 600 to about 2,000 gallons: Grumman S-2s, CL-215/415s, Fokker F-27s and the like.

Type II includes everything that was at one time considered to be moderately large, carrying 1,800 to around 3,000 gallons per load: Lockheed S-2s and P2V Neptunes and a variety of other warbirds. Most of these airplanes are gone, mustered out by the mid-2000s through groundings, but a few are still working.

Type I firebombers are the big boys3,000-plus gallons aboard Boeing KC-97s, Lockheed P-3 Orions and C-130s and converted jet airliners.

And now there is a subset of the Type Is: megatankers. King of that hill is the Global SuperTankers Boeing 747-400, which can transport almost 20,000 gallons at 520 knots and drop it at 140 knots, creating a swath of retardant three miles long and 100 yards wide. During August 2017, the 747 flew its first domestic sorties, against four California fires, dropping almost 250,000 gallons of retardant. The megatanker had previously flown against fires in Chile and Israel.

The only other U.S. megatankers are three converted DC-10s operated by the New Mexico firm 10 Tanker Air Carriers. The trijets have been active since 2006, and though their 11,600-gallon loads cant match the 747s tankage, its still the equivalent of almost a dozen drops from a Grumman S-2T. A modern Russian four-engine jet airtanker, the Ilyushin Il-76TD, can carry 11,000 gallons, but it has never been brought to the U.S. Were not having any Russians coming here and fighting our fires, said one benighted FEMA executive.

Though its 3,000-gallon capacity hardly makes it mega, another effective new airtanker, the four-engine British Aerospace BAe 146/Avro RJ85 regional airliner, has been popular in Europe but until recently never made a major impact on the U.S. market. Eighteen are already at work out West, with more on the way.

While tankers get more and more mega, firefighting doctrine is increasingly favoring controlled, accurate, small drops from SEATs rather than the deluges unloaded by big firebombers. The biggest tankers are dangerously unmaneuverable at very low altitudes, and their considerable wingspans have led to higher drop altitudes, making the retardant less effective.



Coulson Flying Tankers Hawaii Mars makes a demonstration drop at EAA Airventure in 2016. The giant flying boat can scoop up 7,200 gallons of water in just 25 seconds. (Mike Collins/AOPA) Coulson Flying Tankers Hawaii Mars makes a demonstration drop at EAA Airventure in 2016. The giant flying boat can scoop up 7,200 gallons of water in just 25 seconds. (Mike Collins/AOPA)

Many people dont understand that airtankers do not put out fires, no matter how large they are. Like infantry doing what no air force can, firefighters on the ground beat down wildfires, albeit with the help of air drops. Aerial firefighting is of the greatest use while a fire is young. The tankers can try to contain a new fire with firebreak lines of retardant before ground firefighters can even reach the site. Dropping hundreds of thousands of gallons of retardant on a raging, well-established inferno, however, is about as effective as pissing on a bonfire.

Homeowners in the West have been building substantial homes on the edges of magnificent forests filled with tinder, much like people who insist on populating floodplains and barrier islands. This has led to the firefighting phenomenon known as the CNN drop. When a wildfire threatens such forestland housesas was the case last October with the hellacious fires in northern Californiathose homeowners figure nothing is being done unless they see firebombers in action. They know from cable news that a big white airplane spewing a curtain of red retardant means the cavalry has arrived, so when a state senator demands that the fire boss order up a P2V to make an expensive but meaningless run, the firefighters call it a CNN drop.

Eventually, most of the warbird airtankers had become from 50 to 60 years old, corroding and inevitably overstressed. Flying firebombers is the most dangerous peacetime occupation an aviator can pick. By 2015, 38 American pilots and crewmembers had died during the preceding dozen yearsfive percent of the active pilots, proportionally the equivalent of 200 ground firefighters dying every year.

At the beginning of the 2000s, the U.S. Forest Service was committed to a lowest-bidder process for choosing the airtanker operators with which it contracted. This forced the companies selling such services to use the cheapest airplanes and helos they could haul out of a boneyard, and to cut corners on mainte-nance wherever possible.

In 2002 these practices nearly destroyed the large-airtanker industry. A C-130A crashed when its wings broke cleanly off, and two months later the same thing happened to an ancient PB4Y-2 Privateer operated by the same contractor, its wings collapsing downward. Most of us assume that when the wings come off an airplane, it has been overstressed with positive Gseither somebody pulled too hard on the yoke or turbulence upset the airplane. But the wings of heavy airtankers can also fail under negative Gs. When an airplane suddenly drops 25 tons of retardant and leaps upward, a compromised spar can fail the wings downward.

The 2002 crashes, combined with a 1994 accident that had killed seven, led the National Interagency Fire Center to ground Californias large-airtanker fleet. That fleet declined from 44 aircraft to just nine that were cleared for further flight. What followed has been characterized as a lost decade for large tankers. The load was largely shifted to the shoulders of S-2 and S-2T (turbine) Tracker Type III medium airtankers. But in October 2014, all 22 of Californias S-2Ts were grounded when one crashed fatally while fighting a Yosemite National Park fire.

Todays Western airtanker fleet is mainly made up of the surviving P2Vs, recently tankerized BAe 146s and Avro RJ85s, several other large aircraft, including two DC-10s, and lots of relatively modern single-engine SEATs and helicopters.

Standing by at eight locations across the United States are Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard MAFFS (Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System) C-130s. They are a court of last resort, only employed when every civilian resource is already in use. These Hercules airtankers discharge their load through two fat pipes that fire out of the opened loading ramp, the retardant forced out by 1,200 psi of compressed air. Some MAFFS Herks have large pintle valves protruding from special replacement units for the jump doors on either side of the aft fuselage. The system is a rapid-response, roll-on/roll-off rig; no airframe mods are needed.

Trouble is, the MAFFS C-130s are flown by military crews, and whether they are lifers or part-time airline and corporate pilots, they have little firefighting experience. They can only fly if theyre guided by skilled pilots in lead aircraft, and even then its a challenge. Tactics, radio work, air traffic control, coordination with the air-attack officer overseeing the entire operationtheres more to it than simply pulling a dump-valve handle. In 2004 San Diego County tried to quick-train Navy and Marine helicopter pilots to be firefighters, but it proved to be impossible.

One relatively recent development is computerized dump valves that can be set to dispense retardant at different rates and amounts. In some cases, these valves can be controlled by GPS to drop on a precise, preset line. Predator UAVs were also recently used as camera and information-gathering platforms above the northern California wildfires, data-streaming to the ground incident command post. And the most optimistic of aerial firefighters look toward the day when airtankers will be designed from the ground up for firefighting, purpose-built for that one jobthe perfect aircraft to wield as-yet unimagined weapons against fire.

Will that ever happen? Probably not. But there is no technology in existenceat least not at a reasonable costthat will allow the continued use of the classic prop-driven heavy tankers. By the middle of the 21st century, U.S. wildfires are expected to double in acreage burned and intensity. As climate change creates warmer and drier conditions, severe wildfire years will probably occur two to four times per decade rather than the current rate of once every 10 years.

Whether part of the answer is the increasing use of megatankers or of swarms of SEATs and helicoptersthe two currently opposing views of aerial firefighting strategyfirebombers arent going away.

At least nobody still calls them borate bombers.

Contributing editor Stephan Wilkinson suggests for further reading: Aerial Firefighting, by Wolfgang Jendsch; and Young Men and Fire, by Norman MacLean.

Firebombers! originally appeared in the March 2018 issue of Aviation History. Subscribe here!
Ola

A user took to Twitter on January 24 to complain about a verbal spat that he got into with the driver during a ride he took the night before.

Kanav Sharma, whose Twitter bio says he is a management consultant at AT Kearney, detailed the incident in a message thread on Twitter and tagged the cab aggregator's official handle to notify them of the same.



Took @Olacabs yesterday. Driver overheard my phone conversation where I was talking about Indias economic situation. He said, only 6 years of Modi government, how can you blame economy? It is congresss fault of 70 years. I asked him, so what all wrongs did congress do?(1/n)

 Kanav Sharma (@kanavdm) January 24, 2020

Sharma said that his driver overheard a personal conversation he was having over the phone, where he was talking about the current state of the Indian economy. Following this, the driver allegedly said ,"Only 6 years of Modi government, how can you blame the economy? It is Congress's fault of 70 years."

At a point when the argument got out of hand, Sharma said he told the driver that he did not wish to have the debate with him, but the driver went on making some statements and expressing his opinion.

The ride-hailing company responded to his complaint saying, "We are sorry about your bad experience. We have reported the driver-partner for corrective action and would ensure to avoid these instances in the future. Hope to serve you better."

However, this did not go down all too well with Twitterati who lashed out at the company. That Ola assured the passenger of action against the driver drew a lot of flak from people, many of whom said that taking away someone's job for expressing their opinions is not right. Several users on the micro-blogging site also said that the driver simply exercised his right to 'free speech' and hence did not violate any rules.

In his thread, Kanav Sharma narrated the entire incident. He wrote that when he asked what wrongs had the Congress party done during its year, the driver replied saying, "Congress created JNU, which is a prostitution hub of Tukde Tukde gang. You know who was Nehru? He was Indias first PM but his grandfather was a Muslim who converted to Hinduism to fool Indian people."



He said, Congress created JNU which is a prositution hub of Tukde Tukde gang. You know who was Nehru? He was Indias first PM but his grandfather was a Muslim who converted to Hinduism to fool Indian people. (2/n)  Kanav Sharma (@kanavdm) January 24, 2020





He continued, you are one of those anti-national people who find everything wrong with the government. You must also be against CAA and NRC (4/n)

 Kanav Sharma (@kanavdm) January 24, 2020

As per Sharma's allegations, the driver went on to brand him an "anti-national" who finds faults with everything the government does. "You must also be against CAA and NRC," the driver told Sharma.

Many users on Twitter raised the point that Sharma actively engaged in the debate with the driver, during which opinions were expressed on both sides. However, some others were of the opinion that the driver was in the wrong for having made any comments related to the passenger's personal statements.

Meanwhile, Ola has issued a statement saying that "none of the parties in this case have been penalised" and urged people to respect "difference of opinion at all times".



We are respectful of all personal views and like India's democratic values, encourage healthy exchange of thoughts. None of the parties involved in this case have been penalized from using the platform and we urge everyone to respect difference of opinion at all times. @kanavdmhttps://t.co/JlfFPFJ1no  Ola (@Olacabs) January 24, 2020

Note: This copy has been updated to incorporate Ola's statement.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. Inecobank is pleased to announce the launch of its leasing service. The Bank will provide leasing services to resident legal entities, sole proprietors and individuals engaged in agricultural activities to acquire real estate and movable property.

The mission of Inecobank is to create opportunities for individual and business customers to realize their goals by providing financial services in line with their needs, says Artyom Chichyan, Corporate Business Director of Inecobank. Staying true to our mission, today we offer our customers a new business financing opportunity - financial leasing. As part of the lease, the Bank will act as an intermediary between buyers and suppliers, thus enabling its customers to replenish fixed assets with up-to-date equipment or vehicles from both local and foreign markets. I want to emphasize that Inecobank always stands by its customers and is ready to support the realization of their ideas. I am positive that the introduction of leasing service will, in its turn, support the strategy adopted by the Bank.

Over the past few years, Inecobank has been one of the fastest-growing banks in the corporate business market in Armenia, already serving more than 16,000 legal entities. The Bank offers a comprehensive range of services to meet the growing needs of customers in a variety of areas. To get acquainted with the terms and conditions of the leasing service, please visit the official webpage of Inecobank.

ABOUT INECOBANK CJSC

Inecobank CJSC is one of the leading banks in the South Caucasus region, focused on individual customers, small and middle market businesses and large corporations offering a full range of banking services including break through and innovative digital banking solutions. For over 24 years the bank has been providing unmatched convenience in Armenia serving more than 500 000 customers and over 200 000 online users. Inecobank developed and delivered industry-leading digital banking solutions with the purpose of introducing an entirely new culture of banking services.
Adel Al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia's minister of state for foreign affairs, speaks during a panel session on day three of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. World leaders, influential executives, bankers and policy makers attend the 50th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos from Jan. 21 - 24.

Iran has to change its behavior before Saudi Arabia would be willing to sit down and have a dialogue with them, Saudi's foreign minister said Thursday.

"The Iranians have to show good faith, the Iranians have to change their behavior and their policies," Adel al-Jubeir, minister of state for foreign affairs, told CNBC's Hadley Gamble at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

His comments follow the Iranian foreign minister's announcement that the country is "open to dialogue with its neighbors." Mohammad Javad Zarif wrote in Arabic in Twitter that the country is ready to participate in "complementary work that is in the interest of the region."

Saudi's al-Jubeir said: "They can't give missiles to terrorist groups and they can't attack facilities in other countries and expect the world to deal with them in a rational manner."

"If they want to be treated as a normal country, they should act as one," he continued.

He also blamed Iran for the recent tensions in the Middle East.

"They're the ones who've attacked ships, they're the ones who attacked oil facilities in the kingdom," al-Jubeir said, referring to 2019 attacks in the Gulf of Oman and Saudi Arabia.

Iran has denied both involvement both episodes.

Tensions between Washington and Tehran soared in early January after an American airstrike killed Iranian top military commander Qasem Soleimani. Iran retaliated by firing missiles at U.S. targets in Iraq. Both sides now appear to have stepped back from military actions.

"Whatever happened as a consequence, is a consequence of Iran's aggressive behavior."

 CNBC's Natasha Turak, Amanda Macias and Kevin Breuninger contributed to this report.
The era of the white, all-male board is coming to an end.

Goldman Sachs Group Chief Executive Officer David Solomon issued the latest ultimatum Thursday from Davos, Switzerland: Wall Street's biggest underwriter of initial public offerings in the U.S. will no longer take a company public in the U.S. and Europe if it lacks a director who is either female or diverse.

The mandate is the latest in a series of signals that non-diverse boards and management are unacceptable. BlackRock Inc. and State Street Global Advisors are voting against directors at companies without a female director. Public companies with all-male boards based in California now face a $100,000 fine under a new state law.

"It's pretty amazing," said Fred Foulkes, a management professor at the Boston University Questrom School of Business. "It's a seismic change. I was quite amazed and I wonder what's going to happen at JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley."

The corporate board has become a rare bright spot for gender and racial diversity at the highest echelons of corporate America. Almost half of the open spots at S&P 500 companies went to women last year, and for the first time they made up more than a quarter of all directors. In July, the last all-male board in the S&P 500 appointed a woman.

Still, new boards are less diverse: Among the top 25 IPOs by value each year from 2014 through 2018, 10 companies had no female directors, said Malli Gero, co-founder and senior adviser to 2020 Women on Boards, an organization that pushes for the Russell 3000 index to have at least 20% women directors on its boards. Last year, Goldman Sachs was hired to underwrite WeWork's IPO, which only added a female director after its initial prospectus prompted criticism of its all-male board.

"Starting on July 1st in the U.S. and Europe, we're not going to take a company public unless there's at least one diverse board candidate, with a focus on women," Solomon told CNBC Thursday. He didn't mention Asia, which continues to lag behind other regions when it comes to board diversity. Next year, the bank will raise the threshold to two diverse directors, which includes diversity based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Goldman said in a statement. The bank said the decision came after it learned more than 60 U.S. and European companies in the last two years went public without a woman or person of color on the board. Goldman Sachs has four women on its 11-member board.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Among the IPOs where Goldman Sachs was an underwriter over the last two years in the U.S. and Europe, fewer than 10% currently have a board lacking a diverse candidate, the company said. Data was not available for the composition of those boards at the time of the IPO, the company said.

"We realize that this is a small step, but it's a step in a direction of saying, 'You know what, we think this is right, we think it's the right advice and we're in a position also, because of our network, to help our clients if they need help placing women on boards,'" Solomon told CNBC. "So this is an example of us saying, 'How can we do something that we think is right and help moves the market forward?'"JPMorgan Chase & Co. doesn't have a similar policy to the Goldman Sachs rule, but since 2016 has had a director advisory service that works to help companies find diverse candidates for their board, the company said in a statement. Morgan Stanley did not respond to requests for comment.

"It's what big investors are looking for these says," said Boston University's Foulkes, who was previously a director at Panera Bread Co. and Bright Horizons Family Solutions. "If the board has all white males, that's a big negative."
Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Tired of paying $5 or $10 parking fees every time you show up to the trailhead? Maybe its time to invest in some park passes.

All public recreation sites in the Pacific Northwest, from state parks to federal land, offer annual passes to those who plan on visiting more than just a few places each year. For regular hikers or park visitors, these passes are an easy way to save money in the long run.

Most recreation sites in the region charge some kind of parking or day-use fee, whether its $5 fees at the most popular Oregon state parks and virtually all U.S. Forest Service sites, or $10 fees at Washington state parks and Metro-owned parks around Portland.

National Park sites often charge even more, and have been getting more expensive in recent years: As the start of 2020, entry into Crater Lake National Park increased to $30 per vehicle, while admission to Lewis and Clark National Historical Park increased to $10 per person.



With some combination of park passes, savvy travelers can explore the Pacific Northwest on a tighter budget.

For example, the America the Beautiful Pass ($80) would pay for itself after one visit to Crater Lake, one visit to Olympic National Park and four day hikes on national forest lands. Everything after that would effectively be free.



The Oregon State Parks pass ($30) would pay for itself after six visits to state park sites that usually charge a parking fee  a feat easily accomplished during a summer road trip down the coast.



Washington state's Discover Pass ($35) is an even better deal, paying for itself after only four visits to Washington state parks.



The passes might not make sense for folks who only visit one or two park sites or trailheads a year, but for those who regularly explore our state and federal lands theyre a no-brainer way to save a little money and effort.

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

OREGON STATE PARKS PASS

Where it's accepted: The 25 Oregon state parks that charge a parking fee, including Smith Rock, Silver Falls and Fort Stevens state parks.

Price: $30 for one year, $50 for two years.

Where to buy one: Buy a pass online, at most major state parks, or from vendors around the state.

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

NORTHWEST FOREST PASS

Where it's accepted: All U.S. Forest Service recreation sites in Oregon and Washington that charge a day-use fee, including most trailheads and day-use areas.

Price: $30 for one year.

Where to buy one: Buy a pass online, at U.S. Forest Service offices, or from vendors around the Northwest.

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL PASS

Where it's accepted: All federal recreation sites in the country, including national parks and land managed by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.

Price: $80 for one year.

Where to buy one: Buy a pass online, or at local federal land management offices.

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

DISCOVER PASS

Where it's accepted: All state recreation lands in Washington, including all Washington state parks.

Price: $35 for one year.

Where to buy one: Buy a pass online, at some state parks, or from vendors around the state.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

OREGON PACIFIC COAST PASSPORT

Where it's accepted: At 16 federal recreation sites and Oregon state parks on the Oregon coast, including Fort Stevens State Park, Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area and Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area.

Price: $35 for one year.

Where to buy one: From select vendors on the coast, including state parks, BLM and U.S. Forest Service headquarters, or by phone at 800-551-6949.

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

METRO PARKS PASS

Where it's accepted: The five Portland-area parks managed by Metro: Oxbow and Blue Lake regional parks, Broughton Beach, Chinook Landing Marine Park and M. James Gleason Memorial Boat Ramp.

Price: $40 for one year.

Where to buy one: Buy a pass online, or at the Blue Lake or Oxbow park offices.

Don't Edit

Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

OREGON SNO-PARK PASS

Where it's accepted: All sno-parks in Oregon when parking fees are charged, from Nov. 1 to April 30, as well as sno-parks in California and Idaho.

Price: $25 for one year.

Where to buy one: Buy a pass online, at Oregon DMV officers or from vendors around the state.



--Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB
Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday hailed "a new chapter" in Britain's history as he signed its divorce deal with the EU, clearing another hurdle ahead of the country's departure from the bloc next Friday.

Johnson signed the agreement in Downing Street in front of European and British Foreign Office officials who had brought it from Brussels.

EU chiefs Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel had put their names to the treaty at a ceremony held behind closed doors in the dead of night.

"The signing of the withdrawal agreement is a fantastic moment, which finally delivers the result of the 2016 referendum and brings to an end far too many years of argument and division," Johnson said in a statement.

"This signature heralds a new chapter in our nation's history," he added on Twitter.

The treaty will now return to Brussels, where the original will be kept in EU archives along with other international treaties, while three copies will be dispatched back to London.

On Wednesday next week, the text will go to the European Parliament for ratification and on Thursday diplomats from the EU member states will approve the deal in writing.

Then, on Friday, January 31, Britain spends its last day in the EU before leaving the bloc at 2300 GMT as clocks strike midnight in Brussels.

"Charles Michel and I have just signed the agreement on the withdrawal of the UK from the EU, opening the way for its ratification by the European Parliament," European Commission president Von der Leyen tweeted.

In a separate tweet, European Council president Michel said: "Things will inevitably change but our friendship will remain. We start a new chapter as partners and allies."



The former Belgian premier, whose council represents EU member governments, added, in French: "I'm keen to write this new page together."



In another move to prepare Brussels for relations with Britain as an outside power, the European Commission named an ambassador -- veteran diplomat Joao Vale de Almeida -- to London.

Johnson signed with a Parker fountain pen, as is traditional for ceremonial signings in Downing Street, with staff including the prime minister's chief Brexit negotiator David Frost present.

Earlier in Brussels, the signing was conducted before dawn in the European Council's headquarters, as chief EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier looked on.

No reporters or photographers were allowed to witness the low key ceremony, despite agencies offering to organise a pool.

British voters backed leaving the European Union in a June 2016 referendum, and after lengthy negotiations and several delays Johnson's new government plans to "get Brexit done" next week.

Queen Elizabeth II gave her formal assent to the British withdrawal legislation on Thursday and the EU is now expected to complete the final formalities in the coming days.

Britain will leave the institutions of the union, reducing it to 27 member states, but the withdrawal agreement provides for an 11-month transition period until the end of the year.

During this time, Britain and the rest of the bloc will continue to apply the same rules of business to avoid economic disruption while officials try to negotiate a broader trade deal.

Most experts regard the idea that London and Brussels could agree a comprehensive free trade agreement in that time as ambitious.

But officials have expressed cautious optimism that some kind of agreement can be reached.

Formal trade talks are not expected to begin until the end of February or even March, and in the meantime Barnier has been in intensive talks with EU member states on his negotiating mandate.

After the transition, Britain wants the right to set its own rules in areas such as workers' rights and environmental standards.

But Brussels has warned that the more the UK diverges from EU standards, the less it will have unfettered access to Europe's huge single market.

And a comprehensive free trade agreement of the type the EU has signed with Canada could take years to negotiate.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, January 24, 2020 12:28 719 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2060d1b27 4 National coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,wuhan,Indonesia,Sulianti-Saroso-Hospital,Terawan-Agus-Putranto Free

An Indonesian citizen is suspected to have the coronavirus after traveling from China. The patient, identified only as R, 35, is currently undergoing treatment at the Sulianti Saroso Infection Hospital in Jakarta.

The Health Ministry's disease prevention and monitoring director Wiendra Waworuntu confirmed that the patient was suspected to have the coronavirus.

"The patient is in good condition but is still suspected [to have the virus]. The infection can only be confirmed once the patient's lab result is positive. Since it's still suspected, we're intensively monitoring the case," he said on han. 23 as reported by tribunnews.com.

Later, Sulianto Saroso Infection Hospital medical and nursing director Diany Kusmowardhani said as quoted by kompas.com on Jan. 26 that the patient had been tested and declared negative of coronavirus.

Indonesia has suspended all flights to and from Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the virus, to prevent an outbreak in the country. The coronavirus, which bears similarities to the deadly severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), has killed 18 people and infected hundreds of others, including in Indonesia's neighboring countries Thailand and Singapore, AFP reported. (ars)

Editor's note: The article has been updated with the lab result.
The figures are the first released since Jessie K. Liu took over as U.S. attorney for the District in 2017. They came in response to pressure from local officials and activists, who criticized Liu after The Washington Post revealed last summer that hate-crime prosecutions had fallen to record lows while hate-crime reports were at record highs.
[January 24, 2020] American Family Insurance group companies raise minimum pay to $20 per hour

To attract and retain talent and create a positive impact on employees and communities, American Family Insurance group companies are raising their minimum hourly rate to $20 per hour. This rate increase for employees is effective retroactive to January 1, 2020. The raise in minimum wage will result in raises for nearly 1,700 employees at American Family group companies. The group employs nearly 13,500 employees across the country. "As an organization committed to exceptional customer service, it is essential we invest in our employees who provide that service," said Gerry Benusa, enterprise chief people officer. "Offering competitive wages not only helps ensure we attract and retain customer-focused employees, it also allows them to invest in their careers, dreams and communities." The increase applies to all companies within the American Family Insurance group, including American Family Insurance, based in Madison, Wisconsin; Homesite Group, Boston; The General, Nashville, Tennessee; Main Street America, Jacksonville, Florida; and other companies. It also applies to American Family Connect Property and Casualty Insurance Company, the proposed new legal name of a De Pere, Wisconsin-based insurer (Ameriprise Auto & Home Insurance) American Family Insurance group acquired last October. The minimum-wage increase to $20 per hour will impact employees in a variety of roles and areas, including customer service, claims, administrative and others. American Family Insurance group companies recognize the importance of employee wellness to engagement and productivity. The companies offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, which includes health insurance, retirement benefits, flexible work arrangements and trainng and development opportunities. They also offer generous paid time-off and paid leave programs such as maternity, parental leave and volunteer time.



About American Family Insurance group Madison, Wisconsin-based American Family Insurance group is the nation's 13th-largest property/casualty insurance group and ranks No. 306 on the Fortune 500 list. The company sells American Family-brand products, including auto, homeowners, life, business and farm/ranch insurance, primarily through its exclusive independent contractor agents in 19 states. American Family affiliates (The General and Homesite) also provide options for consumers who want to manage their insurance matters directly over the internet or by phone. Affiliate Main Street America sells insurance products through independent agents and affiliate American Family Connect Property and Casualty Insurance Company (proposed new legal name of Ameriprise Auto & Home Insurance) sells through partners. Web www.amfam.com; Facebook (News - Alert) www.facebook.com/amfam; Twitter (News - Alert) www.twitter.com/amfam.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005296/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
(CNN)  A photo of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a Winnipeg-based doughnut shop has proved to be a lightning rod among pastry-enthusiastic onlookers online.

The confectionery controversy began when Trudeau tweeted a photo of himself carrying boxes out of the Oh Doughnuts shop in Winnipeg. "Picked up some of Winnipeg's best to keep us going through another full day of Cabinet meetings," the Prime Minister wrote. "Thanks for the fuel, @OhDoughnuts. #shoplocal"

The doughnut shop responded to Trudeau's post with its own tweet thanking him for his visit. "We can confirm he carried these out the door. Pretty sure Health Canada would agree everything is okay in moderation," the shop said.

Some rushed to praise the Prime Minister, celebrating his support for a local business. Others criticized him for what they viewed as an overly "expensive" doughnut purchase.

Trudeau appeared to be carrying five large boxes of doughnuts with two smaller boxes on top. According to Oh Doughnuts' website, an assortment of 12 "regular doughnuts" costs $35 Canadian ($26.61 in US dollars), with assortments of 12 "specialty doughnuts" running as high as $47 Canadian ($35.73 USD).

Those prices rattled some social media users, who chided the Prime Minister for not favoring a cheaper alternative.

"I guess Tim's isnt good enough at $10 a dozen," one Twitter user wrote in an apparent reference to the Canadian coffee and doughnut chain Tim Hortons. "Nothing says I am middle class than $47 a dozen donuts. Just another elitist selfie moment."

Others pushed back.

Canadian comedian Tommy Campbell thanked Trudeau on Twitter for "buying local at a place that actually makes donuts."

In response to the flair-up, Oh Doughnuts launched a tweet thread outlining its business practices and explaining its prices.

"We are locally owned;employ 30+ staff who enjoy breaks and have the option of joining a benefit plan;we use local butter, eggs and flour;our doughnuts are made fresh daily;we do our best to pay a living wage & never pay minimum wage," the company said.

"Our pricing reflects our respect for our employees, the environment and our commitment to quality, local goods. We are a small biz that really appreciated the sale on a cold Jan Mon."

This story was first published on CNN.com "Justin Trudeau finds himself deep in doughnut drama after photo takes off online"
Anti-CAA stir: 154 'conscious citizens' urge Prez to take action against those indulging in violence

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Jan 24: A group of 154 "conscious, responsible and concerned citizens" on Friday urged President Ram Nath Kovind to take action against those indulging in violence in the name of protests against the CAA and the NRC and "safeguard" the country's democratic institutions.

The group consists of people who have retired from top government and constitutional posts and intellectuals. Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) Chairman and former chief justice of Sikkim High Court Permod Kohli, who led the delegation that called on the President, alleged that some political elements were sponsoring the "violent protestors" and there is also an "external dimension to the disturbances being created".

Resolutions against CAA 'political gesture', states hardly have any role: Shashi Tharoor

He, however, did not name any political party or individual "instigating" the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the National Population Register and the National Register of Citizens The delegates said they were concerned about the move to "divide" the country by "some groups" to create a "vicious atmosphere".

We have no objection if the stir is peaceful without any inconvenience to the public, they added. The signatories to the memorandum, submitted to the President, include 11 former high court judges, 72 ex-bureaucrats including IAS, IPS, IFS officers and former ambassadors of India, 56 ex-top defence officers, intellectuals, academicians and medical professionals.

The memorandum said the "conscious, responsible and concerned citizens" want the Centre to "look into the matter with all seriousness and safeguard the democratic institutions of the country and take stern action against such forces".

"Whenever India faced challenges on its borders and encountered the onslaught of some of the foreign invaders, it was more because of internal chicanery of individuals and small groups of people for their personal agendas and benefits who have from time to time tried to break the fabric of India's unity and cohesiveness. We are seeing this phenomenon again." It alleged that the protests, "while ostensibly claiming to oppose the policies" of the Centre are in effect "designed to destroy the very fabric" of India and harm its unity and integrity.

"The fear-mongering which is being spread across the length and breadth of India appears to be motivated and with a sinister design to harm the nation," the memorandum added.

"The CAA does not impact on Indian citizens and hence claims that a citizen's rights and liberties are being infringed, does not stand scrutiny," it said.

Anti-CAA stir: Army chief Bipin Rawat says leadership does not mean leading people to violence

Others signatories include former Rajya Sabha secretary-general Yogendra Narain, former Kerala chief secretary C V Anand Bose, former ambassador G S Iyer, former RAW chief Sanjiv Tripathi, ITBP ex-DGP S K Kain, former Delhi Police commissioner R S Gupta, former Army staff deputy chief N S Malik, ex-president Institute of Cost Accountants of India Chandra Wadhwa and former NCW chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, January 24, 2020, 16:49 [IST]
Additional reporting by Olga Cronin

The High Court has approved the extradition of Irishman Eamon Harrison to the UK to face manslaughter charges.

Mr Harrison from Mayobridge, Co Down appeared at the High Court in Dublin on Friday in relation to a European Arrest Warrant seeking his extradition to the UK.

The 23-year-old is wanted for his alleged role in transporting the trailer in which the bodies of eight women and 31 men, all Vietnamese nationals, were found on an industrial park in Grays, Essex, in the early hours of October 23.

The court previously heard that Harrison is accused of 41 offences  39 counts of manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, one human trafficking offence, and one count of assisting unlawful immigration.

Mr Justice Donald Binchy said that after receiving comprehensive arguments from both sides, he decided to approve the extradition.

Justice Binchy said he received "very comprehensive" submissions from Mr Harrison's legal team and that of the Department of Justice.

He said, in light of these submissions, he found there was nothing to "preclude" the surrender of Mr Harrison and that he had a lengthy written judgement explaining his decision.

However he said this will not be ready for release until Monday, January 27.

He said he would not summarise his 50-page judgement for fear of omitting something.

Tony McGillicuddy BL, for Mr Harrison, requested that Mr Justice Binchy defer making the order until Mr Harrison's defence team have time to consider the judgement.

The court heard that once an order is officially made, a defence team has 15 days to make an appeal.

In turn, Mr Justice Binchy said he was deferring making the order until Tuesday, February 4 and adjourned the matter until that date at 10am.

Mr Harrison was arrested at Dublin Port a few days after the bodies were found in a lorry in Essex on October 23.

He is alleged to have driven the container to the port of Zeebrugge in Belgium, and later signed the shipping notice for it.
Former Maharashtra Minister Deepak Kesarkar said here on Friday that it would be premature to comment on Bhima Koregaon violence case as a Commission is investigating it.

His response came after State Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Thursday decided to review the Bhima Koregaon violence case.

"As far as Bhima Koregaon case is concerned, I had myself gone there while the riots were taking place. But I want to say one thing that there is a commission to investigate this case. It is for the commission to decide what has to be done ahead. That is the reason why if I say anything today, it will be premature," Kesarkar said.

Earlier yesterday, a high-level meeting, which involved Maharashtra Home Minister Deshmukh and senior police officers, took place at the State Secretariat on Thursday where the Bhima Koregaon cases were reviewed.

On January 1, 2018, violence erupted during the 200th-anniversary celebrations of Bhima-Koregaon battle.

The violence had left one dead and several others injured. Police had filed 58 cases against 162 people.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kuwait City, Jan 24, 2020 (AFP)



Kuwait's foreign ministry summoned Iran's ambassador Friday after a high-level Iranian official implicated the emirate in the US drone attack that killed top general Qasem Soleimani, official news agency KUNA reported.

Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled al-Jarallah expressed Kuwait's "amazement" at the claim that one of its air bases had been among those used to carry out the January 3 attack, KUNA said.

It said he was referring to a statement by Brigadier-General Amirali Hajizadeh, aerospace commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

"MQ-9 UAVs (drones) were flying in the region (at the time of the attack) that had mostly taken off from Kuwait's Ali al-Salem" base, Hajizadeh told Iranian state television Thursday.

Jarallah told the ambassador, Mohammed Irani, that Kuwait had already denied any role in the deadly attack in Baghdad.

He said such a claim "risks damaging relations" between Kuwait and Iran.

Soleimani had been at the centre of power-broking in the region for two decades as chief of Iran's external operations Quds Force of the elite Revolutionary Guards.
Well now, this is bizarre. An iconic 19th-century ghost story by Henry James, The Turn of the Screw, has been covered, copied and remixed more times than any of us are willing to remember, and yet, here we are, back again, for another round of spectral shenanigans with the worlds weirdest orphans.

Yes, Spielberg is in the producers chair, but it is director Floria Sigismondi thats doing the heavy lifting, working with a tricky screenplay by Carey and Chad Hayes for a contemporary horror, shot in Ireland, but set in some supernatural corner of America that, erm, looks like Ireland.

The year is 1994 (an era that lends absolutely nothing to the story), KurtCobain, we are informed, has just died (again, no relevance to the plot) and a young childminder and educator named Kate (Mackenzie Davis, working harder than anyone else here) has just landed a gig looking after a couple of rich orphans (Brooklynn Prince, Finn Wolfhard) in a large country estate in the middle of nowhere. Spooky things happen.

Barbara Marten doubles down as a sinister housekeeper. There are spiders and ghosts. There are bad dreams and creepy noises. There are more cheap and tacky jump scares than youd expect from a Funderland ghost train. I could go on.

The Turning is, apparently, the end result of a troubled production, and my goodness, wouldnt you know it. Its not that Spielbergs cursed horror is bad  its that, well, it clearly isnt finished.

It is barely in a releasable state; a confusing, discombobulated mess, that never explains itself and that has, it would appear, arrived in cinemas without its ending. Seriously, there is no conclusion to this thing  the credits just start rolling, inexplicably, in the 90th minute, smack-bang in the middle of a sequence. Its almost as if a bell went off for lunch, and the entire crew disappeared  or worse still, the studio ran out of money. Such an odd, odd film.

(CERT: 16)
System error

error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.

context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951

/var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149



Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f0482b75f10)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f0482b6e6d0)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f0482b75f10)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f0482b6e6d0)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f0482bb9fd8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f0482b6e6d0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f0482b6e6d0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f0482272738)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f0482b86f20)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f0482b86f20)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
YEREVAN.  You see only 10 percent of these processes. Hrayr Tovmasyan, President of the Constitutional Court of Armenia, told this to reporters today after the search in his home.

"The former NSS [National Security Service] director [Artur Vanetsyan] made a hint about it," he said. "I hope, I am sure that his honor as an officer will not allow him to remain silent about it, and (...) it will all become the property of the public. If I keep silent about it to this day, it conditioned solely by the reputation of my country."

Tovmasyan expressed hope that Vanetsyan had much more to say.

He assured that the process against him is political.

"The problem is deeper," he said. My refusal to testify is conditioned by the fact that there is no right at all here. The real purpose of all this is political and bad political, which not only is not in my interests, your interests, in anyone's interests."

As reported earlier, the Special Investigation Service investigators conducted a search in Hrayr Tovmasyan's apartment today.

Hrayr Tovmasyan, President of the Constitutional Court of Armenia, has been charged with abuse of power. The decision to involve him as a defendant in the respective criminal case was made by the Prosecutor General on December 26, 2019, the same day that President Armen Sarkissian signed the law granting the serving Constitutional Court judges the opportunity to retire early.
Christian Association of Nigeria demands answers after Boko Haram kills pastor

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

The Christian Association of Nigeria is demanding answers from the Nigerian government as the interdenominational body calls for three days of prayer and fasting after the execution of one of its leaders.

Following the beheading of Rev. Lawan Andimi at the hands of Boko Haram Monday, CAN issued sharp words of criticism for the Nigerian federal government due to its inability to thwart attacks and abductions carried out against Christians by Boko Haram and the Islamic State's West Africa Province in Nigerias northeast.

Andimi, a Church of the Brethren pastor and chairman of CANs chapter in the Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State, was abducted by alleged Boko Haram militants in early January.

Days later he appeared in a ransom video pleading with church and government leaders to secure his release. However, the pastor was said to have been executed because the underserved Christian community could not raise enough funds to meet the ransom demands of his captors. Additionally, sources say that Andimi refused to renounce his faith in Christ.

We recall sadly that Late Rev. Lawan Andimi while in captivity made a passionate appeal to the leadership of his church and the federal government to come to his rescue, a CAN statement issued by CANs Director of Legal and Public Affairs, Kwamkur Samuel Vondip, reads.

The church did everything within her reach to secure the safe release of this pastor gentleman but it was not possible because they didnt have the military power to do so.

The CAN statement, obtained by The Chrisitian Post, also mourned the killing of Lutheran Pastor Denis Bagauri, who was killed in his home Sunday by unknown gunmen.

The church views the unabated kidnappings, extortions and killings of Christians and innocent Nigerians as shameful to the government that each time boasts that it has conquered insurgency, CAN noted. It is reprehensible and saddening that each time the government comes out to claim the defeat of the insurgency, more killings of our people are committed.

One human rights nongovernmental organization estimates that at least 1,000 Christians were killed by Boko Haram and Fulani radicals in 2019.

CAN suggests that in light of the facts it is difficult for its leaders to believe that the federal government under President Mohammadu Buhari is not colluding with the insurgents to exterminate Christians in Nigeria.

CANs assertion bears in mind the very questionable leadership of the security sector that has been skewed toward a religion and region.

Is that lopsidedness not a cover-up for the operation of the insurgency? the statement asked. If not, why couldnt the well-equipped security agents of Nigeria get this man killed rescued?

CAN challenged the federal government to be more proactive and take more seriously the killings and destruction being caused by extremists across Nigeria.

Maintenance of security is the least responsibility of any government that knows its worth, CAN contended. We are once again calling on President Buhari to purge himself of the allegations of nepotism and religious favoritism by reconstituting the leadership of security outfits.

CAN calls on the federal government to secure the release of Christian teen Leah Sharibu and hundreds of other victims who have been kidnapped by Boko Haram and ISWAP.

A government that cannot protect the governed is a failed government, CAN asserted.

The organization concluded its statement by listing questions begging for answers.

Can the government tell us what they did since Rev. Andimi cried out to them for help? the statement asks.

CAN also asked if the government [is] sincere in fighting these terrorists or merely paying lip service to the war against the insurgency?

Is there any hope that our security is guaranteed under this government? CAN asks. If the security agencies claim the terrorists are operating outside the country, why is it possible for these hoodlums to invade the country, kill, maim, burn and kidnap without any convincing checks on the part of the security agencies?

CAN states that the Nigerian government has claimed that the brutal acts carried out against Christians have no religious undertones. If that is true, then CAN asks why extremists and herdsmen are targeting the predominantly Christian communities and Christian leaders?

If the security agencies are not living up to the expectations of the government, why hasn't it overhauled them with a view of injecting new visionaries into the security system? the statement questioned.

As long as the government continues to live in denial and fail to face the reality, these criminals will not stop their criminalities. We are almost losing hope in government's ability to protect Nigerians, especially Christians who have become endangered species under its watch.

Nigeria ranks as the 12th worst nation in the world when it comes to Christian persecution on Open Doors USAs 2020 World Watch List. Open Doors USA CEO David Curry warned during a press event last week that the rise of Islamic extremism in Nigeria is spilling over into Cameroon and Burkina Faso.

The U.S. State Department added Nigeria for the first time to its special watch list of countries that tolerate severe religious freedom violations in December.

We are designating [Nigeria] special watch list for the first time because of all of the increasing violence and communal activity and the lack of effective government response and the lack of judicial cases being brought forward in that country, U.S. Ambassador-at-large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback told reporters at the time.

It is a dangerous situation in too many parts of Nigeria. The government has either not been willing to or have been ineffective in their response and the violence continues to grow.

Several human rights and religious freedom activists are calling on U.S. President Donald Trump to appoint a special envoy to monitor the situation in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Region.
The man doesnt lack for passionate supporters. Photo: Scott Heins/Getty Images

If recent polls are any indication, Bernie Sanders may be peaking at just the right time. But why is the Vermont senator doing so much better than he was a few weeks ago? Or is that more a narrative than a reality? To get some answers (and puns), I spoke with national political correspondent Gabriel Debenedetti.

Ben: A couple months after being all but counted out by many following his heart attack and some fairly anemic polls, Bernie Sanders seems to be riding high. He topped a recent national CNN survey, is either on top or within close striking distance in Iowa depending on which organization you trust, and was well ahead in a WBURs latest New Hampshire poll. Oddsmakers, seeing a plausible path for him, now have Sanders neck and neck with Joe Biden to win the nomination. What do you think explains this late-in-the-game change in fortunes?

Gabriel: Ah, the Bernie surge! Can we talk about the parameters of all this first? A few things are obviously true: Hes had some good national polls, where his average has risen, and there have been recent NH and IA surveys with him in the lead. Hes raised more money than others. Elites have come around to the idea that he could definitely win, as I outlined in the magazine this week. But if we take a step back from (Ill just say it) Twitter, the story isnt quite so obviously surge-y. By the RealClearPolitics averages, hes gained nearly four points in the last month nationally, meaning hes cut his deficit (behind Biden) by three points. Thats clearly significant, and has had an obvious bearing on how his rivals are thinking about him. But in Iowa, hes lost nearly three points in the last month. In New Hampshire, the only early state where hes leading everyone else, hes gained just one point. In Nevada, where hes confident, hes dropped very slightly, and remains behind Biden. Now, you could easily make the case that if you had to choose one candidate right now, Sanderss position is among, or IS, the best. But lets keep this context in mind.

Ben: Does this mean youd attribute his rise  or seeming rise  more to other candidates falling than him actually getting more popular?

Gabriel: I think Id attribute it at least in part to the elite media and political talkers waking up to his obvious strength. Something similar happened a few months back when the political world seemed to realize that, oh, yeah, Joe Biden is winning and always has been winning. Now, again, its obviously true that Sanders has gained ground in a few important ways. And that has coincided with the field narrowing. But its not like hes had a clearly distinct rise that corresponds to any sharp drop in support for Buttigieg or Warren.

Ben: So Im just a media groupthink sap?

Gabriel: Sap is a strong word.

Let me put it another way. Theres no doubt that folks on the ground in Iowa and New Hampshire believe Sanders has been having a bit of a moment, and could definitely win both states, and the nomination. But I dont think theres any one thing that led to that realization, and I think the recent national reckoning on this (or, like, Twitter flurry and cable-news wake up) lags the states pretty significantly.

But I want to be really clear about this, because Im definitely not saying, Nothing to see here! There is no doubt at all that other candidates spent a lot of the summer and fall, and even early winter, assuming Sanders wouldnt ultimately be a huge threat to them. And that has changed.

Ben: Not to be repetitive, but if he is having this moment, why now?

Gabriel: Oh, you want me to actually answer your question instead of just being a scold? I get it.

Ben: Haha.

Gabriel: Many factors, but most importantly:

(1) His staying power, and especially the demonstration in recent months that nothing will shake his base.

(2) Warrens early winter slip in the polls, which clearly helped him slightly in some places.

(3) His fourth-quarter fundraising success woke a lot of people up.

(4) The slow-rolling realization that were about to enter the caucuses with at least five candidates potentially hitting double digits, plus at least two more competing for viability in some places, which means earning even 20 percent carries you a lot farther than a lot of folks assumed it would a few months ago.

Someone in Iowa recently made the case to me that there are only two candidates who have obvious, clear, unshakable bases: Bernie and Biden. And thats a very powerful thing in a race like this.

Ben: Looking at the polls and the on-the-ground situation, to what extent do you think Sanders could bounce back from a disappointing finish in Iowa  say, third or fourth? And how much does it matter who finishes ahead of him in this scenario?

Gabriel: This kind of thing is very, very hard to game out, but especially for someone like Sanders. Weve seen races where the Iowa result has a huge, unexpected impact on what happens in NH  see 2008  and some where its not totally obvious what the effect is at all. In 2016, Sanders was going to win NH big before IA, and then he won NH big. All that said, I think a lot of people would be surprised and reconsider their thinking on this race if Warren finishes clearly ahead of Sanders in Iowa. But shell also face immense downward pressure from commentators and endorsers if he finishes clearly ahead of her. So, again, I dont want to go too far down Conjecture Lane, but I also think we can safely establish that if Sanders disappoints in Iowa, his most committed supporters wont go anywhere, and wont take kindly to suggestions that his time has passed. And thats a fairly significant reason to be optimistic, if youre him.

Ben: Im afraid Conjecture Lane is where we built this house.

Gabriel: We built this city on caucus polls. Wow, Im so sorry.

Ben: I love it.

Ben: In your recent piece on the race to win there, you quoted someone who doubted the Sanders campaigns organizational strength in the state. Does that track from what youve seen on the ground?

Gabriel: Its more like, a huge part of Sanderss bet, not just in Iowa but everywhere, is that he can expand the electorate, and that by bringing new people into the fold he can win. There are a lot of political types who believe two things about this theory: First, that if he can pull it off  and if its true, he is in fact poised to do it  he could win. Maybe by a lot. And second, that they have no evidence to believe its about to happen, based on what theyre seeing on the ground in these states. In other words, many of them agree theres likely to be high turnout, but they dont see reasons to think that itll be composed of previously disaffected voters activated by Sanders, beyond his base. The beauty of this is well see which side of this debate is right very soon.

Ben: How excited are you to finally get some answers after the last year?

Gabriel: Ask me after the ninth round of voting at the contested convention in Milwaukee.*

*I dont think this is going to happen.
China is struggling to contain rising public anger over its response to a spreading coronavirus even as it took unprecedented steps to slow the outbreak, restricting travel for 40 million people on the eve of Lunar New Year.

The government ordered travel agencies to suspend sales of domestic and international package tours after imposing transport curbs on cities near the center of the outbreak.

The turmoil comes as the virus stymies efforts to track infected patients. While the death toll continues to rise -- and now includes someone as young as 36 -- some infected patients aren't showing a fever, a symptom governments around the world have been using to screen for the pathogen.

The pressure is rising on China as it tries to come to grips with a disease that some fear could rival SARS, which 17 years ago claimed almost 800 lives. While global experts have mostly praised efforts to contain the virus, Chinese citizens are increasingly critical and anxious as travel restrictions grow to encompass a population bigger than Australia.

Beyond the restricted area at the epicenter of the outbreak, major closures took place across the country amid the health fears. Public events to mark the new year were canceled, Shanghai Disneyland announced that it was closing indefinitely, and cinema chains canceled movie screenings. The halt to activity comes during what is usually a peak period for spending, putting China's economic stabilization at risk.

"This is unprecedented in China, and maybe even in the history of modern health," said Yanzhong Huang, director of the center for Global Health Studies at Seton Hall University in New Jersey, of the widening travel restrictions. "It's a tremendous legal, institutional, not to mention logistical challenge."

The death toll rose to 25 even as the World Health Organization stopped short of calling the virus a global health emergency. The number of confirmed cases in mainland China rose to more than 800 as of Jan. 23, the National Health Commission said in a statement. At least one patient is as young as 10 years old.

Patients with the infection have been found in countries across Asia, including Singapore, Japan and South Korea. Outside the region, the U.S. has reported one case. Chinese tourists spent $130 billion overseas in 2018, so the restriction on package tours could have significant economic ramifications elsewhere.

In China, what should have been a day of celebration and reunion was colored by growing panic and anger. Local media issued sharp criticisms of the slow response from officials in Hubei province, whose capital city is Wuhan, the center of the outbreak. Rumors have spread rapidly on social media, encompassing everything from a shortage of hospital beds to the spraying of disinfectant from planes.

Chinese officials led by President Xi Jinping pledged "all-out" efforts to contain the outbreak this week. The government on Friday vowed to punish officials who delay virus information, with the State Council setting up an online platform to allow the public to report disclosure problems.

For now, China appears willing to let local officials take the brunt of public anger. The country's powerful internet censors have allowed criticism to fall heaviest on lower-level officials, such as Wuhan Mayor Zhou Xianwang, who has faced calls to resign after he acknowledged on Tuesday that the city "didn't have sufficient warnings" about the risk.

China's state-controlled media have also weighed in. A commentary posted by the Communist Party's People's Daily newspaper on Tuesday said Wuhan's statements had "caused panic" while its affiliated Global Times tabloid said the city "failed" to contain the virus early on.

The ruling Communist Party is anxious to avoid a repeat of SARS, during which it was criticized for initially covering up the scale of the problem. Back then, China fired more than 100 officials, including the health minister and the mayor of Beijing, amid allegations that local governments suppressed information about the disease.

Outside of China, the feedback has been more positive. Germany's health minister said Friday that China is doing a better job and the world community is more prepared than during SARS.

"There's a big difference to SARS. We have a much more transparent China," Jens Spahn told Bloomberg TV on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. "The action of China is much more effective in the first days already."

At the same time, questions are being raised about China's ability to effectively screen for the disease. Details of those who have died after contracting the virus showed that several didn't have a fever, potentially complicating global efforts to check for infected travelers as they arrive at travel hubs.

The lack of fever means that temperature screening -- the main method now being deployed at airports to control the outbreak -- would fail to pick up on at least some cases.

"The whole airport screening exercise is to simply give people comfort that there is some government action to protect the public," said Ramanan Laxminarayan, director of the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy in Washington, D.C. "It has no real public health utility in the case of coronaviruses. What really matters is surveillance, infection control and isolation."

While the virus is moving from human to human, a situation that worries public health officials, it appears that close exposure is critical. Most cases have moved from patients to their close family members or to health-care workers who were caring for them.

Most of those who have died had other health conditions, including diabetes and heart disease, that weakened their immune systems. Symptoms include fever, cough or chest tightness, and difficulty breathing.

The WHO said in a statement after its briefing that "amplification" -- presumably a super spreader event in which an infected person passes on the disease to many others -- occurred at one health facility. It also said a single patient on average can ignite as many as 2.5 additional infections.

Furthermore, the WHO has detected transmission from patient to patient across a chain of as many as four people. Such a pattern explains the case of a 56-year-old in Tianjin, who was confirmed to have the coronavirus despite having no work history in Wuhan.

Public health experts gathered by the United Nations agency to review the situation were split over whether they should recommend declaring a public health crisis of international concern and instead opted to continue monitoring the outbreak. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO's director-general, said he would reconvene the committee within 10 days, or at a moment's notice should the situation take a turn for the worse.

"Make no mistake, this is an emergency in China, but it has not yet become a global health emergency," Tedros said at a briefing in Geneva Thursday. "It may yet become one."

_ _ _

With assistance from Bloomberg's Sarah Chen, Jason Gale, James Paton, Dong Lyu, Lulu Yilun Chen, Alfred Cang, Jeanny Yu, Tian Chen, Steven Yang, Arne Delfs and Francine Lacqua.
Seven US bombs dating back to the Second World War have been discovered in the German city of Grunheide, in the state of Brandenburg, at the site of a future Tesla auto company plant, Trend reports citing Sputnik.

According to Environmental Minister Axel Vogel, the bombs will be detonated, but it has not been decided when.

The duds weigh about 50 kg each, according to Reuters, citing a spokesman for the interior minister in the state of Brandenburg where the property is located.

A section of the A10 motorway will be closed for the duration of the works, as the blast radius is some 2,000 feet.

Despite WW2 being over for decades, plenty of unexploded munitions remain buried in Germany.

In November, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that the company had chosen Berlin as the location for a European Gigafactory.
Photo: Orangetheory Fitness/Yelp

Searching for the best personal training options near you?

Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top personal training spots around Cincinnati, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to venture next time you're in the market for personal training.

Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions.

1. Orangetheory Fitness

Photo: ORANGETHEORY FITNESS/Yelp

First on the list is Orangetheory Fitness. Located at 3202 Vandercar Drive in Oakley, the boot camp, gym and personal training spot is the highest-rated personal training spot in Cincinnati, boasting 4.5 stars out of 29 reviews on Yelp.

2. It's Working Out - TRX

PHOTO: IT'S WORKING OUT-TRX/YELP

Next up is Linwood's It's Working Out - TRX, situated at 3546 Columbia Parkway. With five stars out of 11 reviews on Yelp, the gym and personal training spot has proven to be a local favorite.

3. Cincy 360 Fitness

PHOTO: CINCY 360 FITNESS/YELP

East End's Cincy 360 Fitness, located at 3833 Eastern Ave., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the boot camp and personal training spot five stars out of 12 reviews.

4. Fitnext

Photo: FITNEXT/Yelp

Fitnext, a gym and personal training and nutritionist spot in Central Business District, is another much-loved go-to, with five stars out of 10 Yelp reviews. Head over to 803 Sycamore St. to see for yourself.

Deciding when to check out the top spots above? Saturdays tend to be the busiest days of the week for consumer spending at health and beauty businesses across the Cincinnati area, while Tuesdays are least busy, according to data on local business transactions from Womply, a provider of small business software for online reviews management. Last year, average daily transactions at health and beauty businesses surged to 12 per business on Saturdays, compared to 8 daily transactions on average on Tuesdays.

This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
Are manufacturers working on the Lockheed Martin-made C-130J Super Hercules being exposed to hazardous chemicals? One senator wants to know, and he's asking the Defense Department to investigate.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, has urged the DoD Office of Inspector General to look into recent whistleblower allegations that Lockheed is sealing the aircraft's internal fuel tanks in an unsafe manner, according to a Jan. 22 letter sent to Glenn Fine, the principal deputy Inspector General.

"The whistleblower alleges that Lockheed has been applying a chemical used for sealing the

C-130J's integral fuel tank in an aerosol form that is not listed in the chemical manufacturer's approved methods," Grassley said. The letter was first reported by Bloomberg News.

The chemical in question is PR-148. The sealant is "a one-part compound suitable for application by brush or clean gauze," according to its maker, PPG Aerospace, which does not mention using the chemical in aerosol form.

Related: Air Force Ends Purchase of Pricey Coffee Cups After Senator Complains

"The application of this chemical, by this method, may have long-term consequences for those applying the chemical as well as others involved in the manufacturing process nearby," Grassley wrote. "To that end, several other whistleblowers have reached out to my office asserting that these health concerns were initially ignored by Lockheed, and those with potentially connected health issues were pushed aside when their concerns were raised."

A Lockheed Martin spokeswoman said the concerns have already been addressed.

The health and safety of our Lockheed Martin employees in the workplace [are] always of paramount importance," Stephanie Stinn said. "In regard to the application of a sealant used in the C-130J tank production process, we conducted both internal and external investigations, and it was determined that employees were operating within occupational safety standards for production processes including this sealant application process. A team from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration validated these findings.

The most recent model of the four-engine military transport aircraft initially went into production in 1997. The first J-model entered active service in the Air Force in 2004, with a variety of missions adopting the aircraft. The Marine Corps also flies the KC-130J, using it primarily for aerial refueling.

Grassley did not detail the employees' symptoms or side effects from using the chemical. But according to his letter, the workers allege they were exposed to "so many particles" because spraying the chemical within the production facility created a "large blue cloud."

"Employees both spraying the plane and in other parts of the facility would be exposed to and inhaling what amounts to industrial-strength airplane glue," Grassley said.

The senator noted the need for the C-130J, which was brought into the military to replace aging Hercules models. The J can take off and land at shorter distances; it can also fly faster and cruise higher, getting troops downrange or delivering supplies in a timely manner.

"The C-130J is a pivotal upgrade to the C-130, the U.S. military's preeminent forward

operating fixed wing transport aircraft. As such, Congress must ensure the aircraft is safe, capable of fulfilling its missions, and not a health risk to those who build and maintain it," Grassley wrote.

The senator expects the DoDIG to conduct an investigation into the procedure and whether the practice has been rectified. He also wants to know whether the Pentagon's relationship with Lockheed Martin "may have affected the oversight of this matter."

"These allegations raise questions about DoD's ability to conduct oversight of its contractors, and a potential culture of coziness between defense contractors and those at DoD charged with overseeing them," he wrote.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

Read more: Prospective Army Battalion COs Must Now Face Senior Officer Grilling, Psych Review
Three French nationals and one Iraqi working with a French Christian charity in Iraq have been missing since Monday, the group announced Friday. The four men with SOS Chretiens d'Orient (Christians of the Middle East) went missing near the French embassy in Baghdad, the organisation's director Benjamin Blanchard told a news conference in Paris. No ransom demand has been received as yet and no group has claimed responsibility for their disappearance, he added. SOS Chretiens d'Orient has been working with persecuted Christians in Iraq since 2014 when Islamic State jihadists overran the province of Mosul, displacing tens of thousands of minority Christians and Yazidis. It is principally active in the Iraqi Kurdish capital Arbil, where many Christians sought refuge. The missing workers were in Baghdad "to renew their visas and register the association with Iraqi authorities," Blanchard said. They were also due to inspect the group's activities in the city, including the opening of a new school. They left their hotel by car for a meeting "which posed no problem," Blanchard said, adding that French and Iraqi authorities were working together to try locate them. However they did not return and the charity sought in vain to contact them on Tuesday before contacting the French authorities early Wednesday. - Help Christians stay - The charity's director described the men as "experienced staff members who have been working with us for years" and who had "perfect knowledge of conflict zones". He declined to give the men's identities. The French foreign ministry and the French embassy in Iraq refused to comment on their disappearance. "The French and Iraqi authorities are coordinating today on the enquiry and to retrace their steps," said Blanchard, stressing that he was in "close contact" with the worried families. Baghdad has been gripped by demonstrations for several months. The protests initially targeted a government widely seen as corrupt and meddling by neighbouring Iran. But in recent weeks America's military presence in Iraq has become a hot-button issue since a US drone strike killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and a top Iraqi commander in Baghdad on January 3. SOS Chretiens d'Orient, which is also active in Syria, Lebanon and Egypt, is one of several Western charities working with Christians in the Middle East. The aim of the group is to "help Christian communities remain (in the region) and rebuild" their lives, Blanchard said. - Persecution after Saddam fell - The organisation, which is fiercely critical of Islam, portraying it as a threat to Christianity in the Middle East, drew criticism in the past for sending young French volunteers to Syria and Iraq for months at a time. Photos regularly published by the non-government organisaiton on Twitter show volunteers visiting Christian families in Arbil and conducting French language classes. Before the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, the number of Christians in Iraq, home to one of the world's oldest Christian populations, ran to an estimated 1.5 million. After the fall of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein they suffered widespread persecution, culminating with the purges carried out by IS in 2014. By the summer of 2019, their number had fallen to around 250,000, Arbil Archbishop Bashar Warda said during a speech in Britain last year, warning the community was "close to extinction". Several Western countries including France had nationals kidnapped by armed groups in Syria in 2013 and 2014 but in recent years the situation has eased. Radio France Internationale said Friday that two of its freelancers were kidnapped briefly last month before being released. Currently, the only French person confirmed being held hostage anywhere in the world is Sophie Petronin, an elderly charity worker abducted by gunmen in northern Mali in December 2016. No group claimed responsibility for kidnapping until July 2017, when Al-Qaeda's Mali branch released a video showing her. The four members of the influential SOS Chretiens d'Orient (Christians of the Middle East) charity went missing near the French embassy in the Iraqi capital, the organisation's director Benjamin Blanchard told a news conference in Paris
DUBLIN Airport has been advised to trigger infection control precautions in the event of a passenger travelling from China showing potential symptoms of the new coronavirus.

The HSE said although there are no direct flights to Dublin from Wuhan in China, and returning passengers will not be actively quizzed, a safety protocol should be implemented if a suspected case presents to reduce the risk of spread.

Safeguards were stepped up in hospitals and GP surgeries yesterday as guidelines were issued by the national disease watchdog.

It emerged that a Chinese patient in Northern Ireland remained in isolation last night while the results of tests are awaited to find out if he has the killer coronavirus.

The suspected case came as five other patients were being tested for the virus in Scotland, heightening fears that it has already spread to Europe.

Dr Sam McConkey, a Dublin specialist in infectious diseases, said his fear would be the new virus would mutate and it would affect organs such as the liver and the bowels.

"It is early days but people are getting mobilised here," he said.

Health officials said the risk of a case in Ireland was low. The World Health Organisation's Emergency Committee said it was too early to declare a global emergency, but this must be kept under review. A number of suspected cases have been examined in hospitals in the Republic in the past week and none had to be formally tested.
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav took a jibe at Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath over the planned introduction of CAA in Lucknow University political science curriculum saying that soon the biography of the "chief" will be taught to students. As per reports, the university administration has planned to hold a debate on the contentious new citizenship law in the month of February. Following the debate by the political science department, a proposal will be sent for the inclusion of the positive aspects of the CAA in the syllabus.

Akhilesh Yadav took to Twitter to attack the BJP government. "It's been said that the Lucknow University plans to include CAA in its curriculum. If the condition remains, then soon the biography of the chief would be taught while lectures will be replaced by his speeches and stories of his life will be part of children's academics."

          CAA     .                             -    . pic.twitter.com/6UABUeM1du  Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) January 24, 2020

READ | Mayawati Upset Over Planned Inclusion Of 'positives' of CAA In Lucknow University Syllabus

Mayawati against 'divisive' CAA in curriculum

BSP supremo Mayawati also took to Twitter to express her displeasure. She opined that the CAA in under discussion in the court and hence the inclusion of this "controversial and divisive citizenship law by the Lucknow University in the syllabus is completely wrong and inappropriate". Mayawati vowed to roll back the changed curriculum if her party returns to power.

READ | UP: Lucknow University Plans To Introduce 'positives' Of CAA In Political Science Syllabus

Intended to clarify CAA says university

Speaking to media, Shashi Shukla, Head of the Department of Political Science at Lucknow University, reasoned that the move is needed to clarify people about CAA. There is a proposal for a paper under the subject contemporary issue in Indian politics and including CAA in it is under consideration. We will include it in the syllabus and put it on the board as a proposal. If passed it will be sent to the Academic Council and once it is cleared, studies will start," he said.

READ | 'Decide The Place!': Akhilesh Yadav Accepts Amit Shah's Challenge For Open Debate On CAA

Contentious new citizenship law

The BJP government has drawn huge flak from citizens across India against the CAA that fast-tracks citizenship for non-Muslim immigrants from neighbouring Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The government says the law is necessary to provide relief to thousands of people fleeing persecution in those countries because of their faith. Opponents of the law contend that the bill purposely leaves out Muslim immigrants and does not provide relief to those fleeing similar persecution in neighbouring Sri Lanka and Myanmar.

(Image credit: PTI)

READ | Akhilesh Yadav Fires 'fraud Babas' Jibe At HM Shah & UP CM, Predicts Failure On CAA Front
NORWALK  The citys school enrollment continues to trend upward, to the extent that the district will need to look seriously at building a third new elementary school, Superintendent of Schools Steven J. Adamowski said Tuesday.

Adamowski first floated the idea of a third school  two had been planned for, according to the Board of Educations 2015 Facilities Plan  at a November board meeting, after it was revealed the district had seen a particularly steep increase in the number of English Language Learners into the district.

The superintendent reiterated the need at the boards January enrollment update. According to Adamowski, the district is up 273 students year-over-year, a five student increase from numbers reported in November.

The total student population is currently 11,861, which reflects increases not just in the ELL population, but in the number of special education and low-income students. It also reflects the continuation of a demographic shift, wherein the district is now comprised of roughly 52 percent Hispanic students.

This is the basis for discussions we have been having recently about the need for a third school, Adamowski said of the increase. We are planning two new schools in an attempt to make up for 900 seats that we need to come below the overcapacity area and get rid of the portables which are currently housing 250 students at Jefferson (Elementary School). But, in addition to this, we now have 273 students beyond that. So we have to start planning for a third school.

Adamowski said, in addition to overcrowded elementary schools, the stress on the citys middle schools was becoming more evident. Ponus Ridge, Roton and West Rocks are all overcapacity.

To a great degree, this is caused by the delay of our South Norwalk school at Ely, Adamowski said. Because part of this slack was to be taken up by Columbus becoming a K-8 school that enrolled about 150 to 200 students in grades six, seven, eight that wouldve given us this capacity.

The Ely project has been held up by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, from which the city needs approval for a land swap but would allow construction of a new school on protected parkland.

The approval has taken longer than expected and has thrown off the schedule for a new Columbus School, for which the new Ely School is first required to accomodate displaced students. The BOE Finance Committee expects an update on the project and the pending approval at its Jan. 28 meeting.

Adamowski also noted growth at the pre-K level. At the Norwalk Early Childhood Center, there is an imbalance in the number of special education and general education students, such that two additional classrooms are required to accommodate more general education students and create a fully integrated program.

This has been an area of discussion between myself and the mayor for over a year now, Adamowski said. Its very clear to everyone that we need to take the other side of the Roosevelt School Building where the senior center is co-located with the Early Childhood Center. Thus far, the city has been unable to find another location for the Senior Center, but this is a pressing issue.

The demographic changes in Norwalk track generally with those in the state. According to Adamowski, for the first year, Connecticut is comprised of 51 percent high-needs students. As in Norwalk, districts throughout the state are becoming more diverse.

In conversations people have about student demographics, Im often concerned by the focus on it as students who are taking something away, BOE Chair Sarah Lemieux said. And I just want to frame the conversation as, all of these students  ELL students, students with disabilities, every population of students that we have  are an additive to the whole of our community.

Board member Barbara Meyer-Mitchell added that a recent Brookings Institute study predicted in the not-too-distant futur, the entire country would become majority minority.

The pearl-clutching about our district tipping over into a minority-majority district  its just happening across the country, and we can choose to be afraid or we can choose to celebrate, Meyer-Mitchell said. And I think we should choose the latter.

justin.papp@scni.com; @justinjpapp1; 203-842-2856
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021.
The Election Commission of India has sought a report from Delhi Chief Electoral Officer on BJP leader Kapil Mishra's tweet on Delhi assembly elections in which he has likened these polls with India vs Pakistan reference.

Mishra had on January 23rd tweeted '...On 8th February there will be a contest between India and Pakistan on the streets of Delhi.'

A report in this regard is required to be submitted within 24 hours.

According to sources, the Election Commission is mulling over strong action against BJP candidate Kapil Mishra.

Earlier on Thursday, while speaking to ANI about his tweet, Mishra had said, 'Mini Pakistans' has been created at many places in Delhi. Shaheen Bagh is being replicated at various places. Other places like Inder Lok, Chand Bagh have also become mini Pakistan. Protesters are disturbing common people by blocking the road, shutting areas, schools, etc."

On January 22, Aam Aadmi Party had written to the Election Commission alleging "wrongful acceptance of nomination forms of BJP candidate Kapil Mishra from Model Town constituency" and demanded cancellation of his candidature.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Senate President Ahmad Lawan, says the ninth National Assembly wont let the tag rubber-stamp legislature stop them from performing.

According to his Special Adviser (Media), Ola Awoniyi, in Abuja, on Friday, no amount of blackmail will discourage the present Assembly from working with the executive arm of government for the betterment of the people.

Lawan said: The ninth National Assembly is a National Assembly that is focused, that is united, that is determined to make a positive difference in the lives of Nigerians.

We are so terribly misunderstood that when we say that we are going to work with the Executive arm of government in a very harmonious and productive manner, some people, some out of misunderstanding, some out of mischief, say its a rubber stamp National Assembly.

But let me say this: no amount of distractions or blackmail will stop us from being united in the National Assembly for the benefit of Nigerians who elected us and nothing will discourage us from working with the executive arm of government for the betterment of our country.

As a legislature, we know where our limits lie in terms of cooperation and in working with the executive arm of government. But we are going to give the President and his team every possible legislative support that they require to make this country better and greater.

Read Also: Nigerians See Us As Bad People: Senate President Lawan

Where we feel that there is a breach of procedures and processes by the executive arm of government, we will insist that the right things are done.

So it doesnt mean that because we are peaceful and that we are cordial with the executive arm of government that we are rubber stamp but that is something that will not distract us.

We have seen what a rubber stamp National Assembly could do. We have already passed so many important and critical legislations within the last six months and if that is what we can be achieved with that kind of understanding, so be it.

Our colleagues in the Senate particularly and generally in the National Assembly have given us every support that we need to perform our functions as a legislature.

We are going to continue to seek for your support and understanding and the support of all Nigerians in this enterprise.

We believe governance is not only for those who are elected or appointed. Governance is for everybody. Those who are elected and appointed and those who will hold the offices in trust for.

So you should continue to pray for us. You should continue to advise us. You should continue to ensure that we dont derail, Lawan said.
Virginia House Committee Passes Gun Control Measures

A Democrat-led Virginia House Committee on Jan. 24 voted to advance a raft of tighter gun control measures, including a red flag bill and universal background checks, just days after a gun-rights rally opposing such legislation drew at least 22,000 Second Amendment advocates.

The bills, most of which passed along party-lines (13-9), will now head to the full House for consideration. The bills will have to be approved by the House and the state Senate before being signed by Gov. Ralph Northam to become law. The Senate has already passed a number of gun control bills.

The House Public Safety Committee passed gun-control measures including legislation limiting handgun purchases to one a month, penalizing gun owners who dont report lost or stolen guns within 24 hours, and allowing localities to ban arms from government buildings, according to Alfonso Lopez, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates.

The committee, however, did not pass a bill that would ban assault weapons, according to WHSV. The Senate counterpart of that bill was killed weeks ago during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.

Today, the House Public Safety committee shamefully rubber-stamped the Bloomberg-Northam gun control scheme, NRA spokesperson Catherine Mortensen told The Epoch Times via email.

Mortenson said the committee blocked legislators questions and prevented constituents from speaking, describing it as a disgrace to the democratic process.

Virginians deserve lawmakers who will hear testimony and conduct serious vetting of each billas the Senate Judiciary Committee didbefore voting on measures that will strip away the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens and leave them defenseless, she said, referring to the bills passed weeks ago.

In a Jan. 24 statement following the passage of the bills, Eileen Filler-Corn, Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, said that Virginians spoke clearly when they voted in the November 2019 elections. She said voters turned out to demand action from the General Assembly to make their communities safer.

Democrats recently won control of both chambers of the state legislature and have vowed to enact stronger gun control policies, saying that stricter legislation will help reduce shootings and deaths. Northam has indicated previously that he would sign such legislation into law.

Earlier this week, Americans from across the country traveled to Virginia with some coming in packed buses, others driving from hours away, and a smaller number flying to the state to send a unified message to the state legislatureno to gun control.

Second Amendment advocates and gun-rights supporters told The Epoch Times that the proposals passing through the General Assembly violate their constitutional rights while doing nothing to stop criminals.

Meanwhile, on Jan. 22, Virginias state Senate passed a red flag bill (SB 240) by a thin 2119 margin. The bill, once signed into law, allows authorities to apply to certain courts for an emergency substantial risk order to prohibit a person who poses a substantial risk of injury to himself or others from purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm.

Gun rights groups decried the passage of the red flag bill. Dudley Brown, president of the National Association for Gun Rights, told The Epoch Times that red flag laws allow the theft of personal property from law-abiding citizens who have committed no crime.

Northam and other Democratic lawmakers in the state have credited their focus on gun control for helping them win full control of the General Assembly for the first time in more than two decades, according to The Associated Press.

During the gun rights rally, tens of thousands converged at the steps of the Capitol building and in the surrounding streets, and some gun rights supporters chose not to enter the Capitol so as to not violate the temporary state of emergency declared by Northam, which banned the carrying of guns on the grounds.

There was a heavy police presence at the rally, and overhead, security watched from rooftops on nearby buildings and on the Capitol itself. There was only one entrance and a number of security checkpoints to get onto the Capitol grounds. The mood, however, was upbeat, and authorities said there were no arrests or injuries reported as of 1:40 p.m, with most people having left by that time. The event concluded peacefully.
Thousands march in Baghdad, heeding to call by Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr for an anti-US demonstration.

Thousands of people have taken to the streets in Iraqs capital, Baghdad, after Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr called for a million-strong march to demand the withdrawal of US troops from the country, putting the protest-hit city on edge.

The demonstration on Friday added an extra layer to the months-old protest movement that has gripped the capital and the Shia-majority south since October, demanding a government overhaul, early elections and more accountability.

In the early hours of Friday, protesters, including men, women and children of all ages, carried Iraqi flags and marched under grey skies.

Loudspeakers blasted No, no America! at a central square in Baghdad. A child held up a poster reading, Death to America. Death to Israel.

The US military presence in Iraq has become a hot-button issue in the country since a US drone attack killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis on January 3 outside Baghdads international airport.

Two days later, parliament voted for all foreign troops  including some 5,200 US forces  to leave the country and called on the government to cancel its request for assistance from the US-led coalition that had been working with Baghdad to fight the ISIL (ISIS) group.

The vote was non-binding, however, and a senior US official said on Thursday that Washington had yet to open talks with Baghdad on a troop pullout.

Al-Sadr, whose party won the most number of seats in the May 2018 parliament elections, seized on the public anger over the drone attack to call a million-strong, peaceful, unified demonstration to condemn the American presence and its violations.

Iraqs top Shia Muslim leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, later called in his weekly sermon for political groups to form a new government as soon as possible to bring stability to the country and enact reforms to improve Iraqis lives.

He also reiterated his opposition to foreign interference in Iraq, having previously condemned the US killing of Soleimani.

Iraqs sovereignty must be respected  and citizens should have the right to peaceful protest, he said.

We dont want America here

Fridays rally is supported by mainstream Shia parties, including al-Sadrs political rival Hadi al-Ameri, who heads the Fatah bloc in parliament, as well as the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF, or Hashd al-Shaabi), an umbrella group comprised of an array of militias, including Iran-backed groups.

Al Jazeeras Imran Khan, reporting from the protest, said the turnout was a real show of strength.

It almost doesnt matter if this is a million people or less. The size and the vocalness of the crowd has made sure that the message has been sent now.

There was a heavy security presence as the protesters, mostly hailing from the capital but also Iraqs southern provinces, walked on foot to an assembly point in Baghdads Jadriya neighbourhood, waving Iraqi flags and wearing symbolic white shrouds.

Mariam, second from right, and her family [Linah Alsaafin/Al Jazeera]

I came today to protest against the US being in our lands, Mariam, 18, told Al Jazeera.

We want to liberate our country from these chains of oppression. We have been suppressed and hurt by the USs own interests in the region so we want them out of Iraq.

Aliya al-Ajeel, a mother from Sadr City, said: The US occupation has taken everything from us. We have nothing left.

Since 2003, we have been stripped from our basic dignity and right to live a normal life. Were living in decrepit houses; we have no jobs, no salaries. We dont want America here.

Linah Alsaafin contributed to this report from Baghdad, Iraq
NEW HAVEN  Megan McKenney had a very straightforward reason for why she was applying for a job as a Census Bureau worker.

Im a theater kid, McKenney, a recent college graduate, said Wednesday. But in the meantime, I need to pay the bills while pursuing my dream.

And besides, she added, the pay for these jobs is double what I was making at my last job at the diner.

The pay for Census Bureau workers in Connecticut recently was raised  those working will earn between $23 and $25 an hour  in an effort to give a boost to recruitment efforts.

McKenney said she realizes there might be a certain stigma that goes with census jobs  that they arent a lot of fun, with people not answering doors or slamming doors in your face.

But I think it could be fun, McKenney said. Im an outgoing person that doesnt mind talking to people.

Census and Connecticut officials are doing everything they can, including boosting the pay of those gathering the data, to make sure the state has enough workers to handle the work.

More News Comparing each state's GDP to countries around the world

The timeline for the 2020 Census begins March 12, with the first of a series of mailings inviting residents to participate in the census.

This week, U. S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, joined Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker, state Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney, D-New Haven, other state legislators and members of the New Haven Board of Alders to try give the initiative a kickstart.

A complete count of everyone living in Connecticut is critical, officials said, because census data is used to determine how billions of dollars in federal funding is distributed for programs such as Medicare, Head Start, school lunch, child care, roads and grants to community organizations.

Overall, Connecticut receives nearly $11 billion in federal funding per year for such programs. As a result, state officials are trying to ensure the state finds and documents each and every one of its residents.

Connecticuts current population is 3,565,287, according to Census Bureau figures.

The effort to count residents includes enlisting the help of chambers of commerce, pastors, labor organizations, community health centers, businesses and the NAACP that are part of more than 125 local town committees involved in the counting.

The open positions are varied. Some census workers will be knocking on doors and others will be at desks in offices.

The Census Bureau is in the process of opening 248 offices nationwide, including three in Connecticut.

Bysiewicz, chairwoman of the Connecticut Complete Count Committee, said the state will spend $500,000 on efforts to make sure everyone is counted, and that community foundations have pledged to at least match that expense.

Bysiewicz has been leading the states committee efforts for more than a year.

Officials expect when all the hiring is done, nearly 30,000 will have jobs in Connecticut, and 500,000 nationwide.

For every person we undercount we lose $2,900, said Bysiewicz. She described the positions as great paying, part-time positions.

DeLauro echoed the lieutenant governors comments, stating: these are good-paying jobs.

DeLauro said her mother, former New Haven Alderwoman Luisa DeLauro, was a census taker. Rosa DeLauro said she recalled traveling through New Haven neighborhoods with her mom while her mother did her census work.

She used it to supplement her other income, DeLauro said, nothing that the pay for the job these days is far more than what it was decades ago.

Meanwhile, besides dollars, Secretary of the State Denise Merrill has said Connecticuts political districts, which are reconfigured every 10 years after the census, are likely to change significantly based on results of the count.

Looney stressed that point in his remarks, noting that Connecticut lost a representative in Washington, D.C., in 2002 due to the results of the 2000 Census.

Merrill has also said the 2020 Census will be more online than it has been in the past to capitalize on the ever-growing number of people with reliable Internet access.

Bysiewicz and other officials said census participation cannot be used to change a persons public assistance program participation or their immigration status, and temporary workers hired by the Census Bureau also will not have their assistance affected.
You have reached a premium content area of TOL. To read this entire article please login if you are already a TOL subscriber.



Not a subscriber?



Subscribe today for access to:

Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles).


A Japanese postman was sacked after a mountain of around 24,000 undelivered letters and packages were found stashed in his home dating back 17 years.

The 61-year-old postie was arrested and reportedly told police he hoarded the letters at his home in Kanagawa, near Tokyo, because 'it was too much bother to deliver them.'

He added: 'I didn't want my colleagues to think I was less capable than younger people.'

The postman was sacked after a mountain of around 24,000 undelivered letters and packages were found stashed in his home dating back 17 years (stock image)

He now faces possible charges of 'violating postal law,' a police spokesman told AFP on Friday.

If convicted, the postman faces up to three years in jail or a fine up to 500,000 yen (3,500), the police spokesman added.

Japan Post said the undelivered items were posted between 2003 and 2019 and were discovered late last year.

A spokesperson for the service said the postman had been fired and apologised to those who had failed to receive post and pledged to deliver all the items to their intended destinations.
China supports the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold a summit in 2020 of leaders of countries that are permanent members of the UN Security Council, TASS reported referring to Chinese MFA spokesperson.

"Global instability and uncertainty are increasing, while multilateralism and the role of the United Nations are facing clear challenges," the statement reads. "China supports Russias initiative to hold a summit of the UNSC permanent members and is ready to maintain contact and coordinate activities with Russia and other permanent members of the UN Security Council," Hua Chunying added.

Russian President proposed to hold a summit of the leaders of Russia, China, US, France and UK in 2020. According to him, the founding countries of the UN can and should set an example to preserve peace.

The Russian leader believes that the summit can be held anywhere in the world where it will be convenient for colleagues. He assured that Russia is ready for such a serious conversation and intends, without delay, to send appropriate messages to the leaders.
The Peoples Democratic Party in Akwa Ibom has alleged that Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs is planning to rig the state and National Assembly rerun elections holding on Saturday.

According to the PDP, Akpabio has recruited the services of DIG Michael Igbizi as well as armed thugs to intimidate PDP loyalists and stakeholders in order to truncate the election.

The race is between Akpabio of the All Progressives Congress(APC) and Senator Chris Ekpenyong of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Akwa Ibom Northwest senatorial district.

However, Akpabio pulled out of the race and asked the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to replace him with former House of Representatives member, Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo  a request that was turned by INEC.

In a press conference on Friday in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, the National Legal Adviser of the PDP, Mr. Emmanuel Enoidem said,  the ancient English proverb fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me will be put to test during the forthcoming court-ordered rerun in Essien Udim Local Government Area.

During the first set of general elections held across the state on February 23 and March 9, 2019, Senator Godswill Akpabio and the APC made good their promise of replaying the inglorious Warsaw invasion cum destruction. Instead of elections, what was witnessed in Essien Udim was unprecedented violence and a wholesome rape of electoral sanctity.

The resultant injuries from the infamous expedition was very glaring that the Court of Appeal described the elections that took place there with the worst adjectives ever used in a judgement of a court.

Undeterred by the humiliating defeat handed him by Senator Chris Ekpenyong and his massive rejection by people of his senatorial district, Senator Godswill Akpabio has perfected plans to use foul means to manufacture large votes obviously just to prove that he is popular in Essien Udim even after he has conceded defeat.

Read Also: Shehu Sani Mocks Akpabio For Pulling Out Of Senatorial Rerun

He is determined to massively rig the elections in aid of his partys candidates for the House of Representatives and House of Assembly just to deceive the world that APC is popular in his Local Government Area.

To achieve this, Senator Akpabio has procured the service of DIG Michael Igbizi (who flew on the same Ibom Air flight and indeed sat on the same seat with him yesterday) whose intention is to reenact the roles played by AIG Musa Kimo during the last elections.

He has also marked some leading members of the PDP for intimidation, assault and arrest, top on the list are Chief M.A Afangideh, Sir Emem Akpabio, Prince Akpabio, Chief E.E.P Umanah, Hon. Nsini Umanah, Hon. Anthony Luke, Hon. Sunyiekekere Inokon, Barr Imowo Okpokpo, Engr Oliver Ebong among others.

Additionally, the services of armed thugs referred to by them as walking stick contractors from Port Harcourt and Bayelsa State and some fake soldiers and policemen have been procured and are enroute Essien Udim as we speak.

This group will be under the operational command of CSP Idorenyin Akpabio, a nephew of Senator Akpabio, who is currently in charge of Operation Puff Ada in Akwa Ibom State, he said.
VANCOUVERIt may have seemed like a small, quirky sideshow to an international court case, yet allegations this week that some of the protesters outside Meng Wanzhou's extradition hearing were paid or offered money is the kind of incident that raises questions of foreign interference, national security observers say.

They say they would not be surprised if Canadas intelligence officials were looking into the co-ordination of the event.

This is a matter for security intelligence, this is a matter for CSIS  if we have foreign powers paying Canadians to effectively sway debate, said Christian Leuprecht, a professor of political science at Royal Military College and Queens University.

Experts said staging a protest to propagate an alternative narrative fits a pattern of influence and intimidation that was alleged to have been undertaken by the Chinese government in Australian political and academic circles, which led that countrys government to pass sweeping foreign interference legislation in 2018.

The Chinese consulate in Vancouver stressed this week any suggestion it had knowledge or involvement in the protest amounts to a malicious smear.

We need more information to know, of course, said Patrick Walsh, a professor of intelligence and security studies at Charles Sturt University in Australia, via email.

It could be officials from either state or public security behind it, and this could be just one strategy in a wider disinformation and influence campaign.

John Townsend, a spokesman for CSIS, said the agency does not comment on what investigations it is or isnt pursuing.

A small group of mostly twenty-something protesters waving signs that read Free Ms. Meng and Equal Justice stood outside B.C. Supreme Court this week at the start of a trial to determine whether the Huawei executive should be extradited to the United States, where she is wanted on fraud charges. They later appeared in the background of reports by Chinese state broadcasters CCTV and CGTN, the South China Morning Post has reported.

Some of the participants have since alleged they were paid to take part in the protest.

Ken Bonson told the Star a friend recruited her and later deposited $150 into her account. At the courthouse, a woman she had never met before named Joey supplied them with posters, Bonson said. After learning more about Meng and the allegations against her, Bonson said she wished she had never taken part and felt ashamed and embarrassed. The Star has since spoken to the friend, who denies being paid or paying anyone to take part in the protest. The man refused to go on record for an interview. He said he did not know anyone named Joey.

Julia Hackstaff, an actor, wrote on Facebook that she was the victim of a filthy cheap scam. She said someone had contacted her Sunday evening asking if she wanted to be a background performer in a production for $100. When she arrived, she said, she received ambiguous instructions to hold a sign. When reporters approached the group and started asking questions, she thought it was all part of the production but quickly realized everything was too real.

I left after 5 minutes of being there.

Just looking at their mundane facial expressions suggests they werent particularly motivated, Leuprecht said. Protesters are usually revved up about what theyre protesting about, he said.

If this was indeed a staged protest, it was likely intended for the domestic audience in China, he said. They need to make it look like Canadians are up in arms about how our legal system is being hijacked by the government and U.S. interests.

Huawei has also denied having any involvement in the protests. Leuprecht said hed be surprised if the company were involved given that the telecom giant is awaiting decision from Ottawa about whether it will be allowed to help build Canadas next generation of mobile networks.

Michel Juneau-Katsuya, a former senior intelligence officer at CSIS, said Thursday he would not be surprised if Chinese agents helped to orchestrate the protest and the payments.

"As for CSIS, yes they should be looking into that. How much depends who is in charge in Vancouver."

Read more about:
U.S. President Donald Trump (R) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) shake hands in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, on March 25, 2019. (Michael Reynolds - Pool/Getty Images)

President Trump to Meet with Israeli Prime Minister at White House

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival Benny Gantz accepted an invitation to visit the White House next week to discuss a peace plan for the Middle East.

On behalf of President Donald Trump, I invited Prime Minister Netanyahu to the White House next week. At the Prime Ministers suggestions, Ive also extended the invitation to Gantz, the leader of the Blue and White Party, and Im grateful he has also accepted the invitation, Vice President Mike Pence on Twitter.

Referring to the invitation to invite Gantz, his opponent, Netanyahu said, We should get as broad a consensus as possible around the efforts to achieve security and peace for the state of Israel.

The Trump administration has been a staunch supporter of the Israeli government and led by Trumps son-in-law, has been working on a peace plan for that region.

Reports about details and timings of our closely-held peace plan are purely speculative, President Trump wrote on Twitter.

Speaking at a meeting with Netanyahu in Jerusalem, Mr. Pence said, We very much look forward to [welcoming] you to our nations capital to continue discussions about a broad range of issues of mutual concerns between the United States and Israel but also about the prospect of peace.

Pence and the second lady arrived Thursday morning to join more than 40 other world leaders and senior dignitaries for the World Holocaust Forum. Its the most significant diplomatic gathering in Israels history.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Britains Prince Charles were some of the other leaders at the forum.

The event commemorated the 75th anniversary of the end of the Holocaust. Leaders gathered to remember those whose lives were lost in the tragedy and to renew their commitment to stop anti-Semitism and all forms of extremism.

Pence addressed the attendees in a speech, Today we mourn with those who mourn and grieve with those who grieve. We remember the names and the faces and the promise of the 6 million Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust.

And, finally, we pay tribute to the memory of those non-Jewish heroes who saved countless livesthose the people of Israel call the righteous among the nations.

The Vice President also condemned anti-Semitic incidences in the United States, and around the world, and all other forms of extremism.

We must be prepared to stand as they did against the wave of their times. We must be prepared to confront and expose the vile tide of anti-Semitism that is fueling hate and violence all across the world. And we must stand together.

The World Holocaust Forum is the brainchild of Moshe Kantor, the president of the European Jewish Congress, an umbrella group representing Jewish communities across Europe. The group recently reported that 80 percent of European Jews feel unsafe in the continent.

Kantor established the World Holocaust Forum Foundation in 2005, and it has held forums before in Auschwitz, the killing fields of Babi Yar in Ukraine, and at the former Terezin concentration camp. Thursdays event is the first time it is convening in Israel. The official commemoration marking the 75th anniversary of Auschwitzs liberation will be held next week at Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum in southern Poland.
I dont think anyone worth paying attention to has a clear idea of who will win the Iowa caucuses or the New Hampshire primary. However, history suggests that the same candidate will not win both.

Whether because Iowa caucus goers are quirky, or because New Hampshire voters dont like to say ditto, or through sheer coincidence, the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, when seriously contested, usually produce two different winners.

In this century, think of Hillary Clinton-Bernie Sanders (2016), Ted Cruz-Donald Trump (2016), Rick Santorum-Mitt Romney (2012), Mike Huckabee-John McCain (2008), Barack Obama-Hillary Clinton (2008), and George Bush-John McCain (2000). Some footnotes are in order because Clinton and Sanders were basically tied in 2016, as were Santorum and Romney in 2012. But you get the idea.

Right now, for what its worth, the polls are indicating two different winners. In Iowa, Joe Biden has the lead. In New Hampshire, Bernie Sanders does.

The latest Iowa poll, from Focus on Rural America, has Biden clearly ahead. He polls at 24 percent. Elizabeth Warren is next at 18 percent, followed by Pete Buttigieg at 16 and Sanders at 14. A poll taken a week earlier by Monmouth yielded similar results if you flip Warren and Sanders.

In New Hampshire, Sanders has a healthy lead in two of the three most recent polls. WBURs poll, the most recent of the three, puts Sanders at 29 percent. Thats 12 points better than second place Buttigieg. Biden is third with only 14 percent, less than half of Sanderss total.

The results of a WHDH/Emerson poll are similar, but slightly less favorable to Sanders. However, a poll by Boston Globe/Suffolk gives Sanders only a statistically insignificant 16-15 lead over Biden. Buttigieg and Warren lag at 12 percent and 10 percent, respectively.

Its tempting to say that the only way Sanders loses in New Hampshire is if he wins in Iowa. But to say so would be premature and flippant.

If there are two different winners, then it will behoove a candidate to be one of them. Thats especially true of Buttigieg and Warren, for whom the post-New Hampshire calendar isnt optimal. Indeed, if the current poll numbers in Iowa and New Hampshire hold up, it could mean doom for Warren. This may explain her recent behavior.

Biden has a more favorable post-New Hampshire calendar. However, hes considered the frontrunner and would lose that status, and possibly lots of potential funding, if he cant win in either Iowa or New Hampshire.

If Biden manages to win in Iowa and New Hampshire, hes probably as good as nominated, I think. If Sanders wins in both states, hes the new frontrunner.

But Im guessing we will see two different winners. And, for what its worth, Biden doesnt strike me as the kind of candidate Iowa caucus goers will be inclined to bless, although maybe in this fractured field he can eke out first place.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel Thursday urged the international community to work towards peace in Libya to avoid a new Syria; a ground for proxy war between regional actors.

We have to be very careful that what happened in Syria would not happen again in Libya, Merkel said at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The German leader said that the Berlin conference on Libya sought to contribute to a political solution in the crisis-hit north African country.

Libya, since the removal of longtime ruler Muammar Gaddafi in a NATO-backed revolution in 2011, has had two administrations: the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) and a rival administration in east led by retired General Khalifa Haftar. The latter launched in April an offensive to seize Tripoli.

Merkel also called for a continued support for the political solution proposed at the Sunday gathering by world powers and several other countries.

We have to be vigilant about these peace processes, we have to care for them, despite all the difficulties, she insisted.

The conference also snatched pledges by countries backing various sides in the crisis to cease providing military and logistical support.

Turkey, Qatar and Italy have sided with the GNA while Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt and Russia endorse Haftar.
LONDON, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The NPK market continues to evolve as low cost phosphate producers attempt to diversify their product base. In 2019 imports soared in Myanmar, helping to raise Chinese exports to levels never seen before. Ukraine hit Russia with yet another set of trade sanctions, crushing NPK trade between the countries. Saudi Arabian NPK exports fizzled and disappointed, despite claims they would export hundreds of thousands of tonnes. We cover these topics and more, as well as our forecasts to 2024, in the latest edition of the NPK Market Outlook. To bring in the new year, we share some of our most significant forecasts for 2020 to provide some clarity to an opaque market.

Top NPK market forecasts for 2020 (PRNewsfoto/CRU)

1. Chinese NPK export growth to slow

Chinese NPK exports exploded in 2019. They soared nearly five-fold in one of the most prominent NPK stories of the year. This dramatic rise coincided with the elimination of NPK export taxes. While we expect Chinese NPK exports to continue rising in 2020, they are unlikely to duplicate the 2019 feat.

Chinese NPK exports to Myanmar and the Philippines grew particularly strongly in 2019, but it is unlikely that either will import Chinese NPK at the same pace of growth in 2020. In Myanmar, most product is moving overland into the north of the country from Yunnan province. Northern Myanmar increased its Chinese NPK intake by over double in 2019, and it is unlikely that demand can keep expanding at this pace in 2020. Competition from Yara and other producers active in the country will also exert resistance.

In the Philippines, Namhae, Yara, and other producers provide competition. Plans to restart Philphos fertilizer production in early 2019 did not materialise. However, the Philippines imported 35% more y/y Chinese NPK in 2019, greatly incentivising a Philphos restart in 2020. Moreover, Philphos reportedly restarted phosphoric acid production in late 2019 or early 2020. More domestic Philippine NPK production will reduce Chinese NPK export growth into the country.

Chinese NPK will continue to lack the same product quality as European and Russian producers. Most Chinese NPK capacity uses steam granulation, which produces physically inferior product. Many Southeast Asian importers favour higher quality product than offered by Chinese producers, slowing further Chinese expansion.

China also increased NPK exports to East and Southeast Africa, particularly Mozambique, but export growth to these regions will face competition from regional producers, including Omnia, which commissioned a new nitrophosphate plant in Sasolburg in 2019. Ma'aden may also step up fertilizer sales into Southeast Africa though its new fertilizer distributor and blender subsidiary Meridian, which it acquired in 2019.

There are no changes to Chinese NPK export incentives for 2020. All export tariffs have been removed, and there are no export quotas. Without new incentives such as export subsidies, or even with them, it will be difficult for Chinese NPK exports to maintain the spectacular growth seen in 2019.

2. Africa and diversification to boost OCP exports

OCP NPK and NP exports are forecast to rise nearly 23% y/y in 2020. Much of the increase will originate from OCP's traditional compound market, Africa.

Nigeria banned NPK imports in 2019, all but eliminating imports. Threatened by oversupply and competition from imported compounds, the Nigerian government took steps to protect and encourage its bulk blend industry and policy by instituting foreign exchange and regulatory bans on NPK imports.

Read the full story:

https://www.crugroup.com/knowledge-and-insights/spotlights/2020/top-npk-market-forecasts-for-2020/

Read more about CRU: http://bit.ly/About_CRU

About CRU

CRU offers unrivalled business intelligence on the global metals, mining and fertilizer industries through market analysis, price assessments, consultancy and events.

Since our foundation by Robert Perlman in 1969, we have consistently invested in primary research and robust methodologies, and developed expert teams in key locations worldwide, including in hard-to-reach markets such as China.

CRU employs over 280 experts and has more than 11 offices around the world, in Europe, the Americas, China, Asia and Australia  our office in Beijing opened in 2004 and Singapore in 2018.

When facing critical business decisions, you can rely on our first-hand knowledge to give you a complete view of a commodity market. And you can engage with our experts directly, for the full picture and a personalised response.

CRU  big enough to deliver a high-quality service, small enough to care about all of our customers.

SOURCE CRU
It's a tricky profession with a lot on the line.

If we get more than one or two aircraft in the area we are actually going to call in an air attack platform, said Raymond Bubb, firefighter and state fire aviation officer. We try to keep safety as number one.

The challenges of flying an airplane or helicopter loaded water, retardant or people into a firestorm are unique.

These aircraft are often flying in mountainous terrain and that's always dangerous, Bubb said. There is always circulating air currents and things caused by the terrain itself which makes it a dangerous process. When we are talking about heavy air tankers, they're within 200 feet of the ground.

However, air units are best suited for attacking fires in hard to reach places.

In a situation where there is a standalone home in a very heavily vegetated area with one way in and one way out that we wouldn't want to put firefighters in, we might coat the fuels around the structure or the structure itself and then walk away and hopefully suppress the fire long enough that we can get back in there before the structure is really totally taken out by fire, Bubb said.

Even with the best crews on and off the ground, crashes can happen. In 2012, a C-130 crashed near Edgemont fighting the White Draw Fire. Strong winds (technically a microburst) were blamed for the crash and killed four of the six people on board.

On Thursday, a C-130 crashed in Australia killing three American firefighters. They were in the country with a private company helping to fight the bush fires in New South Wales. The investigation into that crash is ongoing.
"In our country, if we can abolish sati pratha, child marriage, dowry and other such atrocities against women, why shouldn't we abolish triple talaq?," Nadda asked in Delhi's Pandav Nagar area.

While Nadda may have started his speech with the issue of regularisation of Delhi's illegal colonies, soon he steered to BJP's familiar territories.

Projecting it as an achievement for the Delhi polls, he asserted: "PM Modi freed Muslim women from the atrocity by removing the practice of Triple Talaq. This is a step towards empowering women. It is not practiced even in Pakistan."

Soon, the new BJP boss started talking Kashmir to electorate of the east Delhi assembly constituency that has no or negligible presence of Kashmiris.

"In the past, BDC elections were held for the first time after independence in Jammu and Kashmir. BJP has won 80 seats in this election, Congress has won 1 seat, PDP and National Conference are out of the election," he said.

If triple talaq and Kashmir are discussed in Delhi election campaign, how can the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act be far behind, and Nadda targeted the Congress with "misleading" the people over the legislation.

"Congress tried to sell propaganda to our Muslim brothers. They said that Muslims will lose their citizenship. No one will lose their citizenship. This Act gives citizenship."

Clearing the air about influx of people from neighbouring nations into India, Nadda clarified: "No one is being brought to India, contrary to the lies being spread. These people are already living in India as refugees." He even took a passing dig at the protestors of Shaheen Bagh without naming the place before adding that Congress's support to them is a "vote bank politics".

Nadda reaffirmed what Shah earlier said - that there will be no rollback on the CAA.

But as the claps melted into silence after the rally got over and Nadda headed to his car amid supporters jostling for a selfie with him, many were left wondering whether it is a campaign for the Lok Sabha or the Assembly election.
ALBANY  New York health officials reported that at least four people in the state were under investigation for a deadly new coronavirus that was first detected in China last month and has since made its way to at least two people in the U.S.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said Friday that the individuals are under isolation and their cases were being tested by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One of the cases has been proven negative and three are still pending, he said.

State health officials declined to say where in New York the suspected cases are, citing patient confidentiality.

"As we learn about the first confirmed cases of this novel coronavirus in the United States and potentially in New York, I want to assure New Yorkers that we are prepared," Cuomo said. "We are undertaking a wide-reaching and rigorous effort with all stakeholders, including healthcare providers, airports and federal health officials, to put in place the appropriate precautions to keep New Yorkers safe. The symptoms of this virus are very similar to a common cold  if you are concerned that you might be ill, please follow our guidance to protect yourself and others."

The CDC announced Friday that it had confirmed a second case of the novel coronavirus in the U.S. A Chicago woman in her 60s who traveled to Wuhan, China in December and flew home Jan. 13 has been hospitalized but is doing well, the agency said. The first U.S. case was confirmed Tuesday; a Washington state man in his 30s who also traveled to Wuhan fell ill with the virus upon his return stateside.

Origins

The virus was first detected and reported to the World Health Organization on Dec. 31 after officials observed a string of pneumonia-like cases in Wuhan, a city of 11 million people in China's Hubei Province.

The WHO determined the outbreak had been caused by an unknown coronavirus. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties, according to the WHO. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

Officials initially believed the new coronavirus was being transmitted from animals to people, as some of the early patients reported links to large seafood and animal markets in Wuhan, the CDC said.

"However, a growing number of patients reportedly have not had exposure to animal markets, suggesting person-to-person spread is occurring," it said. "At this time, its unclear how easily or sustainably this virus is spreading between people."

At least 26 people have died from the virus so far, Chinese health officials reported Friday. More than 900 cases have been confirmed in China alone. Since its discovery, novel coronavirus has now been confirmed in South Korea, Japan, Nepal, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Taiwan, France and now the U.S.

Symptoms

Symptoms of the new coronavirus, dubbed 2019-nCoV, may include runny nose, headache, cough, sore throat, fever or a general feeling of being unwell.

When to suspect coronavirus The CDC is using the following criteria to determine when to suspect a case of the new coronavirus: Fever AND symptoms of lower respiratory illness (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) AND a history of travel from Wuhan City, China in the last 14 days before symptom onset OR close contact with a person who's under investigation for the virus while that person was ill.

of lower respiratory illness (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) AND a history of travel from Wuhan City, China in the last 14 days before symptom onset OR close contact with a person who's under investigation for the virus while that person was ill.



Fever OR symptoms of lower respiratory illness (e.g., cough, shortness of breath) AND close contact with an ill laboratory-confirmed patient in the last 14 days before symptom onset. Exceptions to these criteria exist and are outlined at length on the CDC's website.

The CDC believes at this time that symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure.

State health officials are cautioning individuals who are experiencing these symptoms and have traveled to areas of concern or who have been in contact with somebody who has traveled to those areas to call ahead to their healthcare provider before presenting for treatment.

New York takes precautions

Some New York colleges and universities with large populations of international students are disseminating information about the virus to their communities.

Dr. Leslie Lawrence, executive director for health and wellness at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, said in a message to the community Wednesday that the campus is adapting its emergency plan for respiratory-track viruses in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

"Rensselaer further strongly recommends that its faculty, staff, and students do not travel to Wuhan or the Province of Hubei until more is known about this virus, its spread, and its fatality rate," Lawrence said.

Among the precautions, RPI will not have any university-sanctioned travel to or through China until further notice and is requiring all students, faculty and staff who have returned from China in the last 14 days to inform school officials. Students must call the Rensselaer Health Center at (518) 276-6287, while faculty/staff must inform Human Resources by (518) 276-6164 or by email; those with symptoms are advised to immediately see a doctor or make an appointment with the Student Health Services.

Cuomo said Friday that the risk to New York is currently low, but called for increased vigilance anyway.

Last week, the state Department of Health issued guidance to healthcare providers, healthcare facilities, laboratories and local health departments designed to ensure proper protocols are in place should a patient present with suspected coronavirus.

The department has also hosted a series of informational webinars for hospitals and local healthcare providers. On Friday, the department hosted a webinar for medical professionals at colleges and universities  many of which host international students  to disseminate information about the virus, infection control recommendations and current criteria for testing.

Last week the CDC initiated an airport entry screening program at John F. Kennedy International Airport for passengers arriving from Wuhan. Chinese officials have since closed transport in and out of Wuhan and other cities in the province, including their international airports. To date, no passenger has required further evaluation as a result of the CDC-led passenger program at JFK.

Protect yourself While there is currently no vaccine for the novel coronavirus, officials say everyday preventative actions can help stop its spread, including: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

Stay home when you are sick.

Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. See More Collapse

Cuomo directed the Port Authority to post informational signs at all four Port Authority international airports.

He said Friday that the Department of Health, Port Authority and New York City Health Department will continue to work with the CDC as their travel screening process evolves. The CDC is recommending people avoid nonessential travel to Wuhan.

"This virus is being carefully monitored at federal, state and city levels to ensure the public's health and safety, and while awareness is important, the current risk to New Yorkers is low," state Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said. "People who have traveled abroad recently and have symptoms that mimic the flu should see their doctor. We are working closely with the Centers for Disease Control to receive daily updates and stand ready to assist."
24.01.2020 LISTEN

Most patriotic and independent-minded Ghanaians are hoping that the political parties will behave responsibly in what is an election year - and ensure that the campaign for the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections are devoid of violence and remain mostly peaceful.

A major source of friction during election years, is the use of intimidatory tactics, to either register minors, or prevent opposing party supporters from being registered. Ditto preventing opposing party supporters from voting on election day.

We will definitely have a peaceful campaign season, as well as polling day voting that is devoid of harassment and violence, if we could find creative ways of neutralising the men and women of violence in the two biggest political parties, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), and the largest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Above all, the more responsible sections of the Ghanaian media ought to unite, to persuade philanthropists such as George Soros, to fund a polling day public service livestreaming social media broadcast, on Facebook Live, in partnership with Switchboard Live, to the world, from all the polling stations across Ghana.

The fear of global opprobium, will definitely prevent the NPP's dreadful Bernard Antwi-Boasiakos and gung-ho Bryan Acheampongs, from attempting to mastermind either the prevention of opposing party supporters from being registered as voters should a new voters register be compiled by the Electoral Commission (EC) - or prevent opposing party supporters from voting on election day.

And they must be prevented from attempting all the above, through replicating nationwide, the abominable events that occurred in the vicinity of the Ayawaso West Wougon Presbyterian Church School polling station, on 31 January, 2019, during the by-election to select the successor to the late Hon. Kyremateng Agyarko, who died in harness as the member of Parliament, for the Ayawaso West Wougon constituency.

Finally, the media in Ghana must do everything possible to get representatives of the International Criminal Court (ICC), to witness the conduct of the security agencies on election day - to send a clear signal to violence-prone politicians that they will be held to account if they tip our country over the precipice: and plunge Ghana into chaos and violence. Yooooo... Hmmmm, Oman Ghana, eyeasem ooooo - asem kesie ebeba debi ankasa!
They are two of Britain's most revered actors who each have an Oscar to their name.

And Helen Mirren and Jim Broadbent got into character as filming continued on their real-life heist film, The Duke, in Bradford, Yorkshire recently.

The Queen actress Helen, 74, looked unrecognisable as she donned a grey wig and thick spectacles to play Jim's on-screen wife.

Drama: Helen Mirren (above) and Jim Broadbent got into character as filming continued on their real-life heist film, The Duke, in Bradford, Yorkshire recently

Heist: Meanwhile, Iris actor Jim, 70, who stars as a 60 year old taxi driver that steals a Goya portrait of the Duke of Wellington from London's National Gallery, was seen being chased by police in one explosive scene

Helen looked every inch a 1960s woman as she sported permed locks underneath a brown felt hat to film scenes in a market.

The star wore a large green woolen overcoat, paired with a purple dress and ankle boots as she walked along with an umbrella.

Meanwhile, Iris actor Jim, 70 - who stars as 60-year-old taxi driver Kempton Bunton who was convicted of stealing a Goya portrait of the Duke of Wellington from London's National Gallery in 1961 - was seen being chased by police in one explosive scene.

The star looked dapper in a black suit paired with a powder blue shirt and plum tie as he was grabbed by police officers, clad in 1960s garb.

Change: The Queen actress Helen, 74, looked unrecognisable as she donned a grey wig and thick spectacles to play Jim's on-screen wife

Filming: Helen looked every inch a 1960s woman as she sported permed locks underneath a brown felt hat

Scene: Helen was filming scenes in a market for the hotly anticipated film

The star completed his ensemble with a trilby and a camel coat as he ran out with a suitcase - which was swiftly grabbed by the officers.

The police then threw his suitcase and belongings onto the floor as the shocked actor looked on.

The Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye reported in October last year that the stars were in final negotiations over the film which revolves around a stolen painting  and a crime that gripped the nation.

In the summer of 1961, Francisco de Goyas celebrated 1812 portrait of a victorious Duke of Wellington was stolen  just 19 days after it had been put on display at the National Gallery.

Set: Helen got into character as she walked to the set ahead of filming

Focus: The Oscar winner was the centre of attention as she filmed in the market with the crew

Focus: Helen opened her umbrella as she chatted with the crew between takes

Showdown: The star looked dapper in a black suit paired with a powder blue shirt and plum tie as he was grabbed by police officers, clad in 1960s garb

Alerts were posted at seaports and airports around the globe. Scotland Yard asked Interpol and the FBI to check on highly placed sources in the art world in case the painting was being auctioned on the black market.

A 5,000 reward was offered and the hue and cry continued until an anonymous letter was sent to a newspaper, demanding that 140,000 (the paintings worth at the time) be donated to charity. Further correspondence was sent to the Daily Mirror declaring: The Duke is safe, his temperature cared for, his future uncertain.

The theft even featured in the first 007 film, Dr. No. The Bond baddie had the portrait of Wellington propped on an easel in his lair. Sean Connery walked in, glanced at it, and muttered: So there it is.

Unfortunately, back in the real world, the authorities had no idea where the national treasure was. Not, that is, until June 1965, when a letter arrived at the Mirror, along with a left luggage ticket for Birmingham New Street station. The Goya canvas was found there, rolled up inside a locked box.

No way; The actor showed his commitment to the cause as he was tackled by police

Oh dear: The star, who plays pensioner Kempton Bunton, was grabbed by police officers

Oh dear: The star looked perplexed as the officers took the suitcase off him

Take that!The police then threw his suitcase and belongings onto the floor as the shocked actor looked on

But who had taken it remained a mystery until Kempton Bunton, a 61-year-old retired Geordie bus driver who lived with his wife May, a cleaning woman, and their children in a council house in Newcastle upon Tyne, gave himself up.

He had hidden Wellingtons portrait in the back of a wardrobe but hadnt confided in his wife because otherwise the world would have known.

When he did finally reveal it, she gave the Goya a good spray of Mr Sheen and a wipe because she didnt want it to be returned dusty.

Bunton told police he had stolen the painting to protest against pensioners having to shell out for a television licence.

Hed noticed that the Goya had been partially acquired through state and private funding, and felt the money could have been better used to help pensioners.

Drama: Jim looked affronted as he was berated by the police officers in the scene

On set: The star got into character in a camel coat and trilby hat

Speech: Jim spoke into a megaphone as he filmed the dramatic scenes

Dapper display: The star looked sharp as he walked to set in Bradford

Chat; The star chatted with a pal as he prepared to resume filming

Confidential files from the director of public prosecutions, released via the National Archives in 2012, added another layer to the mystery.

This alleged that Bunton's son John had confessed to the theft in 1969 and claimed he and his brother Kenneth had been ordered by Kempton not to come forward.

The real deal: Jim plays Kempton Bunton, a 61-year-old retired Geordie bus driver who was convicted of the theft of the painting - however there are doubts about his guilt




BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan.24

By Tamilla Mammadova  Trend:

In 2019, Georgia exported 102,286 tons of copper ores to China in a total amount of $172.2 million, which is $17.2 million more compared to 2018, Trend reports referring to National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat).

In the reporting period Georgia exported 5,214 tons of wine of fresh grapes worth $18.8 million to China. Over the same period of 2018, 4,933 tons of wine totaling $19.8 million was exported from Georgia to China.

Meanwhile, 71.1 tons instruments and appliances used in medicine worth $12.9 million were exported from Georgia to China. This is 11,4 tons more compared to 2018.

During the reporting period, Georgia exported 1,765 tons of ginger, saffron, turmeric, thyme, bay leaves, curry and other spices in the amount of $3.6 million to China. During 2018, export of ginger, saffron, turmeric, thyme, bay leaves, curry and other spices from Georgia to China amounted to 203,5 tons totaling $417,000.

Meanwhile, Georgia exported 2,504 tons precious metal ores and concentrates worth $5.7 million to China.

China ranks third in Georgias commodity circulation.

In 2019 the foreign trade turnover between Georgia and China amounted to more than $1.08 billion, which is 8.5 percent of the total trade turnover of Georgia.

During the reporting period, Georgia exported products worth $227.6 million to the Chinese market, which is 6 percent of total exports from Georgia.

Meanwhile, China exported products worth $858.6 million to the Georgian market, which comprises 9.5 percent of total import to Georgia.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Mila61979356
Shea Serrano has some advice for teachers: At the beginning of the school year, "treat that s*** like prison."

The former teacher, best-selling author, Twitter celeb and San Antonio native sat down with Express-News columnist Gilbert Garcia Wednesday night at a cozy speakeasy-style venue downtown.
No 4 | George Soros | Founder of Soros Fund Management | Donation: $130 million (Image: Reuters)

George Soros was back in the news after, in an address at the ongoing World Economic Forum in Davos, he took aim at global leaders such as Donald Trump, Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi, who he criticised as being authoritarian.

He even announced he would set aside $1 billion to create a global network of universities to promote education for victims of prejudice, liberal values and an open society.

Eighty-nine-year-old Soros, estimated to be worth about USD 8.3 billion as per Forbes, earned his riches by becoming, according to many, the worlds greatest trader.

He has also used his vast wealth for several philanthropic causes. But he also carries the dubious distinction of being the subject of countless conspiracy theories, mostly propagated by the far right wing, which range from nasty to borderline crazy.

So who is George Soros, and why is he hated so much by some? Heres a lowdown.

Who is George Soros?

Born in 1930 in Hungary, Soros escaped Nazi occupation and immigrated to the United Kingdom in 1947.

He attended the London School of Economics and later worked at merchant banks in the UK and US.

He then started the Quantum Fund with Jim Rogers, which between 1970 and 1980 returned 4,200 percent in a decade in which the S&P 500 rose only 35 percent.

Over the next decades, Soros reputation as a trader par excellence only grew. Yet his investment career was peppered by accusations of foul play, and his extra-market activities becoming the subject of much speculation.

Controversies

One of Soros greatest trading bets was also one that earned him much notoriety. When the UK was undergoing a currency crisis in 1992, Soros bet that the country had no option but to exit the European Exchange Rate Mechanism.

He shorted the pound by $10 billion, and when what he expected came to be true, the pound sank, earning him $1 billion in a single trade. This earned him the title of being the man who broke the Bank of England.

During the Asian currency crisis in 1997, he also took a successful position against the Malaysian ringgit, thinking the currency to be particularly weak.

But Soros bet against the currency didnt go down too well with Malaysias Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad who accused Soros  a Jew -- of wanting to destabilise the country, to the point that he was declared persona non grata. (They settled their differences later.)

What Soros has earned through his bold, and often, brute-force bets, he has spent on initiatives he believes are close to him.

His Open Society Foundations until 2017 funded $12 billion worth toward civil initiatives to reduce poverty and increase transparency, and on scholarships and universities around the world.

But Soros personal beliefs  he is a proponent of liberal democracies and an open society and often publicly donates to politicians who he believes share his ideas  have also led to a whirlwind of allegations.

For instance, he is accused of triggering the fall of Communism in the Soviet Union by funding groups in the region via the Open Society Institute, a non-profit.

He is also accused -- usually by his detractors on the far right wing, both Christian and Muslim -- of using his wealth and influence in financial markets, of destabilising or overthrowing foreign governments, creating anarchy, and being Satanic.

Conspiracies

Soros has been the subject of conspiracy theories for decades. But the rise of ultra-conservative nationalism in several global democracies means that the theories have moved, as The New York Times, put it, "from the dark corners of the Internet and talk radio" to "the very center of the political debate".

The script is simple: Soros declared affiliation with liberal values means he is accused of not only promoting left-liberal leaders around the world but also secretly controlling them. When they are not in power, Soros apparently makes it his mission to bring down his opponents by any means possible.

Soros Jew lineage also makes him an easy target for Christian far-right leaders in Europe. (In 1992, Hungarian populist anti-Semitic leader Istvan Csurka called Soros a puppet of Jerusalem.)

And in what would have come to Soros as a particularly unkind cut was when his birth country, Hungary, which has increasingly turned conservative, in 2017 hosted a Parliament speech titled The Christian duty is to fight against the Satan/Soros plan.

Such is hatred for Soros in his home country, thanks to a relentless campaign by the government, that, according to one report, some of the countrys children think George Soros is the devil.

Russian President Vladimir Putin too in 2018 said Soros intervenes in things all over the world.

While in the Muslim world, besides Mahathir, Soros has also been targeted by Recep Tayyip Erdogan who said the famous Hungarian Jew was behind the 2018 protests against the Turkish President.

But in the US, Soros has been targeted by both centre-right leaders who despise him for his liberal views  former New York Rudy Guliani called him a self-hating Jew  and the extreme right, which accuses him of, well, nearly about everything.

For instance, former Fox News host Bill OReilly in 2007 ranted about Soros, calling him an an extremist who wants open borders, a one-world foreign policy, legalized drugs, euthanasia, and on and on.

In 2010, US talk show hosts Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh accused Soros of being a puppet master manipulating Barack Obama and pulling the marionette strings here of our leader of the regime.
WTF?! Its no secret that Chinas government monitors its citizens online activities, even when theyre abroad, and those who step out of line face imprisonment. A University of Minnesota student discovered this after being arrested for tweetsposted while he was in the USthat mocked President Xi Jinping.

Axios reports that 20-year-old freshman Luo Daiqing was arrested in July last year when he returned to his hometown of Wuhan for the summer break. According to court documents seen by the publication, he was sentenced to six months in prison in November for using "his Twitter account to post more than 40 comments denigrating a national leader's image and indecent pictures," which "created a negative social impact." The tweets were posted in September and October 2018, while he was studying at the University of Minnesota.

Axios found a now-deleted Twitter account belonging to Luo. It included Chinese government slogans posted over images of Lawrence Limburger, a name that may be familiar to fans of 1990s cartoon Biker Mice From Mars. The main villain from the show bears a resemblance to Xi. There were also retweets of Winnie the Pooha character thats banned in China over comparisons to the president.

Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska has called on China to release the student. "This is what ruthless and paranoid totalitarianism looks like," he said.

Last year, it was reported that Chinas government is detaining, interrogating, and threatening its citizens for posting anything considered inappropriate on Twitter. One user, activist Huang Chengcheng, was chained to a chair and questioned for eight hours. Once his ordeal was over, he had to sign a promise to stay off Twitter. While the platform is one of many western websites blocked by Chinas Great Firewall, some residents use VPNs to circumvent the ban.

Update: According to The Star Tribune, Daiqing has now been released to his hometown of Wuhan, the city at the heart of the coronavirus outbreak no less.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said votes in the coming assembly polls would be cast on the basis of work done by the AAP government in the last five years and not on the basis of caste or religion.

Addressing a public meeting in Rohini, Kejriwal said he was very happy to hear Home Minister Amit Shah talk about unauthorised colonies, education and health in his speech as it shows the AAP government has changed the narrative of in the country.

"It shows that while in rest of the country the BJP seek votes on the basis of caste and religion, in Delhi they are forced to seek votes on the basis of development work like health and education," he said.

For the first time in 70 years, Kejriwal claimed, a party is asking for votes in the name of development.

"No party has ever asked for votes in the name of improvement of schools, hospitals, free and cheap electricity. They ask for votes in the name of religion and castes. The BJP asks for votes in the name of Jat and non-Jat in Haryana, in the name of Maratha and non-Maratha in Maharashtra, Patel and non-Patel and Hindu-Muslim in states like Gujarat," he said.

Kejriwal said his party has changed the discourse and narrative of in the state.

"Now people will talk about Delhi's development and work instead of religion or caste. People will only vote for parties that will improve schools, hospitals, roads, provide free electricity and water," he added.

Kejriwal appealed to the supporters of BJP, Congress and other parties to vote for AAP as it will contribute towards development of Delhi.

"We have made a lot of effort in improving schools and hospitals in Delhi, voting for any other party will again deteriorate their condition. We have to keep the development speed constant throughout. Vote for us keeping the welfare of your family in mind," he added.

Kejriwal said he has worked how an elder son in a family works.

"I have worked as an elder son of the family in the last five years. It is he who shoulders the responsibility of managing the household, paying electricity and water bills, taking his parents to a pilgrimage, taking care of the education of the children of his family, taking care of the health of his family. I have tried to take all these responsibilities on my shoulder by being an elder son of every household in Delhi in the last five years," he said.

He also addressed a public meeting in Nangloi, where he presented his "guarantee card" which has ten assurances that his government is giving to the people of Delhi.

The card vows guarantees of free power, 24-hour drinking tap water, pollution-free Delhi, including a clean Yamuna, pucca houses to every slum-dweller and world-class education for children.

Kejriwal was joined by Rajesh Nama Bansiwala, AAP candidate from Rohini constituency, and Raghuvinder Shaukeen, AAP candidate from Nangloi constituency.

Earlier Friday, Kejriwal carried out three roadshows in west Delhi's constituencies of Janakpuri, Tilak Nagar and Madipur.

Delhi Assembly polls will be held on February 8 and the counting of votes will take place on February 11.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Several people, including two policemen, were injured when rival groups clashed in the southern part of the city's Jodhpur Park area over a discussion on the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act, police said on Friday.

Kolkata: Several people, including two policemen, were injured when rival groups clashed in the southern part of the city's Jodhpur Park area over a discussion on the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act, police said on Friday.

The clash broke out on Thursday night when a group of men allegedly owing allegiance to the BJP, attacked a group of Trinamool Congress activists with knives and sticks when they were denied participation in a CAA discussion, a police officer said.

When the police tried to pacify the two warring groups they were also attacked, he said.

"Two policemen including one officer have been injured. The officer received injuries in his hands and is currently undergoing treatment," he said.

Two motorbikes were burnt during the clash.

Several people injured in the clash were discharged after preliminary medical assistance at a nearby medical establishment, the officer said.

The police has arrested three people for their involvement in the clash, he said.

"We have arrested three people and a police picket has been posted in the area to keep a check on any untoward incident. A probe has been initiated into the matter," the officer said.
As advertising revenue continues to decline, virtually every publisher in North America has had to seek other sources of funding. Some have turned to venture capital, while others are experimenting with nonprofit status, crowdfunding, and even selling shares to readers. Now theres another option: government funding. The state of New Jersey has agreed to give a nonprofit entity called the Civic Information Consortium $2 million to hand out to publishers. And in Canada, the government created a $600 million fund aimed at supporting journalism through a variety of tax breaks and grants. But does government money come with too many strings attached and too many potential conflicts of interest? Or is it better than nothing?

To answer these and other related questions, we invited a range of experts to join us on our Galley discussion platform for a virtual panel on the topic: Jeff Jarvis, director of the Tow-Knight Center for Entrepreneurial Journalism at the City University of New York; Victor Pickard of the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania; Mike Rispoli of Free Press in New Jersey, one of the architects of the Civic Information Consortium proposal; Molly de Aguiar, who runs the Independence Public Media Foundation in Philadelphia; Emily Bell, director of the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia; Caitlin Johnson of Policy Matters Ohio; Jeremy Klaszus of The Sprawl in Calgary, Alberta; and Saima Desai, editor of an alternative magazine called Briarpatch in Saskatchewan. All of those interviewsalong with featured interviews from previous Galley panelscan be found on the Galley site.

On the question of whether taking government funding is a necessary evil or just evil, Jarvis came down on the side of the latter. I see danger everywhere if government funds or in any way approves or interferes with journalism and speech, he said. To accept funding from government, no matter the alleged safeguards, puts us at risk of mortal conflict of interest. Whom do we serve then? Need I say it? Follow the money. Jarvis acknowledged, however, that any revenue source brings potential conflicts of interest (the News Integrity Initiative, which is part of the Tow-Knight Center and the Craig Newmark School of Journalism at CUNY, is partially funded by Facebook). Many people hold up the BBC as an example of how government funding for journalism can work, and Jarvis said it has done much good. But now my fears are coming to life as we see Boris Johnson coming to attack the BBC, its franchise, its funding, and its legitimacy. If given similar power in this country, I shudder to think what Trump would do.

ICYMI: Dead and spun, a story in three meetings

Rispoli, who helped create the Civic Information Consortium, is closer to the government funding is good end of the spectrum. There was a dire need in New Jersey for quality local journalism, he said, and the states initial investment could help fund innovative media and civic-technology projects in New Jersey for decades to come. And, he added, it came about because citizens of the state took action in support of it. Molly de Aguiar is also in favor of government funding: The business model of local journalism is collapsing and we desperately need to consider new and radically innovative options, she said. Everyone in journalism should be celebrating the fact that the New Jersey public pressured their elected officials for funding for quality local journalism.

Emily Bell is also in favor of government funding, but she would like it to be something much bigger than just a bag of moneypossibly something like a PBS-style public media entity, receiving contributions from Facebook and Google. For me the big question is do we have the political imagination to create investment [in an] independent non-profit infrastructure to support types of journalism whatever the market conditions? she said. Pickard agreed. It is hard to imagine how we can tackle the journalism crisis without a large central public media fund that could address news deserts and various unmet information and communication needs, he said. Some may criticize public models like the BBC, he went on, but these models are certainly less flawed than the commercial model that is currently collapsing in on itself.

Sign up for CJR 's daily email

Heres more on government funding and journalism:

Libraries? Caitlin Johnson of Policy Matters Ohio said her group did research and found that, between 2004 and 2017, the number of people employed by the journalism industry in that state fell by more than half. The Civic Information Consortium model is interesting, she said, but getting a lot of new funding might be hard in Ohio. Ohioans love libraries, though. People go crazy when lawmakers propose cutting funding for libraries, she said. Local governments are almost always successful in passing levies to support their library systems. Maybe libraries could be a place where a Civic Info Consortium type institute could live? Or they could be the local organizations that receive the grant funding to do the reporting.

Old and failing : Jeremy Klaszus of The Sprawl said he hopes some of the money the Canadian government has been giving out would help small operations like his. One of the federal programs is the Local Journalism Initiative, which funds news organizations to hire reporters to do civic journalism in areas of news poverty. The Sprawl applied and was rejected. Most of the money went to existing newspapers, including those owned by Postmedia, which is controlled by US hedge funds. Is this is really supporting Canadian journalism? Klaszus asked . He also wondered whether the funding wasnt just propping up the old and failing newspaper model instead of incentivizing new forms of journalism.

No transparency : Saima Desai of Briarpatch magazine also said she hoped the government funding might help support her outletand was disappointed when that wasnt the case. The grants for the local initiative were handled by a newspaper industry lobby group called NewsMedia Canada, and the money disproportionately went to NewsMedia Canada membersmostly established, for-profit newspapersand organizations who were on the judging panel, Desai said. Theres been a really stunning lack of transparency in the whole process. Throwing money at the same corporations, I would argue, only enables them to keep laying off other journalists and otherwise atrophying the media landscape.

Other notable stories:

Hamilton Nolan, CJRs new public editor for the Washington Post , writes about how the paper has been able to pull off the hardest trick in journalism, namely mixing high-quality news with enough high-traffic clickbait to help drive revenue. More than any of the others, he writes. The Post has pulled off the neat trick of combining prestige journalism with a shadow clickbait factory that puts out a steady flow of fast-turnaround, aggregated stories grasping at virality.

According to The Times in the UK, the BBC will announce significant cuts to its news operation as painful reforms are pushed through before the next director-general is appointed. Popular news programs such as Radio 4s World at One could bear the brunt of the cuts, the paper said, and producers and reporters will increasingly be expected to produce packages that can be reworked for multiple BBC news outlets. The Times reported that the BBC is also planning to launch a daily news podcast, inspired by the success of The Daily of the New York Times .

Jim Lehrer, co-founder of the PBS show NewsHour , passed away yesterday at the age of 85. Lehrer reported for both the Dallas Morning News and the Dallas Times-Herald from 1959 to 1966, covering local politics, and he was at the local police station when Lee Harvey Oswald, John F. Kennedys assassin, was brought in for questioning. NewsHour started airing in 1975 and quickly became a vital, deeply intelligent place for news, even as the major networks turned increasingly toward entertainment value.

Dan Froomkin writes for Salon about the way that the New York Times and the Washington Post covered the impeachment hearings. While the Times coverage was relatively well done, he writes , the Washington Post whiffed in the most miserable way. The papers leaders seem to be so addicted to conflict that they cant even recognize that when one side is making history, the other sides smack is not equally important, Froomkin said. Coverage was disappointing in other papers, too, he wrote, including the Los Angeles Times .

Last year, the European Union enacted a link tax, which would require news aggregators like Google to pay for anything longer than a few words thats excerpted from third-party sites. Now Germany has put some numbers to this rule : the proposed German implementation would limit news links to quoting a headline and a maximum of three seconds of video and/or a thumbnail of 128 pixels wide by 128 pixels tall. That would apply not just to excerpts but also to memes, mashups, and summaries of an article in directories such as Google News.

According to a BuzzFeed report , Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are all helping to spread a rumor that the Chinese coronavirus outbreak is a plot by Bill Gates, the former Microsoft CEO. Its a conspiracy theory being spread by supporters of QAnon, a pro-Trump movement, in alliance with the anti-vaccine community. A QAnon YouTuber named Jordan Sather warned his followers on Tuesday that the coronavirus was a new fad disease, and claimed that it was planned.

Deadspin, the G/O Media property that has been in limbo since its writers and editors quit en masse, is being revived under a new editor . G/O announced that Jim Rich, the former editor-in-chief of the New York Daily News and a former executive editor at HuffPost, will take the helm. Rich says he is looking to hire staff to replace those who left, many of whom quit after a directive from management that they were forbidden from writing about anything but sports. Rich told Variety there werent any constraints placed on his editorial decisions, and that everyone who knows me knows Im not a stick-to-sports guy.

Isabel dos Santos, said to be one of Africas wealthiest people, has been accused of rampant financial misconduct after a trove of leaked documents tied her to a range of questionable conduct. On Sunday, the International Consortium of Investigative Journaliststhe group behind the Panama Papers and Paradise Papers released the so-called Luanda Leaks, along with an investigation that made an extensive case that dos Santos exploited her relationship with her powerful father to obtain public contracts, tax breaks, and stakes in a raft of international businesses.

And CNN reports that more than two months after announcing a review of his work, The Hill newspaper has yet to complete its promised evaluation of columns written by John Solomon, a former executive at the outlet who pushed conspiracy theories about Ukraine into the public conversation. In a statement issued on Thursday, Bob Cusack, editor of The Hill , told CNN that the review continues with a collective intensity and thoroughness which is needed and expected on a subject of importance and that we cannot put an exact timetable to something this significant.

ICYMI: Brazils attack on Greenwald mirrors the US case against Assange

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Mathew Ingram is CJRs chief digital writer. Previously, he was a senior writer with Fortune magazine. He has written about the intersection between media and technology since the earliest days of the commercial internet. His writing has been published in the Washington Post and the Financial Times as well as by Reuters and Bloomberg.
Lafayette native and longtime entrepreneur Ruth Ann Menutis has vowed to scale back on her frenetic business pace.

Heres what slowing down means in Menutis speak: buying an 8,500-square-foot building in the heart of the Oil Center and with plans to enliven Saturday mornings on Coolidge Boulevard by introducing more retail shops along that Lafayette street.

Starting now.

Menutis  who found success in the fashion industry in Houston and New Orleans, in the food service business at a host of U.S. airports and in the commercial real estate business in New Orleans and Lafayette  bought an office building at 1106 Coolidge St. for $987,000 last month, records show.

There she intends to hold on to the existing business tenants while sprucing up the building  new signage, new skin, she said  and introducing small retail shops or boutiques to the busy block by the intersection of Coolidge Street and Audubon Boulevard. She expects to complete the initial phase of improvements by April 1.

Menutis has significant experience operating in the Oil Center, where she owned Travis Technology Center on nearby Heymann Boulevard, a 33,000-square-foot-building that hosted an events center, restaurants and more. She sold the business in December.

Now shell set up shop at Coolidge and Audubon as TTLC Coolidge.

I just wanted something smaller, Menutis said. Im getter older, trying to do less intensive work.

Her husband, Jimmie, had operated American Pop Art nearby but, at 95, also stepped back from his own retail business, which was located on 414 Heymann Blvd.

Were starting now, she said of the newly acquired property, which shares an intersection with a post office and two banks. First up is interior work, which should be complete by April.

Inside info on doing business in Acadiana We'll keep you posted on the Acadiana economy. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

Those are the short-term plans, along with the addition of the boutiques and specialty stores. Longer term, she said, is a plan to possibly add a second floor. Those plans, though, will be placed on hold at least until 2021.

The attraction to 1106 Coolidge was the boulevard itself, which is the main thoroughfare to Lafayette General Medical Center. The Oil Center Association has planted camellias to brighten up the roadways appearance.

Can you imagine when the camellias bloom? she said.

The penchant for more retail shops comes from her insistence that the Oil Center needs more six-day businesses, not just offices where businesses operate for five days. The retail businesses, she said, will liven up the Oil Center, which has housed businesses, including offices linked to energy, since it was created in the 1950s.

Coolidge will become a little more of a shopping strip, she said. More commercial, more retail, less offices.

Her own building will house about 11 tenants, she said.

Shell also retain the nearby Palmetto Club property, which will also get a renovation, she said.

Were doing an annex, she said, It is strictly going to be for small meetings.
To be considered Muslim, members of Pakistan's minority Ahmadi sect must deny the beliefs of their religion.

They must swear that the Prophet Muhammad is the final prophet, and denounce the Ahmadi sect's 19th century founder as a false prophet and his followers as non-Muslim.

The Ahmadis, or Ahmadiyya, consider themselves Muslim, but that is a view rejected by mainstream Islamic sects.

And since they refuse to declare themselves non-Muslims, the Ahmadis have been stuck in legal limbo, leaving them without fundamental human rights such as access to education and the right to vote.

Numbering almost 5 million, the community has been persecuted for decades, banned from publicly practicing their faith and the target of rising sectarian violence.

Authorities in the predominantly Muslim country of 208 million have done little to stem the attacks, with the government still refusing to grant the community equal status.

'Paranoia, Intolerance, And Bigotry'

In what Ahmadis say is the latest attempt to segregate its members, the Islamabad branch of Pakistan's Bar Association on January 15 made it mandatory for its 5,500 members to declare their religious affiliation. If they identify themselves as Muslim, members must sign an affidavit by January 31 declaring that they are not Ahmadis.

To be listed as a Muslim, the affidavit said the signatory must believe that Muhammad was "the last of the prophets"; that the founder of the Ahmadi sect was an "apostate, liar, and hypocrite"; and must not have ever referred to him/herself as "an Ahmadi."

The Islamabad Bar Association (IBA) said members who failed to comply would have their membership suspended and be publicly named.

The move has been condemned on social media and criticized by bar members and rights activists, who have alleged that it is an attempt to suspend Ahmadi lawyers from the association.

Amir Mahmood, a spokesman for the Ahmadi community, told RFE/RL that the IBA's "deplorable" decision risked further pushing the sect towards "isolation."

"This shows the level of religious extremism in society and how religious differences are getting deeper," Mahmood said. "It is a deliberate attempt to isolate the Ahmadis in Pakistan."

Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, a senator and member of the bar, said the move had "buried" the South Asian country's vision for a secular state "in heaps of paranoia, intolerance, and bigotry."

"I am deeply saddened to be put under the spotlight to prove my faith," said Khokar, who added that he would refuse to submit the declaration.

Khokar said that "some in the fraternity" were contemplating challenging the move in the Supreme Court.

IBA President Malik Zafar Khokhar said the purpose of the declarations was to simply "identify" the Ahmadi members of the association.

'Rights Are Being Violated'

"Ahmadis are being discriminated against and their basic human rights are being violated in every sphere of life," Mahmood said, citing freedom of religion, right of assembly, and voting rights.

Under Pakistani law, the Ahmadis cannot refer to themselves as Muslims or engage in any Muslim practices, including using Islamic greetings, calling their places of worship mosques, or participating in the hajj, or holy pilgrimage. Ahmadis risk imprisonment for up to three years and a fine if they break those laws.

Ahmadis are allowed to vote only for parliamentary seats reserved for non-Muslims and, since they refuse to declare themselves non-Muslims, most do not vote.

The world's roughly 12 million Ahmadis are followers of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, the man who founded the movement in British India in 1889 and who Ahmadis believe was a messiah and prophet. For the mainstream Islamic sects, that contradicts a cornerstone of their belief that Muhammad was the final prophet.

Those beliefs have seen the Ahmadis come under pressure in a number of countries, including Saudi Arabia and Indonesia. In Pakistan, members of the community have been systematically persecuted by both mainstream Muslim sects and the government.

In the 1970s, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto passed an amendment to the Pakistani Constitution declaring anyone who does not believe Muhammad was the last prophet as non-Muslim. Under the rule of military dictator Zia ul-Haq in the 1980s, the practice of the Ahmadi faith was declared a "blasphemous" criminal offense.

Ahmadis face a stark choice in Pakistan.

They can follow their faith and risk persecution and death or they can convert or leave the country. Thousands of Ahmadis from the subcontinent have left, with large communities in Britain, the United States, and Canada.

Growing Sectarian Violence

Religious discrimination and violence have increased in Pakistan, a mainly Sunni Muslim country, with attacks against Shi'a, Christians, Hindus, and Sikhs in recent years.

Ahmadis have become the target of the rising sectarian violence, with their burial grounds, mosques, and homes coming under attack. The community says the authorities have done little to stem the assaults.

In May 2018, a mob consisting of several hundred people led by hard-line Muslim clerics destroyed a 100-year-old mosque belonging to the Ahmadi community in the eastern city of Sialkot.

In August that year, a mob carried out a similar attack on an Ahmadi mosque in the eastern city of Faisalabad. Nearly 30 were wounded, and the mosque was largely destroyed.

In September 2018, Prime Minister Imran Khan revoked the appointment of Atif Mian, an Ahmadi and a Princeton-educated economist, to a key advisory role following protests by a hard-line Islamist party and opposition from within Khan's own party.

It is not only Ahmadis, but also those seen sympathizing with them, who have faced threats and violence.

Pakistan's justice minister was forced to resign in 2017 after followers of a radical cleric accused him of blasphemy for changes to the electoral law that were seen as a concession to Ahmadis. Protesters forced the virtual lockdown of Islamabad for weeks.
Hundreds of people carrying candles protested in an Italian town Friday after unknown vandals wrote "Jews Here" on the front door of the house of a Nazi concentration camp survivor. A Star of David and the words "Juden Hier," German for "Jews Here", were daubed in black paint on the door in the Piedmont town of Mondovi, where a member of the Italian anti-Fascist resistance lived until her death in 1996. Lidia Beccaria Rolfi's son Aldo, who lives in the house now, said the attack followed the publication of an article in which he talked about his mother and warned of the rise of anti-Semitism. "This happened here, in Mondovi, in 2020", Stefano Casarino, head of Italy's National Association of Italian Partisans (ANPI) told the crowd as Rolfi tore away a police anti-obscenity cover to reveal the graffiti beneath. Rolfi slammed the vandals as "utterly ignorant", not least because his mother was not Jewish. Beccaria Rolfi joined the resistance at the end of 1943. She was arrested and deported to Ravensbrueck concentration camp as a political prisoner in June 1944, before being liberated just under a year later. Aldo Rolfi, son of Italian writer Lidia Beccaria Rolfi (1925-1996), a former member of the Italian Resistance who was deported to Ravensbrueck concentration camp as a political prisoner, shows anti-Semitic tags written on his door to protesters People hold torches and candles during a demonstration against anti-Semitism in Mondovi, northwestern Italy
Two persons who returned from China were kept under medical observation here for possible exposure to the novel coronavirus which has infected a large number of people in the neighbouring country.

Mumbai: Three persons who returned from China have been kept under observation at a Mumbai hospital for possible exposure to the novel coronavirus which has infected a large number of people in the neighbouring country, officials said on Friday.

Till now, no cases of coronavirus infection have been detected during screening of passengers at the Mumbai airport, a health department official said.

"No passenger with history of visit to Wuhan city of China in the last 14 days was found positive (for the virus) during thermal scanning," he said.

As many as 1,789 passengers underwent thermal screening at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport here for the coronavirus since 19 January.

Two of them, who had travelled to China, were admitted to civic-run Kasturba Hospital in the city as a precaution.

Another passenger, who had returned from Hong Kong, was admitted to the hospital for medical examination on Friday, additional municipal commissioner Suresh Kakani said.

The passenger belongs to neighbouring Thane district, he added.

The two persons admitted to the hospital earlier are from Nallasopara in neighbouring Palghar district. Their blood samples had been sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune and reports were expected on Saturday, Kakani said.

Coronavirus cases were first reported from Wuhan, the capital of central Chinas Hubei province.

In the wake of the outbreak in China, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has created an isolation ward at the Kasturba hospital.

"The isolation ward has been created for diagnosis and treatment of persons suspected to have the virus infection," said Dr Padmaja Keskar, executive health officer of the BMC.

She said the persons under observation at the hospital had mild cough and exhibited cold-related symptoms.

Doctors at the Mumbai international airport have been asked to send travelers returning from China to the isolation ward if they show any symptoms of the novel coronavirus, she said.

"All private doctors in the city have been asked to alert us if they observe symptoms of coronavirus in any person who has returned from China," she added.

According to the Kasturba Hospital sources, they have received detailed instructions from the Maharashtra government about how to deal with a coronavirus infection.

Apart from Kasturba Hospital, quarantine facilities have also been provided at Naidu Hospital in Pune, officials said.

The coronavirus is a large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from the common cold to acute respiratory syndromes, but the virus that has killed people in China is a novel strain and was not seen before.

Common symptoms of the infection include fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties, according to the World Health Organisation.

Dr Pradeep Awate, surveillance officer with the state health department, said cases of coronavirus infection have been detected mainly in China, and few cases have been found in other countries including South Korea, Japan, Thailand and the United States.

Authorities would be following up with every passenger who has returned from any of the countries where outbreak of coronavirus has been reported for the next 28 days to check if she or he has developed symptoms of the infection, Dr Awate added.

He appealed people not to panic as no case of coronavirus infection has been found in the country yet.

PTI KK MR RSY SPK KK KRK KRK 01241939 NNNN
TOTTENHAM, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 19: Jan Vertonghen Visits Local Foodbanks on December 19, 2019 in Tottenham, England. (Photo by Tottenham Hotspur FC/Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty Images)

New research suggests there are now more foodbanks across the UK than McDonald's restaurants.

There are around 1,300 branches of the fast food chain nationwide - while the number of foodbanks is estimated at more than 2,000.

STALYBRIDGE, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: A foodbank volunteer stores donations at St John's Church before distributing them to local foodbanks on January 28, 2019 in Stalybridge, England. The Tameside East foodbank is part of a nationwide network supported by The Trussell Trust, a charity working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK. The project was founded by local churches and community groups, working together towards stopping hunger in the area. (Photo by Anthony Devlin/Getty Images)

This stark statistic is likely to be an underestimate as the 2,000 figure does not include every type of foodbank, such as those operating in schools.

Garry Lemon, director of policy and research at foodbank charity The Trussell Trust, said: "More people than ever before are being forced to use food banks, having to turn to one of the 1,200 centres in our network, because theyre unable to afford the basics.

Read more from Yahoo News UK:

Prison inmate charged with murder of 'Britain's worst paedophile'

Several injured following shooting in town in south-west Germany

Handyman who hacked police officer's head with machete jailed for 16 years

"This just isnt right. Foodbanks offer absolutely vital support, providing a lifeline for people that have been pulled under by the rising tide of poverty.

"But no one in the UK should need that help to begin with. Thats why were calling on the Government to start putting money back into the pockets of people who most need support.

STALYBRIDGE, ENGLAND - JANUARY 28: A foodbank volunteer sorts through donations at the warehouse before distributing them to local foodbanks on January 28, 2019 in Stalybridge, England. The Tameside East foodbank is part of a nationwide network supported by The Trussell Trust, a charity working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK. The project was founded by local churches and community groups, working together towards stopping hunger in the area. (Photo by Anthony Devlin/Getty Images)

According to the charity, the top four reasons for using a foodbank between April and September last year were low income, benefit delay, benefit change and debt.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Maritime trial attorneys FIORE ACHERMANN filed a claim and answer in Truth Aquatic's Limitation Action on behalf of the family of a man killed in the CONCEPTION dive boat fire in September 2019. It was the worst maritime disaster in California history. FIORE ACHERMANN's filing is the sixth against the Santa Barbara-based company.

The family alleges that the CONCEPTION dive boat was unseaworthy at the time of the incident. The vessel lacked adequate life-saving and fire-safety equipment, trapping the divers in the hull without a safe means of egress.

"Nearly a year before the CONCEPTION's deadly voyage, Truth Aquatics had a fire onboard their sister ship, the VISION, which was reportedly ignited by a lithium battery," said Jennifer Fiore, the firm's leading maritime lawyer.

In addition to the duty to provide a safe and seaworthy vessel to the dive-boat passengers, "the vessel owners had a responsibility to know about the potential dangers of lithium-ion batteries being charged onboard before encouraging passengers to charge their equipment. Now, our priority is helping families find answers and making sure the owners, operators and other responsible parties are held accountable," stated Fiore. "We are honored to be representing those harmed by the CONCEPTION tragedy, which was completely preventable," Fiore added.

On August 31, 2019, 33 passengers and six crew members boarded the boat for a three-day diving voyage off the coast of Santa Barbara, CA. In the early morning hours of September 2nd, a fire broke out onboard the vessel that resulted in the death of 33 passengers and one crew member.

An investigation into the tragedy found that divers and crew would charge lithium-ion batteries on the boat for cell phones and tablets, as well as their cameras and other equipment. Preliminary evidence suggests the fire started in the galley where the batteries were being charged. After the fire, the U.S. Coast Guard for the first time recommended that crews limit the use of unsupervised charging of lithium-ion batteries to reduce the risk of fire hazards.

The plaintiff's trial team includes attorneys Jennifer Fiore, Sophia Achermann and Alexandra Hamilton with the California-based law firm FIORE ACHERMANN. The female-owned boutique plaintiff's firm specializes in serious injury and wrongful death cases - from, burn injuries, fire claims, maritime accidents, sexual abuse, assault and neglect, to product liability and more. https://www.thefafirm.com

Contact:

Jennifer Fiore

FIORE ACHERMANN

415.550.0650

www.theFAfirm.com

SOURCE FIORE ACHERMANN

Related Links

https://www.thefafirm.com


Photo: WIktor Szymanowicz/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Three and a half years after U.K. voters narrowly approved a referendum to quit the European Union, Prime Minister Boris Johnsons Brexit deal cleared its last parliamentary hurdles last week and received royal assent from the Queen to become law. The U.K. is set to leave the bloc at the stroke of midnight on Friday, now that the European Parliament has approved the farewell.

Passing the Brexit deal was an important political victory for Johnson, albeit an expected one after his Conservative Party cleaned up in last months national elections. The PM had campaigned on a pledge to get Brexit done, which he now ostensibly has. Yet this is by no means the end of the Brexit drama, nor does it entirely avert the threat of a chaotic cliff-edge scenario in which the U.K. crashes out of the European legal framework overnight.

The formal exit at the end of this month will be followed by a transition period, during which the U.K. will continue to abide by European laws and regulations but will no longer be a voting member. U.K. citizens will not perceive many changes in their day-to-day lives, except perhaps the absence of E.U. flags on some government buildings. During the transition, which will end on January 1, 2021, the U.K. and E.U. will continue to negotiate over their future trade relationship.

If 11 months sounds like a very short timeframe for negotiating a free-trade agreement, it is. The transition period was originally agreed to last 21 months, counting from the original Brexit deadline of March 29, 2019. That deadline was extended several times over the past year, but the end of the transition was not. The withdrawal agreement between the U.K. and E.U. allows for that deadline to be extended once for up to two years, but the implementing legislation finalized on Wednesday forbids Johnsons government from requesting that extension. While the government could get around that self-imposed proscription if necessary, to do so would be politically disastrous for Johnson, who has repeatedly insisted that he can and will reach a trade agreement that benefits the U.K. before the end of the year.

Others, however, are not so sure. Phil Hogan, the new European Commissioner for Trade who will be leading the negotiations for the European side, has said it is just not possible. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told Sky News on Thursday that he put the odds of a deal this year at 50-50 and that if the U.K. refused to seek an extension, the parties could end up going over the dreaded cliff edge next January. Ending the transition period with no deal would mean that the U.K. and E.U. revert to trading under World Trade Organization rules overnight. This would likely be economically damaging but less catastrophic than if the U.K. had hit the Brexit deadline without passing the withdrawal agreement, which at least protects the rights of E.U. citizens living in the U.K. and provides for how the parties will handle the Irish border in the absence of a permanent trade deal.

The main reason to be pessimistic about Johnsons chances of finalizing a trade deal this year (other than the fact that these agreements usually take many years to work out) is that he and the remaining E.U. leaders have very different ideas of what that future relationship should look like, and the Europeans are in no mood to cut the U.K. any breaks. Johnsons government expects to get a deal like the one the E.U. finalized with Canada in 2017, with some additional agreements on issues like data sharing and trade in services. The E.U. wants to prevent the U.K. from slashing and burning social and environmental regulations in order to make itself more attractive to businesses than the continent: the Brexiteer fever dream known as Singapore on the Thames.

Johnsons Conservative government has made so much noise about this hyper-competitive deregulatory frenzy that the Europeans have every reason to believe they will go through with it if they can. The European Commission is reportedly warning member states against offering the U.K. a Mutual Recognition Agreement, which would allow British industry bodies to certify that goods conform to E.U. standards. These agreements, which the E.U. has made with other trade partners like Canada and Japan, ease the movement of goods in certain key sectors.

That warning came after U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid told the Financial Times that the U.K. would diverge significantly from E.U. regulations after Brexit, even in sectors where British business leaders prefer a closer alignment. There will not be alignment, we will not be a rule-taker, we will not be in the single market and we will not be in the customs union, Javid said. Not only did this chest-thumping statement alarm bureaucrats in Brussels, it also ticked off those British business leaders, forcing Javid to walk it back and clarify that the government wont diverge just for the sake of it and would maintain high standards  not because we are told to, but because we want to. Good luck getting the Europeans to buy that line.

If Johnson decides to play hardball and rule out the level-playing-field provisions the E.U. will insist upon, he might only manage to get a skinny deal that allows for tariff- and duty-free trade in most goods but grants no special arrangements for services, such as equivalence for U.K. financial firms. The E.U. grants equivalence to countries with closely aligned financial regulatory regimes, allowing their banks relatively seamless access to the massive European market. Banks in the City of London are being warned to prepare for the likelihood that they wont get equivalence in the end. A skinny deal would also entail more onerous inspection requirements for U.K. goods entering the E.U. market, creating additional trade friction.

Nonetheless, Johnson intends to plow ahead with an aggressive negotiation with the E.U. while simultaneously seeking a trade deal with the U.S. this year. President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have expressed enthusiasm about making a deal with the U.K. on a rapid schedule (Trump would love to make it an election-year feather in his cap), but at the same time, Trump is on the verge of starting yet another trade war with the U.K. in retaliation for its forthcoming tax on digital services, which will hit Silicon Valley tech companies. The Trump administration is threatening to retaliate with an arbitrary tax on British car exports. How they go from this state of affairs to a gangbuster trade deal in less than a year is anyones guess.

At the same time as he tries to seal these deals and fulfill his lofty promise to make Brexit economically beneficial to the U.K., Johnson may also have to spend some of his energy this year trying to keep his country from falling apart. While MPs in London passed his Brexit bill, the devolved legislatures of Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland all rejected it. Ian Blackford, who leads the Scottish National Party in the House of Commons, accused the government of creating a constitutional crisis by enacting a law that affects the devolved powers of the U.K.s constituent nations without the consent of their independent administrations. The SNP is pushing for a second referendum on Scottish independence, even though Johnson has refused to allow it. Brexit has inflamed nationalist sentiments in Northern Ireland as well, contributing to an increase in paramilitary violence this year.

The prime minister may now be able to boast that he has gotten Brexit done, but the impact of Brexit has not even begun to be felt. As reality sets in and the consequences play out, the crisis that has been tearing the country apart for four years will start to reveal how much damage it has really done.
Davos, Switzerland

The United States, the European Union and what will soon be post-Brexit Britain have all raised the prospect of concluding trade deals between themselves by the end of this year, setting up an intense few months of negotiations.

High-level representatives said Thursday at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos that it's possible that those discussions, operating in parallel, could be wrapped up by the end of the year.

That would be some achievement given that most trade deals take years as they get bogged down in minutiae of rules and regulations.

"Never rule out a miracle, of course, but let's just see how these good intentions roll down the snowy hills of Davos as reality sinks in next week," analysts at Rabobank International said in a note to investors.

Britain could be a focal point. It leaves the EU on Jan. 31 and will then open parallel trade discussions with both the U.S. and the EU. And the U.S. and the EU have just started their own discussions as President Donald Trump turns his focus away from China following the conclusion of a first round of trade talks with Beijing.

Members of Trump's Cabinet talked up the prospects of a swift trade deal with Britain and argued that it should be relatively straightforward given how similar the two economies are.

At a press briefing, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he's heading to London this weekend to meet with his counterpart, Sajid Javid, to discuss an array of issues including trade.

"It's an absolute priority of President Trump, and we expect to complete that within this year," Mnuchin said.

Though Javid has said that negotiating a trade deal with the EU will be his "top priority," discussions with the U.S. will take place at the same time.

Mnuchin said that was "obviously an aggressive timeline."

U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said a trade deal between the U.S. and Britain shouldn't be too difficult as the two economies have more in common than they do with the EU.

"Both are very heavily services-oriented and within services, such as financial services, there's already a pretty high degree of integration and coordination, so it should be much easier mechanically," he said.

Ross also sought to dampen concerns raised in Britain that a future trade deal would mean higher drug prices as U.S. pharmaceutical companies look to gain concessions from Britain's state-run National Health Service.

Though the U.S. is important, Britain conducts far more business with the other 27 countries of the EU  that's why so many businesses want economic relations to be as close as possible.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Paolo Gentiloni, the former Italian prime minister who is now the EU's main economy commissioner, said he welcomes the clarity over Brexit following last month's convincing election win by Boris Johnson's Conservative Party.

"Eleven months for a free trade agreement is really very short if we look at other free trade agreements, but the EU is ready to do all in our power to have the best possible relation with the U.K.," he said. "It's not easy in 11 months, but I think it is still possible."

How quickly a deal can be reached will depend on what Britain is looking for. Javid has insisted Britain will not stick to all EU rules and regulations, which could make a deal harder.

"Of course, we won't suddenly stop being part of this continent of like-minded countries in eight days," Javid told business leaders in Davos. "Both sides in the debate want our close relationship to continue, but that relationship is going to change."

The final piece of the trade jigsaw relates to the U.S. and the EU, and discussions have begun as Trump turns his gaze to what he considers to be the unfair treatment of American businesses by Brussels.

Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission's new president, said a deal could be secured "within weeks," an aspiration that took many close observers by surprise and wasn't wholly shared by U.S. officials.

She didn't lay out the scope of any such agreement, but she appeared intent on avoiding any tariffs on European carmakers, which Trump has threatened repeatedly in recent days.

Mnuchin said the purpose of tariffs, and the threat of tariffs, "is to get free, fair and reciprocal trade."
It costs $233,610 to raise a child from birth through age 17, according to the U.S. Department of Agricultures latest estimate. In What Kids Cost, parents unpack a weeks worth of child-related expenditures. If you would like to nominate yourself or someone you know to be interviewed, please email humaninterest@slate.com.

This interview, conducted by Rebecca Onion, has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Mom and dad, with one child: A boy, 7 years old

Moms job: Customer service representative

Dads job: Currently unemployed

Home: Mattapan, Massachusetts

Total annual family income before taxes, 2019: $31,680 from Moms salary. Dad made $3,600/month under the table until May 2019, when he lost that job. Mom: We have savings, but are pretty much down to what I deem the red line.

Mortgage/rent: I was paying $1,000/month for a two-bedroom, which was way below market rate, living in a familys house. But staying at this house isnt an option anymore. Were moving out right now, so thats a whole new world Im going to be enteringlooking for a new place, coming up with money for a deposit. I cant afford the market rate [which is very high in Boston]. I do not have Section 8 and the waiting list to get it is years to come; same goes for income-based housing. So as of Jan. 31, I will technically be homeless.

Annual child care cost: After-school care is $75 a weekthe household qualifies for a reduced rate. Last summer, son went to a YMCA camp for free.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Saturday, Dec. 7

$120

Christmas shopping

My son gives us a list, and this year he actually wrote a letter to Santa with some specific things. We might not get everything on the listhe doesnt understand prices! He wanted anything thats Avengers stuff, Transformersand the big ones are expensive. All the things that are popular nowSpiderman, Bumblebee. We try to have a set budget for presents. We got two smaller Transformers, little Fortnite toys.* Its really just a lot of little men! We do give him some books and educational stuff, as well.

To shop for gifts, I go to Target, and sometimes Big Lots; youd be surprised, Big Lots has a lot of little stuff too, that you can find half-off sometimes. I also go to Hobby Lobby sometimes.

Saturday total: $120

Monday, Dec. 9

$60

Gas

Advertisement

Advertisement

I dont really go anywhere by myself, so this is mostly related to my son. Im taking my son here and there. If we just stick to the routine, Im going to work, dropping him off and picking him up, going right homewhen we do that, I can save gas.

Monday total: $60

Tuesday, Dec. 10

$150 (about $50 for kids share)

Groceries

Advertisement

I spend about $300 on groceries per month. I go for sales. I definitely try not to shop at big-name places. I stopped shopping at Star Market; theyre just like really ridiculous prices. I shop at the little mom and pop grocery stores if I can find it. I was going to the food bank, but the food bank is not close near me, so that sort of wasnt working.

Advertisement

My kid doesnt like a lot of junk food, so it saves me in the end because I dont have to buy a lot of it. He likes fruits, he likes raisin bread. For a snack to send to school, I might do dry cereal, and a fruit, an apple juice, some water, some chocolate milk; hes really simple. I cook at home, and try to buy things in bulk or family packs so I dont have to feel like Im running out to the store constantly.

Tuesday total: $50

Thursday, Dec. 12

$20

School book fair

Advertisement

Advertisement

We sent him with money to get books. I sent a $20 bill and didnt get any change. Those books are expensive!

Advertisement

Advertisement

He loves to read. Its just whatever catches his interest, so far, no series in particular or anything. Hes relatively new to it, but he reads pretty well. He gets extra help with reading in school, and because of that he probably reads more than most of the kids do, at this point. When he gets home from school, hell read or play games; it depends on his mood. I call him an old man in a kids body.

Thursday total: $20

Advertisement

Advertisement

Get Slate Parenting in Your Inbox Introducing Slates Parenting newsletter, featuring the best of Care and Feeding, Mom and Dad Are Fighting, and Slates family coverage. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time.

Friday, Dec. 13

$50 (about $16 for sons share)

Laundry

I spend about $80 a month on laundry.

$100

Rental deposit, for car to fill in for mine while its being repaired

Advertisement

I cant really get around without a car in Boston. The public transportation is not that great, youre not guaranteed to be on time, so its hard to depend on it when you have a job and need to get your kid to school.

Someone rear-ended me, and it was their fault, so Ill get this deposit back, but it had to go out. And it just so happened that its just at the time I could really use the money!

Friday total: $116

Saturday, Dec. 14

$100

Mom weekend break

This was money for travel, my eating, everything, to go to a family members birthday. My boyfriend took care of my son and I got a break, for my peace of mind.

Saturday total: $100

How much did we spend on our kid this week?: $346.

2019 has been more of a struggle, financial-wise, than any other year. Every paycheck is spoken for, before I get it. I try to account for everything. I do say Im blessed around Christmas because I get a little December bonus from my job, which helps.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

I think about living outside of Boston sometimes, but I worry about finding a school thats as good as ours. As much as we complain about Boston Public, its not as bad as you think. You have pretty good stuff going on, especially with the school my son goes to, where he has a bit more resources than other schools. I hear from people who have high schools where they dont even have computers, for example, and his school has a whole computer lab. Thats my biggest thing, and I dont want to have to start all over and hope that things are going to be the same.

My situationIm close to homeless nowis actually a very common one here in Boston. So much so that my sons school budget actually includes homelessness due to the high rate of parental displacement. I am not the only parent who has been displaced this school year. Its a sad reality that not even two-income households can survive. I do have a job interview lined up that would mean an increase in income, but the location is not close; hopefully in the end, it works out.

I do not qualify for a lot of resources because according to them, I make too much money. The housing waiting list in Boston for low-income people is anywhere from 510 years. All in all, each day I pray and put a smile on my face and remind myself that nothing is permanent.
A gunman killed six people and seriously wounded two others in southwestern Germany on Friday, police said, with local media reporting that the victims were relatives of the shooter.

The gunman, believed to have a personal motive, launched an assault in the town of Rot am See.

Police in nearby Aalen told AFP that a man with a personal connection to the victims had been arrested and there was no indication that other gunmen were involved.

After the shooting at around 12:45 pm (1145 GMT), first responders arrived on the scene to find the dead and wounded in and around a local hotel.

Police said they responded to the shooting "in force", and images from the scene showed large numbers of emergency vehicles and heavily armed officers sealing off the area with red and white police tape.

Meanwhile forensics teams dressed in white coveralls moved in to secure evidence. The police told local TV that the suspect was a German.

The Bild newspaper reported that the people killed were family members of the shooter, adding that the perpetrator was a man born in 1983.

site Spiegel Online reported the victims had come together for a "family gathering".

Police were unable to confirm details of the relationships or the identity of the shooter.

The shooting took place near the train station at Rot am See, a town of 5,200 residents near Stuttgart, capital of Baden-Wuerttemberg state.

Aalen police urged people to "refrain from speculation" about the shootings in a message on Twitter.

Police and prosecutors said they would provide more details about the attack in a press conference in Rot am See later on Friday.

While owning firearms is not illegal in Germany, most guns can be acquired only with a licence and they are closely monitored, making mass shootings comparatively rare.

In October last year, a far-right attacker shot two people dead in the eastern city Halle, wounding several more after failing to break into a packed synagogue armed with home-made weapons.

In July 2016, a teenager used a pistol bought illegally online to kill nine people in a Munich shopping centre, before turning the weapon on himself.

Germany has also been the target of a number of jihadist attacks in recent years, although most of the perpetrators did not use guns.

The most deadly took place in December 2016, when Tunisian Anis Amri drove an articulated truck into a Berlin Christmas market, killing 12 people.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former Trump White House Counsel Don McGahn smiles look at the audience at the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University in Galloway Township, New Jersey on Thursday, January 23, 2020. McGahn is an Atlantic County native with deep ties to the area. Read more

GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP, N.J.  Ex-White House counsel Don McGahn is an Atlantic City native whose uncle, Patrick J. Paddy McGahn, was a legendary A.C. attorney and power broker who famously tangled with an old client, then-casino mogul Donald Trump.

Don McGahns loyalty to their shared client appears to run deeper. He told a friendly hometown crowd at Stockton University on Thursday, his mother, Noreen, in the audience, his friend Bill Hughes Jr. doing the questioning, that even as a private citizen those obligations continue.

Its really unchanged obligations, McGahn said.

At Trumps direction, McGahn continues to defy a subpoena issued by House Democrats as part of special counsel Robert Muellers probe of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

A federal judge ruled in November that McGahn must testify, rejecting the Trump administrations claim of absolute immunity. The Department of Justice has appealed the case, with a ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit expected in the near future.

Thursday, McGahn said the decision to testify was not his to make, even as a private citizen. Asked who should decide what his post-administration duties are  You, the courts, or your former client  McGahn said it was "ultimately not the job of a lawyer to be his own lawyer and decide whether or not hes obligated to testify.

It has to come from beyond, he said. Court orders ... are one potential decider.

House Judiciary Committee lawyers have maintained that McGahns testimony is central to their impeachment investigations into Trump and could potentially yield new articles of impeachment. McGahn was among the most heavily cited witnesses in the Mueller report, sitting for more than 30 hours of voluntary testimony before Muellers team investigating allegations of obstruction of justice.

McGahns local roots were on display Thursday, a tub of Johnsons Popcorn on the table next to him, and jokes about his default Jersey sarcasm. Paddy McGahn helped bring casino gambling to Atlantic City in 1979 and represented Trump for years before their falling-out.

His nephew said he thinks that the dispute was more between Trump managers than with Trump himself, and that it wasnt a factor when he was approached to represent first the Trump campaign, and later serve as White House counsel. (Trump and Paddy McGahn sued each other, Trump alleging Paddy McGahn overbilled him, McGahn saying he was owed money.)

Don McGahn was not paid to speak, said Stockton spokesperson Diane DAmico. He appeared at the request of Hughes, the son of the former (Democratic) congressman and ambassador and namesake of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy, which sponsored the appearance.

McGahn spoke at length about his commitment to conservative judicial principles, his decision to work for the Trump campaign win, the disgrace of the Justice Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearings, and how he ended up being the architect of an overhaul of the federal judiciary, overseeing 107 judicial nominations, including 40 Appeals Court judges.

He noted that New Jerseys overworked federal courts have had no federal judicial nominees because its two Democratic senators, Bob Menendez and Cory Booker, refused to go along with any of his suggestions. He called New Jersey an outlier, and said he had managed to make judicial appointment agreements with Democrats in other states, including New York.

Hughes began the conversation with what sounded as if it might be a question about the impeachment trial in D.C., or even about the actions of the president, describing a divided country where one side thought it was necessary," the other side saying ... "it was rash, that an institution is in jeopardy.

But the question was a bluff, and Hughes ended by asking about Harry and Meghan stepping away from their royal duties.

McGahn parried the joke with his own laugh line.

I heard she called the queen and she thought it was a perfect call, he said.
This is it, the Biggy, the grand stress reliever of the year. Its over; that weird nightmarish year thats finished. Finally, weve got something new to look forward to!

Were talking midnight mile-long motorbike jams in Ho Chi Minh City, firework displays to wow the kids and terrify the dogs, and a heck of lot of mot, hai, ba, yo heard in the bars and cafes of every tiny village in Vietnam.

It occurs on the evening of the 24th of January in 2020. And the nation goes wild.

This is where the mobile phone networks go into meltdown five minutes past midnight and your drink order is a ten-minute wait. Its the moment you either thank your lucky stars that youre single or in a relationship and not the best time to start something new or dump something old! (That comes later when youre capable of thinking straight again)

Vietnams Lunar New Year holiday starts on the 25th of January and runs to the 29th. However, with people traveling to their hometowns and the weekends involved, you could just as easily say it will be about ten days off from work!

In the month preceding Tet (pronounced more like tek) as its called, the whole nation goes into a slow meltdown of services and ability to get things done as family and home matters take precedence over work responsibilities and everyones on the hustle to raise money for gifts, house painting, travel, and new clothes.

It is the Year of the Rat (or as I prefer the Mouse  its cuter!) and apparently people born in this zodiac sign work hard and are good at saving money, diligent, and positive!

Youll need to plan for this event as getting around on the night is difficult in the major cities as 50 million motorbikes spill into the streets, taxis are doing a roaring trade, and your best bet is to choose a venue and stay put! For the lucky ones (like me) living on the coastline  its easier just to head to the beach and party on into the wee hours of the morning.

Its a breath of relief for the Vietnamese after spending most of January preparing for Tet and simply for letting go of all the stress and worries of the past year. Red and yellow are everywhere as folks believe those colors bring good fortune. They probably will need some after blowing so much money on lucky envelopes for the kids and paying off their debts, an old tradition that has a lot to do with not carrying problems into the New Year. Maybe my old foes might finally pay back all that money they owe me!

Most of us will be familiar with 'Chuc Mung Nam Moi' (Happy New Year) but there are some other good phrases to use as well. You could say, 'Tien vo nhu nuoc' (money flows in like water) or 'Van su nhu y' (rough translation: may many things go your way  the y by the way is pronounced like ee).

Of course, theres all the food and drink you can eat, but also the fireworks in many cities. Be warned, it gets really crowded! Since its been a particularly dry weather year in Vietnam, I expect the night will be hot, humid and noisy as hell.

Careful after midnight as the young Vietnamese like to ride their motorbikes around and around, so crossing roads gets a little bit hazardous!

A popular trend as more Vietnamese can afford to is to head out of town to Da Lat or the beach cities such as Nha Trang, Da Nang, and little old Hoi An and, over the days after New Years Eve, travel the country back to their hometowns instead of heading directly there as in the past.

I think the hardest part will be finding a suitable spot for a selfie as everyone flocks to the nearest empty place to take a snap. Oddly the backgrounds are rarely taken into consideration but I suppose you cant have perfect on the night! So check your camera battery before you go out!

Personally I think 2019 was a pretty weird year, for me as well as the world and well be glad to see the back of it. So partying hard this time around will have a stronger, more urgent feel to it.

Fortunately for the Vietnamese, the nation is going strong and thats a far more cheerful prospect than most of the world. But thats been well deserved after so much hard work in 2019.

Most of us wont remember or think about that on the night but I thought it was worth mentioning.

Anywaytis the night to inspire us all and have fun so as C.S. Lewis (a famous writer) said, "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."

Ill drink to that!
MADRID - Authorities in Spain say the death toll from a storm that devastated the eastern part of the country this week has risen to at least 12 with rescuers searching for several missing persons.

Emergencies services for the northeastern Catalonia region said late Thursday that a fourth death caused by storm Gloria in the region had been confirmed. That took the national count to at least 12.

Rescuers were still searching Friday for three missing people in the Balearic Islands and for a fishing boat with six on board that has gone missing off Spains southern coast.

A British man and a Spaniard are feared to have been swept away by high waves on the island of Ibiza, authorities said. Another Spaniard is missing on the nearby island of Mallorca.

Government official Lucrecio Fernandez said an overnight search by Spanish rescuers for the missing fishing boat is continuing with the assistance of a Moroccan frigate.

The storm has lasted for six days, accompanied by heavy winds, snow and hail. Weather authorities said the worst of it had passed on Wednesday, although some areas of southern Spain are under a weather warning for rain and winds.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is meeting with his Cabinet on Friday to discuss aid for the hardest-hit regions.
Reuters

France and the United States agreed on Thursday how to press ahead with a global rewrite of cross-border tax rules for the digital era, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said.

Le Maire said he and US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had set aside a bilateral dispute over France's digital tax on big tech companies to focus on securing a broader global deal this year that would include a minimal corporate tax rate.

The two hammered out a series of written proposals for the first redrafting of international tax rules since the 1920s that will be put to 137 governments when discussions start next week at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

"We had long talks this morning with the US Treasury Secretary and the OECD Secretary General, and I am happy to announce to you that we have found an agreement between France and the United States, providing the basis for work on digital taxation at the OECD," Le Maire said at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos.

"It's good news, because it reduces the risk of American sanctions and opens up the prospect of an international solution on digital taxation," he added.

Preparations led in part by France and the United States to launch the OECD talks had been eclipsed by their bilateral row with Washington threatening retaliatory tariffs against Paris' own national tax on big tech companies that book out-sized profits on French income, despite a minimal physical presence.

US President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron had discussed the issue in a phone call on Sunday.

OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria has been working for years on finding ways to create a level playing field on digital taxation. Those efforts are now being accelerated to see if an agreement can be reached by December.

Speaking on a panel at Davos with Le Maire, Gurria said he was hopeful of securing a draft framework by July. "We have no Plan B  we just have to get it done," he said.

Other countries including Italy and Britain are also pursuing or imposing their own national digital-tax regimes.

Le Maire said it was preferable to have an international framework rather than a proliferation of national digital taxes. France has said it will scrap its own tax if an international accord can be reached.

"So we have to build something different and that's exactly what we want to do during 2020."

France's existing digital tax is based on turnover. But Le Maire admitted that was not optimal from an economic point of view, saying the OECD's plan to tax profits was more sound.

There will be intense discussion over what level of profit would be taxed and how it would be collected.

After meeting Mnuchin, Le Maire said a US proposal that any deal be optional for companies was no longer on the table.
Late on Thursday, and again on Friday afternoon, Rep. Adam Schiff made a powerful argument that President Donald Trump must be convicted of abuse of power and removed from office, before he can use his office to damage the countrys democratic institutions again, perhaps beyond repair. This was, technically, part of the House impeachment managers opening remarks, but under the topsy-turvy procedural rules set for Trumps trial by the Republican Senate majority, it may stand as Schiffs best chance at making a closing argument as well.

Advertisement

Republican senators have so far appeared unmoved by the case the impeachment managers are making for holding a full trial of the president, with new documents and witnesses, let alone by the case for his conviction. On Friday morning, Sen. Lindsey Grahamwho a day earlier had praised Schiffs presentationcalled the case against Trump presented by the House managers on Thursday mind numbing. Sen. John Barrasso echoed those remarks, saying: It seems to me their case is weaker today than it was yesterday. Theres so little brought out kind of every hour and a half they bring out the same thing.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Axios on Friday, meanwhile, reported that Senate Republicans were pushing the message that the trial had been tainted by Rep. Jerry Nadlers remarks that Senators who blocked witnesses and evidence would be complicit in the presidents cover-up. That call for independence had backfired on Democrats, Axios sources said; self-styled Republican moderates, whose votes would be essential to calling new witnesses, called it stunning or offensive.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Similarly, Axios reported that Senate Republicans were taking offense at Schiffs argument that Trumps repeated attempts to cheat would not stop, and that such cheating threatened to place the legitimacy of the 2020 general election outcome in doubt. As the majority weighed how seriously they have to take the trial, it was apparently insulting to try to remind them of the stakes.

The thrust of all the complaining was that the House managers, by hurting the Republicans feelings, were forfeiting their claim to be able to call witnesses, let alone to win a conviction. It gave Majority Leader Mitch McConnells caucus something to talk about other than the hours and hours of factual documentation that Trump is a reckless criminal who attempted to extort a foreign power to help him cheat in the next election, and who can only be expected to increase his abuses once the threat of impeachment no longer looms over his head.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Meanwhile, even as the Republicans were expressing their dismay at being bullied by the impeachment managers, CBS News reported late Thursday that a Trump confidant had issued a warning to wavering Republican Senators: Vote against the president, and your head will be on a pike. Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, who had denounced Nadler for suggesting they could be complicit in the presidents coverup, have so far had nothing to say about the presidents camp publicly threatening them if they dont loyally go along with Trump.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Then, on Friday, ABC News reported it had reviewed a recording of an April 2018 dinner at the Trump International Hotel attended by Rudy Giulianis now-indicted associates Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, in which the president could be heard saying of Marie Yovanovitch, the American ambassador to Ukraine, Get rid of her! Get her out tomorrow. I dont care. Get her out tomorrow. Take her out. OK? Do it.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Parnas had previous told interviewers that at that dinner he had beseeched Trump to get rid of Yovanovitchwho he saw as an obstacle to using Ukrainian authorities to advance Trumps private political goalsand the president had offered to do so. The new recording seems to corroborate that account. Parnas and Fruman have been indicted by the Southern District of New York for campaign finance crimes related to their pressure campaign to remove Yovanovitch, who was ultimately taken out one year later and who text messages show may have been stalked by goons working on behalf of Parnas (Ukraine has said it is investigating the evidence).

Advertisement

Advertisement

President Trump has said he doesnt know Parnas and that I dont believe Ive ever spoken to him. The recording reportedly features Parnas telling the president We gotta get rid of the ambassador and Shes basically walking around telling everybody Wait, hes gonna get impeached, just wait. Such a conversation would obviously contradict Trumps claim that they had never spoken.

Advertisement

How did Republicans react to this news? Vice President Mike Pence said any such recording will only confirm what people already know: is that the president had concerns, and in his authority the president made a decision. Graham, meanwhile, responded that the president can fire any ambassador they want.

Faced with new proof, past and present, of the president issuing mobster-like threats, the Senate majority remains unmoved. Why bother getting any documents or testimony from Parnas, or from anyone else, if the conclusion will still be the same? Whatever the president may do, or may have already done, the majority will define it as his legitimate use of his powers. To support the charge of abuse of office, the impeachment managers have repeatedly played the video clip of Trump declaring that under Article 2 of the Constitution, he is allowed to do whatever he wants. Where they see the crime, the Republicans see the excuse for it.
The Jefferson Parish Coroner's Office has identified a man shot and killed in River Ridge on Thursday morning as Torey Kyles, 29, of Metairie.

Kyles died of multiple gunshot wounds, according to Mark Bone, the coroner's chief death investigator.

A 911 call reported the shooting around 5 a.m. to the Kenner Police Department, and Kenner officers were dispatched to Filmore and Creston streets, according to Capt. Jason Rivarde, a spokesman for the Sheriff's Office.

Ex-husband of former 'NCIS: New Orleans' actress arrested by JPSO, accused of raping child An actor and ex-husband of an actress who starred on "NCIS: New Orleans" has been arrested by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office on rape ch

But the officers found Kyles' body eight blocks east of Filmore, near the intersection of Creston Street and Richard Avenue, which is in River Ridge, in unincorporated Jefferson Parish. The Sheriff's Office was then notified and its homicide detectives took up the investigation, Rivarde said.

Kyles was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have no motive or suspects in the case, according to Rivarde.

Anyone with information about the shooting death of Torey Kyles is asked to call the Sheriff's Office Investigations Bureau at 504-364-5300. The public can also call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at 1-877-903-7867. Callers to Crimestoppers do not have to give their names or testify and can earn a $5,000 reward for information that leads to an indictment.
A non-governmental organisation, ActionAid Nigeria, has challenged the President Muhammadu Buhari administration over the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) report recently released by Transparency International.

The international anti-corruption watchdog, in its performance index released on Thursday, ranked Nigeria 146th out of 180 countries surveyed worldwide.

The index listed Nigeria as the 34th most corrupt country in the world and the fourth in West Africa, slipping two places below its 2018 performance. Critics said the performance undermines the Buhari administrations mantra of fight against corruption.

However, the Nigerian government in its reaction, condemned the report, saying there is no data evidence to back it.

The claim and inference by TI that Nigeria ranks the fourth most corrupt country in West Africa is totally unacceptable, as it is evidently not supported by any empirical data, especially when placed side-by-side with the remarkable achievements of the Commission in the past years, the anti-graft agency, EFCC, said.

Speaking in Abuja on Friday, the Country Director of ActionAid, Ene Obi, said the administrations claim of fighting against corruption will continue to appear fictitious except the government intensify its efforts through stiffer punishment for looters and inclusion of citizens in the fight against corruption.

While it appears that the Nigerian Government is doing so much in fighting corruption, the just-released Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2019 has contradicted the assumption that we are excelling in the fight against corruption.

We do agree that the CPI report annually is based on perception, however, perception also helps to validate the gaps that exist in the ways government relates with its citizenry, Mr Obi said.

The organisation called on the government to consider the CPI recommendations for citizens inclusion and engagements in its fight against corruption.

Governments should protect civil liberties and political rights, including freedom of speech, expression and association. Governments should engage civil society, and protect citizens, activists, whistle-blowers and journalists in monitoring and exposing corruption, CPI said.

There should be no political interference in execution of legislation and there should be clear-cut roles and responsibilities among relevant agencies in the fight against corruption, it added.

He also called on the media to be more proactive in investigating the news behind the news and create an effective media engagement to generate more evidence through investigations of corrupt practices to stimulate public discourse.
Thousands of devotees gather to perform rituals at Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganges and the Yamuna on Mauni Amavasya, the third and the most auspicious date of bathing during the annual month long Hindu religious fair 'Magh Mela in Prayagraj. (Image: AP)
PM Honcharuk assures Ukrzaliznytsia remains under Ukrainian government's control

03:25, 24.01.20 2429

He explains the deal is a strategic partnership rather than sale or concession.
Paint makers are seeking the Centre's move to improve consumer sentiments and boost demand in the forthcoming Union budget, instead of any consideration of further tax cut for the sector.

Kolkata: Paint makers are seeking the Centre's move to improve consumer sentiments and boost demand in the forthcoming Union budget, instead of any consideration of further tax cut for the sector.

Initially, a 28 percent GST was levied on paints, but with demand from the industry, the government had brought down the rate by 10 percent to 18 percent in July 2018.

"With the economy having slowed down over the last one year, the government should take steps to improve consumer sentiments and boost demand through tax incentives and increased spending in the infrastructure sector," Berger Paints managing director and CEO Abhijit Roy said in his pre-budget wish.

Country's largest paint maker Asian Paint's Chief Operating Officer Amit Syngle said it is always "good if there is a tax cut" but the industry is "not hopeful of such a step" from the government.

"The government should enable consumers to spend more. It can come through tax breaks and any other forms," Syngle said.

Roy emphasised on the need for consumer sentiments rather than seeking Goods and Services Tax cut from 18 percent now.

"As a next step to the reduction of the corporate tax rates, we hope for the rationalisation of the direct tax code which would put more disposable money in the pocket of the taxpayers. This will help enhancing consumer sentiments, higher consumption and an overall positive multiplier effect on the economy, Roy said echoing Syngle.

Roy also sought incentives for individuals to invest in housing and realty sector through more tax benefits.

"This should go a long way in boosting consumer confidence and would kick start a positive cycle for all industries related to construction segment," he added.
The Attorney General's Department has filed a notice of appeal challenging the decision by an Accra High Court to grant bail to the embattled ACP Benjamin Agordzo.

The embattled top police officer is among a number of people including military personnel who were arrested last year for allegedly abetting a group of individuals who were planning to overthrow the current government.

The matter is still at committal stage before a Kaneshie District Court in Accra so his lawyers applied for bail for him pending the trial at a High Court presided over by Justice Charles Ekow Baiden.

Notice of Appeal

A source at the AG's Department confirmed that the office filed the appeal on Wednesday before the court, a day after the grant of bail.

An Accra High Court last Tuesday granted ACP Agordzo GH500,000 self recognizance bail when the judge held that counsel for the officer was able to convince the court that his client would not interfere with investigations or abscond from the trial when granted bail.

In his ruling, Justice Baiden held that the prosecution could not convince the court that ACP Agordzo is capable of escaping from trial if he was granted bail and also could not prove that he was going to interfere with investigation.

ACP Agordzo was then ordered to report to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) or his representative in writing for that purpose twice every week for three months after which he is to report there once a week.

He was also ordered to report to the Director-General of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) or his representative once a week for three months and once every fortnight after that.

ACP Agordzo was also ordered to submit his passport to the court registrar.

---Daily Guide
Seventy-five years ago, on a cold winters day  Jan. 27, 1945  the Dutch Jewish doctor and trainee psychiatrist Eddy de Wind saw Russian troops in white camouflage suits stroll up the road as if no Germans existed and enter Auschwitz concentration camp. Soon after, he and other newly liberated prisoners were taking turns to dance on a large portrait of Hitler they had dragged out of an office. I dont remember what I felt, De Wind wrote later. Rather than a fine way of venting my hatred, I probably found it ridiculous I dont think any of us were capable of experiencing real emotions at that stage, not sorrow, not hate, not longing.

Hed spent more than 16 months in the camp with his wife, Friedel, who had been forced out of Auschwitz at gunpoint a week earlier during the murderous evacuations that would come to be known as the Death Marches. De Wind did his best to cling to hope, but everything he saw and heard made her survival seem less likely and he had no news of her until he finally made it back to the Netherlands on July 24, 1945, the day of the miracle, when a Red Cross worker told him that a Mrs. de Wind from Auschwitz was in a nearby hospital.

Before being reunited with Friedel, De Wind had stayed in Auschwitz for another three months at the request of the Russian medical detachment, helping to treat the survivors by performing all kinds of difficult medical procedures, carrying out amputations and small operations that were essentially far beyond [his] capabilities. It was in this period that he wrote Last Stop Auschwitzin the evenings, sitting on his bunk in a former Polish barrack, after long days working in the hospitaldriven by the one emotion he was sure of, his pressing need to let other people know what he had seen and suffered. If I record it now, he wrote, and everyone finds out about it, it will never be able to happen again.

Story continues

De Winds account of his experiences in Auschwitz, taken more or less directly from his notebook and first published in the Netherlands in 1946, occupies a middle ground between memoir and historical document: written after the fact, but on location and soon after the events it describes, sometimes just weeks later. Trying to identify what exactly makes the book so compelling, novelist Heather Morris wrote, In all other accounts and testimonies given many years after the suffering, there was at times a disconnect between memory and history In Last Stop Auschwitz, written when it was, there is no separation of these two, the waltz perfectly in step.

Get your history fix in one place: sign up for the weekly TIME History newsletter

In 1980, when seeking republication, De Wind turned down an offer from a leading Dutch publisher who saw a rewrite as a prerequisite, choosing instead a smaller house that aimed for as faithful a reproduction of the original as possible. De Wind knew this approach could expose him to criticism for the style and immature political statements but preferred the greater guarantee of authenticity.

Forty years later, as his English translator, I bore this in mind and did my best to translate the book De Wind wrote rather than the polished version he rejected. The rawness and immediacy go hand in hand with the authenticity he demanded. Some of his transitions are abrupt, the pacing can be uneven, there may be some repetition and confusion as figures appear and disappear in the narrative, but none of this matters. What matters is his personal account of the Nazis crimes and the ordeal of the men and women who survived or, much more often, perished; his surprisingly early insights into the psychological and political processes at work; and the urgency with which he describes the killing machine he was caught up in. I wanted it to be good English, of course, but English that felt as much like the Dutch as possible.

An important exception was the spelling of names, which De Wind often approximated or wrote down phonetically, presumably because he had only heard them and had never seen them written down. Its hardly surprising that a small publisher in war-ravaged Amsterdam had few resources for fact checking and, in the immediate post-war period, when the Nuremberg trials had only just begun and knowledge of the camps was still relatively limited, it would have been extremely difficult to obtain information that is now just a few clicks away. It was only natural, then, to correct Glauberg to Clauberg, Klausen to Clausen, and Doring to Dering. A benefit of the book coming out more or less simultaneously in some twenty languages around the world was being able to consult with the German, Polish, Hungarian and other translators in a lively Google group.

Translation is never easy and with such an important subject getting it right is even more important. When De Wind described kapos and soldiers armed with stokken, for instance, the Dutch word could mean many things: sticks, canes, branches or bars. By chance, I happened to go to Poland while translating the book and was able to visit Auschwitz, where I saw drawings and photos of German soldiers brandishing both walking sticks and cudgels made from sturdy branches. In another room I saw prisoners uniforms in a display case and took photos of the wooden shoes and sandals mentioned in the book, glad to clarify the distinction between them. In both instances I ended up using the most literal translation, but that too is part of a translators task: putting in time and effort to make sure that the most obvious choice is actually correct. Proof once again of Dutch poet Adriaan Morriens old adage that a translator is someone who looks up words they already know in the dictionary.

Grand Central Publishing

David Colmer translated the new English edition of Last Stop Auschwitz: My Story of Survival From Within the Camp by Eddy de Wind, available now from Grand Central Publishing.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 22:36:27|Editor: Mu Xuequan

Video Player Close

ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- The United Nation migration agency on Friday disclosed that it has provided humanitarian assistance to more than one million vulnerable Ethiopians in 2019.

"Of the one million beneficiaries, more than 620,000 people received water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, which included newly constructed latrines, hygiene kits inclusive of menstrual hygiene management items, and safe access to water through the construction and rehabilitation of water wells, springs and water schemes," the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said in a statement issued on Friday.

The UN migration agency, in addition to WASH services, had also provided shelter construction and other emergency items to vulnerable populations across the East African country, primarily in the Ethiopian Somali and Oromia regional states.

The organization also worked with Ethiopian communities and local institutions to promote safe hygiene practices and construct new WASH facilities in schools and health facilities.

"An estimated 360,000 people were provided with non-food items, including emergency shelter and cooking materials," the IOM said, adding that nearly 73,000 beneficiaries have also received shelter support through communal structures and transitional shelters.

"These efforts mostly benefited formerly displaced populations in Oromia and Somali regions who are now returning home," the IOM statement read.

The UN migration agency also reiterated its resolve to further continue its humanitarian support targeting vulnerable Ethiopians, saying it "hopes to continue this effort over 2020 and address the needs of the most vulnerable."
GRAFTON  There was snow on the ground Thursday, and only one RV at the campground at Pere Marquette State Park because it is the slow season.

But it will be a lot slower within a few weeks, when the campground shuts down for about six months for refurbishment and upgrades.

The campground is expected to be completely closed for approximately 155 days, and reopen in either July or August, depending on when the actual work starts. While work is primarily in the RV campground, it will also close the tent camping areas and the campground picnic shelters.

That means the park will lose the spring, and probably a good part of the summer camping season.

Were excited, site superintendent Chris Hespen said. The upgrade is long overdue, and Im excited were able to provide that in the region. But theres no good time to renovate a 365-calendar day campground.

The $1 million project will include a major upgrade for electrical and water services, an additional watering and grey- and black-water dump station, and general upgrades to the 80-site facility.

A major part of the work will be improving the electrical service. Currently most sites are set up for 30- and 20-amp service. The renovation will add 50-amp service to all of those sites.

We have very few with 50-amp service, Hespen said. The evolution and upgrading in todays campers require more amperage.

A lone camper was sitting on the host site Thursday. The campground host is responsible for overseeing the campground. Because it is a long-term site, it is equipped with electrical, sewer and water. The renovations will include the creation of a second host camper site with those amenities.

The project is under the direction of the Illinois Capital Development Board. Hespen said it will begin as soon as the ICDB gives approval, which is expected in the very near future.

Until then, he said, they are not taking any reservations at the campsite, but camping will still be available.

During the work, the entire campground will be closed because of the hazards created by the construction. Theres going to be open trenches, Hespen said.

While there is not much interest now in the campground, he said it usually picks up in March or April for spring turkey hunters and people wanting to get outside.

Its not unreasonable at the end of March or April for people to have cabin fever and want to get out of doors, he said.

He noted the rest of the park remains open. Upcoming events include the ongoing Bald Eagle Days and the Pere Marquette Lodges Bald Eagle Festival set 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26, with music, painting, childrens crafts, wine tasting and a Masters of the Sky presentation by the World Bird Sanctuary at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. The festival is free, but the Masters of the Sky program is $5.

For details, call 618-786-2331.

Reach reporter Scott Cousins at 618-208-6447.
Despite the fast spreading rate of the new coronavirus, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has decided that the outbreak is yet to attain the status of Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

It, however, warned that there is an emergency in China.

This decision was reached on Thursday after two days of deliberations by the Emergency Committee convened by the WHO Director-General under the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005).

The meeting was adjourned on Wednesday to reconvene on Thursday.

The committees role is to give advice to the director-general, who makes the final decision on the determination of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).

The meeting became necessary after reports of the exportation of the disease was recorded in the Republic of Korea, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong-Kong and the U.S.

Decision

WHO in a statement released after the meeting said despite the spread of the dangerous respiratory infection from China to at least six other countries, the disease is yet to attain the official global emergency status.

The statement explains that though the disease has reached beyond China, the number of cases in other countries is still relatively small, and the disease does not seem to be spreading within those countries.

WHO said of 584 cases now reported, 575 of them and all the deaths have been in China.

WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, said as at this time, there is no evidence of human to human transmission out of China.

Although he agreed that the situation is an emergency, he said there is still a need to study the disease pattern.

It causes severe diseases, and it can kill, but in most cases, it causes milder symptoms.

We know that among those infected, one quarter of patients have experienced severe disease and that it can kill. We know that most of those who have died had underlying health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease, that weakened their immune systems, he said.

Meanwhile, the committee argued that because the source is still unknown (most likely an animal reservoir) and the extent of human-to-human transmission is still not clear, it cannot be declared global emergency.

The committee had a tough time arriving at the decision because members had varying opinions about the status of the disease.

It was, however, concluded that the disease should still be studied before it is pronounced a global threat.

Committee could reconvene

The Committee members also agreed on the urgency of the situation, and suggested that the committee should be reconvened in a matter of days to examine the situation further.

The committee made a number of recommendations regarding measures to control the outbreak.

The chairman of the committee advised WHO to provide information to the international community through an international multidisciplinary operation, in order to enhance understanding of the situation and its public health impact.

In the face of an evolving epidemiological situation and the restrictive binary nature of declaring a PHEIC or not, WHO should consider a more nuanced system, which would allow an intermediate level of alert, it said.

Also, the Chinese authorities were encouraged in the statement to provide more information on the ways they are managing the risk of further cases, and to work with the WHO and other partners to better understand the evolution of the outbreak.

Advertisements



All countries, recommends the committee, should be prepared to contain the virus, through active surveillance, early detection, isolation, case management, and prevention of onward spread of infection, and to share full data with WHO.

The committee however welcomed the efforts made by China to investigate and contain the current outbreak.
With the fastest-growing school district in Colorado, the Pikes Peak regions 17 public school districts are surpassing statewide growth, according to enrollment numbers released Thursday.

Pupil count among Colorados 178 public school districts was flat this academic year, the Colorado Department of Education reports, showing a preschool through 12th grade enrollment increase of 0.2% over 2018.

But the Pikes Peak regions districts collectively grew by 1.2% this school year to a total of 123,944 students.

Leading the state is School District 49 based in Peyton, east of Colorado Springs. Of districts with more than 100 students, D-49 had the largest fall semester increase compared to 2018, adding 1,493 students for a 6.7% increase to 23,890 students.

The jump was enough to bump D-49 up from 13th largest in the state to the 12th largest district, surpassing Greeley-Evans School District 6.

D-49 officials had projected a hefty influx based on residential construction in D-49 neighborhoods as well as steady movement of military families into our region, said spokesman David Nancarrow.

We have been among the fastest-growing districts in the state for the past five years and anticipate well continue on this type of pace into the near future, he said.

D-49 built and opened two new elementary schools in the past few years, which will address the need for four to six years, he said. Constructing a new middle school in the next two to three years is the new priority, Nancarrow said.

Not all local districts are growing. As reported in The Gazette after the fall pupil count, Colorado Springs School District 11 has lost its title as the regions largest school district, losing 355 students this school year for a total of 26,040, a 1.3% drop from last year.

At the same time, Academy School District 20 gained 425 students for 26,603, a 1.6% increase.

What possibly pushed Academy D-20 into its new standing was offering tuition-free full-day kindergarten, which Gov. Jared Polis successfully lobbied Colorado lawmakers to fund statewide.

D-20 had been charging parents for full-day kindergarten and with the free offering, added 490 full-day kindergartners this school year for a total of 1,410, a 53% increase.

Over the past five years, D-20 has gained more than 1,500 students, while D-11 has seen enrollment fall by about 1,900 students.

D-11, the regions oldest school district, has been anticipating the development, spokeswoman Devra Ashby said, due to aging residents living in the core of the city, the lack of new construction in its boundaries and school choice, which allows students to attend schools outside of their neighborhoods.

D-11 debuted a new strategic plan this school year and is in the process of creating an academic plan.

The district is working on developing pathways for students to chart their own course for reaching graduation by selecting from a host of choices, Ashby said.

To help students accomplish that, D-11 is considering providing transportation for certain specialized programs, from gifted to special needs and dual language immersion. Another line of thought: perhaps old schools could be refurbished to accommodate new programs.

Only one decision has been made thus far, Ashby said. A growth spurt in alternative education programs at the Roy J. Wasson Academic Campus has created the need to move the Nikola Tesla Education Opportunity School to the old Longfellow Elementary School. That will be completed by August and allow other Wasson building programs to expand.

Other highlights from the 2019-20 official pupil enrollment statistics:

 Unlike the rest of the state, the Pikes Peak region, with the exception of Academy D-20 and Lewis-Palmer School District 38, which saw a 32% increase, did not experience huge increases in kindergarten enrollment after the Legislature approved free full-day kindergarten. Colorado Springs D-11 had the largest enrollment of full-day kindergarten students at 2,075.

 The 17 El Paso County area school districts combined had a slight uptick in minority student enrollment this school year, rising from 42.5% of all students to 43.1%. The regional breakdown for all students is 56.9% white, 25.8% Latino and 6.2% black.

 Harrison School District 2s student body was the most diverse  52.1% Latino, 23.6% white and 13.5% black.

 The percent of low income students as measured by eligibility for free and reduced priced lunches fell slightly in the 17 districts combined, from 37.6% to 37.4%. Harrison D-2 was the highest at 77% and Lewis Palmer D-38 was lowest among the larger districts at 10%.

 Statewide, the number of home-schoolers fell from 9,284 to 7,880, or 15.1%. About two-thirds of the decline, or 978 of the 1,404 statewide, were Pikes Peak region students. As a result, home schooling decreased by 36.7% regionally, with the largest decline among parents living in Academy-D-20, which lost 548 students.

Contact the writer: 719-476-1656.
Beneke to speakto Noon Kiwanis

WATERLOO  The Waterloo Noon Kiwanis will meet at the Elks Lodge for a noon luncheon on Tuesday.

Jeff Beneke will speak on the upcoming Cedar Valley Family Stem Festival.

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers. Service-minded individuals interested in improving the world through Kiwanis are welcome to join the Tuesday meetings. Call Larry Cain at 231-9871 for more information.

Legion plans weeks events

WATERLOO  American Legion Post 138 at 728 Commercial St. has several events planned.

Spaghetti and garlic bread will be served from noon to 6 p.m. today

Bingo is set for 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, with food served. Theres a grill-out from noon to 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Mel will be cooking fish sandwich and tenderloin baskets from noon to 6 p.m. Friday.

A pepper tournament will begin at 10 a.m. Feb. 1, with a Super Bowl party and potluck at 4 p.m. Feb. 2.

Moose Lodge plans events

WASHBURN  The Moose Lodge, at 6636 La Porte Road, has several events planned.

Fish will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, the menu includes smoked ribs, brisket and burnt ends from 5 to 7 p.m.

Blood drive set in Fairbank

FAIRBANK  There will be a community blood drive from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Fairbank United Methodist Church, 107 N. Second St.

Schedule a blood donation appointment at lifeservebloodcenter.org or call (800) 287-4903.

Allison Lions plans fish fry

ALLISON  The Allison Lions Club is sponsoring a fish fry from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Allison AMVETS, 718 Ninth St.

The menu includes Alaska pollock, baked potato, coleslaw, baked beans, buns and a drink.

Donations will support local eye screenings for all preschool children, local scholarships, and State Lions Foundation Programs that support the blind and deaf people of Iowa.

Carry-outs are welcome.

Free meal set at First Baptist

WATERLOO  First Baptist Church, West Fourth and Baltimore streets, will host a free community meal from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Wednesday in the church social hall.

Everyone in the area is welcome. The churchs free meals take place the last Wednesday of each month.

Parking is available in the church parking lot. For more information, call 234-1537.

Derflinger set to be honored

WATERLOO  Terri Derflinger will be honored on her retirement from MercyOne with a reception from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Friday at MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center, Classroom 11.

Another reception is set for 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at the MercyOne Oelwein Medical Center.

She has had a 41-year career and has served in multiple leadership roles, such as House supervisor, clinic operations director, mission integration direction and the site administrator for Oelwein Medical Center.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
MUMBAI: The BJP on Friday categorically rejected Maharashtra government's charge that the previous Devendra Fadnavis dispensation misused the government machinery to tap the phones of opposition leaders and an inquiry has been ordered in this regard.

Defending his party, senior BJP leader and former minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said, ''If someone approaches Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut with a complaint in this regard, then one should go to the police and file an FIR, and not speak to media about this.''

Attacking Sena leader Sanjay Raut, Mungantiwar said that he just fulfiled his duty by tweeting on it.

''One should know that there are strict laws against phone-tapping and, moreover, there was no use to tap anyone's phone. The charges are utterly baseless and unfounded,'' the BJP leader said.

Meanwhile, commenting on the issue, former chief minister Devendra Fadnav said, ''Phone-tapping of opposition leaders is not a tradition of Maharashtra. Our govt never gave such an order. Present state govt is free to do any probe by any agency. Even Shiv Sena leaders were a part of State Home Ministry then.''

"The whole country knows the credibility of those who have levelled such allegations," Fadnavis, who was the chief minister of the state between 2014 and 2019, said. "The state government is free to probe the allegations with the help of any machinery. People of Maharashtra know the truth. A Shiv Sena leader was the minister of state for home during my tenure," he added.

The reactions from the BJP leaders came after Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh alleged that the previous Devendra Fadnavis dispensation misused government machinery to tap the phones of opposition leaders, and an inquiry has been ordered in this regard.

Talking to reporters here, Deshmukh said the cyber cell of the state police department has been directed to look into the complaints of phone-tapping and snooping of leaders who were then in the opposition.

He said the government is also trying to find those officers, who had been reportedly sent to Israel to study the snooping software then.

Live TV

"The cyber cell of Maharashtra police has been asked to look into the various complaints of snooping/phone tapping that came in during the previous government. The inquiry is being done following complaints of snooping on opposition leaders, especially during the formation of (Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi) government," Deshmukh said.

"There is no doubt that the previous dispensation has misused the government machinery to tap of phones of leaders from opposition parties," he said.

Importantly, on Friday, Raut also alleged that a senior BJP minister of the previous government had warned him that his phone was being tapped.

"Your phone is being tapped. This was told to me by a senior BJP minister earlier. I told him whoever wishes to listen to my conversations is free to do so. I am a disciple of Balasaheb Thackeray, I don't do anything secretly," Raut had said in a tweet.
MCE Hon. Martin Oti Gyarko

24.01.2020 LISTEN

A new 45 member assembly for the Atebubu-Amantin municipality has been inaugurated at a ceremony in Atebubu.

The assembly which comprises 31 elected and fourteen appointees took the oaths of office and secrecy administered by His Lordship Joseph Twumasi presiding magistrate of the Atebubu district court.

In a welcome address, the municipal chief executive Hon. Edward Owusu outlined the issues of acute water shortages, bad roads, and ineffective revenue mobilization mechanisms as the three most important problems facing the municipality.

To go round these problems, honorable members need to start brainstorming now on how best we can solve these setbacks in our development pursuit devoid of politics. He said.

Hon. Owusu pledged an open-door policy through accountability and transparency for the realization of the governments objective of building a prosperous nation.

Reading a speech on behalf of the President of the Republic of Ghana, the deputy Bono East regional minister Hon. Martin Oti Gyarko said, the ministry of local government and rural development has formulated a rural development policy which provides a mechanism for implementation of the coordinated interventions in agriculture, social services, industrialization, financial inclusion and skills development for a transformative change in the lives of rural people across the country.

He said through the property naming and street addressing system, the assembly can improve upon its revenue generation for the betterment of the lives of its people adding that unplanned and haphazard developments pose a major challenge to our development efforts and urged the assembly to use its bye-laws to improve on environmental health.

The deputy minister urged the assembly to work towards a diversified and commercially oriented agriculture with strong linkage to industry and markets to generate employment and address rural poverty.

The assembly should create a platform for stakeholders using social accountability tools like Town Hall Meetings and general community engagement to establish a strong linkage between duty bearers and citizens. He concluded.

The assembly was set to elect its Presiding Member later in the day.

The function was chaired by Nana Osei Gyan Ababio II, Kyidomhene of the Atebubu traditional area.
(ANSA) - Assisi, January 24 - Premier Giuseppe Conte said Friday that the need to transform the economy so development is sustainable is a big opportunity for Italy. "Italy's 'green' system has enormous potential for growth, including in terms of new jobs," Conte said at the presentation of the Assisi Manifesto to agree on action to combat the climate crisis. "It's the government's job to create an environment that is as favourable as possible for this to grow. "We introduced important measures that go in this direction in the 2020 budget law despite an extremely complex public-finance situation".


A fast-moving fire roared through a southern New Jersey apartment complex, damaging dozens of units but causing no injuries, authorities said.

The fire broke out late Monday in the Buttonwood Village complex in Gloucester Township. Firefighters battled the blaze for several hours before it was brought under control.

Authorities said about 40 apartments overall sustained some damage. The American Red Cross helped roughly 30 displaced residents find temporary lodging, but it wasnt clear how many residents had been placed overall.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics New Jersey
A funeral event in memory of the victims of the Holocaust was held in Yerevan.

The event, organized by the Jewish community of Armenia, took place near the memorial to the victims of the Armenian and Jewish peoples' genocides in one of the squares in the center of the Armenian capital.

According to French Ambassador to Armenia, Jonathan Lacotte, they hope that in the future this event, organized by the small Jewish community of Armenia, will be visited by more people in a country that more than anyone understands the importance of preserving memory.
Chinese New Year, also known as Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, is based on a traditional Chinese lunisolar calendar, whose dates indicate the phase of the moon and the time of the solar year. Its the Year of the Rat, which is the first zodiac sign in the Chinese zodiac cycle, and this year Chinese New Year will stretch from Jan. 25 to Feb. 11.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 22:17:24|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

by Sanaa Kamal

GAZA, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Aboud Zayed, a 12-year-old Palestinian from Gaza city, showed his skills in Wing Chun Kung Fu, winning the applause of his master and colleagues.

Aboud and 40 other students are learning Chinese martial arts at the Palestinian Cultural School of Wing Chun Kung Fu, based in the northern city of Beit Lahia in Gaza Strip.

The school, Palestine's first school teaching various forms of Chinese Kung Fu, was opened in 1989 and has witnessed an increasing number of students in the past few years.

"I joined the school four years ago, in an attempt to control my hasty actions and to be able to control my reactions in a way that suits all situations," Aboud told Xinhua during a short break at school.

Through sport, Aboud said he was able to rely on his inner energy, rather than on violence, adding that this sport changed his character from a violent to a calm one.

Aboud, together with his colleagues, receive practical Chinese martial arts lesson three times a week for two hours each time.

The boy, whose idol is Ip Man, teaches his colleagues some Wing Chun basic techniques and combat skills. He said he is willing to become a professional master in the future.

Wing Chun is a concept-based traditional southern Chinese Kung Fu style and a form of self-defense that requires quick arm movements and strong legs to defeat opponents. It is the only martial art that was created by a woman.

"Wing Chun is based on developing the inner capabilities of a fighter," Wing Chun master Alaa Zayed told Xinhua.

"Through Wing Chun, which is a spiritual martial art, a fighter can control his opponent rather than destroying him," he added while observing one of his students showing newly learned techniques.

More than 60 percent of the Palestinians suffer from depression and psychological pressure, Mental Health Organization in Gaza said in a recent report, noting that this has been caused by the difficult economic and political conditions.

Wing Chun students have to pass several stages, Zayed said, adding that they learn about patience, endurance and inner strength.

"The students also learn combat techniques as well as controlling fingers with high efficiency," he said.

The master added that students learn martial art styles that depend on the strength stemming from relaxation rather than violence.

"At the advanced stages, the students learn how to fight with a cudgel, practice on a Wing Chun wooden dummy and finally we teach them how to fight using the Butterfly Swords," Zayed noted.

Meanwhile, Walid al-Nazli, another Wing Chun master who is currently training 15 students in Gaza city, said Wing Chun provides practitioners with self-confidence and the ability to control all their deeds.

Al-Nazali emphasized that the students must be "patient and wise" to master Wing Chun greatly, noting that the Chinese martial arts are used as "a real remedy for many psychological problems."

"I hope more Chinese martial art schools would be opened in Gaza to serve as cultural bridges between Palestine and China," he said.
By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: A local court on Thursday sentenced a 65-year-old man to undergo rigorous imprisonment for five years for sexually assaulting an minor girl student. The offender, Mohammed Khaisar Ahmad, was a helper of a private school bus in the city and was found guilty of sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl for nearly 2 years in the bus.

The incident dates back to November 2017 when the accused misbehaved with the girl by touching her private parts and threatened her not to disclose it to anyone. After reaching home, the girl informed the matter to her father, who filed a complaint with the police following which he was booked and arrested.

The prosecution led by advocate K Pratap Reddy proved the charges by vetting the victims statement in the court using video recording and photographs for identification. The judge Suneetha Kunchala found the man guilty under Sections 354, 354-A and 506 of the IPC and POCSO Act.
The 'Dialogue of cultures - the basis of the dialogue of nations' roundtable has opened in Baku within the 'Baku-Moscow: dialogue of cultures' conference, the correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza reported.

Azerbaijan's Minister of Culture Abulfas Garayev said that Baku and Moscow signed a protocol on cooperation in the field of culture.



The document was signed by head of Moscows Department of Culture Alexander Kibovsky and head of Bakus Main Department of Culture Jalil Melikov.

Opening the panel session, Abulfas Garayev emphasized that such a representative conference testifies to the focus of Russia and Azerbaijan on serious work throughout the year of 2020.



"A large Russian delegation has arrived in Azerbaijan. Among the members of the delegation, we see the heads of federal departments, MPs, scientists, educators and doctors. I want to once again thank all the organizers, everyone who took the opportunity and found time to come to Baku and participate in our events," the minister thanked.

First Deputy Director General of TASS News Agency Mikhail Gusman, in turn, expressed gratitude to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva for facilitating the organization of the conference. "I a;so want to thank the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan, Minister Abulfas Garayev and his team for preparing this wonderful forum," he said.

The special representative of the Russian President for International Cultural Cooperation, co-chairman of the board of the Interstate Humanitarian Cooperation Fund of the CIS member-states, Mikhail Shvydkoi stressed the close relations of Russian and Azerbaijani art communities.

"Today Azerbaijan is our strategic partner in the Caucasus and not only in the Caucasus. It is very important for us that the Baku process is developing so rapidly, because it affects not only the humanitarian, but also other areas," the special representative of the Russian President for International Cultural Cooperation said.

The conference will also feature a photo exhibition of the prominent persons of Azerbaijan living in Russia and vice versa, co-organized by TASS News Agency and Azerbaijan State News Agency, presentation of the books 'Formula of the power' and 'Formula of the life' by First Deputy Director General of TASS News Agency, Russia`s honored journalist Mikhail Gusman and other cultural events.
New Delhi: Amid ongoing blame game between ruling and opposition party leaders, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday retaliated to Congress leader P Chidambaram's statement and called him a "Chindi Chor". He was rebutting to Chidambaram's remark that termed the Central government of being the real `Tukde Tukde` gang as the country has slipped 10 places in the global democracy index owing to `debilitation` of democratic institutions.

Pradhan told ANI, "Chidambaram recently came back from jail on charges of theft...the country knows what kind of work was done in Chidambaram`s time. People like P Chidambaram, who went to jail after `Chindi Chori` will always have trouble with people who are following the rules and regulations."

Live TV

Notably, Chidambaram, who is out on bail in the INX media case, on Thursday accused the Centre of being the real `Tukde Tukde` gang while adding that the country has slipped 10 places in the global democracy index owing to `debilitation` of democratic institutions.

On Twitter, Chidambaram said that every patriotic Indian should be alarmed, adding "India has slipped 10 places in the Democracy Index. Anyone who has closely observed the events of the last two years knows that democracy has been eroded and democratic institutions have been debilitated. Those who are in power are the real `Tukde Tukde` gang."

Further, he said, "the world is alarmed by the direction the country is taking", adding that "India has slipped to 51st position in a 2019 global democracy index ranking".
A fire has killed 19 dogs at a Labradoodle breeder's Florida home, but rescue workers were able to save six others with CPR.

The inferno broke out around 5.15am Thursday on Bay Lake Road in Orlando and the heartbroken homeowner bawled after watching the animals perish in the house.

'I saw these big huge flames, I mean huge, coming down the hallway and I just freaked out,' homeowner Marcia Mobley told ClickOrlando. 'My dogs are gone. Most of them are gone.'

Firefighters pulled out nine puppies alive from a house fire in Florida Thursday and saved the lives of six adult dogs by giving them CPR

Some of the dogs were already outside the house when the blaze began

However there were 19 fatalities due to smoke inhalation. The actual fire was contained to one room and was caused by an air handler. A rescuer is seen carrying one dog out

She managed to save some of the animals but thankfully several were already outside at the time of the fire.

Firefighters got nine puppies out of the house - and six adult canines had to be resuscitated.

Rescuers were seen on video giving the pooches help breathing and warming up their bodies.

The Orange County Fire Rescue District Fire Chief praised his team for their work.

'We actually started CPR on the dogs,' Chief Thomas Veal said. 'We gave them oxygen and kind of rubbed them to get their blood flowing again and our crews did an amazing job.'

Firefighters are seen giving one of the animals oxygen and helping to warm it up with a blanket

The homeowner, Marcia Mobley, got some dogs out after flames broke out around 5.15am

Homeowner said: 'I am so thrilled when they said we got nine babies. I thought they were dead'

The fire chief said his crew did an 'amazing job' saving the dogs and they're expected to survive

The fatalities were mostly caused by smoke inhalation and rescuers said there was significant smoke damage to the property.

But the actual fire was contained to one room and was caused by an air handler.

The dog breeder of 20 years has worked with Orange County School Board Chair and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and described the emotional moment she heard some of her animals had survived.

'I am so thrilled when they said we got nine babies. I thought they were dead,' Mobley said.

'With the smoke inhalation, I just knew they were gone and he said, "We got nine babies." I said, "Oh, my God".'

The dogs that pulled through were taken to John Young Animal Hospital and a veterinarian said they are expected to be okay.
Major Nikhil Maurya and Major Tarun Rathee will be leading the marching contingent of the Indian Army's Parachute Regiment Special forces on the Republic Day.

Speaking to ANI, Major Nikhil Maurya said, "The Josh is always high. We previously participated in 2016. Our jawan's enthusiasm will always remain high."

"It feels very honoured and I am very happy. It is a proud moment for my family and also a proud moment for my unit. It is a privilege for me to lead the parachute contingent," he said while replying to question about how he feels to be participating at the Republic Day parade.

Major Maurya belongs to Lucknow and joined the 11 para special forces. He was commissioned in 2010 have been serving in the unit since then

While Major Rathee belongs to Haryana. This is the first time he is participating in the parade at the Rajpath.

"It is a proud moment for me and my family. Greetings started coming right from the Army Day itself and all the wishes are with me. All relatives and friends are wishing me," he said.

When asked about the regiment's motivation, Major Rathee said, "In parachute regiment, we don't need to motivate troops as only the motivated troops join the elite parachute regiment. We call this a hell march. The troops are physically very tough to continue this for 10 km long.

"The difference is while rest of the contingents march, we do 'Kadam Taal'," he added.

During the Republic Day Parade this year, for the first time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay a wreath at the War Memorial before the parade.

This would also be the first time that the Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat would attend the Republic Day parade and welcome the Prime Minister along with the three defence chiefs.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Violist-composer Nick Revel was on his way to a solo performance at St. Pauls on the Green in Norwalk in November, when he got the news.

I glanced at my phone to check traffic and saw a text: We were nominated,  Revel recalled. The text came from a member of Revels classical music ensemble PUBLIQuartet, and referred to the fact the groups album Freedom and Faith had just been nominated for a Grammy Award for best chamber music/small ensemble performance of the year.

My heart nearly exploded. I was flushed with adrenaline, and everything for the rest of the day felt surreal and insane, Revel said.  ... But after the initial rush passed, I felt incredibly humbled and honored to be formally recognized in such a public way.

Freedom and Faith also climbed to No. 4 on Billboards Classical charts and features works that highlight the diversity and legacy of women in music over the last millennium, including compositions by Nina Simone and Ella Fitzgerald.

Revel, a Wilton High School graduate, formed PUBLIQuartet about 10 years ago with other like-minded musicians who enjoyed turning rehearsals into adventurous musical experiences.

PUBLIQuartet is an genre-fluid, improvising, new music string quartet committed to innovation and access, Revel said. The core of what we do really comes from a place of curiosity and desire to play music we feel most connected with. We just happened to be two violins, viola and cello playing on stages where classical artists also play. So the goal is not necessarily to be cutting-edge or to make a statement. Its more like, the statement is a result of us choosing to include all of the sounds we like.

Although the ensemble is based in New York City, and Revel lives in Queens, they both have special ties to Norwalk and St. Pauls.

PUBLIQuartet performed at St. Pauls on the Green last April for our Connecticut CD release of Freedom and Faith, which was a highlight for me, because St. Pauls is like my musical home, said Revel, who is artistic and executive director of the Norwalk Youth Chamber Ensembles, which meet weekly in The Warner Center in the churchs education wing. Revel also sits on the board of Seabury Academy, a music and arts nonprofit in residence at St. Pauls. His concert in November was part of the churchs Mid-Day Music series.

I have been performing in Mid-Day Music or recording concerts there since I graduated from college in 2008, Revel said. So many members of that community have supported me and given me opportunities and encouragement over the years. It was so refreshing to return and give back to the community that raised me.

Revels bandmates include Curtis Stewart and Jannina Norpoth on violins. Hamilton Berry replaced original cellist Amanda Gookin.

I feel very fortunate to be a part of a group that is so accepting of alternative sounds and is even willing and, dare I say excited, to play my own compositions, he said.

Revel noted the Grammy-nominated record was supported with a crowd-funding campaign.

A professional recording is such a huge undertaking in all aspects. Its very expensive  as a classical group there is a guaranteed deficit from the project  and you have to hope and pray that youll be playing your absolute best and feel creatively charged when you hit the studio, because those sounds are permanent.

The musician-educator will be attending the Grammy Award ceremonies, which take place Jan. 26 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. He flies to the West Coast not long after his Thursday sessions with the Norwalk Youth Chamber Ensemble at St. Pauls.

Got my tux, got the plane tickets, he said. Blast off on Saturday for an afternoon Grammy reception and then Sunday for the results.

The Grammys will be telecast live on CBS.

For artist information, visit: publiquartet.com or nickrevel.com
A massive quarantine effort covering 13 cities was in effect in China on Saturday aimed at containing a deadly virus, as the death toll climbed to 26 and the first cases of the disease were reported in Europe and South Asia. China on Friday imposed transport bans in an area covering a staggering 41 million people, as the United States confirmed its second case of the SARS-like virus that has reached almost a dozen countries. The virus has also spread to densely populated South Asia, where Nepal confirmed one case, and Europe, where two cases were reported in France. With more than 800 cases logged in China so far, a range of Lunar New Year festivities have been cancelled, with temporary closures of Beijing's Forbidden City, Shanghai's Disneyland and a section of the Great Wall to prevent the disease from spreading further. The previously unknown virus has caused alarm because of its similarity to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which killed hundreds across mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003. The World Health Organization said China faced a national emergency but stopped short of declaring a global health emergency, which would have prompted greater global cooperation. The outbreak emerged in late December in Wuhan, an industrial and transport hub of 11 million people in China's centre, spreading to several other countries. In the United States, a woman in Chicago became the second known patient on US soil, with 50 other suspected cases under investigation. A city health official said on Friday the woman was doing well and in stable condition. Hours after the announcement President Donald Trump thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping via Twitter "on behalf of the American People" for his country's "efforts and transparency" in working to contain the virus. "It will all work out well," Trump wrote. The first case in South Asia was reported in Nepal on Friday. The 32-year-old male patient, who had arrived from Wuhan, was treated at a hospital in Kathmandu and discharged, officials said. And two cases were confirmed in France, the first in Europe. Both had recently travelled to China and have been placed in isolation, the country's health minister said. China is in the midst of its Lunar New Year holiday, a typically joyous time of family gatherings and public festivities. But on Friday Wuhan was a ghost town, its streets deserted and stores shuttered. - Worried patients - As reports surfaced of bed shortages in Wuhan for the sick, state media said authorities were rushing to build a new hospital only for the outbreak in a mind-blowing 10 days. Hospitals visited by AFP journalists bustled with worried patients being screened by staff wearing full-body protective suits. At a temperature-check station, a medical staffer in a bodysuit, face mask and goggles took a thermometer from a middle-aged woman, pausing to examine the reading before quickly turning back to the patient. "Have you registered? Then go and see the doctor," the staffer said. One 35-year-old man surnamed Li voiced the fears of many. "I have a fever and cough, so I'm worried that I'm infected," he said. With millions of people on the move across China for the holiday, the government has halted all travel out of Wuhan, shut down its public transport and told residents to stay home. Few flights were available to the city. "This year we have a very scary Chinese New Year. People are not going outside because of the virus," a taxi driver in the city, who asked not to be named, told AFP. He said a prolonged shutdown should not pose food-shortage problems because many Chinese had stocked up for the holiday. Besides Wuhan, 12 smaller cities nearby have battened down the hatches, with most announcing measures Friday that include closing public venues, restricting large gatherings and halting public transportation, as well as urging citizens not to travel. Several of the cities have populations numbering several million, led by Huanggang with 7.5 million. The pathogen -- 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) -- has caused many outlets in Shanghai, Beijing and other cities to sell out of face masks. State broadcaster CCTV reported that 40 military medical doctors were being deployed to Wuhan to help with intensive care. In addition, 405 medical workers were being sent to Wuhan from Shanghai, said state news agency Xinhua. In Beijing, staff in full-body protective suits were seen Friday checking the temperatures of people entering a subway station. Thermal cameras also scanned passengers arriving at Beijing's West Railway Station. - 'We love you' - Beijing has been praised for its response in contrast to SARS, when it took months to report the disease and initially denied WHO experts any access. Gao Fu, head of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, asked China's people to forego New Year gatherings this year and confine themselves at home until the all-clear. Beijing has cancelled popular New Year public events at temples in the capital, the historic Forbidden City will close from Saturday, and Shanghai Disneyland said it also will shut down for an indefinite period from Saturday. A number of tourist spots were closed and events cancelled in central Hunan province, which borders Hubei province. The crisis was given a prominent spot on the celebrated gala show on state TV Friday evening, the traditional Lunar New Year's Eve extravaganza broadcast by CCTV watched by hundreds of millions of Chinese. The host told Wuhan medical staff "We love you" against a backdrop of hospital footage and stirring music. bur-sbr-rox-lth/ch/cs
Kathleen Kings body was found on train tracks not far from the couples Geneva home. She did not have on her glasses, earbuds or iPhone armband that she normally wore when running. A train conductor spotted Kathleens body and cellphone on the tracks on the morning of July 6, 2014, stopping the train before it ran over her and destroyed the phone evidence, officials said.
"Equity and excellence go hand in hand, and this series of grants is an important step in tackling the systemic inequities that exist across medicine."- Dennis S. Charney, MD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinaian international leader in medical and scientific training, biomedical research, and patient caretoday announced the recipients of the first-of-its-kind Distinguished Scholar Award, a new annual grant sponsored by the Office of Gender Equity in Science and Medicine. The awards aim to mitigate gender gaps in medical research by supporting researchers with additional project resources while they serve as family caretakers.

Far too often, promising researchers and scientists miss professional opportunities due to caregiving responsibilities. This new series of grants, selected through an NIH-style review, will empower recipients to continue their groundbreaking work while they integrate caregiving into their lives, said Carol Horowitz, MD, MPH, Dean for Gender Equity at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. We look forward to the exciting work our recipients will be able to undertake with this support in the new year.

Although women make up half of all medical school graduates in the field, studies show that men hold the rank of full professor at a five-to-one ratio compared to women. One cause of this disparity is that many scientists simultaneously become primary caregivers as they begin careers in researchsomething that disproportionately affects women.

The Distinguished Scholar Award, open to all genders, is designed to reduce gender-based disparities by delivering financial support to junior investigators just as they work to integrate family caretaking into their careers. Dr. Horowitzthe first dean of gender equity in the nation at a medical schooland Sandra K. Masur, PhD, Director of the Office for Womens Careers at Mount Sinai, conceived and distributed these highly competitive one-year $50,000 grants.

No one should have to choose between caring for a family member and advancing professionally, and no one should be hindered in their research because they welcome a child into the world. Equity and excellence go hand in hand, and this series of grants is an important step in tackling the systemic inequities that exist across medicine. At the Icahn School of Medicine, we are unwavering in our commitment to advancing equity and helping all of our employees to reach their highest potential, said Dennis S. Charney, MD, Anne and Joel Ehrenkranz Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

The Awardees will provide four Assistant Professors, each extremely talented with unique research projects, a boost in funding that will allow them to maintain productivity while they face the significant demands of being a caregiver. Beyond the monetary award, grantees will be given access to career development resources, including programs through the Office for Womens Careers and the Office of Gender Equity.

Here are the recipients of the Distinguished Scholar Award and their research projects:



Denise Cai, PhD, Neuroscience: Brain optimization of capacity and efficiency for memory storage

Zhongwei Cao, PhD, Medicine (Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine): Tumor vascular niche recruits IGF1 receptor to induce aggressive lymphoma

Sarah Stanley, MD, PhD, Medicine (Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone Disease): The role of CNS glucose-inhibited neurons in glucose regulation

Talia Swartz, MD, PhD, Medicine (Infectious Diseases): Understanding purinergic receptors to reduce HIV infection and inflammation in human lymphoid tissue

This past fall, the Office of Gender Equity in Science and Medicine invited Assistant Professors with independent research programs to apply for internal funding as they balance their responsibilities as caregivers. A diverse committee carefully reviewed the 29 outstanding applications received, and selected the top four for funding. Applicants were required to have active extramural support (including salary support) for their research program from a career development award or other research grant, be on a clear trajectory to a successful independent research career, show evidence of strong research training and productivity, and demonstrate a compelling case for why the funds will help them to maintain productivity while they are facing significant demands as a caregiver (most typically for child care).

The Distinguished Scholars Award builds upon the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinais commitment to diversity, inclusion, and gender equity, which includes the creation of the nations first Dean for Gender Equity last year. A member of Times Up Healthcare, Mount Sinai earned the No. 1 Ranking in Diversity and Inclusion in the Top 12 Hospitals and Health Systems list by DiversityInc in 2017 and 2018. The Diversity Innovation Hub (DIH) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai was launched in fall 2019 to address the lack of women and people of color in innovation and technology, to foster ideas and solutions that address social and structural inequalities, and to accelerate efforts to advance diversity and inclusion in medicine and science. It received a Diversity and Inclusion Award and was named among the Top 50 in Digital Health for 2020.

About the Mount Sinai Health System

The Mount Sinai Health System is New York City's largest integrated delivery system, encompassing eight hospitals, a leading medical school, and a vast network of ambulatory practices throughout the greater New York region. Mount Sinai's vision is to produce the safest care, the highest quality, the highest satisfaction, the best access and the best value of any health system in the nation. The Health System includes approximately 7,480 primary and specialty care physicians; 11 joint-venture ambulatory surgery centers; more than 410 ambulatory practices throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida; and 31 affiliated community health centers. The Icahn School of Medicine is one of three medical schools that have earned distinction by multiple indicators: ranked in the top 20 by U.S. News & World Report's "Best Medical Schools", aligned with a U.S. News & World Report's "Honor Roll" Hospital, No. 12 in the nation for National Institutes of Health funding, and among the top 10 most innovative research institutions as ranked by the journal Nature in its Nature Innovation Index. This reflects a special level of excellence in education, clinical practice, and research. The Mount Sinai Hospital is ranked No. 14 on U.S. News & World Report's "Honor Roll" of top U.S. hospitals; it is one of the nation's top 20 hospitals in Cardiology/Heart Surgery, Diabetes/Endocrinology, Gastroenterology/GI Surgery, Geriatrics, Gynecology, Nephrology, Neurology/Neurosurgery, and Orthopedics in the 2019-2020 "Best Hospitals" issue. Mount Sinai's Kravis Children's Hospital also is ranked nationally in five out of ten pediatric specialties by U.S. News & World Report. The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai is ranked 12th nationally for Ophthalmology, Mount Sinai St. Lukes and Mount Sinai West are ranked 23rd nationally for Nephrology and 25th for Diabetes/Endocrinology, and Mount Sinai South Nassau is ranked 35th nationally for Urology. Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Mount Sinai St. Luke's, Mount Sinai West, and Mount Sinai South Nassau are ranked regionally.

For more information, visit http://www.mountsinai.org/, or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
The European Union and 16 members including China and Australia on Friday signed a pact to develop a multi-party interim appeal arrangement.

The arrangement, signed on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting, will allow the participating members to preserve a functioning and two-step dispute settlement system at the World Trade Organization (WTO).

This initiative was launched in mid-December 2019 by the EU and a number of other members following the effective paralysis of the WTO Appellate Body due to the blockage of new appointments since 2017.

EU Commissioner for Trade Phil Hogan said: "This statement testifies to the high importance that the EU and the participating WTO members attach to retaining a two-step dispute settlement process in WTO trade matters. The multiparty appeal arbitration arrangement will guarantee that the participating WTO members continue to have access to a binding, impartial and high-quality dispute settlement system among them."



"Let me underline again that this remains a contingency measure needed because of the paralysis of the WTO Appellate Body. We will continue our efforts to seek a lasting solution to the Appellate Body impasse, including through necessary reforms and improvements," he added.

The multi-party interim arrangement will be based on Article 25 of the WTO Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU).

It will secure the participating WTO members (Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the European Union, Guatemala, Republic of Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Singapore, Switzerland, and Uruguay) an effective and binding dispute settlement process for potential trade disputes among them.

The arrangement is a contingency measure and it will only apply until the WTO Appellate Body becomes operational again. The EU believes that an independent and impartial appeal stage, giving the necessary guarantees of rulings of the highest quality, must continue to be one of the essential features of the WTO dispute settlement system.

The joined statement by the 17 signatories said, "We, the Ministers of Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, European Union, Guatemala, Republic of Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Singapore, Switzerland, Uruguay, remain committed to work with the whole WTO membership to find a lasting improvement to the situation relating to the WTO Appellate Body.

"We believe that a functioning dispute settlement system of the WTO is of the utmost importance for a rules-based trading system, and that an independent and impartial appeal stage must continue to be one of its essential features."



The signatories said they will work towards putting in place contingency measures that would allow for appeals of WTO panel reports in disputes among themselves, in the form of a multi-party interim appeal arrangement based on Article 25 of the WTO Dispute Settlement Understanding. This would be in place only and until a reformed WTO Appellate Body becomes fully operational.

The arrangement will be open to any WTO Member willing to join it.

"We have instructed our officials to expeditiously finalise work on such an arrangement. We have also taken proper note of the recent engagement of President Trump on WTO reform," the statement added.
Fine Gael have put tax breaks, Brexit and housing at the forefront of their manifesto launch.

Leo Varadkar, flanked by ministers Simon Coveney, Heather Humphreys, Regina Doherty, Simon Harris and Paschal Donohoe, launched A Future To Look Forward To at the partys media centre in Dublins upmarket South William Street,

With a European Flag as a backdrop, a screen displayed four promises under the heading The Best Team For Brexit.

We will recruit up to 700 Gardai every year over the next five years and the implementation of Garda reforms.



For more, visit https://t.co/rud70TFc46 #LookForward pic.twitter.com/TKk7Hi0VrE  Fine Gael (@FineGael) January 24, 2020

The promises include fairer taxes, backing first-time buyers, reforming the health service and a better deal for families and older people.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar emphasised that he was aware of the concerns of the squeezed middle.

We do have a squeezed middle, people on good salaries and wages on paper, but by the time they pay their bills there isnt much left at the end of the week, he said in his opening remarks.

I said I would prioritise for the squeezed middle, and I meet people regularly who say theyre disappointed that we havent done more, that they dont have more money in their pockets.

Mr Varadkar says his party will remedy the issue by increasing the point at which an individual pays the top rate of tax, from 35,300 euro to 50,000 euro, and raising the USC exemption threshold from 13,000 euro to 20,500 euro.

The total costing for the partys tax cut is 600m euro.

Expand Close Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney during the Fine Gael manifesto launch (Donall Farmer/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney during the Fine Gael manifesto launch (Donall Farmer/PA)

Borrowing a phrase from Britains Labour Party slogan, Mr Varadkar said: This is a policy for the many, not the few.

The party has also leaned heavily on the issue of Brexit, reminding the media that it was a Fine Gael team that guided Ireland through a number of make- or-break negotiations regarding the border and trade.

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney launched a stinging criticism of the main opposition leader Micheal Martin on the issue.

I know Micheal Martin better than most, he is not the person I want leading Ireland in the second half of the Brexit challenge, he said.

Fine Gael has prevented a hard border, but a trade cliff is possibly 11 months away and I dont believe Boris Johnson is bluffing and neither do the EU.

Not to be seen shying away from the ongoing row over the pension age, Minister for Social Protection Regina Doherty laid out the partys new plans.

We will introduce a Golden Years Guarantee which increases the State pension by 25 a week over the next five years.



For more, visit https://t.co/rud70TFc46 #LookForward pic.twitter.com/aC2gwC8Ltz  Fine Gael (@FineGael) January 24, 2020

They would see a transition period for those turning 65, after outrage when it was disclosed that some pensioners could be forced to sign on to Jobseekers Allowance after leaving their job, but before they turned 67.

The party has committed to a new state transition payment of 248 euros a week and a new state pathway pension for people who have to retire at 65, as well as a Golden Years Guarantee which increases the state pension by 25 euro a week over the next five years.

There was laughter during the Q&A section, after a number of ministers, who were not seated at the panel, appeared unexpectedly from the audience to answer questions from media, including Environment Minister Richard Bruton on climate and Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy, in a bid to defend their departments.

The event ended with smiles and greetings between candidates and their party colleagues as they prepare for another two weeks of campaigning.
From political disharmony to climate change, Earth is facing some massive issues, and at the UN General Assembly on UN Work priorities for 2020, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres shared that four looming threats currently endanger the 21st century, risking all the possibilities of this century.

Reuters

He said, I see four horsemen in our midst -- four looming threats that endanger 21st-century progress and imperil 21st-century possibilities.

Here, the term four horsemen refers to the figures in the Book of Revelation (in the New Testament) that tells about the four evils that will begin the end of the world.

Epic geopolitical tension

He said, The first horseman comes in the form of the highest global geostrategic tensions we have witnessed in years.

Reuters

Here he spoke about conflicts that are causing misery to various populations across the globe. He also spoke about the fear of nuclear warfare, terrorist attacks. The risk of a Great Fracture is real, he added.



The climate crisis

The second horseman according to the UN Secretary is the climate crisis. He said, Second, we face an existential climate crisis. Rising temperatures continue to melt records.

Reuters

Speaking about climate change and rising temperatures of the planet, he said, The past decade was the hottest on record. Scientists tell us that ocean temperatures are now rising at the equivalent of five Hiroshima bombs a second. One million species are in near-term danger of extinction. Our planet is burning,



Global mistrust

Third on the list was global mistrust where he referred to communal disharmony and inequality that people face today, Disquiet and discontent are churning societies from north to south. Each situation is unique, but everywhere frustration is filling the streets. More and more people are convinced globalization is not working for them, said the UN official.

Reuters

He also spoke about people experiencing inequality and them standing for their rights, Two of every three people live in countries where inequality has grown. Confidence in political establishments is going down. Young people are rising up. Women are rightly demanding equality and freedom from violence and discrimination. At the same time, fears and anxieties are spreading. Hostility against refugees and migrants is building. Hatred is growing.



Downsides of technology

The last threat to our society, according to him was the dark side of technology that we all love so dearly. He said, Technological advances are moving faster than our ability to respond to - or even comprehend - them. Despite enormous benefits, new technologies are being abused to commit crimes, incite hate, fake information, oppress and exploit people and invade privacy.

Rawpixel

He also spoke about fears of AI and the wrongs it can do, We are not prepared for the profound impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on the labour market and the very structure of society. Artificial intelligence is generating breathtaking capacities and alarming possibilities.



He also spoke about the advancement in weapon technology stating, Lethal autonomous weapons - machines with the power to kill on their own, without human judgement and accountability - are bringing us into unacceptable moral and political territory.
Harry Dunn was killed when his motorbike crashed into a car outside RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire on August 27 last year (Family/PA)

An extradition request for the US woman charged with causing the death of teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn by dangerous driving has been turned down by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the family spokesman has said.

The 19-year-olds parents were informed of Mr Pompeos decision in a phone call with their constituency MP Andrea Leadsom on Thursday.

Mr Dunn was killed when his motorbike crashed into a car outside a US military base in Northamptonshire on August 27 last year.

Expand Close Harry Dunns mother Charlotte Charles has been campaigning for justice for her son (David Mirzoeff/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Harry Dunns mother Charlotte Charles has been campaigning for justice for her son (David Mirzoeff/PA)

Anne Sacoolas, 42, was charged with causing his death by dangerous driving by the Crown Prosecution Service in December.

Mrs Sacoolas was granted diplomatic immunity following the crash and was able to return to her home country, sparking an international controversy.

Boris Johnson previously said the chance of the suspect ever returning to the UK was very low.

Mr Dunns family said they would react fully to the news on Friday morning, but said the fight goes on for justice for their son.
Terry Jones passed away this week at the age of 77

This week's very sad news of Terry Jones's death, after his long decline into dementia, took me straight back to the JCR at my Cambridge college in the early 1970s.

The Junior Combination Room, as it was officially called, was the only room at Corpus Christi in which we undergraduates had access to a television  and on Tuesday evenings at 9pm, if my failing memory serves me correctly, we would pile in to watch the latest instalment of what we thought the most hilarious, must-see programme ever broadcast by the BBC.

Monty Python's Flying Circus was the wondrous highlight of our week. Row upon row of us would sit squashed against each other on the floor in front of the TV, hugging our knees to take up the least space possible, while late arrivals would perch on the window sills or stand four deep at the back.

Barely had the theme tune struck up than we'd be writhing, howling, weeping with laughter, fighting for breath and clutching our sides in physical pain. Indeed, it was Monty Python that first opened my eyes to the meaning of the phrase 'side-splittingly funny'.

I remember fellow students trying vainly to keep us quiet ('Shhhhh! Shhhhhh!), before collapsing in helpless mirth themselves. We must have missed a good third of the lines, unable to hear above our own and others' shrieks of laughter. Afterwards, we'd repeat to each other the bits we'd managed to pick up  and we'd fall about in stitches all over again.

For the immense pleasure that Jones and his fellow Pythons gave me during those years, I will forever bless and thank them  and nothing that follows is intended to detract in any way from my gratitude. But there's something I find terribly hard to explain.

Why is it that, like so many others of my generation who bellowed with laughter during the comedy's first airing between 1969 and 1974, I've since tried watching repeats  and found them grindingly unfunny?

John Cleese and Terry Jones in Monty Python's And Now For Something Completely Different from 1971

I've sat through them without a flicker of a smile, bewildered to understand how those surreal sketches and jokes without punchlines reduced the 20-year-old me to uncontrollable hysterics.

One theory is that jokes and comic sketches inevitably grow stale with repetition, once we all know what's coming. But I'm not at all sure about that. Of course, many will disagree with me (after all, different people will always find different things amusing), but I find I can endlessly re-watch episodes of, say, Absolutely Fabulous, Blackadder, Fawlty Towers or Yes, Minister, and find them funny every time.

On that point, I was moved to read in Terry Jones's obituaries that as dementia took its hold, he would spend days watching and re-watching Some Like It Hot  so often, indeed, that he is said to have worn out two DVDs. As it happens, only the other night I watched that 1959 Billy Wilder classic for the umpteenth time and I found it almost as amusing as the first time round.

Could it be that somewhere in Jones's once-brilliant mind (he was a distinguished medieval historian when he wasn't busy making us laugh), he realised that some comic masterpieces endure for decades, while others like Monty Python belong strictly to their time?

Of course, an alternative explanation of my failure to find Monty Python funny any more is that we tend to lose our sense of humour as we grow older. But though I've often heard this argued, I've not encountered any convincing evidence of it in the course of my 66 years on this planet.

On the contrary, I've known many in their 80s and 90s who have gone chuckling to their graves, as amused as they ever were by life's absurdities.

All right, I grant you that our taste in humour may change as the years pass, and we may grow out of finding certain things funny. The average baby, for example, will chuckle for hours on end if you keep popping your head up from behind a newspaper and saying: 'Boo!' But I don't recommend trying it on your boss

Terry Jones helped form Monty Python alongside John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin and Graham Chapman (pictured together) in 1969

As for our own beloved two-year-old grandson, all we have to do to make him laugh himself silly is put on a comic French accent and chant the name of his upmarket outfitter, JoJo Maman Bebe (nothing but the best for our Rafael), quietly at first, but rising to fortissimo on the word Bebe.

I hope you won't accuse me of a sense of humour failure when I say I'm too old to understand what's quite so funny about this  though I laugh at the boy's endless amusement at the 'joke'.

In the same way, schoolboys through the ages have collapsed in giggles over any reference to our more basic bodily functions. But with the notable exception of Graham Norton, who seems to wet himself laughing at any mention of a word such as poo or fart, most adults have long since ceased to regard lavatory humour as the height of wit.

None of this, however, can fully explain why so many of us who were young in the early Seventies stopped laughing at Monty Python years ago.

Yes, I suppose it's true that the programme was targeted particularly at the anarchic young. But it's not just oldies like me who are baffled to see what we once found so amusing. When I sat down a few years ago to watch it with my sons, who were then at university age, they found it quite as unfunny on their first viewing as I did on my third.

I wonder if the true explanation is that in order to be enduringly funny, comedy must have at least some connection with real life and the eternal foibles and frailties of the human condition.

Take Sybil and Basil Fawlty. I reckon we still laugh at them, after all these years, because we've all come across bossy wives and henpecked husbands, riddled with absurd snobberies and repressed anger. Or consider Jim Hacker and Sir Humphrey in Yes, Minister  wholly believable characters, then as now

By contrast, most of Monty Python's sketches  the dead parrot, the Spanish Inquisition, the naked organist and the rest  had no recognisable relationship with life as anyone knows it. In the early 70s, they may have seemed brilliant and fresh (though as many have pointed out, they owed much to The Goon Show and Do Not Adjust Your Set). But let's face it, these days the show is not much more than a curiosity, a museum piece in the history of British comedy.

Asked how he would like to be remembered, Jones replied, with more than a touch of Pythonesque humour (the show even gave a word to the language): 'For my cooking.' His mashed potato, he explained, was the best he had ever tasted.

Others who met him remember him in different ways  all with affection, whether for his kindness, his contributions to medieval scholarship, his conversational gifts or his unfailing good humour.

To pick only one of the many tributes to him on his death, I was particularly moved by the actress Minnie Driver's Tweet: 'I was lost, on my way to an audition in 1992. Rather desperately, I stopped a man for directions. He started to explain but then said it would be easier to show me. He walked me there, told some stories, then came in to charm the casting director because I was late. #TerryJonesRIP.'

As for millions like me who never met him, I will always remember him as a man who brought unalloyed joy into my life, once a week, in the halcyon days of my youth.

Yes, perhaps Monty Python was a piece of ephemera  a shooting star that dazzled for a moment, only to fizzle out. But, my God, what a moment that was.
Burma Highlights From the Summary of Myanmar Report on Human Rights Violations in Rakhine

Myanmar border security force personnel patrol the Bangladeshi border in northern Rakhine. / The Irrawaddy

YANGONSince its submission to President U Win Myint and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday, the government-backed Independent Commission of Enquiry (ICOE)s report on human rights violations in Rakhine State has yet to see the light of the day.

The report covers human rights violations and related issues against Rohingya Muslims and others following terrorist attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) in Rakhine State in August 2017.

However, a Burmese-language summary of the ICOE report released by the Myanmar Presidents Office offers a hint of the complexity of one of the most controversial issues Myanmar faces today. The government said the commission was formed with a view to seeking accountability and formulating recommendations on steps to be taken to ensure peace and stability in Rakhine.

The ICOE said it attached great importance to accessing information on the ground and collecting statements from the affected communities and witnesses of violence, as well as from various authorities. The ICOEs Evidence Collection and Verification Teams (ECVTs) were dispatched to Rakhine State, Yangon and Naypyitaw to gather evidence. The ICOE interviewed about 1,500 witnesses from various communities in northern Rakhine State, including Muslims, Rakhine, Mro and Daingnet, as well as military and police personnel.

Contradicting international accusations, the report denies that the government security forces clearance operations against ARSA in northern Rakhine had genocidal intent. However, it concludes that serious human rights violations including war crimes took place during the operations between Aug. 25 and Sept. 5, 2017. The ICOE found that these were committed by security forces and their thugs, as well as by ARSA members and Rohingya themselves.

The report also includes 22 recommendations; the most prominent may be the ICOEs call for both the Myanmar government and military to conduct further investigations and prosecute those involved in the crimes mentioned above.

In the wake of the release of the report summary, here are some interesting highlightsmost of them never before publishedthat you shouldnt miss.

ARSA: Overwhelming Force

On the morning of Aug. 25, ARSA launched attacks on 30 police outposts and an army battalion in northern Rakhine State.

-Estimated number of ARSA members involved in the attack on the day:

more than 9,000.

-Damage caused:

Eight bridges on major local trade routes were destroyed; another 26 police outposts were attacked in the following days.

-Estimated number of people involved (ARSA and local Rohingya) in attacks after Aug. 25:

more than 14,000the number far exceeds the total headcount of government security forces in northern Rakhine State.

-Number of security forces on the front line:

between 3,000 and 3,500.

-Number of supporting forces:

between 1,000 and 1,500.

The ICOE report notes that the security forces were overwhelmed by such a large number on the ARSA side, and that the army never expected such an attack. Security forces had no idea how to cope with the throng of ARSA fighters and their armed civilian supporters, it says.

-Casualties:

Based on government data, the ICOE report says 376 ARSA fighters were killed while two soldiers, 11 policemen, two government employees and 133 civilians were killed during the clearance operations.

-Homes damaged:

more than 40,000.

-People displaced:

More than 410,000 (mostly Rohingya) fled to Bangladesh.

The ICOE notes that casualty and damage figures vary drastically depending on the source.

Nearly 1,000 People Killed

The ICOE found that security forces committed massacres in four villages in three townships in northern Rakhine during the clearance operations, based on witnesses accounts.

-Massacre sites:

Min Gyi Village in Maungdaw Township, Chut Pyin Village in Rathaedaung, and Maung Nu and Gutar Pyi villages in Buthidaung.

-Death Tolls

Between 500-600 civilians in Min Gyi Village, probably the largest number killed. Nearly 100 (ARSA fighters and civilians) at Chut Pyin Village. Between 100-200 (mostly civilians) at Maung Nu Village . 19 at Gutar Pyin Village.

The report notes that despite locals claims of killings during armed clashes between security forces and ARSA in other areas, the number of civilian deaths and mass killings in those locations could not be confirmed.

No Gang Rape

For all the international media reports and UN statements on the gang rape of Rohingya women by security forces, the ICOE could find no reliable witness accounts supporting the claim.

While there were accounts of gang rape, they were not from eyewitnesses; rather, they relied on hearsay, the commission said.

However, regarding claims by some Rohingya women that they had to undergo body searches by security forces, the report states: It may fit [a charge of] sexual harassment.

Property Destruction

The ICOE says house-burning cases were reported in all 13 areas it studied for the report. The most serious episode was in Min Gyi Village, which was entirely reduced to ashes.

-Other affected areas:

Chut Pyin, where most Rohingya houses were burnt down. Nearly 300 houses were torched in Gutar Pyin Village. Half of the total number of houses in both Mawtula and Inn Din villages were set on fire.

-Who did it?

According to witnesses, the arson was mostly committed by:

Security forces and their local thugs ARSA members

The commission found that security forces failed to deter the destruction of Rohingya peoples properties.

Looting

According to many witnesses, looting was mostly carried out by non-Rohingya residents and some security force personnel.

Torture

Witnesses recalled seeing soldiers beating Rohingya to force them to follow their orders.

Forced Displacement

The ICOE found little solid evidence to suggest that security forces pressured Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh.

-Why did they leave?

Fear of internal conflicts following the armed clashes between security forces and ARSA, as well as ARSAs initial attacks. Violence, including mass killings and property destruction, resulted in homelessness and livelihood hardships , causing them to decide to flee to Bangladesh. ARSA members set Rohingya villagers houses on fireto stimulate an exodus, and pushed them to torch their properties before fleeing to Bangladesh to ensure international aid and settlement in a third country. ARSA also burned the houses of other minority natives including ethnic Mro and Daingnet, forcing them to leave their villages . Witnesses said ARSA committed mass killings of Hindus while taking Hindu women to Bangladesh for forced marriage with ARSA members after forcing them to convert to Islam.

No Genocidal Intent

The report says:

The ICOE has not found any evidence suggesting that these killings or acts of displacement were committed pursuant to an intent or plan to destroy the Muslim or any other community in northern Rakhine State.

There is insufficient evidence to argue, much less conclude, that the crimes committed were undertaken with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, or with any other requisite mental state for the international crime of genocide.

The ECVT findings reveal no indication of a pattern of conduct from which one could reasonably conclude that the acts were committed with genocidal intent.

 On the basis of the information available and of the investigations carried out in northern Rakhine State and elsewherewar crimes, serious human rights violations, and violations of domestic law took place during the security operations between 25 August and 5 September 2017.

Although these serious crimes and violations were committed by multiple actors, there are reasonable grounds to believe that members of Myanmars security forces were involved.

ARSAs initial attacksdrawing on a very large number of mobilized villagersprovoked the response by Myanmars security forces. The killings of innocent villagers and destruction of their homes were committed by some members of Myanmars security forces through disproportionate use of force during the internal armed conflict.

You may also like these stories:

Myanmar State Counselor Says Intl Condemnation of Country Over Rohingya Crisis Is Unfounded

What You Need to Know: The Gambias Request for Provisional Measures & Myanmars Arguments at the ICJ
Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan has attacked senior Congress leader P Chidambaram for his criticism of the government after India was placed 51st in the list of 165 nations in the Democracy Index.

In a series of tweets on Thursday, Chidambaram had said the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government had weakened democratic institutions and eroded democracy.

Chidambaram recently came back from jail on charges of theft...the country knows what kind of work was done in Chidambarams time. People like P Chidambaram, who went to jail after Chindi Chori, will always have trouble with people who are following the rules and regulations, Pradhan was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

The minister was referring to P Chidambarams release on bail last month after he spent 106 days in custody in the INX Media case.

The Congress leaders lashings had come after India dropped 10 places in the Democracy Indexs global ranking to 51st place, with the survey describing the erosion of civil liberties in the country as the primary cause of the democratic regression.

The Democracy Index  prepared by the Economist Intelligence Unit, the research and analysis division of The Economist Group  provides a snapshot of the state of democracy worldwide in 165 independent states and two territories.

It is based on the electoral process and pluralism, the functioning of the government, political participation, political culture and civil liberties.

Indias overall score, on a scale of 0-10, fell from 7.23 in 2018 to 6.90 in 2019, with the survey listing India among countries where there were regressions.

Chidambaram said the world is alarmed by the direction INDIA is taking and had also warned that every patriotic Indian should be alarmed too.

India has slipped 10 places in the Democracy Index. Anyone who has closely observed the events of the last two years knows that democracy has been eroded and democratic institutions have been debilitated. Those who are in power are the real Tukde Tukde gang, the 74-year-old leader had tweeted.

Tukde tukde (little pieces) gang is a Hindi term often used by right-wing parties to attack Left-backed groups and their supporters.

The leaders of the BJP have also used the term which was coined after the protests in Delhis Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in February 2016. It is alleged that tukde, tukde was first used by people to say they would divide India into pieces.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
The first days of the first week of the 2022 election year have been filled with a flurry of announcements of leaders leaving and candidates c
PIGGS PEAK  Nearly five months after the introduction of a new indvuna at Malanti Royal Kraal, the place where this introduction took place was brought to ruin yesterday under police guard.



In August 2019, Prince Mashila, who is also the chief of Maphalaleni, introduced Tintsitani Mnisi as the new indvuna of Malanti.



Visit



Mashila is said to be the Chief of Malanti and during his visit to the area in 2019, he said the place would now be called Maphalaleni Royal Kraal.

He is also the chief of Mabaleni and Meleti chiefdoms.

However, after the chief had introduced his preferred indvuna, some of the residents were not happy about this. Some residents still preferred Sihhamula II as their indvuna.



Prior to the visit by Prince Mashila, there had been two factions around Malanti with some residents supporting Sihhamula II while others were for Tintsitani.

Yesterday, police officers arrived with some men as well as a court deputy sheriff to destroy the structures which were constructed near the areas gogo centre.



Demolished



On the premises, there was a kraal as well as a stick and mud structure which was demolished.

Some of the residents attempted to take photos as the demolition was ongoing but they were stopped and the photos were quickly deleted.

One of the men who tried to take the photos was sternly warned that he was defeating the ends of justice.



Several residents continued to watch as the men accompanied by police officers demolished the structures using manpower.
Nouakchott, Mauritania (PANA) - Mauritanian police have arrested several people in Nouakchott for attending a "gay wedding" or participating in the celebration of the birthday of a member of the gay community
UK Christian charity backs lawsuit against govt for scrapping internet porn block

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

A Christian organization is backing a lawsuit against the U.K. government over its failure to implement age restrictions on pornography websites to protect children.

Amid growing concerns and awareness of the public heath harms and other social ills caused by porn, the U.K. government passed the Digital Economy Act 2017 that would have required internet users to verify their age before accessing porn sites.

Christian Action Research & Education, the charity supporting the effort, was one of the signatories of a letter published in The Sunday Times pointing out how children as young as 7 had viewed pornography online.

Last month a survey for the British Board of Film Classification found that children as young as 7 had viewed hardcore pornography. Half (51 percent) of those aged 11-13 said they had seen porn, rising to 66 percent among 14-15-year-olds. The researchers concluded viewing porn is harming children's understanding of healthy relationships, sex, body image and consent. The research mirrored a Middlesex University report for the NSPCC in 2016. It found viewing porn gave children an entirely unrealistic image of sex," the letter read.

While the age verification system was supposed to go into effect in April 2018, it was never implemented and was ultimately scrapped in October 2019 after Nicky Morgan, secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport, announced that it would not go forward, according to Premier Christian News.

Thus, four companies  AgeChecked Ltd, VeriMe, AVYourself and AVSecure  are setting in motion a judicial review against the government. Morgan did not have the authority to ditch the policy after Parliament had approved it and was supposed to only determine when the program would be implemented, the four companies maintain. The companies said that scrapping the measure was an "abuse of power." They are now seeking approximately 3 million ($3,914,100) in damages for money lost in developing the age verification technology.

"It is tragic that it has come to this, but if it forces the government's hand so age verification is finally introduced, then so be it," James Mildred, communications manager for the Christian charity CARE, told Premier. "The U.K. had the opportunity to be the world leader by pioneering effective age checks technology, only for the government to give up."

Although the pornography industry is mammoth in size and scope and thus seems impossible to regulate, age verification systems that help to protect minors from exposure to it have been seen as an effect tool to halt its influence.

Mildred noted that should the government support Baroness Howe's bill, which was introduced in the House of Lords on Jan. 21, the situation can be remedied.

"Her bill would place a duty on the government to set an implementation date for age verification to be introduced, which is the same outcome being pursued through this legal challenge," Mildred said.

"Protecting children online is an urgent priority in a day and age when children as young as 7 are accidentally coming across porn online."

Howe has been a longtime campaigner against online smut and has previously stressed the need for the government to close loopholes in legislation aimed at restraining the influence of sexually explicit content.

She wrote in the Daily Telegraph in 2018 that it's an extraordinary consequence of the under-aged crackdown that incredibly lifelike computer-generated child abuse images should be accessible online to adults.

In the United Sates conservative legislators and intellectuals  including four Republican members of the House of Representatives and Princeton University professor of jurisprudence Robert P. George  are asking Attorney General Bill Barr to address the scourge of porn with the appropriate legal tools available in keeping with then-candidate Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign pledge to enforce existing obscenity laws.

Elsewhere in the U.S., 15 state legislatures have passed resolutions declaring pornography as a public health crisis, linking it to domestic violence and human trafficking.
Consultant psychiatrists in child services here have reported epidemic levels of burnout in overstretched services, according to a new study.

A new UCD study detailed how three out of four consultant psychiatrists in Ireland experienced moderate or higher levels of work-related and personal burnout while over a quarter reported patient-related burnout.

Burnout was described as long-term, unresolved, work-related stress, with feelings of physical and emotional exhaustion, de-personalisation and a reduced sense of personal accomplishment as central features.

The study, led by Professor Fiona McNicholas, head of the Department of Academic Child Psychiatry at UCD, revealed that current consultant psychiatry numbers in Ireland are less than half the EU average.

The authors said:

A vicious cycle is perpetuated between under-resourcing, poor work conditions, high work stress, long waiting lists and unacceptable patient risk.

They logged an overwhelming lack of confidence in government commitment to investment in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

Only 2% of consultant child psychiatrists felt that the HSE was effectively planning improvements in the services and 2% felt the government was serious about investing in the child psychiatric services.

An online questionnaire was sent to all consultant child psychiatrists registered with the Irish Medical Council working in community CAMHS and completed by 52 consultants - 42% of the total number. Only 21% of consultants working in CAMHS felt valued in their job.

Over 69% have seriously considered changing jobs, and this was associated with higher burnout. Professor McNicholas said there are a lot of vacant consultant posts in CAMHS.

"We know mental health problems are continuing to rise and numbers are going up. Because the consultant posts are vacant it puts more stress on consultants in the post and then those consultants start moving out of posts and you end up with this vicious cycle.

It does mean it is going to be very very difficult to get medical students to come into the speciality.

"Even if the HSE eventually gets around to giving money to this service, the horse will have bolted if they don't do it now."

Urgent organisational intervention to support consultant psychiatrists well-being is required, said the study which has just been published in the BMJ Open Journal.

The study noted that adverse socioeconomic conditions, such as the economic downturn in the Ireland post-2008, contribute to a situation of increased demand but inadequate resources.

Professor Fiona McNicholas said: "The people who have children with mental health difficulties often don't have the capacity to agitate loudly or persistently because they are burnt out themselves as parents and carers. When a young person in a family recover from their psychiatry problems there is this stigma still associated with it so we the clinician need to be advocating for these services."

The authors said situation has been exacerbated by a recent unprecedented increase in referrals to CAMHS along with a fragmented and poorly resourced service.
A South Jersey woman abused her former position as a foster care caseworker to coerce a woman into prostitution, authorities said Friday.

Candace Talley, of Sicklerville, allegedly took advantage of a woman whose children were in foster care, and whose case Talley managed while working for the Office of Children and Youth Services in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

It is truly horrible, and beyond imagination, that someone who is responsible for ensuring the welfare of children would pressure their mother into acts of prostitution for her own personal enrichment, and with the promise of a favorable custody recommendation, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said in a news release.

Talley worked in a prostitution ring driving women to and from their appointments, and received at least 25% of their profits, Stollsteimer said. She also allegedly promised to falsify drug test results so the mother could get a favorable recommendation for her childrens placement.

A court document shows Talleys alleged offenses occurred in 2017.

Talley was arrested at her home Friday and charged with six criminal counts including promoting prostitution, human trafficking and participating in a corrupt organization, a first-degree felony.

She then appeared for an arraignment before Magisterial District Judge Philip S. Turner, who set bail at $25,000 and ordered home monitoring upon her release from custody.

Joe Brandt can be reached at jbrandt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JBrandt_NJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Emma Kluge (The Jakarta Post) -  Fri, January 24, 2020 11:02 719 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2060cc187 3 Opinion West-Papua,Papua,Papua-protest Free

Activism and protests marked West Papuas 50th anniversary last year of the so-called Act of Free Choice, which formalised Indonesias control over the territory, with the regions people once again demanding independence from Indonesia.

In January 2019, West Papuan activists delivered a petition to the United Nation (UN) demanding a referendum on West Papuan independence.

Six months later, protests broke out after Indonesian police arrested 43 West Papuan students in Surabaya, East Java. Footage of the arrests showed Indonesian soldiers racially abusing the indigenous Papuan students.

Protesters took to the streets in the months following the incident, demanding an end to racial discrimination against West Papuans within the Indonesian state and calling for a referendum on independence for the territory.

These recent protests build upon a long history of Papuan activism in response to Indonesian government repression, racism and denial of West Papuan desires for independence.

As early as the 1960s, West Papuan nationalists argued for their right to independence  under the UNs 1960 Declaration on Decolonisation  following the renouncement of Dutch control over Indonesia. However, they ultimately failed.

My recently published paper argues this failure was in part due to international political dynamics, which sabotaged West Papuans attempts to ride the waves of decolonisation efforts by Asian and African countries throughout the 1940s to the 1960s.

Why West Papua failed in international forums

In the 1960s, West Papuan activists attempted to link their decolonisation campaign to earlier struggles for independence across Asia and Africa. Triggered by instability during the post-war era, colonial countries in Asia and Africa formed connections to end colonialism.

At the UN, West Papuan activists sought the support of African delegates who they believed were likely allies. They argued West Papua and Africa shared a history of racial oppression and a desire to see the end of colonialism in all its forms.

While African leaders were sympathetic to the cause of West Papuan activists, they were already committed to the Non-Aligned Movement led by Indonesia.

This bloc supported Afro-Asian solidarity and committed leaders not to interfere in the affairs of other nations. It protected them from intervention by their former European colonial powers and from the raging Cold War politics, as they didnt take side between the US and the Soviet Union.

Contrary to the name, the Non-Aligned Movement didnt advocate keeping out of the Cold War, but aimed to use its alliance of Afro-Asian nations to exploit Cold War tensions for Third World aims.

Indonesia, for example, made deals with the United States promising access to mine gold and copper in Papua. Indonesia turned down Soviet aid, while also using the Afro-Asian bloc at the UN to gain support for its control of West Papua.

The Cold War improved opportunities for nations already committed to power blocs. But for the West Papuans, newcomers to international politics, it was another barrier to entry into the international community.

Afro-Asian connections had begun to solidify in the 1950s and Indonesias prominence within the alliance prohibited Papuan involvement.

By the time Papuan activists entered the political arena in the 1960s, Indonesia had already developed its Cold War strategy.

Alone, isolated and continuously repressed

West Papuans were denied independence also because the UN system failed to heed their calls and instead placed appeasing Indonesia above its commitment to decolonisation and human rights.

After an interim period of UN administration, the Netherlands and Indonesia signed an agreement to transfer control of West Papua to Indonesia in 1962. The agreement included a provision requiring Indonesia to consult the population of West Papua on whether or not they wanted to remain part of the republic.

UN Photo Library

After intense campaigning by West Papuans, Indonesia finally announced it would conduct this act of self-determination in 1969. Yet when the referendum came, Papuans were once again denied a voice in the future of the territory.

As the UN was excluded from most of the process, Indonesia went unchallenged in allowing just over 1,000 hand-picked individuals to vote on behalf of the entire West Papuan population. Under this rigged system, the men unsurprisingly voted in favour of becoming part of Indonesia.

ULMWP

At the UN General Assembly meeting to ratify the Act of Free Choice, many African representatives were unwilling to back it without debate as they believed it undermined the UNs principles of decolonisation.

They highlighted the hypocrisy of establishing the Non-Aligned Movement with the explicit aim of opposing colonialism and then allowing Indonesia to set up colonial-style rule in West Papua.

Despite this debate, no delegate was willing to vote against Indonesia.

The assembly voted to accept the Act of Free Choice as it was  in a vote of 84 to 0 with 30 abstentions  noting that it fulfilled the requirements and UN responsibilities of the agreement.

While the West Papuans had convinced African leaders of their desire for self-government and the unjust nature of Indonesias control, the African representatives were unwilling to openly vote against Indonesia and break their alliance in the Afro-Asian bloc.

To stand against Indonesia would endanger their political standing and protection in the international community. Delegates instead chose to abstain.

Will West Papua have another chance?

Several factors have changed in the international community since the 1960s.

The changes include an increase in membership of leaders from the Pacific and the recognition of rights for indigenous peoples.

Yet the preference of UN delegates to value state sovereignty over justice and equality remains the same.

Whether the activists can gain support for a referendum will depend upon their abilities to turn the tide of politics at the UN.

Current West Papuan activists have gained support from Pacific leaders and had success with officials from the UK.

However, they still need to win significant support from African and Asian delegates to tip the power balance in their favour.

As in 1969, world leaders would do well to listen to the voices of Papuan activists as choosing to ignore their calls will have dire consequences for West Papuans in Indonesia. In the words of the International Labour Organisation, If you desire peace, cultivate justice.

---

Emma Kluge, PhD Candidate, Department of History, University of Sydney

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post.
World leaders voiced alarm at resurgent anti-Semitism yesterday as they gathered at Israel's national Holocaust Memorial to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp Auschwitz.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Vice President Mike Pence also castigated Iran in their speeches to the World Holocaust Forum, accusing it of rabid anti-Semitism and of seeking Israel's destruction.

Leaders of Russia and France looked closer to home in lamenting the killing of six million Jews in Europe during World War II by the Nazis and vowing to combat rising anti-Semitism.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier told the conference at the Yad Vashem memorial centre that he bowed his head in "deepest sorrow (for) the worst crime in the history of humanity" committed by his countrymen.

"I wish I could say that we Germans have learnt from history once and for all. But I cannot say that when hatred is spreading," he said.

Mr Steinmeier spoke in English rather than in German, a choice made, his office said, to avoid causing any distress to Holocaust survivors in the audience.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said it was vital to oppose xenophobia and anti-Semitism everywhere.

"You just said that it's not known where anti-Semitism ends," Mr Putin told Israeli President Reuven Rivlin at a meeting before the conference convened.

"Unfortunately we do know this - Auschwitz is its end result."

Mr Putin later met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the occupied West Bank.

In remarks to reporters, Mr Abbas said he and Mr Putin needed to discuss "regional issues", including US President Donald Trump's long-awaited Middle East peace plan and Israeli proposals "to annex Palestinian lands".

A global survey by the US-based Anti-Defamation League in November found that global anti-Semitic attitudes had increased, and significantly so in Eastern and Central Europe.

It found that large percentages of people in many European countries think Jews talk too much about the Holocaust.

More than one million people, most of them Jews, were killed at the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp in Nazi-occupied Poland.

Israel hailed the memorial conference, attended by more than 40 world leaders, as the biggest international gathering in its history.

In his speech to the forum, Mr Netanyahu denounced Iran as "the most anti-Semitic regime on the planet" and vowed that Israel would always defend itself against those out to destroy it.

Mr Netanyahu has long accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, an allegation it denies.

Mr Pence, in his comments, described Iran as the one country "that denies the Holocaust as a matter of state policy and threatens to wipe Israel off the map".

Other guests at the commemoration included French President Emmanuel Macron and Britain's Prince Charles.

Warning of the "dark shadow of anti-Semitism", Mr Macron met French survivors of the Holocaust at a memorial near Jerusalem to some 76,000 Jews arrested in wartime France and transported to death camps such as Auschwitz, where most died.

One notable absentee from yesterday's commemoration was President Andrzej Duda of Poland, who turned down his invitation because Poland was not allowed to speak at the conference, unlike the wartime victors the United States, Russia, Britain and France, and also Germany.

Polish leaders have also been angered by comments made by Mr Putin last month suggesting Poland shared responsibility for the war.

Poland, which was invaded first by Nazi Germany and then by Soviet forces in September, 1939, sees itself as a major victim of the war, in which it lost a fifth of its population.

Poland will host its own ceremony at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum on January 27, as it does every year.

Meanwhile, US president Donald Trump last night said he would release details of his long-delayed peace plan for the Middle East before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his election rival Benny Gantz visit the White House next week.

Speaking on Air Force One en route to Miami last night, Mr Trump said Palestinians might react negatively to his plan at first, but that "it's actually very positive for them."

"It's a great plan," said Mr Trump, who will meet with Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday. "It's a plan that really would work."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 24

By Eldar Janashvili  Trend:

The main goal of the Azerbaijan-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry is bilateral economic cooperation and development of friendly relations between Azerbaijan and France, director of the Chamber Zibar Huseynova said.

Huseynova made the remark in Baku at the business meeting of the Azerbaijan-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Trend reports.

The director added that the advocacy activities of the Chamber influences both the companies operating within the Chamber and the wider business community.

Huseynova stressed that the every month, the Chamber organizes official events on pressing issues, at which assistance is offered to the member-companies in developing the business through their platform.

The Azerbaijan-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been operating since 2016. Presently, the Chamber has over 60 local, French and international member companies.

The business meeting of the Azerbaijan-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry is being held in Baku on Jan. 24.
Charitable contributions have numerous benefits, but the most important reason is obvious: responsible corporations should give back to their community in effort to make a real impact. Rather than consumers relying on default energy supply from traditional energy generation, Starion Energy believes energy choice provides options for consumers to select environmentally superior sources and to give back and support to the local communities Starion Energy serves.

"Over the next several months, we will be visiting organizations to find out how we can help. We are honored to be a sponsor for three Ice House events in the month of January that provide financial assistance to people in need of home heating," said Duane Gereski, Director of Marketing. In addition to a financial sponsorship, Starion Energy employees donated their time to volunteer at the events.

Starion Energy made a sponsorship donation of a $1,000 to Operation HON Ice House in Baltimore, Maryland, which occurred January 10th-11th, 2020. The Ice House event, which was organized by Fuel Fund of Maryland, raised awareness of community member's needs during the chilly months of winter. A house constructed entirely out of hand-carved ice blocks and ice furnishings welcomed the public to experience just a small glimpse of what it is like to suffer through cold winter months without heat or electricity. Donations were collected, which are used to provide financial aid to those who cannot afford their electric bills.

While attending Operation HON Ice House, representatives from Starion Energy were able to meet with Debbie Brown, Chief Development Officer of MD Fuel Fund. They were also able to volunteer for the 3 day event over the weekend by talking to guests, spreading awareness, and collecting donations for the cause.

"We find real meaning and reward by serving a higher purpose that aligns our organizational values," said Pete Muzsi, Sales Director at Starion Energy. "We at Starion are committed to giving back and helping people in the markets we serve. The Maryland Fuel Fund's efforts are a great match for us and they make a significant impact on individual lives."

On January 17th and 18th, 75 partners and sponsors (including Starion Energy) helped to make the 3rd Annual WAFF Ice House in Washington D.C. a tremendous success on every level by raising more than $176,000 which will keep nearly 300 additional families warm this winter. Every winter people in the D.C. area community face the difficult question of whether to give up heat in their homes to deal with temporary financial crises brought on by an illness, accident or job loss. Since 1983, WAFF has distributed nearly $29 million to help 300,000 local homes keep their heat on while they get back on their feet.

Starion Energy will also sponsor Ice House CT, which will take place on January 24th-25th, 2020, and is organized by Operation Fuel, Inc. It is a yearly event that includes the construction of an Ice House at the premises of the Old State House in Hartford, Connecticut. This year, along with the Ice House constructed with 40,000 pounds of hand-carved ice blocks, the exhibit will include an attached ice garage and a thermal imaging body heat photo booth. To learn more about Ice House CT, visit http://www.operationfuel.org/ice-house/.

Starion Energy will be recapping its charitable work on its blog. To read more, go to https://www.starionenergy.com/blog/. Photos of the successful Operation HON Ice House event will be posted on the blog with a write-up.

SOURCE Starion Energy, Inc.

Related Links

starionenergy.com


In 1997, Ian Wilmut and Keith Campbell of the Roslin Institute shocked the scientific community and the world when they announced the birth of a successfully cloned sheep named Dolly. After Dolly was born, the cloning of humans seemed, at least in principle, achievable. The possibility of cloning humans sparked heated debate across the world about the acceptability and necessity of such a procedure. Some felt that biotechnology had gone a step too far while others welcomed such a development. Since then, several other species including, goats, pigs, mules, cows, mice, and cats, have been successfully cloned. The possibility of human cloning engages not only religious, social, cultural, and moral challenges but also legal and ethical issues. The debate on human cloning also raises questions of human and fundamental rights, particularly liberty of procreation, freedom of thought and scientific inquiry, and right to health. There are currently several types of cloning carried out by scientists that include cellular cloning, embryo cloning, and molecular cloning. Embryo cloning is further divided into, nuclear transfer, blastocyst division or twinning, and blastomere separation. The cloning technique used to clone Dolly was a type of nuclear transfer.

Arguments In Favor Of Human Cloning

Help Infertile Couples

Human cloning technology, once optimized, will have the ability to help infertile couples who cannot produce sperm or eggs to have children that are genetically related to them. A couple could potentially decide to have a clone of the man born through his female partner or a clone of the woman providing the genetic material. A human clone would, therefore, become a single parent-child. Currently, treatment for infertility is not very successful. By some estimates, the success rates of infertility treatments, including IVF (in vitro fertilization) is less than 10%. The procedures are not only frustrating, but they are also expensive. In some instances, human cloning technology could be considered as the last best hope for having children for infertile couples.

Recreate A Lost Child Or Relative

The loss of a child is one of the worst tragedies that parents face. After such a painful ordeal, grief-stricken parents often wish they could have their perfect baby back. Human cloning technology could potentially allow parents to recreate a child or relative while seeking redress for their loss. Cells of a dying child could be taken and used later for cloning without consent from the parents. While the new child would not take away the memory, he/she would probably help take away some of the pain. The technology would allow parents to have a twin of their child, and like other twins, the new child would be a unique individual.

Exercise Procreative Liberty

The freedom to decide whether or not to have an offspring is an important concept of personal liberty. People have the right to utilize human cloning technology in the same way they have a right to other reproductive related procedures and technologies such as the Vitro fertilization or contraceptives. A parents right to bear a child through cloning should, therefore, be respected. When the technology is established and becomes no less safe than natural reproduction, then human cloning should be allowed as a reproductive right. Cloning would also allow members of the LGBT community to have children related to them. In a lesbian couple, one of them could be cloned and brought to term in either of the women. In a gay couple, one of the men could be cloned, but the couple would need to find a woman to donate an egg and a surrogate mother to bring the embryo to term.

Offspring Free Of Genetic Defects

Current knowledge of bioengineering coupled with human cloning technology could help many parents have offspring free of defective genetic material that could cause disorders and deadly diseases. In a case where both parents have recessive genes for the fatal disease, they could avoid more traditional methods that could result in a child with dominant genes, which would consequently lead to the disease. The parents could use human cloning technology to have a child without the disease since the genetic makeup of the child would be the same as that of a parent who was cloned.

Provide Medical Cures

Human cloning technology could help children born with incurable diseases that can only be treated through a transplant, where donors with an organ match are not found. Cloning technology would allow a child to be cloned under reproductive purpose, which would allow the resulting clone to donate an organ such as a kidney or bone marrow. In that case, the older child would be saved, and the younger clone child would also live since bone marrow regenerates, and humans can live with one kidney. The technology would allow a parent to save an existing life through a new life. Human cloning technology could also utilize the nuclear transplantation technique to produce human stem cells for therapeutic purposes. Stem cells from the umbilical cord could be cultured and allowed to develop into tissues such as bone marrow or a kidney when needed. Since the DNA of the new organ or bone marrow is matched to the patient, there would be a lower risk of organ rejection as a foreign matter by the patients body.

A Step Towards Immortality

Human clones are sometimes called later-born twins by those receptive to the idea of human cloning. The term is justified by the fact that the cloned being would have the same genetic material as the original and would be born after the person who is cloned. The process of human cloning can be considered as taking human DNA and reversing its age back to zero. Some scientists believe that the technology would allow them to understand how to reverse DNA to any desirable age. Such knowledge would be seen as a step closer to a fountain of youth. Some people believe that human cloning technology would allow people to have some kind of immortality because their DNA would live on after they die.

Arguments Against Human Cloning

Medical Danger

Based on information gained from previous cloning experiments, cloned mammals die younger and suffer prematurely from diseases such as arthritis. Cloned animals also have a higher risk of developing genetic defects and being born deformed or with a disease. Studies on cloned mice have shown that they die prematurely from damaged livers, tumors, and pneumonia. Since human cloning technology is not tested, scientists cannot rule out biological damageto the clone. The National Bioethics Advisory Commission report stated that it is morally unacceptable for anyone in the private or public sector, whether in a research or clinical setting, to attempt to create a child through somatic cell nuclear transfer cloning because it would pose unacceptable potential risks to the fetus or child. Human cloning technology would also put the mother at risk.

Dr. Leon Kass, chairman of the Presidents Council of Bioethics, has warned that studies on animal cloning suggest late-term fetal losses or spontaneous abortions occur at a higher rate in cloned fetuses than in natural pregnancies. In humans, a late-term fetal loss could significantly increase maternal mortality and morbidity. Cloning could also pose psychological risks to the mother due to the late spontaneous abortions, the birth of a child with severe health problems, or the birth of a stillborn baby.

Disrespect For The Dignity Of The Cloned Person

One of the most satisfying and difficult things about being a human is developing a sense of self. It involves understanding our capabilities, strengths, needs, wants, and understanding how we fit into the community or the world. A crucial part of that process is learning from and then breaking away from parents and understanding how we are similar or different from our parents. Human cloning technology would potentially diminish the individuality or uniqueness of a cloned child. Even in instances where the child is cloned from someone other than their parents, it would not be very easy for them to develop a sense of self. It could also lead to the devaluation of clones when compared to a non-clone or original. Cloning would also infringe on the clones freedom, autonomy, and self-determination. Cloned children would be raised unavoidably in the shadow of the person they were cloned from.

Co-modification Of Cloned Children

Human cloning technology would, in return for compensation, provide offspring with specific genetic makeup. Cloning a child would also require some patented reproductive procedure and technology that could be sold. Consequently, human cloning technology would lead society to view children and people as objectsthat can be designed and manufactured with specific characteristics. Buyers would theoretically want to pay top dollar for a cloned embryo of a Nobel Prize winner, celebrity, or any other prominent figure in society.

Societal Dangers

Some experts have argued that societal hazards may be the least appreciated in discussions on human cloning technology. Such technology could, for example, lead to new and more effective forms of eugenics. In countries run by dictators, governments could engage in mass cloning of people who are deemed of proper genetic makeup. In democracies, human cloning technology could lead to free-market eugenics that could have a significant societal impact when coupled with bioengineering techniques. People could theoretically bioengineer their clones to have certain traits. When done on a mass scale, it would lead to a kind of a master race based on fashion.

International Stand On Human Cloning

In March 2005, the United Nations General assembly approved a non-binding Declaration that called on UN member states to ban all forms of human cloning as incompatible with the protection of human life and human dignity. The Declaration concluded efforts that had begun in 2001 with a proposal from Germany and France for a convention against the reproductive cloning of humans. The US and 83 other nations supported a ban on all human cloning technology for reproductive and therapeutic or experimental purposes. The other 34 nations, including the UK, Japan, and China, voted against the ban. While 37 countries abstained from the vote, and 36 countries were absent.
The US Department of Commerce in May placed Huawei on a trade blacklist, citing national security concerns.

The United States Department of Commerce has put on hold a rule aimed at further reducing sales to Chinas Huawei Technologies amid pushback from the US Department of Defense, people familiar with the matter said.

The move leaves the proposal in jeopardy, but US President Donald Trumps administration plans a high-level meeting next week to discuss the issue, one of the sources said, adding that the Pentagon cited concerns about the impact on US businesses.

The Commerce Department did not immediately comment, and Huawei declined to comment.

The Commerce Department in May placed Huawei on a trade blacklist, citing national security concerns. That allowed the US government to restrict sales of US-made goods to the company and a small number of items made abroad that contain US technology.

Under current regulations, key foreign supply chains remain beyond the reach of US authorities, fuelling frustration among China hawks within the administration, and a push to expand US authority to block more shipments to Huawei.

Reuters reported in November that the Commerce Department was considering broadening the rule that dictates how much US content in a foreign-made product gives the US government authority to regulate sales.

Under current regulations, the US can require a licence or block the export of many high-tech products shipped to China from other countries if US-made components make up more than 25 percent of the value.

According to two people familiar with the matter, the Commerce Department has drafted a rule that would lower the threshold only on exports to Huawei to 10 percent and expand the purview to include non-technical goods such as consumer electronics, including non-sensitive chips.

US businesses argue that enabling the government to regulate more sales to Huawei, including low-tech items made overseas with very little US technology, would end up needlessly hurting US companies while encouraging Huawei to source more goods abroad.
A farmers son raises his arms as he is surrounded by desert locusts while trying to chase them away from his crops in Kenya (Ben Curtis/AP)

Locusts by the millions are chomping their way across a large part of Africa in the worst outbreak some places have seen in 70 years.

The locusts are threatening some of the worlds most vulnerable countries, where millions of people already live with the periodic risk of drought or flooding.

A typical desert locust swarm can contain up to 150 million locusts per square kilometre, East African regional body the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has said.

Expand Close A farmers daughter waves her shawl in the air to try to chase away swarms of desert locusts from her crops in Katitika village, Kitui county, Kenya (Ben Curtis/AP) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp A farmers daughter waves her shawl in the air to try to chase away swarms of desert locusts from her crops in Katitika village, Kitui county, Kenya (Ben Curtis/AP)

Expand Close Desert locusts have swarmed into Kenya by the hundreds of millions from Somalia and Ethiopia (Ben Curtis/AP) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Desert locusts have swarmed into Kenya by the hundreds of millions from Somalia and Ethiopia (Ben Curtis/AP)

Expand Close Farmers try to chase away the locusts from a tree on their land by shaking branches, banging sticks together and shouting (Ben Curtis/AP) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Farmers try to chase away the locusts from a tree on their land by shaking branches, banging sticks together and shouting (Ben Curtis/AP)

Expand Close The insects are roughly the length of a finger (Ben Curtis/AP) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp The insects are roughly the length of a finger (Ben Curtis/AP)

Expand Close They are destroying farmland and threatening an already vulnerable region (Ben Curtis/AP) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp They are destroying farmland and threatening an already vulnerable region (Ben Curtis/AP)

Expand Close Kenya has not seen a locust outbreak like this in 70 years, the UNs Rosanne Marchesich said (Ben Curtis/AP) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Kenya has not seen a locust outbreak like this in 70 years, the UNs Rosanne Marchesich said (Ben Curtis/AP)

Expand Close It is also the worst that weve seen in Ethiopia and in Somalia in 25 years, she added (Ben Curtis/AP) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp It is also the worst that weve seen in Ethiopia and in Somalia in 25 years, she added (Ben Curtis/AP)

Expand Close The further increase in locust swarms could last until June as favourable breeding conditions continue, the IGAD has said (Ben Curtis/AP) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp The further increase in locust swarms could last until June as favourable breeding conditions continue, the IGAD has said (Ben Curtis/AP)

Expand Close Major locust outbreaks can be devastating (Ben Curtis/AP) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Major locust outbreaks can be devastating (Ben Curtis/AP)

Expand Close One between 2003 and 2005 cost more than 500 million dollars to control across 20 countries in northern Africa, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation said (Ben Curtis/AP) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp One between 2003 and 2005 cost more than 500 million dollars to control across 20 countries in northern Africa, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation said (Ben Curtis/AP)

Expand Close It caused more than 2.5 billion dollars in harvest losses (Ben Curtis/AP) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp It caused more than 2.5 billion dollars in harvest losses (Ben Curtis/AP)

Expand Close To help prevent and control outbreaks, authorities analyse satellite images, stockpile pesticides and conduct aerial spraying (Ben Curtis/AP) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp To help prevent and control outbreaks, authorities analyse satellite images, stockpile pesticides and conduct aerial spraying (Ben Curtis/AP)

Expand Close In Ethiopia, officials said they have deployed four small planes to help fight the invasion (Ben Curtis/AP) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp In Ethiopia, officials said they have deployed four small planes to help fight the invasion (Ben Curtis/AP)

Expand Close The UN has allocated 10 million dollars for aerial spraying (Ben Curtis/AP) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp The UN has allocated 10 million dollars for aerial spraying (Ben Curtis/AP)
Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money.

Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists.
British expats in the European Union will continue to get annual increases in the state pension and healthcare rights are also protected, the Government has confirmed today.

However, those moving there after 2020 might see pension payments frozen unless a post-Brexit deal is struck, This is Money can reveal.

The withdrawal agreement under which the UK leaves the EU on January 31 provides certainty on future state pension rises for more than half a million current expats.

They will be reassured after being informed last autumn that after Brexit their state pensions would be uprated annually until 2023, but after that decisions would depend on whether reciprocal arrangements with the EU are in place.

State pension: Existing EU expats will continue to get annual increases, and so will people who move there before the end of 2020

People who move to EU countries between now and the end of 2020 will get the same guarantee that state pension increases for UK pensioners - of at least 2.5 per cent a year under the current triple lock system - will apply to them too.

The same goes for people living in Switzerland, and countries which are in the European Economic Area but not the EU - Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

But it means people who move to the EU or the countries above after 2020 might end up in the same boat as the 550,000 retirees around the world whose state pensions are currently frozen.

If you move to the 'wrong' country, whatever amount the state pension is set at when you leave is what you will continue to get throughout retirement, unless you move back to the UK.

This affects people living in certain countries, such as Canada, India and Australia, but not in others, including the US, Philippines and Israel. See the box below.

Whether post-2020 expats to the EU get their state pension uprated depends on negotiations during the transition period - the next phase of Brexit after January 31.

This could mean a big rush of people speeding up plans to retire to the EU, and the risk of some future expats unwittingly missing out by moving too late, unless another deal is done.

Meanwhile, Hugh Elliott, Her Majesty's Ambassador to Spain, has stated in a video posted on social media network Facebook today: 'UK state pensioners will continue to have lifelong healthcare as long as they remain living in Spain and this also applies to residents who claim the UK state pension in the future.'

Presumably, this will also be the case for expats living in other EU countries.

Former Pensions Minister Ros Altmann welcomed the news that existing EU expats and those who move there before the end of this year will see their increases protected.

'A few months ago, the Department for Work and Pensions warned that expat British pensioners in other European countries might lose annual increases to their state pensions if Britain left the EU without a deal,' she says.

'It committed to paying the annual increases for three years after a no-deal Brexit but gave no guarantees after that. These peoples fears of having their pensions frozen can now be allayed.

'I hope the Government will quickly make sure these people know the good news that those already living in Europe can relax, as they will receive increases on their state pensions for life.

'This protection of state pension uprating will also apply during the transition period.'

But she warns: 'The withdrawal agreement does not cover those who retire to Europe after 2020: The Government says it is aiming to agree reciprocal arrangements with the EU for the next phase of our departure.

'But if it fails to do so by year-end, and the implementation period is not extended, future expats could see their state pensions frozen.'

Lynne Pilcher, 62, an expat in Spain: 'The thought of their pension not going up was beginning to make people think about moving back to the UK'

Lady Altmann notes that many people live in one of the countries which do not have a formal reciprocal agreement - including Commonwealth nations such as South Africa, New Zealand and the Falkland Islands.

'A major campaign on behalf of the frozen pensioners, who have lost all the court challenges on this issue, has tried for many years to achieve uprating, but successive Governments have consistently refused.

'I am delighted that there is now protection for the 650,000 or so worried British expats living in European countries. I also hope that the next phase of Brexit will agree reciprocity by end 2020.

'But, in order to give people a fair chance to protect themselves, the Government must explain the risk of frozen state pensions for future expats.'

Lynne Pilcher, 62, who lives in Oliva in the province of Valencia, Spain, welcomed the news as a relief.

'A lot of people I know here are of pensionable age and it's caused them stress.

'The thought of their pension not going up was beginning to make people think about moving back to the UK, which would be a shame because they have made a new life here.'

Work and Pensions Secretary of State Therese Coffey said: 'Delivering for UK citizens was at the core of this Governments negotiations with the EU.

'I welcome the fact that thousands of UK pensioners living abroad in the EU, EEA and Switzerland will benefit from receiving the same state pension as those in the UK as negotiated in the Withdrawal Agreement.

'We have delivered on the promise we made to the British public to get Brexit done.

'Now our focus is on grasping our new freedoms, including to set future benefit and immigrations rules that work in our best interest, and unleashing Britains potential.'

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson would only say: 'On January 31 we will leave the EU but current healthcare arrangements will remain the same until 31 December 2020.'

However, it is understood that from 2021, some people will retain full entitlements to reciprocal healthcare.

These include UK nationals living and working in the EU, EEA countries and Switzerland on 31 December, and UK state pensioners who are resident there.
Hyderabad: BJP Greater Hyderabad unit president N. Ramchander Rao, MLC, has condemned the appeal of MIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi, asking people not to cooperate with government officials who visit their houses to collect data under the provisions of the Citizenship Amendment Act.

Speaking to the media on Friday, he alleged that the MIM president is provoking and instigating people against government officials, which is nothing but a move to radicalise people. The BJP leader asked Mr Owaisi to stop instigating people in the name of CAA, NCR and NPR. The appeal exposes the dangerous attitude of the Hyderabad MP, the BJP MLC remarked.

He condemned the attack on state BJP office on Thursday and demanded that the state government order an inquiry into the incident. He recounted that a group of unidentified persons, suspected to be MIM members, came to state BJP office, tried to gatecrash and attack the people inside. Police, who reached the spot, took them into custody.

Mr Ramachander Rao demanded that police enquire into the incident and identify those behind the attack on a political partys office, which is highly objectionable and undemocratic.

Independents may hold key for top municipal posts.
A group of about 70 lawmakers from Japans ruling Liberal Democratic Party is working on a proposal to issue digital currency.

China is moving toward issuing digital yuan, so wed like to propose measures to counter such attempts, Norihiro Nakayama, a member of the party and parliamentary vice-minister for foreign affairs, told Reuters on Friday.

Japans digital currency could be a joint effort between the countrys government and the private sector, said Nakayama, adding that the group plans to submit its proposal to the government as early as next month.

Just earlier this week, the Bank of Japan joined hands with five other major central banks - the Bank of England, the European Central Bank, the Bank of Canada, the Sveriges Riksbank (Sweden) and the Swiss National Bank - to explore digital currencies.



Today's news strengthens Japan's efforts into studying a digital yen. Notably, the country's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also told parliament today that the government will work with the Bank of Japan in researching digital currencies and find ways to increase yens convenience as a settlement means.

Central banks around the world have accelerated efforts to explore digital currencies. "Some 40% of central banks have progressed from conceptual research to experiments or proofs-of-concept; and another 10% have developed pilot projects, according to the latest survey from the Bank for International Settlements. Sixty-six central banks responded to the BIS survey, which was carried out in "in the latter part of 2019.
The investment will enable in scaling up Crysta and help improve Redcliffe Life Sciences market reach and technological capabilities

New Delhi based startup brand Crysta recently raised Rs 10 crore in a Pre-Series A funding round led by the family office of Ruchirans and Anuraag Jaipuria. The investors also include several family fund including Mumbai-based Green Shots Capital and Alfa Ventures, Delhi-based Real Time Ventures and NGB Dx, Dubai-based Petrotech, Steel City Securities and angel investors Lalit Wadhwa, Dr Kriti Maroli amongst others.

Crysta is an end-to-end pregnancy and fertility platform that uses in-house technology to offer various diagnostic and screening services combined with regular counselling and clinical data management. These test includes pre-conception and fertility tests, non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS), clinical micro-array, pre-implantation genetic screening (PGS) for IVF centers, and carrier and newborn screening.

Crysta uses both biochemistry and molecular NGS with its own bioinformatics platform. The brand is gradually scaling up across all aspects of mother and child health.

Speaking about the investment, Dheeraj Jain, Founder, Redcliffe Life Sciences, said, "The Pre-Series A funding will help us in building an end-to-end reproductive health platform covering all relevant aspects of pregnancy and fertility care. The potential is huge in this segment, and the current round will allow us to scale up Crysta and our other capabilities across major cities. We are also preparing for the $10 million Series A round for a much larger expansion in the mother and child segment. Our scientific team works with all major hospitals for long-term collaboration apart from research institutes to ensure that we have the best technology in place.

Ruchirans Jaipuria, MD, Jaipuria Beverages said, "Crysta is an amazing disruption in the reproductive health segment. Right from the thought of conceiving, simple hormonal and fertility tests to pre-implantation using NGS and assisted pregnancy all the way to newborn screening, it's a complete package for couples across all income segments. We believe in the teams capabilities in using this funding to scale up their technology platform.

Ashish Dubey, Redcliffe Life Sciences Co- Founder said, Our ability to turnaround the results fastest in the market, apart from our in-house sequencing platform and quality test menu make for a very compelling case for clinicians to work with us. Unlike the traditional path labs, we focus on high-quality high value segment using molecular sequencing towards precision medicine. This funding also expands other genomics test offering of Redcliffe Life Sciences mostly importantly exomes sequencing where we have large customer base.

Since its inception in 2018, Redcliffe Life Sciences has gained a good market share in each of its segments. Over the last 2 years, it has also diversified its focus areas to include rare disorders, oncology, and clinical gene sequencing. It works directly with clinicians at hospitals and labs and has processed 5000 high-value samples within its first year of operations.
New Delhi, Jan 24 : Patanjali Ayurveda and Ruchi Soya, which was recently acquired, will register a joint turnover of Rs 25,000 crore in the fiscal year ending March 2020, yoga guru Ramdev said on Friday.

The company will work with the aim to make India self-dependent in production of edible oils, he added.

Ramdev also said Patanjali Ayurveda and Ruchi Soya will work hand-in-hand to achieve a turnover of over Rs 25,000 crore this year.

Speaking to the media here at the Constitution Club, Ramdev said: "The company will register a joint turnover of Rs 25,000 crore in the current fiscal ending March 2020, in which around Rs 12,000 crore would be contributed by Patanjali group firms and Rs 13,000 crore will come from Ruchi Soya, he said.

The yoga guru also claimed that over the next two years, 25 per cent shares of Ruchi Soya will be liquidated as per the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) guidelines.

He emphasised that the company aims to reduce the country's dependency on foreign nations for edible oils.

He also named Malaysia and blamed the country for interfering in India's internal matters only because India was importing palm oil from Malaysia.

"How can Malaysia speak in our internal matter, who gave their nation heads' right to speak on CAA. They speak because we are dependent on them for palm oil," Ramdev claimed.

With the acquisition of Ruchi Soya, Pantanjali's line will get more diversified and the management will make sure that two entities do not compete with each other, he added.

"Both entities will function in different markets, we will also launch three new products under the Ruchi Soya brand," Ramdev said.

"These products will include premium Oil Nutrela Gold, Nutrela Honey and Nutrela Protein Atta," he added.

With Ruchi Soya, the company also aims to double its reach in the next five years to 50 crore people from the existing 25 crore.

"We have a target to expand our reach to 50 crore people in the next five years," he said.

Patanjali, had acquired Ruchi Soya in a Corporate Insolvency Resolution for around Rs 4,500 crore.
A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking quashing of notices by district administration sent to alleged protestors for recovering losses caused by damage to public properties during agitations against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in Uttar Pradesh.

The plea has alleged that notices have been sent in Uttar Pradesh in an "arbitrary manner" against a person, who had died six years ago at the age of 94, and also to two others who are aged above 90.

The petition was listed for hearing on Friday before a bench comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud and Hrishikesh Roy. The matter could not be heard as the bench did not sit.

Advocate Parwaiz Arif Titu, petitioner in the case, has sought stay on these notices claiming they have been sent to persons who have not been booked under any penal provisions and no details of FIR or any criminal offences have been made out against them.

The plea, filed through advocate Nilofar Khan, said that notices were based on an Allahabad High Court verdict delivered in 2010 which "is in violation of the guidelines" passed by the apex court in a 2009 judgment which was later re-affirmed in a 2018 verdict.

"The contradiction is that while the Supreme Court in 2009 put the onus of assessment of damages and recovery from the accused on high courts of every state, whereas the Allahabad High Court had issued guidelines in 2010 judgement that let the state government to undertake these processes to recover damages, which has serious implications," it said.

"The judicial oversight/judicial security is a sort of safety mechanism against arbitrary action. This means that there is every chance that the ruling party in the state could go after its political opponents or others oppose to it to settle scores," the plea said.

It has also sought a direction to the Uttar Pradesh government to follow the procedure as per the 2009 and 2018 guidelines of the apex court while claiming damages to recover the losses caused to public property during such protests.

The plea has sought setting up of an independent judicial inquiry to probe into the incidents which happened during the protests against the CAA-NRC in Uttar Pradesh, as has been done by the Karnataka High Court.

The plea claimed that the BJP-led Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh is "moving ahead on the chief minister's promise of avenging loss to public property" by seizing assets of protestors in order to "take revenge for political reasons from one community who is in minority".

It alleged that around 925 persons, who have been arrested so far in connection with the violent protests, may not get bail easily in Uttar Pradesh till they pay up for the losses as they have to be given "conditional bail" only after they deposit the amount.

The plea claimed that even before any demonstrations, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh had declared that there was no reason for anyone to protest against the CAA and on December 19, 2019 when the protestors and policemen first clashed in Lucknow, "he angrily denounced the protestors" and said he would take "revenge".

"The government of Uttar Pradesh and its administration and police are no longer behaving like the arm of a democratic government as it cracked down on protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019/NRC. The police on the instructions of the Uttar Pradesh administration used disproportionate force and denied public accountability," it alleged.

The plea, while giving details of instances in the state during the anti-CAA protests, claimed there is "no rule of law" in Uttar Pradesh and there is "complete violation" of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution in order to crack down the protests against CAA and NRC.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
United Nations investigators' claims that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' phone was hacked by Saudi Arabia is 'total nonsense' according to the Arab state's minister of state for foreign affairs.

'Total nonsense - this story was out almost a year ago, it was debunked, we rejected it completely,' Adel al-Jubeir told CNBC at the Davos summit on Thursday.

'It was based on false and unproven allegations, people trying to sensationalize something that is pure fiction.'

Bezos commissioned a report managed by FTI Consulting which concluded with 'high to medium confidence,' that his phone was compromised via video sent from a WhatsApp account used by Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman poses with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos during the tycoon's visit to Riyadh in November 2016

The investigation, which was overseen by former head of the FBI's Cyber Division, Anthony Ferrante, was made public on Wednesday.

The video file sent by the Crown Prince's WhatsApp contained malicious spyware, however the report does not reveal if Bezos' phone was actually hacked, in what way he was compromised, or what kind of malware was deployed.

Two U.N. experts issued their own take on the report's findings, calling on the U.S. to investigate further. They said it appeared the Amazon founder may have been targeted because of his ownership of The Washington Post, which was publishing reports critical of the crown prince by columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

Khashoggi was killed by Saudi agents inside the kingdom's consulate in Turkey in October 2018, five months after Bezos' phone was apparently hacked.

Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir in Brussels earlier this week

The report's conclusions drew heavily from the unusually high volume of data that left Bezos' iPhone X within 24 hours of receiving the video file from Prince Mohammed's WhatsApp account on May 1, 2018, a month after the two exchanged phone numbers. The size of the file, the investigators suggested, indicated a malware payload may have been included.

The investigators said Bezos' phone began transmitting large volumes of data - an increase of some 29,000% - after receiving the video file.

The report further pointed to messages later sent from the prince's WhatsApp account to Bezos that showed 'apparent awareness' of private information. One included a meme with a photo of a woman the report said resembled the woman Bezos was having an extramarital relationship with before going public with his divorce.

Another, sent two days after Bezos was briefed in phone calls last February about a Saudi online campaign against him, advised the technology mogul that what he was hearing was not true. 'There is nothing against you or amazon from me or Saudi Arabia,' the message said.

The report additionally pointed to Saudi Arabia's documented use of spyware against critics and other adversaries as further potential proof.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud called the allegations 'purely conjecture' and said if there was real evidence, the kingdom looked forward to seeing it.

Cybersecurity experts said that while it was likely a hack occurred, the investigation did not prove that definitively.

'In some ways, the investigation is very incomplete. The conclusions they've drawn I don't think are supported by the evidence. They veered off into conjecture,' said Robert Pritchard, the director of U.K.-based consultancy Cyber Security Expert.

Similarly, the former chief security officer at Facebook, who now directs a cyber policy center at Stanford, wrote that the report is filled with circumstantial evidence, but no smoking gun.

The report further pointed to messages later sent from the prince's WhatsApp account to Bezos that showed 'apparent awareness' of private information. One included a meme with a photo of a woman the report said resembled the woman Bezos was having an extramarital relationship with before going public with his divorce.

'The funny thing is that it looks like FTI potentially has the murder weapon sitting right there, they just haven't figured out how to test it,' Alex Stamos wrote on Twitter.

One sticking point centered on WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption, which the report said made it 'virtually impossible to decrypt contents of the downloader to determine if it contained malicious code' - meaning the investigators could not conclude whether the video file sent from Prince Mohammed's WhatsApp account was infected and used to hack Bezos' phone.

Bill Marczak, a senior research fellow at Citizen Lab, disputed that assertion, saying it is possible to decrypt the contents of a WhatsApp file. In a post written for The Medium that presents ways to further the investigation, Marczak shared a link to decryption instructions and code.

The FTI investigators did not reach out to WhatsApp to seek assistance, a Facebook spokesperson said.

FTI's Ferrante did not respond to emails and text messages seeking comment. The company said in a statement that all FTI's work for clients is confidential and that the company does not 'comment on, confirm or deny client engagements.'

Matt Suiche, a French entrepreneur based in Dubai who founded cybersecurity firm Comae Technologies, said the video file was presumably on the iPhone because the report showed a screenshot of it. If the file had been deleted, he said the report should have stated this or explained why it was not possible to retrieve it.

'They're not doing that. It shows poor quality of the investigation,' Suiche said.

Two U.N. experts issued their own take on the report's findings, calling on the U.S. to investigate further (pictured: President Trump with MbS at the White House in March 2018)

Still, security professionals and the report itself said the fact that investigators failed to identify any embedded malicious code does not mean there wasn't a hack because sophisticated spyware can erase itself, leaving no trace.

Steve Morgan, founder and editor-in-chief at Cybersecurity Ventures, a cybersecurity research firm in New York, said the report makes reasonable assumptions and speculations, but does not claim 100% certainty or proof.

'Given their detailed analysis and all of the evidence they reviewed, their conclusions are reasonable,' Morgan said. 'The tools they used, including forensic software and hardware from Cellebrite, are widely acknowledged to be amongst the best available,' he said.

Theresa Payton, founder and CEO of Fortalice Solutions, said the report is credible in her opinion, but leaves some questions unanswered, including whether the crown prince's WhatsApp account may have been hacked by a third party, meaning he was not the true attacker.

'Unless Mohammed bin Salman has a thorough forensic review of dates, times, phone logs, geocoded locations, and logins, it'll be hard to know for sure who was behind that WhatsApp message,' she said.
A 24-year-old Dalit man, who was set on fire in Madhya Pradeshs Sagar district on January 14, died in a hospital in Delhi on Thursday leading to a war of words between the opposition BJP and the ruling Congress party.

Dhanprasad Ahirwar, a resident of Dhanshree colony in Sagar, was doused with kerosene and burnt by the accused after he didnt withdraw his complaints against them with the police, said officials.

They added that the accused, who have been arrested, had been forcing him to take back his complaints.

After being treated in Sagar, Ahirwar was referred to Hamidia Hospital of Gandhi Medical College in Bhopal as his condition worsened with more than 70% burns.

The government stepped in after his condition worsened further and it came under opposition onslaught. Cabinet minister Harsh Yadav visited Ahirwar at the Hamidia Hospital on Monday and assured the best possible treatment.

Ahirwar was later taken to a hospital in Delhi by an air ambulance where he died on Thursday morning.

Sagars superintendent of police, Amit Sanghi, confirmed Ahirwars death.

All the accused in the case have been arrested and now section 302 of the IPC (Indian Penal Code) will be added in the FIR against them for the murder of the youth, Sanghi said.

Those arrested include Ahirwars neighbours, Ajju Pathan, Kallu, Irfan and Chhuttu.

I got the news of sad demise of Dhanprasad Ahirwar during his treatment in Delhi. My condolences to the family. The state government stands by the family in this hour of grief. Instructions for every possible help to the family, chief minister Kamal Nath, who is on a trip abroad, tweeted on Thursday.

Ahirwars death has triggered another war of words between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Gopal Bhargava, who hails from Sagar, had earlier alleged there were more than 15 accused and since they belong to a particular community the Congress government was trying to shield them, a charge that was termed as baseless by the ruling partys leaders.

The careless attitude of the government and administration claimed the life of the Dalit youth. Had the government acted in time he would have been alive today, Bhargava said on Thursday.

The governments inaction against a particular section of society due to appeasement politics is unfortunate, he added.

Bhargava demanded the state government should extend financial help to the family and a government job for one family member.

State BJP president Rakesh Singh also hit out at the government as he alleged that the police didnt act on Ahirwars complaint despite his repeated requests to them and even after the accused threatened him with dire consequences.

However, Congress leaders accused Bhargava of playing politics on a sensitive issue.

All the accused named in the FIR have been arrested. Treatment of the youth was done at government expenses after the instructions of the chief minister Kamal Nath. Financial assistance too was given immediately, the state Congress media coordinator Narendra Saluja said.

But its unfortunate that the BJP is trying to vitiate the atmosphere of amity in the state by telling lies, he said.
An outbreak of the highly contagious norovirus has been reported in Glendive.

Norovirus can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps. The virus spreads through the ingestion of tiny particles of infected vomit or feces, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People typically develop symptoms within 12 to 48 hours of exposure and get better within one to three days.

The Dawson County Health Department has been monitoring recent instances of norovirus at Glendive schools. It's likely there have been multiple students in Glendive schools affected by norovirus, but some recent student absences could be due to other illnesses, said Timber Dempewolf, director of the Dawson County Health Department.

Norovirus has also been seen elsewhere in the community, including among residents at the Glendive Medical Center, where officials are aware of two people with the virus this week.

"In terms of an outbreak, this is a pretty large outbreak," Dempewolf said. "We may have smaller outbreaks, and they get contained pretty quickly. I guess I would say this is larger than what we've seen in the past."

Outbreaks of norovirus are common and most often occur from November to April, according to the CDC. Statistics on the CDC website attribute to norovirus 1.7 to 1.9 million outpatient visits and 400,000 emergency department visits on average in a year. The virus annually causes between 56,000 and 71,000 hospitalizations and between 570 and 800 deaths. Most of those who die from norovirus are young children and the elderly, according to the CDC.

Among the measures recommended by the CDC to prevent norovirus is practicing proper hand hygiene, especially after using the toilet, changing diapers, before eating, preparing or handling food and before giving or taking medicine.

The CDC notes that alcohol-based hand sanitizers are not an adequate substitute for washing hands with soap and water when it comes to norovirus prevention.

Norovirus is known for the prolonged period in which symptoms may be passed from one person to another. Without disinfection the virus can live on surfaces for up to a week. Bleach is an effective cleaning agent for norovirus, Dempewolf said.

The Dawson County Health Department is working to improve sanitation at schools and is asking that people with symptoms stay home for at least 48 hours after their symptoms end. The CDC notes that people are especially contagious when they have symptoms and during the first few days after they recover.

Dempewolf also noted those who have had norovirus in the past can get it again.

"You can get it multiple times within a short period of time," Dempewolf said. "Just because you have it once, it doesn't provide you with immunity."

On Tuesday the Glendive Medical Center announced visitor restrictions to its facilities, including the Eastern Montana Veterans home, Extended Care and the Glendive Medical Center, in order to limit the spread of the virus.

Visitors to the Glendive Medical Center are limited to immediate family for essential purposes only, and no children under 12 are allowed, per a press release issued Tuesday. People who feel they need medical care for norovirus can still come to GMC for treatment, said GMC Director of Quality MJ Marx.

Norovirus outbreaks are typically seen at health care facilities; restaurants and catered events; schools and child care centers; and cruise ships, the CDC says.

Speaking Thursday afternoon, Marx said she was aware of two instances of the virus affecting Glendive Medical Center residents. Health Department guidelines specify that two or more people exhibiting symptoms is classified as an outbreak.

While Marx said she could not speak more precisely about how widespread the virus may be in Dawson County, she said the medical center has been in contact with multiple care providers reporting that they have seen community members with the same symptoms associated with norovirus.

It's important for people affected by the virus to limit their contact with others. The virus can live on surfaces for up to a week, and people can still be capable of spreading the virus even when they believe they are symptom free.

"If people think, 'Oh, I was sick yesterday, I can go back to work today,' even though they might not be having symptoms, as workers their body is still shedding the virus," Marx said.

Besides hand washing with soap and water, other preventative measures for norovirus include handling and preparing food safely by thoroughly washing fruits and vegetables and thoroughly cooking oysters and shellfish. Food that may be contaminated should be thrown out. Sick people should not prepare food or care for others, laundry should be washed thoroughly and surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected.

The CDC also states that vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms of norovirus can contribute to dehydration, which is a concern especially in young children, older adults and people with other illnesses. "Children who are dehydrated may cry with few or no tears and be unusually sleepy or fussy," the CDC says.

The outlook as far as the GMC is still uncertain. Marx said that those GMC residents experiencing symptoms earlier in the week have improved, but that visitation restrictions are still in place.

Those restrictions are dependent on when the last person is ill. "We have to wait at least four days from the time they have their last symptom," Marx said.

The Montana Department of Health and Human Services will determine what particular strain of norovirus is being seen in the area, Marx said.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 1
Arriving each morning at 1 a.m., dressed in a skirt and heels and ready for work in the rough-and-tumble of the Los Angeles Wholesale Produce Market, Frieda Caplan stood out - an exotic exception, much like the wares she began selling there in 1962.

Among the many merchants peddling tomatoes, onions and other mainstays of the traditional American dinner table, Caplan was for many years the lone woman. The staples of her stand were not staples at all. Rather, she dealt in rarities - the kiwi when the furry brown fruit was known as a Chinese gooseberry, alfalfa sprouts before they were a favorite of health-food nuts, and avocados before the brunch crowd began eating them on toast.

With her ever-evolving array of offerings, which she sold to specialty shops as well as to chains including Safeway, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and Costco, Caplan was credited with whetting the American appetite for dozens of once-rare fruits and vegetables that today are commonplace in groceries, kitchens and restaurants.

Caplan - known to admirers as the "Kiwi Queen" for her role in popularizing the fruit in the United States - died Jan. 18 at her home in Los Alamitos, California. She was 96. Her daughter Karen Caplan, the president and chief executive of Frieda's Specialty Produce, which is based in Los Alamitos, confirmed her mother's death but did not cite a specific cause.

Caplan had no experience in produce sales when she entered the trade in the 1950s as a bookkeeper for the wholesale operation run by her husband's aunt and uncle. She had recently given birth to Karen, her first daughter, and was seeking work that would provide the flexibility necessary to nurse the baby. The early-morning hours of the wholesale fruit-and-vegetable trade suited her perfectly.

As Caplan told the story, she was managing the stand while the owners were on vacation when a client placed a request for a quantity of mushrooms in the neighborhood of 500 pounds. Frantically searching for a supplier able to satisfy such a large order, Caplan personally drove to a mushroom farm to procure them.

Her spunk and grit so impressed the wholesale market landlords that they invited her to open her own stand. She did, in 1962, and it grew into the modern-day company with annual sales of $60 million, according to Karen Caplan.

When she was starting out, mushrooms and pineapple were considered exotic.

"We didn't have innovative produce departments," she told the New York Times in 1985. "The mindset of produce merchandisers was potatoes, onions, grapefruit and apples. It was a matter of finding people who were innovative and progressive and getting them together with people who had something to offer."

Chief among them was Caplan, and chief among her early successes was the kiwifruit - according to a profile of Caplan published last year in The Washington Post, "the first commercial fruit ... introduced to the United States since the banana in the 1880s."

When a client first requested the Chinese gooseberry, six months went by before she could locate one, Caplan told the Los Angeles Times. In an attempt to increase sales, she marketed the item as kiwifruit - a name suggested by a colleague in the supply chain because the fruit, which was grown in New Zealand, looked like the local kiwi bird.

The fruit took time to catch on - 18 years, by Caplan's count - but today it is scarcely harder to find than a peach or pear. The New York Times once dubbed the kiwi "the Horatio Alger of exotic fruit."

Other fruits reportedly introduced or popularized by Caplan included spaghetti squash, sugar snap peas, shiitake mushrooms, shallots, habanero peppers, sunchokes, purple potatoes, Meyer lemons, mangoes, passion fruit and star fruit.

"I couldn't compete with all the boys on the big items," Caplan told the Pasadena Star-News (California) in 2003, "so I built the business selling things that were different."

She further distinguished herself from other vendors by packaging and labeling her more unusual offerings, a godsend to head-scratching grocery store clerks as well as to consumers who might not know how to serve jicama, or how to slice into a kiwano. (Late-night television host David Letterman, who once featured Caplan on his show, jokingly pronounced the latter fruit, also know as the horned melon, as "d--- near inedible.") Customers were invited to send away to Frieda's for recipes; everyone, she said, received a reply.

Caplan stopped selling items when they became standard fare; by then, she reasoned, her work was done. She once received an industry award honoring the Produce Man of the Year. She declined to accept it until it was renamed the Produce Marketer of the Year.

Frieda Rapoport, a daughter of Jewish immigrants from Russia, was born in Los Angeles on Aug. 10, 1923. Her father was a pattern-cutter for a clothing factory, and her mother was a homemaker. She once recalled to USA Today that when she brought home $2 in earnings from her after-school job at a five-and-dime store, her mother exclaimed, "How wonderful. You'll never be dependent on a man again."

She studied political science at the University of California at Los Angeles, where she was active in student government and graduated in 1945. In 1951, she married Alfred Caplan, a labor relations consultant. He died in 1998.

As she was growing her business, Caplan once told the Orange County Register, she slept four hours a night. "The opportunity to introduce people to new fruits and vegetables was very exciting," she said. One fruit she could not enjoy was the kiwi; she was allergic to it.

She was featured in the 2015 documentary "Fear No Fruit" by filmmaker Mark Brian Smith and said that she "never had a problem with the men on the market, at all."

"Once they got over the fact that I was a woman and they learned they could make money with the items I was selling," she said, "I had no problems."

Caplan continued reporting to work into her 90s, long after she sold her business to her daughters in 1990. In addition to her daughter Karen, of Seal Beach, California, survivors include another daughter, Jackie Caplan Wiggins of Long Beach, California, who is the company's chief operating officer; and four grandchildren.

For all her success stemming from her entrepreneurial spirit, Caplan sought to give credit where she thought credit due, and that was to the fruits and vegetables she sold.

"There have always been exotic food items," she told the Los Angeles Times in 1972. "We just showcased them, dressed them up and sold them."
Muslim minority Uyghurs who were rescued from a human trafficking camp line up next to a police van in southern Songkhla province, Thailand, March 15, 2014.

The futile escape by seven Uyghurs from a detention center in Thailands northeastern region earlier this month has highlighted the plight of the dozens from Chinas minority ethnic group who fled the restive Xinjiang region to the Southeast Asian nation more than five years ago.

The seven were recaptured soon after they broke free from a detention cell in Mukdahan province on Jan. 10  their second attempted escape  and their action could land them in jail for two years.

They are among 50 Uyghurs being held in immigration centers and prison in four locations in Thailand  remnants of a group of about 350 who fled to Thailand in 2014 following repression in Xinjiang.

They are now in Mukdahan prison after being charged with escaping from immigration custody, police Lt. Col. Udon Chaokaek told BenarNews. We forwarded the case file to the court already. We prosecuted them because they did break from immigration cell for a second time.

This latest incident creates a dilemma for Thailand: What to do with the 50 Uyghurs.

Sending them back to Xinjiang where they could be punished will trigger criticism from human rights groups.

Authorities in Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region have held up to 1.5 million Uyghurs and other Muslim ethnic minorities accused of harboring strong religious views and politically incorrect ideas in internment camps since April 2017.

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has described Beijings actions in Xinjiang as a humanitarian crisis that is on the scale of what took place in the 1930s in an apparent reference to the policies of Hitlers Germany and Stalins Soviet Union. He also called the incarcerations the stain of the century.

Keeping the Uyghurs in Thailand indefinitely will also strain government resources.

It highlights the Catch-22 situation the country has been caught in for many years with this minority Muslim group from China. It's high time to find an acceptation solution, a leading Thai daily, The Bangkok Post, said last week in an editorial.

It urged the government of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha to identify a third country willing to take in all the Uighur detainees.

Beijing may frown on the idea, but Thailand, as a sovereign state, should have the right  as well as the courage  to make this decision, said the editorial entitled Dont kowtow over Uighurs.

In 2015, Thailand drew criticism when it forcibly repatriated 100 of the 350 Uyghurs detained in the country to China despite fears they could be punished on their return.

A bomb blast at a Hindu shrine in Central Bangkok weeks after the repatriation killed 20 and injured 120 more, and was linked by the Thai police chief at the time to Uyghur militants who sought to avenge Bangkoks action. Two Uyghur men were arrested and pleaded not guilty.

In reality, Thailand cannot want to send them anywhere  not to China because it is scared of a similar bomb attack like the one on the Erawan Shrine in 2015 and international condemnation, Chalida Tajaroensuk, the director of Peoples Empowerment Foundation, a Thai NGO which has helped Uyghurs in Thailand since 2014, told BenarNews. Not to Turkey because Chinese officials keep checking on all detained Uyghurs every month.

Chalida, who had visited the seven escapees recently, suggested that they fled the cell because they lived under poor conditions.

They said they broke the immigration detention cell because it is too cramped and unhealthy and had just one window. They did not see the sun or the moon for almost four years, she told BenarNews.

She noted that the Uyghurs came to Thailand with the intention of going to Turkey via Malaysia.

A little more than a year ago, the Malaysian government defied China by releasing 11 Uyghurs who had fled to Malaysia from Thailand after escaping from a prison in November 2017 and allowing them to travel to Turkey.

Beijing had sought their repatriation but Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said the men had broken no laws.

As for those still in Thailand who have been detained for almost six years, it seems unreasonable and illogical to keep these Uyghurs behind bars any longer, the Bangkok Post editorial said.

Dont forget that the only laws they breached on setting foot in Thailand were those involving immigration, and they have done their time.

Nontarat Phaicharoen in Bangkok contributed to this report.
An insurance company must reimburse a Kansas man for the personal care his wife provided after he was injured in an automobile accident, the state Supreme Court ruled in rejecting that spouses are required to provide such support without compensation.

The decision handed down on Jan. 21 overturns a Court of Appeals panel ruling that GEICO General Insurance Co. did not have to pay insured customer Royce Williams because the wifes obligation to help her husband was incurred as a result of the marital relationship itself.

The states highest court disagreed and reinstated the $2,625 in benefits that the district court had initially awarded Williams.

GEICO in this situation was relying on very archaic principles that a wife has a duty to serve her husband, but that is just not sound reasoning and the Kansas Supreme Court agreed, said Dustin DeVaughn, a Wichita attorney whose firm represented Williams.

The argument penalizes married people as well as poor people who dont have the ability to go out and hire people to help them, he said.

That is why we drew the line. As you can tell in the decision, we took this case to the Supreme Court for $2,625 and this was a huge financial loss to us to fight this fight for $2,625, DeVaughn said. But it is something that is extremely important to our clients, and we are seeing time and again them being taken advantage of  and we arent going to tolerate it.

After the automobile collision, Williams had undergone surgery and required physical rehabilitation. His physician determined he was disabled and unable to perform his regular duties at home and needed to have a caregiver provide such duties, according to the ruling.

The doctor specified he could not do yard work, shovel snow, wash dishes, clean the bathroom , dust, take out the trash, clean his vehicle and could only prepare meals if sitting down, the justices noted.

The court also pointed out in the ruling that before the accident, the couple lived together but maintained separate finances and work schedules.

After Williams came from the rehabilitation hospital, he and his wife, Mary, agreed she would provide regular caregiver duties for $25 a day  services that included assistance with meal preparation, personal hygiene and bathing, laundry, administering medication and driving.

His wife spent five hours a day doing this between December 2015 and March 2016. She kept itemized records of her services, indicating she often had to be absent from work during that time.

The amount involved in this case was obviously small, but in order for the court to get to the result it wanted it had to hold  for the first time as far as I know under Kansas law  that spouses can form a debtor-creditor relationship with each other based on the services they provide within a marital relationship, said Lyndon Vix, the attorney representing GEICO. I dont think we have had a holding to that effect before.

The parties conceded that reimbursement by GEICO would have been required under state law had the same care services been provided by anyone else, according to the ruling.

I know they did this on principle and that is admirable on their part, Vix said of the lawsuit brought by opposing counsel. But I am not sure the principle is as noble as they make it out to be.

The Kansas Automobile Injury Reparations Act, commonly called the no-fault insurance law, requires policies in the state to cover substitution benefits that were at issue in this litigation, court documents show. Such benefits pay for services that the injured person would have performed himself but for the injury, subject to a maximum of $25 per day for no longer than 365 days.

The case is Williams v. Geico General Ins. Co., http://www.kscourts.org/Cases-and-Opinions/Opinions/SupCt/2020/20200121/117149.pdf.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Carriers Kansas
A teen was arrested by the Mobile County Sheriffs Office for first degree rape Thursday night.

Shawn Lisenby, 18 of Wilmer, was booked into Mobile Metro Jail Thursday at approximately 7:33 p.m. Authorities believe that Lisenby forcibly raped a woman that was known to him that night shortly before his arrest.

MCSO is currently handling the investigation.
T he Prince of Wales today visited the birthplace of Jesus Christ and urged "unity and tolerance among different faiths.

In Bethlehem, Prince Charles called for lasting peace said it breaks his heart that there is so much suffering and division caused by religious intolerance.

The Prince, on his first official visit there at the invitation of Palestine President Abbas, said: Tragically, the peoples of all three great Abrahamic religions also share the common experience of suffering and displacement, in this land and elsewhere.

Throughout my life, I have tried to foster greater understanding between people of different faiths, to heal divisions and to remind people of so much that we share in common as opposed to what divides us."

Prince Charles: The Prince of Wales visits Israel 1 /22 Prince Charles: The Prince of Wales visits Israel Prince Charles, Prince of Wales arrives at the Mosque of Omar on January 24, 2020 in Jerusalem, Israel Getty Images Prince Charles, Prince of Wales visits the Mosque of Omar on January 24, 2020 in Jerusalem, Israel Getty Images Prince Charles, Prince of Wales arrives at the Mosque of Omar on January 24, 2020 in Jerusalem, Israe Getty Images Prince Charles meets Israeli President Reuven Rivlin via Reuters The Prince of Wales during a visit to the Mosque of Omar in Jerusalem on the second day of his trip to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories PA The Prince of Wales signs a book during a visit to the Mosque of Omar in Jerusalem on the second day of his trip to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories PA The Prince of Wales' feet during a visit to the Mosque of Omar in Jerusalem on the second day of his trip to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories PA The Prince of Wales (third left) during a visit to the Mosque of Omar in Jerusalem on the second day of his trip to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories PA The Prince of Wales on a street lined with the Union Flag as he walks to visit the Mosque of Omar in Jerusalem on the second day of his trip to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories PA Prince Charles appears to snub Mike Pence by avoiding handshake at Auschwitz anniversary event Prince Charles meets Israeli President Reuven Rivlin ahead of the World Holocaust Forum via Reuters Prince Charles, Prince of Wales arrives at the Mosque of Omar on January 24, 2020 in Jerusalem, Israe Getty Images Prince Charles visits Omar mosque in Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters Prince Charles arrives to visit Omar mosque in Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters The Prince of Wales speaks at a reception at the ambassador's residence in Tel Aviv on the first day of his visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories PA The Prince of Wales, during a visit to the Shrine of the Book at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem on the first day of his visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories PA The Prince of Wales plants a tree after a meeting with President Reuven Rivlin (left) at his official residence in Jerusalem on the first day of his visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories PA

He went on: In the United Kingdom I have long sought to celebrate the rich diversity of belief which we enjoy; and to ensure that people of all faiths, and none, understand how much their place in our society is valued. Elsewhere in the World, too,

I have endeavoured to build bridges between different religions, so that we might learn from each other and be stronger together as a result. It breaks my heart, therefore, that we should continue to see so much suffering and division.

No one arriving in Bethlehem today could miss the signs of continued hardship and the situation you face, and I can only join you, and all communities, in your prayers for a just and lasting peace.

We must pursue this cause with faith and determination, striving to heal the wounds which have caused such pain. It is my dearest wish that the future will bring freedom, justice and equality to all Palestinians, enabling you to thrive and to prosper.

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales visits the Church of the Nativity / Getty Images

Charles also spoke of the energy, warmth and remarkable generosity of the Palestinian people.

He said having been raised on Bible stories he was "humbled" to have been able to visit the birthplace of The Lord.

Charles arrived in Manger Square, the old Ottoman marketplace, and was barely visible surrounded by police officers and an entourage of dignitaries.

His visit to Bethlehem was not announced in advance but he appeared at ease, despite the crowd, as he walked into the Mosque of Omar.

The mosque is opposite the Church of the Nativity which contains a grotto said to be the site where Jesus was born.

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales / Getty Images

He was joined by Anton Salman, mayor of Bethlehem, and governor of Bethlehem Kamel Hmeid as he toured the Islamic place of worship.

Charles is the most senior member of the royal family to visit the Palestinian Occupied Territories. He follows in the footsteps of his son the Duke of Cambridge who met Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the summer of 2018.

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales / Getty Images

Later this morning Charles was set to hold talks with President Abbas during his final day in the Middle East.

He was also set to pay a poignant visit to the grave of his grandmother at the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.

Princess Alice of Battenberg, Prince Philips mother, is interred in the Church of Mary Magdalene in eastern Jerusalem.

Prince Charles (L) visits the compound of the Church of the Nativity / AFP via Getty Images

She was honoured by the Jewish people for hiding and saving the lives of Jews in Nazi-occupied Athens during the Second World War.

His visit came as Charless office denied claims he snubbed US Vice-President Mike Pence during an event to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
When I was attending St. Augustine High School in the 1960s in Laredo a classmate made me aware of a novel by Ayn Rand  Atlas Shrugged.

I went to the Laredo Public Library and checked out the book, which was published in 1957. It was widely read by our countrys top corporate executives and the business community as a whole. Alan Greenspan, former chairman of the Federal Reserve, was a follower of Rand. This is what he had to say: Atlas Shrugged is a celebration of life and happiness. Justice is unrelenting. Creative individuals and undeviating purpose and rationality achieve joy and fulfillment. Parasites who persistently avoid either purpose or reason perish as they should.

In 2007, the 50th anniversary of Atlas Shrugged, I bought a copy in paperback and reread it, purely for the literary experience and for its important moral defense of capitalism.

This message should resurface, and it would not be the first time Atlas Shrugged has been revived.

During the 2008 financial crisis, the novels plot received renewed interest and was hailed by many as a foreshadow of the financial disaster. In 2009, The Economist reported that the novel ranked No. 33 among Amazons top-selling books.

Not too long ago, there was an op-ed in the New York Times that all billionaires should be abolished; it advocated for a socialist ideology instead. The writer claimed billionaires should not exist. Unfortunately, for those of us who strongly believe in our capitalistic economy, the left and many Democrats are embracing this notion with fervor.

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez proposed a 70 percent top marginal tax rate on all billionaires. Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren also has joined the bandwagon and is contemplating a wealth tax. Sen. Bernie Sanders is part of this group, promoting his socialist philosophy as a viable replacement for our economic capitalist system.

Rands novel depicts a future United States on the verge of economic collapse after years of socialism, a system where creative and productive people have been exploited for the benefit and welfare of an undeserving population composed of moochers and incompetents.

Throughout Atlas Shrugged, Rand demonstrates the virtues of capitalism as the only economic system in history that is rooted in and inextricable from individual rights: the freedom to choose an occupation, to earn and spend money in a free market of consumer goods, and to own the fruits of ones labor and creativity in the form of private property.

The plot illustrates what happens to the United States when the mind goes on strike, when the people of creative ability in every profession quit and disappear to a hideaway where they build an independent, free economy. In other words, the strike will withdraw the minds of these geniuses who contribute the most to the nations wealth and achievement.

What would happen if the state seizes the wealth and property a person acquired through hard work and the use of his or her mind? Why bother to invent new things like smartphones, iPads or computers?

The truth is our capitalist economic system works and where it spreads, worldwide poverty declines, disease drops and there are many more benefits for all.

Educator J. Gilberto Quezada retired after 31 years with South San Antonio ISD. He is the author of Manuel B. Bravo and Zapata County, published by Texas A&M University Press.
covering reservations in China as well as bookings to other properties made by guests who have traveled to, from or through China. (To qualify, you must have booked directly through the hotel; otherwise, contact your third-party agent.) Marriott will waive cancellation fees for hotel stays through Feb. 29 for guests with reservations at hotels in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan and for guests from those locations traveling to Marriott destinations globally. Intercontinental Hotels is allowing guests travelling to or from China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan through Feb. 29 to change or cancel reservations made through its official channels without penalty. Accor properties will allow guests tarveling to its properties in greater China to rebook or cancel without penalty through Feb. 29 regardless of the booking channel.
RICHMOND, Va., Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Students in states served by Dominion Energy will receive free tree seedlings through Project Plant It!, the environmental education program created by Dominion Energy to teach students about the important role of trees in the ecosystem. Planting trees is a proven way to help reduce carbon dioxide and help the environment. The seedlings will be shipped to participants in time for Arbor Day plantings on April 24, 2020. The program is funded through the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation.

For the first time, this year's program includes a STEM Lesson Plan Contest, designed to showcase educators who are developing creative STEM learning tools to teach students about the science of trees:

STEM Lesson Plan Contest: Educators are invited to submit an original, creative STEM-based lesson plan about trees that will be judged for inclusion in the Project Plant It! Educator's Guide in 2021. To be eligible, lesson plans must focus on Science, Technology, Math or Engineering aspects of trees and their benefits to the environment. The deadline for entering the STEM Lesson Plan contest is Friday, March 27, 2020 , and more details about rules, criteria and prizes for the contest can be found at projectplantit.com.

"Project Plant It! brings STEM subjects to life for students of all ages and we are excited about inviting educators to share their passion for STEM learning with our program," said Maria Pia Tamburri, senior community engagement director at Dominion Energy. "It is a privilege to support educators with free, high quality resources that promote environmental stewardship and real-world application of science skills."

The Educator Resources page of the Project Plant It! website provides an instructional toolbox that includes an Educator's Guide with 12 lesson plans, three educational online games created for grade levels K-4, 5-8, and 9-12, a Redbud Care Guide, a classroom poster, a participation certificate, a tree reading list, and lots of outdoor learning activities for students to enjoy with their classmates and families.

For more information, visit projectplantit.com.

Fast Facts about Project Plant It!:

Project Plant It! was established by Dominion Energy in 2007 to educate children, plant trees and improve the environment.

Arbor Day 2020 will mark the 14th time that thousands of children in our local communities will celebrate trees and plant redbud seedlings that they received from Project Plant It!

The tree seedlings are grown and shipped to participants in April by the Arbor Day Foundation, a longtime partner with Dominion Energy.

From 2007 to 2020, more than 650,000 tree seedlings will have been distributed to children in states where Dominion Energy operates.

According to the Virginia Department of Forestry, this equates to about 1,625 acres of new forest if all of the seedlings are planted and grow to maturity.

For more information about Project Plant It!, visit projectplantit.com.

About the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation

Nearly 7.5 million customers in 18 states energize their homes and businesses with electricity or natural gas from Dominion Energy (NYSE: D). Through its Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation, as well as EnergyShare and other programs, Dominion Energy contributed $48 million in 2019 to community causes. The Foundation supports nonprofit causes that meet basic human needs, protect the environment, promote education, and encourage community vitality. Please visit www.DominionEnergy.com to learn more.

SOURCE Dominion Energy

Related Links

http://www.dominionenergy.com


According to sources the slain militant was active in Tral and Khrew areas in south Kashmir for more than a year and was an associate of Qari Yasir, a foreign terrorist of the JeM.

Srinagar, Jan 24 (IANS) A foreign Jaish-e-Muhammad militant killed in an encounter in South Kashmir on Wednesday has been identified as Abu Saifullah alias Abu Qasim.

A group of two militants were engaged in a fierce gunfight with security forces, while Saifullah was killed, the second militant is believed to have escaped.

Two securitymen were killed in the encounter including a special police officer and an army soldier on January 21 when the encounter began. The militants escaped to the higher reaches but were chased down by the forces the next day.

The operation had begun after specific information about the presence of terrorists.

A search operation by army, police and the CRPF was launched in village Zaintrag on Tuesday during the wee hours on Tuesday.

According to police the slain terrorist was involved in killings post-August 5 abrogation of Article 370. He was also said to be involved in putting posters wherein SPOs were threatened while non-local labourers were told to leave the valley.

zi/kr
RFE/RLs Bulgarian Service journalist Polina Paunova, together with two other respected Bulgarian journalists, has received the Human of the Year Grand Prix award given by the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, an independent non-governmental organization for the protection of human rights. The award recognizes exemplary work in the defense of human rights. The journalists received their honors on World Human Rights Day on December 10, 2019.



Paunova was also awarded the grand prize in the annual Valya Krushkina Journalism for People competition. The awards were created after the untimely demise of Bulgarian National Television reporter Valya Krushkina to distinguish Bulgarian journalists who demonstrate the highest ethical standards and active citizenship.



It is symbolic that this year the Helsinki Committee jury has decided to treat the right to information as a human right. This is a signal to society in Bulgaria where media freedom is in decline, said RFE/RL Bulgarian Service Director Ivan Bedrov in a comment about Paunovas award. The Valya Krushkina Journalism for People competition is the most respected one among journalists in Bulgaria, and again, the jury has decided that our investigative work deserves the Grand Prix.



Both awards cited Paunovas work in the Bulgarian Services series of reports known as Apartmentgate, an investigation of numerous public officials and political figures who obtained apartments at dubiously low prices in Bulgaria. The investigation led to the resignation of GERB Deputy Chairman Tsvetan Tsvetanov, Justice Minister Tsetska Tsacheva, and other representatives of the Bulgarian legislative and executive branches.



RFE/RL relaunched its Bulgarian Service in January 2019 in response to declining media freedom and independence inside the country. Operating out of Sofia, the Service is entirely digital, providing balanced and objective news reporting via its website and Facebook page. In its first year, its website garnered more than 8.4 million page views and its Facebook videos received 14.7 million views. RFE/RLs original Bulgarian Service operated throughout the Cold War, and was closed in 2004.
Karnataka BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje has been booked by the Kerala police on charges of promoting enmity between different groups for her allegation that Hindus of a panchayat in Malappuram District were denied water as they supported the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

Police said the case has been registered against the MP and a few others on a complaint from a lawyer while the Kuttipuram Panchayat denied her charge made in a recent tweet.

The MP, who is also the Karnataka BJP general secretary, reacted sharply to the development saying instead of taking action over "discrimination" against Dalit families of Cherukunnu in Kuttipuram, the CPI(M) government has filed the case against her for "speaking the truth".

BJP national IT cell head Amit Malviya and several other party leaders have tweeted in support of Karandlaje with the former alleging that Muslims "who are in majority there" were denying water to the Dalits.

Police said the case has been filed under the Indian Penal Code section 153 (A) for promoting enmity between different groups on the basis of religion read with section 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention).

Making the discrimination charge, the BJP MP had on January 22 tweeted that Kerala was becoming another Kashmir.

"Kerala is taking baby steps to become another Kashmir! Hindus of Kuttipuram Panchayat of Malappuram denied water supply as they supported #CAA2019. #SevaBharati has been supplying water ever since. Will Lutyens telecast this intolerance of PEACEFULS frm God's Own Country!?" she said.

Over the days, the tweet has been widely shared with nearly 6,000 retweets and over 8,000 likes.

Meanwhile, lawyer K R Subhash Chandran approached the police seeking action against the MP and others over her tweet following which the case was registered on Thursday.

In her reaction, Karandlaje on Friday alleged people supporting the CAA were being boycotted and denied of basic amenities.

"Hail Kerala Govt! Instead of acting against the discrimination happened to the dalit families of Cherukunnu, they lodged a case against me! High time for entire society to unite against these pressurising tactics of non-performing, biased left govt," the Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP tweeted.

"#CAA2019 has been accepted by both the houses of parliament. People who are supporting #CAA are being boycotted from business, denied of basic amenities & jobs.CPM govt is blind to all these acts happening across Kerala, but files a case against me for speaking the truth!" she said.

The ruling Left Democratic Front convenor A Vijayaraghavan said Malappuram was a place known for its communal harmony and there was no conflict between communities.

Denying the BJP leader's allegation, Kuttipuram Panchayat Vice-President Siddiq said there was drinking water shortage in various parts.

"We have met the Malappuram district collector today and it has been decided to supply drinking water in tanker lorries to the Cherukunnu colony," he told PTI.

Kuttipuram police said since the motor was not functioning, the panchayat borewell was not being used for the past few months.

Seva Bharati, an NGO working among the economically weaker sections and associated with the Sangh Parivar, had supplied water to the affected families using motor from a neighbour for two days.

However, since the Kerala State Electricity Board raised objections as the motor was meant only for pumping water for agricultural purposes, this was stopped, police said.

Besides Malviya, Karnataka BJP leader C T Ravi and national spokesperson Sambit Patra are among those who have tweeted in support of Karnadlaje.

"Shame on Pinarayi Vijayan! Instead of registering a case against BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje his government should focus on providing justice to Dalits of Cherukunnu, who are being denied drinking water for participating in a pro CAA rally, by the Muslims, who are in majority there," Malviya tweeted.

"Hmm...look at the Commies way of "safeguarding Constitution", "fighting for freedom of Expression" "Saving Democracy"...book the messenger..don't do anything about the atrocities on the Hindus at Mallapuram!" Patra said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 05:49:00|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

The Pyramids are lit up in red in Giza, Egypt on Jan. 23, 2020 to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)



Egypt's Great Pyramids and the Sphinx shine in red during a sound and light show to celebrate the upcoming Chinese New Year.

by Mahmoud Fouly, Wu Danni

CAIRO, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Great Pyramids and the Sphinx in Giza near the Egyptian capital Cairo have been shining in red in a ceremonial sound and light show on Thursday evening as part of the celebrations of China's Spring Festival, also known as the Chinese New Year.

During the show, the Sphinx was lit in vivid colors while narrating the stories of ancient Egyptian pharaohs with laser shapes projected on the three massive pyramids in the background.

Visitors are enjoying the sound and light show in front of the Pyramids and the Sphinx in Giza, Egypt on Jan. 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Attended by hundreds of Chinese visitors, along with many Egyptians who are interested in the Chinese culture, the event was organized by the Chinese Cultural Center in Cairo (CCC) in cooperation with Misr Company for Sound and Light.

"Today, the Pyramids Plateau is distinguished by wonderful lights as the Chinese red lanterns integrate with the beautiful Egyptian pyramids, marking a meeting between the two old civilizations of China and Egypt," Shi Yuewen, cultural counselor of the Chinese embassy in Egypt and CCC chief, told the attendees.

Shi noted that the outgoing 2019 witnessed "great success" in the rising cultural and tourism exchange and growing ties of friendship between the peoples of the two countries.

The Chinese diplomat stood in the middle of a row of Chinese and Egyptian visitors who together yelled out "Happy Chinese New Year!"

The Egyptian-Chinese cultural interaction has noticeably been growing thanks to the support of the political leaderships of both countries, Fathy Abdel-Wahab, head of the Cultural Development Fund of Egypt's Ministry of Culture, said during the event.

The Sphinx is lit up in red in Giza, Egypt on Jan. 23, 2020 to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

"Over the past few years, interaction between the Egyptian and the Chinese has become stronger and we started to see more Chinese people in the Egyptian streets," the Egyptian official told Xinhua.

"This evening's Chinese-speaking Sound and Light show embodies the depth of the Egyptian-Chinese relations and the harmony between the two civilizations," Abdel-Wahab added.

Chinese and Egyptian visitors were amazed by the ancient Egyptian colorful laser-light shapes projected on the three Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx voiceover narrating the history of ancient Egypt and the mysterious construction of the pyramids.

"We have been amazed to see the ancient Sphinx and the Great Pyramids covered with Chinese red lights. The show is fantastic as it has the pyramids and the Sphinx in the background and the whole scene changes with the change of the sound and light," said Feng Yan, a 40-year-old tourist from Beijing.

"This is the first time for me and my husband to spend the Chinese New Year overseas. We have chosen Egypt as our destination without hesitation, for we admire Egypt's ancient history and civilization so much," she told Xinhua.

The Pyramids are lit up in red in Giza, Egypt on Jan. 23, 2020 to celebrate the Chinese Spring Festival. (Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

Reham Ahmed, an Egyptian young woman who studies Chinese at Cairo University, came with a friend of hers to watch the Sound and Light show and got more in touch with the Chinese people and culture.

"The celebration combines both the Egyptian and the Chinese cultures, so it is attractive to me as an Egyptian and a student of Chinese language," said the Egyptian student, stressing that such events boost cultural exchange between the two sides.

The 2020 Chinese Spring Festival marks the beginning of the Year of the Rat, which is the first in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac.

Misr Company for Sound and Light has recently added the Chinese language to its evening shows at the Pyramids Plateau due to the rising number of Chinese visitors in light of the growing ties between the two countries.

"Now Chinese is one of the main nine languages of our Sound and Light shows. China has an ancient civilization and the Chinese people value our ancient Egyptian civilization as well," said Youssef al-Hawary, general manager of the Sound and Light at the Pyramids Plateau.

"We can see that all our Chinese friends are happy with our Sound and Light show tonight and we wish them all a happy Chinese New Year," the Egyptian manager told Xinhua during the Sound and Light show. 
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- It takes something special to really stand out in debt capital markets in 2020 when issuance has hit a new record, but Austrias Erste Group Bank AG certainly caught the eye this week with a perpetual deal at an incredibly low yield of 3.375%.

It was the second lowest coupon on record for a so-called additional tier 1 regulatory capital bond, also known as a CoCo, which is an especially risky type of debt because the investor bears the losses if the bank fails. Even so, and despite the small yield, the 500 million-euro ($554 million) issue was more than 10 times subscribed.

Investor demand for the riskiest type of European bank debt has never been stronger. This AT1 class of regulatory capital was created after the banking crisis to bolster lenders financial reserves  and to offer a generous rate of interest to reflect their riskiness.

Although its a perpetual bond, making it similar to equity, the market practice is almost always for this kind of note to be redeemed at the first issuer call date  a convention that Spains Banco Santander SA flouted shamelessly last year. While the coupon can look optically attractive, its not for the faint-hearted.

Erste is the first AT1 deal this year with an investment grade rating, opening it up to a wider pool of demand. The bank could easily have issued more but it chose to stick to its announced size. Instead it drove the yield on offer down by 62.5 basis points from the initial price talk of a 4% coupon, a bigger than 15% reduction.

Thats an extraordinary cut for a fixed-income deal, though its not unique in this market  where investors will take almost any yield they can get. A similar AT1 deal from the lower-rated Italian lender Banco BPM SpA was tightened by 75 basis points just last week. This looks suspiciously like bait and switch, where investors are lured with a high coupon only to let the issuer build a huge book of demand and then slash the return on offer.

Story continues

Erste has been on quite a journey since having to write off billions of euros in 2014 from ill-fated ventures in Hungary and Romania. It returned to the AT1 market in 2016, but had to pay an 8.875% coupon, more than 2.5 times what its paying on the new issue.

The Austrian lender placed a similar bond at 5.125% as recently as March, illustrating the strength of investor demand for top-rated bank debt at a time when European government bond yields are incredibly low or negative. The European Central Bank has restarted bond-buying, so its it is hard to see this investor hunt for yield stopping soon. Still, debt-pricing techniques might be a little less shameless.

To contact the author of this story: Marcus Ashworth at mashworth4@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Boxell at jboxell@bloomberg.net

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Marcus Ashworth is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering European markets. He spent three decades in the banking industry, most recently as chief markets strategist at Haitong Securities in London.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Tony Bilson, the Godfather of modern Australian cuisine, died peacefully in his home on Thursday night.

The 76-year-old culinary pioneer has been touted as one of the nation's 'greats', famous for his French-inspired takes on Australian dishes.

In 2016, Bilson opened up about his prostate cancer diagnosis.

'I never had any doubts that I'd get through it. You know, I dealt with the whole thing by thinking of it as an amusing rather than dramatic experience,' he said at the time.

Tony Bilson, the godfather of modern Australian cuisine, has died after a lengthy battle with illness

Bilson authored five culinary books in his lifetime, and has been praised by his contemporaries.

'Very sad to hear of Tony Bilson's passing. One of our greats,' celebrity chef Matt Moran said on Thursday morning.

'Thought are with his family.'

Mark Best agreed, describing Bilson as 'one of our greats'.

He famously regarded food and wine as 'an essential element of a nation's culture' and had a career spanning more than 40 years.

He ran restaurants in Melbourne before moving to Sydney in 1972 where he began opening restaurants throughout the city.

Bilson is survived by his second wife, Amanda, and four adult children.

More to come.
Accusing the previous BJP-led government in Maharashtra of tapping phones of senior NCP and Congress leaders during the 2019 Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Friday said he has ordered a probe into the matter.

He said there are also allegations that the then government had sent some officials to Israel and brought software to "intercept" phones of leaders of the Congress and the NCP, which were then in opposition.

"The previous BJP-led government had tapped phones of senior NCP and Congress leaders through government mechanism ahead of the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls held last year," Deshmukh alleged.

Deshmukh did not name the NCP and Congress leaders whose phones the Devendra Fadnavis-led government had allegedly tapped.

"They had stooped low in We have initiated probe into it," the NCP minister said.

Earlier, Housing Minister Jitendra Awhad, a NCP leader, said the phone tapping episode smacks of "sick mentality" of the BJP and added it should be probed as to why the previous government did so.

"I only had levelled the allegations. Why you want to poke into the people's private life? There are political and ideological differences between us, but not personal. Maharashtra should know who is behind this," he added.

Former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, however, denied the phone tapping allegations levelled against his government.

He said phone-tapping was not the culture of the state and his government had not given any such orders.

The BJP leader said the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government was free to conduct an inquiry into the matter.

The Shiv Sena, which is now heading the coalition government in Maharashtra, was part of the Fadnavis dispensation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
T he battle for Premier Oil has got 2020 off to a thrilling start for City watchers.

To recap, Premier specialises in squeezing the last drops of North Sea oil reserves once the BPs and Exxons have moved on. It can be lucrative work, but along the way, Premier has run up debts of $2.4 billion  double its equity value.

Under a restructuring in 2017, repayment was extended to May 2021. Now, Premier wants to buy another slug of North Sea assets and has asked its lenders to allow it to delay repayment again.

The biggest lender is an energy fund called ARCM. It is deeply opposed to Premiers plan; not only is this a hugely risky deal, it says, but we want our debt repaid, in full, when you promised.

ARCM is out on its own; 95% of the creditors agree with the plan.

They, and those close to Premier, say ARCM is only out to damage Premiers share price. Why? Because as it bought the debt, it also took short positions betting against Premiers shares. This was to hedge against possible losses on the debt if Premier got into strife. Stupidly, ARCM didnt disclose the short to the market.

But while the short is huge from Premiers perspective  17% of the company  its small fry for ARCM, which has $4 billion under management. And its exposure to Premiers debt  $455 million  outweighs the short fourfold.

It doesnt want Premier to fail.

Today, it posed the first in a series of questions asking if Premier has overstated the worth of the assets it wants to buy.
Police said a suspect had been arrested following the attack at a building near the train station in the town of Rot am See (Photo Credit: Twitter @PolizeiAalen)

New Delhi:

A gunman killed six people and seriously wounded two others in southwestern Germany on Friday, police said, with local media reporting that the victims were relatives of the shooter. The gunman, believed to have a personal motive, launched an assault in the town of Rot am See. The shooting took place near the train station at Rot am See, a town of 5,200 residents near Stuttgart, capital of Baden-Wuerttemberg state.

Police in nearby Aalen told AFP that a man with a personal connection to the victims had been arrested and there was no indication that other gunmen were involved. After the shooting at around 12:45 pm (1145 GMT), first responders arrived on the scene to find the dead and wounded in and around a local hotel.

Police said they responded to the shooting "in force", and images from the scene showed large numbers of emergency vehicles and heavily armed officers sealing off the area with red and white police tape. Meanwhile forensics teams dressed in white coveralls moved in to secure evidence. The police told local TV that the suspect was a German.

The Bild newspaper reported that the people killed were family members of the shooter, adding that the perpetrator was a man born in 1983. News site Spiegel Online reported the victims had come together for a "family gathering". Police were unable to confirm details of the relationships or the identity of the shooter.

While owning firearms is not illegal in Germany, most guns can be acquired only with a licence and they are closely monitored, making mass shootings comparatively rare.

In October last year, a far-right attacker shot two people dead in the eastern city Halle, wounding several more after failing to break into a packed synagogue armed with home-made weapons. In July 2016, a teenager used a pistol bought illegally online to kill nine people in a Munich shopping centre, before turning the weapon on himself.

Germany has also been the target of a number of jihadist attacks in recent years, although most of the perpetrators did not use guns. The most deadly took place in December 2016, when Tunisian Anis Amri drove an articulated truck into a Berlin Christmas market, killing 12 people.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, left, is in an emergency meeting at the central disaster safety control tower at the Seoul Government Complex in Jongno District, Jan. 24, as the country saw the second person in its soil infected with the Wuhan coronavirus from China. Yonhap



South Korea will hold an emergency meeting Friday to discuss stepped-up measures to prevent the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus as the country reported the second confirmed case of the deadly virus.



The meeting, presided over by Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, will focus on pan-government efforts to contain the virus during the Lunar New Year holiday that runs through Monday, according to the Prime



South Korea on Friday reported its second confirmed case of the China coronavirus amid mounting fears the pneumonia-like illness that is spreading throughout China and other parts of the world during the Lunar New Year holiday.



According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), a South Korean who arrived at Gimpo International Airport, western Seoul, late Wednesday, tested positive for the new type of virus.



The 55-year-old man, who has been working in Wuhan, visited a Chinese clinic last week after suffering from a sore throat and other symptoms, the agency said.




Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday the "environment of chaos" in Libya threatens to affect the whole of the Mediterranean basin and urged international pressure to force the head of Libya's eastern-based forces to abide by a tentative truce.

Erdogan made the comments as he attended the opening ceremony of a Turkish-German university's new campus with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who hosted a peace conference for Libya in Berlin on Sunday that resulted in a temporary truce.

Talks between Erdogan and Merkel were expected to also focus on the future of a migration deal between Turkey and the EU that helped decrease refugee flows to Europe.

Spearheaded by Germany, the EU agreed in 2016 to grant Turkey up to 6 billion euros (6.6 billion US dollars) in Syrian refugee aid money and other incentives to persuade the government in Ankara to stop migrants leaving for Greece.
"We are honored to welcome Gino Santos into the community," said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes Forbes Business Council.

"Our mission with Forbes Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a curated, social capital-driven network that helps every member grow professionally and make an even greater impact on the business world."

Gino Santos has been driving Premium Blend successfully for over 30 years pioneering in the wine-based liquor industry that is so in vogue today.

An outstanding member of the Miami community Gino was honored recently with the 2019 Distinguished Alumni Award by Stetson University. In his alma mater, Gino established the Orestes Santos Music Scholarship awarded to Hispanic students residing in Miami Dade or Broward counties, who are accepted by the institution and are enrolled as music majors. The scholarship serves as a bridge to cover expenses the student may have that are not covered by other financial grants.

Premium Blend has funded nearly 140 scholarships totaling $950,000 since 2017 in scholarship money through the Step Up for Students Scholarship program. As a proud member of the Miami community Santos' commitment to education and children is truly admirable.

As an accepted member of the Council, Gino has access to a variety of exclusive opportunities designed to help him reach peak professional influence.

"I am extremely excited to join the Forbes Business Council. I look forward to sharing experiences, best practices and valuable information with fellow members," expressed Gino Santos.

SOURCE AMN Distributors
It was, Charles Dickens once said, his "favourite child", the book he was closest to, arguably his best work and certainly his most autobiographical. David Copperfield's struggles closely mirrored his own, from his childhood trials toiling in a bottle factory to his unhappy fascination with an unsuitable female and his struggles to establish himself as a writer.

Dickens bled many elements of his own experience into this epic story, carefully reworking them to create the kind of life he'd like to have had. David Copperfield was close to his heart, and one wonders what he would have made of Armando Iannucci's adaptation.

Impossible to say, but I've a feeling he might have been rather pleased by it, because in The Personal History Of David Copperfield, Iannucci has managed to breathe new life and wit into an over-familiar story, while remaining essentially faithful to it.

Dev Patel is Copperfield, who, as the film opens, wanders in his mind back to his childhood home in Suffolk to watch himself being born. His father is dead, but his mother is a kindly, gentle creature and David has an idyllic first few years in the protective care of their eternally cheerful, bustling maid Peggoty (Daisy May Cooper). But dark clouds gather on the horizon when his mother unwisely remarries.

Businessman Edward Murdstone (Darren Boyd) is a cold, callous creature who quickly identifies the child as an impediment to domestic harmony and, after bullying young Davy mercilessly to try and break his spirit, sends him off to London to work in his gloomy bottling factory. There David will toil for years unhappily, his misery tempered somewhat by the many adventures of his landlord, Wilkins Micawber (Peter Capaldi), a lovable conman who somehow manages to keep one step ahead of a small army of furious creditors.

When David grows up, he runs away to Kent to seek the help of his aunt, Betsey Trotwood (Tilda Swinton), an eccentric but kind-hearted woman who will become his benefactor. She and her still more eccentric lodger Mr Dick (Hugh Laurie) dote on David and send him to a private school where he finally gets a proper education and makes the acquaintance of the charismatic and compelling James Steerforth (Aneurin Barnard), who will play a dramatic role in Copperfield's future.

Things are looking up, but David's fortunes ebb and flow spectacularly, and after Betsy Trotwood's fortune is swindled from under her feet by an unscrupulous legal clerk called Uriah Heep (Ben Whishaw), the whole family faces run and must move to a dingy London tenement. Only Davy's pen, it seems, can save them.

There is a confident sweep, a Dickensian gusto to the way Iannucci frames and tells his story. He accentuates the novel's humour at times, but then again, that is not difficult given how many delightfully fruity eccentrics Dickens has generously placed at the film-maker's disposal.

The casting is inspired. Iannucci regular Capaldi is wonderful as the bug-eyed spoofer Micawber, whom we and David find strangely impossible to dislike, however many times he darkens the door of the debtor's prison; Whishaw is suitably unctuous as the odious, obsequious Heep; Swinton gives total commitment to her portrayal of David's odd, endearing aunt; and Laurie's Mr Dick is a thing of beauty.

This harmless man obsessed with assuaging Charles I's sufferings is muddle-headed, but capable of sudden emotional insights.

Video of the Day

I also enjoyed Paul Whitehouse's heavy Norfolk twang as the angelic fisherman Mr Peggotty, and Gwendoline Christie's panto turn as the monstrous Jane Murdstone.

The fact that Iannucci's cast has an interracial aspect is both relevant and irrelevant: one notes it and moves on. The presence of Patel and Rosalind Eleazer (who plays Agnes Wigfield) does subtly connect the tale to 21st century multicultural Britain, but then again, it somehow feels connected anyway, for Dickens' characters are immortally relevant, their flaws and virtues enduringly universal.

Iannucci's film has done them justice, and it's no exaggeration to describe The Personal History Of David Copperfield as one of the greatest Dickensian adaptations of them all.

The Lighthouse (Robert Pattinson, Willem Dafoe); Queen & Slim (Daniel Kaluuya, Jodie Turner-Smith, Chloe Sevigny, Bokeem Woodbine); A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood (Tom Hanks, Matthew Rhys, Chris Cooper, Susan Kelechi Watson).

At the movies: Your guide to all the weeks new releases

The Turning (16, 94mins)

Floria Sigismondis febrile Gothic horror is not the first film to have been inspired by Henry James The Turn Of The Screw, but it is certainly the worst. Mackenzie Davis is Kate, a young woman who takes a job as live-in governess to a little girl called Flora (Brooklynn Prince) at a creepy Maine mansion. Flora seems sweet, but is rather neurotic, and things get worse when Floras unhinged brother Myles returns from boarding school and Kate begins seeing ghosts. Partly filmed in Ireland, The Turning starts solidly enough, but is never in control of its story and explodes spectacularly in a nonsensical last 10 minutes.

The Grudge (18, 94mins)

Another dodgy horror film, The Grudge is, depressingly, the sequel of a remake. This new reboot shadows the events of the first Hollywood film and begins in Tokyo, where a clearly spooked woman called Fiona phones her family in America and tells them shes coming home. She brings with her a supernatural curse, and after she and her family die horribly, a supernatural entity takes possession of the home. All who enter will subsequently be afflicted, including a harried cop (Andrea Riseborough), who inspects the crime scene. This is shoddy stuff, full of J-horror cliches and supposed jump-scares you can see coming a mile off.

Films coming soon...

The Lighthouse (Robert Pattinson, Willem Dafoe); Queen & Slim (Daniel Kaluuya, Jodie Turner-Smith, Chloe Sevigny, Bokeem Woodbine); A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood (Tom Hanks, Matthew Rhys, Chris Cooper,
Schroeder said hes been shot at two other times, stabbed in a bar fight, and once fell down a well. On his 24th birthday, he hung with members from the heavy metal bands Metallica and Motley Crue (with photos to prove it). And he lived along the infamous Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood during its raucous and raunchy heyday.
Several protesters were detained and a bus was damaged in Mumbai on Friday during the shutdown called by Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) across Maharashtra against the amended citizenship act and National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Prakash Ambedkar claimed that VBA has the support of more than 35 organisations for the shutdown and appealed other political parties to join the protest.

The shutdown did not affect normal life in the city as trains and buses operated normally throughout the morning. However, the VBAs activists forced shopkeepers in areas of Mulund, Airoli, Ghatkopar, Govandi, Wadala and Chembur to shut down.

A VBA activist, who was forcing the shopkeepers to down their shutters at Barket Ali Nagar at Wadala, defended his decision saying it was being done to protest the present policies of the government.

Shopkeepers should understand that we are undertaking this agitation for them and hence they need to participate, the activist, who declined to be named, said.

Shopkeepers forced to close their shops said they had no choice.

A thick security blanket was thrown in at the communally-sensitive pocket of Ramabai Nagar in Ghatkopar off the Eastern Express Highway (EEH) since Friday morning. The EEH, which connects the eastern suburbs to south Mumbai, is widely used by office-goers and has witnessed demonstrations in the past.

We have taken all the necessary preventive measures, said Akhileshkumar Singh, deputy commissioner of police (Zone 7) who has been stationed at Ramabai Colony.

The situation is normal and the routine life is not affected. Steps have been taken to ensure that others are not disturbed, Singh said.

The windshield of a BEST bus, which operates on route number 362, was damaged in stone-pelting in Chembur at around 9.15am. The bus driver Vilas Dabhade, 53, sustained injuries on both his hands due to the broken glass shards.

The driver has been admitted to Shatabdi Hospital in Govandi for further treatment. Fortunately, no passenger was injured in this incident, BEST spokesperson Manoj Varade said.

VBA chief Prakash Ambedkar sought to distance himself from the stone pelting and said the overall response to the call was very good.

People have responded very positively to the bandh. However, there are some who want to ensure that the bandh fails. Even the people who attacked the bus had covered their faces and were not our activists, said Ambedkar.

A VBA member, who is set to take part in the protest, said there would be demonstrations in some areas but neither traffic nor the people would be impacted.

Schools and colleges functioned as per their regular schedules during the first shift.

We had good attendance and everything was normal in our locality, the principal of a school in Tilak Nagar said.

The shutdown has also been to protest the economic policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government, which Ambedkar said were ruining the country.
Brussels, Jan 24 : Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel, the heads of the European Commission and Council, on Friday signed UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit deal, ahead of the the country's exit from the EU on January 31.

The development comes a day after Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday approved the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act, and on January 29, the European Parliament is expected to vote for it too, the BBC rpeorted.

Following the signing, Michel said in a tweet "things will inevitably change but our friendship will remain.

"We start a new chapter as partners and allies," he added.

Michel Barnier, the EU Commission official who spent more than three years negotiating Brexit, stood behind the two EU leaders at the signing ceremony.

The document is now on its way to Downing Street for signing by Johnson.

The UK has agreed to abide by EU rules during a transition period until the end of the year.

By 2021, the UK aims to have agreed a deal on future ties.

Brexit ends 46 years of the country in the bloc.
Blac Chyna makes her living modeling clothes on Instagram.

And on Thursday evening the 31-year-old beauty was doing just that as she shared several new images where she was dressed in a black lace top with black lace biker shorts.

These posts come during a difficult time in her personal life as her ex Rob Kardashian filed a new request for primary custody of their three-year-old daughter Dream Kardashian.

Model mood: Blac Chyna makes her living modeling clothes on Instagram. And on Thursday evening the 31-year-old beauty was doing just that

Glam session: She shared several new images where she was dressed in a black lace top with cute black lace biker shorts

Chyna was modeling for Fashion Nova, a brand she has repped for years.

The star was inside her sprawling Calabasas, California mansion. The caption to one of the images read, 'Victory is all yours.'

It could have been a message related to the drama she has had with her ex.

Days ago the 32-year-old reality star was denied his original petition to have his ex tested for drugs and change the custody agreement according to a Wednesday report from Radar Online.

Her pals: Chyna was modeling for Fashion Nova, a brand she has repped for years

Taking off: Here the former dancer went up a flight of stairs

Many of the same requests and allegations - including concern centered around his daughter's safety - were made in the previous custody request, however, he had accounts from nannies who allegedly voiced their uneasiness over Chyna's drinking leading many to leave.

After the original judgement was made in 2017, a professional nanny went back and forth between Chyna and his households with Dream.

The legal documents obtained by Radar Online say: 'The nanny told me that she was cursed out a lot by Petitioner (Chyna) and told me that Petitioner was drunk a lot, and the nanny was scared. Petitioner would not let the nanny stay there.'

For Rob? The caption to one of the images read, 'Victory is all yours.' It could have been a nod to the drama she has had with her ex

All tatted up: The Rob & Chyna star's tattoos could be seen from under her lace bustier

The reality star added that all of the professional nannies who used to care for Dream left two months ago and claimed that one of them would even call him at various times without the Lashed founder's knowledge asking if she could bring his child to his home while Chyna sobered up.

Chyna has vehemently denied all the allegations made by Kardashian including claims that her daughter is dirty, she abuses abuse drugs in front of her children and taught Dream sexual positions.

According to TMZ days ago, sources close to the reality star claim she is a 'good mother who would never put her child in harm's way, despite what Rob says.

Rob, 32, had previously claimed Chyna was spending $600 a day on alcohol, abusing drugs, chasing people with knives and making violent threats, failing to keep Dream well-presented and teaching her sexual positions and naked twerking.

But sources close to Chyna claim this is simply not true, particularly the accusations about sexual positions.

They told the site: 'Chyna has never done drugs in front of her children and only drinks on occasion ... when her kids are not around.

Trouble: Days ago the Rob Kardashian was denied his original petition to have his ex tested for drugs and change the custody agreement according to a Wednesday report from Radar Online

'She claims she always keeps Dream clean and makes her practice good hygiene ... and has more than 100 nice outfits for her at her home.'

Rob has asked the court to reduce Blac Chyna's parenting time to just weekends, with a nanny present. His sister Khloe and former employees of Chyna have supported him.

He has also requested that she submits to drug and alcohol testing no less than 30 minutes before each visit with Dream.

Moreover, Khloe wants to do 'everything she can' to help Rob win primary custody of Dream.

'Khloe has always been very close to Dream,' a source told People. 'When Rob had custody of her as a baby, Khloe often helped out. She really loves Dream.'

Here to help: Rob's sister Khloe wants to do 'everything she can' to help Rob Kardashian win primary custody'

The insider added: 'Khloe will do everything she can to help Rob get custody. She thinks this is best for Dream.'

Khloe, 35, has a close relationship with her nieces and nephews, including Dream, and recently documented a play-date between Dream and her own daughter True, 20 months, on social media.

The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star has always been close to her brother, who lived with her for several years.

In his documents, Rob said he believes his ex poses a danger and isn't behaving appropriately around their little girl.

The reclusive star accused his former lover - who also has seven-year-old son King Cairo with her ex-partner Tyga - of regularly hosting parties at her home in front of Dream and invites strangers around to 'get drunk with her.'

Rob believes Dream's behaviour has changed recently as she's started 'naked twerking, and acting out sexual positions that she said her mom taught her' as well as swearing and using language he insisted he never uses around her.

Close bond: The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star has always been close to her brother, who lived with her for several years, (pictured in April 2012)

He also said his daughter arrives to him with messy hair and dirty teeth.

Rob's paperwork states that Khloe can back up his allegations as she has noticed a behavioral change in Dream as she is 'more in defense mode' and is 'decidedly more aggressive' during her play dates with her cousins.

However, a lawyer acting for his client Chyna has blasted Rob for moving to take the tot away from her 'hands-on, extremely loving' parent.

Lawyer Lynne Ciani said: 'So Rob Kardashian - who has ... posted illegal revenge porn against Chyna - wants to take custody of Chyna's beautiful daughter, Dream, away from her hands-on, extremely loving mother?

Legal move: The 32-year-old sock designer filed documents in Los Angeles earlier this week asking to be the main carer of three-year-old Dream - pictured in May 2016

'And Khloe Kardashian ... wants to take her niece Dream away from her loving mother, Chyna? Oh, please.

'Chyna will vigorously contest this latest despicable attempt to take away her daughter in a court of law, where she will keep prevailing against her ex-fiance Rob and the other malicious and vindictive members of his family.'

Rob filed documents in a Los Angeles court on Tuesday for full custody of his daughter.

Rob also reportedly asked the court to order Chyna to undergo random drug and alcohol testing, a move which was denied by a judge.

Meanwhile.... : Dream's cousins True, Chicago and Stormi have been at Disney World this week

In his court filings, Rob made shocking claims about Chyna as a mother and said she has taught their little girl to mimic sexual positions, snorts cocaine with strangers and has a $600-a-day-alcohol habit.

He also asserts that Chyna is making for 'an unsafe environment due to her unpredictable behavior' and even makes violent threats to people in her home.'

Kardashian said that Chyna uses foul language in front of Dream, who has subsequently repeated phrases such as 'What the f***?' and 'b***h.'

And he said in court docs that a person who used to work with Chyna said that the Lashed entrepreneur spends about $600 on booze a day,

He added that she is usually drunk, and has finished a full bottle of Hennessy in one sitting.

Dream was involved in a physical fight with another kid last month, which Rob said is indicative of her mother's influence.

Rob is asking the court to mandate Chyna take drug and alcohol tests a half-hour before visits; and that the nanny is granted legal power to terminate the visits in cases of violent or aggressive behavior when the child is present.

Chyna told RuPaul in June that 'co-parenting is good' with both Tyga and Rob, as they're 'all in a good place.'

'With both of my baby fathers, we have a mutual agreement and everything runs smoothly,' she said.

Rob and Chyna welcomed Dream in November 10, 2016, but they split in February 2017.
Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

One important philosophical shift that occurred as a result of the Enlightenment and had significant impact on broader culture was the emergence of the naturalistic category of emotion. When theologians and philosophers prior to the Age of Reason spoke about human sensibilities, they used nuanced categories of affections of the soul, such as love, joy, and peace, and appetites (or passions) of the body, like hunger, sexual desire, and anger. This conception of human faculties appears all the way back in Greek philosophers, who used the metaphors of the spankna (chest) to designate the noble affections and the koilia (belly) for the base appetites. In the New Testament, the apostle Paul employed such categories as well, urging Christians to put on the affections (splankna) of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience (Col 3:12) and describing enemies of Christ as those whose god is their belly (koilia) (Phil 3:19).

This way of understanding human sensibility dominated Christian thought and philosophy from the Patristic period through the Reformation. The affections were the core of spirituality and were to be nurtured, developed, and encouraged; the appetites, while not evil (in contrast to Gnosticism), must be kept under control lest they overpower the intellect. Theologians believed that the Bible taught a holistic dualism where material and immaterial combined to composed man; thus, while the body and spirit are both good and constantly interact and influence one another, and physical expression is part of the way God created his people, biblical worship should aim at cultivating both the intellect and affections as well as calming the passions.

With music in worship, for example, second-century theologian Clement of Alexandria argued, We must abominate extravagant music, which enervates mens souls, and leads to changefulness  now mournful, and then licentious and voluptuous, and then frenzied and frantic. Rather, the churchs hymnody should employ temperate harmonies. Likewise, Augustine later insisted that while the affections were at the core of Christian religion, the passions must be controlled by reason, Thomas Aquinas likewise maintained a distinction between the souls affections and the bodys passions, and sixteenth-century Reformers such as Calvin agreed, considering worship to consist centrally of pious affections, while yielding entirely to fleshly desires was sin.

In contrast to this premodern way of thinking, the purely naturalistic environment of the Enlightenment created a new psychological category philosophers called emotionnon-cognitive, purely physical, involuntary feelings.

This new psychological philosophy of emotion, combined with increasing secularism, affected the culture broadly and the church specifically, including their view of art and music. Premodern thought, understanding music to be directly connected to the heart, and understanding a distinction between the affections and passions, consequently understood a distinction between kinds of music. Some music inherently targets the spiritthe mind, the affections, and the will, while other music is designed simply to artificially create a physical experience of the senses. Augustine and the Reformers used the biblical terms spiritual and carnal to describe this distinction, while non-Christians have used the terms classical and romantic.

After the Enlightenment had taken hold, Friedrich Nietzsche used the labels Apollonian and Dionysian. Both Dionysus and Apollo were mythological Greek gods associated with music. Apollo was the god of reason and logic and was considered the god of music since the Greeks thought of good music as a great expression of order and pattern (a la Pythagorus and Plato). Dionysus, on the other hand, was the god of wine and revelry and was worshiped with loud, raucous music accompanied by pipes and drums. Nietzsche used these names, then, to describe the distinction that had been made in the past between kinds of music.

The difference between Apollonian and Dionysian music is basically what it targets in man. Apollonian music targets the spirit of man  the mind, the affections, and the will. Once the spirit is moved by such music, it may often result in some kind of physical sensation, but that is not the target; it is a result. Dionysian music targets the passions of man  the physical feelings themselves for their own sake. It artificially stimulates such feelings.

In the wake of the Enlightenment, Dionysian music rose to dominance  the goal of music in the broader culture became to excite human passions rather than calm them, and this gradually impact music in worship as well. This is not to say that theologians prior to the Enlightenment saw no connection between worship, music, and the heart; indeed they certainly did. However, losing the older distinctions between affections and appetites, lumping both together in a nebulous category of emotion or feeling, led to a reality in which, as Quentin Faulkner notes, musics historic anchors to the church and its worship  carrying praise, prayer, the story, and proclaiming the Word were obscured or removed.
The state attorney general is ordering all New Jersey police to stop using a powerful new facial-recognition technology thats pulling millions of photos from social media.

The order was issued Friday to county prosecutors, concerning a New York-based company called Clearview AI.

Like many people, I was troubled, state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal said about the companys techniques, which were first reported by The New York Times.

Clearview promotes itself as an effective way to track down dangerous people. It takes partial credit for the recent arrests in New Jersey of 19 men who police say tried to lure children for sex. The companys main promotional video even featured Grewal and two state troopers at an October press conference about that operation.

Grewal said it was irresponsible for the company to reveal investigative techniques, and his office sent Clearview a cease-and-desist letter Friday to stop using that footage.

Tor Ekeland, a Clearview lawyer, wrote in an email that they would take the video down, and it was no longer at the top of the companys website Friday evening.

Facial-recognition technology has long been used in the state. The Motor Vehicle Commission began using one version almost a decade ago to hunt for fraud, and a state report credited the tool with hundreds of arrests.

But that effort relied on a government database. Clearview uses the open web, according to the company, which can mean photos pulled from your public social media accounts. Clearviews database adds millions of faces every day, according to an internal document.

An unknown number of New Jersey cops have used that database.

Clifton Lt. Robert Bracken said their department used a free trial, but had not purchased it.

Its just like any tool, its used to develop leads, he said. But those leads have to be vetted.

State Police use a different version of the technology, while Newark has never used any facial recognition, according to a spokesperson.

The company did not respond to questions about how many other agencies have tried it, or how theyre protecting the data.

Grewal said he asked county prosecutors to figure out what agencies have used Clearview.

Regarding the 19 arrests that Clearview took credit for, Grewal said the Bergen County Prosecutors office did use a subscription to the service during that investigation. When men sent photos to undercover officers posing as children online, investigators ran those photos in Clearviews database to identify them, which let them check if the men had criminal histories or owned guns.

That wont happen again until police know more about how Clearview gets and protects its data, Grewal told NJ Advance Media. He added that he is not categorically opposed to the technology in general.

Clearviews tactics have sparked a backlash. Twitter recently sent the group a cease-and-desist letter, according to a spokesperson, demanding that Clearview delete all data and return or destroy any Twitter material shared with outsiders.

Facebook and LinkedIn also prohibit groups from scraping their information, and spokespeople said they are reviewing Clearviews actions for possible violations.

While people can ask Clearview to remove their photo, the company notes that requesters need to hold the copyright to the photo. Generally, only the person who takes a photo owns the copyright.

Critics have raised concerns that facial-recognition technology can be abused. Sarah Fajardo, policy director for the ACLU in New Jersey, said the tool can lead to constant, warrantless searches, particularly because of the lack of regulation.

In November, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., introduced a federal bill to ban the technology in public housing.

Blake Nelson can be reached at bnelson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BCunninghamN.

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.

Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
FREEBURG  A Collinsville woman was killed Thursday morning when her vehicle collided with a semi between Freeburg and Fayetteville.

According to Illinois State Police Trooper Joshua Korando, Tyra S. Boyd, 28, was driving a Nissan Sentra westbound on Illinois 15 just south of Pleasant Ridge School Road when she collided with a 2019 Kenworth semi tractor with a trailer driven by Neal D. Pollard, 48, of Marion, at 10:46 a.m. Thursday.
Fifteen people went on trial in the Moroccan capital on Friday over the theft of dozens of luxury watches belonging to King Mohammed VI.

Defence lawyers said the suspects, arrested at the end of last year, were also charged in a Rabat court of forming "a criminal gang".

The main suspect is a 46-year-old who worked as a cleaning woman in a royal household and has allegedly confessed to the robberies, while the others have denied involvement.

The woman, who is alleged to have stolen 36 watches, had many of them melted down and sold on to gold merchants.

The 14 others in court, all men, are gold traders or intermediaries who said they had no knowledge of the robberies.

Forbes magazine in 2014 classified the 56-year-old monarch as one of the world's richest men with wealth estimated at more than USD 2.5 billion.

He has a taste for luxury cars, paintings and watches, and was shown in an Instagram post in September 2018 with a Patek Philippe diamond-encrusted watch in white gold with an estimated value of USD 1.2 million.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
police car

ArtOlympic/ Shutterstock

Former Fairmont Heights police officer Martique Vanderpool is accused of raping a woman following a traffic stop in September.

A Prince George County grand jury indicted Vanderpool Tuesday on a slew of charges, including that he knowingly exposed the woman to HIV.

Vanderpool resigned from duty after his arrest.

Police have asked victims of a sexual assault involving Vanderpool, or those who have had sexual contact with him and he did not disclose his HIV diagnosis, to call detectives at 301-856-2660.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

A Maryland grand jury has indicted a former police officer on charges that he forced a woman to have sex with him  knowingly exposing her to HIV  after a September traffic stop, according to a statement from the Prince George County Police Department.

"Earlier this month, a judge initially dismissed the first-degree rape charge and remanded Vanderpool to home confinement and placement on electronic monitoring," police said in the statement. "The grand jury, after receiving all of the evidence, returned the charges yesterday to include first-degree rape charge."

Prosecutors allege that Martique Vanderpool, 30, was on duty with the Fairmont Heights Police Department on Sept. 6 when he and another officer pulled over female driver. During the stop, Vanderpool asked the woman to get out of her car and placed her in handcuffs, according to police.

She was then taken back to the police station, where he demanded that she either engage in a sex act or be arrested, police said. She complied.

The Prince George Police Department arrested Vanderpool in December and he later resigned from the Fairmont Heights Police Department. He faces 11 charges in total.

During their investigation, the Prince George police confirmed that Vanderpool was HIV positive, and his charges include knowingly exposing or attempting to expose a victim to HIV.

Story continues

On Wednesday, Prince George's County Police Chief Hank Stawinski called the allegations troubling and asked the public to report any other incidents involving Vanderpool, according to The Washington Post.

"This conduct creates . . . concerns that we may have other people that have been impacted, whether as victims of crime or relationships with the individual in question," Stawinski said at a news conference Wednesday, according to the Post.

No other victims have come forward, the Post reported.

Police have asked victims of a sexual assault involving Vanderpool, or those who have had sexual contact with him and he didn't disclose his HIV diagnosis, to call detectives at 301-856-2660.

Read the original article on Insider
Lead defence lawyer in the case of the Republic versus Fredrick Mac Palm and nine (9) others, Victor Adawudu, today has challenged Police Prosecutor, Assistant Superintendant of Police (ASP) Slyvester Asare, to a fight outside the Court.

The invitation of the defence lawyer was made right before the District Court Judge Rosemond Dodua Agyiri, before who, Indictment proceedings are being heard.

The Police Prosecutor, Slyvester Asare, himself a lawyer, in responding to a complaint by Victor Adawudu, that his client was refused a request to be taken to the Police Hospital for treatment instead of the BNI hospital, asked the defence lawyer to be careful what he says about the BNI. This caution by the ASP did not go down well with the defence lawyer.

He shouted on top of his voice in Court, What do you mean by that. If you are a man, meet me outside the Court and I will show. What do you mean by I should be careful.

District Court Judge Rosemond Dodua Agyiri, intervened and calmed down tempers in her Court. To settle the issue that generated the argument, the District Court Judge ordered that the Accused person, Frederick Mac Palm, be sent to the Police Hospital at all material times should he require medical attention.

Earlier on before the contention, the District Court Dismissed an application by defence lawyers requesting for full disclosure of all the documents, evidence and files the Prosecution intends to rely on to establish their case against the accused persons.

The Court indicated that since the case is one to be tried by indictment, the District Court cannot ask the Prosecution to make any disclosures at this time. The Court ruled that disclosures will be made at the High Court as soon as Indictment proceedings are completed and the case is set down for trial.

The Court adjourned sitting to the 6th of February 2020.

Background

Information about the foiled Coup Plot first came to light in the country on the 23rd of September 2019, when the government announced that some person had been arrested after several months of investigations. The accused persons, Dr. Fredrick Mac Palm (1st Accused), Donyo Kafui A.K.A Ezor, Bright Alan Debrah Ofosu a.k.a Bright Alan Yeboah, Col. Samuel Kodzo Gameli, Gershong Akpah, W.0.2 Esther Saan Dekuwine, Cpl. Seidu Abubakari, L/Cpl. Ali Solomon, L/Cpl. Sylvester Akanpewon and ACP Benjamin Agordzo, are suspected to have masterminded a fifteen months plot to destabilize the country and possibly take over the government of the Republic.

---starrfm.com.gh
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro will arrive in India on a four-day visit beginning Friday with an aim to "re-energise" the bilateral strategic partnership by boosting trade and investment, and deepening cooperation in key sectors such as defence and energy.

Bolsonaro, during his first visit to India after assuming power, will be the chief guest at India's 71st Republic Day Parade on January 26, besides holding talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind.

Asked why a "controversial" figure like Bolsonaro was chosen to be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade, Secretary (East) Vijay Thakur Singh said he is an elected leader in a democratic country which is an emerging power in the region and one with which India has strong and substantive relations.

"We will be warmly welcoming him as an honoured guest to the Republic Day and it (his coming here) is a sign of his commitment to building the relationship between the two countries," she said at a media briefing.

Brazilian envoy Andre Aranha Correa do Lago to India earlier told PTI over 15 agreements will be signed during the Brazilian president's visit, including one on the investment protection and facilitation treaty.

President Bolsonaro will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind separately on Saturday.

Thakur said there would be discussions on cooperation in key sectors such as defence, energy, trade and agriculture.

"Coming to the energy sector, which is the area in which we have collaboration both oil and gas as well as in the renewable energy side, including in the field of Bio-fuels... We could have exchange of knowledge as well as technology in this field," Thakur said.

"We have ongoing Defence cooperation as well as space cooperation and we are looking at how to strengthen these. And, also we would be looking at strengthening our cooperation that exists in science and technology, in innovations and start-ups," she said.

Other areas which will be the focus of discussion during the visit will be agriculture, food processing and animal husbandry, Thakur said.

"So, if you look at it, the visit of President Bolsonaro is extremely important visit. It will be an opportunity to re-energise our strategic partnership and take it forward in a focused manner. And, we have a very positive and forward looking agenda to building stronger ties with Brazil," she said.

President Bolsonaro will be accompanied by eight ministers, four members of the Brazilian Parliament, senior officials and a large business delegation, she said.

This will be the third time that a Brazilian President will be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day.

The last time there was a Brazilian president as chief guest was in 2004.

India-Brazil ties have been on an upswing in the last few years.

The volume of bilateral trade was USD 8.2 billion in 2018-19. This included USD 3.8 billion worth of Indian exports to Brazil and USD 4.4 million as imports by India. Both the governments feel there is huge potential to enhance the bilateral trade further.

Indian investments in Brazil were around USD 6 billion and Brazilian investments in India are estimated at USD 1 billion in 2018.

Brazilian investments in India are mainly in the automobile, IT, mining, energy and biofuels sectors. India has invested in Brazil's IT, pharmaceutical, energy, agri-business, mining and engineering sectors.

The two countries signed an agreement in 2003 for defence cooperation. It was ratified by Brazil in 2006. The agreement provides for cooperation in defence related matters, especially in the field of research and development, acquisition and logistic support.

Both the countries are also strong contenders for permanent membership of the UN Security Council.

Prime Minister Modi met Bolsonaro on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Osaka in June last year during which a raft of issues of bilateral importance were discussed.

Also read: Brazil urges India to cut import taxes on chicken amid high demand

Also read: PSUs don't owe any money; DoT's Rs 3-lakh crore demand nothing but 'communication gap': Dharmendra Pradhan
A poem written as a clarion call to youngsters to rise and achieve their objectives like a falcon had inspired the name of Shaheen Bagh, the residents welfare association (RWA) of the area says. Shaheen a Persian word means falcon. The area is in international spotlight these days for a protest sit-in against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The protest has entered in its day 39 on Thursday.

Shariq Ansarullah, 61  the man who bought the 80 bigha land in Jasola village in 1984, where the colony first came up  said he chose the name of the area from a famous poem of Allama Iqbal, who also wrote sarey jahan se acha.

Shariq Ansarullah had bought the land in 1984, on which Shaheen Bagh has come up.

In his nazm, Sitaron se aage jahan aur bhi hain, part of a collection of philosophical poetry named Bal-e-Jibril that was published in 1935, Iqbal had written: Tu Shaheen hai, parwaz hai kaam tera, tere samne asman aur bhi hain (You are a falcon, your task is to fly; before you there are other skies as well to cover).

Iqbal had used the word Shaheen (falcon) in many of his ghazals and poems written to inspire the youth in pre-independence era.

Ansarullah, who had come from Uttar Pradeshs Rampur to study at Jamia Millia Islamia in 1979, said that he and his family had bought an 80 bigha land in Jasola Village in 1984. After completing my graduation, I had joined MA in Arabic at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in 1982. I started a real estate business after completing my studies in 1984. With the help of my family, I bought a large plot of land in Jasola village and developed this colony. After due consideration, I decided to name this colony Shaheen Bagh, he said.

According to Ansarullah, who now runs two schools known as Shaheen Public Schools  one for girls and another for boys--- in the neighbourhood, the name Shaheen was derived from Mohammad Iqbals couplet. I was very inspired by Iqbals poetry. His couplet Tu Shaheen hai, parwaz hai kaam tera, tere samne asman aur bhi hain inspired me a lot. I then named my small colony as Shaheen Bagh, he said.

Mohammad Monis, who was the treasurer of Shaheen Bagh RWA in 1992, said initially the colony was developed by two persons. Before Shariq Ansarullah there was another family that was developing residential neighbourhoods in this area. While they named the colony developed on their plot as Nishat Bagh, Ansarullah named his colony Shaheen Bagh, he said.

Shaheen Bagh and Nishat Bagh have come up on agricultural land. In May 1992, the RWA had decided to register the neighbourhood as a society with the DDA. We passed a resolution to name it after Abul Fazl Enclave that was already there. But keeping in mind the popularity of the name Shaheen Bagh, we had mentioned it as Abul Fazl Enclave Part -2 (Shaheen Bagh) in the papers, he said.

A retired Delhi government teacher, Parvez Akhtar, who was the general sectary of Shaheen Bagh RWA at that time, said the name had become very popular because of its mass appeal. Shaheen is a very common name among Muslims. It had become so popular that even after registering as Abul Fazl Enclave Part-2, no one called the colony with that name.

Parvez Hashmi, Congress candidate from Okhla in the February 8 Delhi assembly elections and four-time MLA from the seat, said Shaheen Baghs came up around 1984-85. Although I am not aware of the origin of the name of Shaheen Bagh, I have seen these small colonies growing into large settlements, he said.

Ansarullah said he had never expected that a small colony named by him will gain such popularity after 36 years. I am glad its living up to its name. The courage of the people of Shaheen Bagh is matching with that of the falcons.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
A consumer rights case kicked off in Norway back in 2018 has ended, for the time being, in Germany, with a German judge dismissing accusations that Nintendos strict digital no refund policy violated the EUs Consumer Rights Direction.

The German publication Pressfire reports that the court dismissed the lawsuit after hearings in December 2019, though the German regulator helming the case against Nintendo has already filed an appeal.

The original lawsuit alleged that Nintendos eShop policies that forbade refunds on digital pre-orders, both before and after release, went against EU rules that ensure customers have the right to withdraw from a purchase if the product in question has yet to be distributed.

The complaint was originally raised by the Norwegian Consumer Council, but was later relocated to the German court system and taken over by the German Consumer Protection Authority as Nintendo of Europe calls Germany home.

Nintendos claim throughout the proceedings had been that pre-ordered games are eligible for pre-loading and, though unplayable at that point, that potential download counts as the start of distribution.
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], Jan 24 (ANI): Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief MK Stalin on Friday said that the Tamil Nadu government should not allow the process of National Population Register (NPR) in the state.



"Tamil Nadu government should not allow the process of NPR in the state. DMK is going to meet the people and is going to start a signature campaign from Feb 2 to 8 against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC). All the alliance party leaders and cadres will also be involved in this process. We will complete the campaign and will submit the memorandum to the president of India," Stalin told reporters here.

"I appeal to the students, vendors and all segments of people to support this signature campaign. Amit Shah may say that he will not take back CAA but we will continue to protest. We will get a date from President Ram Nath Kovind and meet him on CAA," he added.

On the vandalising of Thandai Periyar statue, Stalin said: "It is condemnable that vandalising of Thandai Periyar statue took place. This government should take action against the perpetrators of such vandalism."

The newly-enacted Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, grants citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who came to India on or before December 31, 2014. (ANI)
A consultative meeting of the technical and legal delegations from Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in Khartoum concluded on Thursday.

The two-day meeting aimed at resuming talks on the rules of filling and operating the dam's reservoir and outlining a draft agreement on that issue.

The meeting was held in light of the outcome of the meeting of foreign and irrigation ministers of the three countries held in Washington on January 13 to 15.

That meeting resulted in a statement that determined some elements and key terms as regards the final agreement on the dam's operation system, as well as the measures to be followed during the times of drought, so as not to harm Egypt's water quotas.

The ministers had agreed that the final agreement would include a mechanism for coordination among the three countries to follow up on the implementation of the agreement, as well as a mechanism to settle any disputes.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


By Trend

Members of a special committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), established to observe the upcoming parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan, who are in Baku, have met with representatives of parliamentary political parties, Trend reports Jan. 24.

Representative of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) Sevinj Fataliyeva informed the committee members about the principles of activity of political parties represented in the parliament and the situation in the country in the field of human rights.

Fataliyeva assessed the holding of early parliamentary elections as continuation of the reforms carried out in Azerbaijan.

It was noted that the presence of the PACE mission in the Azerbaijan is one of the indicators of the transparency and democracy of the electoral process in the country.

Members of the PACE special committee - Alfred Heer (Switzerland), Raivo Tamm (Estonia), Georgios Katrougalos (Greece) noted during the meeting that they are in Azerbaijan to assess the election campaign and the political situation in anticipation of the parliamentary elections.

The meeting was attended by Chairman of Azerbaijans Great Creation Party Fazil Mustafa, Chairman of Azerbaijans National Revival Movement Party Faraj Guliyev, Chairman of the Party for Democratic Reforms Asim Mollazade, Chairman of the Vahdat Party Tahir Karimli and Chairman of the Popular Front Party of Whole Azerbaijan Gudrat Hasanguliyev.

The parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan will be held Feb. 9.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Open-ended lockdowns encompass more than 20.5 million people as number of deaths jumps to 26.

China broadened on Friday its unprecedented, open-ended lockdowns to encompass more than 20.5 million people as the government tries to contain a deadly new virus that has killed at least 26 people and infected about 830 others.

At the same time, Beijing confirmed two coronavirus deaths outside of Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak.

At least six cities were also added to the list of places under lockdown, all in central Chinas Hubei province, where the illness originated. That brings to at least 10 the number of cities covered in the lockdown order.

In Wuhan, where the lockdown began early on Thursday, normally bustling streets, malls and other public spaces were eerily quiet. Masks were mandatory in public.

The railway station and the airport were closed, and ferry, subway and bus services were halted; police checked all incoming vehicles but did not close off the roads.

The other cities under lockdown as of Friday morning are near Wuhan, but authorities were taking precautions around the country.

In the capital, Beijing, major public events were cancelled indefinitely, including traditional temple fairs that are a staple of Lunar New Year celebrations.

The Forbidden City, the palace complex in Beijing that is now a museum, announced it will close indefinitely on Saturday.

Al Jazeeras Scott Heidler, reporting from Beijing, said the other big concern is when the travellers, who have already gone back to the provinces, will return to the cities after the holidays.





Most of the deaths and confirmed cases were concentrated in Hubei. But authorities on Friday also confirmed the first case outside the province.

The health commission in Hebei, a northern province bordering Beijing, said an 80-year-old man died after returning from a two-month stay in Wuhan to see relatives.

Not yet a global emergency

The vast majority of cases have been in and around Wuhan or people with connections in the city.

Outside the mainland, cases have been confirmed in Hong Kong, Macao, the United States, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam.

On Friday, Japan and South Korea reported at least one new case each of coronavirus infection.

Many countries are screening travellers from China for symptoms of the virus, which can cause fever, coughing, breathing difficulties and pneumonia.

The World Health Organization (WHO) decided against declaring the outbreak a global emergency for now. The declaration can increase resources to fight a threat but that can also cause trade and travel restrictions and other economic damage, making the decision politically fraught.

Staff members check body temperatures of the passengers arriving by a train from Wuhan to Hangzhou in Zhejiang province on Thursday [China Daily via Reuters]

The decision should not be taken as a sign that WHO does not think the situation is serious or that were not taking it seriously. Nothing could be further from the truth, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.

WHO is following this outbreak every minute of every day.

Chinese officials have not said how long the shutdowns of the cities will last.

While sweeping measures are typical of Chinas Communist Party-led government, large-scale quarantines are rare around the world, even in deadly epidemics, because of concerns about infringing on peoples liberties. And the effectiveness of such measures is unclear.

To my knowledge, trying to contain a city of 11 million people is new to science, said Gauden Galea, the WHOs representative in China.

Jonathan Ball, a professor of virology at molecular virology at the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom, said the lockdowns appear to be justified scientifically.

The first cases in the Wuhan outbreak late last month were connected to a seafood market, and experts suspect transmission began from wild animals sold there. The market is closed for investigation.

China is eager to avoid repeating mistakes with its handling of SARS.

For months, even after the illness had spread around the world, China used hotels and ambulances to conceal the true number of cases and avoid WHO experts.

This time, China has been credited with sharing information rapidly, and President Xi Jinping has emphasised that as a priority.
An unidentified man and woman duo has been booked for trying to kidnap two 11-year-old girls from outside a school in Mira Road in Thane district, police said on Friday.

The incident took place at around 5pm on January 22 and teams have been formed the nab the two persons, said an official.

"The two Class IV students were waiting for an autorickshaw after school to get home. A burkha-clad woman came in a white car driven by a masked man and pulled both of them inside and sped away. The two girls were threatened with a knife when they shouted," he said.

"When the car slowed down at one point, one of the girls bit the woman and the two children managed to jump out of the car and escape. They called their parents from a passerby's phone. A kidnapping case was registered on Thursday at Naya Nagar police station," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Alia Dharssi (Agence France-Presse) Victoria, Canada  Fri, January 24, 2020 09:06 719 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2060c7b57 2 People Prince-Harry,Meghan-Markle,royals,Britain,paparazzi,Canada Free

In explaining his decision to give up his work as a senior member of Britain's royal family, Prince Harry laid part of the blame at the feet of the media, which he called a "powerful force."

Indeed, in a 2017 BBC documentary, Harry decried the paparazzi who hounded his mother Diana as a "pack of dogs." He surely hoped that with a move to Canada, the family could tame the tabloid scrum.

But sure enough, journalists from as far away as Australia have arrived on Vancouver Island, and pictures of Harry's wife Meghan walking the dogs, their son Archie strapped to her, quickly surfaced.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have threatened legal action over the pictures, but the photographers are also under fire from locals who say they are not going to tolerate invasions of privacy.

"It is a quiet place here," said Kathryn Sandberg, a long-time resident of North Saanich, the tiny seaside community where Harry, Meghan and son Archie are living, in the greater Victoria area.

"I think maybe one of the reasons why Meghan and Harry want to come here is because of this quiet, and because there are people who are respectful of privacy," Sandberg told AFP.

"And we wouldn't want to see that change."

Meghan was snapped hiking in Horth Hill Regional Park -- local news outlet Chek News published a video of locals confronting one photographer working on the story, Derek Shook.

"Do you think a guy like you does anything for this community?" one resident says to Shook, who told a reporter: "They don't get it. (...) They don't understand."

Shook said he had been camped out for 11 days in the area.

"It's a worldwide story," Shook told Chek News, adding that he felt Meghan had not exactly made it difficult for the snappers.

"If she wanted to, she could have put her head down. But she stood up tall and smiled and made sure that, you know, we were able to get the shot."

Read also: Harry, Meghan would find friendlier media in Canada but impossible to escape scrutiny

'Huge' global interest

Amelia Brace is the North America correspondent for Australia's Channel 7. She is normally based in Los Angeles but arrived on Vancouver Island late Monday.

"The royals in Australia are huge. It's always one of our biggest stories," Brace told AFP from a vantage point near Harry and Meghan's temporary home, where she had just filmed her report.

"In the first few days of them starting a new life here, I think it was to be expected that the world would want to see what that looked like," Brace added.

"And unfortunately, just because they've stepped back as royals doesn't mean they can completely step out of the public eye."

AFP ran into a camera crew working for a Japanese media outlet. They said there was a lot of interest in the royal couple in Japan, but declined further comment.

Journalists from Britain and the United States are also on the scene. A mob of photographers camped out at the airport in Victoria to capture Harry's arrival after the crisis talks with his family.

Diana, Harry's mother, was killed in a high-speed car crash in Paris in 1997 as her vehicle was pursued by paparazzi.

Harry admitted in an interview last year that the sound of cameras was a constant reminder of her and has colored his opinion of the media.

One freelance photojournalist -- his gear and binoculars on the seat next to him in his white SUV, parked on the main road near Harry and Meghan's home -- spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, citing the legal issues at play.

He said the couple had been "tricky" to capture, mentioning their multiple "different cars".

The man said he was not concerned about the threat of court action, citing Canada's media laws, which he believes are more liberal than those in place in Britain and elsewhere.

"From what I understand, as long as you are not following them, harassing them, breaking the law... then the press is free to cover it."

Christian Leblanc, an attorney who specializes in media law at the Fasken law firm in Montreal, told AFP that Canadian courts were less prone to intervene in such cases than those in Europe.

As Harry and Meghan "are well-known people, it will be hard for them, at least at first, to claim any invasion of their privacy" if they are in a public place, Leblanc said.
Pakistan on Friday rejected a report by a global anti-corruption watchdog, which highlighted increase in rampant corruption in the country in the last one year, terming it as "managed" and "biased".

According to a report released on Thursday by Transparency International (TI), an international non-governmental organisation based in Berlin, Pakistan's ranking dropped from 117 in 2018 to 120 out of 180 countries on the Corruption Perception Index (CPI)-2019.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, Firdous Ashiq Awan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information, claimed the report was "managed" and "biased".

"There is a huge question mark over the transparency of TI. It is necessary to expose the people and the data, on the basis of which this this report was published, in front of the public," she said a press conference.

"Who will respect the findings of a report that says the most corruption was done during the government of Gen Pervez Musharraf, followed by Imran Khan's government and then by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), placing the PML-N government at the very bottom?" she asked.

Meanwhile, Opposition parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), said the report is a "chargesheet" against the Imran Khan government, which made tall promises to combat corruption before coming to power.

"The TI report is a certificate of failure of the Naya Pakistan project," PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb said in a statement.

"The report has confirmed that the level and amount of corruption committed by Imran Khan's government in the past 16 months is more than any government in the entire past decade," Aurangzeb said.

PPP leader Sherry Rehman said the report has exposed the "so-called accountability process" in the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Samba Distinguished - BHPian



Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Kolkata Posts: 1,862 Thanked: 18,160 Times

View My Garage





Re: 1st meet of the new decade - Kolkata on 19th Jan, 2020

Today the Team Bhp meet was followed by an OTR from Kolkata offroaders, so by the time i came back home, it was evening. The day was hectic but fun-filled.



Managed to process some rolling shots of few Bhpians in the early morning, on the way to Azadhind Dhaba.



Bhpian Bodhi 25







Tbhp fan Dyutimoy came all the way to attend the meet in his Innova.







Bhpian Myth commented, his K10 is so fast that the pic came out blurry!







Bhpian Me_Sid







Bhpian SVKRider riding in style!







Bhpian Djr with Bhpian Mi2n, the Kuchute group members!







Bhpian Arpan16







Few more pics to follow soon.



Quote: Redline Shooter Originally Posted by . Did you guys by any chance ponder over the idea of another meet in February (Just curious because I will be visiting the city then) Indeed it was an awesome meet.Today the Team Bhp meet was followed by an OTR from Kolkata offroaders, so by the time i came back home, it was evening. The day was hectic but fun-filled.Managed to process some rolling shots of few Bhpians in the early morning, on the way to Azadhind Dhaba.Bhpian Bodhi 25Tbhp fan Dyutimoy came all the way to attend the meet in his Innova.Bhpian Myth commented, his K10 is so fast that the pic came out blurry!Bhpian Me_SidBhpian SVKRider riding in style!Bhpian Djr with Bhpian Mi2n, the Kuchute group members!Bhpian Arpan16Few more pics to follow soon.Even if it's not an official Team Bhp meet, Kolkata Bhpians keep meeting in Rajarhat Newtown area. When you are in town please PM Bhpian PapaBravo. He will guide you on where, when and how to come. Last edited by Samba : 19th January 2020 at 22:17 .
The following are remarks on the state of Massachusetts business delivered by John Regan president and chief executive officer of Associated Industries of Massachusetts at the AIM Economic Outlook Forum this morning in Waltham. AIM is a statewide employer agency serving the needs of all types of employers through public-policy advocacy, resources and community.

Good morning.

I stand before you today as president of the largest business association in Massachusetts with a profound sense of admiration and respect.

As businesspeople, you are all - takers of risk, visionaries of success, movers of our economy, providers of economic opportunity, instruments of social equity.

You represent 3,500 AIM members who together employ almost three quarters of a million of our fellow residents - 750,000 people who depend upon your companys success to earn a living, raise families and build lives for themselves and their children.

We have grown economic output in our state by a staggering 40% since 2010 and in the process created half a million new jobs. You have made Massachusetts a global center of innovation and business formation.

You should be proud of what you do. It is your determination and hard work that motivate all of us at AIM to represent tirelessly your interests in the public debate and to articulate the positive role of business in the larger society.

The nature and scope of that role has become a consuming issue both inside and outside the business community. It should come as no surprise in an era of increasing economic anxiety that you and we encounter questions such as:

Why do you do what you do?

Why would anyone choose to start or run a company?

Whats the purpose of business anyway?

How are you giving back to society?

These are not new questions.

Business is propelled by the economic value it creates for the company, for society at large, and by its performance for both investors and a wider network of constituencies.

But does that value extend to collaborating with other agents in solving social problems, and building trust that inspires employees and society as a whole?

Thats the question we face as we begin 2020. A new year. A new decade. A new election cycle. And the 105th anniversary of Associated Industries of Massachusetts.

It is a question we embrace as AIM re-imagines a better state of business and for business.

What is a better state of business? A state in which employers are a positive force for change; creating a better, more prosperous world.

On a national level, The Business Roundtable energized the debate last August when they updated their statement about the purpose of a corporation.

They asserted that business decisions should be based not solely on whether they will yield higher profits for shareholders but should consider all stakeholders employees, customers, and society writ large.

They also said that companies should work to deliver value to customers, invest in employees, deal fairly with suppliers and support communities, in addition to generating long-term shareholder value.

Each of our stakeholders is essential, the new statement says. We commit to deliver value to all of them, for the future success of our companies, our communities and our country.

Larry Fink, the influential Chairman and CEO of the investment giant Blackrock, sounded a similar theme in his annual letter to investors. Fink asserts that climate risk is compelling investors to reassess core assumptions about modern finance.

Mr. Fink said: Companies must be deliberate and committed to embracing purpose and serving all stakeholders  your shareholders, customers, employees, and the communities where you operate.

In doing so, your company will enjoy greater long-term prosperity, as will investors, workers, and society as a whole.

We agree.

But as we embark upon this presidential election year, the debate over the role of business has unmistakable political implications. What is not clear at this point is whether potentially productive economic policies will fall victim to political extremes.

Where once those on both sides of the aisle could reach compromise on issues like tax rates, interest levels and government spending, the 2020 campaign has shifted largely to the margins on either side.

The difficultly with these extremes is that they leave little room for compromise.

We are on unfamiliar terrain, with each faction denouncing the other; frequently unwilling to cross boundaries to reach agreement.

Whats indisputable - as we march into this new decade of the 21st century - is that many of the certainties of the late 20th century about how ordinary peoples lives were supposed to be organized economically have disappeared.

So, what does this mean for AIM, and for Massachusetts in 2020?

We call ourselves a Commonwealth. This label was deliberately chosen by John Adams when he drafted the state Constitution in the fall of 1779. The world's oldest functioning written constitution enshrined at our founding and embraces the idea that we are all in this together.

Commonwealth is important for us as we move forward as an association of employers. It implies that we must not have two Massachusetts  one doing well, the other not.

We must ensure that our education systems value all our young people, regardless of zip code or income level.

We need to acknowledge economic inequalities and address them by creating real pathways for achieving economic security. Failure will drive our public discussions and our politics down an ever more resentful and unconstructive path.

We must have our gaze firmly fixed on the future. We need to advocate boldly for our members and for the importance of thriving businesses.

AIM represents employers of every possible description  global companies; small, family owned stores; cutting edge research-and-technology companies; startups; manufacturing; finance; and sophisticated service companies.

These employers are bound to the economic hopes and dreams of the communities in which they operate. Our challenge is to integrate the economic needs of employers with the welfare of the society in which employers play a central role.

That means ensuring that business remains an economic engine of progress that expands prosperity for everyone.

How do we accomplish that objective?

First, we commit ourselves to ensuring that Massachusetts and the business community set the standard for diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our operations, from talent acquisition and management to supply chain development and participation, to market strategies and business growth.

Diversity to us encompasses race, gender and national origin, as well as company size, industry and geography  the full variety of companies and people who make up the Massachusetts economy.

Our commitment to diversity must reach beyond words. We resolve to invest in, do business with, and encourage the growth of companies that bring economic opportunities to people previously excluded.

Companies like DRB Facility Services of Boston and its founder, Anthony Samuels, who now employs 600 people providing janitorial, landscaping and snow removal services to some of the largest and most respected companies in the United States.

Or companies like Lancaster Packaging in Hudson, where founder and AIM Director Marianne Lancaster has built the supply management and wholesale packaging distribution firm she started straight out of college 30 years ago into a national company with 18 employees.

Marianne has also used her own business success to address the broader issues facing women and people of color seeking to build companies.

Second, business must lead the way in developing and keeping a highly qualified workforce. Since the first commercial transactions centuries ago, businesses have faced the need to fill job openings to operate.

What is new in 2020 is that companies must now go beyond simply putting up a Help Wanted sign and waiting for people to show up. Employers throughout Massachusetts are instead developing innovative strategies and partnerships with schools, veterans organizations, prisons and immigrant centers to build pipelines of qualified employees.

Thats exactly what happened on the North Shore last November when the GE Foundation announced a $2.5 million grant to launch the Advanced Manufacturing Training Expansion Program designed to reach more than 900 high school students and adult learners by 2024.

The program will train high school students from Lynn Vocational Technical Institute, Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School, and Gloucester High School, and will also support underemployed, unemployed and underrepresented adults such as veterans, minorities and women.

Or, consider Interstate Electrical Services of North Billerica, a second-generation family business and the largest merit shop electrical contractor in New England. Interstate has established two widely recognized apprenticeship programs that are expanding the pool of people able to share in the economic prosperity of Massachusetts.

Founded in 1966 by Pat Alibrandi with a desk, a chair and a van, Interstate has grown to more than 600 employees and a fleet of more than 180 service vehicles.

As the construction trades struggle to attract young workers, Interstate Electrical has become a national example by dedicating significant time and resources to attracting and training young people who did not realize that there is a future in the trades.

Please join me in acknowledging Interstate Electrical CEO Jim Alibrandi, Vice President of Human resources Luiza Mills and other Interstate Electrical team members who are with us this morning.

The final strategy to merge the needs of business and society is to ensure that Massachusetts remains fertile ground for launching new businesses and growing existing ones. Economic growth and business ownership and success are the only effective methods of achieving the social equity necessary to a sustainable commonwealth.

The good news is that AIM, the business community and the political establishment in Massachusetts enjoy a uniquely collaborative relationship that has allowed the commonwealth to find reasonable solutions to seemingly intractable problems.

Employers and lawmakers have spent the past several years rolling up their sleeves:

 To ensure accountability in the funding of public education;

 to moderate the soaring cost of health care; and

 to guarantee a fair wage for women while ensuring the ability of employers to reward key workers.

What issues lie ahead in 2020?

In the area of health care, business leaders at AIM, the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation and others are developing a strategy to moderate health-care costs in Massachusetts by reducing inappropriate use of emergency rooms. The objective is to reduce health expenditures by $100 million while ensuring better care for our employees.

Meanwhile, AIM and its board of directors are forging thoughtful positions on pending policy issues that will affect the Massachusetts economy for decades to come.

We have articulated a reasoned, long-term approach to raising the money to repair and upgrade the states overburdened transportation system.

AIM supports a multi-state regional cap-and-invest program called the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI). TCI helps us deal with our climate goals, while providing for transportation improvements as well.

AIM also supports Governor Bakers Housing Choice bill to address the economic threat posed by high housing costs that drive people to live farther away from their workplaces.

And I am pleased to tell you that responsible advocacy by this organization and its 3,500 members led Beacon Hill lawmakers to allow the onerous EMAC surcharge to go away at the end of last year.

Everything we do at AIM is done with the goal of helping businesses unlock their full potential.

We fiercely advocate for positive public policy that creates a strong economy.

We empower businesses with the information, tools, and resources needed to navigate a fast-paced, complex business world.

We foster connections, networks, and the flow of ideas between people and businesses.

And today, as we step into this new decade, there has never been a more pressing need for businesses to work together, advocating for the values we believe are essential to our common success.

Its a different world and a different century being driven by a new generation of ideas and entrepreneurs. We need to work together to reinforce our role as job creators, community shapers, risk takers, and leaders in Massachusetts.

At AIM we recognize the value and power of that space in the middle that allows for collaboration and cooperation. By rejecting polarization in favor of balanced and fair compromise, we can set our Commonwealth on a path of forward progress.

We also recognize the power of engagement. The ability of Associated Industries of Massachusetts to create a strong commonwealth depends upon the willingness of employers of all sizes and types to join us in the endeavors that will determine our economic future.

Ultimately, you see, this speech is about you.

We want every member of this association to be actively engaged.

Express yourself on important issues. Bring your companys younger generation of executives to AIM events like this one to meet influential businesspeople and interact with policymakers.

Engage your Diversity and Inclusion executives with AIM as we broaden the base of the business community. Host a tour of your facility for your state representative or senator.

I am honored and gratified to lead this organization as we work to support the dreams and aspirations of Massachusetts employers. We will continue to work together to create a uniformly competitive economic structure across all industries, geographic regions and populations.

AIM looks forward to working with all of you to continue to advocate for the positive impact of business in the Commonwealth and on its people.

Thank you for what you do. And thank you for your support of AIM.
UPDATE Friday, Jan. 24, 2020: A jury has convicted North Clackamas Bible Community Senior Pastor Michael Sperou, 69, of two counts of first-degree unlawful sexual penetration of a child under 12 on two separate occasions between 1993 and 1996.

Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Andrew M. Lavin ordered that Sperou be taken into custody pending sentencing, which is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 31.

***

The case against a disgraced religious leader accused of sexually abusing a former member went to the jury Thursday after a week of testimony that included graphic descriptions of abuse that the accuser said she endured as a child.

This is the second sexual abuse trial for Michael Sperou, the 69-year-old guru of the North Clackamas Bible Community, a small nondenominational congregation that Sperou established in the early 1980s and operated out of two homes in Southeast Portland.

His 2015 conviction for sex crimes was later tossed out by the Oregon Supreme Court, which concluded that witnesses in the original trial had improperly referred to the accuser as a victim. The court found that the reference may have undermined Sperous presumption of innocence and affected his right to a fair trial.

The first trial included testimony from Shannon Clark and six other women who also accused him of abuse. He was sentenced to 20 years and imprisoned at the Oregon State Penitentiary in Salem.

Sperou has been out of custody since he posted $75,000 bail shortly after the Supreme Court ruling.

On Thursday, he sat between his attorneys wearing a pressed blue dress shirt and black tie. His followers and supporters, who include parents of some of the women who say he abused them, packed one side of the courtroom.

Sitting in the front row of the gallery were women who say Sperou abused them as children.

While Sperou has multiple accusers, only Clarks case falls with the statute of limitations. He is accused of two counts of first-degree sexual penetration of a person under the age of 12.

Clark, now 33, testified last week that Sperou sexually abused her from the age of 3 until she was about 10. She described aggressive hugs and kissing that made her uncomfortable as well as penetrating her with his finger.

The Oregonian/OregonLive generally does not disclose the names of alleged sexual abuse victims. But the women connected with the case have come forward over the course of the states prosecution of the case, asking that their stories be told.

Sperous defense lawyers argued that Clarks memory is bad and that her account is inconsistent. Lawyer Steve Sherlag said Clark wasnt credible, that her memories of sexual abuse were contaminated by conversations with the other women who alleged abuse and that she was motivated by revenge or money that she may seek in a civil case.

Still, Sherlag acknowledged that Sperou engaged in disturbing behavior with Clark, including what he called sexualized touching.

Its a tough case for us and for you because you have been given a very, very difficult task, which requires you to sort through and decide some very, very polarizing evidence most of which we are not contesting, he told the jury.

Tensions between factions in the courtroom have simmered, prompting Multnomah County Circuit Judge Andrew Lavin to issue a stern admonishment from the bench. He said he would not tolerate inappropriate conduct.

Decorum is extremely important not only in here in the courtroom but in the courthouse environment in general, he told the standing-room-only gallery.

Sherlag raised concerns in particular with what he thought were friendly interactions between the original prosecutor in the case, Christine Mascal, and two women who accused Sperou of abusing them. Sherlag said he worried those gestures and conversations could influence the jury.

Sherlags concerns prompted the judge to question Mascal on the stand. She told the judge that the jury was out of the room during one of the interactions and it was on the way out of the room during the other. She described both as innocuous.

Sherlag asked the judge to declare a mistrial, calling Mascals behavior in the courtroom intentional and reckless.

Lavin rejected the request. The appropriate remedy is to do what I have already done, which is to admonish everyone in the courtroom, he said, warning those in the gallery to refrain from emotional displays until the trial was over.

Prosecutors, meanwhile, offered a grim depiction of Sperou, describing him as a serial child predator who exerted extraordinary control over day-to-day aspects of his followers lives. They told jurors that he seized on a young and vulnerable Clark, grooming her with kindness and affection as others adults in the household turned against her.

They said Clarks recall of key elements of the abuse  she alleges that Sperou abused her countless times over a period of years  was consistent over time.

The prosecution, as is common in child sexual abuse cases, lacks physical evidence and rests largely on Clarks own account.

Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Charles Mickley showed the jury three photographs of Clark as a young girl.

It demonstrates how small the victim was and how powerless she was at that time, he told them.

He added: She was the forgotten child. She was the perfect victim of sexual abuse and penetration.

Jurors got the case in the afternoon. Deliberations are expected to continue Friday morning.

-- Noelle Crombie; ncrombie@oregonian.com; 503-276-7184; @noellecrombie

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
Former Supreme Court judge Justice James Wood AO QC has resigned from the NSW State Parole Authority to go work for the World Anti-Doping Association.

Justice Wood, who presided over the notorious Royal Commission into corruption in the NSW Police Force, was a Supreme Court judge for 21 years until 2005, then serving as the Chairman of the Law Reform Commission of New South Wales between 2006 and 2014.

Justice James Wood AO QC Credit:AAP

In 2013, he became the chairman of the State Parole Authority, which decides whether or not an offender should be granted parole.

"Crime has reduced but prison numbers have gone up. The prison population is now very high, about 11,800. And that's partly due to more effective policing ... But it would be nice to reduce the number of people in prison. It's not the best use of money," he told the Herald in 2015.
Tet is a magic time when ancient customs and beliefs live on, Thuy Duong tell us about how a family in Hanoi celebrates a typical traditional Tet.

"Asked for being absent from work yet?" Waiting at door, Mom asked when I was just about to walk inside. Familiar questions are repeated once a year, exactly one day before the Kitchen God ceremony. In the house, offerings, votive papers, and paper clothes had already prepared by my mother. Tomorrow morning, like dozens of years past, similar to the thing that thousands of other Hanoi families do before Tet, we will make the most special journey of the year: visit the graves of familys ancestors and deceased people.

An altar decorated for Tet celebration.

Normally, Tet or the Lunar New Year is considered to officially start from the 30th day of the last lunar month, but for Hanoians, Tet comes a lot earlier, about one week before that point of time. That is when the family packed offerings, flowers, incenses and sticky rice, etc. preparing for a visit to homes of passed away ancestors or parents. The deceased are always remembered by their descendants, and their souls are invited to return home to celebrate and reunite with their families for Tet holiday.

Tet Nguyen Dan, to give it its full name, heralds the spring, a time when heaven and earth are traditionally in harmony, the weather gets warmer, trees and flowers bloom. It marks an interlude when people can enjoy a brief respite after a year of hard work.

Tet is also a period of cosmic renewal, when a new spirit of energy rises. This cycle has given rise to some delightful customs; for examples, during Tet every deed must spring from the best intentions, as an augury for all actions taken during the next 12 months.

Ancestor worship and goodbye to Kitchen Gods

Foods offered to the Kitchen Gods

Hanoians preparations for welcoming Lunar New Year usually starts a week prior to Tet, families clean the incense burners, lamps, candlesticks, vases and memorial photos on the home altars, ready for the farewell ceremony for Tao Quan (the Kitchen Gods). Vietnamese people have long believed that on the night of the 23rd day of the last lunar month, Tao Quan, who observe everything that take place in a house, ascend to Heaven and report to the Jade Emperor on all family events, good and bad, of the year past.

People prepare well for this special ceremony, in the hope that Kitchen Gods (the woman and her two husbands) will say good things about the family to the Jade Emperor. Offerings include food, joss notes, votive clothes, and one key gift: carps, which later on, will be released into nearby lakes or ponds for Tao Quan to ride on to Heaven.

Shopping and cleaning the house for Tet

Peach blossoms at the annual flower market in Hang Luoc street, Hanoi's Old Quarter

The week following the Kitchen Gods ceremony is the busiest week of the year as people tidy and clean up the houses in the belief that this will sweep away any bad luck from the old year. With the utmost care and devotion to the ancestors, my mother was always the one responsible for cleaning the altar, to ensure that none of the objects broke and the incense bowl did not move, even if it were only 0.001 millimeter. (According to Vietnamese belief, moving incense bowl is blasphemous act to ancestors and bad luck might come to the family in the coming year). Meanwhile, cleaning the living room and kitchen will be done by my father and three sisters of us.

Banh chung

After the heavy duty of house cleaning is well done, one of the most joyful parts of Tet is coming: shopping for Tet. For me, Tet markets are always a feast for senses. Mom and three sisters of us get there very early in the morning to buy the best and freshest food and other produce. Essential purchases include sticky rice to make banh chung (a squared sticky rice cake stuffed with mung beans and pork), pork, beef, a rooster and flowers. A blossoming peach branch or tree, or a kumquat tree full of fruits, is traditionally chosen to decorate house by Hanoians during Tet, as they are symbols of prosperity in the new year to come. Dad usually bought a branch of blossoming peach or a small tree of kumquat randomly for each year; or he would buy both if he had enough money.

Seasonal fare

An integral part of the family ancestor altar is the mam ngu qua, the fruit tray with five different fruits. For Vietnamese, the mam ngu qua is an intrinsic aspect of Tet, as a presentation of their religious, philosophical and aesthetic beliefs. According to Oriental philosophy, the universe is composed of five basic elements: metal, wood, water, fire and earth. Each of the fruit in the Tet fruit tray symbols for one of these elements. As for fruit arrangers, the number of displayed fruits are not important, but the color of the fruits. Mother often chooses five fruits with five different colors. A hand of green bananas was arranged in the middle of the tray, topped by a yellow grapefruit; some orange citrus and purple dragon fruits were arranged around; and interspersed among the green bananas will be the red peppers.

Mam ngu qua

Other Tet specialties are well prepared by my mom some days in advance were including: fish and beef cooked in nuoc mam (fish sauce), pickled onion, vegetables and herbs. The Tet counterpart of the Christmas pudding is Banh chung, which symbols the Earth in Vietnamese belief. Cooking banh chung takes around 12 hours, often extending from late afternoon into midnight. On that evening, my whole family sat around the great boiling pot and old folk stories were told by my father.

Pork roll (gio), another Tet delicacy, is made from pounded pork wrapped in banana leaves and boiled up. Another is canh mang, bamboo shoots braised with pigs' leg trotters. And the last but not least, jelly chicken is cooked from chicken with fragrant mushroom. We not only eat these Tet foods, but also offered the dishes to our ancestors, to remind us of our childhood and to pass on such traditional customs to our own children.

New Years Eve

Tet foods

Its known as giao thua, meaning the cusp of the old and new years. Dad, as the head of the family, performs a solemn speech at midnight before the worshiping table set up in courtyard where offerings to the Jade Emperor are laid out. We, the children were aroused from our beds, then the family's party started. After the midnight meal, parents usually go to the pagoda to pray for good luck and health, and on the way home, they pick leaves from tree as gifts for the new year. Bringing something home on the first day of the year is thought to bring good fortune; conversely, losing something is an unlucky omen.

People usually ask for "letters" to express their wishes in a new year from a caligraphy master

Tet off

Tet ends on the fourth or fifth day of the first lunar month, depending on each family. Before normal life resumes, adults go back to work, children go to school and souls of ancestor and dead return to the heaven, the het tet  Tet-ending party is organized. Hanoitimes

Thuy Duong

What to know about Tet holiday in Vietnam? You should know do's and don'ts to avoid awkward moments in Vietnam during Tet celebration.
DUBLIN, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Car Sharing Market in China - Forecast to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This study analyzes opportunities and challenges in the car sharing market in China. It examines the current market structure and business models, as well as factors that drive and restrain the market growth. It also discusses the growth opportunities and trends up to 2025.



Key Features

To provide a strategic review of the car sharing ecosystem and market, involving main technology trends in China

To analyze the key car sharing operators and their business strategies in China

To identify car sharing market trends, such as strategic alliances and collaborative services

To evaluate the present market size and the growth opportunities for stakeholders

Key Issues Addressed

What is the present business environment for car sharing services?

Who are the key participants in the car sharing market?

What are the present and anticipated trends in the car sharing market?

What are the market drivers and restraints influencing the development of the car sharing market?

What are the policies and regulations established to manage the car sharing business in China ?

The car sharing market in China has approximately 30 active operators. These companies are operated by automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), transportation companies and start-ups. The top 5 operators - EVCard (by SAIC Motor Co., Ltd.), Weigongjiao (by Geely), GoFun (by Beijing Shouqi Group Co., Ltd.), MoreFun (by BAIC Mobility Co., Ltd.) and PandAuto (by Chongqing Lifan Automobile Co., Ltd.) - accounted for 72.8% of the fleet size in 2018.



In China, the sharing economic activity has been able to achieve lower cost, lower entry barriers and lower pollution, as well as higher efficiency, higher experience and higher credibility within the industry. Transportation sharing activities, including car sharing and ride sharing, have accounted for 8.4% of the sharing economy in the country in 2018. The Chinese are also gradually shifting towards Internet applications for their transportation needs, such as reserving riding services from mobile apps, finding solutions to traffic blocks, and using real-time navigation and traffic services.



The operation charge fee per service is the main revenue generator for car sharing companies. However, the Chinese car sharing market has been undergoing restructuring since 2017. It has witnessed a few exits, such as the withdrawals of Youyouyongche, Ezzy, and Togo, and some collaborations - for instance, BMW AG has collaborated with EVCard, while Daimler Mobility Services GmbH has tied up with Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., Ltd. to carry out car sharing business in the country.



In line with the Chinese government's vision of increasing electric vehicle (EV) penetration and promoting green development, automotive OEMs are expected to further expand their EV sales through their subsidiaries in the car sharing industry. For instance, the car sharing market is expected to be more competitive, especially for the vertical value chain and ecosystem integration developed by automotive OEMs and transportation companies.



Key Topics Covered



1. Executive Summary

Key Findings

Market Engineering Measurements

Car Sharing Market Outlook in China

The Sharing Economy in China

Key Travel Methods

Travel Methods Comparison

Car Sharing Value Chain

2. Research Scope, Objectives, Background, and Methodology

Research Scope

Research Aims and Objectives

Key Questions this Study will Answer

Research Background

Research Methodology

3. Definitions and Segmentation

Car Sharing Market Segmentation

Car Sharing Definition

Car Sharing Services

4. Drivers and Restraints - Car Sharing Market

Market Drivers

Drivers Explained

Market Restraints

Restraints Explained

5. China Car Sharing Market Overview

Chinese Central Government's Regulation on the Car Sharing Market

Car Sharing Market Development Roadmap

Key Travel Methods

Travel Methods Comparison

Car Sharing Value Chain

SWOT Analysis

Key Trends in China's Car Sharing Market

6. Forecasts and Trends - Car Sharing Market in China

Market Engineering Measurements

Car Sharing Fleet Size Forecast

Forecast Scenario Assumptions to 2025

7. Market Share and Competitive Analysis - Car Sharing Market

Car Sharing Market Structure in China

Car Sharing Market Breakdown by Participants

Car Sharing Market Breakdown by Offerings

Car Sharing Cost Analysis

Key Autonomous Driving Developments Among Car Sharing Operators

Case Study - Comparison of Key Car Sharing Operators

8. Traditional Car Sharing Market - Profiles of Key Operators

GoFun by Beijing Shouqi Group Co. Ltd.

EVCard by SAIC Motor Co. Ltd.

PandAuto by Lifan Automobile Co. Ltd.

MoreFun by BAIC Mobility Co. Ltd.

Weigongjiao by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. Ltd.

9. Growth Opportunities Analysis

Growth Opportunity - Car Sharing Market in China

Strategic Imperatives for Success and Growth

10. Conclusion

Key Trends and Recommendations

The Last Word - 3 Big Predictions

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/t2h3kb

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com


Stocks in the news today: Here is a list of top stocks that are likely to be in focus in Friday's trading session based on latest developments. Investors are also awaiting December quarter earnings that are scheduled to be released today. Companies set to announce their earnings are Bank of Baroda, Indian Bank, Ultratech Cement, Ion Exchange, JSW Steel, Prestige Estates Projects among others.

HDFC Life Insurance Q3: The company has posted 2.66% rise in its net profit at Rs 251.09 crore for the period ended December 31, 2019 as against Rs 244.58 crore for the period ended December 31, 2018. The company has reported 25.2% growth in its net sales of Rs 11,649.40 crore during October-December quarter, as compared to Rs 9,304.69 crore during the same quarter in the year ago period.

PNB Housing Finance Q3: Net profit of the housing finance company fell 21.77% to Rs 237 crore for the period ended December 31, 2019 as against Rs 302.97 crore for the period ended December 31, 2018. Company's revenue for the quarter under review came in flat (decline of 0.18% YoY) at Rs 2,075 crore in Q3 FY20 as compared to Rs 2,078.46 crore in Q3 FY19. Company's tax expense in Q3 FY20 fell to Rs 61.2 crore as against Rs 138.6 crore in Q3 FY19 (YoY).

Nippon Life India Asset Management Ltd Q3: Consolidated net profit reported was 36.34% higher at Rs 149.32 crore for the period ended December 31, 2019 as against Rs 109.52 crore for the period ended December 31, 2018. Net sales recorded a de-growth of 10.73% YoY to Rs 360.64 crore in Q3 FY20 as compared to Rs 403.97 crore during Q3 FY19. The board has approved an interim dividend of Rs 3.

GHCL Ltd Q3: The company has posted a decline of 3.97% in its consolidated net profit to Rs 96.91 crore for the period ended December 31, 2019 as against Rs 100.92 crore for the period ended December 31, 2018. The company has reported a de-growth of 0.39% in its net sales to Rs 849.08 crore in Q3 FY20 as compared to Rs 852.40 crore recorded in Q3 FY19.

JM Financial Ltd Q3: Net profit grew 14.61% to Rs 157.54 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2019 as against Rs 137.46 crore, recorded in the period ended December 31, 2018. Net sales stood at Rs 905.45 crore during October-December quarter as compared to Rs 900.73 crore in the same quarter previous fiscal, registering a rise of 0.52%.

PVR Ltd Q3: Consolidated net profit of the company came in at Rs 36.34 crore for the period ended December 31, 2019, registering a decline 34.25% as against Rs 55.27 crore for the period ended December 31, 2018. The company has reported a 7.76% growth in its net sales to Rs 923.89 crore in Q3 FY20 as compared to Rs 857.37 crore in Q3FY19.

Oriental Bank of Commerce Q3: The company has posted net profit of Rs 201.66 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, as against Rs 144.96 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2018, registering a growth of 39.11%. Total income came in at Rs 5,642.61 crore in Q3 FY20, recording a rise of 10.04% during Q3 FY19.

HT Media Q3: The company has posted a fall of 69.85% in its consolidated net profit to Rs 8.07 crore for the period ended December 31, 2019, as against Rs 26.77 crores for the period ended December 31, 2018. Total income during Q3 FY20 came in at Rs 636.35 crore, recording a registering a de-growth of 5.08% as compared to Rs 670.38 crore during Q3 FY19.

DB Corp Q3: DB Corporation posted a net profit of Rs 250.92 crore for Q3 FY20, rising 8.01% as against Rs 219.38 crore in Q3 FY19. The company has reported 12.8% growth in net sales of Rs 1,746.55 crore during the 9 months period ended December 31, 2019, as compared to Rs 1,888.30 crore during the 9 months ended December 31, 2018.

Canara Bank Q3: Bank's consolidated net profit stood at Rs 406.43 crore in Q3 FY20 as against Rs 357.64 crore for Q3 FY19, registering a growth of 0.23%. The company has reported 0.14% rise in net sales to Rs 15,531.80 crore during the period ended December 31, 2019, as compared to Rs 14,625.20 crore during the period ended December 31, 2018.

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone: NSE has sought clarification from Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited with respect to recent news item captioned Adani arm set to buy GMR Group's greenfield port/SEZ in Kakinada. The response from the company is awaited.

IPCA Laboratories: The Company said Mumbai Bench of National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has approved the Resolution Plan for acquisition of Noble Explochem Ltd, under the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code, 2016 (IBC). Company shall pay Rs 69 crore as full and final settlement toward all liabilities of the said Noble Explochem Ltd.

Telecom stocks: Shares of Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea will be in focus today after PTI reported telcos have communicated to the telecom department that they will not be paying AGR dues and will wait for the outcome of modification petition listed for hearing before the Supreme Court next week. The telcos have to pay AGR dues of Rs 88,624 crore, the deadline for which ends on January 23. In the meanwhile, Reliance Jio Infocomm (Jio), a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries, has paid its statutory dues of Rs 177 crore to the government, becoming the only telecom company to meet the Supreme Court's deadline of January 23.

Q3 Earnings Today: Bank of Baroda, Indian Bank, Ultratech Cement, Ion Exchange, JSW Steel, Prestige Estates Projects, Sonata Software, Wendt (India), Emkay Global Financial, Supreme Industries, EIH Ltd, Atul, Kirloskar Industries, Aavas Financiers among others will release their third quarterly earnings today.
The extradition request was sent by Home Secretary Priti Patel earlier this month for Anne Sacoolas, metro.co.uk reported.

London, Jan 24 (IANS) An extradition request sent by the UK for an American diplomat's wife over the death of a British teen in a car accident last year, was rejected by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Reacting to the development, a spokeswoman for the UK Home Office said on Thursday: "We are disappointed in this decision which appears to be a denial of justice. We are urgently considering our options."

Harry Dunn, 19, died in a hospital of multiple injuries from the head-on crash of his motorbike with a car on August 27, 2019 in Northamptonshire in the East Midlands of England.

The US State Department had confirmed that the driver Sacoolas, 42, was the spouse of an American diplomat assigned to Britain, who then left the UK using her diplomatic immunity.

Also on Thursday, the family's spokesperson, Radd Seiger, said that their constituency MP Andrea Leadsom will meet US Ambassador Woody Johnson in London on Friday to discuss the case.

Over the last four months, the family has launched a number of legal battles, including a judicial review against the Foreign Office, a referral of Northamptonshire Police to the Independent Office for Police Conduct and an investigation into the US administration's handling of the case and a civil claim against Sacoolas herself.

They even met US President Donald Trump at the White House to state their case for Sacoolas returning to the UK.

ksk/
Davos [Switzerland], Jan 24 (ANI): Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Thursday said that states have to gear up for high economic activities to make Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of USD five trillion economy, a "reality".



Yediyurappa made his presence felt at the World Economic Forum's (WEF) 'Strategic Outlook: India' session which was addressed by Union Minister Piyush Goyal.

The Chief Minister who got an occasion, to sum up, the panel discussions said. "States' growth is vital for the country's economy as all economic activities in India happen in states. If we have to make Prime Minister Narendra Modi's five trillion economy a reality, then states have to gear up for high economic activities."

He continued, "My home state of Karnataka has a state GDP of 250 billion dollars and a growing rate of nine per cent. We are here at the WEF to meet investors and industrialists to invite them to invest and grow their business in India", adding that "he is optimistic and looking forward eagerly to see investors making a rush to Karnataka."

"I am delighted to know that investors have taken note of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of five trillion economy. I am feeling elated following WEF selecting him for summing up and commenting on the session's deliberations" he said while thanking the WEF organisers for giving an opportunity to speak at the forum.

Union minister Piyush Goal also addressed and participated in the panel discussion. (ANI)


The White House announced Monday that it will add several House Republicans to President Donald Trump's Senate impeachment team in what appear to be largely ceremonial roles following an internal debate over whether they should be included.

The House members -- Reps. Doug Collins of Georgia, Mike Johnson of Louisiana, Jim Jordan of Ohio, Debbie Lesko of Arizona, Mark Meadows of North Carolina, John Ratcliffe of Texas, Elise Stefanik of New York and Lee Zeldin of New York -- are not expected to speak on the Senate floor, a source familiar with the legal team's plans told CNN.

Instead, the group will serve as outside advisers and surrogates, a separate source said. One option that had been discussed last week for any House members put on the team was advising Senate Republicans on questions to ask Chief Justice John Roberts during that 16-hour phase of the trial.

A number of the House members have already been meeting regularly with Trump's lawyers to help them prepare for the floor arguments.

The addition of House members in a limited capacity follows a struggle among White House aides and top Senate Republicans over the benefits and drawbacks of the move.

Trump -- who has long wanted his trial to feature a theatrical defense aimed at winning him vindication -- has pushed for his fiercest protectors to be included because he believes they will be the best at arguing against the two charges against him. Top Senate Republicans, including Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, however, had been advising him that bringing on GOP House members could frustrate efforts to keep Republicans as unified as possible during the trial.

"Repeating the House sideshow in the Senate will turn off the very members the President needs for a unified acquittal," said one Senate Republican aide.

The announcement comes just a day before the Senate trial starts in earnest when Republicans and Democrats are expected to battle over a resolution setting the rules for the trial and shortly after start opening arguments.

McConnell will propose a timeline for the trial that would break from the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton, according to a four-page organizing resolution obtained by CNN. He plans to give House impeachment managers and Trump's legal team each 24 hours divided over two days for their opening arguments, according to the resolution.

The move indicates that Senate Republicans are pushing to finish the trial as quickly as possible -- ahead of the President's February 4 State of the Union address.
RuPaul's Drag Race season 12 is set to stream the same day as the US on Stan.

The iconic show, along with the behind the scenes companion series RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked, will premiere February 29.

With a 'patriotic' theme, this season is set to be fiercer than ever, just like the thirteen contestants rallying to be America's Next Drag Superstar.

'I pledge allegiance to the drag!' Meet the RuPaul's Drag Race season 12 queens, as the iconic competition series and behind the scenes show Untucked are set to stream on Stan the same day as the US

'My fellow Americans, RuPaul's Drag Race is here! And Mama Ru needs you to pledge allegiance to the drag,' the show's namesake queen said in the Australian streaming platform's teaser.

In the footage, all of the queens are dressed in extravagant, glittery red, white and blue Americana ensembles.

'There are 13 queens under Ru,' two contestants Dahlia Sin and Heidi N Closet.

'There are 13 queens under Ru': Mama Ru needs you to pledge allegiance to the drag,' the show's namesake queen (pictured) said in the Australian streaming platform's teaser

Fierce! Heidi N Closet (pictured), 24, found her name when she continually told men from her small home town that there was 'no need to be 'hidin' in the closet'

Heidi N Closet, 24, found her name when she continually told men from her small home town that there was 'no need to be 'hidin' in the closet'.

Los Angeles-based Dahlia Sin, 28, based her name on the notorious Black Dahlia murdered because it sounded 'cute' because she was 'more of a spooky girl back then'.

Gigi Goode also came from LA and is the youngest queen in this year's competition at just 21 years old.

Baby queen: Gigi Goode (pictured) also came from LA and is the youngest contestant in this year's competition at 21 years old

It's a look! The brightly coloured 28-year-old queen Crystal Methyd (pictured) described her drag persona as 'fun, creative and thrifty'

The brightly coloured 28-year-old queen Crystal Methyd described her drag persona as 'fun', 'creative' and 'thrifty'.

Aiden Zane, 29, chose her name to match her aesthetic and include 'A' and Z', which she describes as 'both ends of the spectrum.'

'I come from a drag background of doing it all myself, figuring it out and making things happen,' she said.

Goth vibes: Aiden Zane (pictured), 29, chose her name to match her aesthetic and include 'A' and Z', which she describes as 'both ends of the spectrum'

Getting ready: Jaida Essence Hall (pictured), 32, believes she is the 'essence of beauty'

Jaida Essence Hall, 32, believes she is the 'essence of beauty', while 26-year-old Jan is the fiercest girl next door.

Nicky Doll, 28, was originally from Paris, while Rock M Sakura, 28, describes herself as 'your anime, J-Pop, manga queen'.

The 'Dirty 30' years old Widow VonDu found her name watching television: 'They were talking about black widow spiders being "black and dangerous" and I was like, "that's me, b***h!"'

Kawaii! Rock M Sakura, 28, describes herself as 'your anime, J-Pop, manga queen'

Transformation: Nicky Doll, 28, was originally from Paris before moving to the US

New York-based queen Brita, 34 and Sherry Pie, 27, both believe that their city is the 'epicentre of drag'.

Jackie Cox, who also a 34-year-old from NYC, didn't originally realise her name was a double entendre.

'The year is 2020. And there is a fierce urgency of now. Persist, move forward. Reclaim our pride,' season 11 reigning queen Yvie Oddly said in another trailer.

'That's me b***h': The 'Dirty 30' years old Widow VonDu found her name watching television, as the program called black widow spiders 'black and dangerous'

New York, New York! Sherry Pie (pictured), 27, believes her city is the 'epicentre of drag'

She went on to describe the queens: 'They're the best of the best. The future America needs.'

RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked Season 12 will also give viewers a hint of the backstage drama as the queens anxiously wait to see need to lip-sync for their life to avoid the week's elimination.

RuPaul's Drag Race and RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked will air on February 29, only on Stan

Not that innocent? Jackie Cox, who also a 34-year-old from NYC, didn't originally realise her name was a double entendre
By PTI

KATHMANDU: Nepal's Central Bank is saddled with Rs 7 crore of demonetised Indian currency but India is not making "adjustments" to take back the notes, Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said on Friday, hoping the scrapped notes would be accepted by its neighbour.

ALSO READ | If India can resolve boundary issue with Bangladesh, why with us: Nepal

The Indian government on November 8, 2016 announced the ban on old 500 and 1,000 rupee notes to curb black money in the system.

"Around INR 7 crore (demonetised currency) is deposited in our Central Bank. It went through the banking channel, I don't know why India is not making adjustment (in the matter)," Gyawali said.

Demonetisation caught Bhutan and Nepal off guard where Indian currency is widely used.

"We are not talking about the money which was transacted through the informal channels but it was through the banking channel. So I am requesting the Indian side to think about this pending issue," Gyawali said.

ALSO READ | 'Nepal won't be a part of any alliance 'targeting' another neighbour'

Of the Rs 15.41 lakh crore worth Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in circulation on November 8, 99.3 per cent or notes worth Rs 15.31 lakh crore have returned to the banking system.

"It is upto India to take a decision. We have been requesting the Indian government for the past couple of years. We hope India will respond positively," Finance Minister Yuba Raj Khatiwada told PTI.

The land-locked country depends on India for trade and supplies.

Indian currency is widely used in Nepal for day-to-day transactions, especially in the border areas.
As anti-Semitic incidents become more common in the United States, six Houston educators traveled to New Jersey for a seminar to further study the Holocaust to better understand how to combat hatred.

The Jewish Foundation for the Righteous held its 2020 Advanced Seminar Saturday, Jan. 18, to Tuesday, Jan. 21, in Elizabeth, N.J. While the conference is typically three days, a special extra day was added to focus on how learning from the Holocaust can help the educators better inform their students at a time anti-Semitism is on the rise. (According to a study by ADL, an organization that works to fight hatred and anti-Semitism, the year 2018 saw nearly 1,900 incidents and the most fatal attack on Jews in the nations history.)

Twenty-two teachers and Holocaust museum educators joined the seminar from six states: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia and Texas. Each of them were Alfred Lerner Fellows that had been a part of the JFR Summer Institute for Teachers at Columbia University in New York, and all six Houston participants were from Holocaust Museum Houston.

Wendy Warren, senior associate director of education at the museum and Alfred Lerner Fellow, attended the seminar and said it backed up everything for which the museum stands.

Here at the museum, we have a wider view of Holocaust education. Of course we are dedicated to teaching about the Holocaust and its victims specifically, but we also teach about the hate, prejudice and apathy in our world today and how that leads to terrible things, said Warren.

Related: Long-awaited H-E-B Meyerland set to open soon

She said Holocaust Museum Houstons human rights gallery plus other galleries that display the writing of the Holocausts young people are great examples of that commitment.

Set on better informing Houstons students, the museum also offers its Educator in Motion program, where they travel into schools to talk about the Holocaust, genocide, human rights and similar matters. According to Warren, they have reached more than 39,000 students.

Warren found the Advanced Seminar an experience that would help in her work back in Houston. Seeing the Auschwitz exhibit at the Jewish Heritage museum, she said, broadened her grasp of what went on in the killing center.

Of course, there are so many lessons that apply to the world we live in today; by educating young people to understand what the ramifications are of hate, prejudice and anti-Semitism, it can make the world a better place, Warren said. When you work with young people, sometimes they think that the Holocaust is in the distant past, but in studying its history, we can influence our future.

JFR Executive Vice President Stanlee Stahl said in a news release that she hopes the seminar would begin to change classrooms, beginning with the teachers love for knowledge.

These educators have already shown a tremendous commitment to teaching the Holocaust in their schools, and with the rising wave of anti-Semitic incidents and attacks, our hope is that this conference has also provided them with the necessary tools to combat hatred and anti-Semitism from their classrooms, said Stahl.

By attending this intensive, graduate level program, they have gained an even greater understanding of the history of the Holocaust, which will increase their effectiveness in the classroom and enable them to mentor other educators who teach the subject, Stahl said.

JFR works to give monthly assistance to more than 240 aged and needy Righteous Gentiles that helped Jews during the Holocaust. It has given more than $40 million over the years, according the release. For more information, visit https://jfr.org/. For more information about Holocaust Museum Houston, visit https://hmh.org/.

tracy.maness@hcnonline.com
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- Among advocates of immigration restriction, its almost an article of faith that newcomers from rich countries are more desirable than those from poor countries. In early 2018, President Donald Trump reportedly expressed a desire for more immigrants from Norway and fewer from countries such as Haiti, labeling the latter with an expletive. Writing in 1896, restrictionist Francis Walker made a similar argument, calling East European immigrants beaten men from beaten races.

This view comes partly from racial bigotry and negative stereotypes. But it also stems from two misconceptions about U.S. immigration: Restrictionists ignore the importance of institutions, and they underestimate how effective the U.S. is at selecting the talented, the hard-working and the ambitious.

First, the caricatures offered up by Trump and Walker dont come close to describing reality. Immigrants tend to be poor when they arrive on American shores, but they and their children rapidly move up. Native-born children of immigrants from Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador who were born to families near the poverty line tend to earn about the median income:

The children of immigrants from India and Pakistan are even more upwardly mobile.

So why do immigrants born in poor countries -- and their children -- succeed in the U.S.?

One big reason is that U.S. institutions are more effective at generating economic prosperity than institutions in developing nations. The U.S. has a reasonably functional and responsive government, property rights and the rule of law, a fairly efficient corporate culture and a large stock of accumulated knowledge and expertise. When immigrants and their children adapt to the American way of doing things, their natural potential is put to much better use than in their home countries.

Theres another powerful reason immigrants from poor countries do well in the U.S.: selectivity. The U.S. doesnt just let in people randomly; in most cases, it carefully chooses those who are most likely to succeed.

Story continues

For one thing, the system selects for education. About 12% of U.S. immigrants come via employment-based green cards, often after spending some time in the H-1B visa program. These individuals tend to be highly educated. And so do their families; 66% of U.S. immigration is done via various family reunification programs. As unauthorized immigration to the U.S. has dried up and gone into reverse, the average education level of new immigrants has soared:

The amount of selectivity is different for different countries. In a recent paper, economist Ed Lazear used a simple model to show how the education levels of a particular ancestry group in the U.S. -- say Algerian-Americans -- depends not just on the average education levels of the source country, but also on the size of its population and its degree of access to the U.S.

Lazear suggested that larger countries that send relatively small numbers of immigrants to the U.S. will tend to send their best and brightest. This explains why India, with 1.3 billion people and low average education levels, is the source of what is arguably the most elite group of immigrants in the U.S.

Looking at the data, Lazear found that just knowing three things -- a countrys population, the number of immigrants it sends to the U.S. and the average education level in that country -- allows one to make a highly accurate prediction of how educated the immigrants from that country will be. Selectivity ends up being the most important factor, by a considerable margin. Importantly, Lazear also finds that selectivity strongly predicts income, showing that the system isn't just picking immigrants with useless paper degrees.

Of course, education isnt the only kind of skill that the system selects for. The simple act of coming to a strange new country and starting a whole new life, often without even speaking the language, requires an uncommon amount of courage, ambition and grit. Thats probably why immigrants from Mexico, for whom selectivity is the lowest because of the big porous land border, are still very upwardly mobile. Because of low average education levels and racial discrimination, Mexican-Americans dont tend to reach parity with the native-born, but they do close much of the gap.

So the evidence shows that the U.S. system is actually very good at selecting talented go-getters from abroad. Restrictionists who believe that immigrants from poor countries will make the U.S. a poorer place are simply wrong.

To contact the author of this story: Noah Smith at nsmith150@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Greiff at jgreiff@bloomberg.net

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners.

Noah Smith is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He was an assistant professor of finance at Stony Brook University, and he blogs at Noahpinion.

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-25 03:46:51|Editor: Yurou

Video Player Close

KHARTOUM, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese government and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/northern sector on Friday signed a framework peace agreement.

The deal was signed at the Presidential Palace in Juba, capital of South Sudan which is mediating between the rival Sudanese parties, according to a statement by Sudan's sovereign council.

The deal includes items on security arrangements and system of rule, the statement said.

"The signing of the framework agreement reflects the strong determination and partnership among the negotiating parties," said Mohamed Hamdan Daqlu, deputy chairman of Sudan's Sovereign Council who signed the deal on behalf of the Sudanese government.

The SPLM/northern sector has been leading an armed rebellion in Blue Nile area on the border with South Sudan since 2011.

South Sudan has been mediating between the Sudanese government and armed groups from Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile regions.
The January 19 incident has pitted the Assam Rifles against the IPS officers association's Manipur chapter.

Sangwan will meet Amit Shah before January 30 to back Rifleman P.K. Pandey and present the "proof" on the incident, the sources added. "He has sought time from the Home Minister's office for the meeting."

An Assam Rifles statement on Tuesday night had claimed that the Indian Police Service officer's accusation that she was "assaulted, harassed and molested" at Khudengthabi checkpost on January 19 were "baseless and malicious".

"The unilateral publication of uncorroborated and unsubstantiated allegations by the lady Sub-Divisional Police Officer on alleged harassment, physical assault and misbehaviour by Assam Rifles troops on January 19, 2020 while returning from Moreh is baseless, fabricated, false and malicious. Assam Rifles categorically and firmly refutes the allegations levelled by the officer."

"Can a central government servant on bona fide duty cross over to Myanmar flouting all FMR (Federal Management Regulation) rules and then cover up the act on the pretext of official duty? It needs investigation...."

It maintained that the woman IPS officer had illegally entered Myanmar while on duty and bought "suspicious and unidentified goods" from across the border.

Assam Rifles claimed possession of video footage of her entry into Myanmar and subsequent loading of goods on her "so-called official vehicle", which exposed her "blatant lie" in her complaint that she was on official duty.

The Assam Rifles accused the officer of trying to avoid checking of goods loaded in her vehicle.

The IPS officer displayed "high-handedness and colourable exercise of power" at a sensitive post against the ethics of any uniformed soldier, the statement added.

"A formal request to the lady officer by the Commandant, 12 Assam Rifles, and Deputy Inspector General, Headquarter 26 Sector, Assam Rifles, to resolve the matter amicably was not responded to affirmatively. To the utter surprise, she demanded that "jawan ko mere saamne duss joote maaro tab main apology accept karungi (hit the jawan with shoes ten times only then will I accept an apology)," the statement added.

On the other hand, the IPS Officers Association (Manipur Chapter), accused Assam Rifles of "maligning her image".

Chaired by its President P. Doungel, an association meeting attended by representatives of IAS Officers Association and IFS Officers Association on Wednesday extended support to the police officer.

It maintained that the Assam Rifles statement was "highly unprofessional and maliciously worded to malign her image".

On Thursday, the association said that "Assam Rifles should extend full cooperation to the investigation in the case".

"The association resolves to extend full support, moral and financial, to any further course of action which the officer chooses to follow. The association reposes its faith in the special investigation team probing the matter and hopes that the law will take its course," the body said in a press release.
The Supreme Court allowed the Rajasthan State Election Commission (SEC) on Friday to hold 'panchayat' polls in the state by April this year.

The top court had earlier stayed the Rajasthan High Court's order cancelling the notifications reorganising certain 'gram panchayats' and 'panchayat samitis' in the state after November 15-16, 2019.

A bench, comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant, was told by the state government that the high court quashed the delimitation of certain 'panchayats' and that order was stayed by the top court.

Later, the SEC stayed the 'panchayat' polls which should be conducted, senior advocate A M Singhvi said.

The bench took note of the plea of the state government and the statement of the state poll body on the possibility of conducting the 'panchyat' elections.

"K V Vishwanathan, senior counsel appearing for the newly added respondent State Election Commission, states that the elections will be held in accordance with the notifications... He further states that the elections will be held according to law in the second half of April, 2020. Order accordingly," the bench said in its order.

The high court, in December last year, had nullified 'panchayat' bodies created after November 15-16.

It had termed the delimitation notification of 627 gram 'panchayats' in Rajasthan as "void".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
FILE PHOTO: A woman wearing a mask walks past a quarantine notice about the outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan, China at an arrival hall of Haneda airport in Tokyo

By Dan Whitcomb

(Reuters) - A university student being treated for a respiratory illness in Texas after travelling to Wuhan, China, is being tested for the newly discovered coronavirus that has killed 18 people in China, state and local officials said on Thursday.

If the patient, who has not been publicly identified, tests positive for coronavirus it would mark the second known U.S. case of the illness, which has already sickened an estimated 650 people worldwide. The first U.S. case was diagnosed in Washington state.

"Public health officials in Brazos County are investigating a patient who meets the definition of a potential case of the 2019 novel coronavirus. The patient got sick with a respiratory illness within two weeks of travel in Wuhan, China," Texas health officials said in a statement.

"The patient is being isolated at home in accordance with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the investigation continues to determine whether this is a case of novel coronavirus," the health officials said.

A CDC spokeswoman said the agency was coordinating testing of the individual, but cautioned that it could be a false alarm.

"Because it is cold and flu season and many people are suffering from respiratory illnesses, we expect there will be more travelers who fall under the CDCs testing guidance. DSHS will promptly announce any confirmed novel coronavirus cases. We wont provide details on negative tests," the spokeswoman said.

Although Texas and CDC officials did not provide any identifying information about the patient, Texas A&M University said it had been notified by local health officials that the patient was a student there.

"Officials have described the immediate health risk to the campus community as low," the university said in a statement.

Earlier this week a Washington state man who had travelled to the Wuhan region of China was diagnosed with coronavirus, becoming the first confirmed U.S. case. He is reported to be in satisfactory condition.

Story continues

The coronavirus, which causes respiratory symptoms similar to a cold or flu, has been linked to a seafood market in Wuhan, the largest city in central China with a population of about 11 million. That market has since been shut down.

Though China has put millions of people on lockdown over the outbreak and U.S. officials have begun screening passengers arriving from that region, the World Health Organization said on Thursday it was too early to declare a global health emergency.

(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Leslie Adler)
Boris Johnson has said the UK has "crossed the Brexit finish line" after Parliament passed legislation implementing the withdrawal deal, BBC reports.

The EU Bill, which paves the way for the country to leave the bloc on 31 January, is now awaiting royal assent.

The PM said the UK could now "move forwards as one" and put "years of rancour and division behind it".

The EU's top officials are expected to sign the agreement in the coming days, while MEPs will vote on it next week.

The European Parliament will meet on 29 January to debate the agreement, which sets out the terms of the UK's "divorce" settlement with the EU, the rights of EU nationals resident in the UK and British expats on the continent and arrangements for Northern Ireland.

Its ratification is expected to prove a formality.

The UK will officially leave the bloc at 23:00 GMT on 31 January - more than three and a half years after the country voted for Brexit in a referendum in June 2016.
The US vice president Mike Pence was caught on camera saying Donald Trump was "unstoppable", during a conversation with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the World Holocaust Forum in Jerusalem.

Mr Pence said: "We're contending. He's unstoppable, like somebody else I know."

His comments followed another day of the president's impeachment trial in the Senate, and ahead of another hours-long round of damning remarks from the prosecution linking Mr Trump to abuses of power and obstruction of Congress in its investigation of the president putting pressure on Ukraine to find politically damaging information on his 2020 rival Joe Biden.

Meanwhile, Mr Netanyahu faces three indictments of his own ahead of Israel's third national election within a year.

The two men were among a host of world leaders attending a memorial recognising the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camps in Nazi-occupied Poland.

Israel election 2019: Netanyahu battles to hang on to power Show all 20 1 /20 Israel election 2019: Netanyahu battles to hang on to power Israel election 2019: Netanyahu battles to hang on to power An Israeli man holding his dog casts his ballot EPA Israel election 2019: Netanyahu battles to hang on to power Chief Rabbi of the Vizhnitz (Hasidic Dynasty) Israel Hager (left), casts his ballot AFP/Getty Israel election 2019: Netanyahu battles to hang on to power Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara casts their votes AFP/Getty Israel election 2019: Netanyahu battles to hang on to power A man takes a selfie with his mobile phone as he casts his ballot Reuters Israel election 2019: Netanyahu battles to hang on to power AFP/Getty Israel election 2019: Netanyahu battles to hang on to power Israel's former defence minister Avigdor Lieberman and his wife Ella cast their ballots AFP/Getty Israel election 2019: Netanyahu battles to hang on to power Israeli children accompany their father during Israel's parliamentary election at a polling station AFP/Getty Israel election 2019: Netanyahu battles to hang on to power Blue and White party leader Benny Gantz and his wife Revital vote AP Israel election 2019: Netanyahu battles to hang on to power Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin prepares to vote AP Israel election 2019: Netanyahu battles to hang on to power A family votes in the settlement of Tekoa AP Israel election 2019: Netanyahu battles to hang on to power Ballots lies on a table AFP/Getty Israel election 2019: Netanyahu battles to hang on to power Israel's former justice minister Ayelet greets supporters after casting her ballot AFP/Getty Israel election 2019: Netanyahu battles to hang on to power AFP/Getty Israel election 2019: Netanyahu battles to hang on to power A mother takes a photograph of her daughter near a ballot box Reuters Israel election 2019: Netanyahu battles to hang on to power Children stand with their relative as they place his vote in a ballot box Reuters Israel election 2019: Netanyahu battles to hang on to power A woman holds her dog's leash as she prepares to vote Reuters Israel election 2019: Netanyahu battles to hang on to power AFP/Getty Israel election 2019: Netanyahu battles to hang on to power AFP/Getty Israel election 2019: Netanyahu battles to hang on to power Israel's head of the Joint List alliance Ayman Odeh casts his ballot accompanied by his family AFP/Getty Israel election 2019: Netanyahu battles to hang on to power EPA

Mr Pence's meeting with Mr Netanyahu preceded an announcement that the White House will host the prime minister and his political rival, Benny Gantz, to begin negotiations under the president's proposed "peace" deal, orchestrated by his son-in-law Jared Kushner.

The vice president said the meeting will "continue discussions about a broad range of issues of mutual concern between the United States and Israel, but also about the prospect of peace."

Mr Netanyahu said he plans to discuss with Mr Trump "his ideas on how to advance peace, and to work closely with him to advance that goal".

The plan effectively ignores Palestinians, who have remained outside of negotiations as the US continues its support for the Israeli government. Mr Gantz is Mr Netanyahu's political foe, and has suggested making territorial concessions to the Palestinians, but has not committed to recognising statehood.

Mr Netanyahu said Mr Gantz's inclusion is an effort to achieve "broad consensus" in "the efforts to achieve security and peace, peace and security for the state of Israel."
Among CStone's 15 cancer drug candidates, five candidates are in pivotal late-stage clinical development, with a total of 13 on-going registrational trials.

The Company has implemented its pipeline strategy for early-stage candidates and combination therapy. With an established clinical development platform as its growth engine, CStone is at an inflection point to transition from a R&D focused organization into a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company.

CStone expects to achieve up to 13 milestones in 2020, including:

- An NDA approval in Taiwan for TIBSOVO (ivosidenib) for the treatment of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (R/R AML), and become CStone's first commercialized product in the Greater China region.

- A total of five NDA submissions in Mainland China and Taiwan for CS1001, an anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody; pralsetinib, a RET inhibitor; and AYVAKIT TM (avapritinib), a KIT and PDGFRA inhibitor. CStone plans to release top-line data from the seven ongoing clinical trials of these three drug candidates.

- An NDA approval in for TIBSOVO (ivosidenib) for the treatment of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (R/R AML), and become CStone's first commercialized product in the region. - A total of five NDA submissions in Mainland China and for CS1001, an anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody; pralsetinib, a RET inhibitor; and AYVAKIT (avapritinib), a KIT and PDGFRA inhibitor. CStone plans to release top-line data from the seven ongoing clinical trials of these three drug candidates. In the next two to three years, the Company expects to launch four innovative products, targeting multiple indications. CStone will leverage its unique and highly efficient R&D platform to bolster its pipeline and sustain the competitiveness of its portfolio.

SUZHOU, China, Jan. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CStone Pharmaceuticals ("CStone" or the "Company", HKEX: 2616) announced that it successfully hosted its 2020 U.S. R&D Day in New York on January 21. CStone's management team highlighted major milestones the Company had achieved in research, clinical development, business development and commercialization strategies since its establishment. The management team also provided updates on the progress of the Company's pipeline. Leading academics and key opinion leaders from China and the United States provided insights on the latest trends in the transformation of cancer treatments in China.

Targeting five indications, CStone plans to submit five NDAs in 2020 for CS1001, an anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody; pralsetinib, a RET inhibitor; and AYVAKITTM (avapritinib), a KIT and PDGFRA inhibitor, in Mainland China and Taiwan. The Company plans to release the top-line data from seven ongoing clinical trials of these three drug candidates. CStone will focus on developing and commercializing innovative immuno-oncology therapies and precision medicines to address the unmet needs in cancer treatment in China and globally, and drive its Pipeline 2.0 strategy to accelerate its transition toward a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company with a unique and efficient R&D platform. Moreover, the Company plans to submit NDAs for around 10 indications for four products in the next two to three years.

"China's biopharmaceutical industry is undergoing significant transformation, and CStone is at the forefront of this paradigm shift. With a strategy focused on large cancer indications in China, unmet patient needs, and combination therapies, we are currently conducting over 30 clinical trials, including 13 registrational studies, and 14 combination trials," said Dr. Frank Jiang, Chairman and CEO of CStone. "We are very pleased that Shirley Zhao has joined us as General Manager for Greater China and Head of Commercial Operations, at this inflection point in CStone's transition from clinical-stage to commercial-stage. In the next two to three years, Shirley will lead the establishment of CStone's commercialization capabilities and the launch of multiple innovative products in the Greater China region. Leveraging our unique and highly efficient early-stage clinical development platform, we will continue to strengthen our pipeline and drive biopharmaceutical innovations in China."

Event highlights:

CStone's achievements

CStone has established a clinical development-driven business model and built a world-class clinical team with significant experience in translational medicine and clinical development. In addition, the Scientific Advisory Board comprised of four internationally renowned immuno-oncologists has substantially strengthened the Company's R&D capabilities in immunotherapies and precision medicines, further enhancing and optimizing CStone's R&D strategies and product pipeline.

and built a world-class clinical team with significant experience in translational medicine and clinical development. In addition, the Scientific Advisory Board comprised of four internationally renowned immuno-oncologists has substantially strengthened the Company's R&D capabilities in immunotherapies and precision medicines, further enhancing and optimizing CStone's R&D strategies and product pipeline. CStone has built a risk-balanced and highly competitive immunotherapy-focused pipeline. Among the Company's 15 cancer drug candidates, five are in pivotal late-stage clinical development. AYVAKIT TM (avapritinib), developed by Blueprint Medicines, and TIBSOVO (ivosidenib), developed by Agios Pharmaceuticals have received NDA approvals from the U.S. FDA.

Among these trials, the clinical studies of CS1001, an anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody, have achieved promising clinical results with patients treated with CS1001 exceeding one thousand. In 2019, CStone released encouraging data from the trials of CS1001 in esophageal carcinoma and a number of other large cancer indications in China at major medical conferences, including the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO), and the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meetings.

The two in-licensed products of CStone's pipeline candidates that have received NDA approvals from the U.S. FDA are AYVAKIT TM (avapritinib), developed by the partner company, Blueprint Medicines, and TIBSOVO (ivosidenib), developed by Agios Pharmaceuticals. Moreover, Blueprint Medicine has initiated a rolling NDA submission to the U.S. FDA for pralsetinib. All three candidate drugs are being investigated in multiple registrational trials in China .

In December, 2019, the global Phase III VOYAGER trial of avapritinib in third-line gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), and the global Phase I/II ARROW study of pralsetinib in second- and later-line non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have both completed their targeted enrollments of Chinese patients ahead of schedule.

Among these trials, the clinical studies of CS1001, an anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody, have achieved promising clinical results with patients treated with CS1001 exceeding one thousand. In 2019, CStone released encouraging data from the trials of CS1001 in esophageal carcinoma and a number of other large cancer indications in at major medical conferences, including the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO), and the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meetings. The two in-licensed products of CStone's pipeline candidates that have received NDA approvals from the U.S. FDA are AYVAKIT (avapritinib), developed by the partner company, Blueprint Medicines, and TIBSOVO (ivosidenib), developed by Agios Pharmaceuticals. Moreover, Blueprint Medicine has initiated a rolling NDA submission to the U.S. FDA for pralsetinib. All three candidate drugs are being investigated in multiple registrational trials in . In December, 2019, the global Phase III VOYAGER trial of avapritinib in third-line gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), and the global Phase I/II ARROW study of pralsetinib in second- and later-line non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have both completed their targeted enrollments of Chinese patients ahead of schedule. CStone developed comprehensive early-stage programs and is scaling up its combination therapy-focused pipeline. The Company has made significant progress with two of its backbone immunotherapy assets, CS1002, an anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody; and CS1003, an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody. Both assets generated promising results as monotherapies in Phase I studies, and CS1003 has already entered a global Phase III registrational trial. In the development of combination therapies, CStone recently initiated multiple combination trials and will continue to advance these combination studies in 2020.

The Company has made significant progress with two of its backbone immunotherapy assets, CS1002, an anti-CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody; and CS1003, an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody. Both assets generated promising results as monotherapies in Phase I studies, and CS1003 has already entered a global Phase III registrational trial. In the development of combination therapies, CStone recently initiated multiple combination trials and will continue to advance these combination studies in 2020. Leveraging a unique and highly efficient R&D platform and an innovation ecosystem, CStone has further strengthened its Pipeline 2.0. The Company will continue to develop first-in-class and best-in-class drugs and therapies to maintain its lead in innovations.

In 2019, CStone advanced two drug candidates in its pipeline into clinical development, and commenced a dozen preclinical research initiatives.

Major milestones expected in 2020 include:

One New Drug Application approval

TIBSOVO  , for the treatment of R/R AML, is expected to receive an NDA approval in Taiwan and become CStone's first commercialized product in the Greater China region.

TIBSOVO , for the treatment of R/R AML, is expected to receive an NDA approval in and become CStone's first commercialized product in the region. 5 NDA submissions

CStone plans to submit five new drug applications in Mainland China and Taiwan , for CS1001, pralsetinib, and avapritinib.

CStone plans to submit five new drug applications in Mainland China and , for CS1001, pralsetinib, and avapritinib. Seven clinical trial data releases

CStone plans to release top-line data from seven clinical trials of CS1001 (an anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody), pralsetinib, and avapritinib, and six of these trials are registrational studies.

Development strategies for 2020

To consolidate resources to focus on the delivery of the 13 milestones.

CStone will build a commercial organization for Greater China equipped with core commercialization capabilities to enable the Company's successful transition to the commercial-stage.

CStone will continue to seek strategic collaborations with key players, to drive the future growth of the company.

Leveraging its internal R&D, CStone will transition into its Pipeline 2.0 and drive the sustained growth of the Company. In the next three to five years, CStone will add first-in-class and best-in-class multi-specific monoclonal antibodies and molecular backbone assets to its pipeline. The Company plans to further explore tumor microenvironment modulators, cancer vaccines, new pathway inhibitors, and innovative combination approaches that could potentially bolster the effect of anti-PD-(L)1 antibodies.

New product launches

In the next two to three years, CStone plans to launch four of its drug candidates, including avapritinib, pralsetinib, ivosidenib and the anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody CS1001, in the Greater China region, targeting a total of 10 cancer indications.

Key messages from KOL speakers

Dr. Paul Bunn , MD, former President of American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and Distinguished Professor at University of Colorado Cancer Center , commented that latest clinical data of the RET inhibitor pralsetinib were very encouraging. The trial has already completed the patient target enrollment, which included naive patients and patients who have received platinum-based chemotherapy. He expects this precision medicine will benefit cancer patients in the future.

, commented that latest clinical data of the RET inhibitor pralsetinib were very encouraging. The trial has already completed the patient target enrollment, which included naive patients and patients who have received platinum-based chemotherapy. He expects this precision medicine will benefit cancer patients in the future. Dr. Eytan Stein , MD, Professor at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center , commented that compared to current standard chemotherapies, ivosidenib could bring significant clinical benefits to AML patients and its high-selectivity could broaden clinical benefits to cancer patients with an IDH1-mutation.

, commented that compared to current standard chemotherapies, ivosidenib could bring significant clinical benefits to AML patients and its high-selectivity could broaden clinical benefits to cancer patients with an IDH1-mutation. Dr. Yilong Wu , MD, President of the Chinese Thoracic Oncology Group (C-TONG), past president of Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO), tenured professor of Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital and Guangdong Lung Cancer Research Institute , emphasized that CStone has initiated three registrational lung cancer trials and the Company will play an important role in the lung cancer field in China .

- CS1001 is currently being investigated in the Phase III GEMSTONE-301 study in patients with locally advanced or unresectable NSCLC, and it could potentially benefit a wide range of patients. Considering the clinical practices in China , the trial also included patients who had received either concomitant or sequential radiochemotherapy. In addition, CS1001 is also being investigated in a Phase III trial in first-line Stage IV NSCLC.

- The study of pralsetinib in RET-fusion NSCLC has demonstrated promising clinical utility. Due to the persistent high incident rate of lung cancers and the lack of any effective treatment for RET-mutant cancers, pralsetinib has the potential of effectively addressing the current treatment gap in RET-fusion NSCLC in China .

CS1001 is currently being investigated in the Phase III GEMSTONE-301 study in patients with locally advanced or unresectable NSCLC, and it could potentially benefit a wide range of patients. Considering the clinical practices in , the trial also included patients who had received either concomitant or sequential radiochemotherapy. In addition, CS1001 is also being investigated in a Phase III trial in first-line Stage IV NSCLC. - The study of pralsetinib in RET-fusion NSCLC has demonstrated promising clinical utility. Due to the persistent high incident rate of lung cancers and the lack of any effective treatment for RET-mutant cancers, pralsetinib has the potential of effectively addressing the current treatment gap in RET-fusion NSCLC in . Dr. Jian Li , MD, Professor at Beijing Cancer Hospital and Chairman-elect of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology's (CSCO) Committee on GIST, acknowledged avapritinib's therapeutic promise in the treatment of GIST in China . Avapritinib is a first-in-class precision medicine approved by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of GIST, and there is currently no effective treatment for PDGFRA D842V mutant GIST in China . Available clinical data of avapritinib in PDGFRA exon 18 mutant GIST (including PDGFRA D842V mutations) have demonstrated compelling antitumor activity and a more tolerable safety profile. The drug could significantly benefit GIST patients who are in need of effective treatment options.

acknowledged avapritinib's therapeutic promise in the treatment of GIST in . Avapritinib is a first-in-class precision medicine approved by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of GIST, and there is currently no effective treatment for PDGFRA D842V mutant GIST in . Available clinical data of avapritinib in PDGFRA exon 18 mutant GIST (including PDGFRA D842V mutations) have demonstrated compelling antitumor activity and a more tolerable safety profile. The drug could significantly benefit GIST patients who are in need of effective treatment options. Dr. Weiping Zou , MD, PhD, Professor at University of Michigan , Director of the Center of Excellence for Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy, and Chair of the American Association of Cancer Research's (AACR) Cancer Immunology Working Group (CIMM), commented that CStone has made significant progress in the past three years, and he will likely to further collaborate with the Company in selecting Class I drug targets for future development and he looks forward to facilitating CStone's transition to Pipeline 2.0.

* * *

About CStone

CStone Pharmaceuticals (HKEX:2616) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative immuno-oncology and precision medicines to address the unmet medical needs of cancer patients in China and worldwide. Established in 2015, CStone has assembled a world-class management team with extensive experience in innovative drug development, clinical research, and commercialization. The company has built an oncology-focused pipeline of 15 drug candidates with a strategic emphasis on immuno-oncology combination therapies. Currently, 5 late-stage candidates are at pivotal trials. With an experienced team, a rich pipeline, a robust clinical development-driven business model and substantial funding, CStone's vision is to become globally recognized as a leading Chinese biopharmaceutical company by bringing innovative oncology therapies to cancer patients worldwide.

For more information about CStone Pharmaceuticals, please visit: www.cstonepharma.com

Forward-looking Statement

The forward-looking statements made in this article relate only to the events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this article. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should read this article completely and with the understanding that our actual future results or performance may be materially different from what we expect. In this article, statements of, or references to, our intentions or those of any of our Directors or our Company are made as of the date of this article. Any of these intentions may alter in light of future development.

SOURCE CStone Pharmaceuticals

Related Links

www.cstonepharma.com


A dog being trained to assist a disabled teenager from Estepona has been stolen at gunpoint, just a day before it was due to be collected.

The dog's trainer, from the Bocalan foundation, was walking Pocahontas, a black labrador, in the streets of Aranjuez, near Madrid, on Tuesday when four armed men got out of a van and demanded his wallet. After he handed it over, with 60 euros inside, they grabbed the dog and put her in the van.

Pocahontas was being specially trained to be a companion for Estepona resident Clara, 15, who has spinal muscular atrophy. Clara and her family were due to travel to Toledo this week to collect her. A reward of 800 euros has been offered for the return of the dog.
After reading Cochlear Limited's (ASX:COH) most recent earnings announcement (30 June 2019), I found it useful to look back at how the company has performed in the past and compare this against the latest numbers. As a long-term investor I tend to focus on earnings trend, rather than a single number at one point in time. Also, comparing it against an industry benchmark to understand whether it outperformed, or is simply riding an industry wave, is a crucial aspect. Below is a brief commentary on my key takeaways.

View our latest analysis for Cochlear

Could COH beat the long-term trend and outperform its industry?

COH's trailing twelve-month earnings (from 30 June 2019) of AU$277m has jumped 13% compared to the previous year.

However, this one-year growth rate has been lower than its average earnings growth rate over the past 5 years of 17%, indicating the rate at which COH is growing has slowed down. Why could this be happening? Well, lets take a look at whats occurring with margins and if the whole industry is experiencing the hit as well.

ASX:COH Income Statement, January 24th 2020

In terms of returns from investment, Cochlear has invested its equity funds well leading to a 38% return on equity (ROE), above the sensible minimum of 20%. Furthermore, its return on assets (ROA) of 20% exceeds the AU Medical Equipment industry of 9.5%, indicating Cochlear has used its assets more efficiently. However, its return on capital (ROC), which also accounts for Cochlears debt level, has declined over the past 3 years from 36% to 35%.

What does this mean?

While past data is useful, it doesnt tell the whole story. While Cochlear has a good historical track record with positive growth and profitability, there's no certainty that this will extrapolate into the future. I recommend you continue to research Cochlear to get a more holistic view of the stock by looking at:

Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for COHs future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for COHs outlook. Financial Health: Are COHs operations financially sustainable? Balance sheets can be hard to analyze, which is why weve done it for you. Check out our financial health checks here. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the trailing twelve months from 30 June 2019. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
(Adds Chinese comment, paragraph 19)

By Poppy McPherson, Ruma Paul and Shoon Naing

YANGON, Jan 20 (Reuters) - In a muddy field in western Myanmar, hundreds of Chinese shipping containers fitted with single narrow windows stand in neat lines, empty of the refugees they were designed to host.

China sent the grey boxes two years ago as quick and cheap housing for some of the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who fled Myanmar for Bangladesh during a military-led crackdown in 2017 that the United Nations said was conducted with genocidal intent.

The empty containers near the town of Maungdaw in Rakhine state, reflect months of failed efforts to entice the Rohingya to return to Myanmar despite a diplomatic drive by neighbour and close ally China.

In a sharp departure from its official policy of non-interference in other countries' affairs, China has positioned itself as the key mediator in resolving the protracted crisis.

But like the Indonesian and United Nations envoys who previously sought to mediate, China is finding the business of diplomacy tough going, with few signs that the crisis will soon be resolved.

The main sticking-point is a disagreement over whether the refugees will be safe in Myanmar.

Myanmar says it has created safe conditions for the Rohingyas' return, but Bangladesh and the United Nations say that fighting in Rakhine and a lack of human rights guarantees make a return for the refugees dangerous.

The Rohingya say they will not go back without guarantees of rights now denied to them, including citizenship and freedom of movement.

Over the past two years, Chinese officials have brokered three meetings between leaders of the two countries, made multiple visits to the sprawling refugee camps housing the Rohingya in Bangladesh, hired cattle trucks to bring returnees home and even offered cash inducements, all to little avail.

Still, China says it has made progress, even if only a few hundred Rohingya have returned home so far.

Story continues

The issue received fresh attention when President Xi Jinping visited Myanmar on Friday for a two-day state visit.

In a subsequent joint statement by the neighbours, China reaffirmed its willingness to continue to mediate, while Myanmar thanked China for "its understanding of the Rakhine problem, its difficulty and complications".

The visit's main focus was China's massive infrastructure projects, including a controversial hydropower dam and a deep-sea port in Rakhine, that make Myanmar a vital link in Xi's flagship Belt and Road Initiative to expand trade ties globally.

The two countries signed dozens of deals covering trade and infrastructure, with Myanmar agreeing to speed up implementation.

Western Myanmar, with its location between booming India and Southeast Asia, is strategically important to Beijing, offering China's landlocked western provinces potential port access to the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal.

"We have facilitated and hosted three foreign minister meetings between China, Myanmar, and Bangladesh to work for an early repatriation," Luo Zhaohui, China's vice foreign minister told a Jan. 10 news conference ahead of Xi's trip.

"Our efforts have paid off."

But Bangladesh officials, Western diplomats in Yangon, and security analysts say China is mainly concerned with shoring up its key interests in Rakhine.

In talks with the Bangladesh government, Chinese officials emphasise the importance of developing the state rather than resolving human rights issues, said a Bangladesh official familiar with the discussions.

"China wants to resolve the crisis," said another Bangladesh official. "At least, they want to start repatriation as early as possible. But they are not doing enough to oblige Myanmar to create a conducive environment for them to return."

U.N. officials and diplomats in Yangon also say China's efforts to broker a quick solution ignore the human rights concerns.

"Their approach is wildly simplistic," said one Yangon-based diplomat. "What we hear is China has been pushing Myanmar and Bangladesh to just get it done. What does that mean when the conditions aren't there?"

China's foreign ministry said Tuesday that "positive progress" was made in the meetings it had brokered between Bangladeshi and Myanmar leaders, two of them attended by high-ranking UN officials.

In a statement, it called the meetings "hard-won positive developments" that should be supported by the international community.

Responding to questions from Reuters, Myanmar defended the Chinese efforts.

Ko Ko Naing, an official of Myanmar's social welfare ministry, said China had been "helping continuously", citing its development efforts in Rakhine.

"The lack of development is more important than social cohesion," he said. "We are doing many investments there. The roads are better."

UNCERTAIN RETURN

While more than 730,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh in 2017, hundreds of thousands are still in Myanmar, confined to camps and villages where they are denied access to healthcare and education.

Fresh fighting between government troops and an ethnic armed group comprised mostly of majority Rakhine Buddhists has also displaced tens of thousands of people.

Despite the concerns over the security situation in Rakhine, China's position is that Myanmar is ready to take back the refugees.

It is also advocating resolving the issue through talks between Myanmar and Bangladesh, and minimizing the role of parties such as the United Nations, which runs the refugee camps, officials of both countries told Reuters.

China has presented its diplomatic work in Myanmar and Bangladesh as humanitarian, but analysts and diplomats in Yangon say those efforts have broader geopolitical aims.

"I'd say that China is not involved in the Rohingya crisis for humanitarian reasons, but for political and economic considerations," said Yun Sun, co-director of the East Asia program at the Stimson Center in Washington.

"China would like to be the new peacemaker in the region," she said, adding that it wanted to show how its approach to resolving the crisis could succeed where Western powers had failed. "It's a competition for leadership."

Nowkhim, a refugee leader in Kutapalong, one of the camps in Bangladesh, said the general perception among the Rohingya was that China was merely pressing Myanmar's official line and was unwilling to push it to accept their demands.

A video from a meeting between refugee leaders and Chinese diplomats, seen by Reuters, shows a Chinese official saying the Rohingya should drop demands such as the right to be recognised as an ethnic group in Myanmar.

Myanmar's position is that the Rohingya are Muslim migrants from the Indian sub-continent and not one of the country's ethnic groups a which would technically grant them citizenship.

"They are not willing to solve our problem easily," said Nowkhim. "They are just showing the world that 'we meet with Rohingya'."

FAILED EFFORTS

Beijing's last major effort to kickstart repatriation was in August after Myanmar compiled a list of 3,000 Rohingya approved for return. But that effort failed after hundreds of the refugees on the list went into hiding to avoid being sent back.

Standing in one of the refugee camps in Bangladesh at the time, a Chinese diplomat said that someone needed to make the first move to send the Rohingya back.

Myanmar officials waited on the other side of the border, but not a single refugee volunteered to return.

Only about 400 refugees have since returned separately, Myanmar says. Rohingya leaders say most of the returnees have close ties to the Myanmar government.

Myanmar has also rebuffed some of China's efforts, last year rejecting a proposal for refugees to visit Rakhine to assess conditions.

A local businessman tasked with assembling the donated containers said he saw little point in continuing with his work.

"People haven't stayed in the houses for two years," said the businessman, who sought anonymity. "I will stop building this year," he added.

"The situation has not changed, right?" (Reporting by Poppy McPherson and Ruma Paul. Additional reporting by Shoon Naing, Sam Aung Moon and Simon Lewis in Yangon and Cate Cadell in Beijing. Writing by Poppy McPherson; Editing by Philip McClellan.)
New Delhi, Jan 24 : Slamming former BJP President Amit Shah for telling "blatant lies" about the city, Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia said on Friday that the Union Home Minister was lying as none of the seven BJP MPs in Delhi have done anything for the national capital.

Speaking to the media, Deputy Chief Minister Sisodia said that in 2014, the people of Delhi voted for 7 BJP MPs and it was repeated in 2019.

"Had these 7 MPs or the Central government had done any work for the people on the ground, they wouldn't have to resort to 'jumlas', or be confused about issues to attack the Arvind Kejriwal government," Sisodia said, asking BJP leaders to raise real issues.

Sisodia said on Thursday, Shah made some statements during his rally in Delhi. He appreciated that Shah was talking about the work being done in Delhi.

"We had said that we entered politics to transform it and Shah himself provides ample proof of the manner in which we have changed the narrative," said Sisodia.

He added that Shah, when referring to Delhi, also had to speak about the real issues and the works done.

Sisodia said that Shah had to finally admit on Thursday that 'some' cameras have been installed.

"Even though he only acknowledged that 'some' cameras have been installed, at least he accepted that work has happened. Since he is the Union Home Minister, he has all the sources at his disposal to gather information. He is also in constant touch with officers of the Delhi government.

"Had he gathered the right information, he would have known that of the 2.8 lakh CCTV cameras were promised and we have already installed more than 2 lakh of them. The process is on to install the remaining. Therefore, I request Shah to kindly keep himself updated about the work happening in Delhi," Sisodia said.

He added that it doesn't speak well for a nation if its Home Minister needs to go around with a binocular to look for CCTV cameras.

"Yesterday, he also claimed that no schools have been constructed by the AAP. I would like to invite him to my Assembly constituency -- Patparganj. I want to send him a message that if he plans a roadshow or rally in Patparganj, he should make a pit stop at Khichripur village and see for himself the newly constructed Government School Of Excellence," Sisodia said.

He also challenged Shah to show even a single government school of comparable standard that has been constructed in any of the BJP ruled states.

"I am also willing to accompany him to any other area of Delhi he chooses to visit and show him a school in that area. I don't know whether he is looking for a school in Delhi or the sky using his binocular. We have not just constructed new schools, but also refurbished the older ones to a great extent," Sisodia said.
by Sumon Corraya

Fr Mintu L Palma, vicar at the Inter-diocesan Marriage Tribunal, authored the book. For one reader, the latter lays down "the pillars of a good married life: faithfulness, responsibility, honesty and patience". Card Patrick DRozario, head of the Church of Bangladesh, penned the preface. For the author, rows between parents have a negative impact on children. The book is meant to help families.

Dhaka (AsiaNews)  The Archdiocese of Dhaka released a new book to help Catholic couples in their married life.

The tome is the second work on the topic by Fr Mintu L Palma, director of the Christian Family Counselling Centre and vicar at Inter-diocesan Marriage Tribunal.

Some people spoke appreciatively of the new volume to AsiaNews because it suggests ways to have a successful married life".

Titled Bibahito or Dampatto Jiboner Muldhon in Bangla (Resource for marriage and married life), the 44-page book is on sale in front of the Catholic church in Tejgaon for 100 takas (US$ 1.20).

Raton Corraya bought a copy for our family life, he said. I prepared for marriage with the [first] book of Fr Palm. I really like his advice.

The book, he adds, mentions the pillars of a good married life: faithfulness, responsibility, honesty and patience. I hope other readers will get useful messages from the book.

Pronoti Gomes, 40, is currently enrolled in the premarital course and uses Fr Palmas book. I came to realise that marriage is a lifelong bond. What is more, Without consent, the marriage is not valid. The book gave me lot of ideas.

According to Fr Mintu, family members face several difficulties. Many end their marriage and rows between parents negatively affect children. This prompted me to write. The new edition also has illustrated pages and I think readers will benefit from them.

Nowadays, the clergyman laments, people no longer read. This is why I inserted figures and poems, so as to interest the reader whilst giving messages on married life.

The preface is signed by Card Patrick D'Rozario, Archbishop of Dhaka, who praises the priest's initiative and stresses that the Church has "marriage and the family at heart".

Fr Mintu notes that some 1,700 Catholic marriages are celebrated in Bangladesh every year.

About 80 per cent [of the couples] have an adequate relationship, but the remaining 20 per cent have problems, 5 per cent very serious ones.

Ultimately, We want families to have happy lives. For this reason, We want to help couples overcome problems by giving them advice.
Its relatively easy to erase the contents of a drive on a Mac. But what if youre asked to prove you did so? Some companies, government agencies, and other organizations have an internal or legal requirement to erase drives securely. While the IT department may handle this at large organizations, you might be asked (as one reader was) to provide documentation before disposing of a company computer.

Fortunately, this isnt an odd request. And its not terribly expensive even for an individual to conform to. Theres a category of software thats available across many different platforms from many firms that is designed to not just perform erasure meeting a variety of industry or military standards, but can also produce a certification report at the end.

Stellar Stellar Bitraser File Eraser

This certificate is backed by the company having run though its own set of certifications with industry groups and labs that test the software to make sure it meets the erasure specifications promised. Stellars Bitraser File Eraser, for example, notes that This certificate helps you meet compliance with data protection regulations such as SOX, GLB, HIPAA, ISO27001, EU-GDPR, PCI-DSS, audits, and international guidelines, including ISO 27001.

If any of those letters and numbers are important for your group, Bitraser File Eraser is $40 a year for a single-user license, and its up to date for macOS 10.15 Catalina.

iShredder from ProtectStar also meets the bill for macOS through Catalina with deletion algorithms like DoD 5220.22-M ECE, Peter Gutmann, DoD 5220.22-M, HMG Infosec No.5, German BSI-2011-VS, US Army AR380-19 and more. Its $19.90 for an individual license for its professional version, which includes one year of updates and support. It has a military edition that adds more military standards for erasure and a more comprehensive report.

Instead of purchasing software, you may also be able to find a local electronics recyclerlike the non-profit InterConnection in my town of Seattleor data-security firm that offers a one-off price for erasing a computers internal drive with the necessary certification report or extracting and destroying a drive with a paper trail for your needs.

This Mac 911 article is in response to a question submitted by Macworld reader Craig.

Ask Mac 911

Weve compiled a list of the questions we get asked most frequently along with answers and links to columns: read our super FAQ to see if your question is covered. If not, were always looking for new problems to solve! Email yours to mac911@macworld.com including screen captures as appropriate, and whether you want your full name used. Not every question will be answered, we dont reply to email, and we cannot provide direct troubleshooting advice.
Donald Trump has named a new head of the nations border agency, despite his reported membership of a controversial private Facebook group that frequently posted anti-immigrant remarks.

The department of homeland security announced it was appointing Rodney Soctt to lead US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the agency that oversees protection of the nations borders.

Under Mr Trump it has been accused by critics of carrying out a number of inhumane activities, including the separation of migrant children from their parents, and detaining people in harsh condition.

The outgoing head, Carla Provost, had been under pressure from politicians such as Alexandria Ocassio-Cortez, after it emerged she as part of a private Facebook group that often posted anti-immigrant messages.

But the new head of the agency, Rodney Scott, a. 27-year veteran of the agency and who helped oversee trials of prototypes Mr Trumps border wall in his role as chief of the San Diego sector, was also reportedly a member of the Facebook group.

Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California Show all 20 1 /20 Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The prototypes for President Trumps border wall are being demolished. AP Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The US Customs and Border protection had built the eight 30-foot tall steel and concrete models near San Diego on the US-Mexico border. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A 2018 report from the Government Accountability Office found that the construction challenges presented by the four concrete models would be extensive and those presented by two of the other models would be substantial. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California It was intended that Mr Trump would choose his favourite of the designs after testing had been completed. AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The President is yet to comment. AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California Each prototype cost $300,000 to $500,000 to build and they are being knocked down in order to make way for the San Diego Secondary Wall project which will see up to 14 miles of barrier being built to support the existing steel border fence. AP Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The new barrier will not employ the design of any of the prototypes, instead being built of the favoured steel bollards which make up the current section of the wall at San Diego. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The new secondary barrier being built near San Diego. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California The rubble of one of the demolished prototypes. Reuters Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A steel wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A wall prototype made from a mix of steel and concrete AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A wall prototype made from a mix of steel and concrete AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A concrete wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A steel wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A concrete wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A concrete wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A concrete wall prototype AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California A digger approaches the prototype wall AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California Aerial view of the wall prototypes at the US-Mexico border after they were torn down AFP/Getty Trump prototypes for Mexico border wall demolished in California An aerial view showing Tijuana, Mexico on the left and the demolished wall prototypes on the right AFP/Getty

The president visited the sector in 2018, and was photographed with Mr Scott, and imaged of the prototypes.

ProPublica was, last summer, the first to reveal the existence of the private group, in which current and former CBP agents joked about migrants deaths, and made threatening remarks about Democrats such as Ms Ocasio Cortez, who had accused the agency of running concentration camps.

Then The Intercept reported that Ms Provost was a member of the group, something she was obliged before a congressional heading in Washington.

She told the hearing, she had not known she was a member of the group, and had alerted her organisations office of professional responsibility, when she did so.

 People scale US border wall in seconds - despite Trump insisting it 'can't be climbed'

I am as outraged as everyone else when it comes to the statements that were made on that page, she said.

The Intercept report said Mr Scott was also a member of the group. The Washington Examiner quoted one CBP official as saying even if he had not posted anything inappropriate, his membership was just as concerning as the of others.

You had a bunch of agents that were a member ... they went and they removed themselves [when the story broke], the official said.

Rodney Scott was the only one that did not remove himself from the Facebook page. His attitude was, I didnt do anything wrong. His attitude was, Who cares? His attitude was, You know what, this is free speech.

The CBP did not immediately respond to enquires from The Independent about Mr Scotts reported membership of the group.

In a statement about his appointment, Mark Moran, the acting commissioner of the CBP, said: Chief Scott is the absolute embodiment of the border patrols motto Honour First, and I am confident that under his leadership, the men and women of the CBP will be well served, the laws of this nation will be enforced, and our borders will be secured.
Over 6.4 crore new subscribers joined EPF and ESI schemes between September 2017 and November 2019 and over 16 lakh new subscribers joined the Pension Scheme during the period, the NSO said on Friday.

The Statistical Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, released information on employment outlook of the country covering the period based on the administrative records available with selected government agencies to assess the progress in certain dimensions.

An official release said the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has been bringing out employment-related statistics in the formal sector from September 2017 using information on the number of subscribers who have subscribed under three major schemes - Employees' Provident Fund (EPF) Scheme, the Employees' State Insurance (ESI) Scheme and the Pension Scheme (NPS).

The release titled 'Payroll Reporting in India: An Employment Perspective - November, 2019' gave the numbers of new subscribers under the three schemes.

It said 3,03,05,347 new subscribers joined the EPF scheme between September 2017 and November 2019 and 3,37,26,225 new subscribers joined the ESI scheme in the same period. The figure was 16,72,813 for NPS.

The release said that the report gives different perspectives on the levels of employment in the formal sector and does not measure employment at a holistic level.

The next report is due for release on February 25.

Opposition parties have been alleging that unemployment under Modi government has been worse in the last four decades.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan.24

By Tamilla Mammadova  Trend:

Turkey exported 59,315 tons of tubes, pipes and hollow profiles of iron or steel totaling $42.7 million to Georgia in 2019, Trend reports referring to Georgian National Statistics Office (Geostat).

In an annual comparison, Turkey reduced the export of tubes, pipes and hollow profiles of iron or steel by 2,768 tons. Over the 2018 year, 62,083 tons of tubes, pipes and hollow profiles, of iron or steel were exported from Turkey to Georgia for a total of $49 million.

In 2019, Turkey exported 8,763 tons of insulated wire, cable and other insulated electric conductors totaling $40 million to Georgia.

In an annual comparison, Turkey increased the export of insulated wire, cable and other insulated electric conductors by 1,233 tons. Over the 2018 year, 7,530 tons of insulated wire, cable and other insulated electric conductors were exported from Turkey to Georgia for a total of $31.1 million.

Turkey ranks first in Georgias commodity circulation.

In 2019, total imports to Georgia from Turkey amounted to $1.6 billion. In turn, Georgia exported goods worth $202.3 million to Turkey.

The foreign trade turnover of Georgia with Turkey in 2019 exceeded $1.8 billion, which is 14.1 percent of the total trade turnover of Georgia.

In 2019, the external merchandise trade (excluding non-declared trade) of Georgia amounted to $12.8 billion, 2.7 percent higher year-on-year.

The exports equaled $3.7 billion (12.4 percent higher), while the imports stood at $9.1 billion (0.8 percent lower).

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Mila61979356
Use of real-time facial recognition is less common. NEC, a Japanese company that makes biometric and facial recognition services, sold London the technology now being adopted. Other buyers of its real-time facial recognition technology include Surat, a city of about five million people in India, and the country of Georgia, according to the companys website.

The technology is also used every few weeks in Cardiff, the capital of Wales, often at big events like rugby matches or a concert for the heavy metal band Slipknot this past week. As of September, police in Wales say, the technology had helped in the arrests of 58 people who had been wanted.

Representatives at NEC did not respond to a request for comment.

According to researchers at Georgetown University, several American cities have piloted the live facial recognition systems, often with mixed results. In Orlando, Fla., a pilot program that ended last year tried to match faces going past several cameras against individuals on a watch list. In Detroit, police purchased a face-identification system as part of a crime-prevention program. Last year, The Wall Street Journal reported on the failures of a New York pilot program to spot people as they drove past bridges and tunnels.

Use of facial recognition technology in the United States has generated a backlash. San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley in California, along with Somerville and Brookline in Massachusetts, have banned its use.

Privacy groups criticized Londons decision and vowed to take legal action to try to stop the deployment of the software.

This decision represents an enormous expansion of the surveillance state and a serious threat to civil liberties in the U.K., said Silkie Carlo, director of Big Brother Watch, a London-based group that has been fighting the use of facial recognition. This is a breathtaking assault on our rights, and we will challenge it.

Last year, a British judge said that police departments could use the technology without violating privacy or human rights, a case that is under appeal. The governments top privacy regulator has raised concerns about the use of the technology, as did an independent report of a trial use by the Metropolitan Police.
WUHAN, China  The Lunar New Year festivities were just hours away, but instead of helping to prepare a joyous family banquet, Chen Yanming stood anxiously outside a hospital where her father was being tested for a dangerous new virus.

Today should be the Chinese peoples happiest day, Ms. Chen, 47, said here in Wuhan, the riverside city of 11 million in central China where the outbreak began. But this sickness has destroyed that feeling. It came suddenly and unexpectedly. We should have been better prepared.

The emergence of the mysterious coronavirus could hardly come at a worse time for China, turning its biggest holiday into a time of deepening fear, restrictions and frustration.
U.S. soldiers and journalists inspect the rubble at a site of Iranian bombing, in Ain al-Asad air base, Anbar, Iraq, on Jan. 13, 2020. (Qassim Abdul-Zahra/AP Photo)

34 US Troops Suffered Concussions, Traumatic Brain Injuries in Iranian Missile Strike: Pentagon

Thirty-four U.S. service members suffered concussions and traumatic brain injuries following the Iranian missile attack on American forces at two Iraqi military bases earlier this month, said Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman on Friday.

Eight service members who were previously transported to Germany have been transported to the United States for more treatment, Hoffman said in a press conference. He said they arrived Friday morning, and nine other service members are still being treated in Germany.

Sixteen service members who were diagnosed with concussions and traumatic brain injuries remained in Iraq, and have already returned to duty, he said. Meanwhile, one service member was taken to Kuwait for treatment and has returned to duty.

On Jan. 8, Iran fired around two-dozen missiles at two bases in Iraq. A day later, President Donald Trump said there were no deaths or injuries.

According to photos captured by The Associated Press following the attack, several sections of the al-Asad Airbase targeted by Iran appeared to have been totally devastated. The missiles destroyed several buildings that house soldiers.

Debris and rubble are seen at the site where an Iranian missile hit at al-Asad Airbase air base in Anbar province, Iraq on Jan. 13, 2020. (John Davison/Reuters)

We could feel the shock wave and when the impact hit, the bunker doors sunk in, said Air Force Lt. Col. Staci Coleman, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal in mid-January. My personal opinion is that they really wanted to target our [air] assets and if they so happened to kill Americans in the process, that was OK with them.

Tehran said it fired the missiles in retaliation to an American airstrike that killed its commander, Qassem Soleimani, who headed the shadowy Quds Force, just days earlier near the Baghdad airport. The United States has said Soleimani was killed because he was planning attacks on American assets after Iran-aligned militia groups allegedly directed an assault on the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Dec. 31. Before that, the United States said it carried out airstrikes on the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah organization in Iran after it killed an American contractor in late December.

After the Iranian missile strike on the airbases, Trump announced sanctions against Iran and pushed for a de-escalation in the region. Hours after the missile barrage, however, Iran shot down a Ukrainian passenger plane near the Tehran airport, killing all 176 people on board.

Soleimanis successor, Gen. Esmail Ghaani, warned the United States that it would face manly revenge from Iran following Soleimanis death.

Brian Hook, U.S. special representative for Iran, issued a warning earlier this week that if Ghaani follows the same path of killing Americans then he will meet the same fate as Soleimani, according to an interview with Arabic newspaper Asharq al-Awsat.

This isnt a new threat. The president has always said that he will always respond decisively to protect American interests, Hook added. I think the Iranian regime understands now that they cannot attack America and get away with it.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and the president of the European Council, Charles Michel, sign the Brexit agreement (European Commission/PA)

The presidents of the European Council and the European Commission have formally signed the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement ahead of Britains departure from the EU next week.

Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen put their signatures to the document in Brussels after the Queen gave royal assent to the legislation implementing the agreement on Thursday.

Following the formalities in the Belgian capital, the agreement was being taken to London by diplomatic bag for Boris Johnson to sign.

The European Parliament is now expected to vote to approve the agreement on Wednesday, paving the way for the UK to leave next Friday, January 31.

It will mark the start of an 11-month transition period, during which the UK will continue to follow EU rules, before the final break with Brussels at the end of the year.

Mr Johnson has said he wants to negotiate a comprehensive free trade deal with the EU by the end of the year.

However, Mrs von der Leyen and other senior EU figures have warned the Governments stated intention to end the UKs alignment with EU regulations means it will be impossible to achieve within such a tight timetable.

Today I signed the UK Withdrawal Agreement for the EU together with @vonderleyen



Things will inevitably change but our friendship will remain. We start a new chapter as partners and allies.



Hate decrire ensemble cette nouvelle page. pic.twitter.com/a7zmGeBwZS  Charles Michel (@eucopresident) January 24, 2020

The Prime Minister, however, remains upbeat, insisting Britain can now move forward after years of wrangling over Brexit.

At times it felt like we would never cross the Brexit finish line, but weve done it, he said.

Now we can put the rancour and division of the past three years behind us and focus on delivering a bright, exciting future.
A small landslide is blocking the eastbound lane of West Burnside Street near the Northwest Barnes Road.

This is in an area where a landslide from a few years ago shut the road down for several days. Use caution in the area and expect delays. The Portland Bureau of Transportation said it would assess the slide at first light.

Travelers are asked to use alternate routes.

Trimet route 20 bus is detoured due to this slide.

Update 9:20 a.m.: PBOT has closed West Burnside in both directions between Barnes and Skyline to clean up debris from the landslide that occurred earlier today. A detour is marked.

Advisory: PBOT crews working to clear West Burnside landslide. This is the largest slide on a city street in about two years. Expect road to remain closed between Barnes and Skyline all day. #pdxtraffic #citythatworks pic.twitter.com/AP6FP2jWL8  Portland Bureau of Transportation (@PBOTinfo) January 24, 2020

The Morrison Bridge. Oregonian file photo. LC- The Oregonian/Oregonlive.com

The Morrison Bridge will be closed to all motor vehicle traffic 7 a.m. until as late as 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26, for maintenance work.

The bridge will remain open to bicyclists and pedestrians except between 7 a.m.-1 p.m. when crews will be raising the drawbridge. Several intermittent drawbridge openings are expected Sunday afternoon.

Crews will inspect sign bridges above the bridge, clean gutters, replace stormwater filters, and repair areas of the road deck and sidewalks.

Ramps between the bridge and Interstates 5 and 84 will also be closed. The only exception is the ramp from the Morrison Bridge westbound to I-5 north which will close 7-9 a.m. Sunday and then reopen for the rest of the day.

Motorists can access I-84 eastbound at Northeast Grand Avenue and Northeast Everett Street.

To access downtown Portland from the freeways during the closure, I-5 southbound drivers can exit at the Rose Quarter/Broadway Bridge and I-84 westbound drivers can exit at Rose Quarter/Weidler exits.

TriMets 15 Belmont/NW 23rd bus line will be detoured to the Hawthorne Bridge.

***

PARKROSE 8:28 a.m.: Injury crash with several units responding to 102nd Avenue at Sandy Boulevard. Avoid the area.

***

OREGON CITY 8:25 a.m.: Crash on Washington and 12th streets.

***

GATEWAY 8:24 a.m.: A fire has the eastbound exit from I-84 to Halsey Street closed. Use an alternate route. This may effect MAX lines as well. Well update.

Update 9:09 a.m.: Cleared.

#pdxtraffic A fire has the EB exit 7 to Halsey from I-84 east closed, use alternate route. pic.twitter.com/eXRu4mVDk4  PDX Traffic Alerts (@TrafficPortland) January 24, 2020

***

TIGARD 6:52 a.m.: Crash on OR 99W northbound near Park Street.

***

VISTA RIDGE TUNNEL 6:35 a.m.: A crash is blocking two lanes of U.S. 26 eastbound on the east side of the tunnel just before the I-405 split. Traffic is backing up to Sylvan.

Update 7:25 a.m.: Cleared.

***

The Portland Water Bureau has rescheduled roadwork along Southwest Naito Parkway for 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 24. Crews will close one lane in each direction for paving from Harrison to Market streets.

Traffic will continue to flow in the remaining lanes. Travelers should expect delays. Flaggers will direct traffic through the work zone. Pedestrians and bicyclists should use extreme caution in the work zone, or choose an alternate route.

The work was originally scheduled for early last week, but snow in the forecast canceled the closure. The work is weather dependent and cant be performed in cold temperatures or wet conditions. Fridays forecast calls for rain in the morning.

Check out this cool video of a snow slide on Stevens Pass in Washington. Theyve got wipers on their pass cams!

Here's a look at the snow slide that blocked US 2 #StevensPass yesterday afternoon. Our crews were able to clear it in less than an hour. Also, little-known fact that you'll notice: Many of our newer traffic cameras have a wiper on them. pic.twitter.com/rIOekuFYjF  Washington State DOT (@wsdot) January 24, 2020

Check back throughout the morning for the latest commuting updates and follow us on Twitter: @trafficportland
While leaders often take pains to avoid controversial topics and the glare of hostile publicity, it is the sine qua non  the absolute necessity  of strong leaders to speak out about whats right and wrong, especially at critical moments in history.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/1/2020 (719 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

While leaders often take pains to avoid controversial topics and the glare of hostile publicity, it is the sine qua non  the absolute necessity  of strong leaders to speak out about whats right and wrong, especially at critical moments in history.

As one researcher has argued: "Leaders fill the role of mythical heroes through actions such as saving companies, championing causes for the poor or disenfranchised, and defending our closely held beliefs."

That includes those helming companies, in my opinion.

Michael McCain, the CEO of Maple Leaf Foods, demonstrated such leadership with his recent tweets defending liberal institutions and expressing outrage about the deaths of 57 Canadians, including the wife and son of one of his employees.

This activist CEO called out an aggressive American act, undertaken at U.S. President Donald Trumps behest, to assassinate a high-ranking Iranian official in Baghdad.

The targeted killing escalated tensions between the United States and Iran. Iranians then mistakenly directed missiles at Flight PS752 shortly after takeoff, killing 176 people, many of them bound for Canada.

Even though hes faced mixed reactions on social media, McCain has helped to enhance a distinctly Canadian brand, Maple Leaf Foods, by defending Canadian values as the country still reels from the tragedy.

McCain wealth

McCain has been the president and chief executive officer of Maple Leaf Foods for a couple of decades. The billionaire is one of the wealthiest people in Canada. Although we may not like income inequality in Canada, it helps when we see wealthy people standing up for whats right.

McCain has a track record of leadership and trying to do whats right. In fact, he has said that doing the right thing was his goal, and in line with the companys values, during the companys 2008 listeria crisis. Instead of covering up the extent of the outbreak, McCain was fully transparent and took full responsibility.

"Knowing there is a desire to assign blame, the buck stops here," he said. "I emphasize: this is our accountability and its ours to fix."

McCain knew that Canadians have to trust a company producing the food they eat, and the Maple Leaf brand recovered from the crisis.

The CEOs actions were not only ethical, but they also demonstrated his business acumen and effective communication skills. He understood the value of a corporate brand and that a good reputation must back it up. Indeed, research has shown reputation can motivate consumer purchase intentions.

Siemens puzzling coal move

Contrast this to the recent baffling announcement made by Joe Kaeser, CEO of Siemens, the German engineering giant. Kaeser, the companys highest paid executive with an annual salary of US$9.6 million, says that although he knows its the wrong thing to do, his firm will remain on the controversial Adani project, a huge coal mine in Australia.

As Australias horrific, climate change-fuelled bush fires rage on, possibly wiping out entire species, Kaesers decision shows incredibly poor judgment. He has dismayed employees by seemingly tossing aside Siemens carefully cultivated environmental corporate reputation and tarnished the brand, all for a relatively small US$20 million project. Siemens is a US$100 billion company.

The mine stands to add to climate change and further damage Australias Great Barrier Reef, already battered by bleaching due to rising ocean temperatures and marine heatwaves. Dubbed the "worlds most insane energy project" by Rolling Stone magazine, protesters around the world have made their opposition known.

A Bloomberg opinion writer called Kaesers announcement one of the "strangest pieces of executive communication," noting that the Adani project doesnt even make economic sense, especially with the declining price of coal.

Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

In fact, Siemens has cut thousands of jobs from a related energy division it plans to spin off. In other words, Kaeser sold out his multinationals reputation for a project not even part of Siemens future. He says that he doesnt see a legal way out of the contract the company signed with Indias Adani.

Although some may claim that its easy for McCain to use his companys corporate Twitter feed however he likes because he owns a good chunk of the business he leads, both men lead publicly traded companies and have shareholders to consider.

With all of Kaesers millions, and Siemens, he could walk away, just as McCain could risk a dent in his companys stock price with his surprising tweets about Trump. As it were, Maple Leaf Foods share prices dipped briefly but soon recovered, suggesting there will be no lasting damage from McCains tweets. In fact, many of us may recognize the brand now even more when were in grocery stores, and Maple Leaf Foods employees, customers and other stakeholders will know the Canadian company can be trusted to do the right thing.

The difference is leadership, not corporate structure. Both men can make independent decisions. But only one is a leader, and thats Michael McCain.

Deborah de Lange is an associate professor of global management studies at Ryerson University.

This article was first published at The Conversation Canada: theconversation.com/ca.
Those comments were directed at one of Mr. Trumps aides who was in the room at the time, Mr. Parnas has previously said.

Ms. Yovanovitch remained in her job for another year after Mr. Trumps remarks until she was recalled on the White Houses orders, according to testimony in the impeachment inquiry. It is not clear whether the president changed his mind, forgot about his order or was talked out of dismissing her.

Asked about the recording by Fox News, Mr. Trump said he was not a big fan of Ms. Yovanovitch. I want ambassadors that are chosen by me, he said. I have a right to hire and fire ambassadors, and thats a very important thing.

The campaign to remove Ms. Yovanovitch is among the central elements of the Democratic case that Mr. Trump abused his power in an effort to pressure Ukraines government into announcing investigations into purported meddling in the 2016 election and into former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and his diplomacy in Ukraine.

Mr. Parnas had previously recounted how he and another associate of Mr. Giulianis, Igor Fruman, had met with Mr. Trump during a dinner for a small group of donors in a private suite at the Trump International Hotel in Washington in late April 2018. At that dinner, Mr. Parnas relayed a rumor that Ms. Yovanovitch, then the American ambassador in Kyiv, was bad-mouthing the president  an unsubstantiated claim that Ms. Yovanovitch has denied.

Republicans have sought to challenge Mr. Parnass credibility by noting that he is under indictment. But the recording seemed to buttress his claims that he had discussions with Mr. Trump about ousting Ms. Yovanovitch, who Mr. Parnas and Mr. Giuliani later came to believe was blocking their efforts to press the Ukrainians to commit to the investigations.

Mr. Parnas and Mr. Fruman had obtained direct access to the president by donating to Republican committees, and the recording suggests he spoke in front of them in a remarkably unfiltered and undiplomatic way, given their relative obscurity.
Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Bala Bachchan on Friday said the opposition BJP's protest against a state government anti-mafia crackdown was to protect such elements.

During its agitation on Friday, BJP leaders said their party workers were being targeted by the Kamal Nath government under the guise of an anti-mafia drive.

"The BJP held this agitation to protect the mafia that thrived during their 15-year rule. Nothing can be more embarrassing than this. We do not need the BJP's certificate for our anti-mafia drive. It will continue," Bachchan told reporters.

He said the drive had resulted in the freeing of mafia-encroached government land worth Rs 1,200 crore.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Two businessmen arrested in Moscow on suspicion of $1.5 mln embezzlement

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

16:03 24/01/2020

MOSCOW, January 24 (RAPSI)  Law enforcement officers arrested two entrepreneurs, Alexander Plyushchenko and Alexander Kutukov, in Moscow as a part of a probe in a 91 million-ruble (about $1.5 million) embezzlement case, lawyer Stalina Gurevich told RAPSI on Friday.

According to the lawyer, who is representing Plyushchenko, no charges have been brought as yet against the men, they are only suspects.

Her client, the lawyer says, has no connections whatsoever to the criminal world, and in her view there is no evidence proving Plyushchenkos involvement in the crime as he has broken his connections with the banks mentioned in the criminal case. Moreover, Gurevich notes, her client has asked law enforcement agencies to investigate if Kutukovs actions were lawful.
The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN has declared January 31st and February 2nd, days for National fasting and pr...





The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria CAN has declared January 31st and February 2nd, days for National fasting and prayers for Christians in Nigeria.





Speaking to newsmen in Abuja, CAN president, Reverend Samson Ayokunle, said Christians are expected to use those days to pray for God to stop the incessant killings of Christians in Nigeria.





Ayokunle made this known while reacting to the recent killing of CAN chairman in Michika local government in Adamawa state, Reverend Lawan Andimi.





Ayokunle while announcing the days for the fasting and praying, said

"The CAN leadership has declared Friday, January 31 to February 2, 2020 as days for special fasting and prayer for Nigeria in all churches, home and abroad, for the gruesome killing of innocent Nigerians to stop and for our government to develop the capacity to overcome the criminals troubling the nation.





"Sunday, February 2, 2020, is declared a special prayer walk by Christians in all the states of the federation in the form of a procession to be led by states CAN chairmen at CAN secretariats and pastors of churches in all churches in Nigeria.





"Churches should process round their area, pray for Gods permanent intervention and help from all over the world so that all of us might not be consumed one by one.





"It appears our government is completely overwhelmed. The brutality of Nigerians is happening unabated daily.





"All bloc leaders, zonal and states chairmen, leaders of denominations and all Christians and concerned Nigerians should support and come out en-mass for the programme.





"The church is matching on and the gate of hell shall not prevail against it!" Ayokunle said





The CAN leader also called on the Federal government to suspend the rehabilitation and release of arrested Boko Haram members.





"The Federal Government should publish names of all kingpins of the terrorists who are in detention and those who are being prosecuted. The Federal Government should stop releasing the so-called repented terrorists since they are reportedly joining their colleagues in the forest to unleash terror on the land.





The Federal Government should reverse the recent controversial police promotion with a view to balancing religious and ethnic divides in the country. The Federal Government should stop sending delegations to all Islamic international organisations and let our Muslim counterparts be doing so as we are doing in all international Christian religious organisations. The Federal Government should stop discriminating against our female youth corps members who refuse to wear the NYSC trousers for religious reasons since they allow their Muslim counterparts to wear hijab.





The victims of the consistent attacks should be assessed and adequately compensated. The victims in various IDPs be provided with adequate security and enough resources for continual survival. It is painful and a betrayal to note that the government gives more attention to so-called repentant terrorists than the victims of their evil with the claim that they are being reinstated and rehabilitated, even into the Nigerian Army. This is a major contradiction." he said
Bollywood actor Bipasha Basu has extended support to Bigg Boss 13 contestant Arti Singh and said she is very proud of her. Bipashas husband Karan Singh Grover and Arti are said to be best friends; TV actor and former Bigg Boss contestant Kishwer Merchant has also showered praises on Arti.

Bipasha told Bollywoodlife in an interview, I think that Arti was very brave in doing what she did for the task, and should have won it! Her task of chopping off her hair and eating 20 green chillies was definitely a tougher task than the others, and even after doing all that and not winning it, was honestly a little strange and upsetting according to me.

Also read: Street Dancer 3D movie review: Varun Dhawan-Shraddha Kapoor film has thinner plot than a dance reality show

While participating in a task to get into the Elite Clib, Arti was given a challenge by Vishal Aditya Singh to chop off her hair and eat 20 chilies. Arti not only cut her hair but also ate 20 green chilies in one go. She was competing with Rashami Desai in the task who painted her entire face with henna and added three streaks on her head with a trimmer. The judge for the task, Hina Khan, surprised most fans when she announced Rashami as the winner.

During his visit to the house as a guest, Karan had told Arti that she is one of Bipashas favourite. He also asked her not to change bhagwan aega samne ya shaitan, kisi ke kuch bhi kehne par change mat hone (Whether it is God or devil that comes in front of you, do not change).Arti began crying as he hugged her.

A Pinkvilla report quoted Kishwer as saying, I think that Arti did really well for herself in this task. Considering this is one of the final padaavs of the show, Arti truly showed everyone how serious she is about performing tasks! And itne chilies khaana is definitely no joke! So I am actually very proud of Arti! And honestly, the new haircut is a blessing in disguise and looks lovely on her.

Follow @htshowbiz for more
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], Jan 24 (ANI): The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has made all necessary arrangements at the Chennai airport for the health screening of passengers arriving from China in the wake of an outbreak of infection caused by a newly identified strain of coronavirus.



The airport has been provided with logistics support with regards to the screening of passengers as per the instructions by Airport Health Organisation (APHO).

The mysterious outbreak of novel coronavirus was first reported earlier this month in Wuhan, a Chinese city of an estimated 11 million people. Since then, there have been hundreds of confirmed cases and 18 deaths. Cases have been reported in several Asian cities other than China, including South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Earlier this week, the Ministry of Civil Aviation had directed seven airports across the country - Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Cochin - to make arrangements for the screening of passengers arriving from China.

Airlines flying in from any airport in China, including Hong Kong, have been asked to make in-flight announcements requesting passengers with a history of fever and cough and travel to Wuhan city in the past 14 days to self-declare at the port of arrival in order to facilitate early isolation, according to the advisory. (ANI)


by Joe Mandese @mp_joemandese, January 24, 2020

As if there was any doubt that Americans are politically polarized about their sources of news about, well, politics, a new study from the Pew Research Center should make it abundantly clear. The study, which surveyed more than 12,000 U.S. adults last fall found Democrats trust three-quarters of the news sources prompted in the survey, while Republicans said they trust less than a quarter.

The full study, which can be accessed here, includes detailed findings about the relative trust/distrust Americans of both political persuasions had for 30 sources of news ranging from network television news to Rush Limbaugh to The New York Times to The Washington Examiner to HuffPost.

Pew researchers acknowledged it was difficult to pick a list of news sources representing the entire marketplace and said these 30 outlets "were selected to represent popular media brands across a range of platforms."

advertisement advertisement

However, you can see some top lines below and granular breakouts in the full report. The bottom line reinforces the notion in recent years that the political polarization of news outlets is reinforcing confirmation biases that are contributing to the current social and political discord in America.

The report also singles out one particular news outlet above all others as contributing to this polarization. In a section entitled "The Fox News Phenomenon," the researchers note: "In the more compact Republican media ecosystem, one outlet towers above all others: Fox News. It would be hard to overstate its connection as a trusted go-to source of political news for Republicans. About two-thirds (65%) of Republicans and Republican leaners say they trust Fox News as a source. Additionally, 60% say they got political or election news there in the past week."

The bottom line conclusion of the report is that Democrats appear to be open-minded and trusting of more news outlets falling across the spectrum than Republicans are.

"One of the clearest differences between Americans on opposing sides of the political aisle is that large portions of Democrats express trust in a far greater number of news sources," the report concludes.




BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 24

By Anastasia Savchenko - Trend:

Azerbaijan's State Oil Company SOCAR exported over 1.2 billion cubic meters of gas via the Gazimammad-Gazakh gas pipeline to Georgia in 2019, which is 11.3 percent more compared to the export figure of 2018, Trend reports with reference to the Azerbaijani Energy Ministry.

The ministry's report says that the amount of the gas exports to Georgia via the pipeline slightly exceeded 1.1 billion cubic meters in 2018.

According to the report, SOCAR exported nearly 1.2 billion cubic meters of gas from the Shahdeniz field via the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline to Georgia in 2019, which is 6.6 percent more compared to the figure of 2018, which was just over 1.1 billion cubic meters.

SOCAR exported a total of 2.4 billion cubic meters of gas to Georgia in 2019, which is 198 million cubic meters of gas or 8.22 percent more compared to 2018.

The length of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline is more than 700 kilometers. This gas pipeline transports the gas produced at the Shah Deniz gas condensate field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea. The gas is supplied to Georgia and Turkey.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @AnSav_2105
Jaipur, Jan 24 : Stressing that the ruling government doesn't believe in Mahatma Gandhi and is just using his name for its brand value, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that those in power come from a very different political tradition.

"During the nationalist movement, there was one major split. It was not about geography or ideology but whether religion should be the basis of forming a nation. Those on the Muslim side who believed in that created Pakistan, while a vast majority on the side of Gandhi and Nehru opposed that for a secular and integrated country. They wrote a Constitution that embodied that," Tharoor said.

Speaking at the session 'Shashi on Shashi' with Micheal Dwyer on Day 2 of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) here, Tharoor claimed that the Hindutva movement started by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar categorically rejected the Constitution.

He said that for Savarkar, a Hindu was one for whom India was his fatherland and holy land. Muslims and Christians were not considered in this.

"Savarkar, Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar and Deen Dyal Upadhay rejected the constitution and in fact agreed with the Muslims that religion should determine nationhood. In the historical sense, the first advocate of the two-nation theory was actually Savarkar, who as the head of the Hindu Mahasabha called upon India to recognise Hindus and Muslims as part of two separate nations three years before the Pakistan Muslim League passed the Pakistan Resolution in Lahore in 1940," he said.

Tharoor further said that according to them, the Constitution was full of imported ideas written in the wrong language -- English.

"Another flaw they pointed out was that it assumes that the nation of India is a territory and it's (constitution) written for all the people on the territory. Nation is not a territory but its people and the people of India are only Hindus," he said.

The Thiruvananthapuram MP added that people holding top positions in the government come from the RSS where they are taught that Gandhi was wrong even about the fundamental values of non-violence, considering that all Hindu Gods were shown with weapons.
P rince Charles has arrived in Bethlehem as his so called snub of US American vice-President continues to cause controversy.

Charles denied claims he had snubbed Mr Pence in Israel last night when he avoided a handshake with him in a line-up.

Officials insisted the Prince and Mr Pence had already met earlier in an unseen meeting at the World Holocaust Forum, which is marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz at ad Vashem  the World Holocaust Remembrance Centre in Jerusalem.

The prince, an outspoken advocate religious freedom and tolerance between people of different faiths, visited the Mosque of Omar in Bethlehem on Friday morning.

Accompanied by Mr Anton Salman, Mayor of Bethlehem, he was told of history of the mosque built to commemorate the visit to Bethlehem of Omar Ibn Al-Khattab, the second Caliph, successor, to the Prophet Muhammad.

Charles also attended an Ecumenical Service at the Church of the Nativity  considered to be the building of greatest antiquity in constant use for Christian worship  opposite, where he was met by the Churchs senior Greek Orthodox, Franciscan and Armenian Orthodox clerics.

Prince Charles: The Prince of Wales visits Israel 1 /22 Prince Charles: The Prince of Wales visits Israel Prince Charles, Prince of Wales arrives at the Mosque of Omar on January 24, 2020 in Jerusalem, Israel Getty Images Prince Charles, Prince of Wales visits the Mosque of Omar on January 24, 2020 in Jerusalem, Israel Getty Images Prince Charles, Prince of Wales arrives at the Mosque of Omar on January 24, 2020 in Jerusalem, Israe Getty Images Prince Charles meets Israeli President Reuven Rivlin via Reuters The Prince of Wales during a visit to the Mosque of Omar in Jerusalem on the second day of his trip to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories PA The Prince of Wales signs a book during a visit to the Mosque of Omar in Jerusalem on the second day of his trip to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories PA The Prince of Wales' feet during a visit to the Mosque of Omar in Jerusalem on the second day of his trip to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories PA The Prince of Wales (third left) during a visit to the Mosque of Omar in Jerusalem on the second day of his trip to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories PA The Prince of Wales on a street lined with the Union Flag as he walks to visit the Mosque of Omar in Jerusalem on the second day of his trip to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories PA Prince Charles appears to snub Mike Pence by avoiding handshake at Auschwitz anniversary event Prince Charles meets Israeli President Reuven Rivlin ahead of the World Holocaust Forum via Reuters Prince Charles, Prince of Wales arrives at the Mosque of Omar on January 24, 2020 in Jerusalem, Israe Getty Images Prince Charles visits Omar mosque in Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters Prince Charles arrives to visit Omar mosque in Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters The Prince of Wales speaks at a reception at the ambassador's residence in Tel Aviv on the first day of his visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories PA The Prince of Wales, during a visit to the Shrine of the Book at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem on the first day of his visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories PA The Prince of Wales plants a tree after a meeting with President Reuven Rivlin (left) at his official residence in Jerusalem on the first day of his visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories PA

The controversy over his interaction with Mr Pence was sparked by television footage from the forum showing Charles talking to one dignitary before moving straight past Mr Pence and his wife Karen.

He appeared to blank the couple as he stops to talk to the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu standing on their other side.

But Mr Pence can be heard saying again as the prince walks up to him.

Clarence House was forced to officially deny a snub had happened saying that the prince and Mr Pence had a long and warm conversation before the ceremony began.

A spokesman said: Shortly before the Yad Vashem memorial event began the prince and Vice President Pence and his wife had a warm and friendly chat, which is why they did not greet each other again in the room.

Mr Pences press secretary was quick to deny that the future king was displaying animosity towards the vice president.

Press secretary Katie Waldman shared a photo and a video of the two meeting earlier.
People who make their living on the waters off the Oregon coast have long known that ocean acidification is a problem. As carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is absorbed by the ocean, it becomes more acidic and carbonate ions, which many crustaceans use to build their shells, become scarce.

Between 2006 and 2008, the Whiskey Creek Hatchery on Netarts Bay saw massive oyster larvae die-offs and shellfish in some other spots along the West Coast have experienced similar problems. But up until now, ocean acidification has not posed threats to Oregons most commercially valuable shellfish: the Dungeness crab. That may no longer be the case.

On Wednesday, researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released a study that for the first time shows that corrosive ocean waters are causing damage to the shells of larval Dungeness crabs and hampering the development of important sensory organs on the crustaceans. And, as fossil fuel use continues to pump carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, its happening decades earlier than researchers had predicted.

We didnt think we would see this kind of dissolution until the middle of the century, said Nina Bednarsek, senior scientist with the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project and lead author of the study. They are much less protected than previously shown.

While previous studies conducted in labs have shown that ocean acidification can have harmful effects on Dungeness crabs, this study marks the first to show the effects on larval crabs in their natural environment.

It is really hard to demonstrate the effects of climate change and ocean acidification in the field like this. Thats the really novel aspect of this work. said George Waldbusser, an ocean ecology professor at Oregon State University, who was not part of the study. Theres more work to be done, but this is an important step."

Previous research has shown that the ocean absorbs as much as 25 percent of human-made carbon dioxide. As the carbon mixes into the ocean, chemical reactions in the water column produce more hydrogen ions and fewer carbonate ions, lowering pH levels and increasing acidity. The problem is often exacerbated in near-shore waters where upwelling brings cold, acidic waters from the depths to the surface. Other federal researchers have found that ocean waters off the West Coast are acidifying at twice the rate of global average.

Bednarsek and a team of scientists collected samples of larval crabs on a research cruise in 2016 that spanned the West Coast from Mexico to the Canadian border, using nets to skim the waters near the surface, where crabs congregate at night to feed. They motored on lines perpendicular to the coast, from the deep ocean far offshore to the shallow waters near the beach where acidification is often more pronounced and where Dungeness crabs grow and mature.

Back in the lab, Bednarsek looked at the crabs shells, known as its carapace, under an electron microscope. She saw scars and abnormal ridging on surfaces that were usually smooth, caused by the corrosive chemical makeup of near-shore waters. Bednarsek also saw, to her surprise, that the acidic water was impacting the crabs ability to grow hair-like sensory organs called mechanoreceptors. Acidic water caused the receptors, which help the crabs navigate their environment, to fall out in some of the animals collected for the study.

External shell and leg dissolution of the Dungeness crab larvae (a) in its undamaged form (b, c) and with dissolution presence ranging from mild (d) to severe (e, f) patterns showing similarity in the structural damages (g) or exposed crystals (h).

The damage to their shells and the loss of their sensory receptors could alter their swimming behavior and impair their ability to regulate their buoyancy, making them easier pickings for predators.

Dungeness crab is Oregons most valuable single-species commercial fishery, said Caren Braby, a marine program manager with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, which regulates industry. Roughly 16 million pounds of Dungeness crab are pulled from the states coastal waters every year, according to the state, and the creatures meaty legs and claws are considered a delicacy by many. Crab fishing is also an integral part of coastal culture in places like Newport and Astoria.

Almost all fishermen in Oregon have some connection to Dungeness crab. Its a powerhouse of economic value. she said. The findings, that there are weak spots in the life cycle connected to changing ocean conditions, are very concerning.

Ocean acidification is just one of several stressors affecting the ecosystem off Oregons coast, Braby explained. Ocean water is getting warmer, increasing the likelihood of toxic algal blooms and seasonal areas of low oxygen, known as hypoxia, are causing changes to the food web, from the smallest species of plankton to top predators like sea lions and whales.

As management, we look at things like where can we reduce stress, Braby said, explaining that the state regulates the harvest of species like Dungeness crab in a way that will protect the animals themselves and the livelihoods of those who catch them.

Bednarsek said more research would be needed to fully understand the long-term impacts of ocean acidification on Dungeness crabs. Unlike bivalves, which keep their shells for their entire lives, crabs shed their carapace as they grow so the damage to their shells as larvae may not severely impact their ability to mature. What is well understood, though, is that ocean acidification is likely to increase as long as carbon dioxide emissions remain robust.

With changes expected, we will see even more effects, Bednarsek said. If you don't know this is happening, you can't do anything. If you do, you can manage it.

-- Kale Williams

kwilliams@oregonian.com

503-294-4048

@sfkale

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
sPower, a leading renewable energy independent power producer (IPP), announced today (1/21) that it will not refile an application with the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) at this time. The application would have covered the Seneca Wind project in the Scipio, Reed, Venice, Eden and Bloom Townships in Seneca County, Ohio.

The OPSB regulates the siting for wind farms with generating capacity of more than 5 megawatts (MW). The Seneca Wind project was a proposed 200 MW wind farm consisting of up to 77 wind turbines on approximately 25,000 acres of privately leased land in Seneca County.

sPower's decision to not refile the OPSB application will put the project on hold for an undetermined period, until next steps are defined by the company.

"We would like to thank our landowners and other community partners who have supported this project over the years, even before our acquisition," said sPower CEO, Ryan Creamer. "We hope to do more work in Ohio in the future, but at this time, we are making the difficult choice to place our resources in other states where there is a greater potential for success."

The project would have provided enough clean energy to power nearly 60,000 homes per year. It was also estimated that this project would have contributed more than $3 million annually to the local economy, while providing approximately 250 temporary construction jobs and between 10 and 15 permanent job positions.

For more information on Seneca Wind, visit www.senecawind.com.

About sPower:

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, sPower is a leading independent power producer (IPP) that owns and operates more than 150 renewable generation systems across the U.S. We operate a leading wind, solar and storage portfolio of nearly 2.0 GW, with 15 GW of projects under development. sPower is owned by a joint venture partnership between The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES), Fortune 500 global power company, and the Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCo), one of Canada's largest and most diversified institutional investment managers.

For more information visit www.spower.com or follow on Twitter @sPower_US.
The remaining parties to the Iran nuclear deal will meet in Vienna next month, the EU's diplomatic chief announced Friday, after Britain, France and Germany launched a dispute process.

The move gives the European members more time to try to find a way to persuade Iran to come back into line with the deal after Tehran made a series of steps away in protest at the US pulling out and reimposing sanctions.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An artists impression of the 12-storey Royal Mill Hotel to be constructed at Ratho Mill.

The thrust to add more hotel rooms continues, this time with the ground breaking ceremony of the Royal Mill Resort, Beach Club and Residences at Ratho Mill on January 21.





The US$60 million facility is a joint effort between A&A Capital, whose principals are Vincentian husband and wife team Raffique and Jane Dunbar, (Executive Vice Presidents), Adem Adem (Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder) and Alex Lodde (Co-Founder), and Invest SVG.





It is expected to be the first of its kind on mainland St Vincent featuring a 12-storey hotel offering 80 luxury rooms, 18 high-rise apartment units, two roof-top penthouse units, and 15 independent and private units/homes.

The hotel will also feature high-end restaurants, luxury shops, business centre, conference facility, a gym, a 5-star spa, large pool area and bar, and roof top bar and restaurant.





According to Jane Dunbar, the project has been in the pipeline for many years.





She told the gathering that she and her husband have known their business partners for over 18 years, and have developed a good working relationship.





When Adem was introduced to St Vincent and the Grenadines, he soon became interested in starting a project, Mrs. Dunbar said.





When the first idea did not materialize, Adem wasted no time in acquiring the Ratho Mill property when it went up for sale on the open market.





"And that was the beginning, she said.





The team is committed to seeing the project through, Mrs. Dunbar said, as can be seen by the significant amount of money that has already been spent.





And in addition, she said, the team had also acquired an 80 percent share in Grand View Hotel in Villa.





Camillo Gonsalves, Minister of Finance and Parliamentary Representative for the constituency of East St George where the project is located, disclosed that government had nothing to do with getting the group of investors to purchase the land.





"But we were thrilled that the people who bought it had plans to develop it into a major hub for tourism, employment in the constituency and in the country, Gonsalves said.





Others who were interested in the area were looking to build a residential structure only, Gonsalves disclosed.

Minister of Tourism Cecil McKie welcomed the project, saying that the team had chosen well in relation to the location.





He commended the investors for joining in providing additional hotel rooms, since government was looking to add some 1,200 rooms within the next two to three years.





This was crucial, Mc Kie said, in order to attract more airlines and flights into SVG.





Construction of the project is expected to begin in earnest shortly.
Nearly 40 ThinkPad models have a problem - the Thunderbolt 3 ports in them randomly stop working. Lenovo has pushed out a fix to users, but what does it do? Does it actually solve the problem? If it doesn't, are the devices even repairable, and will Lenovo repair your device for free?

Working For Notebookcheck Are you a techie who knows how to write? Then join our Team! English native speakers welcome! News Writer (AUS/NZL based) - Details here

Recently, we published an article about a widespread issue with Thunderbolt 3 on certain ThinkPad laptops. We're still learning more about this issue as time goes on, but currently we don't have any official information other than what's publicly available (like info from the knowledge base). There's an on-going investigation (and discussion) happening on Reddit about this topic, which can be found here.

I'll be updating this article as more information arrives, but here's what we know right now.

Last updated on 1/25/2020 at 2:30pm (CST (GMT-6))

Added Lenovo's official statement about this issue.

Adjusted the article to reflect official statement

What's going on?

If you missed our article about the issue, or you simply just don't know what this article is about, there are a variety of symptoms for this issue. Lenovo notes these symptoms on their knowledge base page:

USB-C port not working

Intel Thunderbolt controller not visible in the OS/Device Manager

USB-C or Thunderbolt docking stations not visible or having connectivity problems

HDMI output not available

System battery not charging with a USB-C power adapter connected to the USB-C port

Intel Thunderbolt pop-up error message

Intel Thunderbolt safe mode error message

BIOS Thunderbolt communication error or hang during POST



Basically, if your USB-C stops working (for charging or otherwise), you might be running into this issue. A number of ThinkPads rely on the Thunderbolt 3 chip for communicating with their power delivery ICs (based on the schematics, part numbers, and change logs), so the Thunderbolt chip failing (either software or hardware wise) could mean restricted (15w) or no charging.

Affected Alpine Ridge controllers (2016) PCI IDs: 15bf 15d9 15d2

Affected Titan Ridge controllers (2018) PCI IDs: 15eb

Why is this happening? Lenovo shared an official statement with us on 1/25/2019 regarding the cause of this issue, as well as answering a few of our questions directly. (Our article with this statement specifically can be found here.) This is Lenovo's statement on the issue. Lenovo identified and provided a fix for this issue in August 2019, since when the patch has been pushed through Lenovo Vantage to affected users. While we believe that the impact of this will be minimal, should customers experience difficulties, they should contact Lenovo Technical Support who will be glad to help.

Regarding specific issues, things are looking rather grim. Lenovo says that the old version of the firmware has an issue in it that will damage the SPI-ROM over time. Devices running this version of the firmware for any meaningful amount of time likely have damage on their chip which is not able to be fixed via software.

Unfortunately for everyone, this means that repairing this issue now requires either a board swap or a bit of soldering. Luckily, Winbond SPI-ROMs aren't hard to come by for out of warranty users. Regardless, it's unfortunate that this occurred on so many devices.

What was our theory on why this was happening?

The issue seemed to be Intel's (not Lenovo's) NVM (Non-Volatile Memory) firmware. This was based on the fact that, for one, the NVM firmware is highlighted specifically in the knowledge base page, and also because each device affected has had their NVM firmware updated. We're still aren't sure exactly what the purpose of this firmware is for the Thunderbolt functionality, but online resources are generally pointing towards it being the Intel-provided firmware for the controllers themselves (basically, it provides TB3 functionality). Based on Lenovo's statement, any other Thunderbolt 3 devices on the same firmware and controller would likely exhibit similar symptoms. However, there are no confirmed cases.

Here's a snippet from the X1 Carbon Gen6's changelog (found by u/heljara).

ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen6 Thunderbolt Controller:

New version: 43.00

Remote ID: lvfs

Summary: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen6 Thunderbolt Firmware

License: Proprietary

Size: 262.1 kB

Vendor: Lenovo Ltd.

Description: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen6 Thunderbolt Firmware



Fix Thunderbolt SPI ROM Wear out issue.



This Firmware is just for units which Thunderbolt BIOS Assist Mode is set to "enabled" in the BIOS.



Revise FW version typo"43.0.0" is typo, it should be 43.00, they are the same version, no need update again.



DO NOT FORCE UPDATE Thunderbolt Controller. This may damage the firmware.

This snippet seems to suggest that there's a wear-out problem somewhere related to Thunderbolt 3, but not specifically where.

Theories were that the old firmware was causing unnecessary writes to the chip that stores the Thunderbolt controller firmware, causing wear over time. Over the course of a year or so, depending on how much is being written to the chip, the chip may start to go bad and the firmware could corrupt. This was our most accurate theory on the issue.

Another theory was that the issue has something to do with how Lenovo is handling updates for the Thunderbolt 3 firmware. However, this was revealed to not be the issue.
SANTA CLARA (BCN)

A Santa Clara City Council member resigned Wednesday because of serious medical issues, city officials said Thursday.

Councilwoman Patricia Mahan resigned her District 5 seat, which she has held since November 2016. Her term was expiring in November.

Her resignation becomes effective Feb. 1, according to city officials, who did not elaborate on the nature of the medical issues.

Mayor Lisa Gillmor thanked Mahan for her "significant contributions and service" to the city.

"We respect her decision and are thinking of her and her family as they face a very challenging time ahead," Gillmor said.

City officials said an item will be placed on the City Council's agenda for next Tuesday. According to the City Charter, the City Council must declare the seat vacant, an action that will be scheduled for the Feb. 11 City Council and Authorities Concurrent Meeting.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
(Bloomberg) -- Terms of Trade is a daily newsletter that untangles a world embroiled in trade wars. Sign up here.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said new rules are coming soon that will put more limits on U.S. companies supplying Chinas telecommunications leader Huawei Technologies Co.Huawei was blacklisted last year as a security threat by the administration of President Donald Trump. That prevented many U.S. companies from selling to the Chinese company. However, some U.S. suppliers worked around the rules to continue sending some crucial electronic components to Huawei.

They are works in progress that will come out near-term, Ross said of the new restrictions, during an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. A Commerce Department spokesman said the department will make an announcement when it is ready.

Ross said the ultimate U.S. objective is not to cut Huawei off from all American supplies, but instead to protect national security. He added that restrictions on Huawei were not negotiated during phase one of the trade agreement with China. The next step in that broader process isnt currently active, he said.

As we stand right here, theres no particular intent to negotiate it in phase two, Ross said.

Huawei declined to comment.

A further clampdown may jeopardize Huaweis ability to continue making some of its biggest products. Chinese officials have threatened retaliation against businesses that stop supporting the countrys largest technology company. Huawei has denied it helps the Chinese government gain illicit access to information and has said its equipment is secure.

Ross earlier said on Bloomberg TV that Huawei has been encouraging U.S. companies to flout the rules which is a very dangerous practice and in the longer term is not going to be good for them. The U.S. government is taking a close look at export control mechanisms after seeing how Huawei was able to continue to buy from American companies.

Story continues

Some U.S. companies have kept selling to Huawei by citing rules that limit the U.S. governments ability to restrict exports. De minimis provisions exempt certain products if companies can prove the majority of work done to create the items happens outside the U.S. The current threshold effectively kicks in when 75% of the work occurs overseas. The administration is debating raising this to 90%. The rule change is currently with the Office of Management and Budget and could be approved shortly, according to people familiar with the process.

Tech Shudders as U.S. Weighs New Limits on Huawei SalesA separate new regulation that governs the direct supply of products is under consideration by the Commerce Department and could make its way through the process in a matter of weeks, according to the people. That rule would apply to products that are designed in the U.S. but manufactured entirely overseas, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private deliberations.

Huawei is one of the worlds biggest purchasers of chips. U.S. semiconductor makers have argued that a complete clampdown is counterproductive as many of the parts Huawei needs can be bought from non-U.S. providers. The industry is also concerned that access to the Chinese market as a whole will be curtailed, a development that could hinder investment in research and development. The industry has made these arguments to Trump.

(Updates with Huaweis no comment in sixth paragraph)

--With assistance from Gao Yuan.

To contact the reporters on this story: Jenny Leonard in Washington at jleonard67@bloomberg.net;Ian King in San Francisco at ianking@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jillian Ward at jward56@bloomberg.net, Alistair Barr

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
(Natural News) News about President Trumps decision to take out Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani has created quite the uproar, especially on the Left. But if lost lives are such a concern to Democrats that theyre now proposing a resolution to stop Trump from taking any more of them in the Middle East, then will they also take a stand for the approximately 400,000 unborn human lives that Planned Parenthood will murder in 2020?

The most recent annual report put out by the nations largest abortion provider reveals that in an average year, Planned Parenthood terminates the lives of about 400,000 babies. This means that almost half a million human lives are executed while still in the womb every year, even as liberals continue to whine about border cages and children being separated from their parents.

Somehow, its no big deal to tear tiny human bodies limb from limb in the name of reproductive rights. But the minute President Trump decides to eradicate a known terrorist for committing atrocities against other humans, the patron saints of the Democratic Party come out of the woodwork to cry about human rights abuses and the desperate need to stop the orange man in the White House from doing his job as Commander-in-Chief.

Today we will have a resolution on the floor put forth by Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin  were very proud of her experience in terms of National Security, under Democratic and Republican presidents, now a member of Congress  putting forth a resolution this week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, stumbling through her words, announced at her weekly press conference.

Last week, in our view, the president and the administration conducted a provocative and disproportionate airstrike against Iran which endangered Americans, and did so without consulting Congress, Pelosi went on to stake, making no mention of the thousands of drone strikes that occurred at the direction of Barack Obama, presumably without the prior congressional consultation that Pelosi believes Trump should have had.

Why does the Left hate unborn human life but adore terrorist human life?

Pelosi also compared the killing of Soleimani to the killing of the second most important person in the [United States], or Vice President Mike Pence. Whether she meant this as a simple comparison of position or a comparison of actual character and status between the two men remains unknown.

Nevertheless, the signaling coming from the Left is suggestive of human loss of life being a tragedy, even when the human in question was a terrorist. But this same Left completely ignores the fact that hundreds of thousands of innocent human lives are aborted every year by Planned Parenthood. In fact, the Left actually celebrates death by abortion and infanticide as some kind of virtue, even as they mope around in mourning over Soleimanis death by drone strike.

The Left would rather see untold numbers of innocent babies killed than even a single terrorist, it seems, because terrorists are more valuable than the unborn to leftists. The Left would also prefer to target Trump and put American lives at risk than to let Trump do his job, which often involves putting terrorists lives at risk.

This isnt to say that the president shouldnt be consulting with Congress and getting its approval before going to war  the Constitution requires this, it turns out. But the way the Left is ballyhooing about Soleimani while remaining completely silent about abortion genocide in this country speaks volumes as to the misplaced priorities of Leftists.

To keep up with the latest news about the genocide thats happening in womens wombs, be sure to visit Abortions.news.

Sources for this article include:

NaturalNews.com

PlannedParenthood.org

YouTu.be

NaturalNews.com
Our Divisions

Copyright  2021-22 DB Corp ltd., All Rights Reserved

This website follows the DNPA Code of Ethics.
SYDNEY -- A Canadian-owned C-130 Hercules air tanker crashed while fighting bushfires in Australias alpine region on Thursday, killing all three of its crew, authorities said.

The victims were American residents, Australian authorities said, adding that they did not immediately know why the plane crashed while carrying a load of fire retardant.

Tragically, there appear to be no survivors as a result of the crash down in the Snowy Monaro area, said Shane Fitzsimmons, the chief of rural fire services for the southeastern state of New South Wales.

(The tanker) impacted heavily with the ground and initial reports are that there was a large fireball associated with the impact of the plane as it hit the ground. There is no indication at this stage of whats caused the accident.

A spokesman for Australias Civil Aviation Safety Authority said the aircraft went into a valley to drop the retardant and did not emerge.

Fitzsimmons said the plane had been leased by Canadian aerial firefighting company Coulson Aviation, which had a second C-130 Hercules working in the Australian bushfires operation.

Coulson had grounded its large air tanker fleet following the accident, he added, pending a review to rule out any systemic issue, such as a fuel problem.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said it was sending a team of investigators to the crash site to collect evidence and would analyze available recorded data, review weather information and interview any witnesses.

It would take about 30 days for the release of a preliminary report, it said, but if the investigation revealed a critical safety issue it would immediately notify stakeholders.

Coulson said the plane was on a firebombing mission with a load of retardant, and added that it would send a team to the crash site to assist.

The accident is reported to be extensive and we are deeply saddened to confirm there were three fatalities, it said in a brief emailed statement.

The deaths take to 32 the toll from hundreds of wildfires in Australia since September. One billion animals are also estimated to have perished as the fires incinerated 2,500 homes and a total area of bushland one-third the size of Germany.

Tracking website Flightradar24 showed the path for an air tanker suddenly stopping in Peak View, south of Canberra.

According to its flight data, the aircraft departed the Richmond air force base in western Sydney around 12:15 p.m. (0115 GMT). It dropped off radar just after 2 p.m.

Peak View is close to a blaze burning out of control in the Wadbilliga National Park, the fire service said.

15,000 liters

The plane may have been aerodynamically overloaded, said Geoffrey Dell, an expert in accident forensics and investigation, meaning it may have turned or changed altitude too quickly for its load, forcing it to lose altitude sharply.

Its designed to operate to certain G (gravity)-limits, and if you go over those, different parts of the structure can be overstressed, added Dell, a professor at Central Queensland University.

Such air tankers typically carry 15,000 liters of water or fire retardant for release over blazes in areas that ground crews find hard to reach.

The C-130 excels at low altitude and speeds, as its big wings and four powerful turboprop engines allow it to maneuver and accelerate in ways other aircraft cannot, said a senior U.S. Air Force officer with more than 20 years experience of flying and operating the plane.

You can make a lot of mistakes and the plane will forgive you, said the officer, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Its really perfect for these kinds of missions, he said, referring to firefighting.

Australias usually temperate mountain region has escaped some of the more devastating fires that have razed more than 11 million hectares (27 million acres) of the countrys wilderness, fanned by high winds and searing temperatures.

The capital, Canberra, located just over 100 km (60 miles) from the crash site, shut its airport for several hours on Thursday because of a fire threat, while many residents were forced to seek shelter as fires raged nearby.

Damaging winds are fanning flames in parts of the Gippsland area in the southeastern state of Victoria, authorities said, near the site of fires in December.

Dense smoke also shrouded Sydney, but fire authorities said high temperatures should ease overnight.
President Donald Trump speaks frequently about his desire to bring U.S. troops home from places like Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan and bring a close to the endless wars he inherited. Just last Wednesday he boasted that we left Syria. This isnt even true in an official sense, but troop numbers also only tell part of the story. Some boots on the ground are not being counted at all.

In a stunning report on Wednesday, the New York Times revealed details of a Jan. 3 attack by the Somali jihadi group Al-Shabab on a base in neighboring Kenya that left three Americans dead. The Pentagon was so alarmed by the incident that it quickly deployed 100 troops to restore security at the base at Manda Bay. But it got almost no attention in the United States, perhaps because it occurred in the aftermath of the killing of another contractor, in Iraq, which set off the tit-for-tat cycle that nearly brought the U.S. and Iran to war. Two of the three Americans were civilian contractors.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

The U.S. increasingly relies on private contractors in a vast number of overseas military operations, creating a status quo that both obscures the extent of the U.S. militarys reach and creates a host of new dangers. If Trump moves ahead with troop withdrawalsthe Pentagon is reportedly considering a major drawdown in Africa even as conflicts with jihadi groups in Somalia and West Africa intensifythese contractors could take on an even greater role.

"Americans dont care about dead contractors coming home in body bags. They care about dead Marines coming home in body bags.  Sean McFate

Trump may be perfectly happy with this new status quo. His administrations reliance on contract workers goes far beyond military roles. Erik Prince, founder of the contractor Blackwater (now known as Academi) and brother of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, is an influential if unofficial figure in the administration and has publicly advocated replacing U.S. troops in Syria and Afghanistan with contractors. Trump, who recently boasted inaccurately that Saudi Arabia paid $1 billion for the deployment of U.S. troops, doesnt always appear to grasp the distinction between troops and mercenaries. The use of private soldiers generally fits with his transactional approach to foreign policy.

Advertisement

Advertisement

But this drift toward privatization began before Trump took office. Under the George W. Bush administration, Blackwater employees killed 17 Iraqi civilians in the 2007 Nisour Square massacre, inspiring anger and debate over the use of military contractors in Iraq. As a senator, Barack Obama sponsored legislation to rein in the use of these contractors and hold them accountable for abuses. But as president, he relied heavily on them, even as he worked to withdraw troops. As the analyst Micah Zenko pointed out in 2016, Under Obama, more private military contractors have died in Iraq and Afghanistan than all the U.S. troops deployed to those countries. While all the Democratic presidential candidates, to varying degrees, have pledged to withdraw U.S. troops and bring an end to forever wars, its worth questioning to what degree they will follow in Obamas footsteps and simply privatize those wars.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Contractors are like crack cocaine for presidents, because it allows them to extend American muscle but not under congressional oversight. Its a way to circumvent democratic accountability for military force, says Sean McFate, a former Army officer who worked as a private military contractor in several countries in Africa and now teaches at Georgetowns School of Foreign Service.

The increased privatization makes war less obvious and therefore more convenient. As with armed drones, options that lower the political costs of military force tend to make that force more appealing. Meanwhile, Congress and the media have become less inclined to exercise oversight. Operating under the radar, military contractors have been implicated in a slew of labor violations, including human trafficking. Those involved in combat dont have access to the same medical and logistical support as troopswhile service members were evacuated to Germany for treatment for concussions after the recent Iranian missile attack, injured contractors are usually treated in the country where theyre fighting and left there. And as the Blackwater incident shows, contractors often arent subject to the same level of legal accountability for abuses and war crimes. Across the board, contractors are designed to be invisible. The Pentagon normally doesnt even track their deaths.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Americans dont care about dead contractors coming home in body bags, McFate said. They care about dead Marines coming home in body bags.

The death in December of Nawres Hamid, who worked as an interpreter for U.S. forces in Iraq, was an exception to that rule, in that it sparked a major international incident. This probably had more to do with the incentives of the Trump administration to escalate the conflict with Iran than with the incident itself. The muted reaction to the attack in Kenya is more typical. Had one Army soldier not also been killed, the attack would probably have gotten even less attention.

Advertisement

According to a 2018 Pentagon report, the first to acknowledge the presence of contractors in the Syrian war zone, the U.S. military is relying on about 5,500 contractors in both Iraq and Syria. About half of these are U.S. citizens and the rest are third-country nationals. The majority of these serve in support roles, not combat, but its hard to tell from the scant official data exactly how many people there currently are, or what exactly theyre doing. This may be precisely the point. In nonofficial war zones like Somalia, things get even murkier.

Advertisement

Advertisement

The U.S. isnt the only country increasingly relying on mercenaries to fight its wars. Russia has used private firms to carry out semi-official, and plausibly deniable, military operations in Ukraine, Syria, and places much farther afield. The most famous of these is Wagner Group, controlled by Putin ally Yevgeny Prigozhina familiar name for Mueller report readers as hes also linked to the infamous Internet Research Agency. In early 2018, a U.S. airstrike killed as many as 300 Russian contractors working for Wagner embedded with Syrian government forces. The incident illustrated the strange nature of modern privatized warfare. The U.S. killed more Russians than at any point during the Cold War, but both sides quickly brushed the matter under the rug. It might have turned out differently if the Americans had killed uniformed Russian troops.

Advertisement

While we should be thankful that incidents like this dont escalate to nuclear war, the increased privatization of war is concerning. McFate worries about the long-term impact of the privatization of war. He says that while politicians tend to assume that when contractors finish their tours, theyll just reintegrate back into civilian life like service members, thats often not the case.

Were seeing mercenaries around the world in Yemen, in Somalia, in Iraq, in Syria, and Ukraine and Congo and Venezuela: A lot of them got their start working on U.S. government contracts in places like Iraq, he says. These are profit-maximizing entities. They look for clients. They get to know each other. Weve created this whole infrastructure of a global market for war.
University Health System is spending $1 million on a smartphone app that will provide turn-by-turn navigation inside of its facilities.

But the Bexar County-owned hospital isnt the only one looking to put an app in patients hands.

Christus Health spokesman Kevin Dolliole said the hospital system has a new mobile app under development. Methodist Healthcares parent company also has plans to roll out a new app for patients.

For its part, UHS considered offers from five vendors, and signed a three-year contract with Atlanta-based Gozio Health, which recently designed an app for Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

The hospital system paid $210,690 for implementation and will pay an annual service fee of $275,877. The contract runs through January 2023, with an option for renewal.

Public relations manager Shelley Kofler said Universitys website gets more than 120,000 visitors every month.

We know they are online and on their phones as they seek health care information, she said. We want to make it as easy as possible for them to do all of that.

The way-finding app will direct patients to the health systems University Hospital and 28 clinics and urgent care centers, and help them navigate physician directories as well as their health records and medical bills.

Kofler said a robot will be deployed to map out the more than 3 million square feet at University Hospital and its parking garage in the South Texas Medical Center.

On ExpressNews.com: University Hospital prepares to roll out $170.8M patient information system

Gozio uses indoor navigation technology that produces accuracy within 4 feet.

For hospitals to remain competitive, they must provide patients with a digital platform that features location-based services, appointment scheduling and access to their patient portal from their smartphone, said Joshua Titus, CEO and founder of Gozio Health.

The smartphone app will be available for download for Apple and Android customers by the end of the summer, replacing an app Etelu Tech developed for UHS more than five years ago.

Apps, however, arent new to San Antonio hospitals.

Baptist Health System, owned by Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare Corp., developed a free maternity health app more than six years ago called BHealthy Baby.

Methodist Healthcare, a hospital system co-owned by Nashville, Tenn.-based for-profit HCA Healthcare and nonprofit Methodist Healthcare Ministries, built its ER Wait Time app several years ago.

A new app is coming this year, said Palmira Arellano, Methodists vice president for communication and community affairs. HCA is piloting an app version of its patient portal called My HealthOne.

Texas Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox

We now expect to be able to do most things on our phone, including navigation, said Chad Mulvany, a policy director for Washington D.C.-based Healthcare Financial Management Association. Even in a relatively small hospital, its pretty easy to get lost.

Mulvany said more U.S. health systems are investing in smartphone apps because consumers have come to expect that kind of convenience.

Allowing patients to pay their medical bills on their smartphones could mean savings for the hospital system because it results in fewer payments in the mail to process.

Every time the hospital has to send you another bill, theres a cost to that, he said. Even though its a couple of dollars, you do that over how many patients a year, it becomes a big cost.

Laura Garcia covers the health care industry in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her stories and more local coverage on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | laura.garcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @Reporter_Laura
Actor Terry Crews is fit, from any angle and in every photo.

The Brooklyn Nine-Nine star made a joke to that effect Thursday when he shared a meme about how his profile pics would vary on different social media sites. Whether on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram or Tinder, Crews had incredible muscles.

Crews has attributed his fitness, in part, to intermittent fasting. Hes followed the diet for the past eight years before it became trendy in the mainstream.

I eat from 2 [pm] to 10 [pm] and it changes. If Im in a different time zone, I wait until its two oclock wherever I am, Crews revealed this week at BUILD Series in New York City. But, I have to say this, the intermittent fasting thing  although it has beautiful effects for my body, my health, my energy; its wonderful  its more spiritual.

Read more: Insane celebrity fitness regimes

Crews explained that intermittent fasting requires him to practice discipline.

Terry Crews attending the MTV Europe Music Awards 2019, held at the FIBES Conference & Exhibition Centre of Seville, Spain. (PA)

When you look at what fasting is, its literally, everything that is within your grasp is never meant to be in your hand, you know what I mean? he said.

You have to teach yourself to say no. We have to teach ourselves to say no on the internet. OK, thats enough for today. Thats enough TV. Thats enough food. Thats enough [of] this. Because right now, in this time, you know, we have more than ever, and were more miserable than ever. Because you have to learn to restrict yourself, and this takes discipline. And the discipline that helps me with intermittent fasting helps me with all the other areas of my life.

Another area where fasting has helped is his marriage of more than 30 years, to Rebecca King. While they were in therapy, the two agreed to forgo sex for 90 days.

What was wild was that there was a time where I thought I couldnt do it, said Crews, whos been open about having overcome an addiction to pornography.

Story continues

Terry Crews, left, and Rebecca Crews arrive at the 2018 GQ's Men of the Year Celebration on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)

But let me tell you [the sex fast] was the most beneficial thing I ever did in my life, because what happened was my wife and I became kids again. Because when youre a kid, when I was 12, I didnt know anything about sex. I just liked the girl. When we went out, it was because I really wanted to know what she was talking about, Crews said. Before, it was like, OK, when we getting to the sex? But then, when you know its not coming, now its like, Tell me what your deepest fears are.

Read more: Terry Crews groped by film exec

Of course, The Expendables actor spends plenty of time in the gym, too. He advised others to think of it like a spa, therapy time for the body.

When I do my two hours, in the morning, I value that more than anything, Crews said. Its my meditation. Its my peace. I learn. I listen to audio books. I listen to my music. I actually save songs for my workout, so I can really enjoy them Treat it like it's a joy.
Syria and Iran have discussed means to improve relations and cooperation between universities in the two countries writes SANA.

Minister of Higher Education Dr. Bassam Ibrahim and Iranian Minister of Education Mohsen Hajimirzaei co-chaired a session of talks on Thursday at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

The talks focused on enhancing and developing joint scientific cooperation, particularly the exchange of scholarships, establishing rehabilitation and training programs, and other educational fields.

Ibrahim hailed the firm scientific relations between Syria and Iran and the multiple scientific, cultural and research programs between the two sides.

Hajimirzaei, in turn, expressed his countrys keenness to continue upgrading scientific cooperation with Syria, pointing to the importance of exchanging expertise and experiences, training educational cadres, developing the curricula, and establishing joint scientific camps for students, in addition to signing more scientific agreements between the universities of the two countries.

This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
The main sticking points of the talks is the future role of the SDF and the governing of SDF controlled areas reports Al-Masdar.

The Syrian government and the political wing of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) may meet in the coming days to resume their peace talks and find a solution that leads to a political settlement, Al-Watan reported on Wednesday.

Citing a Kurdish politician, Al-Watan reported that fears of ethnic cleansing at the hands of the Turkish forces are at the forefront of the talks.

Past talks between the Syrian government and Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) ended with no agreements made, despite the fact both sides agree that there needs to be a political settlement.

One of the core issues is the future of the SDF, which both sides have different views on. The Syrian government wants the SDF to be dissolved and incorporated into the Syrian Arab Army (SAA), while the SDC has made a push to have their forces become border guards.

Another major issue has to do with the governing of SDF-held areas, which, again, has been unresolved due to differences. The Syrian government wants full authority over SDF-held areas, while the SDC prefers a more decentralized style of governance.

Since the Turkish military and their allied militants began Operation Peace Spring in October, the SDF have entered into an alliance with the Syrian Arab Army to prevent the Ankara-backed forces from seizing more territories in northeastern Syria.

This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
Withdrawal of Us Troops From Iraq Can Endanger Minority Communities

WASHINGTON (UPI) -- A vote by the Iraqi parliament to expel American troops into the country is concerned about whether their absence will make minority communities vulnerable to attacks by the Islamic State.

"These communities can afford the least instability and violence because they stick to a thread as it is and need an urgent focus on reconstruction, return and resettlement in their cities," Peter Burns, director of government relations and policies for the Ter advocacy group Ter defense of Christians, Medill News Service told. "A new round of violence in Iraq may be the last straw."

Parliament's vote of January 5 came two days after the United States murder of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy head of the popular mobilization units of Iraq.

The resolution adopted the 170-0 Iraqi Assembly, with 158 members, mainly Sunni lawmakers, including the Kurds, boycotting the vote. The decision is not binding, but puts pressure on Iraq's temporary prime minister, Adel Abdul Mahdi, to dispel foreign influence.

Mahdi, who resigned in November amid protests that began in October about political corruption, continues to play his role until a new prime minister is elected. Mahdi supported parliament's decision, but privately said he did not want US troops to withdraw, according to an Al Monitor report.

The 5,500 US troops in the country do not offer direct security to the Assyrian Christian and Yazidi communities in Iraq, but do provide training and support to Iraqi armed forces and fight with the coalition partners against the Islamic state.

Assyrians and Yazidis are ethnic communities that are native to parts of Iraq, Turkey, Syria and Iran and make up nearly 2 percent of the total population of Iraq.

A strong coalition presence in Iraq makes Yazidis feel more secure, especially with the continued risk of radical groups that have not been fully terminated, said Murad Ismail, executive director of Yazidi relief organization YAZDA.

"Withdrawal will usually create a vacuum that is filled by internal armed groups or regional powers to intervene," Ismail said. "Sinjar in particular is in danger."

The Sinjar district in northern Iraq was attacked by IS in August 2014 and led to the murder and kidnapping of thousands of Yazidis.

In December 2011, US troops withdrew from the country in accordance with the Iraqi government. The Iraqi government failed to properly fill the gap in their absence, said Omar Mohammed, an Iraqi journalist who was previously based in Mosul, and added that the people of the city lost their faith in the government.

"We were abandoned by the government," he said during a panel discussion earlier this month at George Washington University. "We were excluded."

Forces to protect the city began to feel that the fight was not for them to fight, Mohammed said, which led to IS conquering the city in the summer of 2014. US-led coalition forces, including Iraqi troops, liberated the city in 2017.

IS still has pockets of insurgents in the country because many retreating IS hunters are now fighting for Iranian-backed militias, Mohammed said. These groups include not only Shiite militias, but also militias formed by Sunni tribes. They now have significant financial and political control over cities such as Mosul.

"This is what we fear, not that ISIS still has pockets, but for those who still control the public scene," he said.

The town of Bartella, 20 miles east of Mosul, has soldiers from the Nineveh Plain Protection Units, a Christian mobilization established in 2014 to protect Assyrian communities. But leaders in Bartella said they need more protection because these soldiers are significantly outnumbered by Iranian-backed militias.

The Trump government has stated that they have no intention of leaving the country. A statement from the US Department of Foreign Affairs said that any delegation sent to Iraq would consider participating in a strategic partnership again.

A NATO delegation spoke about increasing its role in the country. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo added to a press conference that the US military mission in Iraq is very clear and will continue: training Iraqi security forces and fighting the Islamic State.

Shamiran Mako, associate professor of international relations at Boston University's global studies school, said Assyrians are unsafe, regardless of whether Americans stay or leave.

"Americans have been in Iraq since 2003 and the number of Assyrians has fallen dramatically since the invasion," she said.

Bahra Dawood, who lives in the Assyrian suburb of Ankawa in Erbil, said that decisions on both sides are rarely made for the people.

"As long as our nation is not one hand, we will never survive," she said. "The power is in our own hands."
Horse-riding police personnel would be deployed on Mumbai's streets for traffic and crowd control after a gap of 88 years, the Maharashtra government has announced.

The mounted police unit which patrolled the streets of the bustling metropolis was disbanded in 1932 due to the growing vehicular traffic.

It will be the cynosure of all eyes at the Republic Day parade at Shivaji Park in the city this Sunday.

"Mumbai police has modern jeeps and motorcycles. However, it was felt a mounted unit would be useful for patrolling in crowded areas. For the first time since Independence, Mumbai will have a mounted police unit," Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said earlier this week.

The city police had put forth the proposal for a mounted unit in 2018.

Police personnel on horseback can be used during festivals, protest marches and also deployed at the city's beaches, he said.

A police personnel on horseback can keep a watch from a vantage point, and be as effective as 30 personnel on the ground, the minister said.

Mounted units would also be set up in Pune, Nagpur and other big cities in future, he added.

The mounted unit in Mumbai will comprise 30 horses, a sub-inspector, an assistant sub-inspector, four havaldars and 32 constables.

"Thirteen horses have been purchased and the rest will be bought in the next six months. Stables will be built on a 2.5 acre plot at Marol (in suburban Andheri)," Deshmukh said.

A team of 61 trainers from the Mumbai Racecourse, riding clubs and the Army's horse unit will be training the Mumbai police.

Officers of the mounted unit will also be trained in show-jumping, tent-pegging and polo. Apart from walkie- talkies, riders would be provided with body-mounted cameras for video recording.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
OAKLAND (BCN)

Two former Alameda County sheriff's deputies have pleaded no contest to a single count of assault under the color of authority for allowing an inmate to throw feces and urine at another inmate in a maximum security unit at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin in 2016.

The plea agreement for Sarah Krause and Stephen Sarcos allows them to avoid having to serve time in prison for their actions.

Krause, who pleaded no contest to a felony assault charge, will be placed on 5 years' felony probation and have to serve 240 hours of community service and pay $1,800 in fines when she is formally sentenced by Alameda County Superior Court Judge Kevin Murphy next month.

And if she successfully completes her probation she can petition the court to reduce the charge to a misdemeanor.

Sarcos, who pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor assault count, will be placed on 3 years' probation, pay $1,240 in fines and perform 180 hours of community service.

At a preliminary hearing for Krause and Sarcos in 2018 their attorneys admitted that the two former deputies engaged in misconduct during the incident in September 2016 but said their actions weren't felonies.

But Alameda County prosecutor Tim Wagstaffe objected to treating the case as a misdemeanor, saying, "This crime violates the trust of inmates and the community."

Wagstaffe said, "It is absolutely disgusting to participate in the gassing of another person," using the term to describe throwing feces and urine at someone.

Sheriff's Detective Patrick Smyth testified that the incident involved an inmate who had an ongoing feud with fellow inmate Johnny Bowie.

Smyth said Bowie had been "very disrespectful" to Krause and the other inmate told her that he wanted to get back at Bowie and gas him.

Smyth said Krause agreed to the inmate's plan and opened his cell door and the inmate then walked upstairs with her to Bowie's cell.

Krause then opened the door to Bowie's cell and the other inmate threw a cup of feces and a cup or urine at him, although it missed Bowie, Smyth testified.

Two other former deputies, Justin Linn and Erik McDermott, are charged in the same case but are being prosecuted separately because they face more serious charges, including a count of dissuading a witness for allegedly trying to intimidate an inmate who blew the whistle on them.

Linn and McDermott are scheduled to stand trial in June.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
An international team of astronomers from the University of California San Diego, the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias (IAC), and the University of Cambridge have detected large amounts of oxygen in the atmosphere of one of the oldest and most elementally depleted stars known -- a "primitive star" scientists call J0815+4729.

This new finding, which was made using W. M. Keck Observatory on Maunakea in Hawaii to analyze the chemical makeup of the ancient star, provides an important clue on how oxygen and other important elements were produced in the first generations of stars in the universe. The results are published in the January 21, 2020, edition of the Astrophysical Journal Letters.

"This result is very exciting. It tells us about some of the earliest times in the universe by using stars in our cosmic backyard," said Keck Observatory Chief Scientist John O'Meara. "I look forward to seeing more measurements like this one so we can better understand the earliest seeding of oxygen and other elements throughout the young universe."

Oxygen is the third most abundant element in the universe after hydrogen and helium, and is essential for all forms of life on Earth, as the chemical basis of respiration and a building block of carbohydrates. It is also the main elemental component of the Earth's crust. However, oxygen didn't exist in the early universe; it is created through nuclear fusion reactions that occur deep inside the most massive stars, those with masses roughly 10 times the mass of the Sun or greater.

Tracing the early production of oxygen and other elements requires studying the oldest stars still in existence. J0815+4729 is one such star; it resides over 5,000 light-years away toward the constellation Lynx.

"Stars like J0815+4729 are referred to as halo stars," explained UC San Diego astrophysicist Adam Burgasser, a co-author of the study. "This is due to their roughly spherical distribution around the Milky Way, as opposed to the more familiar flat disk of younger stars that include the Sun."

Halo stars like J0815+4729 are truly ancient stars, allowing astronomers a peek into element production early in the history of the universe.

The research team observed J0815+4729 using Keck Observatory's High-Resolution Echelle Spectrometer (HIRES) on the 10-meter Keck I telescope. The data, which required more than five hours of staring at the star over a single night, were used to measure the abundances of 16 chemical species in the star's atmosphere, including oxygen.

"The primitive composition of the star indicates that it was formed during the first hundreds of millions of years after the Big Bang, possibly from the material expelled from the first supernovae of the Milky Way," said Jonay Gonzalez Hernandez, Ramon y Cajal postdoctoral researcher and lead author of the study.

Keck Observatory's HIRES data of the star revealed a very unusual chemical composition. While it has relatively large amounts of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen -- approximately 10, 8, and 3 percent of the abundances measured in the Sun -- other elements like calcium and iron have abundances around one millionth that of the Sun. "Only a few such stars are known in the halo of our galaxy, but none have such an enormous amount of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen compared to their iron content," said David Aguado, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Cambridge and co-author of the study.

The search for stars of this type involves dedicated projects that sift through hundreds of thousands of stellar spectra to uncover a few rare sources like J0815+4729, then follow-up observations to measure their chemical composition. This star was first identified in data obtained with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), then characterized by the IAC team in 2017 using the Grand Canary Telescope in La Palma, Spain.

"Thirty years ago, we started at the IAC to study the presence of oxygen in the oldest stars of the galaxy; those results had already indicated that this element was produced enormously in the first generations of supernovae. However, we could not imagine that we would find a case of enrichment as spectacular as that of this star," noted Rafael Rebolo, IAC director and co-author of the study.

Reference:

"The Extreme CNO-Enhanced Composition of the Primitive Iron-Poor Dwarf Star J0815+4729," Jonay I. Gonzalez Hernandez et al., 2020 Jan. 21, Astrophysical Journal Letters [https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3847/2041-8213/ab62ae, preprint: https://arxiv.org/abs/2001.07257].

About HIRES:

The High-Resolution Echelle Spectrometer (HIRES) produces spectra of single objects at very high spectral resolution, yet covering a wide wavelength range. It does this by separating the light into many "stripes" of spectra stacked across a mosaic of three large CCD detectors. HIRES is famous for finding exoplanets. Astronomers also use HIRES to study important astrophysical phenomena like distant galaxies and quasars, and find cosmological clues about the structure of the early universe, just after the Big Bang.

About W. M. Keck Observatory:

The W. M. Keck Observatory telescopes are among the most scientifically productive on Earth. The two, 10-meter optical/infrared telescopes on the summit of Maunakea on the Island of Hawaii feature a suite of advanced instruments including imagers, multi-object spectrographs, high-resolution spectrographs, integral-field spectrometers, and world-leading laser guide star adaptive optics systems.

Some of the data presented herein were obtained at Keck Observatory, which is a private 501(c) 3 non-profit organization operated as a scientific partnership among the California Institute of Technology, the University of California, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Observatory was made possible by the generous financial support of the W. M. Keck Foundation.

The authors wish to recognize and acknowledge the very significant cultural role and reverence that the summit of Maunakea has always had within the Native Hawaiian community. We are most fortunate to have the opportunity to conduct observations from this mountain.

Astrobiology, Astrochemistry



Please follow Astrobiology on Twitter.
Former Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey leaves the Rayburn House Office Building after testifying to the House Judiciary and Oversight and Government Reform committees on Capitol Hill in Washington on Dec. 7, 2018. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

DOJ Determines 2 FISA Spy Warrants on Trump Campaign Adviser Were Not Valid

A declassified Jan. 7 order, released by Presiding FISA Court Judge James Boasberg, revealed that the Department of Justice (DOJ) has determined that two of the four FISA surveillance applications on former Trump 2016 presidential campaign adviser Carter Page were not valid.

The court wrote that it had received notice of material misstatements and omissions in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) applications made on Page, apparently with respect to the final two FISA renewals. The court also noted that the DOJ had made the assessment that with regard to the two applications, there was insufficient predication to establish probable cause to believe that [Carter] Page was acting as an agent of a foreign power.

Surveillance of American citizens is supposed to be tightly controlled by FISA law, and probable cause that one is acting as an agent of a foreign power is a prerequisite for a Title I FISA application, such as the one Page found himself subject to.

The order noted that the FBI has agreed to sequester all collection the FBI acquired pursuant to the Courts authorizations of the two now-invalid FISAs, pending further review of the OIG Report and the outcome of related investigations and any litigation.

The order also notes that while the DOJ hasnt yet made a determination on the validity of the first two FISA applications, the DOJ intends to have the FBI sequester information relating to those first two orders in the same manner as information acquired in the final two renewals that have now been determined to be invalid.

The order by Boasberg closed with a series of demands for disclosure regarding the manner in which the government will be handling the information collected under the now-invalid Page FISAs, along with updates on any ongoing investigations.

Typically, FISA renewals would be expected to be supported by additional information and details, and would, therefore, build upon and make a stronger case than the original application. The fact that this doesnt appear to be the case calls into question the ongoing validity of the original FISA and the first renewal as well.

The finding by the DOJ that the final two Page FISA renewals were not valid appears to stem from the recent report by DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz, which identified at least 17 significant errors or omissions in the Page FISA applications, and many additional errors in the Woods Procedures. These errors and omissions resulted from case agents providing wrong or incomplete information to the OI (Office of Intelligence) and failing to flag important issues for discussion.

The IGs report also stated, While we did not find documentary or testimonial evidence of intentional misconduct on the part of the case agents who assisted OI in preparing the applications, or the agents and supervisors who performed the Woods Procedures, we also did not receive satisfactory explanations for the errors or problems we identified.

The IG report was highly critical of the actions taken by the FBI during the counterintelligence investigation of the Trump campaign and directly challenged the processes, oversight, and leadership within the FBI.

That so many basic and fundamental errors were made by three separate, hand-picked teams on one of the most sensitive FBI investigations that was briefed to the highest levels within the FBI and that FBI officials expected would eventually be subjected to close scrutiny, raised significant questions regarding the FBI chain of commands management and supervision of the FISA process, the report states.

According to a Feb. 28, 2018, letter to the IG sent by Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), the last two FISA renewals on Page took place on April 7, 2017, and June 29, 2017, respectively. This means that both of these FISAs were in place during the period in which former FBI Director Robert Mueller was in place as special counsel. An important question is whether Mueller or anyone on his team had access to the information thats now been deemed to have been illegally obtained.

Another important question to be addressed is what, if any, information was collected on other secondary parties using the two-hop rule, while the two now-invalid and illegal FISAs were in place.

The second FISA renewal, which is now determined to be invalid, was signed by an unknown FBI supervisory special agent, FBI Director Comey, acting Attorney General Dana Boente, an unknown DOJ representative, and FISA Judge Anne Conway.

The third and final FISA renewal, which is now also determined to be invalid, was signed by an unknown FBI supervisory special agent, Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, an unknown DOJ attorney, and FISA Judge Raymond Dearie.

Notably, The New York Times reported on Jan. 16 that Comey is now under investigation by federal prosecutors regarding the possibility that Comey illegally provided details to reporters in 2017. An August 2019 IG report concluded that Comeys retention, handling, and dissemination of certain Memos violated Department and FBI policies, and his FBI Employment Agreement.

The U.S. attorneys office in Washington is already conducting a formal investigation of McCabe that began nearly two years ago. He was fired in March 2018 for lying to the DOJ inspector general and is currently the subject of a criminal grand jury investigation.

The FISA courts order specifically noted that it is a federal crime if a person intentionally  discloses or uses information obtained under color of law by electronic surveillance, knowing or having any reason to know that the information was obtained through electronic surveillance not authorized by the FISA court.

This raises the issue of potential criminal wrongdoing on the part of officials who disseminated information from what can now be deemed illegal surveillance of Page during these time frames. The final sentence in this statement is fully redacted in the FISA Court order.

Rosenstein, who, as deputy attorney general, signed the final FISA, previously discussed his signing of the FISA during a June 28, 2018, House testimony. Rosenstein drew a distinction between those authorized to sign the application, such as himself, and those who prepare the application and who attest to its accuracy.

Rosenstein was asked by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) about his review of the Page FISA and the overall FISA process.

Ive reviewed that one in some detail, and I can tell you the information about that doesnt match with my understanding of the one that I signed, but I think its appropriate to let that Inspector General complete that investigation. These are serious allegations. I dont do the investigationIm not the affiant. Im reviewing the finished product, sir, Rosenstein said.

Earlier this month, it was disclosed that it was Rosenstein who authorized the DOJ to make the initial December 2017 release of the texts sent by former FBI Agent Peter Strzok and former FBI lawyer Lisa Page.
With the passing of the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act, the shrinking of the Indian economy and the GDP hitting a six year low, a wave of distress has been going through the country.

Even as many in the country continue to protest against many of the recently implemented and contentious policies of the government, dissent of any kind can quickly earn one the 'anti-national' tag.

In a recent example, a Management Consultant, who had taken an Ola ride only to end up being termed as an 'anti-national' by his driver for criticising the state of the economy in a personal conversation the phone.

Kanav Sharma took to Twitter to state that while he was over a phone call in his Ola cab yesterday, discussing India's depleting economy, he was was overheard by his driver who seemed to take personal offence at the discourse. The driver said, Only six years of Modi government, how can you blame economy? It is Congresss fault of 70 years. I asked him, so what all wrongs did congress do?".

Took @Olacabs yesterday. Driver overheard my phone conversation where I was talking about Indias economic situation. He said, only 6 years of Modi government, how can you blame economy? It is congresss fault of 70 years. I asked him, so what all wrongs did congress do?(1/n)  Kanav Sharma (@kanavdm) January 24, 2020

The driver further went on to add, that the Congress created the Jawaharlal Nehru University, which is "a prostitution hub of the Tukde Tukde gang". He further enlightened Mr. Sharma by saying, "You know who was Nehru? He was Indias first PM but his grandfather was a Muslim who converted to Hinduism to fool Indian people.

He said, Congress created JNU which is a prositution hub of Tukde Tukde gang. You know who was Nehru? He was Indias first PM but his grandfather was a Muslim who converted to Hinduism to fool Indian people. (2/n)  Kanav Sharma (@kanavdm) January 24, 2020

When Mr.Sharma urged him to check his facts and or even if what he believes is true, it should least affect him. "I am concerned about the economy and its not good!," Sharma said only to be termed as an "anti-nationalist", who must be also against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

I told him that you should check your facts and even if your belief is true, so how does it affect me? I am concerned about the economy and its not good! (3/n)  Kanav Sharma (@kanavdm) January 24, 2020

He continued, you are one of those anti-national people who find everything wrong with the government. You must also be against CAA and NRC (4/n)  Kanav Sharma (@kanavdm) January 24, 2020

On Mr. Sharma's affirmation that yes, he is indeed against those, the driver was quick enough to bomabrd him with another set of questions. To begin with, he said, "Where was your opposition when Kashmiri Pandits were raped and murdered?, without having the knowledge that Mr. Sharma is from Jammu & Kashmir and have grown up with people of all religions.

The driver further added, Your family survived brutality of 1990s. You must be involved with them.

Of course he was unaware of the fact that Mr.Sharma didnt belong to Kashmir and was neither a Pandit, who were targeted in 1990s.

I said yes I am against these. He continued, where was your opposition when Kashmiri Pandits were raped and murdered. I told, thats a wrong that happened, but I am from Jammu & Kashmir and have grown up with people of all religions. I respect all of them. (5/n)  Kanav Sharma (@kanavdm) January 24, 2020

He continued, Your family survived brutality of 1990s. You must be involved with them. Of course he was unaware of the fact that I didnt belong to Kashmir and was neither a Pandit, the people who were targeted in 1990s (6/n)  Kanav Sharma (@kanavdm) January 24, 2020

Sensing the fray going a little arduous, Mr. Sharma admitted to not have this argument any further. But he still wasn't cut any slack as a prompt reply from the driver came as, I agree, Your forefathers should have migrated to Pakistan. Our country would be cleaner without people of your thoughts.

Mr. Sharma, however, managed to bail himself out of the situation as his destination arrived and "he deboarded peacefully."

He said, "The depth to which BJPs propaganda and fake news has reached, it is getting really scary."

At this point, I told him that I dont want to have any debate with him. He continued,  I agree, Your forefathers should have migrated to Pakistan. Our country would be cleaner without people of your thoughts. (7/n)  Kanav Sharma (@kanavdm) January 24, 2020

Destination arrived. I deboarded peacefully. The depth to which BJPs propaganda and fake news has reached, it is getting really scary (8/n)  Kanav Sharma (@kanavdm) January 24, 2020

Writing to Ola's official account, Mr. Sharma said, "It would be much better if your drivers would focus on driving than overhearing conversations and tagging people anti-nationals during their driving duties." He went on to add the ride number for reference.

Dear @Olacabs, it would be much better if your drivers would focus on driving than overhearing conversations and taggin people anti-nationals during their driving duties. (9/9) @virsanghvi @tanejamainhoon @AnuragKunduAK @IamNiharikaK  Kanav Sharma (@kanavdm) January 24, 2020

@Olacabs For reference, ride number 4640633433  Kanav Sharma (@kanavdm) January 24, 2020

However, Mr. Sharma and Ola's desire to take an action against the driver drew strong criticism from some Twitter users, who defended the cabbie in the name of of "free speech" adding that the man had not violated any rules.

why is this management consultant dude against the free speech of a driver? just because he is a driver and he should not be opinionated.. what kind of classist behavior is this? he is paying the driver and ola for the ride as well as his silence?  Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt) January 24, 2020

Ola, the passenger and driver engaged in a chat that eventually went bad. There is no unprofessional behaviour in the above on part of the driver. I prefer you over Uber, but If I learn you have taken any corrective action on driver, incl. verbal, you shall lose my business.  Sarvesh Tiwari (@bhAratenduH) January 24, 2020

If you take any action, I will boycott Ola alongwith all of my family, friends, colleagues, etc. Driver is entitled to his FOE  Gopal B Jumani (@JumaaniGopaal) January 24, 2020

If you take any action, I will boycott Ola alongwith all of my family, friends, colleagues, etc. Driver is entitled to his FOE  Gopal B Jumani (@JumaaniGopaal) January 24, 2020

On what basis are you taking action against the driver @Olacabs? Because an entitled brat couldn't digest that a driver had a political opinion? Did the driver harm him or denied duty? NO. Then why this bigotry??  Aanchal (@followaanchal) January 24, 2020

@ola_supports just ignore this complaint. He is complaining just because he loose his arguement from driver. How can you take action  Dhananjay Verma (@verma_dhananjay) January 24, 2020

Dear @ola_supports please read carefully. The passenger has actively pursued a conversation with the driver. There was no need to keep questioning and getting his opinions. If you do, you cannot report a driver for having a contrary political opinion.  (@bijlanirajesh) January 24, 2020

Ola_supports, if you have even an ounce of decency or conscience in you, you should refuse rides to this privileged hate filled t*rd. Else you may retain one *rse hol* customer but lose many decent ones.  Moksha (@Karm_sutr) January 24, 2020

Is it free speech for drivers to eavesdrop on a passenger's conversations and insert their own opinions as dominant even when they were not even being spoken to? Or is it free speech to turn aggressive when countered after such an intrusion? Ola had initially happened to think that it was the driver's fault.

The tweet thread was quick enough to draw a response from Ola, which said, "We are sorry about your bad experience. We have reported the driver-partner for corrective action and would ensure to avoid these instances in the future. Hope to serve you better."

We are sorry about your bad experience. We have reported the driver-partner for corrective action and would ensure to avoid these instances in the future. Hope to serve you better. https://t.co/6DHSELSc7K  Ola Support (@ola_supports) January 24, 2020

However, after receiving a backlash, Ola confirmed that they havent penalised the driver or the customer and have urged both to be respectful of different opinions as mentioned in their tweet.
Washington: Democrats have continued their arguments for Trump's removal from office at his Senate impeachment trial, saying his conduct would put disgraced predecessor Richard Nixon to shame.

House impeachment manager Representative Zoe Lofgren was a congressional staffer during the Watergate years. Credit:AP

On Thursday (Friday Australian time) the trial turned its focus on the conduct of Joe Biden and his son Hunter, with Democrats defending the presidential frontrunner and Republicans insisting they appear to testify.

Democrats spent around an hour examining the period when Joe Biden was vice president and Hunter Biden sat on the board of controversial Ukrainian energy company Burisma.

Democratic impeachment manager Sylvia Garcia said that, rather than tackling corruption, Trump's bid for Ukraine to announce an investigation into the Bidens was driven solely by his desire for political gain.
Alabama is the only state in the southeast that doesnt have a law protecting students rights to defend themselves during disciplinary procedures, called due process, that could result a students suspension from school, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Children have rights, and those rights do not end when they enter a school setting, SPLC attorney Brittany Barbee, SPLC attorney said in a press release. Due process is about getting to the truth of what happened so that students are not unfairly pushed out of their classrooms or otherwise punished.

The 1975 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Goss v. Lopez held that students facing suspension from school have due process rights, according to the SPLC. While most states enacted laws after the Courts decision, Alabama did not.

The SPLC filed two lawsuits Wednesday against the Montgomery County Board of Education, alleging two students were expelled from school last year without being given the appropriate chance to defend themselves.

This lawsuit follows two others filed over the past year against school boards in Elmore County and Athens City, alleging similar violations of students due process rights prior to being expelled.

These lawsuits reveal an unacceptable pattern across Alabama, Barbee said, in which school districts needlessly trample on the rights of its students and contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline.

The current lawsuits against the Montgomery school board allege the two students, who were expelled from Lee High School last year were not allowed to participate in their own school disciplinary hearings, nor attend an appeal. Both actions also violated school board policy, the suit alleges.

Allegations of misconduct damage students educational and employment opportunities. SPLC attorney Claire Sherburne said in the release. When the juvenile court provided our clients with the opportunity to be heard and present evidence in their delinquency proceeding, they were acquitted; but when they were denied that right by the school board, they were expelled.

Montgomery Board of Education denied having a lack of due process in place in a statement to AL.com. There are exhaustive procedures in place to protect students in cases of potential expulsion, Montgomery schools spokesman Scott Johnson wrote. Superintendent Ann Roy Moore is currently reviewing all the due process documents that were filed in relation to the expulsion of these students to verify that all procedures were followed.

The students were expelled following a shooting in February 2019 in which a 17-year-old boy was shot inside the schools gym, according to the Montgomery Advertiser.

Four people were arrested following the shooting, including the alleged shooter and 16-year-old student who was in possession of a firearm, according to the Advertiser.

Two more students were arrested because, the Montgomery police believed, video surveillance showed the two students, aged 17 and 14, had a firearm. No firearm was located, Montgomery police Capt. Regina Duckett told the Advertiser at the time.

They were charged with possessing a firearm on school premises and making terroristic threats. Police did not recovered the firearm they allegedly possessed, AL.com reported at the time.

According to the SPLCs release, the video footage actually showed the students exchanging a cell phone after the shooting occurred. Both students were acquitted of criminal charges after a hearing in Montgomery County Juvenile Court.

The suit alleges the Montgomery Board of Education held the students disciplinary hearings while the students were detained in a juvenile youth facility and did not provide adequate notice nor give the students time to hire attorneys to represent them.

The suits, filed in Montgomery County Juvenile Court, seek the reversal of the two students expulsions, the correction of their academic records, and for the students to be allowed to re-enroll in school. Additionally, students are asking for the board to reform its disciplinary practices and compensate the students for missed instruction, according to the release.

The bigger goal of filing these lawsuits, according to the SPLC, is for Alabama to adopt due process protections in state law.

We think these cases highlight why there is a need for systemic statewide legislative reform because we have innocent students who are being harmed and excluded by these expulsions, SPLC senior supervising attorney Michael Tafelski said.
Photo: Hamilton Police

A seven-year-old boy hit by a bullet that came through the window of his Hamilton home was the unintended victim of a targeted shooting, local police said Friday as they continued searching for at least two suspects.

Hamilton Police Det. Sgt. Jim Callender said the boy is in stable condition after being struck by at least one bullet fired from the back yard of the home just before 8 p.m. on Thursday.

Callender said there were three adults inside the home at the time and he's not sure which one was the shooters' intended target. The child himself, Callender said, certainly was not.

"This is a seven-year-old, innocent child who was doing nothing that precipitated the injuries sustained by them," Callender said at a news conference. "We are looking for community members, the people that do know something, to take that step forward to tell the police what they know."

Callender said police were called to the home at 7:53 p.m. While the residence itself has not been the scene of past police calls, Callender said at least one of the people inside at the time of the shooting was known to the force.

He declined to comment on the nature or extent of the boy's injuries, but said he was hit by at least one bullet that ripped through the glass and frame of a main-floor window. Another child inside at the time was not hurt, he added.

"These are the investigations that really strike home with you," Callender said, calling the boy "a truly innocent" victim.

"The child had nothing to do with this. They were brought into a situation that they had no control over."

While multiple units of the local force are now involved in the investigation, Callender said police have not yet been able to identify suspects in the case.

He said at least two people are believed to be involved and were last seen travelling in a light-coloured sedan, but said officers do not have descriptions of who they're looking for.
Mexico is seeking the extradition from the United States of the son of a Sinaloa cartel drug lord over the 2017 murder of acclaimed journalist Javier Valdez, the attorney general's office said Thursday. Damaso Lopez Serrano, the son of former top "El Chapo" lieutenant Damaso Lopez Nunez "El Licenciado", is accused of being the mastermind behind the killing of Valdez. An arrest warrant for Lopez Serrano was approved Thursday afternoon after prosecutors interviewed members of the Sinaloa cartel who testified against him, the attorney general's office said in a statement. Valdez was gunned down on May 15, 2017 in Culiacan outside the offices of the Riodoce weekly, which he co-founded in 2003 and was dedicated to reporting on organized crime and corruption in Sinaloa. Members of the Sinaloa cartel have been implicated in the killing. Valdez, a respected crime reporter and expert on Mexico's multi-billion-dollar drug trafficking industry, published an article shortly before his death in which Lopez Serrano was referred to as "Sir Nobody." Lopez Serrano turned himself into the US Drug Enforcement Administration in July 2017 and, together with his father, has been cooperating with US authorities in exchange for reduced sentences. Known as "El Mini Lic," Lopez Serrano was a godson of former drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, who is serving a life sentence in the United States. El Chapo's arrest in January 2016 triggered a war for control of the Sinaloa cartel, pitting two of his sons against another faction led by Lopez Nunez. Lopez Nunez -- a former prison director who once helped El Chapo escape from jail, then teamed up with him -- was himself arrested in Mexico City in May 2017 and extradited to the US the following year on drug charges. Valdez, who was 50 when he was killed, was a winner of the prestigious International Press Freedom Award and a longtime contributor to Agence France-Presse. Reporters Without Borders, which regularly ranks Mexico alongside war-torn Syria and Afghanistan as the world's most dangerous countries for news media, said 10 journalists were killed in Mexico in 2019. Violence linked to drug trafficking and political corruption is rampant, and many murders go unpunished. Javier Valdez, a noted expert on Mexican drug cartels, was gunned down on May 15, 2017 in broad daylight outside the offices of his newspaper
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-25 03:40:51|Editor: Yurou

Video Player Close

Zheng Wen (R), Chinese consul for cultural affairs in Houston, hands over books to Laurie Covington, deputy assistant director of the Houston Public Library, during the reception for a Chinese photograph and calligraphy exhibition in Houston of Texas, the United States, Jan. 23, 2020. A reception was held Thursday to celebrate a Chinese photograph and calligraphy exhibition in Houston, the fourth largest city of the United States. The exhibition, named "Flower and Bird Collection," consists of 35 photographs with ancient Chinese poems carefully chosen to represent the artistic conception of the pictures. (Xinhua/Liu Liwei)

HOUSTON, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- A reception was held Thursday to celebrate a Chinese photograph and calligraphy exhibition in Houston, the fourth largest city of the United States.

The exhibition, named "Flower and Bird Collection," consists of 35 photographs with ancient Chinese poems carefully chosen to represent the artistic conception of the pictures. The poems were written in traditional Chinese calligraphy together with English translation. The photographer, calligrapher, translator and the person who selected the poems are all from Shenzhen, China.

Jointly hosted by the Houston Public Library and Houston Shenzhen Sister City Association, the exhibition started in December 2019 and will continue until March 1 in the library.

Audrey Duan, president of the Houston Shenzhen Sister City Association, said that the combination of photos, ancient poems and calligraphy is a "culture meal" of all colors and fragrances.

Zheng Wen, Chinese consul for cultural affairs in Houston, said at the reception that the exhibition is a window to Chinese people and culture.

"I hope there will be more and more such events to build a strong link between Shenzhen and Houston, especially on culture," he said.

Laurie Covington, deputy assistant director of the Houston Public Library, said it is an honor for the library to host such an exhibition, presenting the Chinese culture to the diversified city of Houston.

"Houston Public Library is honored to host this exhibition in gratitude of the rich diversity of our city," she said, adding "we look forward to sharing these works of Chinese poetry, photography, painting, culture with all our communities across the city of Houston."

At the reception, the Houston Shenzhen Sister City Association also donated books about Shenzhen to the Houston Public Library.

Shenzhen and Houston established a sister city relationship in 1986. Since then, various economic, educational, social and cultural activities and exchanges have helped strengthen their friendship.
KYIV, Ukraine - The president of Belarus on Friday accused Moscow of pressuring his country to merge with Russia and vowed not to let it happen.

Talking to workers of a paper plant in eastern Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko lambasted Russia, the countrys main provider of cheap oil and gas, for halting oil supplies in order to dissolve Belarus ... in the brotherly Russia.

The statement comes amid stalled talks on further strengthening economic ties between two countries, seen in Belarus as Moscows plot to swallow its post-Soviet neighbour.

We have our own country, were sovereign and independent. With our brains and hands, we earn what we can, were building our own country. And we cant be a part of some other country, Lukashenko said. I cant betray you and dissolve Belarus, even in the brotherly Russia.

Russia stopped supplying oil to its post-Soviet neighbour after Dec. 31. The two nations had failed to renegotiate an agreed oil price for this year during drawn-out negotiations on deepening the integration of their economies.

The Russian suspension did not affect oil crossing Belarus to Europe or the supply of natural gas, but had consequences for Belarus, which relies on Russia for more than 80% of its energy needs.

Lukashenko has since vowed to find alternative oil suppliers and said Friday that Belarus is currently negotiating additional supplies with the United States, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

Earlier this week, Minsk announced the import of oil shipments from Norway.

Americans, Saudi Arabia, the Emirates... I have a brilliant relationship with them, they say they will supply as much oil as needed, Lukashenko said, insisting that his intention not to concede to Russias demands is not a bluff.

The Kremlin has recently increased pressure on Belarus, raising energy prices and cutting subsidies. It argues that Belarus should accept greater economic integration if it wants to continue receiving energy resources at Russias domestic prices.

Russian President Vladimir Putin held two rounds of talks with Lukashenko in December but they failed to agree on the closer ties and oil and gas prices.

Putin said Russia was not ready to subsidize energy supplies without more economic integration with Belarus, while Lukashenko insisted he would not sign off on the integration until the issues with oil and gas supplies were resolved.

The talks prompted fears in Belarus that the Kremlin is plotting to form a single state with Belarus to keep Putin in power well past the end of his term in 2024.

Lukashenko has repeatedly rejected the idea, saying that Belarus would never become part of Russia.

Even if I agree to that, Belarusians would eat me alive within a year, he said Friday. Its honourable to be the first (president of Belarus), but I sure dont want to be the last.

___

Associated Press writer Daria Litvinova in Moscow contributed to this report.
This is the horrifying moment a man clings onto the bonnet of a car as the driver accelerates down the road.

The man was spotted on the bonnet of a 4WD Honda in Homebush, in Sydney's west about 2pm on Friday.

Terrifying footage of the road rage incident showed the man hopping off the car, opening the driver's door and allegedly attacking him.

Several other men join in and break the car's windscreen wipers, and others trying to break the door off its hinges

The video, which was first shown by Nine News, showed several other men join in and break the car's windscreen wipers.

Others were trying to break the door off its hinges.

Police were called to the incident and arrested the 42-year-old man who was seen on the bonnet.

He has been charged with assault and will appear at Parramatta Local Court on Saturday.

A police spokesman said the dispute was over a parking spot.

The spokesman said: 'Just before 2pm a Subaru Forester station wagon came to a stop on The Crescent at Homebush West to park in a nearby parking spot.

'A Honda CRV SUV, driven by a 42-year-old man, attempted to drive around the vehicle when a passenger from the Subaru, another 42-year-old man, allegedly jumped in front of his car.

'Police will allege in court that the male passenger, along with a group of males, began to assault the driver of the Honda and damage the vehicle.

'An eight-year-old boy, who was a passenger in the Honda, was not injured.'
MAPUTO, Mozambique - Three Mozambican police officers accused of killing a leading election observer in October last year have been promoted, according to local media reports  despite two of them being in jail awaiting trial for the killing and one being on the run.

The two jailed men told a judge in a pre-trial hearing that they had been promised promotions by superiors as reward for killing Anastacio Matavele in Xai-Xai, capital of Gaza province, ahead of nationwide elections on Oct. 15, 2019.

Matavele was shot dead by a gang of five men on Oct. 7. Two of the suspects died in a car crash when they attempted to get away and two others  Edson Silica and Euclidio Mapulasse  were arrested, and one, Agapito Matavele, is in hiding and wanted by police.

According to documents signed by the Mozambiques chief of police on Dec. 27 and obtained by the Maputo-based newspaper Savana, Silica was promoted to sub-inspector of police, and Matavele and Mapulasse to sergeant.

Silica and Mapulasse told a judge that they had been promised promotions, rather than cash, for killing the observer, Savana reported on Friday.
Ex-Wells Fargo CEO Banned From Banking Industry, Fined $17 Million in Fake-Account Scandal

A U.S. regulator on Thursday banned former Wells Fargos CEO John Stumpf from working in the banking industry and forced Stumpf to pay a $17.5 million fine over his role in the banks fake-accounts scandal.

Stumpf and seven other of the firms former executives were charged by the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), with total civil penalties of $58 million, in connection to what the regulator described as the banks systemic sales practices misconduct.

It marked a rare example of senior executives being held personally accountable for failing to put a stop to misconduct at their bank. Stumpfs fine was the largest ever penalty the OCC has secured from an individual.

The executives failed to adequately perform their duties and responsibilities, which contributed to the banks systemic problems with sales practices misconduct from 2002 until October 2016, the OCC said in a statement.

The misconduct of these individuals allowed the practices to continue for years, affecting millions of bank customers and thousands of lower level bank employees.

Wells Fargo has already paid more than $4 billion in fines and penalties after it was discovered in 2016 that the countrys fourth largest U.S. lender encouraged employees for years to open potentially millions of unauthorized bank accounts in order to hit lofty sales targets.

On Thursday, the OCC said in its prohibition order (pdf) that Stumpf was or should have been aware of the problem and its root cause, and that there was a culture in the Community Bank that resulted in systemic violations of laws and regulations.

The agency added that Stumpf ignored complaints submitted by employees to his office about illegal sales activity and pervasive pressure.

One such letter from an employee, dated 2013, details the pressures felt while working under Stumpf.

I was in the 1991 Gulf War. This is sad and hard for me to say, but I had less stress in the 1991 Gulf War than working for Wells Fargo, the employee wrote.

The OCC in its complaint also said that senior bank leadership must have been aware of rampant sales misconduct, stating that the number of calls to the banks internal ethics hotline steadily climbed from 2006 through 2014, with nearly half of all cases investigated related to sales misconduct.

After the scandalous revelation, Stumpf, after a nearly a decade at the helm, resigned in October 2016, forfeiting about $70 million in pay.

Wells Fargos current CEO Charles Scharf said in a statement Thursday that he believes the OCCs actions are consistent with his belief that individuals must be held accountable.

They also are consistent with our belief that significant parts of the operating model of our Community Bank were flawed, he said, adding that the firm will not make any remaining compensation payments that may be owed to these individuals while we review the filings.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Student groups at Rice University are banding together to ensure that Third Ward residents arent pushed out by a university-led effort to develop an innovation district near the neighborhood.

In a letter to Rice President David LeeBron posted online this week, students asked the school enterprise managing the project to promise that the community will benefit from any development and that resulting resolutions be enforced through an agreement.

Not in our name will Rice frame the innovation district development as socially responsible because of its benefits to students and future students, particularly low-income and first-generation students, when there is a risk that this benefit could come at the expense of low-income black residents of the Third Ward, reads the letter on Medium. Not in our name will Rice continue to promote its research partnerships with low-income communities of color without supporting those communities when it counts.

The letter is signed by 17 students, each representing a different Rice group. The Rice Black Student Association, the Hispanic Association for Cultural Enrichment at Rice, Rice Disability Advocates and Allies, the Rice InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and Rice Medical Humanities are among the concerned groups.

More Information Rice Management Co., the organization that manages the university's $6.3 billion endowment, is leading and financing the innovation corridor. The innovation district, which officially broke ground in July 2019, will cover around 16 acres in Midtown and sit along a four-mile corridor spanning from downtown to the Texas Medical Center. The innovation district is slated to open during the first quarter of 2021. Most notably, the district will include the $100 million renovation of the old Sears building, which will convert the 270,000 square foot former department store on 4201 Main St. into a high-end office and collaboration center for startups, large corporations seeking new technologies, venture capitalists, business accelerator programs, academics and more. The building will be called "The Ion." Station Houston, a local nonprofit startup hub and incubator, has been tapped to oversee programming at the Ion. A proposed master plan for the district also shows 13 additional structures, including a greenspace and "Central Laneway" stretching in front of the Sears building from Main to Caroline. See More Collapse

On HoustonChronicle.com: Rice University-led Ion innovation district breaks ground

The Rice Management Co.  the organization that oversees the schools $6.3 billion endowment fund  is set to open the innovation district in Midtown in early 2021, which will cover 16 acres in Midtown, span from downtown to the Texas Medical Center and will invest $100 million in transforming the old Sears building into The Ion, a gathering place for startups, large corporations seeking new technologies, business accelerator programs, venture capitalists and academics.

The project as a whole is touted to benefit Rice students.

Students fear nearby Third Ward residents will be subjected to social consequences, such as displacement and cultural erasure, as a result of rising living costs driven by new real estate developments.

Rice officials said this week that they have heard students concerns and are willing to consider them.

The Rice Management Co. plans to work with Mayor Sylvester Turner to address issues that concerned students have raised about the South Main Innovation District, a university spokesman stated in an email Wednesday to the Houston Chronicle.

The Rice Management Co. last summer broke ground on the Ion, which replaces the 80-year-old, 270,000-square-foot department store Sears on Main Street and will serve as an anchor for the innovation district.

Students also urged the university to address their concerns in an upcoming board meeting; to release various documents, including building and development plans, labor contracts and an racial equity impact assessment; and to work directly with the Houston Coalition for Equitable Development without Displacement, an alliance of community groups that are working to establish a Community Benefits Agreement for Third Ward.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Master plan for Ion and Innovation District at former Midtown Sears site revealed

The agreement would ensure that the developer will deliver community benefits, like hiring, inclusion of affordable housing or funding for community programs, in exchange for residents support of the project and developments in or near their community, according to the Kinder Institute for Urban Researchs Third Ward Policy and Program Landscape Report.

Assata Richards, a third-generation resident of Third Ward and member Third Ward is Home Civic Club, said she cried when she read the students letter.

Weve been working on this for a long time, and it's been very, very difficult, and it's not easy to be a community that is rich in assets, said Richards, the founding director of the nonprofit research organization, Sankofa Research Institute.

Many Third Ward residents are renters who havent had the opportunity to purchase or build in the neighborhoods where they grew up, Richards said. For students to dedicate their time and talents to help the Third Ward has been humbling, she added.

It really has given me a sense of motivation and encouragement to know that we're not standing alone and that people do care about this community, Richards said. They see the value in our history and our culture and our people that live here and have made Third Ward such a wonderful place.

Several students, including Mary Claire Neal, a Rice junior and a member of the Houston Coalition for Equitable Development without Displacement, have been working with Richards and the coalition since last summer to develop relationships with Third Ward community members and organizations.

We want to support communities as Rice students since were benefiting from this development  and we know we need something enforceable, and a really strong collaboration requires that accountability, Neal said.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Rice University unveils plans for former Sears building

Meredith McCain, president and co-founder of the student organization Civic Duty Rice, said her organization signed the letter because of its mission to engage the university with its surrounding community, despite its tendency to operate in a bubble. The innovation district is a chance to improve Rices connection with local communities, McCain said.

We urge the university to take into account the concerns of the residents of the Third Ward and make sure this is a truly equitable and inclusive project, McCain said.

For Richards, its the opportunity for Rice to be a model for leadership.

This is a decisive moment in the history of Third Ward or really in the city, Richards said. If we don't get this right, this will forever change this city.

Staff writers Andrea Leinfielder and Nancy Sarnoff contributed to this article.

brittany.britto@chron.com
Ted Cruz says Christian faith enabled him to forgive Trump's 2016 attacks on family

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

Conservative Texas Sen. Ted Cruz explained Wednesday that his Christian faith was instrumental for his ability to forgive President Donald Trump for the hurtful things he said and tweeted during the 2016 presidential election.

Cruz, 49, spoke with ABC News' Paula Faris for her Journeys of Faith podcast this week over the phone in the middle of a busy voting day on Capitol Hill.

Cruz was asked specifically about how he was able to overlook the fact that Trump said some nasty things about him and his wife during the 2016 election when Cruz was arguably Trumps most viable contender for the Republican nomination.

For example in March 2016, Trump tweeted a post comparing the looks of his own supermodel wife, Melania, and Cruzs wife, Heidi, a managing director at Goldman Sachs. At the time, Cruz also accused the Trump campaign of organizing a National Enquirer story claiming Cruz had five mistresses.

Despite the tensions during the 2016 primary, Cruz is now one of Trumps most vocal supporters in the U.S. Senate.

There is no doubt that forgiveness is critical to what it means to be a Christian, Cruz told Faris. I try to forgive, certainly. As God has forgiven us, we are commanded to do the same.

He added that the call to forgive others is stated clearly in the Lords prayer.

Forgive us of our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespassed against us, Cruz explained. That is foundational. It is not easy. It is human to allow your feelings to be hurt and hold a grudge.

But at the same time, I do think one of the reasons I feel blessed to be a Christian is that politics can be ugly, hard work. People say nasty things. Harry Truman famously said, If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.

After the primary election was over and Trump won, Cruz said he had a simple choice to make.

I had a choice about whether or not to do my job, he said. We had obviously come through a rough and tumble primary. There were some hard shots that were thrown all around and thats the democratic process.

The son of Cuban immigrants said that his job was to fight for 28 million Texans each and every day.

I could have taken my marbles and gone home and said, You know what? My feelings were hurt and I dont like some of the things you said and did. So I am not going to vote for you, Cruz said. I think that would have been irresponsible. I think that would have been not doing the job Texans entrusted me to do.

A week after Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 general election, Cruz said he met with Trump and his transition team at Trump Tower in New York City in November 2016.

I met with the president-elect. I spent 4.5 hours with him and his senior team, he recalled. I said, Mr. President, we have been given a historic opportunity. It is exceptionally rare to have Republicans control both houses of Congress and the White House.

Cruz said he told Trump that he would do everything in his power to lead the fight in the Senate to deliver on the campaign promises they made. Cruz believed that if Republicans blow this opportunity, it may never come again.

Cruz touted his work in helping to pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. He said that the result has been the lowest unemployment in 50 years.

Weve got the lowest African-American unemployment ever recorded and the lowest Hispanic unemployment ever recorded, he stated. Thats transforming peoples lives.

Cruz also said that he has worked hard to confirm the over 180 federal judges that Trump has nominated.

[They are] judges who are committed constitutionalists who will protect the Bill of Rights and will protect religious liberty, free speech, the Second Amendment, he told Faris. That is a critical promise we made to the voters, a promise we delivered on.
Sanders, who last fall rolled out Bernie Beats Trump messaging focused on the general election, also has a robust operation for the next phase of the primary, particularly in California, which awards more than 400 delegates. He and any other candidates who stay in the race past February also will have to contend with former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg, who sidestepped the early contests but is spending hundreds of millions of dollars from his own fortune to be competitive starting in the March primaries.
The only resident of Canada more relieved than Meghan Markle right now might be Rona Ambrose.

The former interim leader of the Conservative Party of Canada is not, she told us standing in front of a snow-capped mountain, running for party leader.

Ambrose posted a video to Facebook this week confirming what many in politics suspected: shed rather love life in Alberta than hate it in Ottawa. Shes out. Or to be precise, she was never in.

I want to thank you for all your messages of encouragement and support to run for the leadership of the Conservative Party of Canada, Ambrose says in the video, clearly enjoying some fresh air (as opposed to the stale air of a campaign strategy room). It is humbling to be considered at all, because I love our party, I love the people in it and I love our country. I have really struggled with the decision to return to political life.

Perhaps this is true, but it certainly doesnt look as though she struggled. On the contrary, Ambrose looks and sounds quite happy with her choice.

The question is: how happy are you with that choice if youre a Conservative voter?

Ambrose (unlike several other names on the ticket for CPC leader) isnt just a big name: shes a public figure who appeals to a big, diverse audience.

According to a poll from late last year that measured the perceptions of potential replacements for Andrew Scheer, Canadians ranked Ambrose highest on the question of who could defeat Justin Trudeau in the next election. She also ranked highest on the question of who could unite the country.

It might be foolish to think anyone could unite a country, or for that matter, a room, in hyper-partisan times such as these. But Ambrose might have had a decent shot at it, had she put her hat into the ring.

Of course, no Conservative candidate is immune to questions about their personal beliefs, and, as a candidate for leader, Ambrose would come up against the same set of whats in your heart? questions Andrew Scheer did on the campaign trail. But where Scheer faltered, Ambrose might fare well.

This is because in the eyes of the social progressive, for every strike against her, there exists a redeeming factor.

In 2012, while serving as Canadas Minister for the Status of Women, she voted for a private members bill that would establish a committee to examine when life begins inside the womb. But unlike most North American politicians who lent support to an anti-abortion position, (most of them men) Ambrose is a serious and consistent advocate for women. She volunteered at a rape crisis centre and a womens shelter (according to the University of Victorias website, she has a BA in womens studies), and she developed a bill that would require lawyers who wish to be judges to first complete sexual assault sensitivity training. You might disagree with her views or actions around various social issues (I certainly do), but its insincere to label her  many progressives tend to label conservatives this way  an out of touch, ideologue. She simply isnt one.

Again, there are a lot of reasons progressives wouldnt or dont like Ambrose, her party affiliation being highest among them.

But theres also this: In the aftermath of the federal election, during which Scheer refused to apologize for past comments about gay marriage, Ambrose tweeted, I was proud to have been the first Tory leader to march in a Pride Parade. Its time to move forward together and show ALL families we have their backs!

Other big-name Conservatives echoed the same sentiment this week, when they took CPC leader hopeful Richard Decarie to task for telling CTV News he believes homosexuality is a choice.

Unlike many of those big names, Ambrose has managed to hold opinions that enrage people of all political stripes while remaining relatively well-liked. She has liberal bona-fides her contemporaries lack, all the while being an Albertan married to a former bull rider. Im no pollster, but I dont think it gets much more electable than that.

And yet, theres a difference between being electable and wanting to be elected.

In a 2017 interview with Chatelaine Magazine, Ambrose told reporter Sarah Boesveld she felt guilty when women told her they wished she had run for CPC leader that year. There is a sense of guilt I feel when women say to me, Oh my gosh, you let me down, you let us down, she told Boesveld. People will literally say that kind of thing to me as Im walking through the airport. So yeah, I feel that sometimes. I take it as a compliment, but I did make the right decision for me.

Three years later, shes made the same decision. Hopefully she doesnt feel guilty about it. She should enjoy the mountains.

Meanwhile, the rest of us can bemoan the fact that no matter how far we think weve come, one sad thing remains true: while the best, middling, and worst men for the job almost always throw their hats into the ring, the best women seldom do.

Read more about:
A recording appears to capture Trump talking about Yovanovitch.

A lawyer representing Lev Parnas, an associate of Rudolph W. Giuliani, Mr. Trumps personal lawyer, said on Friday that he turned over to congressional Democrats a recording that appeared to be of Mr. Trump speaking about Marie L. Yovanovitch, the United States ambassador to Ukraine at the time.

According to ABC News, which first reported the existence of the recording on Friday, Mr. Trump could be heard on the tape, saying, Get rid of her. The president went on to say: Get her out tomorrow. I dont care. Get her out tomorrow. Take her out. O.K.? Do it.

Joseph A. Bondy, Mr. Parnass lawyer, described the recording as having high materiality to the impeachment inquiry. The emergence of the recording coincides with a push by Democrats in the Senate to call more witnesses and seek additional evidence for the trial.

Ms. Yovanovitch was removed from her post last spring on Mr. Trumps orders after being the subject of a smear campaign by his allies, who saw her as an impediment to their agenda, which included efforts to force Ukraine to announce investigations into the Bidens.

The fight over admitting new evidence, like documents and witnesses, goes on.

Once Mr. Trumps lawyers conclude their arguments, sometime between Saturday and Tuesday, senators are expected to have a short debate on whether to admit new evidence and witnesses to the trial. Republicans defeated an effort to consider the matter before the start of oral arguments, drawing outrage from Democrats, who have maintained that there could not be a fair trial without them.

The evidence-and-witnesses argument is the crux of the charge that Mr. Trump obstructed Congress. New evidence has emerged since the House completed its impeachment inquiry last year, and one of the presidents former national security advisers, John R. Bolton, said he would testify at the Senate trial if he received a subpoena. (Mr. Bolton did not testify before the House.)

This is an area where Democrats have been hoping to sway some of the Republicans who have signaled they might be open to hearing from witnesses, including Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Mitt Romney of Utah and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska. Democrats also are holding out hope for Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, who is retiring at the end of this term.
BRIDGEPORT  A man accused of holding his ex-girlfriend hostage for several hours before allegedly stabbing her multiple times Tuesday was picked up in New York by Westchester County police, officials said.

Westchester County police announced Thursday night that they took 29-year-old Christopher Jirau, of Vyse Avenue in the Bronx, N.Y., into custody Wednesday night. In Bridgeport, the county police said, Jirau faces charges of attempted murder, home invasion, second-degree strangulation and first-degree unlawful restraint.

Westchester police said they developed information that Jirau  who was wanted in connection with an attempted murder in Bridgeport  was traveling through the area. Police set up surveillance on several parkways in southern Westchester County in the hopes of spotting his vehicle.

A patrol officer saw the suspects 2015 Nissan Maxima around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, police said, on the Hutchinson River Parkway at Boston Post Road in Pelham, N.Y.

Police said the officer followed Jirau into the Bronx, where Westchester County and New York Police Department officers had the driver pull over. He was taken into custody without incident, police said.

County police said Jirau forced his way into his ex-girlfriends Bridgeport apartment on Tuesday and held her against her will for several hours before he stabbed her multiple times. Bridgeport police had active warrants for his arrest, county police said.

Jirau was booked at Westchester County Police headquarters in Hawthorne, N.Y., Wednesday night as a fugitive from justice. He was held overnight before he was taken to Westchester County Court in White Plains, N.Y., Thursday morning. Jirau waived extradition.

He was taken back to the county jail and will be turned over to Bridgeport police, according to Westchester County police.
Brazil wants India to cut its import taxes on chicken and chicken products, so it can cash in on India's burgeoning demand for poultry and poultry products as incomes rise and food habits change.

India imposes a 100% import tax on chicken products and a 30% duty on whole chickens, too high for countries such as Brazil and the United States to gain a foothold in the market, where the poultry industry is growing at more than 10% a year.

"We would like to urge India to lower its tariffs on chicken and chicken products which are far too steep," Brazilian Agriculture Minister Tereza Cristina Dias told Reuters during a visit to India.

Brazil would also like to import an array of goods from India, she said.

"Our trade ties can be a win-win situation for both countries as we're equally keen to import from India and offer any technical know-how that India might look forward to," Dias added.

The United States also wants India to lower its import duties on chicken -- a request that has unnerved the domestic poultry industry which is opposed to any cut in the tariffs.

Brazil would also like to work with India on ethanol production which would help New Delhi use more ethanol blends of gasoline, Dias said.

India dislodged Brazil as the world's biggest sugar producer two years ago. And higher sugar output since then has led to large inventories and a free fall in local prices.

To overcome the glut, mills in India are now trying to divert sugar cane to produce more than ethanol than sugar. But in comparison with Brazil, India's biofuel industry is still in its nascent stage.

Asked if the Brazilian delegation discussed the issue of India's sugar subsidies, Dias said: "We have not talked about sugar at all. The issue is already at the WTO."

Brazil has taken India's subsidies for sugar exports to the World Trade Organization (WTO), saying they are not in line with WTO rules and would hurt free competition in the global market. Australia and Guatemala have also questioned the subsidies at the WTO.

Also read: Bharti Airtel Chief Regulatory Officer Ravi Gandhi resigns

Also read: India ranked 80th among 180 nations in Corruption Perception Index
The Korean disease control and prevention force inspects arriving passengers at the Incheon International Airport, Jan. 23, for those possibly infected with the pneumonia-like illness spreading throughout China. Yonhap



South Korea on Friday reported its second confirmed case of the China coronavirus amid mounting fears the pneumonia-like illness is spreading throughout China and other parts of the world.



According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), a person who arrived at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, a few days ago showed symptoms of the illness and has tested positive for the new type of virus.






A human skull and bones were found on Friday when firefighters were dousing a blaze at a field in West Bengal's Howrah district, officials said.

Dry shrubs on a field, off the National Highway 6 in Bagnan's Chandrapur area, suddenly caught fire in the afternoon, they said.

Three fire tenders were sent and it took around two hours to douse the flames, officials said.

During the firefighting operations, a human skull and some bones were found, following which police were informed, they said.

Police said that the skull and the bones have been sent for forensic tests and further investigations are underway.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping gave a keynote speech at the Winter Davos meeting advocating globalization.



"In the face of both opportunities and challenges of economic globalization, the right thing to do is to seize every opportunity, jointly meet challenges and chart the right course for economic globalization."

He asked the world to have the courage to work together.

Two years later, those attending Davos 2020 are still talking about many of the issues he addressed in his speech: the environment, international frameworks, inequality, and sustainability.

However, other than the EU and China, few have actually embraced these ideas with actions. Over the past two years, the EU has taken climate control actions and tried to maintain the international framework, despite Brexit and other internal divisions.

China has also been promoting the international framework, along with international development efforts like the Belt and Road Initiative and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. It has also adopted various measures and policies to open its doors, reducing its list of restricted industries, ownership requirements, tariffs, taxes, differentiated treatment of foreign enterprises and red tape, while strengthening its courts, IP protection, environmental enforcement and poverty reduction.

China's reward has been steady increases in foreign direct investment.

The only major obstacle over this period for the world has been the intransigence of the United States on the environment and the global framework, symbolized by the WTO, trade, security and ideology.

U.S. President Donald Trump's slogan "Make America Great Again" has bewildered and alienated neighbors, allies and competitors.

In strong contrast to President Xi's 2017 speech, the U.S. president talked less about working together and more about how the richest and most powerful political, economic and military country in the world had been consistently victimized.

The world economy is facing challenging headwinds due to protectionism and unilateralism pursued by the U.S. Moreover, U.S. unilateralism has dimmed the chances of attaining regional stability and finding solutions to the issue of climate change as it withdraws from more multiparty agreements.

The theme of the 2020 Davos meeting was "Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World."

As people ponder what Davos is and can be, they should think carefully about what China is advocating and look at what is possible when there is a shared, as opposed to a unilateral, vision for the world.

Einar Tangen is a political and economic affairs commentator, author and columnist.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo heads to Britain next week ahead of its exit from the European Union and will then travel to Ukraine, the country at the heart of President Donald Trump's impeachment trial. Pompeo arrives in London on Wednesday, meeting with Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to "discuss ways to broaden and deepen trade ties" after Brexit at the end of the month, the State Department said. Johnson is cultivating Britain's relations with Washington in a bid to offset the potential damage of withdrawal from the EU. But there are several points of friction. Trump, a longtime advocate of Britain's leaving the European Union, has praised Johnson and promised a lucrative new trade deal, although both sides admit hammering out the details will be hard. Pompeo's visit coincides with an expected British decision on whether to allow Chinese telecom giant Huawei to develop its next-generation 5G phone network in the country, something the US has strongly discouraged as a security threat. Huawei denies such accusations. The British government on Friday rebuked the US for refusing to extradite a diplomat's wife charged over a car crash that killed a British teenager. Raab called it a "denial of justice." The US had rejected the extradition request, and Pompeo's department said that Anne Sacoolas, as a diplomatic spouse, enjoyed immunity from prosecution. Harry Dunn, 19, died in August when his motorcycle collided with a car driven by Sacoolas on the wrong side of the road in Britain. - Ukraine connection - In Kiev, Pompeo will meet President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is at the center of Trump's historic impeachment trial for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The visit had been expected in early January but was delayed because of Middle East tensions. The Democratic prosecution team at the Senate trial has alleged Trump flagrantly tried to force Kiev to help him tarnish his possible 2020 election challenger, former vice president Joe Biden. Key to the impeachment scandal is a July 25 telephone call in which Trump pushed Zelensky to announce an investigation of Biden. Trump is accused of withholding nearly $400 million in military aid for Ukraine's war against Russian-backed separatists, and refusing Zelensky a White House meeting unless he opened the probe. In Kiev, Pompeo will attend a wreath-laying ceremony at St Michael's cathedral to honor Ukrainians killed in the war against Russian-back separatists in the eastern region of Donbas, the State Department said. It added the trip will "highlight US support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity." The secretary of state came under increased scrutiny last year when it emerged that he had been one of the senior administration officials listening in on Trump's July 25 phone call with Zelensky. Trump last year removed the ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, and denounced her in the call with Zelensky. Former career diplomats accused Pompeo, a stalwart ally of Trump, of not robustly defending Yovanovitch either to the White House or in public. After his Ukraine trip, Pompeo will head to Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, where he will meet the leaders of each country. In Kiev, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, pictured, will meet President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is at the center of President Donald Trump's impeachment trial
Stray incidents of stone pelting were reported from parts of Maharashtra on Friday during the statewide 'bandh' called by Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar's party against the CAA and the NRC, but normal life remained largely unaffected, officials said.

A bus driver was injured in stone pelting in Mumbai.

The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) called for the statewide shutdown to protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) and also over economic issues.

Speaking to reporters as he called off the shutdown at around 4 pm, VBA leader Ambedkar said the 'bandh' received "good response" from traders and office-goers in Mumbai and that it was "peaceful" across the state.

He said some people who engaged in stone pelting or vandalism during the bandh were not attached to the VBA and they were members of other organisations.

Ambedkar said police lathi-charged VBA workers in Vidarbha's Amravati, but later released the supporters after the cops realised that the action was "wrong".

In Palghar adjoining Mumbai, he alleged some Bajrang Dal activists forcibly tried to re-open shops during the shutdown period.

"The protest was held peacefully in rest of the Maharashtra. We were able to convey the message against CAA, NRC and NPR. It is affecting Muslims as well as Hindus...Plus, the country's economy has collapsed, we are on the cusp of bankruptcy. We were able to highlight it," Ambedkar said.

He said around 3,000 VBA workers were detained across the state since Thursday night and added the his party has requested the police to release the demonstrators as they did not engage in vandalism.

He also claimed that around 100 political and social organisations apart from labour unions supported the bandh.

Earlier in the day, the driver of a BEST (civic undertaking) bus suffered injuries after stones were pelted on the vehicle in Mumbai's eastern suburb of Chembur, an official said.

The incident took place at around 9.15 am when some unidentified persons pelted stones at the bus heading towards Kurla station on route number 362, said a spokesperson of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST).

Its driver, Vilas Dabhade, was wounded and rushed to Shatabdi Hospital in suburban Govandi, he said, adding no harm was caused to any of the passengers.

Suburban and outstation trains on both the Central and Western Railways in Mumbai, Metro, monorail services, taxis and auto-rickshaws were plying normally in the financial capital.

"There have been no reports of any attempt to stop taxis from plying," taxi union leader AL Quadros said.

Tight security was in place at all train stations and no untoward incident has been reported till now, a Railway official said.

Stray incidents of stone pelting on city buses were also reported from Solapur and Aurangabad districts, police said.

In Solapur, two unidentified men pelted stones at a city bus near Budhwar Peth, damaging its windshield, an official said.

"Two unidentified persons pelted stones at a city bus at around 9 am, damaging the windshield," an officer attached to the Faujdar Chawdi police station said.

In Aurangabad city, a bus of the local municipal corporation was pelted with stones by unidentified persons in the morning, but no injuries were reported, officials told.

A phone call regarding the stone pelting incident was received at around 7.25 am by the police, they said.

Later, a complaint was filed in the Vedantnagar police station of Aurangabad in central Maharashtra, the officials said.

The bandh was peaceful in other parts of the Marathwada region, they said.

The bandh received a lukewarm response in Pune and Ahmednagar districts, where public transport remained largely unaffected, while commercial establishments and schools were open.

A group of 20 to 24 people tried to block a road near Dandekar Bridge on Sinhagad Road in Pune, but were soon dispersed, officials said.

In another incident in Pune, a group of people stopped four to five civic buses on Dandekar Bridge but were quickly scattered, said Anant Waghmare, head of the traffic department at Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd.

"Our all operations are going on smoothly and there is no report of any untoward incident," he added.

The police had issued notices to some of the people from the party after the bandh call was given, Kamble claimed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
F rance has confirmed the first three cases of coronavirus in Europe following an outbreak of the deadly disease in China.

The first two confirmed cases were announced by the French health minister Agnes Buzyn early on Friday evening.

Ms Buzyn said one patient had been hospitalised in Paris and another in the southwestern city of Bordeaux.

The health minister told a news conference these were the first two confirmed cases in Europe and that more cases were likely to occur in France.

The third was confirmed a few hours later with officials announcing that two of the patients belong to the same family.

Workers in protective suits check the temperature of passengers arriving at the Xianning North Station / REUTERS

Earlier, the charity SOS Medecins said it had treated a patient of Chinese origin who was showing symptoms of a fever and who said he had been in contact with people from Wuhan province in China, epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak.

Ms Buzyn said this patient was 48 years old and had returned two days ago from a trip to China which included a stop in Wuhan.

"He's been put in an insulated room so as to avoid any contact with the outside world. He's fine", she said.

"You have to treat an epidemic as you would a fire, that's to say find the source very quickly," she said. "We identified the first positive cases very quickly."

The Bordeaux patient was in contact with about 10 people before he was taken into care, the minister said. French authorities are seeking to contact them.

The minister urged people who suspect they've sickened to call emergency services and to stay at home to avoid spreading the virus. She said those who came into contact with the two sickened patients would be told likewise.



Workers driving diggers at the construction site of a hospital in Wuhan / Getty Images

The newly discovered virus has killed 26 people and infected more than 800.

Most of the cases and all of the deaths so far have been in China, where officials have imposed severe restrictions on travel and public gatherings.

At least 10 cities near Wuhan, where the virus is believed to have originated, effectively putting 33 million people into quarantine.

The virus has created alarm, but there are still many unknowns surrounding it, such as just how dangerous it is and how easily it spreads between people. It can lead to pneumonia, which has been deadly in some cases.

The World Health Organization on Thursday declared the virus an "emergency in China", but stopped short of declaring it a global health emergency.

A Chinese passenger checked for a fever by a health worker at a Beijing railway station / Getty Images

It comes as the UK Department of Health confirmed that officials are trying to trace 2,000 people who have flown in from Wuhan, China in the past few weeks, in order to check on their wellbeing.

Fourteen people were given the all-clear on Thursday but others are undergoing tests formulated by Public Health England (PHE), Professor Chris Whitty said.

He spoke following a meeting of the Government's Cobra emergency committee in Whitehall, chaired by Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

He said: "We all agree that the risk to the UK public remains low, but there may well be cases in the UK at some stage.

"We have tried-and-tested measures in place to respond. The UK is well prepared for these types of incidents, with excellent readiness against infectious diseases.

A health officer (L) screens arriving passengers from China in Singapore / AFP via Getty Images

"We have global experts monitoring the situation around the clock and have a strong track record of managing new forms of infectious disease."

Prof Whitty said a public health hub would be set up in Heathrow from Friday. 

There are no plans to introduce blanket temperature screening of travellers due to the fact it can take seven to 10 days for symptoms of the virus to appear.

One of those cleared of the virus in the UK was Michael Hope, 45, who spent two days in quarantine this week after returning to Newcastle from Wuhan.

As he left the Cabinet Office after the Cobra meeting, Mr Hancock said the risk to the UK public "remains low".

The Chinese city of Wuhan is rapidly building a new 1,000-bed hospital to treat victims, while Disneyland Shanghai and parts of the Great Wall of China have been closed to visitors.

Reuters reported that hospitals in Wuhan are struggling to cope due to medical shortages.

Almost 30 million people and 10 cities in China are now facing travel restrictions.

Earlier on Friday, Professor Paul Cosford, emeritus medical director at Public Health England (PHE), said it was still "early days" in the course of the virus, but stressed that most of those affected abroad are making a good recovery.
Alabamas new cyber technology magnet school got another $250,000 in donations Thursday from technology companies including Facebook.

Facebook, which is building a large data center in Huntsville, is contributing $100,000 to the new state school, and so is local technology company Sentar. DESE Research, also of Huntsville, is giving $50,000.

Officially named the Alabama School of Cyber Technology & Engineering, the school will open in Huntsville in August with approximately 100 students. Oakwood University will host it for two years while the permanent location is completed at the intersection of Bradford Drive and Wynn Drive in Cummings Research Park.

This is a school for the whole state, school President Matt Massey said. Applications opened last week and recruiting for students will begin this weekend at middle school scholars bowl competitions around the state. Eventual enrollment will be 300 in grades 9-12 with half of those living in on-site dormitories.

The Chamber of Commerce received a call a few weeks ago from a resident in California wanting to enroll their daughter in our school, Massey said. We basically politely said, Come on and move to Alabama and we will consider your child for enrollment.

Our mission at Facebook is to give people the power to build community and to bring people closer together, Facebook Community Development Manager Katie Comer said. Huntsville is just a wonderful community.

Comer said Facebook likes to make strategic investments in the next generation of workers and in STEM and technology education. Weve very proud to partner with you at Facebook, she said, and we thank you to everyone in Huntsville for allowing us to call this place home.

DESE Research President Michael Kirkpatrick said his company is a leader in cyber work and believes in the future demand for cyber technical and professional workers. This is going to be a beautiful school and its going to have a draw throughout the state and across the nation, Kirkpatrick said. I expect there will be families that are very interested in their childrens education that will move to Huntsville and be a part of our community so their children can be a part of this school.

Peter Kiss, owner of the Huntsville cyber intelligence company Sentar, said the problem of finding cyber workers has gotten worse. Now, there are about a million open positions that are not being filled for cyber security in the United States.

Colleges have started teaching subjects in the field, Kiss said, and that is good. But starting earlier is better. This school is perfect for what the country needs, Kiss said.
ROSEMONT, Ill., Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Environmental Work Group (EWG) has released a new report citing that contamination of U.S. drinking water with toxic fluorinated compounds known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is worse than previously estimated. In 2018, the EWG estimated that 110 million Americans' water supply may be contaminated with PFAS, but today feels this estimate could be too low. With the EWG now mapping PFAS contamination of drinking water or ground water in almost 1,400 sites in 49 states, Culligan International, a world leader in the treatment of water, is sharing tips to help individuals ensure the water in their home is clean and safe.

"Solving common and tough water issues in the home has been Culligan's call for more than 80 years," said Larry Holzman, Senior Vice President, Culligan North American Franchise. "As water contamination continues to be an issue in the United States, we want to educate people on water safety and how to confirm that the water they use and drink is clean and safe."

PFAS comprises a group of manmade chemicals that includes perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). Manufactured in the U.S. since the 1940s, these chemicals are found in a wide variety of commercial, industrial and residential products including fire-retarding foams, waterproofing, cleaning products, coating adhesives for non-stick cookware and stain-resistant carpets. PFASs typically do not break down in the environment, especially when spilled or improperly disposed of, and they can seep into the ground water and then into water supplies.

If PFAS is ingested, it can be absorbed and build-up in the body over time. Studies indicate that exposure to PFAS over certain levels may result in adverse health effects. Culligan recommends homeowners follow several steps to ensure access to clean, safe water.

Know where water contamination can occur. Water impurities are not just limited to the water source, but can also happen in the distribution system after treatment from the local municipality or private well has already occurred. While many naturally occurring chemicals and impurities from local water treatments can be filtered at the source, contamination can occur in service pipes. These issues are commonly found in homes built prior to 1986 when lead pipes, fixtures and solder were regularly used.

Learn about the filtration system currently in place at your home. Basic water filters such as charcoal pitchers and refrigerator cartridges can help improve the taste of water, but may not remove nor reduce harmful impurities such as PFOAs. Water treatment solutions such as water softeners, reverse osmosis systems and specialty filters reduce specific impurities that may be found in your water. Culligan's Total Defense Cartridge, available on the Aqua-Cleer Advanced Drinking Water System, is third-party certified to NSF 53 for the reduction of many contaminants including PFOAs and PFOSs. NSF International protocols establish minimum requirements for the safety and performance of products to treat drinking water. Products that are NSF Standard 53 certified receive this certification for their ability to reduce or remove contaminants in unfiltered water. Culligan also provides a Point of Entry reduction solution for homeowners with capacities third-party certified to NSF 53. Culligan is the industry expert with thousands of PFAS systems installed.

Notice any issues that may be caused by water impurities. Some signs of problem water include corroded plumbing fixtures, unpleasant odors, disagreeable taste, discolored water and even shortened appliance lifespan. It is important to note that some water contaminants cannot be detected by taste, smell or color. In these cases, only a water test can identify an issue.

Schedule a test to identify impurities in your water. Water contamination can happen at any time, so it is important to have your water tested by a water expert who can offer solutions to bring your water to meet safe drinking water regulations as set forth by the EPA. A basic water test from your local Culligan water expert is free and easy, and can detect impurities such as nitrates, hardness and total dissolved solids that are odorless and tasteless. A water sample taken straight from the tap can typically provide results in 10 minutes. If indicated by the on-site home analysis, Culligan can provide a more detailed water analysis in its certified testing laboratory. Your Culligan professional can provide you with the details.



While testing can be done at any time, Culligan recommends scheduling a water test as a result of one of several key factors, including after moving into a new house, if appliances that use water are collecting residue or burning out, and as soon as a noticeable change happens to your water's taste, odor or appearance. Well water should also be tested whenever any changes in your water such as color, taste, odor or cloudiness are noticed. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, it is recommended to test well water annually to ensure it does not contain harmful contaminants.

Assess the current state of your water and treat any issues appropriately. Your water treatment professional will work with you to identify any impurities found in your test results and will recommend specific solutions for your water needs.

Ensure your current water filtration system is up-to-date. If your home already has a water filtration system in place, it is important to continue the ongoing maintenance required. This includes scheduling filter replacements as needed.

For more information about Culligan water treatment products, including water softeners, drinking water systems, whole-house systems and solutions for business, or to find your local Culligan representative visit www.culligan.com.

About Culligan International

Founded in 1936 by Emmett Culligan, Culligan International is a world leader in delivering water solutions that will improve the lives of their customers. The company offers some of the most technologically advanced, state-of-the-art water filtration products. Culligan's products include water softeners, drinking water systems, whole-house systems and solutions for business. Culligan's network of franchise dealers is the largest in the world, with over 800 dealers in 90 countries. Many Culligan dealers have valuable equity in their communities as multigenerational family owners of their franchises. For more information visit: www.culligan.com.

Media Inquiries

Sandy Sapp Cheryl Georgas Culligan International L.C. Williams & Associates [email protected] [email protected] 847.430.1423 312.565.4614

SOURCE Culligan International

Related Links

https://www.culligan.com


New Delhi: Actress Katrina Kaif was the special guest at rumoured boyfriend Vicky Kaushal's brother Sunny Kaushal's documentary screening in Mumbai on Thursday evening. Katrina cheered for Sunny and her good friend and filmmaker Kabir Khan, director of 'The Forgotten Army - Azaadi Ke Liye', along with Vicky, his family and other Bollywood and TV celebrities.

For the outing, Katrina sported an all-denim outfit and looked stunning as always. She happily posed with Sunny, Kabir and 'The Forgotten Army' actress Sharvari. Meanwhile, Vicky was seen with his family. The duo, however, avoided getting clicked together.

Here are some of the pictures from 'The Forgotten Army - Azaadi Ke Liye' screening:

Earlier this week, the rumoured couple met at a friend's house, but avoided getting clicked together, again.

(Images Courtesy: Yogen Shah)

Katrina and Vicky have not yet openly addressed their dating rumours, but their constants outings tell a different story. Before meeting at a friend's place, they together attended filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar's birthday party.

Social media is abuzz with pictures of Katrina and Vicky and tweets describing their rumoured relationship with #VicKat have been posted in plenty.

On the work front, Katrina will be next seen in Rohit Shetty's 'Sooryavanshi' opposite Akshay Kumar. Vicky has 'Bhoot: Part One - The Haunted Ship' with Bhumi Pednekar, Shoojit Sircar's 'Sardar Uddham Singh', Meghna Gulzar's 'Sam' and Karan Johar's 'Takht'.
Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi on Friday slammed BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya over his bizarre 'poha' comment earlier in the day. She took to Twitter and slammed his comment in the context of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). She said that all the arguments from 'Indori Poha' lovers should 'Rest in Peace'. She added that people will be called Bangladeshis and they won't even have to show the documents before getting the certificate.

A politician from Indore saying Poha eating labourers are Bangladeshis. RIP all argument from Indori poha lovers lest you be called Bangladeshis aur kaagaz bhi nahin dikhaane padenge certificate milne se pehle.

PS: Maharashtra kanda poha rocks!   Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) January 24, 2020

Vijayvargiya's bizarre statement

BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya on Friday, January 24, while speaking at a public meeting in Indore made a bizarre statement on suspecting the nationalities over the workers' eating habits. He said, "Construction labourers who worked at my house could be Bangladeshis because their eating habits are strange; they ate only 'poha'." This comes at a time when there is a huge uproar over the amended citizenship act in the country.

Read: "Respect for fighting daughter's fight": Priyanka Chaturvedi hails Nirbhaya's mother

The uproar over citizenship laws

Currently, there is unrest in the country pertaining to the citizenship law. Rallies against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) that first broke out in Assam, spread across the country. Violent protests have been witnessed in Uttar Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal, Gujarat, Karnataka, Bihar, Delhi, and Maharashtra. Several universities across the country witnessed clashes between the police and the students after the violence in Jamia Millia.

Read: BJP's Kailash Vijayvargiya threatens to "burn Indore" during a verbal spat with officials

The Citizenship Act was passed in the Lok Sabha on December 9 and then by the Rajya Sabha on December 11. The Act seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.

Read: ECI asks Twitter to delete BJP leader Kapil Mishra's controversial 'India Vs Pak' tweet

Read: Sandeep Dikshit calls MNS 'Break-away group', dismisses claims of rift with Shiv Sena
CORNWALL, ON, Jan. 23, 2020 /CNW/ - In the early morning hours of January 8th, 2020, members of the RCMP Cornwall Detachment's Border Integrity Team observed a boat making landfall in the Glen Walter area. Several black garbage bags were unloaded from the boat onto the shore. Meanwhile, a pickup truck arrived at the location and was loaded with the same black garbage bags. Police attended the location and the female driver was placed under arrest. The two suspects that were observed unloading the bags on shore and into the pickup truck were able to escape by boat. The search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of 35 garbage bags containing a total of 619.5kg of fine cut tobacco not stamped in accordance with the Excise Act (2001). The pickup truck, a 2004 Dodge Ram, was also seized.

The driver, Linda Albers, 49 years old, from Cornwall, ON, was charged with Possession of Unstamped Tobacco pursuant to Section 32(1) of the Excise Act (2001). She was released from custody on an Appearance Notice, and is scheduled to appear in Court on March 4th, 2020. Albers also faces charges under the Ontario Tobacco Tax Act.

The CRTF is a joint forces partnership that includes the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ontario Provincial Police, Canada Border Services Agency, and the Ontario Ministry of Finance.

If you have any information regarding criminal activity in your area, you can contact the Cornwall RCMP at 1-613-937-2800 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

SOURCE Cornwall Regional Task Force

For further information: Cpl Yves Labbe, RCMP Cornwall Detachment, 613-937-2800; Mr. Bill Dickson, Ontario Provincial Police, 613-285-2752, Email: [email protected]
Hyderabad: The CBI special court here on Friday dismissed a petition filed by YSRC president and AP Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy seeking personal exemption from the hearing of the Enforcement Directorate case filed against him. The court made it clear that Mr Reddy has to appear on trial day and adjourned the hearing to January 31. The court expressed dissatisfaction that Mr Reddy was filing exemption petitions on every trial day.

On Friday, Mr Reddy had filed a memo through his advocate seeking exemption from personal appearance. Allowing the plea, the court said that it would not allow such petitions every week. After he took oath as Chief Minister last year, Mr Reddy has appeared once before the CBI court. The court also heard the contentions of Mr Reddy in the discharge petitions filed by him in relation to the cases filed by the CBI. Mr Niranjan Reddy, counsel, submitted that Mr Reddy should be discharged.

The CBI court also agreed to frame charges against senior IAS officer Manmohan Singh under the Prevention of Corruption Act, in relation to investments by Vanpic (Vadarevu and Nizampatnam Industrial Corridor) in companies owned by Mr Reddy.
Shutters down: The store in Rathmines was closed down. Photo: Frank McGrath

The founders of the high-end food retailer Fallon & Byrne have left the business.

The move comes after the shock closure of a branch in Rathmines in Dublin earlier this month.

An existing investor group, led by SuperQuinn veteran Frank Murphy and restaurateur Brian Fallon, a former president of the Restaurant Association of Ireland, has committed to further investment to expand the chains main Exchequer Street store in Dublin city centre.

In a statement, the company said the investors have negotiated a deal with the original owners of the business, Paul Byrne and Fiona McHugh that will see the two exit the business.

Planning permission was granted by An Bord Pleanala this week for expansion across three floors of the Exchequer Street building which will add a total of 5,000 sq. feet after the brand signed a new 25-year lease on the building last year.

A Dun Laoghaire outlet of Fallon & Byrne will also continue to operate as normal. Earlier this month the group shut the 10,000 sq ft Fallon & Byrne restaurant and food hall outlet in Rathmines which had opened in The Swan Shopping Centre in 2017 after a hugely expensive kit-out.

Fallon & Byrne was established in 2006 by property developer, Paul Byrne and his wife, Fiona McHugh, a former editor of the Irish edition of the Sunday Times.

In April last year, the company announced that it was seeking to raise in the region of 6m to help finance an expansion plan that would see it double in size.
Former Congress legislator Asif Mohammed, Jamia Millia Islamia student Chandan Kumar, who is also a member of the Left-backed All India Students Union (AISA), and local politician Ashu Khan on Friday joined the probe in connection with cases of violence and vandalism during protests against the Citizenship (Amendmet) Act or CAA in Delhis Jamia Nagar and New Friends Colony last month.

The three reached the office of Delhi Polices crime branch in Chanakyapuri after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the cases served them notices on Thursday, asking them to join the investigation and record their statement, deputy commissioner of police (crime) Rajesh Deo, who is heading the SIT, confirmed.

The three were named in the FIR registered at the Jamia Nagar police station regarding the violent protest, said the police.

The SIT has also detained one more suspect, identified as Furkan, and is questioning him in connection with the violence in New Friends Colony (NFC) on December 15. At least five buses were torched and more than 100 public and private vehicles damaged when the anti-CAA protests turned violent. Hundreds of people, including Jamia students, took part in the protest.

More than 30 people, including Jamia students and police personnel, were injured as the protesters pelted stones, glass bottles and tube lights on security personnel, who in turn fired tear gas shells and resorted to lathicharge.

Furkan is being questioned over his role in the violence. The police want to confront him with evidence and video clippings in which he is allegedly seen participating in the violent protest and damaging public and private vehicles, said an SIT official.

We have detained Furkan and interrogating him. A decision on his arrest is yet to be taken. Asif Mohammed, Ashu Khan and Chandan Kumar are also being questioned in the cases, said DCP Deo.

According to the SIT official, Furkan was picked up from Jamia Nagar area by the police on Thursday morning. As he was taken to the police station, many people led by a local politician assembled there and protested against his detention. They demanded the release of Furkan, said a police officer, who did not want to be named.

The protesters left when they were informed that Furkan was already handed over to the SIT, which has been probing all the 10 cases registered at eight different police stations across South, Northeast, Central and Shahdara districts following the violence and vandalims during anti-CAA protests, the officer added.

A total of 99 people have already been arrested in connection with the 10 cases. Many of them have been granted bail.
Republican senators have been warned in stark terms not to break ranks with President Donald Trump during the impeachment trial, according to a new report.

'Vote against the president, and your head will be on a pike,' the senators were warned, an unnamed source close to the president told CBS News.

It's unclear from the report whether the warning was issued by the White House or Republican leadership in the Senate.

So far, no Republican yet has defied the party on a series of procedural votes that set the rules for the trial  but the true test of loyalty is yet to come on the vote to convict.

Republican senators have reportedly been warned in stark terms not to break ranks with President Donald Trump during the impeachment trial

Among the Republican caucus, Senator Mitt Romney (above) of Utah is viewed by many as the most likely to defect in an attempt to embarrass Trump

Needing a two-thirds majority to convict the president, Democrats would have to secure support from 20 Republicans to remove Trump, a prospect widely viewed as impossible.

But even one Republican defection on the vote to convict could badly damage Trump, casting doubt on his insistence that the impeachment is a purely partisan prosecution with no merit on the facts.

Among the Republican caucus, Senator Mitt Romney of Utah is viewed by many as the least reliable vote.

A harsh critic of Trump, even after the president endorsed his Senate run, Romney has never publicly declared that he would not defect on impeachment.

Romney has said he would support hearing testimony from additional witnesses, saying: 'I'm interested in hearing from John Bolton, perhaps, among others.'

The other weakest members of the Republican Senate coalition are seen as Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murakowski of Alaska.

The other weakest members of the Republican Senate coalition are seen as Senators Lisa Murakowski of Alaska (left) and Susan Collins of Maine (right)

Collins also says that she would support calling witnesses, something that Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell seems keen to avoid.

'I anticipate that I would conclude that having additional information would be helpful, Collins said in a statement on Tuesday, adding that 'It is likely that I would support a motion to subpoena witnesses.'

Murakowski, another moderate, has split with the party in the past, including opposing Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court in 2018.

Last month, Murakowski said she was 'disturbed' by McConnell's strategy of total coordination with the White House on impeachment.

On Thursday, Democratic House prosecutors made an expansive case that Trump abused power like no other president in history, swept up by a 'completely bogus' Ukraine theory pushed by attorney Rudy Giuliani.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (center) is hoping for loyalty from his caucus

As the audience of Senate jurors sat through another long day, and night, the prosecutors outlined the charge.

They argued that Trump abused power for his own personal political benefit ahead of the 2020 election, even as the nation's top FBI and national security officials were publicly warning off the theory that it was Ukraine, not Russia, that interfered in the 2016 election.

'That's what Donald Trump wanted investigated or announced - this completely bogus Kremlin-pushed conspiracy theory,' said Rep. Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee who is leading the prosecution, during Thursday's session, which finally wrapped around 10.30pm.

Trump is accused of seeking the Ukrainian investigation - and probes of political foe Joe Biden and Biden's son - while holding back congressionally approved military aid as leverage. Schiff said, 'You can imagine what a danger that presents to this country.'

On Friday, the Democrats will press their final day of arguments before skeptical Republican senators, focusing on the second article of impeachment, obstruction of Congress' investigation.
The businessman also accused Modi of imposing 'punitive measures on Kashmir, a semi-autonomous Muslim region'. He also alleged that Modi was 'threatening' to deprive millions of Muslims of their citizenship.

Hungarian-American financier and philanthropist George Soros criticised the Narendra Modi government at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, accusing the prime minister of "creating a Hindu nationalist state".

"Far from being reversed, it made further headway. The biggest and most frightening setback came in India, where a democratically elected Narendra Modi is creating a Hindu nationalist state," Soros said while speaking on nationalism.

His statements assume significance as it comes at a time when the Modi government has been facing backlash over the newly amended Citizenship Act. The contentious law was in Parliament on December, 2019, to provide citizenship to persecuted minorities belonging to six non-Muslim religions from three neighbouring countries of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

The businessman also accused Modi of imposing "punitive measures on Kashmir, a semi-autonomous Muslim region". He also alleged that Modi was "threatening" to deprive millions of Muslims of their citizenship.

He expressed grief that the world's strongest powers  the United States, China and Russia under President Vladimir Putin  were "in the hands of would-be or actual dictators and the ranks of authoritarian rulers continued to grow", adding that, "most troublingly, Chinese President Xi Jinping was seeking to bring into existence "a new type of authoritarian system and a new type of human being who is willing to surrender his personal autonomy in order to stay out of trouble."

Soros said humanity was at a turning point and the coming years would determine the fate of rulers like President Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping as well as the world itself.

"We live at a transformational moment in history. The survival of open societies is endangered and we face an even greater crisis: climate change," said the Hungarian-born billionaire.

He again slammed Trump, describing the US leader as a "conman and the ultimate narcissist" but said the current surge in economic strength for the United States may have come too soon for the US leader as he faces re-election later in 2020.

"Trump has managed to overheat an already buoyant economy. An overheated economy can't be kept at the boiling point for too long," warned Soros, credited with correctly predicting major market swings in his career as an investor.

"If all this happened close to the election it would have assured his election. His problem is that the election is still 10 months away and, in a revolutionary situation, that's a lifetime," he added.

On US-China relations, Soros commented: "Trump is willing to sacrifice the national interests for his personal interests and he will do practically anything to win re-election. By contrast, Xi Jinping is eager to exploit Trump's weaknesses and use artificial intelligence to achieve total control over his people."

On Thursday, he pledged one billion dollars for a new university network project to battle the erosion of civil society in a world increasingly ruled by "would-be and actual dictators" and beset by climate change.

He described the plan of the Open Society University Network (OSUN) as "the most important project of my life" that would be an international platform for teaching and research.

It would seek to reach out to "places in need of high-quality education and in serving neglected populations" such as refugees, prisoners, the Roma and other displaced peoples like the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar", he said.

"To demonstrate our commitment to OSUN, we are contributing one billion dollars to it," said Soros in his traditional annual Davos address.

Soros, whose Central European University (CEU) was forced to leave Hungary after pressure from the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, said the project was needed at a time when open society was at more risk than ever.

With inputs from agencies
(Natural News) In accordance with its stated agenda of making the demon realm feel like home, The Disney Channel is releasing a new program for children called The Owl House that glorifies demons, witchcraft, and hell.

According to Disney, the series centers around a teenage girl named Luz who discovers a portal to another realm where humans are not well-liked, and she must disguise herself in order to fit in at witch school.

This realm, the kids programming empire says, is referred to as Demon town, and in it Luz decides to live with a demon named Eda the Owl Lady whos the most powerful witch on the Boiling Iles.

Luzs character decides during one of the earlier episodes of the show that, Someday, Im going to be just like her  meaning Luz wants to grow up not to be an honorable human woman, but rather a demon witch like Eda.

The purpose of this storyline, of course, is to teach children whose parents let them watch The Disney Channel that being normal human beings is passe, and that its cool to discover portals that carry you off to hell to live with demons, witches, and even Satan himself.

Folks, if you think this latest Owl House show is just fantasy and fun think again, reads a commentary written by Deborah Bunting for CBN (The Christian Broadcasting Network).

The show tries to portray witchcraft as a positive tool to fight evil, she goes on to explains. Thats similar to what real-life witches have been promoting over the past few years as theyve been putting hexes on President Trump and others in order to fight for their beliefs.

If you let your children watch The Disney Channel, youre paving their way straight to hell

Many parents are simply unaware of this filth being peddled by Disney and The Disney Channel because they assume that the network resembles the Disney programming of old, which on its surface was clean and wholesome. In truth, Disney is actively indoctrinating child viewers into Satanism, using cartoon imaging as the lure.

Over the years, Disney has gone farther and farther into the darkness of the spiritual world that opposes the living God, coming up with programming and characters that lead the vulnerable into that dark world of deception, Bunting further warns. This spiritual realm that opposes God is real. Demons are real.

And they are out to deceive your children and draw them in to be pawns of the enemy of their souls, the Devil, otherwise known as Satan, she adds. His devices and plans are to destroy your kids and grandkids spiritually, physically and emotionally. You must protect them from being enticed into this demonic world.

Adam Hirsh, one of the voice actors on The Owl House, reportedly told Newsweek during a recent interview that the original pitch for the show was girl hangs out with witch in hell. Since most parents probably wouldnt go for this, however, the network had to get creative.

Its a lot like the Harry Potter book series, which is geared towards children with fun adventures, colorful storylines, and tailored writing specifically for little ears. But behind this thin facade is a world of darkness and depravity that sucks children in and consumes their souls.

As ridiculous as the demons contained in the book may be, there is nothing innocent or fun about even pretending to summon evil spirits, says Elizabeth Johnston, also known as Activist Mommy on her blog.

But who is to say it is pretend? The spirit world is real and is no laughing matter.

A notable exorcist also told LifeSiteNews that this new Disney show is a sign of the degeneration of our society, which is pushing to make demons acceptable while ignoring their malice and desire to do us harm.

For more related news about Disney and the rise of Satanism in America, read Satanism.news.

Sources for this article include:

LifeSiteNews.com

NaturalNews.com
For Donald Trumps impeachment trial, conservative groups decided that ad buys attacking Democrats werent enough  they wanted Republicans to hear from the presidents supporters in person.

Their message: Acquit Trump now. Dont call witnesses.

I just feel its wasted so much of our time, said Lisa Woods, 55, a Trump supporter and mother of five who came over 400 miles from Medina, Ohio, this week via the conservative group FreedomWorks.

Woods, who was bused in with roughly 60 other activists, came to pressure the few moderate Republican and Democratic senators who can ensure the trial ends swiftly by rejecting proposals to allow testimony. I think hes done a lot of good things that the public doesnt know because theyre always talking about impeachment, she said of Trump, adding that she wasnt all that familiar with the Ukraine saga that led to impeachment.

The effort is part of a blitz of moderate senators from conservative groups that involves office visits, phone calls, and TV and digital ads. The groups are hoping that by persuading a few Democrats to join an almost-lockstep Republican Party, they can show the country that theres at least some bipartisan support for the notion that the impeachment process just needs to be over. Trump has already shown that hes eager to pick up on such messaging, frequently boasting about the few Democrats who broke ranks to vote with a unified Republican party against impeachment in the House.

In the Senate, the targeted lawmakers are Republicans Susan Collins of Maine, Mitt Romney of Utah and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, as well as Democrats Doug Jones of Alabama, Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Gary Peters of Michigan and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona. In addition to earning the moderate label by todays standards, some of the lawmakers facing outside pressure are on the ballot in November in states where Trump is popular.

FreedomWorks is being joined by ideologically aligned groups like Heritage Action for America, Club for Growth, the Presidential Coalition and America First Policies.

Story continues

Its similar to the coalition that targeted House Democrats last month ahead of the chambers vote on articles of impeachment accusing Trump of abusing his power and obstructing Congress. But in the Senate, the groups are now targeting some moderate Republicans, too, fearful that they may side with Democrats to vote for proposals that would extend Trumps impeachment trial.

Already, moderate Republican senators are credited with pushing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to soften some of the trial rules designed to ensure a swift process.

Republican senators felt the heat, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said.

The organizations are participating in a new war room on Capitol Hill designed to coordinate messaging with the House and Senate. Theyre also receiving daily talking points and regular briefing calls from the White House Office of Public Liaison, the groups said.

In this Jan. 15, 2020, photo, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, talks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. In the dawn of what may be her toughest reelection fight, veteran Collins has parachuted into familiar terrain _ the pressure-packed middle of an issue, this time the impeachment of President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

This trial is about protecting the presidency from the tyranny of the House majority  these are bogus charges, they are not impeachable offenses, and we expect that the Senate will acquit, said Jenny Beth Martin, honorary chairman of Tea Party Patriots Action, who has worked to bring the groups together. Senators of both parties must make it clear  Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congressmen Adam Schiff and Jerry Nadler cannot be allowed to corrupt the Constitution.

The groups are supplementing efforts by the Trump campaign, which is raising money through fundraising texts, placing targeted Facebook ads and attacking House leaders on Twitter.

Pres. Trump: The Senate Impeachment Trial is underway, one text read. I need you, friend. Lets raise $2 MILLION in 24 HOURS.

I am facing UNPRECEDENTED obstruction and harassment from the Liberal Mob and the Fake News, a Facebook ad read. Ive been exonerated twice, but the Democrats are still calling for impeachment because its their only hope. Please sign my Official Petition to be on the list of American Patriots who stand with me against these baseless lies.

Together, Trumps campaign and the Republican National Committee have spent more than $11 million on impeachment-related ads since the inquiry began in September, according to the RNC. They have also engaged in calls, texts and hundreds of Facebook ads offering a personalized Impeachment Defense Membership Card and Impeachment Polls. Theres even impeachment-inspired apparel at Trumps online store.

During the impeachment proceedings, Trump was accused of conditioning a much-desired White House meeting for Ukraines leader, as well as millions of dollars in military aid, on Kyiv launching an investigation into rival Joe Biden and his son Hunter. Trump and his allies counter that the desired probe was part of a broader effort to eradicate corruption and uncover foreign wrongdoing in the 2016 presidential race.

The House approved two articles of impeachment  abuse of power for soliciting foreign interference in the 2020 election and obstruction of Congress for blocking the Houses efforts to investigate. The articles were approved along a near party-line vote.

The trial kicked off in earnest on Tuesday and is expected to last at least into next week, depending on whether the Senate decides to call witnesses.

As the trial got underway, the Presidential Coalition, an affiliate of Citizens United that claims to educate Americans about principled conservative Republican leadership, launched $200,000 worth of digital ads that will appear this week attacking Manchin, Jones, Peters and Sinema, according to the group.

The group plans to spend $200,000 each week on to continue its ad buy until the trial is over.

Theyre wasting millions on a partisan witch hunt to reverse the 2016 election. They know they cant compete so they try to impeach, the narrator says in one of their ads, which resemble the ads the group ran ahead of the House impeachment vote. President Trump has been fighting for us. Now its time to fight for him.

America First Policies, which supports Trumps policies, is spending $450,000 on TV and digital ads in Alabama targeting Jones, who is considered the most vulnerable incumbent senator in 2020. The group plans to air a total of $1 million in ads across three states, including Michigan and Pennsylvania, as the trial continues.

The radical lefts impeachment obsession. Its a shameful witch hunt. And Doug Jones? a narrator says in the ad. Instead of fighting for our values, instead of confirming conservative judges, instead of securing our borders by funding the wall, Jones is siding with them.

Club for Growth, a national network of 250,000 Americans favoring limited government, has pushed its supporters to send nearly 12,000 letters to senators. The group initially opposed Trumps 2016 campaign but has since come around. It has run ads against Romney, a rare GOP Trump critic, dubbing him a Democrat secret asset and urging activists to tell him to quit colluding with Democrats on impeachment. The group also conducted a poll about Manchin showing he could face strong political blowback if he votes to convict Trump on one or two articles of impeachment.

Club for Growth president David McIntosh said the groups goal is to secure a small bipartisan majority against impeachment.

Even after impeachment wraps up, the groups are plotting how to turn impeachment into a campaign talking point.

Starting in February, Heritage Action expects to knock on 150,000 doors in each of four battleground states  Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Iowa and Wisconsin  to push the message that voters that Democrats have been wasting time on impeachment. It is also spreading the word through op-eds, TV appearances and social media.

This is not without a cost, said Tim Chapman, executive director of Heritage Action. Were doing all of this stuff here in Washington in terms of impeachment and what were not doing is were not focused on a policy agenda.

Trumps legislative agenda appears slim  an immigration plan Trump announced last May still hasnt been unveiled and introduced, for example  but the presidents allies argue that Democrats in the House arent willing to with the White House.

Even though the trial is taking place in the Senate, at least one group is still targeting the House.

The American Action Network, which was founded in 2010 to promote center-right policies, is spending $2.5 million on TV and digital ads going after pro-impeachment Democrats who represent districts Trump won in 2016. In total, AAN has spent $11 million blanketing the airwaves in 30 districts.

The latest ads feature frustrated moms criticizing lawmakers for focusing on impeachment instead of issues like border security or opioids, without mentioning what Trump would do on those other subjects.

Theres so many issues they should be working on, one mom says. Its so disappointing.
(Natural News) Children have been coming home from school afraid for their future, afraid for their lives. Some kids now believe they have less than ten years to live because of something that has been pounded in their heads  a political dogma called climate change. Children are being told that nothing is being done to address rising temperatures and carbon emissions. They are told that civilization will soon collapse if we dont take action now. Climate change sensationalism is terrorizing kids, making them believe that they are going to die before they become adults. Teaching kids about environmental stewardship is a good objective, but filling their brains with climate sensationalism and predictions about the end of the world can have a traumatic and lasting effect on their thinking and their life.

Sensationalized climate doom is terrorizing the minds of the next generation

A young girl named Greta Thunberg was given the world stage at a United Nations Climate Action Summit in 2019. The girl was used as a pawn by a powerful group that wants all Nations to be subservient to their agenda of economic and climate control. The young Thunberg was allowed to give a desperate, outlandish speech about the end of the world, and then the speech was popularized by the mainstream media. The speech demanded that world leaders act to put an end to carbon emissions or else the world faces mass extinction. Thunberg went on to blame every adult who doesnt agree with her for ruining her future and destroying the planet.

She was both criticized and praised for her tirade. Time Magazine named Thunberg the Person of the Year even though her speech was all hypothetical apocalyptic doom. Other publications pointed out the immaturity of the young girls tirade and how irrational, unrealistic, bratty, and demanding it was. The speech is having a negative, lasting impact on children.

A report from Toronto gives a glimpse of whats happening to the minds of children. An eight-year-old named Joylaea Blazevic came home from school one October afternoon and frantically told her mother that she only had eight years left to live. The school, Elmbank Junior Middle Academy, aired the infamous Thunberg speech in the library that day. According to the girls mother, the broadcast confused her daughter and scared all her friends. Young Joylaea also told her mother that one of her classmates shouted, I dont want to die! The rest of the children exhibited similar responses, afraid for the future, afraid for their lives.

Climate change alarmism offers no hope  only fear. Climate change activists are not leading by example. Instead, they make large-scale demands based on fear, and this has detrimental effects on the minds of children.

According to the National Post, the schoolchildren were forced to watch a video of a carbon clock. The clock counted down from eight years, suggesting the children have less than a decade to live. The video warned that eight years is the estimated amount of time it will take to emit enough carbon to warm the world by 1.5 degrees Celsius  setting off a catastrophic string of events that will cause mass extinction of humans.

Psychologists warn that children are high impressionable at this age. Children this young are highly impressionable concrete thinkers who interpret what they hear very literally, says Pediatrician Dr. Michelle Cretella. Between the ages of 7 and 11, children gradually become able to understand specific examples of cause and effect, but they still struggle with abstract ideas and putting issues in context.

The school staff defended their showing of Greta Thunbergs sensationalist, apocalyptic speech and arrogantly disregarded what is best for the childrens mental health and well being.

Every awareness-raising lesson needs to plant seeds of hope, not rob pupils of their peace of mind, said Pauline Gallagher, retired Glasgow school teacher. Ramming political theories down childrens throats to scare them is far from education. Climate change sensationalism goes beyond brainwashing; pushed on young children, it is psychological terrorism!

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

TheNationalPost.com
Despite not adhering to Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent worldview, Bose recognised the fact that they all shared the same purpose for India  end of colonial rule.

Ever since coming to power in 2014, time and again the Narendra Modi-led NDA government has been accused of making a "conspiratorial attempt" to appropriate the legacy of Subhas Chandra Bose and other prominent icons of India's struggle for Independence like Sardar Patel and BR Ambedkar. Targeting the Nehru-Gandhi family, the Modi government has often flagged that the contributions of other freedom fighters were downplayed to accommodate the ambitions "one family".

In the last five years, the BJP has been observed actively giving more attention to Bose.

On 23 January, 2019, Modi inaugurated the Subhas Chandra Bose museum at the Red Fort, Delhi, to mark his 122nd birth anniversary.

After the inauguration of the museum, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had highlighted the works done by the Modi government to honour the legacy of Bose, Patel and Ambedkar. Attacking the erstwhile government, Prasad had said that he failed to comprehend why memorials of the three leaders of freedom struggle had not been built earlier.

"Modi government installed the tallest statue of Patel, constructed Ambedkar Centre and now inaugurated a museum after Bose. Memorials have been built for three great leaders of the Indian freedom struggle. I fail to understand why it was not done so far. We also want the memoirs of all prime ministers should be there in the Nehru Museum. Modi government is clear that everybody should be honoured and not only members from one family," Prasad had said.

The Modi govt's remarks drew sharp criticism from the Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi, who alleged that a desperate attempt by the BJP was to create an "imagined rivalry" between Nehru and other leaders of freedom struggle.

Bose and Bengal politics

The Assembly election in West Bengal, scheduled in April-May 2021, will likely be the most important event of Narendra Modis second term. With the BJP betting high on West Bengal, where Bose is the most revered Indian freedom movement icon, its focus on the nationalist leader has also renewed.

The messaging is not lost on West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee either, who on Thursday reminded the BJP that Netaji had taken people from all communities and races together in forming the Indian National Army (INA). Mamata said Netaji talked of "togetherness and unity of all people of the country".

"Those who want to divide the country into pieces cannot be national leaders," she added.

She also attacked the BJP leadership for not declaring Netajis birth anniversary as a national holiday.

When the Centre took the decision to declassify Netaji Files from 23 January, 2016  raising hopes about solving the seven-decade-old mystery about his disappearance  political parties in Bengal claimed it was an attempt by the BJP to hijack the legacy of Bose by cashing in on the emotions revolving around him.

Opposition parties, including the Congress and the CPM, accused the prime minister of declassifying the Netaji Files in view of 2016 Assembly polls in the state, a charge denied by the BJP.

While the ruling Trinamool Congress felt the matter was being "politicised" and "stretched", CPI(M) politburo member Mohammed Salim said Modi was trying to grab space occupied by Netaji in the hearts of people as the RSS-BJP did not have any contribution to India's Struggle for Independence.

"We have been demanding for long that the files be declassified. Why didn't they declassify them for the last one and a half years? The main agenda behind the decision to declassify files is to cash in on the sentiments and emotions of people surrounding Netaji before the 2016 Assembly polls," Salim had told PTI.

Many observers believe that the key opponent of TMC, the ruling party in West Bengal, is the BJP and not the traditional rival Left Front. The saffron party has been systematically making in-roads into the state, and Netaji has been a key element of its political strategy.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, TMC won 22 out of the West Bengals 42 parliamentary seats, down from the 34 it had won in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Whereas, the BJP, which had earlier maintained a minuscule presence in the state, registered a stunning rise from two seats in 2014 to 18 in 2019.

While Trinamool Congress' vote share grew from 39.8 percent in 2014 to 43.3 percent in 2019, the BJP witnessed over 100 percent spike in its vote share from 17 percent to 40.3 percent during the same period. The BJP share came largely at the expense of the Left and Congress votes.

The state will head for Assembly election in 2021 and many in the BJP state unit have expressed confidence over their chances. The Trinamool Congress is not sitting idle either and has roped in political strategist Prashant Kishor to help it with the campaign.

Celebrating 75th anniversary of Azad Hind govt

On 21 October, 2018, at the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the proclamation of the Azad Hind government by Bose, Modi had said that India would have benefited from the guidance of Bose and Patel and that their contributions to the freedom struggle were underplayed to keep "one family" above the rest.

The prime minister's speech, made in front of veterans of the Indian National Army (INA), that helped India secure Independence from the British Empire during the Second World War, was political in nature, with punctuating praises of Bose and INAs historic efforts, and an attack on the Congress.

The event seemed more like a Congress-bashing ceremony than a commemoration of the Azad Hind government.

Attempts to distort the image of Bose, Nehru and Gandhi

Despite not adhering to Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent worldview, Bose recognised the fact that they all shared the same purpose for India  end of colonial rule.

In fact, Congress leader and the countrys first prime minister, Nehru was part of the INA officers legal defence team, along with party colleague Bhulabhai Desai and barrister Tej Bahadur Sapru, The Print reported.

The recently declassified "Netaji Files" revealed a tale of warmth and care when Nehru sought to take care of the widow and child of his long-lost comrade (or opponent as many would argue).

There has been enough proof to show Boses reverence for Gandhi and the latters admiration for Bose as well.

Gandhi once called Bose the "Prince among the Patriots" while it was Bose who first hailed Gandhi as the "Father of the Nation".

Bose and the Hindu Mahasabha

Bose was a critic of Vinayak Savarkar, a man regularly praised by Modi and his government. On many occasions, Bose objected to the worldview of the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha, which was founded by Madan Mohan Malaviya.

He did not hesitate from criticising the Hindu Mahasabha for showing more interest in the downfall of the Congress than in working for the independence of India.

In a March 1940 editorial, Bose accused the Hindu Mahasabha of colluding with the British during the Calcutta Municipal Election at the expense of Indian parties:

"The tactics employed by some Hindu Mahasabha leaders... have caused us pain and sorrow. The Hindu Mahasabha did not fight a clean fight... [Their] candidates included men who had tried their level best to break the Congress Municipal Association and to that end had formed the United Party in the Corporation in co-operation with British and nominated groups of councillors. Some of them have been re-elected and one could easily anticipate how they would behave in future.

"The Hindu Mahasabha has given evidence of greater desire to down the Congress than to save the Corporation from British domination. It remains to be seen if any other Indian group in the Corporation will show more keenness to resist British domination than to fight the Congress..."

No matter which political ideology one aligns with, an event that seeks to honour a freedom fighter must not be converted into a political campaign. It is unfair to reduce someone of Bose's stature to petty politics, especially when the politics is based on falsehood.
When University of Miami senior Wame Chibamo received a call that 10 budding students from her home-country of Botswana would be visiting the Coral Gables campus she became speechless.

I couldnt believe it, said Chibamo, a biomedical engineering major who is a Top Achievers Scholarship recipient. In my four years here, Ive heard of student exchange programs at the University, but I never imagined that they would be coming from my country. I am just so proud.

Two weeks ago, the 10 students arrived at Miami Central Senior High School, their host, to participate in the Blindfolded International Student & Cultural Exchange Program. Beyond benchmarking their curriculums against Miami students, the group also got a chance to experience popular South Florida attractions, including visiting the beach and attending a Miami Heat game. On Wednesday, the University of Miamis Office of Undergraduate Admission showed the students around the Coral Gables campus.

Dressed professionally in their blue blazers and striped ties, the 10 high school seniors reveled at the sight of the lush green lawn, palm trees, and the buzzing campus. Thabang Sekgantsho said that seeing bodies of water everywhere was shocking. Because, where she is from in Gaborone, Botswana, it is landlocked and sandy.

Onneile Anita Mosokotso said that student life is much different in Miami than at her school, Ledumang Senior Secondary School.

You guys are very advance here as far as technology, said Mosokotso, who aspires to become an accountant one day and hopes to be able to apply to the Miami Herbert Business School. In our country, we dont have most of the technology that I saw here. Even in school, you guys use laptops. But back home we use paper, pens, and books.

Refilwo Maatla Molefi, an aspiring lawyer, said her visit to the University was a definite culture shock. At her school, they arent allowed to add accessories and only can wear their schools uniform.

I hope that I am one of the chosen students to get a scholarship, so that I come to school here, Molefi said. This is the only school that I want to attend.

The students visit was thanks to Edwin Sheppard. A Miami native and 1991 graduate of Miami Central, he was inspired to create an exchange program after a visit to Botswana for his 45th birthday. After reaching out to the schools principal, Baopedi Barumi Othusitse, and explaining his mission, she agreed to take a chance on him and the program. Sheppard raised funds and the students were chosen based on their outstanding performance in school.

I wanted to start a dialogue between Africans and African Americans, said Sheppard referring to the first program of its kind in Miami-Dade County Public Schools. I wanted to dispel the negative perceptions that we have of each other. Sheppard said he specifically wanted African Americans to realize that Africa is a beautiful continent with resourceful people. He also wanted the students to learn about people in other countries.

And, the students were grateful for the experience. Mosokotso said the trip has made her happy and it has inspired her to continue to excel academically, so that maybe she can study in the United States. I might miss home, but I will have to make sacrifices, she said. I love Miami. It is so great.

Atang Odirile Lejaki also hopes to return to the University as a student one day. The people are friendly, and the buildings are amazing, said Lejaki.

At the end of the tour, students chatted with University of Miami student Chibamo in their native language. They asked her questions about her scholarship, the Universitys application process, and how she has adjusted to living in the U.S.

Of course, a trip to the University of Miami would not be complete unless the students learned how to properly throw up the U. They giggled as they formed the U with their hands and posed for a group photo.
I share his hope, but I think the charter school movement, particularly in states such as Texas, has had a hand in raising the level of instruction for students of all races. Segregationists once uttered some of the same school choice phrases now in use, but there are enough black parents supporting vouchers and charters now to indicate that we are in a better place than we were then.
A new viral challenge has sparked concern over teenagers potentially starting electrical fires.

Meet the outlet challenge, a phenomenon circulating on TikTok and YouTube that involves partially plugging in a phone charger and then inserting a penny so that it touches the exposed prongs.

Concerns have intensified this week after reports of outlets being scorched in Massachusetts, including one incident at a high school in Plymouth. Two students performed the challenge at the school, sending sparks flying out of a classroom electrical outlet.

When firefighters arrived at the high school, they discovered the seared electrical outlet. They also found the prongs of an iPhone charger blackened and scorched and a penny fused to the prongs of the charger, according to a statement posted by the Plymouth Fire Department.

Concern is growing that the trend will prompt kids and teenagers to continue inserting pennies into half plugged-in chargers, leading to fires wherever outlets exist.

An electrical outlet scorched inside the classroom of a high school in Plymouth, Massachusetts, on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020, after two students performed the so-called outlet challenge trending on social media.

Plymouth Fire Chief Ed Bradley issued a warning Tuesday about the challenge.

These actions are extremely dangerous and could potentially start a fire and cause thousands of dollars in property damage. It could also cause serious injury to anyone who is nearby, Bradley said. These actions are also grounds for criminal charges.

He urged parents to speak to their children about the dangers of the trend.

Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.

Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
San Francisco Assemblyman David Chiu and two members of the citys Board of Supervisors endorsed Sen. Elizabeth Warren for president Thursday.

Chiu joined San Francisco state Sen. Scott Wiener in backing Warren after previously supporting California Sen. Kamala Harris for the Democratic presidential nomination. Chius endorsement came the same day Mayor London Breed, who also supported Harris until she ended her campaign last month, endorsed former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg.

Chiu said he is backing Warren because the Massachusetts senator reflects the shared progressive values of San Francisco. She understands the issues that we are facing  especially the lack of affordable housing  and is offering ideas that are both bold and inclusive.

Chiu attended Harvard Law School while Warren was teaching there, but did not know her. However, he said, he had heard from former classmates after Harris dropped out, encouraging him to support Warren.

He also said he had heard from Asian-Pacific Island community members who work on Warrens campaign  something he said resonated with him as chairman of the California Asian & Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus.

Chiu said he had been all in for Harris, but when her campaign died, he realized that this race is too important to sit out.

Warren said in a statement that she is grateful to have the support of Chiu, someone who has put the epidemic of homelessness on the front lines across California and given a voice to communities that far too often are underrepresented.

Also on Thursday, San Francisco Supervisors Rafael Mandelman and Shamann Walton endorsed Warren.

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
Federal agents in Delaware have recovered a more than 500-year-old copy of a letter penned by Christopher Columbus that vanished from an Italian library decades ago.

The US Attorney's Office in Delaware and Homeland Security investigators, who specialise in the recovery of stolen rare books and historic artifacts, announced the find on Wednesday.

The letter is one of a few dozen authentic, reprinted copies of Columbus' original letter, which was handwritten in Spanish in April 1493 and almost immediately reprinted in Latin by the Rome printer Stephan Plannck.

It's the fourth such return in recent years after US investigators, tipped off by a rare books expert, determined that several authentic copies of the Columbus letter had been stolen from libraries across Europe without library officials' knowledge.

Investigators called this latest find "Columbus Letter Plannck I," which tells of Columbus' discoveries in the Americas the most rare of the four.

The letter, which is valued at up to USD 1.3 million, was found in the hands of a unidentified private collector and ordered returned to the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana in Venice, Italy, the US Attorney's office said.

Federal investigators, working with the Italian Carabinieri Command for Protection of Cultural Heritage, determined that the collector was "acting in good faith" in buying the letter from a rare book dealer in the United States in 2003.

Plannck's first edition of the letter, which Columbus addressed just to King Ferdinand of Spain, is exceptionally rare, the US Attorney's statement explained. Plannck also printed a second edition of a letter Columbus penned to both Ferdinand and Queen Isabella.

They were published to spread the of Columbus' discoveries in the 1400s.

The Venetian library acquired a copy of Plannck's first edition around 1875, and investigators think it was stolen from the library more than 100 years later, in the 1980s, the US Attorney's office said.

Unlike other thefts of Plannck's printed copies, this letter wasn't replaced with a forgery.

Investigators finally located the stolen first edition last year.

The buyer agreed to have it inspected by Paul Needham, a rare book expert at Princeton University.

He told CNN he was able to confirm its authenticity in part, by distinctive sewing on the folds used to bind it together.

The buyer agreed to turn it over to authorities, and it will soon make its way home to the national library in Venice.

In June 2018, The United States returned to the Vatican Library another rare copy of a letter written by Columbus.

In that case, the stolen artifact had been replaced with a forgery.

The letter had been held by Mary Parsons, the widow of David Parsons, an Atlanta actuary who purchased it from a rare book dealer in New York in 2004, unaware it had been stolen from the Vatican, which had acquired it in 1921.

That same year, another stolen copy was returned to the Library of Catalonia in Spain, according to a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement release.

Also, in 2016, US authorities recovered an eight-page copy that had been stolen from Riccardiana Library in Florence, Italy, and donated to the US Library of Congress.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Bloomberg) -- Sign up here to receive the Davos Diary, a special daily newsletter that will run from Jan. 20-24.

Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin said its now clear that women need laws to protect them from discrimination in the work place.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, 34-year-old Marin said the issue cant be left to the private sector.

You need laws and structures that lead the way to gender equality, Marin said during a panel debate on Thursday. It doesnt just happen by itself.

The concern is that an unconscious bias kicks in, steering men in a position to hire toward similar-minded and similar-looking people who are deemed to be more qualified, she said during a panel discussion on social mobility and gender parity.

The Social Democratic head of government, who rose to power last month, has made headlines the world over for her socially progressive views. That includes a discussion of the merits of a four-day work week as technology increases productivity.

Despite Finlands image as a bastion of equality lacking distinct social classes, the Nordic nation also has work to do on this issue. Women earn an average 84 euro cents ($0.93) per 1 euro earned by men, and do an hour more housework each day -- but they also have more degrees in higher education.

We in Finland dont have enough men in health care and social care, she said, adding that we need more women in tech.

Marin, a career politician, lauded the merits of gender quotas and legislation in pushing for parity, and warned overall progress includes steps backward.

We all have to fight each and every day for equality, for a better life, she said. Its not somebody elses job.

To contact the reporter on this story: Kati Pohjanpalo in Helsinki at kpohjanpalo@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Tasneem Hanfi Brogger at tbrogger@bloomberg.net

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Nothing is more important to student learning than teachers, what they know, what they can do and what they believe, District 97 Superintendent Carol Kelley said. Their work is the heart and soul of our vision of equity and the most important factor in helping every one of our students achieve academically, socially and emotionally.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. Lawmakers approved at first reading the bill on compensating employed students their tuition fees with income taxes.

The bill is authored by parliament majority leader Lilit Makunts and MP Sisak Gabrielyan.

The draft law proposes to return the income taxes of students who are studying in under graduate and post graduate programs and are simultaneously employed. The income taxes will be returned as compensation for their tuition fees.

The bill passed first reading unanimously.

The list of professions that will be eligible will be defined by the government.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
Pho Hoa. | Photo: Arcadio M./Yelp

Ready to celebrate Lunar New Year? On Jan. 25, families around the world take part in celebrations for Tet, the first day of the Lunar New Year  and spring  for Vietnamese families. To kick off the celebration, families gather at home or at a favorite restaurant on New Years Day for a reunion meal, featuring specialties that include dua hanh (pickled spring onions), banh chung (sticky rice with meat or beans wrapped in leaves) and boiled whole chicken.

If youre looking for a feast to celebrate the Year of the Rat with friends and family, Hoodline has crunched the numbers to find the top Vietnamese restaurants in San Diego, based on Yelp ratings and our own methodology. Happy Lunar New Year!

1. Nhu Y Restaurant

Photo: roger m./Yelp

Topping the list is Nhu Y Restaurant. Located at 4712 El Cajon Blvd., Suite A (at 47th Street), in Talmadge, it's the highest-ated Vietnamese restaurant in San Diego, boasting four stars out of 119 reviews on Yelp.

2. Pho Hoa

Photo: jackie b./Yelp

Next up is Teralta East's Pho Hoa, at 4717 El Cajon Blvd. (between 47th Street and Euclid Avenue). With 4.5 stars out of 1,042 reviews on Yelp, the Vietnamese spot has proven to be a local favorite.

3. Phuong Trang

Photo: momo b./Yelp

Kearny Mesa's Phuong Trang, at 4170 Convoy St. (between Armour Street and Othello Avenue), is another top choice. Yelpers give the Vietnamese eatery four stars out of 2,120 reviews.

4. Pho Ca Dao

Photo: pho ca dao/Yelp

Pho Ca Dao, a Vietnamese spot in Mira Mesa, is another high-traffic go-to, with four stars out of 1,790 Yelp reviews. Head over to 8373 Mira Mesa Blvd. (between Reagan Road and New Salem Street) to see for yourself.

5. Pho Cow Cali Express

Photo: si b./Yelp

Also in Mira Mesa is Pho Cow Cali Express, which has earned four stars out of 1,320 reviews on Yelp. You can find the Vietnamese restaurant at 9170 Mira Mesa Blvd. (between Rickert and Black Mountain roads).

This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
A complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission alleges likely Republican U.S. Senate nominee John James and a nonprofit organization ran by his former campaign manager worked together to attack James political rival.

End Citizens United, a political action committee, alleges Better Future Michigan Executive Director Tori Sachs didnt wait long enough after leaving James payroll to start running attack ads against U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township. Campaign finance experts said its not clear that Sachs broke the law, but the case shows how candidates navigate laws meant to prevent coordination with dark money political groups that dont disclose their donors.

James spokesperson Abby Walls said the campaign has abided to the law to the letter, in a statement. Sachs said the allegations are completely false, citing a carve-out in federal elections law.

FEC rules state anyone affiliated with a political campaign has to end their services with the campaign 120 days before running a political advertisement. However, the law includes a loophole that only prohibits political ads that expressly advocate for voters to support or defeat a candidate.

The ads ran by Better Future Michigan say Peters would eliminate your health plan," but did not call on the audience to vote against him. Sachs said the ad was meant to inform voters about a 2018 town hall where Peters said Medicare for All is down the road.

Michigan Campaign Finance Network Executive Director Simon Schuster said the FEC is unlikely to find a violation of law, but said James and Sachs are toeing the line of what constitutes coordination between a candidate and a dark money group.

Although they may not explicitly say vote against Gary Peters or even support John James, if the explicit intent of an ad is to give a bad impression of a candidate, in my opinion, the implicit takeaway from that is that you should support their opponent, Schuster said. Now, of course, the FEC does not necessarily see it that way.

The Federal Election Commission has never penalized a candidate or group for unlawful coordination since the Supreme Court ruled on Citizens United, according to an analysis by The Center for Responsive Politics.

Sachs was a paid consultant for the James campaign until May 3, 2019, and said she was helping James determine whether to run for office again. Better Future Michigan formed in June 2019 and has since been highly critical of Peters.

Schuster said the campaign finance laws are meant to prevent candidates and political groups from pooling their resources.

The idea of staff going from a campaign to heading super PAC supporting a candidate at this point in American politics, specifically federal politics, is standard practice, for better or worse, Schuster said.

The ad focuses on how Medicare for All, the single-payer government-run health care proposal championed by progressive Democrats," would eliminate the private insurance market. This aspect of the plan has been acknowledged by its supporters.

So, who supports it? the narrator asks as a heart rate monitor beeps in the background. Radicals like (U.S. Sen. Bernie) Sanders, (U.S. Rep. Alexandria) Ocasio-Cortez and Gary Peters.

Peters told MLive at the end of 2019 he does not support the Medicare for All plan proposed by Sanders. Instead, Peters said he supports lowering the age for people eligible to receive Medicare from 65 to 50 and providing an option for people to buy into Medicare if they want.

Peters said people should have the option to keep their private health insurance.

The ad ends after stating Peters would eliminate your health plan. It does not include a call to action included in other ads ran by Better Future Michigan last year, which asked constituents to call his Washington office.

End Citizens United, which endorsed Peters last year, argued the only reasonable interpretation of the ad is to advocate against Peters re-election. The PAC is working to overturn the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision which deregulated campaign finance laws.

There is nothing at all in (the advertisement) that suggests a different, non-electoral meaning, the complaint states.

End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller said "James is reverting to illegal tactics in an attempt to buy this Senate seat, in a statement.

This is not the first time allegations of improper coordination in the Michigan Senate race. Peters re-election campaign also faced a complaint last December from the Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust, a right-leaning nonprofit group.

The complaint alleges Peters campaign committee published materials on his campaign website to help VoteVets.Org Action Fund craft positive ads for him.

This is mere political theater to distract from Senator Peters blatant hypocrisy on dark money issues, Walls said in a statement.

James was also accused of coordinating with a political nonprofit during his 2018 Senate bid.

A pro-James super PAC that used the same consulting firm as James campaign used footage from a James campaign video in its own ad, inspiring FEC complaint from his GOP primary opponent. The FEC was split along partisan lines about whether to investigate further, and the complaint was ultimately dismissed.

Left-leaning dark money groups Majority Forward and VoteVets Action Fund spent a combined $2.1 million on communications that praise Peters but dont ask constituents to vote for him, according to the Michigan Campaign Finance Network.

Schuster said the Michigan Senate race is expected to attract more dark money due to its importance at the national level. Peters is one of two Democrats seeking re-election in a state President Donald Trump won, and Republicans are making the race a top priority in their mission to maintain their Senate majority.

I think its safe to say that this is less so about the fate of representation in Michigan than it is simply about control of the Senate, Schuster said. From what weve seen so far, both in Michigan and other races, the amount of dark money that pours in from non-Michigan sources is really going to entirely depend upon how flippable politicos and pundits and analysts see this seat to be.

Petes earned the endorsement of End Citizens United last year due to his support for a constitutional amendment to overturn the 2010 Supreme Court decision. Peters also co-sponsored a bill to reform campaign finance laws.

Republicans said Peters is a hypocrite for touting his commitment to campaign finance reform while benefitting from dark money.

Sen. Peters allies are trying to distract from the fact Peters has already benefitted from over $2 million in television ads from national dark money groups who spend tens of millions every year benefitting liberals who toe the party line, Sachs said in a statement.

Alex Japko, a spokesperson for the Michigan Democratic Party, said Peters is the only candidate in this race" working to get dark money backed by special interests out of politics.

Meanwhile, John James is happy to keep the status quo of letting unlimited secret money flood into our elections while his close allies engage in shady tactics and false attacks to benefit his campaign, Japko said.
US Vice President Mike Pence told Pope Francis, "You made me a hero" back home by granting him a private audience at the Vatican on Friday.

The pontiff and the vice president had a private hour-long conservation. Pence was beaming when the rest of his delegation was ushered into the papal library after the one-to-one talk.

The hero description apparently referred to Pence's roots in a Catholic family. He later became an evangelical Christian.

Before journalists were ushered out of the library, Pence told Francis: "I want to extend the warmest greeting on the part of President Donald Trump, who so enjoyed his visit here."



Pence said Trump, who also met with the pontiff, had asked him to send along his regards.

The audience came on the same day that Trump is attending an anti-abortion rally in Washington, the first sitting U.S. president to do so in the history of the annual March for Life's history.

Pence, his wife and daughter-in-law were greeted at Rome's Ciampino airport by the US ambassador to the Holy See, Callista Gingrich, and her husband, former US House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

Pence later presented Newt Gingrich, who oversaw the impeachment proceedings against then-President Bill Clinton, to the pope, saying, "Speaker Gingrich, of course".

Francis smiled warmly throughout the traditional exchange of gifts at the end of the audience. Pence presented Francis with a large, plain wooden cross, which he explained was made from wood from a tree on the grounds of the vice president's official residence in Washington.

Francis gave Pence five bound books of his writings as pope, as well as a copy of the annual peace message.

Pence's visit and audience - at an hour's length, a remarkably long one at the Vatican, especially for one not involving a head of state - comes amid the Senate impeachment trial of Trump.

After the audience with Francis, Pence was headed to separate meetings with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Premier Giuseppe Conte.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Finally, the Ayodhya administration on Friday issued notification for acquiring land at village Manja Barhata for installing biggest statue of 251 feet of lord Ram.

After clearance from the state government, Ayodhya district magistrate Anuj Jha issued notification for acquiring 85.977 hectare land at village Manja Barhata at bank of river Saryu.

The Ayodhya administration has also invited objections, if any, from land owners in the next 15 days.

Land owners can file objections at the revenue office as well as also with the regional tourism office.

According to the notification issued by the Ayodhya administration, land of 259 villagers will be acquired.

Earlier, the state government had approved a project to install biggest statue of lord Ram in Ayodhya.

The Yogi government has expedited the process of installing statue of lord Ram in Ayodhya after the Supreme Courts November 9 verdict, paying way for the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

It was during Deeputsav in Ayodhya on Diwali 2017, the state government had decided to install a state of lord Ram in Ayodhya, the lords birth place.

In the governments grand-plan for Ayodhya, Ram Mandir has to be developed as a prominent religious destination in north India on the lines of Tirupati, a major religious destination in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

In a bid to connect Ayodhya with rest of the country, the Modi government has already approved Rs 100- crore modernisation plan of the Ayodhya railway station.
You are here:

International Students

Lycoming College values the contributions international students make to the academic and social experience on our campus and works to create an intellectually and culturally supportive environment for students from both within and outside the U.S. Lycoming College prides itself in our supportive and opportunity rich community. From chatting with professors over coffee, to participating in volleyball on the quad or to attending a fireside chat, Lycoming students are actively engaged in and out of the classroom. College faculty, staff and students work to integrate international students into all aspects of college life, providing an atmosphere for participation in and contribution to Lycoming's high quality liberal arts education.

The decision to study in a foreign country is a significant one. Adjusting to a new educational environment in another country presents many challenges to students as well as to their parents. As the Dean of Students, it is my pleasure to assist international students in their transition to life at Lycoming and in the United States. My office helps international students integrate into all aspects of college life, acts as liaison and advocate with both college and governmental offices, and provides direction to international students to ensure their time at Lycoming is enriching and memorable.

I would be very glad to answer any questions you and your family might have about Lycoming College, please feel free to contact me at Millerda@lycoming.edu. I hope you will consider joining our growing international family at Lycoming College! I look forward to meeting you on campus!

Prospective Students

Current Students

Admitted Students

Location

The city of Williamsport is located in beautiful rural Pennsylvania. Williamsport is a small, uncongested, relaxed city of 35,000 situated near the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. While the Pennsylvania tourist guide refers to the area as the region of "woods, water and wildlife," Williamsport is a bustling center for business, manufacturing, government and finance. Lycoming students are welcomed here. The campus is located within walking distance of downtown Williamsport where quaint shops and restaurants and the Community Arts Center and downtown cinema are readily available to our students. Bus transportation through River Valley Transit is free to Lycoming Students. For routes, visit the River Valley Transit website.

Weather

Pennsylvania has four seasons: fall, winter, spring and summer. Temperatures will vary between freezing (30F/0C) and hot and humid (90F/32C). You will need a warm coat and boots for winter (October-March), which can be purchased when you get here. You will have time before the cold weather arrives. Students dress very informally on campus and jeans are common. It's not necessary to dress up for classes, but you may want to bring one or two dressier outfits (a skirt or nice trousers and blazer) for special occasions.

Reasons to Choose Lycoming

Lycoming College international students receive a warm welcome to the U.S.! New students are picked up their port of entry and transported to campus and we provide a complete orientation program when you arrive. We understand that coming to a new country with a different culture can be a little stressful. That is why we do our best to help you transition into your new environment. We assist with things such as:

Picking you up at the airport

Moving into your residence hall

Opening a bank account

Obtaining a campus mailbox

Getting your Lycoming ID card

Giving you a tour of downtown

Going shopping for food, clothes and personal items

Navigating the bus system

Recommending good restaurants and fun activities

Assisting with storage during the summer break

Employment

Lycoming offers a variety of on-campus jobs. Working on campus is a great opportunity to earn extra money, get work experience, as well as enrich your personal skills. Students in F-1 status are permitted to work on campus for up to 20 hours per week during spring and fall semesters, and up to 40 hours during summer.

During vacation breaks when classes are not in session F-1 students are eligible to work on campus for 40 hours per week. This is considered full-time employment in the United States. The work must be on-campus.

The Lycoming College Center for Enhanced Academic Experiences Office assists students with internships, externships, choice of majors, career and industry interests, and graduate/professional school searches. Contact Center for Enhanced Academic Experiences for more information. Information on Optional Practical Training and Curricular Practical Training can be obtained in the Center for Enhanced Academic Experience Office. Note: Employment (either paid or unpaid) off campus is not allowed unless it is approved OPT or CPT.

Mobile Phone Opportunity

Lycoming offers a special mobile phone plan for our international students through Verizon Wireless. A student may stay on the plan as long as the student is attending Lycoming College. View plan details and costs on the IT Services website.

Should you desire to use a carrier other than Verizon, there are a number of companies in this area, including AT&T and Sprint. Be sure to compare prices and read the small print carefully. Typically, students will need a social security number and a deposit will be required. Another option would be to pay as you go. There are numerous companies that offer this option, including Verizon, AT &T, and Tracphone. There are also many Internet-based telephone services available. Yahoo and Skype are two companies and they both allow free calls between computers with downloaded software. Students can also use international calling cards.

Pennsylvania ID

You may want to consider applying for a Pennsylvania Photo ID card (cost $9). The photo ID can be used for cashing checks showing proof of age, etc. thus making it unnecessary to carry your passport. It is a good idea to always keep your passport and I-20 in a safe place. You can apply for a Pennsylvania Photo ID at the Photo License Center in the TJ Maxx Plaza on East Third Street, about 1 mile east of the College.

You will need to take:

A completed Form DL-54A, Application for Initial Photo Identification Card Acceptable Proof of Identification Your Social Security Card A check or money order payable to PennDOT for the appropriate fee (cash is not accepted). If you are 18 or older, two acceptable forms of address verification are required, e.g. bank statement, college tuition invoice.

Directions:

The Photo License Center is located in the TJ Maxx Shopping Plaza, on East Third Street (next to McDonalds). The Dean of Student's office can assist you with transportation to the photo license center.

Hours:

Monday - Closed

Tuesday - 8:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.

Wednesday - 8:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.

Thursday - 8:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.

Friday - 8:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.

Saturday - 8:30 a.m. - 4:15 p.m.

Sunday - Closed

Social Security Number

A social security number is automatically assigned to American citizens at birth. It is a number that will later be used for financial and employment reasons. The social security number has become a form of identification.

It is necessary to have a social security number to be employed on campus. To obtain a driver's license you will also need a social security number and most banks will require it as well.

The closest Social Security Office is located at 240 West Third Street, Williamsport. Hours are Hours: Monday  Friday 9 a.m.  3:30 p.m, Wednesday 9 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. The Dean of Student's office will assist you in obtaining the documentation needed to apply. You must bring your passport and form I-20 or DS-2019, there is no charge. If you are in or F-1 status you must provide a letter from the Dean of Student's Office that authorizes you for on-campus employment at Lycoming as well as a letter of employment from the department in which you are working.

Filing U.S. Taxes

If you work in the U.S., you will have to file a tax return. Contact the Dean of Student's Office for appropriate forms. Please remember that employees of Lycoming College are not tax professionals. If you need specialized services, please seek out a licensed professional.

Campus Break Information

If you plan to remain on campus during breaks, it is imperative you sign up in advance with the Campus Housing. Watch your campus email for information regarding upcoming breaks.

International Student Orientation

International Student Acclimation and Orientation for new students entering Lycoming College for the Fall 2018 semester will begin on Monday, Aug. 20. New students need time to get adjusted to their different surroundings, recover from jet lag and start to make friends before they feel ready to start classes. Orientation can help you do all of these things. A small group of international students will be on campus and assisting with the international student orientation. These students will show you around campus and answer any questions that you have. 1st Weekend will begin on Friday, Aug. 24. 1st Weekend is informative and it's a great way to meet people who are also starting out at Lycoming.

Paying Tuition and Fees

All payments should be made to the Lycoming College Business Office, 1st Floor, Long Hall Administration Building. The Business Office telephone number is 570-321-4032.

Medical History Record/Examination

International students are required to have a completed Comprehensive Student Health Record on file at the Lycoming College Health Center. You will receive the health record form in your admissions packet. It is important that you get your physical as well as copy of your immunization records before departing for the United States. The health record includes: (page 1) Biographical data, Emergency Notification, Signatures for the Consent for Treatment and Authorization to Release Medical Information sections; (page 2) a signature at the bottom of the Mental Health History section; (page 3) a head-to-toe physical and TB Risk Assessment to be filled out by a health care provider; and (page 4) a completed immunization record.

Immunizations include MMR (2 doses), Tetanus (within the last 10 years), Hepatitis B (3 doses), Meningococcal/meningitis (2 doses if 1st dose given before age 16) and Varicella/chicken pox (2 doses).

Health Insurance

It is the responsibility of each student to know and understand the type(s) of insurance(s) he/she holds. It is also the students responsibility to fill out and submit their own insurance claims. However, due to the complicated nature of medical insurance in the United States, our Health Services office offers assistance to international students in filing claims. Contact Dawn Burch, burch@lycoming.edu or 570.321.4052 with any questions.

School Insurance

Information on the waiving and enrolling process for 2018-19 is available on the Health Services website.

What to Bring

Suitcases

Most students say two suitcases, certainly not more than three, but remember to check with the airline to check the baggage limit. You may pay extra if you exceed the limit.

General Items

Students provide their own sheets (extra-long), pillows and blankets for their bed as well as towels, soap, shampoo and other personal items. You may bring these with you or buy them when you arrive. There will be time during orientation week to do some personal shopping. It's a good idea to bring a few personal items from home such as photos of your family. These will help you settle in and make your room seem like home. Remember that you will be sharing your room with one other student. American students often come with their own television, microwave, sound system, computer and small refrigerator, so you may be able to share these items with your roommate(s). We suggest that you bring some of the following items with you:

Favorite music

Pictures of your country, your home and your family

A book or movie of your country to share with friends and faculty

Special musical instruments, clothing, crafts and games that represent your country. (There will be several opportunities during the academic year to showcase your culture, e.g. International Expo and International Dinner.)

Don't bring electrical appliances, as you can purchase them in the U.S.

Most students bring two suitcases, certainly not more than three, but remember to check with the airline to check the baggage limit. You may pay extra if you exceed the limit.

Don't bring electrical appliances, as you can purchase them in the U.S.

Transportation to Lycoming College

It is suggested that students make their port of entry JFK International (JFK) or Newark Airport (EWR). Both are approximately 4 hours from Williamsport. Philadelphia International (PHL) is also an option and offers direct service to Williamsport Regional Airport (IPT). We try to meet our new students at the airport when they arrive in the U.S. Admissions staff will be in contact with you to obtain your flight information prior to your departure to the U.S. Should you come to campus on your own, you should report to the Public Safety Office and you will be provided with further instructions. It is very important that you inform the Dean of Student's Office that you have arrived safely and to complete immigration paperwork.

Arrival

United States

Your arrival as an F-1 student in the U.S. will be smoother if you know what to expect. The Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement has prepared the following guide to ensure the quality of your experience. Through its Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), the Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement is committed to facilitating your stay in the U.S. as you enjoy our nation's academic, educational and cultural offerings.

To enhance security without slowing legitimate travel, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has instituted some changes in U.S. entry and exit procedures. Careful planning and preparation by international students can ensure that any delay based on these procedures is minimal.

Plan Your Arrival

You may be refused entry into the U.S. if you attempt to arrive more than 30 days before the academic program start date listed on your SEVIS I-20 form.

Always Hand-Carry Your Documents

There are documents you will need to keep with you when you arrive. Please do not check these documents with your baggage. If your baggage is lost or delayed, you will be unable to present the documents at your port of entry. As a result, you may not be able to enter the United States.

Documents Needed:

Your passport, valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected stay

Sealed nonimmigrant documents (When you receive your nonimmigrant visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate, the Consular Officer will seal your immigration documents in an envelope and attach it to your passport. Do not open this envelope! The Customs and Border Protection Officer at the U.S. Port of Entry will open the envelope.)

Your SEVIS Form I-20

We strongly recommended that you also hand-carry the following additional documentation:

Evidence of financial resources

Evidence of student status, such as recent tuition receipts and transcripts

A paper receipt for the SEVIS fee, Form I-797

Name and contact information for your Designated School Official, including a 24-hour emergency contact number at the school

For comprehensive information on procedures for traveling and arriving in the U.S., visit the EducationUSA website.

Complete Your Entry Paperwork

If you arrive by Air, flight attendants will distribute Customs Declaration Forms (CF-6059) and Arrival Departure Record Forms (I-94). These must be completed prior to landing. If you arrive by land or sea, the CBP Officer at the port of entry will provide the necessary Customs Declaration Forms (CF-6059) and Arrival-Departure Record Forms (I-94) to be filled out upon your arrival.

When You Arrive At Your Port of Entry

Go directly to the terminal area for arriving passengers. Have the following documents available for presentation: your passport; SEVIS Form (I-20); Arrival-Departure Record Form (I-94); and Customs Declaration Form (CF-6059). The Form I-94 should reflect the address where you will reside, not the address of your University or academic department.

You will be asked to state your reason for entering the U.S. You will also be asked to provide information about your final destination. It is important that you tell the CBP Officer that you will be a student, along with the name and address of the University in which you will enroll.

When Your Inspection is Complete

Once your inspection is successfully completed, the inspecting officer will do the following:

Stamp your SEVIS Form for duration of status (D/S) for F visa holders.

Stamp your SEVIS Form for 30 days beyond program end date for M visa holders.

Following Your Admission Into the U.S.

You should report to Lycoming College to register for your courses within 30 days of the date that appears on your SEVIS I-20 form. Failure to do so may result in serious consequences.

Secondary Inspection Requirement

If the CBP officer at your port of entry cannot initially verify your information, or you lack some required documentation, you may be directed to an interview area known as Secondary Inspection. This allows inspectors to conduct extra research to verify your information  without causing delays for other arriving passengers. First the inspector will attempt to verify your status by using the Student and Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

Sometimes a CBP Officer needs to verify information with a student's university or program. You should keep on hand the name and telephone number of your admissions counselor or the Coordinator of International Student Services at Lycoming College. In case you arrive during non-business hours (evening, weekends, holidays), have an emergency or non-business hour phone number available for the CBP officer.

Failure to comply with U.S. government entry-exit procedures may result in your being denied entry to the U.S. Under certain circumstances, the CBP officer may issue a Notice to Student or Exchange Visitor Form (I-515A), which authorizes temporary admission. Work with your school to submit the proper documentation without delay.

U.S. Visit

Every nonimmigrant visitor holding a Visa - regardless of race, national origin or religion - participates in the U.S.-VISIT program, a comprehensive registration system tracking entries to and exits from the United States.

National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS)

Some nonimmigrant visitors with a Visa may be asked to give additional information under the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS). At your port of entry you can obtain a packet of information explaining the registration procedure.

*U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

After you have been cleared for entry, staff members from Lycoming College will be on hand to transport you to campus.

Lycoming

When you arrive at Lycoming, the first thing that will happen is that you will be taken to your assigned residence hall room. For those of you who will be arriving late at night, we will have new bed sheets for you. Get a good night's sleep and someone from the College will be around in the morning to pick you up for some breakfast and a tour of campus. We will also assist you in getting your Lycoming ID and take you shopping for any personal items you may need so that you are all set and comfortable to begin international student orientation bright and early on Monday morning.

Be sure you have the following documents with you as you will need them during the orientation:

Passport identification pages

F-1 and all other U.S. Visas

Lycoming College's I-20 Form (if it was sent to you).

I-20s from all schools you have attended in the U.S.

A Request for Transfer Information Form (if it was sent to you rather than to Lycoming).

Note: Be sure to protect your legal documents. Make extra photocopies. Never destroy your I-20 Forms; keep them in a safe place.

For more information about International Student Orientation and what to do upon arriving at Lycoming, contact:

Dean of Student's Office

Phone: 1.570.321.4039

Email: Millerda@lycoming.edu

Lycoming ID Card

Students are issued a Lycoming College identification card when they arrive on campus. Students must have their ID card in their possession at all times and must present the card to any official of the college upon request. Because the identification card verifies board status, students must not loan ID cards to anyone. To do so constitutes misuse of college property and their card will be confiscated. In addition to the Dining Room, you will need your ID card to enter the Academic Center, Heim Building, Fine Arts Building, Wertz Student Center, Communications Building and Clarke Chapel as well as the Keiper Recreation Center, Library, and many college events. Please report lost ID cards to Public Safety. A lost ID will be replaced for a charge of $20.

Campus Dining

Lycoming College Dining Services strives to make dining on campus more than just a meal. Whether you visit Wertz Dining Hall, Jack's Corner, Cafe 1812 or attend one of our expertly catered events, you will find a friendly, courteous staff serving delicious dishes made from the freshest ingredients. We feature foods from around the country and around the world, and serve them up in a relaxed, welcoming setting so that our guests can enjoy good food and good friends while here at Lycoming!

Storage

Storage is available on campus for international students to store belongings during the summer break. This storage will be coordinated through the Dean of Student's Office. You will be responsible for marking your belongings carefully so they are easily identifiable when you return. Please contact the Dean of Student's Office for more information regarding storage.

International Student Resources

The Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students works closely with other departments and offices on campus to ensure that international students receive support services needed to succeed at Lycoming College. Some of the resources important to international students are listed below.

Academic Affairs:

Student Life:

English Language Assistance

International students sometimes need a little boost with their English language skills. If you wish to improve your skills there are a number of ways to do so:

Speak English as much as possible; do not revert to your first language when speaking with students from your country.

The college works with an ESL (English as a Second Language) Instructor to assist international students with their speaking skills. Students will be evaluated by the ESL at the International Student Acclimation and Orientation session In August. The College also offers an International Student Lab for help with English for any class. It is a "drop-in" lab where you can obtain help with planning, practicing, writing, or editing/revising. Our goal is to help our international students present their best work and learn skills that will help with future assignments and professional communication. Contact the Dean of Student's Office for additional information.

Another free option is available here on campus with student tutors. Student tutors are always FREE. You will need to contact the Academic Resource Center for information concerning student tutors.

Writing assistance is also available at the Writing Center in the Academic Resource Center. Contact Shanna Wheeler, Assistant Director of the Academic Resource Center for further information.

For more information about any of the above, contact the Dean of Student's Office, 570-321-4039.

Related Links:
The new National Anthem of Romania, "Desteapta-te Romane!" ("Awaken thee, Romanian!") was adopted on January 24, 1990, as soon as the Revolution of December 1989 ended, by a Decree-Law of the Council of the National Salvation Front (CFSN), shows the volume "Istoria Romaniei in date/The History of Romania in Dates" (Encyclopedic Publishing House, 2003).

The lyrics of the national anthem "Desteapta-te Romane!" belong to the poet and publicist Andrei Muresanu. Born on November 16, 1816, in Bistrita, he went to the Saxon school (1825-1826) and the high school of the Piarist order (1827-1832) in Bistrita. Later, he attended, at Blaj, philosophy and theology courses, where he had as teachers Timotei Cipariu and Simion Barnutiu, Transylvanian leaders of the '48 revolution. In 1838, his colleague and friend George Baritiu called him to Brasov, where he was a schoolmaster at the Romanian school led by the former, then a high school teacher (until 1849), according to the "General Dictionary of Romanian Literature" (Encyclopedic Universe Publishing House, 2005) .He participated in the 1848 Revolution in Transylvania and crossed into Muntenia, after its defeat, together with Baritiu. After returning to Sibiu, he was appointed clerk and translator at the official bulletin of the government.Andrei Muresanu started with lyrics, being influenced by the French romantic poetry (Lamartine, first of all), but also by the poets from the Principalities (Cezar Bolliac, Grigore Alexandrescu, I. Heliade-Radulescu). He collaborated with Gazeta de Transilvania ("Transylvanian Gazette") and "Foaie pentru minte, inima si literatura" ("The Sheet for the mind, heart and literature") newspapers. Along with poems signed by Sereteanu and Urziceanu or, more frequently, the hermit from the Carpathians, he published articles, stories, fables in verses, some elaborated after Schiller, Wieland, Burger, Herder, M.G. Saphir or Kisfaludy, most of them collected from foreign magazines, without indicating the author. Several fragments from Young's "Nights" transposed late in life appeared posthumously. For the education of children he translated from German "The icon of evil growth with means to make it even worse", after Chr. F. Salzman and Karl Han (1848). He collaborated with articles at the "Romanian Telegraph" in Sibiu, and in 1862 he collected his lyrics in a single volume, "Some Poems of Andreiu Muresanu", which was awarded by Astra.He revealed his vocation for social and patriotic poetry after 1843, with "The Voice of a Romanian", and especially in 1848, through the poem "Un Rasunet" ('An echo'), which quickly became a popular anthem. The poetry circulated at the time in manuscript form, being sung by the students of Andrei Muresanu from the Roman-Catholic gymnasium in the City of Brasov.Many of the Moldavian revolutionaries who took refuge in Sibiu and Brasov, following the smothering of the Moldavian Revolution (March 1848), wrote, among other things, political brochures and manifests that were used as propaganda in various Romanian provinces, trying to rekindle the revolution in the principality, notes the volume "The Romanian Revolution from 1848" (Apostle Stan, Political Publishing House, 1987).The poet Vasile Alecsandri, in contact with the editors of the sheets from Brasov, with George Baritiu, Andrei and Iacob Muresanu, especially, wrote inspiring lyrics, penetrated by a deep national and patriotic feeling, like the poem "May 15, 1848", signed "A Romanian", written to pay tribute to the Great National Assembly in Blaj from 3/15-5/17 May 1848, as well as another, "To the Romanians" which later became "The Awakening of the Romanian", published in the city of Brasov.It was against this backdrop that Andrei Muresanu's poem "Un rasunet" appeared, later known under the title "Desteapta-te romane" ("Awaken Thee, Romanian") in no. 25 of June-July (21 June / 3 July) 1848 of the supplement "Foaie pentru minte, inima si literatura", edited by George Baritiu:Awaken thee, Romanian, shake off the deadly slumberThe scourge of inauspicious barbarian tyranniesAnd now or never to a bright horizon clamberIt's now or never to the world we readily proclaimIn our veins throbs and ancestry of RomanAnd in our hearts for ever we glorify a nameResounding of battle, the name of gallant Trajan(...)Do look imperial shadows, Michael, Stephen, CorvinusAt the Romanian nation, your mighty progenyWith arms like steel and hearts of fire impetuousIt's either free or dead, that's what they all decree.(...)Priests, rise the cross, this Christian army's liberatingThe word is freedom, no less sacred is the endWe'd rather die in battle, in elevated gloryThan live again enslaved on our ancestral land.On July 29, 1848, during a popular meeting organized in Ramnicu Valcea, Anton Pann (1796-1854), a well-known poet and folklore collector, together with other "bards", composed "a vocal music with beautiful lyrics set on a a national tone full of triumph and harmony, with which, the zest for homeland has reached the hearts of all citizens." Those "too beautiful lyrics" were Andrei Muresanu's poem "Un rasunet".The '48 revolutionary Nicolae Balcescu, recalling in the "The Transylvanian Romanian Movement of 1848," the events in which he participated, especially his presence in the camp of Avram Iancu, said that he had been fascinated by the same peasants, who during the day had fought with the enemy, and at night, beside fires, recounted common or past events, singing from whistles, alphorns or bagpipes, and the valleys echoed with "songs of bravery and nationality, especially of that strong and beautiful Marseillaise" of Andrei Muresanu, "Desteapta-te Romane!", sung "right in the middle of the fires and the roars of the cannons," records the same volume."Desteapta-te Romane!" ("Awaken thee, Romanian!") was sung during the War of Independence (1877-1878), in the First World War and at the Great Union in 1918. It was also sung in the Second World War. For almost half a century, "Desteapta-te Romane!" was forbidden by the totalitarian regime.It was sung again during the uprising in Brasov from November 15, 1987 and December 16, 1989, in Timisoara, the city where the Romanian Revolution broke out, alongside "Freedom", "Justice", but also in the following days, in Bucharest and in the entire country.On January 24, 1990, "Desteapta-te Romane!" was elected the national anthem of Romania, being enshrined in the 1991 Constitution, as amended and supplemented by the Law for the revision of the Constitution of Romania, No. 429/2003. Thus, in its current form, the Constitution provides, through Article 12, that the national anthem is "Desteapta-te Romane!", a national symbol, together with the tricolor flag, the coat of arms of the country and the state seal, the website www.cdep.com informs.The Day of the National Anthem - "Desteapta-te Romane!" - is celebrated, starting with 1998, on July 29.
Although there was nothing Powell could do as a fire ravaged the two-story church building in the Roseland neighborhood, he knew there were still families that needed the churchs help. Whatever fear he had was quickly displaced by his concern for the people who needed the church most.
24.01.2020 LISTEN

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has defended its decision to reduce the number of representatives from the Kumasi Traditional Council onto the Assembly.

During the swearing-in ceremony for the Assembly, on Thursday, the Bantamahene and Chairman of the Kumasi Traditional Council, Baffour Asare Owusu Amankwatia VI expressed concerns about the reduction of the number of representatives from five to one.

However, in a statement issued by the KMA, the assembly maintained that the numbers at KMA had been reduced to ensure that the council has a representative each in the seven Metropolitan and Municipal areas in the Kumasi enclave.

Kumasi has now been split into seven Assemblies, namely, Asokore Mampong Municipal, Tafo, Suame, Kwadaso, Asokwa, Oforikrom and the KMA. As a result, Manhyia now has one representative each at all the Municipal Assemblies and two at KMA, making the total number of Manhyia appointees eight instead of the previous five, the KMA noted.

Concerns raised by Manhyia

The Manhyia Palace has sent a circular to the government declaring its intent to withdraw its membership from the various assemblies.

According to the Bantamahene, they have taken this decision because they believe there is an a ttempt to sideline traditional leaders in governance at the local level.

At the inauguration of New assembly members at the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, he indicated that traditional leaders are worried about the fact that their representation at the local level has reduced from five to one.Slowly, the central government is reducing the influence of traditional leaders and the work we do in local areas. The reason I say this is first, our representation was five. Now it is down to one. Manhyia has sent circular to withdraw all the chiefs from assemblies because we don't know if it is an oversight or the government is aware or unaware, the Bantamahene said.

Despite this move, he said this was not an entrenched position but insisted that there has to be some changes.

Things are being done to the effect that we are being overlooked in the running of the local areas and we think that when it comes to the rural areas, we hold the power, we hold the authority, we mobilize them. They listen to us more than anybody else so things must be corrected, he explained.

Some chiefs have in the past called for 30 percent representation in the membership in the local assemblies to enable them to participate better in the country's local governance.

The 70 percent of the membership of the local assemblies is elected during the District Assembly elections, while 30 percent is appointed by the government.

Though Article 276 (1) of the 1992 Constitution bars chiefs from taking part in party politics, the Constitution provides for traditional leaders to be appointed to public office positions.

---citinewsroom
Houston (AFP) - A large industrial explosion killed at least two people in the US city of Houston early Friday, shattering windows and damaging homes as shocked residents emerged to survey the destruction.

Police chief Art Acevedo said two fatalities were confirmed after the pre-dawn blast at a manufacturing firm scattered debris half a mile (800 meters) away.

Firefighters, emergency services and police rushed to the scene when a loud blast was heard across much of the Texas city at about 4:15 am (1015 GMT).

Officials said the explosion had ripped through a grinding and manufacturing business 18 miles (29 kilometers) northwest of downtown Houston.

The property and surrounding premises were reduced to smoking, blackened wreckage, with rubble strewn about and many windows and doors blasted out.

A security camera video appeared to show a huge fireball erupting at the moment of the explosion.

"We do have confirmed fatalities in this case, at least two confirmed fatalities," Acevedo told reporters.

Both victims were male and likely employed at the firm, he said, adding that he did not expect the death toll to increase.

The Houston police along with the federal government were investigating the blast, Acevedo said.

- 'It's a warzone' -

The owner of Watson Grinding, where the explosion occurred, told local TV channel KTRK it was sparked by propylene gas.

Many houses in the area were damaged, including shattered windows, collapsed roofs and broken garage doors.

The explosion "knocked us all out of our bed, it was so strong," resident Mark Brady told the local KPRC TV news website.

"It busted out every window in our house. It busted everybody's garage door in around here... and closer toward the explosion over here, it busted people's roofs in and walls in and we don't know what it is... It's a warzone over here."

Brady said the explosion was extremely loud.

"This is a disaster," he said. "This is a big disaster. I really don't know what happened... Houston, we could use your prayers."

Story continues

Another resident named only as Kim said: "The whole house is ruined.

"The whole ceiling crashed down on all of us. We were all trapped in there and a nice family came and helped up out. It's trashed. It's just trashed.

"Every house was devastated."

Adrian, a 15-year-old boy, told AFP that "all of the sudden there was just a big boom and we thought it was an earthquake.

"The window was broken... we turn on the news and we see it was a warehouse not that far away that had blown up."

One resident told KTRK that "the whole ceiling fell in" at her home.

"I thought maybe the house had gotten hit by lightning. And then I realized there was no storm," the resident said. "No one can figure out what happened."

After some hours, firefighters contained a blaze at the scene.
US Vice President Mike Pence quipped that Pope Francis had made him "a hero" during an unusually long audience with the pontiff on Friday at the Vatican.

Pence, a former altar boy who had a strict Irish Catholic upbringing but later converted to evangelical Protestantism, appeared to be referring to the fact that the rest of his family had stayed in the Roman Catholic Church and that his departure from the faith had put some strain on family relations.

Pence's talks with Francis in the papal library lasted about an hour, twice as long as the meeting between the pope and President Donald Trump in the same frescoed room in May, 2017.

"I want to extend the warmest greetings on behalf of President Donald Trump, who so enjoyed his visit here," Pence told Francis before reporters and photographers were ushered out of the room.

After the private talks, Pence introduced to Francis his wife Karen and the rest of the delegation, including US Ambassador to the Vatican Callista Gingrich and her husband Newt Gingrich, the former speaker of the US House of Representatives.

During an exchange of gifts after the private talks, Francis gave Pence a small white box with a medal inside.

"I didn't want to ask," Pence said with a laugh as the pope handed him the box. "This is for mom."

As he was leaving the papal library, Pence, still clutching the small white box, said: "Thank you, Your Holiness, you have made me a hero ... God bless you."

Francis gave Pence some of his recent writings, including his World Day of Peace message for this year.

Pence flew to Italy from Israel, where he had attended events commemorating the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp.

He was due to meet Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte before leaving Italy.
Magners cider maker C&C has a number of long-term growth levers that will spur sustainable earnings at the group following the unexpected departure of chief executive Stephen Glancey, according to Davy Stockbrokers (Peter Byrne/PA)

Magners cider maker C&C has a number of long-term growth levers that will spur sustainable earnings at the group following the unexpected departure of chief executive Stephen Glancey, according to Davy Stockbrokers.

Among the measures Davy says will benefit C&C is the introduction within the next 18 months of minimum unit pricing for alcohol in the Republic.

However, it had been delayed in Northern Ireland because of the collapse of the Executive.

It's intended that minimum unit pricing will be introduced in a co-ordinated manner across the two jurisdictions on the island.

C&C, which also owns Tennent's NI, announced last week that Mr Glancey had stepped down from the role with immediate effect and he would leave the company at the end of next month.

Mr Glancey, who was chief executive since 2012, was seen as pivotal in helping to drive a strategy at the drinks group that saw the FTSE-250 firm buy UK distribution businesses Matthew Clarke & Bibendum (MCB) in 2018 in a pre-pack administration.

"While the unexpected departure of group CEO Stephen Glancey has caused price weakness, he leaves the business against a backdrop of positive operating momentum with a platform that has enhanced potential," said analysts at Davy Stockbrokers yesterday.
Shiiko Alexander/Alamy Stock Photo

En espanol | The era of emotional support rabbits, peacocks and other critters on airplanes could soon come to an end, thanks to a set of regulatory changes proposed Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Under the new guidelines, airlines would no longer need to consider emotional support animals to be service animals, the definition of which would be narrowed to refer only to dogs individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability, including in the case of psychiatric service animals.

The public now has two months to comment on the proposed updates to the Air Carrier Access Act, the federal law that currently requires airlines to accommodate service and emotional support animals at no extra charge.

The department said in a statement that the changes are intended to ensure that individuals with disabilities can continue using their service animals while also reducing the likelihood that passengers wishing to travel with their pets on aircraft will be able to falsely claim their pets are service animals.

Many airlines have already tightened their individual policies following an uptick in animal-related incidents ranging from urination to attacks on passengers and flight crew, but their requirements often differ. Disability advocates hope that the proposed changes will streamline travel for passengers with service animals by bringing the current patchwork of individual policies into overarching agreement.

Moreover, the proposed definition of a service animal would harmonize air travel regulations with the definition laid out in the Americans with Disabilities Act, says Theresa Stern, vice president of outreach, admissions and alumni services at Guide Dogs for the Blind, a leading guide dog training school.

"Having the rules for public accommodation be different on airlines than they are everywhere else was super confusing, Stern says, noting that service animals are trained not only to perform specific tasks for their owners, but also to behave appropriately at airports and on airplanes.

Concerns remain, however, that some of the proposed changes could place an undue burden on passengers with disabilities. Stern says that the provision allowing airlines to require passengers with service animals to check in an hour earlier than they would typically need to, for example, could amount to a lot of extra time in the airport, especially for frequent travelers.

Still, she says, the proposed changes represent a step in the right direction."

Airline personnel agree. The days of Noah's Ark in the air are hopefully coming to an end, said Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA in a statement about the proposed update.

Those wishing to travel with pets can look to existing airline pet policies, which typically allow passengers to bring their companions into the cabin (while safely stowed in a kennel or carrier) for a fee.
The Univision name and content is expanding into Latin America.

Univision and Mexico are working together to launch a Univision-branded linear television channel in the region in early 2020.

Both companies will collaborate on programming and marketing for the 24-hour ad-supported pay-TV channel.

The network will be operated by Televisa, which will also handle distribution and ad sales.

The LatAm Univision channel lineup will feature programming from Univision Studios, as well as Televisa novelas.

You can read more details about the new venture on Forbes.
We finish our series on the pioneering success stories in breaking the red wall, with the story of Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland. Simon Clarke gained the seat from Labour in 2017 with a majority of 1,020. He was re-elected last month with a majority of 11,626. It should be acknowledged that the Conservative victory here is less shocking in historical terms than some of the other places we have considered. The constituency had been Labour since it was created in 2017. But Paul Bristow nearly gained it for the Conservatives in 2010, losing by 1,677. When the seat was created, part of it was taken from the Langbaurgh constituency which had been Conservative. However, the increased majority from 2017 to 2019 is another instructive example that newly returned Tory MPs will seek to emulate. Clarke, a staunch Brexiteer, who at 6 ft 7 inches tall, is now the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, has the pressure of combining that role with his constituency duties.

The constituency is split across two councils. The wards of Brotton, Guisborough, Hutton, Lockwood, Loftus, Saltburn, Skelton and Westworth come under Redcar and Cleveland Council. While the wards of Coulby Newham, Hemlington, Ladgate, Marton, Marton West, Nunthorpe, Park End, and Stainton and Thornton fall within Middlesbrough Council.

Redcar and Cleveland Council is run by an independent/Lib Dem coalition. In the elections last May the Conservative held steady with 11 seats. But Labour was down 13 seats, mostly to independents. Four years ago, I noted Labour infighting which will probably not have helped them. Yet Labours woes will run deeper than whether or not a few councillors should have been deselected.

Middlesbrough is now run by a independents with the backing of three Conservative councillors. Labour lost 13 seats last year and thus control of the Council. While there has been a been a big surge in Conservative Party membership in the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland there has yet to a real breakthrough in terms of councillors.

The growth of independents reflects a pattern elsewhere, that many voters find it easier to stop voting Labour, than to start voting Conservative. But that can prove the first phase of a transition in voting behaviour. A by-election in the Coulby Newham Ward is due to take place soon which will give an indication of progress. Many Conservatives remain shy. Those campaigning on social media, where views are openly expressed, found much more hostility than those knocking on doors.

Traffic congestion is a big local issue in south Middlesbrough. The Marton Road is nicknamed the Marton Crawl. Clarke has described it as a nightmare for commuters, a burden for business and a danger to patients trying to get to James Cook Hospital. He has surveyed residents to ask their thoughts on a partial bypass, redesigning junctions, adding slip roads I suppose that now he is a Treasury Minister, he can write a letter to himself demanding funding.

If there are traffic jams it makes it harder to persuade people of the case for new housing. While it is important for development to be beautiful, it also needs to be backed up by infrastructure  as well as new schools and extra GP capacity. Attacking a failing Labour Council is easy; overcoming these problems in fractious coalitions with assorted independents more of a challenge.

While I have passed on a variety of campaigning tips this week which I hope are useful, the main messages from the 2017 pioneers kept being repeated. Realising Conservative potential was about the right mentality. Working hard and showing constant and unapologetic local pride. It also means being unapologetic about Conservative principles  and finding ways of applying them in campaigns that are relevant and popular. Rather than wallowing in victimhood, it is about championing the successes of the constituency. That doesnt mean ignoring problems but it does require offering solutions and delivering them. The tendency of Labour MPs to just complain is less effective. When Margaret Thatcher visited the north east to highlight business enterprise, she was exasperated at being questioned by moaning minnies. It was seen as a gaffe at the time but she had a point.

Perhaps the most heartening message to Conservative MPs returned in seats where they have few members or councillors is that, as sitting MPs, they will come across many people interested in getting involved  who just need to be invited to do so.
A new report by New York Citys Department of Social Services (DSS) revealed that 404 people registered as homeless died between July 2018 and June 2019 in the city This is the highest number since records of homeless deaths began in 2006 and is a rise of 39 percent compared to the previous 12-month period. The increase is the largest year-over-year in over a decade.

The top five causes of deaths were drugs, heart disease, alcoholism, accidents and cancer. There were also 10 homicides, 4 of which occurred during a single night in Chinatown in October 2019. Fifteen of the deaths were suicides, more than double the number in 2016.

By most counts, over 70,000 people are homeless in New York, comprising 14 percent of the official homeless population of the US. These are individuals that either sleep rough or live in the citys homeless shelters. This is the highest level since the Great Depression in the 1930s.

The number of homeless living in the citys vast subway system has increased so much that the city was forced to establish a special program to house them. Advocates for the homeless have criticized the response by the New York Police Department (NYPD) to the homeless living in the transit system. On Tuesday night, one homeless man was discovered dead on a subway, covered in bedbugs.

The group with the highest mortality rate within the homeless population are middle-aged men. Deaths are becoming increasingly prevalent, however, among other homeless subgroups. The number of women who died in the period covered in the report was 91, up from 59 the previous year, while seven homeless children also died in this period, some from flu, birth defects or sudden infant death syndrome. Some were undoubtedly preventable.

In the period covered by the report, 103 homeless people died of drug overdoses. This is an expression of the ongoing opioid crisis gripping the United States. Dr. Mitchell Katz, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals, the citys public hospital system, attributed the high rates of drug addiction and overdoses to the availability of fentanyl on the streets of New York. You can now buy for $5 fentanyl more powerful than $50 worth of heroin would have been when I began my training more than 30 years ago, he said.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid painkiller that is commercially available and has been a huge factor in the continuing opioid crisis. It is described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as up to 100 times stronger than morphine. It is often synthetically produced by unregulated street-dealers and cut with other drugs such as heroin and cocaine. In 2017, according to the CDC, 28,400 people in the US died from synthetic opioids. Fentanyl often leads to overdose because it is indiscernible from heroin but much stronger.

According to NYC Health + Hospitals, The presence of fentanyl in the NYC drug supply has dramatically increased the number of overdose deaths, and fentanyl is now the most common drug involved in overdose deaths. In 2017, 800 New Yorkers died from overdoses involving fentanyl.

There is widespread outrage by advocates for the homeless, as this report comes on the back of New York Mayor Bill de Blasios announcement in December 2019 of his third, wholly inadequate, homelessness initiative in four years. The new plan is only another example of the Democratic Party administrations attempt to alleviate public pressure over homelessness while doing as little as possible to help the citys homeless population.

The plan aims to add another 1,000 beds, but one city official admitted that only 350 were in the works at the time of the plans announcement. This will not provide enough space for what city officials describe as the 1,800 chronic homeless across the citys five boroughs. City Hallrun entirely by the Democratic Partysays it will find 1,000 apartments to provide permanent housing for homeless families; city officials admitted they have yet to locate units for the initiative. The new initiative pledges only an extra $100 million.

The rising death toll is the clearest indictment of the Democratic mayors first two phony attempts to take on homelessness. In 2017, he made a pledge to open 90 new shelters and create affordable housing to alleviate the current crisis; so far, only 30 have opened and no buildings have been identified to convert to affordable living spaces.

De Blasio argues that taking some people off the streets, even though the overall number of homeless continues to swell, indicates the success of his severely limited program. This goes together with fictitious claims that there is simply not enough money to help the homeless in a city that nearly 90 billionaires call home.

The city is clear about the priorities that are dictated by the ruling elite. According to a recent report, in 2020 the city forecasts that it will spend more than $5.85 billion on the NYPD, an increase of $250 million from 2019.

The blight of homelessness and homeless deaths is not limited to NYC. In 2018, 918 homeless people died in Los Angeles County, an increase of 76 percent from 2013. According to a CDC report to Congress in the summer of 2018, in January of that year there were 552,830 homeless individuals in the US.

More families are being forced onto the streets or into inadequate and temporary housing as rents across the city continue to rise. The average rent for an apartment has risen more than $1,000 in less than a decade, from $1,938 in January 2011 to $2,964 in October 2019. Even in East New York, one of the cheapest neighborhoods in the city, rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,236, nearly half of the monthly take-home pay for a full-time minimum wage worker.

The DSS report on homeless deaths was released in the same week that the Atlantic Monthly reported that almost half of the luxury condos that have come onto the New York property market in the last five years remain unsold and are unoccupied. According to a 2018 New York Times report, for every homeless individual in NYC, there are three vacant apartments.

That men, women and children are dying on the streets in poverty and want while thousands of apartments are vacant is an indictment of the politics of the progressive wing of the Democracy Party, represented by De Blasio, who won election in 2013 with promises of ending the stark inequality and guarding New Yorkers from the enormous power of moneyed interests.
Bishop Nelson J. Perez addresses those assembled at the Archdioceses offices on Thursday after his introduction by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput. Read more

Displaying a self-effacing sense of humor and shocked delight at the prospect of returning to the city where he became a priest, Nelson Perez reintroduced himself Thursday to the regions 1.3 million Catholic faithful as Pope Francis pick to become the next archbishop of Philadelphia.

Yet, even as the 58-year-old prelate stood before a crowd of priests, churchgoers, and reporters at the archdiocesan offices, Perez said he was still struggling to accept it was real.

Im shocked. It just doesnt compute, he said. In a very real sense  in a very practical sense  Im home. ... Once a Philadelphia priest, always a Philadelphia priest.

 READ MORE: Who is Nelson Perez, the new archbishop of Philadelphia?

Just hours before, Francis had named Perez, the current bishop of Cleveland, to succeed Archbishop Charles J. Chaput.

As the first Latino chosen to lead the archdiocese and only the third to be named a U.S. archbishop, Perez will be installed at a Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul on Feb. 18. His appointment to replace Chaput, who is stepping down after reaching the clergy customary retirement age of 75, represents a moment of transition for the church both locally and across the United States.

Analysts saw his selection as the latest sign that Francis is attempting to tilt the ideological balance of a historically conservative U.S. church  epitomized by the outspoken traditionalism of Chaput  and mold it more in line with his papacy, favoring a pastoral approach over a strident focus on divisive cultural issues.

Perez is "not a culture warrior, said Kathleen Sprows Cummings, a church historian at the University of Notre Dame, who described him as more on the moderate and modulating side. He hasnt made those hot-button issues his platform. Picking him is picking someone who hasnt made that his agenda.

 READ MORE: Our new archbishop is a Philly guy  and hes speaking our language | Mike Newall

At the same time, he inherits the leadership of an archdiocese facing challenges that have plagued the broader church: struggling finances, persistent declines in Mass attendance, and legal battles over issues such as sex-abuse claims.

But it is at least a community he knows. Born in Miami, raised in northern New Jersey, and ordained at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Perez served as a parish priest for more than two decades in West Chester and the Olney and Lawncrest sections of Philadelphia before being elevated to the church hierarchy as an auxiliary bishop in Long Island, N.Y., in 2012. His return comes two years after Francis dispatched him to lead the Catholic faithful in northeast Ohio.

The son of Cuban migrants who fled Fidel Castros government in 1961, Perez grew up in the Cuban enclave of West New York, N.J., and moved to Puerto Rico to teach elementary school in the years before he arrived in Philadelphia and was ordained a priest in 1989.

During his two years in Cleveland, Perez emerged as an outspoken advocate for immigrants, denouncing the Trump administrations family separation policy and saying the nation had lost its moral compass. The bishop also once intervened on behalf of a migrant facing deportation with a personal appeal to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

About a fifth of the Philadelphia regions Hispanic population, or 61,000 people, identified themselves as Catholics in the 2010 census. Perez will return to a community that has since grown even more.

The fact that he is Latino is hugely significant, Cummings said. Thats where the future of the church is in terms of demographics, and appointing a Cuban American to Philadelphia is bringing it in line with the rest of the church.

Chaput himself was once heralded for breaking new ground: He was the first Native American bishop appointed in the United States. On Thursday, he stood at Perezs side during the news conference and said he couldnt be happier with his replacement.

I asked for a successor that would care for and guide our people, speak the truth with charity and conviction, the archbishop said. He is exactly the man with exactly the abilities that our church needs, and Im very grateful to Pope Francis for sending him home to us in Philadelphia.

The two basked in mutual admiration as Perez made quips about his own waistline  There was about a half hour of my life where I fit in 32-waist pants  and his fond remembrances of lunches at Reading Terminal Market. He spoke eagerly of his desire to reconnect with priests he once served alongside.

Monsignor Sullivan, Perez said, smiling and pointing in the audience to the archdiocesan vicar for clergy he said once used to join him on cigarette breaks outside the building. I dont do that anymore, he assured.

As for Chaput, Perez referred to him as a great mentor and friend and resisted attempts to draw distinctions between them.

We each have our personalities, but we both walk with the church, he said. Hes one of my heroes. I dont compare myself to him that way. I wouldnt dare.

Chaput, too, has pushed back against those who would characterize him as Francis foil, but his outspoken traditionalism and willingness to enter the fray of secular politics have earned him an ardent following among conservative Catholics who became more unified in response to Francis papacy.

Chaputs frank writings and public statements on divorce, statute-of-limitations reform, and gun control occasionally put him at odds with the likes of Mayor Jim Kenney, some clergy sex-abuse victims, and  seemingly, at times  the pope himself.

 READ MORE: Archbishop Nelson Perezs appointment brings speculation and celebration for Philly-area Catholics

He was the first archbishop of Philadelphia in generations not to be elevated to cardinal, the title given worldwide to the senior bishops whose duties include choosing the pope.

Perez, meanwhile, comes to the role of archbishop less than eight years after he was first elevated to the hierarchy by Pope Benedict XVI and without the same lengthy record and scholarly reputation that Chaput had by the time he came to Philadelphia from Denver in 2011

Massimo Faggioli, a church historian and Villanova professor, cautioned not to expect any radical shifts in theology in the transition, though he predicted the new archbishop might bring new perspectives on issues ranging from homosexuality and immigration to Muslim relations.

I dont think [Perez] can be introduced as a liberal Catholic," he said, because thats not true. But I think there will be some changes in governance style.

Chaput, a Capuchin Franciscan, made an early impression upon his arrival in Philadelphia nine years ago by trading the trappings of the cardinals mansion for much more modest accommodations at the seminary. He has been credited since with stabilizing an archdiocese roiled by financial shortfalls and fallout from a damning grand jury report that implicated the citys church hierarchy in covering up decades of sexual abuse.

 READ MORE: Perez's track record should inspire hope | Editorial

Those problems have not evaporated. And Perez acknowledged Thursday that his tenure was likely to be marked by many of the same issues. He thanked Chaput for making at times unpopular decisions with great courage and with great steadfastness, sometimes in the face of criticism.

Perez will inherit day-to-day management of one of the largest Catholic infrastructures in the United States, comprising more than 215 parishes, 460 diocesan priests, and a network of universities and schools serving more than 141,000 students.

Chaput has said that the archdiocese probably needs only half the number of parishes it currently has but vowed to leave those decisions to his successor. Perez offered no firm promises Thursday.

During a morning meeting with the archdioceses council of priests, Perez spoke of wanting to refamiliarize himself with the archdiocese before making any significant changes, said Bishop John J. McIntyre, an auxiliary bishop under Chaput who served with Perez as a priest.

I think right now, hes not approaching it with a set plan, he said. Even though he knows us, hes been gone for almost eight years, so he wants to get to know the lay of the land again and see what the issues are now.

Perez is expected to spend Friday visiting with children and parishioners around the archdiocese before returning to Ohio.

And as his debut on the archdiocesan stage drew to a close Thursday, the next archbishop exuded optimism in the face of whatever his tenure might bring.

I gave my life to a faith that believes that a dead man came back to life  of course I have hope for the church, he said. [It] has gone through  hard moments, heart-wrenching moments  in the last two decades. But the church is still here.

Staff writer Justine McDaniel contributed to this article.
BRUSSELS - As his name surfaced again and again this week during the start of the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, Gordon Sondland carried on here, almost 4,000 miles away, as if nothing unusual was underway.

Trump's ambassador to the European Union held meetings with the EU official in charge of emergency management. He hosted the Korean ambassador at the U.S. mission. And, he sat with the EU's Brexit negotiator. Sondland had hoped that by staying quiet and going blithely about his business that he could stay "out of the spotlight" of the impeachment drama unfolding at the U.S. Capitol, according to a close associate.

But that spotlight was unavoidable as the colorful character at the center of the House impeachment probe reemerged this week as one of the most important figures in the Senate trial to determine if Trump will remain in office. Both the House Democrats prosecuting the case and the White House lawyers defending the president have cast Sondland as their side's "critical witness." Combined, the two have invoked Sondland's name more than200 timessince Monday in legal briefs and statements on the Senate floor.

House Democrats - who are still stymied from questioning officials in the president's inner circle, such as former national security adviser John Bolton - remain dependent on Sondland's November testimony to establish Trump's motive and intent while withholding aid and a coveted White House invitation last year for Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine's new president.

Sondland, who gave $1 million to Trump's inaugural committee and liked to tout his relationship with the president, testified before the House that Trump had conditioned a White House meeting on Zelensky announcing investigations, including one that could have been used to damage 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful, Joe Biden. "Was there a quid pro quo?" Sondland testified, "the answer is yes." On the question of withholding aid, Sondland testified that he had come to believe that the administration was also tying almost $400 million in security assistance for Ukraine to the sought-after investigations. It added up, Sondland said, like "two plus two equals four."

But the president's legal team has pointed to Sondland's testimony as evidence of the opposite of what House Democrats contend, arguing he also told lawmakers that Trump denied that he wanted any "quid pro quo" with regard to Ukraine.

"House Democrats' critical witness - Sondland - actually destroys their case," Trump's lawyers wrote in a brief filed Monday.

Trump's team isn't planning to end its case there concerning Sondland, according to a senior White House official. Trump's attorneys are also preparing to impugn his credibility as the trial unfolds, saying his testimony before the House showed Sondland has a tendency to portray his uninformed opinions and presumptions as fact, which in the case of Ukraine became an echo chamber.

"So many roads come into and out of Sondland," said the official, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ambassador's role in the trial. "Any fair minded observer, if you looked at what the House developed in its proceedings, so much of what was claimed turned out to be Sondland had said, or insinuated, or believed, or surmised, that had been picked up and passed around by others."

Against the spectacle of the president's legal team undermining a sitting U.S. ambassador, Sondland remains Trump's man in Europe.

And Sondland, for his part, is still playing along, holding on to his post in Brussels with a cheerful tenacity, according to nine associates and diplomats who have interacted with him in recent months. They say Sondland's gamble appears to be that if he carries on, he might survive long enough to recast his brief and so far scandal-ridden record as ambassador, a role the longtime hotelier hoped would serve as a distinguished capstone to his successful career in business.

But it's unclear how long he will be kept on the job once the impeachment trial is over.

Trump has not spoken with Sondland in the two months since the explosive testimony, according to two senior U.S. officials. The two last saw each other at the White House on Oct. 2 for the Finnish president's visit.

The decision for Trump and Sondland not to speak since the ambassador's testimony in November might go both ways. Two acquaintances of Sondland's said they left discussions with him in recent months understanding that Sondland had stopped calling the White House on advice of his attorneys, perhaps to avoid any perception of witness tampering.

His District of Columbia-based attorney, Robert Luskin, said he and his client would decline to comment. Sondland's testimony, he said, "will speak for itself."

Sondland's severed tie to the White House has diminished the ambassador's swagger, but it's not gone, several associates said.

Sondland has continued to press Europeans to be tougher on Iranian leadership and to impose sanctions. As the two sides fight over trade, he has pushed Trump's protectionist agenda. And as Britain finalizes its preparations to split from the European Union next week, he has met with leaders on both sides to advocate for U.S. interests.

Some critics even say Sondland has found his stride.

"I think he's found his feet," said Radoslaw Sikorski, the head of the European Parliament's delegation for relations with the United States, who hosted Sondland at a meeting last week. "He has in the last year found a way of forcefully arguing for American interests and point of view without giving offense."

Sikorski, a vocal Trump critic, said that for him and his peers, Sondland still was their main channel to Washington. "He is the U.S. ambassador, and as long he is, we assume he represents the president and the State Department," Sikorski said. "He is well-briefed, and states it like it is."

Others in Europe are still trying to determine Sondland's standing.

"I don't know how strong he really is in the U.S. right now because of the impeachment trial," said Rasmus Andersen, a German member of the European Parliament who pressed Sondland about the U.S. political turmoil at the closed-door meeting with EU lawmaker last week.

Sikorski said that Sondland responded that "he wasn't at liberty to discuss it," and that as chair, he had moved the conversation along, since he saw impeachment as an internal U.S. matter.

That type of caution is a change from how Sondland operated when taking over as one of Trump's top diplomats in the summer of 2018. Back then he eagerly sought to channel Trump, called himself a 'disruptive diplomat' and touted his ability to get Trump on the phone, and to speak to him as few diplomats might dare.

In a House impeachment hearing in November, State Department official David Holmes recounted listening to Sondland and Trump talk by phone while the ambassador sat outside at a restaurant in Kyiv. Sondland told Trump that Zelensky 'loves your ass,' " Holmes said. "I then heard President Trump ask, 'So, he's gonna do the investigation?' Ambassador Sondland replied that 'he's gonna do it,' adding that Zelensky will do 'anything you ask him to.' "

Sondland seemed amused in the House hearing when the exchange was read back to him. "Sounds like something I would say," Sondland quipped. "That's how President Trump and I communicate, a lot of four-letter words."

One clear development since November is that Sondland's involvement in a matter outside the European Union - Ukraine policy - has all but ended, said current and former U.S. officials.

Sondland previously loomed large over U.S.-Ukraine relations and accounts for his central role in the impeachment trial.

In July, on a visit to Kyiv, Sondland told a Ukrainian broadcaster that Trump had given him "special assignments including Ukraine."

Text messages and emails surfaced in the impeachment investigation, as well as subsequently, through public records lawsuits, show that in that time Sondland was pressing Zelensky and his aides to announce investigations into Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company, where Hunter Biden previously held a board position, as well as into a widely discredited theory that some in Ukraine were interfering in the 2016 U.S. presidential election to help Democrats.

Sondland's unorthodox role, which included trips to Kyiv, meetings with top Ukrainian officials and one-on-one calls with Trump, gave him as much access to the president and his thinking last year as anyone who has testified in the impeachment process to date.

The schism between how House Democrats and Trump's defense team plan to present Sondland and the significance of his testimony was on full display Wednesday as Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and the lead impeachment manager, discussed the ambassador's role and called on Trump to be removed from office in his opening statement.

Schiff played a video of Sondland's November testimony before the House in which the ambassador described carrying out what he understood to be Trump's wishes.

"I know that members of this committee frequently frame these complicated issues in the form of a simple question: Was there a quid pro quo?," Sondaland said. "As I testified previously with regard to the requested White House call and the White House meeting, the answer is yes."

But Schiff then largely treated Sondland as a hostile witness, describing him as a foot soldier in Trump's pressure campaign against Ukraine. He spent over 20 minutes describing Sondland as an agent of the president who "fell into line" and who warned Zelensky that bowing to Trump's wishes on investigations would be the "price of admission" for a White House favor.

Importantly, Schiff also made clear that House Democrats no longer trust that Sondland was truthful about a key conversation he purported to have with Trump.

Sondland has maintained that in a Sept. 9 phone call, Trump told him verbatim that he wanted "no quid pro quo" with Ukraine. Trump has held up Sondland's depictions of the call as exculpatory.

But The Washington Post reported in November that there is no corroborating evidence such a call took place. The White House has not located a record in its switchboard logs of a call between Trump and Sondland that day, even though it has records of other calls between the two described in impeachment testimony. Also, the call would have occurred during an unusual period, between 12:47 a.m. at 5:19 a.m. in Washington.

On Wednesday, Schiff represented that the president actually used the no-quid-pro-quo phrase days earlier, on Sept. 7, during a call that came with a very different thrust. In that call, Trump made clear that he in fact did want Zelensky to personally announce investigations into Trump's political opponents, according to diplomats who spoke with Sondland at the time.

Schiff argued the phrase was an unusual one for the president to throw out in conversation, and noted it occurred days after the White House was alerted to a whistleblower complaint detailing just such a scheme.

"Hello, Mr. President. How are you today?" Schiff said. "No quid pro quo."

He added: "It's the kind of thing that comes up in a conversation, if you're trying to put your alibi out there."
Dutch motorcyclist Edwin Straver, who crashed during the penultimate stage of the Dakar rally, has died of his injuries, his wife confirmed on Friday. The 48-year-old from Rijswijk in southern Netherlands fell from his KTM 450 on January 16 travelling at relatively low speed, but fracturing his spine. "Edwin died in the early hours of Friday morning surrounded by his loved ones," his wife Anja den Hollander told AFP. The family was in the process of making funeral arrangements, she said. Straver was racing his third Dakar in a sub-section for motorbike racers, unassisted by a back-up team, when he crashed during the 11th stage of the race in south-eastern Saudi Arabia. "He fractured his upper spine and did not have a heartbeat for 10 minutes," said a statement published by the Dutch rally website www.rallymaniacs.com, which followed Straver's progress. After being resuscitated he was flown by helicopter to a hospital in Riyadh. "There it became clear that he would not regain consciousness," the website said. He was flown back to the Netherlands on Wednesday "where it was again confirmed that the damage to his brain was too severe." "Respiration was then stopped in consultation with his family," the statement said. Straver was born in 1971 into a motor sporting family -- his father Anton was a former road racer. His son's first love however "was for the sand... he liked motocross and enduro much more than road racing," the statement said. The Dutch rider was described as "extremely cautious" saying "I brake for everything and never cross a dune before I can see what's behind it." The 42nd edition of the Dakar, staged in Saudi Arabia was already marred by the death of Portuguese rider Paulo Goncalves, the 20th biker and 25th competitor to die during the rally. "We all know this is a sport with risks. I try to ride carefully and build in safety margins, but something can always go wrong," Straver was quoted as saying after Goncalves' death. "We all accept the risks. If you can't live with that you'd better stay home," he said a few days before his own fatal accident. The decision to stage the race in Saudi Arabia this year and for at least the next four years sparked an angry reaction from critics of the kingdom's human rights record.
Two cases of fraudulent plot sale surfaced on Thursday, wherein owners of two plots in Block-C of Sushant Lok-1, had found out on the same day, January 19, that a woman had allegedly forged their property documents and sold one of the plots.

The woman was booked on Thursday, in two separate cases, for allegedly forging documents, fraudulently attainting sale deeds of two individual plots and selling one of them to a realtor for a private housing project in Block-C of Sushant Lok-1.

In the first incident, the complainant, of Jhajjar, alleged that an acquaintance, a property dealer, told him on January 19 that his plot has been listed for sale. The complainant had bought the plot in 1993 and in August 2019, transferred the ownership to his wife.

Upon further enquiry, he found that his house was listed for sale by the suspect and that she had forged a document of sale deed, as per which the complainant had sold her the property in front of witnesses.

In the first information report (FIR), he stated that he went to the accused womans address of residence, which was mentioned in the document, but did not find her there. Her landlord allegedly told him that she was involved in multiple cases of fraud.

The complainant said that he had never met the woman and claimed that the construction company colluded with her in an attempt to sell his plot without his or his wifes knowledge.

In the second incident, a resident of Old Rajinder Nagar in Delhi, alleged that during a routine check on January 19, he found digging work being undertaken on a plot that he had bought from the realtor involved in the first incident in 2012. The first sale of the plot had been done in 1994.

In the police complaint, he alleged that he enquired from the resident staying in the vicinity about it and he was given the phone number of a man, who claimed to be the owner of his plot. The man on the phone told him that he had allegedly bought the plot from the accused woman recently. The police said that the complainant had not sold his plot to the woman and did not even know her.

Jagbir Singh, station house officer (SHO), Sushant Lok police station, said, We have booked the woman in two cases. She is yet to be arrested. We are investigating the matter.

Two cases were registered against the accused woman under sections 120B, 419, 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Sushant Lok police station on Thursday.
Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all.

Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe

What would it take to allow Los Angeles County's K-12 students to ride our regional transit system for free? Los Angeles Metro is now working to figure that out.

After spirited debate and verbal finessing, the L.A. County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's board of directors unanimously approved a motion Thursday to study the feasibility of providing free transit for students in the Los Angeles Unified School District -- and potentially all K-12 students countywide.

Some board members lauded the study as a vital first step to exploring whether the system could one day be free for everyone.

The study will examine cost estimates and how much fare revenue Metro could potentially say goodbye to, plus projections of ridership increases and how that could affect service (aka overcrowding on trains and buses). It will also look at existing free transit programs for K-12 students and survey students from LAUSD and other school districts to get a sense of how many are dependent on transit now and how many would take Metro if rides were free. Staff is slated to report back to the board in April.

Metro officials say providing L.A. County's schoolchildren free, equitable access to its transit system could boost school attendance, improve mobility and health, and ease traffic congestion. Agency leaders also see it as an opportunity to instill an appreciation for public transit in a new generation of riders.

That could be a life-saving move for Metro, which continues to see ridership plummet on its system. The number of trips on the agency's trains and buses has fallen more than 20% over the past decade, according to Metro statistics.

(Courtesy Steve Hymon/Metro)

Metro's leaders voiced support for the idea at the heart of the motion, but the vote was delayed after a long discussion about which students -- and districts -- would actually be studied.

Initially, the motion was titled "Free Transit for Los Angeles Unified School District Students." Some board members were against approving a study that didn't account for students countywide.

"Why not give more of our students this golden ticket to explore the wonders that we have to offer?" asked board member and L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn.

But board members and L.A. City councilmen Mike Bonin and Paul Krekorian said LAUSD should be studied first to understand the feasibility of such a program before expanding to other districts.

Bonin urged fellow board members to not "make perfect the enemy of the really significant good." Krekorian argued that finding a way to make free student fares cost effective for Metro will be a considerable challenge, and a tighter focus would be the best approach.

But after a lot of back-and-forth, board chair and Inglewood Mayor James Butts asked staff to redraft the motion to specify an expanded scope for the study, arguing that focusing solely on LAUSD would be "totally unfair" to the hundreds of thousands of other students and families across the county. Butts also called for a "tiered system of study" that would use an equity-based assessment to determine "most needy to least needy."

"It should be homeless children and their parents who ride free if anyone is going to ride free," Butts said.

That revised motion, now titled "Free Transit For Los Angeles County Students" tacks on "and other school districts" to every mention of LAUSD.

The idea of free rides for students enjoyed wide support from LAUSD leaders, teacher's union representatives, parents and students, who spoke ahead of the board discussion.

"Our schools serve families of whom 80% live in poverty; 90% of our students are kids of color," LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner said in an address to Metro's board. "Something as basic as coming up with the money to buy a bus pass to get to school can be a barrier, which prevents a child from getting the education they deserve."

Beutner also has a separate ask of Metro: consider allowing the district's school buses to use Metro's dedicated bus lanes "to help cut down on commute times for students otherwise stuck in traffic."

We provide free transportation to students in our special-education program and to magnet programs in our schools across the city. But many thousands of our students rely on @MTA to fill in the gaps. Our yellow buses are free, and students should ride free on MTA, as well. pic.twitter.com/9BGjNwZmQ7  Austin Beutner (@AustinLASchools) January 23, 2020

Access to reliable, low-cost or free public transit "is a critical component of housing affordability" for L.A. County residents, Metro officials said in the motion. We've reported previously on the links between transportation costs and poverty -- and what experts and advocates are pushing for to address our regional surge in homelessness.

Metro is already conducting some smaller-scale experiments with free student transit, including at an arts high school in South L.A., which we reported on last year.

And the city of L.A. offers free rides to K-12, college, and vocational students on its DASH bus network through its DASH to Class program, which launched last August.

The motion also ordered a separate report, slated to return to the board in June, on how a similar free transit program might look if expanded to community college students in L.A. County.

Read Metro's full motion below:

MORE PUBLIC TRANSIT COVERAGE

Correction: A previous version of this story misattributed a quote from a Metro board member. The quote was from board member and L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn. LAist regrets the error.
BEIJING, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- A national research team of 14 experts has been set up to help prevent and control the latest novel coronavirus outbreak in China, the Ministry of Science and Technology announced Friday.

The anti-virus research team is a part of the ministry's emergency sci-tech project, which was jointly launched with the National Health Commission and other departments at a recent meeting.

The project will offer sci-tech support on 10 research aspects, including virus tracking, virus transmission, detection methods, genome evolution and vaccine development.

Respiratory scientist Zhong Nanshan was appointed head of the team. Zhong, also an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, is renowned for his work in China's fight against the outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003.
A major challenge in Halifax at present is the extremely tight availability in the rental segment, with vacancy at just 1% according to latest figures from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

Ive never seen it this low and most people havent, United Way Halifax manager of partnerships and community development Kevin Hooper told CTV News. These are historically low numbers, and theyre dire.

The vacancy rate is actually quite significantly lower for people looking for affordable housing  almost half a percent, Hooper added. For those people, trying to find an apartment is hard enough at the best of times.
The move would allow MB Bank to transfer 21.43 million in treasury shares to foreign investors.

Hanoi-based Military Bank (MB Bank) on January 22 informed the approval of the Vietnam Securities Depository (VSD) to adjust the lenders foreign ownership limit from 20% to 20.9%, said the bank in a statement.

Illustrative photo.

The move would allow MB Bank to transfer 21.43 million in treasury shares to foreign investors under the formers request and permission from the State Securities Commission (SSC), the countrys stock market watchdog.

According to the bank, the easing of foreign ownership limit will be effective from January 22, 2020.

Last December, MB Bank announced the plan to sell a maximum of 23 million in treasury shares via order-matching or put-though.

The amount of shares subject to the sale was equivalent to 49% of total treasury stocks owned by the bank.

MB Bank said it aims to use proceeds from the sale to build offices and branches, invest in technologies and necessary equipment for stable operation and development.

The government currently owns 44% of Military Commercial Bank through several military-linked companies, according to FactSet, a data provider. Domestic and foreign financial institutions own 11%, while the rest is held by individual investors and entities such as mutual funds.



MB Bank has more than 100 branches, including two in Laos and Cambodia, and a representative office in Russia, according to the banks website. Hanoitimes

Ngoc Mai
Video has emerged showing Senator Elizabeth Warren on Monday being confronted by a man who says her plan to forgive student loan debt would be unfair to people like him who worked hard to pay off what they owed.

The encounter took place during a Warren campaign stop in Grimes, Iowa.

After the event, Warren greeted well-wishers who waited to shake her hand on the selfie line.

At one point, a man who appeared in his 40s or 50s stepped up a few feet from Warren and demanded to get his money back after paying off his daughters student loans.

A man (right) approached Senator Elizabeth Warren in Grimes, Iowa, on Monday after a campaign event to confront her about her plan to forgive student debt

The man angrily confronted Warren, saying people like him who paid for their children's college were getting 'screwed'

My daughter is in school, I saved all my money just to pay student loans, can I have my money back? the man says to Warren.

The senator from Massachusetts replies: Of course not.

The man then says: So youre going to pay for people who didnt save any money, and those of us that did the right thing get screwed?

He went on: My buddy had fun, bought a car, went on vacation.

I saved my money. He made more than I did. I worked a double shift working to get extra money.

Warren says something inaudible to the man, who in turn accuses the senator of laughing at him.

Youre laughing at me, he said.

No Im not, she answered

The senator then shook the mans hand before he angrily stormed off.

I appreciate your time, Warren told him before she continued to meet her other supporters on the selfie line.

Warren is proposing a plan that would wipe out student loan debt for 95 per cent of borrowers. She is seen above in Grimes, Iowa, on Monday

Last summer, the senator introduced legislation that would wipe out $640billion of student debt.

Under Warrens plan, student loan borrowers who earn $100,000 or less of gross household income would receive up to $50,000 of debt forgiveness.

Borrowers who earn between $100,000 and $250,000 would receive proportionally less in loan forgiveness - every $3 of income over $100,000 would reduce the cancellation amount by $1.

Those who earn more than $250,000 would not be eligible to receive any debt forgiveness.

Any who received federal student loans would qualify for forgiveness while private student loan borrowers would also be eligible - though they would need to first refinance their private debt into a federal student loan.

Warren has suggested that the plan be funded by a 2 per cent wealth tax on those who have a net worth above $50million.

Senator Bernie Sanders has a competing plan that would forgive all outstanding student loan debt regardless of a borrowers income.

Warren's plan would provide debt relief for 95 per cent of those who owe money.

The leading Democrat in the race for the nomination, Joe Biden, announced details of his own proposal to tackle student debt.

Under Biden's plan, those who earn $25,000 or less per year will not owe any payments on their undergraduate federal student loans and also wont accrue any interest on those loans.

The top three candidates vying for the Democratic nomination all have competing plans to forgive student loan debt. Warren is seen far left alongside former Vice President Joe Biden (center) and Senator Bernie Sanders (far right) in Des Moines, Iowa, on January 14

Everyone else would pay 5 per cent of their discretionary income (income minus taxes and essential spending like housing and food) over $25,000 toward their loans.

Those who have kept up on their payments after 20 years would see their debts 100 per cent forgiven, according to the plan.

Biden leads both Warren and Sanders as well as other candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination, though the senator from Vermont and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg are gaining momentum

According to a Reuters/Ipsos national opinion poll released on Thursday, 24 per cent of registered Democrats and independents supported Biden, while 20 per cent backed Sanders and 12 per cent said they would vote for Warren.

Another 10 per cent supported Bloomberg, 7 per cent picked former Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana and 3 per cent backed Senator Amy Klobuchar.

Biden, who served two terms with former President Barack Obama, has consistently received the largest amount of support since he entered the race last year.

Yet he has not distanced himself from the pack as a clear front-runner for the nomination.
(Alliance News) - Columbus Energy Resources PLC said Friday it has completed the case hole logging for the Lower Cruse portion of its Saffron well at the South West Peninsula project, onshore Trinidad.

Shares in the oil & gas explorer were down 9.2% in London Friday at 2.68 pence each.

Columbus said the interpretation of the well logging supports the completion of the well, which is scheduled for February.

The interpretation for the Upper Cruse and Middle Cruse - the tertiary and secondary targets - are expected shortly, Columbus said.

Executive Chair Leo Koot said: "The logging does not materially alter the company's previous announcement that the company has drilled multiple sand packages with high sandstone content and multiple oil shows to total depth."

Columbus is focussing on its primary target, the Lower Cruse, and has submitted a well test application to the Trinidad Ministry of Energy & Energy Industries.

The company also noted the authorities have stipulated Columbus must test and produce from the deepest possible stratigraphic level first.

Koot continued: "The interpretation of the logging gives the company comfort that it should proceed with the completion and testing of the well. Indeed, the only way to be certain and to evaluate the geological and economic potential of the prospective oil sands is to conduct a flow test - which can be done in relatively short order."

Columbus expects to begin the test in February.

"I am conscious that we would have liked more concrete results from the logging but the geology of the South West Peninsula and its effect on the tools available to us to log the Saffron well do not provide that level of certainty. The best way to evaluate Saffron is to complete and test the well, which we are in the course of doing," Koot added.

By Paul McGowan; paulmcgowan@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
A lorry driver wanted in connection with the deaths of 39 Vietnamese people whose bodies were found in a refrigerated container can be extradited to the UK, an Irish court has ruled.

Eamonn Harrison, from County Down, Northern Ireland, is wanted for his alleged role in transporting the trailer in which the bodies of eight women and 31 men were found on an industrial park in Essex last year.

The 23-year-old appeared at the High Court in Dublin on Friday in relation to a European Arrest Warrant seeking his extradition.

The court was told Mr Harrison is accused of 41 offences  39 counts of manslaughter, which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, one human trafficking offence, and one count of assisting unlawful immigration.

He is alleged to have driven the container to the port of Zeebrugge in Belgium and later signed the shipping notice for it.

39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Show all 15 1 /15 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Thirty-nine bodies have been found in a lorry container in Essex, police have said PA 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex The discovery of 38 adults and one teenager was made at an industrial estate in Thurrock Reuter TV 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Police said they believed the lorry had come from Bulgaria and entered the UK at Holyhead, in Wales, on Saturday. Getty 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Essex Police said it had launched a murder investigation after its officers were called to Waterglade Industrial Park, in Grays, in the early hours of Wednesday morning Reuter TV 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex A 25-year-old-man from Northern Ireland has been arrested on suspicion of murder PA 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex In a statement, Chief Superintendent Andrew Mariner said: This is a tragic incident where a large number of people have lost their lives. Our enquiries are ongoing to establish what has happened. We are in the process of identifying the victims, however I anticipate that this could be a lengthy process. Reuter TV 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Getty 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Getty 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex PA 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Getty 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Reuter TV 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex PA 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex PA 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Reuters 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Reuters

Justice Donald Binchy said he approved Mr Harrisons extradition after hearing comprehensive arguments from both sides.

His full judgment on the ruling will be made public on Monday next week.

Justice Binchy added that it would not be helpful for him to try to summarise his decision to the court.

Recommended Lorry driver pleads guilty to plotting to assist illegal immigration

Mr Harrisons defence counsel, Tony McGillicuddy, said he would read the judgment next week and decide whether to appeal the decision.

The extradition order has been deferred to give the defence team time to consider the judgment, which runs to about 50 pages long, Justice Binchy said.

It would not be fair to put such pressure if the respondent chooses to appeal, he added.

Mr Harrison has been remanded into custody and will appear again at Dublins High Court on 4 February.

News of the deaths in October 2019 was met with widespread outrage and tributes from Boris Johnson, the prime minister, and home secretary Priti Patel.

The whole nation and indeed the world has been shocked by this tragedy, and the cruelty of the fate that has been suffered by innocent people who were hoping for a better life in this country, Mr Johnson wrote in a book of condolences for the victims last year.

We mourn those who have lost their lives. Our thoughts are with their families far away.

In November, Maurice Robinson, a lorry driver who was allegedly part of a global smuggling ring, pleaded guilty to plotting to assist illegal immigration over the incident.

Additional reporting by PA
YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. The Special Investigations Service has denied Constitutional Court Chairman Hrayr Tovmasyans lawyer Amram Makinyans allegations that the authorities havent produced the court search warrant for carrying out a search operation in Tovmasyans apartment.

Authorities said the lawyers claims are obvious disinformation.

We find it noteworthy to inform that the persons, including the lawyers, participating in the search conducted by the detective have been given the chance as prescribed by due process to get acquainted with the warrant, the Special Investigations Service said,

We urge Hrayr Tovmasyans defense team to act within the framework of law and refrain from making false and misleading statements, the agency said.

Earlier, Tovmasyans lawyer Makinyan spoke to reporters outside the Constitutional Court presidents apartment and said that the detectives have arrived to conduct a search. There is a court warrant. The search hasnt yet started because the head of the investigative group is obstructing the full exercise of our rights. Particularly, Tovmasyan and one of his other lawyers Mihran Poghosyan havent been enabled to get acquainted with the court warrant in its entirety. We have filed a respective motion.

Tovmasyan is charged with misconduct in a criminal investigation into an alleged crime committed during his tenure as minister of justice.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan
She's known for flaunting her sensational physique in racy outfits on social media.

And Skye Wheatley certainly didn't disappoint on Thursday, as she gave fans a flash while posing in front of a luxury car on the Gold Coast.

The 24-year-old internet sensation set hearts racing as she posed up a storm in a tiny G-string bikini, while urging her loyal fans to 'reflect' and and be nice to one another.

That's cheeky! Skye Wheatley set hearts racing on Thursday when she posed in a barely visible yellow G-string bikini on the Gold Coast

'You can have all the money and followers in the world but if it changes who you are as a person on the inside, then [that's a] shame,' she wrote in a cryptic caption.

'Lets all reflect. We need more genuine people in this world so lets make it our goal to be nice to one another, no more fake bulls**t yeah?,' she added.

Skye shamelessly rocked the risque set, with her bronzed complexion contrasting perfectly with the yellow fabric.

Please explain? 'You can have all the money and followers in the world but if it changes who you are as a person on the inside, then [that's a] shame,' she wrote in a cryptic caption

In the second photo, Skye leaned against a car and offered a smouldering stare, as she looked curiously out to the distance.

She wore her blonde hair extensions out in a loose wave that shaped perfectly around the tiny yellow triangles that covered her chest.

Doting mother: Skye, who lives on the Gold Coast, welcomed son Forest in December 2018 with boyfriend Lachlan Waugh, whom she met on Tinder

Skye, who lives on the Gold Coast, welcomed son Forest in December 2018 with boyfriend Lachlan Waugh, whom she met on Tinder.

The makeup artist snapped back to her pre-baby body in record time, crediting her new 'healthy lifestyle' for the quick turnaround in an Instagram post in August.

Don't call it a comeback: She has been flaunting her very quick post-pregnancy turnaround on Instagram ever since

Posing in a racy white bikini to flaunt her frame, Skye told followers: 'I'm honestly pretty proud of how motivated I have been to get my pre-baby body back!'

'I'm actually more fit than I was before which is pretty crazy! Leading a healthy lifestyle is so important to me now because of how much better I feel.'

Skye rose to fame on the 2014 season of Big Brother Australia.
Two people in Mumbai, who returned from China, have been kept under observation for possible exposure to the novel coronavirus that has killed and infected many in the neighbouring country, news agency PTI reported on Friday.

The rapidly spreading coronavirus has killed 25 people and infected at least 830 across China, the countrys government said earlier in a statement. Another 177 people elsewhere in the country are critical, the Chinese government said.

The pathogen is believed to have begun spreading to humans from a seafood and fish meat market in Wuhan, a city in central China, which on Thursday became one of five in the country to be put under an unprecedented lockdown.

Dr Padmaja Keskar, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporations (BMC)s executive health officer, said they have created an isolation ward at Kasturba Hospital in Chinchpokali.

The isolation ward has been created for diagnosis and treatment of persons suspected to have the coronavirus infection, Dr Keskar was quoted as saying by PTI.

Also read | China shuts down 13 cities, to close section of Great Wall as virus death toll climbs

Dr Keskar said civic health authorities have been kept the two under observation for mild cough and exhibiting cold-related symptoms.

More details about those kept under surveillance were awaited.

Dr Keskar said doctors at the Mumbai international airport have been asked to send travellers returning from China to the isolation ward if they show any symptoms of the coronavirus.

All private doctors in the city have been asked to alert us (the BMC) if they observe symptoms of the coronavirus in anyone who has returned from China, she said.

Screenings

At least 25 students who have returned from colleges in Wuhan to their homes in India are under close watch for symptoms of a deadly new virus that has triggered a global health alarm, officials said on Thursday as authorities around the world stepped up efforts to avert a wider contagion.

Since India began screening of passengers on January 17, close to 12,000 passengers have been screened.

The coronavirus is a large family of viruses, which derives its name from a crown-like shape, that causes illnesses ranging from the common cold to acute respiratory syndromes, but the virus that has killed people in China is a new strain.

Common symptoms include respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

WHO has declared the new coronavirus an emergency for China but stopped short of declaring the epidemic of international concern.

The virus has been detected in Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the United States.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
 This is the script of CNBC's news report for China's CCTV on January 22, 2020, Wednesday.

The confirmation of the first case of the coronavirus in the US and the latest news from China and elsewhere did cause some concern in financial markets. But the overall panic is manageable. On Tuesday, we saw U.S. stocks end the day down, with the Dow down 152 points, and of the three major European indexes, with the exception of Germany's main index, which closed slightly higher, major indexes in the U.K. and France were under pressure to close lower.

The VIX, a gauge of market volatility, rose by 6.2%, a relatively modest level for the year.

First of all, people's travel is most directly affected. Major airlines and cruise lines fell broadly, and we saw all four major U.S. airlines fall to varying degrees on Tuesday. royal Caribbean international sank nearly 4 percent. Hotel stays, which are directly related to travel, have also been affected, Marriott global resorts fell more than 4 percent and Marriott international fell nearly 4 percent. On top of that, we've seen some luxury companies in Europe come under pressure on holiday retail concerns, such as LVMH, down more than 1%.

Despite the negative developments in financial markets, the overall picture is not very worrying, according to U.S. officials' briefings and our interviews with industry experts. Officials at the centers for disease control and prevention said the man, who was in his 30s, was in excellent health and had been discreetly quarantined at a local medical center, posing little risk to the public.

At the same time, the agency said it has been proactive at all levels, working closely with all departments to strengthen prevention and control efforts after the first confirmed case.

Last week, New York's John f. Kennedy international airport, Los Angeles international airport and San Francisco international airport began conducting health checks on passengers from wuhan, including temperature monitoring and symptom monitoring. Similar surveillance and screening began this week at major international airports in Atlanta and Chicago. Meanwhile, the U.S. centers for disease control and prevention has updated its travel notice for Wuhan on its website.

The travel safety warning has been raised from level 1 to level 2, with recommendations to strengthen precautionary measures.

Gottlieb, a former head of the U.S. food and drug administration, told CNBC that it appears to be a mild illness.

Scott Gottlieb

former FDA commissioner

all the indications are that it is probably a mild illness at this point, the only reason be more concerned was because a lot of people don't have any exposure, don't have any pre-developed to it,but right now, based on what we can tell, it seems to be a mild illness.

In addition, there are also American professor of preventive medicine told us that they have confidence in the ability of Chinese health care workers and related authorities.

William Schaffner

prof of preventive medicine, VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY

we have a spectrum, sars was very severe and very transmissible, mers, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome virus was also very serious, but not very transmissible, what we have learned so far by this virus, many infected, many also get better and go home, surely, with 6 death so far, but not as bad as the sars virus

The Chinese scientists were wonderful, they very rapidly identify this virus and documented it was new, they sequenced in genome and made that available to the world community, there are now scientists around the world working on a rapid test, and work on the vaccine has already begun. so, so far so good.

But that doesn't mean we should take it lightly. At present, some details about the new coronavirus are not clear, further studies and more announcements from Chinese and international medical and health agencies are also needed. We will keep an eye on this issue.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Berger Montague announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors in TCA Global Credit Master Fund, the main credit hedge fund of TCA Fund Management Group Corp.

If you wish to discuss your investment in the TCA Global Credit Master Fund or have any information about the Fund, please contact our attorneys Barbara A. Podell, Esq. at (215) 875-4690 or Michael Dell'Angelo, Esq. at (215) 875-3080, or visit www.bergermontague.com.

TCA Fund Management Group Corp. announced on January 23, 2020 that it is shutting down its main credit hedge fund, TCA Global Credit Master Fund, after the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") initiated an investigation into its accounting and customers asked to withdraw their money. According to media reports, a letter to TCA Global Credit Master Fund investors informed them that the Fund has "received redemption and withdrawal requests in excess" of available cash. The liquidation comes amid an ongoing SEC investigation relating to TCA Management Fund Group Corp.'s accounting practices.

Also according to media reports, three employees of TCA Fund Management Group Corp. filed a whistleblower complaint with the SEC and then went public by speaking with NBC News. According to the whistleblowers, the TCA Fund Management Group Corp. has $300 million in assetsnot $500 millionand is earning 1.92% per yearnot 7 to 8%, as claimed in communications with investors. The TCA Global Credit Master Fund, which lends money to small and mid-sized companies in distress, has failed to book losses on defaulted loans and has recorded fee revenues it has not received and never will receive, according to the employees.

Berger Montague, with offices in Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Washington, D.C., and San Diego, has been a pioneer in securities class action litigation since its founding in 1970. Berger Montague has represented individual and institutional investors for five decades and serves as lead counsel in courts throughout the United States.

Contacts

Barbara A. Podell, Shareholder

Berger Montague

(215) 875-4690

[email protected]

Michael Dell'Angelo, Managing Shareholder

Berger Montague

(215) 875-3080

[email protected]

SOURCE Berger Montague

Related Links

https://bergermontague.com


The Donald Trump administration continues to adapt its policies toward Syria and Iraq in response to three major developments: the territorial defeat of the Islamic State (IS); the Turkish invasion of Syria and the consolidation of Damascus control over most Syrian territory; and the fallout in Iraq from both the recent popular uprisings and the US killing of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force Cmdr. Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

All three merit a reassessment that also takes into account a potential diplomatic opening offered by Mazlum Kobane, secretary-general of the US-allied Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and a steady-as-we-go approach in Iraq to sustain the US security commitment that Iraq desperately needs to prevent an IS resurgence and counter Iranian influence.

US-led defeat of IS does not get the credit it deserves

The US campaign against IS does not get the credit it deserves, especially given a cascade of concern that the United States has been stepping back from its commitments in the region under presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump. This comes amid frustration on both the American left and right with "endless wars" in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The territorial defeat of IS in March 2019 and the US killing of IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in October 2019 were huge wins for US policy. Alone, these two events would necessitate a recalibration of US policies.

So lets take a minute to reflect. In 2014, IS had established what it called a caliphate, which was essentially a reign of terror in large swaths of Syrian and Iraqi territory, including the major cities of Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria. In response, the Obama administration assembled an international and regional diplomatic and military coalition, spearheaded a relentless military campaign using air power and Special Ops forces, worked effectively with the SDF and bucked up Iraqi security forces, which had initially suffered some withering defeats. The campaign had bipartisan support in the United States, featured textbook diplomatic and military coordination, and experienced a smooth transition from the Obama to the Trump administration, which finished the job on its watch.

This stunning success doesnt mean its time for the United States to pack up and go home. But it does constitute a shift in mission and argue for some type of rethink and recalibration. You cant stay the course when the course has changed. The United States and its partners will, of course, need to be vigilant against a reconstituted IS. The terrorist group will find another figurehead to succeed Baghdadi.

The likelihood of instability and fragile or even failing states in Syria and Iraq foreshadow fertile ground for an IS 2.0. James Jeffrey, special envoy to the global coalition to defeat IS and special representative for Syria, said this week there are 14,000-18,000 active IS fighters in Syria and Iraq. This does not include 20,000-30,000 al-Qaeda-linked terrorists in Idlib, according to UN and US estimates.

Nonetheless, Jeffrey added that there has been no "uptick" in IS activity in Syria and Iraq since the US drone attack on Soleimanis motorcade Jan. 3.

Syrian Kurdish leader offers three-part road map to ease tensions with Turkey

In Syria, the defeat of IS coincided with the Turkish invasion of the northeast in October 2019 in an effort to establish a security corridor and ostensibly to deal with the threat from the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG); Russian diplomatic efforts to broker a peace deal between Damascus and Ankara; and the on-again-off-again Syrian and Russian military campaign against Idlib to uproot and defeat remaining armed opposition groups there.

We reported here this week on Russian President Vladimir Putins latest shuttle diplomacy to end the hostility between Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, including an extraordinary meeting between Turkish intelligence chief Hakan Fidan and his Syrian counterpart, Ali Mamlouk, in Moscow Jan. 13  the highest-level contact between the two bitter enemies in nine years.

If successful, Putins effort could signal an endgame in the Syria war. But one tragic loose end remains: how to deal with Idlib, which risks a possible surge of tens of thousands of Syrian refugees to Turkey. Erdogans fixation with the YPG, which he considers a terrorist group inseparable from the Kurdistan Workers Party, has made this process mostly slow going.

In an exclusive interview with Amberin Zaman, Mazlum Kobane offered his own suggestions for a road map in Syria, which should get the attention of Erdogan, Trump and Putin.

Kobane dismissed the notion that the SDF, which is made up primarily of the YPG, is a threat to Syria.

Referencing the SDF' agreement with Damascus following the Turkish invasion, Kobane told Zaman that we no longer have any point of contact with the Turkish forces. The regime forces are currently deployed along the length of the Turkish border in northeastern Syria  that is to say, they replaced our forces there. Turkey would constantly cite our presence along its border as a threat to its national security. That argument is now dead.

Kobane did not see much prospect for Russian mediation between Erdogan and Assad because Turkey is openly supporting opposition groups against the regime and most significantly the Muslim Brotherhood. Turkeys ties with the Muslim Brotherhood are strategic in nature and are not confined to Syria."

But then Kobane presented his own three-part plan to build confidence between the Kurds and Turkey, including:

Assisting with the repatriation of the remains of Suleiman Shah, grandfather of Osman I (d. 1323/4), the founder of the Ottoman Empire, to a location near Kobani. The remains had been removed from the tomb near Kobani in 2015 because of the threat from IS. Turkey claims sovereignty of the tomb based on the Treaty of Ankara (1921); Syria disputes this claim. Allowing the resettlement of Idlib refugees into SDF-controlled areas of Syria. Sharing intelligence on IS activities.

Kobanes offer may be dead on arrival in Ankara  or not, depending on whether Putin picks up the thread. Our guess is that the Russian president incorporates Kobanes goodwill gesture in his diplomatic arsenal.

Trump, Salih meeting steadies US-Iraq relations

The meeting between Trump and Iraqi President Barham Salih at the World Economic Forum in Davos lowered the temperature on the US role in Iraq following a resolution in the Iraqi parliament calling for the Iraqi government to ask US forces to withdraw following the US killing of Soleimani and Muhandis.

Salih, who faced threats from Iranian-backed militias for taking the meeting with Trump, struck both a nationalist and statesman-like tone  which likely played well at home  by emphasizing Iraqi "sovereignty" and that Iraq should be stable, friends of the neighbors, and friends of the United States, as Laura Rozen reports. Both leaders emphasized the need for continued cooperation against IS.

Trump and Salih finessed the question of any "withdrawal" of the 5,000 US forces currently in Iraq. The Iraqi government has appointed a committee to discuss the future of American and coalition forces in Iraq. Those discussions are probably overdue, given the changes in the counter-IS mission, and our guess is they will go on for some time. There is also talk of a NATO lead, or cover, for the mission in Iraq. While there were protests today in Iraq calling for US forces to leave, which would be Irans objective, many Iraqi leaders value the role of US military training and cooperation against IS, whether they say so publicly or not, as Rozen reports. And those Iraqi leaders not beholden to Iran understand that US security cooperation is essential to maintaining Iraqi sovereignty.

Salihs separate speech at Davos was prepared perfectly, Ali Mamouri reports, as the Iraqi president kept the balance between Iran and US from one side and among different Iraqi forces from the other side.

With the Trump meeting behind him, Salih can turn his attention back to building a coalition for reform in Iraq that includes a new electoral law and appointment of a prime minister who would at least in part accommodate protesters demands for change.
Ms. Caplan earned a bachelors degree in political science at the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1945. In 1951 she married Alfred H. Caplan, and when their first child, Karen, was born in 1955, Ms. Caplan sought a job that would have flexible enough hours to allow her to breastfeed.

She asked her husbands aunt and uncle, who were managers at a wholesale produce market, if there were any such jobs available. She called on the right day; they had just lost their bookkeeper, and they brought her aboard despite her lack of bookkeeping experience or knowledge of the business.

I knew nothing about produce or fruits and vegetables other than what I ate, Ms. Caplan said in Fear No Fruit, a 2015 documentary film promoted on the companys website about her.

She learned other aspects of the business, including sales, and began pushing unusual products for the time, beginning with fresh mushrooms. In the early 1960s, when two stalls became available, the Southern Pacific Railroad, landlord of the market, urged her to start her own business. She did and became the go-to distributor for anyone offering something unusual.

The other people on the market were only interested in high-volume items, Ms. Caplan told The Orange County Register in 2015. Small farmers had no place to go. Nobody was interested. So I started listening to all these small farmers.

The approach proved, well, fruitful. By 2003 the company was reported to have annual sales of about $50 million. Ms. Caplan built that success as a woman in a largely male business.
Radio and TV Production Editor

Friday 21 February 2020, 01:01AM

Class Act Media is seeking an experienced Audio/Video production editor to join our broadcast media team. Duties include:

-Production of Radio and Television Commercials

-Filming and editing Television Content

-Managing the Radio Playout System

The ideal candidate will be highly creative and motivated individual with a strong teamwork abilities. If hired you will join a small team of both Thai and Foreign staff, however this position is for Thai Nationals only.

What we offer:

-Competitive salary

-Five day work week (Monday-Friday from 8:30am to 6:00pm)

-Social Security, of which our company pays 100% of the cost

Interested candidates are invited to fill out an application and attach their full resume in English indicating qualifications, experience and expected salary, with a recent photo on: thephuketnews.com/job.php
live bse live

nse live Volume Todays L/H More 

Yes Bank share price remained on an upward trajectory and jumped 4.40 percent to close at Rs 42.75 on BSE on January 24.

The stock logged a healthy gain of 6.5 percent a day before, buoyed by State Bank of India (SBI) Chairman Rajnish Kumars statement that the private lender was too big to be allowed to fail.

With today's gains, the stock has extended its winning run into the third consecutive day. In the three sessions, the stock has risen 11.47 percent.

Kumars comments brought relief for Yes Bank stock, which is 87 percent down from its 52-week high of Rs 285.90 hit on April 3, 2019.

"The SBI chairman's comment has reinforced the confidence that there are enough buyers for Yes Bank. We expect some fundraising will be done soon and as the liquidity starts to get easier, enough people will come forward to buy the franchise of Yes Bank," said IIFL Securities director Sanjiv Bhasin.

However, market experts also point out that Yes Bank has not been able to raise capital despite several efforts and a lot will depend on the banks extraordinary general meeting called on February 7.

Besides, the market will be closely watching the lender's December quarter numbers. Asset quality and commentary on capital raising will be the focus, though the bank has not announced the earnings release date.

Most brokerages are expecting unimpressive numbers for the bank.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Wahyoe Boediwardhana (The Jakarta Post) Surabaya  Fri, January 24, 2020 14:55 719 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2060d9ee0 1 National racist,circular,surabaya Free

The head and all the staffers of community unit (RW) 03 at Bangkingan village in Surabaya, East Java made a public apology on Tuesday after issuing a circular that contained racist sentiments.

The circular issued on Jan. 12 went viral on social media on Tuesday and received a backlash from people condemning the racial statements.

The circular included the sentence: Those who want to build a house and are not a pribumi, must give a contribution of Rp 500,000 (US$36) for the community unit and Rp 500,000 for the neighborhood unit.

The word pribumi is used to define those who are native Indonesians.

The circular included at least seven regulations on how pribumi must live in the area.

However, on Tuesday evening the community unit head announced the cancellation of the circular as well as making a public apology.

I, Paran, the head of RW 03, and neighborhood unit (RT) heads in this village, clarify and apologize for the circular of RW 03 Bangkingan village which contains the racist words pribumi and non-pribumi, Paran, the head of RW 03 said after a meeting at the Surabaya police headquarters on Tuesday evening.

We officially canceled the circular. And we will revise it with further coordination with related parties.

Paran said they decided to withdraw it because it contradicted with a mayoral and Home Ministry decree.

Surabaya Police spokesperson Adj. Comr. Akhyar confirmed to The Jakarta Post that they had summoned the village administrators of RW 03 Bangkingan village on Tuesday evening to clarify the circular.

Because there are sentences that sound racist, thats why we tried to clarify and give them some mentoring, Akhyar said.

Josiah Michael, a member of Surabaya Legislative Council Commission A and a politician from the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) said he hoped people would not easily judge the administrators of RW 03 as racist.

I suspect they had no intention of discriminating against anyone. () I think its more about the wording of the circular and the education background of the people. But I think we still have to clarify it because it will really disturb the social life and the extortion problems, Josiah said.

Josiah, an Indonesian of Chinese descent, further said that he also experienced similar discrimination when he moved to Lakarsantri subdistrict four years ago.

But when I discussed it with them, I understood that what they meant as native people was those who were born and had lived in the area for generations. And those non-natives are the newcomers in the area that live in the new housing that has been widely developed in Lakarsanti. So, it is more about the wording, not about race. But still we have to clarify it, Josiah said.

The Surabaya administration has also summoned the subdistrict head, village head, RT head and RW head to sign a joint agreement to revise the decree.

Topics : racist circular surabaya
[January 24, 2020] Godrej & Boyce Trains 1.41 Lakh Youth Across India

Godrej Disha works across 23 states, with 29 partners, at 88 centers MUMBAI, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Godrej Disha, part of the Good & Green initiative, designed to skill underserved youth has, as on January 2020, trained nearly 1,41,408 youth across India. The Godrej Disha program is an endeavor at creating a more holistic approach towards skilling the youth, providing training for sales, service, rural entrepreneurship, construction, manufacturing and technical training. Through Godrej Disha, the company has collaborated with several non-profit organizations and social enterprises to design training programs in vocational skills that are relevant to their businesses. Currently, Godrej Disha is spread across 23 states, with 29 partners, at 88 centers. The program is also exploring newer courses with a focus on increasing the number of women trainees. Some of the courses provide training for capabilities related to IoT, Industry 4.0, ERP systems and special training for PwDs. By he end of 2020, Godrej & Boyce aims at having trained 1.5 lac youth.



George Menezes, Head of the Skilling Initiative at Godrej & Boyce and COO, Godrej Electricals & Electronics said, "India has one of the largest young populations in the world; sadly, most are unemployable as they lack the requisite skills required by the industry. For a country to progress, making its youth employable is an absolute imperative. The 'demographic dividend' can only become a reality when we equip the youth, to find meaningful employment or become entrepreneurs. This will not only drive employment but also fuel consumption that is needed to sustain our economic growth trajectory. In line with the 'Skill India' mission, through the Godrej Disha initiative, we've decided to invest in helping skill India's youth. This is one of the key initiatives under the Good & Green CSR program. Initiatives such as Skill India and efforts to revamp the approach to education and are vital aspects of the nation's growth strategy." About Good & Green

At Godrej our sustainability strategy, Good & Green, is driven by the desire to help create a more inclusive and greener India. Launched in 2011 as one of our four key imperatives for Good & Green is based on shared value, a principle that aligns business competitiveness and growth with social and environmental impact. We aspire to create a more employable Indian workforce, build a greener India, and innovate for 'good' and 'green' products. 'Good' products are designed to address a critical social issue (e.g. healthcare and sanitation) for consumers at the base of the income pyramid. 'Green' products are those that are environmentally sustainable. About Godrej & Boyce Godrej & Boyce, a Godrej Group Company, operates across 14 diverse businesses. Founded in 1897, the company started with the manufacture of high-quality locks. It has since diversified into Consumer Goods, Office and Industrial Products & Services, Infrastructure & Real Estate. Headquartered in Mumbai, Godrej & Boyce specializes in and is a market leader in Appliances, Furniture & Interiors, Security Solutions, Locking Solutions, AV solutions, Vending, Material Handling, Industrial Logistics, Aerospace, Nuclear Power, Defense, Tooling solutions for Auto industry, Process Equipment, Power Infrastructure, Real Estate and Green Building Consulting. Godrej is one of India's most trusted brands serving over 1.1bn customers worldwide, every day. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1081598/Khalapur_Godrej_Disha.jpg

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
In 2013 Simon Gill was appointed CEO of Highcroft Investments Plc (LON:HCFT). This analysis aims first to contrast CEO compensation with other companies that have similar market capitalization. Then we'll look at a snap shot of the business growth. Third, we'll reflect on the total return to shareholders over three years, as a second measure of business performance. This process should give us an idea about how appropriately the CEO is paid.

See our latest analysis for Highcroft Investments

How Does Simon Gill's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies?

Our data indicates that Highcroft Investments Plc is worth UK49m, and total annual CEO compensation was reported as UK209k for the year to December 2018. We think total compensation is more important but we note that the CEO salary is lower, at UK108k. We examined a group of similar sized companies, with market capitalizations of below UK152m. The median CEO total compensation in that group is UK250k.

That means Simon Gill receives fairly typical remuneration for the CEO of a company that size. Although this fact alone doesn't tell us a great deal, it becomes more relevant when considered against the business performance.

You can see a visual representation of the CEO compensation at Highcroft Investments, below.

LSE:HCFT CEO Compensation, January 24th 2020

Is Highcroft Investments Plc Growing?

Over the last three years Highcroft Investments Plc has shrunk its earnings per share by an average of 4.9% per year (measured with a line of best fit). Its revenue is up 7.2% over last year.

Sadly for shareholders, earnings per share are actually down, over three years. The modest increase in revenue in the last year isn't enough to make me overlook the disappointing change in earnings per share. These factors suggest that the business performance wouldn't really justify a high pay packet for the CEO. We don't have analyst forecasts, but you could get a better understanding of its growth by checking out this more detailed historical graph of earnings, revenue and cash flow.

Story continues

Has Highcroft Investments Plc Been A Good Investment?

With a total shareholder return of 22% over three years, Highcroft Investments Plc shareholders would, in general, be reasonably content. But they probably wouldn't be so happy as to think the CEO should be paid more than is normal, for companies around this size.

In Summary...

Simon Gill is paid around the same as most CEOs of similar size companies.

We're not seeing great strides in earnings per share, and total returns were decent but not amazing in the last three years. We're not saying the CEO pay is too generous, but it's probably fair to say that many shareholders would like to see improved performance, before any pay rise occurs. Shareholders may want to check for free if Highcroft Investments insiders are buying or selling shares.

If you want to buy a stock that is better than Highcroft Investments, this free list of high return, low debt companies is a great place to look.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Every week the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is compiling a list of the top news articles from across the world in which it is mentioned. Check all the international media coverage of IFJ, divided by language, between January 17 - 24, 2020.
Jessica Erevia and her sister Olivia Pena sat at a small table behind the register at Flip Side Record Parlor, two young adults thumbing through old photographs of themselves as kids when their mother, Clarisa Pena, ran the South Side music store.

They might as well have been holding up mirrors to their surroundings. The bold fragrance of colorful incense sticks still hits patrons at the front door. The vintage posters of Jimi Hendrix, Metallica and other hard-rock gods still loom in the stores front window. And all those faded albums still stand in all the original wooden bins.

For nearly 50 years, Flip Side has withstood changing times and changing music formats to remain the old-school go-to for headbangers throughout San Antonio.

Now that storied soundtrack may be coming to an end.

On Jan. 13, Clarisa Pena died of colon cancer at 46. To say she was the life of Flip Side would be an understatement. Pena started working weekends in 1994, joining her brother Roman Cuellar and then welcoming their sister Loraine Gunn a few months later. Pena would go on to manage Flip Side for more than 20 years, brother and sister often by her side, before taking over in 2011 when original owner Doug Lease died.

On ExpressNews.com: Flip Side Record Parlor owner Clarisa Renae Pena dies at 46

Even after her cancer diagnosis in 2016, Pena worked long hours and other jobs just to keep Flip Side open. Now that shes gone, Flip Sides future is uncertain.

Ultimately, I know that she wants the decision to be my sisters and mine, Erevia said. But I respect my family and I respect the community.  Flip Side is being taken care of right now, but in the future its something well just have to discuss and well figure out. It also depends on the people.

Were here to keep this legacy alive, Cuellar said. My sister would have wanted that.

That legacy started in 1972 at Southwest Military Drive and Commercial Avenue, a few blocks from Flip Sides present home at 840 S.W. Military Drive, where the stores past has been preserved like a noisy time capsule.

For years, Lease would greet all comers with a mustached smirk and a monotone Hey from behind a hulking wood counter plastered with band posters and topped with colorful incense sticks. In the 80s, he briefly expanded the business to a second location at Sunset Ridge shopping center near Alamo Heights, only to soon close the store with the end of his marriage.

Cuellar said Flip Side moved to its current location about a year or so before Lease died. All the while, it rolled with whatever changes rocked music distribution, adding and subtracting 8-track cartridges, cassette tapes and compact discs as demand warranted.

Yet throughout the years, Flip Side has stuck by vinyl albums  its a record parlor, after all. And even before the recent resurgence in vinyl, the merchandise and its customers had a knack for coming full circle.

Its funny because sometimes people bring me records to sell, Cuellar said. And Ill start going through them,and the price tags are Flip Side price tags.

Not that Flip Side is all about what blasts out of speakers.

Before Dave Risher opened Hogwild Records in the early 1980s behind San Antonio College, he worked at Flip Side in the late 1970s. He recalled tha Flip Side supplied the citys hard rock and heavy metal fans with more than just music. Bootleg AC/DC T-shirts were all the rage, and all things psychedelia had a home there.

It probably did at that point as much business selling smoking accessories, lets call them, than it did on music, Risher said with a laugh. Although it was a pretty good range of music.

That quirky mix remains to this day. Autographed album covers and band photos include a tarot card tribute to Black Sabbath signed by original frontman Ozzy Osbourne; its opposite a signed illustration of stoner comedian Tommy Chong as a multiarmed god holding a joint and other related paraphernalia. At the back of the shop, old 8-tracks and cassettes collect dust opposite colorful bongs and pipes behind glass.

Even Flip Sides in-store mascot reflects its singular history and character. That would be Satchmo, a chatty old parrot Lease bought when it was just a year old, and whose outbursts often ring louder than Louis Armstrongs horn or any other music that blares through the store.

Such a colorful cross section of merchandise and relics draws its share of old souls and older customers, though Flip Side sees youthful patrons, too.

On ExpressNews.com: Supporters rally to save South Side record shop

We have generations come in here, Cuellar said.

As if to prove it, 60-year-old Arturo Leija and his 33-year-old son Deric Leija thumbed through Flip Sides many albums the same day Cuellars nieces were at the store.

It was the father and sons first time there, though the elder Leija recalled going to Flip Sides original location many years ago for his album and poster needs.

You cant relive your past, I know, Arturo Leija said. But you can always go back and visit it and touch it.

Its amazing. Like a little museum in here, Deric Leija said.

Raquel Majeno, 20, also was visiting Flip Side for the first time that day, encouraged by her parents to get some records for the turntable she got for Christmas. Majeno would leave with only stickers, though she did take a shine to the shop itself.

This store feels kind of homey, like welcoming, Majeno said. I feel like I could have a talk with anyone here and it would make my day.

That, too, has been true throughout Flip Sides history. Both Cuellar and his sister Gunn recalled countless conversations over the counters that blurred the lines between friendly customer service and a heartfelt shoulder to lean on.

We talked to so many people and helped so many people with their problems, said Gunn, who left Flip Side about seven years ago and lives in Corpus Christi. Its not like your normal type of store. Some kids would just hang out all day.

Of course, that just browsing business model can be tough on the bottom line, especially for an indie record store that now competes with endless digital selections on smartphones. Gunn said the rise of streaming music cut the Flip Side paychecks practically in half. It just got tougher after Lease died, hence Pena getting other jobs to keep the store open.

Even now, Gunn said her brother, longtime employee Reuben Rodriguez and other Flip Side staffers pretty much just work to keep the lights on.

The thing is that nobody wants it to go anywhere, but nobody is coming in spending money to help us keep it open, Gunn said. The people who work there, they dont pay themselves or they just get gas money.

Penas longtime friend Joann Hetrick started working for free at Flip Side in late 2018 after helping out at an in-store fundraiser. Pena, whose cancer had come back after remission, was there, having somehow found the energy to dart about the shop wearing a record-shaped sandwich board and her familiar wide smile.

Even when she could barely walk, she was coming in here, Hetrick said.

She recalled how the day after Pena died, she forced herself to open the store for her regular Tuesday shift, only to be greeted by Satchmo squawking out a hearty Hello! in Penas voice.

It almost brought me down to my knees, Hetrick said.

Penas family plans to host some type of event to celebrate her and the store, probably within a couple of months. But beyond that, Erevia just doesnt know. She said right now shes just asking her mother to give her a sign.

Rene Guzman is a features reporter in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | rguzman@express-news.net | Twitter: @reneguz
A worker collects olives in Seville. PACO PUENTES

The United States governments decision to impose a 25% tariff on bottled Spanish olive oil in mid-October has pushed the industry to the point of near collapse. The situation has been worsened by a drop in the price of the product and the European Unions slow response to private storage for olive oil surpluses. The plummeting prices have meant it is no longer profitable to harvest olives in rain-fed orchards. Whats more, the sector fears that the US administration of President Donald Trump will increase the tariff on olive oil sold in containers of less than 18 kilograms, and apply new levies to bulk shipments.

If the situation continues businesses may have to relocate bottling plants

The US tax, which is not imposed on olive oil from Spains European competitors such as Italy, Greece and Portugal, affects around half of the 120,000 tons of Spanish olive oil that was being exported to the United States. Another 70,000 tons of Spanish olive oil that is sent to the US via Italy are also affected, and several thousand more tons that go through other countries, according to industry estimates.

The tax has already had a direct impact on the market: olive oil exports dropped to 70,000 tons in December, down from 85,000 tons in November and 106,000 tons in October. At the same time, the industry has had to import a record 20,000 tons of olive oil to export the packaged product to the US free of taxes.

According to industry sources, if the situation continues businesses will have to relocate some of the bottling plants to other countries. The group Acesur, which owns the olive oil brands Coosur and La Espanola, is buying oil in Portugal, Greece and North Africa, and bottling it in Spain. The company Borges is planning on bottling its olive oil products in Tunisia, where it has a plant. And the Portuguese brand Sovena, which produces olive oil for the Spanish-owned supermarket chain Mercadona, has a packaging plant in Portugal and another one in the US. These three big companies, together with Dcoop and Deoleo, control more than 500,000 tons of olive oil in Spain.

EU response

With just a few weeks to go before the end of the main olive harvest, cooperatives still have olive oil left over from the previous harvest. The difficulty of storing the surplus has meant that they have had to sell this olive oil at a low price to make space for the new product.

The European Union has done little to resolve the crisis sparked by Trumps tariffs, which were imposed in response to the EU subsidies for European aircraft maker Airbus. In an effort to alleviate the glut of olive oil on the market and improve prices, the European Commission agreed in November to help cover the cost of storing virgin olive oils in bulk. The Commission promised that the private storage scheme would cover more than 150,000 tons, but to date only 21,000 tons have been stored.

Agustin Rodriguez, an olive grower from the Agriculture and Farming Professional Organization in the southern region of Andalusia, fears that the industry will collapse if a rainy spring season brings a strong harvest. According to figures, some cooperatives are already using 30% of their storage space to hold older olive oil, and have not got enough space for all of the new product. Rodriguez believes the problem could be addressed by organizing the supply and changing industry strategies to find new markets for their quality product.

Antonio Luque, the head of the top global olive oil cooperative Dcoop, says the sector needs to be more organized and ensure that they have enough storage to hold two million tons of olive oil.

English version by Melissa Kitson.
Greater Noida: Police Friday arrested two suspects involved in robbing a truck loaded with electronic goods from its driver on December 13 in Greater Noida.

The suspects  Dhan Singh, a resident of Faridabad, and Deepak, a resident of Bagpat  along with two others, intercepted the truck and forced the driver to stop after overtaking him in a Mahindra Bolero. The suspects then snatched the truck and had fled the spot.

Harish Chander, deputy commissioner of police (Central Noida) said on December 13, 2019, truck driver Amit Kumar had filed a complaint regarding the incident in Surajpur police station.

The driver was carrying electronic goods from Phase 2 in Noida and was going to deliver them in Greater Noida. When the truck reached near Crowne Plaza hotel, four men reached there in a white Bolero and forced him to stop, he said.

Kumar alleged that the accused persons posed as policemen. They asked me to show the papers of the vehicle and as well as those of the goods. I showed them the documents but they soon overpowered me at gunpoint and packed me into the SUVs rear seat, he said.

The suspects then snatched his phone, 5,000 cash and truck and dumped him on the way.

Chander said police have registered a case under Section 392 (robbery) of the IPC. The police had arrested one suspect, Monu, and recovered the truck a day after the incident took place. The other accomplices were still on the run, he said.

On Friday, the police received information about the movement of some suspected criminals near Ghanta Chowk in Surajpur.

A team reached the spot and arrested the two persons who were travelling in the same SUV that was used to rob the truck driver. They had placed a police cap in the vehicle and posed as cops. We are investigating how they got hold of the police cap, Chander said.

The two were produced in court and sent to judicial custody.
Open Systems International, Inc. (OSI) has been awarded a contract by Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation (MTEMC) to supply a state-of-the-art Distribution Management System (DMS) built on OSI's monarch operational technology (OT) platform. This solution will replace MTEMC's legacy SCADA system, updating and fortifying the utility's distribution operations.

In addition to OSI's secure and scalable SCADA platform, this comprehensive DMS implementation will include Load Shed and Restoration, Dynamic Data Exchange, Distribution Network Operating Model, and a full complement of advanced DMS applications including Distribution Power Flow; Volt/VAR Optimization; Fault Location, Isolation, and System Restoration; Fault Protection Analysis; Feeder Reconfiguration; Short-Circuit Analysis; Switch Order Management; Dynamic Network Visualizer; and Distribution Operator Training Simulator.

Implementation of OSI's DMS solution provides MTEMC with a flexible and scalable OT platform capable of integration with current and emerging advanced technologies such as distributed energy resources and automated devices.

Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation (www.mtemc.com) distributes electricity to more than 230,000 residential and business members in a four-county area directly south of metropolitan Nashville. MTEMC is a member-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperative formed by farmers and homeowners in 1936.

Open Systems International (www.osii.com) headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota provides open, state-of-the-art and high-performance enterprise automation solutions to utilities worldwide. These solutions include Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, Energy Management Systems (EMS), Distribution Management Systems (DMS), Outage Management Systems (OMS), Generation Management Systems (GMS), Substation Automation (SA) Systems, Data Warehousing (Historian) Analytics, Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS), Situational Awareness Systems, Pipeline Network Management Systems (NMS), individual software and hardware products, and Smart Grid solutions for utility operations. OSI's solutions empower its users to meet their operational challenges, day in and day out, with unsurpassed reliability and a minimal cost of technology ownership and maintenance.

For additional information regarding this news release, please contact news@osii.com.
Jeffrey Archer is suing his agent after claiming that he missed out on more than 500,000 from his book deals over 17 years.

The life peer accuses Curtis Brown of not delivering advances and royalties from his works.

The author broke off from the agency in March 2019 and says he can prove that he's owed at least 500,000 and more than 250,000 in interest.

Jeffrey Archer is suing Curtis Brown as he claims the agency failed to keep documents and did not pay him what he is owed

Lord Archer says the firm failed to keep more than 250 documents relating to literary deals with Pan Macmillan publishers, the Evening Standard reports.

The company 'entirely rejects' the claim and will fight the allegations in the High Court. Former MP Lord Archer signed Curtis Brown up to work for him in 2002.

The Sins of the Father author - who published his first novel back in 1974 - negotiated a deal with the outfit to publish three volumes of his prison diaries written while serving time for perjury.

Some of the best-sellers involved in the legal row include Best Kept Secret and a 30th anniversary edition of 2009's Kane And Abel.

Lord Archer (pictured in 2019) says the firm failed to keep more than 250 documents relating to literary deals with Pan Macmillan publishers, the Evening Standard reports

Representing Lord Archer, James Ramsden QC said his client first discovered a problem in 2018.

He had asked Mitchell Rights Management (MRM) to run a 'reconciliation exercise' to check he had received all the money he was owed.

Mr Ramsden said: 'It was not possible to complete that exercise because in excess of 250 documents including royalty statements are missing and were apparently never obtained.'

He told the court that an audit has found 'underpayments' of '538,486 since 2002, plus interest of over 250,000'.

The life peer accuses Curtis Brown of not delivering advances and royalties from his works. Pictured: Two of Jeffrey Archer's novels

Lord Archer (pictured in 2000) quit the agency over the dispute, he said, and went to MRM for representation instead

The court hear that Curtis Brown committed a 'breach of duty' because of 'its apparent failure to retain documents relating to (Lord Archer) and failure to complete regular conciliation exercises has led to underpayments'.

Lord Archer quit the agency over the dispute, he said, and went to MRM for representation instead.

The peer claims that he never agreed a formal written agreement with Curtis Brown following their talks in 2002/

But he said it was understood the agency would handle finances and take 'a sum equal to 10 per cent'.

Jeffrey, pictured with his wife Mary, is battling his former agent in the High Court over hundreds of thousands he claims is owed him

Jonathan Lloyd, who is the president of Curtis Brown, is accused of asking Pan Macmillan for commission money in November last year.

He is adamant that he did no such thing and a Curtis Brown spokesman said the agency is disappointed.

He claimed that they worked very hard for the writer over their 17 years of a 'successful relationship'. The agency, he added, 'entirely reject this claim'.

Lord Archer is suing to recover 538,486 in alleged underpayments plus interest and damages for the claimed breach of duty.

Additionally, he is seeking a court declaration that his deal with Curtis Brown was legally ended in March 2019.
Actress Rosie Perez testified on Friday that fellow screen star Annabella Sciorra told her in the mid-1990s that Harvey Weinstein had raped her but that she could not go to the police because hed destroy me.

Taking the stand at the former Hollywood moguls trial, Ms Perez said her friend Ms Sciorra had told at some point in 1993, her voice shaking on the phone, that something had happened to her: I think it was rape.

Ms Perez said she asked if Ms Sciorra knew who had attacked her, but Ms Sciorra would not say at the time.

But months later, on another phone call from London, she named Weinstein, Ms Perez said.

Please go to the police, Ms Perez said she told her friend. She said Ms Sciorra responded: I cant  hed destroy me.

Expand Close Actress Rosie Perez arrives for the trial in New York (Mark Lennihan/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Actress Rosie Perez arrives for the trial in New York (Mark Lennihan/AP)

On Thursday, Ms Sciorra told jurors that the then-powerful movie producer pushed his way into her New York apartment, pinned her on a bed and forced himself on her in 1993 or 1994.

She said Ms Perez was one of a few people she told about the encounter before coming forward publicly in 2017.

Weinstein denies ever having nonconsensual sex. His lawyers said Ms Perez should not be allowed to testify, but Judge James Burke decided to allow it.

Defence lawyer Damon Cheronis pressed Ms Perez on why she did not go to police, or to Ms Sciorras home, when the actress first told her about the alleged assault.

Because I was being respectful, Ms Perez said.

Weinstein, the studio boss whose downfall energised the #MeToo movement, is charged with forcibly performing oral sex on a production assistant in his apartment in 2006 and raping an aspiring actress in a New York hotel room in 2013.

Ms Sciorra is among four additional accusers who are expected to testify against him.

The 67-year-old producer of such Oscar-winning movies as Chicago and The Kings Speech could get life in prison if convicted.

Ms Sciorra, 59, is best known for her work on The Sopranos.

Ms Perez, 55, was in 1989s Do The Right Thing and 1993s Fearless, which brought her an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress.

Expand Close Actress Annabella Sciorra at the court (Richard Drew/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Actress Annabella Sciorra at the court (Richard Drew/AP)

Weinsteins lawyers seized on Ms Sciorras actions after the alleged assault, asking such questions as why Ms Sciorra made the 1997 Weinstein-produced film Cop Land if he had raped her a few years earlier.

Ms Sciorra said she was not aware of Weinsteins involvement until she had agreed to appear in the film.

The defence has also questioned why Weinsteins accusers stayed in friendly contact for years with a man they say had assaulted them.

Prosecutors sought to give jurors some answers on Friday by calling to the stand a forensic psychiatrist who testified about the same topic at the Pennsylvania trial that led to Bill Cosbys 2018 conviction on charges of sexually assaulting a woman.

Dr Barbara Ziv told Weinsteins jury of seven men and five women that most sex-assault victims continue to have contact with their attackers, who often threaten retaliation if the victims tell anyone what happened.

Victims are hoping that this is just an aberration, she said, and they tell themselves: I can put it in a box and forget about it. I dont want it to get worse. I can handle this physical trauma, but God forbid this ruins the rest of my life.

Victims can end up blaming themselves without knowing that their behaviour is entirely expected, said Ms Ziv, who has described herself as an expert on sexual assault victim behaviour who has evaluated more than 1,000 such people.

She did not, however, evaluate any of Weinsteins accusers, a point his lawyers seized on.
Louisiana state representative Katrina Jackson stood out on the stage at Fridays March for Life as an African-American woman and the only elected Democrat to address the nations largest pro-life rally.

Jackson is the author of the 2014 Louisiana abortion restrictions at the heart of a Supreme Court case that will be heard this spring. In 2019, Louisiana governor John Bel Edwards became the first Democratic governor in the country to approve a ban on abortion after the unborn childs heartbeat can be detected.

Louisiana is the number one pro-life state. And do you know why? Because in Louisiana, the majority of Democrats who are elected are pro-lifers, Jackson told the crowd. Every day that I walk into the state capitol, I am greeted by pro-lifers regardless of whether theyre black, white, Republican, Democrat, male, female.

Jacksons presence at the event was a reminder of the importance of pro-life Democrats  that the right to life ought to be too important to leave at the mercy of partisan politics. Her presence was also a reminder of just how few elected pro-life Democrats there are left in the country. Although she is only a state representative, she was the highest-ranking Democrat to address the crowd. (Edwardss wife, Donna, also spoke.)

In the U.S. House, there are only three pro-life Democrats left: Collin Peterson of Minnesota, Dan Lipinski of Illinois, and Henry Cuellar of Texas. Lipinski barely survived a Democratic primary challenge motivated by his pro-life stance in 2017, and he faces a similarly tough challenge again this year. Cuellar, meanwhile, declined to join Lipinski and Peterson this year in signing on to an amicus brief calling for the court to overturn Roe v. Wade.

By contrast, Republicans were out in full force at the March for Life: Several Republican members of the U.S. House and Senate were on stage, and Donald Trump became the first president in history to address the rally in person rather than by video.

Story continues

Trump delivered some scathing but accurate remarks about congressional Democratic leaders support for taxpayer funding of abortion and unrestricted access to the procedure until the moment of birth. He concluded his remarks on an uplifting note: We know that every human soul is divine and every human life, born and unborn, is made in the holy image of Almighty God.

The presidents presence was cause for some controversy, as it always is. His past remarks have often been at odds with the rhetoric he used at the March for Life about the dignity of every human life. So how exactly should pro-lifers think about the speech he gave on Friday?

Russell Moore, the president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, the public-policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, hasnt been afraid to criticize immoral rhetoric and policies on either side of the aisle. In 2016, he warned that the pro-life movement cannot coexist with either sexual revolutionary libertinism nor with Howard Stern-style misogyny. When he was asked at an event in Washington on Thursday what he thought of Trumps scheduled appearance at the March for Life, Moore said: I think its great for President Trump to come to the March for Life. I think it would be great for any president of the United States to come to the March for Life and to give greetings. So long as its very clear we are hearing from somebody and speaking to somebody, and that doesnt mean that the entire movement hangs or falls on this one personality, whatever you think of the personality.

What we need for the pro-life movement is for elected officials to be in conversation with the pro-life movement consistently, Moore added. And we need a pro-life movement that transcends those politicians as well.

More from National Review
When she looked through what had just moments ago been her sliding glass doors to see a fire across the street, Maria Zuniga thought a missile had struck.

She ignored the glass shards and dashed through her home, shrieking for her family to wake up and go outside, now  dont wait, dont get dressed, just go.

The ceiling fell down, she said. We are in shock.

Zuniga, 39, and her husband and two children have lived across the street from the Watson Grinding and Manufacturing warehouse for 15 years. The explosion at the plant early Friday morning killed two people and damaged 200 houses. It shook people awake miles away. Those who couldnt see the flames raced online and posted videos captured from their door cameras and speculated whether the boom was an earthquake or a meteorite or the opening salvos of World War III. Close to the plant, residents were left unable to return to their homes in the immediate aftermath and with no idea of where to spend the night.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Deadly Gessner explosion the latest in string of major chemical incidents for Houston area

Its really scary because I dont know what were gonna do, said Ashley Colchado, Zunigas 16-year-old daughter, hours after the blast.

Colchado had been asleep on the couch when the house shook and the glass shattered. She pulled her blanket tighter around herself and thought she couldnt move, even as she heard her mother and uncle start to yell. Once she assured herself that her family was safe and out of the home  save the cuts on her dads face and legs  she thought, Well, I dont know where were gonna go.

Now Playing: West Houston building explosion Video: Houston Chronicle

The duplex is the only home Colchado can remember. She walked back through to get her essentials and saw the damage: Glass shards everywhere, windows blown out, the ceiling ripped down, the kitchen lamp on the floor and the brick cracked on the front of the house.

Zuniga still has a hard time thinking clearly. The landlord of their duplex hasnt called her back, their $850 in rent is due in three days and the familys most likely option for the night is a shelter.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Exclusive drone footage captures the devastation of deadly explosion in west Houston

The Nguyen family had intended to spend the night celebrating. Jan. 24 marks the eve of Chinese New Year. The Nguyen familys houses  seven doors down from each other on Talina Way, right by the plant  were spotless. In keeping with tradition, the families had spent Thursday cleaning.

When Yen Nguyen, 70, and her brother, Quan, walked back into the house she shares with their 97-year-old father, all they saw was the damage. Dust was everywhere. A ceiling panel had fallen on top of the Tupperware stacked in preparation on top of the kitchen table. A light fixture hung from its cords. At Quan Nguyens house, a piece of the garage had fallen on his Lexus SUV.

Yen Nguyen had thought a car rammed into their home before she opened the door to see the smoke and fire. Ken Harvey, 72, who also lives by the plant, thought it looked like a tornado had come through his home. At the exact moment of impact, he didnt have the ability to think much at all.

On HoustonChronicle.com: What we know about Watson Grinding and Manufacturing, the company at center of Houston explosion

Harvey had been awake to feel the explosion. The sheetrock cracked. The ceiling fell down. The bathroom sink fell off the wall. He stumbled outside in the dark and heard a man calling for help.

I couldnt see him because it was dark, he said. Im trying to climb over my door and hes hollering, Im messed up! Im messed up! Call 9-1-1!

He tried to dial for help but couldnt get through. He thought he heard the man on the phone with someone. Then, in what seemed like an instant, the man was gone.

He waited outside a gas station to be let back into his house with his son, Ryan, who lives 30 minutes away but works at a sign design company right by his father. Ryan Harvey got a text from his boss in the morning showing aerial footage of the building. The south wall had collapsed.

In the hours Harvey sat watching and waiting, he did not see the man from the debris.

I couldnt describe him. I never saw him, Harvey said. I just know he was there.

Perla Trevizo and St. John Barned-Smith contributed reporting.

sarah.smith@chron.com
Britains delayed and disputed Brexit bill became law on Thursday, removing the last UK obstacle to the country leaving the European Union in just over a week.

London: Britains delayed and disputed Brexit bill became law on Thursday, removing the last UK obstacle to the country leaving the European Union in just over a week.

The UK is finally leaving the 28-nation bloc more than 3 1/2 years after voters narrowly opted to do so in a June 2016 referendum  and after interminable rounds of political wrangling.

Deputy Speaker Nigel Evans announced Thursday in the House of Commons that the Withdrawal Agreement Act had received royal assent from Queen Elizabeth II, the final formality in its legislative journey. An identical announcement was made by the speaker of Parliament's upper House of Lords.

Evans' brief announcement, which drew cheers of Hear! Hear! from some Conservative lawmakers in the Commons, came hours after the bill completed its passage through Parliament late Wednesday by getting approval from the House of Lords.

"At times, it felt like we would never cross the Brexit finish line, but we've done it," Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.

The EU Parliament also must ratify the Brexit divorce deal before 31 January, Britain's scheduled departure date. The EU Parliaments constitutional affairs committee voted by a large margin Thursday to approve the Brexit withdrawal deal, preparing the way for a vote of all European lawmakers in Brussels next Wednesday.

It's a historical moment, albeit a somber moment, for us. We deeply regret this outcome, committee chair Antonio Tajani said after the 23-3 vote.

After years of divorce negotiations between the British government and the EU, UK lawmakers repeatedly defeated attempts by both Johnson and his predecessor Theresa May to finalize Britain's departure terms with the other 27 nations of the bloc.

That changed when Johnsons Conservatives won Britain's Dec. 12 election, giving his government the ability to override the objections of opposition parties. Opposition members of the House of Lords battled to amend the withdrawal bill but were overruled by Johnson's 80-strong majority in the Commons.

But deep divisions over Brexit remain.

After the royal assent was announced, Scottish National Party lawmaker Ian Blackford said the U.K. was in a constitutional crisis because the legislatures in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland did not back the Brexit bill.

Boris Johnson has trampled over the democratic votes in Edinburgh, Belfast, and Cardiff," Blackford said.

The Scottish National Party says Scotland should hold a referendum on independence from the UK, which Johnson refuses to allow.

Despite Johnsons repeated promise to get Brexit done on 31 January, the day of departure only marks the start of the country's EU exit.

Guy Verhofstadt, the leading EU lawmaker on Brexit, said the blocs parliament would continue to scrutinize the way Britain implemented the divorce agreement, especially to ensure that the rights of EU citizens living in the UK are protected after Brexit.

In February, Britain and the EU will begin negotiations on their future ties, racing to strike new relationships for trade, security and a host of other areas by the end of 2020.

Johnson insists he wont agree to any delays in those talks beyond the end of the year. The UK is also keen to begin talks on a free trade deal with the United States and intends to negotiate simultaneously with the EU and the US.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said a deal with Britain was an absolute priority of President Trump and we expect to complete that within this year."

US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said a trade deal between the two countries shouldn't be too difficult because their economies are similar.

Both are very heavily services-oriented and within services, such as financial services, theres already a pretty high degree of integration and coordination, so it should be much easier mechanically, he said in Davos.

But British opposition politicians are already raising concerns about issues ranging from food-safety standards  especially the US practice of chlorine-washing chicken to kill germs  to drug prices.

Ross sought to dampen concerns that a trade deal would mean higher drug prices in the UK as US pharmaceutical companies look to gain concessions from Britain's state-run National Health Service.

What we think is that drugs should have similar prices wherever they are but I dont believe we are in any position to tell the UK what they should pay for drugs," he said.
PITTSBURGH, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Press Club of Western Pennsylvania is calling for submissions to the 2020 Tri-State Golden Quill Awards for Excellence in Journalism, Media and Communications in Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio and Northern West Virginia. The 56th competition recognizes professional excellence in written, broadcast, photographic, video and digital journalism, and communications in Western Pennsylvania and neighboring counties in Eastern Ohio and Northern West Virginia.

The Golden Quill competition has undergone additional changes for 2020, and categories have been revised to adapt to changes in the industry. New Corporate, Marketing and Promotional Communications categories have been added this year. The awards will continue to undergo examination based upon feedback and participation to ensure a competitive field.

The contest also includes a student competition, designed to highlight outstanding work being produced by the next generation of journalists. It is open to undergraduate and graduate students.

The entry deadline for the Golden Quill Awards is 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020. All entries must have been published or broadcast between Jan. 1, 2019, and Dec. 31, 2019, to be eligible.

Entries to the Golden Quill Awards will be submitted using a Web-based program at www.betterbnc.com, and payment will be online only. Rules and instructions for submission for the awards -- open to all news professionals in 29 counties of Western Pennsylvania; Ohio counties of Belmont, Columbiana, Jefferson, Mahoning and Trumbull; and West Virginia counties of Brooke, Cabell, Hancock, Marion, Marshall, Monongalia, Ohio, Preston and Wetzel -- can be downloaded from The Press Club's website at http://www.westernpapressclub.org or received in hard copy by contacting The Press Club at 412-281-7778 or by sending email to [email protected].

Winners of the Golden Quills will be announced during the awards ceremony on Wednesday, May 27, 2020, at the Rivers Casino on Pittsburgh's North Shore.

The Press Club of Western Pennsylvania is an organization of journalists and other communications professionals from a 29-county area of Western Pennsylvania. It sponsors forums on current events and educational programs, supports the Urban Journalism Workshop operated by the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation and presents the annual Golden Quill awards contest and ceremony, honoring the best of journalism in Western Pennsylvania and also nearby counties in Ohio and West Virginia. Membership in the Press Club includes discounts on fees for programs and Golden Quill entries, use of dining facilities at the Engineers Building, Downtown, and access to the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., and 15 other press clubs around the country. For a membership application, email contact information to: [email protected] or download an application from http://www.westernpapressclub.org. Payment for membership can be made online.

PR Newswire is the official wire of The Press Club of Western Pennsylvania.

SOURCE The Press Club of Western Pennsylvania

Related Links

http://www.westernpapressclub.org


We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription.
The Avenue Road Veterinary Hospital in Dundalk has penned an open letter thanking Dundalk-based US company PetSafe for their "substantial" kind donation of funds.

The local vets say the donation has gone towards helping injured, lost and feral cats across Dundalk.

In the letter the Avenue Road Vets said: "Petsafe became deeply involved in animal welfare in 2019 when they made a substantial donation available to the Avenue Road Veterinary Hospital in Dundalk to go towards the care of stray cats in the area.

"This donation was badly needed as there are many stray and feral cats in Dundalk in desperate need of medical attention, and local charities are simply overwhelmed with the demand on their limited resources.

"Thanks to this generous donation from Petsafe the team at Avenue Veterinary Hospital were able to help many sick and injured cats over the course of the last year. They worked very closely with Fiona Squibb of the Louth SPCA who helped catch many of the cats, and without her unceasing and tireless dedication to animal welfare many animals in Louth would be lost!

"They were also able to neuter and release many of the feral cats in the town, which will greatly help to reduce the feral cat population over the coming years.

"These cats received a full health check and if they were clear of any infectious diseases they were neutered and had a small nick put in their left ear, so that they can easily be identified as having been neutered should they ever be caught again.

"Feral cats also provide a free pest control service for the area, so they help keep the town clean and rodent free!"

The local vets said that unfortunately, they were not able to save all of the cats in the area: "Sadly not all cats were able to be saved, as some were inbred and had various health issues, whilst others were infected with the Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and/or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), both of which are highly contagious and life-limiting diseases.

"These diseases can be spread through a cats saliva or through mating, and can be passed from mothers to kittens, so they can spread very quickly and also pose a threat to family pets as any cat that comes into contact with an infected animal is at risk of exposure."

However, there have been plenty of happy endings for other cats: "On a happy note however the vast majority of cats brought to the hospital were able to be treated and either released or rehomed. Many of the cats who were rehomed had to board at the hospital for a time, with all of their needs being provided for by Petsafe. If you are following the Avenue Vets Facebook page you are probably already aware that some of these cats had very sad stories before being rescued, with some being found in ditches, woods or had even being thrown in the bin!

"There was the case of two mother cats and their four kittens who were brought to the clinic for treatment, the mothers were both neutered and they were all treated for parasites. They then had a somewhat lengthy stay at the hospital before loving homes were found for all of them, which would not have been possible had Petsafe not been able to provide for their care during that time.

"One cat was also found on waste ground with his tail caught in brambles, he had been there for over a week before a member of the public was able to bring him to the hospital. His tail sadly had to be amputated but he was otherwise in relatively good health and was very friendly, so he was homed to a lovely family in Dublin. His was the last case treated under the Petsafe scheme, so it was wonderful to end the year on a happy note.

"These are only some examples of the many cats whose lives were saved thanks to the generosity and kindness of Petsafe. The Avenue Veterinary Hospital would like to extend our sincere thanks to this wonderful company for their much-needed support and would encourage everyone to support the Petsafe Brand by visiting their website at https://intl.petsafe.net/en-ie and perhaps purchasing some of their amazing products for your own animals, we are sure you will not be disappointed as

they have many innovative and high-quality items to help improve the lives of your pets!"
Following the prayers at Mecca Masjid, thousands of Muslims pledge not to provide documents for CAA, NRC and NPR on Friday. (Deepak Deshpande)

Hyderabad: Terming as vague the orders issued by the police commissioner who permitted the January 25 meeting being organised by the United Muslims Action Committee and the MIM at Khilwat ground, Justice Tadakamalla Vinod Kumar of the Telangana High Court on Friday laid down a series of conditions.

Justice Vinod Kumar told the organisers not to hold bike rallies or hoist the National Flag. He said the volume of the loudspeakers should be in consonance with the Supreme Court guidelines (75 decibels during the day and 65 dB at night in residential areas). He capped the number of participants at 3,500 and directed that the event be held between 6 pm an 11 pm.

The court was adjudicating on a petition by one T. Uma Mahendra, who sought directions to the police not to grant permission to hold midnight demonstrations at Charminar as well as three Lunch Motion petitions filed on Friday by the Swami Vivekanandha Youth Welfare Association and two others opposing holding the meeting at Khilwat ground.

The court faulted the police commissoner for not mentioning number of speakers at the meeting and the time frame. Justice Vinod Kumar also inquired with the government counsel whether or not the state had received intelligence alerts from the Union home ministry on the CAA and NRC. He also referred to the recent communal riots at Bhainsa.

Government counsel Sharat said the state had received some alerts from the Centre and state officials had discussed the issue with the Union home ministry.

Based on these, the organisers were told to change the venue to Khilwat grounds.

To this, Justice Vinod Kumar said, Your contentions were the same when this court accorded permission for the rally and meeting on January 10, held by the same organisers, at Idgah Mir Alam. The police literally failed to control the mob and traffic went haywire, bringing the entire Old City to a grinding halt.

Moreover, the number of participants quoted by you (government counsel) was 1,000 whereas the mob swelled to nearly a lakh. The writ petition is still pending before me and this court will take judicial note of all the blatant violations of orders.

Counsels for the petitioners opposed the permission accorded by the police commissioner to hold the meeting at Khilwat ground. They alleged that the police chief had been very partisan towards the organisers. They said the Khilwat ground is adjacent to the Charminar area, and holding a meeting there is equivalent to holding the meeting at Charminar.

They insisted that Justice Vinod Kumar direct the organisers to change the venue but the judge declined.

Counsels contended that the meeting may stretch into January 26, Republic Day, when the police will have to arrange foolproof security arrangements. If the police is made to work in such strenuous, arduous conditions, they will slip into frustration and it may affect their performance.
The Committee has published a report on a petition submitted by Animal Aid, which collected 1,066 signatures. This stated:

We call on the National Assembly to urge the Welsh Government to introduce mandatory CCTV in slaughterhouses to help vets with better regulation and monitoring, to provide footage for training and retraining, to deter some of the animal welfare abuses filmed by Animal Aid, and to provide evidence for prosecutions should they be necessary.

Following detailed scrutiny of the issue, the Committee disagreed with the Welsh Governments position that compulsory CCTV should be considered only if a purely voluntary approach fell short.

According to the Welsh Government, there are 24 slaughterhouses in Wales, but 14 do not currently have CCTV installed. The Welsh Government has made funding for the installation of CCTV equipment available, but the Committee believes that making such arrangements mandatory would be significantly more effective in ensuring that animal welfare standards are upheld in all premises.

Moves have already taken place towards making CCTV mandatory in England and Scotland.

In Wales, undercover filming carried out during 2019 showed multiple examples of poor treatment of animals at a slaughterhouse near Wrexham. The footage included sheep dragged along by their throats, pulled by their ears or legs, and even evidence of workers slaughtering animals without adequately stunning them first. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is investigating.

Separately, the Committee received another petition calling for Adequate funding to protect the welfare of farm animals in Welsh slaughterhouses.

The Welsh Government provides the FSA with funding to support them to deliver animal welfare inspections and enforcement.

However, evidence received by the Committee showed that the Welsh Government only allocated 32,000 of funding in 2019/20, and as little as 7,400 in one previous year (2016/17).

The Committee has recommended that the Welsh Government provide a sufficient level of funding to carry out effective animal welfare checks at slaughterhouses in Wales, including for the monitoring and enforcement of CCTV footage.
The year: 2002.

The setting: A dark, smokey club in a mid-sized college town.

(Yes, I am old enough to remember when we people chose the slow death of smoking over the sudden, crippling onset of Evali, or e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury. Apparently both doctors and politicians learn how to make something terrifying sound like the fine print on a credit card bill.)

The question: "Where are you from?



The answer: "Utah."

The response?

One of the following:

A quizzical look that perfectly communicated the following word: "Where?"

The person across from you asking, "So, are you Mormon?"

A quizzical look, followed by the person asking "Where?" followed by the person asking "So, are you Mormon?"

I grew up in Park City, Utah, a ski town thirty miles east of downtown Salt Lake City. I moved away in 2002 to attend college in another state. Whenever anyone asked me where I originally came from, the series of looks and questions described began like clockwork.

At the beginning of this century, the Utah I left was defined almost entirely by mountains and the Mormon Church.

Today, the ski slopes surrounding the Wasatch Front continue to attract millions of skiers and snowboarders every year, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints plays a large role in the state's culture and economy.

But so do Facebook, Adobe, Goldman Sachs, SoFi, Dell EMC, and the other companies that have built campuses, data centers, and other facilities in Utah. The result has been a sustained economic boom that has led Utah to consistently rank as one of the nation's most economically diverse, dynamic, and successful states.

Countless other cities, regions, and states are trying to establish a culture of entrepreneurship and business success.

Why has Utah succeeded?

"There is a stereotype about Utah that says our workforce is abnormally talented, educated, and dedicated," said Theresa Foxley, President and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Utah. "In this case, the stereotype is true. Companies know they can find a skilled labor pool here. Our political and civic leaders have also created a business-friendly culture that encourages entrepreneurship. The result is an economy that gets stronger every year."

The state and its communities have also made significant investments in infrastructure, including the $4.1B renovation of Salt Lake City International Airport. And while the state's growing technology and financial sectors have led to nicknames like "The Silicon Slopes" and "The Wall Street of the West," the nation's most diverse state economy boasts strong construction, manufacturing, outdoor recreation, and filmmaking sectors.

"We are becoming a destination for major companies, high-potential startups, and small businesses specifically because they value this region's cautious, pro-business culture," said Brandon Hill, founder of Mountain Standard Time Marketing. "It might sound a little boring, but the 'Utah Way' often leads to success. Our unique corporate environment is one reason why more businesses are planting their flag in and around Salt Lake."

The year: 2020.

The setting: A dark, smokeless club.

The question: "Where are you from?"

The answer: "Utah."

The response?

"Really? My cousin in an engineer for Adobe and lives in Salt Lake. He loves it."

That answer is the result of one of America's most successful economic development strategies.
Rebecca Long-Bailey all-but cemented her position in the final vote to become Labour leader today as the main Corbynista trade union backed her to replace Jeremy Corbyn.

Members of Unite, the second largest union in Britain, backed the shadow business secretary after a ballot this afternoon, as well as Richard Burgon for deputy leader.

The union's general secretary Len McCluskey is a close confidant of Mr Corbyn and its endorsement of the current leadership's preferred successor was widely expected.

Announcing the decision he said: 'It was the view of the executive that Becky has both the brains and the brilliance to take on Boris Johnson.

'She's incredibly committed; very, very strong in her beliefs and her vision.'

Ms Long-Bailey has already got the support of the Bakers, Foods and Allied Workers union and the support of Unite leaves leave her needing the backing of just one more group to make the final ballot.

She said she was 'honoured' to receive the nomination, and said trade unions will be 'at the heart' of Labour's 'path back to power'.

Sir Keir Starmer and Lisa Nandy have already secured their places in the membership vote but the remaining candidate, Emily Thornberry, is facing an uphill struggle to progress having failed to win any major union backing.

The shadow foreign secretary tried to breathe new life into her campaign last night as she launched a vicious attack on her rivals, labelling Sir Keir and Ms Long-Bailey 'machine politicians'.

Announcing the decision Len McCluskey said: 'It was the view of the executive that Becky has both the brains and the brilliance to take on Boris Johnson'

Ms Long-Bailey has already got the support of the Bakers, Foods and Allied Workers union and the support of Unite leaves leave her needing the backing of just one more group to make the final ballot

To make it onto the final ballot candidates must win the nominations of 33 local constituency Labour parties or three Labour affiliates, including at least two trade unions.

Labour leadership hustings cancelled The Labour leadership hustings in Leeds scheduled for tomorrow has been cancelled after Sir Keir Starmer pulled out as his mother-in-law was critically ill in hospital, the party has said. The shadow Brexit secretary announced yesterday that he was suspending campaigning after his mother-in-law was involved in a serious accident. Labour's general secretary Jennie Formby said that to ensure fairness to all the candidates, the party's procedures committee had agreed tomorrow's hustings should not now go ahead. The deputy leadership hustings will take place as planned. Advertisement

That means without the backing of one of the big unions, a candidate will likely have to go the much more arduous route of sewing up a raft of endorsements from local parties in order to stand a chance.

Ms Long-Bailey has already got the support of the Bakers, Foods and Allied Workers union and the support of Unite would leave her needing the backing of just one more group.

She is viewed as the 'continuity Corbyn' candidate in the race and she has the backing of the current party leadership and hard-left activists.

It would be a huge shock if Unite opted to back one of the other three candidates in a move which would likely sink Ms Long-Bailey's hopes of succeeding Mr Corbyn.

Mr McCluskey said ahead of today's meeting that 'whoever becomes the leader will have the full support of Unite'.

However, the union's executive is reportedly leaning towards recommending its members give Ms Nandy their second preference votes in a huge boost for the Wigan MP's chances of success.

The leadership ballot will use an alternative vote system which will see members rank candidates in order of preference.

Candidates will be eliminated round-by-round and their second preference votes will be reallocated until one of the challengers has secured more than 50 per cent of support.

Ms Nandy's campaign team believe many people who vote for the other three candidates will put her name second which means she could gain ground as the votes are counted, allowing her to spring a surprise.

Sir Keir is currently the favourite to take over from Mr Corbyn with Ms Long-Bailey the bookmaker's second favourite and Ms Nandy third.

Emily Thornberry, pictured in Liverpool at a hustings event on January 18, has labelled Ms Long-Bailey and Sir Keir Starmer 'machine politicians'

Ms Thornberry is viewed as the rank outsider in the race and last night she tried to kickstart her campaign by attacking her rivals as she suggested they were already plotting leadership bids in the run up to the general election.

She told ITV: 'The truth is, is that I had a standing start, so I threw everything into the general election and I started after the general election. I didn't think that's necessarily the case with everybody else.'

Asked to clarify her remarks, she said: 'I'm saying no more than me. I started after the general election and we now have two machines, and we have two machine politicians, one on the left and one maybe perceived to be on the right. And there's a bit of squeeze going on.'

Candidates who do secure the required support will be put to a ballot of party members between February 21 and April 2.

The winner of the contest is due to be announced at a special event on April 4.
Fadnavis said that a Shiv Sena leader was the minister of state for home during his tenure. (Photo Credit: Twitter/@DevendraFadnavis)

New Delhi :

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said that his government didnt give any orders to tape phones of Opposition leaders, adding that the current Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government was free to investigate the matter. "Phone tapping is not the culture of Maharashtra. My government had not given any such orders," Fadnavis, who is the Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative Assembly, said in a statement.

The BJP leader also sought to question the credibility of the state government and argued that a Shiv Sena leader was the minister of state for home during his government. "The whole country knows the credibility of those who have levelled such allegations," Fadnavis, who was the chief minister of the state between 2014 and 2019, said.

"The state government is free to probe the allegations with the help of any machinery. People of Maharashtra know the truth. A Shiv Sena leader was the minister of state for home during my tenure," he added.

His remarks come a day after Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh alleged that the Fadnavis dispensation had misused the government machinery to tap the phones of opposition leaders, especially during the formation of the MVA government.

Deshmukh said that the cyber cell of the Maharashtra Police has been directed to probe the complaints of phone tapping and snooping of Opposition leaders between 2014-19 when Fadnavis-led BJP government was in power. "There is no doubt that the previous dispensation has misused the government machinery to tap of phones of leaders from opposition parties," he said.

The Maharashtra home minister also said that the Devendra Fadnavis government had sent some officials to Israel to study the snooping software. "There were reports that some officers were sent to Israel to study the snooping software. We are finding out who had gone to Israel and whether there was any official engagement," Deshmukh said.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Maestro Alexander Mickelthwate, music director of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. The OKC Phil will perform RIFT by Anna Clyne and Symphony No. 7 in E-major by Anton Bruckner in a special performance at OBU Friday, Feb. 28, 2020.

OKC Philharmonic to Present Special Performance at OBU Feb. 28 January 24, 2020

The Oklahoma City Philharmonic, under the direction of Maestro Alexander Mickelthwate, will present a special performance Friday, Feb. 28, at 7:30 p.m. in Potter Auditorium inside Raley Chapel. The concert is made possible, in part, by the Max Brattin Fine Arts Endowment.

Tickets are $15 for premium reserved seating and $5 for all other reserved seats. Tickets are now on sale. OBU students and employees can receive a free ticket by presenting a current OBU ID at the door.

The OKC Phil will perform RIFT by Anna Clyne and Symphony No. 7 in E-major by Anton Bruckner. RIFT, commissioned by the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, is a 25-minute symphonic ballet in five movements, premiering in August 2016. Clyne described her work as the present [colliding] with ancient ritualistic folklore through a spiraling narrative that has sudden and unexpected ruptures. Time, space and sound will be cleaved apart as our protagonist hurtles back to a more orderly, delicate, romantic beauty.

Clyne is a native of London but has lived elsewhere for much of her career, including Scotland for her schooling at the University of Edinburgh, then in the United States, where she earned a masters degree in composition at the Manhattan School of Music. In 2015, her composition Prince of Clouds for two violins and orchestra, was nominated for a Grammy for Best Contemporary Classical Composition. In 2016, she was awarded the Hindemith Prize, a prestigious honor given by the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival in Germany. Clyne serves as the mentor-composer for the Orchestra of St. Lukes DeGaetano Composer Institute in New York City. Last season, she began a three-year tenure as associate composer of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, which has commissioned a series of works to premiere during that time. Demand for her new compositions runs high, with recent commissions including works from Carnegie Hall, Southbank Centre, Los Angeles Philharmonic, BBC Scottish Symphony and Houston Ballet.

Symphony No. 7 in E-major by Anton Bruckner premiered in December 1884 in Leipzig, Germany, with Arthur Nikisch conducting the Gewandhaus Orchestra. The Seventh was the only one of Bruckners symphonies to be greeted with unquestionable success, and it remained relatively popular throughout his life. Bruckner was the son of a schoolmaster in Upper Austria. He was surrounded by music because at that time schoolmasters were also expected to double as parish organists. Bruckner received a good musical education, and when his father fell ill in the autumn of 1836, the young Bruckner filled in as organist in the local church. His father died the following June. That very day, Bruckners mother swept him off to the nearby abbey of St. Florian, where he continued his musical and other studies.

By the time he reached the period of his Seventh Symphony, Bruckner had been writing symphonies for more than a decade and had staked a firm place in Austrian musical life. He had distinguished himself especially as an organist, an almost peerless improviser on that instrument.

Conductor Alexander Mickelthwate is serving his second season as music director of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. He is the music director emeritus of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra in Canada. Born and raised in Frankfurt, Germany, to a musical family, he earned his degree from the Peabody Institute of Music. He is married to fashion designer Abigail Mickelthwate and has two sons. He has conducted for President Jimmy Carter and Queen Elizabeth, and he has received both the Queen Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Key to the City of Winnipeg.

Mickelthwate has guest conducted the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Houston Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Saint Luke's, Milwaukee Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic and Toronto Symphony, among others. He has worked several times with Dame Evelyn Glennie, conducting the world premiere of two new percussion concerti by Vincent Ho. He has worked with Itzhak Perlman, Joshua Bell, Yuja Wang, Dawn Upshaw, Placido Domingo, Ben Heppner, Horatio Gutierrez, Emanuel Ax, Leonidas Kavakos and Sarah Chang, among many others, and he has worked very closely with a wide range of composers including Phil Glass, Steve Reich, Sofia Gubaidulina, Kaija Saariaho, John Adams, John Luther Adams and Mason Bates.
Source: Comcast/Xfinity

Last week, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced that the State of Minnesota had reached a settlement with Comcast/Xfinity to the tune of $1.14 million. The settlement was reached over Comcasts business practices which included adding services and equipment customers had not asked for, for overcharging customers, and failing to follow through on promotional promises like providing prepaid gift cards. Approximately 15,600 Minnesota Comcast customers will receive refunds, and another 16,000 Minnesotans will get debt relief as part of the settlement. In addition, Comcast is required to change its advertising practices to fully disclose pricing to customers. The lawsuit was originally filed by the attorney generals office in December 2018.

Part of being able to afford your life means knowing the full cost of what youre getting, getting what you were promised, not being overcharged for things you didnt ask for, and not being unfairly charged to get rid of things you didnt ask for. But when people signed up for Comcast, thats what happened to them, Attorney General Ellison said in a January 15 news release.

This settlement will help put money back in Comcasts customers pockets where it should have been in the first place. Just as importantly, it provides millions of dollars worth of debt relief. And weve made sure that going forward, Comcast customers will know exactly how much theyll pay for service before they sign up for it. That should put an end to unpleasant surprises, added Attorney General Ellison.

Terms of the settlement include refunds to:

Customers who did not receive prepaid gift cards as promised by Comcast

Customers who downgraded their cable services or who Comcast terminated who were then charged an early termination fee between June 1, 2015 and July 1, 2017

Customers who were charged for a modem along with a cable package but who returned the modem within three months without changing their package between January 1, 2014 and July 1, 2017

Comcast must also pay $160,000 to the attorney generals office to provide refunds to consumers. Consumers must file a claim with the attorney general to receive a refund for being overcharged by Comcast. In addition, Comcast has to clear any debt for about 16,000 customers for customers charged an early termination fee during the course of their contract. Comcast has to notify the credit bureaus that the debts have been satisfied. And, finally, Comcast must clearly detail the full price customers will pay for their cable services, including the base fee and any additional fees.

Cord Cutters News shared an emailed statement from Comcast, following the announcement by the Minnesota Attorney General, denying the allegations, but agreeing to comply with the terms of the settlement.

Todays settlement with the Minnesota Attorney General reflects our ongoing efforts to improve the customer experience, Comcast said in an emailed statement. While we disagree with the allegations initially made in the lawsuit-which do not reflect our policies and practices-we agreed to settle because we are committed to partnering with Attorney General Ellison and others who share our commitment to improving the experience of our customers in all respects. We believe this settlement agreement furthers that shared goal.

Insider Take:

Is it any wonder that so many people are walking away from traditional, linear TV and gravitating toward streaming services? This is not the first time, nor will it be the last, that a large cable company has been less than transparent with its fees or business practices. People are tired of being the victims to companies like Comcast. They may still rely on them for internet service, but Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and other streaming services are very clear about what they charge and what the customer gets in return. There are no smoke and mirrors. Bravo to the Minnesota Attorney General for sticking up for Minnesota consumers. It is just a shame that a lawsuit was necessary to get Comcast to do the right thing.
Donald Trump has been caught on tape appearing to order the firing of then-Ambassador to the Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch - and the recording is in the hands of Congress and federal prosecutors, it was revealed Friday.

'Get rid of her!' is what a voice that appears to be the president is heard saying on an audio recording reviewed by ABC News. 'Get her out tomorrow. I don't care. Get her out tomorrow. Take her out. Okay? Do it.'

The recording was made during an intimate dinner on April 30, 2018 at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. that included Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman - the two indicted sidekicks of Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani.

Trump has repeatedly claimed not to know Parnas, who has produced picture after picture of them together in multiple locations, including the White House, Mar-a-Lago and the Trump hotel D.C.

Last week he denied knowing him 14 times in one White House question and answer session, then he denied it again on Wednesday, this time saying: 'I don't know him, other than he's sort of like a groupie.'

Parnas' attorney confirmed on Friday night that he had located the recording and passed it to the House Intelligence Committee. The recording reported by ABC News suggests that Parnas and Fruman were very much in Trump's inner circle.

Democrats seized on the recording as further evidence of Trump's involvement.

Together again: Igor Fruman (second left) appears to have made the tape which ABC News says features Lev Parnas (center)

Donald Trump has been caught on tape appearing to order the firing of then-Ambassador to the Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch

Marie Yovanovitch said she was recalled because of stories she wasn't loyal to President Trump. Her firing was a year after the tape of Trump telling her aides: 'Take it out.'

'If this is additional evidence of his involvement in that effort to smear her, it would certainly corroborate much of what weve heard, but Im not in a position yet to analyze that, not having looked at it,' said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., one of the House impeachment managers.

Parnas and Fruman are heard on the recording telling Trump that Yovanovitch is bad-mouthing him. Federal prosecutors have the recording and ABC News said it appeared to have been made by Fruman, and also featured a short video with Don Jr., the president's oldest son in it.

On it, Parnas appears to say: 'The biggest problem there, I think where we need to start is we gotta get rid of the ambassador. She's still left over from the Clinton administration.'

He also says: 'She's basically walking around telling everybody 'Wait, he's gonna get impeached, just wait,' he said.

That was when Trump said to get rid of her, the tape said.

The biggest problem there, I think where we need to start is we gotta get rid of the ambassador. She's still left over from the Clinton administration She's basically walking around telling everybody 'Wait, he's gonna get impeached, just wait.' What Lev told Trump (who denies knowing him

As the bombshell development reverberated - and Trump's impeachment trial continued - Trump's allies jumped to his defense.

Republican Congressman Jim Jordan told reporters on Capitol Hill the president had the right to recall any ambassador he wished to.

And Vice President Mike Pence made the same argument, but dodged the issue of the tape itself.

'I have not heard the tape and would not be prepared to comment on it,' Pence told reporters traveling with him in Italy. 'All of the ambassadors for the United States of America serve at the pleasure of the president of the United States.'

Yovanovitch - who has served as ambassador to several countries and was first appointed to such a position by President George W. Bush - wasn't recalled until a year later in April 2019.

She told lawmakers in her testimony during the impeachment inquiry that she was recalled based on 'unfounded and false claims by people with clearly questionable motives' that she was disloyal to and undermining the president.

She also said in her testimony she never told embassy staff to disregard orders from the administration because Trump was going to be impeached.

'I did not and would not say such a thing,' she said.

The identities of others on the recording are unclear, ABC News reports.

During an early portion of the recording where video is available, Donald Trump Jr. is seen posing for pictures with people.

The event at the president's hotel that night was an event for The America First Action super PAC - a super PAC supporting Trump's re-election campaign.

The president and Donald Trump Jr. have denied knowing Parnas, who has been making the media rounds as he seeks a deal with federal prosecutors, saying they only had photos taken with him at fundraisers.

President Trump has repeatedly denied knowing him and did so again last week during a school prayer event in the Oval Office.

'I don't know him,' Trump said. 'I don't know Parnas other than I guess I had pictures taken, which I do with thousands of people.'

'I don't know him at all, don't know what he's about. Don't know where he comes from. Know nothing about him,' he said. By one count he denied knowing Parnas 14 times.

Trump Jr. has made similar statements.

'I met him at fundraiser events,' Trump Jr. told Fox News earlier this month. 'He was a donor at a super-PAC, shows up to some of these things like anything else. Honestly, I think it's funny, I didn't realize he was Ukrainian. I thought he was Israeli.'

Parnas and his attorney have released photos of Parnas with the president and various members of the Trump family, including Trump Jr. and Ivanka.

Shortly after President Trump's denials aired last week, Parnas' attorney released yet another new image of them together, this time a video of them speaking at Mar-a-Lago.

Parnas and Fruman face charges of violating campaign finance law.

Parnas has been on a media tour in recent days to talk about his work in the Ukraine with Giuliani. The White House has accused him of trying to stay out of prison.

The audio was made at a fundraising dinner for Trump's 2020 campaign on April 30, 2018 at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C.; Trump, above, is seen at the White House on that date

Trump's limo 'The Beast' at the Trump hotel on the night of the fundraiser

Lev Parnas, Igor Fruman and David Correia with Rudy Giuliani in the Trump Hotel Washington D.C.

Three days later: Lev and Igor were in California with Donald Trump Jr. and Tommy Hicks Jr., a financier and campaigner Republican

The phone that was recording the Trump conversation reviewed by ABC News appears to be placed down on a table with the audio still recording. The president does not appear on the video reviewed by ABC News.

Parnas, when he appeared on MSNBC's Rachel Maddow's show last week, provided additional details on the campaign to remove Yovanovitch from her post as ambassador because she was impeding efforts to dig up dirt on Joe and Hunter Biden.

Parnas expressed regret over his involvement in ousting Yovanovitch, saying: 'I want to apologize to her.'

He described the scene at the dinner and said Trump turned to John DeStefano, who was his deputy chief of staff at the time, and said 'Fire her.'

'We all, there was a silence in the room. He responded to him, said Mr. President, we can't do that right now because [Secretary of State Mike] Pompeo hasn't been confirmed yet, that Pompeo is not confirmed yet and we don't have -- this is when [former Secretary of State Rex] Tillerson was gone, but Pompeo was confirmed, so they go, wait until -- so several conversations he mentioned it again,' Parnas recounted.

Pompeo had actually already been confirmed by the Senate and sworn into office.

A copy of the recording is now in the custody of federal prosecutors in New York's Southern District, ABC News reported, noting both the prosecution team and the White House declined to comment.

Parnas also told Maddow that he was 'absolutely' working for the president in his capacity as a legal aide to Giuliani, Trump's personal lawyer.

Yovanovitch was the focus of text messages between Parnas and prominent Trump donor Robert F Hyde, which were made public on Tuesday.

Hyde, a Republican congressional candidate from Connecticut, repeatedly disparaged Yovanovitch in the messages and implied that she was under surveillance, often referencing her exact physical location.

However, Parnas told Maddow that while he was 'disturbed' by Hyde's messages, he never believed they were serious.

'I don't believe it was true, I think he was either drunk or was trying to make himself bigger than he was,' he said. 'I didn't take it seriously, and if you see, I didn't even respond to it most of the time.'

Maddow questioned whether Hyde could have been drunk throughout their text correspondence, which lasted several days.

Parnas replied: 'He's drunk the whole time. He wakes up and he's drunk. He starts at 6. I've never seen him not drunk.'

Hyde himself reacted to the release of the messages on Tuesday night.

He did not dispute the validity of the texts but said he was drinking when he sent the ones about surveilling Yovanovitch.

LEV'S PICTURE GALLERY: HOW HE KEPT MEETING THE MAN WHO DOESN'T KNOW HIM

You sure they didn't speak Mr. President: Lev Parnas' attorney released this video of them together at Mar-a-Lago

'I don't believe I've ever met him.' The House Intelligence Committee released this photograph of the two together in a document dump

Have we met? I'm sure we haven't! President Trump dismissed a photos of him and Parnas as just taken at a fundraiser - this is one of two taken on different occasions on front of the Florida state flag

Lev Parnas with Donald Trump at the America First Action Superpac Leadership Summit at Trump Hotel Washington D.C. June 18 or 19 2018. Also partially visible right, Donald Trump Jr

No, total stranger, so sorry: President Donald Trump alongside Lev Parnas in Florida before his election

Great to make your acquaintance for the first time: Lev Parnas and Donald Trump at the door of what appears to be Mar-a-Lago

I take thousands of photos: Lev Parnas and Donald Trump have not yet reached that number of pictures together, but there are certainly more than one

And who are you? No, I'm sorry, never met you. Lev Parnas and Trump at Christmas time in an undated photograph

AND HERE'S SOME MORE PEOPLE WHO 'DON'T KNOW' HIM EITHER

No, I don't believe we have: Mike Pence was the latest to say 'I don't know the guy,' with an inevitable picture emerging

We've never met, of course we can have a photograph: Lev Parnas' attorney tweeted this image just after Kellyanne Conway climbed aboard the fast-moving denial train

Lev Parnas with letter from Pete Sessions, Texas Republican Congressman to President Trump

THESE ONES HAVE STILL TO SAY IF THEY (DON'T) KNOW HIM...

Lev Parnas with Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump

Lev Parnas and Ivanka Trump are seen together at Donald Trump's inauguration celebration at Union Station, Washington D.C., in January 2017 in a new batch of photos from Parnas' phone

Lev Parnas and Jared Kushner at Donald Trump's inauguration celebration in Union Station, Washington D.C., January 2017

Lev Parnas poses with with former Marine General John Kelly, then Donald Trump's chief of staff, at the America First Action SuperPAC Leadership Summit at Trump Hotel Washington D.C. June 18 or 19 2018

The legal team's (almost) all here: Lev had photographs of a dinner with Jay Sekulow, Rudy Giuliani, an unknown man, and Jane Raskin and her husband Marty. Sekulow and the Raskins are part of Trump's impeachment legal team; Giuliani is apparently still one of his legal advisors

Parnas was also tight with Trump's legal team, the photos show. Trump's personal attorneys Jay Sekulow, Rudy Giuliani, and Jane Raskin are seen above dining at Trump's DC hotel. The man sitting on the far right has not yet been identified

AND DON JR. SAYS HE DID KNOW HIM (THEY HAD SHARED BREAKFAST AND LEV MET THE KIDS...)

Parnas sits next to Donald Trump Jr in one of the photos released on Friday

Parnas mingles with Don Trump Jr and Trump Jr's children in one of the photos at Trump's inauguration celebration in Washington D.C. in 2017

Parnas (far right) poses with Jared Kushner, Don Trump Jr, and an unidentified man at Donald Trump's inauguration celebration in Washington D.C., in January 2017
Seamus Mallon was described as "a truly great Irishman" as tributes for the former Northern Ireland deputy First Minister were made following his death today.

The former SDLP leader and "architect of the Good Friday Agreement" passed away at his home in Co Armagh aged 83, it was confirmed this evening.

Mr Mallon became involved in the SDLP in the late 1960s.

He went on to play a key role in the peace process, leading to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

Read More

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar called Mr Mallon "an architect of the good Friday Agreement."

He said: "History will remember Seamus as an architect of the Good Friday Agreement, a committed peace builder and a tireless champion of an inclusive Ireland. He always opposed sectarianism and discrimination in any form.

"When others in his community advocated violence, Seamus had an unswerving commitment to constitutional nationalism. He was a peacemaker who put us on the path to reconciliation."

Born in the village of Markethill in Co Armagh, his father was the headmaster of a local primary school.

He was a school principal himself when in 1973, he reluctantly agreed to replace an SDLP local election candidate who had pulled out at the last minute.

The party's current leader Colum Eastwood recalled the key role Mr Mallon played in the peace process.

Expand Close Seamus Mallon / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Seamus Mallon

"In the darkest days of conflict, when hope was in short supply, Seamus represented the fierce thirst for justice that ran through the SDLP and through communities that had lost so much to political violence.

"His passion for peace underpinned by truth, justice and reconciliation came from a lifetime as a proud son of Markethill where he was born, grew up and raised his own family. It didnt matter who you were, where you worshipped or what your politics were, there was always help to be found at Seamus hearth.

"I joined the SDLP because of people like Seamus Mallon. His absolute opposition to the murder and maiming of our neighbours, his immense work to reform policing and deliver a new Police Service that could command the support of our entire community and his unrelenting commitment to making this a place we can all call home inspired so many young SDLP members," Mr Eastwood said.

Tanaiste Simon Coveney said that Mr Mallon made "an extraordinary contribution" to Ireland.

He wrote on social media this evening: "Very sad to learn of passing of the great Seamus Mallon.

"He has made an extraordinary contribution to politics & people on this island.

Expand Close Former SDLP deputy leader Seamus Mallon. Picture: David Conachy / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Former SDLP deputy leader Seamus Mallon. Picture: David Conachy

"He was tough, intelligent and passionate, always working for peace and reconciliation. My sincere condolences to his family and friends."

Labour leader Brendan Howlin also paid tribute saying that: "Together with John Hume, Seamus drove forward a vision of an Ireland freed from the spectre of violence, terror and discrimination. His life will be celebrated by Irish people everywhere who cherish the peace that Seamus dedicated his life to."

Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said he was "saddened earlier today to learn of the death of my friend and long time political hero Seamus Mallon."



He said that Seamus was, by any credible measure, "a truly great Irishman."

"In the difficult and complex history of Northern Ireland, there are very few political leaders who emerge with an unblemished record of service that stands up to detailed scrutiny. Seamus Mallon is one of them."

Mr Martin said that as an Assembly Member, Senator, MP and Deputy First Minister he was consistent and committed in his cause.

Read More



"Heedless to the threat to his life from all sides in the Northern conflict, he was fearless and ferocious in his opposition to violence and his commitment to building a shared society."



"He understood the deepest dynamics of Irish history better than anyone I have ever met. We spoke many times over the years and I had the great privilege of spending some hours with him in his home in Markethill in April discussing political developments."



"Seamus was a no-nonsense politician and individual. He called it as he saw it and he never compromised in his honesty, whether he was on the streets of Newry and Armagh or in the state rooms of Downing Street or the White House."



Mr Martin said that Seamus Mallon was was deeply devoted to his late wife Gertrude and immensely proud of his daughter Orla.

"She and the entire family will be feeling a profound sense of loss today. They should also be feeling an equally profound sense of pride in having shared this remarkable man with the rest of the country and the world."



"He was Republican in the truest sense of the word and his contribution to political life in this country is immeasurable. His death is the end of an era and I will miss his friendship and advice."

Archbishop Eamon Martin said that "a person of global stature, Seamus was a county Armagh man through and through, and he gave his gifts unselfishly and tirelessly to serve the betterment of the whole community on this island, north and south."

He said people sometimes speak of the "noble vocation of politics".

Expand Close Seamus Mallon with wife Gertrude and daughter Orla / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Seamus Mallon with wife Gertrude and daughter Orla

"Seamus was a shining example of someone who gave his life to that vocation and in the service of others. He will be remembered as a man of integrity and great courage who was not afraid to speak up or call it as it was  even at great personal risk. A man of strong faith, Seamus was calm, fair and principled, and always respectful of the rights of others."

"To his dying day Seamus Mallon remained a man of hope for a brighter future - a shared and respectful future where we all experience a sense of belonging. A fitting tribute to his legacy would be a renewed effort by all our political leaders and by all of us to build that "shared home place" which was Seamus vision and lifelong project."

The Minister for Justice and Equality Charles Flanagan also paid tribute to Mr Mallon saying: I was greatly saddened to hear of the death of Seamus Mallon. As a politician I admired, Seamus Mallon was one of the central figures in the peace process, both as an architect of the Good Friday Agreement and as Deputy First Minister; he was steadfast in achieving a better and peaceful future for all people in Northern Ireland.

"I wish to offer my sincere condolences to his family at this sad time."

Expand Close Northern Ireland deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon at Stormont during the visit of then US president Bill Clinton in December 2000 with then British PM Tony Blair / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Northern Ireland deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon at Stormont during the visit of then US president Bill Clinton in December 2000 with then British PM Tony Blair

In 1979, he became the SDLP's deputy leader and the party's justice spokesman. Having worked with the Armagh man throughout the 1970s, the then TD Bertie Ahern described Mr Mallon as a "dear person".

"I want to pay tribute today to a dear person Seamus Mallon on his passing whoI have known for almost forty years," the former Taoiseach said.

"From my earliest days in Dail Eireann in the seventies I had the honour andpleasure of knowing and working with Seamus Mallon.When I was Chief whip of Fianna Fail and Seamus was in the Senate appointedby the then Taoiseach Charles Haughey thirty-eight years ago, I got to know,admire, and respect a wonderful person.

"Seamus was strong with courage and he had commitment to Peace andmaking progress for Northern Ireland and this whole island."
WASHINGTON  The Justice Department has conceded to a secretive intelligence court that the available evidence about Carter Page, a former Trump campaign adviser wiretapped by the F.B.I. during the Russia investigation, was legally insufficient to justify the last several months of his continued surveillance in 2017.

The department has also promised to sequester phone calls and emails it intercepted while intruding on Mr. Pages privacy, according to a newly disclosed order by the court that oversees national-security wiretaps under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA.

The wiretapping of Mr. Page as part of the Russia investigation has been a political flash point. Last month, a scathing report by the departments inspector general found that F.B.I. agents who assembled a description of the evidence that he might be a Russian agent had presented a misleading portrait of it for use in applications seeking the courts permission to surveil him.

The FISA court approved an initial 90-day wiretap targeting Mr. Page in October 2016 and issued three renewal orders in 2017. But the department told the court that by those final two applications, if not earlier, there was insufficient predication to establish probable cause to believe that Page was acting as an agent of a foreign power.
Angola may ask Portuguese authorities to seize assets belonging to billionaire and former first daughter Isabel dos Santos, who is a suspect in a fraud investigation at home, Angola's attorney general Helder Pitta Gros said on Friday.

Angola named dos Santos a formal suspect over alleged mismanagement and misappropriation of funds during her time as chairwoman of state oil company Sonangol, while Portugal's market watchdog has launched inquiries into various firms in which she holds stakes.

Dos Santos has denied any wrongdoing and, in a statement sent to Reuters on Thursday, said she "always operated within the law and all my commercial transactions have been approved by lawyers, banks, auditors and regulators".

The attorney generals of Portugal and Angola, Lucilia Gago and Pitta Gros, met in Lisbon on Thursday to discuss, among other things, how both countries could collaborate on the dos Santos' case, Gros told Portuguese broadcaster RTP during a television interview.

Asked by RTP if Angola could ask Portugal to seize dos Santos' assets, namely her shares in Portuguese companies and Portuguese bank accounts, Gros said: "It could happen... It could happen."

"I will not say this is a reality now...but when teams start working they could reach that conclusion," he said.

One of the companies where dos Santos held shares, Efacec, said on Friday that dos Santos would offload her controlling stake in the firm - her second such move this week.

Efacec said in a statement that dos Santos had told the board she had decided to withdraw from the company's shareholding structure. It did not specify a reason and made no mention of any accusations against her.

On Wednesday, small Portuguese lender Eurobic, in which dos Santos was the largest shareholder with a 42.5% stake, said the businesswoman had decided to sell her share.

Dos Santos bought her controlling stake in Efacec for around 200 million euros in 2015 through offshore company Winterfell Industries.

The decisions to withdraw from Efacec and Eurobic come during increased scrutiny of dos Santos after hundreds of thousands of files - dubbed the "Luanda Leaks" - were released by several news organisations on Sunday.

Dos Santos still holds significant indirect stakes in several important Portuguese firms such as oil firm Galp Energia and telecoms company NOS.

Dos Santos and Portuguese retailer Sonae each own 50% of holding company ZOPT-SGPS, which controls 52.15% of NOS.

Following the scandal, three non-executive board members at NOS stepped down from their roles on Thursday, the company said in a statement.

NOS shares fell by more than 5% on Friday morning before recovering most of the losses to trade 0.9% lower.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


The cast of "The Ghost Bride": (Top L-R) Jordan Voon, Angeline Tan, Jojo Goh, Susan Leong, Wilson Tin; (Bottom L-R) Kuang Tian, Ludi Lin, Huang Pei-Jia, Wu Kang Jen.

The cast of "The Ghost Bride": (Top L-R) Jordan Voon, Angeline Tan, Jojo Goh, Susan Leong,

Wilson Tin; (Bottom L-R) Kuang Tian, Ludi Lin, Huang Pei-Jia, Wu Kang Jen.

"The Ghost Bride", Netflix's first ever Mandarin original series from Malaysia, was shot in several locations across the country, helmed by award-winning directors Quek Shio Chuan (who directed the first three episodes) and Ho Yuhang (who directed the final three episodes).



A press conference with its directors, producer Zainir Aminullah, and cast  both international and local  were recently held at The RuMa Hotel and Residences, Kuala Lumpur.



Based on a book by Yangsze Choo, the six-episode "The Ghost Bride" is set in 1890s Colonial Malacca. A young woman, Li Lan (Huang Pei-Jia), receives a marriage proposal from Madam Lim (Angeline Tan) to become the ghost bride to the wealthy family's recently deceased son, Lim Tian Ching (Kuang Tian).





The marriage can save her father (Jordan Voon) from his mounting debts but at the same time, she still harbours feelings for her childhood sweetheart, Lim Tian Bai (Ludi Lin). When she inadvertently finds herself embroiled in a murder mystery, she enlists the help of a Heavenly Guard, Er Lang (Wu Kang Jen), to solve it.



Cinema Online sat down with the "Lim family", Ludi Lin, Angeline Tan and Kuang Tian, to talk to them about their experience filming "The Ghost Bride".



Read on for our little chat with "The Ghost Bride" star Ludi Lin when he

stopped by Kuala Lumpur to promote the series recently.

Cinema Online: Hi Ludi, how was it like filming in Malaysia? What sticks out to you about the experience?



Ludi: Well, it's great. I mean, I came here...I sort of felt like a guest in the beginning. The first time we came here was over 10 years ago, as a guest. As a traveller, a backpacker, so all through Malaysia, and then I filmed here before. I just realised I was at Pinewood doing "Marco Polo", and this time I really felt like a guest again because Malaysia is always  you come here, everyone is so hospitable. So, you feel like a guest sometimes, especially working with very experienced local actors and also Taiwanese actors.



I felt like very much out of place. I've been an outsider a lot. Because I travel so much around the world and work in many places, I always feel like I need to get used to things ever since I was small but then gradually I felt like I was brought in, like I was a part of the family. We started in Penang, then Bentong, then Ipoh and Taiping. There's so much Asian cultural heritage there, it really felt like home.



You mentioned about having a dialect, does that hinder you in any way from establishing a connection with the people here?



No, it's very easy to pick up. It's essential, if you're not going to pick up a dialect, why be an actor? Ever since I was small, I got beaten up a lot because of the dialect. I came to realise that it's not until you learn how to communicate in the dialect, you stop getting beaten up. So, you really have to be accepted and communicate to be able to be a part of something and that's why being in Malaysia, that's why filming an Asian story is so important to me because over 60% of the world is Asian. If the world can't accept our Asian culture, our dialect, in a way, then we're just gonna be beating each other up all the time.



Is it very different filming here compared to filming in Hollywood?



It is different because fundamentally, Eastern cultures and Western cultures come from a very different place. For example, you go to Hollywood and you say, "Let's go see a family film" and then in Asia, it means a very different thing. A family film, in Hollywood, it's "oh, let's see a cartoon, Pixar or Disney", when you're talking about a jia ting gu shi, as soon as you think about that, it's "oh drama, oh there's gonna be in-fighting!"



We're based on different cultures because our family's so tight knit, we're not individual society or culture. So, the stories are based differently. In "Ghost Bride", we treat burning cash, burning objects and marrying a live person to a dead son as a very real thing. That's a very acceptable part of our culture because we respect our ancestors so much and it's actually real to us. They're not just imagination, they actually represent a very real thing. So, the story's different. It's really nice, really important.

Story continues



During the press conference, Angeline Tan, who plays Madam Lim in "The Ghost Bride",

joked that she had no idea who her husband was because she

never met him even once [in the series].

Angeline, did your role in "The Sensei Nyonya" help you prepare for your matriarch role in "The Ghost Bride"?



Angeline: Actually, it's two completely different characters. Because "My Sensei Nyonya", she's a grandmother, she's a very powerful lady in the family but in this story, I think my part is she's very loving but the only thing is, because of what happened in the family, they made her very emotional and sad at certain times, then she's also very stubborn because she doesn't listen to other people.



She thinks that what I want to do for my son is my will, no one can stop me. But she doesn't raise her voice except for one part - when people touch her son's room interior, that's when she got angry. She's just a lady who lives in her own world.



Kuang Tian, you're more used to working in Taiwan, how's it like to be working in a Malaysian production?



Kuang Tian: I'm surprised that there's so many talents in this industry here. Glad to work with them [Angeline, Ludi].



The three of you are in the Lim family, did you share a lot of scenes together?



Ludi: We have some scenes. Well, that's the interesting thing about the Lim family. You know, the son is in the underworld, totally other dimension, and the only way they communicate is through burning things.



When I was little, I would go back to my village and I remember how people used to live. There's this one courtyard and then there's different rooms, it's like an apartment complex. The whole family, like the Lim, everyone with the same last name would live in that family and as you can imagine, a lot of drama happens, so there's that awkwardness. You don't have to say too much but you feel the relationship, sometimes when you don't speak, you feel the tension underneath and that's what the Lim family is and that's why there's that scene where you [turns to Angeline] actually raise your voice because the tension, when it comes to a certain point, it's going to snap, right? So, we had some scenes, but the relationship is very rich.



Working in a series that revolves around the supernatural, do any of you have superstitions that you believe in?



Kuang Tian: We just know that if someone gives you some food and you don't wash the plate 



Angeline: If you wash the plate and give back, then you bring bad luck!



[Both Kuang Tian and Angeline laugh].



Ludi: Apparently, that's what they call superstition.



Kuang Tian shared a "Canadian superstition" when asked if he had any superstitious belief.

I've never heard of that...it's not a Chinese superstition?



Kuang Tian: No, it's Canadian!



Ludi: Yeah, someone told me it's Canadian. I'm not really superstitious but my ghost friends tell me "never be afraid". [Grins].



I mean, there's definitely something out there. If you imagine this, right. You would never expect an insect to understand physics because they're not equipped. No matter how hard they study, they would never understand physics. So how can you think that humans can understand everything in the universe? There is something out there that we don't understand and what is that? That is something supernatural, not superstition.



Angeline: I think certain superstitious [things], I believe. Because why? When I was shooting Malay drama, something happened in front of me. I've seen another Malay actress, she was possessed. I saw that. Actually, I don't believe all this thing, until that happened to her. The whole night we had to stop shooting.



Oh, which Malay title is this?



Angeline: We were shooting "Bencinta", the movie, in Langkawi. So, something happened to that actress. So that night, actually we had to stop the whole shoot and then they had to call the Ustaz to come in and treat her. That night, whatever happened that night it was very new to me. I was just observing and thought "this thing really does happen". Thank god, that night she didn't have to go back to my room, she went back to another hotel, because we sharing the room. So, what happened was I told myself, "Yeah, certain things we have to believe".



Ludi: I mean, superstition is just a word for people that don't believe. For people that do believe, it's not superstitious.



Kuang Tian: They have to believe it! Because it's a fact.



Ludi: It doesn't matter what you think now, if you watched "Ghost Bride" or any other supernatural movie and think it's fantasy, but if you put yourself back in the 19th century, that's science, that's a fact. You're not burning things to appease your dead son. You're not burning things to honour your ancestors because it's fun or fantasy but because they still exist, and they will help you and they will decide your fate. That's why you do that, that's why it's so important, that's why those rituals exist.



Follow the Lim family's tale in "The Ghost Bride", available for streaming on Netflix from 23 January 2020.
Every investor on earth makes bad calls sometimes. But really bad investments should be rare. So consider, for a moment, the misfortune of amaysim Australia Limited (ASX:AYS) investors who have held the stock for three years as it declined a whopping 83%. That might cause some serious doubts about the merits of the initial decision to buy the stock, to put it mildly. The more recent news is of little comfort, with the share price down 64% in a year. Unhappily, the share price slid 2.8% in the last week.

We really feel for shareholders in this scenario. It's a good reminder of the importance of diversification, and it's worth keeping in mind there's more to life than money, anyway.

See our latest analysis for amaysim Australia

While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time.

amaysim Australia saw its share price decline over the three years in which its EPS also dropped, falling to a loss. This was, in part, due to extraordinary items impacting earnings. Due to the loss, it's not easy to use EPS as a reliable guide to the business. But it's safe to say we'd generally expect the share price to be lower as a result!

The image below shows how EPS has tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail).

ASX:AYS Past and Future Earnings, January 24th 2020

We like that insiders have been buying shares in the last twelve months. Having said that, most people consider earnings and revenue growth trends to be a more meaningful guide to the business. This free interactive report on amaysim Australia's earnings, revenue and cash flow is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further.

What about the Total Shareholder Return (TSR)?

We've already covered amaysim Australia's share price action, but we should also mention its total shareholder return (TSR). Arguably the TSR is a more complete return calculation because it accounts for the value of dividends (as if they were reinvested), along with the hypothetical value of any discounted capital that have been offered to shareholders. Dividends have been really beneficial for amaysim Australia shareholders, and that cash payout explains why its total shareholder loss of 81%, over the last 3 years, isn't as bad as the share price return.

Story continues

A Different Perspective

Over the last year, amaysim Australia shareholders took a loss of 60%. In contrast the market gained about 26%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Shareholders have lost 42% per year over the last three years, so the share price drop has become steeper, over the last year; a potential symptom of as yet unsolved challenges. Although Warren Buffett famously said he likes to 'buy when there is blood on the streets', he also focusses on high quality stocks with solid prospects. I find it very interesting to look at share price over the long term as a proxy for business performance. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Case in point: We've spotted 4 warning signs for amaysim Australia you should be aware of, and 2 of them don't sit too well with us.

amaysim Australia is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on AU exchanges.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
The Florida man who alleges that CNN anchor Don Lemon jammed his finger in his face after rubbing his own genitals says the media would take his allegations more seriously if he was a woman.

Dustin Hice, 39, filed suit against Lemon, 53, last August alleging that the CNN star assaulted him at a Hamptons bar. Lemon denies the allegations.

Hice claims that he was with co-workers at Murfs Backstreet Tavern in Sag Harbor on or around July 15, 2018, when he recognized Lemon.

Hice then made what he describes as a 'cordial gesture' and 'tried to get Mr. Lemons attention and offered to buy Mr. Lemon a drink'.

Lemon, 53, responded to Hice's offer by declining the drink and telling the young man he was 'just trying to have a good time', according to the court filing.

Dustin Hice (left), 39, filed suit against Don Lemon (right), 53, last August alleging that the CNN star assaulted him at a Hamptons bar. Lemon denies the allegation

Things then allegedly took a bizarre turn later that evening, according to Hice, who is asking for damages to be determined at trial.

'Sometime later that evening, unexpectedly, Mr. Lemon walked towards Plaintiff and his colleagues inside of Murfs,' states the complaint.

'At such time, Mr. Lemon, who was wearing a pair of shorts, sandals, and a t-shirt, put his hand down the front of his own shorts, and vigorously rubbed his genitalia, removed his hand and shoved his index and middle fingers into Plaintiffs mustache under Plaintiffs nose.'

It then goes on to allege: 'Mr. Lemon intensely pushed his fingers against Plaintiffs face under Plaintiffs nose, forcing Plaintiffs head to thrust backward as Defendant repeatedly asked Plaintiff "Do you like p***y or d**k?". While saying this, Mr. Lemon continued to shove his fingers into Plaintiffs face with aggression and hostility.'

That is when Hice 'fled the bar' and took five to ten minutes collecting himself before he was able to return inside, having recovered from the incident which he claims left him 'shocked and humiliated'.

Lemon was gone by that point, while Hice was left 'emotionally devastated by Mr. Lemons demeaning unprovoked and offensive assault'.

Hice told Fox News that Lemons advocacy on television on behalf of sexual assault victims who spoke up during the #MeToo movement reeks of hypocrisy because of the CNN anchors own vile, disgusting, lewd and inhumane behavior.

Hice is now revealing that he was offered a six-figure settlement by Lemon before negotiations broke down and a formal complaint was filed.

Lemon is seen above with his husband at their Hamptons home days before the alleged incident in the summer of 2018

He says that the alleged attack impacted his mental health.

Im not doing this for notoriety or fame, Im doing this because Im standing up for myself and what I believe in, Hice told Fox News.

Ive grown a new respect for people dealing with mental health issues because stress, depression, anxiety, those are all very serious things.

It consumed my life.

CNN declined to say if Hice was offered a six-figure settlement.

Hice says his case has not gotten much attention in the press because of his and Lemons racial, political, and gender backgrounds.

Ive grown a little skeptical of the news after whats happened to me, nobody acknowledges it anymore, Hice said.

The hypocrisy, he is a black, gay, liberal and supposed #MeToo advocate but when it doesnt fit their narrative, or it's one of their own, they dont even address it.

Hice accused Lemon of trying to smear him in the press by leaking stories suggesting that he asked the CNN anchor to pay $1.5million in exchange for not filing the lawsuit.

LEMON DENIES ALLEGATIONS A statement from a CNN spokesperson said: 'The plaintiff in this lawsuit has previously displayed a pattern of contempt for CNN on his social media accounts. 'This claim follows his unsuccessful threats and demands for an exorbitant amount of money from Don Lemon. 'Don categorically denies these claims and this matter does not merit any further comment at this time.' Advertisement

Hice told Fox News that there were discussions about a $1.5million payment, but theres more to the story, he claims.

They painted me as trying to extort $1.5million from him but they never mentioned that he offered many times over six figures to settle. He tried to make payments on that and I said, No thank you, Hice said.

I think that when he went to CNN and [denied the accusations], he probably failed to mention that he offered me well over six figures in the settlement process.

Hice said he rarely watched CNN before his encounter with Lemon.

CNN had at one point suggested that Hices lawsuit stemmed from his animosity toward the network.

Hice said he has grown particularly angry seeing Lemon discuss the #MeToo movement, where victims of sexual assault and harassment have come forward to accuse powerful men in industries like Hollywood, the media, finance, and others.

I dont want to see his face on the news anymore because hes a blatant liar and hypocrite, Hice said.

In September 2018, Lemon hosted a segment on his nightly talk show in which he discussed how victims of sexual harassment overcame trauma.

It was only two months after he assaulted me, Hice said.

Lemon (above with his husband on right and friends the day of the incident) allegedly 'removed his hand and shoved his index and middle fingers into Plaintiffs mustache under Plaintiffs nose'

This is something that Im going to be healing from and recovering from for the rest of my life.

Hice said that while he sympathizes with female accusers and victims of sexual assault, he should also receive the same kind of sympathy.

The media has labeled me as an accuser, as opposed to a victim, just because Im a male, he said.

Ive been struggling, but there [are] a lot of people that have gone through a lot worse things than somebody rubbing their genitals and putting it in your face, as disgusting and vile as that is.

There are people that have been raped and worse.

Hice said a former FBI profiler administered a polygraph to prove that he was telling the truth.

I passed with flying colors, this guy hooked me up to this whole machine, it was nerve-wracking but I just wanted to prove that Im not lying, Hice said.

Hice, who was working as a bartender at a different Hamptons bar at the time of the alleged assault, shut down his Twitter account just before filing his lawsuit. He is seen above with his sister

George Gounelas (left and right), who was Hice's boss at the Old Stove Pub in July of 2018, described what allegedly occurred on the night of the encounter at Murf's Backstreet Tavern.

Witnesses saw this happen. The whole town of Sag Harbor knew.

Court papers filed claim that Hices boss at the Old Stove Pub, George Gounelas, witnessed the incident.

'Don Lemon has now come around the corner and is standing face to face with us. There is a beam, a pole, in the place. Don's standing up against the pole, face to face with Dustin, I turn around and I'm standing right there between the two of them,' Gounelas said.

'So you like me? Is that why you're bothering me?' Lemon said, as Gounelas recalls.

'Nah, man, I just wanted to say, 'What's up?' Hice replied, according to Gounelas.

'Do you like me? Is that why you're bothering me, because you wanna f**k me?' Lemon said in so many words, Gounelas said.

Gounelas recalled: 'He put his hands down his pants, inside his board shorts, grabbed his [genitals], and then came out with two fingers and, like, clipped Dustin's nose up and down with two fingers, asking 'do you like p---- or d---?'

Gounelas said his initial reaction was to laugh at Hice, which he now regrets.

'Dustin was in this shock mode saying, 'Bro, did that just happen? That was disgusting,' Gounelas said.

'The whole thing is like, I go out in the Hamptons, I live out here, I have a restaurant, I get it, people get crazy. To me, it was just another thing. To [Dustin], he was like shocked,' he continued. Hice was apparently a seasonal worker, whose last known location was Delray Beach, Florida.

To this day, Gounelas isn't sure whether Lemon was being aggressive, or simply taking an unconventional approach to flirting.
A two-Michelin star chef who has lived in England for 23 years has had his application for permanent residency rejected by the Home Office.

Claude Bosi, who was born in Lyon, France and now runs Chelsea restaurant Bibendem, was told this week his application for a document certifying his permanent residency in the UK after Brexit has been refused.

Mr Bosi told the Standard the Home Office letter denying him EU settled status says he did not provide enough P60s to prove he had lived in the UK continuously for at least five years.

But, he said the same letter recognises he has been self employed in the UK since 1997.

"It was very upsetting to receive that letter," Mr Bosi said.

"I've got a wife, three kids I've been here for 23 years, it's not like I've just arrived.

"I can't afford just to decide to leave.

"It's like as long as you've been here and as hard as you've been working and as much as you love the country you're just not welcome."

Mr Bosi said he has been told he has 14 days to reapply and after that he is not sure what his next steps will be.

He said he has tried talking directly with people with the Home Office but "keeps getting passed around to different people".

The Standard has contacted the Home Office for comment.

In an Instagram post of the letter, Mr Bosi asked Boris Johnson if he had done something wrong.

He said: "I have been in England for 23 years and today they have send me this .... I love Britain I considered until today like home but they just told me after 23 years of taxe paid /Vat paid Im not welcome-anymore WTF its going on in this world.. #thankyoubrexit @borisjohnsonuk did I do something wrong...?"
Of all the things that he could use to hide his face with, a genius robber chose to wear a pillowcase to rob the Bank of Scotland branch in Dunfermline. What's worse is (for him, of course) that the pillowcase had no eye holes!

Facebook

According to a BBC report, the man named Matthew Davies, 47, stormed into the bank armed with a meat cleaver in a pillowcase, to carry out the burglary. After pulling out the weapon, he pulled the pillow cover over his face, to rob, but realised that he could not see what he was picking up.

Davies gave up and took off the make-shift-mask while the CCTV recorded his face. According to the report, he went on to threaten staff with the meat cleaver.

He was initially given about Rs 28,000 but he demanded more cash and also warned he would hurt a female customer if it was not handed over.

He was quoted saying by the Independent I dont want to f***ing hurt her. He eventually managed to rob nearly 2,000 (Rs 1,87,000 approximately) before leaving the bank.

Matthew, who had no clue that he was being tailed, walked very slowly and also stopped to pet a dog. He is now in custody after pleading guilty to a charge of assault and robbery. He has also pleaded guilty to possessing the stun gun.

What a genius!
The BJP sustained its attack on the AAP and the Congress over the amended citizenship act on Friday, with Home Minister Amit Shah accusing the two parties of "inciting Muslims" against the law and "instigating riots" in Delhi.

Shah also accused the Kejriwal government of not fulfilling its promises, and pledged to make Delhi the best capital city in the world if BJP is voted to power in assembly elections.

Claiming that one-third of people in Delhi were refugees from Pakistan, Shah slammed AAP and Congress for opposing the law, which seeks to grant citizenship to religious minorities escaping persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan and who have come to India by December 31, 2014.

"They started inciting Muslims and instigated riots in Delhi. They are still saying we support Shaheen Bagh. Congress leaders visit Shaheen Bagh regularly," he said, referring to the anti-citizenship law protest in the area continuing for over a month.

On Thursday, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia said he stood with the people of Shaheen Bagh.

The BJP has been out of power in Delhi since 1998 and has been making attempts to dislodge AAP in the assembly elections scheduled for February 8. Shah has been leading the BJP campaign addressing back-to-back rallies in the national capital ahead of the assembly polls.

On Thursday, he addressed a rally in Matiala in west Delhi and hit out at the AAP, accusing Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of speaking Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's language. Later that day, he took out a roadshow in Uttam Nagar and addressed another rally in Nangloi Jat.

On Friday, Shah addressed meetings in Karawal Nagar and Mustafabad in northeast Delhi.

He promised BJP will implement Ayushman Bharat scheme and PM Awas Yojana if voted to power in Delhi, a day after he accused the AAP government of stalling the Central health scheme.

"This fight is between those who do not fulfil their promises and those who do more than they promise," Shah said, accusing the AAP government of failing to fulfil its 2015 poll promises.

Talking about the outgoing government's free power and water supply schemes, he alleged, "People are getting bills of Rs 5,000-Rs 6,000 despite free consumption allowed up to 200 units per month. Kejriwal government is supplying the dirtiest water in the homes of Delhi."



The Ayushman Bharat scheme offers Rs 5 lakh treatment to the poor but Kejriwal government did not implement it, fearing it will earn popularity for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said.

"The Modi government provided ownership rights to 50 lakh residents of 1,731 unauthorised colonies in Delhi which Congress and AAP could not do in past 20 years," he said.

The former BJP chief highlighted Modi government's achievements, including the surgical strike inside Pakistan after the February 2019 Pulwama terrorist attack, Supreme Court judgment paving way for construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya and abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

"For 500 years, all Indians wanted a Ram temple in Ayodhya. But whenever the case came up for hearing Rahul baba and his lawyer Kapil Sibal obstructed it. Now, a towering, grand Ram temple will be constructed in Ayodhya in four months."



He also lashed out at Kejriwal and Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying surgical strikes were done under the Modi government. "Pakistan forgot that Mauni Baba Manmohan Singh was no longer the prime minister. Narendra Modi with 56 inch chest was PM and we killed the terrorists in Pakistan," he said.

He slammed Kejriwal for seeking "evidence" of the surgical strike, saying he could have watched Pakistani TV channels instead of questioning India's action.

Shah also accused Kejriwal and Gandhi of backing those allegedly raising "Bharat Tere Tukde Honge Ek Hazar" slogan at JNU, asserting Modi government sent such elements behind the bars.

"But the Kejriwal government is not giving sanction for their prosecution," he said.

He stated that people needed to support the BJP and Narendra Modi for a "safe" Delhi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BEIJING -Major Chinese cities, including Beijing and quarantine-blocked Wuhan, banned all large gatherings over the coming Lunar New Year festival, the most important holiday on the Chinese calendar, in an expanding effort to contain a rapidly spreading coronavirus outbreak.

The announcement Thursday came as authorities expanded travel restrictions imposed on Wuhan to surrounding municipalities, shutting down travel networks and attempting to quarantine about 25 million people - more than the population of Florida. Here is what we know:

- Cases of the virus have been detected around China, including Hong Kong and Macao, and other countries, including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the United States and Thailand. Singapore and Vietnam are the latest to join the list.

- At least 26 deaths have been confirmed in China, two of them outside of Hubei province. At least 835 people have been infected.

- U.S.-bound travelers from Wuhan will be routed to five airports for screening: Chicago's O'Hare, New York's John F. Kennedy, Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson, and Los Angeles's and San Francisco's international airports.

- Residents of Wuhan report empty shelves in stores and express frustration that the government isn't telling them the full story.

- The World Health Organization declined to declare a global health emergency Thursday, saying it's too early.

The extreme measures were accompanied by other indications that Communist Party authorities were struggling to control the outbreak, notably the aggressive censorship of any criticism or skepticism on social media.

But some outspoken doctors warned that the controls would not be enough to stop the spread of the pneumonia-like virus, which has killed 26 people, according to China's National Health Commission. The people who died were aged between 48 and 89, but the vast majority are at the top of that range and almost all of them had existing health conditions. Only two of the deaths occurred outside of the epicenter of Hubei province, of which Wuhan is the capital.

A bigger outbreak is certain," said Guan Yi, a virologist who helped identify severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003. He estimated - "conservatively," he said - that this outbreak could be 10 times bigger than the SARS epidemic because that virus was transmitted by only a few "super spreaders" in a more defined part of the country.

"We have passed through the 'golden period' for prevention and control," he told Caixin magazine from self-imposed quarantine after visiting Wuhan. "What's more, we've got the holiday traffic rush and a dereliction of duty from certain officials."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday that health officials in Texas notified it about a potential case of coronavirus. CDC said in a statement that it is in communication with state health officials and will share more information as it becomes available.

Health officials in Brazos County, Texas - which is where Texas A&M University is located and is about 100 miles northwest of Houston - said they are investigating a patient who meets the definition of a potential case of the new virus. The patient contracted a respiratory illness within two weeks of traveling in Wuhan and is being isolated at home in accordance with recommendations from the CDC.

In Geneva, the World Health Organization cited Chinese efforts to prevent transmission and the limited number of cases recorded abroad as its reasons for not declaring Thursday that the outbreak was a public health emergency of international concern.

But WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a news conference that the decision "should not be taken as a sign that WHO does not think the outbreak is serious or that we're not taking it seriously. Nothing could be further from the truth."

He said the emergency committee was divided on whether the outbreak deserved the special designation, but said regardless, the outbreak amounts to "an emergency in China.""It has not yet become a global health emergency, but it may become one."

In general, declaring an international public health emergency gives the WHO director general powers to issue recommendations to other countries, such as urging them not to close borders or restrict trade with a country in the middle of an outbreak. Public health officials say such measures are considered unlikely to stop disease spread and very likely to discourage countries from being forthright about outbreaks.

WHO officials gave the most detailed information so far about the severity of the illness associated with the new coronavirus. Much about how it works is still unknown, Tedros said, including its source, how easily it spreads and its full clinical features. These are all critical factors, experts have said, for declaring a global health emergency.

The most likely source is an animal, WHO said. But officials don't know which one. And they don't know the extent of human-to-human spread.

Still, WHO officials said that despite some gaps in knowledge, they have several advantages confronting this outbreak compared with the 2003 SARS outbreak that also originated in China and sickened thousands of people worldwide.

Michael Ryan, executive director of WHO's Health Emergencies Program, said it was too early to estimate just how severe this virus is and what proportion of people it kills, often referred to as the case fatality rate.

A vaccine is under development for the virus, but that process is not quick, and there are no specific therapies or treatment. Some of the patients who died in China have required extensive ventilator assistance to help them breathe.

As with other epidemics, countries with weaker health systems may come under pressure from the "worried well" who may overwhelm hospitals and clinics. Health officials need to "manage the pressures on the health systems," Ryan said.

It has not peaked, he added. WHO officials are "grateful" for the partnership with China. In many similar situations, "other countries have not been willing to share at that level," he said.

The data released by WHO drew criticism from some experts because so much remains unknown. WHO officials said that about 25 percent of cases were severe infections. China has reported the number of sick patients, but has not provided - and may not know - the total number of people infected.

If the total number of infected people is five or 10 times larger than those who have fallen ill and been diagnosed, "we can't say 25 percent for severe infections without knowing the denominator, the number of people infected," said Tom Frieden, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Lunar New Year holiday, a weeklong period when millions of Chinese travel to their hometowns - the biggest human migration on the planet - officially begins Friday.

Ahead of the holiday, authorities initially said that the virus, which began in a Wuhan food market selling exotic animals for consumption, was mild and could not be transmitted among humans. But that changed this week when the number of people infected by the virus, which has an incubation period as long as 14 days, began to rise rapidly.

Even one of the government's top experts, who had played down the prospects for widespread infection, contracted the virus.

Vietnam and Singapore joined the list of other countries that have detected the virus, with both confirming two cases had been found and were being treated.

Airports around the world, from London to Dubai to Atlanta, have put special screening measures in place to detect passengers arriving from China with fevers.

Authorities in Beijing and the southern city of Guangzhou said they were restricting public gatherings over the Lunar New Year holiday, which officially begins Friday and is often celebrated with large fireworks displays and popular fairs at temples.

The Forbidden City, the old imperial palace in the heart of Beijing and one of China's top tourist attractions, said it was closing its doors until further notice "to avoid cross-infection caused by the gathering of people."

Authorities in Wuhan announced even more stringent measures. In addition to banning public gatherings, local officials, wearing masks, announced that the start of the spring semester at all Hubei province schools will be delayed because of the outbreak.

The ruling Communist Party, which initially tried to show transparency after being criticized for covering up the SARS virus outbreak 17 years ago, has now shown signs of reverting to its default position of censoring bad news.

In a post that was online for less than an hour, the Wuhan Health Commission admitted Thursday that it was struggling to respond to the outbreak.

A post from Wuhan Railway saying that 300,000 people traveled by train out of Wuhan on Wednesday, headed to every corner of the country, was also quickly deleted.

Analysts said the heavy-handed reaction underscored the political risks for Chinese leader Xi Jinping and the ruling Communist Party, already under pressure amid an economic slowdown and accused of mishandling an outbreak of swine fever last year, which led to a sharp spike in prices for China's beloved pork.

"This outbreak may be the biggest threat to Xi and the Party in years, which is why they will stop at nothing to try to control and then eradicate it," said Bill Bishop, publisher of the influential Sinocism newsletter.

The city of Wuhan pulsated with fear and anger Thursday, as 11 million people absorbed the news that they were being confined to a metropolis-sized quarantine zone designed to contain a widening coronavirus outbreak.

The three main railway stations, 13 bus stations, the entire subway network and almost all city bus lines were shut down at 10 a.m. Thursday. Half of the 566 flights scheduled at Wuhan's international airport for Thursday were canceled, as were 251 ferry sailings on the Yangtze River, according to the Wuhan Transportation Bureau.

Many people flocked to the roads to try to avoid getting caught in the quarantine. Television footage showed health workers in hazmat suits taking motorists' temperatures as they waited at toll booths.

Others did not make it out. Hubei's highway management authority closed multiple expressways in and around Wuhan, and Wuhan traffic police confirmed that although vehicles were allowed to come into the city, they were prohibited from going out, except in special cases.

At least four other neighboring districts said they will adopt similar travel restrictions, effectively doubling the number of people in quarantine to 25 million.

In Macao, where one case has been found, the government said it might shut down the territory's casinos if the epidemic worsens. Macao's gambling sector is seven times the size of Las Vegas's. The authorities have called off a public festival to ring in the new year.

Many people in Wuhan were incensed at the sudden announcement of the travel restrictions Thursday.

"I didn't even receive a notice," said one woman who found herself stranded at Hankou Railway Station. She had been on her way from Henan province southwest to Sichuan and was changing trains in Wuhan when she got caught up in the suspension.

Some people resorted to extreme measures to escape the travel ban. One man who could not get a taxi to the station to catch an earlier train persuaded a food delivery driver to give him a lift on his scooter. The desperate traveler paid $72 to have the man, who would usually make less than half that in a day, drop him at the station. "We were flying," he said.

Others thought the ban was warranted.

"I think we can fully understand why they made the decision; they have no alternative," said Zhu, a 56-year-old university professor in Wuhan who declined to give a full name. "But it's difficult to tell how effective it will be."

Still, distrust of authorities is mounting.

Although local authorities said they had enough food for residents and medical supplies to treat patients, Wuhan residents posted photos on social media showing empty shelves in grocery stores. Prices of fresh fruit and vegetables have spiked, with cabbages selling for double the usual amount.

Wuhan authorities have ordered residents to wear masks in public places, but the People's Daily, the mouthpiece of the Communist Party, posted on social media that the province was short of masks and protective clothing. The post, which was widely shared, was soon deleted.

Speculation swirled that the government had silenced Zhong Nanshan, the renowned respiratory expert who helped discover SARS in 2003 and is known for his bluntness

Zhong, a member of the National Health Commission's group of experts investigating the outbreak, had been on Chinese television constantly this week and announced the finding that the coronavirus could pass from human to human. But he has disappeared from screens in recent days and did not answer phone calls from The Washington Post.

As the uncertainty continued, Guan, the virologist who identified SARS, offered a chilling perspective on the outbreak.

"I've seen it all: bird flu, SARS, influenza A, swine fever and the rest. But the Wuhan pneumonia makes me feel extremely powerless," he told Caixin. "Most of the past epidemics were controllable, but this time, I'm petrified."

- - -

Sun reported from Washington. The Washington Post's Wang Yuan, Liu Yang and Lyric Li in Beijing and Yasmeen Abutaleb, Siobhan O'Grady and Marisa Iati in Washington contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Gun Safety Alliance -- Today nearly 20 gun violence prevention organizations announced a path to reduce gun deaths in the United States by 50-percent by 2030. While each of these organizations has their approaches, priorities and programs to reduce gun violence, all believe this is achievable if everyone  politicians, businesses and civil society  does their part.

Each year, there are approximately 40,000 firearm deaths in the United States. Despite the efforts of dozens of individual organizations, current statistics show that these numbers are likely to rise if immediate actions are not taken. The societal and political complexities that confound this issue continue to show there is no  nor will there be  one solution to ending this epidemic. Together, these organizations believe if policies, programs and practices that have been proven to reduce homicides, suicides, and unintentional shootings can be scaled and advanced, collectively there can be a meaningful reduction in gun-related deaths in the U.S.

To achieve this goal, these organizations will focus on efforts such as:

Pass legislation to require background checks on all gun sales.

States that require a background check on gun sales have homicide rates 10 percent lower than those without

Further implement Extreme Risk lawssometimes referred to as "Red Flag" laws

States that have stepped up implementation have seen, on average, double-digit percentage decreases in their death rate

Achieve secure storage practices - storing firearms unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition

These practices are associated with a 78-percent lower risk of self-inflicted firearm injuries, and an 85-percent lower risk of unintentional firearm injuries among children

Support violence intervention programs that provide comprehensive support to the individuals who are at greatest risk of gunshot victimization

Homicide and gun injuries fell nearly 40-percent in select communities where programs exist

Recognize and combat the inherent danger of "Stand Your Ground" laws

In some states, implementation of "Stand Your Ground" laws saw a 32 percent increase in firearm homicide rates and a 24 percent increase in overall homicide rates since the policy was implemented.

The solution to affect changes on these senseless and preventable deaths is attainable if the combined forces of these organizations is harnessed, focused and directed towards initiatives that have proven to have had a demonstrative impact on gun-related deaths. It is also only possible if elected officials, business leaders, and citizens prioritize addressing this epidemic. Only through the combined forces of these groups, and a concerted effort to hold ourselves and society accountable for ending this violence, can we hope to create a better and safer future for us all.

We the undersigned organizations are fighting to end the epidemic of gun violence in the United States. We work on the national, state, and local levels. We work on legislation, policy, programs, research, and direct interventions. Our approach, strategies, and tactics sometimes differ, but all of us see the devastating effects of this preventable problem and are committed to reversing it.

We believe that the United States can reduce gun deaths by 50% by 2030. We know this is possible, but only if everyone does their part and we invite you to join us. We believe that we can save well more than 100,000 lives in the next ten years, but it will take many of us working together  from gun manufacturers to law enforcement, elected officials to CEOs, doctors to social workers, those who own guns and those who do not  toward this common purpose.

This is both a declaration of what's possible and a call to action. Countless lives are at stake. This enormous problem requires bold solutions. We pledge to work together to do our part to cut gun violence by 50% over the next decade. But we can't do it alone. We hope you will join us in doing your part.

Gun Violence Prevention Organizations

Black and Brown Gun Violence Prevention Brady Change the Ref CT Against Gun Violence Community Justice Action Fund DoSomething.org Everytown Giffords Gun Safety Alliance Life Camp Livefree March For Our Lives Moms Demand Action Newtown Action Alliance Orange Ribbons for Gun Safety Sandy Hook Promise States United to Prevent Gun Violence Stop Handgun Violence

Media Contact:

Campbell O'Connor

(202)-203-8931

[email protected]

SOURCE Gun Safety Alliance
The Doomsday Clock has been set at 100 seconds to midnight, marking the closest point humanity has been to armageddon at any point in the clocks history, according to scientists.

Citing potential nuclear war and the rising threat of climate change, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists  the nonprofit group that manages the symbolic clock, which was created in 1947  moved the timepiece from two minutes to a minute and 40 seconds to midnight on Thursday.

We are now expressing how close the world is to catastrophe in seconds  not hours, or even minutes, Rachel Bronson, the Bulletins president and CEO, said in a statement. We now face a true emergency  an absolutely unacceptable state of world affairs that has eliminated any margin for error or further delay.

We now face a true emergency  an absolutely unacceptable state of world affairs that has eliminated any margin for error or further delay, she added.

The threat of nuclear war has increased due to U.S. rising tensions with Russia, Iran and North Korea, the group said. With various arms control treaties breaking apart over the last year, a renewed nuclear arms race could be at hand.

RELATED: 20 Years Ago, Y2K Hysteria Led to Emergency Bunkers and Cost the U.S. $100 Billion

Dangerous rivalry and hostility among the superpowers increases the likelihood of nuclear blunder, former California Governor Jerry Brown said in the statement. Climate change just compounds the crisis. If theres ever a time to wake up, its now.

A report published by the Breakthrough National Centre for Climate Restoration in Australia last year found that climate change presents an existential threat to human civilization that could cause global famine and drought if no major actions to curb greenhouse emissions are enacted as soon as possible.

If not, by 2050  a mere 30 years from now  civilization as we know it could be upturned and brought to an end, researchers said.

Story continues

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists also identified another threat that could lead to the end of humanity: cyber-based disinformation. The group said governments have used disinformation to undermine domestic and international efforts to encourage peace.

Today, the #DoomsdayClock moved forward:



It is 100 seconds to midnight.



Historically, the Clock has moved both forward & backward. Notably, it turned back in 1991, 1972 & 1969.



To find out why, read our past Clock statements:https://t.co/RxLkDm9Jg4 pic.twitter.com/cIYAWHfy9L  Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (@BulletinAtomic) January 23, 2020

RELATED: Scientists Fear Platypuses Could Go Extinct Due Droughts in Australia, Study Finds

Humanity continues to face two simultaneous existential dangers  nuclear war and climate change  that are compounded by a threat multiplier, cyber-enabled information warfare, that undercuts societys ability to respond, the group said.

The Doomsday Clock has inched closer to midnight in three of the last four years. The clock was adjusted to three minutes to midnight in 2017, two and a half minutes in 2018, and was not adjusted in 2019.
Weinstein, the studio boss whose downfall energized the #MeToo movement, is charged with forcibly performing oral sex on former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in his New York apartment in 2006 and raping an aspiring actress in a New York hotel room in 2013. Sciorra is among four additional accusers who are expected to testify against him as part of an effort by prosecutors to show that Weinstein made a habit of preying on women.
One-year practical nursing program administrator Carol Duell interacts with a low-fidelity mannequin in the skills lab at Eastern Center for Arts and Technology. The skills lab simulates real clinical situations nurses may experience with patients. Read more

La Salle University wasted no time jumping on higher educations hottest new metric: earnings after graduation.

Around Philadelphia, La Salles billboards plaster local highways, advertising that its grads rank in the top 4% for 10-year midcareer earnings.

We beat out research-intensive universities [and] elite Ivy League liberal arts schools," La Salle president Colleen Hanycz said last week. And we did that without a school of engineering, medicine, or law boosting income after graduation.

La Salles marketing of ROI  or return on investment, based on a new Georgetown University study  illustrates a growing question: How much is an expensive college worth in future earnings as students and parents go deeply into hock? Do Ivy League degrees pay off more in the long run? Or can a one- or two-year program in health care rocket your college grad into a higher earnings bracket?

The result is surprising: Georgetowns analysis found, for example, that a degree from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J., is more valuable on average over a 40-year career than the Ivy Leagues Princeton University, $1.8 million compared with $1.6 million.

In Pennsylvania, half of the top-20 colleges by ROI offered associates degrees or certificates, mostly nursing and health care.

You cant always go by the biggest brand name, said Martin Van Der Werf, an associate director at Georgetowns Center on Education and the Workforce, which produced the study. You may think the biggest brand will have a higher return [for graduates]. But what the data tells me is that a place that specializes in occupations in industries can be better.

 READ MORE: Your student loan servicers  Navient, Nelnet, and FedLoan  pay big bucks to CEOs and lobbyists

The Georgetown group crunched data to derive an ROI for graduates or projected earnings over a career, minus the cost of college, for about 4,500 postsecondary programs and degrees.

Its study came out in November, and La Salle, a small Catholic college with about 3,300 undergraduates in Philadelphia, leaped on the results to advertise its top ranking by earnings.

La Salle ranked in the top 4% nationally in 10-year earnings, top 7% nationally in 20-year earnings, and top 6% nationally in the 30 and 40 years after graduation.

New hot metric

For decades, college rankings weighed average SAT scores, acceptance rates, college culture, and other metrics to help describe the institution and the students.

In 2020, though, what many students  and their parents  crave are well-paying jobs upon graduation and bucks in the bank, particularly as student debt keeps climbing and society becomes more stratified.

"We wanted to say something to people about the value proposition of a college, said Van Der Werf.

To reach its conclusions, Georgetown assumed that a college student took five years to graduate with a bachelors degree and subtracted the net cost of those years from career earnings, using federal data. So if the college cost $20,000 a year, the study subtracted $100,000 from overall earnings. In addition, Georgetown considered the five college years as part of the career. So, in effect, the degrees values were based on 35 years of earnings, minus the college costs.

The top four-year colleges in Pennsylvania for the projected value of their degrees over 40 years are: University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, $1.9 million; University of Pennsylvania, $1.8 million; Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, $1.75 million; and Lehigh University in Bethlehem, $1.7 million.

The schools programs are deep in high-earning fields such as pharmacy, health-care, engineering, computers, and finance.

In Delaware, a degree from the University of Delaware had the highest value over a lifetime, at $1.2 million.

In New Jersey, top schools by earnings after graduation included some well-known, but non-Ivy League, names: No. 6 Rutgers University-Camden, No. 11 College of New Jersey, and No. 18 Rowan University. All three schools boasted degrees with lifetime earnings over $1 million.

Graduates of private colleges generally do better than those at public colleges over a lifetime despite the higher costs, Van Der Werf said.

And certificate programs  such as those for practical nursing  and associate degrees offer better values for graduates with low costs and potentially high-earning careers, both during the early and later years in a career.

With an associate degree, you get into your profession faster than with a bachelors and you get the higher earnings faster, Van Der Werf said. I had no idea that it would turn out to be that lucrative.

 READ MORE: Why isnt Philly mad about student loan crisis? This Temple professor wants to change that.

Experts caution that the Georgetown study could overstate the value of certificate programs because mostly older adults attend those. And because these older graduates already have experience, they could enter the workforce at higher pay than younger adults.

Aria Health School of Nursing in Bensalem, part of the former Aria Health system that offered a two-year nursing program, ranked fifth in Pennsylvania in the Georgetown study. Its nursing degree was estimated to be worth $1.58 million.

Jefferson acquired the health-care system in 2016 and closed the Aria nursing program  part of a trend of acute-care hospitals hiring nurses with four-year bachelor degrees in the Philadelphia area. Aria graduated its last class in October.

Jefferson spokesperson Gina Auddino said that Jefferson nursing classes are now held at the universitys Center City or Abington campuses. She said Jeffersons overall job placement rate is very high, 95% of 2018 graduates working in their professions or attending graduate school.

We know the trend has been to require a bachelors degree. That is closing out some people who just cant afford to go to school for four years, Van Der Werf said of nursing programs.

Two one-year practical nursing programs in the Philadelphia area landed in the top 20 for lifetime value in Pennsylvania: Delaware County Technical School of Nursing in Broomall and the Eastern Center for Arts and Technology in Willow Grove, both run through public technical schools. Nurses train for jobs in doctors offices, nursing homes, pediatric care, mental-health facilities, and even prisons.

The Georgetown study valued the diplomas from both programs at more than $1 million over a lifetime.

I am thrilled, said Kate McNamara, supervisor of the Delaware County Technical School program. I always tell my students you are making one of the best decisions of your life for your money, and then to see it in print was really powerful for me. Tuition costs $16,000, with additional fees, McNamara said. She currently has about 80 students.

From the get-go, its always been a great bang for your buck, said Carol Duell, program administrator for the Eastern Centers practical nursing program.

Our demographics are the people who cant afford to go to college.

The average age of its students is about 30, with 15% of the students men, she said.

The school costs $15,000 a year. Practical nursing graduates make about $50,000, she said.

In New Jersey, the No. 3-valued program  right after Princeton  was the JFK Muhlenberg Harold B. and Dorothy A. Snyder Schools of Nursing and Medical Imaging in Plainfield, with a lifetime value of $1.56 million. No. 4 was the Sister Claire Tynan School of Nursing in Englewood Cliffs, at $1.51 million.

"If youre in health science or medicine or even a field like education, youre doing pretty well, while in the liberal arts youre not so good starting out, but youre better over time, said Seton Hall University associate education professor Robert Kelchen.

For traditional four-year colleges, La Salle ranked 27th in Pennsylvania with its bachelors valued at $1.2 million over a career. A Temple degree ranked 72nd in the state with a $1 million value. A Pennsylvania State University degree just missed $1 million, ranking 89th among Pennsylvania institutions with a lifetime value of $990,000.

Big schools with low-earning majors such as literature had their rankings brought down by those majors, Van Der Werf said.

Pennsylvania four-year colleges with degrees worth less than $1 million included Bloomsburg ($914,000), Kutztown ($844,000), Point Park ($749,000), and Edinboro ($720,000). In the Philadelphia area, those included Cabrini ($938,000), Neumann University ($895,000), Montgomery County Community College ($863,000), and Community College of Philadelphia ($746,000).

Douglas Webber, associate economics professor at Temple University, said of the Georgetown study: Its useful to get these numbers in the hands of consumers, because there are huge differences in outcomes across these institutions.

Based on his research, Webber projects that a graduate who paid the full cost of a private college and majored in the arts and humanities has a 50/50 chance of earning more than the typical high school graduate.

People in our part of the world are asking: Is a degree worth it? added Rob Pignatello, president of Lock Haven University, which is north of State College. Is it worth taking on the debt?

The Georgetown study places an $841,000 lifetime value on a Lock Haven degree, ranking 146th in Pennsylvania.

Lock Haven is looking at offering more certificate programs related to manufacturing jobs, accepting more college credits for life experience such as police or firefighting training, and expanding its health-care programs.

We have to pay attention to the market and the needs of employers, Pignatello said. Universities havent always done that.
The Pentagon on Friday said 34 US troops were diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries suffered in this month's Iranian missile strike on an Iraqi air base, and that half of the troops have returned to their military duties.

Seventeen of the 34 are still under medical observation, according to Jonathan Hoffman, the chief Pentagon spokesman.

President Donald Trump had initially said he was told that no troops had been injured in the January 8 strike.

The military said symptoms were not immediately reported after the strike and in some cases became known days later.

After the first reports that some soldiers had been hurt, Trump referred to them as "headaches" and said the cases were not as serious as injuries involving the loss of limbs.

Hoffman's disclosure that 34 had been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury, or TBI, was the first update on the number injured in Iran's missile attack on Ain al-Asad air base in western Iraq since the Pentagon said on January 17 that 11 service members had been flown out of Iraq with concussion-like symptoms.

Days later, officials said more had been sent out of Iraq for further diagnosis and treatment, but the Pentagon did not provide firm figures on the total or say whether any had been returned to duty.

Hoffman said of the 34 with TBI, 18 were evacuated from Iraq to US medical facilities in Germany and Kuwait, and 16 stayed in Iraq. Seventeen of the 18 evacuees were sent to Germany, and nine remain there; the other eight have been transported to the United States for continued observation or treatment.

The one American sent to Kuwait has since returned to duty. All 16 of those who were diagnosed with TBI and remained in Iraq have since returned to duty, Hoffman said.

No one was killed in the attack on Ain al-Asad. The strike was launched in retaliation for a US drone missile strike that killed Qassem Soleimani, the most powerful military general in Iran, on January 3 at the Baghdad International Airport.

Trump has repeatedly claimed that no Americans were harmed in the missile strikes, an outcome that he said drove his decision not to retaliate further and risk a broader war with Iran.

He credited the minimized damage to an early warning system "that worked very well" and said Americans should be "extremely grateful and happy" with the outcome.

Some members of Congress this week pressed the Pentagon for more clarity on the scope of the TBI cases resulting from the Iranian attack.

Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., wrote senior Pentagon officials on Thursday requesting additional details on casualties from the attack.

On Friday morning, Defence Secretary Mark Esper directed the Pentagon's acting undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, Matthew Donovan, to begin working with the staff of the Joint Chiefs to review how military injuries are tracked and reported not just TBI cases but battlefield injuries of all kinds, Hoffman told reporters.

"The goal is to be as transparent, accurate, and to provide the American people and our service members with the best information about the tremendous sacrifices our warfighters make," Hoffman said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Peru's government promised on Thursday to protect the Machu Picchu sanctuary and other Inca ruins when building a new airport to serve the ancient civilization's capital of Cusco. Machu Picchu and the Inca road system are UNESCO World Heritage sites, and the UN agency has previously expressed concerns over the proposed airport at Chinchero, less than 60 kilometers from the Inca sanctuary that was built in the 15th century. "We have made a commitment that before work begins on constructing the Chinchero airport, in June of this year, we will present the heritage impact study that UNESCO demands," Transport Minister Edmer Trujillo, who is responsible for the project, told journalists. UNESCO has told Peru that even though the airport will be built outside of the archeological areas, it is necessary to study how a potential increase in tourists would affect them. The new airport will be able to receive six million passengers per year -- 60 percent more than the current Cusco airport, which has a capacity for 3,000 passengers a day but receives 5,000. The existing airport cannot grow because it is inside Cusco, a major Andean city in southeast Peru. Machu Picchu -- the most iconic site from the Inca empire that ruled a large swathe of western South America for 100 years before the Spanish conquest in the 16th century -- is Peru's most popular tourist attraction, located about 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Cusco. Trujillo said construction of the new airport would be constantly monitored by culture ministry experts in case archeological ruins are found. The airport will be built at 3,780 meters above sea level in the old Inca Sacred Valley. Many have criticized the impact it could have not only on the country's national treasures but on rural communities. "Building an airport in the Sacred Valley will have irreparable effects in terms of noise, increase in traffic and uncontrolled urbanization," historian Natalia Majluf said in August. But local Cusco authorities say it will bring in vital tourism revenue, which the region depends on. Machu Picchu, which means "old mountain" in the Quechua language indigenous to the area, is at the top of a lush mountain and was built during the reign of the Inca emperor Pachacuti (1438-1471)
New Delhi, Jan 24 : Slamming the invitation to Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro as the Chief Guest at the national Republic Day celebrations here, Rajya Sabha member and senior CPI leader Binoy Viswam on Friday declined the government's invitation to attend the official ceremony on Sunday.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Viswam said that government had invited Bolsonaro even as his ideaology and policies are tarnished by bigotry, misogyny, homophobia and discrimination.

"His actions in Brazil and at the global stage are directly against the very ethos of the Indian Constitution that we celebrate on Republic Day," he wrote.

Viswam expressed dismay over the government move and reminded the PM that the same Brazilian President had sought actions against India in the WTO for providing aid to struggling sugarcane farmers in the country.

"His actions are a direct threat to the livelihood for over 5 crore sugarcane farming families in India and your invitation to him signals a complete disregard for your own citizen and their flight," Viswan wrote to the PM.
The killer coronavirus rapidly sweeping the world could be caught through the eyes, scientists have today warned.

Chinese doctor Wang Guangfa fears he may have contracted the SARS-like infection because he wasn't wearing protective goggles.

Leading experts confirmed it is 'absolutely possible', saying the virus can enter the eyes by touching them  if it is on a patient's hands.

And they even warned the virus  thought to be spread through sneezes and coughs  can roam through the body to reach the eye.

Twenty-six patients have died in the coronavirus outbreak in China, which has struck down more than 900 people and spread as far as the US.

Wang Guangfa has been infected with the new virus in China after being part of a team of doctors investigating it in Wuhan, where the virus emerged

Dr Guangfa heads the department of pulmonary medicine at Beijing's Peking University First Hospital (pictured)

Chinese authorities say 26 people have died and now more than 900 people caught the killer infection across the world, with cases cropping up in the US, Vietnam and Singapore

Paul Kellam, professor of virus genomics at Imperial College London, said this is 'absolutely possible'.

'If you have droplets sneezed at you, they will wash from your eye to your nose,' he told MailOnline. 'Your eye connects to your nose through the lacrimal duct.

'If you suffer from allergies and if your eyes run, so will your nose. Or if you put medication in your eyes, youll taste at the back of your throat.

'It isnt unusual for flu and other viruses to be transmitted this way. You can also get respiratory infections through the eye.'

Professor Kellam said it is for this reason healthcare workers must wear eye protection.

And even though face masks that protect the mouth and nose are effective, they clearly 'won't protect the eyes'.

Leading experts have today confirmed it is 'absolutely possible' it could be spread through the eyes, saying the virus can enter the eyes by touching them  if it is on a patient's hands

And they even warned the virus  thought to be spread through sneezes and coughs  can roam through the body to reach the eye

Dr Michael Head, senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton, backed up Professor Kellam's claim.

He told MailOnline: 'Transmission would potentially be by touching the eye so the virus is on the hand, which then makes it easy to spread from one person to another.

'Think of it like the common cold or the flu, touching nose/mouth/eyes is a way to spread them.'

Dr Guangfa heads the department of pulmonary medicine at Beijing's Peking University First Hospital.

He was part of a team of experts that earlier this month visited Wuhan, where the virus first emerged.

'I was diagnosed and my condition is fine,' he told Kong's Cable TV on Tuesday. He said he was going to receive an injection - but did offer any more details.

Medical staff work in the ICU (intensive care unit) of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University in Wuhan

Hazmat-clad medics transfer a patient who is on the mend out of the ICU (intensive care unit) of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan

The coronavirus has so far claimed the lives of 26 people - all in China - and infected more than 900 in 10 different countries.

The World Health Organisation last night stopped short of declaring it a global health emergency, but said there was no doubt it may yet become one.

The virus  previously unknown to science  first appeared in Wuhan last month. It originated in a meat market and scientists believe it 'jumped the species barrier' from snakes, which may have been on sale illegally, to humans.

Symptoms begin with a fever, a dry cough and sneezing. This is followed by shortness of breath about a week later, which can develop into pneumonia.
The WhatsApp 'hack' of Jeff Bezos' phone allegedly by Saudi Arabia is not as clear cut as the cyber security firm report which Bezos had produced may suggest, other experts in the field have warned including the former head of security at WhatsApp's parent company Facebook.



Forensics specialists Bill Marczak and Alex Stamos told The Wall Street Journal that the investigators at FTI Consulting, the firm Bezos hired, were not able to identify the malicious software that was lying in a video file that they think might have hijacked the phone.

Marczak and Stamos say the team at FTI should have been able to do that.

Scroll down for video

This is the message that Mohammed bin Salman sent Jeff Bezos on May 1 which is thought to have been the 'hack' that harvested data from his phone

Jeff Bezos' phone was hacked last May. FTI Consulting said the source of the hack was likely the message that came to him from Mohammed bin Salman (right)

Stamos worked as the chief security officer at Facebook until August 2018. The company owns WhatsApp.

He says that the FTI report suggests they had access to the data that would be required to decrypt the file and examine it for software but that they, for some reason, did not.

Alex Stamos, former head of security at Facebook, said it has not been conclusively proven that Saudi Arabia hacked Bezos' phone

'They dont seem to understand how to properly decrypt WhatsApp attachments,' he told the Journal.

Marczak said bluntly: 'It is not a conclusive report.'

Saudi Arabia has denied hacking the Amazon billionaire's phone and says any such claims are both 'absurd' and 'silly'.

Bezos has not commented publicly on the claims.

Bezos' team of investigators hired FTI Consulting last year after The National Enquirer published an expose into his affair with Lauren Sanchez which included personal details of text messages and nude photos the Amazon founder had sent his then mistress.

The consulting firm produced a report in November that has only now been made public which suggests that it a video file sent to Bezos by Saudi Arabian crown prince Mohammed bin Salman was the source of a hack.

In November, he sent this one - a forwarded meme showing a woman with the words 'Arguing with a woman is like reading the software license agreement. In the end you have to ignore everything and click I agree.' The cyber firm Bezos hired to look into his phone and whether or not it had been hacked say this suggested bin Salman knew he was getting a divorce - something that was not public at the time. The experts say she 'resembled' Lauren Sanchez

A final WhatsApp mesage sent to Bezos by bin Salman within hours of Bezos being told via phone call that Saudi Arabia had launched an online campaign against him. The cyber security experts say the timing of the message was suspicious given Bezos and Salman had not spoken for more than three months and he had just been told over the phone about the campaign

It was sent to his device on May 1, 2019.

The report said that a large amount of data went missing from Bezos' phone afterwards, and it also suggested that bin Salman or someone using his WhatsApp account was listening to Bezos' phone calls and texts in the months that followed.

The claims have triggered an international ripple effect with investigations now underway by the UN.

The FBI had already been investigating the alleged hack, and New York prosecutors are investigating the Enquirer's reporting of the story, sources have previously told The Wall St Journal.
(Newser)  The Russian River meanders through wine country in northern California, and this week it's particularly well-suited to the task. Up to 97,000 gallons of red wine spilled into the river from a winery in Sonoma County, reports CNN. Cabernet sauvignon, to be exact, and enough to fill 500,000 bottles if the spill ends up being near the upper estimate, notes the Press Democrat. The wine typically sells for $27 a bottle, per KGO. Authorities blame a faulty blending tank door at Rodney Strong Vineyards for the mess. The wine made its way into a creek, then into the river that flows into the Pacific.

story continues below

"At that point its just a matter of nature taking its course and letting it flow out to the ocean," says the chief of a local fire battalion. Though the spill may sound jokey in nature, it still has the potential to disrupt the river's ecosystem temporarily. The acidic, untreated wine could kill smaller fish and other types of food that larger fish need to survive, notes the head of a nonprofit group that protects the river. Still, he adds, "We've had many worse things happen to our river." (Mars travelers may want to pack red wine for the trip.)
Chinese auxiliary police officers wear face masks to avoid contracting coronavirus (Zhao Qirui/ Costfoto/Sipa USA)

Six people in the UK are being tested for potential coronavirus.

Five people have been admitted to hospitals in Scotland and one person is being tested in Northern Ireland.

None of the cases have been confirmed as the virus so far.

However, two of those being tested in Scotland had been diagnosed with influenza after travelling to Wuhan, China, where the virus is thought to have originated.

A third person is undergoing testing on a similar precautionary basis.

The Scottish government said in a statement: There are currently no confirmed cases of coronavirus (WN Co-V) in Scotland and the risk to the Scottish public remains low.

Following travel to Wuhan, China, two people confirmed as diagnosed with influenza are now being tested for Wuhan Novel Coronavirus as a precautionary measure only. Three further people are also undergoing testing on a similar precautionary basis.

Coronavirus: confirmed cases.

As the situation develops we will update should there be any confirmed cases of coronavirus, rather than provide a running update on cases being considered on a precautionary basis.

The sixth person is being tested to rule out coronavirus at Belfasts Royal Victoria Hospital.

The patient arrived at the hospital showing symptoms which may be associated with the condition but it will be some time before test results are returned.

The patient in Belfast developed flu-like symptoms after travelling from China, according to the BBC.

Downing Street said Boris Johnson is being kept updated with ministers and officials keeping the situation under close review.

At least 17 people have died in China as a result of the illness, with hundreds more cases confirmed.

On Thursday night, the World Health Organisations emergency committee said it was too early to declare an international public health emergency over the coronavirus outbreak.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organisation, said: Make no mistake. This is an emergency in China.

Story continues

But it has not yet become a global health emergency. It may yet become one.

On Wednesday night, China suspended all flights, including international services, out of Wuhan city  the epicentre of the outbreak.

Another city close to Wuhan, Huanggang, is also under quarantine as officials try to contain the spread.

Speaking in the House of Commons on Thursday morning, health secretary Matt Hancock said the NHS is ready for an outbreak of coronavirus.

He said: The chief medical officer has revised the risk to the UK population from very low to low, and has concluded that while there is an increased likelihood that cases may arise in this country, we are well prepared and well equipped to deal with them.

The UK is one of the first countries to develop a world-leading test for coronavirus, the NHS is ready to respond appropriately to any cases that emerge, clinicians in both primary and secondary care have already received advice covering initial detection and investigation of possible cases, infection control and diagnostics.

The public can be assured that the whole of the UK is always well prepared for these type of outbreaks and we will remain vigilant and keep our response under constant review in light of emerging scientific evidence.

Read more from Yahoo News UK:

How did the coronavirus outbreak start?

Coronavirus 'may be missed at airport screenings

North Korea to ban foreign tourists to stop coronavirus spread

How worried should we be about coronavirus?

Experts say the UK is well equipped to deal with the virus but that authorities should take the risk seriously.

Prof Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, said: " I think it unlikely that the Wuhan coronavirus will be cause a major public health issue in the UK in large part because of our existing health system.

If the outbreak developed into a pandemic with very large number of cases then it would be a very serious issue for us all.

However, I doubt that this will happen, though we still do need to take the outbreak seriously and monitor the situation carefully.

A passenger arrives at Heathrow Airport wearing a face masks amid a coronavirus outbreak (SWNS)

Passengers arriving at Heathrow Airport wear face masks as four patients are tested for coronavirus in Scotland (SWNS)

Prof Jonathan Ball, professor of molecular virology at the University of Nottingham, said: For a virus outbreak that was identified around a month ago, the number of exported cases and the recent uplift of numbers is concerning; particularly as the suspected source of the outbreak  a fish market that supposedly also traded in live animals  has been closed for some time.

This, together with reported chains of human to human transmission means this is an outbreak that the international community needs to take seriously.
The first week of the impeachment trial of Donald Trump focused on whether the Senate would call witnesses such as former national-security adviser John Bolton and Joe and Hunter Biden. But while they would attract lots of commentary and speculation, any new witnesses would not materially affect the final verdict. The critical constitutional question, which both parties have so far failed to persuasively answer, is this: Did the president commit a high crime or misdemeanor that justifies removal from office? And both the House accusers and the Trump defense team have sought to answer that question, upon which all depends, by reversing the polarity of their traditional constitutional positions.

Democrats have made no secret of their hostility to originalism, which interprets an ambiguous constitutional text by seeking the original understanding held at the time of its ratification. They went to war to oppose two Supreme Court nominees, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, because they feared Gorsuch and Kavanaugh would become the fourth and fifth votes of an originalist majority that might overturn Roe v. Wade or the gay-marriage cases. But when the topic became impeachment, the House managers wrapped themselves in the legitimacy of the Founding.

Todays Democrats have probably never signed a document so replete with quotations from The Federalist Papers and the Constitutional Convention as the House Judiciary Committees December 13, 2019, impeachment report. Democrats suddenly favor the Founding because it lends some support to their claim that the standard of Treason, Bribery, and other high Crimes and Misdemeanors for presidential impeachment includes conduct that falls short of federal crimes. They are surely correct about the broad scope of impeachable offenses. Impeachment exists for offenses which proceed from the misconduct of public men, or, in other words, from the abuse or violation of some public trust, Alexander Hamilton explained in Federalist No. 65. They are of a nature which may with particular propriety be denominated POLITICAL, as they related chiefly to injuries done immediately to the society itself.

Story continues

In particular, the House impeachment report argues that the high Crimes and Misdemeanors standard encompasses three types of offenses that are not in themselves criminal: abuse of power, betrayal of the national interest, and corruption of office or elections. Democrats have lately cited James Iredells explanation at the North Carolina ratifying convention that the president would be liable to impeachments [if] he had . . . acted from some corrupt motive or other, or if he was willfully abusing his trust. They neglect to observe that Iredells comments have limited value, since the North Carolina convention rejected the Constitution, but we should forgive them their lack of familiarity with the Framing materials  they are like a kid learning to ride a bike for the first time.

Trumps defense team, meanwhile, has erred even more egregiously in the opposite direction. While the White House has broken all records in appointing originalist judges, its defense team has adopted a non-originalist approach that could have made Justice William Brennan chuckle. By limiting impeachment to cases of Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors, the Framers restricted impeachment to specific offenses against already known and established law, proclaims President Trumps January 20, 2020, Trial Memorandum, without producing any statement from a leading Founder, during the drafting or ratification of the Constitution, that limits high Crimes and Misdemeanors to criminal acts. Instead, the brief makes much of the fact that the impeachment clause proposed by George Mason at the Constitutional Convention would have made a president removable for Treason, Bribery, or Mal-administration. When the Convention replaced Mal-administration with high Crimes and Misdemeanors, the presidents defense team suggests, it meant to remove not just policy disputes from the list of impeachable offenses, but also anything short of a crime. That, of course, does not logically follow, nor do any Founders appear to have understood high Crimes and Misdemeanors as limited solely to crimes. Indeed, that makes little sense, as no crimes would have existed until Congress came into being and chose to create a criminal code, which it did not do in any significant measure for decades.

Instead, the presidents team makes arguments on the meaning of high Crimes and Misdemeanors that resemble the methods used by the justices who have steadily expanded individual rights in ways that offend conservatives. For example, Trumps brief relies heavily on our present-day understandings of the relationship between the president and Congress, and on the impeachments of Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton. Any good originalist would concede, however, that precedent from 80 or 210 years after the Founding cannot reflect the original meaning of the constitutional text, and that a defense of Trump that relies solely on impeachments potential to weaken the presidency cannot overcome the explanations of the meaning of high Crimes and Misdemeanors offered by the Founders themselves during the battle over the Constitutions ratification.

A careful originalist review of the evidence left by the Founders supports the presidents acquittal, even assuming all of the facts alleged by the House to be true. But that is not to say that, if both the House managers and the presidents defense team had delved more deeply into those explanations, they wouldnt have found far more support for their respective arguments.

Democrats, for example, could have found more ammunition in the Founders understanding of the question of abuse of the power over foreign affairs. President Trumps defenders have argued that Congress cannot impeach a president for the exercise of a power constitutionally assigned to the executive, and everyone agrees that the president is the sole organ of the nations diplomacy, as Chief Justice John Marshall once put it. But if the Democrats had done some historical research themselves, they would have discovered discrete moments during the ratification battle when presidential abuse of the foreign-affairs power arose.

The leading such moment comes from Virginia, which held the critical state convention to ratify the Constitution  it barely passed, 8880  featuring the leading statesmen of the day. Anti-Federalists at the Virginia convention claimed that presidents might conspire with senators to betray the public trust to foreign powers. Patrick Henry, the Revolutionary War governor and leading Virginia political figure, suggested that countries might bribe the president and the Senate to give away valuable trading rights or territory by treaty. Yes, you can impeach [the president] before the Senate, Henry admitted. But a majority of the Senate may be sharers in the bribe. Will they pronounce him guilty who is in the same predicament with themselves? Anti-Federalists cited as an example the failed JayGardoqui Treaty, which would have given American ships favored trading access to the Spanish Empires foreign ports in exchange for allowing Spain the exclusive right to navigate the Mississippi River for 25 years. To Virginians, this treaty would have sacrificed the national interest in favor of the mercantile interests of New England and the Atlantic states.

James Madison led the defense of the Constitution. He responded directly to Henry that Congress could impeach a president for a treaty that sacrificed the public good to the narrow interests of a group of states or of the president himself. Were the President to commit anything so atrocious as to summon only a few states [to approve a treaty], he would be impeached and convicted, Madison declared, as a majority of the states would be affected by his misdemeanor. Fellow Federalist George Nicholas added that the British Parliament could use impeachment for the punishment of such ministers as, from criminal motives, advise or conclude any treaty which shall afterwards be judged to derogate from the honor and interest of the nation.

House Democrats could have used this episode to argue that the Framers specifically contemplated the kind of abuse of power at issue in the Ukraine mess. In the critical Virginia convention, defenders of the Constitution explained that high Crimes and Misdemeanors could encompass a presidents use of the treaty power to serve the narrow interests of a small group of states at the expense of the broader national interest. Clearly, such a treaty would not violate any federal criminal law, then or now. Further, the Constitution assigns the making of all treaties  with the advice and consent of the Senate  to the president. Madison himself argued that, even when he uses that power within the terms of the Constitution, if he abuses it the president has created grounds for his impeachment and removal. In the case of the JayGardoqui treaty, the president had not even acted purely for personal benefit  hed merely placed sectional or partisan interests above the national interest  and Madison had agreed that hed committed an impeachable offense.

On the other hand, Trumps defense team could have drawn equal, if not greater, support from the historical record of the Founding. An initial close reading of the Constitutions text suggests that other high Crimes and Misdemeanors must have a similar nature to Treason and Bribery, since they are included in the same list and, crucially, linked with an other. If the clause had read Treason, Bribery, and high Crimes and Misdemeanors, without the other, the scope of offenses covered by impeachment might be much broader. Other parts of the Constitution reinforce the idea that the phrase high Crimes and Misdemeanors limits impeachment to serious offenses. Article I immunizes members of Congress from arrest when Congress is in session except for Treason, Felony, and Breach of the Peace; it seems that felonies or breaches of the peace do not amount, alone, to high crimes. Article IV requires states to extradite fugitives charged with Treason, Felony, or other Crime. This approach does not answer the question of what treason, bribery, and other high crimes and misdemeanors should have in common, only that we should read the catch-all as including only offenses of a similar gravity.

Where the Framers discussed high crimes and misdemeanors, they cited examples of abuse of power that harm the nation at a level as serious as Treason and Bribery. At the Constitutional Convention, Madison discussed cases that would require presidential removal. Some provision should be made for defending the Community [against] the incapacity, negligence or perfidy of the chief Magistrate, he declared. He did not believe that elections held every four years would provide a strong enough safeguard. [The president] might lose his capacity after his appointment, Madison worried. Or worse yet, he might pervert his administration into a scheme of peculation or oppression. He might betray his trust to foreign powers. Edmund Randolph supported his fellow Virginian because the Executive will have great opportunities of abusing his power; particularly in time of war when the military force, and in some respects the public money will be in his hands. Without impeachment, Randolph predicted, the people would have to resort to tumults & insurrections to turn out such a president.

The Virginia convention is also instructive in this regard. In the debate between Henry and Madison, neither raises examples of minor exercises of the foreign-affairs power. Instead, they discuss treaties, such as the JayGardoqui treaty, that threatened to limit the expansion of the nation westward, one of the critical national interests of the time. Even Henry conceded that impeachment would not apply because of bad motives alone. No man ever thought of impeaching a man for an opinion, he said. It would be impossible to discover whether the error in opinion resulted from a willful mistake of the heart, or an involuntary fault of the head.

Ultimately the best argument in the presidents defense from the Framing comes from the importance of the political process. First and foremost, the Framers believed that elections and the other branches of government would impose the primary restraint on the executive. A president intent on bribery, treason, or other high crimes and misdemeanors would need the cooperation of the House and Senate to succeed in his plans, through either funding, legislation, or the approval of treaties and appointees. In such cases, the Framers hoped, the separation of powers would make it difficult for the president to execute any nefarious designs. The great security against a gradual concentration of the several powers in the same department, consists in giving to those who administer each department, the necessary constitutional means, and personal motives, to resist encroachments of the others, Madison wrote in Federalist No. 51. Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. The interest of the man, must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place. By pursuing their own self-interest, the other branches of government are meant to check any undue aggrandizement of power by the president.

Anti-Federalists worried that senators might have a political incentive to block impeachment when they had blessed executive conduct, whether by consenting to a damaging treaty or by confirming a traitor to office. Federalists argued that House impeachment would impose enormous political pressures on senators to try a president in good faith. But even if the Senate failed in its duty, the people would still have their say: By rejecting a presidents campaign for reelection, the people would render their own verdict. The Framers electoral check itself reveals the hollowness of Democrats ongoing impeachment quest, given that the next presidential election is just months away.

More from National Review
New Delhi:

An FIR has been filed on the complaint of News Nation's Consulting Editor Deepak Chaurasia after he was manhandled and roughed up by some miscreants at Shaheen Bagh on Friday. The News Nation team was reporting about the protests where hundreds of people have been agitating against the amended Citizenship Act or CAA for over 40 days.

Deepak Chaurasia was reporting from the site when a man wearing yellow pullover tried to stop him. Unfazed by the disturbance, the senior journalist continued to do his work. However, the miscreant allow News Nation to show the report and heckled Chaurasia. Two video journalists, who were accompanying Chaurasia were also attacked by the miscreants and looted their camera.

Narrating his ordeal, Chaurasia said that no police personnel was there at the protest site to protect him. Following the incident, a complaint has been filed by the Delhi police in this incident. DCP South East Delhi Chinmay Biswal assured that action will be taken against the perpetrators.

Hundreds of people, led by women, have been demonstrating at the venue, blocking a key road which links Noida to Delhi. A major part of the crowd swells between 8 pm and 12 pm when the regular protesters are joined by working professionals and businessmen once they return from work. While the protesters has maintained their agitation is completely peaceful, Today's incident has raised serious questions about their claims.

Also Read: News Nation Journalist Manhandled, Camera Broken At Shaheen Bagh Protest Site

This is not the first time the Shaheen Bagh protests has created a controversy. Earlier this month, several BJP leaders claimed that 'Jinnah wali Azadi' slogans were chanted during an anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protest at Shaheen Bagh.

A video tweeted by BJP spokesperson Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga shows the protesters raising slogans like 'Gandhi wali Azadi', 'Nehru wali Azadi', etc. At one point, they can also be heard chanting 'Jinnah wali Azadi' in the video.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 04:17:52|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

ZAGREB, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer on Thursday commended Croatia for properly protecting the border against illegal immigrants.

"I have no criticism that I could make about the work of the police in Croatia and other security services," Seehofer said at a joint press conference with his Croatian counterpart Davor Bozinovic after an informal meeting of European Union (EU) justice and interior ministers.

The German minister said a "strong state" is needed when it comes to protecting citizens and security, and announced German assistance to Croatia in protecting the border.

"The Croatian police guard the EU's longest land frontier, and Germany is one of those member states that understands and appreciates what the Croatian police is doing," Bozinovic said.

The fight against illegal migration was also one of the topics discussed at the Zagreb meeting by the ministers of justice and interior affairs, which concluded that Europe would face illegal migration for years to come.

Participants of the meeting also agreed to jointly fight against smuggling networks and terrorism. Enditem
A man has been charged with attempted murder after a stabbing in Brampton early Saturday morning.

Peel Police say a 20-year-old man from Mississauga, was stabbed at a convention centre in the area of Steeles Avenue East and Airport Road at around 2 a.m. after getting into an altercation involving more than 10 people in a parking lot.

The suspect produced a knife and stabbed the victim several times, according to police. The victim was brought to a trauma centre with serious injuries.

Police executed a search warrant at a Brampton address.

Dilkirat Dhaliwal, 19, of Brampton was arrested on Friday and charged with attempted murder.

He was held for a bail hearing and was to appear in court on Friday.

Osobe Waberi is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @OsobeWaberi

Read more about:
John Cox can be reached at 661-395-7404. Follow him on Twitter: @TheThirdGraf. Sign up at Bakersfield.com for free newsletters about local business.
Tokyo and Kyoto arent the only worthwhile destinations to visit in storied Japan, but theyre often the only ones Americans know about.
A global coronavirus vaccine could be developed in six months in Queensland by experts who thought they "had three years".

The University of Queensland received a request by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) after a team at the university invented technology to speed up the process that would usually take years.

UQ Vice-Chancellor and president Professor Peter Hj, Dr Keith Chappell from UQ's School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences and Professor Trent Munro at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology. Credit:Jocelyn Garcia

A team of 20 experts is using a molecular clamp that provides stability to the viral protein, the primary target of our immune defence.

UQ Vice-Chancellor and president Peter Hj said the technology was tested in the laboratory against other viruses such as Ebola and SARS.
Scottish Government 'very surprised' by announcement of Glasgow drugs summit

The Scottish Government has accused the UK Government of organising a drugs summit in Glasgow without any consultation with the Scottish Government and Glasgow.

Earlier on Friday, the UK Government announced a Glasgow summit on tackling drug misuse would take place on February 27 with drug recovery experts, health professionals, ministers and senior police officers from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

However, Scottish Public Health Minister Joe FitzPatrick issued a statement that afternoon saying he had asked UK Government ministers repeatedly to meet to discuss this issue and to attend a summit we were organising.

I was, therefore, very surprised that the UK Government announced a summit in Glasgow without any consultation with the Scottish Government and Glasgow, he said.

What Scotland faces in terms of drug deaths is nothing short of a public health emergency and we will engage constructively with any attempts to save lives.

Regardless of how the UK Government have chosen to go about this, what really matters is reducing harm and saving lives. Thats why listening to, and engaging with, people with lived experience of drug use and those on the front line must be central to any summit.

He said the Scottish Government would now, again, attempt to work with the UK Government to facilitate the summit.

The UK Government summit aims to boost collaboration between the UK Government and the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland administrations and those present will discuss how to work together to best prevent deaths related to drug misuse.

However, despite pleas from FitzPatrick last year, Home Secretary Priti Patel was not mentioned as attending. FitzPatrick has written to Patel on three occasions, asking her to commit to attending a summit on this issue.

If you can give this commitment, we can work with your officials to start preparations for the summit and ensure your availability as quickly as is practicable, he said, in the August letter.

In the most recent letter, on January 7, FitzPatrick also invited Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock to attend.

The UK Government said Jo Churchill, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Prevention, Public Health and Primary Care, and Secretary of State for Scotland Alister would attend the event.

UK Minister for Crime, Policing and the Fire Service, Kit Malthouse, who will chair the event, said: People are dying from drugs every day across the UK, and this summit will bring us together to tackle the issue of drug misuse.

We must have firm enforcement action and do all we can on prevention, recovery and treatment too. I look forward to meeting key individuals from across the UK and listening to their views on addressing this challenge.

Professor Dame Carol Black, the independent reviewer of drugs, is due to present her findings to the devolved administrations at the summit.

The statement added, while the legal framework related to the misuse of drugs was a reserved power, the Scottish and Welsh governments and the Northern Ireland Executive have their own approach to preventing the harms of drug misuse in areas where responsibility is devolved, including healthcare, criminal justice, housing, and education.

Scottish Drugs Forum chief executive David Liddell welcomed the high-level summit, as it would bring the people who have the levers of power necessary to implement the measures around the same table.

These measures should focus on an approach to social inclusion which involves better and swifter access to treatment, care, and support; alongside dealing with underlying issues such as housing, poverty, and issues of criminal law, which further marginalise people with a drug problem. This would mean that our approach here was more like Portugals. This is achievable if there is a will and consensus to do so, he said.

The summit has the potential to make a difference to the tragic loss of life we continue to face across Scotland and the rest of the UK.

Jack said the high numbers of lives lost to drugs in Scotland was a huge cause for concern. I am pleased that the UK Government is to bring experts together from all parts of the country, to share experience about tackling this terrible scourge, he said.

Scottish Conservative Glasgow MSP and public health spokeswoman Annie Wells said the summit was a huge opportunity for us to tackle the drugs crisis not just in Glasgow, but across the whole country.

The death toll, especially north of the border, is a matter of public shame and huge tragedy for thousands upon thousands of families. But now we can get the very best people together and start initiating real change, she said.

We must put our political and constitutional differences aside and come up with solutions here  the public will not forgive us if we do not.

A Home Office spokesperson told Holyrood: The UK Governments summit is UK-wide and will address the challenges of drug misuse in the round. This is a problem that affects the whole of the UK, not just Scotland, and it is important to bring all affected nations to the table.

We hope that the Scottish Government and experts in Scotland, as well as the Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive, will accept invitations to attend the UK Drugs Summit. We believe they have an important contribution to make to the discussion.

The Scottish Government has called for a change in law to enable the establishment of a safer drug consumption facilities, but this has so far been rejected by the UK Government.

The number of drug-related deaths in Scotland rose to 1,187 in 2018, the highest rate since records began.
Two anti-government protesters were killed in clashes with security forces in the Iraqi capital on Friday, hours after thousands of supporters of Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr rallied separately to demand the ouster of US troops. Four NGO workers, three of them French nationals, were also reported missing in Baghdad, rocked since October by a youth-dominated protest movement demanding a government overhaul, early elections and more accountability. More than 470 people have died in protest-related violence since October, most of them demonstrators, and violence has spiked this week. On Friday, one protester was struck in the neck by a live round while another died after being hit with a military-grade tear gas canister in clashes with security forces, medical and police sources told AFP. It marked a sudden and bloody turn as thousands of men, women and children had gathered in Baghdad earlier the same day without incident to demand US troops withdraw. A vowed enemy of US troops, Sadr had called for "a million-strong" rally but did not attend himself. "Get out, get out, occupier!" they chanted. One protester carried a cardboard cut-out of Donald Trump on the gallows, another of the US president banging himself on the head with a shoe. A statement read by his representative at the rally demanded all foreign forces leave Iraq, Iraqi-American security agreements be cancelled, Iraqi airspace be closed to US military aircraft and for Trump not to act "arrogant" when addressing Iraqi officials. "If all this is implemented, we will deal with it as a non-occupying country -- otherwise it will be considered a country hostile to Iraq," the statement read. - Four NGO workers missing - America's military presence has been a hot-button issue in Iraq since a US drone strike killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and a top Iraqi commander in Baghdad on January 3. Outraged parliamentarians swiftly voted all foreign forces, including 5,200 US troops helping fight the Islamic State group, should leave. Baghdad offered to discuss a withdrawal timeline, but the US special envoy for the anti-IS coalition, James Jeffrey, said Thursday there was no "real engagement". In response to Soleimani's killing, Iran fired ballistic missiles on an Iraqi airbase where US troops are stationed, prompting fears of a regional war. The US said it had received prior warning of the strikes on Ain al-Asad, allowing troops to take cover. No Iraqi or US forces were killed and Trump had insisted no one was wounded either, but the Pentagon on Friday said 34 American soldiers had suffered traumatic head injuries or concussions. Tehran seized on the US strike to insist American troops leave the region, and its Supreme National Security Council issued a statement backing Sadr's rally on Friday. Pro-Tehran groups in Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi military force also endorsed the protest. "To Trump, the fool -- the people's message of rejection was clear: if you don't leave voluntarily, you'll be ousted despite yourself," Hashed commander Qais al-Khazali tweeted. There had been worries Sadr supporters might storm the high-security Green Zone, home to the US embassy and other foreign missions, or the main anti-government protest camp in the capital's Tahrir Square. But they did not head for either, and instead several thousand youth flocked to Tahrir to insist on domestic reform. Some had feared that with all the attention on Sadr's rally, security forces would try to clear their camp. "The return of protesters to Tahrir is meant to prove ourselves, first, and to protect its peacefulness," demonstrator Karrar al-Saadi told AFP. Baghdad has been gripped by kidnappings and shoot-outs which protesters say are meant to intimidate them. Separately, French NGO SOS Chretiens d'Orient (Christians of the Middle East) said three French and one Iraqi worker went missing on Monday in Baghdad, where the foreigners were renewing their Iraqi visas. No group has claimed responsibility and no ransom demand has been received, the organisation's director Benjamin Blanchard told reporters in Paris. - Sadr hedges bets - Sadr, 46, battled US forces with his Mehdi Army militia after the 2003 invasion of Iraq but is now a fickle politician, notorious for switching alliances. He backed anti-regime protests early on, but also controls parliament's largest bloc and top ministerial posts. On Friday evening, Sadr tweeted to hail the turnout at his rally but said he would no longer be involved in anti-regime efforts. "From now on, I will try not to intervene in their business, neither negatively nor positively," he said. Carnegie Middle East Center expert Harith Hasan said Sadr sought to sustain his "multiple identities" -- one as a reformist and populist, the other as a leading anti-American voice. Playing both sides could earn Sadr favour with Iran and empower him in paralysed negotiations over the next premier, Hasan said. But Friday's intra-Shiite alliance was not likely to last, Hasan said, predicting: "Once this protest is over, this honeymoon between Sadr and the other pro-Iran factions will eventually vanish,"
The Tripura government has commenced a survey in the six Bru rehabilitation camps to identify the beneficiaries who will be settled in the state and the entire process is expected to be completed by October, officials said here on Friday.

Thousands of Bru community people have been living in relief camps in two sub-divisions of North Tripura district since 1997. They had fled Mizoram to reach the neighbouring state because of ethnic clashes.

An agreement was signed by representatives of the Brus, the central, Tripura and Mizoram governments in New Delhi on January 16 allowing these tribal people to permanently settle in Tripura after living in the state for around 23 years.

"The state revenue department has begun a survey in the Bru rehabilitation camps on January 18 to find out the exact number of the inmates and beneficiaries of the agreement. They would also receive a rehabilitation package," Sub-divisional Magistrate of Kanchanpur, Abhedananda Baidya said.

The Brus are staying in six camps at Kanchanpur and Panisagar sub-divisions of North Tripura district. They get free ration and a cash dole from the Centre.

Under the agreement, Rs 4 lakh will be given to each Bru family in a fixed deposit account, Rs 5,000 per month for two years, a plot of land in Tripura and ration for two years.

The central government will provide Rs 600 crore to the state government for this purpose.

Official sources said the government has to be cautious that only the real displaced people get the benefits and the entire procedure to settle the Brus is expected to be completed by October this year.

Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb last week said it will take at least six months to resettle the 34,000 odd members of the community, following norms of the agreement.

The agreement was signed one-and-a-half months after the latest initiative to send the Bru refugees back to Mizoram failed. Of the targeted 4,447 families, the chief minister said only 350 families could be repatriated.

The vexed Bru issue started from September, 1997, following demands of a separate autonomous district council by carving out areas of western Mizoram adjoining Bangladesh and Tripura.

The situation was aggravated by the murder of a forest guard in the Dampa Tiger Reserve in western Mizoram by Bru National Liberation Front insurgents on October 21 that year.

The first attempt to repatriate the Brus from Tripura was made in November 2009.

The Centre, along with the governments of Tripura and Mizoram, had been trying to repatriate them to their home state over the past one decade, with little success.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The boss of HS2 earned more than any public servant last year  as it emerged more than 500 officials take home more than the Prime Minister.

Mark Thurston, chief executive of the project, earned 625,000  over four times more than Boris Johnson.

In total 518 civil servants earned more than 150,000 last year. That is 5 per cent more than the previous year, and comes despite Mr Johnsons plea to cut waste in Whitehall.

Mark Thurston, Chief Executive of the HS2 project is the UK's highest earning public servant, with an annual pay packet of 625,000 - some four times that of the Prime Minister Boris Johnson

Some 48 people working on the controversial HS2 project earn more than Prime Minister Boris Johnson

The list includes 48 people working at HS2, the group building the controversial high-speed rail link from London to Birmingham. And 78 of them worked for Network Rail  up from 70 the year before.

John OConnell, chief executive at the TaxPayers Alliance, said: These figures are staggering and beyond the wildest dreams of many Brits.

Taxpayers want their hard-earned money spent on ensuring world-leading public services, not gold-plated salaries for well-heeled bureaucrats. Politicians need to act and clamp down on these lavish salaries.

Network Rail provides the second and third most well-paid civil servants  chief executive Andrew Haines is on 590,000 and chief finance officer Jeremy Westlake is on 420,000.

This is despite the fact that it has been blamed for not carrying out engineering work properly, causing delays. It was announced earlier this week that it is being investigated for its poor performance on routes used by train operators Northern and TransPennine Express.

Rail regulator, the Office of Rail and Road, said it had put the state-owned firm on a warning in relation to its work in the north-west and central region.

The ORR said performance deteriorated in 2018, when delayed engineering works contributed substantially to the timetable chaos that led to thousands of Northern services being cancelled or running significantly late. Although the industry vowed to learn their lessons, the regulator said performance had failed to substantially recover during 2019.

Of the top 20 people on the list, 12 are from Network Rail and three are from HS2. Others include officials from Highways England, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, the Oil and Gas Authority and the MoD agency Defence, Equipment and Support. Across Whitehall, 18 civil servants are on more than 300,000  twice the PMs salary. The huge pay packets across Whitehall cost taxpayers nearly 94.7million  up 6 per cent on 89.3million the year before. The high earners total does not cover highly-paid individuals at local councils or NHS trusts.

Last night Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden said: We need to attract the brightest and the best to deliver on the peoples priorities and save taxpayers money. But very high salaries in the public sector must be justified, so its right that we publish this information and allow it to be scrutinised.

A spokesman for HS2 Ltd said: In a highly technical project of the scale and complexity of HS2 it is necessary to employ the right level of expertise and knowledge to deliver the programme successfully.

Fiasco as damning report says: No one knows the final cost of the line

By TOM PAYNE

Ministers have no idea how much HS2 will end up costing, a damning report reveals today.

The high-speed rail project is running wildly over budget and will not deliver good value for money, according to a probe by the National Audit Office.

The Government spending watchdog says the benefit to the immediate economy will be as low as 80p for every 1 spent on phase one from London to Birmingham. This rises to a meagre 1.40 for every 1 invested in the full line connecting the capital to the North.

The high-speed rail project is running wildly over budget and will not deliver good value for money, according to a probe by the National Audit Office

Construction work on the project must begin by the end of March if the first phase of HS2 is to open between 2029 and 2033 as planned, the report warns.

Even so, full passenger services from Euston to the Midlands might not begin until 2036, ten years later than scheduled and the full line could take 20 years to finish. So far 7.4billion has been spent without a single piece of track being laid. The Prime Minister and senior ministers will decide within weeks whether to go ahead with the troubled project, scale it back or scrap it entirely. The NAOs findings will fuel calls for a major rethink of the scheme, the official cost of which could hit 106billion  triple the original 32billion estimate.

Investigators also found that the number of HS2 staff has doubled since 2016 to 1,250.

In all, HS2s official cost estimate of 88billion, set by the Department for Transport (DfT) in September last year, is 58 per cent more than the available funding of 55.7billion.

Construction work on the project must begin by the end of March if the first phase of HS2 is to open between 2029 and 2033 as planned, the report warns

The report says HS2s early 7billion contingency fund was not enough to cover significant increases in cost which emerged as issues came to light.

It is impossible to say how much HS2 will cost overall as the second phase of the line, from Birmingham to Manchester and Leeds, is at a very early stage, the NAO added. The ambitious programme will take decades, the watchdog concluded.

In not fully and openly recognising the programmes risks from the outset, the Department and HS2 Ltd have not adequately managed the risks to value for money, it said.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has commissioned extra data on potential alternatives to HS2 before making a final decision on its future next month.

Last night Andy McDonald, Labour transport spokesman, accused the Tories of woeful political leadership over HS2. A DfT spokesman said: We recognise that there have been significant underestimations of both the cost and schedule of HS2 in the past which is why we commissioned the Oakervee review to provide advice on whether and how to proceed with HS2.
JACKSON, Miss. (AP)  The Mississippi Supreme Court should overturn an astonishing 12-year prison sentence given to an African American man who took a mobile phone into a jail cell when he was arrested on a misdemeanor charge, attorneys argued in court papers filed Thursday.

The state's high court upheld Willie Nash's sentence Jan. 9. Critics have slammed the case an example of racial injustice.

The new appeal asks justices to reconsider and reverse their own decision. The appeal doesn't mention race, but it notes that the case drew international condemnation. It also says Nash received a longer sentence for possessing a cellphone in jail than Mississippi courts would impose for second-degree arson or poisoning someone with the intent to kill.

Nashs astonishing sentence is grossly disproportionate to the act for which he stands convicted. It is cruel and unusual, Will Bardwell, an attorney for the Southern Poverty Law Center, wrote in the appeal Thursday.

There's no proof Nash was searched for a cellphone before being booked into the jail, Bardwell wrote. The appeal also says Mississippi is one of only three states where a 12-year sentence for having a cellphone in jail is even possible. Research found no cases of such a long sentence being given in the other two states, Arkansas and Illinois.

"There is no indication that anyone outside Mississippi has ever received a sentence as long as Nashs for doing what Nash did," Bardwell wrote.

Nash, now 39, didn't seek to overturn his conviction, but argued on his first appeal that his August 2018 sentence was grossly disproportionate, violating the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

Mississippi justices unanimously rejected his argument.

Though harsh, Nashs sentence falls within the statutory range, Justice James Maxwell wrote for the high court Jan. 9.

A 2012 Mississippi law sets a sentencing range of three to 15 years for inmates found with deadly weapons, cellphones or components of cellphones in state jails and prisons.

Story continues

Corrections officials have said for years that contraband cellphones are a problem in Mississippi's jails and prisons. During an outbreak of violence that left five inmates dead and an undisclosed number of others injured between Dec. 29 and Jan. 3, inmates used cellphones to take photos and videos that showed prisoners sleeping on the floor of a crowded cell and smoke filling a corridor and cells at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman.

One of the justices who joined in the unanimous ruling Jan. 9 said that while the sentence is legal, the prosecutor and trial judge could have avoided punishing Nash entirely.

Justice Leslie King is currently the only African American justice on the nine-member court. He wrote that Nash's case seems to demonstrate a failure of our criminal justice system on multiple levels" because it's not clear whether Nash was properly searched or told not to take his phone into his cell.

Sentencing reform advocates expressed outrage, and Leonard Pitts, a nationally syndicated Miami Herald columnist, published Gov. Tate Reeves' phone number, urging readers to tell Reeves to let my people go."

Court records show Nash asked an employee at the Newton County jail for some juice and then willingly handed over his phone. The employee thought Nash wanted something to drink before realizing he wanted electricity to power the device.

The jailer gave the phone to a deputy sheriff, who later unlocked it using the pass code Nash provided. The deputy found the phone had photos and messages belonging to Nash.

The trial judge told Nash to consider yourself fortunate in getting the 12-year sentence, because Nash had previous burglary convictions and could have been sentenced as a habitual offender to the full 15 years without the possibility of early release. The Supreme Court noted that Nash could get out after serving 25% of his sentence, or three years.

King called Nash's case an example of why prosecutors and judges have wide discretion. King wrote that Nash had served time for the previous convictions and stayed out of trouble for years. He also wrote the cellphone possession was a victimless crime based on a failure of the booking procedure.

"Nash did not do anything nefarious with his phone, and he certainly did not hide his phone from law enforcement," King wrote.

___

Follow Emily Wagster Pettus on Twitter: http://twitter.com/EWagsterPettus.
Subscribe to Yahoo Finance Canada's weekly newsletter.

The Yahoo Finance Canada newsletter is back, with a new look, a fresh format, and exclusive content.

The Weekly Brief will arrive in your inbox every Saturday morning. Itll provide the highlights of the past week in business. A lot can happen in five days, and well do the work of showing you what you need to know. Heres a taste:

Former Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall advised investors to avoid making sweeping generalizations about Canadas energy sector, as a growing number of asset managers prioritize climate change. Wall said that there are oil producers trying to be greener, including Whitecap Resources, whose board he sits on.

The newsletter will also provide a look-ahead at what our readers should watch for in the next week, from earnings calls to product launches.

And youll get a note from our managing editor Kirsty March, who will offer analysis on a key issue in the business world. In our first edition, she explains why we can no longer be apathetic about our privacy in the age of constant data breaches and intrusive technology.

We wrap up every edition with a Big Number that offers insight into the sectors and industries we cover. Do you know how much cheaper a gram of illegal cannabis is than its legal counterpart?

Subscribe to the newsletter to find out.
Mumbai: NCP supremo Sharad Pawar has labelled serious allegations against former CM Devendra Fadnavis and his government in a two-page letter written to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, demanding the formation of a new SIT (Special Investigation Team) to investigate the Bhima Koregaon case, according to highly placed sources.

According to the letter written last week, Pawar sought the formation of the SIT to probe the matter thoroughly because of the gross abuse of power by the earlier government. "The Fadnavis government provided wrong information to the media and created confusion," said the NCP chief.

Live TV

He further alleged that since the police was banking on electronic proof, they tempered with the electronic equipment, destroyed evidence and created false proof.

"My clear opinion is that it was a conspiracy of the then government with the police. Law enforcement agencies did not act against the main culprits of the violence and instead made efforts to divert the attention of people by misleading them," the veteran NCP leader said.

Pawar added, "The main aim of the govt was to suppress the voice of people against and thwart any democratic agitation. The persons arrested are respected citizens of society."

Earlier on Thursday, Maharashtra Police briefed Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Home Minister Anil Deshmukh about the status of probe in the Bhima Koregaon case that took place in Pune on January 1, 2018.

Pawar, Deshmukh and senior state police officials held a review meeting at the state secretariat to review the case.

The Pune police responded to almost all the questions of the ministers but sought more time to give further clarifications on certain queries. The home minister, however, expressed apprehension over the role of the police, said the sources.

The cops are said to have strived hard to convince the HM against setting up a probe against the policemen investigating the case as it will affect the department's morale.

The meeting on Thursday was significant as the NCP chief, Sharad Pawar, last month demanded that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) be set up under a retired judge to probe the action taken by Pune Police in the case.
When President Trump suggested to an interviewer at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland that he would, at some point, look at cutting entitlement programs, his Democratic critics seized on the comments as evidence that Mr. Trump would gut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid in a second term.

Even as the impeachment trial is underway, Trump is still talking about cutting your Social Security, Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, said at the beginning of a news conference that was ostensibly about the Senate impeachment trial.

The Democratic super PAC Priorities USA posted on Twitter about Mr. Trumps remarks, and others contrasted his statement with his 2016 campaign pledge not to touch entitlement programs.

On Thursday, the president tried to clean up his own mess.

Democrats are going to destroy your Social Security, Mr. Trump tweeted shortly before leaving the White House for a campaign-related event in Florida. I have totally left it alone, as promised, and will save it!
WARSAW, Poland - Legal chaos has deepened dramatically in Poland, with the government and the countrys high court judges clashing over who administers justice  a rift that some experts say is an assault on the young democracy and could lead to a break from the European Union.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/1/2020 (719 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Men with Poland and European Union flags take part in a protest outside Poland's parliament building as lawmakers voted to approve the much-criticized legislation that allows politicians to fire judges who criticize their decisions, in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. Poland's lawmakers gave their final approval Thursday to legislation that will allow politicians to fire judges who criticize their decisions, a change that European legal experts warn will undermine judicial independence. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

WARSAW, Poland - Legal chaos has deepened dramatically in Poland, with the government and the countrys high court judges clashing over who administers justice  a rift that some experts say is an assault on the young democracy and could lead to a break from the European Union.

The right-wing populist governing party has tried to take control of Poland's court system ever since it won power in 2015, steadily eroding the courts' independence from politics.

The party took two major steps Thursday toward assuming full sway over the legal system: passing legislation that allows the government to fire judges whose rulings it does not like and expressing open defiance of a Supreme Court resolution that condemned some judges' appointments as illegitimate.

The European Union expressed its deep concerns Friday as Poland's government continues to defy the laws and standards that it agreed to uphold when it joined in 2004.

Some European legal scholars warn that the developments threaten the entire EU legal system. National courts in the 28 EU member countries recognize the decisions of courts in the other nations on everything from European arrest warrants, child custody issues and commercial law.

But as Poland's court system becomes increasingly politicized, there are fears that Polish judges will no longer operate as objective arbitrators and will face pressure to issue rulings to the government's liking.

In a resolution, 60 members of the Supreme Court, which largely has managed to maintain independence from the government, said judges are illegitimate if appointed by a judiciary council that the ruling party has politicized.

The justice minister, Zbigniew Ziobro, said the high court's action was a gross violation of the law, and its so-called resolution has no legal effects. It's a sentiment that legal experts don't share.

Several courts cancelled some hearings Friday because of uncertainty over whether some judges had the authority to make rulings. Other judges said it's their duty to keep working.

In Warsaw, the Supreme Court had nine hearings cancelled because the presiding judge had been appointed in the contested way and she said any ruling handed down could be questioned.

The Supreme Court says the judiciary council is illegitimate because its members are directly appointed by the government, violating judicial independence. The EU's top court, the European Court of Justice, has warned that the new judicial body could have that effect.

Also Thursday, the lower house of Parliament passed legislation allowing politicians to fire judges who rule against the government, even if they adhere to EU law.

Critics call it a muzzle law, and it has been condemned by the EU, the United Nations and the Council of Europe, the continent's largest human rights body. Amnesty International has said the law would end the separation of powers in Poland.

Polish constitutional expert Bogna Baczynska said the EU legal framework ensures that citizens in all member states are guaranteed equal rights and a breach by a member country breaks the common foundation.

She believes Poland will see its EU funding reduced because the EU will not keep sponsoring a member that is destroying its foundations, its roots.

She said that judges are being put under terrible, hostile pressure.

Laurent Pech, a professor of European law at Middlesex University in London, tweeted that Poland is no longer a democratic regime and that a "process of de facto exit from EU legal order has begun.

Pech told reporters in Warsaw last week that doubts about judges' independence also will negatively affect foreign investment in Poland.

No one will invest in a country where essentially the rulings of the Court of Justice regarding the judicial branch are simply openly ignored, Pech added.

Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

The legislation goes next to President Andrzej Duda, who is expected to sign it. He argued that the justice system is deeply flawed and needs reform. He also asserted that the EU does not have the right to dictate to Poland how to run its justice system.

"We will not be told, in foreign languages, what kind of system we should have in Poland and how Polands affairs should be taken care of, Duda said.

The government argued early in its tenure that it needed to purge judges who were part of a privileged caste, including holdovers from the communist era.

Critics say very few judges are still working who began under communist rule, which ended 30 years ago. Lately, the government has said it seeks to end anarchy in the system, which opponents say has been triggered by the government itself.

A retired chief justice of Poland's constitutional Court, Andrzej Rzeplinski, also thinks the government's interference with the courts and its hostility to European input signals the country is headed for a departure from the EU.

Since the ruling party took power in 2015, we live in a constantly fueled conflict, Rzeplinski told the Onet.pl news portal. The next stage will be to take Poland out of the EU."
Attorneys general in 20 states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit Thursday challenging a federal regulation that could allow blueprints for making guns on 3D printers to be posted on the internet.

New York Attorney General Tish James, who helped lead the coalition of state attorneys general, argued that posting the blueprints would allow anyone to go online and use the downloadable files to create unregistered and untraceable assault-style weapons that could be difficult to detect.

The lawsuit, joined by California, Washington and 17 other states, was filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle. It is likely to reignite a fierce debate over the use of 3D-printed firearms and is the latest in a series of attempts by state law enforcement officials to block the Trump administration from easing the accessibility of the blueprints.

Proponents have argued there is a constitutional right to publish the material, but critics counter that making the blueprints readily accessible online could lead to an increase in gun violence and put weapons in the hands of criminals who are legally prohibited from owning them.

Washington state's attorney general Bob Ferguson said a previous multi-state lawsuit led a federal judge last year to strike down the administration's earlier attempt to allow the files to be distributed.

Why is the Trump administration working so hard to allow domestic abusers, felons and terrorists access to untraceable, undetectable 3D-printed guns? Ferguson said in a statement.

For years, law enforcement officials have been trying to draw attention to the dangers posed by the so-called ghost guns, which contain no registration numbers that could be used to trace them.

A federal judge in November blocked an earlier attempt by the Trump administration to allow the files to be released online, arguing that the government had violated the law on procedural grounds. But the administration published formal rules on Thursday that transfer the regulation of 3D-printed guns from the State Department to the Commerce Department, which could open the door to making the blueprints available online.

The state attorneys general argue the government is breaking the law and say such deregulation will make it far easier for individuals ineligible to possess firearms under state or federal law to obtain a deadly weapon without undergoing a background check, according to the lawsuit. They also argue that the Commerce Department lacks the power to properly regulate 3D-printed guns.

Ghost Guns endanger every single one of us, James said in a statement. While the president and his Administration know these homemade weapons pose an imminent threat, he continues to cater to the gun lobby risking the lives of millions of Americans. In 2015, Cody Wilson and his company Defense Distributed sued the federal government after it told him to remove online blueprints of a 3D-printed gun.

The State Department reached a settlement with the company in 2018 and removed the 3D gun-making plans from a list of weapons or technical data that are not allowed to be exported. But a coalition of state attorneys general filed a lawsuit to stop the maneuver, arguing that undetectable plastic guns pose a national security risk.

The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit filed Thursday.

In addition to Washington, California and New York, the states suing are: Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia as well as the District of Columbia.

"We successfully challenged the Trump administration's first reckless attempt, and we will continue to fight against this latest attack on the safety of our communities,'' California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a statement.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Extraordinary aerial footage of the Snowy Mountains has revealed the devastation left behind by the unrelenting bushfires.

The footage shared by Labor MP Kate Washington on Friday showed the Kosciuszko National Park section of the mountain ranges in southern NSW left black and lifeless.

The bushfires in the Snowy Mountains have covered 300,000 hectares and are slowly being control by fire crews.

The shadow environment minister called the situation an 'ecological emergency' and feared for the fate of the area's natural wildlife.

'Kosciszcuko National Park is home to many of Australia's most threatened species, including the corroboree frog,' she said.

'But their struggle for survival has got a whole lot harder with bushfires blackening hectares and having to share the remaining habitat with 25,000 feral horses.'

The minister called for the NSW Liberal government to take action on the environmental disaster and said it was time to bring an end to 'political paralysis'.

The Snowy Mountains are commonly known for having an abundance of snowfall in the winter and for hosting a range of flora and fauna.

Extraordinary aerial footage of the Snowy Mountains has revealed the devastation left behind by the bushfires

The Snowy Mountains are the home to an abundance of unique flora and fauna that may now be under threat

More than one billion animals have been killed across Australia in the bushfire crisis.

Ecologists calculated at least six million hectares of habitat home to 250 threatened species were ravaged during the horror bushfire season.

Estimates of more than one billion animals are believed to have been killed, including huge numbers of mammals, birds, reptiles, insects and other species.

The Snowy Mountains are commonly known for having an abundance of snowfall in the winter

Labor MP Kate Washington (pictured) called the footage of the burnt mountains an 'ecological emergency' and feared for the fate of the area's natural wildlife

Some of the ecosystems in Australia are expected to never recover from the damage the bushfires caused.

Data published on Monday by the Department of the Environment and Energy showed 49 species had seen more than 80 per cent of their known or likely habitat damaged in the fires.

For a further 65 species, at least half of their habitat was affected.

The threatened species include hundreds of plants, 16 mammals, 14 frogs, nine birds, seven reptiles, four insects, four fish and one spider species.
By PTI

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday said Pakistan would wait for India's invitation for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit before taking any decision on Islamabad's participation in the event to be held later this year.

Addressing a media briefing in New Delhi on January 16, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said India will invite Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan along with other leaders for the annual meeting of council of heads of government of the SCO.

ALSO READ: Prime Minister Modi praises Afghan President's bold initiatives towards peace at SCO summit

For the first time, India will host the annual meeting of the council of heads of government of the SCO.

During an interaction with reporters here, when asked about Pakistan's participation in the SCO summit to be hosted by New Delhi, Qureshi said, "We will have to wait for the invitation."

The Indian government's announcement on inviting Pakistan to the mega event came in the midst of frayed ties between the two countries over India's withdrawal of special powers of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcate the state into two union territories.

India and Pakistan became full members of the China-dominated grouping in 2017.

Usually, the heads of government meeting of the SCO are represented by foreign ministers while a number of countries send their prime ministers also.

India has always been represented by the external affairs minister in the heads of government meeting, while the SCO heads of state summit is attended by the prime minister.

The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
NEW HAVEN  With a new mayor and interim superintendent of schools in the city, New Havens public school system is brimming with possibilities for a new direction.

Now, students see potential to be heard in a new way.

Nico Rivera and Lihame Arouna, New Haven students who sit on the Board of Education as non-voting members, introduced the idea of a Student Senate this week at a Citywide Student Council meeting.

If we have a senate, which is multiple people using their voice to say what students want, it gives us more power, Rivera said.

He pointed to the student response to Mario Aguilar Castanon, the Wilbur Cross High School student who was detained by federal immigration authorities for months, as an example of how student voices can get results. Aguilar Castanon was released.

Although the student board members are codified into the city charter, there is no method in place to incorporate a student senate. Rivera said he envisions the senate as being a sort of volunteer organization at the moment, with students using their voices during school board meetings to amplify their message.

Student board members are now allotted time on board meeting agendas to share reports. Rivera said he would be happy to cede time in his report to allow student senate members to deliver a report.

We should have the power to begin with. Were the ones who go to the schools, he said.

Of the approximately 30 students at a meeting this week, the majority expressed interest in participating in the senate through a show of hands.

After (student council meetings) were often left with feelings that there are no tangible next steps, said K. Leif Dykstra, a junior at the Sound School. Participating in a student senate could take some of the discussions that occur at the student council level and place them directly in front of the school board in larger numbers, other students reasoned.

Arouna said she wanted to encourage freshmen and sophomores to participate in the process to create some continuity over the coming years, so the progress behind the student senate need not be refreshed every year.

Metropolitan Business Academy teacher and student council advisor Leslie Blatteau suggested the students encourage school administrators to post an application to school websites, so the call could go beyond students involved in student council.

This is people getting together to do additional research and lobbying, she said. Furthermore, she said, the senate may want to write bylaws at some point.

Its not the first time student council members have been encouraged to become more engaged in city government. In April 2018, students expressed disappointment that their preference for two finalists in the search for a new superintendent didnt have an impact on the result; Citywide Youth Coalition Executive Director Addys Castillo told the students they had to work hard to combat the belief that adults know more than students about themselves.

By November, students took a new tack and began to think of themselves as organizers. That academic year, students at Career High School staged a walkout that effectively overturned an unpopular decision to transfer 53 teachers to new buildings. Additionally, student activists conducted research and lobbying to have chocolate milk added back onto high school lunch menus for the upcoming school year.

If the civil incentives werent enough, Blatteau reminded students of something else.

Going to a Board of Education meeting counts toward your community service hours for your schools, she said.

brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com
President Donald Trump Davos World Economic Forum January 22 2020

Markus Schreiber/AP

President Trump suggested Wednesday that he could make an unanticipated appearance at his impeachment trial.

"Wouldn't that be beautiful?" he asked reporters in Davos, Switzerland.

Trump earlier toyed with appearing to testify in impeachment proceedings, but dropped the idea.

Visit Business Insider's home page for more stories.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday dangled the possibility that he could show up as a spectator to his own impeachment trial in the Senate.

The President suggested to reporters at a news conference at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that he would be keen to attend.

He said: "I'd love to go. Wouldn't that be great, wouldn't that be beautiful? I'd love... sit right in the front row and stare in their corrupt faces... I'd love to do it."

In response to a follow-up question, Trump said "No, don't keep talking  because you may convince me to do it."

Trump later re-tweeted a message from Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, offering him a ticket to observe proceedings from the viewing gallery.

Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) January 22, 2020

At the Davos press conference, Trump conceded that his legal team "might have a problem" with him attending.

Even without taking a formal role in proceedings, if Trump really were to go to the trial, it would likely wrest attention away from whoever was speaking, and change how events are perceived beyond the chamber.

Earlier in impeachment proceedings, Trump toyed with making an in-person appearance to give evidence, but ultimately did not.

Responding in November to an interview by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Trump wrote:

"Our Crazy, Do Nothing (where's USMCA, infrastructure, lower drug pricing & much more?) Speaker of the House, Nervous Nancy Pelosi, who is petrified by her Radical Left knowing she will soon be gone (they & Fake News Media are her BOSS), suggested on Sunday's DEFACE THE NATION that I testify about the phony Impeachment Witch Hunt.

Story continues

"She also said I could do it in writing. Even though I did nothing wrong, and don't like giving credibility to this No Due Process Hoax, I like the idea & will, in order to get Congress focused again, strongly consider it!"

Reacting to the prospect of Trump appearing to spectate at the trial, Republican senators expressed bemusement to The New York Post.

One Democratic Senator, Patrick Leahy of Vermont, said: "President Trump also said he would like to testify under oath. That I would like to see."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Gov. Phil Murphy has picked a longtime affordable housing advocate to watch over state and local governments in New Jersey and make sure taxpayers arent being fleeced.

Murphy announced Thursday he is nominating Kevin Walsh, a civil rights attorney who is executive director of the Fair Share Housing Center, to become the next state comptroller.

A comptroller is essentially a watchdog, keeping an eye out for fraud, abuse, and waste at all levels of government in the state.

Murphy said Walsh is a good fit after having spent two decades advocating to make sure towns across New Jersey build affordable housing  a complicated and controversial issue that is often tied up in the courts.

I know not all of the fights Kevin has taken on throughout his career have been politically popular, but they were the right fights, Murphy said during a news conference in Newark. And thats exactly why he will make a strong comptroller.

With Kevin in the Comptrollers Office, the people of New Jersey will have someone they can trust to call out the cheats, the Democratic governor added.

Murphy said Walsh will begin serving as acting comptroller on Monday. To officially become comptroller  for a six-year term  Walsh must still be approved by the state Senate.

Walsh, who lives in Merchantville in Camden County, pledged to serve with integrity, impartiality, independence, and with an eager and enthusiastic commitment to making New Jerseys agencies, counties, and municipalities more efficient, more effective and more accountable.

Walsh will succeed Phil Degnan, who spent four years as comptroller but recently left to become a state Superior Court judge.

Degnan was the one who wrote last years scathing report criticizing how the states Economic Development Authority handed out billions in corporate tax incentives. Murphy launched a task force to examine the issue and has since pushed to revamp the program, despite pushback from some top state lawmakers in his own party.

Before his job as a housing advocate, Walsh was counsel to New Jerseyans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, a job in which he advocated to get the state to abolish the practice in 2007.

Former state Comptroller Matthew Boxer said Walsh has all the skills required to be successful in his new role.

State Sen. Troy Singleton, D-Burlington, called Walsh a champion for equal rights and government accountability.

But some Republicans werent happy. State Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi, R-Bergen, said Walsh has been successful at fighting to litter the state with high density housing and accused him of bullying and name-calling against mayors, lawmakers, local officials, and even me.

Assembly Majority Leader Jon Bramnick, R-Union, said Walshs housing group has been responsible for hundreds of costly lawsuits resulting in the courts dictating what we do in our towns and making the system a mess and expensive.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01.

Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook.

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips

Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
It's not enough just to place armed security guards in schools. Using some other country as a model and example shouldn't immediately alleviate any concerns. Those schools don't operate the same as American schools. Their security likely doesn't interact with the students the same as placing armed security and even police in schools. Their assignment and rolls appear to be strictly limited to outside enemy threats. We've already witnessed the likelihood of everything that can go wrong will.

There should be strictly enforced rules of what is allowed and what isn't. It's doubtful those schools in other countries with armed security or a military presence are allowed to be involved with the daily discipline of those students. An armed guard, police or security would never get away with body slamming a skinny 11-year-old onto a school hallway floor for being mouthy or getting sassy. Nor would that country put up with such brute tactics.

An armed guard, security or police in those countries where there's armed presence at schools would never be allowed to pick a student up, still sitting at her desk and toss the student clearly across a classroom. Arrest and placed a child in handcuffed for writing "OK" on her desk, or spraying perfume on her own body, after the student had been taunted and bullied and told she "stink."

Armed guards, security or police in those countries would never be called into the school office to stand alongside a tiny sixth grader as an act of intimidation to force the student into admitting to some minor infraction they were never guilty of in the first place. The student stood her ground and refused to lie and admit to something she didn't do even with an 6 ft 9'ner by her side with his gun holstered at his side.

That once sixth grader is now a grown and married woman, with both she and her husband together serving "their country." Her in a supportive roll to him. She came out fine. Others aren't so lucky.

What's often done to America's children never be tolerated in those other countries, and on the rare chance lines are crossed there would be severe consequences no doubt.

Oh, yeah. Back to the questions needing asked:

1. What will the roll of private security be in the schools?

2. What are the consequences when, not if, lines are crossed?

3. Are armed security to be involved in the daily disciplining of students?

4. If so, how so, and to what limits?

The remainder, put your thinking caps on and add some more questions in need of answers.

Brenda Washington
Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, says Southwest governors are prepared to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari over the whole concept of the security outfit, Operation Amotekun.

The governor, who made this known to journalists in Abuja on Friday, added that the meeting would have already taken place if Buhari had not travelled to the United Kingdom last week.

Read Also: Amotekun: Bring Back Bakassi Boys, Ohanaeze Begs Southeast Governors

Governor Akeredolu stressed that the security outfit, Amotekun is not a regional militia by the Southwest states but borne out of the need to strengthen the security of the region.
Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said on Friday that democracy has been the most enduring political system and that elections are the essential root of democracy.

Speaking at the 10th annual meeting of the Forum of the Election Management Bodies of South Asia (FEMBoSA), Sunil Arora said, "Democracy has proven to be the most enduring political system. Democratic countries develop strong institutions to implement a fair electoral system and ensure good governance."

READ | ECI Asks Twitter To Delete BJP Leader Kapil Mishra's Controversial 'India Vs Pak' Tweet

The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday hosted the 10th annual meeting of the FEMBoSA in Delhi and Chief Election Commissioner of Bangladesh, KM Nurul Huda chaired the conference.

Speaking about the general election of 2019 as well as the assembly elections, CEC Sunil Arora said, "Election is the most indispensable root of democracy. After votes have been counted, the result must be accepted no matter how disappointed the defeated candidate feels."

READ | Sachin Pilot Welcomes SC's Decision Directing EC To Conduct Last Phase Of Panchayat Polls

About the conference

The meeting based on the theme 'Strengthening of institutional capacity of election management bodies', witnessed the participation of international delegates from many countries like Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka and others.

ECI has decided to create a chair in the International Institute of Democracy in the memory of former CEC late TN Seshan which will be headed by former CEC N Gopalaswami.

ECI will observe 10th National Voters' day on Saturday, in the presence of President of India Ram Nath Kovind.

READ | CEC Sunil Arora On TN Seshan: 'Always A Source Of Inspiration'

About FEMBoSA

FEMBoSA is a regional establishment created to increase mutual cooperation with respect to the common interests of the SAARC's EMBs. In a first, Bangladesh Election Commission organized the regional meeting titled 'Meeting on Cooperation of Election Commissions in the South Asia Region' in 2010, which was later named as Forum of Election Management Bodies of South Asia(FEMBoSA) as an institutionalized form.

The Agenda of the annual meetings are aimed to hold discussions on important current topics relevant to election management and electoral process, giving special attention to the region and decisions being taken on the incoming chairperson of FEMBoSA and the hosting country of the meeting.

READ | AAP Demands Cancellation Of Kapil Mishra's Candidature, Alleges Breach Of EC Guidelines

(With inputs from ANI)
Three persons who returned from China have been kept under observation after they were screened for novel coronavirus infection even though no positive case has been detected in the country so far, the Union Health ministry said on Friday.

A total of 20,844 passengers from 96 flights have been screened till January 24, it said.

Of the three, two persons have been kept under observation at a Mumbai hospital while one person is under watch at a hospital in Hyderabad for possible exposure to the respiratory virus which has infected a large number of people in China, a senior health ministry official said.

Also, on the basis of the details provided by the Indian Embassy in China, around 25 students who have returned to India recently from Wuhan are being closely monitored, the official said.

Their details have been shared with district-level officers and they are being monitored closely for any symptoms.

"Today, 4082 passengers were screened in 19 flights and so far a total of 20,844 passengers from 96 flights have been screened for novel coronavirus infection symptoms," the official said.

Novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from common cold to acute respiratory syndromes, but the virus that has so far killed 25 people and affected 830 in China is a novel strain and not seen before.

It emerged from a seafood and animal market in China's Wuhan, and is suspected to have spread to as far as the US.

According to the World Health Organisation, the common symptoms of the nCoV strain include respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

The health ministry has asked states and union territories to review hospital preparedness in terms of isolation and ventilator management of critically ill patients, identify gaps and strengthen core capacities in the area of surveillance and laboratory support, an official statement said.

Moreso, health advisory and signages are now being displayed at 12 more airports in addition to the current seven.

Thermal screening is being done at the seven international airports of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Cochin.

The civil aviation ministry has asked airlines to follow International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines for managing and notifying anybody reporting illness on flights originating from China and disembarking in India.

The ministry has instructed for in-flight announcements for India bound flights.

A travel advisory was issued on January 17 and put up on the ministry's website and also on the Twitter handle for wider circulation.

"Port and airport health organisations have been sensitised and thermal screening has been initiated at the international airports of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Cochin airports," the statement said.

The airport health organisations have also put up signages at prominent locations informing the public about self-reporting of illness. Immigration officers manning the counters have been sensitised at these airports.

The ministry of health has written to the governments of Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala and Karnataka to review and strengthen preparedness measures at designated airports for provision of isolation and critical care facilities, linkages with VRDL network laboratories and adherence to infection prevention and control guidelines.

Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme has issued advisory to all states and union territories for surveillance to pick up any travel related case reported in the community and follow up contacts of suspect or confirmed cases.

National Institute of Virology, Pune is fully geared up to test samples of nCoV. Ten other laboratories under Indian Council of Medical Research's Viral Research and Diagnostics Laboratories network are also equipped to test such samples, if a need arises, the ministry said.

Adequate stock of Personal Protection Equipment is being maintained by Medical Stores Organization.

Rapid response teams of the States/UTs have been trained in management of MERS-CoV outbreak (a similarly placed virus, reported from Middle East) in the 2014. More recently they were also been trained (in Nov.-Dec., 2019) on management of high risk pathogens in context of Ebola virus disease outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo.

Ministry of External Affairs disseminating travel advisory (in local languages) to Indian Embassies in China and adjoining countries for wider circulation and passenger information.

In view of significant population of Indian students in China, MEA is providing details of such students, the ministry said.

Ministry of Home Affairs to share details of travelers from China who have been issued e-Visa since December 31, 2019.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Delhi Police on Friday lodged an FIR against BJP's Model Town candidate over his controversial tweet in which he likened the upcoming Assembly elections to an India versus Pakistan contest, sources in the city poll panel said.

The FIR was filed following directions of the poll authorities, they said.

It was lodged at the Model Town Police Station under Section 125 (promoting enmity between classes in connection with election) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the sources said.

Twitter, meanwhile, said it has "withheld" the controversial tweet following the directions of the Election Commission. The tweet was, however, not removed and could be seen on the platform.

"This Tweet from @KapilMishra_IND has been withheld in India in response to a legal demand," wrote above the tweet that still appeared on Mishra's handle.

Earlier in the day, the Election Commission had asked to "take appropriate action" as the controversial tweet aroused communal sentiments. The EC had also said that Twitter should intimate it about the action taken.

Mishra, when contacted by PTI, said, "I have not deleted my tweet".

A show cause notice was also issued to Mishra by the Delhi poll authorities for "violation of the model code of conduct and the Representation of the People Act," officials said earlier.

In his tweet on Thursday, Mishra, a former minister in the Arvind Kejriwal Cabinet, had likened the February 8 Delhi election to a contest between India and Pakistan, sparking a controversy.

However, Mishra on Friday, despite the show cause notice slapped on him, remained defiant and claimed that his remarks were "general opinion" and "do not fall under the ambit of the model code of conduct and the Representation of the People Act".

"An FIR has been lodged by the Delhi Police against following directions from the returning officer (RO) in connection with his controversial tweet," a source in the Delhi CEO Office told PTI.

The Delhi Police also said on Friday that it has filed a case against Mishra.

"On the complaint of Returning Officer AC-18 Model Town, a case under Section 125 of the Representation of the People Act has been registered at Model Town police station," a senior police officer said.

The Election Commission's action to ask Twitter to take down the tweet came after the office of the Delhi Chief Electoral officer wrote to the EC Thursday night on the issue.

Delhi CEO Ranbir Singh earlier said, "We took cognisance of the tweet and wrote to the EC last night seeking its removal. The EC then asked Twitter to remove his tweet. The tweet is a violation of the model code of conduct and the Representation of the People Act, so we have taken action."



In its criticism of the opposition parties over their protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), the BJP has been accusing them of speaking "Pakistan's language".

Mishra, in his response to the show cause notice, also said "my comments have been taken out of context and misrepresented intentionally to paint a one-sided picture, to stoke differences. I swear by the Constitution of India and abide by its values".

The Model Town candidate said his statement must be seen in "the context of Pakistan's attempt at sending their proxies to take undue advantage of a prevailing law and order situation in Delhi".

Authorities at the Delhi CEO Office had earlier said social media posts are being constantly monitored to check for any provocative or inflammatory posts or tweets related to the polls being made by users.

Referring to the Shaheen Bagh protests, which have been going on for over a month now, Mishra, in his reply said those protests are "neither in my constituency nor my voters" and claimed his statement "will have no impact" on those people.

He appealed to the protesters to call off the stir, saying people should not fall in the trap of "seditious groups funded by Pakistan".

The election will be a triangular fight involving the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), (BJP) and the Congress.

Polling will be held on February 8 and the results declared on February 11.

In a series of tweets in Hindi on Thursday, Mishra had also lashed out at the anti-CAA protesters in Shaheen Bagh and other places in the city.

"India vs Pakistan 8th February Delhi. There will be a contest on Delhi Roads between India and Pakistan on February 8," he tweeted.

The former leader was removed as minister by Kejriwal in 2017. Last year, he was also disqualified as MLA under the anti-defection law.

Mishra faces MLA Akhileshpati Tripathi in the elections.

More than 600 candidate are in the fray in the high-stakes Delhi polls after withdrawal of nominations on Friday by about 30 candidates.

According to the final electoral roll, over 1.46 crore people are eligible to exercise their franchise.
[January 24, 2020] Karuschain Announces Impressive Blockchain MVP for The Precious Metals Supply Chain & New Company CEO in Singapore

GIBRALTAR, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Karuschain revealed and presented the first MVP for its enterprise blockchain solution for the precious metals mining supply chain Karuschain SecureCapture today. This key milestone in the company's roadmap was revealed at Blockchain Impact, 2020 Perspectives in Singapore, a prestigious event for high net worth investors, funds and blockchain enthusiasts. Karuschain Founder & Chairman Richard Verkley says, "Karuschain SecureCapture will function as the secure data flow to the Karuschain platform. By integrating Karuschain SecureCapture into the mine operation tech ecosystem Karuschain technology will capture data across selected databases and provide data immutability. Data immutability will ensure that even system administrators will not be able to change data retrospectively in order to commit data fraud. It will act as the first step to securing provenance and solving the long-standing issues around efficiency, data integrity, transparency, information sharing and traceability for miners and others throughout the precious metals supply chain." In addition to this, Karuschain also revealed it has hired a new CEO and welcomes Ryan Steil to the team. Ryan is a leader in digital transformatio with more than 20 years building and supporting technology initiatives within Oil & Gas, Mining, Engineering and Manufacturing organizations. Prior to joining Karuschain, Ryan was most recently an Associate Partner with IBM Canada where he worked with Enterprise organizations to manage their strategic investment in technology. In response to the announcement Ryan says, "I am driven to continue to lead the development of solutions that increase the transparency of data and the efficiency of the organizations. Karuschain's enterprise blockchain solution does just that. I'm very excited to be joining such a well-equipped and experienced team and continue to drive success to an industry with a very real need and desire for technological innovation."



The news comes soon after the company disclosed the enormous success of its first private sale, whereby 32.5 million KRS tokens, 10% of the total token allocation earmarked for the sale, were sold out. In fact, demand was so great that the final private sale token allocation and sale superseded the original allocation by more than 30%. Karuschain is now moving into the next stage of funding alongside further product development. Karuschain is a blockchain technology platform for the precious metals mining industry, giving mining companies a powerful tool to ensure data integrity, safeguard human rights, reduce risks and improve environmental regulations in their supply chain.

For more information visit: https://karuschain.com/ Follow Karuschain on social media:

Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Telegram Medium Youtube Contact Information:

Sophie Elliott

Marketing Specialist

Karuschain

[email protected]

+34 622 73 36 87 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/karuschain-announces-impressive-blockchain-mvp-for-the-precious-metals-supply-chain--new-company-ceo-in-singapore-300992579.html SOURCE Karuschain

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
- Stonebwoy has set another record for Ghana and Africa by receiving another Billboard plaque

- He is currently the first Ghanaian Dancehall artiste to receive a Billboard plaque for the second time

-This second billboard plaque was given to Stonebwoy for his features on Collie Buddzs 'Hybrid' Album

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

Ghanaian Dancehall sensation, Stonebwoy, was featured by Collie Buddz on his 'Hybrid' Album

The 'Hybrid' Album was ranked #1 on the Billboard World REGGAE ALBUMS and as such, Stonebwoy was given a plaque from Billboard headquarters for being part of the project.

In a tweet sighted by YEN.com.gh, Stonebwoy could not hide his excitement as he shared photos of both Billboard plaques.

READ ALSO: Tracey Boakye worked hard for her riches - Brother

"No:1 is here...Once upon a time #BillBoard Reggae/Dancehall Chart NO:1 And NO:2 Had The Livingstone On It!! #BOSSitUP #BhimBOSS #bhimnationglobal. Remember these translate into the bag," the 'Ololo' hitmaker posted on his official Twitter account.

READ ALSO: Stonebwoy becomes 1st Ghanaian Dancehall act to get Billboard plaque (video)

READ ALSO: Emelia Brobbey drops video for her new song; Abeiku Santana, Sista Afia react

Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Stonebwoy, was featured by Sizzla Kalonji on his 'Shoot Yuh' song which is one of the hit songs on the 'Welcome to Judgement Yard' album.

The 'Shoot Yuh' song was ranked number 2 on the Billboard World REGGAE ALBUMS and as such, Stonebwoy was given a plaque from Billboard headquarters for being part of the project.

READ ALSO: Hajia4Reall goes all yellow in latest photo; Nigerian celebrities hail her

In a video posted by the 'Ololo' hitmaker on his Instagram account and sighted by YEN.com.gh, Stonebwoy could not hide his excitement as he displayed the plaque and dedicated it to Ghana, Jamaica and Africa.

READ ALSO: Salma Mumin flies Business Class in latest photo; fans can't keep calm

The Works Will Reflect Your Worth! League Of Legends!! LOL Sizzla Kalonji ft Stonebwoy  #ShootYuh, Stonebwoy posted on Instagram.

Ghanaian Traders Share Thoughts on Sales During Christmas | #Yencomgh

Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Enjoyed reading our story? Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news!

Source: YEN.com.gh
NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Electoral Officer on Friday directed the Delhi Police to file an FIR against BJP leader Kapil Mishra for his controversial 'India vs Pakistan match' tweet on the February 8 assembly election in the national capital.

Confirming the development, DCP Northwest Vijayanat Arya said, ''We have received the direction from the Election Commission on the basis of complaint referred to us the Returning Officer, Model Town...an FIR is being registered against Mishra at the police station there.''

Mishra had courted controversy on Thursday after he tweeted that ''the February 8 election will be a contest between India and Pakistan in Delhi.'' Taking note of the issue, the Election Commission had earlier asked Twitter to remove the controversial tweet by Mishra, a candidate for the upcoming Delhi assembly polls.

The Election Commission's action came after the office of the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer wrote to the EC to remove the tweet posted by Mishra on Thursday.

Live TV

The Delhi CEO Office also issued a show-cause notice to Kapil Mishra, who has been fielded by the BJP from the Model Town constituency, they said.

"We took cognisance of the tweet and wrote to EC last night seeking its removal. The EC then asked Twitter to remove his tweet. The tweet is a violation of the Model Code of Conduct and the Representation of the People Act, so we have taken action," Delhi CEO Ranbir Singh said. "We have also issued a show-cause notice to Kapil Mishra," he said.

Mishra on Friday replied to the Election Commission notice over his tweet likening Delhi assembly polls to India-Pak contest. In his four-page reply, Mishra said that it was his 'general opinion' and he has only given a general opinion as many people were facing a lot of problem due to the closure of Shaheen Bagh road.

''Since Shaheen Bagh does not fall in my constituency (Model Town) from where I am contesting, therefore it should not be taken in the context of Delhi election or violate the model code of conduct," Mishra said in his reply.

The election will be a triangular fight involving the Aam Aadmi Party, Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress. Polling will be held on February 8 and the results declared on February 11.
This post is part of Outward, Slates home for coverage of LGBTQ life, thought, and culture. Read more here.

Although the U.K. has a rich queer history of its own, it doesnt have a moment as singularly important as the Stonewall uprising in America. Perhaps those hot nights in Greenwich Village in 1969 have come to loom so large because Americans are so good at telling their own stories, over and over again. Brits, on the other hand, are more likely to mumble, Yeah, some things happened  

Advertisement

But we do have plenty of stories to tellespecially from the lives of the people whom we now refer to as LGBTQ. And I dont just mean from our more famous luminaries, like Alan Turing. British LGBTQ history can also be remembered through the stories of the countless other, more mundane individuals who endured persecution or thrived as unashamed queers.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

On April 9, 1978, a young carpenter named Paul was discharged from hospital after surviving a suicide attempt. Destitute, he phoned a help line to ask if there was somewhere he could stay. The volunteer who took his call at the Gay Switchboard recommended a few hostels, according to their note in the logbook from that shift. Also suggested that he should come back to us a bit later this week to find a bed-sit, reads the entry.

Advertisement

Advertisement

I dont know what became of Paul, but I hope Switchboard fixed him up with one of the people who frequently offered a place to stay when they had a spare bed. A logbook entry from 1975 reads:

Crashpad offered in SW1 [a London postcode]. This is not operational till caller confirms date. Ringing back within a month when his flatmate moves out.

These handwritten logbooks offer a unique glimpse into the U.K.s queer history. The help line started in 1974, partly to draw on the energy generated by the American Gay Liberation Front in the early 70s. Volunteers set up the first phone line in the basement below a socialist bookshop in Kings Cross in London. They surely could not dream of the freedoms that were to come to LGBTQ people in the next few decades, or that Switchboard would still be taking calls in 2020.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

A new podcast, The Log Books, uses the volunteers extraordinary handwritten archive to tell these stories. As a co-producer of the podcast, I read through hundreds of pages of notes and interviewed dozens of people to collect their memories. Like Paul, so many of the people with stories had nowhere to go. Here is an entry from June 11, 1982:

Advertisement

Advertisement

I had a call from a 19-year-old TV [transvestite] in Ashford who had been thrown out of home this evening by his parents who had just discovered  Luckily he seemed reasonably together about his situation and was reconciled to spending a night in his Mini.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Sali, one of the interviewees for the podcast, wasnt thrown out of homebut she did leave, while only 16, in the 1970s. Id had enough because my mum was physically and emotionally abusive, she says. So I packed a carrier bag and I went to social services. Sali was boosted by a call to Switchboard, during which a volunteer assured her that other lesbians existed. The main thing I wanted to do was to talk to somebody who was like me, to know I wasnt on my own, I wasnt from another planet, she says. I wanted to feel less isolated.

Advertisement

The logbooks show that Salis reason for calling was incredibly common. And Switchboard volunteers helped in many other ways, often with tips on where to go out. They kept meticulous notes on pubs and clubs:

April 19th, 1975Chagueramas reported not gay at all. Straights have been making comments when gays dance together. December 17th, 1975A woman caller asked if there was anywhere for women to go after 11pm.

As in America, pubs and clubs in the U.K. play a huge role in queer life, today and historically. The Coleherne pub in West London served men in leather on one side of the bar and sophisticated queens in Angora fur sweaters on the other. Although, in reality, the tastes in that pub mixed more than clothing might have hinted. Neville remembers the leather side of the Coleherne like this: Someone once said to me, [that] in that group you often hear some of the best criticism of whats on at the opera house. And it was true.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

That is the level of community knowledge that Switchboard volunteers needed to have. They devised a system of maps with color-coded pins so they could easily locate intel on different parts of the country when someone phoned with a question. You had to leap up, says Femi, a former volunteer, and your geography had to be good. Youre in where? Oh, OK! Weston-super-Mare? Nope sorry, theres nothing there! 

They also had to keep track of cottages. In British queer history (and still today), a cottage is a public place known for cruising, usually a public toilet. Cottages are full of stories, as Julian remembers in the podcast. It was easy to stand around or wander around the toilets in Waterloo station. You didnt have to pay 10 pence just to get in.  So you went in there and sat down and moved your feet further and further apart so your shoe could be seen under the cubicle next door. And if somebody moved their feet towards that as well, then you could start knocking each others feetand then you knew.

Advertisement

But this was risky business (surely part of the attraction), as recalled in the logbooks:

Advertisement

Advertisement

February 13th, 1976The cottage on the third floor of [the department store] in Oxford Street is very dangerous at the moment. Staff or plain clothes police watching everyone and looking under cubicle doors.

These are some of the most upsetting stories from the U.K.s recent queer history. Police forces across the country organized to pursue men for having sex with men, often entrapping them in well-known cottages with handsome officers in shorts. It happened well into the 90s. It was all rather scary, recalls one contributor to the podcast, about how men were arrested in parks. You were told, Ive got a big torch in my pocket and if you make the slightest move to get away, youll get it across the neck. 

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Defendants often found lawyers by calling Switchboard. People were very anxious about their careers, their reputation, often about their family circumstances and what the consequences of a conviction for gross indecency would be, says David Offenbach, one lawyer who frequently defended men under such charges. Often some of these conveniences [toilets] had been set up in a way, or adapted, where it was easier for the police to convict. So if there were holes in the wall, [or] places where a police officer would be concealed, there would tend to be more cases from those conveniences than from others.

Advertisement

Convictions stick. Thirty-eight years after he was arrested in a public toilet, even though he was alone, Terry is still branded a criminal. If I go for a job or to join an organization that wants to know if I have a criminal record, I wont get past the front door, he says. Turing famously received a pardon for similar offenses, in 2014but only under the queens royal prerogative of mercy. It neither expunges his record nor declares that the law that condemned him was unjust in the first place. The government later created a system for other people, like Terry, to have their convictions disregarded. But the law is so narrow that only 189 convictions have been disregarded, out of a possible 50,000. Terry is one man who remains convicted of this historic offence.

Advertisement

Terrys story shows how history lives with us. Stories abound in the bureaucracies of the justice system and the archives of organizations like Switchboard. But more importantly, they exist in the memories of our queer elderspeople like Terry, Julian, Sali and Femi. You might walk past any one of these in the street and never hear the stories they have to tell.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Our history is a mess of stories, and queer life today is often just as perilous as it was in the past. One of the startling things about the stories in Switchboards archive is how similar some of them sound to tales from today. Thats why its crucial to listen to our elders, and and its my motivation for working on the podcast The Log Books. History is not just a series of events, or breakthroughs like Stonewall. It is still surrounding us, as a soundscape of shouting, laughter, crying, and singing.

For more info about the podcast The Log Books, including where to listen and subscribe, visit www.thelogbooks.org.


United States President Donald Trump became the first U.S. president to attend the yearly March for Life demonstration on the National Mall in Washington, D. C.

The March for Life movement started in the 1970s to oppose the legalization of abortion operations, which end pregnancies.

As thousands of movement supporters looked on, Trump told the crowd: Unborn children have never had a stronger defender in the White House. He added, I am proud to stand with you.

Following his short speech, some activists chanted "four more years."

Trumps speech took place at a difficult time for his presidency. Democratic representatives from the House are making their final statements for removing him from office in the nearby Senate Building.

Trump has become a strong supporter of the movement against abortion although he supported abortion rights years before seeking office.

During his 2016 campaign for president, he promised to appoint Supreme Court Justices who would support a change to the courts decision legalizing abortion. Since his election, he has appointed two conservative justices to the court, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. Conservatives have a 5-4 majority on the court.



The March for Life began in 1973 after the U.S. Supreme Court established a womans constitutional right to an abortion in its Roe versus Wade decision.

Abortion remains one of the most disputed issues in the United States. Many abortion opponents say their religious beliefs cause them to protest it as an immoral act. Abortion supporters say the medical operation is protected by the constitution. They say abortions give women control over their bodies and futures.

Other sympathetic U.S. presidents have not attended the march. Republicans Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush both sent recorded messages from other places. Trump did the same in 2017 and also sent video messages in 2018 and 2019. Vice-President Mike Pence has attended all three marches since he took office. However, he missed this years event because of a meeting with Pope Francis in Rome.

In June, the Supreme Court is expected to rule on a case that could limit doctors ability to provide abortions in the southern state of Louisiana. The case will test if the high court will accept laws limiting abortion that are supported by Republicans. Similar laws have been approved by legislatures in several states.

Im Susan Shand.

The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.

Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

_________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

chant - v. to say words in unison
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences in the national capital has set up an isolation ward and kept beds ready for providing treatment to any suspected case of novel coronavirus infection.

Novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from the common cold to acute respiratory syndromes, but the virus that has so far killed 25 people and affected 830 in China is a novel strain and not seen before.

It emerged from a seafood and animal market in China's Wuhan, and is suspected to have spread to as far as the United States.

According to the World Health Organisation, the common symptoms of the novel coronavirus strain include respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria said, "We have an isolation ward and we have beds kept ready for providing care and treatment for suspected coronavirus cases in Delhi or elsewhere in India."



"All precautionary measures -- in terms of personal protection equipment for healthcare workers to prevent the spread of the disease while treating infected patients -- are in place."



Guleria said that hospital preparedness with regard to management and infection prevention control facilities has been also reviewed. "If need be, we have the capacity to increase our isolation ward facilities and provide treatment to such patients."As a precautionary measure, people should maintain good standards of hand hygiene, avoid travelling in crowded places and use masks. Any person having slight symptoms of cough, fever and weakness should immediately report to the nearest health facility, he said.

According to the AIIMS director, as of now there is no definite treatment, antibiotics or vaccines available for combating the particular virus strain and only supportive treatment for pneumonia is given. One has to follow preventive medication strategies, he said.

Two persons who returned from China have been kept under medical observation in Mumbai for possible exposure to novel coronavirus. As many as 1,789 passengers underwent thermal screening at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport for the coronavirus since January 19 and two of them, who had travelled to China, have been admitted to Kasturba Hospital.

WHO on Thursday said the deadly virus outbreak in China and beyond does not yet constitute a global emergency as it urged Beijing to keep its lockdown of some 20 million people "short".

"I am not declaring a public health emergency of international concern today," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters after a two-day emergency meeting in Geneva on the virus.

The global health body has confirmed that the new virus can be passed between people, at least those in close contact. Chinese health officials warned it could mutate and spread further.

The Union health ministry has said that 12,828 passengers from 60 flights have been screened for novel coronavirus infection till January 22 but no positive case has been detected in the country so far. Union Health Secretary Preeti Sudan is reviewing the evolving scenario and the preparedness status.

She has asked states and union territories to review hospital preparedness in terms of isolation and ventilator management of critically ill patients, identify gaps and strengthen core capacities in the area of surveillance and laboratory support, an official statement said.

Thermal screening is being done at the international airports of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Cochin.

The civil aviation ministry has asked airlines to follow International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines for managing and notifying anybody reporting illness on flights originating from China and disembarking in India.

A travel advisory was issued on January 17 and put up on the ministry's website and also on the Twitter handle for wider circulation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
She has reportedly split from her fiance Jesse Metcalfe.

And Cara Santana added grist to the rumor mill when she was glimpsed without her engagement ring in Santa Monica this Thursday.

The 35-year-old fashion blogger smiled radiantly as she clambered out of an SUV while modeling a pair of snakeskin stiletto boots.

Aglow: Cara Santana added grist to the rumor mill when she was glimpsed without her engagement ring in Santa Monica this Thursday

Cara cut a fashionable figure in a long fitted white coat, letting her luxurious hair fly free and wearing a pair of aviator sunglasses.

Her outing comes as Jesse posted an Instagram snap of himself in a car captioned: 'Check your blind spot!' possibly addressing the conjecture around the breakup.

On Wednesday DailyMail.com obtained exclusive pictures of Jesse Metcalfe out in Los Angeles, in his first public sighting since the split.

In contrast to his ex Jesse looked slightly downcast as he stood outside the Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood.

Stepping out: The 35-year-old fashion blogger smiled radiantly as she clambered out of an SUV while modeling a pair of snakeskin stiletto boots

Radiant: Cara cut a fashionable figure in a long fitted white coat, letting her luxurious hair fly free and wearing a pair of aviator sunglasses

Life of luxury: A gentleman in a suit opened Cara's car door for her as she emerged from a gleaming Mercedes

Sleek and chic: She wound a belt around her coat to emphasize her enviably svelte waistline

Looking fab: She accessorized with a fuzzy black purse

Putting him in the past: Cara and Jesse reportedly split after photos emerged over the past few days of Jesse getting cozy with two other women

Cara and Jesse reportedly split after photos emerged over the past few days of Jesse getting cozy with two other women.

Jesse held hands with Hungarian model Livia Pullman and had lunch with her at the vegan restaurant Gracias Madre in West Hollywood over the weekend.

The Desperate Housewives hunk had drinks hours later with with Australian actress Jade Albany Pietrantonio in Sherman Oaks.

Out of the picture: Cara was 'completely blindisded' by the photos, a source revealed to DailyMail.com, and has ended the relationship

History: Jesse proposed to Cara in August 2016, and according to Us Weekly he designed the 5.5-carat diamond engagement ring

Full of hope: Cara dished to Life & Style last October that after a work-related delay 'We are back on track to planning the wedding'

Cara was 'completely blindsided' by the photos, a source revealed to DailyMail.com, and has ended the 13-year relationship.

In the wake of the split Cara's friend Olivia Culpo posted an Instagram meme of Regina George from Mean Girls saying: 'Don't cheat... nobody likes a cheater.'

Olivia broke up with her MLB boyfriend Danny Amendola in 2018 after he was pap-snapped frolicking on a beach in Miami with another woman.

There he is: The previous day DailyMail.com obtained exclusive pictures of Jesse Metcalfe out in Los Angeles, in his first public sighting since the split

Location, location, location: In contrast to his ex Jesse looked slightly downcast as he stood outside the Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood

Jesse proposed to Cara in August 2016, and according to Us Weekly he designed the 5.5-carat diamond engagement ring.

Cara dished to Life & Style last October that after a work-related delay 'We are back on track to planning the wedding.'

The God's Not Dead 2 beefcake stars on the Hallmark series Chesapeake Shores, and per Cara: 'We were just waiting for his show schedule.'

They were last seen in public together on January 4th whilst attending The Art of Elysium's 13th Annual Celebration - Heaven at Hollywood Palladium.

Cryptic: Her outing comes as Jesse posted an Instagram snap of himself in a car captioned: 'Check your blind spot!' possibly addressing the conjecture around the breakup
In 2004, Steve Dunstone and Timothy Awoyemi, on a Police Expedition Society goodwill trip, were on a boat on the Niger River being greeted by the people of a southern Nigerian town. As the event was ending and the boat was about to leave, one man from the crowd reached out and passed Dunstone a note. It said, Please help return the Benin Bronzes.  The New York Times
POZNAN, Poland -- With just one month on the job, Senior Enlisted Adviser to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (SEAC) Ramon "CZ" Colon-Lopez, has set an ambitious goal to visit with the other services' top enlisted leaders, as well as those at the combatant commands, to discuss ways to learn from one another and solve critical issues for the troops.

Born in Puerto Rico, Colon-Lopez, an airman, has served nearly 30 years and has a robust special operations background. He said he sees his latest mission as being the chairman's "sensor, synchronizer and integrator" when it comes to the enlisted force.

An observer can easily note his knack of connecting with those he meets, which may help him clue the military's top brass into what's on the minds of rank-and-file troops.

Ever since Colon-Lopez became an E-4, he's been "bred in the joint environment," working for Navy and Army commanders, he said. He believes that's why Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley picked him for the job.

Related: For the First Time, an Airman Is Named Senior Enlisted Adviser to JCS Chairman

"I'm sure the special operations background helped, but the most important thing was the fact that I'm most comfortable at the back of a cargo plane, on ship deck, or just patrolling the ground with any soldier, sailor, airman or Marine, out there on a deployment," he said during an interview. Military.com sat down with Colon-Lopez during a recent USO tour to Romania and Poland.

Shortly after 9/11, he deployed numerous times as a pararescueman to Afghanistan, where he found himself in ground combat and earned the Air Force Combat Action Medal, as well as the Bronze Star with Valor. Colon-Lopez also worked the security detail for Hamid Kharzai, who was elected president of Afghanistan in 2004.

It was evident during the USO tour that the SEAC doesn't always mean business. While there were moments soldiers and airmen gathered round to get Colon-Lopez's perspective on decisions being debated by the Pentagon, he capitalized on the opportunity to relate as a peer, playing the guitar, hanging on a sign to show his "human flag pole" skills and breakdancing for a large crowd to give service members a laugh.

At the end of the day, Colon-Lopez said, he and the top brass must give troops honest answers.

"When we start talking about what the troops need, I think that one of the most critical things that we can do is just make sure that they're properly informed at the speed that news moves nowadays; sometimes, things get ahead [of them]," said Colon-Lopez, the first airman to hold his position. He was previously U.S. Africa Command's senior enlisted leader.

"I think it's important to just go ahead and bombard them with the facts just to keep them focused on what they need to do," he said.

In a recent conversation with Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright, Colon-Lopez said the core of keeping the enlisted ranks focused stems from accountability -- from the lowest levels to the upper echelon. His advice? Accomplish everyday duties, "but blaze [your] own trail."

"Always act on the next expected rank," he said in Wright's podcast, "Blueprint Leadership."

"Keep on working forward.  If youre a master sergeant right now, start looking  at what it means, and what it takes to be a senior master sergeant," he told Wright.

Accountability also includes calling out toxic leadership or anyone who purposefully makes service members feel undervalued.

"If you decide to stand up against them  you can always reach out to me anytime, he said, quoting his email address. If you have an issue and you want some advice, reach out to me.

Wright joked Colon-Lopez's staff will need to "create another mailbox."

Colon-Lopez plans to bring together the other services' senior enlisted leaders and combatant command leaders by this spring to discuss gaps in the force, focusing on where they can improve individually and collectively.

"I owe the chairman a good assessment of where the enlisted force [stands] today when it comes to employment, footprint, readiness, availability and sustainment," he said. "What I need to do as an integrator is collect those best practices and start asking each service, 'Have you ever tried to do X and see what we can learn from each other?'"

One idea is to improve morale and efficiency across the special operations forces by using them only as needed, he said.

Colon-Lopez doesn't foresee special ops missions changing dramatically, even as the services juggle the decades-long wars in the Middle East while preparing for a potential fight with Russia or China.

"When it comes to training and the way that we employ forces, that's not going to change," he said. "What I do believe will change is making sure that we place conventional units in places where special operations forces are not needed."

For example, the Air Force has been prepping small-scale squads with fundamental survival drills to be ready for anything, anywhere in the world.

"Security force assistance brigades, Marine Corps advisory groups -- we have a lot of these units that are able to go abroad and train, advise, assist [because] do we really need special operations forces doing this? I don't think so," Colon-Lopez said.

He added that he's impressed with the services' various approaches to setting up troops for success.

The Army's recent move to the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) sets soldiers up to be "more combat-derived, and basically gives soldiers a purpose to train because it's related to [their] duties," he said. His new boss, Milley, pushed the change through when he was the Army chief of staff.

Colon-Lopez said it's more crucial than ever for the military to capitalize on talent from every demographic. That especially applies to women who may want to join the front lines, he added.

"What I tell [critics] if they think that women do not belong in the battle zone [is] they are a bunch of fools," he said. "Because we are totally disregarding one pool of talent that we will not be tapping into as Americans."

Colon-Lopez continued, "The [training] standards have been better defined here since that [Army] gender integration study came out [in 2015]. It's not easy. But by all means, if they have the talent, regardless of gender, they should be able to walk through [these] doors."

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

Read more: Marine Raiders Led Counterattack to al-Shabaab Strike in Kenya: Reports
The bodies of three US firefighters who died when their air tanker crashed in southern NSW are being retrieved before their families arrive in Sydney on Sunday.

The families of captain Ian McBeth, first officer Paul Clyde Hudson and flight engineer Rick DeMorgan Jr will be able to visit the 'complicated' crash site northeast of Cooma if they wish to.

'We are hoping we will have all three victims removed from the site today,' NSW Police Superintendent Paul Condon told reporters late on Friday afternoon.

New South Wales forensic officers and a coronial van depart the crash site on January 24, 2020 in Peak View, Australia

The bodies of three US firefighters who died when their air tanker crashed in southern NSW are being retrieved before their families arrive in Sydney on Sunday

A floral tribute is seen near the crash site on January 24, 2020 in Peak View, Australia

Pictured: Captain Ian McBeth, from Great Falls, Montana, was an experienced pilot who had dedicated years of his life to fighting fires in the military and with Coulson Aviation

Capt McBeth, 44, is survived by his wife Bowdie and three children in Montana where he was a member of the Air National Guard.

The plane's owners, Canadian company Coulson Aviation, said he was a highly qualified and respected C-130 pilot with years of fire fighting experience in the military and with Coulson.

'Ian's love for his wife and children was evident for anyone who spent time around him,' Coulson said in a statement.

His partners were also highly experienced military airmen.

Mr Hudson, 42, spent 20 years as a US Marine, flying C-130s and receiving many decorations as he reached the rank of lieutenant-colonel and is survived by his wife Noreen.

Father-of-two Mr DeMorgan, 43, spent 18 years in the US Air Force as a flight engineer on C-130s with extensive combat experience.

'Rick's passion was always flying and his children,' Coulson said.

Pictured: First Officer Paul Hudson served in the United States Marine Corp for 20 years

Pictured: Flight engineer Rick DeMorgan is survived by his wife and two children. He had more than 4,000 hours experience

Supt Condon said it was obvious the C130 Hercules water tanker had 'impacted heavily' at Peak View on Thursday afternoon and there's 'not much intact at all'.

The plane crashed just after it had dropped fire retardant along a ridge, Australian Transport Safety Bureau chief commissioner Greg Hood said on Friday, adding the kilometre-long crash site was 'complicated' because it was in an active bushfire area.

ATSB investigators on Saturday will make the site safe by securing aviation fuel, the magnesium wheels and any unexploded oxygen bottles.

They'll then locate the plane's voice recorder and take it back to Canberra 'to see what the exchanges may have been in the cockpit during those final moments', Mr Hood told reporters.

Investigators will map the site and speak with witnesses who saw the crash.

'We have upwards of 500 firefighting aircraft active across the country from about 150 companies and several different countries,' the safety bureau boss said.

'So if there are lessons to be learned from this particular accident it's really important that Australia and the world learns them.'

Three American firefighters died when their waterbomber crashed while fighting a huge bushfire

Coulson's owners are expected to arrive in Sydney this weekend carrying the full maintenance history of the aircraft.

'We honour the amazing crews who do incredible things in dangerous circumstances supported by world-class operations,' the company said.

NSW Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons on Friday said the men were dedicated to the 'art' of aerial firefighting.

'It's a body blow for everyone in the firefighting fraternity, in the community of NSW and further afield,' he told reporters in Sydney.

'It's a confronting and sobering reminder of the enormity of the risk and challenge associated with this fire season.'

The RFS boss labelled the C130 Hercules a 'workhorse of the air' which could carry 15,000 litres of water.

Alaska region fire management officer Chuck Russell - part of the US and Canadian contingent in NSW - said there was a sombre mood among the firefighting fraternity.

'It doesn't matter whether you're a contractor, a Canadian, a New Zealander or an Australian, it hits hard when we lose one of our own,' he told reporters.

US ambassador Arthur Culvahouse said he was 'deeply saddened' by the news.

The US firefighters and the three NSW firies who've died battling fires this season will be remembered at a state memorial service on February 23.
Unnikrishnan S By

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health Minister KK Shailaja said there were two people under observation for suspected infection of Coronavirus.

One is at Kochi and the other person is at Thiruvananthapuram.

The minister, however, said there was no need for panic as the government had taken necessary steps to address the situation.

To arrest the spread of the virus, Kerala government has issued guidelines as per World Health Organisation's standards.

Further, the government has also directed for setting up isolation wards in all medical colleges and district hospitals in the state.

The serum of suspected cases would be sent to National Institute of Virology in Pune.

Indian Consul in Saudi Arabia said that Vidhya Divakaran, a staff nurse from Ettumanoor who was infected with Coronavirus, is recovering.

In a letter to Kodikunnil Suresh MP and Norka, the consul of Jeddah, M Aleem, said he had spoken to the health authorities in the Asser region for the proper medical treatment and care of Vidhya.

"She has been shifted to Aseer National Hospital and is being provided best medical treatment and care. She is recovering well. It is expected that she may get discharged in next two days," said Aleem.

There are 100 Indian nurses including seven Malayali nurses working in Al Hayat Hospital at Khamis Mushait in the Aseer region.

Of them, only Vidhya was tested positive for the disease.

Earlier, a Saudi health ministry affiliate had denied anyone testing positive for the disease that claimed many lives in China.

Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in China said the Chinese authorities have assured food for Indians stuck in Wuhan.

"At present, it is reported that supermarkets particularly that are government-run and e-commerce services continue to remain operational in Wuhan," said a statement from the embassy.

It has opened two hotlines to get in touch with the mission ( +8618612083629 and +8618612083617)
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 24, 2020) - Boundary Gold and Copper Mining Ltd. (TSXV: BDGC) (OTCQB: PRZFF) (FSE: MQSP) ("Boundary" or the "Company") announces it has decided to pursue legal action against David Schmidt, claiming gross incompetence, negligence, and breach of fiduciary duties as a director that has resulted in significant loss in shareholder value.

The company has reached out to Mr. Schmidt repeatedly without any response from the defendant. The claim is supported by current and past management and alleges that while serving in the role of director of Prize Mining Inc., Mr. Schmidt failed his fiduciary duty which has led to substantial shareholder loss. Mr. Schmidt made a series of very poor financial decisions on behalf of the company which has resulted in significant loss in shareholder value.

Directors are regarded as fiduciaries of their corporation and, as such, directors must ensure the corporation's interests are paramount. It is the fiduciary duty of the director to act honestly and in good faith, with a view to the best interests of the corporation. If a director fails to meet his or her fiduciary duty, courts will hold the director strictly liable.

"It's unfortunate that Mr. Schmidt does not respond but it seems to be regular course of business for him based on his issues with other companies. Boundary is looking to move forward from his time with the company and bring success to our shareholders," states Russell Van Skiver.

About Boundary Gold and Copper Mining Ltd.

Boundary is a junior mining issuer listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. Boundary is focused on the exploration and development of the Kena Gold Property in BC. Find out more at: www.prizemining.com

For more information please contact: info@prizemining.com

Follow Boundary Gold and Copper Mining Ltd. on Social Media:

Twitter

Facebook

LinkedIn

Reader Advisory

Forward-Looking Statements. This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "scheduled", "potential", or other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "should" or "could" occur.

The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable by the Company at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information, which speaks only as of the date hereof. The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking information contained herein to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/51815
@wrexham Anyone know why Clywedog Road South on the industrial estate is 1-way for the rest of the month?

One reason for CJCs was given as "funding is coming through centrally now from UK Government on a regional basis bypassing the devolved nations" so these entities are needed to draw that down (LINK)
COLUMBUS, Ohio  Ohioans would automatically be registered to vote upon applying for or renewing a drivers license or other state-issued ID, under a proposed constitutional amendment submitted to the state on Wednesday.

The amendment, backed by the ACLU and other groups, also would allow eligible Ohioans to register to vote and cast a ballot on the same day throughout the early voting period. This would reinstate and expand what previously was referred to as Golden Week, which state lawmakers eliminated in 2014.

The amendment campaign group, Ohioans for Secure and Fair Elections, is targeting the presidential election in November for the amendment. Another element of the proposed amendment is a required, statewide post-election audit.

The group announced Wednesday it had submitted paperwork, including a summary of the proposed amendment and the amendment text itself, to the state Attorney Generals Office. The filing is the first part of a multi-step process that eventually will require the amendment campaign to gather signatures from hundreds of thousands of Ohio voters across the state.

The state Attorney Generals Office now has 10 business days to determine whether the proposed ballot language is an accurate and fair summary of the proposed amendment.

The ACLU, in 2020, will do what we have done for more than a hundred years: work to protect civil liberties and expand civil rights, especially the right to vote nationwide and in Ohio, J. Bennett Guess, executive director for the ACLU in Ohio, said in a statement. "In the process of building a non-partisan, broadly representative buckeye coalition, weve had ongoing conversations with Ohio veterans, faith-based groups, members of the disability rights community, advocacy and legal organizations, and the consensus is clear: its time to remove unnecessary barriers to the ballot and make sure that our elections are secure and fair, ensuring all eligible voters are heard and our democracy is strengthened.

The proposed automatic-voter registration amendment is similar to a proposal, also backed by the ACLU, that was approved last year by Michigan voters by a 2-to-1-margin. That measure was backed by a $4 million campaign, funded by the ACLU, labor unions and other progressive groups.

The proposed Ohio amendment would include an opt-out provision for those who dont want to register to vote.

The proposed constitutional amendment is the latest automatic-voter registration proposal introduced in recent months. But the other two proposals, pending in each of the state legislatures two chambers, have gained little traction since they were introduced.

One, a Senate bill backed by Secretary of State Frank LaRose, is a less expansive proposal that would streamline voter registration for BMV customers while laying the groundwork for future simple voter registration for Ohioans interacting with other state agencies. That bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. Nathan Manning and Democratic Sen. Vernon Sykes, has received only a perfunctory initial committee hearing since it was introduced last August.

LaRose, a Republican who is the states top elections official, referenced that bill when asked about the new proposed amendment.

Ive championed reforms to Ohios voter registration system for years, so I welcome all Ohioans to lend their voices to that debate, LaRose said in a statement. The devil is always in the details with these things, and history tells us that often times reforms should be debated and determined by the General Assembly rather than being enshrined in the Constitution. Major, successful change comes when Republicans and Democrats in the legislature work together, and thats happening right now in the Ohio Senate with our bipartisan legislation that would modernize Ohios entire voter registration system.

Another similar proposal, a House bill introduced last week by state Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney and other Democratic lawmakers, goes further in who is automatically registered to vote, applying to high-school seniors as well.

The automatic voter registration measure is the second proposed constitutional amendment submitted for the November ballot in the past week. Last Friday, organized labor activists submitted a proposed constitutional amendment that would raise the states minimum wage to $13 an hour.
A truly ground-breaking approach to cardiovascular health involving wearable technology and sensors in the home, expanding on pioneering University of Bristol research, has been shortlisted for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Big Beat Challenge 30 million award.

With the World Health Organization forecasting an increase in cardiovascular deaths worldwide, the charitys Big Beat Challenge is a global initiative to galvanise researchers and inspire transformational solutions to tackle the worlds biggest killer. Launched in August 2018, it is a global competition offering a single research award of up to 30 million.

The BHF challenged researchers to form international, multi-disciplinary teams and submit outline research proposals that would be transformative, with a clear route to patient benefit, and that would only be possible with funding on this scale. The ideas could completely transform the lives of a few or provide a smaller but important change for many.

Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, said: "Heart and circulatory diseases remain the number one cause of death worldwide. Were taking small steps forward every year but what's needed is a giant leap, which wont be achieved by a business-as-usual approach. The Big Beat Challenge embodies our ambition to turbo-charge progress and could lead to its own man on the moon moment. I have absolutely no doubt the winning idea will define the decade in their area."

The University of Bristol is part of the consortium whose idea for next generation cardiovascular health technology is one of just four world-wide that have been shortlisted. ECHOES - Enhancing Cardiac care tHrOugh Extensive Sensing (ECHOES) is based on the principle that he single greatest obstacle to prevention, diagnosis and treatment of major chronic cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is the lack of medically relevant patient data obtained in daily life.

The team will develop wearable technology that can be used in daily life to capture more data than ever before. From symptoms and physical activity to heart function and air quality, this information could be used alongside genetic and healthcare data to transform diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of heart and circulatory diseases through the creation of a digital twin. The consortium is led by Professor Frank Rademakers, Chief Medical Technology Officer at University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium.

Professor Ian Craddock from the University of Bristol is Director of SPHERE, a 20 million EPSRC-funded project focused on home-monitoring of activity. If successful, ECHOES will further develop this applied bespoke home sensing to measure the quantity and quality of in-home behaviours (sleep, functional movement, movement between rooms, cooking, sedentarism) far exceeding the capability of patient-reported information. This will be correlated with other data in the study, to map an individual's physiological, behavioural, environmental, and symptomatic data to build the world's most comprehensive understanding of these relationships. From this, the aim is to identify the signatures of health and different forms of heart disease through clinical studies.

Dame Anne Glover, President of The Royal Society of Edinburgh and Independent Advisory Panel member, said: "All four shortlisted applications have identified big problems that desperately need to be addressed. Theyve submitted ideas that are different to anything the BHF has funded before, and the raw ambition, boldness and creativity of all teams is inspirational.

"Each member of the International Advisory Panel brings unique expertise and vision from the world of science, research and beyond. Were intrigued to see the teams ideas flourish into full proposals and decide who will be given the chance to write their names into the history books by transforming heart and circulatory disease research."

The four shortlisted teams have been given a small amount of seed funding and will spend the next six months putting together their full applications. These will be reviewed by subject experts and the three panels, and the teams will be interviewed by the IAP. Together, they will decide which proposal has the most promising chance of delivering a revolutionary advance towards better cardiovascular health.

The winner is expected to be announced at the end of 2020.

Professor Sir Nilesh Samani added: "This is high-risk, high-reward research. We whole-heartedly believe in the transformational potential of the Big Beat Challenge to save and improve lives, both here in the UK and around the world. It represents the single biggest investment in pioneering science in the BHFs 60-year history. In an ideal world, wed like to fund all four as each one has the chance to make a monumental impact."
MERIDEN  Members of the Police and Fire departments are receiving training and certification to operate drones.

The drones will be used for search and rescue, suspect searches, accident reconstruction, fire investigations and other tasks. Representatives from Axon Air, the drone vendor, were on hand for a recent orientation.

There are multiple uses both in law enforcement and fire services, Police Chief Jeffry Cossette said during the orientation.

Cossette said the department will start with two drones  DJI Mavic Pro 2 Enterprise models  costing $3,000 each. The drones were purchased under a line item in the current fiscal year budget that includes upgraded body cameras and in-car camera systems provided through a five-year contract with Axon, an Arizona-based company formerly known as Taser.

Cossette hopes to have the officers trained and licensed within a month and expects drones will also be used at events such as the Daffodil Festival to monitor the crowd.

Police plan to have five or six officers receive training to obtain a drone pilot license from the FAA.

Fire Lt. David Pineau said his department plans to have about eight members trained and licensed. Pineau, a licensed pilot who also works with the Civil Air Patrol, anticipates that at the outset the drones will be most used during fire investigations and pre-incident planning.

The drones, which can fly about 30 minutes on a single charge, are equipped with a speaker for announcements and infrared and thermal imaging capabilities, said Jacob Furst, customer success manager for Axon.

Brandy Shaffer, program manager for Axon, said the company did a lot of research to develop the Enterprise model, which is primarily used by law enforcement.

Currently, only about 10 percent of law enforcement agencies in the country use drones, and Meriden is one of the first in the state. Shaffer added there are other departments in the state in the process of obtaining drones, but Meriden is the furthest along in the process.

Southington Police Lt. Stephen Elliott said his department does not have drones, but officials there are interested in pursuing the technology in the future. Wallingford Police Lt. Cheryl Bradley said her department also does not have drones, but knows there are departments that Wallingford can call on if a drone is needed.

Meriden Police Sgt. Jeff Herget anticipates his department will have a policy for assisting other towns when requested.

State police also utilize drones.

Herget said a letter was sent to every member of the department to see who wanted to participate in the drone program.

Hopefully, he said, those selected will cover every shift, but added a drone pilot can be called in when they are not scheduled to work, similar to K9 officers.

Im excited for it, its a new technology, Herget said. Im hopeful that the public will be on board with it. The uses are limitless, for search and rescue to accident investigation, SWAT callouts. We could use them frequently; I hope we do.

lsellew@record-journal.com

203-317-2225

Twitter: @LaurenSellewRJ
New Delhi :

Not everyone is lucky to have a Paul Rudd set of brown hair at 50. Infact, it is no overwhelming sight to even see white strands of hair even among teens, a clear indication that people now are much more stressed than people then. Of the many reasons that makes hair turn white, stress has been one big factor. Researchers found that hormones produced in response to stress can deplete the melanocyte stem cells that determine hair color causing the stem cells to leave our hair follicles, leaving hair gray or white.

A new experiment on mice may now have an answer as to how stress can be the reason to the change of hair colour. Researchers from America and Brazil said that exploring the findings more could lead to development of a drug that stops hair changing colour.

Adding that hair colour change is mainly down to ageing and the natural process of getting old, Professor Ya-Cieh Hsu, from Harvard, told the BBC

"We now know for sure that stress is responsible for this specific change to your skin and hair, and how it works."

The accidental findings showed that the hearts were beating faster, their blood pressure rose, which affected their nervous system and caused acute stress causing the stem cells that produced melanin to be reduced.

"I expected stress was bad for the body, But the detrimental impact of stress that we discovered was beyond what I imagined.

"After just a few days, all of the pigment-regenerating stem cells were lost. Once they're gone, you can't regenerate pigment any more - the damage is permanent professor Hsu added.

In another experiment, the finding showed that the changes could be blocked by giving the mice a drug that treats high-blood pressure. Researchers were hence able to compare the genes of mice in pain with others and realise that the protein causing damage when stressed is called cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK).

Also Read: Cyberbullying May Worsen Depression, PTSD Symptoms In Teens

"These findings are not a cure or treatment for grey hair. Our discovery, made in mice, is only the beginning of a long journey to finding an intervention for people.

"It also gives us an idea of how stress might affect many other parts of the body."
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Israel on a visit to mark the 75th anniversary of liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp by the Red Army as well as the Holocaust Remembrance Day. Program of the visit includes speech at the International Forum "Preserving the Memory of Holocaust, Fighting anti-Semitism", participation in the unveiling ceremony of the "The Candle of Remembrance" stele and in the award ceremony of the Order of Courage to relatives of hero of the uprising at the Sobibor death camp Leon Feldgendler. Vestnik Kavkaza spoke to Lev Spivak, director general of the Israel-Azerbaijan International Association (AzIs), about the importance of preserving historical memory of the Holocaust and Russian-Israeli relations.

- Why is it so important to preserve the memory of the Holocaust today?

- The memory of the Holocaust has one very simple value: if we don't condemn what happened every day, as well as people who committed it, then tomorrow there may be someone else who wants to commit the Holocaust again. Maybe against the Slavs, or against the Greeks, or against the French, against anyone. Such things are completely unacceptable. Human life has the highest value. There's nothing more valuable.

- In your opinion, what significance does Israel attach to visit of Vladimir Putin?

- All events are dedicated to the worst tragedy in the history of the Jews, to the Holocaust. Concentration camp was liberated by Soviet troops, so President Putin's visit as leader of the successor country of the Soviet Union cannot be overestimated.

At the same time, this visit shows good, friendly relations between our countries, even without any connection to these events. As we know, representatives of Poland and the Baltic republics refused to come to Israel. Perhaps they don't consider the Holocaust an important event or simply have bad relations with today's Israel. I don't think that the Holocaust can be used in political games. The behavior of Polish leadership in this case is striking.

The Monument to blockade of Leningrad, which is being opened today, is extremely personal not only to people of that generation, but also to front-line soldiers, the entire older generation.

As a native of Soviet Union, I'm pleased that Israel has always been a friend, and continues to be friends with Russia. We have visa-free regime, we have excellent relations in general. Our Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has met with Putin more than once.

- What do Israeli people think about Naama Issahar, Israeli woman convicted in Russia of smuggling drugs?

- This is not the only Israeli woman who was arrested for such nonsense and is serving a sentence. There are similar cases in other countries. There were some reports that she's a niece of driver of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which is probably why there's such a scandal, but no one stood up for other Israelis who were imprisoned in other countries and didn't even think about them.
This account is from a new project called Beyond the World War II We Know, a series from The Times that will document lesser-known stories from World War II. Though much of the project will focus on the end and aftermath of the war, our second dispatch takes place in 1941, when the Germans were planning a surprise attack on the city of Lvov in Poland, which was annexed by the Soviet Union two years earlier. Celia Kener was 6 at the time. She would eventually be detained and sent to Lvovs ghetto and then separated from her entire family, but its the events that followed the German assault that continue to haunt her today.

I was very excited about an upcoming ballet recital, which happened to be taking place the day the Germans invaded. The recital was canceled, and I was extremely upset about it. More than that, my father was drafted into the Russian Army on that same day, and my mother and I didnt know if we would ever see him again. But we were still in our own home in Lvov; we had not yet been forced into the ghetto. When I went outside to play a few days later, my friends not only stayed away and pointed at me, but they called me names, like parszywa Zydowka, which translated to smelly Jew. I was only 6, and I didnt understand what was going on.

My friends teasing attracted the attention of an officer, who grabbed me and shoved me onto a truck. I couldnt call my mother because he was dragging me by my arms and hair. Other children were already detained on the truck  behind chains, vomiting and crying out of fear. I latched onto the legs of another officer who was manning the vehicle and spoke to him in Polish, asking if he had children of his own who were innocent like me. I dont think he was German, because he understood Polish, but he had on a uniform and was perhaps working for the Germans. I must have touched a sensitive note in his heart. He grabbed me by my long blond braids, threw me down off the truck and told me not to leave my house during the day, which was when the Germans came around without warning to search for Jews to take away to unknown destinations. By the time I returned to the apartment, my mother had already been mourning my death, because nobody came back from those trucks.
One of the reasons House Democrats ultimately impeached Donald Trump is that they recognized that if they didnt try to stop him from doing crimes, he would be emboldened do more of them. Or to put it another way, if the Congress makes an institutional decision to cede all of its oversight power back to the Executive Branch, the president will come to believe, quite correctly, that he is in fact above the law. Recall that the perfect phone call asking the president of Ukraine to announce that he would investigate corruption around Burisma took place the day after Robert Mueller let Trump off the hook in House testimony about Russian election interference. So, after weeks (and months and years) of trying to avoid impeachment entirely, House Democrats realized they had almost no other choice but to go ahead, even though the chance of Trump being removed from office was still essentially zero. Impeachment, put plainly, was undertaken not just to punish past misconduct, but to attempt to deter more of it.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Now, we find ourselves in the middle of an impeachment trial whose outcome is essentially pre-ordained. And as Republicans in the Senate are rewarding Trump for his blanket obstruction of Congress, the president has been chortling in Davos that he is obstructing Congress. In other words, Senate Republicans refusal to exercise their oversight muscles means that those muscles are atrophying before our very eyes, and this administration continues to flout the law in real time as a result. Senators who mistakenly think this is all about this presidents single call to Ukraine fail to comprehend that its about all kinds of lawlessness on the part of all of his enablers and appointees that they are also choosing to let slide. That lawlessness isnt a static thing; it begets more and more of the same.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Under cover of the fog of impeachment, in large ways and small, other lawbreaking, other refusals of oversight, and other overt criming keeps on happening. What other bad acts has this president and members of this administration undertaken this month alone? Well, on Tuesday, the Commerce Department announced that it would refuse to obey a congressional demand for the release of a 2018 investigation into national security risks around imports of autos and auto parts, citing a presidential claim that it would interfere with the presidents ability to protect confidential executive branch communications and could interfere with ongoing negotiations. (Republican Sen. Pat Toomey blasted the decision.) Just last week, without any explanation, the Trump administration abruptly canceled four classified briefings related to the Iran crisis, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo refused a House request that he speak at a public hearing on the assassination of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani. This, after there remain profound questions about whether the killing of Soleimani without congressional approval was itself unlawful. Earlier this month, Steve Mnuchin, Trumps treasury secretary, tried to block disclosure of how much taxpayer money has been spent on Secret Service protection for presidential travel for Trump and his adult children until after the 2020 election. Last week, the FBI failed to comply with U.S. District Judge Reggie Waltons order to turn over, by Jan. 17, summaries from interviews with Jared Kushner in Robert Muellers investigation to CNN and BuzzFeed. The FBI missed the deadline, then claimed this week that a member of the intelligence community needs to ensure the material has been properly redacted. Its not clear when the summaries will be turned over.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Also this week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection deported an Iranian student on a valid visa who was returning to Boston for school. Despite the fact that a federal judge had issued an emergency stay ruling his removal be stayed for two days pending a hearing in his case, CBP ignored this order and sent him home Monday night. Politico is reporting that a CBP officer is now alleging that their staff in the Seattle field office was told to target Iranian-born travelers for such questioning as of early January. On Thursday, a panel of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals excoriated the Board of Immigration of Appeals for overt defiance of an earlier court order, reminding the BIA that The Board seemed to think that we had issued an advisory opinion, and that faced with a conflict between our views and those of the Attorney General it should follow the latter. It perhaps bears mention that William Barr and Pat Cipolloneboth of whom have participated in the acts at issue in the impeachmentare involved in defending Trumps conduct in these proceedings. Also this week, D.C.s Attorney General Karl Racine charged the Trump inaugural committee and the Trump Organization with using $1 million of charitable funds to enrich the Trump family during the inauguration. If youre interested in more, CREW has more and more. This list isnt by any means comprehensive, by the way. Its more a tasting menu. None of this is normal, none of it OK, all of it is sliding by, as oversight moves away from government to journalists and private watchdogs, and as defiance of the law becomes the new normal.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Its easy to look at all of this and insist that its all just Trumpian business as usual. Thats the same impulse that suggests that this impeachment effort is just an effort aimed at removing a despised president who has done nothing wrong. But to do each of these things requires defining unlawfulness down and also defining oversight down. The presidents defense team, in asserting the broadest possible claims that nothing the president does is illegal or impeachable, and also that Congress has no role in checking him, are actively fostering congressional obsolescence. Senators who agree to this as they play with fidget spinners and launch podcasts are greenlighting more law breaking as they limit their own ability to check it.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Maybe it doesnt matter. Maybe this trial that allows for no witnesses, no evidence, hollow oaths, and fewer and fewer vertical jurors, is a perfect construct by which to end the illusion that there is such thing as unlawful conduct and also that there is such thing as oversight. And maybe the voters agree. This latest report from the Pew Research Center found that 63 percent of Americans believe Donald Trump either has definitely or probably done illegal things, while 70 percent believe Trump has definitely or probably done unethical things. A majority of the 32 percent of Republicans who say Trump has likely done illegal things either during the campaign or while in office also say he should remain in office. (59 percent of those Republicans say he should stay in office, while 38 percent say he should be removed.) That means theres a not-small swath of Republicans who seem to agree that illegal or unethical conduct is OK for a president. Which, conveniently, is Trumps argument too.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Nobody should be fooled into believing that Trump himself would be deterred from lawless or improper actions just because hes in the midst of a Senate impeachment trial. Indeed, as Stephen Collinson has pointed out, given that Trump has never once moderated his conduct in the face of being caught out, we might also recognize that even impeachment wont stop him and in fact, the possibility of acquittal in the Senate may actually embolden him. Its unthinkable that Trump will emerge from his impeachment drama chastened, Collinson wrote. He is instead likely to perceive validation for his conduct, and may consider, since he is branded with a historic badge of honor, that he has not got much more to lose and could shed even more restraints.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

The purpose of this trial wasnt really to change Trumps behavior; everyone knows thats not possible. Perhaps it was always at most an attempt to jealously guard congressional prerogatives to define and monitor what the outer boundaries of presidential misbehavior might be. In which case those boundaries are vanished. In giving up on those prerogatives, Senate Republicans are inviting more defiance of any oversight, more blanket claims of immunity, and an ever-expanding class of actions that if taken by the president, cannot be illegal. Thats not something that will happen next month or next year. Its happening as the impeachment itself unfolds.
New Delhi: Riding on Chinese brands, the India smartphone market surpassed the US for the first time on an annual level, becoming the second-largest smartphone market after China globally -- reaching 158 million shipments in the calender year 2019 with 7 per cent (YoY) growth, a report from Counterpoint Research said on Friday.

While Xiaomi continued to be the top player with 28 per cent market share in the calendar year 2019, Samsung was second with 21 per cent and Vivo at 16 per cent market share, said Counterpoint's 'Market Monitor' service.

"Although the rate of growth for smartphone market hit single digit for the first time ever on an annual basis, India is underpenetrated relative to many other markets with 4G penetration in terms of subscribers being around 55 per cent," said Tarun Pathak, Associate Director, Counterpoint.

"Chinese brands share hit a record 72 per cent for the year 2019 as compared to 60 per cent share a year ago.

"This year, we have seen all major Chinese players expanding their footprint in offline and online channels to gain market share. For instance, Xiaomi, realme, and OnePlus have increased their offline points of sale while brands like Vivo have expanded their online reach with Z and U series," said Anshika Jain, Research Analyst at Counterpoint.

Over the past four years, Xiaomi, Vivo, and OnePlus have grown 15 times, 24 times and 18 per cent, respectively.

"This highlights that OEMs are mature enough to capture next wave of growth and expand their operations in India," Jain added.

Samsung shipments remained almost flat (YoY) while it has shown a 5 per cent (YoY) decline in 2019.

"This is for the first time Samsung transitioned to a completely new portfolio targeting different channels (offline with A series and online with M series). However, it needs to double down its efforts to keep the momentum going," the report noted.

While the smartphone market registered YoY growth, the feature phone market witnessed a steep decline of nearly 42 per cent YoY in 2019 and 38 per cent (YoY) in Q4 2019.

"This is due to slowdown in the new shipments from Reliance Jio. However, the players such as itel, Lava, Nokia and Micromax registered positive annual growth despite the overall segment declined showing the untapped potential of the market," said the report.

In fact, itel emerged as the number one feature phone brand in Q4 2019, followed by Samsung and Lava.
PR-Inside.com: 2020-01-24 11:00:17

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 352 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

HOLLYWOOD, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 24, 2020 / VA Reform, credit repair, water cleanup in India, Coronavirus, solar power, Groucho politics; this week on MoneyTV with Donald Baillargeon.MoneyTV is the internationally syndicated television program all about money and what makes it happen, ( http://www.moneytv.net) , featuring informative interviews with company CEOs and executives, providing insights into their operations and outlooks for their futures. MoneyTV is seen in over 200 million TV households in more than 75 countries.Free information packages from the featured companies can be requested by sending an email to info@ moneytv.net The television program can also be viewed online immediately at www.moneytv.net Featured companies on this week's program include:Singlepoint, Inc. (OTCQB:SING) President Will Ralston said the company is not considering a stock split.OriginClear, Inc. (OTCPINK:OCLN) CEO Riggs Eckelberry discussed operations and sales in India. Chineseinvestors.com , Inc. (OTCQB:CIIX) CEO Warren Wang discussed opportunities from the Coronavirus.TKO Farms, Inc. has become the world's largest grower of organic soursop fruit.Trycera Financial, Inc. (OTCPINK:TRYF) CEO Ray Smith updated Trycera's re-listing progress and introduced VA Reform Advocate Brian Tally.MoneyTV Executive Producer and Anchor Donald Baillargeon is also the host of MoneyRap Radio, http://www.moneyrap.com and the television program Crowdfund Television, http://www.crowdfundtelevision.com MoneyTV with Donald Baillargeon television program, Copyright MMXX, all rights reserved. MoneyTV does not provide an analysis of companies' financial positions and is not soliciting to purchase or sell securities of the companies, nor are we offering a recommendation of featured companies or their stocks. Information discussed herein has been provided by the companies and should be verified independently with the companies and a securities analyst. MoneyTV provides companies a 3 to 4 month corporate profile with multiple appearances for a cash fee of $6,950.00 to $11,995.00, does not accept company stock as payment for services, does not hold any positions, options or warrants in featured companies. The information herein is not an endorsement by Donald Baillargeon, the producer, publisher or parent company of MoneyTV.Contact:Donald Baillargeoninfo@ moneytv.net 949 388 5267SOURCE: MoneyTV, Singlepoint, Inc., OriginClear, Inc., Chineseinvestors.com , Inc., Trycera Financial, Inc.
The BBC has announced to staff that Cork's Fergal Keane is to step back from his role as BBC News Africa Editor, due to the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Paying tribute to his "huge insight, experience and thoughtfulness" in the role, the BBC's head of newsgathering Jonathan Munro said in a statement circulated to his colleagues that Mr Keane's decision to step back was personal, after several years of dealing with the effects of PTSD as a result of several decades working in the world's conflict zones.

"He now feels he needs to change his role in order to further assist his recovery. It's both brave and welcome that he is ready to be open about PTSD," Mr Munro said in a statement circulated to colleagues.

Mr Keane will continue to work with the BBC, both in news and current affairs, and more widely across the organisation.

This time last year, Fergal Keane was named recipient of the Hall of Fame award at the Cork Person of the Year awards. He was praised by event organiser Manus O'Callaghan for his coverage of war zones around the world.

In a year when Time magazines own Person of the Year was the War on Truth, where they honoured journalists who were killed, persecuted and jailed, it is fitting that we should honour our own distinguished brave Fergal Keane too, Mr O'Callaghan said.

The son of acclaimed actor, the late Eamonn Keane and nephew of playwright John B Keane, Fergal was accompanied to the awards with members of his family including his mother, Maura Hassett.

Fergal said it felt great to be honoured in Cork, especially as he went to school at Cork Presentation Brothers College and the city meant so much to him.

He said whenever he was on assignment, be it in Baghdad, Beruit or Kinshasa, he was always thinking of Cork.

Letter to Daniel

Keane joined the BBC in 1989 as the corporation's Northern Ireland correspondent, and later covered South Africa and Asia for the corporation before being appointed Africa editor.

He won an Amnesty television prize in 1994 for his investigation of the Rwandan genocide.

In a letter to his newborn son Daniel in 2015, Mr Keane spoke movingly of his work, in a piece that the BBC described as " a radio classic (that) produced one of the most phenomenal responses from listeners in the programmes history". You can listen to that letter here.
The is likely to hear on Friday a fresh plea challenging the imposition of the Security Act (NSA), which allows police to detain persons without trial for a period of 12 months, in the capital and a few other states.

The plea has been filed by advocate M.L. Sharma and it is expected to come up for hearing before a bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Indira Banerjee.

Sharma has challenged the imposition of the NSA, terming it as a tool to contain protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, the Population Register (NPR) and the Register of Citizens (NRIC).

Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal on January 10 notified the extension of detaining powers to Delhi Police under the for a three-month period beginning from January 19.

"The cause of actions arose on January 10, when respondents (states) imposed Act for next three months with effect from January 19 in Delhi as well as in Andhra Pradesh by the state government to arrest and detain," the plea said.

The plea contended the notification, allowing police to invoke to detain persons, as "unconstitutional" and violative of fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution, and sought its quashing. He has also made the Ministry of Home Affairs and Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Manipur parties to the plea.

The plea also sought a compensation of Rs 50,00,000 each to those who have been detained under the NSA.
The Election Commission has asked Twitter to remove a controversial tweet by BJP's Kapil Mishra, a candidate for the upcoming Delhi assembly polls, in which he likened the election in the city to India versus Pakistan contest.

The Election Commission's action came after the office of the Delhi Chief Electoral Officer wrote to the EC to remove the tweet posted by Mishra on Thursday, EC officials said.

The Delhi CEO Office has also issued a showcause notice to Mishra, who has been fielded by the BJP from the Model Town constituency, they said.

In the tweet, Mishra, a former minister in the Arvind Kejriwal cabinet, said the February 8 election will be a contest between India and Pakistan in Delhi.

In its criticism of opposition parties over their protest against the citizenship law, the BJP has been accusing them of speaking "Pakistan's language".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in China leading to the death of 26 people, two people who returned from China were kept under medical observation in Kasturba Hospital for possible exposure to the virus, a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) health officer said on Friday. The BMC has created a special isolation ward at the hospital in Chinchpokali south Mumbai.

"The isolation ward has been created for diagnosis and treatment of persons suspected to have the virus infection," Dr Padmaja Keskar, executive health officer of the BMC told news agency PTI. Keskar said the two persons under observation at the hospital have a mild cough and exhibited cold-related symptoms.

Live TV

At least 1,789 passengers underwent thermal screening at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai for the coronavirus since January 19. Till now, no cases of coronavirus infection have been detected during screening, a health department official told PTI. "No passenger with history of a visit to Wuhan city of China in the last 14 days was found positive (for the virus) during thermal scanning," he said.

China ramped up measures to contain a virus that has killed 26 people and infected more than 800, suspending public transport in 10 cities, shutting temples over the Lunar New Year and even closing the Forbidden City and part of the Great Wall.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the new coronavirus an emergency for China but stopped short of declaring the epidemic of international concern. While most of the cases and all of the deaths have been in China, the virus has been detected in Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the United States. It was highly likely Britain also had cases, a health official said.
Scotland Yard announced on Friday that it would be putting facial recognition technology into operational use on the streets of London as a tool to assist crime prevention and track down missing persons.

The UK's largest police force said that its use of Live Facial Recognition (LFR) technology will be intelligence-led and deployed to specific locations in London to help tackle serious crime, including serious violence, gun and knife crime, child sexual exploitation and help protect the vulnerable.

The Metropolitan Police Service said LFR would provide police officers with an additional tool to assist them in locating and arresting wanted people.

"This is an important development for the Met and one which is vital in assisting us in bearing down on violence," said Met Police Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave.

"As a modern police force, I believe that we have a duty to use new technologies to keep people safe in London. Independent research has shown that the public support us in this regard. Prior to deployment we will be engaging with our partners and communities at a local level," he said.

The force has stressed that the new tech would not be a case of technology taking over from traditional policing. It is aimed at giving police officers a "prompt" or suggestion of where a particular suspect may be, with the ultimate decision lying with an officer on whether or not to engage.

Ephgrave said: "We are using a tried-and-tested technology, and have taken a considered and transparent approach in order to arrive at this point. Similar technology is already widely used across the UK, in the private sector. Ours has been trialled by our technology teams for use in an operational policing environment.

"Every day, our police officers are briefed about suspects they should look out for; LFR improves the effectiveness of this tactic. Similarly, if it can help locate missing children or vulnerable adults swiftly, and keep them from harm and exploitation, then we have a duty to deploy the technology to do this."



The Met will begin operationally deploying LFR at locations where intelligence suggests the force is most likely to locate serious offenders. Each deployment will have a bespoke "watch list", made up of images of wanted individuals, predominantly those wanted for serious and violent offences.

At a deployment, cameras will be focused on a small, targeted area to scan passers-by. The cameras will be clearly sign-posted and officers deployed to the operation will hand out leaflets about the activity.

The technology, which is a standalone system, is not linked to any other imaging system, such as CCTV or body-worn video.

"We all want to live and work in a city which is safe: the public rightly expect us to use widely available technology to stop criminals. Equally I have to be sure that we have the right safeguards and transparency in place to ensure that we protect people's privacy and human rights. I believe our careful and considered deployment of live facial recognition strikes that balance," added Ephgrave.

Some human rights organisations have raised mass surveillance concerns around the deployment of the technology.

"We are sleepwalking into a surveillance state. If the Met thinks this will slip by on a quiet Friday afternoon they have another think coming," said Clare Collier, Advocacy Director of Liberty.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
House Democrats went to court seeking testimony from former White House counsel Donald McGahn and access to secret grand jury evidence from former special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs Russia investigation. Justice Department attorneys have urged the appeals court to stay out of what they say are political disputes between Congress and the White House.
Ontario doctors told to report coronavirus cases, Jan. 23

There is nothing in this report to instill confidence that the provincial health-care system is ready for the coronavirus threat.

Health Minister Christine Elliott talks about after-exposure testing and reporting. But are hospitals and health-care facilities following the most important advice from the SARS Commission? In his final report about what went wrong, Justice Archie Campbell warned that, in serious infectious disease outbreaks, the health-care system must follow the precautionary principle  to act first, take all precautions and err on the side of safety.

Voluminous evidence underscored that waiting for scientific confirmation to react failed to protect workers, patients and the public from the scourge of SARS. The report confirmed that if workers are not protected, they can become vectors and spread the disease to each other and patients.

Since SARS, our system has been tested twice  with H1N1 and the Ebola threats. Thousands of person hours and taxpayer dollars were spent analyzing each response, with debriefs demonstrating some progress, but not perfection.

It would be more assuring to hear the current minister of health tell us that she has directed all health-care facilities to follow the lessons of SARS, H1N1 and Ebola:

Initiate screening at hospitals and other health-care facilities, with workers properly protected.

Limit access and flow in hospitals.

Train and drill workers in protective equipment, measures and procedures.

Mobilize and mandate safety committees and health and safety experts to lead infection control in establishing and maintaining and monitoring authentic readiness.

These measures need to be in place yesterday.
: Amid heart-rending scenes, the mortal remains of eight tourists from Kerala, who died following possible asphyxiation in their room at a mountainous resort in Nepal, were laid to rest on Friday.

While the bodies of Praveen Nair and his wife Saranya were cremated, their three children--Sree Bhadra (9), Aarcha (7) and Abhinav (4)- were laid to rest in a single burial pit, flanked by the graves of their parents.

Hundreds of sobbing mourners--relatives, friends and neighbours- were among those who queued up with flowers and wreaths to pay their last respects to Praveen Nair, a Dubai- based IT professional, his wife Saranya, a second year M.Pharm student and their children-- students of Saraswathi Vidyaniketan, Kochi.

Three-year old Arav, nephew of Saranya, along with family members, performed the last rites after close relatives, including children, performed the rituals.

After the bodies of the children were buried, the remains of Praveen and Saranya were cremated.

The caskets carrying the five bodies, which reached here past midnight from New Delhi, were taken to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital mortuary and by dawn to Chengottukonam village, bordering Kollam district in five ambulances for the final journey.

The aged parents of Praveen-Krishnan Nair and Prasannakumari- were seen being comforted by family and friends.

By afternoon, the bodies of three others-Ranjit Kumar, his wife Indu and son Vaishnav, were broght to their unfinished home at Mookavoor near Kunnamangalam.

The couple were constructing a new house and were to shift there soon.

Seeing the remains of his parents and brother, Madhav, the only surviving member in the family, broke down.

The six-year-old performed the last rites.

The deceased were among a group of 15 tourists from Kerala who had checked into a resort in Daman, a popular tourist spot in Makawanpur district, some 70 km south of Kathmandu.

Praveen and Ranjit, both IT professionals, were engineering college classmates and the tour was arranged after a get-together with old friends in Delhi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Morocco, a member of the GFMD troika took part in the 12th Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) held in the Ecuadorian capital Quito Jan. 21 to 23, along 1,500 delegates from some 150 countries.

Head of the Moroccan delegation, Junior Minister of Moroccan Expatriates, Nezha El Ouafi, presented Moroccos new immigration and asylum policy, and highlighted the Kingdoms sustained interest in migration-related issues.

She explained that over the past two decades, Morocco had moved from being a transit country to a host country for migrants, a situation that prompted the authorities to adopt in 2013, at the initiative of King Mohammed VI, a new national immigration and asylum policy. This new policy sought to improve migrants living conditions, according to a humane and integrated approach that protects their rights and preserves their dignity.

Under this new migration policy, Morocco made a wide range of decisions, including the regularization of the situation of undocumented migrants, activating the process of their integration, and giving them access to all national mechanisms for education, health, legal protection, social and humanitarian assistance, vocational training and employment, explained the Moroccan official.

She recalled that King Mohammed VI was designated as the Leader in charge of the migration issue within the African Union. The Kingdom then took the lead on the African continent on the issue of migration, and the Monarch presented the African Agenda for Migration at the 30th Summit of the African Union in Addis Ababa, in 2018. The agenda is aimed at making migration a lever for co-development, a pillar of South-South cooperation and a vector of solidarity.

Morocco, which hosts about 10,000 Refugees and which is earnestly committed to migration issues, hosted in December 2018 the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration.

The kingdom is also host to the headquarters of the African Migration Observatory, set up at the proposal of the King, in his capacity as the AU leader on the issue of migration.

The African Migration Observatorys work is based on the triptych understanding, anticipating and acting. It is tasked with collecting information, promoting exchange of data and facilitating coordination between African countries on migration issues.

Several countries and pundits have lauded Moroccos migration policy, saying that there are plenty of lessons to be learnt from the way a country like Morocco handles this challenge.

The 12th Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) focused on the central theme of Sustainable approaches to human mobility: Upholding rights, strengthening state agency, and advancing development through partnerships and collective action.

It reviewed the implementation of migration-related commitments in the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda through the High-level Political Forum, and the enhancement of the GFMD process through the follow up of the recommendations of the GFMD Ten-Year Review Report.

Created in 2007, theGFMD is a state-led, informal and non-binding process, which helps shape the global debate on migration and development.

The GFMD process allows governments  in partnership with civil society, the private sector, the UN system, and other relevant stakeholders  to analyze and discuss sensitive issues, create consensus, pose innovative solutions, and share policy and practices.
Boeing is considering an additional production cut for its 787 Dreamliner wide-body jets, CNBC confirmed on Friday, possibly furthering its issues in its commercial airplanes division.

The company's juggling the potential output cut of its higher-priced long-range jets in addition to its troubled 737 Max program. Those larger planes like the 787 have grown in importance, with the Max grounded and deliveries of those jets to airlines halted.

Airlines and other customers pay the bulk of a plane's price when they take delivery, a factor that will further dent Boeing's free cash flow in the year ahead.

Boeing in October said it planned to reduce output of the 787 wide-body jets from 14 per month to 12 per month. The company's planned cut to 12 per month was scheduled to take place later this year. But Boeing sees the market for wide-body jets softening slightly, so it is considering cutting 787 production to 11 per month or 10 per month.
One-hundred-year old trees cant stand in the way of a water pipeline.

North Fort Bend Water Authority has obtained a judgment in its civil lawsuit filed in Fort Bend County Court of Law No. 3 against a south Katy-area landowner that gives it a 20-foot wide easement to install a pipeline  overriding an attempt to preserve 100-year-old Live oaks as well as some other older trees.

Attorney Mark Merrell, who represented the authority at an October hearing conducted by a court-appointed three-member commission, said the situation has been resolved.

I settled, said Robert Fontenot, co-defendant and property owner, in a Jan. 21 telephone interview. He explained that he couldnt spend money to take the issue to court, which he figured would be a long drawn-out proceeding. He said he understood it would cost well over $100,000 to pursue legal action.

Related: Water authority takes Katy man to court pitting historic oak trees vs. pipeline

In a Jan. 23 email, Peter Houghton, president of the water authority, said The North Fort Bend Water Authority (NFBWA) settled with Mr. Fontenot to obtain the necessary easement rights for the amount of $60,000. This compensation takes into consideration the value of the trees within the easement, as well as the valuation of the property located within the easement tract. Currently, the segment of water line to be located on Mr. Fontenots property is expected to begin construction in mid to late 2021, with an anticipated completion date of late 2022 to early 2023. In order to commence construction, the NFBWA has four remaining easement parcels to obtain.

Fontenot said the October decision to condemn his property for a perpetual easement and right of way through his .3150-acre property was very disappointing. The only thing that would have made me happy is if Id saved the trees.

I looked into having them declared historic, he continued. Thats quite a lengthy process. I didnt have time to pursue it.

Related: South Katy resident tries to protect old oak trees

A 2016 tree appraisal he had done calculated the depreciated replacement cost for the trees at more than $400,000. But Merrell and Jim Patterson, a licensed appraiser hired by the authority, argued at the October hearing that trees are not separately valued on a per-tree basis but are considered part of the value of the land.

The $60,000 settlement provides Robert and Beth Fontenot more than the $44,000 initially awarded by the special commission after its Oct. 21 special hearing in Sugar Land. Fontenot explained that he asked the authority if it would settle for $60,000 if he didnt take the issue to court. He had filed an objection to the commission award, according to the Dec. 11, 2019 agreed final judgment, which said the plaintiff has the power of eminent domain to condemn the property.

Plaintiffs rights shall include, without limitation, the right to clear and remove trees, brush, growth, shrubbery and other obstructions or improvements form the surface and subsurface of the easement tract . . .  reads the final judgment.

The Fontenots purchased the Roesner homestead, which was founded in 1908, in the fall of 2014. Approximately a year later, they received a letter from the water authority regarding the pipeline project. Fontenot had asked the authority to consider digging a trench on his property for the pipeline in an attempt to save the trees, which include large and old pecan and cedar trees as well as the Live oaks. An engineer for the authority said that option would have increased project costs by about $200,000.

The authority proposes to install a 60-inch diameter water pipeline across the front of his property at 24515 Roesner Road as part of a regional water supply network.

The water line is part of a larger project. The water authority, created in 2005 by the Texas Legislature, is building infrastructure as part of a multi-agency billion-dollar project to have people switch from using groundwater, which causes subsidence, to using surface water as required by the Fort Bend Subsidence District (FBSD.) The authority met the 2014 deadline of 30 percent conversion and now faces a 2025 FBSD deadline to have 60 percent conversion to surface water.

As part of that conversion, the authority is working with other entities to bring water from the Trinity River to Lake Houston where it will be treated at an expanded Houston northeast water purification plant. The treated water then will travel via an 8-foot diameter pipeline to west Harris County and North Fort Bend County. The West Harris County Regional Water Authority and NFBWA are sharing the costs for that 39-mile pipeline. The authorities also are building internal distribution lines like the one along Roesner to bring the water to municipal utility districts within their jurisdiction.

Fontenot said his property remains on the market for sale. If the right buyer comes along, well sell, he said. Id rather not be here when they take those trees down.

A general description of the property posted by the Houston Association of Realtors includes This 3,200-square-foot home has been totally remodeled and sits on 3 acres best described as a parklike setting. On the property are an abundance of pecan trees, crepe myrtles, pear trees, oak trees, and many others. Visit https://tinyurl.com/whtyz3a for details. The asking price is $1.6 million.

karen.zurawski@chron.com
System error

error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.

context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951

/var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149



Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f0482737cb8)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f048317dc00)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f0482737cb8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f048317dc00)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f04828248a0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f048317dc00)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f048317dc00)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f04826f24c8)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f048311f5e8)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f048311f5e8)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
Prior to joining Distinguished Programs, Merisko served as both business development regional territory manager and business development regional team leader at USLI. She has also served as manager of operations at New England Financial and operations manager at Equisure, as well as holding roles at Navigators Group and Safeco Insurance.

Susan Brings a strong history of results and success to her new position with Distinguished, said Kurt Meister, senior vice president of business development at Distinguished Programs. Her prior operational, sales and other hands-on roles inform her understanding of the clients shell be working with and add to the skill and insight that make her an ideal leader for our sales efforts in the region.

Zaino has more than 27 years of industry experience. Prior to joining Distinguished Programs, she spent more than 25 years at Travelers Insurance, where she served as a sales and business development executive.

Emily has dedicated her entire career to supporting the insurance industry, making her the perfect candidate to lead our sales efforts in Florida, Meister said. She brings a rare combination of skills and experience that will be valuable assets to add to our sales team. Emilys central understanding of insurance solutions and outstanding track record will provide clients with high-level knowledge and support.
This Nov. 14, 2019 file photo shows Grammys CEO Deborah Dugan at the 20th Latin Grammy Awards in Las Vegas. AP





This Nov. 30, 2012 file photo shows Deborah Dugan posing for a portrait in New York. AP-Yonhap
LAUGHLIN, Nev., Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Laughlin UFO Mega Conference, a leading organization for research and documentation of UFO and related information, is bringing investigators from nine countries to discuss new evidence of an extraterrestrial presence on Earth. This is the only eight day UFO Conference of its kind in the world.

The 2nd Annual Laughlin UFO Mega Conference will be held at the Aquarius Resort and Casino in Laughlin, Nevada from February 15th through February 22nd.

Laughlin UFO Mega Conference 2020

Highlights of scheduled presentations include:

Dr. Sam Osmanagich who is acknowledged to be the world expert on ancient pyramids. He is the discoverer of the Bosnian Pyramid, which is half again bigger than the Pyramid at Giza, and he will be presenting scientific evidence that, among other things, the Bosnian Pyramid is an actual energy machine!

Jordan Maxwell is a world famous researcher into the esoteric and hidden connections between our ancient and suppressed human history into today. He has also experienced intimate connection with off world intelligence that has both guided and influenced his famous career.

Mr. Harry Challenger will be revealing for the first time in North America a startling new case of ongoing face to face contact with off world intelligence. Complete with first person testimony and photo evidence, this case will all by itself help you understand that we are living in an infinite universe populated with infinite life.

Dr Tom Valone will for the first time publicly share his new university course curricula for the accredited study of ufology.

Danion Brinkley is world famous for being the man who has repeatedly died, yet continues to come back to us with amazing stories of surviving death. But what you don't know yet is that he also has a UFO connection that is deep.

Registration for the event includes admission to all presentations, Meet the Speaker Cocktail Party, Awards Banquet, Sunday Night Meet and Greet and Experiencer Sessions. Attendees can register for anything from a single day of the conference to the entire week. Individual passes and a la carte tickets are available for those seeking to attend specific events only.

For More Information, Contact:

Robert Brown

The Laughlin UFO Mega Conference

Phone: 303- 472-8642

[email protected]

www.LaughlinUFOMegaConference.com

SOURCE Laughlin UFO Mega Conference
If youve ever romanticised about a love so true like Romeo and Juliet, then this is perfect for you. Travel leader Airbnb.com gives you and your special someone the opportunity to live out your fantasy with a night in Juliets home. For the first time ever, Juliets House in Verona, Casa di Giulietta, will welcome a modern a couple to stay on Valentines Day.

The house fabled to belong to the Shakespearian heroine features the iconic balcony associated with Juliets wherefore art thou Romeo declaration of love. The winning couple will stay for one night, enjoy a feast cooked by a two Michelin Stars chef and read love letters written to Juliet.

The 13th century Italian building has inspired generations with its iconic balcony that reflects Shakespeares description in Romeo & Juliet. Airbnb has transformed the centuries-old building fit for a modern day romance. The couple will be waited on by a personal butler and treated to a romantic candlelit dinner prepared by two Michelin star chef Giancarlo Perbellini in a glittering dining room filled with crystals, candles and flowers.

And if thats not enough after a day of feasting, exploring and reading Juliets love letters, they will retire for the night to Juliets medieval-themed bedroom which features Letto di Giulietta, the original bed used in Zeffirellis classic 1960s movie Romeo and Juliet.

The 13th century townhouse is a celebrated landmark and museum in the center of Verona and will be turned into a home for the first time since the 1930s. Although the stay can only be given to one winner and their partner, four exclusive Valentines Experiences will be listed on Airbnb with bookable dates in February: Michelin Starred Special Dinner, Juliets Secretary for a Day, Romantic Photoshoot and Romantic Food & Wine Walk.

How to apply

To stay in Juliets house, eligible applicants must pen a letter to Juliet, sharing their own poignant love story and explaining why they and their partner would be perfect guests. Entries can be submitted at airbnb.com/juliet until 11:59 pm EST on 2nd February 2020. Rules apply.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.)

Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter
ALBANY  An embattled nonprofit with close ties to top state lawmakers, the NYS Association of Black & Puerto Rican Legislators, in 2017 hired a prominent Albany lobbyist to boost its fundraising capabilities, according to newly released tax records.

The hiring of Patrick B. Jenkins and Associates paid off, as the nonprofit, which is the focus of an investigation by the state attorney general's office, raised substantially more revenue and gave out almost as much scholarship money to needy youth as it had for the three previous years combined.

Even before Jenkins' hiring, questions had been raised about the lawmakers' charity receiving significant funding from interests with business before the state Legislature. Jenkins, meanwhile, in the past has raised significant campaign dollars for lawmakers by soliciting donations from its own roster of influential clients, then lobbying some of those same state lawmakers for the clients.

The filings also reveal several inconsistencies in the charitys previous filings submitted to Attorney General Letitia James' office, and raises more questions about the charitys spending for that year and those prior, including how much money it was giving to students in need.

The groups new filing, which covers the 2017-18 tax year, is a focus of the state attorney general's probe, according to a source with knowledge of the matter. The tax documents apparently were posted to the attorney generals website within the last two days.

A spokeswoman for the attorney general's office declined to comment, citing its ongoing investigation. Assemblywoman Latrice Walker and Assemblyman Gary Pretlow, the nonprofits chairwoman and treasurer, respectively, did not return calls for comment.

A spokesman for the association, Hank Sheinkopf, said Walker restructured the organization when she took over as chair in 2017.

A new accounting and auditing team has been hired and the attempt is to ensure that everything is being complied with and all filings are being brought up to date, he said.

Jenkins is a longtime close friend of Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie and has seen his lobbying business explode since Heastie became that chamber's majority leader.

Last year, the Times Union reported on Jenkins doing unpaid political campaign fundraising for several members of the state Senate and Assembly. The free campaign work could ingratiate Jenkins to lawmakers that he also lobbies.

That included unpaid campaign fundraising by Jenkins for Walker, the current chairwoman of the association. Jenkins said last May unpaid contracts would indeed be repaid, though several lawmakers including Walker still have not done so.

Jenkins work for the association could raise similar questions. According to the associations tax filing, between October 2017 and September 2018, Jenkins firm was to be paid $15,000 for a year's fundraising, or only a little more than $1,000 a month. According to the tax filing, Jenkins' responsibilities for the association included "identifying potential donors," meeting with them, and preparation and distribution of "sponsorship packages."

Like campaign clients, Jenkins firm also again went unpaid for fundraising for the association. According to their tax filing, the nonprofit still owes Jenkins firm $5,000 as of the end of 2019.

In 2018, a Jenkins lobbying client, charter school group Education Reform Now Advocacy, donated $7,500 to the association, according to tax records.

Jenkins didn't return a call for comment on Thursday, and it's not clear if he still works for the charity.

The association is the nonprofit arm of the state Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus. Each winter in Albany, it hosts a weekend-long gathering with various events, panels and parties funded by expensive sponsorships  which are regularly paid for by entities with business before the Legislature. The annual event draws dozens of lawmakers, including top state officials.

The stated goal of the nonprofits annual gala dinner, which caps off the weekend-long event, is to raise scholarship money for minority youth. But for several years, the group has not disclosed awarding any scholarships despite raising over $1 million in donations. It has also failed to file required tax paperwork on time with the state and the federal Internal Revenue Service in recent years.

The Times Union reported earlier this week that the groups 2017-18 paperwork was overdue. However, it was filed with the state on Dec. 31.

In it, the association says it approved $21,500 in scholarships to 12 students for the 2017-18 tax year, but says those scholarships werent given out until early 2019. The tax filing does not explain why the association didnt hand out the money sooner  but in late 2018 and early 2019 the Times Union and other media outlets were questioning the groups failure to provide scholarships to students.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Nowhere on the nonprofits paperwork or its website does it state who received the scholarship money, when it was awarded, who picks the scholarship recipients, or the criteria used to award the money.

The scholarship amount also falls well short of the 33 percent of revenue that charity experts recommend as a minimum for nonprofits to spend on their stated purpose.

The lack of scholarships wasnt for a lack of revenue. In 2017-18, the charity took in $751,448, a jump of nearly 50 percent over the previous years $502,820 in revenue. That would mean over $250,000 in scholarships for needy students, if the organization was following nonprofit industry standards.

But more money left the groups coffers than came in. The nonprofits expenses jumped from $509,030 to $750,187, totaling a loss of $5,339. The vast majority of that money appeared to go to the caucus weekend, which includes more than $200,000 spent on catering.

The new filing also contradicts the amount of scholarship money recorded in previous audits attached to its past tax filings. Those audits claimed scholarship amounts of $35,745 in 2015 and $17,078 in 2017. The new paperwork says the nonprofit awarded just $5,250 for the 2016-17 fiscal year and a combined $20,950 for the previous two years.

One other major change deals with the groups mission which qualifies it for nonprofit status. In previous years tax filings, the charity stated some variation of the idea that its mission was providing opportunity to higher education, as the leader for success for African-American, Puerto Rican and other minority New Yorkers."

The latest filing gives a much broader mission, with an emphasis on engaging New York state residents in dialogue about issues and policies that are having an impact  on their communities," rather than scholarships and education.

The state attorney generals probe is focused on the 2017-18 tax filing and the general governance of the charity, according to a source. James office issued subpoenas last week to one of the charities former executive directors and the accounting firm that handled the return, Mitchell & Titus LLP.

The firm did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

In 2019, the group filed two years of financial documents after receiving a letter from James' office noting it was delinquent in its filings.

A 2017 Times Union investigation questioned the groups spending and highlighted the nonprofit's ongoing failure to fund scholarships. When the groups leadership was asked last February about its lack of scholarships and repeated failure to file IRS paperwork, most either refused to comment or declined to return calls.
By Trend





Kazakhstan did not suspend transit of Russian crude oil to China notwithstanding the suspension of oil export to China, Trend reports with reference to KazTransOil.

On Jan. 16, 2020, KazTransOil detected an excess of organochlorine compounds in the fractions during crude oil receiving into the trunk pipeline system from CNPC-Aktobemunauygas.

KazTransOil suspended crude oil receiving from CNPC-Aktobemunaygas on the same day until the oil quality issue is resolved. As of Jan. 22, 2020, the acceptance of crude oil from CNPC-Aktobemunaygas was not restarted.

Kazakhstans Ministry of Energy, given the decline in volume of oil delivery for transportation through trunk oil pipelines system, adjusted the schedule for oil transportation to the refineries of Kazakhstan and for export for Jan. 2020. In particular, the scheduled volume of export to China was reduced.

The transit of Russian crude oil to China through the system of trunk oil pipelines of KazTransOil JSC is not suspended and is carried out in full compliance with contractual obligations and quality in accordance with GOST (quality standard), the report said.

Currently, the transportation of crude oil by trunk oil pipelines' system is carried out in accordance with the adjusted schedule.

KazTransOil is Kazakhstan's National Main Oil Pipeline Operator.
When the girls get snubbed, they stay home! Last year, Ariana Grande wore her Grammys gown to her bathroom to take mirror selfies, pulling out from the show after, on top of her masterpiece Sweetener being overlooked for Best Album, organizers wouldn't accommodate her performance idea.

Now Taylor Swift is following Ari's lead. Although she's up for three awards, according to Us Weekly the ex-Grammy darling will spend Sunday night with her cats. This decision is unsurprising, in a few ways.

Swift's highly-anticipated and rather good new album Lover was mainly relegated to the Pop awards (Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Pop Solo Performance), scoring only one major nomination: "You Need To Calm Down" for Song of the Year.

Sunday night would've been Taylor's first Grammys since 2016, when she won Album of the Year for 1989, controversially over Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly. Taylor attended her first Grammys in 2008, where she lost Best New Artist to Amy Winehouse (fair) and didn't miss a year until 2017, the first that she wasn't nominated. She stayed home in 2018, when she was only up for Best Country Song for one-off single "Better Man."

A fly-on-the-wall scene from Swift documentary Miss Americana, which premiered last night at Sundance, depicts the musician learning over the phone that she has received no major Grammy nominations for Reputation, her sometimes-maligned 1989 follow up. She's clearly shaken, but vows to simply "make a better album." Swift pointedly attended her boyfriend Joe Alwyn's premiere for The Favorite instead of the 2019 Grammys.

The choice to stay home likely also follows from Swift's prickly new stance towards her former industry keepers. She's been waging war against her ex-label Big Machine Records' Scott Borchetta and his business partner, Scooter Braun  as well as, generally, the trend of private equity infiltrating business practices.

Speaking of evil men, the Grammys are currently in a shambles, after ex-CEO (the organization's first female leader) Deborah Dugan filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint accusing the Academy of pay discrimination, sexual harassment, and a crooked voting process influenced by boardmembers' ties to artists.

Oh also fewer of the most famous and culturally relevant people bother to turn up every year, particularly those in the hip-hop world, which the Grammys continue to tokenize and ignore. Although we'll miss out on whichever floral Stella McCartney frock Swift had on call, you gotta respect her big ideas and power moves.
A midcentury modern boutique hotel is not quite what you would expect to find off the beaten path in Nacogdoches, the oldest town in Texas.

The beauty of the Fredonia Hotel is rooted in its rich historic origins. The hotel opened in 1955 as the crowning jewel of the town. Peer back into the hotels storied past and youll find it was one of the most unique "community-owned hotels" in America, financed completely by the citizens of Nacogdoches. From the color of the brick to the hotels name, Nacogdoches residents had a hand in selecting all the finer details of this Texas inn.
The International Court of Justice has ordered the implementation of emergency measures to protect Myanmars minority Muslim Rohingya population from genocide, ruling on a request by The Gambia on Thursday.

The Muslim-majority African country has accused Myanmar of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention using so-called clearance operations that began in earnest in 2017, resulting in the deaths and rapes of thousands of Rohingya living in western Rakhine State. As many as 740,000 Rohingya were forced to flee for their lives across the border to Bangladesh.

The president of the United Nations highest tribunal, Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf, ordered Myanmar to take all measures within its powers to prevent the killings and attacks on its Rohingya minority, adding the group remains extremely vulnerable. He instructed the government to ensure the preservation of evidence and that its military, other armed units or government officials do not commit acts of violence against the ethnic group.

Myanmar is legally bound to report to the court in four months on what measures it had taken to comply with the order and later send reports every six months until a final verdict in the case is reached.

The rulings of the International Court of Justice are final and cannot be appealed but it has no powers of enforcement. However a UN member nation can seek action from the Security Council based on the courts rulings.

International Pressure

Failure to comply may affect Myanmars international standing or prompt reactions in bilateral or multilateral forums, Grant Shubin, deputy legal director of the New York-based Global Justice Center said in an email. While there are still several stages of the case that must happen before the court finally decides if Myanmar violated the Genocide Convention, the broader international community should do everything in their power to ensure Myanmar complies with an order, Shubin added.

Hours before the court released its ruling Myanmars de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi acknowledged war crimes may have been committed -- including by members of the countrys military -- during the crackdown.

It is never easy for armed forces to recognize self-interest in accountability for their members, and then follow through with actual investigations and prosecutions, she wrote in the Financial Times Thursday in a break from her governments consistent denial of the testimony of Rohingya victims. She also said Myanmar had been subjected to unsubstantiated narratives from the UN and human rights groups.

Last month, Suu Kyi led a delegation to the Hague in which she requested the court reject The Gambias request for provisional measures to protect the Rohingya community. While Suu Kyi said there may have been some human rights violations and deviations from the international norms of justice and the rule of law, such kinds of violations cannot be considered as genocide. She said The Gambia had presented an incomplete and misleading case.

On Monday, a government-appointed Independent Commission of Enquiry announced it had found war crimes, serious violations of human rights and domestic law had taken place during security operations between Aug. 25 and Sept. 5, 2017. However it said there was no indication of a pattern of conduct from which one could reasonably conclude that the acts were committed with genocidal intent.

Myanmars Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday repeated its position that no genocide had taken place in the Rakhine state.

The unsubstantiated condemnation of Myanmar by some human rights actors has presented a distorted picture of the situation in Rakhine and affected Myanmars bilateral relations with several countries, the ministry said in a statement and added that this has hampered Myanmars ability to lay the foundation for sustainable development in Rakhine.

The UN special rapporteur to Myanmar in a statement on Thursday following a visit to Bangladesh said that she found it hard to be optimistic about the situation of the Rohingya. But I still hold out hope that the promised democratic transition will proceed, as it is not too late for the government to change the course it is currently set to, Yanghee Lee, said. The Myanmar government must face up to its responsibilities, obligations and duties.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-23 23:36:29|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

The Vessel on Hudson Yards is illuminated with red lights to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year in New York, the United States, Jan. 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

Vessel is a 150-foot (46 meters) tall towering sculpture with 2,500 twisting steps. It is widely recognized as a new landmark in the big apple.



NEW YORK, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The lights inside the Vessel, a new landmark in New York City, changed color to red on Wednesday evening, in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year that falls on Jan. 25.

The change marks the kick-off of the first Lunar New Year celebration at Hudson Yards, Manhattan, New York's newest neighborhood and the largest private real estate development in the United States.

"Visitors and residents at Hudson Yards will have an opportunity to share the Lunar New Year festivities and enjoy special performances highlighting the beauty and tradition of this holiday. We are proud to honor these special moments here," Jeff Blau, CEO of the Related Companies, developer of Hudson Yards, said at a launching ceremony on Wednesday.

The Vessel on Hudson Yards is illuminated with red lights to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year in New York, the United States, Jan. 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

Wednesday's event also featured a lion dance performance. Various Spring Festival customs such as pasting couplets and handing out red packets will be included, according to the organizer. With huge red lanterns decoration in a mega-mall, the area is already full of cheerful New Year atmosphere.

The Lunar New Year festivity at Hudson Yards demonstrated the beauty of blending Chinese and Western cultures, Chinese Consul General in New York Huang Ping said at the ceremony.

The Vessel on Hudson Yards is illuminated with red lights to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year in New York, the United States, Jan. 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

Huang said he hopes the Lunar New Year celebration could help promote people-to-people connections between China and the United States, which is conducive to the overall bilateral ties.

Located at Hudson Yards, Vessel is a 150-foot (46 meters) tall towering sculpture with 2,500 twisting steps. It is widely recognized as a new landmark in the big apple.

The celebration of Lunar New Year is considered one of New York City's most festive events of the year. To welcome the Year of the Rat, the first zodiac animal, parades, performances and firework displays will occur in several Chinatowns and many Asian communities. 
The International Court of Justice on Thursday ordered Myanmar to take urgent measures to protect its Rohingya population from genocide.

Rohingya refugees celebrated the ruling as their first major legal victory since being forced from their homes.

The African nation of The Gambia launched legal action against Myanmar in November. Its lawsuit accuses Myanmar of genocide against Rohingya in violation of a 1948 convention.

The courts final decision could take years. Thursdays ruling dealt only with The Gambias request for early measures. But in a ruling agreed to by all of the judges involved, the court said the Rohingya face a continued threat and Myanmar must act to protect them.

The lead judge on the case said Myanmar must take all measures within its power to prevent all acts barred under the 1948 Genocide Convention. The country also must report back on its efforts within four months, he said.

Myanmar must use its influence over its military and other armed groups to prevent violence against the Rohingya meant to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.

Rohingya activists had come from all over the world to The Hague. They reacted happily to the ruling, which also fully recognized their ethnic minority as a protected group under the Genocide Convention.

Yasmin Ullah is a Canada-based Rohingya activist. She said of the ruling, That is something we have been fighting for a long time: to be recognized as humans the same as everyone else.

Myanmar, which has a large Buddhist population, generally refuses to recognize the Muslim Rohingya as an ethnic group. Instead, it describes them as Bangladeshi migrants.

More than 730,000 Rohingya left Myanmar after a military-led campaign against them in 2017. They were forced into crowded, dirty camps across the border in Bangladesh.

U.N. investigators found that the military campaign had been carried out for genocidal reasons.

From the camps in Bangladesh where they have fled, Rohingya refugees watched the judgment on their mobile phones.

For the first time, we have got some justice, said Mohammed Nur, a 34-year-old refugee. This is a big achievement for the entire Rohingya community.

Rohingya still living inside Myanmar and reached by phone said they hoped the ruling would force the country to improve their situation. We need protection, said Tin Aung, a Rohingya leader living in Myanmars Rakhine state.

A Myanmar government spokesman and two military spokesmen did not answer calls from Reuters reporters seeking comment.

Triumph

The Gambias justice minister, Abubacarr Tambadou, called the ruling a triumph for international justice.

The Gambia has a mainly Muslim population. It brought the case on the argument that all nations have a universal legal responsibility to prevent genocide.

The case was argued last month by some of the worlds top human rights lawyers. Myanmars civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi attended hearings at The Hague to ask judges to dismiss the case.

Shortly before the court began reading its ruling, the Financial Times published an article by Suu Kyi. She wrote that some war crimes may have been carried out against Rohingya Muslims but that refugees had exaggerated abuses.

Myanmar will now have to report on its efforts to protect the Rohingya from genocide every six months until a final ruling in the case.

Although ICJ rulings are final and binding, countries have sometimes ignore them. The court has no official way to enforce its rulings.

Im Caty Weaver.

The Reuters news agency reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

convention - n. a formal agreement between two groups (such as countries or political organizations)

achievement - n. something that has been done or achieved through effort : a result of hard work

triumph - n. a great or important victory

exaggerate - v. to think of or describe something as larger or greater than it really is

binding - adj. forcing or requiring someone to do something because of a promise, agreement, etc.
Mumbai, Jan 24 : Actress Shilpa Shetty says her husband Raj Kundra calls her "BBC which means Born Before Computers".

While shooting for "The Kapil Sharma Show", the host Kapil Sharma asked Shilpa if Raj addresses her as BBC. Shilpa responded by saying: "Yes, this is true. Raj calls me BBC which means Born Before Computers. This is because I am extremely bad at doing things that have anything to do with technology." Actress Archana Puran Singh also asked her about being regularly active in Instagram and TikTok. Shilpa said: "Social media is very basic which doesn't require a lot of effort. However, it is a tedious task when I have to check my kid's homework over mails and give him printouts. I don't know what is wrong with notebooks and pens! These days everything works over mails and those complicated PDF files." On the work front, Shilpa will be seen in the upcoming movie "Hungama 2" that also stars Paresh Rawal, Pranitha Subhash and Meezaan.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
ALBANY  A Schodack man pleaded guilty Thursday to criminal sale of a controlled substance in a case involving fentanyl disguised as oxycodone pills.

Jeffrey Letzelter, 38, entered the plea before Judge Roger McDonough in Albany County Court Thursday morning.

The District Attorney's office said that on May 22 Letzelter sold fentanyl to another person while in Watervliet. The fentanyl was disguised as oxycodone, they said. While both are opioids, fentanyl is much more powerful and can be deadly in even small doses.

Letzelter was under the supervision of parole at the time following a prison sentence for a similar crime.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

In 2015, he was sentenced to six years in state prison for selling heroin to an undercover police officer in Albany. Officers found 40 bags of heroin in his car and another 1,550 bags and $7,000 cash in his home. He was released early from Lakeview Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility in late 2018, according to state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision records.

The latest charge could net him six years in state prison when sentenced on March 6.
One of the four will replace Chancellor William Lowe, who has led the Gary campus for 10 years. He retires July 31.
Chief Justice of India S A Bobde on January 24 made a case for speedy resolution of tax disputes saying it will act as an incentive for tax payers and free the funds locked in litigation. The Chief Justice said tax judiciary plays a very important role in resource mobilisation of the country and expressed concern over pendency of cases.

"A just and speedy dispute resolution is perceived as a tax incentive by the taxpayer. To the tax collector, an efficient tax judiciary assures that demands arising out of legitimate assessment are not strangled in delayed litigation," Bobde said at the 79th foundation day celebrations of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal.

The pendency of appeal cases related to indirect taxes in the Supreme Court, High Court and CESTAT has reduced 61 per cent to 1.05 lakh in almost two years.

According to official data, total pendency of appeals at the Supreme Court, High Court and CESTAT (Customs Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal) as on June 30, 2017, was 2,73,591, whereas the same significantly came down to 1,05,756 as on March 31, 2019, a reduction of 61 per cent.

With regard to direct taxes, as many as 3.41 lakh cases were pending before commissioner (appeals), while 92,205 cases were pending before the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) as on March 31, 2019.

Ask about setting up more tribunals for reducing pendency in High Court and lower judiciary, the Chief Justice said "You have to be careful that we don't only transfer pendency."

He further said that people should know what is due from them and government should know what is due to them that can be achieved through early disposal of cases.

The Chief Justice said that while tax evasion is a social injustice to the fellow citizens, arbitrary or excessive tax also results in social injustice by a government.

Referring to ancient laws in India around taxation, the Chief Justice said that tax should be collected from people like honey bee draws nectar from flowers without harming it.

Bobde emphasised on the use of next generation technology artificial intelligence to expedite the process with caution that it should not replace the human discretion required for delivering justice.

"I am firmly of the view based on experience of systems that have used artificial intelligence that it is only the repetitive area or decision making that is rates of taxation etc or something which is invariably the same which is in a sense mechanical that must be covered by artificial intelligence. I do not believe that artificial intelligence should ever be allowed to substitute the human discretion which is necessary for a just decision making," he said.
Virgin Australia has banned flat-faced pets such as bulldogs and Persian cats from flying over health concerns after two dogs died in Qantas transit last month.

Dogs bred to have snub noses, such as French bulldogs, boxers and pugs, often suffer from blocked noses and obstructed airways making flight dangerous.

Flat-faced cats such as Himalayans and some types of rabbits have also been grounded as their distorted faces can give them fatal breathing problems.

Flat-faced pets such as the pug (left) or Persian Extreme Punch cat (right) are grounded because their extreme faces cause them breathing difficulties

Virgin Australia has a list of the snub-nosed pets that it will no longer fly for welfare reasons

Their distorted features also make it hard for them to tolerate extreme heat.

Virgin Australia stopped taking new bookings for their transport as of today until further notice.

The airline said it would honour bookings made before today, and would provide full refunds for any travelers who cancel existing bookings for flights with their snub-nosed pets.

A Virgin Australia spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia said the company had seen a 'tragic spike' in issues across the industry when transporting snub-nosed breeds, prompting a review.

'While we understand that snub-nosed breeds are a popular choice of pet, they are a high-risk animal to transport due to their known respiratory issues and other health problems that may be compounded inflight,' the spokesperson said.

'Virgin Australia has made the difficult decision to no longer accept bookings for snub-nosed breeds until further notice.'

The spokesperson said Virgin works on its procedures with animal welfare bodies such as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) to ensure the welfare of animals travelling across its networks.

The RSPCA welcomed the decision from both Qantas and Virgin saying the extreme features of flat-faced dog and cat breeds make it too dangerous for them to fly.

Kay Newman took her beloved boxer Duke on a Qantas flight from Sydney to Brisbane on December 19 and was beside herself with grief when he died in transit

'These flat-faced or brachycephalic breeds are at particularly high risk as their extreme features mean they often struggle to breathe and regulate their body temperature effectively  even in mild conditions, let alone at the hottest times of the year, or on a plane,' said RSPCA scientific officer Sarah Zito.

'The inherent risks to these flat-faced breeds are unfortunately so great, that even with the best care, we believe transporting them by air is simply too dangerous.'

The RSPCA urged breeders to stop exaggerating flat-faced characteristics in dogs and cats because of the health problems it causes.

Two dogs died on Qantas flights within days of each other during December, prompting Australia's flagship carrier to suspend vulnerable breeds from travel.

Devastated pet owner Kay Newman lost her beloved boxer Duke after he died in transit from Sydney to Brisbane on December 19.

'I was beside myself, all I could do was scream 'no, no, no'. I demanded to see Duke because I didn't want to believe what was happening,' she said on Facebook.

Days later, Anthony Balletta, 42, lost his bulldog Frank who died travelling from Sydney to Melbourne.

Devastated pet owner Anthony Balletta who lost his bulldog Frank in transit said he wasn't warned of the dangers

'I asked flight staff if they'd had any dog deaths in transit and they said none in the last five years,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

Qantas has stopped short of banning the flight of flat-faced pets instead introducing a temporary suspension only.

The nation's flagship carrier has also introduced restrictions including requiring all snub-nosed pets to be cleared by a vet before flight and a review of tarmac equipment to protect vulnerable breeds in extreme weather.

While the ban will apply to flat-faced cats, these cases are rare, the carrier said.

More than 40,000 pets are flown across Qantas domestic network every year, including some 2,000 snub nosed dogs, Qantas said in a press release.
Social Media platforms are now heavily used to assess people across the country for so many reasons, such as a job offer, visa, matrimonial and more. Because of this, social media is now infested with rogues, which can use the personal details for a number of crimes. Millions of people logging in to their accounts every day, hence social media platforms have become the breeding ground for cyber criminals. Stealing key information from the people and using them for both online and offline crimes are on the rise now.

Offline crimes include, for instance, stalking the social media and other platforms and getting to know the whereabouts of the people and robbing the house, building a story to abduct the kids from schools are some of them. Cybercriminals will have a clear picture of what is happening in their day to day life after observing the social media life.

When it comes to online crimes, social media is overloaded with fake advertisements and videos to entice people to buy expensive goods at really cheap prices. After clicking on the ad, people will be directed to the payment page which will not be having an option to pay on delivery. There are chances, that the page which requested the details must be phishing out the personal details.

Cyber criminals also use the method to take control of the account remotely. After this, with an aim to blot victims image, cybercriminals send spam and malicious content to others. They can also use this for doing other criminal activities such as drug trade, honey trap and more. Such activities can be led to a huge issue in future as attempt to illegal activity, and it takes years to prove the innocence if moved legally.

However, the government is seeking the help of Artificial Intelligence to fight against these cyber crimes happening across social media, by removing such contents automatically from social media platforms. In order to remove a single content from social media platform, it takes a lot of time and thus using AI is the ideal process government is keen on. However, it was proposed after the government witnessed widespread public disorder because of the repeated rumours in the mob lynching cases.
East Carolina Universitys Aleshia Hunt, left, talks with Loretta Lynch, former U.S. attorney general, after receiving the Larkins Award, which goes to the state employee who best displays commitment to justice and equality in the workplace and in the community. Hunt works as a financial advisor for the Student Government Association as part of ECUs student activities and organizations. | Photos: N.C. Department of Administration

Hunt, center, poses with Gov. Roy Cooper and Kristin Cooper, First Lady of North Carolina.

Hunt, center, holds the Larkins Award as she stands with Loretta Lynch, former U.S. attorney general.

Aleshia Hunt, a financial advisor in East Carolina University's Division of Student Affairs, learned the value of service from watching her grandmothers cook for the hungry and contribute to their communities through their churches.Hunt said.Hunt received the 2020 John R. Larkins Award for commitment to justice and equality in the workplace and in the community Friday during the annual N.C. State Employees' Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Observance Day Program at First Baptist Church in Raleigh.Hunt said of the statewide honor.Hunt said she attended the ceremony as one of the award's nominees, not realizing she was the winner.Hunt said.In presenting the award, Susi Hamilton, secretary of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, called Hunt theA member of the Lumbee Indian tribe, Hunt helped start ECU's chapter of Sigma Omicron Epsilon, a national Native American sorority. She serves as co-advisor of the ECU Native American Organization, the student club primarily responsible for organizing and hosting the university's annual powwow on campus.Hunt graduated from ECU and has been employed at the university for 14 years, working as the financial advisor for the Student Government Association. Currently a graduate student, she volunteers as a student mentor. She is a member of ECU's American Indian Employee Resource Group and the University Network of Native Student Leaders. She has served on numerous committees and groups that highlight women of distinction as well as Native American art and history. She participated on the ECU Chancellor's Committee on the Status of Women and has spoken at events for the ECU Women and Gender Office.Hunt received a 2019 Horizon Award, which honors ECU employees for their commitment to service, and was a 2019 Creed Award winner for citizenship. She was also a recipient of an ECU Forty Under 40 Leadership Award in 2017.Outside of the university, Hunt has volunteered at the American Indian Heritage Festival at the North Carolina Museum of History where she not only helped vendors and performers, but also shared information about collegiate scholarship opportunities. On a national scale, she has made presentations on creating culturally engaging institutions for Native American student success at NASPA Student Affairs Professionals in Higher Education and at the American College Personnel Association.She said the award won't slow her down. She plans to continue her service, especially in the Native American community where she promotes educational opportunities.Hunt said.Hunt said Loretta Lynch, former U.S. attorney general from Greensboro and the event's featured speaker, had poignant words about service for those attending. Lynch also had some words for Hunt.Lynch told Hunt during her speech.Dr. John R. Larkins, born in Wilmington in 1913, devoted his life to improving race relations and social equity. He served state government in a number of capacities, including in the departments of public welfare and corrections, with the state probation commission and as a special assistant to the governor on minority affairs until his death in 1980.
 This is the script of CNBC's news report for China's CCTV on January 14, 2020, Tuesday.

The family meeting at the Sandringham estate on Monday has been described by the media as the Sandringham summit, Meghan, who is in Canada, reportedly participated in the discussion via teleconference.

In a statement released after the meeting at 5 p.m. London time, the queen said she and members of the royal family would support the couple in resigning as senior members of the royal family and dividing their time between the UK and Canada, but she also said a transition is necessary, adding that it was a complex issue for my family to solve, the final decision is expected to come out in the next few days, Britain was shocked by the couple's surprise announcement last week, the British press has used headlines such as "don't be so quick, harry," arguing that severing ties with the royal family has left Harry in disarray.

However, the couple's decision seems to have been a long time in the planning for themselves, this process has been accompanied by the separation of prince Harry and prince William in particular, this couple, especially, Meghan has been under media attention and cyberbullying.

Shortly after their marriage, the couple split up with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, then, in the middle of last year, they decided to leave the royal foundation, which he shares with the duke and duchess, to set up another fund and trademark it with the royal title. In recent months, both prince Harry and his wife have expressed discomfort and concern about royal life and the media spotlight, especially as the death of his mother, princess Diana, in a car crash followed by paparazzi has made them want to stay out of the media spotlight.

For their independence issue, their grandmother, the queen might be the one with the most difficult situation, she may be willing to give unconditional support as a grandmother, but as queen, she needs to weigh the advantages and disadvantages. Some of the income and spending of the royal family comes from British taxes. In modern times, the voices in Britain about the abolition of the royal family have never completely disappeared. The queen has made a number of compromises over the past few decades, including cutting costs and downsizing the royal family, to ensure that the monarchy thrives in the interests of taxpayers.

Her two younger sons, prince Andrew and prince Edward, for example, have not received an annual taxpayer subsidy since the early 1990s. As world celebrities, prince harry and his wife, prince harry, want to achieve financial independence is not difficult to operate. But given the tax, security concerns, royal protocol and the political sensitivities of royal finances, it is unclear whether this is possible.

In the past, there have been some non-core members of the royal family in the UK who have used this status to cash in, but it has been difficult not to cause problems for the royal family or reduce the royal brand's value. The queen's youngest son, prince Edward, also ran a television production company that eventually closed. The royal family rarely exposes its internal conflicts to the media and the British people. The couple's brief statement last week raised questions about how the royal family would resolve the family rift. Regardless of the end result, there are comments believe that the Sandringham Summit will be included in the history of the British royal family. We will keep an eye on its follow-up.
For a word that suggests as little as possible, so many different things fall under the label of minimalism at the moment. A home interior might be described as minimalist if theres nothing hung on its white walls. A dress is minimalist if its simple and functional, or monochrome and expensive. Cleaning out your closet and choosing to consume less is minimalist, but there are also plenty of products you can buy that are minimalist: hundreds of lamps, wallets and posters available on Amazon. Avoiding using your phone, checking your email or updating social media is digital minimalism. Everything on Instagram seems to be minimalist.

I wrote my book, The Longing for Less, to solve the mystery of why minimalism was applied to all these various objects, styles and ideas. I wanted to understand where the word came from as well as what it means to us now and why its so popular. Through my research and travel, from rural Texas to Kyoto, Japan, I found that the current mania for minimalism is actually a distortion of the movements origins. All the cleaning and careful arrangement, the prepackaged solutions of minimalist furniture and storage boxes, are actually a misunderstanding of its intentions. Minimalism has become another form of consumerism.

In the obsession with objects (owning either less or more) weve lost the basic ideas of minimalism. It might appear simple but its also a philosophical challenge, not to find exactly the right stuff to buy but to rethink our relationship to the world around us, from the ground up. Rather than the single generically blank style thats now noticeable everywhere, minimalism is fundamentally about a diversity of visions.

It starts with the word itself. Minimalism was kicked off by the British art theorist Richard Wollheim in a 1965 essay called Minimal Art. Wollheim was trying to understand a group of artists who made work that wasnt readily identifiable as art. It looked more like industrial manufacturing. At the time, the artist Donald Judd was building plain wooden boxes that he installed on gallery floors, Dan Flavin affixed colored fluorescent light fixtures to walls and Yayoi Kusama (now better known for her Infinity Rooms) covered everyday furniture like a couch and armchair with phallic fabric protrusions, which made them unrecognizable and unusable.
A blueish glow spreads across the snow as far as the eye can see, a few bare trees dotting the windy plateau. In this remote corner of Norway's far north, two French adventurers are training for their next big exploit. Next month, Matthieu Bellanger and Loury Lag, both in their 30s, will leave eastern Canada for Alaska in a 130-day expedition passing through the famed Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. They also plan to climb Denali, the highest peak in North America known formerly as Mount McKinley. They have come to Alta, located at a latitude of 69.5 North, to seek out conditions similar to the extreme latitudes where they're headed, where temperatures easily plummet to minus 25 or minus 30 Celsius (minus 13 to minus 22 Fahrenheit). Unfortunately, the Norwegian winter is a little mild this year, with the mercury dropping to just minus 5C (23F) during the day and minus 10C (14F) at night. But at least a snowstorm has brought a good dumping of the white stuff. There are only four hours of daylight at this time of year, in the morning. The sky is whitish-blue, the sun barely managing to creep above the horizon. The tattooed adventurers practise their routines over and over again, so they can do them quickly in case of extreme cold and strong winds. They set up and take down their tent in a few minutes, and pack their sleds meticulously, the same way every time. The sleds, which they will pull with a harness around their waists, will each weigh around 60 kilos (132 pounds) at the start of their journey, carrying everything they need to survive. Their sleeping bags are designed to withstand temperatures as low as minus 60C (minus 76F), and they will mostly eat freeze-dried food during the expedition. A friend, top chef Armand Arnal, has also prepared a few sous vide (vacuum sealed) dishes for when they need a special pick-me-up. And to drink, they have as much snow to melt as they could ever need. French explorers Matthieu Bellanger and Loury Lag pull 60kg sleds as they train for their next adventure in northern Norway The pair will eat mainly free-dried food during the expedition The well-practiced adventurers can set up and take their tent down in minutes, a necessary skill in the event of extreme weather Reindeers pad through snow in Alta, located at a latitude of 69.5 North There are only four hours of blue day light at this time of the year, in the morning
The Nazi death camp where more than one million people perished was liberated on January 27, 1945 and the day is commemorated as International Holocaust Remembrance Day worldwide.

KL Auschwitz-Birkenau was a complex of over 40 concentration and extermination camps operated by the Third Reich near Oswiecim in occupied Poland during World War II.

Auschwitz is in fact not one camp, but two: Auschwitz I, built in an abandoned Polish military base, and Auschwitz II, or Birkenau, a much bigger complex that went up later about two miles away to expedite the Nazis' 'Final Solution'.

Prisoners who were not gassed in chambers died of starvation, exhaustion, disease, individual executions, beatings or were killed during medical experiments.

The buildings of former Nazi German Auschwitz concentration camp complex are seen in Oswiecim, Poland. Photograph: Axel Schmidt/Reuters

An aerial picture showes barracks and buildings of former Nazi German Auschwitz I concentration camp complex in Oswiecim, Poland. Photograph: Axel Schmidt/Reuters

The watchtowers of former Nazi German Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp complex. An estimated 1.3 million people were sent to Auschwitz, and 1.1 million died there including 960,000 Jews. Photograph: Axel Schmidt/Reuters

A sign warns of high voltage near the infamous 'Death Gate' at the Auschwitz II Birkenau extermination camp. Auschwitz was a network of concentration camps built and operated in occupied Poland by Nazi Germany during the Second World War. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Night falls behind a watch tower at Auschwitz II-Birkenau extermination camp in Oswiecim, Poland. Most people were killed in gas chambers or died from systematic starvation, forced labour, disease and medical experiments. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Shoes of prisoners are seen in the former Nazi German Auschwitz concentration camp complex. Photograph: Axel Schmidt/Reuters

A crematorium furnace is seen at former Nazi German Auschwitz concentration camp complex. Photograph: Axel Schmidt/Reuters

Suitcases of prisoners are seen in the former Nazi German Auschwitz concentration camp. Photograph: Axel Schmidt/Reuters

Gallows seen at the Nazi German Auschwitz concentration camp complex in Oswiecim, Poland. Photograph: Axel Schmidt/Reuters

Inmates are seen lying on bunks in a barrack at Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. Photograph: Yad Vashem Archives/Reuters

Holocaust survivors stand behind a barbed wire fence after the liberation of Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1945 in Nazi-occupied Poland. Photograph: Yad Vashem Archives/Reuters

Children are seen leaving a barrack after the liberation of Nazi German death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1945 in Nazi-occupied Poland. Photograph: Yad Vashem Archives/Reuters
By PTI

NEW DELHI: The abrogation of the provisions of Article 370, which granted special status to erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir, has now become a "fait accompli" leaving the sole option to accept the change, the Centre told the Supreme Court on Thursday.

Vehemently opposing the contention that Jammu and Kashmir was not integrated with India, the Centre told the top court if that was the case, then there would not have been a need for Article 370.

It opposed reference of a batch of pleas, challenging the constitutional validity of the Centre's decision of August 5 last year to abrogate provisions of Article 370, to a larger seven-judge bench.

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice N V Ramana reserved its verdict on the question of referring the issue to a larger bench and said it would pass a detailed order in this regard.

NGO People's Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL), Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association and an intervenor had sought referring the matter to a larger bench of seven judges.

They have sought reference on the ground that two judgements of apex court -- Prem Nath Kaul versus Jammu and Kashmir in 1959 and Sampat Prakash versus Jammu and Kashmir in 1970 -- which dealt with the issue of Article 370 are in direct conflict each other and therefore the current bench of five judges could not hear the issue.

Attorney General KK Venugopal, appearing for the Centre told the bench -- also comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, R Subhash Reddy, B R Gavai and Surya Kant -- that "the abrogation of provisions of Article 370, has now become a "fait accompli" leaving sole option to accept the change".

He said the events which transpired prior to the notification of August 5 and August 6, 2019 are of no significance.

"The arguments of other side that no integration of Jammu and Kashmir had taken place, no standstill agreement or merger documents between Jammu and Kashmir and India were executed, are of no use. If the integration of Jammu and Kashmir had not taken place then there is no place for Article 370," Venugopal said.

He referred to a book, 'The Story of the Integration of the Indian States', written by V P Menon who was secretary to India's first home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and said that Instrument of Accession signed by Maharaja Hari Singh of Kashmir shows that "sovereignty of Jammu and Kashmir was only temporary. We are a union of states".

Venugopal referred to the history of Jammu and Kashmir and said that Hari Singh had signed a standstill agreement with Pakistan, which later violated and sent 300 trucks of tribesman trained by Pakistani Army to attack Kashmir.

It was only after that, to secure himself and the state, he had signed the Instrument of Accession with India and subsequently, the Indian army pushed back those tribesman.

He said that long before Jammu and Kashmir had its Constitution, many provisions of the Indian Constitution was applied to the state.

"The question of the referendum does not arise in light of this permanent declaration of Jammu and Kashmir being an integral part of India," he said and read out the preamble of J&K's Constitution.

He stated that there is no question of plebiscite in light of the explicit declarations of Jammu and Kashmir to be an integral part of India in their own Constitution.

"Therefore it is wrong to say that total integration of Jammu and Kashmir had not taken place. Today to say that there was no plebiscite or agreement of merger or standstill documents were not executed is not correct and these arguments cannot be raised at this stage," Venugopal said, adding that "Article 370 has now become fait accompli".

He said that after the Instrument of Accession, no question can be raised on the total integration of Jammu and Kashmir and referred to the Constitution of the erstwhile state.

Referring to the two earlier judgements, Venugopal said that they were not inconsistent to each other and both dealt with different issues.

He said that 1959 verdict of Prem Nath Kaul did not deal with Article 370, rather it dealt with the question whether the Maharaja had the legislative power or not.

Referring to Sampat Prakash verdict of 1970, Venugopal said though it dealt with some aspects of Article 370, it was not in direct conflict with a verdict in the Kaul case and therefore the present issue should not be referred to a larger bench.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Jammu and Kashmir administration said he adopts the arguments of the Attorney General and favours no reference to a larger bench.

Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, appearing for Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference said that he is supporting Centre on the question that no reference is needed to a larger bench.

He, however, questioned on the validity of Centre's August 5, last year decided to abrogate provisions of Article 370 saying it completely destroyed constitution of Jammu and Kashmir and the treaty.

"Here is a case where a state has been demoted to Union territories. This has never happened in the country before, If it was a case of security then at best it was a matter of Article 356 (President's Rule). In fact, it is a case of glaring illegality," Dhavan said.

A number of petitions have been filed in the matter including those of private individuals, lawyers, activists and political parties and they have also challenged the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, which splits J&K into two union territories -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

In October, when federal authorities arrested Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman at Dulles airport with one-way tickets to Europe, President Trump told reporters that, despite having taken many photos with the two men, he didnt know them or what they did. Now its possible I have a picture with them because I have a picture with everybody, Trump said. I dont know what they do, but, I dont know, maybe they were clients of Rudy.

ABC News has obtained a recording of Trump meeting with Parnas and others at an intimate dinner at the Trump Hotel in Washington, in April 2018. Trumps voice is heard ordering, with regard to U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, Take her out.

A few points about what this means:

First, Parnass account of his relationship with Trump continues to gain credibility. Trump has pretended not to know anything about Parnas, even feigning at a guess that maybe he worked with Giuliani. Speaking to the media two days ago at Davos, he portrayed Parnas as a political groupie, just some random freak who gets his photo taken with politicians:

Q: Lev Parnas has come forward and said that you knew everything that he was doing in Ukraine. Trump: No, hes a conman. Okay, you ready? Let me answer that one first. Q: Okay, so would you say thats not true? Trump: I dont know him  Q: Okay, you dont know him. Trump: Other than hes sort of like a groupie. He shows up at fundraisers. Okay? So I dont know anything about him  I will say this: Parnas I dont know  other than he probably contributed to the campaign, along with tens of thousands of other people. And I take  or, I mean, I was  this weekend I was taking pictures with hundreds of people. And they  theyre  they contribute to the Republican Party. And I stand there, and I take pictures. And every once in a while, Ill look at somebody  I say, Gee, I wonder when that picture is going to be in the New York Times or the Washington Post or on Fox. You know, so its one of those things.



This is an obvious lie. The recording supports Parnass account of extensive contact with Trump. Indeed, the day after his dinner with Trump, Parnas memorialized the visit on Facebook:

Lev Parnas' Facebook post from the day after that recording of President Trump: "incredible dinner and even better conversation" pic.twitter.com/wOGsuETHDF  Susan Simpson (@TheViewFromLL2) January 24, 2020

Parnas has alleged that Trump pulled him aside in a White House meeting and directed his activities in Ukraine. Trumps denials continue to fall apart.

Second, Trumps relationship with Parnas is prima facie evidence of corruption. Parnas has been charged as an unregistered foreign agent. According to the U.S. government, his efforts to remove Marie Yovanovitch were conducted, at least in part, at the request of one or more Ukrainian government officials.

Authorities are investigating Parnass attempts to pursue business deals in Ukraine. Putting aside the whole Ukraine scandal, the facts of this relationship alone are highly damning. If a president met with an unregistered lobbyist with financial interests in a country, who donated to his party, and plotted the removal of the U.S. ambassador of that country in which the lobbyist had a vested interest, it would be a major scandal  with or without Joe Biden and the rest of it.

Third, the above is the most innocent possible explanation of the known facts. It is by no means the only one, or even the most obvious. It is a little strange  though not impossible, given his lack of understanding of how government works  Trump would be instructing people without any government position to fire Yovanovitch from her post, given their lack of authority.

Parnas has also turned over to the House Intelligence Committee messages showing his communication with Robert Hyde, in which the latter claimed to be surveilling Yovanovitch, and hinted at plans to threaten or carry out violence. (They are willing to help if you/we would like a price  Guess you can do anything in the Ukraine with money.)

For her part, Yovanovitch testified that she was pulled out of an important event and warned of a threat to her safety so dire she needed to get on the next plane out of Kiev. Its possible (as Parnas says) Hyde was simply fantasizing, and its possible that the threat Yovanovitch was warned about had no connection to any of Parnass work. But it might not be a pure coincidence that Trump ordered people to take her out and then a threat to her safety materialized. It is entirely possible Trump either ordered the threat, or that his orders set in motion an escalating series of actions that created the threat.

Fourth, there is simply no reason to believe that the contours of the Ukraine scandal are fully known. Republican senators have so far refused to allow new evidence to be heard in the Senate trial, treating Trumps obstruction as if it were a legitimate exercise in executive authority that in no way indicates a guilty state of mind. Indeed, they have reacted to the process of damning evidence as if it were a reason to ignore the whole episode.

Asked about ABCs explosive reporting, Senator John Barrasso scoffed, There will be new evidence every day. There will be something new that comes out every day. That theres so much incriminating evidence that it gets tiresome is Trumps defense.
During a campaign stop in Osage on Wednesday, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said he wont take the witness stand during the Trump impeachment trial in exchange for the testimony of top administration officials.

The former vice president called impeachment a sacred Constitutional question.

We arent going to turn it into a farce, some kind of political theater, he said.

Biden said Trumps corruption allegations against him and his son, Hunter, are baseless, and he isnt afraid of debating Republican senators because he dealt with them successfully during his own days in the Senate.

However, Biden said his testifying would play right into the hands of the Republicans, who want to distract the public from what the impeachment trial is really about  Trumps violating the Constitution by soliciting foreign interference in the 2016 presidential election.

While Biden was speaking to a crowd of more than 100 people gathered in the VFW Hall in Osage, millions of people around the country were watching the impeachment trial on TV.

Trump is accused of telling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky he would release the $400 million in aid he was withholding if Zelenksy would announce he was investigating Biden for alleged corruption in his dealings with that country while he was vice president.

Rudy Giuliani, Trumps private attorney, has also asked Ukrainian officials to investigate the elder Biden as well as his son, became a paid board member for the Ukrainian energy company Burisma Holdings in 2014.

When those in the Osage crowd were given the opportunity to ask candidate Biden questions on Wednesday, Stephen Delgado -- an Arizona resident who traveled to Iowa to hear Joe Biden speak -- told him he believes hes decent and honest.

Delgado asked Biden if he would consider calling the Republicans bluff by testifying -- and possibly having Hunter Biden testify  in the Senate if witnesses the Democrats want to testify such as acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney or former national security adviser John Bolton also take the stand.

That just might take the gas right out of them, Delgado said.

Bidens reply of I dont think they have much gas in the tank to begin with earned lots of laughter from the Osage crowd.

He said every person in Trumps administration who testified under oath in the House impeachment hearings said he (Biden) was the most honorable man we dealt with.

Biden also said no one ever suggested his son did anything wrong, only that his involvement with Burisma gave a bad appearance.

He said the younger Biden went on record in the New Yorker magazine saying he made a big mistake in joining the Burisma board because he didnt count on thugs like Giuliani and others using it as a means by which to try to hurt his father.

Candidate Biden also said his son did not sign up for a second term on the board.

With less than two weeks left before the Iowa caucuses, Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders are battling it out for the lead in the polls among the remaining candidates for the Democratic nomination. However, many Iowans are still undecided.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
FLINT, MI - Bands of freezing rain led to the development of slick roads this morning, leading to school closures throughout the mid-Michigan area.

According to the National Weather Service, the precipitation led to icy conditions on dirt roads and side streets.

Schools that decided to close for the day include those in Davison, Gladwin, Holly, and Lapeer.

A post on the Davison districts social media page stated, Davison Community Schools is closed Friday, January 24, due to conditions on back roads, which are nearly impassable.

Meanwhile, some schools like the Ithaca Public School district decided to wait it out with a 2-hour delay. The district posted on their social media page a notice that said, Ithaca Public Schools will be on a 2 hour delay today, Friday, Jan. 24, 2020.

Other entities sent out alerts for transportation, with the Greater Lapeer Transit Authority and the Harmony Hall of Lapeer running buses on main roads only.

Schools like the Richfield Public School Academy are remaining closed due to illness.

A complete list of school closings is available on the ABC 12 website here.
Rajesh Kumar Thakur By

Express News Service

PATNA: You would not expect to find a school with a 1:1 student-teacher ratio anywhere in the country let alone in Bihar -- one of the most backward states in terms of development. But a government-run primary school here has one teacher teaching one student -- with one cook for good measure!

The school is located in Mansabigha village under Khigangarsarai block in Bihars Gaya district, about 170 km from the state capital.

The lucky pupil is Jhanvi Kumari, 7, who belongs to an extremely poor Paswan family. She gets ample attention in school and never misses a single class even in the worst weather conditions.

The government education department spends Rs 59,000 per month to impart primary education just for her.

The school has a pukka building and good facilities within the campus but what it lacks is pupils.

There are four classrooms in the one-storey building and a cook, Gayatri Devi, who gets Rs 1500 per month for cooking the midday meal for this single pupil and teacher, said a local.

Ironically, the high student-teacher ratio here is not a compliment for Bihar education system but instead suggests that the locals have lost faith in government schools. People even from rural areas prefer to send their wards to private schools for quality education rather than sending them to government schools.

There are around 15 Paswan families and more than 40 upper caste families in Mansabigha. A number of private schools have come up in the locality to which more than 98% of the kids are sent by their parents for quality education.

Speaking to The New Indian Express, Priyanka Kumari, who teaches Jhanvi, said: Till a few days ago, a male teacher was also here but he was suspended for obtaining the appointment fraudulently. Now, I am the sole teacher for a sole student.

She said nine students were enrolled in the school but only one attends classes. The other eight spend their time in private schools and come here only to take their examinations.

Priyanka admitted that the trust of locals in the government-run school has vanished. On a holiday like Sunday or after school time, I used to go and ask people of the locality to send their wards to the school but none of them agrees, she rued.

The district education officer of Gaya Mustafa Hussein said he will personally go to meet locals and encourage them to send their wards to the school.
The BBCs Africa editor is stepping down from the job because he is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Fergal Keanes diagnosis stems from several decades of work in conflict zones around the world, according to the broadcasters head of newsgathering Jonathan Munro.

He has been suffering with the condition for several years, he added.

Keane originally joined the broadcaster in 1989 as a Northern Ireland correspondent and also reported from South Africa and Asia for the corporation before being moved to his current role.

Keane was made an OBE in 1996 in recognition of his career (John Stillwell/PA)

Keane was made an OBE for services to journalism in 1996 and also won an Amnesty television prize in 1994 for an investigation into the Rwandan genocide, according to the BBC.

Munro told staff the journalist has received support from friends and colleagues as well as medical professionals.

He added: However, he now feels he needs to change his role in order to further assist his recovery.

Its both brave and welcome that he is ready to be open about PTSD.
7th Pay Commission: The mistake CG employees made, which cost them a pay hike

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 24: A major protest relating to the 7th Pay Commission was called off by the Central Government employees.

The protests were called off on the assurance given by the Central Government that it would look into their grievances relating to their pay hikes. Now as Budget 2020 approaches, the hopes of the CG employees have gone up and they are keenly watching the developments.

They are expecting that there would be some announcement regarding a pay hike. However, all reports suggest that there would be no pay hike. Instead, the DA would be increased.

The question now is whether the CG employees were right in calling off their protests.

7th Pay Commission: Budget 2020 will dash your hopes on hikes, here is why

There was an assurance given that the matter would be looked into, but a few weeks later it was said by the Finance Ministry that there is no decision on any pay hike. Several experts that OneIndia spoke with said that the calling off of the protests so early may have not been a good idea. The pressure should have been stepped up and only then would the government considered their demands.

Kailash Vijayvargiya identified Bangladeshis by their 'strange meal'| OneIndia News

Various rounds of meetings failed and the government never showed any intent of increasing the pay of the CG employees. This has been a crucial demand by them for long. On the other hand, reports trickling in the state that the government may increase the DA by 4 per cent. However, it is not clear whether this would be an announcement made in the Cabinet meeting or the Budget.

The CG employees have been demanding that their basic minimum pay should be increased to Rs 26,000. There were talks that the government is likely to increase it to Rs 21,000, but that never materialised. The 7th Pay Commission had recommended that the basic minimum pay be fixed at Rs 18,000.
Jim Lehrer, longtime host of the nightly PBS "NewsHour" whose serious, sober demeanor made him the choice to moderate 11 presidential debates between 1988 and 2012, has died, PBS said Thursday. He was 85.

Lehrer died "peacefully in his sleep," according to PBS. He had suffered a heart attack in 1983 and had undergone heart valve surgery in April 2008.

For Lehrer, and for his friend and longtime partner Robert MacNeil, broadcast journalism was a service, with public understanding of events and issues its primary goal.

"We both believed the American people were not as stupid as some of the folks publishing and programming for them believed," Lehrer wrote in his 1992 memoir, "A Bus of My Own."

"We were convinced they cared about the significant matters of human events. ... And we were certain they could and would hang in there more than 35 seconds for information about those subjects if given a chance."

Tributes poured in from colleagues and watchers alike, including from Fox News' Bret Baier, who called Lehrer "an inspiration to a whole generation of political journalists including this one." Dan Rather said "few approached their work with more equanimity and integrity than Jim Lehrer." And Jake Tapper of CNN called Lehrer "a wonderful man and a superb journalist." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called him a "champion for truth and transparency."

Many Americans knew him best for his role as debate moderator. For seven straight presidential elections, he was the sole journalist sitting across from the candidates for the first debate of the general election campaign. In 1996 and 2000, he moderated all of the debates  five of them  and a vice presidential contest to boot.

He told The Associated Press in 2011 that his goal was to probe the candidates' thinking and avoid "gotcha" questions. He felt his best debate performance was in 2004, with George W. Bush and John Kerry, not because of anything he did, but because the candidates were able to state their positions clearly.

He was lured out of retirement for his last debate in 2012 and it may have been a mistake; he received criticism that year for having too light a touch on the proceedings.

The half-hour "Robert MacNeil Report" began on PBS in 1975 with Lehrer as Washington correspondent. The two had already made names for themselves at the then-fledgling network through their work with the National Public Affairs Center for Television and its coverage of the Watergate hearings in 1973.

The nightly news broadcast, later retitled the "MacNeil-Lehrer Report," became the nation's first one-hour TV news broadcast in 1983 and was then known as the "MacNeil-Lehrer NewsHour." After MacNeil bowed out in 1995, it became "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer."

He is survived by his wife, Kate; three daughters: Jamie, Lucy, and Amanda; and six grandchildren.

 Associated Press

Doomsday Clock nears midnight

The keepers of the Doomsday Clock on Thursday moved the symbolic countdown to global disaster to the closest point to midnight in its 73-year history, citing "existential danger" from nuclear war and climate change.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which was founded after the creation of the atomic bomb in World War II and focuses on the greatest threats to human survival, said it moved the clock from two minutes to midnight to 100 seconds to midnight  a 20-second advance.

The decision was made by the group's science and security board, in consultations with its board of sponsors, which includes 13 Nobel laureates.

In a statement accompanying the clock's advance, the organization said the nuclear and climate dangers "are compounded by a threat multiplier, cyber-enabled information warfare that undercuts society's ability to respond."

 Associated Press

Scientists recreate sound of mummy

Researchers say they've mimicked the voice of a 3,000-year-old Egyptian mummy by recreating much of its vocal tract using medical scanners, 3D printing and an electronic larynx.

In a paper published Thursday by the journal Scientific Reports, the authors say the technique allowed them to produce a single sound  somewhere between the vowels in 'bed' and 'bad.'

The eerie tone is unlikely to be a precise reflection of the speech of Egyptian priest Nesyamun, whose mummified body the researchers worked with, because the tongue has lost much of its bulk over three millennia.

 Associated Press
SPRINGFIELD  Ahead of what is expected to be a lengthy, contentious hearing in the Nathan Bills police-involved assault case, Superior Court Judge Mark Mason dismissed another criminal charge against one of 15 defendants.

The case began with 16 defendants last year  14 current or former Springfield police officers, and two of the bars owners. The state attorney generals office embarked on an aggressive prosecution focused on a 2015 clash between a group of civilians and off-duty police, which began with a verbal altercation in the popular East Forest Park pub.

Mason dismissed the case against Nathaniel Perez, formerly a city police officer and now a state trooper, earlier this month. Yesterday, the judge dismissed one charge of filing a false police report leveled against retired Springfield Police Sgt. Louis Bortolussi.

Bortolussis attorney, Raipher Pellegrino, quickly filed a motion to dismiss two remaining charges of perjury and making misleading statements; that motion is pending. A daylong hearing before Mason is scheduled for Friday, when lawyers for several defendants will argue motions to dismiss charges against their clients.

Coupled with separate corruption investigations, the 5-year-old case has roiled the Springfield Police Department and sidelined a dozen of its staff.

Bortolussi retired in January 2019 after 31 years with the department, a spokesman said.

Off-duty officers were charged with assault; on-duty officers and others were charged with covering up the fight. Lawyers for the officers who conceded being involved with the brawl on April 8, 2015, argue the civilians were the aggressors after the group had words in the bar, then got into it in a nearby parking lot after closing. Combatants on both sides suffered injuries.

The four civilians received $885,000 in a civil settlement from the city in 2018.

Witnesses told a statewide grand jury in Worcester the four civilians  African-American men  said they were jumped by a bunch of white boys, some of whom were off-duty police officers. Various cruisers responded to the scenes over a few hours  first for the confrontation inside the bar, which resulted in the civilians getting bounced, and the second for the fight in the Murphys Pop Shop parking lot on Island Pond Road.

Bortolussi was the sergeant in charge that night, according to court records. He responded to the second scene, and ordered one of the officers to retrieve one of the civilians from the back of a cruiser. He later submitted two reports saying he wasnt aware off-duty officers were involved in the fight.

State prosecutors charged him, arguing he concealed his knowledge. But Mason ruled it was as likely he genuinely didnt know off-duty officers were involved, based on when he arrived on scene.

In these circumstances, any conclusion that Bortolussi knew that any off-duty officers were involved in the Murphys Pop Shop assault was not based on common sense, the judge wrote, citing the legal standard, but rather on suspicion alone.

Fridays hearing will be held in Franklin Superior Court, where Mason will be presiding until the end of February.
(Newser)  "Who are my heroes? Who are the people I look at and say, 'That's who I want to be'?" For Demetrio Aguila, a Nebraska surgeon specializing in nerve pain, the answer to his own question is his father, also a physicianand one who loved helping people so much he never complained about his long hours at work. Those genes appear to have been passed down to his son, who's making headlines for an innovative program meant to assist people who can't afford surgery. CBS News reports that Aguila, an Air Force veteran, set up his M25 program at his Healing Hands of Nebraska clinic after he saw patient after patient have to turn down surgery because it cost too much. Six months ago, he decided to do something about it, and his idea was a creative one: Let those who qualify do volunteer work in exchange for any necessary procedures.

story continues below

"We can't ignore the people in our own backyard," Aguila tells CBS. Per KMTV, the program's name comes from Matthew 25:40: "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." About 10% of his patients qualify for the program, which figures out the number of volunteer hours depending on how complex the surgery is; other people can help patients fulfill their hours. Reception so far has been positive. "There's nothing more depressing than seeing a bill for ... $24,000, and going, 'And how much of this will my insurance cover?'" patient Jeff Jensen tells CBS, noting that instead he put in 560 hours of volunteering (100 or so people helped) as barter for foot surgery. "This whole practice is about restoring hope for patients by giving them the opportunity to wrest back control of their health care," Aguila says. (Read more uplifting news stories.)
North Korea has named a sharp-tongued former army officer with little foreign policy experience as its top diplomat, in a possible indication it will take a harder line with Washington in stalled nuclear negotiations.

Ri Son Gwon's new title as foreign minister was disclosed Friday in a Korean Central Agency dispatch that said he attended a reception for foreign diplomats in Pyongyang the previous day.

South Korean and other outside media outlets have recently reported North Korea informed foreign diplomats in Pyongyang of Ri's job last week.

In his speech at the banquet, Comrade Ri Son Gwon said that the Korean people have turned out in the general offensive to break through head-on the barriers to the advance of socialist construction by dint of self-reliance ... and made public the foreign policy stand of the (North Korean) government," KCNA said.

Ri, an outspoken retired army colonel who previously headed a government body responsible for relations with South Korea, has taken part in numerous inter-Korean military talks over the past 15 years. But Ri, who is also an alternate member of the ruling Workers' Party Central Committee, lacks experience in negotiations with the United States and other countries.

In South Korea, he is most known for what were seen as rude remarks to South Korean businessmen visiting Pyongyang in September 2018. While they were eating naengmyeon, Korean traditional cold noodles, Ri asked them: Are naengmyeon going down your throats? in apparent dissatisfaction with a lack of progress in efforts to promote inter-Korean economic projects, according to South Korean officials and lawmakers. Many conservatives in South Korea strongly criticized him.

Ri replaced Ri Yong Ho, a career diplomat with broad experiences who had taken part in nuclear negotiations with the United States since early 2018. It wasn't immediately known what happened to Ri Yong Ho, whose name was last mentioned in KCNA last August.

Analyst Cheong Seong-Chang at South Korea's private Sejong Institute said Ri Son Gwon's appointment signaled North Korea would further harden its stance toward the US and bolster a push to cement its position as a nuclear state. From now on, it's difficult to expect meaningful progress in North Korea-US diplomacy, Cheong said.

Nuclear talks between the US and North Korea have progressed little since the breakdown of the second summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Vietnam in February 2019. Kim recently said North Korea would strengthen its nuclear arsenal and unveil a new strategic weapon after the US failed to meet a year-end deadline set by him to make concessions.

A senior State Department official told reporters Wednesday that Washington was aware of Ri Son Gwon's reported appointment and hopes North Korea will understand the importance of resuming diplomacy.

There's nothing to be gained by not talking. It's only to their benefit, so we encourage them to talk, the official said on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak publicly to the matter. It is slow, patient, steady diplomacy. We're going to stick with that plan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[January 24, 2020] DMCC Announces Crypto Valley in Dubai at Davos 2020, Boosting Blockchain Ecosystem

- World's largest ecosystem for cryptographic, blockchain and distributed ledger technologies to launch in Dubai DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- DMCC  the world's flagship free zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise  announced its strategic partnership with CV VC and CV Labs, to launch Crypto Valley  the world's largest ecosystem for cryptographic, blockchain and distributed ledger technologies  in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Designed to foster growth, collaboration and integrity across the global blockchain economy, the 'DMCC Crypto Valley' will offer a variety of services including incubation for early-stage start-ups, co-working facilities, innovation services for corporate clients, blockchain and entrepreneurship training, education, events, mentoring and funding. Signed on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, the agreement sees DMCC work alongside both CV VC, and its subsidiary CV Labs, to develop an ecosystem in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), DMCC's business district, where over 17,000 companies are currently registered. "DMCC is delighted to sign this agreement with CV VC, and launch the Crypto Valley in Dubai, at the very heart of Dubai's leading business district," said Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DMCC. "Sat at the crossroads of the world, DMCC is a dynamic business hub that drives global trade through Dubai. The launch f the Crypto Valley in DMCC will enhance the city's dynamic business environment, and support the wider strategy of the UAE Government to attract the innovators, entrepreneurs and pioneers that will shape the future economy," he added.



The agreement commits both parties to collaborate and develop a DMCC Blockchain Strategy that is aligned with the Emirates Blockchain Strategy 2021, and support the Dubai Blockchain Strategy launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council. "We are thrilled to move into the MENA region with DMCC as a very strong local partner. In our opinion the competence from Crypto Valley based companies will support the ambitious goals and strategy to use blockchain in Dubai and beyond! On the other side the capital from the MENA region could help to build even more successful projects and startups and foster the settlement of new blockchain focused companies in the UAE," said Ralf Glabischnig, Founder of CV VC and CV Labs.

"We are looking forward to bringing our strong partner from Crypto Valley to Dubai, like CoreLedger, inacta, Lykke, and Tezos which are already active in the MENA region," he added. Research from DMCC's Future of Trade report found that blockchain could help reduce up to 20 per cent of the physical paper costs associated with global trade, currently estimated at USD 1.8 trillion. DMCC is a member of the Global Blockchain Council. For further information on the project, and joining DMCC, contact James Bernard, Head of Corporate Sales, DMCC, and founding member of the Blockchain Innovation Group and Global Blockchain Council: [email protected]. Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hT6P1PwP27w

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1081510/DMCC_Announces_Crypto_Valley.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1081511/DMCC_and_Crypto_Valley.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1009140/DMCC_Logo.jpg Media Enquiries: DMCC | PR & Corporate Communications | [email protected]

Phone: +971(4)4249600

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
By Trend

Azerbaijans Ganja Automobile Plant is capable to provide all cities and districts of the country with modern vehicles, buses and electric buses, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Ganja Automobile Plant Khanlar Fatiyev told reporters, Trend reports.

For the first time, an experimental bus with a CNG gas engine assembled at the plant in 2016 was demonstrated to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during his visit to the Ganja Automobile Plant, the chairman added.

These buses are convenient in operation in Baku, Ganja, Sumgayit and in other cities of the country, Fatiyev said. The fuel consumption complies with the Euro-5 environmental standard.

The buses with the CNG engine, which were demonstrated to the president, have 279-horsepower Mercedes-Benz Euro-5 engine and an Allison automatic transmission system that provides mileage of 600 kilometers with 276 cubic meters of compressed methane (200 atmospheres), the chairman said.

The buses with 26 seats are for about 100 passengers, Fatiyev said. There are special places for wheelchairs. Special video surveillance cameras and sound equipment may be installed in these buses at the request of the customer for a driver to be able to communicate with passengers.

E-321 electric buses equipped with the latest technologies were experimentally assembled for the first time in Azerbaijan in 2019, the chairman said. These vehicles are the most modern buses in the world that operate on electrical energy.

Electric buses are very beneficial from an environmental point of view and fuel economy, Fatiyev said. Buses with 26 seats may carry 83 passengers. The buses have been provided with air conditioning system, as well as an information monitor and video surveillance system.

An accumulator of the electric bus that can move at a speed of 60 kilometers per hour is fully charged within six minutes through the RGZP / G / 300KW 600V-EN charging station in urban mode, the chairman said.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
New Mexico college student shot during alleged fraternity hazing incident originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

A New Mexico State University student has been accused of shooting a classmate in an alleged hazing incident that resulted in his fraternity's suspension.

Miguel Altamirano was charged with felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after he allegedly shot Jonathan Sillas in the leg as he pledged the Kappa Sigma fraternity.

Altamirano could face as many as many as three years in prison if convicted as charged, but his attorney, C.J. McEllhinney, says the shooting wasn't intentional. He said the shooting happened as the students were "joking around."

"The evidence in this case is consistent with negligent handling of a firearm and not the crime of aggravated assault," McEllhinney told ABC News on Thursday. "It is not uncommon for the State of New Mexico to overcharge criminal defendants."

He said Altamirano was expelled over the November incident, despite showing intense remorse for his actions.

MORE: Family files lawsuit against university fraternity over student's hazing death

"My client never intended to hurt anyone and is remorseful that Mr. Sillas was injured," McEllhinney said. This unfortunate incident occurred in the context of a fraternity event."

Related: Possible Hazing Death Being Investigated at the University at Buffalo

Sillas, a criminal justice major, said Kappa Sigma fraternity members pulled him aside and ordered him to turn around during an initiation event. He said he was expecting to get hit with a paddle from behind, but he never imagined he'd be shot.

PHOTO: Jonathan Sillas was shot in the leg as part of an alleged hazing ritual for Kappa Sigma fraternity members at New Mexico State University. (KVIA)

"One of the guys pulled me to the side and he was like, 'We didn't do this to you' and I was like, 'What are you talking about?' and then he told me to turn around," Sillas told ABC affiliate KVIA. "I was just like thinking that they would just hit me with a paddle or something like that. I'm not like too scared about that."

He said he started to panic when he realized that Altamirano had a gun.

Story continues

MORE: High school athletes sue school district for failing to protect them from hazing

"Whenever I turned around, he reaches and he pulled the gun out of the backpack," Sillas said. "I wasn't like watching but I heard him click it and then I started freaking out."

The university suspended Kappa Sigma in December after a month-long investigation. The fraternity is suspended until the fall semester of 2024.

Altamirano is scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 19. His attorney said he's "confident" that he will be exonerated on the "serious felony charge."
Let me begin by saying that the term idealist is not used in this article in the philosophical sense. Were this the case, departed comrades to whom the piece is dedicated would not be considered as Marxists at all. But they were all revolutionary Marxists. I employ the term idealist here in the ordinary sense of a person that cherishes or pursues high or noble principles, purposes or goals but without giving sufficient consideration to objective, historically-determined reality. When this description is applied to departed Nigerian revolutionary Marxists, you begin to have a picture of the type of persons I have in mind and the type of revolutionary tendency they partly reflected. We shall return to this and conclude with it.

An indication was given in the closing paragraph of my last published article, For Jeyifo (BJ) and Komolafe (KK) which appeared early this month that the narrative was incomplete, or rather, that it required a proper conclusion which answers at least these two questions: What does the Revolutionary Directorate (RD) do now and what is the narrators tentative assessment of RDs 45-year history? I shall, in this concluding segment, slightly expand the narrative and try to answer the two questions. Although names of areas, places, periods and dates of key events will be indicated, names of personages will be given only when this is absolutely necessary for authenticity and as critical assistance to possible research. In concrete terms, only the names of a few personages will be added to the five or six names that were given in the previous piece to which the present one is anchored.

The meeting of Anti-Poverty Movement of Nigeria (APMON) in Lagos on Christmas Day of 1975 formally ended the civil war in the organization. This was in the early months of Murtala Mohammed-Olusegun Obasanjo-Theophilus Danjuma military regime and a couple of months after the last batch of APMON activists were released from detention. The meeting (a revolutionary congress, in retrospect) declared the dominant faction it represented as victor in the internal struggle (on how to proceed after detention) and the authentic progression of the revolutionary tradition of APMON. From Ibadan came Biodun Jeyifo (BJ) with a number of comrades. Tony Engurube, Bene Madunagu and I, together with some other comrades came from Lagos. Comrades from Kaduna/Zaria who were meeting most of the key participants for the first timeoutside the newspapersand who, on arrival, noticed the tense atmosphere, cautiously and justifiably declared themselves observers and were so admitted.

The meeting/congress issued a communique which, among other thingsnational and internationalcondemned the promotions being carried out by the new regime in the Nigerian armed forces and the regimes harassment of students of the University of Ibadan for earlier voicing the same condemnation. In the international scene, we condemned the military intervention of Indonesia in East Timor. Tony Engurube emerged as National Chair (a new position); I was confirmed as National Secretary and Bene was named member of the Working Committee. BJ emerged as Editor-in-Chief of Peoples Cause, the journal of APMON, and given full powers to constitute the Editorial Boardand he came out with a revolutionary and truly national working group. As indicated in the preceding piece (For Jeyifo (BJ) and Komolafe (KK)), the Revolutionary Directorate (RD) also emerged on that dayDecember 25, 1975with BJ and I as the only members. It was completely underground. As also indicated: with time, RD acquired three levels of membership: full-membership, alternate-full-membership and associate-membership.

To recap and proceed: Revolutionary Directorate (RD) has been introduced as the revolutionary core (vanguard) of a revolutionary tendency (RT) in the Nigerian Socialist Movement (NSM) and the Nigerian Left (NL). It came into existence in Lagos on December 25, 1975 at a revolutionary congress of Anti-Poverty Movement of Nigeria (APMON). The congress, together with the emergence of RD, was a revolutionary leap. But within six months of this leap, RD made another revolutionary leap: It combined with another group in what I have called extraordinary engagement and revolutionary rural conscientisation in an area covering parts of the present Osun, Oyo and Ondo States. That combination was called the Revolutonary Movement for the Liberation of Nigeria (REMLON). In making this second revolutionary leap, RD almost liquidated, through temporary abandonment, the Anti-Poverty Movement of Nigeria (APMON) whose revolutionary heritage it had shortly before then fought a bitter civil war to sustain and continue!

Now, what was the basic character of RDnot at formation, but in maturity? What, in other words, distinguished it from other tendencies, groups and formations in the Nigerian Socialist Movement and the Nigerian Left? The earlier article implicitly answered this question and went on to aggregate and summarize the programme of RD over the 45-year period. But at least three points should here be emphasized. The first point is that RD was committed, irrevocably, to the unity of the Nigerian Left and the emergence of a substantial, nationally-based revolutionary formation. It believed that it is not the present ruling class that will unite Nigeria  for it cannot. Rather, it is the Nigerian Left, having been united on revolutionary foundations, that will champion and lead the struggle for national unity under popular democracy and socialism.

If you respond that some groups can also stand up and insist on being counted for this commitment, I will respond that RD pursues this commitment while remaining Marxist and revolutionary. The second point is that all those questions which used to appear as appendixes to socialist programmes in Nigeriaincluding the national question and the womens liberation questionmust now be in the mainstream of the agenda of struggle. The third point is that in the struggle against capitalism and imperialism and for popular democracy and socialism the working class remains the most strategic segment of the fighting population.

RDs experience over the years is dominated by a number of attributes which can be summarized under the following headings: Minimum continuity in the execution of its programme; regular discontinuity in the development and adoption of organizational forms through which it executes this programme; and revolutionary idealism in the execution of the programme. These attributes will be listed and described in the remaining part of this piece. Their historical and ideological roots go beyond RD: they are national, even international. They constitute another subject entirely.

To explain what I mean by Minimum Continuity in the execution of RDs general programme we may refer to three items in the programme. These are: Strengthening the vanguards capacity to ensure the continuity of popular-democratic struggles (that is, struggles in promotion and defence of democratic, human, existential and civil rights) across the country at all times and in all conditions of bourgeois or even popular-democratic rule; expanding popular-democratic and socialist education among the toiling and working masses and all strata and segments of the population that suffer specific or general oppression under capitalist rule; and engaging in systematic research, information and documentation and building institutions and centres for this engagement.

RD has not halted any element of these engagements, as well as ideological/intellectual engagements in the media and in academic institutions, since its birth in December 1975 and for the six subperiods of its history: (1975-1977), (1977-1985), (1985-1995), (1995-2005), (2005-2015), (2015-the present). This is what I mean by minimum continuity. So, the questions whether RD is in existence and what it now doesif in existenceare answered.

To understand what I mean by regular discontinuity in organizational forms, the following background will have to be appreciated. RD had no organizational structure in the ordinary sense this term is used. It was a collective in which every member knew and was conscious not only of her/his areas of special responsibility but those of others. RD acted through its individual members and through civil-society, sociopolitical and popular-democratic formations in which its members participate or in which they have influence. The bottom-line rule was that RD members in any organizational form must not only be selfless but must uphold the highest forms of democratic principle and practice. Having said this, the point I am making by regular discontinuity is that the organizational forms through which RD acted had been unstableto put the matter mildly. Or, put differently, RD has experienced a massive turnover of organizational forms through which it acted.

We conclude where we began: Revolutionary Idealism. This has been the most enduring, the dominant of the dominant RD attributes. Revolutionary idealism, in the context of RD experience, is the heroic and selfless pursuit, by revolutionary Marxists, of high or noble principles, purposes or goals  but without giving sufficient consideration to objective, historically-determined reality. In its extreme forms this attribute can move from mere revolutionary impatience to what Leninists call voluntarism or adventurism. But an irony of history is that although revolutionary idealism frequently leads to defeats and drawbacks, no successful revolution has so far taken place without the vanguardism of revolutionary idealism.

For a peep into the history of RDs revolutionary idealism, consider the following trajectory of its first six years of existence. Within six months of winning the civil war in Anti-Poverty Movement of Nigeria (APMON), RD united with a revolutionary formation and began a 12-month period of extraordinary engagement and rural conscientisation in western part of Nigeria. It withdrew in the middle of 1977. And shortly after this, by the end of the All-Nigeria Socialist Conference in Zaria in July-August 1977, RD had re-established itself in two centres: Calabar and Ife.

In Calabar, which became its new headquarters, RD tried to recreate the rural conscientisation in what is now the Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State. Comrade Assim Oto Assim-Ita, a revolutionary socialist, as well as a royalty, was a pillar of this new engagement. But RD embarked on this new engagement without adequate study of the new terrain or even a thorough analysis of its 1976/1977 experience in Western Nigeria. Simultaneously RD initiated the formation of the Movement for Progressive Nigeria (MPN) in the University of Calabar in the hope that with the existence of a similarly-named organization in Kaduna/Zaria the revolutionary national movement of Nigerian students headquartered in Ibadan would expand faster and grow stronger.

The next step was the establishment of Action Centre Information and Documentation (ACID) in the Ibadan/Ife axis and the formation of Calabar Group of Socialists (GCS) and Democratic Action Committee (DACOM) in Calabar. By the end of the first five years of its existence, the Ali Must Go national students protest and its bloody aftermath had come and gone; a radical Leftist tendency had assumed the national leadership of the newly-formed Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC); the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had emerged, and had been radicalized; the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the successor to the proscribed National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS) had also emerged, radical at birth.

By the middle of its sixth year of existence, RD, as RD, had suffered its first known casualty: the murder, at the University of Calabar, on April 21, 1981, of Ingrid Essien-Obot, a radical lecturer in Medical Psychology (then taught as part of Sociology), a Leftist feminist, socialist humanist, German by birth, Nigerian by marriage and mother of five (one female, four males). While Assim Ita (late) was a full member of RD, Ingrid Essien-Obot and Tony Engurube (both late) were, at different times, associate members. By the middle of its seventh year, RD had embarked on foreign expeditions. This, in summary, is a sample of RDs dominant experiences and attributes over the years. Some of these were positive, some were contradictory, others were deserving of severe criticism, but all were revolutionary, selfless and offer deep lessons for generations of the Nigerian Left.

I wish to end this piece and the entire narrative, which began with For Jeyifo (BJ) and Komolafe (KK) early this month, with the following categorical statement: RDs discontinuation of its revolutionary rural conscientisation projects, as initiated, was a critique of RDs revolutionary idealism and not the result of unpreparedness on the part of peasants and rural populations who received us in the two regions with maximum enthusiasm, faith and expectations.

More concretely: Rural conscientisation, like education in general, can be conceived as an end in itself. But for revolutionaries, it must be conceived, in addition, as a means to a political end. Unfortunately, and almost tragically, the nature and manner of this end, and how to advance to it, could not, in the given historical and material circumstances, be adequately conceived by the revolutionary agency, RD.

Madunagu, mathematician and journalist, writes from Calabar, Cross River State.
Colorado Springs City Council deadlocked Monday over the appointment of Stephannie Fortune to fill Councilman Richard Skorman's seat on the board. Who among the 7 finalists should be appointed?

You voted:
By Trend

Azerbaijans State Migration Service has begun issuing a travel document to foreigners residing in Azerbaijan with refugee status, Head of the service Vusal Huseynov said, Trend reports Jan. 23.

Huseynov noted that with a travel document, foreign refugees residing in Azerbaijan will be able to travel abroad.

Last year, 3.1 million foreigners arrived in Azerbaijan, the service head added. Prior to this, foreigners who received refugee status in Azerbaijan, found it difficult to travel outside the country. From now on, according to this document, they can travel to any country. The travel document is valid for five years. If during these five years a refugee has no problems, he or she can reapply for it. Ten people will receive this document today, on Jan. 23. Other refugees will receive the document later.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Overseas tourists made 11.4 million trips to the UK from July to September 2019. Photo: Getty

The number of overseas tourists visiting the UK rose in 2019 despite Brexit uncertainty, official data shows.

Overseas residents made 11.4 million visits from July to September 2019, 5% more than the same period a year before, according to the Office for National Statistics.

During this time tourists spent 8.4bn ($11bn) on their visits to the UK, a rise of 18% compared with 2018.

The number of North American tourists increased by 13% to 1.8 million, and visits by residents countries outside of Europe and North America increased by 19% to 2.5 million.

However, Brexit uncertainty seemed to be having some impact as visits by European residents went down by 1% to 7 million.

READ MORE: Adopt business-friendly immigration post-Brexit, government told

Brexit turmoil doesnt seem to be discouraging Brits from traveling to the continent, however. Visits by UK residents to European countries increased by 3%, going up to 20.7 million visits, despite Brexit fears sending the value of the pound sliding in July.

UK residents made 25.1 million trips abroad between July and September, 4% more than the corresponding period in 2018, spending 18.1 billion. Over 9.4 million trips abroad were made in August alone, with numbers of tourists spiking as it is traditionally the only complete month of the UK school summer holidays.

Taking holidays was the most popular reason for tourists coming to the UK from July to September last year, with 5.1 million visitors visiting on vacation during the prime summer holiday period. Business visits increased to 2.1 million, 1% more than in 2018, and visits to friends and relatives rose by 8% to 3.4 million.

The new figures come as business groups call on the government to create a business-friendly post-Brexit immigration system, amid concerns among UK tourism businesses that post-Brexit immigration rules could leave shortages in the workforce. The Office for National Statistics estimates that of the 3.3 million workers in the UK tourism industry, overseas workers account for around 16%.
There are few scenarios in which seeing your car hooked to a tow truck is not, well, a drag. It generally means you have broken down, been in an accident or run afoul of the parking authorities.

In each instance, your life has been disrupted, and you are out money, and even worse, you or someone else may have suffered a serious injury.

Thats why reports of a resurgent towing and car-flipping scam in the Houston area are particularly galling. Exploiting the misfortune of people at their most vulnerable is a pathetic way to increase profits.

Diana Ploch told Houston Chronicle reporter Eric Dexheimer how she was still trying to get her bearings after a September 2018 collision that totaled her Toyota and left her dazed from the impact of an exploding airbag when she was approached.

I was sitting on the ground, and the tow truck driver came over and said, Here, you got to sign this right now; were taking the car to the impound lot, she recalled. They were just so authoritative, I didnt even think to question them.

The paperwork was later signed by Plochs parents who had rushed to be with her after the accident. It authorized workers to transfer the mangled Camry from South West Carzone Auto Storage, a regulated vehicle storage facility where prices were limited by law, to the nearly identically named South West CarZone body shop at the same address, where prices were not regulated.

Records show the body shop then charged the Plochs $324 for payout, $500 for an administrative fee, $300 for preservation and transfer, and $320 for storage. The shop also charged $200 for teardown, even though all parties agreed the car was totaled.

Vehicle storage units, by contrast, are licensed by the state and can charge only $20.64 per day for keeping a car until the owner decides how to dispose of it.

The scheme to flip cars from regulated storage businesses to unregulated repair shops is not new, but local police and state regulators say they have seen a sharp increase recently.

We get 30 to 40 reports a month, Montgomery County Sheriffs Deputy Roy Leck said. And theres a lot that dont get reported.

Investigations are time-consuming and putting the bad actors out of business through the licensing process can be difficult, authorities say.

So, the best defense is for consumers to be informed and on guard.

The scene of the accident is not the place nor the time to be signing legal documents, said Tela Mange, spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Let on-scene police arrange the tow and contact your insurance company as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary fees.

As with everything, the best advice is to read a document before you sign it. Ploch said the company that had approached her when she was still disoriented had folded the release form in such a way that it was unclear what her father was signing.

Consumers are encouraged to contact local police or state regulators with complaints:

* Houston Police Department Auto Dealers Detail: 832-394-4869

* Montgomery County Sheriffs Office Towing Enforcement: 936-538-7782

* Harris County Sheriffs Office complaints: 713-274-7410 or hcsohcw@yahoo.com

* Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation: https://www.tdlr.texas.gov/complaints/

Its also time for Harris and Montgomery County officials to look at ways to better control what some describe as a Wild West atmosphere among towing companies rushing wreckers to the scenes of accidents in hopes of landing some business.

Seeking bids for towing contracts from individual private companies and setting dispatch protocols would go a long way toward eliminating the confusion at an already chaotic crash scene.

Getting your car towed is bad enough. Consumers shouldnt get smacked in the face again by unnecessary bills.
The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield hit its lowest level since October on Friday amid increasing fears of the deadly coronavirus.

The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell 3 basis points to 1.698%, the first time it dipped below 1.7% since October. The yield on the 30-year Treasury bond was also lower at 2.161%. Bond yields move inversely to prices.

"It looks like we are testing the bottom of the range," Jeffery Sherman, Doubleline Capital's deputy chief investment officer, said on CNBC's "Squawk Alley." "We are not going to get higher until we get to 1.95%. That seems to be the double tops that we keep seeing. What you are seeing here is people are saying the Fed is doing nothing and it's the complacency right now."

Yields hit their session lows after U.S. health officials said they diagnosed a second patient with the China coronavirus after a Chicago woman returned from Wuhan with the infection, and they are currently monitoring 63 other potential cases here.

The death toll in China rose to 25 and the amount of confirmed cases increased to 830. The virus originated in China, but cases have also been reported in the U.S., Japan and South Korea.

The World Health Organization on Thursday called the outbreak an "emergency in China," but said it didn't yet constitute a global public health emergency, helping to slightly ease fears over the epidemic.

Yields extended their losses Friday after a gauge on U.S. manufacturing sector showed weakness. The first reading of PMIs (Purchasing Managers Index) from IHS Markit for January came in at 51.7. Economists polled by Dow Jones were expecting a manufacturing reading of 52.2.

A reading above 50 shows an expansion in the industry.

Bond traders will closely monitor the Federal Reserve's policy meeting next week starting Tuesday. The central bank has vowed to keep interest rates steady unless it sees a significant and persistent move in inflation. The GDP data release on Thursday will also likely be market-moving.
Supporters of Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr gather in the capital Baghdad for a "million-strong" march to demand an end to the presence of US forces in their country, on January 24, 2020.

Thousands of Iraqis rallied at two central Baghdad intersections on Friday after a prominent cleric called for a "million strong" protest against the American military presence, following the U.S. killing of an Iranian general and an Iraqi militia chief.

The march called by Moqtada al-Sadr aims to pressure Washington to pull out its troops, but many anti-government protesters fear it could overshadow their separate, months-long demonstrations that have challenged Iran-backed Shi'ite groups' grip on power.

Sadr opposes all foreign interference in Iraq but has recently aligned himself more closely with Iran, whose allies have dominated state institutions since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Throngs of marchers started gathering early on Friday at al-Hurriya Square in central Baghdad and near around the city's main university, Reuters witnesses said. Marchers avoided Tahrir square, symbol of mass protests against Iraq' ruling elites.

"We want them all out - America, Israel, and the corrupt politicians in government," said Raed Abu Zahra, a health ministry worker from southern city of Samawa, who arrived by bus at night and stayed in Sadr City, a sprawling district of Baghdad controlled by the cleric's followers.

"We support the protests in Tahrir as well, but understand why Sadr held this protest here so it doesn't take attention from theirs," he added.

Men and women marched waving the red, white and black national colours, and chanted slogans against the United States, which leads a military coalition against the Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria.
Human rights advocates to discuss amendments to Russian Constitution

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

18:04 24/01/2020

MOSCOW, January 24 (RAPSI)  The Presidential Council for Human Rights will discuss amendments proposed by President Vladimir Putin to Russias Constitution on January 28, the advisory bodys Chairman Valery Fadeyev told journalists on Friday.

The Civic Chamber will discuss the amendments on January 29, according to the body s secretary Lydia Mikheyeva.

On January 23, the State Duma passed a bill on amendments to the Russian Constitution in the first reading.

President Vladimir Putin brought the bill before the parliament on January 20. He clarified the essence of the amendments proposed to the Constitution at a meeting with members of a working group established to elaborate the respective suggestions on January 16.

According to the President, the amendments are aimed to further the development of Russia as a social welfare state governed by the rule of law, as well as to achieve higher efficiency of its national institutions, strengthen the role played by its civil society, political parties, and Russias regions in working out most important decisions concerning the development of the state.

Vladimir Putin stated that Russia was to remain a Presidential republic, but a more open one, where the significance of its Parliament was to grow, whereas interrelations of lawmakers with the government were to be strengthened.

The President was to retain serious powers to dismiss from their posts those violating the law and those failing to be scrupulous about their duties on the basis of loss of trust, Putin said.

The Head of the State believes that these powers were imperative due to the complex state structure of Russia, its multi-confessional and multi-ethnic nature, and vast territory.

The working group on preparation of proposals concerning amendments to the Constitution was approved by the President on January 15. Among its members are representatives of the Federation Council, State Duma and other public figures.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has asked MEA officials to arrange visa for the family of an Indian student who was injured in an attack in Canada.

According to media reports, a 23-year-old Indian student was stabbed in Toronto on Thursday.

"Deeply shocked to learn of the serious attack on Rachel Albert, an Indian student in Toronto, Canada. Am asking MEA officials to help with her family's visa. Family members may immediately contact us on +91 9873983884," Jaishankar said in a tweet.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
President Rodrigo Duterte

MANILA, Philippines  President Rodrigo Duterte can terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States (US) even without the concurrence of the Senate, Malacanang said on Friday.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo issued the statement after the president threatened to scrap the VFA if the US government does not reverse the cancellation of Senator Ronald Bato dela Rosas visa.

Because it (VFA) is an executive agreement so he can cancel it without the approval of the Senate, Panelo said.

Dela Rosa on Wednesday confirmed to media that he is not allowed to travel to the US for now after he received notification about his visa cancellation.

The senator said the exact reason on why his US visa was cancelled remains unclear but he heard reports it might be linked to the Duterte administrations war on drugs that he spearheaded when he was the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) from 2016 to 2018.

The VFA, signed by Manila and Washington in 1998, is a bilateral deal which outlines the guidelines for the conduct of government troops when they are visiting the US or the Philippines.

Panelo said the US government should not intervene with the Philippines internal issues.

The Palace official also believes the presidents threat to cancel the VFA will not affect Filipino workers in the US.  RRD (with details from Correspondent Rosalie Coz)

The post Duterte can scrap PH-US Visiting Forces Agreement without Senate approval  Palace appeared first on UNTV News.
Finance Minister Mihaly Varga said Hungarys government could draft a budget without a deficit by 2022 or 2023 in an interview published in the latest issue of the weekly Mandiner.

Im a believer that there will be a break-even budget  one that doesnt cause a deficit  by 2022 or 2023 at the latest, Varga told the paper. That can only be achieved gradually, because the Hungarian economy is on a path of convergence, he added.



Hungarys government targeted a budget shortfall of 1.8% of GDP last year, calculated according to the European Unions accrual-based accounting rules. This year, the deficit is set to narrow to 1% of GDP.



Responding to criticism that tighter fiscal policy would mean a reduction of resources in areas such as health care, Varga said it had come to light in recent months that Hungarys health-care system is not underfinanced but rather faces structural challenges.



We put more money into the operation of the sector, but the debt keeps re-accumulating. There are management problems, too, which need to be changed, he said.



MTI Photo: Bruzak Noemi
YEREVAN.  It has been a long time that the Special Investigation Service investigators and police officers have been in the apartment of president Hrayr Tovmasyan of the Constitutional Court of Armenia, but the search has not yet begun. Amram Makinyan, one of Tovmasyan's legal defenders, said this in a conversation with journalists today.

According to him, a search should be carried out, there is a respective court order, but the search has not started yet, as the head of the investigation group is hindering the full realization of their rights.

"In particular, Mr. Tovmasyan and Mr. Mihran Poghosyan, a member of the [legal] defense team, are not given the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the court order," he explained. We have filed a relevant motion. This is an unprecedented practice in Armenias criminal proceedings that a person, a professional lawyer is not allowed to read the order. 

Makinyan added that Hrayr Tovmasyan is currently in his apartment.

The attorney also noted that the right of the legal defense team should be fully realized.

"The investigation begins after getting familiarized with the [respective] court order," the lawyer added, in particular. Now Mr. Tovmasyan's rights are again violated. And now the right to inviolability of residence is violated.

Hrayr Tovmasyan, President of the Constitutional Court of Armenia, has been charged with abuse of power. The decision to involve him as a defendant in the respective criminal case was made by the Prosecutor General on December 26, 2019, the same day that President Armen Sarkissian signed the law granting the serving Constitutional Court judges the opportunity to retire early.
Jair Bolsonaro will be the chief guest at India's 71st Republic Day Parade on January 26 (Photo Credit: Twitter @MOS_MEA)

New Delhi:

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Friday arrived on a four-day visit to India with an aim to further expand the already close strategic partnership with India. India and Brazil are likely to sign 15 agreements including in the fields of social security, bioenergy, cybersecurity, and health and medicine during his visit.

Jair Bolsonaro will be the chief guest at India's 71st Republic Day Parade on January 26, besides holding talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind. It will be the third time that a Brazilian President will be the chief guest at the Republic Day.

Brazilian President @jairbolsonaro arrives in India on 4-day visit. He will be the chief guest at #RepublicDayParade2020 on January 26.



Y: @MOS_MEA #JairBolsonaro pic.twitter.com/NIw3rQlbWd  News Nation (@NewsNationTV) January 24, 2020

Secretary (East) in the External Affairs Ministry Vijay Thakur Singh said the focus of the Brazilian president's visit will be to re-energise the ties in a number of key sectors.

"The visit of President Bolsonaro is an extremely important visit. It will be an opportunity to re-energise our strategic partnership and take it forward in a focused manner," she had said at a press conference on Thursday.

Bolsonaro is accompanied by eight ministers, four members of the Brazilian Parliament, senior officials and a large business delegation.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Wilmington's Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy

By David Zucchino

Atlantic. 426 pp. $28

---

In the sordid history of white supremacy and violence against blacks after the Civil War - attacks in Memphis and New Orleans in 1866, Atlanta in 1906, Springfield, Ill., in 1908, Chicago in 1919, and Tulsa in 1921, to name a few - Wilmington in 1898 stands apart. Well-armed whites not only murdered dozens of black citizens and effectively destroyed what had been a flourishing black community in the North Carolina city, they also staged a coup in which Democratic officials stole the statewide midterm election and then overthrew an elected biracial Fusionist government. In addition to launching a campaign of terror, the victors crafted a story that placed blame on the victims, a false narrative that would not be challenged, except by Charles W. Chesnutt's searing novel "The Marrow of Tradition" (1901), until the middle of the 20th century.

In "Wilmington's Lie," David Zucchino, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who has covered conflicts around the world, punctures the myths surrounding the insurrection and provides a dynamic and detailed account of the lives of perpetrators and victims.

Alfred Moore Waddell, one of the central figures who helped engineer the coup, had been active in speaking about the new state of race relations since the close of the Civil War. He had served briefly as an officer in the Confederate army and in Congress in the 1870s. After the war, he assured the freedmen of the "friendship and good will of the white people." Yet he also advised blacks not to settle in Wilmington, which, despite his efforts, had a black majority.

On Oct. 24, 1898, Waddell roused more than 1,000 white men and some women at Wilmington's Opera House with a speech extolling the necessity of white supremacy. He denounced the plight of whites forced to "live under the domination of Negroes." Rather than surrender to "a ragged rabble" of black men, he threatened to "choke the Cape Fear with Carcasses."

To men such as Waddell, ambitious blacks should be subdued; opinionated blacks should be lynched.

Alexander Manly owned and edited the Daily Record. Born in 1866, Manly could pass for white (his paternal grandfather was North Carolina Gov. Charles Manly), but he boasted that his paper was "of the Negro, for the Negro and (BEGIN ITAL)by(END ITAL) the Negro." On Aug. 18, Manly responded to a speech by Georgia writer Rebecca Latimer Felton that accused black men of lusting after white women and called for lynching - "a thousand times a week if necessary" - as a solution.

In his editorial, Manly rejected the trope of the predatory black man and suggested that since white men debauched black women, white women could choose to have relations with whomever they pleased. Reprinted across the South with headlines such as "White Women Slandered," the editorial, observed one writer, "shook the state from the mountains to the sea."

Threatened with death, Manly somehow survived as Wilmington's white citizens, emboldened by a statewide white-supremacy campaign advanced by Josephus Daniels' Raleigh newspaper, the News and Observer, planned their takeover. Various factions, including a Committee of Twenty-Five run by Waddell, a local cabal known as the Secret Nine and members of the paramilitary Red Shirts (in a narrative crowded with characters, it is sometimes difficult to keep the groups straight), schemed to overthrow a Fusionist party of Republicans and Populists that had triumphed, in part, by embracing black voters and rewarding them with positions as aldermen, magistrates and police officers.

On Election Day, Nov. 8, Democrats stuffed ballot boxes as armed white men intimidated black residents and prevented them from voting. Their efforts were so successful, they flipped New Hanover County from a 960-vote Fusionist majority in 1896 to a 500-vote Democratic margin in 1898. In one precinct, a Democratic candidate received 113 more votes than the total number of registered voters. Democrats now controlled the state and the county. In the aftermath, across North Carolina, new franchise laws purged black voters from the rolls, from 126,000 in 1896 to 6,100 in 1902.

On Nov. 10, Waddell led a mob through the streets of Wilmington. He claimed that black citizens had not responded to a "White Declaration of Independence" that demanded Manly's departure and black acknowledgment of white rule. Thirsting to lynch the editor, marauding whites stormed the Record's office, but Manly had escaped the day before, and the mob settled for torching the building, owned by a black fraternal organization, the Grand United Order of Love and Charity.

The Committee of Twenty-Five forced the resignation of the Fusionist mayor, police chief and board of aldermen and installed Waddell as mayor. Men carrying rifles and shotguns, supported by a Light Infantry militia, opened fire on crowds gathered in Wilmington's black neighborhood, known as Brooklyn. Some residents were shot in the back. The mob had spread rumors that armed black men were planning an insurrection and then used those rumors to justify indiscriminate killings. There were no indictments.

After the massacre, Democrats banished white and black Republican leaders. Hundreds of terrified black families fled their homes and camped out for weeks in cemeteries and swamps before returning to town; more than 2,000 black residents moved out permanently. The city's black population plunged from 56% in 1898 to 40% in 1930. It currently stands at about 18%.

"The coup," Zucchino concludes, "transformed Wilmington from an American mecca for blacks to a bastion of white supremacy virulently hostile to its black citizens."

Deeply researched and profoundly relevant, "Wilmington's Lie" explains how that happened and suggests how much work remains to be done to come to terms with what took place.

---

Masur is a professor of American studies and history at Rutgers University and the author of numerous books, including "The Civil War: A Concise History."
A top Arab Affairs Directorate official yesterday called for better coordination between world nations to address Irans destabilising activities in the region and the world. Arab countries are keen on establishing relations with Iran, Ambassador Abdulaziz Mohammed Abdulla Aleid said, but that should be based on good neighbourliness and non-interference in the internal affairs of countries.

Iran, however, has defied all those and continues to interfere in the affairs of Bahrain and other Arab countries, the Director of Arab Affairs Directorate said. He was addressing the eighth meeting of the League of Arab States Permanent Representatives and Members of the EU Political and Security Committee of the Council of the European Union in Brussels, Belgium held in which Bahrain took part.

Iran, Abdulla Aleid pointed out, is smuggling arms and inciting sectarian strife to undermine the security and stability of Bahrain and the rest of the brotherly Arab countries. Houthi militias supported by them are continuing their attacks on Saudi Arabia and tankers and commercial vessels in the territorial waters of the United Arab Emirates.

In this regard, there is a need to ensure the freedom of maritime navigation in international waters, he said highlighting the international conference on gulf navigation and maritime security held in Bahrain from October 21 to 22, 2019 with the participation of more than 60 countries. On Yemen, the Director of Arab Affairs Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hailed the efforts of the Arab Coalition in establishing stability and security, stressing Bahrains sacrifices to support legitimacy in Yemen.

Ambassador Aleid reiterated Kingdoms supports in all efforts aimed at establishing peace in Yemen. The meeting held discussions on the developments of the situations in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Lebanon, and Iran, as well as on counter-terrorism issues and its funding, migration issues, refugees and displaced persons.

The final communique reaffirmed the strengthening of the European-Arab partnership as an appropriate regional response and their commitment to effective multilateralism and an international system based on respect for international law.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan.24

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) country office in Azerbaijan are successfully implementing the project on Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) for low-carbon end-use sectors of the country.

The NAMA project, an agreement on which was signed in February of 2015, includes three components: 1) SOCARs Green Building Program; 2) Sustainable Transport at SOCAR; 3) SOCARs Associated Gas Program.

SOCAR told Trend that the company has carried out a series of activities on each component of the project.

In particular, as part of the Associated Gas Program, Zaghli-Zeyve field of SOCARs Siyazanneft Oil and Gas Production Unit was chosen as a pilot area, where joint work was carried out for collecting associated gas, said the company.

Instrumental measurement work was carried out in 63 wells on Zaghli-Zeyve area as part of the project. Samples of associated gas were taken from 20 wells and were analyzed for associated gas content. New compressor and separator equipment, cooling systems and online control systems have been installed at three gas collecting points in the area, and a 32 km gas pipeline has been laid there. Opening ceremony of compressor stations for collecting associated gas on the area of Zaghli-Zeyve field was held on September 23, said the company.

SOCAR said that as a result of implementation of the project, it is planned to collect 6.8 million cubic meters of associated gas.

What makes the project special, is that after being processed, the associated gas will be used to meet the populations demand. The project supports the use of energy-saving and low-emission technologies in the country, said the company.

SOCAR said that all these measures will be a great contribution to the fulfillment of Paris Agreement and in general, to ensuring the countrys sustainable development.

---

Follow the author on Twitter:@Lyaman_Zeyn
Lucknow, Jan 24 : Actor Vidyut Jammwal is in Lucknow for "Khuda Hafiz". He says the schedule has been a rollercoaster ride.

The "Commando 3" actor started shooting for the film last year in October and finished the first schedule in Uzbekistan. Now, the makers have begun the shoot in Mumbai and Lucknow. This will be followed by a final schedule in Manali, making sure that the film is wrapped by the first week of February.

"'Khuda Hafiz' is a special film and I fell in love with the script the first time I heard it. The first schedule was quite exciting in Uzbekistan. My character is different from what I have played in the past. The schedule (Lucknow) has been a roller-coaster ride and we are having a great time shooting," said Vidyut.

Directed by Faruk Kabir, the romantic-action-thriller co-stars Shivaleeka Oberoi, who recently made her debut in "Yeh Saali Aashiqui", opposite late Amrish Puri's grandosn Vardhan Puri.

The film is produced by Kumar Mangat Pathak and Abhishek Pathak and co-produced by Sanjeev Joshi, Aditya Chowksey and Murlidhar Chhatwani. It will be distributed pan-India by Anand Pandit Motion Pictures and Panorama Films.
House Democrats blast Trumps attempts to damage rival Joe Biden in fourth day of the Senate impeachment trial.

Democrats worked methodically at United States President Donald Trumps impeachment trial on Thursday to dismantle his long-standing allegation that Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden acted improperly towards Ukraine while vice president.

On the second day of their arguments for Trumps removal from office, Democratic House of Representatives members acting as prosecutors argued that Biden was carrying out official US policy when he pressured Ukraine to fire its top prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, because of corruption concerns.

Trump and his allies maintain that Biden wanted Shokin out in order to head off an investigation into a natural gas company, Burisma, where his son Hunter served as a director. Democrats said no evidence supported that allegation.

Democrats argued, instead, that Trump pushed the Ukrainian government to probe Biden and his son because he was worried about facing the former vice president in Novembers election. Biden is the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination.

There was no basis for the investigation that the president was pursuing and pushing. None. He was doing it only for his own political benefit, US Representative Sylvia Garcia said on the Senate floor.

Democrats contend senators should convict Trump on two charges brought by the Democratic-led House  abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

But the Senate, which is controlled by Trumps fellow Republicans, remains unlikely to do so. A two-thirds majority is needed to remove him from office.

Lead manager House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff delivers an opening argument in the US Senate Chamber [US Senate TV/Reuters]

The US Constitution sets out the impeachment process for removing a president who commits high crimes and misdemeanours. Trumps legal team has argued that the House charges were invalid because impeachable offences must represent a specific violation of criminal law.

Trump condemned the proceedings as unfair & corrupt in a Twitter post on Thursday.

The charges against Trump arise from his request in a July 25 phone call last year that Ukraine investigate Biden on unsubstantiated corruption allegations and the presidents actions to impede a House inquiry into the matter.

Trump also asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate a discredited theory beneficial to Russia that Ukraine worked with Democrats to hurt Trump in the 2016 US election. Trump temporarily withheld $391m in US military aid to Ukraine, which Democrats say was leverage for his demands.

Opened the door

Trumps lawyers quickly argued that by bringing up the Bidens, Democrats had made their conduct a relevant subject for the rest of the trial.

They opened the door. They opened the door and its now relevant, Jay Sekulow, a personal lawyer for the president and a member of his defence team, told reporters at the Capitol. So we will address the appropriate issues as defence lawyers would.

Trumps lawyers are likely to begin their defence of the president on Saturday after House Democrats finish their opening arguments.

Trumps personal lawyer Jay Sekulow speaks to the media during a break in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, [Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo] Trumps personal lawyer Jay Sekulow speaks to the media during a break in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, [Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo]

Some Republicans have floated the idea of getting one or both of the Bidens to testify next week in exchange for witnesses like former National Security Advisor John Bolton. Democrats have dismissed the prospect, saying it would only give legitimacy to baseless conspiracy theories.

These are what we call irrelevant, not relevant witnesses. Distractions is another word, said Democratic Senator Mazie Hirono.

Speaking on the Senate floor, Garcia argued Trump did not pressure Ukraine to investigate corruption and had supported sending military aid to the country until Biden announced his presidential bid in early 2019.

She pointed out that in the months before Trump asked Ukraine to investigate the Bidens, polls had been showing that Biden would beat Trump in a presidential matchup. In May, she said a Fox News poll showed Biden beating Trump by 11 points.

This clearly did not go unnoticed, she said.

Garcia also poured cold water on a conspiracy theory offered by some Trump defenders that Ukraine, not Russia, had interfered in the 2016 US election.

If this sounds far-fetched and crazy, it should, because it is, Garcia said.

US intelligence agencies and former Special Counsel Robert Mueller concluded that Russia used a campaign of hacking and social media propaganda to interfere in the election to sow discord in the US and boost Trumps candidacy against Democrat Hillary Clinton. Moscow has denied meddling in the election.

The Democrats displayed a November quote from Russian President Vladimir Putin saying: Thank God nobody is accusing us any more of interfering in the US elections. Now theyre accusing Ukraine.

Restless days

Signs emerged on the second day of arguments that the Democratic case was losing some of the publics attention. There were empty seats in the gallery overlooking the Senate floor.

Television ratings were down. About 8.9 million viewers watched the first day of arguments on Wednesday, falling short of the roughly 11 million who watched on Monday, according to Nielsen ratings data.

Senators also showed increasing signs of restlessness, with many wandering to the rear of the chamber where they could make phone calls and check their smartphones.

Republican Senator Richard Burr handed out fidget spinners, small toys designed to be spun between the fingers, to his colleagues before Thursdays trial proceedings began.

Burr was seen playing with a blue spinner while listening to arguments by House manager Jerrold Nadler Other senators, including Republicans Tom Cotton and Pat Toomey were also seen with spinners on their desks.

While it remains a long shot for Democrats to secure Trumps removal through impeachment, the trial gives them a venue to inflict political damage on him in the run-up to the November election, with millions of Americans watching the televised proceedings.

Before Thursdays arguments began, some Republican senators said they had heard nothing new in the presentation made by the Democratic managers and had already decided to vote for acquittal.
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said he has 'no problems' with President Donald Trump amid talk of a reduction in the number of US troops operating in Central Asia, CNBC reported.

I am one of the few leaders that has an excellent relationship with Trump, Ashraf Ghani told CNBCs Hadley Gamble at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

I have no problems dealing with President Trump, he said, while discussing whether the United States is leaving the region behind. I frame my relationship in terms of priorities that hes promised the American people ... the question is how do we find common ground, and where is common ground, to be able to move forward?

NBC News has earlier reported that the Trump administration plans to announce the withdrawal of about 4,000 troops from Afghanistan. A former US Defense Department spokesperson told NBC News that this would be part of an attempt to resume talks with the Taliban.

Trump has long criticized the war in Afghanistan and insists on reducing US forces in the country. According to Ghani, the reduction in the number of US troops in Afghanistan will not have much impact on the country.

He noted that, compared with five years earlier, the number of foreign troops in Afghanistan is small. When asked if he expects a complete withdrawal of US troops from the country in the next decade, Ghani responded positively.
A handyman who stabbed a heroic police officer repeatedly in the head with a machete when in a rage that his van had been stopped for being uninsured has been jailed for 16 years.

Muhammad Rodwan, 56, swung the rusty weapon at least four times at Pc Stuart Outten when the traffic stop spiralled into violence, leaving the officer with deep wounds to his head and needing emergency hospital treatment.

Pc Outten, 29, who was dubbed Britains bravest police officer in the wake of the attack, received the Evening Standards Progress 1000 London Hero Award for his heroics that night.

Rodwan was cleared on Thursday of attempted murder but convicted of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Sentencing him to 16 years in prison with an extra three years on licence once released, Mrs Justice Carr rejected Rodwans claim of self-defence on Friday and branded him a significant risk to members of the public.

This was a brutal and shocking attack with a machete on a police officer carrying out his duties during what should have been a routine stop of your van, she said.

The judge said Pc Outten had no option but to use force against Rodwan to try to detain him, and the handyman had initiated the violence.

The situation was entirely of your own making  all you had to do was cease resisting arrest, as you well knew, and then the struggle would have stopped.

Pc Outten told you in terms to stop fighting, stop resisting, but you were in a rage  you chose to cause unnecessary violence with the machete.

She praised Pc Outten for his presence of mind and fortitude in managing to stop Rodwans attack with his Taser, adding: I have no doubt he feared for his life.

Had Pc Outten not managed to disable you, you would have continued your attack.

Dramatic footage of the attack, from bodyworn cameras of Pc Outten and his colleague Pc Helen Brooks as well as mobile phone clips taken by eyewitnesses, captured the sound of Rodwans blade striking Pc Outtens head, followed by a desperate cry from the officer of machete.

The incident began just after midnight on August 8 last year, when the police officers on a routine patrol pulled over Rodwans white van for not having insurance.

The handyman initially tried to ignore the blue lights stop, but then emerged from his van to say: Are you going to knock me down? What do you want?.

Rodwan had been smoking cannabis that day and admitted he was angry with police because Im always being stopped. However a search of the police database later found no record of him previously being pulled over by the Met.

Pc Outten collapses after the attack / PA

Rodwan attempted to flee when told he was suspected of not having insurance, and then kicked Pc Outten in the chest before punching him twice in the face.

As the officer tried to arrest him and subdue him with a throat hold, Rodwan reached into the back of his van to arm himself with the machete, which he said had been used for gardening work.

Rodwans dreadlocks were pulled out in the tussle, and he let out high-pitched squeal before launching the machete attack on Pc Outten. After landing the blows, Rodwan was caught on camera rushing from the van at the officer with the weapon held aloft, only to be stopped in his tracks by Pc Outtens Taser.

The officer said his first attempt to fire the Taser failed and he was saved from further injury by the gun having a second bolt.

Everything happened so quickly, there was almost no time to allow fear or any other emotion, he said.

Some of the injuries the police officer suffered / PA

As soon as I realised I was getting hit on the head with a machete, I knew I had to back away and get space to use my Taser.

He was approaching me, swinging the machete, as quickly as I was backing off. When I shot him the first time, it didnt work.

I was on the ground, pretty much on my back. I thought, Right Ive got one more shot. If this doesnt work, Im dead. I wouldnt have the strength in me, with the injuries I had already sustained, to stop him if the second one failed too.

Rodwan was unrepentant after his arrest, insisting he was the one who had been attacked and told the custody Sergeant: My life is worth more than his life.

He told the court he had been living out of his van prior to the attack.

Pc Mathews was among dozens of police officers who rushed to the scene after hearing of the attack, and - revealing his marriage proposal - Pc Outten said: After everything Lizzie has been through, its the least I could do.

Rodwan, from Luton, denied all the charges. He was convicted of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and acquitted of attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon.
It's the longest running non-musical play in the history of the United States; look it up in the Guinness Book of World Records if you don't believe me. There's been 50 different productions in the United States, and it has been translated into 23 foreign languages and performed in Spain, Brazil, France, South Africa and Israel (to name a handful of nations).

In January 1980, the team of actor-director Bruce Jordan and actor Marilyn Abrams brought their improvisational comedy "Shear Madness" to Boston's Charles Playhouse for a pre-Broadway trial run. It didn't get to Broadway. Instead, Charles Playhouse became its permanent base of operations, and a launching pad for one of the most unique and successful shows going.

Abrams and Jordan are celebrating the 40th anniversary of that Boston debut this month. While January may celebrate the play's official start, the roots of "Shear Madness" and its actual beginnings can be traced back to 1976 and the Capital Region.

"I grew up in New York (City), lived in New York, but at that time I was bringing up my family in Albany," Abrams recalled.

An actress who had a "big preference in doing musical comedy," Abrams was active in the local theater scene, performing with the Albany Civic Theater and Schenectady Light Opera. Back in NYC she had performed in "I Do I Do," and when a Lake George theater company chose to launch its own production of it in 1976, casting Abrams was an obvious choice.

"Bruce was the director," she said. "We became friends right away."

The pair kept in touch after "I Do I Do" wrapped that summer. Then Jordan had an idea that changed the course of both their lives: take a serious, participatory German murder mystery play and turn it into a comedy that's largely improvisation and audience interaction.

"When Bruce showed me his idea, at that time, if I hadn't worked with him before, I would have run out the door," Abrams remarked. "It was a very unusual idea at that time, incredibly unusual to have something that uses the audience and improvisation like this."

The basic structure of "Shear Madness" is as follows: there's a hairdresser (originally played by Jordan) and his manicurist assistant (portrayed by Abrams). There's a murder, and through a series of spectator questions and engagement, the crime is solved.

For its trial runs in 1978 and 1979, Jordan and Abrams returned to the scene of their first collaboration. The Lake George incarnations of "Shear Madness" were crucial for a multitude of reasons. Neither of them were masters of improvisational theater; in fact, Abrams stated that she "was scared to death" at first. These performances allowed them to hone those skills. They also gave them their first taste of playing off the audience, what to expect and how to make that portion run smoothly.

"We spent two summers in Lake George and got used to what to expect," Abrams said. "We had to think very much on our feet once the audience became involved. As there were more and more questions, we became more and more comfortable with the audiences. It was interactive and immersive before those were buzzwords.

"That's what has helped keep it so fresh for the past for 40 years," she added. "As an actor, you need to be in character throughout and be ready for whatever the audience is going to do. It keeps you on your toes."

After two successful summers in Lake George, Abrams and Jordan were asked to bring the show to Boston. After a disappointing start in winter 1980, "Shear Madness" found success in the summertime. From there, the pair performed and co-produced it in Philadelphia, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and eventually Europe.

In addition to the improvisational and participatory aspects, Abrams feels that part of what's helped "Shear Madness" endure is its ability to adapt to the local flavor and happenings of wherever it's being presented.

"It always takes place in whatever city we're in, so it's always topical to local humor and dialect," she enthused. "The fact that it's located wherever it plays, at the current day in that city, means people never see the same show twice. The clues change all the time, too. And so do the suspects."

"Shear Madness" last played in the Capital Region back in 2009 with a run at Capital Repertory. This summer, Abrams plans to bring it back to Lake George. With the show hitting the 40-year milestone in Boston, Abrams has been more reflective than normal and looks forward to bringing it back to the place where it all started.

"Right now, it's very exciting and still a lot of fun," Abrams said. I have to say that now that we're in celebration of 40 years, I think about it a lot, the early days in Lake George.

"I still pray for rain every opening night because it rained the first night in Lake George," she added. "I think about those days much more now than before."

Jim Shahen Jr. is a frequent contributor to the Times Union.
The Third Criminal Court has upheld the sentence handed down to the Assistant Undersecretary, who is convicted of falsifying his academic degrees from bachelors to doctoral, which he claimed he had obtained from a European university. A lower court had earlier imprisoned him for three years.

Southern Governorate Prosecutor Mohamed Salah said the Public Prosecution had completed its investigations into the incident, which found the official guilty of committing the crime. Investigations proved that the accused fabricated scientific degrees from fake universities abroad, and used these artificial certificates by presenting them to higher officials.

It is learned that the convict possesses only two true certificates: a high school diploma and a diploma from the University of Bahrain,and that the rest of his certificates were all forged and issued by fake foreign universities.
Infosys fell 0.84% to Rs 777.95 on reports that the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is likely to probe whistleblower allegations of alleged financial irregularities at the company.

According to the media reports, Sebi is set to order a forensic audit into Infosys' books following whistleblowers' allegations that its top executives were involved in financial irregularities.

On 21 October, an anonymous whistleblowers accused the chief executive officer (CEO) Salil Parekh and chief financial officer (CFO) Nilanjan Roy of "unethical practices".

On 22 October, the IT major's stock plummeted 16.21% on the BSE.

Infosys in its statement to the bourses on 2 November 2019 said that the anonymous complaints make certain allegations. There is no supporting evidence to substantiate the allegations. Two of the anonymous complaints were received on 30 September 2019. On 16 October 2019, the company was made aware of a letter that refers to 30 September 2019 complaint purportedly written to the office of whistleblower protection program, Washington D.C.

The anonymous complaints were placed before the audit committee and the non-executive members of the board, in accordance with the whistleblower practice of the company.

The company's chairman, Nandan Nilekani, on 6 November 2019, stated that "these speculations are appalling and seem to be aimed at tarnishing the image of some of the most accomplished and respected individuals. I have deep regard for the life-long contribution of all our cofounders. They have built this institution and have served this company selflessly and even today, remain committed to the long-term success of Infosys."

After unveiling Q3 results in January 2020, Infosys announced conclusion of the independent investigation into allegations contained in the anonymous whistleblower complaints disclosed earlier. The Audit Committee determined that the allegations are substantially without merit. It concluded that no restatement of previously announced financial statements or other published financial information is warranted.

On the sidelines of a financial markets summit organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, Ajay Tyagi, Chairman, Sebi, reportedly said, "The investors, if they want, can take comfort from Infosys statement but our probe is still on. This is all I can tell you."

Sebi is also investigating a huge build-up of derivatives positions in the stock before allegations of accounting malpractices were made public, the reports added.

In an exchange filing made during market hours today, the IT major said the company had received letters from regulatory authorities seeking information on the anonymous whistleblower investigation. The company continues to cooperate with regulatory authorities. The company has not received any request from Sebi to conduct further audits as reported by media on 23 January 2020.

On a consolidated basis, Infosys' net profit rose 10.9% to Rs 4,457 crore on 2% increase in revenues to Rs 23,092 crore in Q3 December 2019 over Q2 September 2019.

Infosys provides IT consulting and software services, including e-business, program management and supply chain solutions. The company targets businesses specializing in the insurance, banking, telecommunication and manufacturing sectors.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Photo: Sascha Franck/Flickr

Here's what you need to know about what's happening in Detroit.

Man sues TCF Bank over alleged discrimination

Sauntore Thomas, 44, says when he tried to deposit settlement checks from a previous racial discrimination lawsuit at the bank, he was asked where he got the money.

Read the full story on The New York Times.

New report shows Detroit diversifying, but anxieties around race remain

No U.S. city grew more in diversity than Detroit over the last decade.

Read the full story on Curbed Detroit.

Jamaican Pot delays New Center opening

The owners of Jamaican Pots second spot had intended to open the new location on Jan. 23.

Read the full story on Detroit Metro Times.

Detroiters have second chance to apply for thousands of Fiat Chrysler plant jobs

To be eligible to apply early, residents must attend one of the more than 400 job readiness events Detroit at Work is holding through March.

Read the full story on The Detroit News.

Photos: Earl Cureton's jersey retirement ceremony at Detroit Mercy

The jersey retirement ceremony was held on Thursday.

Read the full story on Detroit Free Press.

This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
Former students' union president of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Faizul Hasan criticised Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and said that he is from a community that can destroy anything 'if it resolves to do the same'.

"If you want to see the limits of patience, then see Indian Muslims' limit of patience after 1947 till 2020. We never tried to break up India, otherwise we are from that community that if we resolve to destroy, we have enough anger to not leave anything," Hasan said while addressing an anti-Citizenship (Amendment) Act. protest gathering.

He also challenged the Union Home Minister for a debate on the issue of CAA and said, "Amit Shah should come and debate with our class 12th student. Hopefully, he won't be able to win. Even if they give five points, then I will stand with him (Shah) and protest in favour of CAA".

Later while speaking to ANI, Hasan invoked the bravery of Param Vir Chakra awardee Abdul Hamid to assert that support from minority community will strengthen the country.

"Veer Abdul Hamid destroyed 22 tankers of Pakistan, alone. If Amit Shah and Yogi had shown love and 22 crore Muslims were with them, then no country would have dared to look upon them (koe bhi desh inki taraf aankh uthakar nahi dekh pata)", he told ANI.

He also clarified that they harboured no hatred towards any government but there should be no divisive politics on the basis of religion.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Trump attorney Jay Sekulow can hardly wait for his turn in the Senate impeachment trial. Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

On the second day of the House impeachment managers presentation of the case for removing Donald Trump from office (and the third day of the trial altogether) those who have been paying close attention to the House and Senate proceedings may have felt like theyve heard most of the arguments already. But Democrats are really talking to members of the public who havent necessarily tuned in, and are taking advantage of the opportunity to make a coherent case without Republican interruptions. Like they did on Wednesday, they made abundant use of video and other records from the House impeachment hearings.

The plan on Thursday was to focus on the law and the facts underlying the first article of impeachment alleging abuse of power in the presidents efforts to use Ukraine to help him embarrass Joe Biden, a possible 2020 Democratic opponent. Judiciary Committee chairman Jerrold Nadler made the extended case that abuse of power  even if there was no violation of any statute  was an impeachable crime and misdemeanor according to the Founders understanding of this power.

When it came to the factual basis for the abuse of power allegation, the managers made two arguments relentlessly. The first was that Trumps campaign to get Ukraine to operate as a personal opposition research outfit aimed at the Bidens came, as Hakeem Jeffries put it, to totally dominate almost every aspect of U.S. foreign policy toward Ukraine . . . as directed by President Donald John Trump. And repeating what has become a catchphrase for Democrats, Jeffries noted that everyone (involved in Ukraine policy) was in the loop, most notably Trump and his henchman Rudy Giuliani.

The second closely associated argument was that in pursuing his political objectives, Trump ignored broader national security and foreign-policy interests, which therefore cannot serve as a shield for his abuse of power. As Val Demings said, in another refrain: When it came down to choosing between the national interests of the country and his own personal interests  his reelection  President Trump chose himself.

In what was less an element of their argument than a prebuttal of what they expect the presidents attorneys to emphasize, the managers spent a lot of time defending the Bidens and denying they had anything to do with any legitimate investigation of corruption. Some Republicans will undoubtedly claim this discussion justifies a sustained focus on the family in the remainder of the trial, but that was inevitable anyway.

Adam Schiffs closing argument was interesting, returning to the Trump-Zelensky call record that the GOP has made such a big deal about. He noted that even in that account, Trump implied that the United States was not satisfied with what it received from Ukraine, and directed Zelensky to deal with Rudy Giuliani and William Barr. Everyone was in the loop, indeed.

As was the case yesterday, there were countercurrents running through the Senate even as the managers spoke. Todays big backstory was an emerging Republican argument that calling witnesses (the possibility that lurks at the end of this phase of the trial) would just lead to endless litigation, as CNN reports:

A growing number of Republicans are pointing to President Donald Trumps threat to invoke executive privilege in order to make their case against subpoenas sought by Democrats for key witnesses and documents, a development that could bolster Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells goal of a swift end to the impeachment trial.

GOP senators are privately and publicly raising concerns that issuing subpoenas  to top officials like acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and former national security adviser John Bolton and for documents blocked by the White House  will only serve to drag out the proceedings. Plus, many say theres little appetite for such a time-consuming fight, given that legal battles may ultimately not be successful and could force the courts to rule on hugely consequential constitutional issues about the separation of powers between the branches of government.

Its particularly significant that one of the senators making this sort of argument is Alaskas Lisa Murkowski, one of the four Republicans who Democrats hope will join with them to support a motion to call at least one witness:

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a key GOP swing vote, says shes undecided about backing a subpoena for key witness testimony or to force the White House to produce documents. But when asked Thursday if she had concerns about an executive privilege fight tying up the impeachment trial, Murkowski questioned the House Democrats decision to skip the courts because they wanted to avoid a drawn-out legal battle.

The House made a decision that they didnt want to slow things down by having to go through the courts, Murkowski told CNN. And yet now theyre basically saying you guys gotta go through the courts. We didnt, but we need you to.

Meanwhile, another potential swing senator, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, has been exceptionally quiet.

The third and final day of the House Democratic presentation tomorrow is expected to concentrate to a considerable extent on the second article of impeachment alleging obstruction of Congress: Trumps systematic refusal to allow White House cooperation with the Houses impeachment inquiry. That argument will lead directly into closing statements urging that the Senate obtain the witnesses and documents the House was denied. Then well get three days of thunder and lightning  if probably no new facts and not a lot of logic  from Team Trump.
More than 60 workers at a financial administration company based in Londonderry fear their jobs could be at risk

More than 60 workers at a financial administration company based in Londonderry fear their jobs could be at risk.

Computershare, which provides mortgage services for a number of banks, said just 16 of 66 jobs will go.

But, with a further 20 jobs cut last July, some workers at the base said they feel insecure about their future.

One worker, who did not want to be identified, told the Belfast Telegraph staff who are affected by the news feel that even if their jobs are saved this time, there will be longer-term uncertainty.

He said: "There are 66 people waiting to see if they will lose their jobs in this latest round of redundancies, but whether they do or not they feel it is only a matter of time before they are out of work.

"These are people with families, mortgages and who are extremely stressed about their futures."

The company employs nearly 280 people in Derry, which is one of 90 bases around the world.

A spokesman for Computershare said: "We regularly review our operational footprint to make sure it is fit for purpose.

"We remain committed to the Derry office, and have recently created 11 new roles there, although as part of a restructure of our loan services business in the UK, 16 roles in Derry have been placed at risk of redundancy.

"We'll try to move anyone affected into other roles whenever we can and will communicate regularly with our staff throughout the process."

Brian McDaid from the union Aegis said efforts to save all jobs are ongoing.
The production of renewable energy in the Grand Duchy, one of the lowest in Europe, should still allow it to achieve its objective.

Although Luxembourg is one of the European countries with the lowest share of renewable energies, it is "on track" to achieve its environmental objectives.

According to data published this week by Eurostat and the Ministry of Energy, the country is very close to its 2020 target of 11% renewable energy in its final energy consumption. The country has already achieved its biannual target for 2017-2018 of 7.67%. With figures currently at around 9.1%, the remaining two percentage points are expected to follow through "statistical transfers" with Lithuania and Estonia.

Despite this technical manoeuvre which will allow Luxembourg to fulfil its objectives, Minister for Energy Claude Turmes expressed a positive outlook about the Grand Duchy's productions. In an answer to a parliamentary question by dei Greng MP Semiray Ahmedova, Turmes indicated that the number of photovoltaic power plants increased by 60% between 2013 and 2018. Wind power production also increased by 200% thanks to higher and more efficient installations.

However, it is not all positive for the Grand Duchy. Only Malta and the Netherlands rank lower in terms on renewable energy, and Luxembourg will also have to counterbalance the large sales of petroleum products which are weighing on its energy balance. The government wants green electricity to represent between 23 and 25% of its final consumption by 2030.
A detailed report on whether Pakistan has complied with the action plan prescribed by global anti-terror watchdog FATF to contain terrorism will be discussed extensively during the group's plenary meeting in Paris next month, French diplomatic sources said on Friday.

They said France is determined to continue combating money laundering and terror financing, and will objectively evaluate without any concession Pakistan's actions in containing terrorism.

There was indication that Pakistan may be out of the 'Grey List' of FATF following active backing it received from China as well as tactical support extended by some Western countries during a meeting of FATF's Asia/Pacific chapter in Beijing on Wednesday.

The meeting in Beijing analysed Pakistan's situation from a technical point of view, said the sources.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) had prescribed a time-bound action plan to Pakistan to effectively contain terror networks operating from its soil.

A report on the actions undertaken by Pakistan for implementing its plan of action will be presented in February during the FATF plenary meeting in Paris, they said.

The FATF is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.

In June 2018, the FATF placed Pakistan on its 'Grey List' and was given a plan of action to meet certain targets by October, 2019 or face the risk of being placed on the blacklist along with Iran and North Korea.

In its plenary in October last year, the FATF found that Pakistan complied with only five out of the 27 tasks given to it in controlling funding of terror groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen.

The deadline, then, was extended to February, 2020.

The FATF plenary is now expected to carry out a full review of Pakistan's compliance of the actions recommended by the global body.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
tim cook

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Apple met with Ukraine's foreign minister at the World Economic Forum in Davos, in what appears to be the first public meeting after Apple's controversial decision to display Crimea as Russian territory on two of its most popular apps.

Ukraine's foreign minister Vadym Prystaiko tweeted a picture of himself with Apple executive Lisa Jackson, and said some "outstanding issues" of a political nature were up for discussion.

In November 2019, Apple started to display Crimea as Russian territory on its Maps and Weather apps from inside Russia  a move slammed by Prystaiko and other critics.

Business Insider has approached Apple for comment and clarification about the way it plans to display Crimea on its Apple Maps and Weather apps when viewed from Russia.

Business Insider has also approached Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Apple executive Lisa Jackson met with Ukraine's foreign minister Vadym Prystaiko at Davos, two months after Apple controversially altered two apps to display annexed Crimea as part of Russia.

Prystaiko tweeted a photo of himself alongside Jackson, Apple's vice president of environment, policy, and social initiatives.

His tweet said the pair discussed Apple's "next steps" in the Ukrainian market, with a follow-up tweet hinting that the Crimea issue was also discussed.

He wrote: "[Ukraine has a] growing pool of loyal customers, creative IT class, improving business climate  all the ingredients for beneficial cooperation are in place."

In a follow-up he added: "2/2 Protection of IPR, 'grey market sales' and some outstanding issues of a political nature are being resolved, too."

This appears to be the first public meeting since Apple altered its apps.

Story continues

In November 2019, Apple started to display Crimea as Russian territory on Apple Maps and its Weather app when the apps were viewed from Russia.

Crimea is internationally recognized as part of Ukraine but was annexed by Russia by 2014. The UN has declared the Moscow referendum which led to that annexation illegal. The US has also rejected Russia's annexation of the region.

But Apple was in discussions with the Russian Duma for several months over how to display Crimea in its apps  with the Duma insisting Apple correct what it saw as an "inaccuracy."

When Apple's decision to show Crimea as part of Russia became apparent in November, Prystaiko condemned the company, comparing it to "[somebody] ignorant [that] doesn't give a damn about your pain."

At the time, Apple issued a statement explaining that it had altered its apps inside Russia thanks to a new law that "required us to update the map within Russia." The company added that it was "taking a deeper look at how we handle disputed borders in our services and may make changes in the future as a result."

It's not yet clear if Apple has changed, or plans to change, the way it displays Crimea on its Apple Maps and Weather apps when viewed from Russia.

Business Insider has approached Apple and Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment.

Read the original article on Business Insider
WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Washington Area Hyundai Dealers, The Washington Auto Show, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Children's National Hospital are teaming up to help fight pediatric cancer through the Hyundai Hands On Hope Contest at the 2020 Washington Auto Show. A longtime staple of The Washington Auto Show, the Hyundai Hands On Contest requires hearty contestants to remain in constant contact with a Hyundai vehicle over multiple days (with a few breaks), all with the hope of driving away in a brand-new Hyundai.

This year's contest is called "Hands on Hope: 50 Hours for $100,000." Contestants will compete for a brand-new 2020 Hyundai Venue over the 50-hour contest period. What makes this contest unique is that the contestants will also be competing for $100,000 in pediatric research grants for their medical centers.

This year's six contestants will be selected from a pool of employees from Georgetown Lombardi and Children's National  three contestants will form "Team Georgetown Lombardi" and three will form "Team Children's National." As part of this contest, the medical center where the winning contestant works will receive a $60,000 pediatric cancer research grant to move us ever closer to a cure for pediatric cancer. The runner-up medical center will receive a $40,000 pediatric cancer research grant.



The announcement of the new program was made today by Washington Auto Show President and CEO John O'Donnell and Kevin Reilly, owner of Alexandria Hyundai, and representative of the Washington Area Hyundai Dealers.

"The Hyundai Hands On Contest has long been a hallmark event at our show," O'Donnell said. "We are proud to be able to use this competition to showcase the important work that our local medical centers do to help the most vulnerable among us in their greatest time of need."

"Hyundai has a long history of supporting the fight against pediatric cancer and now the Hyundai Hands On Hope Contest will contribute to that fight, benefiting two innovators in this field, Georgetown Lombardi and Children's National," Reilly said. "The Washington Area Hyundai dealers are proud to support their great work with $100,000 in pediatric cancer research grants, and excited that one of their employees will drive away in a brand-new 2020 Hyundai Venue."

Contestants will be required to remain in contact with the 2020 Hyundai Venue at all times during the 50-hour long competition, with only 15-minute breaks every three hours. The contest winner will receive a brand-new 2020 Hyundai Venue  Hyundai's latest addition to its SUV lineup  from the Washington Area Hyundai Dealers.

If more than one person is still in contact with the vehicle at the end of the 50 hours, all remaining contestants will select a Hyundai key from a bowl. One of the keys will start the Hyundai Venue and the contestant with that key will win both the Hyundai Venue for themselves, and the $60,000 pediatric cancer research grant for their medical center. The medical center that does not have the winning employee on their team will receive a pediatric cancer research grant for $40,000. Auto Show attendees will be able to observe the contest while it is ongoing during public show hours, as in past years.

"In addition to awarding a brand new 2020 Hyundai Venue to the contest winner, as well as awarding $100,000 in pediatric research grants collectively to local researchers, the Washington Area Hyundai Dealers look to bring awareness to the need to increase funding for pediatric cancer research," Reilly said.

Hyundai dealers in the Washington, D.C. area, as well as throughout the United States, support Hyundai Hope on Wheels, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is committed to finding a cure for pediatric cancer. Hyundai Hope on Wheels is one of the largest non-profit funders of pediatric cancer research in the country, and primary funding for Hyundai Hope on Wheels comes from Hyundai Motor America and its more than 835 U.S. dealers, including the 19 Hyundai dealers that comprise the Washington Area Hyundai Dealers.

To date, Hyundai Hope on Wheels has provided almost $4 million in pediatric cancer research grants collectively to Georgetown Lombardi and Children's National (approximately $2 million in grants to Georgetown Lombardi and over $1.7 million in grants to Children's National). Since its inception in 1998, Hyundai Hope on Wheels has contributed over $160 million to the fight against pediatric cancer.

"Hyundai Hope On Wheels has fueled some of the most promising cancer research projects underway at Children's National," said Jeffrey Dome, M.D., Ph.D., Vice President of the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children's National. "We are grateful to Hyundai Hope on Wheels  and all of the dealerships here and around the country  for their partnership and generous support for research in pediatric oncology."



Jeffery Toretsky, MD, a pediatric oncologist and researcher at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and previous recipient of grant funding from Hyundai Hope on Wheels says such awards allow him and his lab to be more imaginative, even if approaches fail.

"If we, pediatric oncologists, don't aggressively go after novel approaches to creating drugs that are most important for targeting childhood cancer, nobody will. Our work at Georgetown has led to a current clinical trial in Ewing sarcoma. Hyundai Hope on Wheels has provided resources for my team to search outside the box in order to achieve new ways to treat cancer in both children and young adults." Toretsky said.

The Washington Auto Show takes place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place, NW, Washington, D.C.

Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center is designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as a comprehensive cancer center. A part of Georgetown University Medical Center, Georgetown Lombardi is the only comprehensive cancer center in the Washington, D.C., area. It serves as the research engine for MedStar Health, Georgetown University's clinical partner. Georgetown Lombardi is also an NCI recognized consortium with John Theurer Cancer Center/Hackensack Meridian Health in Bergen County, N.J. The consortium reflects an integrated cancer research enterprise with scientists and clinicians from both locations. Georgetown Lombardi seeks to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer through innovative basic, translational and clinical research, patient care, community education and outreach to service communities throughout the Washington region, while its consortium member John Theurer Cancer Center/Hackensack Meridian Health serves communities in northern New Jersey. Georgetown Lombardi is a member of the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (UG1CA239758). Georgetown Lombardi is supported in part by a National Cancer Institute Cancer Center Support Grant (P30CA051008).

About Children's National Hospital

Children's National Hospital, based in Washington, D.C., celebrates 150 years of pediatric care, research and commitment to community. Volunteers opened the hospital in 1870 with 12 beds to care for Civil War orphans. Today, 150 years stronger, it is the nation's No. 6 children's hospital. It is ranked No. 1 for newborn care for the third straight year and ranked in all specialties evaluated by U.S. News & World Report. Children's National is transforming pediatric medicine for all children. In 2020, it will open the Children's National Research and Innovation Campus, the first in the nation dedicated to pediatric research. It has been designated twice as a Magnet hospital, demonstrating the highest standards of nursing and patient care delivery. This pediatric academic health system offers expert care through a convenient, community-based primary care network and specialty outpatient centers in the D.C., metropolitan area, including the Maryland and Northern Virginia suburbs. Children's National is home to the Children's Research Institute and Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation and is the nation's seventh-highest NIH-funded children's hospital. It is recognized for its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as a strong voice for children through advocacy at the local, regional and national levels.

For more information on The Washington Auto Show please visit: www.washingtonautoshow.com.

Also:

Twitter: @WashAutoShow

Facebook: @WashAutoShow

Twitter: @MobilityTalks

Facebook: @MobilityTalks

Twitter: @LombardiCancer

Facebook:@GeorgetownLombadi

Twitter: @ChildrensNatl

Facebook: @Childrens.national

Twitter: @hopeonwheels

Facebook: @hyundaihopeonwheels

#HANDSONHOPE

#EndChildhoodCancer

SOURCE Washington Auto Show

Related Links

https://www.washingtonautoshow.com


Taking cognizance of the abduction, conversion and forced marriage of 10 girls of minority Hindu community in India's neighboring country of Pakistan, a human rights organization has raised its voice in favor of the victims.

This Pakistani Hulk wants to marry, 300 girls have been rejected so far

In this matter, the organization has demanded to bring back the girls and punish the culprits. Faisalabad-based Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP) has prepared a list of abducted Hindu girls. The organization has given a call for people to come forward to support the affected families and bring them justice. This institution raises its voice against discrimination and violence against the minorities and the underprivileged. The 10 Hindu girls included in the list have been abducted since last year.

Pakistan has once again raised Kashmir issue on the UN platform

The Government of Pakistan regarding the kidnapping case of minor girls of minority Hindu community in Pakistan. Pakistan had expressed concern by taking a serious stand on the matter. The Government of India had sent a summons to the Pak officer regarding the kidnapping incident. Only after this, serious concern was raised from Pakistan. It was said on behalf of Pakistan that such an effort will be made on their behalf that such an incident does not happen next.

JP Nadda's open challenge to Rahul Gandhi, said- just show 10 lines on CAA
Dozens of current and former Treasure Island residents filed a class-action lawsuit Thursday saying that authorities lied for years about the extent of contamination there, exposing the residents and their families to radioactive substances and toxic chemicals.

Untrue and misleading statements about the island by government agencies and private firms created a false picture of safety, according to the lawsuit filed in San Francisco Superior Court. The plaintiffs have suffered serious emotional distress from a fear that they will develop cancer.

The complaint seeks $2 billion in damages from several defendants, including the city development authority on Treasure Island; representatives of the U.S. Navy, which polluted the island while running it as a naval base decades ago and is now responsible for cleaning it up; the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, which oversees the cleanup; the San Francisco health department; the Treasure Island Homeless Development Initiative (now called One Treasure Island); developers Lennar and FivePoint Holdings LLC; and the John Stewart Co., which manages leases.

Also named as defendants are two engineering firms that performed cleanup tasks on the island, Tetra Tech EC and Shaw Environmental.

Representatives of the state and the Navy said they dont comment on pending litigation. The city health department and island development authority referred questions to the city attorney.

The safety of San Francisco residents is our top priority, John Cote, spokesman for City Attorney Dennis Herrera, said in a statement. The information that we have from state and federal regulators is that the parts of the island where people live, work and visit are safe. He added that the vast majority of the lawsuit does not involve the city, and he denied the allegation that city officials withheld information from residents: That is false.

Representatives of One Treasure Island, the John Stewart Co. and Tetra Tech EC said they had not received a copy of the complaint and could not comment. Tetra Tech EC spokesman Sam Singer pointed to a 2019 Navy statement saying that the companys radiological work on the island was limited, consistent and accurate.

In a statement, FivePoint spokesman Steve Churm said that the company does not comment on litigation matters, but said FivePoint has never had any ownership in any portion of Treasure Island and that the company does not have any responsibility for development of that project.

The other defendants didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

It is a travesty that so many people have lived in a contaminated area without knowing the full extent of the radiation they were exposed to, Stanley Goff, a civil rights attorney representing the plaintiffs, said in an interview. We may not know what the full effects of this are for decades.

In addition to financial compensation, the lawsuit demands that all building and digging on the island be halted until independent verified reports confirm a complete and total remediation of all toxic substances, including all radioactive materials.

The city is partnering with private developers on a $6 billion project to transform the island into condos, parks and a hotel. Construction has already begun on 266 luxury units at neighboring Yerba Buena Island; revenue from those condo sales is expected to help fund new infrastructure on Treasure Island.

State and federal agencies have said there are no health risks to Treasure Island residents and the public, and regulators have declared many pieces of land safe. A 2014 analysis of cancer data by the Cancer Prevention Institute of California found no evidence of elevated cancer rates among Treasure Island residents between 2002 and 2011, though the authors noted that the small and fluctuating population made it difficult to draw statistically meaningful conclusions.

The sites master developer, Treasure Island Community Development  a partnership between Lennar and Stockbridge Capital Group/Wilson Meany  has pointed to significant progress in the cleanup, saying in a September statement that hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent to identify and remove contaminants per State of California standards in order to ensure the island is safe for development.

But the housing area on the north and northwest portion of the island, known as Site 12, remains a question mark. Fences with radioactive hazard signs snake through it, warning people to stay out of areas that lay within feet of occupied homes.

The lawsuit identifies 47 plaintiffs by name and seeks to represent 2,000 more who had substantial contact with Treasure Island since 2006. The class-action complaint follows several recent lawsuits over problems with the cleanup at San Franciscos other tainted naval base, the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard.

Two of the plaintiffs and Goff announced the lawsuit Tuesday in front of San Francisco Superior Court.

Andre Patterson and Felita Sample said they lived in Site 12 from 2004 to 2017. Speaking to the media Tuesday, the former neighbors said they suffered injuries they attribute to radiation. Patterson showed tumors on his shoulder and his side. Sample showed the gap where a tooth fell out and said she has suffered from high blood pressure and heart problems since living on the island.

Brandishing a sheaf of paper  notices, flyers and letters from regulatory agencies  Patterson said he had raised concerns with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Kamala Harris and Mayor London Breed. All gave us the big blow-off, Patterson said.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

According to the lawsuit, the defendants concealed problems with contamination.

Radioactive substances first tainted the island during the Cold War, when the Navy brought ships to San Francisco that had been exposed to atomic-bomb tests in the Pacific. Particles of fallout flaked and spread from the ships hulls. The Navy also discarded large numbers of radium-dipped devices in landfills.

In 2006, the Navy published what was supposed to be a thorough account of the islands radiological history, listing all potential danger zones. But in years that followed, technicians kept finding radioactive contamination where it wasnt supposed to be.

For instance, between 2008 and last fall, contractors found and removed almost 1,300 small radioactive objects in the Site 12 housing area, some next to occupied units. These ongoing discoveries, a problem first revealed by reporter Carol Harvey at the San Francisco Bay View newspaper, are confirmed by Navy records obtained by The Chronicle.

In 2011, state technicians tested Treasure Islands roads with gamma scanners towed across the surface and found five areas of significantly elevated radiation levels in places accessible to the public, according to a state report.

Two years later, reporters with the Center for Investigative Reporting gathered soil samples and had them tested. The tests revealed elevated concentrations of cesium-137, a byproduct of nuclear fission, close to a building where cesium-137 samples had once been stored. Experts told the reporters that the unexpected findings called for further tests, but the Navy and the citys development authority said there was no need for action, and the health department didnt comment.

The lawsuit says the defendants knew radiation levels on the island were significantly higher than the Navy admitted, but did not tell the public.

The Chronicle reported in September that during the early 1990s, the Environmental Protection Agency considered adding Treasure Island to the Superfund list, a group of the countrys most polluted sites. In 1991, the island earned a hazard score that more than qualified it as a Superfund site, yet for unclear reasons the EPA never named it to the list.

Environmental advocacy groups said the decision led to a dysfunctional and delayed cleanup, making the process less transparent and leaving Treasure Island residents in the dark for years about contamination near their homes.

Jason Fagone, Cynthia Dizikes and Michael Cabanatuan are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jfagone@sfchronicle.com, cdizikes@sfchronicle.com, mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jasonfagone, @cdizikes, @ctuan
Three years ago, the British people passed a referendum stating that they wanted their government to withdraw from the European Union. The British people were tired of having a European bureaucracy micromanage their lives, control their immigration policies, and generally erase their sovereignty. The British political class, however, was less enthused. Being part of the E.U. gave them a cachet of sophistication, while simultaneously allowing them to govern without being actually responsible.

For three long years, Theresa May dithered and danced, never coming to grips with the fact that the people wanted a divorce while the E.U. wanted a long, painful, nasty separation, with endless custody battles. Finally, May's government collapsed in July, and the people got a second chance at Brexit with an election that saw Boris Johnson become prime minister.

A lot of people were worried, though, that Johnson, a brilliant gadfly, would fail them as well. They need not have feared.

On Wednesday, both Houses of Parliament approved the final E.U. Withdrawal Agreement. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, unsurprisingly, was quite relieved:

Boris Johnson promised a "bright, exciting future" after history was made with the passing of his Brexit Bill by both houses of Parliament on Wednesday night. The Withdrawal Agreement Bill will become law when it receives royal assent, confirming Britain's exit from the EU on Jan 31. The Prime Minister said: "At times, it felt like we would never cross the Brexit finish line, but we've done it." Having cleared Parliament, the new law will have to be ratified by the European Parliament in a vote that will take place on Jan 29, thought a formality. The Bill cleared its final Parliamentary hurdle at 6.17 pm when the House of Lords bowed to the will of the Commons, which had overturned every amendment by peers this week.

The E.U., liked the scorned spouse, is reputedly planning to punish Britain for having the temerity to break off the relationship:

While the EU has agreed to Britain leaving the bloc, news reports suggest that Brussels intends to punish its leading trading partner and Europe's second-largest economy. "EU preparing to give UK worse trade deal terms than Canada or Japan," The Telegraph reported on Monday. Brussels is planning to hit Britain where it hurts the most. The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, has drawn up a hit list to target the British financial sector for defying the EU to dictate regulations following the Brexit. "Commission officials told European Union diplomats they had identified 40 different types of financial services that could be frozen out of the EU's market at a meeting in Brussels earlier this week," The Telegraph disclosed in a separate report. The EU's wrath has been intensified by the British government's refusal to align itself to the EU laws after January 31. The EU Withdrawal Bill "paves the way for a new agreement on our future relationship with our European neighbors based on an ambitious free trade agreement  with no alignment on EU rules, but instead control of our own laws." Johnson said last month after resoundingly winning the general election fought on those lines.

Despite that gloom-and-doom prediction, it may be Britain that has the last laugh. According to the Times:

Britain's economy will grow faster than those of other major European countries this year as chief executives regard it as an increasingly attractive place to invest, two studies have found. Amid growing optimism over Britain's economic outlook, the International Monetary Fund said that it would outperform the eurozone this year and next. Assuming there is an orderly Brexit at the end of the month, and a gradual transition to a new relationship with the bloc, growth would accelerate from 1.3 per cent last year to 1.4 per cent this year and 1.5 per cent in 2021, it said. Of the G7 advanced economies only the United States and Canada would grow faster in the next two years[.]

When America won its revolution against Britain, the latter originally intended to break off trade relationships with America. Britain backed off from the plan, though, and, within three years, trade between the two countries was exceeding pre-war levels. America and Britain became major trading partners once again  although this time, America was an equal partner, not a vassal. Now, 236 years later, Britain will find itself Europe's equal, not its vassal, and both should thrive.
By ANI

NEW DELHI: Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev on Friday said that students in universities across the country, including the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), should leave protests for politicians.

Speaking at a press conference, Ramdev said, "These days the country is getting a bad name as it seems that there are only protests and violence going on here. I say to students of all universities, including the JNU, that they should leave protests for politicians otherwise the politicians will become jobless. To spread anarchy and being involved in public protests all the time are not the responsibilities of a student."

"Students should focus on their career and contribute to the nation's development. To chant Azadi slogans all the time especially 'Jinnah type Azadi slogans' is a betrayal of the country and it amounts to sedition," Ramdev said.

READ| #BoycottPatanjali, #ArrestRamdev trend after Yoga gurus 'intellectual terrorists' comment on Periyar, Ambedkar followers

"The students should leave the path of violence, anarchy and protest, and contribute to character and nation-building," he said.

The Yoga Guru also conveyed to the political parties that they should understand that people of the country have given the mandate to the BJP till 2024.

"The political parties should understand that the people of this country have given the mandate to the BJP till 2024. We should honour the Constitution and give Modiji time by 2024," he said.

"The opposition should have patience. They can protest but they should also contribute to nation-building. This country belongs to the opposition, judiciary, legislature and other structures of the government as much as it belongs to Modiji or Ramdev or the BJP," Ramdev said.

"I want to say this as there are many problems in the country like price rise and poverty. We face many challenges in taking the country forward economically. If we want to compete with the US and China then we should make India prosperous and strengthen our economy," he added.
Laurel (Md.) Police

Authorities have released new details in a case of animal cruelty in which at least 11 gulls were killed after they were lured to a parking lot in suburban Maryland and run over with a vehicle.

The incident happened Jan. 4 in the parking lot of a Dollar Tree store along Fort Meade Road. Laurel police said the suspect lured the gulls with popcorn to the parking lot and then was seen "intentionally running over" the gulls with a vehicle and killing them.
S ix people are have been killed and several injured after a shooting in a town in south-west Germany.

Police has said on Twitter that a suspect has been arrested following the incident in Rot am See.

The scene unfolded at 12:45pm local time, 11:45am UK time, at a location near the town's train station.

A spokesman added that information pointed to the suspect being a German citizen, and that one or more of the victims knew each other.

They added that preliminary indications showed the shooting was linked to a "personal relationship", and there was nothing to suggest there were any more suspects.

Loading....

Police spokesman Holger Binert told German broadcaster n-tv he couldn't say yet exactly how many people had been killed.

"We have arrested a suspect," Mr Binert said, adding that initial information suggested the suspect and one or more of the victims knew each other.

"In any case, we have no information on further suspects," he said.

A suspect, believed to be German, has been arrested / Reuters

Police spokesman Rudolf Biehlmaier said: "According to my information, there were six dead and several injured,"

He added: "We are working on the assumption that this was a single attacker,"

Some of the victims belonged to the same family, he said.

Rot am See is located about 105 miles (170 km) northwest of Munich.
The government cannot get out of the education sector and to continue funding public education, a judge of the Delhi High Court observed during the hearing into a petition filed by Jawaharlal Nehru University students union leaders. The court has ordered the university to allow students, who have not registered for the next semester, to complete the formalities within the next one week.

Justice Rajiv Shakdher also told the university to allow these students to pay the applicable fees according to the pre-hike fee structure.

The judge was hearing the petition filed by a group of JNU students union leaders including president Aishe Ghosh who have challenged the fee hike and the new hostel manual notified last year that prompted protests in the university campus and outside.

Pinky Anand, the Additional Solicitor General, asked the court to right away reject the plea, pointing that 90 per cent of the students had gone along with the fee hike and paid up.

The judge wasnt impressed with the reasoning. If you dont have a choice, what would you do? he asked.

Justice Shakdher also countered the argument put forth by the Centres senior law officer that justified the fee hike, pointing that fees had been revised to pay salaries to contractual workers hired by the university.

Government cannot get out of education. Government has to fund public education. The burden of paying the salaries of contractual workers is not on the students. Someone should find the funds,  Justice Shakdher shot back.

The judge has slotted the next hearing on February 28.

The petition by JNUSU office bearers had asked him to intervene and order the university administration to roll back changes made to the hostel manual and the fee structure.

In the petition filed through lawyer Abhik Chimni, the students said the changes had led to an increase in hostel fees, affected the rights of reserved categories and allocation of hostel rooms, and reduced the representation of the students union in the IHA among other issues.

It said the high-level committee notified on November 24 had made further illegal amendments to the hostel manual and introduced a new below-poverty line category. This would deprive many poor students of the merit-cum-means scholarships. This scheme is meant for students whose annual income does not exceed Rs 2,50,000.
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Friday said that a BJP leader had informed him that his phone was being tapped by the previous Devendra Fadnavis government in Maharashtra.

On the NCP's allegation that the Centre has withdrawn party chief Sharad Pawar's security at his official residence in New Delhi, Raut said it could have been because Pawar was intrumental in forming the Shiv Sena-led government in the state.

"A BJP leader had told me that my phone was being tapped. I said if anybody wants to listen to what I am saying I welcome it. I am Balasaheb's chela (disciple), whatever I do, I do it openly," Raut told reporters here.

"In spite of the phone-tapping, we formed the government in Maharashtra," he said.

Raut's remarks come a day after state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh alleged that the Fadnavis dispensation misused government machinery to tap the phones of opposition leaders, especially during the formation of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

"The cyber cell of Maharashtra police has been asked to look into the various complaints of snooping/phone tapping that came in during the previous government," Deshmukh had said on Wednesday.

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh had earlier also alleged that phones of opposition leaders were tapped by the Fadnavis government. He had also raised questions about the involvement of officials in the phone-tapping episode.

On the NCP's allegation about withdrawal of Sharad Pawar's security, Raut said, "It could have been because Pawar was instrumental in the formation of the Shiv Sena-led government in Maharashtra. A few years ago, he was attacked in Delhi. Even the Gandhis' SPG security was withdrawn recently."



The Rajya Sabha MP was referring to the Centre's recent move of withdrawing the Special Protection Group (SPG) cover of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her children Rahul and Priyanka.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) legislative party is heading for a split with two of its MLAs meeting Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi, amid indication of their joining the grand old party.

JVM-P led by former chief minister Babulal Marandi has three MLAs--Marandi himself, Bandhu Tirkey and Pradip Yadav- in the present House.

Tirkey and Yadav met Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi Thursday evening with the AICC in-charge R P N Singh, triggering speculation of their joining the party.

In a significant political development,the JVM-P on Friday announced its decision to withdraw support to the Hemant Soren-led government in Jharkhand,accusing the ruling alliance partner Congress of attempting to poach its MLAs.

The JVM-P had supported the opposition coalition ministry from outside and its withdrawal would not have any impact on the government that has 47 MLAs in the 81-member house.

"Our party has extended support to the Hemant Soren government. But its coalition partner, Congress is attempting to poach our MLAs. In view of that, the party has decided to withdraw its support, JVM-P General Secretary Saroj Singh told reporters here.

He said the party has also decided to remove Pradip Yadav as the legislature party leader in the state assembly and sent a letter to the Speaker in this connection.

The letter signed by Marandi and addressed to Soren said, "Our party Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) had on December 24, 2019, gave a letter of unconditional support to the government under your (Hemant Soren) leadership.But the Congress, which is a part of the UPA, is trying to break our MLAs, which the newspapers have published prominently today.

"In this context, our party has reviewed its support and decided to withdraw support to the UPA government under your leadership," the letter, a copy of which was released to the media, said.

On the two MLAs meeting Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, JPCC spokesman Alok Kumar Dubey told PTI "The two leaders got the blessings of our senior leaders. They are welcome to join the party."



"After consultations with JPCC president Rameshwar Oraon and CLP leader Alamgir Alam further actions will set in motion," he said.

While Tirkey,MLA from Mandar in Ranchi district, was expelled by the party on Tuesday last, Yadav, elected from Poreyahat in Godda district, is still its leader.

Marandi himself won from Dharwar seat in Giridih district.

The development has come at a time when speculation is rife in the media that JVM-P may merge with the saffron party and Marandi could be named as new leader of the BJP legislature party in the Jharkhand assembly.

Significantly, the 25-member BJP legislature party has not yet named its leader.

The JVM-P, however, has denied the media reports that the party was heading to merge with the BJP.

"See, I dont know about it. But the truth is, whenever a party does some good thing, a government is formed or a government goes following elections, people air such 'anayas' (spontaneous) views through media, sometimes saying the party will merge with the Congress and sometimes with the BJP," Abhay Singh, its principal secretary had said on Tuesday last.

Congress had won 16 seats in the recently-held assembly polls and is part of the government in the state.

While the JMM won 30 seats, another ally, the RJD won only one seat in the November-December, 2019 assembly polls.

Both Tirkey and Yadav were reportedly sidelined during the reconstitution of JVM-Ps central committee by Marandi on January 17 as they had been named in the Executive Committee but did not find place in the list of office-bearers.

While Tirkey had been the General Secretary before the central committee was dissolved on January 5,Yadav had quit as the principal general secretary last year following sexual allegations against him levelled by a party leader.

The JVM-P, which had been a part of the 'Mahagathbandhan' along with JMM, Congress and RJD in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections last year, left the alliance and contested the assembly polls on its own.

When asked whether they would join the Congress, JVM-P MLA Pradip Yadav told PTI they (along with Bandhu Tirkey) were in discussion with their supporters.

"Maan hei, hum log tatol rahein hein, aabhi tak pura decision nahin hua hein (we have the desire, discussion with people are on, but nothing has been finalised as yet), Yadav said when asked what significance could be made following their meeting with the Congress high command.

When queried whether their move has anything to do with the speculations in the media that the JVM-P might merge with the BJP, Yadav sarcastically replied, "Merger tou BJP mein bhi ho sakta hei, Congress mein bhi ho sakta hein (merger can be with the BJP or with the Congress)."



JVM-P formed by Marandi in 2006 after quitting the BJP,had split after assembly polls last time also in 2015.

The BJP had inducted its six legislators, out of a total eight, to give strength to the then BJP-AJSU ministry headed by Raghubar Das, which initially had only one more MLA than the required majority in the 81-member Jharkhand assembly then.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The president of the Southern Baptist Convention on Friday said churches should consider disgraced former leader Paige Pattersons history of mishandling sexual abuse complaints before inviting him to preach to their congregations.

President J.D. Greears remarks in response to Chronicle questions are the most forceful to be issued by SBC leadership regarding Patterson, who was ousted as the leader of a Fort Worth seminary in 2018 for his handling of multiple students abuse claims.

Greear noted Pattersons dismissal from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in his remarks. Trustees terminated Paige Patterson for cause, publicly disclosing that his conduct was antithetical to the core values of our faith,  Greear told the Chronicle. I advise any Southern Baptist church to consider this severe action before having Dr. Patterson preach or speak and to contact trustee officers if additional information is necessary.

Greear made the comments after the Chronicle asked him to respond to recent criticism of two SBC churches decisions to host Patterson, a former SBC president who was instrumental in pushing the nations second-largest faith group to adopt literal interpretations of the Bible.

Earlier this month, Patterson was honored as a defender of the faith by Victory Baptist Church in Rowlett, Texas. He is also scheduled to appear next month at an event at Fellowship Church in Immokalee, Fla. Two state SBC leaders who were scheduled to speak at the event have since withdrawn.

Sexual abuse survivors and activists were critical of the churches willingness to host Patterson.

Each of the SBCs 47,000 churches is autonomous and self-governing, and so leaders rarely comment on or intervene in the affairs of individual congregations.

Greear said on Friday that local church autonomy does not excuse Southern Baptists from holding one another accountable.

Southern Baptist churches must take our mutual accountability to each other more seriously than we have in the past, he said. If our system of governance means anything, it means exercising due diligence and heeding what those whom we put in positions of trustee oversight have reported about official misconduct.

That sentiment was welcomed by those whove accused Patterson of mishandling their abuse, including Megan Lively, who said that local church autonomy and combatting abuse are not at odds with each other.

Rachael Denhollander is a lawyer and the first person to publicly accuse now-imprisoned USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nasser of sexual abuse. She has been assisting SBC leaders in developing sexual abuse prevention reforms, and has called for the SBC to practice specific repentance for mishandling abuses.

Denhollander said Friday that she was deeply encouraged by Greears statement.

The most important thing any of us can do in displaying the Gospel of Christ is to speak the truth, Denhollander said. I hope to see others follow [Greears] example.

Susan Codone, a Mercer University professor and abuse survivor, has for weeks decried Pattersons scheduled appearance in Florida. She also applauded Greears statement.

Dr. Patterson's actions have harmed many, she said. The SBC is on a great trajectory and does not need his presence anymore.

Patterson could not be reached for comment. His longtime personal attorney, J. Shelby Sharpe of Fort Worth, declined to make him available for an interview earlier in the week.

Ministry opportunities for Dr. Patterson as he moves forward are not a subject he needs to address with the media, Sharpe wrote in an email. He has no interest in publicizing his ministry. His sole focus is to be faithful to go where God calls him.

Greear was elected SBC president in 2018, as details of Pattersons ouster from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary grabbed national headlines.

Greear has since called on Southern Baptists to repent for the mistreatment of multiple survivors, including those Patterson once called as reprehensible as sex criminals.

Yet current SBC leaders have usually stopped short of naming Patterson, instead referring to past leaders or failures.

The lack of public condemnations has frustrated many survivors, including some who have helped the SBC confront widespread sex abuses detailed in an ongoing Chronicle investigation.

The series, Abuse of Faith, found that hundreds of Southern Baptist church leaders and volunteers have been convicted of sexual crimes in the last 20 years. They left behind more than 700 victims.

The newspapers also reported years of failed attempts by activists and survivors to persuade the SBC to adopt wide-ranging safeguards.

Some of those activists were also demonized and maligned by Patterson.

In June, a former seminary student filed a lawsuit in which she accused Patterson of shaming, threatening and humiliating her after she told him shed been repeatedly raped at gunpoint by another seminary student.

The Chronicle also published videos and letters that show that Patterson and another former SBC president, Jerry Vines, had sought to conceal sexual misconduct allegations faced by their former protege, Darrell Gilyard.

Then, in November, Patterson was accused of racism stemming from a letter he wrote in 2012, after the SBC elected its first African American president.

In it, Patterson questioned the theological knowledge among many of the ethnic groups and worried the SBC could slide a long way back under its first black leader.

robert.downen@chron.com
24.01.2020 LISTEN

The Israel Embassy in Accra says the pregnant Ghanaian migrant who has been held in isolation for four months in an Israeli prison was being detained because she was illegally residing in Israel.

Jossephine Kwabiwaas plight was highlighted by an Israeli news portal, Haaretz.com , which reported that the 32-year-old had been in detention for the past four months because she refused to be tested for tuberculosis.

According to the report, the pregnant woman refused the test, which include x-rays, out of concern that the radiation could affect her pregnancy.

The report also indicated that the continuous detention of Josephine was in violation of the World Medical Association and United Nations directives on holding pregnant women in isolation which could severely hurt their physical and mental health and potentially harm the fetus.

But in a radio interview with Accra-based Starr FM, the Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Shani Cooper-Zubida, said Jossephine has been illegally staying in Israel since 2013.

According to her, after the notice of her illegal stay was brought to the attention of the authorities in Israel, the Ghana Embassy in Israel was contacted to have her deported to Ghana.

She is a Ghanaian citizen who has been illegally staying in Israel since 2013. The notice of her illegal stay in Israel reached Israeli authorities who have been working accordingly with the embassy of Ghana in Israel to send her back to Ghana.

Israel and Ghana are working in cooperation to return Ghanaians illegally staying in Israel, she said.

---graphic.com.gh
By Trend





Azerbaijan is a leading oil and gas supplier in the South Caucasus, therefore, if judged from the point of view of prospects, the forum in Davos is of interest for the country both from a tactical and strategic points of view, Ukrainian political analyst Sergey Slobodchuk told Trend.

First of all, the Davos platform is interesting because it is possible to declare a countrys new status in the energy market on this platform by presenting Azerbaijans participation in gas supplies to Europe via the Trans Adriatic gas Pipeline (TAP) and the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP), he noted.

We already see that the central topic in connection with which Azerbaijan is mentioned is the supply of gas through the Southern Gas Corridor, Slobodchuk added. Azerbaijani president emphasized that gas can go through the Southern Gas Corridor already in mid-2020. We know that TANAP was connected to the European gas transmission system at the end of November 2019, and the TAP gas pipeline is scheduled to be launched in 2020.

In other words, Davos for Azerbaijan is a platform where it is possible to unite the interests of the EU, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Russia, Slobodchuk noted.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev takes an active part in the World Economic Forum in Davos on a regular basis. As part of the forum, the president actively participates in ongoing seminars, negotiations and conferences with representatives of the business elite, as well as with the heads of partner countries, officials of international organizations. The negotiations held within the forums allowed Azerbaijan to achieve certain positive results.

The signing of documents on the opening of the regional center of the World Economic Forum in Azerbaijan can be considered one of such results.
When India became independent from British Raj, its political map was not what it looks like today. There were provinces that were directly under British control, and there were independent princely states. The Constituent Assembly, on December 31, 1947, had 299 members from 12 provinces and 70 Indian states.

Today, India has 28 states and 9 union territories (UTs); 2019, interestingly, was the first time when the number of states actually went down in independent India, as Jammu and Kashmir was broken into the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

What is also unprecedented is the fact that the government has promised to return statehood to the UT of Jammu and Kashmir at an appropriate time. That the Centre has been able to diminish a state into a UT, without its consent  Jammu and Kashmir was under Presidents Rule, so the assembly did not get to voice its opinion at the time  might appear to be a symbol of weakening of the federal structure enshrined in our Constitution. However it will be erroneous to decide on the fate of Indian federalism on just one such development.

Let us look at the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), another landmark policy reform that has been implemented under the current government. GST entailed a surrender of significant amount of fiscal autonomy by the Centre and, especially the states, as rates are decided by the GST council rather than individual state or central governments.

Because, the Centre still gets to decide on direct tax rates, such as income tax, and indirect taxes such as customs duty, states ended up losing a larger part of their fiscal autonomy. It was because of this reason that the states extracted a significant commitment from the Centre.

The latter had to guarantee 14% growth in baseline revenues that existed before the roll-out of GST for five years. As GST collections look to disappoint for the second consecutive year, it is the Centre which will be left with the shorter straw once again, unless it wants to precipitate a constitutional crisis by not paying states. The Centre has said it will honour all commitments.

That these contradictory developments vis-a-vis Indias federal structure have come from the same political dispensation, are proof that the evolution of federalism in India is best understood as a continuous yet changing process in the entire realm of the political economy rather than just one event. Another factor which will add to this tension in the days to come is the growing demographic divide between Indian states.

Let us look at politics first.

The re-election of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2019 with an even bigger majority than what it had in 2014 signifies the emergence of a dominant political hegemon in India after a long time. The BJPs growth has also come at the expense of non-Congress parties in a large number of states. This is best seen in the squeeze in vote share of non-BJP non-Congress parties in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

While the signs of political centralisation at the national level are unmistakable, we are also witnessing a discernible resistance towards similar centralisation at the level of the states.

In important assembly elections, both before and after the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJPs performance has been much worse compared to how it has performed in the Lok Sabha elections. It has won back states in Lok Sabha polls it lost in previous assembly elections and vice versa.

These statistics signify a remarkable degree of differentiation by voters  between national and local polls. What eventually comes out of this recent federal rupture in Indian polity remains to be seen.

It is worth reiterating that India has seen a turbulent past in terms of relations between central and state governments, with the former resorting to the use of Article 356 to dismiss elected state governments frequently in the 1970s.

To be sure, the present period is very different from the 1970s in terms of economic relations between the Centre and the states. With the liberalisation of the Indian economy in 1991, state governments have significantly more freedom in terms of economic policies. Most state controls on capital have been removed unlike the pre-reform period when the Centre had the final say in granting industry licences.

In fact, state governments now actively compete with each other to attract capital in various ways. This competition has also percolated in terms of attracting voters through populist polices such as farm loan waivers. Yet, this freedom is not absolute as state governments are more dependent on the Centre for their revenue receipts than ever.

If GST receipts do not live up to their expectations after the expiry of the five-year period until when the Centre is committed to compensating states, Indias fiscal federalism could enter a tumultuous phase. It is no wonder that the Fifteenth Finance Commission, the constitutional body for sharing of resources between the Centre and the states has had to postpone the submission of its report last year.

It will be a mistake to infer from the discussion above that Centre-state tensions are the only strain on Indias federal structure. Inter-state differences have changed significantly in the past few decades, the most prominent among them being population. While southern states such as Tamil Nadu and Kerala have seen a sharp decline in population growth, this has not been the case in the northern and eastern region.

It would be a different matter if the disparity in growth and demographics were to have no institutional impact on fortunes of the states. But at least two imminent changes in Indias federal arrangement  the use of 2011 population in deciding the awards of the 15th Finance Commission and possible delimitation and reassignment of Lok Sabha seats in 2026  means that the demographic divergence could end up penalising the southern states, which will have to see a decline in their revenue share as well as political say in the Parliament.

One could argue that such realignment will only be fair. Northern states have seen a steeper decline in their per capita representation in Parliament between 1991 and 2011. However, the fact that the north and the south are also different in terms of language, culture and history could end up triggering a sense of insecurity and possible protests.

Indias federal structure has generated a lot of interest, research and criticism.

As the republic completes its 70 years, it can be said that the biggest tests still await Indian federalism.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asked Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday to spend a few days in the Delhi government schools to witness the revolution that took place in the national capital.

The chief minister tagged a report in which Shah is asking him at a public rally where are the 1,000 new schools that were promised by the AAP's national convener.

"Amit Shah ji, spend a few days in our schools to witness the revolution of Delhi. You are welcome in our government schools. As a home minister, please give us suggestions too we will work on them after elections," Kejriwal said in a tweet.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An Oxford University professor threatened by activists for saying transgender people 'harm the rights of women today revealed she needs 'two burly men' to protect her because she is 'frightened' on the way to lectures.

History Professor Selina Todd claimed she has been provided with 'routine security' after being alerted to potential threats to her own safety by her own students.

The academic, an international expert on women and the working class, said in her research that women who posed as men in the past were often lesbians seeking to protect themselves, or because they want to do jobs that were only available to men.

Two students told Professor Todd, who has been accused of being 'transphobic', that they had seen threats on 'email networks' they were part of.

Professor Selina Todd (pictured), a historian who specialises in the lives of women, said she had now been provided with 'routine security'

The academic, who said she was now being accompanied by 'two big burly guys' to her lectures, claimed complaints were made because of the teaching of her version of feminist history.

'The first complaint that was made against me was to say that I was transphobic because it would be impossible for a transgender student to be taught by me,' she told The Daily Telegraph.

Professor Todd said the university had 'investigated the threats' and decided to give 'security for all of my lectures'.

There was still a protest at her most recent undergraduate lecture, however.

She added that the history faculty received complaints on a 'daily' basis from activists calling for her to be sacked.

The academic, who said she was now being accompanied by 'two big burly guys' to her lectures, claimed complaints were made because of the teaching of her version of feminist history. Pictured: Radcliffe Camera building in Oxford city centre

Her previous research has said women who posed as men in history 'were often lesbians seeking to protect themselves, or because they want to do jobs that were only available to men'.

An Oxford University spokesman said: 'We cannot comment on individual arrangements.

'However when staff raise concerns with us, the university will always review the circumstances and offer appropriate support to ensure their safety and their freedom of expression.'
He left The Daily Edition to pursue a career in real estate in December 2018.

But Tom Williams has now revealed his plans to return to television, just one year after quitting.

Speaking to News.com.au on Friday, the 49-year-old said: 'My heart's in TV. That's my home.'

'I really miss it!' I'm a Celebrity's Tom Williams (pictured) revealed on Friday his plans to return to TV, after quitting The Daily Edition to pursue a career in real estate

He added: 'When you do it for so long, 19 years, to pull it all away last year was hard. I really missed it. It was a tough year for me last year.'

Tom, who recently starred on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Australia before being eliminated on Thursday, admitted that if he had an opportunity to permanently return to the industry, he would take it.

'If the great gods of TV open their arms and say, "Hey TW, we've got something going on (for you)"... I love TV!'

Coming back? Tom, who recently starred on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Australia before being eliminated on Thursday, admitted that if he had an opportunity to return to the industry, he would take it

Tom departed Channel Seven in late 2018 after more than 15 years at the network, to start a new position at LJ Hooker Avnu real estate agents in Sydney's North Shore.

He told BW magazine at the time he left the television industry because he wanted a job with more stability and longevity.

'I think I did as well as I could, for as long as I could, in television,' he said.

Career: Tom (pictured with his daughter) departed Channel Seven in late 2018 after more than 15 years at the network to start a new position at LJ Hooker Avnu real estate agents in Sydney's North Shore

'I was looking for a career that would sustain me into my sixties - and TV wasn't going to do that.'

But after just six months, the father-of-two revealed that he had parted ways with LJ Hooker and was focusing on various other projects.

Speaking to Nine Honey in May 2018, Tom admitted that he missed working on TV.

'I miss being in a TV studio': After just six months, Tom revealed that he had parted ways with LJ Hooker and was focusing on various other projects. Pictured with former The Daily Edition co-star Sally Obermeder (centre) and Melissa Hoyer (right)

'I miss the people I worked with, I miss the excitement of being in a TV studio, I miss the fact that it can all change right before your eyes,' he said at the time.

The former TV star continued: 'But life is about adapting to change and making the best of what we've got.'

He previously appeared on Dancing With The Stars, The Great Outdoors, The Mole, Surf Patrol and Australia's Greatest Athlete.
WASHINGTON  The Senate impeachment trial of President Donald J. Trump marks the first time that U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy have ever served as jurors.

Neither Connecticut Democrat was in office for a previous Senate impeachment trial, of a president or a judge. And although theyre both lawyers, neither man has been a juror in a court trial, they said this week.

These senators, and so many others, are in new, uncharted territory. Even for those senators who were in office for former President Bill Clintons impeachment, the hyperpartisanship, the timing of the trial in an election year and other factors push Trumps impeachment trial into a realm of its own.

There is this stark difference between what happened in 1999 and whats happening now, said Louis Michael Seidman, a professor at Georgetown Law School. So I remember the Clinton impeachment very well. Then as now, there was lots of partisan rancor, but I think its also fair to say it was not as bad then as it is now.

All week, Blumenthal and Murphy sat in the Senate chamber from early afternoon to late in the night listening to arguments from the House impeachment managers laying out the case for Trumps removal from office. On Saturday, they will begin to hear Trumps lawyers present the case for acquittal.

Next week, after the White Houses case concludes, all senators will have a chance to submit questions to the prosecution and defense. On Friday afternoon, Democrats gathered to plan their questions. Blumenthal said hes still formulating his. Murphy declined to say what his questions would be.

Like the rest of their party, both Blumenthal and Murphy have made clear that they think the evidence against Trump shows he abused his office and obstructed Congress  the two articles of impeachment, or charges, the House passed against Trump. And like other Democrats, they have been vocal proponents calling for the Senate to gather more evidence against Trump by calling more witnesses and subpoenaing documents.

And even as Democrats beat the drum for evidence, more information has emerged this week supporting the idea that Trump sought politically motivated investigations from Ukraine. A recording of Trump saying in April 2018 that he wanted to remove former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch was published by ABC News on Friday.

Blumenthal and Murphy are firm believers in the detailed narrative that the managers laid out over three days: that Trump tried to use the withholding of U.S. military aid and a meeting at the White House to convince Ukraine to commence two investigations  one into former vice president Joe Biden and his son Hunter, and one into alleged Ukrainian interference in the 2016 U.S. election  that could boost him in the 2020 election campaign.

This was not a super secret-mystery to unveil, Murphy said. They were all being very clear as early as April, May, that they wanted to use American foreign policy for their own corrupt purposes.

And when Trump was caught by a whistle-blower and Congress, Trump and his administration tried to cover up their actions by blocking witnesses and documents sought by lawmakers, the managers said.

This week, Blumenthal and Murphys role was mostly listening. They heard the collection of evidence gathered by the House Intelligence and Judiciary committees this fall, laid out in detail.

Anyone who has sat through the last three days has seen a tableau of a chilling and powerful picture of corrupt abuse of power by Donald Trump for his personal benefit, Blumenthal said.

Republicans insist that Democrats evidence is cherry-picked and that the charges dont amount to impeachable offenses.

For hours, the senators sat, took notes and drank water. Some dozed off, read books, did crosswords, made paper airplanes or chatted quietly in the back of the room. No cellphones, computers, caffeine or food were allowed in the chamber, although Murphy admitted on Twitter that he accidentally brought his phone in once.

On Tuesday, Murphy and Blumenthal also voted with their party in favor of calling more witnesses and issuing subpoenas for documents to bolster the case.

Democrats say Trump should not be acquitted due to an incomplete record of evidence because the White House prevented House Democrats from accessing that evidence. Most Republicans insist that the evidence-gathering phase of impeachment was the House inquiry; if Democrats wanted to get testimony and documents blocked by the White House, they should have waited for court rulings ordering the evidence to be turned over.

This disagreement was on display when Republicans on Tuesday voted down 11 amendments to the Senate rules governing the trial that would have initiated Senate subpoenas for witnesses and documents. Republicans have said they will consider the question of witnesses and documents after the trials opening arguments and after senators ask questions of the prosecution and the defense next week.

But Democrats arent holding onto much hope that many Republicans will vote for witnesses and documents later, even if a few moderate Republicans have indicated openness.

Im less confident today than I was last week. I feel like the walls are closing in on Republicans, said Murphy. I dont understand it.

Polling indicates that many Americans believe the trial should include witnesses. Two-thirds of Americans say the U.S. Senate should call new witnesses in the trial, even while the public remains divided over whether Trump should be removed from office, according to a new ABC News/Washington Post poll released Friday.

Would Republicans support calling witnesses they claim would bolster the presidents defense, like former Vice President Joe Biden or his son Hunter Biden, who Trump had asked Ukraine to investigate? Republicans would not need any Democratic votes to bring them to the Senate.

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc. on Friday said the Senate needs to get to the bottom of Hunter Bidens work in Ukraine for energy company Burisma. But asked directly if the Senate should call Hunter Biden to testify, he said, I dont think we need to hear from any witnesses. I think at some point in time, we need to hear the story.

A member of Trumps impeachment team, U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., said the best venue for the Senate to examine the Bidens is not the trial, but in the Senate Judiciary Committee. He said he didnt think Bidens work in Ukraine was necessary to decide that the articles did not amount to impeachable offenses.

A lawyer for Trumps defense, Jay Sekulow, confirmed to reporters Friday that discussion of the Bidens will be a part of the defenses forthcoming arguments.

Regardless of whether witnesses are called, Blumenthal expressed confidence Friday that some day, perhaps soon, the public will know every detail of the Ukraine scandal.

What we know for certain is all this stuff will come out at some point, its just a question of when, Blumenthal said. Either through the Freedom of Information Act, or books people write, or interviews they give or simply leaks  we now know who Deep Throat was in Watergate. It has all come out.

emilie.munson@hearstdc.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson
A Delhi court on Friday sent to three days' judicial custody, one person, accused of inciting violence during a protest against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) near Jamia Millia Islamia on December 15.

Furkan, who was arrested by Delhi Police for his alleged involvement in the violence, was produced before Magistrate Gurmohina Kaur of Saket district court.

Advocate Alamdar Husain Naqvi represented Furkan in the court.

A resident of Jamia Nagar, Furkan is an electrician.

On December 15, the Delhi Police allegedly had thrown teargas shells inside the campus, barged into the premises and dragged students out of the library before assaulting them.

The action followed a day of protests where some protestors, which Jamia has maintained were outsiders and not students, set buses and vehicles on fire in some parts of South Delhi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Kathmandu [Nepal], Jan 24 (ANI): Nepal Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali on Friday said that his country is not only ready but "eager and in hurry" to hand over the chairmanship of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).



"Nepal is not only ready but eager and in hurry, to hand over the chairmanship of SAARC because we are carrying the baggage since more than 4 years, we were supposed to hand over in 2016," he said at a press conference here.

SAARC is a regional intergovernmental organisation and geopolitical union of states in South Asia, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal, and the Maldives.

The 18th SAARC summit was the last annual meeting attended by India that took place in Kathmandu in 2014.

Pakistan was to host the next summit in 2016, but, the summit was cancelled after India decided against participating in it following the terror attack at a military camp at Uri in Jammu and Kashmir.

Other countries, including Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to participate and the meeting was called off following India's decision to exit the summit to step up diplomatic pressure on Pakistan.

In December last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that efforts for greater collaboration among SAARC member states have been repeatedly challenged with threats and acts of terror and such an environment impedes the shared objective of realising the regional body's full potential.

"SAARC has made progress, but more needs to be done. Our efforts for greater collaboration have repeatedly been challenged with threats and acts of terrorism. Such an environment impedes our shared objective of realising the full potential of SAARC," Prime Minister Modi had said in a letter addressed to the SAARC Secretariat. (ANI)
BEIJING - There is the infectious disease specialist who, having treated bird flu and influenza A and tuberculosis over the years, was felled during the coronavirus outbreak. An exhausted Jiang Jijun died of a heart attack Thursday while tending patients.

There is the seven-months-pregnant nurse who still went to work to treat those with coronavirus, only to be infected with it herself. When her 70-year-old mother got it, too, the nurse had to complain on social media to attract the attention needed to get her admitted.

There are the health care workers wearing adult diapers because they do not have time to go to the bathroom. Then there are those with the ever-whiter hands, bleached by all the disinfectant.

As hospitals around the coronavirus ground zero of Wuhan struggle to deal with the outbreak, accounts are emerging of shortages of just about everything.

There are not enough hospitals and not enough beds, not enough doctors and not enough nurses, not enough rubber gloves and not enough face masks.

Hospitals are so short of space that a pop-up quarantine facility with 1,000 beds is being rapidly built on the outskirts of Wuhan. State media broadcast footage Friday of four dozen excavators and bulldozers working to prepare land for the temporary hospital, which will be completed within six days.

"The site being built is to remedy the shortage of existing medical resources," the state news agency Xinhua said in a report Friday. "Because it will use prefabricated buildings, it can be built fast and also won't cost much."

Many people are at breaking point in the city at the center of an expanding quarantine zone in central China.

"I don't want do this job any more. Just fire me! Kick me out, send me back home," a doctor at Wuhan No. 5 Hospital yelled into the phone, frustration and exhaustion exploding out of him.

"Don't I want to go home to celebrate the new year?" he screamed in his Wuhan accent, presumably at his boss, that he had done four back-to-back shifts as China made plans for the Lunar New Year holiday, which began Friday. "Don't we want to live, too?"

A video of the unnamed doctor, filmed by a patient, was widely shared on Weibo, the microblogging site, this week but could not be independently verified by The Washington Post. Several people in Wuhan, however, vouched for its authenticity, and there were many others like it that emerged from the quarantined city.

Together, they provide a window into the extreme levels of stress in the overburdened hospitals of Wuhan as they battle a new pneumonia-like coronavirus.

The virus emerged last month from a squalid Wuhan market that sold wild and exotic animals for consumption. Some scientists believe the virus most likely came from snakes or bats, but no firm origin has been announced by health officials.

It took, however, three full weeks for authorities to realize the seriousness of the virus, which they initially said was mild and could not be passed between humans. This week, health officials said it can move from person to person and that it has an incubation period as long as 14 days.

Hubei's provincial government declared a Level One emergency on Friday, the highest category for a public health event. It means the local government can mobilize personnel and equipment; set up a perimeter for the epidemic and enforce a regional blockade; forcibly quarantine infected people and suspected cases; institute price controls and punish "rumormongers."

Four other provinces and four cities - Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Chongqing - have also imposed Level One emergencies.

The outbreak underscores the challenges in China's health care system and, in particular, the severe shortage of primary-care physicians. There are just 60,000 licensed general practitioners, accounting for only 3.5 percent of all doctors, in a country of 1.4 billion people.

But for now, hospitals have neither the space nor the equipment or the personnel for the worried patients seeking diagnostic tests and treatment for suspected infections.

"The situation out here is grim," one nurse who works at Wuhan Xincheng Hospital wrote in a private group on WeChat, a popular messaging app.

"All major hospitals in Wuhan are full to the brim and have run out of space," the nurse wrote. "There is simply no room to admit any more new cases."

Medical facilities are running extremely short of protective equipment like surgical masks, full- body hazmat-style suits and protective goggles. Current supplies would last only three to five days, ThePaper.com, a Chinese news site, reported Friday, citing officials from multiple hospitals.

On social media, hospitals and health authorities have been issuing urgent requests for donations of basic supplies like masks.

The central government has allocated $144 million in emergency funding, but they may not have anything to spend it on. At the beginning of the week, before the full extent of the outbreak was known, one surgical mask company had received orders for 80 million masks.

While some workers are wearing diapers because they do not have time to answer the call of nature, others are wearing diapers so they do not have to take off their hazmat suit, potentially ripping it.

"We know that the protective suit we wear could be the last one we have, and we can't afford to waste anything," a Wuhan Union Hospital doctor, who only identified himself as "Mr. Do," wrote on Weibo.

On the personnel front, it is all hands on deck.

Orthopedic surgeons have been called in to treat the pneumonia patients. The People's Liberation Army has deployed 40 medical staff from a military hospital to work in a special pulmonary facility in Wuhan. More than 130 medical staff have arrived from the southwestern province of Sichuan.

The outbreak was first reported on Dec. 31 and recognized as a previously unidentified pathogen on Jan. 7. But it was not until Jan. 21 that the National Health Commission confirmed the virus could be transmitted from person to person.

In the interim weeks, medical staff were treating patients without proper protection.

The Chinese Center for Disease Control said 15 hospital staff in Wuhan had contracted the virus in the course of their work. Fourteen of them - one doctor and 13 nurses - were infected by just one patient, a person with coronavirus who underwent brain surgery.

Five medical workers in the nearby city of Huanggang had also been infected, the Hubei Health Commission said.

But medical personnel in Wuhan fear many more have the virus. "Definitely more than 15 medical workers [in Wuhan] are infected," said one doctor, speaking to the South China Morning Post on the condition of anonymity.

"Many were not initially informed about the potential for people-to-person transmission, and even now we don't have enough protective gear, test kits and other supplies," he told the paper.

The doctor said at least one hospital dormitory was being used to house quarantined medical workers, while the nurse in Wuhan said whole wards are being used for infected doctors and their families.

Fears about health care workers' exposure to the virus is, in some places, leading to them being treated like pariahs. Domino's Pizza in Shanghai has refused to deliver to hospitals and has also stopped allowing in-store collection.

The outbreak is exacting a heavy mental toll, too.

Candice Qin, a therapist based in Beijing and co-founder of a psychological consultation service called "Xingzhi Online," said she had talked to four people in Wuhan who had or suspected they had the virus, including a 30-year-old doctor who was infected by a patient.

"She was devastated, but realizing that her hospital had no more beds, she chose to isolate herself in her apartment, without even telling her parents about it. She said the most scary part was the sense of helplessness and loneliness," Qin said.

The doctor told the therapist she was afraid of dying young and not getting to see more of the world. But all she could do was take some anti-virus medication and hope her symptoms subsided.

"I think it is a strain for every doctor and every nurse in Wuhan, both physically and mentally," Qin said. "We know that patients are worried, but we should bear in mind that doctors are just as human as well."

- - -

The Washington Post's Lyric Li and Wang Yuan contributed to this report.
A Republican senator appeared to fall asleep for 15 minutes during Donald Trumps impeachment trial  while others were spotted doodling, reading books and playing with fidget spinners.

Jim Risch, representing Idaho, sat slumped with his eyes closed and his head resting on his right hand as the charges against the US president were outlined.

While independent cameras are not allowed to film proceedings, a sketch artist recorded the alleged doze at around 5.30pm on Thursday.

Reporters also claimed Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell and Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand also briefly fell asleep before jolting back awake in their seats.

Senators are only allowed to drink water or milk inside the chamber and are banned from talking to each other, eating snacks or using their phones or computers.

The restrictions prompted Texas Republican Ted Cruz to devise an impeachment drinking game: Every time House Dems say drug deal or get over it... drink a shot of milk!

All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Show all 6 1 /6 All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Alan Dershowitz Dershowitz is a controversial American lawyer best known for the high-profile clients he has successfully defended. Those clients have included OJ Simpson, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein. One longtime Harvard Law associated told the New Yorker Dershowitz "revels in taking positions that ultimately are not just controversial but pretty close to indefensible." Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Ken Starr Starr became a household name in the 1990s as the independent counsel who led the investigation that led to Bill Clinton's impeachment. That investigation began as a look into a real estate scandal known as Whitewater, and eventually led to impeachment after Mr Clinton lied under oath about having an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. AP All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Jay Sekulow Sekulow is the president's longtime personal attorney, and, now, personal lawyer in the White House. He has been accused by former Rudy Giuliani associate Lev Parnas of being "in the loop" during the Ukraine scandal. Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Pam Bondi Bondi is the former attorney general in Florida, and a longtime backer of the president's. She made a name for herself in Florida for taking hyper partisan stances on issues, and her penchant for publicity. She is likely to be a prominent public-facing figure during the trial. AFP/Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Pat Cipollone Cipollone is the White House counsel, and leading the president's defence team. Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Rudy Giuliani While not officially named as one of the president's impeachment lawyers, it is hard to ignore Giuliani's outsized role in this process. The former mayor of New York has been making headlines for months as he defends his client, and for his apparent role in the effort to compel Ukraine to launch the investigation into Joe Biden. We'll see how he figures in the actual trial, which he has said he would like to be a part of. Reuters

And Richard Burr, the Republican representative for North Carolina, handed out fidget spinners  a toy designed to relieve stress or boredom  to his colleagues at the start of the third day of trial.

He was later seen playing with a blue spinner while House impeachment manager Jerrold Nadler made his speech.

Tennessee Republican Marsha Blackburn admitted reading the book Resistance (At All Costs): How Trump Haters Are Breaking America by Kim Strassel during the hearing.

She claimed it gave her good insights into the impeachment proceedings, before adding that busy mamas are the best at multi-tasking.

Meanwhile Rand Paul, Republican senator for Kentucky, set about drawing a picture of the US Capitol.

Democrats are due to conclude their arguments on Friday before Mr Trumps legal team begins its own case on Saturday.

Jay Sekulow, one of the presidents lawyers, said they could take up to three days, adding: Were going to use a sufficient amount of time to defend our case and point out the inconsistencies of their case. Were not going to run out the clock.

I am confident that whether it is (completed) Saturday or Monday or Tuesday that the case will be made defending the president. I have no doubt.

Additional reporting by Associated Press
Families and communities affected by intimidation over drug debts in Drogheda are gripped by fear and afraid to speak out, a support group has said.

The Family Addiction Support Network (FASN) said families across the north east experience incredible stress and strain as a result of the impact of drug use by a loved one.

Project coordinator Jackie McKenna said the Government should feel shame for the appalling lack of drug services, particularly in counties Louth and Meath, where she said there was no HSE addiction counselling, outreach or drug education services.

Ms McKenna said the network operates across four counties of the north east (including Cavan and Monaghan), with no paid staff and only receives 7,500 in funding annually for counselling services, which came from the North East Regional Drugs and Alcohol Task Force (NERDATF).

She is one of the speakers at tomorrow's protest in Drogheda, which is being held following the murder and dismemberment of 17-year-old Keane Mulready-Woods.

Detectives believe one of the two feuding gangs in the town, aided by north Dublin criminal associates, carried out the juvenile's murder.

17-year-old Keane Mulready-Woods

Ms McKenna told the Irish Examiner the horrific murder has had a devastating impact: Can you imagine the impact on the family, the wider family, on the local community - the fall out from it, the amount of people traumatised by it?

She said families in the town that the network have been supporting over the years are, in general, experiencing sheer helplessness in how to respond to loved ones taking drugs or involved in the illicit market.

There's a fear gripping families and communities regarding intimidation and drug debts, she said. There's a fear in speaking out.

She said her message to the crowd at tomorrow's protest is that people affected are not alone and that FASN is a safe space for them.

As well as running regular meetings, they provide counselling and operate a 24/7 helpline, staffed by a couple of volunteers, which is a "huge benefit" for parents.

She said parents suffering intimidation over drug debts of their loved one are the most vulnerable: They are the most silent, because of fear and backlash.

They could be told 'either pay up or we're going to kill him or burn this house down' or whatever.

"Can you imagine the stress and strain on families and relationships within the family?

Ms McKenna said the Government should feel shame at the lack of State services and how they over-rely on community and voluntary groups to provide services it should be providing.

She said there is no HSE addiction counselling, outreach service or drug education in Louth and Meath and said her volunteers worked 8,700 hours in 2019, some up to 30 hours a week.

She added: This is a national crisis. Drugs are not going to go away and every one of us is rearing children in the now 'norm' drug culture. There is no excuse for Government to ignore this national emergency.

Figures show funding for the NERDATF fell by 11% between 2010 and 2014, from 1.038m to 927,813, and has not increased since.

Drogheda mayor Paul Bell said some parts of the town have been terrorised by the gangs.

*FASN 042 9355251, helpline 087 9046405

*Parade starts from the Bridge of Peace at 2pm.
[January 24, 2020] Ervaxx and Cardiff University Enter Collaboration to Develop Novel T-cell and T-cell Receptor-based Immunotherapeutics Targeting Dark Antigens

Collaboration also focuses on exciting research published earlier this week in Nature Immunology identifying MR1 as a target for novel anti-cancer immunotherapies LONDON, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ervaxx, a biotechnology company pioneering the use of Dark Antigens to develop T-cell receptor (TCR)-based immunotherapies and off-the-shelf cancer vaccines, has entered a licensing and research collaboration with a leading T-cell immunology group at Cardiff University (Cardiff, UK). The new collaboration will support a multi-year research program with Prof. Andrew Sewell's T-cell modulation group at Cardiff University focusing on the discovery and characterization of T-cells and TCRs reactive to cancer-specific antigens and ligands, including Ervaxx' proprietary Dark Antigens. Ervaxx will fund the program. The collaboration will also advance exciting new research published earlier this week by the Cardiff University team in Nature Immunology1, where they identified a T cell clone that recognized and killed multiple different types of human cancer, while remaining inert to non-cancerous cells. The T cell clone targets MR1, an MHC class 1-related protein, via an unidentified cancer-specific ligand. These exciting findings, validated in a preclinical model, open the prospect of immunotherapies with broad utility across patients with diverse cancers. This approach into previously unexplored cell surface epitopes complements and extends Ervaxx's exploration of novel cancer-specific antigens. Under the agreement, Ervaxx gains an exclusive license to relevant Cardiff University patents claiming T cells and TCRs reactive to cancer-specific antigens. The Company has the right to advance resulting candidate T-cell/TCR-based immunotherapeutics and cancer vaccines through development and commercialization. Cardiff University is eligible to receive milestone payments on any candidates that advance from the discovery collaboration into clinical development and royalty payments on sales of any products that reach the market. Prof. Andrew Sewell, Head of the T-cell modulation group, Cardiff University, commented: "Ervaxx's Dark Antigens, which are derived from the 98% of the genome that does not encode known proteins, constitute a promising and yet untapped sourc of targets for immunotherapies. This collaboration will use our world-class expertise in T-cell biology to identify T cells and TCRs reactive to those targets and pave the way for a new wave of treatments in cancer, and potentially other areas. This includes our most recent discovery, published in Nature Immunology, of a T-cell clone that targets MR1 to recognize and kill cancer cells, irrespective of cancer or human leukocyte antigen (HLA) type, offering opportunities for pan-cancer, pan-population cancer immunotherapies."



Kevin Pojasek, CEO of Ervaxx, said: "We are excited to announce this collaboration with Prof. Sewell's world-class research group. We have great hope that through the combination of this expertise with our Dark Antigens and application of our EDAPT platform, we will be able to identify further targets to expand our portfolio of TCR-based therapies and cancer vaccines. We are also thrilled to contribute to the development of the group's exciting new MR1 research, which shows early but enormous potential for the treatment of cancers. This partnership, which follows those with the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, reinforces our ambition to collaborate with leading academic institutions and be at the cutting edge of the T-cell immunology field to drive the development of novel off-the-shelf cancer therapies."

Prof. Andrew Sewell is a member of Ervaxx' Scientific Advisory Board. About Ervaxx Ervaxx is pioneering the use of Dark Antigens to deliver targeted immunotherapies for treating and preventing cancer. Ervaxx Dark Antigens derive from vast untapped expanses of genetic 'dark matter' beyond the normal coding regions of the genome, which are generally silenced in normal tissue but can become selectively activated in cancer. Ervaxx' powerful, proprietary EDAPT platform has been developed to discover and validate Dark Antigens providing an in-depth assessment of candidate antigens on primary tumor cells along with their immunogenic potential. The EDAPT platform has identified proprietary antigens that map to multiple solid tumor types and generate robust, antigen-specific T-cell responses. Ervaxx is advancing a pipeline of T cell receptor (TCR)-based therapies, off-the-shelf cancer vaccines and other immunotherapies leveraging these insights into the role of Dark Antigens in cancer. Ervaxx was co-founded by SV Health Investors and is based on pioneering research at the Francis Crick Institute (London, UK). The company has offices in London, UK and a laboratory in the Bioescalator Building at Oxford University, UK. Ervaxx also has a strategic partnership with a global pharmaceutical company. For more information visit: www.ervaxx.com Ervaxx, Dark Antigen and EDAPT are trademarks of Ervaxx Limited About the T-cell Modulation Group, Cardiff University Cardiff University T-cell modulation group, within the Division of Infection and Immunity, consists of 16 researchers with a diverse skill and knowledge base that covers all areas of T-cell biology including T-cell genetics, molecular biology, protein chemistry, crystallography, and cell biology. The overall goal of the T-cell modulation group is to understand the genetic, biochemical and cellular mechanisms that govern T-cell responses to human disease. Our research outputs are extremely wide ranging and include basic studies which are aimed at understanding how the T-cell immune response is regulated, through to translational studies which are aimed at developing tools, diagnostics and treatments for human diseases such as cancer, HIV, EBV, tuberculosis and many more. For More Information Ervaxx Limited

Kevin Pojasek, CEO

Tel: +44-(0)-186-561-8828

Email: [email protected] Citigate Dewe Rogerson

Mark Swallow, Frazer Hall, Nathaniel Dahan

Tel: +44-(0)-20-7638-9571

Email: [email protected] 1 Crowther, M.D., Dolton, G., Legut, M. et al. Genome-wide CRISPRCas9 screening reveals ubiquitous T cell cancer targeting via the monomorphic MHC class I-related protein MR1. Nat Immunol (2020) doi:10.1038/s41590-019-0578-8

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
KYODO NEWS - Jan 23, 2020 - 23:48 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told parliament on Thursday the government will ask airlines to make announcements on flights from China urging passengers to notify cabin crew if they feel ill, as a new coronavirus continues to spread.

"We will make utmost efforts to prevent the spread of infections," Abe said.

Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways Co. said it has decided to cancel flights connecting Narita near Tokyo with the central Chinese city of Wuhan at the center of the virus outbreak for two days from Thursday, affecting around 280 passengers in total. The airline said it will decide whether to resume the flights Saturday or later depending on the situation in China.

"Over there children aren't allowed to go outside, so I'm glad we were able to return as planned," Yosuke Aoki, a 34-year-old Japanese living in Wuhan who made a trip home to Japan with his family, said at Narita airport.

China's Juneyao Airlines Co. canceled flights between Kansai airport and Wuhan on Thursday, while Spring Airlines Japan Co. flight attendants on the route have been wearing masks and distributing them to passengers since Wednesday.

(Photo taken on Jan. 23, 2020, at Narita airport near Tokyo shows a thermographic monitor to check the body temperatures of passengers from China, especially from the central Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of a pneumonia-causing new coronavirus.)

Japanese health minister Katsunobu Kato said the same day that samples collected to confirm infection will be tested not only at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases but at other government-authorized clinical laboratories across the country.

The virus continues to have an impact on a wide range of industries, with a JTB Corp. group company canceling all tours with Wuhan as the departure or destination point for February and March.

Auto parts maker Denso Corp., which has a vehicle software development center in Wuhan, on Thursday banned all its staff from traveling to the city.

MUFG Bank and Mizuho Bank, which have branches in Wuhan, have asked staff to refrain from taking business trips there, while Japanese telecom company KDDI Corp. has ordered staff at its Wuhan office to stay home.

According to Japan's Foreign Ministry, around 550 Japanese nationals are living in Wuhan. The Japanese Embassy in China is keeping residents up to date on the number of reported cases and local transport services via email, while also asking them not go outside unless absolutely necessary.

Unicharm Corp., Japan's largest maker of surgical masks, received 10 times more orders than normal from drugstores over two days from Jan. 16, the day after the first infected person in Japan was confirmed.

The company has decided to manufacture masks 24 hours a day throughout January.

The coronavirus appears to be spreading rapidly in China, with the country's authorities reporting at least 17 people died in Hubei Province and more than 570 people developed pneumonia. Cases have been confirmed elsewhere in Asia, including one in Japan, as well as the United States.

Many countries have been taking extra precautions ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday period from Friday to Jan. 30, when many Chinese are expected to travel abroad.
LAS VEGAS -- It may be an AR market, but a South Carolina gunmaker just introduced another version of the classic Israeli Galil rifle at SHOT Show 2020.

American Tactical Inc. showed off its new Galil short-barreled rifle (SBR) -- officially called the Galeo -- at range day, a year after unveiling the full-size variant of this short-lived, iconic Israeli battle rifle.

"We manufacture the receiver in house in Summerville, South Carolina; we source the barrel domestically and source the magazine domestically. Everything else is Israeli-made," Nick Contestabile, of American Tactical Inc., told Military.com.

"It's an exciting member of our catalog because it's not a very common firearm, even in our industry."

Related: SHOT Show 2020 Coverage

The Israeli Galil was the battle rifle of the Israeli Defense Force from the mid-1970s to the early 1990s. Its rugged design is based on the AK-47 and the Valmet RK 62.

It doesn't have rails for mounting optics or lights. There is no adjustable cheek rest or other aftermarket accessories for it. But there is a certain mystique to the robust features of this 5.56mm semi-automatic rifle.

Nick Contestabile demonstrates the South Carolina gunmakers new Galeo SBR at SHOT Show 2020. (Military.com photo/Matthew Cox)

"We have very high demand for these firearms. ... The backorders are pretty heavy," Contestabile said. "We can make our ARs a lot faster than we can make this. A lot of tender, loving care goes into these, so it takes a while to make them."

The SBR version has a 13-inch barrel and features the iconic, folding metal stock and charging handle that's bent upward at a 90-degree angle to make it easier to charge the weapon with the non-firing hand.

"It's very similar to an AK-47 in a lot of its features -- the magazine, the safety mechanism, all of that," Contestabile said.

The American Tactical Galeo SBR is available with wood or polymer forends and retails for about $1,330.

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

Read More: Sig Sauer's New X5 Legion Pistol Is Designed for Lightest Possible Recoil
All proceeds will be donated to the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (RFS) for firefighting equipment and training as Australia's bushfire season continues, while anyone who purchases a shirt will receive $5 off a Ruckify rental of their choice.

The idea and design for the shirts came from Ruckify staff, after a company-wide conversation about feelings of helplessness as news of the disaster flowed in.

Ruckify founder and CEO Steve Cody said staff wanted to find a way to lend support to others in need on the other side of the world.

"Since Ruckify's founding two years ago, community, environmentalism, and sustainability have been at the heart of our values," Mr Cody said. "These fires have dealt a blow to the Australian people, and the environment, that will be felt for years to come.

"These disasters affect us all, and will continue to do so as the effects of climate change become more apparent. Australians help North Americans every year with funding and resources during wildfire season, and we want to contribute in any way we can during their time of need."

The fundraising campaign complements Ruckify's ongoing TreeProject, the company's commitment to plant a tree for every sign-up, transaction, and review at ruckify.com.

"It's time for all of us to step up and acknowledge the status quo will no longer work in the face of climate change and the resulting natural disasters," Mr Cody said.

"Through both our shirt fundraising campaign and TreeProject campaign, we want to be part of the solution."

Those interested in the $30 shirts can order them at the dedicated RuckifyStore , where they will be shipped for free.

About Ruckify

Ruckify is the world's largest online peer-to-peer rental marketplace, empowering its members to embrace the sharing economy and leave unnecessary purchases behind. Designed with both people and businesses in mind, anyone can post their items and spaces on Ruckify for people in their community to rent. Arriving in Austin on a foundation of community building, environmentalism, education, and freedom, Ruckify is dedicated to changing the world and curtailing the spread of unsustainable consumerism. The platform has also launched TreeProject, a commitment from Ruckify to plant a tree for every transaction made on the app, allowing anyone to be a part of the mission towards a greener, healthier earth. For more information, visit www.ruckify.com or like us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @ruckify.

SOURCE Ruckify
Movie adaptations of classic books will always be compared to their source material. This failed fright-fest contends not just with Henry Jamess masterful novel of suspense, The Turn of the Screw (1898). Its also up against the 1961 film The Innocents, a subtle, shivery take on Jamess work thats one of the best horror movies ever made.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/1/2020 (717 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Movie adaptations of classic books will always be compared to their source material. This failed fright-fest contends not just with Henry Jamess masterful novel of suspense, The Turn of the Screw (1898). Its also up against the 1961 film The Innocents, a subtle, shivery take on Jamess work thats one of the best horror movies ever made.

The Turning cant match its predecessors, but it doesnt succeed on its own terms, either. With the story transported to America from England and set in 1994  just after Kurt Cobain died, the radio informs us  it seems unlikely the filmmakers are going after the hardcore Henry James demographic. But this modernized version wont satisfy general horror fans, either, with its overplayed jump-scares and underwhelming narrative.

When Kate (Mackenzie Davis of Terminator: Dark Fate) takes on a job as a nanny and tutor for two orphaned kids living in an isolated mansion, she seems to be dealing with her own childhood traumas. "I know what it feels like to grow up without parents," she says.

Flora (Brooklynn Prince from The Florida Project) seems like a sweet little girl, though for a 1990s child, she has a surprising number of creepy porcelain-faced dolls. Miles (Stranger Things Finn Wolfhard) is a sullenly beautiful adolescent who has just been kicked out of boarding school for ominous reasons.

Mrs. Grose (Barbara Marten), a stern-faced British housekeeper who somehow dresses in clothing from 1942, completes this strange, unhappy household, along with an unnecessary number of eerie mannequins, sinister statues and unsettling taxidermy animals.

On top of all this gothic clutter, there might be others in residence. Kate soon comes to believe the children are threatened by unseen violence, which might somehow be linked to former employee Quint (Niall Greig Fulton) and the dark fate of the previous nanny, Miss Jessel (Denna Thomsen).

Finn Wolfhard and Brooklynn Prince are good in The Turning, unfortunatelly the script features too many jump scares and not enough suspense. (Storyteller Distribution Co.)

Canadian director Floria Sigismondi (who has made music videos for David Bowie, Marilyn Manson and Living Things, as well as the music-themed feature The Runaways) has an eye, and there are scenes in which her visual flair combines with handsome production design to pull off some stylish, atmospheric scares.

The performances are as good as they can be, and Davis and the two youngsters work well together.

Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

The real problem with The Turning is the scripting, from brothers Carey Hayes and Chad Hayes (The Conjuring). They pile on gotcha shots when they should be building suspense. They throw in topical issues  in particular, the story offers a strong feminist take on the sources undercurrents of sexual violence  but fail to follow up.

Most fatally, the script doesnt seem to know what it wants to say.

The Innocents gained its power by vibrating between two possibilities: that the children are being threatened by supernatural forces, or that these dangers are projections of the governesss unravelling psyche. In place of this expertly delineated ambiguity, The Turning offers clumsy confusion, which degenerates into a muddled third act and caps with an unearned Big Reveal ending.

When the credits started rolling after that sudden final scene, some audience members at the screening I attended were audibly ticked off.

Never mind what the ghost of Henry James might be saying.

alison.gillmor@freepress.mb.ca

If you value coverage of Manitobas arts scene, help us do more.

Your contribution of $10, $25 or more will allow the Free Press to deepen our reporting on theatre, dance, music and galleries while also ensuring the broadest possible audience can access our arts journalism. BECOME AN ARTS JOURNALISM SUPPORTER Click here to learn more about the project.
After years of grueling in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments, my husband, Jeremy, and I were over the moon when, at last, one of my final two frozen embryos took. Our baby, Tristan, was born by C-section in June of 2015. Tristan was perfect and such a good babyone that scarcely cried.

As new parents, we'd read all the books and kept him to a strict feeding and sleep schedule, and he quickly grew bigger and bigger. But at 4 months old, something changed. Our happy baby was suddenly crabby, often screaming, and clearly unhappy. We thought maybe he was teething and spent the day cycling him on ibuprofen and acetaminophen. We took a cute 4 months photo and I nursed him into his nap.

I had just started laundry when I heard Jeremy scream, "Tristan is having a seizure. Call 911!"

Our Son's Medical Crisis

In my husband's arms, my infant was seizing violently. I thought that I was going crazy, that this couldn't possibly be happening. But by the time the ambulance arrived minutes later, Tristan was actually alert and crying, as though it hadn't happened at all. Still, when the paramedics suggested he was stable, I insisted he be taken to the ER.

Courtesy of Vivianna Graham Tristan during his four-month photo. "He was sad and it was hard for us to get him to smile that day. Thats the day he had his seizures," says mom Vivianna Graham.

At Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, doctors took a CAT scan: Tristan had suffered two brain bleeds, one fresh and one older. At this news, I was crying, certain that my son was going to die. When the staff noted, per hospital protocol, all children under age 2 with brain injuries were referred to social services, I thought nothing of it. Tristan was stable, didn't require further medical intervention, and we had already told our story to multiple hospital personnel.

Even the next day, when he was brought back for a full-body X-ray and full optometric exam, I didn't question why; I just wanted to get to the bottom of his seizures. Later, we waited to be discharged, and waited for a representative from social services pediatrics to have a last look at our son. As far as we knew, this was just protocol.

Story continues

My Husband Was Accused of Abuse

It wasn't until we were being discharged that a woman from the Florida Child Protective Investigations (CPI) unit told us, "Just to let you know, our doctor is saying these wounds are inflicted." I quickly realized this was far more serious than we had imagined. We were unfailingly cooperative, allowing CPI to walk through our home and take photographs, answering every question at length and repeatedly. Ultimately, we were left with a "safety plan" to follow strictlyand Jeremy was forbidden from being in the house with Tristan.

Everything happened so quickly after that. My husband had been devastated at being considered at fault for our son's injuries, but worse than that, he was soon in law enforcement crosshairs: Told by our attorney a warrant had been issued for his arrest, Jeremy turned himself into our local police department. As he was being bailed out the next day, Jeremy's face was plastered across the Tampa Bay evening news. The headline: "Firefighter paramedic arrested for aggravated child abuse."

Forbidden from being near Tristan, Jeremy was forced to leave our home and move in with a friend. After much bureaucratic wrangling, my sister was given temporary custody of Tristana blessing given that our 4-month-old might have ended up in foster care. But I soon learned my sister and mother both believed Jeremy may have been to blame and had been cooperating with police. I had been at home during the seizure and knew my husband's innocence beyond a doubt. But now paranoid about my own family, I requested a placement change for Tristan; at my request, he was moved 45 minutes away to my aunt's home, where I also relocated.

It was a grueling time. Jeremy had moved back into our home, but we were forbidden from being together as a family. We were following the state's case plan, but were told the process could be lengthy and its outcome uncertain. And in the meantime, my husband was falling apart: Losing weight, deeply depressed, afraid of going to the grocery store or the gym, and terrified of losing his family. Though he'd been put on administrative duties following the arrest, getting up and going to work every day was all that got him through that period.

A Turning Point in Our Case

I was close to collapse when, during one court-mandated home study, the investigator inquired who from CPI had determined my son's injuries had been inflicted. I told him the name of the woman who'd given Tristan a 10-minute exam and called him an abuse victim: Sally Smith, M.D. Instantly recognizing the name of the head of Pinellas County, Florida's child protective team, he urged me to get second opinions, gather our paperwork, and contest her findings.

Soon, we had appointments scheduled with multiple neurologists outside the Tampa Bay area. Their findings: That in extraordinarily large-headed babies, like Tristan, the brain takes time in catching up to skull growth, and veins frequently rupture and re-rupture. A second finding: Even after Tristan had been removed from our custody, the brain bleeds were continuing to occurproof that not only was Jeremy not at fault, but that Tristan's was a common and ongoing neurological condition.

We forwarded the new reports to the state and Dr. Smith's team; all criminal charges were dropped. We were overjoyed, and in family court, the judge told us, "You've all been through a lot. It's time to go home as a family."

Courtesy of Vivianna Graham Vivianna Graham and her family.

We Aren't the Only Family Affected

Soon, we fell back into that rhythm, returned to work, and life began to return to normal. But quickly, I started getting messages from other families facing similar diagnoses from Dr. Smith and asking for help. I quickly put together a website on our experience and on false diagnoses of "shaken baby syndrome," specifically as diagnosed by Dr. Smith. But in December 2019, when a Houston Chronicle series was published detailing hundreds of such storiesincluding our ownI realized what a truly unseen epidemic this is.

Our experience was devastating. We were publicly humiliated, lost custody of our infant son for eight excruciating months, and a deep wedge was driven through my own family. We were also lucky: Many of our second specialists' opinions were offered pro bono, we had the resources to mount a legal defense, and our marriage emerged stronger than ever. But so many families facing these false and devastating charges lack both pro bono assistance and financial support, or go bankrupt or divorce in the process. It's my mission now to do all I can to help others in the same predicament.

As for Dr. Smith, I've sent her a holiday card every year since our ordealand will until Tristan turns 18with our family photo, and the message, "This is what you failed to destroy." Last year, to my surprise, she responded, saying that she's "sorry (I'm) still so angry" and that she knows we feel very strongly our son wasn't abused. It was hardly an apology.

Editor's Note: Contacted by Parents.com for comment, Dr. Sally Smith said Florida medical confidentiality laws bind her from disclosing specific evidence supporting her findings. She notes the burden of proof for dependency cases differs from what prosecutors can effectively pursue in criminal court because even in cases where there is no question a child was abused, it can be difficult to prove beyond doubt who was responsible. She adds, "I dont set out each day to tear families apart. Ive worked at this for 30 years, being careful in evaluating cases and contribute to helping to protect children. And Ive had many cases over the years where Ive concluded there wasnt evidence of child abuse to be found."
As an investor, mistakes are inevitable. But you want to avoid the really big losses like the plague. So spare a thought for the long term shareholders of Tyranna Resources Limited (ASX:TYX); the share price is down a whopping 93% in the last three years. That might cause some serious doubts about the merits of the initial decision to buy the stock, to put it mildly. The more recent news is of little comfort, with the share price down 71% in a year. The falls have accelerated recently, with the share price down 67% in the last three months.

We really hope anyone holding through that price crash has a diversified portfolio. Even when you lose money, you don't have to lose the lesson.

See our latest analysis for Tyranna Resources

Tyranna Resources recorded just AU$4,592 in revenue over the last twelve months, which isn't really enough for us to consider it to have a proven product. This state of affairs suggests that venture capitalists won't provide funds on attractive terms. So it seems that the investors focused more on what could be, than paying attention to the current revenues (or lack thereof). It seems likely some shareholders believe that Tyranna Resources will find or develop a valuable new mine before too long.

As a general rule, if a company doesn't have much revenue, and it loses money, then it is a high risk investment. There is usually a significant chance that they will need more money for business development, putting them at the mercy of capital markets. So the share price itself impacts the value of the shares (as it determines the cost of capital). While some such companies do very well over the long term, others become hyped up by promoters before eventually falling back down to earth, and going bankrupt (or being recapitalized). It certainly is a dangerous place to invest, as Tyranna Resources investors might realise.

Our data indicates that Tyranna Resources had AU$130k more in total liabilities than it had cash, when it last reported in June 2019. That puts it in the highest risk category, according to our analysis. But with the share price diving 59% per year, over 3 years , it's probably fair to say that some shareholders no longer believe the company will succeed. The image below shows how Tyranna Resources's balance sheet has changed over time; if you want to see the precise values, simply click on the image. You can see in the image below, how Tyranna Resources's cash levels have changed over time (click to see the values).

Story continues

ASX:TYX Historical Debt, January 24th 2020

Of course, the truth is that it is hard to value companies without much revenue or profit. Given that situation, would you be concerned if it turned out insiders were relentlessly selling stock? I would feel more nervous about the company if that were so. It only takes a moment for you to check whether we have identified any insider sales recently.

A Different Perspective

While the broader market gained around 26% in the last year, Tyranna Resources shareholders lost 71%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 38% per year over five years. We realise that Buffett has said investors should 'buy when there is blood on the streets', but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Tyranna Resources better, we need to consider many other factors. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 6 warning signs for Tyranna Resources (of which 4 are significant!) you should know about.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies we expect will grow earnings.

Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on AU exchanges.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
GIBRALTAR, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Karuschain revealed and presented the first MVP for its enterprise blockchain solution for the precious metals mining supply chain Karuschain SecureCapture today. This key milestone in the company's roadmap was revealed at Blockchain Impact, 2020 Perspectives in Singapore, a prestigious event for high net worth investors, funds and blockchain enthusiasts.

Karuschain Announces Impressive Blockchain MVP for The Precious Metals Supply Chain & New Company CEO in Singapore

Karuschain Founder & Chairman Richard Verkley says, "Karuschain SecureCapture will function as the secure data flow to the Karuschain platform. By integrating Karuschain SecureCapture into the mine operation tech ecosystem Karuschain technology will capture data across selected databases and provide data immutability. Data immutability will ensure that even system administrators will not be able to change data retrospectively in order to commit data fraud. It will act as the first step to securing provenance and solving the long-standing issues around efficiency, data integrity, transparency, information sharing and traceability for miners and others throughout the precious metals supply chain."

In addition to this, Karuschain also revealed it has hired a new CEO and welcomes Ryan Steil to the team. Ryan is a leader in digital transformation with more than 20 years building and supporting technology initiatives within Oil & Gas, Mining, Engineering and Manufacturing organizations. Prior to joining Karuschain, Ryan was most recently an Associate Partner with IBM Canada where he worked with Enterprise organizations to manage their strategic investment in technology. In response to the announcement Ryan says, "I am driven to continue to lead the development of solutions that increase the transparency of data and the efficiency of the organizations. Karuschain's enterprise blockchain solution does just that. I'm very excited to be joining such a well-equipped and experienced team and continue to drive success to an industry with a very real need and desire for technological innovation."

The news comes soon after the company disclosed the enormous success of its first private sale, whereby 32.5 million KRS tokens, 10% of the total token allocation earmarked for the sale, were sold out. In fact, demand was so great that the final private sale token allocation and sale superseded the original allocation by more than 30%. Karuschain is now moving into the next stage of funding alongside further product development.

Karuschain is a blockchain technology platform for the precious metals mining industry, giving mining companies a powerful tool to ensure data integrity, safeguard human rights, reduce risks and improve environmental regulations in their supply chain.

For more information visit: https://karuschain.com/

Follow Karuschain on social media:

Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Instagram Telegram Medium Youtube

Contact Information:

Sophie Elliott

Marketing Specialist

Karuschain

[email protected]

+34 622 73 36 87

SOURCE Karuschain

Related Links

https://karuschain.com


Paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force and India Reserve Battalion troopers patrolled Burugulikera, located in the middle of thick jungles in Jharkhands Gulikera hills, on Thursday amid tensions in the village days after seven villagers were beheaded allegedly over a dispute related to the Pathalgadi movement.

Officials said additional forces were deployed to prevent further escalation in violence amid strong sentiments for and against the movement, through which several villages in the region have declared self-governance. Officials said that in many villages, government officials are not allowed to enter to carry any developmental work.

Pathalgadi refers to a practice among tribals of erecting stone slabs in honour of their ancestors, to announce important decisions and demarcate boundaries of villages. Many tribal villages erected slabs quoting the Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act when it was enacted in 1996 to allow self-rule through gram sabhas. In 2017, these slabs resurfaced in several villages in protest against then Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments attempt to acquire tribal land for development projects. This came to be called the Pathalgadi movement, which involved a refusal to accept government services.

A day after the decapitated bodies were recovered, Burugulikera village of 184 families appeared divided over the movement on Thursday. ...84 families are against Pathalgadi and take every benefit offered by the government. Our children go to schools. We have voter and Aadhaar cards. We get rice as subsidised ration, said Nathuram Budh, whose brother James was one of the seven anti-Pathalgadi villagers killed.

He said the opponents of the movement want them to refuse government schemes and ask them to submit their voter, Aadhaar and ration cards. My brother James, who was the deputy mukhiya [village head], opposed this. We are now scared as to what will be our fate after the forces leave.

A group of pro-Pathalgadi activists allegedly killed the seven, aged between 23 and 35, on Sunday night.

Residents said the situation flared up on January 16 when the anti-Pathalgadi group led by James attacked the houses of former mukhiya Mukta Horo and her husband, Ranshi Budh, and few others.

On January 19, four persons came to our village and called nine villagers including the seven for a meeting. We came to know of the murders only after police recovered the dead bodies of seven villagers on January 22, said a woman, who did not want to be named.

Deputy commissioner Arava Rajkamal, who has been camping in the village with district police superintendent Indrajit Mahatha since January 21, said the Pathalgadi movement in this area was much more violent than in neighbouring Kunti district.

In Khunti and other areas, Pathalgadi supporters collect voter cards, Aadhaar cards etc and sent them to the President of India and the state governor. But here the pro-Pathalgadi group has burnt government documents and has been much more violent, said Rajkamal. He said it was the first case when people have been brutally beaten and beheaded.

Local tribals kidnapped bodyguards of a former Lok Sabha deputy speaker, Karia Munda, in Kunti when police cracked down on pro-Pathalgadi leaders in 2017. This is the first time when people have been murdered, Rajkamal said.

A police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said one of the three people detained for the murders took a book on Pathalgadi along when he was taken into custody. Ranshi Budh, who was allegedly leading the pro-Pathalgadi group, has told police that the local Gram Sabha members have killed the seven villagers, he added.

The officer said when asked why the pro-Pathalgadi group had not lodged a complaint regarding violence ahead of the beadings on January 16, Budh said that they do not believe in the present government and will not take any of their services.

Mahatha said so far the investigation has not revealed the involvement of Maoist groups in the killings even though they were probing whether the killing was a result of a battle of dominance between Communist Party of India (Maoist) and Peoples Liberation Front of India, two rebel groups active in the region.

He said Maoist Central Committee member, Misir Besra, has been active in the region without elaborating on his activities. Mahatha added no arrests have been made so far though three persons have been detained. Some of the accused in the killing are still missing, he said.

Most people were unwilling to speak about the beheading amid tensions. The non-cooperation from locals was also said to be a reason why police took over 24 hours to locate the bodies.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Scientists with the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists move the hands of the Doomsday Clock to within 100 seconds of midnight, closer to midnight than at any point since its creation in 1947, 23 January 2020. Photo: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

By Gayle Spinazze

23 January 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists)  The iconic Doomsday Clock symbolizing the gravest perils facing humankind is now closer to midnight than at any point since its creation in 1947. To underscore the need for action, the time on the Doomsday Clock is now being expressed in seconds, rather than minutes: Today, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Science and Security Board in consultation with the Bulletins Board of Sponsors, which includes 13 Nobel Laureates, moved the Doomsday Clock from two minutes to midnight to 100 seconds to midnight.

As the statement issued today by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists explains: Humanity continues to face two simultaneous existential dangersnuclear war and climate changethat are compounded by a threat multiplier, cyber-enabled information warfare, that undercuts societys ability to respond. The international security situation is dire, not just because these threats exist, but because world leaders have allowed the international political infrastructure for managing them to erode.

The Doomsday Clock has now moved closer to midnight in three of the last four years. While the Doomsday Clock did not move in 2019, its minute hand was set forward in 2018 by 30 seconds, to two minutes before midnight. The Clock was adjusted in 2017 to two and a half minutes to midnight from its previous setting of three minutes to midnight.

Rachel Bronson, president and CEO, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, said: It is 100 seconds to midnight. We are now expressing how close the world is to catastrophe in seconds  not hours, or even minutes. It is the closest to Doomsday we have ever been in the history of the Doomsday Clock. We now face a true emergency  an absolutely unacceptable state of world affairs that has eliminated any margin for error or further delay.

Former California Governor Jerry Brown, executive chair, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, said: Dangerous rivalry and hostility among the superpowers increases the likelihood of nuclear blunder. Climate change just compounds the crisis. If theres ever a time to wake up, its now.

For the first time, experts from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists were joined in making the Doomsday Clock change by members of The Elders. Founded by Nelson Mandela in 2007, The Elders are independent global leaders working together for peace and human rights.

Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, deputy chair, The Elders; and former South Korean Foreign Minister, said: We share a common concern over the failure of the multilateral system to address the existential threats we face. From the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and the Iran Nuclear Deal, to deadlock at nuclear disarmament talks and division at the UN Security Council  our mechanisms for collaboration are being undermined when we need them most.

The hands of the Doomsday Clock move to within 100 seconds of midnight, closer to midnight than at any point since its creation in 1947, 23 January 2020. Graphic: Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

Former President of Ireland Mary Robinson, chair, The Elders, and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said: We ask world leaders to join us in 2020 as we work to pull humanity back from the brink. The Doomsday Clock now stands at 100 seconds to midnight, the most dangerous situation that humanity has ever faced. Now is the time to come together  to unite and to act.

The Doomsday Clock statement highlights three worsening factors:

Nuclear weapons. In the nuclear realm, national leaders have ended or undermined several major arms control treaties and negotiations during the last year, creating an environment conducive to a renewed nuclear arms race, to the proliferation of nuclear weapons, and to lowered barriers to nuclear war. Political conflicts regarding nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea remain unresolved and are, if anything, worsening. US-Russia cooperation on arms control and disarmament is all but nonexistent.

Climate change. Public awareness of the climate crisis grew over the course of 2019, largely because of mass protests by young people around the world. Just the same, governmental action on climate change still falls far short of meeting the challenge at hand. At UN climate meetings last year, national delegates made fine speeches but put forward few concrete plans to further limit the carbon dioxide emissions that are disrupting Earths climate. This limited political response came during a year when the effects of manmade climate change were manifested by one of the warmest years on record, extensive wildfires, and quicker-than-expected melting of glacial ice.

Cyber-based disinformation. Continued corruption of the information ecosphere on which democracy and public decision making depend has heightened the nuclear and climate threats. In the last year, many governments used cyber-enabled disinformation campaigns to sow distrust in institutions and among nations, undermining domestic and international efforts to foster peace and protect the planet.

At the same time, the Doomsday Clock statement also identifies possible action steps to turn back the hands of the Clock.

US and Russian leaders can return to the negotiating table to: reinstate the INF Treaty or take other action to restrain an unnecessary arms race in medium-range missiles; extend the limits of New START beyond 2021; seek further reductions in nuclear arms; discuss a lowering of the alert status of the nuclear arsenals of both countries; limit nuclear modernization programs that threaten to create a new nuclear arms race; and start talks on cyber warfare, missile defenses, the militarization of space, hypersonic technology, and the elimination of battlefield nuclear weapons.

The countries of the world should publicly rededicate themselves to the temperature goal of the Paris climate agreement, which is restricting warming well below 2 degrees Celsius higher than the preindustrial level. That goal is consistent with consensus views on climate science, and, notwithstanding the inadequate climate action to date, it may well remain within reach if major changes in the worldwide energy system and land use are undertaken promptly. If that goal is to be attained, industrialized countries will need to curb emissions rapidly, going beyond their initial, inadequate pledges and supporting developing countries so they can leapfrog the entrenched, fossil fuel-intensive patterns previously pursued by industrialized countries.

The United States and other signatories of the Iran nuclear deal can work together to restrain nuclear proliferation in the Middle East. Iran is poised to violate key thresholds of the deal.

The international community should begin multilateral discussions aimed at establishing norms of behavior, both domestic and international, that discourage and penalize the misuse of science. Science provides the worlds searchlight in times of fog and confusion. Furthermore, focused attention is needed to prevent information technology from undermining public trust in political institutions, in the media, and in the existence of objective reality itself. Cyber-enabled information warfare is a threat to the common good. Deception campaignsand leaders intent on blurring the line between fact and politically motivated fantasyare a profound threat to effective democracies, reducing their ability to address nuclear weapons, climate change, and other existential dangers.

December 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the first edition of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, initially a six-page, black-and-white bulletin and later a magazine, created in anticipation that the atom bomb would be only the first of many dangerous presents from the Pandoras Box of modern science.

Contact

Alex Frank, (703) 276-3264 and afrank@hastingsgroup.com

Max Karlin, (703) 276-3255 and mkarlin@hastingsgroup.com

Scientists move Doomsday Clock closer to midnight
Its a common family-photo joke when someone cant make the occasion: Well just Photoshop them in later!  the understanding being that reality isnt really subject to editing, but were tempted to try it anyway.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/1/2020 (719 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Its a common family-photo joke when someone cant make the occasion: "Well just Photoshop them in later!"  the understanding being that reality isnt really subject to editing, but were tempted to try it anyway.

Its a more serious charge to level at keepers of actual photographic records, but thats the situation the National Archives and Records Administration in the United States found itself in recently. Had it tried to "edit" reality?

A close-up image shows the altered sign in a photo displayed at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. (Salwan Georges / Washington Post)

At issue was a photo used to publicize an exhibition, Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote. The image, displayed in the common area outside the exhibition, showed crowds in Washington, D.C., during the historic Womens March in 2017.

That march, a day after the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump, who is currently impeached and facing trial in the U.S. Senate, was commonly seen as a reaction, in part, to the election of a man who infamously bragged on tape about sexually assaulting women ("When youre a star, they let you do it") and faced multiple credible accusations of such behaviour.

So what was the problem with the promotional image? In it, some of the messages on the demonstrators signs were blurred out. Rather than a placard that said "God Hates Trump" it read "God Hates (word obscured)"; another, which originally read "Trump & GOP  Hands Off Women" now had the word "Trump" obscured. References to womens anatomy were also blurred. A sign declaring "If my vagina could shoot bullets, itd be less regulated" had "vagina" blurred out.

A NARA spokeswoman told the Washington Post the changes were made "so as not to engage in current political controversy."

The idea that an exhibit about womens rights could  or should  avoid controversy, current or not, is questionable. That it concerned an image in which many thousands of women were engaging politically underscores the flimsiness of such an argument.

The idea that an exhibit about womens rights could  or should  avoid controversy, current or not, is questionable.

It seems more like self-censorship. And that, itself, is a controversial political decision.

Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

The issue has another unexpected layer: the image at the centre of the controversy might give the impression NARA had altered one of the images in its own archives to suit the president (or, at least, to avoid his mercurial wrath); that is not the case, as the much-discussed promotional photo was licensed from Getty Images and is not actually part of the exhibition.

In fact, photos from the 2017 Womens March appear nowhere in the exhibition.

But the imprimatur of a national archives lends images associated with it an archives rigorous adherence to accuracy and fact. That was why the Society of American Archivists felt compelled to issue a statement in the wake of the Posts reporting. The society emphasized that "Archivists may not wilfully alter, manipulate, or destroy data or records to conceal facts or distort evidence. They thoroughly document any actions that may cause changes to the records in their care or raise questions about the records authenticity."

We made a mistake.



As the National Archives of the United States, we are and have always been completely committed to preserving our archival holdings, without alteration. pic.twitter.com/VTWOS4R7GY  US National Archives (@USNatArchives) January 18, 2020

After the story appeared, NARA apologized and replaced the altered image promoting the exhibition with an unaltered version. But the damage to public trust in government institutions, especially when that trust is under the microscope thanks to the impeachment of a famously untruthful president, is no small thing.

People, or a government, might like to Photoshop certain things into  or out of  our photographic records. But thats just avoiding reality, not altering it.
Impeachment trial

House Democrats sought on Thursday to pre-emptively dismantle President Trumps core defenses in his impeachment trial, invoking his own words to argue that his pressure campaign on Ukraine was an abuse of power that warranted his removal.

On the second day of arguments in the third presidential impeachment trial in American history, Democrats sought to make the case that Mr. Trumps actions were an affront to the Constitution. And they worked to disprove his lawyers claims that he was acting only in the nations interests when he sought to enlist Ukraine to investigate political rivals. (New York Times)

Featured stories

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., heads back to the Senate chamber at the Capitol in Washington during a break in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. (Julio Cortez, Associated Press)AP

Trump, Democrats keep their distance as GOP moderates face crucial impeachment votes (Washington Post)

The evidence revealed since Trumps impeachment but still in question at Senate trial (ABC News)

First 3 women to be impeachment managers say public will see trial as rigged if Trump is acquitted (NBC News)

National news

DOJ acknowledges insufficient cause to monitor former Trump aide Carter Page as suspected Russian agent (USA Today)

Trump says he will save Social Security after signaling openness to entitlement cuts (The Hill)

Police release horrific details of the 1st mass shooting of the year, identify teen suspect (ABC News)

Libyan tied to Benghazi attack sentenced to 19 and a half years (CNN)

Prosecutors link Florida man to two dozen Pillowcase rapes, makeshift dungeon, as detectives search for any Brevard victims (Florida Today)

Michelle Carter, convicted in texting suicide case, released from prison (CNN)

Vineyard spills 97,000 gallons of wine, polluting California river, officials say (Sacramento Bee)

Small town at the center of new dreadlock controversy (ABC News)

Black man sues Detroit bank alleging racial discrimination, wrongful accusation of fraud (ABC News)

2 N.J. drowning deaths trigger safety warnings about frozen ponds (nj.com)

World news

Healthy young man dies of coronavirus in China; new cases in Japan and South Korea (Washington Post)

Trump says hell likely release Middle East peace plan by Tuesday (Al Jazeera)

World leaders in Jerusalem show battle against anti-Semitism not yet a victory (CNN)

Harry Dunn: Anne Sacoolas extradition request rejected by U.S. (BBC)

3 American firefighters killed in Australia plane crash identified (CNN)

Central American migrants meet with armed guardsmen at Mexico border (The Guardian)

Man jumps to his death off Royal Caribbean cruise ship docked in Puerto Rico (NBC News)

After 100 days of rage, Lebanon has a new government  and a deepening crisis (CNN)
Singapore's interior minister was sued Friday by a Malaysian human rights group in a bid to prevent the city-state from enforcing its law against false information in Malaysia. Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam, wielding a new law to fight misinformation, had ordered Lawyers for Liberty to correct last week's post alleging the city-state used a brutal "coup de grace" to finish off botched executions. Singapore has denied the allegations as "untrue, baseless and preposterous" but the Malaysian rights group stood by its claims and refused to issue a correction notice. Under Singapore's law, failure to comply with a correction directive is an offence punishable with a fine and jail term. N. Surendran, an advisor for Lawyers for Liberty, said the group were asking the Malaysian High Court to declare the Singapore directive "null and void" and unenforceable in Malaysia. "This is an attempt by Singapore to encroach upon or to stifle or to crackdown on freedom of speech in our country," Surendran told reporters. "It is an attempt to reach out their tentacles and impose their own oppressive fake news act on Malaysians issuing statements in Malaysia." Under the law, Singaporean authorities can order corrections placed next to posts they deem false. Malaysia repealed a similar power in 2019. Singapore home affairs ministry officials were not immediately available for comment. Separately, the country's information minister directed the media regulator to block access in the city-state to the Malaysian rights group's website, where the allegations were originally posted. The city-state imposes the death penalty -- carried out by hanging -- for crimes such as drug trafficking and murder, and hanged 13 people in 2018, according to official data. Many of the inmates on death row are from Malaysia, Surendran said. In a first, a Singapore opposition political party challenged the law in court earlier this month but a judge reserved judgement on the case. Activists say the Singaporean law is used to stifle criticism ahead of elections. Since it came into force in October, several opposition figures and activists have been ordered to place a banner next to online posts stating that they contain false information.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  New Mexico could take the first step toward importing certain prescription drugs from Canada under a bill that cleared its first legislative hurdle Thursday.

The measure, Senate Bill 1, would position New Mexico among an initial wave of states  including Florida, Colorado and Maine  seeking to take advantage of a new federal rule authorizing states to pursue wholesale drug importation programs from Canada.

Drugs could also eventually be brought in from other countries, if the federal government grants authorization.

Were trying to act fast on the opportunity, said Rep. Deborah Armstrong, D-Albuquerque, one of the measures sponsors.

Specifically, the bill would authorize the state Department of Health to craft an implementation plan and apply for federal approval to import wholesale drugs from Canada. A total of $350,000 would be appropriated for the initial costs.

Certain types of drugs, including opioids, would not be eligible for importation, and those imported would not be covered by Medicaid, Armstrong said.

At least three Cabinet secretaries in Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams administration testified in support of the measure Thursday, after the first-term Democratic governor mentioned it in her State of the State address this week.

Senate President Pro Tem Mary Kay Papen, D-Las Cruces, the other sponsor of the bill, said drug prices are often four times higher in the United States than in other countries.

What is most frightening is that people who need their medication the most have the biggest difficulty paying for them, Papen said. We need to do everything we can for New Mexicans to have access to lower-priced drugs.

In 2017, about 25% of New Mexico adults on prescription drugs stopped taking their medication due to high costs, according to the AARP.

However, the bill is opposed by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, who say it would not significantly lower drug prices and could put an additional strain on law enforcement agencies.

Although the bill passed the Senate Rules Committee 7-0, some lawmakers voiced concerns about its logistics.

Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle, R-Portales, questioned the states authority to pursue legal claims against Canadian drug manufacturers.

I do think we have some real questions here, Ingle said.

If the bill is approved and signed into law, the state would have to request a waiver from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and possibly other federal agencies.

The measure now advances to the Senate Finance Committee.
Assistance by way of the Home Buyers Plan might prove less impactful than expected in some Canadian markets, if new data from real estate information portal Zoocasa is any indication.

In its recent analysis, Zoocasa pointed out that the maximum withdrawal of $35,000 from the Registered Retirement Savings Plan by eligible buyers represents just 3.5% of a home purchase in Vancouver, and 4.3% of the benchmark housing price in Toronto.

On the flip side, the positive effects of the HBP will be more apparent in the nations most affordable markets. For instance, eligible buyers in Regina are projected to be able to fund as much as 13.5% of their home purchases with the Plans RRSP.
More Americans trust the U.S. Postal Service than any other brand, but they trust tech giants Amazon and Google more than teachers, the police or even Oprah Winfrey.

That's according to a new study from research company Morning Consult that ranks America's 25 most trusted brands based on interviews with an average of 16,700 people per brand for nearly 2,000 different brands.

The USPS topped the rankings, as the study found that 42% of Americans trust the postal service "a lot." The postal service's first-place finish might come as a surprise, considering that the USPS has lost billions of dollars over the past decade as mail volume has dropped by 30% since 2006.

However, when Morning Consult asked people why they trust the USPS, the most common responses said the postal service is "reliable" and "they always deliver the mail no matter the weather."

The USPS was also the No. 2 most trusted brand (42%) among millennials.

Overall, the second most-trusted brand in Morning Consult's study is Amazon, which trusted "a lot" by 38.8% of respondents, while 37.9% said the same about Alphabet-owned Google.
The EU has been pushing for a common charger plug for mobile phones for over a decade now, but theres always been one firm holdout  Apple. Last week the European Parliament made an amendment to a draft law that would make a common charger essential for phones (and other wireless gadgets). This week, Apple issued a response.

Cupertino warns that a common charger will stifle innovation and be troublesome for consumers. To prove its point, Apple commissioned a study, which found that the move to a single standard will incur costs of 1.5 billion, far greater than the predicted 13 million in environmental benefits.

Apple has already partially transitioned to USB-C  the latest iPad Pro and MacBook models use the port exclusively (well, the laptops do also have a 3.5mm jack). And the iPhone 11 Pro duo comes with a USB-C charger, but it needs a C-to-Lightning cable to connect to the phone. So far all rumors of the iPhone gaining a USB-C port have proven false.

Anyway, the European Commission will publish its own study on the impact of a common charger at the end of January or early next month. Currently, the Commission is considering the best way to create legislation for requiring a common charger.

Source
Cambridge, UK and Indianapolis, US  24 January 2020: Acacia Pharma Group plc (Acacia Pharma, the "Company, the Group), (EURONEXT: ACPH), a pharmaceutical company developing and commercialising hospital products for US and international markets, has been awarded BEL Small Company of the Year 2019 by Euronext Brussels at its annual New Years Ceremony held in Brussels last night.

Mike Bolinder, CEO of Acacia Pharma, said: We are delighted to be recognised with this award. In 2019, we have been finalizing our commercial strategy and infrastructure ahead of a number of key milestones expected during the first half of 2020. Regulatory decisions to approve two product candidates for marketing in the US, BARHEMSYS and ByFavo, are expected by 26 February and 5 April, respectively. These products address important unmet needs in the treatment and care of patients undergoing invasive medical procedures. Our US team is now preparing to commercialise these products, pending approval, and we are confident in the benefits and value they will bring to patients, healthcare providers and shareholders alike. We are looking forward to 2020, which is expected to be an exciting and transformational year for Acacia Pharma.

The annual ceremony recognises the best performing companies in Belgium and is attended by 600 key stakeholders. BEL Small Company of the Year is awarded to a company that has demonstrated the highest relative increase in market capitalisation. The award was presented by the Prime Minister of Belgium, Sophie Wilmes.

Contacts

Acacia Pharma Group plc

Mike Bolinder, CEO

Christine Soden, CFO

+44 1223 919760

IR@acaciapharma.com

Citigate Dewe Rogerson (Financial PR)

Mark Swallow, Frazer Hall, David Dible

+44 20 7638 9571

acaciapharma@citigatedewerogerson.com

About Acacia Pharma

Acacia Pharma is a hospital pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialisation of new products designed to improve the treatment and care of patients undergoing invasive medical procedures or cancer therapy. The Groups pipeline includes near-market opportunities, which it plans to sell directly in the US through its own commercial operations, and in other territories through licensing and distribution agreements with selected partners.

The Group's pipeline includes:

BARHEMSYS (intravenous amisulpride) for post-operative nausea & vomiting (PONV) (NDA filed)

ByFavo (intravenous remimazolam), an ultra-short-acting and reversible intravenous sedative/anaesthetic designed for use during invasive medical procedures, such as during colonoscopy and bronchoscopy (NDA filed), and

APD403 (intravenous and oral amisulpride) for chemotherapy induced nausea & vomiting (CINV) (Phase 2)

Acacia Pharma is based in Cambridge, UK and Indianapolis, IN. The Company is listed on the Euronext Brussels exchange under the ISIN code GB00BYWF9Y76 and ticker symbol ACPH. www.acaciapharma.com

Forward looking statement

This announcement includes forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations and projections about future events. These statements may include, without limitation, any statements preceded by, followed by or including words such as believe, expect, intend, may, plan, will, should, could and other words and terms of similar meaning or the negative thereof. Forward-looking statements may and often do differ materially from actual results. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about the Company and its subsidiaries and investments, including, among other things, the development of its business, trends in its operating industry, and future capital expenditures and acquisitions. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances. Any forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current view with respect to future events and are subject to risks relating to future events and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to the Group's business, results of operations, financial position, prospectus, growth or strategies and the industry in which it operates. Save as required by law or applicable regulation, the Company and its affiliates expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update, review or revise any forward-looking statement contained in this announcement whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made.
The explosion that ripped across Houston at 4:24 a.m. Friday killed two workers at Watson Grinding and Manufacturing before radiating outward and smashing into nearby homes and businesses. It knocked houses off foundations, blew doors off frames, shattered windows, cracked sheetrock and jerked residents awake as far as 14 miles away.

Firefighters and police officers who arrived at the Spring Branch-area neighborhood found debris scattered across an area more than half a mile wide and a community reeling.

Authorities were still investigating the cause of the blast. Police Chief Art Acevedo said neither terrorism nor arson is suspected at the family-owned machining company, which makes and services parts for everything from the oil and gas to aerospace industries.

Late Friday police identified the two victims of the explosion as Frank Flores and Gerado Carasquillo.

The explosion damaged some 200 homes and businesses. Police blocked off nearby streets, bordering a mile-long hot zone on Genard and Clay roads to the north and south and Gessner Road and Steffani Lane to the east and west.

This is a very powerful blast, Acevedo said, at one of several news conferences authorities held throughout the day.

FOR SUBSCRIBERS: What we know about Watson Grinding and Manufacturing, the company at center of Houston explosion

A hazardous materials team responded, and the Red Cross set up a shelter at a church a few blocks west of the site. Arson investigators and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also joined the investigation.

Firefighters took one person to the hospital, Fire Chief Sam Pena said, and spent hours working to shut off propylene leaking inside the warehouse. Later in the day, HFD officials said an additional 18 people had self-reported to local emergency rooms because of problems breathing, cuts, or other injuries.

The shockwave devastated the manufacturing warehouse. It crumbled metal siding like aluminum foil.

A velocity seismograph, 20 miles away in Hockley, recorded what looked like an earthquake that began at 4:24 a.m. and lasted 10 seconds, said Alexandros Savvaidis, manager of the Texas Seismological Network. Despite the shaking, the blast did not register as an earthquake on the U.S. Geological Surveys earthquake monitors.

It did also show up in meteorological data that monitors disturbances in the air. National Weather Service meteorologist Kent Prochazka said NWS equipment registered a cloud of debris and smoke that measured about a nautical mile in diameter.

At the site of the blast, neighbors in nearby homes woke to find doors torn from their hinges; cracked sheetrock tumbling off walls; ceiling fans, screens and blinds ripped from their fastenings.

NEIGHBORS REACT: 'I thought somebody attacked us': Gessner chemical explosion devastates west Houston neighborhoods

When Alondra Maldonado heard the boom, she thought the neighborhood had been hit with a bomb.

Like many others, shed been fast asleep when the blast hit. She ran into her parents room, freaking out.

Its scary, I was shook because I literally always walk through there, she said. And my sister, she works in the mornings, so sometimes she walks through there to get to the Metro (bus stop). I imagined her walking and something happened to her. But thank God she didnt work today.

Acevedo said investigators would need several days  perhaps as many as five  to pore over the blast site. He asked residents to look out for debris, which could include human remains. He warned would-be thieves that if they tried to take advantage of the situation they would be prosecuted harshly.

Do not get caught looting, he said. It will not be a slap on the wrist.

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality officials said they were aware of the incident and had sent staff to the area to help conduct air monitoring.

Throughout the day, arson investigators and other first responders picked through the rubble at Watson Grinding and Manufacturing. The company was founded 60 years ago by James Watson, who died in 2014. It is now owned and headed by his son, John M. Watson. The chief operating officer is John Watsons brother-in-law, Robert Bob White. Company officials have not yet responded to requests for comment.

The company started small in 1960 and has grown to employ more than 100 people. In 2002, Watson opened the adjacent Watson Valve Services. The company manufactures and services valve and pump components, specializing in large parts, hard metals and exotic alloys.

CHEMICAL BREAKDOWN: Explosions and toxic releases are frequent and frightening, and yet the threats are hidden from the public

Records show Watson Grinding and Manufacturing ran afoul of federal regulators in 2013, when the Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined the company about $8,000 for violations related to the control of hazardous energy and wiring problems. It was inspected again in 2015, and no violations were found.

Across the neighborhood surrounding the warehouse, local business owners and residents spent the day taking stock of the blast.

Theres multiple commercial buildings damaged, multiple homes damaged. Weve got insulation blown half a mile from the explosion site, said Scott Huckabee, a volunteer firefighter from the Lake Livingston area who arrived near the site around 7:20 a.m.

Justin Travis, the supply chain manager for a fastener manufacturer on Clay Road, was waiting for an inspector to arrive at the companys warehouse, a five-minute walk from the explosion site.

The disaster wreaked havoc on the facility. Full panels of insulation had fallen from the ceiling tiles, skylights were broken out, and the warehouses giant metal doors were hanging on by cables.

Were going to have inspectors here to see if its even safe to work because who knows what condition the roof is in, Travis said.

The explosion forced the closure of two Cy-Fair ISD schools, Bane Elementary School and Dean Middle School. Spring Branch ISD remained open, but kept students inside due to air quality concerns.

Several residents filed lawsuits Friday against the manufacturing company, along with temporary restraining orders to preserve evidence.

This is not the first time Houston has seen massive explosions nor is it the first time that widespread areas of Houston and surrounding areas have suffered from the effects of such a massive explosion, attorney Robert Kwok said in a lawsuit filed on behalf of multiple families whose homes were damaged.

I WAS SHOOK: Residents recall hearing massive warehouse explosion in west Houston, only on HoustonChronicle.com

The incident is the latest to hit a Houston-area company in recent years. In 2014, a chemical leak at a now-shuttered DuPont chemical plant in La Porte killed four people. A massive four-alarm chemical fire damaged neighborhoods in Spring Branch in 2016. Fridays explosion followed at least five major chemical incidents in Southeast Texas last year.

A 2016 Houston Chronicle investigation found theres a major chemical incident every six weeks in the Houston area.

In the hours after the blast, environmental watchdogs excoriated another chemical explosion that had claimed more lives in the Houston area, and called for greater government oversight to protect workers and residents living and working near industrial plants.

It is saddening and infuriating to see more people die because of another chemical explosion, said Elena Craft, with the Environmental Defense Fund. These deadly tragedies cannot be the new normal in a city and region where industrial threats abound. ... Enough is enough.

Top hits: Get Houston Chronicle stories sent directly to your inbox

Staff writers Gabrielle Banks, Jordan Blum, Matt Dempsey, Erin Douglas, Olivia Tallet, Perla Trevizo and Shelby Webb contributed to this story.
New Delhi, Jan 24 (PTI) Delhi Police on Friday lodged an FIR against BJP candidate Kapil Mishra in connection with his controversial tweet in which he likened the election in the city to an India versus Pakistan contest, sources said.

The FIR was filed following directions of the poll authorities, they said.

It was lodged at the Model Town Police Station under Section 125 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the sources said.

Twitter, meanwhile, removed the controversial tweet following the directions of the Election Commission.

"This Tweet from @KapilMishra_IND has been withheld in India in response to a legal demand," Twitter wrote on the platform along with an impression of the old tweet.

Earlier in the day, the Election Commission had asked Twitter to "take appropriate action" as the controversial tweet aroused communal sentiments. The EC had also said that Twitter should intimate it about the action taken. PTI KND NAB

RDM

RDM
The Inter-party Resistance against the New Voter's Register led by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has resumed its mass action in protest of the compilation of a new voters register.

This came few days after they called off their planned demonstration exercises.

This is as a result of what it says is the bad faith shown by the Electoral Commission (EC) in announcing a date for the mass registration despite a planned meeting with the Eminent Advisory body of the EC over the raging controversy.

In a statement signed by Chairman of the People's National Convention (PNC), Bernard Mornah, the group said it would hit the streets again and continue with other planned activities to resist the compilation of the register.

In view of the conduct of the EC, the Resistance wishes to announce our inability to oblige with the earlier announcement of the momentary suspension of our public manifestations and further declare that, we shall proceed with the series of mass actions earlier outlined. We shall in due course announce the form, venue and dates for such actions to drum home further the need to speedily drop this dangerous and wasteful thought of compiling a new register.

Last week, the group suspended all demonstration exercises across the country to await the outcome of an appeal they made to the EC's Eminent Advisory Committee over what it says was out of respect for the committee which had earlier called for calm.

But in the statement to declaring the resumption of the mass action, the group said it believes the EC is taking the anger of Ghanaians for granted.

Aside from the NDC, the Inter-Party Resistance Against New Voter Register is made up Progressive People's Party (PPP), Convention People's Party (CPP), People's National Convention (PNC), Eagle Party, All People's Party (APC) and Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP).

The coalition has already held a protest in Tamale dubbed Tikusayi demo and another one in Kumasi known as the Yennpini demo.

The group maintains that GHS390 million approved to be spent on the register and a new Biometric Voter Management System (BVMS) will be a waste of taxpayer money.

---citinewsroom
The three American firefighters who were killed Thursday in the crash of a C-130 Hercules water tanker plane while helping to battle the raging wildfires in Australia have been identified.

Their employer, Portland, Ore.-based Coulson Aviation USA, identified the victims as Capt. Ian McBeth, 44, of Great Falls, Mont.; First Officer Paul Hudson, 42, of Buckeye, Ariz.; and Flight Engineer Rick DeMorgan Jr., 43, of Navarre, Fla.

All three were U.S. military veterans, according to a Coulson statement. McBeth served in both the Montana Air National Guard and the Wyoming Air National Guard; Hudson served in the Marine Corps after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy; and DeMorgan served 18 years in the U.S. Air Force.

They had served on a California-based Coulson crew, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday.

"Right now, our hearts are with the crew's family and friends and our Coulson Family suffering in the loss of these three remarkable and well-respected crewmembers," the company said in a Facebook post.

Vice President Mike Pence expressed condolences to the families in a Twitter message.

U.S. Ambassador to Australia Arthur Culvahouse released a statement Thursday, saying he was "deeply saddened" by the firefighters' deaths.

"The brave Americans who died near Snowy Monaro died helping Australia in its time of need," Culvahouse wrote.

The deaths had been confirmed by Gladys Berejiklian, premier of the Australian state of New South Wales, where the crash occurred as the country grapples with enormous destruction from blazes that began last month, many attributed to arson.

Coulson is a private company that helps battle fires around the globe.

McBeth is survived by his wife and three children, Hudson by his wife and DeMorgan by two children, the company statement said.

--The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Read more: Marine Raiders Led Counterattack to al-Shabaab Strike in Kenya: Reports
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky expects that the implementation of the Ukraine-Israel Free Trade Agreement will increase mutual trade turnover up to $2 billion.

I am convinced that the free trade agreement between our countries, signed in January 2019, will facilitate further growth of mutual trade turnover. The implementation of its provisions could help increase the trade turnover up to $2 billion in the short term, Zelensky said at the meeting with President of Israel Reuven Rivlin, the press service of the President of Ukraine reports.

Zelensky stressed that Israel is one of Ukraine's key trading partners in the Middle East.

At the same time, he praised the political dialogue between Ukraine and Israel.

"I am sure that our close ties should continue to develop dynamically," Zelensky stressed.

On January 23-24, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky makes a working visit to Israel, where the commemorative events take place at the World Holocaust Forum dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp.

Free trade area negotiations between Ukraine and Israel started in 2015. On January 21, 2019, the countries signed the FTA. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine ratified the agreement on July 11, 2019. President Zelensky signed the law on ratification of the agreement on August 6, 2019. Israel has not ratified the agreement yet.

ol
As a patient you want to see something measurable, and I dont mean measurable in days, he said. If Im a patient, I want to see something, and I want hope for myself and my family. I want something that is going to slow the disease down so I can watch my kids growing up, I can watch them graduate from college, I can watch them marry.
Harvey Weinsteins rape and sexual assault trial opened in dramatic fashion. Lines formed before dawn outside the lower Manhattan courthouse. Full-throated protesters bellowed for justice for Weinsteins accusers. A list of possible witnesses promised potential jurors a glimpse of Hollywood A-listers.

But as testimony in the former Miramax chiefs trial enters its second week Monday, its the critical but less compelling details of victim behavior and myths surrounding sexual assault that have taken center stage. And while Judge James Burke insisted at the start that this case would not be a referendum on the #MeToo movement, the issues that came to the fore as a result of that movementconsent and victim-shaming among themhave dominated much of the testimony.

The idea that women respond to sexual assault by screaming, yelling, punching, bitingalthough that happens, its rare, forensic psychiatrist Barbara Ziv explained from the witness stand Friday, the third day of testimony. Ziv, an expert witness for the prosecution who also testified in comedian Bill Cosbys sexual assault trial, dismissed the rape myths that she said society clings to: that most assaults are committed by strangers, that victims typically scream and try to run away and that they immediately report assaults.

Thats not true, Ziv testified as prosecutors sought to undermine defense claims that Weinsteins accusers have not behaved like women who were terrified of Weinstein or who felt threatened by him.

Weinsteins defense team has seized on the fact that some of the dozens of women who have accused him of sexual assault since the 1990s maintained outwardly friendly relations with him. In her cross-examination of the prosecutions second witness, actor Annabella Sciorra, defense attorney Donna Rotunno on Thursday quizzed Sciorra about her behavior on the night more than 25 years ago when she says Weinstein pushed his way into her Manhattan apartment and violently raped her after theyd had dinner with other people at a restaurant.

Story continues

You say he pushes his way in, right? Rotunno said. Did you walk out?

Theres no way to get by him, Sciorra replied.

Harvey Weinstein (C) arrives at the Manhattan Criminal Court, on Jan. 22, 2020 for opening arguments in his rape trial in New York City. | AFP via Getty Images

Throughout her questioning, Rotunno touched on the issues that Weinstein hopes will cast doubt in jurors minds about his alleged victims veracity. She asked Sciorra why she answered a knock on her door at 10 p.m., why she didnt call the police, 911, or a hospital after the alleged attack, and why she attended an event where Weinstein was present several weeks later. Sciorra, best-known for her roles in the Sopranos and the 1997 film Cop Land, denied Rotunnos characterization of the dinner party as a Miramax event.

While Sciorras alleged attack occurred too long ago for Weinstein to be charged with raping her, the actors testimony is key to prosecutors attempts to show a pattern of abuse. The actual charges Weinstein is facing stem from a rape and a separate sexual assault in New York City, in 2006 and in 2013. If convicted, the 67-year-old faces life in prison.

Prosecutors got a boost Friday afternoon when two of Sciorras friends, fellow actor Rosie Perez and former model Kara Young, took the stand.

Perez described a phone conversation she said shed had with Sciorra after the alleged assault.

I called her up. I was in a pretty jovial mood. Hey girl, whats up? Wondering whether you wanted to hang out. She responded in a very weird voice, Perez testified. Perez said Sciorra was whispering, as if she was hiding something.

Perez said when she pressed Sciorra to explain what was wrong, Sciorra broke down crying. She said I think I was raped, Perez said. Months later, she testified that Sciorra confirmed it was Harvey Weinstein whod attacked her.

Under cross-examination, Perez, who described herself and Sciorra as very, very good friends, said she had not gone to Sciorras apartment after the phone call and that it was maybe a couple of days before they spoke again.

Young said Sciorra was fidgety and nervous when the two saw each other in 1994, which would have been after the reported attack, when Sciorra has said she was cutting herself and drinking too much as a result of the trauma. She seemed like a mess, said Young, describing long, skinny vertical cuts on Sciorras upper thighs.

Weinstein, appearing to chew gum, watched the testimony quietly as the seven-man, five-woman jury listened intently and took notes. Unlike previous days, when people lined up before dawn to gain access to the courtroom, interest appeared to drop off by Friday. Instead of a crushing crowd, there were empty seats in the courtroom. The protesters who gathered outside the courthouse during jury selection have disappeared, and Weinstein now arrives surrounded by his legal team but not having to listen to demonstrators cries for his conviction. His spirits appeared high Wednesday as he headed into court for opening arguments. Before disappearing into the courtroom, he told reporters he felt he could have a fair trial because he has good lawyers.

Weinstein has pleaded not-guilty in the New York case and denies all allegations of non-consensual sexual contact. If hes acquitted in New York, he faces another trial in California, where he could receive up to 28 years in prison if convicted of charges there.

The prosecution will call more witnesses Monday, and the trial is expected to last until March 6.
In blue melange, these cotton mix socks are from Folks latest drop of wearable accessories. Knitted in Portugal, theyre branded with a tonal logo tab thats secured simply with a corozo nut button.

86% Cotton, 13% Polyamide, 1% Elastane

Ribbed Cuffs

Leather Brand Tab

Made in Portugal
Prosecutors have revealed Colin 'CJ' Haynie skipped school in order to carry out the horror killings on January 17 in the family's home near the small town of Grantsville, west of Salt Lake City

A Utah teenager charged with killing his mother and three younger siblings is accused of 'methodically' shooting them dead one by one as they returned home over a five hour period.

Colin 'CJ' Haynie, 16, has been charged as an adult over the murder of his mother and three siblings - aged aged 12, 14 and 15 - and the attempted killing of his father.

Prosecutors have revealed the teen skipped school in order to carry out the horror killings on January 17 in the Mormon family's home near the small town of Grantsville, west of Salt Lake City.

Authorities, who do not yet have a motive for the slayings, have released few details regarding the case until now.

Investigators have been piecing together a timeline of the crime spree ever since Haynie was taken into custody at a hospital on the day of the killings.

Police were able to obtain brief details from Haynie himself, as well as get statements from his father as he recovered from his injuries in hospital.

Colin 'CJ' Haynie, 16, (second from left) has been charged as an adult over the murder of his mother and three siblings - aged aged 12, 14 and 15 - and the attempted killing of his father. His older brother, 24, (center) was not home when the killings took place

Authorities say the killing spree started when Haynie shot dead his mother Consuelo Alejandra 'Alex' Haynie, 52, and 12-year-old sister Milan when they came into the family home at about 1pm.

His 15-year-old sister Alexis Haynie was shot dead an hour later after returning home from school.

Police say Matthew Haynie, 14, was then shot in the head when he came home from school at about 5.17pm.

About an hour later, his 50-year-old father Colin Haynie arrived home and was shot in the leg when he walked in the door.

Investigators say the father was eventually able to get the gun away from Haynie following a struggle.

The teen then allegedly told his father that his mother and siblings were dead and his 'intention was to kill everyone in the home except himself'.

A neighbor called 911 at about 7pm to say she'd gone to the home and Haynie had told her he had killed his mother and siblings.

The neighbor and her husband were driving Haynie and his injured father to the hospital while she was calling 911.

Haynie was taken into custody at the hospital.

Colin 'CJ' Haynie, 16, has been charged as an adult over the murder of his mother, Consuelo Alejandra 'Alex' Haynie, 52, and siblings Alexis, 15, Milan, 12, and Matthew, 14 (left to right)

HAYNIE FAMILY KILLING TIMELINE 1pm: Consuelo Alejandra 'Alex' Haynie, 52, and 12-year-old Milan are shot dead entering the home. 2pm: Alexis Haynie, 15, is killed after returning home from school. 5.17pm: Matthew Haynie, 14, is shot in the head returning from school. 6.15pm: Colin Haynie returns home and is shot in the leg. He wrestles gun out of his son's hand. 7pm: Neighbor calls 911 to report killings and drives the father and son to the hospital. Haynie is arrested at the hospital while his father is treated. Advertisement

His older brother, Danny Haynie, 24, was not home when the shootings occurred.

The father said, via a statement from a lawyer, that the ordeal was 'nearly unbearable'. He asked for privacy as he tries to 'heal himself and those he loves, including both of his sons'.

Police believe Haynie used a family handgun to carry out the attacks.

They are currently examining computers and cell phones to try and determine a motive.

The teen is expected to make his first court appearance on Monday.

He is charged with 10 felonies: Four counts of aggravated murder, one count of attempted murder and five counts of felony discharged of a firearm.

Funerals for the mother, her two daughters and son were held on Friday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Alexis Haynie was the goalie on her junior varsity soccer team and loved art and piano, according to an obituary posted by the Didericksen Memorial funeral home.

Matthew Haynie was an 8th grader who liked soccer, wrestling and anything to do with Star Wars. Milan Haynie was a 7th grader who dreamed of being an engineer and enjoyed soccer, volleyball, super heroes and doing art with her sister.

The mother was born and raised in Chihuahua, Mexico, and loved to prepare meals, garden and take care of her fruit trees, the obituary said.

Pallbearers carry a casket following the funeral services for Consuelo Alejandra Haynie, daughters 12-year-old Milan and 15-year-old Alexis and 14-year-old son Matthew

Funerals for the mother, her two daughters and son were held on Friday at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
S enators at Donald Trumps impeachment trial have resorted to playing with childrens toys to tackle boredom during the lengthy hearings.

Republican Richard Burr handed out fidget spinners to his colleagues before yesterdays proceedings began.

The small toy is designed to be spun between a finger and thumb.

Other senators have been spotted doing crossword puzzles, making paper airplanes and reading books.

Representatives vote in the US Senate Chamber / REUTERS

All electronics have been banned in the chamber during the trial, leaving many restless.

At the same time, some senators have struggled to stay awake. Jim Risch, a Republican, was seen slumped motionless with his eyes closed at his desk.

Donald Trump impeachment protests: December 2019 1 /33 Donald Trump impeachment protests: December 2019 People hold signs critical of U.S. President Donald Trump while participating in a protest in support of his potential impeachment in New York Getty Images People gather in Times Square Getty Images An anti-President Trump crowd gather at a rally in Times Square to protest and call for his impeachment AP Demonstrators join national impeachment demonstrations to demand an end to Donald Trump's presidency named "Nobody Is Above The Law" Rally - NYC at Times Square Getty Images for MoveOn.org A message pro-impeachment is projected on the facade of the City Hall building before the start of a protest in Los Angeles AFP via Getty Images A protester holds a sign during a demonstration in part of a national impeachment rally, at the Federal Building in San Francisco, California AFP via Getty Images Demonstrators gather in Times Square to demand the impeachment of Donald Trump Reuters People hold signs critical of U.S. President Donald Trump while participating in a protest in support of his potential impeachment in New York Getty Images People hold signs critical of U.S. President Donald Trump while participating in a protest in support of his potential impeachment in New York Getty Images People hold signs critical of U.S. President Donald Trump while participating in a protest in support of his potential impeachment in New York Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images for MoveOn.org Getty Images for MoveOn.org Getty Images for MoveOn.org Getty Images for MoveOn.org AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images AFP via Getty Images Several hundred of protesters march down Market Street during a demonstration in part of a national impeachment rally, at the Federal Building in San Francisco, California AFP via Getty Images Connie Jeung-Mills of San Francisco holds a sign during a demonstration in part of a national impeachment rally, at the Federal Building in San Francisco, California AFP via Getty Images

A spokesman for the Idaho senator told the Wall Street Journal he was just listening closely with his eyes closed or cast down.

The president is accused of abusing his power by pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political rival Joe Biden, and in an impassioned speech to end yesterdays hearing, lead prosecutor Adam Schiff told senators: You know you cant trust this president to do whats right for this country.
Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad on Friday hit out at the BJP-led government at the Centre, accusing it of "peddling lies" on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Azad, addressing a rally in this north Bihar town, called upon the people to carry on "sustained and peaceful protests", urging them to draw inspiration from the agitation by women at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh.

"I want to tell people across the country that they are not alone in their fight. The Bhim Army is by their side," he said.

The Bhim Army chief accused the Narendra Modi-led government of "striking at the country's unity and integrity" by introducing the CAA which "discriminates against citizens on the basis of religion".

He said NPR is seen as a precursor to (nationwide) NRC, which could be "used to disenfranchise people".

"The government has been peddling lies stating that the Act is a benign one, aimed at giving citizenship and not taking it away, and misleading the nation by claiming that it is not linked with NRC. All these measures will harm the common citizens," Azad said.

The Ambedkarite also paid tributes to socialist leader Karpoori Thakur on his birth anniversary on Friday.

Sharing an image of a commemorative stamp issued in the memory of the former Bihar chief minister, he tweeted, "Attended a rally at Muzaffarpur (Bihar) on the birth anniversary of Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur, the warrior of social justice."



"Karpoori Thakur had said that if the rights of the people are trampled upon, they will challenge the privileges enjoyed by the Parliament. His words proved true with people hitting the streets in protest against CAA-NRC," he tweeted.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Thanks to screens set up in front of the senators, Trumps voice has repeatedly echoed through the Senate chamber the past three days. There he was on the South Lawn of the White House publicly calling on Ukraine to investigate a campaign rival, former Vice President Joe Biden. There he was calling on China to go after Biden, too. There he was declaring that he would willingly take foreign help to win an election. And there he was back in 2016 calling on Russia, if youre listening, to hack into Hillary Clintons email.
GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In order to speed up the development of cloud-based condition monitoring technologies, SKF is consolidating its development footprint in Europe. Consequently, and subject to consultation with local employee representatives, SKF proposes to cease its development and supply chain activities in Livingston, Scotland.

The Group will now enter into a period of consultation with employee representatives. Should the proposal be confirmed, the development and supply chain activities in Livingston will cease by December 2021.

Development of these technologies will be consolidated to existing sites in Sweden and France.

The development center in Livingston currently employs approximately 50 people.

Aktiebolaget SKF

(publ)

For further information, please contact:

PRESS: Theo Kjellberg, Director, Press Relations

tel: 46 31 337 6576, mobile: 46-725-776576, e-mail: theo.kjellberg@skf.com

INVESTOR RELATIONS: Patrik Stenberg, Head of Investor Relations

Patrik Stenberg, 46-31-337-2104; 46-705-472-104; patrik.stenberg@skf.com

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/skf/r/skf-consolidates-product-development--proposes-to-cease-activities-in-scotland,c3015276

The following files are available for download:
By Express News Service

KOTTAYAM: A teacher at an aided school in Kuruppanthara near here has been placed under suspension for brutally caning a seven-year-old boy. According to the Education Department authorities, Minimol Jose of St Xavier's LP School, Mannarappara, was suspended pending an enquiry on Thursday for caning a Class Two student on Wednesday allegedly for not being able to read the Malayalam textbook properly.

The incident came to light when the boy's mother found marks on his lower limbs. The mother approached Childline authorities and later filed a complaint with the police. The Kaduthuruthy police have booked a case against the teacher under Section 82 of the Juvenile Justice Act and IPC 324.

According to the police, the accused allegedly caned the kid on Wednesday afternoon after taking him to the staff room. The school authorities tendered an unconditional apology and reportedly requested the mother to not proceed with the complaint.

ALSO READ: Angry over incomplete homework, MP teacher thrashes 29 female students

Angered at the incident, activists of Democratic Youth Federation of India staged a protest in front of the school on Thursday, demanding the teacher's arrest.

The Kaduthuruthy District Education Officer (DEO) Saudamini, who visited the school on Thursday morning, held discussions with the school authorities, PTA members and the protesters. Later, the official also visited the victim's residence and collected his statement. Upon confirming the accused teacher's involvement in the incident, a recommendation to place the teacher under suspension was sent to the school management.

Besides the police, the Child Rights Commission has also launched a probe into the complaint.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to arrest leaders of the Miyetti Allah organisation over killings in Southern Kaduna, Benue, Plateau and Taraba states, among others.

It condemned the killing of the CAN chairman, Lawan Andami, in Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

In a statement signed by the CAN President, Samson Ayokunle, on Thursday, the association made other demands.

The Federal Government should either label the Miyetti Allah Fulani Association a terrorist organisation as being regarded in the terror index.

The Federal Government should order the arrest of the leadership of the Miyetti Allah Groups who are sponsoring and perpetuating the crime of Nigeria and prosecute them for all the killings in Southern Kaduna, Benue, Plateau and Taraba states, among others, the Christian group said.

The Miyetti Allah is the umbrella body of Fulani herders in the country. Sporadic bloody conflicts between herders and farmers in parts of the country have led to many death over the years.

President Muhammadu Buhari has not ceased telling us that the criminals are coming from Libya, as though Nigeria shares borders with Libya, CAN said.

Killing

The pastor, Mr Andami, who was abducted on January 3 by members the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP), after an attack on Michika town, was killed on Monday by his abductors.

The killing came two days after ISWAP claimed to have killed another abducted Christian whose identity has not been made known.

Mr Andami was last seen alive in a video clip shared online by his abductors two weeks ago. In the video, he was heard saying that his abductors were nice to him.

CAN, however, accused the Federal Government of refusing to call Islamic groups to order, but instead insists that the herdsmen are stakeholders in the country.

Other demands

The President should overhaul the security council with a view of bringing in new heads of all the security agencies and the para-military which no religion or part of the country will dominate.

The Federal Government should publish names of all kingpins of the terrorists who are in detention and those who are being prosecuted, it said.

It also said the Federal Government should stop releasing the so-called repented terrorists since they are reportedly joining their colleagues in the forest to unleash terror on the land.

The Federal Government should reverse the recent controversial Police promotion with a view to balancing religious and ethnic divides in the country.

The Federal Government should stop sending delegation to all Islamic international organisations and let our Muslim counterparts be doing so as we are doing in all international Christian religious organisations.

The Federal Government should stop discriminating against our female Youth corps who refuse to wear the NYSC trousers for religious reasons since they allow their Muslim counterparts to wear hijab, the group added.
JUNIUS, N.Y. -- One person was killed and two others were injured Thursday in a three-car crash in Seneca County.

Marianne White, of Zoar Street, Auburn, died after the crash on Route 318 in Junius, said the Seneca County Sheriffs Office. She was 70 years old.

Deputies were called to the crash around 2 p.m. Thursday.

White was driving west on Route 318 when her vehicle was sideswiped by an eastbound vehicle, deputies said. After being sideswiped, Whites car swerved into the eastbound lane and crashed into an oncoming vehicle, deputies said.

Kimberly Tompkins, 59, of Maryland Road, Phelps, was driving the vehicle that sideswiped Whites car, deputies said.

Angelo Mascioli, 45, of Newark, was driving the car that Whites vehicle crashed into, deputies said.

White and her passenger -- Paul Crapo, 72, of Zoar Street, Auburn -- were trapped after the crash. Firefighters with the Junius Volunteer Fire Department and the Magee Fire Department freed the pair from the heavily damaged vehicle, deputies said.

White suffered chest injuries, deputies said. She was rushed by North Seneca Ambulance to Geneva General Hospital, where she died.

Crapo, Whites passenger, was treated at the Geneva hospital for rib and chest injuries, deputies said.

Mascioli was airlifted by Mercy Flight to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse. Hes being treated for leg and hip injuries, deputies said.

Tompkins, the driver of the car that sideswiped Whites car, was not hurt. She was ticketed for failing to keep right and driving an unregistered vehicle, deputies said.

All three heavily damaged vehicles were towed from the scene.

Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
Soaring mountains, incredible wildlife and beaches, the greatest natural and manmade wonders in the world, and spectacular cultural highlights from food to artwith so much to offer, it's easy to see why South America is at the top of many family travel wish lists. This treasure trove of fascinating countries has plenty of options that are easy to visit with kids, ranging from the wildlife of Ecuador to the foodie scene of Rio de Janeiro. Here are a few of our favorite trip ideas for every type of adventurous family.

Train to Machu Picchu in Peru

Who it's for: Families who want to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

The ancient city of Machu Picchu high in the Peruvian Andes is high on many adult travelers' bucket lists, but it's an easily attainable adventure trip for families, too. A well-established train and bus route up into the lush green mountains makes it easy to ascend up to the Lost City of the Incas. The Inca Rail is especially great for kidsspring for the luxury option and you'll receive a full meal on the scenic glassed-ceiling ride! Once up top, you'll encounter spectacular views, the sacred Temple of the Sun, and a llama or two, too. Hiring a private guide will add dimension to the ruins and help kids picture the civilization that existed in this arcadia. Round out a trip to Peru with a stay by the beaches of Lima in the Miraflores neighborhood where colorful hang gliders fill the sky.

Ideal age range: Although it's easy to reach the entrance to Machu Picchu, once you arrive there's a lot of walking and climbing; because of this, the trip is best for kids who don't need a stroller and have some stamina, ages 6 and up.

Know before you go: Both Machu Picchu and the neighboring city of Cusco are at high altitudes (8,000 to 11,000 feet), so make sure to keep you and the kids hydrated and plan on slowly acclimating to the area. Note that you'll receive a visa (free) when you arrive in the country; yellow fever vaccinations are recommended, but not required.

Story continues

Explore Nature in Ecuador

Who it's for: Families who want to travel with experienced guides

Ecuador is a natural paradise filled with animal and plant species found nowhere else on Earth. Kids will be amazed by the gigantic tortoises, blue-footed boobies, and playful sea lions that fill the equatorial waters of the Galapagos, but to see all the wonders, you need to travel by ship with a group of other travelers. That's where Adventures by Disney comes in. We're big fans of their small group travel that caters especially to families, and on an Ecuador trip, they'll lead you to spots such as the Galapagos Tortoise Reserve and also to jungle canopy walks and nocturnal rainforest excursions in the Amazon; adventures your kids will remember forever.

Ideal age range: To truly experience all the wonders of the Galapagos and the Amazon, you'll need to immerse yourself in a watery cruise experience where kayaking, snorkeling, and expedition hikes are all part of the excitement; big kids, 8 and up, will enjoy these types of adventures the most.

Know before you go: No visas or inoculations are required to visit Ecuador, however, some vaccinationslike hepatitis A and typhoidare recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Be Immersed in Argentina Lifestyle

Who it's for: Families who want to create their own organized itinerary

Traveling through Argentina is an adventure-filled experience that will deepen both your family's appreciation of natural beauty as well as introduce a unique new culture. From the Patagonian steppe, with its age-old gaucho customs, to the surging waters of Iguazu Falls, to the cultural hub of Buenos Aires where you can immerse yourself in the essence of the Argentine lifestyle through the taste, sounds, and rhythm of the city, there's something for everyone in the family. Naya Traveler creates tailored trips to the South American jewel so that your itinerary can be as wildsay hiking through the vast wild Patagonian landscapeor as mildimagine picnicking in the verdant Lake Districtdepending on your family's interests and disposition.

Ideal age range: If you're sticking to the cities and the Falls, this trip is good for all ages; if you're traversing Patagonia, kids should be able to hike without getting easily tired, so think more 8 and up. You don't need to get a visa or any special vaccinations to visit Argentina, though some are recommended depending on where exactly you're traveling.

Know before you go: The weather in this Southern Hemisphere country is best for exploring in the sunny "spring" and "summer" months, September through March (in other words, don't go in the "winter," our summer, June through mid-September).

Relax on the Beaches of Uruguay

Who it's for: Families who want to soak in the surf and sand

Considered one of the safest spots for families in South America, the coastline here stretches for 410 miles with beautiful beaches everywhere you look along the water. In Montevideo, the kids will especially be excited to see La Mano, the massive hand sculpture that reaches up out of the sand at Playa Brava, a white sand beach that's fun to visit even after you've gotten the shot for the 'gram. Base yourself at the family-friendly Sheraton Colonia Resort which has a kids' club and massive pool and offers easy access to the beautiful beaches as well as all the cultural highlights of Uruguay.

Ideal age range: A beach vacation is easy for everyone, so this South American getaway is good for kids of all ages.

Know before you go: You don't need a visa or any vaccinations (though hepatitis A is recommended for most travelers) to visit Uruguay, but take note: The Southern Hemisphere's reversal of seasons means it's a balmy 80 degrees in December, making it a great holiday warm-weather getaway.

RELATED: The 10 Best Beaches for Families

Eat Your Way Through Brazil

Who it's for: Foodie families and adventurous eaters

Do you and the kids love to try new food and explore your surroundings by sampling the local cuisine? Then a trip to Brazil will tantalize your taste buds while introducing you to a fascinating new culture. Culinary tours based in Rio de Janeiro also lead you to sites such as Corcovado and Sugarloaf Mountain, while showcasing the hidden gems of the region. You'll find local wine or craft beer for grown-up palates, and savory pao de queijo, sweet brigadeiros, and bean-based feijoada stew for all of you. Have the experts at South America Travel help you create your foodie itinerary so you'll be able to experience all the delicious tastes without having to do any of the legwork.

Ideal age range: For foodie explorations, non-picky eaters ages 5 and up would be perfect for this trip.

Know before you go: You don't need a visa to visit Brazil, though some inoculations are recommended by the CDC. And, as with other South American countries, the weather is warmest in our "winter" months, but with this itinerary, you won't need perfect weather.
A prominent Sikh rights campaigner and political activist from Pakistans northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province has fled the country after facing harassment and attacks.

Radesh Singh Tony says he left Pakistan nearly 18 months after he began receiving threats that forced him to flee his hometown and seek shelter in two of the countrys safest cities.

I am under great stress and want to relocate to a safe place together with my wife and children, he said in a January 23 video posted on Twitter. Authorities in Pakistan, however, have rejected his claims.

Tonys case is the most recent example of harassment and shrinking space for the Muslim nations religious minorities. In recent months, Pakistan has criticized neighboring India for mistreating minorities while priding itself on opening a major shrine for Sikh pilgrims from the country.

After a year of harassment and intimidation, Tony was attacked. On December 7, unidentified men attacked him and his 16-year-old son, Balvinder Singh, in the eastern city of Lahore.

We were on our way home when four young men attacked us. They slapped us and kicked us, he said in a Pashto-language video sent to Radio Mashaal on January 22. We kept asking why they were beating us, and they said they wanted to expel us from the city.

One week later, Tony moved to Rawalpindi, a city 400 kilometers away, where he took refuge in his cousins house. He had been living in Lahore, the capital of eastern Punjab Province, after fleeing his native Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, in January 2019.

He later went back to Lahore to lodge a formal complaint with the Kot Lakhpat police station in Lahore on January 10. But he claims the police didnt investigate the incident and refused to provide him security.

Speaking from an undisclosed location, Tony said that relentless threats from Islamist groups recently forced him to leave Pakistan with his wife and their three sons.

But Muhammad Munawar, head of the police station in Kot Lakhpat, said Tony failed to cooperate with them in verifying his complaint.

Munawar said he believes Tony fabricated the attack to claim asylum outside Pakistan. We could not establish that any such incident took place in the Kot Lakhpat police stations jurisdiction against Radesh Singh Tony, he told Radio Mashaal on January 23.

Tony, however, rejects the polices view and claims it was the job of the police to investigate the attack.

Tonys life took an unexpected turn when he decided to contest the polls in July 2018 as an independent candidate from his native Peshawar for the provincial legislature.

He received his first threat from an unknown telephone number. The unidentified man threatened him to take back nomination papers, but I told him its my right as a citizen of this country to contest an election, he said via phone from an undisclosed location.

We will silence this voice, the caller said after Tony told him he was the only voice fighting for the rights of the Sikh and Hindu minority community.

He survived a militant attack during the campaign after which police offered him security, that he declined.

Although he lost the election, harassment and threats to his life continued, which eventually forced him to flee to Lahore.

Tony says that while he was harassed for his political views and campaigning in Peshawar, extremist groups began to threaten him for his faith in Lahore. Muslims as well as Sikhs and Christians refused to rent him a house in the city.

He says he still receives threatening calls from Pakistan. He hopes that the UN and Sikh campaigners around the globe will be able to rescue him before his $3,000 run out.

Minorities in Pakistan have long complained of discrimination, persecution, harassment, threats, and forced conversions to Islam. They also complain of little or no protection from the authorities.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Imran Khan condemned vandalism at a Sikh Gurdwara in Punjabs Nankana town.

The major difference between the condemnable Nankana incident and the ongoing attacks across India on Muslims and other minorities is this: the former is against my vision and will find zero tolerance & protection from the government including police and judiciary, Khan wrote on Twitter on January 5.

Pakistan used to be home to a large community of Sikhs, but most members migrated to India at the time of partition in 1947. A sizeable part of the remaining several thousand Sikhs lived peacefully in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. But they were forced to leave their homeland after the Taliban controlled large swathes following their emergence in 2003. Many of them have taken refuge in Punjab, but some have sought shelter in India and Western countries.
Herbert Slatery, Tennessees Attorney General, is waging all-out war on Big Pharma, alleging a huge supplier of opioids and 12 of its top customers in Tennessee may be involved in a mammoth case of drug trafficking and racketeering. Two of those customers, Food City and Walgreens, just surfaced when the Knoxville News-Sentinel successfully brought a lawsuit to make the court records public. Perhaps you can fathom the enormity of the worst drug epidemic in our nations history when it was just learned the Walgreens in East Ridge  population 21,216  was shipped 1.7 million doses of opioids in one year. Another Walgreens, this one in Kingston, pop. 52,627, was shipped 1.6 million doses.

The Walgreens orders pale when compared to three Food City pharmacies in the same vicinity of Knoxville.

During a six-year span, the Food City in Bearden and two other Food City pharmacies within the radius of notorious overprescribing Dr. Frank McNiel, were shipped 28 million opiates by a Pennsylvania supplier, AmerisourceBergen. In just one month  January 2009 -- the Bearden Food City alone  took delivery on 201,700 opiates  five times the maximum Food City officials set as the threshold.

As one AmerisourceBergin email read: What the hell is TN doing? Self-destruction. While the most flagrant areas of prescription abuse were Knoxville and the Tri-Cities, deaths from opioid overdoses across the state were a record high in 2018 with 1,837 and, in the first nine months of 2019, that number had already been surpassed. The reason in one word: fentanyl, a drug that is 100 times stronger than morphine. When combined with the black market and heroin, it is today the deadliest substance available in America.

While opioid overdoses have declined 2.2 percent nationally, the bigger victories are in states like Ohio (-12.4%), Pennsylvania (-11.5%), Michigan (-10.3%), Florida (-6.6%), and Kentucky (-8.2%), this tabulated from March 2018 to March 2019. But in Tennessee, where over 12 million prescriptions were written over a two-year span, deaths have risen 7.3% during the same time frame. In eight years, AmerisourceBergin shipped enough opiates to Tennessee that would supply every person living in the state with 580 doses.

After more than 9,100 deaths between 2013 and 2018, the shift has moved towards opioid addiction, called opioid use syndrome (OUD). Federal and state monies are becoming more available for the treatment of those who may relapse and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) that lessens the horrors of withdrawal is becoming more available.

Food City, with an excellent reputation, offered this statement: (Food City) is aware of data regarding prescriptions filled almost a decade ago by one of its stores. For years, (Food City) has committed to proactively working with experts in drug enforcement and pharmacy best practices to assess and refine dispensing practices at its more than 100 pharmacies," it continued. "(Food City) also utilized a robust third-party review and audit program at its pharmacies. The company has been and remains committed to the safety and health of the communities it proudly serves."

A statement for AmerisourceBergin: AmerisourceBergen denies intentionally profiteering off Tennessees opioid epidemic. The allegations made in the Tennessee Attorney Generals lawsuit against AmerisourceBergen are exactly that  allegations, many of which are demonstrably untrue, a statement read. AmerisourceBergen takes its reporting responsibilities seriously and reports directly to the (U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration) the quantity and receiving pharmacy of each order it ships of opioids.

Tellingly absent from Tennessees lawsuit is the accusation that AmerisourceBergen ever shipped opioid products to pharmacies lacking an active DEA registration and an active license with the state board of pharmacy, it continued.

"It is in fact important to note that many of the pharmacies called out in the complaint for excessive opioid sales are still licensed by the state even with our reporting of suspicious orders," a spokesman said, noting the state is putting distributors in an "ambiguous and opaque" regulatory role.

According to the Nashville Tennessean, In Nashville, deaths attributed to fentanyl tripled since 2016, according to the new Metro Health report. Fentanyl was linked to an average of 24 deaths per month in 2019. The report states total suspected overdoses increased from a monthly average of 333 in 2018 to 361 in 2019, and nonfatal overdoses that resulted in a trip to the emergency room rose from a monthly average of 64 to 113.

* * *

It cannot be overstated that Food City and Walgreens are among Chattanoogas most respected and trusted companies and neither have been charged with any wrongdoing. Attorney General Slattery is attaching his complaint to a lawsuit in Knox County Circuit Court.

According to the Attorney Generals office, The 230-page complaint reveals how Amerisource, one of the largest distributors in the country, shipped hundreds of millions of prescription opioids to Tennessee pharmacies for years, even when it knew the drugs were being abused and sold on the street. These actions also resulted in a public nuisance, which is asserted in the complaint. To read the complaint, click here: https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/attorneygeneral/documents/pr/2019/pr19-50-complaint.pdf

------

royexum@aol.com
Greenbelt, Md.  As Patrik Mathews was led into U.S. federal court in Greenbelt, Md., Wednesday morning, his head was on a swivel. He seemed to scan the faces  lawyers, journalists, law enforcement  that lined the dark wooden benches in the courtroom.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/1/2020 (719 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Greenbelt, Md.  As Patrik Mathews was led into U.S. federal court in Greenbelt, Md., Wednesday morning, his head was on a swivel. He seemed to scan the faces  lawyers, journalists, law enforcement  that lined the dark wooden benches in the courtroom.

RCMP HANDOUT Master Cpl. Patrik Mathews.

And then he saw me.

His eyes narrowed to slits; his face scrunched up, transformed into an angry grimace. He glared  hard.

We looked at one another for what felt like a long time, but was likely only a few seconds, before I dropped my eyes to the notebook in my lap and scribbled away. When I looked up, he was seated in his chair, facing the front of the court.

If he was attempting to engage me in a staring contest  I suppose he won that round. Im happy to concede.

It was the first time wed locked eyes in five months, since I infiltrated the neo-Nazi paramilitary group he was a recruiter for in Winnipeg, exposing him as a violent white supremacist in the process.

The difference: this time he knew I wasnt a white nationalist. He knew I was a newspaper reporter.

WILLIAM J. HENNESSY JR. Courtroom sketch of Patrik Mathews.

The Patrik Mathews I met in Whittier Park last summer is the same Patrik Mathews I saw in a U.S. federal courtroom this week. The long, bushy beard was back  he pulled and twisted it between his fingertips  during the hearing. His hair was grown out once more, thick and pushed back on his head.

There was anger there, too. Except this time, rather than ranting viciously about racial and religious minorities, the hatred seemed to be in the eyes  directed at me.

After the Winnipeg Free Press exposed Mathews, the story took on a life of its own. Its a testament to the fact life is often stranger than fiction. The plot reads like a thriller novel  one so laden with twists and turns it borders on the overwrought.

Police raid his Beausejour home and seize his guns, only to release him without charge. He flees the country and resurfaces in the U.S., aided by a network of like-minded neo-Nazis, secretly travelling through multiple states while evading law enforcement.

The neo-Nazis begin planning attacks, violence, mayhem and murder. Little do they know theyve been infiltrated by the highest levels of federal law enforcement, who are deploying the most sophisticated investigative techniques at their disposal.

By the time hes arrested and hauled into court, the story isnt just being reported on by the Free Press, but by the likes of the Washington Post and the New York Times and myriad other media across North America and overseas.

Photograph taken at a Base training camp.

Before all that, however, Mathews was exposed in Winnipeg. And disappointingly, it didnt take long for people to trip over themselves to make excuses for his conduct.

For many, while Mathews views were reprehensible, he wasnt all that serious about them. Or the Free Press was sensationalizing a story to sell newspapers. Or he was just a misguided, lost young man.

And so on.

It was disheartening at the time, given everything Id put myself through in pursuit of the story. I wouldnt have done that unless Id thought Mathews and his organization posed a serious threat to our community  particularly to racial and religious minorities.

Messages and images of Base propaganda posted to Twitter account of the accused.

When I saw violent neo-Nazis recruiting in Winnipeg, it drew into sharp focus  to borrow a phrase from the late Christopher Hitchens  a dividing line between everything I love and everything I hate.

In the hate column: bigotry and racism, violence and conformity, conspiratorial and ideological thinking. In the love column: multiculturalism, democratic elections, individual liberty, a free press.

This country fought a war to roll back the tide of fascism last century. Statements like "never forget" or "never again" shouldnt be idle slogans or dead words on our lips, but a call for an engaged citizenry that recognizes the serious threat fascists pose.

Thats why it was refreshing to hear the words of Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Windom in court Wednesday. He stood up, faced the judge, and declared Mathews a member of a domestic terrorist organization.

He didnt minimize, excuse or misdirect. He called a spade a spade.

Our home and hate-stained land Click to Expand A screenshot of Patrik Mathews from a video he made while wearing a gas mask and attempting to distort his voice while espousing violence, anti-Semitic and racist language. (U.S Attorney Detention Motion, Maryland) Posted: 7:00 PM Jan. 23, 2020 Its one thing to say good journalism protects communities, but quite another to see it in action. Sometimes, it takes a shape that even the journalist could not have expected. Sometimes, it sheds light on dark corners that too long have gone unnoticed, exposing what dangers lurk in those shadows. Over the last week, the truth of that shook Winnipeg all over again when the FBI arrested six members of a far-right terrorist militia called The Base. The accused include Patrik Mathews, a Canadian Forces reservist who fled south after a Free Press investigation by journalist Ryan Thorpe uncovered his identity. Read Full Story

In his seminal essay Politics and the English Language, George Orwell warned about the dangers of misusing words; language can sanitize and obfuscate as much it can enlighten and inform.

The task of a writer is to use words precisely and push back against the debasement of language, to never  as Orwell put it  "make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind."

Mathews has not been convicted of a crime. He should be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

But having said that, I know  from first-hand experience  who and what he is. I learned what I needed to know on a warm, nerve-racking evening in Whittier Park last summer.

And thats why it was a relief to see reality acknowledged in plain, clear language in that courtroom Wednesday.

Windom called Mathews a member of a domestic terrorist organization and Judge Timothy J. Sullivan labelled him a dangerous individual captured by an even more dangerous world view.

Someone had finally called a spade a spade.

ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @rk_thorpe

Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.
Bahrain will host a conference on Artificial Intelligence, FinTech and VAT at the Gulf Hotel in partnership with the UAE-based Smart SMB.

Themed The Second Digital Transformation, the event will be held on January 29 under the patronage of the President of the Sustainable Energy Authority (SEA), Dr Abdulhussain bin Ali Mirza. More than 30 individuals and companies in Bahrain will be honoured during the event for which Dr Mirza will be the key speaker.

Conference chairman, Dr Jassim Haji, said that the event focuses on artificial intelligence, future sciences and role of women in the field of artificial intelligence.

The conference will attract more than 20 speakers from the Supreme Council for Health, Women in FinTech Bahrain, University of Bahrain, Bahrain Polytechnic, Derasat, GARMCO, the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF), in addition to other experts.

Held annually in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kenya, the event attracts a great number of participants and exhibitors from mega-companies.
Rogue New York City Police Department officers are using a controversial facial recognition app on their cell phones to help in their investigations, even after the department passed on the technology last year because of privacy concerns.

The NYPD tried Clearview AI in April and decided against using the app, due to possible security risks and potential for abuse, sources said.

Despite the decision against the app's use, a company spokesperson confirmed to the New York Post that the last photo search by an NYPD cop was registered at 10:56 a.m. Thursday.

Rogue New York City Police Department officers are reportedly using a controversial facial recognition app on their cell phones to help in their investigations, even after the department passed on the technology last year because of concerns.

The NYPD tried a complimentary, 90-day version of Clearview AI in April and decided against using the app, due to possible security risks and potential for abuse, sources said. Pictured, an image from the app-maker's website

'Numerous investigators from around the department are using the app to this day,' with about 36 active accounts using the program for months and logging thousands of searches, a Clearview spokesperson told the Post.

An NYPD spokesperson told DailyMail.com that 'there is no institutional relationship between the NYPD and Clearview, when asked if officers had been using the app.

The department did not elaborate on whether officers using Clearview face disciplinary action.

Clearview AI scrapes the internet for images from social media and other sources to provide potentially millions of pictures that can aid in identifying the suspects of crime.

More than 600 police departments are reportedly using the facial recognition app which is capable of comparing uploaded photos with three billion images in its database culled from social media and other websites.

Clearview AI allows users to take a photo of a person and upload it to the app, which then matches it up to to publicly-available photos of that person, displaying those images along with links to where they appeared online.

The publicly-available photos of people are said to be in a database that Clearview pulled together from outlets such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, but also Venmo, YouTube, employment and educational websites and supposedly millions of other online sites.

But the NYPD wasn't taking any chances using the technology after its trial run, sources told the New York Post.

Among concerns are app creator Hoan Ton-That's ties to viddyho.com, a site that was caught up in a 2009 phishing scam, sources said.

NYPD officials also worried about the app because Clearview can't say who had access to the images once cops load them into the department's system, the Post reports.

'They're playing with fire,' an insider told the news outlet.

Traditionally, law enforcement agencies use facial recognition software that primarily searches government images like mugshots and driver's license pictures.

However, the NYPD's own facial recognition unit was wary about the technology.

'While the NYPD looked at it, the facial indication section never used it for investigations,' a police source told the Post.

A law enforcement email is required to sign up for the app. But the rogue NYPD officers are loading it onto their personal mobile devices because they are restricted from doing so on department-issued phones.

To convince law enforcement of the app's effectiveness against competitors, Clearview has touted the app's role in catching an alleged terrorist who planted rice cookers made to look like bombs in New York's subways in August.

The man was arrested after an investigation, but the NYPD tells DailyMail, that the claim was not accurate.

'The NYPD did not use Clearview technology to identify the suspect in the August 16th rice cooker incident,' a spokesperson told DailyMaily.com.

'The NYPD identified the suspect using the Departments facial recognition practice where a still image from a surveillance video was compared to a pool of lawfully possessed arrest photos,' the spokesperson explained.

'A facial recognition match is merely a lead no one has ever been arrested solely on the basis of a computer match, no matter how compelling.'

Clearview did not immediately respond when DailyMail.com reached out.
Pakistan may be out of FATF 'Grey List' next month due to active support of China

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Jan 24: Pakistan may be out of the 'Grey List' of the international terror financing watchdog FATF next month due to the active support of China and tactical support of some Western countries, the official said on Thursday.

At a meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) held in Beijing, Islamabad submitted its compliance report and got support from the FATF current chair and its "all-weather friend" China and a few Western powers. "The next plenary of the FATF will be held in February in Paris and Pakistan needs just 12 votes out of 39 to exit the 'Grey List' and move to 'White List'.

Help us get out of FATF Grey List, Pakistan urges US

There is a strong possibility of Islamabad getting enough support to exit the 'Grey List'," an Indian official privy to the development said.

In recent meetings of FATF, Pakistan has got the support of Malaysia and Turkey besides China. If Pakistan could convince a few Western nations with their report of taking action against terrorists, the country will be out of FATF 'Grey List', which will be a cause of worry for India, the official said.

Kailash Vijayvargiya identified Bangladeshis by their 'strange meal'| OneIndia News

If Pakistan comes out of the FATF 'Grey List', it will be easy for the country to get financial aid from the IMF, World Bank, ADB and the European Union, helping improve its precarious financial situation.

The FATF plenary had noted in its last meeting held in October 2019 that Pakistan addressed only five out of the 27 tasks given to it in controlling funding to terror groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen, responsible for a series of attacks in India.

The FATF said it strongly urges Pakistan to swiftly complete its full action plan by February 2020.

In the Beijing meeting, Pakistan provided a list of its action taken to comply with the FATF diktat. Pakistan was placed on the 'Grey List' by the FATF in June 2018 and was given a plan of action to complete it by October 2019 or face the risk of being placed on the blacklist along with Iran and North Korea.

FATF action plan implementation: Technical assistance offered by EU to Pakistan

The FATF is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.

The FATF currently has 35 members and two regional organisations -- the European Commission and Gulf Cooperation Council. India is a member of the FATF consultations and its Asia Pacific Group and was represented in the meeting by a team of officials from the ministries of Home, External Affairs and Finance.
Progress is slow on securing provincial funding to upgrade the City of Winnipegs north end sewage treatment plant.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/1/2020 (719 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Progress is slow on securing provincial funding to upgrade the City of Winnipegs north end sewage treatment plant.

Its even slower  almost non-existent  when it comes to finding the cash from senior levels of government to limit the billions of litres of diluted raw sewage discharged into Winnipeg rivers every year.

The city is facing a Jan. 31 deadline from Manitoba Conservation and Climate for a plan to reduce phosphorus emissions from the north end plant. City hall has begun work on a three-phase, $1.8-billion upgrade to the facility, but the province has not committed its share of funding for the project.

Nor has the provincial government committed funding to help pay for the billions required to separate Winnipegs combined sewer system. Part of the reason: the city hasnt made a formal request for it.

About 31 per cent of Winnipeg is serviced by combined sewers, which dump untreated sewage into the local rivers almost every time it rains. The city doesnt know precisely how much untreated sewage goes into those waterways each year from combined sewers.

City officials, however, have good estimates on the volume of diluted raw sewage (sewage mixed with water runoff) that spills into the rivers. In 2018, 8.65 billion litres was discharged  enough to fill 3,462 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

What they dont have good information on is the ratio of sewage to water. The city estimates only about four per cent is actual sewage. However, thats based on just a single sample from a 2015 rain event.

Still, if accurate, it means about 346 million litres of undiluted raw sewage is discharged into the rivers every year on average (close to a million litres a day).

All of that ends up in Lake Winnipeg, contributing to the heavy nutrient loads that are harming the lake and creating blue-green algae blooms.

The City of Winnipegs treatment plants only contribute about five per cent of the phosphorus going into Lake Winnipeg, with the rest coming from other sources, including agricultural runoff.

Fixing it requires separating combined sewers into a two-pipe system: one for runoff, the other for sewage. The fix is expensive; to capture 85 per cent of the raw sewage will cost the city between $1.15 billion and $2.3 billion.

The current plan is to have the project completed by 2045. Thats a soft target, however, largely because the city still has no idea how to pay for it.

City hall has budgeted $30 million a year for combined sewer upgrades (paid for through sewer rates). Crews are currently separating pipes along Assiniboine Avenue at Ferry Road.

However, if the province and the federal government dont contribute to the cost ($30 million per year each), the city estimates it would take until 2095 to complete.

So why hasnt the city made a formal request for funding from senior level of governments?

The City of Winnipegs treatment plants only contribute about five per cent of the phosphorus going into Lake Winnipeg, with the rest coming from other sources, including agricultural runoff. (Boris Minkevich / Free Press files)

It likely has to do with prioritizing large capital projects. The city cant even get the province on board to confirm funding for sewage treatment plant upgrades. Strategically, it probably makes sense to get that money first before moving on to the next project.

Want more great journalism? Get our best news and features delivered in your inbox every weekday evening. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

However, if the real goal behind it all is to save Lake Winnipeg, there has to be far more robust leadership from senior levels of government. That means funding for projects such as combined sewers, but it also means tackling the problem from a broader perspective.

The City of Winnipegs treatment plants only contribute about five per cent of the phosphorus going into Lake Winnipeg, with the rest coming from other sources, including agricultural runoff. About half the phosphorus released into the lake comes from outside Manitoba, including from the U.S.

To date, there has been little provincial and federal leadership to address it in any forceful or sustained way (certainly nothing compared to the political campaign waged against the alleged biota problem from the construction of the Devils Lake outlet in North Dakota in the early 2000s).

Even if the city spent $4 billion today to upgrade its sewage treatment plant and fixed every combined sewer, it wouldnt come close to eliminating the nutrient overload problem in Lake Winnipeg. The green scum washing up on the shores would remain.

The city has to do its part, but senior levels of government have to take a much more proactive role when looking at the big picture.

tom.brodbeck@freepree.mb.ca
Health chiefs have been forced to apologise after pictures emerged of inedible hospital food which had been served up to a patient with cardiovascular problems.

The unpalatable dish had been given to a patient at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and consisted of a gooey mess that appeared to include potatoes, peas and possibly chicken, all of it coated in a thick, yellowish sauce.

The food was served up last month to a patient with blood circulation issues at the 2 billion privately-funded hospital which opened in 2003, which is recorded as spending around 2 a day on patient meals, 8p less than what is spent on food for prisoners.

The same hospital was condemned in January last year after a heart patient's 'cremated' omelette made its way on to social media. At the time the hospital apologised and promised to investigate.

Inedible: One patient suffering with blood circulation issues was served up the above meal

Edinburgh Royal Infirmary (pictured above) spends around 2 per person a day on patient meals

But little appears to have been learned based on the new picture, taken in the hospital's vascular ward by Gillian Neilson.

Gillian, from Prestonpans, East Lothian, posted: 'This food is served to patients in ward 105 at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.'

Directing her question at NHS Lothian, she asked: 'Is it any wonder patients lose weight and have no appetite?'

George Curley, Director of Estates and Facilities at the health board, said today: 'NHS Lothian expects all food served to be of high quality and we are very sorry to anyone whose experience has been below this standard.

The burnt omelette was served up to one patient in January last year and the hospital had been slammed for not being able to provide adequate meals

'Our catering strategy recognises the importance of good nutrition in patient care and would ask any patients who has a concern or complaint about their meals to raise these immediately with the person in charge of their care to ensure they are offered an alternative.'

In 2018, Scottish hospitals spent on average just 2 per day per patient on meals. The equivalent amount for prisoners was 2.58.

Have you had an inedible meal while in hospital? Get in touch. Email Website.Pictures@mailonline.co.uk Advertisement

MPs called for a review of food and nutrition in the NHS after the shocking figures were revealed.

Last year, Irene Lang made national headlines after a picture emerged of a 'cremated omelette.'

The 68-year-old was served the inedible omelette following major heart surgery at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary (ERI).

This resulted in her giving up on the hospital food and her husband had to buy her from M&S.

Her son, Kevin Lang, slammed the hospital for failing to provide nutritious food for his mother after having a major heart surgery.

And last month, Bake off judge Prue Leith warned that cheap hospital food as preventing patients from getting better.

The Channel 4 judge, 79, claimed too many patients were being fed 'awful', cheap gloop' that was stopping them from recovering.

Leith is a government advisor for an overhaul of hospital food in England and Wales, which is due to be published early next year.

***Have you had an inedible meal while in hospital? Get in touch. Email Website.Pictures@mailonline.co.uk
King of Prussia, PA, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On January 23, 2020, Arkema Inc. filed a petition seeking relief under U.S. antidumping duty laws from unfairly traded imports of R-32 from China. The petition alleges that imports of R-32 from China are sold at less than fair value, causing material injury to the U.S. R-32 industry, and threatening to continue doing so if left unchecked.



Arkema performs a critical function in the U.S. hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) supply chain through the production of R-32 at its Calvert City, Ky, plant.

In the United States, R-32 is used as a component to produce various HFC blends, which are refrigerants used in a variety of applications, in particular R-410A, a key product in most air conditioning applications.



Beginning in 2017, foreign-backed blending operations have entered the U.S. to bypass the existing antidumping duty order on HFC blends from China, which was imposed on August 19, 2016. Because the HFC blends antidumping duty order does not cover components like R-32, blenders can purchase cheap Chinese R-32 to make HFC blends in the U.S. market.



Thus, over the last few years, there has been a significant increase in unfairly traded R-32 imports from China into the United States sold at less than fair value. This loophole in the HFC blends antidumping duty order must be closed in order to protect the U.S. R-32 industry.



As a global refrigerant producer, and the lone R-32 producer in the United States, Arkema supports free and fair competition. Arkema is confident that, once the facts underlying the petition are reviewed by the relevant agencies, Chinese R-32 imports will be deemed by those agencies to compete unfairly in the U.S. market.





A designer of materials and innovative solutions, Arkema shapes materials and creates new uses that accelerate customer performance. Our balanced business portfolio spans high-performance materials, industrial specialties and coating solutions. Our globally recognized brands are ranked among the leaders in the markets we serve. Reporting annual sales of 8.8 billion in 2018, we employ approximately 20,000 people worldwide and operate in close to 55 countries. We are committed to active engagement with all our stakeholders. Our research centers in North America, France and Asia concentrate on advances in bio-based products, new energies, water management, electronic solutions, lightweight materials and design, home efficiency and insulation. www.arkema.com






TORONTO - Efforts by the Trump administration to undo fuel-efficiency standards for vehicles are a setback to the battle against climate change, former U.S. president Barack Obama said on Thursday.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/1/2020 (719 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TORONTO - Efforts by the Trump administration to undo fuel-efficiency standards for vehicles are a setback to the battle against climate change, former U.S. president Barack Obama said on Thursday.

Speaking at a sell-out forum about the future of work, Obama said it's clear not everyone is on his page when it comes to the enormous global challenge.

"I instituted higher fuel-efficiency standards on cars, and the subsequent administration has now tried to actively reverse them," Obama said of President Donald Trump. "If we can't even do that, where we're going to say, 'We're not going to drive gas guzzlers' when other countries don't even have cars, then it's going to be almost impossible to solve the problem."

It will require a "surge of energy" from citizens to put pressure on large institutions to tackle greenhouse gas emissions that exacerbate global warming, Obama said. It's a cause, he said, that younger people increasingly understand and are willing to take on.

"Which is why you have somebody like a Greta Thunberg who gets so much traction," he said. "Because she speaks for a generation that is going to have to deal with this mess in a way that somebody like me, who's 58, is not going to have to deal with it."

Simply hectoring individual citizens or blaming developing countries for not doing more to rein in harmful emissions, he said, won't fix the problem. He described a situation in which a man has to drive 50 miles every day in an old pickup truck to his job so he can support his family. He can't afford an electric or hybrid vehicle and there's no mass transit.

"You can lecture about climate change but he's just trying to get to work," Obama said. "And if you are dismissive of his legitimate specific concerns about supporting his family, then he is going to tune you out, regardless of the science of climate change."

Similarly, he said, millions of people in the Third World live without basics, so it would be unreasonable to expect them to reject coal-fired electricity that could transform their lives.

At the same time, Obama said, citizens in places like China or India to press their governments to do better. One reason he was able to persuade the Beijing government to sign on to the Paris Accords was because the growing middle class in China, faced with nasty pediatric cancer rates or unbreathable air, views environmental degradation as their most important political concern, he said.

"The Chinese government, even though it's not a democracy, became sensitive enough to the potential political instability of this environmental crisis that they said, 'It makes sense for us to sign up."

Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Obama said the U.S. and other industrial nations spent decades spewing pollution as they developed their economies and built infrastructure until they locked in a high carbon economy. It's simply unreasonable to tell developing countries they need to stop, he argued.

What the West needs to do is help the Third World "leapfrog our development models" and come up with systems where they can get electricity and produce enough food without destroying the planet.

"We have to figure out how do we give them the opportunity to enjoy a reasonable standard of living while still preserving the environment," Obama said.

The thousands of people attending the event put on by the Economic Club and Global Institute for Conscious Economics also heard the former president talk about his favourite thing about Canada.

"You're just so reasonable," he said. "Canadians are super reasonable."

This story was first published by The Canadian Press on Jan. 23, 2020.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 24, 2020) - Fremont Gold Ltd. (TSXV: FRE) (FSE: FR2) (OTC Pink: USTDF) ("Fremont" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the offering of a non-brokered private placement of up to 17,000,000 units at a price of $0.06 per unit for gross proceeds of up to $1,020,000 (the "Private Placement"). Net proceeds of the Private Placement will be used for general working capital and to advance Fremont's property portfolio, which includes the newly acquired Griffon gold project (see news release dated December 18, 2019).

Griffon gold project

Griffon is a past-producing gold mine located at the southern end of the Cortez Trend, approximately 75 kilometres southwest of Ely, and is accessed via paved highway and forest service roads. Mineralization at Griffon is Carlin-type and is comparable to the mineralization found at the Emigrant/Rain mine and the Alligator Ridge mine (incorporated into Kinross Gold Corporation's Bald Mountain mine in the mid-1990s).

Griffon was first drilled in 1988 and a limited amount of shallow drilling (214 drill holes in total) focused on delineating the Discovery Ridge and Hammer Ridge deposits, leaving the remainder of the property essentially untested.

From 1997-1999, Alta Gold Co. ("Alta") produced approximately 90,000 ounces of gold at an average grade of 1.03 grams/tonne gold from Discovery Ridge and Hammer Ridge in an oxide heap-leach operation. Alta reported a number of unmined drill intercepts to the southwest of Hammer Ridge, including drill hole GR97-175 which returned 57.9 metres at 0.86 g/t gold, and proposed expanding Hammer Ridge before operations ceased.

Griffon hosts numerous gravity, soil and stratigraphic targets. The Pilot Shale horizon - the primary gold host at Fiore Gold Ltd.'s nearby Pan Mine - has not been adequately tested, and the Joana/Chainman transitional horizon, which hosts gold at Griffon, may be concealed underneath and within the Blackrock fault. Lastly, there is also potential in and around the pits, as demonstrated by drill hole GR97-175.

Underexplored and last drilled in the 1990s, Griffon offers multiple opportunities for the discovery of a Carlin-type gold deposit.

Private placement

The non-brokered private placement will be comprised of up to 17,000,000 units at a price of $0.06 per unit (the "Units") for gross proceeds of up to $1,020,000

Each Unit will be comprised of a common share of the Company and one share purchase warrant. Each share purchase warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one common share at a purchase price of $0.10 per for a period of 12 months following the closing of the Private Placement.

Fremont may pay a cash finder's fee equivalent to up to 7% of the gross proceeds of the Private Placement and issue share purchase warrants (the "Finder's Warrants") to finders, equivalent to up to 7% of the number of common shares included in the private placement. Each Finder's Warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one common share of the Company at a purchase price of $0.10 for a period of up to 12 months following closing of the Private Placement.

Closing of the Private Placement and the payment of any finder's fees will be subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

The securities offered will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from the registration requirements.

All securities issued pursuant to the private placement will be subject to a four month hold period under Canadian securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, as applicable.

About Fremont Gold

Fremont's mine-finding management team has assembled a portfolio of high-quality gold projects in Nevada's most prolific gold trends. Fremont's gold projects include Griffon, Cobb Creek, North Carlin, Goldrun, and Hurricane. We are aligned with our shareholders: Insiders own more than 20% of Fremont.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Blaine Monaghan"

CEO

Telephone: +1 604-676-5664

Email: blaine@fremontgold.net

www.fremontgold.net

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward looking statements

Certain statements and information contained in this press release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable U.S. securities laws and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, which are referred to collectively as "forward-looking statements". The United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for certain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements and information regarding possible events, conditions or results of operations that are based upon assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action. All statements and information other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "seek", "expect", "anticipate", "budget", "plan", "estimate", "continue", "forecast", "intend", "believe", "predict", "potential", "target", "may", "could", "would", "might", "will", "hope", "will be", "expected" and similar words or phrases (including negative variations) suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. Forward-looking statements in this and other press releases include but are not limited to the potential for the discovery of a Carlin-type deposit and regulatory approvals. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Fremont undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this press release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/51791
Reach key decision makers with sales-ready leads that shorten your sales process. Move the needle by delivering funnel qualified leads to your sales team. Learn more

When the U.S. president was impeached last week, it surfaced the fact that impeachment, and particularly the removal of a U.S. president, is a process that doesnt work. Throughout U.S. history, there have been 45 presidents, and given that no one trains for that job, youd figure several would have been removed for cause. However, impeachment has been attempted three times without a removal.

If a process that has been in place for more than 200 years has never been successful, it is a really bad process. So, rather than focus on whether President Trump should be impeached, Im going to suggest a technology-driven process that should be both fairer and more effective.

I also think arguing about the impeachment process rather than President Trumps impeachment itself will be a far safer way to spend the holidays.

Ill close with my final product of the week: a new Nvidia offering that could make Christmas shopping massively easier, have a better outcome, and allow companies like Motorola to compete more effectively.

Removal for Cause

Every company has a process to remove an employee for cause  from entry-level to CEO. Certainly, you could argue that many of those processes arent fair. Though unacceptable, it is far from uncommon that an employee who rightfully complains about unsafe conditions, or about a superiors harassment, abuse of power, or inappropriate or illegal actions, is still likely to be terminated.

Its also likely that a CEO who is terminated will get a huge golden parachute, while a terminated rank-and-file employee often is lucky to get cab fare home. In the gig economy, it isnt even clear whether a worker is an employee in the first place.

On this last point, Ive seen abusive treatment of contributors by YouTube and Amazon, and they dont seem to understand they are screwing with peoples livelihoods, which often becomes a foundation for unionization. If that happens, both firms will learn the wonders of collective bargaining, and that is generally the opposite of fun.

HR, which was supposed to be an advocate for the employee and a less aggravating alternative to unions, at least in tech companies, evolved instead to become a tool of management, and that is one of the reasons we see signs of unionization at places like Google.

Im sure weve all had managers who sucked and put our job at risk. I had a guy who didnt give me my annual objectives until he did my annual review, and then had the nerve to give me my first bad review because I didnt meet objectives Id never seen.

In that case, I successfully escalated but then had to transfer out of the department to get away from extended retaliation. Eventually I left the company because using HR effectively got me a reputation for being a problem employee.

Like many, you may work for a company that has an employment at will doctrine that allows the firm to terminate you for any reason (likely another cause for what seems to be an upswing in union activity). In a tight labor market, that policy likely is hurting qualified employee acquisition, particularly in areas like data scientist, where there are far more openings than people.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Oh, and covering up problems that employees identify hasnt exactly been a brilliant strategy in or out of government, because social media is a thing, and those stories now have the potential to become national or even worldwide scandals. These scandals damage the firms brand, reduce its competitiveness, harm revenues and valuation, and put the firms boards in bad spotlights.

As a result, several companies are developing AI-driven programs that more fairly manage this process, better ensuring that employees who are assets are cared for properly, that problems are discovered and dealt with in a timely way, and that problem employees (and managers) either are retrained or removed expeditiously.

For CEOs, there is a very different process. The board of directors must vote out the CEO, and given that CEOs often pick their boards, and too often are the executive chairman (who sets the agenda), this can be problematic.

This process is one of the reasons we have CEOs in place who are famous for behavior that would get any manager fired, and why those CEOs can do incredible amounts of damage before being removed. Still, even after damaging their firms, they often get millions in severance pay, which generally sits poorly with employees, customers  and particularly, investors.

Still, we do remove CEOs, and we have yet to figure out how to remove a president.

The Impeachment Process

Impeachment works similarly to the grand jury process. The House of Representatives (like the House of Commons), represents the people of the U.S. (think popular vote), to prosecute the case.

The problem is that if the opposing party has a majority, it will look like a partisan attack, regardless of evidence, which makes the presidents party feel unfairly treated. If the presidents party holds the majority, impeachment is unlikely because it would substantively reduce its power, and we are a power- and influence-driven race.

Once impeachment occurs, which is similar to a prosecutor filing charges after a grand jury hearing, the process then moves to the U.S. Senate (like the House of Lords), which represents the states (think Electoral Collage). Then the Senate holds a trial presided over by a Supreme Court justice who has been nerfed (has a fraction of the procedural power of a regular judge).

The Senate acts as a jury of sorts. Removal requires a vote of two-thirds of the senators. This percentage is an excessive threshold; it was not achieved in the two previous attempts, and it is unlikely to be achieved this time.

Again, assuming votes along party lines, the process appears corrupt. The senators in the presidents party are influenced by the reduction to their power that the removal would cause, and those in the opposing party appear corrupted by the desire to get more power.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

In short, the process not only is inherently unfair, but also ineffective. Instead of preventing a civil war or a misbehaving president from staying in power, it seems to ensure one of those outcomes (fortunately more the latter than the former).

The AI Blended Fix

First, identification is what AIs increasingly do well, and there have been massive advancements in speech-to-text. Nvidia announced one such advancement at its Asian GTC Conference last week.

Most everything a president does is documented. The AI, using machine learning, would be trained to look for bad behavior. If it hears something that crosses the line, it first alerts the president and his core advisors (based on presidential preference) so they can avoid making a mistake in the first place.

In short, the AIs first and foremost job is to function as a training tool for the president and his immediate staff, to ensure they learn the lines they can not cross and dont cross them.

If enough evidence of bad behavior is collected, the AI issues a recommendation, which may include additional training, censure or removal from office, depending on the problem and frequency.

That recommendation bypasses Congress, which has shown itself to be too biased to execute this process. The full Supreme Court (which serves for life and doesnt have the reelection and power problems Congress has) decides on the outcome, which could be training, censure, or removal from office. There might be a fourth or fifth choice, which could include fines and incarceration, depending on the offense.

Wrapping Up: Creating Fairness

Whether we are talking employees, CEOs or U.S. presidents, the process surrounding the termination of any of these folks isnt optimized or fair. Regarding impeachment, this is particularly true, given how biased Congress is, because as a body it is motivated to be more loyal to party than to country, corrupting the process.

All of these groups need better oversight and warnings to avoid problems in the first place and a fairer process when the termination becomes an option. A properly trained AI certainly could perform the duty of warning and fairly starting the remediation process.

The Supreme Court is the ideal body to finish the process for the U.S. president, but there is no equivalent body in a company, where the people making the decision wouldnt be subordinate to the CEO whom they might have to remove at some point.

The closest might be internal audit, which typically reports through the CFO to the board, but that would require changes. Right now, internal audit effectively is subordinate to both the CFO (who reports to the CEO) as well as the board, (which also may be subordinate to the CEO).

Putting your career at risk to do a job is a conflict that should be avoided. This conflict suggests that internal audit also should report to an outside organization that can protect its independence.

Another idea would be to create a parallel organization of life appointees to the Supreme Court, which would have investigative responsibility and could build a case against anyone in any of the three branches of government.

Staffed with top career investigators, this could provide a better, unbiased approach to removing anyone from office. They could be assisted by an AI that would allow scale without requiring another massive government agency.

By the way, talking about how to fix the impeachment process might be a better discussion this week (as in less likely to cause you to leave a family gathering early) than whether the president should be fired  just saying.

Nvidia launched several interesting things in Asia last week, including improvements to its self-driving platform, that real-time conversational AI I mentioned above, and Orin, which it represented to be the world-leading robotic processor (after watching the latest Terminator movie, I promise to say only nice things about it. The big announcement for me, given the time of year, was its new recommendation engine based on its AI platform.

This engine is having a massive positive impact on both Baidu and Alibaba, reporting up to a 10x improvement in click-through and a 100x improvement in throughput. More importantly, it appears to be improving customer satisfaction as well, because customers are finding products that better meet their unique needs.

Given that online retailers like Amazon and social networks like Facebook are capturing tons of information about our loved ones and us anyway, why not use that information to make better recommendations?

Done right, they would know not only what we like, but also the configuration we prefer. This process could be particularly useful in picking a car, and it could make the broad product lines in companies like Motorola rise to their full potential by allowing the firm to recommend the phone and configuration that would be the best for a prospective customer.

This result should overcome the advantage held by simplified lines, like the iPhone, in terms of making a choice easier and removing friction from the sales process.

With this tool in place, a big vendor like Amazon could provide a list of recommendations tied to every person you regularly buy for, based on the budget youve provided, tied to what it knows about what each of those people like.

Youd then make your selection for each or just hit accept, and the packages would be wrapped and sent automatically (the AI even could recommend what goes on the card in the box).

The process could start when the Black Friday sales start and optimize for those products that have deep discounts getting you the most bang for the buck. If it were part of a service like Prime, more people would sign up.

I think this recommendation engine from Nvidia could change retail, and so it is my final product of the week for 2019. Next week Ill name my product of the year and product of the decade. You may be surprised by what makes that cut.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ECT News Network.
Harris County Pct. 5 Constable's Office

A suspected drug dealer has been accused of forcing his 13-year-old daughter to help deliver drugs in the Houston area over a three-year period, the Harris County Pct. 5 Constable's Office said Thursday.

Phillip Ellis Cunningham Jr., 33, is also accused of hurting the child. He was arrested Wednesday evening on a charge of injury to a child, as well as two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
Battling the fast spreading coronavirus, China on Friday said that it is building a 1,000-bed hospital for patients infected with the deadly virus that has claimed 26 lives so far with confirmed cases rising sharply to over 880, prompting authorities to shut down 13 cities during the country's most important holiday.

Dampening the celebrations of the Lunar New Year, China, in an unprecedented move, has shut down transportation in at least 13 cities -- Wuhan and 12 of its neighbours -- in central China's Hubei province to contain the coronavirus.

According to the National Health Commission, 26 people have died so far with over 880 confirmed cases being treated mostly in Hubei province. Twenty nine provinces have reported the cases.

China's biggest city Shanghai raised the emergency response of public health safety to level 1, the highest, following Beijing, and Hubei, Hunan, Zhejiang, Anhui, and Guangdong provinces as more cases were reported.

Beijing so far reported 34 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection, official media reported.

The Chinese disease prevention authority on Friday released pictures and information of the first Wuhan Coronavirus that Chinese experts had discovered.

The Wuhan local government is rushing to build a 1,000-bedded hospital in the outskirts of Wuhan to treat coronavirus patients.

Dozens of excavators were feverishly working at the site where the hospital will be built on the 25000 sq metres just about 10 days' time. It will be put into use by February 3, state-run Xinhua agency reported.

Workers are being paid 1,200 yuan (USD 173) per day, three times their usual wage, to accelerate the construction.

The hospital will be modelled on the one built in Beijing for the treatment and control of SARS or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, that spread rapidly on the Chinese mainland in 2003, killing over 800 people. During that time Beijing had built the Xiaotangshan Hospital, a temporary medical centre in the northern suburb of the city.

China has also deployed its military medics to help civilian doctors.

As the unknown virus wreaking havoc, Chinese and American researchers are working together to develop a vaccine against the deadly new strain of coronavirus, Hong Kong based South China Morning Post reported.

The collaboration is taking place amid a growing international debate about whether it came from snakes or bats.

At present, there is no cure for the virus which has pneumonia-like symptoms and is contagious among humans.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday stopped short of declaring the virus a global public health emergency, despite China's climbing death toll.

The virus has spread to Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and the United States as of Thursday. Japan on Friday reported a second confirmed case.

Wuhan, the city of 11 million people, is where the virus is believed to have first emerged. The victims' average age is 73, with 89 being the oldest and 48 youngest.

Hubei authorities have suspended operations at local travel agencies and ordered all schools to postpone the start of spring semester classes, said People's Daily, the official newspaper of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC).

China's finance ministry on Thursday announced the allocation of one billion yuan (USD 144 million) to be used by Hubei authorities to halt the spread of the illness, the report said.

The Indian Embassy in Beijing has cancelled the January 26th Republic Day ceremony citing the coronavirus outbreak in China as well as the decision of the Chinese authorities to cancel public gathering and events.

The Wuhan lockdown is a cause of concern for Indian students who are still there. The city and surroundings have about 700 Indian students, majority of them studying medicine. However, most of the students have apparently left for home for the holidays.

As concerns grew over their safety, the Indian embassy on Thursday opened helplines and established contacts with the Chinese officials concerned to ensure food and other supplies to those who remained in the city.

In a new disclosure, Chinese officials on Thursday confirmed fresh cases of coronavirus in people who did not even travel to Wuhan recently.

The National Health Commission also reported increasing the number of cases with no exposure to Wuhan's Hunan seafood wholesale market, which is believed to be related to most of the infected cases. The cases without confirmed exposure to the market have been found overseas.

The virus, which a doctor in Wuhan told BBC is spreading at an alarming rate, has dampened the Chinese New Year celebrations beginning Friday.

Chinese all over the world formally bid goodbye to the year of the pig on Friday and would welcome the year of rat on Saturday. The Chinese government has given week long holidays.

Chinese lunar calendar, years are grouped into a 12-year cycle, with each year is assigned an animal symbol: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

In view of the virus scare, several cities, including Beijing, have cancelled special events. The festival is also known as the Spring Festival. Large cultural activities during the spring festival in Beijing such as temple fairs were cancelled to prevent the spread of the virus.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Relations between NGOs and the state are not defined by mutual trust.

Martin Gierl serves as the Plenipotentiary of the Government of Slovakia for the Civil Society from 2014 (Source: TASR)

Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled

A glossary of words is also published online.

Watch out! A foreign agent. This is what one political party proposed every non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Slovakia that accepts money from abroad publish by law in its promotional materials and websites.

Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement

In early October 2019, the far-right Peoples Party Our Slovakia (LSNS) made its third attempt to push this legal change through in parliament and introduce the foreign agent label for NGOs, which is also part of the legislation in Russia and Hungary. They have failed repeatedly.

 Civil society is the most efficient cure to safeguard democracy.  Martin Giertl, Plenipotentiary of the Government of Slovakia for the Civil Society

It was not an isolated show of hostility among politicians towards NGOs. Several of them have adopted a rhetoric slamming the third sector, most notably former prime minister and Smer chair Robert Fico in his response to the protests that followed the murder of Jan Kuciak and Martina Kusnirova in 2018.

Peoples spontaneous activities, including anti-governmental and climate change protests in the last two years, NGOs, volunteers, religious associations and some others, all make up civil society.

Today, [civil society] is well developed, diversified, and emancipated in Slovakia due to 30 years of living in democracy, sociologist Michal Vasecka said. He stressed non-democratic and radical groups are, and have always been, part of civil society.

Against Meciar

Read also

Read also Non-governmental and non-profit organisations will get a new register Read more

After the fall of the communist regime in Czechoslovakia in 1989, and the subsequent introduction of freedom of assembly and other laws linked to the third sector, civil society began to diversify and grow. There are almost 64,000 non-governmental organisations, including foundations and civil associations, today.

In the early nineties, NGOs joined forces voluntarily and worked together within the newly established Chamber of the Third Sector. They manifested their unity as soon as the then authoritarian-leaning prime minister Vladimir Meciar wanted to legally worsen the third sectors position. NGOs launched a campaign called The Third Sector SOS in 1996, which failed.

The pre-election campaign OK 98 was the first big success of Slovak civil society, impacting politics and its execution on the national level, Vasecka told The Slovak Spectator. The campaign, driven by NGOs, contributed to 84 percent of Slovaks casting their votes in the elections and to the end of Meciar. The Chamber vanished, too.

Condition: Stable

Legally speaking, their position is stable today, Martin Giertl, Plenipotentiary of the Government of Slovakia for the Civil Society since 2014, told The Slovak Spectator. But, things can always get better.

He pointed to the fact that Slovakia joined the global Open Government Partnership in September 2011. The country has a strategy on civil society development and operates a legislative and information portal, Slov-Lex. The latter allows the public to take an active role in the law-making process.

Read also

Read also Why should companies and NGOs help schools? Read more

Fico never tabled a bill that would change the climate [for NGOs], Giertl said. He added it was Smer that came up with the law on the registration of NGOs.

The law that its proponents portrayed as a tool to unveil a foreign inflow of money to Slovak NGOs was approved by 139 MPs out of 140 present parliamentarians in late November 2018. In fact, legislation only unified terms for the registration of different NGOs.

EU money part of Slovakias budget

Although NGOs are represented in one of the two chambers within the Governmental Council for NGOs, Jan Orlovsky of the Open Society Foundation (OSF) said mutual trust and sincere interest in cooperation is not a common thing when it comes to relations between NGOs and the state.

Both Giertl and Orlovsky refused the disinformation that fake news websites and populist politicians keenly spread, on Soros funding Slovak NGOs to overthrow the government. In fact, they questioned whether the state could be considered a foreign agent as well since part of Slovakias budget is covered by EU funds.

Giertl said he had received scholarships from Soros-funded organisations. He believes politicians in Slovakia sometimes neglect people, which helps populists.

Civil society is the most efficient cure to safeguard democracy, the plenipotentiary said, adding that politicians should not gamble on NGOs.

More state funds needed

The non-governmental organisations approached by The Slovak Spectator  OSF, Dive Maky (Wild Poppies), and Inakost (Otherness)  all agree the state should support NGOs more. Giertl claimed the funding is stabilised but admitted new funding mechanisms could be, in fact, created.

 Fico never tabled a bill that would change the climate [for NGOs].  Martin Giertl

Barbora Mistrikova of Dive Maky, an NGO working with Roma communities, said there is a lot of money, but it is spent inefficiently. Martin Macko of Inakost said no resources exist for the institutional support of organisations providing services to the LGBTI+ community. The organisation relies, to a large extent, on the European Social Fund.

In the 1990s, the third sector was mostly supported by donors and organisations from abroad such as the OSF. Nowadays, NGOs can receive money from the EU, grant schemes, and donations. Individuals and firms can redirect 2 percent of their income tax to NGOs, too.

If the state regarded NGOs as its actual partners, it would primarily equalise and improve the conditions and ways of providing resources for the non-profit sector, especially for social services and education, Orlovsky added.

Listen to the podcast:

https://www.podbean.com/media/player/vdsgz-d0dd02?from=yiiadmin&download=1&version=1&skin=1&btn-skin=107&auto=0&download=1&pbad=1

The Spectator College is a programme designed to support the study and teaching of English in Slovakia, as well as to inspire interest in important public issues among young people.
By Andres Martinez Casares FRONTERA HIDALGO (Reuters) - Dozens of Mexican security forces corralled a caravan of Central Americans who entered from Guatemala on Thursday, testing Mexico's resolve to contain mass movements of people under pressure from the Trump administration. Armed with riot shields, a wall of National Guards blocked the path of the migrants and began moving them onto buses after hundreds had earlier in the day swept into Mexico across the Suchiate River that divides the country from Guatemala

By Andres Martinez Casares

FRONTERA HIDALGO (Reuters) - Dozens of Mexican security forces corralled a caravan of Central Americans who entered from Guatemala on Thursday, testing Mexico's resolve to contain mass movements of people under pressure from the Trump administration.

Armed with riot shields, a wall of National Guards blocked the path of the migrants and began moving them onto buses after hundreds had earlier in the day swept into Mexico across the Suchiate River that divides the country from Guatemala.

Television footage showed at least two large buses filled with migrants moving out the near the town of Frontera Hidalgo. It was not immediately clear where the buses were going.

Some of the migrants in the caravan had been given forms to seek asylum with Mexico's tiny asylum agency, COMAR. Many of the Central Americans migrants heading north say they are fleeing economic hardship and violence at home.

Most want to reach the United States. However, U.S. President Donald Trump has pressured Mexico to adopt more restrictive measures to reduce the migrant flows.

The current group is the largest surge of people to test Mexico since its president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, and some Central American governments, made various agreements with Trump to reduce pressure on the U.S. southern border.

Trump has threatened to punish Mexico and Central American nations economically if they fail to address the migrant flows.

Migrants crossing into Mexico earlier this week faced tear gas from security forces, who delivered a firmer response than in previous mass crossings of the border.

Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said several hundred of the new arrivals were immediately deported.

(Reporting by Andres Martinez Casares; Writing by Dave Graham; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Marguerita Choy)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Iraqis mass to urge US troop ouster, rival rallies turn deadly



Baghdad, Jan 24 (AFP) Jan 24, 2020



Two anti-government protesters were killed in clashes with security forces in the Iraqi capital on Friday, hours after thousands of supporters of Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr rallied separately to demand the ouster of US troops.

Four NGO workers, three of them French nationals, were also reported missing in Baghdad, rocked since October by a youth-dominated protest movement demanding a government overhaul, early elections and more accountability.

More than 470 people have died in protest-related violence since October, most of them demonstrators, and violence has spiked this week.

On Friday, one protester was struck in the neck by a live round while another died after being hit with a military-grade tear gas canister in clashes with security forces, medical and police sources told AFP.

It marked a sudden and bloody turn as thousands of men, women and children had gathered in Baghdad earlier the same day without incident to demand US troops withdraw.

A vowed enemy of US troops, Sadr had called for "a million-strong" rally but did not attend himself.

"Get out, get out, occupier!" they chanted.

One protester carried a cardboard cut-out of Donald Trump on the gallows, another of the US president banging himself on the head with a shoe.

A statement read by his representative at the rally demanded all foreign forces leave Iraq, Iraqi-American security agreements be cancelled, Iraqi airspace be closed to US military aircraft and for Trump not to act "arrogant" when addressing Iraqi officials.

"If all this is implemented, we will deal with it as a non-occupying country -- otherwise it will be considered a country hostile to Iraq," the statement read.



- Four NGO workers missing -



America's military presence has been a hot-button issue in Iraq since a US drone strike killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and a top Iraqi commander in Baghdad on January 3.

Outraged parliamentarians swiftly voted all foreign forces, including 5,200 US troops helping fight the Islamic State group, should leave.

Baghdad offered to discuss a withdrawal timeline, but the US special envoy for the anti-IS coalition, James Jeffrey, said Thursday there was no "real engagement".

In response to Soleimani's killing, Iran fired ballistic missiles on an Iraqi airbase where US troops are stationed, prompting fears of a regional war.

The US said it had received prior warning of the strikes on Ain al-Asad, allowing troops to take cover.

No Iraqi or US forces were killed and Trump had insisted no one was wounded either, but the Pentagon on Friday said 34 American soldiers had suffered traumatic head injuries or concussions.

Tehran seized on the US strike to insist American troops leave the region, and its Supreme National Security Council issued a statement backing Sadr's rally on Friday.

Pro-Tehran groups in Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi military force also endorsed the protest.

"To Trump, the fool -- the people's message of rejection was clear: if you don't leave voluntarily, you'll be ousted despite yourself," Hashed commander Qais al-Khazali tweeted.

There had been worries Sadr supporters might storm the high-security Green Zone, home to the US embassy and other foreign missions, or the main anti-government protest camp in the capital's Tahrir Square.

But they did not head for either, and instead several thousand youth flocked to Tahrir to insist on domestic reform.

Some had feared that with all the attention on Sadr's rally, security forces would try to clear their camp.

"The return of protesters to Tahrir is meant to prove ourselves, first, and to protect its peacefulness," demonstrator Karrar al-Saadi told AFP.

Baghdad has been gripped by kidnappings and shoot-outs which protesters say are meant to intimidate them.

Separately, French NGO SOS Chretiens d'Orient (Christians of the Middle East) said three French and one Iraqi worker went missing on Monday in Baghdad, where the foreigners were renewing their Iraqi visas.

No group has claimed responsibility and no ransom demand has been received, the organisation's director Benjamin Blanchard told reporters in Paris.

- Sadr hedges bets -



Sadr, 46, battled US forces with his Mehdi Army militia after the 2003 invasion of Iraq but is now a fickle politician, notorious for switching alliances.

He backed anti-regime protests early on, but also controls parliament's largest bloc and top ministerial posts.

On Friday evening, Sadr tweeted to hail the turnout at his rally but said he would no longer be involved in anti-regime efforts.

"From now on, I will try not to intervene in their business, neither negatively nor positively," he said.

Carnegie Middle East Center expert Harith Hasan said Sadr sought to sustain his "multiple identities" -- one as a reformist and populist, the other as a leading anti-American voice.

Playing both sides could earn Sadr favour with Iran and empower him in paralysed negotiations over the next premier, Hasan said.

But Friday's intra-Shiite alliance was not likely to last, Hasan said, predicting: "Once this protest is over, this honeymoon between Sadr and the other pro-Iran factions will eventually vanish,"
Senate Republicans are all but ready to acquit President Donald Trump and end the Senate impeachment trial.

But they still dont want the presidents defense team to phone it in.

Privately, some Republicans hope that Trumps legal defenders mount a substantive defense on the merits of the case instead of generalities about Democrats trying to overturn the 2016 election or broad claims that Trump did absolutely nothing wrong  as they did on the first day of the trial.

The presidents lawyers are set to begin their opening arguments Saturday. Its the first time the White House will publicly present its full case to acquit the president. While its essentially guaranteed that the GOP-controlled Senate will not remove Trump from office, his legal defense presents the best public opportunity to win over the handful of Republican senators who could prolong the trial by joining Democrats in their calls for witnesses and documents.

"The presidents team ... has never presented its case since it did not do so in the House, said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), a key swing vote. Unlike the House managers, who partially presented when the motions were being debated, the presidents attorneys chose not to do that. Its not finished yet ... so its difficult to judge."

Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) said he hopes Trumps team will present a "fact-based" defense that counters the Democrats' case.

I assume at some point they're going to feature [Alan] Dershowitz and Ken Starr, people like that and talk about impeachment in the broader context of what that threshold is, he said.

Trumps lawyer Jay Sekulow told reporters Thursday that the White House will argue the presidents actions do not warrant removal from office by presenting multiple schools of thought on what is and is not an impeachable offense. Those presentations, Sekulow said, will demonstrate the actions alleged and the actions of the president do not reach that level no matter which school of thought youre on.

Story continues

Over the past two days, House Democrats have presented their case that Trump should be removed from office for pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political rivals and withholding millions in aid. Democrats will conclude their opening arguments Friday. The House impeached Trump in December on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

The presidents team foreshadowed its arguments in a 110-page brief filed Monday  an argument that combined a political assault on the Democrats leading the Houses impeachment investigation with a detailed attack on the process that Democrats used leading up to their Dec. 18 impeachment. A point-by-point rebuttal of Democrats specific case was a more limited aspect of the presidents argument.

Senate Republicans are eager to hear from the White House, but several offered a word of advice: keep it concise. Saturday will mark the fifth day of the Senate impeachment proceedings and senators are already getting tired. The trial, which started in earnest on Tuesday, went well past 1 a.m. on the first day this week and ended around 10 p.m. on the second.

While the White House technically has 24 hours spread out over three days to present its case for Trumps acquittal, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a close Trump ally, doesnt expect the presidents lawyers to use up all of their time.

I would like them to be thorough but dont talk any longer than you have to, Graham advised.

When asked what he wanted to see during the presidents defense, Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) replied videos, with a laugh, before adding hed like an efficient use of words and time.

One of the things thats hurting [Schiff] so much is that he is so inefficient, Cramer said. It appears he disrespects the time and the effort that my colleagues and I are putting into this and really abusing the hours.

If the White House declines to use its full 24 hours, the Senate impeachment trial could be over as soon as next Thursday or Friday. After the presidents opening arguments, the Senate will proceed to a 16-hour question and answer period, followed by a vote on witnesses.

Democrats have made a repeated push for subpoenaing acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and former national security adviser John Bolton, but its unclear four Republicans will join them to enact their demands. If a witness vote fails, the Senate can move swiftly to a final vote on acquittal  likely before Trump delivers his State of the Union on Feb. 4.

President Donald Trump's personal attorney Jay Sekulow arrives at the Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), who wants to hear from Bolton, declined Thursday to offer any advice to the presidents legal counsel but said "theyll do what they think is the best to defend their client." Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) said he'd like the White House to respond to the timeline of events presented by the House and expects the president's lawyers to highlight what he sees as a lack of evidence that Trump ordered any sort of quid pro quo.

They just dont have any evidence, Hawley said.  I imagine that the presidents team will point that out.

Other Republicans want the administration to talk more about Ukraine.

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who raised concerns about the withholding of aid to Ukraine to Trump, says the presidents lawyers should validate Trumps concerns about Ukraine and the 2016 election. Theres no evidence that Ukraine sought to interfere in the election.

I do hope they just lay out all the different pieces of information we do have about actors in Ukraine having some effect on 2016, Johnson said. I dont think you have to prove the case, I think all you have to prove is yeah, there are unanswered questions. They just have to prove that it is a legitimate concern that President Trump had.

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), meanwhile, wants the White House to emphasize that the administration did ultimately release the Ukraine aid "in a timely fashion."

I want to hear all about the great work that the president has been doing to aid Ukraine and I think that has not been brought up enough, she said. "[Democrats are] acting like the previous administration was so great to the Ukrainian friends when all we did was provide them with darn blankets.

Burgess Everett, Andrew Desiderio and Kyle Cheney contributed to this report.


Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 22:24:25|Editor: Wang Yamei

Video Player Close

TOKYO, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- A supplementary budget worth 4.47 trillion yen (40.77 billion U.S. dollars) for fiscal 2019, earmarked in part to underpin reconstruction efforts in Japan after a series of natural disasters, is likely to be approved by parliament next week, lawmakers were quoted as saying Friday.

The extra budget, which includes 2.31 trillion yen (21.07 billion U.S. dollars) allocated for ongoing reconstruction efforts in the wake of Typhoon Hagibis, the most powerful typhoon to hit Japan in decades in October, along with other natural disasters, will be deliberated from Monday and is set to be approved on Thursday.

Small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) will also be catered to through the extra spending plan, which has set aside 384.7 billion yen (3.51 billion U.S. dollars) in a bid to increase performance, as well as spending on other projects.

Public elementary and junior high schools, meanwhile, will also be provided with financial support from the supplementary budget to the tune of 231.8 billion yen (2.11 billion U.S. dollars), to help enhance education in IT and communications areas by fiscal 2023, according to the budget's outline.
Mike Lawrie/Getty Images

Mr. Peanut finally reached his expiration date after 104 years as the brand mascot for Planters Peanuts. Although clearly a marketing ploy devised to drum up attention for an advertising campaign tied to the Super Bowl, Mr. Peanut's death, announced on Twitter, nonetheless took the social media world by storm. @BudweiserUSA promised to pour one out for the late legume, and @TUMSOfficial tweeted that its heart was burning.

The tweet from the official @MrPeanut account announcing the mascot's demise generated 28,000 retweets and 113,000 likes in its first 24 hours. The hashtag #RIPeanut was trending on Twitter. @MrPeanut, for its part, now goes by The Estate of Mr. Peanut. Planters is owned by food giant Kraft Heinz.

The top-hatted snack spokesman was one of the oldest brand mascots in marketing, having made his debut in 1916. But he's not the oldest. Here's a look at five brand mascots who are older than Mr. Peanut, and who are still alive and kicking.
It's no secret Bernie Sanders is a big fan of San Francisco's new district attorney Chesa Boudin  the Democratic presidential candidate endorsed Boudin's campaign. And so it comes as no surprise that the Vermont senator gave a shout-out to Boudin's announcement to end cash bail for all criminal cases, a city policy that's making national headlines.

"Congratulations to San Francisco for taking this important step," read a message from Sander's official Twitter account on Thursday. "When we are in the White House, we will end cash bail nationwide. No one should be in jail because they are too poor to post bail."

Sanders was responding to Boudin's Jan. 22 tweet touting the city's new formal policy, ending the use of money bail by city prosecutors as a condition for pretrial detention.

Sanders wouldn't be the first politician with the idea for a more widespread policy. Former California Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation in August 2018 that would have eliminated the state's system requiring newly arrested defendants to put up bail, but Senate Bill 10 was suspended by a referendum after it was challenged by the California bail industry.

While a president or his administration does not have oversight over non-federal judicial systems, Sanders's plan relies on cooperation from state and local governments.

ALSO: San Francisco ends cash bail for all criminal cases

Boudin, who took office two weeks ago, said Wednesday prosecutors will use a "risk-based system" and weigh whether a defendant might flee or pose a threat to public safety. The former public defender has often said the cash bail system unfairly affects indigent defendants and people of color, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

The child of incarcerated parents, Boudin's policy goes a step further than his predecessor, George Gascon, who scaled back requests for cash bail by introducing an algorithmic risk assessment tool in 2016. The district attorneys office on Wednesday said this tool "has allowed prosecutors and judges to preserve the constitutional protection of presumed innocence, while maintaining public safety through objective data."

Disparities in cash bail requirements in San Francisco have resulted in African American defendants paying an average of $120 per year for pretrial release compared to $10 for white defendants, according to the district attorneys office. Officials said this kind of inequality has led to a transfer of wealth in communities of color to private industry.

San Franciscos police union criticized Boudins decision.

"Mr. Boudin is in the process of building the largest criminal justice revolving door imaginable, and San Franciscans will pay a heavy price for it,"

said Tony Montoya, president of the San Francisco Police Officers Association. "Relying solely on an arbitrary math equation regarding who remains in custody and who gets out early will endanger residents and police officers but it sure will make career criminals and gang members happy."

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.
Mumbai: The insurance industry is expecting more tax incentives to increase the penetration of life and general cover among public in the upcoming Union Budget. In a pre-budget memorandum, the Life Insurance Council has sought a separate deduction in personal taxes or an increase in the present limit for the premium paid for individual life policies. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present the Budget for the financial year 2020-21 on February 1.

"We request Finance Minister to consider a separate deduction to be provided for premium paid on individual life policies," Life Insurance Council's Secretary S N Bhattacharya said. If no separate deduction is provided, the existing limit of Rs 1.5 lakh, under section 80C, should be enhanced to Rs 3 lakh, he said adding, "the existing limit of Rs 1.5 lakh is too crowded with both short-term and long-term investment vying for its share."

Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance's Managing Director and CEO Kamlesh Rao said the introduction of a separate deduction of Rs 50,000 for first-time life insurance buyers and an additional capping of Rs 50,000 for someone purchasing pure protection (term) plan will put life insurance on fast track.

Rao said lowering GST rate to 12 percent (with input tax credit benefit) will be beneficial for both policyholders and companies. For a pension plan issued by life insurance companies, an individual contribution to the pension fund is deductible under section 80CCC under the overall limit of section 80CCE of Rs 1.5 lakh.

The Finance Act 2015 inserted a new sub-section (1B) under section 80CCD of the Income Tax Act to encourage investment in National Pension Scheme (NPS) by any individual by allowing an additional deduction of Rs 50,000 over and above the Rs 1.5 lakh available under section 80CCE of the Act.

"It is recommended that in order to reduce gap between taxation of pension policies issued by life insurance companies vis-?-vis NPS, the additional deduction of Rs 50,000 for premium paid (as available for NPS) should be extended to pension policies issued by life insurance players," Bhattacharya said.

Bajaj Allianz Life's Managing Director and CEO Tarun Chugh said both the pension products of life insurance companies and pension products under NPS have similar objective of building long term savings for meeting retirement goals, hence, the disparity should be addressed by the government in the Budget.

General Insurance Council, the body representing non-life insurance players, has urged the government to reduce goods and services tax (GST) from 18 per cent to 12 per cent.

"Insurance has become a necessity. In order to encourage risk management among people, there is a need to bring down the GST rate on general insurance products to 12 per cent from 18 per cent, at present," General Insurance Council's Secretary-General M N Sarma said.

The non-life players have also requested for tax deduction of Rs 10,000 under income tax for insurance of residential property. ICICI Lombard GIC chief financial officer and chief risk officer, Gopal Balachandran, said general insurers currently are at a disadvantage as compared to other financial services companies.

While other classes of assesses were provided the benefit of grandfathering of all gains earned on such long terms capital assets up to February 1, 2018, this benefit has not been clarified for general insurance firms.

"This is important for insurers since it will help them in maintaining solvency margins and risk mitigation against catastrophes. This will help insures to provide affordable products and cost effective solutions to customers," Balachandran said.

According to Star Heath and Allied Insurance Managing Director, S Prakash, there are some products where health insurance companies take more risks and come forward to cover people living with disease.

"In this segment there can be a better concession in GST. For senior citizens, there should be an exemption from GST at least for products with lower sum insured," Prakash said.
The labor force of a society is the number of people who are legally at the working age. This figure also takes into consideration the total unemployment numbers of each country. Full-time employment means that everyone who is looking for work has the fair wages of working hours they need.

Because people change jobs, full-time employment means that the stable unemployment rate is about 1 to 2 percent of the total workforce. In macroeconomics, full-time employment is sometimes defined as a level of unemployment where there is no periodic unemployment.

Unemployment of 30% of Irans young population

But these concepts are transformed when it comes to the Velayat-e Faqih (mullahs) regime, both in theory and in action. An International Labor Organization (ILO) survey shows that out of about 10.5 million young people aged 15 to 24 in Iran, 30% are neither studying, nor training, nor working anywhere.

With Irans entry into the 1990s, population planning of the country, regardless of age structure, changes and consequences through control policies partially prevented population dynamics.

In the context of these changes, a phase of demographic change has begun in Iran called the demographic window.

The demographic window is a temporary condition in the population structure of Iran that opened in 1980 and has lasted for about four decades. During this period, the proportion of the population at the working-age reaches its maximum and the age dependency ratios decrease.

Of course, this situation does not act automatically and spontaneously; it requires the operation of appropriate economic, social, political and institutional contexts. Under such conditions, youth unemployment in Iran has taken second place.

What is NEET?

One of the main indicators that show the inability to effectively utilize the demographic window is an indicator called NEET.

NEET is an acronym that stands for Not in Education, Employment, or Training. It refers to a person who is unemployed, not in school or vocational training. The classification of a person as NEET was first used in the United Kingdom, but its use has spread to other countries and regions.

This indicator reflects the situation of young people between 15 and 24 who are neither studying, nor training, nor are they working anywhere. According to various studies in countries around the world, these young people are more prone to delinquency, drug addiction and criminal activity. Accordingly, policymakers and planners around the world are focusing more on providing the population with employment and training opportunities.

The rate of NEET in developed countries is about 2 to 10%, while in Iran during 2018 this number reached 30 percent [a population equal to 3.1 million young people aged 15 to 24 years]. Golestan, Hormozgan, Kermanshah, Lorestan, West Azerbaijan, Khuzestan, Kurdistan, Hamedan, Bushehr and Khorasan Razavi provinces have the highest NEET rates in Iran.

Iran has the highest NEET after undeveloped countries

The International Labor Organization (ILO) survey shows that the highest youth NEET rates worldwide are in Trinidad and Tobago in South America, followed by Zimbabwe, Yemen, and Zambia. Iran is number 27 on the list.

According to data from Irans Ministry of Labor and the ILO, 29.7 percent of young people aged 15 to 24 years in Iran are classified as NEETs or young people who are neither working, nor training, nor studying. This means that youth unemployment in Iran is ranked second.

Compare NEET rates in other countries

The rate of NEETs in Iran is nearly 30 percent, while during 2018 in other counties it is:

In Qatar, about 2 percent.

In Japan, about 3 percent.

In the Netherlands about 4 percent.

In Norway and Luxembourg about 5 percent.

In Sweden, Germany, and Switzerland about 6 percent.

In Denmark and Austria about 7 percent.

In Finland, Belgium and Australia it was about 9 percent.

The NEET rate in nine of Irans provinces is above 40 percent.

The rank of provinces in terms of NEET

In addition to the high rank of Irans NEET index under the dominance of the regime, some provinces within the country are in a very poor position.

According to the census data of 2016 [latest provinces statistics]:

Sistan-Baluchistan Province, with a NEET rate of about 48.2 percent, ranks first in the country.

Golestan is ranked second with 44 percent.

Hormozgan ranks third with a rate of 43.8 percent.

Kermanshah is ranked fourth, with a 42.8 percent rate.

Lorestan ranked fifth with 42.1 percent.

West Azerbaijan is in 6th place with a rate of 41.7 percent.

Khuzestan ranks seventh with 41.2 percent.

Kurdistan is eighth with 41 percent.

Hamadan ranks ninth with a rate of 40.1 percent.

And Ardebil is in 10th place with a rate of 39.6 percent.

North Khorasan, Chaharmahal Bakhtiari, Zanjan, Bushehr and Khorasan Razavi are other provinces with high NEET rates.

Since the NEET index is extracted from the list of the unemployed population, if the NEET rate is given at the micro-level namely the cities located in each province, the NEET rate in the cities would definitely be higher.

Many people on the NEETs list today, prior to joining the NEETs due to personal and family characteristics, as a result of wrong policies such as lack of job opportunities, mismatches of the education with the labor market, the anti-reproductive structure of the economic system and inefficient education, are on the list.

A factor in increasing the population of NEETs

Globally three components:

1. The transition from education to work

2. Social exclusion

3. Political economy is one of the main drivers of the NEET process

The lack of NEETs in the Economic Literature of the regime

For the past two decades, many developed countries have developed specific welfare policies for NEETs, a concept that has not received much attention in the social and economic policies of Irans regime.

In the research results, for example, only two research articles have directly addressed the topic of NEETs, one of which has used the inappropriate term stray youth rather than the international term NEET. The Ministry of Labor has also been publishing raw, general statistics for years, but this has not been much discussed in policy-making of the regime.

This led to the formation of an army of the starving and a lower class of society, which took to the streets and protested against the regime in November 2019.
New York Times best-selling author Adriana Trigiani will be the next featured speaker at the RTD Book Club event series.

Trigiani, a Virginia native who has written 18 books, will host a book talk and signing at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4, at the Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen, 2880 Mountain Road in Henrico County.

A limited number of VIP tickets are available and include a meet-and-greet with Trigiani before the book talk, as well as drinks and hors doeuvres. The VIP session begins at 4:30 p.m.

VIP tickets are $75 and include a hardback copy of Trigianis most recent novel, Tonys Wife. In addition, her popular cookbook, Cooking with My Sisters, can be added to the VIP admission for a total price of $90.

General admission tickets are $50 and also include a copy of Tonys Wife. The cookbook can be added for a total general admission price of $65. Tickets are available at Richmond.com/Trigiani. Trigiani will be available to sign books after the event.
George Soros

FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images

Liberal billionaire investor George Soros warned guests at an informal dinner at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland that the US economy under Trump is headed in a perilous direction.

"Trump's economic team has managed to overheat an already buoyant economy," Soros said at the elite gathering of business titans and wealthy investors, according to CNBC.

The Trump administration has largely favored rolling back regulations and tilting the scales towards businesses, most notably in its 2017 tax cuts which slashed the corporate tax rate.

Soros is known for candid assessments and predictions on a range of topics that include social-media networks, midterm elections, and the Chinese economy.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The liberal billionaire investor George Soros said the American economy under President Trump is at risk of "overheating" as a result of the administration's pro-business approach ahead of the competitive 2020 election.

Soros, an 89-year-old Democratic megadonor, made the warning at an informal dinner with guests at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, CNBC first reported.

"Trump's economic team has managed to overheat an already buoyant economy," Soros said at the elite gathering of corporate titans and wealthy investors.

He added: "The stock market, already celebrating Trump's military success, is breaking out to reach new heights. But an overheated economy can't be kept boiling for too long. If all this had happened closer to the elections, it would have assured his reelection."

Soros also said, "His problem is that the elections are still 10 months away, and in a revolutionary situation, that is a lifetime."

The Trump administration has largely favored rolling back regulations and tilting the scales towards businesses with its economic policy. It's presided over a swelling budget deficit that's the product of ramped-up government spending and the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Story continues

The Republican tax cuts largely benefited the very wealthy and corporations, with the argument being that it would unleash economic growth.

Soros' comments came after the US stock market broke new records in recent weeks, and the Trump administration signed an interim trade deal with China pressing it to buy at least $200 billion of American manufacturing, farm, and energy goods over two years.

The billionaire took another swing at Trump on the US-China trade war on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum on Thursday, saying that Chinese President Xi Jinping is "trying to exploit Trump's weaknesses."

Soros is known for his candid assessments and predictions on a range of topics that include social-media networks, midterm elections, and the Chinese economy. Last year, Markets Insider examined eight of them, and five proved to be correct.

Read the original article on Business Insider
(Newser)  One of the most highly anticipated books of 2020 is out. American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins, a selection of Oprah Winfrey's book club, follows a middle-class Mexican bookseller as she journeys to the US with her son after her journalist husband is killed by a drug cartel. "From the first page, the first sentence, I was in, I was open, I was shook up," Winfrey says, per CNN. "I feel that everybody who reads this book is actually going to be immersed in the experience of what it means to be a migrant on the run for freedom." Except that's not at all the reaction of many immigrants, particularly those of Mexican heritage. More:



"My family fled El Salvador with death pounding on our door," yet "I see no part of myself reflected in #AmericanDirt, a book white critics are hailing as the great immigrant novel," says Los Angeles Times staff writer Esmeralda Bermudez. She notes the publishing industry "so rarely supports immigrants to tell our own stories."

In a biting review, New York Times book critic Parul Sehgal writes that "the book feels conspicuously like the work of an outsider," as Cummins "has a strange, excited fascination in commenting on gradients of brown skin."

story continues below

Chicana author Myriam Gurba says the protagonist "perceives her own country through the eyes of a pearl-clutching American tourist," experiencing "shock after shock when confronted with the realities of Mexico." Meanwhile, "italicized Spanish words like carajo, mijo, and amigo litter the prose, yielding the same effect as store-bought taco seasoning."

The criticism extends to Cummins, who secured a seven-figure deal with Flatiron Books, with some questioning her ethnic identity. The author has recently described herself as "Latinx." However, BuzzFeed notes Cummins, whose grandmother was Puerto Rican, identified as white in a 2015 essay in the New York Times.

Some critics have also accused her of deception in speaking of her husband, an Irishman, as an undocumented immigrant. In response, author Vanessa Angelica Villarreal notes "Mexican migrants are not held in the USthey're autodeported. It's just so much more complex."

Cummins understands why some might think she "had no business writing a book set almost entirely in Mexico, set entirely among migrants," as she struggled with that same opinion. "I wished someone slightly browner than me would write it  but then, I thought, 'If you're a person who has the capacity to be a bridge, why not be a bridge?'" she writes in the book's afterword, per Slate.

Cummins elaborated in an NPR interview after taking flak for tweets showing celebratory floral arrangements wrapped in barbed wire and a manicure featuring the barbed wire design that's on the book's cover. Speaking of privilege and a predominantly white publishing industry, she said: "That's not a problem that I can fix, nor is it a problem that I'm responsible for. ... All I can do is write the book that I believe in."

(Read more books stories.)
JE. Information

Filter by Category All Company Announcement - General Additional Listing AIM Admission AIM Notice Base Rate Change Block Listing Interim Review Capital Reorganisation Change of Name Conversion of Securities Drilling/Production Report Final Announcement Released Geographical Distribution Intention to Float Issue of Debt Issue of Equity Joint Venture Net Asset Value Portfolio Update Price Monitoring Extension Product Launch Publication of a Prospectus Publication of Final Terms Research Update Restoration Rights Issue Stabilisation Notice Statement Suspension Tender Offer Trading Statement Treasury Stock All Mergers, Acquisitions and Disposals Acquisition Merger Form 8 (DD) Form 8 (OPD) Form 8.3 Form 8.5 (EPT/NON-RI) Form 8.5 (EPT/RI) Form 8.6 Rule 2.9 Announcement Offer By Offer For Offer Update All Results and Trading Reports 1st Quarter Results 3rd Quarter Results AGM Statement Annual Report Final Results Half-year Report Notice of Results Result of AGM Result of EGM Result of Equity Issue Result of General Meeting Result of Tender Offer Syndicate Results All Dividends Dividend Declaration Dividend Currency Election All Executive Changes Directorate Change Change of Adviser Change of Registered Office All Directors' Dealings Director/PDMR Shareholding All Advance Notice of Results Notice of AGM Notice of GM Notice of EGM Notice of Results All Non-Regulatory News All Transaction in Own Shares All Holding(s) in Company Total Voting Rights Notification of Major Holdings
Nepal Health Ministry on Friday confirmed its first case of infection caused by the corinavirus after a student who returned from China's Wuhan city tested positive for the pneumonia-like virus.

The deadly virus originated in Wuhan in December last year and since then cases have been reported in the United States and several Asian cities other than China, including South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand.

The Health Organistion (WHO) on Thursday said that it was 'too early' to declare the outbreak of coronavirus in China as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).

The WHO made this decision during the second meeting of the International Health Regulations (IHR) on Thursday.

Twenty-five people have been killed after developing pneumonia-like symptoms and at least 830 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported in China by the end of Thursday.

Out of 25 deaths, 24 deaths were reported in Hubei Province, while one took place in Hebei Province, Xinhua reported.

Chinese state-media agency has reported that so far 34 cases of coronavirus have been cured and discharged following treatment.

Meanwhile, the second confirmed case of coronavirus was reported in Japan, reported Sputnik.

The authorities in Wuhan city and Huanggang city have imposed a complete travel ban on local residents, in a bid to curb the spread of the deadly virus.

The ban issued by command authority in the city said that from 10:00 am on Thursday, urban buses, subways, ferries and long-distance passenger transport would be suspended in the city. Flights and trains departing from Wuhan will also be suspended.

Countries have started screening process in order to prevent the outbreak of the virus in their respective country. India also on Thursday said that people coming from the Asian country will have to mandatorily go through a screening process at airports in India.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
HOUSTON (Reuters) - The number of oil and gas company bankruptcies in the United States and Canada rose 50% in 2019 over the previous year, and is likely to increase as a slide in energy prices continues to shake producers Dallas law firm Haynes and Boone said in a report released on Wednesday.

U.S. and Canadian oil and natural gas exploration and production company bankruptcies totaled 42 in 2019, up from 28 in 2018, the law firm said.

The increase seems likely to continue, said Buddy Clark, partner at Haynes and Boone.

"I think the trend line should be moving up in the first half of 2020," Clark said.

A total of 208 oil and gas production companies have filed for bankruptcy between 2015 and 2019, according to the report.

"This increase in year-over-year filings indicates that the reverberations of the 2015 oil price crash will continue to be felt in the industry through at least the first half of 2020," Haynes and Boone said in the report.

The impact of new U.S. oil and natural gas production is being felt globally, Clark said.

"That's why you can bomb a major oil facility in Saudi Arabia or kill an Iranian general or shut in all Libyan oil production and prices don't move," he said.

Thanks to a shale boom, the United States has become the world's top oil producer, adding to a global surplus leading the market to shrug off September's attacks on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities, January's U.S. air strike that killed a top Iranian commander, and this week's disruptions to Libya's crude output. [O/R]

Oilfield service companies were again hit hard with the number of bankruptcies nearly doubling from 12 in 2018 to 21 in 2019, the largest being the $7.4-billion filing by Weatherford International [WEATH.UL] in July.

Midstream companies that provide storage and pipelines to producers fared better with only two bankruptcies in 2019 out of a total of 28 since the beginning of 2015.

(Reporting by Erwin Seba; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Marguerita Choy)
PRESIDENTIAL mouthpiece and apologist Salvador Panelo, in defending President Duterte from attacks that the latter committed crimes against humanity, said the Philippines had a robust democracy under President Duterte. This is an outrageous lie.

Let us examine whether we have a strong or robust democracy under Dutertes watch. Firstly, democracy presupposes the existence of the rule of law. But under the present regime, the constitutional presumption of innocence and the requirements of due process have been bludgeoned.

Killing drug suspects without benefit of a trial as mandated by the Constitution has been its policy since the first day of the Duterte administration. In five months in 2017 alone, extrajudicial killings under Duterte occurred more than all the extrajudicial killings under the Marcos dictatorship and the combined terms of Cory Aquino, Fidel Ramos, Gloria Arroyo and Benigno Aquino III covering more than 30 years.

The scope and magnitude of the massive extrajudicial killings prompted the International Criminal Court (ICC) to consider them as crimes against humanity, and Duterte is now facing criminal charges before the ICC despite the countrys questionable withdrawal as member of the ICC in March 2018 on orders of President Duterte.

Panelo further stated that the President does not mind all this vilification, saying he has not pressed any charges against anyone. This is pure nonsense because President Duterte has been persecuting his critics to his hearts content. A classic example is the case of Sen. Leila de Lima, an arch critic of the President, on his bloody war on drugs. Senator de Lima has been detained for almost three years after Duterte proudly announced that she will rot in jail.

Another victim of Dutertes persecution is former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Maria Lourdes Sereno.

Early in Dutertes presidency, he announced the alleged involvement of some judges in drugs, one of whom had already died a few years ago. The President wanted them to be investigated by the police. Chief Justice Sereno reminded President Duterte about the independence of the judiciary and that only the Supreme Court, not Duterte, can investigate judges. This earned the ire of the vindictive President.

Story continues

Dutertes minions in the House of Representatives initiated an impeachment complaint against Chief Justice Sereno. Sensing however, that they do not have the numbers in the Senate to convict Sereno, the Palace changed strategy and adopted another strange method to oust the Chief Justice at all costs.

The Presidents lapdog, Solicitor General Jose Calida, filed a quo warranto petition in the Supreme Court to seek Serenos ouster as Chief Justice on grounds that she did not prove her integrity. On May 11, 2018, the Supreme Court, by a vote of 8-6, ousted Sereno in a day of infamy.

With all these extrajudicial killings, violations of the Constitution and the Presidents penchant for persecuting and silencing his critics and opponents, how can one say that we have a robust democracy? (By Democrito C. Barcenas)
China locked down some 20 million people at the epicentre of a deadly virus outbreak on Thursday, but the World Health Organization said the disease did not yet constitute a global health emergency.

The respiratory virus has claimed 18 lives since emerging from a seafood and animal market in the central city of Wuhan, infected hundreds of other people and been detected as far away as the United States.

The new virus has caused alarm because of its similarity to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which killed nearly 650 people across mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003.

But after two days of talks to determine the level of global concern, the World Health Organization on Thursday stopped short of declaring a so-called public health emergency of international concern -- declaration used for the gravest epidemics.

"This is an emergency in China, but it has not yet become a global health emergency," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters in Geneva.

WHO had postponed its decision by a day, after Chinese authorities announced unprecedented measures to rein in the spread of the virus.

China has effectively quarantined nearly 20 million people across Wuhan and other cities, and announced measures to curb the disease nationwide as hundreds of millions of people began travelling across the country this week for the Lunar New Year holiday.

Beijing cancelled massive gatherings that usually attract throngs at temples during the New Year holiday, while the historic Forbidden City will close from Saturday.

Streets and shopping centres in Wuhan were eerily quiet after authorities told residents not to leave the major city of 11 million people, where most of the cases have been identified.

Trains and planes out of Wuhan were indefinitely suspended and tollways on roads out the city were closed, leading to fear and panic for those who were trapped.

"We are feeling as though it is the end of the world," said one Wuhan resident on China's Twitter-like Weibo platform, voicing concerns about shortages of food and disinfectant.

Authorities in neighbouring Huanggang city also announced public transport and train services would be suspended at midnight, while people were told to not leave the city of 7.5 million.

Ezhou, a city in Hubei province with a population of 1.1 million, announced the train station had been closed earlier in the day, while three other cities in the province announced restrictions on their public transport or roads.

Tedros hailed China for taking "measures it believes appropriate to contain the spread of coronavirus in Wuhan and other cities." He stressed though that "we hope that they will be both effective and short in their duration."



WHO emergency committee chairman Didier Houssin meanwhile told reporters that after receiving "precise information" from Chinese authorities, the health experts had determined that the travel restrictions were "not directly related to a specific evolution of the epidemiology in the city."



More than 580 people have been infected with the virus across China -- with most cases found in Wuhan, where a seafood market that illegally sold wild animals has been identified as the epicentre of the outbreak.

China meanwhile confirmed Thursday the first death from the virus outside the epicentre, bringing the total number of deaths to 18.

The health commission in northern Hebei province -- which borders Beijing -- said an 80-year-old man diagnosed with the new virus had died.

The other 17 fatalities have all been people aged 48 to 89 and had pre-existing health conditions, Chinese health authorities said Thursday.

The first case of the new virus was confirmed on December 31, and it has since been detected in Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and the United States. Singapore and Vietnam confirmed their first cases on Thursday.

Animals are suspected to be the primary source of the outbreak, with studies published this week suggesting the virus may have originated in bats or snakes.

The WHO has confirmed that the new virus can be passed between people, at least those in close contact. Chinese health officials warned it could mutate and spread further.

But Tedros stressed Thursday there was so far "no evidence of human-to-human transmission outside China."



If WHO had declared a global emergency, it would prompt countries to intensify their cooperation towards reining in the virus, including possibly on trade and travel restrictions -- something the organisation is not recommending for the time being.

Countries have already increased efforts to stop the spread of the pathogen -- known by its technical name 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) -- with thermal screening of all passengers arriving from China at airports in a number of countries.

Several companies have also begun exploring developing a vaccine for the virus, with hopes that initial clinical trials could be carried out within months.

Tedros meanwhile hailed China for quickly spotting the new virus and for its "cooperation and transparency" in sharing vital information about it with the international community.

But a senior US State Department official said Washington was "still concerned" about transparency in the Chinese government.

During the SARS epidemic, the Chinese government took months to report the disease and initially denied WHO experts any access.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hundreds of Central American migrants surged into Mexico Thursday, wading unopposed across a river on the Guatemalan border where Mexican troops had used tear gas earlier in the week to keep them back, AFP journalists at the scene reported.

Once on the other side of the Suchiate River, the migrants quickly formed a column and began a trek on foot to Ciudad Hidalgo, in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas.

However, hundreds of Mexican national guard forces have deployed at a highway crossing further along the route, apparently preparing to detain the migrants.

Some 300 national guard troops stood in front of a fleet of National Migration Institute buses of the kind regularly used to deport undocumented migrants.

Thousands of Central Americans have crossed Mexico toward the United States in caravans in recent years, fleeing chronic poverty and brutal gang violence in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

The so-called "2020 Caravan" left Honduras on January 14, gathering an estimated 3,500 people as it made its way across Guatemala. The bulk of the caravan crossed into Mexico at the weekend.

On Monday, Mexican National Guard troops fired tear gas to force back migrants attempting to cross, leading to scenes of chaos as huge crowds of people flailed across the Suchiate River. About 500 were able to enter the country illegally, though more than 400 of them were later arrested at a roadblock.

The interior ministry said it deported 460 Hondurans via official planes and buses from the country's two southern states following Monday's clashes.

An AFP correspondent saw large groups of them being rounded up along a highway and loaded onto buses and trucks -- some after trying and failing to run away.

Mexico's migration authority said the country was ready to welcome foreigners as long as they entered the country in a "lawful, safe and orderly" way.

Immigration authorities reinforced security at the border, which seemed to be enough to deter migrants from trying to cross. They eventually retreated to the nearby Guatemalan town of Tecun Uman.

But at dawn they returned, and encouraged by the absence of security forces at that time, simply paddled across the river, reduced to a dry-season trickle.

"We want to speak with President Lopez Obrador directly," read one long cloth banner held up as the column reached the outskirts of Ciudad Hidalgo.

Others waved flags from their countries, as well as a giant US banner.

"We are coming peacefully," some of the migrants shouted as they walked.

Immigration authorities in Mexico have begun implementing a government plan to offer jobs and shelter to migrants to encourage them to stay in southern Mexico.

However, most want to be allowed to move freely through Mexico to the US border, citing their intention to seek asylum in the United States to escape poverty and gang violence in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, an anti-establishment leftist who came to office vowing to protect migrants' rights, said 4,000 jobs were available to migrants from the new caravan if they remain in southern Mexico.

Mexico faces pressure to keep migrants from crossing its northern border from US President Donald Trump, who last year threatened to impose steep tariffs if the country did not do more to stop a surge of undocumented Central Americans.

Lopez Obrador deployed some 26,000 troops to the country's borders in response.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
EPFL researchers have developed a highly sensitive and portable optical biosensor that stands to accelerate the diagnosis of fatal conditions like sepsis. It could be used by ambulances and hospitals to improve the triage process and save lives.

Sepsis claims one life every four seconds. It is the primary cause of death in hospitals, and one of the ten leading causes of death worldwide. Sepsis is associated with the bodys inflammatory response to a bacterial infection and progresses extremely rapidly: every hour that goes by before it is properly diagnosed and treated increases the mortality rate by nearly 8%. Time is critical with sepsis, but the tests currently used in hospitals can take up to 72 hours to provide a diagnosis.

Many scientists are working on this critical issue, including those at Abionic, an EPFL spin-off. Researchers at the Laboratory of Bionanophotonic Systems (BIOS) at EPFLs School of Engineering have just unveiled a new technology. They have developed an optical biosensor that slashes the sepsis diagnosis time from several days to just a few minutes. Their novel approach draws on recent developments in nanotechnology and on light effects at a nano scale to create a highly portable, easy-to-use device that can rapidly detect sepsis biomarkers in a patients bloodstream. And their device takes just a few minutes to deliver a result, like a pregnancy test.

Because the biosensor uses a unique plasmonics technology, it can be built from small, inexpensive components, yet it can achieve an accuracy on par with gold-standard laboratory methods. The device can screen a large panel of biomarkers and be adapted for the rapid diagnosis of a number of diseases. It was installed at Vall dHebron University Hospital in Spain and used in blind tests to examine patient samples from the hospitals sepsis bank. The researchers technology is patent-pending, and their findings were recently published in Small.

Trapping biomarkers in nanoholes

The device employs an optical metasurface  in this case a thin gold sheet containing arrays of billions of nanoholes. The metasurface concentrates light around the nanoholes so as to allow for exceptionally precise biomarker detection. With this type of metasurface, the researchers can detect sepsis biomarkers in a blood sample with nothing more than a simple LED and a standard CMOS camera.

The researchers begin by adding a solution of special nanoparticles to the sample that are designed to capture the biomarkers. They then distribute this mixture on the metasurface. Any nanoparticles that contain captured biomarkers are trapped quickly by antibodies on the nanoholes, says Alexander Belushkin, the lead author of the study. When an LED is applied, those nanoparticles partially obstruct the light passing through the perforated metasurface. These nano-scale interactions are imaged by the CMOS camera and digitally counted in real-time at high precision, says Filiz Yesilkoy, the studys co-author. The generated images are used to rapidly determine whether disease biomarkers are present in a sample and, if so, in what concentration. They used the new device to measure the blood serum levels of two important sepsis relevant biomarkers, procalcitonin and C-reactive protein. Doctors can use this information to accelerate the triage of sepsis patients, ultimately saving lives.

We believe our low-cost, compact biosensor would be a valuable piece of equipment in ambulances and certain hospital wards, says Hatice Altug, the head of BIOS. Scientists already have possible applications in mind. There is an urgent need for such promising biosensors so that doctors can diagnosis sepsis accurately and quickly, thereby keeping patient mortality to a minimum, say Anna Fabrega and Juan Jose Gonzalez, lead doctors at Vall dHebron University Hospital.
Asian News International

The European Space Agency's (ESA's) new Sun explorer will be launched from Cape Canaveral on 6 February.

Solar Orbiter, an ESA-led mission with strong NASA participation, will provide the first views of the Sun's unchartered Polar Regions from high latitudes, giving unprecedented insight into how our parent star works. This important mission will also investigate the Sun-Earth connection, helping us to better understand and predict periods of stormy space weather.

Over the course of its mission, the spacecraft will use the gravity of Venus to slingshot it out of the plane of the Solar System, giving us new perspectives on our parent star. It will follow an elliptical orbit around the Sun, passing within the orbit of Mercury at its closest. Cutting-edge heatshield technology will ensure the spacecraft's scientific instruments are protected as they face up to 13 times the heating of satellites in Earth orbit.

Solar Orbiter will use a combination of ten in situ and remote-sensing instruments to observe the turbulent solar surface, its hot outer atmosphere and changes in the solar wind. The mission will also work with NASA's Parker Solar Probe, collecting complementary datasets that will allow more science to be distilled from the two missions than either could achieve on their own.

Experts will present the mission, its technical challenges and scientific goals ahead of the launch at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC).
ISIS child soldier executes Nigerian Christian student, declares 'we will not stop'

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

The Nigerian man who was executed by a child militant in a video released by a Boko Haram offshoot group aligned with the Islamic State days ago has been identified as a 22-year-old Christian college student.

Ropvil Daciya Dalep hailed from the Pankshin Local Government Area of the Plateau state and attended the University of Maiduguri in Borno state. His execution video gained media attention this week.

Dalep was a biology major who was returning to school from Christmas break when he was abducted on Jan. 9 allegedly by the Islamic State West Africa Province, according to the United Kingdom-based NGO Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

Dalep was taken along with fellow Plateau state native and 20-year-old zoology major Lilian Daniel Gyang and another person who was later released.

According to Solomon Maren, a federal legislator from the Plateau state, Gyang is still in captivity. In a statement released by his media team, Maren stated that extremists have made it known that they are targeting Plateau people as they also executed two carpenters from the state last year.

The terrorists clearly stated why they are targeting Plateau people when the citizens of Plateau have long resolved their differences and are leaving peacefully together, Maren said. I call on the federal government and security agencies to brace up to their obligation to prevent further [loss] of lives which cannot be tolerated.

According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide, the video of Daleps execution shows the kneeling victim being shot in the head by the masked child who speaks in both Arabic and Hausa.

In the video released by the Islamic State-affiliated Amaq News Agency, the child reportedly claims that Daleps killing was revenge for the bloodshed committed by Christians.

In particular, this is one among the Christians from Plateau State, the child is reported to have said in the video. We are saying to Christians, we have not forgotten what you have done to our parents and ancestors and we are telling all Christians around the world, we have not forgotten and will not stop. We must avenge the bloodshed that has been done like this one

According to Director Rita Katz of the SITE Intelligence Group, the child militant in the video is approximately 8 years old.

There is NO end to #ISIS' immorality, Katz wrote in a tweet about the video.

Katz sees parallels between the Dalep execution video and the execution videos released in previous years during the Islamic States reign in Iraq and Syria.

The video is not just another piece to #isis honed-in targeting of #Christians of recent years, but also a throwback to its older propaganda from Iraq & Syria of brainwashed children carrying grisly executions. This new vid from ISWAP shows a repeat of the same indoctrination.

Daleps execution came days before the Borno-based Islamic terror group Boko Haram executed pastor Rev. Lawan Andimi, the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigerias chapter in the Michika Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

The Dalep video follows another video released by Amaq in December showing the execution of 11 Christian aid workers in Nigeria allegedly in response to the killing of Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

ISWAP, which declared its allegiance to the Islamic State in 2016, split from Boko Haram after Baghdadi tried to replace Boko Harams leader with one of his choosing.

The Islamic State has risen to prominence in Africa as it also has active cells in nearby countries like Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger and Mali.

According to a 2018 report from the Combatting Terrorism Center at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, estimates suggest there could be as many as 6,000 Islamic State-aligned militants spread over nine different cells in Africa.

In Nigeria alone, thousands upon thousands have reportedly been killed in recent years due to the rise of radical Islamic extremism and the radicalization of Fulani herdsmen.

Activists have criticized the Nigerian governments inability to thwart attacks by Boko Haram, ISWAP and Fulani militants.

Following the death of Andimi, the Christian Association of Nigeria released a statement criticizing the lackadaisical response by President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration to the rise in violence.

It is reprehensible and saddening that each time the government comes out to claim the defeat of the insurgency, more killings of our people are committed, the CAN statement reads.

Maintenance of security is the least responsibility of any government that knows its worth. We are once again calling on President Buhari to purge himself of the allegations of nepotism and religious favoritism by reconstituting the leadership of security outfits.

Nigeria ranks as the 12th worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USAs 2020 World Watch List. In December, Nigeria was placed for the first time on the U.S. State Departments Special Watch List for countries in which severe religious freedom violations are tolerated.

The great tragedy of Nigerias ineffectual response to Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen is now parts of Cameroon and those other areas like Burkina Faso are greatly affected, said Open Doors CEO David Curry at a World Watch List launch event last week.
House managers are now expected to begin making the case that Trumps actions violated the Constitution.

The Houses impeachment managers are led by Reps. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), the Democratic chairmen of the House Intelligence and Judiciary Committees, respectively. Trump has a legal team consisting of White House counsel Pat Cipollone, personal lawyer Jay Sekulow, Harvard professor Alan Dershowitz, former prosecutor Robert Ray, and more. The team did not take the opportunity on Wednesday to file a motion to dismiss the impeachment case. Chief Justice John Roberts, meanwhile, is presiding over the trial.

10:35 p.m. ET  Senate Wraps Up Days Hearing

The Senate around 10:35 p.m. concluded the second day of opening arguments from House managers. Throughout the day, House Democrats presented arguments pushing for the charge of abuse of power.

During the day, House managers argued that no crime is required for a president to be removed from office.

They characterized Trumps seeking Ukraines cooperation in investigations into Burisma and the Bidens, as well as Crowdstrike, as being part of quid pro quo efforts for the presidents personal benefit. They said the president did so to gain advantage over Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, and that the motivation was not to investigate corruption. They also alleged that such efforts have compromised U.S. national security.

In concluding remarks, Schiff thanked those sitting in the Senate chamber for their empathetic listening and their listening with an open mind.

An open mind for us and an open mind for the Presidents counsel. Thats all that we can ask for, he said. And having watched you now for three days, whether it is someone you are predisposed to agree with or predisposed not to, it is abundantly clear that you are listening with an open mind.

And we cant ask for anything more than that, so we are grateful, he added.

The trial is set to resume 1 p.m. Friday when House Democrats are set to present arguments about obstruction of Congress.

7:30 p.m. ET  Graham Not Going to Give In to Pressure to Subpoena Bidens

As dinner wrapped up and senators headed back into the trial, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he would resist calls to subpoena the Bidens, the whistleblower, and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) to testify at the trial.

Im not going to give in to that pressure, because I dont think it will serve the Senate and the country well. Theres ways to do this outside of this trial, Graham told reporters, according to CBS.

When asked whether he had spoken to the president recently, Graham said that Trump is having the reaction that a normal person would have if they thought they were being accused of something they didnt do.

Graham also said he [doesnt] know why House Democrats chose to focus their arguments on debunking accusations against the Bidens on Thursday, according to Politico.

I dont know why they chose to do that, Graham said. Joe Bidenif he was not before going to have to answer questions, he sure will now because the way theyve conducted this trial.

6:30 p.m. ET  Trial on Break

The Senate is on break for 30 minutes for dinner, where there is also cake for Sen. Tom Carpers (D-Del.) birthday.

The Senate will resume their arguments at 7 p.m. and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), one of the House managers, will continue his presentation.

Prior to the break, Jeffries claimed that Trump used a White House meeting to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky into making a public announcement that Ukraine was conducting an investigation into Burisma and the Bidens. To make his point, he referred to testimony from former and current administration officials, as well as messages that House Democrats collected during their impeachment inquiry.

4:30 p.m. ET  White House Ready to Go

Eric Ueland, the White House legislative director, told CNN that Trumps defense will be fully engaged and ready to go.

Well be fully engaged, ready to go, on Saturday, Ueland said.

3:50 p.m. ET  GOP Senator Reads Book

Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) confirmed she was reading a book during the trial.

It provides good insights into todays proceedings. Second  busy mamas are the best at multi-tasking. Try it, Blackburn wrote on Twitter.

First  Im reading Resistance (At All Costs) by Kim Strassel. Read the chapter on obstruction. It provides good insights into todays proceedings. Second  busy mamas are the best at multi-tasking. Try it. https://t.co/AEHW19ZztL  Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) January 23, 2020

The book is Kimberley Strassels Resistance (At All Costs): How Trump Haters Are Breaking America.

3:30 p.m. ET  Schiff Says Trump Sacrificed Security

The trial has resumed. Schiff is speaking and claims that Trump sacrificed security by allegedly withholding aid to Ukraine in light of Russias threats after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014 and annexed Crimea. He attempted to link Trump to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

3 p.m. ET  Break

Senators take a short break, according to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

2:45 p.m. ET  Garcia Outlines Trumps Alleged Motive

House manager Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas) explained why Trump could want to criticize former Vice President Joe Biden.

It wasnt until Biden began beating him in polls that he called for the investigation, Garcia claimed, alleging that he wanted Bidens reputation damaged. He had the motive, he had the opportunity, and the means to commit this abuse of power.

2 p.m. ET  Trump Tweets About Trading Witnesses

Trump wrote on Twitter about trading witnesses shortly after the trial started.

The Democrats dont want a Witness Trade because Shifty Schiff, the Bidens, the fake Whistleblower(& his lawyer), the second Whistleblower (who vanished after I released the Transcripts), the so-called informer, & many other Democrat disasters, would be a BIG problem for them!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 23, 2020

The Democrats dont want a Witness Trade because Shifty Schiff, the Bidens, the fake Whistleblower(& his lawyer), the second Whistleblower (who vanished after I released the Transcripts), the so-called informer, & many other Democrat disasters, would be a BIG problem for them! the president wrote on Twitter.

Schiff and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) criticized the idea and said the Bidens wouldnt be material witnesses. House managers are now expected to begin making the case that Trumps actions violated the Constitution.

1:30 p.m. ET  Nadlers Turn

Nadler attempted to argue that Trumps actions were abuse of power.

In contemporary terms, the founders had three specific offenses in mind. Abuse of power, betrayal of the nation through foreign entanglement, and corruption of elections. You can think of these as the ABCs of high crimes and misdemeanors, he said.

1 p.m. ET  Day 3 Begins

Chief Justice Roberts gaveled in the trial a few minutes after 1 p.m.

12:45 p.m. ET  Murkowski Offended by Managers Charge

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), a key swing-vote senator, pushed back against the cover-up claim levied by Nadler earlier in the week.

I took it as offensive, she told reporters. As one who is listening attentively and working hard to get to a fair process, I was offended.

Her colleague, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), echoed her statement.

I mean, thats an extraordinary thing to say on the floor of the United States Senate, the middle of the trial, and thats what drew the rebuke, and rightly so, Hawley told reporters. I can tell you, there was an open, open gasping on the Senate floor when Nadler was saying these things. I mean, its really, really extraordinary.

11:45 a.m ET  Schumer Again Criticizes GOP

Schumer again criticized Republicans in a press conferenceabout two hours before the trial is slated to startaccusing them of inventing shiny objects and so-called outrages. He said Democrats dont know what the next one will be, adding that the GOP is trying to deflect press attention.

Schumer again said he would push to call up witnesses and documents.

9:15 a.m. ET  Trump Pillories Schiff on Twitter

Trump dismissed Schiffs arguments on Wednesday as lies and misrepresentations, adding that the Obama administration withheld aid to a number of countries.

The Democrat House would not give us lawyers, or not one witness, but now demand that the Republican Senate produce the witnesses that the House never sought, or even asked for? They had their chance, but pretended to rush. Most unfair & corrupt hearing in Congressional history, he also wrote.

9 a.m. ET  Update

Thursdays impeachment trial session is slated to start again at 1 p.m. ET. House Democrats are expected to make their case for why Trump should be impeached. Wednesday was spent laying out the evidence, and House managers are now expected to begin making the case that Trumps actions violated the Constitution.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

From The Epoch Times
Hyundai continues to be on the rise as they closed 2019 sales strong. According to Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI), the brands sales reached a total of 33,763 at the end of last year. This number has enabled Hyundai to maintain its status as one of the countrys top-selling brand in the Philippines.

We rose to the challenges in 2019 and have sustained our position as one of the preferred brands in the market. We are very excited to start the new decade with the introduction of innovative models that will disrupt certain segments and offer customers more and better choices. We shall also carry on with our aggressive PC and CV network expansion to serve high-growth corridors across the country, said Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo, HARI President and CEO.

Amidst the growth, the most notable were in the Hyundais passenger car (PC) segment. Sales rose by 8.5% after the years tally at 1,645 units sold. This number was mainly brought by Hyundais golden pairof the Reina (PC A-Segment), and the Accent (PC B-Segment). The Reina, despite being launched only in early 2019, is now No. 2 in the A-segment in total sales while the venerable Accent remains in the Top 3 in the B-segment. Both models are known for fuel-efficiency, segment-topping performance, and design. Overall, the company sold a total of 17,761 PC units in 2019.
Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all.

Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe

Given that so much of Chinese culture is centered around food, it makes sense that our supermarkets are more than mere stores, they're cultural hubs.

In addition to cans of Cambell's soup and boxes of Frosted Flakes, Chinese grocery stores typically boast aisles stocked with dried noodles, freezer cases filled with fish balls and sections dedicated to plastic stools, incense and red envelopes. But the choices are vast and they can be overwhelming. Where do you start? In the San Gabriel Valley, the heart of Los Angeles's Chinese community, at a popular chain such as 99 Ranch, 168 Market and Shun Fat. Here's your basic shopping list.

Enjoy the rest of our How To Shop Any Market series...

Quail eggs on display at the Green Week (Grune Woche) agricultural trade fair on January 17, 2020 in Berlin, Germany. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

EGGS

Chinese supermarkets aren't the place to get organic, free range, omega 3-fortified eggs. Instead, the selection at a Chinese supermarket typically goes beyond basic chicken to include duck, quail and goose eggs. Some are raw, others are cooked or preserved. Pi Dan, or century egg, an egg that has been preserved in a mixture of salt, lime, clay and ash until it turns black, may look unappetizing but it's delicious when sliced and served alongside a bowl of porridge. Balut, an egg dish that originated in China but is now a shared delicacy throughout Asia, is a half-developed egg embryo still in its shell. These items will sit next to the "regular" eggs in the fridge but you'll occasionally find them next to the cashier as you check out.

Dried black mushrooms, labeled as black fungus, can be found next to other dried foods at most Chinese supermarkets including Ranch 99 Market in San Gabriel, California. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

BLACK FUNGUS

In the dried herb aisle, look for an area with dried mushrooms in vacuum sealed packages. Large markets carry many kinds of mushrooms. Many, many kinds of mushrooms. "Black fungus," despite its unappealing name, is a good place to start. It's frequently used in dishes like vegetable stir fries and hot and sour soup as well as in medicinal preparations. It's sold dry and rehydrated during the cooking process when it turns into an edible jelly with a faint crunch. Black fungus doesn't have much flavor. Instead, it acts as a sponge, absorbing the flavor of whatever it's prepared with. It's the perfect quick addition to a salad, and you'll often see it in wood ear and cucumber salads.

The tea aisle at Ranch 99 Market in San Gabriel, California. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

TEA

Any respectable Chinese supermarket will have multiple sections dedicated to tea. Some even have a dedicated tea counter staffed full-time by its own clerk. Served with every meal, tea was once considered a status symbol and it remains a staple in Chinese culture. There are six basic types: green, white, yellow, oolong, black and dark. Each is processed in its own way, has a unique flavor profile and supposedly confers unique health benefits. While preparing and serving tea can be an art, you don't need to be a connoisseur to enjoy it. A great starter tea, especially if you've spent most of your life drinking the bagged stuff, is Sunflower's jasmine tea. The orange and gold tin of loose leaf tea is a classic in Chinese households and restaurants. The branchlike leaves give off a soft, floral scent and pair well with a meal of dim sum. Yamamotoyama's bags of sencha green tea have an earthy, slightly nutty taste and they're packaged in a simple, bright green box. If you're looking for a tea with a more complicated flavor, try Wong Lo Kat's herbal tea drink, which is sweet and earthy. Most supermarkets will sell this as a drink in its iconic red and black can, but sometimes you can find it as a small white bag of leaves and herbs you can brew at home.

Freshly baked sweet breads and pastries from the in-house bakery at Ranch 99 Market in San Gabriel, California. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

BREAD

Many Chinese supermarkets boast in-house bakeries and they generally make bread that's much better than what you'll find in the aisles -- especially if you score it fresh from the oven. The loaves have a soft, pillowy texture, and they're perfect when toasted, swiped with butter and served with coffee. These bakeries don't stick to plain bread. They play with textures and ingredients to offer a menu of sweet and savory options. Grab a taro roll, a small bun with a slight purple tint that's stuffed with taro, or a round of custard bread, a golden pastry filled with egg custard. If you're not looking for dessert, try a hotdog encased in flaky pastry dough and flecked with green onions or a maybe a roll baked with mushrooms, bacon and a layer of cheese.

Taken on February 22, 2014, this photo shows a hot pot at a factory and museum in Chongqing, China. Hot pots originated a century ago as a cheap meal for peasants squatting by the river to cook ox tripe and other offal but has followed China into prosperity. (MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

SOUP BASES

Chinese cuisine features a variety of soups with long lists of ingredients ingredients, complicated flavors and recipes that demand hours of cooking. To shorten that process, markets offer bases for wonton noodle soup, egg drop soup, oxtail soup and other classics. These bases can come in packets of spices or canisters of loose powder. You'll also find soup bases specifically for hot pots. They include mellow mushroom, pork bone and spicy flavors. Add ingredients like vegetables, seafood, dried noodles and raw meat to make it your own and eat communally.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) made by the Ajinomoto food company are displayed at a supermarket on January 20, 2020. (BEHROUZ MEHRI/AFP via Getty Images)

MSG

Monosodium glutamate, commonly known as MSG, is a chemical compound that enhances the taste of food. Discovered in the early 1900s by a Japanese biochemist who was trying to duplicate the flavor of edible seaweed, it got a bad rap when people started claiming it caused headaches, nausea and cancer. The science is clear. MSG doesn't cause any of those things but the racism driving the demonization of MSG is very real. The flavor enhancer is common in Chinese cooking and you can find bags of it in the spice aisle of most Chinese markets. It compliments savory, salty and spicy flavors, adding a layer of umami. That's why you often find it in chips, canned soups, deli meat and many other prepared foods. The compound also occurs naturally in foods like mushrooms, tomatoes and cheese.

Bittermelon for sale. (Britt Reints/Flickr Creative Commons)

BITTERMELON

Bittermelon, which looks sort of like a cucumber, is one of the most unique vegetables you'll find. What differentiates this bitter gourd from its better known cousin is its rough and bumpy skin. As its name implies, this vegetable tastes bitter and people rarely eat it raw, on its own. It's usually stir-fried or served in soup to compliment salty and savory flavors. Chinese people also swear by its health properties. It supposedly strengthens your immune system, boosts your liver health and improves your eyesight. Ask Chinese adults how they feel about bittermelon and many will tell you how they were forced to eat it as a child for the sake of health so now they're used to the sharp taste.

Two kinds of dragonfruit at Ranch 99 market in San Gabriel. (Elina Shatkin/LAist)

DRAGON FRUIT

In Chinese, huo long guo directly translates as "fire dragon fruit." People appreciate the beautiful cactus fruit for its bold pink and green color, its spiky shape and the dotted black and white pattern when it's cut open. Although it stands out in any fruit bowl, it has a subdued flavor. Dragon fruit is subtly sweet, like a cross between a pear and kiwi. It's usually sliced and served raw. Dragon fruit can also be made into a jam or incorporated into baked goods, particularly during the fall around the harvest moon festival when it's baked into mooncakes.

Unshelled peanuts. (Ernie/Flickr Creative Commons)

PEANUTS

In a Chinese supermarket, peanuts aren't sold in the snack aisle. You'll usually find bags of raw, fresh peanuts next to the produce. They can be enjoyed as they are but it's traditional to boil them in water with different spices, such as cinnamon and star anise. Some markets will also sell pre-roasted peanuts or flavored ones they make themselves (garlic and chili is a common combo). They make a great snack or pre-meal appetizer. Fresh peanuts let you enjoy the legume's natural flavor and you can cook them according to your own tastes.

Commercially available shacha sauce in a bowl with coriander to be used in a hot pot. (CC BY-SA 3.0, Link)

SHACHA SAUCE

Shacha sauce is used as often as soy sauce or chili oil in Chinese cooking but it doesn't get the same recognition. Also known as satay sauce or Chinese barbeque sauce, it's a thick, savory paste with a spicy kick. Its richness comes from the combo of soybean oil, garlic, chilis, brill fish and dried shrimp. You'll find it in the condiment section, next to the hot pot broth bases. Shacha and hot pot go hand-in-hand as it's a popular dipping sauce used throughout the meal. It's not just a condiment. Shacha is a key ingredient in many Chinese dishes including braised chicken and beef chow mein. It can also be used as a base for soups, a barbecue rub or a seasoning in stir fries.

Taisun canned congee. (Courtesy of Taisun)

CANNED CONGEE

Congee is a rice porridge and it's served in several Asian cuisines. The canned version is a breakfast staple for many Chinese families but it can be served any time of day. It's also a great on-the-go snack. Plain congee is bland so the canned stuff is always mixed with other flavors such as red bean, taro or yams. You can top it with brown sugar and red bean, peanuts and milk, and mung bean and longans, that are worth trying. Look out for cans of eight treasure congee, or b? bao zh?u, a traditional porridge made with sticky rice and eight different kinds of beans and nuts.

Gai lan, or Chinese broccoli, can be easily identified by its thick stalk that thins out into long, flat leaves. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

GAI L?N

When you need your daily dose of greens, consider trading spinach or kale for gai lan. The green vegetable, also known as Chinese broccoli, has a thick stalk that thins out into long, flat leaves at the top. When left raw, it can be very tough and bitter. Cooked gai lan offers a balance of textures between the crunch and tenderness of the stalk and the soft, chewiness of the leaves. The classic preparation of the vegetable is either steamed or boiled with oyster sauce drizzled on top. It's typically served as a side dish.

Haw flakes. (Arnold C/Wikimedia Commons)

HAW FLAKES

This popular Chinese candy made from hawthorn fruit and sugar has a sweet, tart and almost tangy taste, similar to a Fruit Roll-Up. Parents have been known to give their children haw flakes when they're sick to drown out the taste of medicine. If you don't find any haw flakes in the snack and candy sections, you might see them in the aisle for medicine and herbs. Keep an eye out for the red, pink and yellow packaging. Aside from the flavor, what makes this candy so great is its shape. Haw flakes are typically thin, flat disks that are stacked to form a small cylinder, which you can break apart and pop in your mouth. They come in packs of ten, but that might not be enough.

Lap cheung (Chinese sausage) hangs in a store. On the left are xue chang (blood sausages), on the right are regular sausages, which are usually made from pork. (David Bote Estrada/Flickr Creative Commons)

LAP CHEUNG

Lap cheung (aka Chinese sausage), pronounced la chang, translates to dried sausage. At its most basic, it's made with pork, salt, soy sauce, sugar, spices and alcohol then left to dry in the sun. Chinese supermarkets offer lap cheung in an array of meats and flavors. You'll find sausages mixed with duck liver, rice and pork blood. Lap cheung tastes sweeter than Italian sausage and is typically used as a flavor component in dishes. Lap cheung is often used in stir fries, fried rice and turnip cakes. If you want a quick and delicious meal, slice the sausage, throw it on the frying pan and enjoy it over a bowl of rice with a side of sliced, raw garlic.
Senator Mike Rounds plays with a fidget spinner handed out to Republicans during the impeachment trial: REUTERS

A Republican senator appeared to fall asleep for 15 minutes during Donald Trumps impeachment trial  while others were spotted doodling, reading books and playing with fidget spinners.

Jim Risch, representing Idaho, sat slumped with his eyes closed and his head resting on his right hand as the charges against the US president were outlined.

While independent cameras are not allowed to film proceedings, a sketch artist recorded the alleged doze at around 5.30pm on Thursday.

Reporters also claimed Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell and Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand also briefly fell asleep before jolting back awake in their seats.

Senators are only allowed to drink water or milk inside the chamber and are banned from talking to each other, eating snacks or using their phones or computers.

The restrictions prompted Texas Republican Ted Cruz to devise an impeachment drinking game: Every time House Dems say drug deal or get over it... drink a shot of milk!

And Richard Burr, the Republican representative for North Carolina, handed out fidget spinners  a toy designed to relieve stress or boredom  to his colleagues at the start of the third day of trial.

He was later seen playing with a blue spinner while House impeachment manager Jerrold Nadler made his speech.

Tennessee Republican Marsha Blackburn admitted reading the book Resistance (At All Costs): How Trump Haters Are Breaking America by Kim Strassel during the hearing.

She claimed it gave her good insights into the impeachment proceedings, before adding that busy mamas are the best at multi-tasking.

Meanwhile Rand Paul, Republican senator for Kentucky, set about drawing a picture of the US Capitol.

Democrats are due to conclude their arguments on Friday before Mr Trumps legal team begins its own case on Saturday.

Jay Sekulow, one of the presidents lawyers, said they could take up to three days, adding: Were going to use a sufficient amount of time to defend our case and point out the inconsistencies of their case. Were not going to run out the clock.

Story continues

I am confident that whether it is (completed) Saturday or Monday or Tuesday that the case will be made defending the president. I have no doubt.

Additional reporting by Associated Press

Read more

Case for removing fraudulent Trump at its peak, Nadler says
Matt Frost in The New Atlantis:

The Italian Renaissance humanist Girolamo Fracastoro is best remembered for his allegorical poem about syphilis. But his interests were expansive. Around 1550 he wrote a letter to Alvise Cornaro, a nobleman skilled in hydraulics, worrying that a crisis loomed for the Most Serene Republic of Venice. The rivers of the region, stripped of trees to feed the citys growth, were filling the otherwise navigable channels of the lagoon with silt, forming pestilent marshlands and rendering the waterways impassable. At the same time, sea levels were falling. Venetians had known for centuries that their public health and maritime advantage depended on the precious lagoon, and the crisis had long preoccupied the republics leadership. Fracastoro told Cornaro:

This Lagoon must someday  only God knows when  dry out of sea water and become swampy, either from silt, or from the withdrawal of the sea from the whole bay, one or the other; I do not believe that any human power can oppose it.

Yet he exhorted Cornaro to action anyway. Fracastoros idea was to flood the lagoon with fresh water. The plan was partially implemented but backfired, spreading muck across an even greater area. So the city then spent fortunes on diverting the silty rivers away from the lagoon and into the sea. Eventually, this strategy worked. Like the siltation that worried Fracastoro and Cornaro, climate change is a slow, relentless environmental crisis, but one of far greater scale and complexity. Our challenge, however, is the same: to carry our thriving civilization into a future made perilously uncertain by the side effects of our own prosperity. Each of us constitutes a link between the past and the future, and we share a human need to participate in the life of something that perdures beyond our own years. This is the conservationist  and arguably the conservative  argument for combating climate change: Our descendants, who will have a great deal in common with us, ought to be able to enjoy conditions similar to those that permitted us and our forebears to thrive.

More here.
New Archbishop Nelson Perez, right, greets St. Peter the Apostle School student Valentina Cuellar, 6, at the National Shrine of St. John Neumann on Friday. Read more

While Nelson Perez was a priest in Philadelphia more than a decade ago, he often came to confess his sins at the Shrine of St. John Neumann, the fourth bishop of Philadelphia, whose body is entombed inside the shrine in the citys Northern Liberties section.

At the time, Perez had no idea  hed one day succeed Neumann himself.

Perez, currently the bishop of the Diocese of Cleveland, returned to the shrine Friday, the day after he was named the next archbishop to lead the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and its 1.3 million-member flock. He visited the shrine  alongside current Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, who is retiring  and greeted dozens of students who attend St. Peter the Apostle School.

Perez and Chaput briefly prayed, before Perez accepted a gift from Rev. Edmund Faliskie, the shrines director. Perez then spoke to the faithful who had gathered, cracking a joke as he asked for prayers as we begin this journey that brought me back to the land of the cheesesteaks.

Im still shocked, Perez said during his brief remarks. A little bit more tranquil, but still shocked that Im back here.

 READ MORE: Nelson Perezs appointment as archbishop brings speculation and celebration for Philly-area Catholics

The students offered a blessing, raising their hands toward the bishop and speaking in unison. Then Perez, who will be Philadelphias first Hispanic archbishop, walked through the crowd for a few moments, shaking hands with some students and adults who had gathered, greeting them in both English and Spanish.

He shook hands with a young boy who said his name was also Nelson, thanked two Philadelphia police officers providing security, and asked a 6ABC reporter to say hi to [longtime anchor] Jim Gardner for me.

Students flanked by their teachers said they were grateful for the visit, and that it reminded them of the sanctity of where they go to school.

You really start to think that were in a special place here, said Monica Peterson, a 12-year-old seventh grader who lives in North Philly. Added her classmate Nadia Russell, 13: It seems like he really loves it here.

Later in the day, Perez was greeted by seven 3-year-olds singing El Barquito Chiquitito at Casa del Carmens preschool in North Philly.

But it wasnt just the children who looked forward to the visit of the new archbishop. Beatriz Negron, 52, who works for Philadelphias Department of Licenses and Inspections, took the day off to see with her twin sister, Abigail, the priest theyve know for 30 years  first when they were members of the Spanish-language choir at St. Ambrose and then at St. Williams when Perez was head of each of those parishes.

 READ MORE: Our new archbishop is a Philly guy - and hes speaking our language | Mike Newall

Despite having seen him as recently as last year for the 100th anniversary Mass of St. Williams, Abigail Negron wasnt sure how to act in the presence of an archbishop.

Soon, she and her sister will figure it out: Perez requested they both join the choir at Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul.

Staff writer Jesenia De Moya Correa contributed to this article.
Heres your look at highlights from the weekly Associated Press photo report, a gallery featuring a mix of front-page photography, the odd image you might have missed, and lasting moments our editors think you should see.

This weeks gallery includes a woman waiting for evacuation from an area near the erupting Taal Volcano in the Philippines; a boy swatting at a swarm of locusts in a Kenya; and a music conga through the streets of Old Havana.
Nearly three dozen US troops have been diagnosed with concussions or traumatic brain injury since the Jan. 7 Iranian ballistic missile strikes against Iraqi bases housing American forces, the Pentagons top spokesman said today.

Of the 34 US forces injured in the strike, exactly half have returned to duty, chief Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said. Meanwhile, eight American service members arrived in the United States for further screening this morning, while another nine are still receiving treatment in Landstuhl, Germany.

The public controversy over the injuries has prompted Defense Secretary Mark Esper to direct the Joint Staff and Matt Donovan, who is performing the duties of the Pentagons top personnel and readiness officer, to review the process for determining casualties in the field. Esper was only informed of the evacuations after at least 11 US troops had left Iraq, the Pentagon has said.

But the new reporting represents a reversal for the administration, which initially said no Americans had been hurt in the attack. President Donald Trump at first had insisted the United States had suffered no casualties in the strikes in a White House address the morning after 10 Iranian rockets struck Ain al-Asad air base, where the commander in chief made his first overseas visit to meet American forces in 2018. On Wednesday, the president downplayed the injuries, describing them as not very serious.

Asked by Al-Monitor if the nine US troops receiving screening for their injuries in Germany could be sent stateside if their cases worsen, Hoffman said it was a possibility.

Esper and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley, the militarys top officer, initially credited US commanders in Iraq with preventing casualties and the loss of life by sending troops to bunker after US early warning systems detected a possible Iranian attack.

US Central Command chief Gen. Kenneth McKenzie is reviewing force protection requirements in Iraq, Hoffman said, which could include sending additional Patriot missile batteries to defend US troops.

Democrats in Congress critical of the Trump administration's Iran strategy were quick to pounce after the Pentagon released the revised injury figure.

"Iran attacked us and 34 Americans were injured. The administration covered it up to claim they 'restored deterrence' against Iran," said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., a member of the Foreign Relations Committee. "They were right to de-escalate, but they shouldnt have made stuff up to justify it."

Below: Al-Monitor has compiled a timeline of the Trump administrations evolving explanation of US injuries sustained in the Jan. 7 Iranian strikes.

Jan. 7: Defense Department confirms that Iranian ballistic missiles strike two Iraqi locations housing US troops in retaliation for a Jan. 3 American drone strike that killed Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani.

Jan. 8: President Donald Trump says the United States suffered no casualties in White House address focused on de-escalating tensions with Iran.

Jan. 10: First US service members exhibiting symptoms of a possible traumatic brain injury, known as TBI, are evacuated from Ain al-Asad air base in Iraq to Camp Arifjan in Kuwait.

Jan. 13: The Washington Post reports that at least two US troops were thrown out of a tower during the strikes on Ain al-Assad, and several dozen American forces were treated for concussions, citing military officials on the base.

Jan. 15: The majority of US troops showing signs of possible TBI leave Iraq for Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. Defense Secretary Mark Esper is first notified of the evacuations when Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. John Hyten breaks into a meeting to inform him of the news.

Jan. 16: Defense One reports that 11 US troops have left Iraq, prompting US Central Command to release a statement confirming the news.

Jan. 17: Chief Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman confirms that Defense Secretary Mark Esper first learned about the evacuated US troops 24 hours after the fact, denying that the US tried to de-emphasize the possible injuries. This idea that there was an effort to de-emphasize injuries for some sort of amorphous political agenda doesnt hold water to what the administration has said on the record, he said.

Jan. 21: The Washington Post reports that more American troops have been sent for medical treatment in Landstuhl, but does not cite an exact figure.

Jan. 22: Trump, speaking to reporters in Davos, Switzerland, calls possible traumatic brain injuries sustained by US troops in Iranian ballistic missile attack headaches that are not very serious, prompting anger from veterans groups. Maj. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, a deputy commander of the US-led mission to defeat the Islamic States in Iraq and Syria, tells reporters the number of evacuees is in the teens, but says diagnosis of TBI is probably an unfair characterization.

Jan. 23: Defense Secretary Mark Esper, speaking at a Washington think tank, refuses to characterize the number of evacuees and says the controversy seems like a brush fire that need not continue. Esper pledges that Pentagon is fully committed to being transparent but needs to make sure figure of evacuated troops is accurate.
24.01.2020 LISTEN

The Senior police officer, who was detained for his alleged involvement in a plot to topple the Akufo-Addo government, ACP Dr. Benjamin Agordzo, has finally reunited with his family.

ACP Agordzo was granted bail on Tuesday but he was only allowed to go home on Thursday.

In a statement to announce his reunion, Dr. Agodzor insisted that he has no intentions to destabilize the country as he has been accused of.

Having spent about six years of my life in peacekeeping missions in Sudan, Somalia and Haiti and witnessed how conflicts have ravaged those counties, I will be the last person to do anything to derail the strides weve made in democratic development. Be assured that I love my country so dearly I can never ever do anything to disturb the relative peace we enjoy in Ghana.

He also extended his heartfelt gratitude to all those who massively supported him during his tiring moments, asked for more prayers and promised that their will toils will not go to waste

For the millions who silently went on their knees regularly to intervene for me, God richly bless you. Your prayers were not in vain. I know youll continue to remember me in your prayers. The Lord of hosts is on our side and its not over until its over.

ACP Benjamin Agordzo was granted a self recognizance bail to the tune of GHS500,000 and he is expected to report to the Inspector General of Police twice every week for three months and after this, once every week for another three months. He is also expected to report to the Director of BNI, once every week for three months and thereafter once every two weeks.

He was however held in police custody despite the bail and released two days after .

The embattled officer was on several occasions denied bail by the High Court after his arrest over his alleged involvement and contribution to the 'Take Action Ghana' group which the State claims had devised a detailed plot to destabilize the county.

He was charged with abetment to commit crime namely treason felony and was on remand in police custody.

Here is the full statement from Agordzo

Dear colleagues and friends, just to inform you that Im finally home reunited with my family after almost three months of incarceration at BNI, Ministries Police cells and IGPs custody.

Its been a whole world of experience and I like to thank God for bringing me this far; my counsel and his team for standing by me with their knowledge and skills in law practice; and those of you who believed in me and supported me in various ways. My special thanks go to my wife, family and the Chiefs and people of Vakpo for their massive support. I appreciate you all.

I was particularly strengthened by the fact that even thousands who had never set eyes on me believed that I couldnt have done what I was being accused of. These sentiments were expressed on various social media platforms.

For the millions who silently went on their knees regularly to intervene for me, God richly bless you. Your prayers were not in vain. I know youll continue to remember me in your prayers. The Lord of hosts is on our side and its not over until its over.

I like to assure those who have believed in me that I believe in democratic values such as rule of law, human rights and constitutional rule. These are the things that drive the passion in me.

Having spent about 6 years of my life in peacekeeping missions in Sudan, Somalia and Haiti and witnessed how conflicts have ravaged those counties, I will be the last person to do anything to derail the strides weve made in democratic development.

Be assured that I love my country so dearly I can never ever do anything to disturb the relative peace we enjoy in Ghana.

This is what I stand for and Ill never exchange this for anything else

Thank you one more time and God bless. Still counting on your prayers.

---citinewsroom
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Eisya A. Eloksari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, January 24, 2020 16:51 719 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2060e13c5 1 Business Amazon,amazon-web-services,industry-ministry,agus-gumiwang-kartasasmita,information-communication-technology,investment,data-center,World-Economic-Forum,Davos Free

Amazon Web Services (AWS) will build an infrastructure region in Jakarta by the end of next year or early 2022 in the biggest investment in Indonesia's the information and technology sector, a high-ranking official has said.

Jakarta will also have three Availability Zones consisting of several interconnected data centers, according to the Industry Ministry.

An AWS region is a physical location where its data centers are clustered. Each region consists of multiple, isolated and physically separate Availability Zones within an area.

An Availability Zone is one or more discrete data centers with redundant power, networking and connectivity in an AWS region, according to the company's website.

This investment can boost Indonesia to become a strategic digital hub, Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang said after a meeting with AWS global public policy vice president Michael Punke during the 2020 World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, as quoted in a statement on Thursday.

The development of an ASW region, he added, could also accelerate the transformation of the nations small and medium companies as well as big corporations in various sectors toward industry 4.0.

The AWS region in Indonesia will certainly support the startup ecosystem so it can grow rapidly, Agus added. It can also help create more jobs and companies in the technology sector.

The value of the countrys digital economy was projected to reach US$40 billion in 2019, up from $27 billion a year before, according to the annual e-Conomy SEA 2019 report by technology giant Google, Singaporean holding company Temasek and management consulting firm Bain & Company. The value is expected to triple to $130 billion by 2025.

The ministrys metal, machinery, transportation and electronics director general, Harjanto, said that AWS investment was the biggest investment realization in the ICT [information and communication technology] sector to date, although he did not disclose the figure.

AWS is a subsidiary of United States-based technology company Amazon that offers analytics technology, artificial intelligent, Internet of Things (IoT) and machine learning services, among other services.

Jakarta will join Hong Kong, Beijing and Ningxia in China, Mumbai in India, Seoul in South Korea, Singapore, Tokyo in Japan and Sydney in Australia as AWS regions in the Asia-Pacific. There are 14 other regions across the globe.

The government will also partner with AWS to provide cloud computing training for hundreds of thousands of Indonesians by 2025.

Indonesia has been looking to secure investments from multinational corporations at the WEF, such as Singaporean ride-hailing giant Grab, Japanese financial services firm Mizuho, state-owned Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) and Chinese dairy giant Yili Group, to boost the countrys economic growth.

Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) data showed that overall realized investment totaled Rp 601.3 trillion ($44 billion), a 12.3 percent increase year-on-year (yoy), from January to September 2019.

While domestic investment grew 17.3 percent to Rp 283.5 trillion, foreign direct investment (FDI) rose 8.2 percent yoy to Rp 317.8 trillion.
The Alameda County Public Health Department said Thursday night it has been investigating less than 10 people from the county who have recently traveled to Wuhan, China for coronavirus.

At this point, there are no confirmed cases of the pneumonia-like virus in the county, nor the Bay Area.

Alameda County Public Health Department spokesperson Neetu Balram said the patients under investigation present a range of cases, from someone who interacted with a traveler from Wuhan and is now demonstrating flu-like symptoms, to a person who recently visited Wuhan and has been tested for the virus.

While the risk to Bay Area residents remains extremely low, the recent news development may have some residents asking questions.

What is coronavirus?

The viral respiratory illness spreading rapidly in China is a new kind of coronavirus that scientists have never observed in humans before. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, some of which cause the common cold. Others have evolved into more severe illnesses, such as SARS and MERS, although so far the new virus does not appear to be nearly as deadly or contagious.

How many people are impacted?

The number of confirmed cases in China rose to more than 1,000, as of Sunday. Fifty-six people have died. Wuhan, a port city of 11 million in the Hubei province, is at the center of the outbreak, and the Chinese government has quarantined the city. It has also restricted travel to and from several other cities, including Beijing.

Nationally, over 2,000 returning travelers have been screened at U.S. airports and 63 people in 22 states were being tested, although 11 of them so far have been found free of the virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.

Three cases have been confirmed in the United States. A patient in Southern California was diagnosed on Jan. 25, a Chicago woman in her 60s was confirmed to have the virus on Jan. 24, and a 30-something man in Washington State tested positive on Jan. 21. All three patients had recently traveled to Wuhan.

Am I at risk as a Bay Area resident?

"At this time, residents of the Bay Area are at low risk at becoming infected with the coronavirus unless they have traveled to Wuhan in the last 14 days or come into contact with someone who has traveled there," said Balram.

Commenting on the national risk, the CDC's Dr. Nancy Messonnier said, "CDC believes that the immediate risk to the American public continues to be low at this time, but the situation continues to evolve rapidly."

What are the symptoms?

The virus can cause fever, coughing, wheezing and pneumonia. The incubation period is thought to be two weeks. But it's also a heavy flu season, and some of the symptoms are similar.

"If you have traveled to Wuhan and are experiencing a fever or lower respiratory illness, such as a cough or trouble breathing, contact your medical provider by phone," advised Balram. "Let them know your symptoms and travel history before going to the ER. You want to make contact first."

How can I stay safe?

It's always smart to practice precautions that protect you from catching a cold. Wash your hands frequently, especially after touching highly used surfaces such as handrails and doorknobs.

What's the United States doing to prevent spread into the country?

The CDC is screening passengers on direct and connecting flights from Wuhan at five major airports in Atlanta, Chicago, New York City, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

ALSO: Are you in danger of catching the coronavirus? 5 questions answered

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.
In 2011, the HSE published A Time to Move on From Congregated Settings  a Strategy for Community Inclusion which painted a distressing picture of 4000 people with intellectual disabilities living isolated lives in institutions.

The plan, contained in the report, was to move all 4000 people out of institutions and into community-based care within seven years.

Latest figures from the HSE show, 104 people remain in a Community Healthcare Organisation in Area 5 which includes South Tipperary, Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford.

Inclusion Ireland actively promotes the status of persons with intellectual disabilities as equal citizens and challenges negative or stereotypical views. It demands that budgets and appropriate community facilities be put in place to complete the States process of deinstitutionalisation so that people with disabilities can live supported self-directed lives in their community.

This would empower people with disabilities to play a greater part in the communities in which they live. It is about people with intellectual disabilities being visible, taking part, being involved and being considered. Reducing segregation will result in increasing integration and inclusion. It involves valuing and respecting diversity.

Addressing politicians standing for election Enda Egan, CEO of Inclusion Ireland said, Progress has been painfully slow. From the beginning insufficient funding was made available to implement the plan. In 2016, the Government watered down the 2011 plan to move just one third of the remaining 2700 people into homes in the community.

Today 2000 people with intellectual disabilities remain living in an institution in Ireland. At current rates of people moving out it will take more than fifteen years to complete the plan that was announced in 2011. A mere 132 are planned to move in 2020.

The government must make additional funding available to the Department of Housing for physical houses and the HSE for transition and additional ongoing costs of the move into the community to enable people with intellectual disabilities to enjoy living an ordinary life in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

For more see www.inclusionireland.ie

\\\ENDS\\\

Editors note:

Inclusion Ireland is the National Association for people with an intellectual disability.

The vision of Inclusion Ireland is that of persons with intellectual disabilities living and participating in the community with equal rights as citizens, to live the life of their choice to their fullest potential. Inclusion Ireland will influence and monitor the implementation of strategic HSE reforms to disability services.

The Mission of Inclusion Ireland is to be the independent champion of people with an intellectual disability and their families, whose standing and expertise in intellectual disability is acknowledged, and to ensure that people with an intellectual disability have their voices heard, are not isolated or segregated, and can lead more independent and healthier lives.

See www.inclusionireland.ie
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.  Purdue Pharma CEO Craig Landau can receive a $1.3 million bonus, after the judge overseeing the OxyContin makers bankruptcy on Friday approved one of the most contentious proposals the company has presented during the case.

Judge Robert Drain said Purdue was justified in giving Landau the additional remuneration because it would help to keep him at Purdue, where he has served as chief executive since June 2017. With that ruling  which followed his approval last month of a broader $35 million package of bonuses  Drain largely resolved a major argument about employee compensation between Purdue and 24 states including Connecticut that has persisted since the firms bankruptcy filing last September.

If you cannot get capable people to perform this type of work without paying that amount of money or more  or alternatively, the replacement cost is greater than what is being proposed  its really not in the interests of the creditors and not appropriate to say, nevertheless, they (Purdue) should take a haircut because it seems like a lot of money, Drain said during the hearing at the federal courthouse in downtown White Plains, New York.

Connecticut and the 23 other non-consenting states that have not agreed to settlement terms with Purdue had strongly opposed the bonus.

I'm disappointed by this decision and certainly would have preferred the money be spent on opioid recovery, treatment and prevention, said Connecticut Attorney General William Tong. But this is one step in a long process, and we will continue to fight to ensure that Purdue and the Sacklers cannot hide behind this bankruptcy proceeding to evade accountability.

In a statement, Purdue officials praised Drains ruling, which they said recognized the importance of Landau continuing to lead the company during the Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.

As a physician who has dedicated his career to developing new pain treatments, Dr. Landau is uniquely positioned to help ensure the company's successful reorganization as a public benefit corporation that can deliver more than $10 billion in value to communities and families impacted by the opioid crisis, the statement said. His years of clinical experience treating patients with pain in civilian, academic and military settings, including service in the U.S. Army supporting American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, will help the company maximize its value by ensuring that its current and future public health initiatives address important unmet clinical needs.

Ongoing debate

When he approved the $35 million bonus package on Dec. 4 , Drain held off on ruling on Landaus 2019 performance bonus so Purdue and the non-consenting states could try to broker an agreement. They were unable, however, to reconcile their differences on the matter.

Purdue officials have maintained that the company and Landau have made major concessions, including him forgoing a 2019 retention bonus that would have been worth up to approximately $1.6 million and the firm reducing his performance bonus by 50 percent from its original amount.

The performance compensation would equate to about half of Landaus approximately $2.6 million base salary for this year.

In addition, Purdue and Landau consented to deferring until Dec. 31 the vesting or delivery of the final $3 million of a $6 million retention bonus awarded to Landau in March 2018, as long as he also received the performance bonus. The retention bonus would have vested March 1, according to previous terms.

If he were to resign before Dec. 31, 2020, Landau would forfeit the $3 million unvested 2018 retention payment and would have to repay that amount to the company.

Dr. Landaus and the debtors willingness to make repeated concessions with respect to his compensation reflects his and their commitment to stewarding the debtors properly through these chapter 11 cases, while still compensating Dr. Landau appropriately for the extraordinarily difficult work he is being asked to undertake, Purdue wrote in a motion last week.

The non-consenting states were unpersuaded, reiterating their opposition in a filing this week.

By making their offer to defer vesting contingent upon immediate payment of the (performance bonus), the debtors seem to assert that they must guarantee that Landau receives more than $4.3 million to ensure that he continues his work with the debtors this year, the filing said. However, they offer no explanation as to why deferring the vesting of just the $3 million and not paying him the additional $1,313,250 will not have the same result, while saving the estate more than $1 million.

Striking a balance

They have also expressed concerns about Landaus involvement in the litigation.

The approximately 2,700 lawsuits against Purdue allege the company fueled the opioid crisis with deceptive OxyContin marketing. Some, such as Massachusetts, accuse Landau of being directly involved in the purported malfeasance. He previously served as the companys chief medical officer and as the head of its Canadian business.

Landau agreed that the court could consider reconsider the bonus if he were finally determined to be liable, in a pending case, for wrongdoing in the sale of Purdues opioids.

With that ability to claw back the bonus if Landau were found to have committed misconduct, Drain said an appropriate balance had been struck to address the non-consenting states concerns.

It is conceivable to me that Dr. Landau could, as alleged in those complaints, have some liability. It is equally conceivable to me that he does not, Drain said. I believe it would be wholly inappropriate to, in essence, send a debtor into material risk of not having a chief executive officer merely because a complaint has been filed again against him or her.

Landaus performance bonus is set to be paid on or about June 1, while the remaining half would be paid on or about Sept. 1.

pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; 203-964-2236; twitter: @paulschott
domnicky/iStock(DETROIT) -- A Michigan man has filed a lawsuit against a Midwest banking chain this week, accusing it of racial profiling, after a teller called the police on him and wrongfully accused him of fraud.



Ironically, Sauntore Thomas was attempting to deposit two large checks that he'd received as part of a workplace racial discrimination settlement with his previous employer when a TCF Bank branch in Livonia, Michigan, refused to accept the checks, saying they weren't legit.



Thomas, a 44-year-old Air Force veteran, said he felt "humiliated" and embarrassed when police arrived about 10 minutes later to investigate the fraud claims. He said he was treated as if he'd done something wrong and he's convinced that the bank assumed the checks were bad because he is black.



"It was embarrassing," Thomas told Detroit ABC affiliate WXYZ-TV on Thursday. "If I was white, this wouldnt be happening."



Thomas' attorney, Deborah Gordon, said he was able to deposit the checks at another bank without a problem and they cleared less than 24 hours later. She said bank employees could have easily verified the check before calling law enforcement.



"My client had very legitimate checks and he had a bank account at this bank," Gordon told ABC News Thursday. "Right away they told him there was an issue with verifying the checks, which makes zero sense because these checks were from a large corporate entity."



"They kept telling him there was an issue of fraud and that's what caused them to call the police. So then I have to ask, 'What is the reason you think there's fraud?'" she added.



Gordon said her client called her as he was being interrogated by two police officers, while others stood guard outside of the bank. She said she called the bank, but the employees were extremely dismissive and denied her request to speak with a manager.



"There's no explanation for that other than the fact that my client is African American and that is my firm belief. They never offered an explanation as to why the police were called and they never offered an explanation that made any sense as to why they thought the checks were fraudulent," Gordon said.



"They did not believe him, they did not believe me, and they made an assumption that a black guy that's in here with these checks -- it's got to be fraud, so let's just call the cops," she added.



She said Thomas was terrified as the officers barked orders at him and he couldn't stop thinking about how dangerous the situation could become if things escalated.



Gordon said a confidentially clause in his settlement with his former employer, Enterprise Leasing Co. of Detroit, prevented her from disclosing the amount of the checks. But TCF Bank told the Detroit Free Press that Thomas presented three checks written from Enterprise that day: one for $59,000, one for $27,000 and one for $13,000.



TCF Bank apologized to Thomas in a statement released Wednesday and admitted that the police should have never been called.



"We apologize for the experience Mr. Thomas had at our banking center. Local police should not have been involved. We strongly condemn racism and discrimination of any kind," the bank said. "We take extra precautions involving large deposits and requests for cash and in this case we were unable to validate the checks presented by Mr. Thomas and regret we could not meet his needs."



Gordon said the bank's apology isn't enough. She filed a discrimination lawsuit on Thomas' behalf on Wednesday, referring to the situation as a case of "banking while black," and seeking an undisclosed amount for compensatory and punitive damages.



"It's uncontested that the checks are legitimate. They're a bank. It's their job to verify checks and the fact that they continue to not explain this is unacceptable," she said. "I don't think they were honest with my client and they were just making stuff up. ... I just think they saw this guy, a black guy in jeans, and it's like, 'What was he doing with his money?' That's the only conclusion I think that one can reasonably come to."

Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Fair Trade Ghana Network has held its annual general meeting to discuss strategic ways of improving the conditions of members for the upcoming year.

The organization which is a partner of Fair Trade Africa under Fair Trade International seeks to provide opportunities for farmers and craft people in developing countries to ensure they have access to a wider market for their products.

On Thursday, January 23, 2020, members of the Fair Trade Ghana Network gathered at the Bethel Heights Hotel at Madina for the organizations annual general meeting.

Among many things put on the agenda, members of the body looked back to the past year to identify challenges producers faced. Additionally, Fair Trade Ghana Network discussed strategic ways of improving the organization as well as ways of enhancing the conditions of members.

Delivering his welcome address, Mr. Johannes Koumedjro who is the president of Fair Trade Ghana Network acknowledged the fact that the past year has not been very good for members.

Unfortunately a lot of our producers are already facing a lot of problems especially those who are in the citrus sector, he said.

Mr. Koumedjro has however shared that he is confident 2020 will be better than the past year.

I believe that the network exists to help and promote what you have been producing. It hasnt been too good in the past but we believe that this year which is the beginning of a decade, 2020 things will be different, he added.

Delivering a keynote address on behalf of the Head of Region for Fair Trade Africa, Abubakar Benjamin Afful assured Fair Trade Ghana Network that they are committed to ensuring members enjoy the best of service.

In the spirit of partnership, we think that it is always good that we work together and discuss issues to have a common objectiveWe are very committed to working with you to bring the best services to the members to be able to push for things that will bring changes in the lives of the producers, the program team leader for Cocoa Ghana said.

Abubakar Benjamin Afful further called for the two bodies to work together to avert all challenges facing members, especially the producers.

There are a lot of challenges in the sector, we know the cocoa sector, and what have you, there are a lot of challenges that we all need to come together to push. We believe that working together is the best option that will bring us to where we want to go. We are assuring you of our unflinching support in the coming years but most importantly we think that you need to support yourselves as members of the network, he added.

Meanwhile, the Annual General Meeting of Fair Trade Ghana Network is expected to be concluded today. On the agenda, members will vote for officers for a 2-year period and discuss equity II.
Sydneysiders experienced 81 days of hazardous, very poor or poor air quality last year, more than the combined total for the previous 10 years, and health experts say new policies are needed for this unprecedented length of exposure to bushfire smoke.

Of those 81 days, 28 were classified as hazardous, the worst-possible level, another 21 were very poor and 32 were poor at one or more monitoring station in Sydney.

Last year was the first time since at least 2009 that the city has had more than 18 days in a calendar year when the air quality reached poor, very poor or hazardous levels, a Herald analysis of NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment data shows.

There have already been 14 such days this year.
/ -- Astral Pipes, one of India's most trusted and leading manufacturers of piping systems, has already set a statement in 2020 with a fresh brand association with Bollywood's youngest superstar, Ranveer Singh. A favourite of the masses and a performer par excellence, Ranveer is one of the most bankable young stars of the generation.

On his new role as the brand ambassador of Astral Pipes, Ranveer Singh said, "It is my pleasure to be a part of Astral Pipes as they are one of our country's leading manufacturers of piping systems. It's great that the brand's versatility and innovations within the sector resonate well with me and I am glad to be associated with them."



Astral Pipes is known for bringing innovations and setting new trends and standards in the piping industry. Known to change the landscape of the industry, Astral has introduced many industry firsts, and this association with Ranveer Singh is yet another pertinent move that is slated to set the brand apart from its competition and contemporaries.

The brand and Ranveer Singh have many similarities when it comes to the essence, i.e., representation of energy, versatility, and commitment.

All in favour of this development, Mr. Kairav Engineer, VP-Business Development said: "This move will provide a significant fillip to the brand further, as we think Ranveer Singh lends the perfect match and will bring freshness and energy to the brand."



This is the start of a promising association.

About Astral Poly Technik Limited:



Established in 1996 with the aim to manufacture best-in-globe plastic piping systems, Astral Pipes fulfils emerging piping needs of millions of houses and adds extra mileage to India's developing real estate fraternity with the hallmark of unbeaten quality and innovative piping solutions. Keeping itself ahead of technology curve, Astral has always been a front runner in the piping category by bringing innovation and getting rid of old, primitive and ineffective plumbing methods. Bringing CPVC in India, and pioneering in this technology, have set Astral apart and enabled it to obtain NSF approval for its CPVC pipes and fittings. Astral went beyond category codes by launching many industry firsts, like launching India's first lead-free uPVC pipes for plumbing as well as for stream water, just to name a few. Astral Pipes offers the widest product range across this category when it comes to product applications. Astral Pipes is equipped with production facilities at Santej and Dholka in Gujarat, Hosur in Tamil Nadu Ghiloth in Rajasthan, Sangli in Maharashtra and Sitarganj in Uttrakhand to manufacture plumbing systems, drainage systems, agriculture systems, and fire sprinkler piping systems, industrial piping and electrical conduit pipes with all kinds of necessary fittings.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1081613/Astral_Pipes_Logo.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
If you regularly use a Windows 10 PC and an Android phone or tablet, there are several Android apps you can install that can seamlessly link the flow of information between the two. For instance, you can start a quick note on your phone, then finish it later on your Windows 10 PC, or you can receive the same alert on both devices for an appointment.

The following Windows 10-friendly Android apps are all from Microsoft  and all free. To get the kind of interoperability described above, you need to be signed into each of the apps on your Android device with the same Microsoft online account you use to sign into your Windows 10 computer.

1. Cortana: Sync reminders between your Windows PC and Android device

The Cortana app for Android lets you create reminders that will sync with, and send notifications to, your Windows 10 PC. To set a reminder in the Cortana app for Android, tap the three-dot icon on the upper-right of the apps main screen, tap Reminders, tap Remember to on the next screen, and enter a name for your reminder to the right of the circle icon.

Then you can tap Set a time to set the time when you want to be sent a notification for this reminder. You can also enter a destination (by tapping Set a place) that will trigger the notification when you physically arrive at that location with your phone, or add an image to the reminder (Add a photo).

IDG Reminders set in the Cortana Android app (left) will appear on your Windows 10 PC, including in the Start menu (right).

Once set, this reminder will sync with your Windows 10 PC; for example, if you have the Calendar app pinned as a live tile on the Start menu, the reminder will appear on the Calendar apps tile. And when you click the time/date icon on the notification area of Windows 10, the reminder will appear listed on a side panel below a calendar.

And, yes, this works in reverse: You can set reminders on your Windows 10 PC (either through the Calendar app or Cortana) that will show up on your Android device via the Cortana app.

2. OneDrive: Access files on your Windows 10 PC with your Android device

You probably already know that Windows 10 comes with Microsofts cloud storage service, OneDrive, which is integrated deeply into the OS  it shows up as a folder in the File Explorer. Dragging documents, images or other types of files to it automatically uploads them to the cloud.

The OneDrive Android app lets you view documents or images stored in your OneDrive folder. (If you tap an image file or PDF in your OneDrive cloud folder, the OneDrive app will load it in its own viewer. If you tap a document, like a plain-text file or Word document, the document will be downloaded to your Android device and the default app that you use to view this document format will load it.)

[ Further reading: Microsoft OneDrive cheat sheet ]

You can also set the OneDrive app to automatically upload photos and videos that you capture with your Android devices camera to your OneDrive folder. You can then access these photos and videos on your Windows 10 PC.

IDG The OneDrive Android app gives you access to documents and images in your OneDrive cloud storage (left). You can also have the app automatically upload photos and videos from your Android device to your OneDrive cloud storage (right).

To enable automatic upload from the camera (or to make sure it already is enabled): In the Android app, tap the Me icon on the lower-right of the main screen, tap Settings, and tap Camera upload on the next screen. There are also options for uploading only via Wi-Fi, uploading only while the Android device is plugged in to charge its battery, and including or excluding videos from automatic uploads.

3. Outlook: Sync calendar events between your Windows 10 PC and Android device

Obviously, the Outlook Android app is primarily meant for accessing your email from Microsoft services such as Exchange, Office 365 or Outlook.com. (It can be used with your Gmail or Yahoo Mail account, too.) But the Outlook app also has a calendar tool that syncs with the Calendar app on your Windows 10 PC  through it, you can enter appointments and reminders of things to do on days and times you pick. Both your Android device and your Windows 10 PC will send you alerts as event deadlines approach.

IDG Events that you create in Outlook on your Android device (left) will appear in the Calendar app on your Windows 10 PC (right).

On the Android app, you get to this calendar tool by tapping the third icon along the bottom of the main screen. (It looks like a page from a daily calendar, showing the current date.) Then you tap on a day you want to mark with an event reminder (by scrolling vertically through a list of dates below a portion of the calendar at the top of the screen).

Next, tap the + button on the lower-right of the screen. On the next screen for setting a new event, you pick the time, enter a location for the event, and set how far in advance youll receive the alert. You can also add the people from your contacts list you want to receive notifications about the event.

Like setting reminders with the Cortana app, this works in reverse. If you set appointments or events in the Calendar app on your Windows 10 PC, you will get alerts on your Android phone through the Outlook app.

4. OneNote: Sync notes from your Android device to your Windows 10 PC

A Windows app version of OneNote is included with Windows 10. Installing the OneNote Android app on your mobile device can be handy for creating notes while youre on the go that you can edit more thoroughly later on your Windows 10 PC.

With the Android app, you can make notes or to-do checklists by entering text for them through your Android devices touchscreen keyboard, handwriting with a digital pen, or voice-typing. You can draw doodles on your notes with your finger or digital pen, and add photos to a note with your Android devices camera.

IDG Draw on your notes with a finger or digital pen in the OneNote Android app.

5. Your Phone Companion: Manage your Android phone notifications, pictures, text messages, and make voice calls from Windows 10

You can have the notifications and text messages that your Android phone gets automatically forwarded to your Windows 10 PC, and also have access to your phones photos from the PC. First, install the Your Phone Companion app on your Android phone. Launch the app and sign in to it with the same Microsoft user account that you sign in to your Windows 10 PC with.

On your PC, launch the Your Phone app. Clicking the Photos button on the navigation toolbar on the left lets you view the photos and screenshots that are stored on your Android phone. You can save an image to your PC by right-clicking on its thumbnail.

Click Messages or Notifications in the navigation bar to read the incoming text messages or notifications on your phone. You can reply to text messages or type new text messages right in the Your Phone app on your PC; the messages will be forwarded to your Android phone to send out. If a notification is an incoming message from a messaging app on your phone, you can reply to the sender the same way.

IDG Using the Your Phone app on your Windows 10 PC, you can view notifications and reply to text messages that your Android phone receives.

To choose the apps on your Android phone that you want to send notifications to on your Windows 10 PC, click the Settings icon in the lower-left corner of the Your Phone app. In the main panel, scroll down to Notifications and click Choose which apps notify you. A list of all the apps on your Android phone that can send notifications will scroll down. You can click the switch by each app name to stop its notifications from being forwarded to your Windows 10 PC.

Finally, you can make a voice call by clicking the bottom button in the navigation bar, Calls. This feature, currently in beta, requires that your phone and PC be linked together through a Bluetooth connection, so that the Your Phone app can route your voice call to your phone.

6. Microsoft Launcher: Access your Windows 10 Timeline from your Android device

In Windows 10, Timeline is a record listing various things that youve done on your PC, such as opening documents and visiting websites. Click the Task View button in the taskbar to view this extensive history, which is organized by date. You can use Timeline to find a document or image you were working on or a web page you visited and access it again. (See 5 hidden Windows 10 features you should be using for details about how to use Timeline.)

You can access your Windows 10 Timeline from your Android phone by installing the Microsoft Launcher app on it. Sign in to the app with your Microsoft user account and set Microsoft Launcher as your smartphone's default Home screen. Then from the Home screen, swipe left to the first screen.

On the bottom toolbar, tap the Timeline icon. A list of web pages youve recently visited on your Windows 10 devices appears. Tap an item to open that web page in your phone's web browser. If you have Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) installed on your phone, you can also use Timeline to open recently used documents in those apps. And if you open a document in an Office app on the phone, the document appears in the Timeline of a Windows 10 PC that's signed into the same user account.

IDG You can access your web browsing history on your Windows 10 PC from your Android phone by using the Microsoft Launcher app.

7. Office Lens: Sync scans taken with your Android device to your Windows 10 PC

This nifty Office Lens app by Microsoft isnt specifically linked with Windows 10 but integrated with OneDrive. Its for capturing documents, which can include business cards and receipts, with your Android devices camera. (Microsoft likes to say youre scanning such items, presumably because youre capturing text, but all you do is take a photo normally.) You can also use the app to snap images of drawings, handwriting or text on chalkboards, whiteboards or signs.

IDG When you snap a picture with Office Lens (left), the app automatically aligns, cleans up and crops the image before saving it to OneDrive (right).

Office Lens automatically aligns, cleans up and crops the captured image, and can convert it into editable text and graphics in OneNote, PowerPoint or Word format, or preserve its formatting as a PDF. The captured document image is automatically uploaded to your OneDrive folder (which you can, of course, then access on your Windows 10 PC).

Note: The OneDrive app for Android also comes with a tool that lets you capture documents, but it lacks the ability to change your phones camera resolution to capture in a higher or lower image quality.

8. Microsoft Launcher or OneNote: Access, create, edit and manage your Sticky Notes from your Android device

On Windows 10, you can quickly create notes and to-do lists using the Sticky Notes app. There is no official Sticky Notes app for mobile devices. Instead, you can access your Sticky Notes, and also create, edit or delete them, through the Microsoft Launcher or OneNote app.

To use the Microsoft Launcher, install it and set it as your smartphone's default Home screen. Swipe left to the first Home screen and tap the Glance icon on the lower left of the screen. In the main screen, scroll down through the information cards until you see your Sticky Notes.

In OneNote, theres a Sticky Notes icon on the lower right of the main screen. Tap it to view a listing of your notes.

Notes that you create, edit or delete through either Android app are synced to the Sticky Notes app on your Windows 10 PC.

IDG You can use either the Microsoft Launcher or OneNote app for Android to access and manage your Sticky Notes that you created on your Windows 10 PC.

9. Microsoft Edge: Sync your browsing history between your phone and Windows 10

Once you sign in to it with your Microsoft user account, the Android version of Microsoft's web browser, Edge, will sync your bookmarks, history and other data from Edge on your Windows 10 PC to it. But why bother using Edge at all  especially if you're primarily browsing with Chrome on your PC?

First, it can be helpful to keep an alternative browser on your phone as a backup in case you encounter an issue with the Android version of Chrome. If you're already using Windows 10 in coordination with your Android phone, Edge is a natural backup choice.

Second, when you view a web page on your Android phone with Edge, you can forward that page directly to your Windows 10 PC and resume reading it in Edge on your PC. To do this, in Edge for Android, tap the middle icon that's toward the bottom of the app. A list of your Windows 10 PCs will appear. Tap the one that you want to forward the web page to. Then, on that PC, the Edge browser will automatically launch and load the web page you forwarded.

IDG With the Android version of Microsoft's browser Edge, you can forward a web page directly to your Windows 10 PC and continue viewing it on the Windows 10 version of Edge.

10. Microsoft Solitaire Collection: Play the classic Windows card game on your Windows 10 PC and Android device in sync

The classic Microsoft Solitaire game was rebooted for Windows 10 as a Windows app that includes five card games: Klondike, Spider, FreeCell, TriPeaks and Pyramid. You can connect the app to Microsofts online gaming service, Xbox Live, to earn achievements, compete against other players, and share video clips of your gaming sessions.

Microsoft released an Android version of Microsoft Solitaire Collection that has all these features. You can even start a game on this app, stop playing, and resume it later on your Windows 10 PC  your game data and progress are saved and synced to the cloud through Xbox Live.

IDG You can start a game of solitaire on your Android phone and finish it later on your Windows 10 PC, thanks to Xbox Live syncing.

This story was originally published in April 2017 and updated in January 2020.

Read this next: How to create a complete Microsoft experience on Android
The Uttarakhand government has proposed to develop abandoned schools on the Chardham Yatra and trekking routes into homestay facilities, a move aimed at boosting tourism in the state.

A proposal to utilise abandoned schools on way to the Himalayan shrines and the trek routes as homestay facilities for pilgrims and trekkers will soon be mooted, state Tourism and Culture Minister Satpal Maharaj said on Friday.

The minister also suggested that roofs of functional schools which are in need of repairs should be replaced with solar panels which will help them get subsidy besides saving electricity.

Maharaj ordered deployment of guest teachers at schools suffering from shortage of teachers and arranging funds for providing furniture, drinking water and kitchen facilities at the schools.

He also announced that a total of 662 computers, two each at 331 schools of the state, will be installed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ten future doctors joined the team at Houston Methodist Willowbrook this month. Their presence marks a milestone in the facilitys 20-year history: its transition to a teaching hospital.

The Willowbrook location became Houston Methodists second campus site Jan. 13 when a group of third- and fourth-year Texas A&M medical students started their clerkship rotations at the hospital. Houston Methodist partners with Texas A&M College of Medicine to provide clerkship experience in the Texas Medical Center location as well.

Theres been a longstanding relationship with Houston Methodist and Texas A&M College of Medicine over the last several years, said Keith Barber, CEO of Houston Methodist Willowbrook and senior vice president of Houston Methodist.

Its really been about three or four years ago that some discussions about one of the community hospitals being a part of this program for Texas A&M was thrown out there. We immediately raised our hand and said we would love to do that here at Willowbrook.

Related: Tomball ISD Academy of Energy and International Business to open at BJ Services headquarters next year

Houston Methodist Willowbrooks location in northwest Houston puts it on the route from downtown Houston to College Station, Barber said.

The hospitals placement in one of Houstons fastest growing regions is another reason Willowbrook is an ideal location for the program, added Dr. Kashif Piracha, who serves as the programs internal medicine clerkship director.

This north Houston area where Methodist Willowbrook is located has really undergone a very exponential increase in population over the last decade or so, Piracha said. Weve had so much development that Methodist Willowbrook Hospital has really been able to provide great medical care to a lot of people in the community.

At the same time, we have to be mindful of the fact that as the population increases, people need more medical care and just treating patients in the hospital is one thing, but we also have to train the leaders of tomorrow who are going to be taking care of these patients over the next decade or the next two decades. So, there was a big need that we should have a training campus for medical students in the north Houston area and Methodist Willowbrook is one of the best facilities.

Piracha is one of the programs clerkship directors, who oversee the rotations in core specialties such as general surgery, family science, and obstetrics and gynecology. Over 50 doctors have come onboard as adjunct faculty for the initiativea testament to the excitement surrounding new program, he said.

Ive gotten a great response from all the doctors, Piracha said. When they heard that the students are coming, they were like competing with each other to get on the teaching panel. So, they really think this is going to have a great impact on the community.

Students in the program receive direct patient care experience alongside attending physicians. Instead of residencies or fellowships, students learn directly from physicians in a hands-on, real-world setting. This environment presents a unique opportunity for students, explained Dr. Stephanie Bruce, who is associate chief quality officer and Texas A&M College of Medicine assistant dean of the Houston Methodist Willowbrook campus.

On HoustonChronicle.com: New Memorial Hermann CEO David Callenders vision: bring health care to the community

The typical medical student will train in a very academic facility and then go to work in communities for the rest of their career, so the training is usually very different from what their real-life experience will be as a practicing physician, Bruce said. Having students here train in what I kind of termed our hybrid community academic hospital, better prepares them for what is to come in their life and future in medicine.

Bruce, a Texas A&M alumnus herself, said the 10 students in the programs inaugural cohort represent the cream of the crop in terms of experience, passion and engagement. The partnership with A&M has also increased the hospitals resources for improved medical care, she said.

Texas A&M has provided us with some computerized specialty simulation manikins and that allows us to provide the innovation needed to train these students on the leading edge of medicine, but it also provides our hospital with the tools for in a professional training and simulations that our physicians and nurses, and ultimately really the patients, benefit from as well, Bruce said.

Piracha added that teaching requires professionals to remain up to date on the most cutting-edge research in their respective fields, meaning that adjunct faculty doctors and patients will benefit from the student-teacher dynamic as well. Barber agrees.

Everybody really raises their game when youre in a teaching environment and so its another way to expect and continue to be down a road of being excellent in all that were doing, Barber said.

Barber said hes already hearing positive feedback from the programs students. As a first-year program, he said the hospital is excited to have 10 enthusiastic students and expects the programs enrollment to grow as awareness of the program spreads.

mfeuk@hcnonline.com
Good morning.

(Heres the sign-up, if you dont already get California Today by email.)

Todays newsletter is a special dispatch from the San Francisco bureau chief, Thomas Fuller, who spent time covering the fires in Australia.

Bill Tripp learned to burn when he was 4 years old.

In an Indian community along a bend in the Salmon River in the northwest corner of California, Mr. Tripp absorbed traditional burning techniques from his great-grandmother, who was born in the late 1800s and was a repository of knowledge on where and when to burn. He learned the difference between good fire and bad fire.

Weve being doing it for millennia, Mr. Tripp said.

In listening to Mr. Tripp, a member of the Karuk tribe, I was struck by the parallels with Aboriginal burning traditions in northern Australia, which I wrote about during a two-week trip covering the fires.

Native burning techniques have come into the spotlight as many parts of the world grapple with how to reduce destructive, out-of-control wildfires.
Pho Viet's | Photo: Jenn N./Yelp

Ready to celebrate Lunar New Year? On January 25, families around the world take part in the celebrations for Tet, the first day of the Lunar New Year  and spring  for Vietnamese families. To kick off the celebration, families gather at home or at a favorite restaurant on New Years Day for a reunion meal, featuring specialties that include dua hanh (pickled spring onions), banh chung (sticky rice with meat or beans wrapped in leaves) and boiled whole chicken.

If youre looking for a feast to celebrate the Year of the Rat with friends and family, Hoodline has crunched the numbers to find the top Vietnamese restaurants in Boston, based on Yelp ratings and our own methodology. Happy Lunar New Year!

1. Pho Viet's

Photo: raunaq Z./Yelp

Topping the list is Pho Viet's. Located at 1095 Commonwealth Ave. in Allston, the Vietnamese spot is the highest rated Vietnamese restaurant in Boston, boasting four stars out of 436 reviews on Yelp.

2. Anh Hong

Photo: jonathan A./Yelp

Next up is South Dorchester's Anh Hong, situated at 291 Adams St. (between Christopher and Lincoln streets). With four stars out of 280 reviews on Yelp, the Vietnamese spot has proven to be a local favorite.

3. Saigon Hut

East Boston's Saigon Hut, located at 305 Meridian St. (between Trenton and Princeton streets), is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the Vietnamese spot four stars out of 167 reviews.

4. Pho 2000

Photo: lynda d./Yelp

Pho 2000, a Vietnamese spot in South Dorchester, is another go-to, with four stars out of 160 Yelp reviews. Head over to 198 Adams St. (between Arcadia Street and Dorchester Avenue) to see for yourself.

5. Pho Common

Photo: sy l./Yelp

Over in Kenmore, check out Pho Common, which has earned four stars out of 114 reviews on Yelp. You can find the Vietnamese spot at 468 Commonwealth Ave.

This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
The new deicing pad, the East Deicing Apron, was built with CarbonCure Technologies' reduced-carbon concrete in August and September of 2019. The first airplanes started using the facility just weeks ago.

The amount of concrete poured to build the East Deicing Apron was the second largest pour of CarbonCure concrete in a single project, and the largest quantity to be used at an airport in Canada.

"2019 was a record year for CarbonCure, as our producer partners' total production volume and the associated carbon savings nearly doubled from that of 2018," said Robert Niven, the company's founder and CEO. "We are proud that a project based in Canada was such a large contributor to these milestones. This is yet another instance of CarbonCure concrete easily meeting rigorous performance standards, including the top-tier design and engineering standards required for airport paving."

CarbonCure injects waste carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) captured by industrial gas suppliers into concrete during mixing, enabling the production of stronger, more sustainable concrete. Every cubic metre of concrete made with this technology reduces an average of 16 kilograms of carbon emissions, meaning an average high-rise built with CarbonCure concrete would save approximately 120 tonnes of CO 2 emissions.

More than 25,000 cubic metres of CarbonCure concrete was poured for the construction of the East Deicing Apron project, realizing 160 tonnes of carbon savings. That's equivalent to 209 acres of forest absorbing CO 2 over the course of a year.

"YYC Calgary International Airport is pleased to be a leader as the largest airport user to-date of CarbonCure in Canada. As YYC strives to be a leader in airport sustainability, we fully supported our airline partners in the decision to inject captured carbon into the new East Deicing Apron's concrete pavement," said Carmelle Hunka, general counsel, vice president, risk and compliance of the Calgary Airport Authority.

In 2019 alone, CarbonCure partners' total concrete production volume surpassed 3.3 million cubic metres, with an average monthly output of 145,000 cubic metres. Total CO 2 emissions reductions for the year surpassed 55,000 tonnes, which is equivalent to the carbon absorbed by more than 70,000 acres of forest or taking 12,000 cars off the road for a year.

ABOUT CARBONCURE TECHNOLOGIES

carboncure.com

CarbonCure Technologies is the global leader in CO 2 utilization technologies for the world's most abundant man-made material: concrete. The retrofit CarbonCure Technology enables concrete producers to use waste CO 2 to produce stronger, more sustainable concrete. CarbonCure is on a mission to reduce the embodied carbon footprint of the built environment, with the goal of reducing carbon emissions by 500 megatonnes annually.

SOURCE CarbonCure Technologies
New Delhi, Jan 24 : The Congress has hit out at senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya on his remarks on labourers eating 'poha' while working at his residence who he said looked like illegal Bangladeshi migrants.

The Congress said "this is the real face of the government which is watching your eating habits." Congress spokesperson Sushmita Dev said "The statement made by Vijayvargiyaji, we condemn it. How has he connected the food habits of a construction worker to his nationality and termed him as infiltrator? We have consistently said that conducting a census in India is not a new phenomenon, yes there is mention of the NPR in the citizenship rules but that has a context which makes the entire exercise suspicious at this point of time." "This is the reason why people are afraid of the NPR, if the NPR happens then what will happen nobody can assume and this is the reason why people have no trust in the government as the NPR lead to profiling of people and it is not like a census," said Dev.

The controversy erupted Vijayvargiya claimed that labourers who recently carried out construction work at his Indore house could be Bangladeshis as they had "strange" eating habits. And what's that? Eating only 'poha' (flattened rice).

"When a new room was being added at my house recently, I found eating habits of some of the workers 'strange' as they were eating only 'poha' (flattened rice)", he said.

He added, "I suspected these workers were residents of Bangladesh. Two days after I became suspicious, they stopped working at my house. I have not filed any police complaint yet. I only mentioned this incident to warn people." Speaking at a seminar, he connected it to internal security of India. "Whenever I go out, six armed security personnel follow me. What is happening in this country? Will outside people enter and spread so much terror?" Vijayvargiya asked.

Meanwhile, this has sparked off a massive debate on Twitter with many users pointing out that eating 'poha' cannot be a yardstick for debating someone's nationality.
Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - The Osprey bird, a migratory bird species, flew 6,948 kilometres from Finland to Imbo Usenge village in Siaya County, Western Kenya, before being rescued by a local conservationist group, state-run wildlife agency said here Friday
Dairy farms in a residential area in Ghaziabad are running without any license from local authorities, a committee told the National Green Tribunal on Friday.

The panel comprising officials from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Uttar Pradesh pollution control board, municipal corporation and others told the tribunal that there was lack of adequate infrastructure to ensure proper disposal of solid waste and wastewater.

"All the dairy farms collect dung from the floor of shed and dump the same to a location near the railway line. Thereafter the municipal corporation transports dung to for utilisation as manure in horticulture.

"The floorings of the sheds are not properly paved with a waste water collection system. The waste water generated from the daily premises is discharged to a common drain which ultimately meets river Hindon," the committee told the NGT.

The tribunal was further informed that no electronic meters are installed for water consumption by dairy farms and they do not follow the good housekeeping practises like maintaining proper sanitary conditions, protecting dung from pests and insects in order to minimise odour nuisance.

"The floor feeding water and air spaces available for each animal was not adequate for standing, resting, exercising, feeding, watering and ventilation. The Nagar Nigam should carry out extensive survey of the area and ensure immediate closure of dairy farms being operated in residential colonies," the committee said.

The submission came in response to a plea filed by Ved Prakash Aggrawal against operation of dairy farms in residential colony of Chiranjiv Vihar, Ghaziabad.

According to the applicant, operation of such dairies is resulting in degradation of and causing harm to the public health. There are no safeguards for solid and liquid waste management on account of which there is pollution of air, water and soil, the plea said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Colin Farrell has revealed he has a card which allows him to eat unlimited food at Abrakebabra.

Last year, the Dublin actor told US TV presenter Jimmy Kimmel about his fondness of the Irish takeaway.

Abrakebabra is apparently one of his first stops when he comes home to Ireland.

Farrell bragged to Kimmel that he has a gold card which means he can enjoy free kebabs for the rest of his life.

"I was the first person to get the gold card. They did it for me."

According to Farrell, Bono has also received a gold card but said that he doubts the U2 frontman uses it.

The Castleknock native said that his card has been getting great use.

I haven't paid for a kebab in five years, man."

He did reveal that on one occasion he went in and the woman who served him had no clue who he was and he didn't have his card.

"So I gave her the 8...it was tough," he joked.

This week, the Killing of a Sacred Deer actor appeared on the show again to promote his new film The Gentleman and the topic of Abrakebabra came up again.

He revealed that because he had praised Abrakebabra and "took the whole f**king thing international" by praising their food on both Kimmel's show and on The Ellen DeGeneres Show last year, he has now been awarded a black card.

Farrell is the only person to have a black card.

"The Pope doesn't have one. I can bring the Pope for a free kebab because that's what I get.

"The gold card I could feed myself for free, with the black card I can feed the two of us."

The 43-year-old even took out the card to show it off.

The back of the exclusive card reads: "Absolutely no restrictions apply to Colin Farrell the original gold card holder.

Speaking about his upcoming role as The Penguin in next year's The Batman, Kimmel said he was surprised that he was cast as previous incarnations of the comic book vilain have usually been short and fat.

"I have some time to eat...about three weeks...I'll just go back to Abrakebabra with my black card and I'll be sorted," Farrell joked.

He said that they are in the process of finalising the aesthetic of his character.

Farrell said that his children are tired of him playing villains and are even embarrassed of him for it.

If his deep gra for Abrakebabra isn't proof enough that Farrell is as Irish as Tayto, he revealed that he took a 23 & Me DNA test which showed that he is about 98.7% Irish.

"I'm so disappointed that I'm not the real deal," he said of his 1.3% Central European result.
Apple spends a lot of time talking up its secret sauce: that combination of hardware, software, and services that allow it to make what it believes are the best technology products on the planet.

And, as users of Apple products, most of us probably agree that this is generally the case. But even as good as the integration between these three legs of the companys stool is, there are still some places that it falls weirdly short. Hardware and software that dont work together, services that dont provide the necessary glue.

Maybe theyre use cases that Apple doesnt consider particularly necessary, or maybe the company just hasnt gotten around to them yet. Whatever the case, they stick out like a sore thumb. Here are just a few examples of integration thats, well, less than integrated.

Oughta correct

Ever found yourself adding a word to your Macs dictionary and then see it still underlined on your iPad? Whats up with that? It seems like you shouldnt have to teach each and every device you own that a particular word or phrase is something that you frequently type. Given that iOS and iPadOS dont even offer a real way to add a word to your personal dictionary, the least Apple could do is have them respect the changes youve made to your Macs dictionary.

Yes, there are workarounds, like adding a word to a contact card or a text shortcut, but these arent the kind of things you want to have to do every time you come across a new problem word. Instead, Apple should add iCloud syncing of custom dictionaries between all your Macs and iOS devices to make sure that the words youre typing are always the ones you want them to benot what Apple thinks they should be.

Remind me to email

Apple iOS 13 Reminders

In iOS 13, the Reminders app got a substantial makeover, not only gaining a new interface, but also new features to help you actually remember all those things you enter into it. Among them is the ability to remind you of a task when youre talking to a specified person via Messages.

While thats all well and good, Messages isI hate to break it to you, Applenot the only app I use for communicating with people. Though I get why the company is perhaps not ready to open that feature up to third parties like Slack or Skype, its missing a common first-party one right on the device itself: email. More to the point, once you pick a person to link with a task, it should remind you no matter which app you use to talk to them. After all, if it can recognize someone Im chatting with over Messages, it can probably make a similar assumption when Im using Mail.

Alas, Apple often seems to have forgotten that email is a thing. (In this, as in other places.) For better or worse, though, were all still using it, so lets not pretend it doesnt exist, much as we might wish otherwise.

Oh the places well go

You might be excused for not remembering that in iOS 13, Apple added the ability to create collections in Maps. Sure, its handy to be able to make a list of places that you want to gosay, restaurants in town that youve been meaning to hitbut the feature is definitely lacking.

Apple Collections in iOS 13 Maps

For one thing, though Maps collections can be shared with someone else, all that does is make that person their own copy of the collection. Whats needed there is something closer to a shared Reminders list or a collaborative Note. If my wife and I want to keep track of restaurants wed like to go to, it would be great if we could each add to this list and have it update for both of us.

Moreover, this is a feature of Maps, and yet it takes very little advantage of Apples mapping service. For example, it would be great if there were an option to add a geofence, to notify me when Im near some place that I want to remember to go.

More like stere-no

Lets throw this last one in the totally no-brainer column. Apple sells the HomePod, a smart speaker that produces very nice sound and can be paired with a second HomePod (should anybody be brave enough to buy two) to create a stereo pair. You can use that to AirPlay music from your iOS device or your Apple TV or even iTunes on your Mac.

But that last ones the real trick, because its only from iTunes. Want to use that stereo pair of HomePods as your Macs system output? Youre out of luck. It just isnt possible. Instead, youll see two HomePods in the system audio output menu, representing each of the two speakers. You can use either of those individually as a system output, but not both together. Its downright perplexing.

Perhaps the company simply hasnt gotten around to it. It certainly has plenty of big projects on its plate. But the more complex the companys offerings get, the more of these rough edges seem to be popping upand this are only scratching the surface. As much as Apple prides itself on the strength of its product integration, its starting to feel like as though this plan isnt quite coming together.
It was a sad song. A mansion built and designed by the Isley Brothers in the 1960s languished on the market in New Jersey for nearly a decade. How do you sell a seemingly unsellable mansion?

Enter agent Igor Beyder of Beyder and Company Realty. He took over the listing in Alpine, NJ, and got real with the home's pricing. Beyder understood the nine-bedroom, 11-bath property required major repairswhich proved to be a major turnoff for potential buyers.

By pricing out needed repairsgetting quotes from inspectors, subcontractors, and septic companiesthe agent was able to tell buyers what they'd need to pay on top of the home's purchase price.

Another perk of the strategy? When buyers saw the list of needed work, Beyder was also able to recommend exactly whom to hire.

Buyers "just need somebody to bridge up that gap, says Beyder. Weve been able to shine a light on these unknown things. Theyve heard these horror stories about plumbers and contractors screwing people over.

The house recently sold for $3 million, according to the Bergen Record. This is a stark drop, considering the previous attempts to sell the place. The asking price was $10 million when the mansion first went on the market, and the most recent price before Beyder assumed the listing was $9 million in May 2013.

Entry realtor.com

Dining room realtor.com

Kitchen realtor.com

Living room realtor.com

Bathroom realtor.com

Another bathroom realtor.com

Bedroom realtor.com

When the Isleys built it, they did an amazing job with the architecture, how it was built, and the layout, says Beyder. Every floor is slab marble.

For serious glam, theres also jade-green marble in one bath, rose marble in another, and a blue marble kitchen.

The Isleys let go of the property in the mid-1980s, and it changed hands again in the early 1990s. Thats when the owners fell behind on upkeep of the mansion.

They had it in the family and didnt need to sell. By the time they put it on the market, Beyder says, it was in an entirely different state.

A house built in the 1960s will have a lot of issues, he adds.

For the last 10 years, agents were just [attempting to] sell the house as is, says Beyder. They never did an inspection.

Making things as transparent as possible helped seal the deal, he continues.

What kind of work was needed? Most of it concerned the exterior (lack of a pool and need to restore the koi pond), although the big-ticket item was the aging septic system. Other interior upgrades were needed in the baths, the flooring, and kitchen appliances.

The cost of adding a pool was a deal breaker for many people, says Beyder. As for replacing the septic system, not every buyer is comfortable with or savvy enough with all these things. For most people, except for those in the business, its very intimidating.

However, a buyer felt comfortable enough to commit $3 million to purchase the place. And once additional work is done, the ballad of this once-forlorn mansion will be finished.

The post After a Decade on the Market, the Isley Brothers' Former Mansion Becomes a $3M Hit appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
Bazaar Corporate Radar | Feb 22, 2021, 12:00 AM IST

Bazaar Corporate Radar

Bazaar Corporate Radar is your window into the minds of top CEOs, Boardrooms, global economists, fund managers and sector analysts. If it?s making news, you?ll find it on Bazaar Corporate Radar.
Imperial Valley News Center

Patient Services Inc. Agrees to Pay $3 Million for Allegedly Serving as a Conduit for Pharmaceutical Companies to Illegally Pay Patient Copayments

Washington, DC - Patient Services Inc. (PSI), a foundation based in Midlothian, Virginia, has agreed to pay $3 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by acting as a conduit to enable certain pharmaceutical companies to provide kickbacks to Medicare patients taking the companies drugs by paying the patients copayments, the Department of Justice announced today. The amount of the settlement announced today was determined based on analysis of PSIs ability to pay after review of its financial condition.

When a Medicare beneficiary obtains a prescription drug covered by Medicare Part B or Part D, the beneficiary may be required to make a partial payment, which may take the form of a co-payment, co-insurance, or deductible (collectively, copays). Congress included co-pay requirements in these programs, in part, to encourage market forces to serve as a check on health care costs, including the prices that pharmaceutical manufacturers can demand for their drugs. The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits pharmaceutical companies from offering or paying, directly or indirectly, any remuneration  which includes money or any other thing of value  to induce Medicare patients to purchase the companies drugs, and it prohibits third parties, such as copay foundations, from acting as a conduit for such payments.

The Department is committed to ensuring that foundations are not used as mere conduits to funnel kickbacks from pharmaceutical companies to Medicare patients and to increase company profits while avoiding an important cost-control aspect of the Medicare program, said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt of the Department of Justices Civil Division. We will continue to combat unlawful kickback arrangements and their pernicious influence on our health care system.

Pharmaceutical companies cannot use foundations to funnel drug co-payments disguised as routine charitable donations, all to prop up excessive drug prices. PSI allegedly operated as a vehicle for specific pharmaceutical companies essentially to pay kickbacks at the ultimate expense of the American taxpayers who support the Medicare program, said U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling of the District of Massachusetts. We will continue to pursue this kind of enforcement until the practice disappears.

The government alleged that PSI coordinated with three pharmaceutical manufacturers  Insys, Aegerion, and Alexion  to enable them to pay kickbacks to Medicare patients taking their drugs. PSI allegedly worked with these companies to design and operate certain funds that funneled money from the companies to patients taking the specific drugs the companies sold. These schemes allegedly minimized the possibility that the companies contributions to the funds would go to patients taking competing drugs made by other companies and undermined the nature of these contributions as bona fide donations. The United States previously entered into settlement agreements with Insys, Aegerion, and Alexion covering their use of PSI as a conduit to pay their patients copays.

As to Insys, the government alleged that, in late 2013, PSI and Insys began discussing a potential copayment assistance fund for Subsys, a sublingual form of fentanyl, a powerful opioid painkiller, which was approved for the treatment of breakthrough cancer pain in opioid-tolerant patients. The government further alleged that PSI worked with Insys to create the Breakthrough Cancer Pain fund, to which Insys was the only donor. The government also alleged that PSI allowed Insys to see the status of each patient that it referred to PSI, including whether that patient had received copay assistance from PSI and the amount of the assistance. The government alleged that PSI knew that Insys was referring patients to the Breakthrough Cancer Pain fund who did not have cancer, but PSI stated that it would only prevent off-label useif the Donor wants us to.

The government also alleged that, in 2013, at Aegerions request, PSI created a fund for homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH), which can be treated by Juxtapid, a drug that was sold by Aegerion. The government alleged that PSI allowed Aegerion to participate in establishing the patient eligibility criteria that PSI used to cover copayment obligations of patients taking Juxtapid, and PSIs HoFH fund allowed Aegerion to pay for Medicare patients copayments to eliminate any price sensitivity to physicians prescribing and patients taking Juxtapid.

The government further alleged that Alexion approached PSI in January 2010 to request that PSI create a fund to provide financial assistance to Soliris patients, including by paying patients Medicare copays and other medical expenses for Soliris patients. Soliris was indicated for the treatment of patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) to reduce hemolysis and for the treatment of patients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) to inhibit complement-mediated thrombotic microangiopathy. According to the government, except in rare instances, PSI provided financial assistance from the Complement Mediated Diseases (CMD) fund only if a patient was taking Soliris, and PSI reported information back to Alexion confirming the specific Soliris patients who were approved for copay or other financial assistance from PSI and through which PSI detailed payments to those patients.

Few things undermine public confidence quite like finding out the pharmaceutical companies and non-profits they entrust with their health and financial peace of mind have been playing fast and loose with the law. Schemes like these, and the individuals and organizations who perpetrate them, are an affliction on our health care systems, said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. This settlement demonstrates the FBIs resolve to ensure that patients receive care that is based solely on sound medical judgment, and not compromised by kickbacks.

PSI has agreed to a three-year Integrity Agreement (IA) with HHS-OIG as part of the settlement. The IA requires, among other things, that PSI implement measures designed to ensure that it operates independently and that its arrangements and interactions with pharmaceutical manufacturer donors are compliant with the law. In addition, the IA requires compliance-related certifications from PSIs Board of Directors and detailed reviews by an independent review organization.

Foundations operating patient assistance programs should operate with integrity and act independently from their donors, said Gregory E. Demske, Chief Counsel to the Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Our Integrity Agreement is designed to promote such independence and monitor the foundation to reduce the risk of future kickbacks.

The governments resolution of this matter illustrates the governments emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

The investigation was conducted by the Department of Justices Civil Division and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Massachusetts, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability.
As you may know by now, especially if you have seen his ads, the billionaire media mogul and former New York mayor is running for president by sitting out the first four primary states. Instead, in a television-age version of William McKinleys front-porch campaign, he is running ads everywhere while he focuses on the Super Tuesday primaries on March 3, when about 40% of all the partys convention delegates will be decided in one day.
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Friday said that a BJP leader had informed him that his phone was being tapped by the previous Devendra Fadnavis government in Maharashtra.

Mumbai: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Friday said that a BJP leader had informed him that his phone was being tapped by the previous Devendra Fadnavis government in Maharashtra.

On the NCP's allegation that the Centre has withdrawn party chief Sharad Pawar's security at his official residence in New Delhi, Raut said it could have been because Pawar was intrumental in forming the Shiv Sena-led government in the state.

"A BJP leader had told me that my phone was being tapped. I said if anybody wants to listen to what I am saying I welcome it. I am Balasaheb's chela (disciple), whatever I do, I do it openly," Raut told reporters. "In spite of the phone-tapping, we formed the government in Maharashtra," he said.

Raut's remarks come a day after Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh alleged that the Fadnavis dispensation misused government machinery to tap the phones of Opposition leaders, especially during the formation of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

"The cyber cell of Maharashtra police has been asked to look into the various complaints of snooping/phone tapping that came in during the previous government," Deshmukh had said on Thursday.

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh had earlier also alleged that phones of Opposition leaders were tapped by the Fadnavis government. He had also raised questions about the involvement of officials in the phone-tapping episode.

On the NCP's allegation about withdrawal of Sharad Pawar's security, Raut said, "It could have been because Pawar was instrumental in the formation of the Shiv Sena-led government in Maharashtra. A few years ago, he was attacked in Delhi. Even the Gandhis' SPG security was withdrawn recently."

The Rajya Sabha MP was referring to the Centre's recent move of withdrawing the Special Protection Group (SPG) cover of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her children Rahul and Priyanka.
OTTAWA - Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer sought Friday to put the Liberals on notice that despite the Tory leadership race, the Official Opposition won't rest.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/1/2020 (718 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA - Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer sought Friday to put the Liberals on notice that despite the Tory leadership race, the Official Opposition won't rest.

Scheer wished all the candidates well, but said given the Liberals' minority government, his caucus needs to stay sharp.

Leader of the Opposition Andrew Scheer rises to announce he will step down as leader of the Conservatives in the House of Commons in Ottawa on December 12, 2019. Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer gathers his MPs and senators around him today to plot strategy for Parliament's return on Monday. The caucus retreat comes at a time when many Tories are plotting their own strategies for how best to replace Scheer. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

"The Trudeau Liberals might think that our leadership race will give them a free ride," he said, in a speech to Tory MPs and senators before the House of Commons sits again Monday.

"They're wrong. We're all going to continue to be here in Ottawa, in the House of Commons, and on the committee floor every single day fighting for our vision for the country."

The meeting of the Conservative caucus came on the heels of a similar gathering of Liberal MPs, who were exhorted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to play nice with their opponents.

Scheer offered no similar pitch. He accused the Liberals of using their upcoming budget to buy votes from the Bloc Quebecois and NDP, and attacked a planned Liberal bill banning military-style assault rifles.

"This is an attack on law-abiding, responsible firearms owners," he said.

Liberals caucus chair Francis Scarpaleggia said it seems "premature for that kind of rhetoric" before Parliament has even begun to get down to work.

"Canadians, on a certain level, don't care about the politics. They want to see the results," he said.

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer delivers remarks to caucus colleagues during the Conservative caucus retreat on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Though Scheer may wish to focus his MPs and senators on the upcoming return of the Commons, the ongoing leadership contest does run up against those plans.

Former MP and cabinet minister Peter MacKay will formally unveil his campaign on Saturday, just as Scheer is wrapping the last day of his session with MPs. MacKay spent part of Friday tweeting out the names of members of Scheer's team who are now backing him for the leadership.

Meanwhile, current MP Erin O'Toole is also expected to launch his bid in the coming days. Foreign policy is expected to be a hot-button issue, with the Liberals facing heat on China and on relations with Iran. O'Toole has been the party's critic on the file for years, but will now have to vacate the post to follow his leadership ambitions.

Pierre Poilievre, who is the Tory finance critic, made a stunning announcement Thursday that he's not running for the leadership, citing the burden it would place on his family.

He said Friday he remains committed to his work on the Hill, and is stressing to other contenders the need for focus on fiscal issues.

MacKay's time with the party harkens back to one of its two predecessors, the Progressive Conservatives.

Stockwell Day, who briefly helmed the other  the Canadian Alliance  was also on hand for Friday's meeting. There are lessons from the experience of putting the two parties together, he said.

"One of the things that people learned in that era was whoever emerges as the leader, as the winner, let's all get behind him or her, whoever wins," he said.

"That was a hard learned lesson."

Calgary MP Michelle Rempel Garner, who has not ruled out running herself, said she is growing increasingly frustrated that the debate around the leadership race seems to be ignoring the western branch of the party.

Too much time has been spent talking about whether a leader ought to speak French, and how winning Quebec or Ontario is central, she said.

Western Canada's support is just looked at as a given and it's not, Rempel Garner said.

"I think there's enough people who are just looking at this and saying, 'What about us?'" she said.

So far, Alberta-based businessman Rick Peterson is the only declared candidate from west of Ontario. Former Edmonton MP and interim party leader Rona Ambrose had been high on many people's lists as a potential candidate, but she announced this week she won't run.

Meanwhile, the party continued to grapple with the fallout from comments from one potential contender this week. Quebec's Richard Decarie drew immediate condemnation from some in the party this week after he said he believes being LGBTQ is a choice, and that he'd withdraw funding for abortion services. It prompted rounds of questions to MPs on Friday about their own positions, and whether Decarie ought to be allowed to run.

Rempel Garner said she intends to ask the party to disqualify him as a candidate, on the grounds that if he'd said something similar while running to be an MP, he'd be kicked out.

"Our party is being defined by this conversation right now  what is this leadership committee going to do?" she said.

Candidates have until Feb. 27 to submit the first $25,000 of the $300,000 total entry fee and the first third of the 3,000 signatures required to enter. Decarie has said he is putting together his application.

After it's in, the leadership committee can decide whether or not to include him as a candidate.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 24, 2020.

With files from Joan Bryden
OTTAWA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 21, 2020 / The Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) is alarmed by the findings released today by the Correctional Investigator of Canada, including the record high rate of incarceration among First Nations, Inuit, and Metis women. Today's report shows that Indigenous women now represent 42-percent of incarcerated women in Canada. The total percentage of incarcerated Indigenous peoples has now surpassed 30-percent despite representing only 5-percent of the country's population.

"These findings are nothing short of problematic," says NWAC President Lorraine Whitman. "It is time that Canada recognizes the overrepresentation of Indigenous peoples in correctional systems. These findings are a symptom of historical and current systems of colonialism, racism and sexism against First Nations, Metis, and Inuit women."

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls' (MMIWG) Calls for Justice and the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action both demand transformative change within the criminal justice system. It is NWAC's position that all governments must commit to urgent action to address the growing and persistent cycle of colonial violence and genocide perpetrated against First Nations, Metis, and Inuit women, girls and gender-diverse people. NWAC urges the Federal Government to make changes to the correctional system, in partnership with Indigenous peoples, to amend systemic oppression and reduce recidivism as well as the social determinants of health that lead to crime.

"All levels of government need to take real action now to reduce the number of incarcerated Indigenous peoples," says Whitman. "To support the successful reintegration of Indigenous women in a holistic manner, the response needs to recognize the impacts of lived trauma and offer access to gender-based, culturally safe and trauma informed programs and services for women throughout their sentences and upon release."

Story continues

The MMIWG Report outlines the reality that Indigenous women, girls and gender-diverse people face in the criminal justice system, including the many societal issues that lead to their incarceration. The report's Calls for Justice demand comprehensive changes to the criminal justice system, including creating a Deputy Commissioner for Indigenous Corrections, mandatory cultural training for those involved in the legal system, and asking police services to change the way in which they handle cases involving Indigenous women, girls and gender-diverse people. NWAC has done significant analysis on these issues - to find out more, visit https://www.nwac.ca/policy-areas/prisons-criminalization/.

To find out more about the Office of the Correctional Investigator's report, visit https://www.ocibec.gc.ca/cnt/comm/press/press20200121-eng.aspx.

The Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) is founded on the collective goal to enhance, promote, and foster the social, economic, cultural and political well-being of First Nations, Metis and Inuit women. NWAC is an aggregate of thirteen Native women's organizations from across Canada and was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1974.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Andrew Ikeman

Senior Communications and Public Affairs Advisor

613.218.8849

aikeman@nwac.ca

www.nwac.ca

SOURCE: Native Womens Association of Canada





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/573812/Number-of-Incarcerated-Indigenous-Women-at-New-High




Norway is a country that is blessed with splendid natural beauty. Transportation in Norway is not just about going from one place to another, it also is a great way to explore the country. Modern technology and conveniences have made it easier to get around in Norway. These days, trains, boats, roads and a network of large and small airports have all made it easier to travel around the country.

Flying around in Norway

Norway has more than fifty airports. Almost all the large cities and towns have an airport for international and domestic flights. Most tourists arrive at Oslo airport. Domestic flights are a great option for those seeking to make the most of their time in Norway on a tight schedule with remote places to explore like North Cape and Svalbard.

Chasing The Northern Lights In Norway? Here's What You Should Keep In Mind

Hitchhike your way in Norway

If youre low on budget and still want to explore the culture and the beautiful scenery of Norway, hitchhiking might be the best option for you. If you do, it is better if you bring a tent with you which will give you the flexibility to sleep wherever you manage to get a ride to. If youre having trouble getting a ride, you can hang out at gas stations or truck stops and try to get a ride on a truck as truck drivers are usually happy with the company.

1,000-year-old Viking Ship Discovered Buried Next To Church In Norway

Travelling by Ferry

The only way to visit many of the isolated islands of Norway is by ferry. The ferries offer a scenic view of the country's beautiful fjords. All the ferries that make the voyage vary in age and style, but they all include a cafeteria and restaurant. Most ferries accommodate motor vehicles, but some coastal services allow only foot passengers and cyclists, as do the lake streamers.

Travel like locals

If you want to travel like a local in Norway, there are many options available for you. You can explore fjords in a public transport bus, take the subway to enjoy nature in snowy Oslo. You can also take a ride in The Bergen Railway. It is one of the most famous and popular train rides in the world. If Bergen Railway isnt enough for you, you can take the train across the Arctic Circle. It is one of few train rides in the world that lets you cross the polar circle.

Solo Travel: Things To Keep In Mind For A Perfect Getaway To Norway

Norway by Taxi

Taxi rides in Norway are a bit expensive. Thanks to efficient public transport, they can be easily avoided. Taxi stands are not difficult to spot in cities; you can also get a cab in the street or can order one by phone. Oslo Taxi offers service in the capital, and Norges Taxi is found in several cities.
After about 1:30 p.m., a man got in line behind about 10 people and seemed frustrated that the wait was so long. A security guard asked the man if he had a medical marijuana card, and he stated he did. The security guard called him to the front of the line, checked his card, and let him into the dispensary.
Publicis Worldwide, India has announced the appointment of Sanju Menon as Chief Operating Officer of Publicis Ambience and Publicis Beehive. Sanju takes over the reins from Paritosh Srivastava, who recently was elevated to the role of Managing Director of L&K Saatchi & Saatchi. Sanju will be responsible for driving the growth agenda while also providing fresh thinking and impetus to a host of brands under Publicis Ambience & Publicis Beehive.

Sanju assumed charge from January 2, 2020 and will report to Srija Chatterjee, MD, Publicis Worldwide, India.

Sanju joins Publicis Worldwide from Leo Burnett India where his last role was as Executive Vice President managing the entire Bajaj portfolio for the agency. Apart from Bajaj, he was also instrumental in inculcating and driving the Power of One philosophy for some of the largest brands across the Publicis Groupe including Jeep, Viacom, Bridgestone, Sketchers, Abbott Nutrition and Cholayil among others.

Commenting on the appointment, Srija Chatterjee said: Its been an emotional ride these past few days as one of our most dependable faces departs to take on a larger role at the Groupe level. But thats an exciting journey to undertake and Paritosh deserves every bit of the success that has come his way. Id like to thank Paritosh for setting up steady and solid-looking agencies under Publicis Ambience & Publicis Beehive. At the same time, Id like to welcome Sanju to the Publicis Worldwide family and can vouch for his credibility as one of the most exciting talents to watch out for. His credentials in driving growth and strategy and his team-bonding skills make him a prized asset to possess. I look forward to partnering him and carving out an upward trajectory for several brands under the Publicis stable.

Adding his views, Paritosh Srivastava said: Leaving is always tough, especially when its been a deep emotional relationship of over 8 years. Publicis Worldwide will always be close to my heart and will root for its success and glory. However, the silver lining is that no one better than Sanju Menon could have taken the mantle. Hes a fantastic human being and an incredible professional who will add amazing value to our wonderful clients. Im certain that he will take the agency to greater heights. My heartfelt wishes to Sanju, Srija, Ajay, Neeraj, Suraj, Sridhar and the entire PWW team for a great ride into the future.

On joining Publicis Worldwide, India Sanju Menon said: The last five years at Leo Burnett have been very rewarding. I will cherish the association I have had with the various teams I have worked with. With LBs rich history of innovation, these years have been of great learning too, and I hope to take every bit of it with me to Publicis Worldwide. From the outside, I have seen that Publicis Worldwide has fantastic talents and long-standing relationships with brands that are trusted, loved, and have enormous potential. Equipped with the Publicis Groupes Power of One philosophy and with the trust of our partners, I look forward to working with Srija and her talented team on building effective and innovative solutions that will make Publicis Worldwide more agile, and a powerhouse within the group. Im looking forward to being a part of this exciting new journey.

While at Leo Burnett, Sanju was responsible for delivering solutions for Bajaj across crucial functions like shopper and retail, activation, branded content, website development and maintenance, social and search. Some of his work for the iconic Indian brand went on to win top honors across reputed award festivals including Cannes Lions, Effies, Clio etc.

Sanju has been with Leo Burnett since 2015. He joined Leo Burnett from Rediffusion Kolkata where he worked as the Branch Head. He joined the agency as a brand associate in 2007 and grew to the position of business head in 2011 before moving on to head the operations from 2013. He started his advertising career with SN Design in 2005 and a year later joined Bates 141 as brand executive.

Also Read:

Publicis Beehive wins media mandate of UK-based Wellman

Publicis Beehive bags creative mandate of Balaji Wafers
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), a Central agency that looks into cases of terror, was on Friday directed to take over the investigation of the 2018 Bhima-Koregoan violence, in which activists and lawyers have been jailed for alleged Maoist links.

A decision has been taken to transfer the investigation to the NIA, said a senior official from the Union home ministry, who did not want to be named. However, the ministry, to which the NIA reports, refused to officially comment.

The move is likely to spark a tussle between the Bharatiya Janata Party-led (BJP) government at the Centre and the Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)-Congress government in Maharashtra over the issue of the Centre not consulting the state, which was reviewing the case investigations this week. Both the NCP and the Congress have criticised the Centres decision, calling it an encroachment on state powers.

Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh said the case was handed over to the NIA without the states consent.

The Central government chose to transfer it to NIA without taking our permission. The decision violates the Constitution and I condemn it, Deshmukh told the Hindustan Times.

Deshmukh said he came to know about the Centres decision around 9.30pm on Friday.

The Centres move is suspicious. If the state government is investigating any case, the Centre has to take its permission before handing over the same to the NIA. In this case, no such permission was taken. The Bhima-Koregan case is a very sensitive issue and the state government was probing the case seriously. I am surprised over the Centres move,Deshmukh added.

Violence had broken out near the Bhima-Koregaon war memorial in Pune on January 1, 2018, leaving one dead and several others injured. Dalits visit the memorial in large numbers as it commemorates the victory of British forces, which included Dalit Mahar soldiers, over the army of the Brahmin Peshwa rulers of Pune in 1818. The Pune Police had filed cases against activists and intellectuals linked to Left and Dalit movements, who had given speeches at Elgar Parishad, a gathering held on December 31, 2017. The activists were accused of inciting violence and were picked up in raids across the country. The police had claimed the organisers of the event had Maoist links. The Maoists are a banned terror group. The NIA has the power to take over investigations, which it feels has a bearing on national security.

On Thursday, Deshmukh had held a meeting with senior home department and police officials over starting a re-investigation into the case.

Significantly, NCP chief Sharad Pawar recently wrote a letter to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, demanding a probe by a special investigation team (SIT) in the case. Pawar said the erstwhile BJP-led government abused its power to book activists and called the arrests a conspiracy.

Pawar alleged that the action against them appeared vengeful and wrong and needed to be probed by an SIT headed by a judge or senior bureaucrat. He also alleged that few senior officials from the Pune Police commissionerate had misused their power and needed to be investigated.

Pawar had in December 2019, too, taken a press conference and demanded that the government appoint an independent probe to thoroughly investigate the case.

Meanwhile, Dalit leader and Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar described the Centres move suspicious.

The Central government is afraid that it has done something wrong and hence it haspicked its agency to probe the matter. It is time chief minister Uddhav Thackeray protests before the Central government that law-and-order is a state subject and state agencies will probe this matter, said Ambedkar.

This is undue interference into states matters. The Centre did not even consult the state government before asking NIA to take over the probe. There is something suspicious about it, said Congress leader and state public works minister Ashok Chavan.

NCP leader and state minister Chhagan Bhujbal said no state government can support such an action by the Centre and this will lead to anarchy.

The NIA can probe the case if either the high court or the Supreme Court passes an order or the state asks the Centre to hand over the case to NIA. Why the case was transferred to NIA now and not before is only because the government has changed here. I am of the view that the state should not share any information with NIA related to the case, Bhujbal said.

Earlier in the day, former minister of state for home Deepak Kesarkar said that cases registered against the left-wing activists for their involvement in the Elgar Parishad were in accordance with the evidence the police had come across.

I know the facts of the case and can say that the arrests were according to the evidence the police had. Even the court had admitted the veracity of the evidence. It would not be possible for me to reveal more information about the arrests as an independent panel led by retired judge JN Patel is probing the case. The facts will come to the fore once the probe is completed, said Kesarkar, who is a Sena leader.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Ardila Syakriah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, January 24, 2020 18:52 719 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2060e65f5 1 National coronavirus,Wuhan-coronavirus,Bali-Airport,sanglah-hospital Free

Two Chinese tourists suspected of being infected with the coronavirus have been receiving treatment in isolation at the Sanglah General Hospital in Bali since Thursday.

Bali Health Agency head Ketut Suarjaya said that the two Chinese tourists' conditions were getting better and that health officials were waiting for the patients' lab results.

"The lab examinations are being done by the [Health Ministry's] Health Research and Development Agency in Jakarta and the results will be out in 48 hours," he told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

Read also: Two Chinese tourists test negative for coronavirus in Bali

The two Chinese tourists are children who are siblings who reportedly suffered from fever.

Suarjaya said that another tourist from Mexico, formerly suspected of having the virus, had tested negative and had been released on Friday after being put under isolation at the same hospital for two days.

The Mexican national had been living in China for a long time before moving to the Philippines and Jakarta and had arrived in Bali on Jan. 9 and the man had reportedly complained of fever. (ars)
Ive never really felt homesick or lonely  in fact, I made things official by becoming an Australian citizen five years ago. Its probably relatively easy for Brits to get used to the Australian way of life because were quite similar, but what I love about Australia is not only that its bright and sunny and filled with exotic animals  although I do enjoy that  but that its a place where it feels like anything is possible.

It doesnt matter who you are or where you come from, you have as good a shot as anyone else to fulfil your ambitions. It doesnt get any better than that. Adjusting to Australian life hasnt been easy, but Im getting the hang of it. Jen Plahm, a 37-year-old PR consultant from Chicago, US, was working in Utah when she met Australian travel writer Craig Tansley. They married last July, two years after her move to Queensland. Jen Plahm and Craig Tansley.

If someone had said to me that I would one day move  not only to Australia, but to the Gold Coast  I would have thought they were crazy. I travelled to Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne each year for work, so, while the other cities werent unfamiliar, it was Melbourne that I felt connected to. With its fashion, lifestyle and weather, it reminds me of Chicago, which is another way of saying it feels a lot like home. Meeting Craig was just as surprising. Id moved to Park City in Utah for work, but it wasnt exactly noted for its dating scene for my age group  lots of 24-year-old ski bros or married men. Craig arrived in 2015 as part of a group media famil [familiarisation] that I was looking after and we hit it off right away, so much so that he extended his stay after everyone else went home. For the five days I hosted him, we spent our time doing the most insanely romantic things any two people could do: hot-air ballooning, horseback riding, candlelit dinners, and by the time I dropped him off at the airport, we were both like, How can we make this work? Loading Moving to Australia was not what you would call easy. We spent time travelling before we decided to settle on the Gold Coast, where Craigs family is, but there was so much paperwork and expense. We werent in the habit of putting photos of each other on our social media accounts, so that was an issue because those things are checked, as are the dates and times of any activities youve done together, letters or emails youve written, and even shared bills. After 20 months of work, I got my de facto visa and Im waiting to receive my permanent residency. I cant become an Australian citizen because it would mean having to forfeit my US citizenship; quite an ask. Living by the ocean and the change of pace are two of the things I love most about living in Australia. Here, people are relaxed and not so caught up with what you do or where you went to school. Its more about getting to know who you are as a person and I respect that. Also, in America you get two weeks off a year, but in Australia theres a holiday every other week and thats a way of life I can really get behind!

The adjustment to Australian life hasnt been as easy as I thought it would be, but Im starting to get the hang of it. At first, Craig would have to explain some of the common words that are shortened, such as Chrissie and servo, but now that Ive started asking How are you going? rather than How are you doing?, Im certain the rest will follow. It would be difficult to find anyone who loves Australia more than I do The relationship that brought her to Australia may not have worked out but Lucy Pearson, a 33-year-old book blogger at The Literary Edit, insists the best mistake I ever made led her to a love far greater. Lucy Pearson. You never expect your life to take on a different path just by catching the ferry, but sometimes it can be as simple as that. It was during a three-week holiday out here in 2015 that I raced to get onto the Manly ferry after a festival. I started talking to a guy with bare feet and a happy, relaxed attitude and when he asked me out on a date to watch the sunset over in Watsons Bay [in Sydneys eastern suburbs], I couldnt say yes fast enough; our connection was electric.

I cancelled my flight to Melbourne two days later, spent six days with him, then decided to pack up my life in London to move back here to be with him. It was all based on a feeling. Youd find it difficult to find anyone who loves Sydney as much as I do now, but I was never unhappy in England. I had a great job, lived in a lovely house, earned lots of money and enjoyed the company of a wonderful group of friends and family. It was only once I arrived here that I realised what a special place Australia is. Loading As my relationship with the guy began unravelling not long after I arrived, my passion for the country  and for Sydney itself  intensified. I love the relaxed nature of the locals (good luck finding a guy whod want to take you to watch a sunset back in England) and the community feeling you get, but its the coastal walks, the daily ocean swims and, yes, you know Im going to say the weather. The heartache when we finally broke up was painful, but I still swear he was the best mistake Ive ever made because he led me to my true love: Australia.
MBABANE  The absence of deputy presiding officers during the preparations for the State Opening of Parliament has raised eyebrows.



This was clearly evident yesterday during the first dress rehearsal held in preparation for the State Opening of Parliament by His Majesty King Mswati III, which is expected to take place next week Friday.

The deputies are Deputy Speaker Phila Buthelezi and Deputy Senate President Ndumiso Mdluli.



For the past three weeks, when the preparatory meetings have been held, the Speaker, Petros Mavimbela, has been in attendance and the last two including yesterdays, the Senate President Lindiwe Dlamini was in attendance.

The deputies normally stand in for the presiding officers when they are not available.



Preparations



Interviewed on his absence from any of the preparatory meetings including yesterdays rehearsal, Buthelezi, who is also Mantsanjeni North Member of Parliament (MP), said he had never been invited to any of the meetings.

It is sad as it would be interpreted as if one is boycotting the preparations yet this is not the case, said MP Buthelezi.



He said the State opening was for Parliament and that the chairman of the preparations was Clerk to Parliament Ndvuna Dlamini, who was the main organiser.

I think he is the one who identifies people who he thinks are important for the occasion to be successful, said Buthelezi.

This was after he was asked if he (Buthelezi) did not think that it was necessary for him to be part of the preparations, especially if anything could happen to the Speaker on the main day as he would have to stand in for him.



He said he had no way of knowing the dates if he did not get an invitation to be part of the preparations from the chairmans office.

The meetings have been announced and chaired by Ndvuna since they started. He also announced that the final rehearsal would be held next week Wednesday.



Buthelezi said to show the gravity of the situation, he had to learn about the official date of the opening like the rest of the countrys citizens through the media.

He said he believed that the duty to invite people needed for the preparations rested on the clerk to Parliament.



Rehearsal



Meanwhile, the clerk when contacted, said he believed that the politicians (Speaker and deputy) should be the ones to communicate among each other.

Ndvuna said he had already communicated with the Speaker and it only followed that the latter would communicate with Buthelezi.

I could not then overstep the Speaker and invite his deputy, said Dlamini, adding that he was not a politician.



However, Buthelezi insisted that for the State opening, the main person was the clerk to Parliament, who was the chairman of the preparations.

When contacted, the Speaker asked to give a proper response on Monday.



I have called the deputy and we have scheduled a meeting for Monday and only then can I comment, said Mavimbela.

On the other hand, the deputy Senate president said he had been aware of the rehearsal as he was informed by the Senate president.

However, I have not been well as I am on some medication, but I hope to attend the final rehearsal next Wednesday, said Mdluli.
The real-life man and legendary scammer behind Martin Scorseses The Wolf of Wall Street has filed a lawsuit against the films production company. Jordan Belfort is seeking $300 million in a fraud lawsuit against Red Granite Pictures and its CEO, Riza Aziz, Variety reported.

In the suit, Belfort claims he was not aware the film had been financed illegally with millions of dollars stolen from the Malaysian government. Red Granite CEO Aziz is currently facing corruption charges in Malaysia linked to allegations that he embezzled $248 million from state-run development fund 1MDB.

According to Belfort, the scandal has sullied the rights to his own story of scamming, and contends that Red Bank is no longer able to fully capitalize on the rights Belfort sold to his memoir and its sequel for the 2012 film.

Belfort was completely blindsided to learn, after the fact, of the source of funding for Red Granite and the film based on his book/story, as Defendants concealed these criminal acts and funding sources from him, the suit states. Had he known he certainly never would have sold the rights.

Back in 2017, however, Belfort suggested he was aware that all was not right at Red Granite, telling Finews.com that he knew the Red Granite execs were fucking criminals upon meeting.

I met these guys, and said to Anne (his fiancee) These guys are fing criminals,' Belfort said in the interview, adding that he knew the million dollar launch party the company threw a few months after buying the rights to Belforts story was an obvious red flag. I said to Anne, This is a fing scam, anybody who does this has stolen money. I knew it, it was so obvious.

In a statement Thursday, Red Granites attorney, Matthew Schwartz, dismissed Belforts lawsuit as nothing more than a desperate and supremely ironic attempt to get out from under an agreement that for the first time in his life made him rich and famous through lawful and legitimate means.

Subscribe here for our free daily newsletter.

The post Jordan Belfort Files Lawsuit Against Wolf of Wall Street Producers appeared first on InsideHook.
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee (Jude 1:9 KJV).

Michael is known as Gods "archangel" which means "chief angel." His name means "who is like God?" but who is he?

Michael, An Angel of God

Scripture often refers to Michael as a chief prince of the heavenlies. The Book of Daniel mentions him multiple times: in Daniel 10:13 as Michael, one of the chief princes and Daniel 12:1 where Michael, the great prince protects the people of Israel. In Daniel 10:21, There is no one with me who contends against these princes except Michael, your prince. He worked with another angel to answer Daniels prayer that God would turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill (Daniel 9:16). The reference above, from Jude, is one of only a few direct references to Michael.

What Does Michael Look Like?

The Bible does not help us here very much, although artists have imagined the Archangel Michael (and all angels) as beautiful, taller than humans, and powerful. Angels are spirit beings with some type of localized form  they occupy some space [...] adapted to the unseen spiritual realm.

Paul explains that not all flesh is alike and there are both heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one thing, and that of the earthly is another (1 Corinthians 15:39-40). Hebrews 13:2 tells us to remember to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

Therefore, they must sometimes take human form, but that form might not be obvious. A host of angels greeted shepherds watching their flocks on the night of Christs birth; their form was obvious and glorious. At other times, angels blend in with the crowd.

Archangel Michael in the End Times

The Archangel Michael will play a significant part in end-time events. Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise (Daniel 12:1). He might be the angel of 1 Thessalonians 4:16 of whom Paul writes the Lord Himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel's call and with the sound of God's trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. This angel leads a host of angels in a victorious war over Satan and His demons in Revelation 12.

Michael is not merely one of the angels but the head of a battalion of angels, though not their ultimate leader; that would be God. Christs apostles would have understood military hierarchy exemplified by the Roman system where Caesar was in command and the senate operated as an advisory body to Rome's magistrates. Top military officials were drawn from the senate, consisting of Roman citizens.

In other words, an angelic hierarchy would have made sense to listeners during the time of Christ, which is why artists have often depicted Michael as a warrior (here is an example by Raphael). Michael is portrayed as the great captain of angels and the warrior helping the children of Israel. He was recognized as the helper of the churchs armies against the heathen and against the attacks of the Devil and numerous representations of Michael in art reflect his character as a warrior.

Is Michael the Christ?

A controversial theory suggests that Michael was the pre-incarnate Christ. He is given the title of prince and shown to be a protector of the people Israel. Yet, the one who protects Israel is God Himself, says Don Stewart. My help comes from the LORD (Psalm 121:2-4). Many people argue that if God protects Israel, and Michael protects Israel, they must be one in the same. Moreover, when Christ returns, He will come with the voice, or cry of command, of the archangel (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

But, as Stewart points out, Michael is the chief prince of angels. Jesus is never given the title chief prince among His many names which include King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16). Michael is like the legatus Augusti proparetore who commanded an entire province. He is one of several commanders in the angelic army. He is not unique. Jesus is the one and only Son of God.

In Matthew 28:18, Jesus tells His disciples, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. This cannot be said of the Archangel Michael who, as Jude tells us, could not rebuke Satan; only God can do that. As one with the Father, Christ can rebuke the Devil also.

The real power is Christs authority to forgive sins, demonstrated by His sacrifice, by submission to Roman punishment, and His victory over death. Angels accomplish what humans imagined Christ would do  defeat armies  while only Christ could surpass the limits of human imagination and desire by accomplishing victory over what matters most  separation from God because of our sin.

Who Is the Archangel Michael to Us?

There really are angels; Scripture points to their existence too often to deny that God made them, and they serve a purpose in Gods kingdom. Angels are mighty ones who work for God (Psalm 103:20) using His authority and the power He gave them to fight Satan. We see that in the verses cited above. Wayne Grudem tells us that angels deliver messages, carry out some of Gods judgments, act as an example to us in their worship of and obedience to God, and patrol the earth as Gods representatives. They act on behalf of Gods people as per Gods command.

This should create a sense of wonder; that there are angels around us doing Gods will, invisible to humans. Elisha and his servant were surrounded by the force of Syria, and Elishas servant was terrified. Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them (2 Kings 6:16). Elisha could see what was invisible to most people: Gods forces at work on behalf of His people. Angels are at work around us, and it is tempting to become more enthralled with these beautiful, mighty creatures than with the Son of God.

Even as he fights Satan during the end times, however, the Archangel Michael will not be as powerful as the Messiah. We see Michael as a sword-carrying warrior against demons, but the blade we are most concerned with as Christians is the sword of the Word, an essential piece of the full armor of God (Ephesians 6).

What Does This Mean?

One must not worship anyone other than the Lord for, as John Gilhooly reminds us, to which of the angels did God ever say, You are my Son; today I have become your Father? (Hebrews 1:5). It is bad doctrine that makes creatures secure by creatures. The Bible repeatedly promises the very presence of God by the Spirit through faith. We ought to take comfort in the eternal God and his everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:27), not the arms of angels.

Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/ShaunJeffers

Candice Lucey is a freelance writer from British Columbia, Canada, where she lives with her family. Find out more about her here.
Passengers arriving at Los Angeles airport on Wednesday. MARK RALSTON (AFP)

The Spanish Health Ministry announced on Friday that two people in the country were under observation for symptoms of coronavirus. Both of them had recently arrived in Spain from the center of the current outbreak, the Chinese city of Wuhan. But later on Friday afternoon there was confirmation that tests on both the people had come back negative.

One of them has a very low probability [of having the disease], because the clinical characteristics are on the limit. And there is another which we are considering ruling out, because the incubation period has passed. There is no likelihood that they will test positive, said the director of the Health Ministrys Center for the Coordination of Health Emergencies, Fernando Simon, before the test results were known.

We are in flu season: any symptoms, even if you have traveled from the area, are likely to be flu

Fernando Simon, Center for the Coordination of Health Emergencies

Simon added that the Spanish health authorities have low, but active, concerns about the arrival of the virus in the country. The official went on to explain that a protocol is being prepared to deal with the pathogen.

The population should have a very low risk perception, he told reporters. If you are coming from Wuhan and you have symptoms, you should calmly head to your doctor. But we are in flu season: any symptoms, even if you have traveled from the area, are likely to be flu, he said.

The Spanish government is not currently planning on taking any special measures at the countrys airports, given that there are no direct flights from Wuhan to Spain, and whats more, in Simons words, this kind of measure has not proven to be effective. For now, only countries that have a direct air connection with the Chinese city are implementing such protocols.

The coronavirus has already caused 26 deaths and sickened 900 people in China, and more infections have been discovered in just over a dozen countries among people who recently traveled to the city, where a travel lock-down is in effect.

English version by Simon Hunter.
The death toll in China's alarmingly new afflictions has climbed to 25 with confirmed cases rising sharply to 830, the Chinese health authorities said on Friday.

The pneumonia situation had resulted in 25 deaths, including 24 in central China's Hubei province and one in north China's Hebei, the National Health Commission said.

By Thursday, 830 confirmed cases of pneumonia, caused by the novel (2019-nCoV), had been reported in 29 provincial-level regions in the country, it said.

A total of 1,072 suspected cases have been reported in 20 provincial-level regions, according to the National Health Commission.

As the virus spread in the country and the world, China on Thursday locked down five cities, including Wuhan, suspending all public transport in an unprecedented move to contain the coronavirus, dampening the celebrations of the Lunar New Year.



On Thursday evening, Chinese officials announced suspension of public transport in five cities - Huanggang, Ezhou, Zhijiang, Qianjiang and Wuhan in Hubei province, official media reported.

Wuhan, the city of 11 million people where the virus is believed to have first emerged, has no trains or planes in or out.

According to the health commission in northern Hebei province, which borders Beijing, an 80-year-old man diagnosed with the new virus died on January 22.

The victims' average age was 73, with the oldest 89 and the youngest 48. So far 631 cases have been confirmed in 25 provincial-level regions in the country.

The Wuhan lockdown is a cause of concern for Indian students who still remained there. The city has about 700 Indian students, majority of them studying medicine. However, most of the students have apparently left for home for holidays.

As concerns grew over their safety, the Indian Embassy on Thursday opened helplines and established contacts with the concerned Chinese officials to ensure food and other supplies for those who remained in the city.

In new disclosure, Chinese officials on Thursday confirmed fresh cases of in people who did not even travel to Wuhan recently.

The National Health Commission also reported increasing number of cases with no exposure to Wuhan's Hunan seafood wholesale market, which is believed to be related to most of the infected cases. The cases without confirmed exposure to the market have been found overseas.

The virus, which a doctor in Wuhan told BBC is spreading at an alarming rate, has dampened the Chinese New Year celebrations beginning Friday.

Chinese all over the world formally bid goodbye to the year of the pig and welcome the year of rat on Friday and welcomed the year of Rat. The Chinese government has given week long holiday.

In view of virus scare, several cities including Beijing have cancelled special events. The festival is also known as the Spring Festival.

Large cultural activities during spring festival in Beijing such as temple fairs were cancelled to prevent the spread of the virus.
During his visit to Morocco, the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced 2 Canada-supported projects totalling more than $13.9 million. The projects will address priorities shared by Canada and Morocco, including womens economic empowerment and entrepreneurship and sustainable economic development.

Development of forestry cooperatives and empowerment of women in the Middle Atlas ($8.2 million over 5 years)

In partnership with the Societe de cooperation pour le developpement international [international development cooperation society], this project will support the integration of women in economic activities related to growing rosemary and cedar. It will include programs on the importance and benefits of egalitarian relationships within households, literacy and womens leadership and administrative management. These programs will be coupled with fields of study combining technical agri-environmental considerations and climate change adaptation, as well as gender awareness.

Empowering women through sustainable entrepreneurship ($5.7 million over 5 years)

In partnership with Care Canada, this project aims to strengthen the capacity of new enterprises and the acceleration of existing cooperatives. The goal is to create profitable and sustainable economic enterprises with opportunities for women in the labour market.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 15:36:46|Editor: Wang Yamei

Video Player Close

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. House managers, a group of seven Democrats acting as prosecutors, tried on Thursday to convince senators that President Donald Trump abused the power of his office, as his impeachment trial entered its third day.

"Trump abused his authority as commander-in-chief and chief diplomat to benefit himself," said Adam Schiff, the lead manager who as House Intelligence Committee chairman has led the impeachment inquiry.

"And he betrayed the interests of the American people when he did so," the California Democrat added.

Abuse of power is the charge of one of the two articles of impeachment against Trump that were passed in the Democratic-controlled House in December, making him the third president in U.S. history to be impeached.

The president has been accused of benefiting himself in the upcoming 2020 presidential election by asking Ukraine to investigate his political rivals.

In urging the Senate to convict Trump and remove him from office, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler said during his presentation that the U.S. Constitution "does not leave us stuck with presidents who abuse their power in unforeseen ways that threaten our security and democracy."

"No one anticipated that a president would stoop to this misconduct and Congress has passed no specific law to make this behavior a crime," said the New York Democrat, also an impeachment manager. "Yet this is precisely the kind of abuse that the framers had in mind when they wrote the impeachment clause."

Stretching over nine hours, concluding past 10 p.m. ET (0300 GMT), Thursday's session made many senators, who by impeachment rules are not allowed to speak when hearing arguments, feel fatigued. "They're laying out their case multiple times," James Lankford, a Republican senator from Oklahoma, said of the House managers' arguments.

"They spent a lot of the big chunk of the center part of the day, really, talking about things that are not relevant or that are policy issues -- for instance, firing an ambassador -- not taking the advice of career professionals. All those things, those are not impeachable," he said.

On Friday, the last day allotted to the managers to present their case, Democrats will make their final move to prove that Trump obstructed Congress.

Then on Saturday, Trump's legal defense team will take the stage to refute the managers' claims and argue for the president.

Senators and aides of both parties are reportedly expecting a shorter, morning-only trial session on Saturday, with senators allowed to leave town for weekend.
The Guam Police Department's Highway Patrol Division will conduct Driving While Intoxicated checkpoints starting Sunday, Jan. 26, and through the month February, according to a press release.

Areas of concentration for the DWI checkpoints include:

 Route 1 Marine Corps Drive, Dededo to Hagatna;

 Route 14 Chalan San Vitores, Tumon

Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request.

 Route 10 Vietnam Veterans Highway, Barrigada to Chalan Pago Route 16 Army Drive, Barrigada to Dededo

 Route 8 Purple Heart Memorial Highway, Maite to Barrigada Route 4 Chalan Kanton Tasi, Hagatna to Chalan Pago

GPD asks motorists to drive slowly when entering the checkpoint as officers will be situated along the roadways.

GPD also "reminds the community to designate a responsible sober driver when celebrating with adult beverages and recreational cannabis."
UPDATE: 10:24 p.m. Monday, March 16 - Coronavirus-related cancellations are hitting close to home. Action News Now has been following the Las Plumas-Oroville Alliance Band journey to Carnegie Hall in New York from the start.

Sadly, the latest on the Las Plumas-Oroville Alliance Band slated to perform at Carnegie Hall in April has been canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Donations can be made at:

LPO Band Boosters

P.O. Box 1455

Oroville, CA 95965

Tax ID: 68-0029625

For months, the band worked hard to raise the necessary funds but learned late Friday the trip had been called off. Community donations exceeded their original goal, they raised over $264,000.

The Las Plumas-Oroville Alliance band announced on Facebook, "We will be working with World Strides in the coming days to determine our options going forward. They are opening the door to allow us to perform anywhere during the 2020/2021 school year!

Please be patient with us as we work through this process. We will be working out a plan for reimbursement that will take us a few weeks to resolve with World Strides."

The band added, they still plan to move forward in providing the preview concert scheduled for April 3 at the Historic Oroville State Theater.

---

UPDATE: 10:56 p.m. Monday, March 9 - Community support comes through, and the Las Plumas-Oroville Alliance Band will get to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York.

Band supporters announced Saturday night that community donations exceeded their original goal, and they have raised more than $264,000 to pay for the trip.

The band will travel to New York to perform in April. As a thank you to the community, they will perform a free preview concert on the evening of April 3 at the Historic State Theater in Downtown Oroville.

View a video of the announcement in the video player below:

---

UPDATE: 12:46 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25 - Members of the Las Plumas Oroville Band Alliance have been given an extension to meet their fundraising goal that they must meet in order to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York.

Their total fundraising amount is $210,000 and now the group only needs to raise $2,255! If you would like to donate, click the link at the bottom of this article.

---

UPDATE: 10:48 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12 - Traditionally when you ask someone how to get to Carnegie Hall the answer is to practice over and over.

For members of the Las Plumas Oroville Band Alliance, the answer includes fundraising. Action News Now learned in January about these teen musicians invited to perform at Carnegie Hall, in New York in the spring of 2020.

The catch, the musicians must reach their total fundraising amount of $210,000 by Sunday, Feb. 23.

The band director said the group is now just $11,500 shy of that amount! To support the band and the effort to get to the stage of Carnegie Hall, Walker says donations can also be made the LPO Band Boosters. Scroll to the bottom of this article for the address.

You can also help out by attending their final fundraising event on Feb. 22 at the Chico Theatre company's production of the Music Man.

---

OROVILLE, Calif.  Members of a local high school band are in the final weeks of practice and fundraising, as they set their sights on performing at New Yorks famed Carnegie Hall.

For young members of the Las Plumas/Oroville Alliance Band, the focus now is practice and then even more practice.

They are preparing to take the stage for what many consider a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

18-year-old Oceanna Warnock plays the trombone. She says when she first heard about the trip, she was excited and almost in disbelief.

17-year-old Jaiden Garten plays the trumpet. She says she has always wanted to visit New York City.

The band is slated to perform Saturday, April 11, 2020. The invite to take the stage came last fall after the band won a competition in Seattle in 2018. From that moment, the push was on to raise the necessary $210,000 to make the trip.

This is clarinet player Thomas Houles first year in high school, so the upcoming trip is even more exciting for him. The 14-year-old says he is up for the challenge.

Action News Now Morning Anchor Julia Yarbough spent some time with the band and the director in these final weeks before the big performance.

Director Michael Walker says the young musicians are fine-tuning three musical scores they will perform, during a 25-minute set on-stage; two orchestral pieces and a military-style piece. He says afterward, band members will have the opportunity to have their work and performances reviewed and critiqued by a team of musical pros from Carnegie Hall.

The fundraising deadline is fast approaching; February 23, 2020. The band still needs $18,000 to reach its goal. And now the band director is making another appeal to the community to help the students reach that goal.

Walker says the band needs the publics help in order to make sure the students are able to get to New York and perform at Carnegie Hall and provide an experience that the entire community can be a part of.

Walker says the public now has another artistic avenue to help support the band. A lifelong musician and performer himself, Walker is taking to the stage with the Chico Theatre Company, as the for the upcoming production of The Music Man.

He says the theatre has agreed to partner with the band; allowing members to fundraise during the performances. The Music Man opens Friday, January 24, 2020, and runs through February 16, 2020.

To support the band and the effort to get to the stage of Carnegie Hall, Walker says donations can also be made the LPO Band Boosters.

Donations can be made at:

LPO Band Boosters

P.O. Box 1455

Oroville, CA 95965

Tax ID: 68-0029625

For more information on the Chico Theatre Companys production of The Music Man, click here.
Four aid workers for a French Christian charity disappeared this week in Baghdad at at time of heightened tension in Iraq, the organization said Friday,



The charity, SOS Chrtiens d'Orient, said the four three French citizens and an Iraqi failed to show up for a scheduled meeting Tuesday afternoon and have not been heard from since.

All four had prior experience in crisis zones and were staying at a hotel that regularly hosts international guests. They were in Baghdad primarily for administrative reasons, to renew visas and register the charity with the Iraqi government.

The group said there have been no ransom demands. French and Iraqi authorities are cooperating in the investigation.

The four went missing during a time of heightened tensions in Iraq after a US drone strike on Baghdad airport that killed Iranian Gen Qassem Soleimani and a senior Iraqi militia commander, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

The attack has drawn anger from Iraqi officials from across the political divide and lead to a Jan. 5 non-binding parliamentary resolution to oust U.S. troops from the country.

Iran-backed militia groups have also sworn to avenge the killings.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NEW YORK, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brookfield Public Securities Group LLC (Brookfield) announced that, at the Joint Special Meeting of Stockholders (the Special Meeting) held earlier today, stockholders of Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc. (NYSE: RA) approved the proposal to issue additional shares of common stock to effect the proposed reorganization of Brookfield Global Listed Infrastructure Income Fund Inc. (NYSE: INF) into RA, and that the Special Meeting was adjourned with respect to the proposal to reorganize INF into RA (the Reorganization) until 8:30 a.m., Eastern Time, on Friday, February 7, 2020. As of the Special Meeting date, approximately 96% of stockholders voting for INF had voted in favor of the Reorganization. However, the Special Meeting has been adjourned to allow for further solicitation of INF stockholders to meet the requirement that the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the proposal vote in favor of the Reorganization. As of the Special Meeting date, INF needs an additional 3.2% of its outstanding shares to vote in favor of the Reorganization in order to approve the proposal.



During the period of the adjournment, Brookfield will continue to solicit proxies from stockholders of INF with respect to the Reorganization proposal set forth in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus. If a stockholder has previously submitted its proxy card and does not wish to change its vote, no further action is required by such stockholder.

Stockholders of INF are strongly encouraged to vote. Stockholders of record as of November 8, 2019 may vote by visiting the Internet at www.proxyonline.com/docs/brookfieldfunds2020.pdf, calling toll-free 1-866-387-9392 or by returning proxy cards.

If you have any questions regarding the proposals, or require duplicative proxy materials, please contact AST Fund Solutions, LLC at 1-866-387-9392. You may find additional information at www.sec.gov or by visiting https://publicsecurities.brookfield.com/en .

Additional Information about the Proposed Reorganization and Where to Find It

This press release is not intended to, and shall not, constitute an offer to purchase or sell shares of any of the Funds, including Brookfield Global Listed Infrastructure Income Fund Inc. or Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc.; nor is this press release intended to solicit a proxy from any stockholder of either Fund. Please refer to the final, effective Registration Statement, which includes a definitive Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus, for information concerning the Reorganization and accompanying proposals.

The Funds and their respective directors, officers and employees, and Brookfield Public Securities Group LLC, and its shareholders, officers and employees and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies with respect to the proposed Reorganization. Investors and stockholders may obtain more detailed information regarding the direct and indirect interests of the Funds' respective directors, officers and employees, and Brookfield Public Securities Group LLC and its shareholders, officers and employees and other persons by reading the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus regarding the proposed Reorganization.

INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF THE FUNDS ARE URGED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED REORGANIZATION. INVESTORS SHOULD CONSIDER THE INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, RISKS, CHARGES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUNDS CAREFULLY. THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS CONTAINS INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES, RISKS, CHARGES AND EXPENSES OF THE FUNDS AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS. The Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus constitutes neither an offer to sell securities, nor constitutes a solicitation of an offer to buy securities, in any state where such offer or sale is not permitted.

Investors may obtain free copies of the Registration Statement and Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov . In addition, free copies of the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC may also be obtained after the Registration Statement becomes effective by directing a request to Brookfield Public Securities Group LLC at (855) 777-8001. In addition, subsequent communications with respect to the Reorganization will be made via public press release such as this one and/or posted on www.brookfield.com .

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this news release that are not historical facts are referred to as "forward-looking statements" under the U.S. federal securities laws. Actual future results or occurrences may differ significantly from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Generally, the words "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "project," "will" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. Forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from the historical experience of Brookfield Public Securities Group LLC and the Funds managed by Brookfield Public Securities Group LLC and its present expectations or projections. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Brookfield Public Securities Group LLC and the Funds managed by Brookfield Public Securities Group LLC undertake no responsibility to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements.

Brookfield Public Securities Group LLC (PSG) is an SEC-registered investment adviser that represents the Public Securities platform of Brookfield Asset Management Inc., providing global listed real assets strategies including real estate equities, infrastructure equities, energy infrastructure equities, multi-strategy real asset solutions and real asset debt. With more than $19 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2019, PSG manages separate accounts, registered funds and opportunistic strategies for financial institutions, public and private pension plans, insurance companies, endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth funds and individual investors. PSG is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Brookfield Asset Management Inc., a leading global alternative asset manager with over $500 billion of assets under management as of September 30, 2019. For more information, go to www.brookfield.com .

Brookfield Global Listed Infrastructure Income Fund Inc. and Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc. are managed by Brookfield Public Securities Group LLC. The Funds use their websites as a channel of distribution of material company information. Financial and other material information regarding the Funds is routinely posted on and accessible at www.brookfield.com .

COMPANY CONTACT

Brookfield Global Listed Infrastructure Income Fund Inc.

Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc.

Brookfield Place

250 Vesey Street, 15th Floor

New York, NY 10281-1023

(855) 777-8001

publicsecurities.enquiries@brookfield.com

Investing involves risk; principal loss is possible. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

Quasar Distributors, LLC, provides filing administration for Brookfield Global Listed Infrastructure Income Fund Inc. and Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc.
SAN DIEGO, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NEOVOLTA INC. (OTCQB: NEOV)  Home solar panels have been around since the 1970s, but now it seems everyones talking about solar plus storage. These systems store a homes self-generated solar power in a battery for nighttime use, when the rooftop panels arent producing and utility rates are highest, or as backup power in case of a blackout. After closing the decade with record growth , the residential solar plus storage market is set for takeoff in the 2020s. Analysts predict that one in five of all solar systems installed in 2020 will be paired with storage.



Why are solar storage systems becoming so popular? The first reason is financial. Utility rates are constantly on the rise, and its no secret that Californians pay some of the highest electricity prices in the nation. Homeowners who install solar storage can achieve significant savings on their monthly bill, making storage systems a sound investment. With state and federal incentives, storage becomes even more cost-effective.

The second reason is the emerging need for energy resilience . The global climate crisis is creating extreme weather conditions, including a longer and more intense wildfire season in California. As a preventive measure, the states largest utility companies have resorted to public safety power shutdowns. During the 2019 wildfire season, millions of Californians had their power cut, often for several grueling days. Californians have been told to expect these another decade of these blackouts . As a result, homeowners are adopting solar plus storage .

San Diegobased NeoVolta is one manufacturer positioned to meet this growing demand. Its NV14 advanced energy storage system was recently named one of Solar Power Worlds  2019 Top Solar Storage Products . The NV14 was recognized for its safe, long-lasting battery, high capacity and compatibility with any home solar installationnew or existing, AC or DC or both. When the grid goes down, the NV14 automatically disconnects from the grid and seamlessly powers the critical loads needed to keep a home comfortable and connected.

With the upcoming release of the NV24 battery add-on, the NV14s storage capacity can be nearly doubled to 24.0 kWhwithout the expense of installing a second inverter. The NV14 combined with the NV24 is one of the highest-capacity systems on the market.

In June 2019, NeoVolta moved to a 21,150-square-foot manufacturing facility that expanded its production capacity by 300%. The facility is now capable of rolling out more than 8,000 NV14 and 4,000 NV24 units each year.

NeoVolta has established a dealer network in Southern California, where the NV14/NV24 is approved for connection with the San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison power grids. Installation will become available in Northern California in mid-2020.

As more California homeowners realize the financial advantages and the security provided by solar plus storage, the market will see dramatic growth, said NeoVolta CEO Brent Willson. NeoVolta is ready to meet this challenge. Our energy storage solutions are certified by the California Energy Commission and backed by a ten-year warranty.

About NeoVolta - NeoVolta designs, develops and manufactures utility-bill reducing residential energy storage batteries capable of powering your home even when the grid goes down. With a focus on safer Lithium-Iron Phosphate chemistry, the NV14 is equipped with a solar rechargeable 14.4 kWh battery, a 7,680-Watt inverter and a web-based energy management system with 24/7 monitoring. By storing energy instead of sending it back to the grid, consumers can protect themselves against blackouts, avoid expensive peak demand electricity rates charged by utility companies when solar panels arent producing, and get one step closer to grid independence.

Forward-Looking Statements: Some of the statements in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation, the continued increase in utility rates. Although NeoVolta believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, expectations may prove to have been materially different from the results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. NeoVolta has attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology including ''believes,'' ''estimates,'' ''anticipates,'' ''expects,'' ''plans,'' ''projects,'' ''intends,'' ''potential,'' ''may,'' ''could,'' ''might,'' ''will,'' ''should,'' ''approximately'' or other words that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including those discussed under the "Risk Factors" section of NeoVoltas Form 1-A filing filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") and updated from time to time in its other public filings with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements contained in this release speak only as of its date. NeoVolta undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release to reflect events or circumstances occurring after its date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Luong Thi Le Thuy General Director Cisco Systems Vietnam

It has been 20 years since Cisco opened its very first office in Hanoi, doubling down on its presence and operations in the country since 1990. Throughout such a long journey, Cisco Systems Vietnam (Cisco Vietnam) has grown into a business that not only provides high-value products and services but also plays an active and positive role in the country under the vision change the way people live, play and learn".

Cisco Vietnam's journey went from building infrastructure to training and educating human resources and then to accompanying enterprises to apply IT into their business operations.

First of all, the company was involved in making the internet work in Vietnam since its very first days in the 1990s. Besides, in 2001, Cisco Networking Academy was established offering an IT skills and career-building programme for learning institutions and individuals worldwide. Courses are designed to be taken at participants' own pace, at any point in their career journey. More than 6 million people have joined Networking Academy and become a force for change in the global economy.

In order to show its long-term investment commitment in Vietnam, in 2004, Cisco switched into the 100 per cent foreign-invested enterprise (FIE) model, and in 2017, the company reported a revenue of $100 million for the first time.

Cisco Vietnam has conducted multiple activities to support 5G transformation/development. The overall potential of 5G rollout in the ASEAN is substantial, and to exploit the full potential, each country needs to address its own challenges. In Vietnams case, the rollout of 5G services will require substantial investments in technology to modernise underlying networks. Accordingly, the company focuses on the creativity and development of its products and services so that they may benefit partners in the most efficient ways. These partners will be startup enterprises, as well as Tier 1 and Tier 2 companies. Cisco collaborates closely with the Vietnamese government or government agencies to work on building essential regulations helping 5G rollout in Vietnam. Besides, the company implements many activities for different partners. With a network of more than 500 partners, Cisco Networking Academy's well-organised workshops on a monthly and quarterly basis are among Cisco's focus to make meaningful contributions and generate value to Vietnam.

As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, we look forward to continuing to contribute to Vietnam and maintain our partnership with the government, businesses, and citizens in a shared future. Cisco is performing effectively as global technology leader in Vietnam and I am confident that it will continue to make a meaningful contribution to the countrys ICT development for many years to come, Luong Thi Le Thuy, managing director of Cisco in Vietnam.

Accompanying Vietnams digital transformation

According to forecasts by Cisco, digital transformation and the application of new technology of the Fourth Industrial Revolution into business and production are a hot topic and Vietnamese companies are aware that the advent of Industry 4.0 will negate certain advantages in the coming years. It has been so great that a certain number of Vietnamese enterprises have perceived that the rollout of 5G services will play a key role in accelerating the digitalisation of businesses and bring substantial benefits.

Besides, telecom operators are likely to continue to invest in upgrading their 4G networks and build 5G capabilities in a phased manner to help the operators manage their capex and ROI in a sustainable manner. Thus, Cisco is also committed to bringing the benefits of responsible, ethical, and long-term foreign investment. The company continues seeking to play an active and positive role in the country under the vision change the way people live, play and learn, especially in the ICT industry.

We bring our newest offerings with the aim of helping the Vietnamese government and companies carry out their digital transformation successfully. Our technologies can be categorised into four areas. First is digital network architecture, which allows companies to innovate faster and simplify their operations, while decreasing risks. Second are solutions in terms of data centres, cloud, and analytics. Third are collaborative solutions that allow companies to change the way they operate and exchange information. Fourth are security solutions that protect companies in the digital environment, Thuy said.

In order to realise its commitments, Cisco introduced a series of innovations, including Cisco Silicon OneTM, the industrys only networking silicon architecture of its kind; released the new Cisco 8000 Series, the worlds most powerful carrier-class routers built on the new silicon; and announced new purchasing options that enable customers to consume the companys technology through disaggregated business models.

Innovation requires focused investment, the right team, and a culture that values imagination," said Chuck Robbins, chairman and CEO of Cisco. "We are dedicated to transforming the industry to build a new internet for the 5G era. Our latest solutions in silicon, optics, and software represent the continued innovation we're driving that helps our customers stay ahead of the curve and create new, ground-breaking experiences for their customers and end users for decades to come.

However, to live up to the full potential, Vietnam will need to address major challenges. This will require a co-ordinated effort from all stakeholders  regulators, operators, and enterprises. Given the ecosystem challenges and the large value at stake, regulators will play a central role. Among the key issues that regulators would need to take the lead on are: ensuring near-term spectrum availability, fostering infrastructure sharing, and nurturing the development of national cybersecurity capabilities across the region.
Elizabeth Warren was confronted by an angry father at a campaign event in Iowa by an angry father who took issue with her plan to forgive student loan debts.

Arguing that those who paid for college tuition themselves would be screwed by her proposal, he confronted the Democratic senator on Monday at a presidential campaign town hall in Grimes, Iowa.

Having waited patiently in line for a photo, he said: I just wanted to ask one question. My daughter is getting out of school. I've saved all my money. She doesn't have any student loans. Am I going to get my money back?

Of course not, Senator Warren replied.

So you're going to pay for people who didn't save any money and those of us who did the right thing get screwed, replied the man in an infuriated tone.

The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Show all 25 1 /25 The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Bernie Sanders The Vermont senator has launched a second bid for president after losing out to Hilary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primaries. He is running on a similar platform of democratic socialist reform Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Joe Biden The former vice president recently faced scrutiny for inappropriate touching of women, but was thought to deal with the criticism well and has since maintained a front runner status in national polling EPA The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Elizabeth Warren The Massachusetts senator is a progressive Democrat, and a major supporter of regulating Wall Street Reuters The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Amy Klobuchar Klobuchar is a Minnesota senator who earned praise for her contribution to the Brett Kavanaugh hearings Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Michael Bloomberg Michael Bloomberg, a late addition to the 2020 race, announced his candidacy after months of speculation in November. He has launched a massive ad-buying campaign and issued an apology for the controversial "stop and frisk" programme that adversely impacted minority communities in New York City when he was mayor Getty Images The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Tulsi Gabbard The Hawaii congresswoman announced her candidacy in January, but has faced tough questions on her past comments on LGBT+ rights and her stance on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Pete Buttigieg The centrist Indiana mayor and war veteran would be the first openly LGBT+ president in American history Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Deval Patrick The former Massachusetts governor launched a late 2020 candidacy and received very little reception. With just a few short months until the first voters flock to the polls, the former governor is running as a centrist and believes he can unite the party's various voting blocs AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Beto O'Rourke The former Texas congressman formally launched his bid for the presidency in March. He ran on a progressive platform, stating that the US is driven by "gross differences in opportunity and outcome" AP The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Kamala Harris The former California attorney general was introduced to the national stage during Jeff Sessions testimony. She has endorsed Medicare-for-all and proposed a major tax-credit for the middle class AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Bill De Blasio The New York mayor announced his bid on 16 May 2019. He emerged in 2013 as a leading voice in the left wing of his party but struggled to build a national profile and has suffered a number of political setbacks in his time as mayor AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Steve Bullock The Montana governor announced his bid on 14 May. He stated "We need to defeat Donald Trump in 2020 and defeat the corrupt system that lets campaign money drown out the people's voice, so we can finally make good on the promise of a fair shot for everyone." He also highlighted the fact that he won the governor's seat in a red [Republican] state Reuters The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Cory Booker The New Jersey Senator has focused on restoring kindness and civility in American politics throughout his campaign, though he has failed to secure the same level of support and fundraising as several other senators running for the White House in 2020 Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Wayne Messam Mayor of the city of Miramar in the Miami metropolitan area, Wayne Messam said he intended to run on a progressive platform against the "broken" federal government. He favours gun regulations and was a signatory to a letter from some 400 mayors condemning President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord Vice News The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Kirsten Gillibrand The New York Senator formally announced her presidential bid in January, saying that healthcare should be a right, not a privilege Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: John Delaney The Maryland congressman was the first to launch his bid for presidency, making the announcement in 2017 AP The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Andrew Yang The entrepreneur announced his presidential candidacy by pledging that he would introduce a universal basic income of $1,000 a month to every American over the age of 18 Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Julian Castro The former San Antonio mayor announced his candidacy in January and said that his running has a special meaning for the Latino community in the US Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Marianne Williamson The author and spiritual adviser has announced her intention to run for president. She had previously run for congress as an independent in 2014 but was unsuccessful Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Eric Swalwell One of the younger candidates, Swalwell has served on multiple committees in the House of Representatives. He intended to make gun control central to his campaign but dropped out after his team said it was clear there was no path to victory Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Seth Moulton A Massachusetts congressman, Moulton is a former US soldier who is best known for trying to stop Nancy Pelosi from becoming speaker of the house. He dropped out of the race after not polling well in key states Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Jay Inslee Inslee has been governor of Washington since 2013. His bid was centred around climate change AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: John Hickenlooper The former governor of Colorado aimed to sell himself as an effective leader who was open to compromise, but failed to make a splash on the national stage Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Tim Ryan Ohio representative Tim Ryan ran on a campaign that hinged on his working class roots, though his messaging did not appear to resonate with voters Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Tom Steyer Democratic presidential hopeful billionaire and philanthropist Tom Steyer is a longtime Democratic donor AFP/Getty

Warren begins to respond, but the man cuts her off and continues: Of course we did. My buddy had fun, bought a car, went on vacations. I saved my money.

He made more than I did. But I worked a double shift, worked extra  my daughter worked since she was 10. So, you're laughing at us, he continued.

No, I'm not, said Warren.

Yeah, that's exactly what you're doing, he said. We did the right thing, and we get screwed, he added.

I appreciate your time, said Warren, seeming to offer a handshake.

No, thats alright, the frustrated man says, walking off and dismissing her gesture.

One of Warrens campaign slogans is I have a plan for that!, and she has pledged to eliminate student loan debt of up to $50,000 for households making under $100,000.

This would apply to approximately 95 per cent of borrowers (around 42 million people) and would completely wipe out debt for 75 per cent of those.

There are also plans for the Secretary of Education to rein in the for-profit college industry, crack down on predatory student lending, and combat the racial disparities in our higher education system.

Warren has promised to implement her college plan through executive action, therefore bypassing Congress.

According to fivethirtyeight.com, Warren is currently in fourth place in the Iowa polls with 16.4 per cent, behind Buttigieg (16.6 per cent), Sanders (17.8 per cent), and Biden (21.4 per cent).
Some say volatility, rather than debt, is the best way to think about risk as an investor, but Warren Buffett famously said that 'Volatility is far from synonymous with risk'. So it might be obvious that you need to consider debt, when you think about how risky any given stock is, because too much debt can sink a company. We can see that Uni-President China Holdings Ltd (HKG:220) does use debt in its business. But should shareholders be worried about its use of debt?

What Risk Does Debt Bring?

Debt and other liabilities become risky for a business when it cannot easily fulfill those obligations, either with free cash flow or by raising capital at an attractive price. Ultimately, if the company can't fulfill its legal obligations to repay debt, shareholders could walk away with nothing. While that is not too common, we often do see indebted companies permanently diluting shareholders because lenders force them to raise capital at a distressed price. Of course, plenty of companies use debt to fund growth, without any negative consequences. When we think about a company's use of debt, we first look at cash and debt together.

See our latest analysis for Uni-President China Holdings

What Is Uni-President China Holdings's Debt?

As you can see below, at the end of June 2019, Uni-President China Holdings had CN1.98b of debt, up from CN1.4k a year ago. Click the image for more detail. But on the other hand it also has CN4.32b in cash, leading to a CN2.34b net cash position.

SEHK:220 Historical Debt, January 24th 2020

How Healthy Is Uni-President China Holdings's Balance Sheet?

Zooming in on the latest balance sheet data, we can see that Uni-President China Holdings had liabilities of CN6.88b due within 12 months and liabilities of CN475.4m due beyond that. Offsetting this, it had CN4.32b in cash and CN692.0m in receivables that were due within 12 months. So it has liabilities totalling CN2.35b more than its cash and near-term receivables, combined.

Story continues

Of course, Uni-President China Holdings has a market capitalization of CN33.0b, so these liabilities are probably manageable. Having said that, it's clear that we should continue to monitor its balance sheet, lest it change for the worse. Despite its noteworthy liabilities, Uni-President China Holdings boasts net cash, so it's fair to say it does not have a heavy debt load!

Also positive, Uni-President China Holdings grew its EBIT by 25% in the last year, and that should make it easier to pay down debt, going forward. The balance sheet is clearly the area to focus on when you are analysing debt. But ultimately the future profitability of the business will decide if Uni-President China Holdings can strengthen its balance sheet over time. So if you want to see what the professionals think, you might find this free report on analyst profit forecasts to be interesting.

Finally, a business needs free cash flow to pay off debt; accounting profits just don't cut it. Uni-President China Holdings may have net cash on the balance sheet, but it is still interesting to look at how well the business converts its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to free cash flow, because that will influence both its need for, and its capacity to manage debt. Happily for any shareholders, Uni-President China Holdings actually produced more free cash flow than EBIT over the last three years. That sort of strong cash conversion gets us as excited as the crowd when the beat drops at a Daft Punk concert.

Summing up

We could understand if investors are concerned about Uni-President China Holdings's liabilities, but we can be reassured by the fact it has has net cash of CN2.34b. The cherry on top was that in converted 125% of that EBIT to free cash flow, bringing in CN1.4b. So we don't think Uni-President China Holdings's use of debt is risky. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. But ultimately, every company can contain risks that exist outside of the balance sheet. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Uni-President China Holdings you should know about.

When all is said and done, sometimes its easier to focus on companies that don't even need debt. Readers can access a list of growth stocks with zero net debt 100% free, right now.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
A dog ran over to a snake in a field and hurled it 'into another dimension' - much to the relief of the hound's panicked owner.

The footage, posted on TikTok by a man with the username @kbeachnau, shows a grass clearing flanked by undergrowth, while a black Doberman stands in the distance.

In the foreground, a snake is blocking the man's path, as he says in an American accent: 'There's a big motherf***ing snake there. That sonofab***h is big!'

'It's a cool morning... and you'd better come get it. I can't walk past this snake.'

Footage posted on TikTok by a man with the username @kbeachnau shows a grass clearing with a Doberman in the distance. The dog's terrified owner summons his pet after spotting a snake on the path ahead of him

The faithful hound rushes over to tackle the reptile, which some commenters on social media believe is a Garter snake, which is non-venomous and common in North America. The dog immediately grabs the snake in its mouth - while the man lets out a gasp

Within seconds, the Doberman races back - at which point its owner lets out a frightened gasp.

The dog instantly grabs the snake in its mouth and sends it flying high through the air - where it appears almost rigid - and out of sight into the undergrowth.

Although the type of snake is not clear from the video, some commenters on social media reckon it was a Garter snake, which is non-venomous and common to North America.

The dog then sends the snake - which appears almost rigid - flying high in the sky before it lands far away in the undergrowth

Kbeachnau's username is followed by GVSU, which suggests he may be a student at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan.

It is not known when the clip took place but it was tweeted by Dayana Sarkisova with the title, 'My new hero is this dog that YEETED a snake into another dimension.'

To 'yeet' means to throw something energetically, with great force.

Dayan's Twitter footage has garnered more than 154,000 views to date.
A day after reports surfaced that Stormy Daniels' former attorney Michael Avenatti was now confined to the same gloomy New York City jail cell that once housed Mexican drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, the once high-flying lawyer won a significant victory in courtone that involves Daniels.

Avenatti faces a trial starting next week on charges that he attempted to extort the Nike footwear corporation out of $20 million. Prosecutors in that case wanted federal judge Paul Gardephe to forbid Avenattis defense lawyers from telling the trial jury about Avenattis work representing Daniels in her lawsuit against Donald Trump in 2018 and early 2019.

In a separate case, Avenatti faces charges that he bilked the AVN Hall of Famer out of approximately $300,000 by diverting her publishers advance for her 2018 memoir Full Disclosure into a bank account that he controlled, and then spent the cash on himself. But Avenatti has claimed that those charges and other allegations of financial crimes that he now faces are the resulut of vindictive prosecution, motivated by his opposition to Trump.

Immediately upon filing the Daniels lawsuit against Trumpseeking to free longtime porn performer from a hush money deal with Trump over a sexual encounter in 2006Avenatti embarked on a seemingly relentless media blitz, appearing almost nightly on various cable news shows, and other outlets. In nearly every appearance, he attacked and ridiculed Trump, and Trumps now-imprisoned former lawyer Michael Cohen.

But federal prosecutors argued in court Wednesday that this case has nothing to do with politics in any way, shape or form, hoping to stifle Avenattis expected efforts to claim that he is simply being persecuted by the government for speaking out against Trump.

Gardephe, who was appointed to the federal bench in 2008 by Republican President George W. Bush, admitted that nothing would please me more than to bar mention of Daniels and Trump from Avenattis upcoming trial, but because the prosecution had cited Avenattis large fandom in its indictment of him, he was compelled to allow discussion of the two in the courtroom.

Lets be honest, it drove the conduct of everyone involved, Gardephe said in the New York courtroom. I cant pretend there was sort of an immaculate conception here where Mr. Avenatti suddenly became this incredibly public lawyer magically.

Jury selection in Avenattis Nike extortion case is set to begin on January 27.

Photo By The View YouTube Screen Capture
Technavio has been monitoring the global smart kitchen appliance market and it is poised to grow by USD 15.99 bn during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of 23% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005172/en/

Technavio announced its latest market research report titled global smart kitchen appliance market 2019-2023. (Graphic: Business Wire)

Growing demand for premium innovative appliances has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, high cost of installations might hamper market growth. Request a free sample report

Smart Kitchen Appliance Market 2019-2023: Segmentation

Product

Smart large cooking appliance

Smart refrigerator

Smart small cooking appliance

Smart dishwasher

Geographic segmentation

Americas

APAC

EMEA

To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR30452

Smart Kitchen Appliance Market 2019-2023: Scope

Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our smart kitchen appliance market report covers the following areas:

Smart Kitchen Appliance Market size

Smart Kitchen Appliance Market trends

Smart Kitchen Appliance Market industry analysis

This study identifies advent of multi-cooking functionalities in smart cooking appliances as one of the prime reasons driving the smart kitchen appliance market growth during the next few years.

Smart Kitchen Appliance Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis

We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the smart kitchen appliance market, including some of the vendors such as Haier Group, LG Electronics, Robert Bosch, Samsung Electronics and Whirlpool Corporation. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the smart kitchen appliance market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support.

Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports.

Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform

Smart Kitchen Appliance Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights

CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023

Detailed information on factors that will assist smart kitchen appliance market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the smart kitchen appliance market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the smart kitchen appliance market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of smart kitchen appliance market vendors

About Us

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005172/en/

Contacts:

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: media@technavio.com

Website: https://www.technavio.com/
New CFO, Mr Kamlesh Riga ready to serve his alma mater.

On 01 January 2020, Rhodes University welcomed its newly appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Mr Kamlesh Riga. Mr Riga's appointment follows the unbundling of the executive management structure of the Infrastructure, Operations and Finance Division - where the roles of the heads of operations and finance and infrastructure have been separated.

Mr Riga is a qualified Chartered Accountant and holds a Masters Degree in Domestic and International Tax from North West University. He also holds a BCom degree from Rhodes University. He has worked at a strategic financial management level at the Office of the Auditor-General, South African Revenue Service (SARS) and the BKB Group, where he worked for over 10 years. The BKB Group includes several subsidiary companies in the agriculture and agro-processing sectors.

The new CFO was responsible for advising the Managing Director and Board on financial and ICT matters as well as investments, mergers and acquisitions. He has experience in the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), Companies Act, Procurement, Higher Education Governance, Audit and Risk Management, Treasury Management, as well as business related to lending activities.

As a Rhodes University Alumnus, Mr Riga said coming back to work for the University is like giving back to his alma mater. I have an affinity to the Eastern Cape and I feel that with my experience, I can make a difference at the University. I have a vision that this glorious university will be financially-sustainable and right the wrongs of the past. We need to give as many people access to higher education as possible but also balance that with financial viability. The fiscal pot is diminishing and we need to find a way of sustaining ourselves with less dependence on the state, he said.

When asked about the pressure of being a CFO for the University, the humble Mr Riga said he was not worried and it was not about the CFO, but about the Finance Division at large. He said he has discovered that the Finance Division has a great team and he trusts that they will all work together in ensuring financial stability of the University.

Mr Riga has served on the Executive Council, the Council and the Audit and Risk Committee for 10 years at Nelson Mandela University.

The Vice-Chancellor, Dr Sizwe Mabizela welcomed the CFO and said: We are delighted that our University has been able to attract a person of Mr Rigas ability and wealth of experience. He will add value to Rhodes University and we look forward to his contribution. We welcome him to the Rhodes University community and wish him well in his time with us.

Source: Communications

Please help us to raise funds so that we can give all our students a chance to access online teaching and learning. Covid-19 has disrupted our students' education. Don't let the digital divide put their future at risk. Visit www.ru.ac.za/rucoronavirusgateway to donate
Turkey is continuing its push into Kurdish areas of Iraq, now targeting Sinjar, which will be key to controlling the Syrian-Iraqi-Turkish border triangle.

The Turkish air force targeted the Sinjar Resistance Units (YBS), a Yazidi militia, Jan. 15 in Iraq's Ninevah province. Media reports said at least four people were killed, including militia commander Zardasht Shingali, and one person was wounded.

The YBS is affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which Turkey considers a terrorist group.

The bombing came after Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu visited Baghdad and met with senior Iraqi officials Jan. 9, leading some observers to suggest Iraqi-Turkish coordination on the strike.

Saeb Khadr, an Iraqi parliament member representing the Yazidis told Al-Monitor that violating Sinjar is tantamount to violating the sovereignty of Iraq, such as when the United States and Iran strike at each other on Iraqi land.

He described the bombing as the deliberate killing of Iraqi citizens on the part of a foreign force, which he said has caused panic and fear among civilians who have returned to their areas since the Islamic State (IS) committed genocide against the Sinjar Yazidis in 2014.

The bombing by Turkey sparked chaos in an area deemed the stronghold of the Yazidi minority. This is especially true as government institutions have been repeatedly calling for the return of those displaced by IS to Dahuk in the Kurdistan Region. Yazidis point out that failure to end such violations impedes this goal.

Also, the incident raised the ire of Yazidis because this is not the first time that Turkey has targeted them in Sinjar, which is quite confusing to them. Yazidis believe the attack should have been officially condemned, given that the victims are Iraqis who belong to an armed Yazidi formation within the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU). In other words, the governments silence may be interpreted as consent on Baghdad's part and may also imply some Iraqi-Turkish complicity against the Yazidis.

In this context, Ahmed Shankali, head of the Ezidi 24 website, explained the Turkish strategy by saying that Ankara is trying to exploit the gaps left by the US-Iranian conflict on one hand and the conflict between the Iraqi central government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government in Erbil on the other.

He added that Turkey is seeking to contain the PKK and gain a foothold in Iraqi territory. What further supports this point of view is that Sinjar is adjacent to the area of northeast Syria known as Western Kurdistan, or Rojava, which is controlled by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which Turkey considers the PKK's Syrian extension  something the YPG denies.

From an internal geopolitical aspect, Sinjar is also the only gateway to reach the adjacent Tal Afar district, which is inhabited predominantly by Turkmens, and then on to Mosul.

Shankali is among many Iraqis who believe Turkey has ambitions to annex Mosul in Iraq, an old dream that has been revived today in light of the current chaos. To achieve this, Turkey would have to eliminate any political or military force close to the PKK ideology.

This is why Ankara opposes the PKK's presence in Sinjar and considers it a threat to Turkey's national security. It also fears the Kurds will form and control a route connecting the Qandil Mountains (the PKK's main fortress) in Iraqi Kurdistan to the Sinjar Mountains, to link with the Syrian Democratic Forces on the other side of the Syrian border. This would create a corridor for transporting fighters, weapons and logistical support against Turkey's interests.

Faris Harbo, head of relations in the autonomous administration in Sinjar, concurred with Shankali. He said Turkey's goal to revive the Ottoman Empire is real and concrete and is targeting Kirkuk and Mosul, but Sinjar will serve as a critical area for controlling the border triangle of Syria, Iraq and Turkey.

Harbo added that the bombing represents psychological warfare against the Yazidis in the YBS, as it assassinated their leaders. The YBS resisted and defeated the brutal IS terrorist organization, and these are the units that resisted and helped to defeat IS.

Hinting that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan supports IS, Harbo said, "This bombing is like a revenge for the caliphate's soldiers whom we eliminated in Sinjar." He said stopping the Turkish intervention in Syria and Erdogan's expansionist ambition is the international community's moral and humanitarian duty.

The YBS annoys Turkey, as the group controls most of the Sinjar lands and does not cave in to pressure. Also, it's a dangerous force given its proximity to and sympathy with the PKK ideology. The YBS is registered with the Iraqi Ministry of Defense as part of the PMU, which means it's an officially recognized organization. However, the YBS is distinguished from the security institutions, the army and the PMU factions in Sinjar, as it includes fighters who are experienced in guerrilla warfare and move skillfully between the Qandil and Sinjar mountains with great knowledge of Sinjar topography.

The bombing is another sign that there is a third player exerting influence inside Iraq besides Iran and the United States. Turkey wants to stifle the power of the PKK and its affiliated YBS while destabilizing the Shiite influence in the Middle East.
US Private Sector Firm Growth Rises to 10-month High

Upturn Driven by Services While Manufacturing Struggles to Break Out

Private sector companies in the United States expanded their business activity in January at the fastest rate in 10 months, according to a Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) report, with services driving all the growth while manufacturing came in muted.

The flash PMI figures, compiled by IHS Markit, showed the manufacturing measures remaining unchanged or dipping to a 3-month low, while the service index and the overall business activity measure both hit 10-month highs. Flash readings are compiled on the basis of around 85 percent of survey responses.

The recovery of growth momentum across the U.S. private sector continued to quicken at the start of 2020, with overall output rising at the sharpest pace since last March, said Sian Jones, an economist at IHS Markit.

The overall business activity index (Flash U.S. Composite Output Index) rose to 53.1 in January from 52.7 in December, while the services measure (Flash U.S. Services Business Activity Index) rose from 52.8 to 53.2 in the same timeframe, the highest readings since March.

Service providers also registered a slower upturn in new business, which fed through to softer increases in output charges as part of efforts to attract new customers, Jones said.

The manufacturing output measure (Flash U.S. Manufacturing Output Index) remained flat between December and January, with a print of 52.4. The overall manufacturing measure (Flash U.S. Manufacturing PMI) came in at 51.7 in January compared to 52.4 in December, the lowest reading in 3 months.

Manufacturing firms noted a slower improvement in operating conditions, the ISM report said, with both domestic and foreign customer demand softening.

The underlying data highlights a manufacturing sector that is not out of the woods yet, with goods producers seeing only modest gains in output and new orders, Jones said.

Service sector sales strengthened for the third month in a row, the report said.

The U.S. economy is increasingly a service-based economy and less manufacturing centric, Greg McBride, chief financial analyst Bankrate.com, told The Epoch Times in an email.

The solid underlying economic fundamentalslow unemployment, growth in jobs, income and consumer spendingare responsible for sustained economic growth. Further, service-sector firms are less susceptible to trade disputes and tariffs and have shown a robustness the manufacturing sector has not, he said.

Roughly 80 percent of GDP is service-oriented and less than 20 percent is manufacturing, explained Robert Johnson, Professor of Finance at Heider College of Business, Creighton University, in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times. Weakness in manufacturing certainly could be a result of trade uncertainty, as manufacturers are reluctant to undertake capital expenditures in an uncertain trade environment.

PMI in Europe

In a separate IHS Markit report for the Euro Area (pdf), manufacturing PMI grew to 47.8 in January from 46.3 in December, hitting a 9-month high.

The eurozone PMI data seems to confirm [European Central Bank President Christine] Lagardes remarks that the economic risks have become less pronounced so thats a positive, said Teeuwe Mevissen, senior eurozone market economist at Rabobank, in remarks to Reuters.

Likewise, UK PMI figures (pdf) came in strong, showing that British companies are enjoying their best month in more than a year.

The survey data indicate an encouraging start to 2020 for the UK economy, said Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at IHS Markit, in the report. Output grew at the fastest rate for sixteen months amid rising demand for both manufacturing and services, suggesting business is rebounding after declines seen late last year.

Intensifying political and economic uncertainty ahead of the general election has started to ease, encouraging more spending and helping push business expectations of future growth to its highest since mid-2015, he said.

The British PMI reading bettered the Euro Area numbers for the first time since December 2018.
Cecil Hamilton Edwards was in the process of becoming a licensed marijuana farmer.

"They leave me stranded because I spend my money and I was depending on this.





Fitz Hughes farmer Cecil Hamilton Edwards made the comment last week Wednesday in an interview twenty-four hours after police destroyed his marijuana plantation, located in an area called Far Piece at Richmond Vale, North Leeward.





Edwards said the amount of marijuana destroyed was valued approximately $70,000-80,000, and he would be seeking compensation.





He said he was awaiting a response to his application, for which he had paid $125.00, for a licence to grow marijuana for medicinal purpose. Officers from the Medical Cannabis Authority (MCA) had already visited the farm.





It was Junior Spirit Cottle, Head of the Cannabis Revival Committee and who appears to be functioning as a liaison between marijuana farmers and the MCA, who encouraged him to plant the marijuana while he awaited the licence, Edwards said. Cottle had earlier confirmed this on radio.





Edwards said police officers from the Rapid Response Unit (RRU), popularly called the Black Squad, raided his farm around 1pm on Tuesday while he was in capital Kingstown.





According to information he received, the police took approximately 50-70 pounds of marijuana into their possession, set on fire about 50 pounds, and left some on the farm.





Asked how long he had the marijuana planted, Edwards said since the MCA started issuing licences last year.

The first set of medicinal cannabis licences were issued around April, last year.





Edwards, during the interview, identified two persons who were found on the farm during the police action and were arrested as Errol Howe and Hewit Edwards. The men were released without charge after he called Cottle.





Edwards said that prior to the passage of legislation in December 2018 to establish the medicinal cannabis industry, traditional marijuana farmers cultivated in the higher mountains. Since the passage of legislation, a promised amnesty and promises on the ground that their marijuana would be bought by investors, the traditional farmers started cultivating areas closer to home.
Meghan Markle has told her inner circle of friends she is planning to give her first interview to Ellen DeGeneres after the two have become close, insiders exclusively told DailyMail.com.

'Ellen and Meghan have already discussed a sit-down interview. That has been in the works for quite some time now,' a source at the Ellen Show confirmed.

The two met by chance years ago at a dog shelter in Los Angeles where Ellen encouraged Meghan to adopt her first dog Bogart, and the women have stayed in touch.

Ellen and her wife Portia de Rossi even took a trip to London to visit Prince Harry and Meghan after the birth of Archie over the summer, remarking on her talk show: 'I see them get attacked and it's not fair. They are two of the most down-to-earth compassionate people, they're doing so much good for the world.'

It's because of their friendship that Meghan wants to give Ellen her first interview, as a friend told DailyMail.com: '[Meghan] said Ellen understands her pain and suffering. That she epitomizes authenticity. [Meghan] feels like they are kindred spirits.'

A spokesperson for Ellen did not return DailyMail.com's request for comment but when caught on camera on Friday and asked if she was excited to interview Meghan, she remarked: 'Sure, I'm excited.'

'Ellen getting the first shot at an in-depth interview is surely going to put Oprah's - (and Gayle King's) nose out of joint,' a source added to DailyMail.com.

'After all, Oprah wooed Meghan's mother by having her spend the day in Montecito, wrangled an invite to the wedding and has been pretty vocal in her support of the couple's decision to break away,' the source said.

Meghan Markle has told her inner circle of friends she is planning to give her first interview to Ellen DeGeneres after the two have become close, insiders exclusively told DailyMail.com

Ellen and her wife Portia de Rossi took a trip to London to visit Prince Harry and Meghan after the birth of Archie over the summer (pictured), remarking on her talk show: 'I see them get attacked and it's not fair. They are two of the most down-to-earth compassionate people, they're doing so much good for the world'

'Ellen getting the first shot at an in-depth interview is surely going to put Oprah's - (and Gayle King's) nose out of joint,' a source said. 'After all, Oprah wooed Meghan's mother by having her spend the day in Montecito, wrangled an invite to the wedding and has been pretty vocal in her support of the couple's decision to break away,' the source said. Pictured: Oprah attending Meghan's wedding (left) and Gayle King at Meghan's baby shower (right)

But Ellen hinted at how close they were back in November, revealing she had invited a pair of dancers onto her show after Meghan sent her a text about the 'great' duo.

She also said that while spending time with Meghan and Harry in London, they talked about their work on wildlife conservation, something both couples share a passion for.

The insider added: 'Meghan adores Ellen and loves the fact that she and Portia are huge animal lovers.

'She said they have stayed in touch since meeting in person and have become close.

'She said they actually have a lot in common and that Ellen has been a huge support, especially since moving to Canada.

A source at The Ellen Show told DailyMail.com the interview will 'be all hush-hush and most likely at a secret location' because the 'studio poses too many challenges'.

They added: 'Ellen has a way of making things happen. Plus Ellen has made it clear to her staffers that Meghan is one of the nicest, most real people she's ever met and that Harry is just the same.

'She would want a sit-down with the both of them together. She wants her fans to see what she already knows to be true.

'I wouldn't be surprised if they forge even more of a friendship now that Meghan is in North America.'

The two met by chance years ago at a dog shelter in Los Angeles where Ellen encouraged Meghan to adopt her first dog Bogart (right), and the women have stayed in touch

DeGeneres held Archie on a summer trip to the UK, telling her studio audience how she fed him. Ellen also said that while spending time with Meghan and Harry in London, they talked about their work on wildlife conservation

Meghan may also sit down with Oprah, who attended her May 2018 wedding, or Gayle King, who went to Meghan's baby shower, the source said. But Meghan wants to talk to Ellen first.

On Tuesday, both Oprah and Gayle launched an extraordinary defense of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's decision to step down from the royal family.

Oprah, 66, who has grown close with the couple over the past few years, defended them after being stopped by reporters while walking with Gayle, 65, in New York.

In a video published by TMZ, Oprah said that she supported the Sussexes '1,000 percent' in their decision to step back from the royal family, adding that she believes Prince Harry 'did what he needed to do for his family.'

She said: 'I don't think anybody else has any right to say anything, when a person has sat and thought about what is the best decision for him and his family, and then he makes that decision... none of us have any right to say anything about that.'

Meanwhile Gayle insisted: 'Prince Harry didn't make that decisions in a vacuum. There were a lot of conversations.'

Oprah added: 'I support them because I believe that when you have thought about this as long as they have... And even in the Queen's statement, take note, this has been going on for months.'

She went on to praise Prince Harry for the choice, saying: 'Who doesn't have feel what it takes to make those decision, to give up everything you've known your whole life, to say "I am going to choose this new life and what I believe to be the truest vision to myself?". Who are any of us to stand in judgement of that? That's what I think.'

The insider added: 'Meghan adores Ellen and loves the fact that she and Portia are huge animal lovers. She said they have stayed in touch since meeting in person and have become close.' A source at The Ellen Show told DailyMail.com: '[Ellen] would want a sit-down with both [Harry and Meghan]... She wants her fans to see what she already knows to be true'

Earlier this week, DailyMail.com revealed that Meghan had told her friends that quitting the royal family was the best thing that could ever happen to Harry, saying 'it was her love for him that made this possible,' a friend said.

'She said that like her, his spirit was being crushed and she simply couldn't stand to see him suffer anymore,' the friend added.

Harry was seen grinning as he stepped off a plane in Vancouver late on Monday night, heading back to his wife and eight-month-old son Archie. Meghan herself was seen beaming while out for a walk with Archie and her two dogs on Monday morning.

The couple have been staying at an opulent $14 million Vancouver Island mansion, which they have used since Thanksgiving, and the close friend revealed the two have no plans to move out anytime soon.

Meghan and Harry also have no intention of stripping the word 'royal' from their SussexRoyal website, as the insider added: 'Meghan says they will always be considered royalty regardless of where they live or what they do.'

Over the weekend, it was dramatically announced that Harry and Meghan will no longer use their HRH titles and will repay around $3 million [2.4 million] of taxpayers' money spent refurbishing their Frogmore Cottage.

Earlier this week, DailyMail.com revealed that Meghan had told her friends that quitting the royal family was the best thing that could ever happen to Harry, saying 'it was her love for him that made this possible,' a friend said. Harry was seen grinning as he stepped off a plane in Vancouver late on Monday night (pictured)

A source at The Ellen Show told DailyMail.com the interview will 'be all hush hush and most likely at a secret location' because the 'studio poses too many challenges'. They added: 'Ellen has a way of making things happen. Plus Ellen has made it clear to her staffers that Meghan is one of the nicest, most real people she's ever met and that Harry is just the same'

Still, a number of unresolved issues remain, including whether Harry and Meghan will be required to strip the word 'Royal' from their SussexRoyal website, and who will pick up the hefty bill for their continuing security requirements.

However, Meghan's friend told DailyMail.com: 'Meghan and Harry are not planning on changing their website or Instagram name. They are still considered the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. And they will keep the Royal part in.

'She described herself and Harry as game changers destined to hack the status quo. And now they can finally go about their business.'

The friend added: 'Meghan has been telling her close friends that this is the best thing that could ever happen to Harry.

'That out of anyone he will flourish the most and that it was her love for him that made this possible.'

The insider also revealed that 'Meghan told her friends that there is no rush to move out of the place they've been staying. That they're welcome to live there as long as they like.

'Meghan calls it her happy place and says that in the last couple of months, she's felt more at home than she ever did in the UK.'
Burren is located on the Irish West Coast. Most of it is designated a Special Area of Conservation to protect this extremely unusual habitat, but the tourists are allowed to enter and explore it. The word "Burren" comes from an Irish word "Boireann," which means rock or a rocky place. It is a place of contrasts: shaped by glaciers of the distant past, its grey and silver landscapes look almost lunar. Yet, in spring (around May and June), the stony hills and steppes burst in wildflowers, many of which are endemic to the area.

The Unexpected Mix Of Flora And Fauna

The diversity of the plants occupying Burren is quite fascinating: this moon-like realm managed to earn the reputation of "fertile land. Arctic-alpine plants grow next to Mediterranean ones, lime-loving next to acid-loving, all thriving in an unusual and unexpected mix. From centuries-old lichen to delicate orchids that only bloom for a month each year, they all survive in a land that seems to be composed entirely of rocky pavements. Over 70% of Ireland's species of flowering plants are found here in the area that represents 1% of the country's extent.

The hillsides of the Burren host a nearly entire variety of Irish mammals and unique to the region herds of feral goats, which have very little fear of humans. The seven species of bats inhabiting Ireland all present in Burren. Along the coast, visitors can meet seals, dolphins and basking sharks. Like anywhere else in Ireland, there are no snakes, but you have to be careful to check yourself for ticks, as they are plentiful in Burren.

Ancient Fossil Grounds

Sculpted in the last glacial period, Buren is one of the finest examples of glaciokarst landscapes in the world. Limestones of the Lower Carboniferous period fortify the Burren's foundation. Limestones are formed by horizontally compressed sediments of the tropical sea, which covered the majority of Ireland approximately 350 million years ago. These sediments were stratas and contain fossilized corals, sea urchins, sea lilies, and ammonites. Halfway through the Burren walk, there is a sign that suggests to stop and look under your feet. Take a moment to explore: you are standing on the exposed fossils of the ancient corals, and they are literally everywhere around you, exposed to the sight in huge rocks and stones.

Fossilized coral in limestone.

Flat or covered in soft ups and dips, hills are covered in karsts with occasional huge stones that look as if they were placed there by man. In fact, those were brought there and disposed of by melting glaciers. The Burren way is a long walk across the most impressive viewpoints.

The Atlantic shore has several beautiful beaches bordered by rocks and sandy dunes, and, although Irish water is not very warm, safe, and suitable for swimming. Sandy dunes are home to rabbits, hares, and foxes. Fanore Beach and Flaggy Shore Heritage Trail are the most popular locations for those who prefer ocean views.

The Preserved History

Visiting the Burren is often compared to taking a journey through time. Of the 6,000 or so national monuments in County Clare, the majority are found here. Burren is proud of the variety of monuments from well-preserved ring forts such as Caherconnell, to megalithic wedge tombs like Poulnabrone (which is reported to be over 6,000 years old, making it more ancient than the pyramids). Even without a purposely organized trip, you will encounter many ruins and castle remains, standing, at times, on the local farmlands.

Some of the notable castles in the area are:
China is responding to the spread of the coronavirus in Wuhan much as countries have always reacted to life-threatening epidemics. At every level of society and government, fear of death  or, more accurately, fear of being held responsible for death  drives decision-making, which is consequently often ill-judged.

Officials do not want to cause a panic  but then again, nor do they want to be accused of inaction, or of hiding dire truths about the health crisis (many people have become convinced that more people have been infected, have even died, than the authorities are admitting).

I have been struck in the past few days by the similarity between reactions to two epidemics, though they took place 64 years apart in cities that could not be more different. One is currently taking place in Wuhan in central China, with its population of eleven million; the second struck Cork, an Irish city with a population of 114,000, in 1956.

I know a lot about the polio outbreak in Cork because, on 30 September of that year, I was taken to St Finbarrs Hospital in the city, after being diagnosed with the disease. My parents were convinced I was dying, but I survived, though my legs were permanently weakened; I still walk with a pronounced limp.

I was aged six at the time and have a precise memory of the epidemic as it affected me personally, but I knew little about its course outside the hospitals where I was being treated. It was only 50 years later that I got to know the full history, when I went back to Cork to interview doctors, nurses and patients, as well as reading Irish health ministry documents and accounts in contemporary newspapers.

Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Show all 154 1 /154 Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Paramedics wearing personal protective equipment carry patient on a stretcher on to an ambulance in North Point district in Hong Kong, China Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A medical worker wearing protective gear takes a rest as he waits for ambulances carrying patients infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus at an entrance of a hospital in Daegu, South Korea YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A medical worker sprays disinfectant on an ambulance after carrying a patient infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus at a hospital in Daegu YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People wearing protective face masks shop at a supermarket in Casalpusterlengo, one the northern Italian towns placed under lockdown due to the new coronavirus outbreak EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A trolley bus is disinfected amid fears over the spread of the novel coronavirus in Pyongyang, North Korea REUTERS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers wearing protective gear spray disinfectant as a precaution against the COVID-19 coronavirus in a local market in Daegu, South Korea AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing a protective facemask walks outside a nearly empty shopping mall at lunch time in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing protective facemask and gloves puts a drawing made by a girl living in the area asking residents to wear protective gear, next to a quarantine notice for people who have travelled and a notice asking people to register outside a residential compound in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman is taken into an ambulance amid a coronavirus outbreak in northern Italy REUTERS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ambulances and health workers are seen outside the Padua's hospital, northern Italy EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers in coaches leave MoD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire after being repatriated to the UK from a cruise ship hit by the coronavirus in Yokohama, Japan and head to Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People rest in a temporary hospital situated in the Tazihu Gymnasium in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Buddhist monks wearing protective face masks pray during a blessing ceremony for the people affected by the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, at a temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia REUTERS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers wearing protective gears carry a patient infecting with a new coronavirus to a hospital in Chuncheon, South Korea AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Soldiers in hazmat suits sanitize cargo from a China Airlines plane at the Taoyuan International Airport in Taoyuan City, Taiwan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Barricades are seen to block the entrance a the gate of a local mall in a nearly empty area in Beijing, China Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A vendor wearing a protective facemask waits for customers at a shop in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus The body temperature of an Iraqi child returning from Iran is measured upon her arrival at the Najaf International Airport AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Volunteers hand out free facemasks at a shopping district in Quezon city, Metro Manila, Philippines Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers wearing protective gears carry a patient suspected of contracting the new coronavirus toward an ambulance at Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo, South Korea AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A worker disinfects a shop at a market in Shanghai AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A restaurant worker wearing protective clothing as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus passing a bag of food to a customer on the street outside their restaurant in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A recovered patient is discharged from Leishenshan Hospital, the newly-built makeshift hospital for novel coronavirus patients, in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Volunteers in protective suits disinfect a factory with sanitising equipment in Huzhou, China China Daily via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers in protective suits attend to a patient inside an isolated ward of Wuhan Red Cross Hospital Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A drone operated by the Suwon municipal government flies around Changyong Middle School spraying disinfectant, in Suwon, South Korea EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers transfer medical waste at Leishenshan Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing a protective mask rides a bicycle with his children in Guangzhou, China EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Volunteers in protective suits disinfect a railway station as the country is hit by an outbreak of the new coronavirus, in Changsha, Hunan province, China cnsphoto via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman repatriated from Wuhan carries a child as she walks upon her arrival at the Van Don airport in Vietnam's Quang Ninh province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff checking the body temperature of a patient who has displayed mild symptoms of the COVID-19 coronavirus, at an exhibition centre converted into a hospital in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A medical worker in protective suit transports oxygen tanks at Wuhan Red Cross Hospital Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Boys wearing protection masks, gloves and modified water bottles sit on a cart at the airport arrival terminal in Guangzhou EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Employees work on a production line manufacturing protective suits at a clothing factory in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province cnsphoto via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers in protective suits move a patient at an isolated ward of a hospital in Caidian district following an outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan China Daily via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A worker in protective clothing, including face mask and gloves, carries a bucket as he works inside of The County Oak Medical Centre in Brighton, southern England, after it closed for "urgent operational health and safety reasons", following reports a member of staff was infected with the strain of the novel coronavirus AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers of the ecology and environment bureau collect samples from the sewage system of a hospital in Xinle, Hebei province China Daily via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man in protective clothing cleaning the County Oak Medical Centre GP practice The British government warned the outbreak of novel coronavirus was a "serious and imminent threat" and reported four new cases that brought the total recorded in the country to eight. Two hospitals The Royal Free and Guys and St Thomas', have both been designated as "isolation" facilities, with both currently housing Britons who have returned from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the outbreak PA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to the newly completed Huoshenshan temporary field Hospital in Wuhan. The global coronavirus death toll rose again with Hong Kong announcing its first death from the outbreak on 4 February EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of staff wait as coaches carrying Coronavirus evacuees arrive at Kents Hill Park Training and Conference Centre, in Milton Keynes, after being repatriated to the UK from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan PA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A crew member of the cruise ship Diamond Princess talks to a worker wearing protective gear standing near the vessel, where dozens of passengers were tested positive for coronavirus, at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Doctors scan a patient's lungs at Huoshenshan temporary hospital built for patients diagnosed with coronavirus in Wuhan Xinhua News Agency/AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People wearing protective suits walk from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, with around 3,600 people quarantined onboard due to fears of the new coronavirus, at the Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Indonesians who arrived from Wuhan are sprayed with antiseptic at Hang Nadim Airport in Batam. People evacuated from the Chinese city at the centre of a deadly virus outbreak, were transported to a quarantine zone on a remote island at the edge of the South China Sea, shortly after landing Indonesian Foreign Ministry via AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman wears a protective mask as she shops in a market in Beijing Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members hugging each other in an isolation ward at a hospital in Zouping in China's easter Shandong province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A portrait of Dr Li Wenliang is left at Li's hospital in Wuhan. He is regarded a whistleblower on the outbreak and died of the coronavirus which triggered wide-spread mourning on Chinese media Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Officers in protective gear enter the cruise ship Diamond Princess, where people tested positive for coronavirus, after the ship arrived at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, south of Tokyo Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Firefighters and personnel from the health ministry participate in a drill to prepare for the potential arrival of passengers infected with the coronavirus at the Viru Viru International Airport, in Santa Cruz, Bolivia Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Scientists are at work in the VirPath university laboratory as they try to find an effective treatment against the new Sars-like coronavirus AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers in protective suits attend to patients at the Wuhan International Conference and Exhibition Center, which has been converted into a makeshift hospital to receive patients with mild symptoms caused by the virus Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A girl wears a mask as a preventive measure against the coronavirus outbreak, in Bangkok, Thailand Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man is transferred from the World Dream cruise ship to an ambulance at the Kai Tak cruise terminal in Hong Kong as health officials conduct inspections AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers from a disinfection service company enter Lotte Department Store in central Seoul, South Korea EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man who arrived from Hubei province talks with police at a checkpoint at the Jiujiang Yangtze River Bridge Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A doctor holds a handheld digital thermometer near health officials preparing a health check for arriving passengers from China at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A resident walks across an empty track in Wuhan Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A scientific staff member works in a secure laboratory, researching the coronavirus, at the Pasteur Institute in Dakar AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members preparing equipment to meet passengers of a military plane, which evacuated citizens of Russia and ex-Soviet countries from China's Wuhan province Vsluh.ru via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Staff wearing protective suits as they prepare to disinfect a Vietnam Airlines plane at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi Vietnam Airlines/AFP/Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A South Korean person, who was evacuated from Wuhan, arrives at the National Medical Center after showing suspected symptoms of novel coronavirus, in Seoul EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Officers in protective gear escort a person (under the blue sheet) who was on board cruise ship Diamond Princess and was tested positive for coronavirus Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A doctor being disinfected by his colleague at a quarantine zone in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Buses carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan, arrive at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Indonesian health officials conduct an exercise drill in transporting a patient requiring isolation at the Belawan port in Medan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus The Pasteur Institute in Dakar, designated by the African Union as one of the two reference centres in Africa for the detection of the new coronavirus that appeared in China, is hosting experts from 15 countries on the continent this weekend to prepare them to deal with the disease AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A government worker disinfects a co-worker after visiting a quarantined woman's home in Qingdao EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An aerial view of the deserted roads and bridges in Wuhan Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers hold a strike outside the Hospital Authority as they demand for Hong Kong to close its border with China to reduce the coronavirus spreading Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A person has their tempriture checked in Qingdao, China EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion, when viewed electron microscopically Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/AFP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Malaysian nationals being directed from a bus by health officials in protective suits as they arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, after being evacuated from Wuhan Malaysia's Ministry of Health/AFP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People hoping to buy face masks crowd outside a medical supply shop that was raided by police for allegedly hoarding and overpricing the masks, as public fear over China's Wuhan Coronavirus grow in Manila, Philippines. The Philippine government has been heavily criticized after failing to immediately implement travel restrictions from China, the source of a deadly coronavirus that has now killed hundreds and infected thousands more Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Residents wearing masks and raincoats volunteer to take temperature of passengers following the outbreak of a new coronavirus at a bus stop at Tin Shui Wai, a border town in Hong Kong Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Italian citizens repatriated from Wuhan going though a health control zone after landing at the Mario De Bernardi military airport in Pratica di Mare, south of Rome, prior to be placed in quarantine Italian Defence Ministry/AFP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers arrange beds in a 2,000-bed mobile hospital, set up in an exhibition center, in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A doctor checks conditions of occupants in a hotel accommodating isolated people in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members wearing protective clothing to help stop the spread of a deadly virus which began in the city of Wuhan, arrive with a patient at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital. The Chinese army deployed medical specialists to the epicentre of the spiralling viral outbreak that has killed and spread around the world AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A baby wearing a protective face mask is pushed by a woman as they arrive from Shenzhen to Hong Kong at Lo Wu MTR station AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A health worker checks the temperature of a woman entering a subway station in Beijing Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A young child wears a protective mask and is covered in plastic while waiting to check in to a flight at Beijing Capital Airport The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday declared the coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ambulance crews arrive at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, as it prepares for a return flight from Wuhan, China. Eighty-three Britons and 27 foreign nationals who were trapped in Wuhan are being flown back to the UK Tom Maddick / SWNS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman carries a baby wearing a protective mask as they exit the arrival hall at Hong Kong High Speed Rail Station Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Camp beds at a Medical Assessment Center set up at the airport in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on the eve of the arrival of German citizens evacuated from Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Funeral parlour staff members in protective suits help a colleague with disinfection after they transferred a body at a hospital in Wuhan Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Muslims wearing masks pray for the victims of coronavirus at a mosque in Ahmedabad, India Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical officials waiting for people who wants to check the novel coronavirus at Myeongdong shopping district Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Children wear plastic bottles as makeshift homemade protection and protective masks while waiting to check in to a flight at Beijing Capital Airport Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A patient assisted by medical staff gets off an ambulance in Wuhan AFP/Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People line up to buy face masks from a medical supply company in Nanning, southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Countries began evacuating their citizens from the Chinese city hardest-hit by a new virus that has now infected more people in China than were sickened in the country by SARS Chinatopix via AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Millions spent their normally festive Lunar New Year holiday under lockdown Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Children with face masks wash their hands before prayer at Erawan shrine in Bangkok. Thailand has detected eight Coronavirus cases so far AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An Indonesian health officer points at the screen of a thermal scanner for passengers China confirmed that the deadly Wuhan coronavirus virus can be transmitted between humans AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Hospital workers wearing protective eyewear and masks examine an Indonesian student who returned from China in quarantine at a hospital in Banda Aceh AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ambulance staff dispose of an outfit at the hospital in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A person checks the temperature of a passenger to help stop the spread of a deadly virus as he arrives at the Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International airport in Palembang AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Nepali students, wearing face masks, attend a class at Matribhumi School in Bhaktapur, on the outskirts of Kathmandu AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Two Buddhist monks wear face masks while walking along a street in Yangon AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Staff disinfecting a residential area in Ruichang, part of Jiujiang in China's central Jiangxi province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers are seen at the construction site of a new hospital being built to treat patients from a deadly virus outbreak in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on January 27, 2020. - China is rushing to build a new hospital in a staggering 10 days to treat patients at the epicentre of a deadly virus outbreak that has stricken thousands of people, state media reported on January 24. (Photo by Hector RETAMAL / AFP) (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images) HECTOR RETAMAL AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Vapor blurs the goggles of an ambulance driver while they work, in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers producing facemasks at a factory in Yangzhou AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff getting on an ambulance in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A vendor of traditional masks wears a facial mask at his shop in Thamel EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An airport official checks the temperature of a passenger upon his arrival at the Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members arrive with a patient at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An ambulance driver talking with medical staff in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Wuhan Hygiene Emergency Response Team leave the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market The new coronavirus appears to have its origins in a seafood market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, a popular transport hub AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers produce protective suits at a factory in Nantong AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers scanned by thermal imaging for body temperature as they go through health measures and procedures after they landed at Rome's Fiumicino airport on a southern airlines flight from Wuhan Aeroporto Di Roma/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A Thai royal guard wears a mask while on duty at the Grand Palace in Bangkok EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing a face mask rides a nearly empty subway train in Beijing AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A shopper wearing goggles with a face mask and gloves uses a self checkout machine at a supermarket in Wuhan AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to Jinyintan hospital EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of the Italian Red Cross putting on protective gear, getting ready to give health checks to passengers that landed at Rome's Fiumicino airport on a southern airlines flight from Wuhan Aeroporto Di Roma/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A member of the Hong Kong government's Civil Aid Service gestures at the entrance to the Lady MacLehose Holiday Village which is being used as one of two quarantine centres for people who have been in close proximity with suspected cases of a SARS-type virus. Hong Kong will turn two holiday camps, including a former military barracks, into quarantine zones for people who may have come into contact with carriers of the Wuhan virus, officials announced AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff wearing protective suits at the Zhongnan hospital in Wuhan STR/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A Malaysia Health official checks passengers going through a thermal scanner upon their arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Staff disinfecting Yingtan North Railway Station, China China banned trains and planes from leaving the major city at the centre of a virus outbreak on January 23, seeking to seal off its 11 million people to contain the contagious disease that has claimed lives and spread to other countries AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A passenger walks past a quarantine control station at Narita airport, Japan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Patients queue up to seek treatment in Wuhan Tongji Hospital Fever Clinic, in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Quarantine workers spray disinfectant at Incheon International Airport, South Korea EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A member of staff checks the temperature of a guest entering the casino of the New Orient Landmark hotel in Macau, after it reported its first case of the new SARS-like virus AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to Jin Yintan hospital Little is known about the new disease which, if confirmed, would be only the seventh coronavirus known to science that can infect humans Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of the Three Gorges Medical Laboratory offering free masks to the public in Yichang, China AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Gabriel Leung, right, chair professor of public health medicine at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong, speaks about the extent of the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak in China AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of staff of the Wuhan Hygiene Emergency Response Team conducting searches on the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A quarantine officer at Incheon International Airport, South Korea, uses an electronic thermometer to check the temperature of passengers arriving by plane from Wuhan The virus causes symptoms of viral pneumonia, and has already led to several deaths EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A screen shows cancelled flights at Tianhe airport in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to Jinyintan hospital EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Health officials hand out information about the current coronavirus at Kuala Lumpur International Airport AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A store owner argues with security guards as he attempts to enter the closed Huanan wholesale seafood market AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers producing facemasks at a factory in Handan, China's northern Hebei province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff and security personnel stop patients' family members from being too close to the Jinyintan hospital Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus maya-goodfellowAn airport staff member uses a temperature gun to check people leaving Wuhan Tianhe International Airport AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A rescue worker walks past a notice about new coronavirus that has broken out in China Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Health officials wear face masks at an inspection site at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members carry a patient into the Jinyintan hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A staff member checks body temperature of a child after a train from Wuhan arrived at Hangzhou Railway Station in Hangzhou AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A quarantine station measures passenger body temperatures at Narita Airport JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers walk past a notice displayed near a quarantine control station at Narita airport EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers walk past a poster alerting on coronavirus screening ahead upon their arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An employee sprays disinfectant on a train, as a precaution against coronavirus, at Suseo Station in Seoul EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Kazakh sanitary-epidemiological service worker uses a thermal scanner to detect travellers from China who may have symptoms possibly connected with the previously unknown coronavirus, at Almaty International Airport, Kazakhstan Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Pharmacist Liu Zhuzhen stands near a sign reading "face masks are sold out" at her pharmacy in Shanghai AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus The Wuhan Medical Treatment Center, EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A worker in a protective suit at the closed seafood market in Wuhan Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers wear protective face masks at the departure hall of a high speed train station in Hong Kong AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A notice for passengers from Wuhan Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wears a mask while riding on mobike past the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market Getty

What I discovered was that as in Wuhan today, local people in Cork were convinced that they were being fed false information downplaying the severity of the polio outbreak. There were rumours everywhere in the city, said Pauline Kent, a physiotherapist who treated victims, that dead bodies were being carried out the back door of St Finbarrs at night. The medical authorities were, in fact, truthfully announcing the number of new cases and fatalities each morning  but they were simultaneously undermining their own credibility by issuing upbeat statements, dutifully reported in the local newspapers, with headlines such as Panic Reaction Without Justification and Outbreak Not Yet Dangerous Say Doctors.

Unsurprisingly, such forced optimism was counterproductive, entirely failing to reassure a local population terrified that their children would die or be disabled for life (the other name for polio at the time was infantile paralysis). Despite the doctors insistence, the people of Cork did not understand that while polio is highly contagious, meaning that almost everybody became a carrier, only one or two per cent of carriers would suffer long term health consequences (about 50,000 people in and around Cork probably got the virus, though only 576 of those had passed through St Finbarrs by the time the epidemic ended in 1957).

What comes across most strongly in letters from that period is that a frightened people want somebody to blame, and want visible action. People outside Cork asked why the city had not been sealed off, the railway line to Dublin closed. Let Corks own people keep their Polio and not infect our clean city, urged one enraged letter-writer in Dublin.

 Screening in Chinese city of Wuhan at centre of coronavirus

This need to blame somebody or something seems to be a feature of epidemics everywhere. During a polio outbreak in New York in 1916, a rumour spread that the virus had been brought by Italian immigrants from Naples; another bizarrely had it that the virus was spread by cats (as a result, 72,000 cats were hunted down and killed).

Similarly, people in Cork were convinced that the government and the local medical establishment were being wilfully blind to the threat posed by the disease. They demanded action  their drains cleaned and schools closed  even when doctors said it would do no good.

At first, the authorities tried to strike a correct balance between being open about the epidemic and not causing a panic. This did them little good because Corks population still believe that even worse news was being kept from them.

When my family and I returned to Cork from London in August 1956, we found the streets empty. When we expressed surprise at this, our taxi driver explained, as my father later recalled, that people are afraid to come into Cork. Business is going to hell. If the epidemic goes on, in a few weeks half the shops in this street will be bankrupt. Under pressure from advertisers, the local newspaper almost entirely stopped reporting on the epidemic the following month, shortly before I fell ill. The cynics had turned out to be right.

Such censorship was roundly criticised by one official, who wrote to the newspaper: I for one would be very annoyed if I came to Cork with my family on a holiday and found polio raging and that the business people were prepared to allow me to come and to expose my family to the disease  for the sake of my money as a tourist.

The Chinese government does appear to have been fairly open about the onset of the latest version of the coronavirus, compared to their secretiveness during the Sars epidemic eighteen years ago. But transparency may not do them much good, because frightened people, Irish or Chinese, naturally look to blame human agency, rather than an unpredictable virus that can only be seen with a powerful microscope. Sealing off the source of infection sounds like an attractive option to those outside the quarantine zone, even when effective quarantine is almost impossible.

 World Health Organisation provides information on Coronavirus

For years after the epidemic had ended, fears ran high in Cork. Maureen OSullivan, a Red Cross nurse, told me that at the sight of my ambulance in their street, people would think that the polio was back. They would run into their houses, get down on their knees to pray. They had lost all hope  they were that frightened.
A pregnant North Carolina woman has been killed in what police are describing as a murder-suicide, just days after finding out she was having a baby girl.

Cynthia Lynn Smith, 38, was found dead outside a Waynesville home on Tuesday morning, alongside the body of Robert Brian King, 43.

Smith, a teacher, was four months pregnant and had just days earlier decided to name her unborn baby girl Riley Quinn Smith, local media reported.

Cynthia Smith, also known by those close to her as Cindy, was killed by her ex-partner in what police said was a murder-suicide. She had only just found out the sex of her unborn baby and had named her Riley Quinn Smith

Cynthia Lynn Smith, 38, was found dead outside a Waynesville home on Tuesday morning, alongside the body of Robert Brian King, 43. King is believed to have lain in wait for Smith, who he killed, before committing suicide

Waynesville Police have today confirmed that it appears Ms Smith was killed by her ex-partner, before he killed himself.

In a statement police said surveillance cameras from a neighbor's house caught the moment 'he murdered Smith and then intentionally took his life'.

Interim police chief Brian Beck told the Citizen Times that King and Smith had previously been in a romantic relationship.

He said it was thought that King, who was the baby's father, had planned the murder and lain in wait for her.

In a Facebook post, Smith's uncle described a turbulent relationship between the couple, and said his niece had been trying to break free.

'She had broke up with him about a month or so ago and moved back in with my mom, away from him,' Steve Goodson, Smith's uncle wrote.

'She was fearful of him, but he was sneaky and never done anything bad enough to have the authorities involved.'

Ryan Goodson shared this image of his niece on Facebook as he urged others to watch out for warning signs and seek help if anyone showed erratic behavior

Mr Goodson said he was struggling to make sense of what had happened to his beloved niece.

'I keep asking myself WHY, Why would a person harm Cindy, who would never hurt a fly?'

In his post he also urged others to watch out for the warning signs.

'If someone is acting erratic, things they are saying not adding up, if they are angry, saying crazy things etc, try to get help, try to get them help,' he said.

'Trust is a valuable thing, don't give it up lightly.'

Smith was a well-loved member of the community, a teacher at the Kid Connection Child Development Center in Canton for close to three years.

The 38-year-old was a loved member of the community and since her death tributes have been flowing online as friends and family shared their memories of her

In an online obituary friends and family shared their memories of a woman they described as a bright, beautiful, young lady and a 'precious soul' who had been taken too soon.

'I am truly still in shock,' wrote a close friend. 'I have so many memories, we shared our love of poetry and would send each other lines, sometimes we would work on them together.

'She even would send me songs she would sing. I will cherish that for eternity. I wish I had told her one last time how much I loved her, how much her listening to me, being my friend had meant to me. Cindy, I will truly love you for always.'

Another wrote: 'Cindyyou were such a precious soul that was taken so quickly! Sophia loved seeing you each day and talked about you often, you were one of her favorite teachers!

'Enjoy your sweet beautiful little girl for eternity in heaven! We love you and miss you here on earth but I know that you are resting in the Father's arms and loving on your precious little one!'
Tom Sizemore has been arrested for a DUI and being in possession of a controlled substance, it has been claimed.

The 58-year-old actor, who has appeared in major films such as Saving Private Ryan and Black Hawk Down, was taken in on Thursday morning at 2:30 AM in Glendale, California, according to TMZ.

When police searched the Hollywood vet, they allegedly found narcotics on him.

Busted: Tom Sizemore has reportedly been arrested for a DUI and being in possession of a controlled substance. Here is his mug shot from the city of Glendale, which was released to the public on Friday morning

Tom was pulled over for a traffic violation. That is when officers noticed that he was under the influence and they tested him.

This new arrest could cause bigger problems for the actor because of a prior plea deal he had, according to the site.

In early 2019 he was arrested for being on drugs in Burbank, California. Police allegedly found meth and heroin in his car.

The star was jailed along with a male passenger for misdemeanor possession, TMZ reported at the time.

One of his biggest roles: The star, now 58, was in Saving Private Ryan in 1998 with Tom Hanks

Another good project: The star, center, played John Gotti in Witness To The Mob in 1998

He pulled over by police in his Mercedes E350 over a missing front license plate and expired registration tags.

Police in Burbank then allegedly found the drugs, thought to be meth and heroin, in the vehicle.

But he got a break with a plea deal that kept him out of jail if he agreed to stay off drugs.

With this new arrest, he seems to have violated his plea deal which means he could serve time in jail.

Tom has a track record of legal issues.

Sizemore was also arrested for domestic violence in 2016.

In May 2018 a Utah woman sued the actor for $3 million over claims he groped her during a movie set photo shoot when she was just 11.

And the hits just kept coming: Here the actor is seen in the 2001 hit film Pearl Harbor with Ewen Bremner

The lawsuit says the 2003 incident, which allegedly occurred during production of the movie Natural Born Killers, left her with post-traumatic stress and drug and alcohol addiction.

Sizemore denied the 'highly disturbing' allegation when it surfaced, saying he would never inappropriately touch a child.

He called the claims surrounding the alleged incident in 2003 'simply false' and said he was desperate to 'clear my name'.

Another mug shot for Tom: Here the Michigan native is seen in his mug shot from 2007

Sizemore has faced a very public battle with drug addiction and run-ins with the police.

But in May 2017 he told the DailyMail.com he was 'fit, healthy and approaching four years sober'.

He recalled seeing his successful acting career  starring alongside Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro, Woody Harrelson and Al Pacino - crumble around him, his bank balance and the trappings of fame vanish overnight.

His love: In 1999 he attended the premiere of Eyes Wide Shut with wife, actress Maeve Quinlan

The actor told how he hit rock bottom when forced to squat for two years in a building with no electricity or running water, whiling away the days smoking crystal meth.

Speaking in 2017 he said: 'My life's gotten a lot better, it's been a real chronicle, but I've got a long history of substance abuse, I was in a really bad place.

'And I'm coming up on four years sober, it was really difficult, the first two years were miserable I thought I'd never smile again.

'Drugs are a progressive disease, if I do drugs again I go right back to where I was before, I was ineffectual, I could barely get dressed, I was hopeless.'

Over the years he has been in and out of rehab several times and was arrested in 2007 and 2009 for drug-related charges, spending 16 months in total in prison.

He was sentenced to six months in jail for beating up his former girlfriend, the one-time 'Hollywood Madam,' Heidi Fleiss.

The star was even caught attempting to fake a drug urine test using a prosthetic penis known as a Whizzinator.

While he seemed to get his life back on track after the show, two videos of the troubled actor smoking drugs emerged.

A representative for Sizemore has been contacted for comment.
No media source currently available

The URL has been copied to your clipboard

The code has been copied to your clipboard.

Highlanders supporters based in the United Kingdom on Thursday donated a training kit to the Bulawayo-based outfit. The supporters were represented by well-known broadcaster Ezra Tshisa Sibanda. (Video: Joseph Njanji)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Theresia Sufa (The Jakarta Post) Bogor  Fri, January 24, 2020

The city administration of Bogor in West Java plans to improve its historical tourist destinations by revamping existing museums and building a new one.

Bogor Mayor Bima Arya Sugiarto said that, unlike neighboring cities, Bogor was rich in historical heritage, hence there was a need to revitalize museums in Bogor.

We, the people of Bogor, are very lucky. Our place is rich in a history that has created cultures, habits and folklore. The long history gives us characteristics that distinguish us from people from anywhere else. The history gives us a lot to learn, he said in a discussion about museums on Monday.

to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content

e-Post daily digital newspaper

No advertisements, no interruptions

Privileged access to our events and programs

Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login
United States Vice President's Office on Thursday rejected reports suggesting that the United Kingdom's Prince Charles snubbed Mike Pence during his visit to the Holocaust Forum in Jerusalem, saying that the two had spoken to each other "prior to entering the event floor" and after Pence's remarks in the event.

A video had gone viral on social media, showing Charles walking past Pence while greeting other dignitaries at the Holocaust Forum, prompting many users to suggest that it was a deliberate snub on part of the Prince.

Followingly, Pence's press secretary Katie Waldman shared a photo of the event where the two could be seen sharing a laugh.

"This is not true. VP and Prince Charles spoke prior to entering the event floor and after his remarks as well," Waldman tweeted.

In a clip that had went viral on social media, Prince Charles is seen greeting dignitaries at Holocaust Forum. At one point in the video, he can be seen moving past Pence -- after appearing to have glanced at him -- and proceeding to engage with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
There was a report of a crash on the base as a result of the gate runner, and those reports are false. There was also a report of a car fire on the base, and this too was false, Leung said. There was a limousine fire Friday morning just outside the base that was going to a recruit graduation, which was delayed by an hour because of the gate incident.
Chinese rights lawyer Ding Jiaxi was among a number of activists linked to the New Citizens' Movement against corruption and for political change to be jailed in 2014. After his release from that four-year jail term, Ding was recently redetained as part of a nationwide crackdown on rights activists and dissidents following a meeting in the southeastern city of Xiamen.



Earlier this week, his U.S.-based wife Luo Shengchun met with national security officials in Washington to discuss her husband's case.



"It should definitely help, but how much it ultimately helps will depend on how the White House communicates with the Chinese government," said Luo, who remains cautiously optimistic that diplomatic pressure can be exerted on the ruling Chinese Communist Party in Beijing by the Trump administration.



Ding attended a dinner with prominent activists in Xiamen, including the founder of the New Citizens' Movement, Xu Zhiyong, in early December 2019.



He and several others who had attended that dinner were arrested on Dec. 26. In Dings case, he was detained by Shandong police, who are spearheading the latest round of detentions targeting dissidents. Fellow activists Zhang Zhongshun, Dai Zhenya and Li Shuai were detained on the same day.



Luo said she has hired a lawyer to Shandong's Yantai city to inquire after her husband, although she has been informed that he is being held incommunicado at an undisclosed location, on suspicion of "incitement to subvert state power," a charge that means he will likely be denied family visits or access to lawyers.



She said the authorities' handling of Ding's case had broken rules already.



"It is now 26 days since his detention, and we still haven't received any formal legal documents telling us why he was detained," Luo said in an interview on Jan. 21. "So I have hired a lawyer."



Lawyers Huang Zhiqiang and Chang Weiping have themselves been detained on suspicion of "picking quarrels and stirring up trouble" and "subversion of state power" respectively since they tried to represent individuals detained in the Shandong crackdown.



Xu Zhiyong is currently on the run from police, and believed to still be in China.



A Chinese activist who entered the White House with Luo but declined to be named said those who attended the Xiamen meeting had just engaged in general talk about current affairs and civil rights campaigns, and that he was surprised at the police reaction.



Another activist who also asked for anonymity said the recent round of detentions shows that the administration of President Xi Jinping will brook no dissent of any kind now.



Luo, who currently lives in New York State, said she has repeatedly met with U.S. officials in recent years, and that they are well aware of the sharp deterioration in China's human rights situation during that time, but that their Chinese counterparts generally brush off any complaints or criticisms.



"Every time [the U.S. officials] bring these things up, they just say that China's 1.4 billion people live very happily," she said. "They say [dissidents and peaceful activists] are just a small handful of people who like to incite rioting or subversion of the regime."



Luo said she has more free time on her hands now that the couple's children are grown.



"Now [my two daughters] are in college, I can afford to spend all of my spare time telling the world about these things," she told RFA.



Reported by Wang Yun for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. The United Nations General Assembly has proclaimed 24 January as International Day of Education, in celebration of the role of education for peace and development.

On the occasion of this day Armenias minister of education, science, culture and sport Arayik Harutyunyan said on Facebook that education is the best investment we can have for our success.

We will do everything for Armenias education system to be able to ensure the best future of the talented individuals of our country years later. We have launched systematic reforms at various levels  preschool education, general education and higher education, the minister said, adding that now it is necessary to use the existing opportunities to learn something new every day.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan
The State Department announced new regulations on Thursday that allow officers examining visa applications to turn away pregnant women if they believe those women are visiting the U.S. just to give birth. The rule, which will go into effect Friday, is meant to target so-called birth tourismone of the immigration issues President Donald Trump has railed against in his campaign to limit refugees and immigrants coming to the U.S.

According to the new regulations, pregnant women who look as if they may be traveling just to give birth so their children can be U.S. citizens will now need to prove they have the money to cover living expenses and medical treatment. These are rules similar to those already in place for visa applicants citing medical needs. Its unclear still how an officer making such a decision will determine how far along the pregnancy is or even if a woman is pregnant to begin with. The officers are not authorized to ask women if they are pregnant.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Already, according to the New York Times, it was possible for consular officers to decline visas for women they believed were traveling just to give birth. But the new rule states explicitly that birth tourism is not a valid reason to visit the U.S. and gives visa officers greater authority to turn pregnant women away.

According to the State Department, the rule is meant to deal a blow to businesses that organize trips for pregnant women. This rule will help prevent operators in the birth tourism industry from profiting off treating U.S. citizenship as a commodity, sometimes through potentially criminal acts, the rule said. It is not illegal for women to travel to the U.S. to give birth, but some businesses that organize birth tourism trips are prosecuted for visa fraud or tax issues.

Advertisement

Advertisement

The rules will only be relevant to consular officials abroad and when dealing with visas for vacation, medical treatment, and visiting family and friends.

Trump and his supporters have insisted that birth tourism is a major source of immigration, and the president has repeatedly complained about anchor babies, who he believes cheat the system. Trump has also openly questioned the ideaenshrined in the Constitutionthat everyone born in the U.S. should receive citizenship. Its not clear if there is a significant number of women participating in birth tourism, as there are no confirmed statistics.

White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement that the new rule would protect the United States from the national security risks and defend American taxpayers from having their hard-earned dollars siphoned away to finance the direct and downstream costs associated with birth tourism.
Bengaluru, Jan 24 : The Karnataka government would hold a Global Investors' Meet (GIM 2020) here from November 3-5 to showcase the southern state's ecosystem for attracting investments from the world over, an official said on Friday.

"Our Chief Minister B.S. Yeddurappa held the first road show on the GIM at the 50th World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting, being held at Davos in Switzerland and invited global firms to participate in the 3-day event for investment opportunities," additional secretary P. Ravikumar told IANS.

At a curtain-raiser on "Invest Karnataka 2020" on Thursday, the BJP Chief Minister said the theme of the GIM would be "Innovate Now. Growth Forever" as the state had one of the best natural and human resources for investing in manufacturing, services and agriculture sectors and creating jobs.

"About 100 entrepreneurs, businessmen and heads of global firms participated in the roadshow to assess the state's industrial policies, incentives, infrastructure, tax system and its ease of doing business for investment potential," Ravikumar said.

Among the participants at the event were Swiss-India parliamentary group president Niklaus-Samuel Gugger, Uber Chief Executive Dara Khosrowshahi, General Electric (GE) executive William Cowan and heads of Gemini Corporation, Coca Cola, SAP Labs, Swiss Re and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

"Khosrowshahi discussed Uber's expansion plans in Bengaluru and assured the Chief Minister of investing more in the state. Cowen expressed interest in the development of healthcare, renewable energy and power distribution across the state through partnership with the state government," the official noted.

The US-based transnational firm (GE) has a large presence in Bengaluru with one its largest engineering and technology centres and two production plants.

"A Coca Cola executive told Yediyurappa that the soft beverage firm would initially invest $25 million in its plants in the state and enhance it to $200 million to benefit farmers and rural people with access to clean drinking water in their villages," Ravikumar said.

The Chief Minister also sought to know the investment or expansion plans of global firms present in the state, especially Bengaluru and assured their heads of the state support in creating hundreds of jobs and wealth.

About 100 members of the Indian delegation to the WEF, led by Union Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) director-general Chandrajit Bannerjee, Bharat Forge chairman Baba Kalyani, Kirloskar Systems Managing Director Vikram Kirloskar, also participated in the state's GIM roadshow.

State Industries Minister Jagdish Shettar, chief secretary T. M. Vijaya Bhaskar, additional chief secretary E.V. Ramana Reddy and industrial department principal secretary Gurav Gupta also attended the state event.

"Emiriti LuLu group chairman M.A. Yusuf Ali discussed plans to invest $300 million (Rs 2,160 crore) in logistics, hospitality and health/wellness sectors across the state with Yediyurappa," said Ravikumar.

Ali, an NRI (non-resident Indian) migrated to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Afrom Kerala two decades ago and founded the LuLU group at Abu Dhabi to operate a chain of hypermarkets and retain firms since 2000.

"The Chief Minister assured Ali of speedy approvals and incentives for investing in the state, with ease of doing business," the official said in an e-mail to IANS from the Swiss town.

Asserting that his pro-active government would work over time to facilitate global investments in the southern state, Yediyurappa said he was committed to create more jobs across sectors.

Dassault Systems executive Florene Verzelen told the chief minister about her company's plans to set up centres of excellence in smart manufacturing and smart cities in the southern state.

"The centres will train and equip the youth with skilled jobs in large corporations the world over," Ravikumar reiterated.

Yediyurappa apprised US aerospace behemoth Lockheed Martin executive Richard Ambrose of the ecosystem for aerospace and defence industry in the state, especially Bengaluru.

"I will soon visit Bengaluru to explore the possibilities of investing more in Karnataka and taking up research and development work," said Ambrose on the occasion.

A delegation from global automotive component maker Denso also called on the chief minister and interacted with the state delegation.

The Japanese firm has an excellence and research centres in New Delhi and a manufacturing unit at Nelamangala on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

Denso executive Hiroyuki Wakabasyi said he would visit Bengaluru soon to explore further investments in the state.

"Arcelor Mittal chairman Laxmi Mittal also met the chief minister and discussed his company's investment plans in the state," official added.

Mittal backed out of setting up a steel plant in the state's northern region over a decade ago due to delays in acquiring land and mandatory approvals.

Drug maker Novo Nordisk chief executive Lars Fruergaard expressed readiness to work with the state government in taking up educative and awareness programmes for diabetic patients.
Indonesia has agreed to immediately increase imports of Indian buffalo meat, sugar and auto parts after India boosted purchases of Indonesian palm oil amid a spat with rival supplier Malaysia, two Indian government sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Friday. Indonesia and Malaysia account for 85% of the world's palm oil output while India is the biggest buyer of edible oil. India has effectively halted imports of refined palm oil from Malaysia since early January in retaliation for Malaysia's accusation that recent Indian policies discriminate against ...
New Delhi:

Bajaj Auto and iconic British motorcycle brand Triumph on Friday formally began their non-equity global partnership to manufacture a new range of mid-capacity motorcycles in India. The bikes that would be produced under the brand will be available from 2022 and will have price starting at less than Rs 2 lakh, Triumph Motorcycles Chief Commercial Officer Paul Stroud said.

The partnership will build a new engine and vehicle platform in the mid-capacity range (200-800 cc) and offer multiple options to address different segments in this class. The triumph brand is an iconic one the world over. So, we are confident that there will be a huge appetite in India and other emerging markets for these new products, Bajaj Auto Managing Director Rajiv Bajaj said.

The products that will come out of the partnership will also help attract a younger, but still discerning, customer audience and is another step in our ambition to expand globally, particularly in the fast-growing markets of South East Asia but also driving growth in more mature territories like Europe, Triumph Motorcycles Chief Executive Officer, Nick Bloor said.

The Triumph-Bajaj collaboration will combine strength in design, technology, cost-competitive manufacturing and an intimate knowledge of key target markets to deliver a range of products and business successes, as per the pact. Apart from this, Bajaj Chetak electric scooter has finally gone official in India at the prices starting at Rs 1 lakh.

Bajaj Chetak Electric Scooter

It is to be noted that Bajaj Chetak electric scooter is the first product launched under the companys new electric vehicle (EV) vertical, called Bajaj Urbanite. Also, Bajaj Chetak is the companys first electric scooter in India. Bajaj Chetak is offered in two variants i.e. Chetak Urbane edition with drum brakes and the Chetak Premium edition with disc brakes.

While the Chetak Urbane edition of the electric scooter is priced at Rs 1 lakh, the Chetak Premium edition costs Rs 1.15 lakh. The Chetak will be available in six different colour options. The bookings for Bajaj Chetak Electric Scooter will open on January 15 for Rs 2,000. The first units of the e-scooter will be delivered in Pune and Bengaluru, before it is made available in major metros like Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai.

The Chetak will be sold via existing KTM outlets. The company has set-up 13 dealerships in Bengaluru and four dealers in Pune. The Bajaj Chetak electric scooter will be built at Bajaj Auto's manufacturing facility in Chakan, on the outskirts of Pune, Maharashtra, and comes with a 3 years/50,000 km standard warranty.

(With inputs from PTI)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 24)  The Department of Health said Friday there is still no confirmed case of the novel coronavirus in the Philippines.

Until now, we have no verified case, Health Undersecretary Rolando Domingo said in a briefing, referring to the new coronavirus called 2019-nCov.

The DOH also announced that samples from the five-year-old boy from Wuhan, China  where the new coronavirus outbreak began  tested negative for the infection. They sent the childs specimen to an infectious disease reference laboratory in Melbourne, Australia after he yielded a positive result for a still unidentified coronavirus, health authorities earlier announced. The boy arrived in Cebu City with his mother on January 12.

Domingo initially said the test results may come out next Tuesday because it is a holiday in Australia on Monday.

But they added he also tested negative for the lethal Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

READ: Philippines stops accepting flights from Wuhan, origin of new coronavirus

On Thursday, a local test result from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine showed that he tested negative for coronavirus, which is indicative of his improving health.

Domingo explained that those who contract coronaviruses or the large family of viruses which cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to the more serious MERS and SARS would have to yield two negative results for the viral infection before being discharged. The local tests are done 24 hours apart, he added.

Suspected case from Tacloban

The health official also said that there is one more suspected novel coronavirus case from Tacloban.

The suspected case is a 36-year-old American man from Tacloban, Domingo said.

Domingo said the man has not been clinically screened for the possible presence of coronavirus.

Even the one in Tacloban is a suspect[ed] case of new coronavirus. Wala pa naman siyang positive test for the pancoronavirus [Translation: He still does not have a positive test result for the pancoronavirus.]."

Pancoronavirus screening is a test to determine if a person has contracted a strain of coronavirus.

Wuhan coronavirus: Is it safe to travel?

Domingo refused to divulge details so as to protect the privacy of the suspected cases.

We dont (want) people to be scared of them or the family, for example, being ostracized. Sometimes a few details make it easy for them to be identified, Domingo said.

Postpone travel to China

Domingo advised the public to temporarily suspend their travel to China while there is still an outbreak there.

It might be prudent to delay the flight until the disease is completely understood and it is more contained, he said.

Wuhan coronavirus: Is it safe to travel?

The World Health Organization declared that the Wuhan coronavirus, which sparks widespread fears of a deadly pandemic, is not yet a public health emergency of international concern. The novel coronavirus or 2019-nCov has left at least 26 people dead and sickened more than 800 others in China. It has spread to other parts of Asia and even the United States.

WHO defines a public health emergency of international concern as "an extraordinary event" constituting a "public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease and to potentially require a coordinated international response."
Still, news of the impeachment inquiry persisted then, as it did this week.

On each leg of this weeks trip, Mr. Pence stayed in close contact with the president behind the scenes. With their respective airplane televisions tuned to Fox News, they exchanged multiple phone calls each day, in part to compare notes on the unfolding trial.

Publicly, both men have addressed the matter of impeachment with blustery interviews that downplay their collective involvement in the interactions that form the heart of the case against Mr. Trump.

In recent days, Lev Parnas, an associate of Mr. Trumps personal lawyer, Rudolph W. Giuliani, has said in interviews that Mr. Trump canceled plans for Mr. Pence to attend the inauguration last year of President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, after the Ukrainians declined to announce a corruption investigation into the family of former Vice President Joseph R. Biden.

On Friday, Mr. Pence denied knowledge that the Trump administration had engaged in a pressure campaign against Ukraine, withholding aid or a White House visit for Mr. Zelensky in an exchange for an investigation.

But what Ive said over and over again, he said, is I was never aware of the allegations that there was some pressure campaign for investigations against the Bidens that was underway until those matters became public.

Mr. Pence has contended that he does not know Mr. Parnas  I dont recall ever having met Mr. Parnas, he said again on Friday  and those claims prompted Mr. Parnass lawyer to release video of his client meeting the vice president.

And when Mr. Pence was asked about leaked audio of Mr. Trump saying take her out, in an apparent reference to the American ambassador to Ukraine, Marie L. Yovanovitch, Mr. Pence defended the president, who removed her from her post last year. The tape, he said, would confirm only that the President had concerns, and in his authority this president made a decision.
Teresa Giudice and Caroline Manzo are putting their differences aside for a new Super Bowl commercial.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey stars dressed in all red for the Sabra Hummus ad that shows the pair coming together to enjoy a delicious spread despite their ongoing feud.

In the commercial full of only vibrant red colors, Teresa and Caroline only say just two words to one another as they dip into their game-day snack.

Coming together: Teresa Giudice and Caroline Manzo are putting their differences aside for a new Super Bowl commercial

Food for thought: The Real Housewives of New Jersey stars dressed in all red for the Sabra Hummus ad that shows the pair coming together to enjoy a delicious spread despite their ongoing feud

'We did have great times, and shame on her for the way it ended up,' the 47-year-old said back in November to Andy Cohen.

'She's the one that went against me, I didn't go against her.'

Caroline, 58, also had some choice words about her enemy while on her son Albie Manzo's podcast, Dear Albie.

Yum: The two only said two words to one another as they snacked on their hummus

Seeing red: The two women looked glamorous in their red attired that matched the set

'I haven't responded to anything in years by design because again, that was my past,' the star explained.

'I do think that for her, and I've said this before, I represent her truth and she's terrified of that because it is very clear and obvious to me that no one around her has the guts to tell her what she needs to hear. And I was the only person that did. And it was never in a way that was, well I guess there was some bitchiness to it and cattiness, but it always came from a place of trying to help her.'

The two have yet to speak out on whether or not this new hummus ad actually brought them closer and ended their long-standing feud.

Speaking out: 'I haven't responded to anything in years by design because again, that was my past,' the star explained during an interview last year

While they haven't spoken in years, back in October, Giudice added fuel to the fire when she eluded to the fact that Manzo was the reason she and her husband Joe Giudice had to go to jail.

'It's just so sad, I guess, because she's lived that crooked life,' she said while on the show.

'I've never lived that crooked life and I guess she has and who she comes from, and where she came from.  How could she predict that [we were headed for legal trouble]? Could she have anything to do with what happened to Joe and I? Is she a rat?'
920 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard

In another sign that Trump is not playing with a full deck, the president invented a poll that gave him the lead in a Texas GOP House primary.

Trump tweeted:

The first side of the graph looks normal. Notice that drunken Dr. Ronny Jackson who once gave Trump a fake physical is running for the House. The really bizarre part is that someone put Donald Trump at 95% in the corner of the poll.

This is odd because of A). Trump isnt running for House seat in Texas, B). Trump wasnt included in the polling matchup between the candidates, and C). The math adds up to a vote total of more than one hundred percent.

The tweet makes no sense and is a sign that the impeachment trial has broken Trumps brain. Trump is looking for wins anywhere he can get them, including in elections that he is not running in.

For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.

Follow Jason Easley on Facebook
With a holistic approach that engages governments, corporations, and civil society, the practice of using child workers can be ended, writes Kailash Satyarthi

Every day, 152m children perform hard labour, often in hazardous conditions. Bangladeshs garment factories, which are staffed largely by women, and often children, are a prime example. Between 2006 and 2012, more than 500 Bangladeshi garment workers died in factory fires. In November 2012, a single fire left 117 workers dead, and more than 200 injured.

A mere five months later, a factory outside Dhaka collapsed, killing more than 1,100 people and injuring over 2,500 more.

Fortunately, the world increasingly seems to recognise the urgency of ending child labour. In 2015, global leaders agreed, as part of target 8.7 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to take immediate and effective measures to secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers.

Child labour in all its forms, they pledged, should be ended by 2025. Meeting the target will require  in addition to free, quality, and equitable education, enforcement of laws prohibiting child labour, and promotion of decent working conditions for adults and social protection schemes  a whole-of-supply-chain approach.

After all, as a recent OECD report shows, 28%-43% of the child labour that is estimated to contribute to exports does so indirectly, through preceding links in supply chains (such as extraction of raw materials or agriculture). This complicates due diligence, visibility, and traceability. Here, the Netherlands provides a promising example.

In 2014, at a parliamentary hearing about human rights violations in global garment supply chains, I advocated for legislation much like what we have been fighting for in Germany: Companies supplying the Dutch market should be held responsible for ensuring that no child labour is used throughout their supply chains.

I reiterated my case with parliamentarians of various countries around the world. In 2017, the lower house of the Dutch parliament adopted the Child Labour Due Diligence Law, requiring companies selling to the Dutch market to identify child labour in their supply chains; create a plan of action to combat it; and issue a formal statement on their efforts. Early last year, the Senate voted to adopt the law.

Germany may soon follow suit. Last November, hundreds of young people took to the streets of Berlin to demand a federal law requiring German businesses to ensure that no child labour is used anywhere in their supply chains. The event  backed by the 100 Million campaign, which I founded  was the culmination of over a year of such demands from young activists. Germanys government seems to be listening, with members of the Bundestag from a range of political parties pledging their support.

If Germany  which assumes the presidency of the EU in July  passes such legislation, it can serve as a powerful example to others, in Europe and beyond. Global action is vital. Working in over 140 countries, I have seen first hand how child labour laws are undermined by corruption, lack of political will, and weak corporate accountability.

But if the largest markets, where companies reap the largest profits, ensure that products entire supply chains are ethical and sustainable, it becomes much more difficult to dodge accountability, even in countries beset by corruption or weak institutions.

This is good for business. According to a 2015 study, 73% of millennials (born between 1977 and 1995) are willing to spend more money on sustainable goods and services.

That year, the study found, brands that showed a commitment to sustainability registered sales growth of 4% globally, whereas sales growth for those that didnt was less than 1%. This trend  which includes not only environmental sustainability, but also ethical practices  will only accelerate in the years ahead.

Governments  among the largest purchasers of goods and services  should similarly direct their spending toward ethical and sustainable goods. Public procurement represents 13% of GDP in OECD countries, and 15-25% elsewhere. Cross-border government procurement also accounts for a sizable chunk of global trade.

If the worlds governments imposed strict ethical conditions on their suppliers, violations of human rights  including child labour  in supply chains would be drastically reduced. Prerequisites for success include political stewardship, sustained commitment, relevant expertise, well-designed procurement policies, and effective monitoring systems.

But if we are truly to achieve the SDG target of eliminating child labour  including ensuring that child labour is not merely shifted to new, less regulated sectors  civil society must also be engaged, and local-level action must complement top-down efforts by governments and companies.

There is already a proven method for achieving this: the child-friendly village model that my organisation launched in 2001.

In more than 600 child-friendly villages that the Kailash Satyarthi Childrens Foundation (KSCF) has established in India, as well as those in Nepal and Uganda, all children attend school, and there is a community ban on child labour, trafficking, prostitution, and marriage.

Furthermore, there is no forced labour, and adults enjoy decent work and social benefits. This model does not take long to show results. Over the last three years alone, KSCF  together with a few American companies that import mica  applied this model in over 240 villages along Indias mica-mining belt, following revelations of rampant child labour in the sector. Child labour has now been completely eliminated in these villages.

Next week, participants at a high-level meeting in the Netherlands  facilitated by the Global March Against Child Labour, the Dutch Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, the International Labour Organisation, and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency  will discuss ways to achieve SDG 8.7. A holistic, area-based approach that engages governments, corporations, and civil society should be at the top of the agenda. Our children deserve nothing less.

Kailash Satyarthi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, is honorary president of the Global March Against Child Labour and the founder of Bachpan Bachao Andolan (Save Childhood Movement).
Fast food chain McDonald's became the first major entity to announce that a select few eateries will be open round the clock in the financial capital under the new rules by the Maharashtra government.

The new rules which allow shops and establishments to be open through the night with some riders come into effect from January 27.

However, there are reports of reluctance among owners with regard to new directions.

The retail industry had welcomed the move by Maharashtra, after the Uddhav Thackeray-led government took the decision earlier this week.

The food chain's India franchise owner Westlife Development said seven of its 46 outlets in the financial capital will be running around the clock from Monday and eventually it will scale up the number.

All the seven outlets are located in premium malls spread across the city. Its senior director Saurabh Kalra said this will make Mumbai a truly "maximum city".

The city, which has a reputation of not sleeping at all, generally relishes on illegal eateries that thrive across neighbourhoods, with egg varieties being a favourite night snack.

The Retailers Association of India had in a statement said that employment will increase by 10 per cent in the city because of such a move.

"This is a win-win for all. It will help increase customer satisfaction because customers can buy things whenever there is a need. It will help retailers achieve better sales as well as increase the revenue collection for the state government," it had said.

Many of the mall owners have reportedly said that initially they will be open only till 3 am and may take it up to 5 AM.

The government move comes with riders including inability to operate in residential areas in the late hours, and other applicable limits on noise pollution.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jerri-Lynn here. Ive previously crossposted many segments of Justin Mikulkas excellent series for DeSmogBlog on fracking follies. Heres Wolf Richters take on the issue, wrapped up with a discussion of collapsing prices for oil and natural gas.

By Wolf Richter, editor of Wolf Street. Originally published at Wolf Street

Following the sharp re-drop in oil and natural gas prices in late 2018, bankruptcy filings in the US by already weakened exploration and production companies , oilfield services companies, and midstream companies (they gather, transport, process, or store oil and natural gas) jumped by 51% in 2019, to 65 filings, according to data compiled by law firm Haynes and Boone. This brought the total of the Great American Shale Oil & Gas Bust since 2015 in these three sectors to 402 bankruptcy filings.

The debt involved in these bankruptcies in 2019 doubled from 2018 to $35 billion. This pushed the total debt listed in these bankruptcy filings since 2015 to $207 billion. The chart below shows the cumulative total debt involved in these bankruptcies since 2015.

But this does not include the much larger losses suffered by shareholders that get mostly wiped out in the years before the bankruptcy as the shares descend into worthlessness, and that then may get finished off in bankruptcy court.

The banks, which generally had the best collateral, took the smallest losses; bondholders took bigger losses, with unsecured bondholders taking the biggest losses. Some of them lost most of their investment; others got high-and-tight haircuts; others held debt that was converted to equity in the restructured companies, some of which soon became worthless again when the company filed for bankruptcy a second time. The old shareholders took the biggest losses.

The Great American Fracking Bust started in mid-2014, when the price of WTI dropped from over $100 a barrel to below $30 a barrel by early 2016. Then the price began to recover, going over $70 a barrel in September and October 2018. But then it began to re-plunge. By the end of 2018, WTI had dropped to $47 a barrel.

Two major geopolitical events in the Middle East  the attack on Saudi Aramcos oil facilities last September and the US assassination of Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani  that would have shaken up oil markets before, only caused brief ripples, quickly squashed by the onslaught of surging US production. At the moment, WTI trades at $56.08 per barrel, which is still below where the shale oil industry can survive long-term:

And 2020 is starting out terrible for natural gas producers. The price of natural gas has plunged to $1.90 per million Btu at the moment, a dreadfully low price where no one can make any money. Producers in shale fields that produce mostly gas, such as the Marcellus, are in deeper trouble still, because oil, even at these prices, would be a lot better than just natural gas.

Producing areas with constrained takeaway capacity (it takes a lot longer to build pipelines than to ramp up production) are subject to local prices, which can be lower still. In some areas, such as the Permian in Texas and New Mexico, the most prolific oil field in the US, where natural gas is a byproduct of oil production, limited takeaway capacity has caused local prices to collapse, and flaring to surge.

The chart shows the spot price for delivery at the Henry Hub:

Texas at the Epicenter.

The most affected state, in terms of the number of bankruptcy filings, is Texas, the largest oil producer in the US. Since 2015, the state had 207 oil-and-gas bankruptcy filings, of the 402 total US filings. In 2019, Texas had 30 of the 65 US filings.

Delaware, obviously, is not into oil and gas production, but into coddling corporations, and many companies are incorporated in Delaware, including some oil-and-gas companies in Texas. When they file for bankruptcy, they do so in Delaware. These are the eight states with the most oil-and-gas bankruptcy filings since 2015:

Bankruptcy filings are triggered when the E&P companies no longer get funding from Wall Street or from their banks to continue with their perennially cash-flow negative operations and service their debts. And this is what is happening now. Wall Street and the banks have started to demand that these companies stick to an entirely new mantra in the fracking business: live within cash flow.

When E&P companies run short on funding, they cut back on drilling activity which puts the squeeze on oilfield services companies that provide products and services to the oilfield, including drilling and completing wells. And then these OFS companies go bankrupt.

This is what happened to oilfield-services giant Weatherford which filed for a prepackaged bankruptcy last July. Back in 2014, before the oil bust, it had 67,000 employees; by July, it was down to about 26,000. The reorganization plan allowed Weatherford to shed $5.8 billion of its $7.6 billion in long-term debt. Old shareholders got wiped out. The creditors got 99% of the restructured companys new shares.

In its report on the OFS bankruptcies, Haynes and Boone cited this pressure from Wall Street and its cascading effect, which Weatherford had pointed out in its bankruptcy filing:

We note that Weatherford, in its July 2019 filing, attributed its insolvency in part to reduced drilling activity by producers who have also been dramatically affected by the commodity price slump since 2015. Investors pressure on producers to live within cash flow is further reducing demand for OFS services and supplies leaving the OFS sector with little near term hope for a turnaround in prospects.

What this sector needs are much higher prices for oil and natural gas. But that cannot happen while production continues to surge. A large-scale culling in the sector  a lot more bankruptcies  could reduce production, and support higher prices.

But as soon as prices rise above certain levels, with investors still chasing yield at every twist and turn, the flood of new money will wash over the sector again, with investors having already forgotten by then that shale oil and gas was where money went to die every time. And this new money will cause a new surge in production, which will collapse prices once again. Its a cycle that the shale industry has a hard time getting out of, under the current loosey-goosey monetary conditions.
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) is surrounded by reporters as she heads to vote at the Capitol in Washington on Nov. 6, 2019. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP Photo)

Sen. Susan Collins Stunned by House Managers Cover-Up Accusation

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), a GOP swing-voter in the Senate, said she was not pleased to hear accusations lodged by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), who had accused Republicans of voting for a cover-up earlier this week during the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, prompting her to submit a note to Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

It reminded me that if we were in a normal debate in the Senate, that the rule would be invoked to strike the words of the senator for impugning another senator, she told Politico. So, I did write a note raising the issue of whether thered been a violation of the rules.

Nadler, during the first day of arguments, had accused Republicans in the Senate of voting for a cover-up, voting to deny witnesses, an absolutely indefensible vote, obviously a treacherous vote. The statement triggered a tense exchange between him and White House lead lawyer Pat Cipollone. It came after senators rejected motions to call witnesses and subpoena evidence on the outset of the trial.

Roberts, in a rare rebuke, admonished both sides at 1 a.m. Wednesday and called on them to show some more respect to the institution.

I think it is appropriate at this point for me to admonish both the House managers and the presidents counsel, in equal terms, to remember that they are addressing the worlds greatest deliberative body, Roberts told the Senate.

Collins noted that the exchange between Nadler and Trumps legal team came when everyone was getting very tired, saying Nadlers claim of a cover-up wouldnt affect how she voted.

Im going to cast my vote regardless of the congressmans performance, Collins said. His negative comments about the Senate will not have any impact.

Before the trial, Collins said she would be willing to vote to call up witnesses in the trial. However, she said she wanted to follow the trial layout that was proposed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who had pushed to follow the precedent set during the 1999 impeachment trial of then-President Bill Clinton.

But another senator who has been described as a moderate, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), said she took offense to Nadlers remark.

I took it as very offensive, she told local news outlets on Wednesday. As one who is listening attentively and working hard to get to a fair process, I was offended.

In a separate interview, Murkowski told CNN on Thursday that she had concerns about the House Democrats process during the impeachment inquiry late last year. She questioned why they didnt try to seek witnesses or documents in their case by seeking a remedy in the courts.

The House made a decision that they didnt want to slow things down by having to go through the courts. And yet now theyre basically saying, You guys gotta go through the courts. We didnt, but we need you to, Murkowski said.

Senate Democrats need four Republicans to join them in a vote to compel witnesses and documents in the case.

The articles of impeachment accuse Trump of abusing his power in his dealings with Ukraine last year and obstructing Congress during an investigation of the allegations.
MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI  A West Michigan building contractor is facing three felony charges accusing him of misusing funds intended for the construction of a home.

The charges against Todd Charles Allen, owner of Allen Home Builders near Muskegon, were authorized by Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Hilson earlier this month.

Its alleged that he withdrew $100,000 from the building contractor fund set aside for the homes construction, Hilson told MLive/Muskegon Chronicle.

There appears to be evidence that the drawn money went to other purposes, Hilson said, adding those purposes may have involved other construction projects.

Allen, 45, of Allendale could not be reached for comment. The phone number he listed on court papers was a nonworking number, and the phone at his business also was not working on Friday, Jan. 24.

Allen Home Builders is located at 6420 E. Apple Ave. in Muskegon Countys Egelston Township. On Friday, no one answered the door to the business, upon which was tacked an order to seize the property that was dated Dec. 18, 2019, and signed by Muskegon County District Judge Maria Ladas Hoopes. The order was related to an unpaid judgment in a civil case against Allen Home Builders for $5,591.

The Allen Home Builders website also appears to have been disabled.

Todd Charles Allen, owner of Allen Home Builders near Muskegon, is being charged with three counts of contractor fraud.

Allen was arrested and lodged in the Muskegon County Jail on Jan. 13, records show. He posted 10 percent of a $3,000 bond and left jail the same day, court records show. He is scheduled for arraignment next week.

Hilson has authorized three counts of fraudulent use of a building contract fund. State law requires that money held in a construction contract escrow fund be used for payments for materials and subcontractors before the contractors own use.

Subcontractors who claim to not have been paid have filed liens against Allen Home Builders, Hilson said.

Owners of the home being built in the Montague area grew irritated by the lack of progress and contacted an attorney who was able to prevent Allen from making further withdrawals from the fund, Hilson said.

The Michigan State Police Rockford Post also conducted an investigation, he said.

Hilson said construction on the home began in August 2019; the court file lists the offense date as June 1, 2018.

Also on MLive:

Contractor who took money and never built garage sent to prison

Four accused of imprisoning woman inside West Michigan home

Alleged drunk driver charged in hit-and-run at school bus stop
Eamon Harrison (23) from Co Down.

Eamonn Harrison, from Northern Ireland, who is wanted in connection with the discovery of 39 bodies in a refrigerated container in Essex, can be extradited from Ireland to the UK, a judge in Dublin has ruled.

Mr Justice Donald Binchy said that after receiving comprehensive arguments from both sides, he decided to approve the extradition.

Justice Binchy said he has not published his judgment in full to the court and will not make it available until Monday.

He said it would not be helpful for him to try and summarise his decision to the court.

Defence counsel Tony McGillicuddy said he will read the judgment next week and decide whether to lodge an appeal.

Ten teenagers, including two 15-year-old boys, were among 39 Vietnamese nationals whose bodies were discovered in the lorry trailer in the early hours of October 23.

Two other Northern Ireland men have been charged in connection with the incident.

Expand Close A court sketch of lorry driver Maurice Robinson PA / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp A court sketch of lorry driver Maurice Robinson

Maurice 'Mo' Robinson has admitted conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration between May 1 2018 and October 24 2019 and acquiring criminal property  namely cash.

The 25-year-old, of Laurel Drive in Craigavon in Northern Ireland, has yet to enter pleas to 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to commit human trafficking and transferring criminal property.

Christopher Kennedy, 23, from Darkley, County Armagh, Northern Ireland has denied conspiracy to commit human trafficking offences between May 1 2018 and October 24 2019 by arranging or facilitating the travel of other people with a view to exploitation.

He also denied conspiring to assist unlawful immigration over the same period.
RACINE  Linda Sue LaRoche, the woman accused of killing Peggy Lynn Johnson-Schroeder in 1999 and hiding her corpse in Raymond, appeared in court again Thursday without legal representation.

According to online court records, LaRoche said Thursday that she has spoken to numerous attorneys and plans to hire someone this week to represent her.

This is the second time this month LaRoche has appeared in a Racine County courtroom without representation. I have one (an attorney) that Im hiring, but I havent had a chance to hire them yet, LaRoche told Racine County Court Commissioner Alice Rudebusch during her previous appearance on Jan. 6.

LaRoche, who was living in Florida at the time of her arrest, is not eligible for a public defender. She is currently being held in the Racine County Jail on $500,000 bond.

Another court hearing has been scheduled for Feb. 6 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave., to see if LaRoche has obtained representation.

OWI charge

Although LaRoche was charged in November, it took more than a month to get her to Wisconsin, because she was facing unrelated charges for a drunken driving incident in Florida.

LaRoche was charged in Florida with driving under the influence and causing damage while driving under the influence after an October incident during which she crashed a Mercedes C300 while allegedly driving drunk. Her blood-alcohol concentration that night was 0.33%.

LaRoche pleaded no contest to the OWI and damage-to-property charges and was sentenced Dec. 20 to 44 days behind bars, according to southwest Floridas WINK News.

Break in cold case

LaRoche, 64, is accused of killing Johnson-Schroeder who was recently identified with a DNA sample and had been known for the last 20 years simply as Jane Doe.

Johnson-Schroeders identity was unknown for many years until the Racine County Sheriffs Office was tipped off on Sept. 23. The tip said a Florida woman, later identified as LaRoche, had been talking about how she had killed someone in Illinois decades prior, according to the criminal complaint filed by the Racine County District Attorneys Office.

The next few weeks were spent finding LaRoche, speaking with her and Johnson-Schroeders family members and confirming that the Jane Does DNA matched that of Johnson-Schroeders family.

LaRoche told Racine County investigators that at the time of Johnson-Schroeders death she had been working at a jail as a registered nurse, but that the jail did not have a facility for storing drugs. So, she said, she started storing medications in the crawl space of her home in McHenry.

LaRoche accused Johnson-Schroeder of repeatedly stealing medications. But, according to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiners Office, Johnson-Schroeders autopsy revealed there were no drugs in her system.

LaRoche told investigators that Johnson-Schroeder had gone into the crawl space before dumping pills down a drain and then fainting. After Johnson-Schroeder fell unconscious, LaRoche allegedly told investigators she thought about calling an ambulance but didnt.

Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 1

Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
Member of the European Solidarity faction, fifth President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has said that the investigators of the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI) are using summons for questionings with the aim of hindering his international meetings and visit.

"On January 20, when I voluntarily came to the SBI in order to stop insinuations with the summons and to find out when I can come for questioning, they told me that it was very important to be present on January 24. I had to cancel an international visit  several international meetings had been scheduled in Switzerland, in Davos  and I think that they are highly likely monitoring my correspondence. They saw the booking and scheduled my questioning as a witness exactly for the same day," Poroshenko told reporters at the SBI, adding the criminal cases, in which he is a witness, were designed for creating a show instead of investigation.

Poroshenko also said that the SBI is trying to interrupt his international activities.

"[A session of] the NATO Parliamentary Assembly is scheduled for the end of January. I am departing there on January 27, but they schedule a questioning for January 31. The only thing why they are doing this is to hinder by international activities," Poroshenko said.
A woman who was convicted of killing a toddler at a daycare facility back in 2011 is sentenced to life in prison, according to multiple reports.

As reported by CBS 46, Maria Owens, a 51-year-old woman was sentenced to life after being convicted of killing Jaylen Kelly back in 2011, just before Jaylens first birthday.

As stated in a media release issued by the Office of the Fulton County District Attorney, Owens is convicted of murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and cruelty to children in the first degree.

The incident occurred in Owenss house in Fairburn on June 1, 2011, according to the news outlet. According to prosecutors, Owens was operating an unlicensed daycare center.

According to the media release, Jaylen Kelly and his sister were left by their parents at Owenss house, and on the same day, they informed Owens that they planned to move Kelly and his sister to a more structured environment. At the time of the incident, Jaylen and his sister were the only children that Owens was looking after. They were Owenss only source of income, and she was undergoing the process of divorcing her husband.

The media release stated that an hour after learning about this decision, Owens contacted authorities to let them know that Jaylen was unresponsive and not breathing. He was then transported to a local hospital and then flown to the Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta-Egleston.

However, Jaylen did not survive his injuries and died shortly afterward. During the autopsy, authorities found that the toddler had a fractured spine, and at the time, had lost nearly half of his blood volume.

District Attorney Paul Howard said that the medical examiner believed the toddler might have been slammed down either into the side of a bathtub or on to the floor, according to CBS 46.

As stated by the media release, Owens admitted to striking the toddler, but claimed that she only did so in attempting to help Jaylen cough to relieve issues related to bronchitis. However, the medical examiner stated that the amount of force that Owens claimed would not have enough impact to result in the fractured spineit would take much more power to result in that kind of injury.

Owens was sentenced back in 2013 to 10 years for involuntary manslaughter and felony murder however, the Fulton County District Attorney appealed the conviction. The media release stated that the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that an error on the verdict form impacted the jurys verdict, and reversed the conviction.

Owens was retried and sentenced to life in prison, the media release stated.
We need to move away from the idea of a two-state solution and embrace the vision of one secular, democratic state.

It has been almost 15 years since the Boycott, Divestment Sanctions (BDS) movement was launched by the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI).

The aim of the campaign is to force Israel and its supporters to recognise that the status quo in Palestinian lands and Israel is not tenable in the long term and that there can be no solution without respect for international law, civility and democracy. That means ending the illegal occupation of the West Bank and the siege of Gaza, securing equal rights within Israel for its Palestinian citizens, and implementing the right of displaced Palestinians in the diaspora to return to their homes.

Today, the BDS campaign enjoys the support of the vast majority of Palestinian civil society. The tide is changing in the West as well, where Israels multitiered system of oppression, namely occupation, colonisation and apartheid are increasingly condemned.

International civil society seems to have reached the conclusion that, like South Africas, Israels system of oppression cannot be brought to an end without ending international complicity and intensifying global solidarity, particularly in the form of BDS. Thus, the campaign is fast approaching its South Africa moment of maturity and impact.

I personally have been involved in BDS since its inception and wholeheartedly support it. I am also, however, one who is concerned about public attention being limited to the immediate demands of the campaign at the cost of developing a coherent plan for Palestines political future. In other words, as the campaign limits itself to ensuring the rights of Palestinians are respected, it is lacking a vision for the political reality within which such rights will be extended.

The BDS campaign has been purposefully ambiguous about the shape Palestinian statehood should take and there are tactical reasons for it  mainly to avoid disagreements within the movement.

However, I am of the view that opting for silence on important political questions about Palestines future is the wrong tactic. Focusing on the end of occupation, rights for Palestinians in Israel and the right of return has to be put within a political programme that endorses a one-state solution.

That is why I cofounded, with a group of academics and activists, the One Democratic State Group. The group, which is part of the One Sate Campaign, has put forward a programme which not only reaffirms the right of return, the rights of Palestinian citizens of Israel, and the end of occupation, but also proposes a vision for statehood, economic development, social justice and responsible international politics.

The central premise is that the two-state solution is dead and should be pronounced as such, despite the attachment many groups, especially leftist ones, have to it.

It is time that all those who continue imposing the two-state solution on the public discourse in Palestine and outside realise that Israels strategy of colonisation of the West Bank and gradual expulsion of the Palestinian residents working towards a future annexation has rendered a two-state solution impossible.

At this point, sticking to the two-state vision  an impossible solution  simply means the continuation of occupation, colonisation and apartheid.

Even though I completely understand the position taken by defenders of the rights-based approach, I still think that there is an urgent need for a political vision that helps put a light at the end of the tunnel for those millions of people living between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean, and more than five million Palestinian refugees scattered all over the world.

In my opinion, the right to self-determination should not result in a racist solution in which there are two states, one of which violates the rights of two-thirds of the Palestinian people. That is, an Israeli state would continue to treat its Palestinian citizens as second class and it would continue to deny the right of return to Palestinian refugees.

It would be no different from white-ruled South Africa  a state which gave exclusive rights to one race while excluding all others. If we are to learn from the South African anti-apartheid movement, then we should heed its political vision: Democracy, racial equality and the end of segregation.

This strategy led to the creation of a secular, democratic state on the land of South Africa, which belongs to all South Africans  just as the Freedom Charter of the South African Congress Alliance envisioned.

What boggles the mind is how some people who supported the end of apartheid do not see the inherent contradiction in their support for an ethnic Palestinian state, which would fulfil the right to self-determination only of those Palestinians who reside in the West Bank and Gaza and deprive the diaspora and Palestinian citizens of Israel of this right.

This is the equivalent of supporting the right of the four infamous Bantustans  Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda and Ciskei  to independence.

The two-state solution will not guarantee democracy, end of segregation and full political rights for all Palestinians. It will not provide self-determination for all Palestinians. In fact, it will exclude millions of Palestinians living in Israel and in the diaspora from Palestinian statehood and rights recognition.

We have to move beyond the one- vs two-state solution debate, and try to pursue the more accurate approach  the rights-based struggle coupled with a clear-cut political vision that can be realised within the framework of a unitary state with guaranteed equality for all its citizens regardless of religion, ethnicity or gender.

For now, the BDS campaign may be delaying taking a stance, but at some point in time, it will have to.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.
VANCOUVER - A woman who has regularly visited China from her home in Delta, B.C., says she would not travel there over concerns about a new coronavirus that is spreading beyond the city that officials have closed to try to contain the mysterious illness.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/1/2020 (719 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In this Jan. 22, 2020, photo released on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, by China's Xinhua News Agency, medical workers of the Union Hospital with the Tongji Medical College of the Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan participate in a ceremony to form an "assault team" to battle against a coronavirus epidemic in Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province, Jan. 23, 2020. China closed off a city of more than 11 million people Thursday in an unprecedented effort to try to contain a deadly new viral illness that has sickened hundreds and spread to other cities and countries in the Lunar New Year travel rush. (Cheng Min/Xinhua via AP)

VANCOUVER - A woman who has regularly visited China from her home in Delta, B.C., says she would not travel there over concerns about a new coronavirus that is spreading beyond the city that officials have closed to try to contain the mysterious illness.

Alice Li said she goes to China every other year but would scrap any travel plans after at least 26 deaths and more than 800 infections were linked to the virus that has spread to several other countries.

"I would not go, I would cancel," she said. "You never know how it's passed on."

Li, who moved from China about 40 years ago, said the Chinese-Canadian community in British Columbia is concerned about developments in the virus that originated in a market in Wuhan, where the population of 11 million has been quarantined. A similar lockdown has occurred in more than a dozen other Chinese cities.

Queenie Choo, who lives in Richmond, said she wouldn't travel to China for upcoming lunar new year festivities but is undecided on whether to cancel a business trip scheduled for next month.

Choo, CEO of SUCCESS, a community service group for newcomers to Canada, said she had planned to visit Beijing and Guangzhou in February but getting between those cities requires travel by plane and crowded trains, which could increase the risk of infection.

The virus that's causing respiratory infections with symptoms similar to influenza has also been detected in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand and the United States, where one case was reported in a suburban Seattle man who became ill after returning from Wuhan.

The World Health Organization decided Thursday not to declare the outbreak a global health emergency for now.

Health Minister Patty Hajdu has said the risk of contracting the coronavirus is low in Canada, where no cases have been reported though five or six people were under observation.

For now, Choo said the Chinese-Canadian community is hoping officials in Canada, where another coronavirus killed 44 people in 2003, take adequate precautions to prevent any outbreak of the virus.

"We are very cautiously guarded, and we want to make sure there's no infection spread in B.C., where we live, and in Canada, so we rely on the health-care system to do their vigilance and monitoring at the airport, and surveillance," Choo said.

Fears about getting the virus, believed to have been transmitted from wild animals sold at a Wuhan market before it spread from person to person, have grown to the point that a local a business has sold out of masks it typically sells for construction.

John Elzinga, manager of KMS Tools in Langley, said four locations in the Vancouver area sold several hundred boxes containing 20 masks each since Wednesday and a rush shipment of 960 boxes has been ordered.

"A lady told me you can't buy these in China. She's sending them home. They're sending them to family and friends overseas, many of them are," Elzinga said, adding the N95 mask protects against dust and people believe it will keep them from getting ill.

"We sell them commercially in large quantities but not like this. This is something completely different," he said.

"We're being blown away."

Dr. Stephen Hoption Cann, an epidemiologist at the school of population and public health at the University of British Columbia, said masks can provide some protection from droplets when someone sneezes or coughs and the requirement for residents to wear a mask in public in several Chinese cities means many of them are needed.

"The important thing is just keeping your hands away from your face, out of your eyes, ears, nose and mouth. If the mask on your face is preventing you from doing that that's a good thing," he said.

A lot of coronaviruses circulate every year and cause mild colds, but little is known about the new strain of coronavirus so taking measures such as washing hands and being aware of touching doors, for example, is important because viruses can live on surfaces for 24 hours, he said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 24, 2020.
Isabel dos Santos, the tycoon daughter of Angola's ex-president who is at the centre of an anti-graft investigation, on Thursday vowed she was ready to fight against what she called "misleading and untrue" allegations.

Dos Santos, dubbed 'the princess' in Angola, is accused of using her father's influence to steal millions of dollars from state companies and siphon the funds overseas during his rule.

The allegations stretch across Angola's state oil and diamond industries and banks to Lisbon. Named in the probe, the head of one of Angola's largest banks has resigned while a Portuguese banker has been found dead in an apparent suicide.

Angola's prosecutors have accused dos Santos of mismanagement and embezzlement of funds during her tenure at Sonangol, Angola's state-owned oil giant which she once headed during her father's rule.

But Dos Santos on Thursday countered the claims. "The allegations which have been made against me over the last few days are extremely misleading and untrue," she said in a statement issued through a public relations firm in London.

She said was "ready to fight through the international courts to defend my good name".

Mario Leite da Silva, who was chairman of Banco de Fomento Angola (BFA), the third largest bank in the country, has resigned after being named in the corruption probe, according to a letter seen by AFP.

Most of the ex-president's family have moved abroad since he stepped down in 2017, and are believed to mostly spend time between London and Portugal.

Isabel dos Santos' whereabouts were not clear on Thursday.

The eldest child of ex-president Jose Eduardo dos Santos was already the target of an anti-graft campaign led by her father's successor, Joao Lourenco.

Angola's Prosecutor General Helder Pitta Gros said dos Santos is charged with money laundering, influence peddling, harmful management, forgery of documents among other economic crimes.

Gros said dos Santos was among five named suspects, all of whom were currently residing abroad.

"At the moment, the concern is to notify and get them to voluntarily come to face justice," Gros said.

One of the suspects, a Portuguese banker identified at the weekend in a worldwide media release of documents dubbed the "Luanda Leaks," has been found dead in Lisbon, police there said.

EuroBic banker Nuno Ribeiro da Cunha, who local media named as dos Santos account manager, was found at his home in Lisbon, police said Thursday.

"All indications point to suicide," a police spokesman told AFP. Just hours earlier, EuroBic said in a statement that Dos Santos -- who owns 42.5 percent of the bank -- had taken the decision to "withdraw" as a shareholder.

Angola's prosecutor general travelled to Lisbon after his announcement of the charges to meet his Portuguese counterpart, where he said he would be seeking "help on many things".

Another suspect named by the prosecutor general, Mario Leite da Silva, who was chairman of Banco de Fomento Angola (BFA), the third largest bank, quit his job earlier this week.

His resignation came a day after he was named "personal financial adviser" to Isabel dos Santos in the "Luanda Leaks".

Investigations into her 18-month tenure as Sonangol head began after her successor Carlos Saturnino raised the alarm about "irregular money transfers" and other suspect procedures.

The leak of more than 715,000 files, published on Sunday by some of the world's top media outlets, suggest the alleged looting was systemic.

Hundreds of companies, many based in tax havens such as the British Virgin Islands, are alleged to have helped dos Santos accrue her fortune.

The mounting scandal has prompted scrutiny in Portugal and some of its corporations, especially the small lender EuroBic.

Dos Santos has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and denounced the investigations as politically motivated.

"This is a very concentrated, orchestrated and well-coordinated political attack, ahead of (ruling party) elections in Angola next year," she said.

The 46-year-old businesswoman has been furiously defending her empire, claiming her fortune was built on nothing but hard work and fruitful investments.

Angola's ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) said it respected the prosecutor's decision.

"The MPLA supports and encourages the continuing fight against corruption and impunity, which is a national imperative," spokesman Albino Carlos told AFP.

Opposition party UNITA said the prosecutor general was acting as "part of the normal functioning of justice institutions".

Dos Santos has been dubbed "the princess" by many Angolans and Africa's richest woman by Forbes, which estimates her assets at $2.1 billion (1.89 billion euros).

Angola is still reeling from ex-president dos Santos's 38-year rule during which key positions were awarded to his cronies and wealth amassed by a select few. Lourenco has vowed to crack down on corruption and launched a large-scale purge of the dos Santos administration.

He removed Isabel dos Santos from her job at Sonangol shortly after he came to power.

Prosecutors last month froze bank accounts and assets owned by Isabel dos Santos and her Congolese husband Sindika Dokolo as part of the probe.

Anti-corruption campaign group Transparency International (TI) said Angola was "likely" to request dos Santos' extradition to face trial.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Delhi High Court judge on Friday recused himself from hearing a petition filed by the lawyer of acid attack survivor Lakshmi seeking contempt proceedings against filmmakers of "Chhapaak" for not complying with the court order related to giving her credit in international screenings of the film.

Justice AK Chawla said that the matter will be heard by another bench on January 27.

Lawyer Aparna Bhat, who represented acid attack survivor Lakshmi during her legal battle, had on Wednesday approached Delhi High Court in the matter.

Justice Chawla recused to hear the petition saying he had worked with Aparna Bhat earlier and therefore could not hear the matter.

In her plea, Bhat has sought to initiate proceedings against the filmmakers -- Fox Star studios, Meghna Gulzar and actor Deepika Padukone.

Bhat told the court that the filmmakers have not complied with the court order dated January 11 and that the acid attack survivor has not been given credits in the film screened internationally.

However, she is getting credits in the film screened within the country.

On January 11, Delhi High Court had directed that credit be given to Bhat, who represented Lakshmi in her legal battle, for her contribution at the beginning of the movie.

Earlier Patiala House Court had passed a favourable order for Bhat.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
I wish new New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker only the best. I was an alder back when they were called aldermen, and if I had the option of being mayor I would say, to coin a phrase, not enough tea in China. I am very happy to have new leadership but I have a suggestion for the new mayor and I hope he takes me up on it.

The city of New Haven needs an Office of Common Sense. Only one new hire would be required, but I bet people would beat down the doors of City Hall to volunteer.

This Common Sense Tsar would have a great deal of influence and the ear of the mayor. In fact, the Common Sense Tsar would have the right to weigh in on any decision about anything. Its the tsars job to keep the mayor from shooting himself in the foot.

This unelected person would have outsized influence and Mayor Elicker, like any mayor, probably wouldnt like every one of his initiatives reviewed in advance by a tsar. The good news, though, is that he would have someone to blame when a constituent makes a dumb suggestion that he cant criticize for political reasons. He can blame the Common Sense Tsar, leaving the constituent happy that the mayor entertained, and maybe even agreed with the ridiculous idea.

The tsar must be someone most New Haveners can learn to love. He or she must have a strong moral foundation, be trusted to eschew self-interest, have a strong general knowledge of many things, and the ability to quickly do unbiased research as needed. He or she must be comfortable with giving a clear opinion, thumbs up or down, while being able to argue both sides accurately on the way to making a decision.

The tsar must have adequate writing and reasoning ability to explain the final opinion to laypeople when needed. The tsar must be personable, trustworthy and know how to keep confidences so that the mayor is perfectly comfortable asking for an opinion about anything without the world knowing.

It is pretty obvious we didnt have a Common Sense Tsar in recent years. There was no one to nix trips to China. No one to nix the hiring of people with little to no successful experience in the jobs they were being hired for. No one to nix overbuilding schools, or eliminating recess, or little kids spending too long on school buses. I have no doubt an Office of Common Sense would have saved taxpayers a lot of money, and mayors a lot of embarrassment over the years.

It might be easy to tell which past mayors had a version of the Office of Common Sense. Some politicians rely on chosen friends and colleagues to be their kitchen cabinet. These are the people they trust enough to ask for advice on a regular basis. If you agreed with most major decisions then the kitchen cabinet was a great influence. If you didnt, you would probably think the influencers were jerks.

An official Common Sense Tsar probably wont last long in the position, not more than one or two terms with the mayor, because it could be one of the more demanding, challenging and exhausting positions in city government. There are lots of people without much common sense who will think the tsar is a jerk. He or she needs a thick skin.

Mayor Elicker, please take my suggestion under advisement. Im available.

Ina L. Silverman is a former alderwoman from Ward 25.
Following the mass protests in the Arab world that toppled decades-long regimes in major Arab nations like Egypt and Tunisia, the gas-rich statelet Qatar has tried to have a foot in the political future of both nations, among others, through unequivocal support for the Islamist powers emerging there. Banking on its powerful media arm, Al-Jazeera, the tiny Gulf state managed, for some time, to make the heads of millions spin and secure their support for the Islamist political agenda. Unfortunately, this malicious blend did succeed and the Islamists won the race both in Egypt and Tunisia, the two countries from whose grounds the spark of the so-called Arab Spring was first triggered. Though Egyptians got rid, once and for all, of the Islamists rule, Tunisians will be going through difficult times to restore that bright modern image of Tunisia, the way nationalist hero Habib Bourguiba wanted it to be.

Paying lip service to events, Mohamed bin Abdel-Rahman Al-Thani, Qatari minister of foreign affairs, thought he would emerge with clean hands by backing off on his countrys support for Islamist ideology and the terrorist Muslim Brotherhood. Addressing the Rome Mediterranean Dialogues, held in Italy in December last year, the minister made statements that surely fell on deaf ears, as Qatar remains an adamant champion of empowerment of Islamists in the Arab world. This has to do with the ideological roots on which the small emirate was founded. In a report titled Qatar: Governance, Security, and US Policy, issued by the Congressional Research Service in December 2019, Kenneth Katzman, a specialist in Middle Eastern affairs, revealed that Al-Thani family, the ruling dynasty in Qatar since independence in 1971, has claimed descent from Mohamed bin Abdel-Wahhab, the sheikh who founded and spread the infamous teachings of an ultra-orthodox version of Islam, widely known as Wahhabism.

In his great book on Wahhabism, Saudi writer Saud Al-Sabaani argues that, Wahhabism is much more of a new faith, being based on shedding blood and the act of killing. In reality, Wahhabism stands for an odd mix of Islamic teachings, Bedouin lifestyles, and narrow-minded interpretations of Muslims holy book, The Quran. Though Saudi Arabia, once a major supporter of Wahhabism, has now disavowed many of those decaying teachings that were instilled in the minds of millions of followers of the Islamic faith and led to the emergence of an extremist thinking afflicting almost every Middle Eastern nation, Qatar would like to place itself as an heir! It hosts ultra-radical preachers who in daylight issue religious edicts, or fatwa, legalising the act of killing, and is home to hundreds of top terrorist figures. No wonder the statelet has not sustained in recent years any terrorist incidents, because simply it directs them outward.

Qatars thirst to be a great power in the region made the country spend generously on expansionist plans of its ideological background: Islamism. According to a report by the United Nations Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea, issued in 2013, Qatar financed Hassan Sheikh Mohameds presidential campaign, helping him clinch victory. Mohamed hails from Addam Al-Jadid (literally, The New Blood), a faction of Al-Islah, the Muslim Brotherhood branch in Somalia. Moreover, the incumbent president of Somalia, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, aka Farmajo, is closely tied to Doha, the Qatari capital. In a surprising move in August 2019, Farmajo promoted Fahd Yassin, once a correspondent for the Qatari flagship Al-Jazeera in Somalia, to chief of the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency. Yassin has been closely connected with terrorist organisations and Al-Qaeda affiliated groups in the Horn of Africa nation. He was the liaison officer carrying Qatari money to jihadists in Somalia before taking over the highest security position in the nation.

In December 2019, Aykan Erdemir, the former prominent Turkish politician, co-authored, along with senior analyst Varsha Koduvayur, an important study named Brothers in Arms: The Consolidation of the Turkey-Qatar Axis. The writers argue that Qatars brand of Wahhabism is infused with a Muslim Brotherhood-style philosophy of political activism. That is why Doha has been actively supporting Islamists propaganda and their rotten ideology everywhere around the globe. Muslim Brotherhood-infested nations have seen tactics maliciously employed to gain peoples sympathy and support, the most common of which is victimisation. A repetitive media message, transmitted all round the clock to millions, banks on that technique to boggle recipients minds, on the one hand, whereas Doha is busy providing all it can to Islamist militias and extremist Muslims in Europe, Asia and Africa, on the other.

But surely the tiny Gulf emirate would have needed a big brother to finish the job. No better brother could have Qatar depended on other than a fellow Islamist champion: Turkey. After regional powers Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severed ties with Qatar in 2017 over the latters sponsoring of terrorism, Ankara rushed to sustain its Islamist ally to salvage the Islamist project, hell-bent on a revival of the outdated Islamic caliphate.

The mentioned study also reveals the common backgrounds linking Qatar and Turkey with Islamist and terrorist groups in the region. The writers argue that, Islamism is the glue that holds together the Turkish-Qatari axis. The new Ottoman ruler Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants to revive the much-hated caliphate in the Middle East, now widely believed to be the reason for the plight and backwardness afflicting the used-to-be Ottoman states in the Arab world.

From a man dressed like a member of The Beatles in the 1970s, and who was studying abroad and dreamt of being heir to his fathers famous construction empire, Osama bin Ladens plight was the sick mentality he was brainwashed into. He was told he would be a prophet-like leader of the Muslim world should his armed militias manage to kill as many invading Soviet troops in Afghanistan as possible, to prevent the fall of the Muslim nation into the lap of the Communist camp. It all began with instilling sick interpretations of Islam into his mind, the same version Qatar adamantly sponsors and funds. Bin Laden never managed to lead the Muslim world, and instead of leading a normal life, a kind of luxurious lifestyle that wealthy sheikhs in the Gulf lead, he was on the run for his entire lifetime, until his terrible death. Likewise, the rotten ideology that the statelet of Qatar stands for will be sent into oblivion, because average Muslims have learnt the hard way and have, at last, seen the true colour of Islamists: wherever they are, endless anarchy is inevitable.

*The writer is a former press and information officer in Ethiopia and an expert on African affairs.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 23 January, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Shiv Sena leader Deepak Kesarkar on Friday said that all the evidence against the activists held in Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case has already been submitted to the court.

He said the judicial commission probing the Koregaon Bhima violence case can examine the evidence (against the activists).

His statement comes over a month after NCP chief Sharad Pawar demanded that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) be set up under a retired judge to probe the action taken by Pune police against activists in the Elgar Parishad case. He had termed the police action as "wrong" and "vengeful".

Talking to PTI on Friday, Kesarkar, who was Minister of State for Home in the previous Devendra Fadnavis government, said, "A judicial commission is probing the Koregaon Bhima violence case. All the evidence against the activists in the Elgar Parishad case has already been submitted to the court."



The state government had set up the judicial commission under former Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court, J N Patel, to inquire into the violence that took place during the 200th commemoration of the battle of Koregaon Bhima on January 1, 2018.

"The judicial commission can check if the evidence submitted to the court is correct or not," Kesarkar said.

According to Pune police, the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017, was supported by Maoists and inflammatory speeches made at the event led to caste violence at the Koregaon Bhima war memorial in the district the next day.

The Left-leaning activists arrested during the probe had links with Maoists, the Pune police had claimed. They had booked the activists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The Pune Police had arrested nine activists - Sudhir Dhawale, Rona Wilson, Surendra Gadling, Mahesh Raut, Shoma Sen, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Sudha Bharadwaj and Varavara Rao - in connection with Elgar Parishad case.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Leafs' star pulled out of the All-Star Game with a wrist injury. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)

Auston Matthews hopes to be in the lineup when the Toronto Maple Leafs return to action on Monday against the Nashville Predators.

"That's my plan, that's my goal," Matthews told reporters Thursday during All-Star Game Media Day.

"Hopefully it gets better. I'll go through the process and have a good practice on Sunday and go from there. But definitely my goal is to try to stay as healthy as possible and play Monday."

Matthews withdrew from the All-Star Game and other on-ice events with a minor wrist injury.

"I think it was just wear and tear," Matthews said. "I can't really pinpoint the exact day, but this has been kind of going on and nagging for two or three weeks. I'm hoping this week off and these extra two or three days can kind of help it. I'm still planning on playing next week and continuing on.

It's just one of those things that is nagging. Obviously in a game there is a lot of adrenaline going and things are going through your mind. You tend to kind of forget about it, manage it and play through it."

The 22-year-old has played all 49 games for Toronto this season and despite his underlying wrist injury, Matthews has scored 34 goals, currently tied for second-most in the league with Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin.

Even if he isnt going to be on the ice, Matthews will still be participating in events around St. Louis and the Enterprise Center.

"Obviously just being here, you want to kind of compete out there and participate," he said. "Getting a couple of extra days to heal and rest [the injury] is important, but I think it was also important for me to be here.

"It's a big honor to be selected to the All-Star Game in general, so I'm happy to be here."

The All-Star Skills Competition will be taking place on Friday, while the All-Star Game itself will be on Saturday.

More Maple Leafs coverage from Yahoo Sports
Australians are turning their back on third-party delivery apps and are instead opting to eat out at restaurants and bars, new research has revealed.

The Future Grazing Report by SilverChef found 33 per cent of Australians were more likely to dine out during the last year, compared to 20 per cent using delivery services.

Third-party delivery app UberEats saw unprecedented growth rates when it was downloaded on smartphones across the country five years ago.

But the research indicates the novelty and convenience of home delivery is wearing off, with customers more inclined to go out for a feed.

Australians are turning their back on third-party delivery apps and are instead opting to eat out at restaurants and bars, new research has revealed

The use of online food delivery has decreased across all age groups, with 35 per cent of baby boomers admitting they use the service less than the year preceding.

Gen X followed with 28 per cent noting a decline and 27 per cent of millennials.

The flattening of delivery apps comes as 50 per cent of hospitality owners revealed the majority of their sales in the past year came from in-house diners.

A quarter of restaurants said they have decided to decrease their reliance on the third-party apps, while 35 per cent have taken actions to financially safeguard their operations, with some choosing to list menu items that carry higher profit margins.

It was also revealed three in five hospitality owners have noted the delivery apps cutting into their overall profit lines.

To combat this, 13 per cent of businesses created their own delivery services in a bid compete with the costs associated with third-party apps.

The Future Grazing Report by SilverChef found 33 per cent of Australians were more likely to dine out during the last year, compared to 20 per cent using delivery services (stock image)

Giorgina Venzin of Paw Paw Cafe and Asian Kitchens said they were quick to join UberEats when it launched in Brisbane.

'It was a great way to garner some additional exposure, however, we had no idea how quickly the app would grow and how high the margins would eventually become,' she said.

But Venzin Group eventually chose to launch their own service.

'When third-party delivery apps became the norm we had to come up with a way to bring customers back to communicating with us directly,' Ms Venzin said.

'We decided to develop our own app which allows customers to order the same great menu they get when they dine in, without the delivery markup or compromised quality.'
The Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security will hear testimony on a contentious immigration bill that would limit local and state police interact with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The Safe Communities Act was re-filed in January 2019 after it failed to pass in the previous session. It would bar police and court officials from asking people about their immigration status and telling ICE when an individual is about to be released.

Sen. Jamie Eldridge, an Acton Democrat who introduced the Senate version of the bill, said he added language about court officials because of reports about courthouse arrests.

A federal judge temporarily blocked courthouse arrests in Massachusetts after local prosecutors and attorneys sued ICE over the practice. Eldridge said a constituent told him an immigrant was detained after leaving a local courthouse.

Theyre not going into the courthouses because of this federal injunction due to the lawsuit from Middlesex District Attorney [Marian] Ryan and Suffolk District Attorney [Rachael] Rollins, but they certainly unfortunately have the right to be outside the courthouse, Eldridge said. We want to make sure court personnel are not notifying ICE.

Parents whose children were killed by immigrants without legal status called the Safe Communities Act a sanctuary state bill that would jeopardize public safety.

Our family as we knew it was destroyed, and we are now permanently separated, said Maureen Maloney, whose son Matthew Denice was dragged to his death in 2011 by a truck driven by an undocumented immigrant who was under the influence.

Nicolas Dutan Guaman, an Ecuadorian national, was convicted of manslaughter and motor vehicle homicide.

My son is dead because of the lax immigration laws and because of the legislators and judges who put illegal aliens before the protection of Americans, said Maloney, vice president of the Advocates for Victims of Illegal Alien Crime.

Supporters of the legislation argue that immigrants and U.S.-citizen loved ones have suffered because they cant get help from police, hospitals without fear of being targeted by immigration agents.

Zoila Lopez, a green card holder who was once undocumented, said earlier this year that she initially shied away from going to a hospital after her husband hurt her in a domestic dispute.He promised never to beat her again.

Lopez said he didnt keep that promise. When she was beaten a second time, she called the police.

Im here because God loves me, she said in June. Otherwise, I would be like six feet under ground.

Other provisions in the bill include requiring that immigrants who are arrested get their Miranda rights read to them, including presenting the option to bring in an attorney before being interviewed by an ICE agent.

The bill would also bar law enforcement from entering 287(g) contracts with ICE, in which a local officer is appointed to work with the agency. That provision alone has drawn criticism from Sheriffs Thomas Hodgson of Bristol County and Joseph McDonald of Plymouth, who currently have the agreements in place.

I cant imagine any legislator in Massachusetts who took an oath to protect the people in their communities would suggest in any way that law enforcement would not use every resource and look for every partnership they could to keep people safe, Hodgson told MassLive earlier this year.

A group of business owners who support the legislation plan to make their case for why immigrants should not be asked about their immigration status, arguing it deters foreign-born employees from reporting safety concerns and wrongdoing.

Meg Glazer, vice president of business development at Glacon Contracting in Hingham, mentioned the collapse of the Hard Rock Hotel in New Orleans in October. Delmer Joel Ramirez Palma, an undocumented construction worker who raised concerns, became a witness in a federal workplace safety investigation but was quickly deported to his native Honduras.

Theyre more likely to come forward if they dont feel like somebodys going to say because youve reported something unsafe, were going to fire you, were going to call ICE on you, said Meg Glazer, who is also the construction companys OSHA safety director.

The hearing was originally scheduled for December but was rescheduled due to a winter storm.

Related Content:
John Kapoor, the billionaire founder of Insys Therapeutics Inc., leaves the federal courthouse during the trial accusing Insys executives of a wide-ranging scheme to bribe doctors to prescribe an addictive opioid medication, in Boston, Mass., on March 13, 2019. (Brian Snyder/Reuters)

Pharma Executive John Kapoor Sentenced to Over Five Years in Prison in Opioid Trial

The former chairman of Insys Therapeutics, a pharmaceutical company, was sentenced to 66 months in prison after he was found guilty of bribing doctors to prescribe an opioid.

John Kapoor, 76, who founded Insys, is the highest-ranking pharmaceutical executive to get sentenced in a case related to the opioid crisis, which has decimated communities across America.

U.S. District Court Judge Allison Burroughs also gave Kapoor three years of supervised release and ordered him to pay forfeiture and restitution to be determined at a later date.

The 66-month sentence came after prosecutors recommended Kapoor be sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Kapoor learned that he could profit from developing a spray form of a generic drug and marketing it as a premium product. He privately funded Insys as it developed Subsys, a fentanyl-based spray that was eventually approved to treat cancer patients.

With such significant personal financial investment, Kapoor was committed to ensuring that Insys was successful, and he did so by exercising tight control on all aspects of corporate decision making, the U.S. Attorneys Office in Massachusetts said.

Kapoor hired, or authorized the hiring of, several top executives who became co-conspirators in the criminal scheme to bribe practitioners, many of whom operated pain clinics, to prescribe Subsys to patients, often when medically unnecessary.

As part of the scheme, Kapoor launched programs featuring speakers talking about Subsys at lunches and dinners. The events served as a front for Kapoor and associates to bribe doctors to prescribe the spray.

In this Jan. 30, 2019, file photo, Insys Therapeutics founder John Kapoor leaves federal court in Boston. (Steven Senne/AP Photo)

Out of pure greed, Insys executives, from John Kapoor on down, bribed doctors to prescribe this powerful and highly addictive narcotic to people who did not need it, U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling said in a statement.

Despite increasing public fears of a drug epidemic fueled by pain pill prescriptions, these defendants, led by Kapoor, plowed ahead, setting weekly quotas for doctors on their payroll, urging them to prescribe Subsys in higher and higher doses, all so they could make millions of dollars at patients expense. Their disregard for the publics health and safety is nothing short of appalling.

Kapoors conviction and sentencing was a landmark prosecution that successfully held accountable a pharmaceutical companys top executives for their roles in the illicit marketing and prescribing of opioids, Lelling said.

Related Sentencing

Also this week, Michael Babich, the 43-year-old former CEO of Insys, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Babich pleaded guilty in January 2019 and cooperated with the government in the investigation. Babich testified as a witness in the trials of Kapoor and his co-defendants.

Another high-level Insys executive also assisted in the investigation: Alex Burlakoff, the former vice president of sales.

Along with Kapoor, four other executives were convicted of rackeeteering conspiracy: Richard Simon, the former national director of sales; Sunrise Lee, a former regional sales director; Joseph Rowan, a former regional sales director; and Michael Gurry, the former vice president of managed markets.

Simon was sentenced this week to 33 months in prison and ordered to pay approximately $2.3 million in forfeiture. Lee was sentenced this week to one year and one day in prison and three years of supervised release. Gurry was sentenced this week to 33 months in prison and ordered to pay approximately $3.6 million in forfeiture.

Rowan hasnt been sentenced as of yet.
Digital Vision/Getty Images

Mike Jarvis, a 63-year-old retired computer technician from a suburb of Portland, Ore., likes owning an Itasca Spirit recreational vehicle (RV), which he and his wife recently used to take their grandkids on a weekend trip to the Oregon coast.

But typically, the couple travel in their $50,000 RV just once a month. So instead of letting it sit unused, Jarvis rents out the Spirit to others via the online sharing platform Campanda. Though he charges a modest price of up to $150 a night during the summer, hes got enough takers to earn $10,000 a year.

Its a way to have a pretty nice mobile home but cover the cost of it, Jarvis said.

Campanda, a German-based company founded in 2013, is one of multiple businesses, including RVShare and Outdoorsy, that are vying to be the RV version of Airbnb. Niklas Kubasek, chief operating officer of Campandas North America division, says the companys platform enables 30,000 RV owners worldwide  including 2,000 in the U.S.  to list their vehicles when theyre not using them and to set the rental price.

A messaging function allows RV owners to screen renters for factors such as driving experience and destination. (Jarvis rents only to those planning to travel within 500 miles of his home.) The company also offers insurance for the vehicles, with renters covering the cost.

According to Kubasek, some RV owners make as much as $3,000 a month from rentals. For retirees, he says, a potential gold mine is sitting out there in the driveway.
Actor Robert Downey Jr says he do not regret wearing a blackface in 2008 movie "Tropic Thunder" as he believes his act started a conversation around the issue.

In the Ben Stiller-directed movie, Downey Jr portrayed Kirk Lazarus, an Australian actor who darkens his skin to authentically pull off the role of a black soldier in a war film.

Appearing on "The Joe Rogan Experience" podcast, the 54-year-old actor made a case for his portrayal, arguing that it was not problematic in any way.

"I think that it's never an excuse to do something that's out of place and out of its time, but to me it blasted the cap on (the issue)," Downey Jr said.

"I think having a moral psychology is job one. Sometimes, you just gotta go, Yeah I effed up.' In my defense, 'Tropic Thunder' is about how wrong [blackface] is, so I take exception," he added.

The "Avengers: Endgame" star said majority of his black friends had no problem with the part but there were some people who had an issue with it.

"(Ben) knew exactly what the vision for this was, he executed it, it was impossible to not have it be an offensive nightmare of a movie. And 90 per cent of my black friends were like, 'Dude, that was great.' I can't disagree with (the other 10 percent), but I know where my heart lies," Downey Jr added.

Downey also revealed that his mother Elsie Ford had cautioned him against taking up the part.

"My mother was horrified. 'Bobby, I'm telling ya, I have a bad feeling about this.' I was like, Yeah me too, mom'...

"When Ben called and said, Hey I'm doing this thing' you know I think Sean Penn had passed on it or something. Possibly wisely. And I thought, Yeah, I'll do that and I'll do that after Iron Man.' Then I started thinking, This is a terrible idea, wait a minute'," the actor.

"Tropic Thunder" was one of the films that re-established Downey Jr in Hollywood. The film earned him nominations at the Academy Awards, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Honcharuk has said that the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine will take decisions on reorganization of a number of ministries in the next few weeks, as for now the efficiency of previously done unification is assessed.

"Now we're studying the situation with the quality of the decisions that were made. I think that in the coming weeks we can expect results of this work," Honcharuk said at a briefing on the results of the government's meeting in Kyiv on Friday being asked when the reorganization will be held in the government, in particular the separation of ministries and the formation of new departments.

According to him, the government is currently evaluating which of the decisions to unify the ministries was justified or unsuccessful.

"Of course, some decisions will be made," the prime minister said.

As reported, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced the need to break up some ministries and that he expects relevant proposals from Honcharuk, in particular, on the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Veterans, Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons of Ukraine.
Woodforest National Bank will mark its 40th anniversary with the opening of a branch at 895 Fish Creek Thoroughfare in Montgomery Countys Woodforest community in 2020. The facility, which will be approximately 20,000 square feet, will also house Woodforest Wealth Strategies. Founded in 1980, Houston-based Woodforest National Bank has 778 locations across the United States and will open an addition 10 locations this year. Woodforest National Bank will own the building, for which ground has not yet been broken. The Woodforest community is a development of Johnson Development Corp. north of The Woodlands with homes starting at $190,000.

The Howard Hughes Corp. announced the first retailers at its Two Lakes Edge apartment mid-rise set to open in Hughes Landing in The Woodlands this spring. StretchLab, a stretching studio, will occupy 1,519 square feet, while Row House, a rowing studio, will occupy 2,197 square feet. They will be joined by other tenants, including a restaurant, on the ground level of the 386-unit development.
Singapore City, Singapore -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/23/2020 -- Sims Villa, a luxury condominium project will open its showflat shortly in a bid to gear up its future residents in style.



Those looking to buy a house for themselves in the city or as an investment property will realize that the upcoming condominium project ticks many boxes for them. Firstly, the names associated with the project inspire confidence amongst prospective buyers. The location of the project is another huge advantage. It is located at the heart of the golden triangle of three key growth areas as well as in between Changi Airport and the Central Business District.



But it's not just about the location and the promise of high quality that makes Sims Villa an upcoming residential hotspot in Singapore. It also brings a luxury living experience to the table, that is one of its kind. Besides being well connected to commercial hubs, major transport locations and shopping experiences, it is also close to some of the best schools in the area. Residents can make the most of the recreational facilities that will be only couple of kilometers away from the location.



Sims Villa condominiums have been designed to offer a brilliant homely experience to all residents. From being a love nest for young couples to being ideally suited for multigenerational living; the property offers something for all buyers. There are a wide range of units in the condominium property to choose from. Interested buyers can look at the floor plans, the smart design and other exciting elements of the project, to make the right choice for their needs.



The beautifully crafted spaces of Sims Villa are touted as the perfect blend of design and functionality. While residents will experience complete comfort, they can also marvel at the design beauty of their new homes. Moreover, the homes will be equipped with the finest branded appliances for their convenience. It's the complete luxury experience at great prices for people in the city. And with the showflat to be unveiled soon, they can take a glance at what their future could look like.



Stunning combination of luxury, comfort, convenience, and smart location; that's exactly what the future holds for people in Singapore.



About Sims Villa

Developed by Hong Leong Holdings Limited and City Developments Limited, the upcoming condominium is the heart of three key growth areas redefines luxury living for Singapore residents.



Media Contacts:

Website: https://www.simsvilla-condo.com/

Email: sales@simsvilla-condo.com

Phone: +6565289588

Address: Sims Drive Singapore
Its the 947th consecutive sign that we in the coastal chattering classes have not cured our insularity problem. Its the 947th case in which we see that every second you spend on Twitter detracts from your knowledge of American politics and that the only cure to this insularity disease is constant travel and interviewing, close attention to state and local data and raw abject humility about the fact that the attitudes and academic degrees that you think make you clever are actually the attitudes and academic degrees that separate you from the real texture of American life.
The York County District Attorneys Office is investigating after a police officer reported that a county judge nearly ran him over with his car.

Common Pleas Judge Matthew D. Menges, 41, was initially charged with a summary citation as a result of the incident that happened Tuesday, according to a criminal docket. That citation was withdrawn at the request of the district attorneys office so a more thorough investigation can take place.

Heres a statement released by the York County District Attorneys office on Thursday:

This afternoon, the Office of the District Attorney received the citation and surrounding information from the York City Police Department regarding the incident involving Judge Matthew Menges. These materials included footage that we need to fully process and review to determine the appropriate steps in this matter. Accordingly, we have requested that the York City Police Department withdraw the summary citation so that we may complete an independent and thorough review.

The incident happened at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday in the area of East Philadelphia and North Duke streets near the York County Judicial Center, YDR.com reports citing the citation. York City Police Officer Alexander Nova was directing traffic in the area at the time.

Nova wrote in the citation that Menges drove when he was instructed not to and almost ran him over, according to the report. Menges then refused to comply with Nova after the reported near-miss.

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
The benefits of fetal surgery to repair spina bifida, a procedure pioneered at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) in 1997, continue through school age, a National Institutes of Health (NIH) study reports today in the journal Pediatrics.

Children who underwent fetal surgery to repair a common birth defect of the spine are more likely to walk independently and have fewer follow-up surgeries compared to those who have the traditional corrective surgery after birth, according to the research funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) of the NIH.

The longitudinal study of 161 children who had repairs for spina bifida, the most common birth defect in the central nervous system, was conducted at the three centers that participated in the original Management of Myelomeningocele Study (MOMS)  VUMC, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of California, San Francisco.

Myelomeningocele, the most serious form of spina bifida, is a complex congenital anomaly resulting from incomplete neural tube closure early in embryonic development.

It occurs in about one in 1,500 births in the United States and results in a section of the spinal cord and spinal nerves being exposed through an opening in the back.

Before 1997, the repairs were performed after birth. The 1997 Vanderbilt surgery, performed by Noel Tulipan, MD, and Joseph Bruner, MD, introduced the ability to make the repairs in utero.

In a previous MOMS study, conducted from 2003-2010, the goal was to enroll 200 patients, but the National Institutes of Health ended the trial early after 183 surgeries, based on clear evidence that the prenatal surgery was effective.

The earlier trial found that fetal surgery reduced the need for a shunt by almost 30% and significantly improved the child's chances of being able to walk.

This is a really unique cohort of patients. Vanderbilt has been a major player in this very important study. This study confirms that prenatal closure leads to improved mobility and independent functioning and a decreased need for ventricular peritoneal shunting. We have followed these children and mothers for 17 years and this is a continuation of that long-term follow-up. That's the uniqueness of this -- the mere fact that we have been able to do this for so long." John W. Brock III, MD, Senior Vice President, Pediatric Surgical Services, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt

Brock is also a Professor and Surgeon-in-Chief Emeritus and an author of the study.

The current study, referred to as MOMS2, evaluated the long-term impacts of prenatal surgery compared with standard postnatal repair in children once they reached school age.

Of the 161 children taking part, 79 had been assigned to prenatal surgery and 82 to traditional surgery. Children in the prenatal surgery group walked independently more often than those in the traditional surgery group (93% vs. 80%).

And those in the prenatal surgery group also had fewer shunt placements for hydrocephalus (fluid build-up) in the brain (49% vs. 85%) and fewer surgeries to replace shunts (47% vs. 70%).

The prenatal group also scored higher on a measure of motor skills, but the two groups did not differ significantly in a test measuring communication ability, daily living skills and social interaction skills.

"Prenatal surgery for myelomeningocele carries benefits and risks, compared to traditional postnatal surgery," said Menachem Miodovnik, MD, of the NICHD Pregnancy and Perinatology Branch, in a press release. "This study provides important information for physicians with patients who are considering prenatal surgery."

Brock said that researchers plan to continue to follow the group of children. The specifics have not been decided.
He says shoppers should take a break and check back a couple of hours later, especially if it's an item you dont really need. Chances are the item is not really selling out and you may decide you don't want to buy it after all.
Mexico is seeking the extradition of Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's godson from the US - who is wanted for the 2017 murder of an award-winning journalist.

Damaso 'El Mini Lic' Lopez had voluntarily turned himself over to the DEA in 2017 over fears that the jailed drug lord's sons were trying to kill him.

Now, Mexico's attorney general's office has formally accused Lopez Serrano of the murder of journalist Javier Valdez in May 2017 and on Thursday issued a warrant for his arrest. They are seeking his extradition from the US to face murder charges.

Prosecutors have interviewed members of the Sinaloa cartel who testified against him, the attorney general's office said in a statement.

Valdez, a crime reporter who co-founded Mexican weekly newspaper Rio Doce, was gunned down May 15, 2017, as he was leaving the weekly publication's office in the northwestern city of Culiacan.

Mexico's attorney general's office received an arrest warrant for Damaso 'El Mini Lic' Lopez Serrano, the alleged mastermind who carried out the May 2017 assassination of Javier Valdez, an award-winning journalist, outside the office of Rio Doce, a weekly paper in Culiacan

Javier Valdez was an expert of Mexico's multibillion-dollar drug trafficking business

Three other members of the Sinaloa cartel, identified the by attorney general's office as Juan Francisco, Heriberto and Luis Idelfonso, have been implicated in the killing.

A spokesperson for the prosecutor's office told DailyMail.com on Friday that one of the three suspects died while in jail. Details of the defendant's cause of death was not revealed.

Valdez, a respected crime reporter and expert on Mexico's multibillion dollar drug trafficking industry, published an article shortly before his death in which El Mini Lic was referred to as 'Sir Nobody.'

Javier Valdez (pictured) wrote an article that referred to Damaso 'El Mini Lic' Lopez Serrano as 'Sir Nobody' two months before El Mini Lic allegedly directed the journalist's May 2017 assassination

El Mini Lic (right) turned himself over to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in July 2017, two months after he carried out the assassination of award-winning journalist Javier Valdez. El Mini Lic is El Chapo's son and feared the drug lord's sons were going to reportedly kill him

El Mini Lic turned himself in to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in July 2017 and together with his father and former top El Chapo lieutenant Damaso 'El Licenciado' Lopez Nunez cooperated with U.S. authorities in exchange for reduced sentences.



El Chapos arrest in January 2016 triggered a war for control of the Sinaloa cartel, pitting two of his sons against another faction led by El Licenciado.

Fearing that El Chapo's sons were out to get him, El Mini Lic gave himself up to the DEA.

El Licenciado, who was a former prison director who once helped El Chapo escape from jail and then joined forces with him, was arrested in Mexico City in May 2017 and extradited to the United State the next year on drug charges.

Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, co-founder of the Sinaloa Cartel, is jailed in the United States

Fearing that El Chapo's sons were out to get him, El Mini Lic (pictured) gave himself up to the DEA

Valdez was 50-year-old when he was executed. The married married father-of-one was a recipient of the 2011 Maria Moors Cabot award for outstanding reporting in Latin America and the Caribbean awarded by the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

He was also a contributor to the AFP.

'Where I work, Culiacan, in the state of Sinaloa, Mexico, it is dangerous to be alive, and practicing journalism is to walk on an invisible line drawn by the bad guys - who are in drug trafficking and government - in a field planted with explosives ', said during a September 2011 ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria in New York

'This is what most of the country lives. You must protect yourself from everything and everyone, and there seems to be no options or salvation, and often there is no one to turn to.'
As you know, the New York Times endorsed two women for president (Warren and Klobuchar), because you just knew they werent going to endorse a white male. Nonetheless, all of the candidates met with the Times editorial board, with cameras rolling, and this exchange between Timesman Binyamin Appelbaum and Buttigieg offers a great live look at the full smug repulsiveness of the major media (just 42 seconds long):

This is almost enough to make me support Mayor Pete. Among other things, is it really the case that you arent worthy of being considered to be president unless you embody the anger? Appelbaum sounds more like a bad journalistic parody of the Emperor Palpatine than a supposedly sober and objective journalist. Good for Mayor Pete for calling bullshit on a bullshit question.
Other proprietary products include WaterRiskTM, FireRiskTM, and HailRiskTM. These claim probability and severity platforms are used by commercial and resident underwriters to predict loss costs for their respective perils. Location also offers CrimeRiskTM, which provides crime risk data to help insurers mitigate risk and uncertainty in the underwriting workflow.

Location, Inc.s unique risk analytic products enhance the CoreLogic offering for property and casualty insurance by expanding our capabilities in predictive, location-based analytics, commented CoreLogic executive for insurance and spatial solutions Steve Brewer.

Brewer also said that both CoreLogic and the Location team will complete the puzzle on some of the unknowns insurers face with risk assessment for non- weather water and fire loss, the solution for which would be an industry first.

Our commercial and personal lines customers can now benefit from the most granular, accurate and predictive set of risk variables to mitigate risk, increase profitability and drive value for their customers, Brewer added.

Joining CoreLogic means our data products will be more widely available, easier to integrate via great platforms like RiskMeterTM and Underwriting CenterTM, and our innovation roadmap can advance at scale, commented Location CEO Dr. Andrew Schiller.
ZHUHAI, China, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Celebrate the Spring Festival on the charming Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area! On January 24, the Spring Festival's Eve, the Greater Bay Area sub venue gala of the 2020 Spring Festival Gala took place at the artificial island of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. Against the brilliant landscape of the 55-kilometer bridge, the bell of the Spring Festival rang. Zhuhai, as the host of the sub venue gala and the forerunner of opening up, sent the new year wishes to the world and drew a new picture of openness and innovation with other cities in this Area.

Dazzling fireworks display, lion dancing with LED and technology of light and shadow, special effect beam and human-screen interaction created fantastic atmosphere. Thousands of residents of the three cities sang a song together and expressed their aspirations for 2020 by wonderful performances on the "Super Project". Performances with Chinese science and technology innovation products and culture presented a dynamic Greater Bay Area that integrates tradition and innovation, classic and fashion to the world.

While the three places celebrate the new year together, the Greater Bay Area embraces a better future. Today, as one of the most open and economically vibrant regions, the Area is presenting great prospects. Thanks to the "golden channel", namely the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Zhuhai is promoting the in-depth cooperation with Hong Kong and Macao. Resources including innovation, talents, capital, technology and culture of the Area and even the world are gathered, connected, allocated and integrated in Zhuhai, stimulating its development continuously.

With the operation of the Bridge, industrial giants such as Huawei, Alibaba, Tencent, and Foxconn have carried out in-depth cooperation with Zhuhai in fields including smart cities, artificial intelligence, cloud computing and chips to expand a broad prospect for a new economy. "With further development of the Greater Bay Area, Zhuhai enjoys strong momentum and bright prospects based on prominent geographical advantages," said Zhang Jianfeng, partner and Chief Technology Officer of Alibaba Group.

At present, the construction of the Area goes into the fast lane, which promotes the exchange and cooperation between Zhuhai and Macao. According to data from the People's Government of Zhuhai Municipality, in the first half of 2019 alone, there were 310 newly established Macao-invested companies in Zhuhai, accounting for more than half of the newly established enterprises in the city.

In addition, the connectivity between Zhuhai and Macao also provides benefits for the residents of both sides. Recently, the Zhuhai Real Estate Registration Center and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China(Macau) Co., Ltd. signed a cooperation agreement to set up a warmly-welcomed real estate registration service center in Macao, allowing Macao enterprises and individuals to deal with the cross-border real estate mortgage registration within Macao.

The continuously-expanding Zhuhai-Macao cooperation space witnesses the speeding opening-up of the Area and also reflects China's actions and determination to make a new ground in pursuing opening up.

By 2020, the time limit for foreign investment putting on files outside the negative list will be reduced to less than one working day, and the time limit for starting a business will be controlled within four working days. The number of newly registered Hong Kong and Macao-funded enterprises will reach to 12,000. The business scope of individual industrial and commercial households of Hong Kong and Macao residents will be fully liberalized. Guangdong has made it clear that in the future, it will promote the integration of resources, the complementarity of advantages and the linkage of opening-up measures in the Area to lead an opening pattern with the connection of land and sea, domestic and overseas areas and mutual beneficial cooperation between the east and the west bank of the Pearl River.

The sub-venue of the Spring Festival Gala on the Bridge not only reflects the continuously improving city-to-city connectivity but also witnesses the expansion of cooperation fields between these three places. It is foreseeable that the construction of the Area will promote the development of Hong Kong and Macao, and expand new space for cooperation between China and the world.

SOURCE The People's Government of Zhuhai Municipality
Pooja Yadav, 20, is apparently the only lady school van driver in Meerut and supports her family. After ferrying children, she heads towards her college to pursue her studies

MEERUT The journey of becoming the only woman school van driver of Meerut has been challenging, but now she is breaking the stereotypes and is a role model for many young women.

Pooja Yadav, 20, a BA third year student, attracts a lot of attention and faces curious questions from people as she picks up school children from various localities of Delhi Road area in her van early in the morning. She then heads towards her college to pursue her studies.

Apart from supporting her family by working as a van driver, Pooja also teaches driving as she believes it gives a sense of independence and everyone should know how to drive.

Many parents and teachers vouch for her sense of responsibility and claim that Pooja, at present, is the only female school van driver in the city.

Talking about when and why she started driving, Pooja said: Ive been driving since I was 18 and it is one of my hobbies. I started riding a motorcycle when I was in Class 8, under my fathers guidance. Later, he taught me to drive a car.

After retirement from the Indian Army, my father used to drive an auto-rickshaw and sometimes a van to pick and drop school children. In 2017, one day my father fell sick. Hence, he asked me to drop the children to school because I was the only one who could drive in my family, she said.

On her first driving experience as a professional, Pooja said: Initially, neighbours passed comments that this job is not suitable for a girl. People often made fun of me, but I never got discouraged as my family always supported me.

My father is my mentor. I too want to join the India Army, she said.

Whenever we go for a family outing, I am the one whom they are dependent upon for driving. But if my sisters also learn how to drive they wont have to rely on me, added Pooja who has two elder sisters  Sanju Yadav, 24 and Anu Yadav, 22, who are also studying.

Poojas father, Suresh Chandra Yadav, 48, said: When Pooja drove the van for the first time to drop children to school, parents and teachers were delighted to see her. They asked me that they want her as a driver for their kids. He said parents feel safe when they send their children with Pooja.

My kids are in safe hands. When I come across women coming forward in every field, I feel that my daughter is growing in a safer environment, said Mukesh Tiwari, whose daughter Shuby and son Anmol, go to school with Pooja.

Echoing similar views, Rekha Bansal, principal of Guru Tegh Bahadur Public School (Delhi Road), said: Pooja is a responsible person. Unlike others who keep waiting for children at the entrance of the school, she goes to each and every class to pick up children. We have never received a complaint of rash driving against her.

Pooja is breaking stereotypes and is an inspiration for a lot of young girls, said Neena Bhatia, principal of another school.

--Utkarsha Tyagi
Beijing has announced major Chinese New Year events will be cancelled to control the spread of the coronavirus.



Officials in the Chinese capital have scrapped events including temple fairs  which can attract thousands of tourists.

Beijing Tourism Net said the Beijing Ditan and Longtan Temple Fairs - scheduled for January 25 to 29 - would be cancelled.



The Tanzhe Temple Scenic Area, Jietai Temple Scenic Area, and Miaofeng Mountain Scenic Area in Mentougou District will also be closed, Daily Mail reported.

Residents have been urged to 'strengthen prevention' against the virus, which has killed 26 people. More than 800 people have been confirmed to have the virus, with cases recorded in the U.S., Singapore, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau - as well as China.
US authorities said Friday they had granted permission to a TV provider to urgently lift a four-ton (3,600-kilogram) satellite to a so-called "graveyard orbit" over fears a battery fault may soon cause it to explode.

DirecTV had told the Federal Communications Commission its Boeing-built Spaceway-1 satellite had suffered a "major anomaly" in its batteries and did not have time to deplete its remaining fuel before disposing of it by placing it 300 kilometers (190 miles) above the "geostationary arc."



This arc is about 36,000 kilometers above the equator and is home to most of the world's communication satellites because it allows them to match the Earth's orbit so that ground dishes do not have to track them across the sky.

An FCC spokesman told AFP on Friday that permission was granted on January 19 for DirecTV to begin its de-orbiting plan the following day.

The company said it was necessary to complete the procedure before February 25, when the satellite would pass through the Earth's shadow forcing it to rely on its batteries instead of its solar panels, heightening the risk of a "catastrophic failure" that could impact other satellites.

But "because the SpaceWay-1 satellite is being retired ahead of schedule, it has significantly more propellant remaining than it would have had at its previously scheduled retirement date," the FCC spokesman said, which itself is a risk factor for explosion.

DirecTV said in its filing that only a "nominal portion" of the 73 kilograms of propellant still on board would be burned.

The move was confirmed to AFP by both DirecTV's parent company AT&T and Boeing, which said "the battery malfunction occurred in the course of operating the satellite more than two years after its contractually required design life."



The satellite was launched in 2005 and according to the website SpaceNews, which first reported the news, had enough fuel to continue service until 2025. TV viewers need not fret, said AT&T.

"This satellite is a backup and we do not anticipate any impacts on consumer service as we retire it. We are replacing it with another satellite in our fleet," the company said in a statement.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi [India], Jan 24 (ANI): Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of not fulfilling the promises made during the last five years of the AAP government's tenure in Delhi.



"In Delhi, on one hand, there is the AAP government which made tall promises, and ruled Delhi for five years but dragged it back on the path of progress," Shah said addressing a public meeting in Karawal Nagar here.

He alleged that the Kejriwal government had fallen short on multiple promises, ranging from schools to cleaning of Yamuna.

"Kejriwal ji does not remember his old promises. Ask him, whenever he comes, about the new schools which were to be constructed...More than 700 schools do not have principals today, and many of them do not have science department. There is overall a shortage of close to 19,000 teachers," Shah claimed.

"Kejriwal had also said that more than 15 lakh CCTV cameras will be installed, were they installed at all places? He had said that 5,000 buses for DTC will be purchased, but only 300 were brought and then the news was released in media," he said.

Shah also alleged that the Delhi government had not been successful in cleaning the Yamuna river.

"He had also said that he will clean the Yamuna river. Leave aside cleaning the Yamuna, he even turned the water, which is being supplied in the houses in Delhi, dirty," Shah said.

The Model Code of Conduct came into force in Delhi on January 6 after the Election Commission of India announced that the assembly election in Delhi will be held on February 8. The counting of votes will take place on February 11.

In 2015, Aam Aadmi Party got a landslide victory winning 67 of 70 seats. (ANI)
Children wear masks to prevent an outbreak of a new coronavirus at the Hong Kong West Kowloon High Speed Train Station, in Hong Kong, China January 23, 2020. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

The World Health Organization (WHO) has not declared Chinas deadly coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.

Deaths from the new virus hit 18 on Thursday in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, which is the epicentre of the outbreak.

Hundreds of cases have been confirmed both in China and abroad, with the infection reaching the US earlier this week.

Making the announcement on Twitter, the WHO said it is too early to declare a public health emergency of international concern given its restrictive and binary nature.

READ MORE: Billions of journeys to celebrate Chinese New Year raise fears coronavirus will spread worldwide

Only five conditions have ever been declared a public health emergency, the highest alarm the WHO can sound.

These include the Zika virus and Ebola, which killed more than 13,000 people across two outbreaks.

The previously unknown coronavirus strain triggers flu-like symptoms, including breathlessness and fever. In the most severe cases, victims succumb to pneumonia.

PEKANBARU, RIAU, INDONESIA - JANUARY 23: Officers are seen using a face mask to prevent Coronavirus at Sultan Syarif Kasim II airport in Pekanbaru, Riau Province, Indonesia on January 23, 2020. Coronavirus has killed nine peoples, infected hundreds of peoples and can spread. The new virus originating from Wuhan, China, appeared since December 2019 and has been terrorizing the world. (Photo by Dedy Sutisna/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

I am not declaring a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) today, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, said.

Make no mistake. This is an emergency in China, but it has not yet become a global health emergency.

Dr Adhanom Ghebreyesus added that while 584 cases, and 17 deaths, have been reported to the WHO, others are suspected and under investigation.

We know that this virus can cause severe disease, and that it can kill, although for most people it causes milder symptoms, he said.

We know that among those infected, one quarter of patients have experienced severe disease.

We know that most of those who have died had underlying health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes or cardiovascular disease that weakened their immune systems.

We know that there is human-to-human transmission in China, but for now it appears limited to family groups & health workers caring for infected patients.

Story continues

At this time, there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission outside China, but that doesnt mean it wont happen.

READ MORE: How did China's coronavirus outbreak start?

Dr Adhanom Ghebreyesus added there is a lot we dont know about the virus source, transmission and symptoms.

For the moment, WHO does not recommend any broader restrictions on travel or trade, he said.

I wish to reiterate that the fact I am not declaring a PHEIC today should not be taken as a sign that WHO does not think the situation is serious, or that we are not taking it seriously.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

WHO is following this outbreak every minute of every day, at country, regional & global level.

The WHOs international multidisciplinary mission will review and support efforts to uncover the animal source of the outbreak, the extent of transmission and screening efforts.

READ MORE: Coronavirus outbreak: your questions answered

Dr Adam Kamradt-Scott, from the University of Sydney, said: Based on the information we have to date, the WHO director-generals decision to not declare a public health emergency of international concern is not especially surprising.

While we have seen international spread of the virus, which is one of the criteria for declaring a PHEIC, the cases in those countries do not appear to have seeded further local outbreaks.

If that was to start to occur, it would constitute a greater concern but at the moment the outbreak is largely contained within China.

For the moment, the fact the international community is already on high alert and many countries have put in place surveillance measures may help slow international spread.

Others, however, questioned the WHOs decision.

I'm personally surprised that a PHEIC hasn't been called given that the [virus] appears similar to SARS, we have 4th generation spread and the proportion of severe cases appears high, Dr Stephen Griffin, from the University of Leeds, said.

My hope is that this is not a decision that we might come to regret.

How deadly is the new coronavirus?

While confirmed cases are in the hundreds, Wuhan is thought to have 4,000 cases, with estimations reaching as high as 9,700, Yahoo UK reported.

China's National Health Commission announced today the youngest victim was 48 and the eldest 89.

Most were elderly and suffering other health issues, like Parkinsons or diabetes.

Based on existing data, the virus is thought to have a 2% death rate, on par with Spanish flu, Yahoo UK reported.

Of those in hospital, between 15% and 20% of cases are severe, defined as needing ventilation.

The WHO was due to make the emergency decision on Wednesday, but postponed it, claiming more information was required.

What does a public health emergency mean?

A Public Health Emergency of International Concern is defined as a an extraordinary event that constitutes a public health risk through the international spread of disease.

It also potentially requires a coordinated international response to stem the spread of infection.

Under the International Health Regulations act of 2005, all 196 countries who are member states of the WHO are legally bound to help control the disease.

By definition, the health scare is serious, unusual or unexpected, carries implications for public health beyond the affected states border and may require international action.

READ MORE: China's coronavirus could have same death rate as Spanish flu pandemic that killed 50m people

A declaration is made by the WHOs director-general, who is advised by its emergency committee.

The committee is made up of experts in disease control, viruses, vaccine development and how infections spread.

It gives temporary recommendations on the health measures required to prevent or reduce the disease spreading internationally, while avoiding unnecessary interference with trade and travel.

Recommendations automatically expire after three months.

The committee therefore meets at least every 12 weeks to assess the situation and review whether new temporary recommendations are required or the declaration can be terminated.

What measures have been introduced so far?

Two Chinese cities have gone into lockdown in an attempt to stop the infection spreading.

Authorities suspended planes and trains both in and out of Wuhan, which has a population of 11 million.

Outbound flights have been cancelled. Regional airlines, including Malaysia's AirAsia and Singapore Airlines' budget carrier Scoot, are temporarily halting journeys to the city.

Within Wuhan, buses, subways and ferries are also on hold.

Similar measures will come into play in the nearby city Huanggang, which has more than seven million residents, at midnight.

Locals are reportedly being told to avoid crowds and wear masks when out and about.

Libraries, museums and theatres are also cancelling exhibitions, while cafes and cinemas are temporarily closed.

In response to the US case, President Donald Trump said the situation was totally under control and he trusted the information coming from Chinese authorities.

Countries around the world are screening travellers for signs of the infection.

Critics argue, however, it can take up to five days for the tell-tale fever to develop, allowing infected passengers to be missed, Yahoo UK reported.

A child wears a mask to prevent an outbreak of a new coronavirus at the Hong Kong West Kowloon High Speed Train Station, in Hong Kong, China January 23, 2020. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

What other infections were public health emergencies?

The swine flu pandemic of 2009 was the first public health emergency.

It is now known to have killed around 284,500 people around the world, about 15 times more than confirmed at the time, Reuters reported.

This was followed by the Ebola outbreak in the west African countries Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.

Between 2013 and 2016, at least 11,300 people died.

In 2014, the WHO declared the resurgence of polio a public health emergency.

Pakistan made up more than a fifth of global cases, rising from 58 in 2012 to 93 the following year.

READ MORE: China's coronavirus 'may be missed at airport screenings in newly infected travellers'

Zika, which causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads, was declared a public health emergency in 2016.

Starting in Brazil the year before, it spread to more than 60 countries and territories.

By the time the emergency was announced, around 2,300 babies had been born with the tell-tale microcephaly, which can lead to developmental problems.

Ebola was once again declared a public emergency when it struck the Democratic Republic of Congo in July last year.

By 14 January 2019, 3,406 cases had arisen, including 2,236 deaths.

What is the new coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a class of viruses that cause everything from the common cold to the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) epidemic.

The new strain, 2019-nCoV, likely originated at a live animal and seafood market in Wuhan that conducted illegal transactions of wild animals, the BBC reported.

Constantly evolving viruses can make the jump over to humans.

Most of those who initially fell ill worked at, or visited, the market.

China's National Health Commission confirmed the virus can spread person-to-person, via sneezing, coughing or shaking contaminated hands.

Cases have arisen beyond Wuhan in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, as well as Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Taiwan.

Fatal pneumonia comes about when a respiratory infection causes the alveoli (air sacs) in the lungs to become inflamed and filled with fluid or pus, according to the American Lung Association.

The lungs then struggle to draw in air, resulting in reduced oxygen in the bloodstream.

Without treatment the end is inevitable, said the charity Medecins Sans Frontieres.

Deaths occurs because of asphyxiation.

Fellow coronavirus Sars made headlines in the early 2000s after 774 people died across dozens of countries, mainly in Asia.

Genetic analyses reveal 2019-nCoV is more closely related to Sars than any other virus within that class.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned there is no specific treatment for coronaviruses.

If the infection triggers pneumonia, doctors work to combat the complication.

When a virus is to blame  like 2019-nCoV  pneumonia may be treated via antiviral medication, according to the American Lung Association.

Professor Peter Horby from the University of Oxford claims, however, there is no effective anti-viral, with treatment being supportive.
2,500 Hondurans, as well as dozens of Nicaraguans, Guatemalans, and Salvadorans, said that going home is not an option, according to a report from Remezcla.

It has been days since the caravan from Central America arrived in Mexico that led to a clash with the National Guard. Immigrants and asylum seekers who are stranded in the border are considering all their options. However, according to an immigration report from La Prensa, for the 2stranded 2,500 Hondurans, dozens of Nicaraguans, Guatemalans, and Salvadorans said that going back to their countries is not part of the option.

A Honduran immigrant told a local news outlet, "We came in the caravan, and they didn't let it pass," However, only a few were able to successfully cross the Suchiate River.

Moreover, the Mexican authorities closed a section of their border on Saturday following the arrival of the caravan who want to cross the bridge through the Suchiate River. More than 2,500 migrants who joined the caravan of all ages were all held up and were also prevented from crossing the bridge by Mexican National Guardsmen.

Mexican authorities said that they allowed dozens of migrants to enter into Mexico in groups of 20. However, they also warned those people who wanted to slip away to avoid the immigration process. Subsequently, Mexico's National Migration Institute posted on its Twitter that they supported the southern border to assure safe, orderly, and regular immigration.

Meanwhile, the administration of President Donal Trump announced in November that it had started to send migrants from Honduras and El Salvador to Guatemala as part of its agreement called as "safe third country," Trump claimed that the deal or agreement would help the immigration crisis at the southern U.S. border.

However, despite the efforts of Trump's administration, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) mounted a legal challenge against the agreement. They claimed that it violated federal law. They added that Guatemala does not meet the standard of full and fair procedure for asylum.

Katrina Eiland, a lawyer from ACLU Immigrant Rights Project, said: "The Trump administration has created a deadly game of musical chairs that leaves desperate refugees without a safe haven, in violation of U.S. and international law and the administration is illegally trying to turn away asylum seekers and pass the buck to other countries that can't protect them."

Meanwhile, the federal government claimed that they began sending migrants to Guatemala because they meet the "full and fair" standard. It can also be recalled that the officials of the Department of Homeland Security said that migrants were not forced to go to Guatemala but instead they were also given an option either to go home in their country or stay in Mexico while waiting for the result of their asylum or immigration application.

Mexican officials vow that they will remain on high alert and will help block hundreds of migrants who are mostly Hondurans hoping to reach the land of the United States. It can be remembered the previous caravan of migrants had an overwhelming effect on the immigration system of the country.

Itsmania Platero, a human rights activist, said: "The truth is, it is going to be impossible for them to reach the United States and the Mexican police have a large contingent and they are going to catch all the migrants without documents, and they will be detained and returned to their home countries."
- The police are investigating former governor of the central bank

- Dr. Johnson Asiama is reportedly hiding from the police

- He allegedly tried to print money illegally in 2016

- Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

Former deputy governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Asiama is reportedly on the run because police is on a manhunt for him.

According to DailyGuide online, the former BoG deputy governor is wanted in connection with the banking crisis which led to the collapse of nine commercial banks.

Dr. Asiama has been linked to attempt to print extra money totalling GHC1billion outside the banking system ahead of the 2016 elections.

READ ALSO: Akufo-Addo, Mahama good at spotting fine and juicy women - Allotey Jacobs

The police also say, they are looking for the founder of one of the defunct banks, uniBank, Dr Kwabena Duffuor and his son who was the Chief Executive os the same bank, Dr Kwabena Duffuor Jnr.

The police is alleging Dr. Duffuor and his son have refused to honour an invitation from the police to assist with investigations.

Meanwhile, Republic Financial Holdings Limited and its subsidiary Republic Bank (Ghana) Limited have vehemently denied a claim by the former deputy BoG governor that they committed to buying five of the troubled banks.

ATTENTION: Read the best news on Ghana #1 news app. Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana

The company says Dr Johnson Asiamas claims that prior to the 2016 election, they were interested in acquiring then troubled UT and Capital banks was both inaccurate and misleading.

READ ALSO: Bawumia is Akufo-Addos hype man - Bulldog jabs NPP government

Republic Bank is committed to upholding the laws of the country and the regulations implemented by Ghanas regulatory authorities  the Bank of Ghana and the Securities and Exchange Commission  and should the opportunity arise for any acquisition or expansion in the future this will be done in conformity with such laws and regulations, the financial institution said in a press release

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that Abdul Mumuni, believed to be a National Security operative has been stabbed to death in Awoshie, a suburb in Accra.

According to a Graphiconline report, he was stabbed by his friend Emmanuel Gyeabour, 32. Abdul was accused by his friend, Emmanuel for failing to donate towards the funeral of his late dad.

I Was Denied Entry Into Ebenezer Senior High School Because of My Dreads- Samini Laments| #Yencomgh

READ ALSO: Today in History: KNUST was formerly opened January 22, 1952

Want to be featured on YEN.com.gh? Send us a message on our Facebook page with your stories, photos or videos.

Source: YEN.com.gh
Median housing prices in Massachusetts keep going up. The median sale price for single family homes in Massachusetts set an all-time record last year at $400,000.

This 2019 year-end median sale price was a 3.9 percent increase over 2018, according to State House News Service.

The trend was fairly obvious all year long  2019 was another record-setting year for Massachusetts real estate prices, CEO Tim Warren, told the news service.

But what $400,000 gets you vastly varies across the state. Take a look below to see what you can get for $400,000 in Boston, Worcester and Western Mass.

Boston

This one-bedroom, one-bath 515-square-foot studio in Back Bay goes for $465,000. The building has a large common roof deck and laundry is located across the hall.

This one-bedroom, one-bathroom 515-square-foot studio in Back Bay goes for $465,000.Charlesgate Realty Group, llc

This one-bedroom, one-bathroom 515-square-foot studio in Back Bay goes for $465,000.Charlesgate Realty Group, llc

This one-bedroom, one-bathroom 515-square-foot studio in Back Bay goes for $465,000.Charlesgate Realty Group, llc

This three-bedroom, two-bathroom, 1,194 square foot condo in Chelsea, MA goes for $428,000. It has plenty of windows and a laundry area in the unit.

This three-bedroom, two-bathroom, 1,194 square foot house in Chelsea, Mass. goes for $428,000.

This three-bedroom, two-bathroom, 1,194 square foot house in Chelsea, Mass. goes for $428,000.

This three-bedroom, two-bathroom, 1,194 square foot house in Chelsea, Mass. goes for $428,000.

Worcester

This four-bedroom, three-bathroom, 2,298 square foot house goes for $424,900. This house has a large attic with potential for in-law apartment and a heated two-car garage.

This four-bedroom, three-bathroom, 2,298 square foot house in Worcester goes for $424,900.

This four-bedroom, three-bathroom, 2,298 square foot house in Worcester goes for $424,900.

This four-bedroom, three-bathroom, 2,298 square foot house in Worcester goes for $424,900.

This three-bedroom, two-bathroom 2,260 square foot Antique Colonial Farmhouse in Charlton goes for $359,000. It has original 200-year-old wide pine floors and high ceilings.

This three-bedroom, two-bathroom 2,260 square foot Antique Colonial Farmhouse in Charlton goes for $359,000.

This three-bedroom, two-bathroom 2,260 square foot Antique Colonial Farmhouse in Charlton goes for $359,000.

This three-bedroom, two-bathroom 2,260 square foot Antique Colonial Farmhouse in Charlton goes for $359,000.

Western Mass.

This four-bedroom, five-bathroom 3,453 square foot house in Wilbraham goes for $468,500. This house has two master bedroom options, with one having a spa tub.

This four-bedroom, five-bathroom 3,453 square foot house in Wilbraham goes for $468,500.

This four-bedroom, five-bathroom 3,453 square foot house in Wilbraham goes for $468,500.

This four-bedroom, five-bathroom 3,453 square foot house in Wilbraham goes for $468,500.

This four-bedroom, four-bathroom, 2,831 square foot house in Agawam goes for $432,900. This house has a three-car garage with radiant heated floor.

This four-bedroom, four-bathroom, 2,831 square foot house in Agawam goes for $432,900.

This four-bedroom, four-bathroom, 2,831 square foot house in Agawam goes for $432,900.

Related Content:
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 24, 2020 FIORE GOLD LTD. (TSXV:F)(OTCQB:FIOGF) ("Fiore" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that its financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2019, have been filed with the securities regulatory authorities and are available at www.sedar.com and on the Company's website at www.fioregold.com.

2019 Operational and Financial Highlights

(all figures in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated)

Full-year gold production of 41,491 ounces, a 21% increase over the preceding year and within full-year guidance of 40,000-43,000 ounces

Full-year mined ore production of 13,923 tons per day at a stripping ratio of 1.8:1

Pan Mine AISC 1 per ounce sold of $961 and cash costs per ounce sold 1 of $899

per ounce sold of $961 and cash costs per ounce sold of $899 Fiore consolidated AISC 1 of $1,080 per ounce sold

of $1,080 per ounce sold Recorded annual revenues of $53.74 million with mine operating income of $11.97 million

Generated Pan operating cash flow 1 of $10.03 million and consolidated operating cash flow of $4.47 million after investment in drilling and crusher start-up working capital

of $10.03 million and consolidated operating cash flow of $4.47 million after investment in drilling and crusher start-up working capital Our operations team at Pan received the Small Mine Safety Award from the Nevada Mining Association for the fourth consecutive year

91,672 man-hours worked in fiscal year 2019, achieving our goal of zero reportable incidents, zero reportable accidents, and zero lost-time injuries. As of the end of FY2019, the operation is at 1,230 consecutive days of attaining this Triple-Zero achievement.

2019 Organic Growth Highlights

Completed a 10,000 metre drill program at the federally permitted Gold Rock project in support of a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA"). The PEA will be release in calendar Q1 2020

Prepared a detailed development plan for Gold Rock that lays out the drilling, metallurgical testing, engineering, state permitting, and other activities required to advance the project towards production, with anticipated construction decision by mid-2021

Installed primary crushing circuit on time and on budget at Pan Mine to improve recoveries and gold production, impact primarily seen in 2020

Initiated Pan mine life extension drill program with resource update expected calendar Q2 2020

Q4 2019 Operational and Financial Highlights

Gold production of 9,282 ounces

Recorded quarterly revenues of $12.55 million with mine operating income of $2.17 million

Mined ore production in fiscal Q4 of 13,156 tons per day, with the stripping ratio at 2.3:1.0

Q4 2019 Pan Mine AISC 1 per ounce sold of $1,093 and cash costs per ounce sold 1 of $1,017

per ounce sold of $1,093 and cash costs per ounce sold of $1,017 Q4 2019 Fiore consolidated AISC 1 of $1,231

of $1,231 Generated Pan operating cash flow1 of $0.63 million and consolidated operating cash flow use of $1.76 million, including expenditure on Gold Rock exploration

Tim Warman, Chief Executive Officer of Fiore, commented: "The Pan Mine had another strong year with gold production up 21% and further growth expected in FY2020 from the newly installed crushing circuit. Cash flow from the Pan Mine not only funded additional resource expansion drilling to extend the mine life at Pan and partially funded the new crusher, it also allowed us to advance the adjacent Gold Rock project with a 10,000 metre drill program and a PEA that will be released in calendar Q1 2020. Our goal remains to have Pan and Gold Rock operate in unison, creating a multi-asset US gold producer with a track record of solid operating performance."

Review of Operating Results

Three Months Ended

September 30, Year Ended

September 30, Operating Results 2019 2018 2019 2018 Ore Mined (t) 1,210,337 1,213,072 5,081,729 5,193,397 Waste Mined (t) 2,746,158 1,667,471 8,964,960 6,293,144 Total Mined (t) 3,956,495 2,880,543 14,046,689 11,486,541 Gold Ounces Mined (oz) 16,253 20,724 73,883 73,664 Ore Grade Mined (oz/t) 0.013 0.017 0.015 0.014 Strip Ratio waste/ore 2.3 1.4 1.8 1.2 Gold Ounces Produced (oz) 9,282 8,993 41,491 34,297 Gold Ounces Sold (Payable) (oz) 9,009 8,964 40,994 34,688 Average Realized Price1 $/oz 1,392 1,208 1,310 1,279 Total Cash Costs per Ounce1 $/oz 1,017 825 899 820 Cost of Sales per Ounce1 $/oz 1,153 929 1,019 912 Fiore Consolidated AISC per Ounce1 $/oz 1,231 1,035 1,080 1,216 Pan Mine AISC per Ounce1 $/oz 1,093 893 961 1,063



1 This is a non-IFRS financial measure. Please refer to "Non-IFRS Financial Measures" at the end of this news release for a description of these non-IFRS financial measures and to the Non-IFRS Financial measures in the September 30, 2019 Management's Discussion and Analysis for a reconciliation to operating costs from the Company's financial statements.

Gold production of 41,491 ounces was 21% higher than production in 2018. Ore mined was relatively consistent year on year, but waste tons mined increased by 42%, reflecting an increased strip ratio of 1.8:1.0. The increased strip ratio, combined with higher processing costs relating to the crushing circuit, caused total cash costs and cost of sales per ounce to increase relative to prior year. AISC1 reduced at Pan and on a Fiore consolidated basis as the operating cost increase was offset by a decrease in capital expenditure. Sustaining capital was relatively minimal in 2019 compared to the $6.67 million spent in 2018, primarily on the leach pad expansion.

Q4 gold production was higher than the prior year quarter but was lower than Q3 2019. Production was impacted by lower gold grades in the second half of 2019 in line with the mine plan. Additionally, Q4 ore mining rates and placement of crushed ore on the leach pad were lower than planned as we worked to achieve consistent crusher availability and throughput. Positively, tons crushed per day consistently increased through the quarter. Q4 Pan and Fiore Consolidated cash costs1 and AISC1 increased relative to the prior year quarter for reasons consistent with the full year. We are currently in a high strip phase at 2.3:1.0 which significantly impacts operating costs. As the crusher worked through its commissioning in Q4, it also represented an investment in working capital as the impact of crushing did not have a material production benefit in the quarter. Operating cash flow was also impacted by the higher strip ratio and increased processing costs, in addition to $1.5 million of exploration expense. As the strip ratio reverts to the life of mine average of 1.6:1.0 or lower, and the production benefit of crushing ore increases, there is expected to be a positive impact on key cost metrics.

1 This is a non-IFRS financial measure. Please refer to "Non-IFRS Financial Measures" at the end of this news release for a description of these non-IFRS financial measures and to the Non-IFRS Financial measures in the September 30, 2019 Management's Discussion and Analysis for a reconciliation to operating costs from the Company's financial statements.

2019 Guidance Review

The following table outlines FY2019 guidance as compared to actual results for FY2019:

2019 2019 Guidance Actual Ore Mined tpd ~14,000 13,923 Ore Grade Mined (oz/t) 0.014 - 0.016 0.015 Strip Ratio waste/ore >1.6:1.0 1.8 Gold Ounces Produced (oz) 40,000 - 43,000 41,491 Total Cash Costs per Ounce1 $/oz sold 870 - 900 899 Fiore Consolidated AISC per Ounce1 $/oz sold 1,025 - 1,050 1,080 Pan Mine AISC per Ounce1 $/oz sold 925 - 950 961

1 This is a non-IFRS financial measure. Please refer to "Non-IFRS Financial Measures" at the end of this news release for a description of these non-IFRS financial measures and to the Non-IFRS Financial measures in the September 30, 2019 Management's Discussion and Analysis for a reconciliation to operating costs from the Company's financial statements.

Ore mined during FY 2019 averaged 13,923 ore tons per day, in line with guidance of 14,000 ore tons per day. Our strip ratio fell in line with guidance of just above the life of mine strip ratio of 1.6:1.0 at 1.8:1.0.

Gold ounces produced during FY2019 was 41,491 and within our full-year guidance of 40,000 - 43,000 ounces.

Cash costs per ounce came in at $899 per gold ounce sold, which was at the top of our guidance range. However, consolidated AISC and Pan Mine AISC per ounce sold were slightly above guidance ranges primarily due to an accrual for a company- wide incentive plan which was not contemplated in guidance.

Key Developments

Pan Mine

An updated resource estimate released during fiscal Q1 2019 (refer to news release dated December 3, 2018) showed almost complete replacement of M+I resources mined in the 19 months since declaring commercial production (which averaged approximately 12,500 ore tons mined per day), and a significant growth in Inferred resources even after allowing for mining depletion. We also reported updated Proven and Probable mineral reserves of 18.5 million tons at a gold grade of 0.015 oz/st (0.51 g/t) containing 275,600 ounces of gold (refer to news release dated April 9, 2019).

The 2018 drilling program also highlighted several areas in the vicinity of the Pan North Pit where mineralization remains open with the potential to further increase the near-mine resource base with additional drilling. Numerous additional targets remain to be tested along strike from the existing Pan deposit. A drilling program was initiated at our Pan Mine in fiscal Q4 2019 aimed at further increasing the reserve base. The results of the first 26 holes of the program were reported on December 10, 2019 where we intersected new oxide gold mineralization, including 35.1 metres of 0.64 g/t gold and 38.1 metres of 0.79 g/t gold. Drilling will continue in calendar Q1 2020 and we anticipate updating the resource mid-2020.

The primary crushing circuit at the Pan Mine was commissioned in line with our schedule at the end of June 2019. We are proud of our ongoing track record of managing development and capital projects at the Pan Mine in a safe and timely manner. Metallurgical testing has shown that primary crushing will increase both the overall gold recovery and the rate of gold recovery. At the present ore mining rate of 14,000 tons per day, the crushing circuit will produce an estimated 6,000-7,000 additional gold ounces per year.

Gold Rock

During 2019, the Company completed a $2.0 million program of resource expansion drilling and metallurgical test work. The drill results intersected thick intervals of oxide gold mineralization both within and outside of the current resource pit shells. This is particularly encouraging as one of the goals of the current drilling program is to expand the resource envelope in advance of a PEA targeted for calendar Q1 2020. Results from the 32 RC drill holes of the current drilling program at Gold Rock included the following highlights:

54.9 m of 0.85 g/t gold in hole GR19-001 27.4 m of 1.46 g/t gold in hole GR19-002 9.1 m of 2.51 g/t gold in hole GR19-003 29.0 m of 0.63 g/t gold in hole GR19-006 25.9 m of 0.88 g/t gold in hole GR19-007 15.2 m of 1.22 g/t gold in hole GR19-009 15.2 m of 0.97 g/t gold in hole GR19-010 24.4 m of 0.96 g/t gold in hole GR19-014 22.9 m of 0.72 g/t gold in hole GR19-023 25.9 m of 0.92 g/t gold in hole GR19-024 15.2 m of 1.48 g/t gold in hole GR19-026 16.8 m of 1.61 g/t gold in hole GR19-029 10.7 m of 1.36 g/t gold in hole GR19-032

We have prepared a detailed development plan for Gold Rock that lays out the drilling, metallurgical testing, engineering, state permitting, and other activities required to advance the project towards production. The plan aims to arrive at a construction decision by mid-2021, assuming successful completion of these activities and a positive feasibility study. Based on its experience operating the nearby Pan Mine, the Company intends to proceed directly from the PEA to a Feasibility Study in order to shorten the development timeframe.

2019 Financial Results

Year Ended September 30, Financial Results of Operations 2019 2018 Select Items - On a Consolidated Basis $000's $000's Revenue 53,742 44,410 Mine Operating Income 11,967 12,773 Income from Operations 4,574 4,672 Operating Cash Flow 4,465 4,425 Unrealized (Loss)/Gain on Derivatives, net (310 ) 6,409 Net Income 2,422 1,127 Adjusted Net Earnings1 3,357 3,604





Financial Position as of: September 30,

2019 September 30,

2018 Select Items - On a Consolidated Basis $000's $000's Cash 7,280 6,167 Inventories 20,886 13,201 Total Current Assets 29,610 20,397 Mineral Property, Plant and Equipment, net 18,764 16,801 Total Assets 56,156 43,603 Total Current Liabilities (6,558 ) (2,274 ) Long-Term Liabilities (10,279 ) (4,833 ) Working Capital Surplus 23,052 18,123

Revenue increased 21% in 2019 relative to 2018 due primarily to increased gold ounces produced and sold. Income from mine operations and adjusted net earnings were all relatively consistent with prior year. Profitability in 2019 was impacted by the increased strip ratio of 1.8:1.0 relative to the 1.2:1.0 in 2018 as well as longer ore hauls as the pits get deeper. Also impacting profitability were increased processing costs related to the crushing circuit and increased depreciation and depletion expense reflecting the higher depreciable asset base. The updated life of mine plan has a strip ratio of 1.6:1.0, with stripping expected to be above that level until mid-calendar 2020, then dropping below thereafter.

The cash balance increased relative to September 30, 2018 by $1.11 million. Cash increased despite investments in drilling at both Pan and Gold Rock, in addition to partial funding of the crusher capital. Cash flow from Pan continues to fund all internal growth initiatives.

Operating cash flow for 2019 was $4.47 million compared to $4.43 million in 2018. Operating cash flow in 2019 was similarly impacted by a higher stripping ratio, and higher processing costs related to the crusher. Cash flow from operations in 2018 also benefited by improved working capital with respect to reducing gold dore inventory and accounts receivable.

As of September 30, 2019, we continue to have a strong working capital surplus of $23.05 million, consisting of current assets of $29.61 million and current liabilities of $6.56 million. Refer to the Company's MD&A and Financial Statements for additional information.

1 This is a non-IFRS financial measure. Please refer to "Non-IFRS Financial Measures" at the end of this news release for a description of these non-IFRS financial measures and to the Non-IFRS Financial measures in the September 30, 2019 Management's Discussion and Analysis for a reconciliation to operating costs from the Company's financial statements.

Corporate Strategy

Our corporate strategy is to grow Fiore Gold into a 150,000 ounce per year gold producer. To achieve this, we intend to:

grow gold production at the Pan Mine while also growing the reserve and resource base;

advance exploration and development of the nearby Gold Rock project; and

acquire additional production or near-production assets to complement our existing operations

*Note on AISC Presentation

The presentation of Pan Mine all-in sustaining costs as shown is consistent with prior quarters' measures of all-in sustaining costs. We have added Fiore Consolidated all-in sustaining costs to layer in corporate general and administrative costs, including share-based compensation and corporate sustaining capital expenditures, when applicable. A reconciliation from prior presentations of all-in sustaining costs per ounce sold has been presented in the table below to the current Pan Mine AISC and Fiore Consolidated AISC per ounce sold presentations.

Three Months Ended September 30, 2019 2018 AISC per Ounce Sold as previously defined $ 1,093 $ 893 Pan Mine AISC per Ounce Sold $ 1,093 $ 893 Adjustments to Fiore Consolidated AISC per Ounce Sold: Corporate General & Administrative Costs per Ounce Sold 134 132 Corporate Share Based Compensation per Ounce Sold 4 10 Fiore Consolidated AISC per Ounce Sold $ 1,231 $ 1,035





Year Ended September 30, 2019 2018 AISC per Ounce Sold as previously defined $ 961 $ 1,063 Pan Mine AISC per Ounce Sold $ 961 $ 1,063 Adjustments to Fiore Consolidated AISC per Ounce Sold: Corporate General & Administrative Costs per Ounce Sold 110 128 Corporate Share Based Compensation per Ounce Sold 9 25 Fiore Consolidated AISC per Ounce Sold $ 1,080 $ 1,216



Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release relating to Fiore Gold's Pan Mine was approved by J. Ross MacLean (MMSA), Fiore Gold's Chief Operating Officer and a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101. The scientific and technical information contained in this news release relating to the Gold Rock project was approved by Paul Noland (AIPG CPG-11293), Fiore Gold's VP Exploration and a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101.

On behalf of FIORE GOLD LTD.

"Tim Warman"

Chief Executive Officer

Contact Us:

info@fioregold.com

1 (416) 639-1426 Ext. 1

www.fioregold.com

Non-IFRS Financial Measures

The Company has included certain non-IFRS measures in this document, as discussed below. The Company believes that these measures, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, provide investors an improved ability to evaluate the underlying performance of the Company. The non-IFRS measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. These measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed under IFRS, and therefore may not be comparable to other issuers.

"Adjusted net earnings" and "adjusted net earnings per share" are non-IFRS financial performance measures. Adjusted net earnings excludes the following from net earnings: certain impairment charges (reversals) related to intangibles, goodwill, property, plant and equipment, and investments; gains (losses) and other one-time costs relating to acquisitions or dispositions; foreign currency translation gains (losses); significant tax adjustments not related to current period earnings; unrealized gains (losses) on non-hedge derivative instruments; and the tax effect and non-controlling interest of these items. The Company uses this measure internally to evaluate our underlying operating performance for the reporting periods presented and to assist with the planning and forecasting of future operating results. We believe that adjusted net earnings are a useful measure of our performance because these adjusting items do not reflect the underlying operating performance of our business and are not necessarily indicative of future operating results.

We have adopted "all-in sustaining costs" measures for the Pan Mine and Fiore as a consolidated group, consistent with guidance issued by the World Gold Council ("WGC") on June 27, 2013. We believe that the use of all-in sustaining costs is helpful to analysts, investors and other stakeholders in assessing our operating performance, our ability to generate free cash flow from current operations and our overall value. These measures are helpful to governments and local communities in understanding the economics of gold mining. The "all-in sustaining costs" measure is an extension of existing "cash cost" metrics and incorporates costs related to sustaining production. The WGC definition of all-in sustaining costs seeks to extend the definition of total cash costs by adding reclamation and remediation costs, exploration and study costs, capitalized stripping costs, corporate general and administrative costs and sustaining capital expenditures to represent the total costs of producing gold from current operations. All-in sustaining costs exclude income tax, interest costs, depreciation, non-sustaining capital expenditures, non-sustaining exploration expense and other items needed to normalize earnings. Therefore, these measures are not indicative of our cash expenditures or overall profitability.

"Total cash cost per ounce sold" is a common financial performance measure in the gold mining industry but has no standard meaning under IFRS. The Company reports total cash costs on a sales basis. We believe that, in addition to conventional measures prepared in accordance with IFRS, certain investors use this information to evaluate the Company's performance and ability to generate cash flow. Accordingly, it is intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. The measure, along with sales, is considered to be a key indicator of a Company's ability to generate operating earnings and cash flow from its mining operations. "Costs of sales per ounce sold" adds depreciation and depletion and share based compensation allocated to production to the cash costs figures.

Total cash costs figures are calculated in accordance with a standard developed by The Gold Institute, which was a worldwide association of suppliers of gold and gold products and included leading North American gold producers. The Gold Institute ceased operations in 2002, but the standard is considered the accepted standard of reporting cash cost of production in North America. Adoption of the standard is voluntary, and the cost measures presented may not be comparable to other similarly titled measure of other companies.

"Total cash costs per ounce", "cost of sales per ounce", "all-in sustaining costs per ounce", "Corporate G&A and SBC per ounce", "Non-sustaining exploration per ounce", "Pan operating income" and "Pan operating cash flow" are intended to provide additional information only and do not have any standardized definition under IFRS and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. The measures are not necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flow from operations as determined under IFRS. Other companies may calculate the measure differently.

"Average realized price" is a financial measure with no standard meaning under IFRS. Management uses this measure to better understand the price realized in each reporting period for gold sales. Average realized price excludes from revenues unrealized gains and losses, if applicable, on non-hedge derivative contracts. The average realized price is intended to provide additional information only and does not have any standardized definition under IFRS; it should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. Other companies may calculate this measure differently.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" (as defined under applicable securities laws), based on management's best estimates, assumptions and current expectations. Such statements include but are not limited to, statements with respect to future operations at the Pan Mine, development plan for Gold Rock, drilling plans for Pan and Gold Rock, expected drilling results, expected production, expected costs, expected mining rates, strip ratios, all future statements concerning costs, production and financial performance, current and future estimates of mineral resources and reserves, expectations that the Company will add additional resources and reserves through drilling, the resource update for the Pan Mine in calendar Q2 2020, expectations for production growth in FY2020, estimates and expectation that the crushing circuit will produce additional gold ounces and increase gold recoveries, expectations regarding efficiencies from the installation of the crushing circuit, future cost trends regarding the crushing circuit, all of the future planned development, construction and operations described in the Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision for the Gold Rock Mine project, development and timing of a preliminary economic assessment for Gold Rock, metallurgical testing for Gold Rock, expectations for a feasibility study for Gold Rock, timing of a construction decision for Gold Rock, expectations for future capital projects, ability to use internal cash flow to fund growth initiatives, goal to have Pan and Gold Rock operate in unison, company outlook, goal to become a 150,000 ounce producer, goal to acquire additional production or near production assets, and other statements, estimates or expectations. Often, but not always, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "expected", "budgeted", "targets", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "scheduled", "estimates", "aims", "will", "believes", "projects" and similar expressions (including negative variations) which by their nature refer to future events. By their very nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond Fiore Gold's control. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Forward looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, as well as a number of assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company concerning, among other things, anticipated geological formations, potential mineralization, future plans for exploration and/or development, potential future production, ability to obtain permits for future operations, drilling exposure, and exploration budgets and timing of expenditures, all of which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievement of Fiore Gold to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward looking statements include, but not limited to, risks related to the Pan Mine performance, risks related to the company's limited operating history; risks related to international operations; risks related to general economic conditions, actual results of current or future exploration activities, unanticipated reclamation expenses; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; fluctuations in prices of metals including gold; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; increases in market prices of mining consumables; possible variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling results, test results and the estimation of gold resources and reserves; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the possibility that capital and operating costs may be higher than currently estimated; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in the work programs; availability of financing; accidents, labour disputes, title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry; delays in the completion of exploration, development or construction activities; the possibility that required permits may not be obtained, maintained or renewed in a timely manner or at all; changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and regulations, and political and economic developments in countries in which Fiore Gold operates, and other factors identified in Fiore Gold's filings with Canadian securities authorities under its profile at www.sedar.com respecting the risks affecting Fiore and its business. Although Fiore has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are made as of the date hereof and are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Fiore disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as require by law. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Fiore Gold Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/574025/Fiore-Gold-Announces-Full-Year-2019-Results
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/1/2020 (719 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks to members of caucus on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Thursday, January 23, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

OTTAWA - Play nice.

That was Justin Trudeau's advice Thursday to Liberal MPs as they gathered to plot strategy for Monday's resumption of Parliament for its first extended sitting since the Oct. 21 election reduced the Liberals to a minority in the House of Commons.

"All is not the same as it was in our previous mandate," the prime minister told MPs at the start of a two-day caucus retreat.

"It's up to us to work more with other parties, to work more across the country as we take Parliament seriously."

Trudeau's government will need support from at least one of the major opposition parties to pass legislation and survive confidence votes on matters like the upcoming budget. And Trudeau said it's up to Liberals to make it work.

"Bickering, grandstanding, petty politics  none of these things create jobs. They don't make anyone's retirement safer, or our environment cleaner. Collaboration, dialogue, and constructive debate, however, can ... Common ground does exist in this Parliament but it's up to us to build on it."

The government faces opposition pushback to its agenda right out of the gate.

The top priority for the government is ratifying the new North American free-trade agreement, with legislation to be introduced next week. Trudeau wants ratification as quickly as possible to secure the deal, on which he said millions of Canadian jobs depend.

But the Bloc Quebecois and NDP have signalled that they're in no rush to finalize the continental trade pact, which has already been ratified by the United States and Mexico. They want the deal to be studied in depth at committee and debated thoroughly in the Commons.

The Conservatives are ardent free-traders in general but have accused Trudeau of caving into U.S. President Donald Trump's demands on the new NAFTA. It is not clear yet whether they'll support quick ratification or join demands for lengthy debate.

Trudeau welcomed debate and committee study but said: "We need to make sure that we move resolutely and rapidly to put into reality this new NAFTA deal that is so good for Canadians from coast to coast to coast."

In an appeal for cross-party solidarity, Trudeau thanked opposition parties for adopting a non-partisan "Team Canada" approach to the renegotiation of NAFTA in the face of Trump's threats to scrap the pact altogether.

The Liberals' agenda also includes action on a promised ban on military-style assault rifles, strengthening health care, battling climate change, and seeking meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. The government also intends to introduce next month amendments to the law governing medical assistance in dying, in response to a Quebec court ruling that invalidated the law's limitation that only people who are near death can qualify for medical help to end their lives.

Minority status means Trudeau and his ministers will have to pay more attention to their own backbenchers as they prepare legislation, to head off any incipient revolts.

It was evident Thursday that the assault-weapon ban is one issue that will require some massaging to maintain unity within Liberal ranks. At least two MPs said they had questions on behalf of their rural constituents and that they wanted to hear more on the government's plans.

"It's a very emotional issue," said veteran Liberal MP Wayne Easter, of Prince Edward Island.

"I have in my briefcase here, probably a hundred letters, not many from my own riding, opposed to it, and I expect if you're in the urban areas members would be getting letters saying they support it ... so it is a controversial issue."

Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said he welcomes the input of MPs. He argued that everyone is "completely united" in wanting to keep Canadians safe, although there can be disagreements over how best to go about that.

Still, Blair made it clear that as far as he is concerned, there is no urban-rural divide over the issue.

"I don't believe anyone in this country needs a military-style weapon, except soldiers."

Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Toronto MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith  who developed a reputation during Trudeau's first mandate as something of a free-thinker who was not afraid to vote against the party line  said he doesn't think he needs to change his approach now that Trudeau is in a minority situation where he'll want every Liberal vote on every initiative.

He noted that Trudeau requires backbenchers to support the government only on matters of confidence, platform promises and issues involving human rights.

"There's a lot of freedom beyond that and I'll continue to exercise that freedom," he said.

On the other hand, Erskine-Smith said he expects Trudeau and his ministers will spend a lot more time consulting with backbenchers and mitigating their concerns before introducing new initiatives.

"Every vote matters in a minority Parliament and so I think it's especially important, and I have felt this already, that the government ministers are very proactively reaching out on the files that matter to us as MPs. So I'm hoping that that continues."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 23, 2020.
The family of a 5-year-old boy who died on a kayaking excursion filed a lawsuit against the school that conducted the trip.

The family of Alaric Chiu filed the lawsuit last week against Mid-Pacific Institute citing reckless behavior and gross negligence leading to the boys death March 28.

The kindergartner was participating in the private K-12 schools spring break day camp when he drowned off Kaaawa on Oahu.

We trusted the school with our son, but instead they killed him. We do not want any other families to go through what we went through, Lucius Chiu, the boys father, said in a statement.

Camp counselor Maria Davis, 63, also drowned when the kayak carrying four people capsized.

Two other students escaped injury by clinging to the boat, which was designed for two people and was not equipped with life vests.

In addition to the school, the lawsuit filed in Hawaiis First Circuit Court names former extended learning coordinator Puakailima Davis, who is the daughter of Maria Davis.

The lawsuit also names her father, Wendell Davis, and brother, Kaehukaiopalemano Davis.

The lawsuit claims the coordinators of the day camp took an unplanned, unscheduled detour to Kaaawa, where there were no lifeguards.

The lawsuit also claims school personnel on site had not been trained in water safety or emergency procedures.

Mid-Pacifics gross negligence and utter lack of systems created a cascade of reckless failures that caused Alarics senseless death, family attorney Jim Bickerton said.

Puakailima Davis could not immediately be reached for comment. Mid-Pacific officials did not immediately return a request for comment.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Lawsuits
Port Arthur Independent School District received a clean audit and voted to sell parcels of excess land Thursday at their monthly board meeting.

We have a lot of property, Superintendent Mark Porterie told The Enterprise. With renovations and bonds that we have had recently, some of our buildings have moved.

Those properties include the former administration building at 733 Fifth St. and the federal funding building at 730 Sixth St.

We are not in the business of property; we are in the business of educating our students, Porterie said. So, for instance the former administration building  we tore it down.

The district moved to its current location on Ninth Street in Port Arthur in 2011.

The superintendent said the district discussed where new buildings might go before making the decision to sell the property. The agenda item the members voted on said the buildings are not being used for educational purposes.

The two vacant properties have no present or future educational utility and are therefore declared surplus, the resolution said.

During the public comment section of Thursdays meeting, the district received harsh words from a concerned resident, who cited reporting done by The Enterprise and the Houston Chronicle that found that PAISD has the second-highest suspension rate in the state.

What are you guys doing to fix this? Greg Richards asked. Leading the state in suspensions, falling behind in academics, but you  got administrators making big money, you got nice cars, big houses.

You are getting paid nice salaries, but you are failing these kids, man. What is the plan?

Porterie said after the meeting that the district was doing what is needed for every student.

We are fair. We are consistent. We understand that our (suspension) numbers may be high, but we have to take care of not only the ones who are breaking the policies, but we have to take care of the students who are coming to school every day and want to learn, he said.

Dont they have rights as well? Shouldnt they be able to come to school and feel safe and be able to listen to the teacher and learn?

Porterie said PAISD plans to have districtwide discipline training next week but stressed that the policies are in place for a reason.

We are going to continue to do what we do and those who look up numbers and say we are doing so much  they didnt give us any suggestions on how to help the situation, Porterie said. They just said these numbers are high. OK, what are your suggestions and we will take it.

Porterie said it is the parents responsibility to help us to be able to help their children, and we dont have 100% of that.

According to an analysis of Texas Education Agency data by The Enterprise and the Houston Chronicle, Port Arthur ISD, issued 31 suspensions per 100 students, second only to Beaumont ISD. The state average was 7 per 100.

Related: Time out: Beaumont ISDs first-in-Texas suspension rates spark calls for change

Trustees also approved a financial audit report Thursday completed and presented by the public accounting firm Whitley Penn.

A representative from the firm, Celina Cereceres, presented the findings of a clean audit to the board, along with a summary of how the audit was done.

Porterie, who said he was happy with the results of the audit, said the presence of auditors is always welcome in the district.

We have auditors here all year long, which some may not like  but we love it, he said. Because it keeps us on our toes, and if there are questions, we are right there to answer them.

The district approved several large purchases as part of the agenda, including contracting with Lamar University for speech language pathology services, purchasing STAAR Workbooks for Jefferson Middle school and paying Wells, Peyton, Greenberg & Hunt, LLP for legal services.

isaac.windes@hearstnp.com

twitter.com/isaacdwindes
Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

Sharad Pawars security cover withdrawn in Delhi, say NCP leaders

The Centre has withdrawn the security cover extended to Nationalist Congress Party boss Sharad Pawar in national capital Delhi, his party claimed on Friday.

Read full story here.

Not just economy, India slipping on democracy too: Shiv Sena targets BJP

The Shiv Sena on Friday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government for the drop in Indias rank in the democracy index. In an editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamana, the party alleged there had been attempts to muzzle dissenting voices and this is one of the key reasons for India slipping in the 2019 Democracy Indexs global ranking.

Read full story here.

Spoke truth, stand by my statement: BJPs Kapil Mishra on mini Pakistan in Delhi tweets

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate in Delhi elections, Kapil Mishra, has refused to take back his tweets on Delhi Assembly elections, where he called the electoral contest as a match between India and Pakistan. The Returning Officer (RO) had issued a notice to him on the tweets.

Read full story here.

Apple gives a Lightning reply to the European Commission, indirectly says no Type-C port for 2020 iPhones

The European Commission has been trying to make all tech companies adopt a single charging method to reduce e-waste since years. And while most brands are now using Type-C chargers for their handsets, Apple is the only major brand that is in the limelight for its Lightning Cable.

Read full story here.

Eyebrow Extensions:The brand new 2020 eyebrow trend

The internet is obsessed with the perfect eyebrows, whether it be the Kim Kardashian brow arch, Cara Delevingnes full structured brows, or Lily Colins bushy brows, people spend enormous amounts of money to replicate these iconic brows.

Read full story here.

India vs New Zealand: Id like to see that - Irfan Pathan suggests new role for Rishabh Pant in Indian team

Former India allrounder Irfan Pathan on Friday said that India should continue to persist with Rishabh Pant in the team, despite the sudden rise of KL Rahul as wicketkeeper.

Read full story here.
UV Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd has made the highest bid of Rs 16,000 crore to buy Anil Ambani groups Reliance Communications and Reliance Telecom, which are in the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). Last year it was the highest bidder for taking over Aircels assets for an upfront payment of Rs 150 crore.

Surajeet Das Gupta and Dev Chatterjee dig deeper to find out more about this little known company.

Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com.

A low-profile Delhi company has become a major player in bidding for distressed telecom assets that have ended up in insolvency litigation because of the cut-throat price wars unleashed by Reliance Jio.

Last Monday, UV Asset Reconstruction Company Ltd (UVARCL) is believed to have made the highest bid of Rs 16,000 crore to buy two companies, Reliance Communications (RCom) and Reliance Telecom, which are in the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). They house the spectrum, enterprise, data centre, and real estate assets of the Anil Ambani group.

UVARCL is willing to pay 30 per cent of the bid upfront in 90 days.

Last year, it was the highest bidder for taking over Aircels assets for an upfront payment of Rs 150 crore. Even here the plan was to sell its assets and recover value, especially as banks had outstanding dues of Rs 20,000 crore.

But according to bankers, UVARCL is waiting to take a final call on the Aircel sale as this would mean a haircut to banks of 99 per cent.

Set up in 2007, the companys website says it was set up by professionals with equity participation from six PSU banks and two insurance companies. These include the Bank of Maharashtra, Union Bank of India, Bank of India, Central Bank of India, United Bank of India, and Allahabad Bank as well as United and National Insurance.

However, a closer look at the shareholding in its annual report of March FY 19 shows that the largest shareholder is one Shilpi Sharma, who is also a promoter with a 35.47 per cent stake. The banks together have a mere 7.7 per cent and the insurance companies only around 0.52 per cent.

Except for the Central Bank of India which holds 5.4 per cent, none of the banks or insurance companies is among the top 10 investors. A detailed questionnaire to Sharma on the company did not elicit any response.

So who is Sharma? Those familiar with her career say she is a chartered financial analyst who used to help companies raise syndicated loans before she set up UVARCL with the help of PSU banks.

She is also the executive vice chairman of the board and also, according to the website, a whole time director. It further adds that she ran her own advisory firm to advise clients across industries on diversified regulatory and compliance matters relating to banking, finance and capital markets, among other things.

UVARCL is among the top 10 asset reconstruction companies in the country in terms of book building, with a CAGR of 109 per cent over the last three years. Its board comprises experienced executives who have worked mostly in PSU banks as well as the Reserve Bank of India.

Based on ROC data, the company says that in order to gain business, it acquired financial assets of Rs 410.68 crore in 2018-19 through bids and bilateral deals with banks and NBFCs and resolved financial assets of Rs 178.58 crore, taking the outstanding total financial assets to Rs 100.46 crore.

The assets listed in its annual report of 2017-18 are concentrated in the infrastructure sector (53.68 per cent in value), followed by food processing (9.44 per cent) and steel (5.53 per cent).

In 2018-19, UVARCL made an income of Rs 36 crore, thats an increase of 121 per cent over the previous year, and its profit before tax soared by 134 per cent to Rs 13 crore. Its net worth in March 2019 stood at Rs 120 crore and it gave a dividend of Re 0.50 per share.

Yet, according to ROC filings in FY19, the indebtedness of the company went up from Rs 88 crore in the beginning of the financial year to Rs 150 crore at the end.

Will UVARCLs bid for the Anil Ambani companies be accepted by the banks who are part of the Committee of Creditors?

Sbi

All about UVARCL Set up in 2007, UV Asset Reconstruction Company Limited (UVARCL) claims to be among Indias top 10 ARCs in terms of book building

Its largest shareholder and promoter is Shilpi Sharma, (pictured) who owns 35.47% of the company. She is also executive vice chairman and whole-time director

Six PSBs and two insurance companies together hold 8.22% stake

Other key investors are Anubhav Securities, Anubhav Buildtech, and Sanmati Trading and Investment, each holding 9.17%

The firm has bid for stressed telecom companies such as RCom, Reliance Telecom, and Aircel

The ARC saw its income go up by 121% and profit before tax by 134% in FY19 over the previous year

Even the payment for the RCom offer is based on deferred payments which may not be accepted, said one banker.

He pointed out that the low upfront money offered by UVARCL was one reason why the Aircel debt resolution has not been cleared. With the banks not getting much upfront cash as against the admitted claims of Rs 47,000 crore, getting the RCom deal to go through the respective bank boards will be difficult.

Even if the deal goes through, telecom analysts say it is unclear whether UVARCL will tie up with a telecom company which will use the spectrum housed in the two companies since the sharing and trading of spectrum is only allowed for the period of the licence.

RCom already has a spectrum sharing agreement with Reliance Jio for the latter to use the bulk of RComs valuable 800 Mhz spectrum which is key to 4G services.

A question sent to UVARCL on whether it plans to tie up with a telco also went unanswered.

In the same IBC process, Reliance Jio has offered to buy Reliance Infratel, which houses tower and fibre assets, for Rs 4700 crore.

But analysts say that if Reliance Jio were to bid for RCom, the rules require that it merge a non-listed Jio into the listed entity of RCom.

With Jio planning a mega public issue, that is clearly not possible.

Surajeet Das Gupta and Dev Chatterjee are journalists with Business Standard. They can be contacted at money@rediff.co.in.
Is it possible for a court to stop ongoing violence aimed at genocide?

A group of international lawyers believes it is, and that in persuading the UN's top court to act, they may have saved thousands of lives.

The genocide accusation brought forward by Gambia against Myanmar is still far from settled. But on Thursday, the International Court of Justice in The Hague ordered Myanmar and its leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, to do everything possible to protect Rohingya Muslims remaining in the country until the bigger question is settled.

To Myanmar's many critics, the unanimous court decision is a flicker of the official rebuke the country has long deserved for its treatment of Rohingya people.

It's an embarrassment for Suu Kyi. But in the ICJ's public takedown of her best arguments against accusations of genocide, lawyers and advocates also see another glimmer: a possible turn for the moribund international justice system.

"Today is a historic day for international justice," says Payam Akhavan, a Canadian professor at Montreal's McGill University and a lawyer with the team representing Gambia.

"To their credit, the judges rose to the occasion  and if [Thursday's] order can buy a measure of protection for the 600,000 Rohingya that remain in that country and prevent further atrocities against them, I think this effort will have been very well worth all the trouble that it has taken."

Rare unanimous decision

The ICJ, which resolves disputes between states, isn't used to hearing about accusations of systematic sexual assault and murder and alleged attempts to destroy a people. Nor is it accustomed to the kind of spectacle unleashed when Suu Kyi decided to come, in the flesh, to the hearing back in December to defend her country against such accusations.

Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fled Myanmar after a military-led crackdown in 2017 that Human Rights Watch characterized as a "campaign of ethnic cleansing." UN investigators concluded that the military campaign had been executed with "genocidal intent."

Story continues

Six weeks after hearing Gambia's argument for "provisional measures" to protect Rohingya still in Myanmar, the court was of the opinion that they do "remain extremely vulnerable."

The judgment, read by court president Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf, poked holes in Suu Kyi's repeated argument that the violence in Rakhine state amounted to an internal conflict with an armed Rohingya group.

Eva Plevier/Reuters

"Irrespective of the situation that the Myanmar government is facing in Rakhine state," the court noted, "Myanmar remains under the obligation incumbent upon it as a state party to the Genocide Convention."

All 17 judges unanimously agreed Myanmar must protect Rohingya Muslims against genocidal acts, and exceeded Gambia's requests by requiring a check-in report from Myanmar every six months until the case is resolved.

Such unanimity is exceedingly rare. Such decisions by an international court even more so.

"More recently, international justice has suffered a few setbacks," Gambia's justice minister, Abubacarr Tambadou, said following the ruling. "I think [the decision] is a huge boost for international law and international justice."

'Moral courage, vision and leadership'

The order is legally binding, but the court has no way to enforce the decision, short of reporting its decision to the Security Council. But the top UN body has failed to act on Myanmar in the past.

Advocates still believe that Suu Kyi and her government, keen on international investment, will seek to comply.

A UN fact-finding mission concluded that Myanmar's military acted with "genocidal intent" in Rakhine state, and the UN General Assembly passed a resolution late last month condemning Myanmar for human rights abuses.

Ann Wang/Reuters

Yet Myanmar has largely avoided international action thanks in part to China, which opposed referring the case to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The presentation of the case to the ICJ was an attempt to work around the inertia  though the ICC has now opened an investigation into the matter.

Thursday's decision quoted extensively from both the UN assembly resolution and the UN fact-finding mission report, which was also heartening to international justice advocates.

"The international justice road ahead is long," said Pam Singh, a Canadian with the international justice program at Human Rights Watch. For now, she adds, the order "offers a much-needed reminder of what international justice can deliver when a country like Gambia shows moral courage, vision and leadership."

Canada urges Myanmar to comply

Myanmar has always denied persecuting Rohingya or committing anything resembling genocide.

Suu Kyi, once a human rights icon, has been roundly criticized for failing to stand up for Rohingya people. Among other things, the Nobel laureate was stripped of her honorary Canadian citizenship. Canada's Parliament was the first to declare what happened in Rakhine state a "genocide."

Suu Kyi published a letter in the Financial Times on Thursday quoting her own government's investigation, which concluded there was no evidence of genocide. It did, however, indicate there is some evidence of possible war crimes.

She also cautioned against the international court's reliance on the UN fact-finding mission, which in turn relied on testimony from refugees which her government's investigation says may be "inaccurate."

She said Myanmar has been condemned "on unproven statements without the due process of criminal investigation."

Myanmar can only deal with any violations "if adequate time is given for domestic justice to run its course," she added.

A release from Myanmar's foreign ministry was more blunt, blaming Myanmar's accusers for presenting a "distorted picture of the situation in Rakhine, and [affecting] Myanmar's bilateral relations with several countries."

Francois-Philippe Champagne, Canada's foreign affairs minister, urged Myanmar to comply with the court's ruling. As did Tambadou, who said the decision presented an opportunity to Myanmar for a change in course.

For the more than 700,000 Rohingya displaced over the border in Bangladesh, the ruling changes nothing. Many of them nonetheless tuned in on radios and phones to hear the proceedings. Among the most persecuted people in the world, there were many who took heart.

"It has been a very, very painful journey for us to get here," said Yasmin Ullah, a Canadian Rohingya activist who was in the court at The Hague. Despite the failings of the international justice system, she added, "we got here  and that says something about the resilience of our people."
Customs agents in Cincinnati announced the seizure of approximately 3,700 mitten crabs from several shipments that were being transported to the United States from China and Hong Kong. (CBP)

Customs Agents Seize 3,700 Invasive Mitten Crabs From China, Hong Kong

Customs agents in Cincinnati announced the seizure of approximately 3,700 mitten crabs from several shipments that were being transported to the United States from China and Hong Kong

In a news release from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the live crabs were shipped falsely as tools and various clothing articles.

About 3,400 pounds of crabs were discovered in 51 shipments over the past four months, the agency said.

The shipments originated in China and Hong Kong and were destined for residences and businesses in multiple U.S. states, although most were headed to New York, the CBP wrote.

Chinese mitten crab. (Fish and Wildlife Service/Maryland Department of Natural Resources)

The crabs were described as a seasonal delicacy in Asia and can be sold for as much as $50 in the United States, said the agency.

However, the CPB noted that they are among the worst invasive species on earth and have have been found in California waterways, the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays, and the Hudson River. They have had a disastrous impact on native habitats, according to the news release.

During fall months they are imported from Asia through U.S. international express and mail facilities while it is illegal to import mitten crabs and other injurious wildlife into the United States without a permit as specified in the Federal Lacey Act, the agency noted.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture lists mitten crabs, which are also known as the Chinese mitten crab, as an invasive species.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in a report (pdf), Chinese mitten crab cause a number of problems in their introduced range. They may outcompete native crab, mussels, and crayfish for food and space. Their voracious appetites can completely alter the aquatic food chain and cause a general decline in the species it competes with and/or consumes.

The crabs were introduced into the BayDelta in the late 1980s or early 1990s before the peak population was reached in 1998, according to the FWSs website.

The CBPs news release said that some 15,000 mitten crabs were intercepted at ports of entry since September 2019. The Port of Cincinnati, meanwhile, experienced the overall highest volume of smuggled animals, while the Los Angeles Port of Entry was second.

As a unified border agency, CBP is committed to a fully integrated approach toward international security, said Cincinnati CBP Supervisory Agriculture Specialist Barbara Hassan in a statement. In this case, we worked closely with FWS to stop a serious threat to our economy and ecology.
Ghaziabad Police has registered FIRs against owners of five private security firms as they could not produce licenses for running their business, an official said on Friday.

Following the instructions of Additional Director General (law), a cell was constituted under the Private Security Agencies Regulation Act (PSARA) to monitor the private security firms, he said.

Senior Superintendent of Police Kalanidhi Naithani told PTI that the owners of the security agencies were asked to produce their licenses by January 13 and five of them have not submitted the documents till date.

Orders have been issued to Sihani's Station House Officer (SHO) for registering FIRs under the PSARA Act and Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code against Nitin Jain, Rajiv kumar, Supriya Katiyar, Vinod Tyagi and D N Pathak, the SSP added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
'You cannot support CAA and simultaneously say there will be no NRC in Bihar.'

'If Akali Dal has a clear-cut point of view on this issue, I want the same from the JD-U.'

IMAGE: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at an event in Patna, January 20, 2020. Photograph: PTI Photo

Senior Janata Dal-United leader and retired diplomat Ambassador Pavan Varma raised eyebrows on Tuesday, January 20, when in a letter he questioned Bihar Chief Minister and JD-U President Nitish Kumar on the party's stand on the Citizenship Amendment Act, National Population Register and National Register of Citizens.

Ambassador Varma's letter to Nitish Kumar came soon after the JD-U announced its alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party for the Delhi elections, for which it has been allotted two seats.

In his letter, Ambassador Varma said there was no room for double standards. In an interview to Rediff.com's Syed Firdaus Ashraf, Ambassador Varma says he is still waiting for the CM's reply.

"The party must clarify its ideological stand before taking an ad hoc measure of extending its alliance further with the BJP, merely because there is an opportunity of contesting two seats in Delhi," says Ambassador Varma.

Have you fallen out with Nitish Kumar? Are you in or out of the JD-U?

I have my point of view on specific issues. I took them up within the party forum.

On the Citizenship Bill (now Citizenship Amendment Act), I spoke to Nitish Kumar and advised against supporting it (in Parliament).

My views were not taken into cognisance and the party supported the bill in the Lok Sabha.

Subsequently, in a public tweet, I requested Nitish Kumar not to support this bill in the Rajya Sabha. That was also not adhered too.

But subsequently Nitish Kumar did say there will be no NRC in Bihar.

Later, he added there can be a further discussion on the CAA and NPR, without clarifying his position.

However, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi (of the BJP) unilaterally announced the dates for the NPR in Bihar.

In the light of all this, when we (the JD-U) extended our alliance with the BJP for the first time in recent years beyond Bihar to Delhi, I sought ideological clarity on our stand vis-a-vis these issues and directions in accordance with which we are aligned with the BJP.

I have written a public letter on this basis to Mr Nitish Kumar. I will wait for his response and then decide what my future course of action will be.

What are the differences between you and Nitish Kumar?

Right now, it is issue-based endeavour on my part. I have not made personal allegations against Nitish Kumar.

I have not said I am not a member of the JD-U. As an office-bearer and functionary of the JD-U, I have raised these issues with the national president of the party, which I believe are important because this party has always claimed to be an ideology-based party.

It draws inspiration from leaders like Mahatama Gandhi, Jayaprakash Narayan and Ram Manohar Lohia, who had a chiselled ideological point of view.

Therefore, I have sought from the party ideological clarity before it proceeds further and expands its alliance with the BJP beyond Bihar.

What exactly is Nitish Kumar up to? Some say he is running with the hares and hunting with the hounds.

He has to issue a detailed statement, clarifying the party's stand on the entire CAA/NPR/NRC issue.

You cannot support the CAA and simultaneously say there will be no NRC in Bihar because (Union Home Minister) Amit (Anilchandra) Shah on nine occasions -- including on the floor of Parliament -- has hyphenated the CAA with the NRC.

If that is the case, what is the position of the JD-U?

The oldest ally of the BJP -- the Akali Dal -- has also taken an ideological point of view, saying it cannot enter into an alliance with the BJP due to differences on the CAA.

If the Akali Dal has a clear-cut ideological point of view on this issue, I want the same from the JD-U.

But Nitish Kumar is the only BJP ally who has said his government will not implement the NRC and the BJP is okay with it. Home Minister Shah even announced that Nitish will be the face of the alliance in the Bihar election.

That is a very fine gesture on the part of Amit Shah when the alliance was limited to Bihar.

Now when you extend the alliance beyond Bihar, then the party has to be absolutely clear on what aspects does it agree or disagree with its principal alliance partner. It is not clear.

What makes Nitish Kumar so valuable to the BJP?

It is a long-standing alliance. The BJP, in my view, especially after what happened in Maharashtra and now what has happened with the Akali Dal on CAA, would like to fight elections without losing another ally.

But it is incumbent upon the JD-U to spell out its ideological line clearly, otherwise you are taking ad hoc decisions of a political nature depending on the opportunity for short-term purposes without a larger ideological frame-work.

Does ideology matter in today's politics, as everyone seems to be out there only to grab power?

Nitish Kumar should reply to my letter and say if he so wishes that ideology does not matter and we are in alliance with the BJP to win elections.

The protests against the CAA are mostly by Muslims. Prime Minster Narendra Damodardas Modi said that the protesters can be identified by their clothes.

In my view it is not true. There are people of all religions joining the protests.

In some areas there must be preponderance of Muslims, but even in Shaheen Bagh, a langar is being run by the Sikhs.

Let us be clear, the anti-CAA protest is an Indian protest and not a Muslim protest.

Muslims are reading the Preamble of the Constitution and singing the national anthem during the protests. They are not carrying the Quran, but a copy of the Constitution.

You may agree or disagree with the BJP, but at least they have an ideological clarity as to what they wish to pursue -- like the CAA and NRC.

I want the same ideological clarity within the JD-U. I want to know to what extent we agree with the BJP and where do we disagree with them.

Is there a possibility of the JD-U breaking away from the BJP ahead of the 2024 election and crossing over to the other side?

I am not an astrologer, but I know that from 2013 onwards -- when Nitish broke up with the BJP -- up to 2017 -- when he returned -- he was the most trenchant critic of the BJP and the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh).

He even called for an RSS-mukt Bharat. He said 'main mitti mein mil jaoonga, par inkey saath kabhi nahi jaaonga (I will be ruined, but won't ever go with them again)'.

Now he is with them, but he has differences on many issues like Article 370 and the nature of the law against instant triple talaq and NRC.

So the party must clarify its ideological stand before taking an ad hoc measure of extending its alliance further with the BJP, merely because there is an opportunity of contesting two seats in Delhi.

Two seats are too few. Isn't it humiliating?

(Laughs) The Akali Dal has said no to an alliance with the BJP (for the Delhi elections).
One of the issues facing mothers of young children can often involve daycare  where to keep their children while theyre at work. This is no different for teachers.

Tomball ISD Superintendent Martha Salazar-Zamora noted that a few years ago, TISD had many new mothers who didnt come back to work for the district.

When we went to find out why is it that theyre not coming back, one of the recurring themes was that good childcare was hard to find, Salazar-Zamora said.

That was the impetus behind the creation of the Tomball ISD Early Excellence Academy, a daycare alternative for TISD employees who dont want to have to worry about the cost of childcare.

It started the idea of having an in-district childcare facility, Salazar-Zamora said. I didnt dream that the first year would be so amazingly successful.

RELATED: Tomball ISD Academy of Energy and International Business to open at BJ Services headquarters next year

Megan Parker, the director of the Early Excellence Academy, said the dream for the academy started on scribbled notecards written in by employees for a childcare program.

With innovative thinking, exceptional district leadership and collaborative planning, this scribble became a plan, and the plan has since evolved into the current reality, Parker said.

The facility, located on Tomball High Schools campus, is open to the children and grandchildren of full-time TISD employees for children ages 2 to 5.

TISD originally opened the academy to provide a strong foundation of literacy to best equip students for kindergarten, Parker said, but the vision evolved, morphing the academy from a daycare to an early education center.

RELATED: TISD sets new elementary zoning boundaries

As a center, we partner with families to build a supportive environment where our children discover and build new relationships, new ideas, construct knowledge, cultivate the joy of learning through hands-on learning and real-world application, Parker said. Students enter our center and they know they belong.

The curriculum at the academy covers cognitive skills and communication, as well as social, emotional and motor skills.

Due to the academys substantial growth since it opened in August, Parker said the center expanded to four classrooms, a language lab, a media center, a movement space, an outdoor learning area and they have added an additional teacher, a health professional and two custodians.

Students enrolled in career and technical education programs at TISD can also help at the center through the districts education program, acting as interns helping the children build confidence and competence.

Parker said she and her staff are reminded daily of the impact the program has had on their students.

The students are their everyday heroes as they gain and apply the skills needed for independence, Parker said. We celebrate when your 2-year-olds can independently open their milk cartons or packed utensils In a sense, we celebrate our childrens heroic efforts in acquiring and applying lifes most basic skillsets.

Parker added that EEA has been given a perfect score by the Texas Health and Human Services Childcare licensing division, and they are now a licensed center and can pursue national accreditation in early education.

paul.wedding@hcnonline.com
A middle school librarian who was accused of sexual conduct with a 14-year-old student was sentenced Friday to three years in state prison after admitting to an official misconduct charge.

Kimberly Pinkham, 38, of Mullica Hill, who worked as a library/media specialist in the Kingsway Regional School District in Gloucester County, pleaded guilty plea in December.

Prosecutors accused her of forming an inappropriate instructor/student relationship where she engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with the student both during school hours and after.

When asked by Superior Court Judge Robert Becker Jr. if she had anything to say before sentencing Friday, Pinkham responded, Just that I deeply regret my actions, your honor.

She offered no additional comment.

Prosecutors previously described an incident in which Pinkham was found with the student in the school media room with the lights off. They were laying on the floor and looking at each other, Assistant Prosecutor Elizabeth Tornese said during a September hearing. She and the student had been spending a lot of time together outside of school, authoriteis said.

Pinkham displayed photos of the student on her desk and called him her hot boyfriend in text messages, authorities said.

A review of text messages between the librarian and student indicated an inappropriate, possibly sexual relationship, Tornese said, adding that prosecutors didnt have evidence of a sexual assault.

Pinkham was suspended in February 2019, charged in May and later resigned from her job.

She was indicted in September on a second-degree charge of official misconduct and third-degree charge of endangering/sexual conduct with a child. The endangering charge was dismissed under the plea deal.

In reviewing sentencing factors, Becker noted that she had no prior criminal record.

Under terms of the plea, the judge sentenced her to three years in prison, with a requirement that she serve at least two years before she is eligible for parole.

Pinkham agreed to surrender her teaching certificate as part of the plea.

Following sentencing, she was led out of the courtroom by sheriffs officers.

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
WASHINGTON - For a few gripping minutes, Rep. Adam Schiff, the lead impeachment prosecutor against President Donald Trump, had made the restless Senate snap to attention.

Voice cracking as he spoke, Schiff made an impassioned plea late Thursday for removing Trump from office, framing the choice in moral terms. If right doesnt matter, were lost, he said.

You know you cant trust this president do whats right for this country, Schiff said. You can trust he will do whats right for Donald Trump. Hell do it now. Hes done it before. Hell do it for the next several months, hell do it in the election if hes allowed to. This is why if you find him guilty you must find that he should be removed. Because right matters.

Reactions to the speech were as divided as the country. Democrats gushed, tweeting glowing words about the California Democrats rousing late-night speech. Republicans said they were unconvinced, and strenuously rejected the idea that Trump cant be trusted.

Still, even some Republicans gave Schiff grudging respect for the skill of his arguments.

I thought he was passionate and his case has been well articulated, said South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Senate Republican. Still, he added, in the end its all going to come down to the facts, the law and the what people think is the threshold for whats an impeachable offence.

Schiff is unlikely to win over enough GOP senators to convict Trump, as most are solidly supporting the president. But for his articulate presentations to the Senate he has won praise from some senators like South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, who shook his hand and told him he was doing a good job after the first day of House arguments.

Schiff is the face of the Houses impeachment case against Trump, which has made him the principal target of Trumps ire. Though he has six managers by his side, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed Schiff, her confidant, as the lead impeachment manager. He is setting the tone of the prosecutions case, working methodically to convince even his most ardent detractors that Trump deserves to be removed from office.

In a way I do feel like Im introducing myself to a number of the senators, Schiff said in an interview with The Associated Press before arguments resumed on Thursday. He said many of them are familiar only with conservative criticism of him, and they are finding Im not the demon that Im portrayed as on Fox.

Schiff said he wishes that the Graham exchange wasnt caught on camera, because it was nice to have a private moment. And I dont want to discourage that kind of thing. But I very much appreciated his comments.

Though Graham has ridiculed the case against the Republican president and heaped scorn on Democrats like Schiff, he said on Thursday he believes the California Democrat is well spoken and did a good job of creating a tapestry, taking bits and pieces of evidence and emails and giving a rhetorical flourish ... sometimes effectively, sometimes a little over the top.

Other Republicans had similar words. Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt said the Democrats had admirable presentations, even though he found them repetitive and said he didnt learn much new. Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst says shes not a fan of Schiff, but believes he has been presenting a calm, level case against the president.

Graham, who was an impeachment manager himself in President Bill Clintons 1999 trial, again complimented the House impeachment managers Friday on the way they have conducted themselves, but said he was less impressed with Schiffs closing speech on Thursday evening.

He told me that I have to get rid of this president now, because I cant trust him to do whats best for the country because hell only do whats best for Donald Trump, Graham said. That decision needs to be made by the voters.

Schiff, who represents parts of Hollywood, has been a frequent target of conservatives since the then GOP-led House Intelligence Committee started investigating Trumps ties to Russia in the 2016 election. He was frequently on television questioning Trumps actions.

The criticism intensified, though, when Democrats took the House majority in early 2019 and he became chairman of the intelligence panel. And it reached a full-on roar as he took charge of the impeachment investigation of Trumps dealings with Ukraine last fall.

Trump has trained his ire on the congressman on Twitter and elsewhere, alternatively calling him shifty, sleazy, and liddle. He has also turned his name into a vulgarity, occasionally calling him Schitt on Twitter, and dubbed him pencil neck at a campaign rally. Trump tweeted about Schiff only a handful of times in 2017 and 2018, but hundreds of times since Democrats gained the House majority.

In contrast to the president, Schiff has tried to set a non-combative tone on the Senate floor, with conciliatory words to the Senate. He said at the start of his arguments on Wednesday that he was deeply grateful for their attention and understands that its hard to sit and listen four hours on end.

His appeals came hours after Chief Justice John Roberts, who is presiding, admonished both the House managers and Trumps defence team for using language that is not conducive to civil discourse.

Roberts comments came around 1 a.m. Wednesday after another impeachment manager, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, charged that the White House lawyers were lying and that GOP senators votes against witnesses were treacherous. Trumps defence team responded that Nadler should apologize to the president and the American people.

The next morning, before the trial resumed, the impeachment managers gathered for a news conference. When asked about Roberts comments, Schiff was the only one who spoke. Youre going to have tempers flare when trials go into the wee hours, Schiff said, and that happens in every courtroom in America.

But we are going to try to keep focused on the facts, Schiff said. The presidents team would like nothing more than to provoke a bitter conflict.

Schiff told The AP on Thursday that when talking on the Senate floor, he is trying not to make the case personal and he wants to show respect for the senators and for the chief justice, present the evidence, make the appeals to have a fair trial, and thats the best I can do.

His House GOP colleagues were less complimentary than the senators.

I dont agree with Lindsey Grahams analysis that theyre doing a good job, said North Carolina Rep. Mark Meadows, one of several Republican House members who are consulting with the White House lawyers. Ive had to look in the cabinet for a bottle of No-Doz. When you look at Adam Schiffs performance, I think what we all have come to understand is, thats exactly what it is, its a performance.

Senate Democrats, on the other hand, have been thrilled. Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow said Thursday evening that I think you could have heard a pin drop when Schiff gave his closing speech.

Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy tweeted that senators leaving for the night were awestruck.

___

Associated Press writers Alan Fram and Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.
New Delhi, Jan 24 : The upcoming Union Budget should come up with business-friendly policies for the gems and jewellery industry, according to Shailen Mehta, Co-founder of eJOHRI, an onmichannel jewellery startup.

The e-commerce segment requires policies and regulations to benefit the overall jewellery industry along with the consumers, he added.

"We believe if the industry receives adequate support from the government in the upcoming budget with policies that are business-friendly for the sector, sentiments will change for the better. With online shopping increasing by the day, the government should come out with suitable policies in the e-commerce sector which would benefit the consumers and in turn the jewellery industry," Mehta said.

Noting that the gems and jewellery industry is one of the most evolving and thriving industries in India as well as one of the major contributors towards the economy, he also said that the the past year was not a good one for it with many losing their jobs due to the challenging times and insecurity prevailing in the sector.

On the company's plans for the year ahead, he said that the online platform would look to "aggressively" expand its operations.

"eJOHRI has been able to have more than 20,000 products (on the platform) in the last six months. In the next six months we will grow this to 50,000 products," Mehta said.

He said that the the immediate strategy of the company is to get more jewellers on board and more strategic decisions may follow during Diwali this year.

Last month the Mumbai-based startup had announced that it raised $1 Mn funding led by London-based investor Rajesh Ranavat alongside other investors in a Pre-Series A round.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate in Delhi elections, Kapil Mishra, has refused to take back his tweets on Delhi Assembly elections, where he called the electoral contest as a match between India and Pakistan. The Returning Officer (RO) had issued a notice to him on the tweets.

I received a notice from Election Commission last night, Ill give my reply today. I dont think I said anything wrong. Speaking truth is not a crime in this country. I spoke the truth. I stand by my statement, Mishra said, according to news agency ANI.

Roads are encroached upon in Shaheen Bagh, people arent being allowed to go to schools, offices, hospitals, inciting slogans are being raised. The shamelessness with which Manish Sisodia said he stands with Shaheen Bagh means that this is a political movement, ANI further quoted Mishra as saying.

He is the BJP candidate from Model Town in north Delhi.

In its notice to Mishra, the RO had said Clause 1(1) of the Model Code of Conduct stipulates that no party or candidate shall include in any activity which may aggravate existing differences or create mutual hatred or cause tension between different castes and communities, religion or linguistic.

It further said that Mishras act violates the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct and the same is punishable under law; he has been asked to explain why action should not be initiated against him.

Mishra had said in the tweet that the assembly elections on February 8 will be like an India-Pakistan match.









8 





8              Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishra_IND) January 23, 2020

He had further explained his tweets and claimed that the protest against citizenship law in Shaheen Bagh is Pakistan sponsored. Pakistan has entered Shaheen Bagh. Mini Pakistans are being created in Delhi. The Indian law is not followed in areas like Shaheen Bagh, Chand Bagh and Inderlok. Pakistani hooligans have captured the streets of Delhi, Mishra said in his tweet posted in Hindi on Thursday.









8 





8              Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishra_IND) January 23, 2020

AAP and Congress have created these mini-Pakistans, like the one in Shaheen Bagh. They will get the answer from India on February 8. Whenever seditious people create a Pakistan in India, they will come face-to-face with patriotic Indians, Mishra furth said on Twitter.

Mishra was removed as minister by Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal in 2017. Last year, he was also disqualified as AAP lawmaker under the anti-defection law.

He joined the BJP in August last year.
Baby boomers are such a large group that you can find them practically everywhere in great numbers, including in urban areas. Today in cities, for example, youre more likely to run into a 54-to-72-year-old with your bike or scooter (please be careful!) than you would have in the past.

Maybe thats the reason many news media accounts have promoted the idea that boomers are returning to cities at a rapid rate.

It seems to make sense. Many downtowns are safer and livelier than they were 30 years ago. At a certain point, downsizing and moving back to the city has appeal  its closer to work and all those interesting things to do, and the children might have finally left the nest.

Theres one problem. The story line is wrong: Boomers today are actually less urban than previous generations of older people.
A group of Third Ward residents last month dropped a lawsuit targeting the smoke emanating from the Turkey Leg Huts outdoor cookers. The restaurant, however, continues to face scrutiny for its pungent haze.

Inspectors with the Houston Health Department issued 28 citations to the popular eatery between August and November last year for nuisance violations related to the smoke, according to documents obtained by the Houston Chronicle in an open records request. Ten residents also continue to file formal complaints about the smoke, according to health department spokesman Scott Packard.

Its out of the ordinary to have so many complaints or citations associated with a single business or facility or issue, Packard said.

The tickets are currently pending in Houston Municipal Court. The citations could result in a fine up to $2,000 each. Hearings have been scheduled for February and March, but the restaurant hopes before then to fix the issue .

Sherrie Handrinos, a spokeswoman for the restaurant, said the Turkey Leg Hut owners have been working since August to create an enclosure and filtration system around the smoking pits behind the building. They already have approval from the city and hope to complete the project by February.

We have always and will continue to work diligently to be in compliance and to be good neighbors, Handrinos said.

The citys health department in February 2019 started receiving environmental health complaints about the restaurant, Packard said. Since then, 10 people have filed 130 formal environmental health complaints, either by calling 311 or the health department directly, he said. Those complaints led to the citations, he added.

Packard said he could not identify the people who complained, so its unclear whether they were the same neighbors who brought the lawsuit.

The lawsuit, filed Nov. 20 on behalf of six residents, argued that the smoke gave way to unhealthy air pollutants that harm people in the neighborhood.

At the time, Turkey Leg Hut and its supporters cast the complaint as a thinly veiled attempt by colonizers and gentrifiers to force the bustling black-owned restaurant out of the neighborhood. Plaintiffs denied that claim, saying they all lived in the area before the restaurant opened there in 2017.

The eatery is located at 4830 Almeda in the old Third Ward, a historically black neighborhood that has seen soaring home values in recent years, largely because of its proximity to downtown and an influx of townhome developers. The restaurants popularity among residents and high-profile patrons amplified racial tension surrounding the litigation.

The plaintiffs  who were Asian, black, Hispanic and white  agreed on Dec. 9 to dismiss the lawsuit without prejudice . Ten days later, the Houston Planning Commission approved a replat of the restaurants outdoor cooking space - a key step toward constructing the enclosure, according to Anna Sedillo, a spokeswoman for Houstons Planning and Development Department.

Sedillo said the restaurant still needs the appropriate permits from the public works department. Turkey Leg Hut representatives also need to file the replat approval with the county, she said.

Handrinos said they have been working through the process.

We are unable to move forward until all aspects have been approved for this effort, Handrinos said. We have communicated to the neighbors attorney in December of 2019 our estimated timeline and outlined plans to resolve this as efficiently as possible."

Through a spokesperson, Mayor Sylvester Turner issued a statement about the ongoing struggle, expressing support for both small businesses and the neighborhoods quality of life.

As a city, we will remain diligent in enforcing code violations throughout our jurisdiction, according to the statement. The Third Ward community and Turkey Leg owners are attempting to work together amicably to address complaints and resolve outstanding issues. The Mayor supports an outcome that will allow the residents and business owners to peacefully and successfully coexist."

Jasper Scherer contributed to this report.

julian.gill@chron.com
A recording appears to reveal President Trump telling associates to fire former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch during a private dinner, ABC News reported on Friday.

The recording was reportedly made by Igor Fruman, a business associate of Lev Parnas and one of Trump lawyer Rudy Giulianis main contacts in Ukraine. Fruman made the recording at an April 30, 2018 dinner at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., which was attended by Parnas and Trump. The identities of other people present for the conversation were not immediately clear.

Get rid of her! says a voice on the recording that likely belongs to Trump. Get her out tomorrow. I dont care. Get her out tomorrow. Take her out. Okay? Do it.

Trump made the remarks after Parnas and Fruman apparently said that then-ambassador Yovanovitch was bad-mouthing him.

The biggest problem there, I think where we need to start is we gotta get rid of the ambassador. Shes still left over from the Clinton administration, Parnas appears to say (Yovanovitch in fact had served since the Reagan administration). Shes basically walking around telling everybody wait, hes gonna get impeached, just wait.'

A copy of the recording was handed over to federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York.

Every President in our history has had the right to place people who support his agenda and his policies within his Administration, the White House said in a statement regarding the recording.

Yovanovitch was not fired until a year later, in May 2019. The former ambassador testified in House impeachment hearings that Parnas and Fruman were trying to oust her because they wanted to have business dealings in Ukraine, or additional business dealings.

Parnas, Fruman and Giuliani had coordinated some of their efforts with former top Ukraine prosecutor Yuriy Lutsenko. Lutsenko reportedly offered Parnas damaging information on Joe and Hunter Biden, if Parnas would work to oust Yovanovitch. The former ambassador had been critical of Lutsenko, while Lutsenko disliked her support for a semi-independent anti-corruption organization based in Ukraine.

Story continues

President Trump is currently the subject of a Senate impeachment trial over allegations he withheld military aid from Ukraine to pressure the country to investigate corruption allegations against Joe and Hunter Biden.

More from National Review
(CNN) -- Thirty-four US service members have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries following the Iranian missile attack on US forces in Iraq earlier this month, Pentagon spokesman Jonathon Hoffman said Friday.

Seventeen service members who were injured have since returned to duty in Iraq, sixteen of whom were treated locally in the country.

Nine service members are still being treated in Germany. An additional eight service members who had been flown to Germany have since been sent to the United States for additional treatment. The eight service members, who arrived in the US Friday morning, will be treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center or at hospitals in their home bases.

Although traumatic brain injuries are not always apparent immediately after they've been suffered, the disclosure of injured US service members indicates that the impact of the attack was more serious than initial assessments indicated.

The Pentagon and President Donald Trump had initially said no service members were injured or killed in the January 8 Iranian missile attack, which was retaliation for the January 2 US drone strike that killed a top Iranian general.

Hoffman said Friday that the Defense Department will review its processes for tracking and reporting injuries suffered by service members.

"The goal is to be as transparent, accurate and to provide the American people and our service members with the best information about the tremendous sacrifices our war fighters make," Hoffman told reporters Friday.

Earlier this week President Donald Trump said he does not consider potential brain injuries to be as serious as physical combat wounds, downplaying the severity of the injuries suffered in Iraq.

During the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump was asked to explain the discrepancy between his previous comments that no US service member was harmed in the January 8 Iranian missile attack on Al-Asad airbase in Iraq, and the latest reports of US troops being treated for injuries sustained in that attack.

"No, I heard that they had headaches, and a couple of other things, but I would say, and I can report, it's not very serious," Trump replied during a news conference.

Last week, US Central Command said that 11 service members were treated for concussion symptoms from the attack.

The most common form of TBIs in the military are mild TBIs, according to the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center.

Traumatic brain injuries are not always apparent immediately after they've been suffered.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "34 US service members diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries after Iranian missile strike"
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 24

By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:

Members of a special committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), established to observe the upcoming parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan, who are in Baku, have met with representatives of parliamentary political parties, Trend reports Jan. 24.

Representative of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (YAP) Sevinj Fataliyeva informed the committee members about the principles of activity of political parties represented in the parliament and the situation in the country in the field of human rights.

Fataliyeva assessed the holding of early parliamentary elections as continuation of the reforms carried out in Azerbaijan.

It was noted that the presence of the PACE mission in the Azerbaijan is one of the indicators of the transparency and democracy of the electoral process in the country.

Members of the PACE special committee - Alfred Heer (Switzerland), Raivo Tamm (Estonia), Georgios Katrougalos (Greece) noted during the meeting that they are in Azerbaijan to assess the election campaign and the political situation in anticipation of the parliamentary elections.

The meeting was attended by Chairman of Azerbaijans Great Creation Party Fazil Mustafa, Chairman of Azerbaijans National Revival Movement Party Faraj Guliyev, Chairman of the Party for Democratic Reforms Asim Mollazade, Chairman of the Vahdat Party Tahir Karimli and Chairman of the Popular Front Party of Whole Azerbaijan Gudrat Hasanguliyev.

The parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan will be held Feb. 9.
PHOENIX, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GlobalTranz Enterprises, Inc. , a leading technology and third-party logistics solutions company providing award-winning Transportation Management System (TMS) products to shippers, logistics service providers and carriers today announced that Renee Krug, CEO will share strategic expertise at SMC3s Jump Start 2020 on January 27, in Atlanta.



Krug will be speaking on the panel, When Todays Supply Chain Meets Tomorrows Demands, which will examine the intersection of technology and innovation in the context of todays marketplace. A supply chain leadership veteran, Krug was selected to share her extensive expertise on how shippers can leverage technology-enabled 3PL partners to modernize their supply chains and seize a competitive advantage.

Jump Start 2020 is a three-day event that is focused on emerging trends, challenges and the newest innovations in the supply chain. Joining Krug on the panel will be leading supply chain executives including Wayne Spain, President and COO of Averitt Express and Mitch Weseley, CEO of 3Gtms. Bill Cassidy, senior editor of the Journal of Commerce will be moderating.

As shippers needs continue to evolve, they are increasingly turning to 3PLs that combine technology and hands-on service for help and guidance, said Krug. Jump Start 2020 is all about the process behind this evolution, and Im honored to share the stage with industry leaders.

Ranked the 8th largest freight brokerage in the US by Transport Topics and voted an Inbound Logistics Top 10 3PL provider for 2019 , GlobalTranz is driving strong growth with 25,000+ customers through technology innovation , a network of 34,000+ carriers, transformative M&A, creative products and superior customer service delivered by the some of the best people in the industry.

For more information on GlobalTranz, visit globaltranz.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter @globaltranz.

About GlobalTranz

GlobalTranz is a technology company providing award-winning cloud-based multi-modal Transportation Management System (TMS) products to shippers, carriers, 3PLs and brokers. GlobalTranz is leading the logistics software and services market in innovative technology that optimizes the efficiency of freight movement and matches shipper demand and carrier capacity in real-time. Leveraging its extensive independent agent network, GlobalTranz has emerged as a fast-growing market leader with a customer base of over 1 million product users and 25,000 shippers. In 2019, Transport Topics named GlobalTranz #8 on their list of Top 10 largest freight brokerage firms in the U.S.
The Philippines said Friday it was considering the possibility of terminating a long-running military pact with the United States, after Washington cancelled a U.S. visa for the former national police chief behind President Rodrigo Dutertes controversial drug war.

Both the Philippine foreign and defense secretaries indicated they were working toward ending the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). On Thursday, Duterte threatened to terminate the pact because he was angry that the U.S. had cancelled the visa for ex-police chief Ronald dela Rosa, now a Philippine senator.

In a statement issued late Friday, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he would consult with Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on the matter and discuss with the president the various scenarios concerning the possible termination of the VFA.

Under the 1999 agreement, the U.S. and Philippine militaries have undertaken joint exercises and training, as well as boosted bilateral cooperation amid territorial disputes in the South China Sea and security threats from Muslim militants in the southern Philippines.

Earlier on Friday, Locsin, the top Philippine diplomat, posted a message on Twitter about the issue.

He said he was departing for Washington D.C. on unrelated matters, but that as Philippine chairman of the VFA, he had called Lorenzana, the Philippine vice chairman for the agreement, to start the process of terminating the pact.

Approval by the Philippine Senate is required before the country can sign treaties or international agreements, but the government is not required to obtain the legislative bodys consent to terminate those pacts, Locsin said.

The termination of the VFA may be unilaterally initiated by the Philippines, Lorenzana, the defense chief, said. [S]uch a termination does not need the approval of the Philippine Congress. All that is required is that a notice of termination be served to the U.S. government. The termination shall take effect 180 days after the date of the notice.

In an earlier statement, Lorenzana said it was obvious that Duterte was affronted when the U.S. cancelled the visa for dela Rosa, the presidents former long-time police aide who became the national police chief shortly after Duterte came to office in mid-2016.

Police forces under dela Rosa launched a bloody campaign against suspected drug dealers and users. Human rights groups have criticized Dutertes war on illegal drugs, with the death toll standing at nearly 6,000, according to official figures.

I can understand why President Duterte is peeved by the cancellation of Sen. Batos visa because of alleged extrajudicial killings in connection with the drug war. Most [e]specially that Bato was specifically targeted, Lorenzana said, using dela Rosas nickname.

The ball is in the U.S. hand. Lets see how they react to President Dutertes statement, he added.

Sung Kim, the American ambassador to the Philippines, already sought a meeting with officials in the Duterte administration to discuss the issue.

On Friday, spokespeople for the U.S. Defense Department and the State Department did not immediately respond to inquiries from BenarNews seeking comment on the Philippine threat to cancel the treaty and an explanation for why Washington had canceled the visa for dela Rosa.

Dutertes threat

President Duterte conveyed the threat to terminate the pact during a speech to former communist rebels in central Leyte province on Thursday night.

Im giving notice and they begin to count. Im giving government and the American government one month from now. We will talk, I will terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement, Duterte said.

If the U.S. government failed to undertake the correction he was demanding, he said, I will terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement.

The president also hit out at a provision included in the 2020 U.S. budget that sought to prohibit the entry into the United States of Filipinos involved in the detention of Philippine Sen. Leila de Lima.

De Lima is a leading critic of Dutertes drug war. She was jailed over allegations that she took bribes from drug lords to fund her senatorial campaign.

She has consistently denied the allegations, saying she was jailed as political payback by Duterte. There has been no hard evidence presented in court against her yet.

I am hurting because of that, Duterte said Thursday night. They refused to believe de Lima is a criminal. That she was collecting money to use in her campaign.

And now shes lying to death, pretending shes innocent. These foolish Americans, crazy, crazy, cowards, idiots, crazy, the president went on in his profanity-laden speech. They believed that de Limas case was just fabricated by the government.

Jeoffrey Maitem in Cotabato City, Philippines, contributed to this report.
Margot James is a former BEIS and DCMS Minister, and was MP for Stourbridge from 2010-2019.

I have visited a number of sites piloting different applications using 5G technology. At the University of Surrey, the use of 5G to enable people with dementia to be cared for at home is showing great potential. The researchers gave me quite an impactful demonstration when they produced a robot powered by 5G performing a few impressive tasks. They asked me if I wanted to see what would happen if they switched the robot back to 4G; when they did so, the robot keeled over and was capable of next to nothing.

The next release of the 5G standard is due in June of this year. The new standard will enable the performance of wired ethernet with the flexibility of wireless communication. Although consumers will benefit from vastly superior connection speeds (5G reacts in a thousandth of a second delivering speeds of hundreds of Mbps per second), the potential for 5G to dramatically improve productivity, and UK competitiveness, is the real prize.

The UK is a leader in the deployment of 5G in a wide variety of applications. The Urban Connected Communities project which links 5G infrastructure between Wolverhampton, Birmingham and Coventry will deploy up to 50 million in public funds to test the potential of 5G in many settings, from the integration of patient care between the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and GPs in Birmingham to the application of 5G to research in to electrification and other aspects of advanced manufacturing at the University of Warwick.

The UK is one of only five countries in the world to allow private networks to deploy 5G. Ocado already has a private network in which many warehousing and distribution functions have been automated and are now staffed by robots, connected to each other by 5G.

5G is a base technology that will enable many applications such as biometric authentication, machine learning, the internet of things (IoT), big data, automation and robotics. Robot-enabled remote surgery and driverless vehicles will become a reality only when 5G is widely deployed. This is why 5G is so fundamental to an effective industrial policy; one that can truly deliver greater regional prosperity and the dramatic improvements to UK productivity and competitiveness that need to underpin our post-Brexit economy. 5G will be essential to the automation of parts of the economy, like agriculture, that have been overly dependent on unskilled labour from abroad.

The security of our telecoms infrastructure is vitally important, and the difficult decision over the role of Huawei in the supply chain is about to be made. Given the intensity of US lobbying and the action taken to exclude Huawei by Australia and New Zealand, it would be very difficult for us to do nothing. If doing nothing is not an option, the decision comes down to whether the risk can be managed, or whether the risk justifies an outright ban on Huawei from the deployment of 5G. Of course this would then beg the question what, if anything, to do about the scale of Huawei kit in the existing 4G and fixed networks?

According to Enders Analysis, Huawei has the largest market share in the supply of existing telecoms equipment (28 per cent vs Nokia at 17 per cent and Ericsson at 13 per cent). When it comes to 5G, Huawei has invested more and are between six and twelve months ahead of their rivals as a result. Furthermore, there is a fundamental difference between the nature of the spectrum bands the US market are using to introduce 5G compared with Europe. Ericsson have invested more to meet the spectrum needs of the US market, and Huawei have invested more in the different spectrum bands 5G will be using in the European market.

Anything more than a partial ban  i.e. restricting Huawei equipment to the periphery of the 5G network, as it has been in the current fixed and mobile infrastructure  would have serious negative consequences for our ability to keep up with other countries and maintain our 5G advantage where we have one. A total ban on Huawei can only be justified if there is unequivocal evidence that the risk to our national security is real; and cannot be managed effectively.

For the last ten years the risk has been managed by the Huawei Cyber Security Evaluation Centre (HCSEC). This centre has enabled close scrutiny of Huawei products and standards with regard to reliability, resilience and security by our National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). Deficiencies have been found recently in the quality of certain Huawei products and engineering processes. The problems identified have been comparable to the sorts of issues that might arise from this level of scrutiny of any companies products, and are not consistent with a serious threat to our national security.

From a reading of the public statements put out by different arms of the security services it seems that there is not a clear consensus on the level of risk. Importantly, MI5 do not think that allowing some involvement by Huawei in our telecoms supply chain would jeopardise the sharing of intelligence between Britain and the US.

Close examination of exactly what the US are doing in respect of their clampdown on Huawei is instructive. For a start, the US is not paying a significant price in banning Huawei from the roll out of 5G, as the company has nothing like as significant a share of the US telecoms infrastructure market as it has in the UK. Huawei has been placed on the US Entity list  meaning that US companies must apply for a license in order to sell technology to the company.

The US Government has been subject to intense lobbying efforts from such companies as Intel and Qualcomm, which are trying to get the Department of Commerce to ease the restrictions. These companies have had some success, in that the department has stated that it will continue to issue licences for the sale of technology to Huawei where there is no specific threat to national security.

There would seem to be a difference between the rhetoric coming out of the US and the implementation of policy. There is a degree of risk management going on in practice in the States and we should do likewise in the UK. To effect a total ban on Huawei products in our telecoms supply chain would put our plans to accelerate the pace of full fibre coverage and 5G deployment back by an unacceptable length of time, three to five years. Such a decision could only be justified if the threat to our security were more substantial than would appear to be the case.
Find all our Student Opinion questions here.

What are things that you think your school does well? What makes you proud of your school and school community? Are there classes, teachers, clubs or events that make you feel connected to your school?

On the flip side, what are things that you think your school could do better? Are there topics you wish you could learn in classes that arent being offered? Are there beliefs that you wish were embraced by your school leadership, teachers or peers? Are there policies you think need to be changed, voices that need to be heard or general improvements that need to be made?

In Lock-Ins and Walkouts: The Students Changing City Schools From the Inside, Eliza Shapiro writes about New York City high schoolers who are organizing protests, joining student activism groups and fighting for policy changes. The article covers six teenagers stories. Here are two of them:

Chassidy Titley, 17, Harlem

Chassidy wasnt nervous about getting in trouble when she and her classmates locked themselves in a building at her prestigious Riverdale private school, sleeping on an air mattress in her principals office for three nights in a row.

She was only worried that her group, Students of Color Matter, would be ignored in their fight against what they believe is a racist school culture at Ethical Culture Fieldston School in the Bronx.
Northern Ireland is blessed with an abundance of good schools across all key stages and sectors.

I have taught in schools for most of my adult life and I can say that our teachers are dedicated, highly skilled and hard-working and the pupils are engaged, attentive and willing to learn.

In every school the opportunities are available to all of our children to learn valuable life skills, improve their knowledge and be equipped to enter into the adult world with resilience and confidence.

Read More

The choice of subjects and courses in schools is extensive and meets the needs of a wide range of learners. Schools in Northern Ireland are also places of excellent pastoral care where young people are nurtured and valued.

AQE and PPTC (GL) have been providing testing platforms for the last 11 years and these platforms have enabled thousands of children to access places in grammar schools. This year almost 8,700 P7 children sat the tests provided by AQE alone and the public's enthusiasm for academic selection and grammar schools does not appear to be diminishing in any way.

Transfer at the end of P7 can be a stressful time for all concerned, but it is important to remember that there will be a place available at a suitable school for all pupils.

It is also important that parents and children research the Admissions Criteria for each relevant school to ensure that they understand what is required for entry to that particular school. The data provided in the Belfast Telegraph today is a very useful guide to parents and children when used alongside the detailed information in the Admissions Criteria.

I offer all P7 children my best wishes as you consider the right school for you to attend for the next five to seven years.
Indian general speaks of radicalisation of Kashmiri youth, drawing comparison with internment of Uighurs in China.

Srinagar/New Delhi, India  Indias newly recruited Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat has courted controversy after he claimed that so-called deradicalisation camps are operating in India, drawing a comparison with the internment of Uighurs in China.

Like what we are seeing in Kashmir  we saw radicalisation happening, Rawat said addressing the media and foreign delegates in New Delhi last week.

There are people who have completely been radicalised. These people need to be taken out separately, possibly taken into some deradicalisation camps. We have deradicalisation camps going on in our country.

Fear among Kashmiris

Rawats comments have caused a wave of fear among Kashmiris who claim that India wishes to do what the Chinese are doing in Xinjiang province. Human rights groups say more than a million Uighurs have been rounded up in internment camps, that Beijing dubs as re-education camps, to eradicate so-called religious extremism.

I don't see this problem in Kashmir with the prism of radicalisation. Zafar Chowdhary, Kashmiri political analyst

India should not follow China because India has a claim to constituent democracy, said Professor Noor Ahmad Baba, a political analyst based in Srinagar, the main city in the Muslim-majority region placed under lockdown for the past five months.

A Kashmiri girl rides her bike past Indian security force personnel standing guard in front of closed shops in Srinagar [File: Danish Ismail/Reuters]

On August 5, New Delhi stripped the region of its autonomy after shutting down its communications. Though mobile phones have largely been revived, the region is still without internet access  the longest internet shutdown in a democracy.

Kashmir is a political issue, there is nothing like radicalisation. This is not a desirable thing to happen in a democracy. Kashmir is a political problem and needs a political solution, Baba told Al Jazeera.

Meanwhile, confirming Rawats claims, a senior police official in Kashmir told Al Jazeera that the first deradicalisation centre in Kashmir is on the cards.

The Jammu and Kashmir police department has conceptualised one de-radicalization centre for which funds have been granted by the Ministry of Home Affairs but it is yet to be established, the official, who wished to remain anonymous, told Al Jazeera without elaborating on the deradicalisation centre.

The regions police chief, Dilbagh Singh, also backed the idea of deradicalisation centres in Kashmir. If any such facility comes up in Kashmir that will be a good sign, it should happen. Itll definitely help people, especially those who have gone astray.

Rawats controversial statements

But Kashmiri political analyst Zafar Chowdhary disagreed with the radicalization theory about Kashmir.

I dont see this problem in Kashmir with the prism of radicalization, he said.

A politicised military is the complete negation of democracy. Gazala Wahab, Executive Editor of Force magazine

They [young Kashmiris] have been betrayed, cheated a number of times by the political leaders, that is lack of trust in the system which is being portrayed by the army and other people as radicalisation.

However, this is not the first time that Rawats statements have created controversies.

In the past, as chief of the Indian Army, he has been criticised for politicising the military with his statements. Many believe that Rawats proximity to the ruling Hindu nationalist government helped him become Indias first-ever chief of defence staff  who will supervise all three wings of the defence forces.

Ever since he took over from chief of army staff in 2016, Rawat had courted several controversies. In 2017, Rawat backed an Indian Army officer who tied a Kashmiri youth to a jeep to prevent stone-pelters from targeting his convoy. He went on to award the officer who is now facing court-martial because of his questionable conduct in another controversy.

Kashmir has suffered under the longest ever internet shutdown in a democracy [File: Tauseef Mustafa/AFP]

According to the Indian Army Rules of 1954, officers are barred from commenting on politics.

The rule states: No person subject to the Act shall deliver a lecture or wireless address, on a matter relating to political question or on a service subject or containing any information or views on any service subject without the prior sanction of the Central Government or any officer specified by the Central Government in this behalf.

However, that has not deterred the former army chief, and now the chief of defence staff, from making controversial political statements.

Politicisation of military

It is the most unfortunate thing that a man of his stature is lowering the stature of the Indian army by making such political statements. In fact, he has been doing this for long which clearly says about his political alignment, said Ajai Sahni, founding member and executive director of the Institute of Conflict Management in New Delhi.

Armed forces are and should be apolitical institutions but such trends are disturbing and will have long-term consequences. Ajai Sahni, Executive Director of the Institute of Conflict Management

Armed forces are and should be apolitical institutions but such trends are disturbing and will have long-term consequences, he said.

Retired Air Vice Marshal Kapil Kak, who has been critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modis governments move to abrogate Article 370 in Kashmir, voiced his reservation against sending children to deradicalisation camps.

There is no denying that some extremists do try to influence people in Kashmir but it is not politically correct to raise this issue to otherwise Kashmiris. Kids being put up in deradicalisation camps is a horrendous proposition, he told Al Jazeera.

Kak also fears the increasing politicisation of military and militarisation of politics, which, according to him, does not bode well for Indias democracy.

Indias military has traditionally remained neutral, unlike its neighbour Pakistan, where the army wields enormous power over the civilian government.

Gazala Wahab, executive editor of Force, Indias leading magazine on national security, suggested that politicisation of the Indian army has been a slow and insidious process.

Of course, this is extremely worrisome. A politicised military is the complete negation of democracy. In a multi-cultural, multi-religious country like India, a partisan military will be disastrous.
The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar | Photo: Eric B./Yelp

Looking for a sublime Japanese meal near you?

Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top Japanese spots around Orlando, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of where to satisfy your cravings.

People in the Orlando area tend to spend more in the winter at restaurants than any other season of the year, according to data on local business transactions from Womply, a software provider that helps small businesses manage customer reviews. Daily spending at Orlando-area restaurants grew to $1,730 per business in the winter of last year, 4% higher than the average for the rest of the year.

Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions.

1. The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar

photo: lynn s./yelp

First on the list is The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar. Located at Universal Citywalk Orlando, 6000 Universal Boulevard in Florida Center, the sushi bar, which offers burgers and more, is the most popular Japanese restaurant in Orlando, boasting four stars out of 2,302 reviews on Yelp.

2. Kabooki Sushi E Colonial Dr

photo: mark d./yelp

Next up is Colonial Town Center's Kabooki Sushi E Colonial Dr, situated at 3122 E. Colonial Drive. With 4.5 stars out of 679 reviews on Yelp, the sushi bar, Asian fusion and Japanese spot has proven to be a local favorite.

3. Oudom Thai & Sushi

Photo: pattie k./Yelp

South Eola's Oudom Thai & Sushi, located at 100 S. Eola Drive, Suite 105, is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the sushi bar and Thai spot, which offers seafood and more, 4.5 stars out of 347 reviews.

4. Domu

Domu, a cocktail bar and Asian fusion spot that offers ramen and more, is another high-traffic go-to, with four stars out of 1,064 Yelp reviews. Head over to 3201 Corrine Drive, Suite 100 to see for yourself.

This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
On Jan. 8, the world held its breath to see if an Iranian missile attack on bases in Iraq had caused any casualties. It took two weeks to find out.

The Pentagon now says that more than 34 U.S. service members were diagnosed with concussions and brain injuries after the Jan 8 missile strike, which, it was initially reported, had caused no U.S. casualties. This also comes more than a week after initial reporting that either eight or 11 troops had been injured.

Advertisement

Eighteen of the 34 diagnosed with traumatic brain injury were removed from Iraq for treatment in Germany or Kuwait. Seventeen are still under medical observation, in either Germany or the United States. The rest have returned to active duty.

After tweeting All is well! on the night of the strike, President Donald Trump followed up with a statement the next day, saying: No Americans were harmed in last nights attack by the Iranian regime. We suffered no casualties. Its quite likely he believed this was true at the time. While the military has become more diligent about testing for concussions in recent years, there are still some issues in how these injuries are reported and symptoms dont always show up immediately.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Still, its clear that the Pentagon and administration have not been forthcoming about this situation for at least a week, if not longer. Worse, Trump, speaking to reporters in Davos, Switzerland, this week, dismissed the injuries as headaches, saying, I dont consider them very serious injuries, relative to other injuries that Ive seen. The statement was quickly condemned by the founder of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. (Strangely enough, this is not even Trumps first foray into brain injury denialism.)

The injuries complicate the administrations narrative of this months military clash with Iran. According to that narrative, the drone strike that killed Gen. Qassem Soleimani and the Iranian missile strike were meaningless symbolic gestures that showed Iran was standing down. Initial reporting after the missile strike suggested that Iran had deliberately targeted its missiles to avoid U.S. casualties. But a senior U.S. commander in Iraq told reporters on Tuesday that one of the missiles that hit the al-Asad base landed just yards from a bunker with a U.S. service member in it. This was a much closer call than it appeared at the time.

The facts are clear: The Trump administration purposely escalated tensions with Iran with a strike based on scanty or nonexistent intelligence, U.S. service members were put in dangerand in some cases seriously injuredas a result, and the administration tried to downplay or deny those injuries.

Even amid the slew of administration outrages on display this month, this should stand out.
Now in its 23rd year in Ireland, the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2020 programme nominations are officially open.

Offaly entrepreneurs are encouraged to put themselves forward to follow in the footsteps of well-known Offaly business people, Vincent Cleary, Glenisk, who was a finalist in 2014 and Stephen Grant, Grant Engineering Group, who was the eventual winner in the Industry category in 2008.

Roger Wallace, new Partner Lead for EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Ireland said: The launch of the programme is an exciting time for all of us here at EY. This year we are keen to see an even broader range and diversity of nominees, across industries, age, gender, location and background. Weve seen a steady but gradual increase in the number of women nominated in recent years, but we want 2020 to be the year where we see a more significant jump. Its important to us that the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year programme accurately reflects the fabric of the entrepreneurial landscape across the entire island of Ireland. Thats why were urging all Offaly entrepreneurs to consider putting themselves forward, and for people to encourage entrepreneurs in their families and networks to get involved.

The programme is open to entrepreneurs from all sectors and growth stages in the Republic and Northern Ireland. The awards programme is divided into three categories - Emerging, Industry and International - with eight finalists chosen per category. 24 finalists will be selected by an independent judging panel, comprising former winners and chaired by Anne Heraty of CPL Resources plc. Anyone interested can find out more or complete an online nomination form at www.eoy.ie. Those nominating someone else must do so with the entrepreneurs consent.

Speaking at the launch, CEO of CPL Resources plc and Chairperson of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Judging Panel said: The launch of the 2020 programme is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate a new group of exceptional entrepreneurs from cities, towns and villages all around the island, who have a huge impact on their communities, on business and on our economies. Over the last 23 years, weve seen nominations from every category of business imaginable, and we want this to continue again this year. The diversity of people and types of business is what makes the programme so interesting, and Im looking forward to meeting a new group of inspiring leaders this year.

Sligoman Richard Kennedy of Belfast-based Devenish was named as the overall winner at the 2019 EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards, and will go on to represent Ireland at the World Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards in Monte Carlo in June. Galways Pat McDonagh of Supermacs was named Industry Entrepreneur Of The Year, while Limerick woman Triona Mullane of mAdme Technologies was named EY Emerging Entrepreneur Of The Year.

What finalists can expect

This years 24 finalists will engage in a strategic growth programme over a 10-month period which includes a week-long CEO Retreat to South Africa. As part of this international retreat, the finalists will join a group of more than 100 previous finalists and winners of the programme where they will meet a range of world-class entrepreneurs, business people and academics based in Africa.

The finalists will also be welcomed into a community of 525 peers in the Irish EY Entrepreneur Of The Year community. To date, more than three quarters of the alumni of the programme have conducted business with one another.

The programme will include executive education sessions; networking fora; extensive media profiling; the annual Gala Awards Dinner. An award is presented for each category, and an overall winner will be announced at the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards in October. The overall winner will represent Ireland at the World Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards in Monte Carlo the following June.

The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Ireland programme is supported by Premium Corporate Sponsor Julius Baer International, and Government sponsors Enterprise Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland. For further information, please visit www.eoy.ie.
With all the money she has she can send her dog to the greatest trainers in the world and instead chooses this cruel method smfh.

Reply

Thread

Link

mte



also docking your dog's tail and ears is so wrong.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

A lot of breeders do this before you buy or get the dog - I have a Doberman and his tail cane docked but he still has floppy ears which is great

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Its a tool you use even when the dog is trained - plus sending a dog to a trainer will end up bonding the dog the the trainer.

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

These collars are extremely humane for the dogs. As someone who has only ever owned big dogs, german shepards, appenzellers, dane mixes, these collars are the most effective and least restrictive way to control your obiedient dog. All of my dogs were trained to voice commands and still kept on leash. Regular choke collars people use, the slip ones, often get caught and actually choke the dogs. Pinch collars apply even pressure and release immediately. If they cause pain to the animal it's the human who is causing the pain. Used properly, these are one of the best investments for any large breed dog.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

wtf people still fucking use these?

Reply

Thread

Link

fucking prong collars don't train your dog.





also they suppress behavior they don't change it.

Reply

Thread

Link

I was about to say....I used to have a german shepherd and my asshole fiance at the time insisted on using these collars. I was so upset about it and it caused a lot of fights between us. (So glad we broke up, asshole forever lol) But what I noticed is that it actually made our shepherd even more agitated and upset afterwards. My ex claimed it wasn't the collar but I knew it was.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

can someone please eviscerate this family from the planet

Reply

Thread

Link

When is tail docking and ear cropping going to be illegal? So many people do not deserve to have animals.

Reply

Thread

Link

i'm so glad it's become illegal where i live now! i know it won't stop people from doing it but at least it's something.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

YES. These poor dogs.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

srsly I'm so glad my brother didn't dock our rottie's tail. I never knew rots had such pretty tails before!

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

My corgi has a tail and its baffling to me how many people dont realize that corgis in the US are normally docked. The look of horror when I have to explain to them that no hes not mixed, the other corgis had their tails cut off as puppies 

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

its so horrific

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

docking is illegal here (australia) unless for medical issues but I know someone who just got their doberman from New Zealand instead.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

That's how they do it here as well: illegal in the Netherlands, but not in Belgium. And you just really can't handle a dog's tail, I guess.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

i'm so glad it's illegal in the uk

it's disgusting, barbaric...unnecessary mutilation. i could use more words

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

There was actually a story in the U.K. recently about celebs buying from a breeder who was cutting the puppies ears with a razor blade and falsely claiming that it was okay because he had really imported them from the US where its apparently still legal to do that  Im shocked its still allowed in any country quite honestly, ear cropping has always been illegal in the U.K. as long as Ive been alive

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Can we add declawing cats to this as well? dear god I'll never understand why vets still perform them.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

and it looks like she has a fucking shock collar!!





smh!



unfortunately she probably learned/is learning from someone using dated methods.

Reply

Thread

Link

maybe that's a buckle can't tell

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

looks like a shock collar

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Totally a shock collar. Kendall is such a gross woman. Dobermans are such sweet dogs, too. I would love a Dobie but I don't have the right personality or time for one.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

My Doberman has an e collar that looks similar - I can beep it, I can vibrate it, or I can shock it. I haven't used the shock feature, typically just showing him the remote is enough to get him to listen, but it is a training tool and has really helped when it came to training him.



Her collar may be a multi function e collar too

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Ive never seen one of these before, thats so horrible wtf

Reply

Thread

Link

These collars are extremely humane for the dogs. As someone who has only ever owned big dogs, german shepards, appenzellers, dane mixes, these collars are the most effective and least restrictive way to control your obedient dog. All of my dogs were trained to voice commands and still kept on leash. Regular choke collars people use, the slip ones, often get caught and actually choke the dogs. Pinch collars apply even pressure and release immediately. If they cause pain to the animal it's the human who is causing the pain. Used properly, these are one of the best investments for any large breed dog.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Stupid fucking bitch. The person also didnt lie about them always having dogs that disappear one by one when they get a new one, literally just to fit their stupid current aesthetic



So many ig models and shit do that too. New cute puppy they post with CONSTANTLY but then when 6 months pass and the dog is obviously bigger in size you never see a pic again. I hate people.

Reply

Thread

Link

Right? Like its obvious she got this poor DOBERMAN because she thinks it makes her look like a badass, not because she actually cares for the animal or knows anything about the breed itself

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

I havent seen Kylies dogs since she had her child. They just disappeared overnight

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

I followed my friend's sister on IG years ago because she had really cute dogs. She still has the dogs, but all she posts now are pictures of her kids. Super disappointing.

Reply

Parent

Thread

Expand

Link

Not advocating for the Kardashians, and Kendall Jenner is trash with animals especially.



However, Kylie does still post those Italian hound dogs on her IG stories.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

ugh this. Even normie people do this too....I know someone who took in two dogs from the pound but once she got her little miniature poodle, she pawned those two dogs off on someone and its like she never had them. fucking asshole.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

i fucking hate this entire family

Reply

Thread

Link

Same

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Vile trash. Someone should do that to her so she knows how it feels. Sicko.n

Reply

Thread

Link

Holy shit i've never seen one of those. It just looks cruel. Like it looks like thats the only point of it.





Reply

Thread

Link

These collars are extremely humane for the dogs. As someone who has only ever owned big dogs, german shepards, appenzellers, dane mixes, these collars are the most effective and least restrictive way to control your obedient dog. All of my dogs were trained to voice commands and still kept on leash. Regular choke collars people use, the slip ones, often get caught and actually choke the dogs. Pinch collars apply even pressure and release immediately. If they cause pain to the animal it's the human who is causing the pain. Used properly, these are one of the best investments for any large breed dog.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

I dont understand why people have pets, let alone multiple, when they are never home to actually care for them ?

Reply

Thread

Link

Im just thinking about my little guy and I couldnt even imagine putting something like this on him let alone any dog. People who mistreat animals honestly just need their asses kicked - this really has me upset thinking that dog could constantly be in pain. When your dog pulls, sometimes it does out of instinct and for good reason.

Reply

Thread

Link

her boyfriend likes disposing of pets too



pathetic

Reply

Thread

Link

I wish more people would talk about how the Kardashians cycle through pets and use them as props. Sometimes they only have them for a few days before they get rid of it and I really dont trust that theyre properly rehoming these animals.



Theyre disgusting in so many different ways

Reply

Thread

Link

someone should do an original on it tbh.

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link

Bad idea as Kardashian clan see any attention as good attention

Reply

Parent

Thread



Link
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 24, 2020) - Fundata Canada Inc. is pleased to announce the winners of the Fundata FundGrade A+ Award for 2019. Awards were presented to 53 companies representing a total of 351 Canadian investment funds at Fundata's annual "Evening of Excellence" held on Thursday, January 23, 2020, at The Globe and Mail Centre in Toronto.

The FundGrade A + Award is given annually to investment funds and managers who have shown consistent, outstanding, risk-adjusted performance throughout the year. The FundGrade A+ Award provides investors, advisors, and fund managers with a single, reliable, easy-to-understand fund-performance rating based on up to 10 years of history.

Receiving the A+ Award for 2019 were 178 mutual funds, 53 exchange-traded funds (ETFs), 117 segregated funds, and 3 Responsible Investing funds. Canadian mutual funds and ETFs have over $1.8 trillion combined in assets under management, while Fundata tracks over 41,000 investment funds. "With over 30 years of service to the fund industry, we've built our reputation on the collection, analysis, and dissemination of reliable investment fund data on each and every one of these investment fund products that we track," said Janny Vincent, President and CEO of Fundata Canada Inc. Ms. Vincent added that Award winners join a small and highly prestigious group. "The A+ Award-winning funds once again join a very elite group as just over 6% of eligible mutual funds and 7% of eligible ETFs win the award," she said.

The FundGrade A+ Rating uses a score-based calculation to arrive at a grade-point average that ranks investment funds to determine the annual "best-of-the-best" ratings. The top-performing funds with a responsible investing mandate were honoured separately, with a winner from each of the Equity, Balanced, and Fixed Income categories.

The investment fund industry is a crucial component of Canadians' net worth accounting for nearly 40% of Canadians' financial wealth. And the ETF industry continues to grow, reaching a new high of $204 billion in assets under management at the end of 2019.

Investors can now choose from 746 ETFs in the Canadian marketplace with 116 new funds debuting in 2019 as Canada's ETF providers continue to innovate, providing diversified access to broad market indices as well as to new sectors, such as cannabis and blockchain technology.

"We take pride in the fact that the FundGrade A+ Award has been embraced by our industry as a truly independent and objective benchmark, and an acknowledgement of superior fund performance," said Ms. Vincent.

For more information and a complete list of the funds receiving the Fundata FundGrade A+ Rating for the calendar year 2019, please visit www.fundgradeawards.com.

About Fundata Canada Inc.

Fundata Canada Inc. has been providing data aggregation and dissemination services to the Canadian media and financial marketplace since 1987. Fundata is a major provider in the distribution of fund and stock information in Canada. Our database contains data on over 41,000 investment fund products. Fundata provides customized data feeds, top-shelf analytics, cutting-edge software tools, and seamless hosted web solutions for fund companies, back office systems, investment planners, banks, trust companies, resellers and redistributors, and online, print, and broadcast media channels.

About the Fundata FundGrade A+ Rating

The FundGrade A+ Rating identifies funds that have been consistent FundGrade A-Grade performers over the past calendar year. It's the only objective rating system available in the market that's based solely on risk-adjusted performance history and that takes into account the consistency with which a fund is ranked at the top of its CIFSC class.

Contact: Reid Baker

Director, Analytics & Data

Phone: 416-445-5443 ext. 240

reid.baker@fundata.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/51730
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Pakistan may be out of the 'Grey List' of the international terror financing watchdog FATF next month due to the active support of China and tactical support of some Western countries, an official said on Thursday.

At a meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) held in Beijing, Islamabad submitted its compliance report and got support from the FATF current chair and its "all-weather friend" China and a few Western powers.

China, which hosted the key meeting of the international terror financing watchdog, said on Thursday that Pakistan has made "visible progress" to strengthen its counter-terrorism financing system, which should be encouraged by the world community.

The Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Asia Pacific Joint Group met in Beijing this week to scrutinise Pakistan's progress report to adopt stricter laws against terror financing and money laundering.

China is the President of the FATF and co-chair for Asia Pacific Joint Group.

ALSO READ | Met with 'brick wall' when I approached PM Modi after assuming office, claims Imran

A Pakistani delegation led by Minister for Economic Affairs Division Hammad Azhar is in Beijing to brief the financial task force about the steps taken by Islamabad to implement the recommendations made by the FATF.

Asked how China viewed Pakistan's progress, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told the media in Beijing that he has no information on the proceedings which is still going on but praised Islamabad's efforts.

"Pakistan has made great efforts to strengthen its domestic counter-terrorism financing system with visible progress. Its political will and active efforts should be recognised and encouraged by the international community," he said.

"We hope the FATF will continue to offer constructive support and assistance to Pakistan in its continued efforts to improve the counter-terrorism financing system and effectively fighting the terrorist financing," he said.

"As FATF president and co-chair for Asia Pacific Joint Group, China will continue to uphold an objective, just and constructive attitude and participate in relevant discussions," he said.

"The next plenary of the FATF will be held in February in Paris and Pakistan needs just 12 votes out of 39 to exit the 'Grey List' and move to 'White List'. There is a strong possibility of Islamabad getting enough support to exit the 'Grey List'," an Indian official privy to the development said.

In recent meetings of FATF, Pakistan has got the support of Malaysia and Turkey besides China.

If Pakistan could convince a few Western nations with their report of taking action against terrorists, the country will be out of FATF 'Grey List', which will be a cause of worry for India, the official said.

If Pakistan comes out of the FATF 'Grey List', it will be easy for the country to get financial aid from the IMF, World Bank, ADB and the European Union, helping improve its precarious financial situation.

The FATF in October last decided to keep Pakistan on its 'Grey' list for failure to curb funnelling of funds to terror groups Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and others.

If not removed off the list by April, Pakistan may move to a blacklist of countries that face severe economic sanctions, such as Iran.

Pakistan has submitted a 650-page review report to the FATF on January 8.

The report was submitted in response to 150 questions raised by the FATF regarding new Pakistani policies on money laundering.

ALSO READ | Pakistan to launch campaign to highlight Kashmir issue: Qureshi

The report outlined the steps taken by Pakistan between October 2019 to January 2020 to implement the group's recommendations.

The FATF meeting scrutinises whether Pakistan has complied with an earlier agenda presented to it.

"I want to stress that the FATF is an important international cooperation platform and to fight money laundering and terrorist financing its aim and goal is to help countries better fight money laundering and terrorist financing and prevent the international financial system from being abused," Geng said.

The FATF is backed by the UN Security Council passed resolutions which made its recommendations binding and in case of deficiencies, sanctions could be imposed.

In the Beijing meeting, Pakistan provided a list of its action taken to comply with the FATF diktat.

Pakistan was placed on the 'Grey List' by the FATF in June, 2018 and was given a plan of action to complete it by October, 2019 or face the risk of being placed on the blacklist along with Iran and North Korea.

The FATF is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.

The FATF currently has 35 members and two regional organisations -- the European Commission and Gulf Cooperation Council.

India is a member of the FATF consultations and its Asia Pacific Group and was represented in the meeting by a team of officials from the ministries of Home, External Affairs and Finance.
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Britain's Prince Charles paid homage on Thursday to his grandmother, Princess Alice, for sheltering Jews in Nazi-occupied Greece, saying the royal family took great pride in Israel's recognition of her heroism in the Holocaust.

Charles, first in line to the British throne, was addressing a Holocaust memorial ceremony attended by some 40 world leaders in Jerusalem.

"I have long drawn inspiration from the selfless actions of my dear grandmother, Princess Alice of Greece, who in 1943 in Nazi-occupied Athens, saved a Jewish family by taking them into her home and hiding them," the prince said at the forum in the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial centre.

"My grandmother, who is buried on the Mount of Olives, has a tree planted in her name here at Yad Vashem and is counted as one of the Righteous Among the Nations ... a fact which gives me and my family immense pride."

Princess Alice of Battenberg and Greece was the mother-in-law of Britain's Queen Elizabeth. A devout Christian, she died in London in 1969 and had asked to be buried in Jerusalem, next to her aunt, who like Alice had become a nun and founded a convent.

In 1993, the princess received the highest honour Yad Vashem bestows on non-Jews for hiding three members of the Cohen family in her palace in Athens during World War Two.

Earlier on Thursday, Charles met Israel's President Reuven Rivlin and expressed a commitment to combat anti-Semitism.

(Reporting by Jeffrey Heller; Editing by Gareth Jones)
January 24 : Our Bollywood celebs ensure that they take out some time to chill out at Maldives, snatching some time out from their busy schedule. Parineeti Chopra is also doing the same.

The Girl on the Train actress is currently vacationing in Maldives. The actress, who is shooting for Saina, took out some time from her busy schedule and jetted off to the picturesque getaway. The actress has been sharing droolworthy pictures from her vacay on her Instagram, giving her fans major vacation goals. In the latest picture shared by her, Parineeti is seen chilling in the deep blue waters of Maldives. Donning a black Gucci swimsuit, the diva is sitting in a hammock in the middle of the ocean. She accessorised her look with a pair of black round sunglasses.

Parineeti, who has some interesting projects up her sleeve, is currently on a roll in Bollywood. The actress loves ocean, so she visits Maldives quite often and stays at Gili Lankanfushi resort, which she calls her second home.

On the work front, the primary shooting for her upcoming film Saina, Saina Nehwals biopic, approaches completion. She will also be seen in The Girl On The Train and Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar.
Iraqis apprehensive ahead of cleric's anti-US rally



Baghdad, Jan 24 (AFP) Jan 24, 2020



Supporters of volatile Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr prepared on Friday for a "million-strong" march in Baghdad to demand the ouster of US troops, putting the protest-hit capital on edge.

The march has rattled the separate, months-old protest movement that has rocked the capital and Shiite-majority south, where young Iraqis have demanded a government overhaul, early parliamentary elections and more accountability.

After defying violence that has left 470 people dead as well as a spree of kidnappings and intimidations, those protesters fear their cause could be eclipsed by Sadr's powerplay.

"Sadr doesn't represent us," one teenager said defiantly late Thursday on a blocked-off thoroughfare in Baghdad.

America's military presence in Iraq has become a hot-button issue in the country since a US drone strike killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis on January 3 outside Baghdad's international airport.

Two days later, parliament voted for all foreign troops -- including some 5,200 US forces -- to leave their country.

Sadr, long opposed to US troops being in Iraq, decided to take that momentum to the street and called for "a million-strong, peaceful, unified demonstration to condemn the American presence and its violations".

Several pro-Iran factions from the Hashed al-Shaabi military force, usually rivals of Sadr, have backed his call and pledged to take part on Friday.

By late Thursday afternoon, new checkpoints cropped up across Baghdad aimed at securing the protest area.

In the shrine city of Karbala, south of Baghdad, large buses were seen picking up Sadr supporters to bring them to the capital for the rally.



- 'Politicised' protests -



To head off the anti-US gathering and ramp up pressure on authorities to enact reforms, young anti-government demonstrators shut down streets in Baghdad and across the south this week with burning tyres and metal barricades.

Protester Mariam said Friday's rally would be "politicised by certain factions or sides".

"We're protesting in the people's name. We're free. We can't demonstrate in the name of a particular party or sect," she said.

When Sadr announced plans for the rally last week, many feared he would hold it near Tahrir Square -- the beating heart of the anti-government protests in Baghdad.

But his spokesman Saleh al-Obeidy said late Wednesday that they had chosen the neighbourhood of Jadiriyah, near Baghdad University, as the gathering place.

That, in turn, has sparked worry that angry crowds could attack the presidential palace or the high-security Green Zone, which houses the US embassy.

The move would not be without precedent for Sadr, who urged followers to storm the Green Zone in 2016 in a challenge to the government over undelivered reforms.

Sadr battled US forces with his Mehdi Army after the American-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.

He later branded himself a reformist and backed the recent anti-government protests when they erupted in October.

At the same time he controls the largest bloc in parliament and his followers hold top ministerial positions.

The 46-year-old is a notoriously fickle politician, known for switching alliances quickly.

"Some sides representing the October revolutionaries think Iran is solely responsible for Iraq's ruin and others represented by the Hashed or its supporters say America is the source of ruin," Obeidy said Wednesday.

"We believe that both are behind this ruin, and Sadr is trying to balance between the two."



- Hedging bets -



It remained unclear even until early Friday how many people would turn out for the rally and where they would march.

Harith Hasan, an expert at the Carnegie Middle East Center, told AFP Sadr was trying to sustain his "multiple identities" by backing various protests.

"On the one hand, (he seeks to) position himself as the leader of a reform movement, as a populist, as anti-establishment," Hasan said.

"On the other hand, he also wants to sustain his image as the leader of the resistance to the 'American occupation'," partly to win favour with Iran, he added.

Tehran has insisted all American troops must leave the Middle East amid the skyrocketing tensions with Washington over recent weeks.

But Sadr may also have domestic motivations, Hasan said.

"This protest will show Sadr is still the one able to mobilise large groups of people in the streets -- but it's also possible he wants other groups to respond by giving him more space to choose the prime minister."

Premier Adel Abdel Mahdi resigned in December under pressure from protests and Iraq's Shiite religious authority, but he remains caretaker prime minister, as political parties have failed to name a successor.
Ly's Vietnamese Cuisine | Photo: Linh L./Yelp

Ready to celebrate Lunar New Year? On Jan. 25, families around the world will take part in celebrations for Tet, the first day of the Lunar New Year  and spring  for Vietnamese families. To kick off the celebration, families gather at home or at a favorite restaurant on New Years Day for a reunion meal, featuring specialties that include dua hanh (pickled spring onions), banh chung (sticky rice with meat or beans wrapped in leaves) and boiled whole chicken.

If youre looking for a feast to celebrate the Year of the Rat with friends and family, Hoodline has crunched the numbers to find the top Vietnamese restaurants in San Francisco, based on Yelp ratings and our own methodology. Happy Lunar New Year!

1. Ly's Vietnamese Cuisine

Photo: Annie Y./Yelp

Topping the list is Ly's Vietnamese Cuisine. Located at 1779 Lombard St. (between Octavia and Laguna streets) in the Marina, Ly's Vietnamese Cuisine is the highest-rated Vietnamese restaurant in San Francisco, boasting 4.5 stars out of 453 reviews on Yelp.

2. Perilla

Photo: Chris N./Yelp

Next up is the Inner Sunset's Perilla, situated at 836 Irving St. (between Ninth and 10th avenues). With four stars out of 1,275 reviews on Yelp, it has proven to be a local favorite.

3. Miss SaiGon

Photo: Adam S./Yelp

SoMa's Miss SaiGon, located at 100 Sixth St. (at the corner of Sixth and Mission), is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the Vietnamese spot four stars out of 1,092 reviews.

4. Mau

Photo: Hieu H./Yelp

Mau in the Mission is another go-to, with four stars out of 897 Yelp reviews. Head over to 665 Valencia St. (between Sycamore and 18th streets) to see for yourself.

5. Aux Delices Vietnamese Restaurant

photo:  T./yelp

Last but not least, over in Russian Hill, check out Aux Delices Vietnamese Restaurant, which has earned four stars out of 733 reviews on Yelp. You can find this spot at 2327 Polk St. (between Union and Green streets).

This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
Seamus Mallon has died at the age of 83 (Niall Carson/PA)

Former Stormont deputy first minister Seamus Mallon has died aged 83.

The ex-deputy leader of the nationalist SDLP and MP was an architect of the Northern Ireland peace process and a key figure in negotiating the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which largely halted violence.

He implemented the newborn political powersharing at the devolved parliament at Stormont and his former partner in government and ex-first minister Lord David Trimble said he was a committed democrat who lived up to his word.

Former prime minister Tony Blair negotiated the landmark peace deal with him and said he was a brave advocate of non-violence.

Seamus Mallon was an Irish Patriot. He lived for our country and has left an indelible mark on the lives of everyone who enjoys the peace he helped forge.



I'm proud to have called him a friend. My prayers are with Orla, Mark and Lara. https://t.co/aU9mJRJwB6 pic.twitter.com/QO7Dy3Fi9S  Colum Eastwood (@columeastwood) January 24, 2020

Current SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said: In the darkest days of conflict, when hope was in short supply, Seamus represented the fierce thirst for justice that ran through the SDLP and through communities that had lost so much to political violence.

Mr Mallon was a former teacher who lived in Markethill, Co Armagh, a largely Protestant town.

Just before the 1998 agreement was signed, he went to the houses of two lifelong friends from either side of the religious divide killed by loyalists in nearby Poyntzpass and vowed to seal the deal.

He joined Lord Trimble at the scene as a reminder of how important it was to prevent that from happening again.

Expand Close Seamus Mallon, right, with David Trimble, Bill Clinton and Tony Blair at Stormont (Paul Faith/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Seamus Mallon, right, with David Trimble, Bill Clinton and Tony Blair at Stormont (Paul Faith/PA)

Relations were later tested while in government by differences over the reform of policing but his unionist counterpart praised him for making and then implementing the agreement.

Lord Trimble said: He had a lot to be proud of.

That is a huge achievement.

Even though from then to now there have been huge ups and downs in the political system, there has been no move away from peace.

Mr Blair said he was one of the most important architects of non-violence.

His passion for peace underpinned by truth, justice and reconciliation came from a lifetime as a proud son of Markethill, where he was born, grew up and raised his own familyColum Eastwood

Brave, blunt, often prepared to swim against the tide if he felt it right, he was someone deeply respected and admired across the troubled landscape of Irish politics.

Tough to negotiate with but always for a purpose. Even occasionally fierce but always wise.

Former US President Bill Clinton, who was in office at the time of the Good Friday Agreement and championed peace talks in the 1990s, also paid a touching tribute to Mr Mallon.

He said: From his earliest entry into politics, Seamus never wavered from his vision for a shared future where neighbours of all faiths could live in dignityor from the belief he shared with John Hume and the entire SDLP that nonviolence was the only way to reach that goal.

As his partys chief negotiator in the talks leading to the Good Friday Agreement, he was respected by all parties for his intelligence and integrity, his candour and convictions.

The SDLP spent the decades of violence advocating consensual constitutional politics in opposition to the IRAs bloodshed.

Since 1998, it has been eclipsed in the political polls by Sinn Fein while Mr Trimble was ultimately replaced by his arch critic Ian Paisley at the head of the devolved administration.

Tony Blair: Seamus Mallon was one of the most important architects of peace in Northern Ireland. Brave, blunt, often prepared to swim against the tide if he felt it right, he was someone deeply respected and admired across the troubled landscape of Irish politics. (1/3)  Tony Blair Institute (@InstituteGC) January 24, 2020

Civil rights drew keen sportsman Mr Mallon into politics and the thoughtful and well-read political leader served as an MP for Newry and Armagh; an area which suffered greatly during the 30-year conflict.

Mr Eastwood said: His passion for peace underpinned by truth, justice and reconciliation came from a lifetime as a proud son of Markethill, where he was born, grew up and raised his own family.

It didnt matter who you were, where you worshipped or what your politics were, there was always help to be found at Seamuss hearth.

Current Stormont first and deputy first ministers Arlene Foster and Michelle ONeill also paid tribute.

The First Minister and deputy First Minister have paid tribute to Seamus Mallon following news of his death https://t.co/escbuoqMXM pic.twitter.com/SjF1PIdNTy  NI Executive (@niexecutive) January 24, 2020

Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he was a tireless champion of an inclusive Ireland.

The most senior Catholic cleric in Ireland, Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin, said Mr Mallon was a man of integrity and great courage.

To his dying day, Seamus Mallon remained a man of hope for a brighter future  a shared and respectful future where we all experience a sense of belonging.

Former Irish premier Bertie Ahern also paid tribute along with the current leader of Fianna Fail, Micheal Martin.
Pork prices have doubled in China, but that wont stop families enjoying the traditional dumplings on Lunar New Year.

Beijing, China  On Lunar New Years eve, families across China will gather for a lavish dinner of foods with symbolic meanings: noodles to bring longevity, fish for good fortune, peaches to ensure fertility, and red fruit such as apples and tangerines for good luck.

Reigning supreme, requiring the most labour and sure to bring unmatched comfort and joy, will be the dumplings.

Many Chinese families come together to fold dumplings on the eve of the holiday, which falls on Saturday this year. Dumplings are traditionally eaten between midnight and 2am and in the following days, reheated. They come in many varieties, depending on the region: boiled dumplings (jiaozi) are popular in the north, while southerners prefer steamed buns (baozi).

But regardless of how they are cooked, the filling of choice for dumplings is pork  mixed with cabbage, chives or celery for jiaozi, or stewed in a sweet sauce for baozi.

This years celebrations come on the heels of an outbreak of African swine fever that has wiped out half of Chinas pig population and sent pork prices skyrocketing.

The government has scrambled to release pork from its national reserves and boost imports to keep the price stable, but pork is still twice as expensive  on average  as it was a year ago.

The cost has done little to curb peoples appetite for the meat, however.

Despite the surge in pork prices, the meat remains a key ingredient for the celebratory dinner on the eve of Lunar New Year [Jason Lee/Reuters]

While interest in poultry, beef and lamb has grown in recent years, pork is still the mainstay of Chinese cuisine, accounting for half of household meat consumption, wrote Cui Ernan, an analyst at the Beijing-based firm Gavekal, and nowhere is this more clear than during the Lunar New Year.

Precious childhood memory

Pigs have been central to Chinese households because they thrive in the countrys climate and are relatively easy to look after. During Chinas economic rise in recent decades, which included periods of famine in the 1950s and 60s, pork was more accessible than other types of meat.

When we were children, most Chinese families were poor, said Li Shuang, a 26-year-old graduate student at Renmin University in Beijing. We were excited about the Spring Festival [which includes the Lunar New Year] because we could eat pork. So pork and dumplings remain a precious childhood memory.

Pork also represents the epitome of Lunar New Year feasts. In south China, a lavish treat for the holidays is the golden pig, a pig covered with a sugar glaze with red colouring made of hawthorn fruit to symbolise wealth, said Gene Anderson, an anthropology professor emeritus at the University of California, Riverside, and author of The Food of China, a book about historic Chinese government food policies.

Pork has always been the preferred sacrifice meat because it was special, available, and impressive, Anderson said.

Shi Xinzhong, the owner of Mr Shis Dumplings restaurant in Beijing, says he has not raised prices for his dumplings despite pork prices doubling in the past year [Simina Mistreanu/Al Jazeera]

African swine fever has been devastating Chinas pig population and its farmers since August 2018. The virus, which is harmless to humans but deadly to pigs, spread quickly because farmers and local officials were initially reluctant to report the disease. As many as half of Chinas pigs, an estimated 300 million animals, have since died or been culled to prevent the disease from spreading.

At Beijings renowned Sanyuanli Market, pork prices in the week leading to the Lunar New Year appeared to have stabilised after peaking at the end of 2019. Pork leg was selling for 30 yuan ($4.30) per 500 grammes, while tenderloin was on sale for 38 yuan ($5.50) per 500 grammes. Around the same time last year, pork leg cost 14 yuan per 500 grammes, according to a butcher who gave only her surname, Feng.

Despite the increase in prices, business seemed to be going well. Shoppers lined up to buy various cuts of meat. Pork sales usually double around the Lunar New Year, said An Lihong, a butcher hailing from the northwestern province of Gansu who said she has sold pork at Sanyuanli for 23 years.

Consumers are affected by the price difference, but for the festival, people will still shop, An said. They may buy chicken instead of pork during regular times, but for the festival, they will definitely buy pork.

A festival feeling

Shoppers seemed unbothered by the rise in prices of the staple meat. Gao Ke, a 63-year-old television producer, said he simply did not care about the price. He was buying pork to make his favourite dumplings, with pork and celery.

You cannot make dumplings with chicken, lamb or beef. It doesnt taste as good, he said.

Ethnic Chinese celebrate Lunar New Year with family reunions, decorations and special food; the most important dinner is on the eve of the festival and pork dishes have a special place on the table [Wu Hong/EPA]

Some families will choose to skip folding dumplings and eat at a restaurant instead on Lunar New Year, but pork will still be top of the menu.

Most restaurants have so far absorbed the rising cost and not passed on the extra to their customers, said Shi Xinzhong, the owner of Mr Shis Dumplings restaurant in Beijing.

Shi said he has not raised prices since 2008, when he opened his first restaurant. A portion of pork and chives dumplings  Shis favourite when he was a child  costs 25 yuan ($3.60). Shi said he was expecting pork prices to stabilise by spring, at which point he might raise the dumplings prices.

The 53-year-old entrepreneur remembers that when people were poorer, they still found ways to enjoy the popular dish. When Shi was a child, his family used to make dumplings out of sweet potato flour, which was dark-coloured. The memory of his mother making the dumplings and of his own excitement about eating them puts a smile on his face.

People make dumplings at happy and lucky moments, Shi said. Its a festival feeling.

Qu Chaonan contributed to this report
At least 13 people have died as a powerful storm wreaks havoc in parts of Spain, prompting the government to call for an emergency meeting.

Storm Gloria tore through the Balearic Islands, including popular tourist destination Majorca, last weekend before striking Catalonia, Valencia and the southern regions of Murcia and Andalusia.

Catalan authorities confirmed the two latest deaths on Thursday, including a man who was swept out to sea while fishing near Ametlla de Mar and another found dead in his car in Cabaces, where there was flooding.

According to local reports, five people have gone missing since the storm hit the country. Local residents said they had "never seen anything like this" after reflecting on the damage wrought by Storm Gloria.

Spain's prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, told reporters during a visit to worst-affected areas: I think whats important right now is that were all united, that we work shoulder-to-shoulder and cooperate, as we are doing.

Streets turned to rivers as flash-flooding, hail and tornado hit Spain Show all 10 1 /10 Streets turned to rivers as flash-flooding, hail and tornado hit Spain Streets turned to rivers as flash-flooding, hail and tornado hit Spain Lightning strikes during a thunderstorm after a hot day in San Sebastian, Spain, 26 August 2019. EPA/Javier Etxezarreta Streets turned to rivers as flash-flooding, hail and tornado hit Spain People remove hail from street in Arganda del Rey, Madrid, Spain, 26 August 2019. EPA/Rodrigo Jimenez Streets turned to rivers as flash-flooding, hail and tornado hit Spain A car is damaged after the floods in Navas del Marques, Avila, Spain, 26 August 2019. EPA/Raul Sanchidrian Streets turned to rivers as flash-flooding, hail and tornado hit Spain People remove water caused by heavy rains in Arganda del Rey, Madrid, Spain, 26 August 2019. EPA/Rodrigo Jimenez Streets turned to rivers as flash-flooding, hail and tornado hit Spain People remove hail in Arganda del Rey, Madrid, Spain, 26 August 2019. EPA/Rodrigo Jimenez Streets turned to rivers as flash-flooding, hail and tornado hit Spain Still image taken from video of heavy rain in Arganda del Rey, Madrid, Spain, 26 August 2019. Isaac Garcia via Reuters Streets turned to rivers as flash-flooding, hail and tornado hit Spain Neighbours help clear a private car park after floods affected Borox, Toledo, Spain, 26 August 2019. EPA/Ismael Herrero Streets turned to rivers as flash-flooding, hail and tornado hit Spain A woman looks at the damage in a shop in Arganda del Rye, Madrid, Spain, 27 August 2019. EPA/David Fernandez Streets turned to rivers as flash-flooding, hail and tornado hit Spain Still image taken from video shows cars swept away by floodwater after heavy rainfall hit Arganda del Rey neighbourhood in Madrid, Spain, 26 August 2019. Larisa Andrei/via Reuters Streets turned to rivers as flash-flooding, hail and tornado hit Spain Buildings are reflected on a big puddle a day after heavy rains caused floods in parts of Madrid, Spain, 27 August 2019. EPA/Mariscal

He added the government will hold an emergency meeting on Friday to address short- and medium-term needs and security.

The storm caused the Ebro River Delta, between Barcelona and Valencia, to swell up to three kilometres inland, flooding an estimated 3,000 hectares of paddy fields in the area, reported local newspaper El Pais.

In the coastal town of Tossa de Mar, thick carpets of sea foam submerged the streets and coated the walls of buildings up to several metres on Wednesday.

The national weather authority said the storm had begun to recede, but more than 100 roads are still shut and tens of thousands of students were told to stay home from school.

Mr Sanchez also added Storm Glorias chaos was made worse by climate change.

Meteorological phenomena we are witnessing arent entirely due to climate change, but what is also true is that climate change is accentuating them.

Public administrations have to shift fears and focus our economic resources and public policies  on a new element, and that is climate change, he said.

Storm Gloria also affected parts of France, including the Pyrenees-Orientales in southern France, and more than 1,500 people were evacuated from their homes due to flooding.
After US President Donald Trump's announcement that he will finally launch his long-awaited Middle East peace plan next week, the response among many Palestinians Friday was a collective shrug. Trump said the plan, which has been delayed multiple times, would finally be released by next Tuesday when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his political rival Benny Gantz will meet him in Washington. But the Palestinian leadership was not invited, amid a series of rows between president Mahmud Abbas and Trump over the US leader's pro-Israel stance. In the heart of the West Bank city of Ramallah, where the Palestinian government is based, many people entering a mosque for Friday prayers were not even aware of Trump's announcement the previous day. Others said they did not expect anything positive from a president they see as totally biased. "Trump represents no one but himself, and this is a crazy president," said Munther Abu Awad, clutching a blue prayer mat. "What he announced is in favour of Israel." Hossam Abdul Raheem, 57, said he expected the plan to be announced and then forgotten. "This deal will fail completely," he predicted. "Whatever they do will not affect us as we have nothing to lose." During prayers, the mosque's sheikh condemned the Trump peace plan, which Palestinians sarcastically label the "deal of the century". - 'Working in Israel's interests' - Nasser Nassar, 57, works as a teacher by day and bus driver by night to pay the bills. He had little positive to say about the peace push. "Trump considers himself the president of the world and not only the United States, and the fact is he is working in Israel's interests." But he blamed the Palestinian leadership as much as the Israelis for the conditions in the Palestinian territories, where around a quarter of the population lives in poverty. "The leadership drove us to a place where we are chasing a living and we forgot all important causes." Israel has occupied east Jerusalem and the West Bank since the 1967 Six Day War. More than 600,000 Israelis now live there in settlements considered illegal under international law. Palestinians see east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state and Abbas cut ties with Trump after he recognised the city as Israel's capital. The Republican president has taken a series of other steps that have thrilled right-winger Netanyahu but appalled Palestinians. Israeli media reported what they said were leaks of parts of Trump's plan, including that it could grant full sovereignty to Israel over Jerusalem and West Bank settlements. In exchange the Palestinians would get some kind of a demilitarised statehood in the remaining territory. Trump later tweeted that the reports were merely "speculative" and that the full details would be revealed later. - 'How do you respond?' - Both Israeli and Palestinian analysts were sceptical Friday as to whether the plan could be implemented. Nour Odeh, a Palestinian political analyst in the West Bank, said the details, if confirmed, would be impossible for any Palestinian leader to accept. "Trump wants the Palestinians to join Likud (Netanyahu's party), that's basically the requirement. "There is nothing to engage with. I think for the Palestinians and the world, the question becomes how do you respond?" Trump has been hopeful of gaining support for the plan from Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations to pressure Abbas. But in Yediot Ahronot, Israel's biggest selling daily, commentator Nahum Barnea wrote that the alleged details made that unlikely. "No Arab leader, even Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman... will be able to support the plan publicly." He warned that Israeli security services would be concerned as to how "will the Palestinian street react." Ofer Zalzberg, an Israeli analyst at the International Crisis Group think-tank, said while the plan was designed to support Netanyahu's right-wing agenda, it could cause tension with some of his allies. Defence Minister Naftali Bennett's New Right party relies heavily on the support of religious-Zionists who are pro-settler and oppose concessions on the land they consider given to Jews by God. Many Likud ministers and lawmakers subscribe to the same theology. "I have yet to see any religious Zionist politician on the right supporting this," Zalzberg said. Palestinians in the West Bank city of Ramallah expect little from Trump's peace plan to be announced next week Trump hosted Netanyahu at the White House in March 2019, signing a proclamation recognising the annexed Golan Heights as Israel sovereign territory
The Foreign Secretary has said the Government would have acted differently from the US secretary of state after he refused to return the suspect charged with causing the death of Harry Dunn to the UK.

Dominic Raab appeared to suggest he would have agreed to extradite 42-year-old Anne Sacoolas if he was put in the same position as Mike Pompeo.

Mr Raab said the rejection of an extradition request for her amounts to a denial of justice and that the Foreign Office believes she should return to the UK.

The 19-year-olds parents have welcomed the support from the Foreign Office but have said their decision to continue to defend legal proceedings against them is a huge arm around the US governments position.

Expand Close Harry Dunns mother Charlotte Charles (David Mirzoeff/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Harry Dunns mother Charlotte Charles (David Mirzoeff/PA)

Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn said Mr Raab will effectively make us bankrupt after insisting the family pay legal costs for the judicial review which challenges the diplomatic immunity granted to Mrs Sacoolas following the crash.

Mr Dunns parents were informed of Mr Pompeos decision to refuse the request in a phone call with their constituency MP, Andrea Leadsom, on Thursday.

Lawyers acting for the Dunn family have said it is the first time in the 100-year history of the extradition treaty that such a request has been turned down by the US.

A spokesman for the US State Department said the request was rejected because it would render the invocation of diplomatic immunity a practical nullity and set an extraordinarily troubling precedent.

The teenager died when his motorbike crashed into a car outside RAF Croughton in August last year.

Mrs Sacoolas, 42, claimed diplomatic immunity following the crash and was able to return to her home country, sparking an international controversy.

The Foreign Office maintains the suspect had diplomatic immunity, which has been disputed by the family, but Mr Raab said he would look to resolve the issue surrounding any immunity given to staff at the base.

The Foreign Secretary said he expressed his disappointment at the decision to refuse the extradition request to the US ambassador on Friday.

I have just called the US Ambassador to express the Govts disappointment about the US extradition decision on Harry Dunns case. We feel this amounts to a denial of justice, and that Anne Sacoolas should return to the UK. We are now urgently considering our options.  Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) January 24, 2020

I called the US ambassador earlier to express the Governments disappointment about this decision, he said.

We feel this amounts to a denial of justice, and we believe Anne Sacoolas should return to the UK. We are now urgently considering our options.

I also explained that the UK would have acted differently if this had been a UK diplomat serving in the US.

Expand Close Harrys mother Charlotte Charles, his stepfather Bruce Charles, family spokesman Radd Seiger, father Tim Dunn and stepmother Tracey Dunn (David Mirzoeff/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Harrys mother Charlotte Charles, his stepfather Bruce Charles, family spokesman Radd Seiger, father Tim Dunn and stepmother Tracey Dunn (David Mirzoeff/PA)

Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom, the constituency MP for Harry Dunns family, met them on Friday afternoon in Northamptonshire.

She earlier held talks with US ambassador Woody Johnson, the commander of RAF Croughton Colonel Bridget McNamara and the Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police at an undisclosed location.

Mrs Leadsom, addressing what she said to the US ambassador, said: I expressed my disappointment on behalf of Harrys family, but also really importantly for the local community near to the RAF Croughton base.

Its very concerning that this, which was at its heart a tragic road accident  which does unfortunately happen all the time, right across the world  but in this instance, the fact that there is no justice for Harry, makes the pain of losing him so much worse and thats what we have to address.

Of the meeting with Harrys family, she said: Weve been talking about the frustrating news that the extradition was refused yesterday by the US government.

Obviously Harrys family are disappointed and very upset by that, but equally very determined that the driver of the car that killed Harry Dunn should be brought back to the United Kingdom to face justice. We are absolutely united in our determination to get justice for Harry.

Expand Close Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom and Harry Dunns mother Charlotte Charles after their meeting Towcester,(Jacob King/PA Wire) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom and Harry Dunns mother Charlotte Charles after their meeting Towcester,(Jacob King/PA Wire)

Asked if Boris Johnson would comment on the case, Ms Leadsom said: The Prime Minister is very much on the side of the family in their desire to see justice done for Harry. All of us in Government are working to that end.

Harrys father Tim Dunn described the meeting with Mrs Leadsom as promising and added: Some things we agree on and some things we dont agree on. But I feel like shes behind us, I really do.

The teenagers mother Charlotte Charles said, referring to Mrs Sacoolas: She has to come back. I still dont understand how she can even live with herself and carry on with her life and drive.

I dont understand that, she must be made of different stuff to us, I dont know. But she has to come back, one way or another.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 14:28:39|Editor: Shi Yinglun

Video Player Close

YANGON, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar took note of International Court of Justice (ICJ)'s decision on provisional measures in connection with a lawsuit filed by Gambia, according to a statement from Myanmar's Foreign Affairs Ministry late Thursday.

"It is important for Myanmar that the court reaches a factually correct decision on the merits of the case," said the ministry's statement.

Gambia, on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), submitted an application to the ICJ against Myanmar over alleged violation of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in Rakhine state.

The ICJ issued provisional measures on Thursday, after public oral hearings was done by both sides last month.

The statement said the unsubstantiated condemnation to Myanmar by some human rights actors has presented "a distorted picture" of the situation in Rakhine and has hampered Myanmar's ability to lay the foundation for sustainable development in the region.

The ministry also stressed that there has been no genocide in Rakhine state, according to the recent findings by the Independent Commission of Enquiry (ICOE).

The ICOE found that war crimes had occurred, and those are now being investigated and prosecuted by Myanmar's national criminal justice system, said the ministry.
The plight of baby kangaroos and koalas orphaned by Australia's bushfires has prompted a sewing frenzy in France, where an appeal for cloth pouches for the animals has reaped thousands of contributions.

The call for international help was first issued by Australia's Animal Rescue Collective Craft Guild and promptly shared by the Australian Park, a wildlife reserve in the southwestern French town of Carcassonne.

Within a few days, schools, retirement homes and sewing enthusiasts had begun churning out small bags in which to swaddle the stranded creatures.

"We were completely surprised and overwhelmed by the outpouring of generosity that came from all parts of France," Carole Masson, the park's director, told AFP.

The apocalyptic wildfires that ravaged vast tracts of southern and eastern Australia over the past five months have killed an estimated one billion animals, an ecological disaster unprecedented in the country's history.

Rescue workers have been searching forests strewn with charred animal corpses for creatures that survived.

Baby marsupials that lost their mothers to the fires or fell out of the pouches in which they were carried while fleeing the flames are seen as particularly vulnerable.

To continue developing they need to be bottle-fed and placed in a surrogate pouch, which needs to be regularly changed because it collects the baby's urine and feces.

"You need thirty per baby kangaroo," said Masson, a biologist who is herself rearing a six-month-old kangaroo joey that fell out of its mother's pouch in the park in Carcassonne.

On the day AFP visited the reserve, her assistant Annia Aubry was giving sewing instructions over the phone to a volunteer.

"No, you can't use synthetic fabric," she says, adding that a so-called French seam that folds in all extraneous fabric is required to avoid the young marsupials snagging their claws on the stitching.

Size also matters, with koalas, possums, wallabies and other marsupials all requiring pouches of different proportions.

Such has been the reaction to the appeal, which was widely covered by local media, that the park has stopped accepting pouches and is now recruiting volunteers to sort all the donations.

Masson attributed the massive public response to a desire by people to act in the face of disaster and "be part of the solution, at their own level."



In the northern coastal town of Boulogne-sur-Mer last week, a group of women armed with sewing machines gathered in the social centre to do their bit for Australia's biodiversity.

Over the course of five days, they stitched a hundred pouches, using fabric donated by local residents.

Francine, a volunteer in her sixties, told AFP that the initiative had "restored my faith in human nature."



"We're living in an individualistic world where everyone is focused on their phone. This was a nice project that brought people together," she said.

In Carcassonne, ten women aged 30 to 60 took part in a pouch-making workshop.

The French have also dug deep to help ship the wraps to Australia in February, with a crowd-funding campaign raising nearly 13,000 euros ($14,400) towards the cost.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 24

By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:

United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will visit Kazakhstan with a working visit, Kazakhstans Minister of Foreign Affairs Mukhtar Tleuberdi said, Trend reports with reference to Kazakh media.

According to Tleuberdi, the visit is planned for Feb.1-2, 2020.

Pompeo was to visit Kazakhstan in the beginning of Jan. 2020, however due to scheduling conflicts, the visit did not happen.

The development of a comprehensive partnership with the US is one of the main priorities of our country's foreign policy. Political dialogue is being consistently developed at all levels, including the highest one.

At the current stage, the Kazakh-American cooperation is determined by the agreements reached as a result of the official visit of First President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev to the United States (January 15-18, 2018), during which the two leaders adopted the Joint Statement Kazakhstan and United States: An Enhanced Strategic Partnership for the 21st Century.

---

Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh
BEMIDJI, Minn.  A former congressman and candidate for U.S. Senate visited Bemidji on Thursday, Jan. 23, to meet with voters and discuss the refugee topic that's been circulating in the community for most of January.

Jason Lewis, who's running on the Republican side to unseat Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., spoke about his platform, with a focus on the refugee topic, and also took questions from the crowd of about 100 people.

The refugee issue stems from a Beltrami County Board meeting on Jan. 7 where commissioners voted 3-2 to opt out of the United States Refugee Resettlement Program. The action was authorized by an executive order from President Donal Trump, which gave state and local government units the authority to either opt in or out of the program.

That vote has become temporarily null after an injunction was issued in federal court halting the executive order. However, the subject has remained a hot-button issue locally.

The Jan. 7 meeting had a crowd of about 200, while the next county meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 21, where the topic was not on the agenda and therefore up for community comment, attracted nearly 150 people. Lewis' event also had a big crowd, with roughly 100 people on both sides of the issue turning out to hear him speak.

ADVERTISEMENT

Following the county's vote on Jan. 7, Lewis said he supported the decision in a press release. On Thursday, he reiterated his backing of the 3-2 vote.

"What is wrong with a county, in a free country and a free state, saying 'we're concerned about costs and we're concerned about this fiscally, so let's take a pause?'" Lewis said. "That's why I'm here. I wanted to make certain that you're not alone. That you're good people just trying to do what's best for your community."

As part of his comments, Lewis said a key part of his support for the county was the local control in the decision.

"What is so scary about local control, when the people clamoring the loudest for sanctuary cities on the basis of local control want nothing to do with an executive order on refugee local control," Lewis said.

During the question-and-answer part of the event, an attendee asked the candidate about the possibility of changing laws to not allow Muslims to hold office, to which Lewis said, "I would not be in favor of that. Religious affiliation can never be a test for public office. We can do our battles on what it means to preserve what it means to be an American without getting into a religious test."

Before running for the Senate seat, Lewis, a former radio host, served a term in the United States House of Representatives, winning in Minnesota's 2nd Congressional District in 2016. In 2018, he was defeated by Rep. Angie Craig.

On the GOP side of the 2020 race, Lewis is competing with assistant North Central University professor Rob Barrett Jr.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 24)  Close to 500 Chinese tourists who arrived in Kalibo, Aklan from the Chinese city where the novel coronavirus outbreak began, will be transported back to their point of origin this week, an aviation official confirmed Friday.

Civil Aviation Board Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla said that air carriers Royal Air Charter and Pan Pacific Airline will ferry the visitors back to Wuhan in three batches: Friday night, Saturday and Monday. The planes will then return to Kalibo without passengers. That's despite the transport clampdown in Wuhan, where the new virus called 2019-nCoV originated.

Pan Pacific operates charter flights on the Wuhan-Kalibo route Tuesdays to Sundays while Royal Air on Mondays to Saturdays. Those flights have since been suspended except for the three ferry flights to bring home the nearly 500 tourists from Kalibo.

Three cities in central China, including Wuhan, the city of 11 million people, are under lockdown, as Chinese authorities race to contain a deadly virus that has reached parts Asia and the United States. CNN reported that at least 26 people have died and 830 others infected in China as of Friday.

Arcilla said the airlines have the clearance to repatriate the foreigners because they are Wuhan residents.

Wyrlou Samodio, CAB's chief legal officer, said the tourists' return to China were based on the decision of the two charter companies, who coordinated with Wuhan authorities, and the Philippine aviation board's directive to suspend flights to and from that Chinese city.

He said some of the tourists were already due to return home, while others had to cut short or could not extend their trips because of the suspension of flights to Wuhan.

Among them are the 135 foreigners who flew in Thursday, hours before Philippine authorities announced that as a precautionary measure, it will suspend flights to and from Wuhan, Aklan Provincial Health Officer Cornelio Cuachon said Friday.

None of them was quarantined and referred for hospital care as they did not show the red flag symptoms of the 2019-nCoV such as fever.

But Arcilla said that strict health screenings in airports across the country since January 5 are not a "guarantee" that the new coronavirus will not enter the country.

He added the incubation period of the new respiratory virus, which is still undetermined, needs to be considered. After that period, the infected person usually would have fever, cough and colds, breathing difficulties, shortness of breath.

Arcilla said international passengers, especially those from China, were advised to see a doctor in case they feel they got the flu or another respiratory disease.

Travel ban sought

Senator Risa Hontiveros said Philippine authorities should consider a month-long travel ban for any person who "came from or have passed through" Wuhan to prevent the spread of the deadly disease into the country.

"In addition, authorities must place residents of Wuhan presently in the country and those with flu-like symptoms who have traveled through China in the past 14 days under health surveillance," she said in a statement.

The measure is an extra precaution on top of the Philippine government's decision to suspend all flights coming from the Chinese city where the disease originated.

A 5-year-old boy who flew from Wuhan to Kalibo, Aklan tested positive for an unidentified coronavirus earlier this week, but eventually tested negative in a subsequent test done by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine. His samples have been sent to a laboratory in Australia for tests to confirm if he has 2019-nCov.

'No public health emergency yet'

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization declared that the Wuhan coronavirus, which has sparked widespread fears of a deadly pandemic, is not yet a public health emergency of international concern.

WHO defines a public health emergency of international concern as "an extraordinary event" constituting a "public health risk to other States through the international spread of disease and to potentially require a coordinated international response."

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more serious diseases such as such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, according to the World Health Organization. They can be transmitted between animal and human or from infected human to another human, WHO said.
The Mangalore University has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research (IGCAR), Kalpakkam, for conducting joint research in the field of radioecology.

A university release here said under the agreement, the Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Radioactivity (CARER) at Mangalore University will conduct joint research with scientists of IGCAR on 'site-specific transfer parameters.'



The research programme, to be funded by IGCAR, will also offer junior research fellowships and Technical Assistantship.

Interested candidates having M.Sc (Physics) qualification are asked to send their applications for the fellowship to Principal Investigator, IGCAR-Mangalore University MoU research programme, Mangalore University before February 5, the release said.

The CARER has been established by Mangalore University as a national facility through financial support from the Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences and Department of Atomic Energy, with scientific and technical support from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Hannah Agpoon

agpoonha@grinnell.edu

Kamal Hammouda, chef at Relish, will be stepping down from his position to run for a seat in the Iowa House of Representatives.

Since 2012, Hammouda has been serving fresh, locally sourced cuisine at Relish, which he co-owns with his wife, Laura Fendt. Situated on the corner of Park Street and Fourth Avenue, the cheery yellow home is as inviting as the aromas that waft from its kitchen.

Though many now know the couple as the beloved owners of Relish, Hammouda and Fendt have been making contributions to the Grinnell community since long before they opened their current restaurant. After settling down with their family after living in Des Moines and other parts of the world, Hammouda was determined to bring a taste of his own culture to the people of Grinnell.

I opened my first place [in Grinnell] in 1992 called The Last Egyptian just down a block [from Relish], and I lost the lease. Some of the customers didnt want to see me go, so they asked me to put together a proposal. Our customers financed us to restart twice. Thats what kept us here, the community that we built. They helped us long before GoFundMe ever existed, said Hammouda.

It was this connection with people and the compassion shared between them and their customers that kept Hammouda and Fendt living in Grinnell for over 25 years. Since he opened The Last Egyptian, Hammouda has been a proponent of using local foods to create dishes. Thus, he has built relationships with local farmers who have sourced many of his ingredients.

After 28 years of dedicated service to the Grinnell community, however, the couple is ready to take a well-deserved break from the restaurant business.

Im old. Restaurant work demands standing on your feet [for] many hours, and I need to step back and take it a little easy, said Hammouda.

The couple is preparing to retire this coming summer and is in search of someone new who could take over the restaurant. But Hammouda is looking to shift his career goals to continue serving others on a much broader scale.

He is running as an independent for District 76s seat in the Iowa House of Representatives in 2020. District 76 is currently represented by Republican David E. Maxwell, who has held the office since 2012.

As he prepares for the upcoming election, help floods in from college students, current and past Relish faculty members, and other Grinnell citizens that want to assist Hammouda in his political endeavor.

Some of the community members are disappointed that I am stopping [my work at the restaurant], but by and large, they are supporting, said Hammouda.

He feels that his years of experience cooking at and running his own restaurant will make him prepared for a position in the Iowa State House.

Its all about service. Whats a restaurant but providing a service? And what is being a representative but being a service to the people?

Hammouda focuses on a number of important issues in his campaign, including an improved quality of water, sustainable farming practices, quality of public education and affordable health care. Another important reason that he decided to run is to represent the Muslim and immigrant populations of the United States whose opinions often go unheard.

I got tired of [others] attacking immigrants and Muslims. [Politicians] do not speak up for us, and nobody is going to speak up for us. Really, nobody does, said Hammouda.

His frustration was piqued when Minnesota U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar, one of the first two Muslim women to be elected to Congress, was threatened and plagued with racist and Islamophobic remarks.

Both [the Republican and Democratic] parties just attacked her, and I found it totally unacceptable. People are afraid to speak favorably about Muslims, and the Republican and the Democratic Party are typically both talking about the rights of immigrants, said Hammouda. What both sides are forgetting is white people are the invaders of this land. A server of the land, not the native. So maybe all of us should leave and leave it back to the Native Americans, if they are so adamant about anti-immigration [policies].

As he strives to stay out of the feuds between parties, Hammouda advocates that voters select political candidates based on the candidates personal beliefs rather than a party affiliation.

I just want people to know that they can participate in the political process, and that they should participate in the political process, and they should not rely on others to do it for them, said Hammouda.

For more information on Hammoudas campaign for the State House, visit his website, kamalforiowa2020.com.
Democratic House prosecutors launched their final arguments Friday at Donald Trump's impeachment trial insisting the president only released congressionally approved military money to Ukraine because he had "gotten caught" withholding it.

"The scheme was unravelling," said Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado, a former Army ranger, as the prosecution wrapped up its presentation on the first article of impeachment, abuse of power, before turning to the charge of obstruction of Congress.

As Democrats pressed their case before sceptical Republican senators for a third day, the president's legal team was preparing its defence, expected to start Saturday.

Trump, eyes on the audience beyond the Senate chamber, bemoaned the schedule in a tweet, saying "looks like my lawyers will be forced to start on Saturday, which is called Death Valley in TV".

The Senate jurors faced another long day Friday armed with pens and paper and, for Republicans, the gift of fidget spinners for the historic trial.

The president is being tried in the Senate after the House impeached him last month, accusing him of abusing his office by asking Ukraine for politically motivated probes of political foe Joe Biden and Biden's son while withholding military aid from a US ally that was at war with bordering Russia.

The second article of impeachment accuses him of obstructing Congress by refusing to turn over documents or allow officials to testify in the House probe.

Crow, a freshman lawmaker, said the money for Ukraine was released once Congress intervened.

"It wasn't lifted for any legitimate reason," Crow told the senators. "It was only lifted because President Trump had gotten caught."



Republicans have defended Trump's actions as appropriate and are casting the process as a politically motivated effort to weaken him in his reelection campaign.

Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, and acquittal is considered likely.

The Senate is heading next week toward a pivotal vote on Democratic demands for testimony from top Trump aides, including acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and former national security adviser John Bolton who refused to appear before the House. It would take four Republican senators to join the Democratic minority to seek witnesses, and so far the numbers appear lacking.

"This needs to end," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a Trump confidant. He said he doesn't want to hear from Bolton or the Bidens.

With Chief Justice John Roberts presiding, Democrats argued on Thursday that Trump's motives were apparent, that he abused power like no other president in history, swept up by a "completely bogus" Ukraine theory pushed by attorney Rudy Giuliani.

Rep. Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, made an emotional plea late Thursday for senators to consider what was at stake.

"Let me tell you something. If right doesn't matter, it doesn't matter how good the Constitution is," Schiff told a pin-drop-quiet room. "If you find him guilty you must find that he should be removed. Because right matters."



They argued that Trump's abuse was for his own personal political benefit ahead of the 2020 election, even as the nation's top FBI and national security officials were publicly warning off the theory that it was Ukraine, not Russia, that interfered in the 2016 election.

"That's what Donald Trump wanted investigated or announced this completely bogus Kremlin-pushed conspiracy theory," Schiff declared.

The Democrats' challenge is clear as they try to convince not just fidgety senators but an American public divided over the Republican president in an election year.

A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed the public slightly more likely to say the Senate should convict and remove Trump from office than to say it should not, 45 per cent to 40 per cent. But a sizable percentage, 14 per cent, said they didn't know enough to have an opinion.

One issue with wide agreement: Trump should allow top aides to appear as witnesses at the trial. About 7 in 10 respondents said so, including majorities of Republicans and Democrats, according to the poll.

After both sides have concluded their arguments next week, senators will face the question of whether to call witnesses to testify. But that issue has seemed all but settled. Republicans rejected Democratic efforts to get Trump aides, including Bolton and Mulvaney, to testify in back-to-back votes earlier this week.

As for the Ukraine connections, evidence has shown that Trump, with Giuliani, pursued investigations of Biden and his son, Hunter, who served on a Ukrainian gas company's board, and sought the probe of debunked theories of what nation was guilty of interference in the 2016 US election.

It's a story line many in the president's camp are still pushing. Giuliani, in an appearance Friday on 'Fox & Friends', insisted he would present evidence on his new podcast of "collusion going on in Ukraine to fix the 2016 election in favour of Hillary" Clinton.

Democrats, in their Senate prosecution, seemed to be anticipating arguments expected from the president's defenders.

At one point, they showed video of a younger Lindsey Graham, then a South Carolina congressman and now a GOP senator allied with Trump, arguing during Bill Clinton's 1999 impeachment that no crime was needed for impeaching a president.

The president's defenders' turn will come Saturday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
NEW HAVEN  John Ginnetti on Thursday testified in graphic detail about an afternoon of consensual but rough sex in a motel room culminating in an argument and the complainant allegedly lunging toward him with a knife.

Ginnettis account was diametrically opposed to what the complainant told Superior Court jurors Tuesday. She said that after the two had consensual sex, he came out of the bathroom with tape, forcibly taped her mouth and wrists, then stabbed her three times in the neck. She said she was fighting for my life.

Ginnetti, 71, whose address was listed as Warpas Road in Madison at the time of his arrest on a charge of first-degree assault Nov. 8, 2018, testified in a loud, firm voice for nearly three hours. Ginnetti, who is in custody with bail set at $500,000, wore a blue dress shirt, tie and gray pants.

Under questioning by his attorney, Kevin Smith, Ginnetti described his relationship with the woman as evolving over many decades. They met at Fair Haven Junior High School and continued to be friends at Wilbur Cross High School. But he said their relationship was not physical then.

I almost invited her to the prom, he said. But no, we were just friends.

Ginnetti testified they lost contact until a chance encounter at the Yale Bookstore in 1981. Later that day, he said, We essentially had a one-night stand.

He said they again fell out of contact until they reconnected at their 50-year high school reunion in 2016. They then kept in touch via email and telephone for several months until early in 2017 when they began to meet for coffee. He said he wasnt aware she was married.

Their relationship became sexually intimate in March 2017, he recalled. Asked how this happened, he said, Kind of out of the blue she sent me an email, a torrid account of what she would like the relationship to become. It was very explicit.

Because Ginnetti did not have a home and the woman didnt want her husband to know what was going on, they would have their sexual encounters in motels, he testified. Usually it was the Motel 6 in Branford, the site of their confrontation in November 2018.

Ginnetti said in October 2018 she invited him to stay at her house for a week while her husband was out of town. He said they engaged in rough sex and bondage practically on a daily basis during that week.

However, he said, There was never a desire to hurt.

Ginnetti testified that she occasionally groomed areas of his body with the knife that they later struggled over during their motel fight.

Their relationship grew tense in late October 2018 when she asked him to share an apartment with her, he testified. I refused to sign the lease because I didnt want to live with her, he said. He said she then backed out of the lease.

On their last day together, he drove her to the motel but he said he didnt originally intend that they would have sex. I had told her I needed to end the sexual part of our relationship because I was dating another woman and couldnt be involved sexually with two people at the same time.

But he said, She asked for one more session of sex before we ended things. I hesitatingly agreed. I had a date that night.

When they got to the hotel room, he testified, She was very angry that this was going to be the last time. I was wearing a rosary with a crucifix. As I was getting undressed, she ripped it off my neck and called me a hypocrite for breaking up with her.

But he said they then had intercourse for 35 or 40 minutes.

He testified about going into the bathroom, where he retrieved a roll of hot pink tape and the folding knife. She had said that was something that she wanted. As far as I was concerned, it was because she and I wanted to make it memorable.

He testified that after she unbound her wrists, she had the knife in her hand and she was coming at me, lunging toward me.

Ginnetti said he grabbed her wrist. She was growling. I said, You really cant do this. This is stupid. This is dangerous. Her arms kinds of collapsed on her chest. She kind of yelped. I noticed a wound on her neck that was bleeding.

Ginnetti said he took the knife from her and threw it across the room. I assumed shed stabbed herself. I put the pillow on her neck to apply pressure to stop the bleeding. She said, I will make you pay for this. Youre going to be sorry you ever met me. 

Ginnetti testified he told her to keep the pillow applied to her neck and he left the room to get his car so he could drive her to a hospital. He said he didnt go through the lobby to do this because I was half-naked and I had blood on me. I didnt want to raise any eyebrows.

But he said as he started to back his car out of the parking space, a police officer blocked his path. He recalled seeing another officer 20 feet away, pointing a gun at me.

During a 75-minute cross-examination by Assistant States Attorney Reed Durham, Ginnetti maintained he was not in any way responsible for the womans three neck wounds or for her fractured nose and bruising around her right eye.

Ginnetti said he did not intentionally stab her. There was a struggle, he said.

She caused these injuries to herself? Durham asked. Did she do it three times?

Ginnetti replied: I believe so.

Ginnetti said the woman punched him three times and he had lacerations on his left arm. But he said he didnt ask for medical aid until he got to the Branford police station. I was pretty much in shock.

Durham also asked: On Nov. 8 you werent upset that she had pulled the rug out from under you and ended the relationship? Ginnetti replied: Absolutely not.

Durham asked him how a 70-year-old woman who had had shoulder surgery could have attacked him. Coming at a 70-year-old man, yes, Ginnetti said.

Durham also asked Ginnetti if he remembered texting his sister that you were so distraught about the relationship ending that you were going to drink anti-freeze. He said he did not recall that, although Durham noted it was in the police report.

Ginnetti was also asked about being taken to the hospital Oct. 31, 2018, and staying there for several days. He told Durham he has no memory of this.

randall.beach@hearstmediact.com
The father of a missing Briton feared to have drowned when Storm Gloria battered Ibiza has accepted the crushing probability his son 'isn't coming home'.

After 25-year-old Ben Garland's jacket was found drifting in the sea, Mark Garland last night said: 'I think we now have to accept the worst possible news that our Ben isn't coming home.'

The yachtsman from Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, who crews on a yacht on the Spanish island, vanished on Tuesday after going on a motorbike ride in the torrid weather.

Mark's emotionally raw statement came after Spanish coastguards found Ben's ID in the coat floating 1,000ft off the coast of Punta des Gat - near to the beach where the Briton is believed to have disappeared.

He continued: 'Everyone that knew Ben knew what a kind caring lad he was and he always entered a room with a smile on his face.

'The authorities over here have been amazing and have never given up the hope of finding Ben alive.

'My family would ask that you allow us some time now to try and come to terms with this horrendous news.'

The grieving father also paid tribute to Ben, from Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, on Facebook via a touching video of the two of them together on a road trip.

Ben Garland, 25, from Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, has been missing since Tuesday and is feared to have drowned in Storm Gloria

Mark Garland (second from left) on the cliff tops of Ibiza with Spanish search and rescue yesterday

Family and friends of Ben continue to search for him but have confronted the crushing probability of his death

The heartbreaking clip shows the son singing along to Poison's Every Rose Has It's Thorn including the lyrics: 'Just like every night has its dawn. Just like every cowboy sings his sad, sad song.'

Mark accompanied the video with the words: 'Full of life. A typical road trip with Ben. This young man brightened up everyones life. Going to miss you Benji.'

The bus driver, who has flown to Ibiza to join in the search, admitted he had not slept in 38 hours.

Earlier on Facebook he explained the magnitude of the search: 'There has not been any sightings of him as of yet. We have had to come down from the cliff tops as the dogs are now searching a large area.

'There are lots of police, fire and rescue plus volunteers out looking and the lifeboat is scouring the coastline.'

Ben Garland, 25, has been missing since Tuesday when he went on a motorcycle ride around the island. The bike was found abandoned but there was no sign of Mr Garland

In a direct message to well-wishers who have donated thousands of pounds to a JustGiving campaign to raise funds to help find Mr Garland, he added: 'Can we as a family thank every single one of you for your messages of support and prayers being sent.

'Also thank you to everyone who has donated to the JustGiving campaign.'

Ben is one of three people who are still missing in the Balearic Islands following the start of Storm Gloria, which began battering many parts of Spain on Sunday.

A 34-year-old man named as David Cabrera, 34, disappeared on Monday in Majorca. Mr Garland is one of two people believed to have been swept into the sea in separate incidents in Ibiza.

The search for the Briton has focused on the area near Cala Portinax, a beach in the north of the island where his motorbike was found and he is thought to have taken pictures he posted on social media by the sea on Tuesday afternoon.

Rescue workers are searching the coastline in Ibiza for a missing British man who is feared to have been swept into the sea during heavy storms

The captain of the Ibiza-based yacht Ben is a crew member of raised the alarm just before midnight on Tuesday after he failed to return and his phone went unanswered.

Ten people have so far died in incidents linked to Storm Gloria, including three from hypothermia.

Worried friends of Ben appealed on social media for anyone who may have seen him.

His uncle Kirk Garland wrote on Facebook: 'My nephew Ben Garland has been missing for over 18 hours. Please everybody pray for him to be found safe and well.'

He later added: 'Please God let Ben Garland be found safe and well.'

Ben, who had been working as a crew member on a boat, vanished in the Portinatx area of the municipality of Sant Joan de Labritja.

The northern part of Ibiza has been lashed by Storm Gloria, which has caused an intense swell that has led to the cancellation of all maritime connections from the island.

Rescue workers believe the missing Brit could have fallen into the sea.

He was one of the crew of a boat which docked in the port of Ibiza. The captain reported him missing after went on a tour of the island on a motorcycle on his day off but didn't return.

The bike has been found in Cala Portinatx.

Storm Gloria is expected to bring heavy rains to Catalonia, increasing the risk rivers in areas like Girona could overflow (pictured: a woman enters her home in Tossa de Mar as foam fills the streets)

The search is being carried out both by land, with agents of the Civil Guard, Civil Protection and Local Police, and by sea, with a Civil Guard vessel.

Another man is also missing in the Balearic Islands as a result of the freak weather conditions.

On Monday, a young man disappeared whilst practiced canyoning in the torrent of Na Mora, in an area of the Serra de Tramuntana between Soller and Escorca.

Mallorca has been smashed by huge waves and another town filled with foam as a storm continues to lash Spain, leaving four dead and 200,000 without power.

Videos showed waves crashing over the seafront walls and sending water cascading down the street towards buildings in Cala Ratjada on Mallorca.

While in the Costa Brava holiday resort of Tossa de Mar, locals woke up to the surreal sight of sea foam which had invaded part of the old town. One woman was filmed trying to get into her house in the resort up to her waist in the foam.

Storm Gloria is expected to bring heavy rains to Catalonia, increasing the risk rivers in areas like Girona could overflow. The Interior Minister has described the storm as 'exceptional.'
US President Donald Trump will sign the new North American trade pact with Mexico and Canada next week, a White House official said.

The USMCA, the fruit of years of negotiation between the three key trading partners, is billed as an update to the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, which Trump had long lambasted as a job killer and threatened to scrap outright.

The US Senate approved the pact last week and White House officials said Trump will sign it Wednesday.

The earlier NAFTA created a vast free-trade zone across North America, leading to radical shifts in the makeup of industries in the three countries and vastly increasing cross-border exchanges in goods, services and people.

While the agreement produced winners and losers in some areas, economists say overall it increased growth and raised the standard of living in North America.

The new deal changes content rules on auto manufacturing and requires higher salaries for some Mexican auto workers.

It also makes changes to e-commerce, intellectual property protections and dispute settlement for investors, as well as tougher labor provisions that require reforms to Mexico's labor laws.

Mexico ratified the new agreement December 10, and Canada is expected to follow suit in coming weeks.
At least 10 babies have died in the same hospital in Tembisa township in Johannesburg in the past two months.

Grieving parents in South Africas largest city are accusing hospital managers of hiding information about the deaths of their newborn babies.

The hospital in Johannesburg blames drug-resistant bacteria.

Government critics say the maternity deaths highlight underfunding in the public healthcare system.

Al Jazeeras Haru Mutasa reports.
The Madras High Court on Friday declared as maintainable, Puducherry Local Administration minister A Namassivayam's petition against Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi over the issue of appointment of the State Election Commissioner in the union territory.

When the plea came up for hearing, the division bench, comprising Justices M Sathyanarayanan and R Hemalatha said the petition is maintainable and directed the registry to number the same and list it for hearing and adjourned it for Tuesday.

The petitioner contended that the entire action by Lietuenant Governor Kiran Bedi was against the constitutional principles and the council of ministers have to be consulted.

The minister prayed for the entire move to be deemed illegal.

In December 2019, Bedi had declared the appointment of the SEC T M Balakrishnan by the Narayanasamy-led government as 'illegal and null and void.'



She had said the Centre had directed the Chief Secretary to appoint the SEC through an exclusive selection committee after giving publicity through an all India advertisement.

Subsequently, the Chief Minister had said neither the Lt Governor nor the Home Ministry had any authority to rescind the appointment, made through a unanimous resolution adopted on the floor of the House in July last year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[January 24, 2020] Desert Financial Credit Union Will Donate $3M To Phoenix Children's '1 Darn Cool School'

In early 2018, Desert Financial Credit Union made a big announcement -- it had committed $2M in funding over three years to '1 Darn Cool School', the in-house education center at Phoenix Children's. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005448/en/ Desert Financial and Phoenix Children's Hospital Foundation Execs Celebrate New, $3M (News - Alert) Commitment. FROM LEFT: Jeff Meshey, President & CEO of Desert Financial; Tim Harrison, Vice President Corporate Partnerships and Special Events for Phoenix Children's Hospital Foundation; Ron Amstutz, Executive Vice President of Desert Financial; Susan O'Donnell, Manager, Corporate Account Management at Phoenix Children's Hospital Foundation. (Photo: Business Wire) Tis week, the credit union had another big announcement -- they've donated the planned $2M, and made a new pledge: $3M, donated to the program over four years. This funding commitment will make Desert Financial the largest-ever donor to '1 Darn Cool School', bringing its total to over $10M.



Desert Financial's support enables children to experience as much normalcy as possible while staying on top of their studies which are taught by the school's Master's-level teachers. "Desert Financial Credit Union's commitment to the children and families at Phoenix Children's speaks volumes about their culture of generosity and community spirit. Their transformational investments sustain top caliber teachers, technology and support at '1 Darn Cool School' - and they don't stop there. Leadership and staff members at Desert Financial also make connections with the teachers who work so hard to help children learn while they heal," says Steven Schnall, Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer at Phoenix Children's Hospital Foundation. "We're profoundly grateful for this latest gift, and for their continued partnership."

The funds will be used toward operating costs for '1 Darn Cool School', which is 100% philanthropically supported. "'1 Darn Cool School' is an important part of the treatment process for so many patients at Phoenix Children's," said Ron Amstutz, Executive Vice President of Desert Financial. "We've had a great year at Desert Financial, and felt that paying our success forward to such an incredible program - one rooted in education, just like our credit union - would be a wonderful match." The education programming, which began in 1985, is available to all children who are currently enrolled in Kindergarten through 12th grade or special education 5 to 21 years, and are expected to miss more than 10 days of school (with an inpatient stay of 3 days). In addition to holding a current Arizona teaching certificate, all teachers have earned a master's degree in education. Additionally, all classroom volunteers have a professional teaching background. About Desert Financial Credit Union With more than 80 years in Arizona, Desert Financial is the state's largest homegrown credit union with $5 billion in assets, more than 320,000 members and nearly 50 locations across the Valley. As a not-for-profit cooperative, Desert Financial prides itself on sharing success with its members, its team and the wider community. In 2019, Desert Financial gave nearly $11M to Valley nonprofits, the community and members. Learn more at www.desertfinancial.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005448/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Passengers on a tram wear surgical masks on Jan. 24, 2020, in Hong Kong, China. A woman in Chicago who traveled to China earlier this month has been diagnosed with coronavirus. (Willie Siau/SOPA Images/Zuma Press/TNS) Read more

A Chicago woman in her 60s has been identified as the second U.S. resident to be infected with the new coronavirus, apparently while traveling to Wuhan, China, federal and local health officials said Friday.

No one who has had contact with the woman or the first patient, from Snohomish County, Wash., has experienced any symptoms, and the overall health risk in the United States remains low, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 READ MORE: Coronavirus: What you need to know

But with more cases predicted, some in the Philadelphia area are responding with caution. The Main Line Chinese Culture Center has canceled a Chinese New Year celebration that had been scheduled for Sunday, at Great Valley High School in Malvern, citing the fact that many children and older people were expected to attend.

Its just an extreme precaution, said Qunbin Xiong, principal of the center, which offers educational programs to children and adults. Even though we have no cases, and were so far away, some in the community feel like theyre closer to that virus.

The event typically draws a crowd of more than 1,000, and organizers would be unable to ensure that no visitors had recently traveled in the Wuhan area, he said.

But Fridays Midnight Lion Dance Performance and Sundays Lion Dance Parade, both in Chinatown, are on as scheduled, said organizers at the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corp.

The new patient in Chicago had no symptoms when flying home on Jan. 13, but contacted her physician a few days later after feeling unwell, Chicago health commissioner Allison Arwady said Friday in a teleconference. Upon learning she had traveled to China, the doctor advised her to go the hospital, where she has been kept apart from other patients, Arwady said.

The patient is clinically doing well, currently in stable condition, and remains hospitalized, primarily for infection control, Arwady said.

Chinese officials have identified more than 1,000 infections and 41 deaths from the virus, imposing travel restrictions and closing a large animal market that is believed to be the source of the microbe  so named because each particle has a fringe that resembles the corona in a solar eclipse.

More U.S. cases are expected to be confirmed, senior CDC physician Nancy Messonnier said. So far, health departments in 22 states have reported 63 patients to the agency as possible cases. Eleven of those people have tested negative for the virus, including one in New Jersey.

This is a sign that the public-health system is working, said Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

Chicagos Arwady declined to say if the infected woman had visited the animal market in Wuhan. But the first U.S. patient to be identified, from Washington State, had not visited the market, suggesting that the virus can be transmitted from person to person.

Messonnier urged people to consult their physicians if they had been to China and now experienced any kind of fever, cough, or difficulty breathing.

We want everybody to err on the side of caution if they have those symptoms, and they have a travel history, she said.

Early evidence suggests that the virus has an incubation period of 14 days, meaning the time between exposure and the development of symptoms, Messonnier said.

That is longer than many common viruses, potentially increasing the risk that the infection will spread, said Zachary A. Klase, a virologist at the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. Some common cold viruses have incubation periods of four to 10 days, for example.

You have to watch people a little longer to be really sure, said Klase, an associate professor of biological sciences.

A more important question is how contagious the new virus is, the answer to which is still unknown, he said. As during any winter, the far greater risk in the U.S. is the flu virus, the spread of which can be limited through hand-washing and vaccination, Klase said.

For the new coronavirus, the CDC has spelled out guidelines for hospitalized patients as follows:

Such patients should be asked to wear a surgical mask as soon as they are identified and be evaluated in a private room with the door closed, ideally an airborne infection isolation room if available. Health-care personnel entering the room should use standard precautions, contact precautions, airborne precautions, and use eye protection [e.g., goggles or a face shield].
We now live in a tyrannical police state where any website can be sabotaged, disrupted or taken down by a secret court order that is fabricated out of thin air, with absolutely no legal justification whatsoever.

Natural News has learned that dozens of independent publishers are being hit with these TROs and that the secret orders preclude hosting companies from alerting their own clients to the nature of the sabotage.

The secret court orders are packaged as Temporary Restraining Orders demanding Preliminary Injunction actions to hosting companies. They are being shotgunned out to ensnare independent publishers who have nothing at all to do with the court cases under which the secret orders are being hidden. In effect, the vaccine deep state, as we call it, has hijacked and weaponized the federal courts to escalate censorship operations to a whole new level .

Natural News has learned that these secret court orders are hidden inside sealed, terminated court cases which are being laundered through the federal bankruptcy courts but have nothing to do with bankruptcies. They are hidden from public view and assigned a secret code that indicates their real purpose; to disrupt and sabotage the independent media by ordering tech companies to remove websites, de-platform channels or disrupt indy media operations.

( Natural News ) Take note, all independent media publishers and vaccine skeptics: A Natural News investigation has discovered the existence of a secret court in America which is run by the vaccine industry and is currently issuing takedown orders to tech companies and hosting infrastructure companies to cause targeted disruptions (sabotage) of independent media websites that question any official vaccine narrative.

About the author: Mike Adams (aka the Health Ranger) is a best selling author (#1 best selling science book on Amazon.com called Food Forensics), an environmental scientist, a patent holder for a cesium radioactive isotope elimination invention, a multiple award winner for outstanding journalism, a science news publisher and influential commentator on topics ranging from science and medicine to culture and politics. Follow his videos, podcasts, websites and science projects at the links below.

Mike Adams serves as the founding editor of NaturalNews.com and the lab science director of an internationally accredited (ISO 17025) analytical laboratory known as CWC Labs. There, he was awarded a Certificate of Excellence for achieving extremely high accuracy in the analysis of toxic elements in unknown water samples using ICP-MS instrumentation. Adams is also highly proficient in running liquid chromatography, ion chromatography and mass spectrometry time-of-flight analytical instrumentation. He has also achieved numerous laboratory breakthroughs in the programming of automated liquid handling robots for sample preparation and external standards prep.

The U.S. patent office has awarded Mike Adams patent NO. US 9526751 B2 for the invention of Cesium Eliminator, a lifesaving invention that removes up to 95% of radioactive cesium from the human digestive tract. Adams has pledged to donate full patent licensing rights to any state or national government that needs to manufacture the product to save human lives in the aftermath of a nuclear accident, disaster, act of war or act of terrorism. He has also stockpiled 10,000 kg of raw material to manufacture Cesium Eliminator in a Texas warehouse, and plans to donate the finished product to help save lives in Texas when the next nuclear event occurs. No independent scientist in the world has done more research on the removal of radioactive elements from the human digestive tract.

Adams is a person of color whose ancestors include Africans and American Indians. He is of Native American heritage, which he credits as inspiring his Health Ranger passion for protecting life and nature against the destruction caused by chemicals, heavy metals and other forms of pollution.

Adams is the author of the worlds first book that published ICP-MS heavy metals analysis results for foods, dietary supplements, pet food, spices and fast food. The book is entitled Food Forensics and is published by BenBella Books.

In his laboratory research, Adams has made numerous food safety breakthroughs such as revealing rice protein products imported from Asia to be contaminated with toxic heavy metals like lead, cadmium and tungsten. Adams was the first food science researcher to document high levels of tungsten in superfoods. He also discovered over 11 ppm lead in imported mangosteen powder, and led an industry-wide voluntary agreement to limit heavy metals in rice protein products.

In addition to his lab work, Adams is also the (non-paid) executive director of the non-profit Consumer Wellness Center (CWC), an organization that redirects 100% of its donations receipts to grant programs that teach children and women how to grow their own food or vastly improve their nutrition. Through the non-profit CWC, Adams also launched Nutrition Rescue, a program that donates essential vitamins to people in need. Click here to see some of the CWC success stories.

With a background in science and software technology, Adams is the original founder of the email newsletter technology company known as Arial Software. Using his technical experience combined with his love for natural health, Adams developed and deployed the content management system currently driving NaturalNews.com. He also engineered the high-level statistical algorithms that power SCIENCE.naturalnews.com, a massive research resource featuring over 10 million scientific studies.

Adams is well known for his incredibly popular consumer activism video blowing the lid on fake blueberries used throughout the food supply. He has also exposed strange fibers found in Chicken McNuggets, fake academic credentials of so-called health gurus, dangerous detox products imported as battery acid and sold for oral consumption, fake acai berry scams, the California raw milk raids, the vaccine research fraud revealed by industry whistleblowers and many other topics.

Adams has also helped defend the rights of home gardeners and protect the medical freedom rights of parents. Adams is widely recognized to have made a remarkable global impact on issues like GMOs, vaccines, nutrition therapies, human consciousness.

In addition to his activism, Adams is an accomplished musician who has released over fifteen popular songs covering a variety of activism topics.

Click here to read a more detailed bio on Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, at HealthRanger.com.

Find more science, news, commentary and inventions from the Health Ranger at:

Brighteon.com:

Brighteon.com/channel/hrreport

Diaspora: (uncensored social network)

Share.NaturalNews.com

GAB:

GAB.com/healthranger

Podcasts:

HealthRangerReport.com

Online store:

HealthRangerStore.com

#1 Bestselling Science Book Food Forensics:

FoodForensics.com

iTunes:

itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-health-ranger-report/id1063165791

SoundCloud:

Soundcloud.com/healthranger

Health Rangers science lab

CWClabs.com

Health Ranger bio

HealthRanger.com

TruthWiki.org

Search engine:

Webseed.com
California State University, the nations largest public university system, was planning to vote at the end of January on a requirement that incoming freshmen take four years of math or math-focused courses in high school, up from the current requirement of three years.

Instead, the university system, with 23 campuses and nearly a half-million students, will allow an independent panel to study what changing those admissions standards may mean to students who are historically underrepresented in college, including black and Latino students, and students from low-income families.

The move doesnt change the timeline for implementation; if approved, it would first go into effect for the high school class of 2027, who are todays 5th graders. But California State is asking trustees to delay a final vote until 2022. By that time, the trustees will have had an opportunity to review the findings of the independent panel. The trustees will also be able to evaluate the progress on CSUs efforts to increase the number of math and STEM teachers, and gain more clarity on exemptions and accommodations for students whose public schools dont offer the required classes.

Those extra steps for review offer multiple reflection points and safety valves that would allow the implementation timeline to be extendedor haltedif the policy is resulting in unintended consequences, says an updated agenda item released by the university system.

The 25-member board of trustees was scheduled to vote on the proposal in November, but pushed the vote until January at the request of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The Pros and Cons of Changing Admissions Standards

The Cal State system draws the vast majority of its student body from high schools in the state, and has historically been more accessible than the 10-campus University of California system. In the fall of 2019, about 44 percent of students in the CSU were Hispanic, 21 percent were white, 16 percent were Asian, and 4 percent were African American, roughly mirroring the demographics of the states public school system. Nearly a third of undergraduates that year were the first in their families to attend college.

Cal State officials say that the additional requirement, which could be met through taking a math course, a laboratory science course, or a math-heavy elective such as statistics, economics, coding, or personal finance, will cut dropout rates and increase the number of students who graduate on time. University officials also said that most of the students who enroll in CSU have already taken a fourth year of math or a quantitative reasoning course, and those students are more successful academically than those admitted with just three years of high school math.

But opponents to the plansome of whom are leaders in California school districtssay such a change could shut out otherwise qualified black, Latino, and low-income students.

The Los Angeles school board adopted a resolution last year that opposed the CSU measure. It said the proposal had been drafted without consulting local districts and that funding was inadequate to support it. The proposal will disproportionately [harm] students of color in under-resourced high schools that do not offer a fourth year of math, the resolution said.

Los Angeles requires three years of math for graduation. The 74, an education news website, found that less than a quarter of the districts seniors took a fourth math or quantitative reasoning course during the 2018-19 school year.

At a time when over 80 percent of Black and Latinx high school graduates in California are not supported to complete the coursework necessary for admission to the CSU system, it is imperative that any changes to eligibility requirements are definitively tied to improved success and do not further limit access for students who have the most to benefit from an education at the CSU, said a statement from The Campaign for College Opportunity and Education Trust-West, organizations that advocated for further study of the increased math requirement.
Six people have been killed and several were injured in a shooting in the southwestern German town of Rot am See, police said on Friday.

A suspect has been arrested and no further suspects are believed to be at large, Aalen police said.

"According to my information, there were six dead and several injured," police spokesman Rudolf Biehlmaier told German broadcaster n-tv.

"We are working on the assumption that this was a single attacker," he said.

Biehlmaier said the initial information suggested the suspect, a German citizen, and one or more of the victims knew each other.

Some of the victims belonged to the same family, he added.

Rot am See is located about 170 kilometers (105 miles) northwest of Munich.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reacted to the latest ranking of Nigeria by the Transparency International Corruption perceptions Index.

The anti-graft agency described the latest ranking of Nigeria as baseless and biased.

Also Read: Nigeria Drops On Transparency Internationals 2019 Corruption Index

Recall that Transparency International Corruption perceptions Index ranked Nigeria 146 out of 180 countries studied

Reacting in a statement by its spokesperson, Tony Orilade, the EFCC accused Transparency International of having a hidden agenda against Nigeria.

The anti-graft agency went on to accuse Transparency International of being consistent in its biased rating of Nigeria.

According to the spokesperson, the agency recorded unprecedented success in the fight against coruption in 2019.
Supermodel-actor Lisa Ray on Friday said cancer had re-defined her life and helped develop a better relationship with fear, as she credited sheer will power and stubbornness for overcoming the darkest period of her life.

Speaking at the Jaipur Literature Festival, Ray said although cancer had affected her, it also proved to be a gateway into a new phase of life as she got married while grappling with the deadly disease.

Ray, 47, was diagnosed in 2019 with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the white blood cells, which is considered incurable and fatal. A year later, the Indian-Canadian actor had said she was free from the disease.

"There is no doubt that going through cancer has changed and transformed the trajectory of my life, and I am still processing that on some level. There has been a pre-cancer and post-cancer life," she said.

"Cancer has changed me, but also in a weird way, it has been a gateway into a new phase. People do not necessarily associate cancer with finding the love of your life, but I got married while living with cancer. There is no end mark for my cancer," she said.

Ray, one of India's first supermodels, said people came to her and lauded her for beating cancer, but she did not want to burst the bubble because she was still living with it.

"It has affected my life. It has re-defined my life and has helped me develop a better relation with fear," she said.

"I had suicidal thoughts, had a lot of self-flagellating thoughts, a lot of self-loathing. On the one hand I was experiencing the prime of my success and fame in India and privately I was going through the deepest, darkest tunnel that you can imagine. It was the darkest night of the soul," she said on finding fame very early in life but not having the inner peace.

Ray said her sheer will power, stubbornness and Buddhist practices helped her recover from what she termed as "the darkest period of my life".

"My life has spiralled out of control for too many times. Through my Buddhist practices I have come to a great sense of peace," she said.

Ray also said that she was an accidental actress whose career started on the edge of the blade.

I became an accidental actress. I am not being cute when I say that. It is a fact of my life. I never planned on being in front of the camera or being part of a profession I am identified with strongly On one side was fame and fortune and on the other side was great personal trauma and sadness, she said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
SC to hear non-oil PSUs' plea for modifications to AGR order

The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear the modification pleas moved by state-owned companies in the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) verdict that made non-telecom firms holding licences for internal communications and signalling liable to pay licence fees on their entire revenue, even if they do not offer telecom services.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is seeking a total of over 2,63,000 crore as aggregated gross revenue payable by state-run non-telecom enterprises holding spectrum license for internal communications, besides the Rs92,000 crore that private telecom companies owe the telecom department.

DoT has sought Rs1,72,000 crore from GAIL (India) Ltd, Rs48,000 crore from Oil India Ltd, Rs22,168 crore from Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd, Rs15,019 crore from Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd and Rs5,841 crore plus interest from Delhi Metro Rail Corp. Ltd (DMRC), among others .

While the 24 October 2019 Supreme Court order ended a 14-year legal battle between telcos and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and directed the countrys major telecom service providers to pay up about Rs92,000 crore in overdue lincence fee and revenue share to the government, telcos have moved the Supreme Court seeking a review of the order.

The government on Thursday said it will not take coercive action against mobile service providers that failed to meet the court-directed 23 January deadline to pay dues, after Vodafone Idea Ltd and Bharti Airtel Ltd sought more time.

Reliance Jio, which was the least affected by the Supreme Court order, paid up its Rs182-crore AGR dues to DoT by the deadline.

A bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde will likely hear next week the matter along with other modification pleas filed by telcos, seeking more time to pay off the dues and easier payment terms.

Meanwhile, Oil India on Wednesday filed a modification plea before the top court against its October verdict. Oil India has taken up this matter with the department of telecommunications and the ministry of petroleum and natural gas, along with other affected central public sector enterprises, and explained the non-applicability of interpretation of AGR to non-telecom companies," the company had said.

DMRC had moved court seeking clarification stating that DoTs unjust demand" would lead to evaporation of financial structure of DMRC and would lead to operations coming to a standstill to the great detriment of the commuting public of NCR region".

DoT seeking Rs 3 lakh cr from GAIL, other non-telecom PSUs result of communication gap: Pradhan

The telecom department's demand of ACR dues from non-telecom PSUs increased many times more than their net worth and the centre asked them to go to the Supreme Court against such claims.

The Department of Telecommunications seeking nearly Rs3 lakh crore in dues from non-telecom PSUs, such as GAIL, Oil India Ltd and PowerGrid, was a result of "communication gap" as these firms do not owe any such amount, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on Thursday.

Following the 24 October Supreme Court ruling that non-telecom revenues of telecom firms such as Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea should be included for considering payments of government dues, the telecom department sought Rs1,72,000 crore from gas utility GAIL India Ltd, Rs 48,000 crore from OIL, Rs 40,000 crore from PowerGrid and raised similar demands from RailTel and other public sector undertakings (PSUs).

"We are in discussion with the telecom ministry. We had given them our reply (on the demand raised)," Pradhan told reporters. "Possibly because of communication gap, the Government of India's one department has raised such demand on PSUs under another government department."

He said parallel to discussions with the DoT, the Supreme Court has been approached on the issue.
District Judge Vanessa Baraitser has ruled that a full extradition hearing for imprisoned WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange will be split, with the first week opening on February 24 and the final three weeks starting on May 18.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen in a prison van traveling to Westminster Magistrates Court in London, Friday, Dec. 20, 2019 [Credit: AP Photo/Frank Augstein]

Yesterdays case management hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court took place amid revelations that US government officials will argue that Julian Assange is not entitled to First Amendment protections to free speech.

In a statement issued outside the court, WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson told reporters, We have now learned from submissions and affidavits presented by the US...that they do not consider foreign nationals to have a First Amendment protection.

Kristinn Hrafnsson outside the court

According to WikiLeaks, witness statements submitted to the court by US prosecutors on Saturday argue that Assange does not enjoy First Amendment protections because he is not a US citizen and because the amendment allegedly does not protect speech made outside the United States.

This latest evidence submitted on behalf of the US Department of Justice (DoJ) underscores the fundamental democratic issues at stake in the decade-long illegal persecution and witch-hunting of Assange and WikiLeaks.

Assange appeared at yesterdays hearing via videolink from Belmarsh Prison, stating his name and date of birth with some hesitancy. He was filmed from a distance, seated in the middle of a row of three chairs, with journalists and members of the public gallery unable to see his face clearly or gauge his reaction to proceedings.

At the start of the two-hour hearing, Baraitser revealed the DoJ had submitted a written application to the court for a bifurcated hearing, with the second part to be delayed by nearly three months. Lawyers for the US government argued a delay was necessary to respond to a large volume of evidence submitted by the defence since December 19tens of thousands of pagesincluding new evidence submitted last Friday.

Barrister Clair Dobbin, acting for the DoJ, said the prosecutions lead QC, James Lewis, was unavailable in March due to another case, but also indicated that more time was needed to instruct our own medical experts in response to medical evidence submitted by the defence.

The request for a delay was supported by Assanges legal team, with Edward Fitzgerald QC of Doughty Street Chambers telling Baraitser, We need more time. He told the court it would not be fair to Mr Assange to proceed, emphasising the difficulties in gaining access to their client inside Belmarsh Prison. Between December 19 and January 13, lawyers had just two hours to brief Assange and take instruction. They were granted one more hour to confer on January 13, when Assange last appeared in court.

Fitzgerald indicated that Assanges poor health was hindering his ability to review the full body of evidence: Its not an easy process to enable him to follow everything thats going on.

Baraitser initially opposed any delay to proceedings. She challenged the defence on its proposed timetable of evidence, demanding to know why so much time was being allocated to anonymous witness GJ and to computer experts Patrick Eller and Mark Felstein. Fitzgerald emphasised the importance of detailed technical matters in answering the indictments, saying that these issues needed careful explanation in court and adding that justice is supposed to be done in public.

In my court, [written] reports are adopted, and supplementary questions asked, Baraitser replied, making clear her determination to block the full presentation of defence evidence.

Among several anonymous witnesses submitted by the defence are Witness 1 and Witness 2former employees of Spanish security firm UC Global, which illegally spied on Assange and his legal team, capturing privileged discussions at the Ecuadorian Embassy on behalf of US intelligence agencies.

Dobbin told Baraitser on behalf of the DoJ, The prosecution will object to anonymous witnesses and would challenge the admissibility of their evidence. Seated in Court 3 were no fewer than six members of the DoJs legal team, including two lawyers from the Crown Prosecution Service, and John McNeil, a DoJ attache at the US Embassy in London.

Yesterdays hearing confirmed preliminary matters to be addressed during the first week of the hearing. These include arguments over whether the indictments relate to political offences that would bar extradition under current US-UK treaty arrangements, and defence arguments over abuse of due process by the US.

After ordering an adjournment for both parties to confer, Baraitser accepted their joint application for a split hearing. The full extradition hearing will open on February 24 at Belmarsh Magistrates Court, with the next procedural hearing scheduled at Westminster Magistrates Court on February 19.

Among those present in the public gallery yesterday were independent medical observers from Doctors4Assange. Dr. Derek Summerfield, a psychiatrist and honorary senior lecturer at Kings College London, viewed proceedings alongside Dr. Felicity De Zulueta, emeritus consultant psychiatrist in psychotherapy for South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.

Dr Derek Summerfield and Dr Felicity De Zulueta

In a statement issued before the hearing, Dr. Summerfield, principal psychiatrist for nearly a decade at the Medical Foundation for the Victims of Torture, said, The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer found that Mr. Assange is the victim of prolonged psychological torture and that his health has entered a downward spiral inside Belmarsh Prison.

Professor Melzer has raised fundamental medical-ethical questions. These must urgently be answered. Mr. Assange must be moved from Belmarsh Prison immediately and provided expert medical assessment and care.

Yesterdays hearing took place just days after the criminal conspiracy charges laid against American journalist Glenn Greenwald by the Bolsonaro government in Brazil.

WikiLeaks editor Kristinn Hrafnsson told the WSWS: It is quite obvious that this is a carbon copy of the indictment against Julian Assange. There is very grave concern that Bolsonaro is taking cues from the Trump administration, from Pompeo, Barr and Pence, and saying, if they can do it, we can do it as well. The serious precedent that we have always been warning about in relation to Julian Assange and his case has certainly been manifested in the attack on Glenn Greenwald.

Hrafnsson explained that he had mixed feelings about the change to the hearing dates. Every day that Julian Assange has to spend in Belmarsh prison is a day too long," he said. "The fact that he has to spend another three months because of the delay in the second part of the procedure is of concern. On the other hand, it is such a big case that the lawyers need extra time as well. Bear in mind that they have limited access to Julian inside Belmarsh, which in itself is outrageous.

So, I have mixed feelings. Let us hope that this will end as soon as possible. In the meantime, I know the lawyers will push towards changing the situation. Hopefully they will move him from the maximum-security prison in Belmarsh, which is no place for a non-violent individual who is innocent by law and who is simply on remand awaiting a trial.

WikiLeaks ambassador Joseph Farrell added that stripping Assange of free speech protections under the US Constitution means that any foreign journalist is not protected by the First Amendment." He continued: "This links in closely with what we have already said in the past is their extraterritorial arm. They are reaching into the United Kingdom for an Australian journalist who worked in Europe and the UK while publishing some of Americas most famous crimes. Now they are adding on to that, that he does not have protection under the First Amendment.

We have said previously that this is a precedent-setting case and the repercussions are already being seen with Glenn Greenwalds indictment.

The author also recommends:

The prosecution of Glenn Greenwald and the global war on free speech

[23 January 2020]
Several people, including two policemen, were injured when rival groups clashed in Kolkata over a discussion on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, while a bus driver was injured in Mumbai and stray incidents of stone pelting were reported from parts of Maharashtra during a statewide bandh called by Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi as well as a curfew was imposed in Jharkhands Lohardaga district.

The clash in the southern part of Kolkatas Jodhpur Park area broke out on Thursday night when a group of men allegedly owing allegiance to the BJP, attacked a group of Trinamool Congress activists with knives and sticks when they were denied to participate in a discussion on the CAA, a police officer said. When the police tried to pacify the two warring groups they were attacked.

Two policemen including one officer have been injured. The officer received injuries in his hands and is currently undergoing treatment, said the police officer quoted above. Two motorbikes were also burnt during the clash. People injured in the clash were discharged after preliminary medical assistance at a nearby medical establishment, the officer said. The police have arrested three persons for their involvement in the clash.

In Maharashtra, the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) had called for the statewide shutdown to protest against the CAA and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC).

A bus driver was injured during stone pelting, but normal life remained largely unaffected.

Speaking to reporters at around 4 pm after calling off the shutdown, VBA leader Ambedkar said the bandh received good response from traders and office-goers in Mumbai and that it was peaceful.

People who engaged in stone pelting or vandalism during the bandh were not attached to the VBA and they were members of other organisations, he added.

The protest was held peacefully in the rest of the Maharashtra. We were able to convey the message against the CAA, the NRC and the NPR. It is affecting Muslims as well as Hindus..., Ambedkar said.

Earlier in the day, the driver of a BEST (civic undertaking) bus suffered injuries after stones were pelted on the vehicle in Mumbais eastern suburb of Chembur, an official said. The incident took place at around 9.15 am when some unidentified persons pelted stones at the bus heading towards Kurla station on route number 362, said a spokesperson of the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST). Stray incidents of stone pelting on city buses were also reported from Solapur and Aurangabad districts, police said.

Curfew was imposed in Jharkhands Lohardaga district following violence at a pro-CAA rally, an official statement said. Stones were hurled at a rally taken out in support of the CAA in Amlatoli Chowk area, sparking tensions, police said. Some two-wheelers were set on fire following the attack. Security has been beefed up across the district following the incident, police said.
(Newser)  Democratic House impeachment managers are in their final day of arguments against President Trump. Friday's focus: obstruction of justice. The impeachment managers are asserting that Trump withheld crucial documents and blocked the testimony of top White House officials, reports the Wall Street Journal. "The president tried to cheat," said impeachment manager Rep. Hakeem Jeffries at the start of Friday's session, per CNN. "He got caught, and then he worked hard to cover it up." As for the delay in US aid to Ukraine at the heart of the controversy: "The $391 million in security aid was only released because President Trump was caught red-handed," said Jeffries. Related:

Invoking McCain: Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff put the case-to-impeach this way: "If someone sacrifices the national interest in favor of his own and is not removed from office, our democracy is in jeopardy. Its just that simple. He also invoked the late John McCain, who said in 2014 after a Russian incursion into Ukraine: "We are all Ukrainians." He said McCain "advised that this is a chess match reminiscent of the Cold War, and we need to realize that and act accordingly, Schiff said, per the Washington Post. He was, of course, absolutely right. He also played a video clip of McCain extolling the beauty and importance of that country, notes Politico.

Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff put the case-to-impeach this way: "If someone sacrifices the national interest in favor of his own and is not removed from office, our democracy is in jeopardy. Its just that simple. He also invoked the late John McCain, who said in 2014 after a Russian incursion into Ukraine: "We are all Ukrainians." He said McCain "advised that this is a chess match reminiscent of the Cold War, and we need to realize that and act accordingly, Schiff said, per the Washington Post. He was, of course, absolutely right. He also played a video clip of McCain extolling the beauty and importance of that country, notes Politico. Witness protection: Trump's effort to obstruct justice reached witnesses in the House investigation, Rep. Val Demings told the Senate. She brought up his tweet about Marie Yovanovitch, former ambassador to Ukraine, during her testimony and showed video of his attacks on others. It adds up to witness intimidation, she said, per the Post. "We must not condone President Trumps attacks on whistleblowers and witnesses," Demings said.

Trump's effort to obstruct justice reached witnesses in the House investigation, Rep. Val Demings told the Senate. She brought up his tweet about Marie Yovanovitch, former ambassador to Ukraine, during her testimony and showed video of his attacks on others. It adds up to witness intimidation, she said, per the Post. "We must not condone President Trumps attacks on whistleblowers and witnesses," Demings said. Trump unhappy: The president tweeted Friday that he's not thrilled with how the impeachment schedule has fallen. After having been treated unbelievably unfairly in the House, and then having to endure hour after hour of lies, fraud & deception by Shifty Schiff, Cryin Chuck Schumer & their crew, looks like my lawyers will be forced to start on Saturday, which is called Death Valley in T.V., Trump wrote.

The president tweeted Friday that he's not thrilled with how the impeachment schedule has fallen. After having been treated unbelievably unfairly in the House, and then having to endure hour after hour of lies, fraud & deception by Shifty Schiff, Cryin Chuck Schumer & their crew, looks like my lawyers will be forced to start on Saturday, which is called Death Valley in T.V., Trump wrote. Short Saturday: This should help Trump's concern about Saturday: That day's session will be short, reports the Hill. It's scheduled to begin at 10am and wrap up two hours later. The trial would then resume on Monday.

story continues below

Over next week? GOP Rep. Jim Jordan predicted the trial would be over next week, without any new witnesses being called and with Trump's acquittal. White House press chief Stephanie Grisham said she hopes he's right. I do hope so. I hope so for this country, Grisham said on Fox News. "I think the country is tired of this."

GOP Rep. Jim Jordan predicted the trial would be over next week, without any new witnesses being called and with Trump's acquittal. White House press chief Stephanie Grisham said she hopes he's right. I do hope so. I hope so for this country, Grisham said on Fox News. "I think the country is tired of this." Watch Lamar: Senators won't decide on whether to call witnesses until after opening arguments, and it all hinges on whether Democrats can get four Republicans to vote with them. Politico reports that GOP Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee is the key vote. Three other senators already have voiced some degree of support about witnesses, and Alexander, who is retiring this year, could be the deciding factor.

(Read more Trump impeachment stories.)
Boris Johnson is facing a growing political storm over HS2 as Tory MPs joined forces to call on the Prime Minister to scrap the project and invest the cash in smaller initiatives.

A group of anti-HS2 Conservative MPs from across the country have published a video on YouTube in which they all spell out their objections to the planned high speed rail network.

They want Mr Johnson to ditch the massive infrastructure plan and reallocate the funding to pay for things like better local rail services, pothole repairs and improved rural buses.

The publication of the video comes after a Whitehall spending watchdog report concluded HS2 is over budget and behind schedule because of its complexity.

The National Audit Office also found that the risks associated with the project had been under-estimated and it is impossible to 'estimate with certainty what the final cost could be'.

A government-commissioned review led by former HS2 Ltd chairman Doug Oakervee leaked earlier this week stated that the project's bill could reach 106billion, having been costed at 56billion in 2015.

Boris Johnson, pictured in Downing Street today, is facing growing political pressure from within the Conservative Party to scrap HS2

Andy Carter and Dehenna Davison are among a group of Tory MPs who are lobbying Mr Johnson to ditch HS2. They have published a YouTube video in which they call for the funding to be used to pay for better local infrastructure

Mr Johnson is due to make a final decision in the coming weeks on whether to proceed with HS2.

But regardless of whether he scraps the project or decides to allow it to go ahead he will face fierce criticism, with his own party firmly divided on the merits of HS2.

Tory MPs who are against the new line which is designed to better connect London with a number of cities in the north of England are now ramping up their calls for the project to be shelved.

In a video posted on YouTube, successive Conservative MPs list their concerns about the initiative and urge the PM to halt it.

Dehenna Davison, the Conservative MP for Bishop Auckland, said: 'In my constituency we don't really need HS2, but we we'll all be paying for it.

'What we need instead is our Toft Hill bypass, repairs to our historic bridges and improved rural bus services.'

James Grundy, the Tory MP for Leigh, said: 'We don't need HS2 in our constituency but we will all be paying for it.

'What we need instead is a station for Leigh to reconnect us to the national rail network.'

Lee Anderson, the MP for Ashfield, echoed a similar sentiment and said: 'It's quite clear as I speak to my constituents that they do not want to pay for HS2. They see no benefit to it.

HS2 is designed to better connect London and a number of cities in the north of England but there are increasing concerns about the cost of the project

'But what they do want to see is better local rural bus services and they want to see our potholes filled.'

An estimated 8billion has already been spent on HS2 without any track being laid.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps recently said a final decision on whether to go ahead with the project will be made in 'weeks rather than months'.

Responding to the publication of the NAO report, an HS2 Ltd spokesman said: 'After being appointed HS2 Ltd CEO in 2017, Mark Thurston identified the serious challenges of complexity and risk in the project, and he made several significant changes and improvements to the organisation, its governance and processes.

'As the NAO recognises, this work - along with a greater understanding of the ground conditions and build requirements - means ministers have robust cost estimates for Phase One of the HS2 project.'
Japan has confirmed a second case of infection by the new coronavirus from China, the health ministry said on Friday, Trend reports citing Reuters.

The infection was confirmed in a man in his 40s who lives in Wuhan - the Chinese city at the center of the outbreak - and traveled to Japan, the health ministry said in a statement.

The man, who arrived in Japan on Sunday, is currently hospitalized, the ministry said.
A protest was held against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Register of Citizens (NRC) and Population Register (NPR) here on Friday.

People were seen demonstrating as DMK and its allies met and discussed the next course of action on protests against the NPR, NRC and CAA.

DMK president MK Stalin, who headed the meet, said that the state government should not allow the process of NPR to be conducted in Tamil Nadu.

"Tamil Nadu government should not allow the process of NPR. DMK is going to meet the people and going to start the signature campaign from February 2 to 8 against the CAA and the NRC," Stalin said.

"Union Home Minister Amit Shah may say that he will not take back CAA but we will continue to protest, the DMK president stated.

MDMK chief Vaiko, Tamil Nadu Congress chief KS Azhagiri, BCK chief Thirumavalavan, CPI state chief Mutharasan, CPM state chief Balakrishnan, MMK chief Jawahirulla also participated in the meeting.

The CAA grants Indian citizenship to refugees from Hindu, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Parsi communities fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh and who entered India on or before December 31, 2014.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Political scientists and constitutional lawyers the globe over, agreed that the primary purpose of governance is the security and welfare of the people. The 1999 constitution, the fundamental law that underpins the current dispensation is also very emphatic on the importance of security and welfare of the people. The president is also the commander- in -chief of the Nigerian armed forces and by implication, the chief security officer of the nation. At the state level, the governors are regarded as chief security officers of the state even though cannot give order to the commissioner of police or any other security operative for that matter. That is the major flaw of our curious brand of federalism. It is not a matter of political conjectures or polemics that the federal government is overwhelmed with the security challenges of the nation. Armed banditry, virus of terrorism, kidnapping and the infamous rampaging herdsmen are the unfortunate trademarks of the nation.

It is against this backdrop, the cloud of controversy surrounding the recent launch of Western Nigeria Security Network otherwise known as Amotekun could be understood and situated. The governors of these states believed in pulling their resources together to tackle the issues of insurgency, the clash between herdsmen and farmers, armed banditry and kidnapping. However, the federal government frowned at the composition of Amotekun and that its activities are illegal within the province of the 1999 constitution.

Speaking on the activities of Amotekun, the Attorney General of the federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami maintained the concept of the security outfit was strange to the 1999 constitution. Said Malami: `The setting up of the paramilitary organization called Amotekun is illegal and runs contrary to the provisions of the Nigerian law. The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) has established the army, navy and air force, including the police and other numerous paramilitary organizations for the purpose of the defence of Nigeria. As a consequence of this, no state government, whether singly or in a group has the legal right and competence to establish any form of organization or agency for the defence of Nigeria or any of its constituent parts`.

While the honourable Minister of Justice is on spot but he missed the woods for the trees. The 1999 constitution recognizes the three arms of government  the executive, the judiciary and the legislature. The Minister belongs to the executive arm of government saddled with the responsibility of implementing the laws and policies of government. He is clearly usurping the functions of the judiciary to interpret and adjudicate. If the Minister is not comfortable with the establishment of the security outfit and believes that it abridges the functions of the executive arm, he should approach the court to test the functionality or otherwise of the security outfit. Ours is a democracy and not monarchy where the king or his surrogate wakes up and makes pronouncement. The statement of the minister is merely blowing the wind.

Furthermore, this is not the first time that state governments are forming security outfits for the protection of their citizens. As you read this piece, Civilian Joint Task force is in operation in the North East battling the Boko Haram insurgency. The Federal Government has even commended the efforts of this security outfit.

Hisbah is an Islamic or state police very effective in the north in enforcing strict Islamic code of conduct. Hisbah is notorious for abusing human rights of people and the question of choice as for the consumption of alcohol. The federal government is dissembling or living in denial of its existence. Hisbah is very visible in Kano State. In September 2019, the Islamic police destroyed 196,400 bottles of beer. According the Hisbah`s Commander General, Sheik Aminu Daurawa, twelve million bottles of beer were destroyed in seven years. Yet this is a state that gets money generated from VAT on alcohol. The federal government should not give us the impression that there are sacred cows that can defecate on the tenets of the 1999 constitution.

The federal government rabid hatred for Amotekun and lovely embrace of Hisbah attacks the very heart of our democracy and unity. If the federal government finds nothing wrong with Hisbah, an Islamic state police and frowns at Amotekun, a regional vigilante group, then the opponents of restructuring are being proved right. This is the greatest argument for state police and political restructuring. The name `Federal Republic of Nigeria` ,remains a misnomer as vestiges of unitary system of government are operational.

Julius Oweh, a journalist, Asaba, Delta State.
German supermarket giant Lidl is poised to continue its push into New Jersey and the U.S. with a new store in Cinnaminson.

Site plans for the store near Route 130 and Highland Avenue were scheduled to be submitted Thursday, Township Administrator Eric Schubiger told NJ Advance Media.

Lidl submitted their application to the planning board office today, Schubiger said Thursday. The application will undergo review by the planning boards professionals and will be heard  at a meeting to be determined later, but most likely in February or March.

Lidi promotes its stores as offering quality products at low prices. A similar layout in all its stores and a streamlined product selection, including 90 percent of its own brands, is designed to save shoppers time and money, Lidl said.

Its no-frills approach, including bring your own bags, is reminiscent of another German super grocer, Aldi.

Lidl has a proven track record in the discount grocer market and their interest in opening a new store in our Route 130 corridor is a signal of Cinnaminsons vitality and attractiveness to successful companies, Schubiger said. We look forward to Lidl opening its doors and joining our growing business community.

Lidi was founded in 1973 in Germany and now operates 10,800 stores in 32 countries. It started its U.S. expansion in 2005 and how has more than 70 stores in nine states across the East Coast, including one on Route 38 in Cherry Hill that is under construction.

It has stores in Bergenfield, Eatontown, Hazlet, Lacey, Union and Vineland, with a handful of others on the way.

Products include fresh baked goods such as croissants for 59 cents each to a gallon of orange juice for $3.59. Other product categories include alcohol, gluten free selection, health and beauty, household, meat and poultry, organics, pet shop, seafood, and in some states, alcohol.

Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @bduhart. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.

Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
Xerox has said it intends to nominate 11 directors to replace the board of HP after the personal computer maker refused to engage in takeover talks, according to a statement yesterday.

The iconic printer maker hasn't increased its $22-a-share takeover offer after HP rejected its proposal, which it argues undervalues the company. Instead, Xerox will seek to replace HP's entire board through a proxy fight to push the merger through.

The nominees include former senior executives from dozens of companies including Aetna, United Airlines and Novartis.

"HP shareholders have told us they believe our acquisition proposal will bring tremendous value, which is why we lined up $24bn (21.7bn) in binding financing commitments and a slate of highly qualified director candidates," said John Visentin, vice chairman and chief executive officer of Xerox.

Xerox filed its slate ahead of a Friday deadline for board nominations. The move could potentially be a precursor to Xerox taking its offer directly to shareholders through a tender offer at the current offer price or a premium if HP continues to rebuff its efforts, sources said.

The push to replace the board marks an escalation of the simmering tensions between the two hardware giants that have withered in a world increasingly driven by software. Xerox has argued the tie-up would revive both companies and unlock about $2bn in synergies.

"These nominations are a self-serving tactic by Xerox to advance its proposal, which significantly undervalues HP and creates meaningful risk to the detriment of HP shareholders," HP said in an emailed statement.

HP's board currently has 12 members. Former CEO Dion Weisler has said he would step down at the next AGM, reducing the board size to 11.

HP in November rebuffed an unsolicited, cash-and-stock offer from Xerox, citing concerns about the financial health of its smaller rival, which has experienced declining annual revenue since 2012.

HP's board said it was open to exploring a merger, but believed the offer undervalued the company.

Activist shareholder Carl Icahn, who owns 11pc of Xerox and has a 4.3pc stake in HP, has pushed for the tie-up.

Xerox announced in January it had arranged a $24bn loan with a group of banks to finance the takeover after HP and its advisers had questioned Xerox's ability to raise the money for the deal.

Following the financing announcement, HP said it believed the offer still undervalued the company.

Bloomberg
Davos, Jan 24 : India's O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the University of Zurich (UZH), Switzerland for mutual cooperation in higher education and research.

The MoU was signed at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week in which JGU Vice Chancellor C. Raj Kumar and the President of the UZH, Michael Hengartner, were invited to speak on the future of global universities for promoting sustainable futures.

Kumar was the only Vice Chancellor from India who was invited to speak at Davos.

"The University of Zurich has carved out a name for itself as a leading higher educational institution in the world. This MoU will lead to many mutually beneficial forms of collaboration, including student and faculty exchanges and joint research activities," the JGU VC said in a statement.

"We at JGU are strongly committed to internationalisation and opening up of new global learning opportunities for our students," he added.

The University of Zurich is the largest and one of the oldest universities in Switzerland with excellence in teaching and research.

Founded in 1833, the University of Zurich is currently amongst the top 100 Universities in the world as per the Times Higher Education (THE) and QS World University Rankings.

"We are truly excited about the prospect of collaborating with O. P. Jindal Global University. I am personally convinced that this MoU will provide a solid basis for fruitful academic exchange from which our two institutions will benefit in many respects," Hengartner said.

Located at Sonipat, Haryana, JGU is a multidisciplinary and research oriented university, which made it to the QS World University Rankings 2020 as the youngest university in India and in the world to be featured in the world rankings.

JGU is also the only Indian private university in the top 150 'young' universities in the world (under 50 years of age) in the QS Young University Rankings 2020.
Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP has increased its Brazil and cross border transaction capabilities with the addition of Giovanni Biscardi as a shareholder in the firms New York office and as a foreign legal consultant in the firms Miami office. Biscardi joins Greenberg Traurig from Carlton Fields, where he was a former member of the firms Board of Directors.

Biscardi, who focuses on mergers and acquisitions, and corporate matters, including commercial and financing agreements, also is the former managing partner of the Rio de Janeiro office of Brazilian law firm Machado, Meyer, Sendacz & Opice. He has joined Greenberg Traurigs Latin America Practice, where he assists U.S. clients in structuring their investments throughout Latin America and has a long track record of handling complex cross-border transactions for Fortune 500 companies and private equity funds. He also assists foreign individuals and entities with their investments in the United States.

We are very pleased to welcome Giovanni to the firm, said Marc M. Rossell, co-chair of Greenberg Traurigs Latin America Practice. His in-depth experience leading transactions internationally will certainly be an asset to many of our clients who do business globally. Coupled with our New York-based shareholder Ross Kaufman, who is well-known to clients for his work in Brazil, and our recent addition of Arnaldo C. Rego, Jr. as Of Counsel in Miami, our Latin America Practice is now more prepared than ever before to assist clients, especially in matters involving business in Brazil.

Biscardi has wide-ranging experience handling legal work related to business transactions in numerous international jurisdictions, including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, France, Italy, and Spain.

As Brazil and other Latin American markets see continued economic growth, there will be numerous opportunities for both inbound and outbound investment, said Yosbel A. Ibarra, co-managing shareholder of the firms Miami office and a member of the Latin America Practice. Giovannis significant knowledge of the economic and business climate in Brazil and other jurisdictions provides Greenberg Traurig clients with a valuable resource as they evaluate their global investment decisions.

Biscardi received his J.D. from Universidade Candido Mendes, an M.B.A. from Escola de Magistratura do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, and an LL.M. in International and Comparative Law from the George Washington University School of Law. He is licensed to practice law in New York and Brazil, is a Certified Foreign Legal Consultant in Florida, and speaks fluent Portuguese and Spanish, as well as conversational Italian.

While the advantages of Greenberg Traurigs global platform are well-known, I was particularly impressed by the firms collaborative culture and am very excited to be joining its highly respected Latin America team, Biscardi said. The markets in Brazil and elsewhere in Latin America are very appealing to foreign investors at the moment, so we are seeing an increased amount of interest in the region both from companies located internationally and domestically.

About Greenberg Traurigs Latin America Practice: Greenberg Traurigs award-winning Latin America Practice draws on resources from our offices around the world, bringing together a multidisciplinary team of lawyers to help clients identify business opportunities in Latin America. The team, which includes lawyers who have been chief legal officers at major multinational companies, has wide-ranging experience representing U.S. and international clients who do business in Latin America, as well as advising Latin American clients on their business ventures in the United States. The firms experience throughout the region enables the team to offer clients local knowledge and resources in the legal aspects of market opportunities, investments, financing, access to capital markets, governmental strategies, or international dispute resolution.

About Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has approximately 2100 attorneys in 41 locations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, diversity, and innovation, and is consistently among the largest firms in the U.S. on the Law360 400 and among the Top 20 on the Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.
" " Traditional Aboriginal owners of Uluru-Kata-Tjuta, the Anangu, gather in front of the Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, after a permanent ban on climbing it, at the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in Australia's Northern Territory on Oct. 26, 2019. SAEED KHAN/AFP via Getty Images

The Aboriginal people of Australia were the first people to set foot on the continent, somewhere between 40,000 and 60,000 years ago. The Aboriginal Australians' creation story describes their arrival in terms of the Dreamtime, the beginning of time, when the spirits created the world.

During Dreamtime, spirits rose from below the earth and transformed into all the natural elements you see in Australia today  rivers, lakes, mountains, hills and caves. The spirits literally make up the land. Aboriginal Australians see these spirits in much the same way as Christians view God or Muslims view Allah. However, they believe that these spirits are alive within the land of Australia. Because of this, Aboriginal Australians view the land as sacred and treat it as such.

Advertisement

The dreamings, or stories, of the Dreamtime are also considered sacred, and they're kept secret from the outside world. Elders draw these stories in a series, called a dreaming trail, using symbols. Young men then learn what the symbols mean and how to translate them so they can pass the history along to the next generation. Many Aboriginal Australians consider the dreamings to be the absolute truth  an unquestionable recording of history.

The scientific explanation for how Aboriginal people arrived in Australia is simple: They walked. Within the last decade, studies have proposed the possibility that all humans came from Africa within the last 200,000 years [sources: The Independent, Lewis]. A group of geneticists at the University of Cambridge in England built on that research by studying the DNA of Aboriginal Australians to determine when they arrived in Australia and from where.

According to Dr. Toomas Kisivild and his team, the Aboriginal people walked from Africa onto Eurasia. From there, they spread from India along the coastlines of Southeast Asia, where they then traveled over a land bridge connecting Australia to Asia [source: The New York Times]. Once the seas rose and covered the land that connected the continents, indigenous Australians were isolated for thousands of years.

What was life like for them, and how did that change with an influx of English settlers? How has the struggle for civil rights in Australia compare to what's happened in other countries? Read on to learn how much has changed in the last few centuries.
By Abdul Kerimkhanov

Almost 90 percent of the text of the EU-Azerbaijan new partnership agreement has been finalized, presidential aide, Head of Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev said an interview with EURACTIV.

"The negotiation process is still going on between EU and Azerbaijan. There are certain fundamental areas, on which we have a little bit different views, but both sides with constructive engagement are working together to narrow this gap. Almost 90 percent of the text of the agreement has been finalized. However, there are energy and trade issues - we are looking for more engagement from the EU side. They shouldnt take preferential position, or in other words, offensive trade approach with regard to the agreement," he stated.

He noted that the negotiation process is still going on between EU and Azerbaijan, adding that there are certain fundamental areas, on which the parties have slightly different views, but both sides with constructive engagement are working together to narrow this gap.

"Based on that understanding, we do believe that we can move forward. Because for Azerbaijan, it is also strategically important that we have own internal reform process and own economic priorities and initiatives," he said.

Touching upon Azerbaijans relations with the EU, Hajiyev called it one of the important directions of Azerbaijans foreign policy.

"Azerbaijan and the EU are cooperating in many different spheres. Azerbaijan is also an important partner of the EU in terms of trade. Biggest investors in Azerbaijan are mainly EU countries. The EU and Azerbaijan are closely cooperating in security, transport and energy fields. Especially, in the energy field the EU and Azerbaijan are strategic partners. This year is particularly important, as we will finalize the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and Azerbaijani gas will physically be on the territory of Europe," Hajiyev added.

As for the Eastern Partnership program, he noted it should be tailor-made.

"As to the Eastern Partnership, my president has once again mentioned that in general, it is a framework that brings together different countries and we are also a part of this process to be engaged. We are participating in the Eastern Partnership program. Currently, there are some talks and discussions about further development of Eastern Partnership. But for us inclusiveness in this process, and also not to rank the partners are extremely important. Eastern Partnership should be designed in a sense that particularly, needs and requirements of the partner countries should be met and it also should be tailor-made," he emphasized.

Note that the Eastern Partnership is an initiative aimed at deepening and strengthening the EU's relations with six countries - Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine. In this framework, guiding the EU's relations with its neighbours is the EUs Global Strategy and the revised European Neighbourhood Policy which call on the need to focus on increasing the stabilization and resilience of the EU's Eastern neighbours.

As Hajiyev mentioned, Azerbaijan sees the Eastern Partnership as a general framework and the country is not asking for any kind of donor support or any kind of financial support within the Eastern Partnership.

"We want to build up further cooperation with the EU by using the wider framework, Hajiyev stressed.

Commenting on Azerbaijans role in improving the connectivity between the East and West, he said that the Silk Road concept resonates with Azerbaijans own perception, because the country was historically located on the ancient Silk Road.

"Therefore, along this road, along the Caspian Sea, we are building different connectivity mechanisms with our Central Asian partners. It is not only about transportation, it is also about information and communication technologies. Along the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan with our Central Asian partners, with China and some other partnering countries involved, is building a new fiber-optic line as well. We are working on maritime and air component of the Silk Road. Simply, things are going well," he added.

Noting that there is a big potential for trade turnover between China and EU, Hajiyev believes that Azerbaijan can play its role as a mid-corridor.

"Especially, with Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway system, we see that we can do a lot with our EU partners. Azerbaijans railway system is well integrated and connected with Russian railway system. Now we are working with our Iranian partners, so that we can bring goods from wider Indian ocean to the northern part of Europe within a short range of time," Hajiyev said.

The EU and Azerbaijan are maintaining relations under the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, which was signed in 1996 and came into force in 1999. Since then the PCA has provided the legal framework for EU-Azerbaijan bilateral relations in the areas of political dialogue, trade, investment, economic, legislative and cultural cooperation.

Speaking about the relations with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), he said that Azerbaijan sees further potential to develop political consultation and dialogue with this organization.

"Last year we celebrated 25th anniversary of the Partnership for Peace Program that Azerbaijan joined in 1994. Since then, cooperation with NATO played an important role in security reform and defense reform in Azerbaijan. Education, training and exercises provided by different NATO programs were important instruments in Azerbaijans defense building and defense reform process," he said.

Hajiyev underlined that currently Azerbaijan is considered as a reliable and committed partner by NATO.

"I am proud to say that today Azerbaijani soldiers shoulder-to-shoulder to NATO allies and partner countries are serving in Afghanistan against terrorism and trying to provide and bring peace and security to this country. Azerbaijan also plays an important role as a transit and logistic hub for the transportation of lifesaving goods for NATO allied partner countries. We also see that there is further potential to develop political consultation and dialogue. Within the visit to Brussels, we had 29+1 format, that is NATO+ Azerbaijan format of discussions on general political and regional issues, including Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that I had a good chance to brief NATO colleagues and friends from the partner and allied countries," Hajiyev concluded.

Azerbaijan conducts political dialogue with NATO on a broad range of issues of common concern based on the PfP principles. Within the political dialogue, which is held in different formats and levels, the issues like partnership, regional security, Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, peace support operations, contribution to Afghanistan, emerging security challenges etc. are the matters of bilateral discussions and consultations. The high-level political dialogue based on mutual understanding promotes progress in practical cooperation.

---

Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Karen Smyrski Smith has seen her fair share of doctors and been in and out of hospitals for nearly 40 years.

The former New Milford resident has been living with a diagnosis of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD), an inherited progressive disorder in which cysts develop in the kidneys, since 1980.

She is now hopeful a living donor with a kidney match will soon be found.

Im at the precipice, said Smyrski Smith, 68, a resident of Maryland. Im doing everything I can to stay healthy until I get a living donor.

Its not easy, said Smyrski Smith, who lived in Connecticut until 2002. I need to be optimistic and cynical at the same time.

Smyrski Smith grew up on her grandparents farm on Tamarack Road in New Milford and also lived in Danbury and Greenwich in later years.

She moved to California in 2002 to fulfill a lifelong dream. Shortly after arriving there, her medical issues began to kick into high gear.

All my dreams were dashed, Smyrski Smith said, who is in kidney failure.

Smyrski Smith described herself as looking nine months pregnant. She has hundreds of cysts that stretches the tissues of the kidney.

Dr. Terry Watnick, professor of medicine at Baltimore PKD Center, Division of Nephrology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and an endowed chair, said one in 500 to one in 1,000 people have ADPKD.

Shes resilient, Watnick said of Smyrski Smith, who is one of her patients in Maryland. She hasnt given up.

Watnick said Smyrski Smith as realistic about her situation and knows without a donor, shell probably wind up on dialysis.

In 2003, Smyrski Smith had two surgeries to cut off the top of five cysts. But they grew back. In total, 3,600 cc of fluid was removed in the two surgeries.

She needed outpatient procedures for her kidneys off and on for the next 15 years.

From 2003 to mid-2016, Smyrski Smith had nearly 30 cyst aspirations, each draining anywhere from 750cc (about three cups) to 1,500 cc (about a liter and a half) of fluid.

I dont see myself as sick, so I dont dwell on it, the 1968 graduate of New Milford High School said of her outlook on her health challenges.

She said a nephrologist, who is now head of the transplant department at UCLA, related that her positive attitude has bought her 10 years.

All my doctors are my cheerleaders, said Smyrski Smith, a former Miss New Milford contestant. Theyre always right there for me.

Doctors recommend it is best for her to have a living donors kidney. The donor should have O blood type and be a non-smoker.

The kidney would be transplanted, and her two affected kidneys would be removed.

Multiple teams of surgeons are needed to perform the operations. If a living donor is found, surgeons can plan a coordinated time for the operation.

A donation from a cadaver is an emergency surgery and is only handled by the transplant team. In that case, Smyrski Smith would need an additional operation.

Smyrski Smith has been on a kidney waiting list for three and a half years and has been called twice about a possible match, each time to have plans for the transplant to be called off last minute due to the donor kidney.

It happened a few years ago while living in California and under doctors care at UCLA, and again last May while living outside of Baltimore.

Smyrski Smith, who has a background as a bookkeeper, programmer and nurse, said several friends have been tested but no one has been successfully matched.

Getting a kidney from a family member is not an option. Smyrski Smith is one of four living family members with the disease. One brother died of it in 2014. Over the years, testing on the family members diagnosed with polycystic kidney disorder indicated the disorder is carried through Smyrski Smiths maternal line.

Her mother, Dolores Sapetti  daughter of Nando Sapetti and Catherine Cate (Higgins) Sapetti  and father split when Smyrski Smith was a child. Dolores moved to New Jersey and Smith did not have a relationship with her. Her mother died at 35 in 1965.

Chances are, Sapetti never knew she had polycystic kidney disease. Smyrski Smith said her grandparents died in their 40s and were unaware they carried the disease.

In 2001, Smyrski Smiths two brothers were diagnosed with the disease, confirming the disease came from Smiths maternal line.

Her son was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease his senior year of high school, and a niece was diagnosed about four years later.

Smyrski Smith and family members have all had a magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA), a type of MRI that provides pictures of blood vessels inside the body.

Tests indicated Smyrski Smith has a 2 mm aneurysm.

My body is handling it, according to Smyrski Smith, whose neurosurgeon told her the aneurysm is stable.

Over the years, though, loss of appetite, increased sleeping, difficulty breathing, fatigue and other symptoms have impacted her ability to work.

While Smyrski Smith waits for a donor, she is prepared for dialysis  she had a surgical procedure to create an access point for the dialysis machine  if necessary.

For the time being, though, Smyrski Smiths lab work is regularly monitored by doctors who are hopeful a living donor will be found.

Possible donors can complete an application and indicate Karen L. Smyrski Smith on the form available at Maryland.donorscreen.org. A transplant would be performed at the University of Maryland Medical Centers main campus. For more information, call the living donor office at 410-328-1564.

Those who are related to Smith on her maternal side and would like to reach out to her for family information should email her at misskarensnewkidney

@gmail.com.
(CNN)  Hundreds of thousands of protesters marched through Baghdad on Friday calling for US troops to leave Iraq, heeding the call of powerful Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr who called for a "Million Man March."

Families and children held aloft signs that read "no, no to America" and "no, no to occupation" amid a sea of Iraqi flags. A heavy security presence surrounded the path of the march, as well as the Green Zone which houses the US embassy.

The Green Zone has been the site of multiple rocket attacks that have increased in frequency since a US attack in Baghdad killed Iran's most powerful military general, Qasem Soleimani, and the Iran-backed Iraqi commander, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

The targeted killing on January 3 sparked growing calls for US troops to leave the country, as many Iraqis criticized what they see as a breach of its sovereignty. There are roughly 5,000 US troops in Iraq.

Iraq's parliament voted to expel the US military from the country following the attack, but the Trump administration has said it does not intend to pull troops out.

At the rally, Sadr reiterated calls for US troops to leave the country in a bid to steer clear of "another war." Iraqi President Barham Salih tweeted an image of the protest. "Iraqis insist on a state with complete sovereignty that will not be breached," tweeted Salih.

Protesters carried posters with caricatures of US President Donald Trump. One showed Trump on the back of a tank, his head sticking out of a ballot box, an apparent reference to the upcoming US election.

Thurgham al-Tamimi arrived at the protests from Karbala with his two children, his wife and his father. "We came here to answer the call of the nation," he told CNN. "Our country is exposed to foreign interference from East and West," an apparent reference to both Iran, which has growing influence in the country, and the United States.

"We don't want any country to decide the fate of Iraq. We want to see Iraq with full sovereignty," he added.

Tamimi wore a white shroud over his shoulders. He said it symbolized his willingness to make a "sacrifice" for the sake of the country.

Some protesters said they also wished to shake off Iran's political influence in the country. "We don't want Iran in Iraq either. We respect them as a neighbor but they should not have a say in Iraq and no one should interfere in our internal affairs," said Um Ahmed, who declined to disclose her full name.

"No to America, and no to Iran. Iraq is for Iraqis," she added.

Iraqis whom CNN spoke to in recent weeks criticized Trump's targeted killing of Soleimani, and said they feared becoming caught in the middle of a war between the US and Iran. Many across Iraq's political divide have called on their government to avoid turning the country into a "battleground state."

Iran responded to the US targeted killing by firing more than a dozen ballistic missiles at US positions in Iraq, leading some US troops to be treated for concussions. At al-Asad base, which bore the bulk of the attack, US troops received advance warning, and most had already taken cover in bunkers when the missiles struck.

Iraq has also been mired in an internal political crisis, with thousands of anti-government protesters taking to the streets. The demonstrators have protested against corruption perceived as widespread, and object to Iran's growing influence in the country.

This story was first published on CNN.com "British cities to get buses that suck pollution from the air"
Everyone knows President Trump will not be convicted in his impeachment trial. Since his party controls 53 seats, there is simply no way the requisite two-thirds Senate will vote against him.

So is there any point to this whole exercise? Yes, there is  because impeachment is not just about this president, it is also about future presidents. If Congress failed to act despite mounting evidence of Trump's abuse of office and obstruction, it would hand presidents a veritable license for misconduct.

Unfortunately, all presidents bend the rules and push the outer boundaries of their powers to achieve their preferred policy outcomes. But Trump didn't just bend the rules; he trashed the rulebook. Moreover, he did so not to advance any policy objective, but his own political interest.

A transcript of the call that Trump made to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (that Trump insists was "perfect") offers compelling evidence that Trump demanded dirt on former Vice President Joe Biden as a condition for releasing congressionally authorized security aid to the country. In the call, Trump first berated Ukraine for not sufficiently "reciprocating" to "all the good" that America does for his country. Then he explicitly asked Zelensky to work with former New York Mayor Rudy Guiliani, his personal lawyer, to launch a corruption investigation into how Biden's son landed a lucrative job at a Ukrainian energy company. Shortly after this call, the administration froze $391 million in congressionally authorized military aid to Ukraine. The CBO recently ruled that this action was illegal because it violated the Impoundment Control Act, a law passed in the wake of Watergate precisely to stop presidents from substituting their own funding judgment for Congress'.

How could Trump possibly have thought withholding aid was appropriate  especially since he had just extricated himself from hot waters over his campaign's alleged collusion with Russia against Hillary Clinton? As Gordon Sondland, Trump's handpicked envoy to the European Union, explained to Bill Taylor, America's top diplomat to Ukraine, at the time, Trump is a businessman and "when a businessman is about to sign a check to someone who owes him something, the businessman asks that person to pay up." In other words, as far as Trump was concerned, the aid belonged not to American taxpayers but him and he was entitled to use it as a personal slush fund to enlist a U.S. ally in oppo research.

Story continues

This is generally the kind of thinking one expects from Third World potentates (or Detroit mayors). If a CEO used company funds for personal purposes, he'd be fired in a heartbeat.

So why does Trump deserve a pass? Trump's lawyers argue he didn't violate any criminal laws and the articles of impeachment drafted by the House don't accuse him of doing so. The articles merely charge Trump with abuse of power (and obstruction of Congress), a nebulous and subjective charge. But criminal conduct has never been a requirement for impeachment. Even Georgetown University law professor Jonathan Turley, among one of the few legal experts outside of Trump's legal team who is on his side, accepts this. In fact, when the Founders wrote the impeachment language in 1787, virtually no federal criminal law even existed.

If they still made provisions for impeachment, it is because they realized that in America's presidential system, the executive is granted vast powers that he or she would be tempted to abuse for all kinds of reasons. Trying to anticipate all the possible ways and write laws against them was neither possible nor desirable so the Founders gave Congress the space to make subjective calls. But to avoid partisan witch-hunts, they also set the two-third Senate vote bar to remove him from office.

But of course since then, executive power has grown in leaps and bounds partly because Congress has not stepped in to prevent presidents from usurping its powers and partly because it has handed over its powers to them on a platter. Yet the bar for removal has not been lowered. The upshot is that the president is becoming ever more powerful and ever less accountable.

In an ideal world, Congress would limit executive power or lower the bar for removal or both. But since that'll require the ghosts of the Founders to wake up and once again lead the country, the only nominal check on future abuses are impeachment proceedings that embarrass sitting presidents by exposing their wrongdoings even if they don't succeed in removing him from office. Trump seems to have an exceptionally thick skin, but even he is upset that the impeachment will look "bad" on his "resume." Most normally constituted presidents are likely to care quite a bit more about their honor.

Indeed, if Trump is able to get away with using his diplomatic and foreign policy powers to "screw [his] political enemies"  to use the immortal words of John Dean  what's to prevent him or future presidents from using their domestic powers for similar purposes? What would stop them from, say, withholding authorized disaster aid from governors till they deliver dirt on opponents? There are no criminal statutes against such behavior either, after all.

It would be nice if Trump's acquittal weren't preordained. But doing nothing in the face of his actions would lower the cost of bad behavior so much that even men and women better than Trump would be tempted to get away with behavior worse than Trump's for the simple reason that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

It is sad that an unsuccessful impeachment is one of the few tools left to the republic to stop the absolute corruptibility of the presidency. But it is better than nothing.

Want more essential commentary and analysis like this delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for The Week's "Today's best articles" newsletter here.

More stories from theweek.com

Following 'explosive' report about John Bolton's book, Democrats say he must testify in impeachment trial

Michelle Obama is now a Grammy Award winner

The Grammys are America's worst awards show


Jerry Falwell calls for civil disobedience if Virginia passes stricter gun laws

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. advocated for civil disobedience if the Democratic-controlled Commonwealth of Virginia government passes stricter gun control laws.

In an interview with conservative writer and radio host Todd Starnes earlier this month, Virginia resident Falwell said that he had never seen the populace more energized on any other issue than the gun control bills being considered by the state legislature.

One of them, a bill by Del. Dan Helmer seeking to ban indoor shooting ranges at office buildings, would impact the National Rifle Association, as their headquarters is in Fairfax.

There are millions of people who work in office buildings in the Commonwealth of Virginia," argued Helmer, as reported by the Associated Press.

It doesn't make sense for us to be establishing businesses in those buildings that have people bringing lots of firearms and ammunition.

Falwell told Starnes that he was pretty sure Im going to call for civil disobedience if the Democrats go through with this.

And the hundred municipalities and jurisdictions who have passed resolutions to protect the Second Amendment, I think the police officers and the populace would not be opposed to just disobeying, he continued.

Just like sanctuary cities in liberal states refused to obey the federal law when it comes to immigration, I think its time for conservatives.

Falwell referenced the Civil Rights Act, which he credited civil disobedience as a key factor in its passage, adding that there comes a time when theres no other choice.

When Starnes asked Falwell what this civil disobedience would look like, the Liberty president said that he saw it as including police not enforcing state laws and the population not obeying them.

You dont mess with peoples guns in this part of the state, said Falwell, who lives in a region of Virginia he labeled very conservative.

Falwells comments come in advance of tens of thousands of gun rights activists going to Richmond to protest against stricter firearms control.

In a large-scale demonstration widely recognized as peaceful, the activists organized Monday, which was not only Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, but also a state lobby day.

Democrat Governor Ralph Northam, who had previously called a state of emergency in response to the rally, said in a statement that he was glad that the event went without serious incident.

Thousands of people came to Richmond to make their voices heard. Today showed that when people disagree, they can do so peacefully, stated Northam.

The issues before us evoke strong emotions, and progress is often difficult. I will continue to listen to the voices of Virginians, and I will continue to do everything in my power to keep our Commonwealth safe.
Grandweld Shipyards, a leading UAE-based ship repair and conversion facility, recently secured a deal with Global Marine Ship Management and Operations (GMO) to build and deliver two new 42-meter crew boats.



Jamal Abki, general manager of Grandweld Shipyards, said: We are extremely pleased to collaborate with GMO and close out the year on such a high note. Since our birth in 1984, we have constantly sought out methods of growing both internally and externally.



Accordingly, this union reinforces the repeated and successful implementation of a meticulous strategy that we have administered over 35 years. Grandwelds strength lies in our specialization of design, builds and maintenance of ships and boats.



After engaging in productive discussions with GMO and tactically examining its future ambitions, we are confident that these new designs will be of great value for them in the coming decade and beyond. Additionally, we are optimistic that the delivery of our new generation 42-meter crew boats will further develop our strong and long-lasting partnership for many years to come, he added.



Shahram Nazemi, managing director of Global Marine Ship Management and Operations, said: While we have provided a full range of offshore marine support services to the industry since 1997, we only officially established ourselves in the UAE in 2009.



This development allowed us to cater to the countrys project needs and also boost our credibility by showcasing our expertise in chartering vessels in support activities for all kinds of offshore activity. With the addition of Grandwelds two crew boats to our fleet, GMO looks forward to reinforcing our status as a preferred provider of offshore marine services to clients within the industry, while maintaining quality performance based on safety and the highest environmental standards.



GMO is currently most active in Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia, but their presence also extends to locations like South America and Southeast Asia. A majority of GMOs 14 vessel fleet in the UAE is comprised of crew boats and this new deal with Grandweld will witness this number grow to 16.



Grandwelds pride has always been embedded in our Made in the UAE brand. Representing a country which prides itself in excellence has directly translated to the way in which we operate, Abki added.



This entails completing and delivering projects in a timely fashion, working around the clock to provide the highest quality services at competitive prices, and ensuring our clients immediate and long-term needs are consistently met without fail. Likewise, this deal with GMO is yet another opportunity that allows us to uplift and exemplify the countrys elite stature.



Our primary focus has always been rooted in ensuring the utmost safety and quality of our vessels. In 2019, we once again successfully witnessed this carried out. However, despite our stable and steady growth in the global maritime market, we are adamant on elevating our operations to the next level and this collaborative effort with Grandweld allows us to deliberately achieve just that, Nazemi added.



With the new decade upon us, we anticipate the demand for our vessels increasing. Thus, understanding the excellence of Grandwelds past deliveries, we view this order of two new crew boats as mandatory for our fleet to be up to date with the latest maritime standards.  TradeArabia News Service
As more and more Kilkenny farmers realise there is more to life than the daily grind of what they do, more and more are looking at once a day (OAD) milking.

Interest in the practice continues to grow and is sometimes considered as an option in situations where labour is in short supply.

The farm layout means that cows have long walks to and from the parlour, or where reducing the number of milkings carried out is attractive from a lifestyle perspective.

To address the issue, Teagasc hosted a very informative conference at the Horse and Jockey Hotel.

Teagasc dairy advisor and organiser of the conference, Brian Hilliard said interest on milking cows once a day for the entire lactation continues to rise each year.

There is a slow but steady take up of the system as more farmers get the courage to make the change, or adopt it for the first time on non-dairy farms, he said.

Farmers considering OAD milking are encouraged to prepare well in advance before adopting the practice, by attending conferences like today, going to farm meetings on well-established OAD farms, and by contacting their Teagasc advisor.

British farmer Keith Davis one of the keynote speakers at the conference explained why he operates a Once A Day milking system on his farm.

We milk OAD because we quickly realised that milking cows was the most profitable enterprise for our farm, after we moved to a grazing based system.

So by milking OAD, we could milk 1,000 cows using every hectare accessible to the dairy buildings, while still using our 32 point rotary milking parlour. To get labour today, it helps to be flexible and to be able to communicate.

Catherine and Liam Millerick said that they wanted to see if they could get 80-90% of their Twice A Day (TAD) income on OAD.

Once they researched that they could achieve 80-90% farm profitability, in line with the TAD herds, then it was a runner for them.

They needed a new challenge after 34 years of milk quotas.

Going OAD for the Millericks was a choice that they made themselves, they did not jump into it because of quota restrictions or long cow walks.

Benefits included improved lifestyle and for their cows, better stock health; more labour friendly with similar levels of profitability.

Breeding the suitable cow for OAD, while it took time, was important to success.

Michael ODonovan and Emer Kennedy have recently started a new research programme on OAD milking in Teagasc Moorepark.

Emer Kennedy presented results from the first full year of the study which will continue for the next number of years.

The results showed that high performance can be achieved from OAD  almost 400 kg milk solids per year were produced by the OAD cows in year 1 of the study.

These cows also had improved fertility and body condition score. One of the key messages was that if a farmer is considering OAD milking they need to have good grassland and herd management skills to minimise reductions in cow production performance.

In a comparison of TAD, robotics and once a day milking, Patrick Gowing, Teagasc dairy expansion advisor, emphasised that when comparing OAD against a robotic milking system, the milking process is less time consuming when robots are used, (40 minutes versus two hours), but it requires significant investment to achieve this.

Therefore OAD is a lower risk option, provided the drop in output is not too excessive, as it requires lower investment levels than a robotic system.
OTTAWAThe Conservative leadership contest is quickly becoming a question of who actually wants the job.

Ottawa-area MP Pierre Poilievre shocked Conservative circles and political observers Thursday by announcing hes abandoning his campaign for the leadership.

Poilievre had been organizing his bid for weeks, and had attracted party heavyweights John Baird and Jenni Byrne to his banner. He was expected to officially announce his candidacy in Ottawa on Sunday.

But in a surprise statement posted to social media Thursday afternoon, Poilievre said his heart wasnt in the race.

Over the last several weeks, I have been building a team and support for a possible run for the Conservative leadership . I knew it would be hard on my family life to do this. But I did not realize how hard, wrote Poilievre, who has a young child.

As such, my heart is not fully engaged in this leadership race. Without being all in, I cannot be in at all.

Poilievres departure is the third high-profile exit from the Conservative leadership field this week.

On Tuesday, former Quebec Premier Jean Charest told Radio Canada he would not seek the partys top job. Hot on Charests heels was Rona Ambrose, the partys former interim leader, who announced Wednesday she would focus on her post-politics life in Alberta.

As late as Thursday morning reporters were expecting Poilievre to announce his candidacy on Sunday in Ottawa. One campaign official appeared caught off guard Wednesday afternoon when the Star called to confirm reports Poilievre was out.

Speaking shortly after the news broke to CTVs Power Play, Byrne said Poilievre has a young family and the veteran politician did not anticipate he could provide the level of commitment required to win the leadership.

The last few weeks were more tough than what was anticipated. This is a big commitment, Byrne said.

Its not just a leadership race, it could be two to three years in opposition as well.

With Poilievres departure from the field, Peter MacKay and Erin OToole are the only confirmed or likely candidates with strong name recognition among the Conservative grassroots, a crucial advantage in the short leadership race.

MacKay is expected to announce his bid in his native Nova Scotia on Saturday. While no date has been set for OTooles entrance into the race, the Durham MP is expected to make his official announcement in short order, and his path to victory may look clearer with Poilievre gone from the race.

Those vying for the leadership will be required to raise a $300,000-deposit and have at least 3,000 signatures of support from 30 different ridings spread across seven provinces or territories. But the first real milestone will be Feb. 27, when candidates are required to submit their first 1,000 signatures and a $25,000-initial-deposit.

Conservative Party faithful will select their next leader on June 27 at a convention in Toronto.

Read more about:
1. Yes. The downtown area needs a good draw. Some quality taverns would be a plus.

2. Yes. Too many storefronts are vacant. Bars could help to bring in needed revenue.

3. No. Putting a number of bars downtown is just asking for trouble. Dont change things.

4.No. Several churches have located downtown. Putting bars close by would be a bad fit.

5. Unsure. It would depend on how the law is written and what standards are enacted.

Vote

View Results
[January 24, 2020] Brouse McDowell Names Daniel K. Glessner as Managing Partner

Brouse McDowell, a leading business law firm based in Northern Ohio, welcomes Daniel K. Glessner as the new managing partner of the firm. Glessner succeeds Marc B. Merklin who served as managing partner for eight years. Since joining Brouse McDowell in 2008, Glessner has focused on corporate and health care issues, providing legal counsel for hospitals, physician group practices, dialysis centers, ancillary health care companies, and other health care entities. His experience includes corporate and real estate transactions, long-term care, medical staff and licensure issues, employment, general contracting, implementation of policies and procedures, Medicare, Medicaid and commercial payor audits and reimbursement issues, HIPAA, fraud and abuse, non-profit tax-exempt and managed care issues, contract negotiations, patient-related issues, and regulatory compliance concerns. In the continuing evolution of health care reform, Glessner works with health care clients to ensure their compliance with new and revised laws and to develop strategic models to respond to changes in the health care industry. Glessner is certified by the Compliance Certification Board as a specialist in Healthcare Compliance. He has received several accolades for his health care law practice, including recognition by Ohio Super Lawyers (2015-2020) and The Best Lawyers in America (2012-2016, 2019-2020). In 2015 and 2019, he was Best Lawyers Health Care Law "Lawyer of the Year" in Akron. He is a member of the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), the Society of Ohio Healthcare Attorneys (SOHA), the American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA), the Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA) and the Ohio Hospital Association (OHA). He currently serves as the Co-chair of the Health Care Law certificate program at The University of Akron School of Law and is an adjunct professor at Widener University Delaware Law School. Glessner also participates in a number of community non-profit and professional organizations. He is on the Board of Directors for th Hattie Larlham Foundation and the Boy Scouts of America Great Trail Council. In May 2019, he was the recipient of the Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver Award, and in 2018, he received the William C. Zekan Outstanding Community Leader Award by the Boy Scouts of America, Great Trail Council.



Prior to joining Brouse, Glessner served as in-house counsel with Akron General Health System for 16 years. Glessner also served in the military and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the United States Army Reserve with 28 years of service. LTC Glessner is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Glessner's predecessor Marc Merklin has served as Managing Partner for the past eight years. Under Merklin's leadership, the firm has grown from 65 attorneys in two offices to more than 80 attorneys across five offices, establishing a wider geographical footprint in northern Ohio and a presence in South Florida through two law firm combinations. In December 2016, Brouse combined with 100-year old Youngstown-based firm Nadler Nadler and Burdman Co., LPA, adding eight attorneys with experience across health care, corporate, manufacturing, real estate and construction, estate planning, and commercial law. The two firms shared similar values and business practices and had complementary legal services to enhance offerings to clients in the region. In July 2018, the firm underwent another combination with Toledo-based firm, Thacker Robinson Zinz, adding a dozen attorneys and two new offices - one in Toledo, Ohio and one in Naples, Florida - as well as additional attorneys and staff in Cleveland. This combination grew the firm's bench strength in insurance recovery to more than 25 dedicated attorneys and added an experienced litigation/discovery management practice.

Glessner notes, "I am grateful to Marc for his steadfast leadership through a time of significant changes when standing still was not an option. He has truly positioned us for long-term success, and I look forward to continuing the momentum." Merklin announced his plans to step down as Managing Partner earlier this year to return to his full-time practice as a Business Restructuring, Bankruptcy and Commercial Law attorney. "I have enjoyed serving the firm as Managing Partner, and I know I leave it in good hands with Dan who is a proven leader at our firm having served on the firm's Executive Committee for eight years," says Merklin. While Glessner looks forward to leading the firm, he plans to continue his robust health care practice. Glessner received his JD from The University of Akron School of Law, his Masters of Taxation from The University of Akron College of Business Administration and his BS in Finance from The University of Dayton. About Brouse McDowell Brouse McDowell is a 100-year-old business law firm based in Northern Ohio. With offices in Akron, Cleveland, Toledo, and Youngstown, Ohio and Naples, Florida, the firm's attorneys serve clients ranging from the nation's largest corporations to mid-market entities, sole proprietorships, municipalities, and nonprofits. The collective experience of more than 80 attorneys working in an interactive and collaborative environment yields creative, practical solutions for our clients. Our attorneys cover several areas of law, including business restructuring, business bankruptcy and commercial law; corporate and securities; cybersecurity & data privacy; environmental; estate, succession planning and probate administration; health care law; labor and employment; litigation; litigation and information management; real estate and construction; tax; and trademark, copyright and trade secret law. We have multidisciplinary experience in several industries, including health care, oil and gas, manufacturing, and technology, among others. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005371/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
At the centenary conference of the National Party at Inverell last year, a motion was put calling for the retention of Australia Day on January 26. It was carried. I had worked for two decades, on an off, for moderate and conservative Liberals, for one Nationals minister and the leader of the LNP in Queensland. And I was aghast.

An obscured detail of the front garden of the home in Putney where Bennelong's grave has been found (left); and an illustration of Bennelong. Credit:Simon Alekna; Fairfax Photos

At the end of that conference, a portrait of William Joseph Punch, a private killed on the Western front, was presented to the Inverell RSL Club that hosted the event. Punch was an Aboriginal man, the last of his tribe. Eighteeen years before his death, a drover by the name of Punch had found him as a baby on the banks of the Bland River, attempting to suckle milk from his dead mothers breast. Fellow drovers had killed baby Williams relatives  old people, children, women  because they killed and ate one cow.

Drover Punch raised the baby as his son. He lost his adopted son, who fought and died in France. For us.

It beggars belief that a mere three months out from the 250th anniversary of James Cooks arrival at Botany Bay, Australians are still holding on, grudgingly, to January 26 as our "foundation" day. It is the anniversary of the First Fleets arrival at Port Jackson, some 18 years after Cook's advance party on the Endeavour.
WASHINGTON  The Trump administration on Thursday published new visa rules aimed at restricting birth tourism," in which women travel to the United States to give birth so their children can have U.S. citizenship.

Applicants will be denied tourist visas if they are determined by consular officers to be coming to the U.S. primarily to give birth, according to the rules in the Federal Register. It is a bigger hurdle to overcome, proving they are traveling to the U.S. because they have a medical need and not just because they want to give birth here. Those with medical needs will be treated like other foreigners coming to the U.S. for medical treatment and must prove they have the money to pay for it  including transportation and living expenses.

The practice of traveling to the U.S. to give birth is fundamentally legal, although there are scattered cases of authorities arresting operators of birth tourism agencies for visa fraud or tax evasion. And women are often honest about their intentions when applying for visas and even show signed contracts with doctors and hospitals.

The State Department "does not believe that visiting the United States for the primary purpose of obtaining U.S. citizenship for a child, by giving birth in the United States  an activity commonly referred to as birth tourism  is a legitimate activity for pleasure or of a recreational nature," according to the new rules, which take effect Friday.

While the new rules deal specifically with birth tourism, the Trump administration also has turned away pregnant women coming over the U.S.-Mexico border as part of a broader immigration crackdown. Those women were initially part of a vulnerable group that included others like small children who were allowed in, while tens of thousands of other asylum seekers have been returned over the border to wait out their cases in Mexico.

President Donald Trump's administration has been restricting all forms of immigration, but Trump has been particularly plagued by the issue of birthright citizenship  anyone born in the U.S. is considered a citizen, under the Constitution. The Republican president has railed against the practice and threatened to end it, but scholars and members of his administration have said it's not so easy to do.

Regulating tourist visas for pregnant women is one way to get at the issue, but it raises questions about how officers would determine whether a woman is pregnant to begin with and whether a woman could get turned away by border officers who suspect she may be just by looking at her.

And critics of the new policy say it could put pregnant women at risk.

Consular officers don't have the right to ask during visa interviews whether a woman is pregnant or intends to become so. But they would still have to determine whether a visa applicant would be coming to the U.S. primarily to give birth.

Birth tourism is a lucrative business in both the U.S. and abroad. Companies take out advertisements and charge up to $80,000 to facilitate the practice, offering hotel rooms and medical care. Many of the women travel from Russia and China to give birth in the U.S.

The U.S. has been cracking down on the practice since before Trump took office.

An entire birth tourism industry has evolved to assist pregnant women from other countries to come to the United States to obtain U.S. citizenship for their children by giving birth in the United States, and thereby entitle their children to the benefits of U.S. citizenship, according to the State Department rules.

There are no figures on how many foreign women travel to the U.S. specifically to give birth. The Center for Immigration Studies, a group that advocates for stricter immigration laws, estimated that in 2012 about 36,000 foreign-born women gave birth in the U.S. and then left the country.

This rule will help eliminate the criminal activity associated with the birth tourism industry, according to the rules. The recent federal indictments describe birth tourism schemes in which foreign nationals applied for visitor visas to come to the United States and lied to consular officers about the duration of their trips, where they would stay, and their purpose of travel.

Associated Press Writer Ellen Knickmeyer contributed to this article.
Hunter Biden, son of former Vice President Joe Biden, waits for the start of his father's debate at Centre College in Danville, Ky., on Oct. 11, 2012. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Photo)

Hawley: We Must Call Hunter Biden, We Probably Need to Call Joe Biden

GOP Senator Wants Bidens to Testify in Trump Impeachment Trial

Hunter Biden needs to testify in the Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) said on Thursday, adding that he thinks Bidens father, former Vice President and current 2020 contender Joe Biden should also probably answer questions from lawmakers.

The caveat, Hawley said, was whether the Senate would even call witnesses.

I think its now clear we absolutely must call Hunter Biden and we probably need to call Joe Biden. Based on the House managers presentation today, I think we probably are going to need to hear from the former Vice President if indeed we call witnesses, Hawley told reporters in a mid-afternoon break in the trial, citing arguments House impeachment managers made.

They also showed how central the Bidens are to their argumentI mean really, really centraland how important it is for them that Hunter Biden not be involved in any kind of corruption with Burisma.

Hawley said House Democrats were making contradictory arguments: that a prosecutor was ousted at the behest of the Obama administration because he wasnt investigating Burisma enough, but that Trump was wrong to try to get Ukraine to probe the firing of the investigator.

You cant have it both ways: either Burisma was a source of corruption, and needed to be investigated, or it wasnt.

Hunter Biden sat on the board of Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian company, from 2014 to 2019. Joe Biden pressured Ukraines leaders to oust a top prosecutor in 2016, Biden recounted during a 2018 event.

Then-Vice President Joe Biden arrives for a meeting with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko Kyiv on Jan. 16, 2017. (Genya Savilov/AFP/Getty Images)

I said, youre not getting the billion. Im going to be leaving here in, I think it was about six hours. I looked at them and said: Im leaving in six hours. If the prosecutor is not fired, youre not getting the money. Well, son of a [expletive]. He got fired. And they put in place someone who was solid at the time, Biden said.

The prosecutor who was ousted, Viktor Shokin, was probing Burisma, and had plans to question Hunter Biden.

Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas) told senators on Thursday that the theory that Biden tried to oust the prosecutor who was probing Burisma to protect his son was far fetched.

As the theory goes, Vice President Biden tried to remove Ukraines prosecutor all to make sure the prosecutor would not investigate that specific company, Burisma. Because, again, his son was on the board. Senators, if that does not sound far-fetched and complicated to you, it should, the House impeachment manager said.

Lets be very clear that Vice President Biden called for the removal of this prosecutor as the official direction of U.S. policy because the prosecutor was widely perceived as corrupt.

Garcia said shed walk the senators through the theory step-by-step, and spent over an hour talking about the Bidens and showing video clips of House impeachment inquiry witnesses discussing Burisma and the Bidens.

Hawley isnt the only GOP member pushing for at least one Biden to testify. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told reporters in Washington outside the trial on Wednesday that Hunter Bidens testimony is now critical following opening arguments by House impeachment manager Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.).

Schiff not only made his testimony relevant, which it already was, but it is now critical because the House Democrats have built their entire case on the proposition that any investigation into Burisma and corruption was a sham  the problem is, there is very significant prima facie evidence of corruption, Cruz said.

President Donald Trump, right, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hold a meeting in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 25, 2019. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to look into accusations of corruption surrounding the Bidens during a July 2019 phone call, noting how Biden talked about getting the prosecutor ousted.

Biden went around bragging that he stopped the prosecution so if you can look into it It sounds horrible to me, Trump said.

Zelensky said Ukraine was aware of what happened and the countrys top prosecutor later announced it was reviewing the closed Burisma investigation. It later expanded the probe.

The call led to Trump being impeached in December 2019. Democrats said Trump essentially asked a foreign country to interfere in the 2020 election since Joe Biden is running for the Democratic presidential nomination. They also sought to link a hold Trump ordered on congressionally approved aid to Ukraine with the request to look into the Bidens, though a number of Ukraine and U.S. officials testified that Ukraine didnt know about the hold until weeks after the phone call.

Three Senate committees are currently investigating Burisma.

Democrats also want to call witnesses, but have an entirely different list than Republicans. Theyve repeatedly said they want to call former national security adviser John Bolton, acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, Mulvaney aide Robert Blair, and White House Office of Management and Budget official Michael Duffey.

Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate. A simple majority is required to dismiss the impeachment articles while a conviction, which would remove Trump from office, requires a supermajority of those present.

A vote on whether to call witnesses is expected next week.
Critics of New Yorks new law eliminating bail for most nonviolent crimes are complaining that people accused of crimes that are no longer bail eligible are allowed to go free and commit more crimes.

Caught for a minor holdup, youll be charged and released  and can do it again, get caught again and be released again, time after time after time, reads one New York Post editorial from earlier this month.

The underlying premise of this argument is that the only options are jail, bail or simply being released. But there is another option that isnt widely discussed: being released but with some form of pretrial supervision or restriction. These measures can range from scheduled check-ins by phone to electronic monitoring leading up to ones court date. This, of course, may not address concerns raised about people committing more crimes. But it does provide an alternative to cash bail  which is primarily meant to get defendants to return to court  that allows people to avoid jail while still facing pressure to make their court date.

One such pre-trial initiative in New York City is anticipating more cases  and more serious cases  under the new bail law. New York Citys supervised release program, which was put in place four years ago, allows judges to keep defendants out of jail as long as they regularly check in with a social worker provided by regional nonprofits in advance on their court date. How often they must check in varies according to a judges discretion  they can be as frequent as one phone call per month up to one in-person meeting each week. Social workers can also connect them with other services such as housing and mental health support on a voluntary basis.

But the programs scope has broadened somewhat under the recently passed the states bail reform law, which restricts the use of cash bail for most misdemeanors, nonviolent felonies and some violent felonies.

Before the bail law, supervised release was largely seen as an alternative to money bail and it was something defense attorneys often raised as an option, said Aubrey Fox, executive director of the New York City Criminal Justice Agency, which supervises the program in Queens. It also could not be used for people accused of committing violent offenses, unless they were a minor.

Now, most charges are no longer eligible for cash bail and judges are required to set the least restrictive requirement to ensure a defendant returns to court. Supervised release is one such option judges can now impose on people charged with any crime, though most people will still be released on their own recognizance, which means being let free without any restrictions.

In anticipation of the expected three- to fourfold increase in program participants, New York City increased its investment into the supervised release program last year. The Manhattan District Attorneys office pledged $100 million to the program and the New York City Council dedicated $7 million.

Weve been in a major hiring push in order to engage the kinds of social workers that we need to deal with this, said Greg Berman, the outgoing head of the Center for Court Innovation, which runs supervised release programs in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Staten Island. Were currently running around looking for space to house all these people and were working with the mayors office to create the proper protocols and procedures. Fox also said that hiring social workers with experience in the criminal justice was especially important. And anecdotally, both said it seemed that caseloads were increasing at their organizations.

Given that the bail reform law has just been implemented within the past few weeks, more time is needed to see how well supervised released operates now, Berman said. Past evidence has shown some success. Citywide, the court appearance rate for participants was 88%, according to the citys latest data from January 2019 to March 2019. But New York City also generally performs well on getting defendants to return to court: the return rate is also 88% for people released on their own recognizance and three percentage points higher for those released on bail.

Other localities throughout the state have similar supervision programs, though Fox said most pretrial services outside of New York City are less robust.

A lot of pretrial programs in the rest of the state might go to the jail, find someone and try to get them out, he said. Well, what happens when someone doesn't go to jail in the first place?

Not all criminal justice advocates are fans of pretrial supervision, however, arguing it still burdens people before they are even found to be guilty.

While supervision may sound good on the evening news, it is a terrible thing for those caught up in it  many of them struggling to get by, working two jobs with inflexible hours while juggling childcare and other responsibilities, wrote Robin Steinberg, then-executive director of the Bronx Defenders, and David Feige, then-board chair of the Bronx Freedom Fund, in the Marshall Project after the city program was first announced.

New York City is investing in other pre-trial supportive services in light of the bail reform law. Its expected to pick a provider this month to supervise Atlas, a new program to allow those released without conditions to voluntarily connect with social services. The organization chosen to run Atlas will then contract with 20 to 30 smaller community groups to administer support to people, whether its finding affordable housing or job training.

The Liberty Fund  a charitable bail fund created by The Doe Fund, the New York City Council and the Mayors Office of Criminal Justice  is launching a similar initiative. The organizations will be able to provide low-income people charged with misdemeanors who are without supervision court management services, which includes court date reminders, social service referrals and emergency access to MetroCards or food vouchers. Its scope will be limited to Manhattan and Brooklyn, however.
Afenifere, Yoruba socio-political organisation, has raised accusations that the police is attempting to cover the murder of Fatai Yusuf, known popularly as Oko Oloyun.

Oko Oloyun was shot dead on the Eruwa-Igboora road in the Ibarapa Central area of Oyo state on Thursday.

According to police report, Yusufs death is linked to an alleged fraud discovered in his Lagos office.

Yinka Odumakin, Afenifere national publicity secretary, in a statement on Friday, accused the police of attempting to divert public attention, rather than admitting that the area is a notorious axis of Fulani bandits.

Read Also: Buhari Not Behaving Like Father Of The Nation  Afenifere

The attention of Afenifere has been called to the brutal murder of Oko Oloyun in the continued sad and long story of insecurity in Yoruba land. We pray for the repose of the soul of the gentleman and we promise to take keen interest in the investigations into the dastardly act, the statement read.

Smarting from the abandoned investigation into the July 12, 2019 murder of Mrs Funke Olakunrins murder we urge the police not to attempt another cover  up on this murder. We say this because we have noted the rushed statement of the police suggesting a desperate attempt to divert attention from the fact that the Eruwa-Igbo Ora route on which he was killed is a notorious axis of Fulani bandits.

The police rushing to the press unprofessionally to say he discovered fraud in his office before the incident without carrying out any investigation may foreclose other possible leads. Every life of a human being is precious to us and this is another test to the capacity of the Nigerian police seriously challenged at the moment.
The show features two rival gangs the Jets and the Sharks. With tension already rising between these two groups, a wrench is thrown into the mix when Tony, played by senior Kennedy Ronne, and Maria, played by Anna Harveson, meet at a dance and the sparks are instantaneous. With Tony being a well respected Jet and Maria the younger sister of the Sharks leader, Bernardo, played by Adam Polk, conflict sparks when they are caught in the middle of their kiss. Soon after, Riff, played by Billy Mosher, challenges Bernardo to a rumble between the two gangs, and the violence of the feud wreaks havoc in the streets of New York.

Ronne announced the spring musical to his students in mid-November. The students began preparing for auditions, which were held in December, after the Christmas concert. During her audition for Maria, Harveson was focused on being the character.

I was worried about being right for the character because maybe you are talented, but just not right for the character, she said. Thats what worried me the most.

Harveson said, (Maria) is a young woman, who wants to make a statement for herself, but shes also very innocent at times. She wants to explore for herself and not have her brother there all the time.
Karnataka High Court issued summons to self-styled controversial godman Nithyananda and the state government after a petition was filed by Lenin Karuppan seeking cancellation of his bail. Lenin had approached the Karnataka HC seeking cancellation of bail of Nithyananda for skipping trial and fleeing the country on an expired passport, and also making false representations in his exemption petitions to the Trial Court as if he is still in India.

Justice John Michael Cunha of Karnataka HC, on Friday, hearing the counsel for the complainant, ordered that notice to be issued to the respondents (State and Nithyananda) and posted the matter for hearing next week. Nithyananda, who is believed to have fled the country in August 2018, had not appeared for 43 consecutive hearings.

READ | Interpol Issues Blue Corner Notice Against Nithyananda: Here's What It Means

Speaking exclusively to Republic TV, petitioner Lenin Karuppan said, "Nithyananda has been missing for one and a half years and has skipped 43 hearings. Sources and media reports have indicated that Nithyananda left the country and sought refugee status in Ecuador. Since he has run away from the trial we approached the high court to cancel his bail."

READ | Nithyananda Likely In Jamaica, 'accidental Death' Of Counterpart Raises Questions

Police working to get red corner notice

The Gujarat police, in a charge sheet submitted to the court, said that Interpol has issued a blue corner notice against Nithyananda and they are working on getting it escalated to a red corner notice. While a blue corner notice is issued to ascertain the persons exact location or whereabouts, a red corner notice is to arrest a person wanted in a criminal case.

Legal experts say that if the Karnataka HC cancels Nithyanandas bail, it will strengthen the case for a red corner notice to be issued against the rape accused. Also, if he is brought back to India, then escaping under the pretext of bail will not be possible for him.

READ | Nithyananda In Barbados? Complainant's Daughters' Affidavits Confirm Their Location

Long list of crimes

Nithyananda is facing charges in several Indian states, primarily in Karnataka where he faces a host of charges including rape (376), unnatural sex (377) cheating (420), criminal abutment (114). In Gujarat, Nithyananda is booked under Section 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person) and Section 344 (wrongful confinement for ten or more days).

READ | MoS Home Nithyanand Rai Blames Rahul Gandhi & Cong For Rumourmongering Over JNU Violence
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 24)  In a rare sighting, a young Philippine eagle was spotted in the forests of Mt. Apo in southern Philippines.

Davao City-based Philippine Eagle Foundation shared the news in a post on Wednesday that it recently discovered a juvenile bird of prey about a year old at the Mount Apo Natural Park, thanks to the efforts of forest rangers.

The conservation group has been campaigning for over 20 years to save the birds from extinction.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature listed the monkey-eating eagles as critically endangered species, with only 400 pairs left in the wild, the foundation said.

IUCN defines critically endangered species as those that are threatened with global extinction.
Inflamed by past scares and Hollywood disaster blockbusters, few things feed collective panic like a virus, experts said Thursday, as China locked down the epicentre of a deadly flu-like outbreak. AFP spoke to health specialists to find out why this is the case, and what can be done to limit the spread of worry. - Why so scary? - "There is an innate sense of fear around disease outbreaks, principally because it is an invisible enemy to the human eye," said Adam Kamradt-Scott, an expert in the spread and control of infectious diseases at the University of Sydney. "This generates a level of fear, as no-one can really know if they have been infected until symptoms develop, by which time it may be too late." Unlike bacterial infections, which can be treated by antibiotics, viruses respond to very few treatments, according to Sanjaya Senanayake, associate professor of medicine at The Australian National University. "Also, respiratory viruses, such as influenza, seem to spread more easily from person to person than bacterial infections, and therefore have a higher outbreak potential," he said. The outbreak has so far claimed 26 lives across China. Autorities say there have been more than 800 confirmed cases, with infections reported in several Asian countries and the United States. Science historian Laurent-Henri Vignaud said popular culture plays an underappreciated role in conditioning populations to fear pandemics. "It's like in horror films where those infected become zombies," he said. "It's extremely unsettling because it calls into question the social bond. We come to fear the sick." - What can authorities do? - The main driver of anxiety over the new strain of virus is likely to be its similarity to SARS, a viral lung infections which killed nearly 650 people across mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003. The Chinese government took months to report SARS and initially denied World Health Organisation experts any access. This time Beijing has locked down some 41 million people in several cities, closing roads and suspending rail and flight routes to contain the virus. But Tom Solomon, a professor at the University of Liverpool, warned that quarantine could be "counter-productive". "It can increase the level of panic, and just cause people to flee by other means," he said. It is necessary to limit not only the spread of the virus, but also the fear it provokes, according to Rania MacIntyre, head of the Biosecurity Research Program at the Kirby Institute at the University of New South Wales. "Health authorities need to find the balance between providing transparent information to the community without causing panic," she said. Kamradt-Scott said it was incumbent on authorities to effectively "counter conspiracy theories and rumours". Communication by authorities was poor during the last global pandemic scare, of avian flu in 2009, said Vignaud. "The World Health Organization went straight away to the maximum alert level," thus causing panic, he said. - What does history tell us? - For Vignaud, the fear of epidemics spans much of our history. "What comes to mind most is the plague" that spread periodically through Europe in the Middle Ages, he said. Franco-Croat historian Mirko Grmek last century came up with the theory of pathocenosis -- that each epoch of human history will have diseases that fit their particular context. Vignaud said this includes economic, political and social conditions, as well as those diseases perceived to be the most dangerous. He gave the examples of cholera and tuberculosis in the 19th Century, which were helped to spread by the water pollution, overcrowding and lack of cleanliness that came with rapid urbanisation. The modern-day fear of a pandemic -- a truly global killer -- stems from globalisation, according to Vignaud. "The good side of it is you can take a plane and in a few hours time be anywhere on the planet," he said. "The flip side is that the virus can now travel with you." - What role does media play? - "The media has a crucial responsibility to ensure that only accurate, factual information is reported, and needs to refrain as much as possible from speculation and hyperbole in these types of events," said Kamradt-Scott. But the nature of 24-hour news cycles could nevertheless stoke fears with blanket coverage of what ultimately has only affected a few hundred people worldwide thus far, according to Senanayake. "They need to keep reporting it till they feel that the outbreak is under control and no longer newsworthy," he said. "With this outbreak, because it is in its infancy, I think it is reasonable for the media to keep updating the public as new information comes to light." Beijing has locked down some 20 million people in several cities, closing roads and suspending rail and flight routes
PIERRE, S.D. - Officials say more than 14 million people visited South Dakota last year, marking the tenth consecutive year of growth for the state tourism industry.

The Department of Tourism said 2019 saw a record level of visitors, spending and economic impact. The number of visitors increased by about 3% from the prior year.

Visitors spent about $4 billion, accounting for 5.2% of the states economy, according to the departments annual report.

Officials say more than 55,000 jobs are supported by the tourism industry or 8.8% of all South Dakota jobs. ,

The majority of tourists, or 10.7 million, visited South Dakotas state and national parks, which include the Black Hills National Forest.
Welcome to Poll Watch, our weekly look at polling data and survey research on the candidates, voters and issues that will shape the 2020 election.

The Iowa presidential caucuses are usually a nail-biter.

But with a sardine-packed field of Democratic candidates and the Senates impeachment trial cluttering some of their schedules, clarity this year is especially scarce.

Two recent Iowa polls  one last week from Monmouth University and the CNN/Des Moines Register survey released a few days earlier  gave two differing pictures of the race. But both found that most of the states likely Democratic caucusgoers had not yet decided firmly on a candidate.

In each poll, only about two in five Democratic voters said they had reached a final decision. Thats an unusually low number, said J. Ann Selzer, who runs the CNN/Register poll  even though the states voters are known for their late decision-making.
West Bengal has emerged as the top state in the country in vegetable production in 2018-19, according to horticulture production data released by the Central government recently.

West Bengal witnessed a production of 29.55 million tonne (MT) of vegetables during 2018-19 which was the maximum in the country in that period, said the state-wise horticulture production data.

Uttar Pradesh was in the second place with 27.71 million tonne of vegetable production in the same period, it said.

In 2017-18, West Bengal was in the second place with 27.70 MT of vegetable production while UP held the top position with a production of 28.32 MT.

As per the data, for the 2018-19 period, West Bengal has accounted for 15.9 per cent of the country's total vegetable production.

It said UP produced 14.9 per cent of the country's vegetable production, while Madhya Pradesh recorded 9.6 per cent followed by Bihar 9 per cent and Gujarat 6.8 per cent.

It's a great achievement and the credit goes to our farmers, Agriculture Advisor to the Chief Minister, Pradip Kumar Majumder said.

He said, "Under the guidance of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee we are trying to help the farmers in enhancing their income which eventually increased the production."



Convincing the farmers to shift to cultivating horticultural crops rather than the traditional ones they had been doing also helped to increase vegetable production, Majumdar said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Admiral Puri says it would be wasteful to buy a foreign helicopter, pay for transfer of technology, and develop manufacturing capability in an Indian private sector strategic partner when all this already exists with HAL.

Ajai Shukla reports

IMAGE: The Indian Air Force's Dhruv helicopter at the IAF's Hindon air force station. Photograph: Anindito Mukherjee/Reuters

With the ministry of defence poised to sanction on Friday, January 24, a Rs 21,738 crore (Rs 217.38 billion) project to build 111 naval utility helicopters at an Indian private sector firm, a MoD expert has suggested the project be scrapped.

The MoD and the navy want the NUH to be a foreign helicopter, built through the strategic partner model.

This involves selecting a deep-pocketed Indian private firm as the strategic partner which will build the helicopters in India using technology supplied by a separately selected foreign original equipment manufacturer.

However, former integrated defence staff chief Vice Admiral Raman Puri (retd), who the department of defence production has appointed as consultant, has advised against inducting a foreign helicopter as NUH, when defence public sector unit Hindustan Aeronautics is in a position to supply a naval version of its indigenous Dhruv advanced light helicopter.

Admiral Puri has recommended the indigenous Dhruv chopper over a foreign design, citing Para 23 of Chapter II of the Defence Procurement Policy of 2016 (DPP-2016), which states: 'Preference will be given to indigenous design, development, and manufacture of defence equipment. Therefore, whenever the required arms, ammunition, and equipment are possible to be made by the Indian industry, within the timelines required by the services, the procurement will be made from Indian sources.'

On November 19, the MoD asked HAL for its comments. HAL has replied that it is 'generally in agreement with the viewpoints provided by the consultant'.

Admiral Puri also pointed out that Para 23 states: 'Accordingly the (MoD's) categorisation committee, while considering categorisation under the DPP will follow a preferred order of categorisation' in which 'Buy Indian Designed, Developed and Manufactured' is top priority. Indian Designed, Developed and Manufactured is a criterion the Dhruv ALH meets.

HAL has pointed out to the MoD that the Dhruv ALH has been in operation with the navy and Coast Guard for about two decades. It notes: 'ALH has proved its robustness in all operating conditions, as validated by accruing more than 260,000 flying hours and (flying) more than 280 helicopters in the services of various customers.'

The navy has opted for a foreign helicopter to be built on the SP model, because the Dhruv ALH does not have foldable rotor blades that allow it to be parked within the cramped confines of a hangar on a warship.

But HAL's response to the MoD states: 'The design of ALH is such that role change can be achieved with minimum modifications and minimum time, which will enable the navy to use this helicopter...'

HAL wrote that while it did not earlier possess technology for foldable blades for the Dhruv, it 'initiated a project with internal funding to design and develop a blade/tail boom folding mechanism on the ALH which will meet the stowage requirements of the NUH'.

HAL executives say foldable blades can be easily developed in two-three years, a period shorter than what the MoD will take to sign a global NUH contract.

HAL's letter also notes that the tender requires the foreign OEM to transfer nine critical technologies, which include a rotor system, transmission system, hydraulics, self-sealing fuel tanks, vibration isolation system and others.

'All these critical technologies are available with HAL in the case of the ALH-based NUH, as it is HAL's own development,' says HAL's letter.

HAL also claims that 'many other critical and advanced technologies (are) available with HAL, like the avionics system, glass cockpit, composite airframe technologies, etc.'

Admiral Puri's recommendations also reflect his opinion that it would be wasteful to buy a foreign helicopter, pay for transfer of technology, and develop manufacturing capability in an Indian private sector strategic partner when all this already exists with HAL.

He has pointed out that the strategic partner's new manufacturing line would have no work after building 111 NUHs for the navy.

The 'transfer of technology' cost paid to the OEM and the cost of setting up a new NUH production line would make a foreign NUH far more expensive than the Dhruv, which HAL already manufactures in Bengaluru.

'Since the ALH-based NUH is conceived, designed, and developed by HAL, there is no necessity for any ToT and thus a substantial amount of foreign exchange can be saved,' HAL has argued.

HAL has also pointed out that it would be able to integrate weapons and sensors to meet the Indian Navy's requirements in the future, upgrade the platform at any stage in its lifecycle, resolve technical issues and carry out 'obsolescence management', which involves ensuring the supply of spare parts all through its service life.

Admiral Puri's intervention and HAL's argument will not be welcomed by private sector firms who have responded to the MoD's NUH tender. These include Tata Advanced Systems, Adani Defence, Mahindra Defence, Reliance Defence and the Kalyani Group.

In addition, HAL submitted two responses -- one in its individual capacity and another in a joint venture with Russian Helicopters called Indo-Russian Helicopters.

The foreign helicopters in the fray include two Airbus helicopters -- the AS 565 Mbe (Panther) and the H145M -- as well as US firm Sikorsky's S76D and the Russian Kamov 226T. The Panther is regarded as the front runner.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to end a pact key to annual war games with American troops if the US does not restore the travel visa of an official who oversaw his drug war.

It is the latest in a long line of Duterte's threats to shrink or sever ties with historical ally Washington, which have periodically followed criticism of his deadly narcotics crackdown.

Duterte spoke after Ronald Dela Rosa, the former national police chief who is now a senator, said the US had cancelled his visa but did not tell him why.

Dela Rosa was the first enforcer of Duterte's internationally condemned campaign, in which police say they have killed just over 5,500 alleged dealers and users.

Human rights advocates say the true toll is four times higher, and could amount to crimes against humanity.

The US State Department and the embassy in Manila have not responded to requests for comment about Dela Rosa's visa. Duterte went on the attack in a speech late Thursday.

"Now, they won't let Bato go to America", he said, using Dela Rosa's nickname.

"If you do not make a correction there, one, I will terminate the bases -- Visiting Forces Agreement," Duterte added. "I'm giving... the American government one month from now."



The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) outlines the rules governing conduct of US troops participating in joint military exercises in the Philippines.

The pact gave legal cover for the resumption of large-scale war games between the two allies after the US military closed its Philippine bases in the 1990s amid rising anti-US sentiment.

Duterte also threatened in 2016 to cancel the agreement, but has generally attacked ties with the US, including an announced "separation" from its former colonial master.

Until now the president has not made good on those threats, some of which came after then US president Barack Obama was critical of Duterte's crackdown in 2016.

Relations between Washington and Manila under President Donald Trump, who has voiced support for Duterte, are on a stronger footing.

However, recent criticism from US lawmakers has introduced new tensions.

The Philippines in December barred US senators Richard Durbin and Patrick Leahy, who were behind a measure to prevent officials involved in the incarceration of Senator Leila de Lima from entering the US.

De Lima, one of the highest-profile critics of Duterte's narcotics crackdown, has been held since February 2017 over a drug charge that she claims was fabricated to silence her.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An eye-popping find in the woods that spring by workers with the state nuclear safety agency left Broken Arrow members feeling vindicated. The Tribune reported in May 1990 that routine tests at the Plot M dumping site turned up nothing out of the ordinary, but when workers decided to wander over to the larger area where Fermis reactors had stood, they stumbled upon something that was anything but ordinary.
Singapore City, Singapore -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/23/2020 -- Sims Villa, an upcoming condominiums project in Singapore is all set to take the idea of luxury living to the next level offering residents a smart new option to call their home.



The new property has been developed by Hong Leong Holdings Limited, a globally diversified brand that carries a rich legacy of over five decades. The company has been instrumental in defining the skyline of the city with over 130 residential properties to its credit. It has joined hands with City Developments Limited, another five decade old brand that has built more than 40,000 homes all over the world.



These names instill instant confidence amongst buyers and investors looking for a plush new home address in Singapore. After all, Sims Villa is strategically located between CBD and Changi airport. It ensures that professionals working in the city and those who need to take frequent flights; all experience the convenience of its location. The fact that it's right in the hub of three growth areas is the icing on the cake.



The property is surrounded by Paya Lebar Central, Kallang Riverside and Bidardari New Town. These are areas that have shown immense potential for growth in recent times and are already living up to the promise as key areas to watch out for in the city. While being in this brilliant location is a huge advantage for Sims Villa, what really makes it appealing to buyers is the fact that it offers them all the luxury they look for and more.



For starters, the property offers 1 bedroom to 4 bedroom options that can be chosen based on buyers' specific requirements. Irrespective of the type of unit they choose, they can be rest assured that they will have access to modern and finest amenities at Sims Villa. Each home in this upcoming development is thoughtfully crafted to ensure that residents can make the most of their living space and experience luxury every step of the way.



Modern indoor gym, state of the art 50 meter swimming pool, are just some of the highlights of Sims Villa condos that are all set to bring the best of luxury and brilliant location to people in Singapore.



About Sims Villa

Developed by Hong Leong Holdings Limited and City Developments Limited, the upcoming condominium is the heart of three key growth areas redefines luxury living for Singapore residents.



Media Contact

Website: https://www.simsvilla-condo.com/

Email: sales@simsvilla-condo.com

Phone: +6565289588

Address: Sims Drive Singapore
New Delhi: Japanese technology and appliances major SHARP Corporation expects a major push in India from the Plasmacluster Ion (PCI)technology featuring in its appliances, which enables them to identify and remove toxic air pollutants.

Indian Institutes of Technology, Delhi have verifed the company's Plasmacluster Ion (PCI) technology.

The technology is a significant feature in its air purifier segment as it efficiently removes Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, company officials said.

"Sharp Corporation, working in collaboration with Associate Professor Sagnik Dey and Associate Professor Gazala Habib of IIT-Delhi has demonstrated that Plasmacluster Ion (PCI) has an efficacy to remove PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons), which are contained as toxic air pollutants in Indian cities," the company said in a statement.

The project started in 2018 by measuring the composition of particulate matter in air pollutants in New Delhi NCR region of India. As a result, many types of pollutants were identified, including PAHs, which are known to be toxic to the human body.

Sharp Business Systems (India) Managing Director Shinji Minatogawa said that this is the first time the company has carried out such verification process in India in collaboration with academic faculty, and said that it is the start of making people know about the technology, which it uses in several of its products, including refrigerators, air conditioners apart from air purifiers.

"Plasmacluster Ion is a revolutionary air purification technology from which positive ions and negative ions are released into the air simultaneously. These positive and negative ions instantly recombine on the surface of pollutants such as bacteria, viruses and chemical compounds floating in the air to form hydroxyl (OH) radicals, which have extremely high oxidation ability, and this chemical reaction decomposes the cellular compounds or chemical structures, thereby neutralizing their toxicity," the company said in a statement.
(Reuters) - American business executives should still do business with Saudi Arabia, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Thursday after a report on the kingdom's possible involvement in the hacking of Amazon CEO and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos' phone.

Asked if U.S. chief executives should still be inclined to do business with the Middle Eastern nation, Mnuchin told CNBC: "Absolutely. We do a lot of business with Saudi Arabia." He declined to comment on reported allegations of the kingdom's role in the hack.

(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)
Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves has expressed his dissatisfaction that he was not made aware of the decision to move the police mobile unit from the community of Glen.





His comment came as he addressed the issue of security while delivering remarks at the ground breaking ceremony for the Royal Mill Resort, Beach Club and Residence Complex at Ratho Mill.





Dr. Gonsalves admitted that he knew the police had moved the police mobile unit from Glen, but he emphasized that he did not get the information from the police.





He reminded his audience that, while the police management was responsible for the overall operations and management of the police force, he had authority over the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF).





To quell any concerns about a decreased police presence in the area, the Prime Minister said that he had given instructions to the Parliamentary Representative for the area, Camillo Gonsalves, to find a suitable house which will be converted into a permanent (police) sub-station.





On a previous occasion (press conference), Dr. Gonsalves had said Belair, located in the constituency of West St George, had its share of criminal activity with some students of the All Saints University falling victim to burglaries, robberies and assaults, and that a number of gun-related crimes had prompted residents to call for police to step up their presence.





The Prime Minister said then, "I dont know if they have already put a mobile unit in Belair; they have identified a piece of land because obviously we have to strengthen the security throughout for everybody, including the many visitors who are in that particular area, including the medical students too.
Madhya Pradesh gained significantly at Davos, where the World Economic Forum (WEF) is holding its annual meet, with investors promising to invest Rs 4,125 crore in food and renewable energy sectors.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister along with senior officials including Chief Secretary S R Mohanty and Principal Secretary Industries Rajesh Rajora, held discussions with potential investors at Davos and showcased the state as a viable investment destination.

The Daawat Food Ltd, which has a plant in Mandideep, near Bhopal has got FDI worth Rs 125 crore from Saudi Arabia Agriculture and Livestock Investment Company (SALIC), a senior official of the public relation department said on Friday.

Besides, two central wind projects of capacity 325 MW each are now approved. One by Soft Bank Energy (Japan) and another by Actis (England) would be coming to the state.

It will involve a total investment of Rs 4,000 crore, Rajora said.

Nath also held discussions at length with Max Peterson, the Vice President of Amazon Web Service.

According to Peterson, the company is operating at six places including New Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Pune and Chennai.

Out of these, the company has data centers in Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai and wishes to start business in Madhya Pradesh, the official said.

The Chief Minister assured that all facilities and resouces needed for data centre like land, electricity and workforce are available in Madhya Pradesh, the official added.

The Chief Minister also informed that 690 acre land is available at nine different places of the state for setting up data centre business.

Up to 75 per cent rebate in the cost for setting up units on government land can also be given to the interested companies.
By NOMAAN MERCHANT and ELLIOT SPAGAT Associated Press

LOS ANGELES  As his long-lost son walked toward him in an airport terminal, a sobbing David Xol stretched out his arms, fell to one knee and embraced the boy for about three minutes, crying into his shoulder.

He had not held the child since May 2018, when border agents pulled then-7-year-old Byron away inside a detention facility. They were separated under President Donald Trump's zero-tolerance policy  the father deported to Guatemala, the son placed in a series of government facilities before ending up with a host family in Texas.

Xol was one of nine parents who won the exceedingly rare chance to return to the U.S. after being deported under family separation. They arrived Wednesday at Los Angeles International Airport to be reunited with children they hadn't seen in a year and a half or longer under the order of a federal judge who found the U.S. government had unlawfully prevented them from seeking asylum.

After embracing, David stood and patted Byron, now 9, on the head. He was small, the father said. He grew a lot.

The reunion was a powerful reminder of the lasting effects of Trump's separation policy, even as attention and outrage has faded amid impeachment proceedings and tensions with Iran. But it also underscored the fact that hundreds, potentially thousands, of other parents and children are still apart nearly two years after the zero-tolerance policy on unauthorized border crossings took effect.

They all kind of hit the lottery, said Linda Dakin-Grimm, an attorney who represents one of the parents returning to the U.S. "There are so many people out there who have been traumatized by the family separation policy whose pain is not going to be redressed.

More than 4,000 children are known to have been separated from their parents before and during the official start of zero tolerance in spring 2018. Under the policy, border agents charged parents en masse with illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border, then placed their children in government facilities. The policy drew condemnation from around the world as stories emerged almost daily about screaming children, some as young as babies, forcibly taken away from parents.

In June 2018, U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw ordered the government to stop separating families and reunite parents and children.

The U.S. has acknowledged that agents separated families long before they enforced zero tolerance across the entire southern border, its agencies did not properly record separations, and some detention centers were overcrowded and undersupplied, with families denied food, water or medical care.

At least 470 parents were deported without their children, in many cases because they were told to sign paperwork they couldn't read or understand. Some of the kids were held in U.S. government facilities and ultimately placed with sponsors, usually family members. Others were deported to their home countries.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security referred a request for comment to the Justice Department, which did not respond.

The American Civil Liberties Union, which brought the original family separation lawsuit before Sabraw, asked the judge to order the return of a small group of parents whose children remained in the U.S. In September, Sabraw required the U.S. to allow 11 parents to come back and denied relief to seven others.

Byron anxiously waited for his father to clear immigration authorities and emerge in the terminal so they could be back together for the first time since that fateful day on the border.

The mother who has taken Byron in and escorted him to the airport for the reunion tried to calm his nerves: Theyre almost here, youre doing great, Holly Sewell said. "Count to 1,000.

999, Byron responded.

Esvin Fernando Arredondo of Guatemala reunites with his daughters Andrea, left, Keyli, right, and Alison, second from left, at Los Angeles International Airport after being separated during the Trump administration's wide-scale separation of immigrant families, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu)AP

Esvin Fernando Arredondo was also on the plane. The father from Guatemala was separated from one of his daughters, Andrea Arredondo  then 12 years old and now 13, after they turned themselves in on May 16, 2018, at a Texas crossing and sought asylum legally, according to his lawyer. Sabraw found that Arredondo had been deported after his order to the U.S. government not to remove any more parents separated from his children.

Andrea was separated from all family for about a month, living in a shelter as the government struggled to connect children with their parents because they lacked adequate tracking systems. She was finally reunited with her mother, who had turned herself in at the Texas crossing with the other two daughters four days earlier than her husband, on May 12, 2018.

She and her two daughters passed the initial screening interview for asylum, unlike her husband, even though they were fleeing for the same reason. Their son Marco, 17, was shot and killed by suspected gang members in Guatemala City.

Arredondo eventually emerged with the other parents. He hugged his three daughters. One of the girls, wearing a pink sweatshirt with Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters, held onto his chest as he spoke to reporters through his tears.

To live the way I lived was very difficult, he said.

His wife, Cleivi Jerez, 41, arrived at LAX less than an hour before the flight landed with their three daughters in tow. She planned to stay up late catching up with her husband before he has to report to an ICE office Friday in San Diego. Alison Arredondo, 7, said she missed going to the park with her father and she wanted to go to one with him in LA.

According to Holly Sewell, Byron grew three pant sizes and two shoe sizes just in the last six months. She said he has become much more secure and sometimes describes what his life was like in detention, especially if he sees stories about immigrant children on the news. His English has developed to the point that they no longer use a translation app to communicate.

Holly Sewell said she was thrilled Byron could see his dad again but sharply criticized the U.S. government's treatment of asylum-seekers.

While the U.S. has stopped the large-scale separations, it has implemented policies to prevent many asylum-seekers from entering the country. Under its Remain in Mexico policy, more than 50,000 people have been told to wait there for weeks or months for U.S. court dates. The Trump administration also is ramping up deportations of Central Americans to other countries in the region to seek asylum there.

People want to make this a heartwarming story, but its not. Its devastating, Sewell said. There is just no good reason why we had to do this to this child and this family. And he symbolizes thousands of others who have been put in this exact same position.
International women's union of Hamshen has nominated Garo Paylan, Turkish legislator of Armenian descent, for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Saida Ohanyan, Head of HAMSHENIAN Union said that the organization sent a letter to the Nobel Committee with a proposal to nominate Paylan, who devoted his whole life to protecting the rights of Armenians and other indigenous people of the region.

He is one of the few who took responsibility for protecting humanitarian rights, the rights of indigenous peoples, religious and national minorities, the the statement said adding that his efforts continue despite constant threats and pressure on his activities by nationalist and extremist forces supported by the authorities.

The Association urges all people and organizations defending the rights of women and, in general, human rights to support and join the initiative.
PR-Inside.com: 2020-01-24 16:00:38

Press Information





Published by

ACCESSWIRE News Network

888.952.4446

e-mail

http://www.accesswire.com







# 510 Words

ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 24, 2020 / MjLink.com Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of Social Life Network, Inc. (OTCQB:WDLF), is pleased to announce Helix Technologies as a Featured Presenter at their MjMicro Virtual Investor Conference hosted by MjInvest on Wednesday, January 29th, 2020 @ 11:00am PST / 2:00pm EST.The MjMicro Virtual Investor Conference, hosted by MjInvest.com , provides a platform for both public and private cannabis companies to pitch and present their stories to investors through an online virtual conference, while providing a unique opportunity for private and institutional investors access and deal-flow to the best-in-class cannabis companies in the world. The MjInvest digital platform also allows companies and investors the ability to communicate after the conference concludes through chat features and direct messaging capabilities.During the virtual conference, Garvis Toler from Helix Technologies will host a featured presentation to update investors and analysts. Helix Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: HLIX) is the leading provider of critical infrastructure services, helping owners and operators of licensed cannabis businesses stay competitive and compliant while mitigating risk. Through its proprietary technology suite and security services, Helix Technologies provides comprehensive supply chain management, compliance tools, and asset protection for any license type in any regulated cannabis market. While Helix provides services to the Cannabis and Hemp Industries, the Company does not deal directly with the plant or any derivative products. Helix Technologies' products reach over 2,000 customer locations in 38 states and 6 countries and has processed over $20 billion in cannabis sales.To access Helix Technologies Virtual Presentation through the MjInvest Platform, please click this link on Wednesday, January 29th, 2020 @ 11:00am PST / 2:00pm EST. https://www.mjinvest.com/helix-presentation About MjLink.com , Inc. MjLink.com Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of Social Life Network, Inc. and is a cloud-based cannabis social network and digital media company based in Denver, Colorado. MjLink operates as a multinational cannabis technology and digital media organization with four industry specific social networks: WeedLife.com , a consumer-to-consumer social network, MjLink.com , a business-to-business social network, HempTalk.com , a business-to-consumer social network, and MjInvest.com , a cannabis industry investor network that produces the MjMicro Capital Conference.DisclaimerThis news release may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and section 21E of the United States Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, with respect to achieving corporate objectives, developing additional project interests, the company's analysis of opportunities in the acquisition and development of various project interests and certain other matters. No information in this press release should be construed as any indication whatsoever of the Company's or MjLink's future financial results, revenues or stock price. These statements are made under the "Safe Harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements contained herein.CONTACT:Investor RelationsIR@ Social-Life-Network.com 855-933-3277Helix Press ContactColt Petersonpress@ helixtechnologies.com (303) 324 1022Helix IR ContactScott Ogur, CFAir@ helixtechnologies.com SOURCE: Social Life Network, Inc.
TORONTO (AP)  Canada's Transportation Safety Board said Thursday it has been invited by Iran to participate in the download and analysis of the flight recorders from the downing of a Ukraine International Airlines jet whenever and wherever that takes place.

Iran has acknowledged that its armed forces fired two Russian anti-aircraft missiles at the jetliner that crashed after taking off from Tehran's main airport earlier this month, killing all 176 people on board. Fifty-seven Canadians died and 138 of the passengers were headed to Canada.

The Transportation Safety Board said in a statement it understands that the plane's flight-data recorders  commonly known as black boxes  are still in Iran and said Iran is assessing options for their download and analysis, including doing it in Iran.

Iranian officials have offered contradictory remarks on whether they'll send the plane's flight data and cockpit voice recorders abroad to be analyzed. A preliminary report by the Civil Aviation Organization said Iranian officials had asked French and American authorities to send them up-to-date equipment to pull the data in Iran.

Canada's Transportation Safety Board said it will deploy a second team of investigators to examine the recorders whenever and wherever that activity takes place.

Two other Canadian safety board investigators are heading back to Canada after six days in Tehran and two in Kyiv. The investigators are still seeking a bigger role in the probe, but the TSB says the Iranian authorities have been co-operative and helpful.

Iran may be hesitant to turn over the recorders for fear that more details from the crash  including the harrowing 20 seconds between when the first and second surface-to-air missiles hit the plane  will come to light.

The government of Canada has said the boxes should be sent quickly for analysis by experts in either France of Ukraine.

The Guard's air defenses shot the plane down shortly after it took off from Tehran on Jan. 8. Hours earlier, the Guard had launched ballistic missiles at U.S. troops in Iraq in response to the U.S. airstrike that killed Irans top general in Baghdad. Officials say lower-level officers mistook the plane for a U.S. cruise missile.

Story continues

Iranian officials initially said the crash was caused by a technical problem and invited countries that lost citizens to help investigate. Three days later, Iran admitted responsibility after Western leaders said there was strong evidence the plane was hit by a surface-to-air missile.

The victims also included 11 Ukrainians, 17 people from Sweden, four Afghans and four British citizens. Most of those killed were Iranians. The other five nations have demanded Iran accept full responsibility and pay compensation to the victims families.

The plane was a Boeing 737-800 that was designed and built in the U.S. The planes engine was designed by CFM International, a joint company between French group Safran and U.S. group GE Aviation. Investigators from both countries have been invited to take part in the probe.
Residents living along the northern end of the proposed Ontario Line route have told Metrolinx theyre concerned about plans to build the transit project above ground through their neighbourhoods.

The provincial transit agency for the GTA held the first of four public open houses about the Ontario Line project Thursday evening at the Ontario Science Centre. The attraction would be at the northern terminus of the 16-kilometre rail line that forms the centrepiece of the Ontario PC governments transit plans and would would connect to Exhibition Place, via Queen St. downtown.

Many attendees said they agree the city needs more transit built as soon as possible, and many were supportive of the project.

But a number of residents pushed back against the proposal to build the section of the line that would run through Thorncliffe Park and Flemingdon Park on an elevated guideway.

I accept the fact that we need better transit, no question. I dont like what theyre planning to do to my neighbourhood, said Luba Maisterrena, a 73-year-old retiree who lives in a high rise at 95 Thorncliffe Park.

She said shes worried the plan to run trains on an elevated guideway along Overlea Blvd. and then up Don Mills Rd. would split the two sides of the neighbourhood. She also expressed concerns that residents in her building and others would have their views obstructed and have to put up with train noise.

Metrolinx has said the trains would operate once every 90 seconds, in each direction.

Wed love it underground, said Maisterrena.

Other residents said they believed Thorncliffe and Flemingdon, where family incomes are well below the city-wide average, were being treated worse than other more wealthy neighbourhoods along the route, where the plan is to build the line underground.

Its a cop-out. Through the Danforth its going to be buried. High income, high land value. But you come through Thorncliffe and Flemingdon and you want to put it above ground? asked Sierra Constantinides, a mother who works in the film industry and lives on nearby Wynford Heights Cres.

Other residents said they were against the guideway because it would require removing the trees from Overlea, and speculated an elevated structure in the middle of the street would attract loitering young people and crime.

Other residents at Thursdays open house said they were looking forward to the Ontario Line opening.

Howard Rideout, who lives near Pape Ave. and Danforth Ave. where the Ontario Line will connect with TTC Line 2, said he loved the Ontario Line idea.

I think its great, he said.

He noted the project would give him an alternative to the Line 1 subway to get downtown, and argued its design was much smarter than previous plans for the relief line subway, because it would make use of the GO corridor.

Osher Joseph, a senior high school student who lives near Kennedy station, also said the project would make it easier for him to get to the city core.

It connects so many communities together. I thought that was really, really cool, he said.

The fact that plans for an above-ground transit line championed by Premier Doug Ford are sparking opposition is an ironic twist, given his history. As a Toronto city councillor Ford led a push with his brother, then Mayor Rob Ford, to cast plans for above-ground transit in Scarborough as second rate.

Some attendees at the open house expressed concerns the Ontario Line would take up lanes of car traffic and increase gridlock in the area. Published plans for the project dont contemplate the need to displace traffic, but the residents concerns echoed those stoked by the Fords during earlier transit debates, when the former mayor falsely claimed constructing an LRT in Scarborough would require rip(ping) out traffic lanes.

Plans to build the Ontario Line on an elevated structure through existing GO Transit corridors have also provoked opposition in the Leslieville and Cabbagetown neighbourhoods, where an open house is scheduled for next Tuesday.

Despite opposition, Metrolinx says its committed to building sections of the Ontario Line above ground. Avoiding expensive tunnelling is key to reducing costs for the project, which have been estimated at roughly $11 billion.

Were proceeding with the guideway at this point in time, but, that being said, were going to listen to the feedback, said Metrolinx spokesperson Anne Marie Aikins. She acknowledged the guideway was a concern for some people at the meeting, but pledged the agency would take measures to mitigate impacts of noise and vibration.

Ben Spurr is a Toronto-based reporter covering transportation. Reach him by email at bspurr@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @BenSpurr

Read more about:
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre says the risk of the coronavirus outbreak coming to Ireland is "moderate to low."

Officials in China say the death toll has risen to 25 with 830 confirmed cases.

Health officials in the North expect to get test results back later on a patient being examined for the deadly virus.

The man entered the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast yesterday after presenting with symptoms of the illness.

It is thought the man being tested in Belfast may have recently returned to Northern Ireland from an affected area in China.

Former Stormont Health Minister Jim Wells wants anyone who travelled from the region to be examined.

"I understand that there are random checks being performed on passengers coming in from the affected area in London," said Mr Wells.

"I think there should be mandatory checks on everyone coming in and that is the best way of controlling any potential outbreak."

Dr John Cuddihy, Director of the HPSC, says the fact that there are no direct flights from affected areas to Ireland is a positive.

"The importation to Europe of cases of this coronavirus is moderate," said Dr Cuddihy.

"Now in Ireland, there are no direct flights from Wuhan. There are direct flights from Paris, London and Rome.

"So our risk of having a case in Ireland is moderate to low."

The HSE says it is a rapidly evolving situation and that it is prepared to handle a case should it arise in Ireland.

Jonathan Ball, a professor of virology, says the uncertainty surrounding the virus is causing problems.

"The big problem is we're still unsure how the virus is spreading, how widespread the virus has become in China and also where it has come from in the first place

"So these are really critical questions that need to be addressed so that we can properly bring this virus under control."
Amid mounting concerns in New Delhi, Pakistan is now also trying to get its name of the FATFs grey list and is apparently trying to enlist American support for this. The FATFs grey list comprises nations like Pakistan who are seen to have failed to fulfil their obligations to combat terror-financing.Photo: ANI Representational)

New Delhi: France is determined to continue combating money laundering and terror financing, and will objectively evaluate, without any concession, Pakistans actions regarding Islamabads obligations mandated by global anti-terror watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) during the forthcoming FATF plenary meeting in Paris on February 16, French diplomatic sources told this newspaper on Friday.

This is some relief for India amid worrying reports that during the FATFs just-concluded Asia/Pacific Group meeting at Beijing, several other global powers including the United States softened their positions on the issue of Pakistans compliance to anti-terror measures.

According to these reports, Islamabad has succeeded in convincing several countries that it will comply with its obligations. There is also speculation that the US is going soft on Pakistan as it needs Islamabads help to cut a deal with the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Pakistan is currently on the FATF greylist and looks confident of escaping the FATF blacklist with the help of its all-weather friend China and other nations like Malaysia and Turkey.

Amid mounting concerns in New Delhi, Pakistan is now also trying to get its name of the FATFs grey list and is apparently trying to enlist American support for this. The FATFs grey list comprises nations like Pakistan who are seen to have failed to fulfil their obligations to combat terror-financing.

French diplomatic sources told this newspaper, France is determined to continue combating money laundering and terror financing, and will objectively evaluate, without any concession, Pakistans actions.
A street vendor lights a kerosene lamp for his food stall, Mumbai. (File Photo/Reuters)

On January 22, the Maharashtra Cabinet approved the proposal to permit commercial establishments in select non-residential areas in Mumbai to remain open around-the-clock from January 27. The announcement was made by state home minister Anil Deshmukh and tourism minister Aaditya Thackeray, who is credited for pushing the proposal through.

This is a positive and long-overdue move, and one wonders why this was not done earlier! While there are concerns on how feasible it is, on the whole, it is a step in the right direction. Political opposition to it that has come up so far, mainly from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is a case of sour grapes.

Mumbai is said to be the Indias city that never sleeps, while in reality Mumbai and its businesses are forced to take a nap every night. At present, commercial establishments are mandatorily required to down their shutters for certain hours in a day. We often compare Indias financial capital to London or Shanghai or Hong Kong, but have rules that withhold it from realising its full potential.

It is foolhardy to expect that this one step will tap Mumbais full potential  that is a distant goal, and this move is a small step towards realising Mumbais full potential. For starters, it gets the basics right: more business hours will help establishments make better use of the commercial spaces they have, and this, in turn, will help revenue generation, and also contribute to GDP growth.

A 24X7 working cycle will ideally remove the dormant hours of a day when businesses remain idle  to meet the demands of this new cycle, new work patterns will emerge, new business possibilities and models will arise, and this will create a new ecosystem. Its a win-win situation for businesses and consumers.

While the Uddhav Thackeray government deserves praise for understanding the commercial and economic significance of the proposal, it would do well to remember there are many challenges too. That this will come into effect in select few areas, such as Nariman Point, Bandra Kurla Complex, Marine Drive, etc., show that the state government is approaching this cautiously. As a second step to the proposal, beginning February, all-night food trucks will open in these areas.

However, merely keeping restaurants and malls open 24X7 will not help  there is a crucial backbone to it that the State has to develop to facilitate the night-time life of any city. The State has ensure safety and security, and for this it has to increase the strength of the law and order machinery in Mumbai. The story of the police forces across India is almost the same: understaffed and overworked. The Status Of Policing In India Report 2019, by Common Cause and the CSDS, shows that about 24 per cent of the police work more than 16 hours a day! Thus, for Mumbai 24X7 to be a success, increasing the strength of the Mumbai Police and decreasing their work hours is crucial.

Another key factor is the availability of public transport. True, that Mumbais famous local trains operate for almost 22 hours a day, but last mile connectivity is still needed. Unless public transport is made available round-the-clock, access to Mumbai 24X7 will remain an opportunity only a select few can avail. Indias work culture also needs to change.

This proposal also has political significance. That such a move should come from the Shiv Sena, which has been traditionally associated with opposing ineffable ghosts of western culture, will come as a surprise to many. It shows that once in power the Shiv Sena is remoulding itself. Credit should also be given to the young Thackeray who has been pushing for this since 2015.

The BJP has opposed this move citing safety of women. Raj K Purohit, former Mumbai BJP chief, was quoted saying, If the culture of alcohol consumption get popular, there will be thousands of cases of crimes against women like the infamous Nirbhaya incident. Ashish Shelar, a senior BJP leader, said, Women are unsafe in Mumbai. This is about the safety of women in the city. He went on to say that the Shiv Sena government was encouraging people to drink all night.

Womens safety must be a priority, but for the BJP to cite that for opposing the move smacks of political fear-mongering. Every citizen at any time of the day must be assured of her safety. Moreover, the timing for establishments selling liquor has not been extended beyond the current 1:30AM. Also, it is a bit rich of the BJP to raise an objection to the move when its government in Gujarat enacted a similar law on May 2, 2019.

Mumbai 24X7 will be seen as an experiment and other municipalities and governments will be watching closely to see if it is a success or failure.
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - The Sudanese government and a major rebel faction Friday signed a protocol, known as the Peace Framework, specifying agreement on issues bordering on legislation, lands, power and wealth sharing as well as security arrangements
A Chinese health worker waits to check the temperature of travellers entering a train station during the Chinese New Year and Spring Festival in Beijing, China, on Jan. 25, 2020. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Panic Stirs in Chinese City Where Deadly Virus Broke Out

For Doctor Wei, the panic did not sink in until Jan. 21, two days before his hometown became under lockdown, although warning signs have cropped up long ago.

Every morning, around a dozen patients would flock to the community clinic he worked at, all presenting symptoms of fever or the flu.

He said it has been like this for the past month and a half.

The viral pneumonia, caused by a virus known as 2019-nCov, infected its first patient in the central Chinese city of Wuhan on Dec. 12.

It has since reached dozens of provinces and cities across the country.

Many Wuhan residents were nonplussed by the illness until authorities on Jan. 22 issued a notice to quarantine the city and shut down all public transportation. Such lockdown measures soon expanded to seven other cities in Hubei Province, where Wuhan is the capital.

Staff members check body temperatures of passengers arriving from the train from Wuhan to Hangzhou, at Hangzhou Railway Station ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year in Zhejiang Province, China, on Jan. 23, 2020. (China Daily via Reuters)

No Clear Guidelines

Long before the city took action, Wei said he heard rumors among his peers about a virus in November, but he did not dare to speak out for fear of reprisal.

When the outbreak occurred in December, Wuhan authorities did not give clear guidelines and proper equipment for small clinics like his, according to Wei. He said that they were short on facial masks, and lacked hazmat suits.

At Weis workplace, they didnt quarantine patients who exhibited pneumonia-like symptoms.

Working in such conditions, he suspects some staff may have contracted the virus from patients. Currently, five out of roughly 50 health care workers have symptoms of the disease but have not yet been tested.

Security personnel check the temperature of passengers in the Wharf at the Yangtze River in Wuhan city, Hubei province, China, on January 22, 2020. (Photo by Getty Images)

His clinic also did not have the authority to do much beyond the initial screening. If patients appear feverish, he would take their body temperature and perform a blood test. Those with symptoms of the viral pneumonia would be referred to one of the 61 approved medical centers for treatment in Wuhan. They would then have to wait in line along with hundreds of others.

We knew the patients clinical traits but because the authorities concealed the data, we dont know how far it [the virus] has spread. It will only get bigger, he said.

Wei himself also has the symptoms: lung infections, a sore throat, and chest pains. But he has no plans to go to the hospital, where he said people could wait from morning until evening. Instead, he intends to stay at home in isolation.

Widespread Worries

Masks have become a common sight on Wuhan streets. Citizens are now flooding the supermarkets to stockpile food, leading to a steep surge in prices.

According to pictures from Weibo, there was cauliflower priced at around 40 yuan ($5.8) per head, and cabbage at 35 yuan ($5.05)around five times the normal price.

Videos from Weibo also showed people elbowing each other to reach the vegetables.

A Wuhan resident, masked, buys vegetables at a market in Hubei Province, China amid the coronavirus outbreak, on Jan. 23, 2020. (Getty Images)

Xiao, a resident of the citys Wuchang district, said he stayed away from areas around hospitals and public places for fear of catching the virus.

He said his company on Jan. 21 started requiring every staff member to wear masks and take their own body temperature. Thats when we knew it got serious, Xiao said.

Another Wuhan citizen surnamed Liu said that he knew of many workplaces that had issued notices asking staff not to travel back to their hometown for the Lunar New Year, Chinas peak travel season only days away.

Hu, who lives in the Jiangan district, said that masks in pharmacies were selling out. He criticized authorities for their conflicting statements leading up to the worsening of the outbreak.

Its classic bureaucratic style. They dont see the everyday peoples lives as lives, he said. No one cared before things got out of hand.

A nurse from Wuhan Xiehe Hospital said some staff in her department have become sick and have been isolated. While her husband has stayed with her in the city, they have sent their children and parents out of town.

We are risking our life at work, she wrote in an emailed letter obtained by The Epoch Times

Its very possible that with one notice, I would not be allowed home and isolated at the hospital, she said. Its very heart-chilling. No one treats us as a person in this society.
- In 1843, Carlota Lucumi who was originally from the Kingdom of Benin led a revolt against powerful white people to free Black slaves

- The brave woman had been enslaved since she was 10 but remained resolute about getting freedom all her life

- Her revolt was so massive, it angers the authorities to capture Carlota Lucumi and end her life brutally

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

Carlota Lucumi is a name that has remained on as a major element in Cuban history, for her role in leading one of the biggest revolts during the days of slavery in Matanzas, Cuba, called Triunvirato.

Libertywritersafrica.com indicates that historic rebellion occurred on November 5, 1843, when she and her counterparts named Firmina (a woman), Filipe Lucumi, Eduardo, Narciso, and Manuel Ganga rose fiercely against the White people who oversaw them.

This was after she gained a reputation among the enslaved Africans and had some influence in the community of the slaves. For months, she and the five other slaves had planned to revolt against their masters.

READ ALSO: Ghana's strongest kayayei spotted carrying entire container in latest video

They set multiple houses on their plantation on fire, including the house which was used in punishing slaves. The five ruthless Blacks attacked the Mayor and Julian Luis Alfonso, who was the sole owner of the plantation.

The tale of Carlota Lucumi's bravery and her revolt of Carlota was heard throughout Cuba. Consequently, over five other plantations had their slaves rising up against and killing as many white enslavers as they found.

When all of this went down, the authorities captured the heroic woman and ended her life in a very brutal manner. They tied her body to her horses and forced them to drag her till she died.

READ ALSO: New photo of tallest African president looking short in his entire family causes stir

When her followers found her body on the morning of November 6, 1943, on the Triunvirato estate, they were enraged and rioted angrily, stormed the estate killing as many whites as they saw.

It should be noted that by the era these revolts occurred, slavery had been abolished but was still practised in many parts of America and Europe.

The 1800s, in the Americas and Europe, was an interesting and busy era, which was filled with noble resistance and revolts from Black men and women all over the world.

READ ALSO: Jamaican star Popcaan buys GHC31m mansion in Ghana after Year of Return (Video)

Carlota Lucumi had spent almost all her life as a slave. She was kidnapped at the age of 10 from the Kingdom of Benin where she was born and taken into slavery since then.

It was thought that spending a greater portion of one's life could make one acclimatized to the situations and therefore not dream about change but that was not Carlota Lucumi's story.

In other news, Lincoln Theodore Monroe Andrew Perry was a famous Black actor who appeared in scores of films in the 1920s and 1930s but suddenly vanished from the scenes and never came up again.

A news report indicates that the gentleman who was born in Key West, Fla., in 1892, had many great achievements for his exploits at the peak of his career.

Enjoy reading our stories? Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news!

Ghanaian Traders Share Thoughts on Sales During Christmas | #Yencomgh

Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Source: YEN.com.gh
Lucknow, Jan 24 : Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President Mayawati on Friday strongly criticized the Lucknow University's (LU) proposal to include the Citizenship Amendment Act in the syllabus in the Political Science department.

Dr Shashi Shukla, head of the Political Science Department, announced on Friday that the proposal for including the CAA in the curriculum had been prepared and a programme in this regard would be held in February. The proposal will be accepted, if approved by the Executive Council.

Mayawati, in a series of tweets, said that while debates on CAA were acceptable, it was wrong to include the controversial issue in the curriculum and that too, when the matter was in court.

She even said that whenever the BSP returned to power in Uttar Pradesh, it would remove the subject.

She said that students across the country were holding protests on CAA and the Lucknow University was indulging in politics by including it in the syllabus.

Meanwhile, Shukla said that there was an urgent need to educate people on the issue of CAA and students were an important part of this group.

"We are also preparing to hold debates on the subject," he added.

The Lucknow University is the second university in Uttar Pradesh to moot the idea of including CAA in the syllabus. A few days ago, the Rajarshi Tandon Open University in Prayagraj had announced that it would include CAA as a subject.
A special NIA court on Friday again remanded Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) chief Akhil Gogoi, who has been arrested and booked under stringent UAPA for his alleged role in anti-CAA protests in Assam, to 14-day judicial custody, his lawyer said.

Guwahati: A special NIA court on Friday again remanded Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) chief Akhil Gogoi, who has been arrested and booked under stringent UAPA for his alleged role in anti-CAA protests in Assam, to 14-day judicial custody, his lawyer said.

Gogoi was produced before the court amid tight security at the end of his previous 14-day judicial custody on Friday. The court has again remanded Gogoi to judicial custody and directed that he be produced on February 10, his advocate Santanu Borthakur told PTI.

Gogoi was last produced before the court on 10 January after being sent to judicial custody for 14 days on 26 December. The peasant leader, before being produced in the court on Friday, shouted 'Jai Aai Asom' (Hail Mother Assam) and urged people to intensify the agitation against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

"The time for symbolic protests is over. The agitation should be intensified. People should fight a united battle against the CAA or else there are possibilities of betrayal by people with vested interests," he told waiting journalists.

Meanwhile, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has approached the Gauhati High Court seeking Gogoi's custody again. The case will come up for hearing on 3 February. Police had arrested Gogoi from Jorhat on 12 December and handed him over to the NIA. The agency booked him under sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Gogoi was sent to NIA custody for 10 days on 17 December after which he was taken to Delhi without informing the court.

Activists of Gogoi-led KMSS were allegedly instrumental in mobilising anti-CAA protests across several districts in eastern Assam. Various organisations, including the Congress, All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chhatra Parishad (AJYCP) have demanded Gogoi's immediate release.
IN his first, and what could well be his only, visit to Limerick County in this very short general election campaign, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar struck a very relaxed and confident note when he arrived in Adare, looking composed and fresh after a hard day on the canvass trail in Co Cork.

At well past 6pm on a Tuesday evening, he might also have been hoping that, unlike in Co Cork, no strident voter would jump out of the Heritage Centre bushes to yell Thatcherite at him.

In the end, it proved almost too quiet, with nobody on the street and just a group of smiling Young Fine Gaelers and older party members turning out to accompany him on his walkabout. Not forgetting, of course, the pesky media. We crowded around him. What about UHL? What about pensions? What about rural Ireland?

And, even after a day of the same old questions, asked time and time again, he answered them all with great politeness. With superlative courtesy, if truth be told, until, of course, he was whisked off to do what he was really there to do: to build support for a Fine Gael return to power and to persuade people to vote for his two party deputies, Patrick ODonovan and Tom Neville.

Mind you, for all the votes that were there for the winning on Main St, Adare on Tuesday evening, the two deputies might have been better knocking on doors in Deerpark or in Desmond Drive.

A scoot around Lenas bar, a few photo opportunities and we were off up the road again to the Centra supermarket where Leo was told in no uncertain terms: The A&E is like Beirut. Its an absolute disgrace.

So quietly spoken, few but the Taoiseach could hear her, Mary ODonoghue said her piece and was determined to do so. From Adare, her husband had spent 11 days on a trolley in UHL earlier this month before getting a bed, in Ennis! And now, she was spending hours a day travelling from their Adare home to the hospital just to spend time with him, she explained.

I asked him to reopen the A&E in Ennis, in St Johns, in Nenagh, she said. But she told the Limerick Leader: It is not going to change. All I can see is making room for more trolleys. They dont have the staff.

Earlier, the Taoiseach had expressed his profound regret that so many people at UHL, and in other hospitals around the country, had to experience the consequences of overcrowding, whether as patients, relatives or staff.

There are a lot of solutions, he said, But one of the mainstays of those solutions is adding more bed capacity to our hospital system. That is what we are doing. As you know, there is a new block which will open this year. As well as that there is another 96-bed block which needs to be built too.

People can believe us that we are going to be the ones to deliver on that as opposed to a previous government, which was the one, let us not forget, which took hundreds of beds out of our hospital system and took the A&Es out of Ennis and out of Nenagh without providing the additional bed capacity in Limerick which was always needed.

On pensions, the Taoiseach accepted there was an anomaly there and people who were required to retire at 65 before the state pension kicked in didnt want to have to sign on. We hear that. We get that. We accept that is a problem,he said. I dont make policy on the hoof, he continued but said Fine Gael was working on the details of a transition payment which would be the same amount as the pension.

He defended the need for a motorway linking Limerick and Cork, pointing out he had been in Buttevant and Charleville earlier in the day, both heavily congested towns which needed to be bypassed.

And on the issue of the survival of small towns and villages. he said: One thing we shouldnt do. We shouldnt do down our villages and parishes in rural areas. There are more people living in rural Ireland since the foundation of the state, more jobs in rural Ireland than at any time since the foundation of the state. That is true in Co Limerick as well.

One thing we can do to make things betters is to continue to roll out our rural fund, 1bn in that fund, particularly for town and village improvements, he said, adding that we are now starting to see the benefits of that. We need to go ahead with the National Broadband Plan because if rural Ireland is going to have a 21st century future, we need broadband. That is how businesses are going to create jobs in the future.

That is how we are going to have more home-working which in some ways is the decentralisation of the 21st century.

That is why we need to make sure we dont have a Fianna Fail government because they are the ones saying they will tear up that contract and take away Irelands 21st century future.

But he added , more could be done to repurpose old buildings.

Later, on the walkabout, a second Adare woman, chatted away to Leo as Gaeilge while he nodded his head gamely and tried out his improved Gaeilge on her. She wanted Irish at second level to be taught like French, she said, with the emphasis on conversation and not on literature. The Taoiseach, we think, agreed.

But then it was off up the street again, a quick run around Collins, a quick drink and off back to Dublin.
E-commerce firm Club Factory on Friday said it has surpassed 100 million monthly active users in India along with four-fold surge in orders in 2019.

The company looks to increase local sellers on its platform to 1 lakh by the end of this year from 30,000 in December 2019.

"Club Factory has surpassed 100 million monthly active users (MAUs) in India following a strong surge in user adoption across the country. Club Factory has witnessed a sharp rise in traffic, clocking in 4 times growth in orders received in 2019 on the platform as compared to the previous year," the company said in a statement.

To expand vendor base in India, the company does not charge any commission from the sellers.

The development of local vendor base has helped the company in reducing product delivery and return time, Club Factory founder and CEO Vincent Lou said.

"With our investment and efforts to enhance the user experience, we have managed to reduce delivery time by as much as 30 per cent with average positive product rating going up by 40 per cent in 2019. Returns or product exchange on the platform have dropped by almost 25 per cent," he said.

It has received traction from tier-II and III cities located in Uttar Pradesh, Telangana and Bihar, according to the statement.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Last month, Realme's Indian CEO Madhav Sheth said that the company is launching its first fitness band in H1 2020, which was teased after the India launch of 5i earlier this month. Details are scarce about the Chinese phone maker's fitness tracker, but we now know that it's arriving next month.



Realme's fitness band

Madhav Sheth confirmed this in the latest episode of #AskMadhav. Besides, Sheth also said that the company will start rolling out the VoWiFi feature for its smartphones this month, with the X2 Pro being the first in line to get it.

In February, VoWiFi will arrive on the vanilla X, XT, X2, 3 Pro and the 5 series, with Realme 1, 2, C1, C2, U1, 2 Pro, 3 and 3i getting it in March.

When asked about the availability of Realme X50 5G in India, Sheth said that something "bigger and better" is coming to the country, and it will be unveiled at Mobile World Congress (MWC) next month. This is likely the company's Snapdragon 865-powered flagship that was recently spotted on AnTuTu.

Talking about the monthly Android security patches, Sheth said that the smartphones launched this year will get Android security patches for two years. The company will provide one security update every month for the first six months from the launch, and an update every two months from seven to 24 months.

Sheth also talked about ads in Realme smartphones, a fix for background noise canceling when calling through Buds Air, as well as plans to launch clothing items in India. You can watch the entire episode of #AskMadhav linked below for all the details.
The free-speech nonprofit PEN America called on Wednesday for the reinstatement of a worker who was fired this month from a Massachusetts college after posting what he said were sarcastic suggestions of American targets that Iran could bomb.

PEN called the dismissal of the worker, Asheen Phansey, deeply disturbing and urged his former employer, Babson College, to immediately restore him to his previous positions.

Phanseys post contained no hint of harassment, incitement to imminent violence, nor any other category of speech outside the safeguards of the First Amendment, the organization said in a letter to Babson that was posted online on Wednesday.

This was such an egregious case, Summer Lopez, PENs senior director of free expression programs, said in an interview on Thursday. It was such a plainly satirical Facebook post. We felt this was so beyond the pale.
VERNIER (dpa-AFX) - Givaudan (GVDBF.PK), a Swiss manufacturer of fragrance and flavor products, reported Friday that its fiscal 2019 net income grew 6 percent to 702 million Swiss francs from 663 million francs in 2018. Basic earnings per share were 76.17 francs, higher than last year's 71.92 francs. The EBITDA increased 11.4 percent from the prior year to 1.28 billion francs, while EBITDA margin was almost flat at 20.6 percent in 2019. On a comparable basis, the EBITDA margin was 21.5 percent, up from 21.0 percent last year. Givaudan sales increased 12.2 percent to 6.20 billion francs from 5.53 billion francs last year. Sales increased 5.8 percent on a like-for-like basis. Fragrance Division sales grew 10.9 percent and Flavour Division sales grew 13.4 percent in Swiss francs. Further, the company said its Board of Directors will propose a cash dividend of 62 francs per share for fiscal 2019, an increase of 3.3 percent, at the Annual General Meeting on March 25. Looking ahead, the company said the delivery of 2020 guidance is fully on track. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg said he has to earn the votes of African Americans.

Buttigieg, whose term as mayor of South Bend, Indiana, expired in January, visited Claflin University on Thursday. He held a conversation with CNN political analyst Angela Rye during a live recording of her On One with Angela Rye podcast in Ministers' Hall.

With polls showing his support in single digits among South Carolina black voters, Buttigieg said he must gain the respect of African Americans. Its my job as a candidate to make sure that I earn that."

Buttigieg said it concerns him that white people are the majority of the crowd at his campaign events.

In order not just to win, in order to be deserving to win, Ive got to be speaking to everybody, Buttigieg said.

Rye asked Buttigieg a series of questions relevant to the large number of college students in the crowd, the first being about student loan debt relief.

I support forms of debt relief, Buttigieg said. But he isnt in favor of any particular plan proposed by fellow presidential candidates and current lawmakers.

Im worried about the fairness of saying that if you were lucky enough to have your student debt, at a certain moment you get it waived away. But if you run it up afterward or if you just paid it off, too bad. I think the right way to do this is to make sure that everybody gets their loans forgiven by taking certain steps, Buttigieg said.

Buttigieg said the expansion of public service loan forgiveness would be his focus.

Weve got a public service loan forgiveness now, but its almost impossible to take advantage of, he said. We can fix that, and we can widen the definition of what public service is for those purposes so that the programs are more generous and more user-friendly, Buttigieg said.

One of Buttigiegs proposals is the Douglass Plan, which would provide $50 million in funding for historically black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions.

Rye asked Buttigieg what percentage of the $50 million would be designated solely for HBCUs.

I expect certainly the majority of that is going to HBCUs. And Ive kept it a little bit broad on purpose, in terms of where it can go, Buttigieg said.

One of them is infrastructure. Just looking at physical infrastructure of an HBCU campus, Buttigieg said. The other one is kind of the federal funding and federal research that should be happening more on HBCU campuses, he said.

A third, and more particularly important one, is I want to focus on professions where we have the greatest underrepresentation of black professionals. Because of course, HBCUs are generating that next generation of black professionals, and so many other things that were trying to target get better if we fix them, Buttigieg said.

Buttigieg also talked about the immediate backlash he received from private health care insurers after releasing his "Medicare for All Who Want It" plan.

They definitely attacked it the next day because they dont want the competition, Buttigieg said.

His Medicare plan would offer a comprehensive public alternative to Medicare, and provide incentives for private insurers to have competitive pricing and lower insurance costs.

What Im saying is were going to create a better alternative, and its going to run them out of business unless they do a better job than they ever have, Buttigieg said.

And maybe they do, and if they do, good for them. I dont think they will, but if they do, the truth is I dont care. I just want to make sure everybodys covered, Buttigieg said.

Contact the writer: bharris@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5516

Love 5 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0

Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
A top Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist was killed and several jawans were left injured after an encounter broke out in the village of Zaintrag near Pulwama during the wee hours of Friday.

According to a source, the security forces conducted a search operation in the Zaintrag village after receiving specific information about the presence of Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists, but they managed to get away from the cordon area.

The search continued and the terrorists were tracked down in the forest area of village Nagander which is about one kilometre away from the encounter site of Ziantrag. This triggered another encounter in which one terrorist was killed and his dead body was retrieved along with arms and ammunition.

Live TV

The killed terrorist has been identified as foreign terrorist Abu Saifullaha also known as Abu Qasim. The second terrorist could not be traced and therefore the search operation will continue till afternoon.
Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra on Friday said the government is working to bring a legislation on "right to health" to provide healthcare facilities to people of the state.

Delivering his address on the first day of the Budget session, which was later boycotted by the opposition BJP and RLP MLAs, Mishra said the state government has launched 'Nirogi Rajasthan' campaign on December 18 last year and was making constant efforts to provide healthcare facilities to the people.

He said the government was working on "right to health" legislation to make it mandatory to provide healthcare facilities to the people.

Mishra said the state government has so far allocated a budget of Rs 47.80 crore as agriculture grant to farmers in six districts -- Jalore, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner, Pali and Jodhpur -- where locust attack has damaged crops.

He said the government took prompt action and got the 'girdawari' (assessment report) prepared in the affected areas.

The governor said Rajasthan became the first state in the country to make the arrangement of FIR registration at SP offices in case the FIR is not registered at police stations.

Due to this historic decision, the number of FIRs will increase, he said.

"It is the duty of the government which works for public welfare to ensure that everyone is heard and gets justice," he said.

Rajasthan was the first state to pass a bill to curb incidents of honour killing and second state where a bill against mob lynching was passed, he said.

It was expected that the government of India will cooperate in implementing them.

Mishra said Rajasthan is the first state to bring an ordinance to exempt MSMEs for three years from getting approval and clearances to start operations. Certificates to 2,811 business units have been provided under this till December 31, 2019, he said.

The governor highlighted other achievements of the government during his speech, which was interrupted by the leader of opposition Gulabchand Kataria.

As soon as the governor began the address, Kataria raised objection over the manner in which the session was hurriedly called and said the rules and procedures were not followed.

"A prior notice has to be issued before the session is called but this was not followed. The notice has to be issued 21 days prior to the beginning of the session. The session has been called hurriedly and in emergency," he said.

Kataria said a bill to extend reservation to SC and ST in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies for another 10 years has to be ratified by January 25 but the government was careless about it earlier. The session was hurriedly called when the last date of ratification was near, he said.

When the governor continued his address, Kataria announced the decision to boycott the proceedings of the session. The Rashtriya Loktantrik Party MLAs too boycotted the proceedings along with the BJP MLAs.

After the governor's address, other listed businesses was taken up.

The assembly secretary tabled a message from Rajya Sabha to the state assembly regarding the ratification of the Constitution (126th) Amendment Bill to extend reservation to SC and ST in Lok Sabha and state assemblies for another 10 years.

The bill is likely to be ratified by the assembly on Saturday.

Meanwhile, in a symbolic protest, a BJP MLA entered the assembly premises with a basket of locusts and asked the state government to expedite the distribution of compensation to farmers who have suffered losses in the insect attack.

"The seriousness of the government is not visible in addressing the issue of locust attack in western Rajasthan, which has damaged crops on lakhs of hectare of land," Nokha (Bikaner) MLA Bihari Lal told reporters.

"Instead of taking the issue very seriously, the government is focused against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. The farmers have suffered huge losses due to the locust attack and the government should expedite the compensation distribution process," he said.

Noting that it was just a symbolic protest, Lal did not enter the House with the basket.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The All Progressives Congress, APC in Akwa Ibom State says it has withdrawn from the re-run election holding on Saturday.

This was disclosed in a press conference on Friday in Uyo, by the State Chairman of the APC, Mr Ini Okopido.

He said the party has withdrawn from the re-run election in Essien Udim local government area as it was dissatisfied with the conduct of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in the state.

Okopido said both Senator Godswill Akpabio whose candidacy has been replaced with Emem Ekperkpe for the Senatorial District election and Nse Ntuen for Essien Udim State Constituency will not participate in the elections.

Read Also: Shehu Sani Mocks Akpabio For Pulling Out Of Senatorial Rerun

He said, We have officially as a party withdrawn from the rerun elections in Essien Udim local government area. We are so dissatisfied with the conduct of INEC in Akwa Ibom State and we have withdrawn from the elections.

As far as we are concerned, Igini has shown unprecedented bias against APC. We know he does not like APC in Akwa Ibom State and if he conducts any election in Akwa Ibom, the party will withdraw. Igini has not been fair to us as a state, he said.

On Friday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom accused the Godswill Akpabio, the minister of Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Senator of planning to rig the state and National Assembly rerun elections on Saturday.
At the end of 2019 Chinas two major shipbuilders, CSSC and CSIC, merged to create the largest shipbuilder in the world with 310,000 employees. A decade ago there were nearly half a million employees but recessions and continued competition from rivals South Korea and Japan forced the change. The new company, CSG (China Shipbuilding Group), as well as the two it merged from, are all state-owned. The merger is actually a return to the situation in 1999 when CSSC and CSIC were created from the then single state-owned shipbuilding operation. This was meant to encourage competition and it worked.

Chinese shipbuilders, mainly the now reunited two large firms, account for most shipbuilding in China and have been striving to overtake their main rival South Korea as the largest shipbuilder in the world in all categories. There are several ways to measure shipbuilder output and South Korea is the champion in most of them. Japan was once in first place but now has to settle for third place. South Korea and China have been close competitors for first place since 2012 and to that end, the two largest South Korean shipbuilders also merged in 2019.

South Korea has been making a comeback in shipbuilding, an industry it led until 2012 when it was briefly overtaken by China. By 2018 South Korean firms surpassed China in new orders. This was mainly because South Korean shipbuilders are seen as leaders in the construction of more complex transports, in particular, LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) vessels, which transport refrigerated (enough to turn natural gas to a more compact liquid) natural gas. Demand for LNG ships is driven by the growing output of natural gas in the United States and Canada as a result of improved extraction methods, mainly fracking. The North American natural gas market is saturated and American and Canadian producers can afford to lower prices enough to export large quantities via LNG carriers. Europe is eager for LNG because the current major supplier (via pipeline) is Russia and Russia is seen as more of a danger than a reliable economic partner. Another form of unique ship construction that South Korea has excelled at is off-shore oil exploration and drilling vessels and structures. The offshore platforms are built in shipyards and are mobile, via towing at slow speeds from one work site to another.

All major shipbuilders are also dealing with a sharp decline in orders since the global economic recession began in 2008, which was the year with the highest number of orders ever. The business has never recovered and all major shipbuilders had to cut prices and many ships were built at a loss or for no profit just to keep the yards operating. One way China helped its shipyards cope was by increasing orders for warships. This was going to happen anyway but the government gave the navy all it wanted and then some. This resulted in 2019 being a record year for warship construction with 28 surface warships launched, including a record ten destroyers plus 16 corvettes and two large amphibious ships. While warships are more complex ships to build, commercial ships still accounted for over 95 percent of the work at the new China Shipbuilding Group. At the moment China is the largest producer of non-nuclear warships.

China continues to lead the global shipbuilding industry in new orders. This is mainly because of their lower prices and gradual improvements in quality. Chinese prices are not as low as they used to be because a growing labor shortage has driven wages up. In the long term China can learn to compete on quality but that is not something that can be achieved quickly, like cutting prices. When it comes to moving LNG or offshore drilling for oil, buyers tend to go with the most reliable shipbuilders, even if it costs more. Moreover, Chinese shipyards have some unique financing and management problems that may get a lot worse because of problems in the Chinese banking industry.

In 2012 South Korea lost its decade long battle with China to retain its lead in shipbuilding. Because of a five year depression in the world market for shipping, South Korean ship exports fell 30 percent in 2012, to $37.8 billion. China, helped by government subsidies, saw ship exports fall only 10.3 percent, leaving China with $39.2 billion in export sales. The Chinese government has also been giving its shipbuilders lots of new orders for warships, which made its yards more profitable and better able to beat South Korea on price. The Chinese government also provides its shipbuilders with more loans, allowing the builders to offer better credit terms to customers. South Korea was still ahead of China in total orders for ships but that lead was being lost as well as in 2011 South Korea was barely ahead of China. Since 2012 China and South Korea have been competing for overall first place but so far South Korea has the edge in quality and innovation, and the recent Chinese merger was meant to deal with that by combining nearly all Chinese research and development of new ship designs in one company.

China has been helping its shipyards since the late 1990s, and that enabled Chinese shipbuilders to gradually catch up to South Korea and Japan. In 2009, sooner than anyone expected, China surpassed South Korea as the world's largest shipbuilder in terms of tonnage. In late 2009, Chinese yards had orders for 54.96 million CGT of ships, compared to 53.63 million CGT for South Korea. Thus China had 34.7 percent of the world market. In 2000, South Korea previously taken the lead from Japan in 2000 in having the largest share of the world shipbuilding market.

The terms used to measure commercial ship size can be confusing but they serve a purpose. CGT stands for Compensated Gross Tons. This is a new standard for measuring shipyard effort. Gross tons has long been used as a measure of the volume within a ship. CGT expands on this by adding adjustments to the complexity of the ship design. Thus a chemical tanker would end up with a value four times that of a container ship. China is producing far more ships, in terms of tonnage of steel and internal volume, than South Korea, mainly because a much larger portion of Chinese ships are simpler designs. South Korea has, over the years, pioneered the design and construction of more complex ships (chemical and LNG carriers).

Note that deadweight tons measure the actual weight of everything carried in the ship, including supplies, miscellaneous equipment, fuel, and even crew, expressed in long (metric) tons. As a rule for every 1,500 deadweight tons, a cargo ship could carry about 1,775 measurement tons. Warship tonnage is measured differently, in terms of "displacement tons." Each cubic meter (35 cubic feet) of seawater displaced by the vessel is a "displacement ton." As that volume of seawater actually weighs approximately one long ton, displacement gives a rough indication of the actual weight of the vessel.

China has invested a lot of money and effort into expanding its merchant shipbuilding industry, as a way to improve its warship building capability. In 2006 China produced about a quarter of the world's merchant shipping, while South Korea was in the first place, producing about a third. It was then believed that China would take first place in the next 5-10 years.

The big thing holding China back in the warship building area has been the shortage of skilled personnel. By encouraging merchant shipbuilding, the government creates experienced shipbuilders ready to learn the more complex tasks needed to build warships. In most cases merchant ships are larger than warships and much less complex. For example, a common type of merchant ship is the VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier) of 300,000 deadweight tons (DWT). This is the largest size tanker that can use the Straits of Malacca to carry oil from the Persian Gulf to East Asia. These ships haul over two million barrels (about 290,000 tons) of oil per trip. These ships are larger than the biggest American aircraft carriers (like the Nimitz class that are 110,000 tons displacement and nearly 354 meters/1,100 feet long).

The major difference between merchant vessels and warships is what equipment they have. Merchant ships are quite basic and plain. A 300,000 DWT VLCC is about the same size as a Nimitz class carrier but costs much less to build ($130 million for the VLCC versus over $4 billion for the carrier). Actually, it costs more to run a carrier for one year than the VLCC costs to build. Part of that has to do with crew size, with the carrier having a hundred sailors for every one sailor needed to run the VLCC. A VLCC is highly automated and the crew size is usually under fifty sailors and officers.

By building all those merchant vessels China has acquired the ability to cheaply build basic warship hulls. Where it has big problems is in creating the complex electronics, mechanical systems, and weapons needed to make a warship work. China is making progress there as well, but not nearly as much as it has in the shipbuilding area.

China became a major force in commercial shipping partly because it became more difficult for South Korean builders to expand. There were more restrictions on land use in South Korea, in addition to higher labor costs. South Korean builders, seeing that they could not match the expansion of Chinese shipyards, expended more effort on building more complex, and expensive, ships. Japan was following a similar path when it lost the lead to South Korea a decade before China grabbed it. China also gained more market share by offering generous loan terms to foreign buyers of Chinese ships and cheap loans for their own shipbuilders.
Only a third of the countrys network of over 560 garda stations has experienced an increase in staffing levels in the past five years, despite almost 2,800 extra gardai joining the force over the period.

An analysis of the latest manpower figures at individual stations published by the Department of Justice shows the number of gardai in two-thirds of stations has remained static or fallen since the lifting of the recruitment embargo in 2014.

The figures show that Garda stations in the main cities and towns have been the main beneficiaries of the growing strength of the force. Garda numbers reached their highest level since 2010 at the end of last year when the total reached 14,307 officers.

A total of 192 out of 565 stations have had additional gardai assigned since 2015, while theres been no change in staffing levels in 240 stations.

However, 133 stations have fewer gardai than five years ago including several large stations including Bray (down 26 to 96); Shankill (down 18 to 43); Mayorstone Park, Limerick (down 17 to 54); Rathfarnham (down 16 to 53), Santry (down 12 to 82) and Watercourse Road, Cork (down 10 to 37).

Other towns with fewer gardai include Sligo, Kells, Greystones, Moate and Dunboyne.

In contrast at least 50 extra officers have been assigned to several stations over the same period including Portlaoise, Waterford, Henry Street in Limerick, Store Street and Kevin Street in Dublin and Anglesea Street in Cork.

Other stations to have staffing levels increased by 30-50 gardai include Kilkenny, Tallaght, Drogheda, Letterkenny, Leixlip, Ballincollig and Balbriggan.

As probation gardai are initially assigned to larger stations for purposes of supervision, the deployment of new recruits has been limited to 93 of the larger stations.

Criminologist and University of Limerick law lecturer, Johnny Connolly, said as a member of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, he found it was impossible to tell where resources were needed without demand information.

The commission recognised a need for a workforce plan based on accurate data which exists in most other modern police forces. I believe it is now under way, Dr Connolly said.

We need to see a greater visibility of gardai on the beat over the next few years. It doesnt matter where theyre based but where theyre seen.

Dr Connolly said there was also need for a debate on what the point was in having gardai based in isolated rural stations.

It might reassure people but it wont have any relation to the crime rate, he observed.

On a divisional level, the figures show the number of gardai has increased in 26 out of the 28 divisions over the past five years with significant allocation of personnel to Laois/Offaly (up 34%); Louth (+29%), Kildare (+27%), Waterford (+ 26%),Wexford (+25%) and Cavan and Dublin South Central (both 22%).

The only two divisions with fewer gardai since the end of 2014 are Wicklow (down 3%) and Dublin East (-1%).

Official figures show there are now 31 stations with no dedicated garda assigned to them including five stations which lost their permanent garda during 2019: Ballylanders, Co Limerick; Kilmacow, Co Kilkenny; Longwood, Co Meath; Rathmullen, Co Donegal and Shillelagh, Co Wicklow.

At the same time, 14 other stations had a permanent garda restored last year. They included Knock, Co Mayo; Rosses Point, Co Sligo and Toomevara, Co Tipperary as well as the reopened station in Ballinspittle, Co Cork which was one of 139 stations closed during the recession.

The figures also show that the large recruitment drive which has resulted in the hiring of 2,769 new gardai since the reopening of the Garda College in Templemore in September 2014 has been offset by large numbers either retiring or leaving the force over the same period.

Official figures show an average of 227 gardai have retired each year over the past five years with the net increase in personnel since the end of 2014 just over 1,500.

The Minister for Justice, Charlie Flanagan said the figures are on track to reach the Governments target of a total of 15,000 gardai as part of an overall workforce of 21,000 by 2021.

Mr Flanagan said civilian staff numbers had also increased significantly over the past few years and were up by almost 850 to 2,900 since 2014.

The accelerated recruitment of Garda staff is facilitating the development of gardai from administrative to mainstream policing duties where their training and expertise can be used to best effect, Mr Flanagan said.

He claimed the combination of overall increase in Garda and civilian staff numbers meant there had been a significant increase in operational policing hours nationwide in recent years.

The Garda Press Office said local management closely monitored the allocation of all resources in the context of crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies.

A Garda spokesperson the allocation of gardai was designed to ensure optimum use was made of resources at district, divisional and regional level and to provide the best possible service to the public.

Senior Garda management is satisfied that an adequate policing service continues to be delivered and that current structures in place meet the requirement to deliver an effective and efficient policing service to the community, the spokesperson added.

Garda said staffing levels across divisions was not determined by population alone and comparisons on that basis were overly simplistic.
For Cory Jackson, Athena Bucheger, Kenneth Booth and Chris Gonzales, theres a first time for everything including free breakfast tacos at 4:30 in the morning.

Thats the time volunteers for the 42nd annual Cowboy Breakfast began handing out the first of a reported 35,000 breakfast tacos to the throngs of willing recipients standing in lines that wound through the parking lot of Cowboys Dancehall, home for the annual free breakfast ritual that kicks off the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeos Feb. 6-23 run at the AT&T Center.

Booth and his wife, Alicia, were the first in line, arriving at 2 a.m. Kenneth was in the bacon and egg line, while his wife stood firm in the Rudys BBQ beef taco line.

On ExpressNews.com: Party continues across San Antonio after Cowboy Breakfast

Now Playing: Thousands turn out for the free tacos at San Antonios the 42nd annual Cowboy Breakfast at Cowboys Dancehall. Video: San Antonio Express-News

Ive worked my whole life, and Im retired now, so I finally have time, said Booth, 62, a resident of Charlotte, south of San Antonio in Atascosa County. So I could finally come. I finally had time for breakfast.

Jackson, a Medical Center area resident, was enjoying a potato-and-egg taco during his first trip out to the breakfast.

I heard about it online through social media, so I thought Id come check it out, Jackson said. Ive only been in San Antonio for about two years, so I just wasnt aware.

With Jackson was Pete Cedillo, also a first-timer. When they said free tacos, I was like, OK, when and where? Cedillo said, holding one taco in each hand and in line for another. He said they were free, so I said, You got me.

Bucheger, 29, accompanied her father, Kelley, and their special guest  7-year-old Kuma, a 200-pound English Mastiff.

Ive just never made it out here, Athena said of her missing all of the previous 41 breakfasts. I used to work the rodeo and everything, but I just never got out here for the breakfast.

Kelley Bucheger said this was his second trip to the breakfast, but his first time bringing the massive Kuma, who eagerly shook hands with people willing to offer him their own paws.

I am off today, and Kuma and I usually just hang out on Friday, so I thought, why not? he said.

Bucheger said Kuma loves the biscuits and gravy but undoubtedly would try a breakfast taco or two. It depends on how many people offer him one, really.

This also was the first trip to Cowboy Breakfast for Chris Gonzales, lead guitarist and backup vocalist for Rebel Roxie, the band providing the country, rock and country-pop for the estimated 35,000 attendees.

Its fun, its a bit challenging, Gonzales said, of playing what he said would be his first-ever 5 a.m. set of songs. Its a different mindset, being first thing in the morning, and you didnt get a sleep. Well just try to keep it entertaining, you just never know what to expect.

This was the four-piece band out of Banderas first trip to the breakfast.

We got the call last week, and we said were all in. Its go big or go home, he said, admitting this was by far the biggest crowd it had played for in its four-year history.

Frank Salinas brought some first-time voluntolds with him from St. Philips College, the benefactor of thousands of dollars of scholarships raised each year by the breakfast.

Salinas, chairman of St. Philips Tourism, Hospitality and Culinary Arts program, said his crew of 30 arrived at 2 a.m. to help with food prep and rolling tacos.

They are getting credit being here, and were actually getting involved with our community engagement, Salinas said. They actually get to apply their skills and share it with the community.

Chuck Christian, longtime Cowboy Breakfast board member, said a warmer-than-usual forecast was bound to bring out the crowd.

Were expecting a really good turnout today, Christian said. The weathers phenomenal, a little warm for this time of year but were loving it, and were just excited to be here.

jflinn@express-news.net
[January 24, 2020] Ruckify launches T-shirt fundraiser to deliver Australia fire relief

OTTAWA, Jan. 24, 2020 /CNW/ - Ruckify, the global peer-to-peer marketplace for all things rentals, has launched a t-shirt fundraising campaign to support those affected by the devastating Australian bushfires. The shirts, which will be available on a dedicated RuckifyStore, list a number of organisations people can donate to both during and after the fire crisis that has devastated communities and destroyed large tracts of wilderness in recent months. All proceeds will be donated to the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (RFS) for firefighting equipment and training as Australia's bushfire season continues, while anyone who purchases a shirt will receive $5 off a Ruckify rental of their choice. The idea and design for the shirts came from Ruckify staff, after a company-wide conversation about feelings of helplessness as news of the disaster flowed in. Ruckify founder and CEO Steve Cody said staff had helped communities inundated near the company's headquarters during the Ottawa River floods in April 2019, and wanted to find a way to lend support to others in need on the other side of the world. "Since Ruckify's founding two years ago, community, environmentalism, andsustainability have been at the heart of our values," Mr Cody said. "These fires have dealt a blow to the Australian people, and the environment, that will be felt for years to come.



"These disasters affect us all, and will continue to do so as the effects of climate change become more apparent. Australians help North Americans every year with funding and resources during wildfire season, and we want to contribute in any way we can." The fundraising campaign complements Ruckify's ongoing TreeProject , the company's commitment to plant a tree for every sign-up, transaction, and review at ruckify.com .

"It's time for all of us to step up and acknowledge the status quo will no longer work in the face of climate change and the resulting natural disasters," Mr Cody said. "Through both our shirt fundraising campaign and TreeProject campaign, we want to be part of the solution." Those interested in the $30 shirts can order them at the dedicated RuckifyStore , where they will be shipped for free. About Ruckify Ruckify is the world's largest online peer-to-peer rental marketplace, empowering its members to embrace the sharing economy and leave unnecessary purchases behind. Designed with both people and businesses in mind, anyone can post their items and spaces on Ruckify for people in their community to rent. Founded in Ottawa, Canada in 2018 on a foundation of community building, environmentalism, education, and freedom, Ruckify is dedicated to changing the world and curtailing the spread of unsustainable consumerism. The platform has also launched TreeProject, a commitment from Ruckify to plant a tree for every transaction made on the app. For more information, visit www.ruckify.com or like us on Facebook , Twitter or Instagram @ruckify. SOURCE Ruckify

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
No one was more thrilled than Lucas Parker, the endlessly energetic 2-year-old who knew Mickey Mouses hot dog dance by heart. When the big week finally came in early October, Lucas and his two siblings delighted in exploring Disneylands Tomorrowland and descending into the darkness of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

RICHMOND, BRITISH COLUMBIA  It was the vacation of a lifetime for three generations of the Parker family. For much of 2018, Nathan Parker and his wife, Karla Terry, plotted their road trip from this Vancouver suburb down the Oregon coast to their final destination: Disneyland.

Advertisement

By the time his mother changed his diaper that early morning, it was bloody. He was shaking. He was pale, said Nathan Parker. He looked just horrible.

The Parkers immediately started the 22-hour drive home to seek medical help, but family members were so worried that they stopped at an emergency room in Olympia, Wash.

My kid is limp in my arms, he recalled. A doctor told him, I suspect its E. coli.

The Parkers had no way of knowing, but Lucas was one of the first victims of a disease outbreak that would shake public confidence in a seemingly benign, even virtuous, vegetable: lettuce. Five bites of a salad the boy shared on the trip to Disneyland with his father nearly a week earlier were enough to infect him with the toxic bacteria.

Is the FDA ready for the next E. coli outbreak? Share Email to a Friend Embed Leafy green vegetables have become the leading cause of E. coli poisoning. And the federal government may not be ready for the next outbreak. ( Video by Caitlin Healy/Globe staff )

Over the next month, 61 more people in 16 states would be diagnosed with E. coli poisoning  all traced to romaine lettuce. Many more might have been sickened if not for drastic action by Scott Gottlieb, then commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, who tweeted to a startled nation that they should stop eating romaine lettuce just two days before Thanksgiving 2018.

Advertisement

It was a crisis that faded from the news almost as soon as it was safe to restock store shelves. Still, it should have been the wake-up call that mobilized the government to defeat this threat to food safety.

But the call was muted, and the response so far underwhelming.

More than a year after the Thanksgiving outbreak, the E. coli threat is as real as it ever was, and the government still lacks the means, and maybe the will, to take it on, a six-month Globe review finds. There have been four E. coli outbreaks traced to lettuce since September alone, sickening people in more than two dozen states. Since 2017, there are nearly 500 documented victims and six deaths from leafy green vegetables contaminated by E. coli. Because the disease is difficult to document, the actual numbers are likely many times higher.

In fact, leafy green vegetables now cause more E. coli outbreaks than any other food, including beef, but the governments efforts to secure the safety of greens remains a pale shadow of its policing of red meat. The Globe review found that the FDA still sometimes seems more concerned with preventing panic than fully informing the public about health hazards in the food supply.

Despite the growing number of outbreaks, the agency remains protective of the growers, taking little enforcement action and sometimes shielding growers suspected of causing outbreaks from bad publicity. Consider:

 The FDA has called little attention to the surge in E. coli outbreaks from leafy green vegetables. It has been slow to investigate or publicize risks and did not disclose one outbreak to the public until the Globe contacted agency officials about reports of E. coli poisonings. FDA officials insist they planned to disclose the early fall 2019 outbreak all along.

Advertisement

 The FDA has not punished any farm or distributor in connection with the seven outbreaks traced to lettuce since 2017 even though federal law prohibits the sale of contaminated foods. The agency concluded that three of the outbreaks were linked to a single California lettuce grower but declined to release the name.

 The FDA staff monitoring lettuce production is just a small fraction of that detailed to the federal oversight of beef: There are 614 FDA field investigators responsible for leafy greens compared to 7,068 workers overseeing beef for the Department of Agriculture. Congress recently gave the FDA $8 million to better handle outbreaks, but the agency doesnt want to talk about the state of its staffing. When the Globe tried to examine just how understaffed the agency is, officials redacted hundreds of pages of records discussing their internal problems.

 The agency relies almost entirely on voluntary cooperation from the lettuce industry, an approach that has brought about some safety improvements. But FDA has asked relatively little of the industry and recently delayed implementing rules aimed at preventing E. coli contamination of irrigation water until 2022.

There is no oversight, said food safety lawyer Shawn Stevens, who previously represented beef powerhouse Cargill in cases brought by contamination victims and who sees the major differences between the regulation of meat and leafy greens. There is no one watching (lettuce) being harvested or distributed or transported to the processing facility or being washed or being packaged.

Advertisement

FDA officials defend their performance, noting that pinpointing the source of E. coli contamination is complex, especially for lettuce. Many of the outbreaks appear unrelated to each other, they said, and investigators have not always been able to conclusively identify the source.

We did not conclude in any of these outbreaks, which are not all related, how the romaine lettuce (or leafy greens) . . . became contaminated, said spokeswoman Lyndsay Meyer. We often are not able to explain the full route of contamination.

Nathan Parker built an aquatic center for his son Lucas in their home. Nathan said the best days of Lucass childhood are behind him. I still have dreams of him running around here, said Nathan, but he knows thats extremely unlikely. Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

The importance of closing that investigative gap is as clear as the potential consequences of E. coli poisoning are devastating. Fifteen months after the Parkers trip of a lifetime, Lucas still deals with the long-term consequences: He is legally blind. He cannot speak or move. He requires a feeding tube because he cannot swallow and his medical records show he suffers a litany of other serious conditions.

Nathan Parker now cares for his son full time. As Lucas rested on his chest in the familys cramped apartment, the father of four wondered what he could have done differently. He thought he was eating sensibly, and encouraging his family to do the same. He never saw any warnings to avoid eating lettuce.

Advertisement

I had no reason to believe that I couldnt eat salad, said Nathan Parker. Its Americas best kept secret.

Green gold

ACROSS 101,500 DUSTY and sun-soaked acres of Yuma, Ariz., and Californias Central Coast, farmers grow the greens that fill the salad bowls of much of the nation. Over the faint buzz of insects, row after meticulously planted row of romaine lettuce sprout and bloom like verdant bouquets. Once picked, they are sent to processors, where the leaves are soaked in sudsy baths, packaged, boxed, and shipped to restaurants and supermarkets.

The arrival of these delicate greens on menus and supermarket shelves is welcomed by consumers in these health-conscious times. US lettuce production has grown nearly 50 percent since 2000, reaching 4 billion pounds in 2018, according to federal figures.

Romaine lettuce has become a star among leafy greens, its crunchy leaves most often used in Caesar salad or as the bed for countless foods, from a scoop of chicken salad to a charcuterie platter.

But just as consumers have learned to love lettuce, so has a dangerous type of bacteria. A particular strain of E. coli called Shiga Toxin producing E. coli or sometimes STEC 0157:H7 for short, is a common contaminant, especially of romaine lettuce. Scientists have found that the thirsty plants, which grow close to the ground, offer easy access for E. coli to latch onto them through soil or by water. Once E. coli has landed on romaines leaves, it settles into the plants pores and rides along through the long journey from field to salad bowl.

Modern farming has made E. coli and lettuce a perfect match. Lettuce thrives in water-starved areas where finding any water and keeping that water clean are ongoing challenges. When water levels are low, contamination becomes even more of a problem, because irrigation is essential and E. coli often settles into sediments at the bottom of the canals that bring water to crops.

Romaine lettuce grew near Yuma, Ariz., one of the nations leading producers of leafy green vegetables. At least one recent E. coli outbreak has been traced to farms in the region. Caitlin OHara/file 2016

Under the best of circumstances, E. coli is a maddening bacteria for investigators to trace; the Shiga toxin complicates the process further because it takes its time doing its dirty work. Lucas Parker, as is typical for those infected, did not get sick until a week after he ate contaminated lettuce. By that time, any traces of the contaminated lettuce have often been disposed of, making the path of contamination that much harder to trace.

Also, only a few of those infected become seriously ill, dampening the sense of regulatory urgency. The severity of symptoms varies widely. Some victims have mild diarrhea while a few become gravely ill. Case in point: Lucas Parkers father, grandmother, aunt, and younger brother all had brief symptoms of vomiting or diarrhea after eating the same salad. But they recovered quickly and are fine.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the vast majority of victims are never even identified. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that 265,000 Americans are sickened by E. coli from all causes each year, though only a few thousand cases are confirmed.

Facing this formidable and many-layered challenge, the FDA deploys a modest, overworked team that struggles to handle the workload, especially during a contamination crisis.

A review of 413 pages of internal FDA e-mails during the October-November 2018 outbreak shows that the FDA team worked day and night and through the Thanksgiving holiday weekend to obtain basic information about the outbreak from the leafy greens industry, which still uses paper documentation for much of its produce tracking.

The agency was also, in that moment, still dealing with a previous E. coli outbreak caused by lettuce, tying up staff. On Nov. 27, 2018, FDA executive Jim Gorny, who had returned to FDA to help prevent illnesses caused by contaminated produce, wrote to colleagues, in a heavily redacted e-mail, I have no resources to deploy.

FDA spokeswoman Meyer, who responded on behalf of Gorny, said that because Gornys job is an advisory position, he simply meant that he personally could not send anyone to assist because he had no direct staff. However, Gorny declined to explain his comments.

The FDA has a number of agents and staff, but nothing in terms of the number of field inspectors needed, said Darin Detwiler, a Northeastern University dean with an expertise in food policy. His research has found staff shortages are a chronic problem.

Two days before Thanksgiving in 2018, Scott Gottlieb, then commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, urged consumers to dispose of all romaine lettuce amid an outbreak of E. coli. It was a stark reminder of the perils of toxic bacteria in the US supply of produce. Drew Angerer/file 2017/Getty Images

The FDA is further hamstrung by what Gottlieb called the agencys culture of caution, a fear that putting out a false alarm about an E. coli outbreak could damage public trust in the FDA  and needlessly alarm consumers. They want to be absolutely sure they have found the correct source before going public. But this cautiousness has a price.

In the E. coli outbreak that sickened Lucas in October 2018, the FDA waited three weeks after it first heard about the problem to announce anything. The outbreak finally came to national attention two days before Thanksgiving, when Gottlieb, fearful that millions of Americans were about to eat E. coli-contaminated salads with their holiday meals, tweeted that Americans should just throw away all their romaine lettuce. The health warning triggered a massive disposal of lettuce. Gottlieb felt he had no choice.

This information was getting into the press, said Gottlieb. I thought it was important for the agency to have a voice in speaking to these issues.

A beefy comparison

IN JANUARY 1993, Jack in the Box restaurants triggered one of the worst E. coli outbreaks in US history when workers mostly in the Seattle area did not follow newly created standards to cook its burgers. Detwiler, who was then living in Seattle, found himself caught in the crisis.

Detwilers toddler son, Riley, had never even eaten a hamburger. But he picked up E. coli in day care from another child whose parents both worked at Jack in the Box. Riley was one of four who died in the outbreak.

The tragedy upended Detwilers life, wrecking his marriage and turning him into an influential advocate for food safety. It also brought unprecedented pressure on the agency charged with keeping meat safe, the Department of Agriculture. New inspectors were hired, and a sophisticated tracking system called PulseNet was launched, bringing together data from 82 labs in all 50 states and accelerating identification of emerging outbreaks and their source.

It was a much-needed regulatory revolution  but it had little impact on the oversight of leafy green vegetables.

These changes had nothing to do with produce, said Detwiler. I actually think that in terms of food safety, youre better off eating ground beef than you are eating leafy greens today.

Indeed, since the late 1990s, leafy green vegetables have overtaken beef as a source of E. coli poisonings. Data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control show that, from 2009 to 2018, almost twice as many people suffered E. coli poisoning from leafy green vegetables compared to beef.

Detwiler notes that most produce inspectors are concentrated overseas and at borders, forcing the FDA to delegate most monitoring to state agencies. Most farms are inspected every three years. By comparison, beef has a much more clear-cut system. Federal officials are assigned to individual plants to oversee daily inspections of the process.

After beef leaves the packing plant, the industry employs sophisticated tracking systems that enable investigators to more easily isolate the source of an outbreak without disrupting the nations entire beef supply anytime an outbreak occurs. By comparison, both FDA officials and lawyers involved with leafy green outbreaks note that farmers, distributors, restaurants, and retailers still keep paper files and have no computerized way to trace the source.

The Agriculture Department also discloses far more information about retailers that are selling contaminated beef so that customers have better information about whether their local supermarket has been affected. The FDA releases only limited information about retailers selling potentially contaminated produce, arguing that the disclosure could reveal trade secrets or information desired by competing stores. The FDA has not identified individual stores selling contaminated lettuce in any of the outbreaks.

But the lettuce industry never had a galvanizing event like the Jack in the Box outbreak to give urgency to the need for reforms. Detwiler predicts its only a matter of time. Pathogens like E. coli, they do not discriminate, he said.

Missed opportunities

EMERGENCY ROOM STAFF at New Jersey hospitals were the first to notice what would turn out to be the biggest E. coli outbreak linked to lettuce in a decade. In late March 2018, multiple patients with gastro-intestinal symptoms said they had eaten at a Panera restaurant, and doctors began asking other ER patients whether they, too, had visited the chain. Some had, including one woman who tested positive for E. coli.

The outbreak would officially sicken 240 people and kill five across 36 states, a toll that rivaled the Jack in the Box outbreak. But the FDA was slow to catch on that an outbreak was unfolding, first hearing about the growing number of illnesses on April 5, 2018, when a county health official in New Jersey confirmed to a reporter they were investigating two E. coli cases traced to a Panera. By then, the Centers for Disease Control had seen a rise in E. coli cases on PulseNet, but CDC officials said nothing to the FDA until April 4 because the source of the illnesses was unclear at the time, a CDC spokesman said.

Despite the specific warnings from New Jersey health officials, the FDA waited another six days before it said anything publicly. An FDA official explained to the Globe that they waited to make an announcement in part because we did not have a specific location where the romaine was coming from.

The delays didnt stop there. The agency got a break in April when eight inmates at an Alaska prison got E. coli poisoning that was traced to some lettuce from Harrison Farms in Yuma, Ariz. That immediately narrowed the search for the cause of at least some poisonings, holding out the promise that, this time, FDA might move quickly.

But the FDA did not send field inspectors to the 140-mile stretch of Arizona farms until June 4, two months after their first call from the New Jersey Department of Health. Meyer, the FDA spokeswoman, said the agency initially did not have enough information to go on.

Karla Terry had her hands full with children, Seth, 4 months, Alex, 2, and Lucas, 3. Lucas became so gravely ill from eating contaminated romaine lettuce that doctors had prepared Terry and her husband, Nathan Parker, for his death. They had Lucas baptized and waited at his bedside. He never really woke up from the coma, Parker said. Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

But she said the FDA treated the episode as a major outbreak with all hands on deck, including nearly two dozen workers in the field and more staff at headquarters.

Eventually, FDA officials found three samples of E. coli 0157:H7 in water within a mile of the Wellton irrigation canal that provides water for the lettuce fields in Yuma. The same strain of E. coli was found one mile upstream, next to a large lot where thousands of Holsteins cattle were fed.

Stephen Ostroff, then a top FDA commissioner overseeing the case, said agency investigators had to negotiate with the feedlot owners for access to the land and ended up with only six samples from the manure and water, an amount Ostroff called inadequate to fully assess whether E. coli was present.

A vice president of the company, Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, insisted that FDA investigators were welcome to take as many samples as they wanted and that the company cooperated fully.

Officials from Five Rivers as well as the National Cattlemens Beef Association went to FDA headquarters in September 2018 to press their case that the feedlot didnt cause the E. coli outbreak. Ostroff, who attended the meeting, said industry officials thought there was considerable uncertainty about the cause.

In the end, Gottlieb concluded, mildly, that the cattle feed operation was one potential source that could have caused the outbreaks.

No one was ever penalized in the spring 2018 outbreak. No lettuce was ever officially recalled.

Some important changes, however, did follow that outbreak. The Leafy Greens Food Safety Task Force, composed of more than 100 industry representatives, called for longer distances between romaine lettuce fields and large-scale cattle feeding operations.

Protecting the source

AT LEAST SOME of the cases in the Thanksgiving outbreak  the one that sickened Lucas -- were eventually traced back to one California farm. It is a vast fifth-generation family business located roughly 75 miles north of Santa Barbara that local press reports have said employs hundreds of workers to tend to thousands of acres.

Adam Brothers had sent its harvested lettuce seven miles away to a distributor, United Foods, in Nipomo, Calif. Then United Foods shipped an order of romaine 11 miles away to Ginos Pizza, which is where the Parkers placed their delivery order for salad and pizza.

The FDA found that the chemical tablets Adam Brothers used to sanitize its irrigation water had not dissolved, leaving the water dirty. Though investigators could not determine where the E. coli had come from, the farms failure to fully treat the water allowed the bacteria to survive, contributing to an outbreak that sickened at least 62 people in the US and another 29 in Canada, including Lucas.

Nonetheless, FDA took no action against Adam Brothers, and even allowed the farmers to announce their own recall of potentially tainted red and green leaf lettuce and cauliflower. The farms Dec. 13, 2018, announcement of an outbreak did not mention that Adam Brothers had been a source of the contamination. It did, however, mention other Adam Brothers vegetables subject to the recall, noting that no illnesses have been reported from eating those.

FDA spokesman Peter Cassell defended Adam Brothers recall statement in an e-mail, saying he did not find it misleading. Cassells FDA colleague, Meyer, reiterated that Adam Brothers was cooperative and agreed to a voluntary recall of other vegetables it grew. That meant no additional action was needed.

Adam Brothers officials declined to speak to the Globe, but one of the brothers, Peter Adam, seemed to take the whole episode in stride, telling a local television outlet that the recall was nothing special.

This isnt the first time weve been under the microscope, Adam said in the February 2019 interview. This is part of life in vegetable world in California today and maybe just in business in general in the United States.

The produce industry took some additional steps.

In September, 100 public health and industry professionals released a report, facilitated by food producers, with specific suggestions on how to avoid outbreaks, encouraging growers to follow higher standards for issues such as the water they irrigate with. As of Jan. 1, the task force instructed all leafy green suppliers to place scannable labels on their products. Industry officials say the vast majority have complied.

Jennifer McEntire, vice president of food safety and technology for United Fresh, one of the organizations that worked on the report, stressed industrys commitment to helping federal authorities solve the E. coli problem.

Contaminants, the report said, must be traced to their source and eliminated quickly, through the combined efforts of business and government. Otherwise, we are preordained to repeat those results and ultimately may find ourselves in the middle of yet another outbreak.

Nathan Parker delivered one of six morning medications through the feeding tube for his son Lucas. Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

What does the public need to know?

ANOTHER OUTBREAK CAME very soon, posing a test of the FDAs new commitment to protect consumers of leafy greens.

What followed was a repeat of the old patterns, with the FDA trailing a state agency  and the Globe  in taking full notice of the new threat.

The New York State Health Department confirmed to the Globe that it had identified one case tied to a multistate outbreak. Within hours of that announcement, a CDC spokesman confirmed to the Globe that the outbreak had grown to sicken 23 people across 12 states between July and September.

Still, the CDC issued no public warning, a spokesman said, because the romaine lettuce eaten by sick people was past its shelf life and no longer available for sale. The FDA took a similarly low-key posture, saying it made no sense to notify the public about an outbreak that was over.

We dont have anything specific to tell consumers, an FDA official told the Globe. We cant point to a company and say their lettuce is bad.

But the night before FDA officials believed the Globe was about to report on the outbreak, and the agencys passive response, they changed course. FDA contacted the Safe Food Coalition, a group of consumer advocates and foodborne illness victims, to say it would soon announce that a recent outbreak had come and gone.

Frank Yiannas, a former Walmart executive and the current FDA deputy commissioner for Food Policy and Response, then personally called members of the foodborne illness community to say he had planned to announce the outbreak all along. Meyer reiterated that claim in a statement. FDA was always planning to report, as we did, that an outbreak occurred, the spokeswoman said. It was simply not an urgent advisory.

Since then, the FDA has faced three E. coli outbreaks affecting lettuce that state health departments in Maryland and Wisconsin helped them solve. Combined they sickened 193 people in 29 states. All three outbreaks were traced back to a single grower in Salinas  Californias largest growing region with nearly 60 percent of the states total lettuce acreage.

The FDA, citing lingering uncertainty, declined to identify the common grower when asked by the Globe.

Its still too early to determine whether this grower was in fact the source of this outbreak, said FDA spokeswoman Meyer.

Karla Terry and Nathan Parker traveled with their children last month to have photos taken with Santa. Lucas (right) became uncomfortable and cried as they made their way through the Home Depot parking lot. They missed last year's holiday photo because Lucas was in the hospital battling the effects of the contaminated lettuce he ate. Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

Lucas

SINCE LUCAS PARKER was discharged from the hospital in March 2019, he has rarely moved from his familys couch. On a recent morning, Lucas had his right arm wrapped around his gold-colored Care Bear. His eyes flitted toward the sounds of the History Channel in the background, while Ginger, his grandmas Chihuahua, and Bella, the Parkers cat, protectively encircled him. The only sounds Lucas seems to make are mournful, guttural cries when he needs help.

Lucass relatives search for hopeful signs: Lucass aunt asked him if he had a busy day and it looks as if he was nodding. Nathan Parker said Lucas lights up at the sounds of wrestling on television. His mother pressed a chocolate doughnut to his lips and he cooed.

Before his debilitating sickness, Lucas loved to watch Star Wars movies with his father, Nathan, who still props up a phone for Lucas to watch. Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff

The Parkers lawyer, Bill Marler, said he is getting as many as three calls a week about people who have contracted E. coli from eating romaine lettuce. Ninety percent of his E. coli cases now involve lettuce instead of ground beef. The damage has been so devastating that they have fetched settlements for more than $15 million.

But that number, while large, is far from adequate, given the number of victims and the cost of the medical care Lucas and others will require. Lucas, despite his dire condition, could live a long life. Will the expense and complexity of his care one day outrun his familys capacity?

Nathan Parker wonders: What will happen to his broader family, when he can no longer care for his son?

Everybody is gonna be affected by this in their own way, he said. This is like casting a stone in a pond and watching ripples. You know, those ripples just get bigger and bigger and bigger.
Trade union organisors say over 350,000 protestors demonstrated in Paris today against the government's proposed pension reforms, after what one union called a "pause" in its strike action this week.

Today's action comes as the details of the law are finally put before cabinet ministers for approval. The draft then heads to parliament where it will probably be voted into law before the summer.

It is now 51 days since the strike action began against a reform which was one of President Macron's key election pledges.

Winners and losers

The reform would end a system which currently has 42 separate pension regimes that offer early retirement and other entitlements to public sector workers as well as several other groups.

Supporters of the reforms welcome changes which will mean some workers in relatively comfortable jobs will no longer benefit from a system designed decades ago when their working conditions were difficult.

The government maintains that the pension reform will be fairer to women and some low-income workers who are not on the public pay-roll, such as agricultural workers.

However, critics say the new points-based system will effectively force millions of people to work longer.

In the face of opposition, the government has already temporarily dropped a plan to raise the retirement age for a full pension from 62 to 64, leading some supporters to warn that future generations will end up paying

Shift focus to power cuts and ports?

Some unions agreed a pause from the strike this week and transport services in the capital were almost back to normal.

The largest union, the CFDT, has suspended action ahead of talks with the government but other unions insist the reform plan be abandoned completely.

The FO and CGT unions, who wield much power in the public sector, have called for a new day of walkouts on January 29th.

They say the strike is not over and they are shifting their focus to power cuts, port blockades and other protests.

On Friday, most TGV trains were running normally and a majority of regional trains are also running.
By Vba-Workers-Detained-Mumbai

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], Jan 24 (ANI): Maharashtra police on Friday detained four workers of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) who were attempting to disrupt the movement of vehicular traffic while protesting as part of Maharashtra bandh.



VBA has given a call for statewide bandh in Maharashtra on Friday to protest against the contentious Citizenship Amendment law and proposed NRC.

The party workers were detained from the Ghatkopar area of the city near Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar while they were stopping traffic on the highway. (ANI)


How to protect yourself from coronavirus and influenza.

A Chicago woman in her 60s who visited Wuhan, China, in December came back with the second confirmed case in the United States of a new coronavirus that has infected hundreds of people in multiple countries and killed more than 20, health officials said Friday.

The risk to the U.S. public at large remains low, as is the risk surrounding the specific new patient, federal health officials said.

While this situation poses a very serious public health threat, the CDC believes that the immediate risk to the U.S. public is low, said Nancy Messonnier, with the U.S. Centers for Disease and Control. But the situation continues to evolve rapidly.

The woman did not have symptoms while traveling, which is a good sign because the CDC believes the virus does not spread before an infected person starts to be visibly sick.

The patient returned to Chicago on Jan. 13 and started to feel unwell a few days later, said Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health. The patient had limited close contact after returning to the United States. And, once she got sick she called a doctor before coming in to get care. That allowed health care providers to take special measures to prevent the disease from spreading. The woman has not taken public transportation or been at any large gatherings since returning to the United States, Arwady said.

The woman is in stable condition.

Messonnier said the CDC is expecting more cases in the United States. But the countrys health system has dealt with outbreaks in the past and is mobilizing to prevent the spread of infection.

We have one of the strongest public health systems in the world, she said.

Messonnier said it appears it takes about two weeks between when a person catches the virus and when they start to show symptoms. But, she cautioned, theres a lot the agency does not know.

Information is really coming in hour by hour, day by day, she said.

In Washington, officials are monitoring 43 people who had contact with the first U.S. victim, in Snohomish County, Washington. The CDC said Friday that there are no known cases among those people at the moment. Oregon health officials have said they arent concerned about that patient, a man, causing a reaction of infections that reaches Oregon.

In total, the CDC and local health agencies are monitoring 63 patients in 22 states for potential signs of illness, Messonnier said. Two have tested positive for the coronavirus  the patient in Washington and the Chicago patient  and 11 have tested negative.

It takes about four to six hours for the CDC to test a sample from a patient, Messonnier said, but the biggest lag time is for local health officials to prepare and send the sample.x

-- Fedor Zarkhin

fzarkhin@oregonian.com

503-294-7674
Birmingham will pay a $25,000 fine for obstructing the view of a Confederate monument, a judge ordered last week under the direction of the Alabama Supreme Court.

Circuit Judge Marshell Jackson Hatcher imposed the $25,000 fine that had been ordered by the states high court. Justices in November ruled that Birmingham violated a state law protecting historic monuments. Justices directed the circuit judge to enter an order declaring that Birmingham violated the 2017 Alabama Memorial Preservation Act, and to fine the city $25,000.

Hatcher issued the order on Jan. 17 but as of Friday afternoon the plywood barrier still stood.

Alabama sued Birmingham in 2017 after municipal officials in the majority black city erected a wooden box obscuring the inscriptions on a 52-foot-tall (16-meter-tall) obelisk honoring Confederate veterans.

The 2017 Alabama Memorial Preservation Act prohibits relocating, removing, altering or renaming public buildings, streets and memorials that have been standing for more than 40 years. The legislation doesnt specifically mention Confederate monuments, but it was enacted as some Southern states and cities began removing monuments and emblems of the Confederacy.
Chinese Jingye, which is hoping to rescue British Steel, has reached a deal with trade unions over the terms of workers' contracts

The Chinese company hoping to rescue British Steel has struck an agreement with trade unions as it scrambles to seal the takeover by the end of next month.

Jingye and the unions have reached a deal over the terms of workers' contracts.

Around 5,000 jobs were put on the line when Scunthorpe-based British Steel collapsed last May.

Jingye's 50million rescue deal is expected to save around 4,000 jobs  but the final number has not been confirmed.

Unions will take the proposals to their members, who will be able to reject the offer and take redundancy instead.
The three people had travelled to China, Frances health minister said (Ahn Young-joon/AP)

France has announced three cases of coronavirus, the deadly new virus from China.

The three confirmed cases, Europes first, all involved people who had travelled to China, where hundreds of people have fallen ill and more than two dozen have died.

The first two French cases were announced by health minister Agnes Buzyn at a hastily called news conference on Friday night.

The third was announced in a statement from her ministry about three hours later.

All three were taken to hospital, in isolation  two in Paris, the other in the south-western city of Bordeaux. The third person is a parent of one of the first two people diagnosed, the ministry said.

In part because of Europes open borders, the minister said she expects more cases.

We see how difficult it is in todays world to close the frontiers. In reality, its not possible, she said.

We will probably have other cases.

Expand Close Passengers wear masks to prevent an outbreak of a new coronavirus in a train station, in Hong Kong (Kin Cheung/AP) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Passengers wear masks to prevent an outbreak of a new coronavirus in a train station, in Hong Kong (Kin Cheung/AP)

Ms Buzyn said speed in diagnosing new cases will be essential in slowing the spread of the virus.

She said the likely reason that France has the first European cases is that it quickly developed a test allowing medics to rapidly diagnose those ill with the virus.

You have to treat an epidemic as you would a fire, thats to say find the source very quickly, she said.

Expand Close The virus has killed at least 26 people in China (Ahn Young-joon/AP) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp The virus has killed at least 26 people in China (Ahn Young-joon/AP)

One of the people taken to hospital, a 48-year-old man, passed through Wuhan, the epicentre in China for the virus, before travelling to France on Wednesday, the minister said.

He has been in hospital in Bordeaux since Thursday. She said he is a French national who travelled to China for work and who lives in the Bordeaux area.

The health ministry did not give the age, nationalities or other personal details about the other two people taken to hospital in Paris, other than saying that they travelled to China.

The first of the Paris cases was confirmed just minutes before Ms Buzyn announced it at her news conference. The other was still being investigated and was only confirmed later on Friday night.

The ministry said efforts are under way to find all those who came in close contact with the three patients. They will be told to limit their contacts with anyone else, to try to contain the spread of the outbreak.

We will do everything possible to confine this epidemicHealth minister Agnes Buzyn

The Bordeaux patient was in contact with about 10 people before he was taken into care, the minister said.

Its important to control the fire as quickly as possible. Hence the need to piece together patient histories and to find people who were in contact with the patient, she said.

We will do everything possible to confine this epidemic, she pledged.

The French minister promised total transparency as the country battles the outbreak and said her ministry would give daily news updates so there is no false information on social networks.

She said informing the public is the most effective barrier against the spread of the virus, more so than taking peoples temperatures as they arrive at airports and other entry points to test if they have a fever.

People only need to take aspirin 15 minutes before landing to no longer have a fever, she said.

The number of confirmed cases around the world has climbed sharply to more than 850, the bulk of them in China. There have been at least 26 deaths, all of them in China.

The vast majority of cases have been in and around Wuhan or involved people who visited the city or had personal connections to those infected.

Fewer than two dozen cases in all have been confirmed outside mainland China, in Hong Kong, Macao, the US, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan and Vietnam.

The US reported its second case, involving a Chicago woman in her 60s who was taken to hospital after returning from China. She was reported to be doing well.
In the latest twist in the case of Kristin Smart, a Cal Poly student who went missing in 1996, the FBI says the individual who spoke to her family  telling them to "be ready" for imminent news  is an ex-agent.

Kristin's mother Denise told the Stockton Record she was recently contacted by the FBI and reportedly told, "This is really going to be something you dont expect." Smart also says she was advised to find a family spokesperson and potentially prepare to "get away for a while." Smart told the Record she expected news "within a month."
Cllr Gerry Warnock has been given the go-ahead by his fellow elected representatives, to present his new build affordable housing scheme proposal to the department.

The proposed scheme will offer new units, acquired by Longford county council through Turnkey Developments or through Part V options, to afford qualifying applicants the opportunity to own their own home at a discounted rate.

Approved participants must continue to live in the house as long as they own it. They will get a 30% discount on the price that the local authority paid to provide the house, while the Council will also place a charge on your house called an incremental purchase charge.

This charge will be equal to the 30% discount you get on the price of the house and will remain in place for 15 years. Each year, the local authority will reduce the charge by 2%.

At the end of the 15 years, the charge will be zero as long as people obey the terms and conditions of the scheme.

To avail of the scheme, applicants will have to have an annual gross income of not more than 50,000 as a single applicant or not more than 75,000 combined as joint applicants. Applicants must also have no previous records of anti-social behaviour, must give evidence of a local connection, and must not have previously owned a property that could suitably service needs.

Upon reissuing the motion, Cllr Warnock noted the importance that a scheme like this is introduced into the county.

He said: I keep bringing this up because I think it is too important to put on the back burner.

It is having a detrimental impact on the social dynamic of the county. They (low to middle income households) are being thrown to the wolves of the private rental market.

It is putting people under serious financial pressure.

Continuing, he said: It is a scheme that could be easily rolled out and will be effective. I think it is a scheme that represents better value for money to the taxpayer to the public purse and the existing tenant purchase scheme.

The motion was seconded by Cllr Colm Murray, who praised the work of his fellow councillor.

He stated:This proposal is well considered and thought out. It provides a good option for those on middle incomes to get their foot on the property ladder.

There are a great number caught in the middle ground where their earnings are too high, but not nearly high enough to get a mortgage.

Cllr Pat OToole was also in agreement, This is an opportunity to give them the pathway to own their own home.

Giving Cllr Warnock his 100% backing, Cllr Mark Casey described the plight of low-to-middle income families a sad situation.

He said: A friend of mine who is paying 900 rent per month, went to the bank to get a mortgage which was going to be 800 per month.

Read also: Minister promises funds for Affordable Housing in Longford

He was told he wouldnt be able to afford it, even though for the past two years he has been paying 900 month and could show he was. This is the reality and ridiculousness of where we are.

I hope after this election that we actually get someone who understands rural Ireland, that is able to support the people who work in rural Ireland and middle income families. They are the backbone of this society.

Welcoming Cllr Warnock's motion, Cllr Joe Flaherty stressed the need for Longford to come back to the market with an affordable housing scheme.

The reality is we are unfortunately a low income county. We do need to come back to the market with an affordable housing scheme.

We have a high concentration of low income families in Longford. They are an important part of the community and in most respects are enhancing the community. We need to look after them.

Cllr Seamus Butler also issued his support of the motion, noting it is the first time in the history of the state that people are in such a position.

He stated: This is the first generation in the history of the state where people on lowish to medium incomes are not in a position to buy a house and build a family, and therefore get a stake in the community.

It is a huge seachange for this country. People are locked into rental situations that are going nowhere.

Continuing, he said: Ownership of a house gives people a stake in the community, a reason to be there.

Cllr Peggy Nolan was just as enthused in welcoming the proposed scheme, as was Cllr Ger Farrell who agreed that one size does not fit all.

I am in full agreement and in support of Gerrys motion. It is not a one size fits all scenario, Cllr Farrell said.

A three-bed house in Lanesboro is 100,000, Why cant a young couple buy that over 20 years. They would be well able if both of them are working. Young people starting a life together deserve an opportunity like that.

After receiving the unanimous support of the council, Cllr Warnock was delighted.

He told the Leader: Im absolutely delighted to have received unanimous, cross party support from my councillor colleagues for my New Build Affordable Housing Scheme.



This simple but effective proposal will now be submitted directly to the Minister for consideration, and hopefully will come into play in the not too distant.

This has been a bit of a personal crusade as I believe it is inherently wrong to preclude a large section of hardworking households from the dream of owning their own home simply because they earn marginally more than the insufficient thresholds to access housing supports, but not enough to be considered for a conventional mortgage under current banking rules. I believe that this scheme, on implementation, will go somewhat towards making the unattainable finally attainable for many local families.

Read also: Longford is in urgent need of an affordable housing scheme, council meeting hears
With India stopping importing refined palm oil from Nepal, the Himalayan nation's top export item, the government has formally asked New Delhi to revoke the ban, Nepal's Commerce and Supplies Secretary Baikuntha Aryal said on Friday.

Though the restriction was aimed at Malaysia, which criticised India's decisions on Kashmir and the new citizenship law, it has also hit Nepal.

Nepal had exported refined palm oil worth over Rs 11 billion to India in the first five months of this fiscal, making it the country's largest export item, Aryal told a group of Indian journalists here at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies.

He said the Nepalese export of refined palm oil was "not disturbing" the Indian market.

Nepali traders have been exporting only in consumer packs of refined palm oil to India and Nepal is not a bulk exporter of the commodity.

"We're not bulk exporters," he said, noting that Nepal exports palm oil in small packages ranging from one kg to 15 kg, which are widely used by Indian households.

As a result of the Indian ban, a lot of the refined palm oil was piling up at border and at the factories in Nepal.

Aryal hoped that India would soon revoke the ban on the import of refined palm oil from Nepal and his ministry was in touch with its Indian counterpart to resolve the issue.

Though Nepal never had competitive or comparative advantage in exporting palm oil to India, rising export of the product in recent months had been playing a crucial role in raising the country's export base and narrow down the trade deficit, The Himalyan Times reported recently.

Nepali traders import crude palm oil from Malaysia and Indonesia, process and package it here, before sending it to India. Traders were lured towards this business as India had imposed a duty of 40 per cent on import of palm oil from Malaysia and Indonesia, the two largest producers of palm oil in the world.

Nepal's palm oil, on the other hand, was subject to a duty of just six per cent in India under the bilateral trade treaty, the report said.

Meanwhile, India's Petroleum Secretary K K Kutty held talks with Aryal here on Friday on bilateral cooperation in the oil and gas sector.

The meeting was the first since a Joint Working Group was established and both sides held the maiden meeting to enhance cooperation in the oil and gas sectors.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Nepal counterpart K P Sharma Oli jointly inaugurated the Motihari-Amlekhgunj petroleum product pipeline, the first of its kind in South Asia in September 2019. Though it was aimed at pumping 300kl/hour, Nepal was getting half of this currently, Aryal said.

The Motihari-Amlekhgunj petroleum pipeline is envisaged to put in place a mechanism for assured, continuous and cost-effective supply of petroleum products to Nepal.

Presently, fuel products are being transported from India to Nepal by tankers and trucks, which are costly and time consuming.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Claudio Roditi, a Brazilian-born jazz trumpeter celebrated for his impeccable technique, warm sound and lyrical playing, died on Jan. 17 at his home in South Orange, N.J. He was 73.

His wife and only immediate survivor, Kristen Park, said the cause was prostate cancer.

Mr. Roditi was a force on the New York jazz scene almost from the moment he arrived in 1976. He worked with top musicians like the pianist McCoy Tyner, the flutist Herbie Mann and the trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, one of his earliest influences. He was for many years a featured member of Gillespies United Nation Orchestra, a big band comprising musicians from the United States, the Caribbean and Brazil, and he continued to perform with what was billed as the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band after Gillespies death in 1993.

He also led his own bands and recorded more than 20 albums as a leader, most recently for the Resonance label.

Mr. Roditis playing was a seamless fusion of Brazilian music and jazz, combining the gentle lilt of samba with the drive of the post-bop trumpet tradition.
At 93 and having lost his survivor friends, Leon Schagrin educates young people on the horrors of Nazi Germany.

Leon Schagrin keeps a supply of white business cards on him to hand out with a plea on one side.

Let no Holocaust victim be forgotten! one side of a card reads.

The other side has his name, phone number and, in italics, the title he earned 75 years ago on January 27, 1945.

Survivor from Auschwitz.

To get out alive, he endured years of near-death experiences.

Being crammed for days in a cattle wagon while naked, as people defecated or died at his feet. Being beaten. Wearing wooden clogs in winter. Back-breaking labour while nearly starving.

Auschwitz was a commercial factory of killing, he told Al Jazeera.

Look at the railroad when you pass the gate. The railroad goes direct to the crematorium. I was working on it. It was some job.

At 93, Schagrin has lost most of the survivors he knew.

In the last 10 years, they very rapidly they passed away, he said about his local group in South Florida, where he has lived since the late 1970s.

On December 2, 2019, the one closest to him died  his wife, Betty Sternlicht, who, along with her sisters, had survived because they got onto Oskar Schindlers list.

I had 62 years of life with her, a good life, Schagrin said.

Framed pictures of the couple adorn their apartment, including one of them smiling at a beach.

I had the number - and they knew right away you were a Jew. I said to my wife, 'you know, I'm going to cover this with anything.' Leon Schagrin, Holocaust survivor

A few weeks after her death at 97, Schagrin went to a lunch for Holocaust survivors around the world  an event called Cafe Europa.

He wore a blue blazer that matched his eyes, which struggle to see because of macular degeneration. His memory, though, remains intact.

Schagrin told Al Jazeera about the last weeks of his imprisonment.

I couldnt go to the death march from Auschwitz as I was wounded very badly, said Schagrin, pointing to a scar on his lower neck caused by shrapnel from bombs dropped by the US Air Force on December 26, 1944, over a factory where he had laboured, in a camp known as Auschwitz III, or Monowitz.

Schagrins neck wound had grown infected and he developed a fever. Soon after, prisoners learned they would evacuate the camp by foot through the snow in the middle of January 1945.

The Soviet forces were fast approaching and the Nazis were scrambling to escape with their prisoners in tow.

Schagrin did not go on the march because he was too weak to keep up the pace and risked getting shot.

Instead, he clung to life without a crumb of food for nearly two weeks until Soviet soldiers liberated roughly 7,000 prisoners, including him.

He was 18 then and weighed just 80 pounds (36kg).

As Schagrin spoke, live music played in the background. Two men tried to keep spirits up  a tall order at a Holocaust survivor gathering. One sang, with accordion accompaniment, a song from Fiddler on the Roof called To Life, about hope.

When Schagrin got out of Auschwitz, he had little hope of finding any family.

His parents, Hersch and Chaja Schagrin, and his five siblings died in the gas chambers of Belzec, a German extermination camp in eastern Poland where the Nazis murdered 600,000 people, mostly Jews.

Auschwitz survivor Leon Schagrin and his wife Betty Sternlicht, also a Holocaust survivor with the help of Oskar Schindlers list. They married in Haifa on June 26, 1958 [Courtesy of Leon Schagrin and Stephen Shooster]

In 2012, he unexpectedly reunited with a cousin and fellow survivor of the camps, Leo Adler.

After 70 years apart, Adler discovered that Schagrin was alive only when he received a copy of Schagrins memoir  The Horse Adjutant: A boys life in the Nazi Holocaust, published in 2011.

A friend of my parents said you have to read this book, recalled Gary Adler, Leos son, who spoke to Al Jazeera because his father does not hear well over the phone.

Leo Adler had experienced the Holocaust himself and did not think he needed to read another account of it, but he opened it and found names of his own relatives  and that this Leon Schagrin was his cousin.

Leon had changed his name from Lemel, which is the name Leo Adler knew him by.

My father was extremely excited. It was a huge deal, Gary Adler said.

The cousins used to see each other after reuniting, when Leo Adler and his wife spent time in South Florida, but they live in New York state permanently now, and that distance keeps them apart again.

For years, Schagrin wanted to write that memoir, and he enlisted fellow Floridian Stephen Shooster to do it.

Shooster spent years, with the help of friends, gathering Schagrins life story. It spans nearly 300 pages. Despite his busy full-time work, Shooster did it because he wanted Schagrin to fulfil the promise he made to Hersch, his father.

Leons father told him to tell the world the story about what happened to them, Shooster wrote in the book. It is not a story. It is a dire warning. It can happen again.

Thats why Schagrins resolved to discuss his past over and over.

You have to understand, my past is like steps up and steps down, Schagrin said. Some time was very rough, some time was easier, but in general, you put everything together, the suffering doesnt go away.

The suffering followed Schagrin to New York City, where he and Betty lived for many years. He felt certain that anti-Semitism stopped him from getting work.

I had the number  and they knew right away you were a Jew, Schagrin said about the 161744 tattooed on his left forearm at Auschwitz.

I said to my wife, you know, Im going to cover this with anything.

And he did; in the mid-1960s he walked into a parlour and covered it up with a long black panther tattoo.

Leon Schagrin covered up the 161744 tattooed on his left forearm at Auschwitz with a black panther he got in New York City in the mid-1960s [Courtney Ortiz, courtesy of Stephen Shooster]

Later the couple moved to Sunrise, Florida. Although they never had children, Schagrin has surrounded himself with students at public schools, where he gives talks.

Ivy Schamis has hosted him at a class she taught at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida  the same school where, on February 14, 2018, a 19-year-old former student killed 17 children and staff with a semi-automatic rifle. The shooter had etched swastikas onto ammunition magazines.

Two students who died had taken Schamiss Holocaust studies class.

To heal, a lot of these kids from the shooting, especially the ones who were in my class during the shooting, they go back and theyll read passages of his book just for inspiration, Schamis said. They went through such horrible times in their life and they came out with pretty good attitudes and the will to keep on going and living.

On Monday, the Auschwitz Memorial will commemorate 75 years since the liberation of the German camps. Organisers expect up to 200 Auschwitz and Holocaust survivors to join them, though Schagrin will not be there. He did return to Poland once, in 2004.

January is an important month for me, he said from his apartment. When asked if he would like to get together with other survivors locally, he said he prefers to visit students.

Otherwise, he said, they wont meet a survivor.
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP)  Cyprus' government spokesman backpedaled Thursday on a claim that Turkey may have stolen technical data to pinpoint a target for gas drilling in waters where the island nation has exclusive economic rights.

Government spokesman Kyriakos Koushos told The Associated Press that no such data theft had occurred. and his use of the word stolen in a Wednesday broadcast by Greece's state broadcaster was a mistaken a slip of the tongue.

But Koushos asserted that Turkey did obtain data that enabled it to send a drill ship to a specific location that two energy companies licensed by Cyprus, Eni and Total, had pre-selected to carry out their own exploratory drilling.

Koushos said that data might have been gleaned from a Turkish research vessel that had scoured the area  also known as Block 8  in search of geological information hinting there were gas deposits locked underneath the seabed.

The government spokesman also said it's unclear whether Turkish authorities may have obtained some information about Block 8 from the Cypriot Environment Ministry's website, which had posted Eni-provided geological data about the area in 2017.

Koushos said that data had to be made public in accordance with laws at the time that were amended in 2018.

Turkey's drilling activities have ratcheted up tensions in the eastern Mediterranean.

Cyprus has denounced Turkey as a pirate state for repeatedly sending warship-escorted vessels to drill for gas inside Cyprus' exclusive economic zone, including areas where Italy's ENI and Total of France are licensed to carry out a hydrocarbon search.

Turkey insists it's acting to protect its rights and those of breakaway Turkish Cypriots to the region's energy reserves. Turkey, which doesn't recognize Cyprus as a country, claims a large section of Cyprus' economic zone as falling within its own continental shelf. It also says drilling activities are being carried out following agreements with Turkish Cypriots whose declaration of independence is recognized only by Turkey.

Story continues

Cyprus was ethnically split in 1974 when Turkey invaded following a coup by supporters of union with Greece. Cyprus joined the European Union in 2004, but only the southern part where the internationally recognized government is seated enjoys full membership.

Meanwhile, the leaders of France, Israel, Portugal and Romania, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and EU Council President Charles Michel voiced concern over Turkey's activity and support for Cyprus' sovereign rights in its waters.

The leaders also backed efforts for an agreement to reunify Cyprus.

The expressions of support came in meetings that Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades held in Jerusalem during a forum commemorating the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp operated by Nazi Germany during World War II, according to a Cypriot government statement.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief, Raj Thackeray on Thursday has said that the party will take out a huge rally on February 9 in Mumbai to drive "illegal infiltrators" from Pakistan and Bangladesh, out of India. Thackeray addressed a public meeting during 'Maha Adhiveshan' (mega meeting) at the NESCO Ground in Mumbai on Thursday.

Addressing the public Thackeray, said, "We will take out a huge rally on February 9 to drive illegal infiltrators from Pakistan and Bangladesh, out of India. There can be a debate on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) but why should we shelter someone who has come from outside illegally? I will meet the state Home Minister or Chief Minister over some issues. Muslim clerics in India go to other countries, nobody knows what do they do, even the police can't go there"

READ | Thackeray Vs Thackeray: Uddhav Responds To Raj's Jibe, Says 'We Will Always Be Bhagwa'

'India is not Dharamshala'

In December last year, Raj Thackeray had said that the illegal immigrants from Pakistan and Bangladesh should be thrown out of the country irrespective of their religion. He had said that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act is uncalled for as it will increase the burden on India which is allegedly not able to cater to the needs of its own people.

"India is not Dharamshala. People coming from Bangladesh and Pakistan should be thrown out. India has not taken the contract of humanity," Raj Thackeray had said while addressing a press conference in Pune.

READ | Raj Thackeray Hails Zaheer Khan, APJ Abdul Kalam & Javed Akhtar; 'can't Turn Our Backs'

As per the reports, there has been speculation that the BJP will support Raj Thackeray in rebranding his party after the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena joined hands with the Congress and NCP to form a government in Maharashtra.

Raj Thackeray-led MNS launched its new party flag, ahead of its day-long Maha adhiveshan (mega meeting). The new saffron-colored flag of the party also features Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's Raj Mudra. Raj Thackeray's son Amit Thackeray has also been inducted into the party, today.

READ | BIG: Raj Thackeray Announces Maharashtra 'shadow Cabinet', Sounds Warning To Uddhav Govt

READ | Raj Thackeray's Big Claim: New Saffron MNS Flag A Coincidence, Not For Elections

(with ANI inputs)

(image credits: ANI)
Martin Alexander Nelson admitted causing the death by dangerous driving of Lisa Gow. Credit: Alan Lewis

A man who knocked down and killed a Belfast mother-of-two in a stolen car has failed in a bid to have his 11-year prison term reduced.

Martin Nelson claimed flaws in the sentencing process after he had admitted causing the death of Lisa Gow by dangerous driving in April 2018.

But the Court of Appeal today rejected all arguments advanced by the 41-year-old, describing him as a career criminal who has amassed more than 240 convictions.

Lord Justice McCloskey said: "The offender has emerged as someone impenetrable and seemingly incurable."

Nelson was driving a stolen Audi A4 when he crashed into a van and then struck 32-year-old Ms Gow as she walked on the Ballysillan Road, killing her instantly.

Before the collision he had been pursued by police, and was at one point recorded reaching a speed of up to 117mph on a motorway section.

Footage showed him jumping traffic lights, veering onto the wrong side of the road and driving at twice the speed limit in residential areas.

Expand Close Lisa Gow was killed in 2018 by a car being chased by the PSNI. / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Lisa Gow was killed in 2018 by a car being chased by the PSNI.

Nelson, previously of Ardoyne Road in the city, pleaded guilty to six offences which culminated in Ms Gow's death - including breaking into a house to steal car keys, and returning to the same property two days later to take the Audi.

In July 2019 the Recorder for Belfast imposed 11 years imprisonment, plus an additional three years on licence for public protection.

The jail term included a reduction in mitigation for Nelson's guilty plea.

Defence lawyers appealed the sentence handed down, arguing that the trial judge's starting point of 14 years had been excessive.

They also claimed errors in finding that a statutory regime of dangerousness applied to Nelson, and in the assessment of the impact of his crimes on Ms Gow's family.

However, a panel of three senior judges dismissed the legal challenge.

"This was a thoughtful and carefully structured sentencing decision," Lord Justice McCloskey said.

"No error of principle trespassed at any point."

Attention was also drawn to Nelson's own "enormous" criminal record, which began when he was aged 12.

His 242 convictions include: 39 burglaries, seven robberies, five for going equipped, 26 thefts, ten for handling stolen goods and 55 road traffic offences.

Describing Nelson as a career criminal, the judge added: "The cycle of offending has continued, remorselessly."
A 46-year-old fugitive on a most-wanted list in Canada was caught at Newark Liberty International Airport this week after 17 years on the lam on charges he sexually assaulted five young boys from 1998 to 2003, authorities said Thursday.

Parthasarthie Kapoor, who was on Quebecs 10-most wanted fugitive list since 2003, was arrested Monday as he attempted to fly to India, his home country, Montreal police said in a news release.

Kapoor, a Canadian resident, fled to the United States 17 years ago after learning of the arrest warrant, police said.

Kapoor appeared in Newark federal court on Tuesday before being taken into custody by U.S. Marshals to await an extradition hearing, authorities said.

Interpol said Kapoor faces several charges including sexual assault, incitement of children to engage in sexual acts and production and possession of child pornography.

From 1998 to 2003, Parthasarthie Kapoor is suspected to have sexually assaulted a total of five victims in Montreal, police in the statement. He targeted young boys between the ages of 7 and 14, lured them into his home and then sexually assaulted them.

Canada-wide and international arrest warrants were then issued against the suspect so that he could be returned to Canada, police said.

The arrest was a coordinated effort between Canadas Royal Canadian Mounted Police, investigators from Montreal and the Canada Border Services Agency along with the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Border Protection and Interpol, officials said.

The U.S. Department of Justices Office of International Affairs of the Departments Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of New Jersey are handling the extradition proceedings.

Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
Turning a blind eye on the Chinese persecution of millions of Uighur Muslims, Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan one again drew a blank when asked about conditions of minorities in China, saying "I do not know enough about it".

In an interview with BBC Radio 4 Today, which was broadcasted on Wednesday, Imran Khan talked about the Kashmir issue. However, he refused to make a comment about his position regarding the Chinese treatment of Uighurs. After being repeatedly nudged by journalist Mishal Husain, Khan said he does not know much about the Uighur issue.

China has been condemned internationally for cracking down on the minorities living in their countries. China has been accused of oppressing the Uighurs by sending them to mass detention camps, interfering in their religious activities and sending the community to undergo some form of forceful re-education or indoctrination. However, Pakistan has stayed mum over this issue.

"...Over eight million people are in open prison," said Khan while referring to Kashmir. Then Husain asked him about his views on what is happening in another neighbour China's western region Xinjiang. Khan tries to brush aside the issue saying he speaks about Kashmiri Muslims as the region is disputed territory between China and India. Husain then countered Khan by saying that he has made a broad point about Muslims in India. "Do you have any concern regarding what is going on in Xinjiang', she asked, "I don't know enough about it and If I have, we will speak about it in private that how the Chinese are."

When India abrogated Article 370 in August last year, Pakistan ramped up its rhetoric against New Delhi and had expressed concern over the situation of Muslims in the region. Khan even had called himself an ambassador of Kashmiri people.

However, when it comes to China's treatment of Muslims, Pakistan has been mum and when asked to comment on it, the Pakistan PM has tried to brush it aside saying that there is a lot going on in its own country. The United States had also asked Pakistan to express the "same level" of concern about Muslims detentions in Western China as they do for Kashmir.

Khan's comment comes just days after the Pakistan prime minister in another interaction with German Based DW made similar remarks saying that Chinese are "sensitive" and that's why Islamabad avoids discussing the Uighur issue with them.

Imran Khan's reaction on the Uighur issue draws a criticism on social media where he is being called out for being selective on raising the issues of Muslims.

"I have never gotten this hypocrisy from Imran Khan. Pakistan has been very vocal on Muslims in most parts of the including J & K but is silent as a door mouse on the detention of 1 mn Uighur civilians with credible allegations of abuse & torture," said a Twitterati.

"ImranKhan on deplorable conditions of Uighur Muslims in China: 'At the moment I do not know enough about it... I'm afraid I do not know about it.' This guy is a coward. He will do anything for money. #Pakistan has no guts to say anything against China," a user says.

"But our Prime Minister Imran Khan have a different view. Every time he asked about Uighur Muslims he denied about having knowledge about it and ignore the question," says another.

"'We decided that whatever issues we will have with China, we will deal with them privately.'Pakistan PM Imran Khan recently said that he has been silent on the repression of Uighur Muslims because China has helped Pakistan," said another Twitterati.

.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Contributed Photo / Hearst Connecticut Media

The Brookfield school board recently passed its $47 million budget for the 2020-2021 school year, sending it on to the selectmen and then finance board.

It is 6.65 percent more than the current budget.
Even now, 47 years after the deadliest Supreme Court decision in our nations history, we must update our battle plans for defending preborn lives. Especially now, in fact, given the following developments.

First, appointments by President Trump to the Supreme Court have made it more possible that for the first time since Roe v. Wade, the courts could revisit and maybe even overturn the grisly ruling.

Second, demand for abortions is in decline. Abortions in the United States are at their lowest point since 1973. The abortion market (and make no mistake, it is a market) in America is shrinking, and is increasingly dominated by Planned Parenthood, who reported a record number of abortions performed in 2019.

Now no one should think that the overall decline in abortions, (which can be traced to a number of factors including widespread contraceptive use, state level abortion restrictions, and surprisingly, that young people today are having less sex) means the issue is going away anytime soon. According to the Guttmacher Institute, the most recent year we have abortion statistics for (2017) is also the year with the fewest abortions on record, but, there were still over 800,000 abortions that year. Let that sink in: 800,000 human beings, killed.

The third way the abortion issue has shifted also makes it increasingly difficult to track the actual number of abortions happening in our country. The headline of a recent article in VICE says it all: How Women Are Training to Do Their Own Abortions. The euphemism for the new trend described in the article is self-managed abortions. Medication-induced abortions arent the back-alley, coat-hanger procedures we used to hear so much about. The routine, in which a pregnant woman in her first trimester takes two drugsmifepristone and misoprostolto induce a miscarriage, is recommended and taught by the World Health Organization as well as a growing group of pro-choice activists here in America.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, more than a third of abortions in 2017 were performed using medication instead of surgeryand those are just the ones we know about.

Activists are holding events to educate women on how to use these deadly drugs on their own. Their urgency is no accident. As one activist told VICE, do-it-yourself abortions are a kind of insurance policy in case Roe gets overturned. Put simply, abortion is now being privatized.

This is only one of a package of pro-abortion strategies now in play. Moving the abortion medications from prescription-only to over-the-counter is another. And, another recent piece at VICE describes how activists are working with progressive lawmakers to create abortion sanctuary cities, urban centers where prosecutors agree not to enforce federal or state laws against abortion in a model similar to so-called immigration sanctuary cities.

A forthcoming paper in the California Law Review describes self-managed abortions as the option-of-choice for these sanctuary cities, precisely because this method is so low-profile. The author even recommends that city officials set up 311-style abortion hotlines staffed by activists who can walk women through ending their pregnancies.

Though medication-induced abortions may not involve surgery, that doesnt make them less traumatic. The childs life is still taken. And, its not necessarily easier on women either.

Writing at Christianity Today, Maria Baer describes how mothers taking pills to kill their unborn children must face the aftermath alone. One post-abortive counselor described it in stark terms: intense cramping, hemorrhaging, delivery of a [dead] baby.

What other so-called medical procedure of this magnitude is conducted without medical supervision? And do we think the emotional trauma of a miscarriage will be less intense if the miscarriage is intended and caused instead of not?

What all of this means for the pro-life movement is that overturning Roe isnt the finish line. If we see that day weve prayed for so long, our work will continue. Privatized, under-the-radar abortion will require we win more than just court cases. We must win hearts and minds. The more abortion is privatized, the more personal our advocacy must become. Of course, the pro-life community has excelled at that over the years. But it must continue if abortion in all of its forms is to be not just illegal, but unthinkable.

Publication date: January 24, 2020

Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Devonyu

BreakPoint is a program of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. BreakPoint commentaries offer incisive content people can't find anywhere else; content that cuts through the fog of relativism and the news cycle with truth and compassion. Founded by Chuck Colson (1931  2012) in 1991 as a daily radio broadcast, BreakPoint provides a Christian perspective on today's news and trends. Today, you can get it in written and a variety of audio formats: on the web, the radio, or your favorite podcast app on the go.

John Stonestreet is President of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, and radio host of BreakPoint, a daily national radio program providing thought-provoking commentaries on current events and life issues from a biblical worldview. John holds degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (IL) and Bryan College (TN), and is the co-author of Making Sense of Your World: A Biblical Worldview.
WEXFORD COUNTY, MI  A 9-year-old boy was injured when he was thrown from his snowmobile after striking a tree in Northern Michigan.

According to the Wexford County Sheriffs Office, the crash occurred on Trail 37-23 in Springville Township around 1:30 p.m. on Thursday.

The boy failed to navigate a turn on the trail, causing the crash, authorities said. He suffered only minor injuries, mostly back pain, and he was wearing a helmet.

The child was riding with his father, who was operating a second snowmobile that was not involved in the crash.

The boy was transported to Munson Traverse City Hospital for treatment. His condition was not reported. The incident remains under investigation.
David Umahi, governor of Ebonyi state, has said that no one can unseat Godwin Obaseki, Edo state governor, because of his good works in the state.

The governor said this when he received Obasekis wife in Abakaliki, Ebonyi capital, on Friday.

Obasekis wife visited Umahi alongside first ladies of some southern states who were in Ebonyi for the Southern Nigeria Governors Wives Forum quarterly meeting.

Umahi said, Power belongs to God and no matter what anybody will dot is God that has the final say and I can assure you Ma, you know as an apostle of the most high God I also prophesy. And because of the good work your husband is doing for the people of Edo State no man can unseat him. 

Read Also: I Owe Nobody Apology For Endorsing Obaseki  PDP Chieftain

I made this statement so that the glory of God will become larger. It happened here in Ebonyi. I have a testimony of what God can do. Even in our NEC meeting, when Obaseki speaks, you see economics.

You see a man that came from private sector background. And so, we cant wish that away. So, congratulations to you in advance and to all of us. You know the governors; we have so many elections. First is the primary, second one is the poll, then the third one is the tribunal. Then another one is the appeal and then the election of the elections is the supreme court.

So, it is not an easy thing and if the hand of God is not upon you, you cant scale through all these hurdles. And so, it is God who has brought all of us to leadership and I say double congratulations to all of us.
A prison inmate has been charged with the murder of Britains worst paedophile, police have confirmed.

Paul Fitzgerald, 29, was charged with the murder of Richard Huckle at HMP Full Sutton, East Yorkshire, in October 2019, according to Humberside Police.

Humberside Police said HMP Full Sutton inmate Paul Fitzgerald has been charged with Richard Huckles murder in October 2019 (PA)

Fitzgerald was initially arrested on suspicion of murder on January 13, after Huckle was fatally stabbed in his prison cell with a makeshift blade.

In a statement released on Friday, Humberside Police said: Paul Fitzgerald, 29, of HMP Wakefield has today been charged with the murder of Richard Huckle at Full Sutton Prison on October 13, 2019.

Paul Fitzgerald is due to appear via video link at Beverley Magistrates Court on Wednesday February 5.

Read more from Yahoo News UK:

Several injured following shooting in town in south-west Germany

Handyman who hacked police officer's head with machete jailed for 16 years

Mum of two cleared airport security and flew to Berlin - with her one-year-old son's passport

Huckle was given 22 life sentences at the Old Bailey in 2016 for an unprecedented number of offences against children aged between six months and 12 years.

The freelance photographer, from Ashford in Kent, awarded himself Pedopoints for different acts of abuse against 191 youngsters.

Man charged in connection with the murder of Richard Huckle at HMP Full Sutton on 13 Oct 2019.



Paul Fitzgerald (29) of HMP Wakefield has today been charged with murder. He is due to appear via video link at Beverley Magistrates Court on Wed 5 Feb 2020. pic.twitter.com/UW9kxtvuJx  Humberside Police (@Humberbeat) January 24, 2020

He sold pictures of his offences on the dark web, and bragged online that it was easier to target impoverished children in Malaysia than western countries.

He was arrested when he was stopped at Gatwick Airport en route to spend Christmas with his family in 2014, after Australian authorities tipped off the UKs National Crime Agency.

Story continues

Huckle was serving 22 life sentences at HMP Full Sutton, East Yorkshire, after being convicted at the Old Bailey in 2016 (PA)

Officers seized his encrypted laptop and managed to uncover more than 20,000 indecent pictures and videos although there were other files they were unable to crack.

Fitzgerald is due to appear via video-link at Beverley Magistrates Court for sentencing on February 5.

---Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK---
Two persons were arrested from Malda district in the early hours of Friday after 614 gram of brown sugar was seized from their possession, police said.

The accused, both residents of Mallikpara of the district, were arrested from a hideout near the Khaltipur railway station under the jurisdiction of Kaliachak police station, the police said.

The contraband recovered from their possession is worth around Rs 10 lakh in the local market, the Superintendent of Police of Malda, Alok Rajoria, said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former union minister Yashwant Sinha on Friday attended a rally against CAA, NRC and NPR held here by various organisations.

Addressing the members at Shahid Smarak, Sinha said the government should withdraw CAA as it was "unconstitutional".

He said protests were taking place across the country against the unconstitutional move of the government.

The rally convener Sawai Singh alleged the central government was trying to create a divide between Hindus and Muslims which will not be tolerated.

A large number of people attended the rally which began from Shahid Smarak to Raj Bhavan.

After the rally concluded, a delegation handed over a representation to a Raj Bhavan official with the demand of withdrawal of CAA.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A second patient in the United States has been found to be infected with the Wuhan coronavirus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Friday.

The patient is a woman in her 60s who had traveled to Wuhan, China  the epicenter of the outbreak  and returned to Chicago on Jan. 13. She did not become ill until several days after arriving in Chicago, so officials do not think there is much risk to others who were on her flight home.

She did not take public transportation, attend any large gatherings or have close contact with anyone outside her home after returning, officials said. Members of her household are being monitored.

The woman was taken to a hospital, but she is doing well and is being kept there primarily to keep the infection from spreading, officials said at a news briefing. They declined to name the woman or the hospital.
The Oyo State police command has opined that Alhaji Fatai Yusuf popularly known as Oko Oloyun was possibly killed because of a fraud he detected in his Lagos office.

This was made known to newsmen on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Olugbenga Fadeyi.

Also Read: Oko Oloyun, Popular Trado-Medical Expert, Shot Dead

The police spokesman stated that the detection of fraud by the trado-medical expert was possibly responsible for the fire incident in the office during which some account records were destroyed.

Going further, the police spokesman revealed that some of his staff and two police escorts are being questioned by a team of detectives from the homicide section of State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku, Ibadan, with a view of finding and apprehending the fleeing suspects, who committed the heinous act.
- The DP during an interview with a local TV station downplayed existence of any differences or fallout between him and the president

- Ruto said he was elected alongside Uhuru to serve as his deputy and not partner

- He sarcastically clarified he was married to Rachel while Uhuru was married to Margaret

Deputy President William has satirically responded to claims his political marriage with President Uhuru Kenya has gone south, saying he is "not married" to the head of state.

Ruto who downplayed the visibly increasing alienation said he was married to Rachel while Uhuru was married to Margaret hence he did not understand where the hullabaloo about their broken bromance was coming from.

READ ALSO: Vijana wamshambulia mbunge Aisha Jumwa akiwahutubia waandishi wa habari

Deputy President William Ruto has downplayed existence of a rift between him and the president saying the two are not married. Photo: William Ruto.

Source: Facebook

READ ALSO: Kipchumba Murkomen claims he's been threatened for planning to attend Mombasa BBI rally

Speaking to NTV on Thursday, January 23, the DP said the much talked about marriage does not exist and the only thing he should be asked about is whether he was delivering as Uhuru's principal assistant or not.

"I have read many headlines saying the marriage, the bromance has died. My friend, Uhuru Kenyatta is married to Margaret and I am married to Rachel so there is no marriage business here," he said.

READ ALSO: Best new Gengetone songs of 2020

President Uhuru Kenyatta (right) having a light moment with his deputy William Ruto. Photo:William Ruto

Source: UGC

According to Ruto, he was elected alongside Uhuru to serve Kenyans in the capacity of deputy president and nothing else other than his individual and Jubilee Party track record should be questioned.

The question on whether or not there were brewing differences between the two leaders sprung from the evidently escalating alienation of Ruto by Uhuru in his recent plans and execution of executive obligations which they previously could consult each other.

President Uhuru (left) and his deputy William Ruto at a past wedding event. Photo: PSCU.

Source: Facebook

The second in command has recently suffered a series of humiliating incidents including being locked out of his official residence in Mombasa.

A few days after the Mombasa incident, Ruto, while on a private visit to Khartoum in Sudan, Uhuru reorganised his Cabinet and left out Mwangi Kiunjuri, the DP's point man in Mt Kenya region.

On Tuesday, January 14, the DP's allies among them Nakuru Senator Susan Kihiki were locked out of the president's function in Nakuru.

President Uhuru Kenya pays his deputy William Ruto courtesy call at his Harambee Annex offices in Nairobi. Photo: William Ruto.

Source: Facebook

The matter has been worsened by ongoing speculation that Uhuru is targeting to axe Kipchumba Murkomen from his Senate majority role and replace him with Baringo Senator Gideon Moi, a fierce DP rival.

While addressing a section of leaders in a private meeting in Taita Taveta, the DP wondered why the president had abandoned him for Raila yet he had supported both in past.

"I once supported Raila as he was the son of a former prime minister. I supported Uhuru, as he was the son of a former president. But they are taking issue in supporting a son of a hustler, he quipped.

Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly.

I have lived without lungs for 7 years because of smoking | Tuko TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
The US has stepped up its war of words with climate change activist Greta Thunberg.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, US Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin mocked the teenager, saying: 'Is she the chief economist? Who is she? I'm confused.'

After explaining he was joking, the former Goldman Sachs banker went on to challenge the 17-year-old's call for investors to ditch fossil fuels.

US Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin mocked teenage climate change activist Greta Thunberg, saying: 'Is she the chief economist? Who is she? I'm confused.'

'After she goes and studies economics in college she can come back and explain that to us,' said Mnuchin, 57.

'There are significant economic issues  issues with jobs. There's no question that many economies are transitioning to more efficient and cleaner energy, that doesn't have to be all renewables.'

His comments  which highlighted the rift between the US administration and climate campaigners  came just days after President Trump branded the green lobby 'prophets of doom'.

Thunberg has played a central role at this week's Davos summit, where climate change has been one of the dominant themes.

As well as clashing with the Trump administration, she met Prince Charles and argued that governments and business leaders were doing too little to save the planet.

'Unlike you, my generation will not give up without a fight,' she told gathered heads of state and the business elite.

Nemesis: Thunberg has already clashed with president Trump

'Our house is still on fire. Your inaction is fuelling the flames by the hour. And we're asking you to act as if you love your children more than anything else.'

Trump has been criticised for pulling the US out of the Paris Agreement, which calls on governments to cooperate and keep global warming below 2C this century.

But striking a defiant tone in Davos, he said: 'This is not a time for pessimism. This is a time for optimism.

'To embrace the possibilities of tomorrow, we must reject the perennial prophets of doom and their predictions of the apocalypse. They are the heirs of yesterday's foolish fortune tellers.

'They want to see us do badly, but we don't let that happen. They predicted an overpopulation crisis in the 1960s, mass starvation in the 70s, and an end of oil in the 1990s.

'These alarmists always demand the same thing: absolute power to dominate, transform and control every aspect of our lives. We will never let radical socialists destroy our economy, wreck our country or eradicate our liberty.'

Mnuchin said there has been a 'real misinterpretation' of US's environmental policy.

He said: 'President Trump absolutely believes in clean air, clean water, and having a clean environment. If you look at the US it has been a leader in reducing carbon emissions. Our industry has absolutely strives towards clean energy.

'What the president objects to is the Paris Agreement, and the reason why he objects is he thought it was an unfair agreement to the US.

'This is nothing against China and India, but the real environment issues right now are in both those countries.'
66% call for witnesses in Trump's impeachment trial: Poll originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

Two-thirds of Americans in a new ABC News/Washington Post poll say the U.S. Senate should call new witnesses at Donald Trumps impeachment trial, and the public is divided on his removal from office  even as Trumps approval rating has rallied to match his career high.

Forty-four percent now approve of Trumps performance in office; 51% disapprove, maintaining his position as the first president in modern history never to achieve majority approval. That said, bolstered by the economy, his approval is up 6% since late October, with disapproval down 7 points to a new low.

Trump, moreover, reaches majority approval on another measure  56%, a career high, for his handling of the economy, up 10 points from early September. Those who approve of his work on the economy are far more apt than others also to approve of his job performance overall.

See PDF for full results, charts and tables.

Views on Trumps handling of his impeachment, by comparison, are far weaker, at 39%  unchanged in the past month and a wide 17 points lower than his rating on the economy.

Divisions on impeachment remain sharp in this poll, produced for ABC by Langer Research Associates. The public narrowly approves of the House vote to impeach Trump, 52-45%, while splitting, 47-49%, on whether the Senate should or should not remove him from office. Partisanship prevails; 83% of Democrats favor Trumps removal, while 88% of Republicans oppose it. Among independents, 42% back removing Trump, with 51% opposed.

Previous ABC/Post polls asked whether Congress should impeach Trump and remove him from office; the last result, in mid-December, was 49-46%. This poll tested the two actions separately, with, as noted, a slight difference: 52% approve of his impeachment while 47% support his removal. Among the gaps, Democrats, blacks and college graduates are 9 or 10 points more apt to support Trumps impeachment than his removal.

Story continues

Views are far more polarized than they were during Bill Clintons impeachment trial 21 years ago. In ABC/Post polling at the time, 59% disapproved of the House vote to impeach Clinton, and 66% opposed his removal from office.

Fair?

With interviews conducted during the start of proceedings, 56% of Americans say they expect Trump to receive a fair trial in the Senate. While a majority, thats down from 62% in pre-trial sentiment.

Changes among groups are telling: compared with views in mid-December, theres been a 16-point drop among Democrats and a 10-point drop among independents in confidence that the Senate trial will be fair, partly countered by an 11-point increase among Republicans.

Ultimate views of the trial may hinge on developments ahead: As noted, 66% say the Senate should call new witnesses to testify. That includes 45% of Republicans, rising to 65% of independents and 87% of Democrats.

Similarly, nearly half of those who oppose Trumps removal from office nonetheless want to hear from new witnesses  47%  as do 85% of those who say he should be removed.

With the trial underway, the political fallout of Trumps impeachment is yet to be seen. But if it ends with him impeached but not removed  as is likely, given the balance of power in the Senate  33% of Americans say theyd view that as a victory for Trump, vs. 10% whod see it as a victory for the Democrats. Most, 51%, would call it a draw.

Approval

Trumps 44% overall job approval rating matches his high set last July; it had dipped to 38% in early September and late October alike. Hes averaged 39% approval in 16 ABC/Post measurements across his presidency, the lowest for any president at this point in modern polling, dating to the Truman administration 75 years ago.

Trumps largest gains in approval since late October, 12 or 13 points, have come in a range of disparate groups, including men, moderates, Republicans, middle-income Americans, rural residents and 18-to 29-year-olds.

Hes at a record high in approval among men, 57%, compared with 33% approval among women  the widest gender gap to date, 24 points. The gap between non-college white men and college-educated white women also is at a new high, 38 points  75 vs. 37%.

Methodology

This ABC News/Washington Post poll was conducted by landline and cellular telephone Jan. 20-23, 2020, in English and Spanish, among a random national sample of 1,004 adults. Results have a margin of sampling error of 3.5 points, including the design effect. Partisan divisions are 27-24-39%, Democrats-Republicans-independents.

The survey was produced for ABC News by Langer Research Associates of New York, N.Y., with sampling and data collection by Abt Associates of Rockville, Md. See details on the surveys methodology here.
A woman accused of killing her wife by shooting her in the face was digging a grave for the body when police arrived at the couple's home to investigate a complaint.

When officers arrived at the couple's home on August 6, 2017, Laura Bluestein, then 28, opened the door with blood on her arm and told them that her wife, Felicia Dormans, was dead on the third floor.

In the yard, police found an area hidden with blue tarp where the 'beginning of a grave' was dug and a shovel lay nearby.

Felicia Dormans (right), 29, died after her wife, Laura Bluestein (left) shot her in the face during an argument in Mount Holly, New Jersey, authorities said. Bluestein's trial began Thursday

Bluestein, 29, was booked into Burlington County Jail and charged with murder, weapons possession and tampering with evidence in 2017. She had begun to dig a grave when police arrived

Bluestein's trial began on Thursday in Mount Holly, New Jersey. She is charged with counts of murder, tampering with evidence and a weapons charge, NJ.com reports.

She already has a criminal record including convictions for drug possession in 2012 and 2014.

The accused's attorney Robin Lord claimed that Dormans' death was an accident while prosecutors argue it was intentional.

Bluestein and her wife Felicia Dormans, 29, were going through difficult times and had been discussing a separation when Laura fatally shot Felicia in the face in their Mount Holly, New Jersey, home, authorities said.

Earlier that day, Dormans had called her mother Christina to tell her they had had an argument about food left out on the counter attracting ants and that they were set to split up.

She had previously told her mother that her relationship with Bluestein had become abusive, according to Burlington County Prosecutor's Office.

Dormans (pictured) said the couple were due to split up after an argument, her mother claims

The couple (pictured) had been married for a year before Dormans' death

The court heard how officers had arrived at the couple's Mount Holly home on August 6, 2017, to carry out a wellness check.

After several minute of knocking, Bluestein answered the door and the officers noticed blood on her arm.

She told them that her wife was dead and on the third floor: 'That's my wife's blood, she's dead.'

The officers cleared the house room by room as they made their way up to the third floor and found Dormans lying on blue tarp with a bullet wound to the head.

On investigating the rest of the house, officers found further blue tarp hiding 'an area that's basically hidden by blue tarps' and the 'beginning of a grave.' Shovels were lying by the hole.

Assistant Prosecutor Jeremy Lackey told the court that Bluestein had not called 911.

'She took her wife's body, put it on a blue tarp, and went out to dig a grave.' Lackey said, adding that during the trial the jury will see CCTV footage of Bluestein traveling to the store for tarps, towels and shovels.

Lackey also said the jury would hear from the company that makes the 9-millimeter handgun used in the crime and how it does not go off by accident.

Bluestein's attorney claims that the accused's words were taken out of context when police arrived and that she was acting in panic.

'All it was is panic, panic by someone who just didn't know what to do.'

After hearing from the supervisor who dispatched the emergency call to the couple's home in 2017, Mount Holly Police Officer Declan Deveney was brought to the stand.

Deveney was one of the five officers to carry out the wellness call to Bluestein and Dormans' home.

His chest cam shows the officers knocking on the door with rifles and body armor. When Bluestein opens the door, she is told to lay on the ground and handcuffs are placed on her.

The audio of the camera does not capture what Bluestein said but the officers can then be seen clearing every room in the house before finding Dormans' body on the third floor.

Her trial continues on Friday.

Pictured left, Christina Dormans with her daughter Felicia. Pictured right, Felicia with her mother, father Joe and sister Arielle

Burlington County Sheriff's deputies were called to the couple's home (pictured) after receiving a call from one of Bluestein's relatives, saying there had been an assault

According to Dorman's Facebook, the couple had been married for a year.

Both of their Facebook accounts are filled with pictures of them together smiling and kissing in happier times.

Photos showed that they had recently taken a vacation to the beach.

The couple had been living in Bluestein's parent's home in Mount Holly since 2015, and bought the house from them last year.

Dormans mother Christina now says she wishes she had been more insistent that her daughter leave the residence, and is encouraging anyone in a similar situation to reach out for assistance.

'People in abusive relationships are not trapped. They do not have to stay there,' Christina Dormans said.

She added: 'If you are in that kind of situation, please know that there is a way to get out before it gets to a point where somebody loses a life.'

Dormans mother, Christina, said earlier that she had been texting and speaking with her daughter on the phone in the hours before the shooting.

She said Dormans told her that she and Bluestein had gotten into an argument over food left out on the counter that attracted ants and told her mother that she and her wife would be splitting up.

The couple had reportedly been fighting before the shooting, and Dormans told her mother that she and Bluestein were splitting up

The couple had been married for a year before the violence and were new to the neighborhood

Dormans debated driving to her parent's home in Danielsville, Pennsylvania, or going to a hotel as Bluestein requested, but instead decided to stay in the house that the couple shared.

Later that night, as the argument continued, Bluestein shot Dormans in the face, killing her, police say.

Christina Dormans said that she called her daughter twice after their last conversation, but she didn't answer.

Lehigh Township Police later knocked on Christina Dormans' door, telling her that her daughter was dead, but she'd be unable to see the body due to the nature of the gunshot wound.

Bluestein 'took away my daughter, but even seeing her one last time, she took that away from us,' Dormans told NJ.com.

'Felicia was a beautiful person, a beautiful girl,' her mother added. 'She would give you the shirt off her back if you needed it.'
Conover, NC, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- Fortran Corporation is pleased to announce our annual shareholder meeting was held on December 2, 2019 in Conover, North Carolina.



The shareholders overwhelmingly approved two resolutions presented to them for their ratification.

Resolution one: Ratify all prior actions of the board of directors since Fortrans inception. 98% of the eligible votes were cast in favor of ratification.

Resolution two: Approve the reincorporation of Fortran Corporation from the state of North Carolina to the state of Delaware. 98% of the eligible votes were cast in favor of approving this resolution.

The shareholders approved the election of four directors to the Board of Directors of Fortran Corporation. The elected directors are Glenn Withers, Dayne Miller, Doug Miller, and Brett Bertolami. All four directors are currently serving in this capacity.

Glenn Withers, President and CEO, of Fortran Corporation stated, We believe the action taken by our shareholders at this meeting provides a clear path to accomplish our goals and objectives of enhancing shareholder equity.

Fortran has reached an agreement with Richard Wilson, former CFO of Fortran Corporation, to recover all outstanding shares of our stock that Mr. Wilson was holding (5,688,500 shares of common stock and 350,000 shares of Preferred stock). These shares have all been cancelled. Currently, Fortran Corporation has 17,936,828 outstanding shares of common stock. We have authorization to issue up to 50,000,000 shares.

We invite you to visit our new website to learn more about Fortran Corporation.

www.fortrancorp.com

About Fortran Corporation:

Fortran Corporation is a telecommunications system integrator dedicated to designing, implementing and maintaining complex communications solutions. Fortran is comprised of engineering and design, network service, sales, remote monitoring, and on-site services. In October 2015, Fortran acquired an 80% interest in Tower Performance Construction, Inc. and Tower Performance, Inc., with offices in Texas, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. For more information contact us at: info@fortrancorp.com.

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

With the exception of historical information, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements and considerations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The actual future results of Fortran Corporation could differ from those statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, fluctuation in operating results, the ability of Fortran Corporation to compete successfully and other events, factors and risks previously and from time to time disclosed in Fortran Corporations filings with the OTC Markets Group including, specifically, those factors set forth in any Risk Factors section contained in such filings.

Glenn Withers

828-324-4611

Gwithers@Fortrancorp.com
Kerala police has registered a case against BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje for her tweet on January 22 stating, "Hindus of Kuttipuram Panchayat of Malappuram were denied water supply as they supported the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019".

A case has been registered under Section 153(A) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, etc.)

After Karandlaje tweeted, the news was widely circulated across social media.

Later, Subhash Chandran K R, a Supreme Court advocate and Malappuram native had filed a case with police citing that the tweet will harm the religious harmony of Kuttippuram. Sobha Karandlaje is the first accused in the case and also against some others.

According to the police, the area was facing severe water crisis for the last few months and people nearby colony were using the bore well water of a private person.

The person had stopped pumping water after he was warned by Kerala state electricity board that it will be disconnected if he uses this for agricultural purposes. Sevabharathi people put a post on social media and the MP tweeted it.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sources had said SEBI is likely to call for a forensic audit of books of Infosys.

New Delhi: Shares of Infosys on Friday managed to pare some losses after falling over 1 percent during the day amid reports that market watchdog SEBI is likely to call for forensic audit of books of the company on whistleblower allegations of financial irregularities at the firm.

The scrip declined 1.37 percent to Rs 773.80 during the day on the BSE. Later, it closed at Rs 782.95, down 0.20 percent.

At the NSE, shares of the company fell 1.37 percent to Rs 773.60 during the day. It, however, narrowed the losses to close 0.17 percent lower at Rs 783.

Infosys on Friday said it has not received any request from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for conducting further investigation in the whistleblower case where top executives were accused of rigging the company's balance sheet.

Sources had said SEBI is likely to call for a forensic audit of books of Infosys.

Earlier this month, Infosys had said its audit committee had found no evidence of financial impropriety or executive misconduct, virtually giving a clean chit to CEO Salil Parekh and CFO Nilanjan Roy who had been accused by anonymous whistleblowers.

"The company has not received any request from SEBI to conduct further audits as reported by media on January 23, 2020," Infosys said in a regulatory filing on Friday.

In October, Infosys had informed stock exchanges of having received anonymous whistleblower complaints alleging certain unethical practices by the top management. It then started a probe into the matter and roped in external investigators.
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said that the CAA and NRC were laws brought in by the BJP to shift everyones attention from a slowing economy and rising unemployment.



Kejriwal speaking at a private event said that protestors at Shaheen Bagh have every right to demonstrate peacefully as per laws specified in the Constitution of India. He though he added that no protest should cause inconvenience to others.

Everyone has the right to protest peacefully, but protests should not cause any form of inconvenience to others, he said.



ALSO READ: BJP candidate Kapil Mishra terms Delhi polls contest between India, Pakistan, faces flak

CAA and NRC are irrelevant and are not required in our country. The country will not go forward with these laws. Jobs and education will take us forward. The Central government should focus on how to generate more employment opportunities for the citizens. These laws are just a ploy to distract the public from real issues that plague our country, said Kejriwal.

People of Delhi want development; they want the election to be focused on what the government is doing for the welfare of its citizens. The economy is in a very bad state, factories are shutting down and BJP only talks about CAA & NRC. People of Delhi will decide soon what they want in the coming few days. We are hopeful that people will appreciate our good work, added Kejriwal.



ALSO READ: Amit Shah blames Congress, AAP for 'provoking people, orchestrating CAA riots' in Delhi

Earlier, senior party leader Sanjay Singh had defended his partys stance regarding the protest by saying that when it came to triple talaq, BJP leaders were all for the rights of Muslim women, but now, women of the same community are being vindicated and portrayed as a security threat.

During triple talaq, BJP leaders were crying rivers to show their support for Muslim women and their rights, but now, they term the Shaheen Bagh protest as a threat to security, said Singh.

Grand confusion



The BJP blamed the AAP for creating panic and causing grand confusion among Muslims in the national capital which in turn has led to anarchism
A Sonoma County man may sue a sheriffs deputy for shooting him in the chest with a Taser as he lay in bed calling a lawyer on his cell phone after an argument with his wife, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday.

The deputy, Scott Thorne, argued that he acted reasonably after Fernando Del Valle refused orders to stand up and pushed Thornes arm away. But the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said a jury could reasonably conclude that the deputy had used excessive force.

Thorne and two other deputies went to the home in Boyes Hot Springs in September 2016 after a neighbor called to say she had heard an argument and that Del Valles wife sounded like the aggressor. They entered, then kicked open a locked bedroom door and found Del Valle, 37, lying in bed using his cell phone.

When Thorne ordered Del Valle to stand up, he replied calmly that he was calling his lawyer, the court said. Thorne tried to grab Del Valles right arm, Del Valle pulled away, and when the officer apparently reached for the cell phone, Del Valle pushed him away, the court said.

Thorne then fired the Taser into Del Valles bare chest at close range, leaving him screaming in pain, according to a body-camera video described in published reports. He then clubbed Del Valle in the shin, pressed the club against the mans throat and struck him several more times, the court said. The deputies arrested Del Valle on suspicion of battery of an officer and resisting arrest, but no charges were filed.

Thorne, who had been on probation as a recently hired deputy, was dismissed after the incident and criminally charged with assault. A Sonoma County jury deadlocked on the charge in March 2018, and prosecutors decided not to retry him.

Del Valle, meanwhile, sought damages from Thorne and a second deputy, Beau Zastrow, for excessive force. The appeals court dismissed Zastrow from the case Thursday, saying he had not inflicted any excessive force or known it would occur, but allowed the suit to proceed against Thorne for using the Taser.

Del Valle had not been verbally or physically aggressive and did not pose an immediate threat to anyone when Thorne used his Taser, the three-judge panel said. He had not committed any severe offenses, and did not act violently, even while resisting the deputys attempts to grab his arm and cell phone.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

The court also said its rulings since 2010 had clearly established that officers act unconstitutionally when they use a Taser against a non-threatening individual who has not committed a serious crime or engaged in aggressive or violent resistance.

The ruling allows the suit to go to trial. Jurors will also decide whether the clubbing was excessive force, an issue Thorne did not raise at the appeals court.

This was a veteran of the Marine Corps, doing nothing wrong. ... He could have been killed, Izaak Schwaiger, a lawyer for Del Valle, said Thursday. Were going to take this thing in front of a jury and hold them responsible.

Thornes lawyer, Alison Berry Wilkinson, said the officer was aggressively assaulted by Mr. Del Valle and acted reasonably.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
The Chinese embassy in Paris has located the woman who bragged about taking pills to reduce her fever so she could fly from Wuhan to Lyon to enjoy a meal at a Michelin-starred restaurant, reports The Telegraph.

The woman posted on WeChat: "Finally I can have a good meal, I feel like I've been starving for two days. When you are in a gourmet city of course you have to eat Michelin [food]. Just before I left, I had a low fever and cough. I was scared to death and rushed to eat [fever-reducing] medicine. I kept on checking my temperature. Luckily I managed to get it down and my exit was smooth."

She also posted photos of her gourmet meal:

? Confirmation qu'une Chinoise de #Wuhan arrivee a #Lyon s'est vantee sur WeChat d'avoir reussi a eviter le controle a la douane a l'aeroport malgre sa fievre et sa toux inquietante. Rien ne prouve qu'elle est infectee par le #coronavirus mais son attitude est irresponsable. pic.twitter.com/nxIrL9ds1u  Conflits (@Conflits_FR) January 22, 2020

From the article:

The embassy later confirmed that her symptoms were under control. "She claimed that in the past few days, she has taken her temperature regularly and that now she no longer has any fever or cough symptoms," it said in a statement. "She confirms that she has already phoned 15 (for emergency medical care) and that French medical services told her that without symptoms of fever or pain, she doesn't need to be examined."

Image: WeChat via Twitter
Britain is expected to announce next week whether to allow China's Huawei to develop its 5G network, an official said Friday, amid indications it will agree to grant at least limited access despite intense US opposition.

A senior UK official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the decision had not yet been taken but likely would be next week -- and strongly hinted at a green light for Huawei.

The United States has banned Huawei from the rollout of its next generation 5G mobile networks because of concerns -- strongly denied -- that the firm could be under the control of Beijing.

Washington has been lobbying Britain to do the same, even threatening to limit intelligence sharing between the two allies if the UK goes its own way.

There has been widespread speculation that Britain would allow Huawei into "non-core" elements of 5G networks, such as antennae and base stations attached to masts and roofs.

British Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom said this week that a decision would be made "soon", adding that many factors were being considered.

These included "the availability of other providers" and "the work that Huawei has already done in the United Kingdom", she said.

The official said that Britain -- unlike the United States -- had been using Huawei technology in its systems for the past 15 years.

Security agencies believe they have managed the risk so far and will be able to do so with the 5G network, the official said.

Banning Huawei entirely could also cost "billions" of pounds and delay the rollout of 5G and full-fibre broadband, the official said.

Experts say that if firms already using Huawei technology want to exclude it in the future, they would have to uninstall the Chinese company's equipment in their 3G and 4G networks and then replace it -- at huge cost.

There is also a problem in that few other firms have the technology that Huawei does -- an issue raised publicly by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Huawei is widely viewed as providing the most advanced alternative for super-fast data transfers behind technologies such as self-driving cars and remotely operated factory robots.

"The British public deserve to have access to the best possible technology. I have talked about infrastructure and technology. We want to put in gigabit broadband for everybody," said Johnson.

"Now, if people oppose one brand or another, then they have to tell us which is the alternative," he told BBC television in an interview last week.

"There is a market failure here," the official said, adding that while this could be addressed in the future, for now "we are where we are".

Britain's debate about Huawei has dragged on for more than a year, amid intense political turmoil over its exit from the European Union.

Brexit day is now set for January 31.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Regional premier Quim Torra. europa press

The Spanish Supreme Court agreed on Thursday to strip Catalan premier Quim Torra of his seat in the regional parliament until a final sentence is reached on his ban from public office. In December, the Catalan Regional High Court found Torra guilty of disobedience for refusing to remove banners in support of jailed pro-independence leaders from public buildings during an election campaign, something that violated regulations on political neutrality. The ruling, however, is not definitive until the Supreme Court issues a decision on Torras appeal.

The top court did not rule on whether stripping Torra, a hard-line separatist, of his position as a lawmaker in the regional parliament would mean the pro-independence leader would have to step down as premier of Catalonia. This decision, in principle, must be made by the Catalan parliament, according to its own rules.

The decision to strip Torra of his seat has cast more uncertainty over the political situation in Catalonia

The Supreme Courts decision has raised political tensions once again, and threatens to trigger more conflict between the Catalan regional government and the courts. I am a lawmaker and premier of Catalonia because thats what the people decided and thats what was ratified by parliament, Torra said after the verdict was announced.

The Barcelona Electoral Board has given the general secretary of the Catalan parliament, Xavier Muro Bas, 48 hours to name a representative from the Junts per Catalunya (Together for Catalonia) party who will assume Torras seat. If this does not happen, the board will choose a replacement. The Barcelona Electoral Board sent the notice right after Spains National Electoral Board (JEC) called on the Catalan parliament to immediately comply with the Supreme Courts decision.

For weeks now, the political future of Quim Torra has been in the hands of the Supreme Court. The criminal bench of the court must rule on Torras appeal against the decision from the Catalan regional High Court, which sentenced him to an 18-month ban from public office for disobedience. And the administrative bench must review the JECs decision to strip Torra of his position as deputy in the Catalan Parliament because of his ban from public office.

I am a lawmaker and premier of Catalonia because thats what the people decided and thats what was ratified by parliament

Catalan premier Quim Torra

Agreements reached by the JEC are immediately enforceable, but they can be appealed before the Supreme Court, which is what Torra did. In his appeal, the politician called for the Supreme Court to temporarily freeze the JECs decision until the administrative bench reaches a ruling on his case. This appeal was rejected on Thursday, meaning that Torra will be stripped of his seat while the top court considers whether or not to uphold the JECs decision. If the criminal bench rules on Torras appeal of his disobedience sentence before then, the ruling would become final which would decide the political future of the Catalan premier.

The decision to strip Torra of his seat has cast more uncertainty over the political situation in Catalonia. The center-right party Ciudadanos (Citizens) has written to the parliaments speakers committee, the Mesa de la Camara, to demand that Torra be removed as a lawmaker and replaced by another member of Junts per Catalunya, the party led by ousted Catalan premier Carles Puigdemont. The Catalan branch of the Socialist Party (PSC), meanwhile, wants a report from the parliaments legal advisors on how the Supreme Courts decision will affect Torras position as lawmaker and premier.

After the JEC voted to strip Torra of his seat in early January, the in-house legal advisors concluded that losing a seat did not automatically imply losing the office of premier according to the rules of the parliament. But the Socialists believe that attorneys need to review this position in the wake of the new Supreme Court ruling.

The Supreme Court decision goes against the position of the public prosecutor

The PSC sent this request to Catalan parliamentary speaker Roger Torrent, who does not have to agree to the report. But if Torrent fails to comply with the Supreme Court ruling he could be charged with disobedience, according to Ciudadanos and the conservative Popular Party (PP). Both parties believe that Torra should not be able to vote in the next regional assembly, scheduled for Monday. Sources close to the regional government, however, say that Torra is planning to do so, despite the court ruling.

The Supreme Court decision goes against the position of the public prosecutor, which issued a report last week that was in favor of allowing Torra to keep his seat until his appeals were heard. In the report, prosecutor Pedro Crespo warned that there was a legal debate about whether the JEC had the power to remove a deputy for a sentence that was not final.

Quim Torra became regional premier in May 2018 after his predecessor, Carles Puigdemont, was ousted from office under Article 155 of the Constitution, which was activated by the Spanish government in the wake of the 2017 illegal referendum and subsequent unilateral declaration of independence passed by the Catalan regional parliament. Torra, who is a lawyer by trade, was elected as a regional deputy in 2017 as an independence candidate for the pro-independence Together for Catalonia bloc.

English version by Melissa Kitson.
Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday took a jibe at Union Home Minister Amit Shah and said that the latter cannot eat and sleep well until he speaks something against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

"Amit Shah ji is always after Rahul Gandhi. Even if he says something good, the Home Minister cannot take it. The Home Minister makes provocative speeches and accuses the opposition of polarising people. The truth is, that the BJP tries to polarise votes of people by introducing amendments in laws," Mallikarjun said.

He further said that Congress is of the view that CAA is hampering the country's peace, as no law has ever caused this level of unrest in the nation. He alleged that it is the government's attempt to polarise people and generate votes of Hindus.

READ | BJP Says 'go To Pakistan' So Much, Its Netas' Link To Pak Tourism Should Be Probed: Cong

BJP blames Congress of exercising "appeasement politics"

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Parsad Maurya on Wednesday accused the Congress of engaging in politics of "Muslim appeasement" by spreading lies on the CAA and said their leaders "speak the language" of Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The Supreme Court declining to grant a stay on the operation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) was a "tight slap" on the face of the Congress by the people of the country, he said.

READ | Kapil Mishra Stands By His Comments, Says AAP, Congress Promoting 'Pak Agenda'

Addressing a press conference here in Chhattisgarh, the BJP leader said the Congress is spreading "falsehood" over the CAA for political gains.

"The Congress and other opposition parties have been engaging in false propaganda over the CAA out of sheer frustration as several complex issues were successfully solved by the Modi government, Maurya said. "In the Chhattisgarh assembly election (in 2018), the Congress made false promises to get elected to power. Now, they have failed to fulfill their promises." "Similarly, they are speaking lies (over CAA) and doing worst politics of Muslim appeasement for political gains, he said.

However, lies of the Congress and other opposition parties have now been exposed before people, the Deputy Chief Minister said, adding that the Congress leaders "speak the language" of Pakistan's PM.

READ | Cong Suffering From 'mental Bankruptcy', Says J P Nadda

READ | Maha Youth Congress Launches Campaign Over Unemployment
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 20:58:16|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

Photo taken on Dec. 30, 2019 shows the G2422 Fuxing (Rejuvenation) bullet train at the Hohhot East Railway Station in Hohhot, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Photo by Bei He/Xinhua)

China remains on a steady track toward prosperity and strength as it forged ahead through the wind and rain in 2019.

BEIJING, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- China will embrace its Lunar New Year Saturday, a new start for the nation to race against time to reach the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.

The past year's journey forged ahead through the wind and rain. Externally, the world faced increasing instability and uncertainty, as protectionism and unilateralism were rising. Internally, the country tackled various challenges during its transition to high-quality growth.

Against such a backdrop, China remains on a steady track toward prosperity and strength. Its year-on-year GDP growth reached 6.1 percent in 2019, leading major world economies and contributing around 30 percent of global growth.

China's GDP per capita has crossed the threshold of 10,000 U.S. dollars, signaling the fact it has become a typical middle-income country. It also increased the world's population above this level from about 1.5 billion in 2018 to nearly 3 billion today.

China is also promoting an open and inclusive world economy. The country promotes trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, with increased number of free trade zones and the successful holding of the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai.

Photo taken on Nov. 9, 2019 shows the National Exhibition and Convention Center in east China's Shanghai, where the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) was held from Nov. 5 to Nov. 10. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

It has strengthened its network of global partnerships, advanced high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, stayed committed to multilateralism, and played a mediating role in various hotspot issues to effectively promote world peace and stability.

A growing China means a greater force for peace, progress and prosperity. It offers other developing economies a model of how to achieve modernization. Every Chinese person must feel proud of living in such a great era.

The year 2020 will become a new milestone in China's development. The country will see a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. Absolute poverty will be eliminated for the first time in the nation's 5,000-year history. This also means that China will meet the United Nations poverty reduction goal 10 years ahead of schedule.

The progress China has achieved does not change the fact that it is still a developing nation. In terms of per capita GDP and the rate of urbanization, China still lags behind that of developed economies by a large margin. Development gap between western and eastern parts of the country is still huge. The country must sort out more problems in innovation, ecological protection, housing and education. China has also arrived at a critical point that whether it could avoid the middle-income trap, a typical conundrum faced by many developing middle-income economies.

Staff members check FAW's Hongqi cars in an assembly workshop in Changchun, northeast China's Jilin Province, April 9, 2019. (Xinhua/Xu Chang)

Therefore, a stronger sense of urgency is needed. The country is stepping up its supply-side structural reform, implementing set policies and measures to sustain development, and better taking care of its 1.4 billion people's wellbeing. China will also widen market access for foreign investors, improve the business environment, foster new drivers of opening-up, and strengthen multilateral and bilateral cooperation.

Time and history wait for no one as they are both on the side of the diligent. Trials and hardships lie ahead, but battling difficulties will strengthen the nation's faith in its dream, and deliver the long-cherished aspirations for a better future, both of China and the world. 
Baghdad, Jan 24 : Iraqi Shia leader Moqtada al-Sadr on Friday called for a scheduled withdrawal of US troops from the country through peaceful means.

Al-Sadr made the call in a letter sent to a massive rally of Iraqis in al-Jaderiyah district, central Baghdad, reports Xinhua news agency.

"We will try to pursue all peaceful political, economic, social, cultural and popular means," the leader said.

Tens of thousands of Iraqis, mainly al-Sadr's followers, gathered to reject the presence of US troops in Iraq, in response to an earlier call by al-Sadr.

If the primary goal, which is to schedule the withdrawal of the US forces, is fulfilled, the peaceful means will continue until full withdrawal is realized, al-Sadr said in the letter.

He said full withdrawal can only be achieved by closing all American military bases on Iraqi soil, closing the headquarters of American security companies and ending their work in Iraq, and closing the Iraqi airspace to the military and intelligence flights of the US forces.

He also called on cancelling all security agreements with the US due to the absence of an international balance in them since concluded, and they were approved during the years of the American occupation of Iraq after 2003.

Referring to the sporadic attacks on facilities and military bases housing US troops, al-Sadr pledged a "pause of all resistance" until the withdrawal of the last American soldier from Iraq.

"We will try to do our utmost not to throw Iraq into another war with the unjust occupier who perched on the chest of Iraq," al-Sadr said.

On January 5, the Iraqi Parliament passed a resolution requiring the government to end the presence of foreign forces, two days after an American drone attack on a convoy near the Baghdad airport killed Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy chief of Iraq's paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces.

Over 5,000 US troops have been deployed in Iraq to support the Iraqi forces in the battles against Islamic State militants, mainly providing training and advising.
Geraldo Rivera said in an appearance on Fox & Friends on Friday morning that its tough to see former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani deteriorate in live television interviews.

Ive known him since he was a newly-appointed U.S. attorney in the Southern District here in New York. Then he became Americas Mayor, and we all lived through that trauma with him when he was the most magnificent elected official on earth. To see him kind of deteriorate right before your very eyes  and I love the guy  but I think that this is, Rivera said.

Co-host Steve Doocy asked what his Fox News colleague meant. Rivera responded by speaking about Giulianis dealings in Ukraine and questioned why he wasnt appointed as an envoy if he was going overseas to represent President Donald Trump.

Fox News Geraldo Rivera Laments Watching Rudy Giuliani Deteriorate

Also Read: Hillary Clinton Thinks 'Aliens Have Seized' Rudy Giuliani's Brain (Video)

He went to Ukraine to do what as what? Rivera asked

We have a lot of people in the audience who are not agreeing with you, Geraldo, said co-host Ainsley Earhardt.

I dont come here for people to agree with me. I come to tell you how I feel from the bottom of my heart and from the bottom of my heart, I feel like Rudy Giuliani has been diminished by this entire saga. I think the more he talks the worse it is for the President of the United States.

Also Read: 'Fox & Friends' Brawl: Geraldo Rivera Calls Out Brian Kilmeade's 'Arrogance' in Defending Attack on Iran (Video)

This isnt the first time Rivera has been questioned on the network in recent weeks. Earlier in January, he and co-host Brian Kilmeade criticized each other while debating the United States deadly strike against Iranians General Qassem Soleimani with Rivera saying that the strike was an act of unnecessary aggression on the part of the U.S.

Watch the clip of Rivera speaking about Giuliani above via Fox News.

Read original story Fox News Geraldo Rivera Laments Watching Rudy Giuliani Deteriorate At TheWrap
If you're planning a trip to a natural area, consider what color your clothing is. Lindsey Swierk, assistant research professor of biological sciences at Binghamton University, conducted a study to understand the effect that color has on wildlife in their native areas. Swierk, along with Breanna J. Putman, an assistant professor in the Department of Biology at California State University at San Bernardino, and Andrea Fondren, undergraduate researcher in the Iowa State University Department of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology, traveled to Costa Rica to study water anoles, a variety of the anole lizard. They wanted to see how water anoles reacted to different colors, according to ScienceDaily.

Kevin Wells/Getty Images

"One reason water anoles were chosen is because they are restricted to a fairly small range and we could be pretty sure that these particular populations hadn't seen many humans in their lifetimes. So we had a lot of confidence that these populations were not biased by previous human interactions," Swierk told ScienceDaily.

Related: City Dwellers Are Saving Bees and Butterflies from Extinction with PlantsHere's How

Researchers chose three colorsorange, which has sexual signals for water anoles; blue as a contrast because the water anole's body does not have any blue; and green to match the tropical forest environment of the testing site in Costa Rica. Researchers found that when the color orange was worn, they saw more water anoles per hour. "We (both researchers and ecotourists) need to recognize that animals perceive the world differently than we do as humans," said Swierk. "They have their own 'lenses' based on their unique evolutionary histories. What we imagine is frightening for an animal might not be; conversely, what we imagine is non-threatening could be terrifying in reality."

Swierk and her team hope that their research will be understood by the ecotourism community and reduce the risk of harm for wildlife. She also hopes to conduct further studies to understand how this impacts animals with less-sophisticated abilities of color perception, such as mammals.
R eports that Meghan Markle has plans for a television interview with Ellen DeGeneres have been dismissed by royal sources.

A source at the Ellen Show is said to have claimed that the Duchess of Sussex wanted to give her first sit-down chat to the famed US presenter, after they met by chance at an LA dog kennel years ago.

The source reportedly told the MailOnline: Ellen and Meghan have already discussed a sit-down interview. That's been in the works for quite some time now.

Another source reportedly said the interview would be hush-hush and in a secret location.

Ellen DeGeneres / Getty Images

However, royal sources say that no such interview has been arranged between the Duchess of Sussex and DeGeneres, labelling her reported plans as "catastrophically untrue".

It follows the duke and duchess stepping back from royal duties to start a new life in North America.

Over the summer, DeGeneres and her wife Portia de Rossi went to see Prince Harry, Meghan and their son Archie when they visited London.

Meghan is also good friends with US TV host Oprah Winfrey, who said earlier this week that she backs Meghan "1,000%" over the decision to step down as senior royals.

She and Prince Harry have been staying at a 10.7m mansion in Vancouver since vacating the UK.

Last week they were stripped of their HRH titles following a crisis summit at Sandringham.
DB Engineering & Consulting, the Engineering and Consulting Company of Deutsche Bahn for Infrastructure, Mobility and Transport, will in future advise and support the Ukrainian Railway in questions of management and technical issues, says company website.

On January 22, 2020, a respective agreement was signed in Davos. Further details regarding the cooperation, including the involvement in questions of operative company management, are under discussion. Beginning of February 2020 the DB Board Member for Infrastructure Mr. Ronald Pofalla and representatives of the Ukrainian Government will sign a Strategic Partnership Agreement, in which further details will be agreed.

DB E&C is one of the leading Engineering companies in the Transport sector.

The company employs around 5000 employees from 80 nations.
PARIS  A former presidential candidate and longtime star of the French center left was fired as her countrys ambassador to the North and South Poles on Friday after mounting repeated attacks on one of President Emmanuel Macrons flagship policies.

Segolene Royal, who was the Socialist Partys unsuccessful candidate in the 2007 French presidential election and later a senior official under the presidency of her former partner, Francois Hollande, was appointed to the diplomatic post by Mr. Macron in 2017.

In recent weeks, however, she has engaged in an increasingly messy public confrontation with Mr. Macrons administration  including over the process of her own impending dismissal  and faced the news that public prosecutors were investigating whether she had used Foreign Ministry funds for unrelated work, an accusation she denies.

The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs proposed that Segolene Royal no longer hold the position of Poles ambassador, Sibeth Ndiaye, the French governments spokeswoman, said on Friday.
English French

SAINT-MICHEL-DES-SAINTS, Quebec, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The municipality of Saint-Michel-des-Saints and Nouveau Monde Graphite inc. (Nouveau Monde or NMG) (TSX.V: NOU; OTCQX: NMGRF; Frankfurt: NM9) strengthened their social, economic and environmental development partnership with the signing of a collaboration and benefit-sharing agreement as part of the Matawinie mining project.



From the start of the exploration work, Nouveau Monde has demonstrated a strong commitment to the community through open dialogue and an intent to maximize spinoffs for Saint-Michel-des-Saints and Upper Matawinie. The cooperation and benefit-sharing agreement is therefore based on requests expressed by local stakeholders, on sustainable development principles, and on the agreement in principle reached in August 2018.

Through this new agreement, which will cover the mines entire commercial operating life, Nouveau Monde will contribute up to 2% of its net cash flow after taxes to the municipality to boost community spinoffs and reinvestment. An annual advance payment of $400,000 will help the municipality prepare and upgrade, if necessary, its infrastructure prior to the start of the mines operating period.

Through a liaison committee, which is complementary to the monitoring committee that will be established as per the Mining Act, the municipality will also have the chance to actively participate in shaping, implementing and monitoring the mining project.

The municipality of Saint-Michel-des-Saints is proud to have reached this collaboration and benefit-sharing agreement with NMG. We are certain that it will benefit all citizens as well as future generations, explained Rejean Gouin, Mayor of Saint-Michel-des-Saints.

Nouveau Monde will also contribute 1% of its net cash flow after taxes to a Community Fund for the Future to help stimulate developmental projects in Upper Matawinie that have a social, economic and environmental impact. The Fund will be administered by a trust organization and will promote things such as economic sustainability and community vitality beyond the mines operating period.

The most generous of its kind documented in Quebec, this bilateral agreement includes concrete actions in the areas of training, employability and business opportunities for the local population; the integration of the mining project into the territory through recreation and tourism development; and collaboration mechanisms to provide short-, medium- and long-term benefits for the community.

Since the discovery of the deposit in 2015, Nouveau Monde has taken root in Saint-Michel-des-Saints. Our team is part of the Upper Matawinie community, which is where we live and work. This is our legacy for our children and future generations, said Eric Desaulniers, President and CEO of Nouveau Monde. We are proud to position the Matawinie project as a springboard for social and economic development in alignment with best environmental practices and ethical and responsible governance.

ABOUT the Municipality of Saint-Michel-des-Saints

Saint-Michel-des-Saints is a Quebec municipality in the Matawinie Regional County Municipality in Lanaudiere. It has a population of nearly 2,360 inhabitants. Throughout its history, the municipalitys economic activities have revolved around agriculture, forestry and recreational and tourism activities. The construction, transportation and warehousing, restaurant, and retail sectors have also contributed to its economic development and represent over half of the municipalitys companies.

ABOUT Nouveau Monde Graphite

Nouveau Monde Graphite is developing the Matawinie graphite mining project, located in Saint-Michel-des-Saints, 150 km north of Montreal, QC. At the end of 2018, the Company published a Feasibility Study which revealed strong economics with projected graphite concentrate production of 100,000 tonnes per year, with an average concentrate purity of 97%, over a 26-year period. Currently, Nouveau Monde operates a demonstration plant where it produces concentrated flake graphite, which is being sent to potential North American and international clients for the qualification of its products. In a perspective of vertical integration within the electrical vehicle market, Nouveau Monde is planning a large-scale secondary graphite transformation facility, catering to the needs of the booming lithium-ion battery industry. Dedicated to high standards of sustainability, the Matawinie graphite project will be the first of its kind to operate as an all-electric, low-carbon mine.

Media Investors Julie Paquet

Director, Communications

450-757-8905 #140

jpaquet@nouveaumonde.ca Christina Lalli

Director, Investor Relations

438-399-8665

clalli@nouveaumonde.ca

Subscribe to our news feed:

http://nouveaumonde.ca/en/support-nmg/

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release including, but not limited to generally, or the About Nouveau Monde Graphite paragraph which essentially describe the Corporations outlook and objectives, constitute forward-looking information or forward-looking statements within the meaning of certain securities laws, and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the time of this press release. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Corporation as of the time of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates and assumptions may prove to be incorrect.

Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can directly or indirectly affect, and could cause, actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about managements expectations and plans relating to the future. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - US Representative Karen Bass, chair of the house of foreign affairs subcommittee on Africa, at the head of a delegation here Thursday called on Sudans Prime Minister Dr Abdallah Hamdouk who briefed them on the most recent developments in his country
The rate of passenger fatalities has declined yet again in the last decade, accelerating a long-term trend

It has never been safer to fly on commercial airlines, according to a new study by an MIT professor that tracks the continued decrease in passenger fatalities around the globe.

The study finds that between 2008 and 2017, airline passenger fatalities fell significantly compared to the previous decade, as measured per individual passenger boardings -- essentially the aggregate number of passengers. Globally, that rate is now one death per 7.9 million passenger boardings, compared to one death per 2.7 million boardings during the period 1998-2007, and one death per 1.3 million boardings during 1988-1997.

Going back further, the commercial airline fatality risk was one death per 750,000 boardings during 1978-1987, and one death per 350,000 boardings during 1968-1977.

"The worldwide risk of being killed had been dropping by a factor of two every decade," says Arnold Barnett, an MIT scholar who has published a new paper summarizing the study's results. "Not only has that continued in the last decade, the [latest] improvement is closer to a factor of three. The pace of improvement has not slackened at all even as flying has gotten ever safer and further gains become harder to achieve. That is really quite impressive and is important for people to bear in mind."

The paper, "Aviation Safety: A Whole New World?" was published online this month in Transportation Science. Barnett is the sole author.

The new research also reveals that there is discernible regional variation in airline safety around the world. The study finds that the nations housing the lowest-risk airlines are the U.S., the members of the European Union, China, Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Israel. The aggregate fatality risk among those nations was one death per 33.1 million passenger boardings during 2008-2017.

For airlines in a second set of countries, which Barnett terms the "advancing" set with an intermediate risk level, the rate is one death per 7.4 million boardings during 2008-2017. This group -- comprising countries that are generally rapidly industrializing and have recently achieved high overall life expectancy and GDP per capita -- includes many countries in Asia as well as some countries in South America and the Middle East.

For a third and higher-risk set of developing countries, including some in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, the death risk during 2008-2017 was one per 1.2 million passenger boardings -- an improvement from one death per 400,000 passenger boardings during 1998-2007.

"The two most conspicuous changes compared to previous decades were sharp improvements in China and in Eastern Europe," says Barnett, who is the George Eastman Professor of Management at the MIT Sloan School of Management. In those places, he notes, had safety achievements in the last decade that were strong even within the lowest-risk group of countries.

Overall, Barnett suggests, the rate of fatalities has declined far faster than public fears about flying.

"Flying has gotten safer and safer," Barnett says. "It's a factor of 10 safer than it was 40 years ago, although I bet anxiety levels have not gone down that much. I think it's good to have the facts."

Barnett is a long-established expert in the field of aviation safety and risk, whose work has helped contextualize accident and safety statistics. Whatever the absolute numbers of air crashes and fatalities may be -- and they fluctuate from year to year -- Barnett has sought to measure those numbers against the growth of air travel.

To conduct the current study, Barnett used data from a number of sources, including the Flight Safety Foundation's Aviation Safety Network Accident Database. He mostly used data from the World Bank, based on information from the International Civil Aviation Organization, to measure the number of passengers carried, which is now roughly 4 billion per year.

In the paper, Barnett discusses the pros and cons of some alternative metrics that could be used to evaluate commercial air safety, including deaths per flight and deaths per passenger miles traveled. He prefers to use deaths per boarding because, as he writes in the paper, "it literally reflects the fraction of passengers who perished during air journeys."

The new paper also includes historical data showing that even in today's higher-risk areas for commerical aviation, the fatality rate is better, on aggregate, than it was in the leading air-travel countries just a few decades in the past.

"The risk now in the higher-risk countries is basically the risk we used to have 40-50 years ago" in the safest air-travel countries, Barnett notes.

Barnett readily acknowledges that the paper is evaluating the overall numbers, and not providing a causal account of the air-safety trend; he says he welcomes further research attempting to explain the reasons for the continued gains in air safety.

In the paper, Barnett also notes that year-to-year air fatality numbers have notable variation. In 2017, for instance, just 12 people died in the process of air travel, compared to 473 in 2018.

"Even if the overall trendline is [steady], the numbers will bounce up and down," Barnett says. For that reason, he thinks looking at trends a decade at a time is a better way of grasping the full trajectory of commercial airline safety.

On a personal level, Barnett says he understands the kinds of concerns people have about airline travel. He began studying the subject partly because of his own worries about flying, and quips that he was trying to "sublimate my fears in a way that might be publishable."

Those kinds of instinctive fears may well be natural, but Barnett says he hopes that his work can at least build public knowledge about the facts and put them into perspective for people who are afraid of airplane accidents.

"The risk is so low that being afraid to fly is a little like being afraid to go into the supermarket because the ceiling might collapse," Barnett says.

###

Written by Peter Dizikes, MIT News Office

Paper: "Aviation Safety: A Whole New World?" https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/abs/10.1287/trsc.2019.0937

An algorithm with an eye for visibility helps pilots in Alaska http://news.mit.edu/2020/algorithm-eye-visibility-helps-pilots-alaska-0106

Evading in-flight lightning strikes http://news.mit.edu/2018/evading-flight-lightning-strikes-0309

Making the air fair http://news.mit.edu/2015/flight-delays-distributed-among-airlines-0826
A man has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a young girl his wife was minding in their family home.

The 59-year-old man had pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two charges of sexually assaulting the then four-year-old child on dates between July 27, 2016 and July 11, 2017.

On the ninth day of the trial today, the jury returned unanimous verdicts of guilty on both counts after deliberating for over five hours.

Judge Elma Sheahan thanked the jury for their care and attention. She remanded the man in custody and adjourned the matter for sentencing on February 28, next.

During the trial, the jury heard that the child's mother and the accused's family had been very friendly for a number of years and her daughter had been minded by both the man's daughter and wife from the time the child was one year old.

The child said the accused put his hand under her shorts in the living room of the house where he lived. She said he rubbed her bum and this made her feel bad and it hurt her.

The court heard that the child later indicated to her mother that when she said her bum she meant her vagina. The child said that the accused licked her bum a number of times.

Dr Charlotte Murphy, a forensic scientist with Forensic Science Ireland, said that she determined that DNA found on a saliva-stained section of the child's underwear matched the DNA profile of the accused man.

Dr Murphy said the chance of finding this DNA profile if the saliva came from someone other than the accused was 1 in 6,700. She said her conclusion was that in her opinion the results in the case provided strong support for the proposition that the accused man had sexual contact with the child.

When interviewed by gardai, the accused man said that none of the allegations had ever happened and that he was never alone with the child.

The accused man said the child got annoyed when he would not allow her to climb up a ladder and put her hand in his mouth. He said that was the only explanation he could give for his DNA being found on her because from there she went to the toilet.

In her closing speech to the jury, Pauline Walley SC, prosecuting, said that a forensic scientist who was asked to consider the accused man's explanation said she would have a very low expectation of finding saliva on the inside gusset of the child's underwear in that scenario.

In his closing speech to the jury, John Fitzgerald SC, defending, said that when the child first made the allegation, her mother told the child if she was lying, the gardai would take her away.

He asked the jury what child in their right mind was going to withdraw an allegation in those circumstances.
President Donald Trump has indicated he is considering cutting funding to entitlement programs such as Medicare within the next year. In an interview at the World Economic Forum at Davos, Trump said social programs would be targeted to reduce the federal deficit.

A CNBC interviewer asked Trump whether cuts to entitlements would ever be on his agenda. He replied, [A]t some point they will be. When the interviewer pointed out that Trumps statement directly contradicted his 2016 campaign promises not to touch these programs, Trump pointed to recent economic growth.

We also have assets that weve never had. I mean weve never had growth like this. We never had a consumer that was taking in, through different means, over $10,000 a family.  Look, our country is the hottest in the world. We have the hottest economy in the world. We have the best unemployment numbers weve ever had. African American, Asian American. Hispanics are doing so incredibly. Best theyve ever done.

President Donald Trump departs Ocala International Airport after attending an event on Medicare [Credit: AP Photo/Evan Vucci]

The reality is that the majority of the American population has seen little benefit from the booming economy and the figure of $10,000 per family is a complete fabrication. Report after report indicates that the social situation of the working class is becoming increasingly dire, and life expectancy, the most elementary indicator of social well-being, has declined in every year of Trumps presidency. Workers live without proper access to basic health care, decent paying jobs, and struggle to secure basic necessities. In fact, the rapid growth of the stock market is a direct product of deliberate attacks on the living conditions of the working class.

As for Trumps plans to cut Medicare funding, his administration has already proposed and enacted cuts to social safety-net programs. His latest budget proposal called for a total of $1.9 trillion in cost-cutting measures for social programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. The proposal also called for a reduction of $26 billion in spending for Social Security.

Trumps threatened cuts to Medicare would represent a huge assault on the program that has paid for health care for seniors and disabled individuals for over 50 years. According to the 2019 Medicare Trustees Report, Medicare provides health insurance for more than 60 million people. An increasing number of doctors refuse to accept Medicare, deeming the reimbursement too low, and there are considerable gaps in coverage, such as vision and dental, but the program is the main health care lifeline for older Americans.

In addition to cuts to Medicare, the Trump administration wants to grant states waivers allowing them to convert Medicaid funding to block grants. Medicaid is the primary source of health care for the poorest Americans, providing one in five low-income individuals with coverage. The program provides free health coverage for more than 74 million people, or 23 percent of the US population.

Currently, the program is jointly administered by the federal and state governments, and the federal and state governments share the cost, with the bulk of the money coming from Washington. Under a block grant system, states would be given a flat sum of money to spend on health care. As health care costs rise, state governments would respond by tightening eligibility requirements, imposing work requirements, and cutting coverage. Block grants would dismantle Medicaid as a guaranteed entitlement, inevitably leaving millions without health insurance.

Trumps aggressive attacks on social programs take place against the backdrop of the impeachment trial. The Democratic Party is not seeking to remove Trump from office due to his assault on the basic rights of the working classattacks on social programs, immigrants and basic democratic rights. Instead, the president has lost the confidence of the Democratic Party, the military and intelligence agencies to carry out the aims of American imperialism. In their obsession with national security and Russia, the Democrats are complicit in the social counterrevolution being waged against the working class.

The attacks on social programs are in fact a bipartisan policy. The massive cuts to social programs began in the Obama administration, which proposed billions in cuts to Medicare reimbursements to finance the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This law required workers without health insurance from their employer and ineligible for Medicaid to purchase health coverage from a private insurer. The ACA offered plans with high premiums and deductibles that left workers and their families nominally insured, but often with substandard coverage and care.

These policies, combined with Trumps proposed cuts, affect the most vulnerable layers of the population. Trumps recent proposed changes to eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would rob half a million children of free school meals. Furthermore, a rule change will go into effect this April which will deprive nearly 700,000 people of food stamp assistance through SNAP.

The human impact of the coordinated assault against the working class is laid bare by multiple social indicators. A 2019 study published by the Commonwealth Fund found that the decline in US life expectancy from 2015 to 2017 was tied to a sharp increase of deaths of despair. It also showed that the rise in deaths from drug overdose, alcohol abuse and suicide are tied to the lack of access to health care. Moves to slash funding to Medicare and Medicaid will only exacerbate this situation.

The profound impact of social inequality on the lives of workers was further demonstrated by a recent study reporting that the rich in the US and UK are likely to have almost 10 more healthy years in late life than the poor. Wealthy men and women in the two countries have an average of eight to nine more years of life without disability than the poorest.

All of this data points to an unprecedented health crisis. However, the crisis is not a natural phenomenon. It is a product of the greed and indifference of the American ruling class. Workers are told there is no money for social benefits, yet each year billions more dollars are allocated for the enrichment of the financial elite and the US war machine.

Trumps threat to attack Medicare and other social programs raises the necessity for the working class to organize a struggle in defense of these social rights independently of the two big business parties. Workers and youth should not be hoodwinked by the pledges of Democratic presidential candidates Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren that they will enact Medicare for All, or any progressive changes to the US health care system, should they take the White House. These promises are made in full knowledge that both capitalist parties, the Democrats as much as the Republicans, defend for-profit health care and will oppose the implementation of any measures that threaten the profits of the drug companies, hospital chains and other corporate interests.

There is no way that the insurance and health care profiteers will peacefully relinquish their control over the health care delivery system in America. Workers must adopt an independent policy to fight for the interests of the working class that rejects the for-profit health care system and fights for the expropriation of the health care industry and its reorganization in the interests of the working class under the control of a workers government.
African swine fever (ASF) is currently having a detrimental impact at different levels of society in several countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Europe. This disease is not known to be a danger to human health; however, it poses a major threat to pig health and welfare and, therefore, to pig production systems. Considering that pigs have become a main source of animal protein among a growing human population, ASF not only impacts the livelihoods of small and large-scale pig producers, but also threatens food security worldwide.

Coordinated Border Management (CBM) continues to be a key priority for the World Customs Organization (WCO) and it is reflected as such in the Organizations Strategic Plan. The WCO places significant focus on improving border management, particularly through reinforcing cooperation with other border agencies to foster and establish international harmonization, reduce burdens on both trade and governments and secure international borders. For these reasons, the WCO has intensified cooperation with a number of international standard-setting organizations that are of relevance to Customs and border management. One of those international organizations is the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Within the framework of our Cooperation Agreement signed in 2015, the OIE has requested the WCOs support in raising awareness amongst WCO Members about ways to minimise the risk of spread of ASF, as the Customs can play an important role through strong cooperation with Veterinary Authorities in border operations.

As the disease can be spread from one country to another through the illegal movement of infected pigs or via people carrying contaminated pork products, Customs can play a role in ensuring that this deadly pig disease does not cross borders should they intercept any commodities at risk. Given the increased movements of people, animals and animal products, the WCO emphasises the importance of Customs and all other relevant border agencies to ensure a CBM approach and to implement effective risk mitigation measures.

In view of the high risk of ASF spreading across country borders during periods of high passenger movement, such as the upcoming Lunar New Year (January 25 to February 20), the WCO invites Members to increase their vigilance during these periods and to remain aware of the communication material targeted to transport authorities which was created in the framework of the OIE campaign ASF Kills Pigs.

Additionally, the tools prepared by the OIE targeted at travellers and a campaign guide that shows how to implement these tools at different stages of air passenger transit, including at Customs checkpoints are available in English, French, Spanish, Mandarin, and Russian. These tools can be found on the OIEs website (www.oie.int) or at: https://trello.com/b/GloiZoik/african-swine-fever-oie.

Moreover, the WCO encourages its Members to share any alerts and updates regarding ASF through the WCO Regional Intelligence Liaison Office (RILO) network and the Global Rapid Alert Network (GRAN) CENComm Closed User Group. The WCO Information and Intelligence Centre (I2C) is monitoring the situation, and will publish updated news reporting on the WCO IRIS platform (iris.wcoomd.org) during this critical period.
Reinert lived answering the call to serve God, his students and his parishioners. He was always going out of his way to visit with parishioners who were sick or suffering, Geiger said. He often talked about parishioners whom he needed to visit in the hospital or at home. Sundays he often visited with parishioners who were unable to go to church, and would sit and laugh and tell stories for hours if you asked him to.

Geigers own family was no exception. I lived across the street from him for many years, and my own children and I often sought his counsel. He was the first to show up at the door when an ambulance was there to care for my diabetic husband -- even though it was the middle of the night.

Leininger said in recent months, Reinerts declining condition became apparent to St. Josephs students. He wasnt one to share a lot, but he knew the kids needed to hear from him, she said. They knew that he loved them and they knew that he cared about them. He told them, Whatever is Gods will, Ill accept.

It was Reinerts will to come to rest in his adopted home  York.
Ten employees at the Lehigh County emergency radio dispatch center lost their jobs this week due to violations of longstanding county policy, according to the countys director of general services.

Three supervisors were fired on Tuesday and seven operators resigned Wednesday, according to Director of General Services Rick Molchany.

The significance of the violations was such that we needed to take action as quickly as possible, he said.

WFMZ Channel 69 reports that the employees lost their jobs because they participated in a midnight toast at the 911 center on New Years Eve with egg nog spiked with rum.

Molchany declined to offer specific reasons for the terminations and resignations. He said theyre personnel matters. The employees have the opportunity to appeal the terminations, he said.

The policy violations come at a time when the 911 center is already grappling with staff turnover due to a merger between the Allentown and Lehigh County 911 centers.

Molchany said his center is budgeted for 53 operators and 10 supervisors. Hes addressing the staffing shortfall by mandating overtime, offering rewards to employees and ramping up training for new recruits.

Several employees are nearing pre-employee testing and the county plans to hire an outside agency to get prospective employees certified more quickly than usual, he said.

Back in 2015, Pennsylvania lawmakers passed a law that sunset funding for the states only two standalone 911 communication centers in Allentown and Bethlehem as a push to regionalization. After a study and talk of a Lehigh Valley-wide center, it was decided that Bethlehem would merge with Northampton County, including the Lehigh County section of the city, while Allentown would consolidated with Lehigh Countys 911 center. The mergers became official in June.

Molchany said several of the Allentown 911 center employees elected to find jobs elsewhere rather than be retrained on a new system in Lehigh County. It took time to replenish the ranks, which are again depleted after the policy violations.

He admits hes concerned with staff morale but said hes doing the best he can to get staff levels back up and execute the merger successfully.

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.

More:
A Delhi court on Friday extended by four days the custodial interrogation of NRI businessman C C Thampi who was arrested by the ED in connection with its money laundering probe against

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation is related to a case of acquisition of alleged illegal assets abroad.

Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar extended the ED's custody of Thampi by four days.

ED advocate Amit Mahajan said the probe was incomplete and his further custody was required to confront him with two persons.

The probe agency, however, did not disclose the names of the persons who will be called to join the investigation.

Thampi was produced before the court after his three-day ED custody ended.

The case relates to allegations of money laundering in the purchase of a London-based property, which is allegedly owned by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law

The property is located at 12, Bryanston Square, and is worth 1.9 million pounds.
(RNS)  Former Mayor Pete Buttigieg told a Jewish publication he would dedicate $1 billion to fighting anti-Semitism  a clear sign the presidential candidate from Indiana is continuing to court Jewish voters.

My administration will devote $1 billion to prevent and combat radicalization and violent extremism, Buttigieg said in the article, in which he responded to five questions put to him by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, or JTA. We will empower law enforcement by increasing the FBIs domestic counterterrorism field staff and pass federal legislation to expand our ability to track hate.

The Democratic candidate's statement comes amid a rising tide of violent anti-Semitism and ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which falls on Monday (Jan. 27). This years remembrance day also marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

Israel is marking the event with a large gathering at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem, attended by dozens of world leaders, including Vice President Mike Pence.

In the Q&A, Buttigieg said that as president he would authorize new funding for teaching children about the Holocaust.

He said he would also direct the Department of Justice to make prosecuting hate crimes a departmental priority and provide grants through the Department of Homeland Security to better secure and protect Jewish institutions.

Five Jews were stabbed at a rabbis home during a Hanukkah celebration in December, and weeks earlier a pair of attackers killed three people at a kosher supermarket in nearby Jersey City, New Jersey. The mounting violence follows the 2018 Pittsburgh shooting at Tree of Life synagogue that killed 11 Jews.

Buttigieg, an Episcopalian who has spoken at length about his faith and has worked to articulate an alternative vision of morality to that of the Christian right, has not hesitated to reach out to religious people and religious coalitions. In December, he sought out African American church worshippers when he appeared at the Rev. William J. Barbers Greenleaf Christian Church in Goldsboro, North Carolina.

Buttigieg took direct aim at President Donald Trump in his comments to JTA, saying he has refused to condemn white nationalists, brought individuals holding anti-Semitic views into his administration, and unapologetically employed anti-Semitic tropes himself.

This is not the first time Buttigieg has reached out to the Jewish community. In October he spoke to the annual meeting of the liberal Jewish advocacy group J Street, alongside several other Democratic presidential candidates.

Buttigieg received a warm welcome at the conference for supporting a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and for taking a tough stand against Israels threatened annexation of the West Bank.

American Jews tend to vote Democratic, and many lean liberal when it comes to Israel policy. Sen. Bernie Sanders was the clear favorite of some at the conference. But Buttigieg came close.

In the JTA Q&A, Buttigieg said that he disagreed with the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel but that efforts to counter BDS must respect freedom of speech and expression.

He also said that he and his husband have participated in Shabbat services back home in South Bend, Indiana, and that he was a guest at a Passover Seder this past year in New Hampshire.

Article originally published by Religion News Service. Used with permission.

Photo courtesy: AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar/RNS
(Newser)  Do the Right Thing actress Rosie Perez testified Friday that fellow screen star Annabella Sciorra told her in the mid-1990s that Harvey Weinstein had raped her but that she couldn't go to the police because "he'd destroy me." Taking the stand at the former Hollywood mogul's rape trial, Perez said her friend Sciorra had told at some point in 1993, her voice shaking on the phone, that something had happened to her: "I think it was rape." Perez said she asked if Sciorra knew who had attacked her, but Sciorra wouldn't say. But months later, on another phone call from London, she said Weinstein was harassing her and she was scared, Perez said. "I said, 'He's the one that raped you, and they both began crying, Perez testified. "Please go to the police," Perez said she told her friend. She said Sciorra responded: "I can't  he'd destroy me."

story continues below

On Thursday, Sciorra told jurors that the movie producer pushed his way into her apartment, pinned her on a bed and forced himself on her in 1993 or 1994. She said Perez was one of a few people she told about the attack before coming forward publicly in 2017. Weinstein denies ever having nonconsensual sex. Defense lawyer Damon Cheronis pressed Perez on why she didn't go to police, or to Sciorra's home, when the actress first told her. "Because I was being respectful," Perez said. Weinstein, the studio boss whose downfall energized the #MeToo movement, is charged with forcibly performing oral sex on a former production assistant in 2006 and raping an aspiring actress in 2013. Sciorra is among four additional accusers expected to testify against him as part of an effort by prosecutors to show that Weinstein preyed on women. ("My body shut down," Sciorra told the jury.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 18:00:59|Editor: Wang Yamei

Video Player Close

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- San Francisco Mayor London Breed on Thursday launched the first housing program for homeless transgender people in the United States, in an effort to help one of the city's marginalized communities.

The project features a 13-unit apartment building named Trans Home, located at Washington Street in the city's Chinatown, which will offer supportive housing for up to 13 transgender and gender nonconforming adults.

Enrollees may stay in the temporary residence for up to one year -- or longer, depending on circumstances -- before they find permanent housing.

Shelter residents may also benefit from group workshops or therapy services during their stay.

"Housing affordability and homelessness continue to impact our most marginalized communities, including our trans community members, who are 18 times more likely to experience homelessness," said Breed.

The San Francisco city government has earmarked 1.15 million U.S. dollars over the next two years for social service organizations to fund the program.

An additional 2.3 million dollars will also be provided from the city's budget to help at least 55 households with rental subsidies over the next 24 months.

One out of every two transgender adults in San Francisco has experienced homelessness at some point in the past, according to the mayor's office.
A black Chevy Impala driving west on 87th Street struck the 60-year-old. Moments later, a private tow truck tried to swerve out of the way to avoid crashing into the Impala but ran over the 60-year-old, police said.
In life, Nesyamun was an Egyptian priest who sang and chanted words of worship at the Karnak temple in Thebes. In death, he was ritually mummified and sealed in a coffin with the inscription "Nesyamun, true of voice." Now, some 3000 years into the afterlife, with the aid of a 3D-printed vocal track, Nesyamun can once again be heard.

The mummy of Nesyamun, a priest who lived in Thebes about 3000 years ago, ready for CT scanning. Scientists used a 3D printer, a loudspeaker and computer software to recreate a part of his voice. Credit:New York Times

"He had this wish that his voice would somehow continue into perpetuity," said David Howard, a speech scientist at Royal Holloway, University of London.

Howard and his team used a CT scanner to create a 3D-printed version of Nesyamun's mouth and throat. They combined it with an electronic larynx to reconstruct "the sound that would come out of his vocal tract if he was in his coffin and his larynx came to life again," Howard said.

So far the team has synthesised only a single sound from the mummy, which resembles the "ah" and "eh" vowel sounds heard in the words "bad" and "bed." But the finding, published Thursday in Scientific Reports, may lay the groundwork for re-creating and listening to an ancient person's voice.
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Think About Your Eyes, a national public awareness campaign about the importance of scheduling an annual eye exam with an optometrist, is proud to announce the winners of the #seebeyond2020 contest. In October 2019, Think About Your Eyes launched the contest to capture and feature the stories of individuals whose lives were enhanced by visiting the eye doctor. Winners were selected by a panel of six judges who reviewed all 1,900 entries. Criteria in winner selection included how well the eye health story communicated a life-changing impact of an eye exam and how well it conveyed how eye health contributes to the quality of life.

The contest's grand prize winner is Patricia Burke of Summerville, S.C., who submitted her daughter Gwendolyn's story. The Burke family adopted Gwendolyn from China shortly before her 15th birthday. When her parents noticed she was squinting often, they asked her if she had trouble seeing and she told them she did. During her 13 years at an orphanage, there were no records of her ever having an eye exam. Since her eye exam and getting glasses, Burke reports Gwendolyn has flourished in school. Gwendolyn's experience also inspired Burke to take her other children in for a comprehensive eye exam, where she learned her other two daughters also needed vision correction.

"When we took her in for an eye exam, her vision was really bad," Burke said. "Her seeing for the first time was nothing short of amazing. She danced, she clapped, she jumped and squealed! It touched all of our hearts that day."

"At Think About Your Eyes, we believe vision health is about so much more than 20/20 vision," said Jane Balek, Executive Director of Think About Your Eyes. "Through the #seebeyond2020 contest, we were inspired to hear stories like the Burke family's. We hope they will inspire others to prioritize their vision health and schedule an annual comprehensive eye exam."

As the grand prize winner, Burke was awarded a $1,000 cash prize. A total of 10 additional winners were selected to receive a $25 cash prize. Additional winners included:

Kathleen Noland of Lakewood, Colo. , who learned she had retinopathy and macular edema, which could have caused blindness if left untreated, after a routine eyeglass prescription update



of , who learned she had retinopathy and macular edema, which could have caused blindness if left untreated, after a routine eyeglass prescription update Tonya Snyder of Mesquite, Nev. , who was diagnosed with gestational diabetes as a result of her eye doctor's recommendation to be tested early



of , who was diagnosed with gestational diabetes as a result of her eye doctor's recommendation to be tested early Erin Bolin of Pomeroy, Ohio , who visited the eye doctor for the first time in 20 years and learned she had the beginning stages of glaucoma



of , who visited the eye doctor for the first time in 20 years and learned she had the beginning stages of glaucoma Rebecca Belt of Grand Forks, N.D. , who became a certified ophthalmic assistant as a result of her sister's diagnosis of melanoma in her eye



of , who became a certified ophthalmic assistant as a result of her sister's diagnosis of melanoma in her eye Patricia Lee of Tullahoma, Tenn. , who received an early ocular melanoma diagnosis as a result of annual eye exams, which ultimately saved her sight



of , who received an early ocular melanoma diagnosis as a result of annual eye exams, which ultimately saved her sight Amanda Johnson of White Oak, Texas , who took her daughter for her first eye exam, learned she had strabismic amblyopia and through therapy improved her vision from 20/200 to 20/40



of , who took her daughter for her first eye exam, learned she had strabismic amblyopia and through therapy improved her vision from 20/200 to 20/40 June Wilson of Madison, Wis. , who followed her eye doctor's advice to be screened by her doctor and learned she had type 1 diabetes



of , who followed her eye doctor's advice to be screened by her doctor and learned she had type 1 diabetes Jenni Eilers , who submitted on behalf of Matt, age 6, from Kansas City, Mo. , who gained confidence to learn and speak up in class after getting glasses



, who submitted on behalf of Matt, age 6, from , who gained confidence to learn and speak up in class after getting glasses Jill Stockton of Reno, Nev. , who saw her trigeminal neuralgia-like symptoms go away after her eye doctor and Ocular Mobility specialist prescribed progressive bi-focals with prism



of , who saw her trigeminal neuralgia-like symptoms go away after her eye doctor and Ocular Mobility specialist prescribed progressive bi-focals with prism Crystal Butler of West Warwick, R.I. , whose blurry vision during pregnancy led her to see an eye doctor who thought she might have gestational diabetes and led to a life-saving diagnosis for her and her baby

Throughout 2020, Think About Your Eyes will continue to share more about these winners' stories. To learn more about the impact an eye exam had on these winners' lives, follow Think About Your Eyes on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

In order to find a doctor near you to schedule an annual comprehensive eye exam, visit ThinkAboutYourEyes.com.

About Think About Your Eyes

Think About Your Eyes is a national public awareness initiative presented by the Vision Council and American Optometric Association, focused on educating consumers about the importance of vision health and annual comprehensive eye exams. Current partners include 45 state optometric associations and AFOS, Alcon, The Vision Council, All About Vision, Optelec, Jobson Optical Group, National Vision, Inc. (NVI), SpecialEyes, Hilco Vision, Walman Optical, Transitions, Essilor, Luxottica Group, Eschenbach, Johnson & Johnson Vision, First Vision Media Group, Vision Expo, Compliancy Group. For more information, visit www.thinkaboutyoureyes.com.

MEDIA INQUIRIES: Hayley Rakus

[email protected]

(703) 740-1094

SOURCE Think About Your Eyes

Related Links

http://www.thinkaboutyoureyes.com


(Newser)  In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue; in 1493, he wrote a letter about his trip across the sea to Spain's King Ferdinand, and two editions of it were printed to spread across Europe. Only about 30 copies of the first edition of the Plannck I letter still exist, and one has been missing for more than 30 years after it was stolen from a library in Venice, Italyuntil now. Per the News Journal, the US Attorney's Office in Delaware and investigators from the Department of Homeland Security have announced the recovery of that long-lost letter, said to be worth up to $1.3 million, from a private collector. Authorities say it was taken from the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana sometime between 1985 and 1989; it wasn't seen from again until about 2005, when rare books expert Paul Needham was asked to examine it.

story continues below

The letter hadn't been reported missing yet, so Needham forgot about ituntil 2018, when he found out the letter he'd seen might be the stolen Columbus letter. He contacted authorities, and the ownerwho bought the letter from a rare book dealer in 2003turned it over. "The American owner really did the right thing," Needham tells CNN, which reports a Delaware court ordered the letter returned to Venice. This is the fourth copy of the letter to be recovered in four years: In 2016, a version was found at the Library of Congress and returned to a library in Florence, while in 2018, two other stolen copies were discovered and returned to a Spanish library and a library in Vatican City. It's still not clear how the most recent letter made its way into the US. (Read more Christopher Columbus stories.)
As world politics overshadows the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, arguably the most remarkable visitor to Poland isn't part of any official state delegation.

Mohammad Al-Issa, secretary general of the Mecca-based Muslim World League, visited the Nazi death camp on Thursday and was headed to the Museum of Polish Jews in Warsaw before breaking bread with local Jewish leaders for Shabbat on Friday. The four-day trip is unprecedented for such a powerful Muslim cleric.

The commemorations marking the anniversary of the Soviet army's liberation of Auschwitz on Jan. 27, 1945, have been fraught with background tension as world leaders converged in Israel rather than at the German-built camp in southern Poland.

Al-Issa, who led the biggest-ever delegation of Muslim clerics to Auschwitz, has been an advocate for more moderate Islam and has visited synagogues in Europe and the U.S. A former justice minister, he's a supporter of the social changes in Saudi Arabia under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who attracted further scrutiny this week after a United Nations report alleged the Saudis had hacked the phone of Amazon.com Inc. founder Jeff Bezos.

Poland's chief rabbi, Michael Schudrich, said Al-Issa's visit was a "moral act" by religious leaders at a time when elected officials were making politics around Auschwitz. The visit can "show the world that we can sit down normally around a table, be together, share a meal and discuss," Schudrich said.

Speaking before his trip, Al-Issa said the visit had nothing to do with politics or normalizing relations with Israel, but was rather a message of "religions standing together."

"We as Muslims strongly condemn and feel strong pain over the crimes committed against humanity in general and against religions in particular and especially against ethnicities," he said in an interview in Riyadh.

Asked about parts of the Arab community who dispute the Holocaust, he said it was a crime to "falsify history," especially "the most atrocious crime in the history of mankind."

There was the predictable backlash on social media. Some people called the visit a humiliation that diminishes Muslims. Another wondered why the cleric's focus was on Auschwitz and not the Palestinians under attack by Israelis in Gaza. Others said the Muslim delegation doesn't represent Muslims, calling the holocaust a lie.

Al Mayadeen TV, which is based in Beirut and close to Shiite Iran, used the headline "Israeli media celebrates a former Saudi justice minister's visit to Auschwitz."

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

The main commemorations marking the liberation of Auschwitz took place in Israel instead of the museum in southern Poland, where the remains of the camp still stand.

Polish President Andrzej Duda boycotted the Jerusalem event because he was not allowed to join Russia's Vladimir Putin in addressing it, amid a diplomatic row between the countries over their roles in World War II. A separate gathering of representatives of more than 50 nations will take place on Monday at Auschwitz.

"We're already seeing people starting to do politics around Auschwitz-this is totally unacceptable," Schudrich said. The Muslim scholars' visit, on the other hand, may have more significance, he said.

"In the Arab world, the Holocaust is rarely mentioned and this visit will raise awareness, which is extremely important," he said. "Regardless of whether religious leaders want to be involved in politics or not, sometimes when they do something that's moral it also has a political impact."
A bank, a drug store, another bank: Odds are, a stroll down a random Manhattan avenue devolves quickly into a retail snoozefest.

New Yorkers have complained for years about the disappearances of their beloved family-owned restaurants, their hole-in-the-wall hardware stores, their bars. Replaced by a bank branch. A drug store. Another bank.

Now, with mobile banking on the rise, the days of the grand bank branch with Greek Revival pillars and vaulted ceilings are numbered. New York City is joining a trend that's already sweeping the rest of the country. Fewer bank branches. Smaller bank branches. Wall Street is plotting a diminished presence on Manhattan's main streets.

"There's a bank on every single corner and there's definitely a backlash on that," said New York City historian Kevin Draper. "So many people do banking online and over their phones. Frankly, New Yorkers will be happy to see some of these places going down. But the question is, are these places going to just be vacant?"

The expiration of scores of branch leases is feeding the trend. Banks signed many of the agreements from 2002 through 2007 -- the heady days before "subprime" became a household word -- and many of them ran 15 years, according to real estate brokers.

The question of vacancies concerns many New York commercial landlords, some of the brokers said. With the retail industry hurting, property owners cherish the steady rents paid by the world's biggest financial institutions and don't look forward to having to make deals to keep them or clamber to fill empty space should they leave. Nor do they love the idea of remaining branches renting less space.

Banks have been reducing their physical presence across the U.S. More than half the country's counties lost branches between 2012 and 2017, with rural areas the most affected, according to the Federal Reserve.

In Manhattan, the number of branches jumped nearly 50% between 2002 and 2009, according to data from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Since then, branch count has fallen around 5%, with a 2.5% decline in the past two years.

The shrinkage has contributed to declining commercial-property values in the city. Average asking retail rents dropped 8.1% in the third quarter from a year before, according to brokerage Jones Lang LaSalle Inc.

Some Manhattan landlords are offering discounts in lease negotiations to keep the banks, preferring cuts in rent to the possibility of long vacancies.

"It's almost impossible to replace the credit quality and rent strength of a national-bank tenant," said Noah Shaffer, a senior director at real estate services firm Confidant Asset Management.

But banks have evolved. Customers once visited branches for tasks that today can be done online, said Annette Healey, an executive vice president of retail at CBRE Group Inc. Nowadays, some branches are more focused on advertising, she said. Many younger consumers rarely bank at all, favoring payment apps like Venmo for moving money.

"The nature of these branches is changing, the number of transactions being done over the counter at the branch has been falling," said Alan McIntyre, senior managing director of global banking at Accenture Plc.

That means fewer employees, more machines and smaller storefronts.

One recent lease supports that view of the future. At 28 Liberty St., formerly known as One Chase Manhattan Plaza, JPMorgan Chase & Co. signed an agreement less than two years ago that cut its space to 9,000 square feet (836 square meters) from about 30,000 square feet, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

JPMorgan said its number of branches nationwide is down 1% in the past year due to overlap -- where a storefront too close to another is shuttered -- and the rise of digital banking.

"Branches remain critically important to our customers, so we're continuing to invest in them," the bank said in a statement.

JPMorgan, which has the biggest bank presence in Manhattan, nearly doubled its branch count in the city from 2002 to 2009, according to the FDIC. It's been declining since. HSBC Holdings Plc reduced its footprint by 20% since 2009 while Citigroup Inc. and Bank of America Corp. have stayed flat. Toronto-Dominion Bank has also seen its growth stagnate in the past three years.

Some of the banks, such as Bank of America, expanded in Manhattan mostly due to acquisitions. Some decline in branch presence is due to banks consolidating their operations.

The branches that remain will tend to be different. One example is Chase's flagship at 390 Madison Ave., which opened in June. It's fitted with futuristic meeting pods, free Wi-Fi and charging stations, bankers with online tablets and a digital advice bar.

"The role that these branches are playing partly is a billboard role," said McIntyre of Accenture, which consulted on the branch's design. "In terms of the impact it has visually, it's more like looking at an Apple store or the Nike store on Fifth Avenue."
Even as Uttar Pradesh records the highest death toll in the anti-CAA agitation, 19 according to government, Lucknow University plans to introduce a chapter on the 'positives' of CAA in the course of political science. As per reports, the university administration has planned to hold a debate on the contentious new citizenship law in the month of February. Following the debate by the political science department, a proposal will be sent for the inclusion of the positive aspects of the CAA in the syllabus.

READ | Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath Links Economic Growth With River Ganga

Speaking to media, Shashi Shukla, Head of the Department of Political Science at Lucknow University, reasoned that the move is needed to clarify people about the law. There is a proposal for a paper under the subject contemporary issue in Indian politics and including CAA in it is under consideration. We will include it in the syllabus and put it on the board as a proposal. If passed it will be sent to the Academic Council and once it is cleared, studies will start," he said.

READ | UP Commission For Minorities On CAA: Don't Get Misguided By Anti-social Elements

Anti-CAA agitation

The BJP government has drawn huge flak from citizens across India against the CAA that fast-tracks citizenship for non-Muslim immigrants from neighbouring Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The government says the law is necessary to provide relief to thousands of people fleeing persecution in those countries because of their faith. Opponents of the law contend that the bill purposely leaves out Muslim immigrants and does not provide relief to those fleeing similar persecution in neighbouring Sri Lanka and Myanmar.

READ | UP Neta Claims "Tukde-Tukde Gang In Bollywood", Slams Nandita Das's Shaheen Bagh Remark

Violence in UP

Protests against the CAA have turned violent in many towns of UP where a statewide prohibitory order was in place for days in December to quell protests. The Yogi government and UP Police have come under intense criticism for alleged police brutality while curbing demonstrations, most notably in Meerut and Firozabad. Periodic internet shutdowns were also one of the tactics employed by the state that sought to curb dissent.

READ | Uttar Pradesh: Bus, Car Collide On Delhi-Lucknow National Highway
MEXICO CITY - When I met Homero Gomez Gonzalez last month, he pointed to the hilltop just above him in the town of Rosario, a dense forest where millions of monarch butterflies had recently arrived from the United States after their yearly pilgrimage to central Mexico.

"It's been a fight to maintain it," he said. "And it hasn't been easy."

He was referring to the decades-old battle against illegal logging in North America's premier monarch butterfly habitat. Gomez Gonzalez had been at the forefront of that public fight - against men who still wielded enormous power in Rosario. By the time we met, he thought that he had prevailed - and he spent as much time as he could with the butterflies he had helped save, a thundering, broad-shouldered man in a cloud of orange and black monarchs.

Last week, a month after we had lunch together, Gomez Gonzalez disappeared. Investigators have not suggested any theories about what might have happened to him, but many in Rosario suspect that loggers kidnapped him.

Gomez Gonzalez, the manager of Rosario's butterfly sanctuary, was last seen Jan. 13. On Tuesday, investigators interrogated 53 municipal police officers about his disappearance, according to the attorney general of Michoacan state. A search team using rescue dogs has been dispatched to comb the area. No arrests have been made.

More than 61,000 people are missing in Mexico, authorities announced this month, one of the largest numbers in Latin America. The majority are suspected to be victims of criminal organizations. In Gomez Gonzalez's case, as in most, his community has been left to piece together its own narrative of what might have happened to him, however incomplete. For now, no evidence points to any particular suspect.

Gomez Gonzalez, 50, like many others in Rosario, grew up cutting down the village's timber and selling it. It was the heart of the local economy. Between 2005 and 2006, 461 hectares in Michoacan were lost to illegal logging. Entire swaths of the forest were razed - including the primary habitat for the butterflies, who fly thousands of miles from the United States and Canada to spend winter there.

When environmentalists, watching the destruction of the population in real time, began lobbying for anti-logging measures, many in Rosario were up in arms - Gomez Gonzalez included. He had grown up admiring the butterflies - his grandparents told him they carried the souls of their ancestors - but he knew how much Rosario depended on its timber industry.

"We were afraid that if we had to stop logging, it would send us all into poverty," he told me.

But Gomez Gonzalez, who would serve as Rosario's commissioner - the mayor of the small community - eventually came around to the idea that preserving the monarchs would also draw tourism to Rosario, which could be an important revenue stream. Later that preservation was codified into law, first limiting logging in Rosario and then outlawing it entirely. The federal Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, of which the Rosario sanctuary is a part, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Gomez Gonzalez started working alongside the World Wildlife Fund on its conservation initiatives. He created a Twitter account where he posted videos of himself surrounded by butterflies, called their migration "the great spectacle" and invited visitors to Rosario's monarch sanctuary. He stood still when they landed on his face and clung to his clothes.

"Since he was young, Homero has been behind the sanctuary," said Gloria Tavera, an official with Mexico's National Commission of Natural Protected Areas.

But Tavera said she doesn't think his disappearance was connected to his activism.

"We think they are independent things," she said. She did not suggest an alternative theory.

I met Gomez Gonzalez at the cafeteria in the Rosario sanctuary, where he appeared to know every waiter and janitor and tour guide by name. He walked around with the confidence of a local celebrity.

In the hours before he was last seen, he added more videos of the monarchs to his Twitter feed. Authorities have said little about his disappearance.

"We can't disregard any possibilities," said Magdalena Guzman, the spokeswoman for the Michoacan attorney general's office. She said Gomez Gonzalez's family had recently received calls demanding money for his safe return. They are also being investigated.

The Michoacan state Human Rights State Commission thinks illegal loggers could be responsible.

"We can't ignore the work of this man, who was considered an activist attempting to preserve the forest of the monarch," said Mayte Cardona, a member of the commission.

- - -

The Washington Post's Siobhan O'Grady in Washington and Gabriela Martinez contributed to this report.
Houston ISD image

A Sugar Land man who reportedly taught piano lessons in his home and worked as a music teacher at a Houston ISD elementary school, was recently arrest for alleged possession and distribution of child pornography, according to documents recently filed in federal court.

Robert Peri, known as Mr. Peri to his students at Memorial Elementary, was arrested at his residence in Greatwood, a master planned community located in Sugar Land, on Wednesday, Jan. 22, following a search by Homeland Security Investigations agents .
Journalists in Somalia are demanding that a draconian media law recently passed by the parliament's Upper House not be signed into law by President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, as it risks turning back the progress made in the fight for freedom of expression in the country.

It is very draconian. It is vaguely worded, [and] it looks for judicial persecution for journalists, says Omar Faruk Osman Nur, the secretary-general of the National Union of Somali Journalists, NUSOJ.

The law has been in discussion since 2017 and was passed by the both houses of parliament, with the Upper House being the last to approve it on 14 January this year.

The only person able to stop it from becoming law is President Mohamed, known as President Formaajo.

Currently Somalia is ranked 164th out of 180 countries in World Press Freedom Index of 2019 compiled by Reports Without Borders.

One step forward, two steps back

The amended media law unravels the efforts made under President Formaajo for freedom of expression.

The draft law allegedly mentions the word court 16 times, stresses Osman.

It clearly shows this law is paving the way for journalists to be taken to court.

Confidential sources of journalists would also be eliminated and the media regulatory boards would be under the control of the Ministry of Information.

Journalists would be required to register, and it [the government would] also define who can be a journalist.

Allowing the government to intervene on defining and accrediting journalists could mean more politically charged or critical members of the press may no longer be considered journalists.

This is very serious, it only happens in dictatorial situations. That is why we are appealing to the president to say.it is you can save unprotected press freedom as the custodian of the Constitution of the Republic, to send it [the draft] back for revision.

International outcry

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has also issued a statement calling on President Farmaajo to refrain from signing this draft into law.

Story continues

It would open the way for criminal prosecutions for ordinary press offences and would undermine efforts by the authorities in the past year to defend press freedom, it adds.

Changes with Formaajo

Prior to Formaajo, working in journalism in Somalia was difficult and already dangerous due to on-going threats from the Islamist terrorist group al-Shebab.

But since his election theres been constructive engagement between the higher offices, the President and the Prime Ministers office  with the media and the journalists and how to protect the rights of journalists, how to guarantee media freedom, explains Osman.

So many thought the country would continue going in that trajectory.

The draft law put forward by the Minister of Interior would take the country back in time.

President Formaajo has until the end of January to sign the draft into law.
The Lunar New Year will arrive on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020 (1/25/2020), marking the beginning of the lunar calendar and the Year of the Rat in the Chinese zodiac cycle. So get ready to see some people wearing a lot of red, shooting off fireworks and honoring a certain type of rodent.

The annual festival, celebrated by millions of people around the world, is also known by other names, including the Chinese New Year, Spring Festival, Seollal and Tet Nguyen Dan. Regardless of the name, the Lunar New Year is one of the most important festivals for many people of Asian heritage.

Here are some facts, superstitions and commonly asked questions about the Lunar New Year.

Does the date of the Lunar New Year always change?

Yes, the date changes. Thats because this holiday is based on the lunar calendar and not on the solar calendar that most people use. Instead of 29 to 31 days, the lunar calendars months have 30 days in odd-numbered months, like January, March and May, and 29 days in even-numbered months, like February, April and June.

The solar calendar is based on the 365 days that it takes for the Earth to rotate around the sun  divided into 12 months  while the lunar calendar is based on the moons orbit around the Earth, which occurs once every 27 to 28 days.

Millions of people around the world will be celebrating the Lunar New Year, starting on Jan. 25, 2020. This year is known as the "Year of the Rat."Annalise Batista | Pixabay

Is the Lunar New Year the same thing as the Chinese New Year?

Lunar New Year is the generally accepted name of the festival because its celebrated by people in a number of different countries. But many people call it the Chinese New Year, and some know it as the Spring Festival  even though it falls in winter in the United States and other parts of the northern hemisphere.

Which parts of the world celebrate the Lunar New Year?

Many Asian countries celebrate the Lunar New Year, and experts say about one-fifth of the worlds population celebrates this annual festival.

The Lunar New Year festival is a public holiday in China and usually lasts a few days. The Lunar New Year is also a public holiday in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, North Korea, Singapore, South Korea and Vietnam.

Many people in the United States, as well as Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, celebrate the festival. However, in these countries it is not observed as a public holiday.

Millions of people around the world will be celebrating the Lunar New Year, starting on Jan. 25, 2020. This year is known as the "Year of the Rat."Tien Vul | Pixabay

How is the Lunar New Year celebrated?

Some common elements among the celebrations by different cultures include gift giving, spending time with family and friends and  not surprisingly  food.

The Lunar New Year is one of the most important festivals for the Chinese, and the primary color is red. Thats why it is common to see many red decorations this time of year, and why red envelopes get passed around  a tradition used to send good luck, and money, to the receiver.

Koreans celebrate the holiday, known as Seollal, by also paying tribute to their ancestors. In Vietnam, Tet Nguyen Dan celebrations can last up to seven days and involve ancestral rituals and paying off as much debt as possible.

Here in the western part of the world, Asian communities typically mark the Lunar New Year with parades, feasts and and fireworks displays. You can check out some family-friendly events in the New Jersey region.

Is it bad luck to wash your hair?

According to Chinese superstition, washing or cutting your hair at the start of the Lunar New Year is bad luck. Thats what the Farmers Almanac says.

The Almanac also lists a bunch of other superstitions and traditions, including setting off fireworks on the eve of the Lunar New Year  which is intended to scare away evil spirits while sending out the old year and welcoming the new one.

Millions of people around the world will be celebrating the Lunar New Year, starting on Jan. 25, 2020. This year is known as the "Year of the Rat."Tien Vul | Pixabay

What animal sign does 2020 fall under in the Chinese zodiac?

According to the Chinese zodiac, 2020 is the Year of the Rat, which is the first year in the 12-year zodiac cycle. Other rat years include 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996 and 2008, says the Travel China Guide website.

The next time this pesky rodent will be honored will be in 2032.

Why would anyone honor a rat?

Though people consider the rat not adorable, and it even makes its way into derogatory languages, it ranks first on the Chinese zodiac signs, the Travel China Guide notes. It has characteristics of an animal with spirit, wit, alertness, delicacy, flexibility and vitality.

Note: Some material in this post originally appeared in an NJ.com article published in January 2017.
"The violence being perpetrated in the country under the cover of so-called protests against the CAA is becoming unbearable," said Milind Parande, the International Secretary General of Vishva Hindu Parishad.

New Delhi, Jan 24 (IANS) The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Friday upped the ante on the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) protestors, urging the government to act against those, who the VHP claimed, are indulging in large scale violence in the garb of anti-CAA protests.

Calling the anti-CAA protests "ill-advised and misplaced", he pointed to the incident of pro-CAA rally by Hindutva outfits being attacked in Jharkhand's Lohardagga on Thursday.

Parande blamed the violence on Jharkhand's Congress-JMM-RJD alliance government.

"Deadly attacks were mounted on them (rallyists), and this has again proved that with the change of government how quickly the jihadi mindset turns fatally aggressive on Hindus," he said, demanding "exemplary punishment" be given to the attackers.

Parande also took a jibe at the anti-CAA protestors camped at Shaheen Bagh in Delhi.

"Due to these so-called protests, not only the arterial roads and parks in the capital city are being encroached upon and occupied but in the Muslim majority areas also the life of non-Muslims/Hindus have become a nightmare," a VHP statement said.

Parande also accused the Congress party-led national Opposition of indulging in "appeasement of the Muslim vote bank". He accused them of "misinforming, misguiding and confusing the people", terming the Opposition actions as an "evil game against the country and the constitution".

abn/bc
PITTSBURGH  Antonio Brown has turned himself in to Hollywood, Florida police, according to TMZ.

Brown is facing charges of burglary with battery, burglary of an unoccupied conveyance and one count of criminal mischief, according to TMZ. ESPN confirmed that Brown was turning himself in alongside his attorneys.

The former Steelers receiver was reportedly involved in a Tuesday afternoon incident with his trainer, Glenn Holt, and a moving truck driver. TMZ obtained audio of the truck drivers 9-1-1 call in which the driver claims Brown was high and tore his shirt.

In the same call audio, obtained by TMZ, Brown refused to pay a fee for the moving, threw rocks at the company truck and tried to take the keys from him. He then went on to take items about of the truck, including some that werent his.

ESPN reported that the delivery was transporting Browns belongings from California to his Hollywood, Florida home.

Police did not arrest Brown on Tuesday, but did charge Holt with burglary and battery. He was released on bond Wednesday, according to TMZ.

According to multiple reports, police put out a warrant for Browns arrest on Wednesday. Brown will be held until a Friday morning bond hearing, according to TMZ.

Antonio Brown has turned himself into Broward County Jail alongside his lawyers tonight to deal with his arrest warrant. The wait is over, as @TMZ_Sports reported.  Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) January 24, 2020

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
An eight-year-old girl who suffers from severe eczema has landed her dream job modelling for M&S.

Macy Foley-Speakman, from Warrington, Cheshire, has been snapped by the retailer wearing clothes designed specifically for people with her condition.

It comes after the youngster heart-breakingly told her mum Maxine, 42, that she doesn't like looking at herself in the mirror.

Macy Foley-Speakman, from Warrington, Cheshire, has been snapped by the retailer wearing clothes designed specifically for people with her condition. Snapped at the M&S shoot

Macy started to suffer from the skin condition when she was three months old and it sometimes gets so severe that passers by in the street stare at her, according to the Liverpool Echo.

Maxine added that the youngster's confidence took a huge hit, especially when strangers would ask her if she had chicken pocks.

'People don't realise how hard it is. Macy would ask why people are staring and then she stopped looking in the mirror, she would just refuse to look at herself,' her mum told the Echo.

Maxine was forced to give up her full time job as a nursery nurse eight years ago to care for her daughter and in that time has tried to learn everything about the condition.

It comes after the youngster heart-breakingly told her mum Maxine, 42, that she doesn't like looking at herself in the mirror, pictured here posing for the high street giant

Poor Macy has to have lotion applied to her skin seven times a day and it sometimes become so bad her skin turns purple.

Despite this, the youngster is positive and her school classmates are supportive. Maxine said she was almost 'moved to tears' by her pals, who stop her scratching when she has an itch.

'Her school and headteacher have been really understanding and she has never been bullied. Her friends even hold her hands when she's itchy to stop her from scratching,' she said, adding that Macy wears a special uniform so as to not upset her skin.

Poor Macy has to have lotion applied to her skin seven times a day and it sometimes become so bad her skin turns purple

The youngster is positive and her school classmates are supportive. Maxine said she was almost 'moved to tears' by her pals, who stop her scratching when she has an itch

A turning point in the youngster's life came when she was watching TV with her mother and said 'no one looks like me,' but instead of getting down about it she decided to become a model championing the fight against her condition.

Her great-grandmother, Jean Guinan, modelled for M&S in the 1960s and when representatives of the Eczema Outreach Support charity came to give a talk in Macy's school she told them of her fashion dream, and they approached the high street brand.

M&S, who advertise eczema-friendly clothing line DreamSkin, obliged and took Macy in for a shoot - even contacting a modelling agency who subsequently signed the school girl.

Her great-grandmother, Jean Guinan, modelled for M&S in the 1960s. She passed away in 2017 but Macy still talks about her, saying: 'Nana Jean would love this!'

Macy, who starts with the agency in February, had 'the time of her life' at the shoot even saying: "Nana Jean would love this!"' according to her mum.

Maxine added: 'Her skin is too sensitive for makeup but she doesn't mind. She likes herself, she smiles and likes what she sees when she looks in the mirror.'

The proud mum said her daughter will be the first model at the agency,Zebedee, with severe eczema and said: 'It would be a great platform to show what eczema can look like as people often think it's a dry patch of skin and not that it can be a debilitating condition.'
To paraphrase Tolstoys line about unhappy families, all countries are complicated in their own way. Irans tricky for the unpredictable nature of reporting there. You could be thrown in jail, like countless local journalists, or like Jason Rezaian of the Washington Post, who was imprisoned for 544 days on charges of espionage and propaganda. Or you can roam about Tehran with relative freedom. Theres no way to predict how it will unfold, so you line up security contingencies and hope for the best.

Mary Louise Kelly of NPR got lucky. She landed in Tehran on the morning of the funeral procession of Major General Qassem Soleimani, whose slaying by the US brought the two countries to the brink of war. For five days, she managed to interview senior officialsincluding a sit-down with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who told Kelly that the US will pay for that grave erroras well as lots of ordinary Iranians, without interference.

ICYMI: Intimidation is a form of violence

As a general rule, foreign journalists like Kelly, who report above the radar on a short-term visa, wont encounter undue hassles. They can go out for dinner without minders. They can speak openly with regular Iranians. They can even travel to another town, with permission.

But many visa applications are denied, and the reporting environment can become more sensitive for those stationed in the country, as per Thomas Erdbrink, the New York Times longstanding correspondent. His accreditation was revoked without explanation in February 2019 and has not been restored. Iranian colleagues come under far more pressure. State media is heavily censored and independent journalists can face arrest, prosecution and imprisonment.

NPR knew there was a risk, but Kellys paperwork was in order, and other foreign reporters were on the scene. Editors kept channels of communication open throughout her stay and assessed the precautions in place. We dont take anything for granted, Larry Kaplow, the Middle East Editor on the International desk, says. Kelly spoke with CJR about her coverage, and her interview with Zarif. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

When we finally got the interview, I was thinking, What exactly are we going to do in those 10 minutes? If they yank him, what is the first thing I want to get out of it?

Sign up for CJR 's daily email

How did you manage to land as the story broke?

This was my first trip to Iran. I had wanted to go there for some time. I started asking for a visa in the spring of 2019 as tensions were heating up between Iran and the US , and then on New Years Day I got word that our visa might be a go. It was to cover a conference related to security in the Gulf. We scrambled, we were all set to fly on January 3. The night before, the news broke that General Soleimani had been killed. My producer and I wondered if Iran would still let us go. This obviously marked a massive escalation in the tensions. And we were not sure NPR would let us go; the security situation did not look as good as before for American journalists.

Did you face hostility?

Anti-American sentiment was running high. Ive never seen a crowd like at the funeral processionhundreds of thousands of people lining the streets. They were chanting Down with America, and holding signs saying, Death To the USA. People tugged at my sleeve, asking, Where are you from? I felt unsafe because the crowd was so huge and tightly packed. At one point we got swept away from our photographer. People were passing strollers over their heads so that they didnt get crushed. I was linked elbow-to-elbow with the translator and the producer. We spoke to everyone we could. We identified ourselves, and I was amazed how many people wanted to speak to us. When we interviewed people on the sidewalk outside the mosque for Friday prayers, others would line up to talk to us. Their access to social media is limited, so when they see a Western reporter with a microphone they want to be heard.

One time a huge guy nearly swept me over, and two others moved in to steady me. They touched their hands to their hearts and were incredibly respectful. Its so weird. They were shouting Death to America, and then went out of their way to say, Were mad at your government. We hate Donald Trump, but were not mad at the American people. We had people shouting in the microphone how angry they were against Americas leaders, but it was never directed at me personally.

Were you under surveillance?

In Iran, you go through a media-support fixer company. They check on your visa and serve as the interface between you and the government. They issue you the press card, and they assign you your interpreter. That person greeted us in our hotel and was with us whenever we asked. She helped us book calls and interviews. We were free to go on our own if we didnt need an interpreter. I needed help with interpreting, so we had her with us a lot of time. She was not telling us what to ask or who to interview, but you never quite know what is reported back. We were completely transparent about who we interviewed. If we wanted to go to someones house or interview someone who spoke English, we were free to.

How did you get the interview with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif?

NPR had had a confirmed interview, but it was going to be later in the week at the UN. When a story popped on the Monday that the State Department might be blocking his coming to the New York, it occurred to me that I should try to get him in Iran. I put out texts and, on Tuesday, I got him at the sidelines of this conference.

What was he like?

He was very smooth. His English is excellent. It didnt particularly surprise me that he would declare the killing of the general an act of war or an act of terrorism. I got to push him on the nuclear deal and what Irans response would be to the killing. I was curious whether this ramping up of the confrontation would impact negotiations on prisoner swaps. I really wanted to know if that channel was still open.

What did you find most challenging about the interview?

Its always a challenge with officials, anywhere, to try to get past their talking points and get something real or new or revelatory. But my primary goal was to push him to help Americans understand what the Iranian perspective is.

I suppose the principal challenge was that we spent more time on the logistics of trying to get the interview and less on what we were going to ask. When we finally got the interview, I was thinking, What exactly are we going to do in those 10 minutes? If they yank him, what is the first thing I want to get out of it?

What was it like reporting in Iran as a woman?

Our Iranian photographer and our interpreter and producer were all women. I often feel that its an advantage being a woman when reporting in a Muslim-majority country. You have access to half the population that a male reporter would not. Women were feisty and outspoken and flagging us down to talk. As an all-female team, we were able to go into this intimate space, a beauty salon in wealthy area. The photographer unveiled in front of me for the first time. Another woman was getting her hair roots touched up, and she said, No, no one wants to talk about politics. It was an incredibly human moment.

Theres always the goal of questioning people in power. We got to do that. But a major goal of our coverage was to bring the voices of Iranians to Americans. So often, what we hear is coverage of the nuclear deal and of relations. But this was to remind Americans that there were real people with lives, who focus on milk in the fridge and gas in the car.

Whats the mood like?

On day two of our coverage, I had arranged to interview a professor from the University of Tehran. My goal was to discuss US-Iranian relations and the future of the nuclear deal. It turned into something richer than simply sitting with an analyst. We met him in a bustling coffee house where people were drinking tea and smoking shisha. It was packed with really happy people on a night of a birthday party. Life goes on even with horrendous things unfolding.

Can you avoid serving as a propaganda tool?

When questioning an Iranian official, you are getting spun, for sure. Youre unlikely to knock them off spinning a line. The best you can do is ask clear and tough questions and follow up. The challenge is when, once you hit pause, they will say a lot more. I wanted to convey that in our reportingthat they are not free.

How did you know the translating was truthful?

The interpreter appeared to be doing her absolute best to translate the questions and answers accurately and thoroughly. Sometimes in North Korea Id ask a question and the interpreter would say, Thats the wrong question. Or the person would go on and on and the interpreter would say, He said, No. That did not happen in Iran. We had an Iranian-American combing over the interview at the NPR headquarters making sure we got it absolutely right.

Whats your takeaway?

My takeaway is how much I want to go back. None of the stories I wanted to do had to do with plane crashes and missile strikes. We were always going to get the voices of women on air, and the impact of sanctions and the relations between Iran and the US. There are a ton of stories that I want do in order to capture this complicated and fascinating country.

NEW: How the Washington Post pulled off the hardest trick in journalism

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Judith Matloff teaches conflict reporting at Columbia. Her latest book, How To Drag a Body and Other Safety Tips You Hope to Never Need, publishes May 19.
Employees of the power department called off their strike on Friday after the payment of compensation amount to the family of a junior engineer who was shot dead here last week, an office-bearer of the union said.

The wife of the deceased, Junior engineer Pradeep Kumar (35), was also offered a government job by the Dakshinanchal Vidyut Vitaran Nigam Limited (DVVNL), according to Rajya Vidyut Parishad Zonal secretary Sangathan Anshul Kumar Sharma.

"We have resumed our duty from Friday after Rs 37 lakh was paid to the bereaved family and job offer to the wife of Pradeep Kumar," he said.

DVVNL Director (Personnel) Rakesh Kumar met the agitating employees at the dharna venue on Thursday evening and informed them about the steps taken.

Pradeep Kumar was shot dead around 9.30 pm on January 16 in the Jamuna Paar area when he was returning from Panigaon power sub-station,



Sharma said the state government has paid a compensation of Rs 15.44 lakh, while district-level power employees have contributed their one-day salary, amounting to a total of Rs 7 lakh, while the remaining contribution was received from the department and other districts.

The DVVNL has also issued orders to appoint the slain junior engineer's wife as clerk in the department, Sharma said.

According to Union leader Sachin Dwivedi, Rakesh Kumar assured the employees of police protection for attending the fault during night in rural areas.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Weve got to find the right balance for everything, commission chair David Mann said. I think it should be a special use because of this new type of use. Theres also other factors of traffic, parking, noise, security and other elements that really fit the definition of what special use permits are for. Its so we can look at those on an individual basis.
The Chhattisgarh Police freed businessman Praveen Somani, who was kidnapped 15 days ago in Raipur from the captivity of gangsters late on Tuesday.

Somani was picked up by the Pappu Chaudhary and Chandan Sonar gang of Bihar on January 8 from Siltara in Raipur and five days later a ransom call was made. Two other accused Anil Chaudhary from Raipur and Munna Nahak of Odisha were also arrested by the police for giving shelter to the gang members.

The 46-year old businessman, Praveen Somani runs a steel manufacturing unit in Siltara Industrial Estate area in Raipur district. He was picked up by the gang members when he drove out of his factory.

His SUV was later found near Ramkunj Colony of Raipur which is in outskirts of the city.

We retrieved the CCTV footages and found that two unidentified vehicles were used for the crime, said Superintendent of Police (SP), Raipur Arif Sheikh, adding that following a lead the police tracked two cars in question in Uttar Pradeshs Pratapgarh.

Prima facie it appears that the accused had done a recce and planned the kidnapping about three months ago, the SP said, adding the accused were from different states.

Police sources said that the abductors kept Somani in five different places in Ambedkar Nagar before he was rescued.

The gang leader Pappu Chaudhary is also connected to the kidnapping gang mastermind Chandan Sonar of Bihar.

We picked up dozens of people from Bihar, Gujarat, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh associated with this gang and found that exact location of Somani in Uttar Pradeshs Ambedkar Nagar district from where he was freed.

The accused who managed to flee after leaving Somani because they found that the area was cordoned off, the SP said.

He said more than 100 fake mobile numbers were used by the accused of the incident.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
The infants and children huddled in the stone boathouses. The women pressed in next to them. The men crowded in last. Theyd all fled the acnicent city of Herculaneum on Aug. 24, 79 A.D., as Mount Vesuvius rained destruction on the city, as it did Pompeii and other Roman settlements near the Bay of Naples.

While Pompeii was consumed by ash, Herculaneum was done in by a pyroclastic flow  a fast-moving, dense, extremely hot surge of ash, gas and rock. At the citys seaside, hundreds of people died that day. The remains of 340 of them have been unearthed since 1980  some in the boathouses, known as fornici, and some on the beach.

How they died has long been debated. A prevailing hypothesis is that their blood and brains were vapourized by the extreme heat of the pyroclastic flow. At another site in the city, some researchers have proposed, at least one persons brain turned to glass.

A pair of studies published Thursday offer new evidence for how the Vesuvius eruption killed some of Herculaneums people. One in the journal Antiquity challenges the vaporization hypothesis. The researchers who published it say the condition of the bones of the people in the fornici suggest they were protected from instant death by both the stone structure around them and their collective body tissue mass. This protection insulated them from the flows intense heat, but they may have suffered more as they were perhaps suffocated or asphyxiated.

The results that came back were slightly surprising, said Tim Thompson, a professor of applied biological anthropology at Teesside University in England and a co-author of that study. That kind of forced us to rethink the accepted theory about how these individuals died.

Another teams results in the New England Journal of Medicine made the claim that the pyroclastic flows heat vitrified the brain of at least one victim, transforming it into glass that was preserved for centuries.

The researchers of the first study looked at the ribs of 152 individuals found in six of the 12 boathouses. Adult women, infants and children outnumbered men by about 2-to-1.

They focused on crystal microstructures in the bones, which change in response to thermal exposure, and the amount of remaining collagen. They separated the collagen from the bone, gelatinized it, dried it and weighed it. They then ground up the bone samples and fired infrared wavelengths into samples. The absorption or reflection of those wavelengths reveals both bone composition and changes in response to burning and heating.

The data showed that people in the boathouse were exposed to temperatures of about 260 C  far from the maximum temperatures pyroclastic flows can reach.

Thompson believes there are two reasons for the results. One is that the stone boathouses protected people from the direct fire and heat of the flow.

Its almost like a little oven, so it distributes heat differently, he said.

The number of people in each fornici may also have had an effect. Their combined soft tissues may have acted like a buffer against the heat. In this sense, they protected one another with their bodies.

But it may have also prolonged their agony. As the pyroclastic flow blasted the beach, debris would have piled up at the boathouse exits, trapping dust, gases and people within.

I do think  and this is speculation  that they likely suffocated rather than died of the heat, Thompson said.

The rising heat then baked, and preserved, their remains.

The authors make a convincing case for rethinking the temperatures that these victims of Vesuvius were subjected to, said Kristina Killgrove, a bioarchaeologist at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, who has studied skeletal remains at Oplontis, another Vesuvius-doomed settlement.

The second study examined a man found in the Collegium Augustalium, a building on the main street of Herculaneum, some distance from the seaside. His brain, said Pier Paolo Petrone, a forensic anthropologist at the University Federico II of Naples and an author of the study, turned to glass as a result of the high heat from the pyroclastic flow, and the victims skull exploded.

Thompson said the difference between his victims in the seaside and Petrones main street fatality might be explained by their distinctive shelters.

Our individuals were in these kind of sealed, trapped stone oven-type things, whereas his individual was in a regular building  much more exposed and much more directly affected by the pyroclastic flow itself, he said.

Petrone, who published a study in 2018 supporting the hypothesis that the boathouse victims brains were vapourized, was not persuaded by Thompsons conclusion.

The methodology is itself interesting, but the weak point of the work is that they did not sufficiently consider the whole set of taphonomic, bioanthropological and forensic evidence detected on the victims corpses and bones, he said.

Thompson said the condition of the bones reflected events at the time of death, not the taphonomy, or changes that can affect remains post-mortem such as decomposition, scavenging or fossilization.

Killgrove was skeptical about Petrones finding.

While their analysis is intriguing, I do not think they have proved it is human brain material, nor have they ruled out other origins, she said. The fatty acids they identified are typical of vegetable or animal fat or hair.

Thompson added that the results from the two studies dont necessarily contradict each other. Both of these situations can happen at the same site, because its a very complex scenario.

As research continues at the Vesuvius sites, Thompsons study should inspire researchers to revisit the remains of other victims of the eruptions, Killgrove said.

Some of the skeletons she studied at Oplontis, for example, have high-quality collagen yields similar to those in the Herculaneum boathouses, she said, suggesting heat-related changes to the bones were minimal: This new work shows that researchers should renew their investigations into the causes and manner of death at Oplontis, Pompeii and other Vesuvian-area sites.
By Trend

Azerbaijan and Russia have deep historical roots, First Deputy Director General of the Russian TASS News Agency Mikhail Gusman told reporters in Baku Jan. 24 on the sidelines of the Baku-Moscow: dialogue of cultures conference, Trend reports.

We all remember what significance the national leader Heydar Aliyev attached to the relations between Azerbaijan and Russia, cultural relations, and todays conference is the embodiment of his vision, Gusman said.

Gusman expressed gratitude to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva for their support in holding the conference.

Speaking about the importance of the conference, Gusman noted that a big, representative delegation consisting of prominent public and cultural figures arrived at the event from Russia.

Everyone feels great joy from being in Baku, and the matter is not only in traditional Azerbaijani hospitality, but also in the atmosphere of friendship, cooperation, attention that the delegation is surrounded by, the first deputy director general added.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
A High Court judge has approved a 1.5m settlement over the death of a pregnant young mother as a result of failings in her care at Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar.

Most of the settlement, some 1.3m, will go to Natasha Peries two children, now aged 11 and nine years.

Ms Perie was aged 26 and almost 15 weeks pregnant when pronounced braindead in late November 2014.

She was kept on life support for almost another four weeks due to doctors concerns about the implications of the Eighth Amendment, since repealed, for the foetus.

The life support was ended after her family obtained High Court orders to that end on December 26 2014.

Her father Peter Perie later took proceedings in which the main claim was for damages for his two grandchildren, a girl now aged 11 and a boy aged nine, over the loss of their mothers care.

Both children, who have different fathers, had been living with their mother in Mr Peries home but, since her death, were separated to live with their fathers.

The HSE admitted liability in the fatal dependency proceedings but disputed the extent of damages sought, some 3.2m.

The HSE defence was managed by the State Claims Agency which had offered some 1.5m.

Nervous shock claims by seven family members were previously settled and Ms Peries daughter received 150,000 in those proceedings.

The larger fatal dependency hearing opened on Tuesday before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy after a mediation failed to secure agreement and the 1.5m offer made earlier this week was not accepted.

The family had last November received an apology from the Mullingar hospital and the HSE over failings in Ms Peries care at the hospital in late 2014.

She was pronounced braindead days after her admission there on November 27 2014 but was then kept on life support.

Ms Justice Murphy heard evidence from Mr Perie, members of his extended family and the childrens fathers. She also heard evidence from a doctor concerning the impact on the children of seeing their mother on life support.

Dr Frances Colreavy said Ms Peries face and body were very puffy and her eyes did not close properly.

She said nurses told her the children, especially the then six-year-old girl, were upset, with both refusing to touch their mother.

The girl was described as inconsolable.

Evidence was also given by a care expert who considered both children would require live-in nannies until they left home.

Peter Perie outside court. Pic: Collins

The judge expressed reservations about that and certain other aspects of the claim.

Talks began between the sides yesterday and, this morning, Mr Justice Kevin Cross was asked by Jonathan Kilfeather SC, instructed by Gillian OConnor solicitor, of Michael Boylan Litigation, to approve the 1.5m offer.

Mr Kilfeather said the 1.5m offer was now being recommended arising from evidence given during the hearing before Ms Justice Murphy and the latters views about some aspects of the claim.

He said the main planks of the claim concerned provision of live-in nannies for both children and for alternative housing for them.

Because of evidence including Ms Perie had intended to move out of her fathers home after her third child was born, a lot of the case fell away, he said.

Due to misunderstandings, his side also only learned during the case one father had given up work to look after the boy, along with another child of that father, which also impacted on future care costs.

The 1.5m was also being recommended because of views expressed by Ms Justice Murphy about aspects of the claim, including weekend care costs, which lead to his side having formed a view as to what was likely to happen in the case and on any appeal.

Mr Justice Cross said it was a tragic case and he was being asked to approve a 1.5m offer he had previously declined on the recommendation of the plaintiffs lawyers.

Litigation is not an exact science and evidence, the courts assessment of that, and other circumstances can alter matters, he said.

As matters had unfolded, the 1.5m settlement was a very good one and he had no hesitation approving it. He was told it includes some 808,750 for Ms Peries daughter, 508,750 for her son, some 50,000 each to their fathers for their past care over and above normal parental care, and a payment for Ms Peries father. The settlement also includes costs.

The judge, who extended his sympathy to the family, was told wardship applications are to be brought concerning the children.
A husband and wife who have captured moments in time for more than a decade and a company that has grown into a technology powerhouse were among those honored Thursday during the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerces annual meeting.

Warmowski Photography was named the chambers small business of the year. CCK Automations was awarded the business of the year honor.

Steve and Tiffany Warmowski started their photo business in 2007 and have provided photography for many city organizations and for private events, such as weddings. They also donate time in their studio to new photographers.

Tiffany Warmowski also is youth exchange chair for the Jacksonville Rotary Club and teaches photography to youths. Steve Warmowski is a city alderman and a member of Jacksonville Kiwanis.

CCK Automations specializes in building custom circuit board assemblies for unique applications. JJ and Sherri Richardson started the company in 1999. In 2015, they bought an injection molding facility and relocated the facility to Jacksonville to manufacture plastic products ranging from 35- to 500-ton machines. By last year, they had more than 120 employees.

Jacksonville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau was chosen as the not-for-profit business of the year. The bureau promotes events and travel to Jacksonville through attractions, businesses and tours.

Last year, the groups efforts helped to attract nearly $49.5 million in visitor expenditures, according to the chamber. The travel and tourism industry supports about 300 jobs in the Jacksonville area and generates nearly $1 million in annual tax revenue.

Executive Director Brittany Henry also chairs several community events, including last years United Way campaign and the Passavant Auxiliary Bazaar. She is president of Jacksonville Rotary.

The group has organized an annual blanket drive, trick-or-treating at area hotels and other events to put the community in the spotlight.

Keith Bradbury received the chambers Circle of Excellence recognition. The award is given to someone who is retired from an active chamber business and has served as a board member or chair on a chamber committee as well as having a record of contributions to the chamber.

Bradbury was an agricultural lender for more than 30 years. He retired in 2018 from Community State Bank in Franklin, of which he was chief executive officer. He also is a farmer in West Perry and a past president, vice president and board member of Kiwanis.

Bradbury served as director of the board of the Illinois Bankers Association, chairman of the Passavant Area Hospital board of directors, chairman of the Elm City board of directors and chairman of the Lincoln Land Community College Advisory Council. In 2017, he served as chairman of the chamber board and has served on its agri-industry division.

Bradbury also served on the Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corp. board of directors and has helped the Tri-County Community Development Corp.
DeVos drew barbs for the comparison, but the analogy between slavery and abortion is hardly novel. It is offensive to many who see slavery as Americas singular original sin, but it has been used for decades by abortion opponents seeking to bestow constitutional rights onto developing fetuses and to associate their movement with one that is far more unifying.
Twenty homes were forced to evacuate in California after 'hundreds and hundreds' of explosive devices were found in the home of a recently deceased 70-year-old man.

Police in Stockton, California, called to a house on Thursday morning where a man was believed to have died of natural causes but found a large number of what appeared to be military weapons in the residence.

Officers called the bomb squad and twenty houses in the surrounding streets were evacuated as a precaution. Street closures remained in effect on Friday until further notice as the investigation continues.

The bomb squad was called to a house in California after hundreds of explosives were found

Police quickly evacuated the surrounding streets as they began to investigate the devices

At 9am on Thursday morning, officers called to a residence on the 2900 block of Rockford Avenue, finding the body of a man they first thought to be in his 60s or 70s.

People who know the man found him in the house and called the police. It is believed he died of natural causes.

As police looked throughout the rest of the house, a large number of weapons were discovered, some of which looked to be military weapons and the building was immediately evacuated. It is not yet known if anyone else lived in the house with him.

The surrounding streets remain closed through Friday as the investigation continues

The 2900 block on Rockford Ave were the military explosive devices were discovered

'During the initial stages of the investigation, our officers located what they believed to be numerous types of possible military explosives inside the house,' Officer Joe Silva, a spokesman for the Stockton Police Department, told Recordnet.com.

When the bomb squad arrived, they believed that the devices may have been military, Silva explained, and help was sought from the local Travis Air Force Base.

Officers evacuated twenty homes around the house as a precaution while the Red Cross set up an evacuation center for those affected at the Arnold Rue Community Center on Lorraine Avenue.

Stockton Police Department issued an evacuation alert for the surrounding streets

Officer Joe Silva said the investigation would carry on into the weekend

At 9am on Thursday morning, officers called to a residence on the 2900 block of Rockford Avenue, finding the body of a man they first thought to be in his 60s or 70s

Officers do not yet know if the man was in the military or the reason for his stockpile of military explosives.

The collection of explosives is so large that although experts traveled to the house on Thursday afternoon they will be forced to return on Friday to finish the investigation.

Silva reported the investigation of the property could continue into the weekend. The streets closed in the initial shutdown remain closed until further notice.

'They just left about an hour ago just because of how many types of devices are still in the home, they had to go back and get additional personnel', he told Fox 40 on Thursday evening.

'Since there are so many of them, they actually had to leave here this evening and they'll be back tomorrow morning with more personnel,' Silva said on Thursday evening.

'You have to look at each device, determine if it's live or not and then figure out exactly how you're going to move it out of the residence.'

Recordnet.com spoke to one neighbor Dale Boyd who lives in the evacuation zone. He did not know the deceased man but said he 'never caused a problem'.

Boyd claimed whoever the man was he was well within his right to collect the weapons but likes to think he never would have used them.
Brazils President Jair Bolsonaro arrived on Friday for his first official visit to India, during which he will be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade and hold talks with the Indian leadership to boost trade and investment.

Bolsonaro, the third Brazilian president to be the chief guest at the celebrations that showcase Indias military might and culture, was accompanied by eight ministers and a large business delegation for the four-day visit.

He was received at the airport by minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan. Both countries are working together to channelise commonalities into a solid foundation for future cooperation, external affairs ministry spokesperson said in a tweet.

The visit will be an opportunity to re-energise our strategic partnership, Vijay Thakur Singh, secretary (East) in the external affairs ministry, said. The two sides are expected to sign about 15 agreements on agriculture, defence, oil and gas, bio-energy and cyber-security, officials said. However, they have differences over sugar, with Brazil unhappy about Indian subsidies for the commodity.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar will meet Bolsonaro on Saturday morning, before he is accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Bolsonaro will pay his respect to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat before meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He will meet President Ram Nath Kovind and vice president M Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday. After the Republic Day parade on Sunday, he will attend the at home reception hosted by his Indian counterpart.
Can Toronto avoid the kind of housing crisis that afflicts Silicon Valley?

The tech hub around San Francisco has a reputation for offering some of the highest wages in the world. But as its real estate prices have soared, so have homeless rates, which rose 17 per cent between 2017 and 2019. Even people in middle-class occupations, such as teachers, are leaving in droves as the price of housing outpaces income there.

Its a cautionary tale for Toronto, which has 9,200 homeless people every night, says a report being released Friday by the Toronto Region Board of Trade (TRBOT) and WoodGreen, one of the citys largest social services and housing providers.

The business group and community agency want to kickstart a conversation about the potential for Torontos major employers to play a role in providing housing for the workers who keep the city humming.

They say the problem is too big to be solved by government alone.

Warning signs are in the air, says the report called, Housing a Generation of Workers, Defining the Problem.

The citys median income is $71,631. But the housing shortage is so severe, even those with significantly higher incomes are challenged to find appropriate, affordable housing, it says.

Housing prices here have expanded four times faster than incomes, pricing out many workers, including those just below the median, earning between $40,000 and $65,000, people in vital occupations such as new nursing and teaching grads, custodians, shelter and hotel workers, artists and restaurant cooks.

If we dont address this, were going to have a city of very rich people and a city of very vulnerable people and nobody in the middle. Thats not really the society we want to be building, said WoodGreen vice-president of policy and strategy Michelle German.

The report says that, Workforce housing has the potential to be either a band-aid on a problem or part of a transformational solution.

It notes that theres the risk of an unfavourable power dynamic if employer housing limits workers ability to accept another job because it might put their housing in jeopardy.

But the benefits could help workers build equity and save for their own homes.

German said WoodGreen, which has about 40,000 clients and between 700 and 800 employees, has partnered with programs such as Options for Homes, an affordable home ownership social enterprise. It wants to assist employees, such as personal support workers, locate closer to the places they work so that they arent burdened by long commutes.

Tim Hortons, the banks, even bigger social agencies like the YMCA  those are the kinds of employers who may not have seen themselves in the housing conversation and were saying, Lets draw them in!  she said.

Board of Trade CEO Jan De Silva said that involving major employers is a huge salvo for the affordability crisis.

She suggested that Torontos post-secondary institutions could be well-positioned to consider worker and student housing.

The report is the first of three planned for this year to activate additional (housing) solutions, said De Silva.

It is looking at what other high cost jurisdictions have done to tackle this and how do we transfer this to Toronto, she said.

De Silva said her niece, a teacher in northern Quebec, receives an apartment as part of her compensation, a perq. that helps the small, remote municipality attract teachers.

It is what is required sometimes for people to consider those jobs, she said.

The report is based on interviews with 22 experts from Ontario, British Columbia, California, New York and the United Kingdom. It cites municipalities and employers already using housing as a way to attract and retain workers. Among the examples it outlines are:

The University of British Columbia built 685 apartments that rent for 25 per cent below market rates to faculty and staff. There are 2,000 people on the waiting list for those units. UBC also offers market rents for students and employees and is piloting a rent-geared-to-income program for lower-income staff.

Struggling to attract employees, the San Mateo Community College District in Silicon Valley built two rental projects and is developing a third, where staff are eligible to live in the apartments for up to seven years. The district also offers home-ownership assistance with low-interest loans. An arms-length non-profit manages the housing as a way of circumventing concerns about the power dynamic of employer-built and -operated housing.

The Jefferson Union High School District found that a third of its high school teachers were considering leaving the area when rents nearly doubled between 2010 and 2018. Teachers, who earned about $55,000 to start, could make double at a tech company. The school board is expected to begin building 120 apartments beginning next month. But teachers unions have objected, saying that the money would be better spent on salaries.
Emergency sign points to the entrance to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, California on March 23, 2017. (Mike Blake/Reuters-File)

Hospitalized Woman in New Jersey Does Not Have Coronavirus

The Hackensack University Medical center confirmed that the patient hospitalized in Hackensack, New Jersey does not have a new coronavirus that first broke out in China.

After an evaluation of the patient and consulting with the State Department of Health, experts have determined the patient does not have the Wuhan Coronavirus. Due to patient privacy, we are unable to provide additional information, the hospital said in a statement.

According to NorthJersey.com, the patient is a 25-year-old woman who was brought to a hospital in Hackensack by the Edgewater Emergency Medical Services on Thursday night.

Health officials believed a Texas A&M student who traveled from Wuhan, China may have contracted the virus.

Together with the Department of Health and local health officials, the hospital worked together to gather information on the patient to evaluate for possible infection with the coronavirus.

Coronavirus originates from central China, where the illness has reached nearly every province and region of the country.

It can cause coughing, fever, breathing difficulty, and pneumonia and has spread to Thailand, South Korea, and Taiwan.

The transmission of the disease is still unknown.

Person-to-person transmission is still being evaluated but appears to be occurring within case households and in the healthcare setting, the New Jersey health department told NorthJersey.com.

On Jan. 21, the United States reported its first case of the virus in Washington state.

A man in his 30s, who had just traveled to China had tested positive for coronavirus.

Though the infection is causing worldwide concern, the World Health Organization has not declared a global emergency yet.
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday called senior Congress leader P Chidambaram a "Chindi Chor" for calling the central government of being the real "Tukde Tukde" gang.

Pradhan's retaliation comes after former union finance minister Chidambaram stated that the country has slipped 10 places in the global democracy index owing to "debilitation" of democratic institutions.

Speaking to ANI, Pradhan said, "Chidambaram recently came back from jail on charges of theft...the country knows what kind of work was done in Chidambaram's time. People like P Chidambaram, who went to jail after 'Chindi Chori' will always have trouble with people who are following the rules and regulations."

Chidambaram, who is out on bail in the INX media case, on Thursday accused the central government of being the real 'Tukde Tukde' gang while stating the country has slipped 10 places in the global democracy index owing to 'debilitation' of democratic institutions.

Taking to Twitter, Chidambaram warned that every patriotic Indian should be alarmed.

"India has slipped 10 places in the Democracy Index. Anyone who has closely observed the events of the last two years knows that democracy has been eroded and democratic institutions have been debilitated. Those who are in power are the real 'Tukde Tukde' gang," he had tweeted.

In a series of tweets, he further said that "the world is alarmed by the direction the country is taking", adding that "India has slipped to 51st position in a 2019 global democracy index ranking".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
After a period of relative stability, Iraq has been roiled by unrest since the fall. Anti-government protesters have repeatedly clashed with security forces, and more than 500 people have been killed, most of them young, unarmed men. The unrest has toppled a government and won mild electoral changes. But as protesters ramp up pressure for meaningful change, riot police have fired bullets into crowds and launched tear gas canisters heavy enough to smash skulls.
Rohingya Muslims remain "at serious risk of genocide" in Myanmar, the International Court of Justice has ruled.

The United Nations' court, based in The Hague in the Netherlands, ordered Myanmar to take urgent measures to protect Rohingyas from persecution and atrocities.

In a ruling on Thursday, it also called on the southeast Asian country - sometimes known as Burma - to preserve evidence of alleged crimes against Rohingyas.

The International Court of Justice, the highest body for disputes between states, is currently considering a lawsuit against Myanmar launched by African country Gambia, a Muslim-majority nation.

Gambia has accused Buddhist-majority Myanmar of violating its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention.

It is only the third genocide case filed at The Hague since the Second World War.

Thursday's ruling only dealt with Gambia's request for so-called preliminary measures against Myanmar.

The court decided Myanmar should "take all measures within its power to prevent all acts" prohibited under the 1948 convention and must report back within four months.

:: Listen to the Behind the Headline podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker

The country's government was also ordered to exercise influence over its military and other armed groups to prevent "killing members of the group, causing serious bodily or mental harm to the members of the group, deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life intended to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part."

"The court is of the opinion that the Rohingya in Myanmar remain extremely vulnerable," said Abdulqawi Yusuf, the court's presiding judge.

More than 730,000 Rohingya fled Myanmar's western Rakhine state after a military-led crackdown in 2017, and were forced into camps across the border in neighbouring Bangladesh.

UN investigators have previously said Myanmar's military carried out mass killings and gang rapes of Rohingya with "genocidal intent".

Story continues

The atrocities have trashed the international reputation of Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 for championing democracy and human rights under Myanmar's then-ruling junta.

In an article for the Financial Times on Thursday, ahead of the court's ruling, Ms Suu Kyi admitted that war crimes "may have been committed by members of her country's military.

"War crimes that may have been committed by members of the defence services will be prosecuted through our military justice system," she wrote.

"It is never easy for armed forces to recognise self-interest in accountability for their members, and then follow through with actual investigations and prosecutions."

However, Ms Suu Kyi also accused human rights groups and some refugees of making "unproven statements" and presenting "a distorted picture" in their reports.

"The international justice system may not yet be equipped to filter out misleading information before shadows of incrimination are cast over entire nations and governments," she said.

In 2017, Ms Suu Kyi claimed the crisis in Rakhine state was being distorted by a "huge iceberg of misinformation".
Mass evictions in Nigeria have recently prompted protests as Nigeria's housing crisis continues to mount. A village comprising of 3,000 people was demolished in a raid carried out on January 3. This latest demolition was part of a much wider exercise where the government has been rapidly clearing informal settlements in order to build luxury housings and other structures.

Mass evictions leave thousands homeless

According to Akinrolabu Samuel, a campaigner with the Nigeria Slum/Informal Settlement Federation, the government has conducted persistent evictions across Lagos which why it is the biggest city in Nigeria.

Samuel says that all this is being done for real estate and real estate development. According to reports Lagos grows by almost 600,000 people each year. These people find themselves living in ramshackle settlements and joining the thousands of other impoverished families.

Read: Nigeria: 4 Killed In Explosion As Thieves Breach Oil Pipeline In Lagos

Read: Jaishankar In Niger Inaugurates First Convention Centre Made By India In Africa To Honour Gandhi

In September of last year, the United Nations said that Nigeria was in the middle of a housing crisis and that the mass evictions of people were just making things worse. The government has defended these evictions claiming that they only target known homes of criminal gangs that pose a security risk. Gbenga Omotoso, commissioner for information and strategy for Lagos state government said that the administration was law-abiding but they would at the same time bow down to shanties when it came to the construction of roads and other projects.

The attacks on poor communities of #Lagos must end. Throwing many families into endless misery is not the best way of addressing allegations of crime and urban planning failures of the authorities. We call for a halt to ongoing forced evictions. @followlasg @jidesanwoolu  Amnesty Int. Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) January 23, 2020

The Nigerian authorities must immediately halt the violent and unlawful evictions that rendered thousands of residents of Tarkwa Bay, a waterfront community in Lagos homeless, said Amnesty International Nigeria today. @NigerianNavy @followlasg @jidesanwoolu @tundefashola  Amnesty Int. Nigeria (@AmnestyNigeria) January 23, 2020

Read: Cardi B Tweets About Applying For Nigerian Citizenship, Nigerian Government Responds

Read: Nigeria: At Least 30 Killed, 35 Injured In El Beid Bridge Explosion
E uropean Council president Charles Michel and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen have signed the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, the council has said.

The European Parliament is expected to vote to ratify the agreement on January 29 ahead of Britains departure from the EU on January 31.

Following the signing of the document, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen tweeted: "Charles Michel and I have just signed the Agreement on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU, opening the way for its ratification by the European Parliament."

Mr Michel, President of the European Council, sat with Ms von der Leyen to sign the accord in front of two EU flags.

Mr Michel said: "Things will inevitably change but our friendship will remain.

The Agreement on the Withdrawal of the UK, which has been signed in Brussels, paving the way for the country to leave the EU next week / PA

"We start a new chapter as partners and allies."

The document has been signed off 1,309 days after the people voted to leave the union during the Brexit referendum.

It means the UK will leave the EU at 11pm, January 31 2020.

There will be a transition period, where little will change for 11 months.

The deal has already been enshrined in UK law after the Queen granted her assent on Thursday.

The next stage is for the deal to be passed by the EU Parliament - a vote is expected to take place on Wednesday - then the countdown to get good trade deals in place will begin.

Boris Johnson and his government will have to reach a deal by December 31 or the UK risks crashing out of the EU without a trade deal.

Boris Johnson has said that he wants to negotiate a comprehensive free trade deal with the EU by the end of the year.

Trade talks will be in full swing once the EU Parliament votes the agreement through / PA

However, EU officials warn the 11-month timetable is not workable because trade talks cannot start until March.

The Prime Minister, however, remains upbeat, insisting Britain can now move forward after years of wrangling over Brexit.

At times it felt like we would never cross the Brexit finish line, but weve done it, he said.

Now we can put the rancour and division of the past three years behind us and focus on delivering a bright, exciting future.

The deal was originally presided over by Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk who have both finished their terms in the time it has taken to reach the agreement.

Boris Johnson's Brexit bill journey

From October until January, Boris Johnson's Brexit bill journey / Henry Nicholls/PA Wire

In October, Mr Johnson attempted to push his Brexit bill through the House of Commons.

MPs were concerned they were not being given enough time to scrutinise the updated agreement, which had been stripped of its most controversial clause "the backstop".

The Prime Minister was forced to ask the EU for a third extension to avoid a no-deal scenario.

Brussels agreed and put the deadline back to January 31, and the Tories called for a snap election to break the deadlock.

On December 12, Mr Johnson was elected Prime Minister as leader of the Conservative Party, with their best result since 1987.

With an 80-strong majority, he returned to the Commons and promised to "deliver Brexit".

MPs returned to parliament following a Christmas break and the Brexit deal passed through all the necessary stages.
A High Court judge has said he will order the extradition of a Northern Irish man wanted in the UK to face multiple counts of manslaughter following the discovery of 39 dead Vietnamese nationals in a lorry trailer in Essex.

The UK authorities want Eamon Harrison (23) from Mayobridge, Co Down, to face 39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and conspiracy to commit human trafficking under the UKs Modern Slavery Act.

Mr Justice Donald Binchy today said he received "very comprehensive" submissions from Mr Harrison's legal team and that of the Department of Justice.



He said, after considering the submissions from both parties, he found there was nothing to preclude him from ordering the surrender of Eamon Harrison and that the circumstances meet the requirements of the law.



The judge said he has made a lengthy and detailed written judgement explaining his decision.



He said: The decision itself is ready but its not available for court this morning.



Mr Justice Binchy then indicated the 50-page judgement would not be ready until Monday, January 27th, 2020.

He said he would not summarise his judgement for fear of omitting something.



Following this, Tony McGillicuddy BL, for Mr Harrison, requested the judge not to make the order for Mr Harrisons extradition today.



Mr McGillicuddy said the court had indicated its decision but Mr Harrisons legal team needed time to consider the decision and to decide whether to appeal it or not.



He said holding off on making the order today would be of no disadvantage to the State or the court and said Mr Harrison is in custody. The barrister also said that other considerations, such as Brexit, dont arise, certainly at the present time.



Ronan Kennedy SC, for the Minister for Justice, said that the minister is anxious that, as the court has given its decision, that the matter be finalised as soon as possible.



Mr Justice Binchy subsequently deferred making the order until Tuesday, February 4th and adjourned the matter until that date at 10am. The judge also made a production order for Mr Harrison to appear on that date.



It is alleged that Mr Harrison transported the refrigerated trailer in which the bodies of eight women and 31 men were found in an industrial park in Grays, Essex on October 23 last.



He is alleged to have delivered the trailer to a Belgian port before its onward journey to Britain, where it was collected from the Port of Purfleet, Essex by Maurice Robinson (25), from Craigavon, Co Armagh, who was arrested by Essex police at the scene.



Mr Harrison, a dual Irish-British citizen, was arrested in Ireland on foot of a European Arrest Warrant.



At the same hearing last month, the court heard that recordings found on mobile phones belonging to the 39 migrants found dead in the trailer suggest some of them were still alive after entering UK territorial water at 19.42pm on October 22nd, 2019.



Multiple voices could be heard on the recordings.



Mr Kennedy told the court at that hearing that the case as alleged against Mr Harrison couldnt be any clearer.



He alleged that Mr Harrison was integrally involved in a conspiracy to traffic illegal Vietnamese immigrants into the UK since as early as 2018.



At last months hearing, Siobhan Stack SC, for Mr Harrison, said it was not alleged that Mr Harrison placed the deceased into the trailer. She also said it was not alleged that Mr Harrison knew the people were in the trailer nor that there were 39 of them.



It was simply alleged that Mr Harrison transported the trailer but there was nothing to say where the people were collected, who collected them or who put them in the trailer, she added.



There were too many critical missing facts and the High Court was being asked to fill in too many blanks, she submitted.
Captain Charles Meinhold may well have hoped to complete his assignment without incident as he led the sweat-stained troopers of Company B, 3rd U.S. Cavalry, plodding methodically across the monotonous broken plains of southwest Nebraska. Tasked to monitor nominally peaceful reservation Indians then hunting in the area, Meinholds patrol along the Republican River also served to curb rowdy frontiersmen and protect surveyors then busily delineating homesteads for white settlers. There was little relief from the oppressive heat and humidity during the tedious march. Five days of probing south from Fort McPherson had proved uneventful. But as the soldiers busied themselves about camp at the mouth of Blackwood Creek on Aug. 5, 1873, Meinholds routine patrol unraveled.

Galloping frantically toward the troopers late that morning were a young white man and three Pawnee elders bearing shocking details of a brutal massacre just upriver. Underscoring their agitation, a column of blood-spattered, bedraggled refugees slowly staggered into view from the west. As Meinhold struggled to comprehend their anguished accounts, it became clear an overwhelming force of Sioux (Lakota) warriors had attacked the hapless Pawnees, slaughtering several men alongside many women and children.

Although the vicious attack had left the Pawnees dazed and demoralized, their chiefs assured Meinhold they could rally to counterattack the Sioux, if only the soldiers would assist them. The captain wisely declined, explaining that his 49 troops could accomplish little against the host of warriors the chiefs had described. He advised the Pawnees to continue down the Republican and regroup near the settlement of Red Willow, some 20 miles farther east, while he investigated.

Troopers approached a shallow canyon that contained the first bloody evidence of the brutal strugglemutilated bodies that lay as they had fallen, filling the canyon with a reeking carnage

After a westward march of a dozen miles, Meinholds troopers approached a shallow canyon that contained the first bloody evidence of the brutal strugglemutilated bodies that lay as they had fallen, filling the canyon with a reeking carnage. Meinholds worst fears were confirmed.

Civilian contract surgeon David F. Powell later wrote of his own pained reaction:

It was a horrible sight. Dead braves with bows still tightly grasped in dead and stiffened fingers; sucking infants pinned to their mothers breasts with arrows; bowels protruding from openings made by fiendish knives; heads scalped, with the red blood glazed upon thema stinking mass, many already flyblown and scorched with heat.

Green troopers may have vomited as they probed the silent, gore-spattered gully. Among the bloating corpses, thousands of pounds of jerked bison meat and hundreds of furs lay strewn in disarray, testifying to the panic sparked by the sudden and murderous Sioux attack.

The clustered earth lodges of the Pawnees, who had tentatively accepted reservation life as early as 1857, made tempting and easy targets for their nomadic Sioux enemies. As they sought to walk the white mans road, the Pawnees soon learned that federal promises of protection meant little in the face of persistent incursions by Brule and Oglala raiders.

Despite their sedentary appearance, the Pawnees by necessity ventured off the reservation to supplement their meager crops and uncertain annuities with meat gathered during two broad-ranging annual buffalo hunts. President Ulysses S. Grants recently appointed Quaker Indian agents deplored the practice, which they believed permitted the Pawnees an unwarranted freedom from agency control.

The Quakers demanded an unrealistically rapid and uncompromising transformation of the Pawnees lifestyle. By 1873, however, the grim realities of reservation life had left the tribe nearly destitute. Although their previous summer hunt, shepherded by Buffalo Bill Cody associate John B. Texas Jack Omohundro, had temporarily replenished their larders, the subsequent unchaperoned winter hunt had ended poorly when Sioux raiders stole more than 100 of their horses and scattered the Pawnees, forcing them to cache their meat, walk back to the agency and endure a humiliating and hungry winter.

Following a grand council that spring, Pawnee leaders eagerly anticipated the forthcoming summer hunt, even though the nearest buffalo herds were upward of 150 miles away. Omohundro reportedly applied for the 1873 trail agent position, but he found the prospect of appearing onstage in New York City with Cody too tempting to turn down. Or perhaps it was his costar, Italian dancer Giuseppina Morlacchi, he found so alluringenough to marry her that summer. Regardless, Texas Jack was unavailable.

The previous winter Quaker William Burgess had assumed control of the Pawnee Indian Agency at Genoa, near Columbus in eastern Nebraska. Luther North, of the famed Pawnee Scouts, rated the incoming agent as wholly unqualified, noting, His judgment, where the Pawnee are concerned, if anything is poorer than any of the other agents the Pawnees have had. Shocked by the tribes starvation and poverty, Burgess at first sought early distribution of annuity goods for his starving wards. By June, however, he had reluctantly authorized the summer hunt. Sixty-year-old Sky Chief, considered among the ablest of the Pawnee leaders, would be in charge, aided by Sun Chief and Fighting Bear.

That spring John W. Williamson, a 22-year-old homesteader from Wisconsin, had signed on at Genoa as an agency farmer, or agriculturalist. The genial farmer was well-liked by the Pawnees, who named him Curly Head, due to his shoulder-length wavy brown hair. Of Norwegian descent, he was in excellent physical condition and spoke passable Pawnee. Despite Williamsons good press, North gave him mixed reviews, dismissively charging that the Scandinavian agriculturist knew no more about the Pawnees than did the Quaker agent. North did admire Williamsons pluck, though, asserting he showed himself a man all the way.

Pawnee leaders urged Burgess to appoint the longhaired farmer as trail agent for the summer hunt. As Williamson hadnt applied for the position, he was surprised when a chief informed him of his appointment. He undoubtedly knew less about being a trail agent than Omohundro did, a deficiency the tribal elders may have hoped would result in less stringent oversight. In defining his responsibilities, Burgess cautioned Williamson to avoid interfering with the Pawnees traditional mode of hunting, while authorizing him to provide such counsel as he saw fit in all other matters. Ominously, the agent also warned Williamson to guard against incursions by the tribes traditional enemies.

Lester Beach Platt, a young man out from Baltimore to visit his Indian trader uncle, asked to join the hunt. Feeling he might prove good company, Williamson consented, though he suspected the young man might be a tenderfoot of the first degree. Platt confirmed the trail agents suspicions during their first buffalo chase on nearly being thrown from his horse and trampled. The Pawnees called the young man Keats-ko-toose Kittabutsk, which translates roughly as Little Platte River, a play on both his surname and his relationship to the older Platt at the agency.

In 1873 the agency at Genoa supported upward of 2,300 Pawnees, including some 600 warriors. Of these, 250 men left the agency on July 3, accompanied by 100 women and 50 children. Most of the men were armed with bows and arrows, their preferred and most efficient hunting weapons. Others carried obsolete muzzleloading muskets, while a few had obtained seven-shot Spencer carbines or percussion revolvers. The Pawnees were thus well armed for hunting if woefully unequipped for battle.

Though ragged, their pageant presented a dramatic spectacle, sweeping across the prairie in a column that stretched nearly a mile. Curious white settlers gathered along the route to marvel as they passed.

For a month the Pawnee hunt proved successful, reaping a harvest of some 800 animals. Both Williamson and Platt described the process as well-organized and efficient. Nights often featured joyous feasts Williamson compared favorably to Christian prayer meetings. In the wake of the first hunt the trail agent endeared himself to his Pawnee colleagues by wolfing down a blood-sopped slab of raw buffalo liver.

The evening of August 4 found the Pawnees camped along the north bank of the Republican River. With the hunt winding down, they made preparations to begin their return trek to the agency the following morning. Around 9 that night John Deary and two fellow buffalo hunters stopped by camp to warn the hunting party that a large band of Sioux was camped 25 miles to the northwest, seemingly bent on attacking the Pawnees.

In response to an earlier warning Williamson had enforced a precautionary detour, a move that had only irritated the Pawnee hunters when they encountered neither Sioux nor buffalo. Understandably, they greeted news of this latest warning with great skepticism. Sky Chief wasted little time in denouncing the buffalo hunters as liars who sought to frighten off the Pawnees in order to slaughter the animals themselves for their hides. When Williamson again counseled caution, Sky Chief flew into a rage, denouncing the young field agent as a woman and a coward. His ego stung, Williamson barked back: I will go as far as you dare go! Dont forget that.

Meanwhile, in the Sioux camps, a party of warriors from the Cut-off band, led by Oglala Chiefs Little Wound and Pawnee Killer, had reported sighting the Pawnee hunting party. Little Wound decided to attack immediately from his camp on Frenchman Creek. Smarting from recent losses to Ute horse thieves, Pawnee Killer was also ready for a fight. It had required every bit of diplomacy possessed by their own trail agent, Antoine Janis, to prevent the Sioux from mounting a bloody reprisal against the Utes. They would not be denied again.

With their inveterate enemies nearly in hand, Little Wound demanded to know whether his warriors were free to attack them. Janis demurred. While he forbade attacks on the Pawnee reservation or near white settlements, he cryptically left the present question hanging. Little Wound haughtily responded that as Janis had quashed the reprisal against the Utes, the young Sioux warriors would no longer listen to the trail agent.

As the Cut-offs prepared for battle, they dispatched runners to Spotted Tails Brule camp, upstream on Stinking Water Creek. In 1872 Spotted Tails band, as a peaceful gesture to whites, had entertained Russias Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich during Cody and Lt. Col. George Custers extravagant winter buffalo hunt only a few miles away. It is uncertain whether Spotted Tail personally joined the gathering war party against the Pawnees, though he likely refrained. Stephen F. Estes, trail agent in charge of the Brules, later asserted, I used every effort to induce the Indians under my charge to make peace with the Pawneesbut the young men would listen to nothing.

In the predawn darkness of August 5 Pawnee scouts spotted some 50 head of bison near their line of march. The hunters promptly galloped off for one last chase, leaving their women, children and older men to press eastward with the pack animals. Some noted a distant mass of dark, moving objects, suggesting an even larger herd.

As they rode along, a remorseful Sky Chief apologized to Williamson for his outburst the previous evening. Still convinced the white hunters had lied, however, the Pawnee chief had neglected to send scouts toward the reported Sioux encampment. The last time Williamson saw Sky Chief was when he rode off to join the chase.

On sighting the buffalo, one young Pawnee begged to borrow Williamsons rifle and raced away with it to join the hunt. Williamson never saw the young man or the rifle again.

The pack train had nearly eased out of sight to the east when Williamson noted a commotion near the head of a small canyon. He spurred forward, discovering to his alarm Sioux warriors were approaching. Womens war chants and wailing rose from the canyon as Pawnee warriors rallied to screen them.

Waging the initial attack was a Sioux vanguard of perhaps no more than 100 warriors. Nevertheless, they slammed into the Pawnees with a shock and surprise that enabled them to kill the few hunters who had dismounted to begin skinning slain buffalo. Among the latter was the heedless Sky Chief, who was surrounded and died fighting as he tried to reach his horse.

In the initial confusion Williamson urged the Pawnees to retreat down canyon to a stand of timber that offered a more promising defensive position, but Fighting Bear angrily disagreed, insisting the warriors hold their ground. He had often fought the Sioux and trusted his men could whip them in an open fight. With no time to argue, the Pawnees deployed to defend themselves where they stood, skirmishing bravely for perhaps an hour.

Having failed to sell a retreat, Williamson felt duty bound to forestall the Sioux onslaught by himself, if possible. Riding to within 300 yards of the onrushing hoards, the agent and a companion wildly waved white handkerchiefs to draw the attackers attention.

As the Sioux thundered toward them, Williamson recalled an elderly lady friend who had teasingly remarked his long hair would make an attractive scalp

Memories fade, of course, especially under such duress. Within days of the battle Williamson reported he had ridden to the fore with Platt, and in his memoirs the young man confirmed his presence at the outset of the attack. Years later, however, Williamson wrote his companion had been mixed-blood interpreter Ralph Weeks. Still other sources suggest all three men may have advanced.

As the Sioux thundered toward them, Williamson recalled an elderly lady friend who had teasingly remarked his long hair would make an attractive scalp. He later wrote of that terrible realization:

When I saw the Sioux coming, I thought of what the old lady had said, and I did not lose any time in twisting my hair up and tucking it under my hat so it would not be so noticeable.

The Sioux answered Williamsons peaceful overture with a fusillade of whistling bullets, prompting the agent to whirl his horse and race back toward the Pawnee lines. At the edge of the canyon his mount, struck by one or more bullets, collapsed. Stripping the saddle and bridle from the animals corpse, the agent transferred them to his hunting pony and soon rejoined the fight.

Only a few Pawnees lay dead when the main Sioux force arrived, swelling their ranks to perhaps 1,000 warriors. Outnumbered 4-to-1, Williamsons wards grimly struggled to defend their women, their children and themselves.

Having lost his rifle, Williamson squeezed off shots at the oncoming Sioux with his revolvers. Suddenly, he encountered Fighting Bear, locked in a desperate mounted duel with a warbonneted Sioux, each man slashing wildly at the other with a tomahawk. Williamson fired at the Sioux, wounding him and providing Fighting Bear an opportunity to finish him. Jumping from his horse, the Pawnee chief scalped his adversary and retreated, leading the dead Siouxs horse down canyon.

As the Sioux reinforcements coalesced around the head of the canyon, Pawnee elders finally ordered a full-scale retreat. Eager to kill their foes, the Sioux arrayed themselves along both walls of the shallow canyon, firing indiscriminately into the writhing mass below. The retreat soon degenerated into a panicked rout, accounting for most of the Pawnee casualties that day.

Caught up amid the calamitous melee, Williamson failed to hear the command to retreat. But as women desperately jettisoned packed meat and scrambled to mount ponies with their children, he realized that he, too, had better run. He later lamented his haste:

I often have thought of a little Indian girl, who evidently had fallen from her mothers back, in our retreat down the canyon. She was sitting on the ground with her little arms raised, as if pleading for someone to pick her up. As I passed, I tried to pick her up but only succeeded in touching one of her hands. I couldnt return, so she was left behind to suffer a horrible death.

As the small, scattered groups of Pawnees fled toward the banks of the Republican, the Sioux unexpectedly broke off their pursuit. Those left behind suffered unspeakable horrors. The attackers raped any women who had fallen behind, then killed and mutilated them, though some were undoubtedly still breathing as the Sioux threw their bodies atop pyres of burning robes.

During the frantic withdrawal Platt became separated from the Pawnees and suddenly found himself surrounded. His prospects looked dim indeed when a warrior jumped him from behind to appropriate his revolver. For a moment Platt stared down the muzzle of his own weapon before recalling it wasnt loaded. At that moment a chief among the Sioux interceded, seemingly deciding it would be impolitic to kill a white man. Released with a rousing round of handshakes, though relieved of his gun, Platt scurried off toward the river. Later that day, as Williamson and the three chiefs briefed Meinhold, the trail agent mistakenly reported the missing Platts death.

Williamson worked tirelessly to care for the shattered Pawnees who managed to escape the Sioux wrath, procuring sacks of flour from a store run by Frank Byfield and hiring a homesteader with a wagon to transport a dozen of the wounded. The field agent also wired Indian Affairs Superintendent Barclay White, who arranged for Union Pacific boxcars to transport survivors to Silver Creek, the rail stop closest to Genoa.

A subsequent agency census recorded 20 warriors, 39 women and 10 children slain. The Sioux had taken another 11 children captive, but agents soon arranged for their return. Scores of Pawnees had been wounded, some later dying of their injuries. The Sioux lost perhaps four to six warriors killed and an unknown number of wounded.

The recriminations began almost immediately.

Insisting the Pawnees had been attacked on land they were entitled to use by treaty, Burgess demanded $9,000 in reparations from Sioux annuities for the lost horses, meat, furs and other property. He squarely blamed Oglala trail agent Janis, contending his bungling had clearly established a governmental liability.

Brule trail agent Estes initially faulted the absent military for the massacre, while Janis simply claimed he had been powerless to prevent the attack. When his attempts to blame the Army failed to gain traction, Estes pointed the finger at Janis:

My failure to avert the attackwas due in a great measure to the ignorance and bad advice given by subagent Janis to the Indians under his charge[leaving] Little Wound impressed with the idea that he had a perfect right to make war upon the Pawnees.

The slaughter at Massacre Canyon represented only the final chapter in an almost endless litany of bloody, brutal intertribal conflicts that began long before Europeans arrived on the continent

Within months and after much debate the Pawnees reluctantly decided to cede their Nebraska holdings to the United States in return for compensatory reservation lands in Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma). Realizing the government could never adequately protect them, the brokenhearted Pawnees left their ancestral homeland forever.

The slaughter at Massacre Canyon represented only the final chapter in an almost endless litany of bloody, brutal intertribal conflicts that began long before Europeans arrived on the continent. The Army and militia forces of course committed atrocities at such haunted places as Camp Grant, Bear River, Sand Creek, Marias River and Wounded Kneedisgraceful episodes that should never be rationalized, excused or forgotten. Yet the sad fact remains that some of the deadliest massacres of American Indians were perpetrated by rival tribes. Massacre Canyon reminds us that over the course of centuries countless Indians fell victim to such ceaseless and indiscriminate intertribal slaughter. WW

Dennis Hagen retired from the Denver Public Librarys Western History/Genealogy Department as an archivist and special collections librarian and continues to work there as a volunteer. For further reading he recommends The Pawnee Indians, by George E. Hyde; The Battle of Massacre Canyon, by Paul D. Riley, published in Vol. 54 of Nebraska History (1973) and available online; and The Battle of Massacre Canyon: The Unfortunate Ending of the Last Buffalo Hunt of the Pawnees, by John W. Williamson.
One of Armenias largest commercial banks has issued a $300 million Eurobond to foreign investors at a yield of 6.5 percent, citing positive economic trends in the country.

Ardshinbank announced the sale of the 5-year dollar-denominated bonds on its website on Thursday. It is largest ever foreign borrowing operation carried out by an Armenian bank.

Ardshinbanks chief financial officer, Davit Sargsian, said on Friday that the bank launched the bond issue after holding a series of meetings with Western investors in New York, London, Zurich and Munich last year.

Sargsian said that robust economic growth in Armenia was a key factor behind Ardshinbanks deicision to attract the relatively low-interest funds from abroad. Expectations among our banks analysts and foreign analysts are positive for 2020 as well, he told RFE/RLs Armenian service.

Sargsian also linked the deal to Armenias third $500 million Eurobond issue announced by the government in September.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian hailed Arshinbanks unprecedented deal late on Thursday. This is a foreign direct investment in our economy, he wrote on Facebook. This is a vivid reflection of our economic revolution.

Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinian said, for is part, that Ardshinbanks external borrowing indicates foreign investors growing interest in the Armenian economy.

This is also a very positive signal in terms of the development of the capital market, Avinian told RFE/RLs Armenian service.

As of late December, Ardshinbank held 678.6 billion drams ($1.4 billion) in combined assets.
Chennai: Tension prevailed in Kanchipuram district of Tamil Nadu after a statue of Dravidar Kazhagam founder and social reformer Periyar was vandalised by unidentified miscreants in the early hours of Friday.

The disfiguring of the statue at Kaliyapettai village, Salavakkam comes amid a row over actor Rajinikanth's remarks about a procession in which the Dravidian stalwart participated nearly 50- year-ago.

People found the face and right hand of the Periyar Statue damaged on Friday morning and alerted the police who rushed to the spot and covered the bust with a tarpaulin sheet. Senior police officers visited the spot and conducted a preliminary enquiry. Following the incident, police security was beefed up in the locality and Salavakkam police launched an investigation into the incident.

Locals suspect the alleged involvement of Rajinikanth fans as Periyarist organisations are organising protests against Rajnikanth.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at the U.S. State Department

An aide to the Cabinet official asked Kelly to follow Pompeo to his living quarters at the State Department without a recording device but did not specify that the ensuing exchange would be off the record, according to NPR.

NPR reported that "immediately after the questions on Ukraine, the interview concluded. Pompeo stood, leaned in and silently glared at Kelly for a period of several seconds before leaving the room."

But Pompeo declined to answer multiple questions from Kelly about Ukraine, saying he had only agreed to discuss the administration's policies with regard to Iran. Kelly disputed that those were the terms of the interview.

The reporter, "All Things Considered" co-host Mary Louise Kelly, interviewed Pompeo on Friday amid President Donald Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate, which centers around the president's dealings with Ukraine.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo cursed out an NPR reporter after she pressed him to answer questions about the removal of former U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch from her post in Ukraine, the outlet reported Friday .

Mary Louise Kelly accepts the award for best reporter/correspondent/host - non-commercial for "All Things Considered" on "NPR News" at the 43rd annual Gracie Awards at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on Tuesday, May 22, 2018, in Beverly Hills, Calif.

"Inside the room, Pompeo shouted his displeasure at being questioned about Ukraine," NPR reported. "He used repeated expletives, according to Kelly, and asked, 'Do you think Americans care about Ukraine?'"

On a radio program for NPR that aired Friday, Kelly provided more details about her unrecorded exchange with Pompeo.

"I was taken to the Secretary's private living room, where he was waiting, and where he shouted at me for about the same amount of time as the interview itself had lasted," Kelly said.

"He used the F word in that sentence, and many others. He asked if I could find Ukraine on a map. I said yes. He called out for his aides to bring him a map of the world with no writing, no countries marked," Kelly said.

"I pointed to Ukraine," she said. "He put the map away. He said, 'People will hear about this,' and then he turned and said he had things to do, and I thanked him again for his time and left."

Neither the White House nor the State Department immediately responded to CNBC's requests for comment on NPR's report.

Reached for comment, Kelly referred CNBC to NPR's story about the incident.

committee tweet

Pompeo on Friday tweeted his plans to travel to Ukraine.

TWEET

Yovanovitch's ouster has at times taken center stage in Trump's impeachment proceedings.

The House voted to impeach Trump on Dec. 18 on articles of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, both related to his efforts to have Ukraine announce probes into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son and a debunked conspiracy theory about the 2016 presidential election.

Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani, with help from associates including Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, had allegedly sought Yovanovitch's removal in order to clear the way for Ukraine to announce the probes that involved Trump's political rivals.

Yovanovitch was removed from her post in Kyiv in the spring of 2019. She testified before the House in November as part of its impeachment inquiry that she felt threatened by Trump and his allies, who had disparaged her even after she was removed from her post.

Yovanovitch said that corrupt Ukrainian officials and Trump associates, including Giuliani, had orchestrated a "smear campaign" against her.

Earlier Friday, ABC News reported that a newly surfaced recording contains audio of Trump, at an April 2018 gathering with Fruman and Parnas, demanding that Yovanovitch be fired.

A transcript of the recorded portion of NPR's interview with Pompeo shows Kelly first asking questions about the tense relations between the U.S. and Iran. Pompeo defended Trump's decision to pull the U.S. out of the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement struck during the Obama administration.

Then Kelly changed the subject to Ukraine, asking if Pompeo owed Yovanovitch an apology.

Pompeo said, "I agreed to come on your show today to talk about Iran. That's what I intend to do."

Kelly responded: "I confirmed with your staff ... last night that I would talk about Iran and Ukraine."

The back-and-forth continued as Kelly pressed Pompeo on whether or not he should apologize to the former U.S. ambassador.

"I'll say only this. I have defended every State Department official," Pompeo said. But when asked where he has defended Yovanovitch in particular, Pompeo said, "I've said all I'm going to say today."

Read NPR's full report.
Sanjay Raut on chopper tragedy: We claim to have modernised armed forces, how could this happen?

BJP tapped NCP-Sena leaders phones; Sanjay Raut says whatever I do, I do it openly

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Mumbai, Jan 24: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Friday said that a BJP leader had informed him that his phone was being tapped by the previous Devendra Fadnavis government in Maharashtra.

On the NCP's allegation that the Centre has withdrawn party chief Sharad Pawar's security at his official residence in New Delhi, Raut said it could have been because Pawar was instrumental in forming the Shiv Sena-led government in the state.

"A BJP leader had told me that my phone was being tapped. I said if anybody wants to listen to what I am saying I welcome it. I am Balasaheb's chela (disciple), whatever I do, I do it openly," Raut told reporters here.

"In spite of the phone-tapping, we formed the government in Maharashtra," he said.

Raut's remarks come a day after state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh alleged that the Fadnavis dispensation misused government machinery to tap the phones of opposition leaders, especially during the formation of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

Will invite Cong, NCP to join Thackeray on Ayodhya visit: Sanjay Raut

"The cyber cell of Maharashtra police has been asked to look into the various complaints of snooping/phone tapping that came in during the previous government," Deshmukh had said on Wednesday.

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh had earlier also alleged that phones of opposition leaders were tapped by the Fadnavis government. He had also raised questions about the involvement of officials in the phone-tapping episode.

On the NCP's allegation about the withdrawal of Sharad Pawar's security, Raut said, "It could have been because Pawar was instrumental in the formation of the Shiv Sena-led government in Maharashtra. A few years ago, he was attacked in Delhi.

Even the Gandhis' SPG security was withdrawn recently." The Rajya Sabha MP was referring to the Centre's recent move of withdrawing the Special Protection Group (SPG) cover of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her children Rahul and Priyanka.
Seventy-six cars were broken into at an apartment complex parking garage, according to Atlanta police.

Residents at The Edge apartments came out to the garage Monday to find broken glass from smashed windows, news outlets reported. Some said security gates at the garage hadnt been working in recent days.

The apartment complex, which is located near the popular urban trail known as the BeltLine, just came under new management, news outlets reported. The Connor Group said in a statement that it has plans to improve security at the complex.

Vehicle break-ins can happen anywhere, and unfortunately, our community was targeted, The Connor Group statement said according to news outlets.

Break-ins happen but, 76 at once? Thats pretty ridiculous, Rob Hartle told WXIA-TV.

Patrols have increased in the area, according to Atlanta police.

Some residents said apartments had been broken into at the complex over the past few weeks.

The break-ins have been happening since Christmas, so this is nothing new, Carla Dixon told WAGA-TV.

I guess its time to look for a new place, Kayla Frady said.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
French-Iranian academic Fariba Adelkhah has requested access to her French colleague Roland Marchal in detention in Iran, saying she has "serious concerns" about his health, a committee supporting the pair said Thursday.

The two researchers have been held in the Islamic Republic since June, two of a number of foreigners arrested in Iran during a spike in tensions between Tehran and the West.

Adelkhah would be willing to end her hunger strike, which she started on December 24, if Marchal was freed, the support committee said in a press release sent to AFP.

"She has the most serious concerns about his health -- an alarm that we share," because the Revolutionary Guards have refused a consular visit to Marchal since December, the committee said.

French nationals held abroad can usually receive consular visits, during which detention conditions -- and their health -- can be checked.

But Iran does not recognise dual nationality and has lashed out at Paris for what it has described as "interference" in the cases of the academics, both from Sciences Po university in Paris.

Adelkhah has refused to return to her cell and held a sit-in in a public area of the prison over the last week, demanding to see Marchal "to comfort him and check the state of his health", the committee said.

Iran has dropped espionage charges against Adelkhah but she still faces charges of spreading "propaganda against the political system" and "conspiracy against national security".

Marchal is accused of "collusion against national security", according to his lawyer. The two researchers are not the only foreign academics behind bars in Iran -- Australian Kylie Moore-Gilbert of the University of Melbourne is serving a 10-year sentence on espionage charges. Moore-Gilbert is sharing a cell with Adelkhah and joined her on the hunger strike.

Arrests of foreigners including dual nationals in Iran have increased since the United States pulled out a landmark nuclear agreement with Tehran in 2018 and reimposed crippling sanctions.

France and other European nations have tried to salvage the deal, but tensions soared further after the US killing of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani earlier this month.

France has regularly called on Iran to release Adelkhah and Marchal, with Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian saying earlier this month that their detention was "unacceptable".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A Belfast high-performance maritime design firm could work with ship repair and engineering firm Harland & Wolff in the future, its chief executive has said.

Iain Percy, a double Olympic gold medallist and chief executive of Artemis Technologies, praised the "skilled labour and incredible facilities" at the historic shipyard, which was recently taken over by InfraStrata plc.

He made the comments at interactive science and discovery centre W5 in the Odyssey as the firm handed over one of the fastest yachts on the planet.

The AC45, a 45-foot foiling catamaran, will form a key component of the redeveloped W5 attraction, which is having a 34.5m refurbishment.

Dr Percy said he was "sure there would be plenty of opportunities" for Artemis Technologies to work with Harland & Wolff. He added: "There is a lot of skilled labour at Harland & Wolff that's been involved in maritime for a long time. The facilities they have are attractive to anyone in the maritime world."

Artemis Technologies is the lead partner in a Belfast consortium that is bidding to revitalise shipbuilding in the city.

If successful in obtaining the UK Research and Innovation Strength in Places Fund, it will see more than 30m in funding go towards the consortium's strategy to decarbonise maritime transportation.

In December the firm announced a joint venture with Denmark's Tuco Marine Group to produce the world's first zero-emissions workboat in Belfast by integrating its new electric eFoiler propulsion system into an 11m carbon fibre vessel.

Dr Percy said 25 people are working on a 5m project that will showcase what is possible before the end of the year. He said this will "dovetail" into a 60m second project that could bring thousands of jobs to Belfast.

"Our technology suits a high speed and passenger-only level, so not hugely heavy vessels," he said.

"We are talking about reducing the drag and cost of operations by 90%.

"That is unheard of in any mode of transportation. If you were saying there's a car that uses 10% of the fuel of any other, then everyone would buy it within a week. It is truly transformative."

Dr Percy said he was loaning the AC45 vessel to W5 in the hope it would inspire the next generation of engineers here.

"I want a kid to come in here and say it's amazing but it doesn't look hard and I can see how they've done that," he said.

"So they walk away thinking engineering isn't something that happens in San Francisco. It can be done here and I can actually see how." He added: "The AC45 yacht, capable of travelling at up to 50 knots, represents part of the journey towards reaching the very pinnacle in high-performance maritime engineering." The exhibition will illustrate the transition of hydrofoiling technology from the America's Cup to zero-emissions transport.

Adrian Doyle of the Odyssey Trust said its arrival marks a "major milestone" for the W5 redevelopment.

"The collaboration with Artemis Technologies is a perfect fit and provides a reminder of the rich maritime heritage of our city while also pointing towards an exciting new future," he added.
Resident wear masks to buy vegetables in the market on January 23th, 2020 in Wuhan, China.

China's National Health Commission said at least 26 people have died from a fast-spreading coronavirus, as the total number of confirmed cases in the country rose to 830.

Some 33 million people in China are now under travel restrictions. Shanghai Disney is closing until further notice at a time when the Walt Disney theme park would normally be packed with tourists during Saturday's Lunar New Year holiday.

The deadly pneumonia-like virus was first identified on Dec. 31 in the Chinese city of Wuhan in Hubei province. It has since spread beyond Wuhan, which has a population of 11 million, to other major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Macao and Hong Kong.

China's Finance Ministry said it has allocated 1 billion yuan ($145 million) to support Hubei province in its fight to contain the outbreak.

The city of Wuhan is also building a 1,000-bed hospital to treat the infected and plans to have the facility operational by early next week, Reuters reported, citing state media.

Multiple cases of the virus have been confirmed in Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea and Japan, while the United States, Taiwan and Singapore have each reported one case.

South Korea on Friday confirmed a second person has been infected, as did Japan's health ministry.
Olena Sorokina, ex-political prisoner in LNR dw.com

There were two women among those released and exchanged within the recent prisoner swap between Ukraine and the militant-held area of Donbas. Olena Sorokina, one of the two, gave an interview to DW, in which she revealed the tough detention conditions.

During the exchange procedure, the woman wore a hand-made sweatshirt with the words "Ukraine is my state" and the trident on it.

"I drew on the sweatshirt at night in my cell under the bed. There were armed guards on the bus, so I only put the sweatshirt on when I saw soldiers with Ukrainian insignia outside  at that point, nobody could hurt me anymore. I never hid my pro-Ukrainian attitude. There were plenty of reasons to put me in prison, but they caught me because of the leaflets", she said as quoted by the news agency.

Sorokina, the resident of Pervomaisk and owner of a local pet shop was detained and accused of espionage for Ukrainian intelligence, treason and extremism. The local "court" sentenced her to 13 years behind the bars. According to her, no tortures were applied to her, but conditions still were "inhumane", as she put it. "We drank water that was not really clean drinking water," she said. "We were only allowed to go to the toilet twice a day, and we were given a barrel which stood beside the place where we ate," Sorokina said.
Samsung is preparing to launch three new smartphones for next month. Quick Share, a Samsung AirDrop alternative, will be one of the Galaxy S20s newest software features.

Samsungs AirDrop Alternative

Quick Share works similarly to Apples AirDrop. It allows users to transfer files between Galaxy phones. XDA says that the feature allows users to share content between contacts or with anyone. A photo of the new feature has the words, Share instantly with people nearby. Make sure the other person has Quick Share turned on on their device. The image of the upcoming feature, courtesy of XDA, is shown below.

Another sharing option with Quick Share will be the Samsung Cloud component. Users will be able to upload content to the cloud and share it from there with other Galaxy phones.

Advertisement

Since Quick Share works only with the Galaxy S20 at the moment, the feature is ripe for Samsungs S20 announcement with Samsungs upcoming One UI 2.1 update.

Quick Share is Samsungs S-Beam, Reimagined

It is worth saying: Quick Share isnt Samsungs first effort at file sharing in Android. The top Android OEM has had its S-Beam solution in place since the Galaxy S3 was announced in 2012. While some say that Android hasnt had an AirDrop alternative in place, Samsungs S-Beam has been around for the last near 8 years. Googles own Android Beam has been around since 2011 with Android 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich.

When Apple announced AirDrop for iOS 7 back in June 2013 at WWDC, Craig Federighi implied AirDrop is a response to Android Beam and S-Beam. AirDrop removes the need to wander around the room, bumping your phone with others, Federighi said.

Advertisement

Since S-Beam is Samsungs own take on Googles Android Beam, the question comes down to the following: why is Samsungs reimagining S-Beam, now?

Why a new Samsung AirDrop alternative now?

Why release a new Samsung AirDrop alternative now? The answer, in large part, pertains to Googles removal of Android Beam from Android in its latest release, Android 10. Google is working on a new solution called Fast Share, functionally similar to Google Files. Fast Share will work without an internet connection.

Since Samsungs S-Beam is built atop of Android Beam, the Android OEM must now find a new solution thats Fast Share-compatible. Quick Share will do just that.

Advertisement

Apart from Google and Samsung, there are other Android OEMs planning their own sharing solutions. Huaweis Huawei Beam works for its own Android-based smartphones. Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi are creating a cross-platform sharing solution that works across various brands.

Samsung will announce Quick Share at its Galaxy S20 Galaxy Unpacked 2020 event on February 11th. Whether the feature will ever work cross-platform between Galaxy and iPhone users is a matter of future anticipation.
Kansas's law on documenting factory farms has been ruled unconstitutional Finding the best ways to do good. Kansas cannot bar people from conducting undercover investigations on factory farms, the a federal court in Kansas ruled Wednesday. For nearly 30 years - since 1990 - a Kansas state law made it illegal to take photographs or record video in a factory farm or slaughterhouse "with the intent to damage an enterprise conducted at the animal facility."

Sorry, farm news is always fun if only because it reminds our blog community that food doesn't grow in the back of the grocery store . . . Read more:
MBABANE  Luyengo Campus students are furious with one of their lecturers for allegedly making them supplement a course.

The 181 first-year livid students are expected to supplement the course after failing it in the past semester.



Supplementary exams will begin on Monday.

The students gripe is that this is too huge a number for students in a class to supplement.

The students alleged that the lecturer told them before they closed for the festive holidays, that he wanted them to remember him even when they were home performing their chores.



So serious is their contention that they have threatened to engage in a protest action against their lecturer, whom they allege deliberately made them fail.

The saddest part is that the number of failures is alarming compared to other students who learn the same course with a different lecturer. Our colleagues at the Kwaluseni Campus did well, one student said.



The students representative council (SRC) members confirmed their colleagues grievances.

It is true that 181 students are expected to supplement a certain course and this is a thorn in the flesh to the student representative body as the same lecturer was reported for deliberately making students fail. This is not the first time he has done this, alleged one of the SRC members.



The SRC member pointed out that the entire student council was not happy about this and that they were determined to put an end to it.



Module



The member narrated that in the last academic year 2018/2019, 91 students were made to supplement the same module and only five passed.

He further narrated that the administration was informed about this but since it was in the middle of the year, the students were told that they could not be given another lecturer.



The SRC member alluded that after examinations, an independent marker was roped in to assess them and most students passed in that year. However, the member reiterated that the same lecturer was brought back to lecture them on the same module. This is when they again attained poor marks.



Most of the students were only left with a mark to pass but they were made to fail. Enough is enough, when we die we will die once, we wont be ill-treated when we can fight for ourselves, he said.

Meanwhile, UNESWA Registrar Dr Salebona Simelane could not be reached for comment. His phone rang unanswered despite countless calls and a text message.



He was asked if he could confirm the number of students enrolled for the course, the number of those who passed and those who failed. The registrar was also queried on whether or not the lecturer was reported for the same reason last year.

Simelane was further asked if it was common cause for such a high number of students to supplement.
Photo: Sonny Abesamis/Flickr

Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in Long Beach.

Pedestrian dies after she is struck by pickup truck near Cal State Long Beach

A Long Beach woman died shortly after she was struck by a pickup truck near Palo Verde Avenue and Atherton Street on Wednesday evening, police said.

Read the full story on Long Beach Press-Telegram.

200 volunteers fan out in Long Beach to count the citys homeless Thursday morning, Jan. 23

The tally, completed around dawn on a single January morning every year, will determine how much funding Long Beach receives from the county and the state to assist with homeless services.

Read the full story on Long Beach Press-Telegram.

Former hospital owner from Rolling Hills gets 15 months for health care fraud

A doctor from Rolling Hills who formerly owned Long Beach Pacific Hospital was sentenced Friday to 15 months in prison for his part in a years-long health care scheme that has been referred to as the largest in state history.

Read the full story on The Palos Verdes Peninsula News.

This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
Imran Khan rejected criticism of CPEC as nonsense

WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Imran Khan has rejected the criticism of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as nonsense, insisting that the project is really helping the country.



In an interview to a US news channel CNBC, shown on Wednesday night, Mr Khan also urged US President Donald Trump and the United Nations to mediate between Pakistan and India over Kashmir.



When the Chinese came to help us with this Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and CPEC, we were really at the rock bottom, said the prime minister when the interviewer, Hadley Gamble, asked if the project was a debt-trap for Pakistan.



So, we are really grateful to the Chinese that they came and rescued us, he added.



They came and pumped in, not just they gave us loans  and the loans, by the way are barely five or six percent of the total portfolio, said Mr Khan, rejecting the suggestion that the CPEC was a debt-trap. This is nonsense.



The Chinese, he said, actually helped Pakistan with investment and because of them the country now has an opportunity to attract foreign investment.



The prime minister explained that his government was now creating special economic zones to attract investment. We just opened two and we are opening more where we are giving special concessions to industries, he said.



Mr Khan said the CPEC was beyond BRI as China was also helping Pakistan in technology transfer. They are especially helping us in agriculture because Chinese technology (can boost) development (in this sector) much better than Pakistans as our productivity is very low.



The CPEC, he said, was also teaching Pakistanis the skills they needed to benefit from the CPEC projects. They are building skill centers in Pakistan. So, they are helping us and we are grateful, the prime minister said.



Earlier this week, senior US diplomat Alice Wells once again urged Pakistan to rethink its wholeheartedly embrace of Chinas economic initiative. Speaking at a think-tank in Islamabad, she alleged that there was no transparency in the CPEC projects, and warned that the countrys debt burden was growing due to the Chinese financing.



Both Chinese and Pakistani officials have rejected the US criticism as misleading but the prime ministers remarks further cemented the impression that Islamabad remains committed to the CPEC.



Responding to another question, he said the people of Kashmir, through a referendum could decide whichever country they wanted to join.



Now, that disputed territory has been annexed by India, and, they are trying to change the demography of (the) people of Kashmir, which according to the fourth Geneva Convention is a war crime, he added.



The prime minister also expressed concern about ongoing protests in India over a controversial citizenship bill passed last December that many say is set to disproportionately affect Muslims.



The prime minister spoke with CNBC in Davos, Switzerland, where he was attending the annual summit conference of the World Economic Forum.



When the interviewer asked how useful could the US president be in settling the Kashmir dispute, Mr Khan said: I cant say what would be the outcome but for me it is important to try my best because Kashmir is a far more serious problem than people realise.



This is serious because there are two nuclear-armed countries, the prime minister said. Thats why I want President Trump, head of the most powerful country in the world  he should intervene right now. United Nations, or President Trump through the UN at least.



Mr Khan explained that the possibility of an India-Pakistan conflict had increased because India has been taken over by an extremist ideology, which is called Hindutva or the RSS.



The prime minister said that the founding fathers of RSS were inspired by the Nazis and the Nazi concept of racial purity and believed in ethnic cleansing, of Muslims.



Mr Khan said that the ideology which was responsible for the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi and the group that was declared a terrorist organisation three times by previous Indian governments had now taken over India.
NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday expressed ''deep shock'' over the stabbing of an Indian student from Tamil Nadu - Rachel Albert - in Canada`s Toronto. EAM Jaishankar also directed the MEA officials to get in touch with the authorities there and provide all possible help to the injured Indian student.

Jaishankar also took to Twitter and re-tweeted a tweet by Ronald who is the injured Indian student's relative and said, "Deeply shocked to learn of the serious attack on Rachel Albert, an Indian student in Toronto, Canada. Am asking MEA officials to help with her family`s visa.''

''Family members may immediately contact us on +91 9873983884,'' he added.

Deeply shocked to learn of the serious attack on Rachel Albert, an Indian student in Toronto, Canada. Am asking MEA officials to help with her familys visa. Family members may immediately contact us on +91 9873983884. https://t.co/wPno3V5aTv  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 24, 2020

Live TV

"Earlier, tagging the Minister, Ronald had tweeted, "Good morning, my nice Rachel (Tamilian) who have gone to Canada for studies was stabbed and hospitalised ... Please do help her. Here is the news on the incident by a local channel. Her parents are here at TN Coonoor."

Ronald had put a phone number as well as a local media report of the incident in his tweet.

Sharing more details, Albert Rajkumar, the father of the victim, said, ''We got a message from the Canadian Police that our daughter got assaulted near the York University in Toronto. She has been admitted in hospital; she is struggling for life. We are trying our best to get the visa process done.''

As per reports, the 23-year old Rachel was allegedly stabbed on Wednesday night (local time).
Theaters are closed until further notice

But if you would like a snapshot to help you remember how things used to be

Film Capsules

The Last Full Measure Nearly 35 years after his death in Vietnam, Airman William H. Pitsenbarger is nominated for the nation's highest honor for his selfless actions on the battlefield, which saved over 60 men. But when a respected Pentagon staffer (Sebastian Stan From Captain America: The Winter Soldier) is tasked with investigating the Congressional Medal of Honor request for Pitsenbarger, he uncovers a high-level conspiracy behind the decades-long denial of the medal. Among the cameo-filled cast of this paper-pushing post-war drama are Samuel L. Jackson, Ed Harris, Michael Imperioli, Christopher Plummer, Diane Ladd, Peter Fonda, Amy Madigan and John Savage. Based on a true story. 110 minutes R.

See our Calendar page for special film events and screenings

Film Times
Index funds

When crafting a stock portfolio for retirement, there are two major considerations. The first is finding adequate passive income, and the second is finding great long-terms stocks that are stable, have low volatility, and can be relied on long term.

While this sounds exactly opposite of pot stocks, there are a few cannabis companies that could find a place in some investors retirement portfolios.

For the past few years, cannabis stocks have been wildly volatile, earning some investors millions, while losing others a considerable amount of money.

Now that the industry has been around for well over a year now, and there isnt as much buzz around the stocks and therefore less speculation, the volatility has come down considerably.

Just recently, Aphria even opened the possibility for cannabis companies to begin to pay dividends soon, as it grows its free cash flow and no longer needs to invest all its capital in growth.

So, how can pot stocks be right for a retirement portfolio?

Not every investor is going to want to own pot stocks, and those investors who do should keep them as a small portion of your portfolio, but the cannabis industry could represent a great long-term investment from here.

Although you wont make significant amounts overnight, after the major selloff the industry took last year, these companies are trading at attractive valuations when looking at a long-term investment perspective, so investors who have some room in their portfolios may choose to allocate it to a top long-term cannabis stock.

A company like WeedMD (TSXV:WMD), which has been very cautious with its business plan since day one, is the type of stock youll want to be invested in for the long run.

Until now, its been a tough balance for cannabis companies and their executives. The best approach, if there were no competitors, would be to take a conservative approach to the market, but since there are a number of competitors, companies have been forced to make high-risk decisions to differentiate themselves.

Story continues

This has hurt a number of companies that over-leveraged themselves, and it has left some of the companies that remained too conservative lagging behind.

WeedMD has been one of the better-balanced companies, and thats left it in an optimal position.

At a market cap of just $150 million, the shares are trading at a massive bargain at the moment for a company with the number of opportunities that WeedMD has.

For starters, its in a great financial position with a net cash position, giving it major flexibility that a lot of its peers dont have.

It also has its own in-house extract company, CX industries, which will be a major advantage, as the industry continues to evolve and edibles grow to become a major share of the market.

It has one of the lowest-funded capacity to enterprise value ratios, making it one of the cheapest cannabis stocks in Canada.

Furthermore, it also has its own retail company, Pioneer Cannabis, which will be key to its expansion. Currently, Pioneer operates a store in Burlington, Ontario, and the plan is to open a number of stores in the future, as the regulations in the industry are relaxed.

These major advantages and the position the company has put itself in will almost surely result in long-term success.

If you are looking for a pot stock that could return a lot to you in the short term, WeedMD is probably not your stock.

However, if you are willing to own the company long term and wait for major evolution in the sector, WeedMD could be one of the biggest winners in the industry.

For investors at or in retirement that may want some exposure, there is still a high level of uncertainty in the industry, so even if you do your due diligence and are investing for the long term, its still advised to only allocate a very small portion of your portfolio to cannabis stocks.

More reading

Fool contributor Daniel Da Costa owns shares of WeedMD Rx Inc.

The Motley Fools purpose is to help the world invest, better. Click here now for your free subscription to Take Stock, The Motley Fool Canadas free investing newsletter. Packed with stock ideas and investing advice, it is essential reading for anyone looking to build and grow their wealth in the years ahead. Motley Fool Canada 2020
The Member of Parliament for the Adentan Constituency, Yaw Buaben Asamoa, has challenged the opposition NDC to a show of records in the office to enable Ghanaians judge who has met their aspirations the most.

According to him, he is convinced that when pushed to a debate of facts and achievements, the NDC would have no leg to stand on and would resort to their usual refuge of obfuscation and goal-shifting.

The President assumed office with a very difficult economy. He has been at work for the past three years now. By the grace of the Almighty God, he has been able to do a lot of things he promised this country he was going to do,Yaw Buaben Asamoah told Kwaku Dawuro on Anopa Nkomo on Accra-based Kingdom FM 107.7

Things are really going on well and President Nana Addo is really working to make things happen as promised.

He rated President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the best leader in recent times with his appointees as hardworking individuals who have helped transform the country.

He also said his critics have been shamed by his impressive work.

Buaben Asamoah said Akufo-Addos efforts over the period have yielded positive results that will create more jobs for Ghanaians in the future.

He said Nana Addos government has done tremendously well to deliver on most of its promises made during the 2016 elections.

---KingdomfmOnline
An FIR was on Friday registered against former AMU students union president Faizul Hasan for his statement that if Muslims decide to



"ruin", they can "finish any country".

"The case under IPC section 153A (promoting communal hatred) has been registered at civil lines police station against Hasan in connection with his speech on Thursday at the protest site near Babey Sir Syed gate," Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Akash Kulhari said.

The action was taken after a video clip of Hasan's speech went viral on social media and the national spokesman of the Hindu Mahasabha Ashok Pandey demanded stringent action against him.

The student leader in his speech had said, "Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is repeatedly issuing highly provocative statements against Muslims. The CM is testing the patience of Muslims to the hilt by repeatedly issuing communally charged statements.

"Muslims always practised restraint. From 1947 to 2020, never tried to break the country... Otherwise we cannot be stopped. We are of a 'kaum' (community) where if we decide to ruin, we will not leave and can 'finish' any country," he had said.

Later, when contacted, Hasan said his statement was being selectively shown and was being taken out context by some people.

"What I had said was that Muslims would be ready to fight for the country and destroy any other country including Pakistan if they are handled with trust and love," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
U.S. Justice Department lawyers on Friday said theyve found the Portland Police Bureau in substantial compliance with 190 reforms required as part of a city settlement adopted six years ago after a federal investigation determined officers used excessive force against people with mental illness.

Now that a community oversight group is staffed and has met regularly for a year and two months, the Justice Department said the city meets the settlements accountability requirements. The bureau also has instituted needed changes to its use of force policies, training, crisis intervention tactics and employee information system developed to identify officers with excessive complaints or uses of force, the Justice Department said in new court documents.

The city must remain in compliance with all of the reforms for one year before the settlement agreement ends.

If that happens, the United States anticipates the parties would jointly ask the Court to terminate the Agreement thereafter, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared D. Hager wrote.

The federal governments assessment comes as the city and Justice Department lawyers prepare to return to the courtroom of U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon on Feb. 25 for a status hearing.

Portlands new Police Chief Jami Resch applauded the finding, calling it a major milestone, but said the bureau must work to continue its progress and improve the Police Bureaus service to the community."

"The key focus of the Settlement Agreement is on police response to people experiencing mental illness or mental health crisis, but the reforms include much more, Resch said in a statement. Achieving substantial compliance took years of hard work and many changes in policies and training, as well as improvements in areas related to force, community engagement, and accountability. While this is a significant goal, we are not finished with our reformative work. The next phase is to maintain the progress we have made even as we continually seek to improve our performance.

The Rev. T. Allen Bethel, chair of the Albina Ministerial Alliance and co-chair of its Coalition for Justice and Police Reform, said hell urge the Justice Department to "take another look'' at whether the bureaus reforms are working. Bethel said hes not convinced. The coalition is a group of residents who advocate for police accountability and improved relations with law enforcement.

At an afternoon news conference surrounded by police brass, the chief and Mayor Ted Wheeler both said the settlement reforms wont assure the city will never have a fatal shooting by police of someone in crisis.

This is not a guarantee that there will be no use of force or that that there will be no mistakes made by the Portland Police Bureau in carrying out the important work they do in the community, said Wheeler, who also serves as the citys police commissioner. What this is about is ensuring that they have the training, the supervision, the practice and the protocols to minimize the possibility of use of force thats not compliant with the policies of the bureau or the training that people receive within the bureau.

Were not coming in here celebrating even though this is a very important milestone along the path of improving accountability of the Police Bureau, he added. We have both said there is work that needs to continue to be done.

Simon approved the settlement in 2014 after a Justice investigation found police engaged in excessive force against people with mental illness and fired unnecessary cycles of Taser gun shocks.

In June, the judge held off giving his stamp of approval to the settlement reforms, saying he wanted more proof that the citys new Committee on Community-Engaged Policing was effective, particularly since its predecessor fell apart amid inner turmoil and lack of support from the city and that nothing filled the gap for more than a year.

I think its going in the right direction, Simon said then. Im not ready to conclude its adequate  until I see a record of positive performance.''

The Justice Departments assessment, filed in federal court in Portland, said the new Portland Committee on Community-Engaged Policing "is capably exercising its authority. It has solicited information from the community and the City about PPBs performance, recommending concrete actions to City leaders; received public comment and concerns during regularly scheduled, open public committee and subcommittee meetings; and contributed to the development and implementation of Portland Police Bureaus Community Engagement Plan.''

In October, a co-chair of the new community oversight group, Lakayana Drury, wondered how the citys hired compliance officer, Chicago-based academic Dennis Rosenbaum, came to the same conclusion that the city had achieved substantial compliance with all of the settlement requirements when police continue to shoot and kill people with mental illness. Such excessive force prompted federal officials to investigate Portland police in 2012.

Portland officers fatally shot five people in 2019, three who were suffering from a mental illness. The five shootings were the most since since 2010.

We have a duty to represent the community, Drury said then. While the bureau has changed its policies on use of force and adopted new training, is it actually leading to officers using less force? he asked.

Drury called Rosenbaums findings premature and said he believes the city is still a ways off from meeting all the settlements requirements.

It seems like a rush to the finish line, and thats not fair to our citizens, Jan Friedman, an attorney with Disability Rights Oregon who sits on the Police Bureaus Behavioral Health Unit Advisory Council, said at the same meeting. The advisory council is a group working to improve and reduce police encounters with people in mental health crisis.

Rosenbaum argued that the bureau has adopted new de-escalation and procedural justice training and use-of-force policies. He called the bureaus crisis intervention training and specialized enhanced crisis intervention officers a model for other cities. The bureau has demonstrated its a learning organization, with supervisors reviewing officers use of force, inspectors conducting audits of police force, police leaders tracking complaints against officers and internal affairs conducting more timely investigations into alleged police misconduct, he said. He also called the community oversight group a legitimate body for community engagement.

Dan Handelman of the police watchdog group Portland Copwatch called the compliance findings just checking the boxes and "not worrying about the substantive meaning of the requirements.'' As fatal police shootings of people in crisis continue to add up, the bureaus "obligations to engage the community are not evaluated for their success,'' he said.

The police chief said officers seek to avoid using force but sometimes must to protect themselves or others.

A common misconception is that substantial compliance will result in zero officer-involved shootings. Being in compliance means we have done everything to minimize using force on those experiencing mental illness, Resch said. We will continue to seek ways to minimize the use of deadly force, and we share the communitys desire to reduce and ideally avoid all uses of deadly force.

She added, Police officers must be prepared to protect others and themselves in dangerous , dynamic and chaotic situations.''

Drury couldnt convince the 12-member citizen committee he leads to support a resolution that would have challenged the substantial compliance findings and required the police chief and mayor to come up with a more meaningful way to measure the impact of reforms. It failed in October, with five members voting against it, four in support and three abstaining.

But the community group agreed that one significant part of the settlement has not been addressed: creation of one or more walk-in, or drop-off centers in Portland for people in crisis or suffering addictions.

On Friday, Drury declined further comment, saying the committee will discuss the Justice Departments findings at its meeting Tuesday. It will be at 5:30 p.m. in the NARA Wellness Center at 12360 E. Burnside St.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian

Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox.

Subscribe to Facebook page
A 37-year-old Indonesian man has been arrested for attacking his neighbour with a machete and sickle after the man repeatedly farted in his face as a joke.

The attacker, identified only as 37-year-old A.S., was arrested in the city of Padang, West Sumatra province, earlier this week after the attack on January 21.

Neighbour F.G., 46, was left in critical condition in hospital while his wife, 41-year-old N.R.D, suffered wounds to her arms and ear.

A 37-year-old Indonesian construction worker, named only as A.S. (pictured), has been arrested after attacking his neighbour with a machete and sickle

Police say F.G., 46, was attacked a week after he repeatedly farted in A.S.'s face for a joke, leaving him seriously injured

Cops say F.G. had managed to approach A.S. - a construction worker - and break wind in his face twice last week because he found it funny.

A.S. waited several days before launching his attack, breaking into his neighbour's home while he was asleep in bed around 7am local time.

He then hacked at the man's head and chest with the machete before the man's wife arrived, having heard the commotion.

She reportedly suffered injuries while trying to stop the attack.

Medics were eventually called and the couple taken to hospital.

A.S. was subsequently arrested and admitted to attacking the couple because he felt 'hurt' over the farting incident.

'There are no other problems, only that they farted at me last week,' he said.

A.S. said he did not know his neighbour well, and had never joked that way with him before. He is now facing eight years in jail for aggravated assault

F.G. is recovering from his wounds in hospital, while his wife - named only as N.R.D. - is also recovering from injuries to her arms and ear

He added that he has never been close with the neighbours and did not routinely joke with them, meaning the farting incident left him feeling humiliated.

A.S. has been charged with aggravated assault and is now facing up to eight years behind bars.

Police said they are continuing their investigation to determine whether there was another reason behind the attack.

F.G. is said to be recovering from his injuries in hospital and is no longer in critical condition. The investigation continues.
An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts today (1/21) said Japan had strengthened inspections as part of extensive efforts in recent years to improve its regulatory framework for nuclear and radiation safety.

The senior regulatory experts recognized that significant progress had been made since a previous IAEA mission in 2016. They identified some areas for further improvement, recommending measures on occupational radiation protection and transport safety.

The Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) team carried out the eight-day follow-up mission to review Japan's implementation of recommendations and suggestions made during the initial IRRS mission four years ago.

It was conducted at the request of the Government of Japan and hosted by the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA), which was established in 2012 as an independent and transparent regulatory body following the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident.

"Japan has made considerable headway. The NRA has taken many steps to enhance its regulatory programmes," said IRRS team leader Ramzi Jammal, Executive Vice-President and Chief Regulatory Operations Officer in the Regulatory Operations Branch of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. "This work to strengthen safety should continue in order to address remaining regulatory challenges, including the effective implementation of the new inspection regime."

Before being shut down following the Fukushima Daiichi accident, Japan's 54 nuclear power reactors produced about 30 per cent of the country's electricity. Nine reactors have since been re-started after conforming to new safety requirements introduced after the accident in 2011. The country also has fuel cycle facilities, research reactors and widely uses nuclear applications in industry, hospitals and other fields.

IRRS peer review missions are designed to strengthen the effectiveness of the national nuclear regulatory infrastructure, based on IAEA safety standards and international good practices, while recognizing the responsibility of each country to ensure nuclear and radiation safety.

"The NRA has worked very hard to implement enhancements in accordance with the recommendations and suggestions provided by the initial IRRS mission," said NRA Chairman Toyoshi Fuketa. "Our discussions with the follow-up mission team will help us achieve continuous improvement. The NRA will never become complacent regarding nuclear safety."

The scope of the mission covered the same areas that were reviewed in 2016, including the responsibilities and functions of the Government and the regulatory body. In addition, the team was this time requested by Japan to review safety related to the transportation of radioactive material.

The experts said Japan had implemented many of the recommendations and suggestions from 2016. The NRA's achievements include:

The establishment of an inspection programme with increased powers to access nuclear facilities, including the right to carry out unannounced inspections at any time.

The introduction of a systematic process to regularly review and update safety regulations and guidance documents.

The IRRS team said there were areas requiring further work and recommended that the NRA:

Fully implements its new integrated management system.

Further strengthens its regulatory oversight of radiation protection for workers.

Regarding transport safety, the IRRS team noted that Japan generally implements regulations in line with IAEA standards. It recommended some specific improvements, including:

Periodic exercises to test emergency response arrangements for the transportation of radioactive material.

Extension of inspection programmes to cover all types of packages used to transport such material.

Greg Rzentkowski, Director of the IAEA Division of Nuclear Installation Safety, commended Japan for its strong commitment to maintaining high nuclear safety standards. "The NRA has enhanced its regulatory programmes which should now be fully implemented in a manner commensurate with the assessed risks posed by regulated facilities and activities to ensure adequate protection of the public and the environment," he said, recalling that operators must always demonstrate the safety of their facilities.

The team leader, Jammal, acknowledged the NRA's increased international engagement and encouraged it to interact more substantively with the nuclear industry in Japan. "Open and frequent communication with the licensee is very positive for nuclear safety and does not compromise regulatory independence," he said.

The 18-member IRRS team comprised senior regulatory experts from Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, Pakistan, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States and six IAEA staff members. One observer from Canada also participated in the mission.

The final mission report will be provided to the Government of Japan in about three months. The Government plans to make the report public.
The Centre-run All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and the Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital in the national capital have set up isolation wards and kept beds ready for providing treatment to any suspected case of novel coronavirus infection.

Novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from the common cold to acute respiratory syndromes, but the virus that has so far killed 25 people and affected 830 in China is a novel strain and not seen before.

It emerged from a seafood and animal market in China's Wuhan, and is suspected to have spread to as far as the United States.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the common symptoms of the novel coronavirus strain include respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

The medical superintendent of RML Hospital Dr Minakshi Bhardwaj confirmed that an isolation ward has been set up to provide treatment or to keep under observation any suspected cases of novel coronavirus infection.

AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria said, "We have an isolation ward and we have beds kept ready for providing care and treatment for suspected coronavirus cases in Delhi or elsewhere in India."



"All precautionary measures -- in terms of personal protection equipment for healthcare workers to prevent the spread of the disease while treating infected patients -- are in place."



Guleria and Bhardwaj said that their hospital's preparedness with regard to management and infection prevention control facilities have been also reviewed.

"If need be, we have the capacity to increase our isolation ward facilities and provide treatment to such patients," the AIIMS director said.

As a precautionary measure, people should maintain good standards of hand hygiene, avoid travelling in crowded places and use masks. Any person having slight symptoms of cough, fever and weakness should immediately report to the nearest health facility, he said.

According to Dr Guleria, as of now there is no definite treatment, antibiotics or vaccines available for combating the particular virus strain and only supportive treatment for pneumonia is given. One has to follow preventive medication strategies, he said.

The Union health ministry that 20,844passengers from 96 flights have been screened for novel coronavirus infection symptoms till Friday and three persons have been put under observation. No positive case has been detected in the country so far, it said.

Three persons who returned from China have been kept under observation after they were screened for novel coronavirus infection.

Of the three, two persons have been kept under observation at a Mumbai hospital while one person is under watch at a hospital in Hyderabad for possible exposure to the respiratory virus which has infected a large number of people in China, a senior health ministry official said.

WHO on Thursday said the deadly virus outbreak in China and beyond does not yet constitute a global emergency as it urged Beijing to keep its lockdown of some 20 million people "short".

"I am not declaring a public health emergency of international concern today," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters on Thursday after a two-day emergency meeting in Geneva on the issue.

The global health body has confirmed that the new virus can be passed between people, at least those in close contact. Chinese health officials warned it could mutate and spread further.

The health ministry has asked states and union territories to review hospital preparedness in terms of isolation and ventilator management of critically ill patients, identify gaps and strengthen core capacities in the area of surveillance and laboratory support, an official statement said.

Thermal screening is being done at the international airports of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Cochin.

The civil aviation ministry has asked airlines to follow International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) guidelines for managing and notifying anybody reporting illness on flights originating from China and disembarking in India. Also, a travel advisory was issued on January 17 which was put up on the ministry's website and also on the Twitter handle for wider circulation.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By PTI

INDORE: Following BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya's statement that he suspected that some labourers who worked at his house were illegal Bangladeshi migrants, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Bala Bachchan said the government would soon reveal `the facts'.

Addressing a seminar in support of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act here on Thursday, Vijayvargiya said that strange eating habits of construction labourers who worked at his house recently aroused suspicion about their nationality.

They only ate 'poha' (flattened rice) and he suspected they were illegal Bangladeshis, the BJP leader had said. Asked by reporters about Vijayvargiya's statement, Bachchan said, "We are aware of every movement in the state and we will disclose it very soon.

The truth will be revealed soon. "It is our duty to protect the people of the state," he added. Congress spokesperson Neelabh Shukla alleged that Vijayvargiya was "concocting stories to gain cheap popularity".

"If his story is true, he should reveal the name of the contractor who hired illegal immigrants and file a complaint with the police," Shukla added.
BANGKOK (AP)  An elementary school headmaster said Thursday he planned a gold shop robbery in Thailand due to personal and financial problems and apologized to the families of the three people who were killed.

A 2-year-old boy was among the victims of the shooting earlier this month that caused public outrage and increased pressure for a swift arrest.

Police arrested Prasitthichai Khaokaew, 38, early Wednesday and said he confessed to his crimes during interrogation.

During a news conference held at the national police headquarters in Bangkok, Prasitthichai was allowed to talk to reporters through a phone call from where he is being detained.

I am so sorry, and I apologize to the victims and their families, especially to little brother Triton, Prasitthichai told reporters, addressing the 2-year-old victim by his first name. He denied that he deliberately shot the toddler and other victims, and said he opened fired to intimidate shoppers and security guards to let him flee easily.

Prasitthichai said he planned the robbery a few days before he executed it and that personal and financial problems were his motives.

Police General Suwat Chaengyodsuk, the chief investigator, said the suspect has been charged with three counts of murder, robbery and illegal gun possession. Police asked the Bangkok criminal court to allow them to detain Prasitthichai for further investigation.

Security footage of the Jan. 9 robbery in Lopburi province, about 145 kilometers (90 miles) north of Bangkok, showed a man dressed in full-face balaclava and camouflage trousers approached the store in a mall, carrying a pistol with a long silencer.

He opened fire, spraying shots at staff and passers-by. The toddler was hit as he walked by with his mother. A security guard and a shop assistant were also killed, and four people were wounded. The robber grabbed a number of gold necklaces before fleeing.
Alex Reading, 29, and Abhi Sanka, 25 were complete strangers when they each toured a five-bedroom home in Arlington, Virginia, a little over a year ago.

But they decided to move in together, along with three other complete strangers. All of them had answered ads to rent one room in the home and share the common spaces.

"It was perfect for me because I was just moving down here for grad school, and I didn't know anybody, so I was just looking for a room or a roommate so this was like a perfect situation," said Reading.

The ads were from Bungalow, a barely 3-year-old co-living company that rents private bedrooms in large suburban and urban homes. Tenants can use the common areas, which Bungalow furnishes  fully equipped kitchens, living rooms with sofas and flat-screen televisions, as well as dining tables and general decor.

The idea was the brainchild of Bungalow's 31-year-old co-founder and CEO, Andrew Collins, who had moved around a lot himself and had trouble finding optimal living spaces.

"It's not a boarding house," said Collins. "It's much more around helping people find great individuals to live with. We're really trying to streamline the roommate experience. What's better than having great individuals that you live with, and we take that one step further by running monthly member events across all the properties, too."

Bungalow takes care of the maintenance, cleaning, Wi-Fi, lawn care and utilities. Renters pay one monthly fee for all of that. The company also helps roommates prescreen each other by sending them to happy hour.
Washington, Jan 24 : California Senator Kamala Harris, who is of Indian and Jamaican descent, was considering backing former Vice President Joe Biden in the Democratic presidential primary, a media report said.

The Hill news magazine reported citing multiple Democratic officials familiar with the Harris's deliberations as saying to The New York Times on Thursday that she was weighing the option of backing her former primary opponent.

The officials told the Times the potential endorsement would not be likely until after President Donald Trump's Senate impeachment trial that kicked off this week.

Harris's spokesman Chris Harris told the New York Times that the Senator "remains focused on the ongoing impeachment trial".

"No decisions have been made about whether she will endorse, which candidate, nor when an endorsement decision will be made," he said.

Biden has praised Harris since she ended her presidential campaign in early December, despite some tense moments between the two earlier in the primary.

Shortly after she dropped out, he told reporters "of course" he would consider the Senator as a running mate, The Hill said in its report.

"She is solid. She can be President someday herself. She can be the vice president. She can go on to be a Supreme Court justice. She can be an attorney general. She has enormous capability," Biden added.

Harris, the first Indian-American in the Senate, ended her bid for the White House on December 3, 2019, after faltering poll numbers and fund-raising efforts, India-West said in a report.

Once thought to be the obvious choice for Democratic nominee, Harris's campaign failed to gain traction with both the Indian-American and the African-American community.
The Supreme Court refused to entertain a plea challenging the imposition of the National Security Act (NSA) in few states and the national capital amid anti-CAA protests.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a plea challenging the imposition of the National Security Act (NSA) in few states and the national capital amid anti-CAA protests.

A bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Indira Banerjee said that it cannot pass a blanket order with regard to the imposition of the NSA and asked lawyer ML Sharma to withdraw the plea.

The bench asked Sharma to file a fresh petition or an interim application in pending pleas on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) giving specific details of violations of NSA.

Sharma's plea questioned the imposition of the NSA, saying it has been done to curb and pressure people protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, National Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC).

Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on 10 January extended detaining powers to Delhi Police under the NSA for a three-month period starting 19 January.

This allows police to detain a person for 12 months without trial.

Protests are taking place at various places in the country against CAA and NPR.
China has locked down nine more cities in an attempt to stop the spread of the coronavirus which has now claimed the lives of at least 41 people.

The city of Wuhan, where the virus started, had been effectively quarantined for days, with all train and bus stations closed and all flights cancelled.

Now, the authorities have done the same with nine other cities in the same Hubei province as Wuhan, as well as pre-emptively shutting down major public events and spaces across the country including the Forbidden City in Beijing and Shanghais Disney Resort.

Some 1,287 people have been confirmed to have caught the coronavirus, the countrys National Health Commission said.

Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Show all 154 1 /154 Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Paramedics wearing personal protective equipment carry patient on a stretcher on to an ambulance in North Point district in Hong Kong, China Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A medical worker wearing protective gear takes a rest as he waits for ambulances carrying patients infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus at an entrance of a hospital in Daegu, South Korea YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A medical worker sprays disinfectant on an ambulance after carrying a patient infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus at a hospital in Daegu YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People wearing protective face masks shop at a supermarket in Casalpusterlengo, one the northern Italian towns placed under lockdown due to the new coronavirus outbreak EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A trolley bus is disinfected amid fears over the spread of the novel coronavirus in Pyongyang, North Korea REUTERS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers wearing protective gear spray disinfectant as a precaution against the COVID-19 coronavirus in a local market in Daegu, South Korea AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing a protective facemask walks outside a nearly empty shopping mall at lunch time in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing protective facemask and gloves puts a drawing made by a girl living in the area asking residents to wear protective gear, next to a quarantine notice for people who have travelled and a notice asking people to register outside a residential compound in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman is taken into an ambulance amid a coronavirus outbreak in northern Italy REUTERS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ambulances and health workers are seen outside the Padua's hospital, northern Italy EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers in coaches leave MoD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire after being repatriated to the UK from a cruise ship hit by the coronavirus in Yokohama, Japan and head to Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People rest in a temporary hospital situated in the Tazihu Gymnasium in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Buddhist monks wearing protective face masks pray during a blessing ceremony for the people affected by the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, at a temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia REUTERS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers wearing protective gears carry a patient infecting with a new coronavirus to a hospital in Chuncheon, South Korea AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Soldiers in hazmat suits sanitize cargo from a China Airlines plane at the Taoyuan International Airport in Taoyuan City, Taiwan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Barricades are seen to block the entrance a the gate of a local mall in a nearly empty area in Beijing, China Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A vendor wearing a protective facemask waits for customers at a shop in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus The body temperature of an Iraqi child returning from Iran is measured upon her arrival at the Najaf International Airport AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Volunteers hand out free facemasks at a shopping district in Quezon city, Metro Manila, Philippines Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers wearing protective gears carry a patient suspected of contracting the new coronavirus toward an ambulance at Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo, South Korea AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A worker disinfects a shop at a market in Shanghai AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A restaurant worker wearing protective clothing as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus passing a bag of food to a customer on the street outside their restaurant in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A recovered patient is discharged from Leishenshan Hospital, the newly-built makeshift hospital for novel coronavirus patients, in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Volunteers in protective suits disinfect a factory with sanitising equipment in Huzhou, China China Daily via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers in protective suits attend to a patient inside an isolated ward of Wuhan Red Cross Hospital Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A drone operated by the Suwon municipal government flies around Changyong Middle School spraying disinfectant, in Suwon, South Korea EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers transfer medical waste at Leishenshan Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing a protective mask rides a bicycle with his children in Guangzhou, China EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Volunteers in protective suits disinfect a railway station as the country is hit by an outbreak of the new coronavirus, in Changsha, Hunan province, China cnsphoto via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman repatriated from Wuhan carries a child as she walks upon her arrival at the Van Don airport in Vietnam's Quang Ninh province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff checking the body temperature of a patient who has displayed mild symptoms of the COVID-19 coronavirus, at an exhibition centre converted into a hospital in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A medical worker in protective suit transports oxygen tanks at Wuhan Red Cross Hospital Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Boys wearing protection masks, gloves and modified water bottles sit on a cart at the airport arrival terminal in Guangzhou EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Employees work on a production line manufacturing protective suits at a clothing factory in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province cnsphoto via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers in protective suits move a patient at an isolated ward of a hospital in Caidian district following an outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan China Daily via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A worker in protective clothing, including face mask and gloves, carries a bucket as he works inside of The County Oak Medical Centre in Brighton, southern England, after it closed for "urgent operational health and safety reasons", following reports a member of staff was infected with the strain of the novel coronavirus AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers of the ecology and environment bureau collect samples from the sewage system of a hospital in Xinle, Hebei province China Daily via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man in protective clothing cleaning the County Oak Medical Centre GP practice The British government warned the outbreak of novel coronavirus was a "serious and imminent threat" and reported four new cases that brought the total recorded in the country to eight. Two hospitals The Royal Free and Guys and St Thomas', have both been designated as "isolation" facilities, with both currently housing Britons who have returned from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the outbreak PA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to the newly completed Huoshenshan temporary field Hospital in Wuhan. The global coronavirus death toll rose again with Hong Kong announcing its first death from the outbreak on 4 February EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of staff wait as coaches carrying Coronavirus evacuees arrive at Kents Hill Park Training and Conference Centre, in Milton Keynes, after being repatriated to the UK from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan PA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A crew member of the cruise ship Diamond Princess talks to a worker wearing protective gear standing near the vessel, where dozens of passengers were tested positive for coronavirus, at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Doctors scan a patient's lungs at Huoshenshan temporary hospital built for patients diagnosed with coronavirus in Wuhan Xinhua News Agency/AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People wearing protective suits walk from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, with around 3,600 people quarantined onboard due to fears of the new coronavirus, at the Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Indonesians who arrived from Wuhan are sprayed with antiseptic at Hang Nadim Airport in Batam. People evacuated from the Chinese city at the centre of a deadly virus outbreak, were transported to a quarantine zone on a remote island at the edge of the South China Sea, shortly after landing Indonesian Foreign Ministry via AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman wears a protective mask as she shops in a market in Beijing Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members hugging each other in an isolation ward at a hospital in Zouping in China's easter Shandong province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A portrait of Dr Li Wenliang is left at Li's hospital in Wuhan. He is regarded a whistleblower on the outbreak and died of the coronavirus which triggered wide-spread mourning on Chinese media Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Officers in protective gear enter the cruise ship Diamond Princess, where people tested positive for coronavirus, after the ship arrived at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, south of Tokyo Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Firefighters and personnel from the health ministry participate in a drill to prepare for the potential arrival of passengers infected with the coronavirus at the Viru Viru International Airport, in Santa Cruz, Bolivia Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Scientists are at work in the VirPath university laboratory as they try to find an effective treatment against the new Sars-like coronavirus AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers in protective suits attend to patients at the Wuhan International Conference and Exhibition Center, which has been converted into a makeshift hospital to receive patients with mild symptoms caused by the virus Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A girl wears a mask as a preventive measure against the coronavirus outbreak, in Bangkok, Thailand Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man is transferred from the World Dream cruise ship to an ambulance at the Kai Tak cruise terminal in Hong Kong as health officials conduct inspections AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers from a disinfection service company enter Lotte Department Store in central Seoul, South Korea EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man who arrived from Hubei province talks with police at a checkpoint at the Jiujiang Yangtze River Bridge Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A doctor holds a handheld digital thermometer near health officials preparing a health check for arriving passengers from China at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A resident walks across an empty track in Wuhan Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A scientific staff member works in a secure laboratory, researching the coronavirus, at the Pasteur Institute in Dakar AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members preparing equipment to meet passengers of a military plane, which evacuated citizens of Russia and ex-Soviet countries from China's Wuhan province Vsluh.ru via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Staff wearing protective suits as they prepare to disinfect a Vietnam Airlines plane at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi Vietnam Airlines/AFP/Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A South Korean person, who was evacuated from Wuhan, arrives at the National Medical Center after showing suspected symptoms of novel coronavirus, in Seoul EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Officers in protective gear escort a person (under the blue sheet) who was on board cruise ship Diamond Princess and was tested positive for coronavirus Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A doctor being disinfected by his colleague at a quarantine zone in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Buses carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan, arrive at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Indonesian health officials conduct an exercise drill in transporting a patient requiring isolation at the Belawan port in Medan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus The Pasteur Institute in Dakar, designated by the African Union as one of the two reference centres in Africa for the detection of the new coronavirus that appeared in China, is hosting experts from 15 countries on the continent this weekend to prepare them to deal with the disease AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A government worker disinfects a co-worker after visiting a quarantined woman's home in Qingdao EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An aerial view of the deserted roads and bridges in Wuhan Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers hold a strike outside the Hospital Authority as they demand for Hong Kong to close its border with China to reduce the coronavirus spreading Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A person has their tempriture checked in Qingdao, China EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion, when viewed electron microscopically Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/AFP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Malaysian nationals being directed from a bus by health officials in protective suits as they arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, after being evacuated from Wuhan Malaysia's Ministry of Health/AFP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People hoping to buy face masks crowd outside a medical supply shop that was raided by police for allegedly hoarding and overpricing the masks, as public fear over China's Wuhan Coronavirus grow in Manila, Philippines. The Philippine government has been heavily criticized after failing to immediately implement travel restrictions from China, the source of a deadly coronavirus that has now killed hundreds and infected thousands more Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Residents wearing masks and raincoats volunteer to take temperature of passengers following the outbreak of a new coronavirus at a bus stop at Tin Shui Wai, a border town in Hong Kong Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Italian citizens repatriated from Wuhan going though a health control zone after landing at the Mario De Bernardi military airport in Pratica di Mare, south of Rome, prior to be placed in quarantine Italian Defence Ministry/AFP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers arrange beds in a 2,000-bed mobile hospital, set up in an exhibition center, in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A doctor checks conditions of occupants in a hotel accommodating isolated people in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members wearing protective clothing to help stop the spread of a deadly virus which began in the city of Wuhan, arrive with a patient at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital. The Chinese army deployed medical specialists to the epicentre of the spiralling viral outbreak that has killed and spread around the world AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A baby wearing a protective face mask is pushed by a woman as they arrive from Shenzhen to Hong Kong at Lo Wu MTR station AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A health worker checks the temperature of a woman entering a subway station in Beijing Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A young child wears a protective mask and is covered in plastic while waiting to check in to a flight at Beijing Capital Airport The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday declared the coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ambulance crews arrive at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, as it prepares for a return flight from Wuhan, China. Eighty-three Britons and 27 foreign nationals who were trapped in Wuhan are being flown back to the UK Tom Maddick / SWNS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman carries a baby wearing a protective mask as they exit the arrival hall at Hong Kong High Speed Rail Station Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Camp beds at a Medical Assessment Center set up at the airport in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on the eve of the arrival of German citizens evacuated from Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Funeral parlour staff members in protective suits help a colleague with disinfection after they transferred a body at a hospital in Wuhan Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Muslims wearing masks pray for the victims of coronavirus at a mosque in Ahmedabad, India Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical officials waiting for people who wants to check the novel coronavirus at Myeongdong shopping district Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Children wear plastic bottles as makeshift homemade protection and protective masks while waiting to check in to a flight at Beijing Capital Airport Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A patient assisted by medical staff gets off an ambulance in Wuhan AFP/Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People line up to buy face masks from a medical supply company in Nanning, southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Countries began evacuating their citizens from the Chinese city hardest-hit by a new virus that has now infected more people in China than were sickened in the country by SARS Chinatopix via AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Millions spent their normally festive Lunar New Year holiday under lockdown Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Children with face masks wash their hands before prayer at Erawan shrine in Bangkok. Thailand has detected eight Coronavirus cases so far AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An Indonesian health officer points at the screen of a thermal scanner for passengers China confirmed that the deadly Wuhan coronavirus virus can be transmitted between humans AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Hospital workers wearing protective eyewear and masks examine an Indonesian student who returned from China in quarantine at a hospital in Banda Aceh AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ambulance staff dispose of an outfit at the hospital in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A person checks the temperature of a passenger to help stop the spread of a deadly virus as he arrives at the Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International airport in Palembang AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Nepali students, wearing face masks, attend a class at Matribhumi School in Bhaktapur, on the outskirts of Kathmandu AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Two Buddhist monks wear face masks while walking along a street in Yangon AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Staff disinfecting a residential area in Ruichang, part of Jiujiang in China's central Jiangxi province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers are seen at the construction site of a new hospital being built to treat patients from a deadly virus outbreak in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on January 27, 2020. - China is rushing to build a new hospital in a staggering 10 days to treat patients at the epicentre of a deadly virus outbreak that has stricken thousands of people, state media reported on January 24. (Photo by Hector RETAMAL / AFP) (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images) HECTOR RETAMAL AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Vapor blurs the goggles of an ambulance driver while they work, in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers producing facemasks at a factory in Yangzhou AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff getting on an ambulance in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A vendor of traditional masks wears a facial mask at his shop in Thamel EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An airport official checks the temperature of a passenger upon his arrival at the Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members arrive with a patient at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An ambulance driver talking with medical staff in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Wuhan Hygiene Emergency Response Team leave the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market The new coronavirus appears to have its origins in a seafood market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, a popular transport hub AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers produce protective suits at a factory in Nantong AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers scanned by thermal imaging for body temperature as they go through health measures and procedures after they landed at Rome's Fiumicino airport on a southern airlines flight from Wuhan Aeroporto Di Roma/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A Thai royal guard wears a mask while on duty at the Grand Palace in Bangkok EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing a face mask rides a nearly empty subway train in Beijing AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A shopper wearing goggles with a face mask and gloves uses a self checkout machine at a supermarket in Wuhan AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to Jinyintan hospital EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of the Italian Red Cross putting on protective gear, getting ready to give health checks to passengers that landed at Rome's Fiumicino airport on a southern airlines flight from Wuhan Aeroporto Di Roma/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A member of the Hong Kong government's Civil Aid Service gestures at the entrance to the Lady MacLehose Holiday Village which is being used as one of two quarantine centres for people who have been in close proximity with suspected cases of a SARS-type virus. Hong Kong will turn two holiday camps, including a former military barracks, into quarantine zones for people who may have come into contact with carriers of the Wuhan virus, officials announced AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff wearing protective suits at the Zhongnan hospital in Wuhan STR/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A Malaysia Health official checks passengers going through a thermal scanner upon their arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Staff disinfecting Yingtan North Railway Station, China China banned trains and planes from leaving the major city at the centre of a virus outbreak on January 23, seeking to seal off its 11 million people to contain the contagious disease that has claimed lives and spread to other countries AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A passenger walks past a quarantine control station at Narita airport, Japan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Patients queue up to seek treatment in Wuhan Tongji Hospital Fever Clinic, in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Quarantine workers spray disinfectant at Incheon International Airport, South Korea EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A member of staff checks the temperature of a guest entering the casino of the New Orient Landmark hotel in Macau, after it reported its first case of the new SARS-like virus AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to Jin Yintan hospital Little is known about the new disease which, if confirmed, would be only the seventh coronavirus known to science that can infect humans Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of the Three Gorges Medical Laboratory offering free masks to the public in Yichang, China AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Gabriel Leung, right, chair professor of public health medicine at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong, speaks about the extent of the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak in China AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of staff of the Wuhan Hygiene Emergency Response Team conducting searches on the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A quarantine officer at Incheon International Airport, South Korea, uses an electronic thermometer to check the temperature of passengers arriving by plane from Wuhan The virus causes symptoms of viral pneumonia, and has already led to several deaths EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A screen shows cancelled flights at Tianhe airport in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to Jinyintan hospital EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Health officials hand out information about the current coronavirus at Kuala Lumpur International Airport AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A store owner argues with security guards as he attempts to enter the closed Huanan wholesale seafood market AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers producing facemasks at a factory in Handan, China's northern Hebei province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff and security personnel stop patients' family members from being too close to the Jinyintan hospital Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus maya-goodfellowAn airport staff member uses a temperature gun to check people leaving Wuhan Tianhe International Airport AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A rescue worker walks past a notice about new coronavirus that has broken out in China Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Health officials wear face masks at an inspection site at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members carry a patient into the Jinyintan hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A staff member checks body temperature of a child after a train from Wuhan arrived at Hangzhou Railway Station in Hangzhou AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A quarantine station measures passenger body temperatures at Narita Airport JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers walk past a notice displayed near a quarantine control station at Narita airport EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers walk past a poster alerting on coronavirus screening ahead upon their arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An employee sprays disinfectant on a train, as a precaution against coronavirus, at Suseo Station in Seoul EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Kazakh sanitary-epidemiological service worker uses a thermal scanner to detect travellers from China who may have symptoms possibly connected with the previously unknown coronavirus, at Almaty International Airport, Kazakhstan Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Pharmacist Liu Zhuzhen stands near a sign reading "face masks are sold out" at her pharmacy in Shanghai AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus The Wuhan Medical Treatment Center, EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A worker in a protective suit at the closed seafood market in Wuhan Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers wear protective face masks at the departure hall of a high speed train station in Hong Kong AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A notice for passengers from Wuhan Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wears a mask while riding on mobike past the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market Getty

The travel shutdown comes just as China gears up to celebrate the Lunar New Year, one of the biggest festivals in the calendar which would traditionally see tens of millions of Chinese travel to see family in other parts of the country.

Inside Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak, people have been ordered to wear face masks in public and shop shelves lie empty as residents stock up on essentials in preparation for what could a lengthy period cut off from the outside world.

Local authorities in the city have also announced they are rapidly building a dedicated 1,000-bed hospital to treat patients who have contracted the virus.

There have been unconfirmed reports local hospitals have had to turn some people away because so many had arrived, concerned they may have contracted the virus.

Using prefabricated components, city officials want to complete the new structure by early February. Wuhan hopes to emulate Beijing, which also quickly built a dedicated hospital in 2003 when battling the Sars outbreak.

The previously unknown strain of coronavirus is believed to have started at a fish market in Wuhan. The symptoms are similar to those of the common cold at first, but then can progress to a fever, shortness of breath and ultimately pneumonia.

Most of those who catch the virus recover, and those who die have tended to have underlying health complaints which the infection has worsened.

 Screening in Chinese city of Wuhan at centre of coronavirus

Although most cases remain clustered around Wuhan and the surrounding region, the virus has been found overseas too.

Fourteen people in the UK have been tested over fears they may have the virus; so far five have come back negative and the other nine are still waiting for results. All of them had recently travelled to Wuhan.

Despite the spread of the coronavirus, the World Health Organisation has not yet declared a global public health emergency, mostly because of the relatively few number of confirmed cases overseas.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-25 04:48:55|Editor: Yurou

Video Player Close

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Thirty-four U.S. troops had been diagnosed with concussions and traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a result of the Iranian missile attack on U.S. military base in Iraq earlier this month, the Pentagon said on Friday.

"Eight service members who were previously transported to Germany have been transported to the United States, they would continue to receive treatment in the United States either at Walter Reed or their home bases," Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said at a press briefing.

Hoffman said that nine service members were still undergoing treatment in Germany, and the rest of the 17 injured troops have already returned to duty in Iraq.

U.S. military said last week that 11 service members were treated for concussion symptoms from the blast of Iranian missiles.

Hoffman noted that the symptoms "are late developing and manifested over a period of time."

Seeking revenge for the killing of Iranian senior commander Qassem Soleimani by a U.S. drone strike on Jan. 3 in Iraq, Iran retaliated on Jan. 8 by launching ballistic missiles on military bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq's western province of Anbar and near the city of Erbil, capital of the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan.

U.S military initially said that no casualty was reported from the Iranian attack. President Donald Trump then downplayed the seriousness of those injures.

"I heard that they had headaches and a couple of other things, but I would say and I can report that it's not very serious," Trump told reporters on Wednesday at a press conference in Davos, Switzerland.

More than 5,000 U.S. troops are deployed in Iraq to support the Iraqi forces in the battle against Islamic State militants.
The Bombay High Court on Friday directed the Union government to state what process was followed by the selection committee of Mumbai International Film Festival while rejecting three documentary films.

A division bench of Justices S C Dharmadhikari and R I Chagla was hearing a petition filed by film makers Anand Patwardhan and Pankaj Kumar after their movies were refused screening at Mumbai International Film Festival.

The petitioners' counsel Mihir Desai argued that no reasons were officially given by the film festival organisers while rejecting the films, but the makers apprehend it could be because the films are critical of the present political scenario.

The five-day festival, scheduled to begin on January 28, is organised by Films Division of the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

It aims to provide a platform for documentary and short film makers from all over the world to meet, exchange ideas and explore possibilities of co-production and marketing of documentary, short and animation films.

The bench, on Friday, directed additional solicitor general Anil Singh, appearing for the Centre, to submit on January 27 records and process followed by the selection committee while rejecting the films.

"The petitioners have an apprehension that their films showing certain content will not be allowed to be screened. Show us what process was followed by the committee. We are not going to curtail your (selection committee's) freedom to select," the court said.

The petition claimed the selection committee acted in an arbitrary and malafide manner by rejecting the three documentary films.

Patwardhan's film 'Vivek/Reason' documents the ascendancy of particular political ideology in recent times.

The film covers the murders of rationalists such as Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare, M M Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh and investigates the connection of these crimes to the various sectarians outfits.

It also looks at violent attacks on Muslims and Dalits in the name of cow protection, the caste-based discrimination that led to the suicide of young student leader and scholar Rohith Vemula, and numerous other outbursts of violence, large and small, connecting them to present an overview of the turmoil that India is presently witnessing.

Pankaj Kumar's movie 'Janani's Juliet' follows the story of Indianostrum, a Puducherry based theatre group, which, disturbed by a spate of honour killings in India, sets out to introspect the implications of caste, class and gender.

His second entry, 'Two Flags' chronicles the life and politics of Puducherry.

Counsel Desai argued that the petitioners were not even aware at what stage their movies were rejected or on what grounds.

The petition claimed the movies may not have been selected as they are critical of the current political dispensation and/or critical of the political philosophy that they claim to espouse.

The petition has sought the HC to order the film festival director to screen the three films.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
County Mayor Jim Coppinger said a ruling by a federal judge means he does not have to decide on the controversial issue of refugee resettlement.

Judge Peter Messitte said an executive order from President Donald Trump giving states and localities the option of not accepting refugees was likely illegal.

He wrote, "By giving States and Local Governments the power to veto where refugees may be resettledin the face of clear statutory text and structure, purpose, Congressional intent, executive practice, judicial holdings, and Constitutional doctrine to the contraryOrder 13888 does not appear to serve the overall public interest. Granting the preliminary injunctive relief Plaintiffs seek does. Refugee resettlement activity should go forward as it developed for the almost 40 years before Executive Order 13888 was announced."

County Mayor Coppinger had been the only one of the county leaders of the state's four largest cities not to sign allowing the resettlement

At a recent County Commission meeting he had been urged to sign.

At the time he said he was still mulling over the decision.

Mike Dunne of his office said, "Due to the legal ruling by the federal judge in Maryland, no decision needed to be made."
Akwa Ibom Assembly Re Run, PDP accuses Akpabio of re-enacting operation Warsaw

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State has accused the former Governor of the state and now Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio of planning to re enact operation Warsaw as witnessed in the state in the 2019 general elections.

The Party said this on Friday in a press conference read by the National Legal Adviser and Chairman of the Essien Udim re run elections committee, Barr. Emmanuel Enoidem.

According to Enoidem, Senator Akpabio has not only concluded plans to re enact the popular inglorious Warsaw invasion cum destruction on Essien Udim and the people of Akwa Ibom State, he has also marked some prominent members of the PDP for arrest and tuture on trump up charges in his bid to capture the LGA for his Party, the APC.

Recall that, on February 23 and March 9, 2019, Sen. Akpabio, unleashed unprecedented violent on essien Udim and that infamous expedition was very glaring that the Court of Appeal described the elections that took place there with the worst adjectives ever used in a judgement of a court.

Enoidem said that, though Sen. Akpabio has conceded defeat on the Senatorial ticket, he is determined to massively rig the Saturday re-run elections in aid of his partys candidates for the House of Reps and House of Assembly just to deceive the world that APC is popular in Essien Udim

According to him, in order to achieve this ignoble objectives, Senator Akpabio has procured the services of DIG Michael Igbizi who flew on the same Ibom Air flight with him yesterday. His intention is to reenact the roles played by AIG Musa Kimo during the last elections in 2019 

On those marked for the said arrest and torture, Enoidem listed the following prominent members of the PDP in Essien Udim: Chief M.A Afangideh, Sir Emem Akpabio, Prince Akpabio, Chief E.E.P Umanah, Hon. Nsini Umanah, Hon. Anthony Luke, Hon. Sunyiekekere Inokon, Barr Okpokpo, etc 

In addition, Enoidem accused Senator Akpabio and the APC in Akwa Ibom of planning to import armed thugs, referred to by them as walking stick contractors from Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Bayelsa State with some fake soldiers and policemen enroute Essien Udim.

He said the armed thugs, the fake policemen and army will be working under the operational command of CSP Idorenyin Akpabio, a nephew of Senator Godswill Akpabio, who is currently in charge of Operation Puff Ada in Akwa Ibom State. 

To this end, the Party invites all observer groups and the international community to come and witness the elections in Essien Udim on Saturday, January 25, 2020. He advised those invited to come with sophisticated gadgets with simultaneous recording and transmitting devices as they tour the various units.

Finally, he called on the the Inspector General of Police to call to order DIG Mike Igbizi, who is famed for unprofessional anti democratic electoral assistance to the APC as evident in Kano rerun and the recent governorship election in Bayelsa State.
JUNO BEACH, Fla., Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) has posted its fourth-quarter and full-year 2019 financial results in a news release available on the company's website by accessing the following link: www.NextEraEnergy.com/FinancialResults.

Jim Robo, chairman and chief executive officer of NextEra Energy, Rebecca Kujawa, executive vice president, finance and chief financial officer of NextEra Energy, and other members of the company's senior management team will discuss the company's fourth-quarter and full-year 2019 financial results during an investor presentation to be webcast live, beginning at 9 a.m. ET today. The listen-only webcast will be available on NextEra Energy's website by accessing the following link: www.NextEraEnergy.com/FinancialResults. Also discussed during the investor presentation will be financial results for NextEra Energy Partners, LP (NYSE: NEP). A replay will be available for 90 days by accessing the same link as listed above.

NextEra Energy, Inc.

NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) is a leading clean energy company headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida. NextEra Energy owns two electric companies in Florida: Florida Power & Light Company, which serves more than 5 million customer accounts in Florida and is the largest rate-regulated electric utility in the United States as measured by retail electricity produced and sold; and Gulf Power Company, which serves more than 460,000 customers in eight counties throughout northwest Florida. NextEra Energy also owns a competitive energy business, NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun and a world leader in battery storage. Through its subsidiaries, NextEra Energy generates clean, emissions-free electricity from eight commercial nuclear power units in Florida, New Hampshire, Iowa and Wisconsin. A Fortune 200 company and included in the S&P 100 index, NextEra Energy has been recognized often by third parties for its efforts in sustainability, corporate responsibility, ethics and compliance, and diversity. NextEra Energy is ranked No. 1 in the electric and gas utilities industry on Fortune's 2020 list of "World's Most Admired Companies" and ranked among the top 25 on Fortune's 2018 list of companies that "Change the World." For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.GulfPower.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.

SOURCE NextEra Energy, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.nexteraenergy.com


Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fired a fresh salvo against Congress and the Aam Aami Party in election-bound Delhi by saying that the protest in Shaheen Bagh is backed by the two parties.

Yesterday, what Delhi chief minister and deputy chief minister said showed that Shaheen Bagh is a result of collusion between Congress and AAP. There is an effort to mislead people. Slogans like Jinnah wali azadi are being raised. People need to decide what they want: Jinnah wali azadi or Bharat Mata ki Jai, Union minister Prakash Javadekar said on Friday.

The Union minister further said that Congress leaders regularly visit Shaheen Bagh,a nd Thursdays statements by Kejriwal and Sisodia prove that they too support the agitation.

Javadekar was responding to Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodias statement at an event organised by a private television on Thursday where he said he backs Shaheen Bagh protesters.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, speaking to another television channel on Thursday, said, The protest at Shaheen Bagh wont stop if I visit the site. If my presence can scrap CAA and NRC, I will do it in 5 minutes. The Centre has to end these protests. If they drop CAA and NRC, not just Shaheen Bagh, protesters all over the country will go to their homes.

The BJP has been consistently attacking AAP and Congress - their principal opponent in the Delhi Assembly elections. These people started provoking the youth, minorities and caused riots in Delhi. Did you see or not. Today also Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia says unashamedly that they are with those protesting at Shaheen Bagh, Home Minister Amit Shah said at a rally in Delhi on Thursday.

BJP president J P Nadda also stepped into the fray to attack both the parties who he said are backing Shaheen Bagh protests. Some people are sitting in protest against CAA but not a single Congress leader has condemned it, that is their character..., Nadda said at a public meeting in Palam on Thursday.

Vote comes first for them and country later. For us, country is important not the vote, Nadda added.

Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Goel said, AAP is running away from its responsibilities. Why havent AAP leaders gone to Shaheen Bagh yet?...Shaheen Bagh has become Shame Bagh.

The BJP is trying to make a comeback in Delhi where it has been out of power for more than two decades. The party could win only three seats in the last assembly polls in 2015 with the AAP scoring a landslide victory with 67 seats.

In 2013, the BJP had won 31 seats and secured a vote share of 33.07 per cent. It reduced by about just one per cent in 2015 and stood at 32.1 per cent but the party barely managed to win three seats.

The voting for the 70-member Delhi assembly will be held on February 8. The votes will be counted on February 11.
In the past when this happened, when we started bringing the prisoners back from outside prisons, we had a bunch of them who had to join gangs in order to survive in those prisons, Thompson said. So when they finally came back and they came home, especially in Anchorage, they brought that gang stuff with them.
Fred McClenaghan who was found guilty of the murder of Marion Millican

An inquest into the death of a man serving a life sentence for gunning down his ex-partner in a laundrette will be heard by a jury, a coroner has said.

Convicted killer Fred McClenaghan died in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast after taking ill in Magilligan Prison in October 2018.

McClenaghan had been jailed for 13 years for shooting Marion Millican, his former girlfriend, at point blank range after entering the Portstewart laundrette where she had worked on March 11, 2011.

The 57-year-old had initially claimed that the killing of Mrs Millican was an accident committed while he botched his own suicide.

The Co Londonderry murderer was twice convicted and jailed for life for the shooting before having the verdicts overturned on appeal.

However, in September 2017, he finally admitted that he murdered Mrs Millican and was handed a life sentence.

The murder trial had heard McClenaghan's relationship with Mrs Millican - a 51-year-old mother-of-four - had been one which had been categorised by "violence".

It was revealed that at the time of her murder, Mrs Millican - who had separated with McClenaghan in December 2010 - was in the process of reconciling with her husband.

At a preliminary inquest hearing in Laganside House in Belfast yesterday, coroner Patrick McGurgan revealed that due to the nature of this case, he was obliged to summon a jury.

"The law mandates that I have to have an inquest in relation to a death in the prison system, and I have to sit with a jury," he explained.

Coroners in UK jurisdictions have a legal obligation to call a jury for inquests where a death has occurred in a prison or at a place of 'custody'. In these instances, jurors are required to determine cause of death.

At the time of McClenaghan's death, the Northern Ireland Prison Service confirmed that a 57-year-old man had died in custody, revealing the PSNI, coroner and Prisoner Ombudsman had all been informed.

Mr McGurgan also heard that between "12 to 14 witnesses" will be called to the inquest, which is expected to last over the course of a week.

The coroner's legal counsel stressed yesterday that the witness list was currently at a "draft stage", adding: "As such, it is a bit early to propose the running order."

The hearing heard that medical experts - one a pathologist with the Belfast Trust - and members of the prison service are expected to be among those called to attend.

After receiving updates on the legal preparations for the inquest, Mr McGurgan provisionally scheduled the full inquest, which will be held in Belfast, for late summer.

"Subject to witnesses' availability, I am setting the inquest for the week starting August 24, into early September," he said.

Another preliminary hearing will be heard in March.
But many of the people who cause problems are likely the ones who could benefit from a long-term city partnership with a mental health service provider.
WASHINGTON - A new poll shows Americans are more likely than not to support President Donald Trumps decision to order a drone strike that killed an Iranian general, even amid widespread skepticism about his foreign policy overall.

The poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research was taken about two weeks after the Jan. 3 strike that killed Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Iraq. It found that 41% of Americans approved of the action while 30% disapproved of it. The rest didnt express an opinion either way.

Soleimani was killed shortly after arriving at the Baghdad airport. Iran responded five days later by firing a barrage of missiles at bases in Iraq where U.S. troops are stationed, causing injuries but no deaths. The exchange sparked fears of a new Middle East war, but both sides then stood down.

That lack of escalation could explain some of the support for the strike, said Trita Parsi, executive vice-president of the Quincy Institute.

There was a fear that this could lead to an all-out war between the U.S. and Iran and, because it didnt, the assessment of whether it was good or bad shifts a bit, said Parsi, whose trans-partisan think-tank advocates for diplomacy and military restraint in the Middle East.

The poll results are mixed for Trump, with support for killing the general not translating into a corresponding increase in approval of his handling of foreign affairs.

The poll showed 59% disapproved of the Republican presidents handing of foreign policy, similar to the percentage who said that in October 2019 and well above the 43% who disapproved of his job handling the economy.

Trumps approval rating for foreign policy is similar to views on how hes handling his job as president overall.

To a certain extent, public opinion on the killing of Soleimani, who U.S. officials say led campaigns that have killed hundreds of American troops and was planning further attacks, tracked with attitudes toward the president overall. Republican support for the decision is overwhelming, with 80% approving and just 5% disapproving of the decision. Among Democrats, 15% approve and 53% disapprove.

It does show there are repercussions for inciting violence against the U.S., said Andrew Heater, a Trump supporter who lives near South Bend, Indiana. I dont really like violence, and I dont really believe in it, but I feel its been a one-way street and we continually get pushed around.

On the other side was South Florida resident Lauren Schulman, who blamed Trump for creating conflict with Iran with his 2018 unilateral withdrawal from the international agreement that removed sanctions on the country in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program. She suspects the strike against the general was intended to distract from Trumps impeachment and other issues at home.

I just think that Trump just does this stuff to distract every time something comes up with him, which is pretty much every day, Schulman said. I just dont think there was anything to it.

The poll showed Americans largely pessimistic about U.S. foreign policy. Close to 50% of Americans expect relationships with traditionally hostile nations to worsen in the coming year, and roughly 40% also expect a decline both in the countrys relationships with allies and in U.S. standing around the world.

About 67% of Democrats think that U.S. relationships with traditionally hostile nations will worsen. On this, about 25% of Republicans agree, although Republicans are still more likely to expect these relationships to improve or stay the same.

The poll shows that 56% of Americans, both Republicans and Democrats, are extremely or very concerned about Irans nuclear program. Thats an increase from a year ago, when 48% said they were highly concerned.

Parsi agrees with those who think the situation will worsen. The U.S. is putting increasing economic pressure on Iran  adding new sanctions on Thursday  and the Iranians are increasing their stockpiles of enriched uranium and continuing support for proxy forces in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere. A new crisis could emerge at any time.

I think we are right now in a bit of an illusory lull in which people are under the perception that tensions have reduced when in reality it is just a temporary pause, Parsi said. The actual driving forces of this conflict have not changed and not let up.

___

The AP-NORC poll of 1,353 adults was conducted Jan. 16-21 using a sample drawn from NORCs probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 3.6 percentage points. Respondents were first selected randomly using address-based sampling methods and later were interviewed online or by phone.

___

Online:

AP-NORC Center: http://www.apnorc.org/
MG Motor India aims for a massive revamp in its manufacturing facility with multiple products planned for the Indian market.

On account of overwhelming response for the MG Hector and all-electric MG ZS EV, MG Motor India plans to expand its production capacity to 3 lakh units a year, in due course. The British-origin brand under SAIC currently has a manufacturing facility in Halol (Gujarat) which will reach its optimum utilisation by producing one lakh units in the coming years.

To attain goal of 3 lakh units per year, SAIC is conducting a study for its next phase of expansion in the form of an all-new manufacturing facility. Regarding this, MG is in talks with many state governments, and an official announcement will be made in the coming 3-4 months.

The company had initially invested around Rs 5,000 crore and out of this sum, more than Rs 2,000 crore has been exhausted. The remaining will be spent by end of the year. With new plant, the company will also be announcing new additional investments in India, as well as new job opportunities.

Rajeev Chaba, MD & President of MG Motors, shares that the second phase of business enlargement will see introduction of a range of new products of different body types. Given the average Indian buyers interest in SUVs and MPVs, MG Motor India will mostly add more products in that category. Sedans and hatchbacks could eventually reach the Indian market tool. The entire expansion strategy will not be concentrated on the domestic market and MG Motor aims to be a prominent presence in the export market as well.

Mr Chaba also added that the company is open to both brownfield and greenfield expansion policies. Finally, he shared a bit about MGs plans to introduce a sub-four-metre vehicle alongside an EV which costs around or under Rs 10 lakh. The latter is considered as a long-term project.

MG Motor India will showcase 17 models including a wide range of EVs in different categories. Even though every model might not make it to the Indian market in near future, the company will be conducting a feasibility check to find out which among them deserves to be launched at the earliest. Gaurav Gupta, Senior Vice President & CCO of MG Motor India, stated that the brand will soon become a full-blown automaker with a strong presence across major segments of the Indian market.

As mentioned before, MG Motor currently sells only two products; among which the all-electric ZS EV was launched only recently. The company garnered an impressive 2,800 bookings even before its launch in select major Indian cities. To improve the electric SUVs desirability and practicality, MG Motor India has tied up with e-Charge Bay; a start-up which sets up charging stations at an EV owners home or any other location of choice. The cost of installation (excluding civil work) will be covered in ex-showroom price of the vehicle. In MG ZS EVs case, prices start at Rs 20.88 lakh.

Source
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 18:59:04|Editor: mingmei

Video Player Close

WELLINGTON, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Consulate General in Christchurch on Friday donated 100 popular children's books in China to the central city library, part of the citywide celebration of the Chinese New Year.

"These books will be welcomed by readers," Chinese Consul General Wang Zhijian said at a ceremony unveiling the celebration of the Year of the Rat in Christchurch of New Zealand's South Island.

The Chinese books donated include biographies, fairytales for Children, prize-winning bestsellers, Chinese literature such as bilingual Tang poetry, as well as contemporary works popular among young people.

"There are special shelves of Chinese books in all city libraries," Wang said, adding the Chinese community has been the second largest in Christchurch and benefited a lot from library books.

Carolyn Robertson, the libraries and information manager for Christchurch City Council, was "grateful for the generous donations" and called the books "wonderful gifts for the community to enjoy."

The city libraries need diverse language books as part of a wide range of books offered, Robertson said, adding she values the Consulate General's thoughts and knowledge of selecting these books.
By Laman Ismayilova

Fabrica de tobacco theater will present a stunning flamenco show in Baku as part of a 10-year anniversary tour.

The legendary flamenco show "Frida" will be staged at the Opera Studio on February 9.

The play "Frida" is dedicated to the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), whose creative heritage and biography inspired flamenco dancer Natalia Zaikova to stage this show.

One of Mexico's greatest artists, Frida Kahlo began painting after she was severely injured in a bus accident.

Despite the excruciating physical suffering, Frida sparkled with humor. And only by taking the brush, she allowed herself to think about the inevitable. She dreamed about the baby, but a terrible injury has not allowed her to have children. Three pregnancies - but it was quite a feat in her position - ended tragically. And then she began to draw children, the most depicted as the dead

After her accident, Kahlo abandoned the study of medicine and began to paint so that to occupy herself during her three-month immobilization. Self-portraits were a dominant motif then. Kahlo once said, I paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best.

Kahlo created at least 140 paintings, along with dozens of drawings and studies. Of her paintings, 55 are self-portraits which often incorporate symbolic portrayals of physical and psychological wounds. She insisted, I've never painted dreams. I painted my own reality.

In 1929, she became politically active and married fellow communist artist Diego Rivera.

Frida Kahlo exhibited her paintings in Paris and Mexico before her death in 1954.

---

Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
A n extradition request for the US woman charged with causing the death of British teenager Harry Dunn has been turned down by the US.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo denied the request for Anne Sacoolas to be returned to the UK, the 19-year-old's family spokesman said.

Harry's parents were informed of Mr Pompeo's decision in a phone call with their constituency MP Andrea Leadsom on Thursday.

Mr Dunn's family said they would react fully to the news on Friday morning, but said "the fight goes on" for justice for their son.

Harry Dunn's mother Charlotte Charles, stepfather Bruce Charles, family spokesman Radd Seiger and father Tim Dunn outside the Ministry Of Justice in London / PA

The teenager was killed when his motorbike crashed into a car outside a US military base in Northamptonshire on August 27 last year.

Mrs Sacoolas, 42, was charged with causing his death by dangerous driving by the Crown Prosecution Service in December.

She was granted diplomatic immunity following the crash and was able to return to her home country, sparking an international controversy.

Boris Johnson previously said the chance of the suspect ever returning to the UK was very low.
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India] Jan 24 (ANI): West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee on Friday said TMC will organize rallies on February 1 and February 2 at block levels to protest against Citizenship Amendment Act, National Population Register and National Register of Citizens.



"Today we had a meeting with the district presidents under the leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. We will continue to protest and oppose against CAA, NPR and NRC. We will organise rally from February 1 to February 2 at block levels," Chatterjee told media persons.

He said the party will launched human chain formation against the CAA, NRC and NPR at block level from February 5 till February 7.

On January 22, after leading a 4-km long protest march against the CAA and National Register of Citizens (NRC), Mamata had addressed a rally and said the Centre is trying to push CAA only in non-BJP ruled states.



"The Centre is trying to push CAA only in non-BJP ruled states. I want to Ask Amit Shah will a person be declared foreigner then allowed to apply for citizenship," she had said. (ANI)


Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his top political challenger Benny Gantz will visit Washington next week to discuss peace in the Middle East, the White House announced Thursday.



Vice President Mike Pence said he extended the invitation to Netanyahu and Gantz -- the leader of Israel's Blue and White party -- during his trip to Jerusalem, on behalf of President Donald Trump.



The timing of the visit could provide a distraction from the ongoing impeachment trial in the Senate.



The Trump administration has repeatedly delayed the release of a plan it's devised for peace between Israel and its neighbors, as political turmoil in Israel brought criminal charges against Netanyahu and two parliamentary elections in under seven months.



Notably absent from the administration's announcements was any mention of the Palestinians.



The White House declined to comment on whether it had also extended an invite to Palestinian officials, who cut off relations with the Trump administration in 2017 after the U.S. recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital. They have also openly criticized Trump's actions as heavily biased in favor of Israel.



Bringing Netanyahu to the White House just over a month before the latest round of Israeli elections, scheduled for March 2, fits a pattern in which Trump has aimed to provide a domestic boost for his ally. The visit would allow the two leaders to put their close relationship before cameras.



While Gantz was also invited, Pence made clear the former military leader was an afterthought invited only after Netanyahu suggested he come, too.



Last year, just weeks before the elections in April, Trump announced in a tweet that the U.S. would recognize Israel's sovereignty over the disputed Golan Heights, an area that overlooks the Jordan Valley; the move widely viewed as an attempt to help Netanyahu.



Days before another vote in September, Trump teased a conversation with Netanyahu about a possible mutual defense treaty.



Both leaders accepted the invitation to come to Washington, according to White House officials, and Netanyahu said he would "gladly" come. Pence told reporters in Jerusalem that the meeting would include a discussion of "regional issues, as well as the prospect of peace here in the Holy Land."



Amid hundreds of tweets about his impeachment trial, Trump wrote on Twitter Thursday that the U.S. looked forward to hosting Gantz and Netanyahu.



"Reports about details and timing of our closely-held peace plan are purely speculative," he added.



Netanyahu, who has adopted Trump's language and messaging tactics in a bid to align himself with the American president -- widely popular in Israel -- was charged in November with fraud, bribery and breach of trust.



He is currently seeking immunity from prosecution even as he campaigns to hold his office.



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday called for Pakistanis to come out in protest in support of Kashmiris on February 5, the day when the revocation of Jammu and Kashmirs special status would complete six months.

I want Pakistanis at home and abroad to come out on 5th Feb in support of the 8 million Kashmiris who have been besieged by 900k Indian soldiers for almost 6 months by the fascist racist Modi regime, Khan wrote on Twitter just days after his fresh attempt to seek global intervention into the Kashmir issue failed.

Khan in a series of interviews over the past few days has been urging international powers - including the United Nations and the United States  seeking intervention to mediate between the two countries on Kashmir.

During his meet with Khan on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump had repeated his offer to mediate between India and Pakistan, but the offer was quickly rebuffed by New Delhi, asserting that any dialogue between the neighbours would be bilateral.

The Ministry of External Affairs had also dismissed Imran Khan's concerns, saying that Islamabads efforts would be better spent in taking verifiable action against terror groups on its territory than trying to "distract" the global community.

Khan has also had to admit in a recent interview with a German publication that the response to his calls on the Kashmir issue has been lukewarm as he blamed the global community for considering commercial interest more important than human rights.

After finding no takers abroad, Khan has turned his eye back within Pakistan as he asked people to hit the streets. Pakistan had in October too observed a Black Day in protest against Indias decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmirs autonomy and the security lockdown imposed in the state since August 5.
Shobha Karandlaje, BJP MP from Udupi Chikmagalur, has claimed that the Kerala government is only interested in vote bank politics and is not concerned with those who indulge themselves in anti-national activities. Her remarks came after a case was registered against her for allegedly passing misinformation.

READ: Join Kerala, Punjab: Sufi Muslim Body Writes To CM Uddhav For Resolution Against CAA, NRC

BJP hits back

Hail Kerala Govt!



Instead of acting against the discrimination happened to the dalit families of Cherukunnu, they lodged a case against me!



High time for entire society to unite against these pressurising tactics of non-performing, biased left govt.@TimesNow @BJP4Keralam

1/2 https://t.co/duiRMnfbg4  Shobha Karandlaje (@ShobhaBJP) January 24, 2020

Speaking to news agency ANI, she said, "Unfortunately they (Kerala govt) have booked case against me. They don't look at people who do anti-national and anti-social activities. They only think of vote bank."

The Vice President of the Karnataka unit of BJP is caught in the middle of a controversy after a police case was filed for a tweet. Malappuram DP Chief Abdul Kareem confirmed that a case was filed against her for spreading misinformation and misleading public under Article 153(a), IPC 120 of Section 34 IPC.

READ: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan Seeks EAM Jaishankar's Help In Nepal Tourists Case

The complaint was filed against her after she tweeted that a certain section of Hindus was denied water since they supported the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in Malappuram. After the case was filed against her, she said that she had received information from a source and that she was not spreading fake information.

Kerala is taking baby steps to become another Kashmir!



Hindus of Kuttipuram Panchayat of Malappuram was denied water supply as they supported #CAA2019.#SevaBharati has been supplying water ever since.



Will Lutyens telecast this intolerance of PEACEFULS frm God's Own Country!? pic.twitter.com/y0HKI4bitD  Shobha Karandlaje (@ShobhaBJP) January 22, 2020

READ: Kerala Govt Releases Health Guidelines After Chinese Man Shows Signs Of Fever At Airport

Karandlaje has spoken out against the FIR and has heavily criticized the Kerala government for taking such an action. In a series of tweets, she attacked the state government and has been backed by senior spokespersons of the BJP.

READ: BJP's GVL Narasimha Rao Slams Kerala Govt Over 'Water' Allegation, Appeals To NHRC
Plastic straws are embedded deep in our consumer culture.

They have monopolized other straw alternatives thanks to their convenience. They are so entrenched in our systems that they evoke a cognitive effect in consumer behavior and are provided automatically when you order a drink. We seem to forget about asking a few meaningful questions: Do we really need a straw? Do we even use it when we get it? We might just use it to stir ice cubes or leave it completely unused on the table.

Eco-Cycle estimates that just the US alone uses up to 500 million plastic straws every day, an average of 1.6 straws per person. Thats 175 billion plastic straws each year, not including all the straws attached to juice and milk cartons. Plastic takes up to 500 years to decompose, so these billions of plastic straws are building up in global landfills and ecosystems.

Cambodia generates more than 4.09 million tons of solid waste each year. More than 20 percent of it is plastic. Around 10 million plastic bags are used daily in Phnom Penh, according to the European Union and ACRA Foundation. In urban areas, plastic waste causes flooding by clogging drains, respiratory health issues if burned, and results in microplastics in food chains. Though there is no exact number of plastic straw consumption, single-use plastic straws are widely used in various industries in Cambodia.

New approaches



Raising public awareness and advocating for government regulation to curb plastic consumption, such as putting a fee on plastic bags used at supermarkets, are necessary steps but not the full solution. Alternatives to those plastic products are needed, but are limited. This lack of alternatives presents a large barrier for consumers and suppliers who want to switch from plastic. Even just a 10 percent reduction would amount to hundreds of thousands fewer straws.

The idea is not about choosing plastic straws over plastic bagsboth are environmentally harmfulneither is it just about winning the war against plastic. The goal is to take new approaches to complex development challenges and develop a rapid experimentation methodology that can set the stage for others to follow. Starting with plastic straws, we can build inferences on how to change consumer behaviour. These inferences can then address other forms of plastic.

Single-use alternatives



The grass straw is one of the best single-use alternatives because its biodegradable. There are many types available, however there is still a lack of rigorous study needed to build consumer confidence and market opportunities. There are more factors to be consideredcost, hygiene, quality, and convenience. As a local cafe owner told me, Hygiene and safety are our top priority.

UNDP Accelerator Labs is approaching the question by carrying out an experiment on grass straws, both imported and home-grown Xyris Indica grass straw. The experiment aims to unveil the grass straw production line, quality, hygiene, and cost, by working with suppliers and manufacturers, testing the grass straws at cafes, getting real time feedback from users, and sharing conclusions to our 60 labs across the globe.

We started with a brainstorming session with grass straw suppliers, coffee shops and young people. Our team is exploring the entire grass straw ecosystem by going to different coffee shops and markets to identify existing alternatives, in other words to see how consumers and suppliers are already addressing the challenge of plastic straws. Next in line, we will work with Ministry of Environment and local community to pilot planting Xyris Indica grass, turn it into grass straw, and bring a prototype into a coffee shop and get it tested.

Fitting the local context



It is exciting that people want solutions instantly and are making great progress towards finding as many as possible. We often come up with many wild ideas, great ones that fit well in different scenarios and supposed to be scalable, but will they fit the local context? How long does it take us to learn about its impact? Most important of all, has it been tested? Some of these ideas require both expertise and resources from other countries.

Local ideas are often overlooked. However, they often fit better in the context as they rise from the challenge itself. Mapping existing solutions and testing them through rapid experimentation can accelerate the speed at which we learn about what works and what does not.
WASHINGTON  Democratic National Committee officials said they plan to focus aggressively on Maricopa County voters as part of their efforts to swing Arizona, one of six battleground states where the party plans to invest millions in 2020.

DNC spokesman David Bergstein said the initiative will roughly double the number of field organizers across the states, and by March there will hundreds of staff on the ground across the states.

But while Democrats expressed confidence Wednesday, state GOP officials said theyve heard it all before.

Democrats have consistently poured in outside money in their effort to win local races, said Maricopa County Republican Committee Chairman Rae Chorneky, who was not aware of the DNC push but not threatened by it.

We have every confidence that Maricopa County voters will see through that and will vote for the Republican candidates that have made Maricopa County strong, Chorneky said.

Bergstein said the DNC is making historic and early investments to lay groundwork for the eventual Democratic presidential nominee.
Longmont, CO, Jan. 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Nations Development Institute (First Nations) and The Henry Luce Foundation ( Luce ) are pleased to announce the selection of ten fellows for the Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellowship.

The Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellowship was created in 2019 to honor and support intellectual leaders in Native communities who are actively working to generate, perpetuate and disseminate indigenous knowledge. Selected fellows will receive a monetary award of $50,000 and access to additional resources for training and professional development; they will also convene three times throughout the fellowship year to share and grow their existing knowledge, passion and drive to achieve their personal and community goals. In addition, fellows will receive a grant of $25,000 to continue their work after the fellowship.

We are honored to partner with the Henry Luce Foundation to support this talented cohort of fellows who are working to advance Indigenous knowledge across Native communities, said Michael E. Roberts, President and CEO of First Nations. Historically, Indigenous knowledge systems were dismissed, devalued and attacked. This fellowship demonstrates that Indigenous people do possess valuable knowledge that can transform communities. These talented individuals demonstrate the ingenuity and genius present in Native communities.

Sean T. Buffington, Vice President of the Luce Foundation, praised the newly-named fellows: These knowledge makers and knowledge keepers are exemplary leaders, serving their communities by sharing their insight and understanding. The Luce Foundation is proud to support their work and to invest in the ongoing, millennia-old project of Indigenous knowledge-making.

The inaugural class of Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellows was selected by an Indigenous advisory committee from over 550 applicants, and represent 13 Indigenous nations from 7 states.



The 2020 Luce Indigenous Knowledge fellows are:

Story continues

Clarence Cruz (Khaayay) , Ohkay Owingeh  Tewa

Knowledge Field: Traditional Potter/Assistant Professor, University of New Mexico

Clarence is from New Mexico and, over the next year, he will begin to document past and present potters of Tewa and Ohkay Owingeh heritage. He plans to write a book that celebrates Pueblo potters, their families, ancestors and the histories of knowledge and culture that Pueblo potters have invented, perpetuated and passed down for generations. When completed, this will be the first compilation of Pueblo potters written by a Pueblo person. Clarence hopes the book will help people appreciate the contributions of Pueblo potters and serve as source material for writing on Tewa Art and Culture.



Dorene Day, Ojibwe Anishinabe, Nett Lake, Minnesota

Knowledge Field: Activist-Indigenous Birth Revitalization, Oondaadizike Kwe

Dorene has worked to reclaim Indigenous Birthing knowledge and is driven by her passion to provide a place for girls, young women, and grandmothers to access Traditional Lifeways and traditional womens teachings. She hopes to create greater access to traditional knowledge on birthing and female Lifeways for Indigenous women who want and need that information. Her program would be a pilot; she would bring together a group would learn over a year and also produce recordings and other resources.



Rahekawerih Montgomery Hill, Skarure (Tuscarora Indian Nation)

Knowledge Field: Speaker, Linguist, Language Activist

Montgomery is from New York and is focused on the creation, dissemination, and perpetuation of the Great Law of Peace within his community. The Great Law of Peace is essentially the constitution of the Iroquois Confederacy, a governance system that existed long before Europeans stepped foot in what is today called North America. Montgomery has not been able to identify any records or mention of a Tuscarora version of the Great Law of Peace and there are no Tuscarora elders alive with this knowledge. Thus, over the next year, he will work to translate the Great Law of Peace into the Tuscarora language. He believes that having their own version will not only lift the minds of the community but demonstrate their commitment to maintaining their language and ultimately their existence as a sovereign people. It would also reaffirm their recognition of the importance of the Haudenosaunee way of life and their belonging to the Confederacy.





Lisa Yellow Luger, Standing Rock Sioux

Knowledge Field: Tribal Justice Specialist

Lisa is from North Dakota and will undertake research on traditional justice systems. She will assess the potential of a traditional justice program for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, conducting interviews with elders and historians, researching landmark cases, meeting with other Tribal Nations to review traditional court programs, and seeking guidance from Native-based legal organizations, universities and Native American Law programs. In collaboration with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Court officials, she plans to outline and design a quality, culturally-appropriate model of what a traditional justice system could look like for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, rooted in the values, customs, and traditions of the Standing Rock people.





Trisha L. Moquino , Cochiti/Kewa/Ohkay Ohwingeh

Knowledge Field: Indigenous Educator/Guide and the Co-Founder of Keres Children's Learning Center

Trisha is from New Mexico and is seeking to further develop and contribute to the Philosophy of Indigenous Education, a program of the Indigenous Montessori Institute (IMI), by researching and writing on Indigenous Early Childhood Development through an anti-bias/anti-racism lens. She will work on curriculum development for future Native language teachers, Montessori as a tool in service to Indigenous Education, and the history of the IMI. She will also begin writing a childrens book so that Indigenous children can see themselves and their experiences reflected in contemporary times.





Corine Pearce, Redwood Valley Little River Band of Pomo Indians

Knowledge Field: Basket Weaver, Artist, Environmental Steward

Corine is from California and is one of five remaining basket weavers in her area. Over the next year, she wants to grow the number of traditional basket makers by teaching, revising and expanding her book and creating a video series on instructional basket weaving. She has spent the last three years harvesting and processing a large quantity of natural, native materials to teach larger classes and to mentor new weavers. Her weaving heals the land and the people, connecting future generations to a living cultural identity.





Hanna Sholl , (Sun'aq Tribe of Kodiak, Alaska)

Knowledge Field: Contemporary Sugpiaq (Alutiiq) Artist and Culture Bearer

Hanna is from Alaska and plans to develop 4 separate collections of Alutiiq cultural objects for the purpose of expanding, sharing and celebrating Ancestral Alutiiq knowledge and stories. The first collection will consist of recreations of ancestral Alutiiq objects, made with the intention of illustrating and sharing traditional techniques. The second will highlight how traditional techniques can be used and celebrated today. The third will be a collection of miniatures designed to explain daily life and stories to young people. Lastly, the fourth will be a large-scale mural collection with pieces designed to celebrate Alutiiq history and tradition. The goal of collections is to preserve and share knowledge of Alutiiq history and stories, as well as inspire her people.





Lloyd Harold Kumula  au Sing Jr ., Native Hawaiian

Knowledge Field: Traditional mixed-media artist and cultural practitioner

Lloyd is from Hawaii and will work to create a community of ieie basketry weavers who will revitalize this practice and teach the greater Hawaiian community. Traditional weavers gather and prepare the ieie (a native woody climbing vine) rootlets for the purpose of creating sturdy baskets to sort and protect their food and personal valuables, as well as serve as the repository for their bones. For the fellowship, Lloyd will teach a cohort of students how to weave six different traditional helmets (mahiole) worn by the ruling chiefs of old Hawaii using ieie weaving. He will also mentor and guide students to teach and demonstrate these techniques in public in order to share knowledge with Native Hawaiian and Pacific communities, raising awareness and generating interest in this unique form.





Xunei Lance Twitchell , Tlingit, Haida, Yupik, Sami

Knowledge Field: Indigenous Language Teacher

Lance is from Alaska and plans to create a Native language revitalization kit to be used by other Indigenous peoples that summarizes how to replicate best practices in their own communities. He will formalize a partnership with all entities producing Tlingit materials, create websites and blogs for the Tlingit language so that curricula can be shared and easily downloaded, and develop his own collecting, organizational and distribution abilities. He will also set up and field test at least three language access centers in Tlingit communities. Tell me what you want your grandchildren to know and I will teach it to them, Twitchell told his Tlingit elders.





Peter Williams , Yup'ik

Knowledge Field: Artist and Activist

Peter is an artist and activist from Alaska who works in the medium of Native marine mammal craftwork. He will continue his work to build a dialogue with allies in the world of environmental science to broaden the market for and to perpetuate traditional arts, such as his handmade fur paintings. He will also advocate for the Alaska Native lifestyle by traveling to his birthplace to interview elders on the Yupik creation story, marine mammal hunting, and past and present perspectives on 1971s Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. He hopes to learn how the elders anticipate subsistence will evolve in the future, particularly in light of climate change.



Additional information about the 2020 Fellows is available on First Nations website under the 2020 Luce Indigenous Knowledge Fellows section.

With support from the Henry Luce Foundation, First Nations awarded honorable mentions to 25 other applicants who also demonstrated a strong commitment to generate, perpetuate and disseminate indigenous knowledge. These individuals receive a small monetary award in recognition of their impressive work in their fields of knowledge.





2020 Fellowship Honorable Mentions and Knowledge Fields:

Angelo Baca, Navajo (Dine)  Indigenous Media, Anthropology, Sacred Lands Protection





Amanda Blackhorse, Dine  Social Advocacy





Joanie Buckley, Oneida  Business and Food Systems





Charlotte E. Davidson, Dine/Three Affiliated Tribes  Philosophy, Student Affairs, Higher Education





Jessi L. Falcon, Ho-Chunk Nation  Language





Helen Fillmore, Washoe  Ecological, Geological and Womens Ways





Kiana Laieikawai Frank, Native Hawaiian  Na kilo ao maiki (Indigenous Microbiology)





Malynn Foster, Squaxin Island  Skokomish  Master Artist, Food Sovereignty, Environmental Stewardship, Culture Keeper





Jefferson Greene, Member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs: Taxshpash, Wasqu, Paiute, ku Niimiipuu  Ichishkin Snwit Tananmami  Language of the Mid-Columbia River Indians





Dr. Toni M. House, Oneida  Language Revitalization and Leadership





Selina Jesus, Tohono Oodham Nation  Certified Oodham Teacher





Ku Kahakalau, Ph.D, Native Hawaiian  Hawaiian Language, Culture, History and Traditions, Indigenous Education and Research





C. Malina Kaulukukui, Native Hawaiian  Hula, Hooponopono, and Lua





Jacob Manatowa-Bailey, Sac and Fox Nation  Indigenous Language Revitalization





Traci McClellan-Sorell, Cherokee Nation  Poetry, Fiction and Nonfiction Literature for Children and Teens





Tachini Pete, Salish/Navajo  Language Transfer Capacity Building, Salish Language Revitalization





Heidi Aklaseaq Senungetuk, Nome Eskimo Community  Ethnomusicology





Jessie Shepherd, Sisseton-Wahpeton  Ecology and Traditional Plant Usage





Wendi Sierra, Oneida  Game Studies





Noenoe K. Silva, Kanaka Oiwi (Native Hawaiian)  Native Hawaiian Intellectual History, Native Hawaiian Political History, Olelo Hawaii (Hawaiian Language)





Sam Slater, Navajo  Navajo Moccasin Making and Cultural Arts Pedagogy





Endawnis Spears, Dine/Ojibwe/Chickasaw/Choctaw  Equity and Decolonization in Educational Spaces including Museums and Schools





Leona Swamp, Akwesasne Mohawk Nation  Grief and Intergenerational Trauma





Daniel R. Wildcat, Yuchi Member of Muscogee Nation  Philosophy, Environmental Science and Ethics



About First Nations Development Institute



For 39 years, using a three-pronged strategy of educating grassroots practitioners, advocating for systemic change, and capitalizing Indian communities, First Nations has been working to restore Native American control and culturally-compatible stewardship of the assets they own  be they land, human potential, cultural heritage or natural resources  and to establish new assets for ensuring the long-term vitality of Native American communities. First Nations serves Native American communities throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.firstnations.org .



About The Henry Luce Foundation

The Henry Luce Foundation seeks to enrich public discourse by promoting innovative scholarship, cultivating new leaders, and fostering international understanding.

The Foundation advances its mission through grantmaking and leadership programs in the fields of Asia, higher education, religion and theology, art and public policy.

Established in 1936 by Henry R. Luce, the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Time Inc., the Foundations earliest work honored his parents, missionary educators in China. The Foundations programs today reflect the value Mr. Luce placed on learning, leadership, and long-term commitment in philanthropy.

The Henry Luce Foundation is a private independent foundation based in New York City.



--##--



COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT:

Jennifer Churchill, Senior Communications Officer

303-774-7836 x 213 or jchurchill@firstnations.org
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo during a trip in Costa Rica on Jan. 21, 2020. (Ezequiel Becerra/AFP via Getty Images)

Pompeo to Meet With Zelensky Amid Senate Impeachment Trial

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is due to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky next week as the Senate impeachment trial against President Donald Trump continues.

Pompeo and Zelensky are scheduled to meet in Kyiv on Jan. 30, the State Department said. He will also meet with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko and Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Zahorodnyuk.

Pompeo will highlight U.S. support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, the State Department said.

Pompeo will also attend a wreath-laying ceremony at St. Michaels to honor those who died in the Donbas war, and meet with religious, civil society, and business community leaders.

The meeting with Zelensky will come as the U.S. Senate continues its impeachment trial of Trump. The president was impeached for abuse of office and obstruction of Congress last month by the House of Representatives.

The allegations stemmed from Trumps 2019 phone call with Zelensky. Trump asked his counterpart to look into allegations against former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter.

Hunter Biden, son of former Vice President Joe Biden, waits for the start of his fathers debate at Centre College in Danville, Ky., on Oct. 11, 2012. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Photo)

President Donald Trump, right, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speak during a meeting in New York on Sept. 25, 2019. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Because Biden is running for president, Democrats say Trump was trying to interfere in the 2020 election. Trump, who noted that Biden in 2018 bragged that while still in office in 2016, he pressured Ukraine into ousting a prosecutor probing his sons employer, Burisma, said he was doing his duty.

Zelensky has spoken about what happened multiple times, insisting that he wasnt pressured by Trump and wasnt aware of a hold Trump had placed on congressionally approved aid to Ukraine at the time of the call.

Pompeo was going to travel to Ukraine and other Eastern European countries in early January but delayed the trip because of tensions between the United States and Iran. Pompeo was needed in Washington to monitor the situation, the State Department said at the time.

Before traveling to Ukraine, Pompeo will stop in London to meet with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to reaffirm the Special Relationship following the UKs departure from the EU and discuss ways to broaden and deepen trade ties, the department stated.

He will then travel to Belarus to meet with President Alexander Lukashenko and Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei; to Kazakhstan to meet with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, First President Nursultan Nazarbayev, and Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi; and Uzbekistan to meet with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov.

The previously scheduled trip included Cyprus, but that is not on the current slate.
A French super-chef whose food has wowed the country for two decades today slammed the Home Office after he was denied permanent UK residency despite living in the country for 23 years.

Claude Bosi, who has won two Michelin stars at his London restaurants, has lived in England for more than 20 years alongside his wife Lucy, who is believed to be British.

The 47-year-old applied for a permanent UK residency with the Home Office in the wake of Brexit but found that his application was declined.

He shared his rejection letter on Instagram earlier this afternoon, which was met with a wave of celebrity support, before a spokesperson for the Home Office said he had been turned down because he had not applied for the correct status.

Star chef Claude Bosi, 47, pictured with his wife Lucy, has revealed the decision from the Home Office

In a message to his 27,000 followers he said: 'I have been in England for 23 years and today they have send me this... I love Britain I considered until today like home but they just told me after 23 years of tax paid/VAT paid I'm not welcome.'

Tagging in the Prime Minister the Lyon-born chef said: 'WTF is going on in this world... #thankyoubrexit @borisjohnsonuk did I do something wrong...?'

The post was met with a wave of support from Mr Bosi's high-profile friends including celebrity chefs such as Heston Blumenthal, Tom Kerridge and Monica Galetti.

Sat Bains, who has also been awarded two Michelin stars, sent a sarcastic message of support that said: 'I told you years ago! Nobody likes you.'

TV chef James Martin also left a comment that simply read: 'WTF?'

Mr Bosi, 47, who is most famous for running the Hibiscus and Bibendum eateries in the capital, has shared a copy of his rejection letter on Instagram.

TV chef James Martin expressed his disbelief at the decision - as did many of Claude's famous friends

Sat Bains, who has two Michelin stars, sent a sarcastic message of support to his irate friend

But a spokeswoman for the Home Office has since said that Mr Bosi's applciation was rejected because he had filed for the incorrect scheme.

His application was for permanent UK residency when he should have instead filed for EU Settled Status.

The statement read: 'Mr Bosi has not applied to the EU Settlement Scheme.

'He made an application for a permanent residence card  something which EU citizens living in the UK are not required or encouraged to do.

'His application for permanent residence was not successful because he did not provide sufficient evidence to show he met the criteria.

'We have spoken to him to help him to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme, which has already guaranteed the rights of over 2.5 million people.

'It's free, there is plenty of support available online, on the phone or in person and EU citizens and their families have until 30 June 2021 to apply.'

Mr Bosi, pictured with Masterchef star Monica Galetti, has received support from many of Britain's top cooks today

EU Settled Status vs permanent UK residency: The rights of foreign nationals to stay in Britain There are two ways for foreign nationals to stay in the UK. They can apply for either EU Settled Status or permanent UK residency. 1). EU Settled Status EU citizens who have lived continuously in the UK for five years can be granted 'settled status'. It will allow them the same rights to work, study and access benefits as they currently do. This can be transferred into citizenship at a later date. Anyone living in the UK before December 31, 2020, who has not met the residency criteria will be granted 'pre-settled status' until they meet the five-year test. Close family members, such as spouses, children, parents and grandchildren will also be eligible. Those with settled status will be allowed to leave the UK for up to five years before the status is retracted. EU Settled Status must be applied for. 2) Permanent UK Residency An EU National who have lived in the UK as a 'qualifying person' - usually by working or studying for five years will have permanent residency status. Permanent residency status is automatic and does not need to be applied for but a document that certifies the status can be acquired. Advertisement

The EU Settlement Scheme was set up after Britain voted to leave the EU in 2016 with the aim of registering all three million-plus EU nationals in the UK and giving the majority permission to stay for the rest of their lives.

The Home Office programme is to ensure enjoy full access to work, schools, hospitals, pensions and benefits.

Under the scheme, EU citizens who have lived in the UK lawfully for at least five years are granted 'settled status'.

This can be transferred into citizenship at a later date.

Anyone from the EU who has been resident for a shorter period will qualify for 'pre-settled status' and be allowed to stay on until they have reached the five-year threshold. They can then apply for settled status.

Official guidance points out that anyone who does not hold valid immigration permission to be in the UK after the end of this year could in the worst cases face deportation.

EU citizens still have until December 2020 to apply. The process requires verification of the applicant's identity and nationality using a passport, ID card or other document.

Claude Bosi is famous for running the Hibiscus and Bibendum restaurants.

He open Hibiscus in Ludlow, Shropshire, in 2000 and within a year he had won a Michelin star before being awarded his second in 2004.

The restaurant moved closer to London in April 2007 with Mr Bosi saying: 'I'm transferring Hibiscus, not starting a new restaurant.

'The idea is to continue and build on what I have been doing.'

The timing of the move only gave Michelin inspectors two weeks to visit the restaurant which resulted in Mr Bosi losing his second star in 2008.

But in 2009 Hibiscus placed second to The Fat Duck in UK National Restaurant of the Year Awards and later that year its second Michelin star was restored.

Mr Bosi, pictured with friends Sat Bains, Heston Blumenthal and Jason Atherton has said: 'did I do something wrong?'

Bosi has won two Michelin stars at his London restaurants Hibiscus and Bibendum (the latter is pictured on Fulham Road)

Boris Johnson tells businesses to focus on training current UK workers and to 'stop lobbying for unlimited labour from the EU' Downing Street has rejected a big business demand to allow low-skilled migration from the EU to continue after Brexit, telling companies to focus on training UK workers instead. A raft of business groups signed a letter sent to Home Secretary Priti Patel spelling out what they want the UK's new immigration system to include. One of the key asks is for the government to extend a 'temporary visa route' from one to two years to allow unsponsored migrant workers from the bloc to continue to come to Britain. The business groups argued extending the route and making it open to all sectors of the economy would 'help companies plug vital skills and labour gaps'. But a Number 10 source rejected the demand and said UK companies should focus on 'levelling up the existing workforce'. The source said: 'Our new immigration system will be open to top talent from across the world, but business lobby groups should stop lobbying for unlimited labour from the EU and instead focus on investing and levelling up the existing workforce.' Advertisement

In 2016 Mr Bosi was among five UK-based chefs chosen to cook for Prince William and Kate at a charity event.

In 2012 the fiery French chef was involved in an extraordinary row with food blogger James Isherwood after he gave his meal a run-of-the-mill three out of five rating.

The two-star Michelin chef took to Twitter to launch a bizarre tirade of abuse at Mr Isherwood - even suggesting that she should have had the 'balls' to tell him he didn't like the meal while he was at the restaurant.

Mr Bosi, a widely-regarded and highly-reviewed chef, wrote: 'Nice way to gain respect with chefs...!! I think you're a C*** and this is personal sorry...!!'

He went on to ask Mr Isherwood if he had enjoyed his meal, to which he responded yes, he had.

Mr Bosi then added: 'As a man you should say something to my face when I ask.

'Please buy yourself a pair of balls and play with them.'

The culinary community on Twitter picked up on the exchange and also started abusing the blogger, who gave a glowing review to Tom Kerridge's Hand and Flowers gastropub.

But Mr Kerridge a two-Michelin-starred chef and friend of Mr Bosi, wrote: 'Now your just being a c***! #notwelcomeinanyrestaurantever! #b*****d seeya d******d' [sic].

A third chef, Sat Bains, also dived in and said: 'Heard a really good saying once, and it rings true today!!!! @claudebosi @ChefTomKerridge there is a c*** amongst us.!!!'
FLINT, MIA handcrafted eyeglasses company is opening shop in downtown Flint.

Article One, an eyeglasses company started in 2016, will open its retail space at 630 Harrison Street in the Capitol Theatre building on Feb. 6. A ribbon-cutting ceremony begins at 4 p.m. and will be followed by an after-party with raffles and discounted prices.

Wes Stoody and Maggie Vocos, the co-owners of Article One, grew up in the Flint area and attended Powers Catholic High School. The idea for an eyewear company came to Stoody while he attended Eastern Michigan University.

He had a newfound passion for learning about the impacts of Vitamin A deficiency and started raising money for the nonprofit organization, Hellen Keller International. Stoody decided to help raise money for the nonprofit while selling eyeglasses.

The easiest way to sell eyeglasses was by visiting the local optometrist, Stoody said. His interest in the eyeglass industry grew as he learned more from experts in optometry.

Over the course of a couple of years we began transforming into the brand we are now that focuses on providing high-quality, handcrafted glasses at an accessible price point, Stoody said. Weve also remained loyal to local communities and businesses.

Stoody moved from Chicago to Flint shortly after. With the help of community partners, like Skypoint Ventures and others, the eyeglasses company grew. Stoody recruited Vocos to join the company while it transitioned into being Article One.

"Together, we found new factories in Italy and elevated the product to where we are today," Vocos said.

Article One focuses on selling the products wholesale to optical shops, Stoody said. The company launched its first e-commerce site online last year.

"That is what we really focus our business on because we believe in the expertise of optometrists and opticians," Stoody said. "Right now we work with 350 to 400 optical shops around the country as well as in the (United Kingdom) and Japan."

Article One is opening a retail space in Flint because the companys committed to providing a face for the community, Stoody said.

Theoretically, we could do it wherever, but we get a lot out of the community in terms of passion and purpose, Stoody said.

The eyeglasses are handmade in Italy but designed and shipped in-house. People in the city can now shop Article Ones full collection, Vocos said.

We have people here making the last-minute adjustments to the glasses when theyre shipped in from Italy, Vocos said. Everything is a community effort.
ORANGEBURG, S.C.  When Pete Buttigieg holds big rally type events in South Carolina, its mostly white folks showing up, he acknowledged ruefully Thursday night. And his struggle to fix that problem has become an existential threat to his presidential ambitions.

Buttigiegs low standing with black voters has been a long-running theme, and as he and his campaign argued that he simply wasnt well-known enough, it is one he has worked to correct. Over the past month and a half, he has invested more money advertising in South Carolina, where a majority of Democrats are African American, than any of the non-billionaire Democrats running for president.

But the more than $2 million Buttigieg poured into TV and radio ads, some featuring black supporters touting the former South Bend (Ind.) mayor, hasnt budged his stubbornly low poll numbers in the state  2 percent among African American Democrats in a recent Fox News poll.

Even as Buttigieg remains in contention to win the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, his failure to gain traction with Democrats of color looks set to arrest any momentum he hopes to generate when the 2020 race leaves those mostly white states. Questions about his weakness among black voters even trailed Buttigieg through Iowa during five days of town halls there last week.

If he does well in Iowa, I dont see [Buttigieg] as dead on arrival here, but hes certainly on life support in South Carolina, said state Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, an influential state lawmaker who has not endorsed in the 2020 primary.

Its not for lack of fishing for support, but folks arent biting, said Brady Quirk-Garvan, a former chairman of the Charleston Democrats who endorsed Sen. Cory Booker before Booker dropped out of the presidential race earlier this month. When youve dropped that much money and you arent seeing movement, then that says something about where your base of support is.

On Thursday, Buttigieg swung through South Carolina for a last-minute visit, just 10 days before the Iowa caucuses, to reach audiences hes struggled to find: rooms of majority-black voters. His events looked strikingly different than his standing-room-only town halls in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Story continues

In a pair of events  one moderated by activist and CNN commentator Angela Rye before a crowd of students at historically black Claflin University, and another in Moncks Corner led by Charlamagne Tha God, host of the Breakfast Club  Buttigieg answered questions from the hosts and audience members on his policy proposals for addressing black economic development, affordable housing and expanding funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

When Buttigieg noted the lack of racial diversity at some of his South Carolina events in conversation with Rye, she jumped in: That scare you?

Yes, Buttigieg replied. In order to deserve to win, Ive got to be speaking to everybody.

But Buttigiegs campaign also hedges expectations about the state. Will you see the same results as Iowa? You know, probably not, said Rep. Anthony Brown, Buttigiegs national campaign co-chairman, who will continue campaigning for Buttigieg in South Carolina throughout the weekend when the candidate returns to Iowa.

Keep in mind that Vice President Biden and Sen. Sanders had the opportunity to run nationally, a number of times, so theyre better known in South Carolina, Brown continued. The more time we spend there, the more people get to know who Pete Buttigieg is, what he stands for, that hell fight for us and for our families, I think well see the numbers move in a good direction.

Buttigieg has grown his organizational footprint in South Carolina, adding more than 30 organizers and four field offices throughout the fall. But those staff additions lagged behind other presidential campaigns.

Buttigieg also noted that hes competing against rivals, like Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, who have had years, even decades to demonstrate their support to African American voters.

Here I am  this new, young, white guy, who comes along saying, look at my great plans, to voters who have been taken for granted or felt taken for granted again and again and again, which means that high bar is high for a very good reason, Buttigieg said in Orangeburg. The best I can do is tell the story of my own community  the good, the bad and the indifferent, and never pretending for a minute that I know what its like to be followed around a department store because of my race.

Later that night, Charlamagne Tha God put it more bluntly: How do we know you arent just blowing smoke up the black communitys ass in order to get our support?

I didnt get into running for office in order to comfort the comfortable, and I walked away from a pretty good paying job in order to make myself useful back home, Buttigieg responded. That means making yourself useful to everybody who has reason to doubt whether government is working for them.

Buttigiegs conversations in South Carolina, though largely policy-focused, circled back to his record in South Bend and his unfamiliarity with the black community. Buttigieg answered questions about his failure to award more contracts to minority-owned businesses as mayor, while also acknowledging his controversial relationship with black police officers in South Bend.

In lightning round questions with Rye about the last song hed listened to, Buttigieg said Icelands Sigur Ros, an avant-garde rock band. But he did say whats good in all seven languages he speaks, including English.

Democratic presidential contender and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg speaks with Charlamagne Tha God during an event on economic struggles in the black community on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020, in Moncks Corner, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard)

Buttigiegs struggles here mirror some of the same concerns that have bubbled up even in other early states where he is doing better: his inexperience. For some, its his age, and for others, hes a mayor of a small city and they dont feel like he has the experience, said Tameika Isaac-Devine, a Columbia city councilwoman who has not endorsed in the primary.

Some South Carolina Democratic operatives said Buttigiegs best hope lies in a big showing in Iowa.

"The only way Buttigieg really gains ground here is if he can prove to voters that hes a viable candidate for nomination, meaning victories in Iowa or New Hampshire, said Tyler Jones, a Democratic consultant based in South Carolina who is unaffiliated in the Democratic primary. But hes got a ceiling in South Carolina because I dont know how he's going to make the case to African Americans in two weeks, after Iowa and before we vote."

Others, like Cobb-Hunter, doubted anything could shift the state toward the former mayor at this point. I dont see that his finish [in Iowa] having any appreciable impact on what his numbers in South Carolina will look like, Cobb-Hunter said.

State Sen. Marlon Kimpson, who endorsed Biden earlier this month, said South Carolina is dug in for Joe, and its voters have never looked to Iowa or New Hampshire to base our decisions.

Thats an ongoing problem for the entire Democratic primary field not named Biden. The former vice president is leading in South Carolina by more than 20 points and receives 43 percent backing from black voters, according to the most recent polling from Fox News.

Tom Steyer, whos spent nearly $12 million on TV ads in the state, is putting up the strongest challenge, drawing 15 percent total, including 16 percent of black voters, followed by Sanders with 12 percent. No one else broke double digits. And nationally, the poll numbers among black Democrats are similar, with Buttigieg trailing with 2 percent support in a poll from The Washington Post-Ipsos in January.

African Americans can get stuck on what we know, and we know Biden, said Daekwon Randall, a 20-year-old Claflin University student, who met Buttigieg Thursday night. Randall, whos still undecided, said hes considering backing Biden and, now, Buttigieg after actually meeting him and getting to talk to him.

Still, Randall said, I need to do my research on him.


Slovakias history shows parties have been able to overcome their differences to take power.

Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled

With parliamentary elections scheduled to take place on February 29, The Slovak Spectator is running a series of articles in the weeks leading up to the vote examining the possible outcomes and what a new government could look like.

Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement

Read the first article here. In the second piece in our series, we look at option two: Opposition parties form a government.

The ruling Smer partys first social media video attacking opposition parties ahead of the elections, launched a few weeks ago, was a partly-animated clip showing opposition party leaders fighting each other.

This, Smer suggested, would be a frequent occurrence if those parties were to come to power, and the video carried a warning that a coalition of those parties would be a dangerous change.

Current polls suggest that to form a government with a parliamentary majority, five or six opposition parties would have to join forces.

But the different opposition parties cover a wide political spectrum, raising concerns over the stability of a government in which conservative and liberal political groups would have to cooperate.

The most recent surveys of party support show that even the opposition parties with the strongest support  the Progressive Slovakia (PS) and Spolu two-party coalition and the Za Ludi party - would finish in third and fourth place in the elections, behind Smer and the extremist Peoples Party Our Slovakia (LSNS).

But while political experts do not expect an opposition party to be able to win, they believe some of them may do better than expected.

It cannot be ruled out that some [opposition] political parties will have a strong finish to their election campaign or that their support will grow shortly before the election, political analyst Peter Spac told The Slovak Spectator.

And this could help strengthen the oppositions case for being allowed to make the first attempt at forming a new government.
Pawan Kumar feels zero sympathy for the four men he is due to hang next month for a 2012 gang rape and murder that appalled India.

'The people who are going to die are like beasts, not humans,' the third-generation hangman and father-of-seven said in his tiny flat in the northern town of Meerut.

'They are cruel people and that's why they are going to lose their lives,' the 54-year-old said.

The group set to meet their demise before dawn on February 1 - although it may be delayed - were convicted for a brutal crime against Jyoti Singh, a 23-year-old student.

They took turns to sexually assault the woman with an iron rod on a bus as it meandered through the streets of Delhi at night. They then dumped her on a road.

Pawan Kumar (pictured) feels zero sympathy for the four men he is due to hang next month for a 2012 gang rape and murder that appalled India

Hangman Pawan Kumar adjusts his hat during an interview with AFP at his residence in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh

'The people who are going to die are like beasts, not humans,' the third-generation hangman and father-of-seven said

She died two weeks later in a Singapore hospital from extensive internal injuries.

Angry demonstrations by tens of thousands of people broke out across the vast South Asian nation, sparking soul-searching about the plight of Indian women and leading to heavier sentences for sex crimes.

Five people were convicted. One, a minor, was found guilty and spent three years in a juvenile detention centre. A sixth, the ringleader of the group, died in jail before the case concluded - officially by suicide.

For the remaining men, very few in India have expressed misgivings about their fate.

Pawan Gupta (left) and Akshay Kumar Singh (right) were also sentenced to death in 2013 after gang-raping Jyoti Singh on a Delhi bus the previous December

Vinay Sharma (left) and Mukesh Singh (right) lost their final appeals against their death sentences this week. An Indian court has ordered them to be hanged on February 1

Kumar has been in high demand for media interviews, and AFP's allotted 20 minutes ended abruptly when an alarm on his mobile phone signalled time was up

Indeed, celebrations are expected to mark their executions and Indian media have been gleefully reporting grisly details about the preparations at Delhi's Tihar Jail.

The case caught international attention, sparked weeks of national protests, prompted a change in laws around sex crimes, and harsher penalties for attackers.

The men are currently being kept in separate cells and are being monitored around the clock by CCTV to prevent them from killing themselves.

Banana will be smeared on the execution ropes to soften them and ensure a smooth and quick hanging, and the men reportedly broke down when their necks were measured for the noose.

Almost 400 people are on death row in India, but no-one has been executed since 2015.

Kumar has been in high demand for media interviews, and AFP's allotted 20 minutes ended abruptly when an alarm on his mobile phone signalled time was up.

'I have people from India and abroad who want to talk to me. You're not the only ones,' he said as his armed bodyguard looked on.

Kumar comes from generations of hangmen but this will be his first execution.

His grandfather, who he fondly describes as his 'guru', hanged former prime minister Indira Gandhi's assassins and two men over a notorious 1982 kidnap and murder.

Kumar complains that his stipend of 5,000 rupees (US$70) a month is hardly enough to support his family, forcing him to look to others, including the media, for 'help'.

Jyoti's mother, Asha Devi, can be seen weeping in front of the courthouse in New Delhi in 2013

The case sparked protests across India, garnered international media attention, and prompted lawmakers to toughen penalties for sex crimes

But he says the adoration he expects to bask in from India's 1.3 billion people after the coming executions will go some way to compensate.

'People around me, including my family, have always treated me well, but after this execution, I'm certain respect for me will increase,' he said.

And he has no qualms about the job he does, which he expects his sons to continue, nor about the effectiveness of capital punishment.

'Crimes will decrease only when there are executions. You give them life imprisonment, they appeal and they come out only to commit more crimes,' he said.

'People like them should be executed so others can learn a lesson that doing such things will give them an end like this.'
SUZHOU, China, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --CStone Pharmaceuticals ("CStone" or the "Company", HKEX: 2616) recently announced that it has dosed the first patient in Australia in a clinical trial of CS1001, an investigational PD-L1 inhibitor developed by CStone, in combination with regorafenib, an oral multi-kinase inhibitor developed by Bayer Healthcare LLC ("Bayer"). This is the first global proof-of-concept study carried out as a collaboration between CStone and Bayer. It is designed to assess the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and antitumor activity of the CS1001 plus regorafenib combination in patients with advanced solid tumors including gastric cancer, and to determine the recommended dose for subsequent studies.

CS1001 is an investigational anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody discovered by CStone. The drug candidate is being investigated in a number of clinical trials, including one Phase I bridging study in the U.S., one multi-arm Phase Ib study, two Phase II registrational studies and four Phase III studies in China for several tumor types. The Phase Ia/Ib results released at the 2019 Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) Annual Meeting have shown CS1001 to be well tolerated with promising antitumor activities across multiple cancers.

Developed by Bayer, regorafenib is an oral multi-kinase inhibitor that potently blocks protein kinases including VEGFR, FGFR, and CSF1R. Regorafenib has been approved in more than 90 countries, including China, for the second- or later-line treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

In May 2019, CStone and Bayer entered into a global clinical collaboration in which CStone will sponsor clinical studies of the CS1001 in combination with regorafenib. Bayer will provide regorafenib for CStone-sponsored studies.

There is a large body of evidence demonstrating the clinical benefits of monotherapy with kinase inhibitor or anti-PD-1/L1 antibody in multiple malignancies. Preclinical studies revealed that targeted therapies such as regorafenib could bolster the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in select solid tumors through modulating the tumor immune microenvironment, implicating possible synergistic antitumor effects between the two mechanisms of action.

"Our collaboration with Bayer in this clinical program marks an important milestone in the implementation of CStone's global strategy I am very pleased that the first patient has been dosed in this combination study.," said Dr. Frank Jiang, Chairman and CEO of CStone. "We hope this clinical program will strengthen CStone's pipeline, and above all demonstrate the utility of this combination in improving the clinical outcomes for cancer patients who lack effective treatments."

"Preclinical studies in animal models have shown enhanced antitumor activity by the CS1001 plus regorafenib combination, lending evidential support to the design of this proof-of-concept study. In addition, a range of global studies of similar immuno-combination therapies have generated promising results in advanced or metastatic solid tumors," said Dr. Archie Tse, Chief Translational Medicine Officer at CStone. "We hope results from this trial will further validate the combination of multi-kinase inhibitors and immunotherapy in select tumors."

About Regorafenib (Stivarga)

Regorafenib is an oral multi-kinase inhibitor that potently blocks multiple protein kinases involved in tumor angiogenesis (VEGFR1, -2, -3, TIE2), oncogenesis (KIT, RET, RAF-1, BRAF), metastasis (VEGFR3, PDGFR, FGFR) and tumor immunity (CSF1R).

Regorafenib is a compound developed by Bayer. In 2011, Bayer entered into an agreement with Onyx, now an Amgen subsidiary, under which Onyx receives a royalty on all global net sales of regorafenib in oncology.

Regorafenib is approved under the brand name Stivarga in more than 90 countries worldwide, including the U.S., countries of the EU, China and Japan for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) and second-line treatment of advanced hepatocellular (HCC).

About CS1001

CS1001 is an investigational monoclonal antibody directed against PD-L1 being developed by CStone. Authorized by the U.S. based Ligand Corporation, CS1001 is developed by the OMT transgenic animal platform, which can generate fully human antibodies in one step. As a fully human, full-length anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody, CS1001 mirrors natural G-type immune globulin 4 (IgG4) human antibody, which can reduce the risk of immunogenicity and potential toxicities in patients, potentially representing a unique advantage over similar drugs.

CS1001 has completed a Phase I dose-escalation study in China, in which CS1001 showed good tolerability and produced sustained clinical benefits during the Phase Ia stage of the study.

CS1001 is being investigated in a number of ongoing clinical trials, including one Phase I bridging study in the U.S., one multi-arm Phase Ib study, two Phase II registrational studies and four Phase III studies in China for several tumor types.

About CStone

CStone Pharmaceuticals (HKEX:2616) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative immuno-oncology and precision medicines to address the unmet medical needs of cancer patients in China and worldwide. Established in 2015, CStone has assembled a world-class management team with extensive experience in innovative drug development, clinical research, and commercialization. The company has built an oncology-focused pipeline of 15 drug candidates with a strategic emphasis on immuno-oncology combination therapies. Currently, 5 late-stage candidates are at pivotal trials. With an experienced team, a rich pipeline, a robust clinical development-driven business model and substantial funding, CStone's vision is to become globally recognized as a leading Chinese biopharmaceutical company by bringing innovative oncology therapies to cancer patients worldwide.

For more information about CStone Pharmaceuticals, please visit: www.cstonepharma.com

Forward-looking Statement

The forward-looking statements made in this article relate only to the events or information as of the date on which the statements are made in this article. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should read this article completely and with the understanding that our actual future results or performance may be materially different from what we expect. In this article, statements of, or references to, our intentions or those of any of our Directors or our Company are made as of the date of this article. Any of these intentions may alter in light of future development.

SOURCE CStone Pharmaceuticals

Related Links

http://www.cstonepharma.com


Parents of abducted and murdered Daciya Dalep, a 200 level student of the University of Maiduguri, have called on the federal government to intensify efforts towards safe guarding the lives of Nigerians.

Mr Dalep was killed by the Boko Haram terrorist group and a video posted on the Internet which showed the gruesome murder.

Mr Dalep was kidnapped two weeks ago along Maduguri road while returning to school from Plateau, his home state after Christmas and New Year celebrations.


(Newser)  "Every Egyptian hoped that after death their soul would be able to speak," says University of York Egyptologist Joann Fletcherwho just sort of made that happen, at least for one 3,000-year-old Egyptian. But the priest who served under Rameses XI didn't confess of a good life so that his soul could "pass through into eternity" as he surely would have hoped. Instead, his mummy uttered something like "eeuuughhh," per the Guardian. (Listen for yourself here.) Researchers created the sound using a 3D-printed reproduction of the vocal tract of the priest Nesyamun, who died in his mid-50s. They attached the model to an electronic larynx to reproduce the "sound that would come out of his vocal tract if he was in his coffin and his larynx came to life again, says researcher David Howard of the University of London, per the New York Times.

story continues below

Scientific American (which has much detail on the process) explains that as sound passed through the artificial vocal tract, what was heard was a vowel sound that falls between the vowels in "bed" and "bad." Howard suggests Nesyamun spoke in a slightly higher pitch than that of an average modern man. However, the sound produced isn't exactly how Nesyamun would have sounded, thanks to a mix of factors ranging from the absence of real vocal folds to the fact that his throat was at rest. But the researchers think their work could help make museum exhibits more "multidimensional." (Last year, Egypt unearthed mummified animals, including lion cubs.)
Leaflets threatening to kill seven Tamil journalists were left at the Batticaloa Press Club and a nearby bus stop in Batticaloa, a city in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. The International Federation of Journalist (IFJ) and its affiliates Sri Lankan affiliates, the Federation of Media Employees' Trade Union (FMETU) and the Free Media Movement (FMM) condemn the threat and urge authorities to guarantee the safety of the targeted journalists.

The leaflets were found under the door of the Batticaloa Press Club and at the nearby bus stop at 2:30 pm on January 23. The leaflet written in Tamil said Beware! Beware! These are the reporters who received money from the Tigers abroad and acting against the state. We will soon execute them. The pamphlet contains a picture taken earlier this month of all seven attending a memorial of murdered journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge who was assassinated. Reports have stated the current president of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa was responsible for Lasanthas assassination.

The incident was immediately reported to the police, where the journalists requested protection. The police remained silent upon hearing the request for safety. Punniyamoorthy Sasikaran, an employee for Sirasa Television and one of the targeted journalists said that while he was scared for his own safety, he was more concerned about what might happen to his family.

FMETU said, We condemn the death threat to the Batticaloa- Tamil Journalists and demand the Sri Lankan government to make a special inquiry and provide special protection to them.

FMM "urges all responsible stakeholders to . immediately conduct an impartial inquiry and identify those responsible for this action which could seriously threaten media freedom and democracy and to provide true and factual information of the incident whilst taking appropriate action against the perpetrators."

The IFJ said: The outright neglect by the police to action the complaints is a gross violation of the journalists right to safety. We condemn the threats made against the journalists and urge the government to provide special protection. It is crucial for authorities to establish a special inquiry into the threats, determine their source and ensure the safety of journalists and their families.
E arlier this year it was announced that Netflix had secured the rights to 21 films by Studio Ghibli - much to the delight of anime fans.

But while the movies - which started to arrive on the streaming service on Saturday, February 1 - are welcome additions to the streaming service, Netflix already has an impressive anime offering.

So, if you've never explored the genre before, then now is the perfect time to do so.

Here's our guide to all of the best anime shows, films and original series available to watch or coming soon to Netflix... 

5 of the best Studio Ghibli films arriving on Netflix

1. Spirited Away (2001) - Available now

Chihiro Ogino is moving house with her parents, when her father decides to take a shortcut to make up some lost time.

The family then stumbles upon an abandoned theme park and despite her protestations, Chihiro's dad insists they explore the place.

Soon, the amusement park comes to life with supernatural beings and spirits, meaning the 10-year-old must find a way to break free with her family.

The 2001 animation is the perfect combination of fantasy and adventure, delivering a powerful coming-of-age story that resonates with audiences young and old.

2. Howl's Moving Castle (2004) - Available April 1

Loosely based on the 1986 novel by British author Diana Wynne Jones, Howl's Moving Castle is a fantastic example of fantasy animation, directed by Hayao Miyazaki.

A young girl named Sophie befriends wizard Howl, who lives in a flying castle similar to a blimp.

Their relationship, however, does not please the Witch of Waste, who soon casts a spell on Sophie causing her to age prematurely.

It is then Howl's duty to undo the evil magical curse and return Sophie to her former, youthful self.

3. The Cat Returns (2002) - Available now

After rescuing a cat who was about to get run over, school girl Haru gets swept up in a whole new, magical feline world.

Far from being just a regular tomcat, the animal that Haru saved is actually Prince Lune, who also happens to be the son of the Cat King.

The Cat King then asks Haru to marry the prince, and she is brought to the Cat Kingdom.

Before long, Haru starts developing cat features and is prevented from leaving.

The imprisoned schoolgirl then embarks on a quest for freedom, before it's too late.

4. My Neighbour Totoro (1988) - Available now

Beloved children's animation My Neighbour Totoro is arguably the most popular anime movie by Hayao Miyazaki, owing to its sweet story and breathtaking animation style.

It begins with two little girls moving to the countryside with their father, in order to be closer to their sick mother, who has been admitted to a local hospital.

Soon after they arrive, however, it becomes clear that the house they are staying in - and the woodlands surrounding it - are enchanted.

Whether the animated dust balls and magical forest creatures are real, or simply a figment of the girls' imaginations is unclear, but Totoro (a humongous, but friendly troll) not only provides companionship for the children, he also offers hope for the little ones that their sick mother will pull through.

5. Whisper of the Heart (1995) - Available April 1

Whisper of the Heart is possibly one of the most underrated anime films produced by Studio Ghibli and the only one to be directed by Yoshifumi Kondo before his death in 1998.

Whisper of the Heart, which is based on the manga series with the same title, follows a precocious teenage girl who has dreams of becoming a writer.

After following a runaway cat one day, Shizuku Tsukishima is led to a decrepit antiques shop run by an elderly fellow and his grandson, Seki, who is learning how to make and restore violins. Over time, the pair bond and discover they are soulmates.

Cheesy renditions of John Denver's Take Me Home, Country Roads aside, this romance is a far cry from the sickly cherry blossom-filled anime shorts of its time.

The best anime series on Netflix

Death Note (2006) - Available now

When high-schooler Light Yagami finds a mysterious black notepad, he soon discovers that it has the ability to kill anybody whose name is written in it.

Light then endeavours to create a "better world" free of criminals and evil people, using the notebook to wipe out everyone from murderers to burglars.

Of course, it isn't as simple as that and Light soon learns that his actions have dangerous repercussions, as he desperately tries to rectify his mistakes.

The wildly popular animated series explores themes of death, sin, morality and more - and also comes in bite-sized episodes lasting roughly 22 minutes each.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009) - Available now

Adapted from the manga series of the same name, Fullmetal Alchemist is a great anime show for beginners, owing to its short episodes and detailed recaps.

Set in the fictional country of Amestris, Fullmetal Alchemist follows two brothers, Edward and Alphonse Elric, on their quest to find the legendary philosopher's stone (panic not: It is nothing like Harry Potter).

After their respected alchemist father Hohenheim leaves them during their childhood and their mother dies, Edward and Alphonse try out a notoriously tricky and forbidden alchemical ritual to resurrect their deceased parent.

However, the experiment goes horribly wrong, leaving Alphonse without a body and Edward with missing limbs. During the failed ritual, they face a unholy character which becomes the subject of fascination for the boys throughout the series. Edward also manages to apply Alphonse's soul to a suit of armour, which means he's alive in spirit, even if his soul is no longer attached to his body.

They then get taken in by an elderly woman and her granddaughter, who creates an "automail" prosthetic arm and leg for Edward.

Skip forward a few years, and Edward become the youngest State Alchemist to fight for Amestris. He then earns the title of "Fullmetal Achemist", and juggles his duties with his pursuit of the stone, which he believes will reinstate his younger brother's body.

But will they be successful? Only time will tell...

The best Netflix Original anime

Flavours of Youth (2018) - Available now

Directed by Li Haoling, Jiaoshou Yi Xiaoxing and Yoshitaka Takeuchi, Flavours of Youth is broken down into three separate stories which explore nostalgia and loss.

The first, entitled The Rice Noodles, sees protagonist Xiao Ming reminisce about his late grandmother, and the times they ate San Xian noodles together at the local shop.

The second instalment, A Little Fashion Show, follows a story about two sisters; the older of the two is now a famous fashion model living in the city, while the younger sibling is an aspiring fashion designer.

Finally, the third episode, Love in Shanghai, follows classic romance tropes, whereby a teenage boy falls in love with a girl at school, but his confession fails to reach her until many years later.

Knights of the Zodiac: Saint Seiya (2019) - Available now

Based on the popular Japanese manga series created and illustrated by Masami Kurumada, Knights of the Zodiac came to Netflix in 2019.

In a quest to become a Goddess Athena warrior, teenager Seiya is recruited by Alman Kido to become a Bronze Knight.
JERUSALEM - Israeli police said Friday they are investigating after a room was ignited in a mosque on the outskirts of Jerusalem and Hebrew graffiti was found on an outside wall.

The graffiti was hard to make out but appears to have been left by ultranationalist Israelis. One part read, Demolishing (for) Jews? Demolishing enemies! an apparent reference to the dismantling of settler outposts in the West Bank.

The mosque is in the Arab neighbourhood of Beit Safafa, in annexed east Jerusalem. Israel captured east Jerusalem along with the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East war. The Palestinians want both areas as part of their future state.

Hard-line Israeli nationalists have been implicated in past attacks on Palestinians and their property in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
Acts of hate are impossible to ignore. Week after week, headlines tell the story of yet another minority community targeted by violent acts of hatred.

Monsey, Jersey City, Poway, Halle, Christchurch, Pittsburgh, Charlottesville and Orlando come to mind. Truth be told, it can happen anywhere.

In fact, racist hatred has reared its ugly head right here in our own backyard. One need only remember the horrendous attack targeting worshippers at a mosque in Quebec City or the van attack targeting women in Toronto for proof that Canada is not immune to such acts of hate-filled violence.

Our government must act, and quickly, to ensure that no other Canadian cities are added to that infamous list.

In recent years, hate has spread at lightning speed. Hate crimes targeting Jews, Blacks, Muslims, Arabs, Sikhs, women, members of the LGBTQ2+ community and other vulnerable groups have risen steadily.

This proliferation must be attributed in great part to the growing prevalence of the internet, a tool that has amplified once-marginal voices, allowing them to recruit larger followings. The recent spate of attacks targeting minority communities has proven that what starts with online hate can lead to real-world violence.

While the vast majority of Canadians reject hate outright, that hasnt stopped hate speech from flourishing online. In recent years, hate groups have carved out a niche for themselves on online platforms. These forums, often open to the general public, have allowed such groups and hate-filled individuals to spread their toxic ideas, recruit followers, and incite violence.

We have all borne witness to the catastrophic results of such incitement. Some communities, including ours, have been disproportionally targeted and terrorized by such acts. This why we have united as a coalition of representatives from a diverse array of communities and groups dedicated to fighting hatred in all its forms to call on the government of Canada to act now.

In the last Parliament, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights Justice undertook a study on online hate. The committee held hearings and received written testimony from dozens of organizations and individuals from across the country  including many of us  on this important issue.

Following these hearings, the committee issued a report last June containing nine recommendations on how to tackle the troubling and escalating problem of online hate.

Among them was recognizing the importance of not only of establishing requirements for monitoring online platforms and internet service providers and addressing incidents of hate speech, but also of the need for enhanced collection and handling of hate crime data, better training for law enforcement, prosecutors and judges on online hate, enhanced public education on what constitutes hate, and possible legislative changes. These recommendations are important tools in addressing the challenge of combating online hate.

Unfortunately, there is no simple solution to this complex challenge. But we must start somewhere, and we must start now.

Government, law enforcement, social media platforms, internet providers, users of these services, and targeted communities such as ours all have roles to play in ensuring that online hate is monitored and ultimately curtailed.

Online hate is a real and present danger and we cannot afford to wait any longer to take action. For vulnerable segments of the Canadian population, it poses a threat to personal safety.

While there is, of course, no way to eliminate the threat of hate-motivated violence, a strong national strategy to combat online hate could make a meaningful difference in protecting all Canadians. It is precisely for this reason that we urge the government to act quickly and devise a comprehensive policy on online hate based on the recommendations of the Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights Justice.

Although we may not all agree on every recommendation contained in the committees report, we all agree it is an excellent starting point.

Attackers inspired by online hate have already claimed too many innocent lives on Canadian soil. Time is truly of the essence.
Not for Dissemination in the United States or to United States Newswire Services

TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 24, 2020 / Wi2Wi Corporation (Wi2Wi or the Company) announces that it has engaged the services of Lakeshore Securities Inc. ("Lakeshore") to provide services as a market maker in compliance with the policies and guidelines of the TSX Venture Exchange and other applicable legislation. Lakeshore will receive a fee, up to $5,000 per month, until the engagement is terminated by either party upon sixty (60) days prior written notice. No stock options are being granted in connection with the engagement.

Lakeshore is arm's length to the Company. Lakeshore's market making activity will be primarily to correct temporary imbalances in the supply and demand of the Company's shares. Lakeshore will be responsible for the costs it incurs in buying and selling the Company's shares, and no third party will be providing funds or securities for the market making activities.

Investor & Media Contact:

Dawn Leeder, Chief Financial Officer

+1-608-203-0234

dawn_l@wi2wi.com

About Wi2Wi Corporation

Wi2Wi enables customers to substantially reduce their wireless R&D expenses and time to market. Wi2Wi designs, manufactures and markets deeply integrated, end-to-end wireless connectivity solutions as well as customizable, high-performance timing and frequency control devices. Wi2Wi provides real time technical support throughout the entire product life cycle for customers across the Internet of Things (IoT), Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Avionics, Space, Industrial, Medical and Government sectors.

Wi2Wi was founded in 2005 and is strategically headquartered in San Jose, California with satellite offices in Middleton, Wisconsin and Hyderabad, India. Wi2Wi's manufacturing operations, its laboratory for reliability and quality control, together with design and engineering for timing and frequency control devices are located in Middleton, Wisconsin. The branch office, located in Hyderabad, India, focuses on developing end to end wireless connectivity subsystems and solutions.

Wi2Wi has partnered with best-in-class global leaders in technology, manufacturing and sales. The company uses a global network of manufacturer's representatives to promote its products and services, and has partnered with world class distributors for the fulfillment of orders along with direct sales.

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including management's assessment of future plans and operations, and the timing thereof, that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks associated with the ability to access sufficient capital, the impact of general economic conditions in Canada, the United States and overseas, industry conditions, stock market volatility. The Company's actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits, including the amount of proceeds, that the Company will derive there from. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect the Company's operations and financial results are included in reports on file with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and may be accessed through the SEDAR website (www.sedar.com). Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements and if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable law. All subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Furthermore, the forward- looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including management's assessment of future plans and operations, and the timing thereof, that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks associated with the ability to access sufficient capital, the impact of general economic conditions in Canada, the United States and overseas, industry conditions, stock market volatility. The Company's actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits, including the amount of proceeds, that the Company will derive there from. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect the Company's operations and financial results are included in reports on file with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and may be accessed through the SEDAR website (www.sedar.com). Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date the statements are made and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements and if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable law. All subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Furthermore, the forward- looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Wi2Wi Corporation

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/573845/Wi2Wi-Engages-Lakeshore-Securities-as-Market-Maker
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.  The mother of a 9-year-old girl who took her own life filed suit last week blaming the fourth-graders death on educators she accused of ignoring the girls complaints about months of bullying by a boy.

Administrators and teachers at U.S. Jones Elementary School in the west Alabama town of Demopolis showed deliberate and blatant indifference to bullying McKenzie Adams endured before killing herself at her grandmothers home in December 2018, the lawsuit claimed.

One white boy in particular taunted the black girl with racial and gender based slurs, the lawsuit said, but McKenzie wrote in her diary that another boy also harassed her.

The child, her mother and her grandmother all complained but school officials didnt act to stop the bullying, the suit claimed. Instead, a teacher told McKenzie to tell it to the wall because I do not want to hear it, the lawsuit said. Rather than punishing the main bully, the teacher disciplined the girl for telling on him, it claimed.

The boy who bothered McKenzie the most told her to kill herself, instructed her how to do it and said she would be better off dead the day she took her life, the lawsuit said. The suit did not name the alleged bully.

The girls mother, Jasmine Adams, is listed as a plaintiff along with the childs grandmother, Janice Adams. Filed in U.S. District Court in Mobile, the complaint accuses school officials of failing to follow state and federal law meant to guard against bullying.

The ultimate consequence of this lack of interest and empathy was the tragic death of a 9-year-old, Diandra Debrosse Zimmerman of Birmingham, the familys lead attorney, said in a statement.

The suit seeks an unspecified amount of money.

A lawyer for the Demopolis city school system, which was named in the lawsuit along with superintendent Kyle Kallhoff, two elementary administrators and a teacher, did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Demopolis is located in rural western Alabama about 110 miles (177 kilometers) southwest of Birmingham.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
HOUSTON  A massive explosion Friday leveled a warehouse in Houston, killing two workers, damaging nearby buildings and homes and rousing frightened residents from their sleep miles away, authorities said.

The explosion happened about 4:30 a.m. inside a building at Watson Grinding and Manufacturing, which makes valves and provides thermal-spray coatings for equipment in various industries, authorities said. The building was reduced to burning rubble and debris, and some of the surrounding buildings suffered heavy damage to parts of their walls and roofs.

Killed were employees Frank Flores and Gerardo Castorena, Police Chief Art Acevedo said at a Friday evening news conference. The two had arrived at their workplace early and were using its fitness gym when the blast happened, Mayor Sylvester Turner said.

Authorities believed there were no other fatalities but another 20 people were injured, two other warehouse workers and 18 others from neighboring homes and businesses, Turner said. None of the injuries were thought to be life-threatening.

Acevedo had said earlier that a family member of one of those killed was a U.S. Marine currently training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and called on the Marines to let the man return to Houston.

Local and federal officials will be at the scene for the next three to four days working through the ruins to determine what caused the explosion, Acevedo said. Authorities dont believe the explosion was intentional though a criminal investigation is underway, he said.

Houston Fire Chief Samuel Pena said hazardous materials crews have secured the valve on a 2,000-gallon (7,571-liter) tank of propylene that had been leaking. Propylene is a colorless gas used to produce chemicals in plastics, synthetic rubber and gasoline. It is highly flammable and can explode in a fire. People exposed to propylene can become dizzy and light-headed, and the gas can also cause liver damage.

Nearby homes sustained significant damage. Some were knocked off their foundations.

Manny Jawa, a volunteer with the Houston office of the American Red Cross, said his agency had helped about 100 people who came to an evacuation shelter that had been set up around 6 a.m. Friday at a church near the blast site. The shelter offered residents food and water and information about help they could receive.

Officials said that they planned to open an overnight shelter at a different church for residents who had been displaced from their homes and had nowhere else to go.

Danny Wilson, 63, who lives less than a mile from the site, said he was sleeping when his wife woke him up.

She heard a big noise and the (grandkids) were running out of their rooms, Wilson said. She said it was some kind of explosion or somebody was trying to get in.

Wilson said he first checked inside his home to make sure nobody had broken in and then he went outside and talked to neighbors to find out what was going on and to check for any damage.

I didnt notice any broken glass and I looked at the back window and it was shattered big time, Wilson said.

He said the blast also broke glass on part of his front windows.

Everybody seems to be OK now. Thats the main thing, Wilson said.

Miguel Ramirez, 65, tried to get out of his bedroom to see what had happened, but his bedroom door would not open.

Ramirez said he had his son hand him a small screwdriver through an opening underneath the door and he used that to remove the pins from the doors hinges so he could get out.

Once he got out, Ramirez said he found that a large portion of the ceiling in his living room had collapsed onto the floor and sofa. Chunks of insulation were on the carpeted living room and on the couch. The wooden beams on the ceiling were exposed.

The explosion also shattered the sliding door in his kitchen that leads to his backyard. Bits of glass were strewn all over the kitchen floor and a dining room table that still had plates from when the family ate Thursday night. The blast also knocked a light fixture from the ceiling in the kitchen.

The good thing is nobody got hurt, said Ramirez, who lives about 500 feet (150 meters) away from the company where the explosion occurred. He lives in the home with his wife, son and daughter.

The blast shook other buildings, with reports on Twitter of a boom felt across the city. Pena said there were no reports of hazardous air quality, based on monitoring done by a hazardous materials team.

The family-owned business manufactures valves and provides thermal-spray coatings for equipment used in the chemical, mining, petroleum and aerospace industries, among others, according to its website. In a statement Friday night, Western Grinding said it is working diligently to address the situation and cooperating with the federal, state and local authorities investigating the accident.

The statement also said: Our hearts go out to the families and businesses impacted by this incident and to our community. At this time our immediate concern is the safety and wellbeing of everyone in the area and our employees.

About 90,000 people live within 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) of the company, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Houston police tweeted that officers were blocking off streets, but no evacuation was ordered. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said first responders checked on residents of nearby homes.

Turner said on Twitter said there was no hazard in the air from all indications, but that authorities continued to monitor.

This part of Texas is home to the highest concentration of oil refineries in the nation and has experienced a series of explosions in recent years. Last July, an explosion at an ExxonMobil refinery in Baytown, east of Houston, left more than dozen people with minor injuries and put nearby residents under a shelter-in-place advisory for three hours.

In December, two blasts in the coastal city of Port Neches shattered windows and ripped the doors from nearby homes.

Two homeowners are already suing Watson Grinding, accusing the company of negligence and demanding more than $1 million in damages. According to one lawsuit filed by homeowner Sophia Navarro, the blast blew out the windows of her home, with glass strewn inside and outside, and fractured the homes walls and foundation.

This is not the first time Houston has seen massive explosions, nor is it the first time that widespread areas of Houston and surrounding areas have suffered from the effects of such a massive explosion, the lawsuit says.

___

This corrects the identity of one of those killed to Gerardo Castorena instead of Geraldo Carasquillo.

___

Associated Press writers Jill Bleed in Little Rock, Arkansas, and Terry Wallace in Dallas contributed to this report.
We really can't go even a week without a stupid comment from a politician, can we? It's entertaining as hell, but at the same time, it's very concerning that these people are responsible for our country.

This time, it's BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya who shared his beautiful observation - apparently, you can tell a person is from Bangladesh if they eat Poha. Yes, Poha, one of the most common breakfast foods in India.





 Reuters

He made this comment after he recently had some construction work done at his house and noted that some of the labourers had 'strange eating habits' since they were only eating Poha.



BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya says some of the labourers carrying out construction work at his house recently were likely to be Bangladeshis as they had "strange" eating habits and were consuming only 'poha' (flattened rice)  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 23, 2020





I've honestly said this a million times before but I feel like I need to keep saying it - there needs to be a freaking IQ cutoff to become a politician! It's high time.



Till then, we can always trust the people of the internet to troll the fuck out of any and every stupid comment, because that's what they deserve.



Important question.



Is Poha not indian ? https://t.co/7LTFH7aMor  Devdutt Pattanaik (@devduttmyth) January 24, 2020





Oops.



Errm. *looks at breakfast plate laden with poha* https://t.co/sMeNkLIOFt  Kiran Manral (@KiranManral) January 24, 2020

Apparently not.



Isnt poha literally a typical Maharashtrian dish https://t.co/b6rF0bAu3v  feminist killjoy (@Saisailu97) January 24, 2020





At least according to this guy.



Now you can trace them by the food they eat? #Poha https://t.co/zyn5hDznYM  Ravinder Singh (@_RavinderSingh_) January 24, 2020





Almost everyone, tbh.



If eating poha is a proof of being Bangladeshi, then half of India, including my family, is Bangladeshi! https://t.co/VmspQnpYbW  nikhil wagle (@waglenikhil) January 24, 2020





No logic found.



By this logic Indori and Punekars are also Bangladeshi. What a tool.   (@Ghair_Kanooni) January 24, 2020





Nope.



I wonder whether this man has heard of Krishna and Sudama .... and the story of the gift of poha. https://t.co/ZXV74PbayQ  Harini Calamur (@Calamur@mastodon.social) (@calamur) January 24, 2020

No one knows.



Poha toh main bhi daily khata hoon but do not understand how Poha is connect with Bangladesh ?  Abhishek Mishra (@Abhishek_Mshra) January 23, 2020

Good point.



This means you are not paying them well, they could only afford 'poha.' It might sound strange to you,but in Bengal, we don't call it poha! https://t.co/MNyHuxzq5k  vijaita singh (@vijaita) January 24, 2020





What happened?




A judge has vacated the death sentence for a Philadelphia man in one of two 1990 killings and vacated his conviction and granted him a new trial in the other.

Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Leon Tucker, in an order Thursday, granted a defense petition to remove Derrick Ragan from death row in the fatal shooting of Darren Brown, 22.

Ragan, 49, remains convicted of first-degree murder and related offenses in the June 26, 1990, fatal shooting of Brown at Tustin Playground in Overbrook and is to remain in prison for the rest of his life without parole after he is removed from death row.

The judge vacated the death sentence based on the outcome of an earlier homicide case in which Ragan had been convicted of first-degree murder for the June 15, 1990, fatal shooting of Anthony Thomas, 22, in West Philadelphia. He had been sentenced to life in prison in that killing.

Tucker, in a Jan. 10 order, granted a request by defense attorneys Michael Wiseman and Tracy Ulstad to vacate Ragans conviction in Thomas killing because at the time of Ragans 1991 trial, his then-defense attorney did not know that the key prosecution witness had been granted immunity. The witness, a friend of the victim, was 15 years old and was in Thomas car when Thomas was shot.

In a Dec. 12 court filing, Paul George, assistant supervisor of the District Attorneys law division, agreed with Ragans lawyers that Ragan should receive a new trial because of the immunity claim. George noted that prosecutors failure to disclose the immunity grant had been unintentional.

Ragans murder conviction in Thomas slaying was the sole aggravating circumstance used by prosecutors during Ragans trial in Browns killing, when prosecutors asked a jury to sentence Ragan to death. The jury did so.

But because Tucker earlier this month vacated Ragans conviction in Thomas slaying and ordered a new trial, lawyers on both sides agreed that by law, without the sole aggravating circumstance, Ragans death sentence needs to be vacated in Browns murder. Tucker this week agreed.

George had previously sought to give Ragan a chance at parole in asking Tucker to allow Ragan to plead guilty to third-degree murder in both homicides and be resentenced to 35 to 70 years in state prison. He said Ragan has turned his life around.
The Trump administration has finalized a clean-water rule that it says strikes a balance between protecting the environment and the economy, but critics say the change will put Houstonians at greater risk for flooding and threaten the drinking water for more than 11.5 million Texans.

The rule announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency eliminates Clean Water Act protections for up to half of the nations wetlands and one-fifth of the streams across the country under a narrower interpretation of which waterways qualify for federal protection.

EPA and the Army are providing much needed regulatory certainty and predictability for American farmers, landowners and businesses to support the economy and accelerate critical infrastructure projects, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler told a gathering of home builders in Las Vegas.

Court challenges had led to the Obama-era rule being put on hold in Texas and 27 other states. Still, Anna Farrell-Sherman, a clean water associate with Environment Texas, said the return to less-stringent rules will leave waterways from Barton Creek to Galveston Bay vulnerable to pollution and degradation.

More Information What the new rule says: The revised definition identifies four clear categories of waters that are federally regulated under the Clean Water Act: the territorial seas and traditional navigable waters, like the Atlantic Ocean and the Mississippi River; perennial and intermittent tributaries, such as College Creek, which flows to the James River near Williamsburg, Va.; certain lakes, ponds, and impoundments, such as Children's Lake in Boiling Springs, Pa.; and wetlands that are adjacent to jurisdictional waters. Waters not subject to federal control include those that only contain water in direct response to rainfall; groundwater; many ditches, including most farm and roadside ditches; prior converted cropland; farm and stock watering ponds; and waste treatment systems. Source: Environmental Protection Agency See More Collapse

As unprotected wetlands become degraded or paved over, they will no longer help filter out pollution before it reaches our streams, springs, rivers and aquifers, she said. Galveston Bay is already facing dangerous oil spills and pollution from industry along the coast; degrading the streams and wetlands around it will only make that problem worse.

The shift comes five years after the Obama administration expanded federal clean-water protections to smaller streams and wetlands, including intermittent streams and underground water passages. It was a move meant to bring uniformity, but instead led to several lawsuits, including one by Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana along with a coalition of farm and industry groups that called it federal overreach and overly broad.

The Trump administrations final version  four months after it announced the repeal of the rule  represents a major rollback of the Clean Water Act, enacted in 1972. The change will have a major impact on southwestern states, allowing landowners and developers to potentially dump pollutants, including pesticides and fertilizers, into those waterways or fill in wetlands for construction projects.

The climate here is conducive to having floods followed by droughts, said Farrell-Sherman, which leads to periods of flowing water followed by it drying out. Just because those streams dont flow consistently, it doesnt mean they arent real streams we shouldnt protect, she said.

The group estimates about 450,000 miles of ephemeral streams across the state could be affected.

Another potentially adverse impact in Texas could be the loss of wetlands, advocates said, which would increase the regions risk for flooding and hurt wildlife. Under the new rule, wetlands that are not right next to protected waters will also lose federal protection.

With Texas made up of mostly privately owned land, having rules to require developers to identify and mitigate the destruction of these natural landscapes is critical, said Jordan Macha, executive director for the Bayou City Waterkeeper. The removal of basic watershed protections has real potential to cause significant harm to surrounding communities, and those living downstream.

Expanses of wetlands around Trinity Bay, San Jacinto River's East and West forks, and Cedar Bayou are vulnerable to rapid development, particularly under the administrations new rule, she said.

Environmental advocates are not alone in their opposition to the new rule. Last month, the EPA Science Advisory Board posted a draft letter saying the revised rule decreased protection for the countrys waters and didnt support the objective of restoring and maintaining the chemical, physical and biological integrity of these waters.

The board said it neglected established science, specifically pertaining to the connectivity of ground water to wetlands and adjacent major bodies of water.

These changes are proposed without fully supportable scientific basis, while potentially introducing substantial new risks to human and environmental health, they added. The letter was signed by the boards chair, Michael Honeycutt, who is also Texas top toxicologist and known for being industry-friendly.

After Septembers announcement that the administration was repealing the rule, several Texas Republicans and industry groups, including builders and farmers, praised the move calling it another success in breaking down Obamas misguided regulatory regime that hurt the state. The new rule is Trumps latest effort to repeal or weaken nearly 100 environmental rules and laws, according to a New York Times analysis.

After decades of landowners relying on expensive attorneys to determine what water on their land may or may not fall under federal regulations, our new Navigable Waters Protection Rule strikes the proper balance between Washington and the states in managing land and water resources while protecting our nations navigable waters, and it does so within the authority Congress provided, Wheeler, the EPA head, said at the industry event Thurdsay.

Gary Joiner, a spokesperson for the Texas Farm Bureau, said the new rule provided some regulatory certainty and clarity for farmers and ranchers in Texas, which they had not had under the 2015 rule.

Joiner said that farmers and ranchers, particularly in southeast Texas, had been asking What does this mean? and What if different areas of my property are now impacted by this rule?

They wondered whether ditches in low water spots on their property were now under jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act and whether practices of applying crop protection chemicals or how land was cultivated was still allowed, he said.

There are about 250,000 farmers and ranchers in the state, according to Joiner, with one in seven workers in Texas employed in the agriculture industry.

Farm and ranch families live on the land, drink water from wells located there and depend on clean water for growing crops and raising livestock. Clean water is also important for wildlife, which has become a critical part of many modern farming and ranching enterprises, said Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening. Managing water use is a process developed by decades of best management practices.

The new rule is supposed to go into effect 60 days after its published in the Federal Register, although expected lawsuits could delay its implementation.

Advocates say now is not the time to roll back protections.

Said Macha, Reducing protections for wetlands is a recipe for disaster when the next Harvey, Imelda, or other heavy rainstorm that has become a regular part of living in this region of Texas, comes our way.

perla.trevizo@chron.com
Two vice officers have been fired for the wrongful arrest of porn star Stormy Daniels at a strip club in Columbus, Ohio.

Veteran officers Steven Rosser and Whitney Lancaster were fired Thursday for arresting Daniels at Sirens Gentlemen's Club in July 2018. She was alleged to have pressed patrons' faces into her bosom and fondled the breasts of women in the audience.

The 40-year-old stripper had also performed similar acts on three undercover officers and grabbed one's buttocks, sworn affidavits by the officers said.

Daniels alleged in a lawsuit earlier this year that the officers conspired against her in retaliation for her claims that she had an affair with Donald Trump.

The City of Columbus found that the charges she had been arrested for only applied to people who appear 'regularly' at a particular establishment - Daniels was working a two-night stint - and that suspects are not usually arrested or taken to jail.

Stormy Daniels was alleged to have pressed patrons' faces into her bosom, fondled the breasts of women in the audience and grabbed an undercover officer's buttocks at Sirens Gentlemen's Club in July 2018

Veteran officers Steven Rosser and Whitney Lancaster arrested Daniels at Sirens Gentlemen's Club in July 2018. She was charged with pressing patrons' faces into her bosom and fondling the breasts of women in the audience

After Daniels - real name Stephanie Clifford - was booked and a mugshot taken, the three counts of illegal sexually oriented activity were dropped within 24 hours.

City officials found that Rosser's and Lancaster's actions had deviated significantly to those usually applied in other strip club stings, ABC reported.

'Not a single other suspect was deprived of their rights by being arrested "on view" and taken to the Franklin County Jail for slating, except Ms. Clifford demonstrating gross neglect of duty and incompetence,' the document said.

Rosser and Lancaster have ten days to appeal the decision.

Sgt. Scott Soha and Lt. Ronald Kemmerling have also been suspended for their roles.

In September, Ohio's capital had agreed to pay Daniels $450,000 to settle a defamation lawsuit over her arrest.

An internal police review determined Daniels' arrest was improper but not planned in advance or politically motivated.

Daniels, 40, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, was working a two-night stint at Sirens

Officers chose to obtain evidence for alleged illegal touching of customers by dancers 'by placing themselves, unnecessarily, at risk and potential for physical contact with Ms. Clifford,' the March 2019 report concluded.

The city disbanded the vice unit the same month as allegations of problems piled up, placing the investigation of vice-related crimes under the Narcotics division and promising a more community-based approach.

Problems with the unit included accusations that Andrew Mitchell, a former vice squad officer, fatally shot a woman in August 2018 who was sitting in his unmarked police vehicle in what Mitchell says was an act of self-defense.

Columbus police say Mitchell shot and killed 23-year-old Donna Castleberry after she stabbed him in the hand during an undercover prostitution investigation.

Mitchell has pleaded not guilty to those charges, as well as federal charges accusing him of forcing women to have sex with him under threat of an arrest, pressuring others to help cover up crimes, and lying to federal investigators when he said he had never had sex with prostitutes.

Stormy Daniels alleged in a lawsuit earlier this year that the officers conspired against her in retaliation for her claims that she had an affair with Donald Trump before he became president

Castleberry's family is seeking more than $3.5 million in damages in a federal wrongful death lawsuit against Mitchell, the city and the police department.

Daniels gained national attention when the Wall Street Journal reported that she was paid $130,000 for signing a nondisclosure agreement about an affair she had with Trump in 2006.

She has since filed three lawsuits against the President, including one that argued the nondisclosure agreement was invalid. That complaint was dismissed, along with another claiming that she was defamed. A settlement was reached in the third.
Kamala Harris is reportedly weighing a potential endorsement of Joe Biden, as rumours swirl that she might be considered to become his running mate.

The reports that Ms Harris is considering such an endorsement comes just under two months after she ended her own 2020 presidential run, and with a little over a week to the Iowa caucuses next month.

The endorsement would make the California senator the sixth US senator to endorse Mr Biden, who leads the current field of democratic hopefuls in the so-called endorsement primary. Endorsements are often seen as major victories for candidates, showing institutional support from fellow candidates with connection to various different voting blocks, though Mr Biden's middling lead in polls of early states shows endorsements are far cries from being silver bullets.

If Ms Harris hopes to become Mr Bidens running mate, as some have suggested, an early endorsement could help her to mend bridges after she forcefully attacked him during early primary debates for his past positions on race relations.

Mr Biden would also need to win the nomination, which is far from a sure thing at this point in the race as strong challenges have emerged from Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg.

 Kamala Harris responds to 'low blow' Joe Biden criticism

Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Show all 15 1 /15 Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Joe Biden and Dr Jill Biden watch Barack Obama's farewell speech on 11 January. Obama called Biden his 'brother' Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years US President Barack Obama speaks alongside US Vice President Joe Biden about the Affordable Care Act AFP/Getty Images Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama Getty Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years President Obama listens to Joe Biden speak of his work on defeating cancer on 18 October in the White House Reuters Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years U.S. President Barack Obama is applauded by House Speaker Paul Ryan and Vice President Joe Biden while delivering his final State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in Washington Reuters Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years U.S. Vice President Joe Biden interjects as President Barack Obama delivers remarks at a reception for the 25th anniversary of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics at the White House in Washington REUTERS Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Obama and Vice President Joe Biden react after a heckler was removed for their extended interruption (Reuters) Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with Speaker of the House John Boehner (R) as Vice President Joe Biden looks on Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Barack and Michelle Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden observing a moment of silence outside the White House to mark the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks Getty Images Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Barack Obama and Joe Biden putt on the White House putting green Getty Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years President Barack Obama and Joe Biden in April 2013 AFP/Getty Images Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years January 1, 2013: U.S. President Barack Obama winks as he arrives with Vice President Joe Biden (L) in the briefing room Reuters Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and others receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House May 1, 2011 in Washington, DC Getty Images Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Vice-President Joe Biden, right, confirmed that the US was looking at ways of taking legal action against Julian Assange - back in December 2010 GETTY IMAGES Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Joe Biden, left, and retired military officers watch President Barack Obama sign orders to close down the detention centre at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in January 2009 GETTY IMAGES

In recent polls of Iowa, for instance, Mr Biden has seen dwindling support, even as his aggregated average keeps him in the lead.

A loss in Iowa, which holds its caucuses on 3 February, could prove very damaging for Mr Bidens campaign, which has remained strong thus far in part based upon voter belief that he would be a strong candidate to take on Donald Trump in November.

It is unclear if Ms Harris endorsing Mr Biden would help his prospects much in Iowa or other early states, where she was unable to gain significant traction in her own 2020 bid.

In Iowa, according to Real Clear Politics, Ms Harris had just 3.3 per cent support when she dropped out.

 Democratic debate: Kamala Harris incites cheers following her referral to the next president as 'her'

Mr Biden, for his part, has said previously that he would consider her as a vice president, when she was still a presidential contender.
Jason Redman/Getty

SEATTLEWashington state officials said they have determined the man with the first known case of Wuhan coronavirus in the United States had close contact with at least 16 people since returning from China.

But authorities said there was no reason to paniceven as Seattle residents rushed to buy face masks at drug stores and fretted about whether the bug that has killed 17 people overseas would spread across the United States.

I would expect that at some point were going to have more cases in the U.S., state Health Secretary John Wiesman said, stressing that public health officials are well-equipped and trained to handle and contain outbreaks.

The initial patient, a man in his 30s, returned from a trip to China on Jan. 15 but did not fall ill until several days later. He had seen news of the outbreak that has infected hundreds in China and went to a Snohomish County clinic on Jan. 19, and told doctors about his travel history.

Samples sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention came back positive for the virus on Monday, prompting the patients hospitalization in an isolation unit at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett. Officials confirmed the case the following morning, followed by the afternoon press conference.

Chinas Deadly Coronavirus Cover-Up Is Getting Worse as First Case Hits U.S.

Wiesman said the man, who lives alone, is doing well.

Hes being observed in a bio-containment room under precautions that include security guards and a robot with a stethoscope to limit physical contact with hospital staff, KOMO-TV reported.

Wiesman said that after confirming the virus, health investigators immediately began tracing the patients steps to identify who had close contact with him. He said they had identified and were in the process of notifying and monitoring 16 peoplebut cautioned that number could rise. Officials are not recommending isolation for those people unless they develop symptoms, at which point they would be infectious, he said.

Story continues

Despite the messages of reassurance, Seattle residents were snapping up available anti-viral face masks. In the citys Capitol Hill neighborhood, a manager for Bartell Drugs said the stores stock had been essentially cleaned out by noon on Tuesday. A few blocks away at Rite Aid, a single box of face masks remained, and at a nearby Walgreens, a last-minute shopper bought one of two remaining 20-packs.

Boya, 31, a mental health therapist from Seattle, said the Walgreens face masks werent her first choice but would have to do given her complex situation. She requested that her last name not be used because both she and her partner would be traveling to China soon, and she worried that the Chinese government hadnt been entirely truthful about the outbreaks extent.

Boyas partner was due to fly to Hong Kong and then Chengdu, China, on Thursday, she said, and had enlisted her help after being unable to find any face masks at other stores. In February, Boya said, she herself would fly to Shanghai.

Some hospitals also appeared to be taking extra precautions. At the entrance to the Emergency & Trauma Center at Harborview Medical Center near downtown, staff had posted red signs on the sliding glass door and by the metal detector that read, Ask for a mask if you have a fever, rash, cough, runny nose, red eyes, or feel ill. The air smelled of alcohol as a gloved security guard wiped down round security trays with Purell.

Chinas Deadly Coronavirus Cover-Up Is Getting Worse as First Case Hits U.S.

A few blocks away, the Swedish First Hill Emergency Room waiting area was quiet and mostly empty, and only one young man wore a face mask. A retired public health worker who was waiting for her granddaughter but declined to give her name said she felt fortunate to be living in the county because of its public health capabilities. Even so, she said, messages about the coronavirus would have to overcome language and cultural barriers to be effective.

At Walgreens, Boya agreed that the newly confirmed case didnt pose an immediate threat to her. Here, I feel safe, she said. But her grandparents and some other relatives still live in Wuhan, the outbreaks epicenter. She also worried about her partners safety and her own during their upcoming trips. Im calm but still have concern here, she said, pointing at her chest.

Janet Baseman, a professor of epidemiology in the School of Public Health at the University of Washington, said she was impressed by the rapid response of health officials. This is the way that the public health surveillance system is supposed to work, she said. So Im very pleased.

The virus, officially called 2019-nCoV, was first identified in December in Wuhan, a city of 11 million in central China. Officials originally linked the outbreak to a large seafood and animal market. Since then, they have confirmed human-to-human transmission as well, though its not yet clear how easily the virus can spread. By Wednesday, more than 400 cases and 17 deaths had been reported in at least five countries, and screenings in the U.S. had expanded to include airports in Chicago and Atlanta.

For the general public, Baseman said, unless they are traveling to affected areas in China, they are at very, very low risk. Evidence from other coronaviruses like SARS, she said, suggests that person-to-person transmission occurs primarily when an infected individual coughs, sneezes, or otherwise comes into close contact with someone else. In this case, she noted, the Washington state patient didnt report any symptoms until several days after his arrival in the U.S. For other people in the vicinity, she said, That makes transmission very, very, very unlikely. Usually people do not transmit viruses like this to other people until they have symptoms themselves.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here

Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!

Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
In Keyhan newspaper, the mouthpiece of supreme leader Ali Khamenei, they asked why there was a media assassination on Soleimani, seemingly forgetting that Solaimani was behind hundreds of actual assassinations. They also ignored the fact that social media networks do not allow posts that glorify violence and terrorism or their perpetrators and that international platforms do not exist to serve the interests of the Iranian regime.

Keyhan wrote: Networks such as Instagram, Twitter, and Telegram were supposed to help spread our voices across the world. But now, what we witness is that not only were unable to express our condolences to friends across the world and inside Iran, but we cant even send a simple picture to a person standing one meter away from us. The leaders of Instagram have sanctioned us.

The paper also fails to note that Telegram and Twitter are banned in Iran, so how can the regime claim that they are being censored when it restricts the Iranian peoples communications?

The regime has a long history of using social media networks to promote its propaganda and undermine the Iranian opposition, but social media has begun to fight back.

In May 2019, Facebook and Twitter suspended accounts linked to an Iran-based social media campaign to sway public opinion by impersonating reporters, politicians, and others, after a tip-off from internet security firm FireEye.

Facebook removed 51 accounts, 36 pages, and seven groups, while Twitter removed 2,800 accounts. Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, removed three accounts.

FireEye said in a blog post: In addition to utilizing fake American personas that espoused both progressive and conservative political stances, some accounts impersonated real American individuals, including a handful of Republican political candidates that ran for House of Representatives seats in 2018.

Back in October 2018, Twitter released 10 million tweets supporting the Iranian regime. Twitter had previously suspended hundreds of Iran-backed accounts for engaging in online manipulation. Just a few months before that, Facebook shut down 652 Iran-backed accounts engaged in misinformation.

Facebook said in a statement: Today we removed multiple Pages, groups and accounts for coordinated inauthentic behavior on Facebook and Instagram We ban this kind of behavior because we want people to be able to trust the connections they make on Facebook.

While Google shut down dozens of YouTube channels linked to an influence operation run by Irans state broadcaster, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB).

Kent Walker, Googles senior vice president for global affairs, said: We identified and terminated a number of accounts linked to the IRIB organization that disguised their connection to this effort, including while sharing English-language political content in the US.

The IRIB is closely tied to the IRGC and other sanctioned entities.
Marie Colvin to Susan Sontag, the greatest challenges confronting humanity today, Krishnendu Ray and Asma Khan's food stories  Day 1 of the Zee Jaipur Literature Festival 2020 had many engaging moments

There is something to be said for the slow and quiet days, days when the hours float by without much drama, or things falling apart. It's seemingly difficult to come by many such days, but the opening of the 13th edition of the Zee Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), for the most part, was one.

It was a day when extraordinary individuals, in all their brilliant shades of grey, were remembered alongside some of the biggest challenges facing humanity today, when the significance of poetry and cooking  beyond the obvious  found mention.

Television journalist and writer Lindsey Hilsum talked about her friend  the 'larger than life' figure who was war correspondent Marie Colvin  and discussed what compelled her to write the biography (In Extremis) of the journalist who was killed in an artillery attack in Homs, Syria in 2012; and the realisation that in the process, she knows a friend better now in death than she did in life.

Hilsum described Colvin's conventional upbringing, an image far from the eye-patch wearing fearless icon she came to be known as later in her life. Inspired by the work of John Hersey, Colvin decided to be a journalist and was forever driven by the desire to 'tell the stories of ordinary people who found themselves in extraordinary situations'. Her personal life though, Hilsum recounted, wasn't always in the best of shapes. She drank and smoked quite a bit and when it came to romantic relationships, they often ended badly.

Monkey business at the Zee Jaipur Literature Festival 2020: An exceptionally handy guide to the 13th edition

But on the field, she embodied Robert Capa's philosophy of, "If your photographs aren't good enough, you're not close enough". For better or worse. Hilsum talked about Colvin's incredible works from the frontlines in Beirut, Sri Lanka (where she lost an eye on being hit with shrapnel, and suffered from PTSD later on), Chechnya, Syria and more. But as much as her story might be exemplary, it is also cautionary, and Hilsum doesn't want to make a myth out of her friend. She describes some of Colbin's pursuits both the noble and the foolish, and how her belief that she made a difference bordered on hubris.

In her own words, Colvin lived in extremes. According to Hilsum, she was easy to love and hard to help. But she also understood her drive to push herself to the limits: "Why live a boring life? Why not go where history is happening?"

On a lighter note, ever wondered what a poetry and philosophy class would look like if it also included biology? Pulitzer Prize-winning Forrest Gander's session, heavy on bromance with Chandrahas Choudhury, about his upcoming work Twice Alive, provided some answers.

The American poet talked about his early years and how being diagnosed with cancer at the age of 21 changed the course of his life. He described his fascination with biology and especially lichen, and how it inspired his work latest work.

In contemporary lifestyles constantly occupied with distractions of one sort or the other, he talked about how the space and silence in poetry had much to offer, and how writing poetry was an act of listening to the world.

[Lunch break. Watched grown men fight over a place to stand.]

A panel with more than three people is never a great idea and the one featuring Navdeep Suri, Fintan O'Toole, Omar Ghobash and Marcus Moench in conversation with Rajini Vaidyanathan, proved the point.

The 'manel' was gathered to discuss the greatest challenges humanity faced at the present moment. With not enough time to discuss anything in depth at all, most of them agreed it was climate change, and how the younger generation needs to step up in policy-making positions to make a difference, and how the current governments need to read the writing on the wall. 'It will be a World War III of not countries, but of tensions,' Ghobash suggested.

Vaidyanathan, an avid supporter of Greta Thunberg (at one point she even asked the panel if they see Thunberg becoming the prime minister of her country), touched on great number of topics  from the effectiveness of democratic governments vs authoritarianism, to the young demographic of developing countries  but none led to any satisfactory discussion.

Taxation of wealthy individuals, recognition of the cost of climate change, population control, were among the solutions floated to some of the bigger problems faced by the world as a whole. Must then a Christ perish in torment in every age to save those that have no imagination? O'Toole said, quoting George Bernard Shaw to drive home his point of why the world needs to go through the same problems over and over again, every few generations, before realising it was too late.

As if to counter the disappointment of the previous hour, American writer, editor and translator Benjamin Moser featured in one of the better sessions of the day (despite the interruptive moderation), discussing his biography of the ever-so-fascinating Susan Sontag.

Moser talked about the unique position Sontag occupied in the New York (and American) culture scene, and her very public and often difficult life. According to Moser, Sontag, a true diva, stood for what culture could be and gave it glamour. He also describes how her writing 'made people feel smarter than they were', and her ability to explain the happenings of the world. But Sontag also had a darker side: She 'could be a monster' if she wanted to be, Moser explained, while talking about her particularly difficult relationship with her partners and her son.

The author also talked at length about Sontag's difficulty in accepting her homosexuality, and how at one point when no one would, she stood up Salman Rushdie. He reminded the audience, that although the 'good Susan and the bad Susan' makes for a compelling story, one should really engage with her work to fully understand and appreciate her as a person and icon of her generation.

As the day closed, the final session featured Asma Khan (Asma's Indian Kitchen) and Krishnendu Ray (The Ethnic Restaurateur), in conversation about food and relationships.

The duo, both of whom migrated at a young age, talked about their respective journeys in the world of cooking and how food brought them closer to others and gave them a sense of purpose and connection.

You can read more about Khan's incredible work and journey here.

For a day that started with a bit of uncertainty ('Under the cloud of CAA protests,' as one local newspaper put it), the first day checked more of the right boxes than the wrong ones. Fingers crossed for the next.
Professors demand apology after Catholic college screens pro-life film 'Unplanned' Principal says the film screening is 'consistent' with college's mission

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

Over three dozen faculty members of a Catholic college in Canada are calling for an apology after a film about a former abortion workers departure from the industry was screened on campus.

Forty-three faculty members of the Kings University College at Western University in Ontario signed onto a letter criticizing the Catholic liberal arts university for allowing the pro-life film Unplanned to be shown to students.

Unplanned is based on the life of Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood clinic manager who created an organization to support those who decide to leave the abortion industry.

Johnson has become one of the United States most well-known activists advocating for restrictions on abortion. The film depicts violent abortions, women bleeding and complications after taking an abortion pill.

The film was screened on Jan. 9 free of cost to Kings University College students by the college's Campus Ministry, which seeks to facilitate campus life rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition.

The screening is part of the ministrys Veritas series for Faith and Culture, which in the past has also featured events highlighting left-leaning causes and speakers such as Father James Martin.

The colleges events calendar labeled the film as an inspiring true story that provides an eye-opening look inside the abortion industry from a woman who was once its most passionate advocate. In response to the event, pro-choice students and activists held a protest on campus.

Last week, a group of professors that spans across disciplines signed onto a letter sent to Principal David Malloy, claiming that the screening of the film created furor and fear throughout campus.

They claimed that the universitys handling of the screening was inappropriate. The faculty argued that the screening of the film did not meet the standards of the universitys mission to uphold respectful and critical dialogue of difficult subjects in a scholarly, just and ethical manner.

The Unplanned event did not meet the threshold of those elements within the Catholic intellectual tradition, the letter states.

Specifically, the faculty took issue with comments made by Campus Ministry Director Rev. Michael Bechard to media following the screening of the film. He was quoted as saying that he hopes the film will send a message to women that we are concerned about unborn children.

The protesting faculty called on Bechard to issue an apology.

His position is hostile to women, the letter reads. Abortion is a safe and legal health service for women in Canada and is accessed by approximately one-quarter of child-bearing women. Women who have exercised their rights to reproductive care risk being stigmatized and traumatized by the ideological position presented both in the film and in the Directors statement.

They also called for the college to affirm that faculty, staff, and students at Kings University College are not mandated to ascribe to all or any elements of Catholicism.

"The public endorsement of an anti-abortion stance at King's University College by the Director of Campus Ministry is of great concern to the viability of our institution as we work to recruit and maintain excellent students, staff and faculty."

Bechard, a priest in the Diocese of London, told The Gazette prior to the screening that the goal of the film showing was not to persuade anyones opinions on abortion but simply to have a conversation around the issue.

"It's part of our values and our mission statement to support life in all its stages, from conception to natural death, Bechard said in accordance with traditional Roman Catholic teaching. And we hope that this will begin to really challenge people to think about how we are responding to the many complex needs in our community.

Despite his intentions, critics believe Bechard underestimated the commitment to deep debate at Kings University College.

Consequently, we have lost the opportunity to engage a highly inflammatory issue in an informed, deliberative context, the faculty contended. We have lost the opportunity to model to our students and the broader community the methods of inquiry and debate that are at the centre of the liberal arts."

David C. Malloy, principal of the college, responded to the facultys concerns in a statement posted to the colleges website. He explained that the film screening is consistent with Kings mission to be a place where controversial topics can be presented and discussed.

Kings, like any other university, is where challenging political, social, and religious topics can be discussed in an environment that is respectful and safe, Malloy explained. Open dialogue and debate about uncomfortable truths is part of our mission. We are not advocating for any side of this debate but rather being a vehicle for the conversation.

He said that uncomfortable truth discussions are not designed to make people feel badly or hurt.

I regret that people in our community have experienced anxiety, stress and frustration as a function of this event. As Principal, I take responsibility for this and will strive to create a more open format for future events.

Malloy added that while pro-choice advocates protested the film, they were invited to participate before, during, or in the discussion period after film screening. He said that no one was prevented from speaking during the discussion.

For example, the protestors used space on campus to make their protest signs prior to the event, he said. They also came inside the Student Life Centre (without signs or chanting) during the screening.

The school created a safe space by having security present for the event, just like it has for past Veritas series events, he noted. Malloy assured that the presentation of the film and the belief that life begins at conception is a stance held by Campus Ministry, not the university as a whole.

Kings employees, faculty and students do not need to prescribe to the tenets of the Catholic Church, he said. Kings does not have a position on abortion.

While abortion may have become safer for women over the years, a study from 2018 shows that thousands of women are sent to emergency rooms each year due to complications with abortion.
A woman in Chicago in her sixties was on Friday confirmed as the second patient on US soil infected with a deadly new virus that has sickened hundreds in China, health officials said, with 50 other suspected cases under investigation.

"I'm pleased to report she is clinically doing well and is in stable condition," said Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In less than three years, President Donald Trumps administration  aided and abetted by Wyomings congressional delegation and state leaders  has rolled back 58 environmental rules and regulations and has another 37 such changes on the drawing board.

That tally is according to a New York Times analysis. These gifts to the fossil fuels industry and other polluters, according to a report by the New York University Law School, could significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions and cause thousands of deaths from poor air quality every year.

But Trump saved his biggest prese...
Cheers for diversity as the iconic role of Elsa in the Broadway production of "Frozen" will be played by Afro-Latina actress Ciara Renee, according to an article by Mitu.

When the theatre production of Frozen premiered in Broadway in 2018, Elsa's role was played by Caissie Levy. Caissie Levy and Patti Murin will end their run as Elsa and Anna respectively on February 16. And the most coveted role will be passed on to Renee as Elsa, and McKenzie Kurtz on her Broadway debut as Anna.

Renee previously performed in the Broadway show "Big Fish" as the Witch as well as "Pippin."

The Harrisburg, Pennsylvania native and 2013 graduate of Baldwin Wallace University posted on Instagram a photo with McKenzie with the caption, "Here it is! It's official! I'm joining the cast of @frozenbroadway as Elsa alongside this bright new star, @mckenziekurtz! And I am incredibly grateful! This is an opportunity to expand minds, open hearts, and empower folks with the power of LOVE! I can't wait to get started!"

The half Black and half Puerto Rican actress thanked her friends, family, and supporters and gave them exact instructions on what to do when they come to see her show on Broadway to make sure she could thank them one by one.

"I just want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for all the support and love I received yesterday. It was honestly overwhelming. Thank you, thank you," Renee said in a video on her Insta-story. "I am so thrilled to be playing Elsa."

"But I wanted to set down some ground rules about people coming to see the show," she said. "I am always so grateful when people come to see the show, people I know, people I don't. But it isn't my favorite thing to know when you're coming. So, if you're someone I know well, and we have each other's phone number and you live in New York City, please do not tell me when you're coming. Please come and text me at intermission or at the end of the show, which is preferred, and I will make sure to put your name on the list. I will check it right after the show."

Renee also gave instructions to those she doesn't know that well. "If we don't know each other well or talk super often or you're from out of town, please do let me know when you're coming because I want to make sure that I get to see you. For everybody else, I will 100 percent do my very best to Stage Door [where actors meet fans after the show as they exit the theater] as much as humanly possible. I know people come from all over the world to see Broadway and I want to be there as much as I can. If I am not there, please know it's for a reason. I may not be feeling well, or something is pulling me away, I don't know what it is, but I will always do my best to Stage Door because I love meeting you all and I am so honored that you would come to see our shows."

Aside from her Broadway stint, Renee has also appeared in several television shows including Facebook Watch's series "Strangers," Netflix's "Master of None," CBS's "Big Bang Theory," and on the CW's superhero series "Legends of Tomorrow," "Arrow," and "Flash."
HOUSTON, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Simon Bolivar Foundation Inc. (SBF), a non-profit, private foundation of CITGO Petroleum Corporation, awarded seven grants totaling $100,000 to nonprofits that expand access to medicine, health care services, and health education to vulnerable individuals in and from Venezuela. The grant winners were recognized at an SBF function hosted at the CITGO headquarters in Houston, Texas.

"We seek to empower these seven inspiring organizations that have boots on the ground with resources that will have an immediate impact," said CITGO Chairwoman Luisa Palacios. "These are just the first grants of a new program that seeks to create a network of hope to lessen the suffering of individuals affected by the complex humanitarian crisis in Venezuela."

The following seven organizations were awarded SBF grants for the following projects:

Meals4hope

Working to improve the nutrition and health of vulnerable children and pregnant/lactating women in Venezuela, the project promotes the prevention and treatment of child malnutrition through training and support to communities and health workers.

Baylor College of Medicine Children's Foundation Colombia

Working to benefit approximately 350 migrant Venezuelan women, the project increases access to health care services, helps reduce maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality, and helps prevent complications in high-risk pregnancies.

Cuatro Por Venezuela

Working to provide folic acid and iron supplements to approximately 200 pregnant women in Venezuela, this project will help prevent premature birth and low birth weight in newborns. A second project will provide specialized medication to help prevent organ rejection in people who have received organ transplants.

Driscoll Children's Hospital

Focusing on Critical Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD) in newborns, this project, led by Venezuelan doctors, will help implement an efficient CCHD screening in Venezuela and improve the current diagnostic gap of this severe birth defect.

Latin Ladies Foundation of Houston

Focusing on individuals in Venezuela with Huntington's Disease, this project will lessen their suffering by providing much needed sanitary supplies and nutritional supplements.

Saludos Connection

Working to repair and update two damaged operating rooms and a pre-anesthetic area, this project will return these rooms to functionality, which both increases capacity to treat patients and provides space for critical training hours for medical students. A second project will recognize and incentivize doctors who are voluntarily providing medical services to children in the remote areas of one of the poorest states in Venezuela.

FIBUSPAM

Providing direct medical, dental and vision care though its charitable clinic in Ecuador, this project provides free, priority access for 300 Venezuelan refugees. It will also raise awareness of this service within the Venezuelan refugee populations in Ecuador to ensure continued access to high-quality medical care.

The SBF small grants program was launched in October 2019 in tandem with SBF's goal of becoming the catalyst that enables organizations to connect resources and capabilities to effectively meet the humanitarian needs of Venezuelans and Venezuelan refugees displaced by the humanitarian crisis. For more information, please visit http://www.simonbolivarfoundation.org.

About the Simon Bolivar Foundation

The Simon Bolivar Foundation Inc. was established in 2006 as the 501(c)(3) non-profit, private foundation of CITGO Petroleum Corporation. The SBF serves as a catalyst to transform lives by connecting non-profits and community leaders to better improve the quality of life through the support of health initiatives. The SBF supports new initiatives, leverages existing resources and invests in organizations to meet the immediate and long-term health needs of the most vulnerable. The SBF supports those in need in and from Venezuela as well as the communities in which we live and work in the United States.

About CITGO:

Headquartered in Houston, Texas, CITGO Petroleum Corporation is a recognized leader in the refining industry with a well-known brand. CITGO operates three refineries located in Corpus Christi, Texas; Lake Charles, La.; and Lemont, Ill., and wholly and/or jointly owns 48 terminals, nine pipelines and three lubricants blending and packaging plants. With approximately 3,400 employees and a combined crude capacity of approximately 769,000 barrels-per-day (bpd), CITGO is ranked as the fifth-largest, and one of the most complex independent refiners in the United States. CITGO transports and markets transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products and supplies a network of approximately 4,700 locally owned and operated branded retail outlets in 30 states and the District of Columbia. CITGO Petroleum Corporation is owned by CITGO Holding, Inc. For more information, visit www.CITGO.com.

SOURCE CITGO Corporation

Related Links

http://www.citgo.com


Harvey has long had some of the highest homicide numbers in the area, but its 25 killings last year  18 of which occurred after Winters took over  were nearly twice the number that any suburban Cook County municipality has tallied since 2012, records show.
Trump makes last ditch effort to persuade Johnson on Huawei

Donald Trump will make one final bid to persuade Boris Johnson to ban Huawei from Britains 5G network this weekend when he sends one of his most senior ministers to London. With a decision on Huawei expected early next week, Steven Mnuchin, the US Treasury Secretary, will lay out President Trumps concerns in a meeting with his counterpart Sajid Javid. It comes after senior civil servants recommended that the Chinese telecoms giant be allowed to bid for non-core elements of the mobile phone network. President Trump is concerned that Huawei equipment could be used for espionage, as the Chinese government can require private companies to spy on its behalf.  Daily Telegraph

Ditch Chinese firm if you want a trade deal, US warns  The Times

Washington green-lights priority trade talks  Daily Express

More trade:

UK aims to secure four trade deals after leaving the EU  Daily Express

First post-Brexit trade deal to be struck with Japan  The Sun

Spain to use Brexit to make a bid for Gibraltar  Daily Express

>Today: Margot James in Comment: The evidence available does not support a total ban on Huawei

as Prime Minister weighs up Russian visit

Boris Johnson is weighing up whether to attend Vladimir Putins second world war commemoration parade in Moscow this May in a diplomatic test of his new governments attitude towards Russia. During the event, which was first staged by Joseph Stalin, Russian soldiers will march through Red Square accompanied by tanks and missile launchers to mark the 75th anniversary of the conflicts end. Mr Johnson is considering the Russian presidents invitation to attend the parade, according to four people with knowledge of the talks. The deliberations inside Downing Street are part of a wider discussion over how to handle relations with Moscow, which were tarnished by Russias attempted assassination in 2018 of former double agent Sergei Skripal with a nerve agent in Salisbury.  FT

Russia poses a critical threat to Britain  Andrew Foxall & Ben Emmerson, Daily Telegraph

Ministers 1) Javid seeks to placate business over post-Brexit rules

Chancellor Sajid Javid on Thursday softened his tone on the landscape for corporate Britain after Brexit, telling business leaders in Davos that he would not seek to move UK regulations away from those in the EU for the sake of divergence. Mr Javid said the government would only change the rules under which UK companies operate if it was in the interests of British business, adding ministers would weigh up the pros and cons and consult with affected industries. The conciliatory message from Mr Javid came after he used a Financial Times interview last week to issue a stern warning to business leaders to end their push for Britain to stay in lock step with Brussels rules after Brexit.  FT

Chancellor softens his stance before trade talks  The Times

Dutch premier puts odds of a deal at 50:50  The Sun

More:

Javid launches hunt for next OBR head  FT

The Withdrawal Agreement Act becomes law  The Guardian

>Yesterday:

Ministers 2) Patel maintains tough stance on new immigration controls

Social care workers and other low-skilled migrants in key sectors will not be exempt from tough post-Brexit immigration rules even if there are shortages, Priti Patel reportedly told Cabinet. The Home Secretary apparently set out on Tuesday that there will be no so-called carve outs under Boris Johnsons Australian-style points-based immigration system as the government tries to simplify British border control. Migrants who want to work in occupations in which the UK has a shortage could be awarded more points under the new regime to boost their chances of being allowed in. But with no carve outs there would effectively be no guarantees that such workers would be able to come and work in the UK in a development likely to spark business concern.  Daily Mail

No 10 rebukes business leaders who seek unlimited EU immigration  The Times

>Today: Local Government: Building the Blue Wall: Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland

Ministers 3) Hancock warns that coronavirus will likely reach Britain

More than a dozen people in Britain have been tested for a deadly virus sweeping out of China, with the NHS under orders to question everyone with flu-like symptoms in an attempt to stop its spread. Matt Hancock, the health secretary, has warned it is likely that cases of coronavirus will be seen in Britain as part of a rapidly developing global outbreak in which more than 20 million people have been quarantined. In China there have already been more than 630 confirmed cases and 18 deaths linked to the new virus, which is thought to have originated in snakes. There have been reports of cases in Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the US.  The Times

China locks down ten cities in bid to halt spread  Daily Telegraph

Tests on 14 amidst desperate hunt for Chinese arrivals  The Sun

Death toll leaps to 25  Daily Mail

Comment:

Beijing has quarantined 20 million, but it could be too late  Tom Solomon, Daily Telegraph

Ministers 4) Skidmore criticises universities over lack of black academics

Universities have been criticised after the number of black academics in leadership positions fell to zero in official figures. The most recent numbers, covering 2018 to 2019, published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) reveal that the number of black academics in leadership positions officially stands at zero. The year before, 2017 to 2018, the agencys data recorded five black academics in the most senior roles. Due to the way the statistics are rounded, there could still be up to two in 2018/19, but the official count stands at zero. Universities Minister Chris Skidmore said: It is unacceptable that the number of black academic staff in senior positions has fallen, as this does not represent our British society.  Daily Mail

>Yesterday: Anna Firth in Comment: We need a plan to regain the university seats, and win over the students who flocked to Corbyn

Downing Street wont meddle in BBC leadership change

No 10 has insisted that it will not seek to interfere in the BBCs choice for director general, after an anonymous Downing Street source threatened that if a leftwinger were selected then a government-appointed board chairman would fire them next year. Boris Johnsons official spokesman said the choice of a director general was a matter for the BBC, after Tony Hall unexpectedly announced on Monday that he would step down this summer. But two briefings from Downing Street sources were given to the Daily Mail and ITV suggesting the government would look very unfavourably on the corporation choosing James Purnell, the former Labour cabinet minister and current director of radio at the BBC.  The Guardian

Corporation must face a full investigation into its flagrant abuse of public money  The Sun

>Today: Iain Dales column: The next BBC Chairman. Andrew Neil, anyone? Robbie Gibb? Michael Portillo?

Iain Martin: Johnson would to well to wean himself off his tendency towards gimmicks

Under Johnson, power is centralised to an unusual extent in the prime ministers chief adviser, Dominic Cummings, who wants to redesign the machinery of the entire British state. I have seen this reign of terror routine several times before and I know how the movie ends. In a democracy with a free press it never works The Downing Street operation also seems addicted to gimmicks. It was briefed recently that the House of Lords is to be moved to York. Senior figures in the Conservative Party, former leaders among them, are angry. Again, there will come a time when the polls are poor and those grandees are needed to go out and bat for Boris. Alienating them is counterproductive.  The Times

>Today: ToryDiary: Where CCHQ should move to

>Yesterday: John Penrose MP in Comment: Grassroots Tories, the Conservative Policy Forum needs you

Lords changes rules to allow fresh investigation of complaints against Bercow

John Bercow could be investigated over past allegations of bullying after the House of Lords agreed to change its rules amid new complaints against the former Speaker. The Lords conduct committee met on Wednesday to discuss closing a loophole in its code of conduct to allow inquiries into allegations against former MPs who become peers, the Telegraph can reveal. The meeting took place on the day new revelations emerged about a complaint against the former Speaker. Lord Lisvane, who served as chief clerk of the House of Commons, has passed a dossier of allegations to the parliamentary commissioner for standards, the MPs watchdog. It is understood to detail incidents in which Mr Bercow was alleged to have bullied and humiliated staff.  Daily Telegraph

Ex-Speaker complains that denying him a peerage defies precedent  The Times

Downing Street points out his past enthusiasm for breaking convention  The Guardian

Leadsom says he must not be elevated if found to have bullied staff  Daily Express

Bercow categorically denies allegations  Daily Mail

Labour 1) Nandy and Long-Bailey clash over plan to replace MPs

Lisa Nandy lashed out at Labour leadership rival Rebecca Long-Bailey last night after the Corbynista candidate backed plans for a purge of moderate party MPs. Wigan MP Ms Nandy said the beleaguered party should be focusing on getting rid of Tory MPs rather than their own following Jeremy Corbyns humiliating defeat to Boris Johnson in Decembers election. Ms Long-Bailey this week declared war on moderate Labour MPs as she said she wanted to introduce open selections for election candidates in a move which would make it easier for hard left activists to oust incumbents. Centrist voices in the party fear this is an extension of previous efforts by Momentum  run by Ms Long-Baileys campaign chief Jon Lansman  and other hard Left groups to oust opponents.  Daily Mail

>Yesterday: Rachel Wolfs column: My top tip for Labour leadership candidates  parties cant win everywhere, and shouldnt try

Labour 2) Khan under pressure to abandon fare freeze

The mayor of London is facing increasing pressure to abandon his freeze of most public transport fares in the UK capital in the run-up to the mayoral election in May because of a squeeze on the citys finances. Sadiq Khan, the Labour mayor since 2016 and favourite to win re-election, has maintained his policy of freezing most fares on the Tube and buses since 2016, at an estimated total income shortfall of 640m. But Transport for London, the government agency responsible for most of the capitals public transport, is deep in the red  in part because of delays and cost overruns at Crossrail, the new flagship infrastructure project. TfLs most recent figures show it had a net deficit of 422m in 2018-19 and is heading for a net deficit of 307m for 2019-20.  FT

Ministers underestimated risks to taxpayers cash on HS2  The Sun

Sturgeons civil servants press ahead with referendum preparations

Nicola Sturgeon has ordered her civil servants to continue compiling White Paper Two on Scottish independence despite Boris Johnson refusing her request for another referendum. The Telegraph can disclose that Scottish Government officials have started preparing an updated prospectus for a separate Scotland, to dovetail with the referendum the First Minister wants to stage later this year. Some civil servants have nicknamed the project White Paper Two, referring to the 650-page White Paper on independence unveiled by Alex Salmond and Ms Sturgeon before the 2014 referendum. Sources close to the First Minister said the new blueprint would have a different shape and format from the first document, titled Scotlands Future, which cost taxpayers 1.3 million to produce and distribute.  Daily Telegraph

>Yesterday: Henry Hills Red, White, and Blue column: Johnson to spearhead pro-Union strategy with more visits to Scotland

News in Brief:
Using military force against a State against its territorial integrity and political independence is prohibited under Article 51 of the UN Charter. Only in limited circumstances, a State may use force against another State lawfully.





Sri Lanka Guardian: The Long Read





by Swargodeep Sarkar





On 3rd January, the US Reaper Drone launched airstrikes destroying two vehicles at Baghdad international airport. Several people were killed in this attack, including Irans Quds force commander General QassemSoleimani. This occurrence is associated with some serious repercussions in the international economy and politics as the oil price is rising in the international market, coupled with the threat of transpiring WW III. On 5th January, CNN reported, Major General HosseinDehghan, military adviser to Irans Supreme Leader vowed, Iran would retaliate direct against US military sites.Doyens from defense studies, diplomats, high-ranking State officials to international law experts articulated diverge observations on some issues whether there was an imminent threat on the US, lawfulness of the preemptive strike, did US have the lawful authority for the deadly strike, and last but not the least whether preemptive strikes in anticipatory self-defense is recognized under international law. The US engaged deadly force on Iraqi soil without the connivance of Iraq. And this question shall be addressed from the ius ad bellum perspective.In this post, I will address these controversial issues from the prism of international law.





Ius ad bellum, self-defense law and killing of Soleimani -





Using force or threat of using force is prohibited against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State under Article 2(4) of the UN charter. Although UN charter is a treaty, this provision is largely considered has attained the status of iuscogensnorms. The regime of ius ad bellum regulates the question when a State may use force outside an armed conflict. However, there are two exceptions to this norm. Firstly, a State may use force against another State in self-defense incorporated in Article 51 of the UN charter; secondly, if the UN security council authorizes the measure under Chapter VII of the UN charter.





Aftermath of killing









President Donald Trump said, Soleimani was plotting imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and American personnel, but we caught him in the act and terminated. Department of Defense has published a statement claiming that the attack was aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans. And the US will continue to take all necessary measures to protect US citizens and US interests around the world. Thus, it is very much clear that the US is justifying killing Iranian General Soleimani as an act of self-defense. To be precise anticipatory self-defense by preemptive strikes form the air.





The legality of using force in self-defense is a question of facts and circumstances. Two types of self-defense are available for the States. One is generally accepted and very much embedded into the law of the nation and the other ones place in international law is contentious. Anticipatory self-defense has its origin inthe Caroline incident in 1837. This says that a State must show a necessity of self-defense which is instant, overwhelming, leaving no choice of means, and no moment for deliberation. Whether anticipatory self-defense has been grounded in international law is dubious.Although States are practicing the same, the language of Article 51 of the UN charter does not endorse anticipatory self-defense as I will argue by discussing the International Court of Justices position on the issue.





Article 51 of the UN charter permits States to use military force only if an armed attack occurs. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has reiterated this criterion many times as a precondition for using cross border military force. In the Military and Paramilitary Activities in and Against Nicaragua, 1986, the ICJ differentiates between the gravest forms of using force which actually constitute armed attack from other less grave forms. The ICJ in Oil Platforms (2003) case said, in order to establish that it was legally justified in attacking the Iranian oil platforms in exercise of the right of individual self-defense, the US has to show that attacks had been made upon it for which Iran was responsible; and that those attacks were of such a nature as to be qualified as armed attacks within the meaning of that expression in Article 51 of the UN charter, and as understood in customary law on the use of force. In Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapon (1996) case, the ICJ held necessity and proportionality criteria have to be satisfied to avail the right of self-defense. These two customary rules are equally applicable to Article 51 of the UN charter, whatever the means of force employed, held ICJ. Thus, the principle of necessity requires using military force to be the means of last resort and the military force should not be disproportionate to the injury suffered by the State acting in self-defense. The test was applied by ICJ in Oil Platforms case and ICJ reached the conclusion that there was insufficient evidence to prove that Iran was responsible for carrying out attacks on US ships and cast doubt on the necessity of US counter-attack.





The facts and circumstances of Soleimanis killing, I do highly doubt, meet the requirements of lawful self-defense. The US has not shown that there was an armed attack or a continuous armed conflict between the US and Iran. The US justification was based on previous attacks on US citizens and alleged plan of future attacks by Iran. Talking about previous attacks on the US, the question of attribution, gravity, necessity, and proportionality come into the picture that doubts about the legality of US self-defense measures. And the current state of international law does not permit the use of force to respond or repel the alleged future attacks as I have shown previously an armed attack is an essential element in the application of Article 51 of UN charter. The other two customary principles, namely, necessity and proportionality, are impossible to apply to weigh the attacks yet to occur. Thus, the present rule of international law, does not recognize the right to preemptive strikes, and this is explicitly contrary to the principle of ius ad bellumrequirements for the lawful use of force.





Can the US take Anticipatory self-defense as justification





Now I will argue, suppose anticipatory self-defense is well-founded in international law. In this case the US is required to satisfy the Caroline test. This test requires the necessity of responding or repelling an attack. The nature of the attack must be imminent, overwhelming, leaving no choice of means, and no moment for deliberation. In these circumstances, a State shall have the right to attack preemptively the State which might pose an imminent threat. How will a State reach to this conclusion? The facts and circumstances of a particular case help to ascertain whether the threat is imminent, overwhelm, leave no room for deliberation and there are no means other than the use of military force. The Department of Defense clarified in a statement that General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region and his Quds Force was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members.





This is the MQ-9 Reaper, the drone that killed Irans most powerful general









President Trump said Soleimai was plotting imminent attacks on US interests and we caught him in action and terminated. US Department of Defense also said that the strike was aimed to deter future Iranian attack plans and will continue to take necessary steps to protect US interests. Under Article 51 of the UN charter, the States are required to immediately report to the UN Security Council, any measures taken in exercising the right to self-defense (preemptive self-defense is more of a political term). In a letter to the UN Security Council, US ambassador Kelly Craft justified the killing of Iranian General Soleimani under Article 51 of the UN Charter. She also stated that the US is ready to engage without preconditions in serious negotiations with Iran, intending to prevent further endangerment of international peace and security or escalation by the Iranian regime. She also added, the US is prepared to take additional actions in the region as necessary to continue to protect US personnel and interest. The letter has failed to establish that there was an armed attack or an imminent threat by Iran.





Moreover, the letter does not establish that the armed attack was necessary and proportional to the legitimate defensive goal aimed to achieve.After a thorough analyze, It can well be said that these justifications put forward by the US are more of a political in nature rather legal. The ICJ in the Nicaragua case quite clearly held that the Court would not appraise justifications advanced solely in a political context but in a legal context. I do find these flimsy defenses are used to pacify the US citizens and answering justification why the US has used military force against another State.





The legality of use of force against Iraq





The military force was used in the third State, Iraq. The question of the legality of this has received far less attention in the discussion from the experts. The Reaper Drone attack on Soleimani also killed five Iraqi nationals, including the leader and member of Kataib Hezbollah, formally part of Iraqs armed forces. Now the question popped up in mind how will the US justify the use of force against Iraq? I do contemplate; there are two ways; consent from Iraq and self-defense. Consent might be inferred as the US forces are currently operating as a part of the coalition fighting against ISIS in Iraq. But Iraqs responses to US airstrike evidently opposed this implied consent theory. Thus, the US cannot rely on Iraqs consent, even implied for justification.On 10th January, Adel Abdul-Mahdi called US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, demanding to negotiate with US delegation regarding the withdrawal of US troops. A resolution was passed by Iraqs Parliament, asking the government to end the presence of foreign troops. The resolution reads, the Iraqi government must work to end the presence of any foreign troops on Iraqi soil and prohibit them from using its land, airspace, or water for any reason.





But most importantly, unlike law, the Parliament resolution is not binding to the government. The letter to the UN Security Council does not reveal anything about why the US took military action against Iraq without prior consent. The letter does not disclose whether there was an imminent threat of attack which rendered deliberation with Iraq impossible. To conclude, using force against Iraq without consent or in self-defense makes the use of force unlawful as it violated Article 2(4) of the UN Charter.





Conclusion





Using military force against a State against its territorial integrity and political independence is prohibited under Article 51 of the UN Charter. Only in limited circumstances, a State may use force against another State lawfully. Since the Covenant of League of Nations, the inclination of modern international law is that States shall refrain use military force to settle international disputes. The US has failed to meet the criteria for using lawful military action against Iranian Major General Soleimani and Iraq. Even, there was no proper evidence that the US could show as to the imminent threat of attack so it could justify its action in exerting its inherent right to anticipatory self-defense. Although I have debated that the principle is not well-founded in international law and ICJ does not endorse the principle of anticipatory self-defense too. In the absence of justification under ius ad bellumthe proper law would be human rights law, dealing the Soleimani incident. If the US had intelligence report that General Soleimani was plotting attacks, it could inform authorities in Iraq. Iraq is under a duty to keep US interests safe within its territory. Another response from the US could be an evacuation of US personnel from Iraq. The tension escalatedas the Iraqi Parliament voted a resolution on the withdrawal of all foreign troops from its territory to keep its sovereignty intact. Hopefully, the UN as the guardian of international peacekeeping will intervene, taking necessary actions for de-escalation of tensions in the middle-east.





Swargodeep Sarkar, Ph.D. Candidate, Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, India
By PTI

KATHMANDU: Nepal said on Friday that it will not be part of any alliance which is "targeted" to a friendly country and would play a "sensitive role" to protect the "genuine interests" of its neighbouring countries, amidst China's increasing foray in the Himalayan nation.

Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said that Nepal has "time and again made it clear that our soil will not be misused against the critical interests of both our neighbouring countries."

"Nepal will not be a part of any alliance which is targeted to another neighbour or friend... and Nepal will play a sensitive role to protect the genuine interests of our neighbouring countries," Gyawali told a group of visiting Indian journalists at a briefing here.

The Nepal government led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has moved closer to China in recent years, firming up connectivity network, especially the trans-Himalayan project.

China has been investing heavily in Nepal in the last few years to enhance the connectivity and infrastructure.

The two countries signed eight agreements in 2018 for developing major infrastructure projects in the land-locked Himalayan nation to further deepen bilateral ties.

Gyawali said Nepal will not allow to be a ground where the big powers may have their contestations.

"We just want to develop our friendship. We have nothing to share the big strategies or global agenda," he said.

"So as a developing country, Nepal needs support not only in goodwill and moral support but resources also, because we have a big resource gap...," he said.

He said India and China can play a very important role to preserve the spirit of globalisation and spirit of regionalism.

"Nepal does not think there is any contest between India and China in the Himalayan nation," Gyawali said.

"Nepal's geo-location is an opportunity, because to be located between two largest markets of the globe, between the two most populous countries of the globe and two most emerging economies of the globe offers a lot," he said.

"It is an opportunity to be located between two most prominent powers of the region and which are emerging as a global power as well," he added.

Nepal and China last year elevated their bilateral ties to strategic partnership of cooperation after the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to the country - the first by a Chinese president after 23 years.

The two sides also agreed to respect and accommodate each other's concerns and core interests. The USD 2.75 billion trans-Himalayan project under China's controversial Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is considered to be one of the most ambitious infrastructure plans ever undertaken by the Chinese government abroad.

India has been severely critical of the BRI, the pet project of the Chinese president, as it comprises the USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

"We are very careful and we are quite sensitive, and we are able enough to demarcate the development assistance and other strategies...," Gyawali said.

"Amity with all and enmity with none is the guidepost of our foreign engagements and foreign policy fundamentals," he said.

"Being guided by the principles of non-alignment in charter, global peace and Panchasheel, we have always maintained friendly relations with neighbouring countries and big powers as well," Gyawali said in response to a question.

Gyawali said Nepal was "encouraged by the recent engagements, contacts, meetings and understandings between the leaders of India and China" after the Wuhan meeting and the very recent Chennai meeting.

"We are encouraged because the more engagements and understandings between the two neighbours contribute a lot for the regional stability and regional prosperity as well," he said, referring to Mamallapuram summit where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi held extensive one-on-one talks spread over two days as part of their second informal summit.

Gyawali said a prosperous India and a prosperous China is an opportunity for Nepal.

"We have told them that a stable, prosperous and peaceful Nepal is also in favour of them," he added.

"We think that the problems we are facing now -- climate change, poverty, terrorism, trafficking and many more -- cannot be dealt by a single country alone (no matter) how big, how powerful it is," the minister said.
Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

Conductive silicone rubber exhibits high flexibility, elasticity, and excellent mechanical properties along with electrical and thermal conductivity. Moreover, it is resistant to cold, heat, and other unfavorable weather conditions. It is widely used to reduce or eliminate the EMI / RFI, associated with various electrical & electronics devices.

Regulatory Framework

The manufacturing of silicone rubber has certain regulations such as the Restriction of Use of Hazardous Substances (RoHS), the Dodd-Frank Act, and the US governments International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Additionally, the processing of rubber produces soot, which is harmful to the environment. According to the Clean Air Act, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to routinely adjust their allowable limits for soot emissions. The current limit for soot emission is 15 g/m3, but EPA proposes to change it to between 12 and 13 by 2020.

The Conductive Silicone Rubber Market Trends is expected to register a CAGR of around 7% during the forecast period and cross USD 8 billion.

Segmentation

By Product

The global market has been divided into electrically conductive and thermally conductive. They are classified based on their ability to conduct electricity or thermal energy.

The electrical conductivity of a material describes the electrical current that will occur due to a given potential difference. Apart from high electrical conductivity, the electrically conductive silicone rubber exhibits excellent radiative property, heat resistance, cold resistance, and wearability. Electrically conductive silicone has very high-temperature resistance and is completely UV stable. Highly resistant to ozone effects and extreme weather conditions, this sheet has good physical properties and will maintain its flexibility over a wide temperature range.

The thermally conductive silicone rubber has an outstanding radiation property, fast room temperature cure, exceptional abrasion resistance, sprayable thermal conductive coating, as well as excellent adhesion to metal and composite substrates.

By End-Use

The global conductive silicone rubber market has been divided based on end-use industry into automotive & transportation, electrical & electronics, industrial machines, and others.

The growth of the automotive industry across the globe is the key driver of the conductive silicone rubber market. The total automobile production stood at 95.63 million in 2018, which is expected to increase in the coming years due to the increasing adoption of lightweight vehicles. The increasing production and sale of automobiles along with the high disposable income and stringent government regulations are expected to propel the market growth. The automotive & transportation segment accounted for the largest market share in 2018 and is projected to register a healthy CAGR during the forecast period.

Extensive use of conductive silicone rubber in electrical and electronics devices is another major driver of the global market growth. Changing lifestyle trends of the consumers along with affordability is driving the demand for conductive silicone rubber in the electrical & electronics industry.

Expanding industrial base in the emerging countries such as India, Thailand, Malaysia, and Brazil are likely to fuel the demand for conductive silicone rubber used in a number of industrial machinery.

The other segment includes construction, food & beverage, mining, solar, and medical industries. High investment in public and private infrastructure activities is projected to propel the market growth during the review period.

Access Report Details @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/conductive-silicone-rubber-market-8480

By Region

North America: The regional market growth is driven by the presence of a large industrial base in the region. The expanding end-use industries, especially food & beverage, oil & gas, and electrical & electronics industries is the key factor driving the regional market growth.

Europe: The growing demand for conductive silicone rubber across major end-use industries is expected to propel the regional market growth. The automotive industry in the region is the key factor driving the demand for these coatings in the region.

Asia-Pacific: It is the fastest-growing regional market. Growth potential in countries such as India, Malaysia, and Thailand is projected to propel the market growth during the review period.

Latin America: Fast-paced industrialization in countries such as Brazil and Mexico is projected to drive market growth during the assessment period.
If the president dont turn over any of the relevant documents, you must acquit. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Republicans have spent the impeachment trial alternatively arguing that the House had not produced enough evidence to prove its case, and that more evidence is unnecessary. Last night, they introduced a novel new argument: It would be pointless to introduce more evidence, because the White House will simply block it in the courts. A growing number of Republicans are pointing to President Donald Trumps threat to invoke executive privilege in order to make their case against subpoenas sought by Democrats for key witnesses and documents, reports CNN.

There are several remarkable things about this new rationale. First, Republicans have spent days lambasting Democrats for refusing to let the courts to exhaust every last Trump appeal. (Jay Sekulow: The presidents opponents, in their rush to impeach, have refused to wait for judicial review.) They deemed the House impeachment proceedings a shoddy work product for this reason, but are now prepared to argue that its too late and they cant fix it.

Trump himself is arguing that the House had too few witnesses  because he blocked them!  but that the Senate should not try to get those witnesses, because they had their chance.

The Democrat House would not give us lawyers, or not one witness, but now demand that the Republican Senate produce the witnesses that the House never sought, or even asked for? They had their chance, but pretended to rush. Most unfair & corrupt hearing in Congressional history!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 23, 2020

Second, the fatalistic assumption that Trump can block any new evidence is probably wrong. John Bolton, for one, has offered to testify (and, as a former White House employee, cannot be blocked). Some experts argue that, as a matter of law, the Senate is in a stronger position than the House to swiftly compel documents and testimony Trump has blocked. In any case, if the Senate wants to at least try to get more evidence, it can give the process a few weeks. Theres no reason to throw in the towel before even trying.

It is true, of course, that Trump will continue to withhold as much evidence as he can, as long as he can. But this raises a third point about his lack of transparency: Doesnt it make Republican senators question his protestations of innocence? After all, Trump is very much not conceding that he pressured Ukraine to undertake ordered-up investigations. His defense does not merely say his actions dont merit removal  it denies the key factual predicate of the articles of impeachment. Republicans in Congress have dutifully followed his argument, yet Trump is blocking all the relevant evidence. Doesnt this bear upon his underlying guilt? Why is he withholding access to documents and witnesses that would presumably exculpate him?

And finally, bear in mind that refusing to cooperate with any investigation is one of the things Trump is charged with in one of the two articles of impeachment. Trumps blanket rejection of any legitimate oversight role for Congress, and his calculation that he can withhold all evidence on every investigation of his administration and run out the clock is the second high crime.

Republican senators are saying the first crime hasnt been sufficiently proven, but they cant get the evidence that might prove it, because Trump will drag it out too long. Every Republican argument for refusing to convict Trump simply takes his bad faith as a background fact, and focuses all the scrutiny on the way other actors have dealt with it. What are you gonna do? The guy is obstructing Congress. Sure, we could try to get more testimony against John Gotti, but Gotti will probably just bribe or murder all the witnesses. Might as well end the trial quickly and vote not guilty.
LONDON  Londons police department said Friday that it would begin using facial recognition technology to identify people on the street in real time with video cameras, adopting a level of surveillance that is rare outside of China.

The decision is a major development in the use of a technology that has set off a worldwide debate about the balance between security and privacy. Police departments contend the software gives them a technological edge to catch criminals that may otherwise avoid detection. Critics say the technology is an invasion of privacy and is being rolled out without adequate public discussion.

Britain has been at the forefront of the debate. In a country where CCTV cameras line the streets, police surveillance has traditionally been more accepted than in other Western countries.

The technology that London plans to deploy goes beyond many of the facial recognition systems used elsewhere, which match a photo against a database to identify a person. The new systems, created by the company NEC, attempt to identify people on a police watch list in real time with security cameras, giving officers a chance to stop them in the specific location.

Under pressure to address rising crime, the Metropolitan Police said the technology would help quickly identify and apprehend suspects and help tackle serious crime, including serious violence, gun and knife crime, child sexual exploitation and help protect the vulnerable.

Every day, our police officers are briefed about suspects they should look out for, Nick Ephgrave, assistant commissioner of the police department, said in the statement. Live facial recognition, he said, improves the effectiveness of this tact.

Already widespread in China, facial recognition is gaining traction in Western countries. An investigation by the New York Times this month found that more than 600 law enforcement agencies are using a facial recognition system by the company Clearview AI. According to researchers at Georgetown University, cities including New York, Chicago, Detroit and Washington have at least piloted the use of the real-time systems.

Use of the facial recognition technology has generated a backlash. San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley, along with Somerville and Brookline in Massachusetts, have banned its use.

Privacy groups immediately criticized Londons decision and vowed to take legal action.

This decision represents an enormous expansion of the surveillance state and a serious threat to civil liberties in the U.K., said Silkie Carlo, director of Big Brother Watch, a London group that has been fighting the use of facial recognition. We will challenge it.

Adam Satariano is a New York Times writer.
A bungling suspected burglar ended up trapped in a cell phone store in Canada after he couldn't get back past the security fencing to escape.

The bemused shop owner watched it unfold live on surveillance footage.

Video shows the hooded man smashing through the glass door of the Cell Clinic on 104th Avenue in Surrey, Metro Vancouver, British Columbia at 11.30pm on Saturday.

His entry is further blocked by a criss-cross scissor barrier. The gate bows and bends as he desperately tries to break through it but to no avail.

Eventually, he gets inside by sliding underneath it - only to discover the expensive merchandise has been removed.

A suspected burglar ended up trapped in a cell phone store In British Columbia, Canada, after he couldn't get back past the security fencing to escape. He is seen here crawling under the gate to enter the premises

The hooded man made his way into the Cell Clinic on 104th Avenue in Surrey, Metro Vancouver, British Columbia at 11.30pm on Saturday

Once inside, he realised the expensive merchandise had been removed and desperately tried to get out - but could not get past the security gate

Now panicking, and with the alarm bells ringing, the man tries to get out and frantically yanks the gate back and forth.

When that fails, he tries to slide back underneath but can't do it without getting stuck.

He also attempts to climb over the top. This also doesn't work, so he rushes around the store, presumably trying to find the key.

Within three minutes, the clip shows Royal Canadian Mounted Police arriving at the scene.

With alarms blaring, he also attempted to climb over the fencing - but that didn't work either

Within three minutes, the police have arrived. The man can only watch as they approach him. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said a 38-year-old suspect was arrested at the scene, but has been released pending further investigation

Peggy Berndt, owner of the store, watched the entire drama unfold on her mobile phone's security app. Above, the police help the suspect out of the shop

Finally, with their assistance, he begrudgingly wriggles under the security fence.

The store's owner, Peggy Berndt, saw the drama unfold on her mobile phone's security app.

'It became funny after a while because he got caught and because it was just comical how he got stuck in there... he was just in panic mode,' she told CTV News.

She also said that there had been several break-ins, and attempted break-ins, at the premises.

The RCMP said a 38-year-old suspect was arrested at the scene, but has been released pending further investigation, according to Global News.

The police added that he is likely to be charged.
The Prince of Wales, centre, during a visit to the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem (Victoria Jones/PA)

The Prince of Wales began his historic first visit to the Occupied Palestinian Territories with a symbolic gesture of unity  walking through Bethlehem with Muslim and Christian leaders.

As heavy showers fell the group of religious figures joined by Charles sheltered under umbrellas as they made their way across Manger Square.

The huge bustling crowd of security men, religious clerics, press and the royal entourage  with the prince just about visible  walked from the Mosque of Omar to the Church of the Nativity, built on the site where Jesus is said to have been born.

Expand Close The Prince of Wales during a visit to the Mosque of Omar (Frank Augstein/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp The Prince of Wales during a visit to the Mosque of Omar (Frank Augstein/PA)

His first engagement on Palestinian land was to visit the mosque on Manger Square, where he heard how Christians and Muslims had lived peacefully alongside each other in Bethlehem for centuries.

The Omar mosque is named after the Caliph Omar, who conquered Jerusalem in 637 but guaranteed that Christians would be free to continue to worship.

His promise was laid out in the Assurance of Omar, a copy of which was given to the prince.

The governor of Bethlehem Kamel Hmeid told Charles how followers of the two religions lived a peaceful coexistence in the historic town, and recounted the story of how Omar was invited to pray inside the Church of the Nativity.

He refused, saying that if he did it would become a mosque. Instead he prayed outside.

The message of religious co-existence was, said Charles, a wonderful example.

Expand Close The Prince of Wales signature on a book at the mosque (Chris Jackson/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp The Prince of Wales signature on a book at the mosque (Chris Jackson/PA)

The governor said afterwards: The strongest message from Bethlehem is that we are proud as Palestinians, Muslims and Christians, to live here together.

We send this message all round the world, that in the Holy Land we can live a normal life, with love between Muslims and Christians. The people live together  working, learning, eating, doing everything together.

We want to live in peace. We want to live in an independent democratic state with Jerusalem as the capital.

He said the prince was very interested in every detail of the mosque, he asked about the poor people, how we can help them.

After signing the visitors book  in English, then in Arabic  Charles crossed the square to the Church of the Nativity accompanied by imams from the Omar mosque and Christians from the church  Franciscans, Armenian and Greek Orthodox.
Once a destination in Dauphin County for pho and other Vietnamese specialities, Ninh Kieu Vietnamese restaurant closed late last year.

Its owners, husband and wife John Pham and Linda Nguyen, said they were moving the establishment after 13 years of operating at 3116 Parkview Lane in Swatara Township.

On Jan. 27, Ninh Kieu will resurface at 344 E. Main St. in Annville.

Its bringing along standbys such as oversized, broth-y bowls of pho, along with rice and noodle dishes. Eventually, Pham said he plans to bring back pho for one penny for those who are unemployed.

MORE: Specialty grocery store in Harrisburg announces closing

In addition, the restaurant will continue its tradition of offering free pho to students, ages kindergarten through 12th grade who bring in their report cards. The students must have As and Bs to qualify for the promotion, Pham said.

In 1979 he arrived in the United States and worked as a general contractor, doing everything from carpentry to drywall installation to plumbing. Later Pham opened a nail salon and then a Vietnamese restaurant. Along the way, he faithfully sent money to his parents in Vietnam, rejoicing when they came to the United States in 1997.

When I moved to Harrisburg, I saw that the restaurant here was closed, he said in a 2009 PennLive story. So I rented it and opened my restaurant.

Pham said at the new restaurant, pho will be served over lunch and rice and noodle dishes available later in the day. A 10 percent discount will be offered to senior citizens and students.

The restaurant will be open 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. Monday- Friday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday.

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
Quanta to Present at the 40th Annual Dialysis Conference

Alcester, Warwickshire, UK, 24 January 2020: Quanta Dialysis Technologies Ltd (Quanta or the Company), a British med-tech company that has developed SC+, a personal haemodialysis (HD) system, today announces that the Company will be presenting at the 40th Annual Dialysis Conference (ADC), which runs from 8 to 11 February 2020, at the Kansas City Convention Center, Missouri, USA.

In addition, Quanta announces it has filed a 510(k) submission with the FDA for SC+, with a follow-up study planned to then extend use to Home HD. John E. Milad, Chief Executive Officer of Quanta, said: We are delighted to be working with leading US Home HD experts on this important study that will help us to bring SC+ to American patients and healthcare professionals. SC+ has been designed to make home dialysis accessible to more patients, supporting the objectives of the Advancing American Kidney Health Initiative.

Dr. Paul Komenda, Chief Medical Officer, will provide an update on SC+, explaining how it will enable choice, efficiency and empowerment to both patients and physicians in the Home Dialysis Machines session on Monday, 10 February at 2:00pm. The presentation will be followed by a device demonstration at 4:15pm.

Full details of the session are as follows:

Session: Home Dialysis Machines

Date: Monday 10 February

Time: 2:00pm

Quanta will also be presenting a poster at ADC, reporting on the annual therapy cost of dialysis when using SC+ in Canada. The results demonstrate the feasibility of cost-saving when using a small and easy-to-use haemodialysis system like SC+ on an every-other day treatment regimen.

Full details of the poster presentation are as follows:

Title: Annual Therapy Cost of Dialysis with the Quanta SC+ Personal Haemodialysis System

Location: Home Dialysis

First Presentation: Sunday 9 February between 1:00pm  2:00pm

Second Presentation: Monday 10 February between 1:00pm  2:00pm

If you would like to arrange a meeting with John E. Milad, Chief Executive Officer, or Paul Komenda, Chief Medical Officer, at the conference, please contact enquiries@quantadt.com.

-ENDS-

For more information about Quanta, please contact:





Quanta

John E. Milad,

Chief Executive Officer









T: +44 (0)1789 400043

E: enquiries@quantadt.com Consilium Strategic Communications

Amber Fennell / Matthew Neal / Lindsey Neville



T: +44 (0)203 709 5708

E: quanta@consilium-comms.com

About SC+

SC+ is a small, simple and powerful haemodialysis system designed to provide greater flexibility around where, when and how patients manage and receive their dialysis therapy. As a CE marked medical device, SC+ has been successfully piloted with the NHS, demonstrating clinical efficacy and performance compatible with traditional treatment regimens used in-centre. The innovative and patented technology behind SC+ is based on a design breakthrough that allows all dialysate fluid management to be conducted on a small, lightweight, disposable cartridge. The small form factor and simple-to-use design are intended to enable a broader range of usersincluding patients themselvesto manage dialysis therapy delivery across a wide range of settingsfrom the clinic to the home.

About Quanta

UK-based Quanta Dialysis Technologies aims to improve the lives of dialysis patients through innovation. Quantas lead product SC+ is designed to empower dialysis patients by giving them greater flexibility, convenience and control over the delivery of their life-sustaining renal replacement therapy.

For more information, please visit: www.quantadt.com .

SC+ is not yet FDA cleared and not yet available for sale in the USA.
Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all.

Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe

By Elly Yu, Yingjie Wang and Robert Garrova

The death toll in China from coronavirus is rising, Beijing has closed off cities that are home to more than 36 million people and public health officials are screening travelers from China as they arrive at LAX.

But there are still no confirmed cases in Los Angeles County, so people in the San Gabriel Valley -- which has one of the highest concentrations of Chinese-Americans in the country -- say they're concerned, but they aren't panicking.

Wen Yang Lu, 56, owns a Chinese herbal medicine store in a busy shopping plaza in Monterey Park. He said he's had customers come in worried about the virus, who buy supplements to help boost their immune systems. But overall, it's business as usual, Lu said.

"I am worried, but no one here has been detected yet," he said. "The public health system here in Los Angeles and in the U.S. is comparatively good."

Yali Wang, 73, who works at an alterations store nearby, is also worried, but she hasn't changed any of her everyday routines, other than praying for officials to get the virus under control quickly.

"It sounds very serious from what I heard from the newspapers, so of course, we are very worried, because we are Chinese," she said. "Also, now it's the era of world village so whenever there is a serious disease, it's easy for it spread around the globe."

WEARING A MASK, JUST TO BE SAFE

But the outbreak that originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan still seems very distant for Wang.

"We haven't taken any protective measures here yet because it's relatively safe here in Los Angeles," she said.

But others, especially those who've been traveling by plane, have been wearing face masks just in case. We spoke with Wang Xue Mei, who recently flew in to LAX from Kansas to visit her daughter at UCLA.

"My daughter said the virus situation right now is very serious," said Wang, no relation to Yali Wang. "I don't know exactly what's happening but she told me to wear a mask to protect myself."

She said many of her fellow passengers on a shuttle from the airport did the same.

L.A. County public health officials have been urging the public to be cautious but not to be fearful of anyone arriving from China.

"I don't see any panic at this point at all," said Felix Guo, who's co-hosted a morning talk show for 25 years on KAZN, a 24-hour Mandarin Chinese-language station that broadcasts in the L.A. area.

"Maybe one of the reasons is a sense of distance, that they [the Chinese American community] see this as something that's happening far away," he said.

KAZN is sponsoring an upcoming Lunar New Year Festival in Alhambra, which kicks off Feb. 1.

So far there have been no signs of decreased interest in the festival, Guo said. All of the vendors are still participating, and all of the performers are local, so organizers haven't had to deal with any travel issues.

But as a broadcaster, Guo said he's keeping his listeners informed of all the news coming out of Wuhan and surrounding cities in China.

"Our whole station, we are covering this closely," he said. "We are following minute-by-minute, hour-by-hour updates, but at the same time we are responsible for not causing any panic."
Peskov: no plans for now for Putin-Zelensky meeting before Normandy Four summit in April

There are no plans at this point for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky prior to the next Normandy Four summit set for April, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov has said.

"There are no such plans for now," Peskov told the press on Friday upon being asked whether such a meeting was possible before the next Normandy format summit, which, according to earlier reports, could be held in Berlin in April.
Ministers at Algerian forum to call for enforcement of arms embargo and end to foreign meddling in Libyas civil war.

Foreign ministers from nations bordering Libya have been meeting in Algeria to discuss ways of stopping the fighting there.

Egypt, Sudan and Tunisia are among the countries that have been affected by the Libyan conflict.

But the temporary ceasefire is shaky and Libyas warring parties have already met in Berlin, with another meeting planned later in Geneva.

Al Jazeeras Tony Birtley reports from Tripoli.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, Jan. 24

By Huseyn Hasanov  Trend:

The temporary fulfillment of the duties of Turkmenistan's Energy Minister is entrusted to the country's Deputy Prime Minister Charymyrat Purchekov, Trend reports with reference to the relevant decree signed by the Turkmen president.

The former head of the ministry has been appointed the head of the Department of International Electricity Projects.

The total volume of electricity produced in Turkmenistan by 2024 is planned to be increased to 33 billion kilowatt hours, which is almost 30 percent more than in 2018.

Turkmenistan sells electricity to Afghanistan, Iran. Ashgabat is also exploring the prospects for deliveries to the markets of the Caucasus, Central and South Asia.
Investors are always looking for stocks that are poised to beat at earnings season and Bank of Hawaii Corporation BOH may be one such company. The firm has earnings coming up pretty soon, and events are shaping up quite nicely for their report.

That is because Bank of Hawaiiis seeing favorable earnings estimate revision activity as of late, which is generally a precursor to an earnings beat. After all, analysts raising estimates right before earnings  with the most up-to-date information possible  is a pretty good indicator of some favorable trends underneath the surface for BOH in this report.

In fact, the Most Accurate Estimate for the current quarter is currently higher than the broader Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.36 per share. This suggests that analysts have very recently bumped up their estimates for BOH, giving the stock a Zacks Earnings ESP of +0.37% heading into earnings season.

Bank of Hawaii Corporation Price and EPS Surprise

Bank of Hawaii Corporation Price and EPS Surprise

Bank of Hawaii Corporation price-eps-surprise | Bank of Hawaii Corporation Quote

Why is this Important?

A positive reading for the Zacks Earnings ESP has proven to be very powerful in producing both positive surprises, and outperforming the market. Our recent 10-year backtest shows that stocks that have a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better show a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and have returned over 28% on average in annual returns (see more Top Earnings ESP stocks here).

Given that BOH has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and an ESP in positive territory, investors might want to consider this stock ahead of earnings. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Clearly, recent earnings estimate revisions suggest that good things are ahead for Bank of Hawaii, and that a beat might be in the cards for the upcoming report.

Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020

In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-hold tickers for the entirety of 2020?

Story continues

Last year's 2019 Zacks Top 10 Stocks portfolio returned gains as high as +102.7%. Now a brand-new portfolio has been handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Dont miss your chance to get in on these long-term buys.

Access Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020 today >>



Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



Bank of Hawaii Corporation (BOH) : Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
Tracey Molyneux was having her hair dyed when her hairdresser noticed that a hard, pea sized lump in the middle of her scalp had grown since her previous appointment six weeks earlier.

"It was right in the centre of my part line and I had noticed it a few months earlier when I was running my fingers through my hair," Ms Molyneux said. "My hairdresser said to me "Oh, Tracey, that's definitely gotten bigger you need to get that checked'."

Tracey Molyneux was diagnosed with melanoma on her scalp two years ago after her hairdresser Jacqueline Theodorou noticed a lump on her head. Credit:Chris Hopkins

Ms Molyneux is one of an increasing number of Australians being diagnosed with skin cancers on their scalp, face, neck and ears.

"I haven't always worn a hat," Ms Molyneux said. "You can often think your head is a bit protected with your hair. I do remember getting burnt there when I was quite young and having really excruciating pain ... but you never think at the time it will develop into cancer."
After weeks of discussion with the royal family, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have finally settled into a seaside home near the most royal of Canadian cities, Victoria, British Columbia, as per reports. The city, named after a queen who reigned until 1901 during the great expansion of the British Empire, is believed to be 'more British than the British'. The city has also been a stop for members of the royal family who visit Canada and it is also a former British colony whose head of state officially remains the British Sovereign.

While speaking to an international media outlet, several local residents said that the couple would feel at home and enjoy more privacy than Britain. They further added that the city is beautiful and Prince Harry would be 'just another person on the street' in Victoria. The Canadian city, which is a part of the province of BC, has a milder climate than the rest of Canada and is also a place chosen by thousands of British pensioners to retire. Back in 2016, Prince William also brought his wife, Kate Middleton and their children to the city during the official visit to Canada.

READ: 'I Believe I Can Fly': Prince Harry, Boris Johnson's Image Becomes New Internet Sensation

READ: UK's Prince Charles Meets Israeli President

Legal warning to media

Prince Harry arrived in Canada earlier this week to start a new life with wife Meghan Markle and his eight-month-old son Archie. However, as soon as he arrived, the couple reportedly launched a legal warning to media over photographs of Duchess near seaside bolthole. The photographs were published in newspapers and websites in Canada and the lawyers claimed that the photos of the Duchess walking her dogs and carrying her son were taken by photographers hiding in bushes and spying on her.

The couple, who got married back in 2018, has always faced scrutiny from the British tabloid. Prince Harry recently also asserted that the decision of stepping back from their royal duties is at least in part because of press scrutiny, saying that the media is a powerful force and added that 'there was really no other option'. The couple has repeatedly also admitted that they were struggling with media scrutiny and have regularly hit out at the press in statements and in the courts.

READ: Meghan Markles Father Claims His Daughter, Prince Harry Stepped Down for Money

READ: Saudi Crown Prince Messaged Jeff Bezos 'it's Not True' On Alleged Hack
Abuja, January 23, 2020Authorities in Nigeria should conduct a swift and credible investigation into the killing of Maxwell Nashan, a reporter and newscaster with the government-owned Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), and determine whether his journalism was the motive for the attack, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Farmers found Nashan bound and gagged in Badarisa in the early hours of January 15, about 2 km from the FRCN office and about 3 km from his home in the Lainde community of northern Adamawa State, according to his employer, colleagues, and a relative, who spoke with CPJ. Nashan died in hospital later that day, according to Athma Wandani, a FRCN reporter, Anthony Shekara, an assistant head of the news and current affairs department at FRCN, and a member of the journalists family, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisal.

Nashan covered the Adamawa State house of assembly, Wandani said. Shekara and Tafawa Hamza Mayo, an Adamawa State house of assembly correspondent for the government-owned National Television Authority, told CPJ they were not aware of any threats against Nashan. Shekara, who was Nashan's supervisor, said he was not aware of any story that Nashan was working on that could have provoked the attack.

Suleiman Nguroje, an Adamawa State police public relations officer, told CPJ today that when they retrieved the journalists cell phone they found a message from Nashan saying that his life had been threatened. Nguroje did not provide further details and asked CPJ to call back later. Calls made later today were not answered.

Maxwell Nashan must not become just another crime statistic, and investigators must consider whether his journalism was the motive for his killing, Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator, said in New York. Authorities in Nigeria must work to ensure the safety of reporters, which includes investigating acts of violence against members of the press.

Wandani and Nashan's relative told CPJ by phone that based on when neighbors last saw the journalist, and markings on the floor and a smashed window, it appeared that Nashan was abducted and dragged from his home around 1 a.m. The relative added that a computer the journalist used for work was missing from his home, but that nothing else appeared to have been taken.

When CPJ spoke previously with the police public relations officer on January 16, Nguroje said that police were investigating Nashans killing and that a cash reward has been offered for information. In the call with CPJ today, Nguroje said that police had arrested eight suspects in connection with the case.

At least five journalists, not including Nashan, have been killed in relation to their work in Nigeria since 2010. The country ranked twelfth on CPJs 2019 impunity index , which highlights countries where journalists are murdered and their killers go free.
MBABANE  A property owner wants GDI Concepts (Pty) Ltd and its director to refund her E118 258.41. This, the property owner alleged, followed that the company and its director were paid twice for the same job.



The property owner, Sakhile Ndzinisa, of No.4 Lot 255 Somhlolo Street in Mbabane Township, alleges that during the period of April to July 2019, she entered into an oral agreement with the defendants (Ian Williams and GDI Concepts (Pty) Ltd) in terms of which they purportedly attended to renovations of her property in Mbabane.



According to Ndzinisas particulars of claim, the first defendant is Williams and the second defendant is GDI Concepts (Pty) Ltd, a company having its principal place of business at Lisndvu Street, Mbabane and registered office at the second floor, Nedbank Pension Fund Building, in Mbabane.



Instalments



Ndzinisa alleged that the defendants invoiced her an amount of E118 258.41 for the work. The property owner submitted that she purportedly paid the full amount in instalments during the period of July to September 2019 into the first defendants account held with the First National Bank (FNB) in South Africa. She alleged that thereafter the indebtedness was accordingly extinguished.



These are allegations contained in the plaintiffs particulars of claim whose veracity is still to be tested in court and the respondent is yet to file its detailed papers in the event it is disputing the claim against it.



On November 4, 2019, the Swaziland Building Society, the plaintiffs bondholder, acting under the erroneous but bona fide belief that the debt had not been extinguished paid the amount of E118 258.41 on behalf and at the expense of the plaintiff into the account of the second defendant held with Standard Bank, Mbabane, alleged Ndzinisa.



She claimed that the amount of E118 258.41 was not owing to the defendants when payment was made on November 4, 2019.

The defendants nevertheless appropriated the money, alleged Ndzinisa.



Absolved



In her particulars of claim, Ndzinisa claimed against both defendants, jointly and severally, the one paying the other to be absolved payment of the amount of E118 258.41.



The plaintiff is demanding the payment of the aforementioned amount and that its refund should incur an interest of 9 per cent per annum calculated from November 4, 2019.



Ndzinisa further sought that the costs of suit be incurred by the defendant.

In the event the defendant was disputing the claim, the defendants were advised to within 10 days of receiving the summons to file their notice of intention to oppose and serve a copy thereof to the plaintiff.



Thereafter, the defendants were further advised that they should within 21 days after serving notice of intention to defend, file with the registrar of the High Court and serve upon the plaintiffs attorneys, a plea, and exception, notice to strike out with or without a counter-claim.

Ndzinisa is represented by attorneys from L.R. Mamba and Associates.
The world converged on Jerusalem this week to observe the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp -- and with a collective determination to battle anti-Semitism in its many forms. At the same time, the gathering exposed a number of old and festering political wounds, which threatened to weaken the impact of the gathering.

Some 40 heads of state or government from Russian President Vladimir Putin to French President Emmanuel Macron traveled to Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial to pay homage to those who died and to pledge "never again." The actual anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, where at least 1.1 million were slaughtered in the Nazi death camp, will be marked on Monday in Poland.

In Israel, though, there were noticeable absentees and a succession of contretemps.
-Ghanaian comedian Funny Face appears to be in hot waters

-Funny Face is being sued by US-based lady Mary Ama Boansi for allegedly owing her $53,105.53

- Mary Ama Boansi claims she borrowed Funny Face the said amount when he proposed marriage to her but the comedian refused to pay back the loan when the relationship ended

Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

Ghanaian comedian Funny Face, who is known in real life as Benson Nana Yaw Oduro Boateng, is being sued by a US-based lady Mary Ama Boansi for allegedly failing to pay back a $53,105.53 loan he took from her.

In a writ sighted by YEN.com.gh, Funny Face and Madam Boansi became friends after they met in June 2016.

The two were said to have fallen in love with a marriage proposal made by Funny Face to Madam Boansi.

Funny Face then sought financial assistance from Boansi.

READ ALSO: Kwaw Kese speaks on Medikal's iPhone 11 Pro gift to Shatta Wale

"Plaintiff avers that as their love affair grew stronger, the Defendant proposed to marry her; a proposal she gladly accepted. Plaintiff avers that due to the Defendants proposal and promise to marry her, she took more than usual interest in affairs of the Defendant. That the Defendant was always requesting for financial assistance from her and she went beyond what is expected of an unmarried acquaintance to meet the unusual financial needs of the Defendant," the writ read.

READ ALSO: Shatta Wale releases full details of his 2020 US tour

READ ALSO: Rename KIA after Kwame Nkrumah else Ghana will never know peace - Sonnie Badu

Funny Face, on the other hand, refused to pay back the money when the relationship ended.

"Plaintiff avers that she has made all attempts to recover all funds given to the Defendant without success," the writ states.

READ ALSO: Salma Mumin flies Business Class in latest photo; fans can't keep calm

Boansi is, therefore, asking the court to direct Funny Face to pay her $53,105.53 or its Ghana cedi equivalent and an interest on the said amount.

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that a very close friend of Castro, Funny Face, had declared that the musician is not dead.

According to Funny Face, Castro is hiding at his base and is sure to return by the close of this year. He was speaking in an interview contained in a video seen by YEN.com.gh.

READ ALSO: Hajia4Reall goes all yellow in latest photo; Nigerian celebrities hail her

Ghanaian Traders Share Thoughts on Sales During Christmas | #Yencomgh

Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Enjoyed reading our story? Download YEN's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Ghana news!

Source: YEN.com.gh
Scotlands national bard features in more than 470 road names across the UK, new research has found.

Glasgow has the highest concentration of streets named after Robert Burns with 72 featuring his name, according to Royal Mail analysis released on the eve of Burns Night.

The town of Ayr, near his birthplace of Alloway, has the second highest number with 25, followed by London on 19.

The Ayrshire village of Mauchline, where he lived for a time, and Greenock in Inverclyde are joint fourth with 16.

Expand Close Haggis Gap can be found near Cambridge (Royal Mail/PA) SWNS.com / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Haggis Gap can be found near Cambridge (Royal Mail/PA)

Royal Mail said the poet has inspired 720 street names in total around the UK, with some addresses influenced by his work, people he knew and the food and drink associated with Burns Night.

They include Red Rose Lane in Pentre, Wales, Tam OShanter Drive in Stirling, Haggis Gap near Cambridge and Neepsend Lane in Sheffield.

Steve Rooney, head of Royal Mails Address Management Unit, said: Royal Mail delivers mail to over 30 million addresses, six days a week.

This puts us in a unique position of having access to all the brilliant street names across the UK.

Robert Burns and his poems have clearly inspired a raft of street names across Scotland and the rest of the UK, demonstrating the important role he plays in the UKs history.

People around the globe are preparing to celebrate Burns Night on January 25 to celebrate the anniversary of the poets birth on that date in 1759.

The research also found streets inspired by women in the poets life including Jean Armour Avenue in Edinburgh, Jean Armour Drive in nearby Dalkeith, Midlothian  which is next to Robert Burns Mews  and a Clarinda Crescent in Mauchline.

Royal Mails Address Management Unit analysed more than 30 million addresses to establish the extent of the poets impact on street names around the country.
Whats Behind Barry Dillers Patient Approach to Expedia?

After Expedia Group Chairman and Senior Executive Barry Diller fired the travel giants CEO and chief financial officer in early December, investors pushed the share price up by 6 percent. Continued share price gains since then reflect the hope that new management will boost the competitiveness of the online travel agency.

Yet not everyone has been as enthusiastic. Some investment analysts and company insiders speculate that Dillers looking for a buyer for Expedia.

One factor driving uncertainty is that Diller said the company wasnt searching immediately for a CEO during a December 19 meeting with Expedia employees, as Skift reported from Seattle at the time. He had already appointed Expedia Vice Chairman Peter Kern as effectively the interim CEO to replace ousted Mark Okerstrom.

Dillers patience is on full display, showing no urgency to move Kern out of the interim role and maybe even making him the full-time chief executive. Diller has formally been working alongside Kern but has had a less hands-on role.

Intriguingly, former Expedia Group Treasurer and Diller friend Steve Louden announced in mid-December he would step down from being chief financial officer of Roku, a Los Gatos, California-based streaming platform, to relocate to Seattle after helping Roku find a replacement.

Perhaps Diller sees a role for Louden in Expedia Groups management. Louden has had a good track record at Roku, plus a Harvard Business School degree and hands-on operational finance experience.

Strategic Options

So what are Expedia Groups strategic options ahead?

A sale is one option. Private equity owners or technology giants like Amazon or IBM might be interested. Yet Expedias market capitalization is $16.3 billion, and assuming a buyer pays a premium, the cost might be around $20 billion.

A sale process could delay fixes, though. Expedia Groups performance in the past two quarters was worse than that of arch-rival Booking Holdings.

Story continues

Expedia has fundamental shortcomings when compared to Booking.com, not least the multitude of brands that it is attempting to rationalize, Alex Brignall, an analyst at Redburn, wrote in a note to investors last month.

Trimming costs is another option, with a potential for layoffs. Managements review of labor costs comes against a backdrop of TripAdvisor reporting Thursday that it will be laying off about 200 workers, or about 5 percent of its workforce. TripAdvisor similarly underperformed in the eyes of investors during the third quarter of 2019.

An Expedia spokesperson responded to Skifts questions about hiring freezes, whether it is exploring possible layoffs or a sale in whole or in part, by saying theres no hiring freeze and that the other matters are topics the company doesnt comment on.

I personally have open roles I am actively recruiting for right now, said Sarah Waffle Gavin, vice president, global communications and corporate brand.

Dillers public statements have highlighted his support for purchases of the companys stock because of his long-term faith in the business.

Diller also said he thought the pace of trying to integrate the sprawling Expedia Group brands had been too slow. A faster approach would be to sell brands that are proving the most difficult or the least cost-effective to integrate.

Expedia Group also could seek to revive growth by acquiring fast-growing businesses. TripActions and other next-generation corporate travel business platforms might plug gaps in Expedia Groups corporate travel arm, Egencia, for instance.

Subscribe to Skift newsletters covering the business of travel, restaurants, and wellness.
Subscriber content preview

By LISA BAUMANN

Associated Press

SEATTLE  A shootout in downtown Seattle that left a woman dead and a 9-year-old boy injured was the third violent incident this week in a part of the city long known for rampant drug use and street unrest.

Business groups implored officials to improve public safety. And while crime rates in Seattle are low compared to other big cities, critics say mayhem downtown  from shootings, to drug dealing and the effects of the city's ongoing homelessness crisis  makes locals and tourists feel unsafe.





. . .
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will be providing the official Democratic response to President Donald Trumps State of the Union Address, Congressional leaders announced Friday.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., praised Whitmers work as governor and as a former lawmaker in Michigan in a statement announcing the decision.

Pelosi said Whitmers work as a public official should serve as a model for our nation."

Since day one, Governor Whitmer has rolled up her sleeves to get things done for the people of Michigan, Pelosi said in the statement. Shes a forward-looking leader who is laser-focused on solving problems for everyday Michiganders and is uniquely qualified to deliver Democrats message of progress for all Americans.

Whether its pledging to Fix the Damn Roads or investing in climate solutions, Governor Whitmers vision for the future is exactly what this country needs, and Im thrilled she is giving the Democratic response, Schumer said in the statement.

Whitmer said the response "is an exciting opportunity to show the American people that not only are Democrats getting things done for them, but also for future generations to come.

Across the country, Democrats are staying focused on building a stronger, more sustainable country for future generations, Whitmer said. As leaders, its our responsibility to ensure a safe, healthy future for our children and families, and thats exactly what were working toward in Michigan."

Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes said in a statement she was proud Whitmer was chosen to give the response, noting Whitmer was critical to our partys success up and down the ballot in 2018.

U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, will be delivering the Spanish language Democratic response to Trumps speech.

Michigan Republican Party Chair Laura Cox said its fitting Whitmer is joining in on the same D.C. parlor games the people of our state resent, arguing Whitmer has failed to prove herself to Michigan residents.

"Ultimately, Gretchen Whitmers decision to side with Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi makes it that much easier to give our state a new governor in 2022, Cox said in a statement.

Trump is scheduled to give his State of the Union address on Feb. 4.
SPRINGFIELD  Gov. J.B. Pritzker has directed that all U.S. and Illinois flags be flown at half-staff until sunset on Saturday, Jan. 25, in honor and remembrance of Army SPC Miguel Angel Villalon of Aurora.

Villalon, 21, was killed in action Jan. 11 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. He joined the Army in 2018 to be a combat engineer and reported to the 307th Brigade Engineer Battalion as his first assignment. His awards and decorations include the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, an Army Achievement Medal with V device (awarded to service members who perform meritoriously under the most arduous combat conditions) and the Combat Action Badge.
Two vice officers were fired on Thursday by the city of Columbus, Ohio, for their role in the wrongful arrest of the pornographic film actress Stormy Daniels at a strip club in 2018, an arrest that a lawyer for Ms. Daniels said was the result of a conspiracy of dunces.

The officers, Steven Rosser and Whitney Lancaster, were found to have violated police rules when they arrested Ms. Daniels on three counts of illegal sexually oriented activity and then lied to internal affairs investigators about the basis for the sting, city officials said.

The charges against Ms. Daniels were dropped within 24 hours, but not before the arrest, at Sirens Gentlemens Club in Columbus, drew national headlines. Ms. Daniels is best known for saying that she had an affair with Donald J. Trump before he was president.

Amid scrutiny that the arrest had been politically motivated, the city later paid $450,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by Ms. Daniels. It also disbanded the troubled vice squad after a federal corruption investigation.
DJ McCoy/iStock(WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump has announced plans to attend and address the crowd at this week's March for Life, which would make him the first sitting president to do so.



The annual anti-abortion rally in the nation's capital is scheduled for Friday.



The president made the announcement via Twitter, writing, "See you on Friday...Big Crowd!" retweeting the official March for Life account. While other presidents have videoed or called into the event, Trump would be the first to appear in person.



Trump has worked to highlight the major anti-abortion event each year he's been in office. Vice President Mike Pence became the first sitting vice president to speak at the march in 2017, with Trump becoming the first president to address the rally by video the following year.



"President Trump is the most pro-life President in the history of our country, and becoming the first President to speak at the March for Life is further evidence of that," Kayleigh McEnany, national press secretary for the Trump campaign, told ABC News in a statement.



Trump's decision to appear is part of a larger effort to reach out to evangelical Christians, a core section of his conservative base.



Trump's campaign kicked off the 2020 election year ramping up religious voter outreach, launching "Evangelicals for Trump" with a massive rally-like event at a Miami megachurch.



"We're standing up to the pro-abortion lobby like never before -- we will never shy away from the battle to protect innocent life," Trump said at the kickoff in January.



At rallies across the country, the president's reelection pitch often has included his record on abortion as president, using that stance as a cudgel against Democratic rivals.



But Trump's history on abortion is complicated. In a 1999 appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press," he said that he was "very pro-choice," but during his 2016 presidential run he said that he'd "evolved" on the issue when asked during an August 2015 Republican debate.



Since getting elected, Trump's record on the issue has matched his campaign rhetoric. He's worked to appoint anti-abortion judges, cut taxpayer funding for abortions and blocked funds for Planned Parenthood.



The announcement of the president's plan to attend the rally comes just days after Susan B. Anthony List pledged $52 million to help reelect Trump and other anti-abortion candidates.



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Q. I have been a resident of Florida for the past 16 years and have just sold a two-family family house in New Jersey. Do I need to file anything other than an A3128 for a refund? We did make a substantial profit. What should I expect?

 Seller

A. Congrats on your home sale.

It looks like you may need to pay taxes to New Jersey on your profit.

Unless the house was used solely as a personal residence and falls within the guidelines for the sale of a personal residence  which is unlikely given that youve lived in Florida for 16 years  you should expect a tax bill, said Michael Karu, a certified public accountant with Levine, Jacobs & Co. in Livingston.

Want more personal finance news? Enter your email address to be the first to know:

You will have to file Form NJ-1040-NR as a non-resident, he said.

The profit will be calculated based on the difference between the selling price and the cost basis, Karu said.  If the property has been rented, there may be depreciation recapture as well.

Upon the sale of a business, business interest, or real property in New Jersey, a non-New Jersey resident is subject to New Jersey gross income tax on the profit from that sale, he said.

In order for the State of New Jersey to be sure that it gets paid, taxes are withheld at closing, Karu said. While people call it an exit tax, the reality is that the payment is simply an estimate tax payment against the tax that gets calculated when the non-resident income tax return is filed.

Email your questions to Ask@NJMoneyHelp.com.

Karin Price Mueller writes the Bamboozled column for NJ Advance Media and is the founder of NJMoneyHelp.com. Follow NJMoneyHelp on Twitter @NJMoneyHelp. Find NJMoneyHelp on Facebook. Sign up for NJMoneyHelp.coms weekly e-newsletter.
Former Governor-General Sir Frederick Ballantyne died at his home on Thursday morning. He was 83.





Sir Frederick was the longest serving Head of State, having served from September 2002 to July 2019.





He is said to have demitted office for health reasons, and recently had been receiving care at the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital.





A Medical Doctor by profession, Sir Frederick served this country as the sole Cardiologist for many years, even as he held the office of Senior Medical Officer for an extended period of public service.





THE VINCENTIAN extends sincerest condolences to his family and to the government and people of our beloved country.
Also known as Hansen's disease, leprosy is an infectious disease that mainly affects the skin and peripheral nerves. Over 200,000 new cases are reported worldwide each year. Although completely curable, the disease can cause permanent disability if untreated and continues to be stigmatized in many parts of the globe.

Using the slogan "A Hansen's Disease-Free World with Knowledge and Love" and the hashtag #WHDD2020, the joint action for World Leprosy Day 2020 grew out of regional meetings of people's organizations on leprosy held in Africa, Asia and Latin America in 2019. These meetings, together with a Global Forum held in Manila in September 2019, were hosted by the Office of Joint Program on Hansen's Disease (Leprosy) of Sasakawa Health Foundation and The Nippon Foundation.

Together with The Nippon Foundation, Sasakawa Health Foundation has been working for a world without leprosy for more than 45 years. Yohei Sasakawa, The Nippon Foundation's chairman, has served as the WHO's Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination since 2001 and in that role has visited around 100 leprosy-endemic countries.

In recent years, both foundations have come to place more emphasis on addressing the social and economic consequences of leprosy, with Nippon Foundation Chairman and Goodwill Ambassador Yohei Sasakawa spearheading efforts to have the disease taken up as a human rights issue. This led to the adoption of a historic UN General Assembly resolution on "Elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members" in 2010. Since then, the foundations continue to play a leading role in efforts to eliminate the stigma and discrimination associated with leprosy, in collaboration with organizations of persons affected by the disease and other partners.

Commenting on the joint action, WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination Yohei Sasakawa said: "It is encouraging to see organizations of persons affected by leprosy that have been active in their own countries collaborating with their counterparts overseas. Individual threads are weak, but together they form a strong rope. I am very happy that Sasakawa Health Foundation is supporting this initiative."

The Office of Joint Program on Hansen's Disease (Leprosy) of Sasakawa Health Foundation and The Nippon Foundation remains committed to working with the WHO, national governments and partner organizations for a world without leprosy and the stigma and discrimination it causes.

For Joint Action details, please visit: https://www.shf.or.jp/information/7489?lang=en

About Sasakawa Health Foundation: https://www.shf.or.jp/?lang=en

In addition to the photograph accompanying this release, further images as well as the list of the participating organizations may be downloaded from: https://1drv.ms/u/s!Atbpjs-exsO5nmug_xO9VFJ4QbYj?e=ccBsJI

SOURCE Sasakawa Health Foundation
Emilia-Romagna, traditionally a red region, prepares for political earthquake as it heads towards regional poll.

Forli, Italy  In the summer of 1944, the German administration of Nazi-occupied Italy confiscated the lead characters used by all printing houses in the city of Forli, in the northern region of Emilia-Romagna.

Anti-fascist newspapers continued to be printed clandestinely  16 in the city alone.

A lot of that work, including prints and engravings, is now stored at the Institute of the Resistance and Contemporary History.

This sleepy city of 100,000 has been governed by left-wing parties for about half a century.

Like the region itself, it was considered a left-wing stronghold  until it elected a League mayor last summer.

Alongside the southern region of Calabria, Emilia-Romagna will go to the polls on January 26 to pick a new regional government in elections that have been widely anticipated to usher in a further victory for the League, the far-right party of former interior minister and deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini.

The last published polls have put the League candidate, supported by a right-wing coalition, senator Lucia Borgonzoni, just a couple of points behind the current president of the region, Stefano Bonaccini.

Bonaccini is running with a centre-left list that includes his own Democratic Party (PD) and polls at over 45 percent.

191213142709311

Not only is Emilia-Romagna the largest and most populous of Italys red regions, it is also one of the richest in Italy.

Unemployment levels are well below the national average  despite considerable inequality between urban and industrial areas and left-behind villages in the mountain areas.

Positive economic and social indicators in the areas of welfare, public health and employment levels, in fact, hide a number of issues, Carlo De Maria, the Institutes director and a senior researcher in contemporary history at the University of Bologna, told Al Jazeera.

Take unemployment levels, for example. They may be low, but the quality of work has, in fact, been getting worse. There is more precariousness and uncertainty, he added.

Some people can be sceptical of all the talk about good governance and perceive it as untrue, particularly those living in the suburbs or the Apennine.

The League has been dominating Italian politics since it entered a coalition with the anti-establishment Five Star Movement (M5S) after the 2018 general elections. In a surprise move last summer, Salvini decided to pull the plug on that government, hoping to induce, and win, new elections.

His party had easily won the European elections earlier in May with 34 percent of the vote, more than doubling its share of consensus from the last general election in 2018, when it stood at 17 percent.

Much of the months-long public debate that preceded these local elections has been centred around whether Italys EU-approved new coalition government, which includes the centre-left PD and the M5S, can survive a League win in Emilia-Romagna.

The recent resignation of Salvinis former ally, Luigi di Maio, as head of the M5S prompted fresh speculation. In late 2019, the League bagged a win in another region in Italys red belt, Umbria.

I havent voted for about 10 years. But this year, I will vote against the PD, 62-year-old Oronzo Campagna, a pensioner, told Al Jazeera. Campagna says he has voted left all his life, but that hes tired of seeing the same old faces.

It is the ultimate challenge between a predatory, pessimist nationalism and what used to be the 'better Italy'. Carlo Ruzza, professor of political sociology at the University of Trento

Participation at the last regional election in 2014 was 38 percent, a record low, making Sundays result difficult to predict.

Yes, mine is a protest vote. The PD continues to stay in government without winning elections, he added.

Regional governance appears to have little influence on the way voters like Campagna, who could not recall the League candidates name, will swing.

The partys messages on security, particularly in relation to migration, and renewal, aiming to liberate Emilia-Romagna from the centre-left, have resonated among some voters.

There are people in Italy who struggle to get to the end of the month, have nothing to eat. Lets think about us, Italians, first, said Campagna, a former shipyard worker.

Migrant and refugee arrivals to Italy have dropped dramatically since the previous left-wing government reached a deal with the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) in 2017.

Party leader Salvini has been campaigning aggressively in Emilia-Romagna since late last year, rallying supporters to local squares.

A woman holds a placard displaying a sardine as 15,000 demonstrators take part in a gathering called by the left-wing anti-Salvini Sardine Movement, in Piazza della Republic in Florence on November 30, 2019 [Filippo Monteforte/AFP]

But it is also on the streets of Emilia-Romagna that the anti-populist Sardines movement entered the Italian political scene last November.

Widespread protests began with a call for a flash-mob in Bologna to outnumber a League rally taking place in a nearby square. The event, called 6,000 Sardines against Salvini, drew twice as many people as it expected to.

Since then, the Sardines have packed squares across the country, drawing 40,000 to Rome late last year, and as many in Bologna for a pre-election rally on January 19.

I support it as a protest movement, I think it is completely legitimate, said Martina Sbrighi, 25, who works in a bookstore in Forli.

She took part in recent protests, in which participants raise cardboard fish cutouts, anti-racist banners and chant the anti-fascist resistance anthem, Bella Ciao.

Obviously, you also need to put forward a real alternative, as well, and I am a bit sceptical, Martina said, adding that she will likely vote for the left-wing candidate, Bonaccini, while still feeling a lack of representation.

I probably support a left that no longer exists, she added.

The young organisers of the protests have so far ruled out morphing the movement into a political party. However, while a recent poll showed that 30 percent of Italians believe the League will dominate Italian politics in the near future, as many as 27 percent think it will be a new, unspecified political actor.

The Sardines have called a national meeting on March 8.

Other young voters have looked to fill the perceived representational void elsewhere.

Italy has nothing to envy other countries, in Europe and beyond. But our culture has been sidelined by globalisation, said Francesco Maria, a 22-year-old psychology student and bartender.

He supports the rising far-right nationalist party Brothers of Italy.

We talk about things that shouldnt be a priority, like the arts and immigration, he continued.

Meanwhile, despite no longer being in government, Matteo Salvini has continued to keep a high media profile through the election campaign.

Salvini knows he has chosen a weak candidate, and hes spent days going to the most unlikely of places [in Emilia-Romagna], Carlo Ruzza, professor of political sociology at the University of Trento, told Al Jazeera. His electoral campaign is a national one, what hes selling is a formula for the whole of Italy.

It is the ultimate challenge between a predatory, pessimist nationalism and what used to be the better Italy, Ruzza said. It should be seen as part of a much wider global challenge.
Prince Louis was treated to a day out at the Natural History Museum in London while mum Kate Middleton embarked on her 24-hour tour of Britain on Wednesday.

The one-year-old was spotted admiring the dinosaurs while holding onto the hand of his nanny, Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo.

Images of Louis exploring the exhibitions dressed in a snug blue quilted coat, matching trousers and a pair of Nike trainers were shared on social media.

Meanwhile his mother, the Duchess of Cambridge, was busy promoting her new landmark survey on early childhood development.

Prince Louis, pictured at his home in Norfolk to mark his first birthday, was treated to a day out at the Natural History Museum in London while mum Kate Middleton embarked on her 24-hour tour of Britain on Wednesday

Mother-of-three Kate, 38, met current prisoners at HMP Send near Woking, Surrey, and talked to women she met during a previous visit in 2015, who have since been released and are trying to rebuild their families.

The duchess also attended a sensory class at the Ely and Careau Children's Centre and heard about the support that parents receive.

She showed her own children are never far from her mind by wearing a sweet necklace featuring their initials.

The 1,070 'Personalised Gold Midnight Moon Necklace' by Daniella Draper was engraved with the letters 'G, L, C' in honour of her children, Prince George, six, Princess Charlotte, four, and Prince Louis, one.

Mother-of-three Kate, 38, met current prisoners at HMP Send near Woking, Surrey, on Wednesday and talked to women she met during a previous visit in 2015, who have since been released and are trying to rebuild their families

Kate paired the delicate pendant, which also featured a trio of stars, with a polo-neck jumper, a 30 leopard print skirt from Zara and a chic 349 Massimo Dutti camel coat.

Her engagement marked the third day in a row that Kate or her husband William took the spotlight as the Royal Family carries on with life after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex quit as senior royals and Harry flew to Canada on Monday night.

Kate was raising awareness of the poll Five Big Questions on the Under Fives.

The online poll, conducted by Ipsos Mori on behalf of the Royal Foundation, is thought to be the biggest survey of its kind and aims to encourage a nationwide conversation on early childhood.

The Duchess of Cambridge opted for a gold medallion pendant engraved with her children's initials for her visit to Cardiff, where she was pictured today

Prince William with son Prince Louis, one, Prince George, six, and daughter Princess Charlotte, four, in an image taken by Kate Middleton

Speaking at Birmingham's science museum, where she kicked off her tour, she said: 'As a parent, I know how much we cherish the future health and happiness of our children.

'I want to hear the key issues affecting families and communities so I can focus my work on where it is needed most. My ambition is to provide lasting change for generations to come.'

Kate got a tour of an interactive, child-sized mini-city at the Thinktank museum by 'mini mayor' Poppy Jordan, eight. Children showed her their workshop before popping into the launderette, a shop and a mini-museum.

The Duchess of Cambridge chats with a father and baby on her visit to the Ely and Caerau Children's Centre in Cardiff today

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Louis pictured attending The King Power Royal Charity Polo Day at Billingbear Polo Club in July last year

The duchess said: 'Parents, carers and families are at the heart of caring for children in the formative years, so that is why I really want to listen to them. The early years are more crucial for future health and happiness than any other moment in our lifetime.'

Meanwhile, at St James's Palace, her husband Prince William called for help to end the 'abhorrent' illegal wildlife trade at a meeting of the United For Wildlife taskforces.

The Duke of Cambridge said it had been an 'encouraging' year of seizures and investigations. But he warned: 'There are still too many criminals who know they can find a market and believe they can act with impunity.'
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan and Ardila Syakriah (The Jakarta Post) Medan, North Sumatra  Fri, January 24, 2020 18:50 719 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2060e6223 1 National Chinese-New-Year,Buddhist,imlek,cap-go-meh,Medan,Central-Jakarta Free

Many Indonesians are preparing to celebrate the Chinese New Year, which falls on Saturday, with religious rituals and festive attractions.

In Medan, North Sumatra, Buddhists are visiting temples to perform prayers for their ancestors ahead of the Chinese New Year, locally known as Imlek.

They bring along ritual offerings, ranging from fruit, cakes and flowers to be presented to their ancestors.

Nelly Wijaya, a Buddhist who lives in Medan, said that she said ritual prayers every year ahead of the Chinese New Year as a mark of respect for her late father.

"We pray so that our ancestors will rest in peace and we ask for forgiveness on behalf of them for any sins they committed during their lives," Nelly said after performing her prayers at the Vihara Gunung Timur in Medan on Thursday.

Atek, one of Vihara Gunung Timur temple's caretakers, said the temple had been cleaned up for the past week in preparation to welcome the new year.

He said the peak of new year celebrations at the temple would fall on Tuesday, however, they would not roll out any festive performances, such as the traditional barongsai (lion dance) performance or fireworks display.

"We're focusing on religious rituals only," Atek said.

A total of 878 personnel from the Indonesian Military, the National Police and mass organizations will be deployed to maintain security in temples across Medan during the Chinese New Year.

Medan Police chief Sr. Comr. Johnny Eddizon Isir said the deployed personnel represented collaboration and diversity.

"We hope that our brothers and sisters who are celebrating the Chinese New Year will feel safe as we maintain security," Jhonny said addressing the personnel at Medan Police headquarters on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Jakarta administration has prepared various attractions to celebrate the festive day, ranging from barongsai performances to a Chinese culinary festival.

Jakarta Mental and Spiritual Education Bureau head Hendra Hidayat said the series of attractions would also entertain those who were not celebrating the Chinese New Year.

"That is our spirit; equality, then togetherness and brotherhood," Hendra said on Thursday as quoted by kompas.com.

From Thursday to Friday, barongsai performances alongside traditional Betawi Gambang Kromong and Tanjidor (traditional Betawi musical ensemble) performances were held to entertain Jakarta residents starting from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at two locations, namely in front of the Grand Hyatt Hotel and at the Dukuh Atas Park in Central Jakarta.

Barongsai performances will also be held on Saturday at Thamrin 10, the city's new "melting pot" managed by city-owned market operator Pasar Jaya. On Sunday, the performance will be held during the Car Free Day.

On the same day, wayang potehi (Chinese glove puppet) performances will also be held at Thamrin 10, where the Chinese Food Festival will roll out until Feb. 5.

For the peak of the Chinese New Year celebration, the Jakarta administration will also provide attractions to celebrate Cap Go Meh (15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar) at three Little Chinatown points in the city; Petak Sembilan Glodok in West Jakarta, Jatinegara in East Jakarta and Kampung Duri in West Jakarta.
Photo:

Houstons Blue Willow Bookshop is among five finalists for Publishers Weeklys annual Bookstore of the Year honor. The distinction is a formidable one, as PW is the long-running trade publication that reports on books, publishers, booksellers, literary agents, libraries and other publishing players.

Blue Willow has history that dates back nearly 50 years. Valerie Koehler opened it as Blue Willow in late 1996. The space at Memorial and Dairy Ashford previously hosted Musabelles Books, opened by Musabelle Naut in 1973. Koehler worked at the store, and bought it when Naut retired.

PWs editorial director underscored the challenges in maintaining an independent bookstore in the 20th century: The bookstores who reached the finals for this years awards represent a broad spectrum of general independent booksellers across the country that have weathered the changes that have roiled retailing in general and bookselling in particular, he said.

The other shortlisted booksellers are Copperfields Books in Sebastopol, Ca.; Full Circle Bookstore in Oklahoma City; Porter Square Books in CCambridge, Mass.; and [words] Bookstore in Maplewood, N.J.

More on Blue Willow Bookshop can be found here.
A 45-year-old Portland woman filed a lawsuit Thursday accusing Fred Meyer of racial discrimination after she said an employee called her racist slurs last year.

Melita Bullitt said in the lawsuit that she was shopping with her daughter at the grocery stores Gateway District location Oct. 20 when she was unhappy with an employees customer service. When Bullitt asked the employee for her name, the worker called Bullitt and her daughter racist slurs, according to the lawsuit filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court.

Bullitt is Native American and her daughter is African American, the lawsuit says. Bullitt is asking for a jury trial, a $1 nominal fee and for her legal fees to be reimbursed. She said the employees discriminatory behavior caused her to feel shocked and embarrassed.

Fred Meyers behavior in this case was reckless and malicious, attorney Michael Fuller wrote in the court filing, and violated the common standards required of corporations by the people of Oregon.

A Fred Meyer spokesman said the retailer does not tolerate racial discrimination of any kind. We investigate any respective claims swiftly, so that we can take immediate action as necessary, Jefferey Temple said in a statement.

He said the store was unable to comment on any ongoing litigation.

-- Andrew Theen; atheen@oregonian.com; 503-294-4026; @andrewtheen

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
A man wanted for sexual offenses against a child in Dallas County has been arrested at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge, authorities said.

READ MORE: Border Patrol agent accused of sending explicit photos to girl

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said that Arturo Gonzalez-Lopez, 66, arrived in a commercial bus to attempt to enter the United States on Wednesday.

A CBP officer referred Gonzalez-Lopez, a Mexican citizen, to secondary examination.

Biometric verification through law enforcement databases confirmed that he had an outstanding felony state warrant for continuous sexual abuse of a child younger than 14 years old out of Dallas County Sheriffs Office.

Webb County Jail records show he was also served with two warrants for indecency with a child by sexual contact out of Dallas County. He remains behind bars awaiting extradition.

READ MORE: Man shot by LPD officers over weekend dies from injuries

Our CBP officers are committed to the CBP mission and one of their responsibilities is to identify fugitives at our ports of entry and returning them to face justice for the crimes they have committed, said Port Director Albert Flores, Laredo Port of Entry. When we encounter persons wanted by other law enforcement agencies, we verify the warrant and then carry out the appropriate law enforcement action.
According to the Ukrainian premier, the government is communicating actively with the WHO during the last days

Prime Minister Oleksiy Honcharuk stated that the operational headquarters at the level of the Healthcare Ministry is created in Ukraine to control the spread of China coronavirus as UNN reported.

Today we have responded to the information, which is spread all over the world about the epidemic of coronavirus. We have made a decision today, a very clear actions plan of what should be done. The operational headquarters at the level of the Healthcare Ministry and headed by the minister is already created. We are communicating actively with the WHO during the last days, Honcharuk said.

According to the PM, as for today, there are no grounds for worrying in Ukraine.

There is no confirmed spotted case of such disease in the territory of Ukraine. Today, the coordination session will take place between all services, which provide the control over the crossing of border to monitor and prevent entering of the virus to the territory of Ukraine. I am talking about the border and customs service, about bodies of health and disease control services, the premier added.

Earlier, the National Health Commission of China stated that the number of infections by new lethal coronavirus increased up to 830 people.

According to Chinese authorities, as of the morning, January 24, 25 fatalities due to the coronavirus were spotted.

Earlier, a 59-year-old man died from botulism in Ukraine. On the eve, a man ate homemade canned pork. It was severe acute disease and the state of the patient deteriorated after serum infusion and three surgeries.
 This is the script of CNBC's news report for China's CCTV on January 21, 2020, Tuesday.

The white paper on ai regulation is not scheduled to be released until the end of February, but some of its contents have been leaked in advance by several media outlets and have been widely discussed because of its controversial nature. According to the white paper, the EU's regulatory framework for artificial intelligence includes plans for a temporary ban on facial recognition technology, requiring it to be banned from public places for three to five years after the ban is formally introduced.

In the meantime, regulators can assess the impact of facial-recognition technology and specify risk management measures to further regulate the rules to prevent the technology from being abused by governments or private companies. In addition to face recognition technology, the white paper also covers five main aspects of the EU's ai regulation, including mandatory requirements for voluntary labelling for high-risk applications, security accountability and governance.

Like all new technologies, face recognition is a double-edged sword, so the proposed potential ban has sparked some controversy within tech companies.

On Monday, the financial times published an article signed by Sundar Pichai, the new CEO of alphabet, Google's parent company, under the headline: Why Google thinks we need to regulate AI. He said that companies such as ours cannot just build promising new technology and let market forces decide how it will be used. There is no question that ai needs to be regulated, this is a view he has repeatedly expressed on many different occasions.

Sundar Pichai

CEO of Alphabet

On AI recognition, my message would be that it is an important area to be regulated, it is too critical not to do it, but I think it is important we are in the early days, it is important to build based on existing regulations

But brad Smith, Microsoft's President and chief legal officer, said a one-size-fits-all ban is too simple. He believes face recognition has many advantages, such as the fact that some NGOs are using it to help find missing children.

Beyond private companies, a potential new EU ban could affect government projects in some European countries. The German government, for example, is considering introducing automatic face recognition at 134 train stations and 14 airports. France also plans to create a legal framework that would allow the embedding of facial recognition technology in video surveillance systems. With the continuous development of face recognition technology and its huge market potential, the abuse of face recognition technology has attracted the attention of many regulatory authorities, and the trend of regulatory tightening has emerged.

In May last year, San Francisco became the first city in the world to ban facial recognition technology after passing a law banning government agencies from buying and using it.

Now, the EU white paper is also likely to have a major impact on the development of artificial intelligence and face recognition technology in Europe. We will keep an eye on this issue.
When Dfinity raised $102 million in funding in 2018 at a $2 billion valuation in a round jointly led by Andreessen Horowitz and Polychain Capital, it was thought of as a step-change in the world of blockchain technology. In an area that was synonymous with generating a lot of headlines around cryptocurrency speculation, this was a shift in focus, looking instead at the architecture behind Bitcoin, Ethereum and the rest, and how it could be used for more than just "mining," distributing and using new financial instruments -- with a major, mainstream VC backing the idea, no less.

Dfinity launched with a very lofty goal: to build what it called the Internet Computer: a decentralized and non-proprietary network to run the next generation of mega-applications. It dubbed this public network Cloud 3.0.

Now, it looks like this Cloud is now about to break.

In Davos this week, Dfinity launched the Bronze edition of its Internet Computer, a limited release that takes the startup one step closer to its full commercial release, expected later this year.

And to prove out the concept of how an application would run on its new network, Dfinity today demonstrated an open social network called LinkedUp.

The startup has rather cheekily called this an open version of LinkedIn, the Microsoft-owned social network for professionals. Unlike LinkedIn, LinkedUp, which runs on any browser, is not owned or controlled by a corporate entity.

LinkedUp is built on Dfinitys so-called Internet Computer, its name for the platform it is building to distribute the next generation of software and open internet services.

The software is hosted directly on the internet on a Switzerland-based independent data center, but in the concept of the Internet Computer, it could be hosted at your house or mine: the compute power to run the application -- LinkedUp, in this case -- is coming not from Amazon AWS, Google Cloud or Microsoft Azure, but is instead based on the distributed architecture that Dfinity is building.

Story continues

Specifically, Dfinity notes that when enterprises and developers run their web apps and enterprise systems on the Internet Computer, the content is decentralized across a minimum of four or a maximum of an unlimited number of nodes in Dfinity's global network of independent data centers.

And while the company initially was described as a blockchain-based system, that's also had some refinement. A spokesperson describes the Internet Computer as a "next-generation distributed computing system  similar to its Mainframe, Client Server, and Public Cloud predecessors" that is based on cryptography.

"While DFINITY is not building a traditional blockchain/smart contract platform, it uses advanced cryptography in its consensus layer [of the Internet Computer stack] to ensure apps and workloads have the same security guarantees as Bitcoin or Ethereum," the spokesperson added, "but its network of independent data centers ensures the speed and scale required by corporates and entrepreneurs." The Internet Computer also has governance tokens to ensure the ownership of the technology is distributed, he said.

LinkedUp is a test case for all of this, and so Dfinity is open-sourcing LinkedUp for developers to create other types of open internet services on the structure it has built.

This "open social network for professional profiles" suggests that, on Dfinitys model, one could create an "Open WhatsApp," "Open eBay," "Open Salesforce" or "Open Facebook."

(Good news, since LinkedIn might not be so happy about a lookalike service with a name and layout that also looks very familiar, were it to go much further as a commercial endeavor. "While we cant comment specifically on any proposed trademark, LinkedIn does monitor and take action as necessary to protect our trademarks," a spokesperson said.)

Big tech has hijacked the internet and stifled innovation by owning the proprietary infrastructure and user relationships,'' said Dominic Williams, founder and chief scientist at Dfinity in a statement. As a result, a handful of for-profit companies have created a monopolistic and closed internet. The Internet Computer provides a means to rebuild internet services in open form."

So perhaps what we should be calling this is not LinkedUp, but more a new sort of Linux for the cloud.

Dfinity claims the application was built by 1.5 engineers in three weeks," thus demonstrating how easy the infrastructure is to use.

The tools include a Canister Software Developer Kit and a simple programming language called Motoko that is optimized for Dfinitys Internet Computer.

"The Internet Computer is conceived as an alternative to the $3.8 trillion legacy IT stack, and empowers the next generation of developers to build a new breed of tamper-proof enterprise software systems and open internet services. We are democratizing software development," Williams said. "The Bronze release of the Internet Computer provides developers and enterprises a glimpse into the infinite possibilities of building on the Internet Computer  which also reflects the strength of the Dfinity team we have built so far.

Dfinity says its Internet Computer Protocol allows for a new type of software called autonomous software, which can guarantee permanent APIs that cannot be revoked. When all these open internet services (e.g. open versions of WhatsApp, Facebook, eBay, Salesforce, etc.) are combined with other open software and services it creates mutual network effects where everyone benefits.

We quizzed Dfinity a little more on all this and asked whether this was an actual launch.

A spokesperson told us: Since our first major milestone of launching a terminal-based SDK and new programming language called Motoko  by the co-creator of WebAssembly  on 1 November, DFINITY has released 13 new public versions of the SDK, to our second major milestone [at WEF Davos] of demoing a decentralized web app called LinkedUp on the Internet Computer running on an independent data center in Switzerland. Subsequent milestones towards the public launch of the Internet Computer will involve (1) on-boarding a global network of independent data centers, (2) fully tested economic system, and (3) fully tested Network Nervous Systems for configuration and upgrades.

It also looks like Dfinity will not be raising more money just yet.

But the question is how they plan to woo people to it? "Dfinity has been working with a select group of Fortune 500 companies, strategic consultancies, systems integrators, venture capitalists, and universities," the company said.

We are not sure that it will quite suffice to take out Facebook, LinkedIn, and all the other tech giants, but we're fascinated to see how this plays out.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Michael Andrew and Ardila Syakriah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, January 24 2020

International journalists and agencies have condemned the arrest of American environmental journalist Philip Jacobson, who has been detained in Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, for allegedly misusing his residency permit.

The reporter and editor of Mongabay, an environmental news website, was detained on Tuesday after being placed under city-arrest for more than a month while immigration officials investigated his alleged visa violations.

International media freedom agency Reporters without Borders (RSF) has issued a statement denouncing the arrest as an act of intimidation.

to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content

e-Post daily digital newspaper

No advertisements, no interruptions

Privileged access to our events and programs

Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login
Two people are due in court this evening charged in relation to a financial fraud investigation.

As part of the inquiry, searches were carried out in Tipperary and Dublin in February 2018 and the investigation centred on Invoice Redirecting Frauds amounting to 750,000.




PROPHETIC Healing and Deliverance Ministries (PHD) founder, Walter Magayas father, Freddy Muvirimi, has died.





Mr Muvirimi died at Dandaro Hospital in Borrowdale on Thursday around midday. He had not been feeling well since 2009 but the condition got worse when the family was attacked and assaulted by armed robbers last year at their Waterfalls home.





In an interview, Prophet Magaya said his fathers condition worsened after his lungs were damaged during the attack.





His lungs were damaged after the attack by armed robbers. Initially, he became sick when he was working in Tanzania a few years ago and was airlifted to Zimbabwe for treatment.





He was a very good man who mentored me since I was four years old. He was my hero and my life will never be the same again without him, he said.





of local and foreign people you would be expected to solve your own quickly. PHD senior overseer Admire Mango also said, When you are a solution to many and solving many problems of millionsof local and foreign people you would be expected to solve your own quickly.





He was prayed for and got better, but he was attacked and the condition got worse. It has been a 10-year battle until today when God said its time to rest.





Mourners are gathered at number 51 Pota road Waterfalls Harare.




russian river

Betty Blahna/EyeEm/Getty Images

A tank at the Rodney Strong Winery in California spilled 97,112 gallons of wine on Thursday.

The wine entered the municipal sewer system, a nearby creek, and the nearby Russian River.

Both the winery and city officials are monitoring potential environmental impacts in the river.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Employees at a vineyard in the heart of California's wine country discovered with dismay on Wednesday that one of their giant tanks had opened  and Cabernet Sauvignon was gushing out.

Just over 97,000 gallons of the wine  enough to fill eight tanker trucks  spilled after the door of a blending tank popped open at the Rodney Strong Winery.

Some of that alcohol has entered the local water system, Chris O'Gorman, a spokesman for Rodney Strong Winery, confirmed to Business Insider.

It flowed "out of the building, with a portion entering a creek at the winery," he said. That waterway, Reiman Creek, feeds into the Russian River  a popular recreation destination and wildlife habitat.

O'Gorman said the cause of the leak was "apparent mechanical failure."

The exact quantity of wine that entered the Russian River is unknown  city officials are still assessing the impact. The Sonoma County sheriff's office is even using a helicopter to track the spill. Early estimates suggest, however, that between 46,000 and 96,000 gallons of wine reached the river.

"The uncertainty was how much of that made it into the creek and how much into the sanitary sewer system inside the facility," Sonoma County Fire Battalion chief Mike Elson said, according to the Press Democrat. "But there was a large, substantial amount into the creek and river."

napa valley california wine

Shutterstock/FloridaStock

According to the Governor's Office of Emergency Services, which was notified of the accident via an official hazardous material spill report, about 20% of the spill was contained as of Wednesday. O'Gorman said the winery had "saved over half of the wine," however.

Story continues

He added that Rodney Strong Winery is working closely with various government agencies, including the California Office of Emergency Response, the Healdsburg Fire Department, the Sonoma County Sheriff, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

"We are deeply concerned and are doing everything in our power to protect our waterways," O'Gorman said.

In the spill report, city officials noted that the winery is also working with contractors to "conduct the cleanup."

According to the Press Democrat, Rodney Strong hired two vacuum-truck operators to attempt to clean up the spill on site. It also tried to erect a temporary dam in Reiman Creek, but the creek is experiencing high flows due to recent rains.

Read the original article on Business Insider
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has been known to give knee-jerk reactions, obviously not well-thought-out, to certain issues.

His supporters say it is part of his management style and charisma. He is passionate, transparent when he is mad and decisive to a point where he fails to consider the impact of his statement.

It was typical of Duterte then to issue a threat to cancel the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the United States if Washington would not reconsider the cancellation of Sen. Bato dela Rosas US visa. Duterte gave the US one month to act.

Duterte said in a speech Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020: Im warning you, this is the first time. Kapag hindi ninyo ginawa ang correction diyan, one, I will terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement. Tapusin ko yang (expletive) na yan. I am giving notice and they begin to count. I am giving the American government one month from now.

The VFA is a pact signed in 1998 that allows both American and Filipino military personnel to do joint training exercises in the Philippines.

Duterte wants a barter. The continued effectivity of the VFA for a US visa for dela Rosa. Such an unusual barter because the values are uneven  an individuals visa for travel to the United States for an agreement of two nations to benefit both their citizens.

One part of the barter is to allow dela Rosa to go on vacation plus a bit of work in the US and the other part of the exchange is to beef up the security of two countries.

Not only is this exchange of the VFA for one visa unusual, it is unbelievable and unpatriotic.

What will dela Rosa do in the US? Visit family and friends then squeeze in some work such as connect with Filipinos there. He cannot do much as a Philippine senator there. Are we willing to have that in exchange for losing the chance to improve security capabilities against foreign threats?

Word first got out in December 2019 about the American legislators decision to bar foreign government officials from entering the United States if they were involved in the wrongful imprisonment of Sen. Leila de Lima, a staunch Duterte critic.

Dutertes reaction that time was to bar from entry to the Philippines two US senators behind the US ban. That was a reasonable counter because the values were the same  a visa for a visa.

You do not cancel a bilateral pact because one person was not allowed to go to the US. You cancel a pact for a much bigger reason.
Some have more dollars than sense, they say, so even companies that have no revenue, no profit, and a record of falling short, can easily find investors. And in their study titled Who Falls Prey to the Wolf of Wall Street?' Leuz et. al. found that it is 'quite common' for investors to lose money by buying into 'pump and dump' schemes.

In the age of tech-stock blue-sky investing, my choice may seem old fashioned; I still prefer profitable companies like Chelyabinsk Forge-and-Press Plant (MCX:CHKZ). While profit is not necessarily a social good, it's easy to admire a business that can consistently produce it. In comparison, loss making companies act like a sponge for capital - but unlike such a sponge they do not always produce something when squeezed.

See our latest analysis for Chelyabinsk Forge-and-Press Plant

Chelyabinsk Forge-and-Press Plant's Earnings Per Share Are Growing.

The market is a voting machine in the short term, but a weighing machine in the long term, so share price follows earnings per share (EPS) eventually. That makes EPS growth an attractive quality for any company. Impressively, Chelyabinsk Forge-and-Press Plant has grown EPS by 36% per year, compound, in the last three years. If the company can sustain that sort of growth, we'd expect shareholders to come away winners.

I like to take a look at earnings before interest and (EBIT) tax margins, as well as revenue growth, to get another take on the quality of the company's growth. Chelyabinsk Forge-and-Press Plant maintained stable EBIT margins over the last year, all while growing revenue 23% to 11b. That's progress.

The chart below shows how the company's bottom and top lines have progressed over time. Click on the chart to see the exact numbers.

MISX:CHKZ Income Statement, January 24th 2020

Since Chelyabinsk Forge-and-Press Plant is no giant, with a market capitalization of 3.6b, so you should definitely check its cash and debt before getting too excited about its prospects.

Story continues

Are Chelyabinsk Forge-and-Press Plant Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

Personally, I like to see high insider ownership of a company, since it suggests that it will be managed in the interests of shareholders. So we're pleased to report that Chelyabinsk Forge-and-Press Plant insiders own a meaningful share of the business. Indeed, with a collective holding of 95%, company insiders are in control and have plenty of capital behind the venture. To me this is a good sign because it suggests they will be incentivised to build value for shareholders over the long term. With that sort of holding, insiders have about 3.5b riding on the stock, at current prices. That's nothing to sneeze at!

Is Chelyabinsk Forge-and-Press Plant Worth Keeping An Eye On?

You can't deny that Chelyabinsk Forge-and-Press Plant has grown its earnings per share at a very impressive rate. That's attractive. Further, the high level of insider ownership impresses me, and suggests that I'm not the only one who appreciates the EPS growth. So this is very likely the kind of business that I like to spend time researching, with a view to discerning its true value. Of course, just because Chelyabinsk Forge-and-Press Plant is growing does not mean it is undervalued. If you're wondering about the valuation, check out this gauge of its price-to-earnings ratio, as compared to its industry.

Although Chelyabinsk Forge-and-Press Plant certainly looks good to me, I would like it more if insiders were buying up shares. If you like to see insider buying, too, then this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying, could be exactly what you're looking for.

Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Terry Rolin, plaintiff in lawsuit against TSA and DEA for unlawful confiscation of his money. (Courtesy Institute for Justice)

Retiree Sues TSA, DEA for Confiscating Money Without Cause

A father and daughter have filed a class-action lawsuit against the Transportation Security Administration and the Drug Enforcement Administration, claiming that authorities seized the fathers life savings at Pittsburgh International Airport without any legal justification.

The lawsuit was filed by the Institute for Justice, a public interest law firm, on behalf of Terry Rolin, 79, a retired railroad engineer from Pittsburgh. The firm has sued in two other similar cases in Houston and Cleveland. In both cases, the U.S. government eventually gave the money back.

Civil libertarians have long complained that asset forfeitures arising from criminal convictions and cases in which a person is merely suspected of a crime can be arbitrary and excessive.

For years, Rolin followed his parents eccentric Depression-era habit of hiding money in the basement of his home, according to the legal complaint. When he relocated to a smaller apartment, he became uncomfortable keeping a large stash of cash at home. So last year when his daughter, Rebecca Brown, visited for a family event, he asked her to take the money$82,373 in totaland open a new joint bank account that he could use to pay for his ongoing personal needs.

Facing an early flight on a Monday morning, Brown couldnt drop by a bank in Pittsburgh and opted to keep the cash with her on her flight back to Boston. She did research online and discovered there was nothing illegal about flying with a large sum of cash. But during a security screening, TSA agents set aside her bag containing the money and made her wait to be questioned by Pennsylvania state troopers. Initially, they let her leave for the gate with the money, but before she boarded, a trooper and DEA agent approached her again.

Apparently, these officials found the situation suspicious and held onto the money without charging her or her father with a crime. Months later, the DEA notified them that it intended to keep the money using civil asset forfeiture, a process that allows law enforcement to retain funds without convicting anyone of a crime.

My father and his parents worked hard for this money, and the government shouldnt be able to reach into his pocket and take it, Brown said in a statement.

We did nothing wrong and havent been charged with any crime, yet the DEA is trying to take my fathers life savings. His savings should be returned right away, and the government should stop taking money from Americans who are doing something completely legal.

According to the Institute for Justice, the two individuals are trapped in the upside-down world of civil forfeiture, where the government brings charges against property instead of people. Under forfeiture laws, no one needs to be convicted or even charged with a crime for the money to be confiscated, and the standard of proof is a civil law standard, which is lower than the standard used in a criminal case.

This is a pattern that weve seen at airports across the country, Andrew Wimer, a spokesman for the Institute for Justice, told The Epoch Times.

When they see large amounts of cash, they seize it. People shouldnt have to fight in court over carrying cash legally.

It is completely legal to fly with any amount of currency, and TSA cant confiscate money without probable cause.

The Institute for Justice is representing the plaintiffs pro bono to make sure others dont have the same of kind of horrifying experience, Wimer said.

The civil rights lawsuit, filed Jan. 15, accuses the TSA and DEA of seizing cash from travelers at airports without reasonable suspicion or probable cause and based solely on the amount of cash, contrary to the Fourth Amendment.

The legal complaint asks whether the government may seize a 79-year-old mans life savings without any indication of criminal activity, pursuant to unlawful and unconstitutional federal agency policies or practices that violate the rights of thousands of air travelers each year.

The lawsuit seeks the return of the unconstitutionally seized cash and compensatory damages, along with declaratory and injunctive relief against the government on behalf of others subject to such practices at airports across the country.

Government officials refused to comment.

Mary Brandenberger, chief of public affairs at DEA, declined to make a statement. TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein said, TSA does not comment on cases of ongoing litigation.
Senator Josh Hawley (R., Mo.) sent a letter Friday to the heads of four government agencies to ask whether the Trump administration was considering any potential Chinese travel ban to prevent an American outbreak of the coronavirus.

The senator tweeted Friday morning that Public safety must be #1 priority.

As deadly #coronavirus spreads, this morning Ive written to the Secretary of State and others to ask whether temporary travel restrictions from affected areas in China may be necessary, and if they are, when American travelers will be notified. Public safety must be #1 priority  Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) January 24, 2020

I believe Americans deserve advance notice of your plans to evaluate more aggressive limitations on travel between the U.S. and China and of any additional considerations that might lead you to refrain from such measures, Hawley wrote in the letter, which was sent to HHS secretary Alex Azar, Acting DHS secretary Chad Wolf, DOT secretary Elaine Chao, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

The Center for Disease Control confirmed Tuesday that the coronavirus, which originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan, had reached the U.S., after a man in Washington state was diagnosed. On Friday, a woman in Chicago was also confirmed with the virus. Both individuals had recently traveled to Wuhan.

The virus, which, causes pneumonia-like symptoms, is related to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS, a virus that originated in China and killed hundreds of people in 2002 and 2003.

On Thursday, China announced that it was quarantining the city of Wuhan in an attempt to slow the outbreak, which as of Thursday evening had infected 830 and killed 25 in China.

Hawley ends his letter with four requests, including what protocols the government plans to take on potential travel restrictions, whether it will inform the public of any decision in the interests of transparency, and how the U.S. can help China and the international community to contain the virus.

More from National Review
It took, however, three full weeks for authorities to realize the seriousness of the virus, which they initially said was mild and could not be passed between humans. This week, health officials said that it can move from person to person and that it has an incubation period as long as 14 days.
Copyright  2020 Albuquerque Journal

New Mexico added nearly 15,000 public- and private-sector jobs in 2019, according to new numbers from the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions.

The state labor department released its preliminary employment report for December on Friday, which showed that the state added 14,800 jobs over the previous 12 months. The report also said New Mexicos seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 4.7% in December, down from 5.0% 12 months earlier.

Workforce Solutions Secretary Bill McCamley said New Mexico ranked among the top 10 states in the nation for job growth for six consecutive months in 2019, a sign that the states long-running economic problems may be in the rearview mirror.

More and more people are seeing the wonderful quality of life in New Mexico, McCamley told the Journal.

The mining and construction sector, which includes New Mexicos booming oil and gas industry, added 5,500 jobs in 2019, a 7.5% increase over that period. Much of the job growth was concentrated in the construction subsector, which grew by more than 10%.

McCamley credited broad-based economic growth for helping to spur the states construction industry.

Additionally, the states health care and social assistance subsector added 3,500 jobs in 2019, while the states financial sector added 1,400.

McCamley praised the growth of the states energy sector but acknowledged that the state needs to diversify beyond the oil and gas industry. He highlighted New Mexicos tourism and technology industries as important areas for future economic growth.

We need to continue to focus on those sectors as well, to make sure that all our eggs arent in one basket, he said.

The unemployment rate dropped in each of New Mexicos metropolitan areas over the past 12 months. Metro Albuquerques unemployment rate dropped from 4.5% in December 2018 to 4.2% last month, according to the report.

Despite the declining unemployment rate over the past 12 months, New Mexico still has significantly higher unemployment than the nation overall, which posted a seasonally adjusted rate of 3.5% in December. McCamley stressed the need for New Mexico to continue investing in its workforce to attract employers and help them continue to grow.

We still have a lot of work to do, he said.
CLEVELAND -- At NASAs Glenn Research Center, we strive to be good citizens and to make positive contributions to the local community that has helped us grow and thrive for nearly 80 years. Glenn is a vital contributor to Northeast Ohios economy and culture and a resource for the development of future generations.

NASA is preparing to send the first woman and next man to the Moon as part of the Artemis program, and Glenns expertise in power, propulsion and space communications is essential. Thats why the centers budget has grown steadily during the past few years, and with it, so have the economic benefits to Greater Cleveland.

Glenns economic impact in Northeast Ohio exceeds $1.4 billion per year. We generate over $750 million in local economic activity annually and support over 7,000 local jobs, according to a study conducted by Cleveland State University and Wichita Tribal Enterprises LLC. And our investment in the community continues to grow.

Marla Perez-Davis is the director of NASAs Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.NASA

In November, NASA awarded a $33.8 million contract to The Austin Company in Cleveland to build a new Aerospace Communications Facility. This state-of-the-art building will allow us to develop faster, higher-capacity technology for future missions to the Moon and Mars. But its benefits extend beyond NASAs missions; it is already drawing attention from technology companies that have expressed interest in coming to Cleveland to use it.

Across Ohio, 124 suppliers are contributing to NASAs deep space exploration systems and Americas return to the Moon. These partnerships are yet another example of the relationship between NASA and the local economy, and how we can advance both the nations exploration goals and local economic growth.

But Glenns connection to Greater Cleveland isnt just financial; its personal. I moved to Northeast Ohio 37 years ago to pursue a career with NASA after graduating from college. When I was growing up in Puerto Rico, some people told me I couldnt be a chemical engineer. If my mom hadnt placed such a strong emphasis on my education, I might not be where I am today. Thats why mentoring and inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers -- the Artemis Generation -- is so important to me. And its a passion shared by my staff.

NASAs vision is to discover and expand knowledge for the benefit of humanity. At Glenn, we do that in a number of ways. We offer internships, mentorships, and fellowships for students, and our scientists and engineers volunteer as tutors and speakers at local schools, museums and libraries. Through our visitor center at the Great Lakes Science Center, school programs, and local events, Glenn inspires thousands of young minds in Northeast Ohio every year.

Last year, many of you joined us as we celebrated the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11s Moon landing and welcomed the Orion spacecraft to NASAs Plum Brook Station in Sandusky for testing. The spacecraft arrived at the Mansfield Lahm Airport aboard NASAs Super Guppy airplane to a crowd of more than 1,500 spectators. As it passed through rural Ohio making its way to Sandusky, onlookers gathered alongside the road to catch a glimpse and local TV stations followed in their helicopters. Thats the kind of excitement and passion our community has for space exploration.

In a few months, when testing is complete, we will send Orion back to NASAs Kennedy Space Center, where it will be united with the Space Launch System rocket before launching on the Artemis I flight test around the Moon. In 2022, well send another spacecraft with Northeast Ohio roots into lunar orbit. The Power and Propulsion Element will be the first part of NASAs Gateway, a lunar orbiting outpost that will serve as a home base for astronaut expeditions to the Moon and future human missions to Mars.

As you watch these missions unfold with the rest of the nation, we hope that you will share in our pride and tell everyone you know that the Greater Cleveland community helped to make it happen.

Marla Perez-Davis is the director of NASAs Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.

Editors note: The description of Marla Perez-Davis was updated at 10:58 a.m. to reflect todays NASA announcement naming her the director of NASA Glenn Research Center.

************************************

Have something to say about this topic? Use the comments to share your thoughts. Then, stay informed when readers reply to your comments by using the Follow option at the top of the comments, and look for updates via the small blue bell in the lower right as you look at more stories on cleveland.com.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has met with Mayor of the Swiss town of Montreux, Co-chairman of the Azerbaijan-Switzerland Friendship Group Laurent Wehrli in Davos.

The steady development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Switzerland was hailed at the meeting. Laurent Wehrli said that he was appointed as the co-chairman of the Azerbaijan friendship group in the Swiss parliament two months ago. He pointed out that he would spare no effort to further enhance relations between Azerbaijan and Switzerland, including the legislative bodies of both countries during his tenure.

During the conversation, the sides exchanged views on the establishment of cooperation between the cities of Azerbaijan and Switzerland. It was noted that the town of Montreux and the Sabail district of the city of Baku had recently become sister cities.

The activities of Azerbaijani companies in Switzerland were highlighted, and the importance of further expanding relations between the countries companies was emphasized at the meeting.








The cruise ship Freedom of the Seas, one of the giants in the fleet of cruise-operators Royal Caribbean, was in Malaga on Thursday after crossing the Atlantic and reaching the Mediterranean for the first time.

The ship, which has space for 4,300 passengers, was launched in 2006 and until now has operated cruise routes around the Caribbean. This summer it will be based in Barcelona where it will sail week-long routes around the western Med. It will return to Malaga in October when it sails back to the Caribbean again for the winter season.

Speaking on board the ship, president of Malagas port authority, Paulino Plata, explained that in 2017 Royal Caribbean would dock its ships 16 times in Malaga, showing the city to be the link point on an Atlantic-Mediterranean axis.

Four cruise ships were in Malaga yesterday bringing with them some 10,500 passengers on a visit to the capital of the Costa del Sol. Plata also explained that, over the spring, passenger movements will increase 48 per cent on the same time last year, thanks also to Thomson and Pullmantur choosing Malaga as a home port.
London police will start using facial recognition cameras to pick out suspects from street crowds in real time, in a major advance for the controversial technology that raises worries about automated surveillance and erosion of privacy rights.

The Metropolitan Police Service said Friday that after a series of trials, the cameras will be put to work within a month in operational deployments of around 5-6 hours at potential crime hotspots. The locations would be chosen based on intelligence but the police did not say where, the number of places, or how many cameras would be deployed.

Real-time crowd surveillance by British police is among the more aggressive uses of facial recognition in wealthy democracies and raises questions about how the technology will enter peoples daily lives. Authorities and private companies are eager to use facial recognition but rights groups say it threatens civil liberties and represents an expansion of surveillance.

Londons decision to use the technology defies warnings from rights groups, lawmakers and independent experts, Amnesty International researcher Anna Bacciarelli said.

Facial recognition technology poses a huge threat to human rights, including the rights to privacy, non-discrimination, freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, Bacciarelli said.

London police said the facial recognition system, which runs on technology from Japans NEC, looks for faces in crowds to see if they match any on watchlists of up to 2,500 people wanted for serious and violent offences, including gun and knife crimes and child sexual exploitation.

As a modern police force, I believe that we have a duty to use new technologies to keep people safe in London, Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave said in a statement.

The British have long become accustomed to video surveillance, with cameras used in public spaces for decades by security forces fighting terror threats. Real-time monitoring will put that tolerance to the test.

London is the sixth most monitored city in the world, with nearly 628,000 surveillance cameras, according to a report by Comparitech.

Londons move comes after a British High Court ruling last year cleared a similar deployment by South Wales police, which has been using it since 2017 to monitor big events like soccer games, royal visits and airshows. That system deleted peoples biometric data automatically after scanning.

Britains privacy commissioner, Elizabeth Denham, who had warned police not to take that ruling as a blanket approval, struck a cautious tone on Friday.

She said that while London police have stated theyre putting safeguards and transparency in place to protect privacy and human rights, it is difficult to comment further on this until we have an actual deployment and we are able to scrutinize the details of that deployment.

Signs will warn passersby about the cameras and officers will pass out leaflets with more information, the police said, adding that the system isnt linked to any other surveillance systems.

London police previously carried out a series of trial deployments that they say identified 7 out of 10 wanted suspects who walked past the camera while only incorrectly flagging up 1 in 1,000 people. But an independent review last year by University of Essex professors questioned that, saying the trials raised concerns about their legal basis and the equipments accuracy, with only 8 of 42 matches verified as correct.

Pete Fussey, a University of Essex professor who co-authored the report, said NEC has upgraded its algorithm since then, but theres evidence that the technology isnt 100% accurate, pointing to a recent U.S. government labs test of nearly 200 algorithms that found most have ethnic bias.

If youre using the algorithm you should be aware of its shortcomings, he said. Its vanishingly unlikely that NECs algorithm will be effective across all ethnic categories.

___

For all of APs tech coverage, visit: https://apnews.com/apf-technology
The newest crop of Army battalion commanders will have to face a screened-off panel of senior officers for a grilling on why they rate selection for the post, service officials said this week.

A major general, a brigadier general and two brigade commanders will fire questions at candidates from behind an opaque screen as part of an overhauled evaluation process, called the Battalion Commander Assessment Program (BCAP). It's replacing the old system, which was based on board review of personnel files, Army officials said.

Data and interviews will also be reviewed by an "operational psychologist" in an effort to weed out those deemed unfit for battalion command, or who need improvement, the officials said.

In a video roundtable with defense reporters from Fort Knox, Kentucky, Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville said the goal of the new five-day BCAP program was to develop battalion commanders who will become the "future strategic leaders of the Army."

Related: New Army Program Will Make Sure Battalion Commanders Are Fit to Lead

Battalion commander is a post "I consider the most consequential job in the Army," McConville said.

"Every once in a while, you have a great performer that's very, very good but they have some holes in their swing," he added. "It may be how they treat people -- they many not even know it."

Those who don't pass don't need to fear that their careers are in jeopardy, though, officials said.

Sergeant Major Curtis Cox, Leader Reaction Course field noncommissioned officer in charge, briefs Gen. James C. McConville, Chief of Staff of the Army, about the LRC challenges and assessment criteria for each candidate during McConville's visit to the Battalion Commander Assessment Program January 23, 2020, at Fort Knox, Ky. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Daniel Schroeder, Army Talent Management Task Force)

"Being determined that you're not ready for command doesn't hold any negative mark against you," said Maj. Gen. Joseph McGee, director of the Army Talent Management Task Force. "It just says, developmentally, there's something you need to work on."

After running two successful pilot programs at Fort Benning, Georgia, last summer, the new selection process started up at Fort Knox on Jan. 15. The evaluations for the first cohorts of majors and lieutenant colonels seeking battalion command are set to be completed by Feb. 9, McGee said.

About 1,800 majors and lieutenant colonels were seen as eligible, and of that number, about 1,100 showed interest in competing, McGee said.

The 1,100 went through a normal board process. From that group, about 816 were invited to Fort Knox for the five-day evaluation program, McGee said. They will be competing for about 450 battalion command posts that will open next year, Army officials said.

From the 816, the Army will seek to determine "who's ready for command and who's not ready for command," McGee said.

Getting the right people into battalion command posts was a challenge under the old system, which dates back to 1975, McConville said.

"This is going to give us the capability to give some very smart, high performing officers some feedback that -- hey -- you might want to watch this and that area so that as you move up the ranks you continue to progress."

McGee declined comment on the attributes and traits the psychologists would be looking for in evaluating the candidates.

"What they're specifically looking for, I'm not going to actually discuss, because I think that would start giving away the nature of what we're doing," McGee said. "I don't want to degrade the process."

McConville stressed that he was not knocking the old system, but said the new process will ensure the highest-quality commanders.

"We want the absolute best leaders in place because parents are going to send their sons and daughters to serve in the Army, and we want to make sure they are taken care of and are treated with dignity and respect and they have the opportunity to excel in the Army -- that's a function of leadership."

-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.

Read More: Marine Raiders Let Counterattack to al-Shabaab in Kenya: Reports
A former flight attendant who gained thousands of social media followers after sharing her enviable lifestyle on Instagram has revealed she's quit due to the lack of 'flexibility' and 'robotic' nature of the job.

Brigita Jagelaviciute, who is originally from Lithuania but is now based in Dubai, shocked her 78,000 Instagram followers with a YouTube Vlog explaining why she quit her role at Emirates.

The globetrotter said that despite the seemingly glamorous image of her job, it was difficult to take annual leave during her three years of working for the airline, and added that colleagues were refused time off for family sickness and weddings.

'As much as I hate to say negative things about the airline I have to be honest,' she said. 'Flexibility is not something that was really possible as a flight attendant.'

Scroll down for video

Brigita Jagelaviciute (pictured), who is originally from Lithuania, revealed she quit her enviable role as cabin crew for Emirates after the role became repetitive

Brigita, pictured soaking up the sun in Dubai, said that colleagues struggled to get leave, even if it was for family illness or to get married

The former air hostess, pictured in Bali, has given up her globetrotting lifestyle to become a personal assistant

She continued: 'I haven't personally experienced them, but I've heard stories of people wanting to get married and couldn't get leave.'

'Some have had family members who were sick and they wanted to go home but couldn't because they couldn't get leave.'

'At the end of the day we're human beings, and the fact that you're not respected by the company as an individual was really difficult for me.'

Brigita, who has since been hired as a personal assistant, racked up over 30,000 views on her YouTube video.

'I loved this job so much for the first couple of years,' she explained. 'I was literally, as you probably assume, this amazing flight attendant. You guys always asked me, "How did I get this job and how do I apply to get this job."'

'It was literally like a dream. You wake up staying in this amazing hotel, you go for a flight and then you go to the Seychelles, New York, LA.'

Brigita has gained over 78,000 Instagram followers and 34,000 YouTube subscribers from sharing her enviable lifestyle as a flight attendant

Brigita, pictured in Dubai, said she missed opportunities because of the lack of flexibility with taking annual leave

Brigita went on to admit how she had made a conscious decision not to share the negative sides of her job while working for the Emirates.

'One of my main concerns about this job was that it wasn't very stimulating,' she said. 'It becomes very robotic and doesn't push you to grow as an individual.'

'For me, I always felt that I'm the kind of person who needs a push and wants to achieve something.'

The Vlogger, who has visited over 70 countries, told how over time she became miserable, to the point that she started crying when her contract was due for renewal.

She also revealed that being at Emirates resulted in her missing opportunities including an interview with Allure magazine and work as a travel content creator.

'It's very easy to lose your time, lose your money and your energy in this job,' she said, reflecting on her time as an air hostess.

Brigita, pictured in Hawaii, said that she likes to be challenged and did not find her job mentally stimulating enough

Brigita (pictured in Dubai) who has visited over 70 countries, revealed that Emirates would refuse time off work for family sickness

The Vlogger (pictured) said being a flight attendant meant it was easy for her to lose track of time, money and she often had low energy

Brigita (pictured in Abu Dhabi) told how working for Emirates began to become her identity and she was made to follow strict rules

Brigita, pictured in Dubai, said she regretted not speaking out when make colleagues behaved inappropriately, although she didn't go into detail

'I think the most important thing is thinking, what do you actually want out of this experience - do you want money? Do you want to travel and then go home after a couple of years?'

'It's so easy to lose the concept of time because you're always flying, you're always tired or recovering from a flight. Time goes by so, so quickly.'

Brigita claimed the job also began to impact her identity as she became known simply as, 'Emirates cabin crew.'

She also cited rules expected of her role, which included not wearing jewellery on your index finger, and told how she regrets not speaking out at times when male colleagues behaved inappropriately.

Brigita, pictured in Hawaii, was praised by others for giving an honest account of what it's like to work as cabin crew

Brigita for complaining about the role, arguing that being a flight attendant comes with a lot of perks, even if some parts of the job are boring

Many who dreamed of working for the company were quick to take to the comments section, praising Brigita for sharing her story.

'Thank you for sharing your experience,' wrote one. 'My story as cabin crew is very similar to yours.'

'I'm going to complete three years at another airline soon and I am feeling I need to move on from it, learn something new, grow.'

'Also the rules you mentioned. It's not easy to always follow them, we're only human after all. I can relate to everything you said here.'

A second added: 'It's been more than three years since I wanted to join Emirates, but I agree that it's a job just for a period of time.'

A flood of responses to the video praised Brigita's honesty, as other flight attendants said they had similar experiences (pictured)

However, others blasted Brigita for complaining about the role, arguing that being a flight attendant would be repetitive.

'How many jobs allow you to travel the world, to stay in 5* hotels and at the end of the month pay you a decent salary?' wrote one, while a second commented:

'You're a flight attendant... stop complaining about the repetitive... seriously so easy'

A third added: 'It seems like you wasted valuable years of your life so that you can "travel," while you could have spent those years studying and working your way towards something more meaningful than being a personal assistant to a rich family in Dubai.'

Mail Online has contacted Emirates airlines for comment.
A judge at Derry Crown Court has slammed 'the lack of forethought and planning by Northern Ireland Environment Agency staff' after she had to discharge a jury in the case of three men charged in connection with an illegal dump due to the possibility of 'inadvertent prejudice' due to media coverage.

The trial which began on Tuesday was connected to the discovery by members of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency of an illegal dump at Carnmoney Road outside the village of Eglinton just over six years ago.

The defendants are Thomas McGlinchey, 59, from Belfield Park in Foyle Springs, Robert Lynch, 77, from Carnmoney Road, and John Ferguson, 65, from Prince's Terrace.

All three were charged with depositing or permitting controlled waste to dumped on the site.

The defendant Lynch was also charged with keeping controlled waste without a waste management licence on the land and the defendant McGlinchey was further charged with keeping or allowing controlled waste to be deposited on the site.

At the hearing on Thursday defence barristers had made an application for the jury to be discharged due to coverage in the media of a meeting of Derry City and Strabane District Council in relation to a different illegal dump.

The court heard that at a committee meeting of the council there had been discussion about an illegal dump at Mobouy Road with public representatives calling for an inquiry.

Judge Elizabeth McCaffrey said that after two days of evidence mainly by members of the NIEA the prosecution case was nearing its conclusion when one of the counsel in the trial heard radio reports of the council meeting.

In these reports NIEA officials said they were limited in what they could say due to a forthcoming trial.

The judge said she had listened to radio reports that had been on Radio Foyle and Radio Ulster throughout the morning.

She said one of the concerns expressed was about damage to the water quality in the area.

Judge McCaffrey also referred to a report in the Derry News newspaper which had a report on the Mobouy Road dump on page 4 and a report of the trial on page 6.

She said while it was made clear the Mobouy Road dump was not on the defendant Lynch's land there was a danger the jury could be 'inadvertently prejudiced'.

The judge said that she could have cautioned the jury not to be influenced by the coverage but she was unsure if that would have been sufficient.

The judge was critical of the timing of the meeting 'due to the proximity of the trial' and pointed out that NIEA had rescheduled a presentation last October due to concerns about the court case.

She said that showed they were 'sensitive' to the concerns but she added it was 'astounding' the Agency did not properly co-ordinate their presentation to avoid conflict with a trial.

Judge McCaffrey said that even the 'most conscientious juror could be influenced by the media reports'.

While she accepted there was no 'bad faith' on behalf of NIEA she did think that the jury could be influenced by the reports and a direction from her would not be adequate.

As a result the jury was discharged and the case will be mentioned in February to try and set a new date for the trial.
After the allegations of Saudi Crown Prince MBS behind Jeff Bezos' phone hacking emerged, the Amazon CEO tweeted a cryptic post with this picture and a monosyllabic caption  #Jamal. (Image: Twitter/@JeffBezos)

A startling revelation about the phone hacking of one of the wealthiest men on Earth has made one thing aptly clear  everyone is equal in the eyes of private hackers!

Amazons Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos, whose net worth is over 100 billion dollars, has been splitting his hair over how his iPhone X was hacked. Many technical mysteries remain on how his phone was infiltrated, but what has made the controversy truly intriguing is the involvement of Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS).

Who are the main protagonists of this story  Jeff Bezos, his iPhoneX, a most popular instant messaging app: WhatsApp, MBS, and a guest appearance of murdered Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

How do the lives of these people cross paths and what makes this story as compelling as David Fincher thriller, lets find out:

Context

On the afternoon of May 1, 2018, Jeff receives a video message on WhatsApp from Saudi Crown Prince MBS. Although the two had communicated through the platform before, Jeff wasnt expecting a message that day, especially one with Saudi and Swedish flags with Arabic text.

The 4.4MB video was more than what it appeared. According to a forensic analysis, commissioned and paid for by Jeff to find out who was it that hacked his phone, the video message shared by MBS had an encrypted code hidden in it. This hidden code is most likely to have implanted a malware that gave the hackers access to Jeffs entire phone, including his phone and private conversations, The New York Times has reported.

Although the forensic report doesnt mention whether Jeff opened the file sent by MBS, cyber security experts are of the opinion that certain malware does not require anyone to click on it to be installed on the phone.

An extra-marital affair

In another plot point, Jeff has claimed that in early 2019, he was being threatened by The National Enquirer, an American tabloid, that it will release private photographs and texts. The pictures reportedly showed Jeff, who was married to MacKenzie at the time, with another woman  Lauren Sanchez.

It was then when Jeff began his singular quest to find out who hacked his phone. However, the forensic report has not linked the hack to The Enquirer. Besides, the tabloid, owned by American Media Inc (AMI), has claimed that it acquired the private chats and pictures from Michael Sanchez, Laurens estranged brother.

It is important to note at this time, that Gavin de Becker, Jeffs head of security, wrote in the Daily Beast that MBS had developed a close relationship with David Pecker, CEO of the tabloids parent company.

The build-up

It was in February last year, when Jeff went public on Medium with his claims that The Enquirer was blackmailing him with private chats and pictures and that he had hired Gavin de Becker, a private investigator, to identify how his phone was hacked.

Ten days later, a leading intelligence expert, who is not named in the report, advised de Becker to conduct a forensic analysis of Jeffs iPhone and look for Saudi footprints in the hack.

Then, de Becker hired FTI Consulting to examine Jeffs phone. Initially, the agency scrutinised the messages received by Jeff from the WhatsApp account of MBS. Later, Jeff handed over his iPhone X to the agency and asked them to run a full analysis on it.

FTI zeroed in on April 2018 dinner when Jeff and MBS had exchanged numbers in Los Angeles. The agency found out, after that, the WhatsApp account handled by MBS repeatedly initiated contact with Jeff without prompting.

According to The New York Times report, the seemingly harmless May 2018 video message had a 14-byte chunk of malicious code. Within 24 hours of receiving that video, Jeffs phone had started sending out large amounts of data  as large as 29,000 percent more than his average data usage.

The investigators also pointed out that a large number of apps on Jeffs phone were in use when the data was leaving the phone, including Safari and Apple Mail. Since he did not have iCloud backup option enabled on his phone, data had to be leaving from his mobile handset.

It gets more interesting

The messages that MBS sent to Jeff on WhatsApp, in the latter half of 2018  that is after the May 2018 video message was sent  seemed to suggest that MBS had intimate knowledge of Jeffs private life.

For instance, the forensic report points out at a message sent to Jeff from MBS account on November 8, 2018. The message was a photo of a woman, who closely resembled Lauren Sanchez (the woman Jeff was reportedly having an extra-marital affair with), captioned, Arguing with a woman is like reading the software license agreement. In the end you have to ignore everything and click I agree.

At this time, Jeff and his then wife MacKinzie were discussing divorce, which would have been apparent to anyone reading his texts.

Another such instance which fuelled Jeffs suspicion occurred in February 2019. He was having a series of phone calls with his security personnel about Saudis alleged campaign against him. Two days later, Jeff received a message from MBS which read, There is nothing against you or Amazon from me or Saudi Arabia, the forensic report has stated.

The villain

A compelling story deserves a devious villain, and our villain is technology, or rather the lapses in it. Even though the report has not named any private cybersecurity company behind the infiltration into Jeffs phone, but suggested that Israel-based NSO Group or Milan-based Hacking Team had the capabilities of such an attack.

The hacking has also exposed the vulnerabilities of popular apps like WhatsApp, and how attackers can use it to exploit.

In fact, in October last year, WhatsApp had sued Tel Aviv-based NSO Group in federal court for spying on journalists and human rights activists across the world using a spyware called Pegasus. The news had created a furore back home with names of at least 20 Indian journalists and activists surfacing in the list of those identified and contacted by WhatsApp. Meanwhile, Facebook, which owns the instant-messaging app, assured that they are working to patch the flaw.

The forensic report pointed out that NSO Groups Pegasus or Hacking Teams Galileo could be the two most likely tools used to carry out this infiltration. It is noteworthy a close advisor to MBS, namely Saud al-Qahtani owns a 20 percent stake in Hacking Team.

Besides, hacking is no more restricted to a bunch of coders sitting in closed dark quarters trying to extort small amounts of money as mischief or payback, or maybe snoop on their spouses or children. It has transformed into a full-fledged industry, worth 1 billion dollars. Companies like the NSO Group and hacking Team have been accused of working with governments to identify their dissidents by installing their spyware.

Spyware, which is malware created for the explicit purpose of snooping into private online conversations, is our devious villain.

The climax

Five months after the May 18 video message was sent to Jeff by MBS, The Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in Istanbul outside the Saudi Consulate. The missing link in this jigsaw puzzle  Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post.

Khashoggis columns, which were critical of MBS and talked of his repression of activists and intellectuals, had rankled the future king of Saudi Arabia and his inner circle. He was killed at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, however his body has yet not been found. Various theories have surfaced as to what might have been the fate of his mortal remains, including dissolved in acid and flushed down a well on the consulate grounds.

While MBS had denied any involvement and had classified the murder as a rogue operation, a CIA report had concluded, with high confidence, that the crown prince had ordered the assassination. In December last year, a Saudi court convicted eight people for their involvement in the murder. However, it was described as sham by human rights activists.

Andrew Miller, a Middle East expert, who served on the national security council under President Obama told The Guardian, that if Jeff has indeed been attacked by MBS, He probably believed that if he got something on Bezos, it could shape coverage of Saudi Arabia in the Post. It is clear that the Saudis have no real boundaries or limits in terms of what they are prepared to do in order to protect and advance MBS, whether it is going after the head of one of the largest companies in the world or a dissident who is on their own.

The possibility of this itself could pose a dilemma for The White House.

Redemption

The forensic report of Jeffs phone has been reviewed by United Nations special rapporteur Agnes Callamard, who probes extra judicial killings. Her own investigation into the murder of Khashoggi had found credible evidence of MBS involvement. Although she confirmed to The Guardian that she is still pursuing several leads into Khashoggis murder, she denied to comment on a probable link with the hacking of Jeffs phone.

UN special rapporteur David Kaye, while taking cognizance of the forensic report and demanding a probe into the infiltration, noted, This case really highlights the threats that are posed by a lawless and unaccountable private surveillance industry.

The companies who are creating these tools are extremely crafty and aggressive, and its a cat-and-mouse game at this point.

Ron Deibert, the director of Citizen Lab, a Toronto-based cybersecurity organisation, which had probed into NSO Groups Pegasus spyware over the snooping on activists and journalists through WhatsApp, but was not involved in the Jeff-commissioned forensic analysis of his phone, told The Times the Amazon chiefs situation was a reminder that the proliferation of commercial spyware is a global security problem for all sectors, from government and businesses to civil society.

End Credits

Saudi Arabias embassy in the US has said that the story of MBS hacking into Jeffs phone were absurd and called for an investigation into it, BBC has reported.

NSO group, whose Pegasus spyware could most likely be the conduit for hacking, has also denied these allegations.

Facebook, which owns WhatsApp, has also not issued a statement on the incident yet.

Jeff, in what could have been one of the better open-ended narrative to this story, has tweeted a cryptic picture of him with a monosyllabic caption  #Jamal (See featured image).

Disclaimer: This article has explained Jeff Bezos phone hacking in a lighter vein. It is not to discount the gravity of the allegations or the seriousness of the menace that is cyber crime.
T he Cayman Islands have a reputation for being good with money  but life on the island is as much about the big blue as the green.

This three-island archipelago was uninhabited until the 16th century but is now a world-class hotspot for diving thanks to crystal clear waters, the depths of the Cayman Trough and wildlife wonders at the Stingray City sandbars.

Visitors come with an appetite for adventure, but Grand Caymans growing reputation as the culinary capital of the Caribbean means they can find something for their taste buds too. An abundance of seafood, a diverse international community and the support of multi-Michelin-starred chefs have helped to foster a blossoming food culture. From Mudslide cocktails to turtle steak, heres how to get a proper taste of the Cayman Islands.

Fine dining

Eric Ripert isnt just the biggest name in the Cayman restaurant scene  hes also one of the most influential chefs in the world. The man behind New Yorks three-Michelin-starred Le Bernardin is also chef patron of Blue at Grand Caymans Ritz-Carlton, where guests can enjoy tasting menus featuring tuna-foie gras and langoustines with sake butter. For another chef-led experience, head to Avecita at the Kimpton Seafire for a seat at the Chefs Counter and watch Massimo De Francescas team prepare a five-course tasting menu for just 10 diners.

Heritage Kitchen, a local Caribbean restaurant in the West Bay area of Grand Cayman / Visit Cayman Islands

Beachside vibes

For authentic Cayman cooking you need to hit the beach and try the fish fry restaurants. The pastel beach shack Heritage Kitchen is an Instagram magnet, but the food tastes as good as it looks  Cayman-style wahoo with spiced pepper sauce is a thrill. Nearby Alfresco offers ocean views from its terrace and a Cajun-spiced, blackened red snapper that is cooked to perfection on its barbecue. Cocktail connoisseurs should make a pilgrimage to Rum Point Clubs Wreck Bar  its said to be the birthplace of the Mudslide, a vodka-fuelled coffee cocktail which goes down smoothly in the palm tree shade.

Keep it eco

Sustainability is a big concern in restaurants the world over, and the Cayman Islands are no exception. At farm-to-table frontrunner The Brasserie, the menu consists almost entirely of produce grown on its own land  from coconuts and kohlrabi, to wild raw honey and eggs laid by their own chickens. Those looking to ditch dairy should head to Vivo, a cafe championing vegan eating with coconut bacon and chickpea omelettes. For a health kick, pop into Jessies Juice, where smoothies are made from locally sourced ingredients, all served in minimal, eco-friendly packaging.

Brasserie restaurant, George Town / Visit Cayman Islands

Sensational seafood

Seafood is what the Cayman Islands do best, and first-class fish is the trademark of many of their best restaurants. One that does it notably well is The Cracked Conch. This waterside restaurant serves its namesake fried with fennel and curried tartare sauce, alongside locally caught fish dishes. Head to the Lobster Pot for Caribbean lobster tail served with plantain.

Globetrotting flavours

The Cayman Islands have a tiny population of just over 60,000 people  but among them youll find more than 110 nationalities. The restaurant scene is almost as diverse. At Italian-influenced Agua, pasta dishes sit on the menu alongside Peruvian-inspired ceviches. Beachside hotspot Coccoloba serves Mexican street food made with local ingredients  think elote grilled corn salads and mahi-mahi fish tacos. For pan-Asian flavours, Mizu offers a varied menu  from Singapore noodles to delectable dim sum  at its ocean-view teppanyaki table.

Kerryann Burnett, Executive Chef of the Lobster Pot / Visit Cayman Islands

Go big at brunch

Brunch is a big deal in the islands. Anchor & Den is one of the most popular spots for weekend feasting, boasting a buffet of mind-boggling proportions  sushi, oysters, charcuterie and made-to-order crepes are just some of the dishes on offer. Luca puts an Italian spin on brunch  a pasta station allows you to design your perfect plate, while bottomless prosecco is in full flow. Ave  the sister restaurant to aforementioned Avecita  offers a bountiful spread, complete with sea view and craft cocktails.

Flavourful experiences

Shake up your restaurant routine by heading to the annual Cayman Cookout. Eric Ripert hosts the five-day culinary celebration, which sees world-class chefs  including Londons Clare Smyth  jet in for special events. Throughout the rest of the year, foodies can take the Flavour Tour at Camana Bay, which allows diners to eat in a different restaurant for every course. Keen cooks should take a trip to the Cayman Farmers Market, where they can discover organic growers and artisan food producers.

Details: Cayman Islands
If it is possible for anyone to be both icon and iconoclast, Grahm accomplished that. He launched Bonny Doon in 1981 hoping to make pinot noir in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California. But he quickly turned to Rhone varieties such as grenache and syrah. He named his flagship red blend Le Cigare Volant, after a 1954 ordinance passed by the famous wine town of Chateauneuf-du-Pape in southern France that banned flying cigars  UFOs  from landing in the vineyards. Wine Spectator featured him in Lone Ranger regalia on its cover in 1989 as The Rhone Ranger, helping launch a movement that still thrives today. He was one of the first U.S. winemakers to champion screw caps, even staging a lavish, if premature, news conference funeral for the cork. His literary newsletters delighted his fans with humorous jabs at big wine and the critics who rewarded higher alcohol with higher point scores, including a lengthy riff on Dantes Divine Comedy called, The Vinferno. His collected writings were published in book form in 2009 as Been Doon So Long and won Grahm a James Beard Award.
Samsung is reportedly working on its own version of Apple's AirDrop feature, which will let Galaxy phone owners quickly share photos and videos with others nearby.

The tool  which will be called 'Quick Share'  is expected to launch with the Galaxy S20+, due to be unveiled at Samsung's Unpacked event on February 11.

This event will also see the launch of the Galaxy Bloom, the firm's new clamshell-folding smartphone.

Quick Share, which is predicted to come with all devices running the One UI 2.1 and above, will also support cloud sharing to Samsung SmartThings devices.

Scroll down for video

Samsung is reportedly working on its own version of Apple's AirDrop feature which will let Galaxy phone users quickly share photos and videos with others nearby

'Quick Share is slated to be a pretty simple and tool for quickly sending files between two Galaxy phones,' claims writer Max Weinbach on XDA Developers, who said that he received the so-called Android Package (APK) from an anonymous source.

'We were able to get the APK running on a few different Galaxy phones but we were unable to get two files to transfer between the devices,' he added.

'The APK was not meant for our test devices so its not surprising its not working.'

As with Apple's AirDrop, compatible phones nearby will appear in the Quick Share screen allowing for the transfer of images, video and other files.

If enabled, Quick Share will similarly support sending and receiving either to every compatible device nearby, or just those whom are also in your contacts list.

AirDrop  launched in 2011  has prompted controversy over the way in which the feature's 'everyone' setting can allow strangers to send unsolicited and offensive images over Bluetooth and WiFi-based communications tool.

Following a prominent incident in 2015, in which a woman on public transport was harassed by being sent two pictures of male genitalia, such incidents became widely referred to as 'cyber-flashing'.

As with Apple's AirDrop, pictured, compatible phones nearby will appear in the Quick Share screen allowing for the transfer of images, video and other files. AirDrop  launched in 2011  has prompted controversy over the way in which feature's 'everyone' setting can allow strangers to send unsolicited and offensive images

The tool  to be instead called 'Quick Share'  is expected to launch with the Galaxy S20+, which will likely be unveiled at Samsung's Unpacked event on February 11

Quick Share  unlike AirDrop  will also allow users to stream files to Samsung 'SmartThings' devices by temporarily uploading them to the cloud first.

According to Max Weinbach, these files will be allowed to be as large as 1 gigabyte, with a maximum daily transfer capacity of 2 gigabytes.

'[Quick Share] is also the type of service that Id imagine would be available on most older Samsung devices with a software update,' Mr Weinbach speculated.

'Though its roll-out would be entirely on Samsung,' he added.

Quick Share  which is predicted will come with all devices launching with the One UI 2.1 and above  will also support cloud sharing to Samsung SmartThings devices

Samsung is not the only smartphone manufacturer to be working on  or have already succeeded in  following in Apple AirDrop's footsteps.

'Google is currently working on a feature called Nearby Sharing as part of the Google Play Services,' Mr Weinbach wrote.

'This could theoretically support every supported Android phone and ChromeOS.'

Chinese tech firms Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi also have cross-platform sharing features available on their devices.
An electrician sets up wiring while workers drive excavators at the construction site of a new hospital designed to cope with the surge of 2019 Novel Coronavirus patients, in Wuhan, China on Jan. 24, 2020. (Getty Images)

4 People in New York State Isolated as CDC Tests for Coronavirus

Four people in New York state were under isolation on Jan. 24 as officials tested for the Wuhan coronavirus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.

Tests for three of the patients are pending while one case already tested negative.

Cuomos office said the risk for New York is currently low.

As we learn about the first confirmed cases of this novel coronavirus in the United States and potentially in New York, I want to assure New Yorkers that we are prepared, the governor said in a statement.

We are undertaking a wide-reaching and rigorous effort with all stakeholders, including healthcare providers, airports and federal health officials, to put in place the appropriate precautions to keep New Yorkers safe. The symptoms of this virus are very similar to a common coldif you are concerned that you might be ill, please follow our guidance to protect yourself and others.

People who recently traveled to Wuhan, Chinathe epicenter of the virusor people who came into contact with someone who traveled to Wuhan and might have the virus, were told to contact their healthcare provider before visiting the providers office. People would likely be referred to a hospital, where staff could make necessary preparations before patients arrive.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks in a December 2019 file photograph. (Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images)

Staff members check body temperatures of passengers arriving from the train from Wuhan to Hangzhou, at Hangzhou Railway Station ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year in Zhejiang province, China on Jan. 23, 2020. (China Daily via Reuters)

People who have traveled abroad recently and have symptoms that mimic the flu should see their doctor, New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said in a statement.

Symptoms of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus, also known as the Wuhan coronavirus, include a runny nose, a headache, coughing, a sore throat, and a fever.

Federal officials said earlier Friday that the second coronavirus case in the United States was confirmed in Chicago. The female patient traveled to Wuhan and returned on Jan. 13. Some days passed before she displayed symptoms.

The first confirmed case was in Everett, Washington.

Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that 63 patients were under investigation in 22 states. So far, two have tested positive and 11 have tested negative.

The incubation period appears to be around 14 days and officials are looking at patients who traveled to Wuhan within the past two weeks. Both confirmed cases in the United States didnt show symptoms when they landed in the country.

A list of the 22 states will not be released until next week. Based on information from local, state, and federal officials, five of the states have been identified in addition to New York: Illinois, Washington, Texas, California, and New Jersey.
Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu on Friday accused former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy of developing a liking towards Pakistan and said he should leave the country.

Speaking to reporters in the district headquarters town of Chitradurga, the BJP leader said one should not indulge in "double standard politics," with an intention of projecting oneself as good both in India and Pakistan.

"Kumaraswamy is not a serious politician, of late he has developed liking towards Pakistan...

let him leave this country, when he is speaking with love towards Pakistan, why should he live in India, I want to tell the former chief minister to leave the country," he said.

The minister was reacting to the JD(S) leaders recent comments, taking a dig at BJP leaders and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their "obsession" with Pakistan.

Accusing Kumaraswamy of indulging in vote bank politics, Sriramulu said being a former Prime Minister's son and a former chief minister, by making such statements, he has "caused" pain to people of India.

"If you want to continue with vote bank or appeasement politics, leave the country," he said.

India was a "Hindu Rashtra" in which people of all communities and castes are living together, but parties like the Congress and the JD(S) were trying to create "rift" for the sake of vote bank politics, the minister added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Guard's air defenses shot the plane down shortly after it took off from Tehran on Jan. 8. Hours earlier, the Guard had launched ballistic missiles at U.S. troops in Iraq in response to the U.S. airstrike that killed Irans top general in Baghdad. Officials say lower-level officers mistook the plane for a U.S. cruise missile.
Kejriwal will win competition of making false promises hands down: Amit Shah

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 24: Union Home Minister Amit Shah said if a competition to make false promises is held in the country, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will win the first prize.

He also alleged that the AAP leader had forgotten the promises he had made to the people of Delhi.

"If there is a competition in the country of making false promises, Kejriwal would definitely get the first prize. I have come to remind you that you forgot the promises you made, but neither the people of Delhi nor BJP workers have forgotten," Shah said.

The Union minister was addressing a public meeting in West Delhi's Matiala constituency ahead of the assembly polls here on February 8.

"You became CM with the help of Anna Hazare but couldn't bring a law for Lokpal and when Modi ji brought it you didn't implement it here," he said.

Kailash Vijayvargiya identified Bangladeshis by their 'strange meal'| OneIndia News

Delhi Assembly poll: Nominations of nearly 698 candidates found valid post scrutiny

For four and a half years the Chief Minister kept saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not let him work so development could not be done in Delhi, Shah said.

"Now, you (Kejriwal) are saying that you developed Delhi in five years so 'lage raho Kejriwal'," he added.
(Newser)  The UK is fuming after the US announced Thursday that it would not extradite the diplomat's wife charged with dangerous driving causing the death of 19-year-old Harry Dunn. While the government "expresses its sincere condolences and sympathy to the Dunn family," Anne Sacoolas' extradition "would render the invocation of diplomatic immunity a practical nullity and would set an extraordinarily troubling precedent," a State Department rep said, per NBC News. Authorities say Sacoolas, the wife of an intelligence agent, was driving on the wrong side of the road outside a US military base when she struck the motorcyclist in August. She claimed diplomatic immunity under a 1995 treaty applying to family members of staff at the Croughton base, though UK authorities say it became irrelevant once Sacoolas returned to the US.

story continues below

"This amounts to a denial of justice," UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab responded Friday, per the Guardian, noting "we are now urgently considering our options." He said he had informed the US ambassador "that the UK would have acted differently if this had been a UK diplomat serving in the US." "Is the US position now that it is OK for their service personnel to come over to the UK and kill British citizens and get on the next plane home?" a Dunn family spokesman added, claiming it was the first time the US had denied such an extradition request from the UK. An attorney for Sacoolas has said she will not return voluntarily as "a potential penalty of 14 years imprisonment is simply not a proportionate response." (Read more Harry Dunn stories.)
She recently returned from a trip to South America, which included her home country of Brazil, that was both business and pleasure.

Now back in her adopted home of Los Angeles, Alessandra Ambrosio and beau Nicolo Oddi enjoyed a romantic lunch date at a up-scale pizza and sandwich restaurant in Venice Beach on Thursday.

The handsy couple used the occasion to pack on the PDAs with a healthy dose of some hand-holding and kissing.

PDAs: Alessandra Ambrosio and beau Nicolo Oddi put on quite the show of affection when they headed out for a romantic lunch date in Venice Beach on Thursday

The two looked fashionably coordinated with Ambrosio sporting black leather pants with a brown sweater.

She also donned a pair of black leather Freda Salvador boots and a large black scarf hanging from her neck. Linda Farrow sunglasses hid her beautiful face.

On yet another sunny Southern California day, the longtime Victoria's Secret Angel, 38, wore her brown tresses long, straight and flowing to the middle of her back with a part in the middle.

Sharing a moment: The couple, who have been dating since July 2018, stopped to share a passionate kiss or two outside the restaurant

Four-legged family members: Earlier in the day, Ambrosio shared a quick video on her Insta-Story of herself driving around her two pet pooches

The couple arrived at the front of the restaurant holding hands and their chemistry on full display.

On more than one occasion, they stopped briefly, stared into each other's eyes and locked lips for a passionate kiss or two.

Oddi, who's an Italian fashion designer, looked stylishly casual in up-scale black patterned sweatpants with an similar black hoodie.

He also sported a pair of tan sneakers and a pair of dark sunglasses.

Earlier in the day, the former supermodel shared a quick video on her Insta-Story of herself in her SUV driving her two pet pooches around.

Money-maker: The Brazilian native also shared photos shot during her visit to South America

The former supermodel, 38, was in Brazil and Uruguay to shoot to photograph her latest collection from her swimwear line GAL Floripa

Ambrosio and Oddi have been dating since July 2018.

They first hooked up about four months after Ambrosio split from her longtime fiance Jamie Mazur in March of 2018.

The former couple agreed to co-parent their two children: daughter Anja, 11, and son Noah, seven.

Ambrosio made the trip back to Brazil and Uruguay in recent days to photograph her latest collection from her swimwear line GAL Floripa, with business partner and friend Gisele Coria.
Friday Governor Bill Lee and Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn awarded 21 Governors Civics Seal mini-grants promoting life-long civic engagement in schools and districts across the state."Teaching civics to our students is a key priority of my administration, and I'm pleased to see this initiative is taking shape," said Governor Lee. "Thanks to these new resources, we can better prepare our students in the classroom and in life for what it means to be a citizen of this great nation."The mini-grants allocate $220,000 to support public schools and districts implementing high-quality civic education programs that result in readiness for college, career and civic life.The grants will be used in the 2020-21 school year to fund programs that include:1. Promoting life-long civic engagement by providing access to high-quality, standards-based civics resources;2. Establishing civics programs in rural and urban schools and districts;3. Supporting highly effective educators through civics-based professional development; and4. Preparing schools and districts to earn the Governors Civics Seal.We are very excited for this great program that aligns with our priorities coming to students and classrooms across the state, Commissioner Schwinn said.Our Best for All strategic plan calls for providing teachers and students with access to high-quality instructional materials and focusing on supporting the whole child development, including through opportunities to become more civically engaged, and this program will help us do just that.The recipients of the Governors Civics Seal mini-grants are:School-Level Grants ($5,000) Glencliff High School Ivy Academy Short Mountain Elementary School Soddy Daisy Middle School Unaka High School West Side Elementary Woodbury Grammar SchoolSchool-Level Grants ($10,000) Chattanooga Charter Schools of Excellence Perry County High School Smyrna High School South Fulton Middle High School Woodland Elementary SchoolDistrict-Level Grants ($15,000) Cannon County School District Claiborne County Schools Collierville Municipal School District Hamilton County Schools Knox County Schools Shelby County Schools Stewart County Schools Warren County School District Washington County SchoolsGovernors Civics Seal Mini-Grant recipients were selected through a "rigorous and competitive" application process. Districts and schools submitted applications outlining the strengths of their current civics programming. Additionally, applicants presented a proposal to illustrate how the school or district would utilize grant funds to provide high-quality standards-based civics resources, establish civics programming, provide civics-based professional development for teachers and/or prepare schools and districts to earn the Governors Civics Seal. A committee reviewed and scored all applications with a rubric evaluating qualifications, impact strategies and needs identification. Mini-grants were awarded to top scoring applicants based on the Governors Civics Seal Evaluation Framework.
American political and social life, official and unofficial, presents itself today as an embarrassment of riches from the point of satire. Very few film and television artists at present avail themselves of the almost unlimited opportunities for ridicule and derision.

The Politician, in its first eight-episode season from Netflix, is something of a biting and humorous exception. It centers on the Machiavellian operations of an ambitious California high school senior, determined to win an election for student body president as a stepping-stone, ultimately, to the White House.

Ben Platt and Rahne Jones in The Politician

Along the way, because the series is honest and clear-eyed, it takes swipes at identity politics and a number of the other lies and falsifications that pollute the atmosphere in the US. Created by Ryan Murphy (Glee, American Horror Story), Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan, The Politician s generally disrespectful attitude toward gender and racial obsessions in particular has amused audiences but made a good many critics uncomfortable.

Almost inevitably, the series finally loses its way in terms of a more general assessment of the current political landscape. Overall, however, Murphy and his team have put together a perceptive, well-performed and carefully constructed project.

In the opening scene, Payton Hobart (Ben Platt), a tense, overly self-aware high-school senior, tells a Harvard admissions officer he has been planning and studying every detail of the lives of former presidents in the service of his ambition to one day hold the highest office in the land. But his supposedly in-depth research has stopped at the limits of the Reagan administration: As far as Im concerned, he [Reagan] created the modern presidency, the presidency of television and celebrity.

David Corenswet and Ben Platt in The Politician

Payton boasts about his advantage, being able to say he had the good fortune of being born both rich and poor. The biological son of a cocktail waitress, he claims humble, Lincolnesque roots. Payton entered the realm of the super-rich when he was adopted by the Hobarts, the fabulously attired, New Age (and unfaithful) matriarch Georgina (Gwyneth Paltrow) and the nonentity of a patriarch Keaton (Bob Balaban).

Paytons path to the White House now involves becoming student president of the elite St. Sebastian High School (a school complete with a harassment czar and stagings of musicals about famous assassinations) in Santa Barbara. He leaves no stone unturned and nothing to chance, plotting endlessly with his friends and advisor/classmates McAfee (Laura Dreyfuss), the gender fluid James (Theo Germaine) and his girlfriend Alice (Julia Schlaepfer). But his close friend and occasional lover River (David Corenswet) becomes Paytons electoral opponent, much to the latters rage. Worse still, Rivers running mate Skye (Rahne Jones) can tell an audience of students they have the historic opportunity to elect a gender nonconforming African-American to be their vice president.

Theo Germaine, Julia Schlaepfer and Laura Dreyfuss in The Politician (2019)

In the initial election debate, Payton, to his credit, defends the much-maligned Mark Twain, a bete noire of the identity politics industry: We should not be rewriting literary giants like Mark Twain. Mark Twain loathed racial inequality, and through the eyes of Huckleberry Finn, he was attempting to shine a light on the heinous, shameful sin of slavery, and the systemic racism that pervaded every aspect of his life in the environment in which he was raised.

He hedges his bets, however, by quickly adding, But make no mistake, the racism that Mark Twain wrote about has not been banished to the ash heap of history, its with us in this room today.

Predictably, the gender-forward ticket (River and Skye) takes the lead. Payton fights back with a ploy of his ownenlisting a cancer-stricken running mate, Infinity (Zoey Deutch). The hapless girl is also being used by her conniving grandmother Dusty (Jessica Lange), who piles up freebees by using Infinitys medical condition. Questions surface and must be suppressed about the latters true state of healtha potentially campaign-ending revelation.

Adding insult to injury, Payton gets wait-listed by Harvard, in spite of a lifetime of focus and planning, carefully studying applications obtained on the black market to pinpoint the exact combination of extracurriculars and test scores that would optimize my chances at acceptance. Three years on that stupid literary magazine.

Lucy Boynton in The Politician

Georgina reminds her distraught adopted son that her biological sonsthe spoiled-to-the-point-of-psychopathy Hobart twins (the wonderfully detestable Trevor Mahlon Eason as Martin and Trey Eason as Luther)had their admissions to Harvard arranged and paid for by their parents. Hints at the ongoing college admissions scandal hover in the air.

Momentarily stymied, Payton is afraid he can only pretend  to feel. Does it matter, if you cant tell the difference? asks his mother. Emotions can be counterfeited as the need arises.

(Along the same lines, after complaints from River that she seems to be pretending during sex, AstridPaytons nemesis and rivalpromises to do better at appearing more authentic from now on. When River protests that I don't want you to appear authentic, I want you to be authentic, Astrid replies, bemused, I don't understand. What's the difference?  I promise to be more real from now on.)

In any event, Payton continues to live up to his motto: I will be president someday because I will stop at nothing.

Harvard eventually offers Payton a place if he uses the family millions to finance a new department (and such a department, the universitys representatives point out, is not an inexpensive undertaking. We need to hire staff, create new software, curriculum, uh, build a new facility), a proposal he haughtily declines (I need to be accepted on my merits Im going to be running for president. This will be weaponized against me.)

Nicely, the gender nonconforming characters and future politicians prove to be just as corrupt and self-seeking as their straight (or pretend-straight) counterparts.

Skye tells McAfee at one point she wants to make history, introducing a gender, nonbinary history curriculum, and making every bathroom and locker room at the school unisex, and staging a schoolwide sit-in until they abolish Columbus Day. Its the sort of exchange that makes the show worth watching.

In The Politician, in idyllic, affluent Santa Barbara, the police and college officials are bribable, the rich are arrogant frauds and opportunist money-grubbers abound. In a key scene, Astrid tells her wealthy father (Dylan McDermott) to take a good look at me, Daddy. At me, at the house, at the car and furniture that youre leasing because your credit sucks? Its all a mirage. Were not winners, Dad. Were a family of fakes. You know, Moms usually a pretty typical drunk pill-head, till she mixes Xanax and Pinot and then its like shes on truth serum. And she talks. About everything . Neighborhood gossip, sex, how you make your money.

More generally, the creators point to the deception being perpetrated in so many spheres of American life: the politicians are phony through and through, the well-heeled live in their own dream world, the young pretend during sex, people fake diseases and social concerns, they even manufacture relationship breakupsall to gain some largely imaginary advantage that only blows up in their faces.

The falsity and emptiness of the official political process and its vast alienation from the population is a central theme. In one pivotal episode, a male high school student, the average voter, who only obsesses about girls and sex, is the target of relentless harassment by both election campaigns, who have nothing to say to him anyway, until he explodes.

All of this is a comment about the unreality and unsustainability of the current American situation.

Its wealthy people behaving badly, says Murphy in an interview with Hollywood Reporter. All of this has been percolating in the culture, particularly under this president and this idea of Ivanka and Jared [as] the sort of satanic poster boy and girl for privilege and nepotism. The shows creators indicate that the presidents son-in-laws dubious acceptance into Harvard was one of the inspirations for the shows storyline. Jared Kushners real estate developer father pledged $2.5 million to the prestigious university before his son was admitted.

The cast of The Politician is generally outstanding. In one of the most sensitive scenesa gentle interlude in the otherwise acid-lined narrativethe talented Platt sings Joni Mitchells River at a memorial for someone he has been close to. (Teen suicide is another concern of the series.)

The final episode, set three years after the rest of the goings-on, is the series weakest. It would probably have been better if The Politician had concluded with the Santa Barbara student elections, rather than jumping forward and setting up Season 2 devoted to grown-up elections in New York City. But on the whole the series is fresh and amusing. It stands out from the usual conformist fare.
RESTON, Va., Jan. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Leidos (NYSE:LDOS), a FORTUNE 500 science and technology leader, announced today that Michael Jackman has been named the Leidos Health Group's chief operating officer (COO). In his new role, Jackman will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Health Group while working in close collaboration with the group's leadership team to deliver a range of solutions and services designed to meet today's healthcare challenges.

Prior to joining Leidos, Jackman served as an operating partner at Ardan Equity Partners, a private equity firm exclusively focused on healthcare enterprise software. His primary responsibility consisted of collaborating with health executives to build platforms designed to accelerate company growth. Before that, Jackman was chief executive officer of Mach7 Technologies, where he led the business in health imaging modernization, enterprise data sharing, and patient data consolidation.

Jackman also served as the leader for the Americas Region of GE Healthcare's Digital HCIT Division, where he oversaw the HCIT business in Latin America, the U.S., and Canada. He has also held executive roles for Carestream Health, iSOFT Health Group, and Eastman Kodak where he led Kodak healthcare research and development (R&D) globally. Jackman's career started at IBM where he was vice president of Systems and Technology for the IBM Personal Systems Group for close to two decades.

"Michael is a growth-minded leader with decades of executive experience in healthcare systems optimization," said Jon Scholl, Leidos Health Group president. "His previous administration of digital transformation and healthcare R&D initiatives will be instrumental in our long-term growth strategy."

"I am thrilled to join an organization that leverages technology to enhance the continuum of care from research laboratory to patient bedside," said Michael Jackman, the new chief operating officer for the Leidos Health Group. "I look forward to introducing expertise that will further improve clinical, operational, and financial outcomes for our customers' important work."

Michael holds a Master's of Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University and an undergraduate degree from the University of Rhode Island in electrical and electronics engineering.

About Leidos

Leidos is a Fortune 500 information technology, engineering, and science solutions and services leader working to solve the world's toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, homeland security, civil, and health markets. The company's 34,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Va., Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $10.19 billion for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2018. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Statements in this announcement, other than historical data and information, constitute forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause our actual results, performance, achievements, or industry results to be very different from the results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Some of these factors include, but are not limited to, the risk factors set forth in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 28, 2018, and other such filings that Leidos makes with the SEC from time to time. Due to such uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof.

Contact:

Melissa Koskovich

(571) 526-6011

[email protected]

Suzzanna Martinez

(303) 299-5343

[email protected]

SOURCE Leidos

Related Links

http://www.leidos.com


Just hours after it was reported that the Star Wars TV series based on Ewan McGregor's Obi-Wan Kenobi series is delayed, the star himself says it's not as serious as reported.

The original report revealed that production was delayed 'indefinitely,' but Variety caught up with McGregor, 48, who revealed the show is still happening.

The actor revealed that he didn't even hear about the report until he arrived at the 'Harleywood and Highland' event for his new movie Birds of Prey on Thursday night.

Clarified: Just hours after it was reported that the Star Wars TV series based on Ewan McGregor's Obi-Wan Kenobi series is delayed, the star himself says it's not as serious as reported

New show: The original report revealed that production was delayed 'indefinitely,' but Variety caught up with McGregor, 48, who revealed the show is still happening

'I didn't realize until we got here tonight and everybody is going, 'Oh, my god!' McGregor said. 'But it's not really as dramatic as it might seem.'

The original report indicated that production was already under way, with the crew assembled at Pinewood Studios in London being sent home.

That report also claimed that LucasFilm president Kathleen Kennedy delayed the show because she wasn't happy with the scripts, but McGregor clarified the delay will only be about six months.

Not dramatic: 'I didn't realize until we got here tonight and everybody is going, 'Oh, my god!' McGregor said. 'But it's not really as dramatic as it might seem'

Production: The original report indicated that production was already under way, with the crew assembled at Pinewood Studios in London being sent home

'I think we start shooting early next year as opposed to summer this year,' McGregor said at the Birds of Prey event at the Hollywood and Highland Center.

'I think the scripts are great. They're in really good shape. They want them to be better. I think we keep our same airdate. All good,' McGregor said.

Disney and LucasFilm have not issued an airdate for the show quite yet, but it will air on the Disney Plus streaming service when it's ready.

Birds of Prey: 'I think we start shooting early next year as opposed to summer this year,' McGregor said at the Birds of Prey event at the Hollywood and Highland Center

The Obi-Wan Kenobi series was first rumored in August 2019, with Deadline reporting that Ewan McGregor would return.

Disney confirmed the series and McGregor's return a week later at the D23 Convention in Anaheim, California.

The studio then confirmed in September that the show will take place eight years after 2005's Star Wars: Episode VI - Revenge of the Sith.

First report: The Obi-Wan Kenobi series was first rumored in August 2019, with Deadline reporting that Ewan McGregor would return

Confirmed: Disney confirmed the series and McGregor's return a week later at the D23 Convention in Anaheim, California

Disney also announced in September 2019 that the series would be written by Hossein Amini (Drive) with Deborah Chow (The Mandalorian) set to direct.

The new report reveals that Amini's scripts will be reworked, in hopes that they can get production started on the show this summer.

There is always the possibility that time frame may shift if the scripts aren't ready on time, and it isn't known if another writer will be brought on or not.

McGregor's new movie Birds of Prey, starring Margot Robbit and Jurnee Smollett-Bell, will hit theaters on February 7.

New series: Disney also announced in September 2019 that the series would be written by Hossein Amini (Drive) with Deborah Chow (The Mandalorian) set to direct
"An Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH) is used by homeland security, military, and law enforcement agencies as a protective combat helmet to enhance a soldier's ballistic and impact protection. Although the structure of an ACH reduces the area of coverage, it is also used as a platform to mount electronics such as communication and night vision devices. Thus, contributing towards improving the field of vision and hearing, leading to better situational 
- A retired pilot, of the Ghana Air Force, Air Commodore Kwame Pumpuni has revealed that there is no evidence that former President Jerry John Rawlings flew a plane under the Adomi Bridge

- According to him, the size and nature of construction of the bridge would not make it possible

- Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

A retired pilot, of the Ghana Air Force, Air Commodore Kwame Pumpuni has revealed that there is no evidence that former President Jerry John Rawlings flew a plane under the Adomi Bridge.

According to him, it was humanly impossible to fly a plane under the Adomi Bridge,emphasising its size and nature of construction.

Speaking on the recent incident involving one of Ghana Air Forces planes on Accra-based Dadi FM hosted by Abena Opokua Ahwenee and reported by MyNewsGh.com, the retired pilot insisted that the 1979 story of Rawlings exploits with a plane under the Adomi Bridge was completely untrue.

READ ALSO: National Security operative stabbed to death for failing to honor funeral donation

His revelation brings to rest the raging argument as to whether the former military leader did the unthinkable by flying under the bridge that was refurbished some years ago.

The story of former President Rawlings flying under the Adomi Bridge is a story that continues to be told after decades.

A story which is usually told to emphasize Rawlings exceptional skills as a pilot.

Former President Rawlings has a reputation for extraordinary competence as a pilot and many till date refer to him as flight lieutenant with pride.

In other news, Lawrence Nana Asiamah Hanson, popularly known as Bulldog has described President Nana Akufo-Addo and his Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia as liars.

According to the artiste manager, the Akufo-Addo administration is the worst government Ghana has over seen or had.

The showbiz pundit also described the Vice President of the republic as the hype man or President Nana Addo.

READ ALSO: Bawumia is Akufo-Addos hype man - Bulldog jabs NPP government

Yenkasa: Nigerian Traders in Ghana React to Opposition by their Ghanaian Counterparts | #Yencomgh

Your stories and photos are always welcome. Get interactive via our Facebook page.

Source: YEN.com.gh
(Bloomberg) -- Power shortages cost South Africa as much as 118 billion rand ($8 billion) last year, a drain on the economy thats set to continue for two to three years unless urgent action is taken, a new study has found.

The outages were instituted by state-owned Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd., which supplies the bulk of the nations power yet has battled to meet demand from its old and poorly maintained plants and defective new ones. Turning the utility around had been a key challenge for President Cyril Ramaphosas administration, which is struggling to revive the economy, attract investment and tackle a 29% unemployment rate.

There were 1,352 gigawatt-hours of power cuts last year, the most on record, and the estimated economic impact ranged from 59 billion rand to 118 billion rand, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, a state research institution, said in a report. Energy shortages have probably cost the country 6 billion rand to 12 billion rand so far this year, with 143 gigawatt-hours of cuts, it said.

The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank both expect Africas most industrialized economy to expand less than 1% this year, mainly due to the electricity crisis.

While its beyond doubt that growth would be higher without the power cuts, its impossible to accurately assess the overall impact on the economy, especially when it comes to the deterrent effect on investment, according to Peter Worthington, senior economist at Absa Bank Ltd.

Azar Jammine, chief economist at Econometrix, a Johannesburg-based advisory service, has calculated that if 2,000 megawatts of power generation capacity was cut from the grid for a week, it would shave about 0.1% from the 5 trillion rand economy. Power cuts reached an unprecedented 6,000 megawatts at the end of last year.

--With assistance from Prinesha Naidoo.

To contact the reporter on this story: Paul Burkhardt in Johannesburg at pburkhardt@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: James Herron at jherron9@bloomberg.net, Mike Cohen, Paul Richardson

Story continues

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
King Mohammed VI and King of Bahrain Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa held talks in Rabat Thursday.

King Hamad is on a private visit to Morocco, reports MAP, without disclosing the contents of talks.

On Wednesday, Bahraini Foreign minister Khalid bin Ahmed al-Khalifa held a meeting in Rabat with his Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita.

He told reporters after the meeting that Bahrain highly appreciates the historic role of Morocco in the preservation of peace and stability in Africa.

Moroccos appreciable role has enabled some States to be spared from terrorism and anarchy, the Bahraini official said.

He recalled that Morocco was the first country to welcome the various Libyan parties, stressing that the Skhirat agreement should remain the basis for a solution to the Libyan crisis.

The Bahraini minister stressed that the meeting with Bourita was an opportunity to highlight the convergence of views of the two Kingdoms and their rulers on a number of issues and challenges in the region.

The same day, the Bahraini Foreign Ministry issued a statement reiterating Bahrains support to Moroccos legitimate rights over its southern provinces, and rejection of any attack on its sovereignty, its unity and its territorial integrity.

Bahrain welcomes the constant efforts of the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, to find a lasting solution to the Moroccan Sahara issue, the statement said.
TripAdvisor is planning to cut 200 jobs, or 5% of its total workforce, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to CNBC on Thursday. Most of the cuts are said to be in the company's experiences division.

Experiences, which includes a range of activities from cooking classes to guided tours, had been a source of growth for TripAdvisor in recent years. But in the latest earnings quarter, adjusted earnings from the experiences and dining division fell double digits versus the same period a year ago.

Bloomberg first reported the job cuts on Wednesday.

The layoffs come as the online travel operator struggles to fend off competition from Google and other competitors.

TripAdvisor CEO Stephen Kaufer referenced the competitive space on the company's third-quarter earnings call in November, saying, "Google has gotten more aggressive."

The push from Google has also challenged Expedia and other travel operators that relied on the search engine to drive traffic to their sites.

In November, CFO Ernst Teunissen said the company was looking at three areas to reduce costs, and one of those was experiences and dining. Teunissen said they were looking at cutting $60 million to 80 million altogether.

Suntrust analyst Naved Khan said the targeted cost cuts are consistent with expectations.

Khan, who is holding on to his $43 price target, sees an opportunity to reduce costs in TripAdvisor's hotel business due to "lower branded ad spend."

TripAdvisor's stock closed at $30.56 on Thursday, a price that is down 45% from a year ago.
Wreckage of the C-130 Hercules water bomber that crashed near the Snowy Mountains is spread along a kilometre of charred bushland, according to emergency services who are working to retrieve the bodies of the three US airmen killed in Thursday's crash.

First Officer Paul Hudson, flight engineer Rick DeMorgan jnr and Captain Ian McBeth were onboard when their aircraft crashed shortly after dropping a load of fire retardant on a ridge-top, east of Cooma.

While the site is yet to be declared safe, seven investigators  including aeronautical engineers, aircraft maintenance engineers, pilots and electronic data recovery specialists - from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) travelled to the site on Friday to assess the situation.

The site cannot be officially handed over to the ATSB until the bodies are removed, which was expected to take place late on Friday.
There were chants, of course, because a rally isnt a rally without chants.

But the soundtrack to the rally Friday in support of President Donald Trump in downtown Huntsville were car horns. As traffic moved along busy Clinton Avenue, there were short horn bursts, the quick bursts of repeated horn honking and even one driver who pulled up to the traffic light and stood on his horn for at least five seconds.

A cement truck driver yanked on the cord hanging from the ceiling of the cab to honk his horn and one woman simply pulled up to the intersection videoing the scene.

Trump supporters rallied outside the Regions Bank building that houses an office for Sen. Doug Jones, an effort to send a message to Alabamas junior senator that even though he is a Democrat, he should vote to acquit the impeachment charges brought against the president.

Similar rallies are planned for locations near Jones offices in downtown Birmingham at noon Monday outside the Vance Federal Building at 1800 5th Avenue North and Mobile at noon Tuesday at 41 West I-65 Service Road North.

"We want Doug Jones to vote no against the impeachment of our president," said Robbie Norman of Hazel Green. "He's doing an excellent job. Democrat or Republican, he's doing a good job. Sen. Jones should vote against impeachment."

Norman was among about 35 to 40 people gathered for Trump, wearing a white t-shirt with "U Salty?" on the front and #MYPRESIDENT on the back.

She pointed out that the U on her t-shirt was designed to show a tear.

"It just means some of them are just bitter," Norman said. "They can't get over their bitterness so they're salty. We're not salty. We're not bitter. We went through how many years with a Democratic president. You didn't see us doing some of the things  whining and trying to impeach him  just because he's a Democrat.

"Used to, Democrats and Republicans could get along. They can't anymore."

And that leaves Jones in a precarious situation. He narrowly won the special election in 2017 to fill the seat vacated by Sen. Jeff Sessions, defeating scandal-plagued Roy Moore to become the rare Democrat to win a race in deep red Alabama.

Now Jones is up for re-election November. Does he support his Democrat colleagues in the House of Representatives who brought the impeachment charges and perhaps doom himself to defeat at the polls? Or does he reject the impeachment argument, vote to acquit Trump and perhaps preserve his re-election hopes?

That dilemma is why hes been labeled as the one Democratic senator to watch in the impeachment trial.

"He really has nothing to lose by which way he votes because we're going to replace him in November anyway," said Brad Taylor, the executive director of the Madison County Republicans who attended the rally. "We firmly believe Doug Jones' term is coming to an end but we still want him to do the right thing and vote the way his constituents in Alabama would want him to vote instead of voting with (House Speaker) Nancy Pelosi."

A message to Alabamas junior senator from Trump supporters at downtown Huntsville rally. pic.twitter.com/fiquBiLAkI  Paul Gattis (@paul_gattis) January 24, 2020

Among the chants from Trump supporters: "Vote no Doug Jones. Vote no Doug Jones."

Another taunted him in anticipation of his defeat at the polls even as they asked for his support: "Hey hey, ho ho, vote no before you go."

Norman said such rallies probably wouldn't be an influence on Jones. But his vote is being watched.

"Probably not," she said of the rally swaying Jones' vote. "But it lets him know that there is a group of people that is going to get the word out there not to vote for him because he's going to vote for impeachment  if he does.

"If he votes not to impeach (Trump), that might sway me to vote for him. I mean, I really dont know who I'm going to vote for for senator. I haven't really looked in to who I'm going to vote for. So I might vote for (Jones). If he votes against (impeachment), I could vote for him. I dont vote straight Republican. I vote for who I think is going to do a good job."

Across Clinton Avenue, about a dozen Jones' supporters gathered with their own signs and their own chants. As Trump supporters chanted "four more years," the Jones' supporters responded, "in prison."

There were horns honking in support of Jones, too.

We just feel like Doug Jones is a man of honor and from everything Ive heard him say, hes listening carefully to everything thats being said by both sides, said Robin Barr of Huntsville, one of the Jones backers. I feel like hell vote his conscience and do the right thing. We just wanted to show that whoever might be looking from his office that thats not the only point of view in Alabama. We appreciate that Alabama is a red state. We get it. But there are other viewpoints to be expressed.
New Delhi, Jan 24 : In a major development in the Tata Sons-Cyrus Mistry row, the Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal's (NCLAT) order dismissing the Registrar of Company's (RoC) plea to modify its verdict on the Tata Sons matter.

Tata Sons had challenged in the apex court the NCLAT's January 6 order on conversion of Tata Sons from a public to a private company.

Agreeing to hear the Tata Sons' plea, the apex court on Friday issued a notice to the parties concerned. The three judge bench headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde will hear the matter along with the main plea filed by Tata Sons against NCLAT's verdict.

The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) had on January 6 rejected the plea by the RoC to modify the appellate tribunal's judgement in the Tata-Mistry case.

The NCLAT had in its December 18 verdict termed the RoC's decision to allow conversion of Tata Sons from a public to private company as illegal, while the RoC had filed a plea at the appellate tribunal to remove the word "illegal" from its verdict, among other observations.

The two-judge bench headed by NCLAT Chairman Justice S.J. Mukhopadhaya had observed that the judgment did not cast any aspersions on the RoC.

Posting the matter for hearing after four weeks, the Supreme Court had, on January 10, stayed the NCLAT order reinstating Cyrus Mistry as Tata Sons Chairman. Chief Justice S.A. Bobde said the NCLAT had granted a prayer not made.

However, Mistry has already made a statement that he is no longer interested in taking up the chairmanship of Tata Sons.
President Donald Trump made history on Friday when he became the first president to address the March for Life in person. As I watched the moment unfold, I was taken aback by a poster I saw held by one of the attendees: Medicare for All. Abortion for None.

A sticker at the bottom read, Democratic Socialists of America. Pro-life caucus.

hell yeah brother pic.twitter.com/M66zR2d1Xs  Barstool Shop Steward (@j_arthur_bloom) January 24, 2020



At first blush, one would be tempted to take this as a prank. Unfortunately, I know firsthand that some in the pro-life leadership support single-payer healthcare. I was mildly taken aback when I heard Canadian pro-life leaders doggedly insist that national healthcare can be pro-life.

At least three features make national healthcare systems anti-life by their very nature. First, all current Medicare for All policies would compel taxpayers to fund abortion-on-demand and open the door to physician-assisted suicide. Second, the ideology of socialism naturally promotes the expansion of abortion. Third, because of its failed economic model, national healthcare demands rationing that inevitably denies care to the weakest and most vulnerable citizens.

The most prominent Medicare for All proposal, sponsored by Senator Bernie Sanders, would fund abortion through all nine months of pregnancy. As the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)  which has no pro-life caucus  enthused:

Sanderss Medicare for All bill mandates comprehensive reproductive care, including abortion. Mandated equal access to abortion care in federal legislation would mean nullifying the Hyde Amendment, which is the legislation that gets passed yearly preventing Medicaid programs from providing federal funds for abortions except in dire circumstances. There would then be no basis for Hydes annual passage, since preventing federally mandated abortion access is the reason Hyde exists.

This is no small step. The Hyde Amendment has saved over 2 million unborn children by restricting taxpayer-funded abortion under the guise of healthcare, according to Michael New, Ph.D., of the Catholic University of America. Due to the reality of budget constraints, this funding would come at the cost of offering bona fide healthcare services. This is a deeper problem, as we shall see.

Socialism has been intimately tied up with the expansion of abortion-on-demand. The first nation in the world to legalize abortion was the Soviet Union, in 1920. (Margaret Sanger called the USSR the country of the liberated woman, and todays Left still calls the Bolsheviks stance an idealistic pursuit of civic empowerment.) As Reggie Littlejohn has pointed out, China has performed six-times more forced abortions (336 million) than all the abortions performed in the United States since Roe v. Wade (61 million).

Support for abortion defines softer forms of socialism, as well. The DSA boasts that it is visible in the reproductive freedom movement, and its chapters raised raised more than $127,000 for the National Network of Abortion Funds.

The problem goes far deeper than the anti-Christian orientation of socialism. Pro-life Christians must understand that socialized medicine is intrinsically anti-life, because its blinkered economic model denies care to those who most desperately need it.

Nationalized, single-payer healthcare demands rationing that costs lives at every stage of development. A single-payer healthcare system that is free at the point of access removes all barriers to demand; however, it does not increase the supply of doctors or hospital beds, triggering shortages of basic medical items. As my friend Peter Kapsner recently told me, when a family member had an emergency during a trip to Scotland, the NHS hospital did not even have a band-aid to stop the bleeding.

At its worst, single-payer rationing means vital surgeries are postponed until they cause needless deaths. In the UK there may be up to 15,000 avoidable deaths from cancer every year in people over the age of 75 years, The Lancet reported last July. [B]etween 2003 and 2005, cancer mortality rates in the UK were  31% higher than in the USA among people over the age of 85 years.

Rationing takes place based on the likelihood of success, but also based on factors such as age and strength. Doctors regularly denied lifesaving treatment to the elderly because of their age, the Royal College of Surgeons found in 2012. When the government passed a law to prevent doctors from denying the seniors cataract surgeries, it was ignored, and thousands of elderly people went blind.

Some may argue that the U.S. insurance system rations care by refusing to pay for treatments. Its true that the U.S. system is far from ideal. Too many layers of bureaucrats stand between doctors and patients, in part because insurance has expanded to non-emergency services. But when a health insurance company denies treatment, the patient can pay out of pocket, or seek a charity that will provide the care without cost.

When a national healthcare service denies treatment, it often means a death sentence. Consider:

Last June, a British judge ordered a young Catholic woman of Nigerian heritage with moderately severe learning disabilities to have a forced second-trimester abortion against her will, in a case filed by the publicly funded National Health Service. A higher court overturned the order  but the court later ordered her to be fitted with a contraceptive device;

In April 2018, the NHS sued to stop the parents of 23-month-old Alfie Evans from transferring their child out of an NHS hospital to another facility, where he would receive free medical treatment; and

In July 2017, 11-month-old Charlie Gard died under similar circumstances.

These are not episodes from a dystopian novel, nor rulings from a totalitarian backwater. They are but a handful of the most egregious recent decisions of the United States closest ally, Great Britain. Sadly, they are not confined there.

Throughout Europe, the most common form of bribery involves national healthcare. The watchdog Transparency International warned of petty bribery that blocks access to basic public services, including health care and education. In 2016, one out of 10 EU citizens surveyed said they had to offer a bribe to get healthcare for themselves or a loved one. National healthcare systems favor the strong and well-connected at the expense of the poor, weak, and vulnerable. (Imagine a healthcare service crossed with the Harvard admissions scandal, and you begin to get the picture.)

The situation is dire, and everyone knows it. Two-thirds of NHS doctors admitted their patients would be forced to go to a private-sector doctor to receive necessary care. Yet a high-ranking NHS official recently wrote an op-ed instructing British citizens to stop prioritising themselves, because visiting private doctors took money out of the coffers of the NHS. This shows the prescience of Pope John Paul IIs warning that the Social Assistance State creates public agencies, which are dominated more by bureaucratic ways of thinking than by concern for serving their clients.

National healthcare systems can never be pro-life, because no amount of money can fund infinite demand. Rationing must follow. And that rationing costs lives.

Those who value life should support a free-market system that promotes innovation, experimentation, and technological progress to find cures for more diseases. They should honor its results  and heed the failures of its competitors. And they must oppose any system that allows the state to deny treatment to babies, the elderly, or those with physical or mental challenges.

The pro-life movement must connect its good intentions to sound economics. Innocent lives depend on it.

(Photo credit: Elvert Barnes. This photo has been cropped. CC BY-SA 2.0.)
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Friday said that a Bharatiya Janata Party leader had informed him that his phone was being tapped by the previous Devendra Fadnavis government in Maharashtra.

On the Nationalist Congress Partys allegation that the Centre has withdrawn party chief Sharad Pawar's security at his official residence in New Delhi, Raut said it could have been because Pawar was intrumental in forming the Shiv Sena-led government in the state.

"A BJP leader had told me that my phone was being tapped. I said if anybody wants to listen to what I am saying I welcome it. I am Balasaheb's chela (disciple), whatever I do, I do it openly," Raut told reporters.

"In spite of the phone-tapping, we formed the government in Maharashtra," he said.

Raut's remarks come a day after state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh alleged that the Fadnavis dispensation misused government machinery to tap the phones of opposition leaders, especially during the formation of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government.

"The cyber cell of Maharashtra police has been asked to look into the various complaints of snooping/phone tapping that came in during the previous government," Deshmukh had said on Thursday.

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh had earlier also alleged that phones of opposition leaders were tapped by the Fadnavis government. He had also raised questions about the involvement of officials in the phone-tapping episode.

On the NCP's allegation about withdrawal of Sharad Pawar's security, Raut said, "It could have been because Pawar was instrumental in the formation of the Shiv Sena-led government in Maharashtra. A few years ago, he was attacked in Delhi. Even the Gandhis' Special Protection Group security was withdrawn recently."

The Rajya Sabha MP was referring to the Centre's recent move of withdrawing the SPG cover of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her children Rahul and Priyanka.
The recent outbreak of deadly infection Coronavirus has caused a halt to many flights causing a great loss to the airline companies, international media reported. The virus is soon to take a toll on the financial resources of the airlines companies. According to media reports, if the virus becomes pandemic, there would be a sharp decline in travel.

Airlines suffer financial loses

Many major airlines including Korean Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Taiwans China Airlines limited as well as Japans ANA announced that they are all cancelling all flights in and out of Wuhan after the Chinese authorities announced a lockdown. Also, the South Korean budget carrier Tway postponed the launch of a new route to Wuhan after the conditions severed last week. According to a flight-tracking website FlightRadar24, on Thursday, 184 Wuhan flights were cancelled accounting to approximately 60% of the departures listed for the day.

Read: China Puts Second City On Lockdown After Wuhan To Contain Coronavirus

Read: Rupee Slips 7 Paise To 71.26 Against USD As China Virus Fears Spooked Investors

Meanwhile, another problem that the airlines are facing is the cancellation of flights by the passengers. According to Hanatour Services Inc., which is South Koreas largest travel agency, the overall cancellation of trips to China rose by 20% this week as compared to the same time in 2019. A company official added that most of the travellers switched their destinations after the deadly infection broke out.

Read: WHO Official In China On Wuhan Lockdown

Read: Snakes Believed To Be The Origin Of Wuhan Coronavirus Outbreak

Meanwhile, Rajeev Kale who is the country head of Travel company Thomas Cook India stated that most of the travellers are adopting a wait and watch approach to see further developments in Wuhan. On the other hand, Philippine Airlines, Garuda Indonesia and Japan airlines claimed that the reservation of passengers hasnt seen a slowdown though Cebu Pacific, a low-cost airline carrier said that many passengers have raised their concerns of safety while travelling to China.

After public transport was restricted in Wuhan, the centre of the novel coronavirus (CoV) outbreak, another central Chinese city is being put on lockdown to tackle the spread of coronavirus. According to media reports, Huanggang, a prefecture-level city in easternmost Hubei Province and neighbour of Wuhan, will follow the lead to suspending public transport in an out of the city.
The very notion of a city the size of London being quarantined, physically cut off from its surroundings, is almost impossible to imagine. But this is todays reality in Wuhan, a city of 11 million people in central China, and now in Huanggang and Ezhou, cities with another nine million people nearby.

Local public transport has been suspended, airports and stations have been closed  and this at Chinas peak travel season, the eve of the lunar new year holiday, described as one of the biggest annual mass movements of people anywhere in the world.

Elsewhere, public events to celebrate the new year have been cancelled, including in Beijing. This is not something any government would decree unless there was serious concern.
The Algorithm Series: The Math Behind the CDN

For the delivery portion of the overall streaming equation, CDNs use refined content caching and content replication, optimized network pathsincluding ingress, egress, and midgress data transportand strategic server placement at the core (such as the origin server) or at the edge (often referred to as caching content at a point of presence). Underlying the key CDN components are a number of fundamental algorithms used to balance strategic core and edge architecture demands.

This article, the first in our new Algorithm Series, dives into the math behind the magic of streaming media delivery to highlight significant mathematical conceptsand even a few equationsthat power the infrastructure to deliver live and on-demand streams on a global scale.

If you read my November/December 2019 Streams of Thought column, you'll remember that this article series came about from a discussion at IBC in Amsterdam among me, my fiancee, and one of the several Ph.D. streaming solutions architects. During that conversation, two of the three of us with math degreesMichelle Fore and Yuriy Reznik, head of research and a fellow at Brightcovebegan delving into the math at the intersection of media player performance and multi-codec manifest files.

The conversation led to an initial idea to cover four key areasdelivery performance (CDN), player performance (OTT or OVP bitrate and rendition ladder optimization), live event scaling (including authentication and other potential bottlenecks), and DRMand was fleshed out in a subsequent interview I did with Reznik at Streaming Media West 2019 in Los Angeles.

Along the way, I was introduced to people in the industry with whom I've had either no or limited interaction over my past 2 decades in the space, but whose contributions to those four areas are essential to the road map of not just how we got to where we are today, but also to the future of media delivery.

CDN Math

What is CDN math anyway? The most common math for content delivery, at least from the paying customer's perspective, is billing algorithms. These aren't new by any means, having been around during the area of telco-based data networks (think dial-up, ISDN, or even fixed-line long-distance services).

Beyond these and other customer-centric algorithms like 95/5 (aka 95th percentile), one key area that all CDNs measure and optimize is caching server utilization, including ways to prevent overloading a single server's capacity, often referred to as "swamping" a server.

Server Utilization for Proper Caching(aka Consistent Hashing)

There's quite a bit of math that's gone into modern CDNs, but one of the fundamental algorithms for web acceleration and streaming can be found in a design patent filed way back in 1997. U.S. Patent No. 8458259 is titled Method and Apparatus for Distributing Requests Among a Plurality of Resources and is, itself, a continuation of several prior patents dating back to a March 13, 1998, patent application for what became U.S. Patent No. 6430618 in 2002. The original patent, granted to MIT, was based on research presented by members of its Laboratory for Computer Science at the 29th Annual ACM Symposium on Theory of Computing (STOC97) in May 1997. Their paper is titled "Consistent Hashing and Random Trees: Distributed Caching Protocols for Relieving Hot Spots on the World Wide Web" and can be found on pages 654663 of the symposium proceedings.

Several of the paper's authorsDavid Karger, Eric Lehman, Tom Leighton, Matthew Levine, Daniel Lewin, and Rina Panigrahyare now famous in content delivery circles. Leighton, for instance, who has retained roles in both the MIT computer science lab (now called the Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence Laboratory) and in MIT's department of mathematics, went on to co-found Akamai the following year with the late Lewin.

So what was this "consistent hashing" idea that the paper's authors developed and presented? The money quotes from the patent spell it out:

Two causes of delay are heavy communication loading a part of a network and a large number of requests loading a particular server. When part of the network becomes congested with too much traffic, communication over that part of the network becomes unreliable and slow. Similarly, when too many requests are directed at a single server, the server becomes overloaded, or 'swamped.'

To address both the network congestion and the swamping of the original server, often called the origin server, the patent raises the concept of a caching server:

Caching can reduce network traffic if the cached copy is close, in the network topology sense, to the requester because fewer network links and resources are used to retrieve the information. Caching can also relieve an overloaded server because some of the requests that would normally be routed to the original site can be served by a cache server, and so the number of requests made of the original site is reduced.

But how many caching servers are needed and in how many locations? More importantly, from a CDN design standpoint, are there other issues that could still cause congestion, even if there are a whole lot of caching servers? It turns out the answer is that just throwing caching servers at the problem is not an effective solution. And that's what consistent hashing attempts to solve.

To understand the basis for consistent hashing, we first have to understand hashing. And to do that, we also need to understand modulo mathematics.

Modularity in Mathematics

Modulo is a mathematical operation to find what whole number (any natural numbers plus 0) remains after division takes place. If you remember high school mathematics, the test of whether any two numbers will have a remainder is called synthetic division or Horner's method.

Still don't remember how to do it? OK, here's how modulo works. For instance, 7 modulo 2 (often written in shorthand as 7 mod 2) has an answer that is either zero or some natural number (any positive number above zero). While we might typically write 7/2 as 3.5 when using the decimal to represent half of the divisor, for modulo mathematics, the answer would be 1 (essentially 2 to the power of three with 1 remaining).

Since modulo can have a result that equals whole numbers, there are scenarios in which the result of the modulus would be no remainder. For instance, if the formula were 6 mod 2, the answer would be 0.

The importance of modulo for hashing is that the remainders help determine which server a given piece of data might be assigned to and retrieved from. More on that in a moment.

Hashing It Out

The simplest definition of hashing is to chop or divide, but for our purposes, hashing is "a function that maps one piece of datatypically describing some kind of object, often of arbitrary sizeto another piece of data, typically an integer." Put a slightly different way, according to the Wolfram MathWorld site, "A hash function (H) projects a value from a set with many (or even an infinite number of) members to a value from a set with a fixed number of (fewer) members." In other words, it's a way to notate an infinite number of values via a set, more-limited number of values. In practical terms, for content, this also allows variable-length content to be represented by fixed-length representations.

Let's use the Social Security number as a form of hashing variable data to a fixed-length number. If you remove the dashes, a Social Security number is a unique, fixed-length-value-of-9-digits natural number (a positive integer above zero). Ignoring the initial limitations of the Social Security numbering scheme (3-digit Area Number, 2-digit Group Number, 4-digit Serial Number) and assuming that the Social Security number starts at 100,000,000 to accurately fill all nine slots, the total number of possible fixed 9-digit values would be 899,999,999. While the number is a fixed length, the name attached to each Social Security number is a variable-length piece of content. It could be Mary J. Blige or Franklin Delano Roosevelt or even John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

In our example, the fact that the name itself uses both variable-length and multiple-character types ("varchar" in database terms) means that a global name search requires much more computational power than does the entirety of 899,999,999 integer permutations in our Social Security number example.

A final benefit of hashing is how it positively affects more efficient searches and storage in a modern relational database. Most databases use a key structurea unique value in any single field in a database tableas the primary key on which to not just search content but also to join content from multiple tables (the relationship) into a single query of content across multiple database tables.

What we've described in our hashing examplea combination of a fixed-length value (the Social Security number) and a variable-length value (any given name)is, at its most basic, a traditional database construct called a key-value store, in which the key (hash) is associated with the value (a string of content, such as any given name). In the case of a hash key that is unique, it can potentially act as the primary key in any given database table.

Databases also perform very well with indexed content, which is essentially a road map to a group of key-value stores. The index effectively reverse-engineers an array of content stored in a database, with the index being searched, rather than the entire database. For a grouping of hashes, the hash table acts as an index and significantly reduces search times for the string of content associated with a particular hash.

Problems With Hashing

The major potential problem with hashing is what's referred to as a collision, meaning two variable-length values share the same defining parameters (e.g., two people named John Reginald Smith Jr., both born in the same part of the U.S. in the same year) that may result in the same fixed-length value representing both (in our case the Social Security number).

A rudimentary hashing approach, one that generates a hashing collision due to the fact that two strings of content with the same parameters share the same hash key value, could result in inadvertent swamping. In practice, it could also result in one server holding too much content, with other servers in the cluster holding too little.

In addition, a hashing collision could add significant delay in a browser receiving content. In the worst-case scenario, content cannot be served at all or the wrong content could be sent from the wrong caching server to the wrong media player at the wrong time. In our Social Security example, it would almost be like the Social Security Administration sending a check in the mail to the wrong John Reginald Smith Jr., who then might be legally free to cash it.

One way to address potential collision errors in a CDN architecture is to add more servers, replicating the same hashing table and key-value store combinations to multiple servers. This works if the content itself has limited collision likelihood; however, if one server in a group of servers fails, the hash table would then be obsolete, since some of the content of the failed server would need to be remapped to all the other servers. The end result would be a massive hit on the origin server whenever any single caching server, even one in a cluster, fails.

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.

Related Articles

Companies and Suppliers Mentioned
Tesco says it is the first retailer in Ireland to remove plastic wrapping on some multi-packs in its 151 stores.

The company says 1.5 million multi-packs of its own brand tinned beans, tuna, soup and tomatoes will be sold without plastic.

Plastic will still be used though on drink multi-packs and on vegetables although it has pledged to cut plastic across its business.

But Mindy O'Brien, from conservation group Voice Ireland, says it is only a small step in a big industry.

"I was doing the calculations that they are reducing their plastic packaging waste by 10 tonnes. In Ireland we are producing 280,000 tonnes of plastic packaging a year," she said.

"So that equates to about 0.003% of our plastic packaging"

Ms O'Brien says change in the supermarket sector is not happening fast enough.

"It is very slow, I'm seeing in my own shop they are offering much more loose vegetables but then often times the loose vegetables are more expensive than those that are bagged in plastic," said Ms O'Brien.

"I am not allowed to bring my own container when buying meat or fish.

"They won't allow me to do that to allow me to avoid the use of packaging.

"We need to be allowed to use our own containers. This is being done in France, in Italy and around Europe."
The China Independent Film Festival has held 14 editions and shown some 1,000 films since it was established in 2003 in Nanjing, the capital of coastal Jiangsu province. Many of the titles it highlighted touched on topics like homosexuality or political history deemed sensitive or inappropriate by the ruling Communist Party. Other films were effectively underground titles as they lacked the government dragon seal of censorship approval required for public screening. A statement by festival organizers said that it has already become impossible to organize a film festival that truly has a purely independent spirit and is also effective.  Variety
German finance minister says he is confident that his country won't suffer from Brexit but that Britain will inevitably face "consequences" from its decision to leave the European Union.

At a panel at the World Economic Forum, Olaf Scholz said Britain's financial sector won't be as important to the EU after Brexit as it is now.

Britain is set to leave the EU in a week's time but will remain within its tariff-free single market and customs union until the end of the year to smooth its exit.

Scholz said a non-member cannot have the same advantages as an EU member and that will be an important factor in upcoming trade discussions between the EU and Britain.

"That is something that will have to be balanced," he said.

"I think we will have solutions but, sure, there cannot be a special competitive advantage from being outside."



Christine Lagarde, the new president of the European Central Bank, cautioned about the prospect of a "cliff-edge" Brexit moment at the end of this year.

Though Britain is leaving the EU with a withdrawal agreement, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has insisted that he won't be requesting an extension to the so-called transition period.

That, in theory, means that Britain could leave Europe's single market and customs union at the start of next year with no trade agreement with the EU, which would mean tariffs and other impediments to trade.

"That is certainly a question mark," she said.

Britain's Treasury chief Sajid Javid said this week that he's confident that a comprehensive trade deal with the EU covering goods and services can be negotiated by the end of this year.

Many trade experts think that's optimistic as trade deals usually take years to thrash out.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Sharecast News) - London stocks were to rise at the open on Friday, recovering from losses in the previous session, ahead of the release of key services and manufacturing data.

The FTSE 100 was called to open 53 points higher at 7,560.



London Capital Group analyst Jasper Lawler said: "Shares in Europe look set for a strong start to trading on Friday morning. The World Health Organisation not designating the Wuhan coronavirus an international emergency has taken the fear gauge down a few notches.



"The travel restrictions and cutback Lunar New Year celebrations will have some kind of dampening effect on Chinese growth. Only, based on what the WHO is saying, the same problem will not be felt globally."



On the data front, Markit's manufacturing and services PMIs for January are due at 0930 GMT.



"Of particular interest will be how much harm rising activity in British services and manufacturing does to the prospects for a January rate cut," Lawler said. "UK services are set to rebound into a more robust state of expansion and the manufacturing contraction should ease. If the PMIs miss expectations we think the doves could still have their last hurrah at next week's BOE meeting. If the UK PMIs come in as expected or better, a January rate cut really should be off the table."



In corporate news, medical technology firm Smith & Nephew said it has bought California-based Tusker Medical for an undisclosed sum.



Tusker makes ear tubes that can be inserted by doctors under local anaesthetic to treat infections in young children. S&N said it would fund the purchase from existing cash and debt facilities.



Festive Britons helped pub group Marston's deliver a rise in sales over the Christmas period despite poor weather keeping people at home in the first three weeks of December.



The company said trading over the Christmas fortnight was strong, with like-for-like sales growth of 4.5%, compensating for more "subdued trading" earlier in the month.



Total sales rose 1% in the 16 weeks to January 18.



"Looking forward, greater clarity on the political agenda should positively impact consumer confidence.



"Overall the economic environment for the consumer looks encouraging with low unemployment and healthy wage growth providing us with increasing confidence that the market will grow in 2020," Marston's said.
NEW ORLEANS - A suspect set for trial next month in a series of fires at African American churches in Louisiana is now scheduled for a change-of-plea hearing.

Holden Matthews has pleaded not guilty to federal charges arising from the arson fires at south Louisiana churches. However, a court filing Thursday says a plea-change hearing now is set for Feb. 10 in Lafayette.

Court records show that plea negotiations have been going on in the case. Attorneys in the case did not immediately return calls seeking more information.

Three historic African American churches were burned in a span of 10 days, beginning in late March, in and around the city of Opelousas, about 140 miles (225 kilometres) west of New Orleans in St. Landry Parish. Matthews father is a parish sheriffs deputy.

The indictment charges Matthews with three counts of intentional damage to religious property, which the Department of Justice said is a hate crime under the U.S. Church Arson Prevention Act. Hes also charged with three counts of using fire to commit a felony.

Matthews is white and the churches served black congregations. The indictment, however, does not mention race. It says the fires were set because of the religious character of the properties.

Investigators said Matthews had shown interest in black metal, an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. The music has been linked, in some instances, to fires at Christian churches in Norway in the 1990s.
Mumbai, Jan 24 : At least three incidents of stone-pelting on public buses in Mumbai, Solapur and Aurangabad marred the otherwise peaceful Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA)-sponsored Maharashtra shutdown, which elicited mixed response, on Friday.

Terming it as a "success", VBA President Prakash Ambedkar announced at around 4 p.m. that the 'bandh' has been called off.

He also said that around 3,000 persons detained in different parts of the state were released in the evening, after the shutdown called to oppose the Citizens Amendment Act, National Register for Citizens and National Population Register (CAA-NRC-NPR).

Despite the shutdown call by over 35 social and trade unions, besides the support of another 100 other groups/organisations, normal life remained largely unaffected in Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nagpur and other major cities.

However, shops and establishments remained shut in some pockets of Mumbai, Nashik, Aurangabad, Akola, though in Thane, some activists attempted to block a main road but were dispersed by the police.

Ambedkar said that though there was no compulsion on anybody to support or participate in the shutdown, some alleged Bajrang Dal activists forced shopkeepers in Palghar and other parts who joined the 'bandh' to reopen their establishments.

On the reports of violence in Thane and Mumbai, he said that the miscreants had come with their faces covered and it is upto the police to trace them.

In Mumbai, suburban trains and BEST buses - the city's lifelines - functioned normally, and most educational institutions, shops, malls, multiplexes, commercial plazas were open as police maintained tight security.

A group of people stopped a BEST bus on the Kurla-Chembur route and pelted it with stones, leaving driver Vilas B. Dabhade, 53, injured. He was rushed to the Shatabdi Hospital in Govandi.

Activists tried to block roads in some roads in the eastern suburbs but were thwarted by the police, and most shops remained shut.

Towns like Ambernath, Bhiwandi and Ulhasnagar in Thane, and Manmad in Nashik observed a near-total shutdown, with most streets deserted as all businesses were closed for a large part of the day.

There was a good response in Akola while the participation was partial in districts like Jalna, Pune, Nandurbar, Jalgaon, Nanded, and Aurangabad.

In Solapur, some protestors stoned a State Transport bus and there were reports of minor violence in Aurangabad, but the police presence thwarted the situation from escalating.

Later in the day, several other anti-CAA/NRC/NPR related events like protest meetings, sit-ins and panel discussions were conducted in Mumbai, Pune and other cities as part of the state shutdown.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Belarus on Thursday began importing oil from Norway via neighbouring EU and NATO member Lithuania amid a supply row with Russia, its main ally and energy provider

Vilnius, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Jan, 2020 ) :Belarus on Thursday began importing oil from Norway via neighbouring EU and NATO member Lithuania amid a supply row with Russia, its main ally and energy provider.

A tanker carrying 80,000 tonnes crude oil from Norway destined for Belarus docked at Lithuania's Baltic seaport of Klaipeda on Thursday morning, port spokeswoman Dovile Ringis told AFP.

Belarus is seeking to diversify its oil suppliers to reduce its near-total dependence on Russian oil, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Tuesday, as Minsk and Moscow remained tangled in their latest energy dispute.

Russia stopped oil supplies for Belarus in early January for several days after a contract setting price and volumes ran out.

A new contract has since been signed, but its terms are not known, and speculation is rife that it may only ensure partial supplies and only for the month of January.

EU and NATO members Lithuania and Poland in September 2019 offered to help neighbour Belarus ease its heavy dependence on Russian oil, amid initial moves by Minsk to warm frosty ties with the West.

While Belarus until recently imported all its oil from Russia at a special reduced rate, with Russian prices set to go up Lukashenko said on Tuesday that it is now aiming for a new ratio of "30 to 40 percent of oil from Russia, 30 percent from the Baltic states and 30 percent from Ukraine."Vilnius-based political analyst Linas Kojala told AFP that the Norwegian crude deliveries were "a way of showing Minsk that it has alternatives to Russian energy supplies, even if limited in scope and more expensive".
UK indie distributor all3media international has signed what it calls a high-volume drama deal with the Acorn TV streaming service for more than 180 hours of content for its streaming service in the Latin America region.





The AMC Networks-owned network has secured LATAM SVOD rights to host new seasons of hit drama brands such as the first five seasons of the UKs leading drama export Midsomer Murders (18 x 120 and 5 x 100, Bentley Productions), seasons two and three of entertaining murder mystery Agatha Raisin, (a Free@Last and Company Pictures production for Acorn TV) and five seasons of South Pacific Pictures atmospheric whodunit The Brokenwood Mysteries (20 x 120).Also part of the package are three seasons of Miss Fishers Murder Mysteries (34 x 60), the first season of Ms Fishers Modern Murder Mysteries (4 x 120) and new feature film Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears, all from Every Cloud Productions along with season one of Bunya Productions Mystery Road (6 x 60). Further titles featured in the deal are two six-part series from Rollem Productions - Girlfriends and Love, Lies and Records.Midsomer Murders also features in another new deal in Latin America, as Television Nacionale de Uruguay signs series 16 - 20 (27 x 120), becoming the first free TV network in the country to air the drama.Acorn TV is available in several countries in Latin America via Acorn.tv and Roku streaming devices. Commenting on the deals, Don Klees, SVP, programming for Acorn TV, AMC Networks said: Acorn TV is thrilled to partner with our friends at all3media international to expand our content offering in Latin America with several of our most popular series ...We know our subscribers will be extremely excited to watch these shows on Acorn TV in Latin America.Janel Downing, VP aales Latin America at all3media international, added: Were very pleased to continue our successful ongoing collaboration with Acorn TV as this fantastic selection of drama titles heads to the service in Latin America. Acorn TV is renowned for delivering a diverse variety of the best in international drama, so is the perfect home to showcase these acclaimed series to a Latin American audience. Im also delighted to see Midsomer Murders making its free TV debut in Uruguay, ensuring that this hugely popular detective drama reaches even more viewers in the country.
HAMILTON  Mayor Jeff Martin continues to fill out his cabinet.

Bianca Jerez became the latest edition, as the mayor announced Thursday her as his chief of staff.

Her responsibilities will included overseeing HAMSTAT, the townships centralized call center for residents to express their concerns to the administration.

Martin welcomed Jerez to his staff in a statement saying she had the experience, skills, and drive to serve the residents of Hamilton Township.

Jerez, a Rider University graduate, has a background in public policy, having served as an analyst in the state Legislature. She also served as political director for the New Jersey Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee.

Martin took over Jan. 1 for former Republican Mayor Kelly Yaede. He has moved quickly to fill critical posts in his administration and throughout the township government.

Already, he has appointed T. Missy Balmir as business administrator, health director Kathleen Fitzgerald, community and compliance director Fred Dumont, public works director Chris Markley and acting chief financial officer Ulrich H. Steinberg Jr.

All of the mayors nominations were confirmed without any pushback from by the all-Democratic legislative body.

Martin has also tapped Louis Sancinito and Mount Holly-based attorney Shelia Ellington to the municipal bench. Both were confirmed this week.
Two workers walk under the wing of a 737 Max aircraft at the Boeing factory in Renton, Washington, March 27, 2019.

The planes have been grounded since March after two deadly crashes in a span of five months killed all 346 people on the flights.

The head of the Federal Aviation Administration has told airlines that it could lift a flight ban on the Boeing 737 Max before midyear, ahead of the manufacturer's new timeline that it shared with its customers this week. The news sent Boeing's shares higher.

FAA Administrator Steve Dickson told carriers that it could recertify the planes before the middle of the year if no new issues are discovered, according to a person familiar with the conversations.

Boeing discovered several problems aside from the flight-control software on the planes that was implicated in both crashes. Those other problems included an issue with the spacing of wiring bundles and a glitch in computer monitoring software.

"While the FAA continues to follow a thorough, deliberate process, the agency is pleased with Boeing's progress in recent weeks toward achieving key milestones," the FAA said in a statement. "Safety is the top priority, and the FAA continues to work with other safety regulators to ensure that Boeing has addressed all known issues with the aircraft."

Boeing shares rose on the news, which was reported earlier by Reuters, and closed up 1.7% at $323.05, paring its losses for the week to 0.3%. Boeing's shares fell sharply on Tuesday when it said it expected regulators to sign off on the planes in the middle of the year.

The manufacturer ousted its CEO, Dennis Muilenburg, last month after friction with regulators. The former chief executive had repeatedly told the public that regulators would sign off on the planes before the end of 2019.

WATCH: Steve Liesman assesses 737 Max economic impact
(Bloomberg) -- House managers will wrap up their case against President Donald Trump on Friday, completing three days of arguments in the Senate impeachment trial. Trumps lawyers are set to begin presenting his defense on Saturday.

Here are the latest developments:

Trump Doesnt Deny Asking for Envoys Ouster (11:20 p.m.)

Trump did not dispute that he may have called for the ouster of Marie Yovanovitch as the United States ambassador to Ukraine in a 2018 recording obtained by ABC News, saying he had a right to hire and fire ambassadors.

I am not a fan of that ambassador, just so you understand, Trump said in an interview with Fox News that was broadcast on Friday night. From what I understand - and I heard this a long time ago - she wouldnt put my picture up. She was an Obama appointee, I believe, and she wouldnt put my picture up.The president did deny that he had instructed Lev Parnas, an associate of his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, to execute Yovanovitchs removal, saying he wouldnt have been saying that. Instead, Trump said, he was likely speaking to Giuliani or somebody else when he apparently said to get rid of her.I make no bones about it, I want to have ambassadors -- I have every right -- I want ambassadors that are chosen by me. I have a right to hire and fire ambassadors, he said.

A lawyer for Parnas, who has been charged with making illegal campaign donations, says he has turned over a video recording of Trump calling for Yovanovitchs ouster to the House Intelligence Committee.

House Democrats are expected to seize on the recording to argue that additional witnesses and documents should be subpoenaed before lawmakers vote on whether to remove Trump from office in the impeachment trial currently ongoing in the Senate

Trump Video Given to House, Lawyer Says (7:57 p.m.)

The lawyer for Rudy Giulianis indicted associate Lev Parnas says he turned over to House Democrats a video recording of Trump calling for the firing of U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch in 2018.

Story continues

Lev went back through his account today and found it. I then conveyed it, said Parnass lawyer, Joseph Bondy. He said the recording was an iPhone video, and that it was given Friday to the House Intelligence Committee.

The chairman of that committee, Adam Schiff of California, leads the House managers prosecuting the impeachment case against Trump in the Senate.

ABC News reported earlier Friday that Trump could be heard on the recording saying, Get rid of her and Get her out tomorrow. I dont care. Get her out tomorrow. Take her out. O.K.? Do it. The focus of those remarks was Yovanovitch, according to ABC.

ABC described the recording as being made during an April 30, 2018, dinner at the Trump International Hotel in Washington that included Parnas and Igor Fruman -- business associates of Trumps personal lawyer Giuliani who later were indicted in New York on campaign-finance charges.

The recording, along with purportedly reflecting that Trump was focused on getting Yovanovitch out of her ambassador post as early as the spring of 2018, was also described by ABC as appearing to contradict statements by Trump that he didnt know Parnas.

Asked by reporters about the recording, Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow said, An ambassador serves at the pleasure of the president. You know who said that? The ambassador herself. Yovanovitch said that at a House hearing, when she said Trump could have fired her without anyone disparaging her character.

When news of the recording surfaced earlier Friday, Schiff had declined to discuss it in detail.

I dont have enough background really, to give you a response to it at this time, Schiff told reporters. But plainly, if the president at the urging of Giuliani, or Parnas, or Fruman, if this is additional evidence of his involvement in that effort to smear her, it would certainly corroborate much of what weve heard.

Schiff added, But Im not in a position yet to analyze that, not having looked at it.

Nadler Says Trump Acting Like a Dictator (6:32 p.m.)

House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler lit into Trump as a dictator who is worse than Nixon in his defiance of congressional subpoenas.

If presidents could abuse their power and then conceal all the evidence from Congress, the impeachment clause would be a nullity, Nadler said.

The only person to defy an impeachment inquiry subpoena before Trump was former President Richard Nixon, Nadler said, and he faced an article of impeachment as a result. But even Nixon turned over many documents and allowed many to testify, unlike Trump, Nadler said.

He is a dictator. This must not stand and that is another reason why he must be removed from office, Nadler said as he concluded his speech on Trumps blanket defiance of House subpoenas in the impeachment inquiry. -- Steven T. Dennis

Warren Says Shed Release Trump Documents (5:26 p.m.)

Elizabeth Warren promised Friday that if elected president, she would order the release of all documents the White House is holding back from Congress during Trumps impeachment investigation and trial.

In a series of tweets, Warren accused the Trump administration of hiding documents from the public. They should know this evidence wont be hidden forever, she said.

Warren called on her fellow Democratic presidential candidates to make a similar pledge. If we dont re-establish the rule of law in this country, every future administration will think they can act illegally without facing any consequences, she wrote.

Trump Defense to Target Biden, Lawyer Says (4:35 p.m.)

Trump attorney Jay Sekulow told reporters his team plans to showcase allegations against Joe Biden in the defense case set to begin Saturday.

Sekulow said the House Democrats presentation opened to the door to discussions of Hunter Bidens work for Ukrainian gas company Burisma Holdings, at a time when his father was vice president and worked on corruption issues in Ukraine.

Why they opened up the door as wide as a double door on the Hunter Biden-Joe Biden-Burisma issue, Sekulow said, I guess they felt that was their way of getting ahead of it. We will address it.

He said the defense will also discuss allegations that Democrats solicited foreign interference in the 2016 election by commissioning British former intelligence officer Christopher Steele to compile a dossier of allegations against Trump.

There was foreign interference; lets not forget where it came from, Sekulow said. We are going to rebut and rebuke, but were going to put on an affirmative case tomorrow.

Sekulow said Saturdays three-hour Senate session will be a preview of coming attractions with the heart of the defense case to begin on Monday. He said the Senate asked for a shortened session on Saturday and the White House defense team agreed. -- Erik Wasson

Roberts Draws Barrage of Calls to High Court (3:58 p.m.)

The Supreme Court is getting a barrage of calls from the public while Chief Justice John Roberts presides over Trumps impeachment trial in the Senate.

Social media posts have been urging people to call the Supreme Court about various aspects of the impeachment trial -- and Roberts handling of it. Posts on Twitter say Roberts should back Democratic demands for witness testimony and enforce rules requiring senators to remain in their seats.

The court has received a higher than usual number of calls, Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said.

Unlike congressional offices and the White House, the Supreme Court isnt designed to respond to public opinion and doesnt have a public-comment line. The courts public information office has been fielding calls and telling people they can send emails or contact their congressional representatives, Arberg said.

Roberts has largely played a ministerial role at the Senate. His most notable moment came during the first night, when he told both sides to tone down their language and remember where they are.

Roberts extra duties at the Senate may be slowing down the courts work. The court indicated Friday it wont issue opinions when the justices take the bench Monday before beginning a four-week recess. The court has released only four opinions in argued cases this term, down from eight at a comparable point last year. -- Greg Stohr

Pompeo Repeatedly Declines to Defend Envoy (1:33 p.m.)

Secretary of State Michael Pompeo refused to defend his ousted ambassador to Ukraine despite being pressed multiple times, maintaining his long-running refusal to mention former envoy Marie Yovanovitch by name.

Ive defended every single person on this team, Pompeo told National Public Radios Morning Edition, when asked why he hadnt stood up for Yovanovitch. Ive done whats right for every single person on this team.

Asked to point to any remarks regarding Yovanovitch, he replied, Ive said all Im going to say today.

Over the course of the impeachment saga, Pompeo has consistently declined to offer public support for Yovanovitch, a widely praised diplomat. She was recalled from her post in May after a sustained campaign to oust her by Rudy Giuliani, Trumps personal lawyer.

Trump Lawyers to Begin Defense on Saturday (12:44 p.m.)

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the trial will resume at 10 a.m. Saturday and run for several hours, as Trumps lawyers deliver their opening presentation in the presidents defense.

Trump on Tape Sought Envoys Ouster: ABC (12:02 p.m.)

A recording appears to show President Donald Trump saying he wanted Marie Yovanovitch removed as ambassador to Ukraine, ABC News reported without providing the audio.

Get rid of her, a voice that appears to be Trumps is heard saying on the recording, ABC reported. Get her out tomorrow. I dont care. Get her out tomorrow. Take her out. OK? Do it.

If accurate, the recording backs up testimony in the House impeachment hearings that Trump had Yovanovitch removed because she was viewed as an obstacle to his efforts to press Ukraine into investigating Democrat Joe Biden and his son. She was recalled in May 2019.

The president reportedly made the remarks at an April 2018 dinner at the Trump International Hotel in Washington, where Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, associates of Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, were in attendance, ABC said.

The presidents comments appeared to be prompted by comments that the network attributed to Parnas, who said that we gotta get rid of the ambassador because she is telling people hes gonna get impeached, just wait.

Trump has denied knowing Parnas beyond taking a few photographs at fundraising events. Parnas has said that his activities in Ukraine with Giuliani were approved by Trump.

Parnas and Fruman were indicted by federal prosecutors on campaign finance charges as part of an alleged scheme to circumvent laws against straw donations and funneling foreign contributions to political candidates.

The White House and Giuliani didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. -- Jordan Fabian

Trump Likely to Object If Mulvaney Called (11:12 a.m.)

Trump probably would object to testimony from acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney on executive privilege grounds, the same as he would from former National Security Advisor John Bolton, White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said Friday.

There is a lot of information, sensitive information, national security information, that they discuss and thats something that should be protected, absolutely, for this country, and again for future presidencies, Grisham said on Fox News.

Mulvaney in October undercut the White House argument that there was no quid pro quo when he said that aid for Ukraine was tied to Trumps demand for an investigation into the 2016 election. We do that all the time with foreign policy, Mulvaney said at the time. Get over it.

Grisham said Friday that Mulvaney was simply saying that corruption needed to be looked into before aid to Ukraine was released.

I dont think he did say there was a quid pro quo, she said. I think he was saying we wanted to look into corruption before we would release taxpayer money. So if thats the quid pro quo, thats OK. -- Josh Wingrove

Trump Lawyers Still Plan to Start Saturday (10:19 a.m.)

Trumps lawyers still plan to open their defense on Saturday, an administration official familiar with the matter said Friday, hours after the president tweeted that Saturday is the Death Valley of television.

After having been treated unbelievably unfairly in the House, and then having to endure hour after hour of lies, fraud & deception by Shifty Schiff, Cryin Chuck Schumer & their crew, looks like my lawyers will be forced to start on Saturday, which is called Death Valley in T.V., Trump tweeted.

Trump Laments Defense Bumped From Prime Time (8:07 a.m.)

President Donald Trumps legal team will kick off their defense in his Senate impeachment trial on Saturday, the Death Valley of T.V., Trump lamented in an early Friday morning tweet.

After having been treated unbelievably unfairly in the House, and then having to endure hour after hour of lies, fraud & deception by Shifty Schiff, Cryin Chuck Schumer & their crew, looks like my lawyers will be forced to start on Saturday, which is called Death Valley in T.V., Trump tweeted.

Trumps lawyers have promised a vigorous defense against an investigation they have labeled as rushed and biased. Jay Sekulow, one of the lawyers representing Trump, has said the response to the Democrats case would combine both a rebuttal of their arguments as well as a positive defense of the presidents actions.

Some Republicans earlier this week said they worried Democrats were trying to push GOP arguments into the weekend, when TV viewership is traditionally much less. Senator Roy Blunt, one of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells top lieutenants, said Wednesday that Democrats efforts to force votes on all their amendments was a cynical ploy to push the presidents defense out of the prime time slot. -- Kathleen Miller

Managers to Argue for Obstruction Article (6 a.m.)

The seven House managers led by Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff plan on Friday to argue in support of the second impeachment article, which accuses Trump of obstructing the House investigation of his actions toward Ukraine.

Managers will say the article is supported by the Constitutions balance of power between the branches of government.

Catch Up on Impeachment Coverage

Key Events

Here is House Democrats web page containing documents related to the impeachment trial. House Democrats impeachment brief is here. Trumps initial reply is here, and his lawyers trial brief is here.The House impeachment resolution is H.Res. 755. The Intelligence Committee Democrats impeachment report is here.Gordon Sondlands transcript is here and here; Kurt Volkers transcript is here and here. Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitchs transcript is here and here; the transcript of Michael McKinley, former senior adviser to the secretary of State, is here. The transcript of David Holmes, a Foreign Service officer at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, is here.The transcript of William Taylor, the top U.S. envoy to Ukraine, is here and here. State Department official George Kents testimony is here and here. Testimony by Alexander Vindman can be found here, and the Fiona Hill transcript is here. Laura Coopers transcript is here; Christopher Andersons is here and Catherine Crofts is here. Jennifer Williams transcript is here and Timothy Morrisons is here. The Philip Reeker transcript is here. Mark Sandys is here.

--With assistance from Daniel Flatley, Kathleen Miller, Josh Wingrove, Laura Litvan, Magan Crane, Nick Wadhams, Greg Stohr, Jordan Fabian, Erik Wasson and Steven T. Dennis.

To contact the reporters on this story: Justin Sink in Washington at jsink1@bloomberg.net;Billy House in Washington at bhouse5@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Joe Sobczyk at jsobczyk@bloomberg.net, Laurie Asseo, John Harney

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
But the majority of jazz musicians did not regularly use intravenous drugs, according to an anonymous survey conducted by Nat Hentoff in the late 1950s - even though heroin was in vogue while the music was most popular. Instead, the cliche plays into a long, racist history of disproportionately prosecuting black drug users. The now-humorous cannabis euphemism "jazz cigarette" has its roots in early propaganda designed to paint black communities (and their artists) as dens of iniquity - and create reasons to arrest them. After various drug prohibition laws went into effect, they were enforced against black artists to seize their cabaret cards and thus keep them from performing. The notion lingers despite the fact that hard-drug users account for an even smaller proportion of jazz musicians today.

Myth No. 5: Jazz is dead.

Jazz accounts for 1 percent of music consumption - album sales and streaming - in America, according to Nielsen. The Michigan Daily recently described jazz as "a genre considered to be 'dying,' if not dead already." Who can blame the student journalists, when outlets like CNN still grapple with the question: "What was the cause of death, and when did it pass away?" it asked in 2016.
MIDLAND, MI  A 23-year-old Midland man died and two other people were injured after two vehicles crashed in Midland Thursday evening, Jan. 23.

Midland Police Department officers responded to the crash in the area of Jefferson Avenue and Nakoma Drive about 7:05 p.m. and were assisted by officials with the Midland Fire Department and Mid-Michigan Medical Center paramedics, according to a Midland Police Department news release.

Three people were transported to the hospital and the driver of one of the vehicles, a 23-year-old Midland man, was pronounced dead, the release states. The driver of the other vehicle, as well as a passenger of one of the involved vehicles, were being treated for injuries as of late Thursday evening.

Police are withholding the names of those involved until all families are notified. An investigation is ongoing and the Midland Police Department is seeking any information pertaining to this incident. Anyone who has information about the crash is asked to call the Midland Police Department shift supervisors office at 989-839-4713.

More news:

Man killed while repairing forklift in Saginaw County

Reward offered for tips in theft of forestry equipment, trailer in Bay County
A Chinese police officer wears a protective mask as passengers, many wearing masks also, arrive to board trains at a Beijing railway station in Beijing, China on Jan. 23, 2020. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Patients of Novel Coronavirus Show New Symptoms: Report

Patients in the Chinese city of Wuhan have been diagnosed with the new coronavirus after exhibiting non-respiratory-related symptomssuch as diarrhea, chest pains, and headaches according to Jan. 24 report by Chinese researchers reported by local media.

Thus far, official guidance on the symptoms of the Wuhan virus has been limited to fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as coughing, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.

However, according to local media a report by doctors and experts from Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University on Friday noted the appearance of initial symptoms not related to the respiratory system.

It said that many patients who contracted the virus did not have a fever. Therefore simply taking the temperatures of passengers at transport hubs is not enough to screen for the virus.

Chinese police officers wear protective masks as they patrol before the Chinese New Year at a Beijing railway station in Beijing, China on Jan. 23, 2020. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

According to the report, a patient may only present symptoms relating to the digestive system, such as diarrhea, vomiting, or having no appetite; or the nervous system, such as headaches; or the cardiovascular system, such as heart palpitations or tightness in the chest.

Other initial symptoms include conjunctivitis, mild pain in the limbs, or lower back pain.

Yu Honggang, professor at Gastroenterology department of the Renmin Hospital, told Chinese state-run newspaper Peoples Daily on Jan. 24 about the case of a coronavirus patient his team received who showed new symptoms.

Yu said the patient is a 45-year-old man. He had diarrhea for three days and visited a doctor at a hospital. The man told the doctor he had close contact with a virus patient.

The doctor then arranged a CT scan which found his lungs were infected. He was later confirmed to be infected by the novel coronavirus.

The report quoted Chen Guozhong, a professor at the respiratory and critical care unit of the hospital, that many patients had digestion-related symptoms, and didnt have any fever or coughing. Chen said it was very hard to detect the disease just by looking at the symptoms.

Chen wanted to alert medical staff that an infected patient may not be showing many symptoms, for example they may only have mild fatigue. But health workers should do more tests to diagnose whether the patient has been infected or not.

On Jan. 22, the Chinese National Health Commission released a diagnosis guidance, listing the main symptoms of the disease as fever, feeling fatigue, and dry coughing. It also noted that some patients may have nasal congestion, runny nose, or other upper respiratory symptoms

Current interim guidance by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that health professionals should look out for fever and symptoms of lower respiratory illness. The CDC did not return a request for comment by The Epoch Times.

Cases of Human-to-human Transmission

Chinese state-run broadcaster CCTV reported on Jan. 24 that two patients in the city of Tianjin are colleagues of a third diagnosed patient in the city. Neither have been to Wuhan.

The report said the three patients worked at the attendants office for the Tianjin high-speed rail. One of them had been to Wuhan before, while the others only worked at the Tianjin office.

State-run Peoples Daily reported that out of the official cases reported by authorities in Chinas southern Guangdong Province, eight had not been to Hubei Province before (where Wuhan is located), and 27 cases came from members of 10 families.

The report said that one patient who had not been to Wuhan did not have contact with any virus patients. Doctors are currently investigating how that patient was infected.

The novel coronavirus outbreak first officially reported in Wuhan on Dec. 31, 2019, has spread to every region in China except Tibet.

The virus has also spread abroad, with cases confirmed in Nepal, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Macau, and The United States.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Karina M. Tehusijarana, Ghina Ghaliya and Marchio Irfan Gorbiano (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, January 24 2020

Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly has come under fire for what critics say is an alleged attempt by the senior Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician to cover up the whereabouts of a fugitive suspect of a high-profile corruption case that implicates fellow members of his political party.

A group of academics started on Thursday an online petition calling for his dismissal from the Cabinet, an NGO coalition reported him to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for allegedly obstructing a graft investigation and House of Representatives lawmakers said they would summon him to a hearing  all within 12 hours.

The minister stands accused of covering up the whereabouts of graft suspect and PDI-P member Harun Masiku, who is wanted by the KPK for his alleged role in bribery centering on a dispute between the party and the General Elections Commission (KPU) over a legislative seat left vacant by a deceased party member.

to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content

e-Post daily digital newspaper

No advertisements, no interruptions

Privileged access to our events and programs

Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login
Since January 1, 2020, the minimum pension in Ukraine amounts to 66,7 dollars

Open source

Cabinet of Ministers approved the Pension Fund's budget for 2020. Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Honcharuk announced this on his Telegram page.

"The amount of funding for pension programs is 7 billion 26 million 81 thousand dollars. I note that the budget of the Pension Fund of Ukraine for 2020 is balanced," the message says.

It is worth noting that since January 1, 2020, the minimum pension in Ukraine amounts to 66,7 dollars, from July 1 it will increase to 69,7 dollars, from December 1 - up to 72 dollars.

In addition, as of January 1, 2020, the number of years of service required for retirement pensions has been steadily increasing in Ukraine.

Now only those who have at least 27 years of work experience can claim a pension.

If a person lacks seniority, the retirement age will not be 60, but 63, or 65, depending on the present work experience and the date of application for the pension.

As we reported earlier, Pension Fund of Ukraine has published data on the number of retirees and average pensions as of January 1, 2020. It was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to the Pension Funds publication on Facebook.

According to the Pension Fund, as of January 1, there were 11,3 million pensioners in Ukraine, and the average pension was 127 dollars.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 24

By Leman Zeynalova - Trend:

Israel fully supports Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, Israeli Ambassador to Azerbaijan George Deek said at a press conference in Baku, Trend reports.

"We know what a conflict is, and we fully support the efforts of the countries of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," the ambassador said.

"Israel will support any agreement that will be reached between the two countries," said the Israeli ambassador.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Transparency International has released a report in which it has also addressed the state of corruption in Armenia. Well-known economist Daron Ajemoglu has also commented on the anti-corruption manifestations in Armenia, reports Voice of America.

With a score of 42, Armenia improves by seven points since last year. Following the revolution in 2018 and the formation of a new parliament, the country has demonstrated promising developments in advancing anticorruption policy reforms. This is stated in Transparency Internationals Corruption Perceptions Index 2019.

The organization has classified Armenia and Kosovo along with the countries where it is necessary to follow the developments in the year to come. The report also states the following: Despite these improvements, conflicts of interests and nontransparent and unaccountable public operations remain impediments to ending corruption in the country.

While improving political integrity will take time and resources, increasing public trust in law enforcement and the judiciary are critical first steps in ensuring appropriate checks and balances and improving anti-corruption efforts.

In his turn, well-known economist Daron Acemoglu told Voice of America that he urges not to turn the fight against corruption into a way of persecuting political rivals. He brought Chinas example which he said is far from having effective anti-corruption policy.

If any influential leader or faction controls state bodies and persecutes rivals it weakens these bodies, Acemoglu said

He stressed that from the very beginning there was a danger that Armenia would follow a vicious path and this danger still exists.
It was supposed to be a simple fix.

New Jersey desperately needed an overhaul of its antiquated 911 emergency response system. To pay for it, a small fee was placed on every residents phone bill.

Yet in the decade since the fee was instituted, the fund has been raided repeatedly to help pay for other public safety expenses, like search and rescue.

On Friday, state and county officials held a press conference at the Statehouse in Trenton to call for an end to diverting the funds needed to improve the states 911 system.

That money has ended up in the black hole of the state budget, Sen. Michael Testa, R-Vineland, said. Its long past time for the state to do the right thing.

The current system is operating on 1980s technology, causing dispatchers to sometimes have trouble pinpointing the exact location of a cellphone caller. Inaccurate location data can lead to fatal mistakes caused by first-responders.

The newest technology, Next Generation 911, would help usher the current 911 system into the smartphone era, providing capabilities like sending photos to a dispatcher and improving the location of a caller.

According to the Federal Communications Commission, implementing Next Generation 911, commonly referred to as NextGen 911, would save more than 10,000 lives annually nationwide. Thirty-six states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have taken steps to integrate NextGen 911 in 2018, according to the most recent FCC report to Congress. Officials estimate the cost to overhaul the states system would be between $80 million and $100 million.

New Jersey was once a national leader in funding for NextGen 911 upgrades, sinking more than $118 million into the system, with more than 35% going towards upgrades, from 2004 to 2008. Now, New Jersey is one of only five states  Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and West Virginia  that continues to divert 911 fees, officials said.

We are the number one diverter of funds in the country, said Robert Ivanoff of the New Jersey Wireless Association. It has real-world consequences.

In 2004, the state Legislature and Gov. James McGreevey took on the problem of upgrading the 911 system, creating the 911 System and Emergency Response Trust Fund, bankrolled by a monthly 90-cent tax on every New Jersey phone bill. The tax has raked in an average of $124 million a year since.

Tens of millions of dollars more in grants were issued to county and local 911 offices, creating a reliable funding stream to the people who handle the bulk of 911 calls.

The diverting of 911 funding began under the administration of former Gov. Jon Corzine and continued under former Gov. Chris Christie. New Jersey cant qualify for federal grants because of the fee diversion.

An NJ Advance Media analysis published in 2016 found that of the $1.37 billion the state had collected in 911 fees since 2004, only 15 percent, about $211 million, had been used to help pay for the 911 system.

In 2019, New Jersey diverted $92 million of the $123 million it collected from taxpayers, officials said.

Gov. Phil Murphys 2020 budget shows nearly $31 million will go to the Office of Emergency Telecommunications Services and the Statewide 911 Emergency Telecommunications System, which is unchanged from the previous year.

Jennifer Sciortino, a spokeswoman for the Department of Treasury, said in a statement, We have said from day one that this administration is committed to weaning the state off of its historical over-reliance on diversions, as evidenced by the fact that we have either eliminated or significantly reduced diversions in the areas of affordable housing and clean energy.

This issue is one of many being discussed during ongoing preparations for the upcoming FY21 budget, she said. "At the end of the day, this underscores the continued need for new, reliable, recurring revenue sources.

John Donnadio, the executive director of the Association of Counties, said were optimistic that some of that funding will trickle down to the counties.

To fix the issue, lawmakers attempted a tried-and-true Trenton approach: adding a tax on top of a tax. They drafted legislation that would add an additional 9 cents to the fee collected from every phone bill, bringing the total fee to 99 cents.

Yet the bill never went up for a vote.

Opponents of such legislation have argued that adding a fee wouldnt guarantee the money will go to NextGen 911. The only ironclad way to ensure that happens is to take the rare step of passing a constitutional amendment.

Testa, the state senator, said he plans to introduce a constitutional amendment bill Monday. If that passes, it would then be up to New Jersey voters to decide if the money collected from the phone bill fees goes to upgrading 911 systems in the state.

Let the people decide it, Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden said. We can longer sit on the margins on this.

Some counties, like Monmouth, have resorted to using a patchwork of other technologies to help dispatchers on a local level. Monmouth County, for example, implemented Rapid SOS, which uses a cellphones IP address to get an exact location of a 911 caller.

To help pay for these Band-Aid solutions, some counties have had to increase taxes  essentially double taxing residents who already pay on their phone bills.

The states decade-long misappropriation of the 911 fees has created a system of double taxation, said Cape May County Freeholder Marie Hayes.

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips

Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
THE Governments response to the dangers of smart motorways was woefully inept, said MP Sarah Champion after she called for an immediate end to the roll-out of the scheme.

But the politician said it was a good thing that transport minister George Freeman admitted the scheme was flawed during Wednesdays parliamentary debate.

Ms Champion has been campaigning alongside widow Claire Mercer whose husband Jason (44), of Broom, was killed on a stretch of the M1 All-Lane Running (ALR) smart motorway in June.

Leading the debate, Ms Champion said: The safety features that were promised when the motorway was converted have still not been installed.

Jason is one of a growing number of victims of so-called smart motorways, in which the flow of traffic is controlled by remotely adjustable speed limits.

Specifically, Jason was killed on an All-Lane-Running motorway (ALR), in which the hard shoulder has been permanently removed, she said

The same 16-mile section of the M1 has seen five fatalities in 10 months.

She added: I acknowledge that ALR schemes can deliver capacity improvements. But they are doing it at a cost of motorists lives.

In 2016, a Highways England Report found that it took an average of 17 minutes to detect a stranded vehicle and a further three minutes to close a lane once a stationary vehicle had been detected.

Ms Champion added: In Jason Mercer's case, it took over six minutes to detect his stationary vehicle. The lane in which he was stranded, was only closed after the crash which claimed his life.

Stationary vehicle detection (SVD) technology reduces the time taken to spot stranded vehicles by an average of 16 minutes. Highways England committed to fitting SVD throughout the smart motorway network in 2016.

This has not happened.

On Tuesday, the AA said it would no longer carry out roadside assistance on All-Lane Running motorways due to the serious safety concerns, prompting Ms Champion to ask: How bad does it have to get before the minister acts?

Mr Freeman called the AAs announcement concerning, adding: We need the support of all vehicle resuce operators.

He said the Government had never expected emergency workers to stop in a live lane. Ms Champion called this an extroidinary justififcation which showed the government had known emergency workers would not be able to access vehicles in trouble.

Speaking after the hearing, Ms Champion said the minister kicked her calls to stop the roll-out into the long grass.

In October, the Government committed to reviewing All-Lanes Running Smart Motorways. Mr Freeman told the debate the results of the review were imminent  but Ms Champion said in the meantime people are dying and many more are being put at risk

Mrs Mercer is crowdfunding for a judicial review into the controversial scheme. Read more about her campaign at smartmotorwayskill.co.uk.

Highways England claim there have been fewer collisions and congestion since the introduction of ALR.
Delegations led by Heads of State and Government Ministers will participate alongside high-level representatives from inter-governmental organizations, civil society, and academia at this major international summit.

During the three-day event, these delegations will:

Affirm and sign into being the Universal Declaration of Balanced and Inclusive Education (UDBIE); and Affirm and sign into being platforms and mechanisms of technical and financial cooperation to support the implementation of commitments made in the UDBIE.

This assembly of nations of the Global South taking leadership in reforming education, preparing societies and communities to confront the challenges and opportunities of sustainable development, embodies the aspirations shared by many in the international community. Convened with the understanding of the urgency for new equitable models of social and economic development to be constructed through education, the III ForumBIE 2030  International Summit on Balanced and Inclusive Education  embraces new ideas and ensures new paths can be found.

The Universal Declaration follows in the spirit of previous international agreements on education. It combines those ideas, links them with novel concepts, and situates them within a holistic, flexible and operational structure resting on four key pillars of Balanced and Inclusive Education (BIE): Intraculturalism, Transdisciplinarity, Dialecticism and Contextuality.

The Education Relief Foundation (ERF) is a Geneva-based not-for-profit and non-governmental organisation which serves to develop, promote and embed a balanced and inclusive education through policy development, capacity building and civil society engagement, amongst other activities.

The first ForumBIE 2030 was held at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland in December 2017. In November 2018, II ForumBIE 2030 in Mexico City saw both the launch of the Global Guide of Ethics, Principles, Policies, and Practices in Balanced and Inclusive Education, and the initial signing of the International Call for Balanced and Inclusive Education  the document which called for the preparation of the Universal Declaration of Balanced and Inclusive Education.

To date, the International Call for Balanced and Inclusive Education has garnered 41 signatures, representing 671 governmental, academic and civil society entities from 110 countries.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1029418/ERF_Logo.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1081168/ERF_Djibouti_Signing.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1081173/ERF_and_UDBIE_flags.jpg

For more information, contact:

Etienne Lacombe-Kishibe, Head of Media and Communications

E: [email protected] | P: 0041 22 920 0859 | M: 0041 79 864 2692

SOURCE The Education Relief Foundation
JERSEYVILLE  City officials are preparing for a project to resurface five miles of U.S. 67, including Jerseyvilles downtown area.

Jerseyville Public Works Director Bob Manns on Thursday said the project  stretching from Fulkerson Drive to Crystal Lake Road  was long needed. He said that, in late 2019, core samples by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) discovered the road conditions were subpar.

The fact is, this has been needed for a long time, Manns said. Hopefully no one is in here to debate whether or not the road surface needs to be replaced; it definitely does.

Manns said the project also would address safety concerns on U.S. 67 in Jerseyville, adding the best option would be to convert from angle parking to parallel parking and adding a bi-directional turn lane. He showed examples of parallel parking in downtowns in Edwardsville, Belleville, and Collinsville.

IDOT needs to have a plan prepared by March, Manns said, to meet its June bid-letting schedule. Construction could start in August.

We can work with them (IDOT) on things like schedule and start dates, Manns said. We can work with them to say things like, Can you start in this segment? or Dont shut down a five-block corridor.

The plan is what IDOT calls a band-aid solution, he said, providing a five- to 15-year solution until IDOT can do a complete reconstruction of U.S. 67.

Jerseyville council member Nick Bexheti, in charge of streets and public improvements, assured Thursdays audience that he and Manns are listening to everyone.

Were not going to work against the business owners and the city, Bexheti said.

Beth Bear, director of the Jersey County Business Association, said she had polled 54 businesses about their support of the plan and found 28 opposed it. Six were neutral and the others said they did not have enough information.

What is good for business is not necessarily in their (IDOTs) wheelhouse, Bear said.

She also said adding the bi-directional turn lane could be an issue.

Studies have shown that a third lane of traffic is intimidating to pedestrians, she said. I think common sense tells us those same things. If we want to have a vibrant downtown, we have to have a walk-able downtown.

Bert Challans of Whitworth-Horn and Goetten Insurance Agency questioned the need to have this fight now.

Why dont you wait and blame it on the state, Challans said. Then you can wait five to 10 years and get parking on the off-sites in order. I just dont see the point in having to do this now when you say its going to be done later.

Challans agreed there are safety benefits in parallel parking. He said accident rates in downtowns with such parking are astronomically low.

Manns said he will have a plan for the city council to review at its meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 28.
YEREVAN.  At the January 24 sitting of the National Assembly of Armenia, the deputies passed in the second final reading a number of legislative amendments to the existing laws, the Armenian News-NEWS.am correspondent reports from parliament.

These include the packages of bills on making amendments and, or, addenda to the Laws on Local Self-Government, Trade and Services and Related Laws, Residential Building Management and Related Laws, and Protection of Economic Competition.

In addition, the parliamentarians passed some other draft laws in the first reading.
Alabamians have been watching in recent weeks to see how Alabama will handle the question of refugee resettlement.

Other Republican governors have been split on the question, with Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee allowing refugees into his state, and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ending his states participation in the program.

As Gov. Lee pointed out in public comments following his decision, there is a great deal of misunderstanding surrounding the issue. Many Americans hear the word refugee and think of undocumented migrants seeking asylum at our southern border, unvetted and unsorted. In reality, individuals who are termed refugees and thus eligible for resettlement have already gone through an average of two years of vetting, first by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and then by the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP).

People do not apply to be refugees. They are identified by the UNHCR based upon their displacement from their home country and a high degree of vulnerability: women, children, and those with significant medical needs rise to the top of the priority list. Ditto for those who have survived violence or torture. Once identified by the UN as qualified for consideration, the UNHCR conducts an extensive screening process to weed out individuals who might present a security risk.

The UN then refers those who qualify on to the US or other nations who offer resettlement opportunities. With the referral comes a great deal of data to aid the potential host nation in completing its own screening: iris scans, fingerprints, bio scans and records from numerous interviews and background checks. The US then conducts a second, equally thorough screening process to confirm the need for resettlement and rule out security risk.

For the lucky ones who survive this two-year gauntlet of questioning and waiting, this is where they are connected with one of 9 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) for resettlement and subsequent support. Many of the NGOs are faith-based organizations like World Relief or the US Conference of Catholic Bishops. All of this occurs before any refugee is placed in a state like Alabama, Tennessee, or Texas.

When asked why he chose to maintain Tennessees participation in the program, Lee defended the decision and shared about his wifes work with female Kurdish refugees who have resettled in Nashville. The women became refugees after their husbands, translators for the US military, were killed.

Im not turning my back on those people, he said. Lee, like all Republicans, believes in the need for a secure border and a safer, more orderly immigration process for our nation.

But he understands the difference between an illegal immigrant and a refugee. That difference is vast. Alabama is a very red state largely because Alabama is a very Evangelical Christian state. We are bent toward conservatism because of our deeply held convictions about the value of human life, the necessity of religious liberty, and our distrust of big government. But its those same core beliefs about the value of human life and the right to practice our faith as we see fit that should combust in the people of Alabama and set fire to a yearning to minister to women and children in crisis. Its that same gut-level desire to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to the least of these that should have us crawling over one another trying to get to our nearest NGO to help with resettlement efforts. To welcome refugees is not to risk ourselves. It is simply to give a tiny portion of our abundance of safety, economic opportunity and liberty to those who have none.

You and I will incur more risk getting on the freeway to get home from work tonight than we will at the hands of resettled refugees. There is, of course, a discussion to be had about how many such people we can accommodate, and how to best accomplish resettlement and assimilation into our culture.

But as a Christian  and in light of the facts, rather than unfounded fears ginned up by political rhetoric and an erroneous conflation of the illegal immigration problem with the refugee question  I believe that Tennessee Governor Lees persistence in offering a safe harbor to the hurting is correct. I hope Alabama will join Tennessee and make a decision that fully reflects the Christian faith of which our state is so quick to boast.

Dana Hall McCain, a widely published writer on faith, culture, and politics, is Resident Fellow of the Alabama Policy Institute, a non-partisan, non-profit research and educational organization based in Birmingham; learn more at alabamapolicy.org.
Caroline Brehman/Getty

About four hours into Thursdays session of the Senate impeachment trial, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), the Houses lead impeachment manager, had yet another video clip queued up to show senators in order to help make Democrats case for President Trumps removal.

Taking full advantage of their video privileges, the impeachment managers had played dozens of such clips since opening their arguments in the trial on Wednesday. But when Schiff tried to show a segment of White House aide Lt. Col. Alexander Vindmans testimony, it didnt work.

Sensing technical difficulties, Schiff offered a joke. Weve heard enough of Col. Vindman, he quipped, before pressing on. For some of the Republicans sitting in the chamber, however, the joke couldnt have been truer: Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa nodded at Schiffs crack, glancing conspiratorially at her neighbor, Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas.

The moment underscored the sheer amount of evidence Schiff and his fellow managers have thrown at the 100 jurors deciding the fate of Trumps presidency over the course of nearly 12 hours of argument.

But if the Democratic impeachment managers presentations on Wednesday were meant to appeal to the Senates sense of constitutional responsibility, Thursdays were designed as an evidence-packed pre-rebuttal to what senators may hear from the White House when Trumps defense team outlines their case in the coming days.

Central to that case was a detailed outline of Trumps willingness to divert from long-standing U.S. policy, based on Russian disinformation and plotting Ukrainian former officials, to pressure Kyiv on investigations that benefited him politically.

Beginning this effort was Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-TX) who walked through a lengthy discussion of the conspiracy theory that former Vice President Joe Bidens involvement in Ukraine during the Obama administration had something to do with Hunter Bidens appointment to board of the Ukrainian gas company Burisma in 2014.

Story continues

As the theory goes, Vice President Biden tried to remove Ukraine's prosecutor all to make sure the prosecutor wouldn't investigate that specific company Burisma because, again, his son was on the board, Garcia said. Then senators, if that doesnt sound far-fetched and complicated to you, it should.

Biden, along with the support of the Obama White House, Congress, and a coalition of international organizations and allied countries, called for the firing of then-Ukrainian prosecutor general Viktor Shokin in 2016 as a result of Shokins failure to address corruption in Ukraine. That failure also included allowing an investigation into Burisma to go dormant.

Democrats labored to dispel the idea the president was led astray by his personal lawyer Rudy Giuiliani, who along with associates Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman schemed with embattled Ukrainian officials to get rid of former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch.

Or that Trump was unaware of the effort by U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland and others to get Ukraine to agree to investigate the Bidens in exchange for a meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the release of congressionally approved aid to Ukraine.

Trump Wanted Zelensky to Publicly Announce He Was Investigating Biden

The impeachment managers also sought to make clear that Trump and his pursuit of a political edge was behind it all. Indeed, the meat of their presentation on Thursday was a 10-point list of reasons why Trump was acting in his personal interest on Ukraine, not the national interest.

As Garcia spoke, senators, including Republicans, appeared glued to their reading materials and to the videos displayed on the screenincluding a clip from Dr. Fiona Hill, former top Russia adviser to Trump, in which she lays out how Russia spread the conspiracy theory that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election.

Fiona Hill Blasts GOP Alternate Narrative on Ukraine

Schiff specifically pointed to the fact that Trump chose to use Guiliani to work on the Ukraine investigations pressure campaign and that Trumps advisers on Ukraine were deliberately left out of the loop on what would be discussed on the presidents July 25 call with Zelensky.

Garcia focused on that call, too, pointing to how Trump mentioned the 2016 election, the DNC server, and Crowdstrike, and pushed the Ukrainians to investigate. (The idea that Crowdstrike is or was somehow holding that server or participated in the interference in the 2016 election is a well-known conspiracy theory that former and current U.S. officials have outlined as one propagated by Russia.) According to a previous report in The Daily Beast, Ukrainian officials listening on the July 25 call did not know what Crowdstrike was and were caught off guard by Trump urging Zelensky to look into it.

The topics re-emergence made for some awkward moments.

Several Republican senators who have insisted the president had every reason to investigate the debunked conspiracy theory that Ukraine also meddled in the 2016 election sat silently as Garcia played a clip of FBI Director Christopher Wray dismissing the theory out of hand.

Asked about the presentation, Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) said he would wait for the White Houses presentation before passing judgment on whether Ukraine meddled in the election.

I dont think we know that until we get to Saturday, he said. So Ive heard that that will be woven into what we hear on the defense and maybe well learn more there. I just dont think you can do it all in a vacuum, you know, to where youre not getting both sides of the story. And remember that hasnt occurred yet.

Another Republican, Sen. Mike Braun of Indiana, said he was anxious to hear how the presidents defense team was going to respond to the Russian disinformation evidence. Braun said hed reserve judgment until then because Democrats statements rested on friendly witnesses and people that, you know, are there to build their case.

The White House is expected to begin laying out that case during a rare Saturday session of the Senate on Jan. 25. On Thursday night, White House counsel Jay Sekulow teased that Democrats Biden pre-rebuttal amounted to a free pass for them to dive into the topic.

Its been a lot about Joe Biden and Burisma, Sekulow told reporters. It kind of opened the door for that response, so we'll determine as a defense team the appropriate way to do it

But speaking to reporters during a break Thursday, Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, argued that the defense had been dealt a devastating blow before even laying out its case, calling the managers presentation a knife in the heart to the false arguments Team Trump would make.

Intent on packing as much evidence as possible into the 24 hours of floor time, spread over three days, that they have been allotted to make their case, Democrats leveraged their video privileges for a novel purpose: turning senators own words from the last impeachment against them.

The instigator was none other than House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY), who followed his acerbic debut as an impeachment manager on Tuesday with another move that instantly caused a stir on the staid Senate floor.

After playing a series of video clips of constitutional scholars from his committee, he chose to call out Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) for comments he made during the impeachment of President Bill Clinton in 1999. Graham was a GOP impeachment manager in Clintons trial, and his task was to convince senators and the public that the presidents conduct met the lofty bar of high crimes and misdemeanors. In order to do so, he offered a simple but expansive definition.

Whats a high crime? a long-haired, younger Graham asked. How about if an important person hurts somebody of low means? Its not very scholarly, but I think its the truth. I think thats what they meant by high crimes. Doesnt have to be a crime. Its just when you start using your office and youre acting in a way that hurts people, youve committed a high crime.

Although Graham had left the chamber just before Nadler played the clip, his colleagues on both sides of the aisle exchanged surprised looks with their neighbors. Sen. Brain Schatz (D-HI) shook his head, while Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), Grahams seatmate, patted his empty chairbecause the South Carolina senator had left the chamber.

During a break afterward, however, GOP senators mostly shrugged at the import of what Graham had said 20 years ago.

Thats the irony of being here for a long time, said Braun.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here

Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!

Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
Three months after the top floors of the Hard Rock Hotel collapsed during construction, growing public outrage over the still-trapped bodies of two workers has set up a clash between Mayor LaToya Cantrell and City Council members who are now demanding answers.

Council members have largely been sidelined and quiet since the top floors of the 18-story building collapsed Oct. 12, killing three workers and injuring many more. But on Thursday, amid a fury that grew after the remains of one worker on the building's upper floors were exposed to public view, several members of the council called for public hearings into the disaster.

Protest planned for Friday in front of collapsed Hard Rock Hotel: 'We haven't forgotten' The rally takes place at 3 p.m. on Jan. 24 after disturbing photographs of a deceased worker ignited outrage over the downtown disaster.

At least four council members are now backing council hearings into the collapse.

"I believe it is the role of this legislative body to ensure and demand a proper investigation and seek the truth behind this tragedy," Councilwoman Helena Moreno said in a press release Thursday afternoon. "While we have been patient as the official investigation is still ongoing, ultimately, those responsible must be held to account  both for the victims and for the city as well so that we see to it that this never happens again."

Those calls, however, ran into quick opposition from Cantrell and her administration.

"Investigation into this incident will be handled by the appropriate law enforcement authorities within the judicial system," Cantrell spokesman Beau Tidwell said in a statement. "City legislators have no role in that process.

That is unlikely to deter the council members, however.

"This is a public safety hazard, this is a matter of commerce, and this is also a matter of closure for the families that still have their loved ones inside that building. And this needs to come to a resolution and this building needs to come down like yesterday," Councilman Jared Brossett said.

+5 Hard Rock collapse: photo showing worker's remains sparks broad outrage Its been three months since New Orleans officials halted their mission to recover the bodies of two construction workers trapped in the half-

Brossett said the first update he had received from the administration since the collapse was a Facebook post by the mayor on Wednesday. He said that lack of communication showed the need for a special committee to deal with homeland security and cybersecurity matters, including the Hard Rock collapse.

Cantrell herself is in Washington, D.C., for the Washington Mardi Gras celebration and meetings of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Public ire turned on city government this week after photos circulated on social media showing that a tarp that had been covering the body of one worker, Quinnyon Wimberly, trapped beneath rubble had become dislodged, revealing the body. Another worker's body also remains trapped in the building.

Those images turned into a catalyst for anger that has been simmering over the collapse to boil over, with many residents blaming both the Cantrell administration and 1031 Canal Development LLC, the firm responsible for the project, headed by Mohan Kailas.

Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

Among the frustrations enraging residents were the fact that the bodies have not yet been recovered, the building has not yet been demolished and no one has yet been held responsible for the disaster.

A protest calling for an investigation and range of changes is scheduled to march from the Hard Rock site at Canal and North Rampart streets to City Hall on Friday.

Exactly what form council hearings might take and when they would occur is yet to be determined, and members of the council have expressed differing views.

An investigation into the cause of the collapse that is being conducted by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is scheduled to be completed in April.

But the lack of "desperately needed" answers so far means the council should step in now, said Councilman Jason Williams, who called for a special committee focused solely on the Hard Rock collapse.

"Out of respect for the other ongoing inquiries, I originally thought it best to wait for other formal investigations to proceed," Williams said. "It is now abundantly clear that we as a city can no longer delay action on this matter."

"Based on my research since this tragedy occurred, I have found a clear precedent for such local investigation occurring concurrently with other investigatory agencies," Williams said. "I believe this is exactly what the people of New Orleans expect and deserve."

In an emailed statement, Councilwoman Kristin Gisleson Palmer said she supports council hearings on the matter, but not now.

"Our primary concern must first be ensuring the safe demolition of the structure and retrieval of the remains of the workers still trapped inside," Palmer said. "Once that has occurred and the relevant investigations are complete, as the council member of the district where this disaster occurred, I believe it is my responsibility to hold public hearings in conjunction with other offices so the public can gain a better understanding of what happened and how we as a city can move forward."

Gambit commentary: The Hard Rock collapse, and a disastrous city response to an ongoing tragedy A tarp blew off the building, exposing the body of a worker trapped in the rubble and sparking outrage among the public.

Some residents have also started to criticize Cantrell for seeming to be too lenient on the development firm. While a new tarp was put up to cover the dead worker Wednesday afternoon, that came after Cantrell's administration issued a statement chastising residents for sharing photos of Wimberly's body.

"Mayor Cantrell's sole focus is on keeping the public safe during the demolition process, and on recovering the remains of the victims to bring closure to their families," Tidwell said. "Once the active threat to public safety has been dealt with, we can turn our full attention to holding the responsible parties to full account and see justice done."
At the same time at Westminster, Government minister Luke Hall was rising to speak in a debate in the Commons to mark the day

Monday marks the anniversary of the moment exactly 75 years ago when the first soldier from an advancing infantry division of the Soviet Red Army walked into the Auschwitz concentration camp in what was literally the first step in its liberation - and the full revelation of its horror to the world.

To mark Holocaust Memorial Day a commemoration ceremony on Thursday in Yad Vashem, Jerusalem, brought together an impressive mix of world leaders - Prince Charles, Emmanuel Macron, Vladimir Putin and Mike Pence among them.

At the same time at Westminster, Government minister Luke Hall was rising to speak in a debate in the Commons to mark the day.

It would be fair to say that he wasn't exactly addressing a full House.

A relatively small number of MPs had taken their seats on the benches on either side. There have been bigger turnouts for Commons debates on Northern Ireland - and that's saying something.

A Jewish commentator on a national news programme pointed up the sparse attendance, particularly on the Labour benches.

Given the party's recent shameful record of failure to deal with anti-Semitism within its ranks he was, he said, surprised that more of its MPs hadn't made the effort to attend.

But then, he added caustically, perhaps they felt they had more important things to do than attend a debate remembering the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis, and all the other genocides since, from Rwanda to Bosnia.

Victims of the Nazi death camps included gypsies (both Roma and Sinti), gay people, communists, Poles, those who spoke out against the Third Reich, disabled people and those loosely labelled 'antisocial'.

But it was, of course, the Jews of Europe who were the primary target of Hitler's systematic butchery.

Expand Close Meghan Markle / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Meghan Markle

He wanted to wipe the Jewish people off the face of the Earth.

Post-war, the slogan 'Never Again' defined the global revulsion at what had taken place, and the determination to stamp out the hatred that powered it.

And look how well that's turned out.

Within living memory of the Holocaust there are now the flourishing (especially online) legions of Holocaust deniers.

'Never Again' has been supplanted by 'It Never Happened'.

Deniers of Hitler's genocide range from far-Right nutters to the bigots of the 'liberal' Left, plus conspiracy theory headcases who also believe aeroplane vapour trails are the CIA spraying us with sedatives.

We have a leading political party in the UK failing (or refusing) to deal with ingrained anti-Semitic hatred.

Zio (Zionist) has become the sleekit way of saying Jew, the new way of enabling the haters to cloak their bigotry.

And acts of anti-Semitic violence are spiralling.

No wonder Jews throughout Europe feel increasingly fearful for their safety. No wonder so many look upon Israel, the Jewish state, as their sanctuary.

As the Holocaust Educational Trust has warned, anti-Semitism "is now permeating the mainstream here in the UK from its previous home on the radical fringes of society".

This week the trust had called for no "empty gestures" from MPs with regard to Holocaust Memorial Day.

You don't get more obvious empty gestures from MPs than a half vacant Commons chamber.

This, for a debate marking such an important anniversary in human history. At a time when hatred of the Jews is again being fomented and encouraged.

The sad fact is that by the next major anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz most survivors will be dead, apart from those who were small children when they were incarcerated.

It will be up to others to remember humankind's worst inhumanity. And political representatives should be leading the way.

Yes, it's hard to get your head around the enormity of the Holocaust, although on an individual level, maybe not so much if you imagine what it would be like if, today, it was your family being led away. Your children. Your parents. Your family.

And then to consider how that image remains so much more haunting, so much more plausible and threatening for the Jews of Europe - even in 2020, even 75 years on from that January morning the world learned the full truth about Auschwitz.

MLAs' slowness over pay hike not so grand

It's taken our politicians a whole week of breast-beating and negotiations before they've worked out a sort of strategy on how to give back the 1,000 pay windfall that has so enraged voters. If it takes them that long to sort something so simple it doesn't exactly give confidence in their overall problem-solving abilities. One suggestion they've come up with is to give the cash to charity. It would be interesting to learn which charities...

Are we ready for China crisis?

Was it a snake? Was it a bat? Was it an insect?

All these (and other improbable delicacies) were on the menu at the Wuhan seafood market where the now rampant coronavirus is believed to have originated.

Experts still don't seem to have narrowed down the source.

What we do know, though, is that the disease is spreading rapidly, that there is as yet no vaccine and that suspected cases have included one here.

Can we be confident, then, that global health chiefs - and those closer to home - are on top of the crisis?

Take the account of Craig Dillon arriving back in the UK on a flight that had stopped off in China. He'd been diagnosed with a raised temperature but hadn't been stopped at Heathrow.

When he attended hospital he was swiftly shepherded out into the car park by a masked medic who pointed him towards a rear entrance, ordered him to go in and follow the corridor to a sectioned off bedroom.

There the now understandably unnerved patient was joined by two doctors in the medical equivalent of hazmat suits.

Craig hadn't contracted the virus. But, as he points out, before he'd been admitted to hospital he'd been out and about with friends. He'd been to his work. He'd been to Starbucks.

Screening at Heathrow obviously left something to be desired.

And given the average wait in A&E these days, you can see how the bug would have time to get around a bit there too pre-isolation of patient.

So are the authorities prepared? You'd like to think.

Pa Markle could coin in a royal mint

Now we know who she gets it from... This week's Markle headline-maker was father Thomas, who appeared in a Channel 5 documentary talking about his hurt, his anger and his intent to make money out of his royal connection. Meghan and Harry are currently facing Palace opposition to their planned 'Sussex Royal' brand. But who's to stop old Tom from marketing Brand Markle? He'd be a (commemorative) mug not to.
Snooki may be out for a fourth season of Jersey Shore Family Vacation, but there is apparently more of the third season to come.

The show, which has been on hiatus since November, returns next month.

On Thursday, MTV released a new trailer featuring the return of Mike The Situation Sorrentino from prison.

The clip is the second look at the new episodes after MTV released an initial trailer in November. The preview shows Sorrentino, 38, reuniting with the cast after his release from prison in September. The Long Branch resident served eight months at the federal prison in Otisville, New York for tax evasion.

The Jersey Shore revival, which premiered in 2018, returns 8 p.m. on Jerzday Thursday, Feb. 27. The cast will be seen spending time in New Jersey as well as New Orleans and Las Vegas (home to two cast members, Paul Pauly D DelVecchio and Ronnie Ortiz-Magro).

In December, just weeks after the first half of the third season ended and days after the cast celebrated the 10th anniversary of Jersey Shore, Nicole Snooki Polizzi announced she would be departing the show.

Polizzi, 32, who lives in Florham Park, cited death threats aimed at the reality star and her children and drama among the cast in her decision, along with the commitment that filming the series required, which meant time away her children. She can still be seen in the upcoming episodes.

Have a tip? Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook.

Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
[January 24, 2020] AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company and Its Subsidiaries

AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of "aa-" of Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company and its subsidiaries, United of Omaha Life Insurance Company, Companion Life Insurance Company (Hauppauge, NY) and United World Life Insurance Company. Concurrently, AM Best has affirmed the Long-Term Issue Credit Ratings (Long-Term IR) of "a" on the group's existing surplus notes. The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The group collectively is referred to as Mutual of Omaha, and unless otherwise specified, is located in Omaha, NE. The ratings reflect Mutual of Omaha's balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorizes as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, favorable business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM). Mutual of Omaha's risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), remains at the strongest level. The organization continues to report a trend of capital and surplus growth that is supporting its insurance- and investment-related risks on a consolidated and individual operating entity basis. However, Mutual of Omaha has experienced a declining risk-based capital level due to capital strain from new business, which remains within the company's targeted range. In addition, the ratio of below-investment-grade holdings to capital trended up in 2019. The company has experienced capital risk reduction through reinsurance. Furthermore, AM Best notes that the company's financial leverage was modest at approximately 10% with interest coverage of four times and operating leverage was within guidelines at approximately 11%. Mutual of Omaha's operating performance is viewed as strong as the company continues to report favorable GAAP operating results, although on a statutory basis, the company reported a loss in 2018. However, in 2019, the group returned to profitable operations in aggregate, with all business segments contributing positively to the organization's strong revenue growth. Operating earnings in 2018 were below expectations, primarily driven by individual life mortality and new business strain. Additionally, the company experienced igher claims in the Medicare supplement line, as well as high startup costs related to its entry into the Medicare Advantage line. These losses were offset by favorable experience in the Workplace Solutions segment, combined with better-than-expected results in corporate-owned life insurance.



Mutual of Omaha is a large and well-established insurer with strong brand recognition operating via a national platform. The organization is well-recognized in the insurance and retirement markets, with a leading market position in Medicare supplement and a leading position in the group disability and voluntary product segments, as well as favorable growth in the retirement services business. AM Best notes that Mutual of Omaha exited the banking segment through its recent sale of Mutual of Omaha Bank. The banking operation was a non-core business and operated as an independent subsidiary. However, Mutual of Omaha retained the mortgage banking business through its subsidiary, Synergy (News - Alert) One Lending, and will market the business under Mutual of Omaha Mortgage. Mutual of Omaha's suite of products, distribution network and partnerships continue to expand and diversify, adding to the company's favorable business profile. Mutual of Omaha maintains a formal ERM program assessed as appropriate. The company has clear risk appetite statements that guide the organization and are embedded in its ERM policy. Economic capital modeling is used to assess risks and allocate capital based upon and to support business decisions. The company also maintains an ongoing focus on cyber risk capabilities and expansion of its risk culture throughout the organization.

The following Long-Term IRs have been affirmed with a stable outlook: Mutual of Omaha Insurance Company-

-- "a" on $300 million 4.297% surplus notes, due 2054

-- "a" on $300 million 6.95% surplus notes, due 2040

-- "a" on $300 million 6.80% surplus notes, due 2036 This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper media use of Best's Credit Ratings and AM Best press releases, please view Guide for Media - Proper Use of Best's Credit Ratings and AM Best Rating Action Press Releases. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in New York, London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright  2020 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005354/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
New Delhi [India], Jan 24 (ANI): With polling dates inching closer and campaigning for assembly elections intensifying in Delhi, Union Home Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amit Shah will be addressing three public rallies in the national capital on Friday.



Shah will address rallies in Mustafabad, Karawal Nagar and Gokulpuri areas of Delhi.

BJP President JP Nadda will also hold two public rallies in Laxmi Nagar and Viswas Nagar areas of East Delhi.

The day's campaigning will also witness a roadshow by Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal who will be leading a roadshow in the national capital to seek votes for the AAP candidate.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia will also address a public rally in support of the party's Dwarka assembly constituency candidate.

Delhi Congress leaders have also planned different door to door campaigns and public meetings to reach out to voters as part of an ongoing poll campaign. (ANI)


Donald Trump has tweeted a photoshopped image of Barack Obama scaling the walls of Trump Tower with suction cups and holding binoculars.

The image, which was posted without a caption, appeared to be a reference to Mr Trumps claims that Mr Obama and the FBI illegally spied on him.

Mr Trump tweeted in March 2017: Terrible! Just found out that Obama had my wires tapped in Trump Tower just before victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism!

In 2018, the president started a conspiracy theory nicknamed Spygate that the Obama administration placed a spy in his 2016 presidential campaign in order to help his then rival, Hillary Clinton.

His accusations against the former US president were refuted by Michael Horowitz, inspector general of the Justice Department, who told the Senate in December there was no evidence that the FBI wiretapped Mr Trumps phone.

All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Show all 6 1 /6 All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Alan Dershowitz Dershowitz is a controversial American lawyer best known for the high-profile clients he has successfully defended. Those clients have included OJ Simpson, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein. One longtime Harvard Law associated told the New Yorker Dershowitz "revels in taking positions that ultimately are not just controversial but pretty close to indefensible." Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Ken Starr Starr became a household name in the 1990s as the independent counsel who led the investigation that led to Bill Clinton's impeachment. That investigation began as a look into a real estate scandal known as Whitewater, and eventually led to impeachment after Mr Clinton lied under oath about having an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. AP All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Jay Sekulow Sekulow is the president's longtime personal attorney, and, now, personal lawyer in the White House. He has been accused by former Rudy Giuliani associate Lev Parnas of being "in the loop" during the Ukraine scandal. Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Pam Bondi Bondi is the former attorney general in Florida, and a longtime backer of the president's. She made a name for herself in Florida for taking hyper partisan stances on issues, and her penchant for publicity. She is likely to be a prominent public-facing figure during the trial. AFP/Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Pat Cipollone Cipollone is the White House counsel, and leading the president's defence team. Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Rudy Giuliani While not officially named as one of the president's impeachment lawyers, it is hard to ignore Giuliani's outsized role in this process. The former mayor of New York has been making headlines for months as he defends his client, and for his apparent role in the effort to compel Ukraine to launch the investigation into Joe Biden. We'll see how he figures in the actual trial, which he has said he would like to be a part of. Reuters

The inspector general led a watchdog report into the FBIs investigation of certain Trump aides and their suspected ties to the Russian government.

His findings concluded there were a number of basic and fundamental errors in the investigation but there was no evidence that Mr Obama or the FBI spied on the Trump campaign.

The report also said there was no evidence that the FBI attempted to place any Confidential Human Sources (CHS) within the Trump campaign, recruit members of the Trump campaign as CHSs, or task CHSs to report on the Trump campaign.

Mr Horowitz testified that the FBIs probe was flawed and called it a travesty as agents failed to meet the basic obligation to ensure applications for surveillance were scrupulously accurate.

Mr Trump repeatedly branded the FBI investigation a witch hunt and said it was an attempt to overthrow his government.

But the watchdogs report concluded there was no documentary or testimonial evidence that political bias of improper motivation influenced the FBIs decision to conduct these operations.
The good news for British travellers visiting the EU after Brexit on January 31 is that there is no news. The Department for Exiting the European Union has confirmed that there will be a transition period until at least the end of the year.

During this time, travel in the EU will remain exactly the same as now, so there is nothing for holidaymakers to worry about in the immediate aftermath of Brexit.

But plenty of questions loom on the horizon, and the answers depend on the outcome of forthcoming trade talks. Here we take a look at some of the key areas of travel that could be affected in the future, and what to expect

Plenty of questions loom on the horizon about what will happen to travel in the EU after the Brexit transition period

DRIVING IN EUROPE

Motorists may need green card documents from their car insurance companies to prove they have European cover.

Most insurers will do this for free, though some may charge a nominal administration fee; it is recommended that you give insurers at least a months notice before you plan to travel.

There is a possibility that British motorists will also be required to apply for international driving permits, which are available from the Post Office for 5.50 along with a recent passport photo.

Prediction: Green cards seem likely  but international driving permits less so, because current UK licences are widely recognised.

HEALTH CARDS

European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC), pictured, may no longer be valid in 2021

AT THE AIRPORT PASSPORTS A rule may be introduced requiring Britons going to the EU to have at least six months validity left on passports. Passports take about three weeks to be processed and cost 75.50 (gov.uk/renew-adult-passport). For urgent renewals, there is a 177 premium service taking at least two days. Prediction: Expect a rush for new passports no matter what  dont cut it fine to apply. VISITOR VISAS The understanding is there will be no visa requirements for tourist visits of up to 90 days during any 180-day period in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, but there may for business travel. Prediction: Those with second homes, or fans of long holidays, may have cause for concern, but a deal is likely to be struck regarding business travellers. BORDER CONTROLS You may need to show return or onward tickets at borders, prove you have enough cash to support yourself during your stay, and use separate rest of the world lanes. Prediction: The former two controls seem unlikely, but having to use different lanes is a possibility. Advertisement

European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC), which allow British citizens free public healthcare in the 27 EU states, may no longer be valid in 2021.

Spain and Belgium, however, have agreed to allow British citizens access if this is reciprocated.

For safety, buying travel insurance with health cover, which usually includes repatriation costs (which EHIC never has), could be more vital than ever.

Prediction: Its hard to know what will happen. More reciprocal agreements with individual countries are possible.

MOBILE PHONE ROAMING

Since June 2017, Britons have been able to use smartphones in EU countries under the same terms as in the UK. However, this arrangement could disappear, making accessing the internet on phones there potentially costly.

The cost of doing this in countries outside the EU is 5 to 6 a day.

Prediction: Losing roaming, as its known, would prove so unpopular that it is likely trade talks will make sure it doesnt happen.

FLIGHTS AND AIRSPACE

A deal still needs to be struck between the UK and EU regarding aviation standards, or else, in theory, British airlines could be disallowed from entering EU airspace. It could result in deadlock at airports as soon as October this year, when current arrangements may come to an end.

Prediction: This is extremely unlikely, as it is in everyones interests to keep airspace between the UK and EU open.

FERRY QUEUES

Terrible traffic queues are possible at British ports and those on the Continent, if large numbers of cargo checks are introduced, with extra paperwork required for imports and exports.

Negotiators still have a lot of work to do on this issue.

Prediction: It seems inevitable that operations at ports will not run quite as smoothly as they do now.

EUROSTAR TRAINS

There could be lengthy delays at Eurostar terminals in Britain and abroad if more border control checks are introduced

If more border control checks are introduced, and if British citizens have to go through rest of the world queues, there could be lengthy delays at Eurostar terminals in Britain and abroad.

Prediction: This depends on how border controls are negotiated. The hope is common sense prevails.

PET TRAVEL

There's a slim chance the pet passport scheme could collapse in 12 months time, resulting in owners who wish to travel with pets facing a complicated process.

This might involve getting a certificate from an Official Veterinarian four months in advance, a 30-day wait, a blood test and a further three-month wait, as well as vaccinations for rabies.

Prediction: Experts believe it would be madness to alter the current pet passport scheme.

DUTY-FREE

There could be cheaper alcohol at airports and ports after Brexit. Currently, excise duty must be paid during trips to EU countries. In 2021, items will become both tax-free and excise duty-free

One silver lining could be cheaper alcohol at airports and ports.

Currently, excise duty must be paid during trips to EU countries. In 2021, items will become both tax-free and excise duty-free. A bottle of wine would be 2.23 cheaper on average. Cigarettes would also be cheaper.

Unlimited alcohol and cigarettes for personal use will still be allowed to be brought from the EU to Britain.

Prediction: Duty-free could well be on its way for travel into EU countries, which means cheaper G&Ts on the beach.

OVERALL VERDICT

Enjoy travel to Europe in 2020 without disruptions  and cross your fingers that its the same next year.

For further information, head to: www.gov.uk/visit- europe-brexit
DUBLIN, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Vietnam Steel Industry Report 2020-2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

According to the report, the Vietnam steel market will become one of the fastest growing markets in the world from 2020 to 2024. Meanwhile, the CAGR of production volume of crude steel is projected to exceed 20%. By 2024, Vietnam will become a net exporter of steel.



The growth rate of Vietnam's GDP in 2018 was about 7.08%, a relatively high level in Southeast Asia.



Vietnam's economy has been increasing rapidly for many years, but wages of the manufacturing are still at a low level, which were less than 50% in China and far below that of the developed countries in 2018. According to the report, as Vietnam's economy develops and the living standards of residents rise, the demand for steel in the industries such as construction, automobiles and home appliances is also going up. The rapid development of steel demand has attracted many steel enterprises to build new steel capacity in Vietnam.



Overall, Vietnam's steel industry is still growing and the homemade steel cannot meet the needs of the domestic market. In 2018, the production volume of crude steel in Vietnam reached 14.1 million tons, representing a CAGR of 20.28% from 2013 to 2018. However, the demand for steel in the domestic market approached 22.31 million tons. Therefore, it is estimated to take 3-5 years before the steel production can basically satisfy the market demand.



Based on analysis, seeing the huge potential of the steel market in Vietnam and even Southeast Asia, many enterprises have invested in Vietnam's steel industry in recent years. The largest investment case is Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation (FHS), which is a joint venture by Formosa Plastic Group, China Steel Corporation and Japan's JFE Holdings, with a first-phase investment of more than USD 10 billion.



Due to the rapid increase in production capacity of the steel industry in recent years, the supply of some types of steel in Vietnam has exceeded the demand, including concrete iron or steel for construction, cold-rolled steel coil products, etc. In order to reduce large quantities of imports such as hot-rolled steel coils and electromagnetic steel sheets, the Vietnam government is actively attracting foreign investors to establish positions in the country.



The report analyzes that there are more than 100 companies in Vietnam's steel industry, of which the larger ones include Hoa Phat Steel, Hoa Sen Steel, Vietnam Steel Corporation, SMC Steel Company Limited, VSC - POSCO STEEL CORPORATION (VPS), Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation (FHS) and so on.



At present, the government has not formulated nationwide policies for foreign investment in the steel industry.



However, steel companies have been set up in many industrial parks in Vietnam, which are granted with preferential policies in taxation and other aspects. In addition, as Vietnam's manufacturing and construction industries develop rapidly, the demand for steel will continue to increase. It is estimated that, during 2020-2024, Vietnam's roads, airports and other infrastructure, housing construction, automobile, home appliances and other industries will all maintain a high growth rate.



On the whole, most of the domestic steel manufacturers are extremely low in production capacity (no more than 1 million tons a year), with the outdated equipment. Foreign-funded enterprises have seen great market prospects in investing in the steel industry of Vietnam, especially to establish one-stop businesses from the production of crude steel to the processing of various kinds of steel. For one thing, these steel enterprises can market in Vietnam. For another, they can export products to the Southeast Asian market with a total population of nearly 700 million, and even to the Asia-Pacific market with a population of more than 2 billion.



Key Topics Covered



1 Development Environment of Vietnam Steel Industry

1.1 Economic Environment

1.1.1 Vietnam's Economy

1.1.2 Foreign Investment in Vietnam Steel Industry

1.1.3 Minimum Wage Standard in Vietnam

1.2 Policy Environment

1.2.1 Policies Related to Steel Industry

1.2.2 Preferential Policies on Foreign Investment

1.3 Research Methods of the Report

1.3.1 Parameters and Assumptions

1.3.2 Data Sources



2 Market Status of Vietnam Steel Industry, 2013-2018

2.1 Supply

2.1.1 Production Capacity

2.1.2 Production Volume

2.2 Demand on Vietnam Steel Market

2.2.1 Total Demand

2.2.2 Demand Structure

2.2.3 Steel Price

2.3 Competition Structure of Vietnam Steel Market

2.3.1 Upstream Suppliers

2.3.2 Downstream Customers

2.3.3 Competition in Steel Industry

2.3.4 Potential Entrants

2.3.5 Substitutes



3 Analysis on Import and Export of Steel in Vietnam, 2013-2018

3.1 Import

3.1.1 Import Overview

3.1.2 Major Import Sources

3.2 Export

3.2.1 Export Overview

3.2.2 Export Destinations



4 Major Steel Manufacturers in Vietnam, 2015-2018

4.1 HOA PHAT Steel

4.1.1 Profile

4.1.2 Operations

4.2 HOA SEN Group

4.3 VIET NAM Steel Corporation

4.4 SMC Steel Company Limited

4.5 VSC - Posco Steel Corporation (VPS)

4.6 Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation (FHS)

4.7 Others



5 Prospect of Vietnam Steel Market, 2020-2024

5.1 Factors Influencing Development

5.1.1 Market Opportunities and Driving Forces

5.1.2 Threats and Challenges

5.2 Forecast on Supply and Demand

5.2.1 Forecast on Production Volume

5.2.2 Forecast on Demand

5.2.3 Forecast on Import and Export

5.3 Analysis on Investment Opportunities in Vietnam Steel Industry



For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/9s2alc

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900



U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

http://www.researchandmarkets.com


Princess Anne looked elegant in a navy coat as she opened an armed forces centre in Argyll today.

The Princess Royal, 69, visited The Drumfork Community Centre in Helensburgh, which recently underwent a 2 million refurbishment.

It's set to become a hub for military personnel, their families and members of the wider community.

Princess Anne could be seen chatting with military wives at the centre, before gently accepting a posie of yellow flowers from seven-year-old Lily Wood.

Princess Anne, 69, could be seen smiling and chatting with children and staff after opening the renovated Drumfork Community Centre in Helensburgh

The Princess Royal showed off her maternal side as she gently accepted a posie of year flowers from Lily Wood, 7, while visiting the centre

Schoolchildren greeted Princess Anne as she arrived at the facility today before she met key donors.

The royal wrapped up in a pale blue scarf and navy coat and added a touch of glamour with leather gloves.

Captain Nick Gibbons, of HMS Neptune at nearby HM Naval Base Clyde, said: 'It is an honour to have Her Royal Highness join us today to officially open the renovated Drumfork Community Centre.

'The team has worked tremendously hard to create an environment which will provide significant support to our Service families, as well as presenting opportunities for the local area.

After meeting children in the nursery, Princess Anne went on to visit navy waves in the centre's new IT Room

'We were delighted that the Princess Royal took the time to meet so many of those involved in the creation of the Centre and also speak with those who will use and benefit from the facility.'

Anne was given a tour of the hub, which included a visit to its nursery, St Margaret's Community Church and IT training facilities.

Work began on the Drumfork Centre in 2018 when a 2 million contract was awarded to a local firm to upgrade the facility.

Crowds of children excitedly waved flags as they awaited the royal's arrival, who opened the renovated centre

Princess Anne appeared in good spirits as she arrived to open the community centre to crowds of schoolchildren earlier today

The royal, who was named the hardest-working royal of 2018, has had a jam-packed few weeks.

Princess Anne has appeared undeterred by the on-going furore surrounding Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle's, 38, decision to step back as senior members of the Royal Family.

Last week, she travelled the length of the country, with engagements in London, Aberdeen and Northern Ireland.

The royal unveiled a plaque as she officially opened the newly renovated Drumfork Community Centre in Argyll after it's 2 million revamp

On Tuesday she visited Aberdeen, where she was bestowed an honorary degree at the University of Aberdeen.

Meanwhile on Wednesday she had three engagements in London, including a visit at the Metropolitan Police Service Special Escort Group, a luncheon at the Royal Yachting Association, of which she is president, and a dinner at the Corporation of Trinity House hosted by the National Coastwatch Institution, of which she is royal patron.

And on Thursday the royal made a trip to Ireland to visit Davis House, at HMP Maghaberry in Lisburn, which opened recently after a 54 million revamp.
Eastlake Community Cats hosted an open forum this week to inform feral cat caregivers of Eastlakes new legislation on feeding and care for feral cats.

Back in October, Eastlake passed an ordinance requiring residents to have feral cats under their care trapped, neutered and returned (TNR).

Under the ordinance, feral cat colony caregivers must work with approved animal welfare organizations to effectively control the feral cat population.

Eastlake Community Cats Executive Director Cindy Valerio led the Jan. 23 meeting where attendees could register their colonies and learn about caring for feral cats, especially during the winter months.

Eastlake Community Cats is one of the citys approved organizations and provides trapping, low-cost sterilization and education to residents to those who wish to care for feral cats.

A lot of cats are already spayed and neutered. We just have to get their colonies officially registered, Valerio said.

She said the group has been trapping in Eastlake for years, but now that the ordinance has been passed, caregivers are required to register with a TNR program registered with the city.

We need to know how many (cats) we have and what is happening with them, Valerio said. The statistics are able to help with grants and things too.

Feral cat colony caregivers registered with Eastlake Community Cats are given a set of commandments to follow which involve keeping records of each cat and being courteous to neighbors and those who might not be fond of cats, as well as providing for needs like food, water and shelter.

The winter tips for caregivers included providing additional food and water, insulating their shelters, keeping certain spots free of snow and keeping salt and chemical melting products away from the animals.

Those from Eastlake who need to register their cat colony or have questions can contact Eastlake Community Cats by calling 440-497-0289 or emailing eastlakecats@gmail.com.

The group works under the group Community Cats of Lake County and Ashtabula.

Across Lake County they have groups in Eastlake, Willowick, Mentor, Fairport Harbor and Painesville. The groups work to advocate and raise awareness for feral cats.

Between 2015 and 2018, Community Cats of Lake County and Ashtabula spayed and neutered 2,618 cats with a 98.5% live release rate.

More information can be found on their website, lakecountycommunitycats.org.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Price Chopper, Tops and Wegmans will all soon start charging a fee for paper bags in their stores.

The chains are trying to encourage customers to switch to reusable bags as New Yorks plastic bag ban approaches. The ban applies to any business required to collect state sales taxes, so changes are coming at other retailers too.

Dog poop, tiny trash cans, more: Questions answered on NYs plastic bag ban

Gap brand stores, including its namesake locations, Old Navy, Banana Republic and Athleta, will also charge a paper bag fee.

Heres a look at how those big names and others will handle the ban.

The date

Although the ban goes into effect March 1, Wegmans is getting an early jump. Stores in New York will stop giving out plastic bags at checkout on Jan. 27. Tops and Price Chopper plan to make the switch on March 1. Gap and Old Navy stores are phasing out plastic now. The change will be complete by or before March 1. Paper is already standard at Banana Republic and Athleta.

Paper

Gap brands, Price Chopper, Tops and Wegmans will all have paper bags available for customers after plastic goes away. All will charge 5 cents a bag. The companies said theyre trying to prompt people to switch to reusable bags. Wegmans will donate the entire paper fee to charity and Tops will donate a portion. The states bag ban includes an option allowing counties and cities to implement a mandatory paper bag fee, but few have moved to do so. Syracuse hasnt implemented the fee. Neither has Onondaga County.

Will the paper bags have handles?

Price Chopper and Wegmans wont. Price Chopper said it wants to add a handled bag in the future. Tops will have bags both with and without handles. Bags at Gap brand stores have them.

New York plastic bag ban start date, whos affected, bags you can still get

Perks for reusables

Price Chopper offers a 3-cent rebate at checkout for each reusable bag customers bring in. You can also earn free reusable bags through the chain's rewards program. The options at Tops include a Totes for Change program that donates a portion of the proceeds from bag sales to local charities.

Can I bring in my own old plastic bags from the massive stash under my sink?

Update: The state weighed in on this question since our initial story was published. Stores must allow it.

Tops will allow it. Wegmans says its making changes to its checkout bag stands and will not be able to accommodate any plastic bags that customers bring in. Price Chopper says it wants a ruling from the state on whether thats allowable.

NY plastic bag ban nears: How to clean your reusable bags so they dont get gross

What about pickup and delivery orders?

Wegmans said it will pack all pickup and delivery orders in paper bags. But it wont charge the 5-cent fee on those bags since customers dont have a choice. Price Chopper and Tops will also pack orders in paper, but both plan to charge the fee.

What about bags exempt from the ban?

The ban includes a host of exemptions for things like bulk items, raw meats, deli orders and produce. All three grocery chains said they'll continue to offer those bags in their stores.

What if I dont want plastic bags for my deli order? Can I bring in a container from home?

Price Chopper said that's a question for local and state health departments to answer. Tops and Wegmans both said they won't allow it.

A bit on some other major retailers in Syracuse

Aldi wouldn't answer detailed questions about how it's handling the ban. Instead, a spokesman sent a statement on the chain's 2019 commitment to make 100 percent of its private-label packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.

It's also worth noting that plastic bags have never been standard issue at Aldi. The chain has charged a fee for bags for years.

Target said it will stop offering plastic on March 1. The chain already has paper options in its stores, which will be the standard going forward, the company said.

Target also offers customers a 5-cent discount at checkout for every reusable bag they bring in. That will continue even after the ban goes into effect. The company wouldnt answer further questions.

Kohl's and Walmart didn't respond to questions on their plans.

Note: My info for this story came from Evelyn Ingram at Wegmans, Mona Golub at Price Chopper, Kathy Sautter at Tops and Sandy Goldberg at Gap, along with officials at Target and Aldi. A giant thanks to them for answering my repeated (probably annoying) bag questions in the last couple of weeks.

Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598

Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
A Facebook post by the University of Montana featuring four white students who won an essay contest on Martin Luther King Jr.s legacy received overwhelming blowback earlier this week, ultimately causing UM to delete the photos and names of the winners out of concern they could be targets of harassment.

In the aftermath, UM is figuring out the best ways to learn and adapt from the near-viral condemnation.

The social media post, which went up Monday, received more than 1,000 comments, almost all of them critical of the fact that only white students were selected as winners of the essay contest. Many of the comments called the post tone-deaf, and some focused on the specific content of the essays, and whether they had anything to do with Kings message, which was quoted from in the post.

The contest sought submissions from students, faculty and staff on how they had worked to implement Kings legacy at UM, but in the end only received six submissions, all from white students, and no submissions from faculty or staff.

After hundreds of comments rolled in, UM posted a comment responding to the criticism, which eventually was copied into the body of the post.

The criticism regarding only four white students who submitted and ultimately won the essay contest is fair. It is also troubling, university officials wrote in the post. Yes. These students are white. But the color of their skin does not preclude them from submitting an essay, publicly honoring MLK or working toward equality. That takes all of us, including those of you who have responded with passion and concern about the result of this contest.

Paula Short, UMs spokesperson and communications manager, said as the post caught more attention, her team discussed the best way to handle the post, ultimately deciding not to delete the post entirely, but to post the update, and eventually remove the students photos.

After the posted update, there were comments on the individual students photos targeting their participation in the contest. This was unfair, Short wrote in an emailed response to questions. We removed their photos and names so they wouldnt be targeted or have to bear the responsibility for our decision to post the content. It is our responsibility to take that criticism, which is why the content of the post remained, despite the photos being removed.

Short said todays media landscape and political rhetoric can make having nuanced conversations in public difficult. She said looking back on it, it would have been better to include the context of the panel discussion in which the winners were involved, which was included in an event featuring UM alum and Montana Racial Equity Project outreach coordinator Meshayla Cox as the keynote speaker.

In hindsight, our team has spoken at length about the careful and delicate nature of having these conversations on social media, Short wrote. A university is one of the most appropriate places to have difficult conversations about race; social media has limitations in cultivating this dialogue. This will certainly inform our perspective moving forward, and it should.

The university is in the early stages of creating a new position titled the diversity, equity and inclusion specialist, which is planned to be workforce-facing, Short said, helping UM to be more intentional in hiring and retaining more broadly representative faculty and staff.

The contest and panel discussion the prior week was organized by the Martin Luther King Jr. Day Committee, which is led by African-American Studies program head Tobin Miller Shearer. He said members of the committee had questioned the results of the contest before the post or the panel discussion in which the winners participated.

In addition to leading the campus committee, Miller Shear and a handful of other committee members also serve on the community-wide Martin Luther King Jr. Committee that helps plan larger events.

Before this blew up we had already talked about the results of the contest with that group as well, which is majority people of color, and we were brainstorming together: How can we do this better? Miller Shearer said. So I know one of the areas Ill be asking the committee to look at very closely is the essay prompt itself.

This was the first time the campus held the essay contest, as for a number of years winter break was longer and extended through the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. With the recent academic calendar change, the committee was picking up again and creating new events.

Our intention was to invite the entire campus community to seriously engage with Kings legacy in a way that moved beyond the easy answer of going out and painting a fence, or volunteering somewhere, Miller Shearer said. Thats a very easy response to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. What we were looking for is a more vigorous and engaged response. With the first year response, it didnt work like we hoped it would.

Many of the commenters pointed to the fact that no people of color had even entered the contest, saying that must mean they did not feel like it was a productive use of their time or energy. Miller Shearer said in discussing the results of the contest with Murray Pierce, special assistant to the Provost and advisor to the Black Student Union, they speculated that many of the BSU members were likely busy planning the Black Solidarity Summit, the groups upcoming keystone event.

We take very seriously that we need to be evaluating the results of this, not just our good intentions. Because the results always need to be analyzed in any anti-racism work, and we hold ourselves to that commitment, he said.

Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
98.6F. For the last 150 years, the normal temperature of the human body had remained the same. Anything above meant your mother jabbing thermometers into your mouth, squinting and then guessing whether or not you had a fever. Anything less was dismissed as something her and science had no explanation/remedy for. It had remained the same for the industrial revolution, the Amazon and Australia burning, icebergs melting and polar bears going hungry.

No more.

There's a twist in the tale. The human body no longer tops off at 98.6F. The new normal temperature of the average Sandra and Aditya is 97.5F. And here's how it got there.

Image credit: Reuters.

To kick things off, this new study, published in the medical journal e-life titled, 'Decoding human body temperature since the Industrial Revolution,' carried out by researchers from Stanford University, clearly states that 98.6F was derived by analysing the body temperature of 25,000 human beings who were just returning from war.

It was hardly a great sample size if you consider that humanity topped off at 1 billion in 1800. If you consider the current population of the world, it's an abysmal 0.004 per cent. This percentage is less than the number of people who have met on a dating app and are now happily married. It's that low.

No wonder then that Dr Julie Parsonnet, a professor of medicine and health research at Stanford University School of Medicine and the senior author of one study on how the human body temperature has decreased in the US arrived at the conclusion: "Our temperature's not what people think it is. What everybody grew up learning, which is that our normal temperature is 98.6, is wrong."



Image credit: Pexels.

Then, are there other reasons too that contributed to us cooling down?

Physiologically, were just different from what we were in the past, Parsonnet says.



In the past, our ancestors were busy chopping wood, farming and really working hard to carry out the sedentary way of like that persisted at that time. Fast track to 2020, most of us don't get off the couch to get ourselves a glass of water. So our metabolic rate, which also keeps our body warm, doesn't have to work as much anymore.

Image credit: Pexels.

Yes, what you are thinking is right too. We now live our lives inside air-conditioned rooms, cars and for a lucky, privileged few, even bathrooms.

These figures bring forward one central idea and that is how magical our bodies are. Our lifestyle evolved and the body adapted beautifully. So, the next time you feel feverish, you will know that 98.6F is not the new normal anymore. We were cold with our hearts but now our bodies have followed suit.
Micheiln launched new tyres called ENERGY XM2+ which is a successor to the ENERGY XM2. We were in Chennai recently to test these new tyres.

Unlike the predecessor, the new tyre has a lot to boast about, and Michelin couldnt have done it more literally. The USP of the ENERGY XM2 plus is its consistency in the road grip throughout its life of several thousand kilometres. When we say grip, it means the general road holding capability while driving on various practical road conditions, and also the braking performance.

While handling is a quite subjective concept which cant be demonstrated on a first person basis among so many journalists or prospective customers, braking quite definitely could be, and thats what Michelin did with us to outright prove how true the new tyres are to the marketing slogans.

Its very simple, Michelin took us to a safety controlled track, where the road is wet, and made us brake with full force on the wet road, and made us realise the amount of confidence and grip this new tyre had. How do we say its so much better than other tyres? They also let us do the same test on the same kind of car with competitor tyres, the Bridgestone B290, on the same wet road.

But thats not the catch yet. Remember the USP, grip as good as new even at end of tyre life; now picture those tests happening at almost completely worn out tyres, in both cases, the Michelin and the Bridgestone! Thats how cool and confidently they proved their new tyres worth to us journalists who tirelessly look for ways to pull their legs and returned surprised.

Both cars were Maruti Swift diesel, of similar mileage on the odometer, exact same model, just with different tyres, the ENERGY XM2+ and the Bridgestone B290, in the same end of life condition with 1.5 mm tread depth, and at same tyre pressure which is the OEM recommended pressure mentioned near the driver side door of the vehicle. It doesnt get fairer than that.

The test track in question, was the WABCO Proving Ground near Chennai, which is sort of the go to place for car companies, tyre companies, brake system development companies and other vehicle technology and service providers go, to put their work to test before they proceed to homologation. So even the track where we did the test on the Michelin XM2+ was beyond legit.

So in all credibility, we declare that the Swift with the Michelin XM2 plus tyres stopped almost 3.3 metres ahead of the other car, on wet road, which is roughly 10 feet quicker, which is way more than the difference between getting home and getting to the hospital, in case of an unfortunate situation ahead of the car.

Please note that we did the full force panic braking on both cars at 100 kmph on the wet road, and the cars already had ABS working at maximum effort. And since we could feel the ABS pulsating clearly on the brake pedal on both cars, we know for sure that the base brake system was in good condition, in case if anybody was wondering if the brake system was rigged to fabricate a desired outcome.

Michelin claims that in ideal driving conditions, the tyres would last up to 1,20,000 km, which is somewhat an average lifetime that a single owner would use the car for, and hence they state that the new ENERGY XM2plus lasts a lifetime. They also called these tyres, the fit and forget type.

So, bottom line, the Michelin XM2 plus tyres have a better grip, throughout its life till the time it is to be replaced, and they last longer than most tyres out there. Isnt that the ultimate goal for a tyre manufacturer, and for the car owners as well? The company showed various graphs and charts detailing the numerous statistics of tests, life, performance, braking results, etc., which can be seen first hand in the image gallery below. We have conveyed the crisp version in the text so far.

The Michelin ENERGY XM2+ will be available from this month (January, 2020) across all Michelin dealerships in India, phase-wise probably. So far this model is meant for, rather first launched for aftermarket replacement, and Michelin is working on deals getting this tyre to be factory fitted on popular cars. The XM2+ will be available in 30 different sizes, fitting 12- to 16-inch wheels, meaning itll be available for most of the cars plying on roads in India, starting with A-segment hatchbacks like the Maruti Alto, to C-segment sedans and Crossover SUVs too namely the Honda City and Hyundai Creta respectively. The starting price of a single Michelin XM2+ tyre is Rs. 5,090 which would be the smallest size. This is a tiny bit pricey compared to the alternates youll find on the shelves of various tyre dealers, but considering the testimony above, the price should seem more than justified.

Disclaimer  For this review, Michelin India invited and hosted us at Chennai. They paid for our travel, stay and food.
MANILA, Philippines  Taal Volcano spewed anew a tall column of thick, white steam early Friday morning (January 24).

Experts from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) explained that the white steam-laden plumes of about 500 meters high that drifted towards the southwest direction signify that the heating up of volcanic materials underneath the crater has intensified.

In a press briefing, Volcano Monitoring Chief Ma. Antonia Bornas explained that the thick steam means that excessively hot volcanic materials are rising, causing the water to boil.

Mayroon po kasi tayo talagang magma na umaakyat at ito po talaga ang binabantayan natin (The magma is still moving up and this is what we are monitoring at present), Bornas said.

Iyong steam ito po ay mula sa ground water or sa tubig ng lawa na sumisipsip sa ilalim ng lupa nung nagkaroon tayo ng fissuring at ito po ay nalilikha sa ibabaw ng magma dahil napakainit po nito at ibinubuga iyong steam (The thick steam came from ground water or the lake water that is drying up in the event of fissuring. There is evaporation going on top of the very hot magma thus steam is produced), she added.

Bornas also noted the increase in sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission from 144 tons per day on Thursday (January 23) to an average of 224 tons per day on Friday.

Still, PHIVOLCS stressed that the high frequency of volcanic tremors indicates that the magma is continuously rising and may still result to an eruptive explosion.

Based on PHIVOLCS monitoring, Taal Volcano has generated 486 volcanic earthquakes including four low-frequency earthquakes.

The agency said Alert Level 4 still remains in effect over Taal Volcano which means a hazardous explosive eruption is possible within hours to days.

PHIVOLCS reiterates that forced evacuation of Taal Volcano island remains necessary as well as other identified high-risk areas where fissures are being observed.

The post Thick, white steam from Taal means volcanic materials are rising  PHIVOLCS appeared first on UNTV News.
The immediate past Director-General of the National Communications Authority (NCA), William Matthew Tetteh Tevie has testified in court that he is not a thief.

He is standing trial on allegations of stealing and causing financial loss to the state

In my whole professional life I have never stolen anybodys money, he told the Accra High Court yesterday when he opened his defence.

Tevie is standing trial with Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie, a former Board Chairman of the NCA; Nana Owusu Ensaw, a former board member; Alhaji Salifu Mimina Osman, a former Deputy National Security Coordinator, and a businessman, George Derek Oppong.

They are alleged to have embezzled $4 million of state funds during the purchase of a cyber security surveillance equipment or listening devices for the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), which was sponsored by the NCA.

The accused persons have been charged with diverse counts of wilfully causing financial loss of $4 million to the state, stealing, conspiracy, money laundering, among other charges.

They have pleaded not guilty to all the charges and are currently on bail in the sum of $1 million each.

Evidence-in-chief

Led by his lawyer, Mr Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, to give his evidence-in-chief, Tevie refuted all allegations levelled against him in relation to the said embezzlement.

According to him, investigations into the case never established that he had benefitted personally from the purchase of the cyber security equipment.

I gave all my bank accounts details to the investigation team and they did not make any adverse findings against me, he told the court.

On the issue of whether or not he had caused financial loss to the state, the accused stated that he could not have caused financial loss because the said cyber security equipment was in the possession of the state.

It cannot be said that I have caused financial loss when the equipment has been paid for, tested, delivered and is in the hands of the Republic. I did not use my office for private gain. Of all the investigations that were done into the transaction, nothing showed that I benefited from this transaction, he added.

Cyber security

The prosecution has made a case that there was no approval for the purchase of any cyber security equipment by the NSCS, which was to be sponsored by the NCA

Also, it has presented a case that the $4 million paid by the NCA for the purchase of the equipment was not approved and also not captured in the NCAs budget.

The prosecution has also argued that the payment for the security equipment was outside the stated mandate of the NCA, as stipulated by law.

Tevie, however, refuted the prosecutions arguments and contended that the NCA decided to provide institutional support for the NSCS to purchase the equipment because of the increased level of terrorist threats in the West African sub-region.

According to him, information technology was now a crucial tool in the fight against terrorism and, therefore, he decided to make cyber security a priority when he became the Director-General of the NCA in 2016.

On the issue of the funding not being captured in the budget, he said the budget was not cast in stone and could be varied at any time.

The former NCA boss will continue with his evidence-in-chief on January 28, 2020 at the court, presided over by Justice Eric Kyei Baffour, a Justice of the Court of Appeal with additional responsibility as a High Court judge.

Prosecutions fact

Per the facts of the case, Baffoe-Bonnie, Tevie and Osman were allegedly aided by a private citizen, Oppong, to engage in the act.

According to the state, the previous administration had contracted an Israeli company, NSO Group Technology Limited, to supply listening equipment at a cost of $6 million to enable the authorities to monitor conversations of persons suspected to be engaged in terror activities.

A local agent, Infraloks Development Limited, also charged $2 million to facilitate the transaction, bringing the total sum to $8 million.

The facts stated that the National Security did not have the money to fund the transaction, and for that reason, the NCA, which has supervisory jurisdiction over the use of such equipment, was asked to fund the project.

It said an amount of $4 million was withdrawn from the accounts of the NCA and $1 million out of the withdrawn amount deposited into the accounts of the Israeli company.

According to the state, the remaining $3 million was lodged in the account of Oppong, who acted as a representative of the local agents, Infraloks Development Ltd.

Osman is alleged to have fronted for the entire deal.

The state said the accused persons later laundered the amount for their private benefit.

---graphic.com.gh
Fashion retailer Express plans to close around 100 stores by 2022, the company announced this week.

That includes nine stores that closed last year along with 31 stores the retailer plans to shutter by the end of January and another 35 stores it plans to close by the end of January 2021.

Two stores in Texas  one at Rice Village in Houston and the other at Valle Vista in Harlingen  are among the stores closing this month, said spokesperson Alysa Spittle.

Spittle said she could only confirm this months closures. In most cases, the future stores have not yet been determined, she said.

There are five Express stores in the San Antonio area, including two outlet stores.

What retailers are expanding to San Antonio?

Fleet Feet, a running store chain headquartered in Carrboro, N.C., is opening two new locations in Texas. The business franchises locally owned and operated running stores.

The first store will open at the Forum shopping center in March and will be Fleet Feets third store in the area. The other is opening in Plano in April.

Little Land Play Gym is opening a location at 8116 Tezel Road, according to a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.

It will include a gym, party rooms, a lobby and other features. Work is expected to wrap up in July, the filing indicates.

Painted Tree Marketplace is opening a location in the former Sears store across from North Star Mall, according to a Facebook post.

The business features products from local artisans, decorators and boutiques. Improvements to the stores future home are expected to finish in May, according to a TDLR filing.

Liquor Bueno is planning to open a store at 2538 Marshall Road, another filing indicates.

Nibbles news

Busted Sandal Brewing Co. is opening a second tap room in the area, Staff Writer Chuck Blount reports.

The new location at 14743 Old Bandera Road opens Jan. 31. Busted Sandals brewery near Fredericksburg Road and Loop 410 opened in 2013.

Local chef Andrew Weissman has shuttered The Luxury bar and grill on the River Walk, Staff Writer Mike Sutter reports.

Weissman sold the property to entrepreneurs Terrin Fuhrmann and Nolan Ellis, who plan to open a new bar and kitchen there. Weissman is moving The Luxury to San Antonio International Airport this summer.

After closing its Five Points location in September, barbecue spot Burnwood 68 has reopened at 18745 Redland Road on the North Side, Blount reports.

Popular Austin chain P. Terrys Burger Stand is expanding to San Antonio, Sutter reports. The restaurant, which the company says is the first of several, is headed to 8539 Fredericksburg Road.

A taco stall is moving into The Good Kinds old spot at the Pearls food hall, Editor Emily Spicer reports. Humble House Foods, a local hot sauce maker, plans to open SayTown Tacos by the end of next month.

madison.iszler@express-news.net
In recent years, some governments and organizations have started paying more attention to the power of words, taking steps to update or replace gendered terms.

In 2013, Washington State joined Florida and Minnesota in combing through its state codes and statutes to adjust terms like ombudsman (now ombuds) to be gender neutral. As Liz Watson, then senior counsel at the National Womens Law Center, said at the time: Words matter. Words help shape our perceptions about what opportunities are available to women and men.

Administrators at Yale announced in 2017 that they would replace the words freshman and upperclassman with first-year and upper-level students, joining several other universities that have informally made the change. And the singular they  increasingly popular as both as substitute for he or she and as a gender-neutral pronoun for those who identify as nonbinary  was recently declared the Word of the Decade by the American Dialect Society.

That would seem like progress, said the historian Barbara J. Berg. Yet when it comes to the halls of power, she said, the masculine remains the default in our language.

It is popular these days to tell the story of Abigail Adams, wife of the founding father John, who urged her husband in a letter in 1776 to remember the ladies. Lesser known is that his reply, in a letter back, called her request saucy. (The word she, of course, does not appear anywhere in the Declaration of Independence, nor does the word woman.)

And while, over the years, words like mailman, policeman and stewardess have been replaced with terms like mail carrier, police officer and flight attendant, there are still plenty of phrases for which he connotes power. Think manning the command post, maestro or even guy as a way to describe expertise. As in, Hes a stats guy or Hes a policy guy, said Philip N. Cohen, a sociologist at the University of Maryland.

The 2018 midterm elections broke all sorts of records  and a historic number of women ran for office and won  and yet they also provided ample opportunity to hear (and see) the phrase freshman congresswoman. Doesnt it sound sort of funny?
JNS reports:

More than 130 Palestinian organizations have refused to sign a European Union grant request that stipulates among its criteria that recipients must refuse to transfer any E.U. assistance given to terrorist groups or entities.
Friday morning's massive explosion on Gessner gave people around west Houston a rude awakening.

The explosion, which left two people dead and damaged around 200 homes, was a terrifying experience for many  and left residents trying to explain the terror they felt. These are their stories.

Alondra Maldonado, a high school junior, who lives directly across from the building that exploded:

"It was four in the morning, I was sleeping," Maldonado said. "Then you hear this whole big sound. I woke up and ran into my parents room and started freaking out."

Maldonado said she thought the explosion was a bomb because of "World War III."

STAY INFORMED: Subscribe to the Houston Chronicle for complete local news coverage.

"Its scary. I was shook because I literally always walk through there. And my sister, she works in the mornings, so sometimes she walks through there to get to the Metro [bus stop]. I imagined her walking and something happened to her. But thank God she didnt work today."

Now Playing: West Houston residents describe what they felt, heard and saw and show damage to their homes after an intense explosion shook the area near 4525 Gessner in the early morning hours of Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. Video: Jay R. Jordan/Houston Chronicle

Maria Zunida, who also lives across from the building that exploded:

"We were sleeping right here, me and my husband," Zunida recalled. "Something noisy woke me up, and I saw a light. The windows broke and the ceiling fell down [on me)]. My brother-in-law, he woke us up and told us we needed to run away."

Zunida said everybody inside her home was frightened, but OK.

"I thought somebody attacked us. That was my first [reaction]. I ran to my kids rooms to wake them and get everybody outside, in pajamas or underwear."

"We are in shock.  Thank you Jesus for saving us."

Scott Huckabee, a volunteer firefighter from the Lake Livingston area who arrived near the site around 7:20 a.m.:

Theres multiple commercial buildings damaged, multiple homes damaged," Huckabee said from the Circle K parking lot at the northeast corner of Clay and Gessner. "Weve got insulation blown half a mile from the explosion site."

Huckabee, who works for Frontier Services Group, a fire and water mitigation and reconstruction company, said he would be assisting residents and businesses secure their properties.

"Well be boarding up windows and making sure people dont go in and start looting."

Jorge Esparza, who works in facilities maintenance for Circle K:

"They want us to shut everything down because were going to have to remove glass and they dont want anyone hurt."

Greg Darr, who was visiting Houston and staying with family:

"I was in bed and was literally blown awake by the walls were shaking around us, heard glass in the house and it was obviously an explosion nearby," Darr told Metro Video. "Looks like it blew out a couple windows in our house where I'm staying with family."

Darr said he went outside after he heard the loud noise.

"I saw a white plume of smoke rising in the sky. There was a young man in the road, just sitting there, kinda bloodied up."

Jordan Ray is a homepage producer for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter. Read his work on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com. | jordan.ray@chron.com

TRY THE APP: Get alerts, breaking news and in-depth coverage on what's happening in Houston for your mobile phone and tablet devices through our mobile apps on Google Play and the App Store.
Like its atmospheric namesake, the recent Fog Design + Art exposition extended its shift-shaping tendrils far beyond Fogs Festival Pavilion HQ at Fort Mason Center. And San Franciscos art scene  encompassing gallerists, collectors, artists and influencers  was activated in extreme animation.

No official designation exists for a San Francisco Art & Design week. But if one did, Fog would be it. Also amid this artistic swirl:

Celebrating its current Man Ray exhibition, Gagosian Gallery hosted scenesters at 906 World Cultural Center (atop the Broadway Tunnel) where the band SQURL (filmmaker Jim Jarmusch and composer Carter Logan) accompanied the artists 1920s surrealist films.

Down in Dogpatch, Minnesota Street Project exhibitions were celebrated by McEvoy Foundation for the Arts, Altman Siegal and Adrian Rosenfeld Gallery.

Andrew McClintocks Ever Gold Projects teamed up with Gagosian, Lobus and scene-maker Adam Swig for a Natoma Cabana shindig, attracting Millennial fans of Untitled, Art  an entire other fair coinciding with Fog.

Catherine Bigelow / Special to The Chronicle

In North Beach, electrifying power spouses Bay Lights artist Leo Villareal and Art Production Fund co-founder Yvonne Force hosted their posse at Tosca Cafe to celebrate his next Pace Gallery exhibition, Instants, in April in Palo Alto.

Even San Francisco Ballet got into the act Jan. 16, bumping up its opening gala smack in the middle of this action-packed week of parties, lunches, lectures and even bowling. (Note to twinkle-toes: Well pick up that tutu thread next week.)

Fogs official Jan. 15 preview gala (its seventh edition) was a tiered fete (with first dibs shopping-opps for deep-pocketed $10K ducat donors) and a McCalls cocktail buffet benefiting arts and education programs at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

But on Jan. 14, just hours before the annual pre-Fog Mission Bowling bash (hosted by gallerists Jeffrey Fraenkel, Frish Brandt, Luhring Augustine), Dr. Seth Matarasso joined the fray, opening his Pacific Heights pad for a Sothebys tour of his 20th century art collection.

Catherine Bigelow / Special to The Chronicle

This is the most people Ive ever had in my home, joked Matarasso. My collection began 16 years ago when Jennifer Biederbeck (Sothebys San Francisco senior VP), shared catalogs with works by Tom Wesselmann, an artist my parents collect. So that Thanksgiving, I went home and tried to take it off their wall. A week later, my dad sent it to me.

When Biederbeck introduced Matarasso to Gabriela Palmieri, a former Sothebys colleague-turned-art consultant, the good doctor was hooked.

Ive developed a passion for art, explained Matarasso, with a laugh. So somebody better marry me quick because I dont know to whom Ill leave this collection.

The next night, Fog billowed in full force with 2,000 glammed-out guests at the preview gala led by Fog co-founder Stanlee Gatti, Douglas Durkin, Susan Swig, Roth Martin, Katie Schwab Paige, Allison Speer and Sonya Yu; with honorary chairs TPG founding partner Jim Coulter and his wife, SFMOMA trustee Penny Coulter.

Traversing booths, SFMOMA Director Neal Benezra noted that he and his colleagues every year travel to world art fairs (Basel, London, Hong Kong, Miami). But with acres of art, those fairs are exhausting and impersonal.

Some feel more like trade shows, looking at product instead of art, he said. While Fog has grown, it retains intimacy, quality and is a true expression of San Francisco. Combining art and design together, FOG exemplifies that bigger is not better. Better is better. And the passionate pride our community takes in Fog is like nothing else in the art world.

Pavilion environs were exquisitely tricked-out by Gatti, with a red carpet linking 48 global gallerists including Hauser + Wirth, Ratio 3, Marian Goodman, Jessica Silverman, R & Company, Lebreton, Crown Point Press, Levy Gorvy, Haines Gallery, Perrotin and storied gallerist John Berggruen, who, with his wife, Gretchen Berggruen, is celebrating 50 years in the biz.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Catherine Bigelow / Special to The Chronicle

Even McCalls got creative, augmenting its classic filet mignon platters with roving food carts dishing up tamales and fried chicken sliders.

The four-day fair, attracting 15,000 visitors, also featured a pop-up Park Life (the Clement Street gallery owned by Jamie Alexander and Derek Song) and panels on digital collecting as well as on food/design/art, and a conversation with artist Rashaad Newsome, whose exhibition (To Be Real through Feb. 23) stars next door at the San Francisco Art Institutes gallery on Fort Masons Pier 2.

On Jan. 16, Fogs Innovator Lunch honored Airbnb co-founder Brian Chesky (a Rhode Island School of Design graduate turned tech titan) with its treasured Fog Machine award following a lively conversation with angel investor Ron Conway.

It took Conrad Hilton a hundred years to build his 6,000 hotels with 950,000 rooms in 110 countries. It took Brian just 12 years to get 7 million listings in 100,000 cities in 220 countries, enthused Jim Coulter, introducing this conversation. One of the hardest things for an innovator is to continue to innovate. But Brian not only developed Airbnb Experiences, booking 1 million experiences a month, he also runs the largest global network of yurts.

Whether Fog fans are major collectors, blue chip gallerists or enthusiasts scoring a last-minute, $32 ticket, the beating heart of Fog belongs to 21POP, back this year in a hand-crafted Op-Art entry pavilion of emerging artists curated by Stanlee Gatti.

Sporting the theme 2020: Seeing Things, works for sale were created by students, graduates and faculty of California College of the Arts.

The genesis of 21POP is highlighting artists who still handcraft objects in a digital world. Seeing Things is a nod to perfect vision and interpretation, how an artist sees the objects they create, explained Gatti, a CCA trustee. And theres no better way to express that idea than in works made by students of arts and crafts from one of the worlds great art institutes.

Catherine Bigelow is The San Francisco Chronicles society correspondent. Email: missbigelow@sfgate.com Instagram: @missbigelow
Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

San Francisco, 23 January 2020: The Report Angioplasty Balloons Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type (Normal, DEB, Cutting, Scoring), By Application (Peripheral, Coronary), By End Use (Hospitals, ASCs, Cath Labs), And Segment Forecasts, 2018  2025

The global angioplasty balloon market size is expected to reach USD 2.9 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is projected to record a CAGR of 3.3% during the forecast period. This growth is attributed to favorable government policies and increasing coronary and peripheral interventions. Angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure, hence patients and surgeons prefer this procedure over high-cost stent placements. Furthermore, advancements in angioplasty balloons and expanding geographical reach are likely to propel the market growth in the coming years.

For instance, in December 2014, Medtronic plc received an FDA approval for their drug-coated balloon IN.PACT Admiral for the treatment of peripheral artery disease. The company also received product approval from Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare for the treatment of peripheral artery disease in the upper leg. Approval and commercialization of cutting and scoring balloons, such as TREK and MINI TREK, AngioSculpt, and Flextome balloons along with rising adoption of new balloons are likely to drive the market further.

Access Research Report of Angioplasty Balloons Market @ www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/angioplasty-balloons-market

Further key findings from the study suggest:

Normal balloon segment led the market in 2017 due to low costs and ability of these products to treat coronary artery obstruction

DEBs are anticipated to be the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period due to lower restenosis rate and increased R&D investments by major companies

Coronary vascular disease segment led in 2017 and is expected to maintain its dominance during the forecast period due to rising cases of coronary artery diseases

Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) led the end use segment in 2017 as they help minimize the medical expenses and hospital stay

North America was the dominant regional market the market in 2017 and is expected to maintain its position during the forecast period due to the presence of major companies

Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the fastest-growing region during the forecast period due to rising healthcare expenditure and R&D investments by key companies

Some of the prominent companies in the industry are Abbott Laboratories; Boston Scientific Corp.; Cardinal Health (Cordis); Cook Medical, Inc.; Becton Dickinson. and Company (C.R. Bard); ENDOCOR GmbH; Medtronic PLC; Spectranetics Corp.; and Johnson & Johnson

Browse more reports of this category by Grand View Research at: www.grandviewresearch.com/industry/medical-devices

Grand View Research has segmented the global angioplasty balloon market on the basis of type, application, end use, and region:

Angioplasty Balloon Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

Normal Balloons

Drug-Eluting Balloons (DEBs)

Cutting Balloons

Scoring Balloons

Angioplasty Balloons Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

Peripheral

Coronary

Angioplasty Balloon End Use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs)

Hospitals

Catheterization Laboratories (Cath Labs)

Angioplasty Balloons Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025)

North America

Europe

Asia Pacific

Latin America

Middle East and Africa

Access Press Release of Angioplasty Balloons Market @ www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-angioplasty-balloons-market

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.

For More Information: www.grandviewresearch.com
For one of them, unprecedented wildfires in her home province sometimes made it difficult to breathe. Another has experienced heat waves, ice storms and flooding.

But the four teenagers suing the Government of Canada for approving the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion all say the psychological effects of climate change have been more damaging than the physical ones.

I definitely also feel fear. Including myself, there are many youth in Canada who have decided not to have kids when theyre older because they dont want to bring kids into a world thats so messed up, says Rebecca Wolf Gage, 13.

We want a future, says Lena Andres, 18. Older people had the privilege of growing up and not having to worry about the ground beneath their feet crumbling. All I want is to feel the same way.

Last week, the Supreme Court of Canada quashed British Columbias pipeline-related appeal, removing a major barrier to the controversial energy project. It would almost triple the capacity of the existing pipeline to carry diluted bitumen from Albertas oilsands to the B.C. coast for export overseas.

These four young people and their legal challenge are one of the pipelines last remaining obstacles, along with challenges mounted by several First Nations.

I cant just sit back and watch this happen. I need to always be doing something, and if that means that I have to sue my prime minister, then I guess thats what I have to do, says Andres.

The teenagers  Wolf Gage, from Victoria; Andres, from Winnipeg; Nina Tran, 19, from Hamilton; and Olivier Adkin-Kaya, 18, of Edmonton  are arguing that the federal government failed to consider their rights as young people when it approved and bought the Trans Mountain expansion project. The Liberal government purchased the pipeline for $4.5 billion in 2018, aiming to get it built.

Because the new pipeline will add double-digit megatonnes of greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere, contributing to the environmental degradation wrought by climate change, the youth say Canada should not have approved it without considering whether doing so will violate their rights to life, liberty, and security of the person  particularly because they stand to suffer more harm from climate change than older people, who wont live to see the worst of it.

After a federal court dismissed the challenge on procedural grounds last fall, the group raised more than $19,000 through crowdfunding and in November applied for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court.

The case faces long odds.

The Supreme Court granted just 8 per cent of the applications for leave to appeal that it received in 2018. Even if the justices do decide to hear it, the challenge relies on a section of Canadas Charter of Rights and Freedoms that is typically used in criminal matters  there is no obvious precedent for using it as redress for environmental injustice.

Last week, a U.S. federal appeals court dismissed a similar youth-led case, Juliana vs. United States, concluding reluctantly that climate change policy is a matter for governments, not for courts.

But in December, Netherlands top court upheld a landmark decision that ordered the Dutch government to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent by the end of 2020, affirming a lower courts ruling that the government has a human rights obligation to protect its citizens from the ills of climate change. Nine young Germans launched a similar lawsuit against their government this month.

These cases are just the tip of the iceberg, says Patrick Canning, a B.C.-based lawyer representing the Canadian teenagers.

Climate litigation is only going to increase, and the court has an opportunity with this case to set some of the ground rules and give guidance to provincial courts for how to deal with these issues.

The teenagers connected through a national network of climate strikers, young people who are protesting inaction on global warming by leaving school to picket legislatures and other institutions.

On top of her activism, Wolf Gage had also being searching for legal options. Her father is an environmental lawyer.

I begged my dad for months to figure out a way to stop the pipeline, says Wolf Gage, who witnessed weeks of smoky air and orange skies during B.C.s record-breaking 2017 wildfire season. She says she suffers from some eco-anxiety, and occasionally sees a counsellor for it.

Their strategy is to rely on sections 7 and 15 of the Charter. The former dictates that everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person  in many ways, the most basic and fundamental protection of all, lawyer Canning says  and the latter stipulates that everyone benefits from equal protection under the law, without discrimination based on age or any other factor.

Thirteen-year-old Wolf Gage summarizes hundreds of pages of legal filings concisely:

If our future is being destroyed, and we have the right to life, liberty and security of the person, and we have the same equal rights as adults, then they shouldnt build the pipeline.

Last June, the four youth and three others sent submissions based on that argument to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the federal cabinet, urging the government not to reapprove the pipeline (Ottawas first approval was thrown out by a court for insufficient Indigenous consultation and inadequate consideration of environmental impacts.)

Days later, Trudeau announced that the pipeline had been approved again.

We were like, OK, are we going to sue them? Wolf Gage remembers. The answer was yes.

The teenagers applied to the Federal Court of Appeal for leave to review cabinets approval. But in September, Justice David Stratas dismissed their application. Stratas wrote that there was no evidence supporting the applicants Charter claims, but primarily threw it out because it wasnt part of an original challenge filed at an earlier stage of the process.

I was 12 years old when that happened. Its not like I could have done that  I didnt have the resources to do that, I didnt know. When youre a kid, you assume that the people who are in power are the ones who are looking out for you, says Andres.

Everybody in my generation has had to grow up very quickly, and kind of miss out on that portion of their childhood, where they feel safe and protected. Were the ones protecting ourselves at this point, because people in power arent doing it.

As they wait to hear whether the Supreme Court will take their case, the teens all express an obligation to do everything in their power to spur action on climate change.

Were putting friendships on hold, were putting school on hold, literally everything on hold in order to sue our government. We shouldnt have to do this. Its ridiculous that I have to do this, says Andres.

One day Id like to grow up and Id like to have kids and not feel badly about bringing them into a world that has been so degraded. Id like them to be safe, Id like them to be happy. I dont want them to have to worry about the state of the planet.

She adds: Im not doing this because I want to. Im doing this because I have to.

Read more about:
The ongoing protests, violence in its aftermath and statements by some politicians in India against the citizenship amendment act that the Parliament passed on December 11, has corroded India's global image it seems. On one hand, a UK based magazine in its recent issue has termed the country as "Intolerant", on the other, a US billionaire has said that the growing nationalism in India is "frightening." All this comes at the backdrop of the amended citizenship law, that will grant citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, Jains, Christians and Buddhists from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

On Thursday, US billionaire George Soros, while speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "creating a Hindu nationalist state." He said that the "biggest and most frightening setback" of nationalism was in India.

BJP slams Kejriwal over Shaheen Bagh, cites Republic sting exposing 'western media' plot

Although the Indian government including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah has multiple times and at multiple occasions clarified that the amendment made in the law is to grant citizenship and not to take it away, fearmongering from Opposition leaders like Congress' Rahul Gandhi, TMC's Mamata Banerjee, AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi and others has spread a false information about the act.

From Cong's protest hijack to 'Western media' plot - biggest reveals of Shaheen Bagh sting

In another incident, what seems to be an attempt to target the Modi government, UK based Economist Magazine has titled its recent issue as "Intolerant India" and has claimed to explain "how Modi is endangering the world's biggest democracy." It claims that the "civil liberties are being eroded", democratic institutions are being "weakened". However, the article has not mentioned about the anti-national sloganeering in the anti-CAA protests, the political agenda of the grand old party in Shaheen Bagh. It has also overlooked the repeated clarifications and outreach programme by the Modi government.

EAM Jaishankar busts western media's 'preconception-based' J&K reports

In the past, the Western media has targeted the Modi government after India abrogated Article 370 and integrated the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. While the neighbouring Pakistan attempted to spread fake news and rumour-mongered over the communication blockade in the Kashmir valley, Indian Army exposed their propaganda and stated that the blockade was necessary to prevent "provocation."

Shaheen Bagh organiser STUNG: Watch him reveal the plot to catch the western media's eye
Nine people--seven in Kerala, two in Mumbai and one in Hyderabad--who were among the hundreds of passengers who returned from China in the recent days are under observation in hospitals to check for possible exposure to the deadly novel coronavirus, central and state officials said on Friday.

Officials in Kerala said another 73 people were being kept under medical surveillance at their homes in the state.

As over 20,000 passengers returning from mainland China and Hong Kong underwent thermal screenings at the seven international airports of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Cochin, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS) in Delhi has set up an isolation ward and kept beds ready for providing treatment to any suspected case of the respiratory infection.

According to Kerala state health ministry officials in Thiruvananthapuram, seven people who had shown mild symptoms of fever, cough and sore throat are under watch in state-run hospitals in different districts in the state. Two of them are in the state capital while one each is in observation in Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Pathanamthitta.

The state government has advised those under home surveillance to remain at home for 28 days from the date of their departure from China.

The coronavirus is a large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from the common cold to acute respiratory syndromes, but the virus in China is a novel strain and not seen before. It has killed 26 people so far, and has caused alarm because of its similarity to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome).

According to a union health ministry official, two persons who returned from China have been kept under observation at a Mumbai hospital while one person has been placed under watch at a hospital in Hyderabad.

However, no positive case has been detected in the country so far, he said.

The official said a total of 20,844 passengers who travelled in 96 flights from China have been screened at the airports till January 24.

Also, on the basis of the details provided by the Indian Embassy in China, around 25 students who have returned to India recently from Wuhan are being closely monitored, the official said.

Their details have been shared with district-level officers and they are being monitored closely for any symptoms.

Two people who returned to Mumbai from China have been kept in an isolation ward at Kasturba Hospital, and their blood samples collected to check for the new strain of coronavirus, officials said in Mumbai.

As many as 1,789 passengers underwent thermal screening at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai for the coronavirus since January 19 and two of them were admitted to civic-run Kasturba Hospital in the city as a precaution, they said.

Till now, no cases of coronavirus infection have been detected during screening, a health department official said.

"No passenger with history of visit to Wuhan city of China in the last 14 days was found positive (for the virus) during thermal scanning," he said.

Coronavirus cases were first reported from Wuhan, the capital of central China's Hubei province.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has created an isolation ward at the Kasturba hospital.

"The isolation ward has been created for diagnosis and treatment of persons suspected to have the virus infection," said Dr Padmaja Keskar, executive health officer of the BMC.

Keskar said the two persons under observation at the hospital have mild cough and exhibited cold-related symptoms.

Doctors at the airport have been asked to send travellers returning from China to the isolation ward if they show any symptoms of the novel coronavirus, she said.

"All private doctors in the city have been asked to alert us if they observe symptoms of coronavirus in any person who has returned from China," she added.

According to Kasturba Hospital sources, they have received detailed instructions from the Maharashtra government about how to deal with a coronavirus infection.

Apart from Kasturba Hospital, quarantine facilities have also been provided at Naidu Hospital in Pune, the officials said.

During the screening at the Mumbai airport, six passengers -- three from Pune and another three from Mumbai -- underwent further medical examination, he said.

"Four of them were found to be perfectly alright. As a precaution, two others who were suffering from a minor cold and cough have been admitted to the Kasturba Hospital in Mumbai and kept under monitoring," he said.

AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria said, "We have an isolation ward and we have beds kept ready for providing care and treatment for suspected coronavirus cases in Delhi or elsewhere in India."



"All precautionary measures -- in terms of personal protection equipment for healthcare workers to prevent the spread of the disease while treating infected patients -- are in place.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A concrete company that was requesting a permit to build a concrete mixing plant in a Houston neighborhood  a permit application it will withdraw under public pressure  additionally agreed Thursday to move its other operations out of the area.

Soto Ready Mix, a small Houston company, had planned to build a concrete batch plant near homes and a park in Acres Homes, a historically black neighborhood in northwest Houston. Armando Soto, who owns property in a residential area on De Soto Street and operated logistics and storage at the site for his small family business, found himself caught in a bitter fight with neighbors who diligently fought to stop the company from obtaining an environmental permit to open a batch plant that, for some, would literally be next door.

Soto has said he chose the site, which is next to homes and across the street from a community park, because it was near his home on the other side of U.S. 290. After the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality granted a hearing to the residents opposing the plant, allowing them to argue their case before a state administrative judge, Soto agreed to withdraw the permit application rather than proceed with the contested hearing, which was scheduled for Thursday.

Instead, elected officials negotiated with the Soto family and their attorney Thursday morning, in which Soto agree to find a new site for the batch plant outside of Acres Homes and reduce current industrial activity at the site.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Company withdraws application to build concrete batch plant

He's a man of his word, said Erich Birch, an attorney representing Soto during a press conference Thursday. "Quite frankly he could have followed through (with building the plant), and a lot of companies would have followed through. But instead, his intent was to be a good neighbor.

The residents of Acres Homes over the last two years organized significant public opposition to the plant  hundreds attended town hall meetings held by public officials, and residents located nearby the site engaged fully with the TCEQs permitting process. Public opposition to the plant escalated in recent months when U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Houston), state Rep. Jarvis Johnson (D-Houston) and state Sen. John Whitmire, (D-Houston), spoke at a TCEQ meeting in favor of sending the case to an administrative judge, and officials, along with Mayor Sylvester Turner, condemned the project earlier this month.

Jackson Lee, speaking at a press conference Thursday, said officials will provide the company with information on small business grants and anything that can be useful in expediting the move out of Acres Homes, which she expects to occur within the year. Johnson, who negotiated with Soto this week, said that while the business will not receive financial assistance to move out of the neighborhood, but officials will aid Soto in identifying areas that would be more suitable for the batch plant.

(Soto) made a commitment not to leave vacant land, Johnson said during a press conference Thursday. Hes willing sit down with the community and do things that will create improvement (in the neighborhood).

Officials commended Soto for withdrawing the permit, and decried what they said was poor advice that the company was given early on in the permitting process by a business consultant. They called on the state Legislature to change the laws of the TCEQs permitting process so that the problem can be prevented in the future.

Texas Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox

TCEQ only has jurisdiction over emissions from the plant, not where it is sited. Thats not a problem in most Texas communities, where zoning laws prohibit industry from locating so close to residences. Houston, however, doesnt have zoning laws. In a statement Wednesday, Turner said the case proves the TCEQ needs more tools to protect the health of vulnerable neighborhoods in Houston.

He's a small business (owner) and he wants to grow his business, said Birch on behalf of the company. That's all he's trying to do, and property is hard to find.

erin.douglas@chron.com

Twitter.com/erinmdouglas23
Were doing original music, all my music, original modern jazz, Lewis said. Ive always been interested in writing music since I was in high school and taught myself. Its something I just learned to do. Listening to and transcribing records is how I learned to write.

Some of those records were by classic jazz artists Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Others came from a younger generation, like Joshua Redman, Wayne Shorter and Dave Holland. Hints of all turn up in Lewis compositions.

It comes through basically everything youve experienced does, he said. I listened to a lot of 80s pop growing up, too, so that flows in my music. Hip-hop, even some classical is in there.

So how does the original music go over? Do people connect with songs theyve never heard before?

People seem to like it, Lewis said. The main thing I try to do is have melody. The melodic material needs to be strong enough and memorable enough that listeners can remember the melody when it comes around and after.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 24

Trend:

Azerbaijan and Russia have deep historical roots, First Deputy Director General of the Russian TASS News Agency Mikhail Gusman told reporters in Baku Jan. 24 on the sidelines of the Baku-Moscow: dialogue of cultures conference, Trend reports.

We all remember what significance the national leader Heydar Aliyev attached to the relations between Azerbaijan and Russia, cultural relations, and todays conference is the embodiment of his vision, Gusman said.

Gusman expressed gratitude to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva for their support in holding the conference.

Speaking about the importance of the conference, Gusman noted that a big, representative delegation consisting of prominent public and cultural figures arrived at the event from Russia.

Everyone feels great joy from being in Baku, and the matter is not only in traditional Azerbaijani hospitality, but also in the atmosphere of friendship, cooperation, attention that the delegation is surrounded by, the first deputy director general added.
[January 24, 2020] Actua Publishes AI Education Handbook to Bring AI Into Canadian Classrooms

OTTAWA, Jan. 24, 2020 /CNW/ - Today marked the release of Actua's AI Education Handbook, an accessible learning tool on the basics of artificial intelligence to help educators bring AI learning into classrooms across Canada. Available to everyone online, Actua's AI Education Handbook is part of Actua's AI Project, an initiative supported by Google.org and the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) to develop an AI curriculum for Canadian high-school students from coast to coast to coast. "Our ultimate goal is to contribute to the development of a strong AI training ecosystem in Canada," said Jennifer Flanagan, President and CEO, Actua. "Youth interact with AI on a daily basis, but don't yet have exposure to AI concepts in school. This new initiative will help to change that and prepare youth for the jobs of today and tomorrow where, they need foundational digital skills, which now includes understanding and applying AI." The handbook was created with a team of leading AI experts including Natacha Mainville, Senior Research Program Manager, Google AI, who was there to celebrate the launch of the handbook at Actua's National Conference in Ottawa. "Google's mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful - AI is helping us to do that in exciting new ways," said Natacha Mainville, Google Brain. "The potential of AI will be determined by the next generation of technology builders. Actua's AI Education Handbook is a step in the right direction to equip educators and learners on the AI opportunity, and how it can solve for humanity's biggest challenges." Actua's AI Education Handbook content was piloted at 12 of Actua's network member programs across the country throughout 2019, and is released in conjunction with Actua's Teacher Training being delivered across Canada. To support classroom instruction, Actua has also developed a suite of AI activities for youth being released online throughout 2020.



"Digital literacy skills are more important than ever for young people. Schools are where this learning starts, which is why providing accessible lesson plans for teachers is critical," said David Fowler, Vice President Marketing and Communications, CIRA. "We're proud to support Actua's Handbook that will help equip high school students with real-life applications of AI they can use in their everyday life and in their future careers." For more information on Actua's AI project, training, and resources visit www.actua.ca/ai .

About Actua: Actua is Canada's largest science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) youth outreach network representing 40 university and college based members . Each year, Actua's growing network of member organizations reach over 300,000 young Canadians in 500 communities nationwide. Actua focuses on the engagement of underrepresented youth through specialized programs for Indigenous youth, girls and young women, at-risk youth and youth living in Northern and remote communities. Its national InSTEM program reaches over 35,000 Indigenous youth per year in over 200 Indigenous communities. Actua's major funding partners include: Government of Canada, Google Canada, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, RBC Foundation, Suncor Energy Foundation, TD Bank Group, Microsoft Canada, Finning Canada, Imperial, Toyota Canada Foundation, GE Canada, Mastercard, CIRA and Lockheed Martin Canada. For more information about Actua, visit actua.ca . SOURCE Actua

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
New Delhi:

Amid the ongoing impeachment trial at the US Senate, President Donald Trump is making news with his bizarre meme targeting his predecessor Barack Obama. On Friday (IST), the US President posted a morphed photo mocking Obama. In the pic, Trump was seen leaning against a marble wall while Obama was seen looking through binoculars. Obama is shown dangerously hanging from the window using suction cup. As of writing this, Trumps pinned post had garnered 36K retweets and 134K likes. Initially, several people were puzzled as to what was the post all about. Then Fox News presenter Sean Hannity decoded the meme. Just before he signed off from his evening show, Hannity said that this tweet was about Trumps claims that Obama used to spy on him.

The president just tweeted this. This is Donald Trump at Trump Tower and there is Barack Obama with binoculars spying in on Trump. The president just tweeted that out based on the news. Yeah, they spied on him. The media got it wrong. They mocked him, just like they laughed at the idea he could be president, Hannity said on the micro-blogging site.

Obviously, Twitter had strong feelings about this meme. Many people lambasted Trump for mocking Obama. Trump has repeatedly said that he will be acquitted in the Senate trial. He has said that the hearing was nothing but the wastage of time. So, how Twitter reacted to Trumps Obama-mocking meme? Here are some of the best tweets:

Are you trying to measure up to @BarackObama with a meme? NEVER GONNA HAPPEN! pic.twitter.com/eCr64ni5YK  ChidiiAAAAA (@ChidiNwatu) January 24, 2020

So youre saying Obama has the upper body strength to climb up skyscrapers while you need to lean against faux marble ?  Roland Scahill (@rolandscahill) January 24, 2020

WTF with this photo?



Donald Trump is obsessed with Barack Obama -- in a really unhealthy and creepy way.



Trump cannot stand the fact that...



1. Obama's wife adores him

2. His kids love him

3. World leaders respect him

4. He won a Nobel Prize

5. He's a successful black man pic.twitter.com/SAWmYAs5XS  Russell Drew (@RussOnPolitics) January 24, 2020

You feel deeply inferior to Obama. You should. pic.twitter.com/Fid3Hq6Blk  Ron Dedrick (@RonDedrick2) January 24, 2020

Meanwhile, Lead House impeachment manager Adam Schiff called dramatically for the Senate to remove President Donald Trump from office Thursday, saying the US leader cannot be trusted to put the country's interests ahead of his own. "The American people deserve a president they can count on, to put their interest first," said Schiff. His impassioned words capped a long day in which Democrats detailed Trump's illicit scheme to pressure Ukraine to help his 2020 reelection campaign.

As the 100 senators sat as jurors and millions of Americans watched on television, House impeachment managers mustered scores of videos, internal documents and extensive witness testimony to lay out a strong case that the US leader abused his powers. Schiff's prosecution team detailed how Trump flagrantly undertook last year to force Kiev to help him tarnish his possible 2020 reelection rival, former vice president Joe Biden.

Democrats are hoping their arguments will at least persuade some Republicans, who hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, to support their call to issue subpoenas next week for four top current and former Trump aides to testify, and for internal White House records about the Ukraine affair.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Four employees of French Christian NGO missing in Baghdad: charity



Paris, Jan 24 (AFP) Jan 24, 2020



Four employees of a French Christian NGO, three French nationals and one Iraqi, have been missing in Baghdad since Monday, the charity announced Friday.

The four members of the influential SOS Chretiens d'Orient (Christians of the Middle East) charity went missing near the French embassy in the Iraqi capital, the organisation's director Benjamin Blanchard told a press conference in Paris.

No ransom demand has been received as yet and no group has claimed responsibility for their disappearance, he added.

SOS Chretiens d'Orient has been working with Christians in Iraq since 2014 when Islamic State jihadists overran the province of Mosul, displacing tens of thousands of minority Christians and Yazidis.

It is principally active in the Iraqi Kurdish capital Arbil, where many Christians sought refuge.

The missing team was in Baghdad "to renew their visas and register the association with Iraqi authorities," Blanchard said, adding that they were "experienced staff members who have been working with us for years."
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan.24

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

Czech Republics aim is to boost bilateral economic cooperation, including the volume of Czech exports and investment into Azerbaijan, Foreign Minister of Czech Republic Tomas Petricek said in an interview with Trend.

"Opportunities to initiate new projects include the meeting of the Joint Commission which we hope to take place as soon as possible; economic cooperation can also be discussed between the newly elected members of Milli Majlis and their Czech colleagues as the Economic Committee of the Czech Chamber of Deputies expressed its interest in visiting Azerbaijan during this year," said the minister.

Petricek noted that the Czech Republic supports the finalization of negotiations on the new Comprehensive Agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan.

"We are convinced that updating the current framework agreed in 1996 will benefit both of our countries. Getting to sign the agreement during 2020 is in the interest of the Czech Republic," noted the foreign minister.

Petricek went on to add that in 2020, the two countries will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Czech Embassy in Baku and the 5th anniversary of the signature of the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership by the two countries presidents in Baku.

Summing up the results of 2019, the minister said that last year was marked by several positive impulses in the bilateral political and economic relations as well as in the sphere of culture and education that he hopes will turn out to be starting points for a new chapter of the strategic partnership.

"In June, regular political consultations took place in Prague. My Deputy Ministers Ales Chmelar and Martin Povejsil met Deputy Minister Khalaf Khalafov to discuss bilateral relations as well as those between Azerbaijan and the EU and the issues of human rights and regional security. Our side underlined that a peaceful and negotiated settlement is the only way to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We appreciate the help of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Presidential Administration in facilitating the November Baku consultations of Political Directors from the Foreign Ministries of the Visegrad Group countries," added Petricek.

He pointed out that the most important bilateral visit from the Czech Republic to Azerbaijan in 2019 was that of the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of our Parliament, Radek Vondracek and several Deputies representing the ruling coalition as well as opposition parties in May.

The visit in Baku had a very important economic component, as he was also accompanied by a delegation of 20 Czech entrepreneurs who participated at the Czech-Azerbaijani Business Forum, said Petricek.

"We welcome the efforts of Azerbaijan to diversify its economy which also create opportunities for Czech companies," he added.

As the minister said, during the last year, the bilateral relations developed in the field of education.

"The numbers of student visas as well as of applications for Visegrad scholarships (the Czech Embassy in Baku is the contact point of the Visegrad International Fund in Azerbaijan) and questions by curious participants of educational fairs in Azerbaijan have again proven how popular Czech universities are among Azerbaijani students," added Petricek.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Maharashtra minister Jitendra Ahwad on Friday said the Koregaon-Bhima violence case, filed during the previous BJP regime, was a "conspiracy" to malign the image of activists sympathetic to Dalit causes.

Addressing a press conference here, the NCP leader said the case, in which some human rights activists have been facing charges of Maoist links and also booked under the anti- terror act UAPA, should be investigated again.

"I have said several times that the Koregaon-Bhima case was a conspiracy to malign activists who are sympathetic to Dalit causes," he said.

"Taking action against those who recite poems of Namdeo Dhasal (a Marathi poet & Dalit activist) and arresting people on allegations of plotting to kill (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi is too much. The case should be investigated again," the minister said.

Speaking on other issues, Ahwad said the government has decided to reserve 10 per cent houses constructed by state- run board MHADA for police personnel and same percentage for Class 4 employees of the state administration.

The case, also called Elgar Parishad case, relates to violence near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial in Pune district on January 1, 2018.

According to the Pune police, "inflammatory" speeches delivered at a conclave, Elgar Parishad - held on December 31, 2017 - had triggered the violence at Koregaon-Bhima.

The Pune Police have claimed the conclave was backed by Maoists. The parishad, they alleged, instigated violence near the Koregaon Bhima war memorial on January 1, 2018.

Some rights activists were arrested in the case by the Pune police and booked for alleged links with Maoists.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

The Director-General of the OPEC Fund for International Development, the OPEC Fund, Dr Abdulhamid Alkhalifa has signed a development loan in support of a major water supply and sewerage project during a high-level mission to Male, Republic of Maldives

VIENNA, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 24th Jan, 2020) The Director-General of the OPEC Fund for International Development, the OPEC Fund, Dr Abdulhamid Alkhalifa has signed a development loan in support of a major water supply and sewerage project during a high-level mission to Male, Republic of Maldives.

According to a statement issued by the Fund, the US$50 million loan was signed with the Maldives Minister of Finance Ibrahim Ameer and will fund the Outer Islands Harbours, Water Supply and Sewerage Facilities Project.

The government of the Maldives is co-financing the project, which costs a total of US$62.25 million, and planned work includes building water supply networks and sewerage systems, as well as improving harbour infrastructure that will boost tourism and other economic opportunities.

Around 20,000 people on 13 outer islands are expected to benefit. The harbour works will rehabilitate and upgrade priority infrastructure, better serving outer islands that have been economically marginalised despite their substantial potential for economic and social development.

To date, the OPEC Fund has approved 23 Public Sector loans to the Maldives totalling more than US$209 million. Supported projects include those in the transport, water and sanitation, agriculture, banking and financial services, telecommunications, health and education sectors. The Maldives has also benefited from the OPEC Funds Private Sector, Trade Finance and Grants financing.
Expert witness details 'rape myths' in Harvey Weinstein case originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

Prosecutors in the Harvey Weinstein rape and sexual assault trial on Friday called on veteran forensic psychiatrist Dr. Barbara Ziv, who previously testified at Bill Cosby's criminal trial last year.

As she did at the Cosby trial, Ziv outlined a series of what she described as "rape myths," widely held societal beliefs that are contradicted by statistical evidence and emerging research.

Under cross-examination, Ziv acknowledged that false reports could share many of the same characteristics of accurate reports, including delayed reporting and new details emerging years later. She also acknowledged a concept known as "relabeling" -- the idea that individuals can reinterpret incidents over time that cause them shame.

A total of six women are expected to testify that Weinstein sexually assaulted them. Weinstein is charged with crimes related to two of the six women, and the rest are being called in support of prosecutors' efforts to demonstrate a pattern of sexual predation. He's pleaded not guilty to all charges and denied ever engaging in non-consensual sex.

One of the women who accused Weinstein of rape is actress Annabella Sciorra. She testified on Thursday that Weinstein forced himself onto her at her New York apartment in either 1993 or 1994. Fellow actress Rosie Perez testified Friday how Sciorra told her of the alleged assault, after Perez had called her to go out for a night on the town.

"I called her up. I was in a pretty jovial mood," Perez testified, recalling herself saying, "Hey Annabella, let's go out!' She was talking in this very strange whisper of a voice as if she was hiding from someone. I said, 'What's wrong with you?' and she said, 'I think something bad happened.'"

"I think something bad happened," Sciorra replied, according to Perez. "'I think I was raped.' And the way she said it was so strange because she was still whispering."

Story continues

"'Do you think it happened, or did it happen?" Perez persisted, according to the testimony. "And she said, 'I think it was rape,' and then she started to cry."

Perez went on to testify that she suspected Weinstein was the one who assaulted her friend after she heard rumors about the pair in London. Perez also said that during the phone call to Sciorra in London, she urged her to call the police, but Sciorra rejected the idea.

"She said she was scared that he was gonna get her again, and that's when I put two and two together -- and I said, 'He's the one that raped you,' and she said, 'How did you know?' And I said, 'I didn't know -- you confirmed my speculation,'" Perez testified Friday. "She told me that it was, in fact, Harvey Weinstein that raped her. She told me that he showed up at her door, that he pushed his way through the door and she was crying, and saying 'I tried to fight back, I tried.'"

During cross-examination, the defense asked Perez why she didn't go to the police after hearing that her friend thought she was raped.

"If you have a girlfriend who tells you something like that, you don't know what to do. You don't want to overstep your bounds. If she was my very, very, very good friend, you know," Perez began, before stopping to sigh. "It was shocking. I was in shock."

MORE: Jurors selected for Harvey Weinstein's New York trial

Towards the end of Perez's testimony, she broke down in tears when she acknowledged that she once broke her promise to Sciorra never to tell anyone about the alleged rape by Weinstein to journalist Nicole Wallace, a former co-host with Perez on ABC's "The View."

I betrayed my promise to her to never tell anybody I knew, Perez said, choking up at the recollection.

'The most underreported crime'

Ziv said there are many factors and reasons that go into a woman continuing to have contact with a person who sexually assaulted them or not reporting them.

PHOTO: Forensic psychologist Dr. Barbara Ziv leaves with Prosecutor Joan Illuzzi-Orbon at New York City Criminal Court for the continuation of this trial, Jan. 24, 2020, in New York City. (Jeenah Moon/Getty Images)

"Many individuals who are sexually assaulted will tell somebody: a friend. Not everybody, but many," Ziv testified Friday. "Very few people then will report to a doctor or a counselor or a spiritual advisor, and then the next level is to law enforcement -- and even fewer report to law enforcement."

Ziv testified that delayed reporting "can range from days to weeks to months to years  to never. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, it is the most underreported crime."

Under cross examination by Weinstein defense attorney Damon Cheronis, Ziv acknowledged Cheronis' suggestion that it's possible for individuals to "relabel a consensual sexual encounter as non-consensual years later."

MORE: Harvey Weinstein defense to cite 'dozens of loving emails' accusers sent after alleged attacks

"Anything is possible," she responded. "It's not usual."

She acknowledged early in her testimony that she hadn't interviewed or assessed anyone involved on either side of the Weinstein case. Ziv insisted that she hadn't followed news reporting on the Weinstein case at all since she was first contacted by Manhattan prosecutors in early 2018.

Ziv also confirmed that she works for insurance companies -- currently overseeing case managers as part of a position she holds at the insurance firm Aetna, similar to a job she previously worked at Cigna.

PHOTO: Harvey Weinstein arrives at New York City Criminal Court for the continuation of this trial, Jan. 24, 2020, in New York City. (Jeenah Moon/Getty Images)

Cheronis sought to unwind some of the broad statements she made under direct examination.

"Do you think if something happens in closer proximity and [a victim] reports it sooner, it's going to be more accurate?" Cheronis asked.

MORE: Why assault victims stay in touch with attackers, in light of Weinstein defense

"I think you can say that about a lot of things, yes," Ziv replied, displaying a repeated impatience with what she described as "oversimplifications" of her written work and testimony in previous cases. "I think that's generally true."

Asked to define the term "relabeling," Ziv said that "relabeling is when you experience something and over time you sort it in sort of different bucket in your memory."

"Could an individual reinterpret things they've done that they regret?" Cheronis asked.

"Yes," she replied.

Asked whether she was familiar with the term "consensual unwanted sex," Ziv said she was, but called it "one of the most ridiculous concepts, and not accepted in any field I know of."

If you or someone you know experienced sexual assault and is seeking resources, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
Press Release

24 January 2020

HENDERSONVILLE, Tennessee - The Canadian hotel industry reported mostly negative year-over-year results in the three key performance metrics during 2019, according to data from STR.

Advertisements

Compared with 2018:

Occupancy: -1.3% to 65.2%

Average daily rate (ADR): +1.2% to CAD165.23

Revenue per available room (RevPAR): -0.2% to CAD107.81

The absolute ADR level was the highest for any year in STR's Canada database, while the absolute RevPAR level was the second-highest on record behind 2018 (CAD108.00).

An October report from Destination Canada showed that overnight arrivals of international visitors to the country surpassed 1.6 million for the first time ever for that month, bringing year-to-date visitors to a record high of 19.6 million (+5.0%). STR analysts note that despite that exponential growth, hotel demand (+0.1%) lagged behind supply (+1.5%), which brought occupancy down. With occupancy levels declining and economic growth slowing, hoteliers experienced less pricing power compared with 2018.

In absolute values, August was Canada's top month of the year for each of the three metrics: occupancy (79.0%), ADR (CAD185.08) and RevPAR (CAD146.21).

Among the provinces and territories, British Columbia recorded the largest year-over-year increase in RevPAR (+2.6% to CAD138.50), due primarily to the largest lift in ADR (+2.6% to CAD197.40).

Newfoundland and Labrador experienced the highest rise in occupancy (+1.7% to 54.5%) but the steepest declines in ADR (-5.5% to CAD132.22) and RevPAR (-4.0% to CAD72.12).

Nova Scotia registered the only other increase in occupancy (+0.7% to 67.9%) but the second-largest decrease in ADR (-2.0% to CAD146.50).

Alberta saw the largest drop in occupancy (-2.5% to 55.6%), which resulted in the second-steepest decline in RevPAR (-2.6% to CAD85.43).

Download STR's global hotel review for December.
Aizawl/Agartala, Jan 24 : In the wake of an agreement to rehabilitate 34,000 Reang tribals -- living in northern Tripura after fleeing Mizoram 23 years ago due to ethnic unrest -- the names of around 11,000 voters among these refugees would be deleted from the electoral list in Mizoram, official sources said on Friday.

A senior official of the Mizoram Election Department told IANS on the condition of anonymity that as per a January 16 agreement arrived at in Delhi between different stakeholders it was decided to rehabilitate Mizoram's 34,000 Reang tribals in Tripura.

Mizoram's Joint Chief Electoral Officer David L. Pachuau however told IANS that the state was yet to receive any clear-cut instructions from the Election Commission about these tribal voters.

"After receiving EC instructions, we will undertake the removal of their names from the voters list in Mizoram," Pachuau said on phone.

Media reports quoting Mizoram Chief Electoral Officer Ashish Kundra said that the names of these Reang tribals would be deleted as per the Representation of the People's Act of 1951.

"The deletion process will be taken up during the next round of electoral rolls revision after the relief camps in Tripura are closed," Kundra was quotes as saying, who was not available for comments personally as he was said to be busy meeting Election Commission officials in Delhi.

The official said that the state government will take the EC's nod before the deletion of names and follow the set procedure. Annual summary revision of electoral lists in most states, including Mizoram, is on, with January 1, 2020, as the qualifying date for age eligibility.

According to Mizoram Election Department officials, the Reang tribal voters originally numbered 12,081, but with the return of around 1,100 refugees to Mizoram villages last year, the voters still housed in the Tripura relief camps would be around 11,000.

The 34,000 Reang tribals hail from Mizoram's Mamit, Lunglei and Kolasib districts, spanning nine of the state's 40 Assembly constituencies.

Meanwhile, General Secretary Bruno Msha of Mizoram Bru Displaced People's Forum (MBDPF), an apex body of Reang tribal refugees, told IANS that the work to enrol eligible tribal refugees in Tripura and removal of their names from the Mizoram voters list had not yet started.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and the Mizoram Assembly polls in November 2018, around 60 to 65 per cent of the over 12,000 Reang tribal voters cast ballots at Kanhmun, a village along the Mizoram-Tripura border, around 50-60 km from their camp.

The Election Commission had set up 15 special polling stations at Kanhmun to facilitate voting by Reang refugees.

As per the January 16 agreement, each Reang tribal refugee family will get a 40x30 feet plot in Tripura to construct a house, fixed deposit of Rs 4 lakh for two years, Rs 1.5 lakh for house building, Rs 5,000 per month for two years, and free ration for two years.

The agreement was signed by the Union Home Ministry officials, Tripura and Mizoram Chief Secretaries, six Reang tribal refugee leaders, and on behalf of newly formed apolitical body Tiprasa that is headed by Tripura's erstwhile royal family's scion Pradyut Kishore Debbarman.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Tripura and Mizoram Chief Ministers Biplab Kumar Deb and Zoramthanga were present on the occasion.

Deb said that a six-member Joint Monitoring Committee headed by the MHA's Special Secretary (Internal Security) will be formed to oversee the implementation of the agreement, expected to be executed within six months.
Frederic S. Berman, a former state legislator and judge who, as a Lindsay administration official, helped usher in a program to regulate rents on hundreds of thousands of apartments in New York City, died on Sunday in Manhattan. He was 92.

His death, in a nursing home, was confirmed by his wife, Barbara J. Cohn.

Mr. Berman, a reform Democrat, was appointed as New York Citys rent and housing rehabilitation commissioner shortly after John V. Lindsay, a Republican, was elected mayor in 1965.

His challenge was to reconcile rising maintenance costs, declining vacancy rates and rent gouging in unregulated apartments by protecting tenants while discouraging landlords from abandoning their buildings to arson and vandalism.

In 1967, he was instrumental in ending a nine-day walkout by service employees in residential buildings by securing their wages with a provision that allowed property owners, generally, to impose annual rent increases of 2.5 percent. In the process, he drafted what was referred to as a Bill of Rights to protect tenants in 1.4 million rent-controlled apartments built before 1947.
Photo: The Canadian Press

Quebec provincial police say they've found the body of one of the five missing snowmobilers from France in the province's Lac-Saint-Jean region.

Police say the body was found about two kilometres from where police found submerged snowmobiles and other personal items on Thursday, but they did not identify which of the missing men was found.

Four tourists are still unaccounted for as authorities continue to search on land, on the water and from the air.

For reasons that remain unclear, the group of nine snowmobilers, including their Quebec guide, left the safety of the marked trail through the woods and ventured towards the icy expanse of Lac-Saint-Jean, where the ice gave way somewhere between St-Henri-de-Taillon and Alma.

Two of them managed to get a third person out of the water and alerted authorities. Their guide, 42-year-old Benoit L'Esperance of Montreal, was recovered from the freezing waters and died later in hospital.

The five missing French snowmobilers were identified by police as Gilles Claude, 58, Yan Thierry and Jean-Rene Dumoulin, both 24, Julien Benoit, 34, and Arnaud Antoine, 25.
American Association for the Advancement of Science awards Newcomb Cleveland prize to study of transgenic fungus designed to control malaria-carrying mosquito populations in West Africa

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) awarded its 2019 Newcomb Cleveland Prize to University of Maryland entomologists Raymond St. Leger, Brian Lovett and their seven West African collaborators.

The prestigious award is given to the authors of the most impactful paper published in AAAS's flagship journal Science during the previous year.

The winning paper is chosen based on the quality of the scholarship, innovation, presentation, and the likelihood of influencing the field and wider interdisciplinary significance.

"I am thrilled to congratulate Ray, Brian and their collaborators on this well-deserved award, which recognizes their fearless innovation in developing and testing a genetically engineered fungus to fight mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue and Zika," said Amitabh Varshney, dean of UMD's College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences.

"We're looking for papers that change the way people think about science," said Holden Thorp, editor-in-chief of the journal Science and chair of the judging panel. "I think when it comes to a problem like malaria in a location like Burkina Faso, this was a new way of thinking about that problem. We felt that the careful way the experiments were done was very important. And I think that in terms of the public health, in terms of the science itself, in terms of the way it was rendered, it was a superb study from start to finish."

The study, led by Lovett, St. Leger and their colleagues Abdoulaye Diabate and Etienne Bilgo from the Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Sante and Centre Muraz in Burkina Faso, described the first trial of a transgenic approach to combat malaria mosquitoes ever to be tested outside the laboratory. The researchers first genetically modified a naturally occurring fungal pathogen to deliver a lethal, insect-specific toxin to mosquitoes. They then tested the fungi in a screened enclosure in Burkina Faso called a "MosquitoSphere," which was specially designed to mimic conditions of a rural village. The study showed that treatment with the engineered fungi killed roughly 75% of insecticide-resistant mosquitoes and caused an established population of mosquitoes to collapse within 45 days.

According to Thorp, the AAAS award selection committee felt that using a mosquito-specific fungal pathogen was an extremely creative idea. They were impressed by both the careful way the experiments were done and the fact that the researchers carried the study all the way from the idea phase to providing proof that the idea can work.

"It's hard enough to get a research paper into Science, but for it to be judged the most impactful paper of the year is astonishing, and it suggests they feel the same way we do about this work and its potential," said St. Leger, a Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Entomology at UMD.

Lovett, who was awarded his Ph.D. in entomology from UMD in 2019 for conducting this research, was equally thrilled to receive the prize.

"It is an incredible honor for my Ph.D. work to be recognized by AAAS with the Newcomb Cleveland Prize," Lovett said. "To have this prestigious scientific society describe our biotechnology as most promising is a testament to the interdisciplinary and application-focused approach of our international team."

The project built on decades of creative, highly innovative work by St. Leger that has resulted in numerous new methods and discoveries which contribute to our understanding of infection in general, as well as providing surprising new strategies to combat insect pests.

"As the first transgenic malaria intervention validated outside the laboratory, this study required us to resolve not just scientific issues but many other considerations," St. Leger said. "We had to gain support from NIH and the approval of the local agencies. Gaining regulatory permission from the National Biosecurity Agency in Burkina Faso was itself regarded as a groundbreaking accomplishment."

St. Leger credited Lovett's "can-do" collaborative approach for keeping the project on course through negotiations with various stakeholders and for accomplishing the important local education and training required for the study to succeed.

"The social and regulatory considerations are important aspects of this type of work that are under-supported and under-recognized in science generally," Lovett said. "So, receiving validation from AAAS is encouraging."

According to Thorp, the comprehensive approach of combining rigorous science with careful social and regulatory planning helped this research paper rise to the top of the year's selections.

"A big part of what [the prize committee] focused on was the awareness that the researchers had of the way this study related to the location and regulatory interests that they had to take care of, and it made us feel really good to know that all of that was carefully registered," Thorp said. "That's why I say that the professionalism and the way this was done from top to bottom was really striking."

###

In addition to St. Leger and Lovett, prize awardees include the following co-authors from the Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Sante and Centre Muraz in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkino Faso: Professors Abdoulaye Diabate and Roch K. Dabire, postdoctoral fellow Etienne Bilgo, graduate students Souro Abel Millogo, Issiaka Sare, Edounou Jacques Gnambani and Technician Abel Kader Ouattarra.

The award-winning research paper "Transgenic Metarhizium rapidly kills mosquitoes in a malaria-endemic region of Burkina Faso," Brian Lovett, Etienne Bilgo, Souro Abel Millogo, Abel Kader Ouattarra, Issiaka Sare, Edounou Jacques Gnambani, Roch K. Dabire Abdoulaye Diabate and Raymond J. St. Leger, was published in the journal Science on May 30, 2019.

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (Award No RO1-AI106998). The content of this article does not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations.

Media Relations Contact:

Kimbra Cutlip, 301-405-9463, kcutlip@umd.edu

University of Maryland

College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences

2300 Symons Hall

College Park, Md. 20742

http://www.cmns.umd.edu

@UMDscience

About the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences

The College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences at the University of Maryland educates more than 9,000 future scientific leaders in its undergraduate and graduate programs each year. The college's 10 departments and more than a dozen interdisciplinary research centers foster scientific discovery with annual sponsored research funding exceeding $175 million.
Senior BJP leader and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday hit out at the Kamal Nath government in the state on its anti-mafia drive.

Calling it a drive targeting BJP workers, Chouhan asked the Congress-led state government to make the names of mafia elements in various sectors public.

Addressing a gathering in Bhopal as part of the BJP's statewide protest against the Congress government's anti-mafia drive, Chouhan asked Nath "how many mafia involved in murder, theft, robbery, rape and kidnapping are active in Madhya Pradesh".

"Make their list public...also reveal what kind of organised crime they committed. If Nath makes the list public, the BJP will help the government to end mafia elements in MP," he said.

Claiming the drive was targeted at BJP workers, he said, "We were not afraid of Indira Gandhi during Emergency, we need not fear the Kamal Nath government now."



He also said the BJP would not allow the MP government to implement its new liquor policy which allows existing licence-holders to open sub-shops, and asked women to be ready with sticks to stop such outlets from coming up in their areas.

In Indore, state BJP chief Rakesh Singh said the state government had created an atmosphere of fear among people who are worried that their shops and houses may be demolished after being falsely declared illegal.

"So far, terror was created among people by thieves and robbers. We have also heard of communal, caste and Red (Naxal) terror. But under the Kamal Nath government, we in the state are hearing about government terror for the first time," Singh said.

BJP workers protested in all district headquarters in the state on Friday.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
I f the thought of the Doomsday Clock striking 100 seconds to midnight is sinister, that is the aim.

Scientists have moved the dials minute hand a step closer to humanitys day of reckoning.

It may seem too sci-fi like to be true, but in fact this is real life - not from a film.

What is the Doomsday Clock?

The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, a group of experts, created the clock in 1947 to provide a metaphor for the threats facing our planet.

The team review its time every year, according to how endangered they judge the survival of Earth to be.

It was first set up by US scientists behind the Manhattan Project, a bomb-making programme during World War Two, to warn the wider population of the risks involved in nuclear war.

The panel said they moved the arm of the clock this year with a heavy heart / PA

In a first for this year, the BAS Science and Security Board, a panel including 13 Nobel Laureates, were joined by The Elders, a network of global leaders set up by Nelson Mandela.

How does this compare to previous years?

Throughout the last 73 years, the clock has been measured by minutes, but this year it has ticking by seconds, and closer to apocalypse than ever before.

It is now 100 seconds to midnight, announced Rachel Bronson, the BAS president, at a press conference in Washington last night, the closest it has ever been to the hour.

The threat posed by North Korea's nuclear weapons programme, and proliferation in China, Russia and the US, was deemed greater than in the USSR / AFP via Getty Images

In 2019 the time was set at two minutes to midnight, and even at the height of US-Russia tensions during the Cold War, in 1984, it was at three minutes.

The lowest point it hit was 17 minutes to 12, in 1991 shortly after the Berlin Wall fell, but it has been steadily increasing since 2015.

Why have they changed the time now?

BAS says were facing the worst ever cocktail of threats in a generation: climate change, nuclear proliferation and cyber-based misinformation.

It cites the collapse of the Iran nuclear weapons deal, an ongoing bomb testing programme in North Korea, and proliferation in Russia, the US and China. Last August the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty between the former Cold War enemies, signed in 1987, collapsed.

North Korea leader Kim Jong-Un has continued the country's nuclear testing programme / AFP via Getty Images

Professor Sharon Squassoni, of Georgetown University, told reporters that the situation is dangerous and requires an urgent response.

I have to admit that we already set the clock in November, she added.

This was before recent military actions by the US and Iran, Irans statement or threat that it might leave the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and North Koreas abandonment of talks with the United States, hinting it might be even closer to self-destruction now.

What did the panel say about climate change?

Firefighters have been battling to tackle flames ravaging the Australian bush / Getty Images

Queensland and NSW Bushfires - In pictures 1 /4 Queensland and NSW Bushfires - In pictures Reuters Reuters Reuters

But the committee issued a third warning as the US presidential election nears: "government-used cyber-enabled disinformation campaigns to sow distrust in institutions and among nations".

Board member Robert Latiff cautioned that "untruths, exaggerations and misinterpretations" could cause the "wholesale trashing" of scientific evidence, pointing to the rise of so-called deepfake videos and fake news.

Former Irish President Mary Robinson said she had become an angry granny at the current state of affairs, adding: "The world needs to wake up."

Jerry Brown, ex California governor and another member of the panel, illustrated how the threats are linked.
This is the Impeachment Briefing, The Timess newsletter about the impeachment investigation. Sign up here to get it in your inbox every weeknight.

What happened today

Democratic managers continued making opening arguments in the trial, concentrating on the first impeachment article accusing President Trump of abuse of power. The lawmakers incorporated constitutional references, reams of texts and deposition transcripts, and countless video clips to break down how Mr. Trump tried to coerce Ukraines president into announcing politically motivated investigations into the Bidens.

Read our full story about the day, some key highlights and an analysis of how the managers are using video of Mr. Trump at the trial.

How Democrats organized their arguments

The House managers divided their arguments in thematic ways, with each member taking on different features of Mr. Trumps Ukraine pressure campaign and applying them to the idea that the president abused his power.

Representative Jerry Nadler of New York began the presentation with an hourlong speech on the constitutional history of impeachment. He argued that the history of the Constitution made it clear that a criminal violation was not necessary to impeach a president, citing past comments from some of Mr. Trumps firmest allies: Attorney General Bill Barr and Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

Representative Sylvia Garcia of Texas used her time to explain what she called groundless corruption accusations against the Bidens. Ms. Garcias presentation was aimed at pre-empting Mr. Trumps lawyers and proving that there was no basis to the assertions that former Vice President Joe Biden had acted corruptly by demanding the firing of a Ukrainian prosecutor, or to the presidents claim that Ukraine meddled in the 2016 election, which Ms. Garcia said muddled the waters.
The Belfast trial in March of former British soldier Dennis Hutchings for the attempted murder of a vulnerable man over 40 years ago, will initially sit three days per week, while the 78-year-old receives hospital treatment.

Defence counsel Ian Turkington told the Crown Court on Friday that while the "medical picture" of the former member of the Life Guards has not changed, he will be available to stand trial then.

Mr Turkington, who previously told the court that medical reports on Mr Hutchings made for "rather grim reading", said that arrangements had been made for the former soldier to receive dialysis here during the length of the non-jury Diplock style trail, listed to start on March 9.

Mr Hutchings, from Cawsand, Cornwall, is accused of the attempted murder on June 15, 1974, of John Patrick Cunningham, shot in the back with an Army SLR rifle in a field on the outskirts of Benburb in Co Tyrone.

He is further accused of "unlawfully and maliciously attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to John Patrick Cunningham with intent to do him grievous bodily harm''.

Mr Justice Colton who ordered that any further medical reports relied upon by the defence should be lodged with the court by February, said he would review the case then.

Previous court hearing have heard that Mr Hutchings is suffering from "acute renal failure'' and would spend the rest of his life on dialysis.
A manager at Wendys located north of Philadelphia was arrested for shooting a gun at a teenager last week, according to ABC6.

The report noted that Cheltenham Township Police arrested 29-year-old Rico Drayton of Philadelphia. Police told ABC6 they believe Drayton shot at a teenager in the parking lot while customers were inside eating.

The incident happened around 6 p.m. Friday at the Wendys on West Cheltenham Avenue.

Surveillance video obtained by police showed that inside the fast-food restaurant a fight broke out in the kitchen, the report noted.

Lt. Andy Snyder told ABC6: They were slipping and sliding all over the place.

Officers said the fight then ensued in the parking lot. Teenagers were reportedly running away from Wendys when Drayton  who not only managed the store but was also involved in the fight  fired his handgun at the group, striking one of the teens in the shoulder," according to the report.

The teen suffered from a graze wound and was treated at a hospital for it.

Officers were able to recover the firearm and discovered it had malfunctioned. It was only able to fire one shot, Snyder said in the ABC6 interview.

"Otherwise, things could have been much worse, Snyder said.

Police discovered that Drayton was a convicted felon, which means he legally cannot be in possession of a firearm in Pennsylvania. Drayton had been on parole in connection with another crime, police said.

ABC6s report explained that Drayton fired a teenage employee, who then came back to Wendys the next day with his friends to fight. After the shot was fired, Drayton threw the gun in the bushes next to the Wendys where police later retrieved it inside a backpack," according to police.

All the teens involved in the fight havent been identified yet.

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
Western European Populist Radical Right Parties (PRRPs) have addressed the dispersed socio-economic status of their electorates by blurring their economic positioning. This contribution analyses the rise of the German PRRP Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) between 2013 and 2017 and the role of its economic policy platform. In contrast to its European peers, the AfD shows few signs of economic strategy blurring. The party offers clear anti-redistribution policies that are matched by AfD voters preferences: even the least affluent AfD supporters have stronger preferences for lower redistribution than the most affluent non-AfD supporters. For AfD supporters with lower socio-economic positions this means that they support economic policies that are against their economic interests. Extreme authoritarian cultural policies spiced up with criticism of the establishment and combined with a general opposition to redistribution can be identified as the AfDs winning formula. Within the Western European PRRP party family, this winning formula directed at supporters with lower socio-economic positions constitutes an exception.

The Western European party family of Populist Radical Right Parties has gone through a vivid transformation. Particularly, PRRPs economic positioning has become an object of study as they shift away from neo-liberal economic policy platforms and as the parties increasingly attract an electorate with lower socio-economic status. Today, the Western European political landscape holds a variety of strategies for PRRPs potential economic policy. These range from the French Front National model of endorsing pro-welfare policies to the Swiss Peoples Partys well-known winning formula of right cultural positions and a neoliberal economic policy. Applying more nuanced strategies, PRRPs persuade their supporters by subsuming the economic dimension under their cultural core position or by blurring its economic policy. In this regard, the German newcomer party Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) appears to be a prime object of study as it goes through a similar transformation, albeit in fast-forward between 2013 and 2017.

PRRPs in a multidimensional context

In contrast to the belief that party competition is mostly carried out along unidimensional conflict lines on the economic dimension, scholars following Rikers heresthetics stress the importance of different dimensions, including non-economic issues as well as party competition, over dimensional salience. Rovny and Edwards note that political competition is primarily a struggle over dimensionality, it does not merely occur along issue dimensions but also over their content  with special incentives for niche parties to introduce secondary, non-economic issues. Norris and Inglehart find a predominance of the cultural dimension and christen the rise of PRRPs in Western democracies a cultural backlash: an uprising against the diffusion of progressive values and the approval of migration, channelled through nativist, authoritarian and populist radical right parties.

Regarding the welfare policy platforms of PRRPs, Kitschelt and McGann sketch the winning formula as a neo-liberal economic agenda with an authoritarian profile in the cultural and political dimension. This formula has become highly controversial as the heterogeneity of Western European PRRPs is carved out in bits and pieces. First, PRRPs are considered, to a certain degree, Anti-Party Parties (APPs) that discredit the political system as such. If PRRPs were to opportunistically endorse whichever goal appeals to their electorate, they would attract more protest voters than issue voters, resulting in a generally lower importance of actual issue positioning. Second, some PRRPs  e.g. the Front National under Marine Le Pen  meet lower socio-economic positions of their electorates programmatically with a shift to pro-welfare positions. Third, a centrist convergence of PRRPs in the economic policy dimension during the 1990s and 2000s can be observed  e.g. in Belgium and the Netherlands  with PRRPs proposing an absurd socio-economic agenda of economic liberalism and a welfare state. In this context, Mudde and Ivarsflaten stress the welfare chauvinist character of PRRPs economic policy platforms and find that PRRPs subsume their economic policy under a cultural core issue, in order to address dispersed preferences for redistribution  e.g. in Denmark and France. Fourth, Rovny claims that radical right parties deliberately cloud their positioning in the economic dimension as they focus on cultural issues, allowing them to attract an electorate with heterogeneous redistribution and homogeneous cultural preferences. Finally, the old winning formula of anti-migration and anti-redistribution attitudes seems to be a driver of PRRP support in Switzerland and, to a lesser degree, in Norway. However, in contrast to most Western European PRRPs, the Swiss Peoples Party and the Norwegian Progress Party still attract a rather affluent electorate.

Following Elias et al.s theoretical elaboration of the outlined bi-dimensional setting, parties can either choose to reveal a position in both dimensions (bi-dimensionality) or ignore one dimension entirely (uni-dimensionality). Also, parties may deliberately blur one dimension (blurring) or subsume it under the other dimension (subsuming). Depending on the characteristics of the respective party system and dimensional salience relation, this theoretical framing describes the possible strategy space for PRRPs.

Shaking up the Party System: AfD

The German party system may be considered a prime example of the described theoretical strategy setting. It can be outlined through a socio-economic cleavage over market freedom and state interventionism and a cultural cleavage between a libertarian and an authoritarian extreme. Also, polarisation between political parties increased significantly during the 2013 and 2017 election periods. Characterised as a two party-dominated political system, the decade-long decay of the election share of the social democratic SPD and the conservative CDU/CSU is mirrored by a shift to the left of the entire party system. Traditionally leaving potential PRRPs little room to manoeuvre, the CDU/CSU has gradually converged to centre-right positions since the 1990s, leaving a representational gap on the far right of the cultural party competition dimension.

Today, this far-right void is successively absorbed by the AfD. Established in 2013, the partys founding father, professor of economics Bernd Lucke, initially designed a single-issue Eurosceptic party dominated by its liberal, ordoliberal or neo-liberal economic policy platform. During this founding period, the party attracted a particularly affluent and highly educated electorate. The partys first manifestos lack clear nativist and populist elements that are typical of the cultural policy positioning of PRRPs.

After a tough factional struggle, the AfDs positioning in the cultural dimension was significantly radicalised by the national conservative wing having sacked Lucke as a spokesperson in July 2015. Scholars describe the post-Lucke programmatic adjustments as a shift to an anti-migration party or a populist right-wing party. During this radicalisation period, the partys important social media communication focused more and more on the topics of migration and Islam. The AfDs gradual development into a nationwide competitive PRRP peaked with its historical success at the federal level in 2017, when the party won 12.6% of the votes, thus abruptly ending the long-term absence of a German PRRP. The partys classification by the public and the media moved to the right accordingly. At the same time, AfD supporters kept their strong homogeneity in the cultural dimension, e.g. in their opposition to migration.

The programmatic transformation has been accompanied by socio-economic changes within the AfDs support groups. Support from groups with lower socio-economic status, especially in Eastern Germany and within the working class, increased while support from high-income groups decreased. Accordingly, voter migration to the AfD differs with the incumbency on the regional level and comes from the Left party in Eastern Germany, from the CDU in major cities in Eastern German, from the CSU in Bavaria and the SPD in the Ruhr area. In contrast to former radical right-wing parties in Germany, the mobilisation of a certain traditional left-leaning electorate represents a unique feature of the AfD. The AfD manages to attract a diverse electorate and mobilises non-voters as well as voters of several established parties. Whereas the anti-establishment and anti-migration platforms clearly appeal to AfD supporters, the role of economic policies in the second period seems much less clear. The party itself identifies its economic policy as a potential spirit of discord in a strategy paper for the federal election in 2017:

With regard to so far non-decisive topics (this holds especially for economic and welfare policy), particular attention has to be paid to the fact that the AfDs electorate is not divided. Whereas parts of the bourgeoisie with a liberal-conservative mindset on the one hand and the working-class and the unemployed on the other hand hold similar views on topics such as Euro/Europe, security, migration/Islam, democracy, national identity or genderism, differences can come up on questions such as tax equity, the pension level, health security contributions, rent control or unemployment security. [] If this is not possible, cross references between core topics and presumably dividing topics have to be drawn.

Anecdotal evidence shows that these strategic considerations are met by proposing welfare chauvinist policies subsuming the economic dimension in line with Ivarsflaten: Mirroring a broad increase of welfare chauvinism in Germany, the AfD faction from Thuringia demands higher redistribution and a citizens pension  a pension increase for which only German citizens would be eligible. However, the party also endorses a pro-welfare positioning comparable to the Front National in France: Far-right faction leader Bjorn Hocke continues to call the AfD the party of social justice, demanding patriotism of solidarity and even supporting the foundation of right-wing unions like the organisation Alarm. On the contrary, scholars supporting the APP theory stress the AfD voters protest characteristics and neglect the importance of actual issue positioning  particularly regarding economic policy. Schwarzbozl und Fatke claim the AfD electorate represents a group of people that is particularly coherent with regard to cultural conflicts, in contrast it is rather incoherent with regard to economic conflicts. Opposingly, Hansen and Olsen find that AfD voters were in the mainstream [] in terms of their attitudes towards efforts to reduce inequality and the role of the welfare state. Finally, Goerres et al. provide evidence for the old Kitschelt and McGann winning formula: In their analysis, AfD supporters have particularly strong anti-redistribution preferences comparable with the PRRP electorates in Switzerland or Norway. Such a combination of right cultural and economic preferences within the electorate would enable the party to provide a clear bi-dimensional positioning with no need for blurring.

Data and measurement

In order to analyse AfDs comparative positioning, the German party systems supply side in the economic and cultural dimensions for the legislative period between 2013 and 2017, the 2014 Chapel Hill Expert Surveys (CHES) and the 2017 CHES FLASH survey can be used. The CHES provides an operationalisation of the economic left-right and cultural libertarian post-materialist dimension on an 11-point scale. For Germany, the party positioning is assessed by 13 experts in 2014 and 15 experts in 2017. Scholars have applied the standard deviation of these experts judgements to proxy the degree of strategy blurring.

In order to evaluate the success of the partys strategies, the perceived party positioning by the German electorate needs to be examined under the consideration of the electorates own dimensional policy preferences and socio-economic control variables. For the legislative period between 2013 and 2017, several waves of the German Longitudinal Election Study (GLES) representative Long-term Online Tracking as well as the GLES pre- and post-election 2017 waves contain the relevant data including economic and cultural right-left economics on an 11-point scale. In order to control for APP characteristics and protest election motives in line with Bieber et al., an unweighted index of satisfaction with the established parties on an 11-point scale, an index on democracy dissatisfaction on an 11-point scale, as well as an Angela Merkel sympathy index on a 5-point scale is compiled. Grouping the respondents over the two relevant periods that the AfD went through  divided by the sacking of Bernd Lucke in June 2015  the selected GLES waves provide 4,123 (7,483) respondents in the first (second) period of which 226 (581) claim to vote for the AfD. Rovny applies variance ratio tests of the perceived positional dispersion of different parties voters to identify strategy blurring of PRRPs. Bartels simply counts the positional dont know answers. Such analyses might deliver valuable indications; they can only be hints for strategy blurring, however. Younger parties positions in particular might be perceived as ambiguous due to voters lack of knowledge acquired over a longer period of time.

The GLES dataset allows for the testing of perceived party-supporter interrelation in a logit model for all respondents i, controlling for the perceived distance, the positioning preference and the salience in both dimensions D  economics and culture. Additionally, APP and socio-economic characteristics are controlled for. The model is run in the founding and radicalisation period P.

Merging the CHES expert judgements into the combined GLES waves further allows an analysis of objective party-supporter distance, finally making it possible to test for strategy blurring.

The AfD is considered to blur its position in the economic dimension if AfD voters had dispersed welfare state preferences and would individually perceive that these preferences were met by the AfD, whereas objectively (by expert judgements) this distance was larger between other groups of party supporters and their supported party.

Supply side: The AfD de-emphasises its right economic positioning

The German party system during the legislative period between 2013 and 2017 is mapped over the economic and cultural dimension based on the CHES expert judgements. The left-hand side of Figure 1 plots the arithmetic mean of all expert judgements for both dimensions in 2014 and 2017. On the cultural dimension, from libertarian/postmaterialism (left) to traditional/authoritarian (right), the AfD is considered the most extreme party on the right fringe of the German party system, with the Green party being its cultural antagonist on the left. The AfD hence increased the range of cultural positioning in Germany and triggered a polarisation in the cultural dimension between 2014 and 2017. During that time, experts became exceptionally concordant in their judgements of the AfDs extreme right cultural positioning.

Figure 1

Experts issue positioning of German parties in the economic and cultural dimension

Note: For an easier graphical representation of Figure 1, the economic scale has been reversed in comparison to the original CHES data. Source: Authors own calculations based on Chapel Hill Expert Survey (CHES).

Whereas the perceived economic positioning of parties hardly changes over the observation period, the AfD is assessed as slightly more welfare-friendly in 2017. In 2014, the partys economic policy platform is evaluated as the most anti-welfare of all German parties, and in 2017 it comes second after the liberal party FDP  providing first evidence against an economic shift to the left. In general, experts agree on the parties economic positioning. For the AfD, the standard deviation in the economic dimension even decreases after their cultural radicalisation in 2015, and no statistically significant difference in dispersion can be found in comparison to other parties. First evidence against unidimensional positioning and strategy blurring is provided. There is no evidence for a potential welfare chauvinism positioning that could be mirrored in a rather left-leaning economic positioning in combination with a higher dispersion of expert judgements.

These findings differ significantly from the dispersion in expert judgements found in the same data source with regards to several Western European PRRPs in the economic dimension: The AfD supplies a clear right economic policy platform. Its entrance into the German party system did not alter competition within the two main dimensions; It has shifted political competition away from the economic dimension, however, by polarising the cultural dimension.

Demand side: AfD supporters oppose redistribution

In order to compare the right economic and cultural AfD positioning with its supporters perception, the demand side is analysed. Figure 2 depicts the perceived economic German party positioning by the respective party supporters. Between 2013 and 2017, the comparative party assessment shows a high level of persistence. In line with expert judgements on the economic right, the party supporters of FDP and AfD keep changing positions. As a proxy for the clearness of positioning, again, the standard deviation reveals that the AfDs economic positioning is perceived as just as clear as other parties stances  providing further evidence against a single-issue cultural positioning.

Figure 2

Perceived economic positioning of the German party system

Note: *Pre- and post-election wave 2017. Source: Authors own calculations based on German Longitudinal Election Study (GLES).

Unfortunately, the perception analysis is based on a limited sample as it ignores respondents lacking the knowledge or confidence to assess the AfD. The share of dont know answers of the electorate and AfD supporters in the two dimensions is plotted in Figure 3. Starting in 2013, around two-thirds of the electorate has refused an assessment in both dimensions. Whereas the share of refusals decreased to only 6% in the cultural dimension, in 2017 it persisted at around 40% in the economic dimension. The same trend is reflected in the AfD supporters responses: Whereas the share of dont know answers in the cultural dimension dissolved from 22% to around 2%, around one-quarter of AfD supporters still didnt know the partys economic positioning in 2017.

Figure 3

Share of dont know answers concerning the AfDs economic and cultural positioning

Note: *Pre- and post-election wave 2017. Source: Authors own calculations based on German Longitudinal Election Study (GLES).

Since dont know responses can indicate strategy blurring, this subgroup of AfD supporters is analysed further. Especially after 2015, AfD supporters who dont know the partys economic positioning are poorer, less educated and have a lower self-classified social class. Their preferences for redistribution are indistinguishable from the rest of the AfD supporters, and their own economic salience is lower. Hence, in line with Rovny, rather than being outsmarted by a blurred positioning, it is more likely that this group of 25% of AfD supporters simply does not care about redistribution. Given their preferences, however, the party is as good of a pick for them as for the rest of the AfD party supporters.

In order to evaluate the interplay between party supporters perceived party positioning and their own preferences, party supporters issue preferences in the economic and cultural dimensions have to be taken into account. The author provides an overview of self-ranked class and economic policy preferences. In contrast to the slightly decreasing social class of AfD supporters over time, economic policy preferences within the different groups are not altered. In line with rational choice voting, lower social class is associated with higher preferences for redistribution. Impressively, however, the lower-class AfD supporters oppose redistribution more strongly than non-AfD supporters in the (self-declared) upper middle class and even upper class. The party supporters preferences are mirror images of the perceived party positioning and confirm evidence initially brought forward by Goerres et al.: AfD voters do not have particularly heterogeneous economic preferences  leaving little potential for strategy blurring. Given the comparatively low socio-economic position of the AfD electorate, the anti-redistribution preferences conflict with rational choice voting theory and traditional class-based voting.

In the cultural dimension, AfD supporters homogeneously have radical right preferences displaced from the average preferences of all other groups. The co-movement of the cultural radicalisation and the strong homogeneity of preferences are reinforced after 2015. Although the AfD polarises the German party system, this does not automatically lead to a polarisation of the electorate. Instead, the party attracts supporters with radical right cultural and economic preferences who lacked political representation.

Summing up, the AfD is placed on the right edge of the German party system in the dimensions of economics and culture by experts as well as by its own supporters. The above analysis of the supporters own economic preferences shows that in line with the AfDs positional placement, its supporters have significantly more right economic policy preferences than most of the electorate. This also holds for those supporters who dont know the AfDs position in the economic dimension. AfD voters seem to vote against their economic interests, however, in line with their preferences in the economic dimension. Hence, first evidence is brought forward for the old winning formula.

Supply meets demand: Evidence for the old winning formula

In an attempt to shed light on the mechanism behind AfD support, a logit regression isolates the effects of the economic and cultural dimension, controlling for various socio-economic variables and measures of a protest vote. Columns 1 and 2 of Table 1 quantify the probability to support the AfD given the absolute perceived distance between a respondents position and her or his perception of the supported partys position for the two periods analysed.

Table 1

Logit regression AfD voting intentions, perceived and objective distance

(1) (2) (3) (4) Variables Period 1 Period 2 Period 1 Period 2 Perceived economic distance to support party -0.167* (0.065) -0.005 (0.045) Perceived cultural distance to support party -0.206* (0.057) -0.428*** (0.056) Ecopnomic distance to expert judgements of support party 0.153** (0.060) 0.035 (0.046) Cultural distance to expert judgements of support party -0.786*** (0.131) -1.019*** (0.085) Own economic position -0.238*** (0.055) -0.104*** (0.036) -0.160*** (0.040) -0.142*** (0.033) Own cultural position 0.224*** (0.056) 0.415*** (0.050) 0.483*** (0.105) 0.703*** (0.069) Party satisfaction index -0.555*** (0.081) -0.423*** (0.060) -0.360*** (0.065) -0.291*** (0.058) Democracy dissatisfaction index 0.726*** (0.150) 0.467*** (0.100) 0.690*** (0.125) 0.474*** (0.089) Merkel sympathy index -0.049 (0.035) -0.211*** (0.029) -0.108*** (0.034) -0.291*** (0.029) Socio-economic controls     East Germany Dummy     Observations 1,959 3,439 2,507 4,055 Adjusted R-squared 0.301 0.489 0.369 0.624 Robust se in parentheses, *** p<0.01, ** p<0.05, * p<0.1

Notes: Splitting the sample into East and West Germany and limiting the sample to pre- and post-election study in order to apply sample weights does not qualitatively alter the results. Further regression outputs may be provided upon request.

After controlling for two-dimensional preferences, socio-economic controls and measuring the protest vote, cultural and economic right preferences increase the probability of AfD support. In the founding period, AfD supporters were more successful than other party supporters in minimising the perceived distance to their supported party in both dimensions. In the radicalisation period, they became much better in the cultural dimension and as successful as other party supporters in the economic dimension. The effect of right cultural preferences is four times stronger than that of right economic preferences. Nevertheless, right economic preferences matter.

The socio-economic controls show the expected signs. In line with the literature, support for the AfD increased among lower-income households, married respondents as well as respondents in Eastern Germany. AfD supporters are less satisfied with the established parties and democracy, and after 2015, view Angela Merkel as less sympathetic than other party supporters. Hence, the claim that AfD supporters only care about voicing protest can be rejected. In the radicalisation period, 50% of the variation in the dependent variable is explained by the dimensional distance and preference variables as well as the included socio-economic and protest vote controls.

Figure 4

Predictive margins logit regressions, perceived supporter-party distance, with 95% CIs Table 1 Columns 1 and 2

Source: Authors own calculations based on German Longitudinal Election Study (GLES).

The regression results from columns 1 and 2 of Table 1 are shown as predictive margins in Figure 4. During the founding period, the predictive margins for AfD support decrease over an increasing perceived distance to the supported party. The coefficients of perceived cultural and economic distances are comparable. Comparing a respondent with a maximum (10) to minimum (0) perceived distance to the supported party ceteris paribus increases the probability of supporting the AfD by around five percentage points. During the radicalisation period, the perceived cultural proximity strongly gained in importance (represented by the steep negatively sloped line). In the economic dimension, AfD supporters became indistinguishable over all distances (represented by the flat line). A ceteris paribus maximum reduction of perceived cultural distance to the supported party increases the probability of AfD support by close to 15 percentage points.

As a final analysis of potential strategy blurring, columns 3 and 4 of Table 1 present the logit regression outputs of AfD support including the distance of respondents dimensional preferences to the parties objective expert assessments. Not relying on the respondents party assessments solves the shortcoming of dropping all positional dont know answers resulting in around 30% more observations before and 20% more observations after 2015. The results are comparable with those in columns 1 and 2: Again, there is a higher probability for respondents with more right preferences in the economic and cultural dimension to support the AfD  with the latter effect being much stronger than the former. Regarding the distance of AfD supporters preferences to positional expert judgements, AfD supporters are characterised by a distinctive cultural proximity to their party. Importantly, the economic objective distance became indistinguishable from other party supporters during the radicalisation period. In the second period, the results explain over 60% of the variation in the dependent variable.

Figure 5

Predictive margins logit regressions, distance to expert judgements, with 95% CIs Table 1 Columns 3 and 4

Source: Authors own calculations based on German Longitudinal Election Study (GLES).

Figure 5 shows the logit regression results reported in columns 3 and 4 of Table 1 as predictive margins. A higher cultural proximity to expert judgements was a strong indicator of AfD support already during the partys founding. From a medium distance (5) to a minimum distance (0), the respective probability increased by around 20 percentage points before and by 25 percentage points after 2015. The proximity of AfDs expert placements in the cultural dimension and the AfD supporters homogeneous cultural preferences are exceptional. The increasing objective distance in the economic dimension in the founding period could be explained by the integration of respondents with little economic interest (dont know or dont care). As AfD supporters become indistinguishable in their economic party-supporter distance, there is very little interpretational room for a need of economic strategy blurring. Even during the radicalisation period, AfD supporters are clearly not tricked into endorsing the party due to a misinterpretation of the partys economic positioning. Since right economic and cultural preferences remain significant after controlling for protest support, the AfD gets support because of and not despite its issue positioning.

Conclusions

The regression analysis reveals that cultural and economic right preferences indicate higher chances of support for the AfD  albeit the effect of the cultural dimension is four times stronger. Even after 2015, the perceived and objective economic proximity has mattered just as much for AfD supporters as for supporters of other parties. The results hold for Western and Eastern Germany alike.

In contrast to providing evidence for strategy blurring, this analysis stresses the AfDs winning formula of a strongly emphasised right cultural and a less emphasised right economic positioning, while at the same time enabling its supporters to protest. AfD supporters systemic discontentment does not reduce them to issue-free party followers as even AfD supporters who dont know the partys economic positioning are well represented. For its political competitors, this clearly means that during the 2013-2017 legislative period, strong redistribution and economic policy for social justice had little chance of convincing AfD supporters. A feasible AfD competitor supporting redistribution and coming along with a credible anti-system appeal or right cultural policies would still struggle to convince AfD supporters. As none of the established parties in Germany can credibly adopt such a positioning and the AfD has left behind its pure protest character, the party is unlikely to be challenged from within the existing party system.

Nevertheless, there is a chance that the party may change its positioning away from its current winning formula towards a more left economic policy offer. This could particularly happen once far-right faction leader Hoecke finally manages to marginalise the formerly influential liberal economists within the party leadership and to build up a party of social justice. Whether such a shift could improve the parties electoral success is questionable given the findings of the present study. In Western Europe the AfDs winning formula directed also at supporters with low income positions remains an exception. However, a similar set of political attitudes conflicting with economic interests has been discussed in the Whats the matter with Kansas debate: A strict refusal of state interventions including the welfare state and climate change regulations can be found among radical supporters of the Republican Party who hold low socio-economic positions in different regions of the USA.
Tens of thousands of civilians fled their homes in northwestern Syria last week in the face of intensified bombardment of rebel territory by pro-government forces, the United Nations said on Friday. Between 15 and 19 January, more than 38,000 people fled violence in the rebel-held west of Aleppo province, which neighbours the main opposition bastion of Idlib, the UN humanitarian affairs office (OCHA) said. OCHA spokesman David Swanson said the displaced were heading north into territory controlled by Turkish-backed rebel forces or west into jihadist-dominated Idlib province. Britain-based war monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, says some of the deadliest strikes of recent days have been carried out by government ally Russia. But Moscow has denied launching any combat operations in the region since a ceasefire it agreed with rebel supporter Ankara went into effect earlier this month. The Observatory said Russian bombardment targeted the west of Aleppo province on Friday without causing any casualties. The latest wave of displacement compounds a dire humanitarian situation in the rebel-held northwest where more than 358,000 civilians had already been displaced by the intensified bombardment launched in December. "This latest escalation has opened up a dangerous new front in the conflict," said Misty Buswell of the International Rescue Committee in a statement on Friday. "Camps are full, health services are over-stretched, and the majority (of the displaced) are living either in flimsy, closely-packed tents... or crammed into communal shelters." The Idlib region hosts at least three million people, many of whom have fled other parts of the country recaptured by the government and are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. Syrians flee with belongings that they salvaged from the rubble of their home levelled by an air strike on the west Aleppo village of Kafr Nuran The latest wave of displacement compounds an already-dire humanitarian situation in the rebel-held northwest where more than 358,000 civilians had already been displaced by the intensified bombardment pro-government forces launched in December
Sharon Hedrick, a mother and grandmother currently residing in Virginia with Joey, her husband of over thirty-four years, has published her latest book Unbridled Forgiveness: a poignant novel inspired by her own childhood with an abusive father.

Sharon writes, Unbridled Forgiveness is a story about the effects abuse can have on a family yet how we as Christians must learn to forgive even what seems most unforgiveable. Like many mornings, Joanne Liggins would awake to find that the love of her life was no longer by her side. She wondered how she could ever be happy again. She and Kenneth had vaguely known each other until attending a party of a mutual friend. From that night on, they quickly fell in love and, once graduating from high school, were married. Soon they had a beautiful baby girl, Bella. Yet now because of one tragic night, Joannes life seemed over. Her mother, Marcy, had taken over most responsibilities in taking care of young Bella, hoping that someday Joanne would find it in her heart to forgive the madman responsible for all her pain.

Marcy and Bill Liggins married young, and from the first day of their life together as husband and wife, Marcy knew this would be no fairy-tale marriage. Prior to their wedding day, Marcy was pursuing her passion and dream of becoming a registered nurse. Bill robbed her of that dream and made sure her life slowly moved toward becoming a nightmare.

Each of her four children, Devin, Joanne, Rick, and Fran, had suffered in some way throughout the many years of physical and mental abuse brought on by this madman. Someone who should have loved and protected his family seemed to thrive more and more each year in abusing them.

Marcy escaped the place she had tried so hard to make a happy home once, only to find herself drawn back in by the deceit and promises that Bill would never keep. It wouldnt be long before she would see just how much evil her husband enveloped. Soon she would escape him forever, yet at a cost. Kenneth, her loving son-in-law, would lose his life. Anyone that knew Kenneth had been certain that he would do it all over again to save the life of Marcy and her children. He had laid down his life so that others could live and, in doing so, set the Liggins family free. No longer could Bill inflict the abuse as he had done for so many years on his family. Prison would now be his home, a place from where he would seek forgiveness of all the horrible things he had done while living in freedom.

The Liggins were each day by day putting their lives back together. Dreams were beginning to take form. Happiness was replacing their once sullen and fearful hearts. It appeared now that because of the heroic actions of their beloved Kenneth, true love could once again become a possibility. Some had forgiven Bill for the atrocities put on their lives; others had not. Only when we fill our hearts completely with the love of Christ, seeing others the way he sees them, are we able to manifest unbridled forgiveness.

Published by Page Publishing, Sharon Hedricks engrossing book is a spellbinding tale of perseverance and faith.

Readers who wish to experience this work can purchase Unbridled Forgiveness at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create - not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues to focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.
RADNOR  Anyone whos ever had their car towed knows what a hassle it is.

After getting some 56 comments on his Facebook page, along with phone calls and emails from residents upset over what they believe is overzealous towing, Commissioner Jake Abel is requesting the Radnor Board of Commissioners amend its policy on towing. The issue is on the agenda for the Jan. 27 commissioners meeting.

The privately owned parking lot that brought this brouhaha is next to the Pennsylvania Fine Wines & Good Spirits store at 127 W. Lancaster Ave. near the Anthony Wayne 5 movie theater in Wayne. Anyone who does not shop at the state store, which is a tenant, may have their vehicle towed. Although there are warning signs, people are miffed.

While there are signs warning people the lot is for state store customers, how does the tow company know someone is not getting a coffee before entering the store? Abel wrote on his Facebook page. Why not a warning? I drove by this afternoon and the owner of the tow company was standing across the street waiting to tow vehicles  the lot had only two cars parked there. This is not for safety but to make a buck. It makes Radnor look bad and will undoubtedly have an impact on small businesses. I dont see the doctors office across the street towing people. Lets stop giving people reasons to avoid the Radnor Business District.

One woman wrote on Abels Facebook page that her car was towed on a recent Saturday and she could not pick it up until Monday morning because of the towing companys policies. She also had to pay $450 cash to get her car back.

I feel that is unfair when I did in fact shop at the liquor store and the signs do not clearly indicate the lot to be for their customers only, she wrote. The owner of the tow company does stand there waiting for you to not return immediately to your car and then they immediately tow. The signs need to be more clear and the fine-wait time less (especially for single moms who need their car and cannot afford that steep of a fine). According to the township, the liquor store has the agreement with the towing company because it is their private property, so I asked them to help me because my son was with me and they refused to do anything. I think we can do better.

The suggested revision to the townships towing ordinance would say that towing companies must notify the Radnor Township Police Department of the removal of a vehicle from private property immediately prior to such removal and provide a description and license number of the vehicle thus removed. If more than one vehicle is towed from the same lot within a 24-hour period, the tow company shall, in addition to the vehicle description and license number, provide the location of the lot thus giving the police department the opportunity to intervene if it determines predatory towing is occurring.

Dave Money, owner of the Upper Darby-based Tow Squad, declined to comment for this article. Matt Travagelini, manager of the state store, also declined comment.
Even before the dancing starts, theres something about the way she runs.

Near the beginning of Little Women, Saoirse Ronan takes off. Cutting her way through a soberly dressed crowd, she flies across the pavement  blond waves bouncing  her face lit from within by a private smile. Her flapping coat makes it look as though shes soaring on wings. Shes both of the earth and air; grounded yet light.

The reason Greta Gerwigs Little Women is so fresh and so piercingly alive? Its dancing spirit, in which even a run is a choreographic act.

In this adaptation of Louisa May Alcotts novel about four sisters growing up in New England during and after the Civil War, Ronan, as the willful Jo, has physical prowess: Shes sharp, shes spontaneous and shes more than a little bit wild.

As the close-knit March sisters  Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy  glide and tumble their way through the story, Gerwig orchestrates a kind of choreography that is as much physical as verbal. The actors have a way of bursting through space  and piling on one another, both in love and in anger  so that youre able to feel their three-dimensional fullness. What Gerwig cultivates visually is choreographic pandemonium: restless, energetic and a hair shy of full-blown chaos.
SAGINAW, MI - Steve Shippy, director of a popular Haunted Saginaw film series, will have his new work appear on television after partnering with the Travel Channel.

The premiere of the Haunting in the Heartland show is set for 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, on the channel.

Shippy will explore hauntings in the Midwest while sorting through rural Americas ghostly legends. Each one-hour episode will center around Shippy journeying to a new rural town, with six episodes in total for the first season. A location in Merrill, about 10 miles west of Saginaw, is featured in one of the episodes.

Growing up in a haunted house in a small Midwestern town, I understand the isolation of the experience, and it was only when others in town started to have similar experiences that I realized I wasnt alone, said Shippy. Like my documentaries, working on this show is truly my lifes work. These small towns have a bigger story to tell, and in order to find the resolution these families need now, we need to piece together their past.

The site in Merrill begins the series and is near the scene of one of his early Haunted Saginaw films.

The Haunting on Dice Road premiered in 2016 and focused on a haunting the Merill area that started in 1974.

The former homeowner of the house featured in Shippys movie, Harold Pomeraning, and his family experienced strange voices, noises, explosions and fires, which were documented to have baffled police.

In a previous interview with MLive and The Saginaw News, Shippy said that he chalked the haunting up to a supposed witch who approached Pomeraning several times to buy his home and was denied repeatedly. After a Pomeraning had a heated exchange with the woman, Shippy said that he believes that the house was cursed.

The other towns Shippy visits throughout the first series are Malvern, Iowa; Atchison, Kansas; Hebron, Kentucky; Holly Springs, Mississippi, and Greeneville, Tennessee.

Information about Shippys new series, including viewing times, can be found here from The Travel Channel.

Related news:

Ghosts haunt this lumber-era home in Saginaw, family says

Ghost hunters in Saginaw mark 10 years of making movies

Is this house still haunted 42 years later? Filmmaking rapper thinks so

These documents might prove the Merrill house was haunted
The impeachment trial that will decide whether President Donald Trump is removed from office kicked into full gear on Wednesday after lawmakers spent much of Tuesday (into early Wednesday) debating over the rules for the historic prosecution over his role in the Ukraine scandal.

Opening arguments began Wednesday afternoon and continued Thursday. Democratic impeachment managers, seven members of the House of Representatives, have 24 hours over three days to make their case. Trumps defense team will make their response afterward over the same allotted time period.

Senators and Trumps lawyers had argued Tuesday over whether the Senate should allow additional witnesses and evidence to be presented in the trial, with Democrats seeking testimonies from top Trump administration officials who refused to cooperate during the Houses months-long impeachment investigation.

The Republican-controlled Senate voted to block a Democratic request to subpoena White House documents related to the Trump administrations communications with Ukraine to pressure the country to investigate Trumps political rivals. The administration refused to supply the documents during the House investigation that led to Trumps impeachment in December.

White House lawyers defended Trump and argued that Democrats requests to hear more evidence was because they didnt have enough to convict the president, but Democrats fired back as both sides traded passionate defenses over how they felt the trial should go.

The House calls John Bolton. The House calls Mick Mulvaney. Lets get this trial started, shall we? said Rep. Adam Schiff, in response to White House attorney Patrick Philbins claim that Democrats were unprepared for the trial.

RELATED: Donald Trump Impeached by House of Representatives Over Ukraine Scandal



Impeachment managers from the House of Representatives delivering the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump

Since the president was impeached in mid-December, Democratic and Republican lawmakers have sparred over the impeachment trials format, including whether the Senate should allow more testimony and evidence to be presented there, beyond what was already documented in the House investigation.

Story continues

Concern over whether the Senate would hold a fair trial was elevated last month when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Fox News that he planned to work in total coordination with the White House throughout the trial.

RELATED: Republican Senator Says Shes Disturbed By Mitch McConnells Coordination with Trump on Impeachment Trial

On Tuesday, Democratic lawmakers  and some Republicans  pushed back against the initial rules McConnell proposed for the trial.

McConnell had initially proposed that evidence gathered during the House investigation would not automatically be entered as evidence in the Senate trial, breaking with precedent. Instead it would need to be approved by the Senate. McConnell changed this rule Tuesday afternoon after pushback from Democrats and some Republicans, including Maine Sen. Susan Collins.

Further, the timeline for opening arguments for the impeachment trial was changed to take place over three eight-hour days, should each side choose to use that full time. (They could use less.) Initially, McConnell proposed that opening arguments would take place over two 12-hour days, which led Democrats to complain portions of their opening arguments would be happening past midnight, when most Americans are asleep.

Leader McConnells process is deliberately designed to hide the truth from the Senate and from the American people, because he knows that the Presidents wrongdoing is indefensible and demands removal, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement on Tuesday. No jury would be asked to operate on McConnells absurdly compressed schedule, and it is obvious that no Senator who votes for it is intending to truly weigh the damning evidence of the Presidents attacks on our Constitution.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer added in a news conference Tuesday that McConnells rules proposal asks the Senate to sprint through the trial as fast as possible and makes getting evidence as hard as possible.

Why Was Trump Impeached and How Will the Trial Play Out?

On Dec. 18, Trump became the third president in American history to ever be impeached. The House voted to impeach him on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress over his role in the Ukraine Scandal.

The House investigation found that Trump had withheld about $400 million in military aid to the Ukraine while pressuring the countrys president into launching an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden, Trumps potential challenger in the 2020 election.

Trump is now on trial in the Senate, where a two-thirds majority vote (or 67 senators) is needed to convict and remove him from office on either of his impeachment articles.

No president has ever been removed from office over impeachment and  because the Republicans hold the majority of seats in the Senate  its widely expected that Trump will be acquitted. How quickly and cleanly the trial plays out is another matter, however.

After more than a month of back-and-forth over what Democrats have predicted would be a sham trial, heres how its expected to proceed.

President Donald Trump | Carolyn Kaster/Shutterstock

Opening Arguments Began on Wednesday

Both the prosecution and defense will have three days to voice their arguments in Trumps case. The Houses impeachment managers started arguing their case on Wednesday afternoon and continued Thursday.

By long-established rules, the senators and the side (impeachment managers or the defense) are required to sit silently during the other sides arguments.

Wednesday saw the Houses Democratic impeachment managers trace the details of what they called the presidents abuse of power and obstruction in the Ukraine scandal.

If not remedied by his conviction in the Senate, and removal from office, President Trumps abuse of his office and obstruction of Congress will permanently alter the balance of power among the branches of government, said Rep. Adam Schiff, one of the impeachment managers. The president has shown that he believes that hes above the law and scornful of constraint.

Trumps team, in turn, has attacked the process of this particular impeachment as unconstitutional and Trump allies have suggested that whatever the president did was within his scope of powers as a leader.

Democratic lawmakers believe that because of the probability that Republicans wont allow additional witnesses to testify in Trumps trial, their opening arguments are critical in laying out their case against President Trump.

Lets not kid ourselves, said Rep. Adam Schiff, addressing the Senate on Tuesday. The opening statements are the trial.

Senators Have 16 Hours to Ask Questions  in Writing

Following multiple days of arguments, senators from both sides will have an opportunity to pose questions in writing to the prosecution or defense teams, which will be read by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who is presiding over the trial.

The prosecution and defense teams will have an opportunity to answer those questions on the Senate floor.

Vote to Allow Additional Witnesses and Evidence

After multiple days of opening arguments and the period for written questions has ended, senators will vote on whether to call additional witnesses and allow for further evidence to be submitted.

The debate over whether to allow witnesses in Trumps impeachment case has been one of the main disagreements between Republicans and Democrats and, should any witnesses be called, it could lengthen the trial by many days  even weeks. Witnesses would need to be subpoenaed and then deposed.

Democrats are looking to question witnesses they werent able to call on during the House investigation because the Trump administration refused to cooperate.

Multiple potential witnesses tied to the case have said theyre willing to testify if called upon  including Trumps lawyer Rudi Giuliani and his associate Lev Parnas, who claimed in an MSNBC interview that both President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence were aware of efforts to pressure the Ukraine into investigating Biden.

Republicans are looking to avoid a drawn out trial and McConnell said he modeled the trial process off of President Bill Clintons impeachment trial in 1999, which took less than a week to acquit Clinton.

But Democrats  and even some Republicans  argue this case is different and theres more evidence to be heard.

Going with the Clinton impeachment process is satisfactory to me because that process did provide, down the road, for an opportunity to hear from witnesses, Republican Sen. Mitt Romney recently told The New York Times. And I would like to hear from John Bolton.

Closing Arguments and a Final Vote on Whether to Remove Trump

After additional witnesses are called, senators will deliberate before heading into a final vote. There needs to be a two-thirds majority vote in favor of convicting President Trump in order to remove him from office.

No president in U.S. history has ever been convicted on impeachment charges and the fact that Republicans hold a 53-seat majority in the Senate makes it all likely Trump will be acquitted.

His supporters in Congress have said they are reluctant to proceed with an impeachment process they believe is a revenge scheme by Democrats for their surprise loss in the 2016 election.

Despite the evidence uncovered in the House investigation, Trump has insisted he did nothing wrong with Ukraine and that impeachment is a hoax.
[January 24, 2020] Global Business Information Market 2019-2023 | Need to Adapt Enterprise Business Strategies to Changing Customer Preferences to Boost Growth | Technavio

Technavio has been monitoring the global business information market and it is poised to grow by USD 32.04 billion during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of 5% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005195/en/ Technavio announced its latest market research report titled global business information market 2019-2023. (Graphic: Business Wire) Need to adapt enterprise business strategies to changing customer preferences has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, threat of data misappropriation and theft might hamper market growth. Request a free sample report Business Information Market 2019-2023: Segmentation Business Information Market is segmented as below: End-User BFSI

Healthcare and Life Sciences

Manufacturing

Retail

Others Geographic segmentation Americas

APAC

EMEA To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR30019



Business Information Market 2019-2023: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our business information market report covers the following areas:

Business Information Market size

Business Information Market trends

Business Information Market industry analysis This study identifies automation in gathering business information as one of the prime reasons driving the business information market growth during the next few years. Business Information Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the business information market, including some of the vendors such as Bloomberg, Equifax, Experian Information Solutions, Thomson (News - Alert) Reuters and Wolters Kluwer. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the business information market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Business Information Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023

Detailed information on factors that will assist business information market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the business information market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the business information market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of business information market vendors About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005195/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh granted an interview to local media to share his thoughts on Viet Nams foreign affair activities in 2019 and 2020.

What are your impressions of 2019 and predictions for 2020?

2019 was the year the global economys growth started to stall, with growth below 2.5 per cent, a very concerning development, 10 years since the global financial crisis in the 2008-09 period which resulted in a growth of about 2.9-3 per cent according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh

One of the reasons for this low growth is the slowing down of developing countries economies. But overall, fingers can be pointed at contracting global trade, which is directly tied to rising protectionism and trade tensions, especially between China and the US, the escalation of which was not seen in previous years which were dominated by economic liberalisation and integration. Even if the two most powerful economies could reach either a complete truce or a number of partial measures, protectionist policies  between the two or elsewhere in the world  are not going anywhere.

Next, the view that peace continues to be the prevalent trend remains true, but instability becomes more prevalent, especially in traditional hot spots like the Middle East, which we have witnessed in early 2020 and throughout 2019: the fight against Islamic State (ISIS), the fight against terrorism, influence and strategic competition between powers in the region. 2020 will likely continue to be a tough year with a lot of unpredictable developments as a fundamental solution is still nowhere in sight.

In our region, the developments in the South China Sea (known in Vietnamas the East Sea) are very concerning  especially Chinas deployment of its oil rig HD-08 directly in Viet Nams continental shelf and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), together with various violations of other nations waters with claims in the South China Sea.

However, the silver lining this year is the more palpable effects from Industry 4.0 to most economies. Most developing countries have now identified the digital economy as a way to thrive in the future, which is a positive sign for growth.

Can you share with us your personal list of Vietnams most notable foreign affairs activities in 2019?

We can be glad that foreign policies and implementation of those policies have succeeded.

In the global context I gave a brief summary of earlier, Vietnam continues to maintain and grow ties with all countries and territories  especially the fostering of relations with global powers and regional neighbours. We have raised the number of countries with which we enjoy strategic partnerships to a total of 30.

In 2019, Vietnamhas brought into full play the role of multilateral diplomacy as stipulated in the Party Central Committees Secretariats Directive No.25- CT/TW on promoting and elevating Vietnamese multilateral diplomacy until 2030.

The hosting of the second DPRK-USA Summit between Chairman Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump in Ha Noi demonstrates that Vietnamhas grown beyond its direct concerns to readily become involved in regional and global issues, which in this context, is peace and stability in the Korean peninsula.

Had the summit succeeded and yielded positive results, then there would be no denying the contributions of Viet Nam.

It can be said that Vietnamis willing to play the role as a conciliator, which is one of the items in Directive No.25.

In 2019, Vietnam was voted to sit on the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-21 term, with the highest vote counts in the UNs history, which reflects the appreciation and positive consideration that the international community has towards us.

This year, we are serving dual roles  being a member of the UN Security Council and assuming the chair of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Other than the typical duties, there are several activities we are going to do to expand and deepen our relations with all countries.

What are the opportunities and difficulties that we are facing in the dual role as you have mentioned?

Being a member of the UN Security Council is a great honour, as it is a tremendous responsibility, but it certainly helps elevate Vietnam profile in the forum of global issues and other important matters.

This is not the first time that Vietnam has served on the council, we already had a tenure in a non-permanent capacity in the 2008-09 period. But the pressure in this term is heavier, given developments all over the world and the stark conflict of interests between members in the UN and especially on the UN Security Council. Our membership on the council came at a difficult time, but it could be a great opportunity to showcase Viet Nams responsible contributions and role.

It was quite pleasant  and a bit surprising  that the agenda and thematical meetings we proposed have all so far received ardent support and garnered record participation  not only from the councils country members but other open discussions as well. The open debate on upholding the UN Charter held on January 9 enjoyed the registration of 110 countries, which is an unprecedented figure for all meetings held by the UN Security Council  I have personally checked. This goes to say that the proposals and agenda Vietnam put forward are relevant and timely, and that more than ever, the role and importance of the UN Charter needs to be enhanced.

Debates on UN Charter-related issues were previously held in 2015, 2016, and 2018 by the UN Security Council, but this year, the debate took place as many feel the charter is not being upheld, and is even disregarded, by certain countries. The fact that we stressed UN Security Council member countries must be in leading positions in upholding the charter must have resonated with many other member countries in the UN. The developing nations have all participated with enthusiasm, showing that Vietnamhas tapped into the concerns of many.

The first step is always the hardest, I hope that Vietnamcan bring many positive contributions to the table during its term on the council.

In our role as the chair of ASEAN, we hoped that this years theme Cohesive and Responsive covers the common concerns of ASEAN countries, which is to drive intra-regional unity and connectivity to better respond or adapt to global developments, especially with regards to economic and trade issues that arise from the increasingly tense strategic competition between powers.

In our dual role on the council and ASEAN, Vietnam has carried out an initiative which is an information campaign connecting ASEAN and the UN Security Council, which is obviously the first time such a thing has happened, in the hope of fostering ties between ASEAN and council members as well as the multiple organisations under the UN. The discussion has certainly elevated the profile of ASEAN and reaffirmed the regional blocs role at the UN.

VNS
Industry veteran will lead global legal team as the company expands its compliance and regulatory engagement capabilities

NEW YORK, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- TikTok, the world's leading destination for short-form mobile video with a mission to inspire creativity and bring joy, today announced that veteran technology industry attorney Erich Andersen will join the company as Global General Counsel, reporting to TikTok President Alex Zhu. Andersen joins TikTok from Microsoft, where he spent over 20 years in a variety of roles, most recently serving as Corporate Vice President and Chief IP Counsel.

Commenting on the hire, Mr. Zhu said, "Today's announcement marks TikTok's latest move in building out our global expertise in key areas such as compliance and IP protection. Erich is uniquely qualified to lead those efforts, building upon the strengths of our current legal team. His deep experience is an excellent asset as we work to further build trust with regulators, policymakers, users and partners."

Mr. Andersen said, "I am delighted to join TikTok at this exciting moment in the company's journey. In just a handful of years, TikTok has become one of the world's most dynamic internet platforms, inspiring creativity and bringing joy to millions of users worldwide. I look forward to tackling the various and ever-evolving issues that TikTok and the entire industry face. Together with Alex and TikTok's broader leadership team, I will work to place this fast-growing company at the forefront of global efforts to promote and balance user and community safety, alongside creative expression."

About TikTok

TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. Our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. TikTok has global offices including Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo. www.tiktok.com .

Contact:

PR@TikTok.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1081623/Erich_Andersen.jpg
Indian markets had a volatile week, with recovery setting in in the last two trading sessions. The Sensex rallied more than 200 points while the Nifty reclaimed 12,200 levels on January 24.

For the week, the Sensex closed 0.79 percent lower while the Nifty ended with losses of 0.84 percent. The Nifty Midcap rose 1.6 percent for the week.

Lets look at the final tally on D-Street on January: the Sensex rose 226 points to close at 41,613, while the Nifty was up 67 points at 12,248.

Sectorally, action was seen in the capital goods index, followed by consumer durables, metals, and Bankex, while mild profit-taking was seen in the oil & gas index.

The broader market performed in line with benchmark indices. The BSE Midcap index rose 0.77 percent while the BSE Smallcap index ended with gains of 0.5 percent.

Top Nifty gainers: Britannia Industries, UltraTech Cement, YES Bank and Tech Mahindra

Top Nifty losers: IndusInd Bank, Cipla and Power Grid

Stocks & sectors

Sectorally, the BSE Capital Goods index rose 1.5%, followed by the BSE Consumer Durables that gained 1.3 percent, and the Bankex ended up higher by 0.92 percent.

A volume spike of 200-400% was seen in stocks such as Colgate Palmolive, Dabur India, Grasim Industries, UltraTech Cements and Adani Enterprises.

More than 100 stocks hit a fresh 52-week high. These include Voltas, Varun Beverages, Vaibhav Global, Tata Chemicals and Vadilal.

Long buildup: Grasim, Cummins India, Page Industries and Bata India

Short Buildup: Adani Enterprises, Biocon, NMDC, Canara Bank and Glenmark

Stocks in the news

ICICI Bank biggest contributor to Nifty Banks gain ahead of Q3 results on January 25.

UltraTech recovers 4% from lows after slipping on Q3 results.

Coffee Day Enterprises share jumped close to 5 percent after it decides to sell Way2Wealth Securities.

PNB Housing Finance share price tumbled more than 10 percent after its December quarter numbers.

The share price of Nippon Life India Asset Management gained nearly 4 percent, as brokerages remained positive citing steady performance in the October-December quarter.

Technical view

The Nifty formed a Bearish Engulfing pattern on weekly charts.

The index made a pullback attempt but failed to close in the positive. It still managed to close above 12,200 levels, which is a positive sign for the bulls ahead of the Budget.

Traders can look to book partial profits on rallies towards 12,300.

Technically speaking, the weakness in the near term shall resume on a close below 12,100. But, a pre-budget rally could take the indices higher, say experts.

The Niftys underlying trend is positive, one may expect pre-budget upside rally in the next week. There is a possibility of a new all-time high formation above 12,430, they say.

Three levels: 12,149, 12,272, 12,400
Trump tax cuts Republicans

Alex Wong/Getty Images

Scores of GOP lawmakers made millions off the 2017 Trump tax cuts, a new investigation by the Center for Public Integrity and Vox found.

It sheds light on the lack of guardrails in place that would prevent lawmakers from crafting and passing legislation they stand to benefit from.

The law created tax breaks for seven different types of assets commonly held by richer members of Congress.

Corporations also bought back stock at record levels in the first year of the law, which boosts the rewards for shareholders  including many Republicans in Congress.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Many Republican lawmakers profited off the tax cuts President Trump signed into law in 2017, according to a joint investigation by Center for Public Integrity and Vox on Friday.

The report sheds light on the lack of federal guardrails in place that prevents lawmakers from crafting and passing legislation they stand to benefit from.

Forty-six of the 47 Republicans across three congressional committees responsible for drafting the law held stock and stock mutual funds, according to the report, which reviewed members' financial disclosure forms. The law likely shaved hundreds of thousands of dollars off their tax bills.

While Democratic lawmakers stood to benefit, none voted for the law.

Trump's tax cuts slashed the corporate tax rate to 21%, while also creating tax breaks for seven asset classes including partnerships and real estate that richer members of Congress tend to invest in.

Among the members of Congress owning assets that received a tax break from the law:

House lawmakers included GOP Reps. Jim Renacci of Ohio, Diane Black of Tennessee, Carlos Curbelo of Florida (Curbelo and Renacci lost their 2018 election campaigns). All sat on the House Ways and Means Committee, which played a key role designing the plan.

In the upper chamber, Republican Sens. David Perdue of Georgia, John Kennedy of Louisiana, and Rob Portman of Ohio owned assets that received favorable tax treatment.

Story continues

The law also generated massive savings for corporations. Last year, the government collected $150 billion less in corporate tax revenue.

Though Republicans argued the law would lead to increased business investment and higher wages for employees, corporations instead used the windfall to buy back stock and raise dividends that lead to more money going to shareholders. Buybacks, which jack up stock prices, exceeded $1 trillion in 2018, the report said.

Forty-three Republicans in Congress held stock in Apple when it posted record gains in October 2018. The value of its stock continues to increase, having recently posted its best performance in share price in a decade.

Craig Holman, an ethics expert with government watchdog group Public Citizen, told the Center that more than half of the 435 members of Congress are millionaires.

"They are passing tax laws and legislation that disproportionately favors the wealthy class," Holman said. "And that means they personally benefit from this type of legislation."

Democrats competing for the White House are seeking to prevent lawmakers from enriching themselves in Congress.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren put forward an anti-corruption plan last year that would bar members of Congress from trading bonds, stocks, hedge funds, commodities or derivatives and compel them to put assets in "widely held investment vehicles" such as mutual funds.

Read the original article on Business Insider
10:48 | Lima, Jan. 24.

The regulation published in the official El Peruano newspaper affirms that the National Penitentiary System has a capacity of 39,323 units of shelter.





However, the prison population exceeds 95,000, which means there is 143% overcrowding.





In this regard, the regulation points out that  in order to access this special exit benefit  the following rules must be observed: when the aggrieved subject is a natural person, proof of payment or a guarantee of civil reparation is required.

Likewise, when the aggrieved party is only the State, it is not required to prove payment, a guarantee of civil reparation or days of fine, which does not affect the Peruvian State's right to later collect both amounts.





Finally, when the State and natural persons are involved as aggrieved parties, the only requirement is to provide proof of payment or guarantee of civil reparation in favor of the aggrieved party.

It should be noted that if the sentenced person lacks sufficient economic means or there are well-founded humanitarian reasons, the person could request the judicial authority to reduce or exempt the civil reparation with respect to the individual victim. This situation must be corroborated by a competent official of the National Penitentiary Institute with the issuance of a socio-economic report, as indicated in the decree.

(END) MJP/RES/MTS/MVB
The Nifty50 snapped its 4-day losing streak on January 24 but failed to reclaim 12,200 levels which is crucial for bulls to regain control, suggest experts.

Overnight, the US markets hit a fresh record high but Asian markets were trading with negative bias on Friday as worries over the rapid spread of the deadly virus kept investors on guard.

Trends on SGX Nifty indicate a negative opening for the broader index in India, with a 21 points, or 0.17 percent, loss. The Nifty futures were trading around 12,175-level on the Singaporean Exchange.

The S&P BSE Sensex rallied nearly 300 points while the Nifty50 closed near its intraday high of 12,189.

Lets look at the final tally on D-Street  the S&P BSE Sensex rose 271 points to 41,386 while Nifty50 closed with gains of 73 points to 12,180.

Sectorally, action was seen in the capital goods space, followed by realty, oil & gas, infrastructure, and telecom stocks. There were no sectoral losers. Nifty Bank advances 303 points with all its constituents in the green.

On the macro front, the government's tax revenue shortfall for FY20 is estimated to be at around Rs 2 lakh crore, sources told CNBC-TV18. The government is reportedly assessing the revenue impact of tax relief proposals for the upcoming Budget.

To tap into foreign capital, the Reserve Bank of India on January 23 raised the investment limit for FPIs in the government and corporate bonds, a move that is likely to bring in more foreign funds into the country.

According to the current norms, short-term investments by a foreign portfolio investor (FPI) should not exceed 20 percent of the total investment of that FPI in either central government securities (including treasury bills) or state development loans.

The short-term investment limit has now been increased from 20 percent to 30 percent in both the cases, the RBI said in a circular.

The rupee depreciated by 7 paise to close at 71.26 against the US dollar on Thursday as the spread of a deadly new virus from China spooked investors.

On the institutional front, FPIs were net buyers in Indian markets for Rs 1352 cr while the DIIs were net sellers to the tune of Rs 984 cr, provisional data showed.

As many as 35 companies on the BSE will declare their results for December quarter that include names like Aavas Financiers, Bank of Baroda, Emkay Global, JSW Steel, Sonata Software, Supreme Industries, UltraTech Cements etc. among others.

UltraTech Cement: PAT likely to grow by 86% YoY

Bank of Baroda: Likely to report a loss of Rs 563 cr

JSW Steel: PAT likely to fall by 71% YoY

(All estimates are from Motilal Oswal)

Technical View:

Nifty formed a bullish candle as it took support near the 50-EMA placed at 12080

If Nifty sustains above 12094 levels (intraday low) and attracts a follow-through buying in the next session

However, the strength for bulls can be expected on a close above 12225 levels which could take the index towards 12298-12361 levels

A close below 12087 can resume the weakness in the index with targets placed around 11900 levels.

Three levels: 12094, 12189, 12225

Max Call OI: 12500, 12300

Max Put OI: 12000, 11500

Stocks in the news:

Westlife Development Ltd, the owner of master franchisee of McDonald's restaurants in West and South India, on Thursday reported over three-fold jump in consolidated net profit after tax at Rs 22.72 crore in the third quarter ended December 2019.

JM Financial on January 23 reported a 14.6 per cent rise in its net income to Rs 157.5 crore for the December 2019 quarter, despite a muted growth in total income as its disbursals shrunk during the period.

GAIL India: The Department of Telecommunications seeking nearly Rs 3 lakh crore in dues from non-telecom PSUs, such as GAIL, Oil India Ltd and PowerGrid, was a result of "communication gap" as these firms do not owe any such amount, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said on January 24.

Engineering, procurement and construction major KEC International Ltd on Thursday said it has bagged new orders worth Rs 1,255 crore across various businesses.

Technical Recommendations:

We spoke to IndiaNivesh Securities and here's what they have to recommend:

HDFC | Sell | LTP: Rs 2,426.15 | Target: Rs 2,350 | Stop loss: Rs 2,500 | Downside: 3%

GAIL | Buy | LTP: Rs 129.60 | Target: Rs 138 | Stop loss: Rs 124.5 | Upside: 6%

Indian Bank | Buy | LTP: Rs 104.45 | Target: Rs 116 | Stop loss: Rs 98 | Upside: 11%

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on moneycontrol.com are his own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.
Speakers from the six state houses of assembly in the South-west geo-political zone have declared that the recently launched Western Nigeria Security Network (WNSN), popularly known as Amotekun, is similar to the already existing Hisbah and Joint Task Force (JTF) in some parts of Northern Nigeria.

The speakers made this declaration via a communique issued at the end of a one-day security summit of Conference of Speakers of South West State Legislatures, held in Ibadan.

The meeting held on Thursday but the communique was released on Friday.

At the meeting were Adebo Ogundoyin (Oyo), Funminiyi Afuye (Ekiti), Bamidele Oleyelogun (Ondo), Timothy Owoeye (Osun), Oluomo Olakunle (Ogun) and Mudashiru Obasa (Lagos).

Various opinions have been expressed on the rationale and legality of the new security outfit. While some are of the opinion that Amotekun is a welcome development, others are of the opinion that the new security outfit is an aberration to the constitution of Nigeria and the already existing national security agencies.

The Minister for Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, also declared the new security outfit illegal.

But, the South-west Speakers, who had earlier declared their support for the new security outfit, said that Amotekun is, no doubt, a replica of Hisbah and JTF which have been in operation in the Northern region for many years.

They told the critics of the initiative that Operation Amotekun is similar to already existing security outfits such as Hisbah and Joint Task Force in the Northern part of the country which has been in operation several years ago.

The chairman, South West Conference of Speakers who is also the Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Bamidele Oleyelogun, said the conference wholeheartedly supports the coming into being of Amotekun.

In the communique signed and made available to PREMIUM TIMES on Friday, he added that Amotekun will go a long way in curbing the security problems facing the South-west region.

Mr Oleyelogun said Amotekun in the South-west is in tandem with spirit of the constitution.

Following the launching of South-West Security Network (Operation Amotekun), the Conference of Speakers of South West Legislature held a day summit on security with a view to making the position of Legislative Arm of government in the region known to the public.

READ ALSO:

Among other things, various salient issues bordering on the growth and development of the entire South Western region and in particular the place of security as the ultimate determinant factor for any society to develop were debated.

After exhaustive deliberation, the conference resolved as follows: That the newly launched South-West Security Network (a.k.a Operation Amotekun) seeks to complement all the security outfits in the South-West and not to replace them.

That the establishment of Operation Amotekun in the South-west is in tandem with spirit of the constitution which make the protection of lives and properties a matter of priority for any responsible government.

That Operation Amotekun is a welcome development, especially in the spirit of existing community policing laws in the South-western states.

That Operation Amotekun is similar to already existing security outfits such as Hisbah and Joint Task Force in the Northern part of the country which had been in operation several years ago.

That the Conference wholeheartedly supports the coming into being of Operation Amotekun, knowing fully well that it will go a long way in curbing the worrisome security problem facing the South-West region.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how South-west governors met with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday over Amotekun.

At the end of the meeting, the presidency and the governors said a resolution had been reached on Amotekun.

The resolution involved the South-west states putting in place legislation to back the formation of Amotekun.

With the resolution, each of the South-west states is expected to pass laws to support the establishment of the security outfit. The stance of the assemblies speakers indicates all the six assemblies in the six South-west states will pass such laws.

Advertisements


Sonos boss Patrick Spence has responded to widespread outcry over the company's decision to cut support for older products.

The smart speaker firm announced earlier this week that a variety of its products  some of which were still on sale just a couple of years ago  would lose support from May.

That means they will stop receiving new features and also that they will be unable to be in a system with newer products. Owners of older products were told they could keep using the old speakers as they gradually stopped working, or recycle them and receive a 30 per cent voucher towards new products.

Sonos said the decision was required because the older speakers lacked the processing power to be able to deal with new features and software updates.

That provoked intense outcry among Sonos owners, who argued that they were being forced to upgrade as a result of planned obsolescence and argued that Sonos was intentionally stopping their hardware from working.

Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty

Now Mr Spence has apologised to those users and admitted the company made mistakes in its announcement. But the policy has not meaningfully changed, with speakers still being cut off from May.

"We heard you," he wrote in an update. "We did not get this right from the start."

Recommended Sonos cuts support for older speakers

"My apologies for that and I wanted to personally assure you of the path forward."

Noting that many of the people affected by the decision had "invested heavily" in their speakers, Mr Spence assured users Sonos would try and keep them working. While no new features will come to the affected speakers, "we pledge to keep them updated with bug fixes and security patches for as long as possible", Mr Spence wrote.

Mr Spence did suggest that Sonos could change its policy on old and new products being in the same household, which provoked particular anger from Sonos users.

"We are working on a way to split your system so that modern products work together and get the latest features, while legacy products work together and remain in their current state," he wrote. "Were finalising details on this plan and will share more in the coming weeks"
The outbreak of the new coronavirus has been described as an emerging, rapidly evolving situation by the HSE's Health Protection Surveillance Centre.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said more information was needed to evaluate the full extent of the mode of transmission.

HSE assistant national director of public health and child health, Kevin Kelleher, warned the virus could evolve rapidly.

Dr Kelleher said all deaths to date had been in older people who had other serious underlying health conditions.

The World Health Organisation said the outbreak was detected because China has a system that picks up severe lower respiratory infections.

WHO's risk assessment is that the outbreak is a very high risk in China, and a high risk regionally and globally.

HPSC director John Cuddihy said the centre had issued guidelines to Irish airports on managing travellers who might be infected.

Dr Cuddihy said the HSE's High Consequences Infectious Diseases Committee had been meeting daily since the outbreak was detected.

Testing is available at the National Virus Reference Laboratory and the current turnaround time of 24 hours is likely to be reduced in the next few days.

Dr Kelleher said that as well as devising tests to confirm the disease, experts are beginning to discover the best form of treatment.

HSE assistant national director of acute operations Robert Morton said the national ambulance service had tested procedures for working with airport authorities earlier this week.

In the event of someone arriving at an airport who is at high risk of being infected, an instant response team will go out and isolate the patient.

Mr Morton said the team would make sure there is a safe and controlled delivery of the patient to hospital.

Dr Kelleher said the pilot was obliged under international health regulations to let the ambulance service know that a passenger was ill.

Chief executive of the Irish Travel Association Pat Dawson said the coronavirus outbreak was worrying and they are keeping an eye on developments by the hour.

Mr Dawson said it could dissuade people from travelling if the outbreak was not confined.

Meanwhile, an Irish man living in Wuhan, China, where the outbreak is believed to have originated,

Read More:

Ben Kavanagh, a high school teacher, was asked during an interview on RTE radio what it was like to be living in a city under lockdown.

It is hard to describe because there is nothing I can compare it to other than what you might see in the movies, said the Kildare man.

He said he went to a shop to buy essential food items wearing a mask and goggles.

When I got into the lift there was a Chinese guy already there. We subconsciously stood in opposite corners as far away from each other as possible.

When he got to the shop he found that there was plenty of food and water.

Mr Kavanagh said he had heard that schools and other businesses in the city were closed indefinitely.

A flight he had booked out of Wuhan next week has been cancelled.

I hope it does not go on for another three months like SARS but I would not be surprised.

Mr Kavanagh said he has reassured his family he is as safe as he can be and is not going outside unless he has to.

ends
Haridwar-based Patanjali group, which has acquired debt-ridden Ruchi Soya, expects to have a turnover of Rs 35,000-Rs 40,000 crore in the next financial year and to become the largest company in the FMCG sector in the coming years replacing market leader HUL, said Yoga Guru Ramdev here on Friday.

The company is expected to register a joint turnover of up to Rs 25,000 crore in the current financial year, in which around Rs 12,000 crore is likely to be contributed by Patanjali group firms and Rs 13,000 crore may come from Ruchi Soya, he said.

After the acquisition of Ruchi Soya, Ramdev-promoted Patanjali expects threefold growth of the company and to become a major player in the edible oil category and take a lead in the domestic production of soyabean oil, sunflower oil and palm oil.

Besides, it would also reduce India's dependency on imports in the edible oil segment and save foreign exchange reserve through self-reliance on palm oil.

"This fiscal, Patanjali along with Ruchi Soya would have a turnover of around Rs 25,000 crore and expects to grow up to around Rs 35,000 crore-Rs 40,000 crore by the next fiscal year (FY21)," Ramdev said.

He further said, "In next five years, we would have a turnover of around Rs 50,000 crore to Rs 1 lakh crore and will become the largest FMCG company, replacing HUL."



Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL), market leader in the FMCG segment, had reported a revenue of Rs 38,224 crore in 2018-19 and this is expected to go up further with the merger with GSK Healthcare's business.

When contacted, HUL spokesperson said, "As a policy, we do not comment on competition."



Patanjali had acquired Ruchi Soya in a corporate insolvency resolution process for around Rs 4,350 crore after contesting with Adani Group.

In the next two years, 25 per cent shares of Ruchi Soya will have to be liquidated as per the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) guidelines, said Ramdev.

The company expects a higher growth coming from Ruchi Soya, where it is aiming multi-fold growth and is introducing new products by extending its existing popular brand Nutrela.

"We will launch three new products under Nutrela brand targeting the health-conscious people and the people suffering from diseases such as heart ailments, cholesterol and high blood pressure," he said.

These products will include premium Oil Nutrela Gold, Nutrela Honey and Nutrela Protein Atta.

"We are expecting three times growth from Ruchi Soya in coming years," Ramdev said adding that it will also lessen the burden of import of edible oil from other countries and make India self-dependent in this sector.

Both Patanjali and Ruchi Soya would integrate its products by leveraging their strengths and would enhance the respective production capacity and increase market share, he added.

Patanjali will also continue to have Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit as the brand ambassador for Ruchi Soya's Mahakosh range of products.

Moreover, on being asked whether there would be competition between some products of Ruchi Soya and Patanjali Ayurved, Ramdev said the products of Ruchi Soya would not clash with Patanjali's product and will add value to the customers.

With Ruchi Soya, it also aims to double its reach in the next five years to 50 crore people from the existing 25 crore.

"We have target to expand our reach to 50 crore people in the next five years," he said adding that the Patanjali group is now providing employment opportunities to around two lakh people and a similar number of farmers and would continue to add the numbers in its fold.

On being asked about the slowdown in the FMCG segment, Ramdev said it was a temporary phase, companies selling luxury products were mainly impacted and companies selling regular household consumption goods such as Patanjali Ayurved and Ruchi Soya were not impacted.

"Our turnover and brand equity have actually increased. Our market share has also increased," he said adding that there is no plans for listing of Patanjali Ayurved.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
It was no secret to anyone in Wuhan that Huanan Seafood Market sold a lot more than its name suggested. While one side of the low-slung warren of stalls did primarily stock fish and shellfish, the other offered a cornucopia of spices, sundries and, if you knew where to look, beavers, porcupines and snakes.

It was well-known for selling lots of weird, live animals, says James, an English teacher who for five years lived a few hundred feet from the market, and who asks TIME to only use one name due to the sensitivity of the situation. So nobody was surprised at all when it emerged that the virus might have come from an unusual animal.

Scientists have confirmed that the pneumonia-like disease, like around 70% of new human pathogens, was zoonotic or transmitted from an animal. But they are still investigating exactly what creature might be the source of the novel coronavirusdubbed 2019-nCoV and belonging to the same family as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).

Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter by clicking on this link, and please send any tips, leads, and stories to virus@time.com.

As Wuhan coronavirus infection rates soar to more than 830 people across more than half a dozen nationscausing 26 deaths and leading to the unprecedented lockdown of 13 Chinese cities comprising more than 30 million peopleresearchers are examining Chinas penchant for consuming wild animals and whether that ultimately played a role in the outbreak.

Members of staff of the Wuhan Hygiene Emergency Response Team drive their vehicle as they leave the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in the city of Wuhan, in Hubei, Province on January 11, 2020, where the Wuhan health commission said that the man who died from a respiratory illness had purchased goods. | Noel CelisAFP/Getty

The 2002-2003 SARS pandemic was eventually traced to civet cats sold in a similar style of wet market in southern Guandong province, and some foreign tabloids are circulating unsubstantiated claims that the Wuhan coronavirus originated from everything from bat soup to eating rats and live wolf pups.

Its certainly true that many Chinese are obsessive about freshness. Even small supermarkets commonly have fish tanks where shoppers can purchase live seafood. (This reporter was once served slices of sashimi still attached to the carcass of a gasping fish.) Eating wild animals is also considered a luxury because of their rarity and cost, much like game is in the West. Some practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine also believe that eating exotic creatures can cure certain ailments and boost male potency.

Story continues

This is just part of Chinese culture, says Yanzhong Huang, a public heath expert at the Council for Foreign Relations. They love to eat anything alive.

Wild animals are, of course, especially problematic because their murky provenience makes it difficult to ensure they are free of disease. For this very reason, health campaigns in Africa warn people against the consumption of bush meat, which has been linked to the spread of countless diseases, including HIV/Aids.

However, Adam Kamradt-Scott, associate professor specializing in global health security at the University of Sydney, says this way of thinking is often flawed. While scientists first thought that Ebola started with the consumption of bat meat in a village of south-eastern Guinea, they now believe that the two-year-old girl known as Child Zero was likely infected via bat droppings that contaminated an object she put in her mouth. MERS was also primarily spread from live camels to humans through association, rather than the eating of camel meat.

Its not simply a matter of the consumption of exotic animals per se, says Kamradt-Scott. So we need to be mindful of picking on or condemning cultural practices.

Ultimately, though, experts say that its hard to downplay the problematic nature of wet markets (so named because of the large quantities of water used to slosh the floors), especially those that also sell live animals. A mixture of urine, feces and other bodily fluids from live, wild creatures ends up mixing with blood from butchered animals, providing ideal opportunities for viruses and bacteria to thrive.

Says Huang: As long as there are still wet markets, we will continue to see these outbreaks popping up.
WEST BRANCH, MI  A Michigan mans effort to save money on a home demolition ended up costing him in the long run.

According to an official Department of Natural Resources report, the saga began in July 2019 when officers in Ogemaw County received a report of someone tearing down portions of a house and burning the demolition debris in a hole in the front yard.

Det. Dan Lee observed the aftermath of the fires, which took place on July 4, 6, and 7. Several area residences confirmed the complaint and the suspect admitted to the actions, according to the report.

He was charged on four counts: Air Quality  open burning, Solid Waste  open burning, Solid Waste  open dump and Solid Waste  using an unlicensed facility, on Sept. 18.

He ultimately pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of illegally burning solid waste in the 82nd District Court of West Branch on Oct. 29. The court sentenced the man to a fine of $625 on Dec. 17.

Ogemaw County is in DNR District 5 which also includes Alcona, Arenac, Clare, Crawford, Gladwin, Iosco, Kalkaska, Missaukee, Oscoda and Roscommon counties.
The Delhi Police has arrested a 22-year-old man for his alleged involvement in the violent anti-CAA protest near Jamia Millia Islamia here last month, officials said.

The accused has been identified as Furkan, a resident of Jamia Nagar, they said.

Furkan's father Muhammad Naeem said police took his son on the basis of the CCTV footage which showed him carrying a container but it was not known whether there was water or petrol in it.

"Police took my son on Thursday at around 6.30 pm on the basis of CCTV footage. Police said they saw he was carrying a container on the day of the incident," Naeem said.

Police said in 10 cases registered in connection with the violence in Jamia Nagar, 102 people have been arrested so far.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
PHOENIX  As suicide rates continue to rise for children and teens across the U.S., students and teachers from more than 150 Arizona schools gathered this week to put a spotlight on the issue and talk over ways to prevent self-harm, addiction and bullying.

Theres nothing embarrassing about asking for help, said Lily Matos DeBlieux, co-founder of the Speak Up, Stand Up, Save a Life conference. We need to continue to expose students and parents to the conversations about suicide and bullying. Then they will be much more open to receiving help and giving help.

Now in its fourth year, the one-day conference has grown from 1,000 attendees to about 4,000 and included middle and high schools from Phoenix, Peoria, Tucson and other Arizona cities.

Conference participants packed into Grand Canyon Universitys arena Tuesday to watch a musical performance and hear speakers. Members of the UBU Project, which uses the arts to prevent youth suicide, addiction and bullying, performed a musical skit based on real student experiences. During the opening song, those in the audience illuminated their phone flashlights like concertgoers.

Between speakers, students split into breakout sessions to discuss warning signs, effective interventions and self-love. Breakout sessions also were held for adults, and participants were encouraged to contribute to an art wall with positive messages about themselves and others.

Cheyenne Newberry, 16, who performed in the musical skit and has sought therapy for mental health issues, said the peer-to-peer focus of the conference resonates with teens.

I feel like theres adults telling teenagers what to do and what to think and theyre like, No, they do that all day every single day, she said, adding that encouraging teens to talk with one another helps normalize mental health issues and reminds them theyre not alone.

Newberry spoke openly about her own struggles. A year and a half ago, she said, due to now-diagnosed PTSD, anxiety and depression, she was hospitalized after a suicide attempt. That led to therapy, something she now recommends for others battling mental health issues.

UnitedHealthcare sponsored the conference, and Joe Gaudio, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, said the event supports the values and goals of his organization. He noted that children face challenges and adverse experiences that could have lifelong effects.

It will impact their physical health, their mental health, and this manifests itself down the road, Gaudio said. We have to do what we can now to help make an impact with these kids and help address those social determinants.

Its so much more than just providing access to health services. It is truly about building community.

Several Arizona cities have proclaimed January as Speak Up, Stand Up, Save a Life Month to raise awareness of the conferences goals.

Sarah Ruf, a community relations specialist for the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, said the proclamations help bring school districts and local governments together to work to raise awareness of youth mental health issues.

Leaders get to hear about what their local school is doing.  Its a way to connect dots, she said.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
Chief Electoral Officer Ranbir Singh on Friday evening ordered Delhi Police to file a case against Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kapil Mishra after a huge row over his India vs Pak tweets that the Election Commission concluded appeal to communal feelings.

Ranbir Singh, who is the Election Commissions point person for the Delhi assembly elections, told the police to register the case under Section 123 of the Representation of Peoples Act that governs the conduct of elections. Section 123 of this law relates to corrupt practices in elections and bars people from promoting hatred between communities to affect the election.

Kapil Mishra, who was a minister in the outgoing Arvind Kejriwal government before a bitter falling out with Aam Aadmi Party leaders, had crossed over to the BJP and is the partys candidate from Model Town.

Mishra had triggered a political firestorm yesterday with a string of tweets that compared the February 8 election to a India vs Pakistan clash. In his other tweets and public statements that followed, Kapil Mishra had claimed that mini-Pakistans were being created in Delhi and alleged that Pakistani rioters are occupying the roads.

The Model Town returning officer sent him a show-cause notice for his tweets last evening. As election officials waited for his formal reply, they also sent out a quick message to Twitter to take down his tweet that appeared to be designed to appeal to communal feelings.

Mishras explanation - besides claiming that Pakistans proxies were likely to be present at Shaheen Bagh, ground zero for protests against the amended citizenship law - also claimed that he was only responding to AAPs Manish Sisodia.

In his four-page response, Mishra quoted Sisodia saying at an event that he stands with the protesters of Shaheen Bagh. Kapil Mishra had offered a similar defence earlier in the day when he alleged that other political leaders such as Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were playing the communal card.

Who is playing the Hindu-Muslim card? Manish Sisodia who says he is with Shaheen Bagh protesters? Priyanka Gandhi who supports those who burned vehicles at Turkman Gate in Delhi? Kejriwal who is distributing Rs 5 lakh to hooligans? Who are giving tickets to people like Amanatullah and Shoaib Iqbal, known for making provocative speeches? Mishra said in his tweet posted in Hindi.

An AAP leader said the entire controversy around Kapil Mishras tweets appeared to be part of the BJPs strategy where its leadership had focussed on projecting as if only the Muslims were on the streets against changes to the citizenship law.
Private gun ownership is relatively high in Germany compared to some other countries in Europe, with about 20 firearms per 100 citizens. However, gun laws are stringent, and many people keep their weapons at ranges and gun clubs. Gun laws were restricted after a gunman killed 16 people at a school in Erfurt in 2003, and again after another school shooting in 2009 claimed 15 lives.
Lead House impeachment manager Adam Schiff called dramatically for the Senate to remove President Donald Trump from office Thursday, saying the US leader cannot be trusted to put the country's interests ahead of his own.

"The American people deserve a president they can count on, to put their interest first," said Schiff.

His impassioned words capped a long day in which Democrats detailed Trump's illicit scheme to pressure Ukraine to help his 2020 reelection campaign.

"You know, you can't trust this president to do what is right for this country. You can trust he will do what's right for Donald Trump," Schiff added.

"He'll do it now. He's done it before. He'll do it for the next several months. He'll do it in the election if he's allowed to. This is why, if you find him guilty, you must find that he should be removed." "Because right matters. And truth matters. Otherwise we are lost."

As the 100 senators sat as jurors and millions of Americans watched on television, House impeachment managers mustered scores of videos, internal documents and extensive witness testimony to lay out a strong case that the US leader abused his powers.

Schiff's prosecution team detailed how Trump flagrantly undertook last year to force Kiev to help him tarnish his possible 2020 reelection rival, former vice president Joe Biden.

"President Trump used the powers of his office to solicit a foreign nation to interfere in our elections for his own personal benefit," House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerry Nadler told the chamber.

"Since President George Washington took office in 1789, no president has abused his power in this way," Nadler said.

"The president has repeatedly, flagrantly, violated his oath... The president's conduct is wrong. It is illegal. And it is dangerous."

Over nine hours the Democrats methodically dismantled Republican claims that Trump did nothing wrong.

They left few doubts that Trump's sole motivation in secretly freezing aid to Ukraine last July was to force Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky to announce one investigation into Biden and a second into an unsupported story that Kiev helped Democrats in the 2016 election.

To puncture a key White House argument that the US constitution requires a specific crime to remove a president, they played old videos in which two of Trump's closest defenders, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and storied criminal defense attorney Alan Dershowitz, said that abuse of power itself is a clear impeachable offense.

And they detailed the extensive role of Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani in the scheme to pressure Zelensky, even while US intelligence and diplomatic chiefs disagreed with it.

"Donald Trump chose Rudy Giuliani over his own intelligence agencies. He chose Rudy Giuliani over his own national security advisors... That makes him dangerous to our country," said Schiff, who leads the House Intelligence Committee.

Yet, three days into arguments into the historic trial, there were few signs that any of the Republican majority that Trump commands in the Senate would buy into the evidence and turn against him.

"What we heard from the managers yesterday, the day before, it is the same thing, day after day after day," said Republican Senator John Barrasso.

"We're hearing the same things over and over," said Trump attorney Jay Sekulow. "We will be putting on vigorous defense of both facts and rebutting what they've said."

At the White House, Trump unleashed a barrage of tweets attacking the process as "loaded with lies and misrepresentations." "Most unfair & corrupt hearing in Congressional history!" he tweeted Democratic prosecutors will complete their arguments Friday with a focus on the second impeachment charge, obstruction of Congress, before Trump's legal team holds the floor in his defense for three days.

Democrats are hoping their arguments will at least persuade some Republicans, who hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, to support their call to issue subpoenas next week for four top current and former Trump aides to testify, and for internal White House records about the Ukraine affair.

But all indications were that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, in coordination with the White House, will seek to stifle witness requests and bring the trial to a close with a vote to acquit Trump by the end of next week.

Both Trump and McConnell said early this week that the White House could claim executive privilege to refuse the subpoenas, forcing a court challenge that could prolong the case well into February.
In most industries, you can simply buy traffic when your organic search performance isnt so great. If youre not getting enough new prospects visiting your website to keep your customer acquisition numbers where they need to be, thats no problem; you can just bid on some keywords on Google.

Keyword bidding alone, however, is a poor strategy for achieving consistent growth and profitability. Unless you manage to find some low-cost and low-competition keywords, your competitors will always ensure that each new customer acquisition costs more than it should.

Its time for you to refocus your efforts on SEO and improving your online businesss organic search performance  and before you begin any major SEO effort, its always wise to seek a bit of inspiration from the experts.

In the world of SEO, the best way to find real expertise is by looking at top online vape shops like Vape Juice. Why can you learn so much by looking at vaping sites? Its because businesses in the vaping industry cant advertise on Google or on major social networks like Facebook. Since they cant simply buy traffic, they have no alternative but to put their full marketing efforts into SEO.

You can have a vibrant and thriving online business without paying Google for traffic  the successful vaping companies of the world have proven that. Achieving the best possible organic search performance for your business, then, is simply a matter of observing what those websites do and applying those principles to your own site.

These are the things that any successful vaping website can teach us about SEO.

If You Sell Products Online, Describe Them in Your Own Words

Do you sell products through your website? If you do, then you know that every major e-commerce platform has space for text descriptions on product pages. Did you leave that space blank when adding products to your site? Worse yet, did you simply search for the products on Google and copy the descriptions from other companies sites?

If you did either of those things, it is highly unlikely that your product pages will ever receive organic traffic  and if you scraped your product descriptions from other sources, theres an easy way to confirm that. Simply search for a sentence in one of your product descriptions enclosed in quotation marks  on Google. Does that same sentence appear on hundreds of other pages? If so, your page adds no value in Googles eyes and has little chance of ever receiving any organic traffic.

The solution for this problem is simple: Take the time to describe your products in your own words. The more helpful and detailed your descriptions are, the more likely your product pages will be to generate organic traffic. Even a short description thats unique, however, is better than a description copied from another source.

Dont Neglect the Value of Informational Content

If you examine any vaping website that generates a large amount of organic traffic, youll find a blog section with a large library of informational content. Publishing informational content is a great way to bring bulk traffic to your site because theres always less competition on Google for informational keywords than there is for commercial keywords. The less competition there is for a given keyword, the more likely it becomes that an article on your site targeting that keyword will reach the first page.

Are you at a loss for informational topics to cover on your blog? Think about these themes and how they might relate to your industry.

What are some of the pain points that people might encounter if theyre beginning to outgrow a particular product, and its time for an upgrade?

What are some of the problems that people typically experience when they use the types of products that you sell? How do you fix or work around those problems?

What are some of the pros and cons of the various types of products that you sell? Could you write a detailed comparison of two different product categories or two specific products?

What are some of the tips that can help someone have the best possible experience with the products that you sell?

Writing content thats informational rather than commercial is the easiest way to bring bulk traffic to any site  but there is a catch. The reason why many of your competitors arent bothering to write informational content is because the people who search for informational content usually arent planning to buy products immediately. The people who view your informational posts, in other words, wont be as likely to purchase products as those who view your product pages. Youll need to work a little harder to turn those people into customers.

While it doesnt always lead directly to conversions, informational content is a great long-term investment for any e-commerce site because it helps to generate brand awareness. Informational content can also attract organic links, which can in turn help to increase the rankings of your commercial pages.

Google Loves High-Quality Backlinks

Google uses an extremely complex algorithm to determine where websites will appear on search results pages. There are upwards of 200 factors used in determining a websites rankings, but few of those factors are more important than the quality and quantity of inbound links pointing to that website.

One of the reasons why Google became the worlds most popular search engine is because its founders developed an algorithm called PageRank. Googles founders determined that one of the best ways of determining whether a website was worthwhile was by examining the number of links pointing to that website from other sites. By assigning higher rankings to sites with more inbound links, PageRank helped Google deliver more useful search results  and PageRank remains part of Googles ranking algorithm today.

If you want your website to have strong organic rankings  and you want to enjoy the free traffic that goes along with those rankings youve got to have high-quality backlinks. Getting other webmasters to link to your site isnt always easy; website owners usually arent in a hurry to send their visitors elsewhere. Here are a few steps that can give your link building campaign a head start.
After several false alarms, the viral Chinese coronavirus has hit Singapore, where the first case was confirmed last night.

The virus, which has now killed 25 people in China, was found in a 66-year-old Chinese man from Wuhan who tested positive for the virus. Singapore health officials are also looking into a possible infection involving his 37-year-old son. Both arrived in Singapore on Monday with eight other family members who have since returned home.

The family had checked in at the Shangri La Rasa Sentosa hotel. Two days later, the 66-year-old man developed a fever and went to the Singapore General Hospital where he is now quarantined with his son.

Hotel vice president for operations Josef Dolp told reporters last night they had stepped up hygiene measures before the guests had checked in. The room they stayed in has been thoroughly cleaned, and the cleaners also quarantined.

Singapore has also further expanded temperature screenings for passengers arriving in the city-state at land and sea checkpoints, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority said today.

As the virus continues to spread, it has also intensified in China, where the number of confirmed cases has jumped to 830, that countrys National Health Commission announced today.

One of the 25 deaths was reported in Hebei province, outside the province where Wuhan, the city where the outbreak reportedly began, is located.

China has also expanded its lockdown to include more cities near Wuhan, including Huanggang and Ezhou, affecting upward of 20 million people. Chinese New Year celebrations have also been canceled in the country, including Beijings major festivities.

The World Health Organization said yesterday the outbreak does not yet constitute a global health emergency, citing a limited number of cases abroad.

Scenes at a hospital in Wuhan posted to Weibo this week.

Meanwhile Vietnam got its first infection while other cities and countries rush to respond.

Vietnam

Vietnam yesterday confirmed two cases of the virus, also involving a father and son. The son, a Chinese man who had been living in Ho Chi Minh City, was infected by his father who had visited him in Vietnam from Wuhan, Vietnamese health officials announced.

Story continues

The father was hospitalized Jan. 17 after developing a fever. Days later, his son showed symptoms.

Japan

Japans health ministry announced today its second confirmed case of the Wuhan virus. A Chinese man in his 40s had developed a fever days before he arrived in Japan from Wuhan on Sunday. He is being quarantined at a hospital in Tokyo.

South Korea

South Koreas Centers for Disease Control and Prevention today confirmed a second case of the Wuhan virus.

Macao

Macao has confirmed a second case of the virus. The 66-year-old Chinese male tourist from Wuhan entered Macao on Wednesday with a body temperature of 38.7C. He is now at the Conde S. Januario Hospital, where the woman confirmed as Macaos first Wuhan virus case is also quarantined.

Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, two parks normally used as holiday camps have been converted into quarantine zones.

Indonesia

Indonesia got its first scare of the contagious Chinese coronavirus on Thursday afternoon, which led to the lockdown of a building where the office of Chinese tech company Huawei is located in the capital Jakarta.

An employee of Huawei Tech Investment, who had recently returned from a trip to China, was suspected of exhibiting fever symptoms. The office management told Coconuts Jakarta the man was taken to hospital where he was later diagnosed with laryngitis.

Huaweis headquarters is located in the Chinese city of Shenzhen, where several suspected cases of the virus have been reported.



Confirmed cases as of 11am Friday Jan. 24, 2020:

China: 830 (25 deaths)

US: 1

South Korea: 2

Thailand: 4

Japan: 2

Macao: 2

Vietnam: 2

Singapore: 1

Taiwan: 1

Hong Kong: 1

Related:

CNY celebrations canceled, quarantine camp established amid Wuhan virus fears

Lawmakers accuse govt of incompetent, slow response to Wuhan coronavirus

This article, Wuhan virus arrives in Singapore, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters!
New Delhi:

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday launched a scathing attack against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the state of education in Delhi. During the address at a public rally, Amit Shah said that Arvind Kejriwal had promised 1000 new schools in Delhi, I want to ask where are those schools? Shah also alleged that the Delhi Chief Minister has worsened the state of existing schools in the state.

Amit Shah also lambasted Delhi CM for standing with the people who are protesting at Shaheen Bagh over the amended Citizenship Act. Shah said, "Even today, you stand shameless with the people of Shaheen Bagh. Those who incited riots, created havoc on streets. I want to ask the people of Delhi, shall they vote for such person?"

Also Read: Arvind Kejriwal's Terse Clap Back At Amit Shah: 'Glad You Noticed Few CCTVs'

Amit Shah earlier had said that if a competition to make false promises is held in the country, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will win the first prize. He also alleged that the AAP leader had forgotten the promises he had made to the people of Delhi. "If there is a competition in the country of making false promises, Kejriwal would definitely get the first prize. I have come to remind you that you forgot the promises you made, but neither the people of Delhi nor BJP workers have forgotten," Shah said.

Also Read: 'Kejriwal Will Win First Prize If: Amit Shahs Dig At Delhi CM During Poll Rally

The Union minister was addressing a public meeting in West Delhi's Matiala constituency ahead of the assembly polls here on February 8. "You became CM with the help of Anna Hazare but couldn't bring a law for Lokpal and when Modi ji brought it you didn't implement it here," he said. For four and a half years the chief minister kept saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not let him work so development could not be done in Delhi, Shah said. "Now, you (Kejriwal) are saying that you developed Delhi in five years so 'lage raho Kejriwal'," he added.
Wearing a black disposable face mask, Hai Xia, 25, who lives in Prairie Shores, came to the Chinatown Walgreens in hopes of finding the 3M N95 masks. His friend had told him via WeChat that Costco and Target were already sold out, so he was hoping hed get lucky by venturing to Chinatown. But he came up empty-handed once again. It was his second try for the day, and at that point, he was ready to try his luck online, but he said he couldnt find what he was looking for.
Kim Brent / The Enterprise

It wasnt too many years ago that neither city councils nor restaurants had to worry about food trucks in Southeast Texas  because there werent any. That has changed in recent years, and its a positive change for consumers that public officials should support.

The latest flareup on this issue was in Groves, though it has been discussed in Nederland, too. The main complaint from brick-and-mortar restaurants is that food trucks take away business from them while they pay property taxes and employ staffers. Its a valid concern, and some cities try to alleviate that by requiring food truck owners to have property or a homestead exemption in the city they operate in. But the competition between the two different types of food providers is probably not as great as restaurant owners fear.
- Coronovirus has so far killed 26 people in China and infected at least 830 others

- The deadly pandemic belongs to a family of coronaviruses (CoV) which include Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV)

- The first case of SARS-CoV was reported in China in late 2002

- Some of the coronovirus symptoms are coughs, fever and breathing difficulties

- In severe cases, it causes organ failure

A new strain of coronavirus has put the World Health Organisation (WHO) and medical officials across the world on high alert.

The virus has so far killed 26 people in China and infected at least 830 others according to Al Jazeera.

READ ALSO: Kenya vs South Africa: Kenyans battle South Africans after mzansi man trolls Stivo Simple Boy

Photos showing the cornovirus that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).

Source: Getty Images

READ ALSO: Eswatini officials visit Homa Bay county to benchmark HIV prevention methods

The deadly pandemic belongs to a family of coronaviruses (CoV) which include Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV) according to a journal published in Popular Mechanics, a science magazine.

The virus originates from animals and is zoonotic  it can be transmitted between animals and humans.

The virus has so far killed 26 people in China and infected at least 830 people. Photo: New York Times.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Mume anayeaminiwa ndiye aliyechafua kitanda cha Sam Shollei na kumtorosha mke wake aibuka

The first case of SARS-CoV was reported in China in late 2002.

According to Vineet Menachery, an assistant professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of Texas, SARS-CoV was traced back to civet cats and raccoon dogs sold in live markets in China.

Before 2002, the coronavirus was associated with the common cold in humans. In animals, it was associated with severe and often deadly enteric disease mostly in pigs, cats, and other mammals. The culling of these markets and strict quarantine ended the outbreak, he said.

There are suspicions the new coronavirus may have originated in bats or snakes before being transmitted to humans via an intermediary species.

Menachery said the virus is spread via close contact while sneezing and coughing drives infection.

The mysterious virus causes pneumonia.

Some of the symptoms of infection are coughs, fever and breathing difficulties. In severe cases, it causes organ failure.

Currently, there is no cure or vaccine for 2019-nCoV and antibiotics do not work on it.

The Chinese government has mobilised resources to construct a 1,000 bed capacity hospital in Wuhan city to cater for victims of coronavirus.

The facility is expected to be completed in five days.

United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention is reportedly created a test to diagnose 2019-nCoV and is working with international health organizations and governments to administer the test in hopes of catching symptoms early on.

The main goal of the government will be to limit spread of the virus and find its source. In China, front line workers in the healthcare system are wearing proper protective equipment to prevent their infection," Menachery says.

Patients were also being held in isolation wards to prevent spread in China.

The emergence of the virus has created anxiety on social media.

Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news.

Are Kenyans happy with the leaders they elected? | Tuko TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
A jilted lover today admitted to stabbing his ex-partner to death in front of her three children in a cocaine and alcohol-fuelled rage.

Hafiz Sharifi, 29, knifed Suvekshya Burathoki, 32 - known as Fatima - in her home in Leicester.

The mother-of-three, from Nepal, died from multiple stab wounds after the brutal attack on October 8 last year.

Hafiz Sharifi (pictured left), 29, admitted stabbing his ex-partner Suvekshya Burathoki (right), 32, known as Fatima, to death in front of her children on October 8 last year

Police dashed to her terraced property in Bartholomew Street, near the city centre, at 8.30am.

Despite desperate attempts to save her, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

A court heard Sharifi attacked Fatima after taking a cocktail of alcohol and cocaine the night before.

After stabbing her to death in front of her children, he fled the scene on foot but was arrested two days later in Coventry.

Sharifi admitted to police that he had been drinking and also taken cocaine the night before he killed her.

Today Sharifi, of no fixed address, admitted murder at Leicester Crown Court.

Detective Inspector Mark Sinski, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) major crime team, said: 'This was a brutal, violent murder that left the residents of what is a tightly-knit street in shock.

'From those we have spoken to during the investigation, Fatima was well-known and incredibly well-liked by those who knew her. Sharifi was unable to face up to his actions - he knew he was wanted - and tried to go into hiding.

Sharifi was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at Leicester Crown Court (pictured above) on February 21. He was arrested two days after the murder after fleeing to Coventry

'We were concerned that he might have tried to leave the country, but it is a credit to the team involved in this murder investigation that we were able to find him in Coventry and arrest him.

'I hope that Fatima's family can take some comfort from the fact he has today pleaded guilty to her murder.

'It also means those who were due to give evidence in what would undoubtedly have been an emotional trial, will not have to do so. My thoughts and condolences remain with Fatima's family and loved ones.'

At the time of her death, friends said she had been looking after her two sons, aged nine and seven, and her three-year-old daughter.

One friend said: 'She had the two boys from a previous relationship and the girl from her present relationship. She was a Tamil who converted to Islam.

'I couldn't believe it when I heard she was dead. She was an amazing mum who cared for her children and fed them well.'

Sharifi was remanded in custody and will be sentenced at Leicester Crown Court on February 21.
Videos of testimony and damning statements by Mr. Trump, as well as images of revealing text messages among administration officials, were exhibited repeatedly on the Senate floor, prompting some Republicans to complain that they were being forced to rehear the same pieces of evidence. So be it: GOP senators intent on exonerating the president without bothering to fairly consider the case against him should at least be forced to face the reality of his abuses. Meanwhile, busy Americans who took the time to tune in to the proceedings for even an hour or two between Wednesday and Friday likely heard a substantial version of the case.
Representative image

The voters may soon be asked to link their voter cards with Aadhaar numbers as the Union Law Ministry has reacted positively to a request from the Election Commission of India. EC seeks legal power to resume the practice, The Indian Express has reported.

The ministry, however, has asked the EC to enumerate the safety measures in place to prevent theft, interception and hijacking of data.

In August, EC wrote a letter to the Law Secretary, proposing amendments to the Representation of the People Act, 1950, and the Aadhaar Act, 2016, for getting statutory backing to collect Aadhaar numbers of new applicants and existing voters to check multiple entries in electoral rolls.

According to the EC proposal, the electoral law should be amended to empower the Electoral Registration Officer to seek Aadhaar numbers of the existing voters, as well as of those applying to the voters' list.

In support of the proposal, the poll watchdog argued seeding of voter cards with Aadhaar would help remove duplicate entries and fake voters and, hence, serve the national interest.

It, however, mentioned that no one would be denied enrolment or deleted from the voters list for the inability to provide Aadhaar numbers.

In September, the Law Ministry reportedly responded stating that the ECs rationale would pass the benchmark test laid down by the Honourable Supreme Court for collecting Aadhaar details for purposes other than getting benefits of state-sponsored schemes.

Further, given the Supreme Courts emphasis on the need for protecting the privacy of individuals, the ministry asked EC to list the safeguards built into the electoral roll data platform.

On December 12, the poll watchdog replied to the ministry, stating that it had already taken multiple measures to protect the voter list data, suggested the report.

The exercise of linking Aadhaar with the Electors Photo Identity Cards (or EPIC) was first started in February 2015 when HS Brahma was the chief election commissioner. But, it was stopped in August that year after a Supreme Court order.

EC had already linked 38 crore voter cards to Aadhaar by then, added the report.
A Chinese woman who bragged about cheating airport coronavirus screenings in the outbreak's epicentre has been tracked down in France.

The woman boasted on Chinese site WeChat that she'd been suffering from a fever but took tablets to mask her symptoms so she could fly from Wuhan.

She later posted photos of herself apparently dining at a Michelin star restaurant in Lyon with family.

Her post sparked outrage online and the Chinese embassy in Paris was bombarded with phonecalls and emails, it said.

The Chinese embassy in France has tracked down a woman who bragged about avoiding airport screening for the coronavirus. She uploaded these photos to Chinese social media site WeChat

Fine dining: The woman uploaded images of her posh meals after flying to Lyon from Wuhan, where coronavirus was first detected in late December

'Finally I can have a good meal, I feel like I've been starving for two days,' the woman reportedly wrote

She had left the city of Wuhan, in China's Hubei province, where the killer virus was first detected in late December. It's not clear exactly when she left China.

'Just before I left, I had a low fever and cough. I was scared to death and rushed to eat [fever-reducing] medicine,' the woman tweeted, according to the BBC.

'I kept on checking my temperature. Luckily I managed to get it down and my exit was smooth.'

Officials had temperature scanners in operation at the time she was flying, refusing to allow anybody with signs of a fever from boarding the flight.

The woman said that she had used anti-fever medicine to keep her temperature down. She then documented her journey to Lyon on WeChat.

Health officials uses an infrared thermometer on a traveler at a health screening checkpoint at Wuhan before the city went into lockdown on Thursday

More than 800 people have now been infected with the virus and 25 have been killed. The spread of it has increased rapidly since the virus was first seen in patients in December

Experts say the difficulty of containing the coronavirus is that so many patients have mild, cold-like symptoms and don't realise they have the infection  but it can quickly turn deadly

After landing, she uploaded a series of photographs of what looked like her and her family dining at the plush restaurant in Lyon. She also posted images of her meals.

'Finally I can have a good meal, I feel like I've been starving for two days. When you are in a gourmet city of course you have to eat Michelin [food],' she wrote, according to the BBC.

'Just before I left, I had a low fever and cough. I was scared to death and rushed to eat [fever-reducing] medicine. I kept on checking my temperature. Luckily I managed to get it down and my exit was smooth.'

Her post went viral and she was criticised by other social media users. The Chinese embassy in Paris said it had received calls and emails about the woman.

The embassy told French media it would remain in touch with the woman and update them on any developments.

It added that she did not require 'further examinations' at this point.

Coronavirus has spread to countries as far as South Korea, Japan and the US. China has quarantined more than 40million people in 14 cities all within Hubei province.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, January 24, 2020 12:30 719 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2060d1c03 1 World flight-cancellation,Wuhan-coronavirus,China,transportation-ministry,Lion-Air,Sriwijaya-Air,Air-Asia Free

The Transportation Ministry has announced the temporary suspension of all flights to and from Wuhan operated by Indonesian airlines amid the outbreak of the pneumonia-like illness, caused by a new coronavirus that was first detected in December 2019 in the Chinese city.

Indonesia's Sriwijaya Air and Lion Air have canceled their daily flights to Wuhan following China's issuance of a notice to airmen (NOTAM).

The NOTAM says that Wuhan International Airport would be closed, excepting emergency flights, starting on Jan. 23 at 6 p.m. Western Indonesia Time (WIB) to Feb. 2 at 10:59 p.m. WIB.

All flights from Indonesia to Wuhan would be diverted to other cities in China, said a statement from the ministry.

"We are coordinating closely with all airlines in Indonesia to anticipate the possible spread of the [coronavirus] in Indonesia via [international flights]," air transportation director general Polana B. Pramesti said in the statement.

She added that the directorate general had issued a circular to all airlines on Jan. 20 that required the distribution of general advisory cards to quarantine staff at airport arrival gates, report any passengers suspected of infection to air traffic officers, distribute health advisory cards to all passengers arriving from affected countries and urge passengers that had traveled to the affected countries to report any suspected infection to airport officers.

"We urge all air travel stakeholders to remain alert and increase their preparedness in anticipating the [coronavirus] by air travel, because the health, safety and comfort of all passengers are our collective responsibility," Polana said.

Lion Air Group's Malaysian subsidiary, Malindo Air, issued a statement on Jan. 23 that it would temporarily suspend all flights connecting Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Wuhan International Airport until further notice. All passengers who had booked tickets on flights between Jan. 23 and Feb. 8 were advised to contact the airline to adjust their flights, the statement added.

Malaysian low-cost carrier AirAsia also issued a statement on Thursday that it would temporarily cancel all flights to Wuhan departing from Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia and Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand until Jan. 28, kompas.com reported.

China imposed a lockdown on Thursday that effectively bans 20 million people from leaving areas at the epicenter of the deadly virus outbreak by plane and train, in an unprecedented move aimed at containing the disease that had already spread to other countries, AFP reported.

At least 18 people have died from the virus, which bears similarities to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), since it emerged from a market in Wuhan in December. It has infected hundreds and spread to other countries, including Thailand, Japan and Singapore. (ars)
trump mohammed bin salman

Mark Wilson/Getty Images

The White House broke its silence Thursday on reports that Saudia Arabia was likely behind the hacking of Jeff Bezos' phone.

The White House called Saudi Arabia an "important ally" and said it doesn't have any additional information on the hacking allegations but it's taking the situation "seriously."

The spokesperson did not say whether the US plans to investigate the hacking, which the United Nations called for on Wednesday.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The White House weighed in Thursday on reports that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was likely behind the hacking of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos' phone.

"Saudi Arabia is obviously an important ally," Hogan Gidley, White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary, told reporters.

"I'm aware of the reports  I don't have any more information than that. Obviously we take this situation seriously," he said.

On Tuesday, The Guardian reported that an international investigation had concluded that Bezos' phone was most likely hacked via a video link sent in a May 2018 WhatsApp message from an account belonging to the Saudi Crown Prince. Cybersecurity experts hired by Bezos to investigate how details of his affair were leaked to the media also reported similar findings.

On Wednesday, the United Nations called for an "immediate investigation by US and other relevant authorities" after it published a report concluding with "medium to high confidence" that bin Salman's WhatsApp account initiated the hack.

Gidley did not say whether the US plans to take up such an investigation.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Lawsuit against face recognition system filed with Moscow court

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

16:47 24/01/2020

MOSCOW, January 24 (RAPSI)  A lawsuit against the Moscow Information Technologies Department and the city Directorate of Internal Affairs over illegality of the face recognition system use has been filed with the Tverskoy District Court, lawyer Kirill Koroteyev has told RAPSI.

According to the attorney, the face recognition technology is collection of biometric identity information without any legal causes, however, personal data are collected in Russia with an individuals consent, in accordance with legislation.

Plaintiffs are Vladimir Milov and Alena Popova, who believe that collection of such information about participants of an authorized rally result in the violation of their right to freedom of peaceful assembly.




BANGKOK  The surprisingly strong ruling against Myanmar by the United Nations top court this week is sure to increase international pressure on the country to protect its Muslim Rohingya minority, who critics say have been the victims of a government-sanctioned genocide.

But on Friday  a day after the International Court of Justice in The Hague ordered Myanmar to protect the Rohingya and report back regularly on the steps it has taken to do so  it was still unclear what the countrys response would be. The government has said almost nothing about the ruling, except to deny that the widely documented killing and persecution of the Rohingya by Myanmars military amounted to genocide.

Rights lawyers and an attorney for the African nation of Gambia, which brought the case, said the unanimous decision by the 15-judge panel had gone beyond even what Gambia had asked for. Myanmar and Gambia were each allowed to appoint a member of the panel, and even Myanmars choice  Claus Kress, a German law professor  sided with Gambia.

This is an important ruling for a number of reasons, said Carla Ferstman, a senior lecturer at the Human Rights Center at the University of Essex in England. She said the decision means it wont be enough for Myanmar to just avoid doing bad things. It must take active steps, and then prove it has done so, with a clear timetable for reporting.
Around 8:25 p.m. Thursday, two robbers walked up to a 33-year-old man in the 6700 block of North Bosworth Avenue. One of them pulled out a handgun as they tried to take his belongings, police said. When he refused, they shot him in the chest and sped off in a car, police said. The man was taken to St. Francis Hospital in serious condition.
[January 24, 2020] Amica Takes the Next Step in Insurance System Modernization

FAST (News - Alert), a leading software company for the life insurance and annuity industry, announced today that Amica Life Insurance Company ("Amica") is live with FAST for policy administration of all its currently sold Term Life and Whole Life products. The system is being hosted by FAST, making Amica the third new customer in the last four months to deploy an initial production release on the cloud with FAST. This initial release has set the foundation for Amica to convert and decommission its existing legacy system, while also establishing the capabilities to quickly launch new products and lines of business. "FAST's partnership has been instrumental in establishing the agile processes required to complete this type of transformation in the time frame that we did. Along with the quick stand-up and ease of use of the system, we're excited by the features and functionality that a modern PAS affords our customers and employees," stated Andy Mudra, Vice President, Amica Life. "The straightforward ability to integrate across our technology and partnership ecosystems opens many doors or the future of Amica Life.



"Amica has committed to modernizing its insurance ecosystem to deliver the best customer experience for new and existing policyholders," said Tom Famularo, CEO of FAST. "It is great to see a key milestone being met on Amica's digital transformation journey, and we look forward to continuing our successful partnership through full policy conversion." About Amica Life

Amica Life Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Amica Mutual Insurance Company, was founded in 1969. Amica Life, based in Lincoln, Rhode Island, offers life insurance and retirement products directly to customers. Through its products and services, Amica Life aims to be the most trusted and innovative service provider by securing and simplifying the most important aspects of its customers' lives. The company has also earned a rating of A+ (Superior) from AM Best, a leading insurance rating agency and the nation's authority on insurance company financial stability. For more information, visit AmicaLifeLessons.com About FAST FAST, which stands for "Flexible Architecture, Simplified Technology," is a privately-held company located in Iselin, New Jersey. FAST focuses on solving the challenges our financial services and insurance clients face as they seek to modernize their systems environments or completely replace legacy systems. Visit: www.fasttechnology.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005275/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 15:43:46|Editor: Yurou

Video Player Close

UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande receives an exclusive interview with Xinhua at the UN headquarters in New York, Jan. 23, 2020. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande on Thursday said that education is a key element to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, while giving a thumbs-up to China's success in education. (Xinhua/Zhang Mocheng)

by Xinhua writer Wang Jiangang

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- UN General Assembly (UNGA) President Tijjani Muhammad-Bande on Thursday said that education is a key element to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, while giving a thumbs-up to China's success in education.

"I think education is a key element in any effort to achieve the SDGs (the Sustainable Development Goals)," said Muhammad-Bande in an exclusive interview with Xinhua one day before the International Day of Education, which falls on Friday.

People must acquire skills and knowledge through education so they can deal with matters including the eradication of poverty, food production, defending human rights, building partnerships, meeting environmental challenges, and building infrastructure, he said.

"You need education and knowledge to do all these," he noted.

Education is something that "you learn, you engage in from cradle to death," said Muhammad-Bande. "Everyone can learn something at any age and it defines the character of a human being, the ability to continue to learn."

Speaking about the essence of education, he said that "education has never been just simply an issue of reading or writing. Education is also something that nurtures a culture."

The Global Partnership for Education, a multi-stakeholder partnership and funding platform that aims to strengthen education systems in developing countries, has said that "if each developing country invested just 15 cents more per child, it could make all the difference."

"All of us are able to give 1 cent and use it judiciously to train teachers who will teach or to build schools or to buy equipment for science or to build equipment for practice in technology classes," he said.

"It is simply the consistency of what we give."

He added that all should understand the critical nature of education in the development of an individual and of society.

Speaking of the vulnerable children in conflict or poverty-stricken areas, Muhammad-Bande said that "while there are conflicts, people are on the move and feel uncertain. The education of children is disrupted."

"If no action is taken, we run the risk of losing a whole generation," said the president, who ardently advocates providing education in humanitarian crises.

Muhammad-Bande called on the international community to mobilize more resources to help vulnerable children.

"To create a safe zone for learning is important," said the president.

On China's huge strides in education, Muhammad-Bande said that leadership and policy have played a big role in this regard.

Noting that China will likely achieve its goal of eradicating extreme poverty by the end of 2020, the president said that education has played a big part.

China has "a long-term vision, because at times having a long-term vision does help," he added.
After France Truce, U.S. Faces New Tech-Tax Threat in Europe

(Bloomberg) -- Terms of Trade is a daily newsletter that untangles a world embroiled in trade wars. Sign up here.

Having just persuaded France to hold off on a digital tax that would hurt its biggest technology firms, the U.S. is facing a similar threat from another part of Europe.

The Czech Republic is debating plans to impose one of the worlds highest levies on global internet companies -- albeit as a stop-gap measure -- brushing aside possible U.S. retaliation.

The initiative comes as transatlantic trade tensions once again bubble over. Shortly after agreeing on the truce with France, President Donald Trumps tone changed as he complained that Europeans are more difficult to do business with than China.

Cars are another bone of contention. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said this week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that the U.S. was still considering slapping levies on European auto imports, even as it hopes for a peaceful resolution of differences.

Czech Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek said Thursday that hes aware of the risks in imposing the 7% levy, which would target local revenue because the majority of profits are booked and taxed in other jurisdictions.

I understand the United States perceives this negatively, he said in televised comments. Were trying to explain that this step is only temporary until an international solution is found.

Petricek met U.S. Ambassador Stephen King after the envoy wrote a newspaper opinion piece saying America may respond with proportional countermeasures against the Czech Republic.

The local unit of Google last year reported a net income of 15.9 million koruna ($697,000) and paid 8.8 million koruna in tax, while the Czech arm of Amazon made a profit of 19 million koruna and paid 9.7 million koruna of tax, according to regulatory filings.

Thats a fraction of the income recorded and taxes paid by the U.S. companies local competitors, which include search engine and online media group Seznam.cz and internet retailer Alza.cz.

Story continues

Billionaire Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis is trying to impose the digital tax alongside higher levies on gambling, alcohol and tobacco to boost public-sector wages and fund welfare spending. Hes previously enjoyed warm relations with Trump.

Other European countries that have introduced a similar tax or are planning to do so include the U.K., Italy and Austria.

France agreed this week to delay collecting its 3% digital levy until the end of the year to avoid the threat of higher U.S. tariffs. The two countries said theyd made progress toward a global pact on the taxation of digital services.

(Updates with local internet companies in ninth paragraph.)

--With assistance from Lenka Ponikelska.

To contact the reporter on this story: Krystof Chamonikolas in Prague at kchamonikola@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Blaise Robinson at brobinson58@bloomberg.net, Andrew Langley, Michael Winfrey

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Dry weather is expected across Massachusetts on Friday before a storm hits the state Saturday, bringing with it a mix of rain and snow.

A mix of snow and rain are expected in areas of higher elevations across the Berkshires and northern Worcester County near Fitchburg late Saturday morning and early afternoon, with a brief period of sleet and pockets of freezing rain possible before the precipitation changes over to just rain.

The storm is expected to bring rain to the rest of the state that will start to taper off overnight. An inch or more of precipitation is expected for most of the state, with lesser amounts predicted in Southeastern Massachusetts.

The main period of rainfall will occur during the late afternoon into the evening, the National Weather Service said.

Gusty coastal winds are also possible late Saturday, as the storm tracks across southern New England. Wind gusts will reach close to 22 miles per hour in Springfield and as high as 31 miles per hour in Boston at night. Brief gusts of nearly 20 miles per hour are possible for Worcester on Sunday.

High temperatures will range from 35 degrees to 46 degrees across Massachusetts on Saturday.

Mainly dry and mild conditions return Sunday," the National Weather Service said. Then dry and seasonable for much of next week."
Lord Justice Sir Gary Hickinbottom (pictured)

A senior judge demanding closure of Chinese restaurant over cooking smells wafting into his 525,000 home loved to eat there, says his son

Lord Justice Sir Gary Hickinbottom, 64, was a regular customer at the family-run restaurant he now wants shut down over aromas emanating from the kitchen after moving in nearby.

His estranged son Emyr Hughes accused him of hypocrisy and called on his father to end his dispute with the Summer Palace in Llandaff, Cardiff.

Speaking to MailOnline, Mr Hughes, 32, said: 'It's typical of my father, trying to bully people.

'People need to know that he used to be a regular customer there and loved the Chinese food.

'But, after moving next-door, now he wants to close the place down because of the smell.'

Judge Hickinbottom and his wife Lady Georgina complained after buying the property near the Summer Palace which has been there for 32 years.

Cardiff Council environmental health chiefs upheld the judge's complaint over smells and noise coming from the kitchen.

The judge is in dispute with The Summer Palace (pictured) overlooking the historic grounds of Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff, over cooking aromas that are wafting into his 525,000 home

The restaurant, which has a five-star food hygiene rating, installed a new extractor fan but failed to get proper permission for it and now faces prosecution.

The judge's son, a Cardiff-based entrepreneur and businessman, said: 'He lives in London, it's a second home, it's not as if he lives there all the time.

The judge's son Emyr Hughes, 32, (above) has sided with the restaurant in the argument

'He's picked on a well-established and much loved restaurant - I wish he would back off and stop what he's doing. He's abusing his position to get his own way.'

Mr Hughes plans to meet with restaurant manager Wai Chim to support his fight against his father who was knighted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace in 2009.

'If you buy a house next to a Chinese restaurant you can expect cooking smells, he probably got his place cheaper because of it.'

Mr Hughes took his mother's maiden name after his parent's divorce 18 years ago and now has very little contact with his father.

Lord Justice Hickinbottom was appointed to the Privy Council in 2017 following his appointment as Lord Justice of Appeal and has sat on many high profile cases including the challenge to the third runway at Heathrow Airport.

He and his lawyer wife, who also own a property in South West London, bought their grade-II listed home in the conservation area of Llandaff in 2016.

Their campaign has angered locals who say the Summer Palace is a vibrant business in Llandaff High Street and part of the fabric of the village.

Mr Hughes a successful entrepreneur based in Cardiff took to Twitter to support the restaurant and told MailOnline he is trying to bully it into closure

The much loved restaurant - where the judge himself was a customer - was taken to court this week by Cardiff Council over its 20,000 extractor fan fitted to alleviate the cooking smells

Wales's First Minister Mark Drakeford and ex-rugby star and TV pundit Jonathan Davies have come out in support of the Summer Palace.

Conservative Councillor Sean Driscoll said: 'It's a bit like buying a house near a train station then complaining about the noise from the trains. Or near to a farmyard then complain about the smell from animals.

'What is next, are they going to complain to the Cathedral about the sound of the church bells?

The restaurant was taken to court this week by Cardiff Council over its 20,000 extractor fan fitted to alleviate the cooking smells.

But the case was adjourned at the last minute while both parties try to find a solution out of court.

Meanwhile former Welsh rugby player Jonathan Davies OBE said if the restaurant were to shut down it would be a 'travesty'

Judge Hickinbottom and his wife are applying for planning permission for an extension to their second-home which is near the restaurant.

Lady Georgina Hickinbottom told MailOnline her husband was prevented from commenting because of his position within the judiciary.

Referring to the ongoing dispute she said: 'The restaurant breached an abatement notice, that was their decision. It's a lawful process.

'We have bent over backwards to engage with out neighbours who for whatever reason don't want to engage with us.'
Advertisement

A neurosurgeon has restored a Battle of Britain fighter plane which was in a bog for fifty years - and now it can fly.

The World War Two Mk1 Hawker Hurricane was shot down over Canterbury by a Luftwaffe fighter pilot ace in 1940.

It plummeted into a bog where it lay undiscovered until the 1990s when it was found and excavated by a group of metal detectorists.

The decaying frame was bought two years ago by consultant Peter Kirkpatrick, 57, who spent two years on the 2m restoration.

Peter Kirkpatrick, 57, bought the decaying frame of a World War Two Mk1 Hawker Hurricane after it was found and excavated by a group of metal detectorists. He has spent spent two years on the 2m restoration (pictured, restoration work underway)

The restored fighter plane - RAF no V7497 - contains 35 per cent of the original, and is one of just 14 Hurricanes still flying. The painstaking task of rebuilding the 78-year-old warplane was undertaken by Hawker Restorations of Milden near Sudbury, world leaders in putting Hurricanes back in the air (pictured, Mr Kirkpatrick in the vehicle)

The Hurricane was found in the early 90s by an excavation team who sold it to Peter, who asked Hawker Restorations to repair it. They kept the stainless steel joints, but had to replace some unsalvagable parts of the plane (pictured, the plane in the bog)

Late last year, Mr Kirkpatrick took the controls for his maiden flight in the 78-year-old warplane (pictured in the air). He is now seriously considering leaving his job at Addenbrooke's Hospital so he can fly the 350mph plane at air shows around the world as a full-time display pilot

Mr Kirkpatrick spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on the restoration - and is one of three stakeholders who stumped up the 2m total, including Hawker Restorations which still retains a 25 per cent share of the plane. He raised his contribution through remortgaging the home he shares with wife Leisha, who supports his hobby

HURRICANE: CHAMPION OF BATTLE OF BRITAIN More than half of the 2,739 German losses in the Battle of Britain were caused by Hurricanes  55 per cent. Despite this, the more beautiful and faster Spitfire became the symbol of the RAFs Finest Hour. Here are some Hawker Hurricane facts: Introduced - 1937 Total number of planes built - 14,533 Wingspan - 40ft Engine - Rolls Royce Merlin 1,185hp at 21,000ft Max speed - 339mph Armament - 4 x 20mm cannons, 2 x 226kg bombs Number of Hurricanes at start of Battle of Britain - 2,309 Planes lost during Battle of Britain - 565 Advertisement

The restored fighter plane - RAF no V7497 - contains 35 per cent of the original, and is one of just 14 Hurricanes still flying.

Late last year, Mr Kirkpatrick took the controls for his maiden flight in the 78-year-old warplane.

He is now seriously considering leaving his job at Addenbrooke's Hospital so he can fly the 350mph plane at air shows around the world as a full-time display pilot.

Mr Kirkpatrick, a married father-of-one, said: 'In some respects flying is like surgery - there is very little room for error.

'Both involve the hand and eye co-ordination and in the end it comes down to having to make very rapid life-or-death decisions.

'I believe passionately in the history of these aircraft and the role they played in the last world war.

'Thanks to the courage and bravery of the young men who flew them we enjoy much of what we enjoy today and to be able to fly a Hurricane is a huge privilege.

'There are only about a dozen in the world still in an airworthy condition and although the Spitfire may have garnered more attention it was the Hurricane that was the real workhorse of the war - and the Battle of Britain statistics prove it was the plane that predominantly saved the day.

'My first solo flight was fantastic and a tribute to those who sacrificed their lives all those years ago. Without them we would have lost the war.'

Mr Kirkpatrick (pictured in the plane), who learned to fly while he was a medical student in the 1980s, made the maiden flight in September 2019 at Imperial War Museum Duxford, Cambridgeshire. He already regularly flies his Pitts Special plane at displays and when he has built up more hours flying the Hurricane, he'll fly it at organised, public displays

Work takes place to remove the Hurricane from the Kent bog where it lay undiscovered until the 1990s. The Hurricane was found by an excavation team who sold it to Mr Kirkpatrick, who asked Hawker Restorations to repair it

The plane was buried deep in the bog, and it was only when metal detectorists stumbled upon it that it was revealed. The Hurricanes were built in south west London and Surrey and trialled on Martlesham Heath in early 1936

In the Battle of Britain, Hurricanes scored the highest number of RAF victories, accounting for 1,593 out of the 2,739-total claimed. The Hawker Hurricane failed to receive government funding when the prototype was being built, but Hawker were convinced about its future and carried on despite the lack of financial backing (pictured, Mr Kirkpatrick's plane under going renovations at Hawker Restorations)

The Hurricane was found in the early 90s by an excavation team who sold it to Mr Kirkpatrick, who asked Hawker Restorations to repair it. They kept the stainless steel joints, but had to replace some unsalvagable parts of the plane (pictured, the rusted control column of the Mk1 Hawker Hurricane)

The painstaking task of rebuilding the 78-year-old warplane was undertaken by Hawker Restorations of Milden near Sudbury, world leaders in putting Hurricanes back in the air.

They have worked on or rebuilt all of the 14 Hurricanes still flying.

The Hurricane was found in the early 90s by an excavation team who sold it to Mr Kirkpatrick, who asked Hawker Restorations to repair it.

They kept the stainless steel joints, but had to replace some unsalvagable parts of the plane.

Mr Kirkpatrick spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on the restoration - and is one of three stakeholders who stumped up the 2m total, including Hawker Restorations which still retains a 25 per cent share of the plane.

He raised his contribution through remortgaging the home he shares with wife Leisha, who supports his hobby.

Their son Elliott, 13, is already learning to fly, and hopes to join the Air Cadets next year.

Mr Kirkpatrick, who learned to fly while he was a medical student in the 1980s, made the maiden flight in September 2019 at Imperial War Museum Duxford, Cambs. He already regularly flies his Pitts Special plane at displays and when he has built up more hours flying the Hurricane, he'll fly it at organised, public displays (pictured, the newly restored plane in flight)

Mr Kirkpatrick received flying lessons from Hawker Restoration chief test pilot Stuart Goldspink, before his recent first flight in the restored aircraft. He said: 'In some respects flying is like surgery - there is very little room for error. 'Both involve the hand and eye co-ordination and in the end it comes down to having to make very rapid life-or-death decisions'

The restored fighter plane - RAF no V7497 - contains 35 per cent of the original, and is one of just 14 Hurricanes still flying. Late last year, Mr Kirkpatrick took the controls for his maiden flight in the 78-year-old warplane (pictured, the plane taking off). He is now seriously considering leaving his job at Addenbrooke's Hospital so he can fly the 350mph plane at air shows around the world as a full-time display pilot

Mr Kirkpatrick revealed he's now hoping to spend a little bit more time flying. He said: 'I've dedicated my life to the NHS - but it's changed over the years. There is so much work it's become more like a factory. Don't get me wrong, I love the NHS but I increasingly feel it is time my other passion - flying - has a chance'

Mr Kirkpatrick is now seriously considering leaving his job at Addenbrooke's Hospital so he can fly the 350mph plane at air shows around the world as a full-time display pilot (pictured, Mr Kirkpatrick in his scrubs)

Mr Kirkpatrick, who learned to fly while he was a medical student in the 1980s, made the maiden flight in September 2019 at Imperial War Museum Duxford, Cambridgeshire.

He already regularly flies his Pitts Special plane at displays and when he has built up more hours flying the Hurricane, he'll fly it at organised, public displays.

He said last night: 'I've dedicated my life to the NHS - but it's changed over the years. There is so much work it's become more like a factory.

'Don't get me wrong, I love the NHS but I increasingly feel it is time my other passion - flying - has a chance.

'I've learned to fly a stunt plane, but my real passion is the plane that was behind the WW2 Battle of Britain, the Hurricane.

'Restoring this plane from its sad end in the Kent marshes and being able to actually flight it, is a dream come true for me.

'I feel I've done my bit for our health service and now might be the right time to move on.'

He received flying lessons from Hawker Restoration chief test pilot Stuart Goldspink, before his recent first flight in the restored aircraft.
[UPDATED FEBRUARY 7th] Glenn Greenwald, journalist and co-founder of the investigative media outlet "The Intercept", has been accused by Brazil's Federal Prosecutor of being part of a criminal association and illegally intercepting private conversations. The move comes following the journalist's revealed details of alleged corruption over the jailing of former president Lula Da Silva. On 7 February a Judge rejected the charges against Greenwald.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) claimed the decision was intended to "intimidate and silence investigative journalists".

On Tuesday, January 21, the Federal Public Ministry (MPF), announced through a press release accusations against seven people, among them journalist Glenn Greenwald, for crimes related to the "invasion of cell phones by Brazilian authorities". According to the MPF, the evidence gathered indicates that the journalist "helped, encouraged, and guided" the group suspected of tapping the authorities' phones.

IFJs Brazilian affiliate, the Federacao Nacional dos Jornalistas (FENAJ), points out that the MPF's accusations ignore the Federal Supreme Court's ruling in 2019 confirming that the journalist should not be investigated as part of the Federal Police's Spoofing Operation, a broader enquiry which investigating the hacking of authorities' cell phones.

The prosecutors office decided to publish accusations against Glenn Greenwald despite the fact he is not being investigated or charged with any crime.

In June 2019, a series of conversations involving the former judge Sergio Moro and the prosecutors working on the Lava Jato case were published by Glenn Greenwald in The Intercept. Since then, the journalist has been the victim of several judicial and institutional attacks and threats, including by the President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, who, in July 2019, publicly threatened to imprison him.

Following the complaint against him, Glenn Greenwald spoke out on his Twitter account saying he considered this complaint "an obvious attempt to attack the free press in retaliation for the revelations we have made about Minister Moro and Bolsonaros government," and that he would not be "intimidated by these tyrannical attempts to silence journalists.

Attacks and threats on journalists have become widespread since Jair Bolsonaro became president. According to the FENAJ, Bolsonaro attacks the media every three days.

IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said: This decision of the Brazilian public prosecutor evidences the systematic attacks by the Brazilian government against media freedom and freedom of expression. We stand in solidarity with Glenn Greenwald and all the Brazilian journalists who are facing permanent attacks and threats for doing their job in an attempt to intimidate and silence invesigative journalists. They will never silence us.

[UPDATE FEBRUARY 7th] A Brazilian judge rejected the charges made by the prosecutors against Glenn Greenwald. Six alledged hackers, who alledgedly leaked messages to the journalist, have been found guilty.
That does not preclude the possibility that Saudi Arabia could have sent other useful information to The Enquirer. Nor were Bezos and his investigators off-base in suspecting a possible link between the tabloid and the kingdom. American Media and Saudi Arabia had both tried to build relationships with Trump, and one way to the presidents heart could have been an attack on Bezos, whom Trump once referred to as Jeff Bozo in a Twitter post.
Supporters of the Shia cleric respond to his appeal for a million strong march. Many people dressed in white, ready to die for the country. Anti-government protests continue in Tahrir square. In his Friday's sermon, al-Sistani appeals again to politicians to form a new government as soon as possible.

Baghdad (AsiaNews/Agencies)  Thousands of people took to the streets in Baghdad to protest against the presence of US troops in Iraq after firebrand Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr called for a million strong march.

The protest comes as regional tensions have been rising since the start of the year, following the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, head of the Qods Force, which led to an Iranian missile attack against US military bases in Iraq.

We want them all out  America, Israel, and the corrupt politicians in government, said Raed Abu Zahra, a health ministry worker from the southern city of Samawa, who arrived by bus at night and stayed in Sadr City, a sprawling district of Baghdad controlled by the clerics followers.

We support the protests in Tahrir [Square] as well, but understand why Sadr held this protest here so it doesnt take attention from theirs, he added.

Throngs of marchers started gathering this morning at al-Hurriya Square in central Baghdad and near around the citys main university.

Marchers avoided Tahrir Square, symbol of mass protests against Iraq ruling elites, which have been going on since October. Sadrs march might have clashed with the protests in the square, at a time of deep ethno-confessional divisions and tensions.

During the rally, men and women waved the national colours: red, white and black. Some wore white robes, symbolically indicating their willingness to die for their country. Others sat looking out over the square from half-finished buildings, holding signs that said No, no, America, no, no, Israel, no, no, colonialists.

Sadrs Saraya al-Salam brigades and Iraqs Popular Mobilisation Forces provided security to the marchers. These groups are part of a number of Iran-backed Shia militias.

Following the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, al-Sadr emerged as a major clerical and political figure opposed to the presence of foreign troops in Iraq.

In recent years he has moved closer to Iran, which has boosted its influence with the country's political leaders.

The march, which began in the morning, ended after a few hours. Some participants then headed to Tahrir Square to join the anti-government protests.

Today, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the country's highest Shia cleric, spoke publicly during his weekly Friday sermon.

In his address, he urged political groups to form a new government as soon as possible to bring stability to the country and enact necessary reforms.

Iraqis, he noted, should have the right to peaceful protests, whilst Iraqs sovereignty must be respected.
By Trend

The ballots must be prepared no later than 10 days before the parliamentary election day in accordance with the Azerbaijani Electoral Code, Chairman of the Azerbaijani Central Election Commission (CEC) Mazahir Panahov said at the CEC meeting in Baku.

We will begin this process in the coming days, the chairman said, Trend reports on Jan. 23.

In his speech, Panahov also warned the political parties.

The representatives of various parties who have indicated their party affiliation have been registered as candidates, the chairman said. In accordance with the requirement of the law, if they are expelled from the party or their party affiliation is canceled, the party must officially notify the CEC.

In such cases, such candidates are registered as unaffiliated both in the CEC database and in ballots, the chairman said. Some parties have sent such information to the CEC. The rest must also do this before the next CEC meeting."

The early parliamentary elections will be held in Azerbaijan on February 9, 2020.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], Jan 24 (ANI): DMK president MK Stalin on Friday said that the state government should not allow the process of National Population Register (NPR) to be conducted in Tamil Nadu.



"Tamil Nadu government should not allow the process of NPR. DMK is going to meet the people and going to start the signature campaign from February 2 to 8 against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC)," Stalin said.

An all-party meeting of the DMK and its allies, headed by the party president Stalin, took place at the party's headquarters here on Friday, to discuss the next course of action on protests against the NPR, NRC and CAA.

Elaborating on the party's strategy over the issue, he added, "All the alliance party leaders and cadres will also involve in this signature campaign. We will complete the campaign and will submit the memorandum to the President of India."

Union Home Minister Amit Shah may say that he will not take back the CAA but we will continue to protest, the DMK president stated.

MDMK Chief Vaiko, Tamil Nadu Congress chief KS Azhagiri, BCK chief Thirumavalavan, CPI state chief Mutharasan, CPM state chief Balakrishnan, MMK chief Jawahirulla also participated in the meeting. (ANI)


Kuwait summons Iran envoy over Soleimani killing claim



Kuwait City, Jan 24 (AFP) Jan 24, 2020



Kuwait's foreign ministry summoned Iran's ambassador Friday after a high-level Iranian official implicated the emirate in the US drone attack that killed top general Qasem Soleimani, official news agency KUNA reported.

Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled al-Jarallah expressed Kuwait's "amazement" at the claim that one of its air bases had been among those used to carry out the January 3 attack, KUNA said.

It said he was referring to a statement by Brigadier-General Amirali Hajizadeh, aerospace commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

"MQ-9 UAVs (drones) were flying in the region (at the time of the attack) that had mostly taken off from Kuwait's Ali al-Salem" base, Hajizadeh told Iranian state television Thursday.

Jarallah told the ambassador, Mohammed Irani, that Kuwait had already denied any role in the deadly attack in Baghdad.

He said such a claim "risks damaging relations" between Kuwait and Iran.

Soleimani had been at the centre of power-broking in the region for two decades as chief of Iran's external operations Quds Force of the elite Revolutionary Guards.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Jan. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced today that it has been awarded a General Services Administration One Acquisition Solution for Integrated Services (OASIS) task order to provide Persistent Multi-Role Operations (PMRO) support to the U.S. Air Force-Europe (USAFE) by the Federal Systems Integration and Management Center (FEDSIM). This task order will provide Contractor Owned-Contractor Operated (COCO) manned and unmanned airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) in support of Air Force requirements in the European and African theaters of operation. The task order has a base period of one year with four option years and a potential value of $954 million.



Critical readiness of our defense intelligence enterprise demands unique expertise and advanced technology solutions, said Garry Schwartz, president of Technical Solutions Mission Driven Innovative Solutions group. Over the last several years, HII has continued to expand its ISR support to the U.S. Air Force and other components of the Department of Defense. We are looking forward to continuing to advance the implementation of innovative ISR solutions for USAFE and across the DOD.

The Air Force directs global integrated ISR operations from forward-deployed locations worldwide, including locations throughout the six geographic combatant commands. Air Force ISR operations are conducted in multiple domains and across all phases of operations and environments. The timely integration and delivery of ISR information provides joint, defense, national, and coalition partners with actionable intelligence for the commander and warfighter.

The objective of this task is to provide persistent, multi-role and cross-domain ISR capabilities that increase indications and warnings, enhance the U.S. security defense posture, enable the freedom of movement, increase partnership capacity and interoperability, and foster global security and stability throughout the European and African areas of responsibility.

Story continues

This is a continuation and expansion of work currently performed by HII, whose purpose is to deliver timely, accurate and relevant information to operational and strategic decision makers. This effort will provide PMRO for multiple DOD components, including Air Forces in Europe and Africa as well as other strategic and operational partners.

Huntington Ingalls Industries is Americas largest military shipbuilding company and a provider of professional services to partners in government and industry. For more than a century, HIIs Newport News and Ingalls shipbuilding divisions in Virginia and Mississippi have built more ships in more ship classes than any other U.S. naval shipbuilder. HIIs Technical Solutions division provides a wide range of professional services through its Fleet Support, Mission Driven Innovative Solutions, Nuclear & Environmental, and Oil & Gas groups. Headquartered in Newport News, Virginia, HII employs more than 42,000 people operating both domestically and internationally. For more information, visit:

HII on the web: www.huntingtoningalls.com

HII on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HuntingtonIngallsIndustries

HII on Twitter: twitter.com/hiindustries

Statements in this release, as well as other statements we may make from time to time, other than statements of historical fact, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in these statements. Factors that may cause such differences include: changes in government and customer priorities and requirements (including government budgetary constraints, shifts in defense spending, and changes in customer short-range and long-range plans); our ability to estimate our future contract costs and perform our contracts effectively; changes in procurement processes and government regulations and our ability to comply with such requirements; our ability to deliver our products and services at an affordable life cycle cost and compete within our markets; natural and environmental disasters and political instability; our ability to execute our strategic plan, including with respect to share repurchases, dividends, capital expenditures, and strategic acquisitions; adverse economic conditions in the United States and globally; changes in key estimates and assumptions regarding our pension and retiree health care costs; security threats, including cyber security threats, and related disruptions; and other risk factors discussed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. There may be other risks and uncertainties that we are unable to predict at this time or that we currently do not expect to have a material adverse effect on our business, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements that we may make.

Contact:

Beci Brenton

Beci.Brenton@hii-co.com

(202) 264-7143




Marking its entry into the premium hatchback segment, Tata Motors on Friday launched 'Altroz' in the Telangana market.

The Altroz will be available in five trim levels across all Tata Motors authorised dealerships, Tata Motors Vice President - Global Design - Pratap Bose told a press conference here.

It is the first vehicle developed on the new ALFA architecture and the second vehicle showing the Impact 2.0 design language, he said.

We are delighted to announce the launch of our premium hatchback The Altroz. The Altroz is already a product that we are proud of as it is the second Tata as well as Indian car, to have received a 5-star Global NCAP rating.

"We are confident that this product will not only deliver the best driving experience to our customers, but also set new benchmarks as we set foot into the premium hatchback segment," Bose said.

Tata Motors offers an introductory price starting from Rs 5.29 lakh for the petrol version and Rs 6.99 lakh for the diesel version (ex-showroom).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The lawmaker representing Borno Central in the Senate, Kashim Shettima, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari came ahead of his time.

The former governor of Borno State said this while speaking in an interview with Daily Trust.

He said, When Muhammadu Buhari assumed the mantle of leadership, again, the expectations from Nigerians were over-exaggerated.

Sometimes, I feel that Buhari came ahead of his time. He ought to be the President 50 years from now because some of the things that people see as his weaknesses are his major strength

Read Also: APC May Collapse When Buhari Leaves Office: Fayemi

Buhari appoints people into positions, and he would give you the leeway, the freedom to be guided by your conscience, and to act according to conventions, rules, regulations and values; but in the Nigerian context, it doesnt move that way, he said.

And one area that people are not willing to give it to Buhari is that the economy was in the lowest ebb before he assumed the mantle of leadership. The bare fact is he has brought stability to the economy. For the first time we have been having an expansionary budget, and deliberate efforts are being geared towards addressing our infrastructural deficit. I think he deserves better credit than we are willing to give him

And most importantly for those of us from the North East, there is nothing as dehumanising as poverty. And when you add insecurity to it, you compound the whole issues.

To the people of the North East, poverty and insecurity are not issues of philosophical dispute but the reality of everyday life. And in the past 20 years of our democratic governance, nobody among the Nigerian presidents understood the peace development nexus better than President Muhammadu Buhari. By setting up the North East Development Commission (NEDC), I believe it will give a new lease of life to efforts at combating the challenges we are facing in the sub-region, and we hope and pray that with the calibre of management he has put in place, it will not go the way of NDDC, he added.
Some of those beers, though, could have a path to the big time with the new Captain Pabst line. A contemporary (albeit unhazy) session IPA doesnt seem to fit with Pabsts mostly heritage-driven brands, but this, it would seem, is a seek at a fresh start for the company. With Captain Pabst, were trying to let people know that Pabst can make some awesome craft beer, Krueger said.

While the beer is looking forward, the identity of this new Pabst craft line pays homage to the companys foremost figure.

Before he became the most baronly of Milwaukee beer barons, Frederick Pabst was a 12-year-old immigrant from Germany arriving in 1848  the year of Wisconsins statehood and two years after Milwaukee was incorporated. By age 21, Pabst had worked his way into the maritime trade, piloting steamships between ports on Lake Michigan.

The Seabird was the last ship he piloted; it ran aground off Whitefish Bay during a winter storm in 1863. Pabst, the company, says the beaching was an intentional maneuver that saved life and limb. That has the whiff of a brand-building tall tale, so Ill reserve judgment on that, but the historical record does reflect that the incident was a catalyst in Pabst turning his talents to the brewing trade.
This Morning viewers have slammed food writer Jack Monroe's three meals for 5 saying the 'revolting' options look like dishes their children would make.

The British activist, 31, who identifies as non-binary, presented the cooking segment on the ITV programme this morning - showcasing three recipes from their book Vegan(ish).

For five pound, the chef offered 12 plates of food in the form of three meals, including salmon, pea and lemon pasta, fruit and veg curry, and mustard chicken with winter veg.

But despite the compliments from presenters Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford, some social media users were quick to express their dissatisfaction with the appearance of the dishes.

Scroll down for video

This Morning viewers have slammed food writer Jack Monroe's (pictured) three meals for 5 saying the 'revolting' options look like dishes their children would make

The British activist, 31, presented the cooking segment on the ITV programme this morning - showcasing three recipes from their book Vegan(ish) (including chicken and veg, pictured)

Yet some social media users (pictured) were quick to express their dissatisfaction with the appearance of the dishes

Several people suggested the meals looked like something children would create, while others likened the dishes to vomit.

One unimpressed person wrote: 'That is literally what would happen if I let my nine-year-old cook dinner.'

Another individual said: 'I think it's safe to say no one will be making any of those dishes. Revolting.'

A third social media user added: 'This is just junk. I think most people's dogs eat better than that.'

For five pound, the chef offered 12 plates of food in the form of three meals, including salmon, pea and lemon pasta (pictured), fruit and veg curry, and mustard chicken with winter veg

Jack's peach and chickpea curry. The chef used tin vegetables as well as some fresh produce

Reaction: Several people suggested the meals looked like something children would create, while others likened the dishes to vomit

Yet hosts Eamonn and Ruth were full of positive comments after trying each of the meals.

'Quiet exotic, really very nice', Eamonn said after tasting the peach and chickpea curry, while Ruth added: 'That looks really posh,' when sampling the chicken and veg.

Elsewhere, others suggested that the basket of food - bought from Tesco, Asda and Saindbury's - cost more than 5.

Jack's mustard chicken with winter veg. This Morning presenter Ruth suggested the dish looked 'very posh'

Elsewhere, others suggested that the basket of food (pictured) - bought from Tesco, Asda and Saindbury's - cost more than five pound

Some social media users claimed the price of chicken would bring the basket up in cost, with one person explaining: 'That chicken would cost a fiver alone.'

They claimed the price of chicken would bring the basket up in cost, with one person explaining: 'That chicken would cost a fiver alone.'

MailOnline has contacted Jack Monroe's representatives for comment.

When asked how they kept the cost down, Jack said: 'I would buy big frozen bags of chicken because if you are on a budget they're so much better value.

'If you are on a budget and you are looking to save money, that's probably your best option.'

Following the end of the cooking segment, Eamonn commented: 'It's amazing what you do... that you can make the money stretch and that you can make the seem food so lovely, favourable and nutritious.'

Jack Monroe's three meals for 5 British food writer Jack Monroe showcased three recipes from their book Vegan(ish) when appearing on This Morning today. The chef shopped around from Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda for their dishes. Creamy salmon, pea and lemon pasta 20p per serving Serves: 4 Ingredients 300g dried spaghetti 200g frozen peas 150g salmon paste 60ml milk Lemon juice Plenty of black pepper Method Cook your spaghetti and add the frozen peas halfway through the cooking time. In a small bowl, beat together the salmon paste, lemon juice and milk. Once the pasta is cooked, drain and add it to the paste, then serve. Fruit and veg curry 53p per serving Serves: 4 Ingredients 200g onion, diced 200g carrots, diced 100g swede, diced 1 x 411g tin of peaches, drained 2 x 400g tins of chickpeas, drained 2 x 400g tins of plum tomatoes 2 tbsp curry powder 200g long grain rice, to serve Method Heat oil in a large pan before adding chopped onions, carrots and swede. Brown and then add tinned peaches, chickpeas, tomatoes and curry powder. Bring all these ingredients to the boil, then reduce to a simmer for around 20 minutes. While the curry is simmering, cook rice and then serve together. Mustard chicken with winter veg 45p per serving Serves: 4 Ingredients 2 tbsp cooking oil 600g chicken thighs or drums500ml chicken stock 200g carrots, diced 200g onion (approx 2 medium onions), chopped 250g swede, diced 1 tsp dried mixed herbs 200g long grain rice, to serve 2 tbsp plain flour 2 more tbsp cooking oil 1 tsp mustard 125ml milk 200g spring greens, finely sliced Method Heat the oil in a pan and add the chicken, cooking on a high heat for 5 minutes. Add the carrots, onion and swede along with the herbs. Add your stock and bring to boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. In a bowl, mix flour, oil, mustard and milk to make a paste. Add this into the pan and bring everything to the boil. One minute before serving, add the greens, then serve with cooked rice. Advertisement

Despite some negative comments, many social media users took to Twitter to share their excitement for the meals

And despite some negative comments, many social media users couldn't help but agree, taking to Twitter to share their excitement for the meals.

One person said: 'Really brilliant ideas coming out of this segment. I've been at this for years and never overspend on groceries.'

A second added: 'Well done Jack, you were great, surprised that you don't have your own show yet. Good to see my favourite curry on TV too.'

Another wrote: 'This Morning have [Jack] as a regular. To inspire people to cook delicious food on a budget is so important. Jack was very relatable.'
Eric Dier has dismissed rumours that Tottenham's players are already growing tired of life under Jose Mourinho just two months into his reign.

Reports have emerged that Spurs players believe they are regressing under the Portuguese while defender Danny Rose is said to have clashed with him after being left out of the matchday squad.

But England midfielder Dier has denied the claims and says any unhappiness only stems from frustrating results on the pitch.

"Any club, when results aren't going well, is not a happy atmosphere," he said.

"But it definitely isn't a negative atmosphere.

"I don't feel anything along those lines personally and I think everybody has been training very well, training hard, enjoying themselves in the same way as always."



When asked about the training methods, which were described in Wednesday's article in the Sun newspaper as "like lower-league sessions", Dier was quick to defend Mourinho and his staff.

"Who is saying that? Maybe you lads know -- I don't," he said.

"But personally I have enjoyed it. I enjoy doing new things." Club captain Hugo Lloris also dismissed such claims, insisting everything was "positive".

The Frenchman, who made his first appearance under Mourinho in the 2-1 win over Norwich following a three-month injury lay-off, said: "I can tell you that it's completely wrong.

"The atmosphere is great, we can feel all the players involved and ready to fight for the club, the new manager and his staff." After a bumpy spell, Spurs got back on track against Norwich on Wednesday in what could be Christian Eriksen's final appearance in front of Tottenham's home fans.

Eriksen is widely expected to leave before the January transfer window closes, with Inter Milan keen on taking him to Italy.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Neha Narula, director of the Digital Currency Initiative at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), described a simulation that took part in November involving a number of people including Larry Summers and former U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter. It was organized by Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center. Narula was part of the simulation.

But experts are concerned about the potential power this could give the Chinese government.

The People's Bank of China is working on a digital yuan but has released very few details about the technology behind it or the timeline of its release.

A digital yuan could allow some countries to avoid U.S. sanctions and increase the Chinese government's influence, experts told CNBC.

One of the situations involved North Korea developing a missile that had the capability to reach the U.S. It was funded by the digital yuan which allowed North Korea to bypass the global banking system and U.S. sanctions.

"It made it really clear that this (development of digital yuan) is a national security concern," Narula said at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

"Financial sanctions are a very important tool to the United States and though it might not happen immediately, one must consider the risk of a digital currency issued by another country gaining market share and affecting the U.S.'s ability to engage in financial sanctions and use them as tool."

Concerns about China's digital currency have increased. In November, Harvard University professor and economist Kenneth Rogoff warned about the risk of a digital yuan being used for "underground" activities.

"A US-regulated digital currency could in principle be required to be traceable by U.S. authorities, so that if North Korea were to use it to hire Russian nuclear scientists, or Iran were to use it to finance terrorist activity, they would run a high risk of being caught, and potentially even blocked," Rogoff wrote in the U.K.'s Guardian newspaper.

"If, however, the digital currency were run out of China, the U.S. would have far fewer levers to pull. Western regulators could ultimately ban the use of China's digital currency, but that wouldn't stop it from being used in large parts of Africa, Latin America, and Asia, which in turn could engender some underground demand even in the U.S. and Europe."

Rogoff noted that the U.S. has sanctions against 12 countries including Russia. A digital yuan could hurt the U.S.'s ability to use sanctions, Rogoff noted in an argument similar to Narula's.

"Just as technology has disrupted media, politics, and business, it is on the verge of disrupting America's ability to leverage faith in its currency to pursue its broader national interests."

There have been rising calls for a digital U.S. dollar. Christopher Giancarlo, former chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) spoke on the sidelines of Davos about the need for the U.S. to issue a digital currency.

Experts have also raised other concerns about the digital yuan including the lack of privacy it is likely to have.

"Having a fully digital currency gives the person in charge of the digital currency a lot more power," Jeff Schumacher, CEO of 55 Foundry, a company incubator and investor, told CNBC at Davos.

"China needs this power to continue its control over its people. Privacy will be weak and the government will have the ability to know about every transaction. It also could be a preparatory step to let its currency float. There are multiple currencies in China (a trade currency and a mainland currency). China cannot sustain this multi currency approach."
FIVE years ago, somebody posted photographs on the internet showing a man who looked a lot like Vladimir Putin in photographs from 1920 and 1941. In both shots he was in military uniform, defending the interests of the Russian people then as he still does today.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/1/2020 (719 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

FIVE years ago, somebody posted photographs on the internet showing a man who looked a lot like Vladimir Putin in photographs from 1920 and 1941. In both shots he was in military uniform, defending the interests of the Russian people then as he still does today.

But how can this be? Putin wasnt even born until 1952. So the wave of faux speculation starts that Putin is an immortal hero who returns at intervals to save Russia. Or maybe just that hes an immortal vampire. At any rate, hell be around forever. It was nonsense then, and its nonsense now.

Last week, the Russian president announced a wave of constitutional reforms, and the vast majority of foreign observers, especially in the West, immediately jumped to the conclusion that Vladimir Putin is changing the system so he can stay in power forever.

Twenty years in power (his current term as president expires in 2024) is not enough for Putin, the foreign pundits insist. He cant risk leaving power, they explain, or Russians would start asking where his vast illicit wealth came from. And then the pundits spin off into lengthy tirades about how he is evil incarnate, even comparing him to Stalin.

Joseph Stalin, who ruled the old Soviet Union from 1924 until his death in 1953, was a mass murderer without a conscience. Nobody was safe from his paranoia: he even killed most of the other heroes of the Bolshevik Revolution. He was probably responsible for the deaths of ten million Russians.

And Vladimir Putin? Heres Simon Tisdall, columnist and former foreign editor of the Guardian: "Like Stalin, (Putin) has made many enemies and caused untold misery... cronyism and corruption on a vast scale... military aggression and disruption abroad. ... Again, like Stalin, retirement is not a safe option for the ex-KGB spy who normalized assassination as a modern-day tool of state policy."

Where to start? Perhaps with the obvious point that Stalin killed tens of thousands for every death that can be attributed to Putin. Moreover, corruption in Putins Russia is far less than it was in the 1990s under the first post-communist president, the western-backed Boris Yeltsin, a drunken puppet who made ordinary Russians cringe.

"Military aggression and disruption abroad?" Guilty as charged, in the illegal restoration of Crimea to Russian control (though most people in Crimea welcomed it), and in backing anti-government rebels in eastern Ukraine.

But there is a litany of western invasions and military interventions (Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Serbia, Syria, Yemen) that didnt meet the highest legal standards, either, and had equally messy outcomes. Nor do western governments lag behind on the assassination front.

More importantly, Russias western border is 1,000 kilometres east of where it was in 1914. It is a minimum of 300 km east of where it was as recently as 1991. Putin has not challenged that new frontier once (with the partial exception of Ukraine) in 21 years in office. You could have a much more frightening and disruptive person than Putin in the Kremlin.

The old KGB was a ruthless organization, but also a rational and realistic one. Putin is a man steeped in that tradition, not an adventurer or a fantasist, and we should probably be grateful for that. So what are the odds that he will still be running things after 2024?

He will be 72 years old in 2024: definitely time to start thinking about what happens after hes gone. Im going to make a bold assumption here: that he is a Russian patriot.

Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Being Russian means he fears disorder above all else: Russians sometimes call themselves "Italians of the North," and they dont mean it in a good way. So he wants a strong state, run with a firm hand, even after he has retired, which means that a clear and orderly succession is very important.

However, living on under somebody elses firm hand is not an attractive prospect for Putin. He may or may not have fabulous sums of stolen money tucked away  the evidence for that is unclear  but you make a lot of enemies in a quarter-century in power, and they could hurt you badly after you have relinquished it.

So what Putin needs is a position that gives him the final constitutional say when big changes loom, but lets him withdraw from the daily exercise of power. Something like the chairmanship of a strengthened State Council that can overrule both president and prime minister when necessary (but does so very rarely).

And lo! That appears to be exactly what he has in mind. The details of his proposed reforms are not yet clear, but a weaker president, a stronger prime minister and a State Council presiding serenely from afar are all part of the package.

Im not saying thats what will happen, but I think its what hed like to happen.

Gwynne Dyers latest book is Growing Pains: The Future of Democracy (and Work).
Sprint is offering to repair the screen of select Samsung Galaxy smartphones at just USD 49 even if the customer is not signed up with the carrier.

The limited-time offer is available for eligible phones in a working condition. As the official website notes, the service is available only at Sprint Stores with service and repair and limited to only one per customer.

The eligible models include the Galaxy S7, Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+, and Galaxy Note8. The offer ends on February 9, 2020.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Find all our Lessons of the Day here.

Lesson Overview

Featured Article: The Census Begins Where It Has Struggled Before: Remote, Frozen Alaska

Since 1790, the United States has every 10 years conducted a census, a count of every person living in this country. The results of the census determine congressional representation and federal spending on things like education, housing and food assistance. However, getting an accurate count is challenging, often because of language barriers, distrust of the government or remoteness of where people live.

In the featured article, Emily Schwing and Mike Baker write about the official start to the 2020 census in Toksook Bay, Alaska, a village on the edge of the frozen Bering Sea. Their reporting illuminates the difficulties and limitations in collecting data in remote areas and shows how that mirrors struggles across the country. In this lesson, you will not only read about the situation in Alaska, but also look at census data in your community and brainstorm for more effective ways to collect that information.

Warm Up

What do you know about the census? Are you aware of the kinds of questions that are asked? Do you know how the census is conducted?
Two frantic 911 calls made months apart reveal the panic of two men who were chained up in the basement of Michigan chemist Mark Latunski, who has since been accused of killing and eating his Grindr date.

Latunski, 50, was arrested last month and charged with murder after police found 25-year-old Kevin Bacon's naked body hanging upside down from the ceiling in his Shiawassee County home.

Latunski told officers that after he stabbed Bacon in the back and slit his throat with a knife.

He then used the murder weapon to cut off the victim's testicles and eat them, police say.

Mark Latunski, 50 (left), who is accused of murdering and partially cannibalizing Kevin Bacon (right) in December, on two prior occasions had men escape his home in terror

In October and November 2019, a 40-year-old man and a 29-year-old man called 911 saying Latunski had chained them up in the basement of his Michigan home (pictured)

Two to three months before the Christmas Eve murder, two different men dialed 911 in terror, saying they had escaped from Latunski's basement.

Multiple local news outlets, including The Flint Journal-Mlive, have obtained the 911 calls through Freedom of Information Act requests.

On October 10, 2019, a 40-year-old man visiting Michigan on business from New York contacted the county emergency dispatch office in a panic, saying he was running away from Latunski's house.

'I want you to know like I've never ever had anything like this happen. I don't know if he drugged me. All is know is I ended up locked up in the f***ing basement, okay? Chained in the basement,' the male said.

The caller explained to the dispatcher that he ran into Latunski at the Flint bus station that night.

'I met this guy. I'm Bi. He's cute. He hit on me. I don't know we went out to the car and talked. We went to the store, had a soda. I woke up in the basement,' he said. 'He seemed like a nice guy.'

The man told the 911 operator that he used a butcher knife he found in the basement to cut a leather strap restraining his ankles, which was connected to a chain, and then fled on foot.

The caller noted that he held onto the knife as he escaped because he feared Latunski was after him, but he promised to drop it upon seeing police.

'I don't trust that he's not walking up because I got lost and I don't know if I'm headed towards his house or not. That's why I'm dialing 911,' he added.

The first caller said he met Latunski at a bus station, drank a soda with him and somehow ended up at his residence, from which he escaped with the help of a butcher knife

The visitor from New York stayed on the phone for 10 minutes, repeatedly and emphatically telling the dispatcher that he did not wish to press charges against Latunski, whose name he did not know, and only wished to go home.

'Just get me the hell out of here so I can go home,' he said near tears.

When troopers finally tracked him down, the relief in the man's voice as heard on the call is almost palpable.

The second caller fled Latunski's (above) home in November wearing only a leather kilt, which apparently belonged to the suspect

'I'm just really happy to see you!' he cries out.

Michigan State Police has confirmed that at around 2.30am that morning, troopers gave the man a ride to a local gas station.

In a confounding twist, the 40-year-old New Yorker called Latunski and returned to his home, where he stayed for two or three days, according to the police. No charges were ever filed in that case.

On November 25, 2019, a 29-year-old man dialed 911 to report that he was running away from Latunski's home.

'I'm trying to get away from some creepy guy,' the caller tells the dispatcher. 'He had me tied in his basement.'

The man said he was not from the area and was lost and fearful that Latuski was coming for him.

'He's after me,' the caller exclaims.

At the dispatcher's suggestion, the man begins knocking on neighbors' doors asking for help.

Homeowner Michael Parks ultimately opened his front door to find the man standing barefoot and wearing only a leather kilt.

Troopers pulled into Parks' driveway the same time as Latunski, who arrived to retrieve the kilt, which was said to be expensive and belonged to him.

Like in the October incident, the 29-year-old man declined to file charges against Latunski, telling police their activity was consensual.

Police said they did not follow up on Latunski because both men declined to pursue charges against him.

Kevin Bacon's body was found inside Latunski's Bennington Township home on December 28, four days after he was last seen alive.

Bacon's roommate, Michelle Myer, told police she last saw him alive on the evening of December 24 as he was leaving their home to meet up with a man he'd met on the mobile dating app, Grindr, before completely vanishing.

The man he was venturing off to meet, it would later be revealed, was Latunksi - and new court documents obtained by Michigan Live reveal the horrifying fate awaiting the 25-year-old hairstylist when he stepped inside the suspect's home.

Michigan State Police received a call for assistance from Clayton Township Police Department to conduct a welfare check for Bacon inside Latunksi's home on December 28, after receiving a tip he may be inside.

Latunski has been charged with open murder and mutilation of a human body for the slaughter of Kevin Bacon (right)

Officers then conducted an interview with the 50-year-old, who agreed to let them carry out a search of the home after reportedly admitting to killing Bacon and eating parts of his body.

Divorce, custody and criminal records also reveal an extensive history of complaints about Latunski's health.

The one-time chemist and father-of-four was known to have stopped taking the medication prescribed to treat his various mental health illnesses, according to records from the 66th District and 35th Circuit courts.

A motion filed by his ex-wife Emily Latunski to suspend visitation rights to his children on August 22 says the suspect had previously been diagnosed with major depression, paranoid schizophrenia and traits of a personality disorder in 2010 and 2012.

Latunski's estranged husband of three years, Jamie Arnold, told MLive he wasn't aware of his ex-partner's mental illnesses until July, when he was arrested for failing to pay child support.

Latunski is being held without bond in the Shiawassee County Jail. Earlier this month, a judge ordered him to undergo a series of mental health evaluations, which could take up to three months.
Australian of the Year finalist Munjed Al Muderis, the celebrated orthopaedic surgeon who arrived as a refugee on a leaking boat after fleeing Sadam Hussein's Iraqi regime, has vowed to use his platform to advocate for greater action on climate change.

Professor Al Muderis, who is a favourite to win the honour along with South Australian eye surgeon Dr James Muecke, called for politicians and ordinary citizens to "work collectively together" to reduce the nation's carbon emissions - including by embracing nuclear energy.

"I'm not an economist, I'm not an environmental scientist - I'm just a human being that senses the danger that we're facing," he told the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

Munjed Al Muderis will use his platform as NSW Australian of the Year to lobby for action on climate change. Credit:Mick Tsikas

"We all need to act together and regard it as our problem."
San Francisco Mayor London Breed has officially switched her 2020 allegiances.

Previously a supporter of Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) before she dropped out late last year, Breed announced Thursday she would endorse former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg for president. "He has the ability to beat Donald Trump this November, and that is of the most concern to me," Breed, who was elected in a ranked-choice vote in 2018, said.

While she "thought long and hard" before making her decision, Breed said Bloomberg's "track record of what he's done as New York City mayor and what he's done afterward has been significant." Breed will start advising Bloomberg on homelessness and housing and climate change, she said, noting Bloomberg has used his wealth to "improve the climate and the quality of life in other communities."

One of the candidates Breed beat out was Jane Kim, who's now a regional director for Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-Vt.) 2020 campaign. Breed was considered more of a moderate in that race, making her the latest addition to Bloomberg's slate of moderate mayoral supporters that includes the leaders of Louisville, Kentucky; Memphis, Tennessee; Philadelphia; and San Jose, California.

Still, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg is dominating the mayoral endorsement market in terms of sheer numbers. He's got some big-city backers in the mayor of Austin, Texas and a former mayor of Houston, but mostly excels in rounding up support from mid-size and smaller cities.

More stories from theweek.com

Trump is reportedly threatening Republicans to keep them in line on impeachment

34 service members suffered traumatic brain injuries in the Iranian strikes. Trump called them 'headaches.'

Eli Manning talks Derek Jeter's Hall of Fame vote, Tom Brady's jealousy in retirement conference


Barney Frank

Fewer individuals have shaped modern banking quite like Barney Frank. The former U.S. Congressman from Massachusetts' 4th district served in the House of Representatives for 32 years, writing legislation that continues to regulate and define the financial industry to this day. He served as the Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee during the financial crisis of 2008-2009 and, along with Senator Chris Dodd, co-sponsored the Dodd-Frank Act, which overhauled financial regulation and established the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Frank is also an outspoken LGBTQ rights advocate, and was the first openly gay member of Congress, as well as the first to marry a same-sex partner while in office. He now serves as a board member of LGBTQ Loyalty, a financial methodology and media company that aims to "quantify corporate alignment with the LGBTQ community and its supporters." The firm's U.S. Loyalty Preference Index will be used as the benchmark for an upcoming ETF from ProcureAM, trading under the ticker LGBT.

ETF.com sat down with Frank ahead of Inside ETFs 2020, where he will appear as a panelist on "The Power of Inclusion & Equality: A New Approach To ETFs."

ETF.com: LGBTQ Loyalty is providing the index for an in-registration ETF that would track companies based on their commitment to advancing equality for the LGBTQ community. But we've had ETFs that track this theme before, and they've all closed. Why is this time different?

Barney Frank: I first filed legislation to deal with equality for gay people almost 50 years ago, in 1972. I've spent most of the past 50 years on the defense, trying to win rights, trying to fight discrimination.

Only in the past few years, after the Supreme Court decision in 2013 [which struck down parts of the Defense of Marriage Act], have we been able to get off the defensive and start working to ensure that we have a right to participate; that it's not simply about preventing us from being discriminated against, but something more affirmative.

Story continues

So I think this is the right time. I think there are now a critical mass of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people who have reached a point where we don't have to worry as much about our rightsthough you can't forget that problem, potentiallybut we are now able to take advantage of opportunities and be proactive. This is the right time now.

ETF.com: Plus, I think it's never been more acceptable, even popular, to be an ally to and support marginalized communities, right? People want to help.

Frank: Right. The prejudice is greatly outweighed by a sense that this is a group that has been greatly mistreated, and we have to show people that we're fair.

ETF.com: Dodd-Frank is a landmark piece of legislation that was rolled back in some significant ways by this administration. Years on, what do you see as the lasting legacy of Dodd-Frank?

Frank: I would disagree with one thing: It has not been significantly rolled back. In fact, one bill that passed, some of it we agreed with, Senator Dodd and I.

For the largest banks, nothing has changed. There was some conversation about change going forward, but essentially, it's in place. In fact, I was struck that at the signing of the China trade agreement, Donald Trump was talking about how well JPMorgan Chase is doing. For a while, he was saying that we were hurting JPMorgan Chase, right? But nothing has changed in the law about JPMorgan Chase. And in fact, despite [the law], they've been doing very well.

So I think this has proven that [Dodd-Frank] has made the financial world safer. Again, for the biggest banks in particular, and for most banks, there has been no significant weakening. There has been a relaxation for the smallest banks, which we were in favor of, and some relaxation for medium-sized banks. But most of the regulation is still in place.

ETF.com: What do you see as left to be done?

Frank: More than I would like, there's still securities lending going on, where people kind of dodge the responsibility. I would like to impose a strict requirement on every loan made that somebody who is in the decision-making position with regard to that loan has some responsibility if it doesn't pay off. It's a retention of loss. We went pretty far with that, but we didn't get as far as we wanted.

ETF.com: What are your thoughts on the 2020 election?

Frank: I haven't picked a candidate yet. I'm going to be the chairman of the Rules Committee at the Democratic National Convention, so I have to stay neutral. But I'm optimistic for the Democrats. I can't see many people who didn't vote for Trump last time voting for him this time.

I do think that all of the [Democratic] candidates' proposals are popular, but that some of the candidates who identify as further left are underestimating the public's unhappiness with government in general.

In other words, the proposals are popular, but when you add them all up and you get a big expansion of government, people start to balk. So I like the approach of Sen. Biden, Mayor Buttigieg and Sen. Klobuchar, who emphasize the specifics and say, We're going to see how well these [proposals] work, and if these work, we'll go beyond them."

ETF.com: How do you see the congressional races shaping up?

Frank: I think Democrats will hold most of the gains from the last time. I think they may be a little overextended; there were some seats that were tough. So there might be some slight slippage. But I think the Democrats will retain a comfortable majority in the House.

In the Senate, I think we have about a 50% chance of takeover.

ETF.com: A lot of hay has been made about the Obama-Trump voter. Is there any potential to move them back to the Democratic side in 2020?

Frank: Some of them, yes. Some of them will stay there. One of the things we have to do is a better job of emphasizing fairness. Mainstream liberals have overemphasized growth as the answer, without worrying about how distribution of that growth affects people. So I think we have to be more explicit: Growth alone does not make people better off if it is unfairly distributed.

So I think some of those voters will stay there, but others will move back. Trump has not in fact been able to deliver much for them. As I said, I don't see many people who didn't vote for him last time voting for him this time; and I think I see a lot of people moving away.

ETF.com: If you could tell anything to the current crop of presidential candidates about the financial industry, what would it be?

Frank: I would stress to them that what we have done has worked well. Forget the rhetoric and look at the results, and there's zero showing that anything we've done in that bill has restricted [banks] from doing their job or has hurt the economy. We got this one right, by and large.

ETF.com: Are there any market risks you think are being overlooked right now?

Frank: Two things. First, one loss I suffered in the process was when the automobile dealers lobbied successfully to get themselves exempted from the jurisdiction of the Consumer Bureau. One area in America where there are problems of people being over-indebted is in automobiles. Now, if there are failures, that's not going to have the same consequences as housing, but I do regret that they were exempted.

Secondly, people are finding ways to securitize and sell packages of obligations without having responsibility if they fail. As I said before, I'd like to impose a universal rule that if you were involved in making loans, you have to retain some of the potential loss if and when they're sold.

Contact Lara Crigger at lcrigger@etf.com

Recommended Stories





Permalink |  Copyright 2020 ETF.com. All rights reserved
Manitoba's chief provincial public health officer says he's confident the province is prepared to deal with any suspected cases of the new coronavirus.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/1/2020 (719 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba's chief provincial public health officer says he's confident the province is prepared to deal with any suspected cases of the new coronavirus.

Dr. Brent Roussin told a news briefing Thursday the health threat to Manitobans remains low.

A provincewide preparedness plan is in place, he said, and health providers have been asked to keep an eye out for patients suffering from fever and acute respiratory illness who have travelled to Wuhan, China, within the past two weeks.

"We are prepared for a suspected case and have contingencies in place to deal with it," he said.

Should a suspected case be identified, the patient would be placed in a separate room and those caring for him or her would don eye shields and masks.

There are protocols for identifying anyone who has come in close contact with any patient suspected of being infected by the virus.

"The big goal is to reduce and eliminate any secondary spread of this virus, should a case be detected," Roussin said.

The National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg would confirm whether someone tested here for the virus was indeed infected.

Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Roussin said he is in "at least daily contact" with public health officials in Ottawa about the coronavirus, and regularly discusses preparation plans with counterparts in other provinces.

The province also monitors information coming from the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

Roussin said not a lot is yet known about how deadly the new virus is and how quickly it may spread.

"We know that there's been evidence of person-to-person transmission. We're not sure on how efficient that is right now," he said.

He said officials are not seeing an "efficient person-to-person transmission" of the virus so far, which is why the health risk here is still considered to be fairly low.

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca
YEREVAN.  While conducting a search at the home of president Hrayr Tovmasyan of the Constitutional Court (CC) of Armenia, his attorneys petitioned for the search to be videotaped, which the Special Investigation Service (SIS) investigator verbally denied, but, at his preference, violating the privacy of Tovmasyans personal life, took photographs in the apartment. Mihran Poghosyan, one of Tovmasyan's legal defenders, told this to reporters today.

"It is obvious what is happening to Mr. Tovmasyan in the context of this criminal case," he said. "It was so obvious when it came to political persecution and the use of various repressive methods."

Poghosyan said the investigator made violations while conducting a search in Tovmasyan's apartment.

"In particular, the search [court] order, not yet gotten familiarized by me and Mr. Tovmasyan, is the investigator's primary duty," he said. "The investigator did not submit these documents, and began his illegal activities."

Referring to the SIS press release that Tovmasyan's legal defenders had been given an opportunity to get familiarized with the aforesaid court order, Poghosyan said: "In the case of official statements, it would have been good if the SIS had specifically granted our motion to videotape, and then the reality would have been obvious that the investigator has not informed Tovmasyan of the [court] order."

Asked whether the legal defense team will manage to appeal the court's order, Mihran Poghosyan said: "We will make an appeal after having a copy of the order."

As reported earlier, SIS investigators have been conducting a search in Hrayr Tovmasyan's apartment since early this morning.

Hrayr Tovmasyan, President of the Constitutional Court of Armenia, has been charged with abuse of power. The decision to involve him as a defendant in the respective criminal case was made by the Prosecutor General on December 26, 2019, the same day that President Armen Sarkissian signed the law granting the serving Constitutional Court judges the opportunity to retire early.

Armenia SIS: CC president's legal defense team was given opportunity to get acquainted with court order
Ex-Altai judge imprisoned for 7 yeas for mediation in bribery

 RAPSI, Eugeny Varlamov

15:40 24/01/2020

MOSCOW, January 24 (RAPSI)  A former judge of the Commercial Court of Altai Krai has been found guilty of receiving 700,000 rubles for mediation in bribery and sentenced to 7 years in prison, the press service of Russias Investigative Committee reports.

Additionally, the defendant has been fined 30 million rubles.

According to case papers, in 2017 then judge was in charge of a tax refund case. In May 2017, a defendants lawyer proposed the judge to act as a mediator in the bribery for the monetary reward.

During the investigation, mediators and a receiver of the bribe pleaded guilty.

The lawyer received a 4-year suspended sentence and a 75-million-ruble fine in August 2019.




Armenia's Special Investigative Service is searching the apartment of head of the Constitutional Court Hrayr Tovmasyan, spokesperson of the Special Investigation Service Marina Ohanjanyan confirmed.

Earlier, one of Tovmasyans lawyers Amram Makinyan wrote on Facebook that the team of Tovmasyan's lawyers will release a statement upon completion of the search, News,am reported.

In October 2019, the Special Investigative Service has opened a criminal case based on MP Arman Babajanyan's motion filed to the prosecutor general. In his motion Babajanyan reported about the abuses committed by Tovmasyan when he was justice minister.
China spent the crucial first days of the new coronavirus outbreak arresting people who talked about it online and harassing journalists trying to cover the story.

While Chinese officials were quick to inform world health authorities about the new disease, they appear to have tried to repress the news at home.

That could have allowed the disease to spread quickly through cities such as Wuhan, now thought to be the epicentre of the virus, because citizens were largely unaware it existed and took no precautions against it.

The move also has chilling echoes of the 2003 SARS outbreak, which China initially tried to cover up and ended with the deaths of almost 800 people.

China spent the first crucial days of the coronavirus outbreak arresting people spreading news of the infection online and detaining journalists trying to report on it (file image)

While Chinese authorities were quick to let the World Health Organisation known about the outbreak, police made sure the news went largely unreported in the country (file)

Wuhan, a city of 11million, has been placed on total lockdown in recent days along with seven other cities in an attempt to stop the deadly infection spreading.

The vast majority of the 850 confirmed cases have been confined to China, while all of the 26 reported deaths have occurred there - largely among older patients with pre-existing condition.

It is thought the first patients became infected with coronavirus in Wuhan in mid-December, all of whom had links to a seafood market in the city.

Chinese officials then reported the infection, identified at the time as an known kind of pneumonia, to the World Health Organization on December 31.

A domestic investigation was launched on January 3, with authorities saying they had ruled out flu, avian flu and another common respiratory illnesses as a cause.

Police at the time said they had arrested and punished eight people 'publishing or forwarding false information on the internet without verification.'

In Wuhan, the city at the centre of the outbreak, the virus did not make front page news until this week and mentions of its link to SARS were repressed

China's approach changed dramatically this week when Xi Jingping announced that anyone hiding cases would be punished, leading to a huge rise in reported infections

Those people are thought to have linked the new outbreak to SARS - the disease which infected 8,000 people and killed 774 people and which the Chinese government initially tried to cover up.

Coronavirus is directly related to SARS, and the government had not ruled it out as a possibility when the eight were arrested. It is not clear how they were punished.

Even as the infection spread and began to garner international media attention, Wuhan's biggest commercial paper didn't feature the story on its front page at all until this week.

Meanwhile journalists trying to cover the story, including those from Hong Kong station TVB, said they were detained by police at a hospital in Wuhan.

A reporter for TVB said they were detained at Jinyintan Hospital, where most of the sick were being treated, on January 14 and told to hand over all of their footage and photographs so they could be destroyed.

Journalists also said they were told to stick to reporting government statement on the virus, and not to independently follow up leads on new infections.

The early delay in reporting could have allowed the disease to spread further and faster than it otherwise would have, because people were not taking precautions against it

It was not until outlets in Hong Kong reported this weekend that the virus had spread to Chinese cities outside Wuhan that cases started being reported, according to the New York Times.

That meant people had already begun travelling for the Lunar New Year, unaware they could be carrying the disease or putting others at risk, potentially allowing it to spread further and faster than it otherwise would have.

All of that changed on Monday with an announcement from leader Xi Jingping who said that anyone caught hiding a case of coronavirus 'will be nailed on a pillar of shame for eternity'.

Since then the number of confirmed cases has risen to 850 while 26 deaths have been reported.

Isolated cases have been confirmed in Vietnam, South Korean, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau and Japan - largely after people returned to those countries from China.

At least 26 people - all of them in China - have died from the illness while 850 have been infected, including isolated cases in multiple other countries

One case has also been confirmed in the US, while multiple people are being tested for the disease in the UK.

The World Health Organisation has refused to declare coronavirus a global health emergency at this stage, saying it is 'too soon' to increase the threat level.

But authorities have said the spread of the virus is an emergency in China, and should be very concerning to other nations.

According to the Centers for Disease of Control and Prevention, signs may appear as quickly as two days or as far as 14 days after exposure.

The agency says this is based on what was seen in the incubation period for Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), a cousin of the new virus that originated in Saudi Arabia in 2012.

There is no cure for the new virus or vaccine to prevent it, and the National Institutes of Health says research to develop a vaccine is in 'very preliminary stages.'
In the aftermath of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision to quit their position as senior royals of the British royal family, the next question begs to be asked: what is next for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex?

For starters, the royal couple has agreed not to use their HRH titles for financial gain. After all, it is ultimately their sole decision to be financially independent.

The Duke and Duchess are also deemed to pay back the taxpayers' funding used for the refurbishments of their Windsor home, Frogmore Cottage. They are, however, allowed to keep their royal home in Windsor.

Prince Harry and Meghan are expected to go back to and fro from the U.K. to Canada where they are hoping to base their office. The royal couple will also continue to support patronages they have begun, which includes The Queen's Commonwealth Trust and WellChild.

Harry Needs to Depend On Dad's Finances

For at least their first year since stepping back as senior royals, Prince Charles is expected to continue to provide funding for his son along with his new family. Prince Charles is expected to use the Duchy of Cornwall as private funding or dip into his personal investments to support his son.

Furthermore, Meg and Harry's request to step down as senior royals is a lengthy process that needs to be addressed formally. However, critics like Piers Morgan is adamant that the Sussexes be stripped of their HRH titles without the formal works.

Sussexes to Follow in Obamas' Footsteps?

Meghan is known to be friends with the former first lady of the United States, Michelle Obama. Since stepping down from their Washington D.C. office, the Obamas have made a fortune in autobiographies, signing a deal with Netflix, and setting up their own production company.

Reports reveal that the Sussexes are following suit by building up their own film and television production company. The 'Sussex Royals' brand is said to be retained to widen the reach of the startup company.

The royal couple is reportedly set to begin producing documentaries and voiceovers in the near future. The topics they hope to bring to light are said to be the very advocacies they have been championing during their time as senior royals -- climate change and mental health issues.

Any Success Will Be Short-Term

However, skeptics believe that the Sussex Royals will not be able to maintain their financial independence for long. Speaking to The Guardian, Stephen Bates, the author of "Royalty Inc: Britain's Best-Known Brand" predicts that Meg and Harry will only be able to use the brand Sussex to reap a short-lived success.

Bates unveiled that the Sussexes' celebrity status will only carry them so far. Furthermore, he sees Prince Harry as being the "bloke who used to be in the Royal Family" and nothing more. Even Meg's celebrity status is said to be unsustainable, according to the royal expert before adding that it was "very foolish of them."

Meanwhile, Prince Harry already collaborated with U.S. host Oprah Winfrey to start an Apple TV series on mental health. Meghan also signed a voiceover deal with Disney.

Furthermore, Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos also revealed that the streaming giant has plans of working with Harry and Meghan.

As for Bates, the royal expert unveiled that the Sussexes will struggle after a year of two. He points out to Prince Andrew's downfall after stepping down from his royal position, saying that the Duke of York had lost his purpose in life.

Bates added that what happened with the Duke should have been an awful warning to Harry and Meghan.

READ MORE: Prince Andrew A Huge Disappointment To Royal Family
WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA and its partners on an upcoming mission to extend long-term observations of global sea level change will announce the renaming of the mission, currently known as Sentinel-6A/Jason-CS, at a ceremony at 9 a.m. EST Tuesday, Jan. 28.

The ceremony will take place in the James Webb Auditorium at NASA Headquarters, 300 E. St., SW, in Washington and will air live on NASA Television and the agency's website.

NASA is jointly developing the mission with its partners at ESA (European Space Agency), the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), with support from the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France's space agency. Sentinel-6 is part of Copernicus, the European Union's Earth observation program managed by the European Commission. The satellite is scheduled for launch in November from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

Ceremony participants include:

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine

Thomas Zurbuchen , NASA associate administrator for Science

, NASA associate administrator for Science Josef Aschbacher , ESA director of Earth Observation Programmes

, ESA director of Earth Observation Programmes Stephen Volz , NOAA assistant administrator for Satellite and Information Services

, NOAA assistant administrator for Satellite and Information Services Alain Ratier , EUMETSAT director-general

, EUMETSAT director-general Mercedes Garcia Perez, head of Global Issues and Innovation of the European Union delegation to the United States

Mike Freilich , former director of NASA's Earth Science Division

The ceremony will be followed by a 15-minute opportunity for media interviews with the participants. Reporters planning on attending should contact Grey Hautaluoma at [email protected] no later than 5 p.m. EST Monday, Jan. 27.

For more information about NASA's Earth science program, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/earth

SOURCE NASA

Related Links

http://www.nasa.gov


Job Title: Customer Service Advisor (Several

No Experience Customer Service Jobs)

Organization: Absa Group Limited (formerly

Barclays Bank UK)

Duty Station: Acacia Mall Branch, Kampala,

Uganda

About US:

Absa Group Limited (formerly Barclays Bank UK) is a

diversified standalone African financial services group, delivering an

integrated set of products and services across personal and business banking,

corporate and investment banking, wealth, investment management and insurance.

Absa Group Limited is listed on the JSE and is one of Africas largest

diversified financial services groups with a presence in 12 countries across

the continent and around 41 000 employees.

We own majority stakes in banks in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya,

Mauritius, Mozambique, the Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania (Barclays Bank in

Tanzania and National Bank of Commerce), Uganda and Zambia. We also have

representative offices in Namibia and Nigeria, as well as insurance operations

in Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.

Job Summary: The Customer Service Advisor will provide

support to the ABSA Bank Acacia Mall Branch.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:



Execute cash & related transactions:

Throughout each day, balance, control and manage the cash float by checking the

amount of cash at the teller station and requesting the restocking or

repatriation of cash when prescribed cash limits are reached



Dispense and receive physical cash, cheques,

travellers cheques, drafts and other financial instruments over the counter to

walk in customers



Process and encash cheques presented by

customers for deposit or pay-out after checking identification, account details

and other prescribed controls. Be vigilant for fraudulent or suspicious

activities and report all concerns to the team leader or branch manager before

processing the transaction or dispensing the cash



Adherence to policies especially when handling

with cheques, notes, IDs, etc, under the



2



ID Buddy to prevent fraud.



Refer any transactions in excess of teller

mandate limits to a mandated official and / or line manager for authorisation



Capture all transactions on the Bank system and

ensure that all transactions are properly authorised before finalising the

processing



Carefully count all cash received or dispensed

to ensure that errors are avoided by making use of the applicable cash counting

equipment in your branch



Reconcile own cash at the beginning and end of

each day as well as when cash is restocked during the day. Prepare

reconciliation reports for audit and management review purposes Ensure that

journals are processed to recover charges for manual transactions processed for

customers



Ensure adherence to the SARB minimum

requirements | Customer Service: Provide advice to customers on the cash and

other transactions processes to ensure the smooth flow of transactions



Exhaust all attempts to resolve customer enquiries

before escalating to other departments or the line manager



Provide Regular feedback to customers on the

progress of their enquiries



Explain the Banks procedures, security

requirements (such as ID requirements when transacting) as well as service

offerings available to customers



Rep0rt customer complaints on the Banks

Customer Care process (CCP) to facilitate feedback to improve service to

customers



Guide customers on how to correctly complete

transaction documentation such as deposits, withdrawals, cheque requisition

slips to ensure accuracy and completeness of these documents



Ensure accuracy and efficiency when engaging

with the customer. Ensure friendly, focussed customer interaction at all times



Portray a professional image and ensure that

personal appearance conforms to Absa Corporate Image standards



Ensure adherence to the Corporate Wear policy



Maintain a neat and tidy workstation at all

times



Pro-actively arrange your workspace to ensure

sufficient stationary is in place prior to the branch opening.



Regularly read the pricing documents relating to

Teller transactions to assist clients with better solutions for their

transactions and also benefit at the end of the day



Adhere to the policy and procedure on the

issuing of pins and statements in order to solution the customer at point of

contact.



Ensure migration of clients with CW transactions

less than R4000 and CD of less than R8000 to Digital & Self-help channels

and provide the necessary assistance.



Maintain speed and agility at all times when

assisting clients in order to minimise shortages and surpluses.



Market products by giving out booklets or

pamphlets to customers drawing large amounts of money and educate them of

alternative ways on transacting.



Educate customers on the use of the Internet

Kiosk. | Identifying sales leads: Identify and action sales leads (teller

prompts) and cross selling opportunities



Explain the campaign details, during sales

campaigns in brief and direct to clients to Sales Consultants for further

information Effectively use of sales tools (e.g. teller prompts) in order to

ensure the provision of leads to contribute to Branch Sales



Take responsibility of own sales targets and

assist daily by providing client solutioning according to their product needs



Capture all other leads on SMD once agreed by

client



Follow up all leads with Sales Consultants on

SMD to make sure clients are contacted | Compliance and Risk Management: Open

& close the branch safe according to the Banks procedures, including

physically securing the safe according to required procedures



Conduct cash counts and visual checks as

assigned by the line manager from time to time



Ensure that all transaction records are kept and

/ or mailed in accordance with Bank procedures



Keep transactions records available for control

purposes



Before processing transactions, verify that all

information is accurate and complete in accordance with the Banks procedure.

Refer any concerns to the line manager for follow up and decision making on

whether to proceed



Follow cash management procedures and limits as

prescribed



Familiarise with content of all communication,

i.e. circulars, bulletins, risk day agendas and alerts, etc.



Adhere to prescribed control measures to prevent

fraud, losses and shortages



Report suspicious transactions as per Money

Laundering control frameworks



Complete and maintain applicable registers

(Teller and Key registers)



Adhere to safety and security procedures and

follow prescribed instructions in event of robbery



Cubicles, teller drawers and workstations to be

kept locked when leaving workstation



Follow off-line procedures and comply with all

regulatory and compliance requirements



Manage security items i.e. Cash, Teller stamps,

Safe keys, combinations and FBSS cards in line with policies and procedures



Up skill your knowledge regularly with policies

and procedures regarding your daily teller duties, cheques, Fraud, Foreign

Exchange, this will help you also to prevent fraud



Ensure up-skilling on fault reporting and

testing processes & procedures of Equipment used at teller environment i.e.

note & coin counters, TCR Machines, etc. Adhere to end of day procedures

(ABSA 3368)



Adhere to Branch Paper mandate when processing

and / or authorising transactions, ensure processing within correct limits

& mandates

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:



The ideal applicant for the Absa Group Limited Customer

Service Advisor should hold relevant qualifications



Banking Knowledge (Meets some of the

requirements and would need further development), Business Improvement

Orientation (Meets all of the requirements)



Customer Excellence  Service Delivery (Meets

all of the requirements)



Enabling team success (Meets all of the

requirements)



Experience in a similar environment



Further Education and Training Certificate

(FETC)  Business, Commerce and Management Studies



Openness to change (Meets some of the

requirements and would need further development)

How to Apply:

All suitably qualified and interested candidates who wish to

join ABSA Group in the aforementioned capacity should apply online at the link

below.

Click

Here

For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or

find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline
Subscriber content preview

MADRID (AP)  Authorities in Spain's tourist-magnet Balearic Islands are clamping down on binge-drinking tourism in three hot spots, introducing what they claim is the first law of its kind in Europe.

The islands' regional government based in Palma de Mallorca on Friday passed a law prohibiting the organization and promotion of pub crawls and publicity promoting of alcohol sales by means of open bars and happy hours.





. . .
BJP MLA Bihari Lal Nokha on Friday arrived at Rajasthan Assembly with a basket of locusts, apparently to draw the state government's attention to the growing menace after its attack was reported from parts of Rajasthan.

Nokha insisted that the government must compensate the farmers whose crops have been destroyed by the locust.

"Farmers in the state have faced huge losses due to locust menace and the government should pay them compensation. Over seven lakh hectares of crops have been damaged," the MLA said.

Nokha also said that he will speak to the government officials regarding the issue.

"We demand the state government to not waste time and help the farmers. They have been affected due to locusts that have emanated from the desert area in Pakistan. I have come here to speak to the government and work out some relief measures," he added.

Earlier this month, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot met the farmers of Barmer whose crops have been destroyed in locust attack, the worst in about two decades.

Agriculture Secretary K.S. Pannu has advised farmers not to panic as the officials of the department are in constant touch with agriculture experts of Rajasthan and the Government of India, who are monitoring the situation.

Locust, known as 'Tiddi Dal' in north India, is a type of grasshoppers that usually move in large numbers and devour the crops wherever they settle. Locust attacks are being reported for the past several days in parts of Rajasthan bordering Pakistan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Six people were killed and two seriously wounded in a shooting in southwestern Germany, police said on Friday.

The shooter, believed to have a personal motive, launched an assault in the town of Rot am See.

Police in nearby Aalen told AFP a man with a personal connection to the victims had been arrested and there was no indication that other gunmen were involved.

The police told local TV that the suspect was a German.

After the shooting at around 12:45 (1145 GMT), police arrived on the scene to find the dead and wounded in and around a local hotel.

The Bild newspaper reported that the people killed were family members of the shooter, adding that the perpetrator was a man born in 1983.

Police were unable to confirm details of the relationships or the identity of the shooter.

The shooting took place near the train station at Rot am See, a town of 5,200 residents near Heidelberg.

Aalen police urged people to "refrain from speculation" about the shootings in a message on Twitter.

Police and prosecutors said they would provide more details about the attack in a press conference in Rot am See later on Friday.

While owning firearms is not illegal in Germany, most guns can be acquired only with a licence and they are closely monitored, making mass shootings comparatively rare.

In October last year, a far-right attacker shot two people dead in eastern city Halle and wounded several more after failing to break into a packed synagogue armed with home-made weapons.

In July 2016, a teenager used a pistol bought illegally online to kill nine people in a Munich shopping centre before turning the weapon on himself.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Netflix numbers on the global market are looking up but industry analysts believe that growth will be slowing for the company in 2020. Thats according to industry analyst Paolo Pescatore of PP Foresight and others in the market cited in recent reports. Not only is the company facing growing competition. Netflixs heavy spending could also be a sticking point for the company in the future.

According to Paolo Pescatore, while Netflix is hitting some of its expectations, it is also falling short. Notably, the company missed its figures for the second and third quarter of 2019. The media streaming giant has a huge headstart in the industry but is bleeding money, the analyst indicates.

That mostly comes down to spending that the company is going to have a hard time recouping. It will either need to add customers or raise prices. Thats something consumers should prepare for in any case, the analyst continues, because the third option is to take on more debt. If Netflix does that, its going to need to raise prices anyway to pay that back.

Advertisement

Netflix by the numbers isnt looking too bad but growth is expected to slow

Looking purely at the numbers, Netflix is actually not looking too poorly. In the three months leading to December 31 of last year, it managed to add 8.76 million paid global subscribers. It also finished off the year with more than 167 million paying customers around the globe.

The latter figure there is actually ahead of expectations for the year. Its net income and total revenue both grew too. Respectively, income was up to $587 million from $134 million the prior year. Year-over-year growth in revenue took the company from $4.2 billion to $5.5 billion.

But for the next year, Netflix is only expecting to add 7 million subscribers worldwide in the first quarter. Thats down 1.76 million over the previous quarter. Its US business, amid a growing competitive field, also fell 420,000 subscribers below expectations.

Advertisement

Its similar drops in the US, shortcomings, and growth in competition worldwide that industry analysts point to as a reason to be concerned about growth slowing for Netflix in 2020.

Competition in the future will continue heating up

Mr. Pescatore is backed in his second line of reasoning by MediaCom UK COO Luke Bozeat. Both Mr. Pescatore and Mr. Bozeat indicate that Netflix leads the pack thus far by setting a high bar to be cleared by emerging competitors. Moreover, it has set a cord-cutting industry standard that does give it an edge.

However, it is no longer only established players like Amazon Prime, Skys NOW TV, and others that the company needs to compete with. In the US, where Netflixs figures fell, that decline coincided with the launch of Disney+. That competitor will continue launching in further markets going forward and there are other competitors emerging as well. That includes services such as BritBox, Apple TV+, and Peacock.

Advertisement

For now, Netflix has some leeway to fight slowing growth in 2020 via its overseas operations.

Namely, thats the EMEA region but with competition growing steadily in those regions in the future, theres no guarantee that will be enough. As competitive practices pick up and customers are given more options for streaming apps and services, the trend for Netflix seems likely to continue.
When John Stumpf (previously) was CEO of Wells Fargo, he oversaw a string of scandals including literally millions of acts of bank fraud, and still managed to walk out of the business with millions in bonuses and no criminal prosecutions.

He remains a multi-multi-multi-millionaire, but will have to surrender $17.5m in fines for his role in the scandals and is barred for life from working in banking. Many of his accomplices from Wells Fargos C-suite are facing their own fines and restrictions on future involvement in the industry.

Much of the activity occurred because employees faced "unreasonable pressure" to achieve sales goals, leading to widespread instances of unethical and illegal behavior, the OCC alleged Thursday in legal documents. Stumpf, the agency said, "was frequently informed by leaders" of the companys Community Bank division of the behavior but was told it was isolated and not systemic. He notably did not hold the head of the Community Bank division, Carrie Tolstedt, accountable and failed to take other actions "to prevent the Bank from recklessly engaging in unsafe or unsound practices," the OCC alleged. Stumpf earlier already agreed to relinquish about $70 million in compensation, including stock awards, because of the scandal.

Ex-Wells Fargo CEO banned from banking, must pay $17.5M fine for role in fake-accounts scandal [Nathan Bomey/USA Today]
Natural Gas (NG) Breaking Weekly Chart Downchannel Resistance Tradable Patterns - Wed Jan 12, 3:09AM CST Natural Gas (NGG22) is gaining for a 2nd straight day, extending the upchannel (on the 4hr chart). Significantly, NG has halted its slide since October by breaking above downchannel resistance (on the... NGG22 : 4.472 (+5.25%) UGAZF : 6.1950 (+5.00%)

Kazakhstan detains nearly 1,700 more after violent unrest AP - Wed Jan 12, 2:40AM CST MOSCOW (AP)  Kazakh authorities said Wednesday they detained 1,678 more people in the past 24 hours over their alleged participation in the violent unrest that rocked the former Soviet nation last week,... $SPX : 4,713.07 (+0.92%) $DOWI : 36,252.02 (+0.51%) $IUXX : 15,844.12 (+1.47%)
A family have been left fearing for their safety after a British takeaway owner was shot dead in Pakistan.

Jahangir Hussain, 29, from Blackburn, Lancashire, was fatally shot as he left his mother's home in the city of Jhelum on January 9.

It is understood his mother was also shot in the head in the brutal attack, although she is expected to recover from her injuries.

The attack was reportedly over a dispute about property.

Jahangir Hussain (pictured), 29, from Blackburn, Lancashire, was fatally shot as he left his mother's home in the city of Jhelum on January 9

Aftermath of the murder which took place as Mr Hussain was leaving his mother's home in the city of Jhelum

Mr Hussain was shot in the city of Jhelum, in Punjab province, Pakistan

The 29-year-old victim was educated at Pleckgate High School in Blackburn, Lancashire.

He ran the Zorba Pizza and Balti takeaway with his brother in Rossendale but had been living in Pakistan for the past two years to help look after his mother Tasneen.

He made money by buying and selling cars in Pakistan.

He was the youngest of four siblings and had been due to get married next year. His family hold British citizenship.

Pakistan police have arrested four people in connection to the incident, according to a report from the BBC, including a man, 60, a youth, a man and a woman. They are due to appear at Jhelum District Court.

Worried sister Nazia Kausar, 42, has been left caring for her mother alongside her brother and sisters in Jhelum and fears they are 'sitting ducks'.

The 29-year-old victim (pictured) ran the Zorba Pizza and Balti takeaway with his brother in Rossendale

Pakistan police have arrested four people in connection to the incident

They have been provided with protection from the Pakistan police but Ms Kausar, who works as an IT specialist, believes it is insufficient.

She told the Lancashire Telegraph: 'We are really concerned about our safety.

'We have been given a security man outside our home but what happens if we have to go out?'

She added: 'We need help from the British Embassy as we are British citizens with British passports and we are not being protected.'

Mr Hussain often visited Pakistan to see his family, who hold British citizenship

Ms Kausar had previously spoken of her grief at her brother's murder. She told the BBC: 'We were planning his wedding next year. Everyone loved him.

'We need justice, he was so young and beautiful.'

According Ms Kauser, people had been calling the family from England, Pakistan and around their world to offer their condolences at his death.

Commenting on the case, Blackburn MP Kate Hollern said: 'I continue to make representations both to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Home Office.'

'Foreign Office staff are in regular contact with the Pakistani authorities. This is a very sad case and the family's fears for safety are understandable. I am hopeful that those responsible for this terrible murder will soon be brought to justice.'
Previously, Maruti was seen testing the regular Solio on Indian roads. Now it is the more sportier variant that has been spied.

The interesting looking Suzuki Solio Bandit compact car has been spotted doing rounds in India without any camouflage (only the badges were blacked out). The flashier Solio Bandit, just like the regular Solio, is designed and developed to meet the famous Japanese Kei car regulations.

The presence of Japan-spec Suzuki Solio Bandit on our soil doesnt necessarily mean that Maruti is going to launch a Indianized version of it. It is more likely that the automaker is testing a hybrid powertrain for compact cars before its official launch sometime later this year.

In Japan, the Solio Bandit is available with a unique parallel hybrid system consisting of a 1.2-liter petrol engine and a Motor Generator Unit  a compact driving motor which can also generate electricity. The setup is supported by an AGS transmission and a 100V lithium-ion battery.

Electricity is generated by the MGU when the vehicle is being driven and is stored in the battery pack. Once there is sufficient charge, the car can switch to pure EV mode during constant speed operation (below 60 kmph). The system is rated to deliver an impressive fuel economy of 32 kmpl as per the Japanese standards. In addition to pure EV driving, the MGU can also assist the IC engine when hard acceleration is demanded.

We think that this prototype is testing this whole hybrid system or a part of it (like the compact electric motor and battery pack) under Indian driving and environmental conditions. Whatever it is testing will eventually find its way into the future versions of Maruti Suzukis mainstream compact vehicles such as Celerio, Swift, Wagon R, etc.

Before coming up with a full-fledged hybrid solution for India, Maruti Suzuki will showcase at this Auto Expo an improved version of its existing SHVS mild-hybrid system in 48V configuration instead of the existing 12V system available in Ciaz, Ertiga and S-Cross. The new improved system is said to offer an impressive additional torque of 235 Nm and an improved fuel economy of 15%.

We expect to know more about Maruti Suzukis powertrain plans for the next decade at the Auto Expo which is scheduled to commence on February 5.

Source
Drink | Photo: Will H./Yelp

In search of a new favorite New American spot?

Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the best high-end New American restaurants around Boston, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of where to meet your needs.

1. Eastern Standard Kitchen & Drinks

Photo: su y./Yelp

Topping the list is Eastern Standard Kitchen & Drinks. Located at 528 Commonwealth Ave. in Kenmore, the lounge, New American, breakfast and brunch spot is the most popular high-end New American restaurant in Boston, boasting four stars out of 1,884 reviews on Yelp.

In terms of signature items, "Located in the heart of Boston's Kenmore Square, Eastern Standard Kitchen & Drinks is a true neighborhood brasserie with a classically inspired menu, driven by seasonal ingredients," it notes on Yelp in the section highlighting specialties. "E.S. is well known for its award-winning craft cocktail program led by renowned mixologist Jackson Cannon."

2. Drink

Photo: luke p./Yelp

Next up is South Boston's Drink, situated at 348 Congress St. With four stars out of 1,555 reviews on Yelp, the lounge and New American spot, serving burgers and more, has proven to be a local favorite for those looking to indulge.

Yelper Maria V., who reviewed Drink on Jan. 6, wrote, "The burger was amazing, very flavorful and filling - custom drinks at a fair price. You and your friend will not get the same drink and there's something amazing about that!"

Yelper Alexa H. wrote, "This is a really fun place to go if you're looking for something a little more low-key and sophisticated. The bartenders are incredibly talented."

3. Row 34

Photo: mandy n./Yelp

South Boston's Row 34, located at 383 Congress St. (between Thomson Place), is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the fancy bar and New American spot, which offers seafood and more, four stars out of 1,459 reviews.

If you're looking for more, we found these details about Row 34.

"From the team behind Island Creek Oyster Bar, Skip Bennett, Jeremy Sewall, Garrett Harker and Shore Gregory, has collaborated once again to open Row 34 in Boston's Fort Point neighborhood," it writes on Yelp in the section highlighting specialties. "Located at 383 Congress Street, Row 34 is a workingman's oyster bar: an approachable and convivial neighborhood-focused restaurant and bar that will continue the team's mission of celebrating New England's rich seafood traditions and the farmers, fishermen and lobstermen who inspire them."

Story continues

4. Yvonne's

Photo: john b./Yelp

Yvonne's, a lounge and New American spot in Downtown Crossing, is another pricey go-to, with four stars out of 950 Yelp reviews. Head over to 2 Winter Place (between Summer Street and Jackson Place) to see for yourself.

Yelper Varun D., who reviewed Yvonne's on Jan. 5, wrote, "Speakeasy, cozy bar, good music and ambiance, you'll get to experience all these characteristics at Yvonne's."

Yelper Zoya A. wrote, "Yvonne's is literally my favorite place in Boston. My girlfriends and I come here all the time for Thursday drinks - these cocktails are wonderful and definitely worth the price."

5. Ten Tables

Photo: bonnie l./Yelp

Over in Jamaica Plain, check out Ten Tables, which has earned four stars out of 649 reviews on Yelp. Treat yourself at the New American spot by heading over to 597 Centre St. (between Pond Street and Parley Avenue).

Yelper Alexa C., who reviewed Ten Tables on Dec. 14 wrote, "Quaint, cozy, perfect for date night. The service is amazing. Roberto, our waiter, noticed my fiance and I were celebrating without us even telling him, and brought us a complimentary dessert."

Tara T. noted, "Ten Tables is a very enjoyable, homey, comforting experience but the price point suggests something a little more intellectual or surprising."

This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya has said that he suspected that there were some 'Bangladeshi workers' among construction labourers working at his house as they had 'strange eating habits'.

The leader, on Thursday, said that the eating habits of the workers made him suspicious of their nationality.

"There was some construction work going at my house so I noticed that some workers were eating only 'Poha' (flattened rice). After speaking to them I realised they could not speak Hindi. I was later told that they are Bengali and when I asked them from which districts they belong to, they could not answer me," the leader said at a conference in Indore.

Vijayvargiya also said that he spoke to their supervisor and the building contractor, which strengthened his suspicion of these workers being from Bangladesh.

"You will be shocked to know that for more than one year, one Bangladeshi terrorist was working right in from of me. People from other countries are coming here and are trying to create a terror environment. For us, the country comes first," the BJP leader added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India has had many distinguished heads of state and government as chief guests on Republic Day down the years, including Barack Obama, then US president, in 2015, Nelson Mandela , the first elected president of South Africa, in 1995 and former French president Jacques Chirac in 1976 and 1998. This year, the chief guest will be one of the worlds biggest climate change deniers: Jair Bolsonaro, president of Brazil.

Since he became president on 1 January 2019, Bolsonaro has caused more harm than anyone, barring US President Donald Trump, to international efforts to halt the climate crisis. As president of the country that is home to the bulk of the Amazon rainforest, not only did Bolsonaro facilitate its widespread deforestation, which ultimately led to the catastrophic fires last year, he also turned a blind eye to the burning for the longest time. He instead blamed hypothetical saboteurs and environmental activists. He fired the director of Brazils National Institute for Space Research, Ricardo Galvao, in August, when Galvao released the damning data that the 2019 fires represented an 84% increase over 2018.

Click here to listen to the latest episode of Mint Climate Change Tracker podcast

Bolsonaros dismantling of Brazils previously admirable protections for its forests and indigenous communities means that theres a high chance of similar fires this year. In the larger scheme of climate change mitigation, Bolsonaro has used policy changes as well as rhetoric to weaken the international effort. In Washington, DC in September, Brazils foreign minister, Ernesto Araujo, said, There is no climate change catastrophe." Araujo has also abolished the office in his ministry that dealt with climate change. Brazil, which was a leading light in the fight against climate change, may now fail to meet its Paris 2015 commitments.

As leading members of the association of emerging economies, BRICS, its natural that India and Brazil should display fraternity at the diplomatic level. But for a government and a prime minister that want to be seen as leaders in tackling climate change, inviting Bolsonaro seems like a curious decision.

Follow the Climate Change Tracker with #MintClimateTracker. Click here to listen to the latest episode of the Mint Climate Change Tracker podcast hosted by Bibek Bhattacharya.

Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter.

Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!

Topics
Kolkata, Jan 24 : Coming down heavily on BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya for linking consumption of 'poha' (flattened rice) with Bangladeshis infiltrators, West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress on Friday wondered whether those making such remarks about food habits of poor people qualify as "humans".

"Those who pass such comments about Bengal's culture and tradition, and about the food bits of the impoverished people, it has to be seen how far they qualify as humans," Trinamool Secretary General Partha Chatterjee told media persons here.
Rome, Jan 24 : A total 15 million children in the crises-hit Middle East and North Africa region are not attending school, a figure that is expected to reach 20 million by 2030, the United Nations cultural organisation UNESCO and World Food Programme said.

"The magnitude of people on the move has threatened a whole generation, overwhelmed host communities, straining already limited resources and increased social tensions," said Hamed al-Hammami, Director of UNESCO Regional Bureau for Education in the Arab States.

"We cannot afford to let these children and youth miss out on education. Inclusive, quality education is their right, their hope and their future." The staggering numbers of children being denied an education is undermining the development potential of countries in the region, UNESCO and WFP said in a joint statement.

The two UN agencies are committed to ensuring that the most vulnerable girls and boys get quality education - listed by the UN Sustainable Development Goals as being key to improving people's lives and development.

UNESCO and WFP are working with the Education Ministries of Iraq, Syria and Yemen to develop those countries' education management information systems, according to the statement.

"This year WFP is planning to reach more than five million children in the region with school feeding," said Muhannad Hadi, WFP Regional Director for the Middle East, Central Asia and Eastern Europe.

"WFP school meals programmes have proved their value in the most challenging and complex environments of all - the aftermath of emergencies and during protracted crises," Hadi added.

Conflict has impact many countries and millions of people in the Middle East and North Africa over the past decade, WFP and UNESCO said. This has jeopardised social, economic and cultural progress amid an unprecedented humanitarian crisis and forced migration on a massive scale, the agencies said.

Especially in times of crisis, these feeding programmes can have wider benefits by encouraging resilience and stability, safeguarding students and boosting social cohesion among host and refugee communities, said the agencies.

In the MENA region, WFP is running school feeding programmes in 11 countries to boost school attendance rates, reduce gender learning gaps and contribute to children's health and ability to learn. Together with investment in quality education, school feeding programmes are essential for stability and enduring peace in the region, said the agencies.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday met Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and a delegation of ministers, mayors and chairpersons of municipal councils of the state.

According to sources, the two top Congress leaders exchanged notes with the leaders from Chhattisgarh and urged them to work towards the welfare of the people of the state and fulfil the promises made to them.

AICC in-charge for Chhattisgarh P L Punia was also present during the meeting.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian, who is in Israel on a working visit, visited on January 24 one of the leading educational institutions of that country, the Holon Institute of Technology.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Presidents Office, Armen Sarkissian met with the leadership of the Institute, after which delivered a lecture on the topic Geopolitical realities in the era of artificial intelligence.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan
A 23-year-old Indian student was stabbed by an unidentified man near York University's campus in Toronto, Canada, police said.

The student was walking along a pathway near the university's campus, when an Asian man in his mid-20s attacked her on Wednesday night, knocked her to the ground, and dragged her a short distance, they said.

The victim sustained stab wounds to her neck during the assault, Toronto's local channel CP24 quoted police as saying.

The student was rushed to a hospital where she underwent surgery overnight, the channel said, adding that her condition remains critical.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday directed the MEA officials to arrange visa for the victim's family.

"Deeply shocked to learn of the serious attack on Rachel Albert, an Indian student in Toronto, Canada. Am asking MEA officials to help with her family's visa. Family members may immediately contact us on +91 9873983884," Jaishankar tweeted.

Toronto police have described the attacker as an Asian male in his mid-20s. The suspect has black hair, and was wearing "stylish" glasses and a black puffy jacket at the time of the attack, police said.

"We have information that he had fled the scene on foot," police officer Alex Li said. "Our officers continue to search for the suspect.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A staff member checks the temperature of a guest entering the casino of the New Orient Landmark hotel in Macau on January 22, 2020, after the former Portuguese colony reported its first case of the new SARS-like virus that originated from Wuhan in China.

France confirmed on Friday its first three cases of the Wuhan coronavirus, with two patients being hospitalized in Paris and the other in the southwestern city of Bordeaux.

Health Minister Agnes Buzyn told a news conference authorities had confirmed two cases, Europe's first, and that more cases were likely to occur in France.

In a separate statement on Friday, the health ministry announced the third case, a relative of one of the first two.

Earlier, the charity SOS Medecins said it had treated a patient of Chinese origin who was showing symptoms of a fever and who said he had been in contact with people from Wuhan province in China, epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak.

Buzyn said this patient was 48 years old and had returned two days ago from a trip to China which included a stop in Wuhan.

"He's been put in an insulated room so as to avoid any contact with the outside world. He's fine", she said.

Buzyn said she had no information yet on the second case, in Paris, which had just been confirmed.

Most of the cases and all of the deaths so far have been in China, where officials have imposed severe restrictions on travel and public gatherings.

The virus has created alarm, but there are still many unknowns surrounding it, such as just how dangerous it is and how easily it spreads between people. It can lead to pneumonia, which has been deadly in some cases.
Ms. Hamill, who later chose Mr. OConnell to be her love interest in a lively adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, which ran from June 2017 to early January 2018, said it was Mr. OConnell who changed her life for the better.

My career really took off after being with Jason because he is the most supportive partner humanly imaginable, she said. He always encourages me to go after challenges that scare me, and when I struggle to believe in myself, Jason always believes in me.

They were married Jan. 20 at the Brooklyn Winery before Gabra Zackman, a friend of the couple who became a Universal Life minister for the event, and about 150 guests.

One of them, Fred Berman, a longtime friend of the groom who served as best man and is currently Timon in the cast of The Lion King, said of the newlyweds: They support each other and truly inspire each other, and ever since Jason met Kate, he has had this creative fire, and I think that goes both ways.

Ms. Sharma, the maid of honor, agreed.

Kate and Jason dream big, she said. But ever since they began dreaming together, they have achieved so much in this world, and I know that they will continue that success.

On This Date

Where The Brooklyn Winery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

When Jan. 20, 2020

Toothache and Heartache Two months into dating the bride, the groom had a wisdom tooth removed and was given powerful painkillers. He was really out if it, the bride said. I made him soup and just as he was about to fall asleep, he rolled over and asked, Will you marry me?
A controversial drug rehab centre, linked to the Church of Scientology, has been given the green light to open its doors in the Meath village of Ballivor.

The High Court has quashed a ruling by An Bord Pleanala this morning regarding the 9m Narconon centre.

The proposed 56-bed facility has been subject to widespread opposition from residents in Ballivor who made repeated calls for the Government to bring forward legislation to regulate rehab centres like these.

Narconon, which has close links to Scientology, promotes the theories of it founder L Ron Hubbard including the Purification Rundown to rid the body of toxins.

Expand Close The Church of Scientologys 6m HQ in Firhouse / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp The Church of Scientologys 6m HQ in Firhouse

The controversial procedure involves ingesting a high dose of vitamins before entering a sauna for up to five hours.

In a judicial review taken by Narconon Trust, Mr Justice Mark Heslin has overturned the planning appeals board's decision in 2018 and ruled that Narconon did not need planning permission for change of use into the centre at the old school in Ballivor.

The facility was originally intended to be used as a nursing home.

However Claire O'Mara of the Ballivor Community Group said although they were 'overwhelmingly disappointed' by the decision, they would fight on if they can.

"I'm gutted," she said.

"We literally put our heart and soul into it for over two years and this is like a kick in the teeth to us.

"The Judge said we basically asked the same questions to An Bord Pleanala as Narconon asked Meath County Council in its original decision but expected to get different answers.

"We will now have to study the 72 page judgement but as far as I can gather An Bord Pleanala can appeal this judgement. We will also look into the possibility of taking our own judicial review, depending on time deadlines.

"But if there's a will, there's a way and there is a will so we will fight on if we can, she said.

Local TD and campaigner against the facility Peadar Toibin described the courts decision as a terrible result for Ballivor.

It means a totally unregulated drug rehabilitation centre will open up in a small rural village in Meath, he said.

I questioned the Minister for Health as to whether there was any regulation or licence for the regulation or inspection of residential treatment or rehabilitation centres specialising in addiction.

He stated there is currently no provision in legislation for the regulation or inspection of residential treatment or rehabilitation centres specialising in addiction.

"The Department went further and highlighted that there is no evidence to suggest that the drug treatment programme, provided by the organisation I had referred to them, would meet any of the criteria set out by the HSE for agencies that provide addiction services in its behalf.

Mr Toibin added that it appears that anyone can set up a residential treatment facility without accreditation and regulation in Ireland.

To me this is a major gap in the states responsibility to protect the most vulnerable people.

"People in the grip of addiction are often at their most vulnerable. Over 80pc of people presenting with substance abuse suffer with anxiety, depression and have backgrounds of trauma.

"The State has a duty of care and must protect these people. The only way to stop these unregulated organisations is for legislation to be created to develop minimum standards for all residential treatment or rehabilitation centers specializing in addiction, he said.

In a statement, Narconon Trust welcomed the decision, saying it is looking forward to helping Ireland "fight the scourge of addiction".

"In a country where the drug crisis is exploding with 65pc of Irish professionals reporting some addiction experience, effective drug rehabilitation is urgently needed.

"Narconon is a drug-free, drug and alcohol rehabilitation programme with proven success, operating for more than 50 years across 18 countries around the world, including in the UK where Narconon has been registered as a charity since 1974," it said.

Works began on the building and were nearing completion when An Bord Pleanala overturned that decision with their own ruling, which was quashed today.

In January 2019, the High Court granted a stay on the Board's declaration and also granted an application for leave to bring judicial review proceedings against An Bord Pleanala.

A spokesperson from the HSE told Independent.ie that the "Narconon approach" has not been endorsed by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in the USA, and has no standing among medical professionals in Ireland.

The Department of Health stated that there is no evidence to suggest that the drug treatment programme would meet any of the criteria set out by the HSE for agencies that provide addiction services on its behalf.

"The organisations drug treatment programme comprises a series of interventions with limited or no basis in a scientific understanding of human physiology and brain functioning," it said.
We could imagine a similar scenario this November: What would happen if President Trump had an early lead that evaporated as votes were counted, and then he refused to concede? The idea isnt too far-fetched; Trump has raised it himself. Before the 2016 election, he wouldnt agree to accept the results if he lost. After winning in the electoral college but losing the popular count by about 3 million votes, Trump claimed  with no evidence whatsoever  that at least 3 million fraudulent votes had been cast for his opponent, Hillary Clinton. He set up an election integrity commission headed by then-Kansas secretary of state Kris Kobach to try to prove that voter fraud is a major problem. But after the commission faced attacks from the left and the right for demanding state voter records with an apparent plan to use them to call for stricter registration rules, Trump disbanded it, with no work accomplished. In 2018, the president criticized elections in Florida and California, where late-counted votes shifted toward Democrats, suggesting without evidence that there was foul play.
Donald Trump plans a week of showing his presidential might while his impeachment trial drags on in the Senate.

Next week, when the president's lawyers will offer Trump's defense and senators are given a chance to question both sides, the president will be signing his USMCA trade deal and unveiling a Middle East peace plan.

He also plans to troll Democrats with a campaign rally in Iowa ahead of its presidential caucuses and travel to New Jersey for another rally to welcome the latest member of the GOP: Congressman Jeff Van Drew, who switched to the Republican Party during the impeachment inquiry in the House.

Donald Trump plans a week of showing his presidential might during trial

Trump was in Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum, when his trial began.

He spent the flight back retweeting his supporters. He's been active on the social media web site, switching back-and-forth between politics, his impeachment trial, and White House business.

President Trump's plans for next week Tuesday: Hosts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main election rival Benny Gantz Tuesday evening: Campaign rally in New Jersey with Rep. Van Drew Wednesday: Signing ceremony for his USMCA trade pact Thursday: Campaign rally in Iowa Advertisement

He quoted author Liz Peek talking about the trial on Fox News: 'This is all about undermining the next Election. Liz Peek, @FoxNews,' he tweeted Thursday morning.

'The United States looks forward to welcoming Prime Minister @Netanyahu & Blue & White Chairman @Gantzbe to the @WhiteHouse next week. Reports about details and timing of our closely-held peace plan are purely speculative,' he tweeted later in the day - a few hours before he announced the White House would release its Middle East plan by next week's visit.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally, said he talked to the president Wednesday night and that Trump is 'bored.'

'Hes having the reaction a normal person would have if they thought they were being accused of something that they didnt do,' Graham told reporters in the Capitol on Thursday.

The first few days of Trump's trial were filled with legislative business - the Senate had a long day of debate on the procedures for the trial with a vote on it near 2 am - and the Democrats making the case for impeachment.

Republicans have complained about the repetitive nature of the trial.

'You want to take an aspirin to get away from the repetitive headache,' said Congressman Mark Meadows, a staunch Trump ally, said of the trial on Thursday morning.

Trump on Wednesday will sign his trade pact the USMCA

The president will also hold two campaign rallies next week - he held a rally in Wisconsin last week

But while trial drums on next week for 12 hours a day, six days a week, the president has a packed agenda of his own.

Trump will release his long awaited Middle Peace plan by Tuesday of next week - the same day he invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main election rival Benny Gantz to the White House.

He was optimistic he could get the Middle East deal done.

'I'd love to be able to do that deal. They say that's the hardest of all deals,' he said. 'I love doing deals.'

'It's a great plan. It's a plan that really would work,' he added.

Trump has boasted that he is the most pro-Israeli U.S. president in history and has courted that voting block ahead of the November election.

At a campaign rally in Florida - a swing state with a strong hold of Jewish voters - before the Thanksgiving holiday, Trump touted his record with Israel and brought on stage U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, who had traveled on Air Force One with him.

On Wednesday, Trump will sign his signature trade deal in a ceremony at the White House.

The Senate approved the trade pact between the United States, Mexico and Canada before it began the president's impeachment trial. The House passed it shortly after it voted to approve the two articles of impeachment against the president.

Senator Lindsey Graham said Trump is 'bored' by the trial

On Tuesday evening President Trump will be in New Jersey for a campaign rally.

He'll head to Iowa on Thursday evening to rally his supporters at Drake University.

That rally will come four days before the Iowa caucuses - the first nominating contest for the candidates running for the Democratic nomination.

Trump came in second in the Iowa caucuses in the 2016 Republican caucuses, losing to Sen. Ted Cruz.

He won Iowa in the 2016 presidential election however.

Joe Biden is leading the Democrats in Iowa, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average.
Oregon Senator Ron Wyden has introduced new legislation that would attempt to reform Section 215 of the Patriot Act definitively. Democratic and Republican lawmakers in both the House and Senate have co-sponsored Wyden's Safeguarding Americans' Private Records Act.

While there are a variety of facets to the bill, the most significant aspect of it is that it would prohibit the warrantless collection of cell-site and GPS geolocation data, as well as internet browsing and search history by US intelligence agencies. Additionally, the bill would eliminate the relevance clause that had allowed the NSA to justify its bulk data collection program, and establish a three-year limit for how long federal agencies can hold data that isn't related to foreign intelligence efforts. The bill would attempt to do all this before March 15th.

Following the enactment of the USA Freedom Act in 2015, Section 215 would have expired this past December. However, the Senate pushed back the sunset date to March 15th as part of the short-term funding bill it passed in mid-November.

"Liberty and security aren't mutually exclusive, and they aren't partisan either," said Senator Wyden. "This bill preserves authorities the government uses against criminals and terrorists, while putting Americans' constitutional rights front and center."

Despite the fact that Senator Wyden has managed to build some bipartisan support for his bill, it's likely to face an uphill battle. In the past, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has been a vocal supporter of the Patriot Act. In 2015, McConnell attempted to introduce legislation that would have extended the act through to 2020 without making any changes to it. While the Senate eventually passed the USA Freedom Act instead, McConnell is likely to oppose any attempt to scale back the Patriot Act.
And then there was no one.

Sane, that is. In the Democratic Party.

(Or awake, if they were trying to watch the Democrat impeachment managers in their monotonous assault on President Trump.)

Having just conducted a sham trial in the House, Democrats pre-emptively accused Senate Republicans of plotting a "sham" trial. After refusing to let the president's lawyers testify or even be given the courtesy of a recap of the day's testimony, they demanded the power to select witnesses in the Senate. After hiding selected testimony and facts, they now, pre-emptively, accuse their Senate colleagues of doing the same.

After rushing through the House trial due to the "dire" threat they claim Trump poses to the country, they now berate the senators who want to end the trial quickly. (The Democrats, apparently, now want the Senate trial to go on until election day in November, longer if Trump should be re-elected. More about that later.)

Every devious action (whether premeditated or spontaneous), every ruse, sleight-of-hand, slur, slander, lie, unwarranted attack, baseless charge, rending of the Constitution, and instance of rude behavior in which Democrats have already engaged...they have, pre-emptively, accused Senate Republicans of planning to employ. They are trying to impeach the president, without charging him with a crime, for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, though they themselves have blatantly abused their power and are engaged in obstruction themselves: of the Senate; of the Executive Branch, whose sole responsibility it is to set foreign policy...and of the American people, by trying to oust a duly elected president via a media-aided and abetted coup d'etat just months prior to another presidential election. They accuse the president and Republican senators of a cover-up, though they themselves are engaged in the greatest cover-up in American history.

The Clinton campaign funded the Steele dossier as an illegal and sinister form of election insurance. The years-long assault on Trump and his supporters has largely been carried out to deflect attention from that original sin  and the corruption of passive-aggressive slime merchants such as John Brennan and James Comey. Democrats accused the Trump administration of collusion with Russia, when it was, demonstrably, the Clinton-Obama Axis of Evil that colluded with Russia  and anyone else who could further their interests, like the pathetically hypocritical and partisan mainstream media.

Continually engaging in despicable acts is bad enough, but doing so while indignantly accusing your colleagues or opponents of those very acts is truly evil. Democrats are suddenly hawks on Russia, in high dudgeon that President Trump paused military aid to Ukraine for six weeks, yet were utterly unconcerned by Obama's refusal to give aide to Ukraine for three years. Moreover, Trump has given actual armaments  military hardware  to Ukraine, whereas Obama sent little more than Meals-Ready-to-Eat (MREs) and blankets. Democrats purported to be enraged and astounded that Trump issued a quid pro quo to the Ukrainian government (which they later focus-grouped to "bribery," as too few likely Democrat voters knew what a quid pro quo is) yet are equally enraged and astounded that anyone could take issue with thenvice president Joe Biden threatening a representative of the Ukrainian government who had plans to question his son Hunter about his preposterous tenure with Burisma Holdings. Biden later literally bragged of issuing that quid pro quo, saying, "I looked at them and said: I'm leaving in six hours. If the prosecutor is not fired, you're not getting the money." (A billion dollars in aid.) The prosecutor was fired.

So the farce rolls on, as Adam Schiff and company defile the Constitution and the very idea of a democratic republic. They look the American public square in the face and solemnly state: "We are not doing what we are doing, but the Republicans are...or will. You are not seeing what you're seeing. You are not hearing what you're hearing. And, anyway, if you disagree with us, you are not entitled to your opinion. Or your vote."

Democrats have become progressively more progressive in recent years and aggressively less tolerant of opposing viewpoints. They claimed that George W. Bush was not fairly elected back in 2000, and many claimed he was "not my president." They claimed that the only reason Trump won in 2016 was because of Russian interference. Yet it was they themselves who interfered in the 2016 election that they are still trying to overturn, even as they are, pre-emptively, interfering in the 2020 election.

Adam Schiff recently accused President Trump of "an attempt to use the powers of the presidency to cheat in an election," adding, "For precisely this reason, the president's misconduct cannot be decided at the ballot box, for we cannot be assured that the vote will be fairly won." Read correctly, this is mind-boggling. What he is really saying is, "We can never again trust the results of a presidential election that a Republican wins." So much for democracy and our two-party system.

If this republic is to long endure, it cannot allow this creeping tyranny to stand.
Montanas three Republican candidates for governor squared off in Billings in January, trading barbs and talking taxes, crime control and job creation.

It was the first time Attorney General Tim Fox, Al Olszewski and U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte were on stage together. The congressman, who leads the pack in fundraising and name recognition having been on the ballot four times in five years, was targeted by his rivals early and often.

Olszewski, the least known of the three men, opened by suggesting thered been attempts to drive him from the ballot.

Despite the rumors and lies and backstabbing and the flip-flopping, Im in this race until the end," Olszewski said in his opener. "I will not be bullied, bought or body-slammed out of this race. Montana deserves a governor thats a fighter, and Im the man for that job."

The body slam was an apparent reference to Gianfortes assault on a reporter the day before Montanas 2017 special election for U.S. House, a race the representative won by a safe margin. Its an incident rarely raised by Republicans, save for Olszewski and President Donald Trump, who re-enacted it with admiration during a campaign stop Missoula.

A physician, with a strong the anti-abortion background, Olszewski defined himself as a businessman with lawmaker experience, tough on crime and entitlements. He promised to post billboards at the state line offering $50,000 rewards for information about drug dealers and human traffickers.

Gianforte told the audience he wouldnt be attacking opponents and didnt during the 80-minute debate. He emphasized Republicans hadnt won the governors office since 2000. Theres anguish among the GOP about the Democrats having won the office each election since 2004.

For 16 years, one party has ruled the governors office," Gianforte said. "And as a consequence, our conservative policies of lower taxes, less regulation and defending life have been vetoed. Its time for that to change."

It was Gianforte who unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock in 2016. Gianforte then won the 2017 special election for U.S. House and was re-elected in 2018. Thursday, he leaned heavily on his success as a businessman, creating RightNow Technologies, a Bozeman software company that employed 1,100 people when it was bought by Oracle a decade ago. He also emphasized his working relationship with Trump, promising to accelerate Montanas economy with tax cuts and regulation reform similar to the Trump agenda.

Fox emphasized his experience as attorney general on a number of issues, both suing to promote natural resources development, as well as fighting crime. A Hardin native, Fox repeatedly stressed his native Montana background and his ability to work with anyone, suggesting that Gianforte couldn't win the race for governor. He stressed that the Montanas economy was changing, and that government needed an overhaul to meet those changes particularly when it came to taxes.

We have a different kind of an economy," Fox said. "Sure, we need to go back, and we need to work on getting our natural resource industries and our logging industry, many of which I represented in my private practice. We need to get them back up to snuff, and we can do that. But it's a different world, but our tax policy and our tax structure need to reflect that.

You must be logged in to react.

Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
Accusing Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of speaking Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's language, Home Minister Amit Shah claimed the ruling AAP was behind engineering riots in the city over the amended citizenship law and the national capital will be unsafe if they are voted back to power.

He also hit out at Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who told a TV channel that he stood with Shaheen Bagh protesters, and said the AAP has worked to disrupt peace in the city.

In his double-barrel attack, Shah also hit out at the Congress and said they have opposed every decision  abrogation of Article 370, banning triple talaq, building Ram Temple  the Modi government has taken so far.

Addressing a rally in Matiala in west Delhi, Shah said, "Many a time Rahul baba (Rahul Gandhi) gives a statement. Kejriwal also gives a statement. Immediately, Pakistan prime minister gives a statement.

"If you see their statements on YouTube, you will find similarity in them. I always think, what is the relation between them. What Rahul baba and Kejriwal say, Imran Khan says the same."

He also accused the two of instigating the youth and minorities in the national capital, which saw a wave of violent protests last month over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

Attacking the AAP, Shah said, "Delhi will not be safe if these people come to power. Those who want to engineer riots have no right to remain in power."

He later addressed a roadshow in Uttam Nagar in west Delhi and a rally in Nangloi Jat in northwest Delhi.

Shah also took an aim at the two parties for backing the "tukde tukde gang" of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, a reference to Left-leaning intellectuals and students of the varsity.

The BJP in the past has targeted the AAP for not giving sanction to prosecute former JNU students union leader Kanhaiya Kumar in a sedition case.

Shah took on the Delhi government and Kejriwal over issues ranging from "unclean" drinking water to not fulfilling promises of giving free WiFi and stalling the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

"If there is a competition in the country of making false promises, Kejriwal would definitely get the first prize. I have come to remind you that you forgot the promises you made, but neither the people of Delhi nor BJP workers have forgotten.

"Your vote will decide whether you want a government like that of Modi ji which works or one who constantly stages protests," he said.

Shah also listed out the work done by the Modi government for Delhi, like regularising 1,731 unauthorised colonies. He said if the BJP is voted to power, the party will implement 112 central government schemes that will benefit people.

The home minister said for four and a half years the chief minister kept saying 'Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not let him work so development could not be done in Delhi'.

"Now, you (Kejriwal) are saying you developed Delhi in five years so 'lage raho Kejriwal," he added.

On providing clean drinking water, Shah said Kejriwal announced a similar scheme three days after Prime Minister Modi announced it from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the Independence Day last year.

Shah alleged the national capital currently gets "unclean" water. But if the BJP is voted to power, Delhi will get water as clean as bottled one.

Taking a dig at Kejriwal, Shah said after the AAP's victory in 2015, the party lost polls in Punjab, Haryana, local body polls. "Delhi has defeated you everytime," Shah said.
A radiant documentary with the power to send Latinos into a frenzy of uplifting nostalgia, Argentine-American filmmaker Cristina Costantini and Kareem Tabschs Mucho Mucho Amor thoroughly and lovingly eulogizes revered Puerto Rican astrologer Walter Mercado, in a film that mixes celebrity cameos and heart-to-heart chats with the late icon himself.

One of the few true pan-Latino figures, ageless Mercado reached millions of households across the United States, as well as throughout Latin America (including Portuguese-speaking Brazil), and even Europe for decades on TV, radio, and print media.

Entire families hung on his every word and shushed one another to hear what he had to say about their respective futures. For those of us who interacted with his image every day, during his long stint on Univisions Primer Impacto or his solo show, thats a shared memory that evokes the comfort of familiarity. If Walter Mercado was on, youd listen. Leaning repeatedly on that resonantly accurate piece of anecdotal information from varied famous sources helps the co-directors further stress how ubiquitous his presence was.

Also Read: Walter Mercado, Famed Puerto Rican TV Astrologer, Dies at 87

Horoscopes delivered with an authoritative and theatrical flair were just part of his larger-than-life magnetism. Outfits gleaming with flamboyant fabulousness and the unwavering positivity of his message of love and peace, reflected in his signature farewell that gives the film its title, completed a mesmerizing persona in an astral league all of his own.

Delightful animated sequences of tarot cards segment the doc as through it were a reading of Mercados own destiny in retrospect, starting with the divine incident that in 1930s Ponce, Puerto Rico, that revealed the young boys uniqueness. Interviewed at home, an elderly Mercado, still exuding glamour despite the toll time has taken on his mortal body, enthusiastically reminisces on his past glory and promises theres more to come. His certainty is convincing.

Story continues

To be different is a gift, to be ordinary is common, Mercado recalled his mother instilling in him. A natural-born performer, he was a dancer, a stage actor, and then a telenovela cast member before his gift as an emissary of the stars sent him on the path to small-screen immortality.

Also Read: Netflix Acquires Documentary 'Mucho Mucho Amor' Ahead of Sundance

Necessary biographical context aside, Costantini (Science Fair) and Tabsch (The Last Resort) deftly inquire about less pleasant subjects, such as psychic scams in his name or the legal battle with former associate Guillermo Bakula, who declares himself remorseless, over the fortunetellers name and likeness, which he crossed over into the English-speaking market. On brand, Mercado speaks no ill of anyone, though those in his inner circle  like confidant Willy Acosta, his right-hand and also the left one as he would say  do verbalize their indignation.

Valiantly, Mercado also spent a lifetime challenging established parameters on gender and sexuality, not outspokenly but via the feminine aura of his polished presentation. Embraced and othered by a homophobic and religious culture, he was a queer pioneer, and a referent for non-binary identity; even if he never officially came out, his existence validated that of many others.

When Mercado speaks to the camera, he is fearless, and he is able to sincerely spread goodwill, because hes loved himself enough to mitigate the hurtful judgments from the outside. He preached his non-denominational beliefs by example.

A lucid editing job, courtesy of Tom Maroney and Carlos David Rivera, seamlessly strings together the large array of topics that comprise the personal history and public legacy of Mercado, including how Latino millennials have reclaimed him as a cultural emblem. They do so both with archival footage and thoughtful and quotidian shots of the aging hero that let the movie breathe and prevent it from ever resembling a checklist.

Watch Video: Taylor Swift's 'Miss Americana' Trailer Shows How Pop Star Broke From 'Nice Girl' Persona

From Eugenio Derbez, a Virgo, whose impression of Mercado  named Julio Esteban  became one of the Mexican comedians most popular characters, to acclaimed journalist Jorge Ramos, a skeptical Pisces, several famed personalities proclaim their appreciation. However, its Mercados encounter with Lin-Manuel Miranda, a Capricorn, that instantly melts hearts. Its beauty resides in that this wasnt a meeting between two Boricua titans, but an overwhelmed admirer in the presence of a legend he associates with grandmas affection more so than with spiritual advice.

Believing in Mercado, as Costantini and Tabsch make clear, had little to do with relying in his practice as a feasible predictor for whats to come, and more with having a champion that could persuade you to have hope for a new day. Even if the predictions didnt come true, what wasnt false was the encouragement that came with it. So to no ones surprise, when the HistoryMiami Museum arranges an exhibit celebrating 50 years since Mercados first broadcast in August 1969, the halls were flooded with well-wishers who came to see him honored. Each bedazzled cape on display was, obviously, adorned not with mere sequins but his rarified magic.

Sure to break the Latino internet the second it starts streaming on Netflix in Summer 2020, as people gather one more time around a screen to get a dose or Walter Mercados zingers and eternal mysticism, Mucho Mucho Amor is a tribute as inspired and jubilant as its majestic subject, a true original, who used to be a star and now is a constellation.

Read original story Mucho Mucho Amor Film Review: Rapturous Documentary Pays Tribute to Scintillating Oracle Walter Mercado At TheWrap
KYODO NEWS - Jan 24, 2020 - 21:57 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

Japan confirmed Friday a second infection related to a deadly new coronavirus, rushing to take preventive steps against the outbreak in China ahead of an expected influx of tourists from that country during its Lunar New Year holiday.

The patient was a man in his 40s visiting from Wuhan, the central Chinese city where the virus originated, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said, adding he had been hospitalized in Tokyo and was in a stable condition.

The infection was confirmed on the first day of the holiday, during which Chinese people are expected to make 3 billion trips. More than 7 million people are likely to travel overseas during the weeklong holiday, including to Japan.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe instructed Cabinet members Friday to ensure thorough checks at borders and provide information to the public quickly.

The Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, cautioned against traveling to Hubei Province, raising the warning level to 3 on its four-point scale. The ministry had issued a level 2 warning for Wuhan, the provincial capital, on Thursday, advising against nonessential travel.

More than 700 Japanese nationals reside in or are currently visiting Wuhan, according to the ministry.

Japan confirmed its first infection related to the pneumonia-causing virus on Jan. 15, a Chinese national in his 30s who returned to his home in Kanagawa Prefecture after traveling to Wuhan.

The second patient arrived in the country last Sunday after contracting a fever five days before and had not left Tokyo since visiting a hospital on Monday, according to the health ministry.

The man, whose symptoms had eased by the time he arrived in Japan, had visited a hospital in China on Jan. 15 and Jan. 17.

(Photo taken in the Dotonbori commercial district in Osaka on Jan. 23, 2020, shows tourists from Shanghai looking at a notice written in Chinese regarding the spread of pneumonia caused by a new coronavirus in the city of Wuhan in central China.)

He visited a hospital in Tokyo on Monday, and as he continued to have a fever and a sore throat returned for another checkup on Wednesday, when he was diagnosed with pneumonia.

The man was transferred to a different Tokyo hospital and the National Institute of Infectious Diseases confirmed that he had tested positive for the virus, which has killed at least 26 in China and infected around 900 in Asia and the United States. The institute informed the health ministry of the infection around 1 a.m. Friday.

The patient said he had mostly stayed in his hotel room and that he wore a mask when going outside, according to officials. He also said he had not visited the seafood market in Wuhan linked to the initial outbreak, they said.

Two family members he traveled with and around 20 medical staff who have been in close contact with him are being monitored, according to the health ministry. They have not shown any symptoms such as a high fever, it said.

Some businesses in Japan are now requiring employees to wear masks or asking customers to wash their hands and gargle. All Nippon Airways Co. canceled all flights between Wuhan and Narita near Tokyo through Feb. 1, affecting around 2,400 people.

China has stepped up measures to contain the outbreak, imposing travel restrictions in Wuhan and nearby cities, and reportedly building a new 1,000-bed hospital to treat infected people.

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said at a press conference the Japanese and Chinese governments are "working together at various levels," without providing details.

The World Health Organization on Thursday called for urgent measures but said the situation is not yet a global health emergency.

Coronaviruses usually cause common cold symptoms affecting the nose, sinuses or upper throat and are spread through sneezing, coughing or direct contact.

Some coronaviruses, however, can be deadly, like severe acute respiratory syndrome or Middle East respiratory syndrome.

SARS emerged and raged in China from 2002 to 2003 and then spread worldwide, killing 774 people.

The new coronavirus is spreading in Asia and beyond after reports of mysterious pneumonia cases in Wuhan surfaced in late December. Cases of infection have been confirmed in Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Vietnam, Macau, Hong Kong, Thailand, South Korea and the United States.
Citing the anti-CAA protests at Shaheen Bagh, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Friday said the people of Delhi need to decide whether they want "Jinnah Wali Azaadi" or Bharat Mata Ki Jai.

Javadekar also accused the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress of "poisoning" the minds of minorities.

Ahead of the February 8 polls for 70 Assembly seats in Delhi, the BJP leadership has sharpened attack on the ruling AAP and Congress over Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and continuing protest against it at Shaheen Bagh here for more than a month.

"We have seen 'Jinnah Wali Azadi" slogan being raised there. Now, Delhi people need to decide if they want 'Jinnah Wali Azadi' or 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'," Javadekar said in a press conference.

He blamed the AAP and Congress for "instigating" violent protests against the CAA in the national capital.

"Delhi people should ask both parties why did they instigate violence. The nexus of AAP and Congress is behind the Shaheen Bagh protest. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia have supported the protest," Javadekar alleged.

The protest at Shaheen Bagh started mid-December following a violent anti-CAA protest at Jamia Millia university in the neighbourhood.

A road linking south east Delhi areas to Noida has been blocked due to the protest causing daily hardships to commuters and residents of localities including Badarpur, Sarita Vihar, Madanpur Khadar and Jasola.

"They (AAP and Congress) are misleading and poisoning the minds of the minorities including children," said the senior BJP leader.

He asserted that CAA was not going to affect citizenship of any Indian, and blamed that political parties were raising the bogey of CAA and National Register of Citizens(NRC) to defeat the BJP in the elections.

The CAA is aimed at providing citizenship to persecuted minorities including Hindus and Sikhs in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, he said.

"Kejriwal sympathises with people raising 'Jinnah Wali Azadi' slogans not the persecuted minorities," he stated.

The AAP has blamed the BJP of diverting attention of people from issues of development, ahead of Delhi polls.

Kejriwal had in the past questioned the timing of the CAA, saying the more pressing need was thinking how to provide jobs to the unemployed youth in the country.

The BJP has also attacked Sisodia over his reported support to the protest at Shaheen Bagh.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Washington: The United States has not yet entered into talks with Iraq on the removal of US troops from the country, as demanded by the Iraqi parliament, a senior US official said Thursday.

"There has not been any real engagement," said ambassador James Jeffrey, the US special envoy for Syria and the coalition against the Islamic State.

"Our position, as you know -- we've said it several times -- is that we're prepared to discuss with the Iraqi government our overall strategic relationship," Jeffrey told reporters.

"We have a Strategic Framework Agreement with Iraq since 2008," he said. "It covers economic, security, and diplomatic engagement across the board.

"We see this as a package," Jeffrey said. "And when we do sit down and talk with them, that's where we'll be aiming to direct the conversation." Jeffrey said that operations against IS fighters have been on hold since a January 3 US drone strike near Baghdad airport killed top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani.

The killing of Soleimani prompted retaliatory strikes from Tehran on an Iraqi base hosting US troops and a vote in Iraq's parliament for the removal of foreign forces.

"Coalition operations have been primarily on pause in Iraq as we focus on force protection and looking into the way forward with the Iraqi government after the non-binding vote by the Council of Representatives on the withdrawal of US and thus coalition forces," Jeffrey said.

The special envoy said there had been no notable surge in IS activities in Iraq since Soleimani's killing.

"We have not seen an uptick in violence in Iraq," he said. "They haven't taken advantage of it, as far as we can see." Jeffrey said US operations against IS would not remain on hold forever.

"There is a possibility of a degradation of the effort against Daesh if we're not able to do the things that we were doing so effectively up until a few weeks ago," he said.

"We're not keeping thousands of Americans and thousands of other coalition country troops in Iraq without doing something," he said. "We have a mission, it's an important mission."
Ms. Harris was trying to loosen Mr. Bidens grip on African-American primary voters, and her searing reference to her own childhood experience with integration might have been the high point of her campaign. But it came at the expense of an older, white candidate who was already fending off questions about his record on matters of race. And Mr. Biden was personally stung by her attack, his advisers said, because he considered her a friend.

Yet Ms. Harriss surge in the polls did not last, and the two candidates never sparred again in the same way. By October, aides to both Democrats recall, they were getting along well when they ran into each other at the Des Moines airport before heading to Ohio for the debate there.

More significant than their personal rapport, a Harris endorsement of Mr. Biden would be politically useful for both of them.

A 55-year-old woman of African and Indian descent with law enforcement credentials, Ms. Harris was already likely to be on Mr. Bidens short list, should he emerge as the nominee. Yet she could bolster her chances to be his running mate if she backed his campaign at a critical time, particularly if he did not win in either Iowa or New Hampshire next month and needed a boost in Nevada and South Carolina. And even if she is not chosen for vice president, she would be a leading contender for a cabinet post, such as attorney general.

For Mr. Biden, who is working to consolidate support from Democratic leaders as Senator Bernie Sanderss progressive candidacy gains strength, an endorsement from Ms. Harris would signal that party leaders were rallying behind his candidacy and offer him a well-known surrogate to stump on his behalf as the race goes on.

The risk for Ms. Harris would be if she were to get behind Mr. Biden only to see him lose in California, which votes on March 3 as part of Super Tuesday. A survey of the states Democratic voters, conducted this month by the Public Policy Institute of California survey, found that Mr. Biden was in second place to Mr. Sanders, of Vermont. But the poll highlighted the strength of the progressive bloc in the state: Mr. Sanders and Ms. Warren combined were capturing 50 percent of the vote.

Rose Kapolczynski, a longtime Democratic strategist in California, said Ms. Harris would not damage her prospects for re-election in 2022 by backing Mr. Biden. But if Democrats were to lose the presidency this fall, supporting him could shape how she was perceived by the left, were she to run again for president four years from now.
Joining Lockton is a very exciting opportunity and as a global independent company, we are building something very special, said Harton, whose appointment is part of a significant investment in the Dublin office with new recruits arriving over the past few months and additional hires to come.

Our culture, structure, and independence afford us the opportunity to provide a leading associate-focused workplace. Im delighted to join a fantastic team who will continue to deliver excellence to our Irish clients in the coming months and years.

Hartons credentials also include time spent at BHP Insurance, Marsh, and Frank Glennon Ltd.

We are delighted to appoint Amanda as CEO of our Dublin office, commented Lockton partner and Belfast office head Gary Ennis.

With her market experience and expertise, combined with our international teams based in the UK, Europe, and the US, she will bring substantial opportunity and growth to our Irish business.
LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI)  State Rep. Sheila Klinker is running for her 19th term to represent Indiana House District 27.

That serves parts of Lafayette and West Lafayette.

The 81-year-old said Thursday night in front of family, friends and fellow Democrats she loves people and loves being able to help out people.

She is a member of three committees in the House of Representatives:

Ways and Means, Veterans Affairs and Public Safety and Education.

In her reelection speech she said thanks to those who inspired her and pushed her to stay in politics.

Klinker said she'll keep doing the job until her performance starts lacking.

"When I feel like I can't do the job as I have done Jordan that's when I will stop; when I don't feel like I can't carry through some of the promises and work I have done in the past," said Klinker.

As of Thursday, January 23rd, Klinker is running unopposed.

She said she will continue to fight for better teacher pay in Indiana.
This week, the Chinese government announced it will launch its long anticipated Mars mission this July, delivering a research rover to drive across the planet surface searching for signs of life and performing environmental analysis.

The mission will use the Long March-5 Y4 carrier rocket, which the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) has described as the countrys most powerful rocket.

The announcement comes less than a month after a successful test flight of an early version of the Long March-5 rocket, which saw the hydrogen-oxygen fueled engine complete a 100-second thrust.

China's Long March-5 carrier rocket (pictured above), which successfully performed a test launch on December 27, will deliver a satellite probe and rover to Mars. It will launch in July and is expected to arrive on Mars in 2021

The rocket is nicknamed Fat Five because it features four smaller thruster engines attached to a longer central launcher.

According to a report in Xinhua, the CASC will conduct an additional 24 engine tests throughout the winter and spring leading up the final launch in July.

The Long March-5 is expected to reach Mars in 2021, and in addition to the surface rover will deliver a satellite probe that will be set in orbit around the planet and help maintain communication with the rover and conduct research on the atmosphere.

China's Mars mission is one of three set to launch this year, all of which should reach the planet by 2021.

The United Arab Emirates is planning to launch the Hope Mars Mission this summer, delivering a research probe to orbit the planet and gather data about the planet's climate and weather patterns.

China's Long March 5 is currently one of the most powerful rocket's in the world and will help it launch for Mars and create its new space station

China's main space manufacturer today published a picture (above) of its Martian explorer. The country aims to land the explorer on the Red Planet in two years, according to a scientist

ExoMars Mission is a joint mission with the European Space Agency and Russias space agency Roscosmos.

It will also launch in 2020, sending a rover with a six and a half foot drill to the surface of the planet to collect soil and mineral samples.

NASA is planning to launch its own mission on July 17, called Mars 2020.

It will send a research rover and helicopter drone to the surface to conduct a wide range of research, including assessing the potential for creating a human settlement on the planet.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 10:21:21|Editor: ZD

Video Player Close

Photo taken on Jan. 22, 2020 shows a view of the Port of Long Beach, California, the United States. Looking ahead into 2020 and beyond, U.S. Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero anticipated "better times ahead" in which markets will open again to U.S. goods, and energy exports will increase as well. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

by Julia Pierrepont III

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Looking ahead into 2020 and beyond, U.S. Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero anticipated "better times ahead" in which markets will open again to U.S. goods, and energy exports will increase as well.

At the Port of Long Beach annual State of the Port luncheon on Wednesday, Cordero acknowledged that the trade dispute with China had put a spoke in the port's wheel this past year.

The U.S.-China trade dispute caused a reduction in trade with China, by far the port's largest trading partner and comprising 41 percent of the Port's business, causing a tumble in the port's import and export orders last year, Cordero said.

"Our overall cargo tonnage also dropped. Because much of our trade is with China, our volumes fell behind the pace of other U.S. ports less tied to the trans-Pacific trade route," he said.

To the 750 partners, stakeholders, tenants, local community and press attending the annual event, Cordero expressed cautious optimism about the recently-signed China-U.S. phase-one economic and trade agreement.

But he said he saw further challenges ahead as business investment continues to drop off and trade uncertainty remains.

"We need to compete. We need to innovate. We need to lead. And most of all, we need to collaborate," Cordero said.

Long Beach Harbor Commission President Bonnie Lowenthal took the podium and suggested that a look at history could show the importance of trade in all our lives.

"Global trade has brought the world together and improved our lives," she noted, adding she firmly believes that trade brings benefits to Long Beach, the United States and the entire world.

"Ours is the task of promoting trade so that this city, region, state and nation can thrive," she said. "It's our responsibility to see that Port resources are used wisely to keep us competitive and a leader in goods movement."

Despite the downturn, 2019 was the port's second-busiest year on record, moving 7,632,032 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

December saw a larger decrease of 10.3 percent in TEUs moved year-on-year. Imports in the month were also down 13.4 percent to 323,231 TEUs, while exports jumped 10.6 percent to 125,395 TEUs.

Cordero expressed confidence that Long Beach will continue to be the best choice for shipping because of the port's commitment to operational excellence and its 4-billion-U.S.-dollar capital improvement program that has enhanced their ability to service supersized ships, some carrying up to 19,500 containers, more than double the 8,000 containers per ship the port was previously limited to.

Other portions of the major capital improvements initiated at the port over the last decade are sailing toward the finish line, including the new cable-stayed Gerald Desmond Bridge scheduled to open to the public this year.

Construction on the final phase of the Long Beach Container Terminal is slated to finish in 2021, which will make the port the greenest, most technologically-advanced terminal in North America.

The port's ambitious rail program is also getting a massive overhaul, with an investment of an additional billion dollars over the next decade into rail improvements that will speed up the movement of goods from ship to shore and to other regions and reduce traffic burdens locally.

Commissioner Lowenthal also highlighted the port's superior levels of community engagement.

"We employ 1 out of every 5 people in Long Beach," she said. The port supports about 2.6 million jobs in the United States.
Chinese students who travelled from the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak went clubbing in Cambridge this week, it emerged today.

Fifteen undergraduates from Wuhan College attended lectures and talks at the University of Cambridge this week as part of a nine-day education programme.

They are said to have mingled in student bars and clubs in Cambridge city centre at night - stoking fears the highly contagious illness may have already spread in the UK.

The students were able to fly from Wuhan before the city was placed on lockdown in a desperate bid to contain the lethal virus which has killed 26 people so far.

Fifteen students from Wuhan (pictured) attended the University of Cambridge this week

They were able to fly over before the Chinese city was placed on lockdown in a desperate bid to contain the killer virus which has killed 26 people so far

The student newspaper The Tab reported today that Cambridge Colleges have emailed students a document with advice regarding the coronavirus.

MailOnline has seen an email sent to students at Cambridge's Jesus College, where the Wuhan travellers went to, which says none of the visitors have shown any signs of infection as of yet.

On its website, Jesus College said: 'From 13-22 January 2020, Jesus College welcomed 15 visitors from Wuhan College, China, for an educational enrichment programme.

'The students experienced a range of lectures, talks and visits around the University of Cambridge, gaining insight into student life and British higher education.'

British officials yesterday warned thousands of foreign students who have gone back to China to celebrate their New Year this weekend could return to the UK unaware they have the virus.

Cambridge University's Jesus College posted on Instagram this week, writing: 'It's been great having the Wuhan University students around the College to learn from a range of lecturers'

MailOnline has seen an email sent to students at Cambridge's Jesus College, where the Wuhan travellers went to, which says none of the visitors have shown any signs of infection as of yet

Universities are already identifying staff and students who have recently visited the worst-hit areas, with some told that they will not be allowed back on campus unless they agree to a 'suitable quarantine period'.

Private schools, many of which also have large contingents of Chinese students, also issued guidance. China sends more pupils to UK fee-paying schools than any other country.

The Boarding Schools Association (BSA) said 'schools might wish to consider planning for the eventuality that some boarders either cannot or choose not to travel home at half-term or, more likely, Easter'.

So far more than 900 people have been infected worldwide in 10 different countries. But experts say the true number is probably closer to 10,000

While there is 'no immediate cause for concern' the situation needs to be closely monitored, independent school groups have said.

The coronavirus has so far claimed the lives of 26 people - all in China - and infected more than 900 in 10 different countries.

The World Health Organisation last night stopped short of declaring it a global health emergency, but said there was no doubt it may yet become one.

The virus  previously unknown to science  first appeared in Wuhan last month. It originated in a meat market and scientists believe it 'jumped the species barrier' from snakes, which may have been on sale illegally, to humans.

Symptoms begin with a fever, a dry cough and sneezing. This is followed by shortness of breath about a week later, which can develop into pneumonia.

Medical staff work in the ICU (intensive care unit) of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University in Wuhan

Medical workers transfer a patient who is on the mend out of the ICU (intensive care unit) of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan

All 26 deaths known about so far have occurred in China and most patients were elderly. The virus has now spread to nine countries including the US, Thailand, South Korea, Singapore and Vietnam.

Japan has recorded two cases, one of which exposes how infected travellers leaving China could be missed by health checks.

The Wuhan resident, in his 40s, developed a fever several days before his journey to Japan. But his condition then stabilised.

He reported a fever again three days after he arrived and is now in a Tokyo hospital, Japans health ministry said.

On Wednesday night, China suspended all flights out of Wuhan. Direct flights from the city to Heathrow were halted as a result, although there are still many flights into the UK from other Chinese cities. Currently, there are no screening measures on these flights on arrival.

Yesterday the NHSs Chief Medical Officer wrote to hundreds of thousands of doctors and nurses advising them to establish whether patients had recently visited Wuhan. The letter said Chinese New Year celebrations could amplify transition, including within the UK, due to the mass movement of people around the world.

University staff are worried that some of the Chinese students who will travel home this Saturday will bring the infection back.

As coronavirus has an incubation period of up to two weeks  the time between infection and symptoms beginning  they may pass it on before they even feel ill.
WILLIAMSPORT  A New Jersey man is facing federal weapons charges similar to state counts a Lycoming County judge dismissed six months ago.

Jamir M. Ceruti, 32, of Burlington, was indicted Thursday by a U.S. Middle District grand jury on charges of possession of firearms in the furtherance of drug trafficking, possession of a stolen firearm and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and marijuana.

Assistant U.S. Attorney George J. Rocktashel said the county district attorneys office asked the feds to consider taking the case.

County Judge Marc F. Lovecchio in July dismissed the state charges and blasted the district attorneys office of failing to bring the case to trial within the required 365 days.

It [DAs office] certainly failed to bring the defendant to trial on a timely basis and abjectly failed to protect society, he wrote.

Then District Attorney Kenneth A. Osokow appealed the judges decision but the state Superior Court has yet to rule on it.

Williamsport police arrested Ceruti on March 23, 2018, following a brief foot pursuit. Two stolen handguns were found on him.

He was charged then with convicted felon not to possess firearms, carrying a firearm without a license, possession with intent to deliver 20 grams of cocaine and six grams of marijuana packaged in a jar, escape and flight to avoid apprehension.

The federal charges identify the firearms as 9mm pistols, both of which were loaded. One of the guns had been stolen.

The indictment also contains a clause that would require Ceruti, if convicted, to forfeit the guns and ammunition.

The ammunition includes an extended 30-round magazine for one of the pistols, two magazines for the stolen gun and 58 loose cartridges.

Ceruti, who is in the county prison, is facing other unrelated state charges.
The founder of an Arizona pharmaceutical company was ordered to spend five and half years in prison Thursday for orchestrating a bribery and kickback scheme prosecutors said helped fuel the opioid crisis.

John Kapoor, 76, the former chairman of Insys Therapeutics, was sentenced in Boston's federal court after a jury found him guilty of racketeering conspiracy last May. The 10-week trial revealed sensational details about the company's marketing tactics, including testimony that a sales executive once gave a lap dance to a doctor the company was wooing. Kapoor was also ordered to pay a $250,000 fine.

Kapoor and others were accused of paying millions of dollars in bribes to doctors across the United States to prescribe the company's highly addictive oral fentanyl spray, known as Subsys. The bribes were paid in the form of fees for sham speaking engagements that were billed as educational opportunities for other doctors.

Prosecutors also said the company misled insurers to get payment approved for the drug, which is meant to treat cancer patients in severe pain and can cost as much as $19,000 a month.

In recent court documents, prosecutors said Kapoor personally approved bribes for doctors who abusively prescribed opioids and also approved financial incentives for sales reps to make sure doctors prescribed the highest doses of the drug.

"Put simply, Kapoor ran Insys without a moral compass, without any concern that his strategies would harm people," they wrote.

Kapoor's lawyers argue the bribery scheme was concocted by other executives at the company. In a court filing, they said their client has been portrayed as a "caricature" of a mob boss when he is really an "immigrant success story." They say the India-born exec developed Subsys after seeing his wife suffer and die from breast cancer.

During the trial, jurors heard from former employees who said Insys made a habit of hiring attractive women as representatives to boost sales of the drug. One former employee testified that a regional sales manager once gave a lap dance at a Chicago nightclub to a doctor whom Insys was pushing to write more prescriptions.

Jurors were also shown a rap video in which Insys employees danced and rapped around a person dressed as a giant bottle of the fentanyl spray. Prosecutors said the video was shown at a national sales meeting in 2015 and was intended to motivate reps to push Subsys to doctors.

The case was considered the first that sought to hold an opioid maker criminally liable for the drug crisis, which has claimed nearly 400,000 lives over the last two decades. At least two others have since faced criminal charges, but prominent companies including Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, have only faced suits that carry no threat of prison time.

After the trial, Insys reached a $225 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice to end its criminal and civil probes. The company has since filed for bankruptcy protection, and it's not clear whether the company will fully pay what's owed.

The company has been approved to sell off Subsys and its other drugs for about $30 million, but it maintains its assets, all told, are worth only $175 million.

Along with Kapoor, four others from Insys also were convicted last year, while two pleaded guilty and testified against their former colleagues. Alec Burlakoff, a former vice president of sales who pleaded guilty in 2018, also is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday in Boston.

Others in the case have been dealt sentences ranging from a year and a day to nearly three years in prison.
New Delhi [India], Jan 24 (ANI): Delhi High Court on Friday granted interim relief to the students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and directed that they need to register for the winter session within one week as per the old manual and that no late fee is to be charged.



Observing that 90 per cent of the students have already registered, Justice Rajiv Shakdar said, "As the remaining 10 per cent students are concerned, they need to register within one week as per the old manual. No late fee will be charged from them."

Justice Shakdar was hearing a petition filed by the students' union of the varsity (JNUSU) challenging the decision to amend the Hostel Manual contending that it is "malafide, arbitrary, illegal and adversely affects the student community".

The court also made the Central government, through the Ministry of Human Resource Development and University Grants Commission (UGC), a party to the case.

The court issued notices to the respondents in the case and granted two weeks' time for them to file a reply and slated the matter for the next hearing on February 28.

Senior advocate Akhil Sibal, appearing for JNUSU, told the court that the old hostel manual was altered in a nutshell without consulting the representatives of the student body.

Sibal said that a bunch of students had paid the increased fee in fear and dictat as the varsity ruled that the services would be withdrawn otherwise.

He said that prior to Oct 2019, the president and convener were members of the IHA.

On the other hand, Additional Solicitor-General Pinky Anand said that services and utility charges were waived by the UGC as per Jan 9, 2020 circular.

Sibal said that no definition of the reserved category has been issued by the varsity administration.

The petition had challenged the amendments including an increase in hostel fee, affecting the rights of those in reserved categories like allocation of hostel rooms, and reduced representation of JNUSU in the IHA amongst other changes. (ANI)


A LIMERICK pensioner who suffered from cancer has been accused of harassing the wife of an architectural planner, in a desperate bid to get back over 20,000 she claimed she was owed for a number of years.

Bride Ni Bheaglaoich, 68, of Dingle, County Kerry, who had previously resided in Ballylanders, was accused of harassing primary school teacher Emma Hurley in the form of ominous Facebook messages and postcards sent to her school.

Ms Ni Bheaglaoich is also accused of sending a letter to Ms Hurleys father, and emails to her mother, Marian Hurley, who at the time was a sitting Fine Gael councillor for Limerick City and County Council.

Emma Hurley is the wife of Ian Daniels, who owned architectural service, Absolute House Plans, with whom the defendant and her partner built a professional relationship following a trade event in November 2010.

Ms Hurley was a director of the company, which dissolved in 2013, Limerick District Court was told during a lengthy five-hour hearing on Thursday afternoon.

The alleged harassment is said to have taken place between the first Facebook message to Ms Hurley on July 15, 2014 and the letter to her father, Brian Hurley, on September 28, 2017.

The court heard that Ms Hurley and her husband first met Ms Ni Bheaglaoich and her partner, Graham Woodlock, at a trade expo in Limerick in November 2009, after which Mr Daniels agreed to draw up plans for a cottage extension at the defendants home in Ballylanders.

Outlining an overview of the case, Inspector Bill Wallace, of Henry Street garda station, said that the planning application was successful and that their relationship was a positive one at the start.

However, their relationship broke down after planning applications for properties in Tipperary and Kerry were unsuccessful.

Insp Liam Wallace said there was an agreement to pay money to the defendant over a dispute over the quality of the work that Mr Daniels had carried out.

He said that Ms Hurley received her first correspondence from the defendant in July 2014, and that the two parties were communicating between September 2014 and May 2015.

Ms Hurley told Ms Ni Bheaglaoich that she was being harassed and asked her to desist.

Despite being told to desist, such communication continued, and culminated in postcards being sent to the injured partys place of work, Insp Wallace told Judge Marian OLeary, presiding.

But he said that a letter to Ms Hurleys father was the catalyst for her to file a garda complaint against the defendant.

Defending solicitor Sarah Ryan said that Mr Daniels had told lies about carrying out work, and that her clients were 22,400 out of pocket and that they were looking for their money back.

Giving evidence, Ms Hurley said that she had only met Ms Ni Bheaglaoich once, and that there was no communication until she saw Facebook messages in her others folder on July 15, 2014.

I recognised that they were clients of Ian, she told the court.

The big long messages sent to Ms Hurley said that the defendant had a stressful past few years suffering with breast cancer, and had accused her husband of criminal behaviour as she claimed they were owed over 20,000.

The court heard that Ms Ni Bheaglaoich was going to use money that was to be made off the properties for life-saving treatment in Germany.

If I die soon, I hope your conscience can deal with it, the defendant allegedly said in a Facebook message.

Ms Hurley said she was shocked and said she didnt believe what I was reading.

She told the court that, in the months leading up to that moment, she noticed her husband on the phone a lot and had stress levels going through the roof.

Ms Hurley said that Mr Daniels told her that Ms Ni Bheaglaoich and her partner were putting me under savage pressure.

Ms Hurley said she initially believed what she was claiming and told the defendant at the time that she would talk to Ian about it.

She said that her husband told her that he had not been 100% upfront about what was going on. The court heard that issues arose with planning over drainage.

He didnt want to add to their worries...he wanted to get it across the line for them, Ms Hurley told the court.

On a later date, Ms Ni Bheaglaoich allegedly sent an email to then-councillor Marian Hurley saying we want our money and that they would go away quietly.

The court heard that the email also allegedly said: The press would love this which Emma Hurley described as horrifying.

Mr Daniels met with Mr Woodlock in late July where she claimed he apologised for the defendants behaviour and that she was on strong medication.

However, Insp Wallace said that Ms Hurley could not give evidence that did not directly relate to her.

On August 19, 2014, Ms Ni Bheaglaoich allegedly wrote to Ms Hurley on Facebook saying time is running out.

On September 23, she allegedly wrote to the primary school teacher: I will meet you at the school.

I was horrified. How did she even know where I taught? Ms Hurley told the court.

Ms Ni Bheaglaoich then allegedly wrote to Ms Hurley, saying: I need the money for treatment. Just ask Ian to pay us what he owes and you will never hear from me again.

After this, Ms Hurley told her, I feel you are harassing me and asked her please stop messaging me.

On April 20, 2015, she arrived in the classroom and found a postcard on her desk with a weird, kind of, sad face.

I lifted it up to say: Who did this?

She then noticed the back of the card which said that we should pay 22,400, she said. There was a stamp, but no post mark, she said.

Had she come to the school and put it on my table? My hands were shaking, and one of the kids said: Are you okay?

She said, the whole purpose of it was to publicly shame me. The secretary of her school later confirmed that it had come via the post, she said.

Two other postcards were sent to the school on April 30 and May 6, the court heard.

I had to rise above it and try not to get stressed about it, she said, adding that she was pregnant at the time.

I really felt I was going to miscarry the baby.

After Ms Hurley blocked Ms Ni Bheaglaoich on Facebook in June 2015, she alleged that Mr Woodlock contacted her on the same platform.

He allegedly said: Bride will be sending more postcards to your school while you are on summer holidays.

On September 28, 2017, her father Brian Hurley received a letter via registered post.

I said to Ian that I couldnt deal with it. I couldnt go back to that horrendous time of my life. Something has to be done, she said, adding that her mind was going crazy.

In cross-examination, Sarah Ryan said that she had taken an oath to tell the truth and put it to her that she knew how her client knew Marian Hurley.

Ms Ryan said that Ms Hurley said that Ms Ni Bheaglaoich knew Mr Daniels mother-in-law because shes a public representative and that there were posters.

Is there an additional reason? Ms Ryan asked, to which she said she didnt know.

Was she working in Shannon Development? Your husband told my client that your mother could help her secure planning permission. I am telling you that is how she knew.

Ms Hurley accused Ms Ryan of being pedantic and said: I dont know what my husband says to his clients.

When asked what her company responsibilities were, Ms Hurley said: Every now and then, I will go in to sign documents as director, but thats it.

Ms Ryan said: You said that your husband gave all the money back.

He said he did, she replied.

Is your husband a liar or a truthful individual? Ms Ryan asked.

He is truthful.

During the hearing, Ms Ryan made reference to a Facebook message from Ms Hurley to Ms Ni Bheaglaoich in which she allegedly described Ian Daniels as a compulsive liar.

Ms Hurley said that she said this before she spoke with Mr Daniels.

In another message, read out by Ms Ryan, Ms Hurley allegedly wrote: I am so sorry for all that Ian has put you through.

When did he tell you that he paid all the money?

I dont remember the specific date, Ms Hurley replied.

She said that morally her husband felt he should pay them back. She said that the couple had paid him 7,300 and that he had paid them back.

Giving evidence, Detective Garda Shane Graham, of Henry Street garda station, said that he had received a complaint of harassment against Ms Ni Bheaglaoich in the form of texts, emails, Facebook messages, postcards and letters.

He said that Mr Daniels suffered a breakdown and was seeing a psychologist, and that his business suffered as a result.

Det Gda Graham referenced 64 emails between the defendant and Ian Daniels, discussing the various projects.

He said that, in an interview with gardai, she admitted writing the postcards.

Ms Ryan said that the essence of the emails is that Mr Daniels was untruthful about his work.

The solicitor said that of the 22,400 her client claimed she was owed, 6,000 was spent for the planning applications in Kerry and Tipperary; 3,200 was spent on environment impact assessments; a loss of an SEAI grant; 530 for a percolation test; and 8,000 for loss of revenue with the house.

The court heard that she paid for all services in advance.

Ms Ryan said that her client was in a desperate situation.

Giving evidence, Bride Ni Bheaglaoich claimed that Mr Daniels gave Mr Woodlock a compulsory purchase order [CPO] document in relation to a property in Tipperary.

She alleged that it was signed by an S Coffey and that it was forged.

Speaking from the witness box, she said when she contacted Tipperary County Council, it replied that no such letter was sent from this office.

She claimed that she has a recording of him admitting that he forged the document.

She said she gave Mr Daniels 3,000 for the cottage extension planning in Ballylanders, County Limerick.

I thought I might get some decent money for it. Whatever he did, he messed it up, she said, adding that she was informed that part of her home was not planning compliant.

She eventually sold the property for 160,000, she told the court.

She said she realised she could have secured the planning permission herself and that it would have cost me a couple of hundred euros.

She said she wanted to move to her fathers home in Dingle. She said she was told by Mr Daniels You have planning permission  its through.

What led you to doubt that he was telling the truth? Ms Ryan asked.

She replied that when she rang Kerry County Council, the application had not been submitted.

She claims that she was told that a man in England wanted to purchase her Kerry site for 500,000.

Why else was the money so important? Ms Ryan asked.

Ms Ni Bheaglaoich said that after she retired, she received a 12,000 lump sum, and that she was now on an income of 17,000.

The defendant told the court that taking legal action against Mr Daniels would be a long protracted case and that is something I couldnt afford.

She said it was not her intention to harass anyone.

When she hears the truth, she might make him do what he was paid to, she told the court.

When asked why she contacted Brian Hurley, she said that she had read somewhere that he was a direct descendant of Michael Collins.

If he is a direct descendent of Michael Collins, surely he has a conscience, she told the court.

Cross-examining the defendant, Insp Wallace asked: How did you find his address?

Ms Ni Bheaglaoich said she knew he was married to a county councillor and found the address online.

So, you did your research? he said.

I wouldnt call it research, she replied.

Ms Ni Bheaglaoich said she was never happy with Mr Daniels services.

Why did you pay him if you were never happy with his services? asked Insp Wallace.

She replied: I actually trusted him.

How would you feel about getting a postcard at your workplace? he asked.

If I had done what Ian Daniels did to me, I would have deserved that and more.

She added that she didnt think it was harassment, and that she was just looking for my money back.

Insp Wallace, in his closing statement, said that the matter was straight forward.

Judge Marian OLeary adjourned the matter to Thursday, February 6, and requested a copy of all the responses between the two parties.
Trump, who once said he was very pro-choice, is first US president to attend the annual anti-abortion rights rally.

Donald Trump became the first United States president to attend the annual March for Life in Washington, DC, on Friday, unleashing a fierce attack on his Democratic rivals during a rally in an election-year show of support for opponents of abortion rights.

Unborn children have never had a stronger defender in the White House, the Republican president, who once said he was was pro-choice in every respect, told thousands of cheering people at the rally, touting his anti-abortion rights policies and his appointments of conservatives to the federal judiciary including Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch.

Demonstrators from around the country converged on a cool, overcast day in the US capital for the event held annually around the anniversary of the Supreme Courts landmark 1973 Roe v Wade decision that recognised a womans constitutional right to an abortion and legalised the procedure nationwide. Many high school and college students joined in the rally.

Trump, seeking re-election on November 3, addressed the event in the midst of his impeachment trial in the US Senate on charges passed by the Democratic-led House of Representatives. While not mentioning impeachment, he assailed congressional Democrats on abortion policy. Trump drew loud applause from the crowd.

Among his most loyal political supporters are evangelical Christians, who strongly oppose abortion rights. The event took on aspects of a campaign rally, with Trump lashing out at his political opponents and some in the crowd chanting Four more years!

Anti-abortion rights activists carry a banner during the 47th annual March for Life in Washington, DC [Kevin Lamarque/Reuters]

Trump, who years earlier had supported abortion rights, cast himself as a committed abortion opponent on religious grounds.

We know that every human soul is divine and ever human life, born and unborn, is made in the holy image of almighty God, Trump said.

Trump pledged during the 2016 presidential campaign to appoint justices who would overturn Roe v Wade.

Abortion remains one of the most divisive issues in the US. About 58 percent of US adults say abortion should be legal in most or all cases, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll last year.

Past US presidents have opted to stay away from the march, though Republicans Ronald Reagan and George W Bush both previously delivered remarks to the rally remotely.

Roe v Wade

The Supreme Court on March 4 will hear arguments in a major case concerning the legality of abortion clinic regulations in Louisiana that could lead to new curbs on access to the procedure.

The case will test the willingness of the court, which has a 5-4 conservative majority that includes Trumps two appointees, to uphold Republican-backed abortion restrictions being pursued in numerous conservative states.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive health research and policy organisation, more than 55 abortion restrictions were passed in state legislatures last year. Many of these restrictions were blocked by the courts. Anti-abortion rights activists and politicians say their goal is to get the Supreme Court to reconsider the Roe v Wade decision.

More than 140 measures were implemented in 2019 that improve sexual and reproductive health.

Some at the rally on Friday held signs with slogans including Most Pro-Life President Ever, Stop Killing Babies and I Am The Pro-Life Generation.

Many were from religious groups and conservative nonprofit organisations.

Among them was Anne Fitzgerald, 44, who said that at age 21 she gave up her daughter for adoption so she could finish college. She now runs Days of Tears, a Virginia nonprofit that advocates against abortion, and said she was marching to help women recognise that in the moment of a decision between raising or aborting a child, adoption is a viable option.

Fitzgerald said she was at first sceptical of Trumps stance on abortion, but is proud he turned out to be strong ally.

Trump delivered remarks by video at the 2019 march. Vice President Mike Pence attended the event in person last year.

A war on women

Outside the Supreme Court, anti-abortion rights demonstrators in the march were met by abortion rights activists, some of whom held signs saying Keep abortion safe and legal and Safe abortion is a human right. There were also some activists backing Trumps removal from office.

Emily Goodman, 33, who stood with several fellow supporters of abortion rights during the march, said the event reeks of a form of religious fundamentalism.

What the pro-life advocates seem to be focused on is bussing in young people with signs to declare that their side of the argument is right and no other opinion matters, said Goodman, who volunteers for a Washington-based nonprofit organisation. I wish there was a conversation today, involving two sides, focused on a womans ability to both hold her view on abortion yet not impose that view onto another.

Pro- and anti-abortion rights activists demonstrate in front of the US Supreme Court during the 47th annual March for Life [Oliver Douliery/AFP]

Rights groups have accused the Trump administration of waging a war against womens rights and reproductive health by reinstating and expanding the global gag rule, appointing anti-abortion rights activists to key posts in federal departments dealing with womens health and seeking to cut Title X funding to health providers that perform abortions or make abortion referrals.

Earlier this week, his administration announced new visa restrictions on pregnant women to combat birth tourism.

It is unclear how the rule will be enforced as immigration officials cannot ask during visa interviews whether a woman is pregnant or intends to become so.

Many supported the rule, but critics slammed it, saying targeting pregnant women was a new low.
Irish police are investigating the deaths of two brothers and a sister, all under the age of 10, at a home on the outskirts of Dublin.

The bodies of Conor, Darragh and Carla McGinley, aged nine, seven and three respectively, were discovered at a home in the village of Newcastle, county Dublin - according to officers who have described their deaths as unexplained.

A woman in her 40s has since been taken to Tallaght hospital, with Gardai confirming she is related to the three children. Officers are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident.,

They added that a family liaison officer was in contact with their father Andrew McGinley and the extended family.

Both the children and the woman are believed to have lived at the house where the incident took place.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Neighbours, including parents with young children, attended the house throughout the morning leaving flowers at the door of the home which was guarded by a number of officers as forensic investigators continued inside.

Councillor for the area Emer Higgins described the events as an unimaginable tragedy.

My thoughts are with everybody impacted, said the Fine Gael representative.

This is a really tight-knit community, its a small area, its a quiet area and its just unthinkable that something like this could be happening on our doorstep.

Its so tragic. Its unbelievable that three young peoples lives could be cut short like that, in what seems to be a particularly tragic case.

Additional reporting by PA.
S A Bobde on Friday made a case for speedy resolution of saying it will act as an incentive for tax payers and free the funds locked in litigation.

The Chief Justice said tax judiciary plays a very important role in resource mobilisation of the country and expressed concern over pendency of cases.

"A just and speedy dispute resolution is perceived as a tax incentive by the taxpayer. To the tax collector, an efficient tax judiciary assures that demands arising out of legitimate assessment are not strangled in delayed litigation," Bobde said at the 79th foundation day celebrations of Appellate Tribunal.

The pendency of appeal cases related to indirect taxes in the Supreme Court, High Court and CESTAT has reduced 61 per cent to 1.05 lakh in almost two years.

According to official data, total pendency of appeals at the Supreme Court, High Court and CESTAT (Customs Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal) as on June 30, 2017, was 2,73,591, whereas the same significantly came down to 1,05,756 as on March 31, 2019, a reduction of 61 per cent.

With regard to direct taxes, as many as 3.41 lakh cases were pending before commissioner (appeals), while 92,205 cases were pending before the Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) as on March 31, 2019.

Ask about setting up more tribunals for reducing pendency in High Court and lower judiciary, the Chief Justice said "You have to be careful that we don't only transfer pendency."



He further said that people should know what is due from them and government should know what is due to them that can be achieved through early disposal of cases.

The Chief Justice said that while tax evasion is a social injustice to the fellow citizens, arbitrary or excessive tax also results in social injustice by a government.

Referring to ancient laws in India around taxation, the Chief Justice said that tax should be collected from people like honey bee draws nectar from flowers without harming it.

Bobde emphasised on the use of next generation technology artificial intelligence to expedite the process with caution that it should not replace the human discretion required for delivering justice.

"I am firmly of the view based on experience of systems that have used artificial intelligence that it is only the repetitive area or decision making that is rates of taxation etc or something which is invariably the same which is in a sense mechanical that must be covered by artificial intelligence. I do not believe that artificial intelligence should ever be allowed to substitute the human discretion which is necessary for a just decision making," he said.
ST-HENRI-DE-TAILLON, QUE.Quebec provincial police say theyve found the body of one of the five missing snowmobilers from France in the provinces Lac-Saint-Jean region.

Police say the body was found around two kilometres from where police found submerged snowmobiles and other personal items on Thursday, but they did not identify which of the missing men was found.

Four tourists are still unaccounted for as authorities continue to search on land, on the water and from the air.

For reasons that remain unclear, the group of nine snowmobilers, including their Quebec guide, left the safety of the marked trail through the woods and ventured towards the icy expanse of Lac-Saint-Jean, where the ice gave way somewhere between St-Henri-de-Taillon and Alma.

Two of them managed to get a third person out of the water and alerted authorities. Their guide, 42-year-old Benoit LEsperance of Montreal, was recovered from the freezing waters and died later in hospital.

The five missing French snowmobilers were identified by police as Gilles Claude, 58, Yan Thierry and Jean-Rene Dumoulin, both 24, Julien Benoit, 34, and Arnaud Antoine, 25.

Read more about:
Boeing, still in crisis mode due to the grounding of the 737 MAX, is considering further production cuts to another key commercial plane, a person close to the matter said on Friday.

The move could affect the 787 Dreamliner plane, which is bigger than the MAX and was the company's most-delivered jet in 2019 while MAX deliveries were halted.

In October, Boeing trimmed 787 output to 12 from 14 per month, describing the move as necessary given lower orders from China.

The company may cut the 787 output further, the source said, confirming a report on CNBC.

Boeing would maintain a "disciplined rate management process taking into account a host of risks and opportunities," a company spokesman said on Friday.

"We will continue to assess the demand environment and make adjustments as appropriate in the future."



Former chief executive Dennis Muilenburg said in October that Boeing expected the lower 787 production rate for two years and stressed that the company was still bullish on the long-term prospects for the jet, which can seat between 250 and 335 people.

Boeing is expected to benefit from the US-China trade agreement signed last week that commits China to increased purchases of $78 billion in manufactured goods such as aircraft.

Boeing on Monday signalled it does not expect to receive regulatory approval to return the MAX to service before mid-2020, a later timeline than had been expected and one that has sharpened concerns about a deeper economic hit from the crisis.

The company is set to update investors when it reports earnings on January 29.

Shares of Boeing dipped 0.4 per cent to USD 316.60 in midday trading.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prasanta Mazumdar By

Express News Service

GUWAHATI: Two persons died of a mysterious disease at a village near the India-Myanmar border in Manipurs Ukhrul district prompting the states health department to send a team of medical experts there.

Official sources said the team collected the blood samples of some villagers for laboratory tests.

The deaths occurred at Khamasom Phungthar. While two persons died within a span of two days, as many others with similar symptoms were admitted to hospitals.

Four-year-old girl Philangam died within hours since complaining of restlessness in the stomach on January 17. A woman, Valleyjoy (38), had also complained of restlessness in the stomach and vomited before her death on January 19. She too died within hours since falling sick.

Chihanpam Ramrak, the village chief, said some black marks were noticed on the body of Philangam and the body and legs of Valleyjoy prior to their deaths.

He has written to Chief Minister N Biren Singh informing that the disease was spreading fast and expressing the apprehension that more people would fall prey to it if some urgent measures were not taken by the government.

Manipurs Health and Family Welfare Minister, L Jayantakumar, said the medical team would prepare a detailed report for further necessary actions. He said he had already spoken with Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on the matter.


The Delhi High Court on Friday allowed students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University who had not registered for the next semester to protest the fee hike to complete the formalities according to the older fee structure.

Justice Rajiv Shakdher, who was hearing a petition filed by the JNU students union leaders including president Aishe Ghosh, said about 10 per cent students who had stayed away from the registration process should register within the next one week.

The judge also told the university that it would not levy any late fee on these students.

The petition by JNUSU office bearers had asked the high court to intervene and order the university administration to roll back changes made to the hostel manual and the fee structure last year.

The petition had argued that the inter-hostel administrations (IHA) October 28, 2019, order on the hostel manual was arbitrary and illegal.

The students have also challenged the high-level committees decision to amend the hostel manual on November 25. In the petition filed through lawyer Abhik Chimni, the students said the changes had led to an increase in hostel fees, affected the rights of reserved categories and allocation of hostel rooms, and reduced the representation of the students union in the IHA among other issues.

It said the high-level committee notified on November 24 had made further illegal amendments to the hostel manual and introduced a new below poverty line category though the executive council minutes did not explain how it was being made applicable to students.

The plea said that before the amendment, the students benefited by a scheme known as the merit-cum-means scholarships. This scheme is meant for students whose annual income does not exceed Rs 2,50, 000. However, after the recent changes, the students would now not be able to avail the benefits of this scheme, it said.

The case would be heard on February 28.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- To commemorate Beer Can Appreciation Day, this morning, the Beer Institute released an animated video, Cracking the Case of Price Spikes, highlighting transparency issues in the aluminum market.

CLICK TO WATCH "CRACKING THE CASE OF PRICE SPIKES"

Americas brewers purchase more than 36 billion aluminum cans every year, and aluminum is the most significant input cost for our nations beer industry, said Jim McGreevy, President and CEO of Beer Institute. Due to a combination of tariffs and an obscure aluminum pricing system known as the Midwest Premium, brewers who support more than 2.1 million well-paying jobs across the United States have seen their aluminum costs skyrocket. On Beer Can Appreciation Day, Beer Institute urges beer enthusiasts across the nation to call their elected leaders and urge them to vote for increased transparency in aluminum benchmarking and pricing that follows American market principles.

Most aluminum beer producers use in the United States is either recycled aluminum or imported from Canada  neither of which should be subject to 10% aluminum tariffs implemented by the Administration in March 2018. However, the Midwest Premium more than doubled after implementation of tariffs and brewers are still being charged a full tariff-paid premium on all aluminum. Between March 2018 and July 2019, the American beverage industry paid an additional $458 million on aluminum it purchased. However, the U.S. treasury only collected $73 million, or 16% of that amount.

Beer Can Appreciation Day marks the day in 1935 when the G. Krueger Brewing Company first sold beer in cans to the public. On January 22, 1959, the seamless all-aluminum can designed by William Coors made its debut with a 7-ounce can of Coors Banquet. This new recyclable can design revolutionized the beverage container industry, and it is now the standard for cans for both alcohol and non-alcohol beverages. Today, more than 57 percent of beer sold in the United States is in an aluminum container, and aluminum is the largest commodity costs for brewers.

For more information, visit: https://www.beerinstitute.org/beer-policy/regulatory/fair-aluminum-pricing/ or https://www.beerinstitute.org/it-is-time-for-transparency-in-aluminum-benchmarking/



###

The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing brewers of all sizes, as well as beer importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility. For additional updates from the Beer Institute, visit our website, follow @BeerInstitute on Twitter, like the Beer Institute on Facebook, and follow the Beer Institute on Instagram.
Every year, around 3,000 new cases of cervical cancer are reported in the UK. Despite approximately 99.8 per cent of cases being preventable, there are still many misconceptions surrounding cervical cancer. World Cancer Day on 4 February aims to raise global awareness about the disease, potential symptoms and preventative measures.

I come from the back end of Hertfordshire but had been living it up in the Big Smoke (read, eating toast twice a day) for almost half a decade when everything went skew-whiff. It was 4 November 2014; a date that looks very pleasing when you see it written down but was in fact the day I had my legs in the air (not in a fun way) and heard the words Id be very surprised if this wasnt cervical cancer. It was. Remember, remember the fourth of November, bad news, tears and snot.

Fast forward to today, and Im celebrating five years (and one month) all clear. Well, I didnt actually celebrate it, I was in the vets with my cat and his ongoing urinary problems, but you know what I mean. I spent the last five years in an unsavoury vaginal vacuum, waiting for something bad to happen again, but the relief of reaching this milestone is indescribable.

I was very unlucky to get cervical cancer at 24, as the number of cases diagnosed under the age of 25 are very low, but I was extremely fortunate that it was caught at all.

Unlike the other four gynaecological cancers (womb, ovarian, vulval and vaginal), in the UK there is a preventative-screening programme for cervical cancer [which is available free on the NHS to anyone with a cervix from the age of 25 to 64]. There is also a vaccine against HPV, a virus which causes over 99 per cent of cervical cancers. The vaccine is now given to all boys and girls aged 12-13 but that wasnt the case when I was a teenager. I was both too old for the vaccine and too young to be invited for a screening test. So I had neither.

Mastectomy: Stand Up To Cancer launches powerful photo campaign Show all 13 1 /13 Mastectomy: Stand Up To Cancer launches powerful photo campaign Mastectomy: Stand Up To Cancer launches powerful photo campaign Joanna, Newcastle (Image: Ami Barwell) Mastectomy: Stand Up To Cancer launches powerful photo campaign Mel, Merseyside (Image: Ami Barwell) Mastectomy: Stand Up To Cancer launches powerful photo campaign Lucy, Wakefield (Image: Ami Barwell) Mastectomy: Stand Up To Cancer launches powerful photo campaign Sharon, Bath (Image: Ami Barwell) Mastectomy: Stand Up To Cancer launches powerful photo campaign Jan, Hereford (Image: Ami Barwell) Mastectomy: Stand Up To Cancer launches powerful photo campaign Gillian, London (Image: Ami Barwell) Mastectomy: Stand Up To Cancer launches powerful photo campaign Fiona, Northampton (Image: Ami Barwell) Mastectomy: Stand Up To Cancer launches powerful photo campaign Anon S, West Midlands (Image: Ami Barwell) Mastectomy: Stand Up To Cancer launches powerful photo campaign Debbie W, Worcestershire (Image: Ami Barwell) Mastectomy: Stand Up To Cancer launches powerful photo campaign Debbie B, York (Image: Ami Barwell) Mastectomy: Stand Up To Cancer launches powerful photo campaign Clare, North Lincolnshire (Image: Ami Barwell) Mastectomy: Stand Up To Cancer launches powerful photo campaign Caroline, Brancaster (Image: Ami Barwell) Mastectomy: Stand Up To Cancer launches powerful photo campaign Anon (Image: Ami Barwell)

In fact prior to my diagnosis, Id only heard vague mutterings on the mum-and-older-friends-grapevine about going for your smear test but that was along with complaints of how sore their boobs were when they had them squashed during a mammogram. I certainly didnt know anything about the cervix itself (other than from cheesy films where the doctor shouts, THE CERVIX IS 10 CENTIMETRES DILATED, YOU GOTTA START PUSHING, JACKIE!!!). My sex education had consisted of being told that girls will get periods and boys will have wet dreams.

My period started when I was 11, so I was used to seeing (put your tomato soup down) blood coming out of my vagina. When I began to bleed in between periods, I didnt think much of it. Then when I bled heavily after having sex with my (awful) boyfriend at the time, I quite literally sat up and paid attention. These are the only two symptoms that I had and I wasnt in any pain. Abnormal vaginal bleeding in between periods, after sex, or after the menopause, are key signs of cervical cancer. If you experience any of these symptoms, most of the time it will be something a lot less serious, but get it checked out, just in case.

Just before Christmas 2014, I had an operation called a radical trachelectomy (it still takes me about three attempts to spell it right), which removed my whole cervix, surrounding tissue, pelvic lymph nodes and the upper third of my vagina. It sounds invasive, and yes, it was. For weeks I couldnt do housework or shopping. A few things surprised me about my time in hospital: I really enjoyed having a catheter, I felt very vulnerable not being able to even put my own knickers on and I missed my eyebrow pencil so very, very much.

(Karen Hobbs (Karen Hobbs)

Unsurprisingly, my life changed significantly once I knew I wouldnt be dying on this occasion. I went from knowing next to nothing about gynae health to running Ask Eve, a free information service with The Eve Appeals nurse specialist. My days are spent talking about vaginas, and my evenings are spent joking about them (amongst other things), because a year after my operation, I finally plucked up the courage to give stand-up comedy a damn good go. I remember thinking, well if Ive survived cancer, I can survive this.

It turns out that comedy is the scarier of the two, but I love it. I suppose starting stand-up was the brave part of life after cancer, but the brave is very much balanced by the broken. Its well known that many people suffer from poor mental health after theyve experienced a trauma, or at least their experience takes a huge toll on them mentally.

Since being diagnosed with cancer, Ive also been diagnosed with anxiety and depression. Im a triple threat. I dont know if this was brought on by having cancer at a young age, or it was always mapped out for me and would have happened regardless of my cervical status. Its quite tiring trying to stop the scales from constantly tipping between the extremities of "seize the day", "whats the point?" and "what if I find out I cant seize the day?

The awful boyfriend I referred to earlier, turned out to be cheating on me for a long time, including whilst I was in hospital. You might be reading this and thinking, "I bet she dumped him immediately!" but I actually stayed in that unhealthy relationship for a lot longer than I (think) I would have if Id not just had life-saving surgery when I found out. The problem was that I was nervous to be alone, and worried about someone new not being able to cope with the new me. The post-cancer Karen. It took a while to realise it didnt have to be one or the other, I could actually survive and believe it or not, thrive on my own.

I now feel like its my job (and I guess it technically is) to encourage people to go for their cervical screening. But I cant do that without acknowledging my privilege in all of this. Im sharing my story and desperately promoting cervical cancer awareness as a cis, straight, white, educated woman, without a disability, who has a relatively positive relationship with her body. I didnt have to face any of the additional barriers enforced by society or the screening system when it came to accessing healthcare and getting my cancer diagnosis.

Theres a lot that needs to be done in terms of addressing why people dont attend their screening appointments, but for those who are just putting it off, have moved it to the bottom of their crammed to do list, think oh Ill be fine, or they feel embarrassed to get naked from the waist down, or that the test isnt relevant to them, I will say this: If you have a cervix, you are at risk of getting cervical cancer. Yes, the chances are you will be absolutely fine, but what if youre missing out on the chance to save your life?
For years, as China has spent heavily in Latin America, Colombia -- Washington's closest regional ally -- has stood out as the major country with the smallest Chinese investment. That's changing, and fast.

In the past several months, Chinese companies have reached deals on Bogota's first metro line, a railway to neighboring towns and a gold mining company, amounting to a bigger total investment than over the previous 15 years, according to the American Enterprise Institute's China Investment Tracker.

Colombia's ties with the U.S., especially after the 2000 launch of the Plan Colombia counter-narcotics program, have kept it looking north. But with U.S. dependability called into question in the Trump era, Colombia is "diversifying relationships," according to Margaret Myers, director of the Asia and Latin America Program at the Inter-American Dialogue.

"A number of years ago there was concern about angering the United States by engaging more extensively with China," Myers said. "But certainly the U.S. has not been the same trustworthy and steadfast partner under the current leadership as it has been previously."

Although Colombian President Ivan Duque is deeply pro-American and has teamed up with Washington to isolate Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro, President Donald Trump attacked him last March for his failure to curb cocaine traffic. Trump said Duque has "done nothing for us" and threatened to "decertify" Colombia as a partner in the war on drugs. That would lump it with Venezuela, meaning the U.S. would end most economic aid and automatically vote against Colombian loans from organizations such as the World Bank.

The White House backed away from that threat, and during a visit to Bogota this week Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. values the "important friendship" with Colombia and will continue to prioritize it. Still, Colombians worry about the future.

Last July, Duque visited Beijing where President Xi Jinping assured him that China would respect Latin America's right to pick its own development path. China, the world's second-largest economy, is on a constant hunt for new markets and sources for natural resources, even as some of its deals have fallen apart in poorer countries. Pan Deng, secretary general of the Latin American Studies Center of Charhar Institute in Beijing, says that Colombia has improved conditions for foreign investment and China is testing new models by joining consortia with foreign companies.

China says it isn't trying to compete with Washington for political influence, only to invest. The Trump administration has bristled at this however, invoking the Monroe Doctrine, a two-century-old claim of U.S. primacy in Latin America. This month, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi dismissed the doctrine as "out of date."

On Thursday in Davos, Duque was asked in an interview with Bloomberg whether he's concerned about the rivalry.

"We don't see this as a geopolitical battle," he replied. "We see this as calling for international investment in the country. The Bogota metro was a public bid. A Chinese consortium won it because theirs was the better offer."

Washington is especially concerned about the building of 5G networks and China's ability to control how countries are wired or communicate internally, according to a U.S. official. Huawei Technologies Co. and ZTE Corp., both of which have been labeled potential security threats by the Trump administration, are already in Colombia.

Minister of Commerce Jose Manuel Restrepo said his goal isn't only more Chinese investment but tourists and selling Colombian farm products there.

There are growing Chinese investments in smaller Colombian industries, such as hotels and consumer industries, noted David Mauricio Castrillon, who teaches at Universidad Externado de Colombia. A ride-hailing service, DiDi Chuxing Inc., began operating last year.

Students are increasingly considering scholarships in China, a state visit from a senior Chinese politician is under discussion and the Colombian government is talking about possibly joining China's massive Belt and Road Initiative, a global development strategy giving it extensive reach and influence. Western officials have warned that poorer countries may wind up burdened by debt when they accept loans as part of the initiative. Bolivia, Uruguay and Venezuela are members.

In fact, all of Latin America is rapidly growing more comfortable with China's money. In recent years, Brazil received $66 billion in Chinese investment, Peru $25 billion and Chile $9 billion. Chinese trade with the region jumped to $225 billion in 2016 from $12 billion in 2000, according to Jason Marczak, a director at the Atlantic Council, a Washington-based think tank. China is the biggest trading partner for Brazil, Chile and Peru.

Now China is finding newly fertile ground in Colombia, which provides it mostly with crude oil.

"Colombia is not only about increasing access to basic commodities critical for Chinese consumers, but it's also about providing new opportunities for Chinese firms that are otherwise running out of infrastructure-building opportunities in China," said Marczak.

In October, state-owned China Harbour Engineering Co. led a group of companies that won the more-than-$4 billion Bogota metro contract. Two months later, a separate Chinese consortium won a $1.1 billion contract to construct the rail line. And in December, China's Zijin Mining Group Co. announced it agreed to buy Continental Gold Inc. for $1 billion (C$1.37 billion), giving it control of the Buritica gold project in Colombia.

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Juan Gabriel Perez, the head of Invest in Bogota, said given the increased investment from China he plans to hire a Mandarin speaker this year.

Besides building the metro, China Harbour Engineering, which joined China's Xi'An Metro and Canada's Bombardier Inc., will operate it for 20 years. The group was chosen in a public process over a consortium led by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim's Carso Infraestructura y Construccion with Spanish and French firms.

The company said it was attracted to Bogota, in part, because it resembles Xi'an, a city of nearly 13 million in northwest China. Both are expanding and undergoing positive social change, the company said in response to questions.

China Harbour and its parent company, state-owned China Communications Construction Company Ltd., have won major projects across the region, including a bridge over the Panama Canal, a shipping container terminal in Mexico and a port in the Bahamas. It made its foray into Colombia last year, striking a deal to build a highway near Medellin.

Mei Xinyu, a senior researcher at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, which is affiliated with the commerce ministry, says China isn't trying to pry Colombia away from the U.S. It needs that stability inherent in that relationship.

"Chinese companies are in Latin America to do business, not to create political conflict," Mei said. "China wants places it invests in to have normal relations with the U.S., especially if they have very close ties already. Any deterioration in economic and political relations between the two countries would impact investments, especially with large infrastructure projects."

_ _ _

With assistance from Bloomberg's Lucille Liu, Alfred Cang, Dandan Li and Brendan Scott.


The U.S. government has published new visa rules aimed at restricting what officials are calling birth tourism.

"Birth tourism" is when women travel to the United States to give birth so their children can have a U.S. passport.

The Associated Press reported Thursday that the State Department does not believe that such a visit is a legitimate activity for pleasure or of a recreational nature.

Under the new rules, U.S. officials can deny a tourist visa if they believe a woman is coming to the country mainly to give birth. Visitors will have to prove they have a medical need. And they must prove that they have the money to pay for medical treatment, including living and transportation costs.

The measures take effect Friday.

The practice of traveling to the United States to give birth is actually legal. Some women even show signed agreements with doctors and hospitals when asking for a tourist visa. However, U.S. officials have arrested operators of birth tourism businesses for visa fraud or avoiding tax payment.

Under the U.S. Constitution, anyone born in the country is considered a citizen. But President Donald Trump wants to end the right to citizenship for babies born to non-U.S. citizens on American soil.

His administrations new visa rule is a way to deal with the issue. But it raises questions about how U.S. consular officers would know whether a woman is pregnant or how they could turn her away because they suspect she is pregnant.

Consular officers do not have the right to ask during visa interviews whether a woman is pregnant or plans to become so. But they would still have to decide whether a visa applicant would be coming to the United States only to give birth.

The State Department says an entire birth tourism industry has developed to help pregnant women giving birth in the U.S.

Companies charge up to $80,000 to set up visa, travel, hotel and medical care for pregnant women. Many come from Russia and China to give birth in U.S. hospitals.

The Center for Immigration Studies supports stronger U.S. immigration laws. It estimated that in 2012 about 36,000 foreign-born women gave birth in the United States and then left the country.

I'm Anne Ball.

The Associated Press reported this story. Hai Do adapted the report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

tourism - n. the activity of traveling to a place for pleasure

legitimate - adj. permitted under the rules or laws

practice - n. something that is done often or regularly

fraud - n. the crime of using dishonest methods to take something valuable

interview - n. a meeting in order to ask questions and get information
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Given the choice between receiving health care in the hospital or their homes, Americans would prefer the latter. A recent study by the Nationwide Retirement Institute revealed that three in four older adults would prefer to receive long-term care in their own homes. As more and more Americans look to in-home health care to serve their long-term care needs, Nationwide is working to make sure patients and in-home health care providers are getting the support they need.

Nationwide's venture capital team has invested in the Series A for Vesta Healthcare, the 24/7 technology and clinical services dedicated to supporting caregivers and connecting their insights to the rest of the care team. The funding comes from Nationwide's $100 million venture capital investment fund.

"Caregivers have a huge impact on a person's ability to live comfortably in retirement. We are thrilled to support Vesta in connecting home caregivers to the clinical environment to create a meaningful impact on people's daily health," says Erik Ross, head of Nationwide's venture capital team. "We see our investment as embodying Nationwide's mission of protecting people, businesses and futures with extraordinary care."

Vesta Healthcare improves health outcomes for seniors with high and rising health needs by connecting in-home caregiver insights, advanced analytics and 24/7 telehealth with the patient's surrounding care team.

"People want to live at home as they age, but too often do not have the support they need to do so safely and comfortably. We support and engage high needs seniors and their caregivers by capturing daily insights and providing timely and personalized information, tools and clinical support. In doing so we provide peace of mind while preventing unnecessary emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and nursing home stays" said Randy Klein, Chief Executive Officer at Vesta Healthcare. "We are delighted to have an experienced, passionate and dedicated investor like Nationwide investing in us who shares our vision of meaningfully impacting people's daily health by creating engaging and supportive tools for caregivers.

While caregiving is emotionally rewarding, the job is difficult. Caregivers spend an average of 40 hours per week caregiving and often have to put their own life on hold.

"Our survey reveals the effects of caregiving include added stress in balancing things (48%), negatively affecting one's own health (23%), putting a strain on their marriage (17%) and even needing to take a leave of absence (10%)," said Kristi Rodriguez, vice president of Thought Leadership for Nationwide. "Caregiving can be intensive and time-consuming. Finding ways to help them do this difficult job is important."

Additionally, Nationwide has partnered with KINETIC, makers of a smart wearable device and software platform designed to reduce workplace injuries, which last year cost U.S. employers almost $60 billion.

"Given the magnitude and cost of the problem, it was surprising to see the lack of technological solutions in the marketplace," says Haytham Elhawary, CEO and co-founder of the KINETIC. "It's not just the injury rates and their accompanying expense that are costing employers. It's everything that comes along with it - the lost workdays, the overtime, rehiring and retraining new employees. There's also the human side of those injuries. My mother worked as a nurse when I was growing up and I remember her suffering multiple injuries while on the job and often coming home in pain. An injury at work affects every aspect of your life and your ability to provide for your family. We're thankful to Nationwide for partnering with us as we work to reduce workplace injuries."

The device helps workers move with better body mechanics by providing real-time feedback in the form of a vibration to the wearer, reinforcing safer body mechanics every time a risky motion occurs. An accompanying dashboard helps managers understand where their next injury might happen, by showing increases in risk by department, time of day or job type.

KINETIC has been successful in reducing OSHA recordable injury rates and lost workdays by 54% and 88% respectively. KINETIC has been deployed to over 21,000 workers at over 150 locations, including six, Fortune 50 companies. Through the Nationwide partnership, they are expecting to dramatically expand their reach.

The Vesta Healthcare and KINETIC announcements are part of Nationwide's commitment to invest more than $100 million of venture capital in customer-centric solutions.

Nationwide's venture capital team has made several recent investments, including: Upstream Security, Socotra, Betterview, Nexar, BlueVine, blooom, Insurify, Next Insurance, Matic and Sure.

Nationwide's innovation journey

In addition to Nationwide's venture capital efforts, the company has implemented other new solutions to meet member needs now and, in the future, including:

In January 2020 , Nationwide launched Nimbl by Nationwide, a new app that can help users get out and stay out of debt.

, Nationwide launched Nimbl by Nationwide, a new app that can help users get out and stay out of debt. In December 2019 , Nationwide opened The Co-Operative - a new innovation center in the Arena District near its Columbus , Ohio -based headquarters.

, Nationwide opened The Co-Operative - a new innovation center in the Arena District near its , -based headquarters. In September, Nationwide announced the launch of Spire - a simple, easy-to-understand digital auto insurance platform, built on fair and straightforward principles and designed to be convenient and accessible from your phone. Spire is now available for purchase in Texas .

About Vesta Healthcare

Vesta Healthcare is an industry-leading technology and clinical services organization, dedicated to connecting caregiver insights to the rest of the care team. Vesta Healthcare proactively identifies the need for additional resources in the home and provides 24/7 telehealth support for caregivers and care recipients, with a focus on high-need, frail senior populations. Vesta partners with home care agencies, health plans and providers to create value-based population health programs that emphasize clinical quality, improved health outcomes and personalized engagement. Vesta Healthcare is headquartered in New York, NY. To learn more visit www.vestahealthcare.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About KINETIC

KINETIC is developing the next generation of technology tools to enable a connected industrial workforce. Its smart wearable device and analytics platform reduces workplace injuries and improves productivity for industrial workers. KINETIC is based in NYC and has deployed its product to over 21,000 workers, mostly in the manufacturing and logistics space. Learn more at www.wearkinetic.com

About Nationwide

Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the United States. Nationwide is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's. An industry leader in driving customer-focused innovation, Nationwide provides a full range of insurance and financial services products including auto, business, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Nationwide, Nationwide is on your side, the Nationwide N and Eagle, and SPIRE are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.  2020

Contact:

Jarrett Dunbar

(614) 249-6349

[email protected]

SOURCE Nationwide

Related Links

http://www.nationwide.com


An electrician sets up wiring while workers drive excavators at the construction site of a field hospital on January 24, 2020 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.

President Donald Trump thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for his country's handling of the coronavirus, shortly after American health officials confirmed a second case of the flu-like virus in the United States.

"China has been working very hard to contain the Coronavirus," Trump wrote in a post on Twitter. "The United States greatly appreciates their efforts and transparency. It will all work out well. In particular, on behalf of the American People, I want to thank President Xi!"

Experts have said that the Chinese response to the outbreak of coronavirus, which was first diagnosed late last month, has been more robust and transparent than the country's handling of the SARS outbreak, which it sought to conceal in late 2002 and 2003.

The death toll escalated to dozens on Friday, authorities in the country said, with more than 800 known cases on the mainland. As part of the response, authorities were rushing on Friday to complete construction of a new 1,000-bed hospital in Wuhan, the city where the outbreak began.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the first instance of the virus in the United States earlier this week. There are 63 cases being monitored across 22 states, according to the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

The second patient diagnosed with the virus is a woman in her 60s who recently returned from Wuhan, health officials said Friday. The first U.S. patient, whose diagnosis was confirmed on Tuesday, had also recently traveled to Wuhan.

In an interview on Wednesday, Trump said that he believed the virus was under control. He also said he had confidence in the Chinese government to be transparent.

"We have it under control. It's going to be just fine," Trump told CNBC's Joe Kernen.

The major stock market indexes declined on Friday amid fears that the virus could damage global growth.
A delegation of Tunisian authorities arrived Thursday in Misrata, Libyas third city, to repatriate six children of Tunisians killed in the ranks of the Islamic state group (ISIS) in 2016.

The Libyan Red Crescent said the delegation would return with the children aged 3 and 12 years old.

The children whose names have not been revealed, have been under care in the Libyan city for three years.

Several other children of different nationalities, offspring of ISIS fighters killed in Sirte, the hometown of former country strongman Muammar Gaddafi, are held in Libya.

Misrata forces, aligned with the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) ruling from Tripoli, and supported by US air forces drove out the extremist group of the Libyan city that they captured in 2014.

The Tunisian forensic police took DNA samples from the children, a year ago, to confirm their nationalities before returning them to their home countries, AFP reports.

NGOs, including Human Rights Watch, accused Tunisian officials of dragging their feet on efforts to repatriate children of Daesh members, the French news agency says.

Tunisia, according to a UN 2015 report, was the main source of foreign fighters in the ranks of the terror group. Around 5,000 Tunisians left their country to fight in hotbed conflict zones mainly Libya and Syria.

Tunisian authorities played down the number as they talked about 3,000. Hundreds of fighters have returned home. Some have been jailed and others put under tight surveillance.
(L-R) President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Panfilo Lacson

Senator Panfilo Lacson has called President Rodrigo Dutertes threat to terminate the Philippines Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with the United States, unfortunate and unnecessary.

Dutertes threat stemmed from the cancellation of Sen. Ronald Bato dela Rosas United States (US) visa.

READ: Bato confirms his US visa has been canceled

According to Lacson, it is difficult to find a connection between Dela Rosas visa cancellation and the Presidents threat to terminate the US-PH VFA.

The senator said a visa is a conditional authorization given by a country to visiting foreigners which may be granted, cancelled, and even denied.

The VFA is a bilateral agreement between the Philippines and the US that went through some back and forth discussions prior to Senate ratification but not without intense plenary deliberation, Lacson said in a text message.

Duterte, on Thursday (January 23), gave the US a month to reverse the visa cancellation of Dela Rosa.

I am warning you, kapag hindi ninyo ginawa ang correction diyan (if you dont issue a correction), I will terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement, Duterte said during his speech in San Isidro, Leyte.AAC

The post Lacson on Dutertes threat to cancel PH-US VFA: Unfortunate, unnecessary appeared first on UNTV News.
A panel session on the closing day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020.

The president of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde, and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin laid bare their stark differences over how the world should transition to cleaner energy sources.

The corporate world's role in protecting the environment has been a central theme of this year's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Speaking on a panel Friday as the event drew to a close, Lagarde told the audience that central banks needed to lead the economic modeling of how changes to the environment should be costed and mitigated.

Lagarde said banks, accountants, companies and ratings agencies would need to move away from quarterly and medium-term forecasts and start thinking in terms of 30 years out.

Responding to the new ECB president directly, Mnuchin said he didn't think forecasting the cost of protecting the environment was possible.

"Christine, I think you can have a lot of people and model it, but I just don't want to kid ourselves. I think there is no way we can possibly model what these risks are over the next 30 years with a level of certainty, given what I think is the changes in technology along the way," he said.

Lagarde responded directly, suggesting that long-term modeling would help press firms to understand the cost and process of switching to new, and less carbon intensive, energy sources.

"If we can push companies into the direction of actually anticipating the transition, pricing it, and making sure that they move to cleaner and cleaner energy uses, then it helps," she said.

Interpreting that as a direct cost to a business, Mnuchin responded sharply.

"I don't think we know how to price these things," he said, adding that the current pricing of future greener energy sources was being inflated.

"So, I think we are overestimating the cost. So, if you want to put a tax on people, go ahead and put a carbon tax. That is a tax on hard-working people. I personally think the costs are going to be much lower 10 years from now  because of technology  than we think they are today," he said.

Earlier, Mnuchin contended that the U.S. had become much more efficient through carbon technology and the use of energy, but named China and India as countries which needed to offer "significant improvement in terms of environmental issues."
Beijing, Jan 24 : The death toll from the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in China has risen to 25, and the number of confirmed cases was now 830, the National Health Commission reported on Friday.

As of Thursday midnight, the agency said that during the 23rd day, eight new deaths and 259 new cases were confirmed, affecting 29 provinces and autonomous regions throughout the country, reports Efe news.

For the first time, a death was recorded in the province of Hebei, in the northeast, surrounding Beijing.

Until then all victims had been registered in the province of Hubei, the capital of which is Wuhan, a city of about 11 million people and the epicentre of the outbreak.

At least 177 patients are in serious condition, while 34 have been discharged.

The health authorities carried out medical follow-ups with 9,507 people who had been in close contact with the infected, with 8,420 of those still under observation.

Wuhan has been on lockdown since Thursday to prevent further spread of the virus.

The authorities of other Hubei cities Huanggang, Ezhou, Chibi, Xiantao, Qianjiang, Zhijiang and Lichuan are now also subject to travel bans, the Hong Kong South China Morning Post said Friday.

In Wuhan, the Didi shared taxi service will also stop operating on Friday afternoon at the request of the city's outbreak command authority.

Outside of China, two of the four cases diagnosed in Thailand have been cured. There are also two cases in Japan, and one case each in the United States and Singapore.

Late Thursday, Vietnam confirmed its first cases. In Ho Chi Minh City, two tourists travelling from Wuhan were hospitalized and underwent a series of tests to confirm the infection.

The Ministry of Health said in a statement that both men were recovering and in "good condition".

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has urged the authorities to implement a series of security measures to prevent new cases, as well as increased controls at airports and border posts.

On Friday, Seoul confirmed a second case of infection in a 55-year-old South Korean who had been working in Wuhan and fell ill there, before he returned to Seoul on Wednesday where he was detected during screening at Gimpo airport, according to the Korean Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

A 35-year-old Chinese woman who arrived in Seoul from Wuhan was reported as the first case on Monday.

Taiwan also has a case, although Chinese authorities consider Taiwan a province of China and therefore include it in the national count.

The symptoms of the new coronavirus, called 2019-nCoV provisionally by the World Health Organization (WHO), are in many cases similar to those of a cold, but may be accompanied by fever and fatigue, dry cough and dyspnea (shortness of breath).

For its part, the WHO on Thursday decided against declaring an international emergency, although it asked China to increase surveillance in an epidemic that poses a "very high" risk nationally and internationally.
During the gray, frozen days of January, my mind occasionally wanders to sunnier places Ive had the good fortune to visit over the years.

Im a big fan of travel and encourage anyone who can to do it. Learning about other cultures, and sharing yours, is one of lifes best experiences.

There are always unexpected moments on trips that surprise me. Years later, these memories still make me smile, shake my head in disbelief or laugh out loud.

My parents and I have been blessed to travel together to Italy a few times. In 2001, we met travel agency owner Maria Grazia (Mary Grace) and have remained close friends ever since.

On one visit, we attended a family celebration in Maria Grazias hometown. It was a big party, complete with music and dancing. Now, back in the day, my folks could cut really cut a rug. They werent flashy dancers, but they had a great rhythm together. They never missed a beat and moved easily together across the dance floor.

At the Italian party, an American rock n roll oldie started to play, and onto the dance floor stepped my parents. They started quick stepping and swinging and turning like they were on American Bandstand or something. It was the same routine theyve done for 45 years, but it still was impressive. Our Italian friends were amazed and stopped dancing to watch.

The Jitterbug! said Maria Grazia. (Well, not exactly; there were no flips or anything. I mean lets not get crazy. There was my stepfathers back to think of.)

Then, everyone was on the dance floor, imitating their steps and having a ball.

The Italians had treated us to a great afternoon with spectacular food and friendship. In return, they were entertained by an aging bobby-soxer and her dashing dance partner. It wasnt the most sophisticated of cultural exchanges, but it was superb fun. My Italian friends still talk about it.

Two more interesting notes from that party:

First, all the attendees, even those who did not speak English, knew the words to the soundtrack from Grease (Go Greased Lightning!). Who wouldve thought?

Second, the wife of the owner of the restaurant where the party was held told me her son was going to college in the U.S.

My son is leaving this fall for university in a city called Champaign-Urbana, she said. Do you know it?

Seriously?

Six weeks later, it was my turn to play hostess as we met at the University of Illinois campus. As she headed back to OHare airport, the boys mother breathed a sigh of relief knowing her son wasnt completely alone in a foreign country. A friend of a friend was less than an hour away.

Finally, let me share one more of these moments with you. In 2017, my parents, childhood friend Muriel Ann Glitzengelder and I visited Puglia, the southeastern region of Italy. (Readers may wonder why my husband never travels; he would much rather stay home with the dogs.)

A highlight was Alberobello, a town of about 1,500 dwarf-like homes with conical roofs made of stone. Beautiful and fascinating, the structures were originally intended to be temporary housing for field workers. But that was 500 years ago and theyre still around.

Our guide was a charming and informative woman named Angela. After spending the day with her, we said it must be wonderful to live in such a historic area with a breathtaking landscape. She agreed, but, like many of us, dreams of visiting other places.

If I could go anywhere in the world, she said with a smile, it would be to drive along Route 66 in the U.S.

We laughed and laughed. What a small world.

We know that road, we said. Let us tell you about Pontiac, Illinois

Contact Susan Hazlett at susanrhazlett@yahoo.com or write to her in care of The Pantagraph, 205 N. Main St., Bloomington, IL 61702-2907.

Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0
Would have been good if PM Modi suggested any 'aasan' for unemployed youngsters: Akhilesh

Mood of the Nation survey: Farm distress, unemployment biggest concern

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Jan 24: A survey conducted by India Today Group-Karvy Insights Mood of the Nation (MOTN) on about total of 12,141 people found that the unemployment and farmers' distress to be India's biggest concern. While 47 per cent of the respondents believe that the BJP government will be able to create more employment in its second term.

Out of the 12,141 respondents surveyed in December 2019, 32 per cent of interviewed in 19 states expressed worry and anxiety over lack of enough employment opportunities while 19 per cent opted for 'don't know/can't say'.

Respondents pointed out economic issues as a major concern. Around 32 per cent identified unemployment as their biggest concern, followed by farmers' distress (15 per cent) and price rise (14 per cent). Ten per cent of respondents were concerned about the economic slowdown as a whole.

The poll also collected region-specific data shows as many as 55 per cent of the respondents from the Western region believe that employment scenario is going to get better in PM Modi's second term. With 43 per cent, respondents from the Eastern region were the least hopeful of a turnaround in the employment scenario.

Kailash Vijayvargiya identified Bangladeshis by their 'strange meal'| OneIndia News

Forty-five and 47 per cent of the respondents from the South and North zones were hopeful of improvement in the creation of jobs.

BJP's 'anti-people, anti-labour' policies created catastrophic unemployment: RaGa supports Bandh

According to the NSSO's periodic labour force survey (PLFS), the country's unemployment rate stood at a 45-year-high of 6.1 per cent in 2017-18. It should be noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's electoral pitch in 2014 elections was centred around generating jobs and employment.

He had promised to generate 10 million a year.

The work for the Mood of the Nation poll spanned from December 21 to December 31, 2019. The survey was based on the random sampling method.

The interview used the questionnaire method and the questions were asked face-to-face with respondents. The questions were translated into regional languages as well.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Fiachra Gibbons (Agence France-Presse) Paris, France  Fri, January 24, 2020 10:05 719 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2060ca1aa 2 Lifestyle fashion,greenwashing,ethical,ethical-fashion,eco-friendly,France,united-states Free

Paris fashion fortnight began last week with an apocalyptic warning.

"Our Mother Earth will not be able to support life, we will not be able to breathe... If we don't open our hearts and our minds, it's the End," a disembodied voice intoned as hot Hollywood label Rhude made its Paris debut.

The very next show, Phipps' "Treehugger, Tales of the Forest", was teased on Instagram with pictures of rescued koalas from the Australian wildfires.

It was another sign that fashion now sees itself on the climate change frontline.

But when AFP questioned Rhude designer Rhuigi Villasenor backstage, he admitted there was nothing sustainable about his collection.

He had found the stirring speech on the internet the day before, and didn't know who had made it.

But he insisted his clothes were "timeless" and would "live through ages and trends".

Campaigners say such "greenwashing" is typical of an industry "that is talking the talk but not walking the walk" on sustainability.

While Rhude is a young brand, it has a starry roster of clients from Justin Bieber to rapper ASAP Rocky and Ellen DeGeneres.

Yet some of the most fabled luxury houses in fashion -- even some whose designers are activists for change -- have found themselves caught short.

Read also: Viscose may give Indonesia's textile industry edge in sustainability

Luxury labels in dock

Dior's last women's show played hard on its eco-credentials. Set amid trees that were later used to create urban parks, it went heavy on eco-friendly hemp and raffia with models in Greta Thunberg plaits.

Designer Maria Grazia Chiuri told AFP that nature and "humans need to live together if humanity is to survive".

"It is not just about image but action," she added.

Weeks later a damning report by the Changing Markets Foundation on toxic pollution caused by viscose production put Dior and a swathe of other luxury labels including Prada, Versace, Fendi, Armani, Miu Miu and Marc Jacobs in the dock.

Dolce & Gabbana came in for particular criticism.

The much-vaunted biodegradable fabric -- which often is used like silk, has been seen as a silver bullet for fashion's eco woes, a way to wean it off synthetic fibers that come from the petrochemical industry.

While some fast fashion groups like H&M, C&A and ASOS -- which luxury labels blame for fashion's pollution and runaway overproduction -- were praised for making progress in the in-depth "Dirty Fashion Disrupted" study, designer labels were excoriated.

"Three quarters of the luxury brands we looked at were failing to take any meaningful action to clean up their viscose supply chain," its author Urska Trunk told AFP.

Viscose, which comes from wood pulp, is now the third most used fiber in the world and "genuinely has the potential to be a sustainable", Trunk added.

"Unfortunately most of it is still produced in a very dirty process," causing water pollution and an alarming array of mental illnesses, strokes and cancer close to factories in India, China and Indonesia.

While she lauded British designer Stella McCartney for her transparency and ambition, "with most of the other luxury brands it is lip service, mostly hollow words... And that is a major concern."

Spin but little change

The report is the foundation's second tracking whether brands were cleaning up their act. With only a handful of firms producing almost all of the world's viscose, Trunk said pressure from brand could make "a massive difference".

For Christie Miedema, of the Dutch-based Clean Clothes Campaign, brands have become expert as "eco messaging" with "one-off collections or clever initiatives to make it looking like they are doing something" without actually changing the way they operate.

Versace, which came bottom only to Walmart in the Changing Markets table, made the front pages by sending Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen to New York's Meet Gala in a "100 percent green eco-dress" while Prada -- which is also deep in its "red zone" -- got admiring media coverage for their Re-Nylon "eco handbag".

Dior is part of LVMH, the world's biggest luxury group.

Unlike its main rival Kering and 24 other major clothing companies, LVMH pointedly refused to sign up to "The Fashion Pact" on fighting climate change at the G7 summit last year.

Read also: Price, style more important for Indonesias consumers than sustainable fashion

'They will be found out'

Owner Bernard Arnault -- the world's richest man -- later criticized teenage activist Greta Thunberg for "surrendering to total catastrophism" even as he appointed McCartney his personal advisor on sustainability in September.

Kering -- which controls Gucci and Saint Laurent -- has since said it has gone carbon neutral and has vowed to half greenhouse gas emissions in its supply chain within five years.

Joel Hazan, luxury goods analyst at the Boston Consulting Group, said the industry "had passed a tipping point", and warned those who pretend to embrace sustainability would be found out.

"The demographics will make the difference," he told AFP. "Eight out of 10 millennials expect labels to play a strong part socially and environmentally."

Since almost all growth in luxury goods in the next five years "is predicted to come from millennials, brands have no choice" but to change, Hazan argued.

Indeed Vetements, the hot youthful rebel brand which has shaken Paris fashion in recent years, used its men's show to pour scorn on its elders with slogans such as "Cutting down the bullshit", "Fully sustainable show" and "It costs $0 to be a nice person".
Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale spoke at a news conference at the Royer's Pharmacy Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018, in Lancaster, Pa. Read more

In an ongoing political battle over high drug prices, Pennsylvanias auditor general pressed the state Senate to take up a host of reform measures aimed at pharmacy benefit managers that receive billions of dollars in state Medicaid spending.

Improving transparency and accountability could go a long way toward reducing the cost of prescription drugs, Auditor General Eugene DePasquale said Thursday during a news conference in Harrisburg.

DePasquale also said that pharmacy benefit manager business practices are harming independent pharmacies, and that he was concerned about the future of competition among retail pharmacies in the state. His office said that 48 independent pharmacies state-wide closed or were sold in the last 12 months, according to the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association, a trade group.

The auditor general touted four bills that passed the state House of Representatives in November, and he said the Senate should do the same and send them to the governor for his signature. Both houses are controlled by Republicans, while Gov. Tom Wolf is a Democrat.

Pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, are middlemen companies hired by insurers and health plans to administer prescription drug benefits. Both PBMs and pharmaceutical companies have taken heat as President Donald Trump, members of Congress, and state officeholders have sought to address rising drug costs.

But PBMs maintain that they help control costs, partly by acting as a check on drugmakers and pharmacies. The legislation supported by the auditor general will increase prescription drug costs for the states health plan sponsors and consumers, and would only increase the profits of independent pharmacies, said Greg Lopes, a spokesperson for the PBM trade group Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA).

In Pennsylvania and elsewhere, the state contracts with managed care organizations to provide Medicaid services, and those companies subcontract with PBMs. DePasquale has been vocal about the fact that he cannot audit PBMs because they dont contract directly with the state.

PBMs collected $2.86 billion for administering Medicaid services in 2017, the auditor general found, more than double the $1.41 billion the companies received in 2013. The amount of money included the PBMs cost of doing business, but DePasquales office said there was no way to verify how much was profit.

Last April, two U.S. senators requested a federal inquiry into PBM pricing practices in state Medicaid programs, citing DePasquales findings, among others.

Measures passed by the Pennsylvania House in November would regulate how PBMs do business and force them to open their books to the state. One of the bills would give DePasquales office the authority to audit PBM contracts tied to the states Medicaid program.

Another piece of legislation would prohibit PBMs from putting gag clauses on pharmacists, which prevent them from talking to patients about drug prices.

The gag clause is hard to even explain to people, said pharmacist Chuck Kray, who owns Hershey Pharmacy and is president-elect of the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association. He said he recently filled a prescription for an inhaler, and the brand version cost about $350, while the generic cost was about $40.

The customers insurance was mandating the brand at a $100 copay, Kray said. And by law, I couldnt tell him that he could sell the customer the cheaper generic version.

Lopes, the PCMA spokesperson, said: PBMs support patients always paying the lowest price available at the pharmacy counter for their prescribed drug.

HB 941, meanwhile, would put new parameters on how PBMs reimburse pharmacists for the medications they sell to insured patients.

For many medications, payments are well below cost, forcing pharmacies to operate in the red, according to the bills sponsorship memo by State Reps. Doyle Heffley (R., Carbon) and Robert F. Matzie (D., Beaver). These pharmacy reimbursement cuts make it extremely difficult for the 900 independent pharmacies in our commonwealth to maintain inventory, stay in business, and serve our most vulnerable citizens.
VAN, Turkey - Decades ago, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan prompted thousands of people to flee to neighboring Iran. Now, many of these refugees are once again seeking a new home in a new land, Turkey, desperate to escape the dire economic conditions fueled by U.S. sanctions on Tehran.

Tens of thousands made the dangerous, cross-border trek last year into Turkey, a U.S. ally that is already heaving under the burden of refugees fleeing unrest on its borders.

Turkish authorities are grappling with nearly 4 million refugees. This is the world's largest population of displaced people, according to the United Nations, including more than 170,000 registered Afghan refugees. Turkey has struggled to contain the influx even as aid agencies say the number of arrivals from Iran is on the rise.

In the eastern Turkish city of Van, about 50 miles west of the Iranian border, a growing number of Afghan refugees are forced to sleep on the streets and in public parks and bus terminals, barred by Turkish authorities from traveling farther. Many of them were either born in Iran or lived there for years.

This fresh crisis is one of the unintended consequences of President Donald Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign, which his administration hopes will compel Tehran to negotiate an end to its nuclear energy and ballistic missile programs.

The strategy includes a broad trade embargo with restrictions on banking transactions, oil exports, supplies to Iran's automotive sector and more. Last month, Iran abruptly raised the price of gas to shore up funds for cash handouts, setting off a wave of nationwide unrest, including in areas with large Afghan communities.

Afghans make up the largest group of people crossing the border illegally into Turkey, according to Interior Ministry data. The government says more than 184,000 undocumented Afghans crossed last year - up from about 100,000 in all of 2018. The government does not distinguish between Afghans who lived in Iran before crossing into Turkey and those who simply transited through Iran.

Many more Afghans have slipped over the border undetected, local refugee aid organizations say, the majority of them fleeing hardship in Iran.

Refugees who have made the journey describe harrowing treks over rugged terrain littered with the corpses of those who perished along the way. Some collapsed from exhaustion or were separated from their families amid the chaos and wandered off in the dark. Others say they were shot at by Turkish or Iranian security forces or abandoned by smugglers charging the equivalent of thousands of dollars to hustle them across.

Ramazan, a man from Afghanistan's Ghazni province who uses only one name, recently arrived with his three children. As they walked through the mountain passages at night, he said, his wife fell from the ridge. He could hear her screams from the canyon, he said, but the smugglers forced them to keep walking.

"We walked for 24 hours. We could see the bodies of people who fell to their deaths. People had broken arms and broken legs. Some of the elderly were left behind," said Maryam Fazly, an Afghan mother of six who said she had lived in Tehran for 10 years.

The soft-spoken widow from northern Afghanistan was sitting forlorn with her children in a grassy lot at the main bus terminal in Van. They had arrived just days earlier, fearing they could no longer survive in Iran.

Police have ordered refugees to squat at the bus station while local authorities prepare to register the new arrivals. Once processed, they are either transferred to another city, moved into a guarded tent camp or, in some cases, deported to Afghanistan, a place many of them have never even seen.

Iran hosts about 1 million Afghan refugees who are registered with the United Nations and permitted to work in certain industries. Afghans began arriving in large numbers following the 1979 Soviet invasion of their country.

Aid agencies and the U.N. say that as many as 3 million Afghans live in Iran, most of whom are undocumented and, therefore, uniquely vulnerable to economic and social strife.

On a recent afternoon at the Van bus station, dozens of Afghan families napped together on woven carpets in the grass while women bathed children in a small fountain and hung laundry on a rusty chain-link fence. One man in a gray suit, an Afghan who said he had lived in Iran for 30 years, wandered the parking lot with a warm kettle, pouring tea for his fellow refugees.

"A lot of Afghans are leaving Iran for Turkey because of the economic situation. Everything got worse for us because of America's new policies toward Iran," said Tamana Ghulami, 20, a refugee who had lived in Tehran with her Afghan husband, an out-of-work tailor.

The couple traveled to Van with relatives who say they left Afghanistan over the summer because of threats from Taliban insurgents in their farming village in the north. The extended family said they sought a more stable life in Turkey or Europe.

"In Iran, there are no jobs and there are even fewer jobs for Afghan refugees," said Ghulami, a turquoise-and-gold-patterned scarf framing her face. "Everything is expensive, and we have no authorization to work. We knew that we wouldn't even be able to afford having children if we stayed there."

Ghulami's tale of poverty and insecurity was echoed by dozens of other refugees at the bus station. In Iran, they said, they had eked out a meager existence as part of a migrant underclass, taking menial jobs as day laborers, farmhands, tailors and blacksmiths. They faced discrimination at work and on the streets, living under the constant threat of deportation and regular abuse by police.

When the United States reimposed sanctions in 2018, Afghans were among the first to suffer the fallout. Imports fell and prices rose, putting basic food items out of reach for many Afghan families. Business owners halted payments to employees or laid off workers, citing the drop in trade.

"I worked in the basement of a shop making shoes. But even as prices grew higher, my salary stayed the same," said Reza Ahmadi, 23. He said he left Afghanistan as a child when the Taliban were in control and had lived in Iran ever since.

"When the sanctions started, our boss stopped paying us on time or he would pay us less than what we were owed. One day I would have work and the next day there would be none," he said. "It was so hard."

According to the Norwegian Refugee Council, the largest of only five international nongovernmental aid agencies working in Iran, even the delivery of aid to Afghan refugees is at risk because banks are refusing to transfer money because of the sanctions.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

"We are hitting brick walls on every side," Jan Egeland, the organization's secretary general, said in a statement.

As a result, Egeland said, "the number of Afghans in need has nearly doubled and pushed almost 3 million people into emergency levels of hunger."

Rajaba Rezai, 50, arrived in Iran from Afghanistan's Samangan province as a teenager. Despite Iran's labor restrictions on Afghans, Rezai said, he eventually managed to open a plastics manufacturing workshop in the city of Qom, where he produced rubber sandals sold in local bazaars.

But the Trump administration sanctioned Iran's largest petrochemical holding company and more than three dozen of its subsidiaries. Soon, the synthetic plastic polymer that Rajaba needed to manufacture the shoes became unaffordable. Then, customers stopped placing orders. So, after more than three decades in Iran, Rajaba sold his factory and fled to Turkey with his wife and children.

"We could barely tolerate our lives before, but then we simply could not handle the situation anymore," Rajaba said from his sparse apartment in Van. "I had no money and no life. We decided to escape from this hell."

Rajaba, like the other refugees, described a perilous trip across the border with his wife, who was pregnant at the time.

At a cemetery north of Van, the growing number of freshly dug graves is a testament to the dangers of the journey - and how many are making the trek.

Seyyed Mustafa Hashimi, an Afghan who has lived in Van for more than a decade, oversees the burials. In recent months, authorities have had to expand the cemetery to accommodate the rising number of Afghan refugees dying along the way.

Some of those buried here, on a gentle slope near the central train station, were killed in road accidents as smugglers transported them from the border. Others perished on mountain trails and were retrieved by Turkish forces. Most of them died this year.

Many carried no identification. Their graves include a simple cement marker painted with a mix of numbers and letters.

"If the morgue cannot find their families, either dead or alive, they will call me and I will bury them - without any name, without anything," said Mohammed Hussein Soltani, 34, an Afghan imam who volunteers to wash and prepare the bodies for burial.

"They lost hope in their lives, so they came here," he said. "But there is no solution."
The much-awaited Cannabis Banking Bill was passed by the House Financial Services Committee on Mar 28, 2019. This opened up avenues for legal and effective financing for marijuana companies in the United States.

This year began with Illinois starting to sell recreational marijuana from Jan 2. After discussing the pros and cons of the recreational usage of cannabis, the Illinois House and Senate voted in favor of legalizing marijuana on May 31, 2019. With this, Illinois became the 10th state in the United States to legalize the adult use of CBD products.

Observers of the cannabis industry expect the momentum from 2019 to continue in 2020. However, after a banner year, many experts believe that marijuana may be headed for a dead-end in 2020. They believe that the Capitol Hill might want to avoid legalizing marijuana at the federal level at least till the end of this year owing to the presidential elections in November and President Trumps impeachment trial.

However, it should be noted that the cannabis industry associations and businesses have kept the revolution for federal level legalization alive through their concerted lobbying.

According to OpenSecrets.org, The Cannabis Trade Federation spent $790,500 on marijuana lobbying in the period between January and September last year. This was up from $170,000 in 2018. Lets find out what can be expected from the pot industry in 2020.

Federal Level Marijuana Legalization Possible in 2020

While Trump has maintained his stand on the opposition of federal legalization of marijuana, he has allowed the states to individually decide on legalizing marijuana.

A poll from the Pew Research Center reported that approximately 55% of the Republicans supported marijuana legalization. The poll also found out that opposition to decriminalizing marijuana also dropped to 32%. This is significant for the space because Republicans have historically been skeptical about drug policy reformations.

Story continues

Furthermore, most of the Democratic presidential candidates, except Joe Biden, also support marijuana legalization. In fact, Bernie Sanders had earlier promised that the next president would take executive action to make marijuana federally legal. Analysts now expect that a bipartisan majority might finally approve the decriminalization of weed federally.

Current players in the marijuana industry like Cronos Group CRON, Aurora Cannabis Inc. ACB, Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. IIPR and Canopy Growth CGC have posted decent returns of 17%, 4.5%, 4.6% and 23.1%, respectively in the past 30 days. Aurora, Innovative Industrial, Cronos and Canopy currently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Missouri to Join the Ranks of Weed-Liberal US States

Reportedly, Missouri had submitted a proposal last year for recreational legalization of pot, which has been approved. The state, however, has made sure that labeling, advertising and packaging details would remain strict so that it does not appeal to the youth.

The proposal seeks to legalize possession and purchase of no more than one ounce of weed for citizens who are at least 21 years old. Further, the purchase would be allowed only from licensed retailers.

Furthermore, residents would also be allowed to grow up to three hemp plants for personal use. The state plans to charge a 15% excise tax on adult-use marijuana sales, expecting to generate $86$155 million in revenues annually by 2025.

To Conclude

Increasing tolerance, financial protection, credit availability and legal votes have shaped Americas hemp industry lately. Such a development has more to do with growing awareness of its commercial and medicinal values. Establishment of stores, which sell recreational weed in the east coast, would go a long way in establishing a firm footing for the space.

Moreover, recreational legalization of pot is expected to be on the ballot in 2020 in states like Arizona, Arkansas, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

Further, demand for novelty CBD products has been on the rise over the past few years. Cowen COWN estimates that the cannabis market in the United States will grow to $16 billion by 2025. Investors have a lot to look forward to Americas weed industry in 2020.

Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020

In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-hold tickers for the entirety of 2020?

Last year's 2019 Zacks Top 10 Stocks portfolio returned gains as high as +102.7%. Now a brand-new portfolio has been handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Dont miss your chance to get in on these long-term buys.

Access Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020 today >>



Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



Cowen Group, Inc. (COWN) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Innovative Industrial Properties, Inc. (IIPR) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Canopy Growth Corporation (CGC) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Aurora Cannabis Inc. (ACB) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Cronos Group Inc. (CRON) : Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
Imperial Valley News Center

Man Sentenced to Prison for Sex Trafficking Minors

Portland, Oregon - An Oregon man was sentenced Tuesday to 149 months and 12 days in prison, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for sex trafficking minors, Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Departments Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams of the District of Oregon announced.

Darryl Gartley, 23, pleaded guilty on Aug. 12, 2019, to two counts of sex trafficking minors before U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Simon of the District of Oregon, who sentenced him earlier today and remanded him to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

According to facts admitted by the defendant during his guilty plea, in the beginning of October 2016, he moved from California to Portland, Oregon. Shortly after moving to Oregon, the defendant met two 15 year old minor females. In or around December 2016 through January 2017, the defendant posted advertisements on Backpage and Craigslist, offering the minors for commercial sexual acts. The advertisements included pictures of the minors both clothed and nude.

This is the defendants second conviction for sex trafficking minors. On May 22, 2017, the defendant was sentenced to seven years imprisonment on a state conviction for sex trafficking minors in California.

The investigation of the case was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and the San Diego County Sheriffs Department. This case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Kaylynn Foulon of the Criminal Divisions Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ravi Sinha of the U.S. Attorneys Office in the District of Oregon.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims.
The foreign ministers of countries neighbouring Libya, including Egypts foreign minister, agreed on Thursday that any international initiatives to support a political solution in the war-torn country must include neighbours, according to the official statement issued following the meeting in Algiers.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry flew to the Algerian capital on Wednesday to take part in the meeting, which was organised by Algeria and attended by the foreign ministers of Tunisia, Sudan, Chad, Mali and Niger.

The statement, which was shared on the Facebook page of the official spokesperson of the Egyptian foreign ministry, stresses the importance of the African Union in supporting a political solution in Libya.

"The ministers are very concerned concerning the dangerous developments happening in Libya and how they negatively impact the security and stability of the neighbouring countries," the statement also said, adding that the ministers had expressed their countries' full support for the Libyan people.

The ministers also called on the parties fighting in Libya to commit to keeping the ceasefire, hoping that that will lead to a peaceful settlement to the crisis without any military or foreign intervention, including by militias and mercenaries, the statement read.

"The political settlement will enable the organisation of transparent elections that will achieve the Libyan people's aspirations and keep Libya's independence, unity and sovereignty over all its territories," the statement read.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


We must invest in public health if we want to breathe easy. Photo: Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

Last month, a new strain of coronavirus emerged at a seafood and wildlife market in the Chinese city of Wuhan. The infectious agent spread from livestock to humans  and then, more alarmingly, from those humans to other humans. As of Thursday afternoon, the disease had sickened more than 650 people and killed 18. Across China, public celebrations of the Lunar New Year are being canceled, while two entire cities have been placed under quarantine. But already, the virus has spread widely, sending its victims to hospitals in Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and the United States.

Still, things could be worse. Much worse. Less than three months ago, public-health researchers at Johns Hopkins ran a simulation of what would happen if an especially lethal, treatment-resistant strain of coronavirus emerged on a Brazilian pig farm. Its model suggests that such a disease would kill 65 million people within 18 months. For the moment, the actually existing coronavirus appears far tamer. Current reporting suggests that the bug requires close contact to spread between humans and that the majority of those who have perished from the illness suffered from other immune-system deficiencies. After some deliberation, the World Health Organization declined to classify the outbreak as a global health emergency, although the WHO plans to reassess that question in ten days, if not sooner.

Humanitys luck in averting a global pandemic may hold up for a bit longer. But eventually, our good fortune will run out. The coronavirus outbreak must serve as a wake-up call to governments around the world, but especially to the one in Washington, D.C.

The United States is the wealthiest nation in human history. And yet, at present, our Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is spending only $500 million on programs aimed at tackling emerging diseases. The National Institutes of Healths total budget for its program on infectious diseases, meanwhile, was roughly $5.5 billion last year, only a small fraction of which goes to pandemic prevention. To put these figures in perspective, consider two statistics: (1) Since Donald Trump took office, the Pentagons annual budget has grown by $130 billion, and (2) according to a WHO report released last week, absent government intervention to spur the development of new antibiotics, drug-resistant infections could kill

10 million people annually by 2050 and prompt an economic slowdown to rival the global financial crisis of 2008, an event that cost the U.S. economy many trillions of dollars in lost output.

The scale of the threat posed by infectious diseases in our globalized age is hard to overstate. Michael T. Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, described the risk evocatively for the New York Times in 2018:

The world has about four times the number of inhabitants it did in 1918 [the year of the Spanish-flu pandemic], including hundreds of millions of people, poultry and pigs living close together. This provides a potent biologic mixing bowl and natural influenza virus mutation factory. Whats more, nearly any point on the planet is accessible to any other point within hours, and there are more than a billion international border crossings each year. The virus will spread rapidly.

When a pandemic does strike, well be in trouble in part because American hospitals and pharmacies keep in stock no more than a few days supply of most lifesaving drugs, almost all of which are made in Asia. Worldwide manufacturing and shipping are highly susceptible to disruption, which could mean shortages in many areas.

A 1918-type influenza pandemic could cause ruin on the order of what the Black Death did to 14th-century Europe, but on a global scale. Like the Black Death, such a pandemic would alter the course of history.

Given the size of this threat  and the equally massive scale of Americas resources  the fact that were only investing tens of millions of dollars into the development of a universal influenza vaccine, and hundreds of millions into research on emerging diseases, is a scandal  as is Congresss failure to mount a serious response to the crisis in financing for new antibiotics. Although a virus birthed our present outbreak, drug-resistant bacteria could eventually pose an even more harrowing threat.

As mutating germs develop resistance against existing drugs, the maintenance of global public health depends on the emergence of a new class of antibiotics. But the economics of antibiotic research are terrible. Developing a new antibiotic often takes upwards of a decade and $2 billion. And even when that massive investment bears fruit, monetizing a drug thats meant to be prescribed as little as possible (to avoid seeding resistant mutations) is difficult. For these reasons, multiple antibiotic start-ups have gone bankrupt in recent months, while major pharmaceutical companies have cut their losses and withdrawn from the sector. As Bloombergs Max Nisen shows, only a small fraction of the pharmaceutical industrys R&D is devoted to infectious diseases of any kind, and an even smaller slice goes toward antibiotics.

Only drastically higher federal investments in both public research and incentives for private firms to pursue new vaccines and antibiotics (such as enormous cash prizes for breakthrough medicines) can ensure that the U.S. will be prepared when the next superbug or pandemic virus emerges.
Summit BHC (Summit or the Company), a leading provider of addiction treatment and behavioral health services, today announced the acquisition of Peak View Behavioral Health. Located in Colorado Springs, CO, the 112-bed acute psychiatric and behavioral health hospital will be Summits first facility in the state and brings the Companys total number of operating facilities to nineteen.

We are excited to announce the acquisition of Peak View, stated Jon OShaughnessy, CEO of Summit. Our company is passionate about quality of care and reaching new populations who can benefit from our services. Peak View is a nationally-recognized program with a proven track record of providing innovative and evidence-based care for both behavioral and mental health treatment. We are thrilled to welcome them to the Summit family.

This is an exciting time for Peak View as we look to grow our services and reach a larger population of people who are in need of care, stated Ty Meredith, CEO at Peak View. Partnering with Summit allows us to do just that. While our quality programs and services will remain the same, we are joining a successful network of care providers across the country who hold the same values as we do.

About Summit BHC  Headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee and founded in June 2013, Summit was established to develop and operate a network of leading addiction treatment and behavioral health centers throughout the country. The companys sole focus is on the provision and management of specialty Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health services within a flexible and dynamic continuum of care. The leadership team at Summit is comprised of senior executives with decades of combined experience in the behavioral healthcare industry at the national level. The company currently owns and operates 19 freestanding behavioral health and addiction treatment centers in 14 states across the country.

About Peak View Behavioral Health  Peak View Behavioral Health is an acute psychiatric and behavioral health hospital dedicated to providing quality care to promote growth and structure for clients and families. Peak View has provided care in the Colorado Springs community since 2009 and opened its state-of-the-art 112-bed psychiatric hospital in the summer of 2012. The hospital is licensed by the State of Colorado and is accredited by the Joint Commission.

Waller Lansden Dortch and Davis, LLP and Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP were counsel to Summit BHC in this transaction.

For Information:

Daniel Krasner

Summit BHC

601-906-9024

dkrasner@summitbhc.com
US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told Greta Thunberg on Thursday she should study economics, a jibe which prompted the climate activist to say she did not need a degree to know the world was not meeting its climate targets.

Asked about Thunbergs previous calls to divest from fossil fuels, Mnuchin told a news briefing in Davos: Is she the chief economist? Im confused ... After she goes and studies economics in college, she can come back and explain that to us.

Mnuchin lists a bachelors degree in economics from Yale University on his LinkedIn social network profile.

Earlier in the week US President Donald Trump and Thunberg sparred indirectly at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort. After Trump said the United States had committed to joining the one trillion tree initiative, Thunberg retorted that fixing the climate crisis was not only about trees.

Thunberg, who has taken a year off school to advocate action on climate change, hit back on Twitter, saying it did not take a degree to know the world was not meeting its climate targets.

So either you tell us how to achieve this mitigation or explain to future generations and those already affected by the climate emergency why we should abandon our climate commitments, Thunberg, said days after addressing a packed panel at the Davos summit, where she has been a star attraction.

Before leaving Davos, Trump seemed to extend an olive branch, saying he wished he had seen Thunberg speak.

Misunderstood

Mnuchin said the Trump administrations stance on climate and Thunbergs criticism had been misunderstood.

There is a real misinterpretation of the US policy. Let me be very clear: President Trump absolutely believes in clean air and clean water and having a clean environment.

Mnuchin later told CNBC he did not believe there were just a few years left to prevent a climate catastrophe.

There are a lot of other important issues threatening civilization, he said, citing health and nuclear proliferation.

The youth needs to understand: climate is one issue that needs to be put in contexts with lots of other things.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel rushed to Thunbergs defence, saying in Davos that attaining the goals of the Paris climate accord, which the United States has quit, was vital.

Time is pressing, so we - the older ones, I am 65 years old - must make sure that we take the impatience of young people positively and constructively, Merkel said in her speech.
Last month I flew down to Argentina to bury my mother-in-law. She was not my first experience with death, and we were not close, but the feelings surrounding the mourning process were very similar to those I had with the most significant passing of my life: my grandmother. Then I was 22, and even though I had gone through it before, my grandmothers death taught me the most while ripping me apart.

I believe that losses in general, and death in particular, share a few common traits. This is my experience. It may be equal to yours or completely different, but if you havent been through it yet, this may help you find some comfort when it inevitably happens in your life.

1. Death doesnt happen in one day. It is an event that unfolds over time.

You dont lose your loved one on the day they die. You may think you do, but soon you realize that you will lose them every single day after. They die when they dont call at the usual time to ask about your day. They die when something significant happens in your life, and they are not there to experience it with you. They die when it is about time that they show up for a visit, and the visit never comes. They die when you are sad or happy or feeling silly and wanting to laugh together, but there is no one for you to call. They die every holiday, every birthday, every life challenge or celebration. They die a little bit every day. And, for some, they continue to die for years.

Related: How to Help Kids Process Grief After Experiencing Loss

2. The silence that surrounds the moment you learn about the death of a loved one has deafening power.

Every time I learned that a loved one died, those first moments were filled with the same feeling: heaviness. Suddenly the air becomes thicker and it weighs on your shoulders. My surroundings were filled with palpable emptiness and deafeningly loud silence. Death creates a suspension in time. It challenges you to think and act while your brain is working at peak, trying to process something that, at the moment, confronts its abilities. For some of us, it is even harder: we may have to kick into gear and start making the arrangements to put the one we love to rest, before we have time to conceptualize life without them.

Story continues

3. Mourning has a life of its own and cant be predicted.

Even though Elizabeth Kubler-Ross described the five stages of grief, they never happened to me. What I lived was a progressive improvement in surviving the loss at different paces each time. The five stages she describes are denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. For me, the whole mourning process of my grandmothers death may have taken three intense years. At first, every day was horrible. Then I started having one good day here and there amid awful days. Then two, then three, until it turned into having one outburst of tears in specific situations (when listening to a particular song, being at one specific place, etc.) every once in a while.

Related: Challenging Cultural Norms About Death to Reframe My Grief

4. You will never stop missing that person but you will learn to live with their absence.

I dont know if I ever accepted the passing of my grandmother. I still have dreams where we meet, hug and see each other. In my dreams, I always tell her, oh my god, its been such a long time. I thought you had died, to which she responds, no, I never did. I dont miss her in my daily activities, because my life today doesnt resemble much of what was going on when she was alive. Still, she lives in my heart and the back of my mind, or she wouldnt so often appear in my dreams for a catch up.

5. You may always wish you had had one more minute with that person

It is very likely that after your loved one dies, you will wish you have said things you didnt, or that you hadnt said something you did. You will regret skipping that visit, that lunch, not calling back, taking so long to get back to their texts, or not having apologized for something you did/didnt do. You will think if only you could have had one or two more minutes, that last conversation, or one last hug, you would be able to accept the loss. That is not true. This is your brain trying to hold on to her/him for a little longer, for just another minute. But eventually, you will come to terms with that. You will realize that person knew what you meant and how you felt, and you will focus on what you had together instead of what you didnt. But it may take time.

Related: Grief and Watching the Last Leaf Fall

And one last thing: no matter how much you prepare for the final goodbye, how long the person lived or how much they were suffering, initially, it will feel incomprehensible or just too soon.

What would you add to this list?

Read more stories like this on The Mighty:

8 Tips for a Grieving Mother, From a Grieving Mother

What These Photos Show About the Complexity of Grief and Suicide Loss

Why Grief Makes Me Who I Am
It's been two weeks since the famous Megxit.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sent shockwaves around the globe early this month when they announced that they are stepping back from their duties as senior members of the royal family.

What even triggered many is that they shared the bombshell news the day before Kate Middleton's birthday.

According to world-renowned activist and ethologist Jane Goodall, Prince Harry revealed that he "felt constrained" and wants Archie to be away from royalty.

"Well, it doesn't surprise me. Having met them both."

Speaking to Radio 4, the primatologist made the revelation that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made that discussion when she visited them in Frogmore Cottage last June 2019.

"I know that Prince Harry really felt constrained and he desperately wants his son to grow up away from the pomp and royalty."

However, Goodall explained that she hadn't been to the UK, so she hasn't followed the news.

"I had no idea that anything like this was going to happen."

Prince Harry and Goodall who was being interviewed by the Duke for a special edition of British Vogue magazine which was edited by his wife, Meghan Markle.

The couple is big fans of the primatologist and activist that they invited her to their home, where she cuddled with their newborn son.

Goodall spoke highly of the younger prince, saying, "I just think he's a wonderful, wonderful person, and we had a great interview."

She also shared that she thought Markle was going to be doing the interview, but Prince Harry reportedly said, "No. I'm going to interview Jane."

During the time of their interview, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex took to their social media account that they had "An intimate conversation on environment, activism and the world as they see it."

The Instagram caption further continued, "Spoke candidly about many topics including the effects of unconscious bias, and the need for people to acknowledge that your upbringing and environment can cause you to be prejudiced without realizing it."

Jane Goodall wasn't the only person who spoke about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision.

Oprah and her best friend, Gayle King, were both guests at Markle's baby shower in New York, and they shared their thoughts on the couple's new life.

Speaking to TMZ, the talk show host said, "I support the 1,000 per cent. Do you know why I support them? I support them because I believe when you have thought about this as long as they have - and even in the Queen's statement says, 'This has been going on for months' these discussions have been going on for months," she continued, "And when Harry said in that charity statement the other day that he had to decide to move forward in peace with his new family."

Oprah questioned, "Who doesn't feel that takes to make that decision to give up everything you've known your whole life to say I'm going to choose this new life or what I believe to be the truest vision for myself?"

READ MORE: LOOK! Justin Bieber Serves as Food Truck Vendor in Los Angeles
The Calcutta High Court directed the CID on Friday to not arrest BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar till February 28 in connection with the murder case of Trinamool Congress MLA Satyajit Biswas in Nadia district last year.

A division bench comprising justices Joymalya Bagchi and Suvra Ghosh directed Sarkar to meet the investigating officer in the case on February 8, 9, 15 and 16 during the period of reprieve granted to him.

The court directed the investigating officer to submit a report on progress in the investigation on February 28, when the matter will be heard next.

Biswas, a TMC MLA from Krishnaganj in Nadia district, was shot dead near his house during Saraswati Puja on February 9, 2019.

Sarkar was elected MP from Ranaghat Lok Sabha constituency in Nadia district in 2019 on a BJP ticket.

Praying for anticipatory bail, Sarkar's lawyers claimed that he has been falsely implicated in the case owing to his political identity.

The prosecution, opposing his prayer for anticipatory bail in connection with the case, submitted that Sarkar's name cropped up in the statements of the accused persons who have been arrested for their alleged role in the murder.

Hearing both the parties, the court granted the interim relief to Sarkar and directed that the hearing for the anticipatory bail prayer will continue on February 28.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Democratic House prosecutors made an expansive case Thursday at Donald Trump's impeachment trial that he abused power like no other president in history, swept up by a completely bogus Ukraine theory pushed by attorney Rudy Giuliani.

On Friday, the Democrats will press their final day of arguments before skeptical Republican senators, focusing on the second article of impeachment, obstruction of Congress' investigation.

As the audience of Senate jurors sat through another long day, and night, the prosecutors outlined how they said Trump abused power for his own personal political benefit ahead of the 2020 election, even as the nation's top FBI and national security officials were publicly warning off the theory that it was Ukraine, not Russia, that interfered in the 2016 election.

That's what Donald Trump wanted investigated or announced this completely bogus Kremlin-pushed conspiracy theory, said Rep. Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee who is leading the prosecution, during Thursday's session, which wrapped around 10:30 p.m. ET.

Trump is accused of seeking the Ukrainian investigation and probes of political foe Joe Biden and Biden's son while holding back congressionally approved military aid as leverage. Schiff said, You can imagine what a danger that presents to this country."



The president is facing trial in the Senate after the House impeached him last month, accusing Trump of abusing his office by asking Ukraine for the investigations while withholding the aid from a U.S. ally at war with bordering Russia. The second article of impeachment accuses him of obstructing Congress by refusing to turn over documents or allow officials to testify in the House probe.

Republicans, growing tired of the long hours of proceedings, have defended Trump's actions as appropriate and cast the process as a politically motivated effort to weaken him in the midst of his reelection campaign. Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, and acquittal is considered likely.

The Democrats' challenge is clear as they try to convince not just fidgety senators but an American public divided over the Republican president in an election year. With Chief Justice John Roberts presiding, Democrats argued on Thursday that Trump's motives were apparent.

No president has ever used his office to compel a foreign nation to help him cheat in our elections, Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, told the senators. He said the nation's founders would be shocked. "The president's conduct is wrong. It is illegal. It is dangerous." Democrats scoffed at Trump's claim he had good reasons for pressuring Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Biden or other political foes.

Rep. Sylvia Garcia of Texas, herself a former judge, aid there is no evidence, nothing, nada to suggest that Biden did anything improper in dealings with Ukraine. Trump, with Giuliani, pursued investigations of Biden and his son, Hunter, who served on a Ukrainian gas company's board, and sought the probe of debunked theories of what nation was guilty of interference in the 2016 U.S. election.

On dual tracks, Democrats prosecuted their case while answering in advance the arguments expected from the president's attorneys in the days ahead.

At one point, they showed video of a younger Lindsey Graham, then a South Carolina congressman and now a GOP senator allied with Trump, arguing during Bill Clinton's 1999 impeachment that no crime was needed for impeaching a president.

Trump's defense team is now arguing that the impeachment articles against him are invalid because they do not allege he committed a specific crime.

The president's defenders' turn will come Saturday.

We will be putting on a vigorous defense of both facts, rebutting what they said, and the Constitution, said attorney Jay Sekulow.

Ahead of the day's proceedings, Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri said the Democrats were putting forward admirable presentations. But he said, There's just not much new here."



During the dinner break, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., said it seemed like Groundhog Day in the Senate. The top Senate Democrat, Chuck Schumer, acknowledged that many senators really don't want to be here. But Schumer said Schiff has been outlining a compelling case that many Republicans are hearing it for only the first time. He contended they can't help but be glued to his testimony.

Once reluctant to take on impeachment during an election year, Democrats are now marching toward a decision by the Senate that the American public also will judge.

Trump blasted the proceedings in a Thursday tweet, declaring them the Most unfair & corrupt hearing in Congressional history! After the House prosecutors finish, the president's lawyers will have as long as 24 hours. It's unclear how much time they will actually take, but Trump's team is not expected to finish Saturday, according to a person unauthorized to discuss the planning and granted anonymity. The Senate is expected to take only Sunday off and push into next week.

After that senators will face the question of whether they do, or do not, want to call witnesses to testify.

Senators were permitted Thursday to review supplemental testimony submitted by an aide to Vice President Mike Pence, Jennifer Williams, who was among those who had concerns about Trump's actions. Democrats said the testimony, which is classified, bolsters their impeachment case. A lawyer for Williams declined to comment.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 24

By Anastasia Savchenko - Trend:

Electricity generation at Azerbaijan's solar power plants amounted to 44.2 million kilowatt hours in 2019, which is 4.9 million kilowatts more compared to 2018, Trend reports with reference to the country's Energy Ministry.

The ministry's report says that the electricity generation at thermal power plants (TPPs) last year increased by over a billion kilowatt-hours compared to 2018 and exceeded 24.1 billion kilowatt-hours in 2019.

The country's wind farms generated 105.4 million kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2019, which shows an increase of 22.7 million compared to 2018.

According to the report, 1.560 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity were generated at Azerbaijan's hydroelectric power plants in 2019, which is 222.5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity more than in 2018.

Moreover, 196 million kilowatt-hours of electricity were generated at the country's bio electric power plants in 2019, which is 33.7 million kilowatt-hours more compared to 2018.

According to the country's State Statistical Committee report, Azerbaijan's power plants generated 24.2 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2019, which is 4.3 percent more compared to 2018.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @AnSav_2105
British Steel's main plant is in Scunthorpe and Teesside, where it employs an estimated 4,000 people. Photo: PA

Up to 500 jobs could be at risk at British Steel if regulators approve a takeover of the company by Chinas Jingye, unions have warned.

In November, Jingye agreed to pay around 50m ($65.4m) to take over British Steel, but workers have been fearful about the impact of the deal on their jobs.

Though unions have backed the deal in the belief that it will secure British Steels future, they have warned that around 10% of the companys workforce could lose their jobs.

With British Steel in liquidation it is clear that if the business is to survive change is required, the unions Community, Unite, and GMB said in a joint statement.

They noted, however, that they could not endorse job cuts.

READ MORE: PMI boost kills off chances of Bank slashing rates

Jingye has said it will spend 1.2bn turning the company around, and on Thursday it agreed with unions that new employment contracts would not disproportionately affect employees differently.

Because British Steel has a plant in northern France, the deal needs approval from French regulators. But a decision is not expected for more than a month.

British Steel employs around 5,000 people. Its main plant is in Scunthorpe and Teesside, where it employs an estimated 4,000 people.

Thousands of other jobs are reliant on the British Steel supply chain.

READ MORE: UK firms demand a say over immigration reforms

The unions said they believed British Steel would be broken up and sold into parts if the sale does not go ahead.

British Steel was forced into compulsory liquidation in May. The Turkish armys pension fund Oyak reached a provisional deal to acquire the company in August, but a deadline for exclusive talks came and went without agreement.

Since May, the company has been overseen by the Official Receiver, a court-appointed civil servant.

The collapse of British Steel came after a troubled few years for the UK firm, which is thought to produce around a third of the steel made in the country.

High energy costs, fierce Chinese competition, global overproduction, and a lack of investment and state support have all been blamed for the challenges facing the company and its competitors in the UK.
Residents and officials throughout Spain have struggled to grapple with the destruction Storm Gloria has left in its wake. The battered country, now scrambling to clean up the mess, faces damaged railways and collapsed bridges amid the wreckage.

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez spent the week analyzing the stricken regions of the country, including a fly-over of the impacted areas of eastern Spain on Friday to assess the situation.

Over 10,000 homes remain without power and around 600 residents in Catalonia were forced to evacuate on Wednesday. In other areas of the country, heavy snowfall left areas completely cut off from assistance.

In the Catalonian city of Girona, located in the northeastern corner of the Spain, the Ter River burst its banks and flooded the Pedret and Pont Major neighborhoods. Nearby towns Deltbere and Alcanar have requested to be declared disaster zones after enduring swaths of crop destruction and coastline erosion, totalling nearly $10.5 million (9.5 million), according to El Pais.

A road is flooded by the river Ter in Verges, Girona, Spain, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. A calamitous storm has killed at least 11 people in Spain and left five others missing, as well as causing rivers to overflow their banks and contaminating vast agricultural areas in eastern Spain with salty seawater. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

On Thursday, Catalan authorities confirmed the deaths of two more residents, raising the total death toll to 13, with at least four others still missing.

"We are not going to be able to recover everything that has been lost," Sanchez said on Thursday. "There are a lot of emotions, memories, but we will be sure to use the resources, effort and determination to repair the damage."

CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP

Catalonia, which fought for its independence from Spain in 2017 and is home of major city Barcelona, has been the region hit hardest in the country. Damage to coastal and agricultural towns has been immense, particularly to rice farmers and fishermen.

Story continues

People stand at a balcony during flooding following a storm in Girona, Spain, on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. At least 11 have died and five people remained missing on Thursday following a calamitous storm that has caused rivers to overflow and sea waters to inundate vast agricultural areas in eastern Spain. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

After visiting Majorca, the largest island in the Balearic Islands, on Thursday, Sanchez called for the government to hold an emergency meeting on Friday to determine a necessary response.

Waves cresting at more than 45 feet were recorded in the islands, leaving destroyed homes and battered beaches in the wake.

A man takes a snapshot of the waves hitting the breakwater in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020. Massive waves and gale-force winds smashed into seafront towns, damaging many shops and restaurants and flooding some streets. (AP Photo/Joan Mateu)

"I think what's important right now is that we're all united, that we work shoulder-to-shoulder and cooperate, as we are doing," Sanchez told Reuters on Thursday.

This weekend, Sanchez will travel to Malaga, Castellon and Murcia, three areas that have been particularly rocked by hailstorms and heavy winds.

Even though the country's national weather authority has said the storm's worst impacts are in the rearview mirror, the recovery process is expected to be lengthy. Over 100 roads remain closed due to the storm, and over 130,000 students have been kept out of schools.

 Un cop finalitzat el temporal #Gloria us volem donar les gracies per seguir-nos activament aquests dies i per haver estat atents a les indicacions dels cossos d'emergencies



 Queden encara afectacions, no abaixeu la guardia!

 https://t.co/i0x0nG7zdD#EntreTotsFemSeguretat pic.twitter.com/NJLGRqdE8i  Transit (@transit) January 24, 2020

Shortly ahead on the calendar, the country's prime tourism season looms, during the Easter season. To prepare for the influx of visitors, Sanchez told reporters that authorities would work together to reestablish 'normality' and address short-term and medium-term needs.

Natalia Troya, the mayor of Son Serva, a city in Majorca, said this week that the beach at Cala Millor has 'practically disappeared,' according to the Majorca Daily Bulletin.

"I did not want to miss the opportunity to be in Majorca and help the Government to resolve the situation the island is facing so close to the tourist season," Sanchez said after touring the Cala Gat beach. "We will spare no resources."

Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Moments before he began what would be his final mission, flight engineer Rick DeMorgan was "amped" for the work he was to do.

"I talked to him yesterday, just minutes before he took off," friend Jeremy Whitley said.

The three US firefighters have been remembered as heroes: (from left) first officer Paul Hudson, flight engineer Rick DeMorgan jnr and captain Ian McBeth.

Mr DeMorgan and his fellow crew members captain Ian McBeth and first officer Paul Hudson died as their Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft crashed fighting an out-of-control blaze in the Snowy Monaro region on Thursday.

"Rick was amped for this job. In his own words, 'It was crazy.' He sent me a video of him driving on the wrong side of the road, playing the Crocodile Dundee theme song," Mr Whitley wrote on Facebook after learning of the tragedy.
NASA's Aqua satellite and its MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) captured this image of southeastern Australia and the burn scars left behind from the violent and vicious bushfires that raged throughout the area and left destruction in their wake.

The Worldview app from NASA's EOSDIS provides the capability to interactively browse over 900 global, full-resolution satellite imagery layers and then download the underlying data. Many of the imagery layers are updated daily and are available within three hours of observation - essentially showing the entire Earth as it looks "right now". This supports time-critical application areas such as wildfire management, air quality measurements, and flood monitoring.

This image was captured on Jan. 22, 2020 and the measurement tool that is available within the Worldview application allows users to measure distances. In this case, the distances measured were those of the burn scars left behind in southeastern Australia. The measurement ranged from 46 miles (74 km) all the way up 105 miles (169 km) of scarred land. Just looking at the image is devastating enough, but when the measurement tool is used, it underlines the absolute destruction caused by the bushfires that took hold in 2019 and into 2020.

Colors have been enhanced used reflectance bands on the satellite that provide more vivid colors in order to "see" the differences between the land and the burn scars. This combination is most useful for distinguishing burn scars from naturally low vegetation or bare soil and enhancing floods. From the Worldview information section: "Burned areas or fire-affected areas are characterized by deposits of charcoal and ash, removal of vegetation and/or the alteration of vegetation structure. When bare soil becomes exposed, the brightness in Band 1 may increase, but that may be offset by the presence of black carbon residue; the near infrared (Band 2) will become darker, and Band 7 becomes more reflective. When assigned to red in the image, Band 7 will show burn scars as deep or bright red, depending on the type of vegetation burned, the amount of residue, or the completeness of the burn."

NASA's satellite instruments are often the first to detect wildfires burning in remote regions, and the locations of new fires are sent directly to land managers worldwide within hours of the satellite overpass. Together, NASA instruments detect actively burning fires, track the transport of smoke from fires, provide information for fire management, and map the extent of changes to ecosystems, based on the extent and severity of burn scars. NASA has a fleet of Earth-observing instruments, many of which contribute to our understanding of fire in the Earth system. Satellites in orbit around the poles provide observations of the entire planet several times per day, whereas satellites in a geostationary orbit provide coarse-resolution imagery of fires, smoke and clouds every five to 15 minutes.

For more information visit: https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/fires/main/missions/index.html

Image Courtesy: NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS). Caption: Lynn Jenner with information from Worldview. A link that goes directly to the image is: https://go.nasa.gov/38zAOYK

Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook.
[January 24, 2020] Esri Partners with OSI to Provide Advanced GIS Capabilities and Real-Time Monitoring to Utilities

Esri, the global leader in location intelligence, today announced it has entered into a partnership with Open Systems (News - Alert) International, Inc. (OSI). Their joint customers in the electric, gas, and water utility industries will now be able to leverage both Esri's ArcGIS Utility Network Management as part of their geographic information system (GIS) and OSI's monarch operational technology (OT) platform. "Many of our utility customers are adopting new Esri technology, such as ArcGIS Utility Network Management, which provides advanced network modeling capability," said Bahman Hoveida, president and CEO of OSI. "We are very excited about our partnership with Esri, as it will enable us to provide the best technical solutions to our joint customers, leveraging the latest functionality ArcGIS Utility Network Management provides." OSI's monarch platform is a control system architecture that enables utilities to support, monitor, control, schedule, and optimize complex network operations. The platform is used in the electric, oil and gas, transportation, and water industries as well as in large-scale industrial Internet of Things (IoT) applications and microgrids. As utilities move toward adopting Esri's ArcGIS Utility Network Management, OSI will collaborate with the geospatial software provider to ensure that joint customers experience a seamless transition in technology and improved usability. "We are very happy that this new partnership will bring users in the utility sector added operational capabilities," said Matt Piper, Esri global director of utilities and infrastructure solutions. "Combining OSI's automation and real-time monitoring with Esri's holistic system for the utility supply chain offers customers complete awareness and control of their networks at an unpreceented scale."



The ArcGIS Utility Network Management extension for ArcGIS Enterprise is a set of advanced network capabilities for utilities as part of Esri's ArcGIS platform. Users of the extension can create, manage, and share complete data about networks across any platform-from source to demand-such as residential meters for electric, water, wastewater, gas, district heating, and telecommunications companies. OSI has extensive experience in leveraging Esri GIS network models as an input to OSI's real-time OT solutions built on the monarch platform. This new partnership will enable utilities to comprehensively monitor, visualize, and analyze network capabilities, so operators and engineers can manage their electric, gas, and water networks with better transparency and efficiency.

About Esri Esri, the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping, offers the most powerful geospatial cloud available, to help customers unlock the full potential of data to improve operational and business results. Founded in 1969, Esri software is deployed in more than 350,000 organizations including 90 of the Fortune 100 companies, all 50 state governments, more than half of all counties (large and small), and 87 of the Forbes Top 100 Colleges in the U.S., as well as all 15 Executive Departments of the U.S. Government and dozens of independent agencies. With its pioneering commitment to geospatial information technology, Esri engineers the most advanced solutions for digital transformation, the Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics. Visit us at esri.com. Copyright  2020 Esri. All rights reserved. Esri, the Esri globe logo, ArcGIS, The Science of Where, esri.com, and @esri.com are trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of Esri in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions. Other companies and products or services mentioned herein may be trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of their respective mark owners. About OSI Open Systems International (www.osii.com)-headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota-provides open, state-of-the-art and high-performance enterprise automation solutions to utilities worldwide. These solutions include Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, Energy Management Systems (EMS), Distribution Management Systems (DMS), Outage Management Systems (OMS), Generation Management Systems (GMS (News - Alert)), Substation Automation (SA) Systems, Data Warehousing (Historian) Analytics, Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems (DERMS), Situational Awareness Systems, Pipeline Network Management Systems (NMS), individual software and hardware products, and Smart Grid solutions for utility operations. OSI's solutions empower its users to meet their operational challenges, day in and day out, with unsurpassed reliability and a minimal cost of technology ownership and maintenance. For additional information regarding this news release, please contact [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005327/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Kenya continues to perform poorly in the fight against corruption, a new report by Transparency International (TI) indicates.

According to Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) report 2019 released Thursday, Kenya ranked at position 137 out of the total 180 countries with a score of 28 points out of 100.

Since 2012, Kenya has scored between 25 and 28, out of 100, having recorded a score of 27 in 2018, depicting slow progress in the fight against corruption, the CPI report states.

The report shows Kenya is below the global average score of 43 points and the average score in the Sub-Saharan region of 32 points.

Kenyas poor performance was attributed to among other things, failure to regulate funds used in financing campaigns during elections. This despite enacting the Election Campaign Financing Act in 2013.

Governments must urgently address the corrupting role of big money in political party financing and the undue influence it exerts on our political systems, said Delia Ferreira Rubio, Transparency International Chair.

According to the report, Kenya is at a critical point where the relevant arms of government tasked with the fight against corruption need to show real outcomes, to instill public confidence in the ongoing anti-graft efforts.

Following the spate of high profile arrests and arraignments in court, anti-corruption agencies should therefore bolster investigations and prosecutions that will lead to convictions and the recovery of stolen public resources, it reads.

T.I notes that the recent directive by the President on conflict of interest among public officials has the potential to escalate the success in the fight against graft if followed through.

In the East African region, Kenya and Uganda were ranked joint third with 28 points. Rwanda is ranked highest with 53 points followed by Tanzania with 37.

South Sudan and Burundi scored 12 and 19 points respectively.

Other African countries assessed in the survey include Ethiopia with 37 points, Zambia 34, Nigeria 26, Zimbabwe 24 and the Democratic Republic of Congo 18.

Top countries are New Zealand and Denmark, with scores of 87 each, followed by Finland (86), Singapore (85), Sweden (85) and Switzerland (85).

The bottom countries are Somalia, South Sudan and Syria with scores of 9, 12 and 13, respectively.
Trade ministers from 35 member countries of the WTO, including Piyush Goyal from India, met here on the sidelines of the WEF 2020 on Friday to discuss priorities and preparations for the June ministerial meeting of the global trade body.

The informal gathering of the WTO members and the WTO General Director Roberto Azevedo was held at the invitation of Swiss Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin.

The group met to discuss and define their priorities for the 12th WTO ministerial conference to be held from 8 to 11 June 2020, at Nur-Sultan in Kazakhstan, a post-meeting statement said.

It said the meeting on the fringes of WEF Davos summit was attended by 35 members of the WTO, who represent a wide spectrum of trade policy interests.

The ministers discussed their priorities with regard to ongoing WTO activities and processes.

High up on the agenda were negotiations on fisheries subsidies and current efforts to reform the WTO, including further developing the existing framework of WTO rules, to improve transparency in the implementation of WTO agreements and proposals for restoring the Appellate Body of the WTO dispute settlement mechanism.

In his remarks at the meeting, Swiss Federal Councillor Parmelin said the ministers expressed their resolve to preserve the credibility of the rules-based multilateral trading system.

The need to reform the WTO and to improve its functioning was also widely acknowledged, he said.

Given the significance of these negotiations for sustainable development and the WTO, Ministers instructed negotiators to step up efforts to ensure that the WTO delivers on the Sustainable Development Goal 14.6 and contributes to the long-term sustainability of global fisheries.

The Ministers underlined the urgency of taking the necessary actions to restore a fully functioning dispute settlement system in line with its fundamental principles.

Some participants indicated that they were working towards contingency measures that would allow for appeals in their trade disputes, in the form of an interim appeal arrangement, until the Appellate Body becomes operational.

Several participants addressed the diverse development levels of Members and how these should be taken into account in order to advance multilateral negotiations.

Several participants called for further progress in agricultural trade policy reform.

Numerous interventions stressed on the necessity to foster greater transparency of trade policy measures.

Several participants highlighted the importance of adapting WTO rules and commitments to today's realities.

Many Ministers welcomed the progress achieved in the Joint Statement Initiative negotiations such as on e-commerce, investment facilitation, micro, small and medium-sized companies.

Some also called for an extension of the moratorium on customs duties on electronic transmissions, while others considered that they needed to deepen their understanding of these issues.

The G20 Presidency made a presentation of the Riyadh Initiative on the Future of the WTO.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Police search for suspects after a mosque room in Beit Safafa area was ignited, and Hebrew graffiti sprayed outside.

Israeli police have launched a manhunt after an apparent arson attack, accompanied by Hebrew-language graffiti, on a mosque in occupied East Jerusalem.

Police were summoned to a mosque in Beit Safafa, in Jerusalem, following a report of arson in one of the buildings rooms and spraying of graffiti on a nearby wall outside the building, a police statement said on Friday.

Nobody was injured in the incident, police said. There was damage to an interior prayer room, but the structure was unharmed.

A wide-scale search is taking place in Jerusalem, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told AFP news agency.

We believe that the incident took place overnight. We are searching for suspects.

The spokesman would not say if police viewed it as a hate crime.

The graffiti, seen by an AFP journalist, contained the name Kumi Ori, a small settlement outpost in the north of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

One part read, Demolishing (for) Jews? Demolishing enemies!, an apparent reference to the dismantling of settler outposts in the West Bank.

Price tag attack

Israel captured and occupied East Jerusalem along with the West Bank in the 1967 Middle East war. The Palestinians want both areas as part of their future state.

All settlements on occupied Palestinian land are considered illegal under international law, but Israel distinguishes between those it has approved and those it has not.

Israeli Arab legislator Osama Saadi told AFP news agency that Fridays incident had the appearance of a price tag attack, a euphemism for Jewish nationalist-motivated hate crimes that generally target Palestinian property in revenge for attacks against Israelis or Israeli government moves against unauthorised outposts like Kumi Ori.

The settlers didnt only write words, they also burnt the place and they burnt a Koran, said Saadi, who lives in the area.

In December, more than 160 cars were vandalised in the Shuafaat neighbourhood of East Jerusalem with anti-Arab slogans scrawled nearby.

The slogans read Arabs=enemies, There is no room in the country for enemies and When Jews are stabbed we arent silent.

The attackers were described by a local resident as masked settlers.
ALBANY, NYAn article published today on Motherboard.com, titled Online Whiz Kid Joe Biden Thinks We Should Trash a Crucial Law for the Internet, includes the opinions of prominent adult industry attorney Maxine Lynn.

The genesis of the article was that last week, former Vice President and current presidential candidate Joe Biden said in an interview for The New York Times, "[t]he idea that [Facebook is] a tech company is that Section 230 should be revoked, immediately should be revoked, number one. For Zuckerberg and other platforms."

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act (CDA) provides, in summary, that a provider of an interactive computer service is not to be treated as the publisher or speaker of information shared on the service by a third-party user. This releases websites from certain liabilities for actions of users on the sites.

The article, written by Samantha Cole, explains, Section 230 is  one reason why platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, and 4chan have flourishedfor better or worse, Section 230 has allowed them to amass millions of users without having to take the blame every time one of those users does something illegal.

The piece quotes various experts on aspects that relate to the CDA. To this end, Lynn contributed the following statement:

"Marginalized communities who already have trouble accessing good and accurate sex education and products would have an even harder time without Section 230[.]" She continued, "[R]epeal of Section 230 could open the door to even more systemic censorship on what some believe is 'immoral' content'... Without a free and open internet, it could leave many people vulnerable to inaccurate, and just plain wrong information, or possibly no information at all, about sex, sexual wellness products, and pornography[.]"

The full article can be accessed at this link.

Maxine Lynn is an intellectual property and adult industry attorney with the law firm of Keohane & DAlessandro, PLLC. Through her company, Unzipped Media, Inc., Maxine publishes a blog titled, UNZIPPED Sex, Tech and the Law and a podcast titled, UNZIPPED The Business of Sex.
OAKLAND (BCN)

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf announced on Thursday that she has appointed former Berkeley Homeless Services Coordinator Peter Radu as Oakland's homeless policy director.

Schaaf said in a news release that her appointment of Radu was effective on Dec. 9 but didn't explain why she waited until Thursday to announce it.

Schaaf said that in addition to serving as her chief policy advisor to address Oakland's homeless crisis, Radu will serve as her representative in key local, regional and statewide efforts.

Among those is California Gov. Gavin Newsom's Council of Regional Homeless Advisors, on which Schaaf serves as the Bay Area's representative.

"Peter's hands-on experience in the field and innovative work as a policy expert will assist our relentless effort to end homelessness in Oakland through compassion and creativity," Schaaf said in her statement.

Schaaf said, "Peter's proven ability to solve complex problems and deliver results will benefit all Oaklanders, and particularly our unsheltered neighbors."

Radu said, "I am honored to serve my neighbors in Oakland and humbled by the challenge we face. Solutions will not appear overnight, but we will work with urgency every day to create new pathways to housing for all unsheltered residents."

Schaaf said funding for the position was made possible by a grant from Salesforce founder, chairman and co-chief executive Marc Benioff and his wife Lynne Benioff.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
Indian Wells, Calif.  Late last year, Alexander Sammon of The American Prospect contended that the Koch political network had effectively betrayed Louisianas Democratic governor, John Bel Edwards, after a period of effective bipartisan cooperation. The networks flagship group, Americans for Prosperity (AFP), had worked closely with Edwards and lawmakers from both parties on legislation banning a Jim Crowera law that allowed for split-jury verdicts. One would think that after Edwards played nice and advanced the legislative agenda of the Koch empire, he would have the backing of their imperious political machine going into Saturdays election, or at least would have earned himself a non-aggression pact, Sammon wrote. But thats not the case.

Its worth noting the transitive property through which the Koch network allegedly turned against Edwards: Koch Industries, the legally separate family business that is one of the networks main funding sources, was a top-ten donor to the Republican Governors Association, which in turn was spending money to help GOP gubernatorial candidate Eddie Rispone beat Edwards. Edwards ultimately won reelection, 51 percent to 48 percent. But even if Charles Koch had called up the RGA and said, Hey, I really like John Bel Edwards, dont run any ads against him, it is unlikely the request wouldve been granted. And a pledge not to use any Koch Industries donation money to target Edwards would be pointless, because money is fungible: Koch money paying for ads in other states would allow donations that would have been used in those states to be used against Edwards in Louisiana. (For what its worth, there are some indications that Koch-affiliated groups did hold their fire; Americans for Prosperitys Louisiana chapter didnt have much to say about the governor or Rispone last year, on Twitter or Facebook.)

All that said, Sammons argument does raise the question of just how much issue-based advocacy, with no regard for party, can thrive in an era of extraordinarily polarized politics.

Story continues

Every year, the Koch network holds its winter meeting here in Indian Wells, and every year, Charles Koch addresses the attendees and quotes Frederick Douglass: I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong. Last years meeting showcased the networks partnership with Van Jones on the First Step Act, the signature criminal-justice-reform bill, which once wouldve been unthinkable: Phil Kerpen, then the director of policy for AFP, had led the charge for Joness dismissal from the Obama administration in 2009, and Jones had attended a protest against AFP and the Koch brothers back in 2011.

So, yes, the Koch network lives by Douglasss words: It is willing to cross party lines and work with anyone, even someone who is its opponent on every other issue, if it advances a cause it holds dear. But once its alliances have achieved their purpose, they dissolve; the Koch groups dont believe they owe any elected official long-term loyalty.

Even long-time friends of the network have occasionally come under its fire. In early 2017, when the networks traditional GOP allies in Congress flirted with a border-adjustment tax  essentially a new tax on imported goods  Koch-group leaders ripped the idea, calling it just a tax thats going to be passed on to people who shouldnt be taxed, and a huge new burden to consumers. One Koch-organization leader joked that his congressional allies had suddenly become protectionist socialists.

On paper, the strategy of forging alliances of convenience and discarding them when theyve run their course has worked well for the Koch network, and we might have a better system of government and politics if everyone followed that approach. But a lot of people in American politics, prominent among them President Trump, want or expect loyalty  to say nothing of the short-term political costs that cross-party alliances can carry. Earlier this year, Joe Bidens Democratic rivals ripped into him for romanticizing his working relationship with segregationist Southern senators. More broadly, many left-wing opponents of Biden have argued that hes naive in believing he will be able to reach significant agreements with congressional Republicans. Any Democrat aspiring to be a state attorney general has to think twice about allying with pro-lifers; the Democratic Attorneys General Association has said it will not support any candidate who is pro-life. It would go too far to say that any attempt at reaching across the aisle is inherently a political liability, but there are certainly loud factions in our political world who want to make that the case.

Each temporary alliance represents a chance to get something done that otherwise wouldnt be doable, but it also represents a potential wave of attack ads in the next primary, ads in which someone accuses you of working with or cozying up to someone detested by your party. And as Edwards learned, past temporary allies arent necessarily going to rush to help you out in your hour of need.

A political environment in which temporary alliances with traditional opponents became commonplace and involved minimal political risk would probably lead to a lot more legislation getting passed, for better or worse. But the dominant question in primaries these days is not, as Bobby Rush asked about young Barack Obama, Just whats he done? I mean, whats he done? Its this: Is he sufficiently opposed to our detestable adversaries?

More from National Review
[January 23, 2020] PRCA SEA Announces PR Newswire as the News Distribution Partner for PRCA SEA Awards 2020

SINGAPORE, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Public Relations and Communications Association Southeast Asia (PRCA SEA) announced today, press release distributor agency PR Newswire as its News Distribution Partner of the PRCA SEA Awards 2020. PRCA SEA is proud to announce that PR Newswire is the News Distribution Partner of PRCA SEA Awards 2020. PR Newswire, a Cision Ltd. Company, is a leading global provider of news distribution and earned media software and services.?In conjunction with Cision's cloud-based communications product suite, PR Newswire's services enable marketers, corporate communicators, and investor relations officers to identify key influencers, engage target audiences, craft and distribute strategic content, and measure meaningful impact. PR Newswire serves tens of thousands of clients from offices in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific regions.



The PRCA Southeast Asia (PRCA SEA) Awards recognise the talent and impact of individuals, teams, and campaigns from the best of the PR and communications profession. The awards are open to all parties involved in the use of PR and communications; PR consultancies, freelancers, in-house communications departments, digital agencies and media owners. Entries will be judged by some of the biggest names from the worlds of PR, communications, and journalism, meaning that winning one of these awards is a true recognition of leading-edge PR and communications work.

The final entry deadline for the awards is Friday, 31st January, 2020. To find our more, click here. For more information, please contact [email protected]. About the PRCA Who we are: Founded in 1969, the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) is PR and communications membership body, operating in 66 countries around the world with offices in the U.K, Dubai and Singapore. Representing in excess of 30,000 people, the PRCA is the largest PR membership association in the world. The PRCA promotes all aspects of public relations and communications work, helping teams and individuals maximise the value they deliver to clients and organisations. What we do: The Association exists to raise standards in PR and communications, providing members with industry data, facilitating the sharing of communications best practice and creating networking opportunities. How we do it and make a difference: All PRCA members are bound by a professional charter and codes of conduct, and benefit from exceptional training. The Association also works for the greater benefit of the industry, sharing best practice and lobbying on the industry's behalf e.g. fighting the NLA's digital licence. Logo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200124/2701610-1logo SOURCE PRCA SEA

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Some have more dollars than sense, they say, so even companies that have no revenue, no profit, and a record of falling short, can easily find investors. And in their study titled Who Falls Prey to the Wolf of Wall Street?' Leuz et. al. found that it is 'quite common' for investors to lose money by buying into 'pump and dump' schemes.

In contrast to all that, I prefer to spend time on companies like Tiangong International (HKG:826), which has not only revenues, but also profits. While that doesn't make the shares worth buying at any price, you can't deny that successful capitalism requires profit, eventually. In comparison, loss making companies act like a sponge for capital - but unlike such a sponge they do not always produce something when squeezed.

See our latest analysis for Tiangong International

How Fast Is Tiangong International Growing Its Earnings Per Share?

In the last three years Tiangong International's earnings per share took off like a rocket; fast, and from a low base. So the actual rate of growth doesn't tell us much. Thus, it makes sense to focus on more recent growth rates, instead. Like a falcon taking flight, Tiangong International's EPS soared from CN0.094 to CN0.13, over the last year. That's a impressive gain of 35%.

One way to double-check a company's growth is to look at how its revenue, and earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins are changing. While we note Tiangong International's EBIT margins were flat over the last year, revenue grew by a solid 25% to CN5.5b. That's a real positive.

You can take a look at the company's revenue and earnings growth trend, in the chart below. For finer detail, click on the image.

SEHK:826 Income Statement, January 24th 2020

While profitability drives the upside, prudent investors always check the balance sheet, too.

Are Tiangong International Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

Like that fresh smell in the air when the rains are coming, insider buying fills me with optimistic anticipation. Because oftentimes, the purchase of stock is a sign that the buyer views it as undervalued. Of course, we can never be sure what insiders are thinking, we can only judge their actions.

Story continues

One gleaming positive for Tiangong International, in the last year, is that a certain insider has buying shares with ample enthusiasm. Specifically, in one large transaction Chief Investment Officer Zefeng Zhu paid HK$25m, for stock at HK$2.48 per share. Big insider buys like that are almost as rare as an ocean free of single use plastic waste.

Along with the insider buying, another encouraging sign for Tiangong International is that insiders, as a group, have a considerable shareholding. Notably, they have an enormous stake in the company, worth CN2.4b. Coming in at 32% of the business, that holding gives insiders a lot of influence, and plenty of reason to generate value for shareholders. Very encouraging.

While insiders are apparently happy to hold and accumulate shares, that is just part of the pretty picture. That's because on our analysis the CEO, Suojun Wu, is paid less than the median for similar sized companies. For companies with market capitalizations between CN2.8b and CN11b, like Tiangong International, the median CEO pay is around CN3.2m.

The CEO of Tiangong International only received CN805k in total compensation for the year ending December 2018. That's clearly well below average, so at a glance, that arrangement seems generous to shareholders, and points to a modest remuneration culture. While the level of CEO compensation isn't a huge factor in my view of the company, modest remuneration is a positive, because it suggests that the board keeps shareholder interests in mind. It can also be a sign of good governance, more generally.

Should You Add Tiangong International To Your Watchlist?

Given my belief that share price follows earnings per share you can easily imagine how I feel about Tiangong International's strong EPS growth. The cranberry sauce on the turkey is that insiders own a bunch of shares, and one has been buying more. So it's fair to say I think this stock may well deserve a spot on your watchlist. Now, you could try to make up your mind on Tiangong International by focusing on just these factors, or you could also consider how its price-to-earnings ratio compares to other companies in its industry.

There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. So if you like the sound of Tiangong International, you'll probably love this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.

Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Appointment

24 January 2020

Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa, one of Texas' leading resorts located right outside Austin, announces Cory Baum as Director of Sales and Marketing. Baum joins the property from Hyatt Regency Jacksonville in Florida.

Baum began working in the hotel industry as a front desk agent while attending college, an experience that further drove his interest in working in the hospitality field.

In 2005, Baum graduated from Arizona State University (ASU) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus in Business, Tourism, and Communications, which allowed him to gain a more focused approach to working with hotels. Immediately following graduation, Baum was accepted into Hyatt Corporation's Corporate Management Trainee (CMT) program at Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Chicago where he had a chance to experience each department.

After his time in the CMT program, Baum was quickly promoted as a planning manager in the events department, then promoted to the sales department where he held various positions and managed several markets. He has worked Hyatt properties throughout the country including Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino in Nevada, Hyatt Regency Morristown in New Jersey, Hyatt Regency Columbus in Ohio, and others.

In his role as Director of Sales and Marketing, Baum has received numerous awards and recognitions including Hyatt's "Sales Team of the Year" award, he led his team to achieve Hyatt's "Marketing Award," and the company's "Excellence in Leadership Award."

Baum moves to Austin with his wife Catherine and Daughter Charlotte.
Natural disasters will always be tests of a peoples perseverance. At the same time, it is when solidarity takes center stage to help our fellowmen in time of need. After Taals recent eruption, Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) donated one unit of the D-Max 4x4 LS MT to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), Laguna Chapter, at the IPC Plant in Binan Laguna, for the mobilization of the Taal Volcano eruption relief efforts.

"(The) Isuzu D-MAX 4x4, being a utilitarian pick-up, is surely essential in bringing relief goods and aiding victims of Taal Volcano eruption. (The) Isuzu D-Max is a combination of power and performance and is equipped with Blue Power technology that can withstand any roads, from the toughest terrain to the slickest street all in style and comfort", Shojiro Sakoda, IPC Executive Vice President said at the turnover ceremony.
Isabel dos Santos, the tycoon daughter of Angola's ex-president who is at the centre of an anti-graft investigation, on Thursday vowed she was ready to fight against what she called "misleading and untrue" allegations.

Dos Santos, dubbed 'the princess' in Angola, is accused of using her father's influence to steal millions of dollars from state companies and siphon the funds overseas during his rule.

The allegations stretch across Angola's state oil and diamond industries to Lisbon, where a Portuguese banker tied to the dos Santos probe has been found dead in an apparent suicide.

Angola's prosecutors have accused dos Santos of mismanagement and embezzlement of funds during her tenure at Sonangol, Angola's state-owned oil giant which she once headed during her father's rule.

But Dos Santos on Thursday countered the claims.

"The allegations which have been made against me over the last few days are extremely misleading and untrue," she said in a statement issued through a public relations firm in London.

She said was "ready to fight through the international courts to defend my good name".

Prosecutors want the billionairess and other suspects to return home for questioning.

Most of the ex-president's family have moved abroad since he stepped down in 2017, and are believed to mostly spend time between London and Portugal.

Isabel dos Santos' whereabouts were not clear on Thursday.

The eldest child of ex-president Jose Eduardo dos Santos was already the target of an anti-graft campaign led by her father's successor, Joao Lourenco.

A Portuguese banker from EuroBic who was targeted in the Angola investigation was found dead in his Lisbon home. By PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA (AFP)

Angola's Prosecutor General Helder Pitta Gros said dos Santos is charged with money laundering, influence peddling, harmful management, forgery of documents among other economic crimes.

Gros said dos Santos was among five named suspects, all of whom were currently residing abroad.

"At the moment, the concern is to notify and get them to voluntarily come to face justice," Gros said.

One of the suspects, a Portuguese banker identified at the weekend in a worldwide media release of documents dubbed the "Luanda Leaks," has been found dead in Lisbon, police there said.

EuroBic banker Nuno Ribeiro da Cunha, who local media named as dos Santos account manager, was found at his home in Lisbon, police said Thursday.

"All indications point to suicide," a police spokesman told AFP.

Just hours earlier, EuroBic said in a statement that Dos Santos -- who owns 42.5 percent of the bank -- had taken the decision to "withdraw" as a shareholder.

Angola's prosecutor general travelled to Lisbon after his announcement of the charges to meet his Portuguese counterpart.

On arrival on Thursday, Gros told national television he would be seeking "help on many things".

'Extremely misleading'

Investigations into her 18-month tenure as Sonangol head began after her successor Carlos Saturnino raised the alarm about "irregular money transfers" and other suspect procedures.

The leak of more than 715,000 files, published on Sunday by some of the world's top media outlets, suggest the alleged looting was systemic.

Hundreds of companies, many based in tax havens such as the British Virgin Islands, are alleged to have helped dos Santos accrue her fortune.

The mounting scandal has prompted scrutiny in Portugal and some of its corporations, especially the small lender EuroBic.

Dos Santos has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and denounced the investigations as politically motivated.

Isabel dos Santos. By John SAEKI (AFP)

"This is a very concentrated, orchestrated and well-coordinated political attack, ahead of (ruling party) elections in Angola next year," she said.

The 46-year-old businesswoman has been furiously defending her empire, claiming her fortune was built on nothing but hard work and fruitful investments.

Angola's ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) said it respected the prosecutor's decision.

"The MPLA supports and encourages the continuing fight against corruption and impunity, which is a national imperative," spokesman Albino Carlos told AFP.

Opposition party UNITA said the prosecutor general was acting as "part of the normal functioning of justice institutions".

'Political will'

Dos Santos has been dubbed "the princess" by many Angolans and Africa's richest woman by Forbes, which estimates her assets at $2.1 billion (1.89 billion euros).

Angola is still reeling from President dos Santos's 38-year rule during which key positions were awarded to his cronies and wealth amassed by a select few.

Lourenco has vowed to crack down on corruption and launched a large-scale purge of the dos Santos administration.

Sindika Dokolo and his wife Isabel dos Santos reportedly own one of the best art collections in Africa. By Mike Coppola (GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File)

He removed Isabel dos Santos from her top job at Sonangol shortly after he came to power.

Prosecutors last month froze bank accounts and assets owned by Isabel dos Santos and her Congolese husband Sindika Dokolo as part of the probe.

Anti-corruption campaign group Transparency International (TI) said Angola was "likely" to request dos Santos' extradition to face trial.

"The political will to bring dos Santos back to Angola to face trial is there," said TI's southern Africa coordinator Mokgabo Kupe. "Angola's prosecutor general has made it clear."
The program started with "Power Hour: Investors and Ukraine's Decision Makers Discuss What it Takes to Attract New Investors to Ukraine." Yulia Kovaliv, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said the government is set to introduce a range of new measures to attract foreign investment, including a five-year tax holiday for those investing more than $10 million in privatization of state-owned enterprises.

Vladyslav Kryklii, Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine, said that in 2020, the government is considering plans to place three to four additional seaports and ten railway stations under concession. John M. Beck, Founder and Chairman of Aecon Group Inc., said: "The new government of Ukraine is doing all it takes to attract investors. We are very interested in Ukraine's investment opportunities and will open discussions with the government very soon."

The first panel of the afternoon was an engaging discussion under the title "Leadership Character for Corporate Growth and Social Impact (in a Disruptive World)," featuring high-profile tech talents and business leaders. The panel was sponsored by First Generation Capital Inc.

Naftogaz Group and FEOGI sponsored "Ukraine as a Cornerstone: Creating an Integrated Gas Market in Europe," a discussion moderated by Dr Aura Sabadus, Senior Journalist at ICIS, who talked with prominent leaders in the gas industry and top officials about Ukraine's winning value proposition vis-a-vis a secure and prosperous European energy market.

Andriy Kobolyev, CEO, Naftogaz of Ukraine, said: "At least 10 billion cubic meters of gas now can be stored in Ukraine to the benefit of the EU, creating more security. On top of that, we expect that excessive supply to the European gas market will result in lower margins, thus creating more profit for Ukraine."

"Tech Founders Share their Stories of Success," a panel hosted by Horizon Capital and UVCA, featured tech discussions and insightful personal stories by some of the world's most dynamic tech innovators and change-makers. Speakers agreed that passion, hard work, and working towards improving the lives of others were all critical to success.

The next panel, "Innovation Begins with Education: Fostering the Next Generation of Trailblazers," focused on the impact of innovative education as part of a new global tech paradigm. This panel was sponsored by UNIT.City.

Following the conclusion of the day's panels, Ukraine House Davos became the venue for an evening of cultural diplomacy, kicking off with a spectacular fashion show hosted by Oksana Karavanska. Later in the evening, Ukraine House Davos hosted "Movers-and-Shakers New Ukraine," attended by leading figures from Ukraine's government, businesses, and NGOs, which included a thrilling performance by Ruslana, Eurovision winner and green energy advocate.

Follow the event via social media on #ukrainehousedavos and at:

Twitter: @UAHouseDavos

Facebook: @ukrainehousedavos

Instagram: @Ukraine.House.Davos

LinkedIn: UkraineHouseDavos

YouTube: ukrainehousedavos

About Ukraine House Davos

Ukraine House Davos Organizing Committee is led by five women who volunteer their efforts to launch this event:

Olga Afanasyeva , Executive Director of Ukrainian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (UVCA)

, Executive Director of Ukrainian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (UVCA) Jaroslawa Johnson , President and CEO of Western NIS Enterprise Fund (WNISEF)

, President and CEO of Western NIS Enterprise Fund (WNISEF) Svitlana Grytsenko of Victor Pinchuk Foundation

of Victor Pinchuk Foundation Lenna Koszarny , Founding Partner and CEO of Horizon Capital, and,

, Founding Partner and CEO of Horizon Capital, and, Alexa Chopivsky , Executive Director of Ukraine House Davos

Ukraine House Davos is made possible by the generous commitment of its sponsors.

Ukraine House Davos is supported by the National Investment Council of Ukraine, UkraineInvest, Ukrainian World Congress, Atlantic Council, Reputation Institute.

Media Partners include: NV, Liga.net, Ekonomichna Pravda, Ukraine Business News

www.ukrainehousedavos.com

SOURCE Ukraine House Davos

Related Links

https://www.ukrainehousedavos.com


On Friday, CPI Rajya Sabha MP Binoy Viswam wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi declining the invitation to attend the Republic Day celebrations as a sign of protest. Expressing his bewilderment at Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro being chosen as the chief guest at this years Republic Day parade, Viswam alleged that his ideology was deep-rooted in misogyny and discrimination. Moreover, he contended that Bolsonaros actions were against the ethos of the Constitution which is celebrated on Republic Day.

CPI MP Binoy Viswam has written a letter to PM Modi saying he has declined Governments' invitation to him as a Member of Parliament to attend the 71st Republic Day celebrations as a sign of protest. (1/2)  ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2020

Read: Brazilian President Bolsonaro To Arrive In India On 4-day Visit Today

The letter states 'It's astonishing that you've welcomed a leader whose ideology&policies are tarnished by

bigotry,misogyny,homophobia&discrimination. His actions in Brazil & at global stage are directly against ethos of Indian Constitution that we celebrate on Republic Day(2/2) https://t.co/bXJcAsoYwr  ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2020

Read: Photos Of Brazilian Bride Performing Ceremony In Sign Language Wins Hearts

Bolsonaro lands in Delhi

Earlier in the day, Bolsonaro landed in the national capital ahead of the Republic Day celebrations. He was welcomed at the tarmac by V Muraleedharan- MoS, Ministry of External Affairs. This will be the third occasion on which a Brazilian president will grace the Republic Day parade after 1996 and 2004.

Read: Ex-Brazilian President Lula Faces New Corruption, Money Laundering Charges

Bolsonaro's controversial statements

Bolsonaros visit has come under scrutiny because of his controversial comments on a range of issues. For instance, in 2014, he told the opposition leader Maria do Rosario in Brazils Parliament, "I wouldn't rape you because you're not worthy of it. Despite facing vehement criticism, he did not apologise and added that he would not rape her because she was "ugly". He also referred to refugees as scums of the earth in 2015. Way back in 2002, Bolsonaro was quoted as saying, "I wont fight against it nor discriminate. But if I see two men kissing each other on the street, Ill beat them up. Critics also panned his alleged misogyny in a speech delivered in 2017 where he stated, "I have five children. Four are men, and then in a moment of weakness the fifth came out a girl.

Read: Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro Slams Corruption Probe Into Son With Homophobic Outburst
Lucas Parker nearly died from his encounter with E. coli-laced salad on a family trip to Disneyland in California. The toddler suffered traumatic brain injury.

But the Centers for Disease Control didnt count her among the victims of the deadly spring 2018 outbreak because she was mistakenly given antibiotics that caused her to test negative.

Stephanie Ingberg, an 18-year-old high school senior from St.Louis, got so sick from the E. coli bacteria in her Caesar salad that her kidneys shut down. She took months to recover.

But the CDC didnt count him either because he lives in Canada.

Its always been challenging to identify the victims of E. coli poisoning because so many people never realize that the bacteria caused their upset stomach or other symptoms. But the CDC makes the job even harder by using a counting method that leaves out the vast majority of people poisoned by the toxic bacteria. Foodborne illness experts estimate that the CDC captures only about one 10th of the actual victims from outbreaks.

Its quite common to not be counted, said Bill Marler, a Seattle-based attorney who has represented food poisoning victims such as Lucas Parker for 27 years. He estimates that 5 to 10 percent of his clients are excluded from the CDCs count of E. coli victims for one reason or another despite strong evidence the bacteria made them sick.

Advertisement

CDC officials acknowledge that they use a rigorous counting method that sometimes excludes potential victims but insist they can get the big picture of the extent of E. coli outbreaks from other databases that estimate the total number of victims.

We have a number of ways were monitoring E. coli, said CDC spokesman Brian Katzowitz, including the CDCs National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System and the National Outbreak Reporting System.

However, some public health experts fear that undercounting individual victims, along with the fact that people already underreport, may contribute to the publics lack of awareness of the risk of getting sick from food.

Advertisement

It really makes it hard to look at foodborne illness trends over time, said Sandra Eskin, project director for food safety at the Pew Charitable Trusts.

Many people who get E. coli dismiss it as a bad stomach bug and dont seek treatment from their doctors. Even when victims get gravely ill, they often cannot pinpoint lettuce as the cause because symptoms commonly dont appear for a week after exposure. By then, victims typically have consumed or thrown away the lettuce, erasing any proof of what got them sick.

If somebody gets sick from leafy greens, its very difficult to trace it back to an original source, said food safety lawyer Shawn Stevens.

Since 2006, the CDC has identified nearly 40 multistate E. coli outbreaks. Leafy green vegetables account for 12 of those outbreaks, more than any other source. Thats where their strict counting method excludes victims left, right, and center.

CDC officials exclude many cases because doctors use a diagnostic test for E. coli that the officials dont recognize. Doctors typically prefer a faster test known as a culture independent diagnostic test, or CIDT, but the CDC prefers a more accurate test that involves growing a culture to provide health departments the information it needs to see whether it is part of a broader outbreak.

We have been concerned about CIDTs for a while, said Eskin with Pew, which hosted a 2018 conference with the CDC and other groups about the benefits and challenges of the quick turnaround tests.

Advertisement

Even though the agency does not count CIDTs in its outbreak counts, CDC spokesman Katzowitz thinks the agency may be seeing an increase of diagnosis partly due to increased detection with CIDT. In other words, more health officials are doing initial testing with these cheaper and faster tests. That could lead to further testing that CDC would include in its official tally.

In the case of Ingberg, the high school student had flown to the Dominican Republic for a senior trip after she had eaten her E. coli-contaminated salad. Doctors there mistakenly gave her antibiotics, so that when she returned home to her local hospital, testing did not show she had E. coli. However, she had the Shiga toxin variant and a type of kidney failure linked to E. coli, medical experts say.

There are other quirks about how the CDC counts its cases that reduce the official number of victims even more. CDC did not include Lucas Parker, the 2-year-old Canadian boy who suffered brain damage after consuming five bites of his fathers salad while on a 2018 vacation in California, because he does not permanently live in the United States. Canadian health officials included Lucas in that countrys case counts.

Katzowitz said that the CDC counts cases based on where people live so that their local health departments can follow up with them.

Advertisement

Nathan Parker, Lucass father, thinks its just a matter of common sense  and fairness  to include his son among the US victims. It also does not make sense to him that US health officials cannot track the case.

Its horrendous. We were Canadian citizens on holiday in America. We stopped at a hospital in the United States. So they know about that, said Nathan Parker. We had testing done there. We walked out of there and the doctor thought he had E. coli.

Christine Haughney can be reached at christinehaughneydb@gmail.com.
In a significant verdict, the Kerala High Court on Friday directed the state government to issue an order directing all recognised private schools in the state to desist from imparting religious instruction or religious study without the permission of the government.

In his order, Justice A Muhamed Mustaque said the government can initiate action for closure and de-recognition of the schools if they are found violating the order.

The court issued the order while declining a plea challenging the state's action of closing down a school on the premise that it promotes exclusive religious instruction and amidst only students from a particular community, thereby posing threat to the secular fabric of society.

The court observed that the Constitution accords special protection to the minorities under Article 25, Article 29 and Article 30.

Cultural rights, as protected under Article 29, would include nature of as well, it said.

The right to establish and administer educational institutions under Article 30 would also include the right to choice of education, subject to any restriction imposed under law, the court said.

"However, these rights do not extend to dilute the secular nature of These rights cannot override the basic values of the Constitution. It can be exercised only in consistent with the fundamental values of the Constitution," it said.

Noting that the status of minority institutions in relation to imparting elementary is relatable to State function, the high court said, "minority institutions, therefore, cannot shrug off their role as State functionaries and protect sectarian education under the garb of Articles 29 and 30."



The court said Article 21A and RTE Act of compulsory elementary education do not conceive the idea of education beyond the realm of secular activity of the State.

"If minority institutions are given free hand to promote religion, it would result in denial of admission to such schools based on religion," the court said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
And then the ousted president of the Recording Academy looked up at the sky and said: "Dracarys."

The word is more Emmys than Grammys, but it's tough to imagine that Deborah Dugan wasn't surrendering, at least a tiny bit, to her inner Khaleesi when she filed her complaint against the Recording Academy to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on Tuesday, less than a week after the academy ousted her.

The complaint describes "egregious conflicts of interest, improper self-dealing by Board members and voting irregularities with respect to nominations for Grammy Awards, all made possible by the 'boy's club' mentality." It includes charges of Grammy voting impropriety, allegations of sexual harassment by the academy's legal counsel Joel Katz and the revelation that former academy president Neil Portnow had been accused of rape by an academy member. Attachment A is a memo Dugan sent to academy HR in December, detailing many of the charges made in her complaint.

Deborah Dugan. Credit:Invision

The disclosures shocked the music community a mere five days before the Grammy Awards, and rocked the academy leadership so far back on its heels that its first response was a sophomoric statement about how "interesting" it was that Dugan didn't make these accusations until she herself was the subject of a complaint.
Complicated logistics, remote locations and game- park charges can all make organising an African safari bewildering and expensive.

A nine-night holiday in Botswana (booked with Scott Dunn), including a stay at the renowned Jacks Camp, could set you back 25,600 per person in high season (yes, really). And while going truly budget can be a disaster  think hordes of hot, tin-can mini-buses crowding around animals  there is a middle ground.

Try self-drive and camping, avoid charter flights, plan for park fees, avoid the most remote locations and have a clear idea of what you want. A sub-Saharan safari is a great adventure and you shouldnt have to limit your holiday. Rather, browse our selection of trips and find the inspiration you need.

NATURAL WONDERS

The Great Rift Valley, pictured, which is one of the last remaining wild, empty spaces on the planet

The African continent is home to some of the last remaining wild, empty spaces on the planet and perhaps nowhere will give you a better sense of this than the Great Rift Valley in Ethiopia, the Maasai Mara and the Serengeti National Parks in Kenya, and Tanzania.

These names will be familiar to most, but this tour also takes in the flamingo-lined shores of Lake Nakuru, the vast Lake Victoria and dramatic slopes of the Ngorongoro Crater  seeing it all doesnt have to mean private charter planes.

TOP TIP: Stay up late, shooting stars are guaranteed in the bush.

THE TRIP: 11 days camping visiting Kenya and Tanzania from 1,286 pp (africanbudgetsafaris.com). Kenya Airways (kenya-airways.com) London to Nairobi from 433 return.

TOTAL: 1,719 pp for 11 days.

GO IT ALONE

Malawi is perhaps the most varied country in Africa. Pictured is the country's Mount Mulanje

Malawi is perhaps the most varied country in Africa. From Mount Mulanje and the old capital Zomba in the South, to the Scottish Highlands-like Nyika Plateau and wildlife reserves of the North, there is lots on offer.

Not to mention the 360 miles of lake shore running the length of the country. And its relatively small size, a touch less than England, means a self-drive tour is a brilliant way to see it all.

TOP TIP: Tea, coffee, honey and chilli sauce are Malawian specialties  they dont often reach the UK.

THE TRIP: Nine days self-drive including Mount Mulanje, Liwonde National Park, Cape Maclear and the Dzalanyama Forest Reserve from 1,335 pp (ventureco-worldwide.com). Kenya Airways (kenya-airways.com) London to Lilongwe from 663 return.

TOTAL: 1,998 pp for nine days.

HIGH LIFE

The Djoudj National Park in Senegal, pictured, is home to 400 different bird species

Talk of the Big Five dominates most safaris and its easy to forget about the equally impressive, albeit smaller, creatures that occupy this continent.

The Djoudj National Park in Senegal is home to 400 different bird species including flamingos, fish eagles, Egyptian geese, spoonbills and purple herons. And the hunt for these birds wont completely divert you from the other game on offer.

This tour also takes in wetland reserves, UNESCO World heritage sites, French colonial towns and neighbouring The Gambia.

TOP TIP: Pack your binoculars.

THE TRIP: A 13-day Dakar round trip visiting St Louis, Georgetown, the Gambia River and Saloum Delta from 1,599 pp (explore.co.uk). Tap Air Portugal (flytap.com) London to Dakar from 315 return.

TOTAL: 1,914 pp for 13 days.

FAMILY AFFAIR

The Chacma Bush Camp, pictured, which is near Kruger National Park in South Africa

In Kruger National Park, you're almost guaranteed to see everything from elephants to lions

Good roads and direct flights mean South Africa is logistically easier than many of its neighbouring countries. On a trip here youre almost guaranteed to see everything from elephants to lions, warthogs, cheetahs, buffalo and, of course, the springbok.

The Kruger Park and surrounding reserves are a good starting point for families trying a safari.

Prices can be lower and itineraries will involve less travel, but these parks can get crowded.

TOP TIP: A guided walking safari is sure to be a hit with children.

THE TRIP: Three nights full-board at the Africa on Foot Camp Klaserie and three at the Chacma Bush Camp, both near the Kruger Park, from 1,465 pp (cedarberg-travel.com). BA (ba.com) London to Johannesburg flights from 480 return.

TOTAL: 1,945 pp for six nights.

ON THE RIVER

Botswana's Chobe River, pictured, where hippos, elephants, birdlife, antelope and the big cats all come together for crossings, drinking and hunting

Rivers and watering holes are the great meeting places of African wildlife. Indeed, at Botswanas Okavango Delta and Chobe River, hidden crocodiles and territorial hippos, elephants, birdlife, antelope and the big cats all come together for crossings, drinking and hunting.

Floating down a river, as anyone well versed in cruises knows, is also the most relaxing way to see a place. Let the animals come to you.

TOP TIP: Listen out for endearing hippo chatter, which doesnt quite match up with this creatures deserved deadly reputation.

The TRIP: Nine days from Victoria Falls to Johannesburg via Kasane, the Chobe River, Maun and the Okavango Delta from 1,182 pp (nomadtours.co.za). Ethiopian Airlines London to Victoria Falls from 401 and Emirates (emirates.com) Johannesburg to London from 257.

TOTAL: 1,840 pp for nine days.

SURF AND TURF

Kenyas Mombasa, pictured, is on a marine-life rich stretch of coastline dotted with dazzling beaches

This might seem a long way to go to sit on the beach, but that might be just what you crave after the early starts, long days walking and driving of a safari.

Within driving distance of the countrys legendary game parks, Kenyas Mombasa is on a marine-life rich stretch of coastline dotted with dazzling beaches. The lack of private charter planes or boats will make things cheaper.

TOP TIP: Organise a day excursion to Wasini Island with a chance to see whales, dolphins and turtles.

THE TRIP: Four nights outside Mombasa at the Severin Sea Lodge, either side of a four-day safari at Tsavo West, Tsavo East and Amboseli National Parks from 1,999 pp (africasafari.co.uk), including flights.

TOTAL: 1,999 pp for eight days.

MEET THE TRIBE

In Namibia, youll spot all the usual suspects, including desert-roaming antelope and elephants

Among the red sand dunes and endless coastline of Namibia youll spot all the usual suspects, including desert-roaming antelope, elephants, giraffes and ostriches.

But at the countrys premier national park, Etosha, you can also meet the OvaHimba people who still live a nomadic existence in the Namib Desert (which translates as vast place). On the final part of this holiday, spend a day at the Cheetah Conservation Fund on the Waterberg Plateau.

TOP TIP: Look out for Namibias rare desert lions who roam as far as the Skeleton Coast and have adapted to hunting seals.

THE TRIP: Eleven days visiting the Etosha National Park, Damaraland, exploring the Skeleton Coast and Swakopmund from 1,385 pp (responsibletravel.com). South African Airways (flysaa.com) London to Windhoek from 667 return.

THE TRIP: TOTAL: 2,049 pp for 11 days.

MIX AND MATCH

In South Africa, you can see the Big Five as well as go on a walking tour in the Drakensberg Mountains, pictured

As well as game parks, South Africa is home to vineyards, mountains, magnificent coastline and cities such as Cape Town and Durban.

And its partly down to these cities that a south-coast road trip is so popular. On this escorted tour get the chance to see the Big Five while also going whale watching, walking in the Drakensberg Mountains and visiting the ostrich capital of the world, Oudtshoorn.

TOP TIP: Book in June to November to see southern right whales, or May to December for humpbacks.

THE TRIP: 13 days Cape Town to Durban via Lesotho from 1,327 pp (africanoverlandtours.com). BA (ba.com) London to Cape Town from 602 return.

TOTAL: 1,929 pp for 13 days.
There's a deadly virus spreading from state to state. It preys on the most vulnerable, striking the sick and the old without mercy. In just the past few months, it has claimed the lives of at least 39 children.

The virus is influenza, and it poses a far greater threat to Americans than the coronavirus from China that has made headlines around the world.

"When we think about the relative danger of this new coronavirus and influenza, there's just no comparison," said Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine and health policy at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. "Coronavirus will be a blip on the horizon in comparison. The risk is trivial."

To be sure, the coronavirus outbreak, which originated last month in the Chinese city of Wuhan, should be taken seriously. The virus can cause pneumonia and is blamed for more than 800 illnesses and 26 deaths. British researchers estimate the virus has infected 4,000 people.

A second person in the U.S. who visited China has been diagnosed with the Wuhan virus, officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. Public health workers are monitoring 63 additional patients from 22 states.

Influenza rarely gets this sort of attention, even though it kills more Americans each year than any other virus, said Dr. Peter Hotez, a professor of pediatrics, molecular virology and microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Influenza has already sickened at least 13 million Americans this winter, hospitalizing 120,000 and killing 6,600, according to the CDC. And flu season hasn't even peaked. In a bad year, the flu kills up to 61,000 Americans.

Worldwide, the flu causes up to 5 million cases of severe illness worldwide and kills up to 650,000 people every year, according to the World Health Organization.

And yet, Americans aren't particularly concerned.

Fewer than half of adults got a flu shot last season, according to the CDC. Even among children, who can be especially vulnerable to respiratory illnesses, only 62% received the vaccine.

If Americans aren't afraid of the flu, perhaps that's because they are inured to yearly warnings. For them, the flu is old news. Yet viruses named after foreign places  such as Ebola, Zika and Wuhan  inspire terror.

"Familiarity breeds indifference," Schaffner said. "Because it's new, it's mysterious and comes from an exotic place, the coronavirus creates anxiety."

Some doctors joke that the flu needs to be rebranded.

"We should rename influenza; call it XZ-47 virus, or something scarier," said Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Measles in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed 5,000 people in the past year  more than twice as many as Ebola. Yet UNICEF officials have noted that the measles, which many Americans no longer fear, has gotten little attention. Nearly all the measles victims were children under 5.

Some people may worry less about the flu because there's a vaccine, whose protection has ranged from 19% to 60% in recent years. Simply having the choice about whether or not to receive a flu shot can give people an illusion of control, Schaffner said.

But people often feel powerless to fight novel viruses. The fact that an airplane passenger spread SARS to other passengers and flight crew made people feel especially vulnerable.

Because the Wuhan virus is new, humans have no antibodies against it. Doctors haven't had time to develop treatments or vaccines.

The big question, so far unknown, is just how easily the virus is transmitted from an infected person to others. The WHO this week opted not to declare the Wuhan outbreak an international health emergency. But officials warn the outbreak hasn't peaked. Each patient with the new coronavirus appears to be infecting about two other people.

By comparison, patients with SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, spread the infection to an average of two to four others. Each patient with measles  one of the most contagious viruses known to science  infects 12 to 18 unvaccinated people.

Health officials worry that the new coronavirus could resemble SARS  which appeared suddenly in China in 2002 and spread to 26 countries, sickening 8,000 people and killing 774, according to the WHO.

The U.S. dodged a bullet with SARS, Schaffner said. Only eight Americans became infected, and none died, according to the CDC. Yet SARS caused a global panic, leading people to shutter hotels, cancel flights and close businesses.

Coronaviruses can be unpredictable, said Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. While some patients never infect anyone else, people who are "super spreaders" can infect dozens of others.

At Seoul's Samsung Medical Center in 2015, a single emergency room patient infected 82 people  including patients, visitors and staff  with a coronavirus called MERS, or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. The hospital partly shut down to control the virus.

"This is one of the finest medical centers in the world, on par with the Cleveland Clinic, and they were brought to their knees," Osterholm said.

Yet MERS has never posed much a threat to the U.S.

Only two patients in the U.S.  health care providers who had worked in Saudi Arabia  have ever tested positive for the virus, according to the CDC. Both patients survived.

Hotez, who is working to develop vaccines against neglected diseases, said he worries about unvaccinated children. Most kids who die from the flu haven't been immunized against it, he said. And many were previously healthy.

"If you're worried about your health, get your flu vaccination," Hotez said. "It's not too late."
Verizon Communications Inc. VZ recently announced its foray into financial services market by collaborating with Synchrony Financial SYF. The partnership is likely to diversify the portfolio of both the companies and is likely to be a win-win deal with Synchrony overcoming the loss of Walmart Inc.s WMT long-running credit card agreement and Verizon innovating new revenue stream amid increased market competition.



Based in Stamford, CT, Synchrony is one of the premier consumer-oriented financial services companies, offering a wide range of credit products through a diverse group of retailers, local merchants, manufacturers, buying groups and industry associations. With more than 80.3 million active accounts, it focuses on generating financial flexibility for its customers by offering Dual Card, co-branded credit cards, promotional financing and installment lending. Moreover, as the company is the largest provider of private label credit cards in the United States, it delivers innovative analytics, payments, loyalty and financing solutions.



Per the agreement, Synchrony will provide exclusive credit card services to Verizon, thereby gaining access to the latters 150 million subscriber base in the United States. The strategic tie-up with the top 10 U.S. card issuer will offer Verizon users an option to avail a new credit card with bundled features. In addition, the alliance is expected to give tough competition to T-Mobile US, Inc.s TMUS banking service, T-Mobile Money, thereby generating a new revenue source for the telecom giant in the first half of 2020.



It is yet to be revealed as to what exactly will distinguish Verizon's co-branded credit card from the ones offered by other tech companies, including the added benefits and fine prints. Nonetheless, Verizon has launched a site to inform the customers about the initiative.



With one of the most efficient wireless networks in the United States, Verizon deploys advanced technologies to solve complex business challenges and deliver increased capacity, lower latency and faster speeds, backed by customer-focused planning, disciplined engineering and strategic investments. It intends to capitalize on the countless innovative technology solutions being developed in the IoT and telematics ecosystem across multiple industries.



Verizon expects considerable business growth in both its Wireless and Wireline businesses in 2020. The company expects healthy improvement in margins on the back of continued strong FiOS network and strategic services in the Wireline business. The companys efforts to boost growth include improving operating and capital efficiency. In the enterprise and wholesale business, the company is changing its revenue mix toward newer growth services like cloud, security and professional services.



Verizon has long-term earnings growth expectation of 3.3%. Driven by healthy traction in the wireless business, the stock has gained 7.3% compared with the industrys growth of 14.3% in the past year.

Story continues





Verizon currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.



Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020



In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-hold tickers for the entirety of 2020?



Last year's 2019 Zacks Top 10 Stocks portfolio returned gains as high as +102.7%. Now a brand-new portfolio has been handpicked from over 4,000 companies covered by the Zacks Rank. Dont miss your chance to get in on these long-term buys.



Access Zacks Top 10 Stocks for 2020 today >>



Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Synchrony Financial (SYF) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Walmart Inc. (WMT) : Free Stock Analysis Report



T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS) : Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
Much of the day Thursday at the impeachment show was spent on how innocent the Bidens are of any wrongdoing re: Ukraine. Rep. Sylvia Garcia had fancy charts and graphs to demonstrate her point: there was absolutely nothing wrong with Hunter Biden trading on his name to make $5080K a month on the board of a verified corrupt gas company in Ukraine, nor was there anything wrong with Joe's quid pro quo, that the prosecutor investigating that company be fired or a billion dollars in aid would not be forthcoming.



YouTube screen grab.

Perhaps Rep. Garcia should have read Peter Schweizer's new book Profiles in Corruption before assembling her PowerPoint lecture. The Bidens are among the most corrupt politicians in the U.S. And Schweizer's sources, unlike those of our mainstream media, are not anonymous but hard-copy documents. She might have waited a bit longer for the documents now released that show that Obama met with Ukrainian prosecutors, U.S. embassy officials, and faux whistleblower Eric Ciaramella in January 2016 to discuss Burisma and Hunter Biden's role there. George Kent, the Democrats' own witness, had voiced his concern about Hunter Biden's position there but was rebuffed by a Biden aide. Ciaramella? Rep. Garcia's overarching defense of the Bidens will very likely come back to haunt the congresswoman from Texas, as will Biden's memo to the media not to report on or address the "conspiracy theory" that there was something corrupt about his family's dealings with Ukraine and Burisma. Biden obviously thinks he can control what the left media will investigate; he thinks this because it has always worked in the past. That is probably why the NYT never reported on the Obama WH meeting with the Ukrainian prosecutors who were investigating Hunter Biden and Burisima and had been since 2014.

Garcia then contended that President Trump made "the phone call" in July, the transcript of which we are all familiar with, because he was threatened by Biden's rise in the polls! Does any sentient person believe that? Of course not. If there is anyone who knows that polls are meaningless, it is Donald Trump and his supporters. And Joe Biden was never, will never be, a threat to Trump's re-election. He does not know what state he is in from day to day. He thinks we don't need "standing armies" and that we should be "helping" communist China!

The man is dangerously oblivious to all things relevant to our national security. It is hard to imagine Biden even going the distance and becoming the Democrat nominee. So Rep. Garcia's entire theory is seriously flawed. We also all know, as do they, that what Trump was concerned with was not the 2020 election, but the 2016 election, since Ukraine's interference to benefit Clinton was beginning to be reported, specifically by Politico in January 2017.

But Garcia opened the door even wider than Schiff did to further discussion of the Bidens' financial malfeasance. They will have a difficult time explaining, let alone defending, the many get-rich-quick schemes in which they were involved.

Meanwhile, the bobble-heads on CNN and MSNBC wax rhapsodic on Schiff's theatrical debut: "dazzling" (Jeffrey Toobin), "powerful and forceful" (Wolf Blitzer), "virtuoso performance" (Joe Scarborough). There are more, and they are all distastefully obsequious.

Supercut: The media has a fevah and the only cure is more @RepAdamSchiff pic.twitter.com/oKWfZKqOn5  Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) January 23, 2020

This insincere kind of "[f]lattery corrupts both the receiver and the giver" (Burke). Schiff and his fans on the Left should not take any comfort from such benighted, self-serving sources.

Then there is Rudy Giuliani. The splenetic left media love to mock him, but he is about to drop a boatload of info on the corruption in Ukraine that is going to land on not Trump, but the Bidens and all those diplo-thugs who think they should be running American foreign policy rather than the president.

The most mystifying aspect of the Left's obsession with removing President Trump from office is what exactly is its motivation. Yes, prior to the election, they were certain they could derail Trump, so yes, they were stupefied when Hillary lost. But everyone knows by now that the Russia hoax was just that: a hoax cobbled together with a cast of characters from the Clinton campaign and her hired guns (Fusion GPS and Perkins-Coie) to the reprobates at the upper realms of the FBI, the DOJ, and the CIA. None of their investigations has yielded fruit, and still they keep digging the hole in which they have already found themselves.

What is it they so maniacally fear about this man who, in spite of them, has accomplished so much good in just three years? Is it his promise to drain the swamp which would mean uncovering all their shady money deals that have for generations made them all wealthy while in office? Perhaps. It is more likely that because he is not a politician but an authentic American patriot who believes this country was founded on great principles, is still a grand and successful experiment, and that but for the intervening presidencies of Marxist socialist utopians like Obama, can be great again. How dare he! What an upstart, they think! We run this place, not some self-made interloper from outside the beltway or Ivy League.

Whatever the reason for the Left's psychopathy regarding President Trump, they have now gone so far over the edge of sanity it is quite likely they will be unable to come back as a legitimate party. The fact that Pelosi and Schumer have allowed the odious, prevaricating and self-aggrandizing Adam Schiff to carry on like his home is in a tree and that only one or two Democrats have objected to their impeachment crusade to unseat the man proves the party is lost forever. That horse has left the barn, as has the one that will take the Bidens down and out. How will it all end? "It's the natural law of karma, we create our own destiny by our own thoughts, words and deeds for good or ill. (Midsomer Murders)
When taking into account factors such as work-life balance, the pay difference between new male and female physicians is still largely unaccounted for, according to findings that were published Jan. 22 ahead of print and will also appear in the February issue of the journal Health Affairs.

The new study, "Differences in starting pay for male and female physicians persist; Explanations for the gender gap remain elusive," highlights continued disparity and persistent unexplained gender differences in pay for new physicians. Researchers looked at survey data from new physicians in New York who accepted positions in patient care from 1999-2017, and examined how the gender gap in total starting pay evolved and the extent to which preferences in work-life balance factors affect the gap.

Prior research, including my own, has documented a large gender gap in salary even after accounting for medical specialty, hours seeing patients, and practice setting among other factors. But we're first to incorporate physician preferences for work-life balance factors." Anthony T. Lo Sasso, lead author, professor of economics in DePaul University's Driehaus College of Business

Specialty chosen consistently explained 40-55% of the total starting salary differences, while differences in number of job offers explained 2-9%, and hours of time spent in patient care explained 7%, according to the findings. However, despite women being much more likely than men to report that work-life balance factors were "very important", when these work-life balance variables were added to the researchers' model, the salary differences changed only negligibly (less than $1,000). In addition, work-life balance factors when added in from 2014-17, only explained less than 1% of the starting salary difference. Overall, 30-39% of the starting salary difference remains unexplained, the research showed.

Co-authors of the study are David Armstrong and Gaetano Forte from the Center for Health Workforce Studies at the University of Albany, and Susan E. Gerber, a faculty member in the departments of obstetrics and gynecology and medical education housed in the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University.

Among the findings:

A pay average difference of almost $37,000 ($235,044 for men, $198,426 for women) over the entire period of the study, but a pay average difference of almost $49,000 ($271,267 for men, $222,268 for women) for the more recent 2014-17 period.

Even after accounting for observed differences in specialty and other factors, the pay gap grew over the nearly 20-year period, from $7,700 in 1999 to $20,200 in 2017.

The research also showed that women:

Chose primary care fields more often and surgical specialties less often than men (36.7% vs. 30.8%).

Less commonly reported spending 50 hours or more per week in direct patient care relative to men (22.7% vs. 34.7%).

Had six or more job offers less often than men (11.1% vs. 18.4%).

From 2014-17, were consistently more likely to rate control over each measure of work-life balance preference as "very important" in comparison to men (42-56% vs. 33-45% depending on question).

As next steps, researchers may include a series of questions in future surveys of new physicians that get at non-monetary job characteristics and whether their new job has those characteristics, which could help account for differences in the job beyond salary, explained Lo Sasso.

"To continue searching for an answer to this question, we believe it's important to dive deeper into job characteristics that are important and could plausibly differ by gender such as the role of negotiation, the amount of call, and the predictability of hours, among other factors," said Lo Sasso. "I'm primarily a quantitative researcher, but I'm not adverse to doing some qualitative research and talking to new physicians to learn about their job search experience.

"Until a firm conclusion has been reached on the reasons behind the gender pay gap in new physicians, it's important for employers to remain vigilant in ensuring pay equity. Greater transparency is needed, such as the salary difference between those physicians willing to do more on-call work and those who aren't. We also encourage residency programs to provide increased training on job-searching skills such as salary negotiation," Lo Sasso added.
UTICA  An Oneida County woman is under arrest after police say she threatened a school staff member earlier this week.

According to the Oneida County Sheriffs Office, Tuesday morning the Madison-Oneida BOCES was placed on lockout after an angry parent allegedly called the school and made verbal threats. The lockout began around 8:45 a.m. as a precautionary measure, while students were inside taking State Regents Exams. After an investigation, the lockout was lifted around 10:40 a.m. when the threat was found to be non-credible.

That afternoon, Utica Police and the sheriffs office arrested Maria C. Esmurria of Sunset Avenue in Utica on a charge of misdemeanor aggravated harassment. Esmurria was issued an appearance ticket and will return to Verona Town Court to answer the charge.

Police say no students or staff were in danger at any point.
Six people have died and others wounded following a shooting in southwest Germany, police said on Friday.

The number of deaths was confirmed by local police. A suspect has been arrested, police added, saying there were no indications of any further suspects.

The shooting occurred in the town of Rot am See in the federal state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, while police in the nearby town of Aalen said the incident appeared to be linked to a personal relationship.

Police are working on the basis that the perpetrator knew the victims and that some were direct relatives, said Al Jazeeras Dominic Kane, reporting from Berlin.

It is believed the perpetrator is in his mid-30s and does not have a migration background. The town of Rot am See has a population of around 5,000 and, according to residents, the street where the shooting took place is normally a very quiet residential street.

A major police deployment was under way in the town approximately 100 kilometres (62 miles) west of Nuremberg, police tweeted.

POLIZEIEINSATZ

Die Polizei und die Rettungdienste sind derzeit mit starken Kraften in #RotAmSee im Einsatz. pic.twitter.com/j6Fb0fHH15  Polizei Aalen (@PolizeiAalen) January 24, 2020

Mass shootings are a comparatively rare occurrence in Germany, although in October a far-right attacker shot and killed two people in the eastern city of Halle after trying to get into a packed synagogue with home-made weapons.

In July 2016, a teenager used a pistol bought illegally online to kill nine people in a shooting spree at a Munich shopping centre, before turning the weapon on himself.
CLEVELAND  The mix of airlines operating at Cleveland Hopkins continues to evolve, six years after United Airlines pulled its hub from the airport. While still the dominant carrier, United makes up much less traffic at Hopkins than it did even two years ago.

Delta Air Lines is now the second largest carrier at Cleveland Hopkins, and Frontier Airlines is the fastest growing.

Year-end figures from the airport reveal which carriers are expanding, and which ones are retracting.

United Airlines, which grew a modest 1.7% in Cleveland last year, now makes up just 25% of the traffic at the airport  down from more than 60% six years ago.

Airline analyst Seth Kaplan said Hopkins is following a predictable pattern of airports that lose hubs, a pattern he referred to as Armageddon and rebound  a bottoming out and then a gradual rebuilding of service.

Fares come down as competition increases, but the list of nonstop destinations never fully recovers.

Robert Kennedy, airport director, said Hopkins has rebounded more quickly than expected.

Right now, with our diversification of carriers, it puts us in a great spot, he said. When one airline pulls out of a market, another is often able to fill the gap.

Kennedy said the airport is working to add capacity  either in additional flights or larger airplanes  to New York LaGuardia and Reagan National in Washington, D.C., after United announced last week that it would stop flying to those airports in late March. The two airports are among just a handful of non-hub destinations that United has kept on its roster since downsizing in Cleveland in 2014. United frequent fliers, in particular, are unhappy about the pullout, although both airports are served by other carriers from Cleveland.

Meanwhile, Hopkins continues to work on filling gaps that remain from Uniteds pullback. Kansas City remains the largest unserved market from Cleveland, according to Kennedy. Seattle is underserved, as well, with just seasonal, non-daily service from Frontier Airlines.

We need more West Coast service in general, said Kennedy.

Transatlantic service also remains a priority. Weve got the numbers, the marketplace has the numbers, he said. The near-term threat to us and other airports our size is the lack of aircraft and crews.

Still, he said, Im confident well get it. Heck, we got Icelandiar and Wow to try us out.

Both Icelandic carriers pulled out of Cleveland after less than a full year of flying in 2018  Icelandair because its aircraft, the Boeing 737 Max 8 was grounded (and remains grounded) after two fatal crashes; Wow because of financial problems. Wow eventually went out of business.

Despite numerous challenges, including the Max grounding, traffic at Hopkins was up 4% in 2019. The airport welcomed more than 10 million passengers in 2019, the highest number in more than a decade.

Read more: Cleveland Hopkins airport passenger traffic hits 10 million in 2019, up 4%

The airport is predicting additional growth in 2020, adding perhaps another 500,000 to 600,000 seats, for another year of 4-5% growth.

But not all carriers had great years: Southwest Airlines flew fewer passengers into and out of Cleveland in 2019, at least partly because of the grounding of the Max 8, which Southwest relies on more than any other U.S. carrier. Allegiant Air also saw a decline in Cleveland traffic.

Kaplan, formerly with Airline Weekly, said Memphis International Airport offers a story similar to Clevelands.

At about the same time Cleveland lost its United hub, Memphis was cut from Deltas roster of hubs, following the merger of Delta and Northwest airlines. Memphis traffic bottomed out in 2015, a year after Clevelands passenger numbers hit bottom. Since then, Memphis traffic has rebounded substantially, growing 26%. Clevelands traffic is up 32% since 2014.

Meanwhile, the average airfare from Cleveland fell 30% between early 2014 and early 2019; the drop in Memphis, during that same period, was 15%.

Kaplan said hes not surprised that Delta is filling in some of the gaps left by Uniteds withdrawal from the market, hoping to attract lucrative business travelers to its routes. Delta now flies to nine destinations from Cleveland, up from five in 2013.

Delta is very strategic about doing those types if things, said Kaplan. By far the most profitable U.S. airline, he said, Delta has the wherewithal to take certain risks.

Its also the only legacy U.S. carrier that is unaffected by the Boeing Max grounding.

Kennedy said he is looking forward to another strong year in 2020. Weve got a couple of announcements to look forward to that will add more capacity here, said Kennedy. Its a little premature to talk about it. Some of them are pretty good.

Meanwhile, he said, customer satisfaction scores are up, airline fees are down, and the airport recently launched an effort to update its master plan, which is expected to outline a series of capital needs for years to come. This is a watershed year for us, he said.

By the numbers: CLE carriers

Heres a list of the carriers at Cleveland Hopkins, the number of passengers they carried in 2019, percentage change from a year ago, and percentage of overall market.

American, 1.5 million, up 2.9%, 15% of market

Allegiant, 194,000, down 14.3%, 2.4% of market

Delta, 1.7 million, up 11.2%, 16.7% of market

Frontier, 1.2 million, up 25.9%, 12.3% of market

JetBlue, 279,000, up 4.7%, 2.8% of market

Southwest, 1.58 million, down 5.1%, 15.7% of market

Spirit, 924,000, up 7.8%, 9.2% of market

United, 2.56 million, up 1.7%, 25.4% of market

Air Canada, 85,000, up 1.2%, 0.9% of market

Total: 10.04 million passengers, up 4.13%

Source: Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
A second student has joined a federal lawsuit accusing Pearland ISD officials of using a black Sharpie marker to color in his scalp.

The student, referred to as P.J. in the suit, alleges current Principal Tony Barcelona and other officials at Berry Miller Junior High used a permanent marker in 2017 to fill in a design etched into his fade haircut. Barcelona since has been named principal of the school, but Randall Kallinen, the students attorney, said he and others should be demoted due to the accusations.

Now, we see this is not an isolated incident, and despite this repeated extremely shameful behavior and history of racial discrimination, the Pearland ISD has decided Tony Barcelona should be the leader of the Berry Miller Junior High School and the other participating employees left in their current positions, Kallinen said.

In a statement, Pearland ISD spokeswoman Kim Hocott said the district was aware of the changes to the lawsuit.

While specific details cannot be discussed, we remain confident the outcome will be favorable for the district, Hocott said.

P.J. said Barcelona gave him an in-school suspension and colored his scalp, but did not call his parents. P.J.s parents said that had they been called, they would have shaved their sons head and returned him to school. Instead, they had to scrub out the Sharpie markings later that evening.

The original lawsuit was filed last August by 13-year-old Juelz Trice and his parents after administrators colored his scalp with a black Sharpie in April. In both cases, students had common fade haircuts, in which designs are shaved into short cuts. School officials said the designs violated the districts dress code at the time, but the code was changed after Trices suit was filed.

Kallinen said the incidents show a pattern of discrimination against African-American students in the district.

Nearly one in seven black students in Pearland ISD were placed on in-school suspension in 2018-2019, according to Texas Education Agency data, versus about one in 18 white students and about one in 12 Hispanic students. Similarly, one in 30 black students were give out-of-school suspensions last school year, while about one in 57 white students and one in 41 Hispanic students received the same punishment.

The lawsuit asks that the district give employees cultural training and seeks monetary damages for both students.

shelby.webb@chron.com
SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (BCN)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is screening passengers arriving to SFO from Wuhan, China for a new strain of the coronavirus.

The screenings will include passengers on nonstop flights from Wuhan and connecting passengers whose travel started in Wuhan.

The screenings will occur inside the customs facility at SFO.

The CDC has also issued a Health Alert for travelers from Wuhan.

If a traveler feels sick with a fever or cough or has difficulty breathing within two weeks of traveling to Wuhan, they are advised to call a doctor and tell the doctor they were in Wuhan.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
Author JK Rowling made a staggering 31.5 million from the sale of Harry Potter ebooks last year  13 years after finishing the spellbinding series.

The 54-year-old earned 86,317 per day as profits more than doubled in 2019 ahead of the 20th anniversary of the first film.

Profits at Pottermore Ltd - the Harry Potter writer's firm - went from 3.4 million to 6.9 million last year.

This meant she managed to bag 605,769 per week.

J.K. Rowling (pictured above) made 31.5 million from the sales of Harry Potter ebooks last year

The Harry Potter books became even more popular after Warner Brothers released the films, Daniel Radcliffe is pictured above as Harry Potter

The digital sales show how Potter fans have adopted a modern approach to interacting with the wizarding world. But the hard copies of the books were still estimated to have made over 40 million in 2017.

Pottermore Ltd handles cash from digital and audio versions of the smash-hit series which includes the non-print versions of spin-offs such as Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two and the scripts from the Fantastic Beasts films.

The author has regularly topped the charts as one of Britain's highest paid celebrities and is now worth an astonishing 750million.

JK Rowling celebrated a better year than expected despite a revenue fall from 32.8million in 2018.

Accounts from Companies House filed last week revealed that revenue was 'above expectations' due to the 'launch of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald' and the 'strong sales performance of the Harry Potter eBooks and digital audiobooks' along with preparations for the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, released in 2001.

JackPotter! Super rare first edition Harry Potter book bought for 25p at a jumble sale fetches an astonishing 28,000 on Bargain Hunt A super-rare first edition Harry Potter book bought for 25p at a jumble sale has fetched an astonishing 28,000 on Bargain Hunt. The book was one of the 500 hardback versions of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Originally published in June 1997 by Bloomsbury, it was the first of JK Rowling's magical series. The inclusion of the phrase '1 wand' twice (pictured) on a list of equipment for Hogwarts is one of the giveaways that the Harry Potter book is a first edition Of the first 500 to be released, 300 were sent to libraries, including the one that will be sold in an episode of Bargain Hunt today, the Daily Mirror reports. Its 54-year-old office worker owner sold it at auction in Bishton Hall, Staffordshire, last summer as a UK collector snapped it up. The book had been on a shelf for 20 years before the owner decided to have it valued. They said afterwards: 'I can't believe it. It's what I'd hoped for but I never really believed my book would make that price.' Auctioneer Charles Hanson knew it was real due to a sticker saying it had been owned by Staffordshire Libraries. Even the softback first editions are going for thousands, he said. Advertisement

The balance sheet, added: 'The company performed in line with the directors expectations this year.

'Pottermore Publishing continues to be a profitable business and it's publishing schedule continues apace.

'Revenues of 31.5million were wholly achieved from digital publishing sales resulting from additional global distribution and the continued popularity of the Harry Potter stories bolstered by new products and twentieth century activity in the US.'

In 2017, a surge in internet sales was due to the hugely successful launch of the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child script, the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them screen-play and the Hogwarts Library Digital audiobook.

Rowling, who has previously featured on Forbes' billionaire list, was revealed to have dropped off it by the outlet in 2012 due to her 'estimated 114million in charitable giving' making an impact on her finances.

That figure has since climbed given that the Harry Potter author donated over 14million to support research into neurological conditions.

The sum was donated to the Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic at the University of Edinburgh, named after her mother who died at the age of 45 years old following a battle with multiple sclerosis.

Rowling said at the time: 'When the Anne Rowling Clinic was first founded, none of us could have predicted the incredible progress that would be made in the field of regenerative neurology, with the clinic leading the charge.'

'It's a matter of great pride for me that the clinic has combined these lofty ambitions with practical, on the ground support and care for people with MS, regardless of stage and type; I've heard at first-hand what a difference this support can make.'

In 2003, Rowling made headlines when she was declared 'richer than the Queen' and the following year was one of the youngest people on Forbes' Rich List with a net worth of 1 billion.

Since then, her billionaire status has been in contention due to her numerous charitable endeavours that go beyond just the Anne Rowling Centre. Rowling is a philanthropist with her own charity Lumos, which helps Eastern European children in need, as well as Volant Charitable Trust, which funds Scottish charitable causes relating to women and children.
MARQUETTE COUNTY, MI  Officials will find out next week if an Upper Peninsula airport will become a spaceport.

If the Michigan Aerospace Manufacturing Association sends the project to Sawyer International Airport in Marquette County, it would bring with it about 1,000 jobs and investment between $8.3-$12 billion, according to WLUC.

The association is expected to announce a horizontal launch site, or spaceport, in Michigan on Tuesday, Jan. 28, the report said. The site chosen would be used to launch small and mid-sized, low-orbit satellites.

Building a launch site in Marquette County would mean a substantial impact on the community, airport manager Duane Duray told the station. The investment would breed spin-off jobs in technology, development and tourism, he said.

READ MORE:

Upper Peninsula aerospace company skyrockets with groundbreaking technology

NASA rockets once flew from launch pad hidden in Michigan wilderness
The usual debate about the place of Australia Day in our national psyche has been overshadowed this year by the tragedy of the bushfires. But as celebrations draw near this weekend, conversations have once again turned to whether Australia should celebrate a day that marks the start of British colonisation of this continent and the destruction of much of Indigenous civilisation.

Many Indigenous people see this as a day not for celebration but sadness and anger. In Ballarat, for example, The Age has reported on the inaugural Survival Day dawn ceremony, which will be held on the banks of Lake Wendouree to honour the strength of local Aboriginal people and their ancestors.

Many Indigenous people do not see Australia Day as one for celebration. Credit:Ben Plant

Of course, moving the date would be controversial. Even though it has been celebrated as a national holiday for only 31 years, ardent nationalists crank up their outrage machine against anyone who calls for a new date or even mentions the violence that started on January 26, 1788. Some of this anger is motivated by genuine patriotism but some conservative politicians inflame it as a political issue to drive a wedge between progressives and conservative working class voters. It is hard to know what the public thinks. National polling in the past few weeks has given mixed signals about whether January 26 has to be the day.

A poll for the left-of-centre Australia Institute found 37 per cent think the date is offensive and 56 per cent of people are indifferent about it so long as there is a national day of celebration. The right-of-centre Institute of Public Affairs, however, found 75 per cent of people want to keep the date of January 26.
A violent storm which wrought havoc across huge swathes of Spain's eastern and southern coastline this week claimed 12 lives and left four others missing, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Friday, blaming climate change for the extreme weather. While visiting a trade fair in Madrid, the Socialist premier expressed his "solidarity with the families of the 12 people who died" and said the government would spare no effort to locate the four missing "as soon as possible". Local authorities had previously reported 11 storm-related deaths since Sunday, when Storm Gloria hit the region bringing strong winds, torrential rains and heavy snow, battering Spain's southern and eastern flanks before moving north. Gale-force winds and huge waves of up to 14.8 metres (49 feet) high smashed into seafront towns, with dramatic images showing massive flooding that damaged shops, houses and restaurants. A storm surge swept three kilometres (two miles) inland up the Ebro river delta south of Barcelona, Sanchez said. "In some places, more rain fell in a single day than is expected in the entire year," he added. "This is the seventh major storm which we have experienced since the start of the storm season," Sanchez said, describing them as "more and more destructive" and noting that Spain was "especially exposed" to the effects of climate change. His new government on Tuesday declared a "climate emergency" and pledged to unveil a draft bill on transitioning to renewable energy within its first 100 days in office. Barcelona city hall on Friday said the storm has caused damage worth 12.5 million euros ($13.8 million) in Spain's second-largest city in its first estimate of the cost of the bad weather. The city's nine beaches lost an average of 30 percent of their sand due to waves of up to six metres, it said. The storm caused losses worth 62.6 million euros to the agriculture sector in the eastern Valencia region alone, according to the ASAJA union of young farmers. Valencia is Spain's largest producer of oranges, artichokes, pomegranates, plums and other crops.
"I spent the first years of my life in [Sydney's] Belmore, when there were fields and cows. Now there are mosques," he says. "Aboriginal culture is an incredible part of our heritage: I feel it every time I put a dot on a canvas." Unprompted, he launches into an aside. "If I had a single day being the 'design dictator' of Australia, I'd fix our two great design challenges. "If we have to have green and gold as our national colours, we should have the right green and the right gold. Most of the time it looks like a bloody pineapple salad. "Then I'd design a new Australian flag. It needs to pay equal respect to two things: our Indigenous and our British heritage, so that's a harder design exercise.

Outback, 2018 (detail), by Ken Done. "I don't think we could adopt the Aboriginal flag, terrific though it is. Understandably, Indigenous Australians would say: 'First they stole our country, then they stole our flag'." Design goes to the heart of Done's standing in the cloistered circles of Australia's art world. Critics still tend to dismiss him as a highly talented entrepreneur and former advertising guru who turned from design to painting as a retirement hobby and made millions from the international sales of his colourful doona covers, scarves and homewares. In fact, the reverse is true. Done gained special dispensation to leave Mosman Public School at 14 to attend what is now the National Art School. He has always painted, even during his brief Mad Men days spent working for the global advertising giant J. Walter Thompson in Manhattan and London. After taking over from author Bryce Courtenay as creative director of the JWT Sydney office in 1969, Done suddenly quit his lucrative job at the age of 35 "with one child and a huge mortgage" after a holiday chat with motor racing legend Peter Brock.

Harbour night, 2015 (detail), by Ken Done. "Peter spoke with passion about what he did," Done says. "I was good at advertising and design, but I was passionate about painting." He spent the next five years preparing for his first exhibition. Done has since painted Sydney Harbour more times than he can count. "As a five-year-old I remember travelling to Circular Quay to visit my grandparents in Manly, long before the Opera House was built." As we talk, his huge, luminescent, abstract painting of the Great Barrier Reef, Dive 4, is poised on his easel. "I could argue Dive 4 is a strong political statement about why we need to look after the reef," the avid snorkeller says. "I believe in climate change. The reef has changed so much in the years I've been snorkelling."
Kalinganagar has been honoured at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2020 for its recent admittance into the Global Lighthouse Network.

The network is a small but growing group of global corporations that are showing leadership in applying fourth industrial revolution technologies to drive financial and operational impact.

Tata Steel's CEO & MD T V Narendran, who represented the company at the WEF 2020 held in Davos, accepted the award at the World Economic Forum, a release said.

In July 2019, TSK became the first and only Indian manufacturing plant to be included in the WEF's Lighthouse Network, when 10 new factories, including TSK, were added to the Global Lighthouse Network. Tata Steel's IJmuiden plant in the Netherlands is already a member of this network, it said.

"It is a proud moment for all of us as Kalinganagar (TSK) joins the prestigious Lighthouse Network of the World Economic Forum. TSK has the distinction of featuring several firsts in the Indian steel industry.

"At Kalinganagar, we not only have state-of-the-art equipment and utilities but also drive higher productivity through automation and digital interventions. As we increase our capacity at TSK to 8 MnTPA, we will continue to implement the best technologies and innovate across the value-chain to drive operational excellence," Narendran said.

A whitepaper titled Global Lighthouse Network: Insights from the Forefront of the Fourth Industrial Revolution published by the Global Lighthouse Network in collaboration with McKinsey & Company said that Tata Steel's greenfield steel plant in Kalinganagar "is helping to set a new standard in the speed at which a factory can achieve full capacity from complete nascency".

It additionally improved time to market by 50 per cent, due to significant investments in digital and analytics solutions, as well as capability-building to develop the digital skills of a relatively junior and inexperienced team, the paper added.

Commissioned in 2016 and spread over 3,000 acres in Kalinganagar industrial complex in Jajpur district of Odisha, TSK attained production levels at its rated capacity in less than two years and is the largest single-location greenfield steel project in India.
JUNO BEACH, Fla., Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NextEra Energy Partners, LP (NYSE: NEP) has posted its fourth-quarter and full-year 2019 financial results in a news release available on the partnership's website by accessing the following link: www.NextEraEnergyPartners.com/FinancialResults.

Jim Robo, chairman and chief executive officer of NextEra Energy Partners, Rebecca Kujawa, chief financial officer of NextEra Energy Partners, and other members of the senior management team will discuss the fourth-quarter and full-year 2019 financial results during an investor presentation to be webcast live, beginning at 9 a.m. ET today. The listen-only webcast will be available on NextEra Energy Partners' website by accessing the following link: www.NextEraEnergyPartners.com/FinancialResults. Results for NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) also will be discussed during the same investor presentation. A replay will be available for 90 days by accessing the same link as listed above.

NextEra Energy Partners, LP

NextEra Energy Partners, LP (NYSE: NEP) is a growth-oriented limited partnership formed by NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). NextEra Energy Partners acquires, manages and owns contracted clean energy projects with stable, long-term cash flows. Headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida, NextEra Energy Partners owns interests in geographically diverse wind and solar projects in the U.S. as well as natural gas infrastructure assets in Texas and Pennsylvania. For more information about NextEra Energy Partners, please visit: www.NextEraEnergyPartners.com.

SOURCE NextEra Energy Partners, LP

Related Links

http://www.nexteraenergypartners.com


(Natural News) Planned Parenthood is once again getting off scot-free for its crimes against humanity, as a San Francisco judge has ruled that those who exposed the villainous acts of Americas largest abortion provider are somehow the criminals.

Pro-life investigators David Daleiden and Sandra Merritt will reportedly now have to stand trial on nine felony counts of secretly recording conversations as part of a Center for Medical Progress (CMP) expose on Planned Parenthoods illicit harvesting and trafficking of aborted baby body parts.

In our own coverage of this massive Planned Parenthood scandal, we showed, based on CMPs evidential footage, that this taxpayer-funded, baby-murdering organization has been committing federal crimes that should have landed its own executives in the slammer. Planned Parenthood even admitted to this after the footage went public.

But because of the dismal state of criminal justice in America today, which has been politicized beyond belief, the perpetrators are walking free while the brave journalists whove been trying to set the record straight face persecution at the hands of a radicalized, lawless legal system.

Shocking, and yet not so shocking, is the fact that Judge Christopher C. Hite of the San Francisco Superior Court ruled that, based on the evidence put forth in a preliminary hearing, Daleiden and Merritt can now be tried on nine counts of breaking Californias anti-eavesdropping law, which prohibits the secret gathering of information without mutual consent from the parties involved.

If convicted, its important to note, Daleiden and Merritt could be sent to prison, even as those they exposed at Planned Parenthood for committing federal crimes are let off the hook.

In a tweet, Daleiden noted that this politically-motivated persecution of Daleiden and Merritt was prompted by failed presidential hopeful Kamala Harris, who dropped out of the 2020 presidential race due to near-zero support from voters.

Former California Attorney General Kamala Harris concocted this bogus, biased prosecution with her Planned Parenthood backers against undercover video recording, and now their case is falling apart as the facts about Planned Parenthoods criminal organ trafficking are revealed in the courtroom, Daleiden went on to tweet.

The remaining charges under the California video recording law  the first and only time it has ever been used against undercover news gatherers  will fall for the same reasons that five charges were dismissed today: these were public conversations easily overheard by third parties. The real criminals are the Planned Parenthood leadership who sold fetal-body parts from late-term abortions and weaponized the justice system to try to cover it up.

To keep up with the latest developments about Planned Parenthood and its aborted baby body parts criminal racket, be sure to check out Abortions.news.

Leftists HATE truth, and they hate truth-tellers even more

According to reports, Daleiden and Merritt have been summoned to appear in Californias Superior Court on January 30th for instruction and arraignment  as if theyre somehow in the wrong for being brave and dutiful whistleblowers who shined a light on the dark underbelly of Planned Parenthoods murdering-babies-for-profit criminal racket.

This total injustice is merely a symptom of a much bigger problem in America today that has to do with the leftist masses rejecting honest journalism. Any truths that offend them are now being criminalized, as were seeing not just with the Daleiden case but also all across social media.

Its now a crime in the United States of America to tell the truth at all when doing so has the potential to incriminate a far-left organization like Planned Parenthood. Leftist institutions, after all, are the bedrock that prop up leftist criminality and keep it going without consequence.

The criminal justice system in this country is now so upside-down that Daleiden and his colleagues are actually being ordered to pay Planned Parenthood $2.3 million in compensatory and punitive damages, as well as lawyer fees  again, as if they are somehow the criminals in all of this.

The real criminals, here, are vile creatures like Planned Parenthood Medical Directors Council President Mary Gatter, who was captured on tape explaining how she illegally sells aborted baby body parts for cash, in the hopes that she will one day be able to afford an expensive Lamborghini.

Todays ruling proves unfounded and outrageous charges against two pro-life journalists who exposed the harvesting and trafficking of innocent babies. This is a gross abuse of power and a violation of the First Amendment, commented Live Actions Lila Rose about the dastardly outcome of this case, adding that Judge Hites ruling represents an egregious abuse of power.

Animal activist groups went undercover at a duck farm & former CA AG @KamalaHarris used their expose to try to ban foie gras. But when pro-life reporters exposed @PPFA execs haggling over baby parts, the reporters were prosecuted & the abortionists protected, she further stated in a separate tweet.

The sad truth is that this is likely only the beginning, as more truth-tellers are sure to face similar persecution in the future for daring to try to do justice and love mercy, as the Holy Bible commands.

Sources for this article include:

LifeSiteNews.com

NaturalNews.com

Trellis.law

NaturalNews.com
Sai Shanthanand Rajagopals federal election campaign may not have won over voters in the fall, but the selection committee behind one of the worlds most prestigious scholarships recognizes his leadership potential.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/1/2020 (719 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Sai Shanthanand Rajagopals federal election campaign may not have won over voters in the fall, but the selection committee behind one of the worlds most prestigious scholarships recognizes his leadership potential.

Months after placing fourth for the Winnipeg North seat, the former Green Party of Canada candidate has won big: Rajagopal is among 11 Canadians who have earned a 2020 Rhodes Scholar title.

Recipients of the esteemed scholarship, which dates to 1902, are selected based on being outstanding young leaders "who will make an impact for good in the world in later life." Each receives funding to take on two years' worth of studies of their choice at Oxford University.

"I am fundamentally a scientist, but I think weve come to such a crossroads in the climate crisis that I think, you cannot separate science and politics anymore," Sai Shanthanand Rajagopal said. (Daniel Crump / Winnipeg Free Press)

The 22-year-old, self-described "human-mobility engineer" will spend the next few years studying the history of medicine, science and technology in the United Kingdom  his main interests, environmentalism aside.

"I am fundamentally a scientist, but I think weve come to such a crossroads in the climate crisis that I think, you cannot separate science and politics anymore," Rajagopal told a reporter at a Winnipeg coffee shop, hours after his plane landed. (He's been working in Kenya engineering menstrual products for school-aged girls.)

"Its time now for scientists to step up and... create some change that is scientifically grounded and has fantastic policy analysis attached to it."

Rajagopal hasnt given up on his political goals; he has plans to run again for the Greens in Winnipeg North in the next election. For the time being, hell be pre-occupied with field research, both in Winnipeg and in Chennai, India.

The 22-year-old, self-described "human-mobility engineer" will spend the next few years studying the history of medicine, science and technology at the University of Oxford. (Kirsty Wigglesworth / Associated Press files)

He plans to detail the ways in which trans and two-spirit people have been denied health-care services throughout history as he works towards a PhD.

Perhaps surprisingly, Rajagopal said school hasnt always come easy for him.

Growing up in East Kildonan, he was behind his peers in English, since it was his third language, after Tamil and Telugu. Instead, he succeeded early on in math, which prompted his parents to trade a brick-and-mortar classroom experience for their son with online classes at Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth.

Rajagopal later moved to Memphis for high school. Thats when he got interested in human genome research  so much so, he ambitiously reached out to a John Hopkins professor with a code he had created.

Rajagopal completed his undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering and women, gender and sexuality studies at Harvard. (Daniel Crump / Winnipeg Free Press)

He ended up working for the instructor and making such an impression the professor wrote him a reference to get into Harvard University.

Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Rajagopal completed his undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering and women, gender and sexuality studies. He's now finishing up his masters in mechanical engineering at the Ivy League school, while completing his thesis on developing a "penile prosthesis."

His thesis sent him to Chennai last spring, where some of his family lives and where he worked at an HIV/AIDS clinic. He met a trans client and later discovered the need for prosthetic genitalia. His work aims to help trans men urinate while standing so they can go to the washroom comfortably.

"Wherever people find their mobility restricted  either they don't have a limb or have access to sanitary pads, which keeps them from going to school, there's some social stigma that prevents them to access their mobility to get basic health care and move freely, that's how I thread my work; how I can help people live better and move better," he said.

Rajagopal attributes his interest in health care to seeing first-hand, in the North End, the limited resources available to people with addictions. He plans to do research in the neighbourhood through the Rhodes scholarship.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie
South China Sea / Spratly Islands

The South China Sea is defined by the International Hydrographic Bureau as the body of water stretching in a Southwest to Northeast direction, whose southern border is 3 degrees South latitude between South Sumatra and Kalimantan (Karimata Straits), and whose northern border is the Strait of Taiwan from the northern tip of Taiwan to the Fukien coast of China. The South China Sea region is the world's second busiest international sea lane. More than half of the world's supertanker traffic passes through the region's waters. In addition, the South China Sea region contains oil and gas resources strategically located near large energy-consuming countries.

The South China Sea encompasses a portion of the Pacific Ocean stretching roughly from Singapore and the Strait of Malacca in the southwest, to the Strait of Taiwan (between Taiwan and China) in the northeast. The area includes more than 200 small islands, rocks, and reefs, with the majority located in the Paracel and Spratly Island chains. The Spratlys links the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. All its islands are coral, low and small, about 5 to 6 meters above water, spread over 160,000 to 180,000 square kilometers of sea zone (or 12 times that of the Paracels), with a total land area of 10 square kilometers only. The Paracels also has a total land area of 10 square kilometers spread over a sea zone of 15,000 to 16,000 square kilometers.

Many of these islands are partially submerged islets, rocks, and reefs that are little more than shipping hazards not suitable for habitation. The islands are important, however, for strategic and political reasons, because ownership claims to them are used to bolster claims to the surrounding sea and its resources.

The South China Sea is rich in natural resources such as oil and natural gas. These resources have garnered attention throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Until recently, East Asia's economic growth rates had been among the highest in the world, and despite the current economic crisis, economic growth prospects in the long-term remain among the best in the world. This economic growth will be accompanied by an increasing demand for energy. Over the next 20 years, oil consumption among developing Asian countries is expected to rise by 4% annually on average, with about half of this increase coming from China. If this growth rate is maintained, oil demand for these nations will reach 25 million barrels per day - more than double current consumption levels -- by 2020.

Almost of all of this additional Asian oil demand, as well as Japan's oil needs, will need to be imported from the Middle East and Africa, and to pass through the strategic Strait of Malacca into the South China Sea. Countries in the Asia-Pacific region depend on seaborne trade to fuel their economic growth, and this has led to the sea's transformation into one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. Over half of the world's merchant fleet (by tonnage) sails through the South China Sea every year. The economic potential and geopolitical importance of the South China Sea region has resulted in jockeying between the surrounding nations to claim this sea and its resources for themselves.

Military skirmishes have occurred numerous times in the past half century decades. The most serious occurred in 1976, when China invaded and captured the Paracel Islands from Vietnam, and in 1988, when Chinese and Vietnamese navies clashed at Johnson Reef in the Spratly Islands, sinking several Vietnamese boats and killing over 70 sailors.

The disputed areas often involve oil and gas resources:

Indonesia's ownership of the gas-rich Natuna Island group was undisputed until China released an official map indicating that the Natunas were in Chinese-claimed waters.

The Philippines' Malampaya and Camago natural gas and condensate fields are in Chinese-claimed waters.

Many of Malaysia's natural gas fields located offshore Sarawak also fall under the Chinese claim.

Vietnam and China have overlapping claims to undeveloped blocks off the Vietnamese coast. A block referred to by the Chinese as Wan' Bei-21 (WAB-21) west of the Spratly Islands is claimed by the Vietnamese in their blocks 133, 134, and 135. In addition, Vietnam's Dai Hung (Big Bear) oil field is at the boundary of waters claimed by the Chinese.

Maritime boundaries in the gas-rich Gulf of Thailand portion of the South China Sea have not been clearly defined. Several companies have been signed exploration agreements but have been unable to drill in a disputed zone between Cambodia and Thailand.





NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address






CONQUEST, N.Y. -- A 55-year-old Cato man died Thursday after crashing his snowmobile into a parked farm implement," according to New York State Police.

Michael E. Hall was driving his snowmobile on property at 1058 Spring Lake Road when he lost control of the snowmobile, police said. Hall hit the farm implement, suffering a serious injury, police said.

He was taken to Auburn Community Hospital, where he later died, according to police.

Police are investigating the crash.

The crash was the second snowmobile-related death in Cayuga County in two days. On Wednesday, a man died in Little Sodus Bay while snowmobiling.

Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
Metagenomic Sequencing Market Research Report: By Technology (Sequencing, Bioinformatics) Application (Infectious Disease Diagnosis, Environmental Remediation, Gut Microbe Characterization, Biotechnology, Biofuel, Ecology, Agriculture)  Forecast To 2023

The global metagenomic sequencing market is expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 6.5% during the forecast period 2017-2023.

Latest Free Sample PDF Available @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5598

Metagenomics sequencing, also known as environmental or community genomics is an approach that allows insight to be gained into community biodiversity and function. In the process of metagenomics sequencing, the DNA of the specified host microorganism is extracted and cloned directly from the microorganism using genetic analyses of DNA.

The function of metagenomic sequencing which is to sequence the genomes of untargeted cells in a community in order to elucidate community composition and function helps to understand the several types of cells in a community and what organisms are present in their physiology.

Research using the metagenomic sequencing taps into several fields due to the broad existence of large microbial communities. For instance; the study of soil microbiota has led to advances in understanding and treating plant pathogens. Whereas. In human gut microbiota, the use of metagenomics discovered how common antibiotic genes are in the gut bacteria.

Currently, the metagenomic sequencing market is growing pervasively. The dominant factors driving this growth include the rising awareness of genetic disorders, advanced technological platforms, and the availability of improved genomic tools. Moreover, the continually dropping prices of this process are escalating the market on the global platform, encouraging people to undergo the genetic tests.

Acknowledging the exponential growth this market is witnessing today, Market Research Future (MRFR), in its recently published study report asserts that the global metagenomic sequencing market will further garner enormous gains by 2023, registering approximately 6.5% CAGR throughout the forecast period (2017  2023).

The market demonstrates vast opportunities for service providers and companies with a great scope of expanding to enter the untapped regions by making these procedures affordable.

Additional factors fostering the growth of the market include the use of advanced bioinformatics tools, high throughput screening (HTS) methods, recovery of novel drugs, and the development of cost-effective technologies such as next-generation sequencing (NGS).

Moreover, increasing R&D activities to identify new antibiotics and enzymes, and improved bioinformatics support market growth, offering some attractive opportunities to the key market players.

Conversely, factors such as the rising concerns related to the standardization and accuracy of diagnostic testing alongside the lack of skilled professionals and knowledge are expected to impede the market growth over the forecast period. Nevertheless, public and private funding programs that are rapidly increasing are expected to support the market growth providing sufficient funds for R&D.

Metagenomic Sequencing Market  Segmentation

MRFR has segmented the report into four key dynamics for an easy grasp;

By Technology : Sequencing and Bioinformatics among others.

By Application : Infectious Disease Diagnosis, Environmental Remediation, Gut Microbe Characterization, Biotechnology, Biofuel, Ecology, and Agriculture among others.

By End-user : Hospitals, Research Institutes, and Specialized Clinics among others.

By Regions : North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest-of-the-World (RoW).

Metagenomic Sequencing Market  Regional Analysis

The North American region leads the global metagenomic sequencing market owing to the presence of global players who are focused on introducing the procedures with innovative technology. Encouraging governmental support for R&D activities in healthcare and metagenomic sequencing tests is acting as a significant tailwind that is pushing up the market.

Additional factors encouraging the growth of the market include increased uptake of advanced technologies in the next generation sequencing procedures and its increasing applications and high healthcare expenditures.

The metagenomic sequencing market in the US backed the increasing demand for metagenomic sequencing, contributes to the growth of the regional market majorly. Heading with the rising demands for metagenomic sequencing procedures, the region will create a larger revenue pocket in the global metagenomic sequencing market by 2023.

Heading with the significant advancements of technologies and their wide uptake in the medical sector, the metagenomic sequencing market in the European region holds the second position in terms of size.

Moreover, the presence of a flourishing medical devices market and rising healthcare expenditure in the region will facilitate the growth of the market. Also, factors such as support and funding from public & private sectors for research & development impacts the market growth in the region positively.

Furthermore, the availability of low-cost metagenomic and NGS procedures and their rising adoption by research laboratories are driving the growth of this market.

The Asia Pacific region heading with the increasing prevalence of genetic disorders has emerged as a promising market for metagenomic sequencing. The large unmet clinical needs are attracting the foreign investors and global players to focus on this region to expand the network that is helping them to capture major share of the market.

With the rising demand for metagenomic sequencing and increasing adoption of these techniques in various procedures, the APAC market is estimated to take over the European market soon.

Global Metagenomic Sequencing Market  Competitive Analysis

The fiercely competitive metagenomic Sequencing market appears to be fragmented with many large and small-scale players alongside the new entrants forming the competitive landscape. New technology launch, innovation, and brand reinforcement remain the popular trends for the key players in the market. The growth statistics of the metagenomic sequencing market presage the probable heights the market can reach further.

Key Players:

Players leading the global metagenomic sequencing market include Enterome Bioscience (France), GATC Biotech AG (Germany), Aperiomics, Inc. (U.S.), Illumina Inc. (U.S.), The Mitre Corporation (U.S.), F Hoffman-La Roche Ltd. (Switzerland), Second Genome Therapeutics (U.S.), SciGenom Labs Pvt. Ltd. (India), Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (U.S.), GenapSys, Inc. (U.S.), Freenome Inc. (U.S.), COSMOSID (U.S.), Beijing Genomics Institute (China), Pacific Biosciences (U.S.), Biomatters Ltd. (New Zealand), Oxford Nanopore Technologies Inc. (UK), Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (U.S.), CLC Bio (Qiagen) (Denmark), DNAStar Inc. (U.S.), Agilent Technologies Inc. (U.S.), Macrogen Inc. (South Korea), Knome Inc. (U.S.), and Helicos BioSciences (U.S.) among others.

Industry/Innovations/Related News:

December 19, 2018  A team of scientists at the University of Chicago published their study of a high-throughput RNA sequencing strategy that they have developed which is helpful to learn the activity of the gut microbiome.

The new tools will help scientists to understand the activity of naturally occurring microbiomes, study their responses to environmental changes, for example varying temperatures or changing availability of nutrients, developing a clear picture of tRNA dynamics.

OBTAIN RESEARCH REPORT DETAILS WITH TOC @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/metagenomic-sequencing-market-5598

About Market Research Future:

At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.

MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.

In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.

Contact:

Market Research Future

Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers

Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar,

Pune  411028

Maharashtra, India

+1 646 845 9312

Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
LUCKNOW: The Department of Posts launched Sukanya Samriddhi Pakhwada on the occasion of National Girl Child Day on Friday. Girls were given Sukanya accounts passbook and gifts.

The newly constructed building of Aliganj extension post office was inaugurated by KK Sinha, chief postmaster general, UP circle.

Sinha said that the establishment of the post office in the departmental building would be convenient for both staff and public. The post office had always been a companion in happiness and sorrow, he said.

Sinha said apart from general postal services, people would also be able to easily get all new facilities like Aadhaar enrolment/ updation and India Post Payments Bank service.

Sinha said girls were a symbol of power and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana would empower them. More than 17 lakh Sukanya accounts have been opened in post offices of Uttar Pradesh till now. He also said that special campaigns were being organised so that all the girls may be benefitted.

Postmaster general VK Verma said all the schemes of the central government were being executed through post offices successfully. Krishna Kumar Yadav, director postal services, Lucknow headquarter region, said under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme, 1194 villages in Uttar Pradesh had been made Sampoorna Sukanya Samriddhi Gram.

Balika Shakti Abhiyan has been launched by the Department of Posts on completion of five years of Sukanya scheme. Under this scheme, the future of our daughters is being secured by opening Sukanya Samriddhi accounts, he said.

Senior superintendent of post offices Alok Ojha said in Sukanya Samriddhi Pakhwada, special camps would be organised in all schools for opening Sukanya Samriddhi accounts. The students of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Aliganj also participated in the function.
One person was killed and another critically injured when the motorbike they were riding on hit an Odisha-bound truck from behind on National Highway 6 in West Bengal's Howrah district on Friday, police said.

The incident occurred at Chandrapur area under Bagnan police station limits when the duo was riding to a fair on Friday evening, an officer said.

The persons, both in their twenties, fell on the highway after hitting the bus from behind, he said.

They were taken to Bagnan rural hospital, where the rider succumbed to his injuries, the officer said, adding that the condition of the pillion rider is critical and he has been shifted to Uluberia super-speciality hospital.

The driver of the bus fled the scene after the incident leaving the vehicle behind, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Mexican troops used tear gas to detain 800 migrants who surged into Mexico Thursday after wading across a river on the country's southern border with Guatemala. National Guard forces in the southern state of Chiapas prevented them from continuing their journey by forming a human fence along a road, as panic erupted among some of the migrants. The Central Americans, who were trekking on foot towards the city of Ciudad Hidalgo, were intercepted by troops who used tear gas and scuffled with the migrants to halt their progress, an AFP journalist at the scene reported. The Interior Ministry later said 800 migrants of Central American origin were "rescued" after crossing the border at the Suchiate River. Following their detention, the migrants were taken to buses run by the National Migration Institute, the agency that will determine their official immigration status and manage deportations. Officials said that they were still looking for another 200 migrants who managed to avoid detention. Thousands of Central Americans have crossed Mexico toward the United States in caravans in recent years, fleeing chronic poverty and brutal gang violence in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. The so-called "2020 Caravan" left Honduras on January 14, gathering an estimated 3,500 people as it made its way across Guatemala. The bulk of the caravan crossed into Mexico at the weekend. Mexican National Guard troops also fired tear gas on Monday to force back migrants attempting to enter the country, leading to scenes of chaos as huge crowds of people flailed across the Suchiate River. About 500 were able to enter the country illegally, though more than 400 of them were later arrested at a roadblock. The Interior Ministry said it deported 460 Hondurans via official planes and buses following Monday's clashes. - 'Peacefully' - "We want to speak with President Lopez Obrador directly," read one long cloth banner held up as the migrants walked Thursday. Others waved flags from their countries, as well as a giant US banner. "We are coming peacefully," some of the migrants shouted. Others distributed apparently unofficial forms requesting refuge in Mexico. - Pressure from Trump - Mexico's migration authority said the country was ready to welcome foreigners as long as they entered the country in a manner that was "lawful, safe and orderly." Officials have begun implementing a government plan to offer jobs and shelter to migrants to encourage them to stay in southern Mexico. However, most want to be allowed to move freely through Mexico to the US border, citing their intention to seek asylum in the United States to escape poverty and gang violence in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, an anti-establishment leftist who came to office vowing to protect migrants' rights, said 4,000 jobs were available to migrants from the new caravan if they remain in southern Mexico. Mexico faces pressure to keep migrants from crossing its northern border from US President Donald Trump, who last year threatened to impose steep tariffs if the country did not do more to stop a surge of undocumented Central Americans. Lopez Obrador deployed some 26,000 troops to the country's borders in response.
Several persons including two policemen were injured when two groups clashed in the southern part of the city's Jodhpur Park area over a discussion on the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act, police said on Friday.

The clash broke out on Thursday night when a group of men allegedly having an allegiance to the BJP, attacked a group of Trinamool Congress activists with knives and sticks when they were denied to participate in a CAA discussion, a police officer said.

When the police tried to pacify the two warring groups they were attacked, he said.

"Two policemen including one officer have been injured. Our officer was got injuries in his hands and is currently undergoing treatment," he said.

Two motorbikes were burnt during the clash.

Several people injured in the clash were discharged after preliminary medical assistance at a nearby medical establishment, the officer said.

The police has arrested three persons for their involvement in the clash, he said.

"We have arrested three persons and a police picket has been posted in the area to keep a check on any untoward incident. A probe has been initiated into the matter," the officer said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Representatives of the SVGAT and SVGSG hand over donation to Dr. Francis Murray (2nd from left).

The Chateaubelair Hospital was recently the recipient of an Electrocardiogram (ECG) Machine and printing supplies worth over Cdn$4,000.00.





The invaluable addition to the service at the Hospital was made possible by Vincentians residing in Toronto, members of the St. Vincent and Grenadines Association of Toronto Inc. (SVGAT) and the Toronto SVG Support Group (TSVGSG).





Each year, the organizations host a Toronto Harbour Boat Cruise, part proceeds of which go to support a worthy cause in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.





The proceeds from the 2019 event along with a special discount from Superior Medical, a Toronto based supplier of medical equipment, went towards making the donation of the ECG possible.





Representatives from both the SVGAT and the TSVGSG made the presentation to the staff of the hospital, headed by Dr. Francis Murray, on December 19, 2019.
From Yakub Memon to Afzal Guru: Here is what their last wish was before they were hanged

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 23: The killers of Nirbhaya are yet to make a last wish, before they are executed.

Their execution has been slated for February 1.

The authorities at the Tihar jail said that they are yet to hear back from the four convicts about their last wish. Once they give it in writing, the authorities would take a decision on whether the same could be granted or not.

Tihar jail seeks service of Pawan, hangman from Meerut, for execution of Nirbhaya convicts on Feb 1

Let us take a look at the some of the last wishes made by prisoners from India and other parts of the world.

Dhananjay Chatterjee: His last wish was to touch the feet of the jail doctor Basudeb Mukherjee. Chatterjee was hanged after being held guilty for the rape and murder of a 14 year old girl. Before his hanging, he had also sought that religious songs should be played. The wish was granted.

Yakub Memon: His last wish was to meet his daughter. The jail authorities did not allow it, but arranged for a telephonic conversation. Memon was convicted for his role in the Bombay blasts case.

Afzal Guru: Convicted in the Parliament attack, Afzal Guru had not made any last wish. He spent most of his final days reading books. Moments before he was hanged, he was offered tea. He spoke with the jail authorities and as he finished his tea, he asked for more. However the man who serves tea in the jail had already left and this last wish could not be fulfilled.

Ajmal Kasab: The Pakistan terrorist convicted in the 26/11 case had no last wish. Jail authorities at Yerawada however said that he was extremely scared and struggled before he was hanged.

Billa and Ranga: Both had no last wish. The night before the hanging, Billa ate well, but Ranga kept shouting Joh Bole So Nihal.

Maqbool Bhat: The co-founder of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front had no last wish. He was hanged in the year 1984. His hanging happened in quite a hurry and the black warrant had come after the kidnapping and murder of Indian Diplomat, Ravindra Mhatre in the UK group, which had demanded the release of Bhat.
Three Memphis students were killed this week after separate drive-by shootings in which the victims were innocent bystanders.

The first shooting took place around 6 p.m. Sunday when 10-year-old Jadon Knox, a fourth grader at Aspire Hanley Elementary School, was killed playing outside at his friends home in Orange Mound.

Jadon was the life of our family. Very, very funny. He loves to keep everyone laughing, Jadons aunt, who was identified only by her first name Twanda, told WHBQ. This is murder. You killed him. You took his life. He was only 10. His life had not even started.

The following day, Ashlynn Denae Luckett, 6, and her uncle Lequan Dequez Boyd, 16, were shot inside a home in Hickory Hill. Luckett, a first-year student at Sycamore Elementary, died on Tuesday of her injuries. Boyd, a sophomore at Collierville High School, died Wednesday in the attack, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports.

Lucketts first grade teacher Deena Carter told the Commercial Appeal that she was new to the school and was adored by her classmates.

Ashlynn Luckett | GoFundMe

The kids loved her, Carter said. She had a smile on her face every day. She was a hard worker, and she wanted to learn.

She will be truly missed, she added. She was just a ray of sunshine.

Jadon Knox | GoFundMe

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLEs free True Crime newsletter for breaking crimenews, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Boyds former teacher Stephanie Gonzalez remembered the teen as very caring and protective of his friends, family and teachers he loved.

Lequan was one of those students that had a huge personality, Gonzalez told the Commercial Appeal. Even teachers that didnt teach him knew him. He had a personality larger than life. He would dance down the hallways and always had a smile on his face.

I am thankful that I was able to teach him for a year, she said. He was a bright spot in not only mine, but also many of our lives. He was the student that you looked forward to seeing every day because he could always make you laugh.

Story continues

Police have made no arrests in the deaths of Knox, Luckett and Boyd.

There are no arrests at this time, Memphis Police Department spokesperson Louis C. Brownlee tells PEOPLE. It is horrible. You hate for anybody to be shot, let alone juveniles. They are vulnerable members of our community.

Gofundme pages have been set up for Knox and Luckett.
WABASH, Ind., Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FFW Corporation (the Corporation) (OTC PINK: FFWC ) (1/23/20 Close: $43.00), parent corporation of Crossroads Bank (the Bank), announced earnings for the three and six months ended December 31, 2019.

For the three months ended December 31, 2019, the Corporation reported net income of $1,267,000 or $1.11 per common share compared to $1,148,000 or $1.00 per common share for the three months ended December 31, 2018. Net interest income for the three months ended December 31, 2019 was $3,410,000 compared to $3,297,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2018. The provision for loan losses was $50,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and $56,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2018. Total noninterest income was $1,045,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2019 compared to $814,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2018. Noninterest expense was $2,938,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2019 and $2,797,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2018.

For the six months ended December 31, 2019, the Corporation reported net income of $2,503,000 or $2.19 per common share compared to $2,253,000 or $1.95 per common share for the six months ended December 31, 2018. Net interest income for the six months ended December 31, 2019 was $6,901,000 compared to $6,611,000 for the six months ended December 31, 2018. The Company recognized a provision for loan losses of $125,000 for the six months ended December 31, 2019 and $131,000 for the six months ended December 31, 2018. Total noninterest income was $2,056,000 for the six months ended December 31, 2019 compared to $1,681,000 for the six months ended December 31, 2018. Noninterest expense was $5,928,000 for the six months ended December 31, 2019 and $5,557,000 for the six months ended December 31, 2018.

The three and six months ended December 31, 2019 represented a return on average common equity of 10.89% and 10.83%, respectively, compared to 11.24% and 11.03% for the three and six month periods ended December 31, 2018. The three and six months ended December 31, 2019 represented a return on average assets of 1.20% and 1.19%, respectively, compared to 1.13% and 1.13%, for the three and six month periods ended December 31, 2018.

The allowance for loan losses as a percentage of gross loans receivable was 1.37% at December 31, 2019 compared to 1.35% at June 30, 2019. Nonperforming assets were $3,278,000 at December 31, 2019 compared to $3,693,000 at June 30, 2019.

As of December 31, 2019, FFWCs equity-to-assets ratio was 11.10% compared to 10.79% at June 30, 2019. Total assets at December 31, 2019 were $417,095,000 compared to $414,517,000 at June 30, 2019. Shareholders equity was $46,318,000 at December 31, 2019 compared to $44,738,000 at June 30, 2019. Crossroads Bank exceeds all applicable regulatory requirements to be considered well capitalized.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include expressions such as expects, intends, believes, and should, which are necessarily statements of belief as to the expected outcomes of future events. Actual results could materially differ from those presented. The Corporation's ability to predict future results involves a number of risks and uncertainties. The Corporation undertakes no obligation to release revisions to these forward-looking statements or reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

Crossroads Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of FFW Corporation providing an extensive array of banking services and a wide range of investments and securities products through its main office in Wabash and five Indiana banking centers located in Columbia City, North Manchester, Peru, South Whitley and Syracuse. The Bank provides leasing services at its banking centers and its Fishers, IN leasing and commercial loan office. Insurance products are offered through an affiliated company, Insurance 1 Services, Inc. The Corporations stock is traded on the OTC Markets under the symbol FFWC. Our website address is www.crossroadsbanking.com. Crossroads Bank, Member FDIC.

FFW Corporation

Selected Financial Information

Consolidated Balance Sheet

December 31 June 30 2019 2019 Unaudited Assets Cash and due from financial institutions $ 5,860,857 $ 4,897,871 Interest-bearing deposits in other financial institutions 15,070,735 21,857,520 Cash and cash equivalents 20,931,592 26,755,391 Securities available for sale 79,779,766 85,275,452 Loans receivable, net of allowance for loan losses of $4,070,625 at December 31, 2019 and $3,857,473 at June 30, 2019 289,164,000 279,796,467 Loans held for sale 2,899,343 1,340,765 Federal Home Loan Bank stock, at cost 1,462,500 1,462,500 Accrued interest receivable 2,162,610 2,240,851 Premises and equipment, net 7,799,158 5,442,196 Mortgage servicing rights 827,314 762,392 Cash surrender value of life insurance 9,012,266 8,867,601 Goodwill 1,213,898 1,213,898 Repossessed Assets 271,977 194,730 Other assets 1,570,468 1,165,252 Total assets $ 417,094,892 $ 414,517,495 Liabilities and shareholders' equity Deposits Noninterest-bearing $ 30,513,318 $ 33,005,454 Interest-bearing 329,681,287 331,115,288 Total deposits 360,194,605 364,120,742 Borrowings 7,500,000 2,000,000 Accrued expenses and other liabilities 3,082,617 3,659,180 Total liabilities 370,777,222 369,779,922 Shareholders' equity Common stock, $.01 par; 2,000,000 shares authorized; Issued: 1,836,328; outstanding: 1,137,783 - December 31, 2019 and 1,149,783 - June 30, 2019 18,363 18,363 Additional paid-in capital 9,835,646 9,777,849 Retained earnings 45,671,538 43,691,848 Accumulated other comprehensive income 2,278,867 2,238,257 Treasury stock, at cost: 698,545 shares at December 31, 2019 and 686,545 shares at June 30, 2019 (11,486,744 ) (10,988,744 ) Total shareholders' equity 46,317,670 44,737,573 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 417,094,892 $ 414,517,495

FFW Corporation

Selected Financial Information

Consolidated Statement of Income

Three Months Ended December 31 Six Months Ended December 31 2019 2018 2019 2018 Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited Interest and dividend income: Loans, including fees $ 3,685,967 $ 3,306,392 $ 7,389,196 $ 6,621,629 Taxable securities 291,542 346,492 684,358 663,645 Tax exempt securities 312,265 300,967 625,859 610,321 Other 59,806 130,703 166,787 198,228 Total interest and dividend income 4,349,580 4,084,554 8,866,200 8,093,823 Interest expense: Deposits 928,987 778,315 1,944,647 1,465,130 Borrowings 10,438 8,740 20,278 17,702 Total interest expense 939,425 787,055 1,964,925 1,482,832 Net interest income 3,410,155 3,297,499 6,901,275 6,610,991 Provision for loan losses 50,000 56,118 125,000 131,118 Net interest income after provision for loan losses 3,360,155 3,241,381 6,776,275 6,479,873 Noninterest income: Net gains on sales of securities (259 ) - (259 ) 18,111 Net gains on sales of loans 190,773 63,102 357,358 192,737 Net gains (losses) on sales of REO 4,565 - 4,565 - Commission income 277,207 247,220 589,813 488,470 Service charges and fees 290,980 248,561 517,670 470,024 Earnings on life insurance 73,346 70,397 144,665 141,360 Other 208,352 185,131 442,539 370,018 Total noninterest income 1,044,964 814,411 2,056,351 1,680,720 Noninterest expense: Salaries and benefits 1,581,507 1,565,753 3,160,630 3,130,861 Occupancy and equipment 288,883 303,964 584,575 624,875 Professional 148,299 96,657 288,638 190,381 Marketing 91,721 95,565 199,905 194,812 Deposit insurance premium 5,939 33,000 38,939 61,542 Regulatory assessment 8,954 8,099 17,907 16,198 Correspondent bank charges 19,293 20,250 39,623 39,190 Data processing 344,458 231,563 661,396 457,671 Printing, postage and supplies 68,995 67,474 137,514 113,912 Expense on life insurance 14,894 18,730 29,789 37,460 Contribution expense 9,457 4,735 19,003 11,552 Expense on REO 17,148 3,157 20,672 8,822 Other 338,330 348,161 729,756 669,693 Total noninterest expense 2,937,878 2,797,108 5,928,347 5,556,969 Income before income taxes 1,467,241 1,258,684 2,904,279 2,603,624 Income tax expense 199,966 110,941 401,212 351,098 Net income $ 1,267,275 $ 1,147,743 $ 2,503,067 $ 2,252,526

FFW Corporation

Selected Financial Information

Key Balances and Ratios

Three Months Ended December 31 Six Months Ended December 31 2019 2018 2019 2018 Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited Per common share data: Earnings $1.11 $1.00 $2.19 $1.95 Diluted earnings $1.11 $1.00 $2.19 $1.95 Dividends paid $0.23 $0.21 $0.46 $0.42 Average shares issued and outstanding 1,137,783 1,149,541 1,141,109 1,154,165 Shares outstanding end of period 1,137,783 1,149,480 1,137,783 1,149,480 Supplemental data: Net interest margin ** 3.46 % 3.45 % 3.51 % 3.53 % Return on average assets *** 1.20 % 1.13 % 1.19 % 1.13 % Return on average common equity *** 10.89 % 11.24 % 10.83 % 11.03 % December 31 June 30 2019 2019 Nonperforming assets * $3,278,358 $3,692,825 Repossessed assets $271,977 $194,730 * Includes non-accruing loans, accruing loans delinquent more than 90 days and repossessed assets ** Yields reflected have not been computed on a tax equivalent basis *** Annualized

FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact: Emily Boardman, Treasurer, at (260) 563-3185


An Italian father and son, 50 and 29, have been arrested by National Police in Benalmadena for allegedly being part of the so-called Buco gang (hole in Italian).

The fugitives escaped to Spain as Italian police rounded up members of the gang, known for moving through sewers and emerging, armed and masked, from manholes to commit their hold-ups. The gang got away with 800,000 euros in jewellery from a shop in Naples last June.

The arrested pair, A. C. and S. C., had been living in Benalmadena. Police seized fake IDs, mobile phones and 4,000 euros in cash during the arrests.
Everything you need to know about skiing the Northeast this winter

Whether you want to stay close to home or head north, here's everything you need to know about skiing or snowboarding in the Northeast and New York this season.
[January 23, 2020] Joint Action for World Leprosy Day 2020

TOKYO, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sasakawa Health Foundation has announced the start of its first-ever social media campaign with organizations of persons affected by leprosy. Taking part are 17 people's organizations in 16 countries that are linking up under a common logo and slogan to raise awareness of leprosy via Facebook and other platforms in the run-up to World Leprosy Day on January 26, 2020. The project is being coordinated and supported by Sasakawa Health Foundation, a foundation based in Tokyo, Japan. Also known as Hansen's disease, leprosy is an infectious disease that mainly affects the skin and peripheral nerves. Over 200,000 new cases are reported worldwide each year. Although completely curable, the disease can cause permanent disability if untreated and continues to be stigmatized in many parts of the globe. Using the slogan "A Hansen's Disease-Free World with Knowledge and Love" and the hashtag #WHDD2020, the joint action for World Leprosy Day 2020 grew out of regional meetings of people's organizations on leprosy held in Africa, Asia and Latin Ameria in 2019. These meetings, together with a Global Forum held in Manila in September 2019, were hosted by the Office of Joint Program on Hansen's Disease (Leprosy) of Sasakawa Health Foundation and The Nippon Foundation.



Together with The Nippon Foundation, Sasakawa Health Foundation has been working for a world without leprosy for more than 45 years. Yohei Sasakawa, The Nippon Foundation's chairman, has served as the WHO's Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination since 2001 and in that role has visited around 100 leprosy-endemic countries. In recent years, both foundations have come to place more emphasis on addressing the social and economic consequences of leprosy, with Nippon Foundation Chairman and Goodwill Ambassador Yohei Sasakawa spearheading efforts to have the disease taken up as a human rights issue. This led to the adoption of a historic UN General Assembly resolution on "Elimination of discrimination against persons affected by leprosy and their family members" in 2010. Since then, the foundations continue to play a leading role in efforts to eliminate the stigma and discrimination associated with leprosy, in collaboration with organizations of persons affected by the disease and other partners.

Commenting on the joint action, WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination Yohei Sasakawa said: "It is encouraging to see organizations of persons affected by leprosy that have been active in their own countries collaborating with their counterparts overseas. Individual threads are weak, but together they form a strong rope. I am very happy that Sasakawa Health Foundation is supporting this initiative." The Office of Joint Program on Hansen's Disease (Leprosy) of Sasakawa Health Foundation and The Nippon Foundation remains committed to working with the WHO, national governments and partner organizations for a world without leprosy and the stigma and discrimination it causes. For Joint Action details, please visit: https://www.shf.or.jp/information/7489?lang=en

About Sasakawa Health Foundation: https://www.shf.or.jp/?lang=en In addition to the photograph accompanying this release, further images as well as the list of the participating organizations may be downloaded from: https://1drv.ms/u/s!Atbpjs-exsO5nmug_xO9VFJ4QbYj?e=ccBsJI Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200121/2696789-1 SOURCE Sasakawa Health Foundation

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
he current resurgence in rental housing construction is most welcome, but the pace needs to be even faster to fulfill demand in Canadas largest urban markets, a pair of veteran market observers argued.

In a recent piece for the Financial Post, Murtaza Haider and Stephen Moranis noted that the increase in the number of purpose-built rental (PBR) starts will certainly inject much-needed stock into the inventories of Canadas most important cities.

Data from Statistics Canada showed that PBR starts stood at 45,569 in 2019, considerably above the 36,796 measured a year prior.
CPI Rajya Sabha MP Binoy Viswam on Friday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, declining invitation to attend the Republic Day celebrations as a mark of protest for inviting Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro as the Chief Guest for the momentous occasion.

Expressing anguish over Bolsonaro being chosen as the Chief Guest for this year's Republic Day parade, Viswam wrote: "It is astonishing that you have welcomed a leader whose ideology and policies are tarnished by bigotry, misogyny, homophobia, and discrimination. His actions in Brazil and at the global stage are directly against the very ethos of the Constitution that we celebrate on the Republic Day."

The CPI MP said that Bolsonaro's apathy and inaction for over two months when the Amazon rainforest was burning has caused irreparable damage to the global environment.

Recalling Bolsonaro's actions at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) where he has sought sanctions against the aid provided by the government to struggling sugarcane farmers in India, Viswam said: "As a sign of protest, decline your government's invitation to me as a Member of Parliament to attend the 71st Republic Day celebrations."

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi welcomed Brazilian President Jair Messias Bolsonaro, who arrived here on Friday for his four-day visit to India.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
T he Royal National Institute of Blind People has teamed up with tech giant Amazon to make accessing the internet easier for people with sight loss.

The collaboration enables the artificial intelligence (AI) to give information from the RNIBs Sight Loss Advice Service. The companys Echo devices featuring the smart assistant Alexa will now give RNIB-verified responses to voice commands such as Alexa, what should I do if I think Im losing my sight?

Amazon hopes that the tool will improve the accessibility for upwards of 2 million people in the UK who are blind or partially sighted. RNIB research found that visual impairments create a large barrier for those who want to access the internet.

The charity claims that nearly two thirds of visually impaired people in the UK find it hard to use new technology, many linking this to accessibility issues.

Dolly McLoughlin is a fan of using voice assistances at home. The 71-year-old started to lose her sight in her forties, and finds using new technology difficult. She struggles using online web readers as websites are always changing.

The retired administrative assistant uses an Amazon Echo for a multitude of things. She said: Alexa is different. I can just ask her questions and she will tell me the answer. Its fantastic that organisations like RNIB are starting to use it in this way and I hope more companies will follow.

Dolly enjoys using the Amazon Echo to find answers to queries / RNIB

Director of Services at RNIB, David Clarke said: Voice assistant technology is playing an ever-increasing role in transforming the lives of blind and partially sighted people.

Voice assistants can enable independence, helping to break down accessibility barriers to a more inclusive society. By using this technology to increase the reach of our own resources, we are ensuring that people can immediately get essential information about sight conditions, their rights, and the support available, simply by asking out loud.

This is not the first time Amazon has collaborated with a charity on its voice tech. It has also worked with Cancer Research UK and Breast Cancer Care, to name just a few.

Dennis Stansbury, Alexa UK Country Manager, said: We love hearing feedback from customers about how they use Alexa throughout their day. We are delighted that customers can now access information from the RNIB website using voice technology.

Voice tech is just one piece of technology that aims to make life tasks easier for those with visual impairments. An app named Be My Eyes allows members of the public and company representatives to help those with sight loss.

Launched in 2015, the app now has over 3 million volunteers around the world who can aid those needing help, all through their phone. The app connects a visually impaired individual through to one of their volunteers using the devices camera, and allows the volunteer to help with the task at hand, from helping with their shopping to reading an important letter.
(Natural News) Researchers from the University of Freiburg have found evidence to suggest that the immune system could distinguish between self and non-self molecules through interacting with them. This team, led by biologists Wolfgang Schamel and Wilfried Weber, provided data that supported a hypothesis scientists have long held concerning how T cells differentiate between pathogens and the bodys cells.

One of the immune systems primary responsibilities is to protect against harmful pathogens. To do this, it must distinguish the foreign invaders from the bodys cells. In order to act as the bodys security system, it must destroy these pathogens without harming the bodys own cells. T cells are an important component of the immune system. However, via their T cell receptor, they are known to bind not only to foreign pathogens, but also to non-pathogenic molecules, causing unnecessary damage to the body.

Cracking the immune system code

Exactly how the immune system is able to differentiate between self and non-self molecules remains a difficult question to answer. Many hypotheses are abound, such as one that believes T cells recognize invaders by reacting to the presence of damaged cells. In other words, they respond to the damage that the invaders have done to the host.

But since 1995, many scientists have held onto the belief that T cells differentiate between pathogens and non-pathogens by measuring how long the molecule interacts with the receptor. If the molecule binds with the T cell for a long time, the cell classifies it as a pathogen. If it binds for only a brief moment, it is a self molecule. While this theory was compelling for many scientists, they havent been able to prove it due to their inability to regulate the duration of the binding in controlled experiments.

Fortunately, a group of German and Dutch researchers from Freiburg was able to do exactly that. The team did this through bioengineering, or the use of engineering tools and principles to construct biological systems. (Related: Fast food makes your immune system hyperactive  and research shows the aggressive inflammatory response remains long term, promoting disease.)

Bioengineering produced accurate results

The researchers, whose findings were published in the journal eLife, constructed a hybrid system that combined components from humans, plants, jellyfish and bacteria in order to equip their system with their desired properties. Through their work, they were able to precisely control how long cells would bind to T cell receptors and a synthetic ligand, a photoprotein they took from plants. The researchers used red light as a remote control. Their use of photosensitive proteins as a molecular switch is known as optogenetics.

With optogenetics in mind, the researchers built a platform known as OptoRobot, which helped them perform experiments on a vastly large number of T cell samples simultaneously. This aided in their desire to gain as much data as possible to obtain the accurate results they need to provide data-driven conclusions and suggestions for further research.

Schamel, Weber and their team found that if they used light conditions to make the photoprotein react only briefly with the T cell receptor, the T cells did not activate and register it as an invader. In light conditions that allowed a prolonged interaction with the ligand, the T cells activated and classified the cells as pathogens. Therefore, Schamel and Webers experiment provided evidence for the theory that T cells distinguish between pathogenic and non-pathogenic molecules on the basis of their interaction time.

This study provides scientists with a better understanding of how the immune system functions. It just goes to show how dangerous it is for the body to take in foreign pathogens, as it can also result in damage to healthy, self molecules.

Sources include:

ScienceDaily.com

ScientificAmerican.com

eLifeSciences.org
The Behmai massacre case, in which 20 people were killed allegedly by bandit Phoolan Devi's gang nearly four decades ago, will come up before a special court here on January 30.

The matter was earlier postponed to January 24 as the original case diary had gone missing on January 18 when the matter was listed for pronouncement of verdict by Special Judge (UP dacoity-affected area) Sudhir Kumar.

The judge had pulled up the court official for absence of the case diary at the time of delivering the verdict and had asked him to place it before the court on January 24.

But in view of the lawyers' strike over chambers issue, the matter was postponed to January 30, District Government Counsel (Criminal) Raju Porwal said.

The court is likely to give its verdict on the role of the four surviving accused -- Posha, Bhikha, Vishwanath and Shyambabu. While Posha is still in jail, the rest are out on bail. Three other dacoits, including Man Singh, are absconding.

Phoolan Devi had stormed into the non-descript Behmai village to avenge her alleged rape there by two other bandits -- Lala Ram and Sri Ram -- both Thakurs, a dominant caste in the village.

She was gunned down outside her official residence in New Delhi on July 25, 2001, but was made immortal on the big screen by noted film director Shekhar Kapoor in his movie 'Bandit Queen'.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
PARMA, Ohio -- After missing out on signing up for a Lifetouch Memory Mission Tour at a 2018 conference, Normandy High School PTSA President Angela Revay didnt make the same mistake last year.

This led to her being selected to join nearly 50 educators, as well as Lifetouch and Shutterfly employees, for a recent trip to Constanza, Dominican Republic. The goal of the mission was to help complete the construction of the Cecaini Rio Grande School, which provides 400 kids the opportunity to attend elementary school.

It was everything I thought it would be and then some, said Reva, who is also the Hillside Middle School PTA president. I knew it would be a very transformative experience, but it was also just so much more of a tug-at-your-heartstrings type of journey.

Lifetouch is a professional school photography company that uses philanthropy and volunteerism to help rebuild lives. Since the turn of the century, the North American operation has led Memory Mission trips around the globe.

While the trip wasnt religious-based, Revay said it was a spiritual experience.

It was very enlightening, Revay said. You go to these types of countries expecting to feel sad for people in poverty. But when we arrived in the Dominican Republic, you realize their sense of community, their love of their country and their cities.

They have all of the essential necessities, are just so well connected with each other and so grateful for our visit. Theyre not looking to change their lives, just improve them. Thats what this school thats been built has been able to do for Rio Grande.

Lifetouch has been in Constanza since 2011. Not only did early efforts help build a new one-story school that could accommodate 200 students, but follow-up junkets included the completion of a second floor that doubled enrollment to 400 students.

Upon her arrival, Revay instantly got busy working as a mason on a new building to house a library, computer lab and infirmary. Not only did she help move materials around the job site, including heavy buckets of concrete, but she also learned how to lay cinder block and broke up a dirt pile to give way to a future floor.

The most important piece was that we were building relationships, Revay said. We played with the children every day we were on the job. Many of us formed connections with individual children. We had visits into the community and spent time with them. We went to their homes.

While her recent trip marked her first mission work, Revay said she absolutely would sign up again. Shes also hoping her story will convince others to follow suit.

We do a lot of serving here every day in our community, but sometimes we need to go outside of our area or to another country, Revay said. The idea is to just keep that attitude of servant leadership and to keep building relationships in other places.

Read more news from the Parma Sun Post.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin has appointed a new cabinet, keeping key ministers. Amongst those retaining their seats in office is the country's energy minister Alexander Novak who played an instrumental role in the oil production deal with the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).



The African Energy Chamber (https://EnergyChamber.org/) welcomes the reappointment of Minister Novak who has always supported the establishment of new alliances with Africa and believes this move signals the potential for further cooperation for Russia and Africa.



"Minister Novak has ensured that African companies have a seat at the table, built partnerships and pushed President Putin's mission to broaden and strengthen relationships with Africa," said Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, NJ Ayuk. "The African Energy Chamber has always enjoyed a good relationship with him and the Russian energy sector and, we look forward to furthering our collaboration," he added.



Having maintained his seat as energy minister since 2012, Novak's reappointment is received as the Kremlin's commitment to the continuation of the OPEC+ strategy which has already seen Russian companies benefit from bilateral cooperation with OPEC member states and boosted oil prices.



"Alexander Novak has emerged as the reliable and dependable bridge between OPEC and non-OPEC in the Declaration of Cooperation. He has earned the respect and admiration of all participating countries in the OPEC+ group," said H.E. Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, Secretary General of OPEC. Adding that, "His reappointment as Russia's Energy Minister at this crucial juncture will further strengthen the collaboration with OPEC in our noble course to maintain oil market stability in the interest of producers, consumers and the global economy."

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

View multimedia content

About the African Energy Chamber:

Determined to promote growth in the African energy sector, the African Energy Chamber (https://EnergyChamber.org/) encourages collaboration between businesses and government and takes a leadership role in shaping policies, sharing best practices and using resources to create value.
A 27-year-old former childrens services caseworker from New Jersey faces human trafficking charges accusing her of recruiting the mother of kids in foster care into prostitution, officials said.

Candace Talley was working for the Division of Children and Youth Services in Delaware County, Pennsylvania when she coerced a woman into working as a prostitute in exchange for a favorable custody recommendation, authorities said.

It is truly horrible, and beyond imagination that someone who is responsible for ensuring the welfare of children would pressure their mother into prostitution for her own personal enrichment, Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer said in a statement.

Talley, of the Sicklerville section of Winslow, drove the woman to meet with johns and took more than 25% of the money the woman, officials said. She also promised the woman shed help falsify the results of the womans drug tests, authorities said.

Talley is charged with two counts of human trafficking for financial gain, promoting prostitution, making threats and other related charges.

She was arrested Thursday and held on $25,000 bail.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips

Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
It grows like a weed, can make a rock float and  perhaps most promising  it's six times warmer than wool, which means it could offer a plant-based alternative to down.

Milkweed fibers before they're processed.

As sustainability becomes an increasingly pressing priority in fashion and beauty, materials with a minimal ecological impact are being sought out by a range of brands looking to shrink their environmental footprints. In our series The Future of Sustainable Materials, we explore the innovations that could pave the way for a brighter tomorrow.

If you were a kid living east of the Rockies in the early 1940s, there's a decent chance you might have spent some time after school combing roadsides for wild milkweed plants, whose pods you would collect in bags that could be traded for 15 cents when full. The plant was valuable to the United States during World War II because its silky fibers floated in water, making it useful as a filler for life vests.

Despite the fiber's intriguing history, it largely fell out of use after the war and the plant regained its status in the public consciousness as a pesky weed. But there are a few reasons to challenge that attitude toward milkweed: One is the crucial role it plays in supporting the lifecycle of monarchs, the iconic orange species of butterfly known for migrating from Canada to Mexico and back again. Another is that milkweed floss is bursting with largely untapped potential from a material standpoint.

Related Articles:

Salvaged Bison Wool Offers a Sustainable Material Alternative

Online Retailers Are Making 'Sustainable' Fashion More Searchable

Got Sustainability Questions? Now You Can Ask an Expert

"It has all these amazing properties," says textile artist Alayna Rasile. "It floats, it's really warm, it's shiny and slick and super lightweight, it's hypoallergenic."

Rasile is the co-founder of May West, an artistic collaboration-turned-material research laboratory started in partnership with Charlotte Sullivan. Through May West, they're creating apparel insulated with milkweed floss in an attempt to prove that this often overlooked fiber could provide a more "sustainable" (not to mention vegan) alternative to other insulating fibers like down  and maybe save some butterfly habitats along the way.

Story continues

Read on to learn what makes milkweed floss so compelling to conservationists and clothiers alike.

What is it good for?

Rasile first became enamored with milkweed because of its buoyancy.

"I spun it into yarn and wrapped it around a rock and then realized it could float," she says. "It became like, 'this is magic!'"

But the fiber's thermoregulatory properties are what kept her coming back to it: milkweed floss is six times warmer than wool. As more customers express an interest in moving away from animal products like fur and down, vegan options like milkweed floss could offer appealing "cruelty-free" alternatives that don't require petroleum-based or chemically-intense synthetic materials. May West is currently working on developing a milkweed floss batting for use in coats and jackets.

Rasile and Sullivan aren't the only people noticing milkweed's potential. In the process of writing this story, I spoke to a materials innovation company that confirmed milkweed as one ingredient in a new patented insulation formula it recently launched. The company later asked not to be named, underscoring how valuable they think this material could become as more people catch on to its desirable qualities.

A jacket made with milkweed batting by May West.

What makes it an environmentally friendly option?

Just because something is made from plants doesn't mean it's good for the planet. But in milkweed's case, creating more demand for the plant would be enough to have a positive impact. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services, the loss of milkweed is a major cause of decline in monarch populations, so much so that "the Western population is now less than 1% of its size in the 1980s." Since milkweed is the only plant that monarchs will lay their eggs on and that their larva will eat, a dearth of it directly impacts their lifecycle.

Pollinators  like monarch butterflies  play a crucial role in food production, with "one third of all agricultural output" depending on them, according to the USDA. To Rasile, monarchs are a useful symbol for thinking about pollinators and their role more broadly.

"They're a biological indicator that kind of stands for all pollinators," she explains. "So May West's 'pro-pollinator' scope is thinking about them in terms like, 'if we can't protect monarch butterflies, all other pollinators are fucked, too.'"

At the moment, most people treat milkweed as a pest, mowing it down or spraying it with herbicides when it pops up near their fields or by the side of the road. Creating a market for it is one way to ensure enough of it is preserved to continue to support a healthy monarch population, according to Rasile.

"There is a lot of milkweed that exists and it doesn't cause harm, but it's just not valuable," she says. "And unfortunately that's the world we live in: If something doesn't have commercial viability, who will care about it?"

Luckily, harvesting the floss from milkweed seedpods doesn't happen until after monarchs are done using the plant each season, so collecting the floss doesn't disrupt the insects. Plus, milkweed spreads underground, which means that harvesting the seed pods doesn't even have to harm individual plants.

Unprocessed milkweed floss.

How is it produced?

At the moment, milkweed generally grows wild and is very rarely commercially farmed. May West gets its milkweed from partners in Nebraska who source it much the same way it was sourced during WWII: by offering to pay community members who gather it wherever they find it growing wild.

"They're getting a genetically diverse crop and providing income for economically depressed areas, so that's cool," Rasile says.

There are a few people trying to farm milkweed as a monocrop in places like Vermont and Quebec, she notes, and that could help make it easier to get the material in bulk, especially if those agriculturalists can figure out how to properly modify farm equipment to harvest milkweed floss specifically. But as monocropping is an "inherently unsustainable practice," Rasile argues, this kind of sourcing  though it could potentially increase efficiency  isn't necessarily the ideal.

What are the challenges?

As a result of this sourcing setup, scalability is one of the biggest challenges facing May West and other brands that wish to incorporate milkweed floss into their clothing.

"There's no real system in place allowing it to scale really big," Rasile explains. "And if it can't be big, that means it can't be cheap."

Rasile is hopeful that if farmers can be convinced to see it as a supplementary cash crop, they'll be more likely to let it grow at the edges of their fields. (Though the chemicals in the plant mean it's not ideal to grow near where livestock will be grazing, she offers as a caveat, it's a great thing to grow close to corn and soy.) She's also hopeful that new uses could emerge for other parts of the plant besides the seedpod floss, which could add further value for growers.

Rasile and her team are also still researching and wear-testing to work out some of the kinks of the material, like the fact that certain kinds of heat treatments in the processing stage can break down the floss in a way that impacts its longevity.

Another May West jacket made with milkweed.

What's next for milkweed?

At the moment, May West is still doing material research to thoroughly prove the concept of milkweed's worthiness as a clothing fiber. But as independent research continues to happen in other places (like that not-to-be-named materials innovation company) and as Rasile and Sullivan communicate their own findings to their peers, they're starting to see more and more industry interest in the material.

Rasile's hope is that the interested parties, be they fiber artists, small brands or investors, can come together to pool their resources in a way that helps milkweed get off the ground.

"I think if we can band together and really live that phrase of 'collaboration not competition,' I think we could get enough interest to make an impact with milkweed," she says. "If we all buy into it together, we could figure out how to scale it."

Stay current on the latest trends, news and people shaping the fashion industry. Sign up for our daily newsletter.
Saving the planet to saving face: Five highlights from Davos 2020



Davos, Switzerland, Jan 24 (AFP) Jan 24, 2020



At the World Economic Forum in Davos, the world's political and business elites heard dire predictions over the perils of global warming while fretting how this could hurt their re-election prospects or bottom lines.

Here are five AFP highlights from the 50th anniversary meeting of the world's biggest get-together of the economic and business elite.



- Most explosive non-meeting -



The biggest standoff of Davos 2020 was between two people who never physically met: US President Donald Trump and Swedish teen climate activist Greta Thunberg.

From the first day of the WEF there was a ping-pong of exchanges between the two sides, without any sensational David-and-Goliath face-to-face encounter ever materialising.

While Thunberg, 17, looked on quietly from the audience, Trump in his keynote speech bashed the "perennial prophets of doom" and "the heirs of yesterday's foolish fortune tellers" who sounded alarm on the environment.

She hit back by demanding for an immediate halt to investment in fossil fuels which prompted US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to snipe back: "After she goes and studies economics in college, she can come back and explain that to us."

But it was Thunberg who had the last word. Demands of activists at Davos "have been completely ignored. We expected nothing less," she said. And the criticism? "It has no effect.. We put ourselves in the spotlight."



- Deepest pocket -



While many at Davos are focused simply on making money, US financier and philanthropist George Soros said he was thrilled to be donating $1 billion to create a new university network.

Such a project was needed, he said, due to the erosion of open society by "would-be and actual dictators" ruling countries including China, Russia... and the United States.

In his annual tour-de-horizon of the state of the world -- which has become a Davos tradition -- Soros reaffirmed his disgust with Trump as a "conman and the ultimate narcissist" but also expressed alarm over China's Xi Jinping.

Xi, said Soros in dystopian terms, was bent on designing an authoritarian system for a "new type of human being who is willing to surrender his personal autonomy in order to stay out of trouble."

Such was the need for the university plan, "the most important and enduring project of my life."



- Best wheeling 'n dealing -



During his 36 hours in Davos, Trump also needled the Europeans, again threatening the EU with damaging car tariffs, only days after sealing a hard-won trade truce with the Chinese.

To bury the hatchet, Trump bullied Europe to conclude a trade "this year" -- the same time he said was needed to strike a deal with Britain as that country heads for Brexit in a week's time.

Feeling the pressure, the head of the European Commission, Germany's Ursula von der Leyen, said a deal would be ready to sign "in a few weeks", puzzling many in Brussels, while her Economic Affairs commissioner Paolo Gentiloni, pleaded for a dose of distance and wisdom between close allies.

"It is legitimate to defend your own trade interests, but we are the western Alliance, and we should always keep in mind that this is crucial for the world," he told AFP.







- Most uncomfortable delegate -



VIPs hope for a smooth ride in Davos but it was not the case for former Lebanon foreign minister Gibran Bassil, just out of his job after a new government was announced.

To the glee of his critics on social media, the man seen by protesters in Lebanon as a pillar of a corrupt system their country has endured for years found himself roasted during a debate.

The moderator repeatedly pressed him on how he financed his trip at a time when Lebanon is gripped by economic crisis, forcing Bassil to admit sheepishly that he had been invited.

"We are not allowed to have friends like that when we are in government," witheringly pointed out Dutch Trade Minister Sigrid Kaag, who previously served as UN coordinator for Lebanon.



- Profoundest change -



As well as global warming, another transformative phenomenon on the minds of delegates was artificial intelligence, whose fast growth in the technology sector has raised fears it could spiral out of control.

"AI is one of the most profound things we're working on as humanity. It's more profound than fire or electricity," warned Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google during a panel.

Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei sought to play down fears, saying: "AI is not as damaging as atomic bombs!"

But Israeli author and historian Yuval Noah Harari did not seem to want Davos delegates to sleep well at night, saying artificial intelligence could soon be able to hack into humans.

"If you have enough data about me, enough computing power and biological knowledge, you can hack my body, my brain, my life," said the author of the bestselling book "Sapiens".
A special CBI court has allowed Lalu Prasad to meet his counsel thrice a week as his case pertaining to fodder scam is in the stage of defence, the RJD chief's advocate Prabhat Kumar said on Friday.

The advocate said he had met his client at the paying ward of the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) here on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday accordingly.

"The CBI court has allowed our petition requesting to have meetings three days a week following day-to-day arguments. The court allowed us to meet between 4 pm and 5 pm after informing the jail authorities," Kumar told PTI.

Prasad had on January 16 appeared before the special CBI court in connection with RC/47 case pertaining to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 139.35 crore from Doranda Treasury during his chief ministerial regime in Bihar in the 1990s.

This is the fifth and last fodder scam case against Prasad in Ranchi while he has the sixth and final case in Bhagalpur in connection with the Animal Husbandry scam, popularly known as fodder scam.

He has been convicted in the previous four fodder scam cases, getting prison sentences ranging between three and a half years and fourteen years by different special CBI courts.

The Doranda Treasury case has 575 witnesses and 111 accused, a CBI official said, adding initially the investigating agency filed the charge sheet against 170 people.

Prasad, who has been in jail since December 2017, is undergoing treatment for multiple diseases at the RIMS.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Coronavirus in India? Two who returned from China under watch in Mumbai; isolation ward set up

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Mumbai, Jan 24: Two persons who returned from China were kept under medical observation here for possible exposure to the novel coronavirus which has infected a large number of people in the neighbouring country, a BMC health officer said on Friday.

In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in China, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has created an isolation ward at its Kasturba hospital in Chinchpokali.

"The isolation ward has been created for diagnosis and treatment of persons suspected to have the coronavirus infection," said Dr Padmaja Keskar, executive health officer of the BMC. Keskar said civic health authorities have been kept two persons, who returned from China, under observation for mild cough and exhibiting cold-related symptoms.

Indian nurse tested positive for Coronavirus not infected with Wuhan strain

Further details about the persons kept under surveillance were awaited. She said doctors at the Mumbai International Airport have been asked to send travellers returning from China to the isolation ward if they show any symptoms of the coronavirus.

"All private doctors in the city have been asked to alert us (the BMC) if they observe symptoms of the coronavirus in anyone who has returned from China," she said.

According to Kasturba Hospital sources, they have received detailed instructions from the Maharashtra government about the coronavirus and how to deal with the illness and they have been instructed to strictly follow those.

The coronavirus is a large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from the common cold to acute respiratory syndromes, but the virus that has killed people in China is a novel strain and not seen before. Common symptoms of the novel coronavirus strain include respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties, according to the WHO.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 22)  Everyone on the flight reportedly boarded by the family of the first Wuhan coronavirus case in Hong Kong was screened by the Bureau of Quarantine in Manila but none of them were flagged, according to airline Cebu Pacific.

Hong Kong-based newspaper South China Morning Post first reported that four family members of the 39-year-old man from Wuhan  a Chinese city which is at the center of a new strain of coronavirus (2019-nCoV)  flew to Manila from Hong Kong onboard Cebu Pacific flight 5J111 on Wednesday. They arrived at 1:32 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.

Charo Lagamon, Cebu Pacific's corporate communications director, said all passengers and crew on board that flight "were screened by the Bureau of Quarantine upon arrival in Manila but none of them were held for further observation."

"Nonetheless, we are trying to coordinate with Hong Kong authorities to verify information in media reports," she added.

In a separate statement, the airline assured that they are closely monitoring the spread of the Wuhan virus, and have precautionary measures in place for our flights to and from China.

The Bureau of Quarantine has been ordered to be stricter in monitoring travelers coming to the Philippines amid the outbreak of the infection caused by new, novel or Wuhan coronavirus.

SCMP said the man was found to have a runny nose and a fever upon his arrival to West Kowloon, where he was intercepted. Dr. Constance Chan Hon-yee, Hong Kong's director of health said in an interview Wednesday that the man from Wuhan tested positive for the novel coronavirus and was confined at the Princess Margaret hospital.

Hon-yee also said that her colleagues notified the airline and the Philippine government of the matter.

His other family members, whom he had stayed with at Empire Hotel Kowloon in Tsim Sha Tsui, were allowed through because they were not showing any symptoms, SCMP reported.

His relatives are actually not cases. They are close contact of this now preliminary-positive result patient, said Constance Chan, director of Hong Kongs Department of Health said in a press briefing Wednesday night.

So what we are doing, we are following international practice, we will inform the Philippines authority so that they will do the necessary control measures on their side, Chan added.

The Philippines Department of Health is still waiting for results from Australia for tests ran on a blood sample and a throat swab from a five-year-old boy from Wuhan who also exhibited flu-like symptoms symptoms upon arrival in Cebu City.

The boy, who tested positive for a type of coronavirus which is not SARS or MERS, is still currently under observation, along with his mother, who has not exhibited symptoms of infection.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said, however, that it is possible that the boy may not have contracted 2019-nCoV.

Officials in China are racing to contain the outbreak of the novel coronavirus that has left at least 17 people dead and sickened nearly 500, CNN reported. To stop the virus from spreading, Wuhan's airport and railway stations will be temporarily closed for departing passengers, CNN said Wednesday, citing an announcement from the city's coronavirus command center. They take effect at 10 a.m. local time Thursday, it added.

The World Health Organization said there are confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV in Thailand, Japan and South Korea, Health authorities in the United States also reported Tuesday the country's first confirmed novel coronavirus case.

CNN reported cases were also confirmed in the Chinese territory of Macao and the self-governing island of Taiwan.

The W.H.O. said confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV have also been reported in Thailand, Japan and South Korea.

Common symptoms of the 2019-nCoV include fever, cough and colds, breathing difficulties, shortness of breath. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more serious diseases such as such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV), according to the World Health Organization. They can be transmitted from animal to person or infected human to others, according to the WHO.

Health experts also urged people to practice good hygiene, as it could help them stay healthy and free from sickness.

-wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

-avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands

-avoid close contact with people who show respiratory illness symptoms (ex. coughing and sneezing)

-thoroughly cook meat and eggs

-cover your mouth and nose with tissue when you cough or sneeze, then wash your hands

-clean and disinfect objects and surfaces

-seek medical attention if you have flu-like symptoms (especially if you have travelled from Wuhan, China)

CNN Philippines Xave Gregorio and Currie Cator contributed to this report.
Former US vice president and environmentalist Al Gore on Friday said the price paid for a plastic bag or bottle does not reflect the true cost of what one is purchasing and citizens must put pressure on their governments to act.

At a session here during the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2020 Annual Meeting, Gore also said putting a price on carbon would cut down on plastics but it would need regulatory measures and new laws in each jurisdiction.

"What citizens and voters do in political systems is even more important," he said.

The world produces a huge amount of single-use plastic each year, along with a host of other single-use packaging items -- such as cups and containers -- most of which is neither collected nor recycled.

Given the magnitude of this global crisis, the WEF has been discussing throughout this week how can policy-makers and business leaders tackle the challenge of investing in both waste management and waste prevention.

Gore said, "The economic system is broken and the price paid for a plastic bag or bottle does not reflect the true cost of what you're purchasing."



He said destructive business models are taking advantage and governments need to step in. "That can only happen with sufficient pressure from citizens."



"China just enacted a very impressive measure to ban single-use plastics, I wish them success with this," he added.

Gore further said waste-to-energy can produce more emissions and therefore it's not the best way to go.

Plastics are a major emitter of greenhouse gases and now there is mass public movement to ban the construction of new plastic manufacturing plants, he said.

When you cut off the supply, that will force people to come up with alternatives, Gore added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Athy boxer Eric Donovan has urged Kildare people to travel to Belfast to support him in his next fight on February 1.

The featherweight fighter has vowed that the bout against Spaniard Cristian Montilla will be a springboard to greater success.

Donovan (34) is confident that the Celtic Clash 10 event at the Devenish Complex will lead him to a world ranking title or a European title by the end of 2020.

Donovan has been working very hard in a training camp to get in peak physical fitness for the encounter.

Donovan said on his Twitter page today: "And that's a wrap... all the hard work is done... Next week we dine at the top table!"

The boxer also urged people to come along to the event to support him.

He added: "Still time to get your tickets, i'd love your support. You will witness a great performance."

He went on: "Also, don't forget to join us afterwards for celebrations."

A former Spanish champion, Canary Islander Montilla is Donovan's most decorated opponent to date and once held Danish European titlist Dennis Ceylan to a draw.

Veteran southpaw Donovan has been putting a lot of effort into his training camps in recent weeks and is supremely confident ahead of the fight.

A five-time Elite champion and European and EU bronze medallist as an amateur, Donovan won the Irish title live on TG4 last March.

Kildare light welterweight Katelynn Phelan will also be making an appearance on the Celtic Clash 10 event.

Leixlip light welterweight Senan Kelly will also be on the card.

Tickets

Tickets cost 40 (unreserved) or 55 (ringside) and can be bought from all the boxers on the bill.

To buy from Eric Donovan, get in touch with him through his social media channels or drop into the Healthy Living Shop in Athy or Ultimate Fitness Gym in Ballymount, Dublin or via Universe.com.
Senator Kamala Harris is reportedly leaning toward endorsing Joe Biden for the presidency - a move that could boost the former vice presidents campaign while positioning the California Democrat as his future running mate.

Harris, who quit the presidential race in December after her campaign faltered due to lack of funds, is said to be mulling an announcement soon, multiple Democratic operatives familiar with her thinking told The New York Times.

Any endorsement by the senator from California would have to wait until after the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump, according to officials.

But Harris and Biden have kept in close contact since she left the race in early December, the Times reported.

Senator Harris remains focused on the ongoing impeachment trial of President Trump, said Chris Harris, a spokesperson for the senator.

No decisions have been made about whether she will endorse, which candidate, nor when an endorsement decision will be made.

Senator Kamala Harris (left) of California may endorse Joe Biden (right), according to a report

Harris is likely floating the notion publicly of endorsing Biden as a sort of trial balloon to test how her supporters - who are generally considered more liberal than Biden - would react.

The senator is mindful that backing Biden could spark a backlash among her supporters, particularly at a time when two women - Senators Amy Klobuchar and Elizabeth Warren - are still in the Democratic race.

Biden remains the frontrunner in national polls, but Senator Bernie Sanders is mounting a considerable challenge.

The independent from Vermont is leading in several states, and his campaign is enjoying a great deal of momentum, according to the latest surveys.

Harris and Biden have been on good terms despite a public spat during the campaign in which the senator criticized the former vice president for his opposition to school busing. The two are seen above in Detroit in July

Warren, meanwhile, has faltered in recent weeks after she appeared to be a threat to possibly overtake Biden.

While Klobuchar, the Democrat from Minnesota, has qualified for every debate, she has struggled to surpass single-digit support in the polls.

After Harris announced her exit from the race, Biden said he would consider her as a possible running mate despite their very public spat on the debate stage last summer.

In the June debate in Miami, Harris confronted Biden about his past opposition to school busing as well as his warm words for Republican senators who once supported segregation.

After Harris dropped out of the race, Biden praised the senator from California and insisted there were no hard feelings.

'Of course I would,' Biden told reporters when asked if he would consider making Harris his No. 2 should he win the nomination to take on Trump.

'Look, Senator Harris has the capacity to be anything she wants to be. I mean it sincerely.

Biden, the current frontrunner, is trailing in some states behind Senator Bernie Sanders (seen above in Des Moines on Monday)

'I talked to her yesterday,' he continued. 'She is solid.

She can be president someday herself. She can be the vice president. She can go on to be a Supreme Court justice.

She can be an attorney general. She has enormous capability.'

Even if Harris is not picked to be Bidens vice president, she would still be thought of as a strong candidate for a cabinet post, like attorney general.

An endorsement from Harris would likely boost Biden, who is trying to hold off a resurgent Sanders.

One factor that might dissuade Harris from endorsing Biden is that current polls show the former vice president in second place behind Sanders in her home state of California.

It would be considered a politically embarrassing loss for Harris if she were to endorse Biden - only to watch him lose in her own backyard.
Forkliftsw.com scored 40 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team

This CoolSocial report was updated on 13 Apr 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want.

The total number of people who shared the forkliftsw homepage on Delicious. The total number of people who shared the forkliftsw homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. The total number of people who shared the forkliftsw homepage on StumbleUpon. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the forkliftsw homepage on Twitter + the total number of forkliftsw followers (if forkliftsw has a Twitter account). This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the forkliftsw homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if forkliftsw has a Facebook fan page).

Basic Information

PAGE TITLE Sunward-Future lies in our aspiration!-Forklift,Internal Combustion Forklift,Electric Forklift,Reach DESCRIPTION Hunan Sunward Intelligent Machinery Co., Ltd. (Sunward Intelligent, Stock code:002097), major in producing piling machinery,compact construction machinery,forklift and modern rock drilling machinery etc. KEYWORDS Forklift, Internal Combustion Forklift, Electric Forklift, Reach Truck OTHER KEYWORDS sunward, forklift, internal, online, search,



The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The title found in the head section of the homepage. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site.

Domain and Server

DOCTYPE CHARSET AND LANGUAGE UTF-8 DETECTED LANGUAGE English English SERVER Apache-Coyote/1.1 OPERATIVE SYSTEM Linux Linux

Type of server and offered services. The language of forkliftsw.com as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Character set and language of the site. Operative System running on the server. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0)

Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world.

Referring domains for forkliftsw.com by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines.

Facebook link

FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND

The total number of people who like website Facebook page. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. The URL of the found Facebook page. The type of Facebook page. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file.

Twitter account link

TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND
(Newser)  President Trump has repeatedly said he doesn't know Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, two associates of Rudy Giuliani who helped the ex-mayor investigate Joe Biden in Ukraine, and who were arrested in October. Parnas has since said he feels betrayed by Trump, which prompted him to turn over a trove of texts and photos to a House panel. Now, a recording reviewed by ABC News seems to back Parnas' claim that he and Trump were closer than occasional photo-op buddies: Parnas attorney Joseph Bondy tells the Daily Beast the recording was made by Fruman, who attended the private dinner with Parnas, Trump, and possibly others in April 2018; ABC's sources concur, noting the dinner was at DC's Trump International Hotel. And in the recording, Trump appears to get agitated and call for the firing of ex-US Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch.

story continues below

Voices believed to be those of Parnas and Fruman are heard telling Trump that Yovanovitch has been slamming him. (ABC doesn't provide a link to the recording.) A voice sounding like Trump replies: "Get rid of her! Get her out tomorrow. I don't care. Get her out tomorrow. Take her out. OK? Do it." The voice that seems to be Trump's also gushes that "[Mike] Pompeo is the best." When asked for comment, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said, "Every president in our history has had the right to place people who support his agenda and his policies within his administration." Business Insider notes the Washington Post reported in November on the same dinner, and that much of what the Post reportedbased on sources who said they'd heard it from Parnasmatches the recording. (Read more Trump impeachment stories.)
Democrats finish laying out their case in their final day of arguments in the Republican-controlled Senate trial.

The Republican-controlled United States Senate heard the final day of arguments against President Donald Trump as the impeachment trial entered its fifth day on Friday.

In six days of presentations, the presidents defence team and Democratic legislators from the House of Representatives will attempt to convince senators to join their side to either acquit or convict Trump.

Democratic House managers on Thursday focused on the abuse of power article of impeachment against Trump in arguing the constitutional basis for the presidents removal from office. They also pre-empted a likely line of attack from the presidents defence, arguing there was no evidence that former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter acted improperly in Ukraine.

Trumps defence team is expected to start its arguments on Saturday.

Here are all the latest updates as of Friday, January 24:

And that is a wrap for the evening

Lead House manager Adam Schiff concluded his teams three days of opening arguments by saying: Give America a fair trial. She is worth it.

Pompeo loses temper with journalist over Ukraine questions

It began when US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo gave an early morning interview to National Public Radio (NPR).

Much of the discussion dealt with Iran, but journalist Mary Louise Kelly closed by asking Pompeo about Ukraine.

Do you owe [former] Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch an apology? Kelly asked Pompeo.

A tense exchange followed, wherein Pompeo said he had defended every State Department official, while Kelly asked, in vain, when he had publicly defended Yovanovitch.

Ive said all Im going to say today. Thank you, Pompeo said finally, ending the interview.

But the story did not end there, and Kelly related the rest in an NPR broadcast on Friday evening.

She said she thanked the secretary, who did not reply but leaned in and glared at her before leaving the room. A staffer then invited Kelly to Pompeos private living room, without her recorder.

There, Pompeo was waiting and he shouted at me for about same amount of time as the interview itself lasted, Kelly said.

He was not happy to have been questioned about Ukraine, Kelly said, adding that the secretary asked her Do you think Americans care about Ukraine? while using swear words.

Schiff says he is the last speaker

Lead House impeachment manager Adam Schiff said he will be the last speaker of the evening.

He said he got some advice not to go on for too long. He said he would try.

And were back

Democrats expected to use their full remaining time (around three hours) to close out their opening arguments.

Dinner time

The Senate has recessed for a 30-minute dinner break.

Constitutional crime: Quotes from day five of Trumps impeachment trial

From Hakeem Jeffries, a Democratic House manager:

President Trump tried to cheat. He got caught. And then he worked hard to cover it up.

What can be more urgent than a sitting president trying to cheat in an American election by soliciting foreign interference?  Thats a constitutional crime in progress.

From Adam Schiff, the lead House impeachment manager:

Cynicism makes it easier for enemies to influence our politics and undermine the national good. Indeed, this is precisely what (Russian President) Vladimir Putin intended when he meddled in the 2016 election. For us to become more cynical. For us to lose faith in the notion that the American system of government is superior to the corrupt, autocratic model of government that he has erected in Russia and sought to export to places like Ukraine.

Lead manager House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff speaking during the continuation of opening arguments on the third day of the Senate impeachment trial of US President Donald Trump [US Senate TV/Handout via Reuters]

From Jay Sekulow, lawyer for Trump

Were going to rebut and refute, and were going to put on an affirmative case tomorrow.

They opened up the door as wide as a double door on the Hunter Biden, Joe Biden, Burisma issue. I guess they figured that was their way of getting ahead of it. We will address it.

Trumps personal lawyer Jay Sekulow speaks to the media during a break in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, [Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo] Trumps personal lawyer Jay Sekulow speaks to the media during a break in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, [Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo]

From Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate

This is a heavy moment. And you dont know how this sense of constitutional and historical responsibility weighs on the shoulders. We know well never get Trump, we know well never get (Senate Majority Leader Mitch) McConnell, we know theyll pressure Republican senators. But four Republican senators can step forward and say that we need witnesses and documents. And there are 12 or 13 who have never said a bad word about witnesses and documents.

From Lindsey Graham, a top Republican in the Senate

It became mind-numbing after a while.  I got the general point youre trying to make the fourth time you told me. So theyre over-trying their case and I would just urge them to not do that because eventually it gets just hard to follow.

From Democratic Senator Dick Durbin

Lets get this right. This notion of get it done and get out here as fast as we can is not the best approach.

Everybodys bone-weary, I can tell you, just sitting hour after hour after hour. But you know theres a lot of evidence here.

From Republican Senator Mike Braun

Theyre trying to build a circumstantial case for quid pro quo  when there wasnt an actual quid pro quo.  Thats going to be a tough sell. Most folks from where Im from are suspicious of the origin in the first place.

Serious atmosphere in the Senate

The atmosphere in the Senate was serious at the start of House managers presentations on Friday with none of the antics of Republican senators seen previously in the week.

Attendance was strong and most senators appeared to be paying close attention to what House Democrat Adam Schiff and others were saying.

Republican Senator Mitt Romney, who has expressed a potential willingness to join with Democrats in calling witnesses, followed along on paper with a presentation labelled President Trumps Misconduct Harmed Our Nation.

A few who have made up their minds about how they are going to vote seemed preoccupied with other work. Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican, was studying a document and taking side notes from it, only occasionally looking up at the speakers.

Sekulow: We will address Biden in our defence

Trump Lawyer Jay Sekulow said the defence team plans to address Joe Biden and his son Hunter when they give their arguments.

Trumps defenders have argued that Trump was pushing for legitimate investigations into a conflict of interest as Hunter Biden served on the board of a Ukrainian gas company while his father, then the vice president, was tasked with fighting corruption in the country.

[The House managers] opened up the door as wide as a double door on the Hunter Biden, Joe Biden Burisma issue, he said.

I guess they were trying to get ahead of it, but were going to address, he said.

Graham: If shoe were on the other foot Democrats would want investigation into Biden

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said Democrats would be calling for an investigation if Hunter Biden was the son of a Republican official.

If the shoe were on the other footAdam Schiff would be leading the charge for an investigation of what happened, because its bad government, it is a clear conflict of interest, he said.

He added he did not think Joe Biden is corrupt but he has to answer some questions about his son being on the board of a Ukrainian gas company while Biden was tasked with fighting corruption.

Democrats have about five and half hours left on their time

House managers presenting the case for impeachment have so far used about 18 and half hours of their allotted time.

Under the rules resolution passed at the beginning of the trial, the prosecution team had 24 hours over three days to present their case.

So far on Friday, the House managers had used about two and a half hours.

House Managers have 7 hours and 53 minutes remaining for opening oral arguments.  Senate Cloakroom (@SenateCloakroom) January 24, 2020

Schiff: Flattery and propaganda, thats all the Russians needed

Lead House manager Adam Schiff, in closing an increasingly impassioned argument that the president abused his power, said Trump had parroted Russian propaganda in his statements on Russian interference in the 2016 election and by then perpetuating a Russian-spread theory that the meddling actually originated in Ukraine.

Schiff referenced Trumps 2018 comments at the Helsinki summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which he openly questioned US intelligence and appeared to side with Putin.

He called it a pattern.

President Trump solicited interference from Russia as a candidate in 2016 and then his campaign welcomed Russian interference in the election, he said.

Poll: Majority of Americans want new witnesses

A new Washington Post-ABC News poll has found that 66 percent of Americans support the Senate calling more witnesses.

Meanwhile, Americans remain split on whether Trump should have been impeached, with 52 percent in favour of the Houses vote and 45 percent against.

Schiff: We must not become numb to foreign interference in our elections

Lead House manager Adam Schiff said not removing President Trump from office would be corrosive to our elections and our values.

We must not become numb to foreign interference in our elections, Schiff said.

He added that Trumps actions, if unchecked, would set a precedent to future presidents that they too can cheat to attain power and keep it.

That way lies disaster for the great American experiment in self-governance, he said.

House Democratic impeachment manager Adam Schiff gave the final day of arguments for the prosecution on Friday [Jacquelyn Martin/The Associated Press]

Pompeo makes first trip to Ukraine next week

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will visit Ukraine next week, making his first trip to the country at the heart of President Donald Trumps impeachment, likely while the Senate trial is still ongoing.

The State Department announced on Friday that Pompeo would travel to Kyiv as part of a five-nation tour of Europe and Central Asia.

Schiff references Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances

Lead House manager Adam Schiff, in arguing the precarious position of Ukraine, referenced the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances.

Under three identical agreements, the nuclear powers of Russia, the US, and the UK gave assurances that the political sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, Kazakstan and Belarus would be protected. In return, the three countries turned over their nuclear stockpiles.

Russia was considered in breach of the memorandum when it annexed Crimea in 2014.

Crow pre-empts Trump defence argument on military aid hold

House manager Jason Crow combated some defence arguments Trumps legal team is expected to make as the prosecutors finished the last day of their arguments.

In particular, Crow rebutted that military aid was eventually released to Ukraine with no harm, no foul, saying the aid had only been released after Congress launched an investigation.

This defence would be laughable if this issue wasnt so serious, he said.

House impeachment manager Jason Crow speaks during the impeachment trial against President Donald Trump [The Associated Press]

Jeffries: Theres toxic mess at the White House

House manager Hakeem Jeffries said there was a toxic mess at the White House, with the president actively working to cover up his wrongdoing, and its legislators job to clean it up.

The President tried to cheat. He got caught, and then he worked hard to cover it up, Jeffries said.

What else is happening today?

The US has confirmed its second case of a coronavirus that has infected at least 830 people, left 26 dead and has left several Chinese cities on lockdown. Read the latest updates here.

Thousands of Iraqis have heeded the call of an influential Shia cleric and took to the streets of Baghdad to demand the withdrawal of US troops. Read about the most recent protests in Iraq here.

The Palestinian Authority has warned Israel and the US that it would not recognise any Middle East plan it had previously rejected. On Thursday, Trump said he would likely release his long-awaited plan before Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the US capital next week. Catch up on the upcoming visit here.

Passengers wear masks to prevent an outbreak of a new coronavirus in a subway station in Hong Kong [File: Kin Cheung/The Associated Press]

Can Democrats successfully make the case for witnesses?

The Democrats want to hear further testimony from former National Security Adviser John Bolton, White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, White House budget office official Michael Duffey, and top adviser to the White House Chief of Staff Robert Blair.

But first they will have to make the case to Republican senators, and convince at least four that that testimony is needed.

Read more about how likely that is.

Democrats want Former National security adviser John Bolton to testify in the Senate trial. [File: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/The Associated Press]

Trump unhappy his defence will begin in Death Valley in TV

President Donald Trumps defence will begin on Saturday  much to his chagrin.

In a tweet on Friday, Trump said his defence will be forced to start on Saturday, which is called Death Valley in TV.

The Saturday session is expected to be relatively short, with more time used when the trial resumes on the more desirable Monday evening time slot.

After having been treated unbelievably unfairly in the House, and then having to endure hour after hour of lies, fraud & deception by Shifty Schiff, Cryin Chuck Schumer & their crew, looks like my lawyers will be forced to start on Saturday, which is called Death Valley in T.V.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 24, 2020

Trump retweets Senators tweet about Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Vindman

President Donald Trump, who was attending the anti-abortion March for Life rally in the capital, has continued to tweet criticism of the Senate impeachment trial throughout the day.

One of those tweets included a retweet of Senator Marsha Blackburn, who criticised Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Vindman.

Vindman, an army officer assigned to the National Security Council, had testified as part of the House impeachment inquiry.

Blackburns tweet, said to be citing Vindmans commanding officer, described him as a political activist in uniform.

The Do Nothing Democrats just keep repeating and repeating, over and over again, the same old stuff on the Impeachment Hoax. They want to use up ALL of their time, even though it is the wrong thing to do. They ought to go back to work for our great American people!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 24, 2020

Trump also criticised Democrats for wanting to use ALL of their time, even though it is the wrong thing to do.

Senate impeachment trial resumes

Lead House manager Adam Schiff has opened the fifth day of the Senate impeachment trial.

Schiff said today would include House managers finishing their presentation on the abuse of power article of impeachment before presenting their case for obstructing Congress article.

Schumer: It is on the shoulders of four Republican Senators to get witnesses, documents

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urged four Republican Senators to join Democrats in voting to be able to subpoena more witnesses and documents in the Senate impeachment trial.

Will four Republican Senators, just four, rise to the occasion? said Schumer, who spoke to reporters before the start of the fifth day of the trial.

Here are the Senators to watch in the trial.

Graham calls House managers lengthy arguments mind-numbing

Senator Lindsey Graham accused Democratic House managers of over-trying their case shortly before the fifth day of the impeachment trial began in the Senate on Friday.

It became mind-numbing after a while, said Graham, referring to the two days of lengthy argument presented by the House managers.

However, Graham noted the House managers have been very professional, very respectful.

Report: Recording appears to show Trump saying he wants former Ambassador to Ukraine fired

A recording appears to show US President Donald Trump tell associates at a small gathering that he wanted the then US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch fired, according to a report by ABC News, who also reviewed the recording.

That gathering included associates of Trumps personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, who have since been indicted on federal campaign finance fraud. The recording contradicts repeated claims from the president that he does not know Parnas.

The recording appears to capture Parnas and Fruman telling the president that Yovanovitch has been disparaging him.

Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Eliot Engel, said Bolton had told him to look into the removal of former Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch [File: Andrew Harrer/Reuters]

A voice that appears to be Trumps is then heard saying: Get rid of her. The meeting reportedly took place a year before Yovanovitch was removed from office, following what she described as a smear campaign by Giuliani and his associates.

Trump referenced Yovanovitch during his July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which is at the heart of the impeachment inquiry, and was accused of intimidating a witness by tweeting about Yovanovitch as she testified before the House intelligence committee as part of the impeachment inquiry.

Read more about Yovanovitchs testimony in the impeachment inquiry here.

White House reportedly warns GOP senators against crossing Trump

Republican senators have been warned by the White House not to vote against President Donald Trump during the impeachment proceedings, according to a report Friday morning from CBS News.

Vote against the president and your head will be on a pike, the senators have been told, according to the networks chief congressional correspondent, Nancy Cordes, who sourced the threat to a Trump confidant.

Whether the threat applies to a vote in favour of removal from office or merely any procedural questions such as whether to call witnesses or allow for new evidence is unclear.

The votes taken so far, all over procedural issues, have hewed strictly along party lines, with 53 Republicans voting in lockstep with the Republican leadership and 47 Democrats voting in opposition.

Trump starts morning, again, with impeachment tweets

Trump began the fifth day of the impeachment proceedings against him by again tweeting, this time derision for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and praise for his biggest Republican defenders.

Cryin Chuck never had what it takes, and never will! he tweeted along with an article about Democrats attempts to be able to call more witnesses in the trial.

Jim is great! he wrote in another post, referring to Republican representative Jim Jordan, who has been one of the most vocal defenders of the president.

On Wednesday, the second day of opening arguments in the trial, Trump broke his record for the most tweets or retweets in a single day while in office, according to Factba.se, a service that compiles and analyses data on Trumps presidency.

Who is on Trumps defence team?

Trumps defence team will likely begin their arguments on Saturday.

Like the House managers, they will be given 24 hours over three days to lay out their defence.

Read more about the key players in the trial here.

Who are the House managers?

The House of Representatives appointed seven Democrats to make their case against Trump, which they will conclude on Friday. They were granted 24 hours over three days to lay it all out.

Read more about them here.

What happened to the debate about more witnesses, documents?

Tuesdays ruling on the rules resolution has relegated the debate over whether more witnesses or documents can be subpoenaed after the arguments by the House managers and Trumps defence time. It is likely to happen some time next week.

Despite attempts by Democrats, the Senate will first vote generally on whether new witnesses or documents can be subpoenaed. If that passes, they will then vote on specific cases.

The Democrats want to hear from former National Security Adviser John Bolton, White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, White House budget office official Michael Duffey, and top adviser to the White House Chief of Staff Robert Blair.

Meanwhile, Republicans have suggested a swap, with Joe and Hunter Biden testifying in exchange for Democrats desired witnesses. Democrats have largely resisted the prospect of the Bidens testifying.

Read more about the rules resolution here.

Fidget spinners, possible naps and book reading: How senators pass the time

Press covering the impeachment trial has highlighted how senators are passing the lengthy proceedings, which are only part of many of the legislators punishing schedules.

Because only government cameras have been allowed onto the Senate floor, many of the time-passing techniques have escaped the public eye, but media have documented instances of senators playing with fidget spinners, reading books and appearing to take power naps to get through the proceedings.

Some senators have also begun to flout the strict rules for a Senate impeachment trial, which include no pacing, note-passing, working on other matters or talking.

In this artist sketch, Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Bernie Sanders, flanked by Senator Ben Cardin and Senator Tammy Baldwin, listens during the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump [Dana Verkouteren/AP Photo]

What happened on Thursday?

On Thursday, House managers focused on the abuse of power article of impeachment against Trump, which says the president misused his authority to pressure Ukraine into the politically motivated investigation of former Vice President Bidens son, Hunter.

The House managers argued that a crime did not need to be committed for the president to abuse his power, and cited previous comments by Attorney General Bill Barr, Trump defence team lawyer Alan Dershowitz, and Trump ally Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. They also spent a good deal of time arguing that there is no evidence the Bidens acted improperly in Ukraine  pre-empting a likely argument from the presidents defence team.

Read more about Thursdays proceedings here.

What happened at the start of the trial?

The trial began last week, with the swearing-in of Chief Justice John Roberts, who is constitutionally required to preside over the trial. Roberts then swore in the 100-member US Senate.

On Tuesday, the second day of the trial but the first full day of proceedings, the Senate voted along partisan lines to approve Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells rules resolution after nearly 12 hours of debate. Meanwhile, 11 amendments introduced by Democrats were blocked. Read more about what happened here.

Then on Wednesday, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, the lead House manager in the trial, began the presentation of the case against Trump by laying out the timeline of his alleged pressure campaign on Ukraine. Read more about Wednesdays proceedings here.
Newark, NJ, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global In-Mold Labels market is expected to grow from USD 5.56 Billion in 2018 to USD 8.78 Billion by 2026 at a CAGR of 5.9% during the forecast period 2019-2026, according to the new report published by Fior Markets. Growing demand for packaged foods & beverages and rising demand for labels providing efficient brand recognition to product are the two factors affecting the demand of the market. Also, increasing demand for environment-friendly labels is another factor propelling the growth of the market.

In-mold labeling (IML) is defined as the process to fuse high-quality graphic images on plastic containers while molding. It involves printing high-quality in-mold labels at comparatively low prices. This technology gives additional advantages such as waterproof, transparent, and permanent molded labels. Some of the major end-use applications benefited are household, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, paint, and cosmetic containers. In-mold labeling is adopted by several industries to improve brand image at points of sale. It is widely accepted as a creative solution for custom projects.

Increasing awareness among consumers regarding sustainable labels and their pace of adopting products is one of the biggest factors that led to the increase in the demand of in-mold labels. But rise in prices of raw materials may pose a major threat to the product.

DOWNLOAD FREE SAMPLE REPORT AT https://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/407154/request-sample

Key players operating in the global In-mold Labels market include are Mepco, Avery Dennison Corp., Century Label, Allen Plastic, Ameri Seal, Color Craft Label Company, Fort Dearborn, CCL Industries Inc., Gilbreth, Holostik India Limited, Color Flex, Bemis Company Inc., Anchor Packaging, Classic Label, Label World, Bothra Industries, MCC Label, Ameet Metaplast, Consolidated Label, and Axon. Other keys players influencing the global market are Wepackit, Karlville Development, LLC, Sovereign Labelling System, Hammer Packaging, The Dow Chemical Company, Printpack, Edwards Label, ShrinkSleeveLabels, MRI Packaging, Smyth Companies among others. To enhance their market position in the global In-mold Labels market, the key players are now focusing on adopting strategies such as product innovations, mergers & acquisitions, recent developments, joint venture, collaborations, and partnership.

The polypropylene segment is dominating the market with the highest share of 48.90% in 2018

The material segment is segmented into polypropylene, polyvinylchloride, ABS resins, and others. The polypropylene segment is dominating the market in 2018. Polypropylene is one of the vital labeling materials due of its effective moisture-resistant properties. It is used in in-mold labeling of various consumer and industrial products such as foods, bar code labels, and retail labels.

The injection molding process segment valued around USD 2.59 Billion in 2018

The technology segment is segmented into extrusion blow-molding process, injection molding process, thermoforming and others. The injection molding process segment is dominating the market with the highest share in 2018. Many of the in-mold labels are used in injection molding applications as they help in providing a three-dimensional effect to the labels on various products such as food & beverages, cosmetics, and automotive part.

The food & beverage segment is dominating the market with the highest share of 44.50% in 2018

The end use segment is segmented into personal care, automotive, food & beverage, consumer durables and others. The food & beverage segment is dominating the market with the highest share in 2018. The rising consumer awareness about the trends related to packaged food and the growing consumption of containers and bottled packaging.

The UV curable inks segment is growing with the highest CAGR of 40.70% in the 2018

The printing ink segment is segmented into UV curable inks, water soluble inks, thermal-cure inks and others. The UV curable inks segment is growing with the highest market share in 2018. The chemical-and abrasion-resistant properties possessed by UV-curable inks helps in in-mold labelling process as it is carried out under high temperatures.

The flexographic printing segment is dominating the market with the highest share of 41.60% in 2018

The printing technology segment is segmented into flexographic printing, offset printing, gravure printing, digital printing and others. The flexographic printing is dominating the market in 2018. This printing technology allows printing on a wide variety of both porous and nonporous surfaces making it easier to mold various kinds of polymers.

Browse full report with TOC at https://www.fiormarkets.com/report/in-mold-labels-market-by-technology-hardware-software-material-407154.html

Regional Segment Analysis of the In-Mold Labels Market

North America (U.S. , Canada, Mexico)

Europe (Germany, France, U.K., Italy, Spain, Rest of the Europe)

Asia-Pacific (China, Japan India, Rest of APAC)

South America (Brazil and Rest of South America)

Middle East and Africa (UAE, South Africa, Rest of MEA)

Europe region dominated the global in-mold labels market with USD 2.40 Billion in 2018 where as the North America region is growing rapidly in the market. Europe region is dominating the market due to the growing end-use applications such as industrial packaging and FMCG products. Increasing financial stability positively impacts the in-mold labels market in this region. Also, high demand for in-mold labels from Germany and France due to developing manufacturing sector is anticipated to foster the growth of the market in this region. North America is anticipated to grow owing to presence of key players in the market and the changing government policies about sustainable labels which has positively impacted the performance of the in-mold labels market.

About the report:

The global In-Mold Labels market is analysed on the basis of value (USD billion). All the segments have been analyzed on global, regional and country basis. The study includes the analysis of more than 30 countries for each segment. The report offers in-depth analysis of driving factors, opportunities, restraints, and challenges for gaining the key insight of the market. The study includes porters five forces model, attractiveness analysis, raw material analysis, supply, demand analysis, competitor position grid analysis, distribution and marketing channels analysis.

For Instant Purchase: https://www.fiormarkets.com/checkout.html?reportid=407154&type=single

Customization of the Report:

The report can be customized as per client requirements. For further queries, you can contact us on sales@fiormarkets.com or +1-201-465-4211. Our executives will be pleased to understand your requirements and offer you the best-suited reports.

About Fior Markets

Fior Markets is a futuristic market intelligence company, helping customers flourish their business strategies and make better decisions using actionable intelligence. With transparent information pool, we meet clients objectives, commitments on high standard and targeting possible prospects for SWOT analysis and market research reports. Fior Markets deploys a wide range of regional and global market intelligence research reports including industries like technology, pharmaceutical, consumer goods, food and beverages, chemicals, media, materials and many others. Our Strategic Intelligence capabilities are purposely planned to boost your business extension and elucidate the vigor of diverse industry. We hold distinguished units of highly expert analysts and consultants according to their respective domains. The global market research reports we provide involve both qualitative and quantitative analysis of current market scenario as per the geographical regions segregated and comprehensive performance in different regions with global approach. In addition, our syndicated research reports offer a packaged guide to keep companies abreast of the upcoming major restyle in their domains. Fior Markets facilitates clients with research analysis that are customized to their exact requirements, specifications and challenges, whether it is comprehensive desk research, survey work, composition of multiple methods, in-detailed interviewing or competitive intelligence. Our research experts are experienced in matching the exact personnel and methodology to your business need.

Contact Us

Avinash D

Head of Business Development

Phone: +1-201-465-4211

Email: sales@fiormarkets.com

Web: www.fiormarkets.com

















To Read Top Industries Reports, Visit our Affiliated Website: https://marketandresearch.biz



Related Reports

Global Starch Based Edible Coatings Market - https://www.fiormarkets.com/report/starch-based-edible-coatings-market-by-source-corn-385948.html

Global Superconductor Market - https://www.fiormarkets.com/report/superconductor-market-by-applications-magnetic-resonance-imaging-research-385949.html

Global Synthetic Lubricants Market - https://www.fiormarkets.com/report/synthetic-lubricants-market-by-type-polyalphaolefin-esters-polyalkylene-385950.html

Global Tantalum Sputtering Target Market - https://www.fiormarkets.com/report/tantalum-sputtering-target-market-by-type-low-purity-385951.html
Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston had an extremely high-profile marriage and divorce. They began dating in 1998 and got married in 2000. However, their relationship came to an end just a few years after tying the knot.

Since their divorce, the media has been filled with stories about Pitt and Aniston having bad blood with each other. However, the reality is that Pitt seems to have always cared a lot about Aniston, despite what happened between them. In fact, he proved this with a sweet gesture a few years ago.

How Brad Pitt and Jennifer Anistons marriage came to an end

Brad Pitt | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Pitt and Aniston were two of the biggest stars in the late 1990s early 2000s, and their marriage reportedly ended when another Hollywood starlet entered the picture.

Fans speculated that Pitt fell in love with Angelina Jolie on the set of his 2005 movie Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Jolie actually admitted that she and Pitt definitely became close while shooting the film, but she had always insisted that he did not cheat on Aniston.

Aniston also later shared that she and Pitt simply grew apart and decided it was best to go their separate ways.

She once told Elle that she thought the marriage was successful, even if it ended in a divorce. The actress said of their breakup: It was a choice that was made because we chose to be happy, and sometimes happiness didnt exist within that arrangement anymore.

Brad Pitt showed Jennifer Aniston he still cares with a sweet gesture

After the divorce, Pitt and Aniston did not talk much with one another. However, that all changed in 2016 when he reached out to Aniston after the death of her estranged mother, actress Nancy Dow.

Brad contacted Jen after her mom died, and she was touched that he knew what a difficult time it was, a source shared with Us Weekly. They have each others cell phone number and communicate from time to time. This is nothing new. Jen and [Brad] have remained friendly.

Additionally, Pitt and Aniston have been able to mend their rift because Pitt apologized to Aniston for his mistakes during their divorce.

According to an insider, Pitt had always felt like he could have handled the end of their marriage in a more thoughtful manner, and the actor reached out to Aniston for forgiveness a long time ago.

Although another shared that it took Aniston a while to heal, she eventually forgave him and the two of them can now maintain a cordial relationship with one another.

Will Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston get back together?

 EXCLUSIVE  Brad Pitt stopped everything backstage to watch Jennifer Aniston's acceptance speech at the #SAGAwards. Wow guysit really has been our day, our week, our month, and even our year. https://t.co/m7r01pojsC pic.twitter.com/th9sm1js4D  E! News (@enews) January 20, 2020

With Pitt and Aniston being on good terms now, there are no doubt many fans who wish that the two stars would think about reigniting their flame again.

In fact, Pitt has been attending quite a few events thrown by Aniston, and a source has revealed that Pitt and Anistons current relationship seems rather flirtatious to some close friends.

Brad and Jen have a wonderful connection that might seem flirtatious at times, the insider shared, They dig each others sense of humor and have an infectious energy when theyre together, but they insist things are purely platonic and nothing more than that.

Despite these reports, insiders do not believe that Aniston and Pitt will get back together anytime soon. It looks like the pair are just happy to be friends and share a history together, and they are not rushing into anything romantic at the moment. Of course, whether anything will change in the future remains to be seen.
Benny Gantz, the leader of Israel's Blue and White party and the main political opponent to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is considering turning down President Trumps invitation to come to Washington next week to discuss the U.S. Israeli-Palestinian peace plan.

The big picture: Blue and White officials tell me Gantz and his aides are concerned the invitation to Washington is a political trap orchestrated by Netanyahu a little more than a month before the country's elections on March 2.

Gantz met this morning with his party leadership to discuss whether he should reject Trumps invitation.

The officials added that there was great concern in the meeting that going to Washington could do more harm than good and leave Gantz humiliated politically.

The state of play: Gantz was upset by the Vice President Pence's statement Thursday that said the White House was acting according to Netanyahu's recommendations when it invited him to Washington, according to the officials.

Gantz and his aides were also unhappy with the White House statement which said Trump invited Netanyahu "to the White House" while merely inviting Gantz "to Washington."

That's led to fears among Blue and White officials that Netanyahu would get a meeting with Trump and a big ceremony around the peace plan  while Gantz would get a lower-level meeting that would make him look "like a second fiddle."

Why it matters: Gantz is stuck between a rock and a hard place with his decision.

Accepting the invitation and coming to Washington when the main talks will be between Trump and Netanyahu could portray him as a fifth wheel  or worse, a cheerleader for Netanyahus foreign policy.

Rejecting the invitation could insult Trump, inciting retaliation from the president, and portray Gantz as a politician who cant handle the relationship with Israel's most important ally.

What he's saying: Gantz spoke today with U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and told him that  although he generally supports the peace plan and will welcome it publicly once it is presented  he thinks the going to Washington on an uneven basis with Netanyahu could harm him in the elections.

According to sources briefed on the call, Friedman told Gantz that there was no political motivation behind the White House actions and that he will most likely will get a meeting with Trump.

What's next: Blue and White officials said they want to hear more details from the White House about the plan for the visit before they make a final decision.

Gantz is expected to give a statement Saturday to announce both his decision and his position on Trump's peace plan.

Go deeper: Gantz changes course, calls on Trump to release Middle East peace plan
Migrating to Prison: America's Obsession With Locking Up Migrants

by Cesar Cuauhtemoc Garcia Hernandez

The New Press. 208 pp. $24.99

---

"Migrating to Prison" reads like a dispatch from the maelstrom of U.S. immigration policy. Its author, Cesar Cuauhtemoc Garcia Hernandez, is like a reporter on hurricane duty, leaning into the wind while bands of chaos and destruction sweep the land.

His subject is immigration detention, whose obscene growth in the United States he illuminates and deplores. Garcia Hernandez, a law professor at the University of Denver, also publishes a blog called Crimmigration. The coinage enfolds this book's argument: Too many immigrants are being locked up like criminals, and no one - not even criminals - should be treated this way. Free them all. Give them lawyers and social workers and free them all.

Really? Yes. Garcia Hernandez is making a case that would have been far-fetched when Barack Obama was president and is delivering it to President Trump, who has abandoned all sense of lenity, humanity and justice when dealing with people who want to enter our gates, especially brown ones from poor countries. Dehumanization and violence have marked the administration's assault on immigration: taking children from their parents, brutalizing asylum seekers, fatally neglecting sick and vulnerable detainees.

Free them? How about just not kill them?

But detention abolition is Garcia Hernandez's dream, and he is sticking with it, into the teeth of the present immigration calamity. He begins with the history. Back when America was smaller and more improvisatory, foreigners could more or less walk in, especially you, Mr. Northern European Man. Eventual citizenship was little more than a formality, and hardly anybody went to prison merely for being a foreign transplant. But things changed after our first century, and immigration incarceration became a tool used against the Chinese, then certain Europeans, then people in our hemisphere - Cubans, Haitians, Mexicans and, most recently, Central Americans.

Garcia Hernandez depicts a country continually adjusting its immigration policies on the fly, toggling between two ugly impulses: exploitation (Get to work) and xenophobia (Now get out). Chinese laborers were welcome until the railroads were done and the racists had their way. Pearl Harbor was horrible news for Japanese Americans but an opportunity for Mexican men who entered by the thousands to work the fields while our boys fought overseas. No sense locking up migrants when you need them to pick onions.

America's treatment of immigrants has been erratic, but Garcia Hernandez argues that its arc has long bent toward injustice. Especially in the past three decades, when the detention "obsession" he is talking about took hold.

Note the long time frame. Just as Walter White of "Breaking Bad" didn't invent meth, Trump is not the original immigrant brutalizer. He has just deployed the machinery he inherited in a more lethal and reprehensible way, distilled to purest cruelty.

Garcia Hernandez outlines the history that gave Trump his xenophobe's toolbox. A 1996 law signed by President Bill Clinton redefined "aggravated felonies" and became the pretext for locking up ever more immigrants for minor crimes. Militarized border security and the conflation of immigration with criminality flourished under Presidents George W. Bush and Obama, still the reigning deporter in chief. Obama tried to out-harsh the Republicans to win their support for immigration reform, a cruel-to-be-kind approach that was embraced and echoed over the years by Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and other establishment Democrats.

In the Obama years, the federal government conscripted local law enforcement in its immigrant dragnet, empowering monsters like Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who terrorized Latinos in Arizona for years with lawless policing and brutal imprisonment. Obama's administration worked with Arpaio. Trump pardoned him. He is a bloodstain on both their reputations.

Garcia Hernandez is an absolutist, for whom no form of denying free movement to immigrants is acceptable. He thus sees the intolerable everywhere. Buses carrying people to detention centers are "prisons on wheels." Steamships that didn't let migrants disembark until they were inspected for entry were the first (floating) immigrant prisons. Ellis Island, that sentimental gateway, was also a prison, and so of course is today's archipelago of lockups - federal, local and privately run - that confine immigrants by the tens of thousands across the country.

"Migrating to Prison" is a long indictment that unfortunately reads like one. It's a lumpy digest of citations from news reports and other sources meant to show that immigration prisons don't do what politicians claim they do. They don't deter unchecked migration, eliminate predators or punish evildoers. They profit no one but the private prison corporations that feast upon our fears. They destroy untold lives, especially traumatized families fleeing here for asylum, who fit no rational definition of criminals or undesirables.

Garcia Hernandez is right about these things. But his book is still disappointing. It's too pedestrian for a moral exhortation. It's a song for the choir that reads like a memo, stating with flat affect how America has lost its way. We live in an era of caged children, of shattered families and suicidal parents. The administration's Orwellian "migrant protection" policy has pushed thousands of asylum seekers to the wrong side of the border, desperately waiting just beyond the threshold of safety, vulnerable to kidnapping and murder. Activist doctors who try to bring flu shots to detainees are blocked and threatened with arrest.

Lady Liberty's lamp is guttering. This is the horrifying truth of our day, rendered dutifully but bloodlessly in this book.

I wish Garcia Hernandez had read some of his sentences after typing them. Some lines can almost flicker into focus if you read them a few times: "Rhetorical fights over what is best to use as a marker of undesirability misses [sic] the point that everything about drawing lines around some people - figuratively and literally - is rife with complications and unintended consequences."

I'm not sure what he means there. Nor do I know what he wants us to do.

I wish the author had attached more solutions to his diagnosis, instead of just an epigraph from James Baldwin ("the impossible is the least that one can demand") and a shrug. He relies heavily on the radical thinker Angela Davis in arguing for prison abolition but has no map for how to get there.

Two-thirds of the way through, he admits it: "I don't pretend to have a step-by-step plan for getting from a policy that imprisons half a million migrants annually to one that ensnares zero." But he says he doesn't like ankle bracelets and other jail alternatives "that reek of punishment."

By avoiding the step-by-step business, he ducks some difficult questions. How could this country eliminate its bloodsucking private-prison industry? How do we keep migrants safe while we wait for the prison walls to tumble down? How would wide-open asylum be managed? And isn't there a way to defend immigrants' dignity and right to be here more strongly than "We are all a mixed bag"?

That sad phrase is Garcia Hernandez's way of asking that lawbreaking immigrants never be locked up. "We need to stop demanding that migrants be exceptional and instead embrace their ordinariness," he says. It's true enough. "We should dream," he says. He's right. But it's hard to see how this adds up to a strategy to upend federal policy on immigrant detention. I look forward to his next book showing us a clearer way to escape the present nightmare.

---

Downes, a writer and editor in New York, covered immigration and politics for the New York Times editorial board from 2004 to 2017.
Director Remo DSouzas ambitious dance drama, Street Dancer 3D, hit the screens on Friday worldwide. The director took to Instagram to share huge posters of the films lead star cast, Varun Dhawan and Shraddha Kapoor, adorning the iconic Times Square in New York.

Street Dancer 3D posters in New York.

Sharing the pictures, he wrote: Now this is something I never imagined coz a month back when me and @lizelleremodsouza were at #timessquare she said if you want to give me something very spl then make sure once in lifetime your poster should be on this square, and I promised her I will do it , but so soon ? I never ever thought:))) so thank you @bhushankumar @lizelleremodsouza @varundvn @shraddhakapoor @norafatehi @dharmesh0011 @punitjpathakofficial @raghavjuyal @sushi1983 @iamkrutimahesh @rahuldid @salmanyusuffkhan @yusuf20khan and #team #streetdancer3d for making my this #DREAM come true.

Remo spoke about a conversation with his wife Lizelle where she had expressed a desire for a gift; that being a poster of Remos film on Times Square. Remo had promised that he would try. However, the ABCD director expressed happiness with an element of shock as he didnt expect to happen so soon.

While Varun plays an Indian in London, Shraddhas character Inayat is from Pakistan. The arch rivals clash again but this time on the streets of London and via dance. Speaking about his character Sahej, Varun had said that late social media star Danish was the one who inspired Sahej.

Also read: Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya are parents of bride Katrina Kaif in new shoot, share pics with Nagarjuna, Shivraj Kumar, Prabhu

The actor had shared a photo of the late Danish along with a picture of himself to show the similarity of the look. In the post, Varun also tagged his stylist Aalim Hakim who created his look for the film, and gave credit to director Remo DSouza for suggesting the get-up.

Varun captioned: The handsome DANISH was the inspiration for SAHEJs look in #streetdancer. Danish is no more and is in a better place but is loved by so many so I thought I should share this so people should know that he even inspired us. @remodsouza sir suggested this look and @aalimhakim bhai executed it superbly. Love and respect #danish.

(With IANS inputs)

Follow @htshowbiz for more
(Bloomberg) -- House prosecutors expanded their case against President Donald Trump on his impeachment trials second day, arguing his actions to withhold military aid to Ukraine and block a congressional inquiry were clear violations under the U.S. Constitution.

No president has ever used his office to compel a foreign nation to help him cheat in our elections, Representative Jerrold Nadler of New York, one of the seven House impeachment managers, told the Senate.

When Congress began examining his conduct, Nadler said, Trump engaged in an unprecedented stonewalling of the inquiry that puts even President Nixon to shame.

Nadler and the other impeachment managers urged senators to see the trial as a crucial test of Congresss willingness to restrain a president dramatically tilting the balance of power toward the executive. They stressed the Constitution leaves it entirely at the discretion senators to decide whether Trumps actions are high crimes and misdemeanors, rejecting claims by Trumps side that a statutory criminal act is needed.

Members of the presidents defense team say theyre gearing up for a vigorous defense of Trumps assertion of power and his actions regarding Ukraine when they get their turn beginning Saturday.

White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said Thursday that Trump is very pleased with how the trial is going and is eager to prove hes done nothing wrong.

Were looking forward to the chance when we get to lay out our case, the attorneys are excited by that, and theyre going to attack it on that front, and release that evidence, prove once and for all that this whole thing is illegitimate, its a sham, Gidley told reporters.

Trump, speaking Thursday night at the Republican National Committee winter meeting at his Miami resort, derided the case being argued by Democrats as impeachment light according to three people who heard his remarks. He told the crowd that Democrats had been planning an impeachment trial since he won election.

Story continues

Trumps acquittal is all but assured in a Senate that Republicans control, 53-47, and some members of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells leadership team say they are confident that enough Republicans will stay united against calls by Senate Democrats for more witnesses and documents to assure a speedy end to the trial.

Ukraine Aid

The heart of the Democrats impeachment case is the accusation that Trump withheld military aid to pressure the new government in Ukraine to announce an investigation related to Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden, who had served on the board of a Ukrainian energy company, to help his re-election campaign.

Prior presidents would be shocked to the core by such conduct, and rightly so, Nadler said during Thursdays presentation. Now, because President Trump has largely failed to convince the country that his conduct was remotely acceptable, he has adopted a fall-back position. He argues that even if we disapprove of his misconduct we cannot remove him for it. Frankly, that argument is itself terrifying.

One building block used by prosecutors in any trial is a discussion of motive. A central part of Representative Sylvia Garcia presentation on Thursday was the question of why Trump would want Ukraine to announce an investigation that would entangle Joe Biden and his son, which she called the corrupt object of his scheme.The answer, she said, was that the former vice president had entered the Democratic presidential race and polls showed he would be Trumps strongest challenger in the 2020 election.It wasnt until Biden began beating him in polls that he called for the investigation, Garcia said. He had the motive, he had the opportunity and the means to commit this abuse of power.With some Republicans calling for Biden to testify, Garcia also sought to puncture the allegation he had improperly intervened with Ukrainian officials to halt an investigation of an Burisma Holdings where Hunter Biden served on the board. In fact, she said, there was no probe of Burisma under way when U.S. joined calls by the European Union, the International Monetary Fund for Ukrainian Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin to be removed.There is simply no evidence, nothing, nada, in their record to support this baseless allegation, Garcia said.

But, Garcia said, The mere announcement of such an investigation would immediately tarnish the former vice presidents reputation by embroiling him and his son in a foreign criminal investigation, even if the charges were never pursued.

Witness Debate

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer praised the House managers who are setting the bar very high, and he said pressure is Republicans to join Democrats to subpoena witnesses and more documents. Democrats need just four Republicans to join them in that demand, and three -- Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitt Romney of Utah -- already said they are likely to do so.

The same Republicans who said they heard nothing new, voted nine times on Tuesday to hear nothing new, Schumer said in reference to Tuesdays procedural votes.

Democrats are continuing to press for the introduction of witnesses later in the trial after Republicans rejected attempts to settle the question before the proceedings got underway. That battle will be fought anew after Trumps team delivers their defense and senators submit questions.

Make no mistake about the issue of relevant evidence -- documents and witnesses -- is going to come back up, Schumer said.

While some Republicans are broaching the idea of a trade on witnesses for both sides -- calling Hunter Biden in exchange for testimony from former White House National Security Adviser John Bolton -- Republican leaders insisted they will ultimately get the votes to prevent any more evidence.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer shot down the idea of any trades on witness lists. However it would only take 51 votes in the Senate to call any witness once the decision is made to hear new testimony.

It does seem to me that at the end of that most senators will be pretty well well informed on which way they are going to vote and arent going to need any additional information, said Senator John Barrasso, a Wyoming Republican and the No. 3 GOP leader. He said some senators want the information not to inform their votes but for political purposes.

(Updates with Trump remarks to RNC in eighth paragraph)

--With assistance from Laura Davison, Mike Dorning, Josh Wingrove, Erik Wasson and Jennifer Jacobs.

To contact the reporters on this story: Laura Litvan in Washington at llitvan@bloomberg.net;Billy House in Washington at bhouse5@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Joe Sobczyk at jsobczyk@bloomberg.net, Anna Edgerton

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
WASHINGTON - It was 30 degrees on Wednesday night, and David Putney said it was one of his best evenings in a long time.

Dressed in a padded, mustard-yellow full-body jumpsuit he used to wear when he worked in construction, he was still cold. And he asked whether we could stand above a sidewalk grate to talk. It was about 20 degrees warmer in the cloud of dank grate air.

On HoustonChronicle.com: After homelessness in Houston, Those who spent time on the streets struggle to adjust to life indoors

He had just endured an intimate 10-minute interrogation from one of the volunteers who fanned out across the city in the annual ritual of trying to count the Americans experiencing homelessness on a single night.

"What is your sexual orientation, sir?" the volunteer asked.

"Huh?" said Putney, 64.

"Are you straight? Bi?" she said.

"Oh. Straight. I'm straight," he replied. And he went on through more questions about abuse, addiction, disease - a comprehensive survey to understand more about the homeless population. When he was done, the volunteers gave him a $10 gift card to McDonald's for his time. And they even got one of the counselors he has worked with - at 11:30 at night - on the phone to talk with him.

"This makes me feel like I'm not forgotten," he said.

But this column isn't going to be all about Putney or guys like him.

The folks sleeping in cardboard boxes, tents and sleeping bags on streets don't have to answer all the questions Putney answered. Some get hostile about the interrogation. Some just wave the questions away. And I was most surprised that plenty of them - sometimes 50% of an encampment - refuse to be counted.

So let's talk about the ones we don't see.

Counting the real number of people experiencing homelessness is difficult. There are the folks like Putney, or the residents of the sprawling tent city in a gentrifying part of town who were recently moved out.

They want to be seen, helped, remembered.

But there is also an elusive, vulnerable population in the homeless community that wasn't counted in the nationwide January survey. They hide, they fudge the truth, they get off the bus at random stops, walk two extra blocks and never hang out with their better-off friends after school. They're homeless kids.

And they are gravely undercounted, according to some folks who are trying to change that.

"The situations we hear about are really unsafe - a small child sleeping on a couch, a child sleeping on the floor, Mom's staying with a bad boyfriend," said Cara Baldari, who works on family economics for First Focus on Children, a D.C.-based nonprofit group.

The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development released numbers last month trumpeting a 5% decrease in the number of homeless families with kids since 2018 and a 32% drop since 2010. The folks at First Focus say that's baloney.

They contend the number is actually 27 times what HUD says. And that's not just coming from a bunch of big-hearted social-services softies. The much higher number comes from another federal agency - the Education Department, which counts homeless kids attending public schools.

This brings us back to that cold night this week and why we met guys like Putney.

The folks living in tents and boxes and warming themselves on the grates are counted in the nationwide Point in Time count. It happens on a night in January in cities across the nation. That is the number that HUD uses - paired with the number of folks checked into shelters that same night - to issue its official count.

It becomes the standard most of America uses when talking about homelessness.

Kids who aren't in shelters are rarely on the streets. They're tucked away on other people's couches or floors, in a car or sleeping in a mother's arms on an all-night bus or train.

Moms might pool together their cash to get a cheap motel room for a night so all the kids will be inside. "We saw one room with 12 kids in it," one counselor told me.

I talked to a young woman who experienced homelessness for most of her childhood.

For subscribers: On Sundays, charities flock to feed and clothe Houston's homeless. What they really need is housing

She slept on friends' floors, hooked up with older men so she could stay with them, lived like she was in her 20s when she was only a young teen. But no statistic ever showed her as homeless. She didn't tell counselors, teachers or friends.

"We got kicked out when I was 11, maybe 12," said the woman, who is now 21, in her own apartment and working as a teaching aide. Seeking a clean slate, she asked that I not use her name. "It was either me in one room in a shelter with my brothers, my mom and her boyfriend, or me on my own."

So where do all the kids who have no place to call home at night go during the day? School.

While HUD said it counted 114, 829 homeless kids younger than 18, the Education Department reported 1.3 million homeless children in public schools during the same time in the 2016-2017 school year. That's the number 27 times the HUD estimate.

And what makes it worse? The Education Department's numbers have grown 10% over two years.

So why does this matter?

It goes beyond the outrage of seeing a government claiming success when we're actually failing American children.

The real crisis is about money. The HUD numbers determine assistance, housing and programs. If the numbers are low, the need for affordable housing looks low. See how the crisis snowballs?

There is legislation to address this - the bipartisan Homeless Children and Youth Act (H.R. 2001). Which, of course, is held up in Congress.

It's a complicated bill, but mostly it would amend an existing act to fix the HUD count and expand the definition of homelessness. Because a kid who sleeps on a floor one night, on a bus the next and doubled up in a friend's shelter bed another night isn't considered homeless in the government's eyes. This bill would change that.

Thanks to the conversation on that cold night, the District of Columbia government knows about Putney, the guy sleeping outside on a sidewalk near the White House. They know what he needs, who he is and what his circumstances are.

But that night, there were thousands of kids across America who don't have a home, a room or a bed to call their own, and who stayed invisible to the rest of the country.

It's time to find better ways to see them.
Bank Strike on 16 and 17 December: List of Banks which are closed

Bank strike: SBI warns customers, says branches, ATM services may be impacted

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

New Delhi, Jan 24: Bank employees' unions have called for a two-day nationwide bank strike on January 31 and February 1. As a result of this strike, normal banking services and ATMs are likely to be get affected. Services like net banking are unlikely to get affected. The timing of this bank strike is also important because it coincides with Budget day 2020.

This would be the second bank strike this month, after the first one was observed along with Bharat Bandh on January 8.

The country's largest lender SBI also said that its operations may be impacted to some extent due to the proposed two-day nationwide strike beginning January 31.

The bank has, however, made all arrangements to ensure normal functioning in its branches and offices, the State Bank of India (SBI) said in a filing to the BSE.

Bank strike for 2 days from January 31, coincides with Budget day

"While Bank has made all arrangements to ensure normal functioning in its branches and offices, it is likely that work in our Bank may be impacted to some extent by the strike," the filing said.

Bank strike on January 31 and February 1 was called after talks over wage revision failed to make headway with the Indian Banks' Association (IBA).

"We have been advised by IBA that United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) which constitutes 9 major unions...has given a call for an all India strike by Bank employees on 31st January and 1st February 2020," the filing said.

The UFBU constitutes All India Bank Employees' Association, All India Bank Officers' Confederation, National Confederation of Bank Employees, All India Bank Officers' Association, Bank Employees Federation of India, Indian National Bank Employees Federation, Indian National Bank Officers' Congress, National Organisation Of Bank Workers and National Organisation of Bank Officers.

What to expect?

The strike would mainly impact banking services availed at the branches like cash deposits and cash withdrawal, cheque clearances and issuance of demand drafts, among others. Hence, bank customers should make sure that they deposit/withdraw cash for any urgent needs by 30 January.

Also, before issuing or receiving cheques, keep in mind that the two-day break may result in them taking considerably longer time to get cleared.

Inter/intra-bank money transfer transactions initiated through branches will also be affected. Hence, customers are advised to use internet banking and phone banking for such services.

Bharat Bandh: Bank services to be hit; what will be open, what is closed

Customers can transfer or receive money online through RTGS, NEFT, IMPS and UPI transfers.

So keep your credit/debit cards handy making online payments for shopping or bill payments. Alternatively, customers can also use digital wallets like Paytm, Google Pay, Mobikwik, PhonePe and others.

It should be noted that the January 8 bank strike was successful in several parts of the country as scores of bank employees abstained from work.
A statue of Dravidian icon and rationalist leader Periyar EV Ramasamy was vandalised at Kaliyapettai village near Uthiramerur town in Kancheepuram district on Friday. According to the police, the face and hand of the statue, erected at the main thoroughfare, was found damaged early in the morning.

It was later covered with a white cloth by the cops.

But as soon as the news of the incident spread, tension gripped the area and the police deployed pickets as a precautionary measure to avert any flare-up.

The police suspect involvement of a fringe group, probably in retaliation of the protests by pro-Dravidian outfits demanding an apology from the Tamil actor Rajinikanth for his comments on Periyar. The protesters claimed the actor denigrated the social reformer.

Speaking at the 50th anniversary event of Thuglak magazine, founded by political commentator Cho Ramaswamy, Rajinikanth had accused Periyar of disrespecting Hindu gods at a rally in 1971.

In 1971, Periyar led an anti-superstition procession in Salem, parading the portraits of Sri Ramachandramoorthy (Ram) and Sita, without dress and slipper garlands. No one had the courage to report that. And, it was Cho, editor of Thuglak, who published them, the actor had said, triggering a wave of protests by Dravidian outfits who demanded an apology from him.

Rajinikath, however, refused to budge, making it clear that he will not apologise. I have said only what I have heard and read, was his response.

The actor got a minor relief from Madras High Court when a petition against him over the remarks was dismissed as withdrawn.

When the petitioner and Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam (DVK) secretay Umapathy sought a direction to the police to file a case on the complaint against the filmstar, Justice P Rajamanickam said the petition should not even have been numbered. The judge also asked the petitioner why he was rushing to the high court without even giving 15 days time to the police.

During the hearing, the public prosecutor submitted that the DVK had filed the police complaint only on January 18 and has knocked the doors of the high court without seeking alternative remedies available.

With the petitioner agreeing to withdraw the plea, it was dismissed as withdrawn.

The police, meanwhile, detained nearly 50 activists in Salem when they attempted to take out a procession of Ram and Sita. The procession, without police permission, was led by the district BJP president.
DALLAS, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Braemar Hotels and Resorts Inc. (NYSE: BHR) ("Braemar" or the "Company") today announced the tax reporting (Federal Form 1099-DIV) information for the 2019 distributions on its common shares and its Series B and D preferred shares.

The income tax treatment for 2019 for Braemar Hotels and Resorts Inc. Common Stock CUSIP #10482B101 traded on the NYSE under ticker symbol "BHR" is as follows:

Distribution Type

Distributions

Per Share Ordinary

Taxable

Dividend Capital Gain

Distribution Unrecaptured

1250 Gain Return of

Capital Total Cash Per Share $0.6400000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $0.6400000











Total Stock per

Share (NYSE: AINC) $0.1066353 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $0.1066353











Total Distributions $0.7466353 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $0.7466353 Percent 100% 0% 0% 0% 100%

The income tax treatment for the 2019 distributions for Braemar Hotels and Resorts Inc. Series B Preferred Stock CUSIP #10482B200 is as follows:

Distribution Type

Distributions

Per Share Ordinary

Taxable

Dividend Capital Gain

Distribution Unrecaptured

1250 Gain Return of

Capital Total Cash Per Share $1.375200 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $1.3752000 Percent 100% 0% 0% 0% 100%

The income tax treatment for the 2019 distributions for Braemar Hotels and Resorts Inc. Series D Preferred Stock CUSIP #104823B09 is as follows:

Distribution Type

Distributions

Per Share Ordinary

Taxable

Dividend Capital Gain

Distribution Unrecaptured

1250 Gain Return of

Capital Total Cash Per Share $1.7816960 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $0.0000000 $1.7816960 Percent 100% 0% 0% 0% 100%

The common and preferred distributions that the Company paid on January 15, 2019 to shareholders of record as of December 31, 2018 are reportable in 2019. The common and preferred distributions that the company paid on January 15, 2020 to shareholders of record as of December 31, 2019 will be reportable in 2020.

On November 5, 2019 Braemar distributed its remaining shares of common stock in Ashford, Inc. (NYSE: AINC) to the common shareholders of record as of the close of business of the New York Stock Exchange on October 29, 2019 (each a "BHR Shareholder"). BHR Shareholders were entitled to receive approximately 0.0047 shares of AINC common stock for every share of BHR common stock held as of October 29, 2019. Braemar is reporting the distribution of AINC common stock as a return of capital dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Braemar Shareholders are treated as receiving a return of capital dividend upon this distribution equal to the fair market value of the AINC common stock (and cash in lieu of fractional shares of such common stock) received in the distribution. The fair market value for federal income tax purposes of AINC common stock was $22.65 per share based on the closing price on November 5, 2019. After the distribution, Braemar no longer has any ownership interest in AINC.

The above income tax discussion contains a general explanation of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the distribution of the AINC shares to BHR Shareholders. The information represents Braemar's general understanding of the application of certain existing U.S. federal income tax laws and regulations relating to the distribution. It does not constitute tax advice and does not purport to be complete. Shareholders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the particular consequences of the distribution, including the applicability and effect of all U.S. federal, state and local, and foreign tax laws.

In accordance with IRS Code Section 6045B, the Company will post Form 8937, Report of Organizational Actions Affecting Basis of Securities, which may be found in the Corporate Actions section of the company's website. This form provides detailed information on the return of capital portion of the preferred and common share distributions.

The Company encourages shareholders to consult with their own tax advisors with respect to the federal, state and local, and foreign income tax effects of these dividends.

* * * * *

Braemar Hotels & Resorts is a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on investing in luxury hotels and resorts.

Ashford has created an Ashford App for the hospitality REIT investor community. The Ashford App is available for free download at Apple's App Store and the Google Play Store by searching "Ashford."

Certain statements and assumptions in this press release contain or are based upon "forward-looking" information and are being made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the federal securities regulations. Forward-looking statements in this press release may include, among others, statements about the implied share price for the Company's common stock. When we use the words "will likely result," "may," "anticipate," "estimate," "should," "expect," "believe," "intend," or similar expressions, we intend to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to numerous assumptions and uncertainties, many of which are outside Braemar's control.

These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including, without limitation: general conditions of the capital markets and the market price of our common stock; changes in our business or investment strategy; availability, terms and deployment of capital; availability of qualified personnel; changes in our industry and the market in which we operate, interest rates or the general economy; our ability to successfully complete and integrate acquisitions, and manage our planned growth, and the degree and nature of our competition. These and other risk factors are more fully discussed in Braemar's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The forward-looking statements included in this press release are only made as of the date of this press release. The Company can give no assurance that these forward-looking statements will be attained or that any deviation will not occur. We are not obligated to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances, changes in expectations or otherwise.

SOURCE Braemar Hotels & Resorts Inc.
WASHINGTON  The House managers prosecuting President Trump for high crimes and misdemeanors have failed so far to persuade Senate Republicans to let them call new witnesses in his impeachment trial. But in their own way, they have come up with a star witness they can bring to the floor: Mr. Trump himself.

Barred at this point from presenting live testimony, the managers have offered up the president as the most damning witness against himself, turning his own words against him by quoting from his public remarks, citing accounts of private discussions and showing video clips of him making audacious statements that the House team argues validate its case.

Thanks to screens set up in front of the senators, Mr. Trumps voice has repeatedly echoed through the Senate chamber the past three days. There he was on the South Lawn of the White House publicly calling on Ukraine to investigate a campaign rival, former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. There he was calling on China to go after Mr. Biden, too. There he was declaring that he would willingly take foreign help to win an election. And there he was back in 2016 calling on Russia, if youre listening, to hack into Hillary Clintons email.

The strategy seeks to capitalize on Mr. Trumps astonishingly unfiltered approach to politics, which has led him again and again to say openly what other presidents with more of an understanding of the traditional red lines of Washington  or at least more of an instinct for political self-preservation  would never say in front of a camera.
GREENWICH  Police responded to a report of a shoplifting incident on Greenwich Avenue on Sunday.

A Canada Goose jacket worth $630 was allegedly taken by a teenage male suspect from Boston and a teenage female suspect from East Boston, according to the police report. Each was subsequently charged with a misdemeanor count of larceny and conspiracy. Bail was set at $200.



A 31-year-old man from Brooklyn, N.Y., was charged with breach of peace, criminal trespass and resisting arrest at about 5 a.m. Sunday, police said.

Officers were called to the Hyatt Regency Greenwich on a report of an unruly man, and police said he behaved in a belligerent manner. Officers said he was also disruptive at police headquarters. Bail was set at $200.



A 48-year-old man from Greenwich was charged with disorderly conduct Wednesday evening, police said. Bail was set at $500.



A 61-year-old man from Greenwich was charged with harassment and violating a protective order on Sunday evening, police said. Bail was set at $1,000.



Officers made a traffic stop on Mason Avenue on Monday afternoon and found that the driver was wanted in Pennsylvania, police said. The 31-year-old man from the Bronx, N.Y., was wanted on forgery charges in that state, police said.

Bail was set at $50,000, and authorities in Pennsylvania were notified.
Missouri bill introduced to ban 'age-inappropriate' Drag Queen Story Hour in state public libraries

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

A bill has been introduced in the Missouri state legislature to restrict drag performers from reading to small children at libraries, a phenomenon that has upset parents nationwide.

Called the "Parental Oversight of Public Libraries Act," the legislation is aimed at libraries that display "age-inappropriate material" and proposes losing state funding and penalizing librarians with fines or jail time, according to the Kansas City Star. The bill's sponsor in the Missouri state house is Rep. Ben Baker, a Republican from Neosho, in the southwestern region of the Show Me state.

In some places  St. Louis, Kansas City and I think St. (Joseph)  theyve had these drag queen story hours and thats something that I take objection to and I think a lot of parents do, Baker said.

"Thats where in a public space, our kids could be exposed to something thats age-inappropriate. Thats what Im trying to tackle.

Baker's bill does not apply to books.



If we were trying to ban books or censor literature, I would kill the bill, myself, he said.

Librarians who refuse to remove age-inappropriate content could be convicted of a class B misdemeanor and be required to pay a $500 fine and be sentenced up to a year in jail.

Thus far, the Kansas City Public Library has never formally hosted a Drag Queen Story Hour though such events have been held in area museums and theaters.

Around the country, protests have sprung up as libraries have opened their doors to drag performers. Parents and local activists have argued that drag is both misogynist and sexually explicit content that endangers children.

Most infamously, The Houston Public Library apologized for not performing background checks as was required in their own internal policies, when it was discovered that one of the drag queens that was invited to read to children was a convicted sex offender who had committed crimes against children.

Drag Queen Story Hour began in 2015 in San Francisco and such story times soon spread to other cities. DQSH maintains it exists to provide children with positive examples of "queer role models."



The Missouri Library Association has come out against the bill, calling it "censorship.

As presently written, the proposed bill is not expected to be passed during the current legislative session.

Crosby Kemper III, who will soon be the director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a position he was appointed to by President Donald Trump, noted that drag queen story times have become a national issue and will begin his new job at the federal agency next week.

One thing Ive said to other librarians are libraries are pretty good about understanding their communities, Kemper told the Kansas City outlet.

Kemper is the outgoing executive director of the Kansas City Public Library.

I think there are communities where doing a drag queen story time is throwing something in peoples faces, a deliberate provocation, he added.

Meanwhile, the American Library Association has been actively promoting drag performers reading to children and other LGBT-oriented themes.

In June, The Federalist reported that at its 2019 national conference, attended by over 21,000 people, the ALA put on workshops that included "Creating Queer-Inclusive Elementary School Library Programming and Telling Stories, Expanding Boundaries: Drag Queen Storytimes in Libraries. The latter featured Michelle Tea, a lesbian who started drag queen events at a public library in San Francisco.
Rudy Giuliani has promised to release shocking 'evidence' regarding Ukraine corruption that he claims will prompt an investigation into presidential candidate Joe Biden.

The personal attorney of President Trump appeared on Fox & Friends on Friday and vowed, in a rambling interview, to release proof of what he claims is deep corruption involving Ukraine and the Bidens.

While speaking about his investigation into Biden and his son Hunter Biden, Giuliani said he would release evidence later on Friday via a podcast that supports his claims of 'shocking crimes'.

He added that he would provide recorded testimony in the coming weeks that also backs his claims.

Giuliani claims he 'didn't go looking for dirt on Biden' but it was handed to him by two 'informants' 18 months ago.

Rudy Giuliani has promised to release shocking 'evidence' on Friday regarding Ukraine corruption that he claims will prompt an investigation into presidential candidate Joe Biden

'I was given information about Ukrainian corruption,' he said without revealing who the two informants were.

'They told me that there was a great deal of collusion going on in Ukraine to fix the 2016 election in favor of Hillary Clinton. That what happened in Russia was a big hoax. That, actually, it was the Democrats projecting what they had actually done in Ukraine.

'I don't know if it's true or not. They gave me witnesses. I have since interviewed 10 of them. I've got eight of them on tape. I'm going to start a podcast at noon today.

'And starting next week, the people will hear these witnesses who our embassy will not give a visa to because they're still covering up the corruption the embassy was involved in in 2016.'

Giuliani has previously pushed the unproven theory that it was the Ukraine - and not Russia - that interfered in the 2016 election.

Without offering evidence, Giuliani also said during his interview: 'The embassy was involved in gathering dirt on Trump, on Trump Jr., and on Manafort.

'And not only that, they were involved in turning over falsified evidence, absolutely completely falsified. Four witnesses will testify to that over the course of the next two to three weeks.

'I'm going to present over the next two to three weeks shocking crimes at the highest levels of both governments while the Senate is listening to a totally phony group of stories about non-impeachable offenses.

The personal attorney of President Trump appeared on Fox & Friends on Friday and vowed, in a rambling interview, to release proof of what he claims is deep corruption involving Ukraine and the Bidens

While speaking about his investigation into Biden and his son Hunter Biden, Giuliani said he would release evidence later on Friday via a podcast that supports his claims of 'shocking crimes'

'It's like trying somebody for not a crime. It's a total waste of money. It's a complete show on the part of the Democrats.'

When asked how this ends, Giuliani said: 'This ends, hopefully, with Biden finally being put under investigation.

'You don't think if these things were said about Donald Trump and Donald Trump Jr., they wouldn't be under investigation immediately?'

The former New York Mayor refused to answer directly when asked if Trump wanted him to continue investigating.

'Would you like me to give it up?' Giuliani hit back.

'They're a bunch of phonies. I did my job as an attorney. I did it well, I did it honorably, and I did the country a service in bringing out this corruption that everybody else is afraid to touch.'

Giuliani traveled to Ukraine in December and has said that he would release a report on what he found there.

The former New York City mayor has claimed - but has yet to offer proof - that Hunter Biden made millions from his work on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian gas company, and from advising a Chinese hedge fund.

Giuliani, one of Trump's personal attorneys, is not serving on the president's defense team during the impeachment trial in the Senate.

He lobbied to be a part of it but Giuliani is also a potential witness in the case should the Senate vote to call additional ones.

The president has made Hunter Biden and his work in the Ukraine and China a frequent target of his political taunts at his campaign rallies.

Hunter Biden has previously said he never discussed his work in Ukraine or China with his father.

Giuliani and Trump allies claim Joe Biden, when he was vice president, pushed the Ukraine to fire a prosecutor to help the company Hunter Biden worked with.

Joe Biden said he was following international and Obama administration policy in regards to the prosecutor, whom there were concerns was not doing enough to fight corruption

Neither Biden has been charged with any wrong doing.
Come Republic Day, it will be curtains for the British-era .303 rifles in Uttar Pradesh where it has been in use for decades by the police.

Before the weapons fade into the pages of history, some of these will be used for training purposes, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi told PTI on Friday.

".303 rifles are already on their way out. They will be used only for training purposes and not in actual use," Awasthi said.

With a view to equip the force with modern weapons, the Uttar Pradesh government is already in the process of providing 63,000 INSAS and 23,000 SLR rifles to the state police.

The UP Police will finally be equipped with modern weapons as the .303 rifles are being gradually replaced by INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) and SLR (Self-Loading Rifles), Awasthi said.

He said the state police force was being modernised to ensure peace and an effective control on law and order, besides ensuring women's safety and a sense of security among the common people.

The arrangements for additional weapons have been made keeping in mind future recruitment drives, a senior official said.

Looking back at the efficiency of the Lee-Enfield bolt-action rifle, retired IPS officer IC Dwivedi told PTI from Bangalore, "It was a reliable and accurate weapon and could fire uninterrupted. The maintenance aspect was low."



"We rarely had to send it for repair," recalled Dwivedi, who retired in 1990 as DG (Vigilance) in UP government.

A 1972-batch IPS officer SR Darapuri, who retired in as Inspector General-cum-Principal of Armed Training Centre, Sitapur (UP), told PTI, "In our time, mostly .303 rifles were used. Since the weapons were heavy, handling these was cumbersome as compared the SLRs. I used them last time during practice firing at Armed Training Centre, Sitapur."



ADG (Meerut) Prashant Kumar, when contacted, said, "The latest weaponry used by police is better. The .303 was good as per the requirements of that time."Kumar said that he had used the .303 rifle during his days as Superintendent of Police in early 2000s.

In July 2017, it was noted by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India that nearly 48 per cent of the Uttar Pradesh police personnel were still using the .303 rifles, declared "obsolete" nearly 20 years ago.

"The .303 bore rifles were declared obsolete more than 20 years ago in February 1995 but about 48 per cent of the police force in the state are still using it," the CAG had pointed out in its report for the year ending on March 31, 2016.

The report titled Performance Audit of Modernisation and Strengthening of Police Forces, tabled in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly stated, "As per the 1995 instructions of the MHA, the .303 rifles became obsolete by 1995 and required replacement by modern weapons."



The government auditor said out of 1.22 lakh rifles available with the UP police as on March 2016, as many as 58,853 rifles were of .303 category.

"The UP government had accepted it (in February 2017) and stated that .303 rifles are being replaced by INSAS rifles and this process will be completed in five years," the CAG report had said.

The CAG said the reply was, however, "not tenable," because .303 rifles had been declared obsolete more than 20 years ago, while about 48 per cent of the force was still using it.

Further, out of the 15 test-checked districts, in 14 districts, as many as 16,700 .303 bore rifles were being used by the UP police.

The .303 was the British Army's standard rifle from its official adoption in 1895 until 1957.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Twenty-seven (27) new Guides were last Friday afternoon enrolled in the Number One Guides Company, while eight got pinned as Patrol Leaders, eight as Patrol Seconds, and there were several awards presented, at an Enrollment and Awards Ceremony staged at the Girls High School.





Among the Awards dished out were those for the Top Ten Pre-Promise Performance, which were copped by Anna Warrican, Fayth English, Annaliese Mapp, Kyarra Sandy, Soria Greaves, Therisa Young, Gianna Stapleton, Seante Marshall, Amanda-Le Henry and Samella Young.





Most Outstanding Guides Awards went to Therisa Young (Year One), Thalia De Shong (Year Two), Ariyana Roberts (Year Three) and Drayann Drayton (Year Four).





Taking the Year One Programme Awards were Adisa Daniel, Akayla Crichton, Ariyana Roberts, Azaria Commissioniong, Ciara Jeffers, Jadiah Sampson, Myracle Doyle and Nadira Morgan, with Crichton and Jeffers, the Year Two awardees.





And Crichton, Alyssa Trotman and Hailey Williams-Douglas copped the Year Three Awards.





The ceremony of the Number One Kingstown Company received words of inspiration from Principal of the Girls High School  Michelle Beache, Youth Officer- Gweneth Anthony, and former Girl Guides Commissioner- Gwendolyn Russell.





Beache lamented the dearth of good role models, and challenged the young females, "to make the difference.





Anthony called on the Guides to be good ambassadors of the organization, saying, "Your badges and your pins, wear them smartly, and make sure that you represent your school and community at all times Continue to shine as beautiful young ladies of St Vincent and the Grenadines.





Russell implored the Guides to keep advancing themselves. "You can reach very far in Guides You just have to be diligent and ready to work and go forward, she advised.





The former Commissioner appealed to the young ladies, to not be simply satisfied with the badges, but to aim for the "Chief Commissioners badge, which is the highest award (for Guides) here in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
PALO ALTO (BCN)

A man shot dead early Tuesday morning in Palo Alto has been identified as 52-year-old San Jose resident Armando Montelonga Espinoza, according to the Santa Clara County medical examiner's office.

Montelonga Espinoza was found sometime after 3 a.m. in the parking lot of a business in the 700 block of San Antonio Road.

He suffered a single gunshot wound to the abdomen, underwent surgery and died later.

Police have offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in the homicide. The reward is being offered through the nonprofit Mothers Against Murder.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
A group calling itself Concerned Comrades of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) has angrily locked up the offices of some CPP executives over alleged secret bank account operated by some officers of the party at the GCB bank.

The group locked up the offices of the partys acting Chairman, Hajiah Hamdatu; Acting General Secretary, James Kwabena Bomfeh and the National Youth Organiser, Nabila Basiru.

The group accused these three of being behind the opening of the alleged secret account and wants them away from the office until the ongoing investigation exonerates them.

We are here to close these offices as members of the party to pave way so that the central committee members and the council of elders will take this party from these people and let them step aside as far as investigations are concerned, one of the group members, Yakubu Habib, explained to Citi News.

He insisted that these executives needed to step aside for thorough investigations to continue.

The groups actions followed a letter by the National Treasurer, Samuel Gordon Etroo, to the headquarters of the GCB Bank stating that the opening of the bank account without the consent of the executives was a clear violation of their rules.

He thus asked the bank to cooperate with them to carry out their investigations.

Yakubu Habib also said, we've done our preliminary investigations as party members and it is clearly established thatin the case that we are proceeding now, due procedures were not followed.

He further called on the Central Committee of the party, GCB bank and the police to expedite investigations to get to the root of the issue.

citinewsroom
COLLINSVILLE  An increased emphasis on apprenticeship programs brought about 100 people representing government, industry, labor and education together Thursday at Gateway Center in Collinsville.

Sponsored by Madison County Employment and Training, St. Clair County Intergovernmental Grants Department and the city of Collinsville, much of the meeting focused on the need and structure of apprenticeship programs.

Tony Fuhrmann, director of Madison County Employment and Training, said the meeting was intended to get more service partners, including government and education officials, and help businesses understand apprenticeships.

Apprenticeships are very important currently as a tool for work-based learning, he said. Our nine-county region, anchored by Madison and St. Clair, are one of the leaders in the state in the apprenticeship area.

Traditionally, apprenticeships were driven by trade unions, but that has expanded.

The Department of Labor are the keepers of the apprenticeship model, Fuhrman said. There are more than 1,000 professions with registered apprenticeship programs.

Most are in manufacturing or construction trades, he said, citing an extreme example of an accordion maker.

At the state level we really see it as a new opportunity to really engage businesses in a different way, said Julio Rodriguez, deputy director of the Office of Employment and Training. He said Illinois grows a great deal of talent, but much of it moves out of state.

Illinois needs to develop a pipeline to encourage traditional students to train and stay in the state, he said. It also needs to develop programs for nontraditional students, such as older workers who have lost jobs or want to try something new.

People need to think out of the box, he said, especially with intergenerational approaches to apprenticeships.

Mike Conley, chairman of the Apprenticeship Committee for the Illinois Workforce Innovation Board, said apprenticeships are key strategy that requires developing career strategies with structure and goals for both businesses and employees.

Nationally its a hot topic, he said. What I really see as a primary impediment is a resistance on the part of businesses and the private sector to embrace it. Conley said he thinks part of it is unwillingness to believe government can provide an effective solution for them.

He noted there are other issues  ranging from paperwork to dealing with workers challenges such as previous addiction problems and child care. Part of his goal is to bring back the roughly 35 percent of people not participating in the workforce, referring to the difference in the unemployment rate  which measures people actively seeking work  and the labor participation rate that includes all work-aged people.

That would be a huge driver of the economic development if we got something approaching full employment, he said.

Panel discussions were held throughout the day, including one with local businesses and institutions. John Caupert, executive director of the National Corn to Ethanol Research Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, said a big advantage of apprenticeships  especially for non-traditional students or people looking to switch careers  is the diversity of experience. He said the center currently has two apprentices; one is a former diesel mechanic and the other is a single mother with five who was working in the food-service industry.

Can you be any more diverse than those backgrounds? he asked.

Jeff Horvath, vice president of supply chain & operations at Terra Source Global in Belleville, said they use apprenticeships to grow their own workers.

Manufacturing jobs like this are not jobs; he said. They are a career path.

Weve lost a lot of industry in this area, he said. That makes trying to find people to do what I need very, very difficult. We learned very early on that youre going to have to grow your own, and youre going to have to do it well.

Horvath said the company just spent $1.6 million on new equipment.

I dont have any machinists to put in front of them, he said, noting machinists job has been advertised for more than 200 days.

We have to recruit in a non-conventional way, he added. Were looking at a lot of different things.

He said apprenticeships go very well with that, including a system with both mentoring and continuous education that doesnt end.

Amber Kasting, an HR specialist at West Star Aviation in East Alton, said apprenticeship programs have allow their company to transfer knowledge from older employees to younger ones.

We have a lot of great talent, but theyre going to have to retire, she said. They needed a program to help pass down their knowledge.

Apprenticeships were the answer, she said.

She also said someone who comes into the company with both certification and work experience is another plus. Many of the companys apprentices are students at Southwestern Illinois College which has an airframe and power plant program, then work second shift, part-time or weekends.

People pay more for the people they need, Kasting said. Its a great opportunity for West Star and the apprentices.

For more information about apprenticeships in Madison County, call 618-296-4445, or visit www.co.madison.il.us/departments/employment_and_training.

Reach reporter Scott Cousins at 618-208-6447.
SAN ANTONIO, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE: VLO, Valero) announced today that Valeros Board of Directors have approved promotions for Lane Riggs, Gary Simmons and Eric Fisher, effective January 23, 2020.



Lane Riggs has been promoted and elected President of Valero and will hold the title of President and Chief Operating Officer, reflecting the expansion of his responsibilities to also include renewables and logistics operations. Under Lanes leadership, Valeros refining organization has dramatically improved in safety, reliability, cost management, and environmental measures. In addition, Lane has extensive experience in leading Valeros supply optimization and crude oil and product supply groups.

Gary Simmons has been promoted and elected Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. Gary has lead Valeros commercial organization since 2014. He will continue in his new role with oversight of the Companys crude supply and products trading, wholesale marketing, transportation, and international commercial operations groups.

Eric Fisher has been promoted and elected Senior Vice President Wholesale Marketing and International Commercial Operations. He will continue in his new role with oversight of Valeros wholesale and retail operations and the ongoing expansion of Valeros international commercial activities, which continue to grow.

Lane, Gary and Eric have done a great job for Valero, said Joe Gorder, Valero Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. I look forward to continuing to work with them and our team in delivering excellence in operations, earnings growth, and strong shareholder returns.

About Valero

Valero Energy Corporation, through its subsidiaries (collectively, Valero), is an international manufacturer and marketer of transportation fuels and petrochemical products. Valero is a Fortune 50 company based in San Antonio, Texas, and it operates 15 petroleum refineries with a combined throughput capacity of approximately 3.1 million barrels per day and 14 ethanol plants with a combined production capacity of 1.73 billion gallons per year. The petroleum refineries are located in the United States (U.S.), Canada and the United Kingdom (U.K.), and the ethanol plants are located in the Mid-Continent region of the U.S. Valero also is a joint venture partner in Diamond Green Diesel, which operates a renewable diesel plant in Norco, Louisiana. Diamond Green Diesel is North Americas largest biomass-based diesel plant. Valero sells its products in the wholesale rack or bulk markets in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Ireland and Latin America. Approximately 7,000 outlets carry Valeros brand names. Please visit www.valero.com for more information.

Valero Contacts

Investors:

Homer Bhullar, Vice President  Investor Relations, 210-345-1982

Eric Herbort, Senior Manager  Investor Relations, 210-345-3331

Gautam Srivastava, Manager  Investor Relations, 210-345-3992

Media:

Lillian Riojas, Executive Director  Media Relations and Communications, 210-345-5002
In conjunction with the exhibition, Old Pal Provisions will be selling Legalize Humanity campaign t-shirts, art prints, and accessories, designed by LAND that reinforce the project's central message. A portion of the proceeds from art sales and merchandise will benefit RAICES and the organization's vision of a compassionate society where all people have the right to migrate and human rights are guaranteed.

"It is our human values of compassion and the desire for harmony that strengthens connection and helps build communitya distinction that we can all sometimes take for granted," said Allison Pankow, Chief Marketing Officer of Old Pal. "Moving forward with hope, trust, and love, Old Pal's vision is to help people realize their power to create real change for humanity, communities and the environment, with the emphasis that everyone in this world deserves the right to live with dignity and the support of their fellow humans. Even small steps in choosing who and what we support with our dollar can make a lasting impact."

ABOUT OLD PAL

We created Old Pal Provisions with a simple mission: to offer a collection of quality, artisan goods built for the free spirits who enjoy the higher side of life. It's all about community and sharing our love for adventure, so we've compiled a batch of provisions built to inspire the mind, boost your mood, and transform the home. Our collection includes products made by our friends and neighbors, offering a range of unique items that expand horizons and spread a healthy dose of love.

For More information about Old Pal, visit oldpalprovisions.com, or follow them on Instagram @oldpal.

ABOUT RAICES

RAICES, established in 1986 and headquartered in Texas, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit agency that defends the rights of immigrants and refugees; empowers individuals, families, and communities; and advocates for liberty and justice. RAICES operates on the national frontlines of the fight for immigration rights and provides free and low-cost legal services, social programs, and bond assistance. For more information and to get involved, visit raicestexas.org or follow on Twitter @RAICESTEXAS, on Facebook @raicestexas, or on Instagram @raicestexas.

ABOUT SUBLIMINAL PROJECTS

"The driving principle of Subliminal Projects is that art should be accessible to everyone and that art can come from many different perspectives and cultural niches. Good art is good art, whether it's done on an album cover, a skateboard, canvas, or found cardboard."  Shepard Fairey

Subliminal Projects is a multi-functional project space and gallery established by Shepard Fairey and Blaize Blouin in 1995 as a way to introduce skateboard culture and design to the art world. The concept grew and found roots later in Los Angeles, at a time when many artists found themselves shut out by the "art scene." Subliminal Projects emerged as a gallery that championed emerging and marginalized artists, built out of cultural importance to serve as a center for the community to openly express and spark dialogue about art, music and activism. Now located in the historic neighborhood of Echo Park, Subliminal Projects continues to offer a platform for artistic exploration and innovation.

For more information about Subliminal Projects, visit subliminalprojects.com or follow us on Instagram @subliminalprojects.

CONTACT:

Renee Cotsis, [email protected]

SOURCE Old Pal

Related Links

http://oldpalprovisions.com


The United States is the only industrialized nation without a paid family leave policy. Only 17 percent of U.S. workers have access to paid family leave, and that takes a heavy toll on our communities. For example, nearly 25 percent of women take 10 or fewer days of maternity leave. This puts themselves and their children at risk both physically and emotionally. Mounting research demonstrates that longer periods of paid leave have positive effects on maternal mental and physical health while reducing the incidence of child maltreatment. Paid leave also leads to an increase in breast-feeding and declines in maternal stress and intimate partner violence. New fathers, meanwhile, are more likely to stay engaged in their childrens lives when they take paternity leave. Yet 3 out of 4 new dads take one week or less of leave when their babies are born, and nearly 60 percent of low-income working fathers report taking zero weeks of paid time off after the birth or adoption of a child.
Ahead of Saturdays re-run elections in 28 federal and state constituencies, the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has ordered security beef up in the affected states.

The Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Frank Mba, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

He said the I-G had ordered the Commissioners of Police (CPs) in the affected states to ensure comprehensive security arrangement for INEC offices and facilities.

Mr Mba said the order was to ensure hitch-free elections and a level playing ground for all the candidates and parties in the elections.

He said the affected states are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Benue, Cross River, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Niger, Ogun and Sokoto.

The FPRO said the I-G had ordered police personnel deployed for the elections to strictly abide by rules guiding the conduct of officers on election duty.

Mr Mba pledged that the officers would be professional and apolitical in the discharge of their duties.

He, therefore, enjoined politicians, candidates and the electorate to ensure strict conformity to the rules of law during the elections.

The re-run elections, expected to take place in11 states, would cover one Senatorial District, 12 House of Representatives and 15 State Houses of Assembly seats.

(NAN)
Who is to blame for the impeachment of President Trump? It has to be either Trump or the House that impeached him. Or maybe a combination of the two.

But the Washington Posts Dana Milbank claims that, somehow, the mess is Chief Justice Robertss fault. Milbank is the Posts clown prince. Hell say anything, usually with as much snark as he can muster, to try to score a point against one of his boogeymen  a class that includes anyone who stands against his leftism.

In this case, Milbank has outdone himself.

Why is the U.S. Chief Justice responsible for the impeachment mess? Mainly because of the Citizens United decision  the root of all evil in Milbanks universe. According to Milbank, the super PACs unleashed by that ruling led directly to this impeachment.

The two Rudy Giuliani associates engaged in key abuses  the ouster of the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, the attempts to force Ukraines president to announce investigations into Trumps political opponents  gained access to Trump by funneling money from a Ukrainian oligarch to the presidents super PAC.

But Trump didnt need super PAC money, or Giulianis associates, to fire an ambassador he and Giuliani didnt like. Nor did he need it to withhold (for a brief period) military aid to Ukraine in the hope of inducing that government to investigate Joe Biden.

Milbanks theory of causation is absurd. Maybe we should blame President Kennedy for Watergate. Key figures in the Watergate burglary were veterans of the invasion of Cuba that Kennedy ordered. Maybe we should blame Linda Lovelace for Bill Clintons impeachment.

Milbank goes on to say:

The Roberts Courts decisions led to this moment in indirect ways, as well.

Less direct than the Citizens United decision? Thats hard to imagine. But Milbank, unconstrained by the need for evidence and the requirements of logic, is up to the task:

The courts 2013 ruling in Shelby County gutted the Voting Rights Act and spurred a new wave of voter suppression. The decision in 2014s McCutcheon further surrendered campaign finance to the wealthiest. The 2018 Janus decision hobbled the ability of labor unions to counter wealthy donors, while the 2019 Rucho ruling blessed partisan gerrymandering, expanding anti-democratic tendencies. The consequences? Falling confidence in government, and a growing perception that Washington had become a swamp corrupted by political money, fueled Trumps victory. The Republican Party, weakened by the new dominance of outside money, couldnt stop Trumps hostile takeover of the party or the takeover of the congressional GOP ranks by far-right candidates. The new dominance of ideologically extreme outside groups and donors led lawmakers on both sides to give their patrons what they wanted: conflict over collaboration and purity at the cost of paralysis. The various decisions also suppress the influence of poorer and non-white Americans and extend the electoral power of Republicans in disproportion to the popular vote.

Milbank is right to this extent: If Trump hadnt been elected, he wouldnt be subject to impeachment. But the Supreme Court isnt responsible for Trumps election.

Milbank presents no evidence that Trump was elected due to voter suppression or that outside money, rather than the wishes of Republican voters, caused Trumps hostile takeover of the GOP. Trump probably relied less on outside money than his rivals did.

If anything, the rise of Trump is a reaction to the domination of the Republican Party by big money interests  plus well-deserved contempt for media types like Dana Milbank.

Maybe the Posts Clown Prince is responsible for the current mess.

Some of the Supreme Court decisions Milbank doesnt like came down after Trumps election. Milbank blames them for the prevalence of conflict over collaboration and purity at the cost of paralysis. But this phenomenon predates by many years the 2018 Janus decision and the 2019 Rucho ruling.

And it has nothing to do with John Roberts. If anything, Roberts has tried to minimize conflict to the extent allowed by his duty as a judge (and to a greater extent than that, some say). He is known for trying to make his rulings as narrow as possible. Among other virtues, this avoids making unnecessary waves. And Roberts famously upheld the constitutionality of Obamacares individual mandate in the hope, some say, of avoiding political chaos.

Perhaps Milbank was absent the day they taught logic and causation in philosophy class. To be fair, however, it cant be easy writing lefty impeachment columns multiple times a week, especially when your work appears on the same op-ed page as other Trump haters, each trying to outdo the other. Thus, its understandable that Milbank would look for a different angle and, for one day, a different villain.

Unfortunately, this quest has taken him into the realm of fantasy. But then Milbank is far from uncomfortable there.
The U.S. Embassy in Ukraine on the five-year anniversary of the shelling of Mariupol by Russia-occupation forces has called on Russia to ensure a full ceasefire in Donbas and withdrawal of its troops.

"Five years ago today, the shelling of Mariupol by Russian-backed militants resulted in 30 killed and over 100 injured. Russia has failed to implement its Minsk Agreements commitments and continues to fuel humanitarian, economic, and environmental crises. Russia must implement a true ceasefire, withdraw its forces, support the disbanding of the illegal armed groups operating in eastern Ukraine, and respect Ukraine's internationally recognized borders and sovereignty," Senior Defense Official and Defense Attache Col. Thomas Wofford wrote on Twitter.

Wofford says in a clip attached to the message that the shelling of Mariupol was directed against peaceful Ukrainians and was carried out by Russia-occupation forces in violation of the Minsk agreements, adding that the United States firmly stands by the side of the Ukrainian people.
In a new twist in the infamous Dingerheri dacoity, gangrape and double murder case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has submitted a supplementary chargesheet against three more accused, including a serving army jawan.

Earlier, the CBI had submitted a chargesheet against four members of the axle gang, whereas the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Haryana police had arrested four local youth, who are currently out on interim bail from high court.

Now, a total of 11 accused are bound to face trial before special CBI judge Jagdeep Singh at Panchkula. However, initially the FIR had been registered only against four to five unidentified persons, Pardeep Kumar Rapria, who is the counsel for the youths arrested earlier by SIT Haryana, told HT on Friday.

The victim girls plea through senior advocate Salman Khursid for cancellation of interim bail is also pending before the Supreme Court.

The case dates back to August 2016 when a Muslim couple was killed and a 21-year-old woman and 16-year-old girl from the family were raped. Several other members of their family were also injured in the attack.

As per the supplementary chargesheet, submitted before the CBI court on Thursday, all 11 accused have been charged for murder, attempt to murder, gangrape, robbery and under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Eight accused had also appeared before the special CBI court on Thursday and the copy of chargesheet was supplied to them.

The CBI court summoned the three freshly added accused, namely Amit Yadav of Nakdolia ki Dhani, Mohammadpur Ahir, Ravinder Yadav alias Fauzi of Goyla Nandu ki Dhani village and Tejpal Yadav of Baganki village, to appear before court on February 14.

The case was initially registered on August 25, 2016 by Haryana police which arrested four local youths. However, there was resentment among the villagers who claimed that the arrested youth were not involved in the crime after which the case was handed over the CBI, which took over the case on December 5, 2016.

This is the third chargesheet in the same case, as earlier the Haryana police had submitted a chargesheet in November 2016 for the same offence against four boys including Sandeep, Amarjeet, Karamjeet and Rahul Verma, all residents of Mohammadpur Ahir village of Mewat. The CBI had then submitted a second supplementary chargesheet against the four members of the axle gang. Now, three more accused have been added.
Jerri-Lynn here. Regular readers are probably aware of my fondness for night trains (see Take the (Night) Train Redux, and Take the (Night) Train).

Seems Im not the only one who tries to patronise these services whenever possible.

The post focuses on the environmental benefits of choosing rail travel over air travel, and doesnt mention any of the other benefits: trains tend to run from city centre to city centre, thus saving passengers the need to find their way from an out-of-the-way airport to where they want to go. Trains are more relaxed about baggage requirements. And finally, train stations have yet to succumb to the security theater charade, meaning one doesnt have to allow extra hours to qualify to board a train.

By Enrica Papa, Senior Lecturer in Transport Planning, University of Westminster. Originally published at The Conversation

Dutch airline KLM recently launched a new advertising campaign called Fly Responsibly. Remarkably, it seems to encourage viewers to fly less. Do you always have to meet face-to-face?, the advert asks. Could you take the train instead?.

The influence of climate campaigner Greta Thunberg likely explains why airlines feel obliged to say these things. Flight shame  or flygskam  has gripped many regular flyers with a sense of unease about the aviation industry, which consumes five million barrels of oil a day and is predicted to account for around 22% of global carbon emissions by 2050.

European high-speed rail networks already offer an alternative to air traffic between European countries for distances shorter than 1,000 kilometres. For longer journeys, sleeper trains are becoming increasingly popular. These services run through the night and offer passengers a berth to sleep in. As more and more consumers question the ethics of their next flight, rail companies see an opportunity  and competition with airlines is heating up.

But can night trains help offset the international journeys that most people currently make by aeroplane?

The Renaissance of European Night Trains

From 2009 until 2018, the European night train network shrank steadily. The same is true for conventional intercity train networks, especially in southern and western Europe. This made air travel the only alternative on many routes. But that appears to be changing.

When German Rail decided to withdraw its network of overnight passenger trains in 2015, Austrian Federal Railways (OBB) decided to take over some of its services. In 2017, OBBs Nightjet services carried around 1.4 million passengers, more than doubling its total passengers from the previous year.

In 2018, OBB achieved another 10% increase in passenger numbers. OBB CEO, Andreas Mattha, said that overnight services are a viable alternative to short-haul flights and committed to continue investing in new services. As a result, OBB is expanding its routes on the NightJet network of sleeper trains. From January 2020, night trains will once again run between Vienna and Brussels, 16 years after the service closed.

The first direct sleeper train from Vienna to Brussels has arrived! pic.twitter.com/YJXgJdoe55  Jon Stone (@joncstone) 20 January 2020

In the UK, Great Western Railway plans to renovate the sleeper trains it runs to Cornwall. The Caledonian Sleeper, which runs between London, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen has been revamped with a 150 million investment in new trains.

In response to a public petition, the Swedish government plans to reintroduce night train services to other European countries. A sleeper train service from Malmo in southern Sweden to London has been planned for 2022 at the earliest. The service could set off in the evening and arrive in the English capital at lunchtime the next day. At almost 1,300 kilometres, the trip is typical of the many rail journeys that could offset those currently taken between European countries by aeroplane.

An Alternative to Air Travel?

Aviation industry CEOs are worried that flight shame could threaten passenger traffic and in some countries this already seems to be happening. Swedavia, an airline which operates ten of Swedens busiest airports, reported a 4% fall in passengers in 2019 compared with the previous year. The decrease was primarily in domestic travel, while the number of international passengers fell to a lesser extent. Despite this, European air traffic still grew by 4.2% in 2019.

Its too soon to say whether the night train revival is a permanent trend prompted by flygskam. Nevertheless, environmental awareness still motivates the choices of travellers.

Researchers who study consumer profiles in different markets recently identified a new one: the environmental traveller. People who fall into this market segment try to maintain a lifestyle that is as environmentally friendly as possible  and that includes reducing the number of flights they take.

But the researchers found that awareness of the environmental crisis doesnt automatically translate into behaviour changes, such as choosing other transport modes over air travel. Most often, distance or cost are more powerful motivations, particularly for short and medium-haul routes.

A recent study from the Netherlands found that passengers who travel for leisure purposes seem to be most attracted to the option of night trains. Its possible that night train services could simply generate new demand from these customers instead of substituting existing airline passengers. The researchers found that 40% of business travellers still opted to fly the day before and stay in a hotel instead, though many thought the relative comfort of sleeper trains was appealing.

Research conducted on behalf of the European parliament is much more pessimistic, concluding that there are more challenges than opportunities for night trains to grow in Europe. Chief among them is the continued growth of low-cost airlines. Infrastructure costs currently prohibit long-distance night trains which might be able to tempt more passengers out of these aeroplanes. Subsidy and investment to expand rail networks may be necessary for the sector to compete with aviation. Making airlines pay fuel duty could also help.

In the meantime, flygskam could still be effective if it means people keep the pressure on the aviation industry to reform and reduce its growing carbon footprint.
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper speaks about airstrikes by the U.S. military in Iraq and Syria, at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida on Dec. 29, 2019. (Tom Brenner/Reuters)

US to Check Social Media of International Military Students, Add Patrols in School: Pentagon

The Department of Defense (DOD) announced on Jan. 23 that it will be putting in place more comprehensive vetting measures for international military students and increasing patrols at the Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida, following a tragic shooting at the naval base last month that left three people dead.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said during a press conference at NAS-Pensacola on Thursday that the Pentagon would be improving vetting procedures for international students to prevent such acts from happening again.

Pentagon chief Esper said new measures would include monitoring the social media of international military students before and after their arrival to the United States.

The vetting changes will be far more comprehensive, he told reporters inside an aircraft hangar at the base. Itll look at every aspect of their background, itll look at social media, and it will also involve continuous monitoring once theyre here in the United States.

Weve taken any number of measures like that to ensure that we have a much higher degree of confidence with regard to each of the students.

The announcement came just days after the DOD said in a statement that it would restrict students possession and use of firearms, implement control measures for limiting their access to military installations and U.S. government facilities, and impose standards for training on detecting and reporting insider threats in response to the Dec. 6 attack.

Esper said the DOD believes the measures will make the Florida naval base at Pensacola much more secure after Saudi Air Force officer Mohammed Alshamrani killed three U.S. sailors and injured eight other people.

The shooting focused public attention on the presence of international students in American military training programs and exposed shortcomings in the screening of cadets.

In addition to the further vetting of international students, Esper added that the Pentagon might increase roving and stationary patrols to provide a greater sense of confidence.

The Defense Secretary said he hoped students and families could feel confident that there will be security that is in place and can be even more responsive than thethe team that was there on the site.

The Justice Department last week announced that the fatal attack was an act of terrorism.

Attorney General William Barr said the gunman, who was a flight student at Pensacola, was motivated by jihadist ideology and had posted multiple social media messages containing anti-American, anti-Israel, and jihadi messages up to two hours before the attack. One of those messages, posted on Sept. 11 last year, stated, The countdown has begun.

A general view of the atmosphere at the Pensacola Naval Air Station following a shooting in Pensacola, Fla., on Dec. 6, 2019. (Josh Brasted/Getty Images)

The Justice Department added that 21 Saudi trainees were being sent home. The 21 had jihadist or anti-American sentiments on social media pages or had contact with child pornography, including in internet chat rooms, officials said. None has been accused of having had advance knowledge of the shooting or helped the gunman carry it out.

The United States has long had a robust training program for the Saudi military, providing assistance at home and in the kingdom. There are currently about 850 Saudis participating in U.S. military training programs, according to the Pentagon.

There are about 5,000 international military students overall in U.S. programs. These students go through background and biometric checksprocesses set up by the State Department and the Department of Homeland Securityto determine whether they are security risks.

The Associated Press and Janita Kan contributed to this report.
Vervotech Set to launch AI-based Fully Automated Hotel Mapping Platform at Travel Technology Europe (TTE), 2020

PUNE, India, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Vervotech, an emerging bootstrapped startup, is set to exhibit at Travel Technology Europe in London on the 26th of February 2020. Vervotech's executives will be available at Stand TTLP4 to discuss how their technology platform can transform travel businesses.

The Vervotech team will be exhibiting UNICA - a fully automated solution that is solving one of the most challenging problems of the hotel distribution. UNICA is empowered by machine learning that enables travel agencies to avoid duplicate hotels across suppliers, avoid costly mistakes of bad mapping and improve user experience by showing opinionated content for every hotel in real-time.

Learn more about UNICA: https://www.vervotech.com/unica/

"We're excited to exhibit at an industry-leading show like Travel Technology Europe. The exhibition will present us with more opportunity to connect with like-minded decision-makers," said Marvel Puri, VP (Sales & Business Development). Even though the expo is in a month, the preparations at Vervotech are in place to ensure that this opportunity is maximized to the best of their ability.

About Vervotech:

Established in 2018, Vervotech was founded by a team of passionate entrepreneurs, who came in with a collective experience of several decades in the travel technology industry. Vervotech aims at collaborating closely with travel agencies to help solve complex problems by leveraging artificial intelligence, putting data at the core of decision making and being laser-focused on their clients' business.

About Travel Technology Europe:

Travel Technology Europe, held annually in London for 16 years, is Europe's largest specialized exhibition and conference bringing together 6,000+ travel technology professionals. This long-established and reputable event connects travel technology buyers and managers with the suppliers, knowledge, and contacts to help innovate for the future of travel.

It is the largest travel technology event in Europe, allowing travel technology buyers and managers to evaluate thousands of products and services from over 100 global travel brands and innovative start-up companies across the travel technology sector.

Media Contact:

Yashashree Chavan

marketing@vervotech.com

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/813572/Vervotech_Logo.jpg
Even as demand plunged in one of its two principal markets, ASML hired more than 325 people last year to staff its Wilton plant that is Connecticuts biggest exporter to the digital economy, both to fill newly created jobs and as replacements for employees that left.

The Netherlands-based company makes machines that beam circuitry onto semiconductors and digital displays, with sales increasing 8 percent last year to $13.1 billion and profits totaling $2.9 billion.

The company has been touting an emerging class of EUV machines  an acronym for extreme ultraviolet  that uses light at wavelengths 14 times smaller than ASMLs older generation of machines. ASML shipped 26 EUV machines last year, eight more than in 2018.

ASML now has more than 1,750 people in Wilton, nearly triple that of Bridgewater Associates, the towns next largest private-sector employer as of last summer and the largest hedge fund in the world with its headquarters in Westport.

The company has gotten $14 million in state incentives to help underwrite the expansion, with the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development highlighting ASML among a half-dozen success stories statewide. Others include the animated feature film producer Blue Sky Studios in Greenwich, the Stamford consumer finance giant Synchrony Financial, and the Jackson Laboratory genomics center in Farmington.

ASMLs ballooning Connecticut workforce comes in the context of a state economy that has struggled to generate momentum, with the Connecticut Department of Labor estimating on Thursday a net gain of 5,500 jobs in 2019. The private sectors 0.4 percent gain was less than a third the rate at which U.S. employers added jobs last year.

Hiring at ASML has not let up in the New Year, with the company posting two dozen positions in the past week alone of 150 openings in Wilton across a range of disciplines including software engineering, optical manufacturing and mechanical design.

After completing a new parking garage last year at its Danbury Road factory to accommodate its growing workforce, last October ASML expanded for a second time in the Wilton Corporate Park across the street, in what was among the largest office lease transactions in Fairfield County last year.

Coming back with a vengeance?

ASML sells to two big buckets of customers: those making devices requiring chips with memory functionality to store data, and those with logic needs to crunch mathematical algorithms that spit out commands and information.

Stamford-based Gartner reported in mid-January that memory chip sales plummeted by nearly a third last year, driven by an oversupply that had been earmarked to support demand by conglomerates with hyperscale computing ambitions in the industry parlance, such as Google parent Alphabet and Amazon as they push into applications requiring artificial intelligence with attendant data storage needs.

Speaking on a Wednesday conference call with investment analysts, ASML CEO Peter Wennink said he expects a rebound in the market for memory chips, but with his crystal ball still cloudy on that front.

In my experience, memory always comes back with a vengeance, Wennink said. When it comes, it always comes quick  so ... well just have to wait and see.

The memory chip overhang pushed overall industry sales down 12 percent to $418 billion, Gartner determined, with Intel retaking the top spot for global sales from Samsung with sales of $66 billion for a 16 percent market share. Taiwan chip makers were the dominant buyers for ASML systems last year, accounting for just over half of all revenue and displacing South Korea as the companys top market. U.S. sales stayed steady at 16 percent of ASML revenue.

Andrew Norwood, a London-based analyst for Gartner, noted as well the impact on semiconductor manufacturers of the tariff dispute between China and the United States, and concurrent steps by the Trump administration to embargo sales to the Chinese chip manufacturer Huawei Technologies after an investigation into whether it stole trade secrets from U.S. companies.

The U.S.-China trade war seems to be easing as we move into 2020, Norwood stated in commentary accompanying his January report. However, during 2019 the U.S. added several Chinese companies, including Huawei, to the ... [list]restricting the sale of U.S. components. The immediate impact was to push Huawei into looking outside the U.S. for alternative silicon suppliers.

Despite China sales dropping to 12 percent of all revenue from 18 percent the previous year, Wennink said Wednesday he sees no downside at present for ASMLs outlook for sales to China.

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman
A Northern Ireland company has removed adverts featuring the Duke and Duchess of Sussex after action by representatives of the royal couple.

The ads by Ballymoney-based Hagan Homes play on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's severing of ties with the Royal Family and include images plastered on billboards and social media.

The building company has now apologised for the use of the images and said they will make a 10,000 donation to a charity of the royal couple's choice.

Founder and chairman of Hagan Homes James Hagan has said it was not his intention to cause any offence.

"The Hagan Homes Fit For Part-time Royalty campaign was intended to reflect Northern Irelands typically light-hearted approach to a challenging situation. Many young people struggle with the complexities of buying a new home and we were keen to emphasise that support is available in such circumstances.

"We believe Harry and Meghan are strong role models for all young people who are trying to find their own path in life and in recognition of this Hagan Homes is keen to make a donation of 10,000 to a charity of Harry and Meghans choice."

The use of any image of a person for commercial purposes without permission is illegal under advertising standards and other statutes.

Julie Burley, assistant communications secretary for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, told the Belfast Telegraph: "Many thanks for your email and thank you for making us aware.

"We will follow our normal course of action."

When pressed, the office did not elaborate on what this would be.

Billboards are in place off the Westlink as well as on the Donegall and Shankill Roads in Belfast, where the company is constructing developments.

All social media posts have now been removed, with billboards set to come down on Monday.

The images of Meghan Markle, showing her pensive and worried, are from an interview she gave to ITV last November while on a trip to Africa with Harry.

An emotional Meghan revealed in the interview how friends warned that the British tabloids would try to destroy her life.

One of the social media images describes her worried look as one seen many times among first-time buyers.

An ITV spokesperson said: "I can confirm that we did not give permission for these images to be used and we will be looking into it."

Hagan Homes, founded in 1988 by James Hagan, specialises in building houses for first-time buyers, and the campaign focuses on Meghan and Harry seeking a new home following the sensational events of recent weeks.

Among the taglines in the 'House of Hagan' campaign, which includes a crown emoji, are ones referring to the split with the Royal Family, including the advice: "Leaving family and moving home can be daunting and stressful - not with us."

Another states: "If after many months of reflection and internal discussions, you have chosen to make a transition this year to start to carve out a progressive new role as a home owner and if you intend to step back as 'senior' members of your family and work to become financially independent, we have the first time buyer home for you."

Another added: "You might still want to split your time between your new home and family home, best of both worlds.

"Homes fit for part-time royalty", the billboards proclaim.

The statement from the Sussexes' representatives refers to specific guidelines issued by the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) covering the use of images of members of the royal family.

"Royal images may not be used for advertising purposes in any medium," the CAP guidelines warn.

"Potential breaches of the CAP Code will be considered by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and, if necessary, referred to Ofcom (broadcast) or Trading Standards (non-broadcast), the ASA and CAP's legal backstops."
The European Commission has produced a map of where it expects the UK to apply internal customs checks under Boris Johnson's Brexit withdrawal agreement.

The prime minister has repeatedly denied that his deal includes customs checks between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, but his claim is contradicted by the contents of the treaty.

Sabine Weyand, the EU director general for trade, said that "now that the withdrawal agreement has been signed", Brussels would be publishing a guide to the deal, "including how the protocol on Northern Ireland will work".

Two slides in the guide include maps illustrating the checks and controls on goods going in both directions between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The checks are most substantial in the Northern Ireland-bound direction, with exit formalities for the UK to determine at British ports such as Liverpool.

Upon arrival in Northern Ireland, the UK will have to apply relevant EU rules and carry out any required checks under the Brussels rulebook.

The guide notes that EU institutions will have the same oversight as today, with the European Court of Justice as the final arbiter. EU representatives will also have the right to be present at the internal checkpoints and monitor the activity.

Live animals, animal products, and plants will have to face regulatory checks, while industrial products will face "risk-based" spot checks when passing between the two parts of the UK.

Some tariffs will have to be paid if goods are considered "at risk of entering the EU". EU legislation on VAT and excise will apply.

The slides detail the general nature of the checks and tariffs (European Commission)

Checks will also apply when moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain: anyone transporting goods between these parts of the UK will have to fill in an EU export pre-departure declaration and comply with EU export formalities.

Upon arrival in Great Britain, the goods will face UK entry formalities to make sure they comply with WTO and trade agreement rules. The Treasury has previously said that food and security checks would be required in order to avoid any goods "having circumvented UK tariff and regulatory controls".

The slides illustrate that there will be checks in both directions across the Irish Sea (European Commission)

The prime minister has repeatedly made false claims about the withdrawal agreement. Asked by a Northern Irish exporter at the end of last year whether they would have to fill in extra forms to export to Great Britain, he said "absolutely not.

Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes Show all 8 1 /8 Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes Conservative party leader Boris Johnson drives a JCB through a fake wall POOL/AFP via Getty Images Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes PA Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes AFP via Getty Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes PA Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes REUTERS Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes PA Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes AFP via Getty Bizarre: Boris Johnson drives 'Brexit' digger through boxes AFP via Getty

Mr Johnson said that any export declarations should be sent to him personally and I will direct them to throw that form in the bin.

The prime minister made repeated false claims throughout the election campaign that checks were not part of the withdrawal agreement, suggesting that he either did not understand the treaty, or that he was lying.

Asked whether he stood by his assertion that there would be no checks on goods travelling between Northern Ireland and the British mainland, a Downing Street spokesman said: The prime minister has answered this question many times in the house and has re-emphasised that there will be no checks.
Bailey McCann, Opalesque New York: What will it take for blockchain and cryptocurrencies to expand? Delegates at the recent Opalesque Miami Roundtable suggest that the digital assets market needs a 'killer app' that will usher in a new era of widespread use. To get there, however, more infrastructure needs to be built and the user experience will have to improve. "I don't think we are even at the app stage yet," said Mark Yusko, Founder, CEO and CIO of Morgan Creek Capital Management. "I still think we are at the protocol consolidation stage. We still haven't decided what's going to be the base layer protocol, whether it's Bitcoin, whether it's ethereum, whatever it happens to be at the base layer. Then we have to think about next layer protocols like Polkadot and Cosmos, because ultimately we are going to have a stack of protocols, just like the Internet." Yusko notes that in the creation of the internet as we know it today, it was protocol development that supported the creation of web browsers and simple websites, well before we saw the creation of applications like Facebook or Netflix. Facebook's Libra, for example, could end up being more equivalent to Netscape in terms of where the digital assets space is in its evolution. "I am very interested in which business models get attacked by decentralization," Yusko adds. "Decentralized finance is clearly going to be a monster winner." The digital assets space is also likely to u...................... To view our full article Click here
While the Arab world has already seen direct and indirect effects of climate change in its environs, grassroots movements for the environment are lacking and sorely needed

The catastrophic implications of climate change and global warming are already upon us, as climate change experts have been warning for many years.

Mans reckless exploitation and abuse of nature has finally caught up with us. In the last half-century, overconsumption and non-biodegradable waste production, the widespread use of fossil fuels, the rise in the scale of road and air travel, deforestation and fast paced urbanisation have brought nature to a tipping point.

The latest wildfires in Australia, which have led to the death of almost a billion animals and to the destruction of large tracts of Australian wildlife, are but one of the most devastating examples of things to come.

In his book, The Uninhabitable Earth, David Wallas-Wells warns us that climate change and rising temperatures will soon have a series of cascading consequences rendering planet earth uninhabitable. These include rising sea levels and flooding, water and food scarcity, rising pollution and declining air quality, the spread of disease, an increase in natural disasters and severe weather conditions, and finally rising levels of armed conflict.

Many of the anticipated effects of climate change and global warming have already started to materialise before our eyes in the last decade, and unless radical action is taken to counter climate change, the warnings of Wallace-Wells and others will become our new reality.

Over the past two decades, a global consensus began to emerge about the need to counter climate change. This consensus resulted in the signing of the Paris climate agreement in 2016. As of November 2019, 195 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) members have signed the agreement, and 187 have become party to it.

The Paris climate accords came to represent this emerging global consensus and many countries made pledges to take measures to curb their CFC emissions in an effort to contain global warming and to keep the increase in global average temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels; as well as to pursue efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius, recognising that this would substantially reduce the risks and impacts of climate change. The measures taken by many industrialised countries to curb CFC emissions, though nowhere near what is needed to reverse climate change, nonetheless created a sense of optimism that the destruction of our planet might be averted.

However, the rise of right-wing nationalist-populist leaders and movements to power across the developed and developing worlds has dealt a major blow to humanitys efforts to counter climate change. Nationalist-populist leaders such as Trump in the US, Morrison in Australia, and Bolsenero in Brazil, have made climate change denial a central part of their agenda and have aggressively curbed measures to counter climate change and have relaxed many of the regulations aimed at curbing CFC emissions in their countries. Moreover, these leaders, who are supported by big oil and gas companies, have favoured increased fossil fuel exploration and consumption over the drive to develop alternative and clean sources of energy.

The rise of right-wing leaders who embrace climate change denial represents the single most important challenge to the global drive to curb climate change and global warming.

Sadly, this gross failure in leadership comes at a time when we are beginning to witness first-hand the dramatic consequences of climate change and global warming. This has driven many young people around the world, especially in Western Europe, to take matters into their own hands. Led by the 16-year-old activist from Sweden, Greta Thunberg, who has become the face of a new youth-led movement to counter climate change, youth are mobilising in larger numbers to demand that their leaders take climate change seriously. Increasingly, climate change is becoming the central political question for many younger people in Europe and the US, and coming political battles will increasingly revolve around this issue.

Like the rest of the planet, Egypt and the Arab world are expected to suffer from the dire effects of climate change in the form of rising temperatures and rising sea levels, water and food scarcity, desertification, air pollution, disease and conflict. Many of these effects have begun to materialise. However, climate change and environmental issues do not occupy an important place in public discourse in this part of the world, and have not inspired the creation of environmental grassroots movements, even though many of the ongoing conflicts in this region have been indirectly triggered by water and food scarcity, including the conflicts in Iraq, Syria and Sudan. And though most countries in the Arab world have signed the Paris climate change accords, measures to curb CFC emissions have not been seriously undertaken.

Humanity has reached an important crossroads and the very survival of our planet will depend on what we do next. If right wing climate change denialism continues to rise, and leaders continue to ignore the signs and fail to adopt radical measures to curb CFC emissions, then our planet is doomed and, as Wallace-Wells warns, the earth will become uninhabitable.

However, if by some miracle, and through growing pressures exerted by climate change movements, leaders begin to take climate change seriously, perhaps we can save our planet. Aggressive measures need to be taken to encourage technological innovation, the use of renewable and clean energy, and reduced consumption and embark on behavioural change on the state and individual levels. Only by making climate change a priority issue on global and national agendas can we tackle this issue in a meaningful way. Recent measures taken by countries such as New Zealand to curb CFC emissions should stand as an example that the rest of the world should follow if we are serious about averting the death of our planet.

*The writer is a senior researcher at Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 23 January, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


A Great Falls pilot died in a plane crash while fighting wildfires in Australia on Wednesday.

Ian McBeth, 44, from Great Falls, died serving as an air tanker pilot with Coulson Aviation (USA) Inc. when the C-130 Hercules crashed. There were no survivors, Col. Buel Dickson, 120th Airlift Wing Commander, wrote on the Montana Air National Guard 120th Airlift Wing Facebook page.

"It is with a heavy heart that I inform you we lost a valued Airman and friend last night," Dickson wrote.

Three men died in the crash. First Officer Paul Clyde Hudson, 42, of Buckeye, Arizona, and Flight Engineer Rick A. DeMorgan Jr., 43, of Nevarre, Florida, also died in the crash, according to a press release from Coulson Aviation.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed the deaths in the state's Snowy Monaro region, which came as Australia grapples with an unprecedented fire season that has left a large swath of destruction.

McBeth is survived by his wife, Bowdie, and three children, Abigail, Calvin and Ella, according to the Coulson Aviation release.

"Ian's love for his wife and children was evident for anyone who spent time around him," according to the release.

McBeth was a C-130 pilot with many years experience fighting fire both with the military and with Coulson Aviation. McBeth served with both the Wyoming, Nevada and Montana Air National Guards. He was also an instructor and an evaluator pilot, according to the Coulson release.

He had more than 4,300 flying hours as a military pilot and navigator in the C-130, 836 of which are combat flying hours, according to a press release from the 120th Airlift Wing.

Capt. Cassandra Ross with the Montana Air National Guard knew McBeth and said he was a committed airman.

He was an incredible person, Ross said. He was very selfless. Service before self definitely embodied in him.

On Facebook, Dickson expressed condolences to McBeth's family.

"It is never an easy thing to manage. The loss of a brother in arms affects us all," he wrote. "Please know through difficult times such as these you are never alone. Dont hesitate to reach out and lean on each other as we navigate this loss together."

Coulson Aviation echoed those condolences for all three men's families.

"The aviation industry and emergency service sector is a small community both in Australia and around the world. This will be deeply felt by all," the group wrote in its release.

The crash brings the death toll from the blazes to at least 31 since September. The fires have also destroyed more than 2,600 homes and razed more than 25.7 million acres, an area bigger than the U.S. state of Indiana.

Coulson grounded other firefighting aircraft as a precaution pending investigation, reducing planes available to firefighters in New South Wales and neighboring Victoria state. The four-propeller Hercules drops more than 4,000 gallons of fire retardant in a single pass.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau, the national air crash investigator, and state police will investigate the crash site, which firefighters described as an active fire ground.

There is no indication at this stage of what's caused the accident, Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said.

Berejiklian said there were more than 1,700 volunteers and personnel in the field, and five fires were being described at an emergency warning" level  the most dangerous on a three-tier scale  across the state and on the fringes of the national capital Canberra.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 2 Angry 0
Disneyland in mainland China will close amid a deadly virus outbreak that has put multiple cities on lockdown, according to its operator.

The Shanghai theme park said it will shut down indefinitely on Saturday to prevent the spread of the flu-like disease during a busy holiday period that usually sees visitors flock to the resort.

Beijings Forbidden City, another major tourist destination, has also joined Disneyland in closing its doors in time for Lunar New Year over the outbreak.

Disney said it would refund tickets for admission to Shanghai Disneyland or other services at the resort. We will continue to carefully monitor the situation and be in close contact with the local government, the park said.

Thirteen cities are now on lockdown in central China  affecting around 41 million people  as authorities try to contain a new coronavirus that has killed at least 26 people.

Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Show all 154 1 /154 Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Paramedics wearing personal protective equipment carry patient on a stretcher on to an ambulance in North Point district in Hong Kong, China Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A medical worker wearing protective gear takes a rest as he waits for ambulances carrying patients infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus at an entrance of a hospital in Daegu, South Korea YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A medical worker sprays disinfectant on an ambulance after carrying a patient infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus at a hospital in Daegu YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People wearing protective face masks shop at a supermarket in Casalpusterlengo, one the northern Italian towns placed under lockdown due to the new coronavirus outbreak EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A trolley bus is disinfected amid fears over the spread of the novel coronavirus in Pyongyang, North Korea REUTERS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers wearing protective gear spray disinfectant as a precaution against the COVID-19 coronavirus in a local market in Daegu, South Korea AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing a protective facemask walks outside a nearly empty shopping mall at lunch time in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing protective facemask and gloves puts a drawing made by a girl living in the area asking residents to wear protective gear, next to a quarantine notice for people who have travelled and a notice asking people to register outside a residential compound in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman is taken into an ambulance amid a coronavirus outbreak in northern Italy REUTERS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ambulances and health workers are seen outside the Padua's hospital, northern Italy EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers in coaches leave MoD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire after being repatriated to the UK from a cruise ship hit by the coronavirus in Yokohama, Japan and head to Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People rest in a temporary hospital situated in the Tazihu Gymnasium in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Buddhist monks wearing protective face masks pray during a blessing ceremony for the people affected by the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, at a temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia REUTERS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers wearing protective gears carry a patient infecting with a new coronavirus to a hospital in Chuncheon, South Korea AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Soldiers in hazmat suits sanitize cargo from a China Airlines plane at the Taoyuan International Airport in Taoyuan City, Taiwan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Barricades are seen to block the entrance a the gate of a local mall in a nearly empty area in Beijing, China Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A vendor wearing a protective facemask waits for customers at a shop in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus The body temperature of an Iraqi child returning from Iran is measured upon her arrival at the Najaf International Airport AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Volunteers hand out free facemasks at a shopping district in Quezon city, Metro Manila, Philippines Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers wearing protective gears carry a patient suspected of contracting the new coronavirus toward an ambulance at Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo, South Korea AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A worker disinfects a shop at a market in Shanghai AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A restaurant worker wearing protective clothing as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus passing a bag of food to a customer on the street outside their restaurant in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A recovered patient is discharged from Leishenshan Hospital, the newly-built makeshift hospital for novel coronavirus patients, in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Volunteers in protective suits disinfect a factory with sanitising equipment in Huzhou, China China Daily via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers in protective suits attend to a patient inside an isolated ward of Wuhan Red Cross Hospital Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A drone operated by the Suwon municipal government flies around Changyong Middle School spraying disinfectant, in Suwon, South Korea EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers transfer medical waste at Leishenshan Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing a protective mask rides a bicycle with his children in Guangzhou, China EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Volunteers in protective suits disinfect a railway station as the country is hit by an outbreak of the new coronavirus, in Changsha, Hunan province, China cnsphoto via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman repatriated from Wuhan carries a child as she walks upon her arrival at the Van Don airport in Vietnam's Quang Ninh province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff checking the body temperature of a patient who has displayed mild symptoms of the COVID-19 coronavirus, at an exhibition centre converted into a hospital in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A medical worker in protective suit transports oxygen tanks at Wuhan Red Cross Hospital Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Boys wearing protection masks, gloves and modified water bottles sit on a cart at the airport arrival terminal in Guangzhou EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Employees work on a production line manufacturing protective suits at a clothing factory in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province cnsphoto via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers in protective suits move a patient at an isolated ward of a hospital in Caidian district following an outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan China Daily via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A worker in protective clothing, including face mask and gloves, carries a bucket as he works inside of The County Oak Medical Centre in Brighton, southern England, after it closed for "urgent operational health and safety reasons", following reports a member of staff was infected with the strain of the novel coronavirus AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers of the ecology and environment bureau collect samples from the sewage system of a hospital in Xinle, Hebei province China Daily via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man in protective clothing cleaning the County Oak Medical Centre GP practice The British government warned the outbreak of novel coronavirus was a "serious and imminent threat" and reported four new cases that brought the total recorded in the country to eight. Two hospitals The Royal Free and Guys and St Thomas', have both been designated as "isolation" facilities, with both currently housing Britons who have returned from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the outbreak PA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to the newly completed Huoshenshan temporary field Hospital in Wuhan. The global coronavirus death toll rose again with Hong Kong announcing its first death from the outbreak on 4 February EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of staff wait as coaches carrying Coronavirus evacuees arrive at Kents Hill Park Training and Conference Centre, in Milton Keynes, after being repatriated to the UK from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan PA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A crew member of the cruise ship Diamond Princess talks to a worker wearing protective gear standing near the vessel, where dozens of passengers were tested positive for coronavirus, at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Doctors scan a patient's lungs at Huoshenshan temporary hospital built for patients diagnosed with coronavirus in Wuhan Xinhua News Agency/AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People wearing protective suits walk from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, with around 3,600 people quarantined onboard due to fears of the new coronavirus, at the Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Indonesians who arrived from Wuhan are sprayed with antiseptic at Hang Nadim Airport in Batam. People evacuated from the Chinese city at the centre of a deadly virus outbreak, were transported to a quarantine zone on a remote island at the edge of the South China Sea, shortly after landing Indonesian Foreign Ministry via AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman wears a protective mask as she shops in a market in Beijing Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members hugging each other in an isolation ward at a hospital in Zouping in China's easter Shandong province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A portrait of Dr Li Wenliang is left at Li's hospital in Wuhan. He is regarded a whistleblower on the outbreak and died of the coronavirus which triggered wide-spread mourning on Chinese media Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Officers in protective gear enter the cruise ship Diamond Princess, where people tested positive for coronavirus, after the ship arrived at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, south of Tokyo Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Firefighters and personnel from the health ministry participate in a drill to prepare for the potential arrival of passengers infected with the coronavirus at the Viru Viru International Airport, in Santa Cruz, Bolivia Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Scientists are at work in the VirPath university laboratory as they try to find an effective treatment against the new Sars-like coronavirus AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers in protective suits attend to patients at the Wuhan International Conference and Exhibition Center, which has been converted into a makeshift hospital to receive patients with mild symptoms caused by the virus Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A girl wears a mask as a preventive measure against the coronavirus outbreak, in Bangkok, Thailand Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man is transferred from the World Dream cruise ship to an ambulance at the Kai Tak cruise terminal in Hong Kong as health officials conduct inspections AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers from a disinfection service company enter Lotte Department Store in central Seoul, South Korea EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man who arrived from Hubei province talks with police at a checkpoint at the Jiujiang Yangtze River Bridge Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A doctor holds a handheld digital thermometer near health officials preparing a health check for arriving passengers from China at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A resident walks across an empty track in Wuhan Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A scientific staff member works in a secure laboratory, researching the coronavirus, at the Pasteur Institute in Dakar AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members preparing equipment to meet passengers of a military plane, which evacuated citizens of Russia and ex-Soviet countries from China's Wuhan province Vsluh.ru via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Staff wearing protective suits as they prepare to disinfect a Vietnam Airlines plane at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi Vietnam Airlines/AFP/Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A South Korean person, who was evacuated from Wuhan, arrives at the National Medical Center after showing suspected symptoms of novel coronavirus, in Seoul EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Officers in protective gear escort a person (under the blue sheet) who was on board cruise ship Diamond Princess and was tested positive for coronavirus Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A doctor being disinfected by his colleague at a quarantine zone in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Buses carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan, arrive at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Indonesian health officials conduct an exercise drill in transporting a patient requiring isolation at the Belawan port in Medan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus The Pasteur Institute in Dakar, designated by the African Union as one of the two reference centres in Africa for the detection of the new coronavirus that appeared in China, is hosting experts from 15 countries on the continent this weekend to prepare them to deal with the disease AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A government worker disinfects a co-worker after visiting a quarantined woman's home in Qingdao EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An aerial view of the deserted roads and bridges in Wuhan Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers hold a strike outside the Hospital Authority as they demand for Hong Kong to close its border with China to reduce the coronavirus spreading Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A person has their tempriture checked in Qingdao, China EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion, when viewed electron microscopically Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/AFP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Malaysian nationals being directed from a bus by health officials in protective suits as they arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, after being evacuated from Wuhan Malaysia's Ministry of Health/AFP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People hoping to buy face masks crowd outside a medical supply shop that was raided by police for allegedly hoarding and overpricing the masks, as public fear over China's Wuhan Coronavirus grow in Manila, Philippines. The Philippine government has been heavily criticized after failing to immediately implement travel restrictions from China, the source of a deadly coronavirus that has now killed hundreds and infected thousands more Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Residents wearing masks and raincoats volunteer to take temperature of passengers following the outbreak of a new coronavirus at a bus stop at Tin Shui Wai, a border town in Hong Kong Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Italian citizens repatriated from Wuhan going though a health control zone after landing at the Mario De Bernardi military airport in Pratica di Mare, south of Rome, prior to be placed in quarantine Italian Defence Ministry/AFP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers arrange beds in a 2,000-bed mobile hospital, set up in an exhibition center, in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A doctor checks conditions of occupants in a hotel accommodating isolated people in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members wearing protective clothing to help stop the spread of a deadly virus which began in the city of Wuhan, arrive with a patient at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital. The Chinese army deployed medical specialists to the epicentre of the spiralling viral outbreak that has killed and spread around the world AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A baby wearing a protective face mask is pushed by a woman as they arrive from Shenzhen to Hong Kong at Lo Wu MTR station AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A health worker checks the temperature of a woman entering a subway station in Beijing Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A young child wears a protective mask and is covered in plastic while waiting to check in to a flight at Beijing Capital Airport The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday declared the coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ambulance crews arrive at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, as it prepares for a return flight from Wuhan, China. Eighty-three Britons and 27 foreign nationals who were trapped in Wuhan are being flown back to the UK Tom Maddick / SWNS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman carries a baby wearing a protective mask as they exit the arrival hall at Hong Kong High Speed Rail Station Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Camp beds at a Medical Assessment Center set up at the airport in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on the eve of the arrival of German citizens evacuated from Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Funeral parlour staff members in protective suits help a colleague with disinfection after they transferred a body at a hospital in Wuhan Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Muslims wearing masks pray for the victims of coronavirus at a mosque in Ahmedabad, India Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical officials waiting for people who wants to check the novel coronavirus at Myeongdong shopping district Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Children wear plastic bottles as makeshift homemade protection and protective masks while waiting to check in to a flight at Beijing Capital Airport Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A patient assisted by medical staff gets off an ambulance in Wuhan AFP/Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People line up to buy face masks from a medical supply company in Nanning, southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Countries began evacuating their citizens from the Chinese city hardest-hit by a new virus that has now infected more people in China than were sickened in the country by SARS Chinatopix via AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Millions spent their normally festive Lunar New Year holiday under lockdown Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Children with face masks wash their hands before prayer at Erawan shrine in Bangkok. Thailand has detected eight Coronavirus cases so far AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An Indonesian health officer points at the screen of a thermal scanner for passengers China confirmed that the deadly Wuhan coronavirus virus can be transmitted between humans AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Hospital workers wearing protective eyewear and masks examine an Indonesian student who returned from China in quarantine at a hospital in Banda Aceh AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ambulance staff dispose of an outfit at the hospital in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A person checks the temperature of a passenger to help stop the spread of a deadly virus as he arrives at the Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International airport in Palembang AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Nepali students, wearing face masks, attend a class at Matribhumi School in Bhaktapur, on the outskirts of Kathmandu AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Two Buddhist monks wear face masks while walking along a street in Yangon AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Staff disinfecting a residential area in Ruichang, part of Jiujiang in China's central Jiangxi province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers are seen at the construction site of a new hospital being built to treat patients from a deadly virus outbreak in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on January 27, 2020. - China is rushing to build a new hospital in a staggering 10 days to treat patients at the epicentre of a deadly virus outbreak that has stricken thousands of people, state media reported on January 24. (Photo by Hector RETAMAL / AFP) (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images) HECTOR RETAMAL AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Vapor blurs the goggles of an ambulance driver while they work, in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers producing facemasks at a factory in Yangzhou AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff getting on an ambulance in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A vendor of traditional masks wears a facial mask at his shop in Thamel EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An airport official checks the temperature of a passenger upon his arrival at the Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members arrive with a patient at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An ambulance driver talking with medical staff in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Wuhan Hygiene Emergency Response Team leave the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market The new coronavirus appears to have its origins in a seafood market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, a popular transport hub AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers produce protective suits at a factory in Nantong AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers scanned by thermal imaging for body temperature as they go through health measures and procedures after they landed at Rome's Fiumicino airport on a southern airlines flight from Wuhan Aeroporto Di Roma/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A Thai royal guard wears a mask while on duty at the Grand Palace in Bangkok EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing a face mask rides a nearly empty subway train in Beijing AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A shopper wearing goggles with a face mask and gloves uses a self checkout machine at a supermarket in Wuhan AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to Jinyintan hospital EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of the Italian Red Cross putting on protective gear, getting ready to give health checks to passengers that landed at Rome's Fiumicino airport on a southern airlines flight from Wuhan Aeroporto Di Roma/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A member of the Hong Kong government's Civil Aid Service gestures at the entrance to the Lady MacLehose Holiday Village which is being used as one of two quarantine centres for people who have been in close proximity with suspected cases of a SARS-type virus. Hong Kong will turn two holiday camps, including a former military barracks, into quarantine zones for people who may have come into contact with carriers of the Wuhan virus, officials announced AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff wearing protective suits at the Zhongnan hospital in Wuhan STR/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A Malaysia Health official checks passengers going through a thermal scanner upon their arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Staff disinfecting Yingtan North Railway Station, China China banned trains and planes from leaving the major city at the centre of a virus outbreak on January 23, seeking to seal off its 11 million people to contain the contagious disease that has claimed lives and spread to other countries AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A passenger walks past a quarantine control station at Narita airport, Japan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Patients queue up to seek treatment in Wuhan Tongji Hospital Fever Clinic, in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Quarantine workers spray disinfectant at Incheon International Airport, South Korea EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A member of staff checks the temperature of a guest entering the casino of the New Orient Landmark hotel in Macau, after it reported its first case of the new SARS-like virus AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to Jin Yintan hospital Little is known about the new disease which, if confirmed, would be only the seventh coronavirus known to science that can infect humans Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of the Three Gorges Medical Laboratory offering free masks to the public in Yichang, China AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Gabriel Leung, right, chair professor of public health medicine at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong, speaks about the extent of the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak in China AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of staff of the Wuhan Hygiene Emergency Response Team conducting searches on the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A quarantine officer at Incheon International Airport, South Korea, uses an electronic thermometer to check the temperature of passengers arriving by plane from Wuhan The virus causes symptoms of viral pneumonia, and has already led to several deaths EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A screen shows cancelled flights at Tianhe airport in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to Jinyintan hospital EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Health officials hand out information about the current coronavirus at Kuala Lumpur International Airport AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A store owner argues with security guards as he attempts to enter the closed Huanan wholesale seafood market AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers producing facemasks at a factory in Handan, China's northern Hebei province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff and security personnel stop patients' family members from being too close to the Jinyintan hospital Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus maya-goodfellowAn airport staff member uses a temperature gun to check people leaving Wuhan Tianhe International Airport AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A rescue worker walks past a notice about new coronavirus that has broken out in China Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Health officials wear face masks at an inspection site at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members carry a patient into the Jinyintan hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A staff member checks body temperature of a child after a train from Wuhan arrived at Hangzhou Railway Station in Hangzhou AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A quarantine station measures passenger body temperatures at Narita Airport JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers walk past a notice displayed near a quarantine control station at Narita airport EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers walk past a poster alerting on coronavirus screening ahead upon their arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An employee sprays disinfectant on a train, as a precaution against coronavirus, at Suseo Station in Seoul EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Kazakh sanitary-epidemiological service worker uses a thermal scanner to detect travellers from China who may have symptoms possibly connected with the previously unknown coronavirus, at Almaty International Airport, Kazakhstan Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Pharmacist Liu Zhuzhen stands near a sign reading "face masks are sold out" at her pharmacy in Shanghai AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus The Wuhan Medical Treatment Center, EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A worker in a protective suit at the closed seafood market in Wuhan Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers wear protective face masks at the departure hall of a high speed train station in Hong Kong AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A notice for passengers from Wuhan Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wears a mask while riding on mobike past the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market Getty

Authorities effectively quarantined Wuhan, the central Chinese city at the heart of the outbreak, on Thursday, suspending all transport and asking people not to leave.

The National Health Commission said more than 830 people have now been infected with the disease, whose symptoms mirror the flu but can worsen to pneumonia.

Wuhan hospitals have called for donations of protective equipment such as masks and suits, as supplies ran low and the number of cases grew.

The virus has been traced back to a market in Wuhan, which has seen the majority of patients infected with the disease since the outbreak started.

Cases have also been detected in Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and, recently, the US.

Fourteen people have been tested for the suspected coronavirus in the UK, with nine awaiting test results and the rest coming back negative, according to Public Health England (PHE).

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday declared the new coronavirus an emergency for China but stopped short of declaring the epidemic of international concern.

Additional reporting by agencies
Davos, Jan 24 : The billionaire philanthropist George Soros has slammed Facebook, accusing the social networking giant of helping to re-elect Donald Trump in the 2020 US election.

"Facebook will work to re-elect Trump and Trump will protect Facebook," the 89-year-old said during a speech at a dinner hosted by his non-profit Open Society Foundation at Davos on Thursday, reports Politico.

"It makes me very concerned about the outcome of 2020," Soros added.

Reacting to his outburst, a Facebook spokesperson said: "This is just plain wrong".

At the dinner speech, Soros called Trump "the ultimate narcissist", and Xi Jinping a "dictator", while praising Swedish activist Greta Thunberg.

Soros also announced he will launch "the most important project of my life" -- a $1 billion investment in "critical thinking" via a new network of colleges.

Earlier this month, Facebook Vice President Andrew 'Boz' Bosworth claimed that it was the social networking giant that got Donald Trump elected as the US President in 2016 because "he ran the single best digital ad campaign I've ever seen from any advertiser".

In a memo obtained by The New York Times, the key Facebook executive in the same vein suggested that the platform with over 2.45 billion monthly active users should not use its enormous reach to block Trump''s reelection in 2020.

"He (Trump) didn't get elected because of Russia or misinformation or Cambridge Analytica. He got elected because he ran the single best digital ad campaign I've ever seen from any advertiser. Period", said Bosworth who runs Facebook''s hardware group.

"Trump just did unbelievable work," Bosworth wrote.

"As tempting as it is to use the tools available to us to change the outcome, I am confident we must never do that or we will become that which we fear." Facebook also announced it will show fewer political ads to people on its platform and Instagram, starting with the US which faces Presidential elections this year, but won't ban or limit those as Twitter has already done and Google to some extent.
US airline passengers may soon be barred from bringing their pets on flights with them as emotional-support animals.

On Wednesday, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) proposed new rules that would no longer consider emotional-support animals to be service animals and would only allow specially-trained dogs on board.

But animals such as untrained dogs, cats and more exotic companions such as pigs, pheasants, rabbits, snakes and turkeys would be banned.

Airlines argue that, in recent years, the number and types of support animals brought by passengers on flights has grown dramatically.

They've lobbied the Transportation Department to crack down on what they consider a scam: passengers who call their pets emotional-support animals to avoid pet fees that generally run more than $100 each way.

Additionally, people with service animals say untrained creatures threaten their ability to fly with those that are properly trained.

The US Department of Transportation proposed a new rule on Wednesday that would no longer consider emotional-support animals as service animals aside from specially-trained dogs. Pictured: Oscar the cat, who is not a service animal, sits in his carry on travel bag after arriving at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona, September 2017

According to Emotional Pet Support, all domesticated animals including dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, hedgehogs, mice rats, ferrets and pigs qualify as emotional support animals.

But airlines say passengers have attempted to bring far more exotic animals onboard.

In 2018, Delta Airlines said some customers 'attempted to fly with comfort turkeys, gliding possums known as sugar gliders, snakes' and spiders.

Several news outlets have also reported passengers boarding - or attempting to board - with emotional support peacocks, miniature horses and kangaroos.

'This is a wonderful step in the right direction for people like myself who are dependent on and reliant on legitimate service animals,' said Albert Rizzi, founder of My Blind Spot, an advocacy group for people with disabilities.

He said some people 'want to have the benefits of having a disability without actually losing the use of their limbs or senses just so they can take their pet with them.'

The main trade group for large US airlines praised the proposal.

Nicholas Calio, president of Airlines for America, said: 'The proposed rule will go a long way in ensuring a safer and healthier experience for everyone.'

Flight attendants had pushed to rein in support animals, and they too were pleased.

'The days of Noah's Ark in the air are hopefully coming to an end,' said Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants.

A spokesperson for the organization told DailyMail.com that flight attendants have had to deal with several safety issues due to the increased number of animals on planes.

'Anything from animals getting loose in the cabin and running around, issues of urination and defection in the cabin which poses a health issue to everyone else onboard,' she said.

'We've had dogs biting flight attends that require a hospital trip and stitches. We have been advocating for the DOT to really define and crack down on some of these issues.'

Veterans groups also sided with the airlines, arguing that a boom in untrained dogs and other animals threatens their ability to fly with properly trained service dogs.

Last year, more than 80 veterans and disability groups endorsed banning untrained emotional-support animals in airline cabins.

On the other side are people who say that an emotional-support animal helps them with anxiety or other issues that would prevent them from traveling or make it more stressful. They aren't a very organized group, but there are lots of them.

Southwest Airlines handles more than 190,000 emotional support animals per year.

American Airlines carried 155,790 emotional support animals in 2017, up 48 percent from 2016, while the number of checked pets dropped 17 percent.

United Airlines carried 76,000 comfort animals in 2017.

The public will have 60 days to comment on the DOT's proposed changes. Officials highlighted a few areas where they are most eager to get comments, including whether miniatures horses should continue to qualify as service animals.

The Transportation Department proposes a narrow definition in which a service animal could only be a dog that is trained to help a person with a physical or other disability.

Passengers with a service dog would have to fill out a federal form on which they swear that the dog is trained to help them. A dog trained to help with psychiatric needs would qualify as a service animal.

Current rules do not require any training for emotional-support animals. However, airlines can demand that the animal's owner show them a medical professionals note saying they need the animal for support.

Airlines could require that service animals be on a leash or harness and fit in its handler's foot space. They could limit passengers to two service animals each, although it is unclear how often that happens under the current rules.
On Wednesday 29 January 2020, the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, will meet the Prime Minister of Albania, Mr. Edi Rama at NATO Headquarters.

Mr. Rama will also attend the North Atlantic Council in his capacity as Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE.

Media Advisory

14:45 Secretary General joint press point with the Prime Minister  Podium in the Agora

Media will be escorted to the location of the press point from the Public Square, ground floor (next to the press shop). Access to the location of the press point will be open as of 14:15, last departure at 14:40.

The press point will be streamed live on the NATO website.

Still and video images will be available on the website after the event.

Professional-quality videos and b-roll will be available for download from www.natomultimedia.tv. Please register for access. Contact: content@natomultimedia.tv

Accreditation

NATO annual media pass (2020)

Media representatives in possession of a NATO annual media pass (2020) can access the NATO HQ directly by tapping their badge at the turnstiles (NATO HQ Guard House South - GHS, media entrance, NATO Headquarters, Boulevard Leopold III 1110 Brussels).

Ad-hoc accreditation (day-pass)

Media representatives who do not hold an annual media pass and wishing to attend the event are invited to request ad-hoc accreditation (day-pass) directly at NATO HQ Guard House South (media entrance) on Wednesday 29 January 2020 starting from 13:15 (Brussels time). They will have to present a proof of ID/passport and a valid press card (provided by a recognised national professional body of a NATO country  i.e. Government, Professional association, Union of journalists).

Media representatives not in possession of a valid press card and wishing to attend the event are required to send a signed letter from their editor to the NATO Accreditations Office to NatoAccreditations@hq.nato.int no later than Monday 27 January 2020 at 12:00 midday (Brussels time). Please type ALB in the subject line of the message.

Given the processing time required for this type of ad-hoc requests, please note that we cannot guarantee access. Either way, you will receive a confirmation by email.

Security Procedures

A security check will take place and all equipment and personal effects carried onto the site will be examined by security personnel. Media representative are therefore encouraged to arrive with sufficient lead time to allow for security proceedings.

Contact points

Overall Coordination & pool cards Ms Alina Coca

natomediaoperations@hq.nato.int Telephone: +32 (0)2 707 1465

Accreditation Mr Angelo Pacifico

NatoAccreditations@hq.nato.int Telephone: +32 (0)2 707 83 46

TV & Radio arrangements on site and via satellite Mr Eric Morel

Morel.Eric@hq.nato.int Telephone: +32 (0)2 707 12 87

NATO Video on demand NATO Channel

content@natomultimedia.tv Telephone: +32 (0)2 707 12 27

Follow us on Twitter (@NATOPress, @jensstoltenberg and @NATO)
The company has announced that its oral solid dosage manufacturing facility completed pre-approval USFDA inspection with zero observations

Biocon is an innovation-led global biopharmaceuticals company committed to enhance affordable access to complex therapies for chronic conditions like diabetes, cancer and autoimmune. It is a leading global player for high quality biosimilars, APIs including statins, immunosuppressants and specialty molecules.

The company has announced that its oral solid dosage manufacturing facility completed pre-approval USFDA inspection with zero observations.

The inspection of the Bengaluru facility, which took place between 13 and 17 January 2020, concluded with zero observations and no Form 483 was issued.

The company said in statement,"This is to inform you that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted a Pre-Approval Inspection (PAI) of the Oral Solid Dosage Manufacturing Facility of Biocon Pharma Ltd, a subsidiary of Biocon Ltd, which was triggered by the submission of an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA).We remain committed to global standards of Quality and Compliance"
A former abortion doctor is speaking out against the movement she formerly supported, saying more regulation of abortion clinics is needed to protect women from an unsafe industry.

Kathi Aultman, an OB/GYN, began performing abortions in the late 1970s but eventually changed careers due to feeling uneasy about her job. She is now pro-life.

Ive killed more people than Ted Bundy, she wrote in a column for USA Today. Coming to terms with the fact that I was a professional mass murderer was devastating, but it compelled me to speak the truth.

The U.S. Supreme Court, she says, should uphold a Louisiana law that requires abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the clinic. The justices will consider the law during oral arguments on March 4.

As a gynecologist on call in the emergency room, I personally treated women experiencing severe complications, including life-threatening hemorrhage and infection from abortions, because no one at the abortion clinic had admitting privileges, Aultman wrote. No abortion clinic personnel ever called to give me information on a patient they were sending to the ER. This is not a safe way to practice medicine.

... The fact is that many physicians on staff at ambulatory surgical centers are required to have hospital privileges to ensure that patient care is not compromised in the event of a complication.

Americans were horrified by the filthy abortion clinic run by Philadelphia doctor Kermit Gosnell and then shocked to learn that an Indiana doctor, Ulrich Klopfer, accumulated bags of aborted fetal remains.

But these are hallmarks of an unsafe industry, Aultman wrote.

For years, many abortion clinics have gotten away with shoddy practices that no surgery center would be likely to get away with, wrote Aultman, an associate scholar with the Charlotte Lozier Institute and a member of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists. This is surely because abortion workers, legislators and law enforcement fear that they will be accused of restricting access to abortion if they hold abortion clinics accountable.

A former manager of an abortion clinic told me that she was instructed to use dishwashing liquid to clean their instruments when their sanitizer broke down so they wouldnt have to close while it was repaired, she wrote. Inspection reports in multiple states have found clinics not properly sanitizing their instruments. A patient who came to me for complications from a late-term abortion said she was kept in a cold room overnight without a blanket during an induction abortion. She was forced to give birth in a toilet the next morning, only to watch her still living baby drown.

Only 28 states, she wrote, require abortion providers to report post-abortion complications, and states are not required to submit abortion data to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Abortion clinics don't want this information to come out, and providers have taken states to court to try to avoid reporting, she wrote. ... I was pro-choice for decades. I performed abortions and had an abortion. I understand in a deep and personal way where the fault lines of disagreement over abortion in America lie. But cant we at least all agree on the importance of safety in the abortion industry?

Related:

2,246 Remains of Unborn Babies Found on Abortion Doctors Property

Appeals Court Gives Hope to Ohio Down Syndrome Abortion Ban

Pro-Life Group Pledges $52 Million to Re-Elect Trump, the Most Pro-Life President in History

Im Pro-Life -- Iowas Female Gov. Supports Amendment Protecting the Unborn

Pro-Life Win: High Court Upholds Law Requiring Ultrasounds before Abortions

One-Third of Independent Abortion Clinics Have Closed since 2012

Democrats Medicare for All Bills Would Legalize Taxpayer-Funded Abortion

Michael Foust is a freelance writer. Visit his blog, MichaelFoust.com.

Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Dragana991

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
By PTI

NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India S A Bobde on Friday underlined the need for artificial intelligence (AI) in the judicial system, especially in cases of repetitive nature and document management, to expedite dispute resolution process.

He, however, cautioned that AI cannot replace human discretion, which is necessary for a just decision making.

Speaking at 79th Foundation Day celebration of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), the Chief Justice of India said the use of technology in judicial functioning is a fascinating area and a significant breakthrough.

"Though I must make one thing clear: Because we have been dealing with the introduction of artificial intelligence in courts, I am firmly of the view, based on the experience of systems that have used artificial intelligence, that it is only the repetitive area or decision making such as rates of taxation, etc, or something that is invariably the same or which is in a sense mechanical, and that must be covered by artificial intelligence," he said.

AI can play a significant role in tribunals like ITAT in docket management and decision making, he said adding that "the artificial intelligence system we are looking to employ in courts possesses the reading speeds of 1 million character per second.

"I can imagine a similar system can be used to read and extract all relevant facts, compute tax effect and assist in a myriad of ways to propel the pace of decision making".

Bobde added that it is reassuring to discover that more nations are taking up steps towards experimenting and implementing AI in their respective justice delivery systems.

This goes to say that judiciary is doing and must continue to do everything in order to tackle with the workload in the judicial process, he said.

"Artificial intelligence, as I see, brings new hope to drive the public faith to our institutions. One of the most transparent measures to adjudge performance is your ability to dispose of cases," he said.

He advised ITAT that the institution must carry on its legacy to follow the best practices and the commitment to evolve as it has done over the years.

Quoting eminent jurist Nani Palkhivala, the chief justice said, "To tax and to please is not given to man; but to tax and be fair is."
There are few things more frustrating than watching other people fidget and look bored.

Feel then for the House impeachment managers, whose arguments in Donald Trumps Senate trial were met with derision from a number of Republicans, who have made every attempt to look as uninterested as possible.

Several dozed, some played with fidget spinners, one  perhaps an inspiring artist  did a reasonably detailed doodle of Capitol Hill. Presumably by the end of the Democrats presentation of evidence there will be lengthy games of hangman and charades taking place around the chamber.

It is fitting, then, that the only drink senators are permitted to take into the trial other than water is milk  the childishness with which the impeachment trial has been met is almost mind-boggling. Until, that is, you consider who is conducting this circus-like orchestra of complaint.

Trump has from the first day of his term managed to make the presidency something more akin to a playground squabble  nicknames for enemies, refusing to play with people you dont like, and an its not fair squawk that would put most two-year-olds to shame.

And his impeachment trial has been no different.

When Bill Clinton was impeached in the late 90s, he, almost doggedly, pursued his day-to-day duties in the hope of showing the nation it was business as usual. This, despite the media fanfare surrounding his relationship with then-intern Monica Lewinsky and allegations hed lied about their relationship under oath (spoiler alert  he did).

The former president issued some words of advice to Trump in a CNN interview aired in November, telling him: Look, you got hired to do a job.

"You don't get the days back you blow off. Every day is an opportunity to make something good happen.

 Donald Trump admits 'we have the material' in impeachment trial

Evidence suggests that Trump has rather decided to take the opposite tack, breaking his own tweeting record (142 in one day, where do you find the time?), bringing up the topic of his impeachment at unrelated events (China trade deal, sure Ill sign. But first let me tell you how terribly unfairly Im being treated), and refusing to participate in said witch hunt.

Senators from his own party are merely following his example. Despite legitimate fears from those in battleground states that their political ambitions could crumble if they opt to toe the party line, many senators are not only unlikely to vote against Trump but are actively mocking the proceedings.

Other Republicans, are, of course, listening attentively before they cast their votes  but you dont need to be a political savant to guess what those votes will be.

Its shameful to say the outcome of the trial is all but certain.

Mulling the amount of money and time that goes into an impeachment trial  a particular blow for the four Democrats who would rather be hitting the Iowa campaign trail than sitting in the chamber  I wondered aloud to a Democrat strategist about the point of pursuing a case whose outcome appears already to be set in stone.

All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Show all 6 1 /6 All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Alan Dershowitz Dershowitz is a controversial American lawyer best known for the high-profile clients he has successfully defended. Those clients have included OJ Simpson, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein. One longtime Harvard Law associated told the New Yorker Dershowitz "revels in taking positions that ultimately are not just controversial but pretty close to indefensible." Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Ken Starr Starr became a household name in the 1990s as the independent counsel who led the investigation that led to Bill Clinton's impeachment. That investigation began as a look into a real estate scandal known as Whitewater, and eventually led to impeachment after Mr Clinton lied under oath about having an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. AP All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Jay Sekulow Sekulow is the president's longtime personal attorney, and, now, personal lawyer in the White House. He has been accused by former Rudy Giuliani associate Lev Parnas of being "in the loop" during the Ukraine scandal. Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Pam Bondi Bondi is the former attorney general in Florida, and a longtime backer of the president's. She made a name for herself in Florida for taking hyper partisan stances on issues, and her penchant for publicity. She is likely to be a prominent public-facing figure during the trial. AFP/Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Pat Cipollone Cipollone is the White House counsel, and leading the president's defence team. Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Rudy Giuliani While not officially named as one of the president's impeachment lawyers, it is hard to ignore Giuliani's outsized role in this process. The former mayor of New York has been making headlines for months as he defends his client, and for his apparent role in the effort to compel Ukraine to launch the investigation into Joe Biden. We'll see how he figures in the actual trial, which he has said he would like to be a part of. Reuters

Its a real stain on a presidents legacy to have been impeached by the House, it really means something even if it doesnt result in removal from office, he told me.

Yes, impeachment was once considered to be damaging to a presidents reputation. But with a commander-in-chief whose disregard for Washington politics only makes him more popular with his base, how seriously can he, and by default his party, be expected to take the trial?

Trump is right  the impeachment inquiry has been a farce from day one. Hes made sure of it.
The Border Security Force said on Friday that there has been an increase in the outflow of illegal Bangladeshi migrants to their home country over the past one month, following the enactment of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

A top official of the paramilitary force said there has been a spike in the number of illegal settlers apprehended since last month.

The outflow has been highest through the borders in the North 24 Parganas district, BSF Inspector General (South Bengal Frontier) Y B Khurania said.

"There has been some increase in outflow of illegal Bangladeshi migrants to the bordering country in last one month... In January alone, we had apprehended 268 illegal Bangladeshi migrants, most of who were trying to sneak into the neighbouring country," Khurania told reporters.

Those leaving were mostly engaged as masons, maids and housekeepers in the country, another BSF official said.

"The highest outflow is via North 24 Parganas district. They (migrants) were mostly based in Bengaluru and north India. Some were involved in paltry jobs such as masons, maids, housekeepers and sweepers," he said.

In 2019, the BSF had apprehended 2,194 Bangladeshis, most of them caught while trying to illegally sneak into India. But since December last year, things have changed, the official said.

West Bengal shares about 2,216.7-km border with Bangladesh, a large part of which is unfenced.

According to BSF sources, troopers were not stopping the immigrants from crossing over to their home country, except in cases when they were found to be smuggling goods.

"Only when they are concealing any contraband or trying to smuggle something to Bangladesh, we are apprehending them. Otherwise, we are taking a note of their particulars and details and letting them go back," one of the sources said.

According to the BSF, one of the biggest achievements of the South Bengal Frontier in 2019 has been putting a check on cross-border cattle smuggling.

"In 2018, the number of cattle seized was around 39,995 and in 2019 it had come down to 31,210. This year so far the figure is just 1,301," he said.

The CAA seeks to provide Indian citizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis who moved to India on or before December 31, 2014, having fled religious persecution in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The law has emerged as a major political flashpoint in West Bengal, with the TMC opposing the contentious legislation tooth and nail, and the BJP pressing for its implementation.
Anniversary of day 270 people were killed when a dam collapsed, sending a tide of toxic waste to flood Brumadinho.

It is the first anniversary of the worst industrial disaster in Brazils history, when 270 people were killed after a dam collapsed, sending a tide of toxic waste to flood the city of Brumadinho.

Al Jazeeras Manuel Rapalo has been back to the scene.
RED WING  Residents continue to meet in order to discuss what should be done with the Jefferson and St. Johns buildings that are currently sitting empty. There is no plan for the old hospital but Jefferson is close to being sold for housing.

In a reprisal of previous meetings, those living in and around the old fairground neighborhood piled into the Foot Room in the Red Wing Library on Wednesday to hear updates about the status of Jefferson and to begin discussing ideas for St. Johns.

"No idea is too crazy to talk about," said Red Wing City Council member John Becker who acted as the meetings facilitator.

A few ideas for the space were raised during the session: creating a folk school, building houses or duplexes, creating a space for those 55 and older, and giving the land back to the Prairie Island Indian Community since all of Red Wing was once home to Native Americans.

The most common suggestion was to tear down St. Johns and create a green space until a decision for the area could be made.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mayor Sean Dowse and the City Councils administrator, Kay Kuhlman, both attended the meeting and voiced their support of tearing down St. Johns.

"Get the building out of there and figure-out our next steps," Dowse said.

Council President Dean Hove stressed that the city shouldnt demolish the building before developing an idea for the nearly two blocks of land.

"Lets try to have a plan first so we can recoup our money," Hove said.

The old St. Johns Hospital is currently owned by Mayo. Before the future of the area can be decided, the city has to work with the company to determine the fate of the building and who will be responsible for tearing it down.

Tom Wilder, a member of the community, suggested that Mayo should tear it down because the cost could be written off as a rounding error for the company.

The Red Wing School Board has not made a final decision for the future of Jefferson, but it is likely that it will be sold to Jim Patterson, a Red Wing local, to be developed into apartments.

"I think were really close to signing purchase agreements," Red Wing Superintendent Karsten Anderson told those gathered on Wednesday.

ADVERTISEMENT

Patterson and the school board plan to include a park in the sales final agreement.
Telangana state BJP president Dr. Laxman on Friday appealed to the Hyderabad police to not allow AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi to hold a meeting at Charminar against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), alleging that the Owaisis are misleading Muslims on the new citizenship law.

"The BJP delegation led by me (Laxman) met Hyderabad Police Commissioner and appealed him that permission should not be given to Asaduddin Owaisi to organize a meeting at Charminar against CAA and NRC. Owaisi brothers (Asaduddin Owaisi and Akberuddin Owaisi) are creating panic among people in Telangana," Laxman said.

READ | Asaduddin Owaisi New Jinnah, 'Muslim League Congress': BJP's Sambit Patra Fires Back

The BJP president further stated that the Central government's decision was in the best interest of people. He said that Asaduddin Owaisi is unable to 'digest' that the government is taking historic decisions considering all sections of society so they plan to mislead people in the name of CAA.

"Today, the central government led by Narendra Modi and Amit Shah are taking historic decisions by taking into confidence all sections of the people. Asaduddin Owaisi and Majlis party are not able to digest this. In the name of CAA, Muslims are being misled by them and they are being supported by Telangana Rashtra Samithi party and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao," Laxman alleged.

READ | BJP's Anil Vij Slams Owaisi Jr's 'my Ancestors' Comment, Says 'attempt To Divide Country'

Amit Shah-Owaisi spar over CAA

After declaring that CAA will not be rolled back despite the nationwide protests, Union Home Minister Amit Shah called for a public debate on the legislation on January 21. He said, "Modiji got CAA, now Rahul (Gandhi) and company, Mamata (Banerjee), Akhilesh (Yadav), Mayawati, the entire brigade is doing 'kau kau kau' against CAA."

"I have come to you for a Jan Jagaran Abhiyan in Lucknow. Our government is hardly 8 months old but we are conducting this campaign to dispell the falsities being spread by the opposition against CAA. I challenge Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, and Akhilesh Yadav to engage in a debate on CAA," the BJP leader added.

READ | CAA Row: Telangana State Waqf Board Sees 3-time Hike In Marriage Certificate Applications

Despite Prime Minister Modi's assurances that CAA is about giving citizenship and not about snatching it away, people across the nation have protested against the Act. Protests at various places turned violent with incidents of stone-pelting and vandalizing public property.

The CAA grants citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists, and Christians fleeing religious persecution from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh and who came to India on or before December 31, 2014.

READ | Owaisi Takes Up Amit Shah's CAA-NRC Challenge; Says, 'Debate With A Bearded Man'

(With inputs from ANI)
- Floyd Mayweather will be visiting the United Kingdom on a tour in March

- The undefeated fighter will charge fans KSh 20,000 to take selfies with in Blackpool

- It is understood the billionaire sportsman will lodge in a KSh 4,600 three-star low budget hotel

- Fans have reacted on Twitter to the charges the American boxer is splashing for his visit

Despite earning between KSh 70 billion (US$700 million) and KSh 100 billion (US$ 1 billion) in his glittering career, Floyd Mayweather will be charging fans who are willing to take photographs with him.

The rich sportsman stunned the world after announcing that he would charge fans KSh 20,000 to have selfies with him during his upcoming tour of the United Kingdom in March 2020.

READ ALSO: Mike Sonko's daughter left feeling like princess after senator lover surprises her with lovely roses

READ ALSO: Outrage as high school bans Black teenager from own graduation for his long dreadlocks

The undefeated boxer who has a record of 50-0 will lodge in a three-star hotel in Blackpool, which costs just KSh 4,600 per night, TUKO.co.ke has learnt.

According to The Sun, the low budget comfort zone has been voted as the worst in the United Kingdom's hotel chain.

Mayweather who is also regarded as the Money Man is preferring Blackpool because he will enjoy bright lights of Las Vegas while in his Legendary Icon Tour.

It is understood the event in Blackpool will see tables charged for a whopping KSh 330k while a VIP Gold table for 12 will cost KSh 238k.

READ ALSO: Late John Michuki's granddaughter Stacy Michuki featured on major US magazine

READ ALSO: Willis Raburu aeleza ugumu wa maisha baada ya kumpoteza mtoto wake

The four-division weight champion's visit with all the charges attached to events he would be attending has come as a huge surprise to many.

One fan expressed himself on Twitter saying: "Who told Floyd Blackpool is similar to Vegas?"

Another fan could not hide his dissatisfaction: "I can't for the life of me believe that Floyd Mayweather is going to Blackpool, seriously?"

A third fan added: "I see you are coming to Blackpool, you do realise they say it's the Vegas of the north... can't wait until you realise it's not."

Mayweather who is reportedly looking for a rematch with Connor Mcgregor will also be visiting in Derby, Essex, London, Cardiff, Glasgow, Sheffield and Newcastle on his tour.

Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly.

My husband left me after I made him a millionaire - Mary Miriti | Tuko Talks | Tuko TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
DAVOS, Switzerland - In her 12th year at the World Economic Forum, German Chancellor Angela Merkel issued a familiar appeal for dialogue and collective action. In an age of demagoguery and polarization, she urged her fellow leaders to leave their digital echo chambers and engage one another. Her anxiety was probably fueled by the Trump administration's emphatic rejection of the forum's climate agenda.

"The lack of conversation between those who believe in climate change and those who don't worries me," Merkel said. "It's almost worse than in the Cold War. We must overcome it." Her spirited defense of multilateralism and shared responsibilities was enthusiastically cheered by the liberal internationalists in the Davos crowd.

Though Merkel bemoaned a lack of conversation between leaders, there was no lack of it from them at Davos. To close out the week, here are a few snippets I overheard.

- The man of the moment

The most dramatic appearance Thursday at Davos belonged to Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who defied a travel ban placed on him by the government of President Nicolas Maduro and headed to Europe. At home, he and his allies face constant and "genuine risk," as he put it. But at the forum, he was among friends. It was in Davos a year ago, after all, where a slate of foreign leaders recognized Guaido - the leader of the country's legislative assembly - as Venezuela's lawful president.

Things haven't gone swimmingly since. An attempted uprising last year fizzled when key elements of the Venezuelan military refused to turn against Maduro, who remains in power and, this month, used his security forces to try to shut Guaido and his allies out of the assembly.

To rapturous applause, Guaido appealed to the Davos crowd for help in defeating Maduro and the "criminal band" in command of the country.

"More people have left [Venezuela] than Syria," he said during a speech, speaking of the more than 5 million Venezuelans compelled to quit the country as its economy was hollowed out. "We're not at war, there are no bombs, but we do feel the weeping of our people."

In a closed group session with a handful of journalists, Guaido suggested that Maduro's grip on power was weaker than it seemed. Maduro "thinks he's strong, but he can't leave Caracas," he said, reflecting the view that the regime is consolidating control in the capital, while essentially abandoning other parts of the country.

The way forward is unclear. Guaido called for increased sanctions on Maduro and a number of his key allies but demurred when asked whether he thought more should be done to curb the country's export of oil, much of which now goes through the Russian oil giant Rosneft. He indicated that he didn't want to see any foreign military intervention in the country's affairs and that his movement's chief goal was a transparent and free election.

Such a vote is unlikely for now. Guaido spoke wistfully of his country's collapse and the demagogic populism he blames for leading it down the path of ruin. Democracy is "delicate," he said, adding that the steady "erosion of institutions," including the undermining of independent media, the business community and trade unions, "unpicked" the "fabric" of Venezuelan society.

Now, Guaido is not even sure what will happen to him when he returns home. "It was a high-risk undertaking for me and for my family" to leave the country, he said, adding that many of his friends and allies had been forced underground. "I do hope I can get home safe and sound."

- China's loyal friend

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan spoke of his government's austerity measures - his trip to Davos was paid for by a number of prominent Pakistani business executives, not state funds - as he tries to refashion his debt-ridden country into a successful welfare state.

Khan aired his oft-repeated grievances about Pakistan's urban elites and the "skewed development" that left much of the country poor and only a few rich. Better, he suggested at a Thursday breakfast meeting, to develop like China, "which proved that, if you raise the standard from the bottom," the whole nation thrives.

On Wednesday in a discussion with journalists, Khan also went to bat for Beijing, deflecting criticism of China's persecution and detention of possibly more than a million Uighurs, a Turkic Muslim ethnic minority, in the country's far-western Xinjiang region.

"As far as the Uighurs . . . as far as China is concerned, China has helped us," said Khan in a conversation where he had just attacked India for its harsh emergency rule in Kashmir. "China came to help us when we were at rock bottom. And so we are very grateful to the Chinese government. And we decided that whatever issues we would have with China, we will deal with them privately. We will not go public on that."

- Wishful thinking

In a conversation with another small group of journalists Thursday, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani scoffed at Khan's insistence that key elements of the Taliban no longer operate in Pakistan. "One can also say that the earth does not revolve around the sun," he quipped.

Ghani, whose administration is displeased with how U.S.-Taliban negotiations are being carried out, looked elsewhere for possible sources of hope. "The elephant in the room in South Asia," he said, "is the environment, even more than conflict." The effects of global warming have been particularly grim in countries like India and Pakistan, where melting glaciers and the warming oceans have led to extreme weather events and devastating flooding.

But collective regional action on the environment, Ghani suggested, "could do for South Asia what the Community of Steel and Coal" - the initial bloc that went on to become the European Union - "did for Europe."

_ _ _

Tharoor writes about foreign affairs for The Washington Post. He previously was a senior editor and correspondent at Time magazine, based first in Hong Kong and later in New York.
A 45-year-old man accused of groping three teenage girls in the water at Bondi Beach has been charged over the alleged sexual assault and refused bail.

The Chinese national allegedly approached the girls, two aged 17 and one aged 18, as they swam at the packed beach in Sydney's eastern suburbs on Friday at 2pm.

Police will allege in the court the man sexually touched the teenagers and continued to stalk them in the water.

A Chinese man, 45, allegedly sexually touched three teenage girls in the water at Bondi Beach

Officers from Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command were notified and started an investigation.

The 45-year-old was arrested at Bondi Beach and taken to nearby Waverley Police Station.

He was charged with three counts of sexually touch another person without consent.

The Chinese National was refused bail and will appear at Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday.
A man who was killed in a horrific hit-and-run has been remembered as a 'loving soul' by heartbroken family and friends.

Lachlan Douglas was walking along the New England Highway in Queensland when he was struck and killed by a truck around 8.50pm on Thursday.

The 18-year-old's body was discovered by a motorist driving past and called emergency services.

Lachlan Douglas was walking along the New England Highway in Queensland when he was struck and killed by a truck

His shattered family released a statement on Friday following their devastating loss.

'We lost our son and brother in a tragic hit and run accident,' the statement read.

'One of the most loving and talented people one could ever hope to meet, Lachie was loved and admired by many.

'We will be forever grateful Lachie was, and always will be, a very special part of our family and we will love him always.'

A friend also took to social media to remember her beloved friend.

'Rest in peace Lachie you were an amazing friend right from the day that I met you in grade six!' a friend wrote.

'May you always be remembered as a great friend to a lot of people, my condolences for your family.'

Mr Douglas (pictured) died on Thursday after he was struck by a truck while walking along the New England Highway

Investigators are looking to talk to men who stopped at the scene and may have witnessed the incident.

One was the driver of a heavy vehicle that stopped at the scene and spoke to witnesses.

The other man made inquiries about the incident with staff at the Cabarlah Hotel.

Police are also asking witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to come forward.
March for Life 2020: Gen Z college leaders say science, compassion will save the unborn

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

WASHINGTON  Young pro-lifers who are leading the March for Life this year say it's science and compassion that will win the day for the cause to save the unborn.

In a Thursday sit-down interview with The Christian Post at the Renaissance Hotel, several Colorado Christian University students who are carrying the banner at the front of the March for Life this year said they believe that as science continues to advance and as people continue to show compassion to women in crisis pregnancies, the pro-life movement will emerge victorious and culture will change.

Jordan Jantzen, 21, of Arroyo Grande, California, emphasized that at CCU their pro-life campus group stresses "care for the individuals."

"I think that has to be at the centerpiece of what we do, as we have to be here for all people at all phases of life, from conception to natural death," Jantzen stressed, saying, "it's an open-arms," approach.

For Janaya Fulk, 18, from Silt, Colorado, it's through her nurse midwifery studies at CCU and seeing children being born in birthing rooms and watching their mothers hold them for the first time that has spurred her on.

"I cannot tell you how incredible it is to watch a mother hold her child that she has carried for nine months in the womb. That's what drives my passion [for life]."

Samantha Oldfather, 20, of Colorado Springs, underscored the role that science is playing in changing people's minds on abortion. "Science does back the pro-life movement. So whether or not you believe in God or have any religious affiliation, the science proves it."

She believes that younger generations, even those who are religiously unaffiliated, continue to have an affinity for the unborn in part because they have grown up seeing sonograms.

"My mom has the picture of me hanging up in our house, and even though I wasn't out of the womb, that is me. It's hard for those people when they do see those pictures to face the fact that an abortion is heartbreaking. The pictures don't lie. Science doesn't lie."

Katie McTavish of Parker, Colorado, concurs.

"Many young people are becoming pro-life because they see the evidence behind it. They see modern science proves life begins at conception, and as people begin to engage in rational thought and see the proof, that they'll say yes and get behind it."

McTavish's desire to be a part of the movement for life is borne out of her passion for advocacy for the value of life and for justice for the voiceless.

Asked where she believes the pro-life cause stands in light of the dozens of abortion restrictions that were signed into law at the state level in 2019, Jessica Hardman of Falcon, Colorado, said she believes the proverbial boulder has been pushed and has started to roll down the hill.

"It's now a question of when and what God decides to do with it," she said. "It's January 2020, the first month a new decade. And I pray it will be a new decade of life."

The 2020 March for Life follows a year when progressive-led states of New York, Illinois and Vermont expanded abortion up-to birth and 10 states with majority pro-life legislators and governors passed laws requiring clinics to meet health and safety standards and placed limits on abortion.

When Hardman read about the rapturous cheering that went on in the New York state legislature after a bill passed expanding abortion up until the moment of birth and that the Empire State building was illuminated in pink in celebration, she recounted how she wept and wasn't able to sleep through the night.

McTavish added: "So many people are going to celebrate something, like pro-choice, because they are crippled by shame or living in the bitterness from the shame they've experienced in their own lives. If anything, I want to talk to those people and I want to be able to sit with them, hear their story, and walk alongside them through that, and we know there is answer in Christ."

The young pro-lifers said they are buoyed by President Trump's in-person appearance at the March for Life.

"For the president to show up, too, I don't care what political party you're from, the fact that our country's leader is here in supporting life, I am blown away at God's power," McTavish said.

Oldfather said she believes the next decade portends good things for the unborn and that support for the pro-life cause is "exponentially growing."

"Those mothers who have had abortions, they need to be loved. I believe we are a loving generation, that we are a faithful generation. I do believe we are a pro-life generation," she said.
Week long campaign to highlight Kashmir lockdown: Shah Mehmood Qureshi

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on his return from the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos announced a week-long campaign in and outside Pakistan to highlight the continued negation of human rights violations and 175 days of lockdown of Kashmiris in the Indian Occupied and Kashmir (IOK).



However, as you have seen, their focus is more towards unilateralism than bilateral talks, he said. Indias recent steps and the one taken on August 5 reflects their [Indias] unilateralism, he added. FM Qureshi said that Pakistan was successful in its efforts to highlight the issue of occupied Kashmir at the UN Security Council despite Indian efforts to ensure otherwise.



The minister agreed that the US listens to Pakistan but looks at its own interests in the region and has not delivered directly on IOK. But what is also important is that the US has also not stopped the issue of Kashmir to be raised and debated upon as we saw twice at the United Nations Security Council. It cannot be resolved overnight, he added.

Even earlier immediately after the meeting with Trump in Davos, the foreign minister had tweeted, PM highlighted grave & deteriorating situation in Indian occupied J&K & the need for sustained US role to help resolve without which peace in South Asia elusive. President Trump offered to play a role to work on J&K dispute & ease tension between Pakistan & India.



Chairman of the Special Committee on Kashmir Syed Fakhar Imam will chair a special seminar while ration will also be distributed at AJK refugee camps. This message is not just for Pakistanis but for those across the Line of Control who continue to remain under a communication lockdown, he said.



Earlier in a tweet, Moeed W Yusuf, Special Assistant to PM on National Security Division, had also tweeted, President Trump promised support on issues most important to Pakistan. Instructed specific members of his delegation to ensure it. We look forward to speedy follow up.



Cultural shows and photo exhibitions across Pakistan will be held. Human chains as has been the norm will also be formed and I want to appeal to Kashmirs in AJK to come out in larger numbers so a message is sent across, said the minister.
The billionaire daughter of a former African leader is shedding some of her investments in Europe after she came under official investigation for alleged money-laundering and corruption.

Isabel dos Santos has invested heavily in recent years in Portugal, the former colonial ruler of her homeland Angola. But amid a widening scandal over her business dealings, Portuguese engineering company Efacec announced Friday she is selling her 70% stake in the firm.

Since the scandal erupted earlier in the week Dos Santos, reputedly Africa's richest woman, has also agreed to sell her stake in Portuguese bank EuroBic, though she has denied any wrongdoing in her business affairs.

Three people close to Dos Santos have also quit their non-executive seats on the board of Portuguese telecoms company NOS, where she has a significant investment. Dos Santos also has an important stake in national energy company Galp Energia, The company has not made any official comment about its relationship with her.

Angolan authorities suspect Dos Santos embezzled millions of dollars from the country's state oil company Sonangol and laundered it through foreign banks.

Dos Santos was appointed head of Sonangol by her father, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, before he stepped down in 2017 after 38 years in power.

Senior Angolan officials have long made major investments in Portuguese real estate and companies. Dos Santos also has stakes in dozens of companies worldwide. The Bank of Portugal and the Lisbon stock market regulator say they are looking into Dos Santos' Portuguese investments after the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists earlier this week accused her of using unscrupulous deals to build her fortune, estimated at $2 billion.

After sifting through more than 715,000 confidential financial and business records provided by the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa, an advocacy group based in Paris, the consortium detected more than 400 companies and subsidiaries in 41 countries linked to her or her husband, Sindika Dokolo.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
- The bird had referring ring on its leg which showed it originated from Finland

- It feeds on fish and was found trapped inside a fishing net

- Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officials in Siaya said the bird had bruises and appeared to have lost weight due to the long distance it covered

A rare fishing eating-bird has been spotted in Siaya county after flying for a record 6,987km from Finland to Kenya.

The migratory hawk referred to as Osprey landed in West Imbo in Bondo, Siaya County on Monday, January 20.

READ ALSO: William Ruto says he's not married to President Uhuru

The migratory hawk referred to as Osprey landed in West Imbo in Bondo, Siaya County on Monday, January 20. Photo: Citizen Digital.

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Comedienne Anne Kansiime's young lover admits dating her is difficult

A villager who spotted the bird reported to the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) team in Siaya who arrived at the scene and caught it trapped inside a fishing net.

According to KWS official, the bird had bruises on the legs but was in good condition despite having lost weight perhaps due to long the distance it covered.

"Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), also called sea hawk, river hawk, and fish hawk is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey with a cosmopolitan range. It is a large raptor, reaching more than 60 cm (24 in) in length and 180 cm (71 in) across the wings," the Service said in a statement.

Its origin was easily established since it had a refereeing ring on its leg whose details indicated it originated from Finland (Museum Zool, Helsinki Finland, M-68528).

Patrick Omondi, KWS director of research, called on the Siaya county government to put measures in place to Lake Victoria catchment areas since they have been attracting a number of migratory birds in recent surveys.

The bird is currently under the custody of KWS officials Siaya.

Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Contact Tuko.co.ke instantly.

I have lived without lungs for 7 years because of smoking | Tuko TV

Source: TUKO.co.ke
Shiv Sena, the party of Bal Thackeray  who was fondly called the 'Hindu Hruday Samrat' by his followers  had to reiterate its commitment to saffron, while MNS, a splinter group headed by his nephew Raj, rebranded itself to close in on the space perceivably abandoned by Sena after it joined a 'secular' alliance

Maharashtra witnessed a subtle yet decisive shift in its polity on the 94th birth anniversary of Bal Keshav Thackeray. Shiv Sena, the party founded by the late firebrand leader  who was fondly called the 'Hindu Hruday Samrat' by his followers  had to reiterate its commitment to saffron, while Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, a splinter group formed and headed by Thackeray's nephew Raj, rebranded itself to close in on the space perceivably abandoned by Sena after it joined a 'secular' alliance with arch-rivals Congress and NCP.

For MNS, the shift is practically indistinct as Raj had been dabbling with hardline Hindutva ideology in between breaks from his 'son of the soil' Maratha politics. The rebranding  launch of a new all-saffron flag  in itself is mere posturing on Thackeray's birth anniversary, as the ideologue's legacy is claimed by both parties.

However, bring in perspective a subdued Shiv Sena, now part of a precarious alliance held together by a common minimum programme that binds it to secularism, and, MNS' repositioning acquires a different meaning.

The preamble to the CMP reads: "The alliance partners commit to uphold the secular values enshrined in the Constitution. On the contentious issue of national importance as well as of state importance especially having repercussions/consequences on the secular fabric of the nation, the Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress will take a joint view after holding consultations and arriving at a consensus."

Dawn of a 'new', 'secular' Sena

To Hindu supremacists in Maharashtra, Sena had always been the party that unabashedly furthered their cause even if at the cost religious and linguistic minority groups in Maharashtra. The interests of the Hindu Maratha were foremost for the party. By contrast, NCP flourished on inclusive and pro-agrarian image among the rural population of the state. These were the only two poles in Maharashtra's regional politics, and national parties like Congress and BJP played between the two ends.

However, after BJP outgrew Sena to the extent of becoming the major partner in the decades-old alliance, Sena, that hitherto flourished on chauvinistic politics, felt slighted and stifled. Fast forward to November 2019 and the party, driven by its ambition, joined hands with the other pole, cheating BJP out of its chance to power. But power comes at a price, and for Sena, the price was its so far unrestrained hardliner stance and ideology.

Media and more liberal voices in the country were quick to point out the irony of the fact that the maximum-ever representation of Muslims in the states Cabinet ranks was achieved under a Sena chief minister and a member of the Thackeray clan.

Call it the price of opportunism but Sena did appoint Nawab Malik and Hasan Mushrif of the NCP and Aslam Shaikh of the Congress as Cabinet ministers; it also gave a berth to its MLA Abdul Sattar who had recently defected to Sena from Congress. This, coming from a party that often demonised Muslims and had even spoken about disenfranchising the community while sharing power with the BJP, could have hardly been expected to slip unnoticed.

Furthermore, the Maharashtra government's handling of the anti-CAA protests was noted and lauded by those who were critical of BJP-led states for cracking down on protesters. The Shiv Sena, held responsible by a judicial commission for much of the violence in Mumbai's 92-93 riots, was helming the government when thousands flooded Azad Maidan and Bandstand to protest the citizenship act. It was almost an unbelievable change.

An earlier piece in Firstpost highlighted the change in winds for Mumbai's Muslims who openly took to streets to protest without fear of retribution or crackdown.

"The damage done by Bal Thackerays portrayal of Shivaji as anti-Muslim was huge, but hes no longer around. His sons personality, described as 'sober and willing to listen', is a third factor for the hope Muslims have in the Sena," the article reads.

It is also interesting to note Sena's cautious response to the CAA, which is apparently finding support of fervent Hindus who perceive 'outsider' Muslims as a threat.

The party first supported the law in the Lok Sabha but later backed off in Rajya Sabha and stayed away from voting, stating it wanted some amendments in the law. Albeit the pretext of withdrawing support was not that the bill discriminated against Muslims (as Congress and NCP) but that it left out Sri Lankan Tamils living as refugees in India since decades.

MNS seeking to gain relevance, counter Sena

The electoral fortunes of Raj's 14-year-old party have been far from impressive. In the recently conducted polls, MNS won a single seat. In the 2009 Assembly elections, the MNS won 13 seats. In 2014, it won just one seat out of the 101 it contested. Sena has always towered over it as the original 'Maratha' party as both parties seek a piece from the same pie. However, it is unlikely that Sena's metamorphosis could have also transformed all of its core voter base. It is this section of Maharashtra's residents that Raj seeks to appeal to with his thunderous demand to throw 'illegal infiltrators' out.

He also went one step further and suggested the government stops Samjhauta Express before starting National Register of Citizens (NRC) and asserted that the Maharashtra Police needed just 48 hours to flush out illegal immigrants. He also did not forget to mention that 'Hindutva is in his heart and his DNA' while saying that if 'Hindutva is attacked he will come out with the full force to defend it'.

He has taunted Uddhav Thackeray indirectly for diluting Sena's ideology by embracing Congress, NCP and the barb was strong enough for Uddhav to retort and re-assert his commitment to the saffron ideology on Balasaheb's birth anniversary.

"I have chosen a new political path by taking along old political rivals as allies. I have not changed my colour, my core (antarang). It continues to remain saffron," he said, apparently countering criticism that he forsake Hindutva for the sake of power. Uddhav's remark also followed a barb from his estranged cousin, who, speaking at his party's function on Thursday evening, said, "I don't change the colour of my party to form the government."

Contrast this to the Uddhav-led government's decision to re-open the investigation into Bhima Koregaon riots that saw a bloody clash between the dominant Maratha community and Dalits during an event on 1 January 2018. The caste riots were triggered after upper caste people clashed with Dalits, who were celebrating the British victory against a Maratha ruler as the cavalry that defeated the native ruler was predominantly Dalit. However, the Pune Police had said the riots were a result of inflammatory speeches at Elgar Parishad, and that the conclave was funded and supported by Maoists.

Meanwhile, the Dalits accused Right-wing leader Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote for fuelling violence and Sena shared close bonds with the former.

Sena had, at the time compared the activists at Elgar Parishad to Al-Qaeda. In an editorial in the party mouthpiece, Saamana, the Sena said attacking the credentials of police, administration and judiciary, raising doubts about the state government and demoralising people was a strategy adopted by Al-Qaeda. "People supporting Elgar Parishad also have a similar strategy," the editorial said.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar, meanwhile, has said that the people accused by the previous Maharashtra government were, in fact, reputed social activists. Unsurprisingly, Sena has assured him that the government will consider re-investigating the incident from scratch as the case has been politically charged, with the BJP facing allegations of jailing activists who were opposed to its ideology and branding them as "Urban Naxals".

Meanwhile, reports of the Raj-led party joining hands with the BJP have been doing the rounds after former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis met Raj recently. The meeting further fuels speculations that MNS is toying with the idea of claiming the 'Hindutva' space vacated by the Sena.

MNS has also released two videos, where it has shown the map of Maharashtra in saffron colour and said that it will engage in new politics with a new ideology.
By Trend





Azerbaijans Energy Ministry has discussed cooperation with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Trend reports referring to the ministry.

A meeting was held between Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov and an IFC delegation headed by IFC Senior Regional Manager for the South Caucasus and Russia Jan van Bilsen.

Jan van Bilsen spoke about issues such as attracting investment in the private sector, increasing the role of this sector in the economy, the report said. Possessing experience in the development and private sector reforms in the energy sector in many countries, the IFC expressed interest in cooperating with Azerbaijan in this direction.

While informing about reforms in the energy sector and the preparation of a new legislative framework for this purpose, Shahbazov noted that six regulatory documents should be prepared with the support of consultants to apply these laws.

It was also noted that cooperation on the preparation of a new draft law on energy is also possible.

The energy minister emphasized that expanding the use of renewable energy sources is one of the priorities of the government and that bidding is planned after test projects, adding that the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is cooperating with the ministry for this purpose, the report says.

The meeting participants discussed the possibilities of switching to a liberal market model in the electric power industry, creating new production capacities with the attraction of private investments and long-term cooperation on wind energy in the sea.
A 47-year-old Libyan man who was captured by US special forces in Libya and brought to the United States for trial was sentenced to prison on Thursday for his role in the 2012 attack on the US mission in Benghazi.

Mustafa al-Imam, who was convicted of terrorism charges and other offenses in June 2019 after a six-week trial, was sentenced to 19 years and six months in prison by a US District Court judge.

US ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans died in the September 11, 2012 attack on the US mission in Benghazi and the CIA annex there.

"Each sacrificed his life promoting American ideals," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement, adding that Al-Imam's sentencing "sends a strong message to those who would attempt to commit such a heinous crime."



Imam was captured by US troops in Libya in October 2017 and brought to the United States.

"Imam played an important role in the terrorist attack that destroyed the US mission and the CIA annex in Benghazi," US attorney Jessie Liu said in a statement.

"Today's sentencing is a reminder that the safety of Americans -- whether at home or abroad, civilian or otherwise -- will always be our top priority," Liu said. "If you commit an act of terrorism, we will find you and bring you to justice." According to prosecutors, Imam was in contact during the attack on the US mission with Ahmed Abu Khattala, another Libyan national who was captured by US troops in 2014 and also brought to the United States.

Khattala was sentenced to 22 years in prison in June 2018 for his role in the Benghazi attack.

The death of Stevens stunned Americans and became the focus of a politically charged investigation by congressional Republicans of then-secretary of state Hillary Clinton, who was accused of not doing enough to protect the diplomats.

Clinton was never convincingly tagged with wrongdoing or negligence, but the issue haunted her failed 2016 presidential campaign.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In an effort to settle tens of thousands of claims that Bayer AGs Roundup weedkiller causes cancer, lawyers for some plaintiffs are discussing with the company deals that could lead to a total payout of about $10 billion, according to people with direct knowledge of the negotiations.

In some discussions, Bayers lawyers have said the chemical maker will set aside $8 billion to resolve current cases and reserve $2 billion for future claims, the five people said. Roundup has been blamed for ailments including non-Hodgkins lymphoma, which can take years to be diagnosed. Bayer declined to comment on the numbers or any terms under negotiation.

Bayers American depositary receipts jumped on the news.

To be sure, the $10 billion figure isnt final and could change as talks continue, said the people, who asked not to be identified because they werent authorized to speak publicly about the discussions.

Ken Feinberg, the lead mediator for the cases, has indicated deals resolving as many as 85,000 Roundup claims in the U.S. may be reached within a month. Feinberg said hes unaware of the numbers being discussed in settlement talks. The talks are taking place between company lawyers and separate groups of plaintiffs attorneys, each with a sizable inventory of cases.

While Feinberg said in an email he remains optimistic, any details about what may constitute a comprehensive agreement are pure speculation as to both dollars and eligibility criteria.

No Certainty

The mediation process is continuing diligently and in good faith to explore resolution under the auspices of Ken Feinberg, said Chris Loder, a U.S.-based spokesman for Germanys Bayer. There is also no certainty or timetable for a comprehensive resolution.

Roundup claims have surged since a trio of jury verdicts awarded plaintiffs almost $2.5 billion, increasing pressure on Bayer to settle. While several trials due to start this month have been postponed to give more time for negotiations, cases in Missouri and California got underway this week. Bayer is appealing the earlier verdicts, which judges have already slashed to $191 million.

Analyst estimates vary on how much a deal could cost. Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Holly Froum said last month it could take $10 billion to $12 billion. Thomas Claps, a litigation analyst with Susquehanna Financial Group, forecast $4.5 billion to $6.5 billion.

The St. Louis case, involving claims by four former Roundup users, is the first to be tried outside California. The city is regarded as a plaintiff-friendly venue  a jury there awarded more than 20 women $4.7 billion in 2018 over claims Johnson & Johnsons baby powder gave them cancer. J&J has appealed.

Bayer has steadfastly maintained that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, is not a carcinogen. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency concluded it doesnt require a cancer warning, something state regulators had advocated. But plaintiffs point to other research that shows glyphosate can cause non-Hodgkins lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

Bayers German shares rose as much as 4% on news of the possible $10 billion settlement pot. The companys ADRs also rose 4% to $21.59, the most intraday since Oct. 31 and the highest level since October 2018.

Feinberg, who was appointed in May to lead the settlement talks, has asked retired judges to serve as mediators in direct negotiations between Bayers attorneys and groups of plaintiffs lawyers, the people said. The strategy could produce a lower total settlement cost for Bayer than had it continued to seek a formal, global deal.

But the company will need to make sure to address all claims as it would still have to fight the remainder in court, said Perry Weitz, a New York-based plaintiffs attorney whose firm is involved in the two trials underway. He declined to comment on any figures being discussed in the settlement talks.

Defense attorneys have told plaintiffs lawyers Bayer wont settle wrongful-death claims that are more than 10 years old and only will settle claims of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, according to a summary of the companys settlement criteria seen by Bloomberg News. Some Roundup users are blaming their multiple myeloma cancers on the product.

Some of Bayers lawyers also warned the company is prepared to put Monsanto into bankruptcy to deal with the wave of Roundup suits if it feels reasonable deals cant be reached, people have said. Other companies faced with crippling litigation  such as Purdue Pharma LP  have taken that path.

The case is In re: Roundup Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2741, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California (San Francisco).

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics California Claims USA Pollution
Lynas Corp has raised the prospect of moving some of the upstream processing of its rare earths to Western Australia in a move that would further isolate the Malaysian sovereign risk that has threatened the future of the $1.6 billion group.

Lynas chief executive Amanda Lacaze said the company was considering whether to do some upstream processing at the proposed plant in Kalgoorlie, rather than just the cracking and leaching process that it is required to remove from Malaysia if it wants to continue operating in the country.

Lynas Corp chief executive Amanda Lacaze says the rare earths group is considering moving more of its processing out of Malaysia. Credit:Bloomberg

It is primarily an operating decision on what is the most efficient point for us to have a transport step, that may mean we are better off with the solvent extraction upstream in Kalgoorlie, before we send that to Malaysia for downstream (processing) and product finishing," she told analysts and investors on a call for its December quarterly results.

Ms Lacaze acknowledged it would also allow the company to bypass Malaysia entirely in some cases and send rare earths material directly from Australia to the US operations currently under consideration.
By Dr. Seth B. Whitelaw[1]

As predicted, the epidemic of opioid-related lawsuits continues to pick-up steam with the State of Washingtons latest suit filed on January 2nd against Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and several of its subsidiary companies. While the new suit follows the well-trodden pathways of previous claims against opioid manufacturers (e.g., deceptive marketing practices and public nuisance), Washington becomes the second state to link J&Js liability to its production of an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API).

Oklahoma & The Mutant Poppy Strain

Last September and October, we reported on Oklahomas successful attempt to hold J&J accountable for that states opioid crisis in our sister publication Policy & Medicine Compliance Update.[2] While the theories of public nuisance and J&J sales and marketing activities garnered most of the attention, it was the theory that J&J should be liable because of its API manufacturing activities that presented perhaps the greatest threat to the pharmaceutical industry because it targeted not only the makers of final products but others in the supply chain.

According to Oklahomas theory, J&J profited by manufacturing raw ingredients for opioids and then selling them to other companies, including Purdue, which makes Oxycontin.[3] The States expert, Dr. Andrew Kolodny, the co-director of Opioid Policy Research at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University testified that J&J coordinated with Purdue to produce a new strain of poppy rich in thebaine, a type of opioid, to supply the expected rising demand for Oxycontin.[4]

The verdict against J&J solidified the mutant poppy strain argument against J&J and other pharmaceutical companies involved in the manufacture of APIs, suggesting that any company that had any involvement with the manufacturing supply chain for opioids, whether directly or indirectly, can be subject to legal liability.[5]

Washington Follows Oklahomas Lead

In most respects, this latest suit by the State of Washington mirrors Oklahomas suit alleging violations of the States Consumer Protection Act, public nuisance, and common law negligence. Furthermore, Washington parrots Oklahomas theory that J&Js API manufacturing business contributed to the opioid epidemic, because:

By 2015, Janssens [a J&J subsidiary] Noramco World Wide Narcotics Franchise comprised of Noramco and Tasmanian Alkaloids, had become the top supplier of narcotic APIs in the U.S., the worlds largest market.[6]

As a result, J&Js ability to supply the necessary raw materials to Purdue, Teva, and other U.S. manufacturers allowed these manufacturers to significantly increase the supply of opioid products available in the U.S. helping to fuel the opioid crisis. In other words, Washington contends that without J&Js worldwide ability to supply opioid APIs, the epidemic would have been contained or curtailed by the limited supply of opioid products.

Conclusion

Whether or not one agrees that API manufacturers should be held responsible, in part, for the opioid epidemic, the suits in Washington and Oklahoma are a clear signal to all pharmaceutical company executives and compliance professionals that social responsibility considerations need evaluation, regardless of where the company fits in the supply chain. This need is especially true when a companys products are involved in a true public health crisis. It is a point we made in the December issue of the Update.[7]

[1] Dr. Whitelaw serves as the Editor of the Policy & Medicine Compliance Update. He also is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Whitelaw Compliance Group, LLC. and teaches compliance as a Senior Fellow & Adjunct Professor, Life Sciences Compliance with Mitchell Hamline School of Law.

[2] See R. Wilkey, Opioid Case Test the Boundaries of Liability  Oklahoma, J&J and the Mutant Poppy Strain, 5.9 Policy & Medicine Compliance Update 1 (2019); R. Wilkey, Oklahoma, J&J and the Mutant Poppy Strain  The Settlement, 5.10 Policy & Medicine Compliance Update 7 (2019).

[3] See Dan Fischer, At opioid trial, Johnson & Johnson moves to strike Oklahoma witness as de facto member of States legal team, Legal Newsline (Jun. 18, 2019), https://legalnewsline.com/stories/512646956-at-opioid-trial-johnson-johnson-moves-to-strike-oklahoma-witness-as-de-facto-member-of-state-s-legal-team.

[4] Id.

[5] See Thomas Sullivan, Opioid Case Tests the Boundaries of Liability  Oklahoma, J&J and The Mutant Poppy Strain Policy & Medicine, (Sept. 13, 2019), https://www.policymed.com/2019/09/opioid-case-tests-the-boundaries-of-liability-oklahoma-jj-and-the-mutant-poppy-strain.html.

[6] See Compliant for Injunctive Relief and Other Relief Under the Consumer Protection Act, Pubic Nuisance, and Other Negligence at 4.115, State of Washington v. Johnson & Johnson, et al (Jan 2, 2020, WA Superior Court, King County).

[7] See S. Whitelaw & J. Murphy, Rethinking the Pharma Compliance Profession II: Moving Beyond Ethics, Compliance & Risk towards Social Responsibility, 5.12 Policy & Medicine Compliance Update 8 (2019).
 This is the script of CNBC's news report for China's CCTV on January 15, 2020, Wednesday.

After a 10-month grounding on the 737 MAX, expectations for Boeing's performance this year were low, but the new released numbers were still jaw-dropping. Because cancellations outstripped new orders, Boeing's commercial aircraft net order book for 2019 was negative, the first time this has happened to the company in recent decades.

Boeing's total orders for 2019 fell 77 per cent to 246, or just 54 after cancellations or replacements. And after accounting adjustments based on industry standards, which exclude orders placed last year but not delivered that year, Boeing's actual net order book for 2019 is minus 87 for commercial jets. A Boeing spokesman said he was not sure exactly when the order was lost, but that it had not happened in the past 30 years. In terms of deliveries, Boeing delivered a total of 380 commercial aircraft in 2019, the lowest in more than a decade, down 53% from a year earlier. Boeing's performance was even bleaker compared with that of rival Airbus, which delivered a total of 863 planes in 2019, its highest on record.

The latest figures also mean the world's biggest commercial aircraft maker has officially shifted from Boeing to Airbus. The prolonged grounding of Boeing's 737 MAX has hit not only its own performance but also the major airlines

Boeing has also signed compensation agreements with some airlines because of that, but one airline reported strong results on Tuesday: delta, the only major U.S. carrier not using the 737 MAX.

Ed Bastian

CEO of Delta Air Lines

as you know, we don't fly the 737 Max. So, we're not directly impacted by that issue. We've been monitoring it. We've been in touch with Boeing around it.

Some of the affected airlines continued to come under pressure on the same day that American airlines announced a further delay in the 737 MAX until June.

We know that Boeing still has a backlog of about 5,400 commercial aircraft in the face of continued low new orders, making the 737 MAX go-around a top priority for the company in 2020. When will Boeing recover its performance? It's all up to FAA actually. At Boeing, the onus is on David Calhoun, Boeing's new chief executive, who took over this week.

Ed Bastian

CEO of Delta Air Lines

I have a tremendous amount of respect for Dave.

He knows the company well. He'll be able to get in and have an impact. And I think you'll see his name continue to elevate at Boeing in terms of making the type of changes that are necessary.

It's been widely reported that there's a cultural issue at Boeing for some time now. And Dave will clean it up.

So how will Calhoun reform Boeing, and how long will it take Boeing to recover? We will keep an eye on this issue.
Political parties may issue whip as per the annexure forms that are issued by the SEC.

Hyderabad: The State Election Commission (SEC) has made all arrangements for counting of votes for the 120 municipalities and nine municipal corporation elections on Saturday.

Counting for the Karimnagar Municipal Corporation, where elections were held on Friday, will be taken up on January 27.

Briefing the media, SEC Commissioner V. Nagireddy, along with Municipal Administration Director Dr T.K. Sridevi, said that the results will be out by Saturday evening. Elections for the posts of chairpersons, vice-chairpersons, mayor and deputy mayor will be held on January 27.

If the votes were equal in the indirect election, the winner would be selected by lottery.

He said that political parties should give the names of the mayor and chairperson by A and B forms. He said that the A-Form submission is by 11 am on January 26 and B-Form submission by 10 am the next day.

Political parties may issue whip as per the annexure forms that are issued by the SEC.

Mr Reddy said that the model code of conduct will be in force till Saturday evening. He said the polling percentage for 120 municipalities was 74.40 and 58.83 per cent for the nine corporations.

Dr Sridevi said that ex-officio members also have the right to vote in the election of mayors and municipal chairpersons.

She explained that if there are more municipalities or corporations within the constituency of the MLA concerned or the MP, they should give the option to municipal commissioners before the conclusion of counting.

Responding to Minister G. Kamlakars comments after casting his vote in Karimnagar on Friday, he said that the SEC will examine it. If they found it to be in violation of election rules, the SEC will take appropriate action, including invoking criminal proceedings.

The Minister had disclosed that he had voted for the TRS and claimed that 70 per cent of voters had cast in favour of the ruling party.
In todaysdrama column I review the Broadway premiere of. Heres an excerpt.

* * *

Winning the Pulitzer Prize for drama can be a mixed blessing when it comes to commercial success in theater. Even though the past 10 plays to be so honored all received New York productions, five have yet to reach Broadway. Sometimes decades go by before producers are prepared to bet on a prize-winning play. Take Charles Fullers A Soldiers Play, the harrowing story of the 1944 murder of a black Army sergeant. It opened in 1981, winning the Pulitzer after a 468-performance off-Broadway run. Norman Jewison turned it into a modestly successful film in 1984, and A Soldiers Play has since received two short-lived off-Broadway revivals, in 1996 and 2005. Only now, though, has the Roundabout Theatre Company deigned to give Mr. Fullers play a biggish-budget Broadway production starring David Alan Grier and Blair Underwood and staged by Kenny Leon, Broadways top black director.

Fortunately, this tautly mounted, strongly cast version was more than worth the wait. It is, in fact, one of the very finest revivals, whether on or off Broadway, that the Roundabout has given us

No small part of the excellence of A Soldiers Play arises from the fact that its well-wrought without being predictable. Its a whodunit set on Fort Neal, a segregated Army base in Louisiana, deep in the heart of Ku Klux Klan country. When Sgt. Vernon Waters (Mr. Grier) is found shot to death in the woods surrounding the base, the tan yanks of Company C, the 221st Chemical Smoke Generating Companyor, as they bitterly refer to themselves, the Great Colored Clean-Up Companyunderstandably conclude that he has been lynched. So does his white commanding officer, who promptly contrives to have the case investigated by Capt. Richard Davenport (Mr. Underwood), a black Army lawyer who is all too clearly meant to be the fall guy.

But Capt. Davenport, who takes his duties with crisp seriousness, discovers no less promptly that Sgt. Waters, as we see in flashbacks, was a spit-and-polish martinet who looked upon his well-meaning but ill-educated troops with undisguised contempt

Just as A Soldiers Play keeps you guessing all the way to the final curtain, so do the members of Mr. Leons cast shun stock characterizations. Mr. Grier, for example, is best known as a stand-up comedian whose performing energy is essentially genial. Thats what makes his performance all the more excitingly unpredictable, for he is playing a decent man who is cleaved by passionate rage at the system of which he has chosen to be a part

* * *

Read the whole thing

A video featurette about A Soldiers Play:
Shes the lady in red when everybody else is wearing tan! Fran Drescher has tied the knot.

Hear that, Mista Sheffield!?

Surprise!!!!! We got married! The Nanny alum tweeted Sunday, sharing a snapshot of herself with her new husband, inventor-entrepreneur Shiva Ayyadurai.

I married my warrior princess @frandrescher who my mom in Gods great Heaven sent, Ayyadurai tweeted. " Be The Light - Know the Truth - Find Your Way.

Advertisement

She of the signature foghorn effect wed the MIT lecturer and computer-science guy at their beachfront home on Sunday in front of an intimate group of family and friends, her assistant told The Times.

Drescher, 56, who played the Sheffield households leopard-print-loving nanny on the long-running CBS sitcom, wore a red Badgley Mischka gown.

Ayyadurai wore a Ralph Lauren suit, People reported.

Dreschers one-time on-screen husband, Charles Shaugnessey (Mr. Sheffield), was among those on hand to congratulate her on her union.

The secrets out! Congratulations to my darling @frandrescher and @va_shiva May you enjoy this lifetime and many more, he tweeted, posting a picture with the blushing bride sporting a bindi on her forehead and a red ensemble, which keeps with Hindu marriage rites.

TV Lands Happily Divorced star met 50-year-old Ayyadurai about a year ago when he was giving a talk at an event hosted by holistic health guru Deepak Chopra, according to the Huffington Post.

Its the second marriage for Cancer Schmancer author Drescher, who was previously wed to her producing partner Peter Marc Jacobson. The comedic duo were husband and wife for 21 years before divorcing in 1999; Jacobson then revealed he was gay. Still producing together, the former couple based their TV Land series on their relationship.

When we were married, we were a heterosexual married couple, Jacobson told The Times in 2011. Its different now, but our love has always been there. The divorce was very amicable. Everything was split down the middle. We always have done our best when were together.

The Nanny reruns seem to be in order. Or a nostalgic look at all my Loehmanns wares... Follow me on Twitter @NardineSaad.
23.01.2020 LISTEN

The sole aim of this not- for- profit- organization, MEMHREP, is to create the sensitization about mental illness and to draw the attention of the government to people who are mentally challenged and living on the streets. The major reason for the birth of this organization by the CEO Mr. Adu Gyamfi is to create awareness for the government to pay attention to individuals with mental health conditions, especially those living in the streets. Speaking with Adom FM, he said that it is quite worrying to leave these mentally ill patients on the streets unattended. He called on the government to establish more rehabilitation centers to house these people. With some, he explained, that the illness started progressively and got out of hand without medical attention. He advised that if the illness is diagnosed early and treated, hardly would we see any mentally ill patient in the streets.

In the course of the interaction, Mr. Adu Gyamfi elaborated that education about the prevention of mental illness could be taught in schools, churches and even at places of work with the help of the government. He made an appeal to the government to help build more rehabilitation centers in order to get these Nyame Adehye off the streets. He added that the planting for food and jobs would also help to set some of them up with jobs after recovery so that they can also help their families. He asked the government to aid the organization and other not-for-profit organizations. He bemoaned the fact that mentally ill people moving about in the streets does not speak well of the country, especially in situations where investors outside the country come, only to be met with such an embarrassing site.

He lamented further, that these people pose a threat to the public as well as local and foreign investments. He gives an instance where one of these Nyame Adehye destroyed the goods of a trader at Adum in the Ashanti Region. Hes therefore pleading with the government to aid the organization in taking care of the mentally ill patients because he has learned from his experience that we are blessed with new and innovative ideas whenever we lend a hand to someone or people in need.

MEMHREP is leaving no stone unturned in the fight against mental illness. The organisation is already providing care and support to persons living with mental illness in the Ashanti Region and even beyond. For the past 8 years, the NGO has been feeding, bathing and clothing the mentally ill persons on the streets of Kumasi metropolis and the 4 other regions at its own expense. Led by Mr. Adu Gyamfi, MEMHREP rescued a 4-month abandoned baby of a woman suffering from mental illness sleeping on the street in September, 2014. It also emerged the best institution in maize production in the Atwima Kwanwoma District in that same year during the National Farmers Day Celebration.

Currently, MEMHREP is in the process of building an ultra-modern state of the art Rehabilitation Centre to support our Community Mental Health Outreach Programme in the Effiduasi-Asokore District in the Ashanti Region. The centre will serve as a safe haven for persons living with mental illness across the streets of the Region and even those afar. Employable skills will be offer to them during their recovery process to avoid any relapse. Finally, reintegration of these patients back to the society through their families sets in after their recovery is fully complete. The organisation therefore is ever ready and fully prepared to help persons living with mental illness. With support from all concerned citizens, there could be a swift reaction to our course. Note that, mental illness is no respecter of persons. Its now or never. Our support will give them hope. Every little help!

MEMHREP

www.memhrep.org

email: [email protected]

+233 (0)248762692

MOMO: 0240838893
TECUN UMAN, Guatemala (AP)  Hundreds of Central American migrants stranded in Guatemala on Wednesday were weighing limited options as to how to make it into Mexico, guarded by troops with riot shields and immigration agents.

The goal of the migrants is to either to live and work in Mexico or continue on toward the United States. To that end, some broke away from their stalled caravan and struck out on their own to cross in small groups at a distance from the Suchiate River border bridge, which forms a chokepoint on the migratory route north from Central America, hoping to avoid patrolling officers.

A woman in Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico, said she saw 30 to 40 people scamper across to the south of the bridge and make it past security forces early in the morning.

But three young men who tried to evade the National Guard through the low brush were intercepted and sent back to the Guatemalan side.

Those who did make it faced numerous difficulties on the path into Mexico, however, with checkpoints and more patrols searching for and detaining migrants.

We have seen and confirm that there are groups that have dispersed the length of the Suchiate River, which they try to cross at different border points, said Father Fernando Cuevas, who runs the Casa del Migrante shelter in the Guatemalan border town of Tecun Uman.

Nevertheless there is the National Guard in Mexico, there are migration agents, they are aware of it and making detentions at key points, he continued.

Several hundred migrants were resting on blankets and blue canvas cots on Wednesday across the street from the shelter in a grassy expanse the length of a football field where tents and tarps were set up to accommodate the overflow. On a normal day, the Casa del Migrante receives dribs and drabs instead of the massive flow of thousands seen over the last week, the priest said.

They formed snaking lines  men to one side, women to the other  to receive a hot breakfast of spaghetti with chopped up hot dogs, tortillas, fried plantains and radish-carrot slaw.

Story continues

There appeared to be as many opinions as to what to do next as there were people in the field.

Miriam Patricia Enamorado, 30, walked and hitchhiked from Santa Barbara, Honduras, with her 11-year-old daughter starting five days ago only to get stuck at the river after migrants were blocked from crossing in recent days.

She hopes to get to the United States, but is willing to settle for Mexico if she can find work. Unwilling to risk her daughter in a possible new clash with border agents, her plan was now to wait for the official bridge crossing to reopen and formally request refuge in the country.

It is the dream we all have because our country is no longer livable," Enamorado said, citing the same problems as others fleeing poverty and gang violence in Central America:

Leonel Suarez, a 29-year-old machine operator from San Pedro Sula, said he hoped an agreement could be struck with Mexican authorities for the migrants to proceed, but absent that he wouldn't rule out another attempt to cross en masse. A similar previous attempt ended in scuffles, rock-throwing, detentions and most of the migrants withdrawing back to Guatemalan soil.

We would try again to see if we manage to pass, but not aggressively, Suarez said, adding that he sees trying to cross quietly in small groups as a sure way to get caught.

As a few dozen migrants splashed and bathed in the shallows of the Suchiate, soaping themselves from head to toe and rinsing off, Mexican agents observed calmly from the other bank. Dozens more lazed in the shade, ready to snap to attention with riot shields if necessary but more at ease than during the confrontations of recent days. Drones buzzed over the river at several points providing an eye in the sky.

The typical cross-river commerce of bundles of goods like soda, milk, cereal, shampoo and toilet paper recovered some of its normality, although at least one Tecun Uman local was turned back when he tried to make it to a day job in Mexico.

Critics believe the crackdown by Mexican authorities, applauded by Washington, will have only one result: lining the pockets of coyotes, or people smugglers.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador touted the success of his government's strategy Wednesday, noting that many of the migrants had begun to voluntarily return to their countries.

And acting U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf commended Mexico's actions.

The efforts by the Mexican National Guard and other officials have thus far been effective at maintaining the integrity of their border, despite outbreaks of violence and lawlessness by people who are attempting to illegally enter Mexico on their way to the United States, Wolf said. He said DHS was monitoring the caravan closely and had dozens of personnel assisting throughout Central America.

The AP saw U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents working with Guatemalan police at highway checkpoints last week as caravan members passed. The U.S. said they were there to help train and support local agents.

They absolutely must be satisfied with (Mexico's) actions because in reality it's their (the United States') plan, said Guadalupe Correa Cabrera, a professor at George Mason University who is investigating how caravans form.

She said it is an complicated issue for Mexico, but the National Guard had no business being placed at the border to handle immigration because they weren't trained for it.

Mexico announced last June that it was deploying the newly formed National Guard to assist in immigration enforcement to avoid tariffs that Trump threatened on Mexican imports.

The number of migrants stuck at the Guatemala-Mexico border continued to dwindle Wednesday as detentions, resignation and splintering eroded the caravan's cohesiveness.

Overnight the first repatriation buses left Tecun Uman with dozens on board, and on Tuesday Mexico began flying and busing hundreds of migrants who had crossed to that country back to Honduras.

Seven more buses left Mexico for Honduras on Wednesday, carrying 240 migrants back home, and two flights left with an additional 220 Hondurans, Mexico's National Immigration Institute saidd. By Wednesday, the number of people outside the Casa del Migrante in Tecun Uman was perhaps half of what it was at its peak Sunday night.

Walter Basilio, a 40-year-old from Cortes, Honduras, was one of those who decided to board a bus.

It's really (difficult) to cross to the other side now," he said, wary of getting beaten up if there's another clash. Better to go home.

While the caravans of recent years have garnered attention, they represent just a fraction of the normal migratory traffic moving from Central America up through Mexico.

Mexico's National Immigration Institute said Wednesday that more than 2,000 Central Americans had been detained at inspection points in the southern border states of Chiapas and Tabasco the previous day . It did not say how many may have been part of the caravan.

___

Associated Press writer Peter Orsi reported this story in Tecun Uman, Guatemala, and AP writer Maria Verza reported from Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico. AP photojournalist Moises Castillo in Tecun Uman conbtributed to this report.
Turkish president says army personnel being sent to Libya are supporting and training UN-recognised governments forces.

Turkish military personnel being sent to Libya are supporting and training forces of the internationally recognised government of Fayez al-Sarraj, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said.

Speaking in Istanbul on Friday after talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Erdogan also said countries which attended a Libya summit in Berlin on Sunday should not favour al-Sarrajs opponent, Khalifa Haftar, after he left the meeting without signing a ceasefire deal.

Earlier on Friday, the Turkish president warned of chaos in Libya unless peace is quickly established, as he hosted Merkel.

The two leaders inaugurated a new Turkish-German University in Istanbul, where Erdogan expressed his concerns about the Libyan conflict.

If calm is not established as soon as possible, the atmosphere of chaos in Libya will affect all the Mediterranean basin, he said in a speech

He called for greater pressure on renegade military commander Khalifa Haftar, who is waging an offensive against the United Nations-recognised government in Tripoli, which is supported by Turkey.

Missile attacks this week on Tripolis Mitiga airport, blamed on Haftars forces, show who is in favour of peace and who is in favour of bloodshed and tears, Erdogan said.

We hope the international community will not make the mistakes it made in Syria, he said.

Haftars forces, which are aligned with an eastern-based rival administration and control the east and much of southern Libya, receive support from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Egypt.

The refugee issue

In addition to the conflict in Libya, talks between Erdogan and Merkel were expected to also focus on the future of a migration deal between Turkey and the European Union that helped decrease refugee flows to Europe.

The number of refugees and migrants entering Europe from Turkey rose significantly last year as people fleeing conflict in Syria and Afghanistan arrived in Greece, leading to deteriorating conditions in overcrowded camps on the eastern Aegean islands.

200123073318876

Spearheaded by Germany, the EU agreed in 2016 to grant Turkey up to six billion euros ($6.6bn) in Syrian refugee aid money and other incentives to persuade the government in Ankara to stop migrants departing for Greece.

Erdogan frequently accuses the EU of not fulfilling its side of the deal and has in the past threatened to open the gates for refugees and migrants to head to Europe.

He says his country cannot be expected to shoulder the burden of hosting more than 3.6 million Syrian refugees and wants European support to settle some of them in a so-called safe zone in northern Syria. European nations are reluctant to back such a proposal.

The timing of Merkels visit also comes amid rising tensions with the EU over Turkeys attempts to drill for natural gas in waters in the eastern Mediterranean where EU-member Cyprus says it has exclusive economic rights. Cyprus last week denounced Turkey as a pirate state that flouts international law.

Turkey insists it is protecting its rights and interests, and those of breakaway Turkish Cypriots, to the regions energy resources. It says it is carrying out drilling activities as part of an agreement with the Turkish Cypriots.
by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, January 24, 2020

Twitter is urging a Virginia judge to dismiss a defamation lawsuit brought by California Representative Devin Nunes, arguing that it is immune from liability for material posted by users.

Congress granted providers of online platforms like Twitter broad immunity from claims that seek to hold them liable for harms caused by defamatory or otherwise harmful content that appeared on the provider's platform, but were created by third parties, Twitter writes in a motion filed this week in Henrico County Circuit Court.

The company is asking the judge to dismiss the case at an early stage, arguing that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act not only shields web platforms from libel lawsuits, but also protects companies from the burdens of litigation.

The court battle dates to March, when the Republican lawmaker sued Twitter and three users -- including the anonymous creators of the parody accounts Devin Nunes' Mom and Devin Nunes' Cow -- over insulting tweets. The other Twitter user named in the case, political consultant Liz Mair, was a Virginia resident.

advertisement advertisement

Nunes, who is seeking $250 million, alleged that Twitter allowed its platform to serve as a portal of defamation as part of an anti-Republican bias.

One tweet by Devin Nunes' Mom referenced in the complaint reads: @DevinNunes your district is looking for you? Are you trying to obstruct a federal investigation again? You come home right this instant or no more Minecraft!

Numerous judges have ruled that Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act protects platforms like Twitter from defamation liability for content posted by users. Judges have also ruled that only false statements of verifiable facts can be defamatory, as opposed to opinions and hyperbole.

Last year, Twitter argued in a separate motion that Nunes filed the case in the wrong state. The company said Nunes -- himself a Twitter user -- agreed to bring any claims in California when he accepted the company's terms of service.

Virginia Judge John Marshall rejected that argument last year, noting that Mair was a Virginia resident.

Nunes has also recently brought lawsuits against CNN, Fresno Bee owner McClatchy, and Esquire publisher Hearst.
Vietnamese citizens are strongly advised not to travel to Wuhan and other cities in Hubei, located in central China, where some public transport has been suspended because of the spread of the deadly new coronavirus, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said at a meeting with Vietnams Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization office in the Southeast Asian country on Friday.

The meeting was convened in Hanoi as Vietnam has confirmed two cases testing positive for the coronavirus that can cause fatal pneumonia and quarantined four others for further tests.

Deputy Prime Minister Dam said that Vietnamese people should not visit Wuhan, Huanggang Shi, and eight other cities in the central Chinese province of Hubei to avoid catching the deadly virus.

Stay alert to prevent the spread of the disease and provide sufficient and accurate information so the people can feel safe to welcome the new lunar year, the deputy prime minister, who is in charge of the health ministry, said at the meeting, referring to the Lunar New Year festival starting on Saturday.

There are a few patients waiting for tests and two confirmed cases of the new coronavirus infection.

We will announce the results of the tests on the suspected patients on a transparent basis.

Wuhan is the epicenter of the virus outbreak that has claimed 25 lives and infected almost 600 patients in China, together with dozens combined in Vietnam, Thailand, the U.S., Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, and Japan.

Some public transport has been suspended in Wuhan, Chibi, Xiantao, Zhijiang, Qianjiang, Xianning, Huangshi, Enshi, Zhijiang, and Huanggang over the outbreak, Reuters reported.

The healthcare sector must follow rules to fight the virus and protect doctors and medical workers from transmission, Dam underlined.

Vietnam and China share a long borderline so the former is preparing for an infection scenario, he said.

Many countries have yet to demand health declaration from arriving visitors but Japan has done so to arrivals from Wuhan, Deputy Prime Minister Dam said.

Vietnam has begun asking for health declaration from inbound visitors at all border gates, especially those from Wuhan and Huanggang Shi, China.

Vietnam has ceased flights to and from Wuhan and Huanggang Shi since Thursday and will expand the list of ceased flights if China locks down more locales, Dam said.

Two Chinese citizens have been confirmed to catch the coronavirus and are being treated at Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, according to central health officials.

Four other suspected cases have been quarantined for further tests at hospitals in northern Vietnam.

There is no known cure for the virus nor any vaccine against it.

Symptoms include fever, difficulty in breathing and cough, similar to many other respiratory illnesses, and can cause pneumonia.

The disease can spread from humans to humans via close contact or saliva.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
Eminent scholars from India and Russia participated in the first Ganga-Volga Dialogue of Civilizations earlier this week here, wherein they deliberated upon the existing and emerging spheres of bilateral cooperation between the two countries, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday.

As many as 15 scholars from Russia and India spoke at the dialogue -- which took place on Wednesday -- upon the four broad themes in the context of India-Russia bilateral cooperation, namely, education, culture and civilization; entrepreneurship and innovation; trade routes including inland navigation; and, India, Russia and Greater Eurasia, the MEA said in a statement.

Evaluating the current state of India-Russia cooperation in various spheres and in emerging and new areas which provide significant possibilities of cooperation such as the Russian Far East and Eurasia, the scholars agreed that efforts should be made to encourage the younger generation of scholars in both countries to engage with each other through the platforms of academic and scientific research, language studies, exchange of youth delegations etc.

Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan, Ambassador of the Russian Federation Nikolay Kudashev, and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Mahesh Poddar also spoke at the inaugural session of the dialogue.

The idea of the Dialogue had emanated from discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The scholars who spoke at the Dialogue included Tatiana Shaumyan, Head, Centre for Indian Studies under the RAS Institute of Oriental Studies; Evgeniy Kozhokin, Vice-rector for scientific affairs, Moscow State Institute for International Relations, Valeriy Kashin; Olga Solodkova; Alexey Kupriyanov; and Svetlana Ryzhakova from the Russian side.

From the Indian side, Anirban Ganguly, Director, Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation; Ambassador Asoke Mukerji, India's former Permanent Representative to the UN; Mahesh Poddar, Member of Parliament, RajyaSabha; Vijay Chauthaiwale, Member, Mission High-Level Committee; Atal Innovation Mission, Pof Neelakshi Suryanarayan; Prof Gulshan Sachdeva; Uttam Sinha, Fellow, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library; Sanjay Pulipaka; and Ashwin Johar spoke at the Dialogue.

The Dialogue was organised by the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation. During their visit to India, the Russian scholars are being taken for a cultural visit to Bodh Gaya and Varanasi before their return.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jeremy Corbyn was last night at the centre of an alleged plot to plant a 'spy' on Labour's ruling body when the leader steps down.

The Mail has obtained a leaked text message from Mr Corbyn urging activists to help a hard-Left crony win a seat on the party's National Executive Committee.

They were told the aim was to retain his influence over the NEC when he loses his place on it as outgoing leader.

The message was read out at a private Labour meeting two weeks ago by close Corbyn ally Diane Abbott's Labour 'fixer'.

The Mail has obtained a leaked text message from Jeremy Corbyn urging activists to help a hard-Left crony win a seat on the party's National Executive Committee. It was read out at a private Labour meeting two weeks by close Corbyn ally Diane Abbott's Labour 'fixer'

It prompted an angry backlash, including from some of Mr Corbyn's own supporters, who said he had no right to meddle in the leadership election.

In the message, Mr Corbyn told Labour members to back 'the wonderful Asima Shaikh' for the NEC elections which are part of the post-general election party shake-up.

It makes a mockery of his pledge not to take sides in the Labour leadership election contest  and appears to confirm reports that he privately backs Left-wing MP Rebecca Long-Bailey, dubbed the 'Continuity Corbyn' candidate.

Miss Shaikh supports Mrs Long-Bailey and has attacked moderate rivals Lisa Nandy and Sir Keir Starmer.

She is a councillor in Islington, north London, and a close friend of local MP Mr Corbyn and wife Laura. She was among those who consoled him on election night.

The Mail has also established that Miss Shaikh's candidacy is backed by prominent Corbyn supporter, Pete Willsman, who was suspended from the NEC last year after he was caught on tape saying Labour's anti-Semitism crisis had been whipped up by the Israeli embassy.

There were more angry scenes when Mr Willsman told activists they would be 'forced' to support Miss Shaikh.

The alleged plot centres over the contest to fill two vacancies on the NEC in April  the same time as Mr Corbyn's successor as Labour leader is decided.

In the message, Mr Corbyn told Labour members to back Asima Shaikh (pictured) a councillor in Islington, north London

Tempers flared at a meeting of the Left-wing Grassroots Alliance in London on January 14 to discuss which candidates to back.

Barry Gray  Miss Abbott's election agent and a Corbyn cheerleader  said the outgoing party chief had a 'strong' view that Miss Shaikh should be on the NEC.

Despite furious protests Mr Gray read out a text message he said Mr Corbyn had asked him to deliver.

It read: 'All the best for tonight's meeting. Hope the wonderful Asima Shaikh gets the support she deserves for the NEC. Asima is a councillor, an innovative thinker and an enormous help and support to me and our cause.'

Staunch Corbyn supporter Alison McGarry, chairman of his Islington North Labour party, said she was 'horrified' by the leader's 'inappropriate' meddling.

Mr Gray told objectors not to 'jump up and down and get hostile' and added that Mr Corbyn had a 'strong opinion' on getting Miss Shaikh on the NEC.

He claimed Mr Corbyn wanted a 'direct route' into it after he steps down as leader and would get it via his NEC 'contact' Miss Shaikh.

The meeting was told he had spent years 'trying to build up the Left' and did not want to see it all undone under a new leader.

Earlier this month, Mr Corbyn promised not to interfere in the Labour elections, stating: 'I will not be saying who I will be voting for.'

This would appear to be at odds with his secret bid to get Long-Bailey fan Miss Shaikh on to the NEC  and use her to maintain access to and influence over it.

A Labour source said: 'It sounds like an attempt to get a stooge on the NEC to spy on his behalf so he can carry on pulling the strings. We have always suspected Corbyn would try to maintain his grip over the party.'

Miss Shaikh recently retweeted a Twitter post calling Chancellor Sajid Javid a 'f****** chancer' and has endorsed Miss Abbott's claim that Meghan Markle is the victim of racism.

On election day in December a photo of her with Mr Corbyn was posted on Twitter with the caption 'early morning visit from the boss'. She also used Twitter to signal her support for Mrs Long-Bailey  and opposition to Sir Keir and Miss Nandy.

Mr Corbyn and Miss Abbott have been close personally and politically for decades. She is not expected to remain shadow home secretary if Sir Keir or Miss Nandy become leader.

Miss Shaikh declined to comment, but a friend said she had decided not to run for the NEC. Mr Corbyn, Miss Abbott and Mr Gray also declined to comment.
Parental Alienation Consultation Process Underway

The Minister for Justice and Equality has started the consultation process in relation to Parental Alienation which was announced last November in connection with International Mens Day.

The process has commenced with the first meeting yesterday with Mr David Gallardo who was also representing the group Forgotten Fathers.

There has been great interest received by the Ministry for Equality from not just fathers, but also mothers and grandparents who have been directly affected by what they consider to be parental alienation. A spokesperson for the Ministry said that their willingness to form part of this consultation process is much appreciated and they are confident that the process will continue to give rise to positive constructive suggestions.

Due to the high volume of interest received, it is envisaged that the consultation process with individuals may last well into March. The Department of Equality is still scheduling meetings and will get in touch with those who have not yet been contacted soon.

The Minister for Justice and Equality, the Hon Samantha Sacramento, MP, said: My team and I have already met with a number of people and we have all been very moved by what we have heard. I wholeheartedly thank everyone who has reached out to speak to me about this issue. The consultation process will be lengthy given the high number of parents who have contacted the Ministry of Equality. It may also be the first time, for many parents to openly express their views on such a sensitive and personal matter, but we are confident that the objectives will be put forward in a clear and precise manner.
A second US patient has been diagnosed with coronavirus as more potential cases are monitored across 22 different states and two students are under quarantine.

The latest case is a Chicago woman who returned from Wuhan, the epicentre of China's outbreak, with the infection. Sixty-three other people are being monitored in the city.

Potential cases are being monitored across 22 different states, including the first patient in Washington state and the new case.

Officials said the Chicago patient, a woman in her 60s who visited China in late December and fell ill last week, is currently doing well and is in stable condition. She remains isolated in a hospital as a precaution.

A student from Texas A&M and another from Tennessee Tech have been placed in quarantine amid a quickly expanding global health concern emanating from China.

Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Show all 154 1 /154 Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Paramedics wearing personal protective equipment carry patient on a stretcher on to an ambulance in North Point district in Hong Kong, China Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A medical worker wearing protective gear takes a rest as he waits for ambulances carrying patients infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus at an entrance of a hospital in Daegu, South Korea YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A medical worker sprays disinfectant on an ambulance after carrying a patient infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus at a hospital in Daegu YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People wearing protective face masks shop at a supermarket in Casalpusterlengo, one the northern Italian towns placed under lockdown due to the new coronavirus outbreak EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A trolley bus is disinfected amid fears over the spread of the novel coronavirus in Pyongyang, North Korea REUTERS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers wearing protective gear spray disinfectant as a precaution against the COVID-19 coronavirus in a local market in Daegu, South Korea AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing a protective facemask walks outside a nearly empty shopping mall at lunch time in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing protective facemask and gloves puts a drawing made by a girl living in the area asking residents to wear protective gear, next to a quarantine notice for people who have travelled and a notice asking people to register outside a residential compound in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman is taken into an ambulance amid a coronavirus outbreak in northern Italy REUTERS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ambulances and health workers are seen outside the Padua's hospital, northern Italy EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers in coaches leave MoD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire after being repatriated to the UK from a cruise ship hit by the coronavirus in Yokohama, Japan and head to Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People rest in a temporary hospital situated in the Tazihu Gymnasium in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Buddhist monks wearing protective face masks pray during a blessing ceremony for the people affected by the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, at a temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia REUTERS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers wearing protective gears carry a patient infecting with a new coronavirus to a hospital in Chuncheon, South Korea AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Soldiers in hazmat suits sanitize cargo from a China Airlines plane at the Taoyuan International Airport in Taoyuan City, Taiwan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Barricades are seen to block the entrance a the gate of a local mall in a nearly empty area in Beijing, China Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A vendor wearing a protective facemask waits for customers at a shop in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus The body temperature of an Iraqi child returning from Iran is measured upon her arrival at the Najaf International Airport AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Volunteers hand out free facemasks at a shopping district in Quezon city, Metro Manila, Philippines Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers wearing protective gears carry a patient suspected of contracting the new coronavirus toward an ambulance at Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo, South Korea AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A worker disinfects a shop at a market in Shanghai AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A restaurant worker wearing protective clothing as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus passing a bag of food to a customer on the street outside their restaurant in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A recovered patient is discharged from Leishenshan Hospital, the newly-built makeshift hospital for novel coronavirus patients, in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Volunteers in protective suits disinfect a factory with sanitising equipment in Huzhou, China China Daily via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers in protective suits attend to a patient inside an isolated ward of Wuhan Red Cross Hospital Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A drone operated by the Suwon municipal government flies around Changyong Middle School spraying disinfectant, in Suwon, South Korea EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers transfer medical waste at Leishenshan Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing a protective mask rides a bicycle with his children in Guangzhou, China EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Volunteers in protective suits disinfect a railway station as the country is hit by an outbreak of the new coronavirus, in Changsha, Hunan province, China cnsphoto via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman repatriated from Wuhan carries a child as she walks upon her arrival at the Van Don airport in Vietnam's Quang Ninh province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff checking the body temperature of a patient who has displayed mild symptoms of the COVID-19 coronavirus, at an exhibition centre converted into a hospital in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A medical worker in protective suit transports oxygen tanks at Wuhan Red Cross Hospital Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Boys wearing protection masks, gloves and modified water bottles sit on a cart at the airport arrival terminal in Guangzhou EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Employees work on a production line manufacturing protective suits at a clothing factory in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province cnsphoto via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers in protective suits move a patient at an isolated ward of a hospital in Caidian district following an outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan China Daily via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A worker in protective clothing, including face mask and gloves, carries a bucket as he works inside of The County Oak Medical Centre in Brighton, southern England, after it closed for "urgent operational health and safety reasons", following reports a member of staff was infected with the strain of the novel coronavirus AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers of the ecology and environment bureau collect samples from the sewage system of a hospital in Xinle, Hebei province China Daily via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man in protective clothing cleaning the County Oak Medical Centre GP practice The British government warned the outbreak of novel coronavirus was a "serious and imminent threat" and reported four new cases that brought the total recorded in the country to eight. Two hospitals The Royal Free and Guys and St Thomas', have both been designated as "isolation" facilities, with both currently housing Britons who have returned from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the outbreak PA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to the newly completed Huoshenshan temporary field Hospital in Wuhan. The global coronavirus death toll rose again with Hong Kong announcing its first death from the outbreak on 4 February EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of staff wait as coaches carrying Coronavirus evacuees arrive at Kents Hill Park Training and Conference Centre, in Milton Keynes, after being repatriated to the UK from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan PA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A crew member of the cruise ship Diamond Princess talks to a worker wearing protective gear standing near the vessel, where dozens of passengers were tested positive for coronavirus, at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Doctors scan a patient's lungs at Huoshenshan temporary hospital built for patients diagnosed with coronavirus in Wuhan Xinhua News Agency/AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People wearing protective suits walk from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, with around 3,600 people quarantined onboard due to fears of the new coronavirus, at the Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Indonesians who arrived from Wuhan are sprayed with antiseptic at Hang Nadim Airport in Batam. People evacuated from the Chinese city at the centre of a deadly virus outbreak, were transported to a quarantine zone on a remote island at the edge of the South China Sea, shortly after landing Indonesian Foreign Ministry via AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman wears a protective mask as she shops in a market in Beijing Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members hugging each other in an isolation ward at a hospital in Zouping in China's easter Shandong province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A portrait of Dr Li Wenliang is left at Li's hospital in Wuhan. He is regarded a whistleblower on the outbreak and died of the coronavirus which triggered wide-spread mourning on Chinese media Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Officers in protective gear enter the cruise ship Diamond Princess, where people tested positive for coronavirus, after the ship arrived at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, south of Tokyo Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Firefighters and personnel from the health ministry participate in a drill to prepare for the potential arrival of passengers infected with the coronavirus at the Viru Viru International Airport, in Santa Cruz, Bolivia Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Scientists are at work in the VirPath university laboratory as they try to find an effective treatment against the new Sars-like coronavirus AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers in protective suits attend to patients at the Wuhan International Conference and Exhibition Center, which has been converted into a makeshift hospital to receive patients with mild symptoms caused by the virus Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A girl wears a mask as a preventive measure against the coronavirus outbreak, in Bangkok, Thailand Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man is transferred from the World Dream cruise ship to an ambulance at the Kai Tak cruise terminal in Hong Kong as health officials conduct inspections AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers from a disinfection service company enter Lotte Department Store in central Seoul, South Korea EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man who arrived from Hubei province talks with police at a checkpoint at the Jiujiang Yangtze River Bridge Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A doctor holds a handheld digital thermometer near health officials preparing a health check for arriving passengers from China at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A resident walks across an empty track in Wuhan Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A scientific staff member works in a secure laboratory, researching the coronavirus, at the Pasteur Institute in Dakar AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members preparing equipment to meet passengers of a military plane, which evacuated citizens of Russia and ex-Soviet countries from China's Wuhan province Vsluh.ru via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Staff wearing protective suits as they prepare to disinfect a Vietnam Airlines plane at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi Vietnam Airlines/AFP/Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A South Korean person, who was evacuated from Wuhan, arrives at the National Medical Center after showing suspected symptoms of novel coronavirus, in Seoul EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Officers in protective gear escort a person (under the blue sheet) who was on board cruise ship Diamond Princess and was tested positive for coronavirus Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A doctor being disinfected by his colleague at a quarantine zone in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Buses carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan, arrive at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Indonesian health officials conduct an exercise drill in transporting a patient requiring isolation at the Belawan port in Medan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus The Pasteur Institute in Dakar, designated by the African Union as one of the two reference centres in Africa for the detection of the new coronavirus that appeared in China, is hosting experts from 15 countries on the continent this weekend to prepare them to deal with the disease AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A government worker disinfects a co-worker after visiting a quarantined woman's home in Qingdao EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An aerial view of the deserted roads and bridges in Wuhan Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers hold a strike outside the Hospital Authority as they demand for Hong Kong to close its border with China to reduce the coronavirus spreading Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A person has their tempriture checked in Qingdao, China EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion, when viewed electron microscopically Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/AFP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Malaysian nationals being directed from a bus by health officials in protective suits as they arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, after being evacuated from Wuhan Malaysia's Ministry of Health/AFP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People hoping to buy face masks crowd outside a medical supply shop that was raided by police for allegedly hoarding and overpricing the masks, as public fear over China's Wuhan Coronavirus grow in Manila, Philippines. The Philippine government has been heavily criticized after failing to immediately implement travel restrictions from China, the source of a deadly coronavirus that has now killed hundreds and infected thousands more Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Residents wearing masks and raincoats volunteer to take temperature of passengers following the outbreak of a new coronavirus at a bus stop at Tin Shui Wai, a border town in Hong Kong Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Italian citizens repatriated from Wuhan going though a health control zone after landing at the Mario De Bernardi military airport in Pratica di Mare, south of Rome, prior to be placed in quarantine Italian Defence Ministry/AFP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers arrange beds in a 2,000-bed mobile hospital, set up in an exhibition center, in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A doctor checks conditions of occupants in a hotel accommodating isolated people in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members wearing protective clothing to help stop the spread of a deadly virus which began in the city of Wuhan, arrive with a patient at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital. The Chinese army deployed medical specialists to the epicentre of the spiralling viral outbreak that has killed and spread around the world AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A baby wearing a protective face mask is pushed by a woman as they arrive from Shenzhen to Hong Kong at Lo Wu MTR station AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A health worker checks the temperature of a woman entering a subway station in Beijing Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A young child wears a protective mask and is covered in plastic while waiting to check in to a flight at Beijing Capital Airport The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday declared the coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ambulance crews arrive at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, as it prepares for a return flight from Wuhan, China. Eighty-three Britons and 27 foreign nationals who were trapped in Wuhan are being flown back to the UK Tom Maddick / SWNS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman carries a baby wearing a protective mask as they exit the arrival hall at Hong Kong High Speed Rail Station Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Camp beds at a Medical Assessment Center set up at the airport in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on the eve of the arrival of German citizens evacuated from Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Funeral parlour staff members in protective suits help a colleague with disinfection after they transferred a body at a hospital in Wuhan Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Muslims wearing masks pray for the victims of coronavirus at a mosque in Ahmedabad, India Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical officials waiting for people who wants to check the novel coronavirus at Myeongdong shopping district Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Children wear plastic bottles as makeshift homemade protection and protective masks while waiting to check in to a flight at Beijing Capital Airport Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A patient assisted by medical staff gets off an ambulance in Wuhan AFP/Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People line up to buy face masks from a medical supply company in Nanning, southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Countries began evacuating their citizens from the Chinese city hardest-hit by a new virus that has now infected more people in China than were sickened in the country by SARS Chinatopix via AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Millions spent their normally festive Lunar New Year holiday under lockdown Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Children with face masks wash their hands before prayer at Erawan shrine in Bangkok. Thailand has detected eight Coronavirus cases so far AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An Indonesian health officer points at the screen of a thermal scanner for passengers China confirmed that the deadly Wuhan coronavirus virus can be transmitted between humans AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Hospital workers wearing protective eyewear and masks examine an Indonesian student who returned from China in quarantine at a hospital in Banda Aceh AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ambulance staff dispose of an outfit at the hospital in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A person checks the temperature of a passenger to help stop the spread of a deadly virus as he arrives at the Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International airport in Palembang AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Nepali students, wearing face masks, attend a class at Matribhumi School in Bhaktapur, on the outskirts of Kathmandu AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Two Buddhist monks wear face masks while walking along a street in Yangon AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Staff disinfecting a residential area in Ruichang, part of Jiujiang in China's central Jiangxi province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers are seen at the construction site of a new hospital being built to treat patients from a deadly virus outbreak in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on January 27, 2020. - China is rushing to build a new hospital in a staggering 10 days to treat patients at the epicentre of a deadly virus outbreak that has stricken thousands of people, state media reported on January 24. (Photo by Hector RETAMAL / AFP) (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images) HECTOR RETAMAL AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Vapor blurs the goggles of an ambulance driver while they work, in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers producing facemasks at a factory in Yangzhou AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff getting on an ambulance in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A vendor of traditional masks wears a facial mask at his shop in Thamel EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An airport official checks the temperature of a passenger upon his arrival at the Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members arrive with a patient at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An ambulance driver talking with medical staff in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Wuhan Hygiene Emergency Response Team leave the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market The new coronavirus appears to have its origins in a seafood market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, a popular transport hub AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers produce protective suits at a factory in Nantong AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers scanned by thermal imaging for body temperature as they go through health measures and procedures after they landed at Rome's Fiumicino airport on a southern airlines flight from Wuhan Aeroporto Di Roma/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A Thai royal guard wears a mask while on duty at the Grand Palace in Bangkok EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing a face mask rides a nearly empty subway train in Beijing AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A shopper wearing goggles with a face mask and gloves uses a self checkout machine at a supermarket in Wuhan AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to Jinyintan hospital EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of the Italian Red Cross putting on protective gear, getting ready to give health checks to passengers that landed at Rome's Fiumicino airport on a southern airlines flight from Wuhan Aeroporto Di Roma/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A member of the Hong Kong government's Civil Aid Service gestures at the entrance to the Lady MacLehose Holiday Village which is being used as one of two quarantine centres for people who have been in close proximity with suspected cases of a SARS-type virus. Hong Kong will turn two holiday camps, including a former military barracks, into quarantine zones for people who may have come into contact with carriers of the Wuhan virus, officials announced AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff wearing protective suits at the Zhongnan hospital in Wuhan STR/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A Malaysia Health official checks passengers going through a thermal scanner upon their arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Staff disinfecting Yingtan North Railway Station, China China banned trains and planes from leaving the major city at the centre of a virus outbreak on January 23, seeking to seal off its 11 million people to contain the contagious disease that has claimed lives and spread to other countries AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A passenger walks past a quarantine control station at Narita airport, Japan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Patients queue up to seek treatment in Wuhan Tongji Hospital Fever Clinic, in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Quarantine workers spray disinfectant at Incheon International Airport, South Korea EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A member of staff checks the temperature of a guest entering the casino of the New Orient Landmark hotel in Macau, after it reported its first case of the new SARS-like virus AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to Jin Yintan hospital Little is known about the new disease which, if confirmed, would be only the seventh coronavirus known to science that can infect humans Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of the Three Gorges Medical Laboratory offering free masks to the public in Yichang, China AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Gabriel Leung, right, chair professor of public health medicine at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong, speaks about the extent of the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak in China AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of staff of the Wuhan Hygiene Emergency Response Team conducting searches on the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A quarantine officer at Incheon International Airport, South Korea, uses an electronic thermometer to check the temperature of passengers arriving by plane from Wuhan The virus causes symptoms of viral pneumonia, and has already led to several deaths EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A screen shows cancelled flights at Tianhe airport in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to Jinyintan hospital EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Health officials hand out information about the current coronavirus at Kuala Lumpur International Airport AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A store owner argues with security guards as he attempts to enter the closed Huanan wholesale seafood market AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers producing facemasks at a factory in Handan, China's northern Hebei province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff and security personnel stop patients' family members from being too close to the Jinyintan hospital Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus maya-goodfellowAn airport staff member uses a temperature gun to check people leaving Wuhan Tianhe International Airport AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A rescue worker walks past a notice about new coronavirus that has broken out in China Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Health officials wear face masks at an inspection site at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members carry a patient into the Jinyintan hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A staff member checks body temperature of a child after a train from Wuhan arrived at Hangzhou Railway Station in Hangzhou AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A quarantine station measures passenger body temperatures at Narita Airport JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers walk past a notice displayed near a quarantine control station at Narita airport EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers walk past a poster alerting on coronavirus screening ahead upon their arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An employee sprays disinfectant on a train, as a precaution against coronavirus, at Suseo Station in Seoul EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Kazakh sanitary-epidemiological service worker uses a thermal scanner to detect travellers from China who may have symptoms possibly connected with the previously unknown coronavirus, at Almaty International Airport, Kazakhstan Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Pharmacist Liu Zhuzhen stands near a sign reading "face masks are sold out" at her pharmacy in Shanghai AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus The Wuhan Medical Treatment Center, EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A worker in a protective suit at the closed seafood market in Wuhan Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers wear protective face masks at the departure hall of a high speed train station in Hong Kong AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A notice for passengers from Wuhan Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wears a mask while riding on mobike past the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market Getty

The potential patient in Texas was announced on Thursday, with local health officials saying the student had come down with a cough and congestion after travelling to the Chinese port city of Wuhan  the epicentre of the breakout that has now crossed the Pacific Ocean. The student in Tennessee was also placed in isolation as they await testing results.

The new potential cases come shortly after a man in his 30s was diagnosed with the virus in Seattle on Monday, and another 43 people have been identified as having come into contact with him in some form or another during his trip from China to the United States. He was the first confirmed case in the US, as well as the first outside of Asia.

In response to the growing outbreak, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention rose its travel advisory to a level 3 on Thursday, recommending people avoid travel to Wuhan except when essential. The State Department, meanwhile, has kept its travel advisory at a level 2, urging caution if travelling to the affected areas of China.

The issue has received some response from Donald Trump, who claimed on Tuesday, after the first case was reported, that the US has it totally under control. Its just one person coming in from China. Its going to be just fine. White House spokesman Hogan Gidley on Thursday told reporters that the US has "taken all the precautions necessary".

On Friday, the Chinese National Health Commission reported a spike in both the number of cases and the death toll from the virus, which is in the family of viruses that have caused past global outbreaks including Sars and the 2015 Mers outbreak.

The number of infections had jumped by 200 people to 830 cases of the virus between Thursday and Friday, while the death toll spiked by more than half a dozen in a 24-hour period to 25.

The first 17 deaths in China  where the health commission reportedly has tightly controlled news about the magnitude of the outbreak, leading to some criticism  were mostly older men, and many had underlying health problems when they contracted the disease. All of those deaths have occurred since December in Hubei Province, which includes the city of Wuhan and is hundreds of miles inland west of Shanghai.

The virus is novel, meaning health officials have never encountered this particular strain of it before. Officials believe that it came from animals, and many of those who were first infected were said to have worked or frequently shopped at the Huanan seafood wholesale market in the centre of Wuhan, where live and freshly slaughtered animals were also sold.

As the virus spread over the week, the issue has sparked concern worldwide, though the World Health Organisation (WHO) has so far declined to classify it as a global health emergency, saying it is too early for that designation.

Make no mistake. This is an emergency in China, but it has not yet become a global health emergency, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of WHO, said on Thursday.

 Large crowd inside Wuhan hospital as Coronavirus panic spreads

WHOs risk assessment is that the outbreak is a very high risk in China, and a high risk regionally and globally, he continued.

In addition to the US, patients have tested positive for the virus in Thailand, South Korea, Singapore and Vietnam.

While there have been no confirmed cases of the virus in the United Kingdom or Europe, health officials are on high alert, with 14 people having been tested in the UK for suspected cases. Five of those have been confirmed negative, and nine are still awaiting results, Public Health England said. It is unclear where the patients were being treated.

The UK government has meanwhile called a government contingencies meeting to discuss the growing threat, after the medical director for Public Health England said it is highly likely that a case would make it onto British soil.
The talented composer behind the famous 'Doof doof doof' Eastenders theme tune battled fans of the soap in order to buy back his own work at auction after he gave it away by accident.

Simon May, who first started to compose the tune when he was just seven-years-old, thought he had lost the handwritten musical sheet he penned for the popular TV soap opera in 1985.

The 75-year-old had completely forgotten he donated the manuscript to a charity auction in 1999 until the item went under the hammer for a second time this week at an auction in Derbyshire.

Simon who lives in Guilford, Surrey battled with Eastenders fans to buy back his own work for quadruple its estimate at Hansons Auctioneers, in Etwall on Tuesday.

Simon (above) who lives in Guilford, Surrey battled with Eastenders fans to buy back his own work

He managed to win back the original score at auction but paid well over the initial estimate

He said he was delighted to be reunited with page of music for E8, later known as Eastenders.

Simon said he had composed the piece when he was just seven-years-old. In a previous interview he said he came up with the tune during a piano lesson.

The musical sheet, together with Simon's original letter of authenticity and a CD of his music, sold for 460 - smashing its estimate of 70-100.

Simon said it had been 'extremely exciting' to bid at auction, adding that even though he had never done it before, he booked a phone line to ensure he didn't miss out.

Fans of the popular soap flocked to the auction to purchase the sheet music of Eastenders (above)

Pictured above is Hansons auctioneer Rik Alexander with the page of music from E8 - EastEnders theme tune

'I'm surprised the price went so high but I suppose there are a lot of EastEnders fans out there. I'm really pleased to get it back. It was an important extract from the E8 musical manuscript.

Simon May: The man behind the famous Eastenders tune Simon May is a composer from Guilford, Surrey. He has received numerous awards for his work. Simon was a Choral Scholar at Corpus Christi College in Cambridge where he earned a MA in French and German. He went on to teach modern languages at Kingston Grammar School before later being signed to ATV as a professional songwriter. Some of his work has appeared in films starring actors such as Hugh Grant in The Dawning. He has also compiled music for the Disney Channel. His awards include the Ivor Novello for 'Every Loser Wins' and three TRIC Awards for Best TV Theme for EastEnders, Howard's Way and Trainer. Advertisement

'Now it can be returned to my family archives. I'd realised it was missing but I thought I'd lost it. It's part of my family history.

'Unfortunately, I can't recall which charity I donated it to all those years ago but it might have been London's Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Centre.

'It was definitely for a charitable cause. I have supported many charities over the course of my career.'

In the letter of authenticity, dated May, 1999, Simon wrote: 'Enclosed is one of my original sketched pages written in 1985 for E8 as it was then called before being renamed EastEnders.

'Also enclosed, a recent signed CD of mine which includes music from EastEnders, Howards Way, Trainer.

'The last track 'Wolfgang' is my personal favourite. It's about a few days I spent in Salzburg, Mozart's birthplace. Thank you for supporting a good cause!'

Simon has previously revealed the dramatic drum ending sound, which has become known as the 'doof doof', was only inserted by accident.

The famous musical ending was initially only inserted into the song as a break between a Cockney-style version and the main part of the tune.

His EastEnders tune has been heard by the British public more than 5,700 times since the show hit our screens in 1985.

Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: 'I'm delighted we've helped to reunite Simon with his music - an extract from a song that's so familiar to us all we can recognise it in seconds.

'EastEnders has been on our TV screens since 1985 which means the nation has been listening to Simon's music every week for 35 years.

'The musical extract arrived in our saleroom after we were asked to clear a Surrey home of objects and ephemera gathered over many years.

'The seller was absolutely delighted to hear the music had gone back to Simon.'

Born in Devizes and a pupil of Dauntsey's School, Simon May won a choral scholarship to Cambridge University, graduating with a degree in modern languages.

While teaching languages and music at Kingston Grammar School, he co-wrote a musical named Smike which was later televised by the BBC.

He has numerous claims to fame. As well as the EastEnders' theme tune, he reached number seven in the UK charts performing The Summer of My Life in 1976.

The song featured in TV soap Crossroads. In 1986 he released album Simon's Way, which included his themes to EastEnders and Howards' Way.

It reached number 59 in the UK album chart. He also co-produced Amii Stewart's Knock on Wood, which reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in April 1979.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday said Pakistan would wait for India's invitation for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit before taking any decision on Islamabad's participation in the event to be held later this year.

Addressing a media briefing in New Delhi on January 16, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said India will invite Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan along with other leaders for the annual meeting of council of heads of government of the SCO.

For the first time, India will host the annual meeting of the council of heads of government of the SCO.

During an interaction with reporters here, when asked about Pakistan's participation in the SCO summit to be hosted by New Delhi, Qureshi said, "We will have to wait for the invitation."



The Indian government's announcement on inviting Pakistan to the mega event came in the midst of frayed ties between the two countries over India's withdrawal of special powers of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcate the state into two union territories.

India and Pakistan became full members of the China-dominated grouping in 2017.

Usually, the heads of government meeting of the SCO are represented by foreign ministers while a number of countries send their prime ministers also.

India has always been represented by the external affairs minister in the heads of government meeting, while the SCO heads of state summit is attended by the prime minister.

The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan became its members last year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BERLIN - In the United States, news outlets poured attention on President Donald Trump's impeachment proceedings this week. But most Europeans could be forgiven for not even knowing the trial was underway.

"There's relatively little coverage here," said Stephan Bierling, a professor of international politics at the University of Regensburg in Germany.

For both France's Le Monde and Germany's Suddeutsche Zeitung, respective papers of record, the hearing merited merely one small front-page teaser during the week.

Broadcasters across Europe barely mentioned the Senate trial. On Tuesday, one of France's main public evening newscasts - France 2's Journal de 20 heures - prioritized stories on China's new coronavirus, power cuts, pension reform strikes, teacher strikes and migration figures. Impeachment came up nearly half an hour into the 38-minute broadcast, between reports on the costs of electric car charging and waste collection in Italy.

Americans tend to understand the basics of the proceedings against Trump, according to a New York Times survey. For many in Europe, on the other hand, the proceedings were full of "details that are hard to comprehend," Bierling said.

On a continent where confidence in Trump remains low, the lack of coverage did not indicate a lack of support for impeachment. But many in Europe share the perception that in the end, Trump is likely to stay in office, Bierling said. "People are sick of hearing about him because when his name comes up it tends to be associated with bad news for Europeans," he added.

Trump did manage to make headlines for another reason. As the trial kicked off Tuesday, German public broadcaster ARD, in its main evening newscast, led its international coverage with a report on Trump's speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he clashed with Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.

In Berlin, the collision of worldviews was a bigger story than the impeachment trial.
The Uttar Pradesh cabinet has announced subsidy for Patanjali's food park in Greater Noida. According to an official statement by the UP government, the proposed park is expected to bring investment, generate employment opportunities, create new markets and facilitate payment of profitable prices to farmers in the state, thus bringing about overall socioeconomic development.

Patanjali is expected to invest Rs 6,000 crore in setting up a mega food project park along the Yamuna Expressway.

Earlier, the UP government had given subsidy to Patanjali Ayurveda Limited for 455 acres of land. Out of the 455 acre of land allotted, 20 per cent, i.e., 91 acre land was transferred to its subsidiary company for the purpose of setting up a food park.

In 2018, the MD of the Patanjali group Acharya Balkrishna had decided to shift the project outside Uttar Pradesh on account of reported non-cooperation by the UP authorities. Later, UP government officials and Patanjali officials met and ironed out their differences. After this, the state government issued a statement saying that the Patanjali project will remain in UP.

Also read: Adani, Patanjali and Emami to gain from restrictions on Malaysian palm oil

Also read: Brazil urges India to cut import taxes on chicken amid high demand
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 23:20:32|Editor: Mu Xuequan

Video Player Close

JAKARTA, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia commenced closing operations of several unlicensed mining sites following floods, flash floods and landslides striking areas in and around the country's capital of Jakarta earlier this month that have left over 67 people dead.

The activities in scores of traditional gold mining sites in the upstream areas of rivers were blamed to be the cause of deforestation as the miners cut trees for construction of underground mines.

The task force set up by the provincial police of Banten, a nearby province of Jakarta, on Friday shut down ten major illegal gold mining sites which are situated in the National Park of Mount Halimun in the province, the task force's head Senior Commissioner Aminudin Roemtaat said.

"Today (Friday) we closed ten big illegal mining sites and set police lines there," he told reporters.

Roemtaat, also head of the operation unit of the provincial police, stressed that police would take stern actions, should the miners resume mining activities in the closed sites.

The police officer disclosed that it was expected that there are hundreds of underground mining activities in the location situated near the upstream areas of the rivers.

"The closure will be done if the task force personnel find more illegal mining activities," he said.

For law enforcement, an investigation has been carried out by the special crime unit of the provincial police over the dangerous and illegal activities, said Roemtaat.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Environment and Forestry Ministry's director general for conservation of natural resources and ecosystem said the illegal activities have also caused landslides and damaged soil structures as the miners used dynamites and mercury in the mining activities.

Previously, Indonesian President Joko Widodo has ordered authorities to close the illegal mining sites.

The poor safety standard has also been blamed for rampant accidents at illegal mining sites across Indonesia.
The district court here has acquitted a 25-year-old labourer in a case involving the rape of a 12-year-old girl, after the victim remained untraceable.

In his order on January 18, district and special POCSO judge P P Jadhav said the prosecution had failed to prove the charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act against alleged accused Rajendra Nishad.

Additional public prosecutor Vivek Kadu informed the court that the victim, a native of Behasariya in Uttar Pradesh, was living with her father and elder sister and they would earn their livelihood by dancing at weddings and begging.

The victim ran away from home in March 2015, taking a train to Mumbai from Gorakhpur, and met the accused and his family enroute, he said.

Nishad's wife told the victim that he would help her look for a house, following which the accused put her up in a flat at Bhiwandi town of Maharashtra's Thane district, where he allegedly raped her on several occasions, Kadu said.

After she confided in a neighbour about the abuse, the victim was taken to the police station to lodge a complaint, but the accused, who was present there, threatened her.

The victim, who was initially placed in the custody of the Child Welfare Committee in Bhiwandi, was later sent to CWC in Uttar Pradesh.

In his order, the judge noted that even after giving ample opportunity, the prosecution had failed to secure presence of the victim to depose as a witness.

The court also observed that the medical evidence did not support the prosecution's story.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Today is the last date to apply for RBI Assistant recruitment 2020. If you have not applied yet,you should do it before end of the day. Candidates who have a bachelors degree in any discipline can apply for the posts.

The online application process began on January 23, 2020. Candidates can apply online at rbi.gov.in.

Earlier, the application window was scheduled to close on January 16 but the last date was then extended till January 24. With this recruitment drive, RBI will recruit 926 assistants.

Click here to apply online

RBI Assistant Recruitment 2020: Educational qualification

At least a Bachelors Degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% marks (pass class for SC/ST/PWD candidates) in the aggregate and the knowledge of word processing on PC.

A candidate belonging to Ex-servicemen category (except dependents of ex-servicemen) should either be a graduate from a recognized University or should have passed the matriculation or its equivalent examination of the Armed Forces and rendered at least 15 years of defense service.

Candidates applying for the post in a particular recruiting office should be proficient in the language (i.e. know to read, write, speak and understand the language) of the state/ any of the states falling under the recruiting office.

RBI Assistant Recruitment Exam 2020:

The online preliminary recruitment exam will be conducted on February 14 and 15, 2020. The online main examination will be held in March 2020. However, the dates are tentative in nature and can be changed.

Age limit:

Candidate should be between 20 to 28 years of age.

Check RBI Assistant official notification here:

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
The Woodlands Township Development Standards Committee on Wednesday voted to allow a group of township residents to enter into a 30-day mediation period with officials from Innospec Oilfield Services in an attempt to resolve rampant complaints about what has been called excessive noise from the oilfield companys facility.

The decision came after another meeting of the DSC where more than a dozen homeowners in a neighborhood that sits behind Innospec Oilfield Services facility on Technology Forest Boulevard showed up and lobbed more complaints about what they claim is excessive noise emanating from the facilitys HVAC machinery and a chiller yard. The noises allegedly began to be an issue for residents in fall of 2018 after the company got OK to install the new machinery.

The group of residents will be represented in the mediation by legal counsel from The Strong Firm, led by township attorney Bret Strong. Innospec Oilfield Services will also be included in the mediation effort, which was given a 30-day time frame by the DSC with another hearing on the issue scheduled for 5 p.m. March 4.

Strong told a representative from the company that he did not want the mediation effort to be a delay tactic for the company not addressing the noise complaints that have been ongoing for at least one year.

I dont want to see this as a delay tactic, Strong stressed. If (mediation) does happen, and Im OK with that, it should be in a short time period then come back to this committee. Our hope is there is a resolution we can all agree to. This committee will make a final decision on this, and the DSC is the supreme court on these issues.

Complaints rebuffed

Before the DSC voted to allow the dispute to go into mediation, a series of residents spoke before the six members of the committee present and reiterated their concerns and frustrations with the noise, which all said continues 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and which  they alleged  has ruined various elements of their quality of life.

Related: Residents ask Woodlands Development Standards Committee for help with machinery noise

Chris Cunningham, a resident who lives behind the facility, spoke for the second time in two weeks about the noise issues. Later in the meeting, other residents chose him to represent the group of homeowners in the mediation efforts. Cunningham, like other residents, said prior efforts to resolve the noise issue with Innospec officials had been unsuccessful and that nothing has been done to dampen the noise, which is required to be a maximum of 65 decibels at the property line.

For 14 months, weve been putting up with a petrochemical plant behind our houses. There have been a lot of suggested solutions, but no action, Cunningham said. The sound is as loud as it has ever been. You can hear it in the house, outsideit goes on forever.

Another resident who identified himself as Brendan Cummings said the facility creates a constant hum.

It is clearly industrial noise, Cummings said. It is a nuisance. I hear it inside my house. Windows do not abate the noise.

After several other residents lodged complaints and recounted the nightmarish problems caused by the noise, George Gibson, a representative speaking on behalf of Innospec Oilfield Services, said the company has complied with all regulations and covenants in the township and does not believe the issue is as serious as residents claim. Gibson also said the residents had opted to buy homes in a neighborhood that abuts an industrial area and should have known there may be issues related to that use.

With regard to the noise, the fact is the noise standards set by this committee do matter because it is all that this committee can enforce, Gibson said in reference to claims the noise exceeded 65 decibels. Just because (residents) can hear equipment does not mean it is actionable. Innospec has made changesthey objectively lowered the sound. They are really willing to lower it more, but it is never going to be zero (decibels).

After several more complaints from residents, who again alleged that Innospec has done nothing to remedy the situation, Gibson told the DSC that the company was willing to enter into a third-party mediation effort and that Innospec would bear all financial costs for legal counsel for residents and pay for the mediator.

We believe we are under no legal requirement to do anything, Gibson added. But we want to be good neighbors.

After the DSC meeting had ended, the committees chairman  Walter Lisiewski  appeared at the township Board of Directors meeting to provide an update on the committees activity in 2019. He briefly touched on the Innospec issue in his talk to the six directors on hand.

Weve been trying to resolve this for a yearit just isnt getting resolved, Lisiewski said, noting that the DSC approved a mediation effort. Hopefully, well be able to get this resolved.

jeff.forward@chron.com
Delhi Congress leaders have also planned different door to door campaigns and public meetings to reach out to voters as part of an ongoing poll campaign.

New Delhi: With polling dates inching closer and campaigning for Assembly elections intensifying in Delhi, Home Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amit Shah will be addressing three public rallies in the National Capital on Friday.

Shah will address rallies in Mustafabad, Karawal Nagar and Gokulpuri areas of Delhi.

BJP President JP Nadda will also hold two public rallies in Laxmi Nagar and Viswas Nagar areas of East Delhi.

The day's campaigning will also witness a roadshow by Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, who will be leading a roadshow in the National Capital to seek votes for the AAP candidate.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia will also address a public rally in support of the party's Dwarka Assembly constituency candidate.

Delhi Congress leaders have also planned different door to door campaigns and public meetings to reach out to voters as part of an ongoing poll campaign.
SEATTLE, Jan. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WatchGuard Technologies, a global leader in network security and intelligence, secure Wi-Fi and multi-factor authentication, today announced it has been named a 2020 Gartner Peer Insights Customers' Choice for Network Firewalls. This Customers' Choice distinction is based on feedback and ratings from end-user professionals that have experience purchasing, implementing and/or using WatchGuard products.

At WatchGuard, we pride ourselves on the success weve had in not only continuing to deliver innovative new security solutions to the market year after year, but also simplifying how theyre deployed and managed, said Michelle Welch, senior vice president of marketing at WatchGuard. We believe that being recognized as a 2020 Customers Choice for Network Firewalls is yet another proof point that these efforts are making a tremendous difference for our customers and partners. We couldnt be more excited to continue meeting their needs and exceeding their expectations in this new decade.

Here are some excerpts from customer reviews that contributed to the distinction:

To read Gartner's Peer Insights feedback for WatchGuard, click here.

About Peer Insights:

Peer Insights is an online platform of ratings and reviews of IT software and services that are written and read by IT professionals and technology decision-makers. The goal is to help IT leaders make more insightful purchase decisions and help technology providers improve their products by receiving objective, unbiased feedback from their customers. Gartner Peer Insights includes more than 215,000 verified reviews in more than 340 markets. For more information, please visit www.gartner.com/reviews/home.

Gartner Peer Insights Customers Choice constitute the subjective opinions of individual end-user reviews, ratings, and data applied against a documented methodology; they neither represent the views of, nor constitute an endorsement by, Gartner or its affiliates.

About WatchGuard Technologies, Inc.

WatchGuard Technologies, Inc. is a global leader in network security, secure Wi-Fi, multi-factor authentication and network intelligence. The companys award-winning products and services are trusted around the world by nearly 10,000 security resellers and service providers to protect more than 80,000 customers. WatchGuards mission is to make enterprise-grade security accessible to companies of all types and sizes through simplicity, making WatchGuard an ideal solution for midmarket businesses and distributed enterprises. The company is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, with offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. To learn more, visit WatchGuard.com.

For additional information, promotions and updates, follow WatchGuard on Twitter @WatchGuard on Facebook or on the LinkedIn Company page. Also, visit our InfoSec blog, Secplicity, for real-time information about the latest threats and how to cope with them at www.secplicity.org. Subscribe to The 443  Security Simplified podcast at Secplicity.org, or wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

WatchGuard is a registered trademark of WatchGuard Technologies, Inc. All other marks are property of their respective owners.

###
On Christmas morning, 2015, Colm Burke's life was changed for ever. Woken from his bed at 6am, he rushed to his slatted house, where his entire herd were standing in almost a foot of flood water.

With the water continuing to rise, he had no choice but to open the gates and hope for the best. For the next 13 days his farm at Skehana, just outside Peterswell in Galway was an island, was cut off from the rest of the world by the flood.

But when the water finally receded, the challenges faced by Colm were just beginning.

In an effort to simply survive, the 65-year-old has been forced to overhaul almost every part of his farm over the past four years.

In 1995, Peterswell was struck by its first flood in more than 100 years. Since then, flooding has become an almost yearly occurrence, with major events in 2005, 2009, 2012, 2015 and 2016.

The reasons for this are many and complex, with locals blaming deforestation on the nearby Slieve Aughty mountains, the construction of wind turbines at Derrybrien and the effects of climate change.

"We'd never seen anything like it before. The water comes off the mountain so fast now and it has nowhere to go," says Colm.

"The harvesting of the forestry could be a factor, the windfarm, a multitude of things could be causing it. We have climate change as well, we are getting heavier rain in shorter bursts but it all adds up to water flowing off the mountain at speeds that we never saw before.

"That Christmas Day, I had to go into my slatted shed at 6am to open the gates and let the cattle out. The water was more than six inches on top of the slats at that time, and rising.

"When you let the cattle out like that they go wild. But I had no choice, they were going to get flooded if they stayed inside."

For almost two weeks, Colm and 13 of his neighbours were virtually cut off by the rising water. When the flood finally receded, he had to undertake a massive clean-up operation on his land before completely rethinking his method of farming.

"I am a suckler farmer and everything I did was aimed towards calving in December and January. I had to change that whole structure and not have any cattle calving until the end of February and March and hope that the floods are over at that stage," he says.

"I had to revamp my whole yard. I had to move sheds and raise the whole yard. There is no subsidy or grant for that, the cost was all on me. After getting caught three times over six years I couldn't take the risk.

"There was a huge cost to it and I hope it does work. I had no choice, I had to make some sort of life for myself.

"People don't realise the mess that flooding brings. The next door neighbour's septic tank flooded and that was coming into my yard; my slurry tank overflowed and that ran into the next house over. The mess it left in the whole area was unreal.

"You're left with this awful sludge on the ground when the waters eventually do recede."

Even now, three years after the last major flood, Colm - along with much of the farming community in south Galway - is plagued by worry over the return of the floods.

"Even with the work I've done, I don't know will my yard be good enough [if a flood comes]. I've spent a lot of money to fix it but that is no guarantee. It's a constant worry," he says.

"It's all we talk about - if you're at mass or a match, it's all about the floods, are they rising or going down. It's the first thing on everyone's mind.

"If I was a younger man I think I would have gone out of it [farming]. There is no point at this stage. I couldn't go passing this onto the younger generation, you could be sued for cruelty to your children," adds the father of five and grandfather of seven.

"There isn't a life to be had here, the way things are at the moment."

Strain

Colm is part of South Galway Flooding, a group campaigning for the development of flood protection works for the area.

Like many farmers in this part of the country, he feels let down by the lack of progress made in solving the problem in recent years.

"There is a terrible mental strain that comes with all of this. You don't sleep for weeks while the threat of flooding is there and you don't sleep for weeks after, you can't settle," he says.

"We had all the politicians out here [during the last flood], all the TDs, everyone. They were going to do everything for us and everything was going to be hunky-dory.

"But once the water recedes the politicians go with it. They had a few good photographs taken and that was it. Not a word from them."
Hi. My name is Phillip Lim, and today Im going to show you how to make my Salt and Garlic Fried Shrimp with Lime. [MUSIC PLAYING] Welcome to my kitchen, my happy place. I worked with an architect to design the kitchen to be quite intuitive and simple. For example, hands-free cabinet design. This collection of ceramics is like a diary of my travels. This is the most important product in this fridge. My moms sauce that she FedEx-es to me every couple months. For looks and then for life. So the ingredients for this simple dish are salt, garlic powder, dried chili flakes, cilantro, lime, tapioca flour, and shrimp. The first step is to mix all your dry ingredients into a bowl like this. This recipe is actually derived from a traditional Chinese salt and pepper shrimp dish. Over the summer, I was entertaining friends, and I needed something more refreshing that would go with beer. So after you have the salt and powders mixed in, you take half of the salt mix and you pour it into tapioca flour. And the reason why I use tapioca flour is because its a bit lighter. Its gluten free, a little bit healthier. So after you have the shrimp nicely deveined and cut from the top, what we are going to do now is bread the shrimp. Im the youngest of six. And I grew up in a household where my mother would work all day and every single day. Three meals a day she would home cook. It was incredible what she would come up with with literally nothing and would be so delicious that we would fight over the food. Now we have everything coated, and were ready to fry. I always try to use avocado oil to deep fry because its healthy and it has a very high smoke point. So how I test for the oil to be about ready is I start to see it move around, and I also cook with chopsticks. And I know thats probably not the best thing to cook with, but its from my mom. So just take a chopstick. I take a little bit of the flour mix. I poke it in. And if it starts to sizzle, then its ready. You dont want to overfilled the wok. I think about, like, four at a time is good. [MUSIC PLAYING] And what Im going to do now is take about half the shrimp, place it in a mixing bowl, come back to our friend, the salt mix, and Im going to sprinkle it on top. And some of you might notice I left the shell on. For me, it tastes better. Its crunchier. It has a nice texture. And also in honor of its death, we want to enjoy the whole animal. We sprinkle a little bit back on top. Coriander. Finish it off with lime. And then we toss it around a little bit. And then here we go, Salt and Garlic Fried Shrimp with Lime. And whats left is just a simple beer. [MUSIC PLAYING] Mm. Cheers.
iFrog was talked about as a dream, a goal of Brent Durham and Dave Wilson when I first started with the PAG team." - Shelby Loudon, Creative Director

From the beginning, it was a match made in Ford heaven.

At the end of 2019, following a strong December run, Preston Ford  a Ford dealership nestled just outside a town of just over 700 on Marylands Eastern Shore  experienced a watershed moment when it finished No. 33 in the United States based on volume sales. Throughout the annual sales drives for Preston Ford, which officially reached Mission: Possible 7 upon completion of the 2019 slate, iFrog Digital Marketing has been a driving force behind the scenes. iFrog Digital Marketing, which offers digital marketing solutions primarily for car dealerships and a host of other industries throughout the U.S., has undergone considerable growth alongside Preston Ford.

What started out as an arm of the Preston Automotive Group family of dealerships has now blossomed into a full-fledged agency specializing in digital marketing solutions geared toward impacting a companys digital footprint and web presence. The inaugural iFrog team, though not under the current moniker, was a part of Preston Fords top 100 sales drive that began in 2013, ending with a 90th-place finish. The annual sales drives then netted rankings of 72, 79, 63, 52, 44, and then 33 in the latest results. The current meteoric rise was ignited in 2015, and Preston Ford moved up no less than nine spots each year since, culminating in the banner 2019 campaign.

You could feel the energy when you walked into the showroom in December. Everyone was in the zone and Top 40-focused, said iFrog Senior Account Manager Emily Fryer, who started with the company in April 2019 before taking over the lead on Preston Automotive Group accounts the following month. We felt like a part of the Preston team and we were rooting for the team every step of the way,

This year, we took it to a level where each morning there was a new message in the final days of the sale, Fryer added. We drove urgency in a number of digital channels to the point where it felt personal, and that we needed to do anything and everything to help drive Preston into the Top 40 spot. We incorporated more vehicle-specific targeting and customer targeting strategies that promote website growth, which in the end grew about 2,000 to 4,000 sessions per month from October through December.

It started with a flicker in 2007, as Dave Wilson, the Founder and Chairman of Preston Automotive Group, shifted advertising budgets and marketing strategies for his dealerships to be better aligned with the modern car-shopping climate. By 2013, the initiatives were up and running but employees were still scattered between the Preston Autoplex and the companys main offices in downtown Preston. The group moved into a standalone office building in downtown Preston in April 2015, before the company packed up and moved into a renovated edifice in Easton, Maryland in July 2016. The office setting in this historic town of Mid-Shore Maryland is now the home of iFrog.

Being a team of 10 in the early days allowed us to be very close, literally like family, said iFrog Chief Operating Officer Brent Durham, who has been with Preston Automotive Group since 2009 and is a co-founder of iFrog. Being so, everyone did a little bit of everything and we all grew stronger. Learning happened at a much quicker rate. To catch up to our competition we had to be dead set to get better and be able to learn more quickly than the competition in order to catch up. We knew how to do what we do, but we needed to get it done quicker, smarter, and better than everyone else.

iFrog Creative Director Shelby Loudon, who began as a Graphic Designer with Preston Automotive Group in September 2013, added iFrog was talked about as a dream, a goal of Brent Durham and Dave Wilson when I first started with the PAG team. What was unique about my experience starting off as the only in-house Graphic Designer for PAG was that I got to be involved in lots of ways, I got to do things that now we have whole departments for.

Born in a Dealership

Based out of Easton, Maryland, iFrog Digital Marketing offers modern digital marketing solutions for car dealerships and a host of other industries throughout the U.S. iFrog specializes in Email Marketing, Search Engine Optimization, Search Engine Marketing and Paid Search, Graphic Design, Mobile Advertising, Social Media Marketing, Online Reputation Management, and Display Advertising and Retargeting. Today, iFrog Digital Marketing serves over 80 clients, including 32 different Ford dealerships. For more information on iFrog Digital Marketing and its offerings, visit at http://www.ifrog.com or call 410-673-8278.
The UN experts decided to examine the allegations as an extension of their investigation into the killing of Khashoggi, who wrote opinion columns for the Post and was slain in October 2018 at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Callamard and Kaye said Mohammed's apparent involvement was part of "a pattern of targeted surveillance" by Saudi authorities. The UN officials based their conclusions on a forensic investigation of Bezos' phone commissioned by the Amazon founder. Bezos hired investigator Anthony Ferrante of FTI Consulting last year to examine his iPhone X. In a report written in November, Ferrante, a former chief of staff of the FBI's Cyber Division, concluded that Bezos' device had been compromised "possibly via tools procured by Saud al-Qahtani", who directed hacking programs for the Saudi government and led a massive online campaign of tweets targeting Bezos, Amazon and the Post. Jamal Khashoggi speaks during a press conference in Manama, Bahrain, in 2014. Credit:AP The alleged hack of Bezos' phone took place five months before Khashoggi's death in 2018, which the CIA linked to the Saudi government in a briefing with senators in December of that year.

The US Treasury Department sanctioned Qahtani for his role as "part of the planning and execution" of Khashoggi's death, but a Saudi public prosecutor last month found a "lack of evidence" against him. The Saudi government said five other Saudis were sentenced to death in connection with the Khashoggi killing but did not identify them. Ferrante's report said Qahtani bought a 20 per cent stake in a company called Hacking Team that had been working to develop a way to infect phones by sending videos through the WhatsApp messaging platform. Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud, called the UN report "absurd". At a meeting of world leaders in Davos, Prince Faisal said: "The idea that the crown prince would hack Jeff Bezos' phone is absolutely silly." A person close to Prince Mohammed called it inconceivable that the crown prince would try to hack Bezos' phone but said one of his aides might have. Khashoggi's columns in the Post "hit Riyadh like a bombshell", the person said on condition of anonymity. "There is also this thrill when you buy some software and you don't know your limits." A spokesman for Bezos declined to comment. Bezos on Wednesday tweeted a photo of himself at a memorial ceremony in October, honouring Khashoggi a year after his death. Bezos accompanied the picture with just one word, the hashtag #Jamal.

Ferrante's report says that "within hours of receipt of the MP4 video file from the Crown Prince's account, massive and (for Bezos' phone) unprecedented exfiltration of data from the phone began". The flow of data out of Bezos' phone jumped suddenly by 29,156 per cent, and the "spiking then continued undetected over some months". Material extracted from Bezos' phone included personal photos, text messages, instant messages, emails and possibly "eavesdropped recordings done via the phone's microphone", Ferrante found. Twice in the months after the initial breach, Bezos received texts from the crown prince's account that seemed to demonstrate that the sender had access to Bezos' private information. On November 8, 2018 - two months before the National Enquirer published an expose revealing that Bezos had been conducting an extramarital affair with former TV host Lauren Sanchez - Bezos received a photo of a woman who looked something like Sanchez. The photo was accompanied by a cryptic caption saying that "Arguing with a woman is like reading the Software License agreement. In the end you have to ignore everything and click 'I agree'."

Ferrante's report said the message arrived "precisely during the period Bezos and his wife were exploring divorce". At that point, there had been no public reporting on the collapse of Bezos' marriage. Jeff Bezos with Lauren Sanchez at Wimbledon in July last year. Credit:AP Then, in February of last year, Bezos received a second text from Prince Mohammed's account - one that the consultant said showed that the Saudi leader had information "that could have been gained via surveillance of Bezos' phone". On February 14, Bezos had been sent a detailed briefing - delivered to his iPhone - about the Saudis' online propaganda campaign against him. Two days later, a text arrived from Prince Mohammed's account saying: "Jeff all what you hear or told to it's not true ... there is nothing against you or amazon from me or Saudi Arabia." The technology that investigators believe infected Bezos' phone did not require him to click on the video but rather instantly created a channel for remote extraction of data from the phone, FTI concluded.

FTI was unable to find malware on Bezos' phone. It concluded, however, that the extraordinary outflow of data right after the mysterious file arrived strongly indicated a hack. "It's not the smoking gun, but it's very suspicious," said Matthew Green, a computer scientist at Johns Hopkins University. "If you're looking for concrete, undeniable evidence of an actual hack, then it's not here. But sometimes you're not lucky enough to get that evidence. In fact, one of the goals of this kind of malware is to disguise the fact that it was present." The UN experts cited reports that Saudi officials have previously used malware such as the NSO Group's Pegasus-3 product to surveil dissidents' computer activity. NSO Group, an Israeli company, issued a statement on Wednesday denying "unequivocally" that its product was used in the alleged Bezos hack. Loading WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook, discovered last northern spring that it had a vulnerability that allowed attackers to install surveillance software on Apple and Android phones. The UN statement said "the use of WhatsApp as a platform to enable installation of Pegasus onto devices has been well-documented and is the subject of a lawsuit by Facebook/WhatsApp against NSO Group".

"We are aware of the media reports and are concerned about the allegations," said a Trump administration official. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Justice Department and the FBI declined to comment on the UN experts' conclusions. People with knowledge of the case have said that federal prosecutors in New York have been investigating Bezos' allegation, made in an online essay last year, that executives at the National Enquirer tabloid newspaper used "extortion and blackmail" against him. The Enquirer's 11-page story last January, touted as "the biggest investigation in Enquirer history", included surveillance photos of Bezos with Sanchez. National Enquirer publisher David Pecker is a close friend of Donald Trump. Credit:AP Bezos said that American Media Inc, the Enquirer's parent company, threatened to publish photos of his genitals unless he publicly stated that the expose of his extramarital affair was not motivated by the newspaper's ties to US President Donald Trump. Trump and David Pecker, AMI's chief executive, were friends for many years, and AMI admitted to paying two women who said they had affairs with Trump. The Enquirer said last year that its "single source" who provided information about Bezos' affair was not the Saudis, but rather Sanchez's brother, Michael Sanchez, who denied the allegation.

Any US investigation of the latest hacking allegations would probably be conducted by the FBI. But such a probe would be extremely difficult for both legal and diplomatic reasons. The bureau probably could not confront hacking suspects in the Saudi government, let alone the crown prince himself. Even if law enforcement officials could use intelligence sources or technical methods to find evidence against someone in the Saudi government, they would face a difficult decision: Do they publicly charge suspects mainly to shame them, knowing they would probably never face trial in the United States and potentially strain diplomatic relations? Or would the FBI remain silent rather than reveal how US authorities gather intelligence on their Saudi allies? In recent years, officials have at times charged foreign actors. For example, the Justice Department indicted Russian government hackers for interfering in the 2016 election and similarly charged government-backed Iranian hackers with a wide array of computer mischief. A person familiar with the federal investigation into the hacking of Bezos' phone said the FBI approved the selection of Ferrante to do the forensics work on the device. The UN report marks the first time a public entity has backed up Bezos' allegations about Saudi involvement in the hacking. Last year, Bezos alleged through his security consultant, Gavin de Becker, that the Saudi government had "access to Bezos' phone, and gained private information". De Becker wrote in the Daily Beast that the Saudis were "intent on harming Jeff Bezos since ... the Post began its relentless coverage" of the killing of Khashoggi. Within days of Khashoggi's death, as the Post published numerous news accounts about the killing and the Saudi government's involvement, a massive internet campaign against Bezos began, focused on his role as owner of the Post.
US health experts hosted a tabletop exercise which simulated a fictional coronavirus pandemic to see how authorities could coordinate a response to such an event - three months before the deadly outbreak in China.

Scientists at the prestigious Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security modelled a hypothetical pandemic on a computer as part of research last October.

The exercise was not intended as a prediction - but rather served to highlight how governments and industry would respond in the case of a very severe pandemic.

Meanwhile, the Chinese city of Wuhan remains on lockdown as authorities scramble to stop the spread of the real-world coronavirus - nCoV-2019 - which has infected more than 1,400 people worldwide and killed 42.

The Center for Health Security and its partners - the World Economic Forum and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation - have made it clear that the inputs for modelling the potential impact of the fictional virus were not similar to nCoV-2019.

US health experts hosted a tabletop exercise which simulated a fictional coronavirus pandemic to see how authorities could coordinate a response to such an event - three months before the deadly outbreak in China. (Above, medics treat sufferers in Wuhan on Friday)

Scientists at the prestigious Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security modelled a hypothetical pandemic on a computer as part of research last October. The exercise was not intended as a prediction - but rather served to highlight how governments and industry would respond in the case of a very severe pandemic. (Above, medical staff work in the intensive care unit of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University in Wuhan)

The Chinese city of Wuhan remains on lockdown as authorities scramble to stop the spread of the real-world coronavirus - nCoV-2019 - which has infected more than 1,400 people worldwide and killed 42. The Center for Health Security and its partners - the World Economic Forum and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation - made it clear the inputs for modelling the potential impact of the fictional virus were not similar to nCoV-2019. (Above, microscopic photo of the coronavirus in China)

Dr Eric Toner, a senior researcher at Johns Hopkins, said he wasn't shocked by the news of the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan in late December.

'I have thought for a long time that the most likely virus that might cause a new pandemic would be a coronavirus,' he told Business Insider.

'We don't yet know how contagious it is. We know that it is being spread person to person, but we don't know to what extent.

'An initial first impression is that this is significantly milder than SARS. So that's reassuring. On the other hand, it may be more transmissible than SARS, at least in the community setting.'

Coronaviruses are infections of the respiratory tract that can lead to illnesses like pneumonia or the common cold.

One was also responsible for the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in China, which affected 8,000 people and killed 774 in the early 2000s.

Medical workers transfer a patient who is on the mend out of the ICU (intensive care unit) of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan

Dr Toner's simulation imagined a fictional virus called CAPS - a pandemic that originated in Brazil's pig farms in the hypothetical scenario.

The virus in Toner's simulation would be resistant to any modern vaccine. It would be deadlier than SARS, but about as easy to catch as the flu.

His computer modelled outbreak started small, with farmers coming down with fevers or pneumonia-like symptoms.

It then spread to crowded and poverty-riddled communities in South America.

Flights were grounded and travel bookings were slashed in half. After six months, the virus had spread around the globe.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this article stated that health experts 'predicted' coronavirus could kill 65 million people in a year. It has since been updated and we are happy to clarify that the modelled simulation of a coronavirus pandemic was not intended to be a prediction of events.
Housing Secretary Ben Carson has provided no response to a bipartisan group of 10 U.S. senators pressing for federal action to protect public housing tenants from exposure to radioactive gas.

The senators on Jan. 15 requested a meeting with Carson, citing an investigation by The Oregonian/OregonLive that revealed the federal governments failure to safeguard residents.

Carson has not responded to the senators, and its unclear if he will.

Officials for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development have not replied to six requests for comment from the newsroom since last week about whether Carson will meet with the lawmakers.

U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, said there are effective tests to find radon to keep families safe. The gas is estimated to kill 21,000 Americans annually and is the second-leading cause of lung cancer.

Thats why its so unconscionable that HUD doesnt require this basic test, Stabenow, one of the 10 senators requesting a meeting, said in a statement. Their decision is exposing families to this dangerous gas and to increased risks of lung cancer.

The newsrooms Cancer Cloud investigation found that HUD and local housing authorities nationwide have failed for three decades to prevent radon exposure in public housing.

HUD does not require radon testing by housing authorities despite a mandate from Congress in 1988 for federal officials to protect tenants from hazardous levels of exposure. HUD in 2013 began strongly encouraging housing authorities to test but has failed to monitor progress.

The newsroom surveyed 64 agencies nationwide, collectively responsible for nearly 125,000 units of public housing, and found that fewer than one in three could produce records showing they looked for radon.

Prompted by the investigation, U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, Democrats from Oregon, fired off a blistering letter to Carson in December seeking answers to six questions. But HUD didnt respond by the senators Jan. 6 deadline.

Wyden countered with a second, more conciliatory letter without a deadline. He secured support beyond Oregon from five other senators who already had publicly called for action in response to The Oregonian/OregonLives investigation, plus three more  including U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Stabenow, whose home state of Michigan has several radon hot zones.

The senators urged Carson to take swift action to address this problem.

-- Brad Schmidt; bschmidt@oregonian.com; 503-294-7628; @_brad_schmidt

Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories.
By Dan Whitcomb (Reuters) - A university student being treated for a respiratory illness in Texas after travelling to Wuhan, China, is being tested for the newly discovered coronavirus that has killed 18 people in China, state and local officials said on Thursday. If the patient, who has not been publicly identified, tests positive for coronavirus it would mark the second known U.S. case of the illness, which has already sickened an estimated 650 people worldwide.

By Dan Whitcomb

(Reuters) - A university student being treated for a respiratory illness in Texas after travelling to Wuhan, China, is being tested for the newly discovered coronavirus that has killed 18 people in China, state and local officials said on Thursday.

If the patient, who has not been publicly identified, tests positive for coronavirus it would mark the second known U.S. case of the illness, which has already sickened an estimated 650 people worldwide. The first U.S. case was diagnosed in Washington state.

"Public health officials in Brazos County are investigating a patient who meets the definition of a potential case of the 2019 novel coronavirus. The patient got sick with a respiratory illness within two weeks of travel in Wuhan, China," Texas health officials said in a statement.

"The patient is being isolated at home in accordance with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the investigation continues to determine whether this is a case of novel coronavirus," the health officials said.

A CDC spokeswoman said the agency was coordinating testing of the individual, but cautioned that it could be a false alarm.

"Because it is cold and flu season and many people are suffering from respiratory illnesses, we expect there will be more travelers who fall under the CDCs testing guidance. DSHS will promptly announce any confirmed novel coronavirus cases. We wont provide details on negative tests," the spokeswoman said.

Although Texas and CDC officials did not provide any identifying information about the patient, Texas A&M University said it had been notified by local health officials that the patient was a student there.

"Officials have described the immediate health risk to the campus community as low," the university said in a statement.

Earlier this week a Washington state man who had travelled to the Wuhan region of China was diagnosed with coronavirus, becoming the first confirmed U.S. case. He is reported to be in satisfactory condition.

The coronavirus, which causes respiratory symptoms similar to a cold or flu, has been linked to a seafood market in Wuhan, the largest city in central China with a population of about 11 million. That market has since been shut down.

Though China has put millions of people on lockdown over the outbreak and U.S. officials have begun screening passengers arriving from that region, the World Health Organization said on Thursday it was too early to declare a global health emergency.

(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Leslie Adler)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Bhandara (Maharashtra) [India], Jan 24 (ANI): Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Friday said that the previous BJP government in the state had engaged in the tapping of phones of Congress and NCP leaders.



"When the BJP government was in power in Maharashtra, before the general and legislative assembly elections, they tapped phones of NCP and Congress leaders to keep a tab on their activities. They sent their officials to Israel to get the software for phone-tapping. We have started an investigation of the matter," Deshmukh told reporters here.

Earlier today, Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut alleged that a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party had informed him about the tapping of his phone.

"Your phone is being tapped, I have been informed by a senior BJP minister," Raut claimed in a tweet.

Raut also said that he welcomes whoever wants to overhear his conversation.

"I am a disciple of Balsaheb Thackeray. I don't say or do anything behind the curtain. So go ahead with it," he added. (ANI)


By Aaron Saldanha and Divya Chowdhury

(Reuters) - Geopolitical uncertainties are not deterring Citigroup Inc clients from strategic deals and some unicorns' offer "great potential", but outbound Chinese buyers are lacking, Leon Kalvaria, chairman of the lender's institutional clients group said.

Kalvaria also told the Reuters Global Markets Forum on Thursday that Citi's overall market share across advisory, syndicate lending, equity and debt origination rose in 2019, but attracting and retaining talent is challenging in the business.

Below are excerpts from the chat, held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland:

Question (Q) - Is geopolitical uncertainty keeping some corporate clients, who would otherwise be looking for deals or other financing, on the sidelines?

Answer (A) - I don't think geopolitical uncertainties are affecting clients who are looking to do strategic transactions. However, that said, obviously outbound mergers and acquisitions (M&A) from China has gone down considerably, but other cross border M&A remains reasonably strong.

Q - Many of Citigroup's competitors are going down market to look for growth since there is more competition for the biggest deals but fewer of them. Why hasn't Citi followed suit?

A - We are not going down market because we do not believe that's the right phraseology. What we are doing is spending significant time on smaller emerging growth companies, which we believe, over time, will be winners within their sub-sectors.

Those companies are candidates for initial public offerings, merger and acquisition (M&A) opportunities and other potential services that we can bring to bear as they grow globally.

Q - How has the era of "unicorns" changed the way Citigroup sources new clients?

A - The era of unicorns relates to the earlier question about covering smaller companies. The unicorn valuations help highlight companies with great potential for us to cover and are very helpful in the areas we should invest in from the people standpoint.

Story continues

Q - In 2018, Citi's overall market share across advisory, syndicate lending and equity and debt origination rose to 5.1%, from 4.9%. How is the effort to capture more market share progressing and what are the biggest hurdles?

A - We continue to increase market share in 2019 slowly and carefully. The hurdles remain in retaining and attracting the best talent. This is a people business and we have to ensure that we have the best.

Q - How will the corporate banking landscape change, given recent consolidation in the capital markets industry. Will fewer players in equity or debt impact the other corporate banking business lines?

A - Corporate banking business will remain a broad global business. Obviously the big 3 American corporate banks continue to enjoy a very strong position in the marketplace and remain very strong. But they (face) competition from leading banks in Asia and Europe.

In terms of fixed income and equities, some players have retreated to some extent and that has given other players the opportunity to pick up market share.

(This interview was conducted in the Reuters Global Markets Forum, a chat room hosted on the Eikon platform. Sign up here to join GMF: https://refini.tv/2LbSKPl )

(Reporting by Divya Chowdhury in Davos, Savio Shetty in Mumbai, Aaron Saldanha in Bengaluru, Additional reporting by Imani Moise in New York)
KAMPALA  H.E. Deborah Malac, the US outgoing Ambassador to Uganda has commended the country for its role in stabilizing the region.

Ms Malac was speaking during her last press conference on Thursday, January 23 in Kampala.

The region is a tough and difficult neighbourhood in eastern DRC, Sudan, South Sudan, and Burundi but Uganda has continued brokering peace, Malac said.

She said that in her time, the US has supported the training, equipping and deployment of nearly 25000 Uganda military personnel to Somalia to help in improving regional security and stability.

The Ambassador added that her government will continue supporting Ugandas efforts to ensure stability in the region.

We will do everything we can to ensure Uganda remains stable so as to continue with efforts to provide support to other countries, Malac said.

Ms Malac, a career diplomat was nominated by former US President Barack Obama in September 2015 and took over from Ambassador Scott Deilsi who had announced his retirement. Senate confirmed her appointment in November 2015 and she presented her credentials to President Yoweri Museveni in February 2016.

Malac will be replaced by Natalie E. Brown, the Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Eritrea.

In a September report sent to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, the US State Department said Ms Brown, who has also previously served as Deputy Chief of Mission of U.S Embassy in Tunisia, has the necessary experience for the job.

Related

Continue Reading
Ayatollah Ali Sistani has been an unlikely saviour of Iraq, and his hospitalisation last week has left many Iraqis concerned about his health and their own future

Like many grand ayatollahs before him, Ali Sistani is among the small group of senior clerics who lead the Shia theological school in Najaf, the bastion of spiritual Shiism, which stretches its moral power across Iraq and much of the worlds Shia Muslim community.

But since the overthrow of the Sunni-dominated regime of former president Saddam Hussein, Sistani has dominated the leadership of the Shia marjiya, the spiritual reference for Shias, and turned the city into the centre of the faiths political power in Iraq.

Few if any figures have matched the political influence in Iraq of Sistani, whose power transcends Iraqs other most revered Shia clerics, even many of his possible successors.

Sistani underwent surgery on a fractured thigh on 16 January following an accident in his home in Najaf. He reportedly fractured a thigh bone when he slipped while washing before evening prayers.

Sistani, who turns 90 later this year, was discharged from hospital a day later and returned to his home in Najaf where he will stay under medical observation.

But news of the surgery has left millions of his followers and many other Iraqis concerned about his health and raised fears about the prospects for political change or continuity following Sistanis death.

Concerns over the health of the ageing cleric had been growing even before the latest accident, but they have mounted as Iraq is caught up in the US-Iran escalation following the killing of Qassem Suleimani, the commander of Irans Al-Quds Force, earlier this month.

The Iranian-born Sistani has been a powerful and decisive force in Iraqs troubled politics since the US-led invasion in 2003 and Saddams downfall. He has served as a great stabiliser of conflict-ridden Iraq through his attempts to forge a common cause for all Iraqis.

His views have been critical in calming tensions as the country has faced crisis after crisis, beginning with civil strife following the US-led invasion through the war on the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group and the recent mass protests against the Shia political establishment in Iraq.

Sistani is believed to have been born in Mashhad, Iran, on 4 August 1930 of a father who was also a religious scholar. He moved to the holy city of Najaf in Iraq to study theology with prominent Shia clerics in the seminary.

Shortly after the death of grand ayatollah Khoie in 1992, Sistani inherited the position of senior cleric in Najaf and began exercising the spiritual leadership position of the Iraqi Shias in dealing with their religious matters.

Soon afterwards, Sistani cultivated millions of Shia followers worldwide who adopted his views because of what they saw as his great knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence, intellect, and somewhat moderate religious opinions.

Like his predecessors in the Najaf Hawza, or seminary, Sistani remained opposed to the controversial theory of wilayat al-faqih, the absolute guardianship of the Shia jurist, advocated by Ayatollah Khomeini and exercised in Iran following the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

Instead, Sistani supported the idea that clerics should not play an executive or administrative role in state affairs but should limit their non-religious role to giving advice on issues of public interest without being directly involved in government matters.

Sistani has not only rejected the dogma of absolute leadership, but has even explicitly called for a civic state in Iraq rather than a religious one, distancing himself from the theocracy preached and practised by the Islamic Republic in Iran.

Under Saddams ruthless dictatorship, Sistani steered clear of politics in an attempt to escape the regimes wrath, but this brought criticism from those who believed in the need for the religious establishment to speak out on public policies.

Soon after Saddams ouster, Sistani began to play a key role in reshaping the political order in Iraq to help empower the Shia majority. Yet, he tried to walk a fine line in order not to alienate the countrys minority Kurds and Sunni Muslims and ensure equality in power-sharing.

While he is seldom seen or speaks in public, Sistani emerged as one of the most powerful men in post-Saddam Iraq. His edicts or communications through statements read by representatives have either drawn up roadmaps for Iraqi politicians or blocked them from imposing their own.

In the days of tension over the future of the US Occupation Authority in Iraq, Sistani forced the US administration in the country to hold elections in 2005 for an assembly to write a new constitution for Iraq and pave the way for an elected parliament and government.

Over the years, Sistanis interventions with political and communal leaders have played a unifying role and paved the way for rival factions to form governments and end political crises that have threatened deadlock and power struggles.

In June 2014, Sistani issued a call to all Iraqis to take up arms and push back IS terrorists after they occupied large swathes of territory in Iraq and declared a caliphate, effectively mobilising an army of recruits which helped the security forces to drive IS back.

Following the eruption of the anti-government protests against corruption, mismanagement and the lack of basic services in 2015, Sistani issued calls to Iraqi political leaders to push ahead with much-needed reforms.

Since last October, Sistani has emerged as a key supporter of the anti-establishment uprising and protesters, most of them young, who have been demanding an overhaul of a political system that they see as profoundly corrupt and loyal to neighbouring Iran.

Despite his support for the protesters demands, Sistanis calls for reform have not been heeded by the entrenched and corrupt Iran-backed Shia elite that has successfully outmanoeuvred the ayatollah to maintain its grip on power.

But as the protesters demands were met with a violent crackdown that killed more than 600 and injured tens of thousands of others, Sistani banded more closely together with the protesters and their movement.

As Iraqs oligarchy persistently resisted calls for change, Sistani withdrew his support for Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdis government, forcing him to resign in December. He then called for electoral reforms and the right of the people to choose their own government.

But as the uprising escalated and the ruling elite continued to resist giving in to the protesters demands, Sistani began to show signs of increasing frustration and indignation at the continued stalemate that he has clearly blamed on the countrys political class.

Given his age and his health condition, it is a momentous question now to ask whether the era of post-Sistani politics has already begun. In recent years, there has been speculation about scenarios for Sistanis succession, but anxiety only really started to rise after his hospitalisation last week.

In the custom of Shia seminaries, a new marja taqlid, or source of emulation for every Shia, emerges on the basis of his seniority in ijtihad, or reasoning, and taqlid, or following, and acceptance by believers on the merits of his scholarship.

Currently there are three prominent clerics in Najaf who carry the title of grand ayatollah and could compete for the position: Mohamed Said Al-Hakim (Iraqi), Mohamed Ishac Al-Fayad (Afghani), and Bashir Al-Najafi (Pakistani).

In theory, one of these could take the lead in Najaf after Sistanis death, though not necessarily his unique position in post-Saddam Iraq which has been reflected in the unprecedented ways through which the marja has consolidated his rank among his peers.

Yet, Sistanis succession could be complicated if not more ambiguous than merely choosing between octogenarian successors who are yet untested against Iraqs woes that prove more mortal every day.

The succession to Sistani will come at a crucial movement for Iraqi Shias and for Iraq at large, as the country remains gridlocked in its most serious and probably also existential political crisis since Saddams downfall.

While Iraqi Shias will need a spiritual leader of Sistanis stature, their next marja should not diverge from the inherited Najaf line on wilayat al-faqih since he represents this and is part of it.

Nevertheless, there is rising concern at the level of intrigue and infighting that may permeate the weeks and months leading up to any selection of a new marja in Najaf after Sistanis death.

This is a tricky and chaotic time in Iraqs modern history, and public disturbances associated with the protests and political impasse may give stakeholders the chance to exclude opponents from the Najaf Hawza and push their versions of theology and politics.

One major concern is that Iran will use its influence to undermine the screening and selection process, or, worse, impose a cleric who holds a version of its absolute guardianship model.

It is widely believed that Iran is preparing for the post-Sistani era by trying to push a pro-Iranian cleric to the powerful seat or by infiltrating the Hawza with its influence and indoctrination.

There have been difficult years for Iraq since the US-led invasion and the collapse of Saddams regime in 2003. The ongoing anti-establishment uprising has put Iraq on a trajectory of political uncertainty.

To a large extent the future of the uprising will depend on the course that Iran and its proxies in Iraq will take in tackling the protest movement that has been challenging Tehrans influence in the neighbouring country.

Sistanis demise and the struggle for his succession will certainly reshape Iraqs politics, and there are reasons to believe that Najaf and its prominent seminary will be another playground in which Iran will seek to consolidate its powerbase and promote its Islamic model in Iraq and beyond.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 23 January, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


Meghan, Duchess of Sussex is no longer a senior member of the royal family, but she is still being pitted against Kate, Duchess of Cambridge on social media. This week, Meghan and Kate seemed to be vying for the spotlight on Instagram after sharing photos on the same day. The posts left royal watchers wondering if Meghan is sparking her old rivalry with the Duchess of Cambridge, despite her and Prince Harrys decision to step down.

Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle | Stephen Pond/Getty Images

Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton compete on Instagram

Kate shared a slew of photos promoting her 5 Big Questions initiative this week. The Duchess of Cambridge visited a handful of organizations as part of her child welfare campaign, including the Ely and Caerau Childrens Centre.

Within hours of Kates first post, Meghan unexpectedly shared a photo from her previous visit to an animal charity in London. The visit happened a few weeks ago, as Meghan has been in Canada for the past two weeks.

According to Page Six, Buckingham Palace couriers were displeased by Meghans post because it was shared while Kate was trying to promote her campaign. We do not know what prompted Meghan to share the post, but it has seemingly renewed the rivalry between her and Kate.

It does not help that Meghan and Prince Harrys Instagram account now has more followers than Kate and Prince Williams page, Kensington Royal. Fans, of course, were quick to notice the timing of Meghans post and heavily criticized her for trying to take the spotlight.

2 week old photos and you post on the day Catherine is launching an initiative? Very very insecure and sad, on royal watcher noted.

Meghan Markle enjoys her new life in Canada

Meghan flew to Canada a few weeks back while Harry met with senior royals in Sandringham about their exit. The couple announced their stunning departure on Instagram at the start of the year.

Meghan and Harry revealed that they are stepping down as senior members of the royal family and that they want to become financially independent from the crown. The two also stated that they will be splitting their time between the U.K. and North America, which is why Meghan returned to Canada with their son, Archie Harrison.

Following his meetings with Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, and Prince William, Buckingham Palace confirmed that Prince Harry and Meghan will cease using their royal titles as a result of their exit.

Details about the couples departure are still being worked out, and they are not expected to finalize anything until the spring. In the meantime, the Sussexes are reportedly looking to purchase a home in Canada, where they will be setting up a second home base.

Archie Harrison played a role in Megxit

There were a lot of factors that went into Harry and Meghans decision to step down from the royal spotlight. But sources claim that one of the biggest catalysts was the pushback Meghan received for trying to keep Archie out of the public eye.

Meghan notoriously kept Archie away from the media in the months following his birth last May. The former Suits star refused to take photos shortly after the birth and kept Archies christening a private affair.

Meghan and Harry were criticized for not giving the media more access to Archie. Sources claim that some members of the royal family advised them to be more forthcoming about their son, which proved to be the final straw for Meghan.

Despite the reports, Meghan and Harry have not commented on the rumors surrounding their son. Harry recently reunited with Meghan in Canada, though it is unclear how long he will remain in the country.

Will Meghan Markle and Prince Harry regret their decision?

Considering all the backlash the Sussexes have received, many royal watchers believe Harry and Meghan will ultimately regret their decision to step down.

In a new poll conducted by Express, 83 percent of people thought that Harry and Meghan will have regrets about leaving the royal family. Close to 11,000 people voted in the poll, and only 14 percent thought they would have zero regrets.

Fans also expressed their views in the comments, with some saying that Prince Harry will probably feel worse about it than Meghan when it is all said and done.

I think Harry will come to regret the decision, but not his wife, one fan wrote.
The"marijuana amnesty boxes" were placed there and at OHare International Airport earlier this month when it became legal to possess marijuana in Illinois. Its not illegal to have it at the airports, but possessing marijuana is still illegal under federal law, and airspace is regulated by the federal government.
Hyderabad, Jan 24 : In another setback to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, a special court here on Friday dismissed his petition for exemption from personal appearance in the court in Enforcement Directorate (ED) cases.

The court also directed him to personally appear in the court for the next hearing on January 31.

He had sought permission for his co-accused Jagati Publications, that publishes Telugu daily 'Sakshi' to represent him.

This is the second jolt to Jagan, as the leader is popularly known, in the disproportionate assets cases. The court had earlier dismissed his petition for exemption in Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cases.

Jagan had made his first appearance in the court in the capacity of the Chief Minister on January 10. He, however, obtained exemptions on January 17 and 24, citing important official assignments.

He is the number one accused in five charge sheets filed by the ED in the money laundering case. The ED filed the charge sheets under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) and attached the assets of several industrialists and co-accused.

The CBI had filed 11 charge sheets in the disproportionate case registered during 2011-12.

In what is called the 'quid-pro-quo' cases, Jagan was accused of getting investments into his businesses by firms and individuals in return for the undue favours by the government in undivided Andhra Pradesh headed by his father Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy between 2004 and 2009.

However, the YSRCP leader denied all the charges and termed them as political vendetta.

The CBI arrested JaganAand sent him to jail on May 27, 2012. After 16 months in jail, he was granted bail.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan.24

By Tamilla Mammadova  Trend:

Georgia exported 17,625 tons of ferroalloys totaling $18.5 million to Turkey in 2019, Trend reports referring to Georgian National Statistics Office (Geostat).

On an annualized basis, Georgia reduced the export of ferroalloys by 9,613 tons. Over the 2018 year, 27,238 tons of ferroalloys totaling $32.5 million were exported from Georgia to Turkey.

Meanwhile, Georgia exported 76,675 tons of semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel worth $28.9 million to Turkey in 2019.

Georgia increased the export of semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel. Over the 2018, 47,534 tons of steel semi-finished products totaling $22.5 million were exported from Georgia to Turkey.

Turkey ranks first in Georgias commodity circulation.

In 2019, total imports to Georgia from Turkey amounted to $1.6 billion. In turn, Georgia exported goods worth $202.3 million to Turkey.

The foreign trade turnover of Georgia with Turkey from January to November 2019 exceeded $1.8 billion, which is 14.1 percent of the total trade turnover of Georgia.

In 2019, the external merchandise trade (excluding non-declared trade) of Georgia amounted to $12.8 billion, 2.7 percent higher year-on-year.

The exports equaled $3.7 billion (12.4 percent higher), while the imports stood at $9.1 billion (0.8 percent lower).

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Mila61979356
Today

Some sun this morning with increasing clouds this afternoon. High 73F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies. Low 47F. Winds light and variable.

Tomorrow

Partly to mostly cloudy. High around 75F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
India has begun working on a national mission that may eventually lead to the creation of a super-secure communication network to make online financial transactions hacking-proof besides ensuring full-proof safety of every bit of digital communication.

Such an unconditional level of information security would come from the frontier area of quantum technology that Indian scientists would explore under the planned mission.

The detailed project report on the national mission on quantum technology and application is being written. The mission will have components on basic research, product development and applications, Urbasi Sinha, a scientist at Raman Research Institute and one of members of the panel preparing the report told DH.

While the national mission would come under the Department of Science and Technology, the Indian Space Research Organisation is on-board and may provide satellites at a later date for experiments, for which the RRI making a payload. The initiative is being catalysed by the Principal Scientific Advisor to the government.

A fundamental bedrock of modern physics, quantum mechanics deals with the behaviour of matter and light at the atomic and subatomic scales.

Quantum technology exploits some of the spooky properties of quantum mechanics  such as quantum entanglement, superposition and tunnelling  in developing practical applications like computing and cryptography.

Early generation quantum computers are a reality though they are not commercially available. In October, Google reported developing a 53 qubit chip (Sycamore) that in 3.20 minutes would finish a task, which a 200 petaflop super-computer would take about 10,000 years.

Such powerful computers put a question mark on the security of commonplace modern communication systems that are secured by classical encryption codes.

That's where the proposed Indian mission intends to chip in. With China making rapid progress, one of the focus areas in the proposed Indian mission is quantum cryptography.

Existing communication networks are secured by classical encryption techniques (like the RSA code) that can be broken by powerful computers. With quantum computers around, the classical cryptography is at risk. Quantum cryptography, on the other hand, is unbreakable, said a scientist, who is aware of the mission but didn't wish to be identified.

Last week RRI hosted a scientific conference, in which leading experts from all over the world came to Bengaluru to discuss the challenges ahead. Scientists associated with Chinese satellite Micius, the world's only quantum satellite was also attended the conference.

The scientific inputs will help us better prepare the detailed project report that would be submitted to the DST for funding, Sinha said. As a prelude, the DST since 2017 has started funding projects under its Quantum Science and Technology Programme, but the scales are likely to expand further under the national mission.
OTTAWA, Ontario, Jan. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Yemen's National Wallet Company seeks Canadian fintech's help to launch financial inclusion project.

Yemen is facing the world's worst humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations .

For the 24 million people displaced by escalating hostilities, access to humanitarian aid is their only protection against deadly famine. Telepin and ONE, the go-to-market brand by the National Wallet Company (NWC), hope to improve that access and give Yemenis more control over their daily lives.

ONE will soon launch the country's first mobile money platform, designed to provide cashless e-wallet services to the Yemeni population. In a country where more than 90 percent of the population don't have a bank account, this platform will give users an alternative to the instability of cash. The GSMA notes the potential impacts of such an initiative in a 2017 report , which explains how mobile money deployments "support financial inclusion, help to build resilience, and most importantly, can better serve displaced populations worldwide."

The platform, developed by ONE and Telepin, will allow customers to load and withdraw cash, send money to their friends and family, receive salaries, pay bills and most importantly transact with local merchants  all through an innovative platform accessible on both basic mobile devices or smartphones without the need for internet access. The platform's key partners are Yemen's largest private companies, who have committed their network of more than 100,000 direct and indirect retailers and distributors in Yemen to support this initiative. Yemen's 11 major banks also support the initiative and will ensure the widest possible reach across the country, even amongst the most remote communities. This aims to support the financial needs of millions of Yemenis suffering the consequences of this crisis.

As ONE's CMO Mohamed Hayel Saeed explains, "Working with domestic and international partners, ONE will help bring Yemen's economy into the 21st century by delivering sustainable, long-term positive outcomes for today's Yemeni population and for generations to come. We have been working to create an innovative solution to give Yemenis back control over their daily financial activities and to secure their future. We want to reach the last mile and broaden access to financial services to as many of Yemen's 20 million 'unbanked' people as possible."

Telepin CEO Vincent Kadar is equally optimistic. "The National Wallet Company has built a robust plan to give families reliable financial options in an unreliable world," he says. "With their vast merchant network and Telepin's experience developing complex and customized integrations, we're well on our way towards launching a tool that will have a meaningful and immediate impact on the lives of its users."

ONE and Telepin expect the mobile e-wallet platform to launch in 2020.

Read more about NWC and its vision for addressing the crisis in Yemen .

About ONE

ONE is the go-to-market brand developed by the National Wallet Company (NWC). ONE is a Yemeni-backed and run business focused on developing a mobile money e-wallet for the Yemeni population, which will support the financial needs of millions of Yemenis suffering the consequences of a humanitarian crisis. ONE's investors are fintech investment vehicle Murooj Electronic Services, WeNet (the Yemen Financial Services Company), owned by 11 banks operating in Yemen, and a group of private sector firms with a network of more than 100,000 direct and indirect retailers and distributors. ONE seeks to roll out a scaled mobile money platform that has the potential to make a significant and positive impact on daily lives of people in Yemen.

About Telepin

From our headquarters in Ottawa, Canada, we have become a global leader of mobile transaction platforms, serving tier-one operators in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Mobile network operators and financial service providers rely on us to maximize their revenue and deliver innovative mobile applications to customers, whatever their circumstances or location. More than 256 million of those customers are now using our platform, processing over 10 billion transactions to date. www.telepin.com

Telepin Software Systems Inc.

Joanne Kiskis

Director, Marketing

Telephone: +1-613-366-1910

Email: joanne.kiskis@telepin.com

SOURCE Telepin Software
Interior ministry says 249,000 join protest, with demonstrators calling for end to governments planned reform project.

Paris, France  As French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe presented details of a controversial pension reform bill to cabinet ministers on Friday, hundreds of thousands rallied in the French capital for a seventh round of demonstrations.

Protest movements against the reform have driven the country into the longest transport strike in recent history.

The government is blind to everything thats happening around them, Sabrina Farouz, a 36-year-old librarian, told Al Jazeera, as she marched at Place de la Republique on Friday.

Its incredible, there are hundreds and thousands of us in the streets and they just wont listen.

The French interior ministry said about 250,000 people protested in France on Friday.

If the reform bill is passed in its current state, Farouz said she stood to receive a pension around 30 percent lower than originally anticipated when she entered the workforce.

The 64-article, 141-page draft bill does include some concessions to unions, but also reaffirms the governments intentions to replace the countrys 42 individual retirement plans into one universal points-based system.

The bill will be reviewed by the National Assembly in mid-February, before moving to the Senate in April.

The pivotal age, that would have raised the full retirement age from 62 to 64, was not mentioned on the draft bill.

The government agreed to scrap that part of the reform earlier this month after widespread backlash.

In an interview with the French Catholic newspaper La Croix, Philippe said government advisers would meet on January 30 to try and form a plan to secure 12 billion euros ($13bn) in order to guarantee the balance of the future system by 2027.

If the money is not found, the pivotal age could be reintroduced. The law would slowly be introduced starting in 2022, and affect only those born in 1975 or later.

While Frances moderate CFDT union showed support for the reform after the government agreed to remove the pivotal age, hardline unions such as the CGT said they would continue striking until the amendments were scrapped altogether.

The government is playing stubborn, we must continue to put pressure on them, Philippe Martinez, the head of the CGT union, told French television.

In a further attempt to sway workers, the draft bill also promises minimum pension of 1,000 euros ($1,100) a month, around 85 percent of the national minimum wage.

But some protesters said that sum would not be enough.

Jade Elliott, a 30-year-old special needs assistant at a school in Paris, said she was hardly able to get by on her minimum wage salary of around 1,500 euros ($1,650) a month, let alone save for retirement.

I feel like [the government] likes to review charts and figures, but they dont know in practise how things add up when it comes to daily expenses, say when you go to the supermarket, she told Al Jazeera.

Elliott marched with a group of teachers who were calling for a 30 percent increase to their monthly salaries.

IIf unable to save for retirement, she says she will be forced to return to her native UK.

A man with a banner reading Macron pensions: its no as he takes part in a demonstration in Paris on January 24, 2020 [AFP]

Public transport was again disrupted on Friday, with national train lines and the Paris subway only running partial service, following a short-lived relaunch earlier this week.

Despite the continued disruptions, support for the demonstrators remained strong.

An Elabe poll released on Wednesday showed 61 percent of the French population believed President Emmanuel Macron should consider the opinions of people against the reform.

This is really about our kids, Eric Antoine, a 47-year-old teacher told Al Jazeera.

While he would not be impacted by the reform, because he was born before the 1975 cutoff, he said: I cant stand for this. None of us can. We need to think about future generations.
The Australia Day long weekend exodus reached top gear on Friday as the Bruce Highway heading north from Brisbane slowed to a crawl for 30 kilometres and drivers heading south copped patchy delays on the M1

The delays had well and truly taken hold by 4.15pm on Friday and remained into the evening, before clearing by 7pm.

The Bruce Highway northbound congestion in Burpengary about 4.30pm on Friday. Credit:Department of Transport & Main Roads

At their peak, delays heading north started on Gympie Arterial Road in Carseldine and stretched onto the Bruce Highway up to Caboolture - roughly 30 kilometres of congestion.

An unrelated crash on the Bruce Highway southbound at Morayfield forced the closure of the right lane and was creating delays in the southbound lanes.
Tweeting in Hindi, Kejriwal also expressed pleasure that Shah has been able to spot some CCTVs in Delhi, as the BJP leader had earlier said he could not spot a single CCTV even with a "pair of binoculars".

New Delhi, Jan 24 (IANS) Delhi Cheif Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday invited former BJP president Amit Shah to take out some time and visit the city government schools.

"I am happy that you are able to spot some CCTV cameras. A few days back you had said that not a single camera was installed in Delhi," said Kejriwal.

He invited Shah to the government-run schools, saying "try to find some time, we will show you our schools as well".

Kejriwal also said he was happy taht the people of Delhi have changed the politics in the capital so much that even the "BJP has to seek votes on the name of CCTVs, schools and unauthorized colonies".

Delhi is going for polls on February 8.

nks/in
Bismah Malik By

Express News Service

BENGALURU: State-run Indian Telephone Industries Ltd (ITI) is eyeing projects worth over Rs 6,000 crore for next fiscal, including the one with Railtel Corporation under the Ministry of Railways for building their security network, especially installing CCTV cameras and other equipments, ITI Ltd chairman and managing director RM Agarwal told this publication.

The telecom equipment manufacturer is looking to raise nearly Rs 1,400 crore through the follow public offering from January 24-28 to meet its working capital requirements for ongoing projects as well as repay loans.

With the help of this funding, Rs 642 crore will be allocated as working capital for various ongoing projects for FY20 and FY21 and Rs 698 crore will be used to settle loans which the public sector unit (PSU) has taken from banks. The telecommunication manufacturer owes banks a total sum of Rs 938 crore, Agarwal added.

He said that unlike the past few years, the overall revenue of the PSU has grown in FY19 and there is a positive outlook for the coming fiscal since ITI Ltd has major projects as well product manufacturing works in its kitty.

"We will soon start working on the ambitious ASCON project with the Indian Army worth over Rs 7,000 crore. The project is awaiting some final touch and a part of our working capital will be directed towards the same," Agarwal said. ITI Ltd has been mandated to construct the telecommunications infrastructure including maintenance of optical fibre network and manufacturing telecom equipments for the Indian Army.

ITI Ltd said that its current projects including ASCON, BharatNet, Network for Spectrum, Smart Energy Meters, Space Programs and e-governance with the central government and state agencies are worth more than Rs 11,051 crore.

Further, it looks to diversify its products and services and leverage their relationship with the government and public sector units, modernise its infrastructure and technology as well as team up with innovative tech leaders and start-ups to support the Make in India and Digital India fillip of the government.

ITI has appointed BOB Capital Markets Ltd, Karvy Investor Services and PNB Investment Services as the book running lead managers to the issue (BRLMs), the PSU said.
Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

LinkedIn

Email

Telegram



Istanbul, January 24, 2020  Turkish authorities should restore the recently cancelled press cards of hundreds of reporters, and establish a transparent and impartial process for obtaining press passes, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

According to a statement by the Journalists Union of Turkey, an independent trade group, the Directorate of Communications changed the press cards color from yellow to turquoise last year, and gave journalists until yesterday to reapply for new cards. The directorate then denied many of those reapplications, and yesterday invalidated all yellow cards still in use, according to the statement.

Journalists are legally allowed to work without press cards, but the passes allow reporters to access government buildings like the Parliament, according to the union statement and a report by independent Turkish news agency Bianet.

As many as 1,400 press cards have been cancelled in recent months, according to Gokhan Durmus, the chairperson of the Journalists Union of Turkey, who spoke to CPJ via phone.

Turkeys decision to cancel the press cards for hundreds of journalists is yet another attack on independent reporting and is absolutely unacceptable, said Gulnoza Said, CPJs Europe and Central Asia program coordinator, in New York. Authorities should immediately restore the journalists press credentials, and should ensure that passes are granted in an impartial process.

The cancellations, which were posted on the Directorate of Communications website, did not include any reasons for the decision, according to a report by the independent leftist daily Evrensel.

Sixteen journalists at Evrensel, including chief editor Fatih Polat, had their credentials cancelled, according to the newspapers report. Journalists working at the leftist dailies BirGun and Cumhuriyet also had their credentials cancelled, according to a report by German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle.

CPJ was unable to find reports of pro-government reporters who have lost their press passes.

Press cards are issued by the Directorate of Communications, which operates as part of the presidents office, according to Evrensel. CPJ emailed the directorate and the presidents office for comment, but did not immediately receive any responses.

Turkish authorities previously revoked nearly 900 journalists press passes in 2016, as CPJ reported at the time.
System error

error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.

context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951

/var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149



Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f04827b78d0)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f0482663278)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f04827b78d0)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f0482663278)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f04827d97c8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f0482663278)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f0482663278)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f0482272cc0)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f04827b7ae0)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f04827b7ae0)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 13:25:34|Editor: Shi Yinglun

Video Player Close

COLOMBO, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Tourism Ministry is aiming to attract four million tourists in 2020 and a revenue of five billion U.S. dollars from the industry to spearhead an overall economic revival of the country, Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga told local media on Thursday.

This will amount to doubling the arrivals, as the island-nation had received 1.91 million tourists in 2019.

The Daily FT quoted Minister Ranatunga as saying that a new long-term marketing plan to boost tourism will be drawn up for the consideration of the industry and the government within the next few weeks.

However, the government will continue with its "So Sri Lanka" tagline in its global publicity campaigns, he added.

The minister said that the government hopes to see the average daily spending of a tourist goes up from 180 U.S. dollars to 210 dollars while also expecting the average stay of a traveler to be extended from eight days to ten or more by the end of the year.

Following the Easter Sunday terror attacks in April 2019, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has given priority to the recovery of the country's tourism industry, reflecting the industry's ability to contribute to the development of the overall economy, Ranatunga said.

He added that the authorities are also working on ways to create 600,000 jobs in the tourism sector within this year.

Sri Lanka ended 2019 with 1.91 million tourists, falling short of its estimated target of two million tourists.

India, China and Britain were the leading markets for Sri Lankan tourism last year.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 13:50:36|Editor: Shi Yinglun

Video Player Close

MOSCOW, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- At least 10 people were killed and a dozen more injured as a fire broke out in a sugarcane plantation in the northern part of Venezuela, Russia's Sputnik news agency reported Friday.
Paul A. Williamson is an artist and a writer born in Illinois and grew up in Amarillo, Texas. He has completed his new book Disconnected: a thought-provoking story of Ben Booker, an adolescent who reestablishes his life by reconnecting with his dying father and experiencing life-changing misfortunes.

Author Williamson imparts relatable moments of dissociation and adjustment felt by most youth at a critical time in their lives: Ben Booker is a seventeen-year-old senior in high school living in the northwest panhandle of Texas. After returning home from a summer job in southwest Texas, he is informed that he and his mother will be relocating to the state of Illinois so Ben can begin to cultivate a relationship with his dying father. Upon arriving in the state of Illinois, he is overcome with culture shock. He is ushered into manhood through a series of unfortunate events with catastrophic and life-altering experiences.

Published by Page Publishing, Paul A. Williamsons emotionally evoking opus shares a deep, unequivocal understanding of every adolescents struggles in life in their quest to find purpose and belongingness in society and within.

Readers who wish to experience this heartfelt, impassioned work can purchase Disconnected: The Benjamin Ryan Booker Story at bookstores everywhere or online at the Apple iTunes store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708.

About Page Publishing:

Page Publishing is a traditional full-service publishing house that handles all of the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create, not bogged down with complicated business issues like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and the like. Its roster of authors can leave behind these tedious, complex, and time-consuming issues, and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com.
T he Pentagon has revealed that 34 US service members suffered traumatic brain injuries in Iran's missile strike on an Iraqi air base.

It comes after Donald Trump initially claimed that no Americans were harmed in the retaliation attack and later described the injuries as "not very serious".

Iran launched ballistic missiles at Iraq's Ain al-Asad air base on January 8 in retaliation for the US assassination of their top military general Qassem Soleimani on January 3.

While half of the injured US soldiers have returned to work, eight arrived in the United States on Friday from Germany, where they and nine others had been flown days the attack.

Iran launched an air strike on the base on January 8 / AFP via Getty Images

The nine still in Germany are receiving treatment and evaluation at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, the largest US military hospital outside the continental United States.

Jonathan Hoffman, the chief Pentagon spokesman, said the eight in the US will be treated at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center at Bethesda, Maryland, or at their home bases.

The exact nature of their injuries and their service and unit affiliations were not disclosed.

Mr Trump had initially said he was told that no troops had been injured in the strike.

The military said symptoms of concussion or traumatic brain injury were not immediately reported after the strike and in some cases became known days later.

Many were in bunkers before nearly a dozen Iranian ballistic missiles exploded.

After the Pentagon reported on January 17 that 11 service members had been evacuated from Iraq with concussion-like symptoms, Mr Trump said, "I heard they had headaches and a couple of other things.

"I can report it is not very serious," he added.

The president said he did not consider the injuries to be as severe as those suffered by troops who were hit by roadside bombs in Iraq.

Traumatic brain injury, or TBI, has become a bigger concern for the military in recent years as medical science improves its understanding of its causes and effects on brain function.
Thailand is offering up to 200 percent corporate income tax deductions for businesses that invest in human resource development.

Businesses can also receive tax deductions for investing in STEM education or vocational programs.

The development of human capital is vital for the country to develop technology-based industries.

The government is offering tax incentives for businesses that invest in human resource development. This is an important pillar of the Thailand Plus stimulus package, and the overall Thailand 4.0 vision, which aims to accelerate digital transformation and innovation in the country by 2035.

At the heart of this master plan is the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC)  a special economic zone  which has been touted as the center of Thailands future technology-based industries such as artificial intelligence, bioscience, aerospace engineering, and robotics.

The government intends to shift from its dependence on the traditional garment and agriculture sectors to high-value manufacturing and plans to spend more than US$45 billion on this vast territory.

What are the available tax incentives?

The government is encouraging investors to establish educational or training institutions and collaborate with local institutions particularly in the field of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

Thailands Board of Investment (BOI), the government agency responsible for foreign investments into Thailand as well as Thai investments overseas, has granted corporate income tax (CIT) exemption for five years for companies investing in STEM education or vocational programs in the country.

Educational institutions are also exempt from import duty on scientific equipment and tools designed for their maintenance.

The BOI has provided businesses up to 200 percent CIT deduction for expenses related to internal or external STEM training courses for employees. Furthermore, businesses can also receive up to 100 percent CIT deduction for expenses related to apprenticeship programs.

It is important to note that these courses and programs must be endorsed by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation or the Eastern Economic Corridor Office(if the activity occurs in the EEC). Applications for these incentives must be submitted by 2021.
Make internet safety a priority in 2020. Get one of top VPN picks, Fastest VPN, and made sure youre protected from hackers, spies and other nefarious characters while you surf the web. Its available now in the iPhone Hacks Deals Hub with two options for a lifetime subscription, 5 devices for $19.99, 96% off the $600 MSRP and 10 devices for $34.99, 97% off the $1200 MSRP.

Fastest VPN gives you a smart, easy-to-use VPN service for multiple devices including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Smart TV and even your router. It supplies you with 350 high-speed servers with military-grade 256-bit AED encryption all over the world, allowing you to bypass geographic restrictions and watch whatever content you please. P2P optimized servers also let you download and stream HD videos with zero buffering, while also providing you total anonymity and ensuring a strict no logging policy. And an ad blocker even helps prevent unfavorable ads from popping up on your screen as you browse.

Protect yourself online with FastestVPN. A lifetime subscription is available now in the iPhone Hacks Deals Hub, where 5 devices cost $19.99 and 10 devices cost $34.99.

Prices subject to change.
The Friday said it cannot issue blanket orders restraining authorities from invoking the stringent Security Act (NSA) against people protesting the enactment of Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).

NSA cannot be allowed to be misused, the top court said but added that there cannot be a general command as public properties are being burnt during the protests and it may be organised.

A bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Indira Banerjee refused to entertain a plea challenging the imposition of NSA in few states as also in the capital amid anti-CAA protests.

"We are of the opinion that general writ will not lie in this case. We cannot invoke powers under Article 32. We agree that the NSA should not be misused but there cannot be a general command. This will create chaos," the bench said.

Petitioner-advocate M L Sharma said that anti-CAA protests are going on peacefully in Shaheen Bagh area of Delhi and other places and states should not be allowed to invoke the stringent law against the protestors.

"You show us a specific instance, where it has been done. We cannot issue a blanket order. If a general direction is passed this will create a chaos. You don't know what is going on in Calcutta, Tripura and Assam. Properties are being burnt and that may be organised. We don't know the antecedents of people," the court top said.

Sharma persisted with seeking relief saying that people protesting peacefully may be booked under the law and the court should protect them.

To this the bench said, "If a person is involved in violence and involved in say hundred criminal cases. Then what would government do. Will not the government act?"



It asked Sharma to file an amended petition showing some specific instances where NSA has been invoked against the ant-CAA protestors.

The bench told Sharma that he can also file an intervention application in the pending cases challenging the validity of CAA and seek appropriate relief.

Sharma then sought liberty to withdraw the petition and file an amended petition giving specific details of violations of NSA, which was granted by the court.

Sharma's plea said NSA has been imposed to curb and pressure people protesting against the CAA, Population Register (NPR) and National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC).

Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on January 10 had extended detaining powers to under the NSA for a three-month period starting January 19.

This allows police to detain a person for 12 months without a trial.

Sharma had made the Ministry of Home Affairs and the governments of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Manipur parties to the plea.

The plea had termed the notification, allowing police to invoke NSA to detain persons, as "unconstitutional" and violative of fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 19 (1) (freedom of speech and expression) and 21 (right to life) of the Constitution.

"The cause of actions arose on January 10, when respondents (states) imposed NSA Act for next three months with effect from January 19 in Delhi as well as in Andhra Pradesh by the state government to arrest and detain...for protests against a person holding office of the prime minister and ministers in the Central government...," the plea said, seeking a direction to quash the notification.

The plea also sought that it be declared that the NSA cannot be used against protesters.

Besides, it sought a compensation of Rs 50,00,000 each to those who have been detained so far under the NSA for "mental agony, defamation in society and loss of reputation".

Protests are taking place at various places in the country against the enactment of CAA and exercise of National Population Register (NPR).
Two Russian diplomats accused of spying by Bulgarian prosecutors will be declared persona non grata and expelled from the country, Bulgaria's foreign minister said Friday.

Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva said that her office had received the letters from the prosecutors with the allegations, and that the Russian ambassador to Sofia would be summoned.

The prosecutor's office said Friday in a statement that the Russians were engaged in espionage but could not be charged because of their diplomatic immunity.

The diplomats have allegedly collected information about Bulgaria's national elections and energy security, according to prosecutors.

The announcement comes three months after Bulgaria expelled a Russian diplomat identified by prosecutors as being involved in espionage, and also declined a visa to the incoming defense attache at the Russian embassy in Sofia.

In a retaliatory move, Moscow expelled a Bulgarian diplomat a month later.

Bulgaria, Moscow's closest ally during the Cold War, is a member of NATO and the European Union but is still struggling to reduce its almost total dependence on Russian energy supplies.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Black man sues Detroit bank alleging racial discrimination, wrongful accusation of fraud originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

A Michigan man has filed a lawsuit against a Midwest banking chain this week, accusing it of racial profiling, after a teller called the police on him and wrongfully accused him of fraud.

Ironically, Sauntore Thomas was attempting to deposit two large checks that he'd received as part of a workplace racial discrimination settlement with his previous employer when a TCF Bank branch in Livonia, Michigan, refused to accept the checks, saying they weren't legit.

Thomas, a 44-year-old Air Force veteran, said he felt "humiliated" and embarrassed when police arrived about 10 minutes later to investigate the fraud claims. He said he was treated as if he'd done something wrong and he's convinced that the bank assumed the checks were bad because he is black.

"It was embarrassing," Thomas told Detroit ABC affiliate WXYZ on Thursday. "If I was white, this wouldnt be happening."

PHOTO: Sauntore Thomas filed a lawsuit against a Michigan bank on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2020, accusing them of racial discrimination. (WXYZ)

Thomas' attorney, Deborah Gordon, said he was able to deposit the checks at another bank without a problem and they cleared less than 24 hours later. She said bank employees could have easily verified the check before calling law enforcement.

"My client had very legitimate checks and he had a bank account at this bank," Gordon told ABC News Thursday. "Right away they told him there was an issue with verifying the checks, which makes zero sense because these checks were from a large corporate entity."

"They kept telling him there was an issue of fraud and that's what caused them to call the police. So then I have to ask, 'What is the reason you think there's fraud?'" she added.

MORE: Woman files $5 million suit against officer who broke into her home, yelled racial slurs

Gordon said her client called her as he was being interrogated by two police officers, while others stood guard outside of the bank. She said she called the bank, but the employees were extremely dismissive and denied her request to speak with a manager.

Story continues

"There's no explanation for that other than the fact that my client is African American and that is my firm belief. They never offered an explanation as to why the police were called and they never offered an explanation that made any sense as to why they thought the checks were fraudulent," Gordon said.

"They did not believe him, they did not believe me, and they made an assumption that a black guy that's in here with these checks -- it's got to be fraud, so let's just call the cops," she added.

PHOTO: Sauntore Thomas filed a lawsuit against a Michigan bank on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2020, accusing them of racial discrimination. (WXYZ)

She said Thomas was terrified as the officers barked orders at him and he couldn't stop thinking about how dangerous the situation could become if things escalated.

Gordon said a confidentially clause in his settlement with his former employer, Enterprise Leasing Co. of Detroit, prevented her from disclosing the amount of the checks. But TCF Bank told the Detroit Free Press that Thomas presented three checks written from Enterprise that day: one for $59,000, one for $27,000 and one for $13,000.

TCF Bank apologized to Thomas in a statement released Wednesday and admitted that the police should have never been called.

MORE: Black guest who was escorted out of Portland DoubleTree by police files discrimination lawsuit

"We apologize for the experience Mr. Thomas had at our banking center. Local police should not have been involved. We strongly condemn racism and discrimination of any kind," the bank said. "We take extra precautions involving large deposits and requests for cash and in this case we were unable to validate the checks presented by Mr. Thomas and regret we could not meet his needs."

Gordon said the bank's apology isn't enough. She filed a discrimination lawsuit on Thomas' behalf on Wednesday, referring to the situation as a case of "banking while black," and seeking an undisclosed amount for compensatory and punitive damages.

"It's uncontested that the checks are legitimate. They're a bank. It's their job to verify checks and the fact that they continue to not explain this is unacceptable," she said. "I don't think they were honest with my client and they were just making stuff up. ... I just think they saw this guy, a black guy in jeans, and it's like, 'What was he doing with his money?' That's the only conclusion I think that one can reasonably come to."
Jimmy L. Mitchell, 25, was charged in connection with the shooting of a 24-year-old Dearborn man.

The shooting took place at about 3 a.m. Jan. 15 during a domestic disturbance, police said.

According to a police report, Mitchell was charged by the Wayne County Prosecutors Office with home invasion, three counts of assault with intent to murder, four counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and five counts of possessing a firearm while attempting to commit a felony.

Dearborn police officers arrived at a house in the 24000 block of Boston to find that the victim, who had multiple gunshot wounds, had already been taken to an area hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.

At the time, police sought Mitchell as a suspect and said to consider him armed and dangerous.

Mitchell, however, still has not been located and an arrest warrant has been issued, according to the report.

Mitchell is 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighs about 160 pounds with brown eyes and black hair.

Mitchell is known to spend time in Detroit, Hamtramck and Dearborn Heights, as well as Dearborn.

Safety is our top priority, and accordingly, it is my hope and request that family and friends will encourage this subject to turn himself in, Police Chief Ronald Haddad said.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact police at 313-943-2241.
A 104-year-old Marine Corps veteran who asked strangers to send him Valentine's Day cards this year has since received thousands of love notes.

Major Bill White served during World War II and went on to continue to work for the U.S. Marine Corps, spending a total of 30 years on active duty.

Earlier this month, the California native launched Operation Valentine, asking strangers for Valentine's Day cards to add to his personal scrapbook collection  and people around the nation were quick to oblige.

Heartwarming: A 104-year-old Marine Corps veteran who asked strangers to send him Valentine's Day cards this year has since received thousands of cards

Hero: Major Bill White, 104, from Stockton, California, served during World War II. After serving, he became a police officer and started a family

Love: The director at White's home revealed that he has received thousands of cards in the last couple of weeks

'So far White has received cards from all over he has even received some gifts and packages,' Diane Wright, executive director of The Oaks at Inglewood where White lives, told ABC News.

'We are looking at over 2,000 cards so far. Quite astonishing!'

Stocked: White promised he would keep every single Valentine's Day card he received

His interest in collecting Valentine's Day cards from people comes from his passion for scrapbooking each year of his life, a hobby he picked up from his parents.

'My mother, parents taught me to conserve and observe memories as much as possible,' White said.

White has a bookcase that holds each of his personal scrapbooks, which are labeled with their individual years to help keep the different moments of his life organized.

When it comes to the Valentine's Day cards, White promises to keep every one he receives from people from all over.

'I'll save every one of them like I've been saving little things that have come up until right now and theyll be a personal part of my history,' he said.

Each of the cards will join his bookcase as part of his history.

One card he's received reads: 'Dear Major Bill White...Thank you for your service to our country we are proud of your accomplishments and love of country. You are amazing and an inspiration to our Marine who is currently serving.'

His collection: He uses his free time to create scrapbooks about his life (pictured). He is now asking for people to send him Valentine's Day cards to join the collection

His medals: The U.S. Marine Corps veteran received a Purple Heart for getting wounded during the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945

Among his scrapbooks and Valentine's Day cards, there is also a place for White's many medals from when he served, including a Purple Heart he earned while surviving the Battle of Iwo Jima during WWII.

'The fact that I even survived is something. There werent too many of us,' he said.

How to send a Valentine to Major Bill White People can send cards to: Operation Valentine ATTN: Hold for Maj Bill White, USMC (Ret) The Oaks at Inglewood 6725 Inglewood Ave. Stockton, CA 95207 Advertisement

In 1945, the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy landed on the island of Iwo Jima and eventually captured the land from the Imperial Japanese Army. It was a bloody battle where more than 26,000 Americans lost their lives, but eventually the U.S. defeated Japan by overtaking the island.

On March 3, 1945, White led his Marines toward the front lines during the battle, all while under heavy fire from the Japanese.

'When I was wounded, I didnt have any choice in the matter. A grenade blew up about six inches from me,' he said.

White was one of more than 6,000 American soldiers wounded during the battle.

The wounds he suffered on that day took him away from the battlefield. However, White has gone on live to the astounding age of 104 years old.

'Im still here. I'm 104. Cant complain,' White said. After years 30 years of service, he became a police officer and start a family.

Scrapbooking, and collecting Valentine's Day cards, has been a way for White to spend his days and remember the different important moments from his life.

Although he already has received thousands of cards, White's mailbox is still open and ready to accept more from people who want to send them.
Beaten-down commodity markets may be tempting investors to start adding the asset class to their portfolios as they seek to diversify even as the epic stock market bull run continues to divide opinion. After years of underperformance, the broad commodity market finished the year with an impressive 17.6% gain, leading to a cross-section of experts calling an end to the 8-year bear market.

However, we might need to pump our brakes here before going all in.

Although all major asset classes finished the year in the black, individual commodity returns were all over the map with the pivotal energy sector again emerging as the worst performer.

A more nuanced view of the most widely traded commodities reveals a rather soft underbelly, suggesting that the market is not out of the woods yet.

The Bloomberg Commodities Index (BCOM), the most widely used benchmark for the commodities market tracked by 23 exchange-traded contracts on physical commodities and approximately $85 billion in assets, finished the year with a mere 3.9% gain and is down 2.6% year-to-date.

The energy sector is the most heavily represented in BCOM with a 30.34% weighting, though gold is the best represented individual commodity with a 12.24% weighting.

Bloomberg Commodity Index (BCOM) 5-Year Returns

(Click to enlarge)

Source: Bloomberg

Target weights of all BCOM components for 2019

Source: Bloomberg

(Click to enlarge)

Source: Index Mundi

A decade of commodities

The price movement of most commodities has historically been both seasonal and cyclical.

Peering at the 10-year charts of leading commodities reveals a clear pattern of mean reversion where prices tend to oscillate backwards and forwards towards their mean or average. This fact alone lends some credence to the so-called commodity supercycle and offers the bulls some hope that it might not be long before the good times return.

Source: US Global Investors

Here are the biggest winners in the space over the past decade:

#1. Palladium

Source: US Global Investors

Palladium has been the best performing commodity over the past decade, posting the best returns for the third straight year in 2019; the highest returns in 5 out of 10 years while also providing positive returns 80% of the time. The commodity finished last year with a 54.21% gain, or triple the average for the commodities sector.

Palladium prices have nearly doubled over the past year and climbed more than 500% over the decade due to robust demand thanks to the metals ability to reduce harmful emissions in petrol-driven vehicles with a shift from diesel to petrol in full swing. Russia and South Africa are the biggest producers of the commodity where its obtained as a by-product in the mining of various metals such as platinum and nickel. Related: Oil Diversification Is Already Bearing Fruit For Gulf Economies

Demand for palladium has for years outstripped supply with the shortfall expected to continue due to production in South Africa - responsible for supplying 40% of global demand - falling drastically.

#2. Crude Oil

Source: US Global Investors

Long-suffering energy investors might not feel like it, but oil was the second-best performing commodity in 2019 thanks to easy comps after prices sunk to multi-year lows in 2018. Crude oil prices gained 34.5% on the year, but remained stuck in limbo for the better part of the year due to a multitude of catalysts pulling in different directions.

Oil has managed to post positive returns in 6 out of 10 years though by a significantly smaller magnitude than palladium.

Crude oil prices are down 4.1% in the year-to-date as tensions between the U.S. and Iran continue to dissipate; the US and China signed the Phase One Trade Deal while crude supply is expected to continue outstripping demand, thus leading to an inventory build despite generous OPEC cuts.

#3. Nickel

Source: US Global Investors

Nickel prices were a real rollercoaster last year, rallying 55% from June through September due to supply concerns before giving up a good chunk of the gains after Indonesia, the worlds largest supplier of nickel ore, resumed exports. Nevertheless, the metal was still able to finish the year with a 31.55% gain.

The vast majority of nickel supply goes to steel production with China alone accounting for 54% of global nickel demand. Nickel prices have been exceptionally volatile over the past decade mainly due to supply/demand dynamics with prices climbing steadily due to supply shocks after Indonesia introduced an export ban on unprocessed nickel in January 2014. A period of sustained destocking since March 2016 both at the London Metal Exchange (LME) as well as the Shanghai Futures Exchange (SHFE) has also been supporting prices.

Source: International Nickel Study Group

#4. Platinum

Source: US Global Investors

Platinum managed to finish the year 21.48% up despite the metal increasingly falling out of favor as consumers shift away from diesel cars, which mostly use platinum in their catalytic converters, to petrol-driven vehicles, which use palladium.

Nevertheless, prices have remained buoyant in recent times as geopolitical tailwinds boosted safe-haven demand while the effects of the dieselgate meltdown have begun to moderate. The semi-precious metal is up 5.4% YTD.

#5. Gold

Source: US Global Investors

As a leading safe-haven asset, gold has, unsurprisingly, been the least volatile among the 14 commodities tracked by US Global Investors. Unfortunately, this also means that the yellow metal has tended to lag other asset classes for long periods.

Thankfully, that malaise seems to have come to an end with gold finishing the year on a 18.31% gain, the 5th best among the group. Despite the impressive gains last year, the gold outlook remains quite bright with prices up 1.7% in the year-to-date. John Roque, an analyst at Wolfe Research, has told Barrons that $1,900/oz gold remains in the crosshairs as a weakening dollar, increased buying by the worlds central banks and growing political tensions support higher levels.

Source: TradingView

#6. Silver

Source: US Global Investors

Like gold, silver seems to have never truly found its feet after the mega-rally of a decade ago. However, 2019 proved to be a good year for precious metals in general and silver did not disappoint either after tucking on gains of 15.21%.

Yet, the silver rally could just be getting started. David Morgan of the Morgan Report says the silver-to-gold price discrepancy suggests that silver still has plenty of room to run with one analyst predicting silver price of 28/oz in 2021, or 57.6% upside to current price of $17.77/oz. Related: How To Solve Nuclear Energys Biggest Problem

#7. Copper

Source: US Global Investors

Copper prices and those of many industrial metals remained muted for much of 2019 due to fears about an economic slowdown and rising geopolitical uncertainties. Copper managed to finish the year with a 3.3% gain, slightly above the London Metal Exchange index of six base metals.

Luckily, copper and its peers have received a boost after the US and China inked a preliminary trade deal with Reuters reporting that fund managers have become bullish on the metal once again after remaining on the sidelines for nine months.

Source: Thomson Reuters

Worst performers

No less than five commodities tracked by US Global Investors finished the year in the red with base metals, unsurprisingly, well represented. Here are the worst performing commodities over the past decade.

#1. Natural Gas

Source: US Global Investors

Natural gas prices plunged 25.54% in 2019 making it the worst performing commodity. Unfortunately, the selloff shows no signs of slowing down with gas prices declining nearly 9% YTD.

Natural Gas (Henry Pub) Price YTD Change (USD per MMBtu)

Source: Business Insider

Natural gas prices have hit four-year lows thanks mainly to persistent shale oversupply. Unfortunately, Nick Cunningham of Oilprice warns that a correction might not be coming any time soon due to lackluster demand and unresponsive markets.

The mid-and-long-term outlook, however, might be better as more coal-powered plants switch to natural gas due to its lower environmental footprint.

#2. Coal

Source: US Global Investors

With the ESG drive in full swing and megabanks increasingly balking on coal investments, its perhaps safe to say that the halcyon days when coal prices were rallying in triple-digits are over.

Coal finished as the second-worst performing commodity after prices fell 18.02% and has been the most volatile of any commodity. Perhaps this is to be expected as coal power generation falls out of favor and production capacity continues to dwindle as per the latest EIA report.

Source: EIA

#3. Zinc

Source: US Global Investors

Like many industrial metals, zinc prices have taken a hammering, tanking 9.5% in 2019 due to trade tensions and a synchronized slowdown of the global economy. Prices, however, have rallied 6.3% in the current year.

Zinc Price YTD Change (USD per Ton)

Source: Business Insider

The International Lead and Zinc Study Group (ILZSG) has forecast a rise by 0.9% in zinc demand in 2020 to 13.80 million tons with China demand expected to surge 1.2%

Lead demand, however, is expected to continue being soft.

Bottomline

While its entirely possible that we are witnessing the first innings of a commodities bull market after the removal of several major overhangs, an attitude of guarded optimism is advised. With the global economy still on shaky ground, the commodity markets are likely to continue facing weak demand and downward pricing pressure.

On the other hand, with the brawny greenback widely expected to weaken from here, a broad class of commodities, especially precious and industrial metals, could benefit.

By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Evening Standard

Here are all the bank holidays you should note in 2022. What bank holidays are planned for the Queens Jubilee and is there an extra day? In celebration of the Queens 70th year as monarch, bank holidays have been rearranged to allow for four consecutive days of celebration.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF) an initiative launched by the UAE Ministry of Finance to support innovation in the UAE, has announced the addition of 11 new members to the Fund's accelerator programme, said a report.



Representing businesses from four countries, the Winter Cohort joins 28 businesses from around the world previously selected for the programme, bringing the total number of MBRIF Accelerator members to 39 since its launch in December 2018, added the Wam report.



Eight of the new members are UAE-based businesses: Arnab (Transport sector); Englease.com (Education sector); Farmin (Technology sector); Food-ATM (Technology sector); HoloGuide (Technology sector); ProvenMed (Health sector), RIZEK (Technology sector) and Shiftling (Technology sector). International members are South Africa-based [email protected] (Education sector); JustChain (Technology sector) from the United States and Toucan Toco (Technology sector) from France.



Several of the Winter Cohort members have already achieved notable successes. Local company Farmin, which uses artificial intelligence to improve farming profitability, won the GeoTech Innovation Program hosted by the UAE Space Agency.
Six people have been killed and several were injured in a shooting in the south-western German town of Rot am See, police said.

A suspect has been arrested and no further suspects are believed to be at large, Aalen police said.

Police at the scene in Rot Am See (Sebastian Gollnow/dpa via AP)

We are working on the assumption that this was a single attacker, he said.

Mr Biehlmaier said the initial information suggested the suspect, a German citizen, and one or more of the victims knew each other.

Some of the victims belonged to the same family, he added.

Rot am See is located about 170 kilometres (105 miles) north west of Munich.
It doesnt matter how Houstons historic commission votes Friday afternoon. The new owner of a city-designated historic landmark, a Tudor Revival brick house in River Oaks, plans to tear it down  and can legally do so as soon as a 90-day waiting period expires.

In other places, when a property is designated a historic landmark, you cant just tear it down, said David Bush, executive director of Preservation Houston. Though the city has approved a handful of protected landmarks, the vast majority of Houstons officially designated historic buildings are mere designated landmarks, with next to nothing in the way of protection. An owner wishing to raze one need only file the correct paperwork and wait.

In the past year, Bush said, three other designated landmarks in River Oaks have been razed.

City staff have recommended that board members of the Houston Archaeological and Historic Commission deny the request to raze the house at 2332 Looscan. The city staff did not accept either of the applicants arguments: that the house is structurally unsound or that preserving it would pose an undue hardship for the owner.

The house was built in 1938 for C.B. and Roberta Delhomme. C.B. Delhomme, born in Louisiana, was a founder of the Houston Boat Show, and at one point owned one of the Souths largest boat dealerships. The 2,600-square-foot house  more modernistic than most Tudor Revival houses  fit well into the River Oaks of that era, then the suburban-feeling home of Houstons elite, and a showplace for modern architecture.

Newer houses there tend to be far larger.

The house and its land were listed for between $1.9 and $2.1 million, and sold November 11. Harris County records do not yet indicate the buyers name.

Bradley Scott, the Houston-area builder who applied for the historic-commission variance on the buyers behalf, said that his client declined to comment.

The new, larger house to be built on the property is their dream home, said Scott. It will be beautiful, traditional, and completely tasteful  in keeping with the neighborhood.

According to the permit to demolish the home, renovation is not an option for the family.

lisa.gray@chron.com
File image

Kanhaiya Kumar has urged the Left parties to make Aishe Ghosh as the "face of the fight in Bengal" as they are hit by "stagnation".

Ghosh, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) president suffered head injuries in the violence at the JNU on the night of January 5 as a gang of masked people armed with sticks attacked students and teachers while damaging property on the campus

Kumar, the former JNUSU president who is now active in politics in association with the Communist Party of India (CPI), has said that the Left parties need to practise what they preach in university agitations and bring in fresh faces in the leadership.

Kumar was speaking at a seminar in West Bengal capital Kolkata to commemorate CPI leader Indrajit Gupta's birth centenary on January 23, where he said, "Stagnation is evident when people of a particular age are seen, and those of another generation are not.

"A girl from Bengal has done very good work in JNU; make her the face of the fight in Bengal," Kumar added.

Kumar first shot to fame after being booked by the Delhi Police in February 2016 for his involved in JNU event where anti-India slogans were allegedly raised, a charge strongly denied by him. After his release, the former student-leader participated actively in politics.

He contested from Begusarai Lok Sabha seat in 2019 general elections but was defeated by BJP leader Giriraj Singh.

(With inputs from PTI)
Sparks, Nevada: Joe Biden called an octogenarian voter a damn liar and challenged him to a push-up contest. He dismissed a heckler as an idiot. He commanded the news media to focus on President Donald Trump instead of the overseas business dealings of his son, Hunter Biden, demanding of one reporter, Ask the right question!

For months now, Biden has been confronted on the campaign trail with questions, attacks and misinformation concerning his son  encounters that have taken on a dramatic feel, given the uncertainty of how Biden will respond. As he began to address the crowd in a high school gym in Sparks, Nevada, this month, a group of protesters held up letters spelling out a taunt that Trump uses regularly: Wheres Hunter? Biden responded by saying his son sends his best regards.

As the Senate impeachment trial of the president continues this week, there is renewed focus in Washington on Hunter Biden, who held a seat on the board of a Ukrainian energy company at a time when his father was vice president and handling diplomacy with the country.

And Biden is no longer just dealing with questions about his son from hecklers: On Wednesday, he rejected the suggestion that he and his son testify in the trial in a swap for the testimony of current or former Trump administration officials, an idea raised by an attendee at an Iowa campaign event that has been dismissed by congressional Democrats. This is a constitutional issue, and were not going to turn it into a farce, into some kind of political theater, Biden said.

For Biden, the stream of questions about his son touches on a vulnerability for his candidacy and presents a fine line for him to navigate. As a former vice president, he wants to show that he exudes statesmanship but also wants to prove to Democrats desperate to oust Trump that he has the fortitude and temperament take on the president.

He can be by turns calm or curt as he stresses that his son committed no wrongdoing in his overseas business dealings. For the most part, he has kept his cool, but he has also been prone to displays of anger.

Its a very personal issue, said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, who worked closely with Biden in the Obama administration when he acted as the de facto labor liaison. She said Trump was an evil genius on the issue of trying to cut other people up, and cut them up this way.

She said the raw emotion Biden displayed in response was perfectly understandable. This is a dad defending his son, she said.

At issue is a unsubstantiated theory pushed by Trump that Biden took action in Ukraine as vice president in order to help his son, who at the time held a lucrative position as a board member of Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian energy company.

Trump has claimed without evidence that Biden pushed for the ouster of a Ukrainian prosecutor in order to derail an investigation into Burisma. The presidents phone call in July to the Ukrainian president asking him to investigate the activities of the Bidens in that country is at the center of the impeachment charges.

There is no evidence of any illegality by either Biden. But Hunter Bidens position with Burisma  for which he was paid as much as $50,000 in some months  worried some members of President Barack Obamas administration at the time, and Hunter Biden has since acknowledged that, in hindsight, he exercised poor judgment in taking the position.

The scrutiny of his son could pose a difficult political problem for Biden: He is presenting himself to voters as a regular guy with working-class Pennsylvania roots, and his sons high-paying position with an overseas business could strike some as the type of insider arrangement long familiar in Washington.

And for Democratic primary voters weighing how to defeat Trump, the fact that they can now picture the general-election playbook the president would use against Biden carries risk for him, some strategists have warned.

In subtle and overt ways, the issue remains alive on the campaign trail  even among people who are sympathetic to Biden. In Centerville, Iowa, on Sunday, Bidens wife, Jill Biden, was asked whether her family was prepared for an onslaught of attacks. She replied that the Bidens are resilient.

Bidens national poll numbers have been remarkably steady, including in recent months after the news broke of Trumps effort to get Ukraine to investigate the Bidens. Initially, many Democrats worried that Biden appeared slow and uneven in his response as he vacillated between lashing the president and trying to change the subject. His advisers, too, were torn in internal deliberations over how to handle the developments.

Biden eventually settled on a rhythm of insisting that he and his son did nothing wrong and seeking to bring the attention back to Trump. All along, Biden and his surrogates have argued that Trumps attacks prove that the president is most concerned about facing Biden in a general election.

His campaign has also aggressively tried to shape the media narrative on Ukraine. This week, it circulated a memo urging the news media to make clear that Trumps claims about Biden are unfounded. And it released a video in which a Biden spokesman, Andrew Bates, walked through Trumps claims and explained, sometimes in profane terms, why they were bogus.

Why is Donald Trump doing this? Bates asked. He knows he cant beat Joe Biden.

But questions about Hunter Biden have followed his father around the country  from a news conference in Los Angeles to a town hall event in rural Iowa to interviews with reporters aboard his campaign bus. On multiple occasions, he has been interrupted by protesters invoking his son.

Biden has occasionally flashed his anger and frustration.

Lets focus on the problem, he told reporters this fall, aiming his fire at Trump. Focus on this man, what hes doing that no president has ever done. No president! By the end of that declaration, he was practically shouting.

At other times he has responded calmly, as he did in Sparks when protesters held up letters spelling out Wheres Hunter?

This new Republican Party, Ive been the object of their attention and affection for a while here, Biden said later in that event. You saw, for example  I understand what its like to have my surviving son maligned as he has. I understand what it is to have lies told about me.

In late December, a succession of hecklers interrupted him at the beginning of a town hall event in Milford, New Hampshire, including one who asked, How much money did you make in Ukraine with your son?

Biden responded by saying that he had released 21 years of tax returns. Your guy hasnt released one, he said. Whats he hiding? The crowd roared with approval. But as the disruption continued, Biden offered his own appraisal of the heckler: Hes an idiot.

A particularly combative moment came in December at a town hall event in New Hampton, Iowa, when an 83-year-old man took issue with Bidens age (he is 77) and then proceeded to accuse him, falsely, of having sent his son to work in Ukraine and having sold access to the president.

Youre a damn liar, man, Biden responded in a tense exchange that also included Biden challenging the man to a push-up contest or an IQ contest. At another point, Biden ordered the man, Get your words straight, Jack! (Biden later said he probably should not have challenged the man to a push-up contest.)

The reaction to that episode varied. In a primary race in which Democratic voters are eager for a candidate who can stand up to Trump, Bidens fiery responses may provide encouragement that he can handle himself in a heated back-and-forth.

If anybodys wondering if Joe Biden can take on Donald Trump and is ready for a fight, Id point you to the video in Iowa, Symone Sanders, a senior adviser for the Biden campaign, said at an event hosted by Politico.

The next day, Joe Stutler, 56, who came to see Biden in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, spoke approvingly of his response. As a cautionary tale, Stutler cited the discredited attacks on John Kerrys military record made during the 2004 campaign by the group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and said he wanted a candidate that has the gumption to push back.

There are folks that are saying, Oh, well, you know, maybe he should have been a little nicer, blah, blah, blah, blah, he said. No. If somebodys going to talk smack, call him on it.

But there is also a delicate line between fiery and bellicose. In response to the tense exchange with the Iowa voter, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee said Biden became unglued, adding, A hallmark of Bidens 2020 campaign is him losing it on voters and reporters when pressed about Ukraine.

For his part, Biden has plenty of critical things to say about Trump, but he has publicly set a boundary for how he talks about the president. Campaigning in New Hampshire late last month, Biden noted that he had not said a thing, and Im not going to, about his family.

The way I was raised, Biden said, you dont go after somebodys kids.

Thomas Kaplan and Katie Glueck c.2020 The New York Times Company
After just two years on the job, New Yorks subway chief, Andy Byford, has resigned, ready to move on from an impatient governor whose opinions on how to repair the ailing system often clashed with his own.

He is too polite to say as much, stressing in an interview with The Times that the start of the new year is just a good time to go. It is absolutely my decision to leave, he said.

Mr. Byford, a British mass transit expert willing to be the public face of a troubled train and bus network, brought hope to beleaguered riders. On-time train performance is now over 80 percent, up from 58 percent in January 2018, when he arrived. By the fall of last year, major subway delays on weekdays were down nearly 40 percent compared with a year earlier, according to data from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which runs the subway and bus system. Mr. Byford was taking common-sense steps like raising speed limits on the subways and increasing training for operators.

What had become a crisis for New Yorkers  a source of daily frustration if not anger as children arrived late to school and adults to work  had eased substantially, and even begun to show hopeful signs of turnaround. Together with the authoritys chairman, Patrick Foye, Mr. Byford, as president of New York City Transit, was overseeing a long-overdue transformation of an aging subway system in dire need of investment.
Anyone who owns a car knows that you can only scrimp on maintenance for so long - and sooner or later it comes back to bite you.

It is the same with our road network. Sooner or later the defects start to pile up - as revealed today by the Belfast Telegraph.

While it is right to upgrade our road network, it is also important to look after what we already have. And we have not been doing that.

Read More

Our existing road network is over 25,000km long and the Northern Ireland Audit Office calculates that it requires 143m per year just to maintain it in its current condition.

However, over the past five years we have been spending 92m per year. And so the backlog has been adding up year after year and now stands at over 1.2bn.

The Department for Infrastructure is given money to spend on roads, but it is restricted in how it does so - it cannot reallocate money given for building a new road, for example, to structural maintenance.

And so maintenance often ends up with the dregs of the budget each year.

DFI responds to this in two ways. Firstly, by focusing maintenance on the busiest roads and the most dangerous defects. The busiest roads tend to develop faults more frequently due to high traffic levels, but are usually repaired more frequently too.

This means that the surfaces of more lightly-trafficked roads can deteriorate considerably before being fixed.

Secondly, by patching potholes and cracks rather than carrying out wholesale resurfacing.

Resurfacing is better and more cost-effective in the long term, but has a higher short-term cost and is more difficult to justify in a climate of low investment.

Structural maintenance is an issue for the new Executive to look at seriously.
Click or swipe through the slideshow above to see some of the best deals to catch during San Francisco Restaurant Week

San Francisco Restaurant Week is in full swing, so now is your chance to feast at popular restaurants offering some serious bargains throughout the city.

A look at participating restaurants showed S.F. bars, fast-casual and fine dining establishments that included popular spots like a Mano, August 1 Five and ROOH. But when we compared the specials to the regular menus, it was clear that some businesses gave you more bang for your buck. We rounded up some of the better bargains available in the slideshow above.

Most of the businesses listed include a three-course meal during lunch or dinner, priced at $15.15, $25.25, $40.40 or $65.65. Mediterranean restaurant Terzo is among the higher-priced businesses on the list, but it's still a significant deal since its dinner special includes a wine pairing per dish.

ALSO: The best hidden gem restaurant in every Bay Area city

Some of the more interesting deals come from two Michelin star restaurants, both offering a $25.25 lunch special.

Michael Minas namesake restaurant Michael Mina is one of them and during regular business, their express lunch costs $49. But during restaurant week, the price is cut in half. It lets guests taste a variety of small plates, side dishes, select one main dish, and get dessert too. Spruce is the other Michelin-star restaurant that dishes up a $25.25 lunch. Their popular Spruce burger is one of the main entrees up for grabs.

If fine dining isnt your thing, check out fast-casual San Francisco sp0ts like Hog Island Oyster Co., El Techo or Pier 23 Cafe, where you can order items like clam chowder, chicharrones, or classic fish and chips.

SF Restaurant Week runs from Jan. 22 to Jan. 31. Other Bay Area cities have also participated in their own restaurant weeks. If you missed Oaklands restaurant week  which ended on Jan. 20  you can catch Berkeleys from Jan. 21 to Jan. 31. See their full list of businesses here.

Susana Guerrero is an SFGATE digital reporter. Email: Susana.Guerrero@sfgate.com | Twitter: @SusyGuerrero3
Nigeria: Muslim Fulani herdsmen kill 2 Christian teenage girls as persecution escalates

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

Muslim Fulani herdsmen killed two young Christian women in southern Kaduna state, Nigeria, just weeks after members of the same terrorist group killed 13 and wounded three Christians in a neighboring town.

According to Morning Star News, Briget Philip, 18, and Priscilla David, 19, were killed by herdsmen on motorbikes who rode into Gora-Gan village in Zango Kataf County at about 5 p.m. shooting villagers on sight.

Both girls, who were secondary school pupils, worshiped at the Catholic parish of Gora-Gan, local resident Luka Biniyat told the outlet.

Also wounded in the attack on the predominantly Christian community were 18-year-old Henry Jonathan, 19-year-old Benjamin Peter, and Goodluck Andawus, 12, he said, adding that the herdsmen attacked when people flocked to the village square where evangelism and social activities are held.

As the people fled into nearby bushes to take cover, the attackers retreated and left, area resident Solomon John told Morning Star News. We are sad about these attacks on our people, which seem to be unending.

Just two weeks earlier, a gang of 20 armed Fulani Muslim herdsmen attacked the predominantly Christian village of Kulben in Central Nigeria, killing 13 and wounding three, according to Morning Star News.

All of the victims were members of the Church of Christ in Nations.

"They were shooting with guns in all directions, forcing the villagers to scamper into surrounding bushes," area resident Michael Mutding said. "Corpses of those killed have been evacuated by soldiers and police to the mortuary of Mangu Cottage Hospital, and all the victims are members of COCIN."

Audu Tetmut, a 60-year-old area leader of the Christian community, said there had never been any problem between his people and herdsmen living in the area.

"Our community had lived peacefully with the herdsmen without any issues of dispute with them," Tetmut told Morning Star News. "So we are surprised that they attacked us."

In 2019, over 1,000 Christians were killed in Nigeria as attacks by Fulani extremists continue to plague rural farming communities in the Middle Belt, according to estimates published by the U.K.-based nongovernmental organization Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust.

There was a rise in Fulani extremist attacks in the Kaduna state in 2019 after Christians were accused of a reprisal attack on a Fulani settlement that killed as many as 131 in February.

Nomadic Fulani herdsmen seek to replace diversity and difference with an Islamist ideology which is imposed with violence on those who refuse to comply. It is  according to the Nigerian House of Representatives  genocide, Baroness Cox told the Christian Institute.

Persecution watchdog Open Doors USA ranks Nigeria at No. 12 on its 2020 World Watch List of countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.

Open Doors CEO David Curry said during a news conference last week that Nigeria still represents the most violent country in the world for Christians as far as the organizations data can track.

I think it is wrong to look at [Fulani] as simply having territorial issues, Curry said. They have an ideology that is historically been radicalized and they have an agenda to push Christians out of these communities. The cover story that somehow these are their ancient lands and so forth doesnt justify unlawful behavior against Christians who live there.

He criticized Nigerias government for its inability to control the violence perpetrated by both Muslim Fulani Herdsmen and the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram across the country.

The great tragedy of Nigerias ineffectual response to Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen is now parts of Cameroon and those other areas like Burkina Faso are greatly affected, Curry said.
F irefighters held a minutes silence and flags were flown at half-mast today as the country mourned the three US crew who died in an air crash while fighting the devastating bushfires.

The tributes came as the victims were named as Captain Ian McBeth, first officer Paul Hudson and flight engineer Rick DeMorgan Jr.

They had been deployed by Canadian firm Coulson Aviation to combat the fires raging since September.

The cause of yesterdays crash remain a mystery as investigations were hampered by ongoing fires near the town of Cooma in New South Wales.

Officials said there was nothing to suggest there was a systemic fault with the aircraft.

Captain Ian H. McBeth, First Officer Paul Clyde Hudson and Flight Engineer Rick A. DeMorgan Jr / REUTERS

The three died when the C-130 air tanker crashed while on a mission to dump water and fire retardant onto the bushfires.

Father-of-three Mr McBeth, from Great Falls, Montana, was described by his company as a highly-qualified and respected C-130 pilot with many years of fighting fire in the military and in the private sector.

Mr Hudson, from Buckeye, Arizona, had previously served for two decades in the Marine Corps, including as a C-130 pilot.

He is survived by his wife, Noreen. Mr DeMorgan Jr, from Navarre, Florida, had spent 18 years in the US Air Force as a C-130 flight engineer.

His passions had been always flying and his children, Lucas and Logan, the company said.

The bushfire crisis began in September and has claimed the lives of 33 people and more than one billion animals.

Its human cost was also felt today in the New South Wales town of Cobargo, where almost 2,000 mourners attended the funerals of father and son Robert, 63, and Patrick Salway, 29, who died while protecting their 600-acre farm on New Years Eve.

Patricks wife Renee laid a flower and photograph on her husbands coffin. She described him as life-loving, fun, outgoing Patrick, adding: You filled our lives with laughter and adventure.

Tragedy: a flag flying at half mast today on Sydney Harbour Bridge in honour / AP

The fires are contributing to one of the biggest annual rises in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere since records began at Mauna Loa, Hawaii, in 1958, according to a report today from Britains Met Office released.
LONDON, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- British government's Brexit bill became law Thursday after Queen Elizabeth II gave it her royal assent, paving the way for Britain's exit from the European Union (EU) on Jan. 31.

Under the government of former prime minister Theresa May, the withdrawal bill went through a bumpy ride in the parliament. The journey became smoother after Boris Johnson's landslide victory in a snap general election in December.

Armed with a 80-seat majority in the House of Commons (lower house), the bill was able to beat all opposition and passed its final legislative stage in the House of Lords (upper house) Wednesday after peers gave it their approval.

Spelling out arrangements for Britain's departure from the union, the approved bill will be signed at a ceremony in Brussels Friday by Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, and Charles Michel, president of the European Council.

Negotiations between Britain and the EU will soon start on a future trade deal. Johnson has repeatedly insisted that he will not extend the transition period. Last month, the House of Commons passed his Brexit bill, where he added a clause to rule out any extension beyond Dec. 31, 2020.

During a speech in London earlier this month, von der Leyen warned that the two sides need more time to reach a deal.

"Without an extension of the transition period beyond 2020, you cannot expect to agree on every single aspect of our new partnership," she said.
The world's economic output is now 'greater' in autocratic nations than it is in democratic ones, warned a former UK Foreign Secretary.

David Miliband, 54, said the 'most basic rights' are under threat as the 'age of impunity' has arrived.

The Chief Executive Officer of the International Rescue Committee, a global humanitarian organisation, was speaking at a summit in Davos, Switzerland, today.

David Miliband, pictured, said the 'most basic rights' are under threat as the 'age of impunity' during his speech at a summit in Davos, Switzerland, today

According to Yahoo Finance, Mr Miliband said: 'Last year was the first year in 120 years when the GDP of countries that are democracies was less than the GDP of autocracies.'

'The age of impunity is here, and its dangerous. Everything goes, and the law is for suckers. When war crimes go unpunished, and the laws of war become optional.'

He added: 'The cheques that were written in 1945 to the most vulnerable in the world  cheques marked humanitarian law, cheques marked rights of civilians  those cheques are bouncing. The most basic rights are under threat.'

The guest list for this year's World Economic Forum meeting in Switzerland stretched to more than 2,000 names, representing around 100 countries.

US White House National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien looks on during a bilateral meeting between Trump and Pakistan's PM Imran Khan at this year's 50th World Economic Forum

The elite group included regular attendees such as Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates LP, Steve Schwarzman, chairman of Blackstone Group Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co. CEO, Jamie Dimon.

Six of those attending are in the world's 500 richest people, with the biggest amount of guests coming from the US, which has 33, followed by India with 19 heading to Davos.

Many attendees arrived by private jet and prices for food are said to be at eye-watering levels, including $43 for a hot dog.

From climate change to tensions in the Middle East, via trade conflicts and fears of pandemics, the more than 3,000 delegates at the World Economic Forum thrashed out imposing challenges.
Deutsche Bank on Friday appointed former German government minister Sigmar Gabriel, regarded as a proponent of strong European and transatlantic ties, to its supervisory board.

Deutsche Bank is trying to repair its relations with Berlin after the damaging impact of the global financial crisis that called into question the bank's health, creating pressure to merge and restructure, amid fines for money laundering and other scandals.

Gabriel has served as foreign minister, economy minister and environment minister. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) politician replaces Juerg Zeltner, who has stepped down after regulators rejected his appointment because of a conflict of interest.

Deutsche Bank's chairman Paul Achleitner proposed Gabriel for the post, two people with knowledge of the matter said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Achleitner described Gabriel as a "dedicated proponent" of Europe and transatlantic relations. "We are experiencing a challenging geopolitical, economic and social era in which a global bank has to face completely new expectations and demands," Achleitner said in a statement.
Kerala on Friday said the Nepal government should conduct a detailed probe into the deaths of eight Malayalee tourists, including four children, at a resort in the Himalayan nation and wanted their families to get adequate compensation.

During a meeting with MPs from the state, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan urged them to intervene and ensure that the two families of the deceased tourists were adequately compensated.

"The Nepal government should conduct a detailed probe for which the central government should intervene," a press release from the Chief Minister's office said.

The state government had written to the External Affairs minister S Jaishankar, Vijayan said, adding he would once again write to the union minister on the matter.

The eight Keralites, hailing from Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode districts, had died on Tuesday following possible asphyxiation in their room at a mountainous resort in Nepal.

Praveen Krishnan Nair, an IT professional from Dubai, his wife and three children and Ranjit, also a software engineer, his wife and a son had died in the resort.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Eisya A. Eloksari (The Jakarta Post) Gangneung, South Korea  Fri, January 24, 2020 15:07 719 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2060dae72 1 Destinations Gangneung,Gangwon-Province,South-Korea,coffee,destination,travel Free

About 150 kilometers from the bustling capital of Seoul, a city on the east coast of South Korea is making its mark as the nations coffee hub.

Gangneung city in Gangwon province is known as the birthplace of the countrys artisan coffee culture, with local cafes serving a worldwide variation of Arabica and specialty coffee selections.

We arrived in Gangneung in the late afternoon after a hearty lunch of grilled marinated squid. Before getting a sip of coffee, we took a walk along Jumunjin Beach, a local landmark after the popular Korean idol group BTS shot their "Spring Day" video there. The local government rebuilt a replica of the original bus stop used in the video in 2018 to attract tourists.

A man sits in a replica of a bus stop used for the shoot of BTS' music video "Spring Day" at Jumunjin Beach, South Korea. (JP/Eisya Eloksari)

During winter when we were there, the beach was quiet with only a few couples taking pictures along the shore. However, our tour guide Mi Jin MJ Yang said that during summer, from June to August, the place was packed with surfers.

This beach faces the Sea of Japan. It is more ideal for surfing than the west coast area, she said during our walk past a restaurant where surfboards were lined up.

Our second stop was Coffee Cupper, a museum and cafe displaying antique coffee-making equipment from the 17th century, from espresso machines to silverware from which to drink coffee. While the cafe is located on the ground floor, its third and fifth floors serve as the museum.

An espresso machine is displayed at the Coffee Cupper museum in Gangneung. (JP/Eisya Eloksari)

Afterward, we went to the first floor where our tour manager had arranged for a pour-over lesson for groups. Individual tourists can opt for a coffee tasting course starting from 8,000 won (US$6.90) to 13,000 won to try three coffee varieties.

The cafe serves Indonesian Mendheling coffee, Hawaiian Kona and Panama Geisha  the popularity of which has soared in recent years. It also offers desserts that go along with coffee such as Swiss rolls and cakes.

Fueled by the warmth of the coffee, we walked to Anmok Beach where Gangneung coffee street is located. The street just off the shoreline is the focal point of the area in which dozens of cafes are located.

We went through a narrow alley filled with walls of coffee beans, fish and sunset paintings, all icons of the coastline city. I could smell the fragrance of freshly ground coffee beans and dried fish from residents backyards almost side-by-side.

As we approached the beach, I felt the cold winter weather paired with the sea's evening breeze. I walked along the side of the road nearest to the sand, and to my right was multiple-story local cafe chains that had turned on their back store signs.

Big coffee shop franchises such as Starbucks are also coming in, said MJ.

While it is common to see Starbucks in big cities and at almost every office building back home in Jakarta, seeing one on the side of a beach in a small city of about 200,000 people was certainly a first for me.

Some claim that the caffeine craze swept the nation in 1999, when the first Starbucks opened its doors in Seoul. However, MJ said the citys coffee scene began taking shape after one of South Koreas first baristas, Park Yi-chu, moved to Gangneung in the early 2000s from Seoul. He opened up a cafe, which later inspired other people to learn the art of coffee roasting and brewing.

The Anmok street used to be filled with coffee vending machines. Couples would go on dates along the beach with a can of Nescafe in their hands. As coffee houses started to emerge, they preferred to have a sit-down place and cafes started to gain popularity in the area.

Soon afterward, and much like the rest of the world, the demand for specialty and Arabica coffee replaced the countrys craving for instant and canned coffee.

Local coffee shops along Gangneung coffee street across from Anmok Beach. (JP/Eisya Eloksari)

An Anmok Beach sign featuring mascots from the 2018 Winter Olympics in neighboring Pyeongchang county. (JP/Eisya Eloksari)

Gangneung has its own coffee farm, MJ told me, referring to Coffee Cupper Coffee Farm on the foothills of Daegwallyeong, home to the oldest coffee tree in Korea. Although it is very small, since the Korean weather does not support coffee tree growth.

South Korea is not a coffee-producing country, however, its adults consumed on average 353 cups of coffee per person in 2018, higher than the global average of 132 cups per capita in the same year, according to The Korea Herald.

According to South Korean Small Enterprises and Market Service data, there were 78,846 coffee shops by the end of 2018. The nations coffee market also stood at 11.7 trillion won in 2017, more than threefold from the around 3 trillion won a decade ago.

The city also holds an annual Coffee Festival every October. First established in 2009, the festival offers coffee tasting from local and national shops, musical performances and talks on the coffee business.

To get to Gangneung city, visitors can take the KTX train or a bus or drive from Seoul, which takes two-and-a-half-hours. (wng)

------

The Korean Tourism Organization (KTO) invited several Asian media including The Jakarta Post to visit South Korea from Jan. 14 to 18.
It has become common wisdom that too much time spent on smartphones and social media is responsible for a recent rise in anxiety, depression and other mental health problems, especially among teenagers.

But a growing number of academic researchers have produced studies that suggest the common wisdom is wrong.

Children and social media

The latest research, published on Friday by two psychology professors, combs through about 40 studies that have examined the link between social media use and both depression and anxiety among adolescents. That link, according to the professors, is small and inconsistent.

"There doesn't seem to be an evidence base that would explain the level of panic and consternation around these issues," said Candice L. Odgers, a professor at the University of California and the lead author of the paper, which was published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.
New Delhi, Jan 24 (IANS) The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will showcase its achievement of how it empowered India in 2019 by carrying out country's first anti-satellite (ASAT) missile test -- Mission Shakti in Republic Day Parade. It will be a part of the mechanised contingent during the parade.

DRDO will showcase a weapon system capable of destroying an enemy satellite. The anti-satellite test was carried out on March 27 last year.

It was in 2012, the DRDO announced that India had developed capabilities to launch anti-satellite weapons.

While several nations, including Israel, have the missile range to militarise space, only three nations -- the US, Russia and China -- had hitherto tested ASAT systems by knocking down a satellite.

Also Air Defence Tactical Control Radar (ADTCR) used for detection, tracking and foe identification of friend or foe aerial targets of different types will also be showcased during the parade.

The mechanised contingents would be Bhishma Tank, Infantry Combat Vehicle BMP -II, Sarvatra Bridge System, Short Span Bridging, 155/45 Cal Dhanush Gun, K-9 Vajra gun system and others.

Bhishma Tank is a third generation Russian main battle tank armed with 125 mm smooth bore gun. T-90 functions on the hunter killer concept. T-90 can fire four types of ammunition and also has the capability of firing a missile from the gun up to a range of 5,000 meters.

Infantry Combat Vehicle BMP-II is a fully tracked, highly mobile combat vehicle. It carries seven fully armed Infantry soldiers in addition to three men crew. It is amphibious and can be used for air landing as well. Fitted with 30mm Rapid Fire Cannon and a 7.62 mm Machine Gun, it can destroy a variety of targets including tanks and combat helicopters.

The main armament of the vehicle has extremely potent AntiTank Guided Missile, 'Konkurs' that can destroy enemy tank up to a distance of four kilometers.

Sarvatra Bridge System is one of the most advanced specialised assault bridges employed by assault or armoured Engineering units for bridging over dry and wet gaps. This bridging System is indigenously developed by the Research and Development Engineers, Dighi. The single span on one vehicle is about 15 meters, when joined together, it can bridge the max gap of 75 meters.

The Short Span Bridging System is one of the most advanced specialised assault bridges employed. It is a specialised equipment for bridging the small gap up to four meters. It is a wheeled vehicle mounted mechanically launched mobile bridging system, fitted on TATRA 6x6 vehicles manufactured by Bharat Earth Movers Limited.

Dhanush Gun System of 155/45 Caliber is a modern indigenous Gun. The equipment developed by Ordinance Factory has been recently inducted in the Regiment of Artillery. The modern Dhanush gun system is a 45 Caliber with a range of 36.5 km. This gun is equipped with the Internal Navigation System (INS) and Advance Gun Sighting System (AGSS) and is an all terrain equipment.

K-9 Vajra gun system is a self propelled gun that would facilitate mechanised operations in desert sector with its unmatched mobility, firepower, navigation, quick deployment capability and endurance. K-9 VAJRA has reduced ammunition handling time during the firing and ensures mechanical safety of gun attachment.

The Akash Weapon System is the first indigenously developed Air Defence System capable of firing short-range surface to air missile against the enemy aerial platform. The system has the capability of carrying out surveillance of air space up to 150 km and effectively engages hostile aerial platforms up to 25 km.

The Air Force version of Akash Missile system is already operational and is in service, Transportable Satellite Terminal can be easily configured and includes a 1.8 meter and 2.4 meter parabolic antenna.

sk/dpb
The Charleston County School Board is considering scrapping plans for a sixth-grade only school in West Ashley.

Instead, the new idea is to put all West Ashley sixth- through eighth-grade students on one campus, at the soon-to-be-open C.E. Williams Middle School. The new school will replace the old C.E. Williams Middle School Building on Butte Street.

To get all the students and teachers to fit, the new school will need to add portable trailers  a point of contention for parents and board members who worry about overcrowding and accommodating future growth.

The proposal comes two months after the board voted to put all sixth-grade students at West Ashley Middle School, but all seventh- and eighth-graders at the C.E. Williams campus, which is set to open in August.

The so-called "sixth-grade only academy" plan received mixed support from West Ashley parents. Some viewed it as a rushed decision that lacked adequate vetting and community support.

Others said they were optimistic that merging the two schools would create more equity for all students in the area.

The $53.3 million C.E. Williams campus is being built next to the existing West Ashley High School off Glenn McConnell Parkway. It was constructed with a capacity for 900 students but with the ability to expand up to 1,200, according to a FAQ page on the district's website.

The district estimates it serves around 1,300 students across West Ashley's two middle schools.

Parents were repeatedly told that creating the separate sixth-grade academy was the best option for West Ashley because the new C.E. Williams building wouldn't be able to accommodate all middle school students in the area.

Under the new proposal, all of the students could fit on the new campus if mobile classroom trailers were added, the district said. Board members could give final approval to the new plan during a vote at Monday's meeting.

Board Vice Chair Kate Darby estimated that the district could accommodate all students by adding between five and eight portable classrooms, depending on how the school reorganizes its teacher allocations. Potential overcrowding would also be relieved when the nearby Center For Advanced Studies opens in August 2021, Darby said.

The trailers are a short-term solution, Darby said, and the district will need to eventually expand the C.E. Williams building to add more classroom space.

"The trailers will go away," she said. "And it'll either be in this referendum savings that we have, or if there's not enough savings, well have a referendum on the ballot this November," she said. "I would want to put it at the top of the list."

The plan to combine both West Ashley middle schools was studied over the summer by a group of community leaders tasked with gathering feedback on some of the district's potential "mission critical" actions. That group found that "the overwhelming consensus view is that the two West Ashley middle schools SHOULD NOT be put into one campus," according to the group's final report.

The new plan came as a surprise to Ragan DuBose-Morris, a West Ashley parent who serves on the district's community group tasked with ironing out the details of the sixth-grade academy.

"The trust divide that continues to grow bigger because of changes that are made in this manner make it even harder to figure out from where you're starting for the next step of planning," DuBose-Morris said.

West Ashley parent Francis Beylotte called the new plan "the lesser of two not so great things."

While he said he preferred the new plan to the sixth-grade academy, he was still skeptical of the merger.

"I still have a lot of trouble with the way the district has ignored parents and has just done a horrible job communicating with us. And that really needs to change," he said.

Beylotte argued that plans for school mergers and rezoning to make the area's middle schools more equitable should have started years ago when the new C.E. Williams building was first approved.

"Parents are fed up with all this scrambling around and trying to solve problems in the last minute that should have come up when the school was planned," he said. "I'm just tired of week after week after week getting shifted around and told something different."

Darby and Board Member Todd Garrett said they both felt that the new plan would better serve all West Ashley students.

"It was just that it would be simpler and less upheaval, rather than your kids going from fifth grade on one campus to sixth grade at another to seventh and eighth at another and then on to high school at another," Garrett said. "So the intent was to try to simplify kids jumping around while still merging them."

Board Member Cindy Bohn Coats said she will vote in favor of the merger, although she was concerned about why the plan changed after the sixth-grade academy was already finalized.

"It still seems to be better than nothing. And it still accomplishes some of the things that the people I know are very passionate about and that is equity," Coats said.

If the plan is approved, the district will need to get permission to put trailers on campus from the state Department of Education.

Monday's school board meeting will start at 3:30 p.m. Public comments are scheduled for 5:35 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.
The Kingdom doesnt have any case of coronavirus and is taking all measures to protect the people here by tackling the threat, according to Health Ministry officials. The Health Ministry said in a statement issued that a number of measures has been taken following an outbreak of the deadly coronavirus in China.

The ministry is taking all precautionary measures for this purpose. The situation is being monitored closely. Co-ordination is ongoing with relevant authorities and at the Bahrain International Airport. The ministry has urged the public to take precautionary measures after travelling to places affected. It said that it is communicating directly with the World Health Organisation.

A never-before-seen virus, detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan, has claimed 17 lives and infected hundreds of Chinese citizens with a pneumonia-like illness, according to Chinas National Health Commission. The virus was first reported to the World Health Organisation on Dec 31 and has been under investigation since then. Chinese scientists have linked the disease to a family of viruses known as coronaviruses, the same family as the deadly SARS and MERS viruses.

Scientists have yet to fully understand how destructive the new virus, known as 2019-nCoV, might be. Researchers and investigators are just beginning to understand where it originated, how its transmitted, how far it has spread and what its symptoms look like. As of Jan. 22, case numbers have skyrocketed to over 440 in China and abroad. Chinese authorities also confirmed health workers have been infected with the virus, suggesting that it has achieved human-to-human transmission.

As a result, authorities are taking steps to guard against its spread. On Jan 22, the WHO will convene an emergency committee to explore whether the virus constitutes a public health emergency. Researchers believe the number of cases may be higher than current reports suggest, and at least three US airports have begun screening incoming passengers for signs of illness, as have busy airports in Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Malaysia.

Coronaviruses belong to a family of viruses known as Coronaviridae and look like spiked rings under an electron microscope. They are so named because of these spikes, which form a halo around their viral envelope. Coronaviruses contain a strand of RNA within their envelope and cannot reproduce without getting inside living cells and hijacking the machinery found within. The spikes on their viral envelope help them bind to cells, which gives them a way in.

Typically, these types of viruses are found in animals ranging from livestock to household pets and wildlife such as bats. When they make the jump to humans, they can cause fever, respiratory illness and inflammation in the lungs. In immunocompromised individuals, such as the elderly or those with HIV-AIDS, such viruses can cause severe respiratory illness.

Extremely pathogenic coronaviruses were behind SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) and were easily transmitted from human to human. SARS, which showed up in the early 2000s, infected more than 8,000 people and resulted in nearly 800 deaths. MERS, which appeared in the early 2010s, infected almost 2,500 people and led to more than 850 deaths.
A 16-year-old French high school student has been told to go into hiding after receiving several death threats for insulting Islam on social media.

Mila, from Lyon, in eastern France, shared a series of short Instagram videos in response to what she said was online homophobic and racist abuse from religious fanatics.

The teenager, who regularly posts videos of herself singing on her Instagram profile, told those who were abusing her that she hated religion, there was nothing but hate in the Islamic holy book and that Islam itself was sh*t.

She subsequently received a torrent of abuse, alongside a number of serious death threats, that has led to her requiring a police escort.

Mila, pictured above, shared a video on social media ranting about her distaste for religion, a video that has subsequently gone viral and lead to her receiving death threats

The high-school student is also reportedly no longer able to set foot inside her school in the city in the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region and fears the incident will put an end to her dreams of a singing career.

'I can no longer set foot in my high school, and I can't even change my high school because it's the whole of France that wants me dead,' she told feminist publication Bellica.

The threats came about after Mila, who loves singing and whose profile is adorned with an LGBT flag, was talking with her followers on Instagram and one of them reportedly began harassing her.

After rebuffing the follower's advances, he reportedly began insulting her with homophobic attacks and accusations of racism.

Then the attacks took a religious tone, with some users reportedly accusing Mila of insulting 'our God Allah, the one and only' and hoping that she would 'burn in hell.'

It is then that Mila decided to post footage criticising religion in general and Islam.

People on Twitter have been split between those slamming the teen and those defending her right to freedom of speech - even if opposed to the sentiment. This twitter user has indicated his displeasure of what the teen said, saying her defiant words that she would have no regrets could only end badly for her

'I hate religion, [...] there is nothing but hate in the Koran, Islam is sh*t, that's what I think,' she said in the videos.

'I am not racist, not at all. You cannot be racist towards a religion. I said what I thought, you will not make me regret it. There are still people who will get excited, I clearly don't give a damn, I say what I want, what I think.'

French media point out that under French law, Mila has done nothing illegal, there being no restrictions on 'blasphemy' in France.

Mila told feminist site Bellica: 'I have not insulted anyone, nor threatened anyone, nor called for violence against anyone. What I did was blasphemy, general criticism of religions, and nothing else.'

Mila's initial comments made on January 19 were shared in Instagram stories, that disappear after 24 hours.

However, they were recorded and reposted on various social media platforms by tens of thousands of users.

People commenting online are split between those who have defended her right to free speech, and those who have slammed the French schoolgirl, with some going so far as to issue threats to her life.

According to French newspaper Liberation, the head of Mila's high school has flagged the incident to the prosecutor's office.

Local media report that the local education authority has said that 'the young girl is in security', and that she has been provided with 'physical and psychological support.'
The protestors are removed from the public gallery in the debating chamber after interrupting FMQs at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon during FMQs at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Unionist protesters were ejected from Scotland's parliament for heckling First Minister Nicola Sturgeon about alleged IRA supporters in the SNP.

Presiding Officer Ken Macintosh briefly halted First Minister's Questions at Holyrood around 20 minutes into proceedings on Thursday as the two men were removed by staff and police.

They called the First Minister "Brigardier Sturgeon" as SNP MSP Bob Doris stood up to ask a question.

The protesters shouted: "Why do so many in your party support the IRA?"

The protesters also heckled SNP MSP for Glasgow Shettleston John Mason, who in 2017 was forced to apologise after suggesting some people saw IRA terrorists as "freedom fighters".

Mr Mason also sparked fury earlier this month when he said he would not "speak up" for residents who supported Orange marches.

Presiding officer Ken McIntosh then suspended Holyrood business.

Ms Sturgeon watched from the debating chamber as the men were escorted from the public gallery.

When asked on Friday, a spokesperson for Ms Sturgeon said she would not be making any comment on the incident.
In 2018, 60 arrests were made under the Act - the second highest figure of any area of the UK outside of London (stock photo)

More than 250 arrests have been made in Northern Ireland as a result of sleeping rough or begging, it has been revealed.

Figures released to the homeless charity Crisis have been branded "nothing short of a disgrace" by SDLP councillor Paul McCusker, who works with the homeless.

They show 258 arrests were made in Northern Ireland under the Vagrancy Act over the last five years.

In 2018, 60 arrests were made under the Act - the second highest figure of any area of the UK outside of London.

The previous year, 45 arrests were made, followed by 63 in 2016. There were 35 arrests in 2015 and 55 in 2014.

Oldpark councillor Mr McCusker said he will write to the Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey to ask what plans she has to scrap the Act.

The Department for Communities said it was a matter for the Department for Justice.

Mr McCusker said: "It must be a source of shame that people in our society are criminalised for falling on hard times. We need to treat people with dignity and respect, giving them a hand up as opposed to kicking them when they are down."

Chief Superintendent Simon Walls said the PSNI consider a number of options before arrest, including arresting a person for begging. "Police are conscious that issues of begging and rough sleeping are challenging. When any individual is arrested for begging, or any offence, they are treated with dignity and respect."
More than a year after the donor dinner, Yovanovitch, who had been in the Foreign Service for 32 years and served under Democratic and Republican presidents, was summarily removed from her post. She testified that she was told by State Department officials that she had done nothing wrong, and she denied that she been in any way disloyal to Trump.
Since an Israeli water company working for the Jerusalem Municipality started conducting underground work in her neighbourhood about a month ago, Hanan Slaima says large cracks have formed on the walls and ceilings of rooms in the home located in the Old City in occupied East Jerusalem.

Doors can no longer close fully as the surface of the floor has become uneven, while plastic basins are placed on the floor to catch water leaking from the ceiling. Elsewhere, water has seeped in through cracks in the walls, which has destroyed the electricity unit in her daughters bedroom.

The house was renovated only a year ago, Slaima told Al Jazeera. All the neighbours told them to stop [the work] because we began to see cracks [in our homes] and over time the cracks grew larger, she said, adding that the water pipelines underground had burst at least four or five times during the month that the company was working underground.

They begin [work underground] late in the night and continue until the morning every day. We heard the digging and we felt the floor shake many times, the 62-year-old said.

Residents in the same neighbourhood close to the Old Citys Chain Gate, located a short walk away from the holy Al-Aqsa Mosque, also reported damage to their homes.

Seventy-year-old Ayda Abdeen told Al Jazeera that a part of the yard outside her home collapsed in the past month due to flooding when the pipelines burst.

Cracks in the wall are seen by the circuit breaker in Hanan Slaimas home [Dareen Jubeh/Al Jazeera]

The residents blame the work carried out by the water company Gihon, which supplies water to Jerusalem and was working for the municipality to repair underground water and sewage infrastructure, for causing the damage.

I was born here and my family has lived here for hundreds of years and we never faced this situation; we never saw these cracks; we never saw a stone fall, Slaima said.

She said that when Gihon began work in the area and water began to seep into their homes, the neighbourhood residents brought professionals to check the foundation underneath their homes.

They told us that it seems there is a lake of water under the houses, Slaima said.

Ahmad Sub Laban, a field researcher from the Israeli NGO Ir Amim told Al Jazeera that the buildings have been deemed dangerous due to water leaking from the main water network below the foundations which caused the cracks in the buildings.



It has happened before in Silwan and the Old City. Most of these buildings are considered dangerous due to water leaking under the foundation of buildings. Sometimes its because of the digging in tunnels under their homes, like in Silwan, Wadi Hilweh [neighbourhood just outside the Old City], Sub Laban said.

There have been numerous reports in recent years by Palestinian residents, warning of the damage their homes have sustained, reportedly due to Israeli excavation work under and around the Old City.

Large cracks have appeared on the walls and ceilings of Hanan Slaimas home in the past month [Dareen Jubeh/Al Jazeera]

Evacuation notice

To make matters worse, Slaima received a notice from the Jerusalem Municipalitys Dangerous Buildings Department, dated January 19, warning that the family must leave their home immediately and conduct the appropriate renovations to the building, as it was no longer safe to live in.

If renovations were not made before the expiration of a 30-day deadline and the family did not leave, they would have to pay a fine of 3,600 Israeli New Shekels ($1,042) and then 160 Israeli New Shekels ($46) each day, Slaima said.

The Slaima family was one of 22 households in the neighbourhood to receive such notices from the municipality, according to the official Palestinian news agency, WAFA.

Abdeen said her family also received an evacuation notice but said the family would not leave and instead would live together in the room which had sustained the least damage. She said the family feared that there was no guarantee that they would be able to return home if they leave.

My main concern is why they want me to leave my house, when I could sit in the other room and renovate the house, Abdeen said.

Maybe they want to take it; the settlers are living on the other side from the street. They dont want to fund renovations for us, so why they are asking us to leave?

Residents in the area say they do not want to evacuate their homes as they feared they may not be allowed to return to them.

The Jerusalem Municipality did not respond to Al Jazeeras request for comment.

Israel occupied the eastern part of Jerusalem in 1967 and regards the entire city as its capital. According to a 2016 report by Ir Amim, settler organisations supported by the state have seized control of properties in Palestinian neighbourhoods in East Jerusalem with the aim of boosting Israeli control in the city.

Approximately 200,000 Israelis live in settlements in East Jerusalem. Palestinians want East Jerusalem to be the capital of a future state and say that settlements undermine that goal and the two-state solution.

Slaima said the 10-member family could not afford to pay for further renovations out of their own pocket as only one family member, her 22-year-old nephew, was currently employed.

I didnt sleep the whole night, thinking  what will we do? Where to go? Why are they asking us to leave instead of fixing all the damages [themselves] as it happened after they made the excavations? Slaima said. What I am sure of is that Ill never leave this house.

Additional reporting by Dareen Jubeh in occupied East Jerusalem.
Twitter, meanwhile, removed the controversial tweet following the directions of the Election Commission (Photo Credit: PTI File)

New Delhi:

Delhi Assembly Elections 2020: Delhi Police on Friday lodged an FIR against Kapil Mishra - the BJP candidate from Model Town seat for Delhi assembly polls - in connection with his controversial in which he likened the election in the city to an India versus Pakistan contest. The FIR was filed after Delhi Chief Election Officer (CEO) Ranbir Singh wrote to police asking to register the case under the Representation of Peoples Act.

The FIR has been lodged at the Model Town Police Station under Section 125 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, sources said.

Twitter, meanwhile, removed the controversial tweet following the directions of the Election Commission.

"This Tweet from @KapilMishra_IND has been withheld in India in response to a legal demand," Twitter wrote on the platform along with an impression of the old tweet.

Earlier in the day, The poll body had earlier asked Twitter to remove the post, terming it as a "highly objectionable" comment that "appeals to communal feelings". The EC had also said that Twitter should intimate it about the action taken.

Kapil Mishra, who was a minister in the outgoing Arvind Kejriwal government before a bitter falling out with Aam Aadmi Party leaders, had crossed over to the BJP and is the partys candidate from Model Town.

A show cause notice was also issued to him by the poll authorities for "violation of the poll code".

In his explantion Mishra claimed that Pakistans proxies were likely to be present at Shaheen Bagh- ground zero for protests against the amended citizenship law. He also claimed that he was only responding to AAPs Manish Sisodia in his tweet.

"Who is playing the Hindu-Muslim card? Manish Sisodia who says he is with Shaheen Bagh protesters? Priyanka Gandhi who supports those who burned vehicles at Turkman Gate in Delhi? Kejriwal who is distributing Rs 5 lakh to hooligans? Who are giving tickets to people like Amanatullah and Shoaib Iqbal, known for making provocative speeches?" Mishra said in his tweet posted in Hindi.
Members of the Purdue Pharma family engulfed in the opiod crisis have sold their $38million Upper East Side townhouse and moved to Europe.

Mortimer Sackler, son of the late founder and a former board member of the OxyContin producer, and his wife Jacqueline have told friends they will be spending 'the winter term' at Gstaad, Switzerland.

Their move to the sumptuous Swiss ski village comes after flogging the five-story house on East 75th Street - just a skip away from Fifth Avenue - to billionaire hedge fund manager Israel Englander for an undisclosed fee.

In an email sent Wednesday, obtained by Page Six, Mortimer wrote to friends: 'Jackie and I are spending the winter term in Gstaad. We will also take the opportunity of being based here to travel in Europe.

Mortimer Sackler, son of the late founder and a former board member of the Oxycotin producer, and his wife Jacqueline have told friends they will be spending 'the winter term' at Gstaad, Switzerland (pictured: Mortimer Sackler and Jacqueline Sackler attend The Winter Dance 2006 Desert Oasis Sponsored by VERSACE at The American Museum of Natural History on February 16, 2006)

Their move to the sumptuous Swiss ski village comes after flogging the five-story house on on East 75th Street - just a skip away from Fifth Avenue - to billionaire hedge fund manager Israel Englander

'We would love to see you either in Gstaad, if you are here or nearby, or elsewhere in Europe (taking advantage of the ease of travel here vs ours in NYC).'

He continued: 'Do let us know what your plans are, and what you have been up to as we would love to catch up. Wishing you all the best for a Healthy and Happy 2020, Mortimer and Jacqueline.'

Mortimer and Jacqueline Sackler attend the Guggenheim International Gala at Rumsey Playfield Central Park in November 2006

The Sackler family's OxyContin-producing company, Purdue Pharma, is privately-owned and not listed on a stock exchange but has an estimated annual revenue of $3billion.

OxyContin, which Purdue heavily marketed, was first introduced in 1996.

Local authorities soon reported an epidemic of addiction and criminal behavior associated with the drug, as people crushed the tablets and snorted or injected them.

Overdoses involving prescription opioids like OxyContin have soared in the past 20 years.

Purdue introduced an abuse-deterrent form of the drug in 2010 while still continuing to aggressively market it to doctors.

There were 17,029 recorded by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2017, a 395 per cent rise from 3,442 in 1999.

And the Sacklers' Purdue Pharma is facing around 2,600 lawsuits implicating its OxyContin in drug users' deaths.

It applied for bankruptcy status in September after approaching a settlement worth $12billion with local governments across the US.

The Sacklers' Purdue Pharma is facing around 2,600 lawsuits implicating its OxyContin in drug users' deaths
The Oyo State Police Command on Friday said two police escorts attached to a popular Yoruba herbal drink manufacturer, Fatai Yusuff, who was killed by unknown gunmen on Thursday, are being questioned at the homicide section of State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID Iyaganku, Ibadan.

The Command, in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Olugbenga Fadeyi, also revealed that some staff of the deceased, are being questioned by a team of crack detectives from the homicide section of State Criminal Investigation Department.

Mr Yusuff, a native of Out, a town in Oyo State, was on Thursday killed by some people whose identity have not been revealed as at the time of filing this report.

Mr Yusuff, who is also known as Oko Oloyun, was shot on his way to Iseyin, Oyo State from Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Mr Fadeyi, in the statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES, said that the Commissioner of Police, Mr Olukolu, is seizing the opportunity to appeal to members of the public with credible information on the criminals, to make such known.

He said the two escorts and the staff were being questioned, in a bid to apprehend the fleeing suspects.

READ ALSO:

While giving more insights to the killing, Mr Fadeyi said that a report was received by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Igbo-ora, that around Akeroro Area on the Abeokuta/Igbo-ora/Iseyin road, the two-vehicle convoy of the deceased was ambushed shortly after passing through five different Police Stop and search teams along the route.

He added that the policemen protecting the deceased engaged the assailants, but that the assailants managed to escape into the forest after a single shot had hit the deceased, who later died of his bullet injuries.

Motive

However, an interesting twist to the story was that the deceased probably had earlier detected an alleged book keeping records fraud in his Lagos office which subsequently allegedly led to the burning/destruction of some financial/book keeping records, the police statement highlighted.

In addition to other possible motives, a plausible nexus is therefore being suspected between the fire incident and the attack on the deceased.

Meanwhile, some of the staff and his two (2) Police escorts are being questioned by a team of crack detectives from the homicide section of State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID Iyaganku, Ibadan with a view of finding and apprehending the fleeing suspects who wrecked the heinous act.

The Commissioner of Police therefore seizes this opportunity to appeal to any member of the public with credible information not to hesitate in passing same to the Oyo State Police Command to assist in the detection of the crime and apprehension of the offenders, while at the same time, assuring members of the public that the Police is on top of the situation and working with other Police formations/units to ensure that the directive of the Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A. Adamu, NPM,mni to crack this case as quickly as possible is complied with to the letter.

In addition, it is our resolve that no matter how long it takes, the Commissioner of Police promise to bring the culprits to justice within the shortest possible time, the statement read.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has ceased all flights from the Southeast Asian country to Wuhan City in China in order to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.

The CAAV has ordered its relevant units to cancel the licenses of all flights between Vietnam and Wuhan City, located in the Chinese province of Hubei.

Vietnamese and foreign airlines will not be granted new licenses to operate flights along this route.

The agency is keeping in touch with the Civil Aviation Administration of China to stay updated on the situation regarding the disease in China in order to make prompt adjustments to flights between Vietnam and other Chinese localities if necessary.

All Vietnamese carriers were required to contact authorities of Wuhan Tianhe International Airport to come up with a suitable way to assist passengers who have purchased tickets for the canceled flights.

Meanwhile, international airports throughout Vietnam were asked to work closely with healthcare and quarantine agencies to monitor the body temperature of arriving passengers.

Those who show signs of being infected with the new coronavirus will be properly quarantined and treated.

A pneumonia outbreak, caused by a new strain of the coronavirus family that caused SARS and MERS, first surfaced in Wuhan City last December.

The disease has spread to many countries and territories, while China's National Health Commission has confirmed 541 infection cases and 17 deaths as of January 23.

A Chinese man and his son on Wednesday tested positive for the coronavirus at Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, making them the first patients discovered in Vietnam.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
A Delhi High Court judge on Friday recused from hearing a lawyer's plea seeking contempt proceedings against the makers of Deepika Padukone-starrer 'Chhapaak', saying he has worked with the petitioner-advocate.

The petition was moved by advocate Aparna Bhat who had represented acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal on whose life the movie is based.

Bhat, in her plea, said the filmmakers had violated the high court's January 11 direction to give her credit for the inputs she shared with them.

Justice A K Chawla said he and advocate Bhat had worked together when he was a lawyer and therefore, he would not be hearing the matter.

He directed the registry to list the case before another bench for January 27.

Justice Prathiba M Singh had on January 11 directed the film's director Meghna Gulzar and producer Fox Star Studios to acknowledge the advocate in the opening credits by including the line "Inputs by Ms Aparna Bhat, the lawyer who represented Laxmi Agarwal, are acknowledged".

The lawyer has contended that the film was screened without complying with the direction and therefore, a contempt of court proceedings be initiated against the filmmakers.

The January 11 order had come on a plea Fox Star Studios challenging a trial court's order asking it to acknowledge the contribution of the advocate. The film was released on January 10,



The high court had said that since the film has already been released, both internationally and in India, it should be ensured that there is no disruption in its screening.

It was directed that the film will not be shown in theatres with effect from January 15 without adding the credit line for the advocate to the digital copies.

In theatres where physical copies of the film were to be supplied by the producer, the changes had to be carried out with effect from January 18, it had said.

The film producer's advocate had said the trial court did not hear them before passing an order and an ad-interim ex-parte injunction was passed which is unusual.

The counsel for Bhat had said she had fought the case for Laxmi Agarwal pro-bono and was not seeking any publicity and she was approached by Gulzar to get some authenticity in the movie.

He had said that Bhat's assistance was based on her communication with Gulzar that her contribution would be acknowledged.

Bhat, in her plea before the trial court, had said that despite representing Laxmi in courts for several years and helping in the making of the film, she was not given credit in the movie.

She had said the filmmakers took her help in the entire process of writing and shooting the movie, but did not give her credit.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Healthcare Cloud Computing Market Synopsis

Market Research Future (MRFR) proclaims that the global healthcare cloud computing market is predicted to garner a stellar CAGR during the forecast period (2017-2023). The surging adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) has catalyzed the growth of the market across the globe. Cloud computing can be referred to as the practice of using a network of remote servers which are hosted on the internet, in order to manage, store, and process data. Cloud computing does not require a local server and reduces the overall cost efficiently by cutting infrastructural expenses. Cloud computing provides several benefits which have impacted the general market for cloud-based technologies.

Latest Free Sample PDF Available @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/6519

Market Potential and Pitfalls

Cloud computing helps to reduce the overall cost as it is used without the interference of physical infrastructure. The internet stores and manages data which cuts down the maintenance cost, thereby propelling the Healthcare Cloud Computing Market across the globe. With the widespread and high demand for cloud computing and revolution in IT, the overall healthcare sector has been affected positively. The amount of data generated in the healthcare sector has triggered the adoption of cloud computing across the globe. Moreover, major market players of the healthcare cloud computing are actively engaged in the development of improved services which has continued to optimize operations in complex and large sectors, for instance, healthcare.

The advent of blockchain technology in cloud computing is considered one of the key trends which are anticipated to gain prominence in the global market. The healthcare sector is highly deploying cloud computing systems in order to streamline claims, achieve greater data security, ensure drug supply chain, manage billings, and ensure health research integrity. Blockchain also provides integrity and superior data security to the systems in which is further employed owing to its distributed characteristics. Such factors are expected to bolster the market growth worldwide.

On the contrary, concern and security risks associated with the sensitive data being made available on the cloud is anticipated to deter the market growth throughout the appraisal period. Moreover, inefficient backup activities and cloud breaches with regards to data undertaken by the healthcare organizations are estimated to vitiate the market growth in the coming years.

Global Healthcare Cloud Computing Market: Segmental Analysis

The healthcare cloud computing market has been segmented on the basis of application, deployment, end-user, and service.

By mode of applications, the global healthcare cloud computing market has been segmented into clinical information system (CIS) and non-clinical information system (NCIS). Among these, the clinical information system is considered to command the major share owing to the increased prevalence of chronic diseases coupled with the surging geriatric population resulting in an increased patient data volume.

By mode of deployment, the global healthcare cloud computing market has been segmented into public cloud, private cloud, and hybrid cloud. Among these, the private cloud is likely to gain prominence in the coming years owing to its higher adoption rate due to better security.

By mode of end-user, the global healthcare cloud computing market has been segmented into healthcare players and healthcare providers.

By mode of service, the global healthcare cloud computing market has been segmented into software-as-a-service (SaaS), infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), and platform-as-a-service (PaaS). Among these, the software-as-a-service is anticipated to gain prominence during the appraisal period owing to its easy deployment, less lead time, and service providers ownership of support and maintenance tasks.

Healthcare Cloud Computing Market Regional Insights

Geographically, healthcare cloud computing market span across regions namely, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, and the Middle East & Africa.

Considering the global scenario, the healthcare cloud computing market is dominated by the North American region owing to the presence of the U.S. with a high concentration of market players. Also, the presence of a significant healthcare sector is estimated to foster growth. The region also exhibits an affinity for the adoption of advanced technologies, which is further estimated to contribute to the market growth.

The Asia Pacific region is considered to expand at a rapid pace owing to the presence of well-developed healthcare infrastructure. Economies like China and Japan are among the most populous countries, possessing a massive patient population. The need to have proper operations in order to treat such a huge patient population has triggered the adoption of advanced healthcare cloud computing solutions in this region.

Industry Updates

January 02, 2019: 3M has recently announced their plan to acquire the cloud-based clinical documentation unit of M*Modal for USD 1 billion. 3M has planned to add the Pittsburgh-based M*Modal business to 3M Health Information Systems unit which is a supplier of services and software to healthcare payers and providers.

Healthcare Cloud Computing Market Studied by Competitive Dashboard

The prominent players operating in the global healthcare cloud computing market comprises Microsoft Corporation, Oracle Corporation, Merge Healthcare Inc., Cerner Corporation, Carestream Corporation, ClearData Networks Inc., International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation, CareCloud Corporation, Agfa-Gevaert N.V., Sectra AB, Siemens Healthineers, GE Healthcare, NextGen Healthcare, Dell Inc., athenahealth Inc., and Nuance Communications.

OBTAIN RESEARCH REPORT DETAILS WITH TOC @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/healthcare-cloud-computing-market-6519

Healthcare Cloud Computing Market Synopsis

Market Research Future (MRFR) proclaims that the global healthcare cloud computing market is predicted to garner a stellar CAGR during the forecast period (2017-2023). The surging adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) has catalyzed the growth of the market across the globe. Cloud computing can be referred to as the practice of using a network of remote servers which are hosted on the internet, in order to manage, store, and process data. Cloud computing does not require a local server and reduces the overall cost efficiently by cutting infrastructural expenses. Cloud computing provides several benefits which have impacted the general market for cloud-based technologies.

Latest Free Sample PDF Available @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/6519

Market Potential and Pitfalls

Cloud computing helps to reduce the overall cost as it is used without the interference of physical infrastructure. The internet stores and manages data which cuts down the maintenance cost, thereby propelling the Healthcare Cloud Computing Market across the globe. With the widespread and high demand for cloud computing and revolution in IT, the overall healthcare sector has been affected positively. The amount of data generated in the healthcare sector has triggered the adoption of cloud computing across the globe. Moreover, major market players of the healthcare cloud computing are actively engaged in the development of improved services which has continued to optimize operations in complex and large sectors, for instance, healthcare.

The advent of blockchain technology in cloud computing is considered one of the key trends which are anticipated to gain prominence in the global market. The healthcare sector is highly deploying cloud computing systems in order to streamline claims, achieve greater data security, ensure drug supply chain, manage billings, and ensure health research integrity. Blockchain also provides integrity and superior data security to the systems in which is further employed owing to its distributed characteristics. Such factors are expected to bolster the market growth worldwide.

On the contrary, concern and security risks associated with the sensitive data being made available on the cloud is anticipated to deter the market growth throughout the appraisal period. Moreover, inefficient backup activities and cloud breaches with regards to data undertaken by the healthcare organizations are estimated to vitiate the market growth in the coming years.

Global Healthcare Cloud Computing Market: Segmental Analysis

The healthcare cloud computing market has been segmented on the basis of application, deployment, end-user, and service.

By mode of applications, the global healthcare cloud computing market has been segmented into clinical information system (CIS) and non-clinical information system (NCIS). Among these, the clinical information system is considered to command the major share owing to the increased prevalence of chronic diseases coupled with the surging geriatric population resulting in an increased patient data volume.

By mode of deployment, the global healthcare cloud computing market has been segmented into public cloud, private cloud, and hybrid cloud. Among these, the private cloud is likely to gain prominence in the coming years owing to its higher adoption rate due to better security.

By mode of end-user, the global healthcare cloud computing market has been segmented into healthcare players and healthcare providers.

By mode of service, the global healthcare cloud computing market has been segmented into software-as-a-service (SaaS), infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS), and platform-as-a-service (PaaS). Among these, the software-as-a-service is anticipated to gain prominence during the appraisal period owing to its easy deployment, less lead time, and service providers ownership of support and maintenance tasks.

Healthcare Cloud Computing Market Regional Insights

Geographically, healthcare cloud computing market span across regions namely, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, North America, and the Middle East & Africa.

Considering the global scenario, the healthcare cloud computing market is dominated by the North American region owing to the presence of the U.S. with a high concentration of market players. Also, the presence of a significant healthcare sector is estimated to foster growth. The region also exhibits an affinity for the adoption of advanced technologies, which is further estimated to contribute to the market growth.

The Asia Pacific region is considered to expand at a rapid pace owing to the presence of well-developed healthcare infrastructure. Economies like China and Japan are among the most populous countries, possessing a massive patient population. The need to have proper operations in order to treat such a huge patient population has triggered the adoption of advanced healthcare cloud computing solutions in this region.

Industry Updates

January 02, 2019: 3M has recently announced their plan to acquire the cloud-based clinical documentation unit of M*Modal for USD 1 billion. 3M has planned to add the Pittsburgh-based M*Modal business to 3M Health Information Systems unit which is a supplier of services and software to healthcare payers and providers.

Healthcare Cloud Computing Market Studied by Competitive Dashboard

The prominent players operating in the global healthcare cloud computing market comprises Microsoft Corporation, Oracle Corporation, Merge Healthcare Inc., Cerner Corporation, Carestream Corporation, ClearData Networks Inc., International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation, CareCloud Corporation, Agfa-Gevaert N.V., Sectra AB, Siemens Healthineers, GE Healthcare, NextGen Healthcare, Dell Inc., athenahealth Inc., and Nuance Communications.

OBTAIN RESEARCH REPORT DETAILS WITH TOC @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/healthcare-cloud-computing-market-6519

About Market Research Future:

At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.

MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.

In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.

Contact:

Market Research Future

Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers

Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar,

Pune  411028

Maharashtra, India

+1 646 845 9312

Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com
Listen to the latest episode above or on your favorite app including Alexa, Apple, Google, Spotify and Stitcher. Episodes are available every morning on PennLive. Subscribe/Follow and rate the podcast via your favorite app.

Today in Pa. Daily Podcast | January 24, 2020

The Pennsylvania Speaker of the House has announced that he will not be running for re-election. A manager at a fast food restaurant was arrested for shooting a gun at a teenager. Philadelphias mayor has warned residents he will cancel the citys annual Mummers Parade if organizers cant put an end to blackface among the participants. And a midstate church has teamed up with a charity to pay off 2.5 million dollars in medical debt for Pennsylvanians.

Those are the stories we are covering in the latest episode of Today in Pa, a daily weekday podcast from PennLive.com and hosted by Julia Hatmaker. Today in Pa is dedicated to sharing the most important and interesting stories in the state.

Todays episode refers to the following articles:

Enjoy Today in Pa? Consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or on Amazon. Reviews help others find the show and, besides, we like to know what you think of the program.

Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
The case was considered the first that sought to hold an opioid maker criminally liable for the opioid crisis, which has claimed about 400,000 lives over the past two decades. At least two others have since faced criminal charges, but prominent companies including Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, have only faced suits that carry no threat of prison time.
(Natural News) Turn down your lights at night, fellow humans ? it might be doing more harm than good to Kermit and his fellow amphibians, a recent research from State University of New York at Binghamton (SUNY Binghamton) suggests.

In a study published in the journal Environmental Pollution, Jessica Hua, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences at SUNY Binghamton, said that with the prevalence of light pollution today, they wanted to investigate its potential effect on amphibians, noting that as amphibians are sensitive to environmental changes, they make great models when it comes to studying how pollution of any type can impact other species.

As detailed in the study, Hua, alongside fellow researchers Grascen Shidemantle and Dyllan May, conducted the investigation by exposing wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) to a control and two anthropogenic light conditions: intensified daylight illuminance and artificial light at night (ALAN).

Huas research team found that both the intensified daylight illuminance and the ALAN treatments decreased hatching success in tadpoles. In addition, the tadpoles that were reared in the ALAN treatment, while distinctly larger, were less active, more sensitive to road salt pollution and had more parasites. (Related: Highly resistant diseases are wiping out the worlds amphibians: Massive die-off of frogs is leaving a gaping hole in the food chain.)

Overall, I think the main thing we learned from this study is that exposure to light at night has the potential to make amphibians more susceptible to the effects of additional stressors, like road salt and parasites, Shidemantle said regarding the results. This is concerning since these are common stressors that many amphibians have to cope with.

Shidemantle noted that while having lights on at night might not have too much of a negative effect on wildlife by itself, it becomes a problem the moment other environmental stressors such as garbage, parasites and disease come into the picture.

The combination of light pollution with additional stressors may have negative impacts on amphibian populations, Shidemantle added.

According to Shidemantle, a graduate student at SUNY Binghamton, she is now considering looking at how light pollution impacts other organisms in wetland ecosystems that amphibians such as frogs, newts, toads and salamanders might possibly interact with, citing examples such as damselfly larvae, which are known to prey on tadpoles.

Are amphibians dying out?

The SUNY Binghamton research is the latest in a series of studies investigating the current decline in the number of amphibians and the factors contributing to it.

According to a study published in the journal Current Biology, an estimated 2,000 amphibian species are in danger of extinction. This includes noted species such as the Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus), the Santander poison frog (Andinobates virolinensis), the golden poison frog (Phyllobates terribilis) and the Alabama waterdog (Necturus alabamensis).

The cause of the decline, according to experts, is a deadly cocktail of habitat destruction from urbanization and farming, deforestation, overcollection for the pet and wildlife trade and the spread of a deadly fungal disease called chytridiomycosis, which has been observed to corrode amphibian flesh.

It is critical to understand how humans impact wildlife so that we can make more responsible decisions about how we proceed with activities such as urbanization and construction, Shidemantle said.

Sources include:

NewsWise.com

ScienceDirect.com

Cell.com
The Lincolnwood board passed the new ordinance without discussion this week, though at an October meeting, Police Chief Jason Parrott had addressed health risks associated with vaping. Although no single cause has been found behind vaping-related illnesses, the CDC says patients in most cases have reported using products containing tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis.
The three Americans who died while helping to fight the raging Australian wildfires have been identified by their employer following the Thursday crash of their C-130 Hercules bomber.

The three men were identified on Friday as 44-year-old Ian McBeth of Montana, Paul Clyde Hudson, 42, of Arizona and Rick DeMorgan Jr, 43, of Florida.

New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian has confirmed that the three men died after their plane went down in the states Snowy Monaro region, which is one of many areas impacted by the unprecedented fire season that has raged since late last year.

All three men were veterans of the US military who had been brought to Australia to help fight those fires by their employer, the Portland, Oregon, company Coulson Aviation USA.

McBeth served in both the Montana Air National Guard and the Wyoming Air National Guard. Hudson was a veteran of the Marine Corps and a graduate of the US Naval Academy. DeMorgan had served 18 years in the US Air Force.

Rick DeMorgan (Coulson Aviation USA)

Paul Hudson (Coulson Aviation USA)

Ian McBeth (Coulson Aviation USA)

In pictures: Australia wildfires continue to cause chaos Show all 23 1 /23 In pictures: Australia wildfires continue to cause chaos In pictures: Australia wildfires continue to cause chaos australia-fire-11.jpg EPA In pictures: Australia wildfires continue to cause chaos Australia-bushfires.jpg EPA In pictures: Australia wildfires continue to cause chaos australia-fire-9.jpg EPA In pictures: Australia wildfires continue to cause chaos australia-fire-8.jpg EPA In pictures: Australia wildfires continue to cause chaos australia-fire-7.jpg EPA In pictures: Australia wildfires continue to cause chaos Sydney-bushfire-2.jpg Getty Images In pictures: Australia wildfires continue to cause chaos Sydney-bushfire-1.jpg Getty Images In pictures: Australia wildfires continue to cause chaos Sydney-bushfire-7.jpg Getty Images In pictures: Australia wildfires continue to cause chaos Sydney-bushfire-6.jpg Getty Images In pictures: Australia wildfires continue to cause chaos Sydney-bushfire-5.jpg Getty Images In pictures: Australia wildfires continue to cause chaos Sydney-bushfire-4.jpg Getty Images In pictures: Australia wildfires continue to cause chaos Sydney-bushfire-3.jpg Getty Images In pictures: Australia wildfires continue to cause chaos australia-fire-13.jpg EPA In pictures: Australia wildfires continue to cause chaos australia-fire-12.jpg EPA In pictures: Australia wildfires continue to cause chaos australia-fire-10.jpg EPA In pictures: Australia wildfires continue to cause chaos australia-fire-5.jpg Getty Images In pictures: Australia wildfires continue to cause chaos australia-fire-4.jpg EPA In pictures: Australia wildfires continue to cause chaos australia-fire-3.jpg EPA In pictures: Australia wildfires continue to cause chaos australia-fire-14.jpg EPA In pictures: Australia wildfires continue to cause chaos australia-fire-6.jpg Reuters In pictures: Australia wildfires continue to cause chaos australia-fire-15.jpg Reuters In pictures: Australia wildfires continue to cause chaos australia-fire-1.jpg Reuters In pictures: Australia wildfires continue to cause chaos australia-fire-2.jpg Getty Images

Right now, our hearts are with the crew's family and friends and our Coulson Family suffering in the loss of these three remarkable and well-respected crewmembers, the company said in a Facebook post.

Their deaths have been mourned by top US officials, including vice president Mike Pence and US ambassador to Australia Arthur Culvahouse.

Mr Pence wrote out condolences to the family on Twitter, while Mr Culvahouse wrote his message of mourning in a statement. The brave Americans who died near Snowy Monaro died helping Australia in its time of need, he wrote.

Martha McSally, a Republican senator from Arizona and first female fighter pilot to serve in combat for the United States, also weighed in to mourn Hudson, writing on Twitter: "AZ tragically lost First Officer Paul Clyde Hudson yesterday. A 20-year Marine veteran, Hudson died protecting others. Praying for his family and friends today."

"Devastated to learn that Montana Air National Guardsman Ian McBeth was killed fighting fires in Australia," wrote senator Jon Tester, a Democrat from Montana, on Twitter. "Sharla and I are thinking of his family and are so grateful to the folks who put themselves in harm's way at home and halfway across the world."

McBeth is survived by his wife and three children, Hudson is survived by his wife and DeMorgan is survived by two children, according to the company.
Kentucky Power on Thursday was named one of the Best Places to Work in Kentucky for 2020.

Kentucky Power, based in Ashland, is among 31 businesses in the large category to receive the honor in the 16th annual list. Rankings of all 100 companies will be revealed at an awards dinner on April 23 in Lexington.

"We are excited to be recognized as one of Kentucky's Best Places to Work," said Kentucky Power President Brett Mattison. "This honor demonstrates to our customers that Kentucky Power cares not only about the communities we serve, but also our employees."

Best Places to Work in Kentucky is a survey and awards program that identifies and recognizes the best employers in Kentucky. The Kentucky Society for Human Resource Management (KYSHRM) and the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce host the initiative that supports workplace excellence and moving Kentucky forward.

Winning businesses from across the state were selected in three categories: small, medium and large. The selection process, managed by Best Companies Group, is based on an assessment of the company's employee policies and procedures and the results of an internal employee survey.

The competition is a multi-year initiative designed to motivate companies in the Commonwealth to focus, measure and move their workplace environments toward excellence. Many studies show a strong correlation between profitability and creating good places to work.

Kentucky Power employs about 400 workers at operations in Ashland, Hazard, Frankfort, Louisa, Paintsville, Pikeville and Whitesburg. The utility provides electric service to approximately 165,000 customers in 20 eastern Kentucky counties, including Boyd, Breathitt, Carter, Clay, Elliott, Floyd, Greenup, Johnson, Knott, Lawrence, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Magoffin, Martin, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Pike and Rowan.

Kentucky Power is an operating company in the American Electric Power system, one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity and custom energy solutions to 5.4 million regulated customers in 11 states. AEP also owns the nation's largest electricity transmission system. AEP's headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio.

For more details about Best Places to Work in Kentucky, visit www.bestplacestoworkky.com.
Photo: The Eagle/Yelp

Craving traditional American food?

Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top traditional American spots around Indianapolis, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to fulfill your urges.

Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions.

1. Smee's Place Bar & Grill

photo: vinita s./yelp

First on the list is Smee's Place Bar & Grill. Located at 1454 W. 86th St. in St Vincent-Greenbriar, the wine bar and traditional American spot is the highest-rated traditional American restaurant in Indianapolis, boasting four stars out of 107 reviews on Yelp.

2. The Eagle

Photo: The eagle/Yelp

Next up is downtown's The Eagle, situated at 310 Massachusetts Ave. With 4.5 stars out of 1,830 reviews on Yelp, the traditional American and Southern spot has proven to be a local favorite.

3. Tick Tock Lounge

photo: wes n./yelp

Near Eastside's Tick Tock Lounge, located at 2602 E. 10th St., is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the lounge and traditional American joint, which offers beer, wine, spirits and more, 4.5 stars out of 124 reviews.

4. Big Lug Canteen

Photo: james n./yelp

Over in Nora-Far Northside, check out Big Lug Canteen, which has earned 4.5 stars out of 401 reviews on Yelp. You can find the brewery and traditional American eatery at 1435 E. 86th St.

5. Krueger's Tavern

And then there's Krueger's Tavern, a downtown favorite with 4.5 stars out of 296 reviews. Stop by 323 N. Delaware St. to hit up the bar and traditional American spot, which offers burgers and more, next time you're in the mood.

Deciding when to check out the top spots above? Fridays tend to be the busiest days of the week for consumer spending at restaurants across the Indianapolis area, while Mondays are least busy, according to data on local business transactions from Womply, a provider of small business software for online reviews management. Last year, average daily transactions at restaurants grew to 59 per business on Fridays, compared to 42 daily transactions on average on Mondays.

This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
By Rasana Gasimova

Azerbaijan has increased the volume of gas products exports to Georgia

The Azerbaijani State Oil Companys (SOCAR) gas exports to Georgia increased by 11.3 percent year-on-year in 2019 to reach 1 billion 229.7 million cubic meters.

In 2018, SOCAR exported 1 billion 105 million cubic meters to Georgia. In 2019, deliveries amounted to 1 billion 229.7 million cubic meters, which is 11.3 percent higher than the previous year, the Energy Ministry told local media.

In 2019, Georgia also imported 1 billion 176.4 million cubic meters of gas from the Shah Deniz field, which indicates a 6.6 increase compared to 2018.

Thus, Georgia in 2019 received 2 billion 406.1 million cubic meters of gas from Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan is the main supplier of gas to Georgia. Today, Georgia receives natural gas from Azerbaijan through two sources. Georgia supplies the population and thermal power plants with gas purchased from SOCAR. In addition, Georgia receives a transit share for the transportation of Azerbaijani gas to the world market.

SOCAR supplies gas through the Gazimahammad-Gazakh pipeline. In addition, Azerbaijani gas is supplied to Georgia from the Shah-Deniz field via the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipeline.

SOCARs subsidiaries are engaged in expansion and modernization of the countrys gas distribution systems, development of filling stations under SOCARs brand and have an oil terminal in Georgias Kulevi Black Sea Port, which supplies Azerbaijani oil and oil products to the world markets.

SOCAR was the first in Georgia to install stations for charging electric cars. Currently, such charging points are available in six regions of the country.

Currently, 113 gas stations operate under the SOCAR brand in Georgia. The company's share in the retail market is about 16 percent. In 2018, the company sold more than 147 million liters of products at gas stations. SOCAR plans to sell over 160 million liters of oil products at the company's gas stations in Georgia in 2019.

The revenues of SOCAR from operations in Georgia amounted to 1.1 billion manats (5.2 percent down) in 2018.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
New Delhi: A detailed report on whether Pakistan has complied with the action plan prescribed by global anti-terror watchdog FATF to contain terrorism will be discussed extensively during the group's plenary meeting in Paris next month, French diplomatic sources said on Friday.

They said France is determined to continue combating money laundering and terror financing, and will objectively evaluate without any concession Pakistan's actions in containing terrorism.

There was indication that Pakistan may be out of the 'Grey List' of FATF following active backing it received from China as well as tactical support extended by some Western countries during a meeting of FATF's Asia/Pacific chapter in Beijing on Wednesday.

The meeting in Beijing analysed Pakistan's situation from a technical point of view, said the sources.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) had prescribed a time-bound action plan to Pakistan to effectively contain terror networks operating from its soil.

A report on the actions undertaken by Pakistan for implementing its plan of action will be presented in February during the FATF plenary meeting in Paris, they said.

The FATF is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.

In June 2018, the FATF placed Pakistan on its 'Grey List' and was given a plan of action to meet certain targets by October, 2019 or face the risk of being placed on the blacklist along with Iran and North Korea.

In its plenary in October last year, the FATF found that Pakistan complied with only five out of the 27 tasks given to it in controlling funding of terror groups like the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen.

The deadline, then, was extended to February, 2020. The FATF plenary is now expected to carry out a full review of Pakistan's compliance of the actions recommended by the global body.
It impairs your breathing, causes extreme fatigue and fevers. It kills. And beyond that, its keeping oil prices low by threatening to stifle oil demand in one of the worlds largest oil markets.

Its SARS CoV, better known as the SARS Coronavirus, and its shaping up to be the oil markets biggest nemesis this year. And theres no cure.

SARS, which stands for severe acute respiratory syndrome, is not only deadly, but highly contagiousmore contagious than originally thought, and this coronavirus-inspired fear has now decisively spilled over into the oil market.

Perception is Reality

With highly contagious and deadly viruses like the SARS CoV, fear rules the day. Whether its a personal fear that one might catch the virus, or whether one actually catches the virus, the result is that people will stop traveling to some extent.

Even the fear that people may stop traveling is enough to result in an economic slump. Whether one catches the virus or not is irrelevant economically speakingthe mere perception that its a possibility creates ripples in the world economy as people change traveling, purchasing, and trading patterns.

The Oil Markets China Obsession

The oil markets are obsessed with Chinaspecifically Chinas demand for oil.

Oil demand was at the forefront of all the pricing moves throughout 2019. The thought of dampened demand from the worlds second largest oil consumer outweighs even significant geopolitical risk, as well as tangible oil production outages such as the attacks on Saudi Aramco oil facilities in September and Libya's current nearly complete outage of over 1 million barrels per day. Related: The Twin Threats Facing Big Oil

One may look at Chinas oil consumption, at 13.5 million bpd in 2018, as being far below that of the United States, which consumed 20.5 million bpd that same year. So, why all the China fuss? Surely U.S. demand would move markets more than China? But its the oil demand growth that moves prices, and Chinas oil demand growth (and Indias too) is far greater than that of the United States. In fact, Chinas oil demand has been growing at an annual rate of 5.5%, while the United States oil demand has been growing by 0.5%.

And most of what China uses, it imports, adding another layer of market-sway into the mix.

This is what moves markets.

Not even OPEC and its jawbone to herald its oil production-cut prowess can outshine negative news about what is already China's slowing demand growth.

And of all the threats to the oil industry that people were expecting in 2020, no one saw this coming: the virus ripping through China at unprecedented rates is eating into China's oil demand more than anyone could have ever expected.

Travel Disruptions

Every aspect of the economy hits the oil market. But of particular note is the effect the virus could have on travel, which would affect air travel and road travel, impacting jet fuel and gasoline consumption. And with the persistent robust supplies that are loitering on the market today, slack demand couldnt come at a worse time.

All of this at a time when the oil market was hopeful of an increase in demand thanks to the Chinese New Year holiday that typically sees an uptick in travel and gift giving.

Against this perceived and real demand impact, OPEC will be mostly impotent, even with Libyas million-barrel-a-day loss and Saudi Arabias overproduction.

History Repeats Itselfor Worse

SARS CoV could have the same effect on the oil market as the original SARS outbreak back in 2002, which saw the price of oil dip by 20%.

Goldman Sachs said that if it mimics the last virus-induced supply shock, the oil market could see a drop of 260,000 barrels per day in the global oil demand market170,000 bpd of which would be in the form of jet fuel.

This loss, Goldman predicted earlier this week, could see oil prices fall by $2.90 per barrel, but oil prices have already fallen more than $4.50 per barrel over the last few days alone, with the Brent benchmark falling to $61.41 on Thursday from $65.95 on Monday. And this is despite major oil production outages in Libya.

Were Already Seeing the Effects

Already the ramifications of the new virus are taking hold, disrupting everyday life. Related: Hydrogen Costs Could Be Set To Plunge By 50%

In China, movie releases have been pushed back, tourist attractions including the popular Forbidden City are scheduled to shut down this weekend, and people are already cancelling travel plans, according to the New York Times.

The question isnt whether the virus will depress oil demand; rather, the question is how much it will depress oil demand. And its hard to ascertain the true effect, because China isnt necessarily transparent in just how the virus is progressing, with the New York Times suggesting that Beijing is erasing information that doesnt toe the country line.

What we do know is that on Thursday, China officially suspended travel to and from other cities near Wuhanthe origin city.

The travel restrictions will affect tens of millions of people. Flights, trains, buses, subways, ferries, and for-hire cars have also been suspendedall of which will have an immediate effect on fuel consumption.

The death toll of the virus has now climbed to 18, with 600 reportedly infected.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Liberal billionaire George Soros has claimed that Facebook is conspiring to get Donald Trump re-elected and warned of China's growing power.

'Facebook will work together to re-elect Trump, and Trump will work to protect Facebook so that this situation cannot be changed and it makes me very concerned about the outcome for 2020,' the Democrat donor said at the World Economic Forum in Davos Thursday.

Soros offered no evidence for this 'informal mutual assistance operation.' A Facebook spokesman said it is 'just plain wrong.' It comes after Facebook announced earlier this month it would not police political adverts' truthfulness on first amendment grounds.

Soros, 89, claimed that when Trump won the presidency in 2016 it 'turned his narcissism into a malignant disease,' adding that the Chinese were 'exploiting his weakness.'

Liberal billionaire George Soros has claimed that Facebook is conspiring to get Donald Trump re-elected, referring to the president as a 'malignant disease'

The philanthropist accused China's Xi Jinping of using 'artificial intelligence to have total control of his people.'

He said that the presidential election would not just determine Trump's relationship with Xi but also the 'fate of the world.'

Soros' criticism comes after Trump and Xi agreed a 'phase one' trade deal, with China agreeing to increase purchases of US manufacturing, energy and agricultural goods by at least $200billion over the next two years.

However, WEF experts at Davos this week said they were doubtful Beijing and Washington would come to a phase two agreement.

Soros last year at Davos accused Trump of making concessions to China while claiming victory and taking aim at US allies instead of trying to curb Beijing's abuses.

Despite his criticisms of the President, Soros yesterday acknowledged that Trump has 'an instinct of how (the Democrats) are going to respond to his actions.'

He also described the rumbling impeachment trial as 'strictly pro forma,' saying that Republicans would not betray Trump.

The President had told told world leaders on Tuesday to 'reject the environmental prophets of doom' during his keynote address at Davos.

Trump's speech took a swipe at the likes of Greta Thunberg, who Soros praised in his remarks.

Soros also outlined a $1 billion cash injection for a new university network he calls the 'most important and most enduring project of my life.'

'And I would like to see it realized while I am still around,' he told journalists on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

President Donald Trump told told world leaders on Tuesday to 'reject the environmental prophets of doom' during his keynote address at Davos

The philanthropist who made his billions in the markets said the Open Society University Network (OSUN) would pull together higher-education networks worldwide with 'in-person and online discussions' - and will look for partners.

The network will be built around Soros' Central European University and Bard College, north of New York City.

'To demonstrate our commitment to OSUN, we are contributing $1 billion to it,' he said. 'But we can't build a global network on our own; we will need partner institutions and supporters from all around the world to join us in this enterprise.'

'I consider OSUN the most important and enduring project of my life and I should like to see it implemented while I am still around,' Soros said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday pledged increased support to the Turkish coast guard, in an effort to help decrease refugee flows to Europe.

At a news conference alongside Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Merkel also said bilateral cooperation would be strengthened to try to stop illegal trafficking into Europe.

The number of migrants entering Europe from Turkey rose significantly last year as people fleeing conflict in Syria and Afghanistan arrived in Greece, leading to deteriorating conditions in overcrowded camps on the eastern Aegean islands.

Spearheaded by Germany, the EU agreed in 2016 to grant Turkey up to 6 billion euros (6.6 billion US dollars) in Syrian refugee aid money and other incentives to persuade the government in Ankara to stop migrants departing for Greece.

Erdogan frequently accuses the EU of not fulfilling its side of the deal and has in the past threatened to "open the gates" for migrants to head to Europe, saying his country cannot be expected to shoulder the burden of hosting millions of people.

Merkel also commented on the situation in Libya, after a peace conference hosted by Germany last Sunday resulted in a tentative truce between the Northern African country's warring authorities.

Merkel described the current cease-fire as "fragile" and stressed Germany backs the United Nations in its effort to achieve a permanent truce.
Bahrains Dr Ebtisam Al Alawi, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon and National Coordinator for the Prevention of Blindness, has won the first edition of the Arab Physician Award, granted by the Arab Health Ministers Council, becoming the first Bahraini to have won such a prestigious honouring.

The Arab Health Ministers Councils Arab Physician Award Committee announced the first three winners, with Bahrain at the top, followed by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

Dr Al Alawi, who was selected among five top Arab physicians, will be honoured during the 53rd Arab Health Ministers Councils session due to be held on February 26-27, under the chairmanship of Bahrains Minister of Health.

On the occasion, Health Minister, Faeqa Al Saleh, expressed deep pride in the distinguished achievement attained by Bahrain thanks to the dedication of Bahraini medical competencies, represented by Dr Al Alawi.

She stressed that the top award adds to Bahrains rich record of successes in the health sector attained thanks to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifas directives and the constant support of the government.

Dr Ebtisam Al Alawi deserved the award for her great contribution to the field of ophthalmology, role as a National Coordinator for the Prevention of Blindness and contributions to the World Health Organisation (WHO)s scientific and medical research and journals.
JUNEAU, Alaska - The Alaska Department of Corrections is not moving forward with a proposal to have inmates housed out of state, Commissioner Nancy Dahlstrom said Thursday.

In October, the department announced it planned to seek bids for the proposal, which Dahlstrom at that time said was the best way to address immediate growth in the prison population. But the idea also raised concerns among legislators.

In a statement Thursday, Dahlstrom said that from the beginning, the plan to seek bids was only one tool being considered. In-state options have instead been found to address the immediate burden on our system, she said.

The department now will work to implement a pilot program to house inmates with one year or less remaining on their sentence at a dedicated re-entry community residential centre. The department also will begin work on life and safety projects at the mothballed Palmer Correctional Center, according to a department release.
Sean Stewart and his music icon dad Rod Stewart were recently charged with simple battery after an alleged New Year's Eve brawl.

But Sean doesn't seem to have a care in the world after he and dad pleaded not guilty on Tuesday.

He kept a low profile in a blue hoodie as he stepped out for lunch Friday with an unidentified woman in Beverly Hills.

Low profile: Sean Stewart kept a low profile in a blue hoodie as he stepped out for lunch Friday with an unidentified woman in Beverly Hills

The 39-year-old paired the Patriots Super Bowl hoodie with black gym shorts and matching Nike trainers.

He and his date both kept their hoods up over their heads as they arrived at Beverly Glen Deli.

Sean and Rod, 75, have been accused of attacking Jesse Dixon, a security guard in Florida.

Casual Friday: The 39-year-old paired the Patriots Super Bowl hoodie with black gym shorts and matching Nike trainers

Lunch date: He and his date both kept their hoods up over their heads as they arrived at Beverly Glen Deli

It apparently went down on December 31 at around 11pm, after the father and son were denied entry to a party at The Breakers Resort in Palm Beach.

Dixon alleged that after they refused to leave at his request, Sean got 'about nose to nose' with him.

After trying to diffuse the situation, he claimed that Sean shoved him backward, before Rod punched him in the rib cage.

Stepping out: Sean later enjoyed dinner with an attractive mystery woman in Beverly Hills

Chat: The duo were seen talking closely as they left the restaurant

Chilled: The pretty brunette donned a casual ensemble consisting of a blue jumper, jeans and black boots

Local police reviewed security footage, which reportedly show Sean and Rod as the primary aggressors.

According to Radar Online, the police said: 'The group was standing in close proximity to each other when Sean Stewart forcefully pushed [the security guard] backward a few feet.

'As [guard] regained his footing and stepped backward toward Sean Stewart, Rod Stewart stepped forward and struck [security guard] in chest with a closed fist.'
Google is set to host its annual I/O developer conference between May 12 -14. The big event will take place at Shoreline Amphitheatre located near Googles HQ in Mountain View, California. Google CEO Sundar Pichai also confirmed the date and location in a tweet.

Cosmos aligned. We'll be back at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View for this year's #GoogleIO on May 12-14! pic.twitter.com/3bZqriaoi1  Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) January 24, 2020

Last years Google I/O brought us the first budget Pixels with the 3a duo alongside the Nest Hub Max and plenty of Android software features, including a beta for Android 10. Naturally, we expect a similar set of announcements at this years event with the rumored Pixel 4a making its entrance alongside an Android 11 beta. We should also see plenty of other software developments and potentially some other Google-branded hardware.
UK households are wasting 4.5m tonnes of food that could be eaten ever year, new figures show.

The Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP)  an organisation that works with businesses and organisations to reduce food waste and curb plastic use  has published its latest report, which has been tracking progress in food waste reduction since 2007.

According to the report, titled Courtauld Commitment 2025, the UK is making significant steps in reducing food waste, with total levels falling by 480,000 tonnes between 2015 and 2018, the equivalent of seven per cent per person.

Similarly, the volume of food waste generated in the retail supply chain, the hospitality sector, and in homes stood at 9.5m tonnes in 2018, down from 10m tonnes in 2015 and 11.2m in 2007.

Wrap suggested the decline could be linked to a number of factors including heightened public awareness, clearer labelling on food packaging and more local authorities offering food waste collections.

Environment news in pictures Show all 8 1 /8 Environment news in pictures Environment news in pictures Davos 2019: David Attenborough issues stark warning about future of civilisation as he demands practical solutions to combat climate change Sir David Attenborough has issued a stark warning about climate change to business figures gathered in Davos, telling them that "what we do now...will profoundly affect the next few thousand years". On the eve of this year's World Economic Forum, the renowned naturalist told the audience that the worlds of business and politics should "get on with the practical solutions" needed to prevent environmental damage. "As a species we are expert problem solvers. But we've not yet applied ourselves to this problem with the focus it requires. "We can create a world with clean air and water, unlimited energy, and fish stocks that will sustain us well into the future. But to do that, we need a plan," he said. The broadcaster made his speech after receiving a Crystal Award, which is awarded by the forum to "exceptional cultural leaders". AFP/Getty Environment news in pictures At least 60% of wild coffee species face extinction triggered by climate change and disease Two decades of research have revealed that 60 per cent of the worlds coffee species face extinction due to the combined threats of deforestation, disease and climate change. The wild strain of arabica, the most widely consumed coffee on the planet, is among those now recognised as endangered, raising concerns about its long-term survival. These results are worrying for the millions of farmers around the world who depend on the continued survival of coffee for their livelihoods. As conditions for coffee farming become tougher, scientists predict the industry will need to rely on wild varieties to develop more resilient strains Alan Schaller Environment news in pictures Warming Antarctic waters are speeding the rate at which glaciers are melting The Antarctic ice sheet is losing six times as much ice each year as it was in the 1980s and the pace is accelerating, one of the most comprehensive studies of climate change effects on the continent has shown. More than half an inch has been added to global sea levels since 1979, but if current trends continue it will be responsible for metres more in future, the Nasa-funded study found. The international effort used aerial photos, satellite data and climate models dating back to the 1970s across18 Antarctic regions to get the most complete picture to date on the impacts of the changing climate. It found that between 1979 and 1990 Antarctica lost an average of 40 gigatonnes (40 billion tonnes) of its mass each year. Between 2009 and 2017 it lost an average 252 gigatonnes a year. This has added 3.6mm per decade to sea levels, or around 14mm since 1979, the study shows Nasa/Getty Environment news in pictures Greater Manchester to ban fracking, paving way for confrontation with government over controversial industry Greater Manchester is to effectively ban fracking, raising the prospect of fresh confrontation with the government over the controversial industry. All of the regions 10 councils are to implement planning policies which create a presumption against drilling for shale gas in their areas, Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has announced. Campaigners said the move was the latest sign that the tide was turning against fracking, which has been the subject of multiple legal battles across the country. Critics of fracking say it poses environmental and health risks. Drilling at the UKs only operational fracking site, run by Cuadrilla in Lancashire, has repeatedly been halted due to earth tremors. But ministers support the industry and last year unveiled plans to accelerate the development of new drilling sites Ross Wills Environment news in pictures Japan confirms plan to resume commercial whaling in its waters from next year Japan will resume commercial whaling next year for the first time in more than three decades, in a move that has provoked strong criticism from campaigners and the international community. Chief cabinet secretary Yoshihide Suga said his nation would leave the International Whaling Commission (IWC) to resume hunting the marine mammals in Japanese waters. However, he stated the activity would be limited to Japans territory and the 200 mile exclusive economic zone along its coasts. This means controversial scientific trips to Antarctica in which Japanese vessels killed hundreds of whales, as well as activity in the northwest Pacific, will stop in 2019 AP Environment news in pictures COP24: Environmental groups criticise morally unacceptable climate deal reached after major Poland summit Diplomats from around the world have agreed a major climate deal after two weeks of United Nations talks in Poland. But climate campaigners warned the deal  effectively a set of rules for how to govern the 2015 Paris climate accord  agreed between almost 200 countries lacked ambition or a clear promise of enhanced climate action. Activists cautiously welcomed elements of the plan, saying important progress had been made on ensuring that efforts to tackle climate change by individual nations can be measured and compared. But environmental groups were also highly critical of the agreement, warning it lacked ambition and clarity on key issues, including financing for climate projects for developing countries. The COP24 deal, which is aimed at providing firm guidelines for countries on how to transparently report their greenhouse gas emissions and their efforts to reduce them, was confirmed on 15 December, after talks overran Reuters Environment news in pictures Unprecedented changes needed to stop global warming as UN report reveals islands starting to vanish and coral reefs dying Greenhouse gas emissions must be cut almost in half by 2030 to avert global environmental catastrophe, including the total loss of every coral reef, the disappearance of Arctic ice and the destruction of island communities, a landmark UN report has concluded. Drawing on more than 6,000 scientific studies and compiled over two years, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) findings, released this morning, warn enormous and rapid changes to the way everyone on Earth eats, travels and produces energy need to be brought in immediately. Though the scientists behind the report said there is cause for optimism, they recognised the grim reality that nations are currently nowhere near on track to avert disaster AFP/Getty Environment news in pictures Africas three biggest elephant poaching cartels exposed using DNA from illegal ivory shipments DNA taken from massive shipments of ivory has been used to identify the three largest wildlife trafficking gangs operating at the height of Africas elephant poaching epidemic. Ivory tends to be shipped around the world from African ports in bulk, and scientists have used genetic evidence gleaned from intercepted batches to reveal their origins. Led by Dr Samuel Wasser from the University of Washington, they traced a number of these shipments to three cartels operating out of Kenya, Uganda and Togo. Evidence collected by Dr Wasser has already helped convict ivory kingpin Feisal Mohamed Ali, and as his team joins the dots between shipments they plan to shore up the cases against more of the continents most prolific smugglers Art Wolfe

Despite the progress, the report details that UK households are continuing to waste 4.5m tonnes of food annually, which it estimates to be worth 14bn  the equivalent to 700 a year for an average family with children.

WRAP adds that household food waste represents 70 per cent of all food waste triggered after the food has been grown or produced, with potatoes the single most wasted food.

Marcus Gover, chief executive of WRAP, said: We are in a new decade and have just 10 years if we are to honour our international commitment to halve food waste. This really matters because it is untenable that we carry on wasting food on such a monumental scale when we are seeing the visible effects of climate change every day, and when nearly a billion people go hungry every day.

This means we are starting to wake up to the reality of food waste, but we are too often turning a blind eye to what is happening in our homes. We are all thinking about what we can do for the environment and this is one of the most simple and powerful ways we can play our part. By wasting less food, we are helping to tackle the biggest challenges this century  feeding the world while protecting our planet.

Theresa Villiers, environment secretary, said the results were encouraging but that more needed to be done.

I urge all households, individuals and businesses to consider how they can reduce their own food waste footprint to create a better world for generations to come, she said.

The reported also stated that supermarket food waste has risen slightly to 277,000 tonnes in 2018, compared to 260,000 three years earlier.

Wrap suggested the increase could be linked to efforts to help suppliers and customers cut waste, explaining that these can, in the short-term, increase food waste in depots and stores.

Last year, more than 100 UK food businesses and organisations pledged to reduce their food waste following a call to action from the government.

Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Waitrose and Unilever were among the companies that vowed to halve food waste by 2030 in the UK.

Judith Batchelar, director of Sainsburys Brand, described food waste as one of the biggest challenges currently facing todays society, adding that it is an intrinsic part of our combined response to tackle greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

The retailer has already introduced various measures to reduce food waste, such as working with farmers to ensure that the amount of produce they provide is in line with quantities the supermarkets customers will buy.
Salvador Espinoza Escobar, 48, is accused of holding the woman for five years

A North Carolina man has been arrested for allegedly keeping a woman in sexual servitude for five years.

Salvador Espinoza Escobar, 48, was taken into police custody on Wednesday after a tip to the National Human Trafficking Tip Line led officers to him.

It is unclear where he was keeping the woman and police are being tight-lipped on the details to protect her identity.

They say Escobar 'withheld basic needs in exchange for sexual acts' since January 2015.

Escobar is expected in court Friday after being charged with one count of felony human trafficking.

Escobar was being held in the Randolph County Detention Center on a $100,000 secured bond.

It's unclear whether he had an attorney who could comment on his behalf.

Police say there are also previous allegations against him which will now form part of the investigation.

Escobar lives on a suburban road in Asheboro.

It is unclear if the woman was held at his home or somewhere else.
(Bloomberg) -- Attorneys general from nine states urged a federal judge to toss out Googles $13 million settlement of a class-action lawsuit blaming its Street View mapping technology for a massive violation of consumer privacy.

The proposed accord in a debacle that became known as Wi-Spy doesnt offer compensation for millions of people whose confidential data was captured off their Wi-Fi networks by Street View vehicles. Instead, the deal divvies up funds among a handful of privacy rights organizations, a small number of individual consumers who led the case and their lawyers, the state officials said in a court filing.

The lawsuit, filed a decade ago, was once called the biggest U.S. wiretap case ever and threatened the internet giant with billions of dollars in damages. The settlement was reached in July and won preliminary approval in October from U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco, who found it to be likely fair, reasonable, and adequate.

Without receiving any of the $13 million cash fund or any meaningful injunctive relief, class members receive no direct benefit from the settlement, the attorneys general said.

An attorney for the consumers and Googles press office didnt immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

Read More: Why a Dead Kennedys Punk Isnt Buying Googles Privacy Deals

Arizona State Attorney General Mark Brnovich submitted the filing, joined by Alabama, Alaska, Missouri, Ohio, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana and Louisiana. The states plan to urge Breyer to reject the deal at a Feb. 28 final approval hearing in San Francisco.

Google agreed in the settlement to delete all collected data and educate people on how to set up encrypted wireless networks. But the company had already made those promises in a 2013 agreement with 39 attorneys general, according to Mark Brnovichs filing.

Any injunctive relief is illusory, the attorneys general said.

The Street View suit is a rare instance in privacy litigation where consumers gained the upper hand, notably when the U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco in 2013 rejected Googles argument that it was legal to intercept open Wi-Fi networks because they were akin to AM/FM radio transmissions. The courts conclusion that the federal Wiretap Act applied meant that if Google went to trial to fight the allegations and lost, it could be hit with $10,000 in damages for every violation.

Story continues

But in July, the plaintiffs lawyers said the settlement was justified, in part, because there was a risk that they could still lose the case -- and end up with nothing. They also argued that the accord would deter privacy violations and that the funds designated for privacy-oriented groups will help teach future information technology workers to to become safeguards of internet privacy rather than exploiters of personal information communicated over the internet.

The case is In re: Google Inc. Street View Electronic Communications, 3:10-md-02184, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California (San Francisco).

To contact the reporter on this story: Malathi Nayak in San Francisco at mnayak21@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: David Glovin at dglovin@bloomberg.net, Peter Blumberg, Joe Schneider

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
But people have said jazz is dead since Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk had the moldy figs aghast with their audacious bebop in the 1940s. Though there are real questions about whether the term jazz is useful, the music it describes has always been diversifying and regenerating. If anything, streaming technology presents unprecedented opportunities for music makers and fans to learn more about jazzs history, as well as the wide range of artists active today. Its integral to hip-hop (just listen to A Tribe Called Quest or Kendrick Lamar)  now the dominant form of pop music  and vibrant jazz scenes in Los Angeles, Chicago and London speak to a new generation of artists committed to live, local music. Physical album sales are growing incrementally thanks to the vinyl renaissance, and festivals remain generally well attended. In many ways, the music is healthier than its been in decades.
SAUSALITO, Calif., Jan. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Change is imminent in the travel industry: 56 million potential travelers have a disabilityand 2020 is the year to begin showing them they are important to you. "A generation of Baby Boomers who refuse to accept age as a barrier will create a new category of products, disrupt the transportation industry and more," says Jake Steinman, founder and CEO of TravelAbility Summit. "If we're accessible for people who are disabled today, we'll all be accessible for the 75 million Baby Boomers who will be aging into a disability tomorrow."

Here are a few of the predictions.

More airports leading the way in technology and training for aging travelers as well as those with hidden disabilities. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport now offers lanyards to those on the autism spectrum that allow them to pre-board flights and 17 airports participate in the ARC's Wings for Autism initiative. Meanwhile, a self-driving wheelchair initiative has been launched at Tokyo's Narita Airport. Incidences of "parking-shaming" rising. Already a common occurrence, wheelchair users have become vocal when they find spaces occupied by drivers with questionable handicap permits. There's even an app for that. See more here. An increase in "drive-by" ADA compliance lawsuits around accessible websites. The increase in lawsuits over web accessibility will be driven by the precedent set by the 2019 Domino's Pizza case.

For the full report on the Top 20 Accessible Travel Predictions to Get Ahead In 2020, click here.

About TravelAbility Summit: The 2nd Annual TravelAbility Summit, the only tourism industry conference that focuses on finding solutions to make travel easier for people with a disability, will be held October 12-14, 2020 at the Omni Orlando Resort at Championsgate. #accessibletravel2020

Contact: Jake Steinman, (415) 339-0578 [email protected]

Or Tricia Roth [email protected]

SOURCE TravelAbility Summit
The rapidly spreading novel Coronavirus has killed 25 people and sickened at least 830 people across China, the latest official statement said on Friday morning as millions in the country in five cities have been put under lockdown in an attempt to control the outbreak.

As many 24 deaths have been reported from the central Chinese province of Hubei; one has been reported from Hebei, a province bordering Beijing. Another 177 people elsewhere in the country are critical, the government said.

A second case of the virus was confirmed in Japan on Friday; the male patient, 40, had been living in Wuhan  the epicentre of the outbreak  and had recently visited Tokyo, state media reported.

Also Watch l Preventive measures in place: Kerala Health Minister on coronavirus

The number of cases in Beijing, Chinas sprawling capital with more than 21 million, is now 26 with four more cases reported overnight.

Cases have also been reported from Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan and the United States.

Hours after the lockdown of Wuhan, neighbouring Huanggang, a city of about seven million people, announced similar measures of suspending public transport.

The lockdown of 11 million people is unprecedented in public health history, said Gauden Galea, the WHOs representative in Beijing.

The organisation said, however, that it was not yet recommending any broader restrictions on travel or trade.

Authorities in China fear the transmission rate of the disease  that could be transmitted between humans -- could accelerate as hundreds of millions of Chinese travel at home and abroad during week-long holidays for the Lunar New Year, which begins Saturday.

Experts say the virus causes a fever and, in some cases, difficulty in breathing.

Meanwhile, the WHO has said it considers it is still too early to declare coronavirus as a public health emergency of international concern given its restrictive and binary nature.

It was a bit too early to consider the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, WHO Emergency Committee panel chair Didier Houssin said after the body met in Geneva.

Such a designation would have required countries to step up the international response.

Make no mistake, this is now an emergency in China, but this has not yet become a global health emergency, said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, on Thursday (early Friday China-time) after an emergency meeting of the organisation in Geneva.

It has not yet become a global health emergency. It may yet become one, he said.

We know that this virus can cause severe disease, and that it can kill, although for most people it causes milder symptoms, he said. We know that among those infected, one-quarter of patients have experienced severe disease.

He added that most people who died had underlying health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes or cardiovascular disease that weakened their immune systems.

Declarations of a public health emergency of international concern are relatively rare.

Only five emergencies have been declared in the past decade: the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic, an Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014, a polio outbreak in 2014, the spread of the Zika virus in 2016, and the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Meanwhile, at least 25 students who have returned from colleges in Wuhan to their homes in India are under close watch for symptoms of a deadly new virus that has triggered a global health alarm, officials said on Thursday as authorities around the world stepped up efforts to avert a wider contagion.

Known till now only as the novel coronavirus, the pathogen is believed to have begun spreading to humans from a seafood and fish meat market in Wuhan, a city in central China, which on Thursday became one of five in the country to be put under an unprecedented lockdown.

We are in touch with the Indian embassy in China and getting the details of passengers [travelling from China] on a daily basis. While close to 1,200 students might be studying there (Wuhan) as per our information, so far 25 students who have recently come back to India from the outbreak city have been identified. All of them are being closely monitored. None of the students is symptomatic, said a senior health ministry official who asked not to be named.
DanHenson1/iStock(WASHINGTON) -- A Libyan man was sentenced to more than 19 years in prison on Thursday for his role in the 2012 terrorist attack on two U.S. government facilities in Benghazi that killed four Americans.



Mustafa al-Imam, 47, was captured in Libya in October 2017 and subsequently brought to the United States to face trial in federal court in Washington, D.C. Following a six-week trial last year, al-Imam was convicted by a jury in June of one count of conspiracy to provide material support or resources to terrorists and one count of maliciously destroying and injuring dwellings and property, and placing lives in jeopardy within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States.



However, the jury was deadlocked on more than a dozen other charges, including murder in relation to the deaths of U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other U.S. government personnel.



"We have not rested in our efforts to bring to justice those involved in the terrorist attacks on our facilities in Benghazi, which led to the death of four courageous Americans -- Tyrone Woods, Sean Smith, Glen Doherty and Ambassador Christopher Stevens -- and we never will," John C. Demers, assistant attorney general for national security, said in a statement Thursday. "Those responsible for these crimes must be held accountable."



U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper, who presided over the case, sentenced al-Imam to 19 years and six months in prison, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice. Federal prosecutors, who argued that al-Imam acted as the eyes and ears of the mastermind behind the attacks, had sought the maximum sentence of 35 years.



"Mustafa al-Imam played a significant role in the 2012 Benghazi attack, one that ultimately claimed American lives," William F. Sweeney, Jr., assistant director in charge of the FBI's New York field office, said in a statement Thursday. "While nothing will ever change the outcome of this horrific event, todays sentencing is a reminder that the safety of Americans -- whether at home or abroad, civilian or otherwise -- will always be our top priority. If you commit an act of terrorism, we will find you and bring you to justice."



An attorney for Al-Imam did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment Friday morning.



On the night of Sept. 11, 2012, a group of militants stormed the U.S. Special Mission in Benghazi and set buildings on fire, according to prosecutors, who showed surveillance video from the area at that time. The ambassador, Stevens, and Smith were both killed. Another U.S. government personnel was injured while trying to rescue them, prosecutors said.



Prosecutors allege that al-Imam arrived at the scene shortly after the siege began, accompanying Ahmed Abu Khatallah, the militia leader who orchestrated the attack who was sentenced to 22 years in prison in 2018. Al-Imam allegedly maintained contact with Khatallah in a series of cellphone calls throughout the attack, according to prosecutors, who cited phone records.



Prosecutors allege that al-Imam, Khatallah and other militants later entered the mission's office and took sensitive information, including maps and other documents related to the location of the nearby CIA Annex.



Following the siege on the mission, the militants attacked the CIA Annex in Benghazi, first with gunfire and then with a precision mortar round, leading to the deaths of two more Americans. Two other U.S. personnel were seriously wounded while defending the annex but survived, prosecutors said.



"The tragic loss of four American lives in the Benghazi attacks will never be forgotten and todays sentencing of Mustafa al-Imam is an important reminder of that," Jay Tabb, executive assistant director of the FBIs National Security Branch, said in a statement Thursday. "The FBI is committed to investigate and bring to justice all individuals involved in acts of terrorism against U.S. facilities or citizens and will use the full range of our resources to pursue such cases."



Copyright  2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 17:00:09|Editor: mingmei

Video Player Close

The top of the landmark Empire State Building is lit in red for the Chinese Lunar New Year in New York, the United States, Jan. 23, 2020. The Empire State Building was lit up in red color Thursday night to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year of Rat which falls on Jan. 25 this year. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)
Christina Sherman's commute has gotten considerably shorter since coming to Auburn Community Hospital after several years as a registered nurse at Upstate Cancer Center in Syracuse.

But her short drive from Sennett wasn't the primary reason she jumped at the chance to come to ACH. It was the opportunity to make the drive easier for Auburn-area residents going through chemotherapy.

Next week, Sherman will get to welcome the first patients as the director of cancer services at the new Upstate Cancer Center at Auburn Community Hospital. For the first time, ACH will be offering comprehensive outpatient medical oncology services, the result of an investment of more than $1 million in redeveloping space at the Auburn campus and a partnership with Upstate University Hospital's nationally recognized cancer center.

In an interview Wednesday, as she and her colleagues were busy moving equipment into the refurbished space on the hospital's first floor, Sherman talked about the anguish she's seen in patients who have had to endure long rides to and from treatment in Syracuse.

"When you don't feel good, that's the last thing you want to do," she said.

Cancer center An artistic rending shows the waiting area at the new Upstate Cancer Center at Auburn Communit Hospital.

Sherman will be part of a team that includes ACH nursing and registration staff, working with a group of cancer doctors from Upstate. The two hospitals entered into a professional services agreement to bring the cancer treatment center in Auburn to fruition.

The project has been in development for about two years, and has included a thorough review process by the state Department of Health. In a certificate of need application the hospital filed with the state last year, officials cited statistics showing the demand for the cancer center in Auburn.

"Data review has demonstrated that cancer is the leading cause of premature death in Cayuga County," the hospital wrote in a project summary. "Additionally, fully 80% of residents in our area have to travel greater than 25 miles for Medical Oncology services."

The health department gave preliminary approval to the project last fall, and in November, the city issued a building permit to allow for the reconstruction of about 2,700-square-feet of space. The official opening is expected on Wednesday.

More information To learn more about the Upstate Cancer Center at Auburn Community Hospital, call (315) 253-1818 or visit auburnhospital.org/cancercare.

Leading the group of oncology physicians who will be seeing patients at ACH is Dr. David Duggan, a Skaneateles resident with ties to Cayuga County. Duggan's father was a Moravia native, and his aunt lived for many years on Cady Street in Auburn, not far from the hospital. Like Sherman, Duggan knows how patients who have been going to Syracuse for treatment feel about the chance to get care in Auburn.

"They can't wait for this to happen," he said on Thursday.

ACH President and CEO Scott Berlucchi called the new cancer center "one of the most significant services we will provide to our community in the history of Auburn Community Hospital.

He also remarked on the need for locally based cancer treatment in the community. "The challenges with being diagnosed with ... and treated for cancer are incredibly difficult. But when you have to add in the logistics of driving to Syracuse and receiving treatment and then having to drive back to Cayuga County, it makes the treatment plan even more challenging."

The new cancer center is starting with medical oncology and hematology services, but there are plans for future phases of the project that would incorporate additional treatment options, including radiation oncology.

ACH also is emphasizing the quality that Upstate Cancer Center brings to the operation. Upstate is ranked in the top 20% of cancer care programs nationally by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, is the only program accredited by that organization in central New York and is also among 1% percent that organization's accredited cancer programs earn four straight Outstanding Achievement Awards.

Patients at the new center will be considered patients of ACH, so billing will be handled locally. At the same time, they can easily be referred to Upstate Cancer Center in Syracuse and they will have the same level of case review as patients getting oncology treatment in Syracuse.

Jeremy Boyer can be reached at (315) 282-2231 or jeremy.boyer@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @CitizenBoyer

Love 22 Funny 2 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 11

Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 12:44:31|Editor: ZD

Video Player Close

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday said he would unveil the long-awaited Middle East peace plan before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington on next Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he would release the plan before his meeting with Netanyahu. "Sometime prior to that," Trump said. "Probably we'll release it a little bit prior to that."

Trump also said Palestinians might react negatively to the plan at first, but that "it's actually very positive for them."

The White House earlier in the day said Netanyahu's visit "is an opportunity to discuss our shared regional and national security interests."

Benjamin Gantz, chairman of Israeli political alliance Blue and White and elections rival of Netanyahu, also accepted Trump's invitation to come to Washington, according to the White House.

U.S. media reported that the long-awaited Middle East peace plan might be a political boost for Trump and Netanyahu, both of whom currently underwent political turmoil at home.

Trump has postponed several times the publication of his "Deal of the Century" for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. The economic portion of Trump's peace plan was unveiled during a U.S.-led conference in Bahrain last June, a convention boycotted by the Palestinians.

The Trump administration has reversed decades of U.S. policy regarding the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Political ties between Palestine and the United States have been severed right after Trump declared Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in 2017 and moved the U.S. embassy to the city in 2018.

In November 2019, Washington announced that it would no longer consider Israel's West Bank settlements "inconsistent" with international law, a move which further dimmed the future of the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
A team of nine researchers based in the United States and Burkina Faso will receive the 2019 Newcomb Cleveland Prize, presented by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, for the development of a promising tool in the global fight against malaria and other diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, including dengue and Zika.

Each year since 1923, the Newcomb Cleveland Prize has honored the most impactful research paper published in the journal Science. In this year's winning paper, the authors described how they engineered a fungus to infect mosquitoes that had grown immune to insecticides, inducing rapid population collapse in a simulated village setting.

Every two minutes, a child dies of malaria. In 2018, the World Health Organization reported 228 million cases of malaria and more than 400,000 deaths from the disease worldwide, with 93% of cases and 94% of deaths occurring in Africa. Burkina Faso, a country of just under 20 million people, recorded nearly 8 million cases that year.

These grim figures, however, represent a significant improvement. Since 2010, malaria cases and deaths have decreased by 18% and 28% respectively, largely due to DDT, pyrethroids and other insecticides being applied to bed nets and living spaces. With mosquito populations increasingly developing resistance to insecticides, though, vulnerable communities are in urgent need of new approaches.

A team led by Brian Lovett, then a Ph.D. candidate in the University of Maryland's entomology department, and Etienne Bilgo, a postdoctoral fellow in biomedical sciences at the Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Sante/Centre Muraz in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, developed one such method. By genetically engineering a naturally occurring fungal pathogen to produce a toxin derived from spider venom, they were able to deliver a lethal blow to mosquitoes.

In the researchers' MosquitoSphere, a screen-enclosed experimental environment near a rural village in Burkina Faso, the toxin, which is harmless to humans, killed roughly 75% of insecticide-resistant mosquitoes and caused an established population to collapse within 45 days. These results from the MosquitoSphere, which the team built to mimic the natural environment -- with appropriate vegetation, breeding sites and blood sources for mosquitoes -- are an important step toward epidemiological field studies of the technology.

The study is one of extraordinary scope and creativity. Not only is it a highly clever idea to use a fungus to transmit insect-selective toxins, but the breadth of the study, from engineering the fungus all the way through demonstrating the viability of the approach, is superb and meets all of our highest standards." Holden Thorp, editor-in-chief of Science and chair of the Newcomb Cleveland Prize Selection Committee

Established with funds donated by Newcomb Cleveland of New York City, the AAAS Newcomb Cleveland Prize recognizes the author or authors of an outstanding paper published in the Research Articles or Reports sections of Science. Stephen P. A. Fodor, who received the prize in 1992, established an endowment in 2019 to help sustain it in perpetuity.

Papers published between June 2018 and May 2019 were eligible for this year's award. Along with a medal and $25,000 in prize money, the winners receive complimentary registration and reimbursed travel expenses to attend the AAAS Annual Meeting.

The authors of the winning paper, "Transgenic Metarhizium rapidly kills mosquitoes in a malaria-endemic region of Burkina Faso," published in the May 31, 2019, issue of Science, will receive the award during the 186th AAAS Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 13, 2019.
Just focusing on urban seats wont get Democrats to a Senate majority, however. Theyll need to pick up eastern North Carolina seats such as District 11, spanning Nash and Johnston counties, and District 1 in the northeastern corner of the state.

Similarly, to reach a North Carolina House majority, Democrats will certainly have to defend their 2018 gains in Wake and Mecklenburg and pick up other urban seats in Guilford, Cumberland and Pitt. But theyll also need to win seats such as Alamance Countys District 63 and avoid losing seats in places such as the Sandhills (House Districts 47 and 66) and the High Country (District 93).

As for statewide races, every vote counts the same regardless of where the voter resides. Yes, there are fewer true swing voters than there used to be in North Carolina  they can be counted in the single digits today rather than the 15% to 20% of the electorate that once fit that definition. Swing voters also reside disproportionately in suburban neighborhoods of urban and commuter counties.
NEW DELHI: With opinion polls and reports indicating that the Aam Aadmi Party led by Arvind Kejriwal has an edge in the forthcoming Delhi polls, the BJP has fallen back on its nationalist plank to consolidate the Hindu vote bank. The top leaders of the party ranging from home minister Amit Shah to information and broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar have begun evoking Pakistan to woo the voters. The saffron camp is trying to project that the Delhi elections was actually a contest between India and Pakistan.

On Friday, Mr Javdekar, also BJPs election in-charge for Delhi, speaking to the media said that the voters in the national capital need to decide on whether they want Jinnah wali azadi or Bharat Mata ki jai. On Thursday, the home minister said that Mr Kejriwal, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan speak the same language.

Referring to Shaheen Baghs anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests, Mr Javedkar said : We have seen Jinnah Wali Azadi slogan being raised there. Now, Delhi people need to decide if they want Jinnah Wali Azadi or Bharat Mata ki Jai.

The Union minister blamed the AAP and the Congress for instigating violent protests against the CAA in the national capital. Delhi people should ask both the parties why did they instigate violence? The nexus of AAP and Congress is behind the Shaheen Bagh protest. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has supported the protest. Mr Kejriwal sympathises with people raising Jinnah Wali Azadi slogans, he said.
The Papyrus chain of art-inspired gift cards and fancy paper products will shut down after failing to find a buyer to rescue the company and its sister stores, American Greetings and Carlton Cards, which has 79 stores in Canada.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/1/2020 (719 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Papyrus chain of art-inspired gift cards and fancy paper products will shut down after failing to find a buyer to rescue the company and its sister stores, American Greetings and Carlton Cards, which has 79 stores in Canada.

Most of the 254 closings will take place over the next four to six weeks, said Dominique Schurman, CEO of Papyrus parent company Schurman Retail Group.

Founded by Marcel and Margrit Schurman in 1950, Goodlettsville, Tenn.-based Schurman has about 1,200 employees at its stores.

"Despite our Herculean efforts to realign our Papyrus and American Greetings stores to fit todays shopping environment, Schurman Retail Group had to make the difficult decision to close all 254 of our stores in North America," Schurman said in a statement.

American Greetings is the parent company of its Canadian subsidiary Carlton Cards, which has three stores in Winnipeg.

Many North Americans gave up cards in favour of digital alternatives, or they send fewer cards between major holidays such as Christmas and Valentines Day, analysts said.

Major retailers, including Shoppers Drug Mart and Walmart, have cut back or considered cutting back on shelf space for greeting cards, and card companies have closed hundreds of locations.

Retail space occupied by greeting card stores declined by more than 27 per cent from 2013 to 2018, according to real estate data firm CoStar Group.

There are encouraging signs in some parts of the industry, including premium cards that cost more than $10, budget cards that cost less than $1 and personalized options.

Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Americans bought about 6.5 billion greeting cards in 2019, according to the Greeting Card Association.

American Greetings sold some of its retail stores to Schurman Retail Group years ago. The greeting cards brand makes Papyrus and Carlton Cards for Schurman Retail Group, spokesperson Patrice Molnar said.

American Greetings "supplies and sells Papyrus greeting cards and other Papyrus-branded products" to more than 300 other retailers throughout the USA and Canada. Those sales will continue "without any interruption," Molnar said.

Carlton and Papyrus products will still be available in thousands of Canadian retailers including Shoppers Drug Mart, London Drugs, Chapters and Indigo.

On Wednesday, the Papyrus website was advertising "Everything on Sale" at 20 to 40 per cent off, and all sales were final.

 USA Today
One was a complaint that his microphone did not work during the first debate at Hofstra University in New York. Initially, his criticism was dismissed but later commission officials said that the sound level in the debate hall was affected by technical issues related to the microphone. At no time was the audio feed that went out to the national television audience affected, but Trump was still unhappy with what he regarded as mistreatment.
U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, is returning her focus to improving health care after navigating a prominent role in impeachment and tensions with Iran.

Like many freshmen Democrats who joined Congress in 2018, Slotkin placed bringing down the cost of health care at the center of her campaign. House Democrats passed several bills meant to deliver on that promise in 2019, but Slotkin was pulled into the national spotlight for supporting an inquiry that resulted in President Donald Trumps impeachment and led the debate on the his war powers weeks later.

John Sellek, CEO of Harbor Strategic Public Affairs and a veteran Republican campaign strategist, said Slotkins steady style and policy chops stood out in a year that put more attention on flashier personalities like U.S. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, D-N.Y., and Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit. Sellek said Slotkin clearly articulated how her positions on impeachment and Iran were shaped by experiences in the CIA and Pentagon, which gave her more credibility than the average freshman Democrat.

Sellek said Slotkins attempts to keep the conversation on prescription drugs were completely swallowed up by national issues, and the presidential election. It will probably happen in 2020 as well, he said.

As the U.S. Senate takes up Trumps impeachment trial and tensions with Iran simmer down, Slotkin is hopeful the House can move beyond political battles which defined the last few months. She scheduled a series of constituent events focused on health care throughout the 8th District this week.

Slotkin has said the single most common question she hears while speaking to constituents involves health care costs. People will pull her aside at the grocery store to talk about the rising price of insulin and other prescription drugs, she said.

The issue is also personal; the death of Slotkins mother from ovarian cancer was one of the main reasons she decided to run for Congress in 2018.

Slotkins celebrated some legislative successes in her first year.

Her drug price transparency bill was incorporated into a bipartisan Senate drug pricing package. Another Slotkin bill requiring vision coverage for Medicare beneficiaries was added to Lower Drug Costs Now Act, a package of legislation passed by the House that allows Medicare to negotiate directly with drug companies to bring down prices.

However, it could be challenging for Congress to enact substantive legislation in what will likely be a divisive election year. The Republican-led Senate has also proven to be a barrier for hundreds of bills coming from the Democratic majority House.

In the heat of the months on impeachment, when the news media was focused exclusively on hearings and the inquiry, is when passed some of my most important and substantial bills, Slotkin said in January. I still have hope, even in the election year, that (because) theres so much public pressure to do something about lowering the cost of prescription drugs it can be a win-win for both Democrats and Republicans.

Slotkin raised eyebrows after flipping Michigans traditionally Republican 8th District in 2018, becoming the first Democrat to represent the area since it was redrawn in 2011. The district also voted for Trump in 2016. Now, Slotkin is facing several GOP challengers who argue her decision to impeach the president will cause voters to deny her a second term.

This was not a fire-breathing conservative district overall, but its one that elected mainstream Republicans for a couple of decades, Sellek said.

Slotkin had dismissed the idea of supporting various impeachment attempts throughout much of 2019. Sellek said Slotkin showed discipline by not getting involved in the daily brawls that were going on in daily news, but instead focusing on her legislative priorities.

That changed when a whistleblower complaint revealed details of a phone call between Trump and the president of Ukraine.

Slotkin joined six other members of Congress with national security backgrounds in writing an op-ed that called for a formal impeachment inquiry based on the whistleblower complaint. Months later, she announced her decision to support impeachment in front of constituents in Rochester.

Angry Trump supporters attempted to shout Slotkin down at the packed meeting. Slotkin pushed ahead, explaining her choice was "an issue of principle -- she said Trump sought Ukrainian interference in the 2020 election, which represented a threat to national security and democratic elections.

Im sorry if other people decide they only want to stand in front of people who agree with them, but thats never going to happen in the 8th District, Slotkin said. Theres always going to be a debate about any big headline issue. I certainly knew that decisions related to impeachment were going to be controversial, but that meant I did more public appearances, not less."

Abby Clark, president of progressive political communications firm Athena Strategies, said Democrats should take note of Slotkins approach to dealing with controversial decisions.

People will respect you, even if they disagree with you, if you seem to have convictions and explain why you disagree with them, she said. She knows that a lot of people are going to disagree with her on impeachment. I think a lot of those people will vote for her anyway.

Slotkin recorded her historic vote while acknowledging it could end her political career. She had told reporters several times impeachment was the last thing she wanted to be working on in her first term.

I do not think her plan ever was going to be a leader in the impeachment fight, Sellek said. The impeachment fight took her way off track from what she was trying to accomplish in her district."

Meanwhile, preventing a war with Iran was an issue Slotkin had tried to be a leader on. Slotkin supported legislation clarifying that Congress did not authorize military force against Iran months before Trump ordered the killing of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassim Soleimani.

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter, joined by Alice Wells, U.S. Ambassador to Jordan, right, and Elissa Slotkin, Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, left, meets with Jordanian armed forces at the Jordan Armed Forces General Headquarters in Amman, Wednesday, July 22, 2015, after returning from Jiddah, Saudi Arabia. Carter is on a weeklong tour of the Middle East focused on reassuring allies about Iran and assessing progress in the coalition air campaign against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, Pool)AP

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tapped Slotkin to lead the debate on defining Trumps war strategy. Slotkin drafted a non-binding but symbolic resolution declaring congressional approval is required before Trump can order any further military action against Iran.

Clark said Pelosis decision shows Slotkin has distinguished herself as a standout among the freshmen class of House Democrats.

Slotkin made sure to emphasize on the House floor that she didnt want to tie Trumps hands during an emergency.

I was surprised that the Speaker of the House wanted me to lead on this as a freshman, but she knew that I felt strongly about it and had a background in it, Slotkin said in a January interview. I have a very nuanced view of the issues of war powers and authorization of military force. Im not a lefty liberal when it comes to the use of force."

Slotkin had years of experience studying Soleimani during her time as a former CIA analyst, senior Pentagon official and Shia militia expert. She worked on the ground in Iraq focusing on Iranian-backed militias that Soleimani commanded and said shes seen friends and colleagues killed by Iranian rockets and bombs.

I have been following Soleimani my entire adult life, Slotkin said.

Sellek said it was stunning to see a freshmen Democrat chosen as the face of the debate, but Iranian conflict allowed Slotkin to switch gears from impeachment, which at best is only popular with half her district.

"While she does have the resume to speak up on this, make no mistake: Speaker Pelosi and her Washington team intentionally picked (Slotkin) to help keep her seat in play and to move her way from impeachment and onto what they thought was sounder ground, Sellek said.

Slotkin had pledged not to support the longtime Democratic leader, voting present when Democrats chose Pelosi as the House speaker.

Slotkin said she has more respect for the difficulty of Pelosis position now, but she remains committed to pushing House leadership to seek bipartisan solutions.

We need to have leaders who represent the best parts of what were trying to do and for me, thats defending the middle class, Slotkin said. Thats talking about lowering the cost of prescription drugs and healthcare, and, frankly, reminding everyone that the country only works when we work in a bipartisan fashion.

Read more on MLive:

Slotkin faces heated Trump supporters after backing impeachment

House passes Slotkin resolution limiting Trump military action against Iran

Two House Democrats enter 2020 with big fundraising advantage

Who is running for Congress in 2020? Michigans top races to watch
Clinical trials for a vaccine against the new virus sweeping China could be carried out in the summer, the head of an anti-epidemic coalition said on Thursday, as different companies announced research into the disease. "We can announce that we have three partnerships to develop vaccines against the novel coronavirus," Richard Hatchett, chief executive of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), said in Davos. "Our goal is to have these vaccines developed very rapidly and to move very rapidly to begin clinical trials, perhaps as early as the ...

Dear Reader,

Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.

We, however, have a request.



As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed.



Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard.



Digital Editor
U.S. Democrats continued their case for removing President Donald Trump from office on Thursday (January 23), drilling down on one of two charges against him: abuse of power.

Trump is accused of pressuring Ukraine to investigate his rival Joe Biden.

He says it's because Biden and his son are guilty of corruption in Ukraine

But Democrats on Thursday said Trump had other motives:

Namely: the 2020 presidential race.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. HOUSE IMPEACHMENT MANAGER DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN, SYLVIA GARCIA, SAYING:

"It wasn't until Biden began beating him in the polls that he called for the investigation. President Trump had the motive, he had the opportunity and the means to commit this abuse of power."

Arguments ran on for more than eight hours.

For some senators, it was too much

Sketches from inside the trial showed empty seats and fidget spinners.

Senator John Barrasso - like other Republicans - say the prosecution is starting to repeat itself.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) JOHN BARRASSO, REPUBLICAN SENATOR FROM WYOMING SAYING:

"It seems like Groundhog's Day in the Senate, and what we heard from the managers yesterday, the day before, it is the same thing day after day after day. We are ready for the president's team to put their defense on. The president didn't have a chance to do that in the House."

House Democrat Adam Schiff is leading the case against Trump.

He wrapped things up with a warning.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. HOUSE IMPEACHMENT MANAGER, DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN, ADAM SCHIFF, SAYING:

"You can't trust this president to do what's right for this country. You can trust he will do what's right for Donald Trump. He'll do it now, he's done it before, he'll do it for the next several months, he'll do it in the election if he's allowed to. This is why if you find him guilty, you must find that he should be removed."

So far, little sign that Republican senators have been swayed by arguments, or the American public.

Television viewers have dropped off from 11 million on Tuesday (January 21).

Democrats will continue their case on Friday focusing on the second charge against the president: obstructing Congress.
President Donald Trump addresses the United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York City on Sept. 24, 2019. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

US Appoints Official to Counter Chinas Malign Influence at UN

WASHINGTON/OCALA, FloridaA top U.S. State Department official has been tasked with countering malign influences of China and others at the United Nations, the agency confirmed on Jan. 24.

Mark Lambert, a career Foreign Service officer, has been assigned to the Bureau of International Organization Affairs as a member of a diverse team of diplomatic professionals working to ensure the integrity of multilateral institutions, a State Department spokeswoman said.

This includes countering the malign influences of the PRC and others in the U.N. system, the spokeswoman said, using the acronym for the Peoples Republic of China.

Foreign Policy Magazine reported Jan. 22 that Lambert, most recently the U.S. special envoy for North Korea, would be moving into that role.

The same day, a senior State Department official told reporters that China hadnt repatriated North Korean workers by a Dec. 22, 2019, deadline, in violation of United Nations sanctions.

The Chinese embassy didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Chinas Influence at the UN

Since 2019, China has become the second-largest contributor to the U.N.s regular budget. China is also the second-largest contributor to the U.N. peacekeeping budget and provides more personnel to peacekeeping operations than any other permanent member of the Security Council. Among the 15 specialized agencies of the U.N., Chinese nationals are in charge of four.

China is interested in expanding its influence within the U.N., not because it supports the founding principles of the U.N., but in order to shift the values, programs, and policies of the U.N. in ways that benefit Chinese priorities and ideology, according to a recent report by Washington-based think tank The Heritage Foundation.

That influence has allowed the Chinese regime to assert policies that are at odds with American interests, or are designed to blunt U.N. mechanisms deemed troublesome or problematic by China, the report said.

Experts also pointed out that China has been striving to increase the number of Chinese nationals serving in the U.N., and asking them to openly support Beijings policies, such as the One Belt, One Road (OBOR, also known as Belt and Road) initiative. Participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations has also become a way for Beijing to train its army officers and protect its economic and political interests overseas.

In June last year, Chinas former Vice Minister of Agriculture Qu Dongyu was elected by member nations to head the U.N.s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), further fueling concerns about the Chinese regimes objectives.

Prior to the vote, the United States circulated a non-official discussion document to FAO members outlining its case against the election of Qu, which was obtained by U.S. development news site Devex.

The document stated that Chinese officials, including at INTERPOL, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have demonstrated a bias towards Chinese foreign policy and a lack of transparency and accountability.  Chinese nationals working in international organizations are expected to align with Chinese policy without question.

Last fall, U.S. senators introduced legislation requiring intelligence agencies to report to Congress on Chinas influence in international organizations.

The Epoch Times contributed to this report.
In one of the pictures, Kamya can be seen flaunting her toned body in a bikini. Along with the picture, the 40-year-old actress wrote, My body is my canvas, each mark tells a story and reminds me how Im braver than what caused it, each dot which at some point I may have tried to hide as a silly conscious younger self and the ever-changing pounds on me depending on my love for my baby and my love for food! I m proud of and own my canvas and cant wait to fill it with the brushes of my desires in the years to come (sic)." (Image: Instagram)
The Kyoto Shimbun - Jan 24, 2020 - 12:37 | All, Japan, Feature

A unique annual office chair endurance race in Japan, now in its 10th year, is looking to expand its reach overseas this year and aims to ultimately become an Olympic sport one day, organizers said.

In teams of three, competitors battle it out Le Mans-style at the "Isu-1" Grand Prix, taking turns on swiveling office chairs, mostly propelling themselves backwards. The team that completes the most laps of the event's 150-meter to 200-meter course wins.

The inaugural race originated in Kyoto Prefecture in 2010, when participants scooted down Kirara shopping arcade in the city of Kyotanabe on the office furniture.

The competition has since grown in popularity, with the grand prix series for fiscal 2019 featuring a total of 15 events across Japan through the end of March.

From Hokkaido in the north to Kumamoto Prefecture in the southwest, a cumulative 6,600 people have competed in the race, the organizers said.

The first overseas race was held in Taiwan in 2016, and has since also been featured in China, Malaysia and elsewhere. The organizer, the Japan Office Chair Racing Association, said it has also been approached by interested parties from the United States and Australia.

As part of efforts to further promote the event, the association plans to hold a grand prix race in Tokyo this year to coincide with the capital's hosting of the 2020 Summer Olympic Games.

The Isu-1 Grand Prix -- "isu" means chair in Japanese -- tests not only one's physical endurance but also mental strength, team coordination, as well as course planning and other race strategies.

"Even if you're confident in your physical strength, you won't be able to win if your chair breaks (during the race) as you would be disqualified," an official at the association said.

Some serious contenders have even started delving into finding the best chair suitable for the race, according to the organizers.

"Will the chair break first, or you yourself collapse first? It's a grueling race," said Tsuyoshi Tahara, the association's representative director. "And when the race is over, not only the competitors but also those who were there to cheer for them will feel a sense of accomplishment."

"The competition's rules are universal and anybody can participate," he added. "We want to promote Isu-1 to the world so that it will be something that local kids in Kyotanabe can be proud of."

The last grand prix race for fiscal 2019 will be held in Kyotanabe on March 29. Those interested can apply through the association's website.

The Kyoto Shimbun

More stories from The Kyoto Shimbun:

Kyoto hotel offers space for guest-artist exchanges

Kyoto museum to reopen in March with new contemporary art section

"Rugby Grandma": Designer behind Japan team's cherry blossom emblem
HEYBURN  During a nearly three hour City Council meeting Wednesday, the citys new mayor asked the council to restore his authority over city personnel, which was delegated to the city administrator by the former mayor.

Mayor Mark Rosa said during the meeting that he and City Administrator Tony Morley had worked through multiple issues during the past two weeks and he felt like they were establishing a good working relationship.

Morley did not comment.

A training video on city governance was shown during the meeting, followed by the request for the council to pass an ordinance to restore the mayors powers to hire, fire and discipline employees. The council tabled the issue so it could be studied further.

Rosa said the authority over personnel should be shifted back to him because the person giving direction to department heads should not also be the human resources representative.

The HR and boss should never be the same person, Rosa said.

In Burley, the mayor has authority over personnel, but in Rupert the administrator oversees employees, City Attorney Paul Ross said.

Under the law, the authority lies with the mayor, Ross said, but the authority can be delegated. The mayor also can cast a tie-breaking vote on council decisions and veto an ordinance passed by a council, but the council has the power to then override the mayors veto.

Councilman Dick Galbraith said he has a problem changing the ordinance to reflect Rosas request, and conflicts can arise if there is an employee issue and the part-time mayor is not around.

Our administrator is here with boots on the ground, day in and day, out all day long and is in the position to handle it, Galbraith said.

Rosa also requested that a gender neutral pronoun be removed from the previous ordinance and his pronoun inserted.

At the end of the discussion, Rosa told the council to think about their personal liability if something is done in his name and he didnt authorize it.

Ross said in an email to the Times-News on Thursday that items are put on the councils agenda during an administration meeting and everyone at the meeting discusses and reviews them and they move forward accordingly.

Heyburn administration is still working on coming to a common understanding and progressing forward for the benefit of Heyburn, Ross wrote in the email.

In a separate matter, Rosa promised to veto an ordinance that has been in the works for more than a year.

The ordinance would require officials to put down a vicious dog after a second bite. Councilwoman Joanne Justesen, who is the citys representative on the county joint animal control board, said the board had worked on the issue for more than a year.

Rosa disagreed with the plan and said each case needs to be considered individually and should receive due process.

Justesen made a motion for a first reading of the ordinance by title only and said she would take Rosas concerns back to the board. The motion was unanimously approved by the council.

A union representative from the Idaho AFL-CIO was brought in to talk about enrolling employees in a union.

Im completely opposed to it, Justesen said.

Justesen said unionizing the employees would create a constraint for city operations, which rely on set taxes for funding.

The council unanimously agreed to not pursue employee enrollment.

The council also unanimously approved continuing with a project to install gas and diesel fuel tanks at the citys new maintenance shop after the project was questioned by Rosa, who was concerned about possible spills with the tanks.

Rosa said fuel tanks at his previous place of employment were a problem.

Justesen said the council had previously studied the issue and she felt they were safe and cost efficient for the city.

I really think its safe, said Justesen, who noted the tanks were on asphalt, where any possible spills could be easily contained.

Id like to move forward and stay on target with the project and with what weve put in place, she said.

In other business, the council authorized the citys bond attorney to draft documents to proceed with a water bond election. The amount still needs to be set along with an election date. The council will put together a plan to educate the public about the citys water infrastructure.

During time allotted for the mayor, Rosa also asked the councils permission to use a meeting room at City Hall for National Rifle Association and Idaho Fish and Game meetings. He is a member of both groups.

The council agreed to table the request for further consideration after Justesen said she felt comfortable allowing the mayor to use the community meeting room across the street at the police station for his meetings.

Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 3
Info Edge (India) jumped 6.1% to Rs 2742.7 after the company set up its maiden venture capital fund to invest intech startups.

Info Edge (India) in an exchange filing after market hours on Thursday said that it has set up an Alternative Investment Fund named Info Edge Venture Fund ("IEVF") which is sponsored through Smartweb Internet Services, its wholly owned subsidiary.

The fund has been set up under the SEBI Alternative Investment Funds Regulations 2012.

The objective of the fund is to invest in tech and tech-enabled entities that provide technology to create market and distribute innovative products and services that benefit consumers at large. Further, the company has entered into a contribution agreement to invest about Rs 100 crore in IE Venture Fund I, a scheme of aforesaid IEVF.

Earlier this week, Zomato signed a definitive agreement to acquire Uber's food delivery business in India ("Uber") in an all-stock transaction, which gives Uber 9.99% ownership in Zomato. Uber Eats in India will discontinue operations and direct restaurants, delivery partners, and users of the Uber Eats apps to the Zomato platform, effective 21 January.

Upon closing of said acquisition, Info Edge (India)'s shareholding in Zomato shall stand reduced to about 22.71% on fully converted & diluted basis.

Info Edge (India) provides information technology services. The firm is involved in online classifieds business. Its segments include recruitment solutions, 99acres, online restaurant discovery and others. The others segment includes Jeevansathi and Shiksha services.

On a consolidated basis, Info Edge (India) reported net loss of Rs 110.84 crore in Q2 September 2019 compared with net loss of Rs 72.03 crore in Q2 September 2018. Net sales rose 17.7% to Rs 329.54 crore in Q2 September 2019 over Q2 September 2018.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Virgin Money has started looking for a new chairman after a major re-branding effort following its takeover by CYBG.

Jim Pettigrew, a veteran of the City, will step down from the role in September 2021, the business announced on Friday.

'The board has therefore initiated a search process to allow time to identify his successor and enable an orderly handover,' it said in a short statement to investors.

CYBG plc is completing the final stage of bringing all its services under the Virgin Money brand

It will mean that Mr Pettigrew, who was paid 410,000 by the bank last year, will have served for nine years on the board, ensuring he does not fall foul of official guidance on how board tenures.

It also allows Mr Pettigrew time to round off a major transformation, which started in 2018 when Virgin Money was bought by CYBG, the company behind Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank.

Chief executive David Duffy last year said: 'With all of our six million customers under one single banking licence, we can now offer a full suite of products, excellent customer service ethos and technology know-how across the combined business.'

In October 2019, the business started re-branding, to bring all of its services under the well-known Virgin brand.

This year the Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks will be changing their logos to Virgin, and Virgin Money will launch a business current account.

The B digital banking service already changed its name to Virgin Money last year.

Mr Pettigrew, a chartered accountant, joined the company in September 2012, before becoming chairman in 2014.

The Scotsman has served as chief executive of CMC Markets, and sat on the boards of several major companies, including stints as the chairman of the Edinburgh Investment Trust, Miton Group and RBC Europe Limited.
Prime Minister Ludovic Orban states, in the message conveyed on the occasion of January 24, that "the celebration of the Union of the Romanian Principalities is a good opportunity to reflect on what we want as a people for the future, leaving aside differences of opinion or political rivalries."

"The celebration of the Union of the Romanian Principalities is a good opportunity to reflect on what we want as a people for the future, leaving aside differences of opinion or political rivalries. The current challenge is the development of the country in step with the other EU member states, reducing the economic or social gaps. This is the path I have taken on, alongside the government team I am leading, in full respect for the law and for the betterment of society. Many happy returns, Romanians! Many happy returns, Romania!.".The head of Government is expected on Friday in Iasi, at the events dedicated to this celebration, also to be attended by President Klaus Iohannis.
Americas artificial intelligence industry is increasingly likely to face government regulations that could blunt innovation. There is a perfect storm brewing on Capitol Hill, and in statehouses and city governments around the country. Growing unease over possible negative impacts of AI on American society, and increased awareness that technological developments are outpacing lawmakers ability to craft rules and provide oversight is likely to lead to well-intentioned but poorly-crafted regulations that will constrain research, development and deployment of AI technologies.

In the absence of government regulations, several leading voices in AI development advocate for industry self-regulation. While commendable in its ultimate goal  instilling trust in AI  it is not a viable long-term solution. Government oversight is necessary and, done right, will make Americas AI endeavors more effective and competitive. The U.S. regulatory principles for AI proposed by the White House on Jan. 7 are intended to do exactly that.

Regulations will be essential to engendering trust in AI systems among researchers in academia and industry, with policymakers, and with the general public. As with federal regulations for transportation, food, and medicine, such rules should broadly benefit society by protecting consumers and instilling confidence in producers. Regulations are also important in that they level the playing field: everyone in the field must comply with the same rules so no single actor gains a competitive advantage from different approaches to self-regulation. It is even possible for regulations to serve as a catalyst for further innovation by opening new business areas as seen in financial services after data sharing rules under open banking.

Widely applied AI-related regulations are just a matter of time as non-experts gain understanding of AIs reach, and will soon go beyond autonomous vehicles and defense-related use cases where much of the legislative focus to date has been. One area where regulatory scrutiny gained big momentum in just a few months is facial recognition technologies, with San Francisco, Oakland, and Somerville, Mass., banning its use by law enforcement. City councilors in Portland, Ore., are considering a total ban, which is likely to prompt other municipalities to follow suit given the unease over the technology among civil libertarians. Critiques of these technologies are not always rooted in accurate technical understanding, however.

AI researchers should therefore be proactive in working with Congress and legislators at the state and local levels to recommend and shape regulations so that they are based on sound technical principles and are broadly supportive of the AI ecosystem by not creating undue hurdles to research and innovation. Early involvement in the process of defining regulations helps to reduce the uncertainty of trying to anticipate what future regulations could be. Well-crafted regulations could even promote more efficient AI research and development and boost American competitiveness such as by making available computing resources and data sets, and by updating intellectual property protections.

Data privacy is an area where regulations will be updated to address growing concern over unchecked advances in AI. This offers AI researchers the opportunity to inform lawmakers on the possibilities of combining techniques such as differential privacy, differentiated learning, practical verification, and encrypted computation. The AI research communitys expertise in these areas will be vital so that rules are crafted in line with what is technologically feasible, tailored for the desired result, and are updated as capabilities improve.

A further advantage for the AI community to act now on shaping the regulatory environment is that theres little guesswork involved as to who the main players will be. Much AI regulation will occur within existing governmental organizations and be industry-specific: the Department of Transportation for autonomous vehicles, the FDA for telemedicine and IoT medical devices, and the FDIC and Federal Reserve for many banking-related uses of AI.

There are numerous examples of verification and validation techniques already being implemented, largely voluntarily by industry, such as adaptive stress testing, interpretability standards, and audit trails. Helping Congress to codify what is already being done is an effective and important step to building a critical foundation of trust. The challenge for the AI research community and regulators will be to strike the balance between potential harm caused by under-regulated AI systems and placing too many constraints such that it stifles innovation.

Early and practical action by AI stakeholders will help to ensure that this balance is found at the outset and can be adjusted as AI technologies mature. AI industry engagement on regulations is the smart play.

Martijn Rasser is a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, a Washington D.C., think tank. He previously was an executive with a Silicon Valley-based AI startup.
The death toll in China's alarmingly new coronavirus afflictions has climbed to 25 with confirmed cases rising sharply to 830, the Chinese health authorities said on Friday.

The pneumonia situation had resulted in 25 deaths, including 24 in central China's Hubei province and one in north China's Hebei, the National Health Commission said.

By Thursday, 830 confirmed cases of pneumonia, caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), had been reported in 29 provincial-level regions in the country, it said.

A total of 1,072 suspected cases have been reported in 20 provincial-level regions, according to the National Health Commission.

As the virus spread in the country and the world, China on Thursday locked down five cities, including Wuhan, suspending all public transport in an unprecedented move to contain the coronavirus, dampening the celebrations of the Lunar New Year.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

On Thursday evening, Chinese officials announced suspension of public transport in five cities - Huanggang, Ezhou, Zhijiang, Qianjiang and Wuhan in Hubei province, official media reported.

Wuhan, the city of 11 million people where the virus is believed to have first emerged, has no trains or planes in or out.

According to the health commission in northern Hebei province, which borders Beijing, an 80-year-old man diagnosed with the new virus died on January 22.

The victims' average age was 73, with the oldest 89 and the youngest 48. So far 631 cases have been confirmed in 25 provincial-level regions in the country.

The Wuhan lockdown is a cause of concern for Indian students who still remained there. The city has about 700 Indian students, majority of them studying medicine. However, most of the students have apparently left for home for holidays.

As concerns grew over their safety, the Indian Embassy on Thursday opened helplines and established contacts with the concerned Chinese officials to ensure food and other supplies for those who remained in the city.

In new disclosure, Chinese officials on Thursday confirmed fresh cases of coronavirus in people who did not even travel to Wuhan recently.

The National Health Commission also reported increasing number of cases with no exposure to Wuhan's Hunan seafood wholesale market, which is believed to be related to most of the infected cases. The cases without confirmed exposure to the market have been found overseas.

The virus, which a doctor in Wuhan told BBC is spreading at an alarming rate, has dampened the Chinese New Year celebrations beginning Friday.

Chinese all over the world formally bid goodbye to the year of the pig and welcome the year of rat on Friday and welcomed the year of Rat. The Chinese government has given week long holiday.

In view of virus scare, several cities including Beijing have cancelled special events. The festival is also known as the Spring Festival.

Large cultural activities during spring festival in Beijing such as temple fairs were cancelled to prevent the spread of the virus.
South African authorities on Friday reburied nine men hanged by the apartheid government in 1961 in one of the darkest episodes of the country's racially-divided past.

Known as the "Cato Manor Nine," the group were executed for allegedly killing nine police officers in clashes sparked by raids at a township in KwaZulu-Natal province.

Hailed by the anti-apartheid movement as heroes, the nine were buried in unmarked graves in the capital Pretoria, some 640 kilometres (390 miles) away.

Their remains were exhumed last December last year by the Justice Department's Truth and Reconciliation Commission Unit, supported by specialists in missing persons working for National Prosecuting Authority.

They were reburied with honour on Friday at Heroes Arch in Chesterville -- the resting place in KwaZulu-Natal for many apartheid activists and musicians.

"It has been 60 years since the death of these nine heroes and our country has seen 25 years of democracy," said Justice Minister Ronald Lamola at a ceremony to hand over the remains to relatives.

"As we return the mortal remains of the nine martyrs to their families, we are reminded that the freedoms we enjoy today came at a fatal cost."



The nine comprise Thembinkosi Mthembu; Fanozi Mgubungu; Msayineke Khuzwayo; Sililo Miya; Payiyana Dladla; Mahemu Goqo; Maqandeni Lushozi; Thompson Chamane and Mhlawungeni Khuzwayo.

Under apartheid, rule by the white minority was entrenched by law and brutally enforced by agents of the state. Black South Africans faced denial of fundamental rights and discrimination in many forms.

Today, many are still searching for loved ones who went missing before apartheid was scrapped in 1994, and who may have been abducted or killed by police or their agents.

The reburial coincided this week with the start of an inquest into the death of the first white anti-apartheid activist to die in police custody.

Doctor and trade unionist Neil Aggett was detained in 1981. He was found dead on February 5, 1982 after he allegedly hanged himself with his scarf in his prison cell.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
People arriving at Heathrow Airport, London wear face masks as the outbreak of Coronavirus spreads in China (Picture: SWNS)

The Governments Cobra emergency committee has met to discuss the threat of coronavirus to the UK as tests on fourteen people in the UK have come back negative.

Public Health England (PHE) said on Friday that results from all 14 people suspected of contracting the virus had come back clear.

However, there are checks ongoing on other people, according to the Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty.

Professor Paul Cosford, emeritus medical director at PHE, has said it is still early days in the course of the virus, but stressed that most of those affected abroad are making a good recovery.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the risk to the UK public remains low as he left the Cabinet Office on Friday, saying: We have just held a Cobra meeting on the coronavirus concerns.

As I made clear to the House yesterday, the clinical advice is that the risk to the public remains low and the chief medical officer will be making a full statement later today.

Leaflets are being handed out at Heathrow Airport (Picture: SWNS)

It comes after the Scottish Government confirmed that five people were being examined after showing symptoms of the illness, while one patient was understood to have been tested at Belfasts Royal Victoria Hospital.

The Governments Cobra contingencies committee was due to meet at midday on Friday to discuss the coronavirus outbreak, Downing Street said. A Number 10 spokesman said there were still no confirmed cases in the UK.

The death toll in China has risen to at least 26, with hundreds more cases confirmed, according to authorities.

Other cases have been reported in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, the US and Vietnam.

READ MORE

How is the international media reacting to coronavirus?

'A catastrophe sooner rather than later': Doomsday Clock moves 20 seconds closer to midnight

While none of the UK cases has so been confirmed as coronavirus, two of the patients tested in Scotland had been diagnosed with influenza after travelling to Wuhan, China, where the outbreak is thought to have originated.

Story continues

In a statement to the Commons on Thursday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said while there is an increased likelihood that cases may arise in this country, we are well prepared and well equipped to deal with them.

The UK is monitoring direct flights arriving into the UK from China as a precaution.

Passengers are receiving leaflets and advice on what to do if they develop symptoms, and a PHE health team is on standby at Heathrow.

Checking temperatures is at airports is not necessary, experts have suggested, because it can take five to 10 days for symptoms to develop.

Coronavirus: how China has been affected. See story HEALTH Coronavirus. Infographic PA Graphics

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said while the spread of the virus was an emergency in China it was too early to declare it a global health emergency.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO, said: We know that most of those who have died had underlying health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes or cardiovascular disease, that weakened their immune systems.

We know that there is human-to-human transmission in China, but for now it appears limited to family groups and health workers caring for infected patients.

At this time, there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission outside China, but that doesnt mean it wont happen.

There is still a lot we dont know. We dont know the source of this virus, we dont understand how easily it spreads and we dont fully understand its clinical features or severity.

Fourteen people have now been tested for coronavirus in the UK (Picture: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

Peter Piot, professor of global health and director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, said there were still many missing pieces in the jigsaw puzzle, adding: Over the coming days and weeks we will know much more, but there cannot be any complacency as to the need for global action.

The good news is that the data to date suggest that this virus may have a lower mortality than Sars, we have a diagnostic test and there is greater transparency than decades gone by.

And that is essential because you cannot deal with a potential pandemic in one country alone.

Prof Haas, head of infection medicine at the University of Edinburgh, warned that there would be probably be many more cases in many other cities in the UK.

Wuhan  the city where the virus is believed to have originated  is under quarantine, with authorities suspending planes and trains in and out of the city.

Beijing, Hong Kong and Macau have also cancelled some events to stop large crowds gathering together, as the country prepares to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
Officers have recalled encountering a 'strong foul odor' when entering the Disney home of a man who killed his wife and three kids before cops discovered their bodies wrapped up in blankets, according to new police records obtained by DailyMail.com.

Police entered the home of Anthony Todt on January 13 and found the decomposing bodies of his wife Megan and three children Alek, Tyler and Zoe, wrapped up in blankets at their home in Celebration, Florida, - a gated community designed and developed by Disney.

An officer noted that 'sticking out of the blankets was a foot that was black and blue in color', as Todt is believed to have lived with the rotting bodies for at least two weeks.

The 44-year-old is charged with four counts of murder, as well as animal cruelty for also killing the family dog Breezy.

Included in the trove of documents were 911 calls that reveal Todt's sister had called the Osceola County Sheriff's Office several times, as well as an FBI agent who was investigating Todt for fraud in Connecticut.

The sister also revealed Megan made a remark that 'the world was ending on the 28th'. No one had heard from the family in weeks, and Todt claimed everyone was sick with the flu.

Anthony Todt was charged with murder for killing his wife Megan and three children Alek, Tyler and Zoe and dog in Celebration, Florida - living with the bodies for at least two weeks. Police records released on Friday reveal the gruesome scene police walked into on January 13, first encountering 'a strong foul odor' when entering the home

In a 911 call, Todt's sister revealed Megan (pictured) made a remark that 'the world was ending on the 28th'. No one had heard from the family in weeks, as Todt claimed everyone was sick with the flu

Police entered the home (pictured) of Todt on January 13 and found the decomposing bodies wrapped in blankets at their home in Celebration, Florida, - a gated community designed and developed by Disney

Todt confessed to the killings last week as it emerged he had stabbed his wife and sons Alek, 13, Tyler, 11, repeatedly. It is not clear how he killed four-year-old Zoe.

Police are yet to pinpoint his motive for the killings but he was drowning in debt in both his home and business, and was being evicted.

When police went to the home on January 13, they noted Todt was barely able to stand and was shaking.

Todt told police he tried to end his own life by overdosing on Benadryl after the murders.

The 44-year-old is charged with four counts of murder, as well as animal cruelty for also killing the family dog Breezy

When entering the house, an officer noted: 'I could smell a foul odor that I suspected was something or someone deceased.'

Todt told officials Megan was upstairs sleeping, but when police called out her name, they received no response.

An officer went up to the master bedroom and said they saw 'a person was laying on the bed covered with blankets.

'I pushed the door open further and observed two persons laying on mattresses on the floor covered up.

'I then approached the person that was covered up on the bed... I removed the blanket and observed the person was obviously deceased due to the body starting to decompose.'

Another officer report states they saw 'sticking out of the blankets was a foot that was black and blue in color.'

Officers note that they immediately found the bodies of Megan and the two young boys, then after looking further, found Zoe's body wrapped in a blanket at the feet of her mother.

The day the bodies were discovered, nine 911 calls were made to the sheriff's office, several from his sister, frantically saying she had saw on social media that bodies were found in the town where her brother and his family lived.

She had made several calls before asking police to perform wellness checks at the home. An FBI agent also called at least twice, following up on wellness checks the office reportedly conducted.

The Orlando office of the Medical Examiner released a preliminary autopsy report showing that doctors have yet to determine the cause of the family members' deaths.

Anthony Todt with his three children and their dog. Police found the bodies in the family home on Monday but were unable to definitively identify them until Wednesday

The reports also note small stab wounds, 3.2 X 1.1 centimeters for Megan.

According to Alek's report, he suffered a 5.9 X 3 cm stab wound. His body had a brown-green color as decomposition set in and his feet were mummified.

Tyler, the reports show, suffered a stab wound 10.7X2.1 centimeters in size. His eyes, the medical examiner noted, were collapsed because of the decomposition.

Zoe's autopsy showed no obvious signs of injury.

The medical examiner will not determine a cause of death until lab results on bodily fluids are known, possibly in up to two months.

Police had pushed for the affidavit to remain under seal.

It remains unknown exactly when Todt committed the murders.

Todt is in police custody. Many of the details of the crimes remain unknown.

He witnessed his a hit man trying to murder his mother, at the request of his father, 40 years ago.

Police first visited the family home on December 29 after a relative called, saying they were concerned after being told they had the flu. Police have suggested he was replying to texts, telling people that the family was unwell.

The family was about to get evicted from the house, which they rented for $5,000 a month from a landlord who lives down the street

It is not known if he was doing so as himself or if he was pretending to be his wife and using her phone.

Meanwhile, neighbors and residents in Celebration still wonder why Todt killed the family then lived with the corpses for more than a week before he was arrested by Osceola County Sheriff's deputies.

Details are scant after the sheriff's office convinced a judge to seal the arrest affidavit when Todt was charged with four counts of premeditated murder and animal cruelty.

Todt was heavily indebted to financial institutions and was under investigation for bilking Medicaid for services to patients who didn't exist.

The family was about to get evicted from the house, which they rented for $5,000 a month from a landlord who lives down the street.

Bobbie Sedwick became music teacher to the two Todt boys in September 2018 and would teach at their home twice a week. She taught her last lesson to the children on December 12.

Sedwick tells DailyMail.com that she received a text from Megan on December 30 telling her the classes would start again on the second week of January. She never heard from her again.

'I don't think Megan knew about any of the massive debt or fraud charges,' Sedwick said. 'Life was normal as it always had been. There were no red flags in behavior in her, the kids, or Tony for that matter.'
ACP Benjamin Agordzo

24.01.2020 LISTEN

ACP Benjamin Agordzo has said he will never do anything that will derail the peace in this country.

ACP Agordzo made the comments after he was finally released from Police custody on Thursday, days after he was granted a Ghc500,000 bail by the Criminal High Court, presided over by Justice Charles Ekow Baiden.

On his Facebook page, ACP Agordzo thanked his friends and supporters for the prayers and believing in him all his days in incarceration.

Below is the unedited statement of ACP Benjamin Agordzo

Home at last

Dear colleagues and friends, just to inform you that Im finally home reunited with my family after almost three months incarceration at BNI, Ministries Police cells and IGPs custody.

Its been a whole world of experience and I like to thank God for bringing me this far; my counsel and his team for standing by me with their knowledge and skills in law practice; and those of you who believed in me and supported me in various ways. My special thanks go to my wife, family and the Chiefs and people of Vakpo for their massive support. I appreciate you all.

I was particularly strengthened by the fact that even thousands who had never set eyes on me believed that I couldnt have done what I was being accused of. These sentiments were expressed in various social media platforms.

For the millions who silently went on their knees regularly to intervene for me, God richly bless you. Your prayers were not in vain. I know youll continue to remember me in your prayers. The Lord of hosts is on our side and its not over until its over.

I like to assure those who have believed in me that I believe in democratic values such as rule of law, human rights & constitutional rule. These are the things that drive the passion in me.

Having spent about 6 years of my life in peace keeping missions in Sudan, Somalia and Haiti and witnessed how conflicts have ravaged those counties, I will be the last person to do anything to derail the strides weve made in democratic development.

Be assured that I love my country so dearly I can never ever do anything to disturb the relative peace.
Deborah Carroll, 53, plunged a blade into the chest of her partner John, 52 (SWNS)

A wife who stabbed her husband to death following a "trivial row at their home has been jailed for life.

Deborah Carroll, 53, stabbed her partner John, 52, in the chest as he sat on a chair in the kitchen of their property in Selly Oak, Birmingham.

Emergency services were called to the scene at Alwold Court, Barnes Hill, at around 1am on April, 2019.

Carroll was found guilty of murder following a two week trial at Birmingham Crown Court (SWNS)

Mr Carroll was rushed to hospital where he died later that day after suffering a collapsed lung.

His wife was charged with murder and was found guilty of the offence following a two week trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

On Friday she was jailed for life, with a minimum term of 10 years to be served before being considered for release.

Read more from Yahoo News UK:

Prison inmate charged with murder of 'Britain's worst paedophile'

Several injured following shooting in town in south-west Germany

Handyman who hacked police officer's head with machete jailed for 16 years

The court heard how the couple had argued after John had been out with a friend the previous afternoon and carried on drinking when he returned home.

Johns friend witnessed the attack and told hot the row erupted over something trivial before Carroll stabbed her husband without warning with a kitchen knife.

Mr Carroll was rushed to hospital but died after suffering a collapsed lung (SWNS)

Detective Inspector Hannah Whitehouse, of West Midlands Police, said: This is a very tragic case where an alcohol-fuelled domestic dispute got out of hand and resulted in a violent attack leaving Mr Carroll with fatal injuries.

Our thoughts remain with Johns family."
I love when YouTube food maker Alexis Gabriel Ainouz (better known as French Guy Cooking) launches into a series of videos exploring some food obsession of his. He's done it for dry-aged beef, ramen noodles, croissants, and omelettes. Now he's on a quest to understand what makes the perfect Italian-style meatball and to make-a the meatball.

His quest quickly takes him to New York City. Why NYC in search of perfect Italian meatballs? As Alex points out, the Italian meatball we carnivores know and love is actually the product of Italian immigrants living in the United States, using the ingredients available to them here.

Next stop? Sweden (for obvious, non-Italian, meatball reasons).
At the Sundance Film Festival, you get used to traveling among starsSteve Buscemi trudging through the snow to catch a shuttle bus, or the cast of Hamilton gabbing on a street corner. But the energy that crackled through Park City in the hours before the debut of the Taylor Swift documentary Miss Americana was something else entirely. Grizzled festival veterans queued up 90 minutes in advance for fear they might not get a seat, and in the 20-degree weather outside, fans kept up a steady singalong of songs from Swifts back catalog.

Advertisement

A documentary about one of the most mediated, image-conscious people on the planet sounds like an oxymoron, and though director Lana Wilson is no hagiographer, Miss Americana is hardly warts-and-all. (Even in the numerous shots of Swifts makeup-free face, her skin appears unblemished.) Although Swift credits much of her recent evolution to her long-term relationship with Joe Alwyn, he makes only a fleeting, wordless appearance, and theres not a blessed word about Cats. Its not a movie about getting behind Swifts public image but about her decision to alter it.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

In particular, its framed as Swifts journey toward relinquishing, or at least reining in, her obsessive desire to be liked. For most of her life, she explains in the opening minutes, her moral philosophy was driven by a need to be thought of as good. Flicking back and forth between on-the-fly footage of the last few years and archival shots spanning the length of Swifts career, the movie crafts Swifts journey toward, as she puts it, deprogram[ming] the misogyny in my own brain and embracing the idea that there are worse things than being disliked.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Though director Lana Wilson is no hagiographer, Miss Americana is hardly warts-and-all.

Swift credits the turn to a number of factors, including the public backlash to her feud with Kanye West, her victory in a sexual assault lawsuit against a radio DJ, and the year she spent out of the public eye with Alwyn, which taught her the difference between being happy and performing happiness (among the movies more delicious sequences is a montage of Swifts goggle-eyed awards face).

But the pivotal on-camera moment is the meeting in which she tells her management team, including both of her parents, that shes going to endorse the Democratic candidate for a Tennessee Senate seat. The men in the room are rattled, especially her father, who points out theyve already had to add armored cars to her motorcade in response to death threats. Swift, who grew up idolizing the Dixie Chicks and watched a single comment about the Iraq war derail their career, has always steered clear of politics, and she prospered in part because of it. (In response to the proposed endorsement, her dad asks her, if there was a way for you to cut your audience in half, would you take it?) But the sexual assault case, in which she was groped by a DJ who then sued her after he lost his job, seems to have opened Swifts eyes to the urgency of the current political climate, in which even a rich white pop star has to hire a high-priced lawyer to make herself believed.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

The objection to Miss Americana, which will be released Jan. 31 on Netflix, will be that this is just Swifts latest, and perhaps canniest, calculation: She saw the political winds shifting before the midterms and knew that the price of not taking a side was simply too steep. But whether or not were seeing the real, genuine Swift, the choices she makes about how to present herself are significant and consequential. Its naive to think shes ever unaware that shes being filmed, but its still a kick to watch her publicist warn her that if she endorses a Democrat, Trump might come after her, and see Swift respond, Fuck that. I dont care.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Its still a kick to watch Swifts publicist warn her that President Trump might come after her and see Swift respond, F that. I dont care.

As prefigured by its title, Miss Americana both shows and is part of Swifts decision to wade deeper into election-year politics. The footage of Swift writing songs in the studio during the sessions for Lover includes a scene of her working on a paean to youth activism called Only the Young. (The finished version plays over the closing credits and is scheduled for official release in the near future.) The Swift lift wasnt enough to give Tennessee a Democratic senator, and Swift takes the defeat personally, both because it shows the limitations of her star power and because it means her home state will be represented by a woman who opposes same-sex marriage and voted against the Violence Against Women Act. (She says she represents Tennessee Christian values, Swift says during the endorsement meeting. Im a Tennessean. Im a Christian. Those arent my values.) But Swift emerges more determined, and the members of her management team who once trembled at the thought of her talking politics inform her after the loss that Weve got two years to build on that.*

Onstage after the films premiere, Swift was subdued, almost shy, reflexively deferring to Wilson and endorsing her answers rather than striking out on her own. But Miss Americana leaves you with the impression thats merely the calm before the storm. As Swift proclaims in the film, Its time to take the masking tape off my mouth.
Peter Knight secured a top job as a director on the board of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OHU) by falsely claiming to have a degree in Classics on his CV (Pictures: PA)

An NHS director who lied about having a degree to secure a six-figure-salary job has been handed a suspended sentence.

Peter Knight landed a top job as a director on the board of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OHU) by falsely claiming to have a degree in Classics on his CV.

The 53-year-old raked in 260,000 in the job from August 2016 until his resignation in September 2018, after an anonymous tip-off led to him being investigated.

Knight, of Blagrove Road, Teddington, south-west London, was handed a two-year suspended sentence at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday after previously admitting fraud with intent to gain.

He was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and 30 days rehabilitation.

Knight was sentenced after previously admitting fraud with "intent to gain" (Picture: PA)

Sentencing Knight, Judge Nigel Daly said his sentence had been reduced because of his early guilty plea as well as character references about his genuinely outstanding contributions to the trust.

He said: The damage that was done is effectively nil. You have worked extremely well in the past.

I accept that this conviction has had a devastating effect on you, your family and others. You have lost your wife, you have lost your home and you have lost your relationships.

READ MORE

Coronavirus: 14 people now being tested for virus in the UK

Labour MP slams COE after church says sex is for straight couples only

Defence lawyer Michael McAlinden told the court that Knights life had been shattered since admitting the fraud.

Knight had been hired to help the NHS trust become one of the foremost healthcare organisations in the UK and globally, according to a statement the trust released on his appointment to the board.

Knight was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court (Picture: PA)

Following his sentencing, a spokesman for the trust said: Mr Knights role at OUH was non-clinical and he had no direct contact with patients.

The Trust has subsequently strengthened its recruitment process to ensure that it is not possible to avoid confirming the academic qualifications of applicants prior to appointment.

Story continues

The Trust also verifies key qualifications with the university, professional body or other institution which awarded the qualification.

OUH has applied for compensation for the costs of the investigation and Mr Knights salary. The judge told the court that financial settlement would be decided at a later date.

Sue Frith, chief executive of the NHS Counter Fraud Authority, said Knights sentencing was a reminder that the law and the rules apply to all the NHS, including senior managers in positions of great trust.

---Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK---
Regulatory News:

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) ("PSH") today announced that it has purchased, through PSH's agent, Jefferies International Limited ("Jefferies"), the following number of PSH's Public Shares of no par value (ISIN Code: GG00BPFJTF46) (the "Shares"):

Trading Venue: London Stock Exchange Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 24 January 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 25,755 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 1,558 pence 20.36 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 1,538 pence 20.10 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 1,552 pence 20.28 USD Ticker: PSHD Date of Purchase: 24 January 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 22,419 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 20.35 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 20.20 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 20.28 USD Trading Venue: Euronext Amsterdam Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 24 January 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 28,684 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 20.40 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 20.10 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 20.30 USD

PSH will hold these Public Shares in Treasury. The net asset value per Public Share related to this buyback is 27.53 USD 21.11 GBP which was calculated as of 21 January 2020 (the "Relevant NAV"). After giving effect to the above buyback, PSH has 204,669,121 Public Shares outstanding, or 210,351,741 Public Shares calculated on a fully diluted basis (assuming that all Management Shares had been converted into Public Shares at the Relevant NAV). Excluded from the shares outstanding are 6,287,629 Public Shares held in Treasury. The prices per Public Share were calculated by Jefferies.

The number of PSH Management Shares and the one special voting share (held by PS Holdings Independent Voting Company Limited) have not been affected.

About Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd.

Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) is an investment holding company structured as a closed-ended fund that makes concentrated investments principally in North American companies.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005443/en/

Contacts:

Media

Camarco

Ed Gascoigne-Pees Hazel Stevenson +44 020 3757 4989, media-pershingsquareholdings@camarco.co.uk
Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday called senior Congress leader P Chidambaram a 'Chindi Chor' for accusing the central government of being the real 'Tukde Tukde' gang.

New Delhi: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday called senior Congress leader P Chidambaram a "Chindi Chor" for accusing the central government of being the real "Tukde Tukde" gang.

Pradhan's retaliation comes after former union finance minister Chidambaram stated that the country has slipped 10 places in the global democracy index owing to the "debilitation" of democratic institutions.

Speaking to ANI, Pradhan said, "Chidambaram recently came back from jail on charges of theft...the country knows what kind of work was done in Chidambaram's time. People like P Chidambaram, who went to jail after 'Chindi Chori' will always have trouble with people who are following the rules and regulations."

Chidambaram, who is out on bail in the INX media case, on Thursday accused the central government of being the real 'Tukde Tukde' gang while stating the country has slipped 10 places in the global democracy index owing to 'debilitation' of democratic institutions.

Taking to Twitter, Chidambaram warned that every patriotic Indian should be alarmed.

"India has slipped 10 places in the Democracy Index. Anyone who has closely observed the events of the last two years knows that democracy has been eroded and democratic institutions have been debilitated. Those who are in power are the real 'Tukde Tukde' gang," he had tweeted.

India has slipped 10 places in the Democracy Index.  P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) January 23, 2020

In a series of tweets, he further said that "the world is alarmed by the direction the country is taking", adding that "India has slipped to 51st position in a 2019 global democracy index ranking".
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that four companies have recalled 165,000 inclined sleeper devices because of the growing concern about potential suffocation.

Late last year, the agency proposed a rule that would virtually eliminate the sale of inclined sleepers, an infant bed that allows babies to sleep at a 30-degree angle. The American Academy of Pediatrics has long argued that babies should sleep on flat surfaces and has warned that the inverted sleepers can be deadly.

Summer Infant

According to the CPSC, Summer Infant is recalling 43,000 SwaddleMe By Your Bed Sleeper inclined sleepers. The company says the recall is due to concerns that babies could die if they roll from their back to their stomach or side.

Evenflo

Evenflo is recalling about 3,100 units of its inclined sleeper, the Pillo Portable Napper. The company says it is taking this action because infant fatalities have been reported with other manufacturers inclined sleep products.

Delta Enterprise

Delta Enterprise is recalling its incline sleeper with an adjustable feeding position for newborns and is also citing the risk of suffocation. Other products included in the recall include Disney Baby Minnie Mouse Incline Sleeper with Adjustable Feeding Position for Newborns; Delta Children Deluxe 3-in-1 Activity Rocker, Feeder and Sleeper; Simmons Kids Beautyrest Deluxe 3-in-1 Activity Rocker, Feeder, and Sleeper; 3-in-1 Activity Rocker, Feeder and Incline Sleeper.

A total of about 5,900 units are included in the recall.

Graco

Graco has issued a recall for about 112,000 units of its Little Lounger Rocking Seat. Again, the concern that the product may increase the risk of infant suffocation is cited as the reason for the recall.

Preventing infant mortality

All four companies are offering refunds to consumers who purchased the sleepers.

Safety concerns about inclined sleepers increased in the wake of a study by Erin Mannen, assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, who led a research team that concluded that the design of the inclined sleeper is not safe.

The researchers found that the inclined sleeper makes it easier for an infant to roll into a facedown position. If they lack the strength to roll over again they can suffocate.

In July, Fisher-Price recalled 71,000 inclined sleeper accessories included with all models of Fisher-Price Ultra-Lite Day & Night Play Yards. At the time, the company said infant fatalities had been reported while using other inclined sleep products after the infants rolled from their back to their stomach or side while unrestrained or under other circumstances.
Iran nuclear deal commission to meet in February



Brussels, Jan 24 (AFP) Jan 24, 2020



The remaining parties to the Iran nuclear deal will meet next month, the EU's diplomatic chief announced Friday, after Britain, France and Germany launched a dispute process.

The move gives the European members more time to try to find a way to persuade Iran to come back into line with the deal after Tehran made a series of steps away in protest at the US pulling out in 2018.

Josep Borrell, the EU's diplomatic chief who is tasked with convening meetings under the dispute mechanism triggered last week, said he had consulted the countries still in the deal -- which also include China and Russia.

All are determined to save the accord, Borrell said, though it has been crumbling since President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew and reimposed swingeing sanctions on Tehran, prompting the Islamic republic to announce a series of steps away from its commitments under the deal.

"Notwithstanding differences on modalities, there is agreement that more time is needed due to the complexity of the issues involved. The timeline is therefore extended," Borrell said in a statement.

"All agreed to pursue expert-level discussions addressing the concerns regarding nuclear implementation, as well as the wider impacts of the withdrawal of the United States from the JCPOA and its re-imposition of sanctions."

JCPOA is an acronym for the deal's formal title, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

Borrell said the so-called joint commission that oversees the deal and comprises representatives of all the countries involved will meet in February, though he did not give a precise date. It usually meets in Vienna, though it can also meet in New York or Geneva.
Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has heavily criticised Fine Gael for digging an "imaginary sod" in the ground four years ago for the Cork Event Centre in what the party has deemed a pre-election vote grabbing stunt.

Questioned by a listener on Newstalk Breakfast in relation to the stalled project Mr Martin spoke of his commitment to seeing the centre through to completion.

"I am very conscious that before the last general election Fine Gael came down with Ministers and dug an imaginary sod in the ground.

"We all thought that construction was going to start in the following weeks. Nothing has happened in the last four years in terms of any construction for the events centre.

"It would have been a very important project for the wider city and its renewal and I am committed to getting it done."

It is hoped that work on the Cork Event Centre could begin within months after it emerged that the State is poised to more than double its original investment to 50m.

Mr Martin said he hoped the project would finally get off the ground.

"I am conscious it has gone from about 18 million of a Government subvention to 50 million if we are to believe recent announcements.

"I haven't been appraised of the detail of that. It has gone to Europe now for their observations.

"It has been a long and sorry tale in terms of getting that off the ground. Particularly when people's hopes were raised when Fine Gael before the last general election dug sods."

The saga first started in 2014 when a tender for 20m of state aid was awarded to BAM Property.

The sod was turned in February 2016 by then Taoiseach Enda Kenny.

The 6,000 seater event centre is due to be built on the site of the former Beamish & Crawford brewery on South Main Street in conjunction with US event management company, Live Nation.

The project has become mired in controversy for some time due to lack of progress on the site.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday it is seeking special emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration to allow U.S. states to use a CDC-developed diagnostic test to detect the new coronavirus from China, Trend reports citing Reuters.

Currently, states with suspected cases of the new virus must send samples to the CDC for confirmation, as was the case with the U.S. resident in Washington state who was infected while visiting Wuhan, China, the epicenter of the outbreak.

China has put millions of people on lockdown in Wuhan and another nearby city as authorities around the world worked to prevent the viruss global spread.

Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA would allow states to use the CDCs test, according to CDC spokesman Benjamin Haynes.

At least 16 people had close contact with the Washington state man diagnosed with the first U.S. case of the virus. None of them so far have shown signs of the virus, according to local health officials.

The World Health Organization on Thursday stopped short of declaring the new virus a global health emergency. So far, the virus has killed 18 people and sickened nearly 650, the vast majority of them in China.
Two Irishmen helped to forge the greatest and most rapacious corporation the world has ever known, and two Irishmen helped to dismantle it.

Richard and Arthur Wellesley, from Summerhill, near Trim, in Co Meath, oversaw the expansion and consolidation of the East India Company's grip on the entire continent of India, transforming it from a trading body into an empire. Richard was the head of the EIC from 1798 to 1805 while his brother Arthur was the Major General in the army that completed the conquest of most of India between 1796 and 1813.

Many Irish people are probably unaware that Arthur Wellesley was an MP for Trim and later prime minister of Britain, twice - though most people are more familiar of his exploits under his title 'the Duke of Wellington' - the man who finally defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo.

It eventually took the deaths of over 800,000 people during and after the Indian Mutiny of 1857 for the British government to finally begin to confront the uncontrolled excesses of the East India Company. The initial campaign in the 1780s to curb them were spearheaded by the two finest orators of the age - the Dublin-born MPs Richard Brinsley Sheridan and Edmund Burke.

The struggle by national governments to control the excesses of big corporation will again be a global issue in the next decade.

Ireland is likely to be the location where many of Europe's battles with large corporations will take place.

After Brexit, this will increasingly happen here because we will be the EU's only major English-speaking country with a common law system - which is much more familiar setting for American corporations.

Add to that the reality that Ireland already has a strong cluster of specialisations that include pharma, medical devices, Big Data and IT manufacturing, and it becomes obvious that Ireland will occupy a prominent location where governments will try to curb corporate excesses.

Ireland needs to prepare for this new role by strategically recognising and resourcing specialists in our courts and regulatory agencies.

This is an example of the type of strategic thinking that needs to become our new national discourse. Our national government can no longer afford to be mired in local politics. We need to raise our ambition.

The participation by the Irish judiciary in protests at Poland's emerging autocratic practices is an example of the opportunities for international participation and influence that EU membership provides. This is what we need to do more of, and do better, but there is a danger that we will find it increasingly difficult to operate at this high level.

As Ireland tries to operate more effectively at this strategic and international level it will become increasingly obvious that our excessively centralised governance takes up too much time of civil service and Cabinet. This leaves insufficient time or talent to spend on serious strategic issues.

As we face into a general election and the associated blizzard of promises, we will hear of many proposals to improve or replace existing arrangements. In this context it is worth reminding ourselves of our successes - so that babies are not thrown out with bathwater.

We need to remind ourselves that, as a country, we recently managed successfully to extract ourselves and fully recover from one of the worst economic collapse that has recently befallen a modern democracy. Our systems of government - political and administrative - were not found wanting, so far.

According to the OECD our achievements as a nation include creating the second most progressive system of income re-distribution in the world - with only 16pc of income tax and USC payments coming from the majority [73pc] while the top 27pc of income earners pay 84pc.

These figures offer an even worse challenge to the 'tax the rich brigade' when it emerges that households who earn more than 100,000pa [the top 7pc] pay 51pc of all income tax and USC and the richest 1pc pay 26pc.

We have one of the world's highest levels of participation in third level education, while our secondary students are consistently ranked above average in international literacy, science and mathematical skills.

In terms of health, according to the OECD in 2019, health expenditure is above the EU average on a per capita basis while Irish life expectancy is now above most EU countries and we also have the EU's highest share of the population that reports being in good health.

As if all of this weren't enough, earlier last week the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, accused Ireland of being "a strong and confident country, with the fastest growing economy in the EU and more people at work than ever before... all this in spite of the spectre of Brexit".

These are bad times for demagogue nay-sayers and the perpetually pessimistic who all want to persuade us about how bad Ireland is and that the only solution is to follow their prescription to change everything.

On the other hand, 'Steady as she goes' is a hard message to sell, appearing to lack vision and glamour, even though it has the singular advantage of being demonstrably effective and accurate.

A general election offers an opportunity to reflect on where we are and where we want to go next. If the last decades have mostly been about survival and recovery, the next need to be about purposeful growth.

As we become more prosperous, each year provides fewer and fewer relevant examples that we can follow. This means that we need to chart a course for ourselves, especially in a post-Brexit Europe.

Irish individuals appear to have a capacity to perform as equals on the world stages with examples ranging from the 18th Century Wellesley brothers to Phil Hogan representing the EU in Washington last week.

The next part of our national journey needs to widen this, so that the success of individuals becomes the example for the institutions of our state.

This will necessitate a significant re-think of how we govern ourselves.

As a small country with a limited pool of talent, we can no longer afford the luxury of an overly centralised government.

We must reorganise ourselves quickly by delegating as many functions as possible from central to regional and local government.

We, the electorate, need to demand better, smarter governance - to bring us ahead of the curve. At doorsteps during canvassing we need to ask candidates about bigger things than getting the potholes fixed.

Every one of us needs to ask: "What are you proposing to do to prepare us for success after Brexit?"
Maintaining a cautious stance on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) so far, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has finally broken his silence over the contentious Act. In an interview, Kejriwal said the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre was bringing CAA so as to divide people as it was unable to solve the problem of unemployment and economic slowdown.

Kejriwals remark comes a fortnight ahead of February 8 Delhi Assembly elections. The CAA has caused widespread protests across the country, including Delhi, where an all-womens sit-in at Shaheen Bagh has caught the imagination of the people.

The protest at Shaheen Bagh is running for over 40 days and has caused long traffic snarls affecting lakhs of daily commuters.

On being asked about his views on the Shaheen Bagh protest, Kejriwal said even though protesting is everyones right, it should not be at the expense of causing inconvenience to others, The Times of India has reported.

When asked why the chief minister hasnt visited the sit-in, Kejriwal said if a visit by him could end the stir, he would have ended it in five minutes.

Accusing the Modi government of using CAA as a diversionary tactic, Kejriwal was quoted by the newspaper as saying, It is beyond my understanding that when the country is going through such a bad phase of economic slowdown, what was the need to bring CAA? If CAA and NRC are removed, people will return to their homes.

This has been done to divert attention from the issue of unemploymentthe uproar has been created because they do not have the guts to talk about jobs and the economy, he added.

Furthering his poll plank, Kejriwal said better education, health facilities, infrastructure, electricity, water and not CAA or NRC, will take this country forward.

Meanwhile, Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, on January 23, also told CNN News18 that he stands with the people of Shaheen Bagh.

Although AAP had voted against the Citizenship Amendment Bill in Parliament, its leaders havent visited any of the protest sites, including Shaheen Bagh. BJP Delhi chief Manoj Tiwari, however, continues to accuse AAP and Congress for fomenting tension on the ground.
Recently, Indian business tycoon Ratan Tata posted a picture of his younger self on Instagram which broke the internet as people started to realize the younger version of one India's biggest Industrialist, may as well have been a Hollywood star.

This is also because if you take a look at the younger version of Mr Tata, you'll realize how the picture clearly suggests that cleaning up well can do a lot. And, especially, for Mr Tata, who stuck to basics especially when it came to his style game and made sure that even wardrobe staples like a basic crisp white shirt looked stunning on a regular day. Here's proof:

Post this picture, people just can't get over how good Ratan Tata looked in his time. For the uninitiated, Mr Tata is the great-grandson of Jamsetji Tata, the founder of Tata Group. He is also an alumnus of the Cornell University College of Architecture. After returning to India, he succeeded J. R. D. Tata upon the latter's retirement in 1991.

During Mr Ratan Tata's chairmanship of 21 years, Tata Tea acquired Tetley and Tata Motors acquired Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Steel acquired Corus, this was done in an attempt to take Tata from a largely India-centric group into a global business brand.

So, we scouted for rare pictures of Ratan Tata from his days in the US as a student to his early days in India when he was stepping into heading the Tata Industries. These pictures will convince you that he was definitely very handsome (still is ) and has been on top of his style game at all times.

1. This is a picture from his time at Cornell University.

 Instagram/Ratan Tata

2. This, however, has an official stamp from Cornell University.

 Qoura

3. Ratan Tata in a basic white shirt.

 Freemediaworld

4. A pictorial demonstration of Ratan Tata's aviation hobbies.

 Medium

5. A picture of Mr Tata leading the way at Tata industries.

 Rediff

6. We're assuming this one was taken right after Rata Tata returned to India.

 Freemediaworld

7. This is a picture of Ratan Tata with J. R. D. Tata.

 Freemediaworld
Jharkhand police on Friday has named 14 persons in the first information report lodged for killing of seven anti-Pathalgadi villagers in Burugulikera village in West Singhbhum district, a day after their bodies were buried in the village amid heavy police presence. Police said another 200 unidentified persons have been named in the FIR lodged under relevant sections of the IPC for rioting and murder.

None of the villagers including the family members of those killed participated in the burial just outside the village, said districts superintendent of police, Indrajit Mahatha, who will supervise the eight member special investigation team constituted on Thursday night to probe the killing. The SIT was constituted after chief minister Hemant Sorens visit to the village.

The police had so far maintained that the killing was result of a dispute between the pro- and anti-Pathalgadi groups in the village on January 16, which further escalated on January 19, when the seven were badly beaten up in the village gram sabha (a body of all villagers) and beheaded in a nearby forests, where their bodies were found on Tuesday.

Pathalgadi refers to a traditional practice among Munda tribals of erecting stone slabs (called pathals) in honour of their ancestors, to announce important decisions and demarcate boundaries of villages. In 2017, tribals in Khunti and West Singhbhum districts had started a Pathagadi movement, where stone slabs were erected declaring self-governance and prohibiting entry of non-tribals to protest against then BJP governments attempt to acquire tribal land for development projects.

On Friday, police officials said that the first arrests in the killing could be announced on Saturday. We have been interrogating the three persons detained in connection with the mass-killing of seven villagers in the night of January 19. We hope first results in the form of arrests may happen tomorrow, said a SIT official said, who was not willing to be named.

The police also named 14 pro-Pathalgadi villagers as accused in the case including former village head Ranshi Budh, who is absconding. They have been named on basis of complaint by Batau Budh, father of Lomba Budh, who claimed that he saw his son being beaten, stoned and then beheaded on January 19 night, police said.

I had gone to the meeting called by the village munda on January 19 with my son, Lomba Budh, where Lomba and eight others from our tollah (hamlet) were being questioned about an alleged attack on five houses in another tollah of the village. Suddenly the crowd of over 200 people started beating them up and everybody started running. But the crowd got hold of the seven of them and brutally beat them to death. Afterwards they dragged the bodies to the nearby jungles and beheaded them, Batau said, in his complaint.

Police have also collected blood-stained mud from the crime site, but have failed to recover the weapons that were used. They have also not been able to trace two missing villagers, Dhusru Budh and Sukra Budh, from the anti-Pathalgadi group, missing since January 19, and two others, Roshan Barjo and Lodhra Budh, from the pro-Pathalgadi group, allegedly missing since January 16.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
[January 23, 2020] Franklin Resources, Inc. to Announce First Quarter Results on January 30, 2020

On Thursday, January 30, 2020 at approximately 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time, Franklin Resources, Inc. (the "Company") [NYSE:BEN] will release its first quarter 2020 operating results. A written commentary on the results will also be available via investors.franklinresources.com at approximately 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. In addition, Chairman and CEO Greg Johnson, President and COO Jenny Johnson, and Executive Vice President and CFO Matthew Nicholls will lead a live teleconference at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time to answer questions of a material nature. Access to the teleconference will be available via investors.franklinresources.com or by dialing (877) 407-8293 in the U.S. and Canada or (201) 689-8349 internationally. A replay of the teleconference can also be accessed by calling (877) 660-6853 in the U.S. and Canada or (201) 612-7415 internationally using access code 13697876, after 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on January 30, 2020 through March 1, 2020. Analysts and investors are encouraged to review the Company's recent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and to contact Investor Relations at (650) 312-4091 before the live teleconference for any clarifications or questions related to the earnings release or written commentary.



Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE:BEN] is a global investment management organization operating as Franklin Templeton. Franklin Templeton's goal is to deliver better outcomes by providing global and domestic investment management to retail, institutional and sovereign wealth clients in over 170 countries. Through specialized teams, the Company has expertise across all asset classes, including equity, fixed income, alternatives and custom multi-asset solutions. The Company's more than 600 investment professionals are supported by its integrated, worldwide team of risk management professionals and global trading desk network. With employees in over 30 countries, the California-based company has more than 70 years of investment experience and over $698 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2019. For more information, please visit investors.franklinresources.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200123005872/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
I've Seen the End of You: A Neurosurgeon's Look at Faith, Doubt, and the Things We Think We Know

By W. Lee Warren

WaterBrook. 259 pp. $25.99

---

Moments before W. Lee Warren performs brain surgery, he cradles the head of the anesthetized patient, looks down and prays.

"God, direct my hands to accomplish this task safely. Let ... the scans be wrong, the problem be manageable. ... Let me take care of him in a way that honors you."

Warren prays, he explains in his book, "I've Seen the End of You: A Neurosurgeon's Look at Faith, Doubt, and the Things We Think We Know," because his work is sacred and dangerous, because he needs reminding that there could be things he won't be able to control. He prays because he needs help.

In his previous book, "No Place to Hide," Warren wrote of his time as a combat surgeon in Iraq. With "I've Seen the End of You," he moves from the battlefield to the operating room of a hospital in Wyoming, where the resources are greater, but when a case involves a deadly brain tumor, the problems are equally weighty. His account is moving yet problematic.

A man of deep Christian faith, Warren rises at 3 a.m. each day to pray, read the Bible and write. He prays often with his wife and children, and always prays for and sometimes with his patients and their families.

The bulk of his time in the operating room is spent fixing ruptured disks and pinched nerves, the bread and butter of neurosurgical practice. Once in a rare while he encounters a patient with a particularly virulent type of brain cancer, known as glioblastoma multiforme.

In "I've Seen the End of You," Warren trains his narrative lens on the patients with glioblastoma, a brain tumor as random as it is cruel, with a five-year survival rate of less than 10 percent. While progress over the past few years in the treatment of many cancers is impressive, for glioblastoma patients, Warren reports, the best news has been the development of a drug that extends life by a few months in roughly half of those who take it. Caring for these patients is a sad and frustrating business.

The book's title derives from the brewing intracranial storm of glioblastoma revealed to Warren when he examines the MRIs of those who have come to him complaining of bad headaches, nausea or dizziness. As soon as he sees this on a scan, he thinks, "I've seen the end of you."

The story starts with Samuel Martin, 35, a devout Christian with a kind, gentle manner and a faith that never appears to waver. It is Warren's faith that begins to founder while he is treating Martin.

As happens with many deeply religious physicians who manage diseases with terrible outcomes, Warren is caught in a crossfire between his belief that God can heal disease and the incontrovertible fact that glioblastoma is nearly always fatal. Glioblastoma "is always (BEGIN ITAL)really(END ITAL) growing somewhere," he writes. "At some subcellular level it's in there mutating, plotting, preparing to pounce and pile-drive his nervous system into oblivion."

Warren can no longer deny what he is feeling: "I did not doubt that God could heal Samuel; I knew he could. I was afraid that he wouldn't."

Martin's diagnosis and decline occur roughly in parallel with the case of 30-year-old Joey Wallace, a scruffy, belligerent drug dealer. Warren meets Wallace for the first time in the intensive-care unit; a bloody bandage is wrapped around Wallace's head, his ankle shackled to the bed rail.

Wallace's skull was fractured by a Drug Enforcement Administration agent during a meth lab bust. While performing emergency surgery on Wallace to treat a hematoma caused by the agent's blow, Warren discovers a tumor - a glioma - that is not yet malignant. It's an eerie coincidence, one that could save Wallace's life.

Wallace presents a striking contrast to the big-hearted Martin. A swastika tattooed on the back of one hand and a naked woman tattooed on his neck, Wallace has needle marks covering both arms. He is surly to the nurses, churlish with Warren, his life littered with bad choices. Yet of the two men, Wallace is the one who gets lucky.

"Samuel was the good guy," Warren writes. "If anyone was a worthless pile of parts, it was Joey." With this, Warren posits an age-old question about God, faith and fairness, asking in this case "why nice people so often get malignant cancers ... while their scumbag neighbors run meth labs and survive brain tumors."

Warren's faith suffered a deeper blow when tragedy struck his own family. His spirit shattered, he was left with a God who heard prayers and answered them with a firm "no."

Warren's writing is fluid and evocative. He asks with delicate finesse, again and again, the question of how to give someone hope when, as a physician, he knows there is none. He comes to see that the real question to ask is this: "How can I help people (including myself) hold on to their faith when life is hard, no matter how God answers their prayers?"

His final epiphany comes with the realization that "life is a Hobson's choice. You get good stuff mixed in with a lot of pain, or you get nothing. It's your choice, and the choice is to take it or leave it."

During Warren's periods of doubt, he looks increasingly to Pastor Jon, the wise and comforting hospital chaplain. Pastor Jon shows up for the first time on Page 96 and on 30 subsequent pages - a leitmotif of faith and enlightenment. Pastor Jon even sets Bad Boy Wallace on a spiritual path.

But there's a problem, one that greatly diminished the book's impact on this reader: Pastor Jon, or the individual as drawn by Warren, doesn't exist. He is, as Warren writes in a brief author's note, an "amalgam of numerous hospital chaplains." The same holds for some of the patients, who are "composites of several real people." And four of the fellow physicians Warren describes are "wholly fictitious representatives of colleagues."

He invented composites of his patients, he tells readers, "in order to illustrate aspects of their care without risk of identifying them." He no doubt had patients with glioblastoma, and privacy protections under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) are very real. But it is possible to remove identifying characteristics in a way that preserves privacy while depicting one real person, not a stitched-together version of many. Moreover, HIPAA protections extend only to patients, not to hospital chaplains, and not to colleagues.

As composites, Martin and Wallace and Pastor Jon become mythical figures, as villainous or good as their creator chooses to make them. Composite characters, that is, add up to fiction.

Warren possesses fine writerly chops. He is certainly talented enough to hew closely to a real cast of characters and still make his story shine. Had he trusted himself as a writer a little more and relied on the crutch of composites a little less, he'd have done a greater service to the reader and to himself.

"The stories in this book are true,"Warren writes. Yet the author of a work of nonfiction who asserts that a story is true, then offers details that might or might not be true, runs the risk of losing a reader's faith. Just as Warren poses lofty questions of faith vs. science, his choice here poses a big question to readers: How much trust can they put in an author who makes up more than he needs to?

---

Hafner is a journalist who writes about health care. She is the author of six works of nonfiction, most recently a memoir, "Mother Daughter Me," and is at work on a novel.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 17:29:56|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

BEIJING, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday congratulated Kandhi Elieisar on his assuming office as secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Federated States of Micronesia.

In his congratulatory message, Wang said that bilateral relations have achieved remarkable progress since China and the Federated States of Micronesia established diplomatic ties 31 years ago.

David W. Panuelo, president of the Federated States of Micronesia, paid a successful state visit to China not long ago, injecting new impetus into the development of bilateral relations, he added.

China is willing to work with the Federated States of Micronesia to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, and continuously promote indepth and substantive development of their comprehensive strategic partnership, so as to bring benefits to both peoples, Wang said.
JERUSALEM (AP)  French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday lost his temper with Israeli security agents during a visit to a French church in Jerusalem and angrily ordered one of them to leave the premises.

The incident occurred during a spat between Israeli forces and Macron's own security detail as he entered the Church of St. Anne. The church, located in Jerusalem's Old City, is French state property and Macron did not want the Israeli guards leading him inside.

Everybody knows the rules, Macron said in English as he raised his voice toward an Israeli security official. I don't like what you did in front of me. Go outside.

He then turned to another Israeli official and thanked him for his work. But he then asked the police around him to please respect the rules as they are for centuries. They will not change with me.

Macron later described the incident as a moment of irritation between security forces, noting that Israeli security stops at the door of the church and French security takes over.

Israel has deployed thousands of police as dozens of world leaders, including Macron, descend upon the city for a commemoration ceremony Thursday marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

The scene was reminiscent of a 1996 visit by then French President Jacques Chirac, who also got angry at Israeli security accompanying him in Jerusalem.

What do you want, me to go back to my plane and go back to France? Chirac screamed at the time.

In a joint statement, Israeli police and the Shin Bet security agency said that when Macron arrived, there was a discussion between Israeli and French security about entering the church with him. It said Israeli guards escorted him inside based on the terms agreed upon ahead of time."

When the president and the delegation finished the visit, he apologized about the incident and shook hands with the security personnel and continued his scheduled visit in the old city with security guards, it said.
Technology's most influential leaders have a new message: It's not us you need to worry about -- it's artificial intelligence.

Two years ago, big tech embarked on a repentance tour to Davos in response to criticism about the companies' role in issues such as election interference by Russia-backed groups; spreading misinformation; the distribution of extremist content; antitrust violations; and tax avoidance. Uber Technologies' new chief even asked to be regulated.

These problems haven't gone away -- last year tech's issues were overshadowed by the world's --- but this time executives warned audiences that AI that must be regulated, rather than the companies themselves.

"AI is one of the most profound things we're working on as humanity. It's more profound than fire or electricity," Alphabet Inc. Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai said in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland on Wednesday. Comparing it to international discussions on climate change, he said, "You can't get safety by having one country or a set of countries working on it. You need a global framework."

The call for standardized rules on AI was echoed by Microsoft Corp. CEO Satya Nadella and IBM CEO Ginni Rometty.

"I think the U.S. and China and the EU having a set of principles that governs what this technology can mean in our societies and the world at large is more in need than it was over the last 30 years," Nadella said.

It's an easy argument to make. Letting companies dictate their own ethics around AI has led to employee protests. Google notably decided to withdraw from Project Maven, a secret government program that used the technology to analyze images from military drones, in 2018 after a backlash. Researchers agree.

"We should not put companies in a position of having to decide between ethical principles and bottom line," said Stefan Heumann, co-director of think tank Stiftung Neue Verantwortung in Berlin. "Instead our political institutions need to set and enforce the rules regarding AI."

The current wave of AI angst is also timely. In a few weeks the EU is set to unveil its plans to legislate the technology, which could include new legally binding requirements for AI developers in "high-risk sectors," such as health care and transport, according to an early draft obtained by Bloomberg. The new rules could require companies to be transparent about how they build their systems.

Warning the business elite about the dangers of AI has meant little time has been spent at Davos on recurring problems, notably a series of revelations about how much privacy users are sacrificing to use tech products. Amazon.com Inc. workers were found to be listening in to people's conversations via their Alexa digital assistants, Bloomberg reported last year, leading EU regulators to look at more ways to police the technology. In July, Facebook Inc. agreed to pay U.S. regulators $5 billion to resolve the Cambridge Analytica data scandal. And in September Google's YouTube settled claims that it violated U.S. rules, which ban data collection on children under 13.

Instead of apologies over privacy violations, big tech focused on how far it has come in the past few years in terms of looking after personal data.

Facebook Vice President Nicola Mendelsohn said in an interview with Bloomberg Television on Friday that the company has rolled out standards similar to Europe's General Data Protection Regulation in other markets.

"Let's be very clear, we already have regulation, GDPR," Mendelsohn said in response to a question about the conversations Facebook is having with regulators. "We didn't just do it in Europe where it was actually regulated. We thought it was a very considered and useful way of thinking about things so we actually rolled a lot of that out around the world as well."

Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes

Keith Enright, Google's chief privacy officer, also spoke at a separate conference in Brussels this week about how the company is working to find ways to minimize the amount of customer data it needs to collect.

"We're right now really focused on doing more with less data," Enright said at a data-protection conference on Wednesday. "This is counter-intuitive to a lot of people, because the popular narrative is that companies like ours are trying to amass as much data as possible."

Holding on to data that isn't delivering value for users is "a risk," he said.

But regulators are still devising on new laws to protect user data. The U.S. is working on federal legislation that calls for limits on sharing customer information and, similar to GDPR, require companies get consent from consumers before sharing data with third parties. Facebook, Amazon, Apple Inc. and Microsoft all increased the amount they spent on lobbying in Washington last year, with some of those funds going to pushing industry-friendly privacy bills.

And even though tech executives called for AI rules, they still cautioned against regulating too much, too fast. Pichai reminded lawmakers that existing rules may already apply in many cases. Lawmakers "don't need to start from scratch" he said.

_ _ _

With assistance from Bloomberg's Nate Lanxon and Stephanie Bodoni.
DISTURBING reports about far-right group Britain First targeting Rotherham mosques have prompted the council and police to take action.

Rotherham MP Sarah Champion said there had been disturbing reports of Britain First targeting Rotherham wanting people to 'out' grooming gangs.

She added: This is deliberate intimidation and doesnt help victims."

A South Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: We are working with Rotherham Council and the local community following reports a group was seen handing out leaflets at two mosques in the town yesterday (Thursday).

We have implemented additional police patrols as we work with the community and provide reassurance.

Enquiries are ongoing.

Ms Champion thanked South Yorkshire Police for maintaining order, adding: The irony is, because you have to police these idiots you're not able to catch abusers.

She said the activists intentions were to intimidate residents and divide our communities," adding: "I want to send a message today  the far right is not welcome in our town

When Rotherham has been targeted by the far-right before, I have always been proud to see our communities come together to send that message loud and clear.

Nevertheless, I know the presence of such hateful groups will be worrying, particularly for BME communities.

"I therefore wanted to provide reassurance that the police are aware of, and actively monitoring, this activity and were quickly on the streets reassuring people last night.

I have spoken with senior police officers in Rotherham and they will be working closely with RMBC and with local mosques. Extra patrols will also be mounted to ensure all Rotherhams residents can go about their lives in security and free from harassment.

Should you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to report them to the police on 101, or, in an emergency, on 999.

We will not be divided by those that seek to spread division. I stand shoulder to shoulder with all Rotherhams diverse communities in the face of hatred and bigotry.

Rotherham Council has been contacted for a comment.
Chengalpattu: A statue of Dravidian icon Periyar was found vandalised in Kaliyapattai village in Chengalpattu district of Tamil Nadu on Friday. Residents were shocked to see the statue's right hand and face damaged.

The damaged parts have been covered with clothes now. The police is investigating the matter and further details are awaited.

Tamil Nadu: A statue of Periyar was found vandalised in Chengalpattu. Police is present at the spot. More details awaited. pic.twitter.com/DLmJ4NMlaj  ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2020

The incident comes amid protests across the state condemning actor-politician Rajinikanth's remarks on the social reformer. On the 50th anniversary event of the Tamil magazine 'Thuglak' on January 14, Rajinikanth had reportedly said that at a rally in Salem in 1971 led by late Periyar, idols of Lord Ram and Sita were taken out without any clothes on them and that the deities also featured a garland of sandals. The actor claimed that then, no news outlet had published it.

Following a widespread over his remarks, the actor later issued a statement, sticking to his remarks and refused to issued an apology to protesters. "There is a debate on an issue I spoke on and which happened in 1971. I didnt speak on something that didnt happen. Ive only spoken on what was reported. Sorry, I wont apologise," he said.

Live TV

Several parties condemned Rajinikanth's statement and demanded an unconditional apology from him. On January 17, Dravidar Viduthulai Kazhagam filed a police complaint against Rajinikanth over his remarks against Periyar seeking action against him.

On January 20, five members of a fringe Tamil outfit were arrested in Madurai for burning an effigy of superstar Rajinikanth. The activists of Athi Tamizhar Peravai raised slogans and burnt an effigy of the actor, accusing him of spreading 'false' information about a 1971 rally to defame 'Periyar'.

K Veeramani, President of the Dravidar Kazhagam, founded by Periyar, said the actor will have to 'answer the court', for his remark.

Panneerselvam, the ruling AIADMK top leader, said Periyar's ideals cannot be found fault with. "It was Periyar who laid the foundation for even an ordinary man like me to occupy lofty positions," he said. Only after thorough research on the leader's work for the upliftment of the Tamil society, should anyone express their views, he said, virtually censuring Rajinikanth.
The health of our crew members and passengers is a top priority for us and we refuse to compromise their health or safety in any way, Bassani said. I am urging American Airlines and all airlines to do everything humanly possible to contain the outbreak and minimize any chance of exposure. We will continue to speak out to ensure airlines are erring on the side of caution and putting our members health first in these dangerous times.
Tokyo, Jan 24 : The police in Japan have announced an investigation into a former postman who kept tens of thousands of undelivered items at his home.

Authorities found about 24,000 pieces of mail at the man's house in Kanagawa, near Tokyo, the BBC reported on Friday.

The unnamed 61-year-old reportedly said it was "too much bother to deliver them," and that he did not want to seem less able than his younger colleagues.

Yokohama's post office has apologised and promised to deliver all the post.

The branch - where the man worked as head of delivery - became suspicious last year after an internal check. The man admitted to the allegation and was fired.

Authorities then lodged a criminal complaint with police, referring to about 1,000 missing deliveries between February 2017 and November last year.

Reports, however, suggest that the former postman has been keeping mail at his home since 2003.

If convicted, he faces up to three years in jail, or a fine of about 500,000 yen ($4,600).
D owning Street staged a performance of giant dragons earlier today to mark Chinese New Year.

Boris Johnson watched on as the bright red and yellow costumes danced outside Number 10.

The prime minister also painted one of the Chinese Lions in front of photographers and onlookers.

He is hosting a reception for the British Chinese community to celebrate the advent of Lunar New Year, which lasts from Saturday until February 8.

The jubilant scenes were a contrast to the series of cancelled festivities in China as authorities battle to contain the coronavirus outbreak.
The Russian Defense Ministry on Thursday said that hundreds of Syrian terrorists have launched attacks against regime forces in several parts of Syria's Idlib province, killing up to 40 Syrian soldiers. The ministry said that militants had seized two settlements in one of the offensives, which began on Wednesday, forcing Syrian army troops to abandon some of their positions in the southeast of the so-called Idlib de-escalation zone under rocket fire.

Idlib is the last opposition-held swathe of territory in the country and hundreds of thousands of people in the area have fled in recent weeks amid heavy airstrikes by Russian and Syrian forces. Russia said Syrian regime forces had killed up to 50 terrorists and wounded up to 90 attackers.

READ | 'Don't Do It': US President Warns Russia, Iran, And Syria Against Killings In Idlib

Syrian state media made no mention of army casualties but said an attack that included car bombs and heavy gunfire early on Thursday had forced some of its forces to re-deploy. The spokesman for the National Liberation Front coalition of rebel groups Naji al-Mustafa disputed the Syrian media and Russian government accounts and said no such assault had taken place on Wednesday or Thursday.

Mustafa said attacks had been carried out against government forces earlier in the week as a response to stepped-up strikes against them in Idlib, but the area had seen no operations over the past 24 hours.

Moscow said the attackers were from different groups, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham that were equipped with pickup trucks, armoured personnel carriers, tanks, and heavy machine guns.

READ | Syrians Flee Southern Idlib, Aim For Turkish Border

UN envoy to Syria to visit Russia

UN Special Envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen will visit Russia on Friday, according to Russias Foreign Ministry. Pedersen is scheduled to hold talks with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Diplomatic sources suggested that discussions will likely focus on the work of the Constitutional Committee and the evolving situation in Syrias northwest.

READ | Syria: 9 Civilians Killed As Regime Forces Advances In Idlib Province

READ | Syrian Government Launches Airstrikes In Idlib, Thousands Flee From Their Homes

(with agencies input)

(image:AP)
GMR Web Team, a leading healthcare digital marketing agency with expertise in patient acquisition and retention, announced that they have moved their office to a new location in Tustin, California.

The address of the new location is 2552 Walnut Ave. Suite 100 Tustin, CA 92780. All other contact information, including phone numbers, remain the same.

This new office allows us to better serve the needs of our clients and employees, said Ajay Prasad, Founder and CEO of GMR Web Team. Our new space will allow us to foster more growth and increase productivity. I am thankful for all the help we have received to date and will continue to work closely with our clients to ensure their success.

GMR Web Team offers all types of digital marketing services to healthcare providers and medical groups. They create a comprehensive online marketing strategy that focuses on building a loyal base of patients and improving patient acquisition and retention.

GMR Web Team has a dedicated team of strategists, graphic designers, website programmers, and digital marketing experts who understand the different needs of every healthcare practice and provide them with the best possible solutions.

About GMR Web Team

Founded in 2004, GMR Web Team is a digital marketing agency specializing in healthcare. Their mission is to help patient-centric healthcare providers grow and increase their market share through comprehensive digital strategies that focus on patient acquisition, satisfaction, and retention. Headquartered in Tustin, CA, GMR Web Team has a development and marketing team of over 80 employees.

For details or clarifications, please contact us at info@gmrwebteam.com or 800-523-7187, or visit us at http://www.gmrwebteam.com.
Imperial Valley News Center

Doctor Pleads Guilty to Unlawfully Distributing Oxycodone to His Patients

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - A Pennsylvania doctor pleaded guilty Tuesday to unlawfully distributing oxycodone to his patients.

Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Departments Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Special Agent in Charge Michael T. Harpster of the FBIs Philadelphia Field Office made the announcement.

Timothy F. Shawl, M.D., 60, of Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to five counts of unlawful distribution of controlled substances before U.S. District Judge R. Barclay Surrick of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Sentencing has been scheduled for May 5, 2020, before Judge Surrick.

As part of his guilty plea, Shawl admitted that he wrote prescriptions for controlled substances that were outside the usual course of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. He further admitted that he wrote prescriptions, usually for oxycodone, for certain patients without seeing, treating or examining them; generally, patients just picked up an envelope with their prescription from the receptionist at Shawls office. He further admitted that for one patient, he had not conducted a physical examination in at least five years, despite regularly prescribing controlled substances. This patient died on Jan. 7, 2019, just three days after Shawl last prescribed oxycodone for her, and the cause of death was drug intoxication.

This case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from task force officers from the Philadelphia Police Department and Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General. Trial Attorney Debra Jaroslawicz of the Criminal Divisions Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.

The Fraud Section leads the Medicare Fraud Strike Force. Since its inception in March 2007, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, which maintains 15 strike forces operating in 24 districts, has charged more than 4,200 defendants who have collectively billed the Medicare program for nearly $19 billion. In addition, the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the HHS-OIG, are taking steps to increase accountability and decrease the presence of fraudulent providers.
Coronavirus tests on two patients in Scotland have come back negative, the countrys chief medical officer has said.

Five people have been suspected of having coronavirus in Scotland but the first wave of test results revealed two of the patients were not infected by the potentially fatal virus.

The remaining three Scottish patients are still awaiting the results of tests.

Scotland is well prepared for these types of outbreaksChief Medical Officer Catherine Calderwood

There are currently no confirmed cases of the infection in the UK, with all 14 tests all coming back negative.

All the people tested in the UK are believed to have visited Wuhan  the Chinese city where the outbreak originated.

Health Protection Scotland is advising travellers returning from Wuhan who become unwell within a fortnight from a sore throat, cough or breathing difficulties to call their GP or NHS 24.

Scotlands Chief Medical Officer Catherine Calderwood said: Scotland is well prepared for these types of outbreaks  we have a proven track record of dealing with challenging health issues and the UK was one of the first countries in the world to develop a test for the new virus.

I am being kept fully informed about the precautionary steps being taken, including timely updates on the patients who are currently being tested.

NEW BLOG: Wuhan novel coronavirus: what you need to know https://t.co/9vOzpEOscA  UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) January 24, 2020

An emergency Cobra meeting was chaired by Health Secretary Matt Hancock to discuss the threat of a coronavirus outbreak, although the Chief Medical Officer for England Professor Paul Cosford has said the risk remains low.

Following the Cobra meeting, Prof Cosford said: We all agree that the risk to the UK public remains low but there may well be cases in the UK at some stage.

We have tried and tested measures in place to respond. The UK is well prepared for these types of incidents, with excellent readiness against infectious diseases.

We have global experts monitoring the situation around the clock and have a strong track record of managing new forms of infectious disease.
A medical expert has said it is only a matter of time before a case of coronavirus is confirmed in the UK.

Four people are currently being tested for the deadly virus in Scotland after contracting respiratory symptoms after travelling from China.

More than 440 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in China's Hubei province, of which Wuhan is the capital, and officials said at least 17 people have died there.

North Korea has placed a ban on foreign tourists but there have now been cases in the US, Japan and South Korea.

Dr Andrew Freedman, a reader in infectious diseases at Cardiff University, believes it is now likely Britain will be dealing with the infection in the upcoming days and weeks.

He said: "This first case to be identified outside of Asia is a worrying but not unexpected development.

Medical staff wear protection suits and fight with the coronavirus epidemic in Wuhan (PA)

It is likely that further cases will be seen in other countries around the world, including the UK and Europe, in the days and weeks to come.

Although person to person spread of the virus has occurred, including from patients to healthcare workers, it is not clear just how contagious it is.

This is important in determining the risk of a much larger outbreak developing with spread to people who have not travelled to Wuhan.

Health secretary Matt Hancock has also said there is an "increased likelihood" of cases of the new coronavirus in the UK, but insisted the risk to the public remains low and the country is "well prepared".

Read more from Yahoo News UK:

As a virologist, I can tell you all you need to know about the coronavirus  and why you can stop panicking

European shares dip as Chinese coronavirus concerns deepen

China coronavirus: What are the symptoms, where has it spread and is there treatment?

In a Commons statement, he told MPs: "The chief medical officer has revised the risk to the UK population from 'very low' to 'low' and has concluded that while there is an increased likelihood that cases may arise in this country, we are well prepared and well equipped to deal with them."

Story continues

Professor Neil Ferguson, director of the Medical Research Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, said the estimated number of people infected with coronavirus in Wuhan is about 4,000, with a range between 1,000 and 9,700.

Asked whether it was possible the virus had already reached the UK, Professor Ferguson said he could not rule it out.

He said: "We can't rule out that possibility.

Confirmed cases of coronavirus so far (PA)

"Border screening, and in this case, in the UK, alerting the health system is not 100% foolproof  there could be a mild case.

"The UK is not a major destination of visitors travelling out of Wuhan around the world though.

"So I would say it was unlikely, but can't be completely sure."

Prof Ferguson added that the UK would not be able to implement some of the measures China has deployed against outbreaks in the past, including isolating tens of thousands of people.

Experts are set to meet again later to decide whether to declare an international public health emergency over the coronavirus.

Public Health England (PHE) has already upgraded the risk to the UK population from coronavirus from "very low" to low".

Pedestrians cover their faces with sanitary masks after the first cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Hong Kong (AP)

A health official scans the body temperature of a passenger as she arrives at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Indonesia (AP)

What other measures could be taken?

Cases would have to be diagnosed and isolated as quickly as possible in order to prevent onward transmission, and to ensure what is called contact tracing follow-up, according to Prof Ferguson. This would involve identifying who those individuals have come into contact with. And if not isolating them, tracking them through time - daily or more frequently - to see if they develop symptoms and testing them.

What has been done so far?

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued clinical guidance for the detection and diagnosis of Wuhan novel coronavirus and PHE has developed a diagnostic test. The UK is also one of the first countries outside China to have a prototype specific laboratory test for this novel disease.

Airport operational officers are seen using a face mask to prevent coronavirus at Sultan Syarif Kasim II airport in Pekanbaru, Indonesia (Getty)

PHE says clinicians in primary and secondary care have already received advice, covering initial detection and investigation of possible cases, infection prevention and control, and clinical diagnostics.

What is the situation at present?

There are no known cases but enhanced monitoring will be put in place for all direct flights from Wuhan to the UK, the DHSC has said. This includes providing advice to travellers if they feel unwell and what symptoms to look out for.

Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK
Secretary-General of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Chileshe Kapwepwe talks about the organisations efforts to deepen African economic integration to Mona Sewilam

The dream and vision of the great founding fathers of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) led to the formation of regional economic communities in Africa including the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and others.

COMESAs strategy can be summed up in the phrase economic prosperity through regional integration. In late 2019, COMESA celebrated the 25th anniversary of its birth, and Egypt will host the next COMESA Summit of Heads of State and Government in 2020.

The realisation of this dream began with establishing the OAU in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia in 1963. The organisation was mainly focused on promoting unity and solidarity and eradicating all forms of colonialism from Africa. But it did not overlook issues pertaining to African integration.

The OAU was then replaced by the African Union (AU) that was officially launched in Durban in South Africa in 2002. The AU has built on the work of the OAU and been guided by the vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

In May 1963, 32 independent African states were members of the OAU, and currently the AU includes 55 member states.

COMESA traces its genesis to the mid-1960s. The idea of regional economic cooperation and integration received considerable support during the post-independence period in most of Africa. There was a prevailing optimistic mood connected to the Pan-African vision for an Africa that should be united, free, and in control of its own destiny.

The OAUs 1980-2000 Lagos Plan of Action for the Development of Africa and the 1991 treaty establishing the African Economic Community (AEC), more popularly known as the Abuja Treaty, proposed the creation and strengthening of regional economic communities. The aim was to set up the AEC and provide the basis for wider African integration, with a view to regional and eventual continental integration.

Accordingly, the Preferential Trade Area for Eastern and Southern Africa existed from 1981, and COMESA was formed in December 1994 to replace it. The COMESA secretariat is based in the Zambian capital Lusaka, and the population of the member states of COMESA currently exceeds 560 million people, which is almost half of Africas population. This renders COMESA the biggest regional economic community providing access to the largest market for trade and investment in Africa.

COMESA is one of the eight Regional Economic Communities (RECs) recognised by the African Union. The RECs also include the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD), the East African Community (EAC), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The RECs are closely integrated with the AUs work and are building blocks for the AU and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), whose agreement entered into force in 2019.

COMESA includes 21 member states: Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, the Seychelles, Sudan, Somalia, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Egypt, which currently holds the AUs rotating chairmanship, joined COMESA in 1998.



Zambian-born Chileshe Kapwepwe is the first woman secretary-general of COMESA, and she spoke to Al-Ahram Weekly about the organisations efforts to deepen African economic integration and widen cooperation, as well Egypts role and participation in COMESA programmes.

You were selected as secretary-general of COMESA in 2018 after a competitive process, and you are the first woman to hold this position. How is COMESA working on empowering women in Africa?

COMESA has legal and policy frameworks, structures, programmes and projects to promote gender equality and womens empowerment. Its treaty, gender policy, and other frameworks provide guides on various measures to address gender inequalities and womens empowerment across sectors. COMESA uses a twin-track approach: gender mainstreaming and stand-alone initiatives to support women. Its treaty spells out that sustainable development cannot be realised without the full and effective participation of women in the regional development agenda.

The 50 Million African Women Speak (50MAWS) project is the fruit of a partnership between three RECs: COMESA, the East African Community (EAC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The project is focused on empowering African women and getting them involved in business, mentoring, and inspiring each other. Are you succeeding in providing a one-stop shop for their specific information needs and improving their quality of life?

The project has completed the design of the information and networking platform for women. Both the web portal (www.womenconnect.org) and the digital networking app (50MAWSP) for mobile devices are now operational. The platform was launched during the Global Gender Summit in Kigali, Rwanda in 2019. The launch garnered and was exposed to more than 2.7 million social-media users.

The platform enables women to access information on various business and social services, mentorship, and market access and to network with one another to share experiences. From the date of the launch, close to 2,000 women have registered on the platform. National and regional launches of the platform, including outreach and publicity activities, will be undertaken to attract women and service providers. Our emphasis going forward will be to strengthen the availability of dynamic content on the platform and training on how to use it working with project country teams in all the 38 participating member/partner states.

Africa has moved from being referred to as the dark continent and the heart of darkness to being seen as the golden continent and an emerging market. In your view, what do Africans need to do to benefit from Africas abundant opportunities and emerging markets?

We need to create an integrated market that can attract investment opportunities both for trade in goods and services. We need to upscale skills levels to create a digitally empowered future group of young people to be the key resources for production decisions under the Fourth Industrial Revolution. And we need to promote political stability, peace, and good governance and ensure the protection of property rights. There is a need to create the conditions for the greater inward investments needed for employment creation, economic growth, and the eradication of poverty.

Structural and operational constraints now restrict the growth and expansion of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the COMESA region. How are you enhancing intra-COMESA trade through MSME development?

The vision of the COMESA MSME policy is a developed, vibrant, and inclusive MSME sector which, through increased competitiveness and value-added output, will vastly increase intra-COMESA trade and Africas share in global trade to at least eight per cent by 2030. The goal is to stimulate economic development, accelerate job creation, create wealth, and rapidly reduce poverty in the COMESA region.

The COMESA's small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) policy has been domesticated in a number of member states upon demand such as Madagascar, Comoros and Djibouti among others, and this process is ongoing. Under the Regional Enterprise Competitiveness and Access to Markets Programme (RECAMP), operational in 2020, the aim is to promote growth of SMEs in the identified value chains, namely in horticulture, leather and leather products, and agro-processing. Additionally, the cassava value chain has been implemented in member states such as Zambia, Malawi, Rwanda and Kenya, and there are signs of success as regards value addition.



Should the African countries be focusing first on industrialisation, product diversification, and producing finished, semi-finished or semi-processed goods, instead of relying mainly on exporting and importing raw materials to one another?

To achieve this, the COMESA member states adopted the COMESA Industrial Strategy and Action Plan in 2017 for economic transformation in the region. The industrialisation of the COMESA countries depends theoretically on dynamic interactions between three types of factors: peace and security; macroeconomic stability; and the rational use of economic resources.

Economic resources  natural, human, financial and technical  should be used on the basis of dynamic, not static, comparative advantages in national economic development. There is no doubt, therefore, that natural and human resources are more important for industrialisation. From that perspective, two models of industrialisation have been recommended for our region; natural resource-based industrialisation and human resource-based industrialisation. Applying one of these depends on the specificity of each country.

When do you think we will see trading in high-quality, finished, and diversified products bearing the label Made in Africa?

The major challenge facing the COMESA region is that there is low trade in locally manufactured products. This works against the spirit of regional integration and negatively impacts job creation and economic growth. One key intervention area in the COMESA Industrial Strategy relates to enhancing intra- and inter-regional trade in inputs and semi-processed and manufactured products, and work is in progress here.

The COMESA Free Trade Area (FTA) was established in 2000. When would you say that COMESA will see the full participation of all its 21 member states in the COMESA FTA?



COMESA trade liberalisation started with a programme of tariff reductions in 1984 under the Preferential Trade Area for Eastern and Southern Africa. A new programme of tariff reductions under COMESA started in 1994 with the objective of attaining the Free Trade Area (FTA) in 2000. Indeed, the FTA was established in October 2000 with nine founding member states i.e., Djibouti, Egypt, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Other member states joined the FTA with Burundi and Rwanda joining in 2004, Libya and Comoros in 2006, the Seychelles in 2009 and Uganda in 2014.



The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has confirmed that the customs duties on COMESA originating products have been reduced to zero per cent in accordance with its three-year phase-down programme. Once approved, the tariff schedule will be published and shared with the member states through the secretariat most probably during the first quarter of 2020. In 2019, Tunisia decided to join the COMESA FTA at 100 per cent tariff liberalisation and is expected to deposit the FTA instruments before the end of the first quarter of 2020.

The rest of the non-FTA member states have been preparing to join the FTA and a number of activities have been undertaken to this effect. Based on the updates COMESA has been receiving, we expect all COMESA member states to be implementing the FTA within 2-3 years.

Intra-regional trade in Africa is a mere 15 per cent, compared to around 47 per cent in America, 61 per cent in Asia, and 67 per cent in Europe, according to United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) data for 2015 to 2017. Does COMESA regard having an e-commerce platform as an effective way of boosting intra-African trade?

The COMESA Digital Free Trade Area (DFTA) is all about empowering traders to engage in cross-border trade using information and communication technology (ICT) as a tool to minimise physical barriers. The DFTA works on providing traders with the necessary digital tools and infrastructure they need for the enhancement of intra-trade and global trade. DFTA has three thrusts, namely e-trade, e-logistics, and e-legislation, and work is in progress here too.

Digital trade will promote e-commerce by providing an online platform for the COMESA regions traders to trade online. This platform will enable trade within the COMESA FTA inclusive of all tax concessions, making it an online market for the COMESA region. Digital logistics can help drive a differentiated customer experience and highly optimised and efficient operations, and they use ICT as a tool to improve the commercial activity of transporting goods to customers.

Some of the instruments here would be the COMESA e-certificate of origin and standardised customs procedures, etc. Digital legislation will also address the readiness of laws in member states to cater for digital transactions. Most of these instruments are at an advanced stage of development.



The COMESA Yellow Card Scheme is currently operational, and the countries in which it is recognized as valid insurance cover are twelve COMESA member countries i.e., Burundi, Djibouti, DR Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Sudan, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. This is apart from Tanzania which is a non-COMESA member state. How successful has the scheme been?



The COMESA Yellow Card Scheme is also known as Regional Third Party Motor Vehicle Insurance. It is the most successful and widely implemented COMESA transport and transit facilitation instrument. The scheme has been implemented in 13 COMESA and non-COMESA countries. The Yellow Card is digital, and currently over 200 insurance companies are participating in the operations. On a daily basis, thousands of vehicles use the Yellow Card to travel in the region. We are also working with other COMESA and non-COMESA countries such as Egypt, Somalia, Mozambique and Angola to implement the scheme.

How do you deal with the issue of the overlapping membership of various countries in the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and to what extent does this limit their full attention and commitment to COMESA aims and objectives?

COMESA currently has 21 member states, out of which four are members of the East African Community (EAC) and eight are members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The three RECs are operating at various stages of development, with the most advanced in terms of regional integration being the EAC, which is a customs union. This is followed by COMESA, which is largely a free trade area (FTA), although it launched its customs union in 2009 with only a few countries joining. The SADC is currently a FTA, although there is a very strong and integrated Southern African Customs Union (SACU) within this region.

Each REC is unique in its main area of focus, with COMESA focusing more on trade liberalisation, SADC on industrialisation, and EAC on political integration incorporating all stages of integration. This means that out of the member states experiencing the overlaps, each has unique benefits it derives from each REC. COMESA embraces the principle of a variable geometry that allows member states to implement various programmes at different stages.

COMESA is a FTA, and all its overlapping member states have at least attained FTA status, so the overlaps create a larger market for them. In implementing COMESA programmes, there is also close coordination between the EAC and the SADC. Also, most of the programmes and instruments of COMESA, the EAC, and the SADC are aligned. The Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) between the three previous RECs is expected to solve the overlapping membership problem when it enters into force.

COMESA is the only REC that has experienced the departure of five former member states i.e., Angola, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Tanzania, while five new ones have also joined the bloc i.e., Egypt, Libya, the Seychelles, Somalia and Tunisia. Somalia which joined COMESA in 2018 was a former member of the Preferential Trade Area for Eastern and Southern Africa, a precursor of COMESA. How would you explain this?

Article 191 of the COMESA Treaty recognises that membership in the organisation is voluntary and thus provides for the withdrawal of membership on notification to the secretary-general. There were political and economic issues and other considerations that were at play in the late 1990s and the period from 2000 to 2005 that led to the five countries you have referred to making sovereign decisions to withdraw their membership in COMESA.

On the other hand, Article 1(4) of the COMESA Treaty extends the eligibility of COMESA membership to immediate neighbours of COMESA member states on application. This is the provision that has resulted in the admission of additional member states to the COMESA family. A decision to join a REC comes with obligations, and the country concerned also assesses the benefits from such membership. The new member states must have concluded that the benefits of being members of COMESA were greater than the associated costs. Somalia was previously part of the Preferential Trade Area for Eastern and Southern Africa.

How would you describe Egypts participation in COMESA programmes?

On gender and social affairs, Egypt is one of the member states that always prepares its annual progress report on the status of the implementation of programmes on Gender Equality and Womens Empowerment (GEWE), as well as providing progress towards the attainment of agreed targets and goals on GEWE. In addition, Egypt is participating in the implementation of the previously-mentioned 50 Million African Women Speak (50MAWS) project.

Additionally, the COMESA Regional Investment Agency (RIA) is domiciled in Cairo. This plays a pivotal role in facilitating the inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) together with cross-border investment in the region. The RIA also facilitates business-to-business linkages both internally and externally, as well as trade fairs and investment roadshows among other things.

COMESA took part in observing Egypts presidential elections in 2018. How is this relevant to Article 3(d) of the COMESA Treaty, which provides that COMESA cooperates in the promotion of peace, security, and stability among member states in order to enhance economic development in the region?

The secretariat supports the holding of democratic elections in member states as a direct response to decisions of the COMESA ministers of foreign affairs. During their 11th meeting held in Lilongwe, Malawi, in October 2011, the ministers noted the rising levels of violence, dissatisfaction, and complaints following the outcomes of elections with some resulting in the loss of life. The ministers made several key decisions, including calling on member states to invite COMESA to observe elections, as well as calling on COMESA to deploy the COMESA Committee of Elders on pre-election assessment missions to various countries and to utilise them as leaders of COMESA electoral observer missions. The observer missions are therefore done to support the consolidation of democracy and peace in the region.

As much as possible, COMESA seeks joint observer missions. For example, in March 2018, COMESA and the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) launched a successful joint observer mission for the Egyptian presidential elections. A joint mission allows COMESA to cover more ground, and in the case of Egypt the mission was able to observe the elections in 10 governorates. Since 2006, COMESA has observed over 25 elections upon invitation by COMESA member states.

What are the details of the next COMESA Summit of Heads of State and Government?

The theme of the next COMESA Summit to be held in Egypt in 2020 will be communicated once consultations have been completed.

What are the highlights of the 2020 COMESA work programme?

In order to attain the vision of becoming a fully integrated, internationally competitive regional economic community with high standards of living for all its people and ready to merge into an African Economic Community (AEC), COMESA will continue to implement its five-year Strategic Plan using annual work plans. For 2020, the thrust will be: market integration aiming to facilitate the utilisation of trade opportunities; addressing supply-side constraints, particularly in the area of energy; and reinforcing productive integration building on the industrialisation strategy and agriculture programmes.

The main objective will be to help COMESA member states to exploit the identified opportunities for trade and investment to their benefit.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 23 January, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


CPM politburo member and former lawmaker Hannan Mullah on Friday, January 24, slammed BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje for her remark on pro-CAA families being denied water in Kerala. According to Mullah, BJP is a 'proponent of falsehood and lies'. He said, "It is 100 per cent lie and RSS-BJP leaders are the proponents of falsehood and lies. They are uttering hundred per cent lies and spreading fake news. Nothing of such sort has happened in Kerala."

He further added, "In Kerala, there is human government, not an inhumane government that is governing the country."

Earlier, the BJP leader had said that all the pro-CAA families in Kerala have been denied water supply. The Kerala Police had also registered a case against Karandlaje for posting the allegations on social media.

Mullah slams Kapil Mishra

Further, the CPM leader attacked Delhi BJP leader Kapil Mishra over his 'India-Pakistan' statement. He said, "It is the most unfortunate, irresponsible and divisive statement. This type of people should be booked for propagating divisive ideology in the country." Mishra had earlier said that "it will be India vs Pakistan in the elections" in Delhi.

Read: CPM leaders join BPCL workers protest over PSU's privatisation in Parliament

Kerala govt moves resolution against CAA

The Kerala government moved the Supreme Court against the CAA, seeking to declare it violative of the principles of equality, freedom, and secularism enshrined in the Constitution. It was the first state government to challenge the Act and the Kerala Assembly was the first to pass a resolution against the law. Further, Kerala governments state cabinet has decided to inform the Registrar General of India and Census Commissioner that the state will carry out its own census and not follow the National Population Register (NPR).

Read: "Opposition making failed attempts": BJP's Rahul Sinha on Mamata Banerjee's anti-CAA rally

Following in the southern states footsteps, the Punjab Assembly also passed a resolution demanding to scrap the contentious law. Several state governments including Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Maharashtra have voiced their disagreement with the CAA as well as National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR).

Read: 'Book the messenger, do nothing about Malappuram': Sambit Patra on FIR against BJP MP

Read: TMC, CPM activists begin protests against CAA, NRC ahead of PM Modi's two-day Bengal visit

(With ANI Inputs)
What matters most, perhaps, is that the country no longer thinks of itself as an oasis in a turbulent Latin America (in the words of the clueless President Sebastian Pinera) but rather as part of the continents perpetual struggle for justice and equality. A new Chile seems to have been born.

Despite these advances, which prove that the political elite of Chile have started to listen to the neglected majorities they are supposed to represent, it is not enough for Pablo Z. and his leaderless comrades. He showed me four pellet wounds in his upper torso  and said he had been lucky, because many activists (almost 300) had lost some vision because the police deliberately targeted their eyes. Others had been beaten and raped in police stations.

Pablo Z. demands that those responsible for these systematic violations of human rights be put on trial and wants the rampant corruption in the highest places  far too often protected by a system rigged to benefit the obscenely rich  be penalized. He and his comrades, meanwhile, live on indecent salaries.

Violence, he argues, will not cease until these demands, including the resignation of the government, be met. He shrugs off the burning of churches, the interruption of university entrance exams, the barricades in the streets, as inevitable when trying to awaken the country to flagrant inequities, shatter its complacency and restore dignity.

Protesters repeatedly speak of dignity and have even renamed some places in Santiago Dignidad.

We accomplished in 30 days what nobody did in 30 years, Pablo told me. As soon as we stop protesting, the people at the top will ignore us again. Why should we stop now?

There are reasons, though, why the protesters might wish to rethink their tactics. Delinquents and narcos have taken advantage of the everlasting clashes to vandalize and loot. Conservative forces are using the resulting chaos, dread and interruption of normal life to emphasize law and order as the most important issue of the day instead of the urgent questioning of the economic and political model.

Sections of the Chilean right, nostalgic for the Pinochet years, have already begun backtracking from the need for a new constitution and are sponsoring harsh repressive measures against the rights of assembly and free speech.
WASHINGTON - Senior Trump campaign officials lobbied the nonpartisan presidential debate commission last month over the makeup of its board of directors and its moderator choices, pushing for a process they deemed as "fair" and warning that the president may not participate if he is not satisfied, according to people familiar with the meeting.

The December conversation between Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale, campaign operating officer Michael Glassner and Frank Fahrenkopf, the co-chairman of the Commission on Presidential Debates, came as the president weighed whether to participate in the trio of debates scheduled for this fall and as he attacked the commission on Twitter.

Privately, the president has discussed with allies a push to remake the board but has not yet taken specific actions, according to people familiar with the conversations, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe a private encounter.

Parscale complained to Fahrenkopf that so many members of the board of directors were, in his estimation, against the president and that he wanted the commission to choose moderators that were viewed as fair by the president's team.

According to people familiar with the meeting, Parscale cited at least one past moderator that he deemed as unfair, the people familiar with the meeting said.

"We want to have debates that are fair and are more geared toward informing the American people than to boosting the careers of the moderators," Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh said.

He also reiterated the complaint from the president that the microphone did not work during a 2016 debate to the president's liking. Glassner merely observed, the people familiar said. Campaigns have raised concerns with the commission before, but officials said it had never happened this early in the process.

Debate officials promised to keep in touch with Trump's team but did not cede control over the board of directors or the choice of moderators. By commission rules, members are not allowed to support or contribute to political candidates. Board members include former Republican senators John Danforth of Missouri and Olympia Snowe of Maine, former Democratic congresswoman Jane Harman and former Time Warner chief executive Richard Parsons.

Since the meeting, Parscale has discussed with other aides trying to stage debates outside the commission, advisers said. Trump has said to advisers privately that because his ratings are so high on television, he can exert more control over the debates, officials said.

Trump's unhappiness with the debate commission stems from his experience during the 2016 campaign, with at least two factors contributing to his feelings.

One was a complaint that his microphone did not work during the first debate at Hofstra University in New York. Initially, his criticism was dismissed but later commission officials said that the sound level in the debate hall was affected by technical issues related to the microphone. At no time was the audio feed that went out to the national television audience affected, but Trump was still unhappy with what he regarded as mistreatment.

Another issue arose during a town hall debate in St. Louis, which took place a few days after The Washington Post reported the "Access Hollywood" video showing Trump bragging about assaulting women. Trump and his team decided to try to distract attention from his comments on that video by bringing to town four women who had accused former president Bill Clinton of sexual misconduct.

At one point, they were threatening to seat the women in the box reserved for family members, a plan that even caught some of Trump's debate negotiators by surprise. Commission officials noted that the Trump campaign had earlier agreed that those two seating areas were only for family, not other guests, and rebuffed the effort after some heated exchanges.

"The agreement was family and family only," Fahrenkopf, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee, said this week.

Trump also has complained about the makeup of the commission as being composed of anti-Trump politicians and citizens, and about concerns that the moderators would be similarly anti-Trump in their leanings.

At the meeting, Parscale mentioned Candy Crowley, a former CNN anchor, as the kind of moderator the campaign would not accept. Crowley moderated a 2012 debate and sided with President Barack Obama over Republican nominee Mitt Romney on a point of contention between the two.

Parscale reiterated the president's desire to debate his general election opponent, but only if the president believed that he would get a fair shake at a commission-sponsored session. Parscale said the board makeup was troubling to the campaign.

People familiar with the meeting from both sides said it was cordial.

In 2016, Mike McCurry, who was White House press secretary during the Clinton administration, resigned as one of the commissioners because of his desire to engage in partisan activity against Trump.

The commission was established ahead of the 1988 election as an independent, private and nonpartisan organization, not controlled by either party, although the first co-chairs - Fahrenkopf and Paul Kirk - were chairs of their respective parties. The commission gets no funding from the government or the parties.

The commission already has set the dates and locations for three presidential debates and one vice presidential debate for next fall. The presidential events are slated to be held Sept. 29 at the University of Notre Dame, Oct. 7 at the University of Utah and Oct. 15 at the University of Michigan.

"We pick the dates, we pick the places, without any input from the candidates," Fahrenkopf said.

The commission has a long-standing practice of choosing the moderators without any input or veto power by the campaigns. "We pick with no consultation whatsoever," Fahrenkopf said, and campaigns are forbidden from communicating with the moderators ahead of the debates.

Commission officials say they pick individual journalists, primarily those with television experience, not to represent their networks but because of their own professional reputations. "We do not choose a network or a newspaper," said Janet Brown, the commission's executive director. "We look at the body of work of the journalist."

Trump is free not to participate. In 1980, before the commission existed, then-President Jimmy Carter refused to participate in a debate with his Republican challenger, Ronald Reagan, because he objected to the presence of third-party candidate John Anderson, whose poll numbers were strong enough for him to be invited. In that case, Reagan and Anderson debated without Carter.

Were Trump to seek to debate under other auspices that he deemed more friendly, other networks probably would not carry the debate, which is what happens during debates during the primaries that are sponsored by individual networks. In 2000, then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush initially said he would debate under commission auspices but on individual networks. He eventually relented and followed the traditional commission schedule.

In the face of Trump's expressed unhappiness, Fahrenkopf said, "we're going ahead with our plans as we announced in October."
Maruti Suzuki S-Presso | The S-Presso was engineered to a young crowd and features a wide SUV-like stance, something that the youth definitely likes. Starting at Rs 3.71 lakh, the S-Presso gets features like Maruti Suzukis Smartplay 2.0 infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with a host of other features. Powering the hatchback is the discontinued Alto K10s 1-litre motor upgraded to BS-VI.

The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) on Friday said it has commenced exports of its latest compact car S-Presso, which has been conceptualised and designed in India. The consignments have left for global markets, including parts of Asia, Latin America and Africa regions, the company said in a statement.

"S-Presso is a true symbol of Make in India. The car stands testament to our commitment to offer best in design, technology and safety to our customers both locally and globally," MSI Managing Director & CEO Kenichi Ayukawa said.

He further said the car has been widely appreciated by customers in India and the company is confident of its acceptance in international markets.

"With S-Presso we are looking to make inroads in many new markets," Ayukawa added.

The SUV-shaped S-Presso featured amongst India's top 10 bestselling cars within a month of its launch with the company selling over 35,000 units since launch in September 2019 in the domestic market.
With two mobile phone-obsessed daughters, the biggest factor when choosing a holiday seems to be: how photogenic will the destination be for Instagram?

Depressing, but, as modern parlance goes, I had best get over it.

So where better for a family break than Ile de Re, the island off the western coast of France famed for its charming buildings and beautiful scenery?

Island life: Saint-Martin-de-Re harbour on Ile de Re, an island off the western coast of France

While rich New Yorkers spend summer in the Hamptons, fashionable Parisians head to Ile de Re to stay in whitewashed cottages with terracotta roofs and shutters painted in pretty pastels.

With my wife, Montserrat, and our daughters, Marina, 13, and Sofia, 11, we flew from Stansted to La Rochelle with Ryanair.

Ile de Re is a 20-minute taxi via a two-mile bridge linking the island to the mainland. We were staying at Villa Clarisse, in main town Saint-Martin-de-Re. The 18th-century mansion was transformed into a charming nine-room boutique hotel in 2011.

Villa Clarisse, an 18th-century mansion that was transformed into a charming nine-room boutique hotel in 2011

The lengths to which Marina and Sofia would go to achieve the perfect photo was comically evident on our first night.

All dressed up for dinner, Sofia posed by the outdoor swimming pool in her trendy new white jumpsuit. Pouting, she was encouraged by her sister to step backwards for the perfect shot, only to tumble into the water.

That set the pattern, with every trip into town prolonged by frequent stops for selfies in front of delightful doorways deemed Instagram-able.

Saint-Martin-de-Re is an elegant port surrounded by fortifications built in the 17th century to protect the town from, among others, an English invasion led by the Duke of Buckingham.

These days the only invaders are tourists, and we joined them climbing the tower of the 14th century church.

A traffic light system avoided overcrowding at the top, from where we could see all 19 miles of the island.

After climbing the 117 steps, we deserved a reward, so headed to La Martiniere, an ice-cream shop with almost endless flavours including Madras, caviar and oyster.

The girls, conservatively, opted for Ferrero Rocher and tiramisu while I scoffed the fluffiest of waffles covered in Chantilly cream.

Fashionable Parisians head to Ile de Re in the summer to stay in whitewashed cottages with terracotta roofs and shutters painted in pretty pastels

Richard's daughters Marina and Sofia, who found Ile de Re the perfect backdrop for their Instagram snaps

You shouldnt visit Ile de Re without hiring a bike. The island is as flat as a crepe and criss-crossed by 68 miles of well-maintained, clearly signposted cycle paths.

We pedalled along the coastal path, past salt marshes and vineyards bordered by hedgerows filled with poppies and cornflowers. When the girls eventually tired, we stopped at the Plage du Grouin, where they played in the warm shallows.

But the girls craved waves, so next day we took a 10 taxi ride to Le Bois-Plage-en-Re on the southern coast.

Its part of a four-mile stretch of dunes and golden sands where the breakers roll in from the Atlantic.

Our hotel offered only breakfast and snacks, which gave us the opportunity to try some of the nearby restaurants. And, as Marina had a French speaking exam when we returned home, we encouraged her to do the ordering.

Lunch at Re Ostrea was a treat. Its kitchen is in a rustic cabin, and diners sit outside at driftwood tables with sea views.

The menu is mainly oysters and prawns. Each dish is served with a free glass of chilled white wine. The girls had tried oysters only once before but, as soon as Marina had practised how to pronounce huitres she and Sofia were slurping them down.

The best way to learn a language is, of course, by making friends and, after some gentle pushing, Marina joined her sister in chatting to the children of French guests at our hotel.

A true entente cordiale.
As the Long Beach Unified School District commits to keeping classes in-person, the city a new testing site opens for LBUSD employees and students only. The city is also ramping up its own testing efforts with a new 3,000-person per day testing site.
You are here: World

 Flash

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence announced Thursday during a visit to Jerusalem that the White House plans to release its plan for peace in the Middle East next week in Washington.



In joint statements with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Pence said that U.S. President Donald Trump requested him to extend an invitation to Netanyahu and opposition leader Benny Gantz to arrive in Washington "to discuss regional issues and the possibility of peace in the Holy Land."

Netanyahu and Gantz accepted the invitation, Pence said.

Netanyahu said he suggested the White House would invite Gantz as well, "because I think it is important that we not lose this historic opportunity with such friends in the White House."

"We should get as broad consensus as possible," said Netanyahu.

The statements were made ahead of a meeting between Pence and Netanyahu in the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem.

The unveiling of the long-awaiting peace plan comes as both Netanyahu and Gantz pledged to annex the Israeli-occupied West Bank if they win Israel's upcoming national elections on March 2.

The move is considered highly controversial among most of the international community and is likely to spark Palestinian protest.

Trump has postponed several times the publication of his "Deal of the Century" for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

The economic part of Trump's peace plan was unveiled during a U.S.-led conference in Bahrain last June, a convention boycotted by the Palestinians.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas severed ties with the Trump administration in 2017 after the U.S. recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

The last round of peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians broke down in 2014 amid Israeli expansion of the settlements in the West Bank.

Israel seized the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war and has since controlled or blockaded them despite international criticism.

The Palestinians wish to establish an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren is proposing dozens of policy plans in her presidential campaign that revolve around a premise: The rich and powerful have rigged a corrupt system in their favor, and the antidote is big structural change.

More conservative parts of the country might stiffen at much of what Warren wants. But California is already doing  or at least exploring  parts of her wish list.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, like Warren, wants to negotiate contracts with drugmakers to offer generic medicines to bring down costs to consumers. Warren is proposing free universal preschool, something California has already started implementing for low-income children. And while Warren envisions tuition-free public college, many university and community college students in California already dont pay tuition.

But there are also differences between what the Massachusetts senator wants and what California is doing. Heres what would be in store for the state under a Warren administration.

Health care

Californians could keep their private health care insurance if Warren were elected. At least for a while. That is a key difference between how Warren and fellow progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders want to implement Medicare for All.

Sanders would start transitioning to a government-run plan right away. Warren prefers to wait until her third year in office to ask Congress to support the plan, which would ultimately move more than 157 million Americans from their private insurance to a system the government would administer.

My plan will reduce the financial and political power of the insurance companies  as well as their ability to frighten the American people  by implementing reforms immediately and demonstrating at each phase that true Medicare for All coverage is better than their private options, Warren wrote in Medium.

Until that transition, Warren would give Medicare coverage for free to everyone under 18, along with families making less than $51,000 annually. That would cover a little more than a third of families in California, according to census figures. Everyone else who now receives insurance through employers could buy into the Medicare program.

Warren wouldnt wait as long to do something about prescription drug costs. Soon after taking office, she would take executive action to lower the price of EpiPens, HIV/AIDS drugs and insulin. She would also have the federal government either produce certain generic drugs itself or sign contracts with companies to do so.

Campaign 2020: How we cover candidates The Chronicle is examining what California would look like if the major Democratic presidential candidates were elected and could implement their top policy priorities. The candidates' positions are taken from their websites, comments they have made during the campaign, and in some cases legislation they have sponsored in office. Here are the other installments in this series: Joe Biden, Mike Bloomberg, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Bernie Sanders. Previous stories and all The Chronicle's 2020 campaign coverage can be found at sfchronicle.com/politics. See More Collapse

That is similar to what Newsom proposed in his state budget this month. He wants California to negotiate contracts with drugmakers as a way to leverage the power of the nations largest state to lower prices.

Theyre generic drugs, but the drug industry has figured out how to manipulate this industry, keep jerking prices up and up and up, Warren said at a recent candidates debate. So my view is: Lets give them a little competition.

Finances, taxes

Californias wealthiest residents would pay a lot more in taxes under a Warren administration. Higher taxes for the rich are a selling point  literally  for Warren, whose campaign website offers mugs that say Billionaire tears, a nod to a former Wall Street executive who teared up during a television interview when talking about her tax plans.

Last year, for the first time in U.S. history, the nations 400 richest families paid a lower effective tax rate (23%) than the poorest bottom half of households (24%), according to UC Berkeley economists Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman, who are supplying the research to bolster Warrens and Sanders tax-the-rich plans.

Warren wants a 2% annual tax on people with more than $50 million in wealth and an additional 1% tax on those with more than $1 billion. Her tax would hit roughly 75,000 families nationally and raise $2.75 trillion over 10 years, her campaign says. Saez estimates it would affect roughly 18,750 families in California with incomes above $50 million and about 900 billionaires.

But Howard Gleckman, a senior fellow at the Urban Institutes Tax Policy Center, said taxing the super-rich wouldnt generate as much revenue as Warren expects.

In the real world, nobody will pay tax rates this high. They might stash assets under a mattress (though it likely would be a very nice mattress). They might spend down their assets to avoid  or reduce  their wealth tax, Gleckman wrote in Forbes. Or, most likely, theyd use some of their vast wealth to hire very expensive, very smart lawyers who would figure out other ways for them to avoid these taxes.

Corporate taxes would go up, too. Warren would raise the top corporate tax rate to 35%, up from its current 21%. Corporations with profits above $100 million would pay an additional 7% tax.

Warren doesnt oppose all tax breaks. She supports repealing the $10,000 cap on state and local tax deductions that the 2017 Republican tax law imposed, a provision that hit people in high tax states such as California hard. As many as 2.6 million Californians annually claimed more than $10,000 in such deductions before the federal law changed.

Education

Good news for those who get into a University of California or California State University campus: Two- and four-year public institutions would be tuition-free for everyone, even the children of wealthy families, under a Warren presidency. She would also invest an additional $100 billion in Pell Grants to help people pay for non-tuition-related college costs.

Many California students already pay no tuition. UC undergrads whose families earn $80,000 or less can attend school tuition-free; one-third of undergraduates qualify. In the CSU system, the threshold is $70,000; 63% of students qualify. California already offers free tuition for the first two years of community college for first-time students who attend full time.

One of Warrens rivals for the Democratic nomination, former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, criticizes plans by Warren and other candidates for free college with no income limits. He said recently that he didnt think subsidizing the children of millionaires and billionaires to pay absolutely zero in tuition at public colleges is the best use of those scarce taxpayer dollars.

Warren responded that under her tax plan, the lowliest millionaire would pay more in taxes. If he wants to send his kid to a public university, then Im OK with that, she said. Because what we really need to talk about is the bigger economic picture here.

A Warren presidency also would bring good news to most people holding student debt. She would cancel up to $50,000 of debt for 95% of borrowers  roughly 42 million people nationwide. She contends that it wouldnt need to be approved by Congress. The secretary of education holds a little-known power to cancel student debt under a 62-year-old law, Warren maintains.

If Warren invoked this power, it would probably inspire a host of lawsuits. It could also have the unintended consequence of giving borrowers a huge tax bill, as canceled student debt is considered to be taxable income.

Preschool-age children of low-income families would get free child care in a Warren presidency. Families making more than 200% of the federal poverty line  a household income of $26,200 for a family of four  could also participate and pay no more than 7% of their income for the benefit. It would be funded by her tax on the ultra-wealthy.

Environment

Warrens environmental plan could mean big business for California, home to 58% of the nations venture capital investment in clean-energy technology in 2018, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Next10 organization.

Warren wants to invest $3 trillion over the next 10 years in green research, manufacturing and exporting of American-made products. She would fund this by rolling back the 2017 tax cuts.

The centerpiece of her plan is for the federal government to spend $1.5 trillion over that period to help create the kind of sustained economic demand that promotes innovation. She envisions the federal government buying zero-emission vehicles, energy storage technology and energy-efficient light bulbs and then selling them to state and local governments at discounted rates.

Immigration

Warren would loosen immigration laws to help Dreamers  undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children and are temporarily protected from being deported. California is home to 223,000 of them.

Warren would reinstate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that President Trump suspended, and expand the program to include anyone brought to the United States before they turned 18.

She would also expand how many refugees the U.S. takes in to 125,000 in her first year in office. She would expand that to 175,000 annually by the end of her first term. Trump has capped the total at 30,000 annually.

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
In December of 2019, President Raynard Kington announced that he will be leaving Grinnell College to serve as the Head of Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year. Now, the search has begun for his replacement.The Presidential Search Committee, a task force consisting of trustees, faculty, staff, alumni and one student, Regina Logan 20, the Student Government Association President, announced that they had hired executive search firm Isaacson, Miller to aid in the search for a new president.

Isaacson, Miller assisted the College in hiring President Kington after former President Russell K. Osgood left Grinnell to teach law at Washington University in St. Louis.

Next week, members of the Isaacson, Miller team will be on campus to meet with a cross-section of the College community. After the visit, the team will utilize the publics input to work with the search committee to draft a candidate profile.

The profile will be a public document and will articulate the key priorities for Grinnells next president; it will also identify the important skill sets, experiences and characteristics that the search committee will look for in prospective candidates, Trustees Trish Anderson 80 and George Moose 66 wrote in an email to The S&B.

The search committee aims to recruit candidates from a diverse background. Anderson and Moose wrote that they were drawn to Isaacson, Millers track record of and commitment to recruiting women and people of color into leadership. Over the course of the firms 30-plus year history, 43 percent of its placements have been women and 23 percent have been people of color.

As someone committed to increasing diversity in leadership, Ive been happy with the commitment that Isaacson, Miller has shown to bring the committee a diverse group of candidates, said Logan in an email to The S&B.

The Presidential Search Committee was unable to provide any additional information outside of the campus update email. Debra Lukehart, vice president of communications for the College, said that Committee members are unable to talk about the process as Isaacson, Miller has a strict communication plan and does not want to deviate from that.

Other peer institutions appear to be facing similar uncertainties in their presidential searches. Macalester College is currently undergoing their own searches. The College has identified four candidates, the top two of whom were asked to meet with groups of faculty, students, staff, senior staff and trustees in early December. Like Grinnell College, Macalester is utilizing a search firm, Spencer Stuart.

For Grinnell students, the main concerns are who will be hired and if they will share the values of the student body. Students want a president who matches their values and sometimes the principles of the administration and students are at odds.

I think it is pretty important that the president we have is not focused on personal prestige and glory, but more focused on things that Grinnellians care about and things that will benefit students  for example, increasing financial aid, said Jeman Park 20.

For Logan, her priority for the new president is a commitment to students and self-governance.

One specific thing Im looking for in candidates is a clear vision of, or unique ideas about, how students fit into shared governance at the college. I strongly believe that if students are given the tools and trusted to be engaged citizens of the college, we gain the skills that make us better citizens in our surrounding and future communities, she said.

Further, Logan encourages students to take part in the search and advocate for their priorities.

I hope students will reach out anytime about the sorts of things they hope to see in their next college president! I appreciate everyone that has reached out so far to offer their insights because Im committed to the student perspective being heard and honored in this search.

This article has been edited to reflect that St.Norbert College is not currently undergoing a presidential search.
The cast of FX's #AmericanCrimeStoryImpeachment continues to grow as @billyeichner is set to play Matt Drudge https://t.co/aIF72V7N80  The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) January 22, 2020

Billy Eichner has been cast as Matt Drudge for the upcoming. Drudge reported in January 1998 that Newsweek was sitting on a story about President Clinton's affair with then-White House intern Monica Lewinsky, helping push the scandal into the mainstream media.
Six of the candidates running for Alabamas first congressional district seat gathered Thursday in Robertsdale to participate in a forum hosted by the Baldwin County Chamber Coalition.

The participants included four Republicans -- former state Sen. Bill Hightower, state Rep. Chris Pringle, Mobile County Commissioner Jerry Carl and Army veteran John Castorani and two Democrats -- educator and research scientist Kiani Gardner and real estate broker Rick Collins. Two of the candidates -- Republican Wes Lambert and Democrat James Averhart -- were absent.

Each of the participating candidates answered three random questions drawn out of a bowl before providing a two-minute speech at the end to explain why they were the best choice to win the seat. The party primaries are on March 3, followed up with runoff elections (if needed) on March 31. The general election is Nov. 3.

Here are five takeaways from Thursdays forum.

Candidates provided brief snapshots as to why they are the better choice

Republicans running for the seat touted their experience. Hightower said he was a defender of coastal Alabama during his tenure in the Alabama state from 2013-2018. A lot of legislators will tell you did this and that and that they signed their names on the bill," he said. "I carried these issues and was the lead on it.

Pringle, the only candidate who is currently in the State House, is touting his support for more conservative cultural and social issues. During Thursdays forum, Pringle touted his support for unregulated gun rights and as well as his conservative views on abortion. Im pro-life. Its not political. Its a deeply held religious conviction.

Carl said that vision as a businessman and in the public sector separates him from the rest of the field. Ive got vision for the Gulf Coast region. Ive got vision for utilizing our sea access and our roads. If you want someone who can see a project finished and see how to get there, im your guy.

Castorani, meanwhile, continues to position himself as more of an outsider candidate. He said politicians need to be reaching across the aisle more. He also vowed not to attack more liberal members of Congress. Even if I dont win, I am the future of your Republican Party. Rest assured, we are not all crazy.

Democratic candidate Rick Collins said his calm demeanor would be a nice addition to Congress.

Gardner acknowledged the difficulties Democrats have had in winning the district. No Democrat has held the 1st congressional seat since the early 1960s.

I am a mother in Alabama, and my husband works for a family-based business in Bay Minette and we sent our children to public schools, said Gardner. Its not a fools race for someone who lives in the district to go out on a limb and fight for the things that matter for my family and for your family."

Varying views on climate change

The Republicans and Democratic challengers in the congressional race have starkly different views about climate change.

Republicans, during recent forums, have suggested that much of the issue is a hoax. Hightower said there needs to be a better understanding of the sciences behind global warming from all sides of the issue.

I have a professor friend and he dared said, we need to cool it about this global climate change, said Hightower. "He was tarred and feathered and almost tossed out of the university. We have to have free speech. We have to be able to dissent and talk about these issues and sit down and reach and understanding because they affect us broadly.

Gardner is advocating for America to be 100% renewable energy" within the next 15 years.

We need to protect what we have, she said. So much of our properties and businesses are subject to climate change.

Protect GOMESA funding

Alabama is awarded close to $30 million annually in offshore oil and gas leases through the Gulf of Mexico Security Act (GOMESA). The most recent round of GOMESA funds went to 16 projects that included, among other things, four boat access projects, a bird trail in Mount Vernon, recreational enhancements at Gulf State Park near Gulf Shores and acquisition and restoration along the Spanish Fort Causeway.

Politicians are concerned about having the money available for coastline restoration projections. In the Alabama Legislature, state Sen. Chris Elliott, R-Daphne, is pitching a proposal that would require the money to be spent in coastal Alabama. And in Congress, candidates are also worried about the money potentially going elsewhere.

Pringle, a longtime member of the State House, said he would utilize his connections in Montgomery to ensure the money remains on the Gulf Coast.

The other congressmen and senators will want our money, said Pringle. We are the people who suffer if there is an oil spill. It doesnt affect you if you live in Tennessee and Kentucky. We are the ones impacted by the oil spills. It should stay here in the Gulf Coast."

Collins said the region should do whatever it can to avoid having coast lines similar to Louisiana and Texas.

Im a commercial real estate broker and Im not against growth, but we dont want Mobile Bay to become like Texas and Louisiana and ...become oil and gas, Collins said. "If one comes into your community, the property values go down and you wind up with 20 to 30 miles of that industry."

Collins also credited Republican Hightower for leading a coastal legislative revolt in Montgomery against the diversion of BP funds away from the Gulf Coast in 2016.

Hightower also mentioned his past in combating with legislative leaders over the appropriations of the BP money.

I am not afraid to go up against leadership, he said, adding that he would do the same to protect GOMESA funds.

Tariffs remain a concern

Carl applauded the Trump Administration for drawing the line in the sand with China when it comes to tariffs. He said that farmers, though, have had to struggle with reduced prices as a result of the tariff concerns.

Im proud to say the president did what he did, said Carl. I think our farm community, which I deal with extensively, theyve done an incredible job. They seem to be the ones who are best spirited about it.

Gardner said that the term tariffs needs to be called a tax.

There are no winners in a trade war and we need a more international-minded view of trade, said Gardner. Tariffs are damaging to our economy, and are especially damaging to our port. As an area that does so much business on import and export, we need to be protecting our bottom line.

Local issue focus

Most of the candidates seem to be focused on promoting local issues, and not national wedge issues that some believe are dividing the country.

Castorani said he would like to see high-speed broadband extended into rural counties, and pushed for the use of tax incentives to make sure rural schools are equipped with the best technology.

Monroe County still doesnt have broadband, he said. Its 2020. (The U.S.) has had broadband since 1998.

Pringle said the area needs to better prepare its workforce for the jobs that are expanding and the skilled laborers are earning more annually than students graduating from colleges with masters degrees.

Its important we have the education system that will teach our students on how to enter the workforce in a world economy, he said.

Collins weighed in on the regions I-10 Mobile River Bridge and Bayway project, by saying that an alternative bypass project around Mobile and Baldwin counties should be considered.

Carl said that the bridge and bayway project -- now being pitched as an alternative, $1.2 billion expressway project -- has got to be built. Its a project that ... several people in this room are working on a daily basis."

Gardner said her campaign will be laser-focused on local issues, and that she wont take the ideology bait and dive into divisive national concerns.

We let this wedge grow between the two parties when we talk about more ideological-based things like the wall or reproductive rights, Gardner said. I want to legislate for things in the House for what District 1 needs like infrastructure ... and that people have reliable access to health care.
This aerial photo taken from video provided by KTRK-TV shows damage to buildings after an explosion in Houston on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020. A large explosion left rubble scattered in the area, damaged nearby homes and was felt for miles away. A fire continues to burn and people have been told to avoid the area. (KTRK-TV via AP)

Explosion Reported at Houston Manufacturing Business, 2 Dead

A building explosion was reported in northwestern Houston on Friday morning, according to the Houston Police Department.

In an update at around 10:45 a.m. ET, at least two people died in the blast, fire officials said. A strip mall and homes were heavily damaged, Houston Fire Department spokesman Samuel Pena said in a news conference.

The blast was reported near a manufacturing and distributing area along 4500 Gessner Road.

Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo wrote there was a debris field out here is about half a mile. No inhalation known hazard. He told CNN that one person was accounted for.

KHOU, citing fire department officials, reported that one person was hospitalized. They were identified as a local homeowner.

There is an increase of flames and small explosions at plant, Acevedo wrote, adding that locals need to avoid exposure until further notice.

Until further notice avoid inhalation exposure out of over abundance [of] caution, he wrote later. Schools in the area might be impacted by this explosion this morning, he said, adding that parents need to check with the school district before you head out to class in the area.

A fireball caused by the explosion apparently rose from the blast, according to footage posted online.

Building Explosion 4500 Gessner: HPD command post at Tanner @ Gessner. All traffic avoid hot zone between Gessner, Genard, Sefani & Clay Rd. #houtraffic #hounews CC8  Houston Police (@houstonpolice) January 24, 2020

Officials told KHOU that polypropylene, which is used in the manufacturing of plastics, was released during the explosion. The City of Houston wrote that it quickly dissipates in the air.

Crews havent been able to access the facility to turn it off, meaning that more polypropylene will be emitted, the station reported.

Two Cy-Fair ISD schools, Bane Elementary School, Dean Middle School will be closed Friday following the explosion, ABC7 reported.

Increases flames and small explosions at plant continue per @houstonpolice airship. Please avoid exposure if at possible until further notice.  Chief Art Acevedo (@ArtAcevedo) January 24, 2020

In an abundance of precaution, students will remain indoors at nearby schools due to air quality concerns. We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on the website and social media as they become available, Cy-Fair said in a statement to the station.

Spring Branch wrote on Twitter that its facilities are fine as of this time, and it said its school will remain open on Friday.

On social media, some locals who live miles away said the explosion woke them up in the early morning hours.

Its not clear what caused the explosion.
SOME 15,000 Civil Servants from Northern Ireland's largest trade union are set to walk out today in a one-day strike.

The Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (Nipsa) instigated the action as part of demands for more pay and better conditions.

The Civil Service is one of Northern Ireland's largest employers, with more than 23,000 permanent staff.

Nipsa general secretary Alison Millar said: "Members are angry that they have not had a resolution to their long running dispute on the issue of pay, terms and conditions.

"Civil servants were further angered when there was no mention in the New Decade, New Deal document of seeking to settle the Civil Service dispute, yet specific reference was made to the health workers' and teachers' disputes.

"Further anger arose yesterday given the announcement that MLAs who have not been at their place of work for the last three years were to receive a 1,000 pay increase, with a further increase in April 2020."

She said politicians had already recognised "that civil servants have kept the country running in the three years when they were not in government".

"It is now time for hard working civil servants to receive the just outcome for this commitment over the preceding three years."

Union officials met with the new Finance Minister Conor Murphy on Wednesday.

Afterwards he said it had been a "constructive discussion".

Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Nipsa members outside the Child Maintenance Service office in Belfast on Friday morning. Pic: Arthur Allison, Pacemaker. Nipsa members outside the Child Maintenance Service office in Belfast on Friday morning. Pic: Arthur Allison, Pacemaker. Nipsa members outside the Child Maintenance Service office in Belfast on Friday morning. Pic: Arthur Allison, Pacemaker. Concerns: Alison Millar / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Nipsa members outside the Child Maintenance Service office in Belfast on Friday morning. Pic: Arthur Allison, Pacemaker.

"I appreciate the work that civil servants do in supporting and delivering a wide range of public services and am committed to continued engagement with trade union colleagues," he said.

"Through joint working and meaningful engagement we will be better placed to meet the challenges ahead."

The Department for Communities, which has responsibility for benefits payments, said they will be issued as usual.
They're two of this generation's most popular artists, breaking boundaries with every music release.

So it was no surprise to fans when Halsey released a new collaboration with Suga from Korean pop group BTS.

The 25-year-old spoke to Ash London Live about how Suga's 2016 solo album, Agust D, inspired her to collaborate with him on her new album Manic.

'Music transcends language and culture': Halsey (pictured left) gushes over her Manic album collaboration with BTS' Suga (pictured right)

'He's a really good example of the way music transcends language and culture,' Halsey said.

She went on to explain: 'I was listening to some of his solo music when I was doing my collaboration Boy With Luv with BTS and [looked at] a pretty trustworthy translation.

'What he was saying, I was very moved. It was so introspective. It was about identity and mental health and anxiety and depression. And I was like "this is the one, he needs to be on my album".'

Stunner: The 25-year-old songstress spoke to Ash London Live about how Yoongi's 2016 solo album, Agust D, inspired her to collaborate with him on Manic with the song Suga's Interlude

Halsey, whose full name is Ashley Nicolette Frangipane, revealed that Min 'Suga' Yoongi, 26, was initially unsure if he was the right person out of his seven member group.

'It was so cute, he came up to me and said: "Me?" And I was like, "yeah, you".'

'And he said, "what about one of the guys who speaks better English? And I was like, "yo, rap in Korean. That's what your good at".'

'It was so cute': Halsey, whose full name is Ashley Nicolette Frangipane, revealed that Suga, 26, was initially unsure if he was the right person out of his seven member group

Yoongi also revealed on a live video chat with his fans, known as ARMY, that he was surprised that Halsey asked him to be on the album, since he couldn't rap in English.

'She said it was okay [that he couldn't speak English], and she asked me to do it in Korean,' he said.

Multi-talented: Suga also revealed on a live video chat with his fans, known as ARMY, that he was surprised that Halsey asked him to be on the album, since he couldn't rap in English

He added: 'I wanted to thank Halsey for that, but I couldn't when we met in the United States, because I'm not good at English.'

Suga is one of seven members of the international pop juggernaut BTS, along with Kim Namjoon (RM), Kim Seokjin (Jin), Jung Hoseok (J-Hope), Park Jimin, Kim Taehyung (V) and Jeon Jungkook.

The Korean artists also collaborated with Halsey on their 2019 single Boy With Luv.

Count 'em! Yoongi is one of seven members of the international pop juggernaut BTS. Pictured left to right: Kim Taehyung (V), Jung Hoseok (J-Hope), Kim Namjoon (RM), Halsey, Park Jimin, Kim Seokjin (Jin), Jeon Jungkook and Min Yoongi (Suga)
By West Kentucky Star Staff Jan. 23, 2020 | 05:38 PM | CARLISLE COUNTY

Bardwell Police officers responded on Wednesday to a reported disturbance at the home of 18-year-old Halen Boles on Church Street. Boles was already reportedly a person of interest in a drug investigation in December. Officers said they found drug paraphernalia at the home, and obtained information that led Carlisle County deputies to the home of Nicole Lawrence on State Route 1628 near Cunningham.







During a search of Lawrence's home, deputies reportedly seized 674 grams of marijuana, with an estimated street value of $7,000. They also seized $1,300 in cash and several firearms.





Halen Boles was charged with menacing, trafficking marijuana (firearm enhanced), and possession of drug paraphernalia. Deputies also arrested 51-year-old Samuel Boles on charges of tampering with physical evidence, trafficking in marijuana (firearm enhanced), and possession of drug paraphernalia.



Lawrence was charged with trafficking marijuana over eight ounces, and possession of drug paraphernalia.





They were lodged in the Ballard County Jail.

Three people face charges after an investigation into alleged drug trafficking in Carlisle County.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Project HOME, Independence Blue Cross (Independence), and AmeriHealth Caritas announce the launch of "Keystone Connection to Wellness." This new initiative will address the significant health disparities in life expectancy and infant mortality experienced by North Philadelphia residents.

Recognizing that health needs of economically distressed neighborhoods cannot only be met through the doctor's office, Independence, Project HOME, and AmeriHealth Caritas are creating the initiative to connect Project HOME patients with resources beyond their immediate medical needs.

"We've always had an approach of treating the whole person at our Stephen Klein Wellness Center and Healthcare Services," said Project HOME President and Executive Director Sister Mary Scullion. "This partnership with Independence and AmeriHealth Caritas allows us to reach more people and impact so many lives."

Project HOME, with financial and operational support from Independence and AmeriHealth Caritas, will work with other social service and health organizations to form a robust association of services to address social determinants of health. Project HOME will also launch and facilitate a community advisory board to help guide priorities and build on neighborhood strengths focused on improving health and quality of life for residents who live in two targeted zip codes of North Philadelphia.

"We cannot tackle the difficult task of improving the health of people in our region without a team effort. That is why we are so pleased to work with Project HOME to address directly the health disparities in North Philadelphia. By engaging with the community and providing information and access to much-needed services, we believe that this initiative can address health issues before they become dire," said Daniel J. Hilferty, Independence Blue Cross CEO.

Three North Philadelphia Project HOME locations will serve as hubs for "Keystone Connection to Wellness": the Stephen Klein Wellness Center, Honickman Learning Center Comcast Technology Labs, and the Helen Brown Community Center  but outreach could extend to libraries and other points of contact.

In the targeted zip codes, 19121 and 19132, life expectancy is roughly (69 years vs. 75.5 for the city and 78.8 years for the nation) and higher infant mortality (13.1 deaths per 1,000, 56 percent greater than the City as a whole, and 126 percent above the national rate). More than 45 percent of people in these zip codes live at or below the poverty line, compared to approximately 26 percent in Philadelphia.

"There are too many people and communities that face significant, and often crippling, health disparities because of gaps in access to the social determinants of health, like jobs, affordable housing, and nutritious food, and support networks," said AmeriHealth Caritas Chairman and CEO Paul A. Tufano. "By building strong coalitions between business and community organizations to bridge those gaps, as we're doing with Project HOME, we can help our most vulnerable citizens find pathways to prosperity and independence."

"Keystone Connection to Wellness" will rely on the input of the community advisory board to help find the most appropriate ways to disrupt the connection between poverty and these health disparities. Improved health outcomes depend on related services like affordable childcare, food security, transportation, housing, behavioral health services and employment opportunities. This initiative will expand access to these types of services.

It is expected that approximately 1,250 people in North Philadelphia could be positively impacted by the initiative during the first year. The initiative will track and report on progress of a pilot group of residents to be defined in a project plan.

About Project HOME

Since 1989, Project HOME has helped thousands of people break the cycle of homelessness and poverty by providing a continuum of care that includes street outreach, supportive housing and comprehensive services that focus on health care, education and employment through both adult and youth education and enrichment programs at the Honickman Learning Center and Comcast Technology Labs and community-based health care services at the Stephen Klein Wellness Center and three satellite locations. Project HOME and its partners have pledged to end chronic street homelessness in Philadelphia. To learn more, visit www.projecthome.org .

About Independence Blue Cross

Independence Blue Cross is the leading health insurance organization in southeastern Pennsylvania. With our affiliates, we serve more than 8 million people nationwide. For more than 80 years, we have been enhancing the health and well-being of the people and communities we serve by delivering innovative and competitively priced health care products and services; pioneering new ways to reward doctors, hospitals, and other health care professionals for coordinated, quality care; and supporting programs and events that promote wellness. To learn more, visit www.ibx.com. Connect with us on Facebook and on Twitter. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

About AmeriHealth Caritas

AmeriHealth Caritas is one of the nation's leaders in health care solutions for those most in need. Operating in 11 states and the District of Columbia, AmeriHealth Caritas serves more than 5 million Medicaid, Medicare and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) members through its integrated managed care products, pharmaceutical benefit management and specialty pharmacy services, and behavioral health services. Headquartered in Philadelphia, AmeriHealth Caritas is a mission-driven organization with more than 35 years of experience serving low-income and chronically ill populations. For more information, visit www.amerihealthcaritas.com.

Project HOME contact: Independence Blue Cross contact: Edel Howlin Ruth Stoolman [email protected] [email protected] 484-278-1420 (cell) 215-241-4807

215-667-9537 (cell)

SOURCE Independence Blue Cross

Related Links

www.ibx.com


One of the biggest political stories of 2020 so far has been the reelection of Tsai Ing-wen as Taiwan's President in a sweeping victory, which saw her directly challenging the might of China. In her victory speech, Tsai challenged China to give up brandishing threats to the island, underlining that "peace means that China must abandon threats of force against Taiwan".

Tsai Ing-wen returns

She hoped that "the Beijing authorities understand that democratic Taiwan, and our democratically elected government, will not concede to threats and intimidation. It's a tall order, of course, and Tsai knows it.

However, she is a politician who, till sometime back, was facing a sure defeat with low wages and controversial pension reform pulling down her approval ratings to as low as 15 per cent. As a result, Tsai and her Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) suffered a crushing defeat in the November 2018 local elections. Meanwhile, the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) gained traction primarily due to economic issues. Led by Han Kuo-yu, the KMT has been offering closer economic ties with Beijing for economic betterment.

In her victory speech, Tsai challenged China to give up brandishing threats to Taiwan. (Photo: Reuters)

Meanwhile, Beijing was busy intimidating Taiwan and Tsai by gradually taking away the limited number of diplomatic partners of Taiwan and banning Chinese tourists from visiting the island. China also showcased its military heft as the People's Liberation Army Air Force and Navy ships intruded the air space and waters in Taiwan's vicinity.

It is a sign of China's growing economic heft around the globe that only 15 countries now recognise the self-governing territory of Taiwan as a sovereign nation. So, Tsai would have fought these elections with her back against the wall. But that was not to be, as Taiwan's relationship with China emerged as the central issue in the election campaign and made her the natural choice for most Taiwanese. Beijing's mishandling of the situation in Hong Kong, in particular, galvanised Taiwanese voters to defend their national identity.

Beijing's much-touted 'one country, two systems' formula is viewed as a failure in Hong Kong and only 4.5 per cent of Taiwanese currently support the idea of "unification" with China. In 2019, when Chinese President Xi Jinping called upon Taiwan to adopt Hong Kong's 'one country, two systems' model as the basis for talks on reunification, Tsai categorically suggested that Taiwan would "never accept one country, two systems." Not surprisingly, she channelled this sentiment through the use of the slogan 'Today Hong Kong, Tomorrow Taiwan' in her re-election campaign with great effect.

Trump backs Taipei

The US has welcomed Tsai's victory as a demonstration of Taiwan's "robust democratic system", highlighting Taiwan "as a shining example for countries that strive for democracy, prosperity and a better path for their people". Though the US is legally bound to provide Taiwan means to defend itself, Washington has had to traditionally perform a delicate balancing act when it comes to its ties with Taiwan and China.

Yet, the Trump administration's hardline approach towards China has suited Taiwan well. Trump is viewed as one of the most Taiwan-friendly US Presidents since Richard Nixon. Not only did Trump talk directly with Tsai on the phone after the 2016 election, a first for a US president or President-elect since at least 1979, he also approved the sale of 66 F-16 fighters to Taiwan and the US naval ships have more regularly sailed through the Taiwan Strait in the last three years.

Tsai has been very keen to cultivate new partners and her New Southbound Policy (NSP) has sought to enhance links with countries across South and Southeast Asia. India is a natural partner in more ways than one. At a time of US-China trade tensions, Taiwanese firms are keen to take advantage of India in various sectors such as technology, renewable energy, electric vehicles and agriculture.

Good ties with India

This is reflected in Taiwan's decision to open four trade offices in India in the last few years. As Taiwan looks at India more closely, New Delhi needs to reciprocate and welcome Taiwanese investment, even prioritise it. And closer interactions between the two on strategic matters are now the need of the hour. Tsai has made it clear that Taiwan should "learn a lesson" from Hong Kong: "If we don't insist [on maintaining Taiwan's independence], we'll be losing everything we have now," Tsai said. Her views have been endorsed by the country's voters.

But Beijing is in no mood to relent, as underscored by official Chinese reactions to Tsai's victory. The situation across the Taiwan Strait is likely to remain complex for the foreseeable future. It has made it's choice clear that it won't budge on the question of its independence even if it has to stand mostly alone in the world. There is much to cherish and respect in that approach even as it is now time for India to galvanise its diplomacy towards Taiwan.

(Courtesy of Mail Today)

Also read: How India is adjusting to the global power shifts
Boris Johnson took personal control of a Chinese situation today - hosting colourful dragons in Downing Street while ministers were nearby discussing the deadly coronavirus outbreak in the Far East.

He hosted figures from the British-Chinese community in the heart of Westminster ahead of the lunar new year on Saturday.

But the festivities to herald in the Year of the Rat in 2020 came as the Government held a Cobra crisis meeting to discuss the coronavirus outbreak.

Guests also included the Chinese ambassador to the UK, Lui Xiaoming.

The meeting in Whitehall was chaired by Health Secretary Matt Hancock, after 14 people in the UK were tested for the virus, before later being given the all-clear.

Cases have been confirmed in China, the US, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Macao, Taiwan and Vietnam.

He hosted figures from the British-Chinese community in the heart of Westminster ahead of the lunar new year on Saturday.

Guests also included the Chinese ambassador to the UK, Lui Xiaoming.

The festivities to herald in the Year of the Rat in 2020 came as the Government held a Cobra crisis meeting to discuss the coronavirus outbreak

Mr Hancock said the risk to the UK public 'remains low' as he left the Cabinet Office.

'We have just held a Cobra meeting on the coronavirus concerns,' he said.

'As I made clear to the House yesterday, the clinical advice is that the risk to the public remains low and the chief medical officer will be making a full statement later today.'

The Scottish Government confirmed on Thursday that five people were being tested after presenting with symptoms of the illness, while it was understood that another patient was tested at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital.

Two of those being tested in Scotland had been diagnosed with flu after travelling to Wuhan in China - the origin of the global outbreak.

Downing Street said four out of five suspected cases in Scotland were believed to involve Chinese nationals.

Meanwhile, the official death toll in China has risen to 41 with more than 1,200 confirmed cases.

The Chinese zodiac contains 12 animals which have years dedicated to them: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig

Each animal is said to have different characteristics that are associated with people born in those years

The Chinese city of Wuhan is rapidly building a new 1,000-bed hospital to treat victims of a new coronavirus, while Disneyland Shanghai and parts of the Great Wall of China have been closed to visitors.

Reuters reported that hospitals in Wuhan are struggling to cope due to medical shortages.

Almost 30 million people and 10 cities in China are now facing travel restrictions.

Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Professor Paul Cosford, emeritus medical director at Public Health England (PHE) said: 'I think it's highly likely that we will have cases in the UK.'

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, he said anyone who has travelled to Wuhan in the last two weeks and returned to the UK, and who has symptoms, must get in touch with the NHS.

Symptoms of coronavirus include fever, sneezing and coughing.

Prof Cosford said: 'We will not be surprised if people return from China to the UK with the infection, the important thing is that if you are one of those people and you develop symptoms you get in touch quickly.

'We are testing anybody who meets the criteria. The numbers aren't the important thing, the important thing is that anybody who has been to Wuhan in the last 14 days and has symptoms, respiratory symptoms that could represent this virus ... that we ask them to phone NHS 111 and then we can arrange any appropriate testing.'

Members of the British-Chinese community were also invited to Downing Street for the celebration

Mr Johnson faced off with red and yellow opponents for the first time since December's general election

He said there was no precise figure for how many people have been in contact with the NHS who may have symptoms.

He added: 'It's important that while you do make contact with us, that you keep yourself away from too many other people, because of course if you have been infected, it's important that we prevent spread.

'All our GPs and hospitals across the country have had a letter from the Chief Medical Officer and the medical director at NHS England and us at Public Health England, so that if somebody does present and they are worried, if they do meet our criteria, that they will be put somewhere where they won't infect other people while they're assessed and while we can get them tested.'

Chinese authorities say 26 people have died and now more than 800 people have been infected across the world, with cases cropping up in the US, Vietnam and Singapore

Scottish officials yesterday confirmed they were testing five cases in Edinburgh and Glasgow 'as a precaution'. Another man was being tested in isolation at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, and there was a suspected case in Hillingdon, west London. Public Health England has still not revealed where the other cases are. Many are thought to be Chinese tourists

Asked if face masks could provide protection, Prof Cosford said PHE was not advising people to use face masks at the moment, but is monitoring developments carefully.

If a GP suspects a patient has coronavirus, they should be placed in a room away from other patients and staff with the door closed, the PHE guidance states.

They should not be allowed to use communal toilet facilities or be physically examined, it adds.

A letter from the Chief Medical Officer to clinical staff said anyone who is confirmed as having the virus will be transferred to an Airborne High Consequences Infectious Disease centre (HCID).

According to Public Health England, there are four interim Airborne HCID centres in England - two in London, one in Liverpool and one in Newcastle.
The Madras high court on Friday dismissed a petition filed against actor Rajinikanth over his remarks on rationalist leader E V Ramasamy "Periyar" as the petitioner withdrew the plea.

Justice P Rajamanickam was hearing a petition by the secretary of Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam, a fringe outfit, seeking direction to the police to file a case against the actor.

State Public Prosecutor A Natarajan submitted the petitioner had approached the court without seeking the alternative remedy available to them.

Referring to a high court judgment which clearly mentioned the procedures to be adopted for approaching the court, he said the petitioner had filed the complaint only on January 18 and without even waiting for the outcome directly approached (the court) for a direction to the police to register a FIR.

The public prosecutor further submitted there was no second thought that Periyar was a great leader and an icon of the Dravidian movement and said the actor spoke only on the basis of an article published in a magazine.

Anyhow action will be taken as per law, he added.

The judge asked the counsel for the petitioner if he would withdraw the petition.

After the counsel agreed to do so, the judge recorded the same and dismissed the plea.

In his plea, Umapathy, secretary of Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam, alleged that Rajinikanth had made false and fraudulent statements insulting the Dravidian stalwart and followers of Periyar while speaking at the golden jubilee celebrations of Tamil magazine 'Thuglak' here recently.

He contended that "Rajinikanth made false and fraudulent statements insulting Dravidian ideologists and the followers of Thanthai Periyar with an intention to provoke breach of public peace by promoting enmity and hatred among the people of Tamil Nadu in the name of religion."

The petitioner also submitted he filed a complaint with the Triplicane police in the city on January 18 but no FIR had been registered.

Contending the actor's speech clearly attracted Sections 153A, 504 and 505 of the IPC, the petitioner said the police ought to have registered a case.

He submitted the court was moved seeking for a direction to register a case against the actor.
(From left) Lilla Merabet, vice president of the Grand Est region in France, and European Space Agency astronauts Helen Sharman, Paolo Nespoli and Reinhold Ewald cheer as Philippe Jung, chairman of the History Council of the Aeronautical and Astronautical Association, pets Felicette's new memorial statue at the International Space University in Strasbourg, France, on Dec. 18, 2019. (Image credit: Courtesy of ISU /Photo Expression)

A new memorial for the first and only cat to go to space has arrived at its permanent home.

A bronze statue of the space cat now stands at the International Space University (ISU) in Strasbourg, France, two years after Matthew Serge Guy, a creative director and space cat fan in London, launched a Kickstarter campaign and raised about $57,000 to fund the project.

The memorial honors a French feline named Felicette who launched on a brief suborbital spaceflight in 1963. Although the space cat survived the 15-minute mission, she died about two months later when scientists removed electrodes from her brain to investigate how spaceflight affects the brain.

Related: Hail Felicette! French space cat memorial beginning to take shape

Image 1 of 3 Matthew Serge Guy, who created a fundraising campaign to build a memorial for the first cat in space, poses with the completed statue of Felicette. (Image credit: Courtesy of Matthew Serge Guy) Image 2 of 3 The newly completed statue of Felicette is pictured at the foundry where it was made before heading off to its new home at the International Space University. (Image credit: Courtesy of Matthew Serge Guy) Image 3 of 3 A closer view of Felicette's face. (Image credit: Courtesy of Matthew Serge Guy)

"Over the last 54 years, the story of the first and only cat to go to space has been largely forgotten. She deserves a proper memorial," Guy wrote on Kickstarter.

"Although other animals in space, such as Laika the dog and Ham the chimpanzee, are well-known within popular culture and have lasting memorials, very few people are aware that a cat went to space at all," he added. Guy launched the project in hopes that Felicette's new memorial will help to spread the word about the cat's little-known role in space history.

The statue of Felicette stands on display at the International Space University. (Image credit: Courtesy of ISU /Photo Expression)

Located inside the Pioneer's Hall at ISU, the 5-foot-tall (1.5 meters) bronze statue features Felicette perched on top of planet Earth and gazing up at the stars. The statue shares a room with a bust of Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space.

The grand unveiling of Felicette's statue took place during a celebration of the 25th anniversary of ISU's Master of Space Studies program, on Dec. 18. Three European Space Agency astronauts and ISU graduates  Helen Sharman, Paolo Nespoli and Reinhold Ewald  participated in the unveiling ceremony, along with Lilla Merabet, vice president of the Grand Est region in France, and Philippe Jung, chairman of the History Council of the Aeronautical and Astronautical Association of France and co-author of the academic paper "Felicette, the only space cat," which was presented at the 2018 International Astronautical Congress.

Lilla Merabet, Helen Sharman, Paolo Nespoli, Reinhold Ewald and Philippe Jung unveil the new statue of Felicette at the International Space University in Strasbourg, France, on Dec. 18, 2019. (Image credit: Courtesy of ISU /Photo Expression)

Felicette was a last-minute addition to the program for the ISU event, and Guy said that he didn't publicize the statue's unveiling beforehand over concerns that the statue would not arrive in Strasbourg in time. Because the audience was limited to about 100 ISU alumni and staff, Guy said that he is considering holding another unveiling event around the 57th anniversary of Felicette's mission in October. That event would be open to backers of the Kickstarter campaign and their guests. (To help gauge potential interest in the event, Guy is asking backers who would like to attend to let him know by filling out this short Google form.)

If you'd like to visit the memorial on your own time, be sure to reach out to ISU and let the university know before you show up at the Pioneer's Hall, as the space is an active conference hall that is sometimes occupied and off-limits during meetings or exams.

Email Hanneke Weitering at hweitering@space.com or follow her @hannekescience. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
French commissioners vision a chilling message to minorities, Opinion, Jan. 22

Millions upon millions of immigrants to Canada came with an inability to speak English. While French Canadians stagnated, these immigrants built Canada into the good country it has become and evolved a language unto its own that I call Canadian.

With material funding shortages in health care, homeless shelters, food banks, etc., pouring millions into French language development is an obscene waste of financial resources.

French is a declining language globally and the only benefit derived from Canadian bilingualism is lining the pockets of those who contribute nothing but talk, primarily in the classroom.
Nikki Osborne has hit back at critics who were less than enthused by her habit of flaunting her amazing figure on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! Australia.

Taking to Instagram on Friday, the 38-year-old mother-of-two shared a photo of her infamous black white bikini along with a strongly-worded caption.

She wrote: 'People have been giving me grief about wearing my swimsuit at the waterfall.

Scroll down for video

'You FAT HEADS!' Taking to Instagram on Friday, I'm a Celebrity star Nikki Osborne (pictured) hit back at trolls who 'gave her grief' for her skimpy swimwear on I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here! Australia

'You're right, I shall make more appropriate wardrobe choices in the future when swimming... you FAT HEADS!!'

Nikki had flaunted her phenomenal figure in the swimmers as she took a dip with her campmates under the hot South African sun.

She slipped her toned frame into the tiny zebra print bikini, before diving head first into the freezing pool.

Animal instinct! The 38-year-old mother-of-two shared a photo of her infamous black white bikini along with a strongly-worded caption

Wow! Nikki had flaunted her phenomenal figure in the zebra print swimmers as she took a dip with her campmates under the hot South African sun. Pictured with Ryan Gallagher

'There's nothing like getting into freezing water under the sun to rejuvenate you,' she said.

It came after she proudly flaunted her curves while performing a striptease for her campmates.

Nikki began by saying: 'It's very important to pick the right type of swimsuit for the jungle... [and] not look like you're trying too hard to be a glamazon.'

Racy! She also proudly flaunted her curves while performing a striptease for her campmates

It's fashion! Nikki revealed her bizarre pink swimming costume, which had two green stripes coming up from the crotch and over her shoulders so as to resemble a 'mankini'

She then stood on a platform in the middle of the camp, before pulling off a sack that was covering her body to reveal her quirky choice of swimwear.

The swimsuit had two stripes coming up from the crotch and over her shoulders so as to resemble a 'mankini'.

Nikki became the second campmate to be eliminated from I'm A Celebrity last Sunday night.
Germany's Deutsche Bahn confirms participation in Ukrzaliznytsia management

21:10, 24.01.20 1568

DB Engineering & Consulting will consult and support Ukrzaliznytsia on management and technical issues.
Air Force Needs More Money, Stealth, and Drones: Report

Burdened by old, maintenance-heavy Cold War-era planes, the Air Force needs a cash bump to meet its obligations to the National Defense Strategy, according to a report from a respected defense think tank.

But growing the force in size isnt enough alone, according to the Jan. 22 report, which makes four other key recommendations.

The report by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments says that the Air Force needs to be able to operate inside the reach of China and Russias long-range missile systemsa zone of military discomfort called a contested environment.

To achieve this, it needs more stealth aircraft, more drones, and to be able to hunker down in better-protected allied airbases. It also needs to pack next-generation weapons such as hypersonic missiles, along with incorporating technology that allows the military to integrate and function as a whole team.

Creating a more range-balanced, survivable, and lethal force will require a commitment by DoD and the Congress to significantly increase the Air Forces annual budgets, says the report.

The Pentagon will put forward its 2021 defense budget proposal in the spring, which will go through the grinder of Congress in the autumn.

Most analysts agree that the Air Force is dragged back by having too many old aircraft, which are more costly to maintain.

An F-22 Raptor does a fly-by during the airshow at Joint Andrews Air Base in Maryland on Sept. 16, 2017. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images)

The CSBA report builds on their more extensive report commissioned last year by the Pentagon, which recommended how to adjust the air force for great power competition with Russia and China, as directed by the Trump Administrations National Defense Strategy.

The Air Force has been living off major weapon systems that were, in many cases, designed and delivered during the Cold War, said the latest report introduction. With the exception of a small fleet of 187 stealth F-22s, 21 stealth B-2s, and now a small but growing force of F-35As, the Air Force stopped procuring next-generation fighters and bombers after the Cold War.

At 28 years old, the average age of fighter planes is higher than at any point in the history of the service, notes the report. The average age of bombers is around 45 years.

After decades of force structure cuts and deferred or canceled modernization programs, the Air Forces CAF [Combat Air Force] has reached a point where it lacks the capacity needed to support the National Defense Strategy, according to the report. Modest growth in the size of the Air Forces fighter fleet could be achieved by accelerating F-35A procurement over the next decade and developing a multi-mission PCA/ PEA aircraft and other next-generation capabilities.

After this, the Air Force should add in more heavy-lifting bombers.

An F-35 performs aerial maneuvers during the Wings Over Houston Airshow in Houston, Texas on Oct. 18, 2019. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alexander Cook)

The National Defense Strategy demands the military as a whole be able to handle one major and one minor war simultaneously. The report, however, recommends that the Air Force have the capacity to cope with two major wars at the same time. This echoes with the view of some other analysts who point out that unlike the Army and the Navy, the Air Force has to fully straddle two major theatres: Northern Europe, and the Northern Pacific.

More Drones

The report also recommends investing more heavily in UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems)drones. The Air Force should develop new concepts for using MQ-9 Reapers and other UAS now in the force to deter gray zone aggression, defend U.S. airbases, and support multi-domain command and control operations, says the report.

In the medium term, the report recommends procuring new, dispensible UAS that could team up with regular crewed aircraft.

The U.S. military as a whole sees using numerous unmanned platformson the sea, under the sea, in the sky, and on the landas a key to its future capacity to undo the threat of Chinese and Russian long-range missile and anti-aircraft systems.

The air force also needs to get geared up to handle working inside the reach of its adversaries military fists. To do this, it will need to increase its stealth aircraft, says the report.

Blunting a great power adversarys attacks and preventing it from achieving a fait accompli will require the Air Force to conduct operations from the outset of hostilities in contested and highly contested areas, said the report.

To this end, the air force should ramp up the acquisition of stealth fighters such as the F-35A, and upgrading its bomber fleets.

In the longer term, the report recommends a new generation of surveillance drones and bombers which can operate within striking range.

Shoring up the forward airbases which are now under the shadow of adversaries missile reach is another critical priority.

This means it must develop new operating concepts, according to the report, along with investing in missile defenses and logistics infrastructure.

The report says that the air force budget suffered most in the post-Cold War cuts across the services. The budget rose during the War on Terror. But most of that extra cash went on supporting counterterrorism operations, not new fighters, bombers, and other next-generation systems better suited for great power conflict.
For the first time in the electoral history of India, a ruling party will be fighting elections with children's education at the top of its agenda

For the first time in the electoral history of India, a ruling party will be fighting elections with children's education at the top of its agenda.

When the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) released the report card of its Government in Delhi, it restated that education will lead the bid for the renewal of its mandate in the city-state. In its 10-point report card of performance, education features at the top with four key indicators: Threefold increase in budget, construction of 20,000 classrooms, Class 12 results surpassing the performance of private schools and containment of the often exorbitant fee hike by private schools of Delhi.

When we read our child's report card, we mainly think about three things  the efforts put in, the results and the direction in which our child is headed. A similar look at AAP's report card signifies much more than a mere statement of facts.

Let us begin by studying the first indicator: Delhi's budget allocation. The threefold increase in the education budget was in the same period when the total budget of the state doubled. As per 'RBI's State Budget Analyses Report 2017-18', Delhi spent 23.8 percent of its budget on education. This is the highest in a country where the average expenditure by states is 14.8 percent. The highest allocation to education among different sectors and threefold allocation increase symbolise two things  top priority to education and intent of the government to go much beyond routine expenses. What followed thereafter is the story of Delhi's education revolution.

The enhanced budget provided much needed resources to revamp school infrastructure. More than 8,000 classrooms in 141 buildings, including 25 new buildings were constructed within the first three years. An additional 12,000 classrooms in 243 buildings  including 30 new buildings  will be ready within the next six months. In Delhi's education story, these buildings are not just civil work, but much more than that.

Government buildings across the country, whether in schools or hospitals, built for the common citizen (except those that are likely to be used by privileged classes as well) gave a very dull look, a look that says, "Come here only if you cannot go anywhere else." But in Delhi, for the first time, the aesthetics and design of school building received careful attention. As a result, all new buildings of Delhi's government schools look like the sort that any parents can send their child as a first option and every child in those schools has the confidence that s/he has an equal opportunity to excel.

The third indicator was Class 12 results. In 2015-16, for the first time, government schools performed better than private schools in Delhi. In that year, the pass percentage of private schools was 86.7 percent while that of government schools was 88.9 percent. Since then, government schools have performed consistently better than private schools. In 2017-18, government schools crossed the 90 percent pass mark and the next year, they reached 96.5 percent. It must be noted that the improvement in 2019 was recorded despite the fact that 15 percent more children appeared in Class 12 examinations compared to 2018. The number of students securing more than 90 percent marks also increased from 563 in 2018 to 1,089 in 2019. Thus, for the first time in the history of Delhi government schools, more than 1,000 students secured more than 90 percent marks.

The last indicator in the report card is on private school fees. 364 private schools in Delhi were built on land allotted by Delhi Development Authority on the condition that they will not increase the fee without the approval of the Directorate of Education, Government of Delhi. This condition was put in the allotment letter itself so that the management did not use the school for profiteering. However, between 2011-12 and 2015-16, almost all these schools increased the fee between eight and 15 percent annually.

This practice by the schools was challenged by parents in the Delhi High Court, which set up a committee headed by Justice Anil Deo Singh to examine the records of the schools to see if their fee hikes were justified. The Delhi government ensured that the recommendation of the committee was implemented and monitored the refund of around Rs 32 crore to the parents by 198 private schools so far.

Now, any fee hike proposal is examined by a government panel of reputed charted accountants. As a result, in 2016-17, only 30 schools were allowed fee hikes in the range of five to 10 percent, while in 2017-18 and 2018-19, not a single school was allowed to raise fees.

In the past five years, the Delhi government raised the bar on what to expect and ignited hope that governments can ensure quality and equity in education for all children if it has political will. Thus, while the 2015 election was about promises, the 2020 is about performance and possibilities.

The author is principal advisor to Director of Education, Government of Delhi. Views are personal
BERLIN, Germany, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) and Elsevier, the global information analytics business specializing in science and health, are proud to announce the call for submissions for the Annual HIMSS-Elsevier Digital Healthcare Award 2020, European edition.



Established in 2013, the global HIMSS-Elsevier Digital Healthcare Award has recognized 218 submissions across 30 countries and 120 organisations, impacting over 41 million patients in the Asia Pacific, Middle Eastern and European regions.

The HIMSS-Elsevier Awards team are recognizing professionals in two categories:

Outstanding ICT Achievement - focuses on harnessing information and technology to successfully advance patient care and safety.





- focuses on harnessing information and technology to successfully advance patient care and safety. Outstanding ICT Innovation - focuses on creatively leveraging existing technology or developing ground-breaking new solutions to enhance ICT adoption, patient care and outcomes.

Submit your project here: https://www.himsseuropeconference.eu/helsinki/2020/himss-elsevier-digital-healthcare-awards

Deadline for submissions is March 27, 2020.

The HIMSS-Elsevier Awards are being hosted in Europe for the fourth time and have previously been celebrated in the Asia Pacific region for over six years, in the Middle East region for four and in Brazil and the Latin American region for the first time, earlier this year. It reflects Elseviers ongoing global commitment to supporting healthcare providers to continually evolve, in order to meet the needs of a changing population and changing health care.

The Awards will be presented during the HIMSS Europe & Health 2.0 Conference 2020 in Helsinki, Finland (26-28th May, 2020)

About HIMSS

HIMSS is a global advisor and thought leader supporting the transformation of the health ecosystem through information and technology. As a mission driven non-profit, HIMSS offers a unique depth and breadth of expertise in health innovation, public policy, workforce development, research and analytics to advise global leaders, stakeholders and influencers on best practices in health information and technology. Through our innovation engine, HIMSS delivers key insights, education and engaging events to healthcare providers, governments and market suppliers, ensuring they have the right information at the point of decision. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, HIMSS serves the global health information and technology communities with focused operations across North America, Europe, the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and Asia Pacific. Our members include more than 80,000 individuals, 480 provider organizations, 470 non-profit partners and 650 health services organizations. www.himss.org

About Elsevier

Elsevier is a global information analytics business that helps institutions and professionals advance healthcare, open science and improve performance for the benefit of humanity. Elsevier provides digital solutions and tools in the areas of strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support and professional education, including ScienceDirect , Scopus , SciVal , ClinicalKey and Sherpath . Elsevier publishes over 2,500 digitized journals, including The Lancet and Cell , more than 38,000 e-book titles and many iconic reference works, including Gray's Anatomy . Elsevier is part of RELX Group , a global provider of information and analytics for professionals and business customers across industries. www.elsevier.com

Karen D. Groppe

Senior Director, Strategic Communications

Mobile 312.965.7898 | Twitter @Karen_D_Groppe
Boris Johnson signed the Brexit divorce deal today, hailing the 'fantastic moment' that sends the UK officially on a path to quit the EU in a week's time.

He put Parker pen to paper on the official copy of the Withdrawal Agreement in Downing Street this afternoon, ending months and months of bitter and divisive politics.

The Prime Minister voiced his hope that it 'brings to an end far too many years of argument and division' ahead of Brexit on January 31.

His actions in a Downing Street anteroom came hours after it was claimed that Mr Johnson wants to strike a 'trailblazing' trade deal with Japan by the autumn and before deals are done with the EU and US.

He said: 'The signing of the Withdrawal Agreement is a fantastic moment, which finally delivers the result of the 2016 referendum and brings to an end far too many years of argument and division.

'We can now move forward as one country  with a Government focused upon delivering better public services, greater opportunity and unleashing the potential of every corner of our brilliant United Kingdom, while building a strong new relationship with the EU as friends and sovereign equals.'

He put pen to paper on the official copy of the Withdrawal Agreement in Downing Street this afternoon, ending months and months of biter and divisive politics

After being signed by the PM it will go back to Brussels tonight and be deposited in the EU archive alongside other treaties

The president of the European Commission, Ursula Von Der Leyen, endorsed the Withdrawal Agreement treaty struck between Britain and the bloc at a ceremony in Brussels this morning.

What happens next on Brexit? January 31: The UK will leave the EU at 11pm and enter into a standstill transition period. February: The EU will agree a negotiating mandate for trade talks with the UK. End of February: Trade talks between the two sides will start. December 2020: The end of the transition period and the hard deadline for a trade deal to be completed. Advertisement

She was joined by the president of the European Council Charles Michel and chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier.

It was then brought to the UK with an escort of officials from both sides, No 10 said.

After being signed by the PM it will go back to Brussels tonight and be deposited in the EU archive alongside other treaties.

The UK has three 'certified copies', one of which will be stored in the Foreign Offices archive of international treaties.

The EU had demanded ownership of the original treaty.

Tory MPs welcomed the move. Transport minister George Freeman said the signing of the treaty proved 'democracy is working' after 'three years of gridlock'.

The result of the EU parliamentary vote is viewed as a formality with the UK now guaranteed to split from the EU at 11pm on the last day of this month.

Ms von der Leyen's signing of the treaty came as it was claimed that Mr Johnson wants to strike a 'trailblazing' trade deal with Japan by the autumn and before deals are done with the EU and US.

Ursula von der Leyen signed the Withdrawal Agreement treaty this morning in Brussels. She was joined by Charles Michel (right) and Michel Barnier

The signing of the treaty means the UK's departure from the EU on January 31 is now all but guaranteed

Downing Street reportedly believes that a quick deal is possible with Tokyo which would show the EU and the rest of the world that the UK is 'ready to go'.

New 'Boris Bounce' sees private sector boom The UK private sector returned to growth for the first time in five months in January as business confidence was boosted by Boris Johnson's election win, new data revealed today. An uplift in business confidence after the Conservatives won a majority in the general election helped to drive growth across the economy, as new work increased at the fastest rate since September 2018. The findings came in the preliminary IHS Markit/CIPS composite purchasing managers index (PMI), which records private sector performance. It had a reading of 52.4, a significant rebound from a reading of 49.3 in December and ahead of analysts' forecasts of 50.7. Any reading of above 50 reflects business growth and the preliminary figures showed significant upturns in the services and manufacturing sectors over the month. Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit, said: 'The survey data indicate an encouraging start to 2020 for the UK economy. Advertisement

Japan was initially cold on the chances of the two sides doing a deal after Brexit but there has apparently been a change of heart in Shinzo Abe's administration.

The Sun reported that the Cabinet's EU Exit Strategy Committee met yesterday to discuss the UK's approach to post-Brexit trade talks.

A Whitehall source told the newspaper: 'The PM is very keen on the Japan deal now, and thinks we can use it as a bit of a trailblazer.

'It will show Brussels as well as the rest of the world we're ready to go.'

It came as the EU continued to cast doubt on whether a comprehensive future partnership agreement will be able to be struck with the UK by the end of 2020.

Mark Rutte, the Dutch PM, told Sky News in Davos that he believed the chances were '50/50'.

Asked to rate the likelihood of a full deal being done by the end of the Brexit transition period, he replied: '50-50 because a year is not very long.

'And if the UK is really not willing to ask for an extension then we run the risk that we might get a cliff edge again.'

The UK will leave the EU on January 31 and will then enter into a standstill transition period during which the two sides will try to hammer out a complete trade deal.

Mr Johnson is adamant that he will not agree to extend the transition period and that December 2020 must be viewed as a hard deadline.

Mark Rutte, the Dutch PM pictured in Davos, Switzerland yesterday, said he believed the chances of a trade deal being agreed by December 2020 were '50/50'

But the EU is deeply sceptical that a comprehensive agreement on the future partnership can be agreed so quickly and has pushed for the deadline to be pushed back.

The Brexit deal finally became law yesterday as Mr Johnson's European Union Withdrawal Agreement Bill was given Royal Assent by the Queen, making it an Act of Parliament.

The legislation was needed to ensure there is an orderly Brexit at the end of the month.

Mr Johnson said the successful completion of the passage of the so-called WAB means the UK could now 'move forwards'.

'At times it felt like we would never cross the Brexit finish line, but we've done it,' he said.

'Now we can put the rancour and division of the past three years behind us and focus on delivering a bright, exciting future  with better hospitals and schools, safer streets and opportunity spread to every corner of our country.'

Three years of Brexit chaos: Key dates in the wrangling June 21, 2016: The UK votes to leave the EU in the referendum. July 13, 2016: Theresa May becomes PM after seeing off challenges from Boris Johnson and Michael Gove. March 29, 2017: Theresa May formally notifies the EU that the UK is triggering the Article 50 process for leaving the bloc. June 8, 2017: The Tories lose their majority in the snap election called by Mrs May in a bid to strengthen her hand on Brexit. Mrs May manages to stay in power propped up by the DUP. July 12, 2018: Mrs May forces her blueprint for the future relationship with the EU through Cabinet during lengthy talks at Chequers. But both David Davis and Boris Johnson resign afterwards. November 2018: Mrs May finally strikes a Withdrawal Agreement with the EU, and it is approved by Cabinet - although Esther McVey and Dominic Raab resign. December 2018: Mrs May sees off a vote of no confidence in her leadership triggered by Tory MP furious about her Brexit deal. January 15-16, 2019: Mrs May loses first Commons vote on her Brexit deal by a massive 230 votes. But she sees off a Labour vote of no confidence in the government. March 12, 2019: Despite tweaks following talks with the EU, Mrs May's deal is defeated for a second time by 149 votes. March 29, 2019: Mrs May's deal is defeated for a third time by a margin of 58 votes. May 24, 2019: Mrs May announces she will resign on June 7, triggering a Tory leadership contest. July 23-24, 2019: Mr Johnson wins the Tory leadership battle after solemnly vowing that Brexit will not be extended beyond October 31, and becomes PM the following day. August 28, 2019: Mr Johnson announces he wants to prorogue Parliament from September 10. September 3-4, 2019: MPs seize control of Commons business and pass a law requiring a Brexit extension to avoid No Deal. Mr Johnson tries to call a snap general election but does not secure the two-thirds majority of MPs needed. September 24, 2019: The Supreme Court declares the prorogation of Parliament illegal. October 21, 2019: Mr Johnson strikes a new Brexit deal with the EU, incorporating many elements of Mrs May's but deleting the Northern irish backstop and proposing a much looser alignment. October 22, 2019: MPs approve Mr Johnson's deal at second reading stage in a major breakthrough - but they vote down his proposed timetable and vow to try to amend the Bill later. The PM responds by pausing the legislation and again demanding an election. October 29, 2019: MPs finally vote for an election, after the SNP and Lib Dems broke ranks to vote in favour, forcing the Labour leadership to agree. December 12, 2019: The Tories win a stunning 80 majority after vowing to 'get Brexit done' during the campaign. December 20, 2019: The new-look Commons passes Mr Johnson's Withdrawal Bill by a majority of 124. January 9: The EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill cleared its final Commons stages. January 22: EU Withdrawal Bill completes its passage through Parliament. January 23: The EU withdrawal Agreement Bill is given Royal Assent by the Queen and it becomes an Act of Parliament. January 24: EU chief Ursula von der Leyen formally signs the Withdrawal Agreement Treaty with Boris Johnson due to do the same. January 29: The European Parliament will meet in Brussels to vote on the Brexit deal. The result is a formality. 11pm, January 31: The UK formally leaves the EU - although it will stay bound to the bloc's rules for at least another 11 months during the transition period. Advertisement

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says the White House wants a post-Brexit trade deal with the UK done and dusted THIS YEAR in major boost for Boris Johnson

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin today said the White House wants to agree a post-Brexit trade deal with the UK before the end of the year.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the senior ally of Donald Trump said Britain is 'top of the list of trade agreements' which the US administration wants to get in the books.

Describing the UK as 'our number one ally', Mr Mnuchin said the US 'look forward' to concluding an agreement with Downing Street 'this year'.

He said: 'The UK is our number one ally and it would be at the top of the list of trade agreements. We look forward to getting that done this year.'

His comments represent a massive boost for Boris Johnson as the Prime Minister prepares the government for post-Brexit trade talks.

Steven Mnuchin, the US Treasury Secretary pictured in Davos, Switzerland today, said of a trade deal with the UK: 'We look forward to getting that done this year.'

As a member of the European Union the UK is currently barred from negotiating its own trade deals.

But as soon as Britain splits from Brussels on January 31 at 11pm it will be able to pursue its own agreements.

The UK is expected to negotiate a deal with the US at the same time as it discusses one with the EU.

Brexiteers hope the dual talks strategy and the prospect of a swift deal with the US will stop the EU from dragging its feet during talks.

Meanwhile, today it emerged that the PM also wants to target a quick trade deal with Japan to show Brussels the UK is ready to move speedily.

The EU must agree a mandate for trade talks with the UK and it can only do that once Britain has left the bloc.

That means the start of negotiations could be delayed until the end of February or even the start of March.

Once the UK leaves the EU at the end of this month the two sides will enter a standstill transition period when the terms of the future partnership will be hammered out.

That transition period will finish in December and Mr Johnson is adamant he will not sanction an extension, insisting the end of the year must be viewed as a hard deadline for a deal to be done.

Mr Mnuchin's comments represent a massive boost to Boris Johnson, pictured in Downing Street today celebrating Chinese New Year, who is hoping the prospect of a swift US trade deal will prompt the EU to also move quickly on a future partnership agreement

But the EU does not believe 11 months is long enough to agree a comprehensive deal, raising the prospect of the transition period ending without a full agreement in place.

If the UK has a trade deal with the US already agreed it would lessen the impact of a chaotic split from the EU at the end of the year and make the bloc more likely to work at pace, Brexiteers have argued.

Mr Mnuchin's intervention came as it was reported that the EU has accepted the transition period will not be extended.

A senior official with the bloc said: 'We can assume at this point that the transition period will end on December 31, 2020.'
Reuters

The boss of France's state-controlled telecoms operator Orange on Thursday renewed his defence of Huawei's right to sell 5G equipment in Europe amid tense debates on the continent over mobile-network security.

Discussion has intensified in France and Germany this week after European industrial policy chief Thierry Breton dismissed claims that relying on European companies to build a 5G network would delay its rollout.

US authorities have called for a complete ban on the world's biggest telecoms equipment maker Huawei in Europe's 5G networks over fears of Chinese spying, leaving some of the largest carriers fretting that their investment plans could be jeopardised.

(Also read: Timeline: Key dates in the U.S.-China trade war)

"I'm against excluding Huawei," Orange's Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Stephane Richard told reporters at a news conference in Paris, but added that he was all in favour of a clear set of European-wide rules.

Huawei has repeatedly denied that its equipment can be used for spying.

While agreeing on the desire shown by Breton to favour European providers such as Nokia and Ericsson, Richard said he hoped the call for more stringent rules would not lead to a de facto veto of Huawei in Europe.

"(It) would go against the EU's interests and would cause major problems for most of the EU operators," added Richard, who also chairs the telecoms industry lobby group GSMA.

The comments echoed previous remarks made late last year, when he said some of the security fears surrounding Huawei were "complete nonsense".

Breton, a former French finance minister who led Orange in the early 2000s, in contrast insists that strict security conditions would not create delays in the rollout of 5G technology on the continent.

"Europe, including Germany of course, is on track. We are not, and won't be, late in Europe on the deployment of 5G," Breton said at a weekend conference in Munich, Germany.

Breton, who heads the vast 'Single Market' portfolio in the new European Commission, which includes industrial policy, has said Europe should preserve its "technological sovereignty" by ensuring it has domestic alternatives in strategic areas.
It took only two weeks for the first exchange of fire of 2020 between Israel and the Gaza Strip.

The confrontation came Jan. 15, just one day after the Israel Defense Forces released its annual intelligence assessment, which  to no one's surprise  did not rule out the potential for short rounds of confrontation with the Hamas-run Gaza Strip.

Israeli aircraft bombed Hamas targets the evening of Jan. 15, after four rockets were launched from Gaza toward settlements in southern Israel. No Palestinian or Israeli casualties were recorded.

In response to Israel's retaliation, the so-called night confusion units of the Palestinian resistance factions resumed their activities Jan. 19 near the eastern border. Several Palestinians launched dozens of explosive devices and booby-trapped balloons toward the Israeli army and settlements there.

The confusion units consist of hundreds of Palestinians who head to the border areas in the first hours of the night, shooting firecrackers, beating drums, playing national songs on speakers and honking their car horns to disturb nearby Israeli soldiers and settlers. (The units had halted their activities in March when Egypt asked Israel to improve Gaza living conditions and implement the understandings between Hamas and Israel in October 2018 to ease the Gaza blockade.)

Also possibly adding to the current tension, an Egyptian security delegation, whose arrival date in Gaza was announced to be Jan. 6, failed to show. Some observers said this was due to Egypt's anger after Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh visited Iran that day, though the Hamas politburo denied any hostility.

Taher al-Nono, Haniyehs media adviser, also said in a Jan. 19 press statement that there is no tension . He stressed that the relationship between Hamas and Egypt is stable and that they continue to coordinate on all issues.

But as for Hamas and Israel, tension rose even more Jan. 21, as the Israeli army shot dead three Palestinians it said threw an explosive device at Israeli forces and tried to cross the border near the Kissufim settlement. Palestinian factions in Gaza have yet to comment on the incident, which is adding more fuel to the fire there.

Mohammed al-Brim Abu Mujahid, a spokesman for the Popular Resistance Committees, told Al-Monitor, The resistance is monitoring the security situation in Gaza and along its borders, and will not stop pressuring Israel until it complies with what is required of it to ease the siege. Should the Israeli responses escalate by bombing the military resistance sites, we may resort to activating other options."

He added, "We will be ready to face any Israeli attempt to change the rules of engagement. The Israeli internal [political] crisis may push the Israeli government toward a military escalation against Gaza, but the resistance is ready to face the worst.

Israeli military circles informed the Israeli Kan channel Jan. 15 that Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants were responsible for launching the rockets that day, although none of the Palestinian factions claimed responsibility. Yet, Israel bombed Hamas posts in response, because Israel believes that, as Hamas controls Gaza, it is responsible for any action there, regardless of which organizations carries it out.

Hassan Abdo, a political analyst close to the Islamic Jihad, told Al-Monitor that the recent escalation is linked in part "to the tightening of the Israeli blockade on Gaza, which has revived the lack of calm in Gaza that had prevailed since the start of the marches of return in March 2018. Israel is trying to portray the Islamic Jihad as being in a volatile, uncontrolled state ... which, in Israel's view, requires its deterrence, and this is not true."

He said the fact that Israeli elections are only 40 days away seems to back the hypothesis that some Israelis favor "escalating against Gaza for electoral reasons, without a full-fledged war.

Mahmoud Mardawi, a member of Hamas National Relations Office, told Al-Monitor, "As long as Israel violates its pledges to Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations regarding the understandings of October 2018, the resistance will resort to escalation once again. Israel may have been slow to implement the understandings on the eve of its elections in March, even if it led to escalation with Gaza, but the resistance will not allow Gaza to be an arena for Israelis competing in the elections, and it will continue to use its militant tools."

Israeli Channel 13 announced Jan. 20 that Israel had warned Hamas about the continued launch of balloons from Gaza, amid Israeli security concerns that Hamas might disrupt the Holocaust Remembrance summit Jan. 23 in Jerusalem. More than 40 senior world leaders were expected to participate.

On Jan. 19, Israeli Channel 12 said Israel threatened Hamas through a third party, which the news organization did not identify; Israel was reported to have warned that if incendiary and explosive balloons continue to be fired, it will not hesitate to stop them, even if this leads to a military escalation.

Mardawi, however, said incendiary balloons "are a form of the Palestinian struggle."

Saeed Bisharat, editor-in-chief of Hodhod news network for Israeli affairs, told Al-Monitor, I don't believe there will be a major military escalation between Hamas and Israel. The latter is now looking for security, calm at any cost, and Hamas knows the internal Israeli [political] impasse and so is pressuring it to get what it wants, without Israel pushing for a harsh response that could lead to an exaggerated escalation. This action/reaction situation is expected to remain the same for now but no one knows where it could lead.

The tension in Gaza could increase due to another humanitarian crisis that recently emerged. An association of fuel companies in Gaza announced Jan, 20 that no Israeli or Egyptian natural gas had entered for 10 days, which had not happened for three years. There is no gas for citizens, bakeries, factories, farms and hospitals.

Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported Jan. 16 that Egypt was so angry at Hamas over Haniyehs visit to Iran that it imposed sanctions by raising the prices of goods exported to Gaza and new fees on those leaving Gaza through the Rafah crossing. However, Khalil al-Hayya, a member of Hamas' political bureau, said at a Jan. 21 press conference in Gaza that the gas crisis has nothing to do with the Hamas-Egypt relationship, but rather that the Egyptian decision was made for purely commercial reasons.

On Jan. 16, Adnan Abu Hasna, media adviser for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, said the Gaza Strip has completely collapsed at all levels. He pointed to a 2018 UN report that predicted Gaza would not be viable by 2020.

All of this indicates that the humanitarian situation in Gaza could deteriorate even further, which could lead to increased security tension amid fears that any escalation could turn into an open confrontation with Israel. The Israeli government may try to use Palestinians' desperation as leverage to achieve calm for its elections  but Hamas could always opt for using greater military force, one of whose effects might be to cause the Israeli right to lose the elections.
The absence of Dr. Alex Karev, Justin Chambers' character on Greys Anatomy, was explained on Thursday's episode after the actor departed from the ABC medical drama after a 15-year stint.

Karev was last seen at Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital on the November 14 broadcast of Greys Anatomy, as the character had went back to his Iowa home to help his mother, who was battling illness.

On the broadcast Thursday, which was the show's mid-season premiere, the absence was mentioned during a discussion between Meredith Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo, and Alex's wife Jo Wilson Karev, played by Camilla Luddington. She responded, 'Hes visiting his mom.'

Unsolved mysteries: The absence of Dr. Alex Karev, Justin Chambers' character on Greys Anatomy, was explained on Thursday's episode after the actor departed from the ABC medical drama after a 15-year stint

When Meredith saw the character Link, played by Chris Carmack, with Jo, she said, 'You're not Alex.'

Meredith noted that Cormac Hayes, played by Richard Flood, is now working Alex's chief of pediatric surgery job at the hospital.

Chambers, 49, earlier this month wrapped up his stint on the show, saying in a statement, 'There's no good time to say goodbye to a show and character that's defined so much of my life for the past 15 years.'

The Springfield, Ohio native continued: 'For some time now, however, I have hoped to diversify my acting roles and career choices. And, as I turn 50 and am blessed with my remarkable, supportive wife and five wonderful children, now is that time.'

Departed: Karev was last at Grey-Sloan Memorial Hospital on the November 14 broadcast of Greys Anatomy

Gracious: The actor was gracious as he said his goodbyes to his longtime colleagues

The actor, who's also played the role on an episode of the series Private Practice, was gracious as he said his goodbyes to his longtime colleagues.

'As I move on from Grey's Anatomy, I want to thank the ABC family, Shonda Rhimes, original cast members Ellen Pompeo, Chandra Wilson and James Pickens [Jr.], and the rest of the amazing cast and crew, both past and present, and, of course, the fans for an extraordinary ride,' he said.

Last week, when he was asked by Page Six if he had been getting help for a mental health issue at an exclusive Connecticut facility, he said, 'maybe,' noting, 'Greys has been very supportive of me and Im very grateful and its been a great ride.'

Grey's Anatomy airs Thursdays at 9/8c on ABC.
ALTON  A fire in an industrial sales building on Broadway shut down part of the street late Friday morning as fire departments from Alton, East Alton and Wood River dealt with the blaze.

The fire was reported at about 11 a.m. at Industrial Machine Sales, 2625 E. Broadway. No injuries were reported.

Alton Deputy Fire Chief Bradley Sweetman said the fire was quickly put out and other departments were released from the scene less than an hour after arriving. However, Alton fire crews remained on the scene to monitor the building.

A man who identified himself as the owner, but declined to give his name, said the fire started when a wood-burning heater malfunctioned. He said the building was evacuated, in part because of flammable materials stored on site.

We received a call for a commercial structure fire in an industrial setting, Sweetman said. We arrived on the scene; we had smoke coming from the roof and visible fire in the ceiling inside the rear of the building.

Because of the potential danger, an industrial fire box alarm was called with Wood River and East Alton responding with additional equipment and manpower. Sweetman said an industrial setting fire can be unpredictable.

Crews made an interior attack and put the fire out in the ceiling, he said, adding they opened up the surrounding ceiling to make sure the fire was contained.

For a time Friday, Broadway was closed from Main Street to Sering Avenue. At about 12:30 p.m. Friday, the westbound lanes of Broadway were reopened for traffic.
: The Kerala government's decision to fully cooperate with the Census, but not with the National Population Register (NPR) updation has received the full backing of Members of Parliament from the state.

To ensure there is no confusion among the public and political parties on the matter, government will take further steps on the matter, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told a meeting of the MPs here on Friday.

A special cabinet meeting held last week had also decided to inform the Registrar General and Census Commissioner under the Union Home ministry that it was unable to cooperate with anything with regard to NPR updation.

Vijayan also wanted the MPs to take up various issues concerning the state, with the Centre.

The Railway ministry has given in principle clearance to the pre-investment activities of the Thiruvananthapuram- Kasaragod semi High speed rail corridor and MPs should put pressure on the ministry to take further steps, a government press quoted Vijayan as having told the members.

On the Angamali-Sabari rail project, the state wanted the Railways to set apart necessary amounts for the project and MPs to urge the ministry in this regard, chief minister said.

The MPs also should put pressure on the Centre to speed up the National Highway development, the release added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
SYRACUSE, N.Y.  For fans of historic, older homes, the call to restore them to their original glory is almost inescapable.

Take real estate investor Leslie Tiffany, of Boston, for example.

She had no intention of buying the grand old house at 749 West Onondaga Street in Syracuse while she was visiting her brother in a local hospital over a period of three months in 2007.

But there was something about it, which called to her and her love of architecture.

Its just so grand and beautiful, she said. I loved the colors, the turret, the detailIt was unusual but perfect.

It was just a little gem.

Built in 1885, the house was designed by the most famous name in Syracuse architecture, Archimedes Russell, whose credits include the Onondaga County Courthouse, Central High School, Crouse College at Syracuse University and the Dey Brothers building on Salina Street.

A scan of the Post-Standards archives finds that it was once owned by Francis Gridley, the banker who owned the Gridley Building downtown. For a long time, it was a funeral home.

Realtor Douglas Freeman, of Procopio Real Estate, says walking through the front doors into the stately front foyer, one immediately gets transported back to Gilded Age Syracuse.

You feel the elegance, the history, he said. You can feel the parties that were held there. There was some high-end living there.

Tiffany spotted a For Sale sign on it and began making phone calls, growing more and more frustrated when her calls were not answered.

We would park in front of the house and wish he would answer the phone, she said.

The owner, Ric Bruno, had sunk a small fortune into restoring it, including rebuilding the grand staircase in the front parlor, installing a new heating and cooling system and painstakingly repainting many of the homes beautifully detailed woodworking.

Finally, he sold it to Tiffany, and she continued many of the restoration projects while also renting it out.

But it has been difficult to keep up with it while living so far away.

Now she wants to find someone who will answer the call she did.

Tiffany says the structure has withstood the test of time and says the foundation is solid.

She says the house right now is livable, but it needs someone with vision and patience to complete the hard work of restoring it to what it once was.

It needs a lot of cosmetic work and updating.

When completed, she says it belongs on the National Register of Historic Places.

They do not build houses like this anymore, she said. It cannot be replicated.

She also believes the property has a lot of potential.

Built on a double lot, with two spacious front living rooms, six second-floors bedrooms, two full bathrooms, and an enormous attic space which could be renovated into a master suite, game room, exercise room or spa, the structure could be remade into a bed and breakfast.

An open house is scheduled for Sunday, January 26, from noon to 2 p.m.

THE DETAILS

Address: 749 West Onondaga Street, Syracuse, N.Y. 13204

Price: $119,000

Size: 4,793 square feet

Acreage: 0.24 acres

Monthly Mortgage: $445 (based on this week's national average rate of 3.83 percent, according to Freddie Mac, for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with a 20 percent down payment. Fees and points not included.)

Taxes: $3,150 (Based on assessed value of $60,000)

Built: 1885

School District: Syracuse City Schools

Kitchen: Owner says the kitchen needs to be renovated. The large kitchen has a high brick island in its center and has plenty of storage space. There is an eating area off to the side of it and a convenient staircase to the upstairs. There is a dishwasher and a refrigerator.

Living areas: Visitors enter the home in the stately front foyer with a magnificently detailed black staircase in front of you. Chandeliers and original hardwood floors are throughout. There are four fireplaces. There are large, high ceiling living rooms to the left and the right of the foyer. A formal dining room, with high windows, is off the kitchen. This historic home is partially restored and needs someone to continue the work of restoring it.

Bedrooms: There are six large bedrooms on the homes second floors. There is potential for more in the large attic space.

Bathrooms: There are two-and-a half bathrooms. The half bathroom is on the first floor, the two full ones are on the second.

Outside: Built on almost a quarter of an acre, the property is close to downtown Syracuse and its shopping and hospitals. Its proximity to the city makes it a potential bed and breakfast.

Agent: Douglas Freeman

Procopio Real Estate

Address: 2300 Milton Avenue, Syracuse, N.Y. 13209

Phone: (315) 440-7363

Email: douglas@procopiorealestate.com

If you know of a beautiful or interesting house currently up for sale, please consider sending a nomination for it to be featured as a future House of the Week. Send an email with the listing to home@syracuse.com.

Do you know of any older homes in Central New York which have fallen on hard times but have a lot of potential should they be restored to their original grandeur? A fixer-upper with a lot of potential? Consider nominating them to our new feature, Save this Home, in which we will spotlight grand houses of the past around Central New York that need to be saved. Send nominations to home@syracuse.com.

READ MORE

House of the Week: Three-story home designed to take advantage of Cazenovia Lake views

House of the Week: Owners says Brewerton ranch is completely me

House of the Week: Grand Solvay Victorian has a story to tell

See our real estate transactions database

Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
RIYADH (Reuters) - A Saudi health ministry affiliate said on Thursday there were no cases of coronavirus in the kingdom, denying earlier reports of an expatriate resident being infected. Earlier, India's minister of state for external affairs said an Indian nurse working at a hospital in southwestern Saudi Arabia has been infected by the coronavirus and was being treated, amid an outbreak that has killed 18 people in China.

RIYADH (Reuters) - A Saudi health ministry affiliate said on Thursday there were no cases of coronavirus in the kingdom, denying earlier reports of an expatriate resident being infected.

Earlier, India's minister of state for external affairs said an Indian nurse working at a hospital in southwestern Saudi Arabia has been infected by the coronavirus and was being treated, amid an outbreak that has killed 18 people in China.

But the Saudi Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a tweet that there were no cases of the novel coronavirus so far.

The kingdom said on Wednesday it would start screening passengers arriving from China and take other preventive measures following the outbreak in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

The virus, which can pass from person to person, has been reported in Thailand, Japan and South Korea, raising concerns about its spread through international air travel. More than 630 people have been infected, mostly in China, but cases have been detected as far away as the United States.

Elsewhere in the Gulf region, Qatar called on its citizens in China to exercise caution against the virus, the state news agency reported on Thursday.

(Reporting by Marwa Rashad and Stephen Kalin; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Frances Kerry)

This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
COLONIE -- The town of Colonie's computer system shutdown more than a week ago after it was infiltrated and locked by hackers, and now town officials say it will take another two weeks before it is fully up and running, a longer time frame than officials thought initially.

The town has not yet identified the hacker, but has leads that the attack could have been based in Russia, Colonie Town Attorney Michael Magguilli said. The hacker demanded a ransom of $400,000 worth of bitcoin, which the town did not pay.

When the town of Colonie sent out a news release Jan. 17 informing the public of the cyberattack, officials anticipated that all systems would be restored fully by the beginning of this week. However, Magguilli said that was merely an estimate.

What I think is that this is kind of a fluid situation and these hacks are complicated, Magguilli said. We have experts come in and give us their best estimate, but you dont know the exact nature of the hack.

Recovery will happen for some departments sooner than others, Magguilli explained. He said more departments are starting to come online "slowly but surely." Colonie Justice Court was setting up its system Friday afternoon and anticipates it will be fully online no later than Monday. Since court employees are on the New York Courts' email server, not the town's, the attack did not impact their ability to use email. However, many town employees still do not have access to email.

Its like 1982 again, everything is done by fax, Magguilli said.

Right now the town is working on getting the computers of department heads back up and running, he said Friday. One computer is being set up at each department for the entire staff to share, until the system is completely restored.

Tim Weber, the director of security services at the Albany-based ADNET Technologies, said this timeframe isn't unusual with certain attacks. He said the town likely underestimated how long it would take to return to normal operations when the attack first occurred.

Unfortunately, it sometimes does take that long to recover. My hunch would be is they probably suffered a ransom attack," Weber said. "That means they would have to restore all the data and potentially rebuild systems, and we find thats something people dont take into account.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Many of the town's departments are relying on a backup database to restore their systems. The backup system was created by Colonies Management Information Services and the town did not hire a third-party security firm, according to Magguilli. However, Weber said municipalities should start to consider outside help.

In the past, I would have said doing things internally is enough, but were in a day and age now where municipalities should not be doing security on their own because they are getting targeted so heavily," Weber said.

Magguilli said the hacker was able to deny access to the system, but did not successfully access any of the town's data.

Earlier this month, Albany County Airport Authority's computer system was also hacked, and the airport had to pay a ransom. The amount wasn't disclosed, but airport officials said it was "under six figures." Colonie officials dont know if there is any connection between the two incidents.

The city of Albany also experienced a cyber attack last spring that cost the city $300,000 to repair destroyed servers, upgrade user security software, purchase firewall insurance and make other improvements to better protect the citys systems.
ABC News says the network has obtained an audio recording that captures the moment Donald Trump told his associates to "get rid of" Marie Yovanovitch, who was then the US ambassador to Ukraine, before she was ousted amid efforts to pressure the country to investigate his political rivals, a charge at the heart of his impeachment trial.

The news outlet says the recording appears to include the president saying: "Get her out tomorrow. I don't care. Get her out tomorrow. Take her out. OK? Do it."

On the recording, Mr Trump is speaking at a small gathering that also included Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, two business associates of Mr Trump's attorney Rudy Giuliani, who urged getting Ms Yovanovitch "out of the way" to advance a conspiracy investigation tying Joe Biden and his son Hunter to corruption in Ukraine.

Mr Fruman and Mr Parnas are facing federal indictments for their alleged role in a campaign finance fraud scheme using foreign money. They have pleaded not guilty.

Mr Parnas has since testified to members of Congress following the president's impeachment in the House, offering additional documents and testimony that further links Mr Trump to efforts to withhold aid to Ukraine in exchange for an investigation into the Bidens as 2020 election campaigns drew closer.

All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Show all 6 1 /6 All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Alan Dershowitz Dershowitz is a controversial American lawyer best known for the high-profile clients he has successfully defended. Those clients have included OJ Simpson, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein. One longtime Harvard Law associated told the New Yorker Dershowitz "revels in taking positions that ultimately are not just controversial but pretty close to indefensible." Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Ken Starr Starr became a household name in the 1990s as the independent counsel who led the investigation that led to Bill Clinton's impeachment. That investigation began as a look into a real estate scandal known as Whitewater, and eventually led to impeachment after Mr Clinton lied under oath about having an affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. AP All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Jay Sekulow Sekulow is the president's longtime personal attorney, and, now, personal lawyer in the White House. He has been accused by former Rudy Giuliani associate Lev Parnas of being "in the loop" during the Ukraine scandal. Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Pam Bondi Bondi is the former attorney general in Florida, and a longtime backer of the president's. She made a name for herself in Florida for taking hyper partisan stances on issues, and her penchant for publicity. She is likely to be a prominent public-facing figure during the trial. AFP/Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Pat Cipollone Cipollone is the White House counsel, and leading the president's defence team. Getty All the president's lawyers: The team fighting Trump's impeachment Rudy Giuliani While not officially named as one of the president's impeachment lawyers, it is hard to ignore Giuliani's outsized role in this process. The former mayor of New York has been making headlines for months as he defends his client, and for his apparent role in the effort to compel Ukraine to launch the investigation into Joe Biden. We'll see how he figures in the actual trial, which he has said he would like to be a part of. Reuters

ABC says the recording was captured by Mr Fruman during a meeting on 30 April 2018 at the Trump International Hotel in Washington DC. The network reports that a copy of the recording is in the custody of federal prosecutors in New York.

Ms Yovanovitch was called back to the US in April 2019 following a State Department message urging her to leave Ukraine on the next possible plane. She later told congressional committees charged with investigating the president's impeachment that the decision was motivated by people with "questionable motives" with regards to Ukraine within the Trump administration.

The recording contradicts statements by the president and members of his administration that have denied Mr Trump's connection to Mr Fruman and Mr Parnas, despite several photos and videos capturing the men together and posing for photographs.

On the recording, Mr Parnas appears to say, according to ABC: "The biggest problem there, I think where we need to start is we gotta get rid of the ambassador. She's still left over from the Clinton administration ... She's basically walking around telling everybody 'Wait, he's gonna get impeached, just wait.'"

Ms Yovanovitch has served as a US diplomat with the State Department since Ronald Reagan's administration in the 1980s.

Records obtained by Congress from Mr Parnas show dozens of emails, WhatsApp messages and handwritten notes describing Mr Giuliani's attempts to facilitate a White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and to remove Ms Yovanovitch from her post.

One message showed that Mr Parnas and others were under order to perform "physical surveillance" on Ms Yovanovitch in Kiev.
"I just let my personal life be my personal life and work be work," says Kidd Kenn. Still technically in high school, he's apparently perfected the balance so many struggle to maintain even well into adulthood. But being an openly queer prodigy rapper can be demanding.

A few days following our interview, Kenn will celebrate his 17th birthday with an intimate dinner with friends and family in his native Chicago. But the Second City celebration will only last for so long before he's back on a plane to Los Angeles to work on new music. And in between it all, he'll get some homework done, too.

If all of this seems like too much for one person, you're clearly not paying attention to the music world at large, where the newest crop of stars are younger  and more eager  than ever. For someone like Kenn, who earnestly declares that he wants to "do it all," hard work and ambition are an unquestioned part of the equation. Besides, "The more you see Kidd Kenn," he says, "the more you'll get it."

Related | Kidd Kenn Just Signed a Major Deal

Kenn rose to online prominence with freestyles over instrumentals from artists like G Herbo and King Von. He soon began collaborating with fellow Chicagoans like Katie Got Bandz and Queen Key. In 2018, he self-released his critically acclaimed debut EP Childish, marking a career shift. Despite beginning his career working with other people's beats, he didn't find songwriting difficult. He describes the songs on Childish as "quick and easy," nothing he "thought too hard about or got stuck on."

Childish is fun and cheeky. Part of that was due to the energy of the room when the songs were written and recorded. "It was really just me and my team  me and my manager  in the studio, all the time, having fun and vibing and making music," he recalls. But Kenn's also just like that: naturally funny, enthusiastic and a little silly. All of this translates on tracks like "Eriod," featuring Queen Key. "P stands for pussy so my bitches say 'eriod/ He say he likes girls but to me he seems curious," the rapper begins. The song only gets more bold from there, echoing his more recent cuts like "Babysitter" and "U 2 Funny."

Kenn's life has been slowly amping up since signing last year to Island Records. Some Chicago rappers find themselves snatched up by coastal record labels, but ultimately left out to dry when it comes time to release new music. But Kenn says has found a supportive and eager team with Island, and he's ready to release more songs. A follow-up mixtape is scheduled February. "I'm actually taking my time and working on it," he says. "I picked the songs wisely. It's really gonna be, like, so lit."

Kenn is in prime form right now; he says he's never felt so creatively open. The words flow out of him, for the most part, meaning there are more chances for his listeners  old fans and new ones  to hear what he's working on. "When I first started, it was really difficult because I was just new to everything, so I was just trying to figure out who I was," he adds. "Now, since I've been doing it, it's so easy. I'm ready for the world to hear it."

Related | Mister Wallace Is the Cool Mom You Never Had

These days producers now send Kenn their beats, instead of him searching for them on his own. Everyone wants to jump on the Kidd Kenn bandwagon as it cruises out of the South Side where he was raised (and photographed here for PAPER). They're smart to do so.

Fame may be coming for Kenn, but it's not something he's had to grapple with too deeply just yet. "When I meet my fans, it be like the most adorable moment ever. They be so shook," Kenn says. "It makes you feel so loved. It's the best thing ever." When he's here in Chicago, Kenn still sticks with the friends and family who have been there for him since the beginning. "They understand what I'm doing," he says. "Everything is cool."

All of this  newfound fame, the recording process, the chance to rub shoulders with people he only dreamed about ever meeting  still feels new and exciting and inspiring. Kenn still happily recalls his first New York Fashion Week, when he attended the Savage Fenty afterparty. "I feel so proud because these are people I watched when I was younger, like I watched before I was a rapper. These are people I used to see all the time on my phone, on social media, and now I'm in the same room," he says. "It feels so crazy and unreal."
Chennai, Jan 24 : The Madras High Court on Friday dismissed the case filed against actor Rajinikanth for his comments made about a rally led by Dravida Kazhagham (DK) founder E.V.Ramaswamy popularly known as Periyar.

The case was filed by Dravidar Vidhuthalai Kazhagam (DVK).

While hearing the case the court wondered why the petitioner had approached it within 15 days of lodging a police complaint.

At this state the counsel for the petitioner sought the court's permission to withdraw the petition and the court dismissed the same.

At the Tamil magazine Thuglak's 50th anniversary function, Rajinikanth had said that "in 1971, naked images of Lord Rama and Sita were allegedly displayed in a rally led by Periyar in Salem". He said that whatever happened in that rally was reported by the media at the time.

The followers of the social activist, who started the 'self-respect movement' and founded DK, said that Rajinikanth's comments were an insult to Periyar.

While some groups have demanded an apololgy from Rajinikanth, the actor has categorically refused to do so.

Speaking to reporters outside his residence recently, Rajinikanth showed some photocopies of media reports in support of his comments and said that he will not apologise.

The DVK has registered a complaint with the Coimbatore police against Rajinikanth for defaming the DK founder.

The DVK complained that Rajinikanth's statement was false and urged the police to file a case against him.

The DVK also threatened protests outside the theatres showing the actor's latest movie "Darbar" if he did not apologise.

The DK followers does not agree with Rajinikanth's statement that naked images of Lord Rama and Sita were allegedly displayed in a rally led by Periyar in Salem.

On the other hand, they agreed that the image of Lord Rama was beaten with a slipper that was allegedly thrown at the rally.
She's one of the biggest models in the fashion industry.

And Cinda Bruna was a vision of beauty in a striking grey and yellow ensemble as she attended a Sidaction gala dinner at the Pavillon Cambon Capucines, in Paris, France on Thursday.

The model, 25, displayed her amazing figure in the tight grey bustier and matching full skirt by Vivienne Westwood as she attended the dinner in honour of AIDS charities.

Gorgeous: Cinda Bruna, 25, was a vision of beauty in grey and yellow as she attended a Sidaction gala dinner at the Pavillon Cambon Capucines, in Paris, France on Thursday

Cindy displayed her amazing figure as she arrived for the charity dinner, sporting the dress with a form-fitting grey corset top that displayed her ample cleavage.

The French fashion star's dress boasted a full midi skirt covered with a yellow floral print as she attended the star-studded charity gala.

Cindy accessorised her glamorous look with matching gold pointed-toe heels and sparkling diamond jewellery.

Stunning: The model displayed her amazing figure in the tight grey bustier and matching full skirt as she attended the dinner in honour of AIDS charities

Beautiful: Cindy displayed her amazing figure as she arrived for the charity dinner, sporting the dress with a form-fitting grey corset top that displayed her ample cleavage

The raven-haired beauty let her amazing outfit do the talking by keeping her dark tresses pulled back in a straight style.

Cindy was among several stars in attendance for the charity event, which raises money for the Sidaction organisation which raises funds for several AIDS charities.

She is already known as one Victoria Secret's hottest models, though the 5ft 11in model did not walk in her seventh consecutive Fashion Show last year as it was cancelled due to low ratings.

Dressed to impress: The French fashion star's dress boasted a full midi skirt covered with a yellow floral print as she attended the star-studded charity gala

In an interview with Vogue last year, Cindy spoke about being scouted at 16 and how her parents coped. She said: 'My mom wanted me to finish school first. You hear so many things about modeling that parents don't really want for their kids'.

Fashion icon Azzedine Alaia treated her as a protege, as she said: 'Alaia was my first job. I arrived at his showroom and was not even able to walk in heels. I learned to walk with him..

'Through it all, I could always feel that I was in the presence of a genius. He offered me a dress for my birthday.'
The weather is playing games and every other person we meet is under the weather this time of the year. However, if you are down with a runny nose, headache, cough and fever (yes, we know they are the most common symptoms), run to the doctor.

The seemingly innocuous symptoms are also associated with the novel coronavirus  the virus that is going viral on news these days.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the more dangerous kinds of coronavirus could cause shortness of breath, chills and body aches. The serious cases can cause pneumonia, respiratory disorders, kidney failure and painful death.

What is 2019 novel coronavirus?

It is a new strain and the latest entrant into the list of viral outbreak caused by coronavirus (CoV), which is a family of virus that caused the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (also known as MERS or camel flu) outbreak in 2012, and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak between November 2002 and July 2003.

Coronavirus is zoonotic, meaning that the virus is initially transmitted from animals to humans before it spreads from one human to another. The strain discovered in December 2019 is called 2019-novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)  'novel', simply because it is newly discovered. Every time there is a coronavirus breakout, it is initially labelled novel till the reason for the outbreak is discovered and is prefixed.

In the case of 2019-nCoV, the exact source animal from which it started is yet to be identified. In MERS, it was dromedary camels and SARS was from civet cats (of the luwak kopi fame).

Where it all started: The Huanan Wholesale Seafood Market remains closed in Wuhan, China. (Photo: AP)

This strain was identified in mid-December last year in the inland port city of Wuhan, China. There were a number of people diagnosed with pneumonia with no clear cause. The only common thread was that initially, all the patients were stallholders who worked at the Huanan Seafood Market, which also sold live animals. News reports have suggested that the market was dealing in illegal wildlife trade, and wild animals could be a possible source.

The first instances of symptomatic illness were noted on December 8, 2019, and the suspicion of 2019-nCoV was first reported on December 31, 2019. The market was closed off almost immediately on January 1, 2020, and people with symptoms of the infection were isolated.

A report yesterday said that snakes could be the reason behind the coronavirus outbreak. The Chinese krait and Chinese cobra are being spoken of as the original source of this new coronavirus, which has resulted in growing panic in China.

Cases so far

As of January 24, 2020, 26 deaths have occurred because of the 2019-nCoV infection, all of them in China. Imperial College, London estimated on Wednesday that Wuhan alone probably now has 4,000 symptomatic cases. 830 confirmed cases have been reported as of the end of Thursday by China's National Health Commission. As of Tuesday, in China alone, there were 14 cases in Guangdong, 10 in Beijing, 6 in Shanghai and 5 in Zhejiang, besides the cases in Wuhan.

Chinese tourists wear masks as they travel ahead of Chinese Lunar New Year amidst 2019-nCoV outbreak. (Photo: Reuters)

Cases have been reported across the globe, in the United States stoking fear that the virus is already spreading worldwide. US, South Korea, Taiwan and Japan have reported one confirmed case each, and three have been reported in Thailand. Two persons who returned from China to Mumbai and showed symptoms of mild cough and cold, have been kept in an isolation ward at Kasturba hospital in the city.

Travel advisory

This particular outbreak could not have come at a worse time. Chinas busiest travel season has just begun, with millions of people crisscrossing through the country to get home in time for the Chinese Lunar New Year, which is on January 25. It is the annual ritual of family reunions and the Spring Festival holidays for the Chinese people.

According to Chinas Ministry of Transport, 117 million railway trips have already been made between January 10 and 19, and millions more are travelling by road, air and waterways. With such large-scale travel and migration during a virus outbreak, the infection is likely to spread the disease further  within China and abroad.

Wuhan is one of the nine National Central Cities of China, among the busiest and most populated, with an estimated 11 million plus people. Chinese authorities have put the city on lockdown. The local government has issued a statement that it would shut down all urban transport networks and suspend outgoing flights from 10 am Beijing Time (7.30 am IST and 2 am GMT) on Thursday.

Besides Wuhan, two other Chinese cities have also been put on lockdown and Beijing has cancelled a number of major public events in an attempt to contain the spread of this deadly coronavirus outbreak. The government is urging citizens to not leave the city, except in special circumstances.

A health official scans the body temperature of a passenger as she arrives at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Indonesia. (Photo: AP)

A nurse from Kerala, who was working at a hospital in Saudi Arabia is reported as the first person from India to be tested positive for the 2019-nCoV infection. Initially, there were reports of a 45-year-old Indian school teacher from Shenzhen to be infected with coronavirus. However, her husband confirmed that she is being treated for streptococcal infection.

Update from @CGIJeddah : About 100 Indian nurses mostly from Kerala working at Al-Hayat hospital have been tested and none except one nurse was found infected by Corona virus. Affected nurse is being treated at Aseer National Hospital and is recovering well. @PMOIndia @MEAIndia https://t.co/jM0u5243GV  V. Muraleedharan (@MOS_MEA) January 23, 2020

The Indian government is also sparing no stone unturned on its preparedness measures. There are about 55,500 Indians residing in China, according to the MEA's 2018 report. With more than 500 Indian students studying in Wuhan city's medical colleges, the stakes are high. While most of them had left for home for the Chinese New Year holidays, India issued an advisory last week against travel to Wuhan.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has directed the immediate implementation of systems to screen passengers arriving from China, including Hong Kong, at airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kochi. The action plan includes thermal screening of passengers. "As of January 21, 43 flights and 9,156 passengers have been screened for novel coronavirus. Till now, no case has been detected," a statement by Preeti Sudan, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said. She added that passengers travelling from China are being asked to report to the nearest public health facility in case they feel any symptoms.

While the World Health Organisation (WHO) has not announced travel restriction requirements, travellers to countries like Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam have been advised to anticipate travel disruptions due to screening measures being implemented by their respective authorities.

No prevention, no cure

As is typical with most viral infections, there is no vaccine to protect against coronavirus  at least yet. While research is underway in the US and in Germany, it could be many months before successful clinical trials and the vaccine is available. German researchers have developed the first diagnostic test for 2019-nCoV. That effectively rules out prevention. Further, there is no specific treatment, but healthcare experts say that in most cases, the symptoms go away on their own. But it is imperative to seek early medical intervention to prevent it from worsening.

Travellers to China have been asked to avoid travelling to farms, live animal markets or slaughterhouses, to refrain from consuming raw or uncooked meat, and also to avoid close contact with people who are unwell or are showing symptoms such as cough and a runny nose.

In India, you don't have to worry unless you have been to China in the near past.

German researchers have developed the first diagnostic test for the novel coronavirus. (Photo: AP)

As of now, the 2019-nCoV appears less dangerous and infectious than SARS (which also incidentally started in China and killed about 800 people). However, viruses can mutate into more dangerous and contagious forms, and it's too early to say how savage this one will turn out to be.

Also read: Stop the shame, China. The lifting of the ban on using tiger and rhino parts is a call for their extinction
Boris Johnson has signed the withdrawal agreement to take the UK out of the European Union on 31 January.

The signing took place in 10 Downing Street on Friday afternoon, after the document was brought to London from Brussels, where the presidents of the European Council and European Commission had put their names to the treaty early in the morning.

The prime minister described the signing as a fantastic moment which would bring an end to more than three years of argument and division since the referendum vote to leave the EU in 2016.

But it leaves huge decisions still to be taken on the nature of the UKs future relationship with the EU, with the prospect of a no-deal Brexit remaining very much on the table if the two sides cannot agree a trade deal by the extremely tight deadline of 31 December.

The formal signing of the agreement came 1,310 days after the narrow 52-48 victory for Leave in the referendum of 23 June 2016, and followed a tortuous and divisive period of negotiation and ratification which saw the resignations of prime ministers David Cameron and Theresa May, massive demonstrations in favour of a Final Say vote and a series of historic Commons defeats for the government.

Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Show all 76 1 /76 Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Crowds march through central London Getty Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Protesters gather in Parliament Square Led By Donkeys Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Mayor of London Sadiq Khan joins protesters PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Anti-Brexit protesters fill Parliament Square in London PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march A demonstrator marches EPA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Protesters push a float depicting Dominic Cummings using Boris Johnson as a puppet during the Final Say Brexit march in London PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march EU supporters react after the result of the vote on the deal delay was announced at the House of Commons REUTERS Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march A demonstrator carries his dog draped in EU flag AP Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Thousands of people taking part in a People's Vote march AFP/Getty Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Protesters use their flags to shelter from the rain Getty Images Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Protesters march towards Parliament Square Getty Images Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Anti-Brexit demonstrators carry placards and EU flags AP Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Sir Oliver Letwin MP in Parliament Square, London, during an an anti-Brexit, Let Us Be Heard rally, after it was announced that the Letwin amendment, which seeks to avoid a no-deal Brexit on October 31, has been accepted PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Thousands of people taking part in a People's Vote march UK BROADCASTERS POOL/AFP via Get Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march A protester with "Bollocks to Brexit" stickers on his head Getty Images Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Demonstrators march EPA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Britain's main opposition Labour Party shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the EU Keir Starmer, shadow Home Secretary Dianne Abbott, shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer John McDonnell, shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry speaks on stage in Parliament Square AFP via Getty Images Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Anti-Brexit supporters cheer outside parliament AP Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march A EU supporter waves flags REUTERS Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Anti-Brexit supporters AP Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Protesters shout and chant demanding a final say Getty Images Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Police look towards protesters Getty Images Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Pro-Brexit protesters outside the Houses of Parliament in London PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march People taking part in an Anti-Brexit, Let Us Be Heard march head to Parliament Square in London PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march People taking part in an Anti-Brexit, Let Us Be Heard march in Trafalgar Square PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Anti-Brexit supporters cheer outside parliament AP Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march People taking part in an Anti-Brexit, Let Us Be Heard march past Trafalgar Square PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Protesters shout and chant Getty Images Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Cory (7) sits on his father's shoulders as protesters march towards Parliament Square Getty Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march People attend the 'Together for the Final Say' march EPA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Protesters march towards Parliament Square Getty Images Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Mayor of London Sadiq Khan speaks on stage PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march A woman in EU costume EPA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Anti-Brexit protesters fill Parliament Square in London PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Anti-Brexit protesters AP Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Anti-Brexit protesters hold an Independent banner Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Protesters hold an anti-Brexit placard by The Independent stall during the Final Say Brexit march in London Tom Richell Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Anti-Brexit protesters in Parliament Square, London, PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Demonstrators hold placards and EU flags AFP/Getty Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march An anti-Brexit protester joins in the Final Say Brexit march on 19 October AP Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march EU supporters march in London REUTERS Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Sir Patrick Stewart and Paul McGann join in the Final Say Brexit march in London on 19 October PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march EU supporters march Reuters Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march A demonstrator shouts into a megaphone as she marches AFP via Getty Images Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march A dog dressed in an anti-Brexit placard is walked in the Final Say Brexit march in London EPA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march EU supporters march REUTERS Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march A morris dancer takes part in the Final Say Brexit march in London PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Whippets are dressed in EU flag clothing during the Final Say Brexit march in London AP Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Protesters march towards parliament in the Final Say Brexit march in London on 19 October 2019 PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march An anti-Brexit demonstrator takes part in the Final Say Brexit march in London AFP/Getty Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march EU supporters call on the government to give Britons a vote on the final Brexit deal Reuters Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Anti-Brexit protesters Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march An anti-Brexit protester Angela Christofilou/The Independent Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Anti-Brexit protesters demonstrate in London during the Final Say Brexit march on 19 October AP Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Protesters push a float depicting Dominic Cummings using Boris Johnson as a puppet during the Final Say Brexit march in London AFP/Getty Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Protesters march towards parliament from Park Lane in the Final Say Brexit march in London on 19 October 2019 PA Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march Marchers visit The Independent stall during the Final Say March in London Tom Richell Best pictures from Final Say Brexit march An anti-Brexit protester holds a sign calling for a Final Say during a march in London EPA

All that now remains to be done before the UK can leave at 11pm next Friday is ratification by the European parliament, expected to take place on 29 January in Brussels.

After being signed by European Council president Charles Michel and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, the document was transported to London by officials of the EU and the UK representation in Brussels.

The officials witnessed Mr Johnson inscribe his name in an anteroom outside No 10s Cabinet Room, using a Parker fountain pen, as is traditional for ceremonial signings in Downing Street. The prime ministers chief negotiator David Frost was present along with other Downing Street staff.

The original of the agreement was then being taken back to Brussels to be deposited in the archive containing all of the EUs international treaties.

An officially certified copy will be produced and returned to London to be held by Downing Street.

(Crown Copyright (Crown Copyright)

Speaking after signing his name, Mr Johnson said: The signing of the withdrawal agreement is a fantastic moment, which finally delivers the result of the 2016 referendum and brings to an end far too many years of argument and division.

We can now move forward as one country  with a government focused upon delivering better public services, greater opportunity and unleashing the potential of every corner of our brilliant United Kingdom, while building a strong new relationship with the EU as friends and sovereign equals.

The agreement signed by the PM requires the UK to pay around 30bn to the EU in settlement of its liabilities, to guarantee rights for European nationals living in Britain and to establish a customs border down the Irish Sea. Under its terms, Britain will remain subject to EU rules during a transition period lasting until the end of 2020, but will lose all representation on the blocs decision-making bodies from the end of January.

It does not settle the future relationship between the UK and the remaining 27 EU member states in areas such as trade and security, which will be the subject of intensive negotiations over the coming 11 months.

Although both sides have committed in a political declaration accompanying the treaty to reach a trade agreement by the end of 2020, Mr Johnsons insistence that he will not extend talks beyond 31 December has opened up the possibility of a no-deal Brexit at the start of 2021, with disruption to transport and trade and the possible imposition of tariffs on UK exports.

After his predecessor Ms May was thwarted in her efforts to force her Brexit deal through parliament, Mr Johnsons 80-seat majority in last months general election enabled him to rush it onto the statute books following just 11 days scrutiny in Westminster, receiving royal assent on Thursday.

While the Conservatives landslide election victory was taken as a mandate to deliver on their promise to get Brexit done, a majority of voters on 12 December backed parties seeking a confirmatory second referendum, in a clear indication that the country remains deeply divided over the wisdom of Brexit. This reflected opinion polls over the past three years  including one in The Independent less than two weeks ago  which have consistently recorded majorities wishing to remain in the EU.
METAL and glass packaging firm Ardagh has selected its first woman for the boardroom - the latest in a string of Irish plcs to take the step.

Kraft Heinz board adviser Abigail Blunt will be one of three new directors joining Ardagh's board in April, the Luxembourg-based company has announced.

The new appointments mean Ardagh - which previously attracted headlines in November by naming former UK chancellor Philip Hammond to its board - will expand its board to 14 members in April.

A spokesman confirmed that Ms Blunt would be Ardagh's first female board member.

The move is the latest in a string of hires of women to the boards of publicly listed companies, following reports by Balance for Better Business, an independent panel that monitors the low representation of females in top corporate roles in Ireland.

That panel in November found that a majority of 2019 board hires at Ireland's top 20 plcs had been women, a corporate first in what remains a male-dominated top tier.

Ardagh is not formally on the group's radar because it monitors boardroom moves only at Irish-listed companies. Ardagh, founded in Dublin in 1932, is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, not Dublin.

Ms Blunt, an American based in Washington DC, serves as global head of government affairs at Kraft Heinz, where she also advises the board. She joined its predecessor, Kraft Foods Global, in 2007. She was previously finance director of the National Republican Congressional Committee and foundation director with the US Chamber of Commerce.

Joining Ms Blunt as a new independent non-executive director at Ardagh will be Yves Elsen, CEO and managing partner of HITEC, a Luxembourg industrial and tech firm serving contractors in 20 countries.

Also joining the board will be Oliver Graham, CEO for Ardagh's global 'metal beverage' division.

Ardagh in 2018 generated revenues of $9bn (8.2bn), with adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of $1.47bn. It posts 2019 results next month.
By PTI

RAIPUR: Starting January 27, students of all the schools in Chhattisgarh will have to discuss different aspects of the Indian Constitution before their classes every Monday, an official said on Friday.

The state's school education department issued a circular to this effect to all the Divisional Commissioners and District Collectors on Friday, the official said.

"The order will be effective across all the educational institutions of the school education department," he added.

As per the order, the Preamble of the Constitution will be discussed on the first Monday of the month after the prayers, while Fundamental Rights will be discussed on the second Monday of the month.

Similarly, the Fundamental Duties as mentioned in the Constitution will be discussed on the third Monday and the Directive Principles of State Policy on the fourth Monday, he said.

During the winter session of Chhattisgarh Assembly last year, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had announced in the House that school students will be mandatorily taught about the Constitution, to make them well-informed about it, the official added.

Earlier this week, the Maharashtra government made it compulsory for the students in the state schools to read out the preamble to the Constitution during their morning assemblies everyday from January 26.

On Thursday, the Madhya Pradesh government also made it compulsory for students in government-run schools to read out the preamble to the Constitution during their assemblies on every Saturday starting this week.
Naval Station Great Lakes confirmed on Friday morning that it has been placed on lockdown. (Google Maps)

Naval Station Great Lakes Placed on Lockdown, Driver Taken Into Custody

Naval Station Great Lakes confirmed on Friday morning that it has been placed on lockdown before a person was taken into custody.

Vehicle and driver located. Driver is in custody and being questioned. The area is being swept by military working dogs. Several buildings have been evacuated. Base is still on lockdown, the base said in an update at around 11 a.m. ET.

In a previous social media post from the Illinois Navy base, it wrote: RUN, HIDE, FIGHT! ALL PERSONNEL, LOCKDOWN. TAKE COVER IN NEAREST BUILDING OR STRUCTURE. AWAIT INSTRUCTION. ALL GATES ARE CLOSED.

We are looking for a gate runner, the post added, suggesting that someone may have entered through the bases gates without authorization.

The incident took place around 7 a.m. Friday at 2601E Paul Jones Street, reported WGN9.

A woman who claimed her husband works at the base wrote in the comments section of the social media post that it is not a drill.

Sergeant Christopher Covelli with the Lake County Sheriffs Office told local affiliate station Fox32: We are told there is no known threat to anyone outside of the base. It was reported to us someone crashed into an entrance gate. Unknown if was intentional.

According to the stations report, the station was planning to host its graduation ceremony at 9 a.m. local time.

No other details were immediately available.

Naval Station Great Lakes, located the shore of Lake Michigan in North Chicago, is the Navys largest training base, says its website.
 This is the script of CNBC's news report for China's CCTV on January 13, 2020, Monday.

As we mentioned earlier, wildfires are common in Australia, but this one was made more destructive by drought and high temperatures. what's more important is that in previous years, fires have usually occurred in areas with relatively low population density, so the treatment was more "lenient", but this time it happened in the southeast, where population density is higher and the economy is more developed.

In the face of this change, the response of the Australian authorities has clearly been inadequate, in a long time, the fire will only be as a regional problem, instead of level of national crisis, and also the lack of effective assistance among the affected states is one of the reasons for the continuing impact of the fire and the mounting damage. As a result, the prime minister and key emergency officials have continued to take holidays and travel abroad, adding to public anger. It wasn't until the fires had been burning for months that Australia's prime minister admitted mistakes had been made.

Scott Morrison

Australian PM

There are things I could have handled on the ground much better, there is a very emotional environments, I get to say that 95%, well the responses are handled in these cases are very positive and very appreciative, These are sensitive environments, there are very emotional environments; prime ministers are flesh and blood too in how they engage with people."

This mistake has led to huge economic losses for Australia. John quiggin, John quiggin, winner of the Australian economics prize at the university of Queensland, wrote a signed article for CNN, saying the total economic cost of the fire would be a $100 billion, or 477.4 billion yuan. In his view, the eventual impact of the fire will likely exceed that of hurricane sandy in the United States.

Among the specific economic losses, insurance claims alone now exceed 700 million Australian dollars, and many private properties remain uninsured, making the losses even greater, the damage to public infrastructure, including roads, Bridges, power and water systems, is also severe. The fires have also hit Australia's tourism industry and dealt a blow to the southeast's international image as a tourist destination. Less obvious but no less important is the loss of people's health. After acknowledging the failure, the Australian prime minister announced a proposal to his cabinet to set up a commission to deal with the fire disaster, and to discuss how the federal government could step in and assist the states with greater flexibility in the event of a disaster. But until those issues are resolved, how to deal with the wildfires remains difficult, especially as recent high winds have increased the number of evacuations.

At the same time, the international community continues to help, with a number of individuals and organizations, including actor Leonardo Dicaprio and amazon founder Bezos, announcing new donations over the past two days. Looking further ahead, experts have suggested that the Australian government needs to establish a dedicated prevention and response mechanism to effectively organize evacuation and relief efforts.

To prevent a repeat of such massive disruption, the government should spend at least a $1 billion a year on that.

We will also keep an eye on whether these measures can be effectively implemented
The National Investigation Agency on Friday filed a charge sheet in a court here against two suspected Bangladeshi terrorists, who had entered India illegally and concealed their identity by procuring fake Aadhaar cards.

The charge sheet was filed against Mahmud Hassan alias Shariful Islam and Mohamad Sa'ad Hussain alias Mohamad Sayad Hussain under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Foreigners Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the agency said in a statement.

The two were detained by villagers in Silsuri when they could not produce valid documents and gave unsatisfactory replies about their antecedents and presence in the area, it said.

"They were later handed over to the BSF personnel of Silsuri Border Out-Post (BOP), who in turn handed over the two accused to police station Marpara. The local police registered the case for investigation which was later handed over to NIA," it said.

The agency said its investigation has established that both the suspects are members of Ansar-al-Islam, a banned terrorist organisation in Bangladesh.

"Both the accused crossed the international border of India and Bangladesh illegally in the state of Tripura in November 2018. They concealed their location and identity based on fake Aadhaar cards," it said.

These fake Aadhaar cards were given to them by their handlers in Bangladesh.

"Investigation further revealed that accused Mahmud Hassan alias Shariful Islam had travelled from Agartala to Bangalore in pursuance to conspiracy of terrorist acts in India and stayed in Bangalore for eight to nine months (November 2018 to July 2019)," the agency said.

He recceed public places in Bangalore, the NIA said.

Investigation has also revealed that on instructions of his handler, the accused financially assisted another arrested ABT (Ansarullah Bangla Team) member lodged in Kolkata jail.

ABT is another banned terrorist organization in Bangladesh.

"Both the accused later criminally conspired, as per directions of their handlers in Bangladesh and tried to procure weapons from various places in the state of Tripura and Mizoram in pursuance of the conspiracy of committing terrorist acts in India," the agency said.

A large amount of incriminating documents were recovered from their seized digital devices, it said.

Mizoram police registered a case in this regard in July last year, which was taken over by NIA in September.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Consider the circumstances. Lawrence (1917-2000) was a black artist and veteran living through the civil rights era. Even as he was recovering from crippling depression, he had the audacity to take on, as a subject of self-consciously modernist art, the founding and life-struggle of the American nation. The exhibition, which was organized by Elizabeth Hutton Turner and Austen Barron Bailly, makes one thing clear: The series should never have been dispersed. It is a key pictorial document in American history and, more important, collectively, a great work of art.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 24

By Leman Zeynalova - Trend:

Warm, friendly relations with Azerbaijan are welcomed by everyone in Israel, Israeli Ambassador to Azerbaijan George Deek said at a press conference in Baku, Trend reports.

Having noted that parliamentary elections will be held in Israel on March 2, 2020, the ambassador expressed his confidence that regardless of the results, the Israeli-Azerbaijani bilateral relations will continue to flourish, because they are strategic in nature.

Azerbaijan is a truly friendly country to Israel, the ambassador stressed.

"I presented my credentials to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on Dec. 25, 2019. That date was special for me for several reasons. On that day, I began to fulfill my obligations as an ambassador to a country friendly to Israel. December 25, 2019, also marked exactly 28 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries," George Deek said.

"Azerbaijan is a country where representatives of different nations and religions live in peace and security. At the heart of this state is tolerance and mutual respect. In an unstable region, Azerbaijan and Israel are the stronghold of peace, stability and security."

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 21:52:21|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

BEIJING, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's armed forces have deployed professional medical personnel to deal with the pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), according to military authorities Friday.

The Logistic Support Department of the Central Military Commission is leading the military medical forces for the prevention and control of the coronavirus.

A total of 830 confirmed cases of the coronavirus pneumonia had been reported in 29 provincial-level regions in the country by the end of Thursday, according to the National Health Commission.

The pneumonia situation had resulted in 25 deaths, including 24 in central China's Hubei Province and one in north China's Hebei Province, according to the commission.
WASHINGTONA growing movement by foreign governments to tax American tech giants that supply internet search, online shopping and social media to their citizens has quickly emerged as the largest global economic battle of 2020.

The fight pits traditional allies against each other, with European countries like France, Italy and Britain clashing with the U.S. over their plans to impose new taxes on digital services provided by companies like Amazon and Google.

At the core of the debate are fundamental questions about where economic activity in the digital age is generated, where it should be taxed and who should collect that revenue. The potential for large tax dollars has spurred governments across the world to consider new digital taxes and has even inspired lawmakers in some American states, like Maryland and New York, to propose their own levies on digital trade.

This week, national leaders meeting in Davos, Switzerland, brokered a truce between the U.S. and France, which had planned to move ahead with a digital services tax. Officials in both countries said they would pause what had been an escalating dispute in order to give international negotiators a chance to reach a global tax agreement that could halt a proliferation of digital taxes.

But the meetings, which took place at the World Economic Forum, have also brought new threats of taxation and tariff retaliation and underscored how fragile negotiations remain.

The stakes are high for governments and multinational corporations  even those outside the tech sector. The digital tax negotiations, which are being conducted through the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, have become entwined with efforts to reduce attempts by companies to avoid taxes by shifting profits overseas.

Late last year, negotiators at the OECD, including a delegation from the Trump administration, agreed to a first-step framework that would allow countries to tax certain digital-service providers even if they did not have physical presences inside their borders.

But Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin quickly surprised OECD officials with a letter requesting a change to the framework, one that would effectively allow some U.S. companies to opt out of those taxes. OECD officials pushed back, and negotiators are set to meet again next week in Paris.

The discussions, which are expected to last months, could end with an agreement on a global minimum tax that all multinational companies must pay on their profits, regardless of where the profits are booked. The negotiations could also set a worldwide standard for how much tax companies must remit to certain countries based on their digital activity.

Mnuchin expressed frustration Thursday in Davos that a digital sales tax had become such a focus of discussion at the World Economic Forum. Setting a minimum tax for companies around the world, to prevent them from hiding profits in tax havens, will make a much bigger difference, he said.

From my perspective, that is by far the more important, he said.

There is a chance the talks could devolve into a Wild West array of separate tax regimes on digital activity around the world.

Its a big old mess, said Jennifer McCloskey, vice president for policy at the Information Technology Industry Council, a trade group that represents companies including Apple, Oracle and several other American tech leaders. But, she added, thats to be expected.

Companies that operate across borders have long paid taxes where their profits are booked. Calculating that sounds simple enough, but it has grown increasingly complicated in recent decades. To reduce their tax bills, corporations have shifted profits  and in some cases their headquarters  on paper to low-tax countries like Bermuda and Ireland. OECD countries like the U.S. have agreed to measures meant to discourage such shifting.

Such efforts did not resolve some countries complaints about Facebook, eBay and other companies that offer online services to their residents but have little or no physical presence within their borders. Those governments, along with leaders of the European Union, say large tech companies are avoiding paying their fair share of taxes.

Theyre looking for new ways to raise revenue, said Nicole Kaeding, an economist and vice president of policy promotion at the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, which opposes the digital tax push by countries and states. These are all wrapped up in the questions of how do we adjust a tax system that is a hundred years old in order to tax the digital economy?

Kimberly Clausing, an economist at Reed College in Portland, Oregon, who specializes in international taxation and has pushed for additional measures to tax corporate profits around the world, said the digital tax effort exposed political and economic tensions in wealthy nations.

It really lays bare this fiction that economic value is something we can assign to a location, Clausing said. As more and more of the value is intangible, it really creates this opportunity for profit-shifting.

The proliferation of profitable digital services makes it really the time for the international community to revisit the rules of corporate taxation across borders, she said.

The feud between French and U.S. officials has sped up the OECD process to rewrite those rules, which has a deadline for completion at the end of this year.

France announced plans last year to impose a 3 per cent tax starting Jan. 1 on the revenues that companies earn from providing digital services to French users. The government estimated a windfall of 500 million euros (about $563 million (U.S.)). Similar taxes are under consideration in Britain, Italy, Canada and a host of other wealthy nations.

Those moves have drawn criticism, and tariff threats, from the Trump administration. President Donald Trump has insisted that only the U.S. may tax American-based companies  even though American multinationals already pay taxes in other countries where they have factories or other physical operations. The president threatened to retaliate against France with U.S. tariffs of up to 100 per cent on French wine, cheese, handbags and other goods.

This week, Mnuchin also threatened tariffs against Italy and Britain if they impose similar taxes. British Chancellor Sajid Javid, who is also in Davos, said Britain would push ahead with the tax regardless.

Despite the acrimony, there are signs of progress. Frances finance minister, Bruno Le Maire, said Wednesday that the U.S. and France had found a path forward in the OECD negotiations to set digital taxes.

The French agreed to suspend collections of their new digital tax, and the U.S. agreed to hold off on tariffs, giving negotiators at the OECD time to strike their deal.

Le Maire made clear that the digital tax issue was far from resolved, and talks were expected to continue Thursday.

We need to address fiscal evasion, he said. We have to address the fact that the biggest companies in the world are making huge profits in Europe and everywhere in the world without paying the due level of taxation because they do not have any physical presence  we have to address that question.

Some observers are skeptical that the process can produce consensus  from some 130 countries  by years end.

Some countries are going to have to give up taxing rights in order to allow other countries to have them. And the question is: Who? said J. Clark Armitage, a former IRS official and the president of the tax firm Caplin & Drysdale in Washington. Its going to be hard to pass something that tracks what they propose.

Negotiators face intense and competing pressures from large multinational companies. American tech firms are eager for a deal that would prevent multiple countries from imposing a wide variety of taxes on their activities.

The worst case would be triple, quadruple taxation, because of how the individual taxes are not aligned, said Jordan Haas, trade director for the Internet Association, another tech trade group in Washington.

Other companies, like consumer products giant Johnson & Johnson, have urged negotiators to go slow in considering the global minimum tax proposal that the OECD is discussing  and that French officials say must be included in any final agreement.

EU officials are already looking at reviving their own proposal to significantly revamp how the companies are taxed in the 28-nation bloc in the event that the OECD discussions fail. On Wednesday, an EU official said leaders were waiting to see whether Trump administration negotiators engaged more aggressively in the discussions and showed a willingness to work with Congress to carry out any consensus solution that emerged from the talks.

Were pleased with the progress announced in Davos, the official said. At the same time, were skeptical.

Read more about:
House impeachment manager Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., is seen in the Capitol before the continuation of the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on Thursday, January 23, 2020. Tom Williams | CQ Roll Call | Getty Images

Democratic impeachment managers pushing the Senate to remove President Donald Trump from office laid out a sprawling argument Thursday that he had abused his power. On their second day of opening statements, the seven House Democrats, led by Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., zeroed in on the first of two articles of impeachment that the House passed last month. They have 24 hours total, spread out over three days, to state their case. Schiff, along with Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas and other managers, took a step-by-step approach to laying out their arguments that Trump's efforts to pressure Ukraine's president to announce probes into his political opponents meet the standard for impeachment. When the Democrats finish, Trump's lawyers will have the same amount of time to present the president's defense. Jay Sekulow, one of Trump's attorneys, said that they plan to rebut the Democrats' arguments and present "an affirmative case" of their own. Senators, who have been required to keep silent during the trial proceedings, will then have 16 cumulative hours to ask questions of the House managers and the defense team. Under Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's rules, the Senate will then get to vote on whether to produce documents and witnesses in the trial that both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have been pushing for. Amendments to issue subpoenas beforehand for a slew of documents and witnesses, were shot down Tuesday. Before the Senate convened at 1 p.m. ET on Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., slammed Republicans who complained that the House managers had not presented anything new in the trial thus far. "This argument that they heard nothing new, when they voted against new evidence repeatedly, rings very, very hollow," Schumer told reporters. The House impeached Trump on Dec. 18 on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, both related to his dealings with Ukraine. Trump and his allies had pushed Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to announce investigations into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, as well as a debunked conspiracy theory alleging Ukrainian interference in the 2016 presidential election, while millions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine were being withheld. Democrats say Trump then blocked the House's investigation into the matter by refusing to hand over any documents and directing key witnesses not to comply with Congress. It is considered highly unlikely that two thirds of the GOP-majority Senate will vote to remove a Republican president. Here are the biggest highlights of the day:

Nadler: Don't need a crime to impeach Trump

Nadler sought from the start of his remarks to establish that Trump's conduct is gravely serious and constitutionally impeachable  even if it doesn't necessarily violate a specific criminal statue. "No president has ever used his office to compel a foreign nation to help him cheat in our elections," Nadler said. "The president has repeatedly, flagrantly violated his oath." He then cited a raft of historical precedent, including past presidents, Supreme Court rulings, founding fathers and experts who testified before the House that Trump should be impeached, to support a broader view of impeachment. Impeachment, Nadler said, "is not a punishment for crimes." Rather, "Impeachment exists to address threats to the political system, applies only to political officials and responds not by imprisonment or fines, but only by stripping political power," he said. Nadler argued that it would be "practically impossible" to limit the scope of possible presidential abuse only to what has been written into law. "The Constitution is not a suicide pact," he said. "It does not leave us stuck with presidents who abuse their power in unforeseen ways that threaten our security and democracy." "No one anticipated a president would stoop to this misconduct, and Congress has passed no specific law to make this behavior a crime," Nadler added. "Yet this is precisely the kind of abuse that the framers [of the Constitution] had in mind when they wrote the impeachment clause."

Nadler uses Trump ally Lindsey Graham to make his case

The Democrats used a wide array of video clips and other visual exhibits to support their arguments. But Nadler raised eyebrows with one video in particular: a two-decade-old clip of staunch Trump ally, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. From the time Democrats launched their investigation, Graham has been among the Senate's most vocal critics of the impeachment proceedings. "They're on a crusade to destroy this president," Graham said of Nadler, Schiff and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on Wednesday. But Nadler used Graham's own words  from the time of former President Bill Clinton's impeachment trial  to bolster his argument that Trump can be impeached without having committed a specific crime. "What's a high crime? How about an important person hurting somebody of low means?" Graham asked in the Senate in 1999. "It's not very scholarly, but I think it's the truth. I think that's what they meant by high crimes. Doesn't even have to be a crime. It's just when you start using your office and you're acting in a way that hurts people, you've committed a high crime," Graham said in the clip. An all-caps chyron above Graham in the clip read: "LINDSEY GRAHAM: IMPEACHMENT DOES NOT REQUIRE A CRIME." Graham was reportedly the only senator not present in the chamber at the time the clip was played. A spokesman for his office did not respond to CNBC's inquiry about Nadler's use of the clip.

Dems take on Biden corruption claims that Trump wanted Ukraine to 'look into'

Democrats accuse Trump of pressuring Ukraine to announce the probe into the Bidens in order to help his reelection prospects. Biden has been a frontrunner in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary since joining the race in April. In a July 25 phone call, Trump asked Zelenskiy to "look into" Biden and his son Hunter, who was serving on the board of a Ukrainian natural gas company at the time his father was vice president. Trump and his allies have said that the president decided to withhold the military aid and ask for the Biden probes merely out of concern about corruption in Ukraine. They have suspicions about why Biden, as vice president, had pressured Ukraine to fire a prosecutor there who was reportedly investigating the natural gas company, Burisma Holdings. But neither Biden nor his son have been credibly accused of wrongdoing. Biden's push for Ukraine to fire that prosecutor aligned with official U.S. policy at the time, as well as the wishes of numerous other countries who saw him as corrupt. Rep. Garcia argued that Trump had been unconcerned about alleged corruption in Ukraine until Biden announced his presidential bid. "The president asked Ukraine for this investigation for one reason and one reason only: because he knew it would be damaging to an opponent who was consistently beating him in the polls and therefore it could help him get reelected in 2020," Garcia said.

Schiff: Trump pushed a Kremlin-backed conspiracy theory

Early in the afternoon, Schiff took the floor to build a crucial part of the Democrats' case: that Trump's demand that Ukraine investigate election interference was 2016 was based on a false Kremlin backed conspiracy, and designed simply to damage Democrats. Schiff appealed to senators' distrust of the Kremlin, an opinion that enjoys near-universal bipartisan support. The "election interference" that Trump said he wanted investigated during his July 25 phone call with the president of Ukraine, Schiff said, was a "very specific conspiracy theory," that Ukraine, and not Russia, had interfered in the 2016 presidential election by stealing emails from the Democratic National Committee and the campaign of Hillary Clinton. "This theory was brought to you by the Kremlin," Schiff said. "So we're not talking about generic interference  what Donald Trump wanted investigated or announced was this completely bogus, Kremlin-pushed conspiracy theory." U.S. intelligence agencies have said unequivocally that Russia, and not Ukraine, used an arsenal of hacking and disinformation tactics in 2016 to sway the election in Trump's favor. By demanding a probe of the so-called "Crowdstrike" conspiracy about Ukraine having hacked the election, Schiff said, Trump was rejecting his own intelligence community's assessment in favor of pushing a Kremlin backed fallacy. As evidence of how much Russia benefited from Trump's actions, Schiff quoted Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said last fall, "Thank God nobody is accusing us anymore of interfering in U.S. elections. Now they're accusing Ukraine." "Well, you gotta give Donald Trump credit for this. He has made a religious man out of Vladimir Putin," Schiff said, generating a ripple of laughter from senators.

Trump rails against process
Snacking start-up Samosa Singh has raised USD 2.7 million (about Rs 19 crore) in series A funding led by She Capital along with follow-on investors Fireside Ventures and others.

The company also saw participation from early-stage fund Equanimity Investments, Japan-based AET Fund, and the AL Trust, the Bengaluru-based company said in a statement on Friday.

The fund will be used to scale up operations, increase production, and expansion into new cities, apart from entering individual households through its quick delivery via cloud kitchen model.

Samosa Singh was co-founded by Shikhar Veer Singh and Nidhi Singh in 2016 to reinvent the king of snacks -- the samosa.

Anisha Singh of She Capital said her venture was launched to empower and enable high-growth women led businesses and this is the first investment.

Samosa Singh currently operates in Bengaluru and Hyderabad and plans to establish and consolidate its presence in south India.

Since the beginning, it has been partnering with Inox, PVR Cinemas, and Caf Coffee Day, among others, apart from a flagship outlet at the Bengaluru airport.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Four people have been hospitalised after a plane plummeted during severe turbulence in Central America.

Avianca flight AV693 was en route from San Jose, Costa Rica, to Bogota in Colombia when it hit turbulence mid-flight.

The Airbus A319 aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing in Panama City.

On landing, 108 passengers and five crew members were checked out by airport health authorities.

Subsequently, three crew members and one passenger were admitted to hospital for a check-up.

World's safest airlines 2020 Show all 20 1 /20 World's safest airlines 2020 World's safest airlines 2020 Qantas Check up: the Qantas fleet of Boeing 737-800 aircraft are being examined Qantas World's safest airlines 2020 Air New Zealand Air New Zealand Getty Images World's safest airlines 2020 Eva Air Eva Air Getty Images World's safest airlines 2020 Etihad Etihad Getty Images World's safest airlines 2020 Qatar Airways Qatar Airways Heathrow Airport World's safest airlines 2020 Singapore Airlines Singapore Airlines Getty World's safest airlines 2020 Emirates Emirates AFP/Getty World's safest airlines 2020 Alaska Airlines Alaska Airlines Getty Images World's safest airlines 2020 Cathay Pacific Cathay Pacific Getty World's safest airlines 2020 Virgin Australia Virgin Australia Getty Images World's safest airlines 2020 Hawaiian Airlines Hawaiian Airlines Hawaiian Airlines World's safest airlines 2020 Virgin Atlantic Virgin Atlantic Virgin Atlantic World's safest airlines 2020 TAP Portugal TAP Portugal Getty Images World's safest airlines 2020 SAS SAS AFP/Getty World's safest airlines 2020 Royal Jordanian Royal Jordanian Bjorn Strey/Wikimedia World's safest airlines 2020 SWISS SWISS Getty Images World's safest airlines 2020 Finnair Finnair Getty World's safest airlines 2020 Lufthansa Lufthansa Reuters World's safest airlines 2020 Aer Lingus Aer Lingus AFP/Getty World's safest airlines 2020 KLM KLM Getty

The Colombian flag carrier said in a statement that there was an abrupt movement of the aircraft during the flight.

On arrival some passengers and crew were referred to airport health authorities, it said.

As a result of that initial review, a passenger and three crew members are being transferred to the hospital for a detailed medical evaluation.

Avianca added that the majority of passengers flew on to Bogota on the next flight.

Images shared on social media of the turbulence show bags of rubbish strewn over the galley and into the aisle.

Turbulence is caused by eddies of rough air  a bit like waves becoming choppy at sea.

There are three main reasons they occur: thermal (warm air rises through cooler air); mechanical (a mountain or manmade structure disrupts air flow); and shear (on the border of two pockets of air moving in different directions).

Although turbulence can feel scary, modern aircraft are designed to withstand a huge amount of turbulence.
The doting grandparents turned the fortress and fantasy world they created last year in the basement into a haunted house for Halloween, and continue to include treasure hunts, water or snowball fights with each visit. Building new traditions are important, says David, a retired teacher for School District 129. But he and his wife also make time to talk about the loving daddy his child will likely remember only through vague recollections and a slew of framed photos hanging on walls or sitting on shelves inside the Lange home.
Istanbul, Jan 24 : German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday said her country appreciates Turkey's efforts in hosting millions of Syrian refugees on its soil.

Attending the opening ceremony of the Turkish-German University in Istanbul with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Merkel said Turkey also gives the refugees the hope to rebuild their country when they go back to hometown, Xinhua reported.

"These efforts deserve our thanks and appreciation," the chancellor said.

Turkey is hosting over 3.6 million Syrian refugees, costing more than $40 billion up to now.

Ankara agreed to help curb the flow of illegal migrants to Europe under a deal signed with the European Union in March 2016, in return for a total of 6 billion euros in financial aid for the refugees.

The issue has been causing strains in ties between the bloc and Turkey, as Ankara has been urging the European countries to increase the funding. Turkish authorities earlier said only 2.3 billion euros, or $2.6 billion, in aid from the EU reached Syrian refugees.

For his part, Erdogan said the conflicts in the region have been affecting not only the neighbouring countries but also all the European countries, including Germany.

"We hope that the international community should not repeat the mistake that was conducted in Syria, and it must not be the same in Libya," he said.

The Turkish leader also warned that the chaotic environment in Libya might also affect the whole Mediterranean basin if peace is not established as soon as possible.

"Terror groups like Daesh (the Islamic State) and Al-Qaeda should not once again grow in this country," Erdogan said. "For this purpose, we need to accelerate the resolution process." Libya has been torn by a raging civil war between the UN-recognised Government of National Accord and the Libyan National Army.

The international community has been trying to push the warring parties to compromise on a sustainable cease-fire. During the international conference in Berlin last week, the participant countries reiterated that there can be no military solution in Libya.
Accusing Arvind Kejriwal of speaking Pakistan's Imran Khan's language, Amit Shah claimed the ruling AAP was behind engineering riots in the city over the amended citizenship law

New Delhi: Accusing Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of speaking Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's language, Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday claimed the ruling AAP was behind engineering riots in the city over the amended citizenship law and the national capital will be unsafe if they are voted back to power.

He also hit out at Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who told a TV channel that he stood with Shaheen Bagh protesters, and said the AAP has worked to disrupt peace in the city.

In his double-barrel attack, Shah also hit out at the Congress and said they have opposed every decision abrogation of Article 370, banning triple talaq, building Ram Temple the Modi government has taken so far.

Addressing a rally in Matiala in west Delhi, Shah said, "Many a time Rahul baba (Rahul Gandhi) gives a statement. Kejriwal also gives a statement. Immediately, Pakistan's prime minister gives a statement.

"If you see their statements on YouTube, you will find similarity in them. I always think, what is the relation between them. What Rahul baba and Kejriwal say, Imran Khan says the same."

He also accused the two of instigating the youth and minorities in the national capital, which saw a wave of violent protests last month over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

Attacking the AAP, Shah said, "Delhi will not be safe if these people come to power. Those who want to engineer riots have no right to remain in power."

He later addressed a roadshow in Uttam Nagar in west Delhi and a rally in Nangloi Jat in northwest Delhi.

Shah also took an aim at the two parties for backing the "tukde tukde gang" of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, a reference to Left-leaning intellectuals and students of the varsity.

The BJP in the past has targeted the AAP for not giving sanction to prosecute former JNU students union leader Kanhaiya Kumar in a sedition case.

Shah took on the Delhi government and Kejriwal over issues ranging from "unclean" drinking water to not fulfilling promises of giving free WiFi and stalling the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

"If there is a competition in the country of making false promises, Kejriwal would definitely get the first prize. I have come to remind you that you forgot the promises you made, but neither the people of Delhi nor BJP workers have forgotten.

"Your vote will decide whether you want a government like that of Modi ji which works or one who constantly stages protests," he said.

Shah also listed out the work done by the Modi government for Delhi, like regularising 1,731 unauthorised colonies. He said if the BJP is voted to power, the party will implement 112 central government schemes that will benefit people.

The home minister said for four and a half years the chief minister kept saying 'Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not let him work so development could not be done in Delhi'.

"Now, you (Kejriwal) are saying you developed Delhi in five years so 'lage raho Kejriwal," he added.

On providing clean drinking water, Shah said Kejriwal announced a similar scheme three days after Prime Minister Modi announced it from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Independence Day last year.

Shah alleged the national capital currently gets "unclean" water. But if the BJP is voted to power, Delhi will get water as clean as bottled one.

Taking a dig at Kejriwal, Shah said after the AAP's victory in 2015, the party lost polls in Punjab, Haryana, local body polls. "Delhi has defeated you every time," Shah said.
Jesse Metcalfe and Cara Santana went through a lot in all those years they have been together. However, the relationship which was supposed to end in marriage finished with a breakup.

Thirteen years after they started seeing each other, Jesse and his now-ex fiancee said it is over between them. However, what was more devastating for Cara was the fact that the "John Tucker Must Die" hunk is already meeting other women just days after their split.

Photographs of the 35-year-old actor getting comfy with a woman stormed the internet. The actor reportedly spent his time with an unnamed lady at a bar in the Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California over the weekend.

In addition, he was also spotted feeling cozy with Livia Pillmann, a Hungarian model.

An insider revealed to E! News on Monday that the news affected Santana so much after she learned how Metcalfe met with other women with their separation still fresh. The source added that Cara has been "shutting down" people and refusing to communicate with anyone.

"Cara is heartbroken and has completely shut down and not talking to many people. Cara was completely blindsided by the photos of him with other women," the source stated.

While the two are still together at their home, the source revealed that the Jesse and Cara are now in talks to settle everything to finally let the actor out of their house.

Metcalfe and Santana got engaged in 2016 and planned to get married in 2018.

"We're going to get married in September 2018, so I'm going to start planning this time next year," Santana told People at the time.

Relationship Timeline

Metcalfe and Santana are one of those celebrity couples whom fans thought would never split.

The two started their young love in 2009, but they only publicized their relationship on Instagram in March 2013.

In 2014, they adopted a rescue puppy named Dexter and shared a sweet family photo with the world. Aside from that, they also had a number of charity works together with UNICEF and took part in different activities as part of the organization's Early Childhood Development Project.

Ten years after they began dating, Santana and Metcalfe got engaged days after Santana celebrated her birthday.

Since last year, they planned out their wedding little by little, not knowing they would just end up taking different paths in the end.

Before the sad news came out in public, Metcalfe still spoke about Cara during his appearance at Hallmark Channel's Bubbly Sesh.

"Probably when I proposed was my most romantic moment," he said. "We really kind of have it on hold right now. We were doing it not long after we got engaged, and then it kind of like just lost momentum. But I'm sure it will pick up momentum again. We've both just been very busy with work."

However, now that they ended everything between them, they had no choice but to start without each other all over again.
Akufo Addo has been in London to attend the UK-Africa Summit 2020 with 102 appointees and party members.

The United Kingdom voted in a referendum to leave the European Union (EU) and is looking for new economic partnerships outside of Europe. It is therefore not surprising that natural resource rich African countries including Ghana are the focus of the United Kingdom government for investment and business opportunities.

The British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson announced a 6.5 billion trade package for the African continent at the summit.

Unfortunately, as a country that touts itself as the gateway to Africa with so much orchestrated noise and deliberate lies told about Akufo Addos failed year of return project, the country only got a paltry 326 million out of the entire package.

Ghana could have been the first or among the first choice investment destinations if the rate of real economic progress of our economy by the previous government had been sustained by president Akufo Addo.

According to a 2019 report by the Economic Commission for Africa, Ghana is among countries in Africa at high risk of debt distress due to heavy borrowing. The IMF and World Bank in their 2019 Debt Sustainability Analysis also classified Ghana as one of seven countries in Africa under high risk of debt distress. This has the negative impacts of increased government spending and interest payments by the state.

These gloomy economic reports do not make Ghana a competitive investment destination on the African continent in spite of the usual positive rhetorics from the Akufo Addo government.

Ghana can only benefit from international investments and business partnerships if Akufo Addo stops talking the economy, take deliberate and sustained actions, implement policies that will create the enabling environment for business to thrive.

Unfortunately, Akufo Addo is running an oversized, non-performing government. Unbridled corruption, profligacy and insecurity in Ghana has been so bad under this government that ambassadors of others countries have had cause to depart from the usual diplomatic protocol to admonish the government on the need to stop talking the fight against corruption, show genuine and real commitment and allow state institutions such as CHRAJ, EOCO, the special prosecutor, among other anti-corruption institutions to work independently. The US ambassador to Ghana Stephanie Sullivan in 2019 asked the Akufo Addo government to take the fight against corruption seriously or risk loosing investments to Ghana. This does not bode well for Ghanas international business relations.

Countless number of corruption allegations against government appointees have either been improperly investigated, cleared by the president or swept under the carpet.

Contract killings and a general sense of insecurity have engulfed the country. Many businesses have either collapsed due to the current poisoned business environment or are deliberately pulled down by the family and friends government ran by Akufo Addo.

Some of the foreign businesses that have existed in Ghana and operated profitably over the years before Akufo Addo became president have indicated their intention to move their investments elsewhere in Africa.

Akufo Addo does not need to travel with an elephant size group of ministers that cost the state millions of Ghana cedis. The money spent on these excessive numbers could have been well spent on fixing our roads, abandoned hospitals, hospitals with no beds, cancel the double track and restore the quality education he inherited. By so doing, government will not need to spoon-feed innocent SHS students with question papers to create a positive impression of a poorly implemented Free SHS policy.

A recent UN Human Capital Index report indicated that 44% of Ghanas youth will become waste, unable to contribute meaningfully to national development due to the poor quality of education.

The money wasted could have also been used to construct proper and meaningful dams to support rural agriculture as against the dugouts which are drying up, leaving our rural poor farmers hung out to dry.

It is not the first time Akufo Addo has traveled with such a huge delegation to an international conference. It is still very fresh in the minds of Ghanaians how he traveled to the UN General Assembly in 2019 with the largest delegation ever by any country at the cost of the state.

Such profligate expenditure only goes to confirm that the government is not focused on fixing the real issues confronting the citizens for which they were voted.

Akufo Addo must understand that he does not need to fly to London with all these ministers if the investment climate in Ghana is attractive. Businesses are profit-driven, they will not, therefore, be attracted to a destination where the local currency is eroded quickly through depreciation, roads are bad, corruption is rife, among others.

Akufo Addo must bear in mind that he has a constitutional duty to manage the resources of our country with prudence to the maximum benefit of all citizens.

Most of the ministers who followed him to London, lodging in plush hotels at the cost of the state for over a week could have stayed back in Ghana and been productive to the state and the citizens who pay them through their taxes.

We call on Akufo Addo to stop the abuse of the public purse he promised to protect when he was sworn in as president of the Republic of Ghana on 7th December 2017.

Simon Aworigo

Communications Officer

NDC UK/IRELAND
A Kentucky man who spent 88 days in jail for his drug addiction says he found freedom in Christ and no longer craves the pills he once loved.

Aint nothing has made me as high as Jesus does, Frankie Woodall, a former drug user and dealer, told a WRVK-AM Facebook/radio program. KentuckyToday.com, a website with national and faith-based news, recounted Woodalls inspiring journey.

Woodall attends the faith-based Brodhead Celebrate Recovery in Rockcastle County, Ky.

For years, he was hooked on pain pills. When doctors refused to write him a prescription, he went to a suboxone clinic.

Seven or eight years of using and I kept getting worse and worse, Woodall said. They sent me to a suboxone clinic  I did those for three years. It was always trading one for another. Then I turned to meth and it destroyed me. I was trading good friends for bad friends. It took away everything. It made a slave of me.

Woodall said he never stole to feed his drug addict but constantly worked to make enough money to feed his habit, Kentucky Today reported.

I worked myself to death. I was paying $300 to $500 every two days [for drugs], he said.

His arrest was a blessing.

I was running on borrowed time until I got arrested, Woodall asserted.

His stint in jail lasted 88 days, during which he attended church services, accepted Christ and was baptized.

Until then I couldnt sleep, he said. I gave my life to God and went back to my cell. I slept that night, prayed every night since. Im sober and havent done nothing (sic) in 11 months. I havent had a craving.

After being released from jail he had to pass 18 drug tests to get rid of an ankle bracelet, Kentucky Today reported.

Katheryn Pope, the director of Brodhead Celebrate Recovery, said Woodall is a living testimony of Gods grace.

Faith-based recovery programs and jail ministries, she said, are changing lives.

He was a big-time drug dealer and ended up in jail several times, she told Kentucky Today. ... Randy McPherson, and several pastors from our association in Rockcastle, have been doing jail ministry on Saturday nights. This was like coming full circle for them.

Michael Foust is a freelance writer. Visit his blog, MichaelFoust.com.

Photo courtesy: Pablo Heimplatz/Unsplash

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
A teenager who presented himself at a Cork garda station over the fatal stabbing of student Cameron Blair (20) was last night being questioned under arrest.

The 17-year-old arrived at Togher Garda Station and asked to speak with detectives investigating the fatal stabbing on the Bandon Road on January 16.

Gardai later arrested the teenage boy and detained him under Section Four of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

He can be detained for an initial period of 12 hours but that can be extended for up to 24 hours. Gardai must decide today whether to release or charge the teen.

Detectives are working on a file in respect of the fatal stabbing for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The teen is from Cork city and attended the house party at which Mr Blair suffered fatal injuries.

The development came as the remains of Mr Blair were released back to his family, with his funeral now set to take place on Sunday.

The Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) student died after suffering a stab wound to the neck while he was attending a house party on January 16 off the Bandon Road in Cork.

Three young men had attended the social gathering uninvited.

All three were in the process of being asked to leave when one lashed out at Mr Blair and he suffered his fatal injury.

A senior garda source said they have made "significant progress" with their investigation over the past few days.

CCTV footage is expected to play a crucial role in the investigation.

Mr Blair's body has now been released back to his family.

He is survived by his parents, Noel and Kathy, and younger brother, Alan.

Athlete

The young man will repose at his Ballinascarthy home from 10am tomorrow, with his funeral service taking place in St Peter's, Church of Ireland, in Bandon at 2pm on Sunday.

The young man will be buried at Kilbeg Cemetery.

Mr Blair was an accomplished rugby player and athlete, winning several national honours. He had attended Bandon Grammar School before studying engineering at CIT.
Spanish Transportation Minister Jose Luis Abalos. Nagore Iraola (Europa Press)

Opposition parties in Spain are calling on the transportation minister, Jose Luis Abalos, to confirm whether or not he met in secret with the Venezuelan vice-president, Delcy Rodriguez, in the early hours of Monday morning at Madrids Adolfo Suarez-Barajas airport. European Union sanctions prevent Rodriguez from entering the blocs airspace.

According to a story published on Spanish news website Vozpopuli, Abalos held a meeting with President Nicolas Maduros second-in-command inside a private plane owned by the company Sky Valet, taking advantage of a technical stop in Spain on the way to Turkey.

The story also stated that Rodriguez and six of her traveling companions, including her chief of staff, entered one of the VIP lounges in Barajas. Vozpopuli reported that Abalos denied having met with the Venezuelan lawmaker.

Abalos, of the Socialist Party (PSOE), has told EL PAIS that he was at the airport on private business, to meet the Venezuelan tourism minister, Felix Plasencia, with whom he has been friends for several years and who was traveling on the same plane as the Venezuelan vice-president.

Plasencia, who is a Spanish citizen, according to the minister, arrived in Madrid as the head of the Venezuelan delegation attending the Fitur tourism fair, currently taking place in the Spanish capital.

Abalos told EL PAIS that he did not have any formal contact with the Venezuelan vice-president and that a meeting with her was not his intention when he traveled to the airport. He added that in recent months he has had a number of meetings with members of the Venezuelan opposition, including the acting president, Juan Guiado, Carlos E. Cue reports.

But by Friday afternoon, police sources were telling a different story. According to their version of events, Abalos was called to the scene given Rodriguezs insistence that she be allowed to disembark from the aircraft. The minister is alleged to have boarded the plane to convince her not to step onto Spanish soil, given that such an action would cause a diplomatic incident. Abalos is said to have warned Rodriguez that she would have to be detained were she to leave the plane. Police sources claim that the minister managed to calm the Venezuelan vice-president down, and she eventually stayed on board the aircraft, accompanied for a brief time by Abalos, while the crew left to rest.

Activity log

According to the activity log of the plane, which has registration number TC-AKE, the flight left the Maiquietia Simon Bolivar International Airport in Caracas on Sunday, January 19 at 10.12am local time. After eight hours and 59 minutes flight time, it landed in Barajas on Monday January 20, at 12.12am. The plane was in Barajas until 2.42pm the same day, when it took off headed for the Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul, according to the same log, to which EL PAIS has had access.

One of the spokespersons in Congress for the conservative Popular Party (PP), Jose Ignacio Echaniz, gave a press conference on Thursday at which he called for Abalos to urgently make a statement. He also demanded answers from the new foreign minister, Arancha Gonzalez Laya.

Edmundo Bal, spokesperson for center-right Ciudadanos (Citizens), also demanded official explanations. Did Abalos meet with the vice-president of Maduros totalitarian regime? he asked via Twitter. With someone who is banned from entering the European Union for being a senior official of that tyranny?

For its part, far-right Vox has registered a number of questions with the speakers committee in Congress, aimed at clarifying whether the meeting took place and if so, its content.

Delcy Rodriguez is one of 25 individuals included on the list of people banned from entering the European Unions airspace. The 28 member states of the bloc  including Spain  approved in 2018 a veto on a number of figures from the Maduro regime, on the basis that they are considered to be involved in activities that are repressing the people.

The veto also bans Rodriguez from having any kind of asset  property or bank accounts  in EU territory.

Madrid-based digital website elcierredigital.com also published a story with information about the alleged visit made by Delcy Rodriguez to the Spanish airport. Ciudadanos registered a number of questions in Congress about this episode.

These alleged meetings coincide with the tour that the acting president of Venezuela, Juan Guiado, is currently making around European countries, and that potentially could bring him to Spain on Saturday, where he is due to lead a demonstration in Madrids central Puerta del Sol square against the Bolivarian regime in Venezuela.

Guaido has already been greeted in Davos, Switzerland by the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and his team are hoping to meet with the French president, Emmanuel Macron. In Spain, Guaido is likely to be received on Saturday by the foreign minister, Arancha Gonzalez Laya.

English version by Simon Hunter.
Two protesters were killed and 25 wounded on Friday in clashes with security forces in central Baghdad, police and medical sources said.

The police used live ammunition and tear gas to disperse a protest that broke out in the early evening at Baghdads Mohammed al-Qassim highway, they said.

Search Keywords:

Short link:


A Democrat in Michigan scrolled through a surge of nasty Facebook memes about Sen. Elizabeth Warren last week before fixing on one that captured his growing dislike of the candidate. It depicted her smiling face as a mask. Behind it was Hillary Clinton.

Matt Walters, 64, a retired factory worker and supporter of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., shared the image onward to eight Facebook groups and tens of thousands of potential eyeballs with a few taps on his smartphone - using a popular new mass-posting technique that allows ordinary Americans to operate with rapid-fire speed reminiscent of Russian bots and trolls in 2016.

In that small way, Walters contributed to a massive wave of hostile memes about Sanders' Democratic rivals that both reflects the rising divisiveness in the party's nominating contest and, in the view of social media experts, exacerbates it.

"I'd call it a force multiplier," Walters, a onetime union activist, said of Facebook.

The volume and viciousness of the memes - portraying Warren, D-Mass., as a snake, a backstabber and a liar - reflect how Facebook identifies and rewards emotionally charged content to generate reactions from its billions of users. That serves the company's ad-driven business model, which equates engagement with profit. But it also, in the view of experts who study Facebook's effect on political speech, distorts democratic debate by confirming biases, sharpening divisions and elevating the glib visual logic of memes over reasoned discussion.

Facebook's "algorithm not only aggregates people, it activates people in a way that accentuates extremism," said George Washington University professor Steven Livingston, director of the university's Institute for Data, Democracy and Politics. "It inflames passions. It inflames the nature of the discourse."

Facebook spokesman Andy Stone declined to comment for this story.

Since the beginning of 2019, nearly 3,000 active Facebook pages supporting Sanders have generated more than 290 million interactions - meaning shares, likes or other user actions - according to an analysis by Trevor Davis, a research professor at Livingston's institute. For contrast, about 350 pages devoted to former vice president Joe Biden have generated just 9 million interactions; nearly 300 pro-Warren pages come in at under 20 million interactions.

That breakdown is vastly out of sync with projected support for the candidates in polls, which show Sanders gaining ground but still behind Biden in an average of surveys. This underscores a new reality: Facebook gives individual users power over public discourse disproportionate to their authority at the ballot box.

Such outsized influence once required significant resources - money for printed materials, access to a broadcast studio or time to reach people face-to-face. Now all it requires is a smartphone.

One popular technique introduced by Facebook last spring allows sharing to multiple groups with a few simple clicks on a mobile device, allowing enthusiasts such as Walters to broadcast their views even more quickly than before.

The rising popularity of the tactic among Sanders supporters may help explain the scores of images bashing Sanders' opponents that have appeared in nearly simultaneous bursts in recent weeks, pushed out by highly networked clusters of Facebook users, according to Davis' analysis. He did not find evidence that the campaign itself was involved in this activity, focusing instead on the informal Facebook activity by supporters.

No other Democrat's supporters are engaged in behavior on a similar scale, which is more characteristic of the online movement galvanized by Trump. The president's campaign aides have credited Facebook with his victory in 2016, when he poured money into advertising on the platform while also using organic posts on social media to speak directly to his followers, who responded with a torrent of posts backing him and lacerating his opponents.

Sanders has similarly embraced social media as a tool in the political revolution he promises, though the candidate's posts hardly echo the personal insults lobbed by Trump. And the senator's campaign distanced itself from the online attacks. "As the senator has said loudly and clearly, there is no room in the political revolution for abuse and harassment online," said Sarah Ford, a campaign spokeswoman.

The pro-Sanders forums focus on a range of themes, including the senator's independence from corporate interests and his opposition to President Trump. At the same time, many of the images that fill the groups and pages are strikingly negative about rival Democrats, depicting former South Bend, Ind., mayor Pete Buttigieg as a wine-swilling CIA plant with Republican leanings and Biden as a feckless politician who preys on women.

The meme shared by Walters, the retired Michigan factory worker, was just one of dozens of anti-Warren images circulating recently and one of several that portrayed her as the second coming of Clinton, whose own bid to become the first female president in 2016 ended in division and defeat for Democrats. The version that Walters reposted reached about 500,000 Facebook users on 50 groups since it began circulating on Facebook in September, according to Davis.

The Sanders and Warren campaigns are promising a detente after Warren accused Sanders of saying in a private meeting that a woman couldn't win the White House, and Sanders denied having done so. But the memo hasn't been received by denizens of the digital world. Sanders supporters who are active on Facebook described in interviews growing disenchantment with other candidates and rising concern that the system might be rigged against their candidate.

Already, the pro-Sanders crusade has spawned groups calling for protests at the party's national convention in July should Sanders not emerge as the nominee. #BernieOrVest is their rallying cry, echoing the Yellow Vest demonstrations that have roiled France. In December, an activist wore one of the high-visibility vests for a picture with Sanders, which he proceeded to upload to a group, claiming falsely that the senator had endorsed their movement.

Walters said that before the recent controversy, Warren "would have gotten my vote if Bernie hadn't won." Now he's not sure what he'll do in November should another Democrat clinch the nomination. In 2016, he cast a ballot for the Green Party's Jill Stein rather than vote for either Trump or Clinton, whom he had come to distrust and dislike.

As for the enthusiasm Sanders inspires on Facebook, Walters sees a political advantage - even if it tips into divisiveness.

"It worked for Trump," Walters said.

- - -

Though groups have been part of Facebook for many years, the company began emphasizing them in the aftermath of the 2016 election. That's when Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg heralded the online communities as a more intimate way for like-minded users to connect. He touted the feature not only as redress for the company's missteps but, more broadly, also as a way to "turn around the whole decline in community membership we've seen for decades," as he wrote in June 2017.

Changes in recent years have elevated the feature to the forefront of Facebook, including tweaks in 2018 that sought to emphasize content from groups in a user's news feed over other material.

Amid these shifts, groups also have become forums for spam and hyperactive posting, as a cottage industry of tools emerged for more efficiently plastering the online spaces using scheduling and automation technologies. Advice proliferated online for posting rapidly while eluding the platform's spam detectors, which enforce policies against excessive sharing in ways that confuse and anger users.

The hectic pace of memes spreading among Sanders supporters made some researchers suspect widespread use of automation tools and, possibly, a foreign-influence operation. Conspiratorial themes pushed in 2016 by Russian operatives, including claims about corruption in the Democratic Party, have reemerged with a fury.

But evidence this campaign season points most clearly to the frenetic work of aggrieved Americans who, distrustful of mainstream gatekeepers of information, turn to Facebook. There, the traditional guardrails of political discourse don't exist, and individual users can share torrents of divisive memes and other charged content to audiences far beyond the "Friends" once central to the Facebook experience.

"Perhaps it's not surprising that some of the tactics used by Russian actors against American voters in 2016 are now being used by American voters against each other," said Philip Howard, head of Oxford University's Computational Propaganda Project.

The pro-Sanders users appear deeply linked. The top 72 users engaged in simultaneous posting - broadly circulating the same content in a single second - have an average 41 direct connections to others in the same universe of groups, according to Davis' analysis. Connections entail friendship or one user following another. Overall, he estimated that tens of millions of unique users like the pages in question or are members of the groups.

Some of the most active users operate multiple groups and pages, which can obscure the origin of a particular post. The page called "Woodland Spaces," for example, features mainly nature photography and evocative poetry, but last week it accused Warren of a "smear campaign" against Sanders in a Facebook group called "Bernie's Army of One Hundred Million Americans."

In other cases, untangling the web of common ownership reveals unseemly linkages. The same page, "Bernies Revolution Continues," that owns the "Bernie Sanders' Rare Meme Repository" group also owns a group called "The Anti Corruption Movement," which includes posts about "satanic Zionism," as well as positive memes about Trump.

- - -

One Sanders supporter who saw and reposted the anti-Warren meme shared by Walters was freelance journalist Cara Rogoff Greenberg, 69, who lives in New York City. With a series of taps on her smartphone, she regularly posted to "Jews for Bernie 2020," "Bernie Sanders Bernstorming Network," "#BernieOrVest" and 10 others.

Days after posting the meme showing Warren as a mask for Clinton, Greenberg said she was placed in "Facebook jail" - the popular colloquial term to describe restrictions imposed by the company, often for posting too frequently - but remains uncertain about what policy she violated and how. She posted a cartoon of a woman behind bars in the "Women for Bernie 2020" group.

"At first I thought it was because I was abusing the privilege, sharing to a dozen or more groups at a time, but others have commented on my own timeline (I am still able to post there) that this is happening with contributors to other public Bernie groups," Greenberg wrote, generating 75 comments and 41 likes or other reactions. "Is it a technical block intended to prevent spam, or political repression, or FB's concern about uncredited or false info being spread? I am concerned, and have been unable to easily figure out what is really going on here or how long this is likely to last."

Facebook lifted the temporary restrictions after a few days, she later said.

While aggressive online tactics threaten to divide a party desperate to avoid a repeat of 2016, the online enthusiasm Sanders inspires has been an asset for the Vermont independent, who is vying to compete against Trump, a reality television star with a devoted digital following.

"What are we going to do if Bernie isn't the nominee? That's a question every Democratic candidate should be thinking about," said Keegan Goudiss, who directed digital advertising for Sanders' 2016 campaign. "Whether or not the online conversation is real, there's going to be division that's stoked. That's true no matter how emphatically Bernie says to support the nominee.

While the comparison to Trump's online following is imperfect, Goudiss added, there are plainly parallels, above all the "cult of personality" energizing Americans distrustful of other politicians, as well as the projection of strength when they perceive their candidate to be under siege.

Over time, the focus of the meme-making energy has shifted. In January 2019, most of the critical images posted about other candidates by pages with "Bernie Sanders" or "Our Revolution" in their names focused on Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., according to Davis' analysis. By October, still several months before Harris would exit the race, she'd faded away as a target.

Meanwhile, whereas Warren once commanded less than 10 percent of the attention, she is now the subject of nearly half of the disparaging memes, Davis' research shows. Examples include a Photoshopped image of Warren in a dark wig. "With Booker gone," the text reads, referring to Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, "I'm the only black candidate." Another shows Warren taking a blade to Sanders' back. Many mock her claims of Native American ancestry, which is also a common target for Trump and his allies.

A spokesman for the Warren campaign declined to comment. The rejoinder from her supporters has been oblique. Repurposing the serpent jibe, a "Snakes for Warren" account recently emerged on Twitter, with about 1,000 followers.

"There's no fighting back against it; there's only rolling with it," said Misha Leybovich, a tech entrepreneur and former McKinsey consultant who has been organizing "Warren's Meme Team," a collection of supporters with no formal links to the campaign.

He downplayed the significance of the online onslaught, arguing, "The vast, vast majority of supporters of both Sanders and Warren, and all the other candidates, are great. Most of us just want to see Trump out of office."

But interviews with owners and administrators of the pro-Sanders groups present a more complex picture. Buck Bewley, who runs a repair shop near Louisville, Kentucky, would vote for Warren over Trump, but he has soured on the Massachusetts Democrat. So he let the disparaging meme of Warren's visage as a mask for Clinton rack up views and shares in his group, the "Bernie Sanders Bernstorming Network."

"We get mad and post memes saying things that we probably wouldn't say in real life," said Bewley, 53. But he acknowledged how the Internet-stoked outrage could have unintended consequences, possibly estranging other Democrats from the Massachusetts senator.

Or, as he put it, "I think information is power. It's a ripple effect on Facebook."

- - -

The Washington Post's Julie Tate and Tony Romm contributed to this report.
There is no denying that Vanderpump Rules would have looked completely different without the likes of Jax Taylor. But what fans may forget is that Taylor would have never been on the show if it had not been for his romance with Stassi Schroeder. With Season 8 officially underway, Schroeder reminded fans that she is the reason Taylor was given a chance to star on the show in the first place.

Vanderpump Rules stars Jax Taylor and Stassi Schroeder | Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images

Schroeder claims she introduced Taylor on Vanderpump Rules

During an interview with Lala Kent and Randall Emmett on their podcast, Give Them Lalawith Randall, Schroeder opened up about how she brought Taylor on the show.

According to Page Six, Schroeder says that Taylor would have never appeared on Vanderpump Rules if they had not been dating when the series started. Producers only considered bringing Taylor on board because he was dating Schroeder.

He was not even supposed to be on Vanderpump Rules, Schroeder stated. He was not working at SUR and they cast the rest of us, and they were like, Who are you dating? And I was like, This guy Jax.'

Schroeder then joked about how she owns Taylor, who has gone on to become a staple on the reality series.

Taylor and Schroeder broke up in the first season of Vanderpump Rules. They ended their relationship after Taylor cheated on her during one of his visits to Las Vegas. The pair reunited in season 2 before parting ways for good.

Schroeder is getting ready to tie the knot with Beau Clark, while Taylor recently exchanged vows with Brittany Cartwright  so at least things worked out for both of them.

Schroeder and Clark get serious

With Schroeder and Clark now engaged, the two have officially bought a house in Hollywood Hills.

Taking to social media, the Vanderpump Rules stars posted a photo of themselves posing outside of their new home. Clark is shown holding one of their dogs in one arm while showing off the keys to the new place.

Homeowners AF, Schroeder wrote alongside the pic.

The two bought the home for a whopping $1.7 million. The property features a marble fireplace, massive exterior windows, and an arched ceiling.

Following the post, Cartwright congratulated the couple on becoming homeowners. Kent later added that everyone is becoming adults af, and her fiance also said that the news was amazing.

Schroeder also shared a video of her dogs running through the house, plus a clip of her and Clark opening a bottle of champagne that was given to them by Lisa Vanderpump.

Inside Schroeders wedding plans

In July, Schroeder revealed that she and Clark are going to tie the knot in Italy in the fall of 2020. The couple toured several locations in the region before settling on a venue in Rome.

The Vanderpump Rules star later revealed that she wanted to exchange vows in the fall because she did not want anyone to sweat during the ceremony.

Although there have been rumors to the contrary, Schroeder noted that Vanderpump is not going to officiate the union.

Schroeder and Clark started dating sometime in early 2018. The two have become fan favorites on Vanderpump Rules, and viewers cannot get enough of their adorable romance.

Although the two are looking forward to their wedding, Schroeder has been dealing with a lot of drama on the show.

Drama explodes on Vanderpump Rules

During a recent episode of Vanderpump Rules, Schroeders book signing event turned nasty. Things got so out of hand that Tom Sandoval later revealed that Schroeder has been banned from his establishment, which he owns with Tom Schwartz.

If she comes in, shes getting thrown out immediately, Sandoval shared.

The drama took a turn for the worse when Schroeder called out Sandoval for being a selfish, egotistical piece of st in front of customers. To be fair, Sandoval was in a bad mood all night after his bartenders backed out of the event at the last minute.

"How dare you, you selfish, egotistical, piece of st! How DARE you?!" Stassi HURLS at Sandoval on #PumpRules (via @toofab)https://t.co/KGUgLSGo7s  TMZ (@TMZ) January 22, 2020

Even still, Schroeder thought that he was having attitude issues because the book signing had nothing to do with him.

Sandoval later slammed Schroeder for insulting him in front of the crowd and was clearly upset with everything that happened that night. We do not know if Sandoval is serious about banning Schroeder, but he seems content with his decision for now.

Fans can watch the drama unfold when new episodes of Vanderpump Rules air Tuesday nights on Bravo.
Firefighters killed in Australia crash: From left to right: First Officer Paul Clyde Hudson, Capt. Ian H. McBeth and Flight Engineer Rick A. DeMorgan Jr. View Photos

Update at 6:30 a.m.: The three U.S. firefighters killed in the C-130 Hercules Air Tanker crash while battling Australias wildfires have been identified. The firefighters that died are Capt. Ian H. McBeth of Great Falls, Montana; First Officer Paul Clyde Hudson of Buckeye, Arizona; and Flight Engineer Rick A. DeMorgan Jr. of Navarre, Florida. Further information including a statement from Governor Gavin Newsom is below.

Original post at 5:45 p.m.: Sacramento, CA  There is a connection to California regarding the C-130 Hercules Air Tanker that crashed while battling the massive Australian wildfires.

Flags are at half-staff in California and at the CAL Fire station at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento to mourn the loss of three American firefighters killed.

Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement: Jennifer and I are heartbroken to learn of the air tanker crash in Australia that claimed the lives of three heroic American firefighters. We extend our sincere condolences to the families of the crew, their friends and loved ones, and our own CAL FIRE family who worked, fought fires, and trained with the crew of Tanker 134. This tragic accident reminds us all of the too-high cost of the scourge of wildfires, as well as the sacrifice of first responders from around the world. California and Australia, already united by the deadly threat of wildfires, now grieve this tragic loss together.

The C-130 Hercules (N134CG) plane that crashed is pictured in the image box and it was taken at McClellan Air Force Base during an event Governor Newsom hosted with former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in August of last year, according to the governors office. CAL Fire reports that this C-130 was used as a training platform in 2019 for future pilots of the CAL Fire C-130 program and was instrumental in 2019 in battling the devastating wildfires across California, including the Kincade Fire in Sonoma County, which was the largest wildfire in the state last year.

CAL FIRE Chief Thom Porter. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family, friends, and colleagues of the crew from Tanker 134 that were lost during a tragic crash while battling the devastating Australia fires. CAL FIRE stands with you during this difficult time. Although they did not wear the CAL FIRE patch, they were equally committed to protecting lives and their loss is felt deeply across the entire aviation community.

The Lockheed C-130 Hercules air tanker is owned by Coulson Aviation based in Alberni, British Columbia, Canada. It was operating on contract with Australias Rural Fire Service and crashed on Thursday in the Snowy Monaro area of New South Wales during a firefighting mission. Australian authorities are investigating the incident.
Bullets fly. A birthday party becomes a backyard massacre. The cartels calling card is left alongside 16 bodies. Toda mi familia esta muerta por mi culpa: my whole family is dead because of me. Bookstore owner Lydia and her eight-year-old son Luca are the only survivors. Safety is in El Norte; they are now migrantes. This, Lydia reflects, is how it happens.

Jeanine Cummins characters were not alone in seeking a way out. The novelist spent a fair amount of time running away from her own story. Cummins, who was born in Spain, where her father was a naval officer, identifies as Puerto Rican and lives in New York, says she was hugely reluctant to adopt the narrative point of view of migrants making the treacherous journey across the Mexico-US border in her new novel American Dirt. The stories writers should tell  and their moral responsibilities when writing across sexual, class and racial difference  have increasingly become the subject of public sparring and political division. Cummins had long been interested in the migrant crisis unfolding on the United States southern border, but felt unqualified to put readers on the perilous path of border-crossers.

Author Jeanine Cummins.

I think representation is important. I am a person who believes in and acknowledges the fact that voices coming out of marginalised communities have been silenced for a very long time and that those voices and those stories have been robbed and hijacked for a very long time. I certainly am a person who woudnt like to think of myself as doing that, Cummins, speaking from New York before her international book tour.

President Trump was far from the White House and Build a Wall was not yet a common refrain when Cummins started American Dirt in 2013. But she says she sensed a swelling undercurrent of racism and prejudice towards migrants from the south, and felt a sense of allegiance towards them as a Spanish-speaker. Cummins grandmother went to the US from Puerto Rico in the 1940s as the bride of a naval officer but never felt at home and resented the misconceptions people had about what it meant to be Latino. Cummins was also drawn to the stories of migrants triumphing over inconceivable hardship, particularly as her family had experienced its own tragedy. When Cummins was 16, two of her cousins were raped and thrown off a bridge in Missouri. Her brother was beaten and forced off the bridge but survived and she wrote about the murders in her memoir A Rip in Heaven.
English Icelandic

Reference is made to the Banks announcement concerning the Banks share buyback program in Iceland and Sweden published on 31 October 2019 and the change to the program published on 9 January 2020.

The Board of Directors of Arion Bank has approved a revised buyback program on the basis of the authorization provided at the Bank's AGM on 20 March 2019 and the approval given by the Financial Supervisory Authority/Central Bank of Iceland on 23 January 2020. The revised share buyback program authorizes the Bank to buy a maximum of 100,000,000 shares/SDRs, corresponding to 5.5% of issued shares in the Bank, for up to ISK 8 billion at market value. The revised program represents an increase of up to 41 million shares/SDRs, corresponding to 2.3% of issued shares in the Bank, for up to ISK 3.5 billion at market value, in the Banks authorization to buy back shares. When the share buyback program was issued on 31 October 2019 the Bank was authorized to buy up to 59 million shares/SDRs for up to ISK 4.5 billion at market value.

The Bank is authorized to buy up to 17,000,000 SDRs in Sweden, corresponding to 0.9% of issued shares, and up to 83,000,000 shares in Iceland, corresponding to 4.6% of issued shares. The total consideration for purchased SDRs shall not exceed ISK 1,360,000,000 in Sweden and ISK 6,640,000,000 for purchased shares in Iceland (a total of ISK 8.0 billion). The Bank currently owns 55,225,289 own shares.

The program will continue to be managed by Kvika Bank hf. in Iceland and Nordea Bank Abp in Sweden and the managers will each act and make trading decisions independently and without being influenced by the Bank with regards to the timing of purchases. The duration and purpose of the share buyback program remain unchanged.

The program will be carried out in accordance with applicable laws and regulations in Iceland and Sweden, including Regulation No. 596/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council on market abuse (MAR), Icelandic acts on limited liability companies, No. 2/1995 and on securities transactions, No. 108/2007, and Icelandic regulation on insider information and market manipulation, No. 630/2005.
Aadhaar, Chawl, Dabba, Hartal and Shaadi are among the 26 new Indian words that have made it to the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

The tenth edition of the dictionary, which was launched on Friday, has 384 Indian English words and over 1,000 new words like 'chatbot', 'fake news' and 'microplastic'.

Twitter

"This edition has 26 new Indian English words of which 22 figure in the printed dictionary. The other four are in the digital version," Fathima Dada, Managing Director (Education Division) at Oxford University Press was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.



According to Oxford University Press (OUP), dictionary focuses on language change and its evolution and has ensured that examples used in the new edition are relevant.

"As Oxford University Press is the custodian of English language globally, these words have to go through its processes," Ms Dada said.

Twitter

The Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary, she said, has been reinventing itself for nearly eight decades, anticipating the growing learning requirements of learners.

"The 10th edition also is equipped with a strong digital support system, including an app," she said. It is equipped with several digital tools. With iSpeaker, learners can get help preparing for speaking exams and presentations. With iWriter, learners can plan, write and review their written work.

Last year, Oxford English Dictionary had incorporated 650 new words and phrases, including chuddies - the Indian word for underpants - in its March update.

The word became popular in the mid-1990s when it was used in the British-Asian comedy series Goodness Gracious Me on BBC.



The Oxford dictionary was originally published in Japan in 1942 and was first brought out by Oxford University Press in 1948.


Investment bank says it will not take company public if its directors are all straight, white men.

The era of the white, all-male board is coming to an end.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Chief Executive Officer David Solomon issued the latest ultimatum Thursday from Davos. Wall Streets biggest underwriter of initial public offerings in the U.S. will no longer take a company public in the U.S. and Europe if it lacks a director who is either female or diverse.

The mandate is the latest in a series of signals that non-diverse boards and management are unacceptable. BlackRock Inc. and State Street Global Advisors are voting against directors at companies without a female director. Public companies with all-male boards based in California now face a $100,000 fine under a new state law.

Its pretty amazing, said Fred Foulkes, a management professor at the Boston University Questrom School of Business. Its a seismic change. I was quite amazed and I wonder whats going to happen at JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley.

The corporate board has become a rare bright spot for gender and racial diversity at the highest echelons of corporate America. Almost half of the open spots at S&P 500 companies went to women last year, and for the first time they made up more than a quarter of all directors. In July, the last all-male board in the S&P 500 appointed a woman.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Chief Executive Officer David Solomon, says his company, which Wall Streets biggest underwriter of initial public offerings in the US will no longer take a company public in the US or Europe if it lacks a diverse directors [File: Bloomberg]

Still, new boards are less diverse: Among the top 25 IPOs by value each year from 2014 through 2018, 10 companies had no female directors, said Malli Gero, co-founder and senior adviser to 2020 Women on Boards, an organization that pushes for the Russell 3000 index to have at least 20% women directors on its boards. Last year, Goldman Sachs was hired to underwrite WeWorks IPO, which only added a female director after its initial prospectus prompted criticism of its all-male board.

Starting on July 1st in the U.S. and Europe, were not going to take a company public unless theres at least one diverse board candidate, with a focus on women, Solomon told CNBC Thursday. He didnt mention Asia, which continues to lag behind other regions when it comes to board diversity.

Next year, the bank will raise the threshold to two diverse directors, which includes diversity based on sexual orientation and gender identity, Goldman said in a statement. The bank said the decision came after it learned more than 60 U.S. and European companies in the last two years went public without a woman or person of color on the board. Goldman Sachs has four women on its 11-member board.

Among the IPOs where Goldman Sachs was an underwriter over the last two years in the U.S. and Europe, fewer than 10% currently have a board lacking a diverse candidate, the company said. Data was not available for the composition of those boards at the time of the IPO, the company said.

We realize that this is a small step, but its a step in a direction of saying, You know what, we think this is right, we think its the right advice and were in a position also, because of our network, to help our clients if they need help placing women on boards,' Solomon told CNBC. So this is an example of us saying, How can we do something that we think is right and help moves the market forward?'

JPMorgan Chase & Co. doesnt have a similar policy to the Goldman Sachs rule, but since 2016 has had a director advisory service that works to help companies find diverse candidates for their board, the company said in a statement. Morgan Stanley did not respond to requests for comment.

Its what big investors are looking for these says, said Boston Universitys Foulkes, who was previously a director at Panera Bread Co. and Bright Horizons Family Solutions. If the board has all white males, thats a big negative.
Getahun Fetana spent years admiring Emebet Melaku from a distance before plucking up the nerve to speak to her, taking advantage of a chance encounter during Timkat, the Ethiopian Orthodox celebration of epiphany.

Breaking off from his friends, the 37-year-old professor walked over to introduce himself, and the sparks that flew led to their wedding on the very same holiday one year later.

We got married on Timkat because we wanted to remember it as a breakthrough in our relationship, Getahun told AFP. The day has a special place in our hearts.

It is far from the only Ethiopian love story closely bound up with Timkat, which Orthodox Christians celebrated with feasts and elaborate processions across the country.

The holiday, which commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan, was marred this year by the collapse of a wooden seating structure during a pivotal ceremony in the northern Ethiopian city of Gondar, an accident that left at least 10 people dead.

But it is generally a sunny and joyous affair - and one that offers a choice meeting ground for young singles on the hunt for romance.

Multiple factors make Timkat ideal for finding a partner, said Aschalew Worku, the top tourism official in Gondar.

First, the holiday comes at the height of wedding season, meaning love is already in the air.

The fact that its also the dry season means the countrys roads are in good shape, making it easier to travel and meet new people.

Finally, worshippers don their finest traditional clothing on Timkat, including pristine white robes and tunics accented with the greens, reds and yellows of the Ethiopian flag.

Theres even a saying - Let a dress not meant for Timkat be shredded - suggesting that Timkat clothes are the only ones worth keeping.

Everyone is dressed to impress, Aschalew said. Everyone attends Timkat clean and fresh, and this creates an opportunity for dating.

Courtship customs

The most famous Timkat celebrations take place each year in Gondar, the former seat of the royal empire located 700 kilometres (435 miles) north of the capital, Addis Ababa.

Before dawn on Monday, thousands of people gathered at stone baths constructed during the reign of 17th-century Emperor Fasilides.

The ceremony during which the seating area collapsed -- in which worshippers dive into holy water to recreate Jesus baptism - was meant to cap a weekend-long traditional celebration that last month was inscribed on UNESCOs list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

For many young people, though, the main event came the day before, as tens of thousands of Ethiopians and foreign tourists marched alongside priests carrying cloaked tabots -- replicas of the Ark of the Covenant -- amid a riot of song, dance and prayer.

This is when young men and women have typically sparked up conversations that can lead to relationships.

One Timkat custom calls for young men to throw lemons at women they find attractive, aiming for the heart to signal their intentions.

But while lemon-throwing is still common in rural areas, it is increasingly out of fashion in Ethiopias fast-growing cities.

A common joke in Gondar is that instead of throwing lemons at their crushes, young men today would do better to throw iPhones.

Back to our old ways

For Aschalew, the tourism official, this reflects a broader shift away from traditional dating habits, as Ethiopian youth explore new ways to meet partners.

These days there are plenty of platforms for dating. People meet at the workplace or in school, and technological advancements mean they can meet on Facebook, he said.

Aschalew described this as an acceptable result of modernity, but some Gondar residents told AFP they believed the old customs should be revived.

People who find their spouse on Timkat are getting a gift from God, said Rahel Mola, a 37-year-old Gondar native.

She was celebrating with her daughter, 20-year-old Katim Tewodrose, who bemoaned the fact that no boys had thrown lemons at her.

Its our tradition and I dont think its practiced anywhere else, so Im patiently waiting for someone to throw a lemon at me, Katim said.

Their nostalgia was shared by Tariku Munye, 33, who took part in Sundays procession.

Our elders used to embrace Timkat dating, but now we have gotten away from it. I think we need to go back to our old ways, he told AFP.

You never know, he added, you could find your destiny here.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.)

Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter
Canopy Growth (CGC) had an astonishing revelation prior to this past holiday weekend for the stock market. The new CEO was expected to reorganize the business, but a delay to the cannabis beverages business was an unexpected jolt to the Canadian cannabis company. One has to wonder what other issues will be disclosed as CEO David Klein completes his second week on the job.

Beverage Debacle

Canopy Growth shocked the market last week by admitting their cannabis-infused beverages were not ready to scale for the market. The news is surprising considering the company is already a month into the legalization of Cannabis 2.0 products such as edibles and beverages.

New CEO David Klein suggests the time period since Canopy Growth obtained Health Canada license in late November 2019 wasnt enough time to work out the kinks with THC in a brand new beverage facility. The company suggests updates will be provided on the release of the FQ3 results on February 14, or roughly two months after the market already thought their cannabis beverages were hitting the market.

Canopy Growth provided a Cannabis 2.0 update back on December 6 with no indication of these impending problems with ramping up a new facility. At the time, the large cannabis player promoted several drinks hitting store shelves in early January followed by other varieties of the Tweed, Houseplant, Quatreau and Deep Space brands. Previously, Canopy Growth had outlined in detail a vast selection of cannabis-infused drinks expected to be ready for the 2.0 launch in December or early January.

Investors had no reason to doubt the companys beverage ambitions considering the backing of wine and spirits giant Constellations Brands (STZ).

High Expenses

What the news means is that Canopy Growth remains in the R&D phase without the revenues. The company continues to spend while not getting any returns for investors as the 150,000 sq. ft. beverage facility is now open and only producing expensive THC chocolate bars.

Story continues

Naturally, Canopy Growth is wise to delay any release to get the THC mix correct before hitting market. The company might have been wiser to focus on the beverages endeavor versus recently jumping into the U.S. CBD market.

The company has a massive operating expense base by trying to be all things to the global cannabis market with none of the results warranting the vast investments. Canopy Growth has the weakest gross margins in the sector at 38% in the last quarter assuming tons of adjustments while having the largest operating expense base. For FQ2, the company had adjusted operating expenses at C$160 million, or nearly double the amount spent by Aurora Cannabis.

The first step of the new CEO was to delay the cannabis beverages hitting market, but what investors really wanted to see is Canopy Growth rationalizing expenses. This beverage facility delay only elevates expenses unattached to current revenue production.

Consensus Verdict

Wall Street isnt completely sold on this show me story. Out of 15 analysts polled in the last 3 months, 6 are bullish on Canopy Growth stock, while 9 remain sidelined. Is the stock overvalued or undervalued based on these expectations? With a downside potential of nearly 8%, the stocks consensus target price stands at $20.83. (See Canopy Growth stock analysis on TipRanks)

Takeaway

The key investor takeaway is that Canopy Growth hit another big problem with meeting financial targets. The company remains in major spend mode over six months after firing ex-CEO Bruce Linton and the latest news suggests the new CEO is nowhere close to reorganizing the business.

The stock is far too expensive at an $8.5 billion market cap when the company cant even get cannabis-infused beverages onto the market while daily operating losses remain in the millions.

To find good ideas for cannabis stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks equity insights.
Washington

President Donald Trump said Wednesday the U.S. would soon be imposing visa restrictions on more countries  though it's not clear yet how many nations will be affected by his expansion of the travel ban.

Seven additional nations were listed in a draft of the proposed restrictions  but the countries were notified by Homeland Security officials that they could avoid being included if they make changes before the announcement is made, according to two administration officials who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The tentative list featured Belarus, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sudan and Tanzania, according to the officials and a person familiar with the draft proposal. But several countries are believed to have taken action or demonstrated good faith efforts to comply in order to avoid inclusion, the officials said. The steps include better border security, better sharing of identification information among nations and better travel document security, one official said. It's not clear how many nations will wind up on the final list.

Trump told reporters at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that he's doing it to protect the United States.

"We're adding a couple of countries to it," he said. "We have to be safe. Our country has to be safe. You see what's going on in the world. Our country has to be safe. So we have a very strong travel ban and we'll be adding a few countries to it."

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Five of the countries on the draft list have either Muslim majorities or substantial Muslim minorities.

The current ban suspends immigrant and non-immigrant visas to applicants from five majority-Muslim nations: Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, as well as Venezuela and North Korea.

But it allows exceptions, including for students and those who have established "significant contacts" in the U.S. And it represents a significant softening from Trump's initial order, which had suspended travel from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen for 90 days, blocked refugee admissions for 120 days and suspended travel from Syria.
Even when a business is losing money, it's possible for shareholders to make money if they buy a good business at the right price. For example, although software-as-a-service business Salesforce.com lost money for years while it grew recurring revenue, if you held shares since 2005, you'd have done very well indeed. But while the successes are well known, investors should not ignore the very many unprofitable companies that simply burn through all their cash and collapse.

Given this risk, we thought we'd take a look at whether Multistack International (ASX:MSI) shareholders should be worried about its cash burn. In this article, we define cash burn as its annual (negative) free cash flow, which is the amount of money a company spends each year to fund its growth. The first step is to compare its cash burn with its cash reserves, to give us its 'cash runway'.

Check out our latest analysis for Multistack International

When Might Multistack International Run Out Of Money?

A company's cash runway is the amount of time it would take to burn through its cash reserves at its current cash burn rate. In June 2019, Multistack International had AU$1.9m in cash, and was debt-free. Importantly, its cash burn was AU$393k over the trailing twelve months. Therefore, from June 2019 it had 4.8 years of cash runway. A runway of this length affords the company the time and space it needs to develop the business. The image below shows how its cash balance has been changing over the last few years.

ASX:MSI Historical Debt, January 24th 2020

How Is Multistack International's Cash Burn Changing Over Time?

Whilst it's great to see that Multistack International has already begun generating revenue from operations, last year it only produced AU$659k, so we don't think it is generating significant revenue, at this point. Therefore, for the purposes of this analysis we'll focus on how the cash burn is tracking. Over the last year its cash burn actually increased by a very significant 77%. Oftentimes, increased cash burn simply means a company is accelerating its business development, but one should always be mindful that this causes the cash runway to shrink. Multistack International makes us a little nervous due to its lack of substantial operating revenue. We prefer most of the stocks on this list of stocks that analysts expect to grow.

Story continues

How Easily Can Multistack International Raise Cash?

While Multistack International does have a solid cash runway, its cash burn trajectory may have some shareholders thinking ahead to when the company may need to raise more cash. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. One of the main advantages held by publicly listed companies is that they can sell shares to investors to raise cash to fund growth. By looking at a company's cash burn relative to its market capitalisation, we gain insight on how much shareholders would be diluted if the company needed to raise enough cash to cover another year's cash burn.

Multistack International's cash burn of AU$393k is about 44% of its AU$898k market capitalisation. From this perspective, it seems that the company spent a huge amount relative to its market value, and we'd be very wary of a painful capital raising.

So, Should We Worry About Multistack International's Cash Burn?

On this analysis of Multistack International's cash burn, we think its cash runway was reassuring, while its cash burn relative to its market cap has us a bit worried. Cash burning companies are always on the riskier side of things, but after considering all of the factors discussed in this short piece, we're not too worried about its rate of cash burn. For us, it's always important to consider risks around cash burn rates. But investors should look at a whole range of factors when researching a new stock. For example, it could be interesting to see how much the Multistack International CEO receives in total remuneration.

Of course Multistack International may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of companies boasting high return on equity, or this list of stocks that insiders are buying.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Considering the preponderance of extreme weather, new potential health epidemics and the existential threat of the climate crisis, there may be a tendency to think of the increasingly robust global wireless telecommunications network as benign.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 23/1/2020 (719 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Considering the preponderance of extreme weather, new potential health epidemics and the existential threat of the climate crisis, there may be a tendency to think of the increasingly robust global wireless telecommunications network as benign.

Click to Expand G(eneration) primer 1G - Analog technology from the 1980s, speeds of 2.4 Kbps 2G - Digital technology from the 1990s, speeds of 64 Kbps 3G - Digital technology from the 2000s, speeds of 144 Kbps up to 2 Mbps 4G - Digital technology from 2008, speeds of 100 Mbps up to 1 Gbps 5G - Coming soon, speeds up to 20 Gbps

But for many around the world that is not the case.

In fact, there is a sizable global movement to stop the development of the next iteration of that wireless network, the so-called 5G (fifth generation) network, because of potential health concerns many believe are caused by low level radiation produced by radio frequency transmitters.

The most fundamental understanding of the need to upgrade the network is because of the obvious increase in the volume of traffic brought on by our increasing reliance on digital communication of every kind and the traffic jam that the next wave -- the Internet of Things -- is likely to produce.

The need to upgrade the network is because of the increase in the volume of traffic brought on by our increasing reliance on digital communication of every kind. (Kin Cheung / The Associated Press files)

But for many who suffer from electromagnetic hypersensitivity, the development of the 5G network is a growing concern. Among other things 5G will mean the installation of hundreds of thousands of new network antennas that will be closer to homes than ever before.

Saturday has been designated Global 5G Protest day.

The website, Stop5Ginternational.org, lists more than 200 scheduled events that day in countries around the world.

There won't be a protest per se in Winnipeg but there will be an information session led by former Fisheries and Oceans scientist, Margaret Friesen. (It will be held at 1:30 at the Westminster Co-op Multipurpose Room, 145 Maryland Avenue.)

Friesen, suffers from electromagnetic hypersensitivity, has spent a lot of time familiarizing herself with the medical literature and has spent time trying to hold government regulatory bodies to account.

She does not believe Winnipeg has yet been inundated with new small antennae all over the place, but she fears we might never know.

Retired biologist Margaret Friesen suffers from electromagnetic hypersensitivity and has familiarized herself with the medical literature in relation to 5G. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press)

"The general public will not be told about this because the way the policy is written, based on federal policy, lamppost and utility poles are considered non-tower structures," she said, hence community consultation will not be required and there will be no public disclosure.

One of her fundamental concerns is, as she says, "We are going to be exposed to this untested technology without proper safety testing."

At the crux of her message is the fact that Health Canada's Safety Code 6, created by Health Canada to establish safety limits for human exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic energy in certain frequency ranges, has not been updated for 30 years and, among other perceived shortfalls, removed acknowledgement of electromagnetic hypersensitivity with no explanation.

Friesen points out that the federal government has a vested interest in the on-going development of wireless network as it earns billions of dollars in revenue from periodic auctions of radio frequency spectrum. Not to mention the tax revenue from the entire wireless industry.

It would seem that public conversation and even concern about potential health concerns connected to prolonged use of smartphones seems to have died down, but Friesen said for those who are listening that is not the case.

"There is a lot of science. There are thousands of studies that show biological affects from radio-frequency radiation at well below Safety Code 6 levels," Friesen says, citing things such as DNA damage and brain cancer to more mundane symptoms such as headaches and nausea.

Margaret Friesen is concerned the public will be exposed to untested technology without proper safety testing. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press)

And while many of us might be prone to shrug and imagine that that it's likely scientists on the fringe who publish on the subject, that too would be incorrect.

"Many scientists worldwide now believe that radio frequency radiation should be elevated to a Class One human carcinogen, on the same list as cigarettes, x-rays, and asbestos," Dr. Anthony Miller, professor emeritus with the University of Toronto, and adviser to the International Agency for Research on Cancer said following a wireless technology symposium held in May at Womens College Hospital in Toronto.

Related Items Click to Expand Poll Loading... Are you concerned about possible health risks from 5G? Yes and I suffer from electromagnetic hypersensitivity Yes, the research in health and safety seems to be lagging behind Yes, but I'm sure Health Canada has our best interests in mind No, we're surrounded by radio waves. A few more won't hurt. No, people smarter than me continue to study the effects No, electromagnetic hypersensitivity doesn't hold up to scrutiny Are you concerned about possible health risks from 5G? Yes and I suffer from electromagnetic hypersensitivity 5% (18 votes) Yes, the research in health and safety seems to be lagging behind 39% (146 votes) Yes, but I'm sure Health Canada has our best interests in mind 10% (36 votes) No, we're surrounded by radio waves. A few more won't hurt. 13% (49 votes) No, people smarter than me continue to study the effects 17% (65 votes) No, electromagnetic hypersensitivity doesn't hold up to scrutiny 17% (63 votes) Total Votes: 377 View ResultsHide Results

Not surprisingly, the telecommunications industry has a different take on the matter.

Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

A spokesman for the Canadian Wireless Technology Association, which represents all the major telecommunications companies in the country who are investing billions of dollars building the 5G network, said that all mobile communications infrastructure use low-energy radio frequency energy, similar to electric appliances such as televisions and baby monitors.

And, as if to discount the apparent urgency of the focus on 5G, he said that the radio frequencies used by 5G are not new, and have been used for years in applications such as fixed wireless communications and satellite internet services.

"The potential health effects of RF (radio frequency) energy from mobile communications have been studied for decades, and according to national and international governments and agencies, such as the World Health Organization, the American Cancer Society, and many others... there is no substantiated scientific evidence of harmful health effects from RF technologies used within national and international safety standards," he said.

The industry notes its adherence to Health Canada's Safety Code 6, which brings the whole debate full circle.

That's because Friesen and many others, including Frank Clegg, past president of Microsoft Canada and now CEO of Canadians for Safe Technology, believe it is Health Canada that is complicit by not listening to the scientists and creating more stringent regulations.

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Thursday, January 23rd, 2020, two arrested were made of in connection with an ongoing shooting investigation that took place in October 2019 in the Middle Region vicinity; which left two dead and two others severely injured.

Suspect R.A.T.P was arrested in the area of the roundabout on the Cole Bay area without incident by the police Arrest Team.

The second suspect in the investigation with initials R.J.K.R. was arrested, on the request of the Dutch authorities, in Marigot by the French Gendarmes. This arrest was carried out as part of the mutual cooperation between the authorities of the French & Dutch part of the island.

R.J.K.R has been transported to Guadeloupe pending an extradition hearing.

The detective department is currently still investigating and is asking anyone with information, pertaining to this shooting incident, not to hesitate to call the anonymous tip line of the police department at the number 9300 or send us a private message via our Facebook page @Police Force of Sint Maarten. Persons can also visit our website to report a crime as well.

KPSM Press Release.
SELBYVILLE, Del., Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Increasing structural steel consumption across the energy development segment in North America, increasing infrastructure activities and the surging use in trolley truck beds and elevator frames in the Asia Pacific, upsurge in the non-residential and industrial infrastructure in Europe are the major factors proliferating the structural steel market.

Global Market Insights, Inc.

According to a research report by Global Market Insights Inc., a global structural steel market was estimated at $230 billion in 2018 and is poised to surpass $420 billion through 2024. The report provides a complete analysis of the industry estimations and size, wavering market trends, competitive scenario, drivers and opportunities, top winning strategies, and major investment pockets.

Increasing non-residential and residential buildings globally would majority outline the structural steel market size through 2024. Additionally, the growing number of production facilities would be a key factor augmenting the industry demand. Carbon and iron are the two main constituents used to produce structural steels. These products are used to construct transmission line towers, manufacturing sheds, and buildings. They are produced in several shapes like T-shape, hollow structural section (HSS), Z-shape, I-beam, and angle (L-shape).

Request a Sample Report at https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/2207

Key reasons for structural steel market growth:

Increasing structural steel consumption across the energy development segment in North America .

. Increasing infrastructure activities and the surging use in trolley truck beds, and elevator frames in the Asia Pacific .

. The upsurge in the non-residential and industrial infrastructure in Europe .

Heavy sectional steel and reinforcement bar segments to play a pivotal role into 2024

Based on product, the structural steel market is segmented into heavy sectional steel, light sectional steel, and rebar. The heavy sectional steel segment contributed well in 2017 and is expected to maintain its role throughout the study period. However, the reinforcement bar segment is estimated to register a CAGR of 4% through 2024 owing to its growing usage supported by the housing, and industrial segments.

The residential segment will keep maintaining its share during the study period

Based on application, the residential segment contributed a decent revenue share in 2017 and is projected to maintain its share until 2024. The Industrial segment, on the other hand, is anticipated to cite a CAGR of 4% by the end of 2024.

Make an inquiry for purchasing this report: https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/2207

How are the regional segment performing for the market?

China is anticipated to witness considerable gains through the forecast timeframe owing to heavy applications of I-shaped structural steel in the region. I-beams are the most widely used products in the region due to their applicability to create large and spacious rooms using slight support channels. These beams also have higher strength when compared to other beams.

Apart from China, North America is estimated to observe significant profits through 2024. As per the report, the regional heavy structural steel market is estimated to surpass USD 4.85 billion by 2024, driven by demand from energy development applications.

Frontrunners in the industry

Some of the prominent industry players contributing to global structural steel industry growth are JSPL, SSAB AB, Tata Steel, Severstal, Voestalpine AG, Erdemir Group, Nucor Corporation, Evraz Group, POSCO, Shagang Group, and ArcelorMittal. They have adopted different strategies such as mergers & acquisitions, partnerships, collaborations, new product launches, and others to gain a strong position in the global industry.

About Global Market Insights

Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy, and biotechnology.

Contact Us:

Arun Hegde

Corporate Sales, USA

Global Market Insights, Inc.

Phone: 1-302-846-7766

Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688

Email: [email protected]

Related Images

structural-steel-market-size-worth.jpg

Structural Steel Market size worth over $420 billion by 2024

Related Links

Formaldehyde Market is Expected to Reach $5.5 billion by 2026

Firestop Sealants Market is Projected to Hit $500 million by 2025

SOURCE Global Market Insights, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.gminsights.com


Holyoke Community Charter School canceled classes Friday due to an outbreak of the flu.

An increasing number of students and school staff were diagnosed with the flu or were developing flu-like symptoms, according to Sonia Correa Pope, the schools principal, Western Mass News reported.

Crews will be at the school Friday to disinfect classrooms, computers and lockers, according to the news outlets report.

Students are expected to return to school Monday, the news outlet reported.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced Thursday that a Worcester County teenager was the first influenza-related pediatric death of the flu season in the state. The teen had tested positive for influenza B.

Thirty-nine influenza-associated pediatric deaths have been confirmed nationwide as of Jan. 11, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Four flu-related deaths in Massachusetts were reported last year.

Officials have urged those who have not received a flu shot to get vaccinated. People who think they have the illness should contact their health care provider.
Mumbai: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Friday hit out at the Centre after the government withdrew security at its party chief Sharad Pawar's New Delhi residence, triggering a political storm over the issue.

The Shiv Sena, which is in alliance with the Congress and NCP in Maharashtra, too raised the issue and attacked the Centre for withdrawing the security at the veteran politician's 6, Janpath residence in Delhi. "This is shocking? The Prime Minister is aware that Sharad Pawar is a senior leader who faces threats and was attacked in the past. We have witnessed it," senior Shiv Sena leader and party MP Sanjay Raut said.

Raut further said that the Centre earlier downgraded the security of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, and now it has withdrawn the security at Pawar's residence, which is a matter of serious concern.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra's Water Resources Minister Jayant Patil also took a swipe at the opposition BJP, saying from Mumbai to New Delhi, they are upset with the change of government in Maharashtra. "That is why the BJP is now taking revenge? This is dangerous in a democracy," Patil said.

Live TV

Commenting on the issue, state Housing Minister Jitendra Awhad said, "Sharad Pawar is like the Sahyadri mountains? He`s not one to be daunted by any intimidating tactics?"

Awhad said there`s nothing to worry since "the affection of the masses is the real security cover of Pawar Saheb".

According to information available, security personnel of Delhi Police who were posted at the Pawar residence in the national capital were abruptly withdrawn from January 20.

However, the veteran Maharashtra politician has been accorded adequate security both at home and on his tours across the state.

Interestingly, no one from the powerful Pawar family - Sharad Pawar's daughter and MP Supriya Sule or his nephew and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar - have spoken about this as yet.
FILE PHOTO: Signage for Just Eat is seen on the window of a restaurant in London

By Pushkala Aripaka and Samantha Machado

(Reuters) - Britain's competition watchdog will probe Takeaway.com's buyout of Just Eat, possibly delaying completion of the multi-billion dollar deal to create one of the world's largest meal delivery companies.

The investigation is a blow for the online food ordering company after it fought a prolonged battle with rival Prosus NV to buy Just Eat, the market leader in UK food delivery.

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) changed its position on the deal and now believes a probe may be warranted, Takeaway said on Thursday, adding that the regulator would be looking into whether it would have re-entered the UK market without the current deal in place.

A CMA spokeswoman confirmed it would open an investigation but gave no further details.

Takeaway said it pulled out of the loss-making UK market in 2016 after struggling with stiff competition. That year, the business lost 768,000 pounds ($1.01 million) and made revenues of just 76,000 pounds.

"Takeaway.com confirms that it did not have the intention to re-enter the UK market absent the transaction with Just Eat," the Dutch company said, adding it would respond to the CMA's questions and that it was confident of getting a green light.

Earlier this month, Just Eat's shareholders agreed to the all-stock deal valued at 6.2 billion pounds over a rival bid from tech investment giant Prosus NV.

Just Eat and Prosus did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.

Takeaway has said the combination will achieve annual cost savings of about 20 million euros ($22.2 million) from centralizing orders on its platform, unifying brands and improving purchasing.

The probe comes after the UK watchdog launched an in-depth investigation into Amazon.com Inc's purchase of a stake in online food delivery group Deliveroo last month after the companies failed to assuage its initial concerns.

(Reporting by Pushkala Aripaka and Samantha Machado in Bengaluru; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty, Shounak Dasgupta and Josephine Mason)
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 23)  Another test on the five-year-old Chinese boy from Wuhan showed that he is now negative for coronavirus infection, according to the Department of Health in Central Visayas.

A second swab test done on the boy a few days ago and sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine yielded a negative result for coronavirus infection. This test is different from the confirmatory test results on a throat swab and blood sample that Philippine authorities are still waiting for from Australia.

"The boy from Wuhan City, Hubei province in China, no longer has fever, cough, and other signs and symptoms associated with the 2019 novel coronavirus," DOH Central Visayas medical officer Van Philip Baton said Thursday in a media briefing.

Another sample from the boy has been sent to the RITM for testing. If this yields a negative result again for coronavirus infection, the boy and his mother may be discharged from the hospital, health officials in Central Visayas said.

The mother of the boy, staff at the condominium where the two stayed, and health workers who have been exposed to him have not exhibited any symptoms of infection until now, health officials said.

Health authorities earlier announced that the boy, who landed in Cebu City with his mother on January 12, tested positive for a still-unidentified coronavirus strain. The strain was not the one that causes the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome nor Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Wednesday it's possible that the boy is not infected with the novel coronavirus that originated from Wuhan.

Wuhan is a Chinese city south of Beijing where the new coronavirus referred to as 2019-nCoV originated from.

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more serious diseases such as such as MERS and SARS, according to the World Health Organization. They can be transmitted from animal to person or infected human to others, according to the WHO.

Philippine authorities have intensified precautionary measures at airports to check on passengers who exhibit flu-like symptoms and guard against the entry of the new coronavirus in the country. There is so far no confirmed case of 2019-nCov in the country, officials said.

The death toll from the novel coronavirus has risen to 17, as over 500 more cases were reported across China, the United States, South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Macao and Taiwan, sparking fears of a possible pandemic, CNN reported.

Cebu-based Stringer Dale Israel contributed to this report.
The Borg are back.

The infamous "Star Trek" alien species, which assimilates all beings it comes across into its collective consciousness, will return in the new series "Star Trek: Picard" with two of its most famous members: Seven of Nine and Hugh (aka Third of Five).

Fans of the "Star Trek" universe will remember Hugh (played by Jonathan Del Arco) as the Borg rescued by Capt. Jean-Luc Picard and his crew in Season 5 of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987-1994) and Seven of Nine (played by Jeri Ryan), who shined in a starring role during "Star Trek: Voyager" (1995 to 2001).

The plot of the new series starring Sir Patrick Stewart as Picard is a closely guarded secret, but it sounds like they will be exploring a difficult relationship with Starfleet, which is kind of like the Space Force of "Star Trek" that's maintained by an intergalactic alliance known as the United Federation of Planets.

Video: Patrick Stewart and Isa Briones Talk Trek with Space.com!

Related: What 'Star Trek' to watch before 'Star Trek: Picard'

Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine of the CBS All Access series 'Star Trek: Picard.' Seven of Nine, along with Hugh, will return to represent the Borg in the new Trek series. (Image credit: James Dimmock/CBS)

The actors who played these beloved members of the Borg reflected on what it feels like to step back into their roles two decades later at the "Picard" world premiere in Hollywood, California last Wednesday (Jan. 15).

"They're very different," Ryan said of Seven and Hugh. "It's been 20 years. They are 20 years more mature, with 20 years' more life experience. For Seven, she had [only] four years outside of the collective the last time we saw her, and all of it was on [starship] Voyager, basically."

Related: Picard's 15 most memorable 'Star Trek: TNG' outfits

Both of the former Borg "have been through a lot of bad stuff," Ryan added. "They've seen darkness, which has affected them. Seven holds Starfleet and the Federation, at least in part, responsible for the mess the galaxy is in right now  and sees Picard as partly representative of those institutions, at first."

In the new series, Hugh and Seven embark on very different paths as they grapple with their feelings about the galactic chaos, Del Arco pointed out. While Seven is working with an independent peacemaking organization, Hugh is looking more toward "peaceful leadership," he said at the premiere.

"Seven's reaction to the world we're in is not the same as Hugh's; they're both contributing to change or support the world in a really different way," he added. "They're both on very different journeys, but with the same intentions.""Star Trek: Picard" premieres on CBS All Access this Thursday (Jan. 23).

Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook .
London, Jan 24 : Scientists have succeeded in accurately reproducing the voice of an Egyptian priest who lived 3,000 years ago, thanks to the mummification process and the use of 3D printing technology.

The scientists created the 3-D printed vocal tract based on measurements of the precise dimensions of his extant vocal tract following computed tomography (CT) scanning.

The acoustic output is a single sound, falling between the vowels in the English words 'bed' and 'bad', according to the study published in the journal Scientific Reports.

The Egyptian priest Nesyamun lived during the politically volatile reign of the pharaoh Ramses XI over 3000 years ago, working as a scribe and priest at the state temple of Karnak in Thebes (modern Luxor).

His voice was an essential part of his ritual duties which involved spoken as well as sung elements.

The precise dimensions of an individual's vocal tract produce a unique sound.

If the dimensions of a vocal tract can be established, vocal sounds can be synthesized by using a 3D-printed vocal tract and an electronic larynx.

For this to be feasible, the soft tissue of the vocal tract needs to be reasonably intact.

David Howard of University of London and his colleagues used non-destructive CT to confirm that a significant part of the structure of the larynx and throat of the mummified body of the Nesyamun remained intact as a result of the mummification process.

This allowed the authors to measure the vocal tract shape from CT images. Based on these measurements, the authors created a 3D-printed vocal tract for Nesyamun and used it with an artificial larynx commonly used in speech synthesis.

The researchers suggest that their proof-of-concept recreation of a vocal tract preserved over three millennia has implications for the way in which the past is presented to the public in the present.

It may provide an opportunity to hear the vocal tract output of an individual that lived in ancient times.
Thirteen tourists, including three children, had a miraculous escape when their houseboat caught fire near Pathiramanal Isle in Vembanad Lake in the district while they were cruising in the backwaters, police said.

As the boat was near the sand bars, the tourists, hailing from Kannur in Kerala, and the staff could jump into the shallow waters and were rescued. Two toddlers were among the passengers.

The double decker houseboat "Oceana" had embarked on the journey from the scenic Kumarakom around noon on Thursday when the fire broke out.

According to police, experts are examining what could have triggered the blaze -- a short circuit or a spark from the kitchen.

Prima facie, fire extinguisher was used by the three staff onboard the boat. But they could not stop the blaze from spreading and eventually gutting the boat, police said on Friday.

Police said they have sought a report from the boat owner on whether life jackets were available in the vessel.

The tourists told television channels that there were no life jackets and it was a miracle they escaped unscathed.

All their belongings were destroyed and they could escape with only the clothes they were wearing, they said.

Meanwhile, Alapuzha District police chief has ordered random checks of houseboats to find out if they had licenses and were following all safety norms.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
[January 24, 2020] Global Smart Kitchen Appliance Market 2019-2023 | Growing Demand for Premium Innovative Appliances to Boost Growth | Technavio

Technavio has been monitoring the global smart kitchen appliance market and it is poised to grow by USD 15.99 bn during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of 23% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005172/en/ Technavio announced its latest market research report titled global smart kitchen appliance market 2019-2023. (Graphic: Business Wire) Growing demand for premium innovative appliances has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, high cost of installations might hamper market growth. Request a free sample report Smart Kitchen Appliance Market 2019-2023: Segmentation Product Smart large cooking appliance

Smart refrigerator

Smart small cooking appliance

Smart dishwasher Geographic segmentation Americas

APAC

EMEA To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR30452



Smart Kitchen Appliance Market 2019-2023: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our smart kitchen appliance market report covers the following areas:

Smart Kitchen Appliance Market size

Smart Kitchen Appliance Market trends

Smart Kitchen Appliance Market industry analysis This study identifies advent of multi-cooking functionalities in smart cooking appliances as one of the prime reasons driving the smart kitchen appliance market growth during the next few years. Smart Kitchen Appliance Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the smart kitchen appliance market, including some of the vendors such as Haier Group, LG Electronics (News - Alert), Robert Bosch, Samsung Electronics and Whirlpool Corporation. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the smart kitchen appliance market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Smart Kitchen Appliance Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023

Detailed information on factors that will assist smart kitchen appliance market growth during the next five years

Estimation of the smart kitchen appliance market size and its contribution to the parent market

Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior

The growth of the smart kitchen appliance market

Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors

Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of smart kitchen appliance market vendors About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005172/en/

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Photo:

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M  Civil rights activists were still mourning the 1968 assassinations of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert Kennedy. Richard Nixon was president, the Vietnam War hadnt ended, and urban racial tensions remained.

In that climate, a 24-year-old Black Panther Party member from Houston named Bobby Lee went into a Chicago neighborhood of poor Southern white migrants with a stunning and straightforward plea: Join us.

A new PBS documentary is exploring a little-known movement that brought together blacks, Latinos, and poor whites from Appalachia that later resulted in the upending of politics in the American Midwest.

The First Rainbow Coalition, airing 10 p.m. Tuesday on KUHT/8 as part of the Independent Lens series, shows how members of the Black Panther Party organized Puerto Rican radicals and Confederate flag-waving white Southerners to help tackle poverty and discrimination. The union shocked some allies and scared police and the FBI, who feared the coalition would upend the social order.

It would eventually change Chicago.

Filmmaker Ray Santisteban said it took him 14 years to complete the project. The effort only took off after he convinced Lee, the ailing organizer behind the multi-ethnic effort, to speak publicly for the first time.

The subject of race also has come under scrutiny under President Donald Trump, who has been accused of making racist statements.

Funders would tell me, this was an interesting film but what does this have to do with today?' Santisteban said. Then, the country changed. I started getting calls about four years ago about it.

In 1969, Lee reached out to Southern white migrants in a northern Chicago neighborhood called Hillbilly Harlem to join him in fighting poverty and police misconduct.

They were poor. It was a slum. You could smell it, Lee told Santisteban. And you could smell a slum.

Wearing a beret and his hands behind this back, Lee stood in front of a room of whites. To ease the crowds anxieties, Lee told the crowd, my name is Bobby Lee. But my real name is Robert E. Lee. It was an ironic reference to the former Confederate general who now shared the name with a black revolutionary.

We laughed, remembered Hy Thurman, a white man from Tennessee and a member of a group called the Young Patriots.

The police mistreated them like the police mistreated blacks, Lee told the crowd. Landlords also refused to change living conditions in their homes like the homes of black residents, he said.

What do you want in your community? What do you want here? he asked.

Lee also enlisted the Puerto Rican group, the Young Lords, to join the new multi-ethnic struggle.

The coalition began pressuring landlords about conditions and challenged police on their tactics. When eight police officers from the Cook County states attorneys office raided an apartment and killed Illinois Black Panther leader Fred Hampton, the coalition helped Republican Bernard Carey defeat Democratic Cook County States Attorney Edward V. Hanrahan.

It wasnt the first time there was an attempt to forge a multicultural alliance. New Mexico-born education pioneer George I. Sanchez and NAACP lawyer Thurgood Marshall corresponded in the late 1940s on ways to fight segregation. Japanese Americans would join Latinos in California to push for desegregation.

During the Civil Rights movement, Mexican American and African American advocates tried to create a coalition in Houston. The Houston group fought even over whether they should be called the Black/Brown or Brown/Black Coalition until future Congresswoman Barbara Jordan told participants to call themselves the B and B Coalition.

Chicano activists in the 1970s would later seek to build alliances with members of the American Indian Movement in South Dakota.

Santisteban said he remains in awe of what Lee and his coalition did despite efforts by the FBI to break them up and disrupt their plans. Eventually, the groups went their separate ways or dissolved.

But those personal relationships remain to this day, he said.

Later, a similar coalition would go on to help elect Harold Washington as Chicagos first black mayor. Another similar alliance would push a then-unknown state senator named Barack Obama into the U.S. Senate.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 24, 2020) - American Aires Inc. (CSE: WIFI) (the "Company" or "Aires") is pleased to announce that it has completed the design and development for consumer purchase of a new key product designed specifically for the global pet market, a projected $269B industry as reported by Global Market Insights Inc.

As pet owners are increasingly realizing that their pets are spending the majority of their time in their homes with the Wi-Fi router on, they are becoming increasingly conscious of their pets' health. Responding to strong consumer demand from pet owners seeking protection from the harmful effects of electromagnetic radiation for their pets, Aires has developed a new product that is specifically designed to protect pets from the negative effects of electromagnetic radiation. This entirely new product offering will be ready for sale in Q2 of 2020 starting with pet collar products which will be sold through the Aires website and on well established online pet marketplaces.

With the emergence of 5G technology and its associated negative effects, Aires has experienced accelerated demand for its products as consumers seek protection not only for themselves, but for their pets too.

"Aires is pleased to be offering consumers protection for their pets with its new pet specific products available for purchase on our global ecommerce platform in Q2 of 2020." said the Company's CEO, Dimitry Serov. "We are ready to deliver."

Lastly, in one particular recent scientific study by John Reif, of the Colorado State University's Department of Veterinary Medicine found that there is a direct relationship between exposure to EMF and development of lymphoma in dogs. He added that high-amounts of EMF increase the likelihood of a dog developing certain kinds of cancer.

For more information please visit: www.airestech.com

About American Aires Inc.

American Aires is an Ontario based technology company that is focused on the research, development and implementation of innovative technology solutions to allow consumers to safely engage with electronic products of the 21st century. The Company is currently engaged in the business of production, distribution and sales of products intended to protect persons from the harmful effects of electromagnetic emissions, which is produced from electronic devices such as cell phones, Wi-Fi routers, tablets and electric cars to name a few. The Company has developed a technology that restructures and transforms electromagnetic field haze into a more biologically-compatible form to reduce the harmful effects of electromagnetic radiation. The Company's current principal products are the Aires Shield Pro, Aires Defender Pro and Aires Guardian.

For more information please visit: www.airestech.com

On behalf of the board of directors

Dimitry Serov, President & Chief Executive Officer

Email: dimitry@airestech.com

Phone: (905) 482-4667

Investor Relations:

Samina Deen, Head of Partnerships

Email: samina@airestech.com

Phone: (416) 320-1634

wifi@airestech.com

Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements may be discussed in this news release and the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis filed at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Not intended for distribution to United States Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States. Any failure to comply with this restriction may constitute a violation of United States Securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/51808
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 18:21:00|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

BEIJING, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- China will embrace its Lunar New Year Saturday, a new start for the nation to race against time to reach the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.

The past year's journey forged ahead through the wind and rain. Externally, the world faced increasing instability and uncertainty, as protectionism and unilateralism were rising. Internally, the country tackled various challenges during its transition to high-quality growth.

Against such a backdrop, China remains on a steady track toward prosperity and strength. Its year-on-year GDP growth reached 6.1 percent in 2019, leading major world economies and contributing around 30 percent of global growth.

China's GDP per capita has crossed the threshold of 10,000 U.S. dollars, signaling the fact it has become a typical middle-income country. It also increased the world's population above this level from about 1.5 billion in 2018 to nearly 3 billion today.

China is also promoting an open and inclusive world economy. The country promotes trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, with increased number of free trade zones and the successful holding of the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai.

It has strengthened its network of global partnerships, advanced high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, stayed committed to multilateralism, and played a mediating role in various hotspot issues to effectively promote world peace and stability.

A growing China means a greater force for peace, progress and prosperity. It offers other developing economies a model of how to achieve modernization. Every Chinese person must feel proud of living in such a great era.

The year 2020 will become a new milestone in China's development. The country will see a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. Absolute poverty will be eliminated for the first time in the nation's 5,000-year history. This also means that China will meet the United Nations poverty reduction goal 10 years ahead of schedule.

The progress China has achieved does not change the fact that it is still a developing nation. In terms of per capita GDP and the rate of urbanization, China still lags behind that of developed economies by a large margin. Development gap between western and eastern parts of the country is still huge. The country must sort out more problems in innovation, ecological protection, housing and education. China has also arrived at a critical point that whether it could avoid the middle-income trap, a typical conundrum faced by many developing middle-income economies.

Therefore, a stronger sense of urgency is needed. The country is stepping up its supply-side structural reform, implementing set policies and measures to sustain development, and better taking care of its 1.4 billion people's wellbeing. China will also widen market access for foreign investors, improve the business environment, foster new drivers of opening-up, and strengthen multilateral and bilateral cooperation.

Time and history wait for no one as they are both on the side of the diligent. Trials and hardships lie ahead, but battling difficulties will strengthen the nation's faith in its dream, and deliver the long-cherished aspirations for a better future, both of China and the world.
Regent Africa Times journalist Alex Ogbu was shot and killed on Tuesday, 21 January in the Nigerian capital, Abuja while covering a protest march by the Shiite Islamic Movement of Nigeria. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in demanding an independent and in-depth investigation into this death and to bring Ogbus killers to justice.

Nigerian police officers stand in the streets of Abuja during clashes with members of the shiite Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) on July 22, 2019. The Shiites are protesting against the detention of IMN leader Ibrahim Zakzaky. Six Shiite protesters were killed in clashes with Nigerian police in the capital Abuja, witnesses told AFP on July 22. Kola SULAIMON / AFP

Journalist Alex Ogbu, was covering the Shiite protest in the capital Abuja, when he was shot and killed allegedly by a bullet that was fired by the police at the scene. According to local sources, the police fired teargas canisters and live ammunition at random," at the protesters.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ Federal Capital Territory, Emmanuel Ogbeche, said in a statement: It is heart rending to know that yet another journalist was killed in this seeming unending orgy of bloodletting in Abuja and other parts of the country. Is this a pattern where journalists become victims in the legitimate pursuit of their profession as reporters?

The Secretary General of the IFJ, Anthony Bellanger said: We condemn this indiscriminate use of lethal force which caused an unnecessary loss of life. This is one killing too many and the authorities in Nigeria must do their utmost to ensure that those responsible for the killing of Alex Ogbu are arrested and brought to justice. The Nigerian Government must ensure journalists safety while covering protests. 

On 23 July 2019,another journalist, Precious Owolabi, was covering a protest of the Shiite Islamic Movement when he was hit by a stray bullet that killed him instantly.
A 29-year-old man has been charged with murdering one of Britain's most prolific paedophiles.

Richard Huckle died at HMP Full Sutton in East Yorkshire on October 13 last year, reportedly fatally stabbed in his cell with a makeshift blade.

Humberside Police today said Paul Fitzgerald has been charged with Huckle's murder.

In statement, the force said: 'Paul Fitzgerald, 29, of HMP Wakefield has today been charged with the murder of Richard Huckle at Full Sutton Prison on October 13, 2019.

'Paul Fitzgerald is due to appear via video link at Beverley Magistrates Court on Wednesday February 5.'

It was reported earlier this week that he was found strangled to death with a guitar string in his cell before having condoms stuffed down his throat.

Paul Fitzgerald (right), 29, is alleged to have killed Richard Huckle (left) at Full Sutton Prison in October last year

He was found dead at HMP Full Sutton in Yorkshire on October 13 last year, after reportedly being stabbed with a makeshift blade

Huckle was given 22 life sentences at the Old Bailey in 2016 for an unprecedented number of offences against children aged between six months and 12 years.

The freelance photographer, from Ashford in Kent, awarded himself 'Pedopoints' for different acts of abuse against 191 youngsters, and sold images of his depravity on the dark web.

In online posts, Huckle bragged that it was easier to target impoverished children in Malaysia than those from wealthy Western backgrounds.

He was arrested when he was stopped at Gatwick Airport en route to spend Christmas with his family in 2014, after Australian authorities tipped off the UK's National Crime Agency.

The 33-year-old paedophile was given 22 life sentences at the Old Bailey in 2016 for an unprecedented number of 71 offences against children aged between six months and 12 years

At the time of his arrest, he was writing a guide to teach fellow paedophiles how to abuse children and avoid detection.

Officers seized his encrypted laptop and managed to uncover more than 20,000 indecent pictures and videos although there were other files they were unable to crack.
The Plateau Commissioner of Health, Dr. Nimkong Ndam, has confirmed five cases of Lassa fever in the state.

Ndam told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos that the patients of the ailment had been admitted in two hospitals in the state, adding that three of them were undergoing treatment; one had completed treatment, while the fifth one had been discharged.

He said Lassa fever was not new in the state because the area had experienced the disease before.

However, the health personnel are on the ground to handle the situation and they have the required protective kits to wear while treating such cases.



We are in contact with the hospitals in the state to address such cases promptly and to curtail the spread of the disease. We also have the protective kits required of health workers to wear when treating such cases, he said.

Lassa fever is transmitted to humans through contact with food or household items contaminated by infected Mastomy rats who are hosts of the Lassa virus.

Storing grains and other foodstuffs in rodent-free containers and general hygiene is a preventive measure.

Follow Us on Facebook  @LadunLiadi; Instagram  @LadunLiadi; Twitter  @LadunLiadi; Youtube  @LadunLiadiTV for updates
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, January 24, 2020 15:26 719 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2060dc134 4 City Jakarta-police,East-Jakarta,hate-speech,Chinese-Indonesians,discrimination,racial-issues,racist-statement Free

The Jakarta Police on Wednesday named an East Jakarta resident a suspect of hate speech after he threatened to expel "the Chinese" from the neighborhood.

The chairman of the Betawi Islam Movement (Goib), Andy M. Saleh, was arrested in his house in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta.

Andy allegedly was the mastermind behind a banner containing disturbing messages that went viral earlier this month. The banner was an invitation for people, particularly Muslims, to join a protest against the construction of a cinema near a mosque in Pusat Grosir Cililitan (PGC) shopping center in Kramat Jati.

He made the concept, ordered the banner and put it up himself, Jakarta Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Yusri Yunus said on Thursday as quoted by kompas.com.

Were still investigating his motives. He said he did it for financial reasons. He made and put up the banner a few days before Jan. 17, the day a protest against the theater construction was slated to be held, he said.

The police did not elaborate on how putting up the banner would have benefited Andy financially.

The banner reads: Join the protest to defend Islam and the pribumi (natives), and object to the construction of XXI theater near As-Sinah Mosque in PGC. The protest will be on Friday, January 17, 2020, at 1 p.m. (after Friday prayer). Lets get the [expletive] Chinese out of our Cililitan.

Less than 24 hours after the banner was put up, officers from the police, the military and the Public Order Agency tore it down. Shortly after that, Andy was summoned by the police to be questioned as a witness.

However, he told the press that he didn't do it for money. He said he just hated the idea of seeing a theater and a mosque close to each other.

I didnt want us [Muslims] to feel attacked [by the presence of the theater], hence the banner. I only wanted to invite people to stop the theater construction. I didnt want money, he said.

He went on to call for a negotiation between Kramat Jati residents and the PGC management regarding the matter. He claimed that the PGC management once made an agreement with the residents. However, he failed to explain what the agreement was.

I made the banner so that the PGC management and the residents would talk, he added.

Andy is now being detained in a Jakarta Police detainment center. He is charged under articles 156 and 55 of the Criminal Code on hate speech and Article 16 of Law No. 40/2008 on the elimination of racial and ethnic discrimination  which carry a maximum sentence of five years' imprisonment. (vla)
The Health Organistion (WHO) on Thursday said that it was 'too early' to declare the outbreak of coronavirus in China as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).

The WHO made this decision during the second meeting of the International Health Regulations (IHR) on Thursday.

Twenty-five people have been killed after developing pneumonia-like symptoms and at least 830 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported in China by the end of Thursday.

Out of 25 deaths, 24 deaths were reported in Hubei Province, while one took place in Hebei Province, Xinhua reported.

"I am not declaring a public health emergency of international concern today. As it was yesterday, the Emergency Committee was divided over whether the outbreak of novel coronavirus represents a PHEIC or not," Xinhua quoted WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a press conference after a closed-door meeting of the Emergency Committee, as saying.

"Make no mistake, though, this is an emergency in China. But it has not yet become a global health emergency. It may yet become one," Tedros said, adding that WHO's risk assessment is that the outbreak is a very high risk in China, and a high risk regionally and globally.

"I wish to reiterate that the fact I am not declaring a PHEIC today should not be taken as a sign that WHO does not think the situation is serious, or that we are not taking it seriously," the WHO chief said.

Chinese state-media agency has reported that so far 34 cases of coronavirus have been cured and discharged following treatment.

The deadly virus has originated from the city of Wuhan in the month of December and since then cases have been reported in the United States and several Asian cities other than China, including South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Meanwhile, the second confirmed case of coronavirus has been reported in Japan, reported Sputnik.

The authorities in Wuhan city and Huanggang city have imposed a complete travel ban on local residents, in a bid to curb the spread of the deadly virus. The ban issued by command authority in the city said that from 10:00 am on Thursday, urban buses, subways, ferries and long-distance passenger transport would be suspended in the city. Flights and trains departing from Wuhan will also be suspended.

Countries have started screening process in order to prevent the outbreak of the virus in their respective country. India also on Thursday said that people coming from the Asian country will have to mandatorily go through a screening process at airports in India.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Author Derrick Barnes and illustrator Gordon C. Jamess first collaboration, Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut (Bolden/Millner, 2017), earned extensive praise and accolades, among them a Newbery Honor, a Caldecott Honor, a Coretta Scott King Author and Illustrator Honor, the Society of Illustrators Gold Medal, and multiple starred reviews. Their forthcoming book, I Am Every Good Thing (Penguin/Paulsen), will be the first published of three subsequent collaborations since Crown.

The cover of I Am Every Good Thing, which is revealed here for the first time, alludes to the books evocative celebration of black boyhood and features a face familiar to the collaborators: Jamess son Gabriel. My son is diagnosed autistic, so to be able to put him on the cover looking so strong and cool and powerful really meant a lot to usme, my wife, my family. It was a big deal.

The cover concept was important to Barnes, too, who explained that its always bothered him that, whenever a book featured a black boy on the cover, he was one of three things: a runaway slave, a civil rights leader or athlete, or menacing. The boy on the cover [of I Am Every Good Thing] looks so confident, but, when I look in his eyes, I see that sweetness and realness. We are a multitude of things. Black boys in America are not a monolith.

Barnes started writing I Am Every Good Thing the day Michael Brown was murdered in 2014. He picked it up again, a few months later, when Tamir Rice was murdered in Cleveland, but it wasnt until 2018, when an ad featuring a little black boy, maybe nine-years old, wearing a green hoodie that said, the coolest monkey in the jungle  was advertised by H&M that he resumed the project in earnest. Growing up as a black boy, you grow accustomed to these negative stereotypes of what it means to be a black boy in America, Barnes explained. Now that Im an adult black man with four beautiful sons, I think its imperative that we define who we are. Its so important that we tell our own stories. This book is about challenging those negative stereotypes about black boys that have seemingly always existed in this country.

For James, it was important that his illustrations reflect the black diaspora, with varied complexions, body types, and personalities represented: Whether they are tough, or tender, cerebral, or more heart driven, lots of kids will see themselves in this book. Also important to James was making sure black boys feel welcome in all spaces: the library, a house party, in the woods, at the beach, and in universities. There is no place that is off limits to you as an African-American boy.

Barnes and James first met 18 years ago, when they both worked for the Hallmark greeting card company, and they both live in Charlotte, N.C., today, which Barnes noted almost never happens when youre working with an illustrator. Though they communicate mostly via email when working on a project, Barnes said that, if he doesnt like something, he doesnt hold his tongue. I consider him a brother, he said so we can argue and disagree, but I still love him. Our main goal is to put these books out. We want to put out something beautiful. James concurred: We try to stay out of each others way. When Derrick says hes writing something and he thinks Id be good for it, we give each other space to be experts in what it is we each do.

Barnes acknowledges that he felt pressure following Crowns success, but his biggest takeaway was that you dont have to land the big book deal, but you must have a message. Published by Agate, a small press in Chicago, Crowns humble beginnings served it well. For the remainder of my career, Barnes said, I will always strive to be as authentic as possible. There are so many kids who have a story to tell, who want the world to see what kind of people they are. Im speaking for those children. Im always going to publish books like [Crown and I Am Every Good Thing] because they are so needed, even in 2020.

For James, the success of Crown is independent of subsequent projects. I try to always put out the best work that I can at that moment in time. At the end, I know I did the best that I could do. How people receive it? Thats up to them. Barnes, however, knows exactly how hed like his books to be greeted. I always imagine a child opening my books and their eyebrows raising and their cheeks lifting, reading something that theyve never read before that fills them up and makes them feel good about themselves. When they shut the book, they run to the mirror and see themselves and go, Man, this is who I am. I want them to have that experience every time. To see themselves and feel good about themselves.

I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes, illus. by Gordon C. James. Penguin/Paulsen, $17.99 Sept. 2020 ISBN
Waveband Communications has expanded its vast product line with two-way radio accessories compatible with BK Technologies radios. The expansion has been widely sought after as their mission critical customers have demanded Waveband to manufacture accessories that are compatible with the BK KNG series radio.

We value our customers input and make it our priority to meet their demands to deliver the products they desire Said Ray Hohman, Senior Manager of Product Development at Waveband Communications.

According to Waveband Communications, public service industries across the world use the KNG series radios to communicate and improve overall daily operations. These current users include but are not limited to TSA, the Department of Forestry, and fire departments including Cal Fire. The KNG series includes KNG-P150, KNG-P400, KNG-P800 that are available in all frequencys bands such as VHF, UHF, and 700/800Mhz.

Waveband Communications offers accessories that are comparable to BK Technologies OEM products at a reduced cost. The company understands that the Government is under tight budget restraints so providing accessories at a lower cost helps agencies save money.

This expansion allows us to bring even more accessories to others who use a KNG series radio every day, says Nick Hohman, Vice President of Waveband Communications. Were always pleased to serve our communication professionals with advanced accessories no matter what radio they may be using.

The new expansion brings two-way radio accessories including, OEM compatible speaker microphones, batteries, chargers, surveillance kits, and more, to their product line. The provided accessories include many features that can withstand any environment. Waveband manufactured accessories for KNG series include many features and benefits including,



Batteries with 3600 mah to offer a longer talk time between charges.

Speaker microphones that include an IP67 waterproof rating against dust and water. The mics are background noise cancelling to allow for seamless communication in loud environments.

Surveillance Kits that are manufactured with rugged Kevlar re-enforced cable and provide high quality Knowles microphones.

Antennas that are available in stubby or standard whip size and provide the longest range.

BK Technologies is an American manufacturer of two-way radio communication for over 70 years based out of Melbourne, Florida. They continue to serve the military, first responders, and public safety officials around the world with portable radios that perform in some of the most challenging environments. They continue to manufacture new radios with unsurpassed reliability to public safety and government professionals.

Waveband Communications for the past 20 years has been an industry leader in proving durable two-way radio accessories for major radio brands including Motorola, Harris, Kenwood, Icom and more. They continue to manufacture reliable high-quality accessories to government officials and critical communication professionals. Waveband is a long time GSA approved vendor (#GS35F228BA) delivering accessories to Government organizations that streamline the acquisition process. Waveband can be contacted through its website at http://www.wvbandcoms.com or by calling 1-800-806-1076.

For further questions about the expansion or information regarding this press release please contact Taylor Thomas at tthomas@wvbandcoms.com
UPDATE: 1 person dead in armed robbery, shooting at strip mall on Allentown/Bethlehem border

The dark and quiet strip mall Friday morning off Pennsylvania Avenue was a different scene from night before, where police responded to an armed robbery at one of the businesses.

Allentown police confirmed they were investigating an armed robbery at the mall at 1452 Pennsylvania Ave., which sits at the intersection with Pinehurst Road, between Ulster Road and East Columbia Street.

Police Capt. Alicia Conjour said she could not release additional details, including whether emergency radio reports of a person shot during the robbery were accurate.

She did say there are no suspects outstanding in the case. Allentown Police Chief Glenn Granitz told WFMZ the public is not at risk.

The mall built in 2009 includes, from left to right, Pennsylvania Ave. Cold Beer and Beverages, Drakes Pizza, John Daher Salon and the A1 Stop deli and grocery store.

The border between Allentown and Bethlehem runs in the middle of Pennsylvania Avenue in that area, and officers from both departments responded to the scene Thursday night. Pennsylvania State Police, which cover nearby Hanover Township, also responded.

Pennsylvania Avenue was closed while police were at the scene, but by early Friday morning the roads and strip mall were open to traffic, and the the yellow police tape was gone.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
Jessica Christian / The Chronicle

San Francisco crime may be dropping in most categories, but theres a glaring sign of trouble on the city streets. Deaths blamed on heroin and fentanyl overdoses are soaring, more than doubling from last year. That deadly surge needs the full attention of law enforcement and medical authorities.

Such overdoses once were largely a distant problem, killing thousands in the Midwest and Northeast. But its arrived here with deadly force with 290 deaths last year compared to 134 the year before. Heroin doses are being supercharged with lethal fentanyl doses, poisoning addicts who are unfamiliar with the mixture. A painkiller, fentanyl is up 100 times more potent than similar opioids, making just a few sandy grains a fatal additive.
A Jasper man who was shot in the hand during a struggle for a Walker County sheriffs deputys gun Wednesday night hit a police car, the sheriffs office said Thursday.

Authorities also allegedly found meth in the vehicle belonging to Donald Shane Gilliland, 50, after the incident.

Gilliland allegedly evaded Jasper police through the city as officers tried to execute a drug search warrant. The suspect struck a Jasper police vehicle and continued fleeing from law enforcement when sheriffs deputies joined police in the pursuit of Gilliland.

As the chase reached I-22, the suspect went into the median of the interstate near Exit 63, where his vehicle became disabled, the sheriff's office said.

A struggle between the suspect and a sheriffs deputy ensued, and the suspect sustained a gunshot wound the the hand. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency has been investigating the shooting since Wednesday night.

Gilliland was wanted for two counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. Investigators made undercover purchases of meth from Gilliland as part of a wider narcotics investigation involving several locations throughout Walker County, authorities said. The Jasper resident also had two failure to appear warrants for traffic violations.

The suspect, who was out on bond for felony theft when he committed the drug offenses, was taken to UAB for treatment of the gunshot wound and was charged with the outstanding warrants. He also faces charges stemming from the pursuit and for drugs after methamphetamine was allegedly found in his vehicle after the shooting.
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Generally cloudy. A shower of rain or wet snow possible. High 38F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy. Low 26F. Winds light and variable.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel signed the Brexit agreement on Friday, paving a way for his "ramification" by the European Parliament.

".@eucopresident Charles Michel and I have just signed the Agreement on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU, opening the way for its ratification by the European Parliament," von der Leyen said on Twitter.

The European Parliament is expected to vote to ratify the agreement on January 29. The United Kingdom is scheduled to leave the union on or before 31 January, following which there will be a transition period during which little is expected to change for 11 months.

Britain Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit Bill finally became a Law after receiving royal assent from Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday.

The Bill was approved by the UK Parliament on Wednesday after the House of Lords backed down on the amendments that it had tried to secure earlier in the week.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

Patient readers, I accumulated a lot of stuff over the weekend that I didnt get to use yesterday. Im going to do politics, first, then fill in the other buckets. lambert strether UPDATE All done!

Trade

The Trade War, Paused for Now, Is Still Wreaking Damage [New York Times]. Two years of tit-for-tat tariffs and on-again-off-again trade talks have left American farmers reeling. The manufacturing sector is in a recession, albeit a relatively mild one, and factory employment declined in December after rising slowly for most of last year. And in recent months, there have been signs that the damage is spreading: Railroads and trucking companies have been cutting jobs, and consumers  at least in the parts of the country most affected by the trade disputes  may be pulling back as well.

Politics

But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? James Madison, Federalist 51

They had one weapon left and both knew it: treachery. Frank Herbert, Dune

Here is a second counter for the Iowa Caucus, which is obviously just around the corner:

* * *

2020

Alert reader dk (not to be confused with DK) is in the process of developing the following interactive chart. We have a lot of polls today, as of 1/24/2020, 12:00 PM EST. Today we have national polls from Emerson and Ipsos. It looks like its now a two-person race between Biden and Sanders, with Warren trailing badly, followed by Buttigeig, with Bloomberg still closing on Buttigieg, which is interesting or concerning. Of course, these are national polls, about to be massively thrown into confusion by IA, NH, SC, and NV  and then CA. I stopped using three-day averages because, this close to the first balloting, day to day fluctuations are important: And the numbers: I thought Id post another small multiples. Its curious how the changes in the numbers are slow, even glacial. Ive helpfully added arrows to show whos going down and whos going uo. Hard, again, to think that this is what the DNC gamed out: Summary: The Biden juggernaut rolls on, but Sanders is closing. Warren is in trouble (meaning her smear of Sanders did not work). Needless to say  though of course IA, NH, SC, and MV are each different  this is a good place for Sanders to be. Its hard to believe this was the DNCs desired result. CAVEAT I think we have to track the polls because so much of the horse-race coverage is generated by them; and at least with these charts were insulating ourselves against getting excited about any one poll. That said, we should remember that the polling in 2016, as it turned out, was more about narrative than about sampling, and that this year is, if anything, even more so. In fact, one is entitled to ask, with the latest Buttigieg boomlet (bubble? (bezzle?)) which came first: The narrative, or the poll? One hears of push polling, to be sure, but not of collective push polling by herding pollsters. We should also worry about state polls with very small sample sizes and big gaps in coverage. And thats before we get to the issues with cellphones (as well as whether voters in very small, very early states game their answers). So we are indeed following a horse-race, but the horses dont stay in their lanes, some of the horses are not in it to win but to interfere with the others, the track is very muddy, and the mud has splattered our binoculars, such that its very hard to see whats going on from the stands. Also, the track owners are crooked and the stewards are on the take. Everythings fine. I think dk has started a really neat project, and in the near future well seek your feedback (within reason) for the tool live. * * * Biden (D)(1): Law School Memes for Edgy T14s Endorses Joseph Sloppy Joe Biden [Medium]. Joe Biden is what every law student strives to be: a lawyer who has moved seamlessly from the practice to the creation of law while escaping consequences, failing upwards, and showing no particular talent for legal work. Biden (D)(2): Joe Bidens Checkered Ethical History Is Fair Game for Criticism [Jacobin]. Its not a coincidence that the right flank of the party started finger-wagging about divisiveness, incivility, and disunity precisely when the left flank began to seriously threaten its dominance. As the left wing gains momentum, the party establishments tolerance for legitimate criticism wears thinner, and the range of topics considered off-limits or below-the-belt expands. New behavioral norms have appeared out of thin air: suddenly political criticisms of opponents, no matter how legitimate by traditional standards, are a bridge too far, and are even alleged to help Donald Trump. At least, if the criticisms are flying from left to right.  But hippie-punching is always good. UPDATE Bloomberg (D)(1): Michael Bloomberg Hits Quarter-Billion Mark in Campaign Spending [Bloomberg]. Bloombergs presidential campaign has spent $209.3 million on broadcast television time, $13.7 million on cable, $1.1 million on radio and $27.2 million on digital, according to data from Advertising Analytics, which tracks political ad spending. The former New York mayor has spent $116 million more than fellow billionaire Tom Steyer, who is also relying on his personal fortune to fund his campaign. Bernie Sanders, the next biggest spender among Democrats, has purchased $26.8 million of media. Unlike his Democratic rivals, Bloomberg is focused on states holding their nominating contests later in the year. Hes spent $12.8 million in Los Angeles and $12.5 million in New York City, and has made seven-figure purchases of air time in other markets in California as well as in Texas, Illinois and Florida. Buttigieg (D)(1): Pete Buttigieg is missing support from another key Democratic group: Unions [Los Angeles Times]. Buttigieg has embraced a policy platform that aggressively favors organized labor, but no unions so far have endorsed his bid to win the Democratic nomination for president Over the last week, the 120,000-member International Assn. of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers Union endorsed Biden, and the University Professional and Technical Employees union, which represents more than 16,000 University of California employees, endorsed Sanders, who has collected the most union endorsements thus far. Klobuchar (D)(1): Weird: Klobuchar is a big supporter of Minnesota's Ukrainian nationalist community & went to the Donbas front lines for photo-ops with Ukrainian nationalist fighters & pols. Curious if any reporter has looked into her local Ukr support networkhttps://t.co/l0qXXUdhs7  Mark Ames (@MarkAmesExiled) January 22, 2020 Sanders (D)(1): S. Carolina elected official now backing Sanders over Biden [Associated Press]. A South Carolina elected official who endorsed Joe Biden last month is switching her allegiance to Bernie Sanders in the states first-in-the-South presidential primary, saying she had viewed the former vice president  whose support in the state is considered deep  as a compromise choice. Dalhi Myers told The Associated Press on Wednesday that she was making the change in part because she values what she sees as Sanders strength in being able to go toe-to-toe with President Donald Trump in the general election. I looked at that, and I thought, Hes right, said Myers, a black woman first elected to the Richland County Council in 2016.  Hes unafraid and hes unapologetic .  I like the fact that he is willing to fight for a better America  for the least, the fallen, the left behind.'  Another strong point for Rovian assault . UPDATE Sanders (D)(2): Amother endorsement I think I'll probably vote for Bernie Hes been insanely consistent his entire life. Hes basically been saying the same thing, been for the same thing his whole life. And that in and of itself is a very powerful structure to operate from. -Joe Rogan pic.twitter.com/fuQP0KwGGI  Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) January 23, 2020 Some people are losing their minds about this, but my view is that if Sanders can go before the New York Times Editorial Board seeking an endorsement, than Joe Rogan is comparatively inoffensive. Sanders (D)(3): Those can destroy a thing. National @7News / Emerson College Poll: Will you support the Democratic nominee even if it is not your candidate? 72% yes

13% no

15% depends on nominee Broken down by candidate's supporters:https://t.co/e8BNMNZ0tb pic.twitter.com/86jDR7B2l9  Emerson College Polling (@EmersonPolling) January 24, 2020 UPDATE Sanders (D)(4): Sanders tells supporters to cool it  but they dont always listen [Karen Tumulty, WaPo]. So, is it a cult, or isnt it? And: This is a moment for our campaign to show we are capable of uniting not just our base, but the broader Democratic Party and country  and healing a nation that is deeply divided, sad Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), a national co-chair of the Sanders campaign. Khanna drew parallels to the test Barack Obama faced in 2008 when revelations about racially charged sermons by his pastor, Jeremiah Wright, threatened to derail his campaign. Obama rose to the occasion with a unifying call and by showing leadership, Khanna said, and Sanders has similarly met the moment by making it clear that everyone in this movement has to live up to his values and standards.'  This is a horrible example. What Obama did was throw Wright under the bus  the minister of a church hed attended for years. Wright knew it, too, and wasnt having it. Sanders (D)(5): Guillotine the rich: Sanders staffer says hes ready for armed revolution' [Washington Times]. Project Veritas has apparently snared another pro-Soviet, pro-gulag Bernie Sanders campaign staffer, this one saying in a hidden-camera video released Tuesday that he was ready to get armed for the revolution and musing about sending Republicans to reeducation camps. The footage featured a man identified as paid South Carolina field organizer Martin Weissgerber was posted a week after the release of video featuring radical Iowa field organizer Kyle Jurek, part of the undercover journalism outfits #Expose2020 series. In the video, Mr. Weissgerber described himself as a communist and said that he was in contact with groups that planned to hold mass yellow-vest protests like those that have roiled France if Mr. Sanders loses.  Big talk from Weissgerber! The Sanders campaign called the cops on OKeefe (who has a history of faked videos). But this is where the campaign is headed. The Sanders field office called the cops on OKeefe (as opposed to cowering in fear, as with the infamous ACORN episode). UPDATE Sanders (D)(6): Obama feels Sanders is unfit to battle Trump  and he has told people he might say so publicly [FOX]. People close to Obama point out that he has always said that he will support the Democratic nominee, whoever that may be. They also point out that Obamas opinion of Warren has softened since November, and he is said to be growing comfortable with endorsing her fully if she should win the nomination. But, these people add, he has recently grown even more wary of Sanders as the Vermont senator appears to be gaining momentum in polls and the Democratic primaries begin to heat up with the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary both in February. Obama is weighing a more forceful rebuke of Sanders.  Rebuke?!?!?! Thats a very heavy word in the Beltway. Sanders (D)(7): So I guess the flap about Teachouts Guardian piece didnt come to much: In high school, I was the New Hampshire state cross-country champion and state track champion. I'm heading to New Hampshire to door-knock for Bernie next weekend. Planning on doing some more winning. pic.twitter.com/YxFXXPiUWH  Zephyr Teachout (@ZephyrTeachout) January 24, 2020 Sanders (D)(8): Watchdog files FEC complaint against pro-Sanders nonprofit [Associated Press] (the complaint). The campaign finance act says groups established by federal officeholders or candidates cannot raise money for federal electoral activity that exceeds the limitations of the law. Those contributions are currently set at $2,800 for candidates and $5,000 for political action committees. Our Revolution has taken in nearly $1 million from donors whose contributions exceeded those limits and whose identities it hasnt fully disclosed, according to tax filings for 2016, 2017 and 2018. Much of it came from donors who contributed six-figure sums National Nurses United for Patient Protection, a super PAC that supported Sanders 2016 run, disclosed that it donated $300,000 to Our Revolution. Sixteen Thirty Fund, a nonprofit group that allows donors to anonymously funnel large contributions to progressive and liberal causes, was the source of a $100,000 contribution in 2017.  One million over three years? UPDATE Sanders (D)(9): Those Mittens Bernie Sanders Wears Campaigning Are Made in Vermont [Seven Days]. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is known for his frumpy and unkempt attire. His latest sartorial choice, mittens he wore during the Womens March on Saturday in Portsmouth, N.H., certainly made an impression. The oversize mittens, called oven mitts by some, went viral online and soon had their own @BerniesMittens Twitter account. Feeling the BERN not the BURN, the accounts profile reads. Jen Ellis, a teacher from Essex Junction, made the mittens and gave them to Sanders. She used repurposed wool from sweaters and lined them with fleece. She generally sells mittens at craft fairs or gives them to friends. Sanders daughter-in-law, Liza Driscoll, runs Ellis daughters daycare, so one holiday season, Ellis made mittens for all the teachers  plus Bernie. Warren (D)(1): Moment Iowa dad gets into a heated row with Elizabeth Warren over her student loan forgiveness plan, telling the candidate people who have already paid for their kids tuition will be getting screwed' [Daliy Mail]. My daughter is in school, I saved all my money just to pay student loans, can I have my money back? the man says to Warren. The senator from Massachusetts replies: Of course not.'  Ive raised this issue before, to, IIRC, some scoffing. I donlt know what the numbers would be if we rolled back all student payments, however. You can also hear Trump making this argument, so it has to be dealt with. (I suppose Luke 15:11-32 applies, but its a heavy lift.) UPDATE Warren (D)(2): Warren built a vaunted Iowa team early. Now shes counting on it for a comeback. [McClatchy]. Her team isnt the largest in the state, yet even rival campaigns privately herald its early scale, intensity and deep community connections. A band [of] 150 staffers spread out over 26 offices have served as the steady, trusted oar for a campaign thats experienced its fair share of turbulence over the last year. Now, less than two weeks from the lead-off Iowa caucuses, Warrens vaunted political machinery is under pressure to prove it can help engineer an Iowa comeback  especially with the candidate stuck in Washington for the Senates impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. Capitalizing on thousands of one-on-one conversations and relationships with undecided and persuadable caucus-goers  accounting for about 60 percent of the states electorate in the latest Des Moines Register/CNN poll  will be vital in determining an outcome that most Iowa Democrats anticipate will be razor close. And no major candidate has been doing it longer  or is more dependent on it  than Warren. The biggest advantage I think they have is familiarity, because theyve been here the longest, said Peter Leo, the Carroll County Democratic Party chairman who has endorsed Warren. Theyve just built a lot of goodwill with people. The Warren staffer is always around. Whenever we have an event or a county party meeting, hes there, Leo added, referring to the Warren campaigns local county staffer. Whenever I need to talk to him, hes in the office. Hes just ubiquitous.'  Dash of cold water for premature Sanders triumphalism. UPDATE Warren (D)(3): Elizabeth Warren Promises Half Her Cabinet Will Be Women [HuffPo]. Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Tuesday promised to appoint women or nonbinary people to at least half of the top positions in the executive branch if she wins the presidency. The pledge comes as Warren, one of the three leading 2020 Democratic candidates in national polling, is seeking to consolidate and rally female voters ahead of crucial early primaries in Iowa and New Hampshire.  So Warren pivots to identity politics  building on her smear of Bernie as sexist. I dont see how this brings in new voters. UPDATE Warren (D)(4): The Elizabeth Warren News Cycle Has Pushed Bernie Sanders Supporters Even Closer To His Campaign [Buzzfeed].  Thats obvious. The real issue is whether Warren managed to place a ceiling on Sanders support. My guess: PMC women, possibly. Working class women: Absolutely not. * * * UPDATE Bloomberg/Steyer 2020! Source: https://t.co/lrnlKOTz2g pic.twitter.com/j3pXbMLPjA  Robert Reich (@RBReich) January 22, 2020 NV: Amid hacking fears, Nevada Democrats to use app for caucus results [Reno Gazette-Journal]. Nevada is one of two early caucus states to use new mobile apps to report caucus results amid heightened worries about election hacking. The Silver State will be joining Iowa in using mobile apps to gather results from thousands of caucus sites. The decision to use the apps was made to increase transparency and help run the caucuses more smoothly, said Shelby Wiltz, director of the Nevada State Democratic Party Caucus, on Monday.  Lol. More: Party officials said that they worked closely with the Democratic National Committee and security experts while picking and vetting the app vendor that was chosen.  Thats re-assuring! More: The party is moving ahead with the technology amid warnings that foreign hackers could target the 2020 presidential campaign to try to sow chaos and undermine American democracy.  FFS, its not foreign hackers we need to worry about! (See the introductory paragraph here.)

Impeachment

Adam Schiff: Because right matters. And the truth matters. Otherwise, we are lost.' [Press Watch].  Full text of Adam Schiffs closing remarks. Democrats launch last bid to break Trumps impeachment firewall [Politico]. Throughout their testimony, the impeachment managers emphasized holes in the full Ukraine story that could only be filled by specific documents that they know exist but that Trump has withheld from Congress. They include correspondence, like former U.S. envoy to Ukraine Bill Taylors cable to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo worrying about the hold on military aid. They also include the notes kept by Trumps former national security aide Fiona Hill and contacts between Trumps personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and senior members of the State Department and White House.  Three years of This time weve got him! and now, with these documents, This time well really get him! * * * Impeachment Super Bowl: Trump 2, Dems 0 [The American Conservative]. Embedded in this impeachment inquiry are hawkish assumptions about the absolute necessity of engaging in proxy wars with Russia far from the United States borders that I cannot endorse regardless of Moscows election interference and other misdeeds. The U.S. aids Ukraine and its people so they can fight Russia over there and we dont have to fight them here, insists Representative Adam Schiff, a California Democrat who is among the impeachment managers. This is a bad parody of neoconservatism circa 2003 Anti-Trump prosecutors also repeatedly make assertions that American foreign policy is set by unelected bureaucrats and professionals apart from the elected branches of government, including the president to whom they are constitutionally subordinate.  Its not possible to parody the neo-cons, of 2003 or any other time. Wierd to see the Democrats decided that Ukraine is the hill to die on, after three years of daily RussiaRussiaRussia. Take her out: Recording appears to capture Trump at private dinner saying he wants Ukraine ambassador fired [ABC].  I know this is dumb, but was a point when I gave up on Benghazi because there were too many names and not enough narrative. I think, with Marie Yovanovitch, weve reached that point with impeachment, or whatever this is. If were not going to die on the Ukraine hill, were going to die on the Presidents cant fire ambassadors hill? OK, OK, show me your yarn diagram.

Realignment and Legitimacy

How a stronger anti-war movement rallied to stop a march to war with Iran [Politico]. As headlines began flashing earlier this month that the United States had killed a top Iranian general, the leaders of a new think tank [Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft] quickly realized that this was their moment. Funded in part by the unusual pairing of liberal financier George Soros and conservative tycoon Charles Koch, the institute is inspired by the famous quote from John Quincy Adams  that America goes not abroad in search of monsters to destroy  and it seeks to inject that point of view directly into the bloodstream of media outlets that more often privilege the voices of a narrow set of Washington hawks.  Strange that Politico leads with that, though it does go on to mention other NGOs like MoveOn and Win Without War. Inside the secret Twitter rooms where Debra Messing, Don Cheadle, and the rest of the celebrity #Resistance organizes [Vox].  Progessive influencers

Stats Watch

Manufacturing: Coronavirus fears hit world markets  as face mask makers see windfall [Sky News]. China Eastern Airlines lost 2.9% but Shanghai Dragon Medical, which makes medical disposable and healthcare products, and Tianjin Teda, a conglomerate whose products include medicines, were both up by 10%.

* * *

Todays Fear & Greed Index: 64 Greed (previous close: 68 Greed) [CNN]. One week ago: 89 (Extreme Greed). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Jan 24 at 12:39pm. Big swing down!

The Biosphere

DNA from child burials reveals profoundly different human landscape in ancient Africa [Los Angeles Times]. Central Africa is too hot and humid for ancient DNA to surviveor so researchers thought. But now the bones of four children buried thousands of years ago in a rock shelter in the grasslands of Cameroon have yielded enough DNA for scientists to analyze. Its the first ancient DNA from humans in the region. The discovery underscores the diversity of African groups that inhabited the continent before the Bantus began to herd livestock in the grassy highlands of western Central Africa. The Bantus made pottery and forged iron, and their burgeoning populations rapidly displaced hunter-gatherers across Africa. Analyzing DNA from a time before this expansion offers a glimpse of a human landscape that is profoundly different than today, [population geneticist David Reich of Harvard University] says.

Theres been a huge spike in one of the worlds most potent greenhouse gases [MIT Technology]. Levels of a gas that is 12,400 more damaging than carbon dioxide in terms of its planet-heating properties are higher than ever. HFC-23 was believed to have been almost completely eliminated after India and China reported they had reduced emissions to almost zero in 2017. In fact, a year later emissions were at an all-time high of 15,900 tons, equivalent to the annual CO2 output from about 50 coal-fired power plants, according to a paper published today in Nature Communications. Where is it from? HFC-23 is used to manufacture fridges and air conditioners, and is vented to the atmosphere during the production of HCFC-22, another chemical used in cooling systems in developing countries. Researchers at the University of Bristol used gas detection data from five Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment (AGAGE) stations, captured between 2007 and 2018. The researchers didnt attempt to identify the source of the emissions, but the Environmental Investigation Agency, an NGO that monitors environmental crimes, said China is likely to have played a major role since it holds 68% of the capacity for the production of HCFC-22.

The Carceral State

Another inmate found dead inside understaffed Mississippi prison [CBS News]. An inmate was found hanging inside his cell in an apparent suicide at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman on Wednesday, authorities said. This is the eighth death at the troubled facility following a wave of violence last month.. The apparent suicide comes a day after two other inmates were found beaten to death inside their cells at Parchman. They were identified as Timothy Hudspeth and James Talley. A total of 10 inmates have died in state prisons since December.  Yikes.

Guillotine Watch

Globalists Gone Wild [Politico]. The Davos-Alfalfa pairing serves as a kind of unofficial launch of what is now a yearlong season of corporate and political networking among a certain set of the worlds most influential people. Davos is by far the largest and most celebrated of these conclaves. But there are others that are more intimate and more exclusive. It is an odd choice in a way. After a week of nonstop panels and interviews and receptions and handshakes and air kisses, days and nights that blur into one with typically too much drink and too little sleep, you would think even titans of technology, finance, and politics might want to throw on sweatpants and flop on the couch at home with a cup of herbal tea. And perhaps these modern moguls do want that. But there is something they plainly want more: confidence that if other important people are gathering somewhere they will not be left out and missing potentially valuable action.

Class Warfare

Martha Nussbaum Thinks the So-Called Retreat of Liberalism Is an Academic Fad [LiveScience]. Evolution and natural selection take place at the level of DNA, as genes mutate and genetic traits either stick around or are lost over time. But now, scientists think evolution may take place on a whole other scale  passed down not through genes, but through molecules stuck to their surfaces. These molecules, known as methyl groups, alter the structure of DNA and can turn genes on and off. The alterations are known as epigenetic modifications, meaning they appear above or on top of the genome. Many organisms, including humans, have DNA dotted with methyl groups, but creatures like fruit flies and roundworms lost the required genes to do so over evolutionary time.  Paging Lamarck.

How Women Are Training to Do Their Own Abortions [Vice]. Shortly after Donald Trump won the presidency in 2016, the reproductive justice group Reproaction decided to start hosting gatherings to teach people about self-managed abortion. So far, Reproaction has hosted 21 meetings across Arkansas, Missouri, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.  including the one in Columbia  where activists tell attendees about a regimen recommended by the World Health Organization. That protocol details how a drug called misoprostol can induce an at-home abortion, right down to the number of doses you would need to take and when.

Its been 3 months since the New Orleans Hard Rock Hotel collapse. The bodies of those killed are still there [CNN]. Its been more than three months since the Hard Rock Hotel construction site collapsed in New Orleans. The crumbled building sticks out as an eyesore on the edge of the citys historic French Quarter as Mardi Gras celebrations approach. But whats even more horrific is that the bodies of two workers killed in the collapse have still not been recovered. The victims are 63-year-old Jose Ponce Arreola and 36-year-old Quinnyon Wimberly.

News of the Wired

In Agency, William Gibson Builds A Bomb That Doesnt Boom (And Thats OK) [NPR]. His conflicts are intellectual, occasionally solved by the swift application of overwhelming violence, but more often seeing victory come as the natural result of more intelligent systems processes; through more effective usage of human capital and resources. And the good guys win simply because they are smarter and geekier and just so much cooler than the bad guys could ever hope to be.  Theres that word: Smart. Ill have a review the next time Im posting long-form.

Struggling to be a Stoic Problem Solver? [Medium]. Building on the Socratic questioning techniques, theres one interesting piece of research that might help give us insight. Igor Grossmann, of the University of Waterloo, carried out experiments about problem-solving. The name of the study was Exploring Solomons Paradox. For those that dont know: King Solomon is the biblical figure known to give wise counsel. But, apparently, his own life was a bit of a shambles! What he could dish out to others, he seemed unable to apply to his own life. Taking that as context, Grossmann formed the hypothesis for his experiment. Grossmann wanted to test if people were wiser when they solved other peoples dilemmas rather than their own. He also checked to see whether viewing our problems, as if we were looking down on ourselves in the third person, would give better answers  rather than trying to solve it from an ego-centric perspective. He found this was indeed the case. [P]sychological distancing can lead us to make better decisions and solve issues more quickly and wisely.

* * *

Readers, feel free to contact me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, with (a) links, and even better (b) sources I should curate regularly, (c) how to send me a check if you are allergic to PayPal, and (d) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi and coral are deemed to be honorary plants! If you want your handle to appear as a credit, please place it at the start of your mail in parentheses: (thus). Otherwise, I will anonymize by using your initials. See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) here. Todays plant (BR):

BR writes: This tree is in our backyard in Reno, and is always beautiful in the fall but the colors this year are especially vivid. Unfortunately, I dont know the name of the tree. A little break from the January monochrome.

* * *

Readers: Water Cooler is a standalone entity not covered by the annual NC fundraiser. So if you see a link you especially like, or an item you wouldnt see anywhere else, please do not hesitate to express your appreciation in tangible form. Remember, a tip jar is for tipping! Regular positive feedback both makes me feel good and lets me know Im on the right track with coverage. When I get no donations for five or ten days I get worried. More tangibly, a constant trickle of donations helps me with expenses, and I factor in that trickle when setting fundraising goals:









Here is the screen that will appear, which I have helpfully annotated.

If you hate PayPal, you can email me at lambert [UNDERSCORE] strether [DOT] corrente [AT] yahoo [DOT] com, and I will give you directions on how to send a check. Thank you!
Six people in two Australian states are being tested for the deadly new coronavirus spreading from China as the global death toll rose to 26 with 844 confirmed cases.

A NSW Health spokesperson said four people were being tested at undisclosed hospital locations on Friday.

This marks a dramatic increase on Thursday when only one person was being tested.

In Queensland, two people have been quarantined and are undergoing tests today, while four others have been tested and cleared, Queenslands Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said on Friday.

The passengers from China Eastern flight MU749 were wearing masks as they made their way through Sydney Airport's arrivals hall on Thursday

The flight captain (left) and other flight staff (right) were seen walking through the arrivals hall in face masks after getting off a plane from Wuhan

Australia's chief medical officer Brendan Murphy said on Friday that of the 844 confirmed cases, 14 were found outside of China.

In Australia, several patients were being tested for the virus every day, Professor Murphy said.

'Should we get a positive case in Australia, we are extremely well-prepared to isolate and manage them,' he said.

Laboratories are now able to get a test result good enough to act on within a day.

State and territory health authorities are tasked with investigating anyone suspected of having the Wuhan coronavirus, and each state has an isolation facility.

The first cases of the deadly virus were reported in Wuhan, China, on December 31 last year where the it is believed to have originated in snakes.

In under a month it has killed 26 people, infected 844 and spread to at least eight countries: Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and the United States.

Of the 26 people who died, 24 were in Wuhan, China, where the outbreak started.

China has now expanded its quarantine lockdown beyond Wuhan to neighbouring Huanggang city and cities in Hubei province which borders Beijing.

There are risks that people not yet showing symptoms may enter Australia from other locations or may already be here.

WHAT CAN YOU DO? The WHO recommends a combination of hand and respiratory hygiene: - Frequent hand-washing with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser - Cover your mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing with a flexed elbow or tissue (not your hands) - Avoid close contact with anyone who has a fever and cough - If you have a fever or cough, or difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and tell the doctor of your travel history. Wear a face mask to avoid spreading infected droplets when you cough and sneeze - If you visit a live market in a place where people have had the Wuhan coronavirus, avoid contact with animals or surfaces they've touched - Avoid eating raw or undercooked animal products Source: World Health Organisation website Advertisement

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said there may be more cases to investigate, as the global death toll from the disease hits 18, and China puts cities neighbouring Wuhan - the epicentre of the virus - in quarantine.

'We are able to rapidly undertake testing of cases that come to our attention and either exclude or confirm those cases in a very short time frame,' Dr Chant said on Thursday.

Experts fear the new Wuhan coronavirus, officially known as 2019-nCoV, may already be in Australia even though no-one in the country has been officially diagnosed.

In an interview with Daily Mail Australia on Thursday morning, Dr Raina McIntyre, professor of global biosecurity at UNSW, said: 'It is possible that someone who is incubating the infection but is not yet ill is in the country.

'People can be incubating the disease and not have fever when they enter the country.'

It comes after hundreds of passengers today arrived in Australia from the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the new deadly virus which is spreading around the world.

Passengers from China Eastern flight MU749 were wearing masks as they made their way through Sydney Airport's arrivals hall just before midday on Thursday after a 10-hour night flight on an A332 plane that can hold 234 people.

Passengers from the final flight from Wuhan - the epicentre of the coronavirus - are seen walking through arrivals at Sydney Airport on Thursday

The passengers were screened in China before they boarded and, when their aircraft landed, they were asked by the pilot to declare if they felt unwell. Pictured: Children at Sydney Airport wearing masks

The flight was one of the last to leave the city of 11 million before a quarantine was put in place and all outbound trains and planes were cancelled.

The passengers were screened in China before they boarded and, when their aircraft landed, they were asked by the pilot to declare if they felt unwell.

NSW Health had a team of four nurses and doctors, who wore masks but not full HAZMAT suits, at the airport to interview passengers and ask them if they had any cold-like symptoms before they went through customs.

The flight's cabin crew are pictured walking into arrivals wearing gloves. Workers at the Sydney Airport information desk said they had been told by their bosses not to speak to the media under any circumstances

This is the leaflet that passengers were given when they landed in Australia after flying from the Chinese city of Wuhan

NSW Health had a team of four nurses and doctors, who wore masks but not full HAZMAT suits, at the airport to interview anyone who had cold-like symptoms before they went through customs. Pictured: Children at Sydney Airport wearing masks

The passengers were also screened by thermal imaging to check their temperatures - and given leaflets in English and Mandarin telling them to see a doctor if they suffered sweats, breathing difficulties or chills.

A plan was in place to take any passenger suspected of being infected to Westmead Hospital - but nobody was found to be sick.

The new coronavirus was discovered in Wuhan last month. It is believed to have spread from animals in the city's market and has already killed 26 people and spread to eight countries.

Doctors on Wednesday said the number of cases around the world may be as high as 10,000.

Wuhan Huanan Seafood Market (above) is thought to be where the virus originated from but investigations are ongoing

Medical personnel at Rome's Fiumicino airport prepare to check passengers arriving from Wuhan on Thursday

A policeman checks his watch in Hong Kong on Thursday. Fears have been heightened due to Chinese New Year

Hong Kong: people travel with surgical masks for fear of the Wuhan coronavirus on Thursday
Pamela Anderson has shared her first photo with movie mogul Jon Peters since they wed secretly earlier this week.

The blonde beauty is beaming as she touched heads with the 74-year-old former Hollywood heavyweight, who kept his sunglasses on and failed to smile.

The two have a long history as they dated 30 years ago and he even proposed to the Baywatch actress at the time but she turned him down.

Newlywed vibes: Pamela Anderson took to Twitter to share the first photo of herself and producer Jon Peters as husband and wife, following their secret Malibu wedding

The 52-year-old captioned the candid black-and-white photo with a heart emoji: 'Happy Couple.'

She also posted a photo from 1989, the first time they dated, which she adorably captioned: '#Pamela Peters.'

Back when Hugh Hefner died in 2017, Peters recalled the first time he met Anderson at the Playboy Mansion.

He told The Hollywood Reporter: 'I walked in and saw this little angel sitting at the bar. It was Pammy. She was like 19. I knew she would be a big star.

Long time coming: She also posted a photo from 1989, the first time they dated, which she adorably captioned: '#Pamela Peters'

'We ended up living together. Of course, Hefner loved her and saw her beauty. Pamela was a girl who with no makeup was gorgeous. She was very smart and very talented.'

He added: 'I tried to talk her out of doing Playboy. I said, Dont do Playboy. Focus on a serious career. She said, Youre nuts. She wanted to do Playboy, and she went on to do 13 covers.'

Although Anderson originally turned down his proposal, he recalled to THR telling her: 'In 30 years, our age difference wont mean so much.'

This marks Anderson's fifth marriage, notably marrying Tommy Lee from 1995 to 1998, Kid Rock from 2006 to 2007 and Rick Salomon from 2007 to 2008, before getting hitched again from 2014 to 2015.

Peters has also had a colorful love life, which includes a 12-year relationship with Barbra Streisand, beginning when he did hair for her 1974 film For Pete's Sake.

He's also been married four other times, including to actress Lesley Ann Warren from 1967 to 1977.

First marriage: This marks Anderson's fifth marriage, notably marrying Tommy Lee from 1995 to 1998

Husbands past: She also married Kid Rock from 2006 to 2007 and Rick Salomon from 2007 to 2008, before getting hitched again from 2014 to 2015

Flashback Friday: Peters has also had a colorful love life, which includes a 12-year relationship with Barbra Streisand, beginning when he did hair for her 1974 film For Pete's Sake

The A Star Is Born producer has also been accused of sexual harassment at least five times, losing one case in 2011, in which he was forced to pay $3million.

But Peters appears to have earned the approval of Anderson's son Brandon Lee, who recently made his reality TV debut The Hills: New Beginnings.

The 23-year-old told Fox News: 'Im incredibly happy for my mom and Jon. Theyve known each other for over 35 years and I wish them luck in this next chapter of their lives together.'

In addition to Brandon, Anderson and Tommy Lee, 57, also share 22-year-old son Dylan.

The former Motley Crue rocker also offered his best wishes for his ex-wife and her new husband.

A source told HollywoodLife: 'Tommy is happy for Pam even if they have their differences from time to time.

'Tommy has been able to move on with his love life so he feels that Pam should have that same opportunity and he hopes that she is happy and has got exactly the life she wants.'

Mama's boys: But Peters appears to have earned the approval of Anderson's son Brandon Lee: 'Im incredibly happy for my mom and Jon'
Equinor's Johan Sverdrup oil field in the North Sea west of Stavanger, Norway, on January 7, 2020.

The European Union has awarded 10 million euros ($11.05 million) in funding to a scheme that is aiming to install an ammonia-powered fuel cell on a ship.

The beneficiary of the money, the ShipFC project, is a consortium of 14 firms and institutions co-ordinated by NCE Maritime CleanTech.

The project will involve the modification of Eidesvik Offshore's "Viking Energy" ship. The vessel has been used by Norwegian energy major Equinor for 17 years.

"Together with Equinor, we are now launching a full-scale research project to test a propulsion solution based on fuel cells running on pure and emission-free ammonia," Jan Fredrik Meling, who is the CEO of Eidesvik Offshore, said Thursday.

"The goal is to install fuel cell modules with a total power of 2 MW (megawatts) on board Viking Energy in 2024," he added. "This will make the vessel the world's first emission-free supply vessel."

In its own statement, Equinor explained that the vessel would take supplies to installations located on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

Vermund Hjelland, vice president of technology and development at Eidesvik Offshore, said part of the testing would see the Viking Energy use ammonia "in transit between harbour and offshore installations for one year."

The firm, Hjelland explained, envisaged ammonia also being used to power the ship when alongside the quay.

"Our ambition is that 60 to 70 percent of the energy consumption will come from ammonia during the test period," he said. "In addition, we want to demonstrate that the technology can supply up to 90 per cent of the total power demand."

Cecilie Ronning, who is senior vice president for Equinor's joint operations support, said the company was aiming to reduce emissions in its supply chain "and regards the use of ammonia as a promising solution."
ROANOKE ISLAND, N.C. - Rapidly dipping temperatures in North Carolinas Outer Banks cold stunned at least 120 sea turtles this week, causing them to float to the surface of the chilly waters and wash ashore in critical condition.

On Tuesday, 95 sea turtles were brought to the Sea Turtle Assistance and Rehabilitation Center at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island, The Virginian-Pilot reported. Approximately 25 more came in on Wednesday. Experts think that when the temperature suddenly drops below 55 degrees, the cold-blooded creatures can become temporarily immobile and even contract pneumonia, said Karen Clark, director of the Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education.

This week, the water temperatures hovered around 55 degrees before dropping to 40, said William Thompson, lead biological technician on Hatteras Island for the National Park Service. The sudden cooling caused the reptiles to become deathly ill, preventing them from being able to eat or swim, according to Clark.

Teams will feed and treat the turtles while they recover in water tanks before returning them to the sea, the newspaper said.

In December, volunteers and park staff found more than 100 stunned sea turtles following a three-day cold snap, Clark said. The incidents over the last two months nearly match an occurrence in January 2016, when more than 300 sea turtles floated ashore, the newspaper reported.
Centrist parties appear likely to predominate, but the outcome is difficult to predict. Peruvians tend to decide their vote at the last minute, and the countrys electoral list system redistributes ballots from parties that receive less than 5 percent of the vote to larger parties. (That controversial system could itself be overhauled by a new legislature.)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Dozens of government computers sit in a nondescript building here, able to connect to a data model that could help farmers manage the impact of a changing climate on their crops.

But no one in this federal agency would know how to access the model, or, if they did, what to do with the data.

That's because the ambitious federal researcher who created it in Washington quit rather than move when the Agriculture Department relocated his agency to an office park here last fall.

He is one of hundreds of scientists across the federal government who have been forced out, sidelined or muted since President Donald Trump took office.

The exodus has been fueled broadly by administration policies that have diminished the role of science as well as more specific steps, such as the relocation of agencies away from the nation's capital.

While the administration has come under fire for prioritizing the concerns of industry at the expense of science in government decisions, the cumulative effects are just beginning to appear after three years of Trump in the White House.

Some farmers said the USDA staff upheaval has made it harder to access information they need.

Torrential rains last spring dashed the plans of Liz Brownlee, who runs a livestock farm with her husband, to expand her pasture in Crothersville, Indiana. Then an unseasonably dry autumn brought 90-degree days that baked the farmers' seeds.

"With all this uncertainty from climate change, I need the best data possible" to know when to plant, she said. "I'm worried I'm not going to have it."

In the first two years of the Trump administration, more than 1,600 federal scientists left government, according to Office of Personnel Management employment data analyzed by The Washington Post. That represents a 1.5% drop, compared with the 8% increase during the same period in the Obama administration.

One-fifth of the high-level appointee positions in science are vacant - normally filled by experts who shape policy and ensure research integrity.

Of those who departed, the numbers were greatest among social scientists, soil conservationists, hydrologists and experts in the physical sciences - chemistry, geology, astronomy and physics.

At the Environmental Protection Agency, nearly 700 scientists have left in the past three years, according to The Post analysis. The EPA has hired 350 replacements.

Linda Birnbaum, who spent four decades working on toxicology and public health issues at the EPA and National Institutes of Health before retiring in October, said the loss of expertise weakens the government's ability to make sound decisions.

"It's going to take a long time for government science to come back. There's little doubt about that," said Birnbaum, who serves as an adjunct professor at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She added that NIH has remained well-insulated because it enjoys bipartisan support in Congress.

"But when I look at colleagues in other agencies, especially any agency that has any regulatory role, they're decimated," she said.

Trump administration officials dismiss that notion, saying much of the criticism comes from activists outside the federal government.

Interior Secretary David Bernhardt points out that he is the first secretary to enlist a career federal scientist to serve as his scientific adviser.

"I've got an ideas box, I haven't seen that," he said in an interview, referring to complaints that science has been de-emphasized. "I do hear that from advocates and external parties. And, you know, anybody that looks at these things objectively tends to find that they're without merit."

Last year, the environmental group Center for Biological Diversity accused Bernhardt of pushing aside the conclusions reached by career scientists at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding how a pesticide affected endangered species. Eight Democratic senators sought an investigation. Interior's inspector general concluded there was "no evidence" Bernhardt abused his position.

As a presidential candidate, Donald Trump called climate change a "hoax." Once in office, he began dismantling much of President Barack Obama's climate plan. He has installed industry figures in regulatory roles and rolled back scores of rules and policies that he considers harmful to the fossil-fuel industry. Trump's actions spurred scientists into the streets, joining protesters for a March for Science rally on the Mall in 2017 and again in 2018.

Many scientists who work for the U.S. government or rely on its funding say the changes brought by the Trump administration are being felt across the country.

After historic rainfall last spring swept away livestock and grain in the Midwest, crop planting was delayed by weeks. Andrew Crane-Droesch, 38, a researcher at the Agriculture Department's Economic Research Service, started work on a data tool that could predict months in advance the impact of, say, heavy rainfall on crop prices or planted fields. He hoped that knowledge could help farmers, commodity traders and government disaster planners prepare.

But when Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue moved forward with his controversial plan to relocate the Economic Research Service and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture - two key research agencies - to Kansas City, Crane-Droesch headed for the exit.

He joined two-thirds of affected employees in his division who either retired or found other jobs rather than move to the greater Kansas City region. At the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, which oversees $1.7 billion in scientific funding for researchers, nearly 8 of every 10 employees have left.

Crane-Droesch, who took a health-research job in Philadelphia, said there's no one left at the USDA who has the time or the know-how to run the model he created or to finish the project.

"All that work was for naught, and they nuked the account," he said. "Even if they hired somebody for my portfolio - which I don't think they did - it would take that person quite a while to get up to speed, just as it took me several years."

The move to Kansas City has also meant dozens of reports and millions in research funding have been delayed or scuttled as the Agriculture Department scrambled to keep up with departures.

The agency has been forced to hire back 21 retired employees on temporary contracts, to stanch its losses.

But experts on bee pollination, organic farming, commodity markets and trade are gone, setting back research that has been in process for months or even years.

"They never tried to refute our work; they tried to bury it by getting rid of the people who produced the work," Crane-Droesch said.

To restore the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Economic Research Service to their size under the Obama administration, the USDA would have to hire more than 400 people. One USDA official said the department has "well over 150 active recruitments in process between both agencies."

Current and former employees interviewed said they felt the move to Kansas City was intended to diminish research areas such as trade policy, farm income and climate change; Perdue is a climate skeptic who recently described the problem as "weather patterns, frankly."

A USDA spokesman defended the move, saying that Perdue believes the agencies can better serve "customers" - farmers, ranchers, academic institutions and agribusiness - by relocating to Kansas City, "a hub for all things agriculture in America's heartland."

The department estimates it will save $300 million over 15 years from employment and rent in Kansas City.

Some federal researchers said they left the Trump administration after concluding their work was being undermined.

Dan Costa, who worked at the EPA for 34 years before stepping down as director of its air, climate and energy research program in January 2018, said the tipping point for his retirement came when an EPA spokesman undercut a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine that the agency had funded.

The study found that long-term exposure to levels of soot and smog lower than current national standards can cause premature death among older Americans. Such a finding suggests that current standards don't adequately protect public health, which would have implications for industries that pollute. An unidentified EPA spokesman attacked the study in an interview with the Washington Times, an act Costa called "scientifically unethical."

Peter Van Doren, a senior fellow at the libertarian Cato Insitute, said in an interview that scientists need to remember that they don't set policy.

"When nerds and politicians disagree, nerds lose," he said. "Scientists think, 'We are smart, and we ought to decide.' But we don't get to decide."

Elsewhere in the government, political appointees have delayed grants for scientific work.

At Interior's U.S. Geological Survey, Director James Reilly "felt that he needed to personally look at every grant that went out," according to Bernhardt's science adviser William Werkheiser, who served as Reilly's deputy before joining the secretary's office. The process stalled grants at the agency's climate adaptation science centers for more than six months.

The centers fund university research to help wildlife, lands and people adjust to a changing climate.

Robin O'Malley, who retired last month as director of one climate adaptation center, said in an interview that the slowdown in hiring and grant approvals has hampered the centers.

"They haven't said no to us at any time, they've just made it difficult to move forward," he said. "You're up a creek."

Across the government, the administration is scaling back advisory committees that offer input to policymakers from scientists and other experts. Last year, Trump required agencies to eliminate one-third of their advisory panels, with a few exceptions.

Will McClintock, a marine scientist who has helped dozens of countries establish marine sanctuaries, used to serve on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Marine Protected Areas federal advisory committee.

After seeing that people were mailing in hand-drawn maps to nominate reserves, McClintock created a Google Maps-like program called SeaSketch that allows fishermen, divers and conservationists to propose sanctuary zones alongside scientists and government officials.

"I'm bringing lots and lots of expertise, for free, to our federal government," said McClintock, a project scientist at the University of California at Santa Barbara who volunteered on the advisory panel. But before NOAA could adopt the software, his federal advisory committee was eliminated.

Some Republicans have supported the executive order to cut advisory committees. "Based on the characterization made by many of my colleagues and their friends in the media, you would think this order was a death blow to science at all the agencies," said Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler at a hearing in September. "In reality it just seems like a common sense, nonpartisan way to eliminate wasteful committees."

The Office of Management and Budget declined to estimate the cost savings from cutting the committees. "The administration is always looking for ways to end redundant and out of date programs - this is an open and closed case where taxpayer resources are better used elsewhere," the office said in a statement.

It is unclear whether the USDA relocation will ultimately save taxpayers $300 million over 15 years as promised. For now, employees transferred to Kansas City are working out of an existing USDA office until permanent space is leased.

Earlier this month, the boxy building about six miles outside the city's central business district had the feeling of the first day of school. New hires waited to sign in, get security badges and learn where to park.

"We lost a lot of people, and we're trying to rebuild," said Daniel Hellerstein, an economist who researches the economic impact of soil conservation. Hellerstein was one of the retiring employees who was temporarily hired back but remains in Washington. "It's going to be difficult because the slots we need are fairly skilled, and there's a lot of competition out there for qualified people."

Much of the impact of the federal government's shrinking science capacity will not be felt for years, observers said.

"If we're gone, is the world going to be a worse place?" he mused. "I like to think so. But it's not going to be immediate."
An Alberta association of landowners who have oil and gas sites on their properties has called on its members to cut off power to drilling sites of companies that have failed to pay their compensation to landowners or have failed to clean up their sites.

The Action Surface Rights Association, which groups around 200 landowners in southern Albertathe heart of Canadas energy industryis urging its members to respond to the industrys inadequate handling of reclaiming oil and gas wells and the unpaid compensation to the landowners, The Canadian Press reports.

Most of the oil and gas wells in Canada are drilled on private property, and while property owners cannot deny access to drillers, they are entitled to compensation.

In view of the struggles of Albertas oil industry in recent years, some companies have stopped paying compensation to the landowners. Now the association of property owners is fighting back.

Turn off the power and shut off the valves ... just like any landlord would change the locks for a tenant who does not pay, Daryl Bennett of the Action Surface Rights Association urged the landowners, The Canadian Press reports.

The landowners are also angry with the industrys track record of cleaning up well sites years and even decades after a company has stopped drilling at a site, Financial Post reported last month.

The Orphan Well Association (OWA), an industry-funded group that picks up the tab for decommissioning and cleaning up wells for companies that have gone bankrupt and cant sell their assets, is trying to prioritize those wells that are considered a hazard for the public and environment, the associations Lars DePauw told Financial Posts Geoffrey Morgan.

As of November 1, 2019, there were 3,406 orphan wells for abandonment in Alberta, according to OWA data.

Landowners fear that thousands more wells could add to the orphan well list in view of the not-so-rosy outlook on Canadas oil industry and that they may not get their compensations soon, if ever.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Boston, Massachusetts, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Help for suffering animals in Sudan is coming. A rescue team from FOUR PAWS  the global animal welfare organization  is on its way to the capital Khartoum, where big cats and other animals are on the brink of starvation at the Al Qurashi Family Park zoo.

The Sudanese authorities have granted the team, led by FOUR PAWS veterinarian Dr. Amir Khalil, permission to enter the country and provide the animals with urgently needed food and medical care. The FOUR PAWS team is expected to arrive at the zoo on Monday, January 27th. However, the emergency mission is a race against time: one of the original five lions has already died.

In the past few days photos of the emaciated lions circulated across the world and caused an international outcry. Due to a lack of financial resources, the starving animals could no longer be fed adequately.

We were shocked by the pictures of the gaunt lions. It was clear to us that we had to act quickly because the animals would not last much longer, remarked Dr. Amir Khalil. As soon as we are on site, we will provide the severely malnourished lions with proper food and medical care. The highest priority at the moment is to stabilize and improve the health condition of the animals, and determine long-term solutions for them.

It is not the first time FOUR PAWS has helped in a crisis.

In 2019, FOUR PAWS completed its largest rescue mission to date saving 47 animals from the Rafah Zoo in Gaza. In 2017, FOUR PAWS entered a conflict zone near Aleppo, Syria to rescue 13 animals from the Magic World Zoo near Aleppo, Syria. The team also saved the last two surviving bears and lions from a zoo in Mosul, Iraq in 2017 and evacuated zoos in the Gaza strip in 2016.

We go where no one else can go to save animal lives in dire need, remarked Danika Oriol- Morway, the new Country Director of FOUR PAWS USA based in Boston, MA. When animals are in crisis, FOUR PAWS is committed to being courageous, strategic, and to give it our all to help animals in need. It's important for us to be able to support animals and communities across the globe.

FOUR PAWS has been helping animals in need for over 30 years. With its international headquarters based in Vienna, Austria and its national headquarters based in Boston, MA, FOUR PAWS aims to provide intervention, awareness, and life- long species appropriate care for animals.

Photo copyright  FOUR PAWS | Osman Salih

For questions, interviews, or comments, please contact Jen Wessel at jennifer.wessel@four-paws.org or by phone at 908-420-6374.

Attachments
The Warren Historical Society will hold a program on one-room schooling and Warrens Brick School Feb. 9 at 2 p.m.

The program will be offered in the lower level meeting room of Warren Town Hall.

The Brick School was Connecticuts longest-operating one-room schoolhouse, from the late 18th century until the 1920s.

The Warren Historical Society, in partnership with the Town of Warren, will be working to restore and preserve the Brick School; those plans will be part of the presentation.
The World Health Organisation has not been seen to respond as quickly, with its members in deadlock over declaring it an emergency of international concern.

The medical and pharmaceutical world knows so little yet about the novel coronavirus as to render the chances of containing the epidemic slim. As hospitals in its central Hubei Province are overrun with residents displaying symptoms, China has taken extraordinarily stringent measures like shutting down 13 cities, including the epicentre Wuhan with 11 million residents and cancelling New Year celebrations over the weekend in Beijing too and closing the Great Wall to tourists.

Very few countries in the world can even contemplate such restrictions affecting close to 40 million people, virtually imprisoning them in indefinite lockdowns while also having begun construction of a 1,000-bed hospital expected to be completed in six days in Wuhan. The media has been given latitude to bring out the seriousness of the situation while those who have travelled to Wuhan recently told to isolate themselves at home regardless of whether they have any symptoms.

The World Health Organisation has not been seen to respond as quickly, with its members in deadlock over declaring it an emergency of international concern. The situation  at least 26 dead and 800 people infected as on Friday  may not seem as serious as it was in the 2002 SARS virus pandemic that killed 813 people out of 8,000 infected, reaching 30 countries. Even so, there are six times as many people travelling in and from China than a decade ago and the chances of a graver global emergency emerging are not to be ruled out yet, especially within China, where the New Year is the time of mass travel.

There has been no confirmation of an Indian being infected so far with the virus, but two persons are in an isolation ward in Mumbai. The country has set in motion regular airport screening and other measures that are expensive and resource heavy in terms of personnel. However, as the world knows only too well, prevention is better than cure and precautions are a must. Incidentally, it is said in this connection that washing of hands is more important than wearing the mask.

The helplessness against zoonotic viruses jumping species and then spreading from human to human was stressed in the global SARS pandemic of 2002 (from civet cats) and the MERS outbreak of 2012 (from camels, killing 858 people). The 2019-nCoV coronavirus, thought to be related to SARS, causes pneumonia like illness with cough and fever and those mildly ill may escape detection, perhaps making it harder to contain and nullifying efforts like airport checks. What precautionary measures can be taken in meat markets, especially where live mammals and birds are sold and food markets is something about which little thought has been lent.

Big pharma has often been accused of making a killing out of such outbreaks, feeding on the panic. Even so, the importance of finding quickly the antivirals as a counter cannot be overstressed. Preparing public health services to cope with these recurring epidemics may be challenging. Modern societies are, however, better equipped to do this and avert global catastrophes of the historic scale of the pandemic bubonic plague.
Amnesty International says female legislators received rape and death threats on Twitter as online abuse of women rises.

Nearly 100 Indian female politicians faced abuse, including rape and death threats, on social media during elections last year, with researchers raising concerns over rising online violence against women globally.

A study by Amnesty International India said 95 female politicians received nearly 1 million hateful mentions on Twitter between March and May, one in five of which was sexist or misogynistic. In all, there were 724 women candidates.

Digital rights experts said gender-based online violence was increasing which was intimidating women and deterring them from putting themselves forward for public office.

People should know what women in politics endure what they have to put up with and how unequal it becomes for them, said Shazia Ilmi, a member of Indias ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), in the report.

It was unclear if online abuse against female politicians was worsening or improving as the research was the first of its kind and scale in India, said an Amnesty spokesperson.

181007103211625

But Adrian Lovett, head of the World Wide Web Foundation, said gender-based online violence was on the rise globally in developed and developing countries.

He said this was exacerbating the digital divide between men and women which was getting worse as the number of people going online increased and more men than women logged on.

Gender-based online violence is increasing, Lovett told Reuters news agency at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos in the Swiss Alps.

It is not particular to one country or one region. It is a reality in developing countries and an increasing challenge in North America, Europe and across the world.

This is affecting political participation by women, especially young women being put off by the online harassment of women in public life.

Silencing voices

Amnesty declined to name the politicians in its study of India, where women hold 14 percent of seats in the lower house of parliament and 11 percent in the upper house, compared with the global average of 24.5 percent, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

Similar research conducted by Amnesty in the United Kingdom and the United States in 2018 studying 323 female politicians found that about 7 percent tweets mentioning them were hurtful or abusive.

Several female politicians in the UK chose not to stand again in the general election on December 12 last year, citing the level of online abuse they faced.

Two-thirds of female politicians told a survey by a British parliamentary committee last November that progress on tackling violence and online abuse against women in politics affected their willingness to stand for re-election.

Amnesty urged Twitter to step up its response to violations and bring in more policies to protect women.

Twitter said abuse and harassment had no place on its platform, adding 50 percent of hateful content was identified by technology and not reports from people with the company aware that abuse stifled peoples ability to speak freely.

We will never be done with our efforts to address abuse motivated by hatred, prejudice or intolerance  particularly abuse that seeks to silence the voices of those who have been historically marginalised, such as women, a spokesperson said.
Londons main transportation regulator has released a scathing document detailing why it moved to ban Uber Technologies Inc. from operating in the city. The regulator lists several safety concerns, including the charge that it didnt receive proper notification of alleged sexual assaults involving the platform.

The report comes just months after the regulator, Transport for London, revoked Ubers license to operate in the city for the second time in less than three years. Uber is currently doing business in London under a temporary license, and fighting for the ability to continue operating in one of the worlds biggest hubs.

Sent to Uber in late November but only released this week, the regulators 62-page document focuses on charges that Uber failed to adequately verify drivers identities and safeguard the service for passengers. It also says the company blamed system or human error for its failing to promptly notify Transport for London about seven incidents that led the company to suspend a driver. A number of these related to allegations of rape and sexual assault, the report said.

In November, We found Uber not fit and proper to hold a new private hire operators license, said Helen Chapman, the regulators licensing director, noting that the company had submitted an appeal.

Uber declined a request for comment.

Transport for London, TfL, has previously said that at least 14,000 Uber trips involved drivers who werent who they said they were, thanks to the companys fallible license-verification process. One driver found exploiting Ubers app had already had a private hire license revoked by the regulator after it discovered the person had received a caution for distributing indecent images of children, it said.

In the report, the U.K. regulator also attacked Ubers system for monitoring drivers insurance status, stating that the ride-hailing company had failed to stop uninsured drivers from working on the app.

The regulator said that some drivers were able to hack Ubers platform by manipulating their GPS settings when uploading photos, a tactic that allowed them to change photos or put their photo on another drivers account. Drivers are banned from doing so in the U.K. Five of these drivers had already been dismissed by Uber, the report said.

The regulator also flagged a software patch used by Uber drivers to allow them to see passenger destinations, mainly a strategy used by drivers at airports. The issue was brought to TfLs attention by an unnamed third party.

The ability for drivers to see passenger destinations in advance of accepting a trip is significant because it means drivers can reject shorter, less pricey trips in favor of more profitable long hauls. Drivers worldwide have long requested the feature, with Uber making it available just this month to California drivers as a way to strengthen its case that its drivers are free agents and should not be governed by a new state law seeking to reclassify them as employees.

Uber is currently preparing an appeal to TfLs decision to revoke its license, a process that could take years, and during which time the company will be allowed to continue operating in the city. Meanwhile, Uber is still flagging potential issues to TfL. In November, the company told the regulator about an online scam targeting drivers to create fake trips for charging passengers.

With assistance from Nate Lanxon.

Photograph: A logo for Uber is seen on a smartphone in front of a taxi rank at Waterloo train station in London on Dec. 22, 2017. Photo taken by Chris J Ratcliffe / Bloomberg.

Related:

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Abuse Molestation Personal Auto London Sharing Economy Ridesharing
Prosecutors said Petersen posed as a delivery driver for Amazon on Dec. 29, shortly after 8 p.m. Once the victim opened the door, he pushed his way into her apartment. After he commented on how heavy the package was, the victim instructed him where he should place it. After he set the package down, he began to make advances toward the victim, but when she told him to leave, he grabbed her buttocks and breast, and pushed her into a wall, prosecutors said.
Downing Street has rejected a big business demand to allow low-skilled migration from the EU to continue after Brexit, telling companies to focus on training UK workers instead.

A raft of business groups signed a letter sent to Home Secretary Priti Patel spelling out what they want the UK's new immigration system to include.

One of the key asks is for the government to extend a 'temporary visa route' from one to two years to allow unsponsored migrant workers from the bloc to continue to come to Britain.

The business groups argued extending the route and making it open to all sectors of the economy would 'help companies plug vital skills and labour gaps'.

But a Number 10 source rejected the demand and said UK companies should focus on 'levelling up the existing workforce'.

The source said: 'Our new immigration system will be open to top talent from across the world, but business lobby groups should stop lobbying for unlimited labour from the EU and instead focus on investing and levelling up the existing workforce.'

Boris Johnson has vowed to end free movement from the EU after the Brexit transition period ends in January 2021

As well as calling for low-skilled EU migrants to continue to be allowed into the UK after Brexit, the business groups also urged the government to make sure the new border control system has 'flexibility' built into it to protect against skills shortages.

Signatories to the letter included the CBI, British Chambers of Commerce, Institute of Directors, Federation of Small Businesses and MakeUK.

Mr Johnson has pledged to end EU free movement after the Brexit transition period, with the UK's new system due to be rolled out in full in January 2021.

The letter to Ms Patel came after she reportedly told Cabinet on Tuesday this week that social care workers and other low-skilled migrants in key sectors will not be exempt from tough post-Brexit immigration rules even if there are shortages.

The Home Secretary apparently set out that there will be no so-called 'carve outs' under Mr Johnson's Australian-style points-based immigration system as the government tries to simplify British border control.

Migrants who want to work in occupations in which the UK has a shortage could be awarded more points under the new regime to boost their chances of being allowed in.

But with no 'carve outs' there would effectively be no guarantees that such workers would be able to come and work in the UK in a development likely to spark business concern.

A Cabinet source told The Times that the aim was to make the new system much clearer than the current one.

Priti Patel, the Home Secretary pictured in Downing Street on Tuesday, has told ministers the new immigration system will not have 'carve outs'

They said: 'The immigration rules have become a real spaghetti mess. Even the judges think that's the case.

'Priti was arguing that we need a much clearer rules-based system. She doesn't want a system with carve-outs all over the place.'

It came after it emerged that Mr Johnson is planning to scrap a minimum earnings threshold for migrants who want to move to the UK.

The PM is expected to ditch a proposal put forward by Theresa May's government which would have required people to earn at least 30,000 to come to Britain.

Instead, the new system is likely to take into account earnings but it will be just one of a myriad of factors considered.
Arabian Automobiles, the flagship company of the AW Rostamani Group and the exclusive dealer for Nissan in Dubai, Sharjah, and the Northern Emirates, is welcoming the new decade with incredible offers.

As a strategic partner of Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), which returns this year for a milestone 25th edition, Arabian Automobiles is giving away a Nissan car every day and offering a total cashback of Dhs5 million.

Michel Ayat, CEO of Arabian Automobiles, commented: It gives great pride to yet again associate with DSF and align with its mission to bring Dubai citizens, residents, and visitors together under a banner of exceptional services and offers. Our participation this year is a continuation of our long-term strategic partnership with DSF and a celebration of its 25th edition as the largest event of its kind in the region. We will continue to support DSFs drive, as we always have over the years since its inception, to position Dubai as the worlds premier tourism and shopping destination.

DSF presents one of the best times for car buyers looking to own a brand-new Nissan car as every purchased vehicle during the festival is eligible for a cashback reward. But thats not where the celebrations of the new year end: Every brand-new Nissan purchased during DSF will come bundled with a guaranteed cash reward and the chance to win another Nissan car every day.

Aligning with Arabian Automobiles customer-centric philosophy, these offers seek to celebrate the new year while providing instant gratification and value to customers during DSF and beyond. -- Tradearabia News Service
Canada China Huawei Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, who is out on bail and remains under partial house arrest after she was detained last year at the behest of American authorities, leaves B.C. Supreme Court following a case management hearing, Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press via AP)

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP)  Defense lawyers argue a senior executive of the Chinese tech giant Huawei should not be extradited to the U.S. because her actions would not be considered crimes under Canadian law.

The extradition hearing for Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou is scheduled to begin Monday. Meng, the daughter of the company's founder, faces charges of committing fraud to try and evade U.S. sanctions on Iran. Huawei is China's first global tech brand and Beijing views her case as a political move designed to prevent China's rise.

This is a case of U.S. sanctions enforcement masquerading as Canadian fraud, say defense documents released Friday.

Meng was arrested at the Vancouver airport in late 2018 at the request of the U.S. government. American prosecutors allege she made misrepresentations to foreign banks, including London-based HSBC, about Huaweis relationship with its Iran-based affiliate Skycom.

Last week, the Canadian Department of Justice released documents supporting its case the allegations against Meng meet the extradition test of double criminality meaning if they had occurred Canada, they would be criminal under Canadian law.

Defense lawyers dispute that claim, arguing its not illegal in Canada to do business with Iran.

Canada not only permits banks to do business with Iran-based entities, it encourages them to do to, the documents say.

The documents point out the prosecution has argued Mengs action have caused HSBC to be placed at risk of financial prejudice for offering banking service to Huawei and Skycom because of U.S. sanctions.

Simply put, a bank in Canada would not be concerned that Huaweis relationship with Skycom could trigger sanctions risk," the documents say.

Meng made a brief court appearance Friday where lawyers discussed additional court dates. The first stage of the extradition hearing dealing is expected to last five days.

Meng is free on bail of and is living in one of the two Vancouver mansions she owns.

Beijing detained former two Canadians, ex-diplomat Michael Kovrig and businessman Michael Spavor, in late 2018 in an apparent attempt to pressure Canada to release Meng. They have not had access to lawyers or their families.

Huawei is the biggest global supplier of network gear for phone and internet companies has become the target of U.S. security concerns because of its ties to the Chinese government.
Abuja, Nigeria (PANA)  Nigerias President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday met in Abuja with the visiting European Union (EU) Commissioner for Crisis Management, Mr Janez Lenarcic, pledging that though it might take a bit longer, the nation will surely put the issues associated with the Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists "troubles in the northeast in order and move ahead
A Somali mother and her two children walk to a refugee camp at Dadaab, Kenya. The camp is the biggest in the world and has seen an influx of 40,000 new refugees from Somalia since June, 2011.  UNHCR/Brendan Bannon

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, welcomes this weeks ruling of the UN Human Rights Committee in the case of Teitiota v. New Zealand.

While the claim to protection by Mr. Teitiota was denied on grounds that he was not at imminent risk, the committee nonetheless determined that people who flee the effects of climate change and natural disasters should not be returned to their country of origin if essential human rights would be at risk on return.

This is a landmark decision with potentially far-reaching implications for the international protection of displaced people in the context of climate change and disasters. It also underscores the importance of countries taking action to prevent or mitigate against harms associated with climate change, which in future could otherwise force people to leave, triggering international obligations.

The following is a more detailed UNHCR assessment of this ruling:

UNHCR has consistently stressed that people fleeing adverse effects of climate change and the impact of sudden and slow-onset disasters may have valid claims for refugee status under the 1951 Refugee Convention or regional refugee frameworks. This includes but is not limited to situations where climate change and disasters are intertwined with conflict and violence. The Committees decision supports this interpretation of existing protection frameworks. It recognises that international refugee law is applicable in the context of climate change and disaster displacement.

Climate change and the impact of disasters resulting from natural hazards can have multiple effects on countries, communities, the well-being of individuals and their ability to enjoy and exercise their rights. This has consequences for the application of the 1951 Convention and regional refugee frameworks such as the OAU Convention and the Cartagena Declaration.

The Committees decision elaborates on the specific human rights which may be violated in the context of the adverse effects of climate change and the impact of disasters, including the right to life. The ruling notes that sudden-onset events and slow-onset processes can propel cross-border movement of individuals seeking protection from life-threatening risks.

UNHCR highlights the Committees finding that where such risks are imminent, it may be unlawful under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) for governments to send people back to countries where the effect of climate change exposes them to life-threatening risks (article 6) or where they are at real risk of facing cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment (article 7 of ICCPR). The Covenant covers a broad range of civil and political rights that also apply to asylum-seekers and refugees. These include among others the right to life (article 6) and the right not be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (article 7).

The Committee importantly refers to the need for robust national and international efforts to avoid exposure of individuals to violations of their rights due to the effects of climate change. It warns that the risk of an entire country becoming submerged by rising sea levels is such an extreme risk, that before it is realized, conditions of life in such a country may become incompatible with the right to life with dignity. These references are also important alerts to States and the international community as a whole. They underscore the urgency of supporting prevention, risk mitigation, and adaptability measures in countries affected by climate change and of further enhancing cooperation of all to address what represents the most pressing challenge of our times. These actions are critical to avoid the need for individuals to feel forced to leave to avoid imminent harm, which could, as the Committee notes, trigger international obligations to protect.
A stringent Louisiana abortion clinic admitting privileges law  which is currently not in effect  is already set to make its way to the Supreme Court in March. But that didnt deter U.S. Sen. John Neely Kennedy, R-La., and Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., from introducing an even further restrictive abortion bill at the federal level today.

The law going to the Supreme Court would require abortion providers to obtain admitting privileges to hospitals within 30 miles of the clinic. Currently, only one of Louisianas three remaining abortion clinics would meet that requirement. The Supreme Court struck down a nearly identical Texas law in 2016 in Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt.

The bill introduced by Kennedy and Biggs would take that requirement a step further, requiring admitting privileges to a hospital within 15 miles of an abortion clinic. If passed, the bill would also require providers to tell their patients where they should go to receive care amid any complications. Physicians violating the law would be fined and/or sentenced with up to two years in prison.

Who can sue over abortion limits? The lesser known part of the Louisiana case going to Supreme Court When the U.S. Supreme Court agreed last month to take up an abortion case involving a 2014 Louisiana law, it made national headlines as a case

But research shows that serious complications following abortions are rare. During 2009 to 2013, just one in every 10,000 emergency room visits by U.S. women ages 15 to 29 was abortion related.

Proponents of abortion restrictions, like Kennedy and Biggs, frame these types of laws as common-sense laws aimed at protecting women. But abortion-rights activists say they impose undue burdens on clinics in attempt to shut them down and restrict access.

At the end of the day, we're looking at death by 1000 cuts, said Steffani Bangel, executive director of the New Orleans Abortion Fund, in an interview with Gambit last month. All of these things are forced on patients that have no medical purpose but add to the cost and add to the internalized stigma that someone (having an abortion) may experience.

While all proposed abortion restrictions passed through the Louisiana Legislature last year, the federal law faces a steeper battle and is not likely to pass through the Democratic-majority House of Representatives.

In a statement on the bill, Kennedy said, The abortion industry cuts corners at the expense of vulnerable people, and the Pregnant Women Health and Safety Act would ensure that women have easy access to vital protective care.

Reproductive rights attorney Ellie Schilling says arguments like these are part of a concentrated effort to undermine abortion providers.

The complication rates are so low and there is no evidence that abortion providers in general have worse health and safety records than any other category of physician, Schilling said. (Anti-abortion activists) are basically on a campaign of trying to malign doctors who provide abortions and trying to create this false narrative of there being some legitimate health and safety issue that needs to be addressed.

The Supreme Court will begin hearing arguments for Louisianas admitting privileges law on March 4.
Within a week of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filing a charge sheet against him, accusing him of laundering over 4,000 crore, former chairman and MD of Bhushan Power and Steel Ltd, Sanjay Singal, was granted bail by a special CBI court on Friday.

In its charge sheet filed last Friday through its special prosecutor Nitesh Rana, the anti-money laundering agency had called Singal the mastermind behind diversion of majority of loans  worth 47,204 crore  taken from 33 banks between 2007 and 2014. It had identified and attached a property worth 132 at Londons One Hyde Park and another worth 74 crore in Delhis Jor Bagh.

Singals lawyer Vijay Aggarwal, who has earlier successfully secured bail for Ratul Puri and retired Odisha high court judge I M Quddusi in CBI and ED probes, argued before the court that Sanjay Singal has deep roots in the society and that Singal is yet to be called by CBI for questioning in the matter, however, without any scheduled offence being established, the ED has arrested him.

Aggarwal also cited recent bail given to former finance minister P Chidambaram in the INX Media case by the Supreme Court on the ground that pendency of further investigation (as claimed by ED) is not a relevant factor (in denying bail). He also pointed out that while ED has chargesheeted 25 persons in the case, only Singal was arrested by it (on November 22, 2019).

Rana opposed the contention stating that Singal has remained evasive and didnt cooperate with the investigation.

After hearing both the sides, special CBI judge Arun Bhardwaj ordered the bail while asking Singal to submit his passport with the court and not to tamper with evidence or influence witnesses in the case.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Public Library union workers entrenched in a labor dispute with library management have received support from two Democratic presidential candidates within 24 hours: first from Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders on Wednesday, and more recently from former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg Thursday afternoon.

About 400 librarians, library assistants and custodians, represented by Service Employees International Union District 1199, have been without a contract since the end of the year. The union has said the breakdown in negotiations centers around library staffing and security. The library system has said it all comes down to money. Talks have been ongoing since September.

The union workers said workers will strike on Feb. 4 at noon, if an agreement cant be reached.

Libraries lift communities, open minds, and offer a gateway to worlds beyond our own backyards. Library workers make that possibleand they deserve our support, Buttigieg wrote on Twitter, adding that he stands with the SEIU 1199 in their fight for a fair contract that rewards the dignity of their work.

Public libraries are essential to our communities. The workers who provide these vital services deserve adequate staffing and safe working conditions, Sanders wrote on Twitter.

Sanders said he stood in solidarity with the SEIU 1199 as they fight for a fair contract.

Libraries lift communities, open minds, and offer a gateway to worlds beyond our own backyards. Library workers make that possibleand they deserve our support. I stand with the @SEIU1199wvkyoh members in their fight for a fair contract that rewards the dignity of their work. https://t.co/AF9xf333Ch  Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) January 23, 2020

Public libraries are essential to our communities. The workers who provide these vital services deserve adequate staffing and safe working conditions. I'm proud to stand in solidarity with the members of @seiu1199wvkyoh as they fight for a fair contract. https://t.co/eMAe4VpNN9  Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) January 23, 2020

The library is also negotiating with its security workers, who have also been without a contract since the end of the year. Those talks remain on-going.

Read more on this issue:

Bernie Sanders tweets support for Cleveland Public Library workers as strike looms

Library workers to strike Feb. 4 if deal cant be reached

Cleveland Public Library criticized for message on union dispute

Cleveland Public Library workers give union the OK to strike, if agreement cannot be reached
Reading recently about how the public attitude towards vegetarianism, and it's more extreme practice veganism, has changed so much since the beginning of the present century has reminded me how much the feelings of Dundalk people about smoking tobacco over my own lifetime. When I was a young lad nearly everybody in Town smoked, especially the boys when they became old enough to wear long pants. Girls smoked also but, generally, not in public places. In fact, it was considered as being disloyal to the town if you did not smoke or even objected to it in the workplace!

The reason for this was simple enough because, for a very long time, the tobacco industry was the leading employment provider in Dundalk and district; and it lasted for even longer than work in connection with the railway system in these parts! Did you know that, at the height of its popularity, smoking tobacco provided employment for nearly 800 persons in the Town and the P.J. Carroll company also had a factory in Liverpool and offices and stores in Dublin? In fact, one of the great worries at the time of the establishment of the State was that the tobacco factory might leave Dundalk because of the establishment of the Border.

It all started shortly after the railway lines first came to Dundalk and, perhaps, it was because of this new development in transport the industry began to thrive because it became easier for the raw material to be brought here to be processed and for the finished product to be exported!

Tobacco for pipe smoking was sold in Dundalk from long before the first railway lines reached Dundalk. One of the earliest photographs of Dundalk Market Square which I have seen, probably taken around 1850, shows a man with a small cart, parked on the Square from which, it was claimed, he was selling tobacco. Whether this was true or not, I cannot verify, but Padraic Ua Dubhtaigh in his 'Book of Dundalk', published in 1946, writes ---

'Tobacco manufacture has, for a long time been a Dundalk specialty. There were originally two tobacco factories in the town. The larger of these was established by Mr. James Carroll in Earl Street. He retired from business in 1853 and, as a result, the local customs receipts from tobacco slumped by 12,000 (a valuable amount 170 years ago). The other factory had been established by Mr. P.J. Carroll (his cousin) in Church Street in 1824.'

It was from this factory, as nearly every Dundalk schoolchild used to know, sprung the great Dundalk tobacco industry that lasted for the best part of two centuries! What they might not have known was that this Patrick J. Carroll was nephew on his mother's side of Anthony Marmion who was one of two Dundalk men executed in Drogheda for their part in the 1798 Rebellion and in whose memory the 'Maid of Erin' Monument at Courthouse Square was erected a century later.

Ua Dubhtaigh goes on to write that --- 'Mr. Carroll was succeeded by his son Vincent S. Carroll who was the first to introduce machinery to the manufacture (industry) in the town. The plant was obtained from the local Iron Works (Shekleton's later Manisty's Foundry at the Market Square) and included a 30 h.p. Engine. The factory premises (at Church Street) were virtually re-built in 1911, following a fire. In 1914 a private company was formed and in 1934 a public issue of shares was made.'

The P.J. Carroll company continued to thrive after the 'Book of Dundalk' was published and the period after World War Two saw the tobacco industry in Dundalk reach the peak of its achievement with the building of a new state of the art factory at Dublin Road where the production moved in 1970. This factory closed in 2006 but its legacy was that the premises are now being used as part of the Dundalk Institute of Technology campus.

Another great legacy of the P.J. Carroll company to Dundalk was the donation of its bonded warehouse premises at Jocelyn Street to the Dundalk Urban District Council to the people of Dundalk which now houses the Louth County Museum.

Unfortunately, the industry declined after the outbreak of the war in the Middle East between Iraq and Iran which still has its echoes to the present day. The company lost much of its valuable overseas exports as a result of that conflict but, perhaps, the demise of the tobacco industry worldwide was more due to health issues than any other factor.

There is much more I could write about the effect of tobacco smoking on Dundalk, including the efforts of the De Valera Government during the World War 11 Emergency to promote tobacco growing in the area, but I do not have space in these notes. Perhaps, I might be permitted to return to the subject later?

Dundalk lost more than most other parts of Ireland and, indeed, many other countries, due to the decline of the tobacco industry but the Town still owes a lot, for good or ill, to the rise and fall of the tobacco smoking habit!
Dante Green, 26, was sentenced to life in prison without parole for killing a man in 2016 over a $10 drug debt. Read more

Ten dollars he was owed in a drug deal led Dante Green, 22, to fire two bullets into the head of a 21-year-old man in Southwest Philadelphia in February 2016.

Green, now 26, of the citys Summerdale section, was convicted Wednesday of first-degree murder by a Common Pleas Court jury, then sentenced to life in state prison without parole by Judge Rose Marie DeFino-Nastasi.

The victim, Wilson Yojairo-Diaz, was slain in the citys Elmwood Park neighborhood. During the trial, the jury heard from several witnesses and saw video evidence linking Green to the early Sunday morning crime that grew out of an argument over $10 Yojairo-Diaz owed him from a drug sale.

The heated words led Green to shoot Yojairo-Diaz in the head, then fire a second time because he was still standing, trial evidence showed.

This brutal murder occurred one block from where the decedent and his four brothers lived, District Attorney Larry Krasner said in a statement. My office extends our condolences to the victims loved ones, as well as our hope that they someday experience healing and peace.

The case was challenging to prosecute due to nighttime video evidence, language barriers, the fact that the two witnesses who placed Green at the scene were affected by crack cocaine, and the absence of another witness who could not be found for trial, Krasner said.

Acting on tips from the public, Philadelphia police arrested Green in Chambersburg, Pa., on March 28, 2016.

Yojairo-Diaz was buried in Ecuador, where his parents lived, the District Attorneys Office said.

While this sentence makes it unlikely Dante Green will ever see freedom again, I am hopeful that sooner or later Mr. Green feels real remorse for his actions, that he is able in some way to express genuine regret and offer apology to his victim and co-victims, and that he is able to lift up others lives rather than destroy them while incarcerated, Krasner said.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  Women of the Gaza Strip have long battled economic difficulties and unemployment by making and selling handicrafts. A new incubator for women entrepreneurs in the Rafah governorate aims to make these projects sustainable and to lead female entrepreneurs to new fields, such as mobile and computer repairs or fabricating high-quality products.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Rafah governorate in the southern Gaza Strip announced Jan. 9 the establishment of a council for women entrepreneurs. The council, the first of its kind in the governorate, will be a business incubator for women with different skills.

Najah Ayash, the director of women's programs at the Rafah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, was appointed head of the newly established council. Rafah governorate needs a business incubator to empower and train women so that they can improve their grim economic situation, she told Al-Monitor.

According to official statistics, the unemployment rate in the Gaza Strip exceeded 50%, and the poverty rate reached 53%. It is worse for women, with the rate of unemployment at 74.5 % in 2018, with a 5% increase from the previous year.

The Chamber of Commerce decided to form and launch the council," she said. "The first event organized by the council was the first marketing exhibition in Rafah. It enabled a group of women entrepreneurs who exhibited their products and services. In the shopping exhibition from Jan. 7-10 in Rafah city, dozens of Palestinian female entrepreneurs showcased handicrafts, embroideries, fashion design, food products, cosmetics, cleaning supplies, drawings and sculptures, and phone and computer repair. The shopping exhibition is the first activity of the center.

Ayash said there were also more unorthodox fields, including maintenance of computers and mobile phones. The exhibition opened horizons and markets for the participating women, she said, noting that a pizzeria accepted to sell the products of one of the participants and a boutique agreed to market the products of another.

Female entrepreneur Abeer Abu Armaneh, who owns al-Wafa for handicrafts, told Al-Monitor, I sell folkloric embroidered items. We inherited this handcraft from our ancestors, but we are giving it a modern touch. I have a section for woodwork, beadwork and fabrics.

She noted that this is the first time she participated in a shopping exhibition and she would like to do it again.

Abu Armaneh said she started her business in 2018 to provide income for her family. I have not received any prior training and I learned to make my products online, she said.

Noting the difficulty she had in the financial management of her business and in marketing her products, she expressed hope that the newly established council would help her and others in a similar situation. It should offer training and programs that contribute to the development of womens business projects and help them market their products and services, she said.

Abeer al-Hams, another Palestinian female entrepreneur, owns the AfkarArt project, which creates unique books for children. I make interactive and educational books for children under the age of four," she said. "I draft, design and publish tailor-made books for each child after I discuss what he or she needs with parents.

She said she designed her first book for her own son. But my sister, whose son has autism, asked me to design a book that would help him learn. After a while, with the encouragement of people around me, I decided to develop this idea into a business project in 2017, she said.

Hams explained that this is the second exhibition she has participated in and she was happy because such events are rare in Rafah. Exhibitions have always been limited to Gaza City. Decision-makers should show female entrepreneurs more care and provide them with financial guidance and marketing support, she said.

Regarding the obstacles she faces, she said, I use expensive paper to make my books. Low-income families cannot afford to buy them. The average book price ranges from $20 and up. This is a high price for a book for the residents of the Gaza Strip.

Seed money for startups often proves to be an obstacle for Palestinian female entrepreneurs. Traditions and customs of the patriarchal society may also stand in their way when they want to launch their own businesses.

Moin Rajab, an economics professor at Al-Azhar University in the Gaza Strip, told Al-Monitor that the establishment of such gender-specific councils and economic gatherings is very important for advancing womens labor. This step is important to revive womens potential and encourage their creativity. This is an opportunity for these women to cooperate with the competent authorities, he said.

Rajab confirmed that entrepreneurial projects have a strong impact on the national economy. These projects are part of the national product and benefit the society, he said. The council must take into account the challenges women entrepreneurs face and try to solve them. It is important to stimulating and encouraging the ecosystem for these women.

He explained the importance of diversifying projects offered to women, which he said must not be limited to traditional ones such as handicrafts and embroidery. Women should be oriented toward technological, engineering, medical and agricultural industries, he said.

Rajab also called for encouraging women's participation in various economic sectors and enhancing their role in the investment sector, as well as furthering the cooperation between women business owners and the local, regional and international bodies.

Ayash, from the council, pointed out that the event exposed women entrepreneurs to buyers, developers and even investors. The exhibition aimed to highlight the professional skills of women, to provide the opportunity to market their products, showcase their projects and develop their businesses. This will not be the last exhibition, she said.

She also promised to find investment opportunities. The council will also search for available financing outlets for female entrepreneurs. Womens entrepreneurial activity contributes to developing the national economy, she said.
By Trend

As many as 2,431 people have applied for participation in the early parliamentary elections to be held Feb. 9 in Azerbaijan, Chairman of Azerbaijans Central Election Commission (CEC) Mazahir Panahov said, Trend reports.

Panahov made the remark at the CEC meeting in Baku on Jan. 23.

The chairman noted that 1,477 people have been registered as MP candidates.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
An incessant operator of the telephone, Trump has not taken to calling the potential swing senators to plead his case. Advisers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, said they have cautioned the president that calls to members such as Collins, Murkowski and Romney would not influence their decisions. So Trump has left them alone  returning to a tack he used during the successful fight to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh in 2018  while regularly checking in with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who has marshaled Trumps trial defense.
A 47-year-old Morrisville man has been arrested and accused of sexually abusing a child, according to New York State Police.

Donald L. Whitmore was charged with first-degree sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child, police said.

Whitmore had sexual contact with a child younger than 7 years old on several days in 2019 inside a residence in Eaton, police said.

He was arraigned in Town of Eaton Court and released on his own recognizance, police said.

Thanks for visiting Syracuse.com. Quality local journalism has never been more important, and your subscription matters. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.
Meghan Markle ought to take a few notes from her sister-in-law Kate Middleton, who has recently opened up about once feeling isolated.

The Duchess of Cambridge revealed how tough it had been for her as a first-time-mom to George during his first year. George is now six years old, which makes it a long time that Kate carried these emotions to herself.

Kate, a Stronger Royal

Kate and Meghan both married into royalty, making it inevitable to draw comparisons between the two.

Just last year, Meghan had an infamous interview with ITV that covered her South African journey in a documentary. In it, Meg revealed how she has been struggling to cope as a new mom, wife, and a working woman amid all the media scrutiny.

As it turns out, Meg is not the only one who felt isolated. Reports revealed that Prince Harry and Meghan were having feelings of isolation from the other senior royals, who reportedly do not check up on them. Meg even revealed to the public through the documentary that no one ever asked her if she was ok.

These feelings of isolations reportedly led the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to leave their positions as senior royals and seek for financial independence.

Now, Kate is revealing sentiments similar to Meghan's, but she showed that instead of folding to pressure, she stood with grace amid it all.

Kate had always prepared herself for this role ever since she started dating Prince William, and she is determined to be a reliable support for the future King.

I Was Isolated, Too!

Kate recently spoke to a group of young mothers at the Ely and Careau Children's Center located in Cardiff, Wales. The mother-of-three opened up about a relatable story -- unafraid of showing as vulnerable.

The Duchess of Cambridge recalled the time Prince William was working night shifts in the Royal Air Force. It was right after she gave birth to Prince George and in words, she did not have family around.

Kate then unveiled that it would have been great to have a center or group with other young moms at the time, citing how it would have helped her at the time.

"I felt so isolated and so cut off with a tiny baby and no family around," revealed the royal to the group of young mothers.

The Duchess of Cambridge is currently conducting a survey to those who are caring for children under five. She went on a 24-hour tour of the U.K. to promote the survey to parents and caregivers.

Middleton revealed her desire to use the survey to help address the key issues affecting the community.

"I want to focus my work where it is needed the most," Kate said before adding that she has it in her heart to provide "a lasting change for the generations to come."

The news comes as a breath of fresh air after Meghan and Harry announced their decision to step down as senior royals. The royal couple reportedly has Baby Archie's interests in mind. Meanwhile, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are living up to their title and pushing onward with a stronger approach and mentality to royal life.

READ MORE: The Surprising Reason Why Kate Middleton Secretly Worked In a Hospital's Maternity Department
SV Krishna Chaitanya By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Thousands of fisherfolk from 65 coastal villages have joined hands to form a coordination committee to save the Ennore-Pulicat ecosystem from rapid industrialisation. These villages are home to about 30,000 families from both Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. As a first step, the newly elected gram panchayat councilors in Pulicat will meet on January 26 to chalk out a strategy and kick-start a movement.

Adding a new dimension to the fight is Chennai Kalai Theru Vizha, chipping-in with a unique concept to help the city realise the importance of Pulicat wetlands. A three-day seafood festival is being organised, starting January 31, in collaboration with Sea Salt restaurant in Nungambakkam. The restaurants chefs will dish out traditional Pulicat local cuisines. On Thursday, the fisherwomen cooked and shared recipes of an array of dishes with the chefs, which will form a part of a showpiece thali during the festival.

Environmentalist Nityanand Jayaraman told Express that Pulicat is under a serious threat with the proposed Adani Port and Kamarajar Ports Coastal Employment Unit, both of which would inflict irreversible damage to an already fragile ecosystem.

So far, protection of these wetlands were left to the fate of fishermen. Through this festival, we want everyone to taste the local cuisine and commit themselves to protect their traditional fishing grounds, Jayaraman said.

Uma, a fisherwoman from Goonangkuppam, said, For generations, we have depended on the brackish waters for livelihood. We dont know anything but fishing. Now, people say the proposed port would erode the sand barrier island and the sea would join the lake. This cannot happen.

Several representations were made to the Union Environment Ministry about the proposed port, and as a result, a sub-committee was formed to inspect the site.

In its report, it was noted that Pulicat system, Ennore creek and Buckingham canal are designated as ecologically sensitive areas and placed under CRZ-1 (critical for maintaining ecosystem of coast) of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification, 2011.

Extensive shallows (Ennore shoals) are formed at this place and they extend up to Pulicat. The coastal area nearby is very flat and has vast expanse of backwater. It has been hypothesized that shoals might have formed due to the interaction of northerly coastal currents and sediment supply through the Ennore creek when it was active, the committee said.

It has also recommended a detailed study on the impact of the port expansion on the shoals.
Photo: Vulture

The true-crime podcast universe is ever expanding. Were here to make it a bit smaller and a bit more manageable. There are a lot of great shows, and each has a lot of great episodes, so we want to highlight the noteworthy and the exceptional. Each week, our crack team of podcast enthusiasts and specialists will pick their favorites.

Chasing Cosby, Fooled Them Again

Investigative journalist Nicki Weisensee Egan has been listening to the stories of women sexually assaulted by Bill Cosby since 2005. In Chasing Cosby (an L.A. Times podcast), Egan traces the history of Cosby the predator via the stories of the women he preyed upon, as well as those who held information about Cosbys behavior long before it came out (like in 1965), what precipitated his fall, and the aftermath. The latest episode includes the story of Lili Bernard, a guest star on The Cosby Show, who tells the story of being drugged and raped by Cosby multiple times. If it wasnt already crystal clear to you why survivor stories are important, listen to hear how the dynamics of race, power, and money all contributed to silencing her and other women. Cosbys actions were an open secret, and while its not a surprise that it remained one for so long (see Harvey Weinstein), Chasing Cosby affirms the existence of the mechanisms that keep evil men in place, and sees to it that the survivors are able to tell their stories without interference, judgement, or interrogation. Chanel Dubofsky

No Body Recovered, The Series

Mary Boyle was just 6 years old when she vanished near her grandparents home in rural Ireland in 1977. Despite extensive searches, no trace of the girl with long, fair hair and blue eyes has ever been found. She remains Irelands youngest missing person case and has been called Irelands Madeline McCann. In No Body Recovered, BBC journalists Kevin Connolly and Maria Byrne revisit Marys case, a mystery many still hope will be solved. Marys grandparents realized soon after she went for a walk and didnt return that something was amiss. And while searchers immediately scoured the peat bogs, farmland, underground caves, and even a local reservoir, they found no remnants of the girl. Marys mother and twin sister feature prominently in the podcast, revealing how a rift among family members grew after Mary disappeared. Differing opinions on whether a new inquiry should be opened only deepened the divide. The podcast effectively shows the emotional toll Marys case continues to have on her family, driving home on of the podcasts central themes: How, often, the only thing worse than finding a body is not finding one. Lara Bricker

The Officers Wife, Nothing to Hide

Six months after getting married, Jessica Boynton was found shot in the head in a locked closet in her Griffin, Georgia, home in April 2016. The weapon belonged to her husband, Griffin police officer Matthew Boynton. While Jessica lay in a medically induced coma, Matthew voluntarily spoke to the police, giving them a lot (one might say a suspicious amount?) of information about Jessicas infidelities, his plans for divorce, her volatile behavior, and the fact that he didnt enter his house when he knew something was wrong because he was afraid of what Jessica might do to him and their children. In this episode of The Officers Wife, a VAULT Studios production, in collaboration with 11Alive in Atlanta, and hosted by investigative journalist Brendan Keefe, we hear Matthews conversation with the police, what they made of the crime scene, including the strange angles of the bullet holes, and different versions of the timeline. Theres a lot of mysteriousness here, and this episode amps up to a shocking revelation, impressive considering were in episode three of six. Do yourself a favor and dont Google the details of this case  just listen and be ready for anything. Chanel Dubofsky

Last Podcast on the Left, The Ragged Stranger: A Chat With Harold Schechter

Its in questionable taste to describe Last Podcast on the Left as adorable, but this episodes interview with author Harold Schechter gives the boys a chance to fanboy out and pepper their favorite true-crime writer with a wide range of questions. Schechter is erudite and dryly witty  You know, I used to teach a class before I retired and started playing Red Dead Redemption all the time  as he addresses the subjects of his most famous books and our misconceptions about them. He reveals that he no longer thinks most of whats been written about H.H. Holmes (including what he himself wrote) was actually true, and that of all of his subjects, Albert Fish was probably the most difficult to write about, especially since his daughters were around the age of Grace Budd at the time. Tune in to hear the hosts pay homage to a real one, and stay for little nuggets of academia. Who doesnt love a random reference to Krafft-Ebings Psychopathia Sexualis?  Jenni Miller

L.A. Not So Confidential, Capgras Syndrome

Most true-crime podcasts use either specific crimes or specific criminals as their organizing principal. This is a tidy formula that allows for a narrow focus and a crime-investigation-conclusion structure. The L.A. Not So Confidential podcast does things a little differently. Instead of each episode focusing on a particular case, Drs. Scott and Shiloh generally examine a psychological issue that has some association with crime. Youll find episodes on pyromania, Stockholm syndrome, and, a personal favorite, folie a deux. Both hosts are psychologists who have worked with law enforcement and their knowledge of the subject is clear in this casual, two-people-chatting show. Their 35th episode, Capgras Syndrome, looks at a strange and rare condition in which the sufferer believes that a loved one has been replaced by an impostor. The hosts provide historical context, both detailing older Capgras cases and explaining how the understanding of the causes has changed over time. (Apparently, there is an emotional component to visual processing and Capgras occurs when that emotional reaction is misaligned, often as a result of a brain injury.) They also connect Capgras to more recent crimes and to popular entertainment, such as Law & Order and NCIS. People looking for a smart and engaging alternative to the usual true-crime formula should give this a listen. Toby Ball
New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drew with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office after he defected to the Republican Party last month. Read more

Three weeks before New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drew cemented his defection to the Republican Party with a pledge of undying support for President Donald Trump, he sent a constituent a very different message.

"I havent voted for him, I didnt support him, I will not vote for him, Van Drew said of Trump in a Nov. 30 voicemail to a voter in his South Jersey district.

Addressing his opposition to impeaching Trump, which ultimately led to his break from the Democratic Party, Van Drew said: Id rather just beat him in a normal election.

The message, which was obtained Friday by The Inquirer, came only two weeks before a private White House meeting where he finalized his plans to switch parties. And the emergence of the voicemail comes just days before Van Drew is set to fly with Trump on Air Force One to a Tuesday rally in Wildwood, which Van Drew hopes will help gin up support for him in the Republican primary.

Ive pledged my support for the president in the Oval Office, on the floor of the House when I voted against impeachment, in South Jersey diners, and everywhere in between," Van Drew said Friday when asked about the voicemail. "My support for President Trump couldnt be more clear  and hell hear it again from me in person on Tuesday night in Wildwood.

Asked for comment on the voicemail, Trump campaign spokesperson Tim Murtaugh said: We are happy that the president has the support of Congressman Van Drew, who was fed up with the nonsense from within his own party.

Gwen Meade, the Margate voter who was the recipient of Van Drews voicemail after she sent him a message through his website, said she was surprised to get a response.

I think that this is a man who may not know his own mind, Meade said Friday. Cognitive dissonance. I dont know if hes experiencing that, but I am. And I dont think Im alone.

Van Drews reelection campaign is expected to be one of the most closely watched House races in the country. Since becoming a Republican, Van Drew has enjoyed the support of the national partys political apparatus. But many of his Democratic supporters have expressed outrage, while local Republicans are skeptical of his conservative bona fides. He has voted with Trump only 7% of the time since taking office, according to a tally by the website FiveThirtyEight. And he has a 100% rating from the Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

Trumps support of Van Drew could be crucial to his reelection chances. Trump won Van Drews district by five points in 2016. Several GOP candidates who were already running before he defected are still in the race.

Six Democrats have announced they will run for their partys nomination to represent the district, which stretches from the Philadelphia suburbs in Gloucester County south to Cape May, and from north of Atlantic City into Burlington County. And some Democratic donors who gave Van Drew money before he switched parties are asking for their money back.

Still, Van Drew hopes he can count on them for support.

I want to be very clear: I have not changed , Van Drew wrote in a recent letter to supporters soliciting campaign contributions. I switched my party affiliation because the Democratic Party has become a party led by extreme socialists.

Van Drew was one of the only House Democrats who voted against impeaching Trump last month.

Regardless of what we do, the Senate is not gonna find him guilty, theyve already said theyre gonna find him innocent," Van Drew said of impeachment in the voicemail to Meade. When they do, he is still gonna be the president, he is still gonna be the presidential candidate. But now, he is going to be able to say to everybody that he is innocent and that he didnt do anything wrong whatsoever. And thats gonna help him. Its just gonna help him with his base and its gonna help him with a lot of people.
The Birbhum district administration has launched an awareness campaign, asking people not to pay heed to rumours, after digital workers faced the ire of villagers on the suspicion that they were collecting data for the proposed nationwide NRC.

The campaign is being carried out by panchayat representatives through public address systems, door-to-door visits and distribution of pamphlets, officials said.

A mob had gathered at the house of two women engaged in 'Internet Saathi', a digital literacy programme, at Amba in Margram area of the district on Thursday.

However, a police team rushed to the area and prevented the mob from attacking the house.

The incident took place a day after the house of 20- year-old Chumki Khatun was set on fire by a mob at Gourbazar village in Mallarpur station area on Wednesday.

Four persons were arrested in connection with the Gourbazar incident on Thursday.

Khatun had been working for an NGO on contract. In partnership with an online firm, the NGO was training rural women to use smartphones effectively and the woman collected general data, as part of the training.

However, police denied that the Gourbazar incident was linked to the NRC.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The world this week is marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz -- the Nazi death camp in which more than a million people were murdered. The death toll overall, in all of the regimes death camps, is believed to be more than 6 million political prisoners, gypsies, mentally disabled people and Jews.

The Holocaust happened before the memory of most of us and was terrifying indeed. But there is a more terrifying fact about the death camps that faces us today: Millions of Americans believe the Holocaust was at least wildly exaggerated or even a hoax.

The Soviet soldiers who liberated Auschwitz in Poland saw, heard and smelled the camp and its survivors. They knew it was no hoax. The few people who escaped Auschwitz, like 39-year-old Polish cavalry officer Witold Pilecki, told a story that was believable enough that the RAF considered bombing the camp.

As the war ended, the British government commissioned the actor who would later direct films that personified terror -- Alfred Hitchcock -- to advise it on the production of a film documenting the liberation of German concentration camps. The film, with the bland title German Concentration Camps Factual Survey, was produced by the Allied Command with the notion that it would be shown in Germany to bring the vanquished enemy face to face with what their government did in their names. It would show what hatred and bigotry do.

By the time it was finished, in September 1945, the British government suppressed it, deciding it was too negative and would detract from rebuilding Europe. It was found and released only in 2014.

At the time it was made, it was a truth too horrible to believe, so the victors looked away. Now, so-called Holocaust deniers preach that the Holocaust was a hoax, or at least something that is exaggerated by a bunch of softies who in their snowflake world cant take the horror of war. Holocaust deniers say that Nazi Germany's Final Solution included only deportation, and not extermination. They say there were no extermination camps, and that the number people who died was only 600,000 or so.

If what these people say and believe is not frightening enough, be mindful that the promoters of this denial include governments in the Middle East.

The fact that the propaganda of nations like Syria and Iran consists of lies and outright fabrication should not surprise anyone. What is surprising, and is terrifying, is the fact that millions of people in the United States believe that the Holocaust is part of a conspiracy.

At least one pro-Nazi writer and generally discredited historian, David Irving, propelled Holocaust denial into the British legal system when he sued another writer after she pointed out that his denials were lies. Irving lost his lawsuit but enhanced his position as a hero to those who believe the Holocaust is the product of left-wing pansies who cant grasp the heroic ideals of Nazi Germany.

The heroic ideals of Nazi Germany? The notion that there are Americans today who believe the Nazis were in any way heroic, and refuse to believe that their heroes murdered millions, certainly frightens me.

The power in depicting the Holocaust in films was well understood by the makers of those films. They knew it was simply too horrible to believe -- but believe it, we must. The temptation to accept a lie as the truth grows every time the lie is repeated.

Nothing is more contemporary in American life than that fact.

At the close of the 2014 film, Night Will Fall, the narrator repeats the last words of the documentary suppressed so long ago: Unless the world learns the lesson these pictures teach, night will fall ... but by God's grace, we who live will learn.

Have we?

Will we?

Frances Coleman is a freelance writer who lives in Baldwin County, Alabama. Email her at fcoleman1953@gmail.com and like her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/prfrances.
Burma Myanmar Military Denies Using Drones to Attack Arakan Army Troops

Military officials hold a press conference in Naypyitaw on Jan. 24, 2020. / Thiha Lwin / The Irrawaddy

NAYPYITAWThe Myanmar military has denied the Arakan Army (AA)s claim that it is using combat drones to attack the ethnic armed group in Rakhine and Chin states, saying it only uses the pilotless aircraft to provide security for military outposts.

Battalions and military units have procured drones by themselves. They use them to take photos as a security measure for their outposts and in areas where their soldiers make their movements, Myanmar military (or Tatmadaw) spokesperson Brigadier-General Zaw Min Tun said in response to The Irrawaddys question at a press conference in Naypyitaw on Thursday.

In statements earlier this month, the AA said the Myanmar military had recently starting using drones in addition to fighter aircraft to bomb AA troops in Buthidaung and Rathedaung townships in Rakhine State and Paletwa Township in Chin State. In March last year, drones were among the weapons seized by the AA when it detained a group of soldiers after a battle in Paletwa.

Although the AAs claims of drone use by the military could not be independently verified, the Tatmadaw used fighter jets against AA troops in August in remote areas of Rakhine States Minbya Township, near the boundary of Mrauk-U Township in an area that Tatmadaw ground forces could not access by road. In November, the AA claimed that aerial bombing by the Tatmadaw had killed some of the hostages the armed group had abducted from the Shwe Nadi ferry the previous month.

AA spokesperson Khaing Thukha could not be reached for comment on Friday.

When asked by The Irrawaddy if the Myanmar military has combat drones as the AA claims, Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun said sarcastically, We didnt realize were so advanced. It seems weve underestimated ourselves.

He said the drones currently in use by the Myanmar military are the ordinary type that can be easily bought in a market, and are only used to take pictures and videos.

On Tuesday, one of the countrys biggest armed groups, the Karen National Union (KNU), which signed a truce with the Myanmar government in 2015, said the Myanmar military had been using drones to conduct aerial reconnaissance on its brigades and headquarters every one or two weeks since 2018, adding that the practice undermined the trust between the two sides.

In a statement, the KNU condemned the Myanmar militarys aerial reconnaissance, calling it a breach of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement.

Again, Brig-Gen. Zaw Min Tun denied the claim, saying, We have ground information about the locations of all the outposts of the KNU and every other group in Myanmar. So, we dont need to bother to use drones to take pictures.

U Thein Tun Oo of the Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies, a think-tank formed by ex-military officers, said the Myanmar military lacks the technology needed to deploy combat drones.

It is very likely that the Tatmadaw, as it tries to build a standard army, uses drones for reconnaissance. But to attack with drones is quite complicated technologically. It cant be drones. It might be another form of aerial attack, U Thein Tun Oo said.

Pa-O National Liberation Organization patron Colonel Khun Okkar also claimed the Myanmar military is using drones for both purposesreconnaissance and attack.

The Myanmar military is using them on a trial basis. From what Ive learned, it is using both types. Unfortunately, the drone training ground is in the AAs area. I have learned that the military has started using combat drones against the AA, Khun Okkar said.

Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko

You may also like these stories:

Myanmar Foreign Ministry Acknowledges ICJ Ruling, Repeats Denial of Genocide Against Rohingya

Myanmar State Counselor Says Intl Condemnation of Country Over Rohingya Crisis Is Unfounded

Top UN Court Orders Myanmar to Protect Rohingya Rights, End Genocide
Scientists have found the origin of one of the luminous explosions ever seen in the universe.

Superluminous supernovae are the brightest explosions in the universe. SN 2006gy is one of the most studied, and has become fascinating to researchers who are trying to explain how such luminous explosions could happen.

But such phenomena have remained largely unexplained, with astronomers unable to find the reason for their intense brightness. They shine so intensely that they challenge traditional astrophysical models, which have been unable to account for such a bright star.

Now scientists think they have found the cause of the blazing brightness coming out of SN 2006gy. And they hope that it could shed light on where other such superluminous supernovae get their intensity from.

The new breakthrough came when researchers discovered that the star gained its intense brightness when a normal supernova crashed into a shell of material that surrounded it.

Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Mystic Mountain, a pillar of gas and dust standing at three-light-years tall, bursting with jets of gas from fledgling stars buried within, was captured by Nasa's Hubble Space Telescope in February 2010 Nasa/ESA/STScI Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures The first ever selfie taken on an alien planet, captured by Nasa's Curiosity Rover in the early days of its mission to explore Mars in 2012 Nasa/JPL-Caltech/MSSS Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Death of a star: This image from Nasa's Chandra X-ray telescope shows the supernova of Tycho, a star in our Milky Way galaxy Nasa Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Arrokoth, the most distant object ever explored, pictured here on 1 January 2019 by a camera on Nasa's New Horizons spaceraft at a distance of 4.1 billion miles from Earth Getty Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures An image of the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy seen in infrared light by the Herschel Space Observatory in January 2012. Regions of space such as this are where new stars are born from a mixture of elements and cosmic dust Nasa Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures The first ever image of a black hole, captured by the Event Horizon telescope, as part of a global collaboration involving Nasa, and released on 10 April 2019. The image reveals the black hole at the centre of Messier 87, a massive galaxy in the nearby Virgo galaxy cluster. This black hole resides about 54 million light-years from Earth Getty Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Pluto, as pictured by Nasa's New Horizons spacecraft as it flew over the dwarf planet for the first time ever in July 2015 Nasa/APL/SwRI Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures A coronal mass ejection as seen by the Chandra Observatory in 2019. This is the first time that Chandra has detected this phenomenon from a star other than the Sun Nasa Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Dark, narrow, 100 meter-long streaks running downhill on the surface Mars were believed to be evidence of contemporary flowing water. It has since been suggested that they may instead be formed by flowing sand Nasa/JPL/University of Arizona Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Morning Aurora: Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly captured this photograph of the green lights of the aurora from the International Space Station in October 2015 Nasa/Scott Kelly

The researchers made their discovery when they looked into the fact that the brightness is particularly stark in one part of the spectrum. They suggested that vast amounts of iron could account for that particular "line", as researchers call it  and when they tested that scenario, it worked.

"It became even more exciting when it quickly turned out that very large amounts of iron was needed to make the lines - at least a third of the Sun's mass - which directly ruled out some old scenarios and instead revealed a new one," said Anders Jerkstrand from the Department of Astronomy at Stockholm University.

The researchers suggest that before SN 2006gy became what it is today, there was a double star made up of a white dwarf as big as Earth, and a huge hydrogen-rich massive star the size of our solar system. As the bigger star became even bigger, the smaller one was caught up in it and fell in towards the centre.

When it got there, the white dwarf exploded into a "Type Ia supernova"  a normal supernova. That then collided with the envelope surrounding it, creating the giant collision that sent the light streaming across the universe.

"That a Type Ia supernova appears to be behind SN 2006gy turns upside down what most researchers have believed", says Anders Jerkstrand.

"That a white dwarf can be in close orbit with a massive hydrogen-rich star, and quickly explode upon falling to the centre, gives important new information for the theory of double star evolution and the conditions necessary for a white dwarf to explode."
Thirty-three-year-old Iltija was recently prevented by the police from visiting her grandfather Mufti Muhammad Sayeeds grave.

SRINAGAR: Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Muftis daughter Iltija on Thursday alleged that she is being harassed by special services group (SSG) and said that she would be safer without it.

After being manhandled and illegally detained in Kashmir, Im now being harassed by SSG which reports to MHA (ministry of home affairs). My right to freedom cant be curtained under guise of security and safety. Given that a top cop was caught red handed with militants, Im certainly safer without them, Iltija wrote on the Twitter handle of her mother.

In another tweet, she said, I was constantly monitored by SSG, IB (Intelligence Bureau) and CID in Srinagar. Wish MHA would focus its resources on matters of grave importance as opposed to stalking young women like me. Why waste tax payers money?

Later Iltija said over the phone from Delhi that during her month-long stay in the Valley she was being constantly followed by the sleuths of the intelligence wing of the J&K police.

They say that they do it for my safety. First of all, I want to ask them am I the only person in the family who has threat perception. What about my aunt whose security they have withdrawn. She (Rubia Sayeed) was kidnapped (by JKLF militants) in 1989...how did they withdraw her security, she said. It is not for you to decide where I should go and what and when to talk to media. Who are they to decide those kind of terms for me?

Thirty-three-year-old Iltija was recently prevented by the police from visiting her grandfather Mufti Muhammad Sayeeds grave in southern Anantnag district on his fourth death anniversary.
Following the mysterious outbreak of the coronavirus in the Chinese city of Wuhan, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) has made all necessary arrangements at the Chennai airport to screen passengers that are coming from the country.

Since the novel disease was first reported in Wuhan earlier this month, it has slowly spread across the country and as per reports, cases have also been reported in several Asian cities other than China, including South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand. The Chennai airport has been provided with logistics support with regards to the screening of passengers as per the instructions by the Airport Health Organisation (APHO).

Read: Those trapped in China virus lockdown expect lonely holiday

Ministry of Civil Aviation raises precautions

Amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, the Ministry of Civil Aviation had earlier stated that it will be extending the screening of passengers visiting from China to four more airports - Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Cochin.

The Ministry had earlier asked for a screening test at Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata airports. The measure has been taken as a precautionary step given the recent outbreak of the SARS-like virus in China. Now the screening has been extended to the Chennai airport as well.

Even airlines flying in from any airport in China, have been asked to make in-flight announcements about self-declaration by any passenger with a history of fever and cough so that he can be quarantined upon arrival.

Read: China puts Wuhan city under effective quarantine amid coronavirus outbreak

'Complex and evolving situation'

On Wednesday, the Emergency Committee of the World Health Organisation (WHO) held a discussion over the emergent outbreak of the coronavirus in Wuhan. The WHO committee has postponed making a decision on whether to declare a global state of emergency regarding the disease or not.

"The decision about whether or not to declare a public health emergency of international concern is one I take extremely seriously, and one I am only prepared to make with appropriate consideration of all the evidence", said Dr. Tedros, Director General of WHO.

Read: China: 9 dead and 440 infected by mysterious Coronavirus

Read: Coronavirus outbreak: WHO puts off decision on declaring a global health emergency
West Bengal has emerged as the top state in the country in vegetable production in 2018-19, according to horticulture production data released by the Central government recently.

West Bengal witnessed a production of 29.55 million tonne (MT) of vegetables during 2018-19 which was the maximum in the country in that period, said the state-wise horticulture production data.

Uttar Pradesh was in the second place with 27.71 million tonne of vegetable production in the same period, it said.

In 2017-18, West Bengal was in the second place with 27.70 MT of vegetable production while UP held the top position with a production of 28.32 MT.

As per the data, for the 2018-19 period, West Bengal has accounted for 15.9 per cent of the country's total vegetable production.

It said UP produced 14.9 per cent of the country's vegetable production, while Madhya Pradesh recorded 9.6 per cent followed by Bihar 9 per cent and Gujarat 6.8 per cent.

It's a great achievement and the credit goes to our farmers, Agriculture Advisor to the Chief Minister, Pradip Kumar Majumder said.

He said, "Under the guidance of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee we are trying to help the farmers in enhancing their income which eventually increased the production."

Convincing the farmers to shift to cultivating horticultural crops rather than the traditional ones they had been doing also helped to increase vegetable production, Majumdar said.
We're thrilled to now have a dedicated office in Illinois that leverages the NEXTAFF method in connecting leading healthcare employers with talented nurses, allied healthcare professionals and administrative talent.

NEXTAFF, an industry leader in identifying quality talent for organizations, announced the recent opening of a staffing agency location in Peoria.

Owned and operated by Tom Moreland, the new office provides healthcare and nurse staffing solutions to healthcare facilities in Peoria and throughout Illinois. Moreland brings a master's in health services administration and 21 years of long-term care experience to NEXTAFF Peoria.

"After I opened NEXTAFF Des Moines in 2018, our reputation for long-term nurse staffing quickly spread across the Mississippi River, and employers and healthcare professionals in the Peoria market began reaching out to us for help, Moreland said. We're thrilled to now have a dedicated office in Illinois that leverages the NEXTAFF method in connecting leading healthcare employers with talented nurses, allied healthcare professionals and administrative talent."

"NEXTAFF's operating model provides everything my team needs to run a successful staffing franchise, while fueling success for our clients and candidates," continued Moreland. "Whether you're an employer with an urgent need for licensed, screened nurses, or a healthcare professional looking for high-paying opportunities to flourish, one call to NEXTAFF does it all."

NEXTAFF offers a proprietary recruiting method called X-FACTOR, which combines hiring methodologies that are statistically proven to outperform what typical staffing agency competitors and HR departments traditionally do. This methodology, combined with a robust back-office support structure, allows a staffing franchise office many distinct advantages over someone looking to start their own staffing agency.

"The fact that organic growth fueled this expansion speaks volumes about Tom's experience and work ethic, as well as the NEXTAFF system, said Cary Daniel, co-founder and CEO at NEXTAFF. "Relying on decades of healthcare experience, tremendous staffing success in Des Moines, and NEXTAFF's unique methodology, Tom and the Peoria office will create a win-win for all parties in the employment equation."

The office is located at 4507 N Sterling Ave, Suite 402B in Peoria. More information can be found at https://www.nextaff.com/locations/peoria-il/.

About NEXTAFF

NEXTAFF helps companies identify, evaluate and acquire quality talent through our proprietary X-FACTOR model. Our comprehensive approach is designed to outperform a typical temp agency supplier model by up to 100 percent. Each temporary staffing office is locally owned and operated, which allows our clients to work directly with owners in hiring quality talent. NEXTAFF offers a variety of custom solutions to commercial, information technology and healthcare industries. NEXTAFFs goal is to enable clients to concentrate on their core business activities while we identify, evaluate and acquire quality talent.

For more information about NEXTAFFs services, visit https://www.nextaff.com/.

Those interested in franchise opportunities can visit https://www.nextaff-franchise.com/.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/166091

###
Premier Brian Pallister announces financial disaster assistance for municipalities, homeowners, farms and small businesses affected by last October's snowstorm.
A tug-of-war between senior government officials and a veterinary agency has seen the Kenyan taxpayers lose Sh92 million after a new foot-and-mouth disease vaccine expired.

The Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute (Kevevapi) had manufactured the oil-based vaccine in 2017 to replace a water-based one, Nation reported Tuesday.

However, Ministry of Agriculture officials rejected its launch because they wanted to be taken for a benchmarking trip in Brazil, where the vaccine is in use.

We were unable to launch the vaccine because some senior officials in the ministry deliberately frustrated the efforts, a senior official at the institute was quoted by the daily.

The vaccine reportedly expired last year amid a 6-month shortage, which saw thousands of animals succumb to foot-and-mouth disease.

It is clear from the records that the oil-based vaccine has expired. However, I am not privy to what happened as by that time I had not been appointed to the ministry, Livestock PS Harry Kimutai said.

Kenya is also said to have lost foreign exchange as Kevevapi is the only institution that produces the vaccine in East Africa, selling to Tanzania, Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.

According to vets, the delay in releasing the vaccine has also subjected farmers to losses from the high costs of protecting their animals from the disease.

Ordinarily, the oil-based vaccine is used only once a year as opposed to the conventional one that requires livestock to be vaccinated twice a year, making it an expensive affair, a vet told the Nation.
The 89-year old said the strongest powers -- the US, China and Russia -- have "remained in the hands of would-be or actual dictators and the ranks of authoritarian rulers continued to grow".

IMAGE: On the relationship between the United States and China, Soros said it has become incredibly complicated and difficult to understand. Photograph: Kind courtesy @georgesoros/Twitter

Billionaire investor George Soros, known for his outspoken liberal views, has criticised virtually all economic powers of the world, including the United States and China, for being ruled by "would-be or actual dictators" and named India among the countries where nationalism is making further headway.

In a statement released in Davos during the World Economic Forum 2020 week, he also questioned success of China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, saying it has required giving large loans, some of which will never be repaid.

The 89-year old, who has been a big donor for Democrats, said the strongest powers -- the US, China and Russia -- have "remained in the hands of would-be or actual dictators and the ranks of authoritarian rulers continued to grow".

Stating that he had last year hoped things to improve, including on international cooperation, Soros said his hopes crashed badly and nationalism, far from being reversed, made further headway.

"The biggest and most frightening setback occurred in India where a democratically-elected Narendra Modi is creating a Hindu nationalist state, imposing punitive measures on Kashmir, a semi-autonomous Muslim region, and threatening to deprive millions of Muslims of their citizenship," he claimed.

In Latin America, a humanitarian catastrophe continues to unfold.

"To top it all off, Kim Jong-Un threatened the United States with its nuclear capabilities in his New Year's speech and Trump's impetuous actions heightened the risk of a conflagration in the Middle East," Soros said.

On the relationship between the United States and China, he said it has become incredibly complicated and difficult to understand.

He said the two presidents, Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, face internal constraints and various enemies.

"Both try to extend the powers of their office to its limit and beyond. While they have found some mutually beneficial reasons to cooperate, their motivations are completely different."

He went on to call Trump "a con man and the ultimate narcissist who wants the world to revolve around him".

"When his fantasy of becoming president came true, his narcissism developed a pathological dimension. Indeed, he has transgressed the limits imposed on the presidency by the Constitution and has been impeached for it. At the same time, he has managed to gather a large number of followers who have bought into his alternative reality," he said.

"This has turned his narcissism into a malignant disease. He came to believe that he could impose his alternative reality not only on his followers but on reality itself," he noted.

Soros said Trump is willing to sacrifice the national interests for his personal interests and he will do practically anything to win re-election.

By contrast, Xi is eager to exploit Trump's weaknesses and use artificial intelligence to achieve total control over his people, he claimed.

Soros, however, said Xi's success is far from assured.

"One of China's vulnerabilities is that it still depends on the United States to supply it with the microprocessors it needs to dominate the 5G market and to fully implement the social credit system that is a threat to open societies."

"The Belt and Road Initiative has required giving large loans, some of which will never be repaid. China can ill-afford this because its budget deficit has increased and its trade surplus has diminished.

"Since Xi Jinping has centralised power in his hands, China's economic policy has also lost its flexibility and inventiveness," Soros said.

To make matters worse for Xi, the Trump administration has developed a comprehensive and bipartisan policy towards China, which has declared that China is a strategic rival, he added.

Soros further claimed Trump didn't have a strategic plan when he authorised the launching of a missile that killed the leader of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Suleimani, and an Iraqi pro-Iranian militia commander.

But Trump has an unfailing instinct that tells him how his faithful followers would respond to his actions, he said.

In Davos, Soros also announced that he is creating a new university network to better prepare students for current and future global challenges.

He said he is endowing the network with USD 1 billion and asking other philanthropists to contribute.

The network, which will operate throughout the world, has been named the Open Society University Network.

It will integrate teaching and research across higher education institutions worldwide.
Members of the sheriffs warrants team conducted a fugitive apprehension investigation and determined Bass was likely staying at a hotel in the 5000 block of Grand Avenue, the statement added. Warrants deputies set up surveillance at the hotel and observed Bass walking through the parking lot at approximately 2:30 p.m on (Thursday). Warrants deputies surrounded Bass and took him into custody without incident.
Georgie Gardner returned to the Channel Nine news desk on Friday night.

The 49-year-old took to Instagram to mark the occasion, sharing a photo which showed her back to work at her old stomping ground.

She wrote: 'Delighted to be back on the @9newssydney set for 6pm news. Been a while between bulletins, just like riding a bike, right?!'

'Delighted to be back': Georgie Gardner (pictured) returned to the Nine news desk on Friday after being axed from the Today show. She shared this photo on Instagram

In the snap, Georgie has her game face on, sitting in the anchor's seat wearing a white pantsuit.

After her departure from Today, it was understood Georgie would return to presenting Nine News Sydney on Fridays and Saturdays.

An industry insider has told Daily Mail Australia that Georgie is likely to be heading back to her old job at Nine's Weekend News.

She wrote: 'Delighted to be back on the @9newssydney set for 6pm news. Been a while between bulletins, just like riding a bike, right?!'

The source also claimed that she will take over from Peter Overton on the weekday 6pm bulletin when he is away.

'[Georgie] has really proven her worth on weekends and as Peter Overton's back-up. Together they have become an unstoppable team dominating Sydney ratings,' they said.

In November 2019, Nine announced their decision to axe Georgie and co-host Deborah Knight from their breakfast TV hosting duties at Channel Nine's Today show.

Gone: In November 2019, Nine announced their decision to axe Georgie and co-host Deborah Knight (right) from their breakfast TV hosting duties at Channel Nine's Today show

At the time of her axing, Georgie claimed she was shocked by the network's decision to sack her and Deborah, and reinstate Karl Stefanovic, who had been axed in December 2018.

'I was consulted two weeks ago about the future direction of the Today show and naturally I'm disappointed with the outcome,' she told Nine Now.

'I have no regrets, even though the scrutiny and public discourse has been daunting and disproportionate. It's also at times been cruel.'

Words: At the time of her axing, Georgie claimed she was shocked by the network's decision to sack her and Deborah, and reinstate Karl Stefanovic, who had previously been axed in December 2018

Georgie subsequently left the show shortly after her axing, choosing not to finish the year.

Today suffered record-low ratings after Georgie replaced Lisa Wilkinson as Karl Stefanovic's co-host in early 2018.

Georgie and Deborah were replaced this month by reinstated anchor Karl Stefanovic and new co-host Allison 'Ally' Langdon.
Photo credit: erhui1979 - Getty Images

From Popular Mechanics

Apple scrapped plans to let its customers fully encrypt backups of their phone to iCloud after the FBI said it would hamper investigations, according to a Reuters report.

U.S. Attorney General William Barr called on Apple to unlock two iPhones used by a Saudi Air Force officer who shot and killed three people on a Florida naval base last month.

End-to-end encryption is meant to stop hackers, but it would also have meant that Apple would no longer have the encryption key to read a person's data. So the company also couldn't fork over the goods to law enforcement anymore.

Apple had intended to make end-to-end encryption of an entire device's data, which would then be uploaded to iCloud, available to customers. But then the FBI stepped in and put the kibosh on those plans.

The problem, according to law enforcement: Fully locked-down iPhones could be a roadblock to investigations, like the probe into a Saudi Air Force officer who shot three people dead at a Pensacola, Florida naval base last month.

U.S. Attorney General William Barr publicly asked Apple to unlock the two iPhones the shooter had in his possession. The company eventually did hand over backups from his iCloud account, but the whole ordeal shone a light on the back-and-forth dialogue going on between the U.S. government and tech companies that disagree about whether or not end-to-end encryption should be allowed. Just last month, both Democratic and Republican senators considered legislation to ban end-to-end encryption, using unrecoverable evidence in crimes against children as an example.

Apple had been planning to introduce end-to-end encryption for over two years and even told the FBI, according to a Reuters report that cited one current and three former Bureau officials, as well as one current and one former Apple employee. Shortly thereafter, the FBIs cybercrime agents and its operational technology division came out as staunchly opposed to those plans because it would make it impossible for Apple to recover people's messages for use in investigations.

Story continues

"Legal killed it, for reasons you can imagine," another former Apple employee told Reuters. "They decided they werent going to poke the bear anymore."

In this case, the bear is the government. In 2016, a nearly identical showdown between the FBI and Apple took place after the two parties got into a legal battle over access to an iPhone owned by a suspect in the San Bernardino, California mass shooting.

The nixed encryption plans are a loss for iPhone users because end-to-end encryption is more advanced than today's industry standard for security: basic encryption. Loads of companies use encryption, which basically scrambles the contents of a message or some other snippet of data, rendering it completely useless without the decryption key, which can unshuffle the jargon and restore the original.

Under this framework, a company usually has the cryptographic encryption key, which means the data isn't truly safe if a government or hacker gets their hands on the key. End-to-end encryption, though, means only the, well, end computerthe one receiving the datahas the encryption key stored. In theory, that person's computer could still be hacked and the encryption key could be forfeited, but it really reduces those odds.

But that limitation on who has access to the encryption key is the very crux of law enforcement's issue with end-to-end encryption: If Apple doesn't have the encryption key to access backups of a person's iPhone on the cloud, then the government can't access that data either.



Still, it's not entirely clear that the government is to blame for this project being killed. It's entirely possible Apple didn't want to have to deal with the headache of its customers accidentally locking themselves out of their own data.

For the rest of the world's smartphone users who rely on the Android operating system, end-to-end encryption is an option. Back in October 2018, Google announced that customers could use a new capability that would keep backed-up data from their phones completely locked down by using a decryption key that's randomly generated on that user's phone, using their lock screen pin, pattern, or passcode.

"By design, this means that no one (including Google) can access a user's backed-up application data without specifically knowing their passcode," the company wrote in a blog post. This end-to-end encryption offering is still available.



You Might Also Like
A 'bandh' was observed by Left students' unions in the Osmania University here on Friday protesting the illegal arrest of an associate professor for his alleged links with Maoists.

The protest called by Students Federation of India, All India Students Federation and others passed off peacefully and no untoward incidents occurred, university sources said.

The bandh supporters took out a rally and classes were disturbed to some extent in the morning hours, they said.

Telangana police on Saturday last arrested C Kasim, an associate professor working in Telugu Department of the university, for his alleged links with Maoists.

He was arrested following searches at his house and produced before a court which remanded him to judicial custody.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Latest news reports suggests that BJP has been losing Muslim workers and leaders of its minority cell in large numbers in Madhya Pradesh, since the passage of the citizenship act.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is undertaking a massive campaign to dispel 'misinformation' on the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens. However, the party seems to have been unable to quell protests from within. Latest news reports suggests that the party has been losing Muslim workers and leaders of its minority cell in large numbers in Madhya Pradesh, since the passage of the Act.

News18 reported that more than 80 members of Madhya Pradesh BJP's minority cell have resigned en masse on Wednesday, after the party refused to address their concerns about the contentious law.

The CAA, for the first time makes religion a criteria to fast-track citizenship for refugees from three countries, and essentially leaves out only Muslims from benefiting from the revised law. Furthermore, the party's previous statements have indicated that the process of implementing CAA cannot be de-hyphenated from the NRC, which puts the burden of proving citizenship on the citizens  many of whom lack valid documents. The guidelines for the required criteria to prove citizenship has not been revealed yet.

Meanwhile, the workers who quit the party said they feel the party has abandoned its original idea of development and growth and is instead indulging in unending list of Hindu-Muslim issues. Maximum numbers of resignations over the contentious issue were mostly from Indore, Mhow, Khargone and Dewas.

'The list of Hindu Muslim issues is unending. When they abrogated Article 370, we supported the party and said that it was a good move and now even we can go and live in Kashmir. Even after the triple talaq ended, we did not do any Hindu-Muslim and welcomed the decision. In the Babri Masjid-Ram Mandir dispute, we respected the party position and told our community that both a mosque and a temple are being given space, but the question is that how long will these communal issues go on. When one issue ends, another issue arises. Every day new issues are brought out. This seems never ending. When will we talk about growth, development and employment," a former BJP worker told News18.

Earlier, the party had expelled the state spokesperson of the minority cell Javed Baig for 'flouting' the party's social media guidelines on posts related to CAA and NRC.

"For years, we have been disciplined workers of the BJP and toed the party line on issues like triple talaq and Babri Masjid-Ram temple," he said, adding that he had only shared posts on police excesses on students in Jamia Milia Islamia and Jawaharal Nehru University in the national capital, and other campuses. "Is it a crime?" he asked.

Another office holder of the BJP minority cell in Madhya Pradesh, Akram Khan, also resigned from his post as a mark of protest against CAA and NRC and also complained about objectionable statements being made by party leaders against the Muslim community.

"I respect the party's decision on the CAA and the NRC and have been serving it for 25 years. But some colleagues have been making indecent comments against a particular community, which is unbearable and hurts sentiments," he told The Hindu.

Another upset party worker Tasleem Khan, the Khargone district head of minority cell, told News18, "At least 173 functionaries and 500 workers resigned from the morcha on 9 January. Leaders like me had associated ourselves to BJP to serve our own community, but what is the point in continuing when a 'draconian law' like CAA has been passed by the same party."

"We have been ignoring objectionable remarks from party seniors as personal remarks, but now this has gone beyond our toleration," he added.

However, the cell's district head in Bhopal, Mohammad Ajaz, refuted Khan's claim and said that only a handful of office-bearers have quit and the list of names were of small-level functionaries and even included fake names. He also called the leaders opportunists for walking out of the party after it lost power in the state.
Editor's note: Updating earlier story with comments from Metals Focus.

(Kitco News) - Gold demand tied to the Chinese New Year is being described as sluggish, apparently dented by the higher price of the precious metal, a slowing economy in the country and a virus outbreak, most traders and analysts said.

Still, some observers figure the holiday demand could still end up higher than a year ago, which was described as an off year.

China is the worlds largest consumer of gold, taking over the No. 1 spot from India several years ago. Buying of the precious metal tends to pick up ahead of the Chinese New Year, which is Saturday.

Overall, the demand continues to be rather sluggish, said Afshin Nabavi, head of trading with MKS (Switzerland) SA, the trading arm of MKS PAMP Group. MKS is involved in all of the worlds bullion major bullion markets.

He and others blamed the soft demand in large part on higher prices and Chinas slowing economy. During the run-up to the Chinese New Year, spot gold hit a nearly seven-year high of $1,609.10 an ounce on Jan. 8. It has backed off since. Still, the price at 10 a.m. EST  $1,562.60 an ounce  was nearly $250 an ounce higher than on the Chinese New Year last year, which occurred on Feb. 5, 2019. This in turn has also led to higher prices in the local currency, observers said.

Some Chinese demand is always there, but tends not to be as robust as when prices are lower, Nabavi said. The market just needs to get used to $1,500, $1,600 and such.

Carsten Fritsch, analyst with Commerzbank, told Kitco News that holiday-related demand likely will be soft, or at least not as strong as last year.

Prices are still very high  higher than last year, of course, he said.

Golds fortunes were not helped when an outbreak of coronavirus in China made headlines this week. The crisis impacted global stock markets on worries about the impact on the economy, should the virus spread from being a local epidemic to a global pandemic. China has suspended transportation in 10 cities and 26 people have reportedly died from the disease so far.

This virus outbreak came at the worst possible time  just ahead of the Chinese New Year, Fritsch said. So the buying will be weaker than usual.

Rohit Savant, director of research with CPM Group, also expects the virus to curb some gold buying.

Our expectation is that Chinese gold demand for the Lunar New Year may be somewhat lower than [what] would have been expected in the absence of the coronavirus breakout, Savant said.

Philip Newman, director of the consultancy Metals Focus, said that based on the wholesale trade in early January, retailers appeared to be building inventory ahead of the holiday at levels similar to previous years. This reflected their expectations at the time for a similar sales performance. Then came the coronavirus outbreak, which has potential to spread, given the festival travel rush, he said.

This in turn has affected gold-jewelry sales before [the Chinese New Year], Newman said. In addition, people may not be willing to go out during the holidays, which could certainly hit Chinese New Year gold sales. As a result, we could see a very subdued retail jewelry market, which may last for some time.

The fact that gold has risen so far this year is mainly due to the geopolitical factors rather than actual physical demand, Nabavi said. Despite a pullback from the peak, spot gold is still up 3% so far in 2020, with prices consolidating sideways in recent days. The market now seems to be awaiting for some kind of confirmation of a breakout to the upside, Nabavi added.

Peter Hug, global trading director of Kitco Metals, reported that sales have not been high as past years in Hong Kong, where the company operates rather than in mainland China. He suspects this is because of a drop in tourism, with Hong Kongs economy appearing to slow rapidly.

Were not seeing the same type of offtake for New Year commemorative type of coins, whether they are sovereign mint coins or collectible coins made by private mints, that we have seen in past years, Hug said. I cant quantify the demand differential. But the demand is definitely much lower than it was in last years run-up to the Chinese New Year.

A softer economy is leaving buyers wary of spending ancillary cash and the price point is up at least $200 from last year, Hug said. So that is all contributing to a lessening of demand.

Kitco has a product to commemorate the Chinese New Year, he noted.

Fritsch pointed out that the China Gold Association reported earlier this week that demand for all of 2019 declined by 12.9% to 1,002.8 metric tons.

The economy is still weak and local prices are still high, he said. There is no reason to expect an uptick in demand soon. And now, on top of this, we have this virus, which will also dent gold demand in China.

Meanwhile, Suki Cooper, precious-metals analyst with Standard Chartered, was upbeat on the holiday-related gold demand, suggesting that it will be stronger than in 2019. However, she also commented that last year was a weak year.

As a gauge, she looks at the volume traded on the Shanghai Gold Exchange, which she said points to a good year for seasonal holiday demand.

If we have a weak year, the buying tends to pick up in the last two weeks ahead of the Lunar New Year, Cooper said. And if we have a strong year, the buying tends to pick up six weeks ahead of the Lunar New Year.

This year, we saw global buying picking up six weeks [ahead of time]. Buying in China started to materialize in December.

The physical market has helped gold find a floor around the $1,550 area, she said.
Oil slid to an eight-week low on concern that Chinas coronavirus outbreak may dent demand. But the drop was tempered by an unexpected decline in U.S. crude inventories and as the World Health Organization opted against declaring the virus a global health emergency.

Futures sank 2% in New York on Thursday, paring an earlier 3.5% drop. The Energy Information Administration reported a 405,000-barrel decrease in crude stockpiles last week, in contrast to expectations for a build by analysts and the industry-funded American Petroleum Institute. A committee of experts convened by the United Nations health agency opted to continue monitoring the outbreak, which has killed more than a dozen people and sickened hundreds.

The crude market is partly responding to that decision, somewhat of a muted move compared to the S&P, said Rebecca Babin, senior energy trader at CIBC Private Wealth Management. Regardless of what WHO says, the fact we may see demand be hurt is what the markets are really focused on.

The EIA also showed a 1.75-million-barrel gain in gasoline stocks, the smallest since September. Distillate stocks fell 1.19 million barrels, after gaining over 20 million barrels over the previous three weeks.

The EIA data was constructive and favorable, particularly since a crude stock draw was reported when the market was expecting an increase, said Brian Kessens, portfolio manager at Tortoise, a Kansas firm that oversees more than $21 billion in assets.

China, the worlds biggest oil importer, effectively quarantined a major city to contain the SARS-like virus, banning travel from Wuhan, a city of 11 million. The alert has overshadowed concern over the halt of exports from Libya, and suspension of Nigerian Bonny crude shipments.

Oil is bearing the brunt of the anxiety due to the potential hit to travel, especially ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays, the biggest human migration in the world. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. predicts the virus may crimp global demand by 260,000 barrels a day this year -- with jet fuel accounting for around two-thirds of the loss -- if the SARS epidemic in 2003 is any guide.

West Texas Intermediate futures for March delivery slid $1.15 to settle at $55.59 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, the lowest close since Nov 29.

Brent futures for March settlement declined $1.17 to $62.04 a barrel. The global benchmark traded at a $6.45 premium to WTI for the same month.

Once there is evidence that the outbreak is contained and thus the economic disruption is coming to an end, sentiment on oil should improve, bringing prices back up, said Pavel Molchanov, energy research analyst at Raymond James & Associates Inc.

Libyas eastern strongman kept virtually all of the nations oil fields shut, in a show of defiance after world leaders failed to persuade him to sign a peace deal ending the OPEC countrys civil war. Libyas oil output plunged to the lowest level since August 2011, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
New Delhi, Jan 24 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday morning held roadshows in West Delhi's three Assembly constituencies -- Janakpuri, Tilak Nagar and Madipur.

Kejriwal, accompanied by the respective MLA candidates of his party, rode an open jeep and urged people to vote for him.

He was followed by hundreds of party workers, who were dancing on the tune of "Lage raho Kejriwal" - - the party's theme song for the 2020 Assembly elections.

Later in the day, the Chief Minister will hold public meetings at other areas in Nangloi and Rohini.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 09:49:18|Editor: ZD

Video Player Close

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- One suspect has been arrested in connection with the shooting that killed one woman and injured seven others, including a nine-year boy, in downtown Seattle in Washington state, police said Thursday.

The Seattle Police Department (SPD) said the 21-year-old man, identified as Jamel Jackson, was also arrested for "a firearms violation."

He was linked to the shooting that occurred near Third Avenue and Pine Street in downtown Seattle Wednesday evening.

A woman in her 40s to 50s was killed on the spot during the shooting outside a McDonald's restaurant in the city. Seattle police believed there were multiple suspects, who had fled the scene.

On Thursday, the police identified two other suspects involved in the shooting who were still at large. The two were Marquise Tolbert and William Tolliver, who were both 24 years old.

"Both men are considered armed and dangerous," the police said.

Local media reported Jackson has a criminal history of robbery, harassment and unlawful handgun possession.

Wednesday's shooting left a 55-year-old female in critical condition, while all male victims were treated at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

It has been the third shooting in downtown Seattle since Tuesday, when a 55-year-old man was shot and killed at a location near Wednesday's shooting.
The little girl is now a young woman watching her little girl play in the chill and gray of a late afternoon in Leon Valleys Raymond Rimkus Park.

Do you think people will be surprised I have a daughter? Valerie Casias asks me.

People are going to be surprised youre 34, I answer. (Her birthday is Jan. 26.)

Were sitting at a picnic table, me on the bench and Valerie in her wheelchair, as 3-year-old Emarie kicks up giggles and sand while running around the playground and flying down slides. She weaves between other children and their parents as Valeries provider tries to keep up. From about 100 feet, Valerie watches and smiles, her hands ready to push her wheelchair should the need arise.

In the early morning hours of April 20, 1994, Valerie, then 8, was sleeping on her grandmothers living room sofa when drive-by shooters opened fire, hitting her four times. Her spine was shattered, and she was paralyzed from the waist down. Her recall of that night is amazing.

I woke up to tones of unrecognizable people surrounding me. I can still hear the screams of my family begging me to stay awake, she says. Valerie! Valerie! Stay awake! Valerie, wake up! Open your eyes! I can still hear the crack of my uncles voice as he screams at me; I remember every word he said, Count backwards, Valerie! Valerie, count with me, 100, 99, 98, 97, 96 ...Valerie! Please dont fall asleep!

I Am I am a little girl I wonder if I will walk again I hear my cries I see myself hurting I want the pain to stop I am a little girl I pretend to be happy I feel the pain of other people I touch the hearts of other people I worry that I'm not going to walk I cry when I'm in pain I am a little girl I understand what my doctors say I say I don't believe it I dream of walking someday I try not to listen I hope of walking someday I am a little girl. Valerie Casias (2000) See More Collapse

I can still hear the sirens that echoed outside the house. I can still see the blue and red lights that covered the houses, the trees and the sky.

Her shooting happened doing a period when San Antonio was tagged The Drive-by Capital of Texas, a time when children were often the lambs sacrificed on the altar of gang violence.

In 1995, the one-year anniversary of the shooting, I wrote a front-page story on Valerie and from then on wrote an annual update on her until 2011 (when I left the Express-News). We kept in touch, and the last time Id seen her was in 2018 at Emaries second birthday party.

The reason for the annual updates were that crime victims are often forgotten, their wounds and pain rarely seen. Tragedies that are passing headlines to the rest of us are permanently archived in their lives and the lives of their families.

The deal Valerie and I had was that Id keep writing about her until she walked. There came a time when we both stopped talking about her walking again.

The oldest of five, Valerie is close to her family, especially her grandmother, but shes independent. Two years after graduating from John Jay High School, she moved into her own apartment.

In 2011 she graduated from Northwest Vista College with an associate degree in criminal justice and would like to go back to school.

Emaries father isnt involved in their lives.

Im happy that I have her, she says. Its hard doing it by myself. But she gives me something to look forward to every day. Shes so full of life. It makes me happy to see her smiling.

Five young men were convicted and have served their time for the shooting. Valerie sits in her wheelchair in a park watching her daughter play. Emarie loves parks, and Valerie tries to take her to different ones several times a week.

Im limited in what I can do for her (physically), but I try to do whatever I can, she says, whether Im in pain or not.

As she gets older, the muscle spasms are more frequent and intense. Emarie knows when her mother is hurting.

Shell rub my legs and back and climb on the wheelchair to give me a kiss, says Valerie.

Over the years, Valerie has reached out to other victims of drive-by shootings and helped a couple of them with their victim impact statements.

Before leaving the park, she asks me about some of the other drive-by victims from the 1990s, a few names I remember, most Ive forgotten.

Valerie then asks, Do you stay in touch with them?

Watching Emarie, I glance at Valerie and then look away before answering, Youre the only one who survived.

Cary.Clack@express-news.net
Police on Friday announced 1lakh reward to anyone providing information on notorious gangster Sukhwinder Singh alias Moni. Singh, along with his unidentified accomplice, had allegedly shot dead a 45-year-old financier, Harjinder Singh alias Jindi, in Jawahar Nagar camp in full public view at Jawahar Nagar Camp here on Thursday night.

The reason behind the murder has not been ascertained yet, but sources said Singh suspected Jindi of tipping off the police about his involvement in an ATM robbery case, wherein the police had announced 50,000 reward on information about Singh.

According to the police, Singh along with his accomplices had uprooted an ATM containing 23 lakh in Pakhowal on the intervening night of November 1 and 2 last year. A case in this regard was registered at the Sudhar police station. The PAU police had arrested three of the accused including Deepak Billa, Deepak Deepu of Shimlapuri and Ajay Kumar of Ferozepur on November 13, while Singh, his nephew Amrit, Gattu of Ayali village, Sonu Pinna, Rakesh Kumar and Gurjant Singh of Ferozepur are on the run.

COPS HUNT FOR CLUES

A day after the murder, the busy Jawahar Nagar Camp market remained closed on Friday as police investigated the spot for clues. Following the attack, the victim had entered the clinic of a local doctor, but the accused followed him and gunned him down.

The police have recovered five bullet shells from the spot. While fleeing, the accused have opened fire in the air. The accused shouted at the police to get aside. The accused heard saying to people that he has come to kill Jindi dont dare to intervene. The accused have been captured in the CCTVs installed in the area.

Sahil, the son of the victim, said, Sukhwinder was known to us as he belongs to the same locality. After he got arrested in a Punjab National Bank robbery case in 2016, we snapped all ties with him. After three members of his gang got arrested for Pakhowal ATM robbery, he started suspecting my father of passing on his information to the police.

Locals said Harjinder was planning to construct a hotel near the inter-state bus terminal in the city and had bought a piece of land for it as well. Family members said he was about to leave for Nepal for a tour on Thursday, but postponed the plan after death of a relative.

A case has been registered against the accused under Section 302 (murder) and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act at the Division Number 5 police station. Division Number 5 station house officer (SHO) sub-inspector Richa Rani said a hunt is on for the arrest of the accused. The police have been also investigating to identify the gangsters accomplice involved in the murder, she said.
No one knows for sure when Pennsylvanias Speaker of the House Speaker Mike Turzai, who said Thursday he will not seek a new term in office, will actually leave his seat.

Turzai, a 60-year-old Republican from Allegheny County, left open the possibility of leaving before his term expires in November, saying he would assess new career opportunities as they present themselves to him this year. Or, he could stay on through the end of session.

But we do know this: At some point within the next year, there will be a new Speaker, and because Turzai operates so differently than most of the other majority Republican leaders in place right now, that could spark some interesting, albeit nuanced, changes in both what and how things get done under the Capitol Dome in Harrisburg.

Even, that is, if the Republicans are still in majority control of the 203-member House, as they have been since 2011.

First lets talk style.

Turzai, more than any other Republican leader in recent years, had made himself sort of the anti-Gov. Wolf; the highest-profile resistor in the GOP leadership ranks to tax increases, hikes in the states minimum wage, or most kinds of major state spending increases.

That was great, in the eyes of his supporters.

Charles Mitchell, president of the conservative-leaning Commonwealth Foundation, lauded Turzai Thursday for driving through a list of accomplishments that included tax credits-for private school tuition scholarships, public pension reform, reform of the states liquor system, the defeat of billions of dollars of tax increases and the protection of affordable energy for all Pennsylvanians.

It also made him the chief flak-catcher for the Republicans in Harrisburg.

Supporters say that was true leadership in action.

The Democrats politically have used him as a scapegoat for a lot of things not happening, said Rep. Seth Grove, a Republican from Dover, York County. So he has taken arrow after arrow after arrow... when it is really the caucus thats generally opposed to those issues.

Proof that Turzai could read and serve his caucus, Grove and other supporters said, was his 2015 decision to run a bill establishing a medical marijuana program in Pennsylvania despite his own intense, personal opposition.

But there were also several times in high-stakes negotiations in recent years, typically involving the state budget, when it could feel like there was everybody else in legislative leadership, and then there was Turzai.

Never was that more apparent then in 2015 and 2017. In both years, House and Senate negotiators crafted potential budget deals, with tax increases, with Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf. Then when respective Republican and Democratic leaders went back to sell those deals to their members, it was Turzai who was crediting with leading revolts in the House Republican chamber to stop them.

The good part about that, Turzais supporters say, is unnecessary tax increases were avoided.

But several sources who asked not to be identified Thursday in order to speak about closed-door budget negotiations said they believe Turzais actions stunted trust between the leaders, and literally led to a move away from so-called big table negotiations to, in recent years, a system of smaller talks and shuttle diplomacy.

That was in part due to certain leaders reluctance, some of the sources speaking to PennLive said, to negotiate with Turzai.

The Speaker, these Turzai-ologists said, never adapted to the divided government era that started with Democrat Gov. Tom Wolfs election in 2014. One top Democratic staffer complained Thursday that "when you are trying to solve problems, you dont start with five solutions not being allowed to come into the room.

Of course, in the modified approach to budget negotiations, the issues still get talked through and eventually, everyone, has their say. But, Turzais critics said, there has been a loss of bipartisan, cross-chamber and cross-branch collegiality.

Conservatives certainly hope and expect that any recast House Republican leadership team will continue to push for smaller government, lower taxes and less onerous regulations on Pennsylvania businesses. But sources from both parties on Thursday expressed a hopefulness that with a new Speaker could come a new spirit of cooperation and collaboration.

As for issues, heres a couple that might get some different treatment in a post-Turzai legislature:

1) Minimum wage.

The Senate has already passed a plan that would push the states minimum wage from $7.25 to $9.50 per hour by 2022. The House hasnt acted yet.

House Republicans, whose oft-stated preference is for policy changes that improve the business climate so there are more jobs that pay well above the minimum, wont roll over on this issue just because Turzai is leaving. But Democrats are eager to see if they can find common ground on the shared goal of helping poor, working Pennsylvanians with a fresh leadership group.

2) Energy issues.

Some suggest efforts to recalibrate energy policy for the next generation might make more headway.

Turzai is a hero for many in the current generation, says Gene Barr, president of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry. Turzai saw how the Marcellus Shale play was helping areas of the state that hadnt seen sustained economic growth since the collapse of Big Steel in the 1970s, and he became dedicated to ensuring that the industry - and all the spin-offs that could come from it - had every chance to thrive, Barr said.

His supporters love him for it, arguing that all Pennsylvanians are enjoying lower home heating prices and better air quality because of the gas boom.

But Turzais gas-first approach, other sources noted Thursday, tended to have a chilling effect in the House majority caucus on issues like how to ensure the preservation of the states nuclear plants and its carbon-free emissions in the face of a national imperative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

3) Restore Pennsylvania

Wolf has gotten nowhere so far in his pitch to finance a $4.5 billion, bond-funded infrastructure investment. Turzai, who has prided himself on taking steps to control the states long-term debt load, has derided Wolfs plan as mortgaging the states future to provide Governor Wolf with a slush fund to ride out his term.

Down the road, could Wolf get some more traction on Restore PA post-Turzai, either through bond funding or proceeds from the states proposed participation in the northeastern states regional cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gas emissions from power plants?

Other issues, meanwhile, may have to find new champions:

1) School Choice.

Turzai has been the leading proponent among current legislative leaders for expanded school choice programs.

But in a post-Turzai world - at least while Wolf, a strong public education proponent, is in power - it might be all school choice proponents can do simply to retain the tax credit-for-tuition scholarships program that Turzai has pushed and pulled into an annual $240 million revenue hit in the near term future.

2) Further liquor reforms.

Turzai, more than anyone, is the person you should toast if youre pleased about being able to buy a bottle of wine at the grocery store. But further liquor reform efforts dont seem to have the same primacy with his leadership colleagues, and again, as long as Wolf is in office, its unlikely that we see a major next step in liquor privatization until the 2016 changes are fully absorbed and analyzed.

None of this is to suggest that things will be dramatically different for the average Pennsylvanian because of a new House Speaker.

It doesnt change the essential nature of the Republican caucus, said Franklin & Marshall College political scientist G. Terry Madonna. Theyre conservative, many of them. They come from the states rural areas and small towns, and a lot of them are supporters of President Trump... I dont see what I would call significant policy changes.

Turzai couldnt have done anything he did without the support of his members, and there will be other leaders (succeeding him) who will grasp that, agreed Steve Bloom, a former GOP House member from Cumberland County who now serves as vice president of the conservative-leaning Commonwealth Foundation, which has shared many of Turzais policy priorities in recent years.

In the long run, its quite likely that the 2020 election results have a far bigger effect on the overall direction of the ship of state than who replaces Mike Turzai as Speaker of the House.

But the Republican leader who has been most unlike the others is getting ready to step out of the picture, and - for the time being - that bears watching.
North American tribal people have dealt with the complex issue of cross-border migration since the mid-19th century, negotiating boundaries set by treaties between the United States and Mexico to the south and Canada to the north. The Yaquis of northern Sonora crossed into what became Arizona in search of freedom from persecution as well as economic opportunity. When Mexican policy and practice enslaved and deported the Yaquis from their home regions, many crossed into the United States as refugees. On the northern border Crees crossed from Canada into U.S. territories, particularly Montana. They established camps but retained their nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle, repeatedly crossing the border, which they referred to as the Medicine Line. After the 1885 North-West Rebellion, their desire to be in the United States took on new meaning, as they also sought refuge.

In his Spur Awardwinning Native but Foreign: Indigenous Immigrants and Refugees in the North American Borderlands author Brenden W. Rensink delves deep into the stories of the Yaquis, Crees and Chippewas, who ventured to the United States to improve their lives, as well as those Indians who crossed borders to escape military pursuit in the United Statesnotably the followers of Geronimo and other Apaches in the south, and the Lakotas who followed Sitting Bull and the Nez Perces who went with White Bird to Canada.

What motivated the Yaquis to enter the United States/Arizona?

That depends on when. Yaquis come into what would become Arizona as far back as the 1700s. In the mid- to late-1800s many crossed north as a much-desired work force, applying their expertise in mining, railroad and irrigation construction. Finally, in the late-1800s and early 1900s a wave of Yaqui political refugees fled north to seek refuge from a state-sponsored campaign of extermination, enslavement and deportation to the Yucatan.

Were the Yaquis fleeing persecution or seeking prosperity?

Sonora had long been a landscape of violence and many Yaquis were simultaneously pushed by violence and pulled by economic opportunity across the line. In the latter stages, however, the push of violence motivated many who had weathered previous periods of violence to flee.

American newspapers depicted Yaquis as savage, indomitable, and perpetually troublesome. This caused trouble for them in Arizona. Even with such negative coverage, however, many reports often expressed awe at their fierce independence

How did Arizonans generally regard Yaqui refugees of the early 1900s?

Mixed and complicated. They were prized as skilled laborers by many industries and highly sought after. At the same time, however, continual violence in Sonora between their compatriots and the Mexican state cast a continual shadow of suspicion over them. A third complicating factor is that they did gain sympathy when American media picked up on the extermination, deportation and enslavement occurring in Mexico. What is unclear is if this sympathy was more driven by altruistic desires to provide them sanctuary or by the opportunity for Americans to cast judgment on Mexico for malfeasance. The irony of America wagging its finger at Mexico for doing many of the things the nation had done itself mere years earlier was not lost on some observers.

How did the attitude and perception of the Yaquis compare with the feelings and actions related to African Americans in the US?

Americans regularly viewed Yaquis as just a different group of Mexicans. Many Mexicans had Indigenous heritage, but Americans failed to understand the unique nature of Yaqui independence and opposition to Mexico in Sonora. When grouped with Mexicans, they faced the same prejudice Americans expressed towards other Mexican and Latin American communities. The comparison to the treatment of African Americans is less direct.

What effect did newspaper and other reports have on the Yaquis?

It had a significant impact. During periods of warfare in Sonora (often involving Yaquis), American newspapers depicted them as savage, indomitable, and perpetually troublesome. This caused trouble for Yaquis in Arizona. Even with such negative coverage, however, many reports often expressed awe at their fierce independence. This again may have been motivated by an unspoken desire by some Americans to disparage Mexico, and praising their uncivilized Yaqui adversaries certainly demeaned them. Later, after the threat of deportation waned in the mid-1900s, Yaquis rose in prominence as newspapers reported on their Easter celebrations  making them something of a cultural phenomenon and tourist attraction. Later generations built on this goodwill while organizing politically and seeking white allies in the state.

In 1909 Harpers Weekly reported the tragedy of the Yaquis is perhaps without a parallel in American history. Was that an exaggeration?

This is a perfect example of America deflecting guilt for its own mistreatment of native peoples by highlighting Mexicos mistreatment of Yaquis. There may have been some sincerity in this and other similar reports, but it could also serve a political purpose. In 1909 the United States was fresh off the Spanish-American War, newly active in global affairs and carefully trying to differentiate itself from European empiressomething many Americans were uncomfortable with being compared to. Highlighting the flaws of other nations served the purpose of elevating America above the fray.

How did Cree border crossings compare with those of the Yaquis?

Interestingly, Cree migrations compare closely with Yaqui examples. Crees had long histories in what would become the United States (even predating American settlement) and were welcomed as an economic force early on (fur trade) but later turned away. Both groups faced different receptions, depending on surrounding circumstances.

Did the Yaquis or Crees make any treaties with the U.S. government?

None. By the mid-1800s, when the United States was attempting to settle and populate Montana and Arizona with white Americans, the government was not accepting any more Indian wards than they already had. The origins of the Crees and Yaquis made for an easy outsimply label them as foreign, declare they did not belong and demand they leave.

The government was not accepting any more Indian wards than they already had. The origins of the Crees and Yaquis made for an easy out  simply label them as foreign, declare they did not belong and demand they leave

How were Crees perceived amid the unique circumstances of the fur trade era?

Lewis and Clark wrote about them positively and guessed they could be used by American fur trade networks. This changed when the fur trade collapsed and Montana was organized as a territory soon thereafter. Interested in attracting white settlement, investment, and industry, Montana Territory had no interest in uncontrolled, non-treaty, non-reservation confined Indians especially if they were viewed to rightfully be wards of Canada. As whites settled on lands Crees had frequented for decades, subsequent tension, violence, cattle thieving and other negative interactions further soured Montanan views of Crees.

What role did Little Bear play in the Riel Uprising?

In the years just prior Little Bear had been in Montana with various bands under the leadership of his father Big Bear, among others. By 1885 they had returned to Canada, signed a treaty and settled on a reserve. During the Riel Rebellion, or Northwest Rebellion, a massacre of whites took place at Frog Lake and Big Bears Crees were present. The best survey of sources attests that Big Bear desperately tried to avert violence, but some of his young braves did not listen. With the army in pursuit, Big Bear told his son Little Bear to take followers south to Montana. Across the line there shall be liberty for you, he told his son. Big Bear remained himself to distract the pursuing troops.

After the uprising how did the Crees deal with their refugee status?

When Little Bears bands crossed the border and presented themselves at Fort Assiniboine, the commanding officers were ready to force them back across the line. However, word was received from Washington, DC, that they were being granted political asylum and would be allowed to stay. However, with that protection, little else was provided. They were left to wander, struggle, and starve.

What was John J. Pershings role in removal of the Crees from Montana?

In 1896, eleven years after Little Bears Crees had been allowed to stay (while being subsequently ignored), the United States appropriated $5,000 to round them up and deport them. From Fort Assiniboine, Pershing commanded the 10th Cavalry regiment of African American Buffalo Soldiers in the deportation effort. Hundreds were deported, including many American-born Crees, Chippewas, Metis, and others.

How did Montana newspapers cover the issue?

Much of the Montana press was elated. After a decade of complaining and campaigning to have the federal government get rid of the Crees, they finally had. When the majority of the Crees immediately returned back to Montana, many were incensed. A prime exception was the Great Falls Tribune, which had long been sympathetic to the Cree plight. They cried foul at the deportation, citing Crees amnesty and right to remain in the United States.

Can you compare how the Crees in Montana were treated with how Sitting Bull and his Lakota followers and White Bird and his Nez Perce followers were treated after they crossed the border and spent years in Canada?

The key difference in these examples is that the United States had existing treaties with Lakota and Nez Perce peoples. They were viewed as domestic Indians, and the U.S. government actively tried to get Canada to deport them back. Viewing Crees as foreign, there was no desire to have them under U.S. jurisdiction.

Why did it take so long for the Yaquis to receive reservation lands as compared with the Crees?

Ironically, Yaquis longer saga for federal tribal recognition (1978) versus Crees (1916) has a lot to do with their relatively greater success integrating themselves into the labor markets that Arizona desperately needed to build itself. This relative economic success allowed them to form communities and some stability, although plagued by the uncertainty of potential deportation, not owning land, etc. Crees, on the other hand, did not have many desirable labor skills, so they wandered. Crees were forced to live in city garbage dumps, migrate continually in search of work or support, and this made them more conspicuous and easier targets of Montanan prejudice. In a cruel and ironic twist, their 1916 securing of recognition and reservation lands to settle came because many Montanans were tired of seeing their poverty at the door. In Arizona, Yaqui struggles and problems were less visible because they were not a wandering people.

What other groups found themselves in the similar position of crossing either the northern or southern border as refugees into the U.S.?

There were other Native peoples crossing the borders, including the Chippewas with whom Crees were granted a reservation as a newly minted joint tribe. However, others were not entering the United States as refugees, not even those associated Chippewas. Some Natives had sought asylum in Canada or Mexico by leaving the United States, but Yaquis and Crees are unique in crossing into the United States for that purpose.

Do any groups today face scrutiny over border crossings?

Yaquis, Crees, and Chippewas maintain relations with family and cultural communities in Canada and Mexico and are working hard to strengthen those ties. This has become more difficult post-9/11. Peoples like the Toronto OOdham or Akwesasne Mohawks are directly bisected by the border. This complicates the maintenance of family, culture, and religion with related communities who live just miles away, across the international border. In the Pacific Northwest, there is an increasing amount of cross-border collaboration with Salish-speaking peoples. Other groups, like the Blackfeet who have associated communities on Canadian reserves do likewise.

Yaquis, Crees, and Chippewas maintain relations with family and cultural communities in Canada and Mexico and are working hard to strengthen those ties

What research challenges did you face?

One of the biggest challenges was finding archival sources. For other American Indian groups, records are organized neatly at the National Archives in RG 75not so for Crees or Yaquis. For the pre-recognition period I was researching they were not considered American Indians. So, it took a lot of digging and finding relevant records tucked away in unexpected placed. Many published works that did mention them, did so only in a footnote. It is shocking how much our archival systems, and by extension, existing research is defined by national narratives. When Crees and Yaquis crossed borders, they fell out of the Canadian and Mexican archives and national stories and were not successfully integrated into the United States archives and historiographies into which they should have entered. This made research a challenge, to say the least.

What new subject are you researching/writing about?

I am wrapping up a collection of essays on the 21st century modern West, to be published by the University of Nebraska Press (likely in 2021). I have also begun research on a cultural and environmental history of Western wilderness landscapes and the types of experiences peoples have come to them to have. My work helping run the Charles Redd Center for Western Studies, managing and editing the Intermountain Histories digital public history project, and hosting and producing the Writing Westward Podcast keep me plenty busy!

Anything else to share?

You can link to the companion website, where I have posted additional sources and topics. WW
A total of 668 candidates will be contesting the Delhi Assembly election 2020 scheduled to take place on February 8. An overall of 30 people withdrew their candidature and Friday marked the last date for withdrawal of nominations. The election for the 70-member Delhi Assembly will take place in single-phase and the counting of votes will take place on February 11.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora on January 6 had announced the election schedule and the Model Code of Conduct came into effect immediately. The CEC said that 90,000 policemen will be deployed to ensure that the polling process is held smoothly across Delhi. Arora also told the media that the additional secretary will handle any additional deployment of officials on poll duty.

According to the CEC, total electors in the final electoral roll of Delhi are 1,46,92,136 and polling will be held at 13,750 polling stations. The term of the current Delhi Assembly ends on February 22 and a new House has to be constituted before that.

In the 2015 Delhi assembly election, Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had performed superbly to win 67 out of the total 70 seats at stake. The BJP had won only three seats, while the Congress had failed to open its account. The 2020 assembly election will witness a three-cornered fight between the AAP, BJP and Congress.

Live TV

Delhi had witnessed an election in December 2013 too where no party managed to secure a majority. The BJP was the single-largest with 31 seats, AAP a close second with 28 and the Congress was blown away with only eight seats in its kitty. After a brief period of uncertainty and with the BJP refusing to form a government as it did not have the majority along with its ally - the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) which had one MLA - the AAP under Arvind Kejriwal's chief ministership staked claim with the outside support of Congress.

Kejriwal resigned after 49 days in power and the Delhi Assembly was kept in suspended animation and President's Rule imposed. The next assembly election was held on February 7, 2015, and the result was declared three days later. However, in 2014 as well as the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the BJP had swept all the seven constituencies of Delhi.

While BJP is banking on the strong showing in the Lok Sabha election just eight months ago, the AAP is claiming the development initiatives by the Arvind Kejriwal government will result in the party retaining power. AAP had on December 20, 2019, launched its Delhi assembly election campaign with the slogan "Achhe beete 5 saal, lage raho Kejriwal".

BJP is yet to name its chief ministerial candidate while the Congress has brought in Subhash Chopra as its party chief in Delhi. Chopra was a three-time MLA from Kalkaji Assembly constituency. He had won in 1998, 2003 and 2008.
The west has always been very accommodating of Africans. Maybe this is a subtle way of trying to do reparation for the evils of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade and colonialism as well as neo-colonialism which has kept the worlds second largest continent perpetually under developed.

The Francophone nations still enjoy a cosy relationship with France since the days of the policy of assimilation during the heady days of colonialism.

Unlike their Asian counterparts, one can become a citizen of any western country either through birth or naturalization which involved long term residence in the country. The western countries permit dual citizenship and many Africans especially Nigerians find this attractive.

The US remains the number one nation where Nigerian women go to for birth tourism because of the fact that its the strongest economy in the world. Also its the most immigrant friendly nation in the entire globe as she was built on the back of immigrants.

Nigerians woke up to the rude shock of the recent cancellation of birth tourism for Nigerian pregnant women. The consular officers abroad were massively empowered to deny these Nigerian women visas. It came as a massive blow as many Nigerians use that route to secure a heads on start for their newly born babies.

Getting the American visa from Nigeria is akin to a camel passing through the eye of a needle and so it is highly advantageous to have your child being spared the agony of a visa denial. The passport is also arguably the most powerful in the world as the child when he or she turns eighteen can bring his or her entire family to the US even though they didnt grow up there.

Donald Trump has made no pretence about his disdain for uncontrolled immigration and the need to curb both illegal and legal migrations. He once called Nigeria a shit hole nation and has raised alarm about the immigrants stealing the jobs meant for the citizens. He has strong allies and supporters from among the conservative white who dont want the country to turn into a rainbow one anytime soon.

The United Kingdom in the 1980s under the leadership of Margaret Thatcher abolished citizenship at birth and passed a new legislation that the child will have to be resident for at least seven years before he or she can possess the British passport.

It is obvious that the next destination will be Canada since the country that is close to the US is in dire need of population as the worlds second largest country by land mass is sparsely populated. They even have a current express entry going on to facilitate the mass movement of people especially those from African and third world nations. Trust Nigerians who can smell opportunity miles away. They will take advantage of the fact that with a Canadian passport, you dont need a visa to go to over a hundred nations including the US. Were we surprised that even the daughter of President Buhari, Zahra gave birth to her child in Spain of all nations  a country currently going through a serious financial crisis. Anywhere is better than Nigeria seems to be what is resonating on the streets.

Nigeria is a clime filled with enormous potentials; the only thing that is lacking is good political leadership that can set an agenda for massive development. We badly need local clones of Lee Kuan Yew, Mahathir Mohammed etc who can make this sleeping giant leapfrog into the league of advanced nations.

The citizens need to be able to effectively hold their leaders to account and should agitate for an effective leadership. The people deserve the kind of leaders they get and it is imperative for them to stop the needless whining and whistling about the good old days which have gone forever and get their hands dirty in ensuring that only the best eleven are allowed into the saddle. This idea of suffer suffer for world enjoy for Heaven apologies to the Afrobeat Maestro, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti should stop. We dont need to die first before enjoying a semblance of Heaven or Paradise. This idea of not wanting to ferociously holding leaders to account even if it means paying the supreme price should stop. What are we afraid of anyway? Wont we all be lowered six feet below one day? Why the fuss about death if that would bring about the much needed change that this nation desires?

The nations like Singapore, Japan and Malaysia that made great economic developments didnt get there by their elite fleeing the country on the grounds of birth tourism in Uncle Sam. The citizens got their act together by ensuring that good leadership was allowed to birth and are reaping the fruits now. For how long will we sit aloof and watch our nation being pillaged and destroyed by a ruinous elite?

Every disappointment is a blessing and we should this as a golden opportunity to make our nation more habitable for us. Nigerians have been known to excel all over the globe. The likes of Bayo Ogunlesi, Kase Lawal, Fidelis Oditah, Oba Nsugbe etc who were born and bred in Nigeria before their sojourn abroad are clear testimonies to the fact that Nigerians have a lot to offer the world.

It is my hope that good leadership would be duly entrenched in my generation so that we would stop being the laughing stock among the comity of nations.

Nigeria can be great again if only we can pay the price to make it happens.

Trumps latest action is a clear testimony that the world is gearing towards tighter immigration controls. We have no choice but to make our country work again as this is the only place most of us call home.

Tony Ademiluyi writes from Lagos and edits www.africanbard.com
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday hit out again at senior JD(U) leader Pavan K Varma over the letter written by the latter to the former about the alliance of the party with the BJP for the upcoming Delhi assembly elections.

Speaking to media, when asked about the letter, Kumar said, "That is not a letter. If a person is in the party, he writes a letter explaining the issue and then a reply is given to that person. Sending an e-mail without even informing and straight away going to the press doesn't make any sense to me. I don't consider that to be a letter."

On January 20, Pavan Varma had tweeted a copy of the letter that he wrote to Kumar. His tweet read, "This is the letter I have written to Nitish Kumar today asking him how the JD(U) has formed an alliance with the BJP for the Delhi elections, given his own views on the BJP, and the massive outrage against the divisive CAA-NPR-NRC scheme."

On Thursday Kumar had said, "They should go wherever they want," while replying to reporters on Prashant Kishor and Pavan Verma's repeated questions about the party's stand's on the Citizenship Act.

"It is their personal decision. They should go wherever they want. We don't have an objection. Don't look at JD(U)in the context of statements by some people. JD(U)works with determination. We have a clear stand and don't have any confusion," the Chief Minister had told reporters here.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
By Abdul Kerimkhanov

Defense Ministries of Azerbaijan and Georgia have signed a Bilateral Cooperation Plan for 2020.

The document provides for the organization of mutual visits of expert groups, the holding of joint combat training events and the exchange of best practices, as well as other important issues between the two countries.

The Plan was signed during the meeting between Defense Minister of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov and his counterpart Irakli Garibashvili in Tbilisi on January 21.

During the meeting, the two sided held a thorough exchange of views on the various areas of military cooperation, as well as on other issues of mutual interest.

Touching upon the military-political situation in the region, the parties noted the importance of mutual support of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and Georgia. The sides emphasized that the development of bilateral military cooperation will contribute to ensuring stability and security in the region.

On the same day, Hasanov met with Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia Archil Talakvadze as part of the official visit of Azerbaijan Defense Ministry delegation to Georgia.

During the meeting, the parties noted that the development of Azerbaijani-Georgian relations is based on friendship and mutual trust. It was also emphasized that periodic working meetings and reciprocal visits by heads of state encourage strengthening of relations between the countries.

The parties further underlined that these relations, which meet mutual interests, serve to ensure peace, stability, and security in the region.

It was once again noted that Azerbaijan and Georgia, as countries opposing terrorism and separatism, should develop military cooperation and provide mutual support in these matters.

Earlier, Hasanov and ex-Georgian Defence Minister Levan Izoria signed a bilateral military agreement for 2019 during the trilateral ministerial meeting of Georgian, Azerbaijani and Turkish foreign ministers held in Gabala in June 2019.

The two countries broadly cooperate in regional energy development, transportation and economic partnership projects such as Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway, the TRACECA, the BSEC. Regional military and security alliance of Georgia and Azerbaijan develops along NATO's Partnership for Peace Program and the common protection of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline with Turkey.

Azerbaijan and Georgia are also among the four founding members of GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development established in 1997.

Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has described the relations as "whoever opposes Azerbaijan or Georgia is an enemy of both our countries."

---

Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
A vigil in Munford, prison-budget requests in Montgomery and a Gold Star Families memorial in Huntsville.

Hundreds of people gathered at Munford, Alabama, Baptist Church Thursday night, gathering and singing and praying after a triple homicide took the lives of 36-year-old Holli Christina Durham and her 13-year-old twin sons, Branson and Baron Durham. Munford mourns

Pumping more money into something isnt always the No. 1 way to fix it, but especially when it comes to government, you know its always at least PART of the fix, especially when the state has let something deteriorate to the point where federal courts are stepping in to make us fix it. Which is just a way to preface the question: How much more money will the Alabama Department of Corrections need this year as it tries to improve Alabamas prison system to the point where it, well, where it doesnt apparently violate the U.S. Consistution?

You know, theres not a memorial monument in the state of Alabama anywhere that honors Gold Star Families, the wives, kids, parents and siblings of American military service members who have lost their lives in the line of duty. But one is going up at the Huntsville-Madison County Veterans Memorial.

Get this post and more in your weekday Down in Alabama newsletter here.

Hear Ike Morgan each weekday by looking for Down in Alabama on the device of your choosing.

Click here for the Spotify podcast page

Click here for the Alexa skill page on Amazon

Click here for the iTunes podcast page

Click here for the Stitcher podcast page

Click here for the Google Play podcast page

Click here to follow Ike on Twitter
Advertisement

Meghan Markle today posted more pictures of her doing good works on Instagram, highlighting the charity trips she made before marrying Prince Harry.

The images include Meghan in Rwanda in March 2016 with World Vision - which was expanding access to clean water in rural areas - before she met Harry on a blind date four months later.

Other pictures posted today show the actress visiting university students in London in January 2019 and Harry in Malawi in September last year during the couple's Africa tour.

The prince paid tribute to the 'valuable and vital' work of women who were supporting schoolgirls through their education during his visit.

Meghan Markle today posted more pictures of her doing good works on Instagram, highlighting the charity trips she made before marrying Prince Harry. Pictured above is the actress on a trip to Mbandazi primary school in Rwanda in March 2016 - just months before she met Harry on a blind date. While at the African school, she taught pupils how to paint with watercolours with help from a newly-installed pipeline

Another picture shows her at an Association of Commonwealth Universities event in South Africa in September 2019, during the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's royal tour of the continent

Meghan was also pictured in India in 2017 with World Vision where she advocated for gender equality, highlighting girls lack of access to education and speaking with activists who work to improve access to girls latrines in the south Asian country.

Another picture shows her at an Association of Commonwealth Universities event in South Africa in September 2019.

The Sussex Royal account posted the images saying: 'Today, on International Day of Education, we highlight the importance of access to education for all. The Duchess of Sussex has focused on this both prior to becoming a member of the Royal Family and now as patron of The Association of Commonwealth Universities.

'Working closely with CAMA, both The Duke and Duchess recognise the benefit both personally and to society at large when a young girl has access to education. On their recent tour to Southern Africa, The Duke supported the initiatives of @Camfed on the ground in Malawi.

Since dropping their HRH titles for a quieter life in Canada, the couple have posted new pictures on average every two days. On Wednesday, Meghan shared two-week-old images taken during a visit to an animal shelter at the same time as her sister-in-law, Kate, was on a visit to a prison.

In 2017 Meghan visited India as a World Vision Global Ambassador where she advocated for gender equality. The actress focused on highlighting girls lack of access to education, speaking with activists who work to improve access to girls latrines

The Sussex Royal account posted the images saying: 'Today, on International Day of Education, we highlight the importance of access to education for all'. Harry is pictured above in September last year meeting the Cama Choir in Malawi during the couple's Africa tour

Meghan was pictured in India in 2017 with World Vision and at an Association of Commonwealth Universities event in South Africa in September 2019

Meghan Markle today posted more pictures of her doing good works on Instagram, highlighting the charity trips she made before marrying Prince Harry

'Over the years, The Duchess has worked in developing communities, such as in Rwanda and India, to find the hindrances to girls' ability to go to school and furthermore to stay in school. These can include lack of access to clean water, stigma surrounding MHM, cultural taboo, and many more reasons....

'As President and Vice President of The @Queens_Commonwealth_Trust, The Duke and Duchess thank all those who are working to give access to education for all.'

While visiting Mbandazi primary school in Rwanda, Meghan had taught pupils how to paint with watercolours with help from a newly-installed pipeline, World Vision reported.

The Instagram posts came amid reports that Meghan told her inner circle of friends she is planning to give her first interview to US host Ellen DeGeneres after the two became close.

'Ellen and Meghan have already discussed a sit-down interview. That's been in the works for quite some time now,' a source at the Ellen Show told DailyMail.com.

The two met by chance years ago at a dog shelter in Los Angeles where Ellen encouraged Meghan to adopt her first dog Bogart, and the women have stayed in touch.

Ellen and her wife Portia de Rossi even took a trip to London to visit Prince Harry and Meghan after the birth of Archie over the summer, remarking on her talk show: 'I see them get attacked and it's not fair. They are two of the most down-to-earth compassionate people, they're doing so much good for the world.'

It was also revealed recently that Harry and Meghan's bid to trademark the Sussex Royal brand was blocked following a complaint from an Australian doctor.

The opposition was submitted by Benjamin Worcester, who lives in Victoria, Australia, but it thought to have worked as an NHS doctor from 2011 to 2014.

It is not known why the Melbourne-based doctor filed the notice, but the move could see Harry and Meghan forced into a contracted legal battle.
The tech industry is still in the early stages of rolling out 5G networks, but according to a Bank of America report, the 5G semiconductors market is expected to boom from $593 million in 2018 to $19 billion by 2022.

The market has already begun pricing in gains for the most popular stocks associated with 5G technology, such as smartphone producers Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) and wireless communication giants such as Verizon (NYSE:VZ) and AT&T (NYSE:T). However, these are far from the only companies that are poised to benefit from the massive communications restructuring and expansion that 5G demands. Other companies that will be heavily involved will include those conducting test/measurement and front-haul, laying fiber optic cables, developing chips and building towers.





As the world becomes increasingly connected on the foundation of 5G, companies whose products are geared towards the so-called Internet of Things (IoT) are more likely to see stronger growth than their competitors. Smartphones won't be the next big thing forever, so if you are looking for long-term 5G growth potential, smartphone stocks may not necessarily be your best bet (though their potential in the short term is undeniable). Instead, the companies that will be involved in the 5G rollout and also stand to benefit from IoT technology might be better investments.

Skyworks Solutions

Skyworks Solutions (NASDAQ:SWKS) is a semiconductor company based in Woburn, Massachusetts. It primarily manufactures semiconductor modules for radio frequency and mobile communications systems. As of Jan. 23, it has a market cap of 23.81 billion, a price-earnings ratio of 26.24 and no debt.

4184ef65e22ae6d2515c691500b4a9e1.png

Over the past three years, Skyworks has grown its revenue at a rate of 8.1% per year and its earnings per share without non-recurring items by 6.9% per year. Year to date, the share price has grown approximately 70% to a high of $124.90.

Story continues

0fa253357703baf39c65c14531334d88.png

Over the past year, Skyworks' income has taken a hit due to an industry-wide downturn in demand for semiconductors. The memory market experienced a 31.5% decline in 2019, while the winding down of 4G growth and the trade war between the U.S. and China also cut into profits.

2ebff86996c9daa60b18a7ee6dc53a88.png

As 5G networks are built out, Skyworks' 5G solutions will be in increasing demand. The company's 5G developments include a unifying platform and small cell and multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) technology, which facilitate end-to-end 5G connectivity.

"Leveraging decades of experience, manufacturing scale and vertical integration capabilities, our highly advanced Sky5 platform is fueling market adoption of 5G across a broadening customer set," President and CEO Liam K. Griffin said in the earnings report for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2019. "With an expansive suite of applications - from smartphones to wireless infrastructure, industrial robotics, autonomous vehicles, smart homes and virtual assistants - our solutions provide the critical connection, ensuring peak performance for 5G and IoT usage cases."

As both a builder of key radio components for the distribution of 5G signals and a developer of chips for the IoT market, Skyworks has strong potential to grow its earnings for years to come.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing

Another semiconductor company to keep an eye out for is Taiwan Semiconductor (NYSE:TSM), which is based in Hsinchu, Taiwan. It is the largest independent semiconductor foundry in the world, and it focuses primarily on base components such as diodes, transistors, bridge rectifiers and photocouplers. As of Jan. 23, it has a market cap of $297.84 billion, a price-earnings ratio of 24.93 and a cash-debt ratio of 4.79.

Over the past three years, Taiwan Semiconductor has grown its revenue at a rate of 6.9% per year and its EPS without NRI at a rate of 6.2% per year. Year-to-date, the share price has grown approximately 67% to trade at $58.39 per share.

0a4610307123ac035f71417bc0c814a9.png

Compared to some competitors, Taiwan Semiconductor did not lose as much revenue during 2019, as pure memory chip components do not make up as much of its revenue. For full-year 2019, 49% of revenues came from smartphone components, followed by 30% from high-performance computing and 8% from IoT. The highest growth rate came from the IoT (33%) and smartphone (12%) departments.

d81682beeadf7d790a0057d7d1e0c1da.png

With its strong position in the smartphone components market, the semiconductor manufacturer is set to see high profits from 5G, while its growing IoT division provides an additional route for increasing revenues. The company's comprehensive IoT platform and ultra-low power technology are geared towards integrating and maximizing the efficiency of systems that combine IoT, 5G and artificial intelligence.

American Tower Corp

While American Tower (NYSE:AMT) does not manufacture semiconductors, it will play a key role in increasing the world's connectivity. Operating officially as a real estate investment trust headquartered in Boston, American Tower owns and operates wireless and broadcast communications infrastructure in several countries around the world. As of Jan. 23, it has a market cap of $105.16 billion, a price-earnings ratio of 66.05 and a cash-debt ratio of 0.05.

Over the past three years, American Tower has grown its revenue at an annual rate of 14.2% and its EPS without NRI at an annual rate of 25.2%. Share prices have increased approximately 53% year over year to trade at $231.11.

95fd70d606c668ed545eff4d67887561.png

American Tower's business model is to buy communications infrastructure, primarily wireless towers. Due to regulations surrounding the building of such structures, this basically gives the company a monopoly over the areas that its towers provide service to, as service providers must pay to use the towers.

7ed276471f7975eaf942a64d025ae3f0.png

Other communications companies will be dealing with American Tower a lot when expanding 5G networks, as the REIT owns many of the locations that they will need to build equipment and send signals from. The company's scale also gives it an important role to play in IoT, as access to its networks will be crucial to both smart city and rural applications.

Disclosure: Author owns no shares in any of the stocks mentioned. The mention of stocks in this article does not at any point constitute an investment recommendation. Investors should always conduct their own careful analysis or consult registered investment advisors before taking action in the stock market.

Read more here:







Not a Premium Member of GuruFocus? Sign up for a free 7-day trial here.

This article first appeared on GuruFocus.






GAITHERSBURG, Md. and GUANGZHOU, China, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sirnaomics Inc. ("Sirnaomics"), a leading biopharmaceutical company in discovery and development of novel RNAi therapeutics, announced today that it has mobilized its research teams both in USA and China to develop novel RNAi-based prophylactics and therapeutics for treatment of patients suffering from Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) caused by the 2019 novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

Based on U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the outbreak of respiratory illness that is caused by a novel coronavirus (termed "2019-nCov") and was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, continues to spread. In addition to confirmed cases in multiple provinces in China (as of January 24, 2020), human-to-human infections with the virus have been confirmed in Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam and USA. The total confirmed number of patients infected by 2019-nCoV is 929, with 26 deaths in Hubei Province, China.

The Sirnaomics R&D team has an established track record of using siRNA prophylactics and therapeutics to treat SARS coronavirus, H5N1 influenza and other respiratory viral infections, with multiple animal models including non-human primate. The team's expertise covers siRNA drug design (silencing the most critical viral genes), respiratory tract siRNA delivery formulation, large scale GMP drug production and clinical investigations. To fight against SARI caused by the 2019-nCoV infection, Sirnaomics team has already identified potentially potent siRNAs, specifically targeting the viral genes critical for the viral infection and replication. Collaborating with laboratories having cell culture models of 2019-nCoV infection, Sirnaomics expects to develop multiple siRNA drug candidates.

Patrick Lu, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sirnaomics, stated, "This is a critical time for treating SARI caused by the 2019-nCoV to mitigate further spreading of the deadly disease. RNAi as a naturally evolved antiviral mechanism has been demonstrated in various in vitro and in vivo models. Our team's in-depth knowledge and experience using RNAi technology to fight respiratory viral infection in the previous SARS outbreak will add on to our antiviral weaponry to fight SARI. The unique siRNA drug design and chemical modification, respiratory specific siRNA delivery formulation, and the handheld nebulizer device are providing a clear pathway for developing novel siRNA therapeutics and prophylactics against 2019-nCoV infection."

David Evans, Ph.D. Chief Scientific Officer of Sirnaomics, stated, "Sirnaomics recognizes the need for rapid identification of a safe and effective way to treat this devasting disease. The process of developing siRNA therapeutics offers the advantage of rapid identification of druggable targets that could potentially impact the 2019-nCoV virus. Our R&D team is well positioned to contribute to developing a solution and potentially bring valuable treatment options to patients with this high unmet medical need. "

About Sirnaomics, Inc.

Sirnaomics, Inc., a leading privately held biopharmaceutical company for discovery and development of RNAi therapeutics, is a Delaware corporation headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA, with subsidiaries in Suzhou and Guangzhou, China. The company's mission is to develop novel therapeutics to alleviate human suffering and advance patient care in areas of high unmet medical need. The guiding principles of the company are: Innovation, Global Vision with a Patient Centered focus. Members of the senior management team have a great deal of combined experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, financial, clinical and business management in both the USA and China. The Company is supported by funding from institutional investors and corporate partnerships. Sirnaomics has developed a strong portfolio of intellectual property with an enriched product pipeline. The therapeutic areas of focus include oncology and anti-fibrotic therapeutics. Learn more at www.sirnaomics.com

Sirnaomics, Inc.

David Evans, Ph.D.

Chief Scientific Officer

[email protected]

Westwicke, an ICR Company

Investors:

Stephanie Carrington

[email protected]

+1 646 277 1282

Media:

Mark Corbae

[email protected]

203-682-8288

SOURCE Sirnaomics, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.sirnaomics.com


At about 2.30pm on 22 June 1922, my mother, Patricia Arbuthnot, then eight years old with long dark hair, was walking with her nanny in Eaton Place in London. This was just off Eaton Square, close to where her parents, Jack and Olive Arbuthnot, were living in a mansion at 42 Grosvenor Place. She later recalled: I saw an old gentleman in a black coat standing on the steps of one of the great pillared doorways of the houses there, when another man standing below him on the pavement pulled out a gun and shot him. The old gentleman half-turned around and then slowly collapsed. I wasnt at all frightened, just supremely interested, and stood there watching while the man with the gun and a companion quietly walked away.

Patricia had just witnessed the assassination by the IRA of field marshal Sir Henry Wilson, until recently chief of the imperial general staff and effective commander of the entire British army. Other accounts relate that he had just got out of a taxi, was walking up the steps of his house at 36 Eaton Place and had his door key in his hand when he was repeatedly shot by a gunman at point-blank range. Born in Ireland, Wilson had been a highly political officer throughout his career, playing a central role in the Curragh Mutiny in 1914, when cavalry officers said they would refuse orders to force Ulster to accept the home rule along with the rest of Ireland. Just prior to his assassination, he had resigned from the army, become a Unionist MP for North Down, and was military adviser to the new Northern Ireland Unionist government at a moment when Protestant mobs were carrying out anti-Catholic pogroms in Belfast that left many dead.

Michael Collins, as the intelligence chief of the IRA, had ordered the killing of Wilson, which was carried out by two IRA leaders in London, Reginald Dunne and Joseph OSullivan, both veterans of the Great War. They were captured minutes after the shooting. By then, my mother and her nanny had returned to her home in Grosvenor Place, where Patricia told everybody about the exciting event that she had just seen. Nobody believed a word she said and accused her of making things up. I was told, Patricia, you must not tell such lies, she later recalled, while her father blamed her obviously imaginary claim about seeing a murder on her too long residence in Ireland at the height of the Irish War of Independence.
President Klaus Iohannis said that the boos during his speech in Iasi, at the events organized on Unification Day, show that "in Romania we have a democracy that is alive".

He stated, at the end of the manifestation in Unirii Square, that "every Romanian has the right to his opinion", stressing that the attitude of some of the participants in the events did not cause him a state of annoyance.

"I am very happy that in Romania we have a living democracy, which is manifesting itself in such a beautiful day as it is today. We were not at all upset. Every Romanian has the right to his opinion and I think that overall, things are going here, in Iasi, for the better," said Iohannis.

The president stressed that it is very sad that there are development gaps between Moldavia and other regions of the country, giving assurances that he will get involved in reducing them.

"It is very, very sad that Moldavia is a little behind and for this reason I came together with the Prime Minister and many members of the Government to show our solidarity and concern and we will solve a large part of Moldavia's problems," added the head state.

President Klaus Iohannis was booed when he arrived at the Unirii Square in Iasi by a group of protesters, but also while he was reading his speech. Also during his address, the head of state was cheered when he spoke about the priority of building the Ungheni-Iasi-Targu Mures Motorway.

Boos, as well as the ovations and applause, were also heard during the speeches of other officials, such as Prime Minister Ludovic Orban, the President of the County Council, Maricel Popa (PSD) and the mayor of Iasi, Mihai Chirica. Chants such as "We want the motorway!" and #sieu ("Me too"), a hint at the protest organized by Stefan Mandachi from Suceava regarding the situation of roads in the counties of Moldavia, could also be heard in Unirii Square.
Turkish Court Upholds Sentence for Armenian Writer Who Criticized Muhammad

Turkey's Court of Cassation, also called Supreme Court of Appeals of Turkey, has recently upheld the 13-and-a-half-month prison sentence imposed by a local court on the prominent Armenian writer Sevan NiAanyan for his "offensive" statements about Islam's prophet Muhammad, the Turkish news website Diken reported.

According to the Turkish criminal code, for one to be legally given a sentence for "publicly degrading religious values", one's act should be deemed by a court "capable of disturbing public peace". In its ruling, the Court stated:

"These are not crimes of harm. These are crimes of danger. Hence, the possibility of public peace to be disrupted is enough for the defendant's act to constitute a crime. There is no need for a clear and competent danger for the public peace to be disrupted."

The Supreme Court of Appeals added that the conviction given to NiAanyan for "degrading the religious values of a section of the public" was in accordance with the law:

"The defendant publicly used words about the Prophet of Islam, Muhammed, [pbuh] that degraded his dignity [in the eyes of] the religious community and that could lead to public indignation. Through these statements, the defendant aimed to discredit the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and used his statements to turn Islam's prophet into a person that is no longer respected and admired. This situation has provoked justified anger in the believers of Islam.

"As a matter of fact, anger against the defendant has occurred in the public and in media outlets as was manifested by many people who expressed their anger against the defendant on his blog website. According to the ECHR [European Court of Human Rights], when it comes to religious views and beliefs, it is necessary to avoid statements that do not contribute to public debate and that some can see as a cheap attack."

That is, NiAanyan's prison sentence has been upheld not because he has committed a violent crime or incited people to violence, but because he supposedly "created a possibility of public peace being breached".

One member of the Court of Cassation, however, opposed the upholding of the prison sentence, saying, in part:

"To interpret discussing a subject in the media as 'disrupting the peace of the public' means criminalizing every discussion that enables the public to get informed and progress.

"There has been no unrest or indignation within the society and no concrete phenomenon that breaches the peace of the public [due to NiAanyan's writings].

"The defendant publicly humiliated the religious values of the people in his writings on his social media website and these writings did not remain within the context of freedom of expression. However, these writings are not eligible to disrupt the public peace and there is no objective condition for punishment. Hence, it is not legally possible to punish the defendant according to the relevant legal regulation."

NiAanyan is a public intellectual from Turkey's Armenian minority who is well-known for his writings on various issues such as history, linguistics, religion and politics.

His "crime"? In a piece he published on his own blog website on September 29, 2012, he wrote, in part:

"Mocking an Arab leader -- who claimed that he contacted God hundreds of years ago and who gained political, financial and sexual profit from this -- is not a hate crime. Almost at the level of kindergarten, it is a test case of the thing called 'freedom of expression'."

For these words, NiAanyan was charged under Article 216/3 of the Turkish Penal Code. In 2013, an Istanbul court found him guilty and he was sentenced to 13-and-a-half-month in prison for religious defamation.

Turkish authorities also used NiAanyan's construction work in Turkey as an "excuse" to go after him for supposedly non-political reasons. For it might have been too "costly" for Turkey, a candidate for European Union (EU) membership, to imprison yet another -- and this time, an Armenian -- intellectual solely for his religious or political views. Instead, NiAanyan was handed a cumulative jail sentence of 17 years mostly over charges of illegal construction and arrested in 2014.

"NiAanyan," human rights lawyer, Orhan Kemal Cengiz wrote in 2014, "is being punished for doing illegal construction on his land in Turkey, which is a haven for illegal construction, and is now incarcerated at Izmir-Torbali prison. Moreover, instead of being awarded a Nobel Prize for architecture for what he has created in Shirince, he faces about 50 years in prison terms for 17 cases brought against him. In fact, everybody knows that the case against NiAanyan has nothing to do with construction infractions. He is being punished for his history and literary work challenging the official ideology."

In line with this assessment, Pen International reported in 2015:

"One of the biggest controversies in which NiAanyan has been involved relates to a blog post he made in September 2012. Writing in his personal blog, NiAanyan criticised the government's call to introduce a new 'hate speech' bill in response to the release of the film The Innocence of Muslims. The film led to widespread protests around the world as a result of its unflattering depiction of the prophet Muhammad. Writing in defence of the right to freedom of expression, NiAanyan criticised the government's attempts to prohibit criticism of the historical Muhammad."

The same report included an interview that NiAanyan gave to Pen International -- while he was still in prison for a year. He said, in part:

"The blog piece for which I was prosecuted and convicted argued simply that disrespectful speech about an ancient Arab leader -- implying the prophet of Islam -- was a matter of free speech that should be under the protection of law. It employed mildly disrespectful language about the prophet to illustrate the point.

"As a result I was attacked in vile language by a government minister, a top aide to the then prime minister, and the top religious official of the country; several newspapers launched a lynching campaign; I received hundreds of death threats; I was prosecuted in about a dozen courts around the country; and I was sentenced to 15.5 months in jail for blasphemy.

"I believe this country, as well as the world at large, urgently needs a serious debate about the role of Islam in modern society. But that debate is impossible if every phrase that is contrary to the beliefs, prejudices, habits or sensitivities of the self-appointed spokesmen of Islam is going to be banned or prosecuted or greeted with paroxysms of rage."

It is true. The debate is impossible in Muslim countries like Turkey -- in July of 2017, NiAanyan finally escaped from prison and arrived in Greece, where he was granted asylum. To this day, he continues writing and speaking about Turkey and international issues.

But in Europe too, it is getting increasingly difficult to engage in free debate. Islam's blasphemy laws appear to haunt the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg, France, as well. In March of 2019, for instance, a conviction against an Austrian woman, Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff, was upheld by the ECHR for having noted to a small private group that Mohammad married Aisha when she was six years old (Sahih-Bukhari, Vol. 5, Book 58, Nos. 234--236), although waited until she was 9 years old to consummate the marriage.

Sadly, a major problem that suffocates free speech is that the violent silencing of critics is sanctioned by Islamic scriptures. According to the Quran and the recorded sayings (hadith) and biographies (sira) of Islam's founder, "To leave Islam, to insult Muhammad or Allah, to deny the existence of Allah, to be sarcastic about Allah's name, to deny any verse of the Quran" or to commit other acts of blasphemy are all punishable by death. Apparently, the "moderate" version of this Islamic law is not to immediately murder, but to arrest the critics of Islam.

Islamic scriptures' intolerant stance on free expression and criticism is clear. But Turkey is not ruled according to Islamic Sharia law. Neither is the ECHR. Or are they?

Uzay Bulut is a Turkish journalist and political analyst formerly based in Ankara.
The recently posted offer document by 30billion mining giant Anglo-American for the purchase of Sirius Minerals reads like any other.

The buyer underlines the generosity of its bid noting the big 34.1 per cent premium to the price on the day of the announced deal, and an even bigger uplift of 61.7 per cent if the average share price of the previous three months is measured.

There follows a paean of praise to Sirius' polyhalite fertiliser for organic use.

Sirius is not any old mine, it is a community project embraced by ordinary citizens many of whom embraced the chance to bring industry back to the region by sinking in their life savings

Anglo notes Sirius has potential to become 'a world-class, low-cost and lifelong asset.'

Aussie chief executive Mark Cutifani has presented Sirius investors with a get-out-of-jail card with Anglo's 409.9million bid.

Having failed to find new equity or loan support, Sirius was almost certainly staring administration in the face.

Anglo and advisers to the offer, Merrill Lynch and Centerview Partners, should have recognised another reality. Sirius is not any old mine.

It is a community project at Whitby in North Yorkshire embraced by ordinary citizens from every walk of life, many of whom, out of loyalty and ambition, embraced the chance to bring industry back to the region by sinking in their life savings.

More than 50 per cent of the stock is held by 85,000 small investors, many of whom are sitting on hefty losses.

It goes without saying that private investors are angry and confused. With imagination, Anglo-American and its advisers could avoid some of the opprobrium heaped upon them and more easily win the moral support of the community, politicians and the future workforce.

At the very least, investors should be offered an alternative Anglo paper offer for the stock, or combination of cash and shares.

But with some creativity they could do much more. They could design a new class of fractional Anglo-American shares for the Sirius investors, which could accrue value as the project is developed and income starts to flow, giving small investors an ongoing interest.

Or they could offer bonus/scrip shares, with no intrinsic value, which would offer a special dividend at some point in the future when the production dream has been realised.

There should be no confusion. Anglo-American is doing a good thing in saving a great project with 'green' aspirations.

But sprawling corporations with well-heeled advisers are not used to dealing with ordinary, aspirational citizens.

Cutifani should order the City slickers back to the drawing board.

Independence day

The chairman of the independent Office for Budget Responsibility doesn't quite enjoy the same status as the governor of the Bank of England.

Nevertheless, a mad scramble can be expected now that the founder-incumbent Robert Chote is to move on after a decade.

The creation of the OBR was the idea of former chancellor George Osborne. He thought that Britain needed an independent scrutineer of fiscal policy which could not be manipulated for political purposes.

The OBR is not that popular inside the Treasury because of the difficulty it creates in writing a budget when the Chancellor doesn't learn, until quite late in the day, the exact state of the public finances.

It also has a mixed record on forecasting, and doubtless has critics in Boris Johnson's circle for taking too negative a view of Brexit.

In the same way that openly Remain supporters ruled themselves out for the governor's job, one imagines that the Chancellor would prefer a like-minded economic optimist at the OBR.

Former Treasury economist Paul Johnson, currently at the Institute of Fiscal Studies, ought to be hot favourite with his encyclopaedic knowledge of public finances.

His perceived Remain leanings, however, might not go down well with Dominic Cummings and company.

Among women candidates might be Gemma Tetlow, currently at the Institute for Government, or Ruth Gregory at Capital Economics, who recently joined KPMG/Ipsos Retail Think Tank.

The most qualified person might have been Chote's spouse, Ofcom boss Sharon White. But she is shortly to take charge at John Lewis. Pity.

Fast fashion

The Retail Consortium has been full of gloom about the holiday season.

The greater reality is that younger fashion shoppers increasingly have switched online.

Asos, after an earlier profit warning, had a terrific 'peak' season with a 20 per cent lift in sales in the final four months to 1.1billion.

This hard on the heels of a thumping performance from Boohoo.

Give consumers what they want at the right price and the 'digifall' outpaces footfall.
TobyMac's son Truett died of an accidental drug overdose, fentanyl involved

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

TobyMac's son, Truett Foster McKeehan, died of an accidental overdose last October, a representative has confirmed.

In a statement to People magazine, the representative said McKeehan overdosed on fentanyl and amphetamines.

The 21 year old aspiring rapper died suddenly on Oct. 23, 2019. The Davidson County Medical Examiners office confirmed that first responders went to the familys home in Franklin, Tennessee, after 911 was called to report a young male suffering cardiac arrest.

More than 70,200 Americans died in 2017 from using illegal or prescription drugs. Of that number over 47,600 died from an opioid overdose, a twofold increase in just one decade, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Earlier this month, TobyMac released a song titled 21 Years, calling it an honest letter to his first-born child.

Although he admits he never wanted to pen such a song, the Christian pioneer hopes the new single will help others who are also grieving the loss of a loved one.

"'21 Years is a song I wrote about the recent passing of my firstborn son, Truett Foster McKeehan. I loved him with all my heart. Until something in life hits you this hard, you never know how you will handle it, he tweeted.

The McKeehan family has been surrounded by people who've been helping them through this tragic loss and the Grammy Award-winning artist said he's grateful for the support.

Writing this song felt like an honest confession of the questions, pain, anger, doubt, mercy and promise that describes the journey Im probably only beginning. The rest is yet to come. One thing I know is that I am not alone. God didnt promise us a life of no pain or even tragic death, but He did promise He would never leave us or forsake us. And Im holding dearly to that promise for my son as well as myself, he added.

Some of the emotional words of 21 years say, Why would You give and then take him away? Suddenly end, could You not let it fade? What I would give for a couple of days.

Upon hearing the tragic news, TobyMac, who was on tour in Canada at the time, flew back home to Tennessee to be with his wife and four other children.

The family has since launched the Truett Foster Foundation where donations made in Truetts name will help send vulnerable youth to college, that they may realize their God-given potential to change the lives of others, the foundation says on its website.

One hundred percent of the donations will be used to fund scholarships in partnership with the Global Orphan Project. The Christian organization will underwrite all general and administrative expenses in honor of the aspiring musician.
More than 97,000 gallons of red wine spilled from a storage tank at a California vineyard and leaked into the Russian River, causing local water officials to worry of environmental damage.

The cabernet sauvignon -enough to fill more than 500,000 bottles- spilled from a Rodney Strong Vineyard's storage tank in Healdsburg on Wednesday around 1.30pm.

A two-foot wide oval door near the bottom of a 100,000-gallon wine tank popped open, spilling between 46,000 and 96,000 gallons of wine into the river before it was sealed again.

This wine spill may be the biggest in the county's history and most certainly the last two decades, Don McEnhill, executive director of nonprofit Russian Riverkeeper, told Press Democrat.

McEnhill added that he can't recall a spill of the magnitude reaching the Russian River.

As much as 96,000 gallons of cabernet sauvignon spilled into the Russian River in Sonoma County, California, after a storage tank leaked Wednesday

Rodney Strong spokesman Chris OGorman revealed the company is conducting an internal investigation and cooperating with authorities.

He said: 'We are deeply concerned and are doing everything in our power to protect our waterways.'

First, the wine drained into an inlet on the floor of the winery's production building and then traveled through hundreds of feet of underground pipes that empty into four wastewater ponds on the premises.

The red wine traveled through several miles of underground pipes, wastewater ponds and Reiman Creek before reaching Russian River

Rodney Strong Vineyard released an initial statement about the spill on Facebook, saying wildlife appeared to be unaffected

After those ponds filled up, wine runoff poured into Reiman Creek, an industrial stream that runs through the vineyards. The continual rush of wine eventually overflowed into the Russian River.

Aerial footage from the Sonoma County Sheriffs Office Henry 1 helicopter showed the wine lining the riverbank for several miles downstream.

In just a matter of hours the red wine traveled nearly five miles downstream to Riverfront Regional Park.

Healdsburg Fire and the Sonoma County Fire District initially dispatched to the scene two hours after the leak, but their containment equipment was ineffective for a substance like wine.

Aerial footage from the Sonoma County Sheriffs Office Henry 1 helicopter showed the wine lining the riverbank for several miles downstream

State and local conservation agencies are monitoring the Reiman Creek and Russian River to asses the environmental damage

OGorman says that some of the wine was saved before it leaked out of the building, adding that the internal investigation has 'almost completely' ruled out human error.

'We were able to control the leak and shut the tank and save some of that wine. A lot of it was captured in the building without it leaking outside,' he said.

Sonoma and Napa counties wine spills Since 1979, there have been two other notable wine spills in Sonoma and Napa counties. That year, the Charle Krug Winery, the oldest in Napa Valley, were forced to clean up a wine waste spill into the Napa Valley River. The spill killed at least 2,000 fish, including catfish, suckers, small mouth bass, sunfish and blue gill. The fish perished because the wine waste absorbed the oxygen in the water. Just over a one mile of Napa Valley River was affected. In 2005, 6,400 gallons of pinot noir in a big rig tanker overturned on Highway 121. Around 2,000 gallons escaped through a drainage ditch, stoking fears that the substance could reach Sonoma Creek and San Pablo Bay. The contaminated water was vacuumed before it reached Sonoma Creek. Advertisement

The winery contracted two vacuum trucks to clean up the spill on the property.

Rodney Strong Vineyard's financial loss hasn't been disclosed, but local officials are trying to determined the environmental cost of the leak.

Sonoma County Water Quality Control Board and California Department of Fish & Wildlife were on scene Thursday to investigate the extent of the damage.

Water agency supervisor Charles Reed said that recent rainfall likely made for higher than usual water levels, helping dilute wine that could be appealing to smaller organisms for food.

On Thursday, water was reportedly moving around nine times the total amount of the spill each second.

California's Governor's Office of Emergency Services said around 20 percent of the initial spill was contained on Wednesday.

After initially announcing as much as 80 percent of wine had been captured, Rodney Strong said it closer to 50 percent in a recent statement.

Brad Sherwood, a spokesman for the Sonoma County Water Agency, who gets drinking water from the Russian River, said the wine had not affected its system.

Typically, wine isn't as harmful to the environment as raw sewage because sewage has an abundance of toxic pollutants.

However, wine can be more damaging than treated sewage. Treated sewage is processed and disinfected, while wine is very acidic and untreated.

McEnhill was encouraged on Thursday by the results of an initial study.

He said: 'When we dont see dead fish, that tells us weve dodged the worst potential impact. We probably lost a lot of fish food and really small organisms that cant swim away from this, butweve had many worse things happen to our river.'

Rodney Strong Vineyards will likely face repercussions for the spill, but no punishment or enforcement has been announced

The state fish and wildlife department will write a review of the accident and forward the report to the Sonoma County District Attorneys Office for review.

Rodney Strong Vineyard's will likely face repercussions for the spill, bit McEnhill said the winery's response was 'fast and immediate.'

'This was unfortunate, but hopefully well learn something that will prevent it from happening in the future,' he added.

The investigation is still in the early stages, but Eric Laughlin, spokesman for fish and wildlife agencys office of spill and prevention response, said it's a code violation to release anything harmful to fish into the water.

The county water quality board has already identified two permit violations, but have not determined an enforcement or punishment.

Water samples taken to determine fish kill will come in the next few days and a full report on the spill should be ready in two weeks.
System error

error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.

context: ... 21: </%method> 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: </%perl> 28: <table width="90%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> 29: <tr> ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25

/usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951

/var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17

/usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149



Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. Trace begun at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Exceptions.pm line 129 HTML::Mason::Exceptions::rethrow_exception('Can\'t call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25.^J') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 160 HTML::Mason::Component::run_dynamic_sub('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f04831ac0b8)', 'main') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 951 HTML::Mason::Request::call_dynamic('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f04837ccf68)', 'main') called at /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj line 17 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f04831ac0b8)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1305 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 958 HTML::Mason::Request::call_next('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f04837ccf68)') called at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html line 149 HTML::Mason::Commands::__ANON__ at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Component.pm line 138 HTML::Mason::Component::run('HTML::Mason::Component::FileBased=HASH(0x7f0483143640)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1303 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 1295 HTML::Mason::Request::comp(undef, undef, undef) called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 484 eval {...} at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm line 436 HTML::Mason::Request::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f04837ccf68)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 165 HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler::exec('HTML::Mason::Request::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f04837ccf68)') called at /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/ApacheHandler.pm line 831 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handle_request('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler=HASH(0x7f04822722d0)', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f0482bb4340)') called at (eval 487) line 8 HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler::handler('HTML::Mason::ApacheHandler', 'Apache2::RequestRec=SCALAR(0x7f0482bb4340)') called at -e line 0 eval {...} at -e line 0
PIL in SC challenges Centre's ordinances on powers to extend tenure of Directors of CBI, ED

CBI takes over probe into murder of Indian man in UAE

India

oi-PTI

New Delhi, Jan 24: The CBI has taken over the investigation into the killing of a man named Rama Lengaw Natesan in the United Arab Emirates allegedly by a fellow Indian over some dispute in 2008, officials said.

The case has been taken over after a request from the UAE government under the extradition treaty between both the countries, they said.

Article 5 of the treaty prohibits extradition of own nationals by requested state, subject to the condition that the requested state shall prosecute the accused under its own law, the officials said.

No girl murdered in Bihar shelter home, bones found were of some other adults: CBI tells SC

In accordance with the provision, the UAE government had written to India seeking prosecution of Indre Jeet Singh, who is accused of killing Natesan in 2008 in that country, they said.

It is alleged that the body of Natesan was found in the morning of August 28, 2008 in a farm.

Kailash Vijayvargiya identified Bangladeshis by their 'strange meal'| OneIndia News

The UAE police discovered during its probe that Natesan used to sell international prepaid phone card.

It surfaced during the probe that Natesan''s phone was being used by Singh who had made a call to one Balwender Singh, it said.

During questioning, Balwender Singh allegedly admitted that during the call Indre Jeet Singh had told him that he had killed Natesan as he was in the need of money, the CBI FIR said.

The UAE police had said that its investigation showed that Indre Jeet Singh's debt to Natesan had reached a sum of 300 AED, which motivated him to kill Natesan, it said.

The UAE Mission informed the External Affairs Ministry that Singh has been arrested in India without giving details of his arrest.

The court in the UAE had given in absentia death sentence and a blood money penalty of 200000 AED to Singh, the note from the UAE government stated.

The request was forwarded to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by the External Affairs Ministry for further examination.

"It may be noted that while a less degree of evidence is required for trial and conviction of the accused. Thus, before the local prosecution of the accused can be undertaken, the request should be supported by evidence on the basis of which the accused can be tried and convicted beyond reasonable doubt," the MEA observed.

Indian nationals warned of fraud UAE job offers

The ministry said local prosecution of the accused shall take place primarily on the basis of evidence or documents submitted along with the request, or subsequently submitted by the requesting state.

All evidence that may be needed for prosecution of the present case could be submitted by the UAE authorities only, it said.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Friday, January 24, 2020, 8:25 [IST]
Guests watch a performance during the "Tianjin Night" event held in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 22, 2020. The "Tianjin Night" event was held at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2020 annual meeting in Davos on Wednesday night. Guests watched performances and enjoyed traditional food during the event. [Xinhua/Zhang Li]

Guests taste traditional Tianjin food during the "Tianjin Night" event held in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 22, 2020. The "Tianjin Night" event was held at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2020 annual meeting in Davos on Wednesday night. Guests watched performances and enjoyed traditional food during the event. [Xinhua/Zhang Li]

Photo taken on Jan. 22, 2020 shows a scene of the "Tianjin Night" event held in Davos, Switzerland. The "Tianjin Night" event was held at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2020 annual meeting in Davos on Wednesday night. Guests watched performances and enjoyed traditional food during the event. [Xinhua/Zhang Li]

(Source: Xinhua)
- itelligence generates record revenue to break the one-billion barrier for first time: revenue growth of 12.2% to BEUR 1.040

- Strong growth in revenue of 38.6% in Cloud Subscription segment

- EBITA improves by 37.1% from MEUR 31.0 to MEUR 42.5

- Forecast for 2020: Revenue growth to between BEUR 1.120 and BEUR 1.130

- Expanded strategic investment program of more than MEUR 20.0

BIELEFELD, Germany, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- itelligence AG continued its growth over 2019 as a whole. itelligence generated revenue growth of 12.2% to BEUR 1.040 as against MEUR 926.6 in the previous year, thus achieving a figure in excess of one billion for the first time. Both organic growth (+8.4%) and newly acquired companies in the UK, Brazil and Sweden (+3.8%) contributed to this rise in revenue. EBITA for the year as a whole climbed significantly by 37.1% to MEUR 42.5 after MEUR 31.0 in the previous year. Orders on hand at itelligence AG amounted to BEUR 1.032 as of December 31, 2019, up 5.1% on the previous year's figure of MEUR 982.1 as of December 31, 2018.

Norbert Rotter, CEO of itelligence AG commented: "Fiscal year 2019 was an outstanding year for itelligence. itelligence celebrated its 30th anniversary, broke the one-billion barrier and employs more than 10,000 people worldwide. These are significant milestones for our company. itelligence will also significantly increase investment in its workforce and in customer solutions in 2020 and the years ahead, thereby continuing its growth trajectory."

In the individual revenue segments, consulting business reported growth of 16.9%, from MEUR 389.1 to MEUR 454.7. The biggest percentage increase in revenue was achieved by the Cloud Subscription segment, growing by 38.6% from MEUR 19.7 to MEUR 27.3. The largest segment, Managed Services, also reported revenue growth of 11.8% from MEUR 431.6 to MEUR 482.4. License revenue amounted to MEUR 67.3 in fiscal 2019 after MEUR 81.6 in the previous year (-17.5%).

Revenue in the DACH segment, the largest in terms of geographical revenue distribution, rose by 6.9% from MEUR 444.1 to MEUR 474.7. The Western Europe segment continued to grow by 23.5% to MEUR 162.7 after MEUR 131.7 in the previous year. Revenue in the Northern and Eastern Europe (NEE) segment increased by 5.7% from MEUR 184.6 to MEUR 195.1. Revenue in the Americas segment climbed significantly by 24.3% year-on-year from MEUR 141.9 to MEUR 176.4. The largest percentage increase in revenue was achieved by the Asia segment, with a substantial 33.9% from MEUR 17.4 to MEUR 23.3. The Other segment was slightly higher than the previous year's level at MEUR 7.7 (previous year: MEUR 6.9).

itelligence AG enjoyed a good fiscal year in terms of earnings. EBITA for the year as a whole improved by 37.1% to MEUR 42.5 after MEUR 31.0 in the previous year. The EBITA margin was 4.1% after 3.3% in the same period of the previous year.

The Management Board is forecasting further growth in revenue and increased earnings for fiscal 2020. Revenue is set to grow to between BEUR 1.120 and BEUR 1.130 in the current year. With income continuing to rise, itelligence is also pursuing an investment and innovation program of more than MEUR 20.0 in 2020.

About itelligence

itelligence AG transforms IT landscapes and business processes through the combination of innovative SAP software and technology with services and products developed in-house. As an SAP Global Platinum Partner, itelligence supports SMEs and large enterprises in every phase of their digital transformation. itelligence's range of services includes IT strategy and transformation consulting, software deployment and implementation, as well as application management and managed cloud services. The excellence of these services is built on the foundation of itelligence's local presence, global capacity, and comprehensive industry expertise. itelligence partners with customers to create new and innovative business opportunities through the use of IT  for each facet of the customer's business. Thousands of satisfied customers have placed their trust in itelligence, many of them since the company was founded 30 years ago.

itelligence's contribution to innovation and long-term business success has been confirmed by numerous SAP awards and leading market analysts. itelligence is part of the global NTT DATA group and employs about 10,000 people across 28 countries. In 2019, itelligence generated BEUR 1.040 in total revenues. https://itelligencegroup.com

- Picture is available at AP Images (http://www.apimages.com) -

Contact:

Katrin Schlegel

Tel.: +49-(0)-521-91448  106

e-mail: Katrin.Schlegel@itelligence.de

Head of Corporate Public Relations

Silvia Dicke

Tel.: +49-(0)-521-91448 - 107

e-mail: Silvia.Dicke@itelligence.de

SOURCE itelligence AG
A road map of the partner agreements with the German rail operator Deutsche Bahn AG will be signed on February 5, 2020, Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Honcharuk said following a briefing on the results of the sitting of the Cabinet of Ministers on Friday.

"Now we are holding talks with this large system company over signing of a strategic partnership agreement. This strategic agreement can bear many meanings. The signing of the road map towards what will go on this year is planned for February 5," he said.

According to the premier, the Ukrainian government is interested in investing in the railway industry, in partnership with a global company, towards which there is trust, which has cheap resources and unique experience in managing such projects.

He called Deutsche Bahn a synonym for the word "efficiency" in Europe and emphasized that the Ukrainian government wanted the Ukrainian railway also to become a model of efficiency. At the same time, the state in which Ukrzaliznytsia is now, Honcharuk called "capable for improvement".

"Deutsche Bahn can be a reliable serious partner for us. This is both about the quality of transportation and their speed, since many in the business, especially exporters, I hear it told they have problems with transporting products to the ports...We won't put up with this. If this interferes with economic growth, we will take decisive action," said Honcharuk.

Previously, the Deutsche Bahn made an official statement, according to which DB Engineering & Consulting consulting company within Deutsche Bahn, which works on projects in the areas of infrastructure, mobility and transport, will advise and support Ukrzaliznytsia in business and technical matters.

On January 22, 2020, the Infrastructure Ministry of Ukraine and Deutsche Bahn in Davos, Switzerland, signed a memorandum of understanding on strategic partnership in the industry and the development of Ukrzaliznytsia.
Stephen Poloz sat down with the Toronto Star this week to discuss his seven-year term as the governor of the Bank of Canada which comes to a close this June. Heres are excerpts from the interview:

On why companies need to come clean on climate change

When were talking about trying to promote among companies more transparency around what their carbon footprint is, and what their plans are, and so on, what that will allow is for investors like (BlackRock CEO) Larry Fink to be able to decide what share of his plans portfolios should be represented by companies that are emitting high levels of carbon, or gradually reducing them or whatever. Without that transparency, you get this gap in knowledge and you can have sudden movements, which could be quite painful and disruptive. With transparency, I think you help ensure that it will be a clear and gradual process for investors. It doesnt have a cliff in it.

On why consumer confidence deteriorated at the end of the year

2019, it turns out, the economy was in an even stronger place than we thoughtSo we should be less surprised that when you shock it with something like the trade war washing ashore and causing unemployment to rise in manufacturing and certain sectors of the economy, and you see your neighbour get laid off, (and then) you see around October, November, Decemberconsumer confidence goes down. So I say OK, if the world has now firmed up and we expect it to grow a little bit faster over the next two years, then thats as bad as that gets. That fuels the interpretation of it being a temporary thing. Its one more way I think were going to show our resilience. But we have to be prepared in case it is more profound.

On what he will do once he finishes his term at the bank

Its kind of unfair to ask me that at this stage because Im not really allowed to make plansWe were really careful not to use the retirement word and Im not ready to retire. So Ill be looking for something different to do. Well see what pops up. Theres no rush. Ive got a lot to do between now and June.

Read more about:
A cheeky motorist has taken a jab at millennial car thieves for their apparent inability to use a manual transmission.

The Victorian driver wrote a series of messages onto their vehicle that joked the manual transmission now acted as a 'millennial anti-theft device'.

The image shared to Instagram community page Brown Cardigan also showed messages that criticised NSW Police for its controversial use of strip-searching.

The Victorian driver wrote a series of messages onto their vehicle that joked the manual transmission now acted as a 'millennial anti theft device'

'News flash: Sydney now strip-searches 12-year-old girls, keep your child close if you visit Sydney,' it said.

'Sydney the boring geriatric village with a big bridge, don't bother going.'

The community page labelled the driver a 'Melbourne boomer' who was making jokes at a common millennial stereotype.

'Some heavy Melbourne big boomer energy. Hahaha millennials can't drive manual,' it captioned the post.

Only 9.2 per cent of drivers who purchased a new car or commercial vehicle in 2018 chose a manual transmission, according to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries.

Only 9.2 per cent of drivers who purchased a new car or commercial vehicle in 2018 chose a manual transmission

Many younger people were quick to respond to the claims with the dismissive slogan 'ok boomer'.

'Someone give this old guy a hug,' another said.

Other people agreed with the driver and said the amount of young people who can't drive a manual car was worrying.

'I was trying to sell my HiLux last year, the amount of young fellas who looked and then said I can't drive manual was actually surprising, this guy kind of has a point,' a man said.
The goal of this article is to teach you how to use price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). We'll show how you can use Suncor Energy Inc.'s (TSE:SU) P/E ratio to inform your assessment of the investment opportunity. What is Suncor Energy's P/E ratio? Well, based on the last twelve months it is 13.66. That means that at current prices, buyers pay CA$13.66 for every CA$1 in trailing yearly profits.

View our latest analysis for Suncor Energy

How Do You Calculate Suncor Energy's P/E Ratio?

The formula for price to earnings is:

Price to Earnings Ratio = Share Price  Earnings per Share (EPS)

Or for Suncor Energy:

P/E of 13.66 = CAD43.00  CAD3.15 (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2019.)

Is A High P/E Ratio Good?

A higher P/E ratio implies that investors pay a higher price for the earning power of the business. That isn't a good or a bad thing on its own, but a high P/E means that buyers have a higher opinion of the business's prospects, relative to stocks with a lower P/E.

How Does Suncor Energy's P/E Ratio Compare To Its Peers?

The P/E ratio essentially measures market expectations of a company. You can see in the image below that the average P/E (11.5) for companies in the oil and gas industry is lower than Suncor Energy's P/E.

TSX:SU Price Estimation Relative to Market, January 24th 2020

That means that the market expects Suncor Energy will outperform other companies in its industry. The market is optimistic about the future, but that doesn't guarantee future growth. So investors should delve deeper. I like to check if company insiders have been buying or selling.

How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios

Probably the most important factor in determining what P/E a company trades on is the earnings growth. That's because companies that grow earnings per share quickly will rapidly increase the 'E' in the equation. And in that case, the P/E ratio itself will drop rather quickly. A lower P/E should indicate the stock is cheap relative to others -- and that may attract buyers.

Story continues

Suncor Energy saw earnings per share improve by -3.9% last year. And its annual EPS growth rate over 5 years is 8.6%.

Don't Forget: The P/E Does Not Account For Debt or Bank Deposits

One drawback of using a P/E ratio is that it considers market capitalization, but not the balance sheet. That means it doesn't take debt or cash into account. In theory, a company can lower its future P/E ratio by using cash or debt to invest in growth.

Such expenditure might be good or bad, in the long term, but the point here is that the balance sheet is not reflected by this ratio.

Suncor Energy's Balance Sheet

Suncor Energy has net debt worth 19% of its market capitalization. This could bring some additional risk, and reduce the number of investment options for management; worth remembering if you compare its P/E to businesses without debt.

The Bottom Line On Suncor Energy's P/E Ratio

Suncor Energy trades on a P/E ratio of 13.7, which is below the CA market average of 15.9. The company hasn't stretched its balance sheet, and earnings are improving. The P/E ratio implies the market is cautious about longer term prospects.

When the market is wrong about a stock, it gives savvy investors an opportunity. If it is underestimating a company, investors can make money by buying and holding the shares until the market corrects itself. So this free report on the analyst consensus forecasts could help you make a master move on this stock.

Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking at a few good candidates. So take a peek at this free list of companies with modest (or no) debt, trading on a P/E below 20.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Justice I. M. Sani of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has ordered that Mercy Daniel Ogbonnaya, a pastor, be remanded at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre for obtaining N23m under false pretences.

The defendant was arraigned by the Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on one count charge.

The charge reads: That you, Mercy Daniela Ogbonnaya sometimes between 7th September 2018 and 8th February 2019, N23,042,000 from Mrs Nyingierefaa Maxwell and Mrs Macba Iniene Richard under the false pretence of business proposals of purchase of Yoghurt from Aba, supply of provisions to the Genesis Group of Companies and supply of wires to Globalcom Communications Company.

READ ALSO  EFCC Arrests Two Verified Currency Counterfeiters In Abuja

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to her. Justice Sani granted the defendant bail in the sum of N5,000,000 and one surety within the jurisdiction of the Court.
J effrey Archer is suing his former agent over claims that he missed out on more than 500,000 in payments for his literary works.

The life peer and prolific author has accused top agency Curtis Brown of failing to deliver advances and royalties from book deals during their 17-year working relationship.

Lord Archer split with the agency in March last year and now says he has evidence that he is owed at least 500,000 in missing payments as well as more than 250,000 which would have accrued in interest over the years.

In papers filed at the High Court, the former MP also claimed Curtis Brown failed to keep hold of more than 250 documents relating to the book deals with publisher Pan Macmillan.

Jeffrey Archer at the Chris Beetles Gallery / Matt Writtle

The agency said it is entirely rejects the claim and intends to fight the allegations. Lord Archer, who published his first novel in 1974, agreed for Curtis Brown to work on his behalf from 2002.

Best-selling works involved in the dispute include The Sins Of The Father and Best Kept Secret, as well as a 30th anniversary edition of his celebrated novel Kane And Abel, released in 2009.

Curtis Brown also negotiated a deal for the publication of three volumes of Lord Archers prison diaries, chronicling the peers spell behind bars after his notorious perjury conviction.

James Ramsden QC, representing Lord Archer, told the court the peer said he first discovered a problem in 2018 after asking agency Mitchell Rights Management (MRM) to run a reconciliation exercise to check he had received all the money he was owed from his work.

He said: It was not possible to complete that exercise because in excess of 250 documents including royalty statements are missing and were apparently never obtained.

He said the audit has so far identified underpayments of 538,486 since 2002, plus interest of over 250,000, and that Curtis Brown is accused of a breach of duty because of its apparent failure to retain documents relating to (Lord Archer) and failure to complete regular conciliation exercises has led to underpayments.

He added that the dispute led to Lord Archer quitting the agency, to be represented by MRM in the future.

Lord Archer says a formal written agreement was never agreed with Curtis Brown after negotiations in 2002 but in book deals it was said the agency would handle the finances and be entitled to a sum equal to 10 per cent.

Agency president Jonathan Lloyd has also been accused of calling Pan Macmillan directly in November last year, allegedly asking for commission money from the authors work to be released to his firm. However, Mr Lloyd is adamant he didnt say that, the court heard.

A spokesman for Curtis Brown said: Were disappointed because weve had a successful relationship with Jeffrey for 17 years and have worked very hard for him. We entirely reject this claim.

Lord Archer wants to recover 538,486 in alleged underpayments plus interest, as well as damages for the claimed breach of duty.
Appeal over refusal of plans for houses next to closed Wrexham pub is dismissed

This article is old - Published: Friday, Jan 24th, 2020

An appeal over the refusal of plans to build houses next to a closed Wrexham pub has been dismissed.

The Gredington Arms in Llan-y-Pwll used to be situated on the main route to Wrexham Industrial Estate on Holt Road.

It shut its doors in 2010 due a decline in passing trade after a new 30m link road was created.

Proposals to construct up to five properties on land surrounding the pub were turned down by Wrexham Council last year because of the harm it would cause to the countryside.

An appeal was later launched by the applicant Des Hughes-Whilding, who claimed the derelict site was crying out to be transformed.

However, the local authoritys decision has now been upheld by a planning inspector appointed by the Welsh Government.

In a report, Kay Sheffield concluded it would have a considerable impact on the area.

She said: The erection of up to five dwellings on the land would result in a significant amount of built development which would fail to maintain its openness.

The proposal would extend the built development along Holt Road and away from the former public house and the cluster of dwellings to the south east. It would also be elevated above Holt Road and the pub buildings.

I consider the development would encroach into the countryside and have a significant visual impact on the area.

I find that to allow the development would conflict with the purposes of including the land within the green barrier as well as failing to maintain openness.

Ms Sheffield acknowledged Wrexham is currently without a five-year housing land supply, but said the argument only carried a limited weight.

She added the site had become overgrown to the extent that it could be considered to form part of the natural environment.

She therefore found the exceptional circumstances required to justify the development had not been demonstrated.

By Liam Randall  BBC Local Democracy Reporter (more here on the LDR scheme)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Fadli (The Jakarta Post) Batam  Fri, January 24 2020

In yet another example of religious intolerance in Indonesia, a local group named the United Muslim Forum (FUIB) has urged the Karimun regency administration in Riau Islands to revoke a building license (IMB) for the renovation and expansion of the Santo Joseph Church.

The group staged a rally on Jan. 17 in front of the regent's official residence, which is located next to the 92-year-old church.

FUIB chairman Abdul Latif claimed the residents feared that the church would turn into an icon as it was located in the center of Karimuns capital of Tanjung Balai.

to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content

e-Post daily digital newspaper

No advertisements, no interruptions

Privileged access to our events and programs

Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login
LONDON  The United States has formally turned down Britains extradition request for an American woman who was involved in a car accident that killed a teenager last year, a decision that the British government called a denial of justice.

The police have said that the woman, Anne Sacoolas, was driving a car on the wrong side of the road in August when it collided with a motorcycle ridden by Harry Dunn, 19. She fled Britain shortly afterward.

At the time of the accident, which occurred in Brackley, a town about 60 miles northwest of London, Ms. Sacoolass husband was working for the United States government at a British military base, and American officials assert that she had diplomatic immunity, shielding her from prosecution. But in December, British prosecutors charged her with causing death by dangerous driving.

The State Department said in a statement on Thursday that it had denied extradition, which it said would render the invocation of diplomatic immunity a practical nullity and would set an extraordinarily troubling precedent.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Dyaning Pangestika (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, January 24, 2020 13:15 719 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2060d251c 1 National death,Ragunan-zoo Free

Ulrike Freifrau von Mengden, the senior curator at Ragunan Zoo in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, passed away at the age of 99 on Jan. 23.

Born on April 14, 1920, von Mengden died just three months shy of her 100th birthday.

Ragunan Zoo management posted the news of her death on its Instagram account on Thursday and expressed its condolences.

Goodbye, Ulrike Von [sic] Mengden. We will continue your great service to orangutan conservation, it wrote in the post.

Von Mengden, also known as "Ulla", had worked and lived at the zoo for 55 years since 1965, when then-Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin invited her to monitor the animals in the city-owned zoo.

Dubbed the "Mother Teresa of the Orangutans" for her love of the primates, von Mengden came to Indonesia in 1952 from Bonn, Germany, with her husband.

She fostered 37 orangutans throughout her life at her house in the zoo complex.
Two Irish men in China have been talking about how the country has been reacting to the recent outbreak of coronavirus there.

A Kildare teacher who is on lockdown in the Chinese city of Wuhan says that he has been reduced to doing about "seven washes" of laundry to pass the time.

In an interview with the RTE News at One Ben Kavanagh said he was keeping his cool about the situation in spite of increasing anxiety.

"I got in to the lift (to go to shops) and there was a Chinese guy already in the lift.

We subconsciously stood in opposite corners as far away as possible. I could see he was wearing two masks.

"It is almost as if you are suspicious of everyone else. If you heard anyone cough you would be terrified. It has gotten to the stage where you are fearful of other people even though we are all probably healthy and it is only really affecting the elderly."

Ben said he was pleasantly surprised when he got to the shops to find that they were not full of bare shelves.

"To be fair the Chinese section was fairly empty. Noodles and all that were all gone. But everything else was still there. There was plenty of water. There was plenty of food. I needed toiletries specifically and they were all there. The shop was completely stocked up."

Mr Kavanagh has heard that schools in Wuhan are closed indefinitely. He had a flight booked out of the area next week which has been cancelled.

"My friends who are abroad now all their flights back to Wuhan have been cancelled. So everything seems to be shut indefinitely.

They are currently building a new facility for people affected by it (the virus). I saw a picture of about thirty diggers preparing new ground and foundations. "

Ben said he fears lock down will continue in to March.

"I am hoping it is not another three month thing like SARS but I wouldn't be surprised. Being cautious is most important.

I am as safe as I can be. There is no need to worry unless its time to worry.

"Cabin fever will be setting in shortly. I have done about seven washes. We have got the internet. I am sure I will figure something out.

Another Irishman staying in Wuxi city said he was also in Vietnam during the SARS outbreak in 2003

Paul Cassidy. Pic: Ciara Wilkinson.

Paul Cassidy who is from Blackrock, Co. Louth, is currently in Wuxi city, which is two hours west of Shanghai, for work and is due to return to Ireland next week.

The city is not on lockdown like Wuhan but he said his Chinese colleagues, gave me masks on Wednesday.

They advised me not to go to public places and also since Wednesday the hotel I am staying at have got floor managers at the (entrance) doors, taking temperatures so anybody who comes into the hotel has to get their temperature taken.

All of the hotel staff are wearing masks as well.

He said that when he has gone out to public areas that 50% of people are wearing masks.

This only started happening here in the last couple of days because there was a confirmed case within the province we are in.

He said he was back-packing in Vietnam in 2003 when SARS broke out.

So I have seen this before. Then we wearing masks going to train stations and we got a flight out of Singapore. I remember going through the airport and people had masks on and some people were very nervous at the time and other people were a little bit more relaxed about it.

So this time he said: I feel I kind of have a bit of experience around this, that is partly why I am not as concerned as maybe some other people might be. A lot of stuff they are doing is precautionary.
Meanwhile, Congress comparatively quietly has updated the historic North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement  USMCA  was passed in the U.S. Senate on Jan. 16 by a vote of 89 to 10, an overwhelming victory for supporters and a notable example of bipartisan cooperation in the midst of often rancorous partisanship. Last month, the House of Representatives passed the agreement by the equally impressive margin of 385 to 41.
Hover-Davis demonstrates new Radial, Tube, Tray, Label and Die-cut material automation solutions at IPC Apex Expo Published: 24 January 2020 by Chelsey Drysdale by Chelsey Drysdale

Hover-Davis will demonstrate its new Radial, Tube and Tray feeders at the 20th IPC Apex Expo. Developed in partnership with Universal Instruments, these innovative feeders solve the packaging challenges of larger SMD and odd-form electronic components such as relays, connectors, capacitors, LEDs, and more. Originally proven on Universals Uflex and FuzionOF automation systems, the companys new odd-form feeders are now available through Hover-Davis, with interface kits available for a wide range of automation system integration applications.

Hover-Davis will also demonstrate its expanded material automation solutions for labels, solder/coating masks, and other die-cut materials. Through its distribution partnership with CCL Design Electronics, Hover-Davis provides its customers with process optimized materials packaged with its industry leading AXIUM Series feeders as a single-source, fully supported solution.

Combined with CAB SQUIX Series 600dpi industrial thermal transfer printers and accessories, the Hover-Davis supplied solutions can reliably automate hi-temperature identification and masking material applications as small as 3mm x 3mm, resulting in increased throughput, improved quality, and reduced labor cost. CCLs innovative 540 Series labels can be laser marked for high-contrast, real-time serialization during PCB assembly and rework. These state-of-the-art technologies enable Industry 4.0 smart factory data management utilizing existing machines and floor space.

Hover-Davis will also display its premium, high-speed surface mount component tape feeders with exclusive features that reduce operating costs, extend the feeder life-cycle, and improve machine utilization, performance, and yield. Standard feeder configurations are available for PANASONIC, SIPLACE, and FUJI SMT equipment. Special feeder/interface configurations are also available for integration with a wide range of automation & OEM machine applications.

Visit Hover-Davis in booth #1837 and CCL Design Electronics in booth #1526 at IPC Apex Expo in San Diego, CA on February 4-6 to see their latest innovative solutions.

About Hover-Davis:

Celebrating 30 years of automation technology development and innovation, Hover-Davis manufactures premium, maintenance-free component and material feeders for a wide range of electronics assembly and industrial automation equipment systems. Product lines include high-speed Surface Mount Device Tape feeders, Label and Die-cut Material automation solutions, and Radial, Tube, Tray, & Wafer feeders for automation integration. Located in Rochester, New York, Hover-Davis was founded in 1989 by John Hover and Peter Davis. Hover-Davis is currently an ISO9001:2015 certified business unit of the Universal Instruments Corporation.

About CCL Design Electronics:

CCL Industries, the global leader of innovative label solutions, acquired privately owned Worldmark Limited and Nortec International, specialty suppliers of pressure sensitive and hi-temperature labels, to become the world's largest converter of labeling materials and total ID solutions for auto-apply and high-technology applications. The combined CCL Design Electronics business units ISO9001:2015 and IATF 16949:2016 certified products are successfully used in industries such as electronics (PCB), medical, aviation, energy, military, automotive, security, and more. With operational headquarters in Scotland, CCL Design Electronics has over 2,000 employees distributed across six manufacturing plants in China, Mexico, Hungary, and the USA, plus sales offices and prototyping design centers in Silicon Valley and Chicago.
Chinese Consul General in Houston Cai Wei hosted a concert Wednesday night at his residence to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year.

Named "Greetings of Spring," presented by the Chinese Consulate General in Houston together with the Houston Symphony, the concert featured both Western and traditional Chinese music. Four artists from the Houston Symphony performed a string quartet while four local artists played traditional music using unique Chinese instruments, such as guqin, guzheng, erhu and bamboo flute.

Nearly 100 guests, including U.S. politicians, businessmen and leaders of social organizations, marveled at the performances.

Cai said that by mixing Western music and traditional Chinese music together, people can enjoy and celebrate Chinese and American cultures at the same time.

John Mangum, executive director and CEO of the Houston Symphony, told Xinhua that this kind of collaboration shows that music is a universal language.

"I was really struck in the performance by that quality. It's a universal language that we can all understand, whether it's Chinese traditional music or Western classical music," he said.

Mark Winchester, deputy district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration, and his wife were invited to the concert. He said that the Chinese Lunar New Year is a good opportunity for people with all backgrounds to celebrate together.

"My birthday is in January so I always feel I'm associated with Chinese New Year. It's wonderful to celebrate with our Chinese friends together," he said.
[January 24, 2020] NASA Highlights Science on Next Northrop Grumman Mission to Space Station

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA will host a media teleconference at 1 p.m. EST Wednesday, Jan. 29, to discuss science investigations and technology demonstrations launching on Northrop Grumman's 13th commercial resupply mission for the agency to the International Space Station. Audio of the teleconference will be streamed live online at: http://www.nasa.gov/live Northrop Grumman is targeting Sunday, Feb. 9, at 5:39 p.m., for the launch of its Cygnus spacecraft on an Antares rocket from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport's pad 0A at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia. Heidi Parris, assistant program scientist for the International Space Station Program Science Office at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, and Liz Warren, senior associate program scientist for the ISS U.S. National Laboratory, will provide an overview of the research and technology aboard the Cygnus spacecraft. Also participating in the briefing are: Caitlin O'Connell , prncipal investigator, and Devin Ridgley , chief biologist, SCORPIO-V, a division of HNu Photonics, will discuss the Mobile SpaceLab , a tissue and cell culturing facility that can perform a biology experiment without the need for crew operations for as long as a month.

, prncipal investigator, and , chief biologist, SCORPIO-V, a division of HNu Photonics, will discuss the , a tissue and cell culturing facility that can perform a biology experiment without the need for crew operations for as long as a month. Bruce Hammer , professor of radiology at the University of Minnesota , and Louis Kidder , a research scientist in bone physiology at the University of Minnesota , will discuss OsteoOmics, which investigates the molecular mechanisms behind bone loss in microgravity.

, professor of radiology at the , and , a research scientist in bone physiology at the , will discuss OsteoOmics, which investigates the molecular mechanisms behind bone loss in microgravity. Vatsan Raman, principal investigator and assistant professor of biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin , and co-investigator Heath Mills , will discuss Phage Evolution, which examines the effects of microgravity and radiation exposure on viruses that target human bacteria without harming human cells or the body's beneficial bacteria population. The investigation results could ultimately help protect the health of astronauts on future missions.

, and co-investigator , will discuss Phage Evolution, which examines the effects of microgravity and radiation exposure on viruses that target human bacteria without harming human cells or the body's beneficial bacteria population. The investigation results could ultimately help protect the health of astronauts on future missions. David Urban , principal investigator, and Gary Ruff , project manager, will discuss the Spacecraft Fire Experiment-IV ( Saffire-IV ) investigation, which will examine the development and growth of a fire in different materials and environmental conditions.



Gina Anderson at 202-358-1160 or [email protected] by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28 , for dial-in information. The Cygnus spacecraft will carry crew supplies, scientific research and hardware to the orbiting laboratory to support the Expedition 61 and 62 crews for the 13th mission under Northrop Grumman's Commercial Resupply Services-2 contract with NASA.



For launch countdown coverage, NASA's launch blog, and more information about the mission, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/northropgrumman View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-highlights-science-on-next-northrop-grumman-mission-to-space-station-300992919.html SOURCE NASA

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
Kinshasa (AFP) - Human rights remain at threat in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Amnesty International said on Friday in a report issued a year to the day since the country underwent historic change.

Militia violence, ethnic clashes and failure to hold rights abusers to account dog the record of President Felix Tshisekedi, who succeeded Joseph Kabila, DRC's ruler for 18 years, it said.

"Although President Tshisekedi has taken some positive steps, such as pardoning political prisoners and allowing exiled critics to return, his governments failures on accountability mean warlords and suspected perpetrators of appalling violations and abuses remain at large," said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty's director for eastern and southern Africa.

"Meanwhile (a) brutal crackdown on peaceful protests has continued to cast doubt on respect for the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly."

Disherited took the helm on January 24 2019 after bitterly disputed elections.

The succession was the first peaceful transition of power in the DRC's history since the vast country gained independence from Belgium in 1960.

Disherited vowed to push ahead with far-reaching reforms and crackdown on corruption.

But he has had to share power with allies of the former president, who dominate the National Assembly.

The Amnesty report pointed to a string of continuing problems, including insecurity in the volatile east, which is in the grip of militias groups.

"Concerns remain about the safety and security of the people of eastern DRC despite repeated commitments by the president to address insecurity. The Congolese people have heard enough promises and want their lives to be effectively protected," said Muchena.

The report also pointed the finger at continuing crackdowns on protests -- a hallmark of the Kabila regime -- and failures to hold suspected perpetrators of past rights violations to account.

In September, Disherited said he had "no time to rummage into the past," a statement that Amnesty described as "shocking."

Separately, a media watchdog Journalists in Danger (JED), which is a partner of Reporters Without Borders, said that Tshisekedi's first year in office had been a time of "concern" for media workers.

It said it had documented around 100 cases of assaults on press freedom, including a journalist who was murdered in November.
She survived an abortion meant to take her life. Here's her story

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

Abortion is one of the most contested and debated topics in America, but there's a facet of the discussion that doesn't often get a great deal of attention: abortion survival.

The media tend not to feature abortion survivors like Claire Culwell, a woman whose story has in recent years captivated the pro-life world.

WATCH: See 8 Powerful Pro-Life Movies on PureFlix.com

Culwell, who will soon participate in the inspirational "She Lives Out Loud" online event for women, became a pro-life speaker and advocate after learning 10 years ago that she miraculously survived abortion.

Listen to her tell her harrowing story on The Pure Flix Podcast:

"My sister and I are both adopted," Culwell told The Pure Flix Podcast, explaining that she and her sibling always knew they wanted to meet their birth parents. "After my sister met her birth mother ... I thought, 'Well mine could be just as great. I should reach out to this woman who gave me my life and my family.'"

Culwell said she wanted to thank her birth mom for giving her a wonderful life through adoption, and she soon had the chance.

READ ALSO: 5 Pro-Life Bible Verses That Will Inspire You

Culwell met her birth mom and the two started to build a relationship. About two months after their first encounter, though, Culwell learned the shock of a lifetime.

"In preparation for that second meeting I had a gift for her and it was this ring and necklace with my birthstone on it," she said.

But after she gave her birth mother these thoughtful momentos, something changed.

"There was this pain in her eyes," Culwell said. "And it's really indescribable, this pain that I saw."

Culwell's birth mother started shaking and broke into tears, before revealing the unthinkable.

"She was shaking and crying and she said, 'Claire, I had an abortion when I was pregnant with you. I was 13 years old and my mother told me there was only one choice for me,'" Culwell recounted.

On the surface, this likely seemed confusing considering Culwell very clearly survived and was given up for adoption.

But her mother explained that, at age 13, she underwent a Dilation and evacuation (D&E) abortion at 20 weeks of pregnancy.

READ ALSO: The Real History Behind Roe Vs. Wade

After the abortion, something didn't seem quite right, so Culwell's birth mother went back to the clinic and learned that she was actually pregnant with twins.

"They told her, 'Oops you were actually pregnant with twins. We got one of the babies but this baby survived,'" Culwell recounted. "I was born a few weeks later ... at 30 weeks."

Culwell had a dislocated hip and club feet, which she said is her "daily reminder" that she's "an abortion survivor: and a "twinless twin."

After learning about these details, Culwell had to grapple with her newfound reality.

"I survived something that literally was meant to take my life," she said. "One thing that I walked away knowing was that God had a plan for my life. There was a purpose for the pain that we had experienced."

Eventually, Culwell became an advocate and has been publicly sharing her story of abortion survival  a story that has "woken a lot of people up."

It's an uphill battle, as not everyone is aware of what people like Culwell have faced, and many critics dismiss pro-life activists' staunchest arguments.

Culwell is well aware of these roadblocks.

"We're being told that our voice, our choice, our humanity, our experience with abortion doesn't matter," she said. "That the only thing that matters is that women can do what they want."

You can watch Culwell and other female Christian leaders speak out during "She Loves Out Loud," an online event slated to take place on February 15. Find out more about the event and how you can take part here.

And be sure to watch some of the powerful, pro-life movies streaming right now on PureFlix.com.

--

This article was originally published on Pure Flix Insider. Visit Pure Flix for access to thousands of faith and family-friendly movies and TV shows. You can get a free trial here.

Billy Hallowell, author of "The Armageddon Code," has contributed to TheBlaze, the Washington Post, Human Events, the Daily Caller, Mediaite, and the Huffington Post, among other news sites. Through journalism, media, public speaking appearances, and the blogosphere, Hallowell has worked as a journalist and commentator for more than a decade.
Nepal has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the first Sagarmatha Sambaad forum to be held here in April to deliberate on the most prominent issues of global, regional and national significance, Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali said on Friday.

The first edition of the Sagarmatha Sambaad' is scheduled to be held from April 2 to 4 on the theme "Climate Change, Mountains and the Future of Humanity," he told a group of visiting Indian reporters.

"We have invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi and are awaiting the confirmation," Gyawali said.

He said leaders of all SAARC countries, including Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, have been invited and Nepal would be happy to host all the regional leaders so that they can have discussions amongst themselves on the challenges facing the region.

The Sambaad (dialogue) is named after the world's tallest mountain Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) which is also a symbol of friendship, Gyawali said.

Gyawali said the main objectives of the first edition of the Sambad are to forge a common consensus among countries on the impending climate crisis and encourage political leaders to mobilise their political willpower to tackle its menace.

It also hopes to create awareness among participants and the world about the direct relation that exists between the climate change and mountain ecology.

Nepal has the icy peaks of some of the world's highest mountains.

The dialogue would make an effort to promote and demonstrate its resolve to make it a welcoming ground for all stakeholders for impartial, transparent, open discussion and free flow of thoughts and ideas, officials said.

To be held every biennially, the Sambaad hopes to draw global leaders, including heads of state/government, parliamentarians, policy makers, leaders from the inter-governmental organisations, the private sector, the civil society, think tanks, women and the media to discuss on the ways of cooperation, exchange of ideas and sharing of experiences on prominent global issues.

The member states of SAARC are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

In the last three years, India has been distancing itself from the SAARC, citing security challenge facing the region from terror networks based in Pakistan, which is also a member of the grouping.

The last SAARC Summit in 2014 was held in Kathmandu. The 2016 SAARC summit was to be held in Islamabad. But after the terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18 that year, India expressed its inability to participate in the summit due to "prevailing circumstances".

The summit was called off after Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to participate in the Islamabad meet.

SAARC summits are usually held biennially and hosted by member states in alphabetical order.
The Guardian identified Rinaldo Nazzaro, 46, as the real name of The Base's ringleader

The mastermind behind the armed neo-Nazi group known as The Base has been named as an American-born man living in Russia.

The Guardian identified Rinaldo Nazzaro, 46, as the real name of the ringleader who launched the group in 2018, and who also goes by the aliases Norman Spear and Roman Wolf.

The Guardian reported that it pieced together Nazzaro's real identity through property deeds, tax affidavits, business filings, marriage documents, and email exchanges involving the Stevens County sheriff, the FBI and a researcher with the Southern Poverty Law Center.

A confidential source inside The Base was also cited by the outlet as confirming key aspects of Norman Spear's biography to identify his real name.

An image of The Base ringleader 'Norman Spear' (left) is seen alongside a 1994 image of 'Ron Nazzaro' in the Villanova student newspaper (right)

A screen capture from a video posted to the group's chatroom shows members conducting drills at a recent 'hate camp'. The location is unknown.

The outlet reported that Nazzaro previously lived in Midtown Manhattan and New Jersey, but is currently believed to be in Russia, living with his Russian wife that he married in 2012 in New York City.

The revelation shines new light on the group that gained prominence earlier this month with the arrests of six alleged members, whom federal prosecutors believe planned to attend a gun-rights rally in Virginia in the hope of provoking violence and starting a civil war.

Luke Austin Lane, 22, Jacob Kaderli, 19, and Michael Helterbrand, 25, were arrested in Georgia last week on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and participation in a criminal gang.

An analysis of information in charging documents by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution revealed the group's 'regional training camp' a few miles south of downtown Rome, Georgia.

An undercover law enforcement agent visited the 105-acre property in Silver Creek to participate in training with the group, according to an affidavit.

According to the affidavit, members of The Base used the compound 'to prepare for the 'Boogaloo,' a term used by members of The Base to describe the collapse of the United States and subsequent race war.'

Luke Austin Lane, 22, Jacob Kaderli, 19, and Michael Helterbrand, 25, (left to right) were arrested in Georgia on Wednesday on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and participation in a criminal gang

Memebers of the Base are seen posing for a photo with their faces obscured

Three other suspected neo-Nazis, who are also members of that group, were arrested last week just days before they were believed to be headed to the pro-gun rally.

U.S. citizens Brian Lemley, 33, and William Bilbrough, 19, as well as Canadian Patrik Jordan Mathews, 27, were all charged with felony firearms violations.

Lemley and Bilbrough were also charged in relation to transporting and harboring an illegal alien.

The new report in the Guardian also revealed revealed that Nazzaro, through a Delaware-registered company called Base Global LLC, purchased three 10-acre parcels of undeveloped land in Ferry County, Washington for $33,000 in December 2018.

The land is reportedly used as another 'training camp' by the group.

According to the Guardian, members of the Base have speculated that Nazzaro is really an undercover federal agent or a Russian spy, or that the Base is a 'honeypot' designed by law enforcement agencies to entrap neo-Nazis.
A Wexford man applied today for the Criminal Assets Bureau to be directed to return to him a Toyota Landcruiser that was seized from a property in Cork in April last year as part of a money-laundering investigation.

Judge Olann Kelleher said that it fairness to the applicant, Christopher Moorehouse, a painter decorator from Esmonde Road, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, he had no criminal convictions of any kind.

However, the judge refused his application to have the Landcruiser returned to him on the basis that it was part of an ongoing Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) investigation into other parties who were subject to the seizure of expensive cars and other property.

Judge Kelleher said of the applicant, Christopher Moorehouse, He has no previous convictions  I say that in fairness to him I am not satisfied he has proved the car belongs to him. I refuse the application.

Mr Moorehouse told his counsel, David Fleming, instructed by Donal Daly, solicitor, that he had evidence of buying the Landcruiser for 34,750 and a trade-in and that his name and a Dublin address appeared on the logbook.

He said that he met a man at a wedding in April 2019 whom he knew from horse fairs over the years and they agreed to swap vehicles  the Landcruiser for an Audi Q7  for a week to see if they would be happy to trade. Mr Moorehouse said the Landcruiser, which he said he still owned, was seized from the other mans yard. And he said this other party also arranged to have the Audi Q7 picked up from his yard in Wexford.

Cross-examining them applicant, state solicitor Frank Nyhan, said the address that was under Christopher Mooreparks name on the logbook  5 Burton Park  does not exist.

Mr Nyhan said that during the time when the applicant had the Audi he was trying to sell it to a garage  You are trying to sell a car (the Audi) you dont own.

Mr Nyhan added, This application is a complete sham, you dont own that Landcruiser.

Mr Moorehouse said he was just talking to the garage about the Audi but he did own the Landcruiser.

Detective Garda Sandra Cullen of Cab said the Cork family and extended family that were still under investigation were using high-value goods to launder money from criminal activities.

I dont believe he (Christopher Moorehouse) owns the Landcruiser. It may be registered in his name. Vehicles are registered in different names in false addresses to launder the proceeds of criminal activities of (the Cork-based gang).

Mr Fleming said it was the applicants work vehicle and he had been left without it since last April.
The first two decades of the 21st century saw the return of mass movements to streets around the world. Partly a product of sinking confidence in mainstream politics, mass mobilisation has had a huge impact on both official politics and wider society, and protest has become the form of political expression to which millions of people turn.

Last year ended with protests on a global scale, most notably in Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa, Hong Kong and across India, which has recently flared up against Prime Minister Narendra Modis Citizenship Amendment Act. In some cases protests are explicitly against neoliberal reforms, or against legal changes that threaten civil liberties. In others they are against inaction over the climate crisis. Many of the protests are now driven by a generation of young people new to politics in dozens of countries.

As we end a turbulent two decades of protest  the subject of much of my own teaching and ongoing research  what will be the shape of protest in the 2020s?

Whats changed in the 21st century

Following moments of open class warfare in the late 1960s and early 1970s, battles against the political and economic order became fragmented, trade unions were attacked, the legacy of the anti-colonial struggles was eroded and the history of the period was recast by the establishment to undermine its potency. In the post-Cold War era, a new phase of protest finally began to overcome these defeats.

Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Show all 24 1 /24 Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Police in riot gear move through a cloud of smoke as they detain a protester at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University AP Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban A protester takes cover under an umbrella Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban A protestor reacts to police officers EPA Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Pro-democracy protesters react after the police fired tear gas outside the Hong Kong Polytechnic University EPA Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban A pro-democracy protester holds a placard EPA Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Protesters react as police fire tear gas AFP via Getty Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban An anti-government protester is silhouetted during protests Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Tear gas engulf umbrellas Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban A protester lowers himself down a rope from a bridge to a highway, to escape AFP via Getty Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban People form a human chain to pass materials as they gather for a march towards Hong Kong Polytechnic University AFP via Getty Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Protesters are seen after leaving the campus of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Pro-democracy protesters during clashes with police outside the Hong Kong Polytechnic University EPA Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Police spray blue-dyed liquid AP Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Police officers detain a protester AP Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban An injured protester is evacuated by ambulance EPA Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Injured people are taken away after clashes Getty Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban AFP via Getty Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Police arrest anti-government protesters Getty Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Medical staff carry a protester out of the campus of Hong Kong Polytechnic University Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Protesters try to extinguish a tear gas canister Reuters Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban Protesters take a rope down from a bridge to a highway, to escape from Hong Kong Polytechnic University campus AFP via Getty Hong Kong protests: Latest after court strikes down face mask ban A protestor gestures during a confrontation with police AP

This revival of protest exploded on to the political scene most visibly in Seattle outside the World Trade Organisation summit in 1999. If 1968 was one of the high points of radical struggle in the 20th century, protest in the early 2000s once again began to reflect a general critique of the capitalist system, with solidarity forged across different sections of society.

The birth of the anti-globalisation movement in Seattle was followed by extraordinary mobilisations outside gatherings of the global economic elite. Alternative spaces were also created for the global justice movement to connect, most notably the World Social Forums (WSFs), starting with Porto Alegre, Brazil, in 2001. It was here that questions over what position the anti-globalisation movement should take over the Iraq War, for example, were discussed and debated. Though the WSFs provided an important rallying point for a time, they ultimately evaded politics.

The global anti-war movement led to the biggest coordinated demonstrations in the history of protest on 15 February 2003, in which millions of people demonstrated in over 800 cities, creating a crisis of democracy around the US and UK-led intervention in Iraq.

Thousands march against the Iraq War in Berlin, 2003 (Getty)

In the years leading up to and following the banking crisis of 2008, food riots and anti-austerity protests escalated around the world. In parts of the Middle East and North Africa, protests achieved insurrectionary proportions, with the overthrow of one dictator after another. After the Arab Spring was thwarted by counter-revolution, the Occupy movement and then Black Lives Matter gained global attention. While the public, urban square became a central focus for protest, social media became an important  but by no means exclusive  organising tool.

To varying degrees, these movements sharply raised the question of political transformation but didnt find new ways of institutionalising popular power. The result was that in a number of situations, protest movements fell back on widely distrusted parliamentary processes to try to pursue their political aims. The results of this parliamentary turn have not been impressive.

Crisis of representation

On the one hand, the first two decades of the 21st century have seen soaring inequality, accompanied by debt and the neglect of working people. On the other, there have been poor results from purely parliamentary attempts to challenge it. There is, in other words, a deep crisis of representation.

The inability of modern capitalism to deliver more than survival for many has combined with a general critique of neoliberal capitalism to create a situation in which wider and wider sections of society are being drawn into protest. More than a million people have poured on to the streets of Lebanon since mid-October and protests continue despite a violent crackdown by security forces.

At the same time, people are less and less willing to accept unrepresentative politicians  and this is likely to continue in the future. From Lebanon and Iraq to Chile and Hong Kong, mass mobilisations continue despite resignations and concessions.

In Britain, the Labour Partys defeat in the recent general election is attributed largely to its failure to accept the 2016 referendum result over EU membership. Decades of loyalty to the Labour Party for many and a socialist leader in Jeremy Corbyn calling for an end to austerity couldnt cut through to enough of the millions who voted for Brexit.

In France, a general strike in December 2019 over President Emmanuel Macrons proposed pension reforms has revealed the extent of opposition that people feel towards his government. This comes barely a year after the start of the yellow vest movement, in which people have protested against fuel price hikes and the precariousness of their lives.

A protest against pension reforms in France last month (AFP/Getty) (AFP via Getty)

The tendency towards street protest will be encouraged too by the climate crisis, whose effects mean that the most heavily exploited, including along race and gender lines, have the most to lose. When the protests in Lebanon broke out, they were taking place alongside rampant wildfires.

Thinking strategically

As protesters gain experience, they consciously bring to the fore questions of leadership and organisation. In Lebanon and Iraq there has already been a conscious effort to overcome traditional sectarian divides. Debates are also raging in protest movements from Algeria to Chile about how to fuse economic and political demands in a more strategic manner. The goal is to make political and economic demands inseparable, such that its impossible for a government to make political concessions without making economic ones too.

As the 2020s begin, its clear were living in an unprecedented moment: a climate emergency and ecological breakdown, a brewing global financial crisis, deepening inequality, trade wars, and growing threats of more imperialist wars and militarisation.

There has also been a resurgence of the far right in many countries, emboldened most visibly by parties and politicians in the US, Brazil, India and many parts of Europe. This resurgence, however, has not gone unchallenged.

The convergence of crisis on these multiple fronts will reach breaking point, creating conditions that will become intolerable for most people. This will galvanise more protest and more polarisation. As governments respond with reforms, such measures on their own will be unlikely to meet the combination of political and economic demands. The question of how to create new vehicles of representation to assert popular control over the economy will keep emerging. The fortunes of popular protest may well depend on whether the collective leadership of the movements can provide answers to it.

Feyzi Ismail is a senior teaching fellow at SOAS, University of London. This article first appeared on The Conversation
candidate for Delhi's Chandni Chowk seat Alka Lamba said on Friday that this assembly elections will give the city "another Sheila Dikshit".

Lamba (44), who quit the Aam Aadmi Party and returned to the fold last year, claimed that her constituency would see a "one-sided contest as the will find it difficult to explain to the people why it has fielded someone whom it termed 'corrupt' in 2015".

The has fielded Prahlad Singh Sawhney, who contested the 2015 elections from the same seat on a ticket and stood third.

On the low number of women representatives in electoral politics, Lamba said, "The Congress has always focussed on fair representation and this time it has fielded 10 women."



The and the has fielded nine and five women respectively.

Asked if someone can rise to the stature of Sheila Dikshit -- a three-time chief minister -- Lamba was confident in declaring, "The 2020 elections will give another Sheila Dikshit to Delhi."



On the allegation of Congress practising dynastic politics and fielding family members of prominent party leaders in this election, she said, "That's not true. Former MP Jai Prakash Agarwal's son Mudit Agarwal wanted to contest from Chandni Chowk, but the party chose me considering what I have done on the ground for 25 years.""In constituencies where the party could not find a very strong ground-level worker, it has given ticket to someone who has a political legacy considering their experience in politics," Lamba said.

The Congress candidate also said the has become heavily dependent on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in its hustings, which will "eventually lead to its failure".

"The has become hollow from inside. They are fighting all elections, even if it is gali ka chunav (local body election), with only one face. Leaders like (former Chhattisgarh CM) Raman Singh, (ex-Madhya Pradesh CM) Shivraj Singh Chauhan have vanished from the scene... Once PM Modi demits office, BJP will come crashing down," she said.

Lamba said data from election watchdog Association for Democratic Reforms shows a surprisingly high number of criminals, who have rape cases registered against them, have entered politics.

"This has happened because parties are seeking votes in the name of one leader or face. People get swayed by 'so called waves' and inadvertently vote criminals to power," she said.

The Election Commission told the Supreme Court on Friday that its 2018 direction asking poll candidates to declare their criminal antecedents in the media has not helped curb criminalisation of politics, and suggested that political parties should be asked not to give tickets to those with criminal background.

On the BJP raising national issues like the amended citizenship law and the planned National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the assembly elections, Lamba said, "They have got nothing to show to people, so they resort to polarisation."



"Union ministers are clinging on to the 'tukde-tukde gang' rhetoric. Senior BJP leaders are identifying people with their so-called strange eating habits. Our women in Shaheen Bagh are fighting to keep this country together and they (BJP leaders) are calling it a 'Shame' Bagh. Such leaders should be ashamed of themselves. Those who have women in their families cannot make such statements," she said.

Lamba, who rose from student politics, said the Congress and the BJP have made their stand clear on CAA and NRC and violence against students, but "the AAP is still deliberating the pros and cons and weighing the options".

"The BJP and the AAP have entered a secret pact. Kejriwal has been asked to keep mum. Students supported him in the 2011 India Against Corruption movement but he has left them in the lurch," she alleged.

About the delay in the hanging of the Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts, Lamba said pinned the blame on the BJP and the AAP who are in power at the Centre and the city respectively.

On lawyer Indira Jaising suggesting Nirbhaya's mother to "follow the example" of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and pardon the four men sentenced to death for raping her daughter in 2012, Lamba said, "It is absolutely wrong."



"Let the mother who went through all the troubles for more than seven years decide. It is easy to give suggestions from the comfort of one's own home."



Asked to rate her work in the last five years, Lamba said, "I can never say I am content. I want to do more for my people."



"I have raised the issue of unauthorised constructions and power lines precariously dangling there. Illegal construction is going on unbridled, but the municipal corporation doesn't blink an eye," she alleged.

"A constant fear of an Anaaj Mandi-like blaze gnaws at me. Short circuits are common. We got 19 new transformers installed in the densely-populated areas such as Jama Masjid to divide the power load. I agree that a major disaster can happen anytime, but I will keep raising these issues and keep doing what I can," Lamba said.

She said extreme levels of pollution has choked city as the Kejriwal government "believe in publishing full-page advertisements and not in facing challenges head on like the Sheila Dikshit government".

"The Dikshit-led Congress government brought in CNG, shifted polluting industries to the outskirts. Since then, the government's budget has grown manifold but that has been used only for advertisements," she said.

"As far as public representatives are concerned, an MLA gets Rs 50 crore in five years. Which means 70 MLAs can do a lot," she added.
Madison Republican Joe LaPorta announced plans this week to seek the 12th District state Senate seat now held by Sen. Christine Cohen, D-Guilford.

With great excitement, I am announcing that I am seeking the Republican nomination for the 12th District Senate seat, representing Branford, Durham, Guilford, Killingworth, Madison, and North Branford, LaPorta said in a news release.

All of us want to see Connecticut succeed, LaPorta said. Connecticut is where we live, work, and raise our families  but by every measure of our states economy, Connecticut is failing.

Businesses and residents are leaving the state every day, he said in the release. Property values are stagnant or on the decline. The cost of living keeps going up. The people we have entrusted to make decisions in the best interest of the state have failed us all.

It seems everyone I speak with knows someone close to them who has given up on Connecticut, LaPorta said. They feel driven out of their home state by bad public policy and short-sighted ideas. I am not giving up on Connecticut, and today I am asking you all to join me in fighting for the future of our state.

Cohen, who was elected in 2018 following the retirement of state Sen. Ted Kennedy Jr., recently announced plans to seek another term. She is owner of Cohens Bagel Co. in Madison.

In Hartford, Cohen serves as Senate chairwoman of the General Assemblys Environment Committee, Senate vice chairwoman of the Commerce Committee and as a member of the Children Committee and the Planning & Development Committee.

LaPorta, a licensed professional engineer with three degrees from the University of Hartford, was born and raised in Waterbury. He and his wife, Lauren, moved to Southington and later to Madison, where he joined the Republican Town Committee in 2017, soon after their arrival. They have four children.

Since graduating college, LaPorta has been employed by Eversource (formerly Connecticut Light & Power), working primarily in electric power distribution engineering and operations. He is in the process of obtaining his real estate license.

I come from a business background, not a political one, with a blue-collar upbringing, LaPorta said. My parents taught me the merit of hard work, the value of a dollar, and the importance of a quality education. I am worried that my four young children will grow up in a state without the same opportunities that prior generations had.

As your state senator, I will not support any attempt by Hartford to regionalize our schools, LaPorta said in the release. I will not vote to raise taxes on the already over-taxed citizens of the 12th district, not even by one dime. I will be a vocal opponent of Ned Lamont and his enablers in Hartford. You will have a state senator you can rely on to vote in your best interests.

I am running to return Connecticut to a state that people and businesses want to flock to, not flee from, because Connecticut is worth fighting for, he said.

Cohen said in a previous news release that I am honored to serve the residents of Branford, Durham, Guilford, Killingworth, Madison and North Branford and wish to continue to be your advocate in Hartford.

I have been working hard as your state senator, ensuring that small businesses are heard, common sense gun safety proposals are passed, education is prioritized, our environment is protected, and each and every constituent issue is addressed, she said.

However, I feel I have only just scratched the surface and there is so much more to be done, Cohen said. I would like the ability to delve deeper, get some outstanding pieces of legislation over that proverbial finish line and continue to bring your voices to Hartford.

mark.zaretsky@hearstmediact.com
I was rummaging around in my library yesterday looking for a particular essay on Plato by the late George Anastaplo of Loyola University and Rosary College in Illinois, and by accident I happened upon a lecture he gave in February 1974note carefully the dateentitled Impeachment and Statesmanship. (The essay appears in his collection Human Being and Citizen: Essays on Virtue, Freedom, and the Common Good.) Needless to say I had to read the whole thing, and it offers a lot of useful perspectives about the present moment worthy of sharing here.

Before proceeding, however, it is worth saying a general word or two about Anastaplo (d. 2014), whom I never had the pleasure to meet and whose excellent work I have come to rather late in the scheme of things. I guess you would categorize him as a conservative, but a highly idiosyncratic one. He opposed the Vietnam War from the get-go, and thought much of American policy during the Cold War was wrongheaded and counterproductive, though never for the reasons the left held. Most interesting is that he was disbarred in Illinois in the early 1950s for refusing to sign the states new McCarthy-era loyalty oath, but for the most sound reason: he said the oaths requirement of complete loyalty to the United States and requirement to abjure any subversive action violated the right of revolution clause of the Declaration of Independence (also the First Amendment)! Quite correct; as Jefferson instructed us, if the government of the United States becomes destructive of our fundamental liberty, it is not just the right but the duty of citizens to throw off that government. Heh. He lost his appeals all the way up to the Supreme Court, where he argued his own case pro se, and his disbarment wasnt finally undone until the 1980s.

While no fan of Nixon, Anastaplos sober reflections on the scene are spot on for the Trump impeachment. Some highlights, and as you go, you can swap out Trump for Nixon in several references, even though the facts of the two cases are obviously quite different (and remember this lecture was delivered before the tapes and lots of other Nixon evidence came out):

I suspect, by the way, that one reason impeachment remains a live issue is that a number of comfortable people are rather bored: they are open to a little constitutional drama, perhaps indeed, in part, because of the genuine calming accomplishments of certain of Mr. Nixons policies. The dramatic or theatrical has had more to do with what has happened thus far, with the development of this issue and with the shaping of public opinion, than may be proper. . . [A]ll this permits sensitive liberals to realize what it feels like to be on the hunters side of a witch-hunt for a change. . . At the core of such pursuit is, I am afraid, a dominating self-righteousness. I am reminded of what Robert Bolt says in his review of the cast of characters for his play about Thomas More, A Man for All Seasons, when he describes William Roper as having an all-consuming rectitude which is his cross, his solace, and his hobby. . . . What unites all the would-be impeachers, it seems to me, is not really the evidence against Mr. Nixon but their animus against him, an animus that is (I grant) understandable. But is it constitutional? Certainly, loss of confidence should not provide the basis for impeachment. Ours is notand probably should not be turned intoa parliamentary system. . . We should take care not to turn loss of confidence (or even a pattern of misconduct) into an impeachable offense. A President should sometimes be quite unpopular, even for a long period of time, if the common good is to be served. The purpose of Presidential impeachment, it should be remembered, is not to serve as a recount of the last election, or as a censure of elected officials or as a way of gratifying public opinion. . . Of course, common sense is called for in considering what behavior Congress should take seriously. And, as I have suggested, one should be suspicious when so many counts are alleged. . . The fact is that with a bureaucracy as large as ours, and with the informal manner certain things have come to be done, it is not difficult in certain administrations to start things unraveling. . . In any event, we should be aware of two dangers in how we conduct any impeachment we embark upon. We can so conduct it as to make impeachment all too frequent a threat in the years ahead. Or we can so conduct it as to lead to another century-long repudiation of the impeachment remedy, thereby depriving ourselves of this vital safeguard for the truly serious cases. Is not all this another way of saying that presidential impeachment is an awesome process, deliberately to be held in reserve? A third danger should also be anticipated, that of breeding a general cynicism by letting Nixon get away with it. A deliberate withdrawal from further impeachment proceedings at this stage would require a statesmanlike explanation on the part of Congress, followed by ratification of such an explanation by the responsible press. Certainly it would be recognized that Mr. Nixon has already been adequately put in his place and that he cannot really get away with anything, no matter what happens now. Rather, it should be explained, the country can be understood to be sensible enough to know when it has learned and done enough to take care of itself in its present circumstances.

Of course, the reference to the responsible press is obsolete, since we dont have even the shadow of that any more. But otherwise there is much here to be taken to heart.
Climate change has, quite suddenly, become a lightning rod for business and finance leaders around the world.

Driving the news: Climate generated the highest degree of public pressure on corporations by activists, policymakers and journalists last year, according to data analyzed by consultancy High Lantern Group and provided exclusively to Axios. The topic's mention rose 77% over 2018.

How it works: This is the survey's second year and includes analysis of more than six million tweets.

Of course, Twitter is not the only barometer of influence, but Rob Gluck, the group's managing partner, says, "The vast majority of relevant public actors are using that platform to communicate."

The big picture: The survey comes amid an intensifying backdrop. In recent months, the world's foremost economic institutions have advocated for policies cutting greenhouse gas emissions. This trend is driven by a confluence of factors, including more extreme weather and greater public pressure.

The institutions include the International Monetary Fund, Bank for International Settlements, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and major central banks.

And the official agenda at the World Economic forum this week is dedicated entirely to climate change.

What they're saying: The BIS  known as the central bank for central banks  warned Monday in a research paper that climate change could cause "potentially extremely financially disruptive events that could be behind the next systemic financial crisis."

"This complex collective action problem requires coordinating actions among many players including governments, the private sector, civil society and the international community."

IMF head Kristalina Georgieva said in a speech last week that the Fund "ought to begin to build standards for disclosure of climate risks," including "mandatory disclosure standards."

The intrigue: Finance and economics-focused groups have increasingly been pushing governments to implement carbon taxes, an approach championed last year by every living former chair of the Federal Reserve and dozens of former chairmen of the Council of Economic Advisers and Nobel Laureate economists.

BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, says it's making climate change a pillar of its investment strategy, and even Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase are calling for a price on carbon emissions.

But, but, but: All this rhetoric should be scrutinized carefully and often. Talking about supporting policies addressing climate change is quite different from actually doing something about it. Rhetoric often outpaces action on this topic, partly because its a slow-moving issue: Goals are made 10-30 years out.

For example, although JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon said Wednesday he would advocate for such a policy, his company is not a member of groups supporting it, including the Washington-based Climate Leadership Council and its lobbying arm Americans for Carbon Dividends.

A JPMorgan spokesman declined to comment further.

What we're watching: What kinds of substantive action we will see  if we see any at all  in the coming months following these pronouncements made at Davos and elsewhere.
Exxon Mobil dodged a bullet last month when a judge rejected a novel climate-change lawsuit brought by New Yorks attorney general. The case began with a promise from state officials that there would be a historic reckoning for the fossil fuel giant.

It ended ignominiously as a failed accounting fraud claim.

But that was just the beginning. Globally, humans are on the hook for trillions of dollars if they want to sufficiently reduce greenhouse gas emissions, acclimate to the damage already done and prepare for what is yet to come. As more governments and taxpayers find themselves staring down the barrel at rising climate costs, they are increasingly turning to the courts to hold Big Oil accountable.

The New York case was an outlierit sought to make Exxon Mobil investors whole for an alleged bookkeeping bait-and-switch. The majority of U.S. climate litigation out there takes a more direct approach, seeking damages in so-called public nuisance lawsuits. Fossil fuel use runs counter to the inherent right to exist in a non-warming world, the argument goes, and the energy companies knew that right would be infringed when enough of it was burned.

About a dozen cities, counties and states have sued Exxon, Chevron, BP, Royal Dutch Shell and their peers. The suits seek to reimburse taxpayers for the costs associated with adapting to climate changefrom building multibillion-dollar sea walls to repairing damage from powerful storms and, perhaps soon, moving whole communities inland.

Federal appeals courts on both sides of the country are considering whether such cases may proceed. Their rulingsone of which may come any daywill have a powerful effect on the future of climate change litigation.

Through these cases, we will learn with great detail what the industry knew and when they knew it, and what they did to deceive the public about that knowledge, said Lee Wasserman, director of the Rockefeller Family Fund, a charity that focuses in part on sustainability issues. They are now leaving the public with an enormous bill.

And its not just Americans who are litigating the consequences of global warming. In the Netherlands, the supreme court recently upheld a landmark ruling forcing the government to combat climate change. The case has inspired similar lawsuits in France, Germany, New Zealand and Norway.

In the U.S., there is precedent for such a massive attempt at legal redress. A few decades back, the tobacco industry was taken to court by a group of states after decades of holding individual litigants at bay. In the end, the companies settled for $246 billion and agreed to changes in the sale and marketing of cigarettes.

But before history can repeat itself, climate litigants have to persuade judges (and the fossil fuel industry) that their lawsuits have a chance of succeeding. So far, their track record hasnt been that great.

Just last week, a novel case filed by a group of young Americans trying to force the government to address climate change was derailed by a federal appeals court panel. The two-judge majority concluded there is no constitutional right to a livable climate. (The plaintiffs say they will appeal.) Moreover, courts have been quick to note (as have defendants) that the production and use of fossil fuel by energy companies, utilities and manufacturers has been central to building modern civilization as we know it.

Congress, and not the courts, is where the answer lies, industry lobbyists and lawyers say.

Phil Goldberg serves as a special counsel to the National Association of Manufacturers. As such, hes assumed a leading role in pushing back against climate litigation (an Exxon spokesperson deferred to him when asked about cases filed by Baltimore and Marin County, California). Goldberg argues that federal laws regulating the environment prevent states from foisting their own de facto regulation on the energy industry, and that nuisance suits are just regulation by another name.

Theyre claiming that the mere act of selling oil, gas and other energy products is a liability-causing event because theres downstream impacts from the use of their products, he said. Theres no liability if there are downstream impacts from legally using their products.

But since those downstream impacts are an accelerating global catastrophe, states and municipalities faced with a deadlocked Congress and a White House bent on unraveling existing climate regulations say the courts are their only hope. Litigation, said Peter Frumhoff, director of science and policy and chief climate scientist for the Union of Concerned Scientists, is essential to hold Big Oil accountable.

Public nuisance claims (what one judge recently called the unreasonable interference with a right common to the general public) have been made with varying degrees of success when it came to suits and settlements over lead paint, asbestos, opioids and of course tobacco. But making the theory work with fossil fuels is a different matter altogether.

While the potential liability is far greater, Wasserman said, courts have been known to shy away from their responsibility and pass the buck to another branch of government.

But just getting in the door may be enough, said Matt Pawa, a lawyer representing New York City in its climate litigation. If a city or state can survive a motion to dismiss its lawsuit, it usually means a company will be compelled to open its files and submit to depositions.

Important information comes out in litigationthe public learns whats going on, Pawa said. The lawsuits, in a way, are shining a bright light on wrongful conduct.

The evidence climate litigants most want is proof of deception. Energy companies not only sold products they knew would damage the environment, plaintiffs claim, but spent millions of dollars over the decades purposely casting doubt on climate science.

For us, sea level rise is real, its not an abstraction.

Californias Marin County, at the northern end of the Golden Gate Bridge, was among the first municipalities to file a nuisance claim against the oil industry. Kate Sears, a county supervisor, said the decision in 2017 was based on actual changes to the physical environment rather than projections. A critical roadway in her community floods regularly due to rising waters from the nearby bay.

For us, sea level rise is real, its not an abstraction, Sears said. I dont think its appropriate that my taxpayer residents should be on the hook to pay for damages caused by the actions of this industry.

Rhode Island sued oil and gas producers the following year, accusing them of putting its 400 miles of economically crucial coastline at risk. They profited from what they did, and they knew the effects of what was coming, and they tried to cloud the science, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said in an interview.

Error! Filename not specified.A protest on the first day of the ExxonMobil trial i the New York State Supreme Court building in Manhattan on Oct. 22. Photographer: David Dee Delgado/Bloomberg

In the Marin County case, defendant energy companies said the lawsuit wrongfully calls into question federal policies. In the Rhode Island litigation, the industry claimed the state is blaming oil companies for global greenhouse gas emissions of countless actors, including Rhode Island and its residents.

These climate lawsuits, said Chevron spokesman Sean Comey, are designed to punish a few companies in one industry who lawfully deliver products to consumers. Exxon, Shell and BP either declined to comment or didnt respond to requests seeking comment.

Comeys assertion does illustrate a problem with ascribing specific liability for global warming. Though the starring role of oil, gas and coal producers in the global climate crisis is irrefutable, figuring out how much of global warming is their fault as a wholenot to mention individual companiesmay be impossible.

For now, most climate cases are bogged down in fights over whether they belong in state or federal court. In October, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed three state court lawsuits to proceed while the jurisdiction fight proceeds. But lower-court federal judges have largely sided with defendants, rejecting nuisance suits by New York City, San Francisco and Oakland. All have been appealed. Other pending nuisance cases have been filed by King County, Washington; Boulder, Colorado; and the cities of Imperial Beach, Santa Cruz and Richmond, California.

Their theory rests on the sweeping proposition that otherwise lawful and everyday sales of fossil fuels, combined with an awareness that greenhouse gas emissions lead to increased global temperatures, constitute a public nuisance, wrote U.S. District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco in a 2018 decision tossing out a climate lawsuit. That same year, U.S. District Judge John Keenan said, in dismissing New York Citys case against Exxon, Chevron, BP, ConocoPhillips and Shell, that the immense and complicated problem of global warming is for Congress and the administration to fix.

A federal appeals court could decide on New York Citys challenge to Keenans ruling in the coming weeks, while oral arguments of appeals by San Francisco and Oakland are slated for Feb. 5 before another appellate panel. Decisions in those cases are likely to inform climate litigation choices by other states and cities.

Chris Chrisman, a corporate defense lawyer with Holland & Hart in Denver, predicts the courts will ultimately side with the energy industry.

Its a recognition of the limitations of what state nuisance laws were designed to accomplish, said Chrisman, who represents energy companies but isnt involved in the nuisance cases. They might be able to address the adverse effects of a smokestack going up right next door to your house, but theyre not designed to address a global problem like climate change.

Unsurprisingly, lawyers for the plaintiffs dont see it that way. They argue their nuisance claims are bolstered by evidence that fossil fuel companies knew the damage their products did, and actively sought to steer public debate elsewhere. Many of the suits also allege negligence for failure to warn, negligence for design defects, strict liability and trespass.

Who told you the Earth was warming  Chicken Little?

In a lawsuit filed by the City of Baltimore, lawyers said energy companies were on notice about their impact on the Earths atmosphere in 1965, when President Lyndon Johnsons scientific advisory committee on environmental pollution warned that by 2000, humanitys greenhouse gas emissions would modify the heat balance of the atmosphere to such an extent that marked changes in climate  could occur.

Instead of taking action to prevent global warming, Baltimore said the defendants embarked on a decades-long campaign designed to maximize dependence on their products and undermine national and international efforts to rein in greenhouse gas emissions.

Marin County pointed to a now-defunct industry group whose members included affiliates, predecessors and/or subsidiaries of some of the defendants. In 1991, the county alleged in its complaint, the group launched a national climate denial campaign that targeted less-educated males in order to reposition global warming as theory (not fact). One of the groups ads stated Who told you the Earth was warming  Chicken Little?

Goldberg, special counsel to the National Association of Manufacturers, said such allegations of corporate deception are all window dressing to try to drive the public opinion and judicial reaction to it.

The legal effort by climate litigants is evolving, however. In October, a state court case filed by Massachusetts included claims under consumer protection laws, arguing that Exxon misled residents and investors about the environmental impact of the gasoline they buy.

Its a different kind of case, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said in an interview. Exxon made misrepresentations and failed to disclose material facts about systemic climate change risks.

Exxon, having moved the case to federal court for now, claimed in a November filing that Healey is trying to stop the company from producing and selling fossil fuels. In a response filed this month, Healey rejected the companys argument. She instead compared her claims to tobacco litigation, saying its deceptive advertising and marketing that the Commonwealth is seeking to stop.

Hana Vizcarra, a staff attorney at Harvard Law Schools Environmental and Energy Law Program, said the increasing need to find someone other than taxpayers to pay the costs of climate change will continue to drive state and local governments toward litigation. Nevertheless, shes skeptical about their chances for victory.

Plaintiffs in the remaining cases may yet see some success at the state level as they refine their claims, she said. But the federal court decisions indicate this remains a difficult path.

Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.

Topics Lawsuits California Legislation USA New York Climate Change Energy Oil Gas Pollution
Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion at 5 PM. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times.

We shouldnt fall in trap of Pak-funded groups: Kapil Mishra tells EC

Kapil Mishra, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Model Town in Delhi Assembly elections, has told the election office that his tweets have been taken out of context and mis-represented to stoke differences.In his response to the showcause notice by the Returning Officer, Mishra said that his tweets have nothing to do with elections in Delhi. Read more

2 back from China under watch for coronavirus in Mumbai

Two people in Mumbai, who returned from China, have been kept under observation for possible exposure to the novel coronavirus that has killed and infected many in the neighbouring country, news agency PTI reported on Friday. Read more

At JNU fee hearing, High Courts clear message to govt on funding education

The government cannot get out of the education sector and to continue funding public education, a judge of the Delhi High Court observed during the hearing into a petition filed by JNUSUs union leaders. The court has ordered the university to allow students, who have not registered for the next semester, to complete the formalities within the next one week. Read more

Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul put on a show of class as India thrash New Zealand by 6 wickets in 1st T20I at Auckland

Shreyas Iyer turned on the class in the penultimate over, hitting Southee for two sixes and a boundary as India recorded one of their most comprehensive T20 victories over New Zealand away from home. Opening the innings, Rahul played shots all round the ground to put on a 99-run second-wicket stand with captain Virat Kohli. Read more

Hell come to Chennai,: Suresh Raina gives clarity on MS Dhonis IPL future, reveals his training plans for CSK

The former India captain, who was a part of Grade A till last year, did not find a place in any of the four grades.MS Dhonis IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings is in no mood to even think of letting their captain go. On Thursday, CSKs senior player Suresh Raina revealed the training plans of MS Dhoni ahead of IPL 2020. Read more

Panga movie review: Kangana Ranaut touches your heart in this emotional roller-coaster

A sincere ode to motherhood and those countless sacrifices that a woman  as a mother and a wife -- makes for her family, director Ashwiny Iyer Tiwaris Panga presents the minutiae of our daily lives as compelling cinema. It is also the story of hope and how dreams dont come with an expiry date. Read more

Samsung has an answer for Apples AirDrop feature and its coming with Galaxy S20

Samsung is trying to bring a feature similar to Apples Airdrop in its smartphones, as per the latest screenshots shared by a leakster named Max Winebach on Twitter and XDA Developers website. The feature is called Quick Share. Read more

10 times Kim Kardashian and clan went make-up free and looked gorgeous

Kim Kardashian West was recently seen in grey sweatpants and a radiating make-up free face heading out to meet her husband, Kanye West. And Kim has shown the internet and us, you can be naturally beautiful without the glitz and glam. Read more

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
- The Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine has selected Dr. Ellen Lowery, a veterinarian on the faculty of Kansas State University, as the new director of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Dean Willie Reed of Purdue Veterinary Medicine announced the appointment, which is effective Feb. 1. A full news release can be found here.

- Dr. Riyi Shi, professor of neuroscience in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences, was appointed as the new director of the Center for Paralysis Research in the College of Veterinary Medicine. The appointment, which was announced by Dean Willie Reed, took effect Dec. 1. In addition to his role as a BMS faculty member, Shi holds a courtesy professorial appointment in Purdue Universitys Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering. A full news release can be found here.

* * *

Faculty and staff honors:

- Michael Jacovides, professor of philosophy in the College of Liberal Arts, received a National Endowment for the Humanities fellowship. The $60,000 award will support Jacovides' project, titled Springs and Principles of the Universe: David Hume on Laws and Causes, which will consist of research and writing leading to a book on the development of philosopher David Humes theories of laws and causation. The National Humanities Alliance supported 188 humanities projects nationwide totaling $30.9 million in grants.

- T. Cole Jones, an assistant professor of history, has received the Kings College  London Georgian Papers Fellowship to conduct research at the Royal Archives at Windsor Castle. Also, Cole has recently published Captives of Liberty: Prisoners of War and the Politics of Vengeance in the American Revolution. Author James Kirby Martin wrote that the book shines a brilliant new light on the brutality of the Revolutionary War, adding that it helps shatter longstanding images of a restrained, almost civilized military conflict. Beautifully written, Captives of Liberty is a magisterial work.

- Chad Allred, clinical assistant professor in the Krannert School of Management, received an honorary doctorate from North-Chiang Mai University in Thailand for his efforts in global social entrepreneurship. Allred and Purdue students have traveled to Thailand for a number of projects, including implementing water purification systems and working with local artisans to build their businesses.
Thank you for reading!

Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading.
Rookie city Coun. Sherri Rollins sparked a vibrant local debate on gun control last week when she called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to fulfil a campaign promise to empower local governments to restrict or outright ban civilian use of handguns. Handguns should not be in the city unless theyre on the hip of a police officer, Rollins argued.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 24/1/2020 (719 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Opinion

Rookie city Coun. Sherri Rollins sparked a vibrant local debate on gun control last week when she called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to fulfil a campaign promise to empower local governments to restrict or outright ban civilian use of handguns. "Handguns should not be in the city unless theyre on the hip of a police officer," Rollins argued.

Trudeaus promise in the 2019 election campaign would likely result in a patchwork of regulation, with some municipalities banning handguns and other declining to do so. The reasoning behind this half-measure, said Public Safety Minister Bill Blair, is that a nationwide ban would be unfair to law-abiding handgun owners. Further, the cost of buying back the roughly 900,000 legally owned handguns in Canada would be prohibitive.

A partial ban would give some additional tools to police to seize handguns and would probably drive up the street value of illegal or stolen handguns. But there are many problems with such a patchwork approach. The most obvious one is that stemming the supply of handguns into cities such as Winnipeg will be tougher when they are still legal in places like, for example, Headingley.

Rollins and Mayor Brian Bowman clarified that they favour a nationwide ban to avoid such problems, which immediately sparked disagreement and debate.

Notably, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police opposes such a ban. Their argument is that most crimes involving gun violence in Canada involve guns that are obtained illegally, so a ban would simply replicate existing laws. Further, a handgun ban will do little to dissuade smugglers from importing illegal handguns across the U.S. border. Canadians suffer in part as a result of our proximity to the U.S., where guns are more widely and easily available.

On one hand, if police have limited time and resources to address violent crime, then enforcing a handgun ban against otherwise law-abiding Canadians who enjoy shooting at ranges on the weekend might not be the best use of those resources.

But on the other hand, there is increasing concern about guns used in crimes that are sourced not from the U.S., but from within Canada. The Toronto Police Department, for example, recently sounded an alarm over a surge in the number of Canadians who purchase guns legally and then sell them illegally, turning a big profit. This is in addition to legally obtained guns that are stolen and fall into the hands of criminals.

"Any time you have a legal market for civilians to own concealable firearms," argues academic Jooyoung Lee, "there is always a possibility that those kinds of firearms purchased legally can flow into the hands of people who want to use them to commit carnage." A nationwide handgun ban is a blunt tool that would likely help to choke off domestic sources of handguns used in violent crimes.

Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

Debates on important matters of public policy are useful, but Canadians want answers.

Would a handgun ban actually lead to a decrease in gun-related crimes? I dont know for sure. Even if a ban did work to some extent, could we achieve even greater reductions in gun crime by directing resources toward measures other than a gun ban? Again, I dont know.

The best I can do is point to how handgun bans fared when introduced in other countries. The 1996 murder of 16 children in Dunblane, Scotland, was perpetrated using handguns. A nationwide ban on civilian ownership of handguns in mainland Britain followed shortly thereafter. A series of firearm amnesties in the wake of the ban resulted in thousands of handguns being surrendered to the U.K. government. The penalties for possession of handguns in the U.K. range from heavy fines to prison time.

What happened? After an initial increase, rates of crimes involving guns consistently decreased over time. This was particularly true for crimes involving handguns, which fell a stunning 44 per cent between 2002-03 and 2010-11. Gun control advocates point to the U.K. as a success story, but note that other measures  such as better anti-gang policing techniques  have also likely played a role.

Would this outcome be replicated in Canada following a nationwide handgun ban? I think so, with the qualification that our proximity to the U.S. would mean gun smuggling would be a much bigger obstacle to success than was the case for the U.K. Whether a patchwork firearm ban would have any effect is much more questionable.

Royce Koop is an associate professor and head of the political studies department at the University of Manitoba.
Google will host its Google I/O annual developer conference this year from May 12 to 14. The company is expected to shed light on the Pixel 4a

Most technology companies announce the date of their upcoming annual developer conference over a simple tweet or YouTube video at most. But nonot Google. The search engine giant usually packs the date as an easter egg inside a riddle or game to tease its followers before eventually making the official announcement on Twitter. This year, it released a game called A Collaboration of the Cosmos. A few minutes of exploration is enough to learn that Google will host this year's I/O event from May 12 to 14. The event will take place in the same venue as last year's I/O: Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California.

When Google held I/O last year, Android Q (what we now recognise as Android 10) was already reaching its third beta. The company announced what new features would be incorporated in it. Google also released more information on its Stadia game streaming service and unveiled the Pixel 3a and Pixel 3a XL smartphones, both of which are sold in India. Google also showed off the new, faster Google Assistant. Finally, it announced the renaming of its Home Hub smart speaker. With that little recap out of the way, let's take a look at what Google might announce this year:

Pixel 4a

Google is definitely expected to announce the Pixel 4a smartphone at this year's I/O. Second in Google's a-series line-up of Pixel smartphones, the Pixel 4a could continue to be a mid-range model with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 765 chip under the hood. Both, 4G-only and 5G versions of the Pixel 4a are expected to be announced. Recent renders of the handset hint at the presence of a 5.7-inch/5.8-inch flat display with a punch hole for the selfie camera. The Pixel 4a is expected to have 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. You can read more about the Pixel 4a here.

Android 11

We expect Google to talk about the upcoming version of its popular mobile operating system, Android 11. By then, a couple of Android 11 beta releases are likely to be out. With Android 10, Google officially ditched the idea of naming its versions after popular sugary treats, such as Lollipop, KitKat, and Marshmallow. Android 11 will be no different. We hope the next version packs some useful features, such as an inbuilt screen recorder. The word on the street is that Google will include an extended or scrolling screenshot feature, something seen on OnePlus and Oppo smartphones.

Google Assistant

Since the announcement at last year's I/O, Google has made some progress with the rollout of the new Google Assistant. The new, more lightweight digital assistant is already active in the US and, more recently, went live in Canada, Ireland, Australia, Singapore, and the UK. The new version packs Assistant's large online speech recognition models into a 500MB local package that can function without an internet connection. We expect this new version to make it to more countries this year. At I/O, Google could talk more about how it's planning to make that happen.

Stadia

Announced at Game Developers Conference 2019, Stadia is Google's recently released game streaming service. Since the time it went live in November 2019, the service has been fraught with problems. For example, games did not stream on the promised 4K resolution and users experienced a fair amount of latency. Google has been talking about how it's tackling some of these problems. At I/O, the company could further discuss its issues revolving around Stadia. Google's Stadia is currently available in 14 countries across the world, but sadly, India isn't one of them. To understand how Google Stadia works in detail, read our story here.

More Nest Speakers

At last year's I/O, Google's Home Hub smart speaker was renamed as Nest Hub to reflect the parent company's acquisition of Nest Labs in 2014. The speaker came to India and was later joined by the more affordable Nest Mini. You can read our review of it here. This year, we can expect Google to announce new smart speakers and smart display models under the Nest sub-brand. But this may or may not happen. In our opinion, Google should incorporate a 3.5mm jack in its future smart devices for those who would rather use their own speakers for sound while retaining the power of Google Assistant.

Our list of what to expect from Google I/O 2020 isn't admittedly comprehensive. In those three days, Google usually packs in a lot of information and announcements. If you're looking forward to a Google development this I/O, let us know in a comment.
Netflix underscores its strong connections to Rome.

American media services provider Netflix is to open a base in Rome within the next year, it has been confirmed.

The news comes several months after the founder of Netflix, Reed Hastings, announced that the media giant was planning to open a base in Italy.

The new Netflix base in Rome, whose location has not been released yet, will employ up to 30 people involved in marketing, public relations and production.

The news was first reported in the city's daily newspaper Il Messaggero which quoted Kelly Luegenbiehl, the vice president of international originals at Netflix.

"Since the start of the service in Italy in 2015, we have been greeted with enthusiasm by our many Italian subscribers and we have had the good luck to work with a variety of creators, from the best known to the emerging talent", Luegenbiehl told Il Messaggero.

"Opening an office in Rome" - she said - "is the logical next step in our long-term commitment in Italy, and will allow us to strengthen our multiple creative partnerships and to work on a growing offer of Made in Italy films and series and that will be appreciated by the public all over the world."

Netflix already has strong connections to Rome, filming the hit series Suburra and Baby in the Eternal City - both of which have new seasons on the way - as well as movies such as The Two Popes.

Netflix has also sponsored the capital's 'Spelacchio' Christmas tree for the last two years.

From a Made in Italy perspective, Netflix is currently hard at work filming various Italian series in 2020 including Luna Nera, Curon, and Summertime.




LA JOLLA, Calif., Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Providence Life Assurance Company (Bermuda) Ltd. ("Providence"), which specializes in providing customized life insurance products to ultra-high net worth individuals to serve their wealth planning needs, announced today that it will provide Wamberg Genomic Advisors' Cancer Guardian to its clients. The inclusion of the innovative program is a natural extension of Providence's commitment to its clients.

Cancer Guardian is the first program that gives its members access to personalized cancer guidance, onsite nurse advocates, a second opinion pathology review, a digital medical records platform, and advanced genomic testing through the comprehensive cancer support program. Cancer Guardian delivers affordable access to advanced services and technology that are not typically offered by or reimbursed by health insurance.

Headquartered in Bermuda, Providence focuses on two primary lines of business: private placement variable life insurance policies ("PPVLI") and private placement variable annuities ("PPVA").

Said Daniel L. Gray, Chairman & CEO of Providence, "We are continually committed to finding new innovative solutions for our clients. Cancer Guardian is a program that we were pleased to offer to every client. It gives our clients increased peace of mind and assurance should cancer unfortunately strike."

Added Tom Wamberg, CEO of Wamberg Genomic Advisors, "We are excited that the team at Providence wants to offer Cancer Guardian. It underscores how deeply they are driven to provide solutions that help every client's well-being."

Five key facts that are driving the urgent need for Cancer Guardian:

Western populations today have a 50% chance of developing cancer in their lifetime according to the British Journal of Cancer By 2030, cancer is expected to surpass heart disease as the #1 cause of death in the U.S. according to a report by the American Society of Clinical Oncology Cancer is the 2nd leading condition impacting healthcare spend as reported in IFEPB Workplace Wellness Survey On average, 1 in 7 cancer cases are misdiagnosed 80% of cancers are treated in a community hospital setting

In addition, there is critical need for improved support for cancer patients. A Wamberg Genomic Advisors survey of 204 cancer patients found that 47% indicated that there was "no knowledgeable advocate to help" in finding an effective treatment or solution to cancer. In addition, 42% of individuals said that they needed to visit doctors three or more times before a diagnosis of cancer was established.

ABOUT Providence Life Assurance (Bermuda) Ltd.

Providence Life Assurance Company (Bermuda) Ltd. ("Providence") specializes in providing customized life insurance products to ultra-high net worth individuals to serve their wealth planning needs. Headquartered in Bermuda, Providence focuses on two primary lines of business: private placement variable life insurance policies ("PPVLI") and private placement variable annuities ("PPVA").

About Wamberg Genomic Advisors

Wamberg Genomic Advisors is the first company dedicated to making genomic-based programs and services, not typically covered by health insurance, available at prices everyone can afford. Advanced DNA testing can provide insights to individuals and health-care providers for better-informed decisions about overall health, patient-care paths, and the quality and longevity of life. Wamberg Genomic Advisors delivers genomic products and services to employers and their employees via their trusted benefit brokers, and to policyholders of life insurance companies through qualified agents. To discover more about Wamberg Genomic Advisors and the future of genomics, visit wamberggenomic.com and cancerguardian.com.

SOURCE Wamberg Genomic Advisors

Related Links

http://www.wamberggenomic.com


A South Sudanese boy stands at the blackboard at a primary school in Jewi refugee camp, Ethiopia.  UNHCR/Eduardo Soteras Jalil

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and partners are appealing for robust international support for refugee operations in Ethiopia with the launch of a funding appeal for US$658 million to assist over 735,000 refugees and more than half a million Ethiopian hosts in 2020.

International support and solidarity is vital to ensure the implementation of the wide range of rights granted to refugees by Ethiopia during the last three years. The countrys revised laws grant refugees the right to work and access social services, facilitating their inclusion among the communities where they live in Ethiopia.

The Ethiopia Refugee Response Plan, launched in Addis Ababa this morning, covers humanitarian activities by UNHCR and 57 other humanitarian partners. It seeks to address huge gaps in health and nutrition, education, and shelter while also investing in sectors including sanitation, energy and livelihoods.

In January last year Ethiopia adopted progressive laws, which allow refugees to obtain work permits, access primary education and obtain drivers licenses. Additionally, they enable refugees to register essential events such as births and gain access to national financial services, such as banking.

Resources are needed to expand existing social services infrastructure in health, education, water and sanitation, environmental protection, social protection and employment as part of the broad refugee response.

Ethiopia has a long history of hosting refugees and asylum seekers. It is currently hosting more than 735,000 from 26 nationalities, the majority from South Sudan (329,123), Somalia (191,575), Eritreans (139,281) and Sudan (42,285). The number of refugees is expected to grow substantially during the course of the year as the country continues to receive refugees with nearly 100,000 new arrivals last year.

The country is also dealing with its own internal displacement and food insecurity challenges that leave 8.4 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in 2020.

UNHCR is part of inter-agency humanitarian efforts to assist over 1.5 million Ethiopians displaced due to conflicts and climate shocks. Following the governments large-scale IDP return operation last year, UNHCR has been supporting reintegration and recovery effort for displacement-affected Ethiopians, including returnees and vulnerable host communities.
(Bloomberg) -- Sign up here to receive the Davos Diary, a special daily newsletter that will run from Jan. 20-24.

Germanys record budget surplus will continue to allow high investment levels, Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

So Germany has now one of the highest investment figures we ever had in history, Scholz told Bloomberg Television. Now with the surplus we have all the possibility to be strong in this field as anyone asks us to be and as we really want ourselves.

Despite calls at home and abroad for fiscal stimulus, Merkel has stuck to her governments long-standing zero-deficit spending policy which has helped the nation slash public debt by more than 20 percentage points to around 60%. Following a record budget surplus last year, business leaders and Merkels economy minister, Peter Altmaier, are now stepping up pressure for the government to slash corporate taxes.

Germanys economy expanded at 0.6% in 2019, its weakest growth in 6 years, as trade tensions as well as a slowdown in demand weighed on the countrys manufacturing output.

The global economic outlook has now improved, Scholz said on Friday.

Read More:

If Merkel Wants to Fix Germanys Economy, She Needs to HurryGerman Green Sides With Trump in Bashing Merkels Austerity

To contact the reporters on this story: Chad Thomas in Davos, Switzerland at cthomas16@bloomberg.net;Arne Delfs in Berlin at adelfs@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Ben Sills at bsills@bloomberg.net, Raymond Colitt

For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com

Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.

2020 Bloomberg L.P.
Uncle Vanya (Harold Pinter Theatre, London)

Verdict: Rising star Eleazar lights up the night

Rating:

The Sunset Limited (Boulevard Theatre, Soho, London)

Verdict: Not as bleak as it sounds

Rating:

Good as they are, there's something much more interesting going on in this Uncle Vanya than the star double bill of Toby Jones and Richard Armitage.

Jones is best known for the Truman Capote film Infamous and oodles of TV; Armitage played Thorin in The Hobbit film trilogy and was the Northern hunk in TV's North And South.

But the best thing about Ian Rickson's production of Anton Chekhov's maudlin masterpiece is a ravishingly bored, passionate and tender performance from Rosalind Eleazar as Yelena.

Rosalind Eleazar (pictured) stars as Yelena in the show Uncle Vanya at the Harold Pinter Theatre, London

The first time I saw Eleazar was when she stole the show from Matthew Broderick in The Starry Messenger last year. Here, again, she proves a major force in a role that isn't normally taken seriously.

The plaudits in Uncle Vanya productions usually go to one of the two men. And, yes, Armitage is convincing as a warmly needy, 19th-century provincial doctor who's all too in love with the bottle.

Earnest and stressed, his real passion is as an eco-warrior, desperate to defend and develop his woodland estate.

Jones, meanwhile, takes the title role as the middle-aged man who's spent his life in a rural backwater, struggling to maintain his own family estate, while his swanky older brother (Ciaran Hinds) lives it up in Moscow as a famous professor.

I didn't entirely believe Jones's Vanya had fallen in love with his brother's young wife (Eleazar).

With his scraps of indirectional hair, he sends himself up like a derelict version of Ian Hislop. But I wanted more of the pain of his doomed devotion to Yelena.

As for Eleazar, she lights up Rae Smith's industrial gothic set. As the trophy wife of Hinds's cranky alpha male, she's at first tired and listless, with the look of an off-duty Amazonian goddess.

And as a goddess, she shatters the world of Chekhov's characters, lyrically reimagined in Conor McPherson's version of the play.

Jones's leery Vanya is desperate to get his paws on her, but Armitage's dithering doctor dare not even dream.

Toby Jones (left) and Richard Armitage (right) star in the play by the Russian playwright Anton Chekhov

Her Yelena is mesmerisingly open at times; clouded with personal frustration at others.

Eleazar almost unbalances the production, but Aimee Lou Wood also wins hearts as Vanya's lovelorn niece Sonya, who yearns for the doctor, while Hinds is potent as a blustering, controlling bore.

There is gorgeous colour from Peter Wight, Anna Calder-Marshall and Dearbhla Molloy. But in Eleazar, Rickson's found gold.

Cormac McCarthy's brand of gloom is rather less lyrical than Chekhov's. He's made it his mission with novels such as The Road to set out a sense of impregnable futility as a logical response to being alive.

I've long suspected he should handle the PR for Dignitas, and this play from 2006 will certainly boost his chances. It's the story of a black New York evangelist who has just saved a depressed white academic from throwing himself under a train.

In a 90-minute cat-and-mouse interrogation, the evangelist (Gary Beadle) refuses to release the professor until he's seen the light. But the professor (Jasper Britton) is in no mood for conversion and insists life is a forced labour camp.

Beadle's evangelist burns with vitality. He's a bit of a stereotype as a violent graduate of the state penitentiary, but he's also a Scheherazade of salvation, buying time with demanding questions and jailhouse yarns.

He certainly won my soul.

Trip down memory lane for Beckett buffs

By Giles Smith

Krapp's Last Tape/ Eh Joe/ The Old Tune (Jermyn Street Theatre)

Verdict: A blast from the past

Rating:

Trevor Nunn has put Krapps Last Tape together with two lesser known Samuel Beckett pieces about waning minds in waning bodies to create what could have been billed as a three-course feast for memory-loss fans.

But this is Beckett, so its a toss-up which is less appetising: the dismal pain of forgetting things or the dismal pain of remembering them.

Either way, theres a good match between this respectfully handled material and the tiny basement which is Jermyn Street Theatre  essentially (in the nicest sense) a small hole in the ground.

You could probably stage Annie down there and the audience would still feel as though they were intruding into somebodys private torment.

Actor Niall Buggy (pictured) in Krapp's Last Tape/ Eh Joe/ The Old Tune at Jermyn Street Theatre

As Krapp, James Hayes is witheringly haunted by the recorded voice of his younger self. And as Joe  in Eh, Joe  Niall Buggy is equally witheringly haunted by the recorded voice of Lisa Dwan, which eventually becomes a terrifyingly accusatory hiss.

In the original piece, which was for television, the camera is instructed to press relentlessly into Joes tormented face until his eyes fill the screen.

Here, the facial action is beamed fuzzily from the stage onto a backdrop, which has the unhelpful effect of dividing your attention and diminishing the intensity.

Also, for all its scale, the projected image is less troubling than the sight of Buggys actual harrowed and ultimately tear-filled eyes.

Buggy returns, with a splendidly suited David Threlfall, for The Old Tune, in which two old men on a bench attempt to extract coherent recollections from the battered cardboard boxes of their memories.

This was originally a radio play and the sound effects  the loud passing cars, the organ music  seem a touch abrupt.

But the tone is relatively light for Beckett (who was loosely translating a play by Robert Pinget), so your evening of contemplating the demented void that awaits us does, at least, end with some laughter in the basement. Happy days, as Beckett also said.

12 Angry Women put folklore in the dock

By Luke Jones

The Welkin (National Theatre, Lyttelton)

Verdict: Intense murder trial by matron

Rating:

Its 1759 and all eyes are on the welkin  the sky  waiting for the return of Halleys comet.

More is known about its path, thousands of miles away, one character notes, than about the inner workings of a woman. That is whats on trial in Lucy Kirkwoods thumpingly great new play in the Nationals Lyttelton.

Sally (Ria Zmitrowicz  brilliantly boisterous, terrifying and almost rabid) is accused of murdering an 11-year-old girl. A jury of matrons is assembled to confirm whether Sallys pregnant; if she is, shell be spared hanging.

Actress Ria Zmitrowicz (pictured) in The Welkin at the National Theatre in Lyttelton

Kirkwood is a bit of a genius, chopping human stories out of U.S.-China relations, the Large Hadron Collider, nuclear power and, now, midwifery. Think Tom Stoppard, but not so smug and genuinely entertaining.

Here, instead of 12 angry men, weve got 12 grumbling women.

They bicker hilariously in Georgian slang: one loose woman is accused of joining giblets with sailors. We hear advice for steaming wombs and anecdotes of menopausal women bursting into flames.

What a fascinating portrait of an entirely female domain in a mans world. Its a clash of science and lived experience, men versus women.

Cecilia Noble again proves the funniest performer on the London stage; Haydn Gwynne delivers perfect snooty. It was only Maxine Peake, essentially the Henry Fonda in this jury room, who left me cold.

Shes the crux of the matronly intelligence in this trial, and the story which is revealed about her is shockingly rough. But Peake added little more than a wonky Norfolk accent.

But there is still some fine, hilarious and deeply troubling drama to be savoured.

The Welkin will be screened live in cinemas on May 21 (ntlive.nationaltheatre.org.uk).
TEL AVIV - The Palestinian National Authority denied the affirmation by US President Donald Trump that the US administration "briefly spoke" with the Palestinians about Trump's Middle East peace plan, according to the official PNA news agency Wafa.



It said Nabil Abu Rudeina, spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, clarified that "there was no conversation, neither brief nor lengthy".



Rudeina said the Palestinians reject Trump's position on Jerusalem and other components of the conflict, and therefore oppose the so-called "deal of the century".


After Delhi Election Commission's returning officer issued a notice to Kapil Mishra over his tweet calling Delhi Assembly election as India vs Pakistan clash, the BJP candidate from Model Town said that he finds nothing wrong in his statement and stands by it.

"I received a notice from Election Commission last night. I will give my reply today. I don't think I said anything wrong. Speaking truth is not a crime in this country. I spoke the truth. I stand by my statement," Mishra told ANI here.

"Roads are encroached upon in Shaheen Bagh. People are not being allowed to go to schools, offices, hospitals, inciting slogans are being raised. The shamelessness with which Manish Sisodia said he stands with Shaheen Bagh means that this is a political movement," he added.

Earlier, the Election Commission of India sought a report from Delhi's Chief Electoral Officer on Mishra's tweet.

Mishra had on January 23 tweeted ":...On 8th February there will be a contest between India and Pakistan on the streets of Delhi."

According to sources, the Election Commission is mulling over taking strong action against BJP candidate Kapil Mishra.

On January 22, Aam Aadmi Party had written to the Election Commission alleging "wrongful acceptance of nomination forms of BJP candidate Kapil Mishra from Model Town constituency" and demanded cancellation of his candidature.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Fireworks explode above the Hudson River in New York, the United States, on Jan. 23, 2020, to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Wang Ying)
MANILA, Philippines  Filipinos who want to visit South Korea will soon get their visit visa in a period of three weeks or less.

The Embassy of South Korea in the Philippines announced that it is cutting the processing time for Korean visa applications starting next month having additional staff to do the job.

By the end of February, current visa processing period of 25~27 days will be reduced to 10~15 days, the Embassy said in an advisory.

The Embassy added the reduced processing period will be retained for March to April which is spring time in Korea, a peak season for travelers.

The post Korean visa application period to shorten in February appeared first on UNTV News.
VIX cools off for second day

The Nifty January 2020 were at 12,271.20, a premium of 22.95 points compared with the Nifty's closing of 12,248.25 in the cash market.

In the cash market, the Nifty 50 index gained 67.9 points or 0.56% to 12,248.25.

Turnover on the National Stock Exchange's & options (F&O) segment was Rs 9.66 lakh crore compared with Rs 34.45 lakh crore reported in the previous session.

The NSE's India VIX, a gauge of market's expectation of volatility over the near term, fell 2.04% to 15.53.

On the options front, the Nifty option chain for 30 January 2020 expiry showed maximum call open interest (OI) of 33.67 lakh contracts at the 12,300 strike price. Maximum put OI of 42.95 lakh contracts was seen at 12,000 strike price.

The option chain indicates that Nifty will hover between 12,000 and 12,300 in the January 2020 series.

Yes Bank (up 3.91%) was banned from trading in NSE's F&O segment for today after the security crossed 95% of market wide position limit.

Ultratech Cement, SBI and ICICI Bank were the top traded individual stock contracts in F&O segment of NSE for January expiry.

Ultratech Cement January 2020 futures were at 4,654.90, compared with spot closing price of 4643. SBI January 2020 futures were at 324.80, compared with spot closing price of 324.30. ICICI Bank January 2020 futures were at 536.00, compared with spot closing price of 535.45.

Powered by Capital Market - Live News

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Clifford Chance's Casablanca regional office is the leading international law firm in Morocco, a gateway to Francophone Africa and a strategic hub for business across the African continent.

We have unparalleled experience in North Africa and West Africa and are able to coordinate these efficiently and seamlessly from a single hub, ensuring that each step is taken with an eye to both the "big picture" and the nuances of individual jurisdictions. By combining international best practice and deep local knowledge, we offer a unique service in Africa.

Our Casablanca office is key to our work in Africa. It is a nerve centre that connects clients from across the world with our on the ground resources in Africa, and gives Africa-based clients access to the capabilities of our international network.

We offer the full spectrum of legal advice that clients can expect from a leading global law firm. We have very strong capabilities and unrivalled experience in both M&A/Private Equity and Finance transactions.

Our leading team of local and international lawyers are fluent in French, English and Arabic. We offer advice in Moroccan, French and English law and are also well versed in OHADA law. It also has a close working relationship with regulators and is frequently called upon to participate in the drafting of legislation and regulations.

Our Casablanca office is part of a dedicated Africa practice which has been active in Africa for 40 years. Our African expertise is recognised globally by our clients, all the major legal directories, as well as the business world.

Our lawyers work closely together, mobilising the firm's resources in Morocco and in our other international offices to provide you with optimum client service. In addition to this, we possess a carefully selected network of the best local African law firms in jurisdictions where the firm is not directly represented.
PLANO, Texas, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Integer Holdings Corporation (Integer) (NYSE: ITGR), a leading medical device outsource manufacturer, today announced it has established implantable pulse generator (IPG) clean room assembly and testing capabilities at its Tijuana-North facility to support its OEM customers.

Integers Tijuana-North facility is the first Class III active implantable medical device manufacturing site in Mexico to receive FDA approval. This added capacity includes Class 7 and 8 clean rooms, manufacturing facility and capital equipment investment, and provides options for meaningful future expansion. It augments the significant IPG manufacturing capacity already available at Integers Montevideo, Uruguay, and Plymouth, Minn., facilities, offering customers dual-site manufacturing capabilities to mitigate risk.

Integers key objective is to assist OEMs in bringing their innovative therapies to market efficiently, reliably and cost effectively. said Joel Becker, president of Integers Cardiac Rhythm Management and Neuromodulation business. This regulatory approval and facility expansion help us offer our customers expanded capacity and flexibility.

The site is supported by onsite engineering and technical as well as operational staff members trained from Integers Research and Development Center of Excellence for IPG. Additional in-house facility capability will be in place in the Tijuana-North facility by mid-2020.

The expansion will allow customers to continue to benefit from Integers vertically integrated supply chain for critical IPG components, including batteries, feedthroughs and enclosures, some of which are also manufactured in the Tijuana-North facility.

We continue to make strategic investments to support our customers growth and advance us toward our vision of being our customers partner of choice for innovative medical technologies, said Becker. Integers goal is to offer best-in-class quality, service and value, and support our customers with the most comprehensive design, development and manufacturing services available for Class III medical device systems.

Production is managed under Integers Manufacturing Excellence strategies, and the manufacturing cell layout design was developed under the guidance of Integers Lean Center of Excellence.

About Integer

Integer Holdings Corporation (NYSE:ITGR) is one of the largest medical device outsource (MDO) manufacturers in the world serving the cardiac, neuromodulation, vascular, portable medical, advanced surgical and orthopedics markets. The company provides innovative, high-quality medical technologies that enhance the lives of patients worldwide. In addition, it develops batteries for high-end niche applications in energy, military, and environmental markets. The companys brands include Greatbatch Medical, Lake Region Medical, and Electrochem. Additional information is available at www.integer.net .

Investor Relations

Tony Borowicz

tony.borowicz@integer.net

716.759.5809

Media Relations

Kelly Butler

kelly.butler@integer.net

214.618.4216
New Delhi, Jan 24 : Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global watchdog for terror funding may remove Pakistan from the punitive "grey list" in its upcoming review meeting.

Sources told IANS that the FATF is "satisfied" with Pakistan's efforts to crack down on terror funding and money laundering, even though Pakistani terrorists have been continually infiltrating into India through the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.

China, the US, the UK, Australia, Japan and a few other countries, at the FATF's three-day review meeting in Beijing, refrained from passing any adverse remarks against Pakistan, sources said.

Pakistan was placed in the 'grey list' in 2018 and was supposed to complete its compliance by October 2019. The grey list financially penalized Pakistan at a time when it was already facing economic crisis.

Sources said China is particularly advocating for its exit from the 'grey list'. The Imran Khan government has also been lobbying hard, using multiple channels and platforms in the US, UK and Europe, for a reprieve.

However, one of the main reasons for this change in the stance among the key players in FATF, sources said is the recent West Asia crisis following the US offensive against Iran, killing its Revolutionary Guard Corps commander and spy chief Qassem Soleimani.

After Tehran retaliated by striking at two US military bases in Iraq and shooting down a Ukrainian plane killing over 170 civilians, including 70 Canadians, the US realized that it "needs an ally who will do their bidding for the right price in the region".

Pakistan's military has offered to play a bigger role in the Middle East at the behest of the Donald Trump administration. "Islamabad is willing to work against the US adversaries for a price but India will never meddle in the Middle East. So Islamabad has its own advantages," sources said.

Besides, America needs Pakistan in its negotiations with the Taliban for a peace deal in Afghanistan, another source said.

If the FATF exonerates Pakistan, it will encourage te ISI-sponsored banned outfits to continue its cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, Indian officials fear.

Last year, the FATF had warned Pakistan and threatened to put it in the black list for non-compliance of its conditions. But now, there is no chance of blacklisting Pakistan, sources said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed decrees appointing former ministers Maxim Oreshkin and Vladimir Medinsky as his aids, according to the Kremlin press service.

The decrees were published on the governments official website containing legal information and come into force from the date of its signing.

The ministers left their position earlier this month amid a cabinet reshuffle on January 15, with the Russian president appointing Federal Tax Service Head Mikhail Mishustin the new prime minister, and also announcing significant constitutional amendments.

Oreshkin was replaced as economy minister this week by former regional governor Maxim Reshetnikov. Medinsky was replaced as culture minister by Olga Lyubimova.



In addition, ex-deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak has been appointed as deputy chief of the presidential office.

Director of the Center for Political Information Alexei Mukhin, speaking to Vestnik Kavkaza, said that Vladimir Putin decided to use the experience and potential of the resigned ministers in another government agency. "I think its about keeping these ex-ministers at government work and using their potential, which turned out to be unclaimed in the new cabinet," he explained.

Vice-rector of the Academy of Labour and Social Relations Alexander Safonov agreed that Maxim Oreshkin will take Andrey Belousov's place. "The reshuffle was due to the fact that Oreshkin, as a minister and economist, perfectly understands the government's economic policy in general. On top of everything, he will also have the opportunity to grow professionally and gain experience working with the government in a new position," he said.

As for Medinsky, he can deal with international contacts in the field of culture. "As a minister, he interacted with foreign partners, so we can expected that he will be focused on international cooperation in the field of culture. After all, the presidents administration is more focused on foreign policy," Alexander Safonov explained.
Under his watch, the schools endowment more than tripled to nearly $1.7 billion, in part through selling land it owned under Rockefeller Center for $400 million. Mr. Sovern also enhanced financial aid programs and spearheaded the divestment of university funds from companies doing business in South Africa, where he had once traveled  to the ire of the countrys white-minority government  to bestow an honorary doctorate on the human rights activist Desmond Tutu.
DNA on a hat found at the scene of a 2014 homicide led to an El Paso County jail inmate being accused Thursday of committing another killing in 2010, Colorado Springs police said Friday.

Rodric Donley, 43, had been in jail since December, when he and Lisa Deboer, 40, were arrested on suspicion of killing Deboer's ex-boyfriend, Jamarlon Jamanion Keys in southeast Colorado Springs nearly six years ago.

Keys was a former Fort Carson soldier who had been deployed for a year to Iraq in 2003, his family said. His apartment at 950 Acapulco Court had a home security system that fed a live stream but didn't record, police said. According to court documents, friends told officers Keys and Deboer had a tumultuous relationship, peppered with domestic violence disputes and bar brawls.

When officers arrived at the complex in response to a report of a shooting, they found Keys wounded. He later died at a hospital, officers said. A beanie cap was found inside the former soldier's apartment, covering the view of his security camera.

The morning of his death, Keys posted a photo of more than $8,000 in cash to his Facebook, police said.

But it wasn't until July 2019  nearly five years later  that authorities got a match on DNA taken from the beanie, court documents read. It led to a son of Donley's former girlfriend.

In December, officers interviewed the teen, who told them that the night of Keys' death, he drove Donley to a spot near Keys' apartment. The teen told police that he heard several gunshots before seeing Donley run back to the car holding a handgun, court documents said.

Police said they pulled jail phone records that showed Donley and Deboer had spoken a few weeks after Keys' death. At the time, Donley was incarcerated at the jail on a separate charge.

While being questioned about Keys' killing, court documents say, the teenager told police about a 2010 homicide that Donley had spoken about. Donley, already accused of killing Keys, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of killing 37-year-old Martique Webster of Colorado Springs 10 years ago, police said.

On October 12, 2010, a security guard at Rustic Hills Park Apartments, 1248 Potter Drive, found Webster dead inside a vehicle, court records read. The guard thought Webster was sleeping, he told police, but called authorities when he discovered he was not breathing.

Webster's death was ruled a homicide by the El Paso County Coroner's Office. A single gunshot wound to the head was found near his right ear, court records said.

Donley admitted he and Webster had been friends, police said, but he denied being with him the night of Webster's death. He later told police he was a "middle man" in a drug deal and had arranged for Webster to purchase 9 ounces of narcotics for $6,000, court documents said.

According to court documents, the son of Donley's girlfriend told police in December that Donley "admitted to him he had shot Martique Webster in the head ... that he needed money to pay off a debt."

Donley is being held at the jail without bond, jail records show.
Advertisement

Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg said her demand at Davos that world leaders immediately stop investing in fossil fuels had been 'completely ignored' after she was branded 'a joke' by the US treasury secretary.

The 17-year-old Swede, speaking at a Fridays for Future protest in the Swiss Alpine town, said she was 'expecting no less' from the nearly 3,000 business and political delegates at the World Economic Forum.

In her speech at Davos, she told the world's media that 'our house is still on fire and your inaction is fuelling the flames' before asking: 'What will you tell your children was the reason to fail?'

Those remarks earned her a rebuke from US Secretary Steven Mnuchin who told her to 'study economics' then 'come back and explain it to us.'

Greta Thunberg (centre) has told protesters during a Fridays for Future strike in the town of Davos that her demands to world leaders to stop investing in fossil fuels have been 'completely ignored'

The 17-year-old Swede addressed Davos for the second time this year, demanding that business and countries immediately stop investing in the fossil fuel industry and cancel all subsidies for the fuels

Thunberg joined dozens of climate activists in Davos for a protest on Friday, as part of the school-strike movement that has spread around the globe and led to pressure on governments to step up their response to climate change

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg marches during a 'Friday for future' youth demonstration in a street of Davos

'Is she the chief economist? Who is she? I'm confused,' he said, adding after a pause that it was 'a joke.'

Asked about Mnuchin's comments, the Swede said: 'Of course it has no effect. We are being criticised like that all the time.'

'If we cared about that, we would not be able to do what we do. We put ourselves in the spotlight.

'The situation is not being treated like the crisis it is.'

Greta's remarks earned her a rebuke from US treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin, who told her to 'study economics' and branded her 'a joke'

The spat between Mnuchin and Thunberg underlined the tensions over climate change at the World Economic Forum, where governments and major firms have come under pressure to act now on global warming.

In a speech on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump castigated the 'prophets of doom' that predict a climate 'apocalypse', in comments widely seen as an attack on Thunberg who sat in the audience.

But either by accident or design, there was no meeting between Trump and Thunberg at the forum.

Thunberg, who was selected as Time's Person of the Year for 2019, has returned to the World Economic Forum's annual summit in Davos, Switzerland, this week to press her call for businesses, world leaders and others to take action in the face of scientific evidence showing that temperatures on Earth are rising.

She spoke to reporters along with four other young climate activists, before they set off through the streets of Davos for the latest weekly 'Fridays for Future' campaign that she launched.

At the news conference, Thunberg sought to share the spotlight, deferring to her fellow activists: Vanessa Nakate of Uganda, Loukina Tille of Switzerland, Luisa Neubauer of Germany, and Isabelle Axelsson of Sweden.

3,000 world leaders in politics and business have gathered in Davos this week for the 50th annual World Economic Forum

Greta spoke at the forum for the second year running this year, telling leaders that 'our house is still on fire and your inaction is fuelling the flames by the hour'

This year's forum was called Stakeholders for a Cohesive and Sustainable World, in a hat-tip to climate activists
24.01.2020 LISTEN

To eliminate cross border malaria in Southern Africa, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, awarded MOSASWA (Mozambique, South Africa and Eswatini) a grant in 2017. Following the successful completion of the original grant, the grant has been extended for a further 3 years to December 2022.

MOSASWA is a trilateral agreement between the Mozambique, South African and Eswatini governments, to control and eliminate malaria in the region.

Goodbye Malaria together with partners; Nandos, Vodacom and Airports Company South Africa, has contributed US $5.5million earmarked to the MOSASWA grant. Together with The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation contribution, as well as The Global Funds investment, this brings the grant total to $ 30 000 000.00 (approx. R 430 000 000.00)

To celebrate the second grant, Goodbye Malaria, in partnership with The Global Fund hosted the launch event on 23 January 2020 in Johannesburg. With a soulful introduction performed by the famous Ndlovu Choir, the day included two-panel discussions that tackled the issues of cross-border collaboration and bringing the malaria epidemic to zero.

The first grant, which ran from January 2017 to December 2019 totalled US $9, 78 million and impacted over 1.1 million lives annually with the upcoming grant expected impact to exceed over 2 million lives.

Through the implementation of an indoor residual spraying (IRS) programme in Southern Mozambique, the 2018 incidence in Maputo Province has decreased by 46% compared to 2016, even in the face of increasing transmission in the region.

The second grant will continue to target IRS in Southern Mozambique, expanding to both Gaza and Inhambane provinces. The grant will align country strategy and programmes along borders, while strengthening surveillance, case detection and malaria advocacy across all three countries.

At the event, Head of Grant Management at The Global Fund, Mark Eldon-Edinton said, Funding for malaria hasnt decreased and with good planning at the country and regional level, more money will avail itself. We cannot control malaria. Its expensive. We need to eliminate it. The virus constantly mutates.

As an innovative partnership, the days first panel included esteemed guests, the Honourable Dr. Zweli Mkhize, the National Public Health Director of Mozambique, Dr. Maria Benigna Pedro Matsinhe; the Director of Health of Eswatini, Dr Vusi Magagula; Head of Grant Management at the Global Fund, Mark Eldon-Edington; and Founder of Nandos and Goodbye Malaria, Robbie Brozin, moderated by Dr. Brian Brink, retired chief medical officer of Anglo American.
Burma More Than Half of Parliamentarians Back NLD Charter Amendment Bills

The NLD and other parties lawmakers sign two bills on the amendment of the 2008 Constitution in Naypyitaw on Jan. 23, 2020. / Yinmin Hlaing / Facebook

A total of 351 parliamentarians have signed two charter-amendment bills, drafted by the Constitution Amendment Committee over 11 months. The bills were then forwarded to the speaker on Thursday in Naypyitaw and will be discussed in the Parliament, which is scheduled to resume on Monday, Jan. 27.

The committee completed the draft bills on Monday and collected all the signatures by Thursday.

The first bill includes amendments that would be covered by Article 436(a), requiring approval by more than 75 percent of Parliament and over 50 percent support in a referendum. The second bill includes measures covered by Article 436(b), requiring the approval of over 75 percent of Parliament but no referendum.

A total of 351 parliamentarians from eight political parties signed the bills. So if we look at the endorsement, 351 constitute more than 50 percent of the total 660 members of parliament, said the committees secretary U Myat Nyana Soe, an Upper House lawmaker from the National League for Democracy (NLD) representing Yangon.

He added: A bill to amend the charter needs to be submitted with the signatures from at least 20 percent of lawmakers [under Chapter 12 of the 2008 Constitution] and now we are submitting it with signatures from more than 50 percent of parliamentarians.

We will follow the parliaments decision, U Myat Nyana Soe said.

U Tin Tun Naing, a lower house parliamentarian from the NLD, also told The Irrawaddy that they will continue the efforts for charter amendment through Parliament.

The Parliament has 385 NLD lawmakers (59 percent); 166 military appointees (25 percent) and 41 USDP members (5 percent). The remaining 11 percent are representatives from 12 other parties and independents.

The amendment committeethe mechanism for the NLD and ethnic parties to reform the military-drafted Constitutionwas formed last February with 45 members from 14 political parties, independents and military representatives.

The NLD holds 18 seats on the committee and the military has eight. There are two each from the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), Arakan National Party (ANP) and Shan Nationalities League for Democracy; and one each from 10 other parties, one independent and the Upper House deputy speaker.

By July the committee had considered 3,765 recommended changes.

Voicing their disapproval with the process of drafting the amendment bill, the USDP, ANP and the National United Democratic Party quit the committee late last year.

The military also rejected the committee and its work as unconstitutional from its inception, but its representatives joined some of the committees meetings. The military submitted two amendment bills and three bills jointly with the USDP to Parliament last year.

You may also like these stories:

Two Myanmar Constitution Amendment Bills Agreed by NLD, Ethnic Parties

Myanmars Main Opposition Party Quits Charter Amendment Committee
Computer & Technology DENSO WAVE EUROPE launches Device Management System

With the DMS from DENSO, the device management is controlled and guaranteed centrally.

24.01.2020 21:03:22 - As one of the markets leading providers in the field of mobile data collection, DENSO WAVE EUROPE, part of the Toyota group, knows the importance of digitalization for companies, for example, in retail and logistics. Now the inventors of the QR Code are launching a new Device Management System (DMS), thus enabling efficient coordination of DENSO WAVE handheld terminals from just one computer.



(live-PR.com) - Dusseldorf. The Device Management System (DMS) from DENSO WAVE EUROPE, part of the Toyota group, is a modern software tool to support the efficient use of handheld terminals within a company, for instance, in retail and logistics. Dirk Gelbrich, General Manager Technical Department at DENSO WAVE EUROPE, explains: With the new DMS from DENSO WAVE EUROPE, administrators who are responsible - Dusseldorf. The Device Management System (DMS) from DENSO WAVE EUROPE, part of the Toyota group, is a modern software tool to support the efficient use of handheld terminals within a company, for instance, in retail and logistics. Dirk Gelbrich, General Manager Technical Department at DENSO WAVE EUROPE, explains: With the new DMS from DENSO WAVE EUROPE, administrators who are responsible for the mobile handheld terminals used in their company can always see the status of each mobile data collection device at a glance. That is a great advantage as it saves a lot of time and therefore costs.



The DMS from DENSO WAVE EUROPE has been developed by DENSO, part of the Toyota group, for their BHT handheld terminals and ensures that all devices, which are used in a company can be linked together on just one computer. Especially in retail and logistics, this offers numerous advantages. The mobile data collection devices can be managed in real-time by the DMS as the individual information of each handheld terminal is always kept up to date in the system. This way, the device management is controlled and guaranteed centrally, says Gelbrich all the while emphasizing the great advantages of this modern DMS.



More information about the Device Management System from DENSO WAVE EUROPE, part of the Toyota group, and the advantages it offers for sectors such as retail and logistics is available at



Keeping Downtimes to a Minimum while using Handheld Terminals more efficiently



If an update is required for a single or even multiple mobile data collection devices, this can be planned ahead, so downtimes can be kept to a minimum. This gives the administrator of the handheld terminals the opportunity to better control and optimize all the processes.



When troubleshooting a faulty mobile data collection device, the new Device Management System from DENSO WAVE EUROPE, part of the Toyota group, can offer a great advantage as well: Administrators can send commands to the handheld terminal concerned while another employee simultaneously tests the mobile data collection device. In this way, errors in the handheld terminals are fixed faster and more efficiently.



Thanks to the integrated theft protection in the handheld terminals, administrators can even use the Device Management System to lock a stolen mobile data collection device or reset it to the factory settings.







How one Device Management System simplifies working with numerous Handheld Terminals



The Device Management System consists of an app for installation on the mobile handhelds and an administration app to be installed on a computer. After the installation is completed, both the operating system and all applications on the mobile data collection devices can be updated and managed  simply via the Device Management System on the computer.



In the past, what was tediously done for every single handheld terminal in the company, can now be processed and completed in one step, saving time and money, says Gelbrich.



As a result, not only administrators are noticeably relieved by the Device Management System, but faster solutions can be put into place in order to use handheld terminals more efficiently within a company, for example, in retail and logistics. Digitalization is progressing rapidly. With the new DMS, companies, for instance in retail and logistics, can keep their internal processes running smoothly.



Further information about mobile data collection, modern scanners and handheld terminals, RFID and NFC, the QR Code, and DENSO WAVE EUROPE are available at



For the European market, DENSO WAVE EUROPE is the contact point for all enquiries on QR Codes, mobile data collection, handheld terminals, and scanners. The durable and robust terminals and scanners manufactured by DENSO are to be found in storage, logistics, at the POS, in production, and field & sales automation applications. Short and informative video clips about the terminals, scanners, and solutions from DENSO WAVE EUROPE can now be viewed on YouTube. The clips include the 20th anniversary of the QR Code, a company presentation, and introductions to the various devices for mobile data capture such as the BHT-1500, BHT-1400 and the GT20 scanner. For more information, click on the link below:





QR Code is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED.



DENSO WAVE EUROPE GmbH



Managing Director:

Katsuhiko Toji

Keiichi Yamazaki





Press Contact:

PPR Hamburg

Rafael R. Pilsczek, M. A.

Sinstorfer Kirchweg 18

D-21077 Hamburg

Phone +49 (0) 40 32 80 89 80

Fax +49 (0) 40 65 58 43 58

Mobil: +49 (0) 170 310 79 72





DENSO is one of the worlds largest manufacturers of mobile data devices. We follow one mission: Driven by Quality  maximum quality in mobile data collection. Decision-makers in the fields of retail, logistics, and production rely on DENSO for their business requirements and in implementing the Internet of Things.



DENSO is a member of the Toyota Group and is exclusively represented in Europe by DENSO WAVE EUROPE:

for the mobile handheld terminals used in their company can always see the status of each mobile data collection device at a glance. That is a great advantage as it saves a lot of time and therefore costs.The DMS from DENSO WAVE EUROPE has been developed by DENSO, part of the Toyota group, for their BHT handheld terminals and ensures that all devices, which are used in a company can be linked together on just one computer. Especially in retail and logistics, this offers numerous advantages. The mobile data collection devices can be managed in real-time by the DMS as the individual information of each handheld terminal is always kept up to date in the system. This way, the device management is controlled and guaranteed centrally, says Gelbrich all the while emphasizing the great advantages of this modern DMS.More information about the Device Management System from DENSO WAVE EUROPE, part of the Toyota group, and the advantages it offers for sectors such as retail and logistics is available at www.denso-wave.eu/en/denso-products/software/device-management-system-dms-for-bht-terminals.html Keeping Downtimes to a Minimum while using Handheld Terminals more efficientlyIf an update is required for a single or even multiple mobile data collection devices, this can be planned ahead, so downtimes can be kept to a minimum. This gives the administrator of the handheld terminals the opportunity to better control and optimize all the processes.When troubleshooting a faulty mobile data collection device, the new Device Management System from DENSO WAVE EUROPE, part of the Toyota group, can offer a great advantage as well: Administrators can send commands to the handheld terminal concerned while another employee simultaneously tests the mobile data collection device. In this way, errors in the handheld terminals are fixed faster and more efficiently.Thanks to the integrated theft protection in the handheld terminals, administrators can even use the Device Management System to lock a stolen mobile data collection device or reset it to the factory settings.How one Device Management System simplifies working with numerous Handheld TerminalsThe Device Management System consists of an app for installation on the mobile handhelds and an administration app to be installed on a computer. After the installation is completed, both the operating system and all applications on the mobile data collection devices can be updated and managed  simply via the Device Management System on the computer.In the past, what was tediously done for every single handheld terminal in the company, can now be processed and completed in one step, saving time and money, says Gelbrich.As a result, not only administrators are noticeably relieved by the Device Management System, but faster solutions can be put into place in order to use handheld terminals more efficiently within a company, for example, in retail and logistics. Digitalization is progressing rapidly. With the new DMS, companies, for instance in retail and logistics, can keep their internal processes running smoothly.Further information about mobile data collection, modern scanners and handheld terminals, RFID and NFC, the QR Code, and DENSO WAVE EUROPE are available at www.denso-wave.eu For the European market, DENSO WAVE EUROPE is the contact point for all enquiries on QR Codes, mobile data collection, handheld terminals, and scanners. The durable and robust terminals and scanners manufactured by DENSO are to be found in storage, logistics, at the POS, in production, and field & sales automation applications. Short and informative video clips about the terminals, scanners, and solutions from DENSO WAVE EUROPE can now be viewed on YouTube. The clips include the 20th anniversary of the QR Code, a company presentation, and introductions to the various devices for mobile data capture such as the BHT-1500, BHT-1400 and the GT20 scanner. For more information, click on the link below: www.youtube.com/channel/UCHp4Yboj7IccPlSeRxQ6yBQ QR Code is a registered trademark of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED.DENSO WAVE EUROPE GmbHManaging Director:Katsuhiko TojiKeiichi YamazakiPress Contact:PPR HamburgRafael R. Pilsczek, M. A.Sinstorfer Kirchweg 18D-21077 HamburgPhone +49 (0) 40 32 80 89 80Fax +49 (0) 40 65 58 43 58Mobil: +49 (0) 170 310 79 72DENSO is one of the worlds largest manufacturers of mobile data devices. We follow one mission: Driven by Quality  maximum quality in mobile data collection. Decision-makers in the fields of retail, logistics, and production rely on DENSO for their business requirements and in implementing the Internet of Things.DENSO is a member of the Toyota Group and is exclusively represented in Europe by DENSO WAVE EUROPE: www.denso-wave.eu Contact information:

DENSO WAVE EUROPE GmbH



Parsevalstrae 9 A

40468 Dusseldorf



Contact Person:

Kaber Kolioutsis

Marketing Communication Specialist

Phone: +49 (0) 211 540 138 40

eMail: eMail



Web: http://https://www.denso-wave.eu

Author:

Rafael Pilsczek

e-mail

Phone: 04032808980 24.01.2020 21:03:22 -

Disclaimer: If you have any questions regarding information in this article please contact the author. Please do not contact Live-PR.com. We are not able to assist you. Live-PR.com disclaims content contained in this article. Live-PR.com is not authorized to give any information about content and not responsible for content posted by third party.
Jersey City wants to lend a helping hand to Puerto Rico.

The City Council will vote on a resolution during its Feb. 13 meeting establishing a $200,000 fundraising goal for relief in four cities in Puerto Rico affected by this months devastating earthquakes.

Mayor Steve Fulop and Councilman at Large Daniel Rivera announced the effort dubbed Operation Temblor Puerto Rico JC on Friday, saying the funds will be distributed in the cities of Ponce, Guayanila, Yauco, and Guanica along the southern coast of Puerto Rico.

A 6.4 magnitude earthquake rocked the U.S. territory on Jan. 7, just one day after a 5.8 magnitude quake shook the island. Hundreds of smaller earthquakes and aftershocks ensued, as the island dealt with power outages and structural damage.

We want to stand in solitude with our brothers and sisters in Puerto Rico who lost their homes and everything they own in the last month, Rivera said in a statement. We have a large Hispanic population here in Jersey City, many of whom have family who still live in Puerto Rico. We need to come together to help Puerto Rico bounce back, especially the families unexpectedly left living in perilous situations, which is why well host an event on February 1st to kickoff fundraising efforts.

The first fundraiser will be held Feb. 1 at the Harborside Atrium from 7 to 11 p.m. with all proceeds being donated directly to the earthquake relief fund. Tickets to the event are $100 per person.

The fundraising initiative comes two years after Rivera helped lead a donation effort that saw 1.3 million pounds of food, water, diapers, and other essential supplies delivered to Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria.

This is a time when the strength of our diversity really shines through in the darkness of devastation, and I hope we can really make a difference to help reset the course for the thousands of people picking up the pieces in the aftermath of the earthquake, Fulop said. We want to do all we can to help and show Puerto Rico as much support as possible during this difficult time.
Putting aside his warm relations with donors in the credit card industry, Mr. Bidens record is mottled with more episodes of apparent corruption than Ms. Teachout listed in her op-ed. In a 2008 episode of Meet the Press, Tom Brokaw interrogated Mr. Biden about the fact that his son, Hunter Biden, was employed by MBNA, a bank holding firm  which also happened to be a major donor to the elder Biden, and a strong advocate for the bankruptcy bill he worked to pass while his son cashed MBNA checks.

It is hard to imagine how the younger Biden would have become the very model of a modern major lobbyist, as Politico put it in a 2007 article, with an office near K Street, a blue-ribbon roster of clients, and a firm grossing $1.76 million in lobbying revenue in the first half of 2006 alone were it not for his parentage. A transcript of the hearing on Hunter Bidens nomination to Amtraks board of directors shows that while the other nominee joining him that day, Donna McLean, had a 15-year career in federal service with a focus on transportation policy, Hunters specific qualification for the position was that he often rode trains. Hunter was introduced by Senator Tom Carper of Delaware that day not principally as a logical choice for Amtraks board, but as the son of Joe Biden.

The fact that the Bidens are entangled in Trumps impeachment odyssey  uncomfortably, and with no clear exit strategy aside from keeping mum  should also raise serious questions about Mr. Bidens fortitude in the general election. But all this, Mr. Sanders declined to say  not because it isnt relevant and not because it doesnt fit with Mr. Sanderss platform  but because Mr. Sanders, for all his famed gruffness, doesnt like going negative. Ive never run a negative ad in my life, Mr. Sanders told reporters upon announcing his 2016 primary bid, I hate and detest these ugly, 30-second negative ads. True to form, the single attack ad Mr. Sanders ran during his race against Hillary Clinton contained neither her name nor her visage, only a reference to Goldman Sachss financial hold on Washington.

Contrast that with the sort of material then-Senator Barack Obama aired against Mrs. Clinton in 2008  claiming, for instance, that she would say anything to get elected, that she didnt tell the truth, that she was a corporate lawyer sitting on the board of Walmart   and Mr. Sanderss forays into offense in 2020 appear quite mild.

That is because they are. But Mr. Sanders cant afford mildness, or a steady habit of capitulation. The critical distinction between Bernie Sanders and the donor-driven, suborned, anti-democratic politics he hopes to overthrow is his greatest virtue, and his strongest appeal. But for that distinction to be more than an abstraction, Mr. Sanders will have to illuminate the contrast between the way he practices politics and the way his opponents do. This will mean running attack ads, devoting stump time to his opponents unsavory histories and standing behind surrogates who do the same. The financial capture of Washington that he rightfully detests is real, and it is manifest in his opponents. He will have to own that, or risk campaigning hobbled. There isnt any way around it; the logic that demands it is inscribed into every speech Mr. Sanders makes.
Congress governments in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan have decided to introduce key aspects of the Indian Constitution in the curricula of all the government educational institutions. The decision comes two days after the Madhya Pradesh government issued a similar order making the reading of the preamble in schools mandatory against the backdrop of widespread protests in the country questioning the constitutionality of the Citizenship Amendment Act.

The Chhattisgarh School Education Department issued a directive on Friday saying the preamble of the constitution will be discussed in schools in the first week of the month, followed by a discussion on the fundamental rights mentioned in the constitution in the second week and discussion on the fundamental duties in the third week.

The idea is that the constitution should be discussed and should be talked about among the young people. The students who are in school and the teachers who are teaching them should be aware and should express their views about the Indian Constitution, said Alok Shukla, secretary School Education Department.

On the occasion of Constitution Day, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had announced organising programs in states educational institutes every Monday to spread awareness about the constitution.

The Rajasthan government, too, on Friday made recitation of the preamble mandatory in all schools with effect from January 26.

To introduce the essence of the Indian Constitution to the youth of the state, the government has mandated recitation of the Preamble of the Constitution in all schools from January 26th, State education minister Govind Singh Dostara said.

The Madhya Pradesh government had made the preamble of the constitution mandatory in schools on Wednesday.

The order issued on Wednesday evening by the school education department stated, The preamble of the Constitution will be read out by the headmaster/teacher in all the primary and middle schools after prayer on every Saturday. The same will be read out by the students later.

Earlier, the Maharashtra government made the reading of the preamble mandatory for school students. In fact, in Maharashtra, a resolution to the effect was adopted by the government in 2013 but it was not implemented, as per education department officials.
Unborn baby shows majesty of God's creation, Trump tells March for Life in historic speech

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

U.S. President Donald Trump told the tens of thousands gathered at the March for Life rally in Washington, D.C., that an unborn baby shows a glimpse of the majesty of Gods creation.

Speaking in person at the March for Life on Friday, the first sitting United States president to do so, Trump spoke about the value of children, both born and unborn.

Every child is a precious and sacred gift from God, he said. Together we must protect, cherish, and defend the dignity and the sanctity of every human life.

When we see the image of a baby in the womb, we glimpse the majesty of Gods creation. When we hold a newborn in our arms, we know the endless love that each child brings to a family.

Trump also touted his record of pro-life accomplishments while in office, declaring that unborn children have never had a stronger defender in the White House.

This included reinstituting the Mexico City Policy, which prevents tax dollars from going to organizations that promote or fund abortions abroad, appointing pro-life judges, and ensuring Title X funds are being given to family healthcare clinics instead of abortion providers.

As the Bible tells us, each person is wonderfully made, he continued, referencing Psalm 139:14, which reads: I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Vice President Mike Pence, who has addressed the March for Life in person in previous years, gave remarks along with his wife, Karen, via video message because he was in Rome, Italy.

In his video message, Pence spoke about having just finished having a meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican.

During our conversation, I thanked him for all that he and Catholic Americans have done to defend the sanctity of human life throughout the history of this movement, said Pence.

Pence commended the activism of all the proud Catholics who I know are filling our National Mall today, proudly carrying banners representing your parishes.

Pence also said that he could not be more proud to serve as vice president to the most pro-life president in American history.

The results speak for themselves, he added. This movement has a champion in President Donald Trump and you always will.

On Wednesday, March for Life announced that Trump would be the first president to address the March for Life rally in person, rather than previous times which have been via video message.

While pro-life groups celebrated the news, pro-abortion activist groups including NARAL Pro-Choice America and Planned Parenthood were outraged.

Alexis McGill Johnson, Planned Parenthood's interim president, claimed in a message in Twitter that "There is no such thing as infanticide [at abortion clinics] and you know it @POTUS. You are capitalizing on misinformation in order to shame people for seeking abortion and that is disgraceful."

NARAL President Ilyse Hogue suggested that the president's speech at the March for Life was a desperate attempt to divert attention from his criminal presidency and fire up his radical base.

Trump will be the 1st POTUS to attend the annual gathering of anti-choicers on Friday, which he announced today on the anniversary of #RoevWade [because] that's how he rolls, she tweeted.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 24

By Ilkin Seyfaddini  Trend:

Uzbekistan's international airports have introduced additional checks for passengers arriving in the country, said Uzbekistan's Chief Doctor of the Republican Center of State Sanitary-Epidemiology Surveillance (CSSES) of the Ministry of Health Bakhrom Almatov, Trend reports citing the Uzbek media.

"Particularly enhanced monitoring has been introduced for flights from Chinese cities from which unknown coronavirus has started to spread," Almatov said.

All Uzbekistans international airports have been equipped with portable thermal imaging cameras. Flight attendants of Uzbek airlines have been instructed to detect sick passengers. In addition, 37 border checkpoints are equipped with sanitary quarantine points, the chief doctor added.

"First of all, we will check passengers arriving from China and other regions where the epidemiological situation is deteriorating. All 11 international airports in Uzbekistan are equipped with portable thermal imaging cameras. Our specialists work at the sanitation and quarantine points," Almatov said.

On 31 December 2019, World Health Organization's China Country Office was informed of cases of pneumonia of unknown etiology (unknown cause) detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China. The first cases are linked to a local wholesale market where seafood was sold. On 7 January 2020, Chinese experts identified the pathogen, Novel Coronavirus 2019-nCoV.

Flights, trains and buses from the Wuhan city have been temporarily suspended. In addition, regional authorities have banned intercity buses travelling to Wuhan. Separate check queues are being created at airports and stations for passengers from Wuhan.

Wuhan has a population of over 11 million and is the largest city in central China. It is the capital of Hubei Province, with more than 58 million people living there.

According to China's National Health Commission, the number of people suffering from Coronavirus 2019-nCoV virus pneumonia now stands at 541 and 17 has died. Cases have been identified in Thailand, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and the USA.
Chico Police investigating Motel 6 homicide

Police in Chico are investigating this morning after a deadly shooting at a Motel 6. Police say they found the victim in one of the rooms, lying on the floor with a gunshot wound. Police say the victim was pronounced dead at the hospital and are investigating the shooting as a homicide. Action News Now is working to learn new information as it becomes available.

Chico Unified School District among 3 CA districts suing 'Juul'

The Chico School District is one of three California school districts suing an e-cigarette maker, Juul. The lawsuits claim that there are too many students missing school due to Juul's e-cigarettes and want Juul to compensate them financially. The CDC says more than 2,600 people have gotten sick and 60 have died due to vaping.

Chico City Council passes emergency ordinance, Old Humboldt Road

The Chico City Council passed an emergency ordinance that would temporarily close off parts of old Humboldt road. The road is well known for its historic rock walls, and ruts from covered wagons that made their way west during the gold rush. A group called "Respect The Walls" is working to clean up and preserve the area, and wants to keep cars off that stretch of road, eventually creating a heritage park. The second reading of the new ordinance is Feb. 4.

Ex-pharmaceutical executive gets 5 years in prison

A pharmaceutical executive convicted of orchestrating a bribery and kickback scheme in the nation's opioid crisis will spend the next five and half years in prison. 76-year-old John Kapoor is the founder of Insys Therapeutics. Prosecutors said the company aggressively marketed a powerful opioid painkiller to doctors. It was the first successful prosecution holding drug company executives

accountable for the opioid crisis.

Death penalty sought in slaying of Sacramento officer

Prosecutors say they'll seek the death penalty for the man accused of gunning down a Sacramento police rookie as she responded to a call. Police say Adel Sambrano Ramos killed Officer Tara O'Sullivan as she answered a domestic violence call at Ramos' home. O'Sullivan was with the department only a short time. She was the first Sacramento officer killed on duty in 20 years. Ramos faces charges of murder, and attempted murder of seven other officers.

Firefighters who died in Australia were on California tanker

We now know the identities of the firefighters killed when their C-130 cargo plane went down in Australia Wednesday. Firefighters Rick Demorgan, Paul Clyde Hudson, and Ian McBeth died in New South Wales. The plane was based in California. But the crew came from all over the country. Fire departments across our region have extended condolences to the family and friends of the victims.

Chicago woman becomes 2nd US case of new virus from China

A Chicago woman has become the second U.S. patient diagnosed with the new pneumonia-like virus from China. Health officials say the 60-year-old woman returned from a trip to China on Jan. 13 without showing any signs of illness, but a few days later she called her doctor to report feeling sick. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the woman is doing well, but is hospitalized to prevent the spread of the virus.

Impeachment trial: House managers resume arguments against Pres. Trump



Democrats finish their opening arguments today, in the impeachment trial of President Trump. Democrats must convince at least 20 Republican senators to vote in favor of impeachment. The focus for Fridays arguments will be the second article of impeachment, obstruction of congress.
A Queensland teacher injured during a Vanuatu trip with students has been denied compensation after a judge found she had no need to use the rope swing she injured herself on.

Geraldine Glass, a teacher at Xavier Catholic College in Hervey Bay, had her appeal dismissed last week in the Industrial Court of Queensland after injuring her shoulder more than three years ago.

People swimming at the Blue Lagoon on Efate Island in Vanuatu with the rope swing visible on the left side. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

On the second day of the November 2016 tour, the group went to the Blue Lagoon on Efate Island because the scheduled destination was unsuitable. The itinerary change wasn't put to Brisbane Catholic Education's travel panel for approval.

Upon arrival, the teachers and students found a knotted rope attached to a tree overhanging the lagoon, with an elevated wooden platform allowing swimmers to swing off and fall into the water.
As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content.

When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to.

After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS!

OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK

The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those.
The Supreme Court Friday agreed to hear a petition seeking mandatory judicial probe in cases related to death, disappearance and alleged rape in police custody or in jail.

The plea filed by human rights activist Suhas Chakma said that though section 176 (1A) of CrPC provides for judicial inquiry into such cases, the provision is not being implemented.

A bench of Justices R F Nariman and S Ravindra Bhat issued notice to the Centre and sought its reply in four weeks.

The plea said Section 176(1A) of the CrPC uses the word "SHALL" and therefore it should be mandatorily implemented.

"Securing judicial inquiries into death or disappearance of a person or alleged rape in custody is indeed an uphill task and an insurmountable political battle, despite the law providing for mandatory judicial inquiries into such offences," the plea said.

Since its enactment, the section has been left untouched and has not been implemented, leading to rising custodial crimes, it said.

The plea referred to National Crime Records Bureau's (NCRB) annual report which recorded death or disappearance of 1,303 persons in police custody (827 persons not remanded to police custody by court and 476 persons remanded to police custody by courts from 2005 to 2017).

The report also recorded that out of the total 827 cases of "death or disappearance of persons in police custody without court remand", judicial inquiry was ordered only in 166 cases, it said.

"Despite mandatory requirement under Section 176(1A), judicial inquiry was not ordered in 661 cases or eight per cent of the cases," Chakma said in his plea.

He said that death or disappearance of persons not remanded to police custody by court is nothing but murder of the defenceless citizens, who have appeared after being summoned by the police or already taken into custody.

"The death or disappearance of these defenceless citizens/persons expose the abysmal failure of the laws relating to arrest and detention, and contempt for the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court in D K Basu versus State of West Bengal," the plea said.

It said that 476 cases of "death or disappearance of persons in police custody with court remand", judicial inquiry was ordered only in 104 cases which is 21 per cent of the total cases.

"In the remaining 372 cases which is 79 per cent of the cases judicial inquiry was not ordered in clear violation of Section 176(1A) CrPC," the plea said.

Chakma said that it is assumed that courts will ensure the rule of law to protect the lives and liberties and therefore, production of any person arrested or detained before the courts within 24 hours of such arrest excluding the time necessary for the journey from the place of arrest to the court of the magistrate is guaranteed under Article 22 of the Constitution.

"Once a person is brought before the Court and the court orders remand, judiciary also becomes a party for protection of the right of the life of the person. The death or disappearance of persons in police custody after court grants remand and the failure to order judicial inquiry as per Section 176(1A) is a colossal and unconscionable failure of the lower judiciary," it said.

The petition said that the poor implementation of Section 176(1A) CrPC, lack of proper investigation and seriousness into death or disappearances in police custody appears to have ended up providing impunity.

It also referred to number of cases related to custodial deaths or rapes registered by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) during 1994-1995 to 2018-2019 and said that it shows alarming increase in the number of such incidents.

"The number of custodial deaths/rapes per day in India increased by 66 per cent from three cases per day prior to the enactment of Section 176(1A) CrPC to five cases per day after the enactment of Section 176(1A) CrPC," it said.

Chakma sought direction for immediate registration and initiation of proceedings under Section 176 (1A) of the CrPC, in all such cases where such inquiries have not been commenced /initiated by the competent Magistrate enjoying territorial jurisdiction.

He also sought direction to district or Sessions Judge of every District to file a quarterly report(s) before the Chief Justice of their respective High Court, informing the death, disappearance or rape of any person in Police or custody of the State and whether any proceedings under Section 176(1A) have been initiated in accordance with law.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A man's body has been found in a home that was gutted by bushfires on the NSW south coast.

Police attended a Bumbo Road home in Bodalla near the town of Moruya on Friday following grave concerns for the occupant after a bushfire ravaged through the area on Thursday.

Officers located human remains in the completely destroyed home in the tiny town that has a population of less than 800.

Detectives, police rescue and specialist forensic officers remain at the scene on Friday night with the NSW Rural Fire Service, where a crime scene has been established.

Bushfires tore through the NSW south coast town of Moruya on Thursday, where the body of a man has since been found inside a home in nearby Bodalla

'While the body has not yet been formally identified, it is believed to be that of the 59-year-old male occupant,' a police statement read.

Inquiries are continuing and a report will be prepared for Coroner.

The man's death takes the NSW death toll this fire season to 25 and takes the national toll to 33.

His death caps off a horror two days for the NSW southern region.

It's feared up to 10 homes have been lost in the bushfires near Moruya on Thursday

American firefighters Capt. Ian H. McBeth, 44, First Officer Paul Clyde Hudson and Flight Engineer Rick A. DeMorgan Jr, 43 died when their Coulson Aviation C-130 Hercules water bomber Zeus crashed while fighting fires near Cooma on Thursday.

The funerals of Patrick, 29, and his father Robert Salway, 63, were held on Friday, more than three weeks after they were killed while trying to protect their home in the tiny farming hamlet of Wandella near Cobargo on NSW south coast on New Year's Eve.

The Badja Forest Road blaze, which has destroyed more than 90,000 hectares near Moruya, was one of eight fires still burning out of control on Friday night.

It's feared up to 10 homes were lost in the region in Thursday's blaze fuelled by high temperatures, which came within 150 metres of Moruya Hospital.

Two evacuations centres are currently open at Moruya Showground and Narooma Leisure Centre.

A truck rollover near Mogo on Thursday night left six RFS firefighters with non-life threatening injuries.

The man's death takes the national death toll from this fire season to 33. Pictured are fires in nearby Moruya on Thursday
Annabella Sciorra, the actress who played Gloria Trillo in 'The Sopranos', told a jury of her desperate attempts to fight off Harvey Weinstein, punching and kicking him as he allegedly pinned her down and raped her on her own bed.

Ms Sciorra (59) wiped away tears as she recounted the night about 27 years ago when Weinstein barged into her apartment, having dropped her off at the front door.

"I thought it was the doorman or a neighbour," she told the court. "He pushed the door open. He started to walk around. I think he was seeing if there was someone there. He started to unbutton his shirt so I realised he thought we'd have sex. And I did not want to.

"I started to back up, thinking I could make it to my bathroom and get in there."

She claimed that Mr Weinstein then "lunged" at her, grabbing at her nightgown.

"He shoved me on the bed. I was punching him, kicking him, just trying to get him away from me," she said.

"I put my hands over my head to hold him back. He got on top of me and he raped me. I was trying to fight, but I couldn't fight any more as he had my hands locked."

She claimed that after the alleged assault her body began trembling uncontrollably.

"It was so disgusting my body started to shake, which was unusual. I didn't know what was happening. It was like a seizure or something.

"I don't remember much. I woke up. I don't know if I fainted or fell asleep or blacked out. I woke up on the floor with my nightgown pulled up."

Mr Weinstein (67) listened impassively, occasionally taking notes. He had entered court, again leaning on his PR adviser, with another aide following behind carrying a new orthopaedic walking frame.

Ms Sciorra, in a navy blue dress, struggled to keep her composure as she testified, looking up frequently at the ceiling to compose her thoughts, taking deep breaths.

Around two to six weeks after the alleged attack in her apartment, she saw Mr Weinstein in a restaurant.

"I confronted him about what happened in my apartment," she said. "And I told him how I woke up, that I blacked out, fainted.

"And he said that's what all the nice Catholic girls say. He leant into me and said this remains between us. He was very menacing. I thought he was going to hit me. I was afraid of him."

The Brooklyn-born actress told the seven men and five women of the jury how she had begun drinking heavily after the incident and had become reclusive.

"I don't remember much, except for feeling disgusting," she said, recounting how the alleged attack even led her to self-harm. Joan Illuzzi-Orbon, prosecuting, asked Ms Sciorra why she never told anyone what had happened to her.

"I wanted to pretend it never happened. I wanted to get back to my life," she said.

"Why didn't you call the police?" asked Ms Illuzzi-Orbon.

"Because he was someone I knew," she said.

"I would say I felt, at the time, that rape was something that happened in a dark alleyway, with someone you didn't know."

Cross-examining her, Donna Rotunno, Mr Weinstein's lead lawyer, said to Ms Sciorra: "You are a professional actress, correct? Part of your job is to pretend to be someone you are not."

She then asked how long the entire alleged assault lasted.

"I don't know," Ms Sciorra replied. "Time stood still."

Ms Sciorra's testimony falls outside the statute of limitations but is being used by the prosecution to bolster the case of their two accusers, Mimi Haleyi, a former production assistant, and Jessica Mann, the actress.

Weinstein has always insisted sex was consensual.

If convicted after the trial, expected to run until March, Mr Weinstein could face life in prison. ( Daily Telegraph, London)
IBM on Tuesday introduced two data centres in the United Arab Emirates to offer managed cloud services to companies in the Gulf country.

IBM said the local data centres will help organizations shift to a hybrid cloud model, and benefit from moving select critical data to a secure local cloud environment hosted in the UAE, while keeping mission critical data on premise.

In addition, as Middle East governments develop data-protection laws, many enterprises are adopting hybrid cloud strategies to keep certain customer information on premise to ensure regulatory compliance.

The IBM data centres  in Abu Dhabi and Dubai  will also provide backup and protection services for customers. In the event of a network failure, data will be recovered instantly and available for use in real-time, IBM said.

Such outages can be very costly for companies. According to IDC, the average cost of downtime is $250,000 per hour across all industries and organizational size.

Cloud providers flock to Gulf

IBM joins a growing list of tech companies looking to expand their presence in the Middle East.

Last year, Microsoft launched its first data centre regions in the Middle East, with locations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, offering Azures cloud computing services and Office 365. A month later, in July, Amazon Web Services launched three availability zones in Bahrain.

Oracle has also inaugurated its first regional data centre in Abu Dhabi, and Alibaba has been providing cloud services since 2016. While the arrival of multiple hyperscale cloud data centres in the Middle East, cloud services have been ramping up.

For over a decade, VMware, Dell EMC, IBM, and Oracle have been providing cloud computing services in the Middle East, primarily for the banking and construction industries, and also for government organizations.

Through our data centres and with our recent acquisition of Red Hat, we are helping organizations accelerate their move to hybrid cloud and interconnect different clouds, creating unified systems designed for increased consistency, automation and predictability, said Hossam Seif El-Din, vice president, Enterprise and Commercial, IBM Middle East and Africa, in a press release.

Cloud deployment in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is still at a nascent stage, but the development of infrastructure is picking up speed due to government policy and growing adoption rates among small and medium enterprises.

According to IDC, the MENA region will be worth US$5 billion to cloud vendors by 2022. Globally, the research firm expects 90 percent of enterprises to embrace integrated hybrid cloud tools and strategies to support different applications and use cases by 2024.
For riders in New York City, who saw him join the M.T.A. at a time of crisis, he took on a larger-than-life persona (the Train Daddy) as the face of the effort to fix the subway.

Many hoped he could push upgrades to finally modernize the systems antiquated infrastructure and bring subway performance up from all-time lows that prompted Governor Cuomo to declare a state of emergency in 2017.

What have been the highs and lows of his tenure? Did he achieve what he set out to do?

Mr. Byford has been widely credited for pushing the on-time performance for trains from 58 percent, when he took over in 2018, to over 80 percent through operational changes that focused on the basics, like upgrading subway signals.

He also put renewed attention on accessibility and tried to push the agency to be more accountable to its riders, both of which have had mixed success so far.

A lot of the ideas he has for further improving the transit system are outlined in the M.T.A.s new $54 billion capital plan, so it will now be largely up to his successor to implement that vision.

It has been reported that there were tensions between Mr. Byford and Mr. Cuomo. How did their visions for the subway differ?

The M.T.A. is a highly politicized environment, and one of the trickiest parts of the subway chief job is that it is influenced by the whims of elected officials, like Mr. Cuomo, who controls the authority.
Ollie Williams, the Love island contestant who quit the show after just three days, has finally apologised for photos that saw him accused of trophy-hunting.

The 23-year-old estate owner was at the centre of a petition to remove him from the ITV2 show after photographs obtained by The Sun appeared to show him posing with dead animals.

Williams quit the show after claiming he still had feelings for his ex-girlfriend, though many viewers immediately assumed his departure was associated with Ofcom complaints about the images.

In a statement after leaving the villa, he denied killing the animals in the photos and said he was [taking] part in a conservation and anti-poaching programme in Mozambique, a part of which involves old or sick animals being culled. Hes now apologised for the photos and said he can see why people reacted to those pictures in the way they did. The photos are offensive  all people can see is a dead animal and me smiling and I apologise for the offensive nature of them, Ollie told The Sun. Read more Too much celebrity offspring is spoiling Love Island I knew the negativity was about these pictures because taken out of context they look bad. Im not a trophy hunter and I dont take gratification out of killing animals.

Williams also revealed the ex he left the series for has taken [him] back.
Nebraska is the only triply landlocked US state. Its capital city is Lincoln, while its largest city is Omaha. Nebraska is dominated by two major land regions, The Great Plains and The Dissected Till Plains. The Dissected Till Plains comprise of gently rolling hills. This region is where the states largest cities of Omaha and Lincoln relocated. The Great Plains are situated in the western region of the State and are characterized by open grassland, good for cattle grazing.

Despite a long agricultural heritage, the economy of Nebraska today is diversified beyond agriculture. Nebraskas economy is a set of human and social activities and institutions related to production, distribution, consumption and exchange of goods and services. Diverse and growing industries have propelled job gains in the country helping the state maintain the second-lowest unemployment rate in the country in 2014.

Here are some of the biggest industries in Nebraska.

Insurance And Financial Services

In the last 5 years, Nebraskas insurance industry has more than doubled in size. The insurance industry of Nebraska has had a substantial effect on the economy of Nebraska, extending far beyond its responsibility to settle claims and collect premiums. Besides serving people in their greatest time of need, Nebraskas insurance industry owns municipal bonds, employs licenced professionals and pays taxes. Nebraska is home to two major insurance firms, Berkshire Hathaway and Mutual of Omaha.

In 2016, Nebraskas insurance industry GDP contribution was $8.3 billion which was 8% of the total GDP. According to the US Department of Commerce data, the states insurance industry employed up to 34, 856 workers in 2017. The same year, premium paid taxes by Insurance companies in Nebraska totalled to $54.4 million.

Nebraska is home to First Data, the financial transaction processing firm that was at one time part of the American Express. First Data was started in the state in the 1960s and still maintains a large processing centre in Omaha. the company employees over 5,000 employees.

Manufacturing

The manufacturing industry is Nebraskas fastest-growing industry. The industry is one of the states largest economic drivers. Nebraskas manufacturing industry is especially an economic engine in rural areas. This industry is governed by the Nebraska Manufacturing Advisory Council (NeMAC). The manufacturing industry of Nebraska is diverse, ranging from agricultural manufacturing to advanced manufacturing.

Agricultural manufacturing majorly entails food processing. Meat processing (beef and pork) is a large industry in Nebraska. The state is home to one of the worlds largest meat packaging centres, with packaging mainly based in the Cities of Dakota and Lexington. Other foods and beverages are also manufactured. Processed foods are shipped to major markets in Asia.

Advanced manufacturing involves the production of electrical equipment and appliances, chemical products (pharmaceuticals, pesticides, fertilizers), machinery, fabricated metal products, and mineral products. Nebraska is home to Lincolns Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing, the only Kawasaki plant in the world to produce the Mule product lines, all-terrain vehicle (ATV), and the Jet Ski. This plant employs more than 1,200 people. Canada is one of its major market for machinery.

Manufactures account for 12% of the states total output. Nebraska is home to more than 1,600 manufacturing facilities. The manufacturing industry of Nebraska employs about 100,000 workers which are about 10% of the states total workforce. Nebraskas manufacturing industry contributes to $13 billion annually in Nebraskas total economic output.

Agriculture

Nebraska has had an economy based on agriculture since the mid-19th century. Agriculture in Nebraska during this time involved raising of livestock and growing of crops, majorly corn and wheat. During the 1930s Nebraskas economy suffered from the effects of the Great Depression and extended drought. The 2nd half of the 20th century was marked with the widespread use of irrigation wells which is now responsible for the increased area of farmland under irrigation.

Today, agriculture is still a large sector of Nebraskas economy despite the expansion of the services and manufacturing industries in recent decades. Agriculture contributes significantly to GDP growth in the state. The chief farm products are cattle, corn, wheat, soybeans and hogs.

Nebraska ranks 2nd in the US in the production of cattle products. Livestock products account for two-thirds of Nebraskas farm income. Beef cattle are the most important source of livestock products followed by hogs. The Spade Ranch located in the Sandhills is one of Nebraskas first and chief beef cattle firms. Sheep, lambs, broilers, farm chicken and turkeys are also produced.

Corn is the most important crop in Nebraska. Besides, a large number of varieties of grasses grow in the state than in any other state which makes a valuable livestock forage. Other crops grown in the State include sorghum, beans, potatoes and sugar beets.

Transportation

Transportation has been a major industry in Nebraska since its early days. The Oregon Trail and Pony Express went through the state. On July 1, 1862, the Union Pacific Railroad was incorporated following the Pacific Railway Act of 1862. Its headquarters are in Omaha. Bailey Yard, the worlds largest railroad classification yard is located in North Platte, Nebraska. A route of the First Transcontinental Railroad passes through the state. Other railroads in Nebraska include Iowa Interstate Railroad, Canadian National Railway and BNSF Railway.

Several interstate highways pass through the state, among them Interstate 76, 80, 129, 180, 480, and 680. Many U.S road routes also pass through the state.

Service Industry

Private healthcare, data processing companies, law firms and repair shops are the leading income producers in the service industry of Nebraska. These are followed by the wholesale and retail trade sectors, real estate, finance and insurance. Government services among them Indian reservations, military bases, public hospitals and schools and electrical utilities also form an important part of the income generated in the service industry. In Nebraska, publicly owned utilities provide 100% of the electrical power.

The health and medical service industry of Nebraska is the largest industry cluster in terms of employment. The University of Nebraska Medical Centre is a major research facility, recognized regionally and internationally.
Last year, every country reckoned with its environmental impact. Climate activists, like Greta Thunberg, made sweeping accusations of their leaders jeopardizing the future, pressuring many governments to make aggressive promises of cleaner energy.

Recent developments would appear to indicate their ambitions may be feasible, as wind turbine and solar panel costs have plummeted. And since wind and sunlight are basically free, compared to coal, oil, and natural gas, using free resources to generate electricity can reduce fuel costs. Yet, despite this progress and public support for renewable energy, theres more to this simple fix than meets the eye.

Primarily, we must think about how electricity is generated. Wind and sunlight arent constant, so neither is their electric generation, requiring back-up from a reliable power plant not weather-dependent. Further, high electric demand periods dont match high electric generation periods from solar and (less so) wind plants. To prevent blackouts, electricity supply must always match demand, meaning some energy must be stored for later. But electricity currently cant be stored in batteries anywhere near competitive prices in large quantities.

So for now, instead of storing energy in batteries, traditional power plants backup lapses in wind and solars production. This becomes a bit of a circular problem: large-scale wind and solar cant fully replace reliable backup plants. Those plants, then, must either ramp down their production (to not overload the grid) or pay customers to take unneeded electricity off the grid. Both options increase the cost of reliable power plants accommodating for renewables changing generation times. A recent study from the Institute for Energy Research found that, considering the costs, as well as subsidies and other government assistance, electricity from new wind and solar plants is twice as expensive as existing coal, natural gas, nuclear, and hydropower plants.

And as more wind and solar are added to the grid, their contributions decrease, while costs they impose increase. We can see this counterproductive phenomenon already occurring in places more reliant on renewables for electricity.

Over the past 15 years, Germany spent a great deal to increase wind and solar power to around 30% of generation, and could spend half a trillion euros by 2025. Wouldnt this rapid expansion of wind and solar power benefit German residents?

Quite the contrary.

Despite wind and solar power costs decreasing from 66 to 86% in the time between 2008 to 2017, residential electricity prices in Germany saw a 34% uptick. German households pay the highest electricity prices in Europe, and three times what American households pay. Further, during times of lower-than-expected renewable production, only electricity imports from countries not as renewable-dependent were able to keep Germany afloat. Its no surprise, then, that a respected consulting firm declared that Germanys energy situation was jeopardized, saying that without compensatory measures, the security of supply in Germany is in danger.

Similarly, California is more committed to renewable energy than most states. It invested heavily to reach over 30% renewable energy generation, most of which is wind and solar. Has this benefitted Californians?

As with Germany, the answer is no. Average retail electricity prices are 16 cents per kilowatt hour in California, which is nearly 80% higher than states sharing Californias grid. California electric prices rose five times faster than the national average between 2011 and 2017, despite solar panel costs falling 75% and natural gas (generating half of Californias electricity) prices falling 20 to 40%. Further, California is Americas largest electricity importer, having imported about a third of its 2018 electricity. Claims of wind and solar power providing energy independence must overlook the Californian and German experiences.

This isnt to say that progress should be abandoned. Several studies show that lower percentages of wind and solar power can relieve pressure on the grid. With current technology, wind and solar can provide equal value power at about 15% of generation (near what major industry and consulting firms predict globally in 15 years). As technology and learning curves advance, higher levels will be possible. An MIT study found that wind and solar power could generate 40% of electricity by 2050.

Meanwhile, we must recognize wind and solar powers built-in limits. It doesnt matter how cheap wind turbines and solar panels are if they cant generate electricity when its needed. Wind and solar power should someday provide more of our electricity, but in our zeal for cleaner energy, we must remember that good things come to those who wait.

Jakob Puckett is a policy analyst at the Show-Me Institute and a Young Voices contributor.
Footage on social media showed the British Royal acknowledging world and Jewish leaders as he makes his way along the front row of seats at the event on Thursday that marked 75 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz camp, metro.co.uk said in the report.

London, Jan 24 (IANS) The UK's Prince Charles reportedly "snubbed" US Vice President Mike Pence at The World Holocaust Forum in Jerusalem, a media report said.

When he comes to Pence, the Prince of Wales gives him a cursory glance before walking on to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the country's President Reuven Rivlin.

Looking awkward, Pence pats Charles on the arm as he converses with the other men. After the Prince of Wales takes his seat, Russian President Vladimir Putin is pointed his way.

But both sides have rejected the claims.

In a statement, Clarence House said: "Shortly before the Yad Vashem memorial event began the Prince and Vice President Pence and his wife had a warm and friendly chat, which is why they did not greet each other again in the room."

Pence's Press Secretary Katie Waldman posted a photo and video of the pair meeting, writing: "This is not true. VP and Prince Charles spoke prior to entering the event floor and after his remarks as well."

ksk/
The Scotland Yard on Friday formally identified the three men killed in a stabbing incident in east London last week as Indian nationals who were living in the area.

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police Specialist Crime Command said the men killed were 29-year-old Narinder Singh Lubhaya, 30-year-old Harinder Kumar and 37-year-old Malkit Singh Dhillon alias Baljinder Singh. They were found with serious stab wounds by emergency services and pronounced dead at the scene in Seven Kings area of Redbridge in Ilford last Sunday. The Indian High Commission in London said it will provide the victims families every assistance in relation to the repatriation of their bodies to India.

All the three men were living in the Ilford area and were Indian nationals. Their next of kin have all been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers, the Met Police said.

The force said 29-year-old Gurjeet Singh, arrested in connection with the case, has been remanded in custody to appear at Snaresbrook Crown Court on 19 February after being charged with possessing an offensive weapon in a public place this week. While he remains under investigation in connection with the murders, a second man arrested as part of the murder investigation has since been eliminated from police enquiries.

I know that people were present when the attack occurred, I urge them to come forward. This is a dreadful incident that has shocked the local community. I need their help to piece together exactly what happened and the events that led up to it, said Detective Chief Inspector Paul Considine, who is leading the investigation.

The Met Police has reiterated that they do not believe the fatal incident was gang-related as their enquiries around the motive behind the killings remain ongoing.

Officers at this stage are not seeking to make any further arrests for murder, the police said.

Earlier, it had been indicated that the three men may have been killed as a result of an ongoing dispute involving the local Sikh and Hindu communities. All the men involved worked as local builders in the area and the dispute is feared to have escalated over the issue of non-payment for some building work.

The incident sent shockwaves across the city, with London Mayor Sadiq Khan visiting the site and calling for more government resources to tackle knife crime on the streets of London. Jas Athwal, the British Sikh leader of the local Redbridge Council of the area, stressed that the isolated incident must not tarnish the reputation of an otherwise peaceful community.

The Redbridge community coming together to remember the deceased and pray for a better tomorrow, hoping for an end to the violence that has cut short too many lives too many times, he said, following a vigil in the area earlier this week.

Community groups have also spoken out against some of the coverage of the fatal incident in the UK press.

From what we know it was a personal fight that got out of hand. We would urge the media not to sensationalise it as any gang or drugs related matter, said a spokesperson for the Singh Sabha London East, which led an ardaas (prayer) in memory of the deceased during the vigil.
It's nearing 11 p.m. at a U.S. military border outpost in Eastern Europe, and something has appeared to disrupt the late-evening quiet: a radar blip. A signature that might have been dismissed as a flock of birds in past years now commands more attention and concern at the outset. Whatever is on the radar now is clearly getting closer at a steady, insistent speed.

Then, the mass splits into three groups. Each is on a mission of destruction.

This scenario is one U.S. troops may well face in a world where drone technology is ever-increasingly cheap, accessible and conducive to weaponization. Drones can operate in packs or swarms, talk to each other, carry weapons payloads and even resist conventional jamming technologies.

With the Defense Department's recognition of reliable and comprehensive counter-drone technology as a joint urgent operational need, or JUON, the market has become flooded with a smorgasbord of purported solutions, from jammer guns that drop hostile unmanned aerial systems out of the air like wood ducks to "force fields" that repel aerial intruders.

Related: Finding New Ways to Fight Enemy Drones a 'Top Priority' for the Pentagon

At the defense industrial giant Raytheon, program managers say the company's family of solutions covers the range of operational needs and can help the military -- and civilian government agencies -- detect a hostile drone threat early, identify it with precision and then choose the right means to destroy or neutralize it, based on its imminence and the surrounding environment. Raytheon hosted reporters this week at its offices near the Pentagon for a tabletop wargame to demonstrate counter-drone capabilities.

Evan Hunt, Raytheon's business lead for High-Energy Lasers and Counter-UAS, compared the Defense Department's struggle to get ahead of the drone threat with its battle to defeat the cheaply made, hard-to-detect and devastating improvised explosive devices of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Drones are kind of like flying IEDs," he said.

Raytheon's flagship drone detection technology is already out in the fight. The Ku band radio frequency system multi-mission simultaneous radar, or KuRFS, which can provide users with a high-resolution operational picture showing individual drones, reached initial operational capability in June and is already being employed by the Army. It's paired with the tube-launched Coyote kamikaze drone to become the Howler, a detect-track-destroy team.

Raytheon's Block 2 Coyote kamikaze drone, used to attack hostile unmanned aerial systems is on display at the company's offices near the Pentagon Jan. 23. (Hope Hodge Seck/Military.com)

"So you're at this military base, you have a KuRFS radar, best-in-class radar system that can detect even that radar blip well beyond 10 kilometers," Hunt said. "It can actually also inform you if it's a bird, or not a bird."

In the case of the border outpost scenario, Raytheon program managers recommended deploying the KuRFS to size up the threat and provide a proportionate and timely response. The conditions they presented were enough to give the most senior commander heartburn: one contingent of hostile drones the size of small aircraft headed toward the base, weapons payloads visible on the radar; another group of slightly smaller UAS veered off toward a hydroelectric power plant with a scheduled shift change minutes away; and a third group of systems, smaller still, turned toward a town full of sleeping civilians.

Despite high tensions with the neighboring country in the fictional scenario, the night would not end without an explosion. Hunt recommended firing Raytheon's conventional National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, or NASAMS, to shoot down the large drones advancing toward the military post with hostile intent.

For the second group, bearing down on the power plant, he proposed Raytheon's Phaser high-powered microwave, to fire a burst of energy and drop them en masse. The final element with the smallest systems, headed toward the town, he said, could be individually targeted with the High Energy Laser Weapons System, or HELWS, which can mount on a Polaris MRZR all-terrain vehicle and drop drones with its concentrated beams.

Raytheon has already contracted with the Air Force to produce its HELWS with 10-kilowatt lasers for evaluation and testing; it's competing with contractor Northrop Grumman to develop a vehicle-mounted 50-kilowatt laser system for the Army.

The high-powered microwave system is also set to be evaluated by troops: The Air Force has contracted for a deployed system to be tested at an undisclosed overseas location.

Meanwhile, Raytheon is also planning for the upcoming debut of the Coyote Block 2, featuring improved sensors and a turbine engine, making it four times faster than its predecessor, said Pete Mangelsdorf, the company's director of Coyote and Rapid Development Programs.

Like the Coyote, hostile drone technology is getting faster, and also smarter and more resilient. While Raytheon touts its integrated air defense solution as the most competitive in a crowded market of counter-drone tech, the scenarios its program managers described drove home the compressed timeline facing those deciding how to counter hostile UAS attacks.

And even with futuristic jammers and phasers on offer, the best option in many cases may still be a kinetic one.

"There is no easy answer," said James McGovern, vice president of Mission Systems and Sensors for Raytheon. "And no golden solution."

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.

Read more: 34 Troops Now Diagnosed with Concussion, TBI Symptoms Following Iran Attack, DoD Says
British spies were told to keep an eye on the fiancee of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi after US intelligence authorities learnt she would be kept under surveillance by Saudi Arabia during a visit to London.

Hatice Cengiz visited the capital in May last year just months after her husband's brutal murder at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018.

Ahead of her visit, concerns were raised by US intelligence authorities who believed the kingdom had the 'ambition and intention' to monitor Cengiz during her time in the United Kingdom.

Hatice Cengiz, the fiancee of Jamal Khashoggi, at a memorial event in Istanbul in October last year with Jeff Bezos, the owner of the Washington Post for whom Khashoggi worked

It comes amid claims from the United Nations that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hacked Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' phone as part of an intimidation campaign in the wake of the murder of Khasshogi

Questions remain over whether the intended surveillance of Cengiz was electronic or physical and for what purpose it was to be carried out, The Guardian reports.

But a surveillance operation such as this is likely to raise concerns given it is thought to have taken place just seven months after Khashoggi was killed and during international outcry over the murder.

Hala Aldosari, a Saudi activist and fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) told the newspaper: 'Saudi Arabia is trying to put a lid on the whole [Khashoggi] thing, so it is understandable that they would try to make sure that Hatice's voice and advocacy is limited.'

In December, five people were sentenced to death over the murder Khashoggi as he visited his country's embassy to collect divorce papers so he could marry Ms Cengiz.

The former royal insider turned dissident was strangled and his body dismembered inside the consulate.

Washington Post columnist, Khashoggi, was executed in Istanbul on October 2 last year after visiting his country's embassy to collect divorce papers so he could marry Ms Cengiz

The five men 'directly took part in the killing' at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, the kingdom's public prosecutor said.

A further three people were jailed, but former royal adviser Saud al-Qahtani - a close aide of crown prince Mohammed bin Salman - was not charged.

Last year, Ms Cengiz revealed she suffered a 'psychological meltdown' in the wake of his death in a Saudi consulate, and partly blames herself because he went there to collect papers for their marriage.

Hatice Cengiz said she was haunted by the thought that Khashoggi had been angry with her in the moments before his death when he realised he had walked into a trap.

Speaking to The Times, Cengiz said the dissident journalist had wanted to draw the world's attention to Saudi Arabia - and had certainly done so in death.

News of the Saudi's possible surveillance operation on Ms Cengiz comes as Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos yesterday tweeted an image of himself attending a memorial to Jamal Khashoggi as a pointed reminder that the journalist was killed by the Saudi state.

Last moments: Khashoggi was last seen on October 2 last year entering the consulate in Istanbul where he was accosted and killed by Saudi agents

It will be seen as a direct swipe at Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, amid claims from the United Nations that the Saudi royal hacked his phone as part of an intimidation campaign in the wake of the murder of Khasshogi, who worked for Bezos. The claims are denied by the Saudi regime.

The Amazon founder posted a picture which shows him alongside Khashoggi's fiancee Hatice Cengiz as they placed their hands on a stone memorial outside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul where the journalist was tortured to death.

The picture was taken on October 2, 2019, the one-year anniversary of Khashoggi's death. Bezos included a single-word caption which read: '#Jamal'.

Bezos posted the image as two UN rapporteurs called for a US investigation into evidence that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince hacked his phone, as part of a wider 'campaign of intimidation' against critics of Saudi Arabia.

Agnes Callamard and David Kaye said Bezos was targeted as the owner of the Washington Post, the paper that Khashoggi was working for at the time of his death and where he had written columns critical of Bin Salman.

Saudi Arabia has previously denied using surveillance tools against critics of the kingdom and has said allegations about the hacking of Bezos's phone are 'absurd'.
SALEM, Ore.  The company behind a plan to build 229-mile natural gas pipeline across southern Oregon has withdrawn its application for a permit from the state, according to a statement from the Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL).

Jordan Cove LNG sent a letter to DSL on Thursday, asking that its removal fill application be withdrawn. State officials said that they allow applicants to withdraw an application "at any time prior to the permit decision." DSL was set to deliver that decision on January 31.

Statement from Jordan Cove LNG on permit withdrawal: On January 23, 2020, the Jordan Cove Project formally withdrew its application for its removal-fill permit originally filed with the Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) on November 3, 2017. Jordan Cove reached this decision after DSL Director Vickie Walker notified the Project on January 21, that Jordan Coves request for an extension on the agencys permit decision date from January 31, 2020 to March 31, 2020 was denied. Jordan Cove had notified Director Walker that we are not able to meet DSL's requirements by the January 31 decision date due to additional, recently required information by other state agencies. These recent requirements from other agencies are impossible to finalize prior to DSLs January 31, 2020 decision date. DSL asserted they now require those filings to complete their removal-fill application, so an extension was necessary to comply with these new information requests, but was not granted. Having received all local land use permits, the next major milestone in Jordan Coves regulatory process will be the final determination by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on February 13, 2020, at which time we will determine our path forward.

In a statement issued on Thursday, state lawmakers Sen. Jeff Golden and Rep. Pam Marsh indicated that Jordan Cove had recently filed for another extension on the DSL removal fill decision. Golden claimed that the company was stalling for time.

This corporation has come to realize that their pipeline cant come close to meeting Oregons environmental standards," Golden said. "The environmental protection standards of the Trump Administration on oil and gas projects are a very different matter, and those are the ones that Jordan Cove wants to see applied to their application. They knew that would be more likely if Oregons decisions could be delayed until after FERC makes its ruling.

RELATED: Federal regulators hear from the public as they weigh the Jordan Cove pipeline project

By withdrawing its application, Jordan Cove staves off a potential rejection from the state. It faced a similar setback in May of 2019 when the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) rejected Jordan Cove's application for water quality certification.

A withdrawal does not mean that Jordan Cove has entirely given up on the permit fill application. It can enter a new application at any time.

In November, federal regulators with the FERC issued a final environmental analysis for the Jordan Cove project. The report concluded that the project would result in temporary, long-term and permanent impacts on the environment, but it did not represent either a rejection or approval. At the time, FERC commissioners were expected to deliver a final decision in February.

"It appears that they [Jordan Cove] are counting instead on approval of their broader application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which is expected to announce its decision in February," Golden and Marsh wrote in a letter to DSL director Vicki Walker, "after which they would navigate the courts in an attempt to have the federal decision override all denials from Oregon state agencies."

Removal-fill permits are a requirement for projects that remove or fill more than 50 cubic yards of material in waters of the state or in wetlands. According to DSL, the application withdrawn by Jordan Cove included removal-fill activity related to construction of the proposed LNG terminal, slip and access channel, and pipeline.

On Friday morning, a spokesman for Jordan Cove parent company Pembina confirmed that the project had tried to file for another extension prior to its withdrawal.

"Jordan Cove had notified Director Walker that we are not able to meet DSL's requirements by the January 31 decision date due to additional, recently required information by other state agencies," Jordan Cove said. "These recent requirements from other agencies are impossible to finalize prior to DSLs January 31, 2020 decision date. DSL asserted they now require those filings to complete their removal-fill application, so an extension was necessary to comply with these new information requests, but was not granted."

This is a developing story, and NewsWatch 12 will have complete coverage on our broadcasts Friday evening.
The city of Los Angeles has agreed to pay $5.75 million to the parents of a Marine veteran who died after police jolted him six times with a stun gun during a 2014 confrontation.

The City Council unanimously approved a lawsuit settlement for the family of Michael Frederick Mears, the Los Angeles Times reported this week.

Mears, 39, went into cardiac arrest about an hour after he was detained on Christmas Eve and died two days later. The county coroners report ruled that Mears died from ventricular dysrhythmia from an enlarged heart but cited the use of the Taser and cocaine intoxication as contributing factors, the Times said.

Police had been called to Mears south Los Angeles home by his roommate, who said Mears was having a paranoid episode. Police used pepper spray and batons before an officer jolted the 305-pound Mears with a Taser six times in three minutes, records showed.

The death was ruled a homicide by the coroner because of the electronic restraint procedure, Brian Dunn, an attorney for the family, told the paper. The officer with the Taser applied it for 32 seconds at one point.

In 2017, a federal jury found that officers had used excessive and unreasonable force. The panel awarded the family $5.5 million.

It is very hard on the family members, all this time waiting for justice. The trial was ever so tough for them, but when the city appeals and drags it out for two years, it is particularly painful, Dunn said.

Attorneys for the city declined to comment on the settlement Wednesday, the Times reported.

Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics California
The third edition of the Great Grevy's Rally (GGR), a national census of the endangered Grevys zebra, will be held from January 25 to 26, 2020. The rally brings together scientists, conservationists, landowners, and members of the public to conduct the census in the four counties of Laikipia, Isiolo, Samburu and Marsabit in northern Kenya where over 92% of the Grevys zebra population exists today. For the first time in the history of GGR, the Ethiopian population of this species will also be included in the census.

The participants will drive through the Grevys zebra habitat and photograph the right side of individual zebras with a provided GPS enabled digital camera. The unique stripe pattern of each zebra visible in the photograph will help in their identification. With the help of new software called Hotspotter designed at the Princeton University, United States, the data will be analyzed to estimate the size of the Grevy's zebra population.

Why The GGR?

The population of Grevys zebras has plummeted from around 15,000 in the late 1970s to less than 2,500 in the wild in the present day. Thus, the need for the GGR. The idea was conceived by Kenya's Grevy's Zebra Technical Committee as an innovative way to monitor the population of this fast-disappearing species.

The GGR will not just help in counting the number of individuals but also give valuable data on the age and sex structures of the current population that will indicate its potential to grow. The conservationists involved with protecting this species will then inspect the data to discuss the threats to the species and actions to be taken to address them.

Numerous challenges face the Grevys zebra today. Our previous World Atlas article explores these threats to the species and the solutions implemented to address them. Read it here.

GGR 2018 Results

Despite Kenya facing one of the worst droughts of the century in recent times, the GGR 2016 and 2018 results exhibit the great adaptability power and resilience of the Grevys zebra to extreme climatic conditions. However, there is also reason to worry. GGR 2018 results indicate that the newly born foals are less resilient and adaptive than the previous generations. They are unable to withstand the combined pressures of drought, predation, poaching, and disease that appear to intensify with changing climatic conditions in Kenya.

To learn about the history of GGR and GGR 2016 outcomes, read the World Atlas article here.

Photo: A reticulated giraffe. Photo credit: Twiga Walinzi

GGR 2018 was held on January 28 to 29, 2018. 212 photographers participated in the census. With the help of 143 vehicles, they set out to photograph the zebras covering 25,000 square km. More than 49,000 images were captured during the rally with 23,000 of them belonging to the Grevy's zebra. 18,000 photographs of the threatened reticulated giraffes that share habitat with the zebras were also taken.

On June 23, 2018, the GGR 2018 results were announced to the public at the Great Grevys Ball hosted at the Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club in Nanyuki. The main points are mentioned below:

Adult Grevy's zebras constituted 70% of the total population. Infants and juveniles made up the remaining 30%.

The percentage of foals in the population declined from about 11% in 2016 to approximately 5% in 2018.

The overall number of Grevys zebras exhibited an increase of nearly 300 from 2350 in 2016 to 2812 in 2018. Thus, the population appeared to be stable despite the challenges.

Reticulated giraffe population was estimated to be around 2309  332.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday expressed resolve to abolish the state legislative council after its chairman referred the three-capital Bill to the select committee on discretionary powers.

The assembly had on Thursday discussed the happenings that took place in council in the last two days.

Chief Minister Reddy asked the Speaker to allow to discuss, on Monday whether there is any need to continue the council or it can be abolished.

During the discussion, Minister for Finance and Legislative Affairs Buggana Rajendranath said, "There has been a conspiracy in the way the two bills; Andhra Pradesh Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Bill, 2020, and the AP Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) Act (Repeal) Bill, have been referred to selection committee on Wednesday by the Legislative Council Chairman."

Rajendranath further said that the council chairman has not been given discretionary powers of Rule 154 to refer the bills to a selection committee. Moreover, a proper procedure has not been followed to refer the bills to the selection committee.

"According to the rules, government business should be prioritised. But the opposition party leaders have raised Rule 71 which is a special provision to discuss government policy and for the Legislative Council to give its opinion on it. This rule was not in any state's constitutional procedures but under some special circumstances a few years ago, Rule 71 was included in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council,' he added.

The minister said that despite prioritizing the government business, the opposition party was adamant about Rule 71 and it has been permitted to take up that rule. During the discussion, the two government bills have been taken into consideration, but all of a sudden the opposition has mentioned that they have sent a letter to the chairman to refer the bills to the selection committee.

"The leader of opposition N Chandrababu Naidu was present in the Council gallery during the discussion and was sitting quite opposite to the Council chairman while he was reading out the note and quite before mentioning the selection committee, the chairman had seen Naidu and referred the two bills to the selection committee. It was very clear that the chairman was influenced by Naidu. If this is the case what is the point in having the people's elected body, the Legislative Assembly," said Rajendranath.

The Minister also said that the issue should be elaborately discussed. About Rs 60 crore is being spent on the council just to take suggestions but not to block the government's work. If it was to block the government's work there is no meaning for the Assembly sessions. He termed the TDP actions as "atrocious" and "unjustifiable".

"A decision should be taken after comprehensive consideration and ensure that there shall be no such situation to block the government in future," he added.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Kurasala Kannababu said that the opposition leaders' behaviour was not appropriate.

"Leader of the opposition in the Council Yanamala Ramakrishnudu had said that all ministers had come drunk to the assembly and another person, during a discussion in media channel said that breath analyser should be used on legislative members while entering the assembly," he said and added that attempts of slander against the ministers or legislative members in the media channels was condemnable.

"I am not aware whether such a provision exists. I propose you (Speaker) to call such people to the assembly and move a privilege motion against them," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Several Conroe residents are asking for exemptions to a city ordinance that would allow them to keep small electric fences around their properties to combat the increasing number of feral hogs encroaching neighborhoods.

During the councils public comment Thursday, residents of Sunset Ridge urged to the council to dismiss citations they were recently issued for the fences which are prohibited by city ordinance.

For the last couple of years, we have had significant problems in our neighborhood with hogs, resident Lynn Nelson told the council. They have done a lot of damage to our property, to our lawns.

However, Nelson said she was unpleasantly surprised to receive a citation from the city telling her to remove the small electric fence around her yard.

Thats is the only thing that has kept those hogs off my property, she said. Everybody that has a fence is not having a problem.

Mike and Suzanne Dunsmore echoed Nelsons concerns.

ON HOUSTON CHRONICLE.COM: Scared residents in Woodlands plead for help with feral hog invasion

For the last several years we have been under attack by feral hogs, Suzanne Dunsmore said noting their fence is on a timer to only be on at night and is a very low voltage. It would not kill anything; it only stings the snout of the pig. This has repelled them ever since. Its our only defense.

Mike Dunsmore said many residents are afraid to go outside during the evenings due to the threat of the hogs.

According to officials with Texas Parks and Wildlife, the estimated hog population in the state has reach more than two million.

While council members are not permitted to discuss items that are not on the posted agenda, Director of Public Works Norman McGuire did tell council members his department is working on a plan to address the growing feral hog issue.

We are working on the legalities of that now, he said.

RELATED: Feral hogs, a familiar Texas pest, are roaming north

Mayor Toby Powell asked Director of Community Development Nancy Mikeska, who oversees code enforcement for the city, about the citations.

According to Mikeska, electric fences are prohibited by city ordinance for safety reasons. She added if the council wanted to amend its ordinance to allow electric fence it could but would require some research to include guidelines for the fences including voltage.

The council did not discuss the issue and did not indicate if it would address the ordinance in the future.

cdominguez@hcnonline.com
China's bid to contain a deadly new virus by placing cities of millions under quarantine is an unprecedented undertaking but it is unlikely to stop the disease spreading, experts warn. The contagious virus has already reached elsewhere in China and abroad, and even an authoritarian government has only a small timeframe in which trapped residents will submit to such a lockdown, they say. "I think we have passed the golden period of control and prevention," said Guan Yi, an expert on viruses at Hong Kong University. China began its campaign on Thursday, cutting off all transport links out of Wuhan, a city of 11 million people where the coronavirus linked to SARS emerged late last year. A cascading number of nearby cities has since been added to the travel blacklist, corralling more than 40 million people in a bid to stop those with the disease travelling and infecting others elsewhere. However, with the death toll at 26 and infections being detected as far away as the United States, there are fears the exercise is too little too late. Yi, who returned from Wuhan just before the lockdown, pointed out huge numbers of people would have already left ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, which began Friday. They could have been incubating the virus "on their way out of Wuhan", he said. Symptoms could take several days to emerge -- effectively seeding a health time-bomb across the country and abroad. - Escape plans - Meanwhile, new gaps in the security web in Wuhan and its surroundings will likely emerge over coming days, even as China deploys its formidable security forces. They are manning road blocks that have been set up, while train and plane services have been suspended. "Especially people with money and connections, they're going to make a run for it... and they'll probably be successful," Zi Yang, a senior analyst at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, told AFP. University of Sydney associate professor Adam Kamradt-Scott, an expert in global health security, said only a "handful" of countries could conceivably pull off the mass quarantine. He suggested the US was one of the few that may be able to mount a similar operation, using the National Guard, although it would face much stiffer opposition from a population accustomed to more civil liberties. China's communist rulers draw on a deep well of public acquiesence -- partly due to control of the internet, no free press and a brutally efficient security apparatus. "I can't imagine there would be too many countries that would be able to do something on this scale as quickly as China has done," Kamradt-Scott said. Even so, Kamradt-Scott warned a lockdown that extends for a week or more would produce "growing levels of discontent and frustration". "The Chinese authorities will be conscious of that, I'm sure, and they'll be monitoring it very closely to avoid the risk of any sort of social unrest," he said. - Quarantine 'illusion' - Kamradt-Scott said that, even though the virus would inevitably spread, the quarantine appeared designed to buy authorities time to put in place other measures. He cited China's plans to build a 1,000-bed hospital in Wuhan in just 10 days. Zi, from the S. Rajaratnam School, also said there was some hope the quarantines would have a level of success in containing the outbreak. "I believe it is possible given China's expertise in this area of population control, or urban control," Zi said. Yet the history of quarantine suggests controls will be far from watertight. The concept emerged in Venice in the 14th century, where ships arriving at the city state from infected ports were held offshore for 40 days. Over the centuries the US attempted quarantines to combat yellow fever, European nations tried to subdue cholera outbreaks, and several West African nations sealed off townships to hem in Ebola in the last decade. Quarantine is "purely an illusion", said Bruno Halioua, a historian of medicine at the University of Paris IV. "Quarantine has never worked. Each time, there have been problems." And after seeing the situation in Wuhan first-hand, Guan Yi of Hong Kong University shared an equally pessimistic outlook. "I've never felt scared," Guan said. "This time I'm scared." burs-apj/kma/lth/kaf Even an authoritarian government has only a small timeframe in which trapped residents will submit to the lockdown, experts say The contagious virus has already leaked to elsewhere in China and abroad Experts say the quarantine appears designed to buy China time to put in place other measures China's communist rulers draw on a deep well of public acquiesence
MEDICAL LAKE  St. Johns Lutheran Church has a new pastor. Two, actually.

Greg and Carol Yeager arrived in mid-December and began tending to their flock that includes Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Reardan on Jan. 1.

The Yeagers came from North Carolina via North Dakota where they spent three winters, as Greg put it, before moving south where they pastored for 15 years at various churches in the Carolina heat as independent Lutheran pastors.

And Greg, at least, was just fine with that.

Its too dark and cold, the Spokane native said of the Dakotas.

But change is constant, a...
GPS juniors spent their lab and lunch period meeting with four university admission professionals who traveled to GPS. And then later in the evening, the students were joined by their parents and other guests in Frierson Theatre for a panel Q&A, moderated by Susan McCarter, GPS director of College Counseling.

To prepare for their sessions, the juniors were provided with and studied a description of a fictitious university and three faux profiles of students who were applying to the school. The girls had to determine, of the profiles, which student would be accepted, who would be waitlisted, and who would be declined. The juniors were divided into four groups, with each group assigned a college admission professional as proctor.

Hosting the breakout sessions were Rick Clark, director of Undergraduate Admission at Georgia Tech; Margi Strickland, senior assistant director at Duke University Undergraduate Admissions; Andre E. Phillips, director of Admissions and Recruitment at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; and Adrienne Oddi, dean of Admission at Trinity College.

Included in the mock profiles were personal information, transcripts, admission test scores, interests and activities, essays, and letters of recommendation. The girls then worked with the admission guests to determine what parts of the applications should be considered with more weight than others, what each applicant would bring to the incoming class, etc. The goal? To gain an appreciation for the process and understand what admission directors and their teams consider when it comes to assembling a freshman class.

The takeaway from this exercise for our students? I learned about the multiple factors that colleges look at as well as how all they are really trying to do is figure out who we are and how we would add something to their community, said Morgan Brown 21. I was reminded of the fact that while grades are important, its really our essays and recommendations, our experiences and our relationships that create interesting applications that will really make us stand out when we actually apply. Overall, this experience has calmed a lot of nerves and fears I had about college and made me excited to start the admissions process over the course of this semester.

So not only did the juniors get to see what their applications look like once theyre received by colleges, reading and discussing the fictitious applications gave the girls a chance to see how colleges value different parts of the application.

They discussed how a teacher recommendation might fill in some of the missing pieces of a students transcript, and they considered how the personal essay can add to a students story, Ms. McCarter said. Yes, they evaluated transcripts and test scores, but they also learned how the college application can tell a storytheir story.

That evening in Frierson Theatre, the admission panel took the stage to answer questions prepared by Ms. McCarter and then fielded questions from the audience. The 90-minute session helped to give guests a better perspective on the role of the college gatekeepersor soup-makers, as Mr. Clark likes to call himself.

Sometimes when Im on a plane and someone asks me what I do, I tell them I make soup, Mr. Clark said, explaining that the goal of each admission department is to create the best mixture of soup (interesting incoming freshmen) to add to the school enrollment.

The responses from all panelists helped both students and parents better understand not only the admission process but also to see admission professionals as real people, doing their best to create a class that will benefit the student experience as well as the university, said officials. Below are comments compiled from all four panelists.

The Top 26 Takeaways from the Evening for Students and Parents

ADVICE TO STUDENTS

Colleges love getting to know about your high school and understanding how you played the hand you were dealt. Your success at your high school translates to success in college, which makes you an attractive candidate.

Be sure you show demonstrated interest in a school. If a school offers interviews, they are not really optional.

Letters of recommendation dont have to come from teachers whose class you got an A in. Sometimes its better for that teacher to talk about how you didnt give up and worked really hard in a subject that didnt come easy to you.

Before you create your college list, you have to ask yourself the big questions: Do you really want to go to college, and if so, why? What experiences do you hope to have in college? What types of people do you want to meet? If you do that first, you are more likely to discover the colleges that meet your criteria, and when things get toughand they almost always doyou can remember why you chose that college in the first place.

Consider the admission person reading your application as though he or she is a lawyer appealing your case to the court as to why you belong at that college/university.

What matters in one application cycle may not matter in the next. Admissions often looks at colleges within the university to see where the interest lies. E.g., the college of English may need more students than the college of science.

There are thousands of colleges that want to say yes to you.

Visit college websites and read their mission statements and how they describe their students. Do you fit there?

Visit colleges to take a tour but also step off the tour. Go through the dining hall and talk to random students. Do you feel a connection with the vibe?

Visit lots of campuses of varying sizes within driving distance from you, even if you dont plan to apply there. What size feels right to you?

Start with a list of things you enjoy and excel at. Are you self-aware enough to know what will eventually help you become your best self?

There are approximately 4,000 schools in the U.S. Narrow your list down to schools you are excited about and try not to name one top choice. Celebrate your wins when you get acceptances.

Theres no such thing as your soul-mate college. You will end up where you need to be. Do not go into debt to make it happen. The benefits of a college education outweigh the benefits of any one specific (expensive) school.

If the end price is not viable, you need to let that dream go. Determine what your number is and stick with it.

FairTest.org lists about 1,000 schools that are test optional in the application process.

If you decide to take a gap year, do something of value to yourself and your community. Some schools see the value in taking a gap year and might even fund the experience for you if youve been accepted to their program.

Because 71 percent of students will change their majors after getting into college, most colleges wont admit you based solely on your major as its most likely to change.

Take the spirit of what it means to be a GPS girl with you, and it will make your campus better.

This is just one piece of your life. Do not lose friends over your college decision.

Focus on having a great high school experience. Think about what you can do that brings you joy. Be kind to your teachers and peers.

Because you go to a college preparatory school, theres a foregone conclusion that youre going to college. But its like walking before you crawl. Stop asking yourself where and ask why. Ask bigger questions of yourself and write them down.



ADVICE TO PARENTS

If you use the pronoun we when talking about the college application process, you need to take it down a notch. Trust your daughter through the process. Climb the crows nest and watch out for icebergs.

Set conditions and limitations NOW about your financial expectations. Pick the destination together but realize your student is the driver.

Choose a time when you talk about college and stick to it. Sunday evening from 6-8? Every other time is off limits unless she chooses to bring it up. Dont make your child dread car rides or coming to the dinner table.

Tell your child, I support your decision (the school, the major). Give your daughter a weighted vote and know she will be successful wherever she goes.

Talk to parents of college students and those with recent grads, not other high school parents going through the same process. Escape the echo chamber.
The Pentagon has stymied attempts by the Commerce Department to tighten regulations on Chinese technology giant Huaweis dealings with U.S. companies over concerns that the restrictions would disadvantage American firms, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper all but confirmed the report while speaking to reporters Friday at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

We have to be conscious of sustaining those [technology] companies supply chains and those innovators, Esper said. Thats the balance we have to strike.

The decision shows a split in thinking within the Trump administration over how to deal with Huaweis influence. While the U.S. cracked down on the firm last year, charging it with fraud and intellectual-property theft, sources told the Journal that the DOJ is nervous about harming U.S. companies who still see Huawei as an important customer.

Following the news, Senator Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) slammed the move and vowed to get to the bottom of this ill-considered decision.

Its bad enough when capitalists are willing to sell the rope that will be used to hang us, but worse still when our military acts as their lobbyist. I intend to get to the bottom of this ill-considered decision. https://t.co/7109ugl2xC  Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) January 24, 2020

An official said that the administration has set an 18-month deadline to figure out how to support domestic production and boost competition with Huawei. The Defense Department remains concerned that the loss of revenue resulting from the Huawei restrictions might limit those firms investment in research and development, thus placing them at a disadvantage relative to their foreign competitors.

The conflict came to a head over an adjustment to a rule that allows foreign chips and electronics with less than 25 percent American-made parts to be shipped duty-free to Huawei. While the Commerce Department proposed a reduction in the rule to only ten percent, the DoD nonconcurred.

Story continues

A Pentagon spokeswoman told the Journal that it is aware of Commerces proposed rule change but would not prematurely discuss ongoing interagency collaboration.

More from National Review
A home guard of the Kolkata Police was arrested on Friday for allegedly smuggling in illegal firearms, police said.

Bapan Karmakar was arrested from Bhabanipur in Gopal Nagar police station area in North 24 Parganas district, they said.

Karmakar was arrested after one Souvik Dafadar was held earlier this week with an illegal firearm, police said.

While interrogating Dafadar, police found that he procured the firearm from Karmakar, they said.

This comes two days after a police officer was arrested along with three others for allegedly smuggling out 18 seized firearms from the 'malkhana' of a police station in Jhargram district.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
On January 17, Chandrashekhar Azad, the charismatic Bhim Army chief, arrived at the Indian Womens Press Corps in Delhi for a meet-the-Press event, holding a copy of the Constitution. In his opening statement, which included a measured reading of the Preamble in Hindi, Azad, sporting his trademark blue scarf, said, If the Bharatiya Janata Party government believes that the Preamble is provocative, then I do not mind reading it again  The Constitution says it is the duty of every citizen to protect it... I am doing that, said the Ambedkarite activist and lawyer.

The Constitution completes 70 years today. Cutting across religion, gender, age, and caste, people across the country have been celebrating the 117,369-word document  which broke the conventional thinking prevalent at the time of its creation  in a unique way, by making it the centrepiece of their protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), the National Register of Citizens (NRC), and, of late, the National Population Register (NPR). The trinity, dissenters say, goes against the fundamental constitutional principles of secularism and equality. To be sure, the government has said that there is no immediate plan for an NRC.

From the steps of the Jama Masjid in Delhi, where on December 20, 2019, Azad held up the Constitution in one hand and a photo of BR Ambedkar in the other, to university campuses across the country, copies of the Constitution are being waved in the air, and the document is being celebrated for its progressive ideals.

In many places, such as Guwahati, citizens organised samvidhan (Constitution) sabhas; in other places, there have been well-attended marches, mass readings of the Preamble, accompanied by spirited renditions of the National Anthem, and the waving of the Tricolour.

WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA

Its not difficult to see why the Constitution, especially the Preamble, resonates with citizens, and continues to play a strong role in political activism and public argument in this country.

The life of the Constitution lies in the Preamble. As a statement of principles and beliefs, it works to give life to the legal language of the Constitution, explains Alok Prasanna, senior resident fellow, and head of the Bengaluru office of the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy. It is framed in such a manner that each generation finds new meanings in its depths to meet their own needs.

Historian and lawyer Rohit Des The Peoples Constitution, he adds, shows that the Constitution was always owned by the people, and that it is not a document drafted by the elites for the people.

To many, the Constitution is a document of inspiration, and a means to transform society and the State-citizen relationship. The provenance of the Constitution isnt as foreign as some would like us to believe. It is an Indian document. It is a document that weve given to ourselves. To keep our democracy thriving, therefore, we need to reanimate the Constitutions spirit, says Suhrith Parthasarathy, an advocate practising at the Madras High Court. When we see people waving it today, what were seeing is a reclaiming of its text and spirit.

CITIZEN-CENTRIC

The Constitution, which lays down the governance structure of the State, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens, is one of the landmark constitutions of our time.

In 1946, 389 men and women from a variety of intellectual backgrounds, and holding different ideas about the new nation, came together to form the Constituent Assembly (CA).

Right to Left: Jairamdas Daulatram, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, Dr John Matthai, Sardar Patel, Jagjivan Ram signing the Constitution on the final day of the Constituent Assembly. (HT FILE PHOTO)

The CA had a formidable task: Drafting a Constitution for a nation that was coming out of centuries of colonial rule, was poor and illiterate, riven by caste conflicts and religious and linguistic differences.

Yet, as legal scholar Madhav Khosla writes persuasively in The Indian Constitution, the Constitutions creators decided that it should be a decisive departure from the past. The Constitutions enumeration of rights, the granting of universal adult suffrage, finds no parallel in the colonial legal system. Importantly, Khosla adds, the CA was attentive to caste and religious identities, and also the rights of the regions, putting in place a federal State. It was an extraordinary experiment in Indian history, writes Khosla. Notably, despite the substantial presence of a single party in the CA (the Congress), the assembly was a body of remarkable intellectual diversity, and Jawaharlal Nehru must be celebrated for ensuring that.

While the document is loved by lawyers, they are not the custodians of the document; people are central to the Constitution, and are the real owners. They [CA] believed in the possibility of creating democratic citizens through democratic politics, Khosla writes in his latest book, Indias Founding Moment: The Constitution of a Most Surprising Democracy.

In that sense, the Constitution, lawyer Gautam Bhatia argues, was transformative too.

In his closing speech to the CA on November 25, 1949, its chairperson BR Ambedkar said: Political democracy cannot last unless there lies at the base of it social democracy. These words, Bhatia writes in The Transformative Constitution, distilled the heart and soul of the document: Liberty, Equality and Fraternity were the three mutually reinforcing pillars.

Thanks to these basic, universal ideals that the Constitution so well captured, the spirit and the values of the document have seeped into the crevices of Indias collective consciousness over the last 70 years, sometimes without citizens even realising it.

Since the protests broke out and the State-led violence in my alma mater, I have been travelling to the poorest parts of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The poor are at a loss to understand the CAA-NRC... they may not use not use the word samvidhan in their protests, but have internalised the Constitutions values, and are aware about the rights that it provides them, says Dr Maskoor Ahmad Usmani, former president, Aligarh Muslim University Students Union. For the last 100 years, the farmers told me, they have provided food on the nations table without getting any land rights ... so why is the government now asking them to prove their citizenship? Through these interactions, Usmani says he understood the superior quality of the Constitution its human values and ideals that are ensuring that these protests dont turn violent.

FOR THE APOLITICAL

The beauty of the Constitution is that its principles are not just spurring protests in expected political arenas, but also making the apolitical take a definite stand on the politics of the day.

Our college has always stayed away from campus politics and protests. But this time we decided to join the protests because we want to reiterate that we still believe in constitutional values, says Maitreyi Jha, a third-year BA Hons. (History) student at Delhis St Stephens College. I think people are using the document to fight back, to highlight, and to remind the government that normalising a state of lawlessness and regular violation of rights doesnt mean that people will forget the rights granted by the Constitution.

The ongoing mobilisation and the re-reading of the Constitution could turn out to be a watershed moment for India.

I dont know what this movement will achieve; tomorrow Shaheen Bagh [a locality in south Delhi where citizens have been holding protests, seven days a week, 24 hours a day, for more than one month now] may die down, students will go back to classes, but India will never be the same again, says Aman Wadud, a citizen-lawyer from Assam, where the first spark of protests against the citizenship law was lit.



STORY OF THE ARTWORK Artist Nandalal Bose, a proponent of the Bengal School, and his team of students from Kala Bhavan worked on the art that helms each of the 22 parts of the Constitution. The subject matters range across historical time periods and personages: a seal from Mohenjo Daro, scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, Buddha and his disciples, the courts of Gupta and Maurya emperors, sculptures from the South and Orissa, Akbars court, Tipu Sultan and Laxmibai, Mahatma Gandhi and Subhash Chandra Bose. The work of Nandalal Bose and his students was influenced by ancient murals, medieval sculptures and Far Eastern styles. The result was the first foray of Indian modernist art, which favoured an idiom centred on Indian ethos and eschewed the overarching Western academic approach prevalent at the time. Calligrapher Prem Behari Narain Raizada (Saxena) wrote the text in Hindi and English reportedly, over six months. The borders are in the Hashia-style, used in the time of Mughal emperor Jehangir, which meant highly ornate borders that often eclipsed the subject of the work itself. All pages have a simple, gold speckled border, but some pages, such as the opening page of a Schedule, and where it ends, have a second inner border of gold ornament. According to curator Naman Ahuja, the pages with illustrations were first painted and then sent to the calligrapher. The calligrapher then sent the pages to the framers. On some pages, the signatures of some of the members of the Constituent Assembly run out of the designated column space, and the borders have been cut to accommodate their signatures. This division of work and its sequencing  from calligrapher to framer  allowed ateliers to work independently.  Dhamini Ratnam Artist Nandalal Bose, a proponent of the Bengal School, and his team of students from Kala Bhavan worked on the art that helms each of the 22 parts of the Constitution. The subject matters range across historical time periods and personages: a seal from Mohenjo Daro, scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, Buddha and his disciples, the courts of Gupta and Maurya emperors, sculptures from the South and Orissa, Akbars court, Tipu Sultan and Laxmibai, Mahatma Gandhi and Subhash Chandra Bose.The work of Nandalal Bose and his students was influenced by ancient murals, medieval sculptures and Far Eastern styles. The result was the first foray of Indian modernist art, which favoured an idiom centred on Indian ethos and eschewed the overarching Western academic approach prevalent at the time.Calligrapher Prem Behari Narain Raizada (Saxena) wrote the text in Hindi and English reportedly, over six months.The borders are in the Hashia-style, used in the time of Mughal emperor Jehangir, which meant highly ornate borders that often eclipsed the subject of the work itself. All pages have a simple, gold speckled border, but some pages, such as the opening page of a Schedule, and where it ends, have a second inner border of gold ornament.According to curator Naman Ahuja, the pages with illustrations were first painted and then sent to the calligrapher. The calligrapher then sent the pages to the framers. On some pages, the signatures of some of the members of the Constituent Assembly run out of the designated column space, and the borders have been cut to accommodate their signatures. This division of work and its sequencing  from calligrapher to framer  allowed ateliers to work independently.

WHERE IS THE ORIGINAL CONSTITUTION? The original copies of the Indian Constitution, in Hindi and English, are kept in Parliament. It is the property of Parliament. The replicas are displayed in the Parliament library, and are also available for sale at counters inside the Parliament. It is difficult for those outside Delhi to access the replicas. Chennai-based entrepreneur Vijay Anand realised this in 2016 when he wanted to gift a copy of the Constitution to his relatives in Germany. Instead of getting deterred, Anand decided to produce replicas himself. He has created 50 hardbound copies of the Constitution in A3 size using online images, photographs and replicas of the original as references. "I accessed 14 copies during my research. Most of them were in bad shape. The ones which are intact are put for auction and are really expensive," said 36-year-old Anand, who is now working to create 250 more copies. "There is demand from schools and public libraries. They have approached me for copies." The original copies of the Indian Constitution, in Hindi and English, are kept in Parliament. It is the property of Parliament. The replicas are displayed in the Parliament library, and are also available for sale at counters inside the Parliament. It is difficult for those outside Delhi to access the replicas. Chennai-based entrepreneur Vijay Anand realised this in 2016 when he wanted to gift a copy of the Constitution to his relatives in Germany. Instead of getting deterred, Anand decided to produce replicas himself. He has created 50 hardbound copies of the Constitution in A3 size using online images, photographs and replicas of the original as references. "I accessed 14 copies during my research. Most of them were in bad shape. The ones which are intact are put for auction and are really expensive," said 36-year-old Anand, who is now working to create 250 more copies. "There is demand from schools and public libraries. They have approached me for copies."

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
The right candidate is someone who is a true believer in the partys ideals, can spread that message effectively, deals with rejection well and loves a challenge, Mayer said. The wrong candidate is someone whose views are so out of step with his or her neighbors  say, an ultraconservative in the 7th Congressional Districts case  that there is little chance of making any impact. Even worse is the candidate who runs to build a private brand, whether for an existing business or a crack at a job as a talking head on cable television.
Libya's unity government said Thursday it had re-opened Tripoli's sole functioning airport, a day after eastern forces threatened to shoot down planes over the capital.

Mitiga airport has been hit by rocket fire multiple times since the start of a months-long offensive by forces of eastern commander Khalifa Haftar to seize Tripoli from the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA).

Airport authorities said late Wednesday they were again suspending air traffic "until further notice".

It came after Haftar's spokesman Ahmad al-Mesmari warned that "any military or civilian aircraft, regardless of its affiliation, flying over the capital will be destroyed".

The airport had already halted flights for several hours earlier Wednesday after it was targeted by six Grad rockets blamed by the GNA on Haftar's forces.

On Thursday, the GNA "decided to restore air traffic at Mitiga Airport", it said in a statement published on Facebook.

The GNA said it would raise the issue of Haftar's threats at the UN Security Council.

Haftar's forces, who back a rival administration in Libya's east, have been battling since April to seize Tripoli from GNA.

They accuse the GNA of using Mitiga airport to launch drones targeting their troops, stalled on the edges of the capital -- a charge the GNA denies.

World powers have stepped up efforts in recent weeks to find a political solution to the grinding conflict, after years of chaos in the North African country following the death of longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi.
It's time now to meet the newest members in our Morning Mug Club -- brought to you by Holland Farms Bakery & Deli.

Coming up on Saturday, Feb. 1, the Trackside Blazers Snowmobile Club are presenting their 21st Annual Model T Ford Snowmobile Meet.

Go relive the 1920's and watch the vintage Model T snowmobiles. There will be dozens of Model T's from club members throughout the Northeast and New England.

It's being held at the Trackside Blazers Clubhouse on Horton Road, in Forestport.

For more information, email cdcmtfca@gmail.com.
(Natural News) Many of us struggle with insomnia, and when you wake up after a night of tossing and turning, it can be hard to say for sure just how much time you actually slept. However, if youre turning to sleep apps or smart watches to help you pin down just how much shut-eye youre getting, you could be inadvertently making the problem worse.

Sleep trackers seem useful on the surface. Many of them monitor your movement and heart rate while youre sleeping in the form of a bracelet or watch. Actigraphy, which has been used for medical sleep tests for many years, is one of the measuring tools used to record your movement with an accelerometer. Periods of time spent being still are considered to be asleep. Some also have a heart rate tracker that can detect drops in heart rate that may signify sleep.

At a recent science festival in Cheltenham, England, sleep disorder specialist Dr. Guy Leschziner said that the publics increasing obsession with measuring their sleep is backfiring. He added that reading how bad sleep deprivation can be for your health is contributing to the problem.

He said that a lot of patients come to him with sleep data from apps, and he has trouble convincing them to stop using them. Most apps, he pointed out, only track movement and arent clinically validated, so they cannot be relied upon to give a true picture of a persons sleep quality.

Using these apps is leading to a disorder known as orthosomnia, wherein people feel stress and anxiety about perceived sleep problems, causing their bodies to produce hormones like cortisol and adrenaline that keep them awake. The term was coined in 2017 in response to the growing problem. The condition has been likened to orthorexia, an unhealthy preoccupation with eating healthy food.

Insomnia, in contrast, is seen when you have regular, ongoing problems falling asleep, wake up frequently throughout the night, wake up too early and have trouble falling back asleep, and still feel tired when you wake up.

Last year, the UKs Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology reported that doctors are concerned about sleep trackers causing people who sleep normally to become anxious about sleep problems that dont exist.

Some people naturally need less than the general recommendation of eight hours, and being told theyre not getting enough sleep can cause what is known as the nocebo effect wherein expecting negative symptoms can make people feel worse physically. Different people also have different sensitivities to caffeine and blue light before bed as well.

Having trouble sleeping? Heres what to do instead of using apps

Instead of apps, Dr. Leschziner suggests that people trust their own feelings when they wake up in the morning. If you wake up feeling tired and like you didnt get a good nights sleep, you may have a problem, but if you wake up feeling refreshed, dont nod off during the day, and are generally ready to sleep around the same time each night, theres no need to worry.

If you do have legitimate trouble sleeping or suspect you have insomnia, experts say establishing a sleep routine is essential. Going to bed and waking up around the same time every day can help you spend more time asleep, so you should avoid sleeping in on weekends, for example.

If youre having trouble nodding off, breathing exercises, meditation, visualizing happy memories and listening to calming music are all natural approaches to insomnia that can help. Its also a good idea to avoid technology and screens in the hour before bed to help your body prepare for peaceful slumber.

Sources for this article include:

DailyMail.co.uk

TheGuardian.com
Kildare County Council is facing some challenges in its work to continue the Royal Canal Greenway from Maynooth to Leixlip and onto Dublin.

Recently it could give no idea of when the project would be completed.

Cllr Peter Hamilton raised the question of the timing of the work at the recent Clane-Maynooth Municipal District meeting this month.

He asked the council to provide a timeline for the section from Pikes Bridge in Maynooth to Leixlip and beyond to connect to county Dublin.

SEE ALSO: North Kildare school highly commended for student guidance

In a reply, the council said the Maynooth to Leixlip section had received Part 8 approval - a form of planning permission for public projects - some years ago.

It said a consultant was procured to take the project on through the detailed design and construction phases of the scheme.

SEE ALSO: more Kildare stories

But the National Transport Authority and Waterways Ireland have since asked for changes to the preliminary design.

The council said it has been trying to conclude this new additional work but it has presented some challenges in terms of procurement and planning.

It said it is currently trying to advance the issues.

Cllr Hamilton said Part 8 was an opportunity to connect through to Fingal. He also noted that there was no mention of time or the nature of the challenge.
Philip and Erin Stead, whose debut picture book collaboration is about an under-the-weather zookeeper and his thoughtful associates, are hard at work on a sequel, a decade after the publication of A Sick Day for Amos McGee (Roaring Brook/Porter), which won the 2011 Caldecott Medal.

Amos McGee Misses the Bus (Roaring Brook, 2021) will be illustrated with Erins trademark woodblock prints, colored in pencil. The couple co-authored the text. The idea for a sequel came five years ago while the couple was standing in line at Disneys Animal Kingdom.

We had just gotten back from touring and talking about the bookincluding in Chinaand we had been hashing out how much our lives had changed because of Amos, Erin said. We realized we probably had other stories to tell about him. And the world is such a stressful place right now. Perhaps a little selfishly, we just felt the need to spend time with our friend Amos again.

That was five years ago. In the intervening half-decade, the couple had their first child, a daughter, now three. (While her parents took turns being interviewed for this story, their daughter was using their water-soluble crayons to create her own masterpieces. (They are her favorite, Erin said.) Having a child around has altered their lives in other ways, too. Neither of us is willing to spend less time with her, so working togetherediting and designhas become more of a formal arrangement that we have to schedule, Philip said. Coming up with ideas is less formal. We spend a lot of time talking on dog walks or during meals. A lot of work gets done in the evenings.

Though the Steads are keeping specific plot details about the sequel under Amoss peacock-feather-printed comforter, Erin shared that Amoss failure to make the bus has more to do with being unable to get to sleep on time than with alarm clock malfunction. There is no need to suggest that he set an alert on his cellphone to awaken. Hes still good with winding up his pocket watch, she said.

Though he has (so far) only appeared in one book, Amoss world feels very established to the Steads, Philip said. The rules are very clear to us on how it works, which complicates things because even a single word out of place can seem very jarring. He cited a sentence from the first book, describing Amoss morning routine, as an example: Belly full and ready for the workday, hed amble out the door.

Originally, we had him dotter out the door but a dottering old man is very different from an ambling old man, Philip said. We didnt want anything that would suggest he was decrepit, so the verb choice for how he moved was very specific. There are a thousand little choices like that.

Publication is scheduled for fall 2021, which has both Steads in a slight panic. Philip says the text is still evolving. Erin said her illustration style was a slow process before we had a child and its even slower now. Its not like I can leave [wood]carving knives everywhere around the house.

The new book will be edited by Roaring Brook editor Emily Feinberg, who worked with the Steads for a decade, first as an assistant to Neal Porter, who now has an imprint at Holiday House.

Macmillan published a 10th anniversary edition of A Sick Day for Amos McGee last November, and will distribute signed prints from the book at ALA Midwinter to commemorate its first decade in print. The Steads will be at home in Michigan, putting the finishing touches on its follow-up and keeping the reason for Amoss transportation trouble securely under wrap. Youll just have to wait till its finished to find out, Philip said.
Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald is confident the party will defend all three seats it currently holds across Cork City and county in the upcoming general election.

She was speaking as she joined incumbent TD in Cork South Central, Donnchadh O Laoghaire, on a canvass in Greenmount, where housing, homelessness, and the pension issue dominated the conversations at the doorsteps.

Mr O Laoghaire and Pat Buckley will be hoping to retain their seats in Cork South Central and Cork East, respectively, while councillor Thomas Gould hopes to hold on to the seat being vacated by Jonathan OBrien in Cork North Central. Paul Hayes will be looking to take a seat in Cork South West.

We will be defending all of the seats that we hold. I think Paul Hayes is going to perform very strongly. I think hes very well established and regarded within his community, said Ms McDonald.

On the canvass in Greenmount, housing and home retrofitting were top of the agenda, with a number of residents complaining of dampness, mould, and unsuitable accommodation for their needs.

The Sinn Fein leader told one voter:

Were out campaigning in an election because we want Eoghan Murphy, who is the housing minister, not to be the housing minister any more. We have somebody on our team who can actually do the job, and do it with the urgency and pace that people require.

Resident Tim Ahern speaking on his doorstep with Sinn Fein Party leader Mary Lou McDonald, on a canvas with election candidate Donnchadh O'Laoghaire in Greenmount, Cork City on Thursday.

The pensions issue was also raised, with Ms McDonald saying that both leaders fudged the issue when asked about it in the first leaders debate on Wednesday night.

Very slowly and quietly, if they have their way, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael will have people working until theyre almost 70, whether they want to or not, she said.

We believe in a prosperous society that when you hit the age of 65, you have to be entitled to your State pension, and then you can choose. Some people will want to work on, but other people, for a whole range of reasons, will wish to retire.

Ms McDonald also called for sentencing guidelines to be implemented to ensure serious crimes attract serious penalties following recent incidents in Cork and Drogheda.

She said people often tell her the punishment rarely matches the crime in Ireland, and she called for a review of the judicial system generally. Theres no doubt that there are special measures needed to deal with the level of depravity of the crimes that were seeing.

We shouldnt be knee-jerking  we need to be thoughtful, we need to be determined, and, above all, we need to get these thugs off the street.

Mary Lou McDonald, listening to Goretti Heffernan of Presentation Place talking about housing issues, on a canvas with election candidate Donnchadh O'Laoghaire in Greenmount, Cork City on Thursday.

Ms McDonald called for maximum recruitment in An Garda Siochana, as well as reviewing community supports.

The Sinn Fein leader also wants good contact to be established, especially with young people in the community, to avoid people falling into this way of life, this so-called gangland activity.
LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / January 23, 2020 / Bonanza Goldfields Corp. (OTC PINK:BONZ) is pleased to announce that it has increased the size of its Cupid Gold Project to 1,064 acres from 217 acres. The Cupid Gold Project now covers substantially all of the area of outcropping alteration / mineralization formerly included in the Kinross CPD property. The Cupid Gold property is located in Esmeralda County, Nevada 15 miles south of Goldfield. The Goldfield Mining District produced 4,160,000 ounces of gold and 1,440,000 ounces of silver from 1907 to 1951. The gold deposits at Goldfield are associated with alunite, which is also abundant along the eastern portion of the Cupid Gold property.

Sampling at Cupid

Past sampling by the project vendor encountered anomalous gold throughout the original Cupid project area, ranging from 0.134 to 0.270 ounces of gold per ton (3.8 to 7.7 g/ton). Further sampling is planned concurrent with geological mapping of the additional project claims.

Cupid Geology

The area is underlain by a late-Miocene acid-sulfate hydrothermal alteration center west of US Highway 95, which has altered both Cambrian metasedimentary rocks and Tertiary volcanic rocks. According to the files of the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, mineralization has affected rocks as young as 7 million years, characterized by acid-sulfate alteration that has converted Cambrian siltstones and Tertiary tuffs, flows and volcanic sedimentary rocks to silicified, opalized and argillized rocks. Silicification is concentrated in the central part of the district. Opalized rocks, locally containing abundant alunite, and associated precious-metal mineralization, probably are localized along northerly trending faults. There has been past production of sulfur and silica.

Debt Reduction / Net Smelter Royalty

As a result of the recent sale of Thunder Mountain, the Company will reduce debt by $130,000. (The Company's total debt was approximately $272,000 at 9/30/19.) The Company will also retain a 1.25% net smelter royalty (NSR) on Thunder Mountain.

Story continues

About Bonanza Goldfields Corp.: BONZ is a Las Vegas-based mineral exploration and mining company. We are exploring gold and silver properties located in the Goldfield, Tonopah and Comstock Mining Districts of Nevada, the Chloride Mining District of Arizona and the Cripple Creek Mining District of Colorado.

Contact:

Fred Bauman, General Counsel

702-357-0555

Email: info@bonanzagoldfield.com

SOURCE: Bonanza Goldfields Corp.





View source version on accesswire.com:

https://www.accesswire.com/573833/Bonanza-Goldfield-Expands-Cupid-Gold-Project-Reduces-Debt-by-Almost-50








THE Zimbabwean government is due to pay an extra US$9,3 million as costs for the de-preservation of two B777 aircraft bought from Malaysia in 2017, one of which was delivered in Harare after being stationed in the Asian nation for close to two years, the Zimbabwe Independent can report.





The planes are part of the botched US$70 million Zimbabwe Airways deal signed between the controversial airline and the Malaysian authorities.

The Malaysians also slapped government with a US$5 million parking fee bill for the two planes for the time they were stationary. The parking fees were later set aside after negotiations.





The Independent understands that while the plane was parked in Malaysia, Zimbabwe was charged US$250 parking fees daily, a figure that ballooned to US$5 million as at September 4, 2019. Despite being given a full waiver for the US$5 million in parking fees, it took government another four months to bring the plane home.





A major hurdle faced was on accrued parking charges amounting to US$5 million. However, the parking charges were successfully negotiated and a full waiver was granted on the September,4 2019, AirZim assistant administrator Tonderai Mukubvu said.





The aircraft were under preservation maintenance in Malaysia from the time of purchase. The costs of de-preservation of the two B777 aircraft are within standard B777 de-preservation.





De-preservation is a process involving the clean-up and inspection of an aircraft part when it is to be put into service after it has been prepared for storage. The two long-haul planes were purchased for US$18,5 million each, according to AirZim.





Malaysian Airlines decommissioned the 777s following the disappearance of two similar planes in 2014, including MH370.Government this week took delivery of a B777 200ER for the second time since its initial delivery in April, 2018.





It has taken government close to two years to deliver the 15-year-old aircraft, following disputes with the Malaysian authorities over payment and regulatory issues.





As previously extensively reported by the Independent, the Malaysian authorities at one time threatened legal action for breach of contract when Zimbabwe chose to buy two planes instead of the initially agreed four long-haul jets. The disagreement prompted a visit by Transport minister Joel Biggie Matiza to negotiate with the Malaysians.





The B777 Z-NBE, which is due for delivery in three weeks, according to Mukubvu, is still undergoing mandatory checks to bring it to serviceability, before its release from maintenance.





Z-RGM has a Certificate of Airworthiness and is serviceable. Z-NBE is still undergoing mandatory checks in preparation for its release from maintenance and ferry to Harare, Mukubvu said.





Matiza confirmed that government was facing acute financial problems to take delivery of the plane.Financial issues were some of the major challenges we faced. You know once an aeroplane is seated it is expensive, it needs to be maintained. Parts also expire. Zimbabwe is currently facing forex problems. So these are some of the challenges we faced but I am glad we managed to get through, Matiza said.





We needed to make sure that we have got the processes right to bring it back and money. There was a lot of money that needed to be paid, parking fees, maintenance, its very expensive.





The planes were purchased by ZimAirways where former President Robert Mugabes son in-law Simba Chikore was the chief executive. Chikore and former Transport minister Jorum Gumbo were involved in the transaction. Due to mismanagement and looting, Zimbabwes sole airline currently has one aircraft compared to 18 planes at Independence.





Last year, government took delivery of an Embraer ERJ145, but is yet to get clearance from the manufacturer almost a year after its purchase.

Government has since engaged Embraer over delays in releasing crucial operating manuals and is currently making steps towards satisfying the Know Your Customer (KYC) process.





Engagement with Embraer are ongoing with regards their KYC process. Their latest update on this matter indicated that there has been significant progress and majority of the hurdles have been addressed. We anticipate to have completed the process within the first half of 2020. Upon completion of the KYC process, all other compliance submissions will be made to CAAZ [Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe] for approval to allow immediate deployment of the aircraft into service, Mukubvu said.





The struggling AirZim has failed to attract an investor, months after government invited bids from potential suitors to partner the embattled entity.





The government has failed to regularise AirZims US$381 million debt assumption plan, weakening the airlines chances of courting new partners.





The airline attracted 10 potential investors this year, but they have been spooked by the companys legacy debts.





AirZim was in 2018 placed under reconstruction after creditors threatened to sue the state-owned airline. Before the company was placed under reconstruction, creditors, including former employees, other airlines, insurance companies and service providers had been pushing for legal action against the airline.




Uber Advanced Technologies Group will start mapping Washington, D.C., ahead of plans to begin testing its self-driving vehicles in the city this year.

Initially, there will be three Uber vehicles mapping the area, a company spokesperson said. These vehicles, which will be manually driven and have two trained employees inside, will collect sensor data using a top-mounted sensor wing equipped with cameras and a spinning lidar. The data will be used to build high-definition maps. The data will also be used for Uber's virtual simulation and test track testing scenarios.

Uber intends to launch autonomous vehicles in Washington, D.C. before the end of 2020.

At least one other company is already testing self-driving cars in Washington, D.C. Ford announced in October 2018 plans to test its autonomous vehicles in Washington, D.C. Argo AI is developing the virtual driver system and high-definition maps designed for Fords self-driving vehicles.

Argo, which is backed by Ford and Volkswagen, started mapping the city in 2018. Testing was expected to begin in the first quarter of 2019.

Uber ATG has kept a low profile ever since one of its human-supervised test vehicles struck and killed a pedestrian in Tempe, Ariz. in March 2018. The company halted its entire autonomous vehicle operation immediately following the incident.

Nine months later, Uber ATG resumed on-road testing of its self-driving vehicles in Pittsburgh, following a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation decision to authorize the company to put its autonomous vehicles on public roads. The company hasn't resumed testing in other markets, such as San Francisco.

Uber is collecting data and mapping in three other cities: Dallas, San Francisco and Toronto. In those cities, just like in Washington, D.C., Uber manually drives its test vehicles.

Uber spun out the self-driving car business in April 2019 after closing $1 billion in funding from Toyota, auto-parts maker Denso and SoftBanks Vision Fund. The deal valued Uber ATG at $7.25 billion at the time of the announcement. Under the deal, Toyota and Denso are providing $667 million, with the Vision Fund throwing in the remaining $333 million.
In 2017, start-ups comprising of only women received 32m ($42.1m), whereas male-only start-ups received more than 5bn over the same period, research found. Photo: Getty

Access to funding is a challenge faced by most entrepreneurs, who need cash in order to get their ideas off the ground. But research shows that women, in particular, encounter extra hurdles when it comes to getting hold of money for their start-ups.

A report by the British Business Bank, commissioned by former chancellor Philip Hammond in 2017, shows female entrepreneurs are missing out on billions of pounds of investment every year. In 2017, start-ups comprising of only women received 32m ($42.1m), whereas male-only start-ups received more than 5bn over the same period.

For every 1 of venture capital investment in the UK, all-female founder teams get less than 1p  where all-male founder teams received 89p. Mixed-gender teams miss out too, receiving just 10p.

READ MORE: How to keep calm when someone mansplains at work

Although venture capital investment in start-ups with female founders is on the rise, progress is slow. According to the research, it will take until 2045 for all-female teams to reach even 10% of all deals, at current rates.

The problem is mirrored in the US. Last year, research conducted by the London Business School and Columbia Business School found that female entrepreneurs in the States are 63% less likely than their male counterparts to secure the venture capital (VC) funding they need to get their new business off the ground.

The evidence is clear.

Why are women entrepreneurs missing out on crucial funding?

One of the key reasons is gender bias  both conscious and unconscious  and a lack of female representation among investors.

If you're starting a company whose products or services cater to women (which is the linchpin of many female-led companies), you have to spend more time thinking about how to convince a potential investor  who is typically an older, white male  that you are solving a real and important problem, says Georgene Huang, CEO and co-founder of Fairygodboss, a platform aimed at supporting women in the workplace.

Story continues

For example, if you were starting a makeup company, while men understand what makeup is and that many women wear it, its not solving a problem that they have experienced first hand. Therefore, the whole premise of your business is foreign to them.

With Fairygodboss, my co-founder and I had to learn how to pitch to male investors and make them not only understand what we are doing with the platform, but make them understand why its so important.

READ MORE: Why women aren't running their own businesses

According to the British Business Bank research, networking has a strong impact on subsequent venture capital investments. Start-up founders who are recommended to a VC firm by someone in the VCs network, known as a warm introduction, are 13 times more likely to get funded than founders who apply without a recommendation.

Significantly, all-female teams are less likely to get a warm introduction to a VC firm  although when they do, they progress proportionately.

Another issue is the low number of women in sectors focused on by venture capital firms, including software, artificial intelligence, and medical tech  which partly explains their low representation in VC deals.

The gap in funding is particularly difficult to justify in light of the multiple studies that show women entrepreneurs are more than capable of launching businesses successfully. In both 2012 and 2019, research by the Harvard Business Review found women score higher than men on most leadership skills. Not only did they excel in taking initiative, acting with resilience, practicing self-development, and pushing forward for results, they also displayed high levels of integrity and honesty.

These qualities pay off when it comes to the bottom line. The social enterprise firm Womenable found that, when studying the growth trends of companies over eight years, the organisations owned by women generated higher revenues than those owned by men.

READ MORE: Eight million UK women dream of turning their 'side hustle' into a full-time career

In addition, there aren't many women working in venture capital firms and using the recent lack of diversity in the Oscar nominations as a prime example, having diversity on both ends of the table is pivotal for success, Huang says.

So even if you aren't starting a company whose products or services cater to women, there are still biases at play that could negatively impact you and it's up to VC firms to make more of an effort to diversify.
Mumbai, Jan 24 : Fears that the outbreak of coronavirus in China may disrupt economic activity and global growth has sent the stock markets tumbling.

Chinese health authorities on Friday said that 830 cases of pneumonia caused by coronavirus were confirmed in 29 provincial-level regions in the country. The pneumonia has so far claimed 25 lives.

A sharp adverse reaction from Asian, US and European markets was witnessed because China is entering one of its busiest travel periods on account of its Lunar New Year holiday. The virus outbreak could hurt demand.

On Thursday, Chinese stock markets logged its biggest slide in eight months. However, Indian markets closed higher as the oil prices plunged significantly. The global oil benchmark, Brent slipped to $62 a barrel as the virus outbreak in China may dent fuel demand.

Meanwhile official sources told IANS that though over 500 Indian students study in Wuhan city's medical colleges and universities, most of them had left for home for the Chinese New Year holidays.

Deaths due to the virus have revived memories of the SARS epidemic, caused by a coronavirus, which killed nearly 800 people and infected more than 8,000 others across the world in 2002-2003.
WASHINGTON - The Trump administration on Friday threatened to withhold federal funding from California over its requirement that private insurers cover abortions - a move California officials immediately denounced as a "cheap political" shot on the day the president was addressing the annual March for Life rally.

Top Trump health officials said California had 30 days to stop the alleged violation but did not specify what funds it would withhold or on what timeline it would act. They said their announcement serves as warning to other states with similar requirements but declined to identify which, if any, of those states might be targeted.

The announcement came as President Donald Trump was expected to address thousands of anti-abortion demonstrators gathered for the March for Life, an annual rally to mark the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion. The warning is the latest in a series of anti-abortion regulations and actions the Department of Health and Human Services has taken to win support from Trump's evangelical Christian base, which helped elect him in 2016 and is seen as key to his 2020 reelection prospects.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom dismissed the threat as a political maneuver.

"The Trump administration would rather rile up its base to score cheap political points and risk access to care for millions than do what's right," he said in a statement. "California will continue to protect a woman's right to choose, and we won't back down from defending reproductive freedom for everybody - full stop."

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said on Twitter that California would defend the law.

"The President & VP are once again attacking women's health in order to grandstand at today's anti-choice rally," Becerra wrote. He added: "While it's unfortunate that the President's moral compass always points to sowing division for cheap political gain, California won't be deterred."

Six states, including California, require private health plans to cover abortions, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a pro-abortion rights think tank. Eleven states have laws that restrict abortion coverage in private health plans, including those offered on the Affordable Care Act's individual insurance market.

In a conference call Friday with reporters, Roger Severino, director of HHS'' Office for Civil Rights, cited an amendment that is routinely added to HHS appropriations bills, as the legal basis for the administration's argument that California is violating federal law.

The Weldon amendment says that no such funds "may be made available to a federal agency or program, or to a state or local government, if such agency, program, or government subjects any institutional or individual health care entity to discrimination on the basis that the health care entity does not provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions."

Newsom's aides said that in the governor's statement he was referring a 2016 Obama administration decision that found California's abortion coverage requirements did not violate the abortion-related Weldon amendment passed by Congress - the same amendment cited by the Trump administration Friday as its legal basis for threatening to pull federal funds.

Severino also said HHS took this action after it received complaints from two California groups: Missionary Guadalupanas of the Holy Spirit and Skyline Wesleyan Church.

He declined to identify what specific funding stream the Trump administration might pull. "There is a process, if we do not reach accord, that could lead to revocation of streams of federal funding," he said. "California is a big consumer of HHS funds. We're giving them 30 days so that we don't have to cross that bridge."

Antiabortion groups heralded the announcement and the administration's work on the social conservative agenda.

"President Trump has governed as the most pro-life president in history," said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the antiabortion group Susan B. Anthony List. "Abortion is not health care and no American should ever be forced to participate in the destruction of innocent human life."

A recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll found that 59% of Americans believe abortion should be legal in most cases, and about 7 in 10 said that Roe v. Wade should not be overturned. Seventy-nine percent believe the decision is best made by women themselves in consultation with their doctors, rather than by lawmakers.

Majorities of Americans also support laws that require women to wait 24 hours between meeting a health-care provider and getting an abortion and laws requiring doctors to show and describe ultrasound images to them.

"While Trump stands with the small number of Americans who want politicians to interfere with their personal health decisions, we'll be standing with the nearly 80% of Americans who support abortion access," Alexis McGill Johnson, Acting President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Action Fund said in a statement. "We will never stop fighting for all of the people in this country who need access to sexual and reproductive health care, including abortion."

Under Trump, HHS has taken numerous steps to advance the agenda of social conservatives. Chief among them was the elimination of Planned Parenthood from the federal family planning program, a long-sought goal of Vice President Mike Pence. The administration adopted new rules for the program, which were upheld by a federal court, that made clinics ineligible for funding if they provided abortions or made referrals for them. Planned Parenthood, previously the largest recipient of those funds, pulled out of the program rather than comply.

Earlier this month, nine federal agencies, including HHS, also advanced rules that would strengthen protections for students who want to pray or worship in public schools and proposed changes to make it easier for religious groups that provide social services to access federal funds.

But the administration has seen some of its social conservative agenda stopped in the courts. A federal judge voided HHS' "conscience rule" that would have allowed health-care providers to opt out of performing certain procedures, such as abortions or sterilizations, based on religious or moral objections. The administration is appealing that decision.
The man shot by two Laredo police officers in the Colonia Los Angeles area has died, authorities said.

READ MORE: Main Event Laredo announces opening date, scavenger hunt

Investigator Joe E. Baeza, police spokesman, said the department received notification from the hospital on Wednesday on the passing of Carlos Manuel Amador, 28.

Amador had been in critical condition at the Laredo Medical Center since Sunday.

On Tuesday, police identified the two cops who shot Amador as Patrol Officers Jorge Salazar Jr. and Benjamin R. Salinas.

As per procedure, Salazar  a 15-year veteran with LPD  and Salinas  a two-year rookie  remain on administrative duties as the criminal and internal investigations continue.

READ MORE: Man shot by Laredo PD threatened officers with BB gun before LPD fired 10 shots

Initial reports state that a woman called the LPD non-emergency number of 795-2800. She stated she needed police assistance because Amador was not allowing her to leave in the 4500 block of La Joya Lane.

First officers on scene spoke to the woman, who was outside the residence. Amador remained inside the home. Amador then exited the home holding a gun to his head, according to police.

Amador allegedly disregarded commands to drop the weapon. He then raised it and pointed it at the officers. Thats when Salazar and Salinas shot Amador in self defense, critically wounding him.

Authorities said the two cops fired 10 times. Laredo Fire Department crews responded and encountered Amador with a gunshot to the head. He was rushed to LMC in critical condition, where he remained in the intensive care unit until his death.

READ MORE: Seven arrested in Laredo after WCSO enacts warrant roundup

Further investigation revealed that Amador was armed with a Daisy Powerline 426 Air Pistol, a replica of a Walther PPQ handgun, according to police.
Workers of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Ghana have embarked on a protest against the removal of the company's Managing Director, Seth Adu-Baah.

The workers, who have been protesting since Monday, January 20, 2020, in their red arm and headbands, have accused the company of unfair treatment against Ghanaian managers.

Seth Adu-Baah, who has worked with the company for 18 years, has served as MD of Coca Cola in Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Ghana before he was allegedly forced out of the company by the Regional Head of the company this week.

The roles he has served in, have given him wide-ranging experience in all aspects of financial management and control, and crucially, supply chain management, and involved liaising with banks, external auditors, tax authorities and consultants.

According to the workers, Felix Gomez, the Senegalese MD for West African countries instigated Mr. Adu-Baah's removal. They have vowed to resist any new MD who may be appointed.

Seth Adu-Baah

The workers union has petitioned the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union, ICU, to intervene in the standoff.

Citi News has picked up reports that the workers have also vowed to cut down production at the Spintex Road factory of Coca Cola to press home their demands.

On Friday, January 24, 2020, the workers demonstrated on the company's premises at Spintex in Accra, chanting; 'No Seth No Work'.

According to them, the MD has forged a strong synergy between management, staff and the local union, which ought to be maintained.

Seth Adu-Baah has also been credited with increasing sales volumes of the company over the past two years since he became MD.

In the petition to ICU which was sighted by Citi News, the Local Union executives of the company are calling for an investigation into his removal.

The company has declined comment on the matter.
The big CBI shake up: Explained, why 200 staffers were transferred

On govts plea to transfer all petitions relating to citizenship law, SC issues notices

Sessions judge who issued death warrants in Nirbhaya case transferred

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Jan 24: The sessions judge who recently issued death warrants against the four death row convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case has been transferred.

Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora has been transferred to the Supreme Court as Additional Registrar on deputation basis for one year, a letter sent by Registrar General, Delhi High Court, to the District Judge, Patiala House Courts, said.

Before his transfer, Arora was hearing the Nirbhaya Rape case, besides other cases.

The case is likely to be assigned to a new judge soon.

Kailash Vijayvargiya identified Bangladeshis by their 'strange meal'| OneIndia News

Tihar jail seeks service of Pawan, hangman from Meerut, for execution of Nirbhaya convicts on Feb 1

The hanging of all the four convicts was to take place on February 1 at 6 am.
A Libyan militant was sentenced on Thursday to more than 19 years in prison by a federal judge for his role in the 2012 Benghazi attacks that killed four Americans, including the United States ambassador.

The militant, Mustafa al-Imam, was convicted by a jury last year of conspiring to provide material support to the terrorists who were responsible for the siege on the main diplomatic mission and a nearby C.I.A. annex.

During the trial in United States District Court in Washington last spring, the jurors also convicted Mr. al-Imam of destroying the complex and endangering lives, but deadlocked on murder charges.

Mr. al-Imam, 47, was the second person sentenced in the Sept. 11, 2012, attack, which became the subject of a contentious congressional inquiry sought by Republican critics of the Obama administration and Hillary Clinton, the secretary of state at the time of the siege.
Giada de Laurentiis has a new love in her life.

On Friday the beautiful 49-year-old celebrity chef was seen walking with her dog along with boyfriend Shane Farley while in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles.

The two were side by side as they headed to the organic grocery store Erewhon Market.

Love: Giada de Laurentiis has a new love in her life. On Friday the beautiful 49-year-old celebrity chef was seen walking with her dog along with boyfriend Shane Farley while in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles

Shopping day: The two were side by side as they headed to the organic grocery store Erewhon Market

The brunette star wore a light blue sweater with a black coat that came above her knee and showed off her bare legs.

The TV vet added Golden Goose trainers and cat-eye black tinted sunglasses with her hair back.

Her beau had on a blue hoodie with rainbow striped in front, adding blue slacks and sneakers. Farley added a cap that was worn backwards.

After the shopping trip, Shane carried the groceries, which seemed to be in only one bag.

Her look: The brunette star wore a light blue sweater with a black coat that came above her knee and showed off her bare legs

They passed several cafes and bakeries which were in the downtown neighborhood of the Pacific Palisades, where Tom Hanks and Jennifer Garner also reside.

The couple 49, met in 2013 when Farley was hired to produce a talk show with De Laurentiis and Bobby Flay.

The project never made it, but a romance between the two blossomed; they have been together for almost five years now

In 2018 she told People, 'I smile a lot more. After I got divorced, I spent about a year and a half alone, not dating, just figuring things out. I had been with Jades dad for 25 years. I didnt know what it meant to not be married. Once I got settled, [Shane and I] reconnected and I felt like a kid again.'

Her ex-husband: With Todd Thompson at the Moet Hennessy USA presents Let Them Eat Cake during the 2011 South Beach Wine and Food Festival in 2011

Giada was born in Rome, Italy, the eldest child of actress Veronica De Laurentiis and her first husband, actor-producer Alex De Benedetti.

De Benedetti was a close associate of Giada's maternal grandfather, film producer Dino De Laurentiis who worked on 1968's Barbarella.

Giada learned her cooking skills at her grandfather's restaurant, DDL Foodshow.

After her parents' divorce, Giada and her siblings moved to Southern California, where she eventually attended UCLA.

A good sign: Natalie Portman included Giada in a recent Instagram post

De Laurentiis next studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. When she came back to LA she started working at Spago which led to a show on the Food Network.

An acclaimed chef and cookbook author, Giada is best known as the host of Giada In Italy, Giada At Home, Everyday Italian, and Food Network Star.

She shares daughter Jade with her ex-husband Todd Thompson, who she was married to from 2003 to 2015.
Once again, the Customs community comes together, united in celebrating International Customs Day, which officially falls on 26 January of each year. This special day enables WCO Members, the WCO Secretariat and Customs worldwide partners to dedicate themselves to taking forward a particular theme. Thus, throughout 2020, under the slogan Customs fostering Sustainability for People, Prosperity and the Planet, the Customs community will be focusing on the contribution of Customs towards a sustainable future where social, economic, health and environmental needs are at the heart of its actions.

Indeed, Customs is uniquely mandated and positioned at borders to play a prominent role across the international supply chain, ensuring a sustainable, secure, and inclusive future for all. Therefore, with only 10 years left to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and given the direct links between Customs strategic mission and several of the SDGs, it is important for Customs to meet all the environmental, economic, health and social challenges while scaling up its ongoing efforts to respond effectively in a more proactive manner. Against this background, Customs contribution to sustainability can be categorized as follows:

Serving the People by building safe and secure societies. Customs plays a critical role in implementing regulations addressing the major social and economic challenges facing societies across the globe. They do this by promoting innovation through the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) and preventing sub-standard or counterfeit goods and products that infringe regulations from entering local markets, by fighting against transnational organized crime and terrorism, and by taking action against the trafficking of people, drugs, weapons and money laundering, among other serious offences.

Ensuring Prosperity by reducing trade barriers for just and inclusive societies. International trade plays a tremendous role in supporting a prosperous, sustainable and resilient society and economy. By streamlining its operations, Customs can reduce the time and cost of moving goods across borders and stimulate trade activities, thus increasing income and employment, as well as promoting national and foreign investment. Furthermore, by improving border effectiveness and, thus, trade operators competitiveness, Customs contributes to strengthening governance and stability. By taking strong action against commercial fraud and tax evasion, Customs also ensures that national governments are not deprived of critical revenues necessary to fund public infrastructure and services.

Protecting the Planet and ensuring its sustainability for future generations. Customs can contribute to the fight against climate change and provide enhanced environmental sustainability by supporting the effective implementation of various Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). Their objectives include addressing the illicit trade in hazardous waste and ozone-depleting substances, combating the illicit trade in endangered species, and preventing the spread of plant and animal diseases, as well as invasive alien species. Additionally, Customs may be tasked to ensure the effective collection of excise taxes on carbon emissions.

These various dimensions of sustainability underpin Customs contribution to achieving the 17 SDGs outlined in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In fact, the new vision of the WCO  Bringing Customs together for a safer and more prosperous world: Borders divide, Customs connects  that is enshrined in the Organizations Strategic Plan 2019-2022, highlights the role of Customs in securing borders, thereby contributing to economic prosperity, and unifying all actors along the entire supply chain.

Moreover, the 2019 WCO Environmental Scan highlights the fact that, in order to move towards a sustainable society whose development promotes a deep respect for the environment, Customs, in partnership with relevant stakeholders, must, wherever possible, perform its activities with a strong, sustainable mindset, and the WCO must focus, in particular, on setting a good example in this area. Thus, by means of various tools and specific programmes, the WCO is calling for various actions to be taken:

The implementation of the latest version of the WCO Harmonized System and related recommendations, the consistent and transparent application of Customs procedures and a pro-active approach by Customs to promote and facilitate simplification and harmonization of these procedures, while strengthening inter-agency cooperation.

The implementation of the international trade-related provisions of MEAs such as the Basel Convention, the Montreal Protocol, the Cartagena Protocol, the Rotterdam Convention, the Stockholm Convention, the World Heritage Convention, and the CITES Convention.

The implementation of risk management techniques and data analytics to facilitate trade, stimulate economic growth and attract foreign investment, thus contributing to the reduction of poverty.

The enlargement of the Digital Customs agenda with greater emphasis on the use of modern technologies, including a high-performance, paperless Single Window environment and a solid IT infrastructure.

The expeditious implementation of the WCO Framework of Standards on Cross-Border E-Commerce to leverage e-commerce opportunities in an inclusive manner, while effectively tackling the associated challenges.

The reduction in the impact of counterfeiting and piracy to prevent unfair competition and create an enabling environment where innovation and creativity can thrive.

The implementation of targeted approaches to improve integrity in Customs. The promotion of gender equality as an enabler for sustainable change and recognition of its multiplier effect in accelerating sustainable development.



By fulfilling its vision, mission and mandate, Customs can effectively contribute to the achievement of all 17 SDGs at the national level. Thus, Customs practices and methods should be aligned with the WCOs tools and instruments, which have been incorporated into several packages: the Revenue Package, the Economic Competitiveness Package, the Compliance and Enforcement Package, and the Organizational Development Package.

As in previous years, I am fully convinced that Customs administrations and the wider Customs community will rise to the occasion, fully committed to actively promoting their efforts and activities aimed at fostering Sustainability for People, Prosperity and the Planet that includes sharing relevant practices and activities with others at WCO meetings and in key WCO publications.

Wishing you all a happy International Customs Day!

Dr. Kunio Mikuriya

WCO Secretary General

24 January 2020
Sitaram Yechury, the general secretary of CPI(M), equated the PM Modi-led BJP government to the colonial rulers, over Home Minister Amit Shah's statement over the ongoing protests in the country. Amit Shah on Tuesday declared that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will not be rolled back at cost, despite the protests. 'This is what the British would say', Yechury said in response to the Home Minister's declaration.

In a tweet, Yechury on Thursday said, "The more that time is passing, this govt is appearing closer to the colonial rulers India has seen off. This is exactly what the British would say during the freedom struggle. And we know what happened." CPI(M) leaders including Brinda Karat, Yechury D Raja, Kanhaiya Kumar have been persistently participating in protests erupted across the country against the contentious Act.

Amit Shah on Tuesday said, "Let it be very loud and clear to our opponents that the citizenship law wont be rolled back at any cost, irrespective of the protests," Amit Shah said over CAA, which enables the government to grant citizenship to non-Muslims coming from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. "I have introduced this bill in the Lok Sabha. I want to tell the opposition that you should discuss this bill publicly. If it can take citizenship of any person, then prove it and show it."

READ| Owaisi takes up Amit Shah's CAA-NRC challenge; says, 'Debate with a bearded man'

CAA unrest in India

Addressing a rally in Uttar Pradesh' Lucknow, the Home Minister accused the Congress party and Opposition leaders--Rahul Gandhi, Trinamool supremo Mamata Banerjee, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and BSP's Mayawati for speaking up against the contentious CAA. His offer to debate was taken up by Asaduddin Owaisi and Akhilesh Yadav. "Why debate with them? Debate with me," reiterated AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday, in retaliation to Home Minister Amit Shah's challenge to debate

The death-toll of nation-wide protests against the contentious Act rose to 25. The Act that is seen as anti-Muslim by critics, led to the death of 18 people in Uttar Pradesh, five in Assam and two in Karnataka. Thousands of protesters including women and students have hit the streets to oppose the contentious act, in response to which, the BJP has been conducting awareness campaigns.

READ| 'They're not afraid of you either': Kapil Sibal on Amit Shah's 'not afraid of protests'

READ| Modi should do 'Naukri Par Charcha', listen to people: Yechury
The global space debris monitoring and removal market is expected to grow by USD 610.47 million during 2020-2024, according to the latest market research report by Technavio. Request a free sample report

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005126/en/

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled global space debris monitoring and removal market 2020-2024. (Graphic: Business Wire)

The concept of space tourism is gaining traction in the aerospace industry owing to rapid technological advances coupled with several successful space missions. Companies such as Virgin Galactic, SpaceX, and Blue Origin are showing keen interest in the space tourism. For instance, Virgin Galactic's Virgin Orbit received the license from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the first launch of its LauncherOne vehicle. Similarly, in 2019, the United Arab Emirates Space Agency introduced its plans to introduce space tourism. With growing investments in space tourism, the need for removing space debris becomes crucial.

To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR40622

As per Technavio, the high energy laser concept for debris removal will have a positive impact on the market and contribute to its growth significantly over the forecast period. This research report also analyzes other significant trends and market drivers that will influence market growth over 2020-2024.

Space Debris Monitoring and Removal Market: High energy laser concept for debris removal

A team of international scientists in Japan's RIKEN are planning to engage a super-wide field-of-view telescope to detect space debris and employ a high-efficiency laser system, the coherent amplifying network (CAN) laser, to monitor and remove them from orbit. The CAN laser consists of many small lasers that work together to generate a single powerful beam. This beam vaporizes a thin film of matter off the surface of debris, and the resulting high-speed plasma pushes the debris downward and away from the space station to eventually burn up in Earth's atmosphere. Such developments in space debris management are expected to have a positive impact on the market during the forecast period.

"Emerging ADR concepts and the development of self-replicating robots for debris removal will further boost market growth during the forecast period", says a senior analyst at Technavio.

Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports

Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform

Global Space Debris Monitoring and Removal Market: Segmentation Analysis

This market research report segments the global space debris monitoring and removal market by application (space debris removal technology and space debris monitoring technology), and geography (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America and South America).

The North America region led the space debris monitoring and removal market in 2019, followed by Europe, APAC, MEA and South America. During the forecast period, the North America region is expected to register the highest incremental growth due to the various initiatives undertaken by the US government to establish a space force and implement new policies for space traffic control.

Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report, such as the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more.

Request a free sample report

Some of the key topics covered in the report include:

Application

Space debris removal technology

Space debris monitoring technology

Geographic segmentation

APAC

Europe

MEA

North America

South America

Market Drivers

Market Challenges

Market Trends

Vendor Landscape

Vendors covered

Vendor classification

Market positioning of vendors

Competitive scenario

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005126/en/

Contacts:

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: media@technavio.com

Website: https://www.technavio.com/
The Disney+ and Lucasfilm streaming epic "The Mandalorian" wasn't filmed in far-off Tunisia, Jordan, Bolivia or Croatia, like films part of the traditional movie canon.

Rather, the first season for "The Mandalorian," which consisted of eight episodes, mostly at a half-hour each, was filmed almost entirely on a Southern California soundstage.

Not that you would know that by watching the show, as Lucasfilm's Kathleen Kennedy said back in November. The shoots, as she explained, incorporated a particular type of technology that creates realistic but virtual high-definition backgrounds around actors on a soundstage.

"It basically is a projection system on screens, and the real innovation is that when you move the camera inside this space, the parallax changes," she said. "So suddenly you're in an environment that actually begins to behave in the same way it would in an actual 3D environment like this."

Not only does the tech  called "Stagecraft"  make it easier to control conditions, it's also far, far cheaper for production.

"It means that if you want a big establishing shot in Iceland, and you dont want to take 700 people, spend four months prepping a set because you only want to do the establishing shot and you can bring everything back to shoot interiors on a stage, that becomes very meaningful on big, huge projects and small projects," she continued.

Executive Producer Jon Favreau and Director Deborah Chow worked with a company called Magnopus for the production  the same group Favreau worked with for "Lion King"  and used the tech to do "virtual scouts" of locations to be in the show. Chow explained that during these scouts, she and the project's producers and designers would "all be in headsets together flying around the same set," discussing various scenes and landscapes.

It was a singular acting experience for "Mandalorian" antagonist Giancarlo Esposito (who plays Moff Gideon), as he said in an interview with Collider.

"Finally we have a [Star Wars] piece that for the first time ever is shot outside of a London studio," he said. "Jon Favreaus brilliant. Technically, this show has a new technology [thats] never really [been] refined as much as it is right now. Were in a place called The Volume, where we do most of our acting, where set pieces are brought in, where we can control the physical atmosphere of what is projected on the walls and control how gravity is; you get a feeling that gravity is being played with."

"The Mandalorian" is streaming now on Disney+.

Alyssa Pereira is an SFGate digital editor. Email: alyssa.pereira@sfgate.com | Twitter: @alyspereira


Russia is ready to issue compensation to Belarusian refineries for delivering contaminated oil through the Druzhba pipeline last year, Russian Ambassador to Minsk Dmitry Mezentsev said on Thursday

MINSK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd January, 2020) Russia is ready to issue compensation to Belarusian refineries for delivering contaminated oil through the Druzhba pipeline last year, Russian Ambassador to Minsk Dmitry Mezentsev said on Thursday.

The Druzhba pipeline is used to export oil from Russia to Europe via Belarus. Last April, it was discovered that the oil was contaminated with chlorides, which resulted in the temporary suspension of transit. However, Belarus said it had received millions of tonnes of contaminated oil before imports were halted, and that the situation caused damage to its refineries. Oil transit was fully restored on July 1.

"In accordance with the request and documented losses incurred by Belarusian refineries in connection with the low-quality oil deliveries in 2019, the Russian side is ready to compensate for the damage.

In this case, such a position indicates our commitment to our allied relations," Mezentsev said in a statement.

The ambassador added that optimal solutions to problems related to the supply of oil and gas to Belarus would be found in the near future.

On Monday, the press service of the Belarusian government told Sputnik that Minsk and Moscow had reached an agreement on the approaches and methods of compensation to be used with regard to the tainted oil. The announcement came after the talks between then-Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak and Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Igor Lyashenko on issues of cooperation in the oil sector, which were held on January 16.
Lord Howard of Lympne is hopeful that there would be increased transfer of knowledge, and cooperation in trade and investment between the BCC (UK) and the SVGCIC (SVG).

A veteran British Politician is hoping for stronger links between the Caribbean and his country.





Michael Howard, who in 2010 entered the House of Lords as Baron Howard of Lympne, fulfilled what he termed a "long awaited visit to St. Vincent and the Grenadines last Tuesday.





He addressed members of this countrys Chamber of Industry and Commerce (SVGCIC) at a Business Luncheon held at Sunset Shores Hotel, last Tuesday.





The session leveraging the business relationship between the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) and the SVGCIC.





Lord Howard, who holds an Honorary position on the British Chamber of Commerce, used the opportunity to allay fears about disruption in trade as a consequence of Brexit. He assured that Britains departure from the European Union hardly affected anything.





He posited that "not very much will differ, given that the United Kingdom will be bound for the rest of this year by decisions already taken.





Lord Howard is anticipating that whatever adjustments have to be made, that it would lead to a "closer and deeper relationship.





He was buoyed by the extent of interaction the two nations shared, and was anxious for improvement in the transfer of knowledge, and cooperation in trade and investment.





Turning to matters related to the environment. the former politician, who served as Leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of the Opposition from November 2003 to December 2005, pointed to collaboration between the University of Glasgow and the University of the West Indies and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre.





Lord Howard stressed the importance of environmental safety, and pledged his countrys commitment to healthy surroundings.





He, however, expressed disappointment that the Commonwealth was not used to its full extent.





It is expected that the British Chamber of Commerce will collaborate with Invest SVG in connection with proposals for expansion in business exercises.
ANN ARBOR, MI - Some parents in northeast Ann Arbor say theyre frustrated with Ann Arbor Public Schools bus service to their neighborhood.

Buses have run behind this week, they said, leaving some students waiting outside in frigid weather for them to get there.

For instance, only a small portion of parents in the neighborhood were aware the bus was running late Wednesday morning, Jan. 22, parent Brittany Bennion said, because they didnt have access to a smartphone app alerting them to changes in the bus progress on their route.

Its the second time in the last two weeks the bus has showed up more than a half hour late, Bennion said, expressing concern for dozens of children left standing out in the cold.

The neighborhood also is comprised of children from families in University of Michigan student housing on North Campus, Bennion said, with numerous parents needing to leave for work or school before the bus even arrives.

Weve got refugees, weve got people in an international community where theyve never experienced the type of exposure that the Michigan winter breeds, said Bennion, who has three children attending A2 STEAM school. So, a lot of them are ill prepared to have their children wait outside for an undetermined amount of time because theyre not being communicated to properly.

Because of the demographics of the neighborhood and the cultural differences, people dont always have access to the smartphone app, parents said. And the app is the only notification system they have for keeping track of bus delays, they said.

And A2 STEAM parent Shelby Hansen said she has experienced technical issues with the app.

The app wouldnt let me log in (Wednesday)," Hansen said. "It only works about half of the time. How am I supposed to know if the bus is going to come or not? It cant be the only means of communication for these families.

Bennion, who tracked the bus on the app provided by the districts transportation vendor, Durham School Services, saw a notification sent out at 7:37 a.m. that the bus was going to be running 25 minutes late.

At around 8 a.m., Bennion said she got another notification from Durham that another bus was dispatched, with the app estimating it would arrive in about six to seven minutes, but it actually took about 15 minutes to arrive, putting the overall delay at approximately 38 minutes, in addition to children who were waiting outside the bus prior to the first notification.

Ann Arbor Public Schools Executive Director of Student and School Safety Liz Margolis sent a message to neighborhood parents Thursday, Jan. 23, apologizing for the bus running late, noting the driver of their bus called in sick just prior to a run to Huron High School and a substitute driver was placed on the route.

Due to the late start of the bus to pick up Huron High students and rush hour traffic, the bus was delayed Margolis said, causing Durham to send another bus to pick up A2 STEAM students at Northwood and Stone.

Unfortunately sometimes we do experience delays in picking up students due to unforeseen circumstances, Margolis said. We always encourage AAPS families to use the Bus Tracker app. It is a free app that parents and students can download on their mobile phones or computers that provides accurate on-time routing of the buses.

Margolis confirmed the Bus Tracker app was working Wednesday and reflected the late arrival for A2 STEAM students. She added that on the rare occasion that severe weather hits, the Bus Tracker may not be able to keep up with all the route delays, but a general delay notice will be listed for students route if that occurs.

Beyond using the app, Margolis said parents can contact the transportation dispatch office at 734-994-2330 and the transportation staff can provide up to date information on a students bus route arrival time.

Bennion said she would like different options for all parents to be able to monitor the progress of the childs bus routes.

Only using one source to distribute this information is discriminating against the families who dont have access to this technology, Bennion said. A simple email and robocall doesnt seem like a difficult thing to ask for to help ensure the safety of these kids.

See school closings for Washtenaw, Livingston counties Friday, Jan. 24

Pre-Labor Day start being eyed by Washtenaw County schools

How to apply for the open Ann Arbor Public Schools board seat
Spain's hybrid government has already started splashing the cash, with Socialist premier Pedro Sanchez announcing another hike in the country's minimum wage this week.

This is in addition to a 22% increase in the minimum wage made last year, a new 2% raise in the salaries of the dreaded "funcionarios" - those overlords of pointless paperwork, always ready to deny you documentation for the most inane reasons - and the pensions boost of 0.9% announced last week.

It looks like Sanchez's minority administration, also comprised of leftist Podemos, is passing new laws with ease, despite being 21 seats short of a parliamentary majority.

But none of these decisions have had to go through or will have to go through congress. Instead, they have been or can be passed directly by royal decree after cabinet approval - a handy shortcut for a minority administration.

In other words, the new government's ability to secure cross-party support for new legislation has yet to be tested.

The true test of how well the new Socialist-Podemos arrangement works will be passing a budget - a task which Sanchez, in his first TV interview as Spain's new president this week, promised would be completed "before the end of the summer". And his ability to do that, even to such a relaxed deadline, depends on how he gets on with Catalan premier Quim Torra.

Sanchez looked sharp in his first TV interview since reclaiming the helm of Spain's government, although his two questioners didn't throw many curve balls his way. They did, however, point out a couple of dramatic reversals of policy recently made by the Socialist leader, one regarding his attitude towards Torra and the other concerning his willingness to cooperate with Iglesias.

Towards the end of last year, courting votes from centrist voters hostile to the Catalan independence drive, Sanchez refused to answer Torra's phone calls. He also said that working with Podemos' leader would be unfeasible, as Iglesias is further to the left than the Socialist premier on many issues.

But Sanchez held his own when quizzed about the U-turn, revealing an apparently newfound belief in compromise.

"In politics, reality comes before your wishes," he said.

Up until very recently, it seemed to be precisely the other way around for Spain's politicians.

Sanchez has announced that he'll be visiting Torra in Barcelona next month to discuss possible solutions to the Catalonia problem.

That meeting will be watched very closely by the pro-independence Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC), which abstained at Sanchez's investiture session on the condition that the Socialist leader open talks with Catalan secessionists.

Now, the ERC's crucial budget votes - or abstentions, at least - depend on Sanchez's largely-untested negotiating skills.

Despite the public spending increases squeezed through by royal decree, the hard work is only just beginning for Spain's new government.
January 24 : Rohit Shettys desi police film Sooryavanshi, starring Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif, will hit the screens in March 2020. Meanwhile, director Shetty has collaborated with videsi police blockbuster Bad Boys For Life.

Taking to his Instagram handle, Akshay Kumar shared a video clip in which we can see Rohit Shetty promoting Hollywood action film Bad Boys For Life, starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. The blockbuster of 2020 is the third installment in the Hollywood franchise. In the video clip, Rohit Shetty is seen introducing the film Bad Boys For Life. We also get to see a glimpse of his three desi copsAkshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh and Ajay Devgn, who were part of Rohit Shetty's Police Universe films.

Sharing the video clip, Akshay cleverly said that while the desi police will come on March 27 with lots of action, now its time to meet the videsi police in Bad Boys For Life, which will release across the globe on January 31, 2020.

Helmed by Rohit Shetty and produced by him and Karan Johar, Sooryavanshi is Rohits fourth film focusing on police action. The film is slated to release on March 27, 2020.
Storyful

An affable deer created somewhat of a buzz in a neighborhood near Salt Lake City, Utah, he regularly visited over the holiday period.The deer, nicknamed Cooper by local residents, has been playing with children in the neighborhood of Herriman and was even spotted posing for photos, reports said.Herriman resident Angelica Lujan recorded footage of the tame deer interacting with her children outside of her home on South Rowell Drive.Speaking to KSTU, a Utah Division of Wildlife Resources representative said despite the deers friendly attitude, the best thing for the animal is for people to leave him alone.People dont realize these beautiful, cute deer can be aggressive as they get older. Weve had times in the past where these friendly deer, they do get aggressive, said Scott Root, Conservation Outreach Manager, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.Weve had kids hurt at bus stops. Bad things happen when we feed deer in a residential area, Root added. Credit: Angelica Lujan via Storyful
Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh visited forward posts on the Line of Control (LoC) to review the overall security scenario in the Kashmir Valley, defence spokesman at northern command said on Friday.

The Army Commander accompanied by the Chinar Corps Commander Lt Gen KJS Dhillon visited formations along the LoC in forward areas of Kupwara District, he said.

He was briefed on development works, counter infiltration grid and operational preparedness.

The commander was appreciative of the measures and Standard Operating Procedures instituted by the units and formations to meet the challenges posed by the inimical elements.

During his interaction with the troops he spoke about their selfless service and applauded their motivation and high spirits in such difficult and challenging climatic conditions.

He also applauded the Army's efforts towards providing assistance to the Awam in such rough weather conditions.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Queen Mandalas Adult Coloring Book: a delightful 50-page coloring book that gives everyone a chance to escape with their imaginations and free themselves from lifes stresses. Queen Mandalas Adult Coloring Book is the creation of published author Alicia Follmer, a young artist who attends Metro Community College. Because of her struggle with dyslexia, she takes classes one at a time, or sometimes two; any more and its too much work and pressure. She was born in Nebraska, USA, and grew up in a nice old town near Omaha. This is her first adult coloring book.

Follmer shares, Each page that you will be coloring was hand drawn by me. I start by drawing lightly with a pencil then go over it with a black pen. The drawings took me a year to create and three months to retouch. There are fifty pages in this adult coloring book for you to have fun with and relax coloring. You can be an artist too, as you color the mandalas in this book. Let your creativity flourish.

I came up with the title, Queen Mandala, because I thought it would be funny that my book is the queen of all other mandala coloring books. (Although I believe everybody elses coloring books are lovely as well!)

The idea for the mandalas was from my love of drawing and making patterns. There are some pages that represent different kinds of abstract flowers, while others represent the sun, and some other represent nature. The outline on page 31 was drawn by my dad, which I finished up.

When I was creating this coloring book, I thought this would help people relax, sink into their own imagination, and escape for a while, away from whatever they are going through in life.

The cover of the book was hand drawn by me. My boyfriends father colored the left half of the mandala cover. Then, I placed it into Photoshop to brighten up the colors. God bless!

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Alicia Follmers new book is a beautiful key to stress relief and relaxation, while at the same time flourishing ones creativity through coloring pages of intricately drawn mandalas.

View a synopsis of Queen Mandalas Adult Coloring Book on YouTube.

Consumers can purchase Queen Mandalas Adult Coloring Book at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

For additional information or inquiries about Queen Mandalas Adult Coloring Book, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919.
U.S. billionaire and liberal activist George Soros has pledged $1 billion to help create a new university network to aid civil society in a world increasingly ruled by what he says are "would-be and actual dictators," aiming blistering criticism at the U.S., Russian, and Chinese leaders.



The 89-year-old philanthropist said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on January 23 that the effort will be the "most important and most enduring project of my life."



Soros said humanity was at a turning point and that the next few years would determine the fate of rulers like President Donald Trump and China's Xi Jinping, as well as of the world itself.



"We live at a transformational moment in history. The survival of open societies is endangered and we face an even greater crisis: climate change," the Hungarian-born billionaire said.



Soros expressed sadness that the world's biggest powers -- the United States, China, and Russia under President Vladimir Putin -- were "in the hands of would-be or actual dictators, and the ranks of authoritarian rulers continued to grow."



Soros has been a vocal critic of Trump, telling reporters at the end of a speech that the U.S. president was a "con man," the "ultimate narcissist," and a "climate denier."



Soros also assailed Trump's economic policies, saying he "has managed to overheat an already buoyant economy. An overheated economy can't be kept at the boiling point for too long."



"If all this happened close to the election, it would have assured his election. His problem is that the election is still 10 months away and, in a revolutionary situation, that's a lifetime."



Soros said his new project, called the Open Society University Network, would be an international platform for teaching and research that existing universities throughout the world would be able to join.



He said it would aim to reach out to "places in need of high-quality education and in serving neglected populations," such as refugees, prisoners, the Roma, and other displaced peoples like the Rohingya Muslim minority in Burma.



Many right-wing populist leaders of Central and Eastern Europe have attacked Soros for promoting liberal causes in their countries.



Soros's Central European University was forced to leave Hungary after pressure from the government of far-right Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has angrily denounced Soros on many occasions.



Soros said the "biggest and most frightening setback" to civil society globally was in India, where he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "creating a Hindu nationalist state."



Soros expressed alarm over China's Xi, who he said had concentrated power around himself, attempting to create "a new type of authoritarian system and a new type of human being, who is willing to surrender his personal autonomy in order to stay out of trouble."

With reporting by AFP, AP, and dpa
GRINNELL, Iowa - John Russell is a man of many skills. But art, he feared, was not one of them.

On a recent icy morning, he paced inside a barn that had been converted into an art studio, trying to raise his courage - or at least his paintbrush - to begin tackling his latest effort to help Elizabeth Warren win the presidency: a gigantic hand-painted sign destined for a cornfield of a Floyd County farmer in rural northern Iowa.

Russell, the Warren campaign's rural-outreach coordinator in Iowa, had no prior experience in the art of sign painting.

"Absolutely none," he said.

But with a mock flourish, Russell, who wore a white plastic zip-up painters coverall to protect his clothes, moved toward his canvas. "This is what the Iowa caucus demands," he declared. "We're going to get creative."

The 29-year-old from Galena, Ohio, has been working for the Massachusetts Democrat's campaign since last April, when he decided to sell his farming equipment and move to Iowa. He lives in an apartment above a biker bar in Webster City, a town of about 8,000 an hour north of Des Moines, working for a candidate he believes will stop the systemic corruption that hurts small towns like the one he came from.

Last spring, he launched listening sessions in parts of the state where candidates rarely go. He put up fliers in small-town convenience stores and chatted up patrons at the local bars on Warren's behalf, many of them Trump voters. Plenty were skeptical, but he's still trying.

Russell has spent time in towns so small that he said he had "perfected" the art of cooking ramen noodles on camping equipment while parked outside a darkened public library, where he used the free Internet to check his email at night in areas where cellular service is spotty.

He put in about 6,000 miles a month driving around Iowa in his truck - a four-door, extended-cab 2018 Chevrolet Colorado with a 2.8-liter diesel engine, the one he used to use on the farm - until it broke down last fall. When there was a six-week backlog on the parts needed, the local Chevy dealer loaned him an Impala, which he drove until his truck was fixed.

"I don't know if the dealer is going to be reading this story, but that rental car traversed some pretty treacherous Iowa farm driveways and roads," he said. "Needless to say, it was not a four-wheel-drive, so that caused some issues."

While Warren's agenda and her calls for "big structural change" might draw more fans in places such as Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, which tend to be more liberal, the senator invested early and heavily in a field operation focused on winning over more sparsely populated parts of Iowa, gambling on the idea that trying to reach those voters could generate some support in a fluid race in which every delegate matters.

"We make it a point on the campaign to compete for votes everywhere," Russell said. "Everybody deserves representation, right? But doing 5 or 10 or 15 percent better in these rural areas? If we can do that everywhere, if we can replicate that, that's going to spell out the kind of numbers it takes to win."

For months, Russell visited farmers and held his listening sessions in rural areas. When Warren visited, he told her where to go to talk about rural policy, sending her to places such as Ringgold County, one of the poorest and most rural parts of Iowa, convinced that her message about affordable housing, universal child care and expanding economic opportunity would impress residents who have felt left behind by Washington.

Russell knows the pain of watching a community struggle. He came from a small town where jobs had been slowly sucked away by the collapse of the steel industry. Then the opioid epidemic came, opening another chapter of despair. Five of his friends died of overdoses. "It's just like, enough is enough," he said.

Russell began organizing, trying to elect Democrats to state and local offices, and even embarked on a failed bid for Congress in 2018, determined to change the trajectory of his town. When Warren announced her presidential bid, he decided to go all in. "That's how I got to Iowa," he said.

It is unclear whether Warren's big gamble on her Iowa ground game will pay off in the state's Feb. 3 caucuses. But Russell and other organizers have worked for months to turn out voters in small Republican-leaning towns by pointing out that they weren't the only Democrats in their communities.

Now, on the eve of the caucuses, they are trying to convince those Democrats who are considering Warren that they aren't the only ones supporting the senator.

And that's how Russell ended up painting signs that will end up in farm fields across the state in coming days, a final step of persuasion. "It is about saying you aren't alone out there," he said. "This is the visual embodiment of that. I don't think they are a big deal in any way, but it so nice [to have someone] drive by and say, 'Oh my gosh, in a cornfield of a guy I know whose politics are a mystery to me, there are Warren signs.' " That could, he argued, make a difference in turning out voters in a tight race.

But first, he had to paint them, and Russell was nervous about it. His canvass was a 4-by-6-foot piece of plywood, already painted in Warren's signature campaign color of liberty green - the result of "some serious haggling," he explained, with the paint specialist at Menards. "It's got to look like the Statue of Liberty," he'd told him, presenting a photo of Lady Liberty herself on his iPhone. "Turns out you really can't color-match that way," he said, but it worked out in the end.

And as Russell slowly painted inside the outlines of the letters spelling out the name "WARREN" in navy blue, he thought of the other signs he had dreamed up - including a Burma-Shave style series of signs that would spell out the words "Hope Over Fear," one of Warren's closing arguments here in Iowa.

Could he do it? Russell paused and thought about Bob Ross, the public-television painter who calmly taught a generation of amateur Picassos to be OK with a smudge here and there.

"No mistakes," Russell said, his paintbrush sliding back and forth. "Happy accidents."
Global leaders expressed hope for better economic growth with lesser trade tensions and a safer planet with commitments to work in areas like climate change, as the 50th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum ended here on Friday.

In the closing session, IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said the world is a better place today but economic growth still remains sluggish, though the momentum is expected to pick pace.

She also said the Indian economy is expected to bounce back, while she named Indonesia and Vietnam as the new bright spots in the emerging world, a place earlier occupied by India.

Borge Brende, President of World Economic Forum (WEF), in his closing remarks said the 50th annual meeting has been truly remarkable.

"It was remarkable due to the real progress that we created together on a spectrum of issues, on public/private collaboration, which is crucial.

"We laid the basis for a decade of delivery. The National Business Council, incorporating 140 of the world's largest companies, agreed to support efforts to develop a core set of common metrics and disclosures that could be used to measure private sector progress against key environmental, social and governance goals," Brende said.

He also drew attention to initiatives to promote entrepreneurship in Africa, work with the OECD to promote inclusive and sustainable growth globally, the introduction of a reskilling revolution and many other key deliverables and commitments.

"On civil society, the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship announced that its community has improved the lives of more than 622 million people in 190 countries since 2000," said Brende. "A new multi-stakeholder effort aimed at supporting efforts to grow, conserve and restore 1 trillion trees by the end of the decade was announced."

"A new multi-stakeholder partnership - SDG 500 - was launched to mobilise $500 million towards achieving the SDGs in emerging markets to a series of six blended finance funds.

"Last, but extremely important, CEPI (the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations) today announced three programmes to develop vaccines against the Coronavirus," he added.
A landscape in Wales which once provided a third of all slate used for buildings across the globe has been nominated for world heritage status.

The so-called Slate Landscape of Snowdonia could be ranked alongside other Unesco sites such as Stonehenge, the Grand Canyon and Great Wall of China.

The slate mines and quarries of the area 'roofed the world' in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The so-called Slate Landscape of Snowdonia could be ranked alongside other Unesco sites such as Stonehenge, the Grand Canyon and Great Wall of China

The slate mines and quarries around communities such as Blaenau Ffestiniog and Bethesda 'roofed the world' in the 18th and 19th centuries

Slate has been quarried in North Wales for more than 1,800 years but it was not until the Industrial Revolution that demand surged.

By the 1890s around 17,000 people were employed in the industry, mining 485,000 tons of slate a year.

The landscape includes seven quarries and mines around communities such as Blaenau Ffestiniog and Bethesda.

Some quarries still operate.

If successful, the Slate Landscape will become the UK's 33rd Unesco World Heritage Site, and the fourth in Wales

The site will be reviewed by experts before being considered at a Unesco committee meeting in 2021

If successful, the Slate Landscape will become the UK's 33rd Unesco World Heritage Site, and the fourth in Wales.

Welsh heritage minister Helen Whately hailed 'the incredible slate landscape' after submitting a formal nomination.

The site will be reviewed by experts before being considered at a Unesco committee meeting in 2021.
How is Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge dealing with Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussexs decision to exit the royal family? While Prince William and Kate havent officially responded to the news that Meghan and Prince Harry are taking a step back from their royal duties, a body language expert believes that Kate has exhibited signs that shes sad about the Sussexes exit.

Prince William and Kate Middleton | Yui Mok  WPA Pool/Getty Images

Prince Harry and Meghan Markles exit was approved by the queen

When Prince Harry and Meghan announced their plans to leave the royal family, there was some drama surrounding what would happen. Queen Elizabeth called a special meeting with Prince Harry, Prince William, and Prince Charles to work through the specifics, then issued a statement in support of their plan.

The queen noted: Following many months of conversations and more recent discussions, I am pleased that together we have found a constructive and supportive way forward for my grandson and his family. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved members of my family. I recognise the challenges they have experienced as a result of intense scrutiny over the last two years and support their wish for a more independent life.

Kate appears sadder after the exit decision

No one really knows what goes on behind the palace doors, but its interesting to look for hints that may reveal how everyone involved is dealing with Prince Harry and Meghans exit drama.

Body language expert Judi James broke down Kates gestures at a recent event with Prince William and found that the Duchess of Cambridge might be upset, especially given how close shes been with Prince Harry over the years.

The Cambridges hosted the UK-Africa Investment Summit reception at Buckingham Palace and both were on full display so it was easy to analyze their body language.

James shared with Express how Kate was professional at the event, which was attended by Sophie Wessex, Prince Edward, and Princess Anne. Kate laughed with Sophie and seemed friendly with guests, but some of her quieter moments were revealing.

James told Express: Like the Queen, Kates signature charisma involves continuity, meaning she tends to provide unchanging body language that is always upbeat, smiling and professional.

James added: Her personal sadness at Harrys exit must be quite deep as the pair always seemed close, with Harry making Kate uncharacteristically giggly on many royal outings. But her overall demeanor as she supports her husband on his first solo hosting spot at the palace looks as calmly smiling as always.

The body language expert did find some sadder moments, noting: In between the smiles and laughter, though, there are a couple of glimpses of a sadder, more reflective facial expression, both in the car and just before she enters the room to go on the royal stage, that might reveal some clues about her true emotions.

Will Prince William and Kate have to pick up the slack now?

With Prince Harry and Meghan leaving their royal duties behind, there are concerns that the Cambridges will have to pick up the slack, as a palace source told The Mirror: Harry and Meghan deciding to up sticks and leave without any thought about how it could affect them is pretty selfish.

The source added: If the Sussexes are only here half the year then it will fall to William and Kate to pick up the slack with more engagements, more pressure, and that has not even been considered.

Express further reports that the Cambridges may have to to take on more responsibility, and Kate may find herself stretched between home and work in her daily life.
Chicago, Illinois, Jan. 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Michael Podgurski, a third-year student at UIC John Marshall Law School in Chicago, has been awarded the C.B. King Award from the National Lawyers Guild.

The C.B. King Award is given in honor of Chevene Bowers King, who was one of the countrys most prominent and courageous civil rights lawyers. For more than thirty years, King practiced law in Albany, Georgia, where he was a major figure in the civil rights movement. He was well-known for his courage, courtroom eloquence, and legal skills in the face of tremendous adversity, including violent opposition during the civil rights movement in Georgia.

Each year, the National Lawyers Guild selects one student for this honor. Podgurski, who currently serves as co-president of the UIC John Marshall chapter of the National Lawyers Guild and volunteers as a legal observer coordinator for the National Lawyers Guilds Chicago chapter, was selected for the award based on his relentless dedication to community work.

Before entering law school, Podgurski led Know Your Rights workshops as a member of First Defense Legal Aids Street Law Corps. During law school, he has interned with the Hamilton Law Office and Uptown Peoples Law Center.

The National Lawyers Guild is the nations oldest and largest progressive bar association and was the first in the U.S. to be racially integrated. Its mission is to use law for the people, uniting lawyers, law students, legal workers and jailhouse lawyers to function as an effective force in the service of the people by valuing human rights and the rights of ecosystems over property interests.

Miller McDonald

UIC John Marshall Law School

312.427.2737 x 554

mmcdona@uic.edu


Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed that Israel will always be grateful to Ukrainians for their help and support to the Jewish people during the Holocaust tragedy.

"Yesterday we celebrated a landmark event in the history of our peoples, our soldiers and those allies who gave their lives and became victims of that terrible tragedy. We honored the memory of those who died in Auschwitz in a concentration camp. Many of them were from the Soviet Union. We will be boundlessly and eternally grateful to you for the support that you provided to the Jewish people in confronting these terrible crimes and tragedies," he said before meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Jerusalem on Friday.
Bulls held their reigns for the second consecutive day on Friday, as decisively stayed in the positive territory after a mild blip in the early morning trade. The pre-budget rally and decent Q3 results throughout the day were the biggest factors that drove the today. Banking counters were leading the charge from the front with becoming the biggest contributor toward's today's gain, ahead of its December quarter results tomorrow.

At close, the S&P settled at 41,613 level, up 227 points or 0.55 per cent. UltraTech Cement, L&T, & Tech Mahindra were the top gainers on the 30-share index, while Power Grid, IndusInd Bank, and Reliance Industries were the top laggards.

On the NSE, the reclaimed the 12,250-mark in the intra-day trade today and hit a high of 12,272. The 50-share index ended 68 points, or 0.56 per cent, higher at 12,248-mark.

Broader continued their outperformance on Friday as well, with the S&P mid-cap index hitting its fresh 52-week high on the back of a strong rally in consumption-driven stocks. AU Small Finance Bank, ICICI Securities and Indraprastha Gas from the midcap index hit their respective all-time highs, while Amara Raja Batteries, MRF, Page Industries, Tata Chemicals, Torrent Power and Voltas touched their 52-week highs. At close, the index was at 15,826 level, up 0.8 per cent.

The S&P small-cap index, meanwhile, settled 0.5 per cent higher at 14,848.49.

Among the stocks that actively traded today:

>> Shares of climbed 10 per cent to Rs 45 on the BSE, recording its sharpest intra-day gain in the past month. The stock has rallied 17 per cent in the past two days after State Bank of India Chairman said hes certain some solutions will emerge to steady At close, the stock was 4.4 per cent higher at Rs 43 apiece.

>> Besides, gained 1.8 per cent to Rs 96.55 apiece in the intra-day trade today, ahead of its December quarter, scheduled to be released later in the day. Analysts at Edelweiss Securities expect the asset quality to spring in some volatility given the exposure to few of the stressed groups.

>> On the downside, shares of slipped 14 per cent on the BSE after media reports suggested that Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board of India has sent a notice to the company for failing to disclose crucial information regarding a scheme of arrangement with Adani Enterprises. The company later clarified that it had responded to the regulator "with all required information to close the matter". At close, the stock erased its entire loss to settle 1.4 per cent higher.

In corporate news, the Supreme Court on Friday stayed the NCLAT's order dismissing the Registrar of Companies' plea seeking modification of its verdict in the Tata- matter. The SC bench agreed to hear Tata Sons' appeal and issued notice to the parties concerned.

Here is how the global markets traded today:

Asian shares steadied today in holiday-thinned trade for the Lunar New Year. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.12 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei gained 0.13 per cent.

Trade in Asia was already slowing down for the Lunar New Year holiday, with financial markets in mainland China, Taiwan and South Korea closed on Friday.

In Europe, focus was back on PMI readings from major economies in the region after the World Health Organization stopped short of calling the virus outbreak in China a global emergency. The pan-European STOXX 600 climbed 0.8 per cent by 1:40 pm.
CLEVELAND, Ohio  Cleveland police Chief Calvin Williams apologized Thursday to the family of a 13-year-old girl killed during a police chase, but fervently argued against calls for the department to end pursuits altogether.

Williams said during a Community Police Commission meeting that he regretted not offering condolences sooner to the family of Tamia Chappman who died Dec. 20 after she was struck by a car involved in a police chase into East Cleveland. The girls cousin and two attorneys representing her family attended the meeting at New Fellowship Baptist Church in Cleveland.

This should not have happened, and we deeply apologize for being involved in it as Cleveland police officers, he told approximately 75 people gathered for the meeting.

But Williams delivered a fiery response to a suggestion that officers should not pursue suspects. He argued that it would embolden criminals if officers do not chase and try to arrest them.

Do we want to give [criminals] free reign to do anything they want? he asked the crowd.

Williams told those in attendance that the police department is still reviewing the chase. He pledged a thorough investigation, and bristled at the notion that his department was trying to cover up anything. He also said he believes in holding his own officers accountable when they violate city policies or break laws.

If our guys are doing something wrong, Im the first one to say fire their behinds, or put them in jail, he said.

Tamias family remains heartbroken by her death, her cousin Eileen Cunningham said during the meeting. The girls mother, Sherrie Chappman, hopes the police department takes a critical look at the chase and learns from it, Cunningham said.

She never, ever wants another person to experience what she and her family went through because of this chase, Cunningham said.

Attorneys for the The Cochran Firm, who are representing the Chappman family, also said during the meeting that they are hopeful the department can improve its chase policies to prevent further deaths.

Tamia, who family members referred to as Mimi, was walking to East Cleveland Public Library when a car at the center of the police chase struck her. The car was stolen at gunpoint outside a Target on Clevelands West Side.

Two 15-year-old boys are charged with murder and other offenses in connection with the carjacking, chase and deadly crash. They have denied the charges and remain in custody at the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Detention Center.

Williams and others in attendance stressed the need to address the issues that led to the chase. Several suggested more after-school programs to keep teens off the streets; others said adults must do a better job of mentoring children.

We need to look at the bigger picture, so to speak, Williams said. We need to look at some of the issues that caused these problems in the first place.

Cleveland polices history of pursuits have drawn nationwide scrutiny in recent years. That criticism culminated in a Nov. 29, 2012 chase that involved 62 police cruisers chasing a car into East Cleveland. Thirteen Cleveland police officers then unloaded 137 shots, killing an unarmed Malissa Williams and Timothy Russell. The incident served as the catalyst for Cleveland Mayor Frank Jacksons request that the then-Obama Justice Department examine the departments blemished history of unconstitutional policing practices.

The study uncovered decades of police wrongdoing and the city of Cleveland entered into a still-active, binding federal agreement to reform the department from the ground up. The 137 shots case also led the department to update its chase policy and implement a specific protocol that determines when Cleveland police are allowed to pursue criminal suspects.

The union that represents Cleveland police officers has long criticized that the revised chase protocol, saying it hamstrings officers trying to respond to crime. The citys policy has also not curtailed pursuits into Cleveland by neighboring suburbs, whose officers, on occasion, undertake high-speed chases that cross into the city limits and result in injury.

The Community Police Commission is expected to review the police departments pursuit policy in the coming weeks. The commission is mandated by a settlement the city of Cleveland reached with the U.S. Justice Department to reform its police department. It provides policy analysis and feedback to city officials, and act as a voice for the community, including for police officers.

To comment on this story, visit Thursdays crime and courts comments page.

Read more crime stories:

Second teen charged with murder in crash that killed 13-year-old girl during Cleveland police chase

Attorneys say Cleveland police were reckless in chase that ended in 13-year-old East Cleveland girls death

Teen charged with murder in crash that killed 13-year-old girl in East Cleveland

East Cleveland Public Library was a second home for high-speed chase victim Tamia Chappman

Cleveland police policy allows high-speed chase for violent crimes: Heres what they must consider
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Bandung  Fri, January 24, 2020 15:58 719 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2060ddcd7 1 National domestic-abuse,child-abuse,malnutrition,foster-parents,social-worker Free

Seven-year old M. Rizki Anugerah lay down helplessly at his foster parents house after being rescued from his allegedly abusive biological parents in Marga Mekar village, Pangalengan district, Bandung regency, West Java.

He is now conscious but he still cannot move. He consumes food and milk via a hose through his nose, Ade Sukmana, a social health worker for Pangalengan district told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

Ade said Rizkis condition was first detected by an officer who conducted a screening of malnourished children in Pengalengan district in September 2019.

His biological parents seemed to try and hide their sons condition," Ade said. After the officer found out about his condition, the child was then taken to Soreang hospital and then referred to Hasan Sadikin hospital in Bandung.

During treatment in Bandung, the medical staff found that not only was the child malnourished, but there were also signs he had been abused, with wounds on his head, legs, arms and torso.

He was in coma for a few weeks at the hospital. After he was sent home, he still could not talk, Ade said.

Separately, Hasan Sadikin hospital public relations officer Reny Meisuburriyani said further treatment for Rizki would be handled by the health staff of the Pangalengan community health center (Puskesmas).

Rizki has been receiving treatment at his foster parents house in Lamajang village, Pangalengan district, since December.

His foster parents are related to his biological parents so the Bandung administration decided to entrust the boy's welfare to them rather than return him to his biological parents.

We suspect that the biological parents abused him for three months before his condition was finally discovered by our officer. Therefore, we opted not to return him to his biological parents, Ade, who is now responsible for Rizkis nutrition intake, said.

The foster parents, Tahdi and Alit, are in the low-income bracket but have been trained by staff of Al-Ihsan Hospital, Ade said.

We are still coordinating to ensure the child gets the best treatment. We are also looking for an orphanage that can admit him, Ade said.

Ade said there had been no discussions regarding legal prosecution of Rizkis parents.

His parents have five other kids. His youngest sibling is not yet 1 month old. The baby has been sent to Sumedang. This is probably a consideration against legal prosecution, Ade said.

Head of the West Java Health Agency Berli Hamdani Gelung Sakti said officials were still gathering information about the boy.

A competent health professional should check on his debilitated condition. Both adults and children have the potential to experience psychological and physical trauma. His sickness may be psychological because he was abused, Berli said.

Head of the West Java Social Agency, Dodo Suhendar expressed concern about the case.

We should prioritize his health first. Once he becomes healthier, lets talk about social rehabilitation. We can put him in an orphanage for children with special needs, Dodo said. (gis)
The soft-spoken gun shop employee minces no words as he addresses a huddle of six women, some wearing bright red T-shirts from Moms Demand Action.

In Texas, everybody owns a gun. Everybody does, Kyle Ondrasek says as he stands near a display case at Kingwood Guns. Its just engraved in our DNA.

The women nod. Thats what they expect to hear every time they set up a table in Kingwood Town Center or at local community events for their organization, which advocates for common sense gun laws. Thats what they brace for whenever their children or grandchildren head out for a playdate or sleepover.

Thats why theyre here, in a store where dozens of handguns and Armalite rifles line the walls like cereal boxes in a grocery store.

Theyre not here to debate the Second Amendment. Not to advocate for gun confiscation. Not to shame folks for legally buying or selling guns.

Theyve come to listen, to learn and to leave knowing better how to encourage responsible gun owners to store and secure their weapons. For the next 90 minutes, Ondrasek runs through the basics, demonstrating a range of gun locks  from plastic devices that come free in the box to an $800 steel safe. He shows locks that need a key and biometric models that open with a fingerprint. He explains why some sportsmen prefer AR models and that some hunters purchase silencers so as not to scare away feral hogs and other prey.

The women pepper him with questions: Are there laws in Texas mandating gun storage? (Yes. Readily dischargeable guns cant be accessible to children.) Is it possible to shoot a gun with a trigger lock? ( No.) Can a firearm go off if it is dropped? (Only if its modified.) Is it possible to modify a gun to make it easier to fire? (Yes.)

No judgment on either side. Rather, an understanding that we are all on the same side  that gun owners and gun reform proponents, which can be one in the same, just want our families to be safe.

Thats why Im tagging along  to hear the discussion, see how reasonable people can come together on an issue that so often tears us apart.

Im here, too, as a mom who, like these women, worries that my daughters will accidentally stumble onto a gun at a relatives house or someday be forced to confront a classmate who brings a parents firearm to school.

Asking about guns is simply part of playdate planning, especially in Texas. Do you have a pool? Any allergies? Any guns in the home?

If youre looking for numbers, Texas has about 588,696 registered firearms  or about one for every 47 residents, according to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. More than any other state.

Widespread gun ownership increases the chances that a curious child  or despondent teen  can get his or her hands on a loaded weapon.

Last year, there were 36 unintentional shootings involving children in Texas. Nineteen children  including a 2-year-old  died. Two weeks ago, a promising 19-year-old student at Bellaire High School was killed on campus by a classmate showing off a semiautomatic pistol. And guns make suicide attempts and mass violence more deadly.

So many needless deaths. So many young lives cut short. It is enough to make us sink into helplessness.

Thats how high school teacher Gaby Diaz, a local group leader for the Northeast Houston chapter of Moms Demand Action, felt after learning that a former student had been shot on prom night. The gun had been stolen out of a vehicle.

What do you do to prevent that? Diaz remembers thinking, before drawing a line to the Bellaire incident. How did this kid bring his gun to school that multiple students saw and by seventh period caused a preventable tragedy?

Diaz has funneled her despair into advocacy, rallying in Austin for gun reform legislation and representing Moms Demand at parades and political town halls. But the spinal column of her local chapter is the Be SMART safety campaign, which focuses on proper gun storage.

They ask gun-owning parents how they secure guns and hand out free gun locks. They even help nervous parents rehearse how to ask about guns before playdates.

Theres nothing controversial about that message, Diaz told me. At least, there shouldnt be.

Too bad the state doesnt see it like that. A taxpayer-funded program that gives out free gun locks has asked its law enforcement partners not to give the gun locks to members of Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action, citing concerns that the groups political agenda would alienate gun owners.

Actually, the groups agenda of gun safety promotes what Ondrasek over at the Kingwood gun shop calls basic gun etiquette.

For his visitors, Ondrasek demonstrates how quickly a lock can be taken off in an emergency. As a Moms Demand member times him, he assumes the role of a homeowner, awakened by an alarm. He stumbles and fumbles for his key. Unlocks the trigger of a Ruger 19. Loads the cartridge. Takes aim and pretends to fire several shots at an imaginary intruder.

Twenty-one seconds.

No time at all. No excuse not to lock up a gun. No reason for Texas not to give gun locks to groups like Moms Demand.

We can all agree on that, cant we?

Rhor (@monicarhor) is an editorial writer and columnist.
A student at Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, Tenn. is being tested for the coronavirus, the school confirmed.

The university said the student, who met the criteria for testing based on recent travels, has very mild symptoms.

The school released a statement Thursday night:

On Thursday, a student at Tennessee Tech University presented with very mild symptoms, and with his recent travel history met the criteria for testing for possible infection with the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Health providers quickly recognized that the patient met the criteria for coronavirus testing, but nothing has been confirmed. The individual is being kept isolated while precautionary testing is being conducted. Tennessee Tech and healthcare professionals continue to communicate and collaborate with the Tennessee Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control.

The Tennessee Department of Health advises that while we await test results, there are no specific actions other individuals need to take. As soon as more information about the situation becomes available it will be made aware to be made to the public.

In an updated statement, the university added:

"At this time, it has been reinforced to us by the Tennessee Department of Health that no action needs to be taken by campus community members.

Tennessee Tech healthcare professionals acted quickly with appropriate protocol, and we will continue to follow the best practices currently known. We have tremendous partners in local and state healthcare."

Cookeville is located about 80 miles east of Nashville.

Officials recently confirmed the first U.S. case of coronavirus  a respiratory illness that has sickened hundreds and killed at least 17 people in China  in a 30-year-old man in Washington state.

Symptoms of the virus include runny nose, cough, difficulty breathing, sore throat and fever and, in some patients, life-threatening pneumonia.

There is no specific treatment for the new virus or vaccine to prevent it.

As coronavirus spreads, should the South worry?
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 23:29:33|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

BEIJING, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Zhao Kezhi on Friday stressed efforts to ensure security during the Spring Festival holiday.

Zhao made the remarks while inspecting police work on maintaining security in Beijing.

The police should actively prevent and resolve disputes, Zhao said, adding that the work to guard against terrorist incidents and emergencies should be strengthened.

He also urged the police to maintain smooth traffic during the holiday, and cooperate with other departments on the prevention and control of the pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus.
The seventh season of Married At First Sight premieres in less than two weeks.

But it doesn't seem like sparks are going to fly between matched contestants Connie Crayden and Jonethen Musulin.

In a series of photos taken hours after the couple exchanged vows in September last year, Connie, 27, looked tense as she arrived to a hotel alongside her groom.

Trouble in paradise already? Married At First Sight bride Connie Crayden (right) looked tense as she arrived to her hotel with groom Jonethen Musulin (left) after the ceremony

The brunette beauty appeared strained as she walked out of a car in a white wedding gown complete with a sheer floral skirt and strappy back.

The pair appeared distant as they stood under an umbrella before they entered the hotel.

Meanwhile, Gold Coast hunk Jonethen looked dapper in a blue jacket and matching coloured pants as he stood alongside his new bride.

The 27-year-old completed his outfit with a white buttoned shirt and wore colourful socks with brown shoes.

Unlucky in love? In a series of photos taken after the couple exchanged vows in September last year, Connie appeared to be strained

Style: She walked out of a car in a white wedding gown complete with a sheer floral skirt and strappy back

In a recent trailer for the show, Connie admitted that she was 'lonely' and desperate to find a partner.

'After a while you just think, "what's wrong with me if every single person I meet doesn't want a bar of me,"' the brunette said.

'I don't think I'm ugly but I don't think there's anything striking about me,' she added. 'I want to be married because I don't want to be alone anymore.'

Has he found love? Gold Coast hunk Jonethen looked dapper in a blue jacket and matching coloured pants as he stood alongside his new bride

After telling her family about the wedding, Connie's mother slammed MAFS, calling the program 'manipulative' and begging her daughter to pull out before it's too late.

'I can't stand that show,' she barked after Connie revealed that she's was taking part in the controversial experiment.

Connie's mother unleashed on MAFS again in an interview with producers.

Final touches: The groom completed his outfit with a white buttoned shirt and wore colourful socks with brown shoes

'Clearly as a mother, when your child tells you, "hey mum, I'm going on a show that you don't like", that's made it worse,' she raged.

'I can't STAND your show... it's an experiment that went wrong.'

She continued: 'I think the show can be quite manipulating. Like this interview, for example, you're only going to put on, you're going to take bits out, you're not going to say exactly everything that I've said.'

Married At First Sight will return to Channel Nine on February 3.
No chance of being blacklisted by FATF: Pakistan

To stay in Grey List or downgrade to Black List: Key FATF decision on Pak this week

Pakistan will implement FATF's new action plan in 12 months: Minister after country retained on 'grey list'

Failure to demonstrate action: Why Pakistan remains in the FATF Grey List

Explained: What is FATF Grey List

India

oi-Briti Roy Barman

Delhi, Jan 24: As a major blow to India's diplomatic efforts, according to Pakistani daily The News International reports, the South Asian country has certainly chances of exiting the "grey list" of global terror watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

The plenary of the Paris-based anti-terrorism inter-governmental body to be held on February 16 this year.

China convinced FATF at its 3-day review meeting in Beijing to evaluate Pakistan from grey list.

Pakistan may be out of FATF 'Grey List' next month due to active support of China

Islamabad needs 12 votes out of total 39 in the plenary meeting of the FATF which will be held in Paris.

Lets first know about FATF

FATF is a policy-making body which helps in combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system.

Established in 1989 during the G7 Summit in Paris, the FATF plenary meets three times per year.

FATF monitors:

member countries' progress in implementing necessary measures,

counter-measures of money laundering and terrorist financing techniques

and promotes the adoption of necessary measures globally.

FATF, at present, comprises 37 member countries excluding Pakistan and having India, as only Indian subcontinent countries.

What is Grey List

Countries which are considered as safe haven for supporting terror funding and money laundering, included in the grey list.

Grey list is like a warning for the included country that it might come under the blacklist, which is more grave than grey one and issued against the countries known as Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories (NCCTs).

FATF blacklisting may affect Pakistan's capital inflows: IMF Report

FATF's grey list includes some of the names like Iceland, Bahamas, Israel, Lebanon, Syria.

After effect of grey listing

Grey listed countries find it difficult to raise funds, pay debts and access global, markets.

The countries might go through decline in foreign transactions and drop in foreign currency inflows.

Grey listed nations need to meet additional guarantees while borrowing finance from international donors like IMF

It is more adverse for the grey listed countries to end up being blacklisted.

Grey List and Pakistan

The country was in grey list in 2008 for the first time.

It was listed in 2012 for the second time, to 2015.

Recently, it was placed on the grey list in June 2018 and given a plan of action to be completed by October 2019.
JUNEAU, Alaska - The Alaska Legislature failed to override more than $70 million in vetoes dealing with school construction projects and the state ferry system.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy issued the vetoes last summer, after lawmakers had adjourned.

The veto override session was announced late Thursday, with no clear indication of sufficient support.

House Speaker Bryce Edgmon, an independent from Dillingham, in a statement said Alaskans deserve to know where their elected officials stand.

House Minority Leader Lance Pruitt, in response to Edgmons statement, said the vote was about nothing more than creating material to use against other members in the next election cycle.

Lawmakers attempted to override a $5 million veto of funds for the ferry system and vetoes of funds for school debt reimbursement to municipalities and a construction fund for rural schools. The issues were considered as part of one vote.

At least 45 lawmakers had to vote in favour for the override to be successful; 37 of the 57 members present did so.

Supporters of an override argued lawmakers shouldnt wait for a supplemental spending package this session to try to add the funds.

Critics cited the states budget deficit or encouraged colleagues to work through the upcoming budget process. Speaking about ferries, Sen. Peter Micciche, a Soldotna Republican, said the override session felt more political than focused on solutions for coastal communities.

While the override attempt failed, Senate President Cathy Giessel, an Anchorage Republican, said the discussion of the issues was worth having.
The Vishva Hindu Parishad on Friday said "violence under the cover" of agitation against the new citizenship law is becoming "unbearable" and demanded that protests, including the one going on at Shaheen Bagh here, must be stopped.

At a press conference, VHP secretary general Milind Parande cited the attack on the participant of a pro-Citizenship Amendment Act rally in Lohardaga in Jharkhand and alleged that the change of government in the state has resulted in people with "jihadi mindset" turning aggressive against Hindus.

Protesters at Shaheen Bagh have blocked road causing inconvenience to people, he said.

"These activities must be stopped forthwith," he said, claiming that anti-CAA protestors were misguided by vested interests who are also raising "anti-national and anti-Hindu slogans".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Children were grateful for Christmas presents they received from California Highway Patrol officers, who drove more than 1,500 miles to spread a little bit of post-holiday cheer.

Three military families who were on an active-duty relocation had all of their possessions stolen after their moving truck was taken in Stockton, California on Christmas Day.
A serial shoplifter got her final chance at redemption after she pled guilty to seven theft convictions, which resulted in probation and a sizable amount of restitution. Denisha Simmons, 37, had been caught stealing items from a bevy of stores from across Hamilton County.

Ill give her a chance to be on probation, said Criminal Court Judge Barry Steelman, but if she cant stop stealing, then I have better things to do with my time. I was hoping we wouldnt be back here again.

Judge Steelman was not exaggerating about Ms. Simmons stealing, as court records show dozens of theft charges on her record. Her defense attorney, Donna Miller, told Judge Steelman about how her client had been working to change her life since her last few infractions.

Ms. Simmons now had a job, said attorney Miller. In addition to this, the defendant has been interacting with the district attorneys office to get through her issues, and she has also been going to the Helen Ross-McNabb Center.

Im glad to hear that if its help you need to stay out of trouble, then Its good that youre getting it, said Judge Steelman.



Aside from probation, Ms. Simmons will pay $210 to TJ Maxx, $543 to Target, $67 to CVS, $75 to Burlington, and $248 to Marshalls in restitution. She is banned from stepping foot in any of these stores.



Either youre going to stop thievery, or youre going to serve time, said the judge. This is something that could cause you to lose your liberty for a long time.


News reports say an American man who has been linked to a neo-Nazi group that allegedly plotted violent attacks in the United States now lives in Russia.



The Guardian newspaper and the BBC reported on January 24 that the leader of the group that calls itself The Base is a man who has used the aliases of Norman Spear and Roman Wolf.

They said the man is in fact named Rinaldo Nazzaro, who moved to St. Petersburg sometime in 2018.



Russian social media and other open source information point to a man living in St. Petersburg who taught English to foreigners there.



There was no response to multiple phone calls made by RFE/RL to a number affiliated with the mans online advertisement for English lessons. Public records searches and other open source media show a man with the name Rinaldo Nazzaro living in New York, New Jersey, and suburban Washington, D.C. in recent years. He reportedly married a Russian woman in 2012.



A white supremacist group whose members espouse a radical racist ideology calling for a race war to cause anarchy, The Base has been around since 2018, according to U.S. court records.



It gained wide public attention earlier this month when U.S. law enforcement arrested two Americans and one Canadian in Maryland, just days before a major gun-rights rally held in the capital city of the U.S. state of Virginia.



According to documents filed in U.S. federal court, the men were accused of plotting to spark violence at the January 19 rally, which attracted tens of thousands of protesters and ended peacefully with no violence and only a few arrests.



Authorities arrested four other men linked to the group in two other U.S. states.



According to the news reports, Nazarro, using his aliases, was a frequent participant in white supremacist and racist chat rooms, often recruiting people with military backgrounds to join the group.



A company he was affiliated with in the early 2010s was called Omega Solutions International, which said its associates worked with various government and military agencies, and had experience conducting intelligence analysis for government agencies, military organizations, and private businesses.



The website was shuttered sometime after August 19.

With reporting by The Guardian and the BBC
Mumbai, Jan 24 : At least one BEST bus was stoned in Mumbai and its driver injured as the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) sponsored Maharashtra shutdown started, eliciting mixed response, here on Friday.

The bus was pelted with stones in Chembur and the driver Vilas B. Dabhade, 53, was injured, though commuters escaped unhurt. He has been admitted to the Shatabdi Hospital in Govandi, said officials.

VBA President Prakash Ambedkar urged his supporters to ensure "a peaceful and violence-free bandh" to oppose the Citizens Amendment Act (CAA), National Register for Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR).

Despite the shutdown call by over 35 social and trade organisations, including the VBA, normal life remained unaffected in Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nagpur and other cities.

However, shops and establishments remained shut in parts of Mumbai, Nashik, Aurangabad, Akola, though in Thane some activists attempted to block a main road, but were cleared by the police.

In Mumbai suburban trains and the BEST buses -- the city's lifelines -- functioned normally, and most educational institutions, shops, malls, multiplexes, commercial plazas were open as police maintained tight police security.

Later in the day, several other anti-CAA/NRC/NPR related events and discussions are planned in Mumbai and other areas as part of the state shutdown.
Former US vice-president Al Gore speaks at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Photo: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images

As the demand for fossil fuel energy sources declines in the shift to green power, the world cannot allow oil companies to encourage plastic production in order to make up for lost revenue, former US vice-president Al Gore warned on Friday.

With transportation fuels going down, with electric vehicles and solar and wind pushing the market for fossil fuel-generated electricity going down, there is a hunger to make up that lost revenue by further increasing the production of plastics, and we cannot allow it, Gore said.

READ MORE: Saudi Aramco CEO says worlds oil consumption will not decrease by 2040

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Gore referenced the lower Mississippi region in the United States known as Cancer Alley.

Located between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, the heavily industrialised area became known for its clusters of cancer patients.

It is filled with petrochemical facilities, Gore said, noting that petrochemicals are the third-largest emitter of industrial greenhouse gases.

Theres a brand new proposal from Formosa Plastics to build a giant new plastics facility, with 14 different facilities, he said.

READ MORE: Treasury Secretary Mnuchin says Greta Thunberg can criticize 'after she studies economics'

It would emit new greenhouse gasses equivalent to three huge coal plants, the former vice-president noted, warning that it would impose an even heavier burden of cancer on the people living in the region.

Gore said he will join a group of people in a number of months who are trying to rally opposition to this facility.

You are going to see a mass movement around the world aimed at these proposals to further increase plastic production  and one thing people dont know is that fracking of natural gas produces ethyl in much higher percentages than the normal, old production of oil and gas. And that makes plastic production even more profitable, he said.
US authorities on Thursday fined former chief executive John Stumpf $17.5 million over the bank's fake accounts scandal, an unusually punitive action against a former corporate leader.

A US banking regulator settled with Stumpf and two other former executives, while announcing charges against five other former officials whose failure to perform their duties allegedly "contributed to the bank's systemic problems," the agency said.

The scandal dates back years, when employees from 2002 to 2016, opened millions of deposit and credit card accounts without the approval or knowledge of their customers.

The penalties imposed on Stumpf by the Office of Comptroller of the Currency include a lifetime ban on working in the banking industry, and are far more severe than anything CEOs faced after the 2008 financial crisis and may be unprecedented, legal experts said.

The crackdown sends "a general message to the banking industry that senior people need to be vigilant against compliance breakdowns and if they don't, they may need to be writing checks," said Geoffrey Parsons Miller, a professor at New York University School of Law and an expert in compliance.

executives set up a corrupt system based around unrealistic goals in the community bank, that linked employee compensation to the opening up new accounts, causing "hundreds of thousands of employees to engage in numerous types of sales practices misconduct," the OCC said in a complaint.

"Community bank management intimidated and badgered employees to meet unattainable sales goals year after year, including by monitoring employees daily or hourly and reporting their sales performance to their managers" and "subjecting employees to a hazing-like abuse," the complaint said.

Employees "could engage in sales practices misconduct -- much of which was illegal -- to meet their goals, or they could struggle to meet their goals and face adverse consequences, including losing their jobs."



The OCC hit the former head of community banking, Carrie Tolstedt, with a $25 million penalty, while imposing a $5 million penalty on Claudia Russ Anderson, a former risk officer who allegedly made false and misleading statements and "actively obstructed the OCC's examinations of the bank's sales practices."



This officials can challenge the allegations through an administrative law process, the OCC said.

The agency said Stumpf failed to adequately oversee employees or heed "numerous warning signs" about troubles, and "as CEO he ultimately bears responsibility for the Community Bank's systemic problem."



Stumpf said Tolstedt and Russ Anderson bore "significant responsibility" for the scandal in sworn testimony to the OCC.

Tolstedt and Russ Anderson asserted their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and refused to answer substantive questions, the OCC said.

Stumpf retired from Wells Fargo in October 2016, shortly after the scandal broke. In April 2017, Wells Fargo "clawed back" $75 million in compensation from Stumpf and Tolstedt.

Since the scandal broke, Wells Fargo has reformed its compensation practices and no longer bases employee pay on selling additional accounts to customers.

The bank has replaced its chief executive twice, most recently with former Bank of New York Mellon chief Charlie Scharf, who has signaled he plans significant changes to try to win back the trust of regulators.

Scharf said the OCC probe underscored the "flawed" nature of the business model at a time when the company "did not have in place the appropriate people, structure, processes, controls, or culture to prevent the inappropriate conduct," according to a message to employees.

"This was inexcusable. Our customers and you all deserved more from the leadership of this Company," Scharf said, adding that the bank will not pay any compensation to former bank officials targeted by the OCC while it reviews the finding.
The BJP on Friday demanded a probe into alleged anti-CAA comments on a Facebook account created in the name of IAS officer Tina Dabi in Bhilwara district of Rajasthan.

The comments were posted last month on the Facebook account which the officer claimed was not hers but fake and that she has already lodged an FIR in this connection.

A delegation of BJP led by the party's district president Ladu Lal met Bhilwara district collector and SP and handed them a representation addressed to Home Minister Amit Shah demanding an impartial investigation in the matter.

SP, Bhilwara, Harendra Mahawar said the officer, who is posted as sub-divisional officer - Bhilwara, had herself lodged a case with regard to the creation of a fake Facebook account in her name on December 17 after the comments were posted on that account.

"The matter is under investigation," he said.

BJP district president Ladu Lal said the comments, posted on December 17, were "negative" regarding the CAA.

"After objections were raised, the officer lodged a case but even after one month there is no progress in the investigation. If the officer has not posted that, then whoever did this should be traced and arrested," he said.

"When a common person writes provocative posts, the police take prompt action but here the matter is related with an account in the name of an IAS officer but still there is no action," he said.

After registering the FIR, Dabi, who was the UPSC exam topper in 2015, posted on her Facebook profile about the fake profiles and pages running in her name.

"They are all fake and are putting misleading posts in my name," she wrote, while giving details of the fake pages and profiles and informing that she has lodged an FIR in the matter.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Are tax returns too taxing, why did new overdraft rules backfire, are challenger banks biting and what are the cars that hold their value best? We answer these questions on this week's This is Money podcast.

It's tax return time. The organised will have safely filed their tax returns long ago, but there are still plenty of people who don't yet feel the last minute has arrived.

But what if you are meant to fill in a tax return and don't realise?

On this week's podcast, Simon Lambert, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost discuss the ten reasons that people may have to fill a tax return in, even though they are employees paid through PAYE.

The team also discuss whether much of the tax return is really needed, or whether people are needlessly spending time filling in an over complicated form for an overly complex system.

It's tax return time, have you done yours?

Also on this week's podcast is the overdraft row that's blown up on the back of the FCA's attempt to improve borrowing and bank's deciding that 39.9 per cent rates sounded about right.

The team discuss whether the challenger banks are starting to bite and why people are attracted to them.

The ten cars that should hold their value best are also revealed, from a Dacia to a Bentley.

But remember that even the best of these will lose you 35 per cent.

And finally, Simon tells us about the new episode of the Making the Money Work podcast with London 2012 Olympic-medal winning boxer Anthony Ogogo.
With great sadness but fond memories, the family of Mike Belan Sr. of Oil Springs, Ont. has announced his passing on January 23, 2020.

Mike was a legend in farming in the Oil Springs area and did hold ownership of harness horses with his sons Doug & Dennis who still are active in harness racing. Always known for his positive attitude, he would jokingly say why dont you get rid of those damn horses" but he didnt really mean it. From his early days at the old grandstand in Dresden going to races with his neighbour friends to Saturday nights at Hiawatha, Mike was a regular at the racetrack. One great memory was when he would bring his motor home to tracks like Mohawk & Grand River when racing in some sire stakes. He would also slip into the casino for a few rounds on the slots.

Just like many of the great legends of racing like Camluck and Somebeachsomewhere, Mike ran in the Open and never a claimer. Mike loved his family first then farming, fishing and his motor home travelings in which he made many friends from up north to down south. The folks in our small town of Oil Springs will miss seeing him sitting the front window doing his puzzles and traveling around town on his scooter as the 'town sheriff'.

To you guys and gals that work with your dads in horse business, give them a big hug today.

Survived by his wife Di of 63 years and six boys Mike Jr., Pat, Doug, Dennis, Todd & Tony, along with 24 great & grandchildren and counting. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Mike Belan.
Indigenous Affairs Minister Ken Wyatt says Australia Day should remain on January 26 and commemorations around the country instead mark both the "good and the bad" of the nation's history since 1788.

In an exclusive interview with The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, Mr Wyatt said Australia's "dark beginnings" must be recognised in communities across the country but not overshadow celebrations of the "remarkable" multicultural country it has become.

Ken Wyatt is the first Indigenous man to serve as Minister for Indigenous Australians. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

Strongly supporting the date of the national day remaining as it is, Mr Wyatt said Australia's history was marked with events "that none of us on reflection like".

"We can have anger at the past, the pain and the hurt ... but at some point we've got to give our children a better future," Mr Wyatt said.
US billionaire George Soros attacks India at WEF Davos: American billionaire George Soros has attacked India, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of creating a Hindu state. He was speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Soros also raised the Kashmir issue.

US billionaire George Soros attacks India at WEF Davos: American billionaire George Soros has launched an all-out attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of creating a Hindu nationalist state. Speaking at the ongoing World Economic Forum (WEF) in Switzerlands Davos, Soros said that the biggest and the most frightening setback to nationalism occurred in India under the BJP-led NDA government.

The American philanthropist also raised the issue of Kashmir which was stripped of its special character in August last year. Soros said that the government led by Modi has imposed punitive measures on Kashmir, apparently referring to communications blockade, curfew and detention of political leaders.

In front of the participants from across the world, the billionaire investor also slammed the Modi government for the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act which offers exclusive Indian citizenship to refugees from neighbouring countries, excluding Muslims. He accused the prime minister of depriving millions of Muslims of their citizenship, a charge the government denies.

India has faced a global criticism after the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Bill which has now become law following President Ram Nath Kovinds ascent. It has also witnessed large scale protests through the length and breadth of the country with protesters demanding CAAs withdrawal.

However, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was the brain behind the contentious CAA, has categorically stated the law will not be withdrawn. Addressing a governments outreach programme in Lucknow, Shah had said the Modi-led government will not succumb to the Oppositions pressure. More than two dozens people have been killed across the country in the street protests against the legislation.

The Central government has also faced intense criticism after it revoked Article 370 and Article 35A which offered special rights and privileges to Kashmiris under the Constitution. Several countries including neighbouring Pakistan, China, Turkey and Malaysia have opposed the government for its actions in the valley.

Also read: Kashmir news: With Jammu and Kashmir losing statehood, Radio Kashmir renamed All India Radio Srinagar

Also read: Kashmir news: New York Times report says injured protesters scared to go hospitals, enter mosques to get first aid

The situation in the Himalayan region, according to reports is not good. Prominent political leaders including three former chief minister are under detention. The internet services are also barred in most parts of the valley.

Also read: Who was Rizwan Assad Pandit? A school teacher killed in police custody in Kashmir

For all the latest National News, download NewsX App
The United States Constitution states a president can be impeached for, and convicted of, treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors.

Webster's dictionary describes bribery as anything given or promised, especially money, to induce a person to do something illegal or wrong.

Did President Trump not offer money to the country of Ukraine in exchange for any harmful information on Joe Biden? Should he not have been impeached for bribery, which the Constitution clearly states is a reason to impeach instead of being impeached for obstruction of justice?
Kings of Leon's Jared Followill, 33, and wife Martha became parents to their first child, daughter Adeline James, on Tuesday.

The pair shared the exciting announcement on Instagram with a picture of one of the newborns feet peeking out of a beige blanket.

And then my life began..., the 33-year-old bassist captioned the image, adding the date his daughter was born.

First-time parents: And then my life began..., Kings of Leon's Jared Followill captioned the image, adding the date his daughter was born

Supermodel Lily Aldridge was quick to remark on her nieces world debut.

She added a bunch of heart emojis.

The newborn's aunt has two children with Jared's brother Caleb Followill, a 1-year-old boy Winston Roy and a 7-year-old girl Dixie Pearl.

First-time parents: Jared Followill, 33, and wife Martha became parents to their first child, daughter Adeline James, on Tuesday

Big sister: Jared and Martha shared the amazing pregnancy news with an adorable image of their dog Bonnie reading the book What to Expect When You're Expecting

Jared and Martha shared the amazing pregnancy news with an adorable image of their dog Bonnie reading the book What to Expect When You're Expecting while sitting in bed and wearing glasses.

The band's rep told US Weekly: 'They are two of the most excited people I know.'

The drummer and his wife first met at the Bonnaroo music festival in 2006 and wed in November 2009 at Wolf Den Farm in Brentwood, Tennessee, in front of close friends and family.

Ready for it: After they announced their pregnancy, the band's rep said: 'They are two of the most excited people I know'

Girl time: The model revealed their babys sex when she posted another Instagram less than two months later, of her rocking a one-piece swimsuit on vacation in Italy

Martha revealed their babys sex when she posted another Instagram less than two months late on a trip to Italy, while resting her hand on her bump from a distance.

She captioned the picture in a one-piece swimsuit , 'Tuscany with my GIRL.'

The proud mama wasn't shy about posting her baby bump and often posted pictures of her growing stomach to followers, from her baby shower to posing in front of her Christmas tree.
Church denies trying to push out older members to attract younger worshipers

Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment

Leaders of a Minnesota church accused of trying to get rid of older adult members from one of their campuses in order to attract a younger crowd say the allegations are not true and everybody is welcome.

"Everybody is welcome. Our hope is they're not going anywhere. This is their church, Lead Pastor Daniel Wetterstrom of the Grove United Methodist Churchtold KARE 11 of older adult members of the churchs Cottage Grove location, which has been struggling to attract members.

Wetterstrom explained that regular attendance at the Cottage Grove campus had been struggling with long-term viability with just 30 members. In consultation with other church leaders, a decision was taken to employ a strategy known as the "relaunch," which had been used by other struggling Methodist churches in Minnesota with positive results.

"We, for over the past decade, have struggled," Wetterstrom said. "Struggled to grow. Struggled to reach people."

Under the relaunch, the Cottage Grove location is expected to close in June temporarily before reopening in December with a young new pastor named Jeremy Peters to help attract a younger crowd and create an intergenerational church.

Thats not the message longtime member and older adult Bill Gackstetter said he and other older members received. He said he and other members were asked to go worship at The Grove's second Woodbury location, if they would like, for 15 to 18 months after the relaunch as the church transitioned to new leadership.

"It made me feel sick that they would treat other Methodists like that," Gackstetter told KARE11.

"Like, who's gonna wait that long?" Gackstetter added. "I feel that's totally age discrimination, just wanting youth, the younger families."

In a letter signed by Wetterstrom, Kelly Lamon, associate pastor, and Betsy Stites, core team chair, the leaders further stated their intent for the offended members.

The worshippers at Cottage Grove are beloved members of our church family; their presence and contributions are part of our identity. The Cottage Grove members have been invited to serve on a transition team to identify the traditions and values that are important to them and to explore options during and after the relaunch, the leaders said.

We are working to connect them to the existing worship services in Woodbury or help them continue as a group at a different time and/or location after the building closes to prepare for relaunch. We recognize that people may have a range of feelings about the Planting Project. We acknowledge and honor these feelings, and we seek to be a safe space where all these emotions are welcomed and affirmed, they continued.

Finally and most importantly, we will continue to remind you that you are precious and beloved children of God. We lament that this media attention has been hurtful to worshippers at both campuses. We grieve the damage this story has caused. We are committed to working through this time of transition in relationship with you all. We invite you to pray for your church and to support one another during this difficult time.
Albany

Wolves no longer live here, but environmental groups want the state Department of Environmental Conservation to save the animals in New York.

Actually, they are urging the state not to remove wolves from the states endangered species list, as the DEC is proposing to do because they've been gone for nearly 100 years.

But some wildlife advocates believe that keeping them under endangered status could help protect potential habitat and foster an eventual comeback.

And they note there have been sporadic reports of wolves wandering down from Canada, usually males in search of females.

Our point is that wolves were here once before. We were the ones that drove them to extinction in New York, said Collette Adkins, director of carnivore conservation programs at the Center for Biological Diversity.

Wolves arent ready to lose protection, added Elise Bennett, a staff attorney at the center.

The center, along with the Hudson Riverkeeper and New York City Audubon recently wrote to DEC urging them to keep or upgrade protections for other species as well including the Eastern Hellbender, a large (up to 2-feet-long) salamander found in the Susquehanna River drainage near Cooperstown; the American eel and American shad, which they say has been overfished to near extinction in the Hudson River.

The National Resources Defense Council also supports keeping them on the list.

Wolves were extirpated from New York and other states starting in the late 19th century where they were seen as a threat to livestock. State and federal programs placed bounties on them for trappers and hunters, said Adkins. To this day there are still controversies about wolf restoration in parts of the West such as Wyoming and Idaho where ranchers worry about attacks on their sheep. Estimates place the nation's wolf population, mostly in the West, at fewer than 6,000.

But Adkins said wolves werent wiped out in Canada and there have been occasional reports of them wandering south across frozen stretches of the St. Lawrence River. They can travel hundreds of miles, she said. And they can be hard to distinguish from coyotes, although they are bigger and more pack-like.

By keeping them on the endangered list, which they are currently on, theyd be protected from hunting. And there could be efforts to track and survey them. And it would give weight to arguments for habitat protection in places like the Adirondacks.

"New York and other Northeast states contain some of the best remaining habitat for wolves outside of the western United States, noted Sylvia Fallon, senior director of the NRDC's nature program.

DEC says they are gathering input on their proposed changes at this point but they note that the lack of wolves in New York makes it hard call them "endangered." Were they to return to the state, the agency would be more likely to put them back a list of endangered or threatened species.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

The other requests focus on upgrading the status of several more species including the American eel, which environmental groups want to upgrade from Special concern to Threatened, status and the American shad which is unclassified but which they believe should be of special concern.

Eels are found in most New York drainages that run into major rivers and like shad, they are in precipitous decline, said George Jackman, of the Hudson Riverkeeper.

The American shad was the fish that fed the early European settlers of the United States, the Center, Riverkeeper and Audubon groups noted in a Jan. 24 letter to DEC.

Historically, it was the American shad whose migration up the Schuylkill River in the spring of 1778 saved the Continental Army at Valley Forge from starving after a winter of privation, they noted. And when it was too hazardous for American fishermen to venture offshore during World War II due to threats from German U-boats, it was the in-river harvest of American shad that once again fed the American people.

Shad numbers have dropped due to over-fishing. Being diadromous, or spending parts of their lives in both fresh and salt water, they also are susceptible to habitat disruptions such as dams or dredging.

Moreover, the invasive round goby fish, found in the Mohawk River, threatens shad and other fish due to their enormous appetite for fish eggs.

Exotic round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus) are now present in the Mohawk River, and if they were to enter the Hudson River, reads the letter, The outcome for shad could be catastrophic.

rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday issued a notice extending the registration time for Jawaharlal Nehru University students, stating that no late fees will be charged to those who complete their registration within a week. Till January 20, 82 percent of students had completed their registration and nearly 1200 students are still left to complete the registration process.

The Delhi High Court said, ''As far as the remaining 10 percent students are concerned, they need to register within one week as per the old manual. No late fee will be charged from them too.''

JNU Vice-Chancellor Jagadesh Kumar had also appealed students to complete the registration to avoid the loss of one academic year.

Live TV

Earlier, the JNU administration had fixed the last date of registration on January 17. However, the original deadline of January 5 was extended after the violent acts which took place in the campus which led to injuring many students and teachers present inside the campus.

On Friday, Delhi High Court had said that it will be hearing JNUSU petitions challenging Inter Hostel Administration`s decision amending the hostel manual on February 28. In the meantime, the judicature has granted interim relief to students of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
Youd think that Senate Republicans would at least pretend to care about the impeachment charges brought against President Trump, but multiple reports of Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho sleeping for 15 minutes during Tuesdays rules debate suggests that the jury is still out.

This much is clear, however: There is no dispute about the facts in this case, and the presidents attorneys have made no effort to refute them. The only drama is whether members of the majority caucus will uphold their oath and turn this into a trial of substance  by seeking additional facts and agreeing to hear witness testimony  instead of choosing to ignore evidence and chirp their fealty to a corrupt administration.

But as the trials first week winds down, there is nothing complicated about Trumps relationship with Ukraine, as House impeachment managers have deftly demonstrated.

The president is accused of trying to cheat in the 2020 election with the help of a foreign government.

And the Senate Republicans are enabling it, not only by napping but by stonewalling further evidence, at least for now.

Eleven times Tuesday night, Democrats proposed amendments that would subpoena records or compel testimony from people like former National Security Adviser John Bolton and chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, who had refused to testify during the House proceedings.

Eleven times, Republicans voted it down.

There is no precedent for this in American history. Every one of the 15 previous Senate impeachment trials included witnesses. The Bill Clinton impeachment in 1999 had 3. The impeachment of Andrew Johnson in 1868 had 40.

What do you call a trial without witnesses? You call it a coverup.

NYT has a sketch artist covering impeachment, catching moments like Sen. Risch sleeping https://t.co/kXf9Voi0Og pic.twitter.com/fH5fee7In4  Michael Calderone (@mlcalderone) January 22, 2020

For now, 52 Republicans agree with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that they must block efforts to broaden the evidence, leave the country in the dark, and that the trial should end as quickly as possible.

And Trump himself boasts about withholding evidence: Honestly, we have all the material. They dont have the material, he crowed Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the chief House manager, Rep. Adam Schiff, has proven to be a masterful storyteller with a comfortable cadence and an unparalleled grasp of the law, as Rutgers historian Ross Baker praised. It helps to have the nation behind you: New polls from CNN and Pew say that 7 out of 10 Americans  including a plurality of Republicans  want to hear witnesses.

Everyone knew wed reach this moment, when McConnell, the self-anointed Grim Reaper, would seek to bulldoze democracy into its grave  not by blocking election security bills, but by allowing Trump to invite a foreign government to manipulate our elections.

Thats the state of play. If Trump is acquitted, it will validate his effort to solicit foreign interference in the 2020 election and withhold congressionally-sanctioned aid to extort such interference. It also would give him license to pressure weaker governments to launch criminal investigations of American citizens even in the absence of evidence.

We already know how McConnell wants this to end. He pledged collaboration with the presidents attorneys weeks before the trial began.

But his caucus  perhaps as early as Tuesday  must once again consider whether to subpoena witnesses and documents. A few Republicans, particularly those who are electorally vulnerable, have signaled that they are open to the possibility. No doubt, it would take a contagious outbreak of profiles in courage for that to happen.

It could be a game-changer if just four of these 53 Republican jurors  some admittedly ignorant of the facts  vote to elevate the truth over the wishes of party leaders. Only then can this proceeding regain its legitimacy as a fair adjudication of the presidents behavior.

If they vote to keep the evidence hidden, they will face the judgment of history for turning the trial into a sham, instead of doing what their oath and the Constitution requires. This is no time to doze. Donald Trump isnt the only one on trial here.

Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook.
A former New Jersey high school teacher who was charged with having sex with six of her students on school grounds has pleaded guilty on the eve of her criminal trial.

Nicole DuFault, 40, entered a guilty plea on three counts of aggravated criminal sexual contact Wednesday, as jury selection was underway, agreeing to register as a sex offender, give up her government employment and teaching licenses.

The language arts teacher was originally accused of having sex with six male students, ages 14 and 15, from Columbia High School in 2013 and 2014 and later blamed it on a brain disorder.

As part of the deal with the Essex County prosecutor's office, she agreed to be on parole supervision for life and is expected to be handed a sentence of five years in New Jersey State Prison on June 8.

Nicole DuFault, 40, entered a guilty plea on three counts of aggravated criminal sexual contact Wednesday

The language arts teacher was originally accused of having sex with six male students, ages 14 and 15, from Columbia High School in 2013 and 2014 and later blamed it on a brain disorder. She is pictured during a court appearance in 2016

Assistant Prosecutor Eric Plant said: 'We believe this is an appropriate resolution.'

Dufault was arrested in 2014 for having sex with the boys she taught in Maplewood.

Her defense since then has been that she has a brain injury which made her powerless to stop their advances and that they were the ones who initiated the indecent relationships.

Her contact with the boys was separate, repeated and on at least one occasion, one watched as she performed oral sex on another and filmed it with his cell phone.

As the single mother-of-two awaited trial, the boys' parents filed legal action against her.

Some demanded up to $1million from her and the school district which they say put their sons at risk by allowing her access to some of the areas on campus where some of the incidents happened during a summer program.

The language arts teacher was originally accused of having sex with six male students, ages 14 and 15, from Columbia High School in 2013 and 2014

In one case, the parents of two underage boys banded together to file a lawsuit against Dufault and the school district in September 2016.

They asked for $1million plus lawyers' fees to compensate the boys who they say were 'intellectually disabled' and 'vulnerable'.

In one of the lawsuits, they describe how Dufault allegedly invited the boys to spend time in her classroom during free periods.

The second was filed by the parents of a former student who was a freshman when he had sex with Dufault in 2014.

In one of the suits, the parents' lawyer described how she 'spoke with them about lewd and sexual actions, brushed up again their bodies and touched intimate and personal parts of their bodies in front of other students in the social group.'

They say she had sex with the boys on campus and in her car.

Some say she sometimes altered their records to allow them to skip class and not get into trouble.

She's expected to be handed a sentence of five years in New Jersey State Prison on June 8

The third lawsuit, filed on behalf of another boy, was lodged in October this year.

It claims that he had sex with Dufault in her car in the high school parking lot. He has not specified how much he wishes to receive.

Dufault's lawyer Tim Smith previously told Tap Into: 'You had a particularly overly aggressive group of students who came into contact with a teacher who suffered from brain damage.'

He did admit there were areas of the school where the incidents took place that were open to them and appeared to try to blame the school for the incidents themselves, claiming they never screened Dufault after a brain surgery.

'You had a program that took place in an isolated part of the school where there was nobody there to control the situation, then you couple that with the fact that the school never screened her post-brain surgery.

'She also had a home front situation that was troubled with her husband having been arrested and she was taking care of the kids herself.

'You had a whirlwind of events that led to this victimization of her,' he added.

A school spokesperson previously said the allegations against Dufault were 'disturbing'.

'The nature of the charges are the most difficult that schools, parents and children would ever have to discuss together,' the spokesman added.

They declined to discuss the matter of the lawsuits.

'By law, administrators and Board of Education members are not permitted to publicly discuss personnel or individual student matters, ongoing litigation, or other issues requiring confidentiality.

'However, we can affirm we believe deeply in our mission to provide our students with a safe and healthy learning environment.

'We are hopeful that the process will bring closure to this painful chapter in our communitys history,' the spokesperson added.
Gondia (Maharashtra) [India], Jan 25 (ANI): Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Friday said that the Central government has handed over the investigation of the Bhima-Koregaon case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) without the State government's permission.



"As the Home Minister of the State, I am raising my objection to it," said Deshmukh while speaking to reporters here.

Speaking about the reports of withdrawal of NCP chief Sharad Pawar's security, Deshmukh said, "He had Z+ security, he has served as the CM of Maharashtra for several years. The decision to withdraw his security is politics by the Central government, this is not good."

In a high-level meeting at the State Secretariat on Thursday, Deshmukh along with senior police officers took a review of the Bhima-Koregaon cases.

On January 1, 2018, violence had erupted during the 200th-anniversary celebrations of the Bhima-Koregaon battle.

One person lost his life while several others were injured in the incident. Police had filed 58 cases against 162 people. (ANI)
SAN FRANCISCO  Over the first week of November, the police in San Francisco and New York responded to a series of telephone calls claiming that hostages were being held in the homes of Adam Mosseri, a senior Facebook executive.

The calls appeared to be coming from inside the homes. Officers arrived in force and barricaded the streets outside. Twice. But after tense, hourslong standoffs, they realized the calls were hoaxes. There were no hostages, and no one in the homes had called the police.

Mosseri is one of a number of tech executives who have been targeted recently in so-called swatting incidents. Swatting is online lingo used to describe when people call the police with false reports of a violent crime of some sort inside a home, hoping to persuade them to send a well-armed SWAT team.

These episodes have become more common in communities rich with tech companies and their billionaire executives, like the Bay Area and Seattle, according to six police departments contacted by The New York Times.

Exact numbers are unclear, the police say, because there is no central repository of information for these sorts of attacks. But as online discourse has become more combative and more personal, some in the industry arent surprised that tech executives  the people who decide what is posted on social media and who is barred from it  have become regular targets.

Swattings have spiked at Facebook in particular, according to local police departments and security officials at the company, which in recent years has cracked down on false accounts, threatening language and other types of content that violates its rules. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity surrounding the attacks.

Mosseri declined to comment, and a Facebook spokesman, Anthony Harrison, said in a statement that because these things deal with security matters and our employees, we are unable to comment.

Like any other type of crime, when the cost is zero and the deterrent is very low, youve created a perfect opportunity for people to pour time and resources into that crime, said Brian Krebs, a swatting victim who writes a widely read blog, Krebs on Security.

The attacks have been aided by forums that have sprung up both on the public internet and on the camouflaged sites of the so-called dark web. These forums name thousands of people, from high-ranking executives to their extended families, who could be targets, providing cellphone numbers, home addresses and other information. Some even discuss techniques that can be used  like cheap, online technology that can spoof a phone number and make the police believe a 911 call is coming from a targets home.

In the eight months since one online forum was started, nearly 3,000 people have joined.

Who should we do next? read one message on the forum last month. The responses included gun emojis  the symbol, in swatting forums, for an attack in which the police were successfully called to the targets home. Many of the responses were laced with profanity, as well as suggestions for ex-girlfriends who should be swatted.

One forum names at least two dozen Facebook employees as potential targets. They range from executives to product engineers. Some forum participants said that they had been barred from Facebook or Instagram, and that Facebook employees were fair game because they think they are god.

On another forum, new names of potential swatting victims are added daily. With each new entry, there is  at a minimum  a home address. Some entries contain more details, including the best time of day to catch the person at home or information about the childrens school.

Lol, sick, read many of the replies.

Swatting started in the combative world of online gaming. It was a way to terrorize someone more famous, get even with a rival or retaliate against someone with different political views.

Provoking a heavily armed police response presents obvious risks. Last year, a 26-year-old California man was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for calling in dozens of fake emergency calls, including one that led to the fatal police shooting of a Kansas resident, Andrew Finch.

Because few people carrying out swattings are ever caught, the police and tech companies can only guess at their motivations. They have seen, however, a correlation between removals of large numbers of accounts for threatening behavior or hate speech and what they believe to be retaliatory attacks against the executives responsible.

As more police departments recognize the threat, some have already found practical solutions. In Seattle, people who believe they are at risk of being swatted can include their information and that of their families on a police registry. When an emergency call about a potential threat comes in, the police check to make sure the home isnt in the registry. If it is, they call the home first to see if they can reach someone inside, and check with neighbors to see if there are any corroborating reports of shots fired or other disturbances.

The registry is a voluntary thing we created, and it is a small but effective step for people who know they are at risk of being targeted, said Carmen Best, the police chief of Seattle. Swatting is not a new thing. Its been around for a long time, and it weaponizes our 911 system. Its a lot more than a hoax or a prank.

In addition to the registry, the Police Department has trained 911 operators to pick up cues to potential swatting in calls, Chief Best said. It has also begun educating officers on the importance of responding to questionable calls with a limited amount of force.

Seattles approach is unusual. None of the other police departments contacted by The Times had a similar registry, or had even heard of the idea, despite the recent swattings against tech executives in their jurisdictions.

Because swattings are largely organized online, the people behind them can live anywhere in the world. And despite numerous attempts to create federal legislation banning the practice, there is no specific statute that allows swatting to be investigated and prosecuted as a federal crime.

Facebook, Google and Twitter did not respond to requests for comment on measures they have taken to protect their employees from swatting. In recent months, all three companies have held discussions with employees who they believe are at risk.

They have asked those employees to take added precautions, such as not publicly giving their whereabouts or listing information about their families. The tech companies have also privately let the local police know when certain high-profile executives are at risk, according to police departments in the Silicon Valley area.

The home of Facebooks chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, was permanently flagged as high risk, said one Facebook security expert, who asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the topic.

Facebook, Google and Twitter informally share information about potential swattings, giving warnings to one another if they spot a threat on their platforms, the expert said.

In an attack on another Facebook executive last year, police officers encircled the mans home in Palo Alto, California, after being told that he was at risk of harming himself and his family. The episode was resolved without anyone getting hurt.

Facebook had flagged the executive as a likely target for swatting and had taken precautions to protect him and his family. The police still sent a SWAT team.

Anyone can be at risk of being swatted, but people who work in tech are at a particular risk, Best said. We have to get a foothold on this, before more people get hurt.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 17:45:57|Editor: Wang Yamei

Video Player Close

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Folk artists performed lion dance in Cambodia on Friday to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival, which will fall on Saturday.

Dancers from six troupes jointly performed at the Royal Palace and the Chinese embassy here.

At the palace, they were welcomed by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Royal Palace Minister Kong Sam Ol, while at the embassy, they were received by Chinese Ambassador Wang Wentian.

Spring Festival was the most important festival in China, which marked the end of the winter and the start of the spring.

In his new year greeting speech, Wang extended his profound thanks to the Chinese people and Cambodians of Chinese descent for their contributions to Cambodia's socio-economic development and to strengthening China-Cambodia friendship.

The ambassador is confident that relations and cooperation between the two countries will be further deepened in the new year.

"May the Year of the Rat bring good luck, health, fortune and new success to the Chinese people, Cambodians of Chinese descent and all Cambodian people," he said.

Teng Lay, vice-president of the Association of Khmer-Chinese in Cambodia, said lion dance was presented to mark the Chinese New Year and to promote Chinese culture and traditions in Cambodia.

Lion dance is usually invited by traditional Chinese families to perform as a symbolic ritual to usher in the Spring Festival and to ward off bad luck and evil spirits.

Cambodian government chief spokesman Phay Siphan said the Spring Festival is broadly celebrated in Cambodia, though it is not a public holiday in the kingdom.

"The majority of the Cambodian people celebrates the Chinese New Year," he told Xinhua. "This clearly reflects fraternal relationship between the two peoples."
HONG KONG  While Chinas state-run media has urged calm and praised the official response to the coronavirus outbreak, a different story is playing out across the countrys tightly controlled social media networks.

In the digital world, Chinas citizens are expressing panic and frustration. They are overcoming a lack of reporting in the official media by sharing their own videos and information  sometimes inaccurately.

Some are even evading censors, who commonly stifle criticism of the government, to register complaints about how officials have handled the crisis. They have criticized officials for failing to contain the initial outbreak in Wuhan, the capital of the central province of Hubei; for limiting residents to overcrowded facilities in the region; and for not visiting the affected areas.
EDINBURGH, N.Y.  A Gloversville woman was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, criminal mischief and trespassing.

Grace M. LaBrake, 32. was charged with criminal mischief fourth degree, a felony, driving while intoxicated, a misdemeanor and trespassing.

It was reported to State Police responding to a residence in the town of Edinburgh on Jan. 23 that LaBrake entered onto the victims property and used a knife to slash the tires on their vehicle.

Polioce said LaBrake left the scene, but was stopped a short time later while driving down State Route 30a in Mayfield. Police conducting the interview observed signs of intoxication, and LaBrake was administered and failed the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests.

LaBrake was transported to State Police in Mayfield, where she tested at a blood alcohol level of .13 percent. She was issued an appearance ticket for Mayfield Town Court on Feb. 4, where she will be arraigned on the charge of driving while intoxicated.

She was also issued an appearance ticket for Edinburgh Town Court on Feb. 3, where she will be arraigned on the charges of criminal mischief fourth degree, a felony and trespassing (violation).
Egypts president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has said the country has become an oasis of security and stability under his rule, amid reports of a new clampdown on dissent in the lead-up to the eighth anniversary of the 2011 pro-democracy Arab Spring uprising.

Mr Sisi, who became president in 2014, spoke at the annual ceremony celebrating Police Day, which falls on 25 January, the same date that thousands of Egyptians took to the streets to begin a sweeping revolt that forced longtime dictator Hosni Mubarak to step down in 2011.

Meanwhile, human rights activists have complained that authorities are randomly stopping people in downtown Cairo, the epicentre of the 2011 uprising, for fear that similar demonstrations could erupt.

The whole world has seen how Egypt has turned into an oasis of security and stability in only a few years, Mr Sisi told a large audience of government officials, religious leaders and commanders in the countrys security force in the lavish auditorium of Egypts police academy in eastern Cairo.

I will always value and take pride in the fact that you and your fellows in the armed forces are facing a fierce battle against dark terrorism, he said.

The 20 worst countries for press freedom Show all 20 1 /20 The 20 worst countries for press freedom The 20 worst countries for press freedom 20. Tajikistan Due to government pressure worsened by an economic crisis, most independent news outlets have closed, many journalists have fled the country and those who remain self-censor. Tajikistan has dropped 12 places in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 19. Libya Due to the instability of recent years, journalists are at great risk when working in Libya. One journalist has been killed so far this year in the country. Libya remains in the same place as 2018 in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 18. Egypt President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has further damaged press freedom in Egypt. The government often bans media outlets and has blocked over 500 websites. There are currently 25 journalists in jail in Egypt making it one of the worst countries for imprisoning journalists in the world. Egypt has dropped two places in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 17. Somalia Three journalists were killed in Somalia in 2018 while a further three survived or eluded attempts on their life. Journalists also risk torture or the closure of their media outlets at the hands of the government. Despite this, Somalia has risen four places in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 16. Equatorial Guinea The media in Equatorial Guinea is closely controlled by the government. Coverage of the Arab Spring, fighting in Mali and Syria and the fall of Burkina Faso's president was completely banned. Despite this, Equatorial Guinea has risen six places in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 15. Azerbaijan Independent journalists are often detained and later jailed if they do not submit to beating, blackmail or bribes. The government also blocks access to independent media websites. Azerbaijan has dropped three places in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 14. Bahrain Journalists, particularly photographers, are often jailed, sometimes for life. In detention, journalists have been mistreated and even stripped of their citizenship. It is difficult for foreign journalists to access the country. Bahrain has dropped one place in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 13. Yemen The ongoing war in Yemen makes working there risky for journalists. The Houthi rebels are holding at least 16 journalists and Al-Qaeda holds one. Yemen has dropped one place in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 12. Cuba The Cuban government has maintained control over the media since the now-deceased Fidel Castro came to power in 1959. Privately-owned media is prohibited by the constitution. Improved access to the internet and the election of Miguel Diaz-Canel as president in 2018 are thought to spell hope for the future of press freedom in the country. Cuba has risen three places in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 11. Iran Iran has been one of the world's most oppressive countries for journalists ever since the revolution of 1979. Journalists are often handed lengthy jail sentences in unfair trials. Iran has dropped six places in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 10. Laos The government of Laos exercises complete control over the media. Use of the internet is heavily regulated by the state and less than 10% of the population are online. Since 2016, foreign news outlets have only been able to set up offices in the country on the condition that they submit all content for censorship by the ruling Lao Revolutionary people's party. Laos has dropped one place in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 9. Saudi Arabia Independent media are not permitted in Saudi Arabia. Saudi journalists working abroad are kept under close surveillance as demonstrated by the murder of New York Times reporter Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey in October 2018. Critical journalists are often jailed on arbitrary terms and likely subject to torture. Saudi Arabia has dropped three places in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 8.Djibouti No private media operate in Djibouti. The government uses state media solely for propaganda purposes. La Voix de Djibouti, the only independent media outlet dedicated to the country, operates from Belgium, but it is blocked online in Djibouti. The country remains in the same place as 2018 in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 7. Syria Due to the ongoing civil war, working as a journalist in Syria is extremely dangerous. At least ten journalists were killed in 2018, three of whom were victims of murder. All parties involved in the conflict are hostile to journalists. Despite this, Syria has risen three places in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 6. Sudan Journalists bore the brunt of the regime's crackdown on protests that have been ongoing since December 2018 with over 100 in jail at the time of Omar al-Bashir's overthrow. The situation for journalists has not improved since the military coup in April as the new rulers quickly moved to shut down the offices of Al Jazeera and banned its staff from working in the country. Sudan has dropped one place in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 5. Vietnam All major outlets are tightly regulated by the government. Independent journalists are persecuted and jailed under laws outlawing "activities aimed at overthrowing the government, anti-state propaganda and abusing the rights to freedom and democracy to threaten the interests of the state." Vietnam has dropped one place in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 4. China While state owned media are allowed in China, they are closely controlled by the government and the most widely circulated new source in China is entirely state owned. The internet is tightly regulated. Over 60 journalists are currently detained and held in poor conditions, two recently died from cancers that were left untreated after their capture. China has dropped one place in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 3. Eritrea Independent media is not permitted in Eritrea. Reporters without Borders believe that there are at least 11 journalists in jail here but the government will not confirm this nor will it allow the suspected prisoners any access to their families or lawyers. Despite this, Eritrea has risen one place in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 2. North Korea Kim Jong Un's regime exercise near total control over all media and communications. More foreign media have been allowed access the country in recent years albeit under extremely strict conditions set by the government. Despite this, North Korea has risen one place in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018. The 20 worst countries for press freedom 1. Turkmenistan All media in Turkmenistan are controlled by the government. The few internet users can only access a strictly censored web. Journalists are harassed, arrested and tortured. Authorities have recently taken to removing satellite dishes around the cities, ostensibly to make the cities prettier but in reality to cut off citizen's potential to access uncontrolled news coverage. Turkmenistan has dropped two places in the Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index since 2018.

In 2013, Mr Sisi, then defence minister, led the militarys overthrow of Mohamed Morsi, an elected but divisive president who hailed from the ranks of the Muslim Brotherhood. The nations oldest and largest Islamist organisation was outlawed and branded a terrorist group the same year. Since then, Mr Sisis government has been battling an Islamic insurgency, mainly in the Sinai Peninsula.

Last autumn thousands were arrested, including prominent academics, journalists and politicians following rare protests that erupted on 20 September following corruption allegations levelled by a self-exiled businessman against the president and his military. Hundreds were subsequently released.

On Wednesday, the interior ministry issued a statement alleging that the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood was plotting to spread chaos and undermine the countrys stability by using cyberspace to call for protests and rioting on 25 January. The statement said authorities had arrested members of the Muslim Brotherhood and discovered several weapon caches. Plotters were coordinating their efforts with fugitive militants who reside in Turkey, the statement added.

In recent weeks, there have been calls on social media to take to the streets on Saturday to protest Mr Sisis rule. More than the usual number of police vehicles have been been seen in and near downtown Cairo since last week.

Recommended Journalists in Egpyt are facing more danger by the day

Downtown Cairo has turned into a military barrack. It is full of secret police who would stop anyone, said Mohamed Zaree, a human rights activist with the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies. He said police were checking the smart phones of those arrested for any possible incendiary political content.

What is going on definitely has to do with the upcoming anniversary of the 25 January revolution, said Mr Zaree. The regime is always scared that the 25 January scenario might get repeated.

Since Mr Sisis ascent to power, state officials and state-controlled media have spread the narrative that the 2011 uprising was the outcome of a conspiracy by the Brotherhood and its regional allies, namely Turkey and Qatar. His government even renamed the 25 January national holiday as Police Day instead of The Revolution Day, in a move widely seen by the regimes critics as an attempt to erase the memory of that day.

However, in his Thursday speech, Mr Sisi hailed the anniversary of the 2011 pro-democracy rallies as a precious occasion.

Today coincides with the anniversary of the 25 January revolution with its noble demands that the Egyptian citizen would lead a dignified life, he said.

Associated Press
A remarkable new species of meat-eating dinosaur has been unveiled at the Natural History Museum of Utah. Paleontologists unearthed the first specimen in early 1990s in Dinosaur National Monument in northeastern Utah. The huge carnivore inhabited the flood plains of western North America during the Late Jurassic Period, between 157-152 million years ago, making it the geologically oldest species of Allosaurus, predating the more well-known state fossil of Utah, Allosaurus fragilis. The newly named dinosaur Allosaurus jimmadseni, was announced today in the open-access scientific journal PeerJ.

The species belongs to the allosauroids, a group of small to large-bodied, two-legged carnivorous dinosaurs that lived during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. Allosaurus jimmadseni, possesses several unique features, among them a short narrow skull with low facial crests extending from the horns in front of the eyes forward to the nose and a relatively narrow back of the skull with a flat surface to the bottom of the skull under the eyes. The skull was weaker with less of an overlapping field of vision than its younger cousin Allosaurus fragilis. Allosaurus jimmadseni evolved at least 5 million years earlier than fragilis, and was the most common and the top predator in its ecosystem. It had relatively long legs and tail, and long arms with three sharp claws. The name Allosaurus translates as "different reptile," and the second part, jimmadseni, honors Utah State Paleontologist James H. Madsen Jr.

Following an initial description by Othniel C. Marsh in 1877, Allosaurus quickly became the best known--indeed the quintessential--Jurassic theropod. The taxonomic composition of the genus has long been a debate over the past 130 years. Paleontologists argue that there are anywhere between one and 12 species of Allosaurus in the Morrison Formation of North America. This study recognizes only two species--A. fragilis and A. jimmadseni.

"Previously, paleontologists thought there was only one species of Allosaurus in Jurassic North America, but this study shows there were two species--the newly described Allosaurus jimmadseni evolved at least 5 million years earlier than its younger cousin, Allosaurus fragilis," said co-lead author Mark Loewen, research associate at the Natural History Museum of Utah, and associate professor in the Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Utah led the study. "The skull of Allosaurus jimmadseni is more lightly built than its later relative Allosaurus fragilis, suggesting a different feeding behavior between the two."

"Recognizing a new species of dinosaur in rocks that have been intensely investigated for over 150 years is an outstanding experience of discovery. Allosaurus jimmadseni is a great example of just how much more we have to learn about the world of dinosaurs. Many more exciting fossils await discovery in the Jurassic rocks of the American West," said Daniel Chure, retired paleontologist at Dinosaur National Monument and co-lead author of the study.

George Engelmann of the University of Nebraska, Omaha initially discovered the initial skeleton of the new species within Dinosaur National Monument in 1990. In 1996, several years after the headless skeleton was collected, the radioactive skull belonging to the skeleton using a radiation detector by Ramal Jones of the University of Utah. Both skeleton and skull were excavated by teams from Dinosaur National Monument.

"Big Al," another specimen belonging to the new species, was discovered in Wyoming on United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land in 1991 and is housed in the collections of the Museum of The Rockies in Bozeman, Montana. Previously thought to belong to Allosaurus fragilis, "Big Al" was featured in the BBC's 2001 "Walking with Dinosaurs: Ballad of Big Al" video. Over the last 30 years, crews from various museums have collected and prepared materials of this new species. Other specimens include "Big Al Two" at the Saurier Museum Aathal in Switzerland and Allosaurus material from the Dry Mesa Quarry of Colorado at Brigham Young University.

"This exciting new study illustrates the importance of continued paleontological investigations on public lands in the West. Discovery of this new taxon of dinosaur will provide important information about the life and times of Jurassic dinosaurs and represents another unique component of America's Heritage," said Brent Breithaupt, BLM regional paleontologist.

Early Morrison Formation dinosaurs were replaced by some of the most iconic dinosaurs of the Late Jurassic

Allosaurus jimmadseni lived on the semi-arid Morrison Formation floodplains of the interior of western North America. The older rocks of the Morrison Formation preserve a fauna of dinosaurs distinct from the iconic younger Morrison Formation faunas that include Allosaurus fragilis, Diplodocus and Stegosaurus. Paleontologists have recently determined that specimens of this new species of dinosaur lived in several places throughout the western interior of North America (Utah, Colorado and Wyoming).

Study summary

Dinosaurs were the dominant members of terrestrial ecosystems during the Mesozoic. However, the pattern of evolution and turnover of ecosystems during the middle Mesozoic remains poorly understood. The authors report the discovery of the earliest member of the group of large-bodied allosauroids in the Morrison Formation ecosystem that was replaced by Allosaurus fragilis and illustrate changes acquired in the genus over time. The study includes an in-depth description of every bone of the skull and comparisons with the cranial materials of other carnivorous dinosaurs. Finally, the study recognizes just two species of Allosaurus in North America with Allosaurus fragilis replacing its earlier relative Allosaurus jimmadseni.

Fact sheet: Major points of the paper

A remarkable new species of meat-eating dinosaur, Allosaurus jimmadseni, is described based on two spectacularly complete skeletons. The first specimen was unearthed in Dinosaur National Monument, in northeastern Utah.

Allosaurus jimmadseni is distinguished by a number of unique features, including low crests running from above the eyes to the snout and a relatively narrow back of the skull with a flat surface to the bottom of the upper skull under the eyes. The skull was weaker with less of an overlapping field of vision than its younger cousin Allosaurus fragilis.

At 155 million years old, Allosaurus jimmadseni is the geologically-oldest species of Allosaurus predating the more well-known State Fossil of Utah Allosaurus fragilis.

Allosaurus jimmadseni was the most common and the top predator in its ecosystem. It had relatively long legs and tail, and long arms with three sharp claws.

Study design

Comparison of the bones with all other known allosauroid dinosaurs indicate that the species possessed unique features of the upper jaw and cheeks (maxilla and jugal) and a decorative crest stretching from just in front of the eyes to the nose.

Many of the comparisons were made with the thousands of bones of Allosaurus fragilis collected from the famous Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry administered by the Bureau of Land Management that are housed in the collections of the Natural History Museum of Utah.

On the basis of these features, the scientific team named it a new genus and species of dinosaur, Allosaurus jimmadseni (translating to "Jim Madsen's different reptile").

Allosaurus jimmadseni is particularly notable for its slender, narrow skull with short sharp nasal crests compared to its close relative and successor Allosaurus fragilis.

The study was funded in part by the University of Utah, the National Park Service and the National Science Foundation.

New dinosaur name: Allosaurus jimmadseni

The first part of the name, Allosaurus, (aluhSAWruhs) can be translated from Greek as the "other", "strange" or "different" and "lizard" or "reptile" literally to "different reptile". The second part of the name jimmadseni (gym-MAD-sehn-eye) honors the late Utah State Paleontologist James Madsen Jr. who excavated and studied tens of thousands of Allosaurus bones from the famous Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry in central Utah and contributed greatly to the knowledge of Allosaurus.

Size

Allosaurus jimmadseni was approximately 26 to 29 feet (8-9 meters) long.

Allosaurus jimmadseni weighed around 4000 lbs. (1.8 metric tonnes).

Relationships

Allosaurus jimmadseni belongs to a group of carnivorous dinosaurs called "allosauroids," the same group as the famous Allosaurus fragilis.

Other dinosaurs found in rocks containing Allosaurus jimmadseni include the carnivorous theropods Torvosaurus and Ceratosaurus; the long-necked sauropods Haplocanthosaurus and Supersaurus; and the plate-backed stegosaur Hesperosaurus.

Allosaurus jimmadseni is closely related to the State Fossil of Utah, Allosaurus fragilis.

Anatomy

Allosaurus jimmadseni was a two-legged carnivore, with long forelimbs and sharp, recurved claws that were likely used for grasping prey.

Like other allosauroid dinosaurs, Allosaurus jimmadseni had a large head full of 80 sharp teeth. It was also the most common carnivore in its ecosystem.

Age and geography

Allosaurus jimmadseni lived during the Kimmeridgian stage of the Late Jurassic period, which spanned from approximately 157 million to 152 million years ago.

Allosaurus jimmadseni lived in a semi-arid inland basin filled with floodplains, braided stream systems, lakes, and seasonal mudflats along the western interior of North America.

Allosaurus jimmadseni represents the earliest species of Allosaurus in the world.

Discovery

Allosaurus jimmadseni can be found in a geologic unit known as the Salt Wash Member of the Morrison Formation and its equivalents exposed in Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah.

The first specimen of Allosaurus jimmadseni was discovered in the National Park Service administered by Dinosaur National Monument in Uintah County, near Vernal, Utah.

Allosaurus jimmadseni was first discovered by George Engelmann of the University of Nebraska, Omaha on July 15, 1990 during a contracted paleontological inventory of the Morrison Formation of Dinosaur National Monument.

Another specimen of Allosaurus jimmadseni known as "Big Al," was found on land administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management in Wyoming.

Further specimens of Allosaurus jimmadseni have been subsequently recognized in the collections of various museums.

Allosaurus jimmadseni specimens are permanently housed in the collections of Dinosaur National Monument, Utah; the Museum of the Rockies, Bozeman, Montana; the Saurier Museum of Aathal, Switzerland; the South Dakota School of Mines, Rapid City, South Dakota; Brigham Young University's Museum of Paleontology, Provo, Utah; and the United States National Museum (Smithsonian) Washington D.C.

These discoveries are the result of a continuing collaboration between the Natural History Museum of Utah, the National Park Service, and the Bureau of Land Management.

Excavation

The first skeleton of Allosaurus jimmadseni was excavated during the summers of 1990 to 1994 by staff of the National Park Service's Dinosaur National Monument. The skeleton block was so heavy it required the use of explosives to remove surrounding rock and a helicopter to fly out the 2700 kg block. The head of the skeleton was missing

The first bones of Allosaurus jimmadseni discovered included toes and some tail vertebrae. Later excavation revealed most of an articulated skeleton missing the head and part of the tail.

The radioactive skull of the first specimen of Allosaurus jimmadseni, which had previously eluded discovery, was found in 1996 by Ramal Jones of the University of Utah using a radiation detector.

Preparation

It required seven years to fully prepare all of the bones of Allosaurus jimmadseni.

Much of the preparation was done by then Dinosaur National Monument employees Scott Madsen and Ann Elder, with some assistance from Dinosaur National Monument volunteers and students at Brigham Young University.

Other

The Natural History Museum of Utah houses the world's largest collection of Allosaurus fossils, which are frequently studied by researchers from around the world.

More than 270 National Park Service (NPS) areas preserve fossils even though only 16 of those were established wholly or in part for their fossils. Fossils in NPS areas can be found in the rocks or sediments of a park, in museum collections, and in cultural contexts (building stones, artifacts, historical legends, and documents).

The United States Bureau of Land Management manages more land--247 million acres--than any other federal agency, and manages paleontological resources using scientific principles and expertise.

###
Conducted a two-day exchange program on Assistive Technology

An 8-member team of students from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the US led by their faculty Dr Kyle Keane visited the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi for a two-day exchange program on Assistive Technology on 20th and 21st January, 2020. They had joint class with 7 students of IIT Delhi as a part of exchange program.

The MIT-IITD students interacted with students, project staff and entrepreneurs working in the space of assistive technology at IIT Delhi. The students from both the institutes visited Indian Association for the Blind and had discussion with students and special educators to get first had experience of needs and opportunities in the space of assistive technology.

Three student teams each of which consisting of MIT and IIT Delhi students worked on unmet needs and came up with solutions as a part of joint studio work. All three teams made their presentation pitches to faculty, experts and to other students.

Prof. P.V.M. Rao, coordinator of this programme from IIT Delhi, felt that overall the exchange program was a good experience for students from both the institutes and students had an exciting time working together. Some areas of work for long time collaboration were identified during this exchange program.
HOUSTON, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Families are invited to the Houston School Connection Fair to meet schools from around the city, explore free educational resources, and enjoy fun and games on Saturday, Jan. 25.

WHAT:

- Houston School Connection Fair

WHO:

- 50+ schools

- Houston area parents, students, and educators

WHEN:

- 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 25

WHERE:

- Houston Community College West Loop

This event is organized by Families Empowered.

As a nonpartisan, nonpolitical public awareness effort, National School Choice Week shines a positive spotlight on effective education options for students, families, and communities around the country. From January 26 through February 1, 2020, more than 50,000 independently-planned events will be held in celebration of the Week. For more information, visit www.schoolchoiceweek.com.

SOURCE National School Choice Week

Related Links

http://www.schoolchoiceweek.com


S adiq Khan is to almost double his proposed increase in council tax to fund the police fight against violent crime.

The Mayor is to increase his share of bills by 11.56, meaning the average London household will pay 332.07 to City Hall from next April, including an extra 10 to the Met.

The 3.6 per cent increase comes after he dismissed a 200 million increase in government funding for the Met  the highest in a decade  as not enough. Originally, he had proposed a 6.51 increase in benchmark band-D bills.

Mr Khan, who last night faced criticism for the increase in violent crime at a public meeting in Wood Green, said reducing attacks was personal after a teenager was stabbed to death near his home in Tooting.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan at Seven Kings in Ilford / PA

He said: A stones throw from my house, a teenager lost his life. Its personal to me. Of all the issues I deal with as Mayor, this is by far the hardest, both in terms of the toll on our community and how difficult it is to tackle.

The truth is there is no easy fix. I will always be honest with Londoners. This is a problem you cant solve overnight.

The Mayor was referring to the fatal stabbing of Lewis Elwin, 20, in April 2016. Mr Khan attended his funeral soon after being elected.

Knife crime in London is at a record high, with 15,080 offences recorded in the 12 months to the end of last September. But it is rising at a lower rate to the rest of the country and fatal stabbings were down 18 per cent.
live bse live

nse live Volume Todays L/H More 

Coffee Day Enterprises share price locked at 5 percent upper circuit on January 24 as the company is going to sell Way2Wealth Securities.

The company entered into the definitive agreement to sell Way2Wealth Securities including its certain subsidiaries to Shriram Ownership Trust, company said in BSE release.

Shriram Ownership Trust is the promoter of Shriram Capital which is the holding company for their large NBFC and Insurance Businesses.

The acquisition will be subject to the closing conditions and required statutory approvals.

The above-mentioned transaction shall help in further deleveraging the Coffee Day Group and ensure smooth operations while safeguarding the interests of all stakeholders, including investors, lenders, employees and customers, company said.

There were pending buy orders of 80,234 shares, with no sellers available.

At 11:01 hrs Coffee Day Enterprises was quoting at Rs 33.80, up Rs 1.60 on the BSE.
Vermilion County States Attorney Jacqueline Lacy said the deaths may have been the result of a disagreement over marijuana. Cloanger T.M. Robinson Jr., 18, and Terrion Tinsley, 16, were charged as adults with murder, while a 17-year-old male was charged with aggravated robbery.
East Asia and Asian communities around the world are preparing for lunar New Year celebrations, which begin tomorrow. A new dangerous coronavirus outbreak is however complicating things. Other factors also bode ill for the festivities. In South Korea, many people are stressed out by the New Year. Considered the bearer of good luck for thousands of years, the rat has come to be regarded as a dangerous and disease-carrying fiend.

Beijing (AsiaNews)  East Asia is preparing to celebrate the lunar New Year, which begins tomorrow, 25 January, amid quarantines and new cases of coronavirus infection.

Like in mainland China, infections have been reported in Vietnam, Singapore, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan with local authorities confirming the presence of the virus in their territory. The United States too has also been affected.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has not yet described the situation as an international emergency, partly due to the small number of confirmed cases, but its director general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that a decision could be made soon.

The health crisis is not the only issue troubling New Year celebrations.

In South Korea, a national survey, published today by all local newspapers, caused a sensation, showing that more than 59 per cent of the population fear festivity-related stress.

The idea of having to meet family, which is part of the New Year experience, frightens many South Korean workers: 34.1 per cent of respondents said theyd rather celebrate on their own.

Japan has confirmed that public New Year celebrations will be held but has tightened checks at airports and stations.

Several Japanese municipalities have urged residents with fever or illness of various types to go to the hospital or stay at home after contacting a doctor. For now, no special restrictions have been issued in the other Asian countries affected by the coronavirus.

In Asia, the rat is traditionally associated with abundance, fertility, hope and opportunity. For centuries, the rodent has been seen and described as a zealous worker, storing food for hard times and tenaciously managing to get out of difficult situations thanks to its stubbornness.

In the past 300 years, however, the animal has started to be included among those considered evil. Associated with dirty and unhealthy places, it was driven out and has disappeared from national fairy tales.

In Christian symbolism, the rat is among the satanic animals par excellence, says Fr Giorgio Pasini, PIME missionary in Hong Kong. As a devourer of supplies, the rat has earned the reputation of thief and has therefore become a symbol of stealing as well as sin, living in dirty, dark places, in trash or places without light.

In the Old Testament, rats are considered unclean animals (Lv 11:29-35) and Christianity equals them to the devil as a devourer. In fact, this small mammal  because of its tendency to gnaw at everything, from food to paper objects, from furniture to electrical wires, clothing and so on  has always been considered the harbinger of evil events. In Christian art, the rat that gnaws at the roots of the tree of life is a recurrent theme.
Many students have complained on social networks that they have been punished by parents for unsatisfactory learning records in the first semester of the academic year.

It was a hot day and students all wore short-sleeved uniform shirts. But Tran Thu H was seen in a coat. After the school hours finished, I came to see her and realized that H got a sound thrashing from her father because she got 9/10 from the IT test, said Vu Lan Anh, headmaster of Cao Ba Quat Secondary School in Gia Lam district in Hanoi.

Photo for illustration





H told the teacher that she would receive a shower of blows every time when she cannot receive the 10/10 for school works or exam papers.



As I got 9 only for the IT test, dad hit me with a stick. I was in so much pain, I just tried to hide my face when receiving the blows, H said to the teacher.



The girl felt ashamed because of the bruises on her hands, so she had to wear a coat to hide them.



The female student, too afraid of the blows, one day decided to steal money from parents and hired the best student in the class to do exam work for her to get a 10 score for the exam.

Many students have complained on social networks that they have been punished by parents for unsatisfactory learning records in the first semester of the academic year.

The school organized a meeting of three parties  H, teacher and parents. At the meeting, H admitted her wrong behavior and apologized to the teacher and parents.



According to Anh, after hearing Hs words, all the teacher, parents and H burst into crying



What happened with Le Mai L.T, a ninth grader in Long Bien district in Hanoi proved to be even more serious. The girl suffered from insomnia for two years and severe depression.



Hoang Thi Lan, the teacher of T, said one day she saw a student falling asleep when having lunch. Later, she found that the student felt tired after many sleepless nights.



T was born into a family with many intellectuals and her mother is a teacher at a high school in Hanoi. The mother decided that T must obtain high learning achievements and must get IELTS 6.5 at least.



The mother constantly scolded her child and compared her with other good English learners. Since T felt desperate, she locked himself in the room and took the teddy bear to crush, then cut and tore it into small pieces.



Thai Van Tai, director of the Primary Education Department under the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), said: Children need to be respected. Do not attach too much importance to exam scores and do not place heavy responsibility on the shoulders of small children."

Mai Lan

What can be done to stop school violence in Vietnam? Education experts believe that cameras alone will not help prevent school violence. To do so, it is necessary to apply many measures at the same time.
The ruling Trinamool Congess on Friday decided to continue its protests against CAA and NRC and will make it the party's main poll plank in the coming civic polls in West Bengal.

The civic polls will be held in 107 municipalities across the state and in Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) in April-May 2020.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday held a closed door meeting with party functionaries during the day and discussed TMC's strategy for the civic polls.

According to party sources, during the meeting Banerjee, who is the TMC supremo, asked its leaders to intensify campaign against NRC and CAA across the state and reach out to the people with the developmental work it had done in the last eight years.

"It has been decided that our protest against CAA will continue till it is revoked. We will carry out door-to- door campaign against both CAA and NRC and will be our poll plank in the coming civic poll," said a senior TMC leader on condition of anoynymity.

TMC is at the forefront of the opposition to the contentious CAA, proposed NRC and the NPR.

The party has already conducted a survey to assess its support base and the penetration of BJP in the state. The survey will play a key role in adopting strategy and in the selection of candidates for the civic polls, the sources said.

The civic polls, in which about 60 per cent voters of the state will be eligible to take part, are being tipped as the "mini assembly election" ahead of the crucial 2021 state polls.

The polls have assumed significance as the BJP has emerged as a tough challenger to the ruling Trinamool Congress by making deep inroads in the state and pushing the opposition Congress and Left Front to distant third and fourth spots respectively.

TMC secretary general Partha Chatterjee said the party will organise human chains in various parts of the state to protest against the contentious law.

"Our party supremeo will conduct three rallies in February to protest against CAA and NRC," he added.

The BJP had bagged 18 of the 42 seats, just four short of the TMC in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The TMC's tally had come down from 34 in 2014 to 22 seats.

Following its poor show, the TMC has roped in poll strategist Prashant Kishor and his team I-PAC to evolve strategies ahead of the assembly elections in 2021.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi, Jan 24 : Granting interim relief to the students of Jawaharlal Nehru University, the Delhi High Court on Friday observed that "government has to fund public education".

"The government has to fund public education. In public universities, the burden of paying salaries to contractual workers can't be put on students. It's the responsibility of the government to find funds," said Justice Rajiv Shakdar.

The observations came after Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand told the court that the decision to revise fee in JNU was taken after instructions from the University Grants Commission (UGC).

She further told the court that JNU has already waived off service and utility charges earlier paid by the students and that it would now be borne by the UGC.

Anand also said that 90 per cent students had already registered as per the new hostel manual. Responding to this, the judge said, "When you don't have a choice, what do you do?" The court was hearing a plea filed by JNU Students Union (JNUSU) members, including its President Aishe Ghose, Vice President Saket Moon and others, seeking direction of the court to restrain the JNU administration from imposing late fees on students for registrations for the winter semester.

The plea also sought directions restraining the varsity from taking any action which would give effect to the draft hostel manual.

After hearing both the sides, Shakdar ruled, "As far as the remaining 10 per cent students are concerned, they need to register within one week as per the old manual. No late fee will be charged from them." The court has now posted the matter for hearing on February 28.
Updated on 1/27/20 to include a statement from the Association of Professional Flight Attendants.

No more "Noah's Ark in the air."

That's the joyful response I heard this week from some flight attendants, in response to a proposed new rule from the U.S. Department of Transportation that would ban most so-called "emotional support animals" from commercial airlines in the United States.

"Welcome news," said Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents flight attendants on United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Frontier, Spirit, and several others, adding:

It sets clear definitions and guidance ... Passengers claiming pets as emotional support animals has threatened the safety and health of passengers and crews in recent years while this practice skyrocketed.

After this article was published, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, which represents flight attendants at American Airlines among others, also sent me a statement praising the new government proposal.

The DOT's new proposal is an important departure from the current regulation that does not address the health, safety, and customer service concerns of flight attendants and passengers onboard. ... We are optimistic the newly proposed regulations are a step in the right direction.

The proposed government rules would, among other things:

Define a service animal as "a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability"

"No longer consider an emotional support animal to be a service animal"

Allow airlines to prohibit anyone from bringing more than two service animals aboard a plane

Require early check-in for passengers with service animals

"Allow airlines to require a service animal to fit within its handler's foot space on the aircraft"

Limiting service animals to dogs would bring the Transportation Department (and the airlines) into alignment with the definitions used in the Americans With Disabilities Act.

The rules don't automatically become law. We now enter a 60-day period in which anyone can comment on the proposed rules, and the department did not set a timeline for when they might go into effect.

It's interesting. None of the items on this list seem like they would be that much of a burden for passengers with legitimate service animals, given that we're talking about the safety of bringing unknown animals into a confined space at 30,000 feet in the air, for hours at a time.

Yet, every time I write about this, it's astonishing to see how many people side with the animals (and pet owners) against other paying passengers.

Opponents of the widespread practice say many passengers are simply declaring that their untrained pets are emotional support animals, in order to avoid paying extra fees to bring the animals aboard.

Airlines for America, an industry trade group, says the number of emotional support animals that passengers claimed and brought aboard flights went from 481,000 in 2016 to 751,000 in 2017.

Among just a few of the incidents that resulted, which have ranged from the dangerous to the absurd:

An American Airlines flight attendant was bitten by an emotional support dog, requiring five stitches.

A Delta Air Lines passenger was allegedly visciously attacked by a 50-pound emotional support dog.

A little girl on a Southwest Airlines flight was bitten by an emotional support dog.

On Alaska Airlines, the airline said it had to choose between siding with a passenger who had severe cat allergies, and another passenger who decided to declare that she was bringing an "emotional support cat" aboard. (You can guess who won.)

In perhaps the most viral example of this whole thing, a Brooklyn artist decided to try to force United Airlines to let her take an emotional support peacock on board.

Now, it seems that there's hope these kinds of stories will be a thing of the past, if the proposed rules do actually go into effect. Advocates for legitimate service animals praised the proposed rules. Albert Rizzi is the founder of an advocacy group for people with disabilities called My Blind Spot.
Bernie Sanders leads all other candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for president and is the most likely candidate to beat Donald Trump, according to two polls that place the Vermont senator as the top contender as the Iowa caucus and early state primaries near.

In a CNN poll, 27 per cent of Democrat and Democrat-leaning independents support Mr Sanders as the Democratic nominee. Twenty-four percent of respondents support former Vice President Joe Biden. Both candidates polled double digits ahead of other forecasted front-runners Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg.

Though the CNN poll puts their neck-and-neck support within the margin of error, it's the first time that Mr Biden has fallen from a clear lead in a CNN poll.

The results arrive as Mr Sanders and Mr Biden spar over the former vice president's previous comments on social security, as video resurfaced of Mr Biden endorsing controversial spending cuts to the program.

In a campaign video, Mr Biden accused Mr Sanders of launching a "barrage of negative attacks" against the candidate while he refused to answer questions about his past support for those cuts.

The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Show all 25 1 /25 The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Bernie Sanders The Vermont senator has launched a second bid for president after losing out to Hilary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primaries. He is running on a similar platform of democratic socialist reform Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Joe Biden The former vice president recently faced scrutiny for inappropriate touching of women, but was thought to deal with the criticism well and has since maintained a front runner status in national polling EPA The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Elizabeth Warren The Massachusetts senator is a progressive Democrat, and a major supporter of regulating Wall Street Reuters The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Amy Klobuchar Klobuchar is a Minnesota senator who earned praise for her contribution to the Brett Kavanaugh hearings Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Michael Bloomberg Michael Bloomberg, a late addition to the 2020 race, announced his candidacy after months of speculation in November. He has launched a massive ad-buying campaign and issued an apology for the controversial "stop and frisk" programme that adversely impacted minority communities in New York City when he was mayor Getty Images The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Tulsi Gabbard The Hawaii congresswoman announced her candidacy in January, but has faced tough questions on her past comments on LGBT+ rights and her stance on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Pete Buttigieg The centrist Indiana mayor and war veteran would be the first openly LGBT+ president in American history Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Deval Patrick The former Massachusetts governor launched a late 2020 candidacy and received very little reception. With just a few short months until the first voters flock to the polls, the former governor is running as a centrist and believes he can unite the party's various voting blocs AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Beto O'Rourke The former Texas congressman formally launched his bid for the presidency in March. He ran on a progressive platform, stating that the US is driven by "gross differences in opportunity and outcome" AP The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Kamala Harris The former California attorney general was introduced to the national stage during Jeff Sessions testimony. She has endorsed Medicare-for-all and proposed a major tax-credit for the middle class AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Bill De Blasio The New York mayor announced his bid on 16 May 2019. He emerged in 2013 as a leading voice in the left wing of his party but struggled to build a national profile and has suffered a number of political setbacks in his time as mayor AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Steve Bullock The Montana governor announced his bid on 14 May. He stated "We need to defeat Donald Trump in 2020 and defeat the corrupt system that lets campaign money drown out the people's voice, so we can finally make good on the promise of a fair shot for everyone." He also highlighted the fact that he won the governor's seat in a red [Republican] state Reuters The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Cory Booker The New Jersey Senator has focused on restoring kindness and civility in American politics throughout his campaign, though he has failed to secure the same level of support and fundraising as several other senators running for the White House in 2020 Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Wayne Messam Mayor of the city of Miramar in the Miami metropolitan area, Wayne Messam said he intended to run on a progressive platform against the "broken" federal government. He favours gun regulations and was a signatory to a letter from some 400 mayors condemning President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord Vice News The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Kirsten Gillibrand The New York Senator formally announced her presidential bid in January, saying that healthcare should be a right, not a privilege Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: John Delaney The Maryland congressman was the first to launch his bid for presidency, making the announcement in 2017 AP The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Andrew Yang The entrepreneur announced his presidential candidacy by pledging that he would introduce a universal basic income of $1,000 a month to every American over the age of 18 Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Julian Castro The former San Antonio mayor announced his candidacy in January and said that his running has a special meaning for the Latino community in the US Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Marianne Williamson The author and spiritual adviser has announced her intention to run for president. She had previously run for congress as an independent in 2014 but was unsuccessful Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Eric Swalwell One of the younger candidates, Swalwell has served on multiple committees in the House of Representatives. He intended to make gun control central to his campaign but dropped out after his team said it was clear there was no path to victory Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Seth Moulton A Massachusetts congressman, Moulton is a former US soldier who is best known for trying to stop Nancy Pelosi from becoming speaker of the house. He dropped out of the race after not polling well in key states Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Jay Inslee Inslee has been governor of Washington since 2013. His bid was centred around climate change AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: John Hickenlooper The former governor of Colorado aimed to sell himself as an effective leader who was open to compromise, but failed to make a splash on the national stage Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Tim Ryan Ohio representative Tim Ryan ran on a campaign that hinged on his working class roots, though his messaging did not appear to resonate with voters Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Tom Steyer Democratic presidential hopeful billionaire and philanthropist Tom Steyer is a longtime Democratic donor AFP/Getty

Results of the CNN poll show that Mr Sanders spiked seven percentage points over the last month following a similar December poll asking voters to pick their choice for the Democratic nominee.

The poll was conducted by SSRS from 16 January though 19 January among a random national sample of 1,156 people with an oversampling in battleground states.

Mr Sanders also claims the highest percentage of voters  38 per cent  who said they would be "enthusiastic" about his nomination, rather than merely "satisfied" or "dissatisfied" or "upset".

Among the highest in the "satisfied" category, 42 per cent of respondents said they would be "satisfied but not enthusiastic" about Ms Warren's nomination, but only 29 per cent said they were "enthusiastic". Amy Klobuchar captured 40 per cent for "satisfied but not enthusiastic" and only 19 per cent for "enthusiastic".

Mr Sanders also is the candidate that most respondents said agrees with them on issues that matter most to them (at 30 per cent) as well as the candidate that understands the problems facing people like them (at 29 per cent).

He also has the largest support among non-white respondents (30 per cent) as well as white respondents (24 per cent).

The senator also leads against the incumbent president by the widest margin among the Democratic candidates when voters are asked to choose between two candidates in a hypothetical face-off in the general election, according to the results of a SurveyUSA poll.

In the SurveyUSA poll of 4,069 registered voters nationwide, Mr Sanders had a nine-point lead at 52 per cent to Mr Trump's 43 per cent.

Mr Biden was the runner-up, with the former vice president getting 50 per cent to Mr Trump's 43 per cent.

For a similar question in the CNN poll, only 24 per cent of respondents said Mr Sanders has the greatest chance of defeating Mr Trump in the general election. He came in second to Mr Biden  45 per cent of respondents said he is the best chance of beating the incumbent.

The CNN poll also shows that 41 per cent of respondents believe Mr Biden is the Democrats' best hope of "uniting the Democratic party". Mr Sanders came in second, with only 16 per cent of respondents.
Muhammadu Buhari became President of Nigeria at a time every elite in the north wants to rule Nigeria. Sule Lamido, Ahmed Makarfi, Olusola Saraki, Rabiu Kwankwaso, Ali Modu Sheriff and Atiku Abubakar amongst others.

All these men believe they are suitably qualified to succeed either Jonathan in 2015 or Buhari in 2019. They switched political parties, hijacked party organs, and blackmailed each other. While some lost out during party primaries like Atiku in 2015, Saraki , Kwankwaso, Tambuwal in 2019, others were kicked out by court fiat like Modu Sheriff. Some others including Makarfi and Sule Lamido were muscled out by no vacancy in Aso Rock sycophants in 2015. While few like Atiku lost in the general elections.

These men, from my observations, had never hidden their disdain for Muhammadu Buhari whom they see as a Senior Almajiri about to usurp their traditional right to power and influence.

Buharis ascendancy to power in 2015 was due to Ex-President Jonathans mishandling of the Boko Haram terrorism. Jonathans lame duck approach to the kidnap, torture, rape and murder of both Christians and Muslims hoping to use it for political advantage, was his greatest undoing.

The northern elite for once in 2015, including Ibrahim Babangida, Aliyu Gusau, Theophilus Danjuma united under what some termed Almajiri General Buhari to evict what some viewed as a  suspicious Igbo face from Bayelsa who wants to revenge the civil war by allowing Boko Haram overrun the north.

All these alliances against Jonathan ended the moment the Buhari presidency introduced the Treasury Single Account, TSA. TSA swallowed up over two thousand government accounts. NNPC alone reportedly had over 100 accounts, FIRS had over 50 accounts while Customs had over 70 through which the national treasury is piped to the private accounts of choice cabals including retired Presidents, retired military officers, traditional rulers, Emirs, top politicians and opinion leaders.

Jonathan allowed the numerous accounts to thrive because he is also benefitting from those opened on his behalf to such extent that his oil minister is known to have siphoned over $6 billion dollars to her pretty self through fictitious crude oil allocations, crude oil brokerage fees, oil block proxy allocations and outright theft of millions of barrels of crude oil without recourse to the federation accounts. I have alluded to all these in earlier publications.

Buhari came and blocked this entire loophole and rendered some of them cashless, moneyless, and jobless, while rendering some others financially ineffective. As a result of the reforms, he was marked for death, overthrow, coup or revolution.

Buhari must either be killed in office, disgraced out of office, humiliated in election or removed by revolution.

The events prior to and after the 2015 elections all buttress to the facts. I am talking from personal discussions, observation and interfaces I made before, during and after the elections.

When Buhari refused to die by the chemically orchestrated assassination in Aso Rock in 2017, largely due to the assistance of M15 and British Royalty, he was quickly rebranded a tribalist, bigot, religious extremist, jihadist and dictator.

Ethnic militias and separatist movements were sponsored to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars to portray Buhari as an Islamist about to enforce Jihad on Christians.

Some Christian leaders were induced with some few millions of dollars to join the propaganda. Attempts were made to convince the international community that Buhari should be given the Ghaddafi treatment.

The buildup to the 2015 elections was the height of the conspiracy. I was a player in the process. I traversed between the ruling party and the opposition both as a church leader, rights activist and leader of an influential Igbo group. Therefore I am privy to all the plots by sections of the northern elites and their political proxies to remove Buhari at all cost with the support of vociferous southern lynch men

The Onnoghen Saga, the Electoral Act Saga, the Body Bag Saga, the Shoot at Sight Saga were all turned to heavy political advantage by the opposition bent on uprooting Buhari.

The electoral outcome itself shocked the opposition PDP; however, it did not shock the international observers. I interacted with few of them before and after the polls and I knew the mindset with which they accepted the outcomes of the polls.

The Parallel Voting Tabulations, PVT, mechanism, introduced by the opposition party was their greatest undoing. Employing the PVT, the international election observers found out that their permutations tallied with the voting pattern as announced by the electoral umpire. Buhari won 15 million votes in against Atikus 11 million and it tallied with the PVT experiment.

The elections had come and gone, the fifth columnists have devised new strategies to send Buhari packing. Bandits were sponsored to attack the presidents home state of Katsina. The bandits earlier ravaging Zamfara State were empowered to cause more mayhem. The kidnappers along Abuja- Kaduna highway were empowered to be more ruthless, shooting at the slightest provocations.

The sponsors of Boko Haram whom Jonathan failed to reign in, have introduced an additional outfit ISWAP into the struggle. Fulani Herdsmen were sponsored to kill innocent people all over the south to give the impression that Buhari is trying to fulanize the south of Nigeria.

Buharis response to these security threats has been rather timid, myopic and lame duck. I deem it very unfortunate that General Buhari we supported in 2015 and 2019 to tackle the cabals that held Nigeria in bondage, including their military and political collaborators, is himself under their captivity.

Buhari has failed to act on intelligence reports from relevant security agencies about the involvement of high profile Nigerians in the renewed spate of terrorism and insecurity ravaging the nation.

Buhari had Intel that some bandits are politically sponsored. Buhari had Intels that the new wave of kidnappings is politically sponsored. Buhari had Intel that the murderous herdsmen trying to fulanize the nation are politically sponsored. Buhari did nothing. He watched as ISWAP killed 11 Christians on Christmas day. Buhari watched as the Chairman of CAN in Adamama State, Rev Lawan Indimi , was kidnapped and murdered by Jihadsts. The case of Indimi is a turning point.

The Plateau State Governor with aide of Buharis men successfully negotiated the release of the kidnapped aide workers in Borno, including a 22 year old fresh graduate, Jennifer Ukambong , from Plateau State, whom the Jihadists would have raped to death in the name of Allah.

In the case of the CAN leader and in the midst of negotiations, suddenly the Jihadists decided to kill Rev Lawan Indimi . Who influenced the sudden change of mind to kill the CAN chairman? Who influenced the breakdown of negotiations? Who prodded the Jihadists to demand for an impossible #200 million pounds, almost N100 billion naira, for the release of the Christian leader?

Buhari has failed. These entire Tinubu-Oshiomhole-Obaseki-Okorocha-Uzodimma feuds had taken the place of governance at the expense of the nation.

The coupists, the revolutionists, the secessionists, the Jihadists and their political sponsors are closing in on President Buhari. I know what I am saying, and I always do. If President Buhari does not wake up and do the right things, the vultures will soon gather around the carcass.

(Obinna Akukwe , a church leader and rights activist via [email protected] , @ObinnaAkukwe, facebook @obinnaakukwe )
Universities across the UK say they are monitoring the coronavirus outbreak, as one institution warned students thinking of heading home for the Chinese New Year that they would face being quarantined on their return.

The University of Chester said it has notified its students currently in the UK that if they return to China for Chinese New Year they will not be readmitted without a suitable quarantine period.

The University of Aberdeen, which has a partnership with Wuhan University, said it was not aware of any students in Wuhan  where the outbreak is thought to have originated  who have returned from the area recently.

But a spokesman said: The university is aware of five members of staff who have visited Wuhan during the outbreak, four of whom returned to the university three or more weeks ago.

Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp (PA Graphics)

The remaining member of staff has a non-teaching role and is working from home as a precautionary measure.

Advice regarding travel precautions has been issued to staff and students in line with Government guidance.

A Newcastle University spokesman said it had issued protection advice to around 300 students who have links to the Hubei province at the centre of the health scare, as well as offering support for those concerned.

A spokesman said: We have arranged a dedicated health event for any student arriving from China in the last month, ensuring they register with a doctor.

Universities have followed Foreign Office advice warning people not to travel to the region affected.

Vice-chancellors group Universities UK said: Ensuring the safety and welfare of their students is a top priority for universities.

UK universities have been monitoring the coronavirus situation as it unfolds and universities with students in affected areas are working to identify appropriate actions.

Universities will continue to follow the latest FCO advice and to monitor the situation, which is evolving rapidly.

A spokesman for the University of Dundee said it has issued advice to students recently in China and said they should be careful if receiving items, especially food, from areas where the virus is present.

It runs a joint education partnership with Wuhan University, with 34 students on the programme in Dundee who arrived in September.

Five staff returned from a visit to Wuhan last week, the spokesman added.

He said no health concerns have been raised among either group, adding: We will continue to monitor the situation, taking advice from the relevant agencies as to appropriate action.

A spokesman for the University of Nottingham, which has a campus in the Chinese city of Ningbo, said: We are not aware of any staff or students in the affected areas in China.

However, the university is keeping students informed of the latest advice by UK and Chinese health authorities, including precautionary measures such as good hand and respiratory hygiene.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 15:51:47|Editor: mingmei

Video Player Close

BEIJING, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese around the globe will celebrate the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, on Saturday. It marks the start of the Year of the Rat, the first in ancient China's cyclical chronography of years.

The following are brief introductions to some cultural concepts and traditions surrounding the most festive season in China.

WHY RODENTS?

The Chinese lunar calendar assigns an animal symbol, either real or mythological, to each year in a 12-year cycle. The 12 animals are rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.

Various versions of stories have been created to explain why the rodent ranks first in the cycle, forerunning even the most revered symbol of the dragon. A widely told legend goes that the rat played a trick to win first place in a legendary competition for the 12 symbolic animals.

But some ancient folklorists, including the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) scholar Liu Xianting, argue that the sequence was set according to the active time of each animal. Rats come first as they are most active around midnight, the start of a new day.

Rats often symbolize intelligence and fertility in Chinese legends and folklore. The image of a large clan of rats marrying off their daughter appears in many festive paper cuts and decorations in rural China.

CALL OF HOME

Spring Festival is China's most important holiday centering on family reunions. Each year, hundreds of millions of people from across the country embark on the journey home, putting much strain on railway and road transportation.

This year, it is predicted that three billion trips would be made during the 40-day travel rush, or "chunyun," from Jan. 10 to Feb. 18, slightly up from that of last year.

Many stores will close during the festival, as their non-local owners or employees head home, so it is a tradition for many families to store sufficient food in advance.

FIGHTING "MONSTERS" ON NEW YEAR EVE

For most Chinese, the celebration starts on the eve of the Lunar New Year. After a fancy supper, many families will stay up late on the eve, watching the gala on TV and eating snacks.

Top on their watchlist is the Chinese New Year Gala aired on China Central Television. A variety show full of comedy sketches, songs and dances, it is hailed as the most-watched television program in the world. But in recent years, it faced ever fiercer competition from local channels and websites that held their own New Year galas to grab a share of the audience.

At midnight, the advent of the new year is marked with deafening fireworks, which continue for a week afterward.

The fireworks and the red decorations in front of many homes and businesses were originally intended to scare away the "nian" (year in Chinese), a mythical beast thought to have preyed on people and livestock at the turn of the year. The monster, however, was afraid of loud bangs and the color red.

Although few now believe in the existence of the monster, Chinese families carry on the tradition of hanging red lanterns, setting off fireworks and fixing red scrolls with rhyming phrases on their doors, hoping all the items can ward off evil spirits and bring in good luck.

DOS AND DONTS

The Spring Festival comes with a groundswell of symbolism, all meant to ensure a propitious start of the new year.

In northern China, dumplings are an indispensable New Year dish, believed to bring fortune as it resembles "yuan bao," a boat-shaped gold ingot used as currency in centuries past. Some families will put a coin in one of their dumplings, and the person who finds the "special dumpling" is believed to have good luck for the whole year.

In southern China, where rice is preferred over wheat, New Year diners eat glutinous rice cakes, also symbols of prosperity.

Children will receive red envelopes stuffed with "lucky" money, presented by parents, grandparents and other relatives. The custom is intended to protect children from bad luck during the new year. It can be given in exchange for a child's New Year greetings, or be stuck under the child's pillow on New Year's eve.

There is a long list of things that Chinese will avoid during Spring Festival, including quarrels, crying and cursing, as people fear that bad behavior at the start of the year will continue throughout the year. Those who happen to break bowls, plates or glasses must immediately say "sui sui ping an," meaning "let's be safe during the new year," as "sui" in Chinese means "year" as well as "broken."

Some superstitious northern Chinese also believe that if a person gets a haircut during the first month of the lunar year, his maternal uncle will die.

The tradition can be traced back to an ancient story about a barber who could not afford a decent New Year gift for his maternal uncle, choosing instead to give his uncle a haircut that made him look much younger.

After his uncle passed away, the barber missed him very much, crying with the coming of each new year. The Chinese phrase for "missing one's maternal uncle" ("si jiu") is very close in pronunciation to the phrase for "death of one's maternal uncle."
EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson is urging member states to reach a compromise on how to share responsibility for migrants, as she tries to forge a pact to end an "unacceptable" stalemate.

More than four years since the migrant crisis began, EU states have failed to agree on reforming their common asylum system, though overall arrivals of migrants have dropped since then.

Johansson is touring European capitals to prepare the "new pact on migration and asylum" that will be presented in the spring, as promised by European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen.

It is a delicate mission focused on a sensitive issue.

"My aim is to de-escalate the debate on migration," Johansson said in an interview with AFP in Zagreb before attending an informal meeting of EU interior ministers on Friday.

"Migration is not the only policy area where EU member states have very different starting points, but in other policy areas in the EU we manage to sit down at a table to negotiate, to compromise on some conclusions that can make things better," she said.

"I guess with my new pact no member state will say, 'hooray this was the ideal solution'." But the former Swedish Social Democrat employment minister said it was "unacceptable that we have been in this blocked political situation for such a long time".

The countries through which migrants enter the bloc, whose governments are responsible for verifying asylum seekers, have complained about shouldering a disproportionate burden.

But the bloc has been unable to develop a workable system in which refugees and asylum seekers can be relocated to other member states, chiefly because of resistance from eastern EU countries.

"The mandatory relocation is obviously blocked, voluntary relocation will not be enough. So the solution will be somewhere between," she said, without elaborating.

While migrant arrivals have declined considerably in Italy -- which closed its ports to boats rescuing migrants for much of last year -- the central Mediterranean route remains the deadliest.

Johansson said the conflict in Libya made her "very worried that we could see more people actually risking their lives on the Mediterranean".

The European Union has come under fire from activists who say the bloc should launch a European rescue force for migrant ships.

Critics have also criticised an EU deal with Libyan coast guards, who have been blocking the departure of migrants while the country is sinking into war.

Meanwhile, Johansson defended another disputed agreement that the EU struck with Turkey in 2016 to curb the flow of migrants landing on Greek shores.

She rejected Ankara's accusations that Brussels has not honoured its side of the deal.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu complained on Wednesday that his country had not received the full first instalment of three billion euros (USD 3.3 billion), out of a total of six billion, pledged by the EU.

The EU provides money every month for food for refugees and pays wages to teachers, Johansson said, adding that the money is also spent on building schools and healthcare centres.

Turkey hosts about four million refugees, mostly Syrian, and the commissioner stressed the need to continue cooperation with Ankara.

Johansson also added that Europe could "do much more to facilitate the returns" of failed asylum seekers.

"This is important that we make the distinction between those that are eligible to stay, they should be welcomed, and those who are not eligible to stay, they have to be returned," she said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
New Delhi: The Election Commission on Thursday sought a report from Delhi Chief Electoral Officer on BJP leader Kapil Mishra's tweet on Delhi assembly elections in which he has likened these polls with India vs Pakistan reference. A report in this regard is required to be submitted within 24 hours. According to sources, the Election Commission is mulling over strong action against BJP candidate Kapil Mishra.

Confirming the summon he received from the poll panel, Mishra said that he sticks to his tweet as he didn't say anything wrong. "I received a notice from Election Commission last night, I'll give my reply today. I don't think I said anything wrong. Speaking truth is not a crime in this country. I spoke the truth. I stand by my statement."

Live TV

Mishra had on January 23rd tweeted "On February 8, there will be a contest between India and Pakistan on the roads in Delhi." He also tweeted that the Congress and AAP had created "small Pakistans" like Shaheen Bagh in the country.

Earlier on Thursday, while speaking to ANI about his tweet, Mishra had said, 'Mini Pakistans` has been created at many places in Delhi. Shaheen Bagh is being replicated at various places. Other places like Inder Lok, Chand Bagh have also become mini Pakistan. Protesters are disturbing common people by blocking the road, shutting areas, schools, etc."

Taking a dig at the BJP leader for his tweet about a contest between India and Pakistan on February 8, AAP's Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh asked if the BJP`s Model Town candidate had joined the BCCI. "Has Mishra joined the Board of Control for Cricket in India?" asked Sanjay Singh when asked for comments on Mishra's tweets.

On January 22, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had written to the Election Commission alleging "wrongful acceptance of nomination forms of BJP candidate Kapil Mishra from Model Town constituency" and demanded cancellation of his candidature.

The Delhi Assembly elections will be held on February 8 and the results will be announced on February 11.


The cases currently being monitored in the US stretch across 22 different states (Photo Credit: IANS)

New Delhi:

A woman in Chicago in her sixties was on Friday confirmed as the second patient on US soil infected with a deadly new virus that has sickened hundreds in China, health officials said, with more than 60 other suspected cases under investigation. The woman returned from Wuhan with the coronovirus infection, according to authorities.

"I'm pleased to report she is clinically doing well and is in stable condition," said Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health was quoted as saying by AFP.

The cases currently being monitored in the US stretch across 22 different states, including the first patient in Washington state and the new case in Illinois, Dr. Nancy Messonnier, the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told reporters on a conference call hosted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday.

The flu-like coronavirus, first identified on December 31, has already killed at least 26 people and infected more than 900 worldwide. Apart from US and China, cases have been identified in Thailand (4), Singapore (3), Vietnam (2), South Korea (2), Macau (2), Hong Kong (2) and Nepal (1).

Meanwhile, Nine people--seven in Kerala, two in Mumbai and one in Hyderabad--who were among the hundreds of passengers who returned from China in the recent days are under observation in hospitals to check for possible exposure to the deadly novel coronavirus, central and state officials said on Friday.

Officials in Kerala said another 73 people were being kept under medical surveillance at their homes in the state.

As over 20,000 passengers returning from mainland China and Hong Kong underwent thermal screenings at the seven international airports of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Cochin, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS) in Delhi has set up an isolation ward and kept beds ready for providing treatment to any suspected case of the respiratory infection.

(With AFP and PTI Inputs)

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
The need for new ideas and better services for internet providers is high these days. Because of the rise of new telecommunications companies, one must be different from the rest to get the attention of possible customers. Knowing that other telecom providers came first before them in the country, Converge ICT Solutions Inc. is truly a game-changer in the Philippines telecom industry.

Image: facebook.com, @convergeictsolutionsinc

Source: Facebook

Converge is one of the Philippines primary telecommunication and cable television services provider today. It operates fiber-optic broadband networks, cable television marketed as Air Cable, and cable internet, marketed as Air Internet, in the country. Converge's appeal is that their rates are cheaper than other available broadband services, but more than that, they do offer a better and faster internet connection experience.

If you are tired of the typical data speed in your home, businesses, or offices, maybe it is time for you to try and give this telecom company a shot.

Converge ICT plans

This telecom company created different internet plans for the convenience and needs of its customers, such as the FiberX, Fiber Xtreme, iBiz, Microbiz, and corporate plans. All of Converges internet plans provide unlimited, reliable, high-speed broadband internet at an affordable price point. The companys offer of no data capping is a real game-changer.

FiberX

FiberX plans are the most affordable and most reliable high-speed fiber internet in the market today. If you subscribe to any of these plans, you will surely enjoy a fast and pure end-to-end fiber internet with no data cap (volume allowance).

Image: convergeict.com

Source: UGC

FIBER X 1500 (25 Mbps)

(25 Mbps) FIBER X 2500 (75 Mbps)

(75 Mbps) FIBER X 3500 (150 Mbps)

Fiber Xtreme

Fiber Xtreme is a pure fiber internet for your home. You can download, play, surf, and stream faster than before without the limit of a volume allowance. You can choose from the list below which plan you want.

XTREME 4500 (300 Mbps)

(300 Mbps) XTREME 7000 (500 Mbps)

iBiz

You can now take your business to the next level with Converges iBiz plans, made just for your business. Getting a faster connection and a more reliable network ensures optimum productivity in your operations.

IBIZ 10 for only P4000 (10 Mbps)

for only P4000 (10 Mbps) IBIZ 20 for only P6000 (20 Mbps)

for only P6000 (20 Mbps) IBIZ 30 for only P9ooo (30 Mbps)

for only P9ooo (30 Mbps) IBIZ 40 for only P12000 (40 Mbps)

for only P12000 (40 Mbps) IBIZ 50 for only P15000 (50 Mbps)

MicroBiz

MicroBiz is designed to upgrade small businesses for better productivity and faster progress. If you are just starting your business and you are looking for an internet plan that will help in your start-up biz, the following plans might be useful for you.

MICROBIZ 2000 (25 Mbps)

(25 Mbps) MICROBIZ 3000 (50 Mbps)

Converge ICT coverage areas

If you are planning to subscribe to any of the telecom internet plans and is wondering if your location is part of the Converge ICT areas of services, then you should know that it is not yet available at some places.

It's mostly available in Metro Manila and some parts of Luzon, such as Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, Pampanga, Zambales, and Tarlac. Currently, they plan to put up networks in Nasugbu, Batangas and San Fernando in La Union.

You can also visit their application link where you can fill in the boxes with your full address. If your area of residence is serviceable, you will get a green pop-up message with a smiley.

Converge ICT location is in Reliance IT Building, 99 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave, Brgy. Ugong Pasig City, Philippines. But for a more hassle-free way of getting in touch with the company, one can reach them through their hotlines.

Converge ICT hotline

Image: convergeict.com

Source: UGC

To get in touch with Converge ICT directly or to talk to their customer service agent, dial any of the following Converge ICT contact numbers depending on your need, location, and inquiries:

Sales Hotline : (02) 86670848

: (02) 86670848 Converge ICT customer service hotlines:

NCR - (02) 86670850 Regional - (045) 598 3000

Converge ICT billing

As part of the company's advocacy efforts, the company went paperless in their billing or statement of account (SOA). They are not sending out printed billing statements anymore; instead, they are sending one's SOA to their registered email address. To ensure that you receive your monthly SOA, the encourage you to update your registered email address.

READ MORE: Globe internet plans 2020: Review

How to change WiFi password Converge ICT

For Huawei ONUs

Step 1: Open a browser and go to 192.168.100.1 Step 2: Go to WLAN, then 2.4G or 5G basic network settings. After changing the SSID name and WPA PreSharedKey, click on apply.

For Fiberhome ONUs

Step 1: Open a browser and go to 192.168.1.1 Step 2: Go to Interface setup then wireless. After changing the SSID and Pre-Shared Key, click on save.

For ZTE ONUs

Step 1: Open a browser and go to 192.168.1.1 Step 2: Go to the network, then SSID settings, change the SSID name then click submit. Step 3: Go to Network, then Security, change the WPA Passphrase, then click submit.

Are there any Converge ICT careers opening?

According to Converge ICT Solutions Inc. account on JobStreet.com, the company is looking for the following:

Sourcing Specialist

Recruitment Specialist

Core and Network Planning Engineer

Job Order Fulfillment Officer

Marketing Services-Specialist

Virtual Key Account Manager

Key Account Manager

Testimonials

Unlike other telecom companies, Converge are gaining positive reviews ever since they joined the industry. Below are some of the Converge ICT review that will help you decide to try Converges plans and promos.

Here is what Converge ICT FiberX subscriber Patricia Isabelle Blanche says about Converges services,

Good customer service po talaga ang Converge! Lagi sila nakaantabay pag may issue and mabait po lahat.

Converge ICT truly made a massive change in terms of internet experience for the Filipinos. There are more from this company that their customers are looking forward to seeing. Do you want to try Converges amazing services?

READ MORE: PLDT Fibr plans 2020: review

Source: KAMI.com.gh
PITTSFIELD - The husband of Christa Leigh Steele-Knudslien on Thursday pleaded guilty to stabbing and beating the 42-year-old transgender activist to death in their North Adams home two years ago.

Mark Steele Knudslien, 49, changed his plea to guilty in Berkshire Superior Court, admitting to second-degree murder. Judge John Agostini sentenced him to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 25 years.

Christa Steele-Knudslien was a well-known activist for the Western Massachusetts transgender community. She was also a founder of two beauty pageants, Miss Trans New England and Miss Trans America.

More than 50 people turned out in Northampton in the weeks after her murder for a memorial service for her.

The couple had been married since the previous April but had been living together for several years before that.

He admitted to stabbing her and hitting her with a hammer during a fight in their home on the night of Jan. 4, 2018. Police learned of the murder when he walked into the Adams police station to say that he had done something bad.

Police would find her body wrapped in some bedding, plastic sheeting and a tarp in the basement of their home. He would tell police that they were arguing when he snapped and began to hit her with the hammer before finally stabbing her in the back.

Berkshire District Attorney Andrea Harrington thanked the Adams and North Adams police and state police detectives for their work in investigating the case prior to trial.

She also expressed sympathy to Christa Steele Knudsliens family and friends.

I send my heartfelt condolences to those who loved Christa dearly and the entire transgender community who looked up to her as a leader, she said.

Her death, Harrington said, is yet another horrific domestic violence homicide in the Berkshires, and pledged that her office is focused on prosecuting such cases and holding abusers accountable.
It all started when a black BMW swerved to the wrong side of the road to avoid a speed bump.

The car was driving in Annandale in Sydney's inner west just before 9pm on August 8, 2012, when a senior constable in an unmarked police car saw it swerve. The BMW was pulled over and searched, with officers finding a $50,000 gold bar.

Ian Lazar (right) leaves the Downing Centre with laywer Bryan Wrench after he was found guilty of doing an act with the intention of perverting the course of justice. Credit:Georgina Mitchell

One of the men inside the car said the gold belonged to controversial lender of last resort Ian Lazar. It was confiscated and police began to investigate its origin.

Several weeks later, the officer in charge of the case Detective Senior Constable David Roberts had contacted Lazar so frequently about making a statement that Lazar lamented, "mate, he's like the Gestapo".
Sumi Sukanya dutta By

Express News Service

NEW DELHI: The fate of about 1,700 doctors looking to work as heart specialists appears to have been sealed, as the medical education regulator refuses to recognise their PG diploma in clinical cardiology offered by the Indira Gandhi National Open University.

The two-year course, designed by celebrated cardiologist Dr Devi Shetty, was started in 2006 to train doctors as cardiologists in 70 hospitals across the country. Between 2006 and 2012, about 1,700 doctors opted for the course.

The university, however, stopped fresh enrollment in 2013 after the Medical Council of India (MCI) refused to grant a license to students pursuing it.

A group of doctors who had earlier taken the course then approached the Delhi High Court. In September last year, the court asked the Union Health Ministry to take a view in the matter.

The MCI-Board of Governors too came to the conclusion that those doctors cannot be allowed to work as cardiologists, a senior health ministry official told this newspaper.

Reason: Evaluation of the training programme was not done within one year of starting it as per the Indian Medical Act, 1956 rules.

The IGNOU said it will further pursue the matter.

We had started the course to address the shortage of specialist doctors in the country and have been trying to get MCI recognition, said Dr T K Jena, director of the school of health sciences at IGNOU.
New Delhi:

Senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya on Friday made an odd remark on humble poha that sent Twitter into a tizzy. Addressing a pro-CAA event, the BJPs national general secretary said that he suspected that there were some Bangladeshis among construction labourers who worked at his house recently. And how did he arrive at that conclusion  by observing the strange eating habits. Talking about the construction work at his home, Vijayvargiya said that when a new room was being added at his house recently, he found "eating habits" of some of the workers "strange" as "they were eating only `poha' (flattened rice)". After talking to their supervisor and the building contractor, he suspected that these workers were from Bangladesh, the BJP leader said.

When questioned by media, Vijayvargiya said, "I suspected these workers were residents of Bangladesh. Two days after I became suspicious, they stopped working at my house. "I have not filed any police complaint yet. I only mentioned this incident to warn people," he added.

Understandably, Twitter was aghast at the strange remark. Without naming Vijayvargiya, senior Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi remarked on Twitter. A politician from Indore saying Poha eating labourers are Bangladeshis. RIP all argument from Indori poha lovers lest you be called Bangladeshis aur kaagaz bhi nahin dikhaane padenge certificate milne se pehle. PS: Maharashtra kanda poha rocks!, Chaturvedi remarked. And then there were those who wondered if its poha today, any dish can be on target tomorrow.

First Beef eaters were anti- nationals.



Now Poha eaters are anti- nationals.



At this rate everyone other dish other than Khichdi and Rajma Chawal will be under the scanner. https://t.co/zLrAwtZMcn  Advaid (@Advaidism) January 24, 2020

Oh so we have already reached the "you eat too much poha so you must be Bangladeshi" stage of branding people? https://t.co/wz9dBCe3J2  Manu S Pillai (@UnamPillai) January 23, 2020

This is a Poha appreciation tweet.



(Image from pinterest) pic.twitter.com/se0Tjh2xXs  Kiran Manral (@KiranManral) January 24, 2020

I eat poha and I am not Bangladeshi. pic.twitter.com/n54u0DdOl4  Gaurav Probir PramanikYAAAAAAAAiAAAAAAAAY (@gauravpramanik) January 24, 2020

I did not know that I was eating Bangladeshi food for whole of my life. Kanda-Poha is one of the favourite breakfasts of Maharashtra. Kanda Poha is a precondition of marriage. pic.twitter.com/Lj7VKXH52c  The Philosopher Cat (@thekkkattt) January 24, 2020

First they came for our Biryani,now they have gone after Poha. Will we stand and watch while someone steals poha from our breakfast? #SavePohaFromfascism #SecularPoha @rockyandmayur pic.twitter.com/0PdHrsr3BN  Midhat kidwai (@midhatkidwai) January 24, 2020

Eating poha in BJPs India now constitutes question 1 of the Are you a Bangladeshi illegal migrant? test. Wonder who in ModiShahs team passes the Are you a stupid bigot? test pic.twitter.com/sCUacYcKpB  Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) January 24, 2020

Made form flattened rice, poha is a popular breakfast dish for many Indians. In fact, several netizens pointed out at the irony of Vijaywargiyas statement. Because, Indore is known as poha capital, the place where the Bangaldeshi workers were commissioned. Earlier, there were reports that Madhya Pradesh was planning to seek Geographical Indication (GI) tag for the famous 'Indori poha' and three other popular food items from Malwa region. The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development Institute in Indore is helping this food manufacturers' and sellers' body in seeking the GI tag for these four food items. Sweet dishes like the famous 'peda' from Dharwad in Karnataka, and the 'Banglar Rasgulla' of West Bengal have already got the GI recognition. A geographical indication tag is used for an agricultural, natural or a manufactured product (handicraft and industrial goods) originating from a definite geographical territory.

While Vijayvargiyas pro-CAA statement linking food to outsiders is new, earlier Prime Minister Narendra Modi had linked the rioters with the clothes they wear. At a rally in Jharkhand's Dumka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that those who indulge in arson can be identified by their clothes. On December 17 last year, PM Modi had said that: "People who are setting fire (to property) can be seen on television. They can be identified by the clothes they are wearing." The Prime Minister had accused the Congress and its allies of fuelling violence over the amended Citizenship Act.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
The supreme court says it admitted election materials that Hope Uzodinma and the police tendered in the appeal against the Imo governor...





The supreme court says it admitted election materials that Hope Uzodinma and the police tendered in the appeal against the Imo governorship election result because the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Emeka Ihedioha failed to disprove them.





INEC had declared Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as candidate with the highest number of votes in the March 8 election, but Uzodinma challenged that decision from tribunal till the supreme court.





The apex court had annulled the victory of Ihedioha, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) , affirming Uzodinma, his All Progressives Congress (APC) rival, as the duly elected governor.





The judgment had sparked different reactions as the full text of the verdict was not made public.





The apex court said while INEC argued the documents tendered by the APC candidate were falsified, it could not establish enough evidence to prove this.





Uzodinmas main argument was that his votes from 388 polling units were excluded at the collation stage. To argue this, he tendered some election materials including documents said to be duplicate of the original election result.





In the judgement, the apex court said: Having pleaded that the documents are false, the respondents made allegation of criminal nature against the appellants.





They were required to plead the specific elements of fraud and lead evidence showing the genuine results. Not only must the allegation be proved beyond doubt, it must also be proved that the appellants personally committed the forgery or aided and abetted the commission of the crime or that they procured the commission of the crime through their agents or officials.





Although they relied heavily on the assertion that exhibits PPP1  PPP366 were fake, no evidence was adduced to prove the assertion at all, let alone beyond any reasonable doubt.





ON ADMITTING THE DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED BY POLICE





The appeal court had in its ruling held that the election documents tendered as exhibits by PW54, a deputy commissioner of police, cannot be admitted as evidence.





But the supreme court overruled the lower court.





It agreed with Uzodinmas counsel that contrary to the decision of the appellate court, the documents tendered being duplicate originals do not require any certification.





The tendering of exhibits PPP1  PPP366 through PW54 was to show that the scores recorded therein were excluded from from the forms EC8B (ward collation results).





The respondents failed to prove that the documents were fake or forged.
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador - In one of the first cases of its kind, a court in El Salvador ordered a man held in jail Thursday pending trial on charges he promoted the formation of a migrant caravan.

Prosecutors filed immigrant human-trafficking charges against Raul Antonio Ventura for sending social media and telephone messages encouraging people to gather in San Salvador on Jan. 20 to start a caravan to the United States.

He could face a prison sentence of four to eight years if convicted.

It is not clear how the man allegedly intended to profit from the scheme. Only about 50 people showed up. A judge ruled Thursday that Ventura will remain in jail until he is tried.

Starting in 2018, such caravans gained force as a way to reach the United States for people from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala who couldnt afford pay traffickers. Joining a caravan is free.

The social media posts told people how to dress and what to bring on the caravan. Ventura was arrested at the point where participants were told to meet on Saturday.

Salvadoran law says the human-trafficking charges can apply to those who guide, shelter, support or transport people with the intent of avoiding or violating the immigration protocols of other countries.

The government of El Salvador has signed an immigration agreement with the United States and cracked down on the movement of migrants through its territory.
If youre interested in learning about the history of the computer industry or if you just want to figure out how to lead an enterprise technology company, then you should take a look at the Computer History Museum.

I expect millions of computer users will have heard of the museum, a world-class institution in Mountain View, Calif. Its a place where you can learn everything about the history of the technologies that continue to transform the way humans interact with each other and with the world.

Being human in a computer world

What does it mean to be a human in a world of computing? Danl Lewin, president and CEO of the Computer History Museum asks in the latest StoriesHere podcast.

Lewin worked with Steve Jobs at Apple after spending time running Sonys Silicon Valley distribution; became a NeXT co-founder; joined upper management at Microsoft and more. Now, hes working to make the museum a more interactive experience, a programmable institution, as he puts it.

Jobs was motivated to use the 3.5-in. floppy disk having seen it at Sony, at which point Lewin was part of Apples 10-strong workforce. Later, Jobs asked him to help launch NeXT. I spent a day with him and then quit my job the following week, he said.

At Apple, I got to work with the engineers who invented everything that we live with today.

3 Silicon Valley tips for enterprise leaders

Ive listened to the podcast to pull out just a handful of ideas that should interest Apple and other technology users and anyone involved in management or enterprise IT.

You can (and should) listen to the entire 45-minute episode. It's available here.

Tip #1: Find the story

A senior Silicon Valley executive, Lewin led numerous negotiations as the tech industry grew. (He even managed to beat Jobs in at least one deal.)

He tells a story in which he claims one of the reasons Jobs eventually got fired was because he wanted to "blow up" the distribution deals (typically 15/85% in favor of the distributor) that existed at the time.

Jobs still felt the same at NeXT, where Lewin had to figure out how to make a mutually good deal that gave Jobs the 50% revenue share he wanted without bankrupting Heidi Roizen, who was to be the distributor.

He looked at the royalties and how the revenue actually worked to find that in terms of profit after costs both parties could end up with a 50% share. He suggests that in this business deal, as in others, a little negotiation was all it took  once the costs were properly analyzed.

Sometimes both sides can win.

Tip #2: People matter most

Theres a tendency to see business as dependent on systems, distribution, management hierarchies and connections, but this doesnt reflect the big picture. And the big picture is the little picture. Even in the tech industry, business is about people, Lewin stressed.

When I was in college, I had a professor who focused on the topic as relationships between people. I never lost touch with the fact that business is made up of people, its about the person in the moment and what you need to do to make that work, he said.

Another tendency is for organizations to become relatively flat. Diversity makes businesses thrive, but many managers find it hard to look for people who are different than they are.

Lewin has a unique advantage here.

His father was a Marine with three Purple Hearts. This led Lewins father to become a professional wrestler at the beginning of broadcast TV. Lewin would go to work with his dad, which meant he became used to incredible diversity, and was able to engage with people at lots of different levels.

Diversity, and being familiar with it, helps businesses thrive  at least, if Lewins success is your guide.

Tip #3: Peace is good for business

After NeXT, Lewin ran a series of start-ups (some failed, some didnt), and wound up working at Microsoft, where his challenge was to create peace with others in the industry after the famed anti-trust case against the company.

The sense of how the people in the groups worked with others in Silicon Valley was part of this. The links between Microsoft and the rest of the industry run deep.

The PowerPoint team was an acquisition right at the beginning of Microsoft and were a bunch of ex-Apple staff, Lewin says.

Much of the business of making peace with the industry rvolved around (once again) politics, which means people.

Competition can be collegiate, and that focus means Microsoft is now seen as a good company to do business with, explains Lewin. It means a company can seek new business opportunities and continue to hire good people.

Where are we going in computing?

In a sense, Lewins future plans for the Computer History Museum may reflect what he sees as the future of the tech industry.

We're moving into a digital world where computing is ambient and life as we know it doesn't exist without computing, he explains.

Yet the museum has decades of history packed inside it, including extensive oral history recordings from some of the great and the good in the industry. The museum presents an interesting opportunity to unleash the historical artifacts of the past to present-day technologies, he explains.

These cycles tend to take about 50 years. If you go back to the beginning of the microprocessor, or if you look at other cycles like the one from railroads to aerospace  we're basically entering the next phase, from 1970 to 2020."

Where we are today, tech is everywhere, but people are now and always have been at the center of that.

But technology was never principally about hardware. It was about information technology, which is about communication. Media and art are fundamental, he says. They matter from a cultural perspective.

You can get some sense of how the history of computing will impact the future by visiting the Computer History Museum, which seems (just like Jobs once said) to be deeply coalesced around the crossroads that exists between technology and the liberal arts.

The computer world is a peoples world, after all.

Please follow me on Twitter, or join me in the AppleHolics bar & grill and Apple Discussions groups on MeWe.
The Chinese Spring Festival gala will be broadcast live at 8:00 p.m. on Jan. 24, the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year, as the last dress rehearsal wrapped up late Wednesday, the production company China Media Group said.



The gala, which usually runs for more than four hours, will feature pop songs, crosstalk and sketch comedies, as well as other art forms, all of which mirror trending stories of common Chinese people over the past year, the media conglomerate said.

Crosstalk is a traditional Chinese comic performance featuring jokes and funny dialogue. Together with sketch comedies, such performances are widely-anticipated by audiences.

The performance will be presented worldwide via close to 600 media platforms, it added.
WASHINGTON  Secretary of State Mike Pompeo used the "F-word" and other expletives after a testy interview with a National Public Radio host on Friday, the news outlet said.

Pompeo unloaded on NPR's Mary Louise Kelly after an interview in which she questioned him on Ukraine and Iran, among other issues. He grew extremely irritated by Kelly's Ukraine questions, according to NPR.

"'Do you think Americans care about Ukraine?'" Pompeo apparently shouted at Kelly after the interview.

On Saturday, Pompeo responded by calling Kelly a liar and suggesting she was unable to point out Ukraine on an unmarked map.

"NPR reporter Mary Louise Kelly lied to me, twice," Pompeo said in a statement released by the State Department.

He said she lied last month when setting up the interview and again on Friday. He suggested that Kelly had agreed to keep Friday's post-interview conversation off the record.

"It is shameful that this reporter chose to violate the basic rules of journalism and decency," Pompeo said. "This is another example of how unhinged the media has become in its quest to hurt President Trump and this Administration."

Pompeo is scheduled to travel to Ukraine next week for a meeting with that country's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, a central figure in the impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump. Ukraine is a pivotal U.S. ally in the effort to counter Russian aggression.

The State Department said Pompeo is going to Kyiv to "highlight U.S. support for Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity." The Eastern European country is at war with Russia.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, arrives to conduct briefings for members of Congress on the targeted killing of Iran's senior military commander Gen. Qassem Soleimani, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington.

In the impeachment proceedings, House Democrats have charged Trump with abuse of power for soliciting foreign interference in the 2020 election, one of two articles of impeachment currently being tried in the Senate. Trump pressed Zelensky to open two investigations that would have helped his re-election campaign. As part of that pressure campaign, Trump ousted former U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, a career foreign service diplomat.

Story continues

Yovanovitch was targeted by Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, and Trump has publicly attacked her.

"Do you owe Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch an apology?" Kelly asked Pompeo, who has declined to publicly defend the diplomat.

"You know, I agreed to come on your show today to talk about Iran," he responded.

Kelly pressed him. "I just want to give you another opportunity to answer this, because as you know, people who work for you in your department, people who have resigned from this department under your leadership, saying you should stand up for the diplomats who work here," she said.

Pompeo said he had defended "every State Department official," to which Kelly said: "Sir, respectfully where have you defended Marie Yovanovitch?"

"I've said all I'm going to say today," he responded.

She then asked if he tried to block Giuliani's "shadow foreign policy" in Ukraine.

"The Ukraine policy has been run from the Department of State for the entire time that I have been here, and our policy was very clear," he asserted. Numerous other State Department officials have testified that Giuliani and other Trump associates used irregular channels to pressure Zelensky.

After the interview, Kelly said she was taken to the secretary of State's private living room, where Pompeo was waiting for her. "He shouted at me for about the same amount of time as the interview itself. He was not happy to have been questioned about Ukraine," Kelly said, in an account released by NPR with the interview transcript.

She said he used the F-word and "many others" when he asking her if Americans cared about Ukraine. He then asked her if she could find Ukraine on a map.

"I said yes, and he called out for aides to bring us a map of the world with no writing. I pointed to Ukraine," she recounted.

Pompeo then said: "'People will hear about this.'"

In Saturday's statement, Pompeo suggested Kelly had pointed to Bangladesh, not Ukraine, on the map.

"It is worth noting that Bangladesh is NOT Ukraine," he said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NPR: Mike Pompeo dropped F-bomb after being questioned about Ukraine
Chinese hospitals at the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak have been so inundated with potential patients they have asked the public to donate medical supplies.

Videos circulating online show throngs of people crowding hospital corridors in Wuhan, the city where the virus first starting spreading.

At least eight hospitals in Wuhan, a city of 11 million people, have asked the public to bring masks, goggles, gowns and other protective medical gear.

Officials at the Wuhan University Peoples Hospital have even set up a group on the popular WeChat messaging app to coordinate donations.

In the nearby city of Huanggang, staff at the Fever Control Command Centre have also put out a call for donations of medical supplies and disinfectant equipment.

Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Show all 154 1 /154 Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Paramedics wearing personal protective equipment carry patient on a stretcher on to an ambulance in North Point district in Hong Kong, China Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A medical worker wearing protective gear takes a rest as he waits for ambulances carrying patients infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus at an entrance of a hospital in Daegu, South Korea YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A medical worker sprays disinfectant on an ambulance after carrying a patient infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus at a hospital in Daegu YONHAP/AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People wearing protective face masks shop at a supermarket in Casalpusterlengo, one the northern Italian towns placed under lockdown due to the new coronavirus outbreak EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A trolley bus is disinfected amid fears over the spread of the novel coronavirus in Pyongyang, North Korea REUTERS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers wearing protective gear spray disinfectant as a precaution against the COVID-19 coronavirus in a local market in Daegu, South Korea AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing a protective facemask walks outside a nearly empty shopping mall at lunch time in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing protective facemask and gloves puts a drawing made by a girl living in the area asking residents to wear protective gear, next to a quarantine notice for people who have travelled and a notice asking people to register outside a residential compound in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman is taken into an ambulance amid a coronavirus outbreak in northern Italy REUTERS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ambulances and health workers are seen outside the Padua's hospital, northern Italy EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers in coaches leave MoD Boscombe Down in Wiltshire after being repatriated to the UK from a cruise ship hit by the coronavirus in Yokohama, Japan and head to Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People rest in a temporary hospital situated in the Tazihu Gymnasium in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Buddhist monks wearing protective face masks pray during a blessing ceremony for the people affected by the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, at a temple in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia REUTERS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers wearing protective gears carry a patient infecting with a new coronavirus to a hospital in Chuncheon, South Korea AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Soldiers in hazmat suits sanitize cargo from a China Airlines plane at the Taoyuan International Airport in Taoyuan City, Taiwan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Barricades are seen to block the entrance a the gate of a local mall in a nearly empty area in Beijing, China Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A vendor wearing a protective facemask waits for customers at a shop in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus The body temperature of an Iraqi child returning from Iran is measured upon her arrival at the Najaf International Airport AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Volunteers hand out free facemasks at a shopping district in Quezon city, Metro Manila, Philippines Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers wearing protective gears carry a patient suspected of contracting the new coronavirus toward an ambulance at Daenam Hospital in Cheongdo, South Korea AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A worker disinfects a shop at a market in Shanghai AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A restaurant worker wearing protective clothing as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus passing a bag of food to a customer on the street outside their restaurant in Beijing AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A recovered patient is discharged from Leishenshan Hospital, the newly-built makeshift hospital for novel coronavirus patients, in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Volunteers in protective suits disinfect a factory with sanitising equipment in Huzhou, China China Daily via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers in protective suits attend to a patient inside an isolated ward of Wuhan Red Cross Hospital Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A drone operated by the Suwon municipal government flies around Changyong Middle School spraying disinfectant, in Suwon, South Korea EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers transfer medical waste at Leishenshan Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing a protective mask rides a bicycle with his children in Guangzhou, China EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Volunteers in protective suits disinfect a railway station as the country is hit by an outbreak of the new coronavirus, in Changsha, Hunan province, China cnsphoto via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman repatriated from Wuhan carries a child as she walks upon her arrival at the Van Don airport in Vietnam's Quang Ninh province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff checking the body temperature of a patient who has displayed mild symptoms of the COVID-19 coronavirus, at an exhibition centre converted into a hospital in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A medical worker in protective suit transports oxygen tanks at Wuhan Red Cross Hospital Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Boys wearing protection masks, gloves and modified water bottles sit on a cart at the airport arrival terminal in Guangzhou EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Employees work on a production line manufacturing protective suits at a clothing factory in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province cnsphoto via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers in protective suits move a patient at an isolated ward of a hospital in Caidian district following an outbreak of coronavirus in Wuhan China Daily via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A worker in protective clothing, including face mask and gloves, carries a bucket as he works inside of The County Oak Medical Centre in Brighton, southern England, after it closed for "urgent operational health and safety reasons", following reports a member of staff was infected with the strain of the novel coronavirus AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers of the ecology and environment bureau collect samples from the sewage system of a hospital in Xinle, Hebei province China Daily via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man in protective clothing cleaning the County Oak Medical Centre GP practice The British government warned the outbreak of novel coronavirus was a "serious and imminent threat" and reported four new cases that brought the total recorded in the country to eight. Two hospitals The Royal Free and Guys and St Thomas', have both been designated as "isolation" facilities, with both currently housing Britons who have returned from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the outbreak PA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to the newly completed Huoshenshan temporary field Hospital in Wuhan. The global coronavirus death toll rose again with Hong Kong announcing its first death from the outbreak on 4 February EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of staff wait as coaches carrying Coronavirus evacuees arrive at Kents Hill Park Training and Conference Centre, in Milton Keynes, after being repatriated to the UK from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan PA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A crew member of the cruise ship Diamond Princess talks to a worker wearing protective gear standing near the vessel, where dozens of passengers were tested positive for coronavirus, at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Doctors scan a patient's lungs at Huoshenshan temporary hospital built for patients diagnosed with coronavirus in Wuhan Xinhua News Agency/AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People wearing protective suits walk from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, with around 3,600 people quarantined onboard due to fears of the new coronavirus, at the Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Indonesians who arrived from Wuhan are sprayed with antiseptic at Hang Nadim Airport in Batam. People evacuated from the Chinese city at the centre of a deadly virus outbreak, were transported to a quarantine zone on a remote island at the edge of the South China Sea, shortly after landing Indonesian Foreign Ministry via AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman wears a protective mask as she shops in a market in Beijing Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members hugging each other in an isolation ward at a hospital in Zouping in China's easter Shandong province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A portrait of Dr Li Wenliang is left at Li's hospital in Wuhan. He is regarded a whistleblower on the outbreak and died of the coronavirus which triggered wide-spread mourning on Chinese media Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Officers in protective gear enter the cruise ship Diamond Princess, where people tested positive for coronavirus, after the ship arrived at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, south of Tokyo Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Firefighters and personnel from the health ministry participate in a drill to prepare for the potential arrival of passengers infected with the coronavirus at the Viru Viru International Airport, in Santa Cruz, Bolivia Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Scientists are at work in the VirPath university laboratory as they try to find an effective treatment against the new Sars-like coronavirus AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers in protective suits attend to patients at the Wuhan International Conference and Exhibition Center, which has been converted into a makeshift hospital to receive patients with mild symptoms caused by the virus Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A girl wears a mask as a preventive measure against the coronavirus outbreak, in Bangkok, Thailand Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man is transferred from the World Dream cruise ship to an ambulance at the Kai Tak cruise terminal in Hong Kong as health officials conduct inspections AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers from a disinfection service company enter Lotte Department Store in central Seoul, South Korea EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man who arrived from Hubei province talks with police at a checkpoint at the Jiujiang Yangtze River Bridge Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A doctor holds a handheld digital thermometer near health officials preparing a health check for arriving passengers from China at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A resident walks across an empty track in Wuhan Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A scientific staff member works in a secure laboratory, researching the coronavirus, at the Pasteur Institute in Dakar AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members preparing equipment to meet passengers of a military plane, which evacuated citizens of Russia and ex-Soviet countries from China's Wuhan province Vsluh.ru via Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Staff wearing protective suits as they prepare to disinfect a Vietnam Airlines plane at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi Vietnam Airlines/AFP/Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A South Korean person, who was evacuated from Wuhan, arrives at the National Medical Center after showing suspected symptoms of novel coronavirus, in Seoul EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Officers in protective gear escort a person (under the blue sheet) who was on board cruise ship Diamond Princess and was tested positive for coronavirus Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A doctor being disinfected by his colleague at a quarantine zone in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Buses carrying British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan, arrive at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Indonesian health officials conduct an exercise drill in transporting a patient requiring isolation at the Belawan port in Medan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus The Pasteur Institute in Dakar, designated by the African Union as one of the two reference centres in Africa for the detection of the new coronavirus that appeared in China, is hosting experts from 15 countries on the continent this weekend to prepare them to deal with the disease AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A government worker disinfects a co-worker after visiting a quarantined woman's home in Qingdao EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An aerial view of the deserted roads and bridges in Wuhan Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical workers hold a strike outside the Hospital Authority as they demand for Hong Kong to close its border with China to reduce the coronavirus spreading Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A person has their tempriture checked in Qingdao, China EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses. Note the spikes that adorn the outer surface of the virus, which impart the look of a corona surrounding the virion, when viewed electron microscopically Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/AFP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Malaysian nationals being directed from a bus by health officials in protective suits as they arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang, after being evacuated from Wuhan Malaysia's Ministry of Health/AFP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People hoping to buy face masks crowd outside a medical supply shop that was raided by police for allegedly hoarding and overpricing the masks, as public fear over China's Wuhan Coronavirus grow in Manila, Philippines. The Philippine government has been heavily criticized after failing to immediately implement travel restrictions from China, the source of a deadly coronavirus that has now killed hundreds and infected thousands more Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Residents wearing masks and raincoats volunteer to take temperature of passengers following the outbreak of a new coronavirus at a bus stop at Tin Shui Wai, a border town in Hong Kong Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Italian citizens repatriated from Wuhan going though a health control zone after landing at the Mario De Bernardi military airport in Pratica di Mare, south of Rome, prior to be placed in quarantine Italian Defence Ministry/AFP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers arrange beds in a 2,000-bed mobile hospital, set up in an exhibition center, in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A doctor checks conditions of occupants in a hotel accommodating isolated people in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members wearing protective clothing to help stop the spread of a deadly virus which began in the city of Wuhan, arrive with a patient at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital. The Chinese army deployed medical specialists to the epicentre of the spiralling viral outbreak that has killed and spread around the world AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A baby wearing a protective face mask is pushed by a woman as they arrive from Shenzhen to Hong Kong at Lo Wu MTR station AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A health worker checks the temperature of a woman entering a subway station in Beijing Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A young child wears a protective mask and is covered in plastic while waiting to check in to a flight at Beijing Capital Airport The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday declared the coronavirus a public health emergency of international concern Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ambulance crews arrive at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, as it prepares for a return flight from Wuhan, China. Eighty-three Britons and 27 foreign nationals who were trapped in Wuhan are being flown back to the UK Tom Maddick / SWNS Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A woman carries a baby wearing a protective mask as they exit the arrival hall at Hong Kong High Speed Rail Station Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Camp beds at a Medical Assessment Center set up at the airport in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on the eve of the arrival of German citizens evacuated from Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Funeral parlour staff members in protective suits help a colleague with disinfection after they transferred a body at a hospital in Wuhan Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Muslims wearing masks pray for the victims of coronavirus at a mosque in Ahmedabad, India Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical officials waiting for people who wants to check the novel coronavirus at Myeongdong shopping district Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Children wear plastic bottles as makeshift homemade protection and protective masks while waiting to check in to a flight at Beijing Capital Airport Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A patient assisted by medical staff gets off an ambulance in Wuhan AFP/Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus People line up to buy face masks from a medical supply company in Nanning, southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Countries began evacuating their citizens from the Chinese city hardest-hit by a new virus that has now infected more people in China than were sickened in the country by SARS Chinatopix via AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Millions spent their normally festive Lunar New Year holiday under lockdown Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Children with face masks wash their hands before prayer at Erawan shrine in Bangkok. Thailand has detected eight Coronavirus cases so far AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An Indonesian health officer points at the screen of a thermal scanner for passengers China confirmed that the deadly Wuhan coronavirus virus can be transmitted between humans AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Hospital workers wearing protective eyewear and masks examine an Indonesian student who returned from China in quarantine at a hospital in Banda Aceh AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Ambulance staff dispose of an outfit at the hospital in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A person checks the temperature of a passenger to help stop the spread of a deadly virus as he arrives at the Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International airport in Palembang AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Nepali students, wearing face masks, attend a class at Matribhumi School in Bhaktapur, on the outskirts of Kathmandu AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Two Buddhist monks wear face masks while walking along a street in Yangon AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Staff disinfecting a residential area in Ruichang, part of Jiujiang in China's central Jiangxi province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers are seen at the construction site of a new hospital being built to treat patients from a deadly virus outbreak in Wuhan in China's central Hubei province on January 27, 2020. - China is rushing to build a new hospital in a staggering 10 days to treat patients at the epicentre of a deadly virus outbreak that has stricken thousands of people, state media reported on January 24. (Photo by Hector RETAMAL / AFP) (Photo by HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images) HECTOR RETAMAL AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Vapor blurs the goggles of an ambulance driver while they work, in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers producing facemasks at a factory in Yangzhou AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff getting on an ambulance in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A vendor of traditional masks wears a facial mask at his shop in Thamel EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An airport official checks the temperature of a passenger upon his arrival at the Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members arrive with a patient at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An ambulance driver talking with medical staff in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Wuhan Hygiene Emergency Response Team leave the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market The new coronavirus appears to have its origins in a seafood market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, a popular transport hub AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers produce protective suits at a factory in Nantong AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers scanned by thermal imaging for body temperature as they go through health measures and procedures after they landed at Rome's Fiumicino airport on a southern airlines flight from Wuhan Aeroporto Di Roma/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A Thai royal guard wears a mask while on duty at the Grand Palace in Bangkok EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wearing a face mask rides a nearly empty subway train in Beijing AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members at the Wuhan Red Cross Hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A shopper wearing goggles with a face mask and gloves uses a self checkout machine at a supermarket in Wuhan AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to Jinyintan hospital EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of the Italian Red Cross putting on protective gear, getting ready to give health checks to passengers that landed at Rome's Fiumicino airport on a southern airlines flight from Wuhan Aeroporto Di Roma/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A member of the Hong Kong government's Civil Aid Service gestures at the entrance to the Lady MacLehose Holiday Village which is being used as one of two quarantine centres for people who have been in close proximity with suspected cases of a SARS-type virus. Hong Kong will turn two holiday camps, including a former military barracks, into quarantine zones for people who may have come into contact with carriers of the Wuhan virus, officials announced AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff wearing protective suits at the Zhongnan hospital in Wuhan STR/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A Malaysia Health official checks passengers going through a thermal scanner upon their arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Staff disinfecting Yingtan North Railway Station, China China banned trains and planes from leaving the major city at the centre of a virus outbreak on January 23, seeking to seal off its 11 million people to contain the contagious disease that has claimed lives and spread to other countries AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A passenger walks past a quarantine control station at Narita airport, Japan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Patients queue up to seek treatment in Wuhan Tongji Hospital Fever Clinic, in Wuhan EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Quarantine workers spray disinfectant at Incheon International Airport, South Korea EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A member of staff checks the temperature of a guest entering the casino of the New Orient Landmark hotel in Macau, after it reported its first case of the new SARS-like virus AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to Jin Yintan hospital Little is known about the new disease which, if confirmed, would be only the seventh coronavirus known to science that can infect humans Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of the Three Gorges Medical Laboratory offering free masks to the public in Yichang, China AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Gabriel Leung, right, chair professor of public health medicine at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong, speaks about the extent of the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak in China AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Members of staff of the Wuhan Hygiene Emergency Response Team conducting searches on the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A quarantine officer at Incheon International Airport, South Korea, uses an electronic thermometer to check the temperature of passengers arriving by plane from Wuhan The virus causes symptoms of viral pneumonia, and has already led to several deaths EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A screen shows cancelled flights at Tianhe airport in Wuhan AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff transfer patients to Jinyintan hospital EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Health officials hand out information about the current coronavirus at Kuala Lumpur International Airport AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A store owner argues with security guards as he attempts to enter the closed Huanan wholesale seafood market AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Workers producing facemasks at a factory in Handan, China's northern Hebei province AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff and security personnel stop patients' family members from being too close to the Jinyintan hospital Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus maya-goodfellowAn airport staff member uses a temperature gun to check people leaving Wuhan Tianhe International Airport AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A rescue worker walks past a notice about new coronavirus that has broken out in China Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Health officials wear face masks at an inspection site at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Medical staff members carry a patient into the Jinyintan hospital AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A staff member checks body temperature of a child after a train from Wuhan arrived at Hangzhou Railway Station in Hangzhou AFP via Getty Images Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A quarantine station measures passenger body temperatures at Narita Airport JIJI PRESS/AFP via Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers walk past a notice displayed near a quarantine control station at Narita airport EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers walk past a poster alerting on coronavirus screening ahead upon their arrival at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus An employee sprays disinfectant on a train, as a precaution against coronavirus, at Suseo Station in Seoul EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Kazakh sanitary-epidemiological service worker uses a thermal scanner to detect travellers from China who may have symptoms possibly connected with the previously unknown coronavirus, at Almaty International Airport, Kazakhstan Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Pharmacist Liu Zhuzhen stands near a sign reading "face masks are sold out" at her pharmacy in Shanghai AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus The Wuhan Medical Treatment Center, EPA Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A worker in a protective suit at the closed seafood market in Wuhan Reuters Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus Passengers wear protective face masks at the departure hall of a high speed train station in Hong Kong AP Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A notice for passengers from Wuhan Getty Coronavirus: Cases soar of deadly new flu-like virus A man wears a mask while riding on mobike past the closed Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market Getty

State-run media, including the Peoples Daily newspaper, have publicised these requests.

Wuhan and nine other cities in Hubei province, with a total population of about 33 million people, have been effectively quarantined in an effort to stop the coronavirus spreading.

All public transport connections by road and rail have been shut down and flights cancelled, despite the Lunar New Year festival, which sees tens of millions of Chinese travel to stay with family.

In Wuhan, residents have been ordered to wear face masks at all times and there have been reports of stockpiling.

Recommended UK calls emergency Cobra meeting over deadly virus

Many shops now have empty shelves after locals stocked up on essentials, fearing they could be cut off from the outside world for a long time.

City officials have already begun building an emergency 1,000-bed hospital, just to treat those believed to have contracted the mystery virus, which has so far killed 26 people and been confirmed in more than 800 other cases.

Because existing medical facilities are proving inadequate to cope with the numbers of patients, the 25,000 square metre prefabricated structure is being thrown up in just a few days.

About 30 mechanical diggers are on site, hurriedly assembling the new hospital, with the aim that construction be finished by 3 February.

(AEROPORTO DI ROMA/AFP via Getty (AEROPORTO DI ROMA/AFP via Getty)

The rows of cabins are modelled on a similar purpose-built hospital thrown up by authorities in Beijing to cope with the Sars outbreak in 2003.

The new building will only be sent patients who have actually been confirmed to have caught the virus. Many of those now crowding existing hospitals are nervous locals, worried they may have caught the mysterious ailment.

Theres so much news, so much data, every 10 minutes theres an update, its frightening, especially for people like us in a severely hit area, said Lily Jin, 30, a resident of the city. Even if youre not ill youll frighten yourself into getting sick.

State-run media reported on Friday that a state council meeting on the response to the coronavirus had been held.

The spread of the virus has not been cut off. Local authorities should take more responsibility and have a stronger sense of urgency, state television said, without giving more details.

Initial symptoms of the virus are similar to the flu and most people who catch it make a full recovery without becoming seriously ill.

Most of those who have died have been either very young or elderly, often with underlying health conditions exacerbated by the virus.

The World Health Organisation, which has so far refrained from declaring a global health emergency, told reporters it expected the numbers of those affected to go up.

The focus is not so much on the (case) numbers, which we know will go up, spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told a Geneva news briefing. Its still too early to draw conclusions on how severe the virus is.
Scotty the T. Rex is once again roaming the Earth.

Or at least, a replica of Scotty is.

The replica of Scotty  the nickname for the world's largest Tyrannosaurus rex specimen, which was discovered in Eastend, Sask., back in 1991  is part of an Australian Museum travelling exhibit called Tyrannosaurs  Meet the Family.

The Sydney-based museum's exhibit is currently at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

"At this point Scotty is better traveled than I am," quipped Ryan McKellar, curator of paleontology at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in Regina.

The exhibit, which highlights the family of tyrannosaurs and their history over 100 million years, began in 2015 at the Australian Museum. It has since gone to other museums in Australia and New Zealand, Iowa and North Carolina in the U.S., and to Canadian museums in Kitchener, Ont., and Halifax.

"And Scotty is the sort of centrepiece of that exhibit, because it is the biggest T. Rex specimen that's out there," said McKellar.

Matt Howard/CBC

The replica that is part of the exhibit was made by Research Casting International (RCI), which has done replication work of larger skeletons like Scotty for the Royal Saskatchewan Museum.

McKellar said the museum has a licensing agreement with RCI that allows for Scotty clones to be made.

"There's a fairly large demand for that because Scotty is such a large T. Rex specimen," McKellar said. "It's one of the highlights of the RCI catalog."

The fossil was discovered in 1991 in Eastend, Sask. Excavation work began in 1994 and took six summers to complete. It took more than a decade to get all the rock off the bones and reassemble the skeleton.

It's estimated the dinosaur was 13 metres (almost 43 feet) long would have weighed 8,870 kilograms.

The first cast of Scotty appeared in the T. Rex Discovery Centre in Eastend in 2013 and another replica was unveiled at the RSM in 2019.

In addition to those, and the one touring with Australian Museum's exhibit, a fourth is at the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo.

Story continues

McKellar said once a museum decides on a pose, and designs and makes the fibreglass model, the actual replica can be assembled in the span of a day.

Royal Saskatchewan Museum

The Saskatchewan museum still has the original skeleton, which it continues to do research on.

McKellar said putting the real Scotty on display would not be feasible.

For one, only 65 per cent of the fossil was recovered, much of it in tiny pieces.

In addition, the real bones are just too heavy.

"A good example is the thigh bone on Scotty that weighs something in the neighborhood of 250 pounds, and it's fragile," McKellar said.

"[A replica] allows us to present to the public a more complete picture of the animals. I think it makes it much easier for the public to envision what the animals look like and just how impressive they would have been."

Matt Howard/CBC

Scotty isn't the only Saskatchewan fossil that goes abroad.

McKellar said other fossils are borrowed by international institutions each year for research purposes.

Other famous fossils include the only known example of a tyrannosaurus coprolite (fossil feces found in the same valley as Scotty), as well as a brontothere (a rhinoceros-like mammal that lived about 40 million years ago), and a wide range of marine reptiles.

Having Scotty replicas tramp around the world shines a spotlight on the work being done in Saskatchewan.

"This allows us to share the deep history of Saskatchewan with a much wider audience, and hopefully it draws people in to visit our province and see where the discoveries are being made," McKellar said.

"It's kind of exciting to see the international reach  that some of the research and exhibits work that we're doing here has led to some of these larger travelling exhibits."

The replica of Scotty is in Scotland until May. The Australian Museum exhibit will then travel to the Milwaukee Public Museum in 2021.
President Klaus Iohannis declares himself honored to represent Romania on Thursday at the Fifth World Holocaust Forum dedicated to preserving the memory of the Holocaust, held in Jerusalem.

"I am honored to represent Romania at the Fifth World Holocaust Forum dedicated to the remembrance of holocaust victims in Jerusalem. By honoring the memory of the past, we strengthen our country's firm commitment to fight against antisemitism, racism and discrimination. We have a duty to keep the memory of the victims alive, and to firmly protect freedom, democracy and human rights," Iohannis wrote on Facebook.The Fifth World Holocaust Forum, organized by the World Holocaust Forum Foundation, in cooperation with the Holocaust Remembrance Center - Yad Vashem, was held in Jerusalem under the auspices of the President of the State of Israel, Reuven Rivlin, and focused on strengthening global commitment to the memory of the Holocaust and the global fight against antisemitism and racism.
LONDON, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ARCM notes Premier Oil's announcement on the convening of scheme meetings to once again extend debt maturity and to approve the making of certain acquisitions. As detailed in ARCM's press release on 7 January 2020, ARCM has highlighted a number of concerns relating to these proposed acquisitions, which ARCM believes will expose the Company and its business to significant incremental risks (see Link).

ARCM's opposition to these proposed acquisitions has to be considered within the context that ARCM has not previously opposed any of the Company's consent requests involving investments since it became a lender to the Company in 2016.

Upon a review of the Company's January 7 presentation, ARCM notes that there are a number of important details which are unclear yet are critical to enable stakeholders to meaningfully assess the merits of the acquisitions.

For the benefit of all the Company's stakeholders, over the next few weeks, ARCM will pose a series of questions to the Company relating to the acquisitions. We call upon the Company to provide full and transparent responses to its stakeholders.

To begin, we refer to the Company's statement:

"Acquisitions forecast to generate >US$1bn FCF to end 2023"

As shown below, on p4 of the January 7 presentation, the Company made the following statement (Link):

Materially strengthens long-term financial position:

Acquisitions forecast to generate > US$1bn FCF to end 2023

Whilst this statement has been widely quoted by the press and sell side analysts in the coverage of the proposed transaction, we believe stakeholders need to have the answers to the following questions to fully understand how much of this FCF will flow to Premier and its stakeholders:

1) Since the transaction is back dated to January 1, 2019, is it accurate that cash flows until the closing of the Andrew and Shearwater transactions (estimated to be 2Q-3Q 2020) will remain with BP?

2) What is the estimated cash flow that will stay with BP which would reduce the ">US$1 bn FCF to end 2023" that is actually available to Premier and its stakeholders?

3) From the proposed transaction closing date in 2Q-3Q 2020 to the end of 2023, how much cash would be available to Premier and its stakeholders at the current forward curve for oil and UK gas prices?

For more information: Please visit www.arcm-premieroilscheme.com.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Greenbrook Communications

arcm@greenbrookpr.com

+44-(0)207-952-2000
Revel Systems Employee Engagement drives financial performance. This award is a result of Revel Systems dedication to measuring and improving their employee engagement.

The National Business Research Institute (NBRI) is pleased to welcome Revel Systems to the NBRI Circle of Excellence. The NBRI Circle of Excellence Award recognizes organizations that place a high value on employee and customer engagement. These organizations demonstrate their dedication by conducting best-in-class survey research with NBRI and take action based upon the results. NBRI applauds Revel Systems' leadership for their commitment to the continuous improvement process and recognizes their achievements with the Circle of Excellence Award.

"Employee Engagement drives financial performance," said Dr. Jan G. West, Ph.D., CEO & Organizational Psychologist at NBRI. "This award is a result of Revel Systems dedication to measuring and improving their employee engagement."

To qualify for this honor, the organization must score at or above stretch performance at the 75th benchmarking percentile when measured against their industry. Alternatively, the organization must improve five or more benchmarking percentiles in the total company score over the previous research study - a statistically significant amount. Moving an entire company's customer loyalty or employee engagement score five or more percentiles, or reaching stretch or best-in-class performance levels, requires a committed organization.

"On behalf of Revel Systems, we're excited to be a part of NBRI's Circle of Excellence," said Diane Brown, SVP of Human Resources, Revel Systems. "We are an organization committed to providing best-in-class employee engagement and customer satisfaction, and NBRI offers us the insights we need to continue expanding in those areas."

About Revel Systems

Revel Systems powers the ambitions of restaurants and retailers with a robust cloud-based point of sale (POS) and business management system. The Revel Essentials solution, which has been deployed at thousands of customer locations, is designed for the needs of small chains or single sites. The Revel Enterprise solution is tailored for large chains and leads the industry with hundreds of national, big brand customer implementations. Improving day-to-day operations and fueling merchant growth, Revel's streamlined ecosystem helps customers seize their future by pairing an intuitive POS with powerful management tools on a single platform. Founded in 2010 with major offices in Atlanta, Lithuania, and San Francisco, Revel is a leading member of the Apple Enterprise Mobility Program.

About NBRI

NBRI conducts Employee, Customer, and Market Research for businesses, and uses this data to help organizations leverage these human factors to make improvements to operations and strategy. With its extensive experience across all industries, NBRI's research teams bring their clients a combination of deep industry knowledge and expert advice. NBRI's mission is to help their Clients set new standards of excellence in their industries. NBRI product offerings, such as the Root Cause Analysis, ensures their clients will focus on the most impactful issues.

National Business Research Institute, Inc.

2701 Dallas Parkway, Suite 650

Plano, TX 75093

972-612-5070

800-756-6168

https://www.nbrii.com/

Revel Systems, Inc.

600 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 3800

Atlanta, GA 30308

415-744-1433

https://revelsystems.com/
Convicted terrorist Ahmad Khan Rahimi was sentenced to life in prison Friday after a Union County jury for attempting to kill five Linden police officers in a shootout after they identified him as the man wanted in bombings throughout New York and New Jersey.

Rahimi, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Afghanistan, is already serving multiple life terms for setting off a pressure cooker in Manhattan in September 2016 that injured dozens. He still faces federal charges for planting bombs around the same time in Elizabeth and a 5K race in Seaside Park.

Superior Court Judge John Deitch noted that Rahimi had not shown one iota of remorse for his actions.

The defendants actions were shocking and carried out with a callous disregard for the value of human life, Deitch said before he handed down Rahimis sentence. His actions were completely abhorrent to civilized society.

Rahimi, 31, who lived in Elizabeth at the time, was given the opportunity to speak, but he declined. He was convicted in October on multiple counts of attempted murder, aggravated assault and weapons offenses.

Retired Linden police officer Angel Padilla came upon Rahimi while he was resting in a vestibule of a tavern on Elizabeth Avenue. A bulletproof vest saved Padilla from being seriously injured after Rahimi shot at him.

Padilla did not give a victim impact statement at the sentencing. He told NJ Advance Media after the sentencing that he never expected to come upon the man who was wanted across multiple states.

We were there to do a job," Padilla said. "If I had to do it all over again, I will. The whole process - from the day it happened to today - it was long. But again, Im grateful for friends of mine.

Linden Police Officer Angel Padilla recounts the events of September 19, 2016, the day he was shot by Chelsea Bomber Ahmad Khan Rahimi, after Rahimi's sentencing for the attempted murder of five policemen by Judge John Deitch at the Union County Courthouse in Elizabeth on Friday morning. 01/24/2020Steve Hockstein | For NJ Advance Media

Rahimi shot at other responding officers as well. He was also shot multiple times but survived.

His apprehension in Linden ended a massive manhunt that ensued after pipe bombs were found in Elizabeth by two men - later lauded as heroes - that authorities say were similar to the ones found in Seaside Park.

His public defender previously argued that Rahimi was acting in self-defense in the gun battle. Prosecutors, however, argued that he intended harm on the officers because a journal that was found in his pocket read Gunshots to your police. Death to your oppression.

Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @BeccaPanico.
AMERICAN CANYON COMMUNITY CHURCH

Worship at 10 a.m. Programs for children and youth during worship service. 2 Andrew Road, American Canyon.

ARBOR ALLIANCE

Join us Sundays at 5 p.m. Why 5 p.m. worship? It is a good time for busy people and young families. Kids church and nursery available. 721 Trancas St., Napa. thearborchurch.org; 530-304-4704.

BEIT ABBA

Messianic Jewish ministry of The Fathers House is held the first and third Friday of each month at 7 p.m. Child care provided for ages infant to 7 years old. 2557 Napa Valley Corporate Drive, Napa. tfh.org/beitabba.

CALVARY CHAPEL NAPA

Sunday service is at 10:15 a.m. Spanish Church begins at 1:30 p.m. Sunday school and childcare are available at both services. Our midweek service is at 6:30 on Wednesday nights. There is childcare and childrens activities at this service. Middle school and high school study meets as well on Wednesday nights at 6:30 in the Youth Room. 3305 Linda Vista Ave., Napa; 252-2909. Check out our website at calvarynapa.org.

CARMELITE MONASTERY

Mass times: Sunday, 9 a.m.; Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m. Confession Days for English and Spanish: Mondays and Fridays, 10 a.m.-noon; 3-5 p.m.; 8-9 p.m. First Saturdays: Confessions at 10 a.m. followed by Mass at 11 a.m. 944-2454. oakvillecarmelites.org.

CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL LIVING

Services are 9 and 10:30 a.m. with Teen Group at 10 and Youth Program at 10:30. Lisa Ferraro will be guest speaker and musician. Course in Miracles on Tuesday from 6:15- 8:15 pm. Open Meditation on Wednesday from 6:30-7:15 p.m. Spanish Meditation on Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. Annual Community Meeting Jan. 26 at 11:45 a.m. New eight-week seminars are Rev Jay's The Creative Genius Within You starting Tuesday, Jan. 28, from 6:30 -8:30 p.m. and Building a Healing Consciousness with Kristen Moore starting Thursday, January 30, from 7-9 p.m. Spiritual Cinema Night Friday, Feb. 7, will feature Harriet at 7 p.m. 1249 Coombs; 252-4847.

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH

Sunday service and Sunday school for youths up to age 20 at 10 a.m. The Wednesday evening service is at 7:30. Child care provided at all services. New hours for the Reading Room, located in our church building, open to the public weekdays except Wednesdays, 1-4 p.m. All current Christian Science literature, including the writings of Mary Baker Eddy and the renowned Christian Science Monitor, are available to all to read or purchase. 2210 Second St., Napa; 255-5255; christiansciencenapa.com.

CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS, NAPA  SECOND WARD

Sacrament meeting is each Sunday at 10 a.m., followed by Sunday School at 11:15 and Priesthood and Relief Society at 12:10 p.m. Young mens and young womens programs are on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. Corner of Trower Avenue and Dry Creek Road, Napa. 224-6496.

CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM

Register for a Scholar in Residence Shabbaton Weekend Jan. 31 through Feb. 2, with Rabbi Andrea Weiss, Ph.D, Author of "American Values/Religious Voices". Friday, Jan 31 at 6 p.m. "Speaking religious Truth to Political Power". Saturday, Feb. 1, a Havdalah Service at 5 p.m. will feature "The Poetry of the Torah." Sunday, Feb 2, at 10 a.m. Rabbi Weiss will speak about "Disorientation and Reorientation-The Role of Psalms in Times of Crisis." Contact Congregation Beth Shalom at www.cbsnapa.org; 1455 Elm Street, Napa, (707) 253-7305.

COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

This week at CPC we gather to follow the light, united, and freed from fear. Rev. Linda S. Powers examines Isaiah 9:1-4 in the Old Testament, and the Gospel of Matthew 4:12-23. Like the fishermen, we listen and follow. Liturgist, Corinna Smith, assists with the Call to Worship, based on Psalm 27. Follow Me Where I Go is the title of Rev. Lindas sermon and we can guess the direction her words will take in guiding us. On the organ and grand piano is Mark Osten, accompanying us and the choir, all of our voices raised in praise. Join us at 10:30 a.m. to sing along. Well share our hymn book, scoot over in our pew, and well welcome you at coffee hour after church. Covenant Presbyterian Church sits in the sunlight of the vineyards at 1226 Salvador Ave. in north Napa. See you Sunday. (707) 255-9426; www.cpcnapa.org.

CREEKSIDE COMMUNITY CHURCH

Weekly worship service is Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Services and attire are casual with a blend of fellowship, music and teaching. Child care and childrens church offered during service. 1050 Hagen Road, Napa, CreeksideChurchNapa.org; 255-7266.

CROSSWALK COMMUNITY CHURCH

What's ahead for CrossWalk Community Church in 2020 ... join us for services at 8:30 or 10 a.m. every Sunday. Our hope is to focus our vision this coming year around love. What does the love of God call us to do, call us to be? To help answer such questions, kids and adults will spend a good chunk of the year getting reacquainted with the ancestors of our faith. If you'd love to learn about those who shaped the path we're walking on, we'd love to have you join us. Children's programs available during the 10 service. Also available is Praxis on Wednesdays at noon and Wednesday evenings for Experiencing the Heart of Christianity.

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH

We welcome you to come and experience a Sunday morning at First Christian Church. Be inspired and encouraged by a message from the Bible that you can apply to your daily life. Our Sunday service is at 10 a.m. Our Kids Ministry has a great time planned for your kids (babies through 5th graders). We are located at 2659 First St. fccnapa.org.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

We welcome you to worship with us at First Presbyterian Church. Dr. David Stoker will be doing a Sermon Series the next few weeks titled: The Last Words of Jesus. This week, Dr. Stokers Sermon will be focused on: Father Forgive Them... with a Scripture reference of Luke 23: 32-34. We have two services each Sunday. A 9 a.m. traditional service (with hymns) and a 10:30 a.m. contemporary service (with praise music). Nursery care is available during both services, and children are always welcome in worship. The PATH Sunday School for ages preschool through 5th grade is at 10:30 a.m., and NEXT, a gathering for youth grades 6 through 12, is also at 10:30 a.m. Join us following both services for fellowship, coffee and treats in the visitor's center (at the back of the sanctuary). View our online calendar for upcoming events at fpcnapa.org/calendar-of-events/. We look forward to seeing you soon. 1333 Third Street; 707-224-8693; www.fpcnapa.org.

GRACE CHURCH OF NAPA VALLEY

Grace Church of Napa Valley: Worship service at 10 a.m. Adult Sunday school classes at 8:45 a.m.; Childrens Sunday School at 8:45 a.m. and Childrens Church at 10 a.m. Nursery and preschool care available. Junior High and High School ministry meets Tuesdays at 7 p.m. at 3765 Solano Ave.; Napa. 255-4033; GraceNapa.org.

HIGHLANDS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

If youre a regular church attendee, never been or maybe its just been awhile, we invite you to come join us this Sunday and start the adventure with us at 10:30 a.m. Spanish speaking service on Sunday evenings at 6:30. Alcoholics Anonymous group meets weekly on Monday and Wednesdays from 6-7 p.m. 970 Petrified Forest Road, Calistoga.

HILLSIDE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

We meet at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. at 100 Anderson Road, Napa. 255-3036. hccnapa.com.

HOLY FAMILY PARISH

Holy Mass is celebrated at 9 a.m. on Sundays and in the traditional Tridentine Latin (Extraordinary) form of the Roman Rite, according to the 1962 Missal, at noon. Before Low Masses, there is a recitation of the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary at 11:30 a.m. Confession is available after every Low Mass. Holy Family Parish is a Catholic mission-parish of St. Joan of Arc in Yountville. 1241 Niebaum Lane, Rutherford. 944-2461.

HOLY GROUND CHRISTIAN CENTER

Sunday worship begins at 10 a.m., and Bible study is Wednesday at 7 p.m. 3860 Broadway, Suite 111, American Canyon. 373-2015.

LIVING VINE CHURCH

We meet every Sunday morning at 10. 3305 Linda Vista Avenue, Napa. 226-5551.

MEMORIAL CHAPEL AT VETERANS HOME OF CALIFORNIA, YOUNTVILLE

Sunday worship service 10:15 a.m. Coffee fellowship one hour before service. Bible study on Wednesday at 1 p.m., Fellowship Room, with refreshments served; prayer meetings Thursday at 1 p.m. The memorial chapel is on the Veterans Home at Yountville campus on California Drive, across from the administration building. 944-4840. The public is welcome.

MONT LA SALLE CHAPEL

Roman Catholic liturgical services are open to all at the chapel of the De La Salle Christian Brothers at 4401 Redwood Road, Napa. Mass is celebrated every Sunday at 11 a.m.

NAPA COMMUNITY SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH

We welcome you to join us in worship at 10 a.m. every Sunday. Pastor Dave Buurma presents Gods Word to us each week after the music/worship time. The children are dismissed at this time for Sunday School and Childrens Worship. After the service, we have refreshments and fellowship, and then we start a Question & Answer time (in lieu of adult Sunday School), for those who are able to stay and attend. Nursery is provided throughout. www.napavalleychurch.org. Napa Valley Community Church is a ministry of the Christian Reformed Church.

NAPA METHODIST CHURCH

You are invited to worship each Sunday at the Napa Methodist Church at 625 Randolph where ALL are welcome! Sunday at 9:30 a.m. worship the Cathedral Choir will present the Word and Song based on the musical "Brigadoon." The 11 a.m. worship will include the Fusion Band, a message and Communion. We would love to worship with you.

NAPA FRIENDS MEETING (QUAKERS)

Sunday worship at 10 a.m. Silent meeting in the custom of Friends. Meet at the VOICES Youth Center, 780 Lincoln Ave., Napa. Enter at parking lot on left side of building, using door at end of wheelchair ramp. Quaker signs will be posted on Sunday mornings. We welcome visiting friends or those who are new to Quaker practice. Childrens program available with advance notice. nvquaker@gmail.com; 253-1505.

NAPA VALLEY BIBLE CHAPEL

Bill Davis will continue his series on the Gospel of Mark in the 11 a.m. Bible hour on Sunday, Jan. 26. We start Sunday services by remembering the Lords death, burial and resurrection during a time of worship and thanksgiving at 9:30 a.m., followed by a fellowship and coffee time starting at 10:30 a.m. At 11 a.m., we enjoy a time of Bible teaching, and a class is available for children and youth during this service. On Wednesdays at 6 p.m., we meet for a brief Bible study and a time of prayer. 1559 Second St., Napa. napavalleybiblechapel.com.

NAPA VALLEY COMMUNITY CHURCH

We welcome you to join us Sunday at 10 a.m. as we study Acts 23, and the theme: God, The Master of Lifes Circumstances. Where is God when life gets hard? Is he still in control when things appear to go bad? The Bible says that God is most at work when lifes trials come upon us. Sunday School and Childcare provided. 4149 LInda Vista Ave, Napa. Www.napavalleychurch.org. NVCC is a ministry of the Christian Reformed Church.

NAPA VALLEY LIFE CHURCH

Napa Valley Baptist Church is now Napa Valley Life Church. Join us Sundays at 10:30 a.m. at 2303 Trower Ave. for exciting worship, relevant message and a safe and fun childrens program. A well-staffed and trained nursery is provided. Tony Valenti is Senior Pastor. nvlife.org.

NAPA VALLEY LUTHERAN

Sunday worship at 10 a.m. includes Children's Time. Fellowship time follows. All are welcome. The church is located at Jefferson and Elm. 226-8166, www.napavalleylutheran.org.

NAPA VALLEY UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISTS

At 9:30 a.m.: Leaders: Maggie Ingalls and Cindy Guentert-Baldo. At 11 a.m.: Integrity starts with I  Traditional service with Rev. Leisa Huyck, and Celebrant Anne Jungerman. In this multigenerational service, we will tell a story of a young person who acted with integrity even when it was very difficult. Infant care, child care, and religious education provided. 1625 Salvador Ave., Napa; www.nvuu.org; 707-226-9220.

NEW LIFE TABERNACLE

Sunday school at 10 a.m., followed by worship service at 11. Sunday evening service the first Sunday of every month. Bible study on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. 2625 First St., Napa. 255-1062; NewLifeNapa.com.

ST. APOLLINARIS CATHOLIC CHURCH

All masses are in English. Visitors are welcome. Sunday Mass times: 7:30, 9 and 10:30 a.m., noon, and 5:30 p.m., Saturday evening (Vigil for Sunday); 4:30 p.m. Daily mass times: Monday-Friday: 7 and 8:45 a.m.; Saturday: 8:45 a.m. Confession: Saturdays: 3:30-4:15 p.m., Monday-Friday: 6:30-6:50 a.m., Monday-Saturday: 8:15-8:35 a.m. 3700 Lassen St., Napa.

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

St. John the Baptist Church holds daily masses in English at 7:30 a.m. and 12:05 p.m. Weekend masses are Saturday at 5 p.m. (English) and 7 p.m. (Spanish) and Sunday 8 a.m. (Spanish), 10 a.m. (English), noon (Spanish), and 5 p.m. (English). Wednesday evening mass at 7 (Spanish). Corner of Caymus and Yajome streets in downtown Napa.

ST. JOHNS LUTHERAN CHURCH

Worship at 8:30 a.m. (traditional) and 10:15 a.m. (contemporary, communion, childrens church). All are welcome. 3521 Linda Vista. stjohnslutheran.net.

ST. MARYS EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Please join us for a celebration of new ministry for the Rev. Robin Denney, rector. St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Napa, 1917 Third Street, Napa. The Rt. Rev. Megan M. Traquair, Bishop of Northern California, presiding. Worship on Saturdays at 5:30 p.m. or Sundays at 8 a.m. or 10 a.m. (organ and choir). Childrens Chapel (Sunday school) is at 9:50 a.m. Sunday. Nursery care is provided during the 10 a.m. service. Coffee hour follows the worship services on Sunday. 1917 Third St., Napa. 255-0991; StMarysNapa.org.

ST. STEPHENS ANGLICAN EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Sunday at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m., sing using the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. Refreshments and social time after the 10:30 service. 1250 Oakville Grade, Oakville. 944-8915; ststephensoakville.org.

ST. THOMAS AQUINAS CHURCH

Mass times are Saturday at 4 p.m. (English), Sunday at 8 a.m. (English), 11 a.m. (English) and 1:30 p.m. (Spanish). Daily mass is at 9 a.m., except on the first Friday, which is at noon and in English. 2725 Elm St., Napa. 255-2949; stthomasaquinasnapa.com.

SALVATION ARMY

Worship meetings every Sunday at 9 a.m.  breakfast included. Everyone is welcome and we always include solid Bible teaching. Need something less churchy? Try our 10:30 a.m. Coffee and Conversation time: A Bible study that allows anyone to bring their questions about life, spirituality, and Jesus to the table. Join us for one or both each week. Childrens meetings are available too. The Salvation Army, 590 Franklin Street, Napa. 707-226-8150; Salvationarmy.org.

THE FATHERS HOUSE

Service times are Saturday at 6 p.m., and Sunday at 9 and 11 a.m. Child care and Kids Church are available (ages infant through sixth grade). Youth ministry Encounter meets every Wednesday night at 7. Celebrate Recovery meets on Monday nights at 6:30. 2557 Napa Valley Corporate Drive, Napa. tfh.org.

UNITY SPIRITUAL CENTER IN NAPA VALLEY

This Sunday, Unity welcomes Rev. David Lyman, his message this week is entitled, New Beginnings. His theme: Spirit has a way of presenting us with new direction all of the time. We as human beings focus on that at the beginning of each New Year. How do we hear from God just what is ours to do? Join us this Sunday as we explore this imaginative topic! 11:40 a.m.-After a brief refreshment break, Rev. Dave will facilitate a discussion group pertaining to his message. Sunday Service and Forum are held at the historic Welcome Grange Hall, 3275 Hagen Road (1 mile east of the Silverado Trail), Napa. Parking is next to the building. 707-255-6881. Service is at 10 a.m. www.Facebook.com/USCNV, www.UnitySpiritualCenterNapa.org

YOUNTVILLE COMMUNITY CHURCH

We have our weekly Prayer meeting at 9 a.m. in the conference center. The main church building is under repairs and we are meeting in our Sunday School classrooms on the North side of the church. Come join us for coffee, doughnuts, and learn about our Savior, Jesus Christ. Sunday School is for all ages. We have an Adult Bible class, Youth Group (fifth-eighth grades and high school students), and Children's classes "Jesus and Me", (Birth-Kindergarten) and first through fifth grades are offered. Church office hours, Tuesday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Wednesday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.; 6619 Yount St., Yountville; 707-944-2179.
GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In order to speed up the development of cloud-based condition monitoring technologies, SKF is consolidating its development footprint in Europe. Consequently, and subject to consultation with local employee representatives, SKF proposes to cease its development and supply chain activities in Livingston, Scotland.

The Group will now enter into a period of consultation with employee representatives. Should the proposal be confirmed, the development and supply chain activities in Livingston will cease by December 2021.

Development of these technologies will be consolidated to existing sites in Sweden and France.

The development center in Livingston currently employs approximately 50 people.

Aktiebolaget SKF

(publ)

For further information, please contact:

PRESS: Theo Kjellberg, Director, Press Relations

tel: 46 31 337 6576, mobile: 46-725-776576, e-mail: [email protected]

INVESTOR RELATIONS: Patrik Stenberg, Head of Investor Relations

Patrik Stenberg, 46-31-337-2104; 46-705-472-104; [email protected]

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/skf/r/skf-consolidates-product-development--proposes-to-cease-activities-in-scotland,c3015276

The following files are available for download:

https://mb.cision.com/Main/637/3015276/1178607.pdf Full release in pdf

SOURCE SKF
Trump wants exclusive visit to Pakistan: FO

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office on Thursday confirmed that US President Donald Trumps visit to India next month would not include Pakistan. President Trump wants an exclusive visit to Pakistan which is not linked to any other visit in the region because Pakistan has its own distinct place, FO Spokesperson Aisha Farooqi said at the weekly media briefing. Mr Trump is expected to visit India in February. The speculated dates are Feb 24  25.



The US president was invited to visit Pakistan by Prime Minister Imran Khan during his visit to Washington in July last year. The debate about Mr Trumps visit to Pakistan got renewed during the recent World Economic Forum in Davos when he was asked about his plans to visit Pakistan.



Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi increased the expectations by announcing through a statement that Mr Trump would visit Pakistan soon.



Many believe that Mr Trumps visit to Islamabad would be linked to progress on Afghan peace process.



Ms Farooqi said that she could not give an exact time frame of the visit, as of now, and that it may take place later this year. The two sides are working on it, she said.



The spokesperson confirmed that Pakistan was engaged with the US on the issue of review of Pakistans grey list status by Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The issue was discussed during a meeting between PM Imran Khan and President Trump in Davos and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, during the PMs recent visit to Washington.



Our constant message is that Pakistan has taken a whole range of steps and made huge progress in implementation of the Action Plan, she said.



The review of Pakistans progress on shortcomings in counter-terror financing and anti-money laundering regimes will be undertaken at FATFs meeting in Paris in February. Pakistan stay on grey list was extended for four months at the last FATF meeting in October because of inadequate progress for regaining normal status.
The (ED) has issued fresh summons to senior executives of AirAsia airlines, including CEO Tony Fernandes, for questioning next month in connection with a money laundering case, officials said on Friday.

According to sources, the central agency has asked Fernandes to appear before the investigating officer of the case here on February 5, his deputy and former Deputy Group CEO of Malaysia-based AirAsia Berhad Bo Lingam on February 3 and R Venkataramanan, former Director India Ltd, on February 10.

A Tata Sons spokesperson said Venkataramanan had received the summons "first time" on January 22 and it was incorrect to say he ignored any communication sent to him by the federal probe agency.

"Mr Venkataramanan has confirmed he will be attending to the ED summons as required," the spokesperson said, adding he was a non-executive nominee director of Tata Sons on the board of AirAsia Ltd when the airlines took shape.

"Based on due enquiry undertaken by Limited, there has been no wrongdoing by Mr R Venkataramanan," he added.

Few others linked to the present and past management of the airline have also been asked to depose, sources said.

The ED had earlier asked some of these executives to appear this month but after some failed to appear or sought additional time, new dates have been given, they said.

The summons have been issued under the PMLA and as per sources, the executives will be questioned and their statements recorded in connection with the investigation.

The agency had registered a case under the PMLA against the airline and its officials in May, 2018.

This criminal case was filed two days after the CBI filed a criminal complaint to probe these allegations.

Probe in the case is related to allegations that the airline tried to manipulate government policies through corrupt means to get international licence for its Indian venture India Limited.

The ED is also probing this case under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

This probe was on the basis of allegations of ousted Tata Group chairman Cyrus Mistry that fraudulent transactions of Rs 22 crore, involving non-existent entities in India and Singapore, were carried out in an instance involving the airline.

Air Asia India at present has flights connecting 21 domestic destinations and as per a aircraft fleet tracking website, it has 29 Airbus A320 planes.

The CBI and ED, in their criminal FIRs, had booked Group CEO of Air Asia Fernandes, Tharumalingam Kanagalingam also known as Bo Lingam, former Deputy Group CEO of Malaysia-based Air Asia Berhad, and Venkataramanan, then Director Air Asia India Ltd, Bengaluru, besides Air Asia India Pvt Ltd and Air Asia Berhad.

The allegation pertains to Air Asia officials and others allegedly trying to manipulate government policies through corrupt means to get international licence for its Indian venture Air Asia India Limited.

The CBI had alleged that Venkataramanan was lobbying in the government to secure mandatory approvals, some of them through "non-transparent means", including the then Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance, No Objection Certificate and the attempt for removal or modification of 5/20 rule.

It is alleged that to be eligible for international operations, the company was required to have five years of experience and fleet of 20 aircraft as per 5/20 rule.

The company is yet to get international flying permit.

Fernandes wanted it to fly internationally from the day of getting the flying permit in May, 2014, the CBI complaint had alleged.

He and his local Indian partner Tata Sons through their nominee Venkatramanan would lobby in government to get all approvals including FIPB clearance and amend or removal of existing 5/20 rule for international operations, the CBI had alleged.

The CBI had also named Rajender Dubey, Director of Singapore-based HNR Trading Pvt Ltd, Sunil Kapur, Chairman Total Food Services, Mumbai and Deepak Talwar, Principal and Founder DTA consulting (deported to India last year from Dubai), New Delhi and the company HNR Trading as alleged lobbyists who used their influence to get 5/20 rule relaxed "before General Elections of 2014".

Air Asia had denied any wrongdoing after the CBI filed the case and carried out raids at multiple premises.

It is alleged that Air Asia India Ltd -- a joint venture between Tata sons and Malaysian company Air Asia Berhad -- was indirectly controlled and operated by the Malaysia group, and particularly Air Asia Berhad violating various existing norms of erstwhile FIPB, now defunct, under the Union Finance Ministry.
To be sure, Trumps presidency is, as a Los Angeles Times headline put it so succinctly, a train wreck. But the damage he is doing to the country can occur only because it has the support of Republican collaborators in Congress. Without Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), 52 other GOP senators and 197 House Republicans marching in lockstep in the rear, the president would not be able to pursue his goal of remaking the United States into a solely owned Trump enterprise. Armed with that GOP posse, Trump is now the most dishonest, uninformed, outright mean, bigoted and braggadocious creature ever to have inhabited the White House  and he has unchecked power.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday laid the foundation of 18 Atal residential schools to be built on the lines of Navodaya



Vidyalaya.

"We are going to start 18 residential schools in 18 divisions, on the lines of Navodaya Vidyalaya, in which children of registered labourers will be provided free facilities," he said on the occasion of UP Diwas.

Earlier, Governor Anandi Ben Patel and the chief minister inaugurated a three-day programme to mark the foundation day of Uttar Pradesh at the Awadh Shilp Gram here.

The chief minister said the state government will lead students towards self-reliance through skill development and also encourage students interested in sports.

"This land of Ram-Krishna is known for its sacredness and valour. It constantly inspires us to do better. It is a matter of pride for every citizen to be here," Adityanath said.

The CM said no society and nation can move forward by forgetting its past.

"The glorious traditions of the past inspire us to move forward, and on the basis of past experience, we make plans to build our future," he said.

He said that Uttar Pradesh has been the first cornerstone of democracy.

"We launched 'One District One Product' (ODOP) scheme. This scheme has proved to be effective in speeding up the exports of the state. While the country's exports grew at a rate of 7 to 8 per cent, Uttar Pradesh's exports grew at 28 per cent," he said.

Adityanath said on the state's second foundation day his government started the Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana and on the third foundation day on Friday it was laying the foundation stone for the establishment of Atal Residential Schools.

The chief minister said public welfare was the responsibility of the government, adding, "We want to assure that my government is for every helpless person."



Speaking on the occasion, the Governor said Uttar Pradesh has immense tourism potential.

"The state government is on the path of development under the leadership of CM Yogi Adityanath. The government is committed to the welfare of all classes without any discrimination," she said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
LIVE CHAT: No matter which side you started on, supporting President Donald Trump or not, has anything revealed in this weeks proceedings made you reconsider your position? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Democratic House prosecutors are launching their final arguments Friday at Donald Trumps impeachment trial after an impassioned plea to senators to convict him because in the U.S. right matters.

No matter which side you started on, supporting President Donald Trump or not, has anything revealed in this weeks proceedings made you reconsider your position?

As Democrats press their case before skeptical Republican senators for the third day, the presidents legal team is preparing its defense, expected to start Saturday. Trump, eyes on the audience beyond the Senate chamber, bemoaned the schedule in a morning tweet, saying looks like my lawyers will be forced to start on Saturday, which is called Death Valley in T.V.

The president is being tried in the Senate after the House impeached him last month, accusing him of abusing his office by asking Ukraine for the investigations while withholding aid from a U.S. ally at war with bordering Russia. The second article of impeachment accuses him of obstructing Congress by refusing to turn over documents or allow officials to testify in the House probe.

Republicans have defended Trump's actions as appropriate and are casting the process as a politically motivated effort to weaken him in his reelection campaign. Republicans hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, and acquittal is considered likely.

As for the Ukraine connections, evidence has shown that Trump, with his private attorney Rudy Giuliani, pursued investigations of presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, who served on a Ukrainian gas companys board, and sought the probe of debunked theories of what nation was guilty of interference in the 2016 U.S. election.

It's a story line many in the president's camp are still pushing. Giuliani, in an appearance Friday on "Fox & Friends," insisted he would present evidence on his new podcast of "collusion going on in Ukraine to fix the 2016 election in favor of Hillary" Clinton. Pressed by one of the TV hosts as to what that evidence was, Giuliani claimed he had "witnesses" willing to speak on the record next week.

Democrats, in their Senate prosecution, seemed to be anticipating arguments expected from the president's defenders.

At one point, they showed video of a younger Lindsey Graham, then a South Carolina congressman and now a GOP senator allied with Trump, arguing during Bill Clinton's 1999 impeachment that no crime was needed for impeaching a president. Trump's defense team is now arguing that the impeachment articles against him are invalid because they do not allege he committed a specific crime.

The president's defenders' turn will come Saturday.

-- The Associated Press
Premier Doug Ford is defending his controversial appointment of a Toronto police constable to the Ontario Human Rights Commission  and admitting that policing is a family affair to him.

Theres no secret I absolutely love our police officers, Ford told reporters Friday at Peel Regional Police headquarters.

And Im proud to say that three out of my four daughters are with police officers, so theres my bias right there as well, he said in announcing $20.5 million in funding for the Peel force to fight gang and gun violence.

The premier later hailed the appointment to the human rights watchdog of Const. Randall Arsenault, who has publicly praised Ford to his large following on social media.

That move came as the commission is conducting an inquiry into allegations of racial profiling and discrimination against the Toronto Police Service.

The police officer thats serving (is) top notch. You cant ask for a better police officer that what the attorney general appointed, said Ford in his first public comments since the Star revealed the appointment on Tuesday.

I support our police and I support the appointment that the attorney general made. If theres a conflict, they remove themselves, he said, adding the officer is one of two phenomenal candidates the government named to the panel.

Attorney General Doug Downey insisted Arsenault is the right person for the part-time job, which pays up to $10,000 a year.

If you look at his record, he is a phenomenal appointment. We went through all the appropriate processes to do the conflict checks, to do the background, to that sort of thing, said Downey, so I have full confidence that the board will function as it always has.

Arsenault and fellow appointee Violetta Igneski, a McMaster University professor with Progressive Conservative ties, were not among about 330 applicants for the vacant positions.

Renu Mandhane, the provinces chief human rights commissioner, said Tuesday she was somewhat surprised to hear about the appointments earlier this month.

Mandhane added she was concerned a Toronto police officer on active duty had been appointed during the commissions inquiry into the police department.

The Black Legal Action Centre warned that the appointments raise questions about the integrity of the commission and its ability to fight racism.

Indeed, this seems to be one more step in Fords gutting of the human rights system in Ontario, the Toronto-based centre said in an open letter.

We at BLAC, as members of the Black community, are alarmed, and extremely concerned, about the integrity of (the commission) and its ability to combat racism, anti-Black racism and all other forms of discrimination in this province.

Last year, Ford tried to have a family friend installed as commissioner of the Ontario Provincial Police. Toronto police Staff Supt. Ron Taverner withdrew his application after months of bad publicity for the Tories.

In September 2018, Arsenault posted a picture on Instagram, where he has 53,000 followers, of himself and his partner in their uniforms with the premier at the annual Ford Fest in Vaughan.

The officer wrote in the caption that police officers have been taking photos with politicians in all levels of government and all political parties for quite some time now. I was proud to stand beside our Premier Doug Ford.

Igneski, who has not returned messages from the Star, is related to Jasmine Igneski, who has held senior posts in the Tory governments of premier Mike Harris and prime minister Stephen Harper.

Robert Benzie is the Star's Queen's Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie

Read more about:
Mumbai, Jan 24 : Fans of Aishwarya Rai Bachhan are speculating if she is pregnant for the second time, and it's all because of Abhishek Bachchan's tweet that he has a surprise announcement in store for fans! Abhishek recently tweeted: "Hey guys! Have a surprise for all of you. Stay tuned!!" Netizens began to speculate a variety of possibilities, including Aishwarya's pregnancy.

Commenting on Abhishek's post, a user wrote: "2nd baby?" Another commented: "Sibling for your daughter?"

Another user wrote: "One more junior bachchan on the way?"

Not just Aish's pregnancy, netizens also came up with weird speculations reacting to Abhishek's tweet.

While one fan guessed he might be talking about "Dhoom 5", another thought the actor is planning a retirement from his Bollywood career. Still another guessed he was talking about Amazon Prime's "Breathe" season 2 while another user felt Abhishek was probably coming up with a sequel to his debut film "Refugee".

Topping the chart of weird speculations is a user who commented: "Are you going to host the next season of KBC on @SonyTV in place of your father @SrBachchan? by the way how is his health now?" On the work front, Abhishek Bachchan has just started shooting for his next film "Bob Biswas" in Kolkata.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Yemen's government wants to resume direct peace talks with Iranian-backed Houthi rebels to end a brutal five-year conflict, but getting the insurgents back to the negotiating table will require both military pressure and international diplomacy, the nation's U.S. envoy said.

"We want peace and want to end this war," Ambassador Ahmed Bin Mubarak said in an interview in Washington on Wednesday. "Ending the war for us doesn't mean just stopping the airstrikes. The Houthis, when they ensure there is no military pressure on them, will never come to the table."

The ambassador commented as Yemen's conflict risks escalating even further after five years of fighting that's created what the United Nations has called the world's worst humanitarian disaster. A UN-commissioned report in April said the conflict, including side effects such as disease, will have killed about 233,000 people by the end of last month. That's about 0.8% of the country's population.

The UN envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, arrived in the capital Sana'a on Thursday in a bid to stop an escalation in clashes between the rebels and government forces in Nehm district, northeast of Sana'a. Griffiths called on the parties involved to take all necessary measures to de-escalate clashes that have reportedly killed dozens.

An attack on a military base in Marib killed more than 100 government soldiers earlier this month. The government blamed the Houthis, who denied they were behind the strikes by missiles and drones.

The conflict in Yemen has dragged on for years after Saudi Arabia intervened in 2015 in an effort to roll back gains being made by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels. The rebels were sweeping south through the impoverished country and threatening to seize control of the country from the government of President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi when the Saudi-led coalition stepped in.

Halting the Houthi advance would have been impossible otherwise, Mubarak said. "Without Saudi support and airstrikes, the Houthis and Iran would control the entire of Yemen," he said.

The coalition forced the Houthis out of much of the territory in the south and east but failed to push the rebels from Sana'a, territory along the Saudi border and the Red Sea city of Hodeidah. With support from Tehran, the Houthis have held off Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates despite being vastly overspent on military hardware.

Mubarak said that Yemeni officials don't want the war to morph into an even broader international conflict. "We hope that we will keep the international voices unified on Yemen," he said. "Let's let them fight in Syria, Libya, but let them put all their efforts together and make some success in Yemen."

While the U.S. provides military support to Saudi Arabia and has targeted radical Sunni militants fighting for al-Qaeda and Islamic State, it has avoided getting dragged directly into the conflict on the side of Saudi-led coalition and the Yemeni government. It's helped the government by imposing crippling sanctions on Iran, Mubarak said.

The pressure will "have an impact on the Yemeni situation" by limiting Iran's ability to fund the Houthis, Mubarak said. "The administration is sending the right messages, strong messages, which we do appreciate. We think this is very helpful."

Efforts to end the country's conflict have been complicated by tension between the internationally recognized government and U.A.E.-backed separatists in the south.

The U.A.E. told the Yemeni government in June that it planned to unwind its military role in the war-ravaged country by the end of last year, a decision that raised concerns that the country may split apart if Hadi's government lost control of the south. The Saudis sent troops into the south as the U.A.E. pulled its forces and "put all their weight" on this situation, Mubarak said.

"Weakening the legitimate government in Yemen, and its institutions, will prolong the conflict," Mubarak added.

Since 2015, the war has allowed a resurgence by al-Qaeda and Islamic State in the security vacuum in some areas of the country. It's also causing splits along sectarian lines that didn't exist in Yemen before the war, one being abetted by Houthi religious indoctrination of Yemeni youth, Mubarak said.

"This is what concerns me more than the destruction of the infrastructure or the war," he said. "What concerns me more is the social fabric of Yemen. The cracks -- this is something that will stay for decades."
The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami has on Thursday revoked his earlier comment about the establishment of the Western Nigeria Security Outfit which he declared illegal.

Malami whose condemnation on the outfit codenamed Operation Amotekun has since caused uproar on social media claimed he was only misinterpreted by the Six southwest governors and the people of Western Nigeria.

He made this statement while addressing an interview on Radio Nigeria Abuja this morning said " I was misinterpreted on Operation Amotekun, I did not say it's Illegal".

"I said the Operation Amotekun should be properly backed by law, so if at the end of this Government, if the Operation has been backed by law, any Government that eventually succeeded this government will not rubbish the Operation".

"I said if they failed to enact a law in support of Amotekun in the South West Region of Nigeria, another government can come and say it's Illegal and this is because it is not backed by any law".

"So, It is just an advise to the State Governors to use their power and the State's House of Assemblies in their various States to enact a law that will make the Operation more effective." He said.

This statement gives a kind of reduction in the tension of the sustainability of this outfit, congratulations to southwest and Yoruba populace in general.
The French haircare sector is led by the shampoo category in both value and volume terms. The styling agents category is expected to register the fastest value and volume growth during 2018-2023. Hypermarkets supermarkets is the leading channel for the distribution of haircare products in the country. Rigid plastics is the most commonly used pack material in the French haircare sector, followed by flexible packaging and rigid metal. L'Oral S.A., Henkel AG Co KGaA, and Procter Gamble are the top three players in the French haircare sector.

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
" " White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders speaks to the media during the daily press briefing at the White House on July 26, 2017, in Washington, D.C. Sanders' successor, Stephanie Grisham, had yet to hold a press briefing at the time of publication. Mark Wilson/Getty Images

In January 2020, bestselling novelists Stephen King and Don Winslow took to Twitter to make a surprising pledge. They offered to donate $200,000 to charity if Stephanie Grisham, the press secretary for President Donald Trump, agreed to take questions from the full White House press corps for one hour in the White Houses press briefing room.

The offer reportedly was rejected by Grisham who, since taking the job in June 2019 has yet to hold even one formal White House press briefing. Her view, expressed in an interview with the Sinclair Broadcast Group, is that the briefings are unnecessary because reporters get opportunities to put questions to Trump himself, sometimes over the roar of the presidential helicopter on the White House lawn.

Advertisement

The History of the Press Briefing

For the time being at least, the Trump administration has abandoned what had been an important part of White House press corps routine dating back to the late 1800s, before the official position of White House press secretary even existed. Thats when President William McKinley set up a work space in the White House for reporters and sent his first personal secretary, John Addison Porter, to give the correspondents what the White House Historical Association notes were "more or less regular briefings."

The White House press briefing gradually evolved into a formal event. From the time of President Herbert Hoover in the late 1920s and early 1930s to Lyndon Johnsons tenure in the mid-to-late 1960s, White House press secretaries held twice-a day briefing sessions in their own offices, according to Martha Joynt Kumars book "Managing the Presidents Message: The White House Communications Operation." Richard Nixon, though no fan of the press, still thought the briefings were important enough that he had a swimming pool torn out so that he could convert the space into a meeting room for briefings. That area is now known as the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, in honor of President Ronald Reagans press secretary, who was seriously wounded during the attempt on Reagans life in 1981.

During Bill Clintons time in the White House in the 1990s, press secretary Mike McCurry decided to allow the daily press briefings to be televised. That practice continued until the Trump White House began barring cameras from the briefings in 2017, before discontinuing them altogether.

Advertisement

The Value of White House Press Briefings

"I think the briefings were useful for a number of reasons," former CNN White House correspondent Dan Lothian, who spent five years covering the Bush and Obama administrations, explains in an email. "First of all it was an opportunity to get the WH response or thinking on an issue on-camera rather than a written statement. It allowed us to gang up on them around a question they might have been trying to avoid. Showing them dodge an answer is sometimes the news. Briefings also put statements on the record for later comparison. Finally, every now and then there would be breaking news and as happened after Osama bin Laden was caught, lots of great details, (even if some turned out not to be true)."

Lothian, who went on to found Little Park Media and to become a visiting scholar at the School of Journalism at Northeastern University, recalls that the format for the briefings was fairly constant. "There was a certain order to who got called on. Briefings always started with The Associated Press and ended with a thank you from The Associated Press. Once in a while the press secretary would mix it up a bit, but it usually happened around the same time each day and questions from the first two rows came in order."

"While its true that the president and his representatives often make themselves available in informal settings such as the White House lawn, its not the same as press briefings," explains Tom Jones, a senior media writer for the Poynter Institute, a journalism education organization, in an email interview.

"The format of shouting out questions under the sound of whirling helicopter is not conducive to asking complicated policy questions, nor pertinent follow-up questions," he says. "The frenzied free-for-all of these much-too-brief informal interviews make it much harder to get into the topics that require nuance and specifics. Its so much easier for the president to brush aside or ignore questions he doesnt like when hes walking along the White House grounds. When he or one of his representatives are standing behind a podium in a controlled setting, they must face the questions that require long, substantive answers as opposed to the one or two short sentences that suffice in those informal settings."

That view essentially is shared by a group of 13 former White House press secretaries, foreign service and military officials who published an opinion piece on the CNN website in January 2020, calling for Trump to restore the regular briefings. In their view, having to prepare for briefings helps the government to run better. "The sharing of information, known as official guidance, among government officials and agencies helps ensure that an administration speaks with one voice, telling one story, however compelling it might be," they wrote.

Lothian also sees the apparent end of the briefings as unfortunate. "It is a valid criticism that some reporters use briefings to showboat," he says. "However, I think when covering the White House, briefings are an important function that allow the public and reporters to maintain daily connections. Sometimes it's routine information, other times an odd question from the back of the room can turn into the story of the day."

Even so, Lothian says, journalists who cover the administration will find a way to get stories. "This new normal might be unfortunate, but not paralyzing," he explains. "Reporters are in the business of getting information, whether it comes from the mouth of a spokesperson or from sources all across the beltway."

Now That's Interesting According to Kumars book, one White House correspondent during the Clinton administration estimated that he got 40 percent of his information from the two daily press briefings.
Veteran Gandhian and anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare is continuing with his 'maun vrat' demanding the hanging of convicts in the Nirbhaya gangrape-murder case even as India is seeing a wave of protests over CAA, NRC and NPR.

Hazare, the octogenarian Army man-turned-social activist, in 2011-12 spearheaded the 'India Against Corruption' movement undertaking fasts in New Delhi and Mumbai and demanding Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in the states.

On December 20, 2019, the 82-year-old Anna launched his 'maun vrat' till the Nirbhaya convicts are hanged to death.

Anna is not travelling and is currently in his village - Ralegan Siddhi in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra.

"It is over a month now that Anna ji is in 'maun vrat'. The court earlier fixed 22 January as date of hanging and now 1 February. He is not speaking on any issue...on legal matters concerning him and his organisations, he is conveying by writing to the concerned," sources in Ralegan Siddhi told DH on Friday.

After the date of hanging was announced, in a statement, he had said: "....Because of this, people will once again gain confidence. It will send a good message about the judicial process. Because of this decision, the confidence of the people especially women in the judicial process has strengthened. As the culprits in the Nirbhaya case have been sentenced to death, the attitude which harps on harassing women has suffered a serious setback. Because, even if a person has a criminal attitude, he is afraid of death. There are many Nirbhayas in this country. I have faith that they too will get speedy justice."

Several senior activists have questioned Anna's silence over CAA, NRC and NPR.
When U.S. President Donald Trump suggested to an interviewer at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland that he would, at some point, look at cutting entitlement programs, his Democratic critics seized on the comments as evidence that Trump would gut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid in a second term.

Even as the impeachment trial is underway, Trump is still talking about cutting your Social Security, Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, said at the beginning of a news conference that was ostensibly about the Senate impeachment trial.

The Democratic super PAC Priorities USA posted on Twitter about Trumps remarks, and others contrasted his statement with his 2016 campaign pledge not to touch entitlement programs.

On Thursday, the president tried to clean up his own mess.

Democrats are going to destroy your Social Security, Trump tweeted shortly before leaving the White House for a campaign-related event in Florida. I have totally left it alone, as promised, and will save it!

Advisers said the presidents comments in Davos, Switzerland, came as he is keeping a wary eye on the ballooning deficit, which he promised to eliminate within eight years if elected. Under Trumps watch, the federal budget deficit has risen rapidly as his tax cuts and increased spending necessitate more government borrowing.

Last year, the deficit topped $1 trillion (U.S.) for the first time since 2012, and it is projected to stay above that mark for several years. Even with a strong economy, the deficit has grown nearly four times as fast, on average, under Trump than it did under President Barack Obama.

Still, senior administration officials insisted that Trump was not seeking to make a new policy announcement. They also insisted that he was not making a significant break with anything he has said before. They described proposals he has made in previous budgets as efforts to grapple with the growing costs of social safety net programs without breaking his campaign pledge.

A Trump administration official familiar with planning for the upcoming the White House budget said that the president was not expected to announce any draconian cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid when the document is released next month.

However, Trumps budget proposal could outline some of the administrations plans for additional tax cuts. While those cuts have yet to be detailed, they would invariably add to the deficit unless they were offset with other spending cuts or tax increases. That fiscal reality could spur Republicans to renew calls for cutting entitlement programs, whose costs are estimated to grow as an aging population relies more on Social Security and Medicare.

Some Republicans argued that Trump was continuing with a long-standing practice of making vague but sometimes contradictory statements that allow people to select what they want to believe from what he has said.

But Democrats spied an opportunity to highlight the disparity between Trumps messaging and what his government does.

Trumps understanding that entitlement programs, particularly those for older Americans, are a political landmine was clear in 2016, when he broke with other candidates vying for the Republican presidential nomination and promised unequivocally to protect Social Security.

I will do everything within my power not to touch Social Security, to leave it the way it is, Trump said during a March 2016 debate, adding that he would solve the problem of the programs solvency by making the United States a wealthier country.

At the time, Trump was also blunt about the political realities of cutting safety net programs, noting that Democrats want to bolster Social Security benefits for retirees.

And thats what were up against, he said. And whether we like it or not, that is what were up against.

Despite that promise, Trump has made several moves to chip away at Americas social safety net programs.

The Trump administration has already tried to cut food stamps, rental assistance for low-income housing, and Medicaid through efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, said Chye-Ching Huang, the director of federal fiscal policy at the left-leaning Centre on Budget and Policy Priorities. The most recent White House budget proposed a $10 billion cut to the Social Security Disability Insurance program, which provides benefits to disabled workers.

This is just the latest of many instances of the Trump administration making clear through statements, budgets, legislation and administrative actions that their basic policy goal is tax cuts for the well-off hand-in-hand with targeting critical programs, including those that support low- and moderate-income people, Huang said.

Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are projected to cost the government more than $30 trillion through 2029, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The combined annual outlays represent more than 10 per cent of the countrys gross domestic product and threaten to weigh on long-term economic growth.

The programs themselves face a financial predicament. The cost of Social Security, the federal retirement program, will exceed its income in 2020 for the first time since 1982 and its reserve fund is projected to be depleted in 16 years, according to an annual government report released last year.

Medicares hospital insurance fund is projected to be depleted in 2026. At that time, doctors, hospitals and nursing homes will not receive their full compensation from the program and patients could face more of a financial burden.

Cutting entitlement programs, which are funded by workers through payroll taxes, has long been considered the third rail of American politics. Suggestions of trimming benefits or raising the retirement age to make programs more sustainable has been a non-starter with older voters, who more reliably show up at the polls. In 1981, when President Ronald Reagan proposed a plan that would have reduced the benefits paid to early retirees, he was rebuffed by Congress and dealt a political blow. It took a bipartisan commission two years to agree to overhauls for the program.

Republican lawmakers who consider themselves fiscal conservatives have long wanted to restructure Americas safety net programs, but they have generally held their tongues under Trump. Last year, however, some lawmakers started to press the president to tackle the issue.

Weve brought it up with President Trump, who has talked about it being a second-term project, Sen. John Barrasso told The New York Times last year.

The need to find cuts could become more pressing if the administration tried to push through another tax cut.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday that Trump had asked him to begin developing a plan for more middle-class tax cuts to further stimulate the economy.

The president feels that we need to continue to incentivize the middle class, Mnuchin said on CNBC. That their taxes have been too high historically.

Read more about:
Gwyneth Paltrows Goop show is here  and she starts making revelations in the very first episode.

The actress and Goop CEO cohosts The Goop Lab on Netflix, which takes viewers through several practices the brand explores, including energy healing, psychedelics, cold therapy, psychic mediums, anti-aging and orgasms. Welcoming a series of experts on each topic, Paltrow and fellow cohost Elize Loehnen, Goops CCO, talk and learn through the topics.

The first episode features some Goop staffers traveling to Jamaica to take mushrooms as part of a therapeutic experience. This prompts Paltrow to reveal her own emotional experience with psychedelic drugs.

RELATED: Gwyneth Paltrows New Goop Show Tests Out Unregulated Health Practices

Paltrow, 47, shares that she once took MDMA in Mexico with then boyfriend who is now my husband Brad Falchuk, 48. The two married in September 2018 after dating since 2014.

It was a very, very emotional experience, she said. Being the person that people perceive me to be is inherently traumatic.

Gwyneth Paltrow and Brad Falchuk | ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty

The six-episode series, called The Goop Lab, premiered on Friday, and will cover energy healing, psychedelics, cold therapy, psychic mediums, anti-aging and orgasms, according to the trailer.

What we try to do at Goop is explore ideas that may seem out there or too scary, Loehnen says in the trailer, before Paltrow asks, Are you guys ready to go out in the field and make a ruckus?

Netflix said in a press release that the series will feature, doctors, researchers, alternative health practitioners, and other experts in mental, physical, spiritual and sexual health.

The Goop Lab is available to stream on Netflix.
Boris Johnson has paid tribute to former Stormont deputy first minister Seamus Mallon for his efforts to bring peace to Northern Ireland following his death aged 83.

Seamus Mallon, who lived in Markethill, Co Armagh, died earlier today.

Dozens of political leaders have since paid tribute to the 83-year-old both on social media and in official party statements.

Boris Johnson has paid tribute to former Stormont deputy first minister Seamus Mallon (pictured) for his efforts to bring peace to Northern Ireland following his death aged 83

The UK Prime Minister wrote on Twitter: 'Seamus Mallon made an extraordinary contribution to democracy and peace in Northern Ireland.

'I want to express my sincere condolences to his daughter Orla, to his family and friends and to the SDLP.'

Mr Mallon, the ex-deputy leader of the nationalist SDLP and MP, was an architect of the Northern Ireland peace process and a key figure in negotiating the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which largely halted violence.

He also implemented the newborn political powersharing at the devolved parliament at Stormont.

Mr Mallon, who was a former teacher, lived in a largely Protestant town.

He went to the houses of two lifelong friends from either side of the religious divide killed by loyalists in nearby Poyntzpass just before the 1998 Good Friday Agreement was signed and vowed to seal the deal.

Relations were later tested while in government by differences over the reform of policing but his unionist counterpart praised him for making and then implementing the agreement.

Former US President Bill Clinton, who was in office at the time of the Good Friday Agreement and championed peace talks in the 1990s, also paid a touching tribute to Mr Mallon.

He said: 'From his earliest entry into politics, Seamus never wavered from his vision for a shared future where neighbours of all faiths could live in dignity-or from the belief he shared with John Hume and the entire SDLP that nonviolence was the only way to reach that goal.

'As his party's chief negotiator in the talks leading to the Good Friday Agreement, he was respected by all parties for his intelligence and integrity, his candour and convictions.'

Mr Mallon was an architect of the Northern Ireland peace process and a key figure in negotiating the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which largely halted violence. Pictured: Tony Blair, Bill Clinton and Seamus Mallon in 2000

Mr Mallon's former partner in government and ex-first minister Lord David Trimble said he was a committed democrat who lived up to his word.

Lord Trimble added: 'He had a lot to be proud of. That is a huge achievement.

'Even though from then to now there have been huge ups and downs in the political system, there has been no move away from peace.'

Tony Blair negotiated the landmark peace deal with Mr Mallon and said he was a brave advocate of non-violence.

Mr Blair said he was one of the most important architects of non-violence.

'Brave, blunt, often prepared to swim against the tide if he felt it right, he was someone deeply respected and admired across the troubled landscape of Irish politics.

'Tough to negotiate with but always for a purpose. Even occasionally fierce but always wise.'

Dozens of political leaders have since paid tribute to the 83-year-old including Arlene Foster and Leo Varadkar

The SDLP spent the decades of violence advocating consensual constitutional politics in opposition to the IRA's bloodshed.

Since 1998 it has been eclipsed in the political polls by Sinn Fein.

Mr Trimble was ultimately replaced by his arch critic Ian Paisley at the head of the devolved administration.

Civil rights drew keen sportsman Mr Mallon into politics and the thoughtful and well-read political leader served as an MP for Newry and Armagh - an area which suffered greatly during the 30-year conflict.

The current SDLP leader, Colum Eastwood, said: 'In the darkest days of conflict, when hope was in short supply, Seamus represented the fierce thirst for justice that ran through the SDLP and through communities that had lost so much to political violence.'

Mr Eastwood added: 'His passion for peace underpinned by truth, justice and reconciliation came from a lifetime as a proud son of Markethill, where he was born, grew up and raised his own family.

'It didn't matter who you were, where you worshipped or what your politics were, there was always help to be found at Seamus's hearth.'

Current Stormont first and deputy first ministers Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill also paid tribute to the 83-year-old.

DUP's Mrs Foster tweeted a message of condolence before releasing an official statement that said: 'He was instrumental in bringing about peace for our people and that contribution should not go unrecognised.'

And Sinn Fein's Ms O'Neill added: 'Seamus Mallon was a significant political figure who made a huge contribution to the politics of peace and the Good Friday Agreement.

'His mark on our history is indelible.'

Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar added: 'History will remember Seamus as an architect of the Good Friday Agreement, a committed peace builder and a tireless champion of an inclusive Ireland.

'He always opposed sectarianism and discrimination in any form.

'When others in his community advocated violence, Seamus had an unswerving commitment to constitutional nationalism.

'He was a peacemaker who put us on the path to reconciliation.'

Irish deputy premier Simon Coveney said: 'It is my sincerest hope that his life and his dedication to the principles of honesty, integrity and generosity will serve as an inspiration to the next generation of political leaders in Northern Ireland.'

The most senior Catholic cleric in Ireland, Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin, said Mr Mallon was a man of integrity and great courage.

He added: 'To his dying day, Seamus Mallon remained a man of hope for a brighter future - a shared and respectful future where we all experience a sense of belonging.'

Former Irish premier Bertie Ahern also paid tribute along with the current leader of Fianna Fail, Micheal Martin.

Towering figure in a political generation which delivered end of the troubles

A straight-talking colossus of Irish politics, Seamus Mallon devoted his life to securing peace and justice for the island he loved.

Mallon, from south Armagh, was a towering figure in the political generation which delivered an end to the Northern Ireland Troubles.

While SDLP leader and Nobel Laureate John Hume has been hailed as an architect of the Good Friday Agreement, his long-standing deputy leader was one of its engineers - a man whose determination helped build the powersharing structures from the ground up.

In a customary blunt assessment, he famously described the April 1998 deal as 'Sunningdale for slow learners' - a reference to an ill-fated peace settlement of the 1970s.

Seamus Mallon: The towering figure in a political generation which delivered end of the troubles

For Mallon, the Good Friday Agreement not only symbolised hope for the future, but also the futility of decades of sectarian bloodshed that had gone before.

After the signing of the accord, Mallon would go on to become nationalism's leading figure in the new coalition government, as Northern Ireland's deputy first minister.

His partnership with Ulster Unionist first minister David Trimble was the manifestation of the region's new beginning.

Known as the 'odd couple', their relationship was at times turbulent - both resigned and were reappointed at different junctures - but they nevertheless developed deep respect for each other.

Explaining the journey they travelled together in those stormy years when Northern Ireland edged out of the darkness, both would point to an atrocity weeks before the deal was signed.

Philip Allen, a Protestant, and Damien Trainor, a Catholic, were shot dead by loyalist paramilitaries in the Railway Bar in Poyntzpass in Co Armagh on March 3, 1998.

Trimble and Mallon both travelled independently to console the bereaved families.

Meeting on a doorstep of one the houses, they walked together to the next.

It was a powerful show of solidarity amid the tense negotiations that would ultimately bring peace.

'It certainly strengthened my resolve about getting an agreement,' Mallon told the PA news agency on the 20th anniversary of the 1998 deal.

'The symbolism of David Trimble and myself together was a stark reminder for ourselves and for everyone else that what we were involved in, in the talks, was essentially to prevent that ever happening again.'

Trimble visited the beside of his former partner-in-government days before he died at the age of 83.

Born in Markethill in 1936, Mallon began his working life as a primary school teacher and headmaster.

He was a combative GAA player who had a passion for many other sports.

Angered by state discrimination against Catholics, Mallon became a prominent figure in the civil rights movement of the late 1960s. He would go on to join the SDLP, elected as a councillor in 1973.

He would rise to the position of deputy leader in 1979 - a point at which his career would forever be entwined with newly appointed party leader Hume.

There was often tension at the heart of the Hume/Mallon axis, never more so than when the leader failed to tell his deputy about his secret talks with Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams - discussions that effectively marked the start of the peace process.

But they nevertheless formed a formidable duo - men whose unstinting abhorrence of violence drove them in relentless pursuit of peace.

Mallon served briefly as an Irish senator in the early 1980s and, after a number of unsuccessful attempts to win a Westminster seat, he became MP for Newry and Armagh in 1986.

Always outspoken, he was at times a vociferous critic of the conduct of the security forces. He also never baulked at calling out IRA brutality.

His views brought death threats and saw petrol bombers target his home. But he continued to speak out, undeterred.

Famed for his stubbornness and acerbic wit, Mallon was never one to fall into line.

At an event at Queen's University in Belfast to mark the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, he was offered the chance to reflect on his role in making history.

Jarring with the congratulatory comments of those counterparts who had walked to the microphones before him, the 81-year-old Mallon was in no mood to dwell on past achievements.

He instead used a rare return to the public spotlight to launch a blistering attack on the DUP and Sinn Fein, the two parties central to the collapse of the institutions he had spent a life constructing.

'Am I sad? Yes. Am I angry? Yes, very angry,' said the visibly-frail former statesman.

'Especially when I watch television sitting in my house, just me and the dog, and I watch the hypocrisies which are unbelievable and the untruths which are believable.

'Politics has been debased and diminished by these two political silos which have almost Balkanised the Northern Ireland that I live in.

'It is the future we should be looking at.'

It was typically Mallon. Unflinching to the end.
Three people in Michigan are being investigated for potential infection of the coronavirus, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced Friday, Jan. 24.

The patients -- two from Washtenaw County and one from Macomb County -- present symptoms of a lower respiratory illness, fever and report traveling to Wuhan, China, where the deadly outbreak of the virus began, or have had contact with someone who is being investigated for the infection, according to a news release.

The state is immediately sending samples from the patients to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is the only lab in the U.S. that can test for the strand of coronavirus, according to the release. Its unknown when the results will be available.

The Michigan cases are described as mild illnesses, according to the DHHS. The health departments from Washtenaw and Macomb counties are monitoring the patients and limiting contact with others to prevent a potential spread, the release states.

All three patients were identified on Thursday, Jan. 23.

Coronavirus is a respiratory illness common in animals and humans, but the new strand, called novel coronavirus 2019, has not been previously detected, according to the CDC. Public health screenings for travelers from Wuhan, about 12 hours south of Beijing, are in place at Los Angeles, Orlando, Atlanta, San Francisco and New York airports.

Health officials warn patients to call a health care provider before seeking treatment for potential coronavirus symptoms so the appropriate preventive measures can be taken.

Information on the virus is changing quickly, Washtenaw County Health Department spokeswoman Susan Ringler-Cerniglia said. Michigan is at a low risk now, but she recommends frequently washing hands, covering coughs and taking other precautions similar to flu prevention.

The first case of the virus was reported on Jan. 21 in Washington state.

MORE ON MLIVE:

Michigan lags the nation in suicide prevention, and state finally takes notice, experts say

ESPN writer calls Michigan a 'second-tier program heading into 2020

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will deliver Democratic response to Trumps State of the Union address
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu several stories about Ukrainians who saved Jews during World War II, and about his own family that suffered from the Holocaust.

"I have some important stories that I would like to tell you, three stories about the Holocaust, about the Second World War," Zelensky said before starting a meeting with Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Friday.

The first story was about the Crimean Tatar Said Arifova, who saved 88 Jews during the Nazi occupation of Ukraine.

"They are not Jews. They are Karaites. She gave such testimonies under threat of execution to SS men about her neighbor, Volya Polyakova, and her father, Mordechai Zengin. The family of Moses Hovaylo, his wife and a small child, she hid in a village, near Bakhchisarai. She - the head of the kindergarten in the Nazi-occupied Crimea, hid the nationality of her students, said they were Crimean Tatars, gave them Tatar names, taught them the Crimean Tatar language and customs. The children received false documents and medical certificates. She is a Muslim woman by religion. She saved 88 Jews. Her name was Saide Arifova," Zelensky said.

The second story was told by the President of Ukraine to the Israeli Prime Minister about the priest of the Greek Catholic Church melyan Kovch.

"His prison number is 2399. He, like the rest of the concentration camp inmates, was kept in terrible conditions. Up to 700 prisoners lived in the 14th barracks of the third sector of the camp. He refused early release," he said.

"'If I am not here, who will help these people overcome all their suffering? They will go to eternity with their sins, in deep gloom accompanying them to hell," he wrote in a letter to his six children who were waiting for him at home. He is a Ukrainian priest of the Greek Catholic Church. He saved the Jews by giving more 600 of them baptismal certificates. He was sent to the Majdanek concentration camp for this.

Zelensky emphasized the stories show that nationality, religion, age, gender, place of birth lose their meaning when "there is a good heart that moves you and total evil, against which you resist."

The president of Ukraine also told Netanyahu another story of his own family.

"Another story is about a family with four brothers. Three of them, as well as their parents and families, were victims of the Holocaust. They were shot by German invaders who invaded Ukraine. The fourth brother survived. He was at the front then. He returned alive. He went through World War II, contributing to the victory over Nazism and the hateful ideology. Two years after the war he had a son. And after 31 years he had a grandson. After 40 years, the grandson became president. Today he stands in front of you," Zelensky said.

Netanyahu thanked Zelensky for these stories and noted that they are very moving.

"These stories are about how non-Jews saved Jews, especially about your own family, about the struggle for life, for the sake of the future," Netanyahu said.
A woman in Chicago in her sixties was Friday confirmed as the second patient on US soil infected with a deadly new virus originating in China, health officials said, with 50 other suspected cases under investigation. The contagion has so far claimed 26 lives in China, sickened hundreds and has spread across several Asian countries as well as the US. "I'm pleased to report she is clinically doing well and is in stable condition," said Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health of the new patient. Nancy Messonier, senior official at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said the agency had so far tested 63 samples from patients across 22 US states for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus. Eleven were found to be negative and two positive, and the CDC was working to make diagnosis kits more nationally available. At present the testing is occurring at the agency's headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. The Chicago patient had traveled to Wuhan in late December before returning to the US on January 13, Arwady said, a few days before health screenings began at major airports for travelers originating from the central Chinese city that is at the center of the outbreak. She began experiencing symptoms and called her health care providers, and was later admitted to hospital and placed in isolation. "She has not taken public transportation, have not attended any large gatherings and, she has not had extended close contact with anyone outside her home since returning from China," added Arwady. The US confirmed its first case of the infection earlier this week, a man in his thirties from Washington state who had also traveled to Wuhan recently and also reported himself to authorities after developing mild symptoms. Neither of the cases were detected by the airport screenings that began on January 17, said CDC official Martin Cetron, and both patients had no symptoms or fever when they first arrived in the US. China has placed a travel ban across a vast region encompassing 13 cities and more than 40 million people, and the US was now "reevaluating" its approach of carrying out airport screenings, added Cetron. The previously unknown virus has caused alarm because of its similarity to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which killed hundreds across mainland China and Hong Kong in 2002-2003. In this file photo taken on May 30, 2013, the downtown Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan are seen in this aerial photograph
"With Tareks unique background, we are poised to accelerate product advancements that enable our restaurant partners with powerful tools to grow their off-premise business by making their food more convenient for customers, - Brad Duea, CEO of Revolution.

Restaurant Revolution Technologies (Revolution) today officially announced the addition of former Splick-it COO Tarek Dimachkie as the newly created Head of Product Development. Dimachkie will lead innovative enhancements to the online and mobile ordering capabilities of the Order One platform, as well as augmenting the client administration interface.

Dimachkie brings extensive product development experience after serving as Co-founder and COO for Splick-it, a Denver, Colorado based company specializing in online and mobile ordering applications for restaurants. In 2016, Splick-it acquired its competitor, Onosys, to further the combined companys product offering. Dimachkie served as COO of the combined company until recently joining Revolution. Prior to Splick-it, Dimachkie served in a variety of technical, product and operational leadership roles with such notable companies as Excite@Home, MatchLogic and American Express.

Its an honor to be joining the Revolution team and to lead product enhancements and innovation related to the Order One platform, said Tarek Dimachkie, Head of Product Development. What especially excites me about the opportunity is how uniquely suited Order One is in supporting restaurants desiring to win back customers lost to third party delivery like GrubHub, UberEats and DoorDash and to control and leverage rich customer data that leads to more frequent visits and improves the customers online buying experience.

Dimachkie will work closely with Revolutions CTO Tony DiCenzo and the growing technology team as the company continues to develop and augment new and existing Order One platform features.

Tarek is one of the most respected product developers within the restaurant technology space and we are very pleased to have him as part of the Revolution team, said Brad Duea, CEO of Revolution. We continue to push the innovation curve with our Order One platform functionality. With Tareks unique background, we are poised to accelerate product advancements that enable our restaurant partners with powerful tools to grow their off-premise business by making their food more convenient for customers.

About Restaurant Revolution Technologies

RRT Holdings, LLC (Revolution) is the off-premise partner for restaurants nationwide. Through its Order One platform, it provides a unified web, mobile and voice order management software platform that seamlessly integrates into restaurant point of sale systems. The companys delivery enablement programs fulfilled by DoorDash, backend services, and data capture capabilities allow restaurants to seamlessly serve off-premise orders and provide a premium, branded start-to-finish experience for their customers. Learn more at http://www.rrtusa.com or follow on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Holocaust victims remembered in Rome 75 years after liberation of Auschwitz.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day on 27 January 2020 is being marked in Rome with more than 170 memorial events, organised by the city, the capital's Jewish community, cultural institutions, and partisan association ANPI.

"It will not be a day but a month, a season of reflection on a gigantic moment in human history that in no way should be forgotten", said Rome's deputy mayor Luca Bergamo.

The programme of commemorative events includes a screening at city hall of the documentary Kinderblock - l'ultimo inganno, which tells the harrowing story of Sergio De Simone, a 7-year-old boy used as a guinea pig for medical experiments by Nazi physicians, and murdered along with 20 other Jewish children in a former school in Hamburg.

Established in 2005 by the United Nations to commemorate the day in 1945 that the survivors of Auschwitz were liberated by the Russian army, the initiative honours the memory of the millions of Jews  but also homosexuals, Romany people and others  who suffered persecution, deportation, imprisonment and genocide.

Each January since 2010 Rome has installed a number of brass cobblestone-sized memorials commemorating victims of the Holocaust. Known as stolpersteine in German, or literally translated stumbling stones, the memorials are the work of Berlin artist Gunter Demnig.

The plaques are installed outside the last chosen place of residence of victims of the Holocaust, detailing their first and last names, date of birth, date and place of deportation, and date of death in a Nazi extermination camp.

Last week Demnig came to Rome to install 34 new stolpersteine in streets around the Jewish Ghetto area as well as suburbs around the capital.
Kochi: Amidst outpouring of grief and heart-rending scenes, the mortal remains of five members of a family who died of suspected asphyxiation in a resort in Nepal were laid to rest in the compound of their house on Friday morning.

The bodies of Praveen Krishnan Nair (39), his wife Sarnaya (34) and their three children Sreebhadra, 9, Aarcha, 8, and Abhinav, 7 arrived at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport at midnight Thursday and taken to their native place, Chengottukonam, by 8.30 am.

The last rites, planned for 9 am, were delayed as hundreds of people lined up to pay their last respects to the family. The bodies were kept in the courtyard of the house for the public to pay last respects. Police and relatives of the family found it tough to handle the crowd.

A number of the familys relatives, friends and political and social activists were waiting at Praveen Nairs house from early morning to pay their last respects to the departed family.

The bodies of Praveen and Saranya were cremated while the children were interred in a single grave. It was Saranyas sisters three-year-old son who performed the funeral rituals.

Meanwhile, the bodies of three others who died in the Nepal tragedy, Ranjith, his wife Indulakshmi and son, were brought to their home town of Kozhikode from New Delhi by 12 noon. Their bodies were set to be cremated in the evening at Ranjiths ancestral house at Kunnamangalam. Madhav, the couples elder son, who had a lucky escape as he was sleeping in another room, was brought to his home on Thursday.
Former Congress MLA Asif Muhammad Khan, who has been served a notice by Delhi Police Crime Branch for questioning in connection with the incident of violence in December last year, said that police have no evidence against him.

"Police have no evidence against me. I was in Shaheen Bagh, participating in the protests which are going on till now, at the time when buses were set on fire there. Police was also recording my speeches, this is my biggest evidence," Khan told ANI.

Delhi Police Crime Branch issued a notice to Khan under Section 160 of CrPC asking him to appear before Crime Branch Chanakyapuri today for questioning.

A notice was also issued to local political leader Ashu Khan asking him to appear before Crime Branch Chanakyapuri today for questioning in connection with Jamia Nagar violence which took place in December last year.

Asif Khan has been named as an accused in the FIR filed by Delhi Police in connection with the violence which took place near Jamia Millia Islamia University.

Other names included in the FIR are Ashu Khan, Mustafa, Haider, Chandan Kumar, Asif Tanha and Kasim Usmani along with the former MLA as the accused.

At least three buses were torched and stones were pelted on police personnel during the protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act in the area. Police resorted to baton-charge and firing of tear gas shells to contain the violence.

Meanwhile, a man named Furkan has been detained by Crime Branch (SIT) in connection with the Jamia violence incident.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb told CNBC on Friday the fast-spreading coronavirus outbreak in China is likely more contagious but less severe than the SARS epidemic that rattled markets in 2003 and slowed global economic growth.

"We probably will have some isolated outbreaks [of coronavirus in the U.S.], but that doesn't mean it'll translate to an epidemic," said Gottlieb, a physician, health advocate and Pfizer board member. He left the Food and Drug Administration in April.

The total number of coronavirus cases in China rose to over 900, with 26 deaths. The flu-like virus, which was first identified less than a month ago in the Chinese city of Wuhan in Hubei province, has also infected at least 15 people around the world, mostly in Asia. The U.S. reported one case on Tuesday, a Snohomish County, Washington, resident who was returning from China.

Gottlieb told CNBC that in comparison with SARS, this appears to be more contagious and less severe.

"But the question is, has it achieved sort of that golden point where it's contagious enough to spread rapidly but still severe enough to cause a lot of harm?" he said a "Squawk Box" interview. "We don't know that yet."

Gottlieb said there could be thousands of mild cases that will likely go undiagnosed and clear up on their own.
Traditional rulers in Ondo State, under the aegis of De 130 Krown Obas, have called on Southwest state governors to ignore negative comments about Operation Amotekun and conclude necessary arrangements for the immediate take-off of the security outfit in the six states of the zone.

The monarchs, who spoke through their state President, the Owa-Ale of Ikare-Akoko, Kolapo Adegbite-Adedoyin, made the call while briefing journalists after their monthly meeting in Akure on Friday.

The traditional rulers also enjoined the Federal Government to support the governors to achieve the set goals of Operation Amotekun.

According to the monarch, it is only when the security outfit is allowed to function effectively that traditional rulers and their subjects can sleep with their two eyes closed.

He said that the security outfit must be supported to end the rampant kidnappings, banditry, senseless killings and other crimes in the zone.

We, as executive and members of De 130 Krowns Club of Ondo State, are the main stakeholders in the spate of armed robbery, kidnappings, banditry, killings by slaughtering and so on, and this epidemic is affecting our subjects.

READ ALSO:

We do solemnly declare our support for Operation Amotekun to counter all these ungodly and inhuman acts of self-destruction.

The personnel of Amotekun are our native hunters and all who know and understand the terrain of their own localities. What is wrong in watching over ourselves?

We plead with our governor to do this quickly and Amotekun should start operation immediately so as to relieve us, the traditional rulers, particularly in Ondo State, of act of losing our kinsmen and their properties on daily basis, the monarchs said.

They urged other zones in the country to translate Amotekun into their own respective languages and set up similar security outfits to complement the existing governments security agencies.

Amotekun, which means leopard, can be translated into Hausa, lgbo, Urhobo, Efik and other languages. What is important is the function it plays in our security arrangement.

We plead with our politicians, who are from other zones not to see this outfit as a political body, but as supplementary efforts to the Federal Governments laudable efforts to protect the lives of innocent Nigerians in the Southwest, the royal fathers said. (NAN)
Mass protests against the anti-Muslim Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which Indias Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government rushed into law last month, have now entered their sixth week.

Frequently defying brutal state repression, the protests have brought millions into the streets and touched all parts of India. While initially spearheaded by Muslim youth, the anti-CAA protests have cut across the religious-sectarian, ethno-linguistic, and caste divides long cultivated by Indias ruling elite as a means of diverting social opposition and splitting the working class.

The CAA makes religion a criterion for determining citizenship for the first time in the history of postcolonial India. It effectively grants Indian citizenship to all immigrants from three predominantly Muslim countriesAfghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistanwho came, or whose ancestors came, to India before 2015, with the very conspicuous and calculated exception of Muslim immigrants.

The CAAs principal authorsModi and his chief henchman, Home Minister Amit Shahintended it to set the stage for their sinister, communally motivated scheme for a National Register of Citizens (NRC), under which all Indias 1.3 billion residents will have to prove to the authorities satisfaction their entitlement to Indian citizenship.

Forced onto the back foot by the mass protests against the CAA, Modi and Shah have been forced to temporarily avow, despite their numerous previous public statements to the contrary, that they never said the NRC, currently confined to the northeastern state of Assam, would be extended nationwide.

To the governments consternation, life in the national capital, Delhi, continues to be perturbed by daily anti-CAA protests. For more than a month, a thousand protesters, most of them Muslim women, have been occupying a stretch of a main road that connects the capital with the satellite city of Noida, near to Shaheen Bagh, a working-class Muslim neighborhood. Every day hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of people from different faiths join the protest, and often take up the chant, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Issaiaapas mein hain bhaai bhaai, which means Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians are brothers.

Police have tried to force an end to the occupation on the grounds that it is blocking traffic. But the protesters remain defiant, allowing only school vehicles and ambulances to pass.

Students are also continuing to protest at Jamia Millia Islamia University in Delhi and Aligarh Muslim University in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, forcing the authorities to postpone scheduled examinations. In a bid to suppress the anti-CAA and anti-NRC protests, police invaded both universities on Dec. 15 and ran amuck assaulting students, dozens of whom had to be hospitalized.

The BJP, particularly through the BJP-led state governments in Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Assam has responded to the groundswell of opposition to the CAA with brutal repression including lethal violence, blanket bans on all public gatherings of more than four people, and suspensions of internet access. It has also lashed out against the protests, labelling them as violent and whipping up communal animosity, including with claims that the protesters are in cahoots with Pakistan.

The repression has been especially savage in Uttar Pradesh (UP), Indias most populous and one of its most impoverished states. Some 20 protesters have been killed in UP, most as the result of police gunfire.

In what is clearly preparation for a crackdown on the ongoing protests in Delhi, the BJP-appointed Lieutenant Governor of the National Capital Territory has given police the power, as of January 19, to detain individuals without charge under the draconian National Security Act, 1980. The authorities have tried to downplay their repressive designs, by claiming that the Delhi police are periodically given such powers.

Senior BJP leaders have repeatedly signaled that they are ready to use even greater repression.

UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has denounced anti-CAA protesters as anti-nationals and ordered police to seize the property of those who allegedly damaged public property during anti-CAA protests. Government opponents claim that under the cover of this order police are arbitrarily targeting better-off Muslims. On Wednesday, Adityanath said those who raise azadi slogans like they used to be raised in Kashmiri.e. those who demand freedom and condemn the Indian statewill be treated as treasonous and face stringent government action.

Earlier, Dilip Ghosh, the president of the BJPs West Bengal state unit, publicly chastised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for not opening fire and ordering lathi (police-baton) charge on those protesting against the CAA. Our governments in Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Karnataka, he went on to boast, shot these people like dogs.

After Ghoshs remarks provoked a nationwide uproar, the BJP was compelled to disassociate itself from them. But even then, BJP officials could not contain themselves. BJP General Secretary Anil Jain said the BJP does not agree with Ghoshs statements, but in the very next breath sought to explain them away, by saying they were reactions to objectionable slogans and posters against Modi and Adityanath.

Later Ghosh, who retains his post as the head of the BJP in Indias fourth most populous state, reiterated his incendiary attack on the anti-CAA protests, I stick to my comments, he declared, I am not bothered about the criticism.

The sudden eruption of mass opposition to the BJP government has given sections of the ruling elite pause. Especially the prospectas underscored by the participation of tens of millions of workers and youth in a one-day general strike called by ten central labour federation unions to protest the Modi governments pro-market economic policies and the CAAthat opposition to the BJP governments communal agenda will intersect with a broader working-class upsurge

An editorial in The Hindu on January 14, titled Unhelpful combativeness: On concerns about CAA, urged Modi to address the concerns about the CAA instead of (deliberately) misinterpreting them.

The Times of India, the countrys largest English-language daily, is exhorting the BJP government to backtrack on elements of its Hindu communalist agenda and instead focus on pushing through a new wave of Big Bang reforms to attract global capital and pull India out of a steep economic downturn.

The Modi government, for its part, views the promotion of Hindu supremacy as key to mobilizing its Hindu communalist supporters against growing opposition, above all from the working class, and diverting social anger over mass unemployment, endemic poverty and ever-widening social equality behind reaction.

The opposition parties, beginning with the Congress Party, till recently the Indian bourgeoisies party of government, and various regional parties like the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu and Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, are seeking to politically exploit the mass opposition to the BJP. While they posture as defenders of secularism, all have a history of conniving with the Hindu right and have implemented the bourgeoisies agendathe transformation of India into a cheap-labour haven for global capital and the forging of an anti-China global strategic partnership with US imperialism.

The main Stalinist parliamentary partiesthe Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM and the Communist Party of India (CPI)are playing a particularly pernicious role. They are working to chain the mass opposition to the BJP governments Hindu supremacist measures to the secular Congress and other rightwing bourgeois parties. They are also urging working people to oppose the BJP through the putrefying institutions of the capitalist state, like the Supreme Court, that have green-lighted sweeping attacks on worker and democratic rights, including the BJPs August 2019 constitutional coup against Kashmir and its violent campaign for the building of a Hindu temple on the site of the razed Babri Masjid (mosque) in Ayodhya.

To fight against the Modi government and communal reaction, the Indian working class must consciously repudiate the politics of the Stalinist parties and their union affiliates, which in the name of opposing the BJP have suppressed the class struggle, including by supporting a succession of rightwing Congress-led governments. As the WSWS explained in its December 21 Perspective, The struggle against communal reaction must be animated by a socialist internationalist perspective. . .

It requires the intensification of class struggle. The working class must forge its political independence in opposition to the bourgeoisie and all its political representatives, and rally the rural poor and oppressed masses behind it in the struggle for a workers and peasants government, as part of the development of an international working-class offensive against world capitalism and imperialist war.

This author also recommends:

The Indian general strike and the global fight against communalism and war

[11 January 2020]

The fight against communal reaction in India is the fight for socialism

[21 December 2019]
Attorney Jerry Liu Jerry brings a unique mix of elite technical, strategy, and litigation skill to our team.

Atlanta-based law firm Hill, Kertscher & Wharton, LLP recently announced that attorney Jerry C. Liu has joined the firm as a partner.

Liu brings over 20 years of experience to the firms intellectual property and litigation practices. He obtained his Bachelor and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering from Georgia Tech, and is a named inventor on over 20 patents. In addition to his technical background, Lius blend of outside counsel and in-house experience provides breadth in patent prosecution (procurement), litigation, patent strategy, and client counseling. Prior to joining Hill, Kertscher & Wharton, Liu was a partner at Amin, Turocy & Watson, where he prosecuted patents for Fortune 500 companies. As Senior Counsel for ARRIS (now CommScope), and as an associate at Eversheds Sutherland, he engaged in all aspects of litigation and litigation management. Liu also served as a Director of Patent Development for AT&T, where he managed and developed 1,000+ patent assets for AT&T in multiple technologies. Additionally, he taught for 17 years as an adjunct professor at Georgia Tech. Liu has provided service to business leaders, engineers, and R&D personnel at companies of all stages, from early stage start-ups to large companies.

Steve Hill, co-founding partner at Hill, Kertscher & Wharton, LLP, believes that Lius addition will allow the firms clients to benefit from his deep understanding of leading-edge electrical engineering and computer science technologies as they map out patent-related strategies. Jerry brings a unique mix of elite technical, strategy and litigation skill to our team. Were excited at how his addition fits with our nationally-recognized patent litigation and post-grant review/IPR practices.

Liu believes that his prior positions have prepared him well, and is looking forward to practicing with attorneys he has known and respected for many years, including re-uniting him with John North, with whom he practiced at Eversheds Sutherland.

Im extremely excited to be joining HKW, and Im looking forward to serving the needs of clients big and small, at a firm that can provide attention and excellence for our clients on a variety of levels, said Liu.

About Hill, Kertscher & Wharton, LLP: Nationally recognized for its work on behalf of businesses and individuals, HKWs litigation, corporate, employment, and intellectual property attorneys provide top tier legal representation to clients in the United States and abroad. The firm is AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell and specializes in both trial and corporate work. This year, Hill, Kertscher & Wharton, LLP will celebrate its 16th year of providing successful results and unmatched personal service to clients.
The Electoral Commissions Eminent Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet the Commission and the Inter Party Advisory Committee made up of the various political parties.

A statement issued by the EC on January 24, 2020, and signed by its Acting Director of Public Affairs, Sylvia Annoh, said the meeting will seek to engage with the Inter Party Advisory Committee on the Electoral Commissions plan to compile a new Voters register ahead of the 2020 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

It stated that the meeting will be held on Thursday, January 30, 2020.

The opposition National Democratic Congress which is a member of the Inter Party Advisory Committee has been kicking against the move to compile a new register.

Daily Guide
Tuberculosis, often referred to as TB is one of the most dangerous diseases that's not just easy to spread but also takes a long time to get detected. As per WHO, India tops the number of patients suffering from TB -- around 26.9 lakhs in the year 2018.

Economic Times

The conventional screening process involves the sputum test which asks for the patient to provide a sample of their phlegm that is then tested for hours to come to figure out if he/she is affected by TB or not.



However, now, the IIT Calcutta Alumni team has created an app that defects TB with the help of artificial intelligence and machine learning.

The app is called Timbre (developed my medtech company Docturnal) and it detects TB in a patient with the help of a cough audio recording.

According to Rahul Pathri, a biotechnologist by profession and founder of Docturnal, "It uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to make the cough interpretation. It is easy, non-invasive, affordable and an easily accessible procedure for TB diagnosis."

A doctor or medical practitioner records the audio of cough of the patient through a series of microphones. This audio is loaded on the app along with other necessary information like cough pattern, when it started, age, previous medical history etc.

Economic Times

After adding relevant data machine learning runs its sorcery and gives out final results. The machine learning algorithm is trained with a data set of over 7000 cough recordings to generate accurate results.



According to Pathri, When we cross-validated our solution with existing solutions, we found an accuracy of 85 percent. Once the patient is detected TB positive, he/she will be referred to medical experts, partner physicians and diagnostic centres.



He further added, "TimBres applications is not only limited for TB screening but can classify the cough into other ailments as well, such as bronchitis, pneumothorax, smokers cough, etc. The algorithm contains an entire spectrum of lung-based diseases.

TimBre is in currently deployed as a pilot project in a few chest hospitals in Hyderabad. Docturnals clinical trials are going on at Narayana Hrudayala in Bangalore.

With inputs from ET


The Delhi High Court Friday granted relief to the students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) allowing them to register in the next semester as per the old hostel manual within one week.

"So far as the remaining students are concerned, they need to register within one week as per the old manual. No late fees will be charged from them too," says Justice Rajiv Shakdar.

Reuters

The court will now hear the matter on February 28.

The court was hearing a plea filed by JNUSU President Aishe Ghose and others seeking direction of the court to restrain the JNU administration from imposing late fees on students for registrations in the Winter Semester-2020.

ALSO READ: Faking To Be ABVP Member, Hiding Behind Bus Stop: How Students & Protesters Escaped JNU Attack

The plea also sought directions to the university to restrain them from taking any action, which would give effect to the draft hostel manual.

On January 20, three days after the deadline for registration for the winter semester in University, the administration had claimed that 82 per cent of the total 8,500 enrolled students had cleared their hostel dues.

BCCL

The administration added that it was hoping for the number to go up further as the registration was still open, but with the late fees.

"Out of 8,500 students at JNU, 82 per cent of students have cleared their hostel dues for the winter registration as on Monday," a statement by the JNU administration said.

On January 16, the JNU had extended the last date of student registrations for the winter semester to January 17. The extension was announced for the third time since the original deadline of January 5.

ALSO READ: #JNUProtests: Deepika Reaches JNU Sabarmati T-point, Expresses Solidarity With Students
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Health department officials are screening all passengers who arrive at the airport here from China and there is no need to panic about Coronavirus, said Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar on Thursday. Speaking to reporters after inaugurating the Yoga Naturopathy and Lifestyle Clinic at Government Medical College, Omandurar Estate, built at a cost of `80 lakh and the Entrance Arch at the college, built at a cost of Rs 30 lakh, he said like Nipah and Ebola, officials were taking all preventive measures with regard to Coronavirus too.

On the recent child kidnap from Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, he said already CCTV cameras had been installed in the hospital and their number will be increased. All steps are being taken to prevent such incidents. Meanwhile, doctors said the Yoga Naturopathy and Lifestyle Clinic will provide mud bath and steam bath therapies, oil massage and other treatments as is being done in Government Yoga and Naturopathy College at Arignar Anna Institute of Indian Medicine, Arumbakkam.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 24)  The five-year-old Chinese boy from Wuhan, China under close watch of health authorities has tested negative for the novel coronavirus, the Department of Health confirmed Friday.

The agency said it received sample tests results from the Victorian Infectious Disease Reference Laboratory in Melbourne, Australia.

"[Samples] from the child suspected of being infected with the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) tested negative for the said virus," DOH said in a statement.

The boy traveled with his mother from Wuhan to Cebu City on January 12. He was admitted for investigation after he was found to have shown pneumonia-like symptoms such as fever, cough and throat irritation.

The boy earlier tested positive for the pancoronavirus. Pancoronavirus screening is a test to determine if a person has contracted a coronavirus strain.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque welcomed the test results.

This is indeed very welcome news to ease the Filipinos growing concern. I assure everyone that your Department of Health will not stop here and is on top of this emerging health event," he said.

The novel coronavirus has already killed 26 people and left 800 others ill in China. Health officials are also monitoring another suspected case of a 36-year-old American man in Tacloban.

DOH recommended all tourists who have gone to Wuhan and who show symptoms of fever and cough, to immediately seek medical attention. Domingo also suggested to temporarily suspend travel plans to China because of the outbreak.
The country has kicked off a nationwide fight against the spread of the novel coronavirus.



In the early hours of Thursday, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology allocated 10,000 protective suits and 50,000 gloves from the central medical reserve to Wuhan, Hubei province, where the coronavirus broke out, the ministry said during an emergency meeting on Thursday.

Wang Jiangping, deputy head of the ministry, asked relevant manufacturers to overcome all difficulties to resume production amid the Spring Festival holidays. All authorities and businesses must meet the demand for disease control equipment from Hubei province, 21jingji.com quoted him as saying during the meeting on Thursday.

Also on Thursday, Wang held a meeting with e-commerce giants including JD and Alibaba, asking them to provide sufficient supplies of masks and sanitizers online. The ministry will help to solve the problem of raw material shortages and logistic problems during the production and distribution of those products, Wang said.

The State Post Bureau of China has launched an emergency response mechanism to ensure that postal and courier services in high demand during the Spring Festival holidays won't be affected by the coronavirus. Furthermore, it has drafted a plan to stop hazardous packages being sent from Hubei province, where the pneumonia broke out, the bureau said in a statement on Wednesday.

The bureau has also urged postal and courier workers to take precautions during delivery and have their health monitored. Their workplaces must be kept ventilated and sanitized, the statement added.

More regions outside Wuhan have strengthened efforts to control the situation.

The city of Beijing has asked medical institutions to conduct supervision and inspection checks and opened more training for medical staff in targeted knowledge and services. It released a list of 89 medical institutions with fever clinics and guidelines for related patients. It also strengthened regulations for gathering activities during the Spring Festival.

Shanghai stopped buses traveling to Hubei province on Thursday and strengthened temperature detection for people at over 140 highway toll stations entering the city. Detection centers at airports, railway stations and inter-city bus stations are in operation.

Hubei province started prevention and control from the community and villages' level, to learn about the health condition of all residents and visitors, according to the local government.

Each region in the province needs to have at least one designated hospital, with increased preparations of beds, equipment, facilities and drugs, to make sure patients get timely treatment.

In addition, more regions in China have been strengthening cleaning and disinfection in farmers markets and public spaces, and banning the breeding, processing and trading of wild animals.

Hu Cuijuan, 28, who works for a real estate company in Wuhan, just returned home to a small city in Hebei province. She said she underwent temperature detection at railway stations in Wuhan and her hometown.

Producers of all the seven big films once aiming for the lucrative Spring Festival holiday also announced they were canceling scheduled screenings on Thursday.

Those withdrawn films include the presale champion Detective Chinatown 3, which once saw its presale receipts up more than 250 million yuan ($36.1 million), and Leap, a highly anticipated film that chronicles the striving of China's national women's volleyball team from 1981 to 2016.

Statements released by the producers mostly said that the decisions were made in consideration of the risk of spreading disease in confined spaces and they will choose later dates to release the films.
Workers in protective suits check the temperature of a passenger arriving at the Xianning North Station on the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations, in Xianning, a city bordering Wuhan to the north, in Hubei province, China January 24, 2020. REUTERS/Martin Pollard

SINGAPORE  There are 35 Singaporeans currently in Wuhan city who have either e-registered or contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), the MFA said in a statement on Saturday (25 January), amid the rising number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in China and across the world.

The Singapore embassy in Beijing and the Consulates General in China are closely monitoring the novel coronavirus situation in China, the MFA said.

All Singaporeans who are currently in China are advised to e-register with MFA so that the ministry can provide timely information and render consular assistance if necessary.

Similar to recent travel advisories issued by Singapores authorities, the MFA advised Singaporeans to avoid all travel to Hubei province.

The death toll from the Wuhan coronavirus has risen to 26 and the number of confirmed cases topped 800, most of them in Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei.

The city has since been placed on an unprecedented lockdown on Thursday, along with two others, Huanggang and Ezhou, in Hubei.

Outside of mainland China, there are 10 countries and territories with reported cases of the coronavirus, including as far as the US. Nepal became the latest country to announce a confirmed case on Friday.

Singapore on Friday confirmed its second and third cases of the coronavirus, following its first confirmed case on Thursday.

Singaporeans are advised to regularly check MOHs website (www.moh.gov.sg) for the latest updates on the Public Health Travel Advisory on the novel coronavirus in China. They are also advised to check the PRC National Health Commission (www.nhc.gov.cn) and the World Health Organisation (www.who.int) websites for related updates.

Singaporeans who need consular assistance may contact the Singapore Embassy in Beijing, the Consulates-General in China, or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Duty Office at:

Singapore Embassy in Beijing

Tel: +86-(10) 65321115 / +86 1391 0755 251

Email: singemb_bej@mfa.sg

Story continues

Singapore Consulate-General in Chengdu

Tel: +86-(28) 86527222 / +86 1390 8073 562

Email: singcg_cgu@mfa.sg

Singapore Consulate-General in Guangzhou

Tel: +86-(20) 38912345 / +86 1392 2296 253

Email: singcg_gzu@mfa.sg

Singapore Consulate-General in Shanghai

Tel: +86-(21) 62785566/ +86 1380 1949 439

Email: singcg_sha@mfa.sg

Singapore Consulate-General in Xiamen

Tel: +86 592-268 4691/ +86 1390 6029 002

Email: singcg_xmn@mfa.sg

Singapore Consulate-General in Hong Kong

Tel: +852 2527 2212/+852-9466-1251

Email: singcg_hkg@mfa.sg

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Duty Office (24-hours)

Tel: +65 6379 8800/8855

Email: mfa_duty_officer@mfa.gov.sg

Related stories

Wuhan coronavirus outbreak: Singapore confirms 2 more cases

Nepal confirms first case of new coronavirus

'End of the world': Wuhan residents react to quarantine
China has deployed its military medics to help to contain the coronavirus outbreak, which claimed 26 lives so far and led to the isolation of millions of people in the country, state media reported on Friday.

As many as 40 military medical officers have already started work in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital.

The central military command has ordered medical staff to help civilian doctors and nurses, the state-run China Central Television (CCTV) reported.

The decision to deploy military doctors also comes in the backdrop of a growing apprehension among doctors and medical staff over the threat posed by the virus to their lives as during the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) crisis in 2003, medical staff suffered major casualties.

The death toll in China's deadly coronavirus has climbed to 26 with confirmed cases rising sharply to 881 in the country.

With the virus spreading fast in the country and the world, China has locked down 13 cities, including Wuhan, suspending all public transport in an unprecedented move to contain the coronavirus, dampening the celebrations of the Lunar New Year.

Chinese and American researchers are working together to develop a vaccine against the deadly new strain of coronavirus, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.

The collaboration is taking place amid a growing international debate about whether it came from snakes or bats.

At present, there is no cure for the virus which has pneumonia-like symptoms and is contagious among humans.

Experts from the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, the University of Texas, the non-profit New York Blood Centre and Fudan University in Shanghai are collaborating on the project, Peter Hotez, dean of Baylor College's National School of Tropical Medicine told state agency Xinhua.

"(Vaccine) development is not a fast process, and it's not clear whether we would have a vaccine ready to use before this current epidemic ends," Hotez said.

Officials have told hospitals to quarantine any suspected patients and their close contacts.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Thursday stopped short of declaring the virus a global public health emergency, despite China's climbing death toll.

The virus had spread to Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and the United States.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Alliance News) - Shefa Gems Ltd on Friday said it has inked a EUR200,000 convertible loan agreement with an undisclosed investor to help fund development of the Kishon Mid-Reach project in northern Israel.

Shares in Israel-headquartered Shefa were up 16% at 3.78 pence in London in afternoon trading.

The lender is to provide precious stones miner Shefa with a EUR200,000 loan which, together with rolled up interest at 5%, can be converted into Shefa shares at a price of 5 pence per share.

The non-transferable loan will be provided in two equal tranches of EUR100,000, with the first due immediately and the second once Shefa receives a certificate of discovery from the inspector of mines.

With a repayment date of January 19, 2022, the loan also has a personal guarantee given by Shefa Chief Financial Officer David Ben David.

Once the second drawdown takes place, the lender will be issued with 3.4 million new Shefa shares as security on the loan, with the intention being that Shefa repurchases the shares within 24 months at 5p each in full repayment of the loan.

Should the undisclosed lender opt to keep the shares, Shefa will grant one unlisted warrant per share exercisable for a 24 month period from the date the lender elects to do so. These have an exercise price of 10p per warrant.

However, if the lender decides to sell any of the 3.4 million shares issued to it, Shefa will no longer be obliged to repurchase them.

Shefa Chair Michael Rosenberg said: "I am delighted to welcome this new investor in Shefa Gems who shares our belief and enthusiasm in this unique precious gems mining opportunity in the Kishon Mid Reach, northern Israel."

By Anna Farley; annafarley@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2020 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Gun rights advocates take part in a rally at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond on Jan. 20, 2020. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times)

Virginia Senate Passes Red Flag Law Following Gun Rights Rally

Virginias state Senate passed a red flag bill days after a massive gun rights rally opposing the legislation drew at least 22,000 Second Amendment advocates from across the country. Gun rights groups decried the move.

The legislation, SB 240, passed on Jan. 22 by a thin 2119 margin and will head to the states House of Delegates where its also expected to pass. The bill will have to be approved by the House and signed by Gov. Ralph Northam to become law.

The bill, once signed into law, allows authorities to apply to certain courts for an emergency substantial risk order to prohibit a person who poses a substantial risk of injury to himself or others from purchasing, possessing, or transporting a firearm.

Democrats recently won control of both chambers of the state legislature and have vowed to enact stronger gun control policies. They believe that stricter legislation will help reduce shootings and deaths. Northam has indicated previously that he would sign such legislation into law.

According to Dudley Brown, president of the National Association for Gun Rights, red flag laws allow the theft of personal property from law-abiding citizens who have committed no crime.

It is an unconstitutional pre-crime program like you would expect to see in some communist backwater nation, Brown told The Epoch Times via email.

Second Amendment advocates and gun rights supporters at the rally told The Epoch Times that the proposals passing through the General Assembly violate their constitutional rights.

Last week, the Virginia Senate passed a slew of gun control bills, including measures to require background checks on all firearms sales, limit handgun purchases to one per month, and restore local government powers to ban weapons from public buildings and other venues.

NRA spokesperson Catherine Mortensen told The Epoch Times the red flag bill fails to address mental health concerns for individuals and falls far short on due process.

It also creates numerous false flag opportunities for law enforcement, she said.

Following the Jan. 20 rally, Northam issued a statement saying he would continue to listen to the voices of Virginians. Meanwhile, a Change.org petition has garnered more than 68,000 signatures calling for the impeachment of Northam.

Thousands of people came to Richmond to make their voices heard. Today showed that when people disagree, they can do so peacefully, Northam said. The issues before us evoke strong emotions, and progress is often difficult.

Northam and other Democratic lawmakers in the state have credited their focus on gun control for helping them win full control of the General Assembly for the first time in more than two decades, according to The Associated Press.

The way this works is we make laws and theyre reviewed by judges to determine their constitutionality. In many cases, bills very similar to this have been ruled constitutional, Matt Rogers, chief of staff to Sen. David W. Marsden (D-Fairfax) told The Epoch Times via email.

Jake Rubenstein, spokesman for Virginia House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn (D), told CNN that the House would deliver for voters who support gun control measures.

Virginians spoke loud and clear on Election Day demanding common-sense gun violence protections, and make no mistake, we will deliver on that mandate, Rubenstein said.

There was a heavy police presence at the gun rights rally, and, overhead, security watched from rooftops on nearby buildings and on the Capitol itself. There was only one entrance and a number of security checkpoints to get onto the Capitol grounds.

The mood, however, was upbeat, and authorities said there were no arrests or injuries reported as of 1:40 p.m, with most people having left by that time.

I think [gun control bills] are too radical, Gwen Wells, who identifies as a liberal, told The Epoch Times after the rally.

I think when you have too many extremes from one side or the other, you just alienate the people you need to work with to accomplish real change, she said. I think the powers in the people, all the people who are represented by the entire constitution.

If I want my constitutional right to be protected, then I need to help other people keep their constitutional rights protected.

The rally, also known as Lobby Day, is organized annually by the Virginia Citizens Defense League, a nonprofit grassroots organization whose goal is to advance the right to keep and bear arms.
Conquest, acting through the Conquest Sustainable Infrastructure fund, announced the transaction was closed after an exclusive agreement had been reached with ENGIE Electrabel. Conquest acquires 51% of a portfolio expected to provide 111 GWh per annum of renewable power representing the annual electricity consumption of about 32,000 Belgian homes from early 2021 onwards. The projects benefit from 15 to 20-year green certificates local remuneration schemes, and thus generate yearly secured revenues.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005221/en/

Credit: Electrabel

While the energy and digital transitions continue to drive the infrastructure sector, Conquest keeps building its diversified sustainable real asset portfolio in Western European markets. The success lies in years of collaboration and long-lasting partnerships with fellow industry experts who can notably facilitate access to new growth opportunities.

These investments are in line with the fund's strategy to invest into risk-adjusted portfolios across Europe. While the role of government bonds as portfolio ballast has come under scrutiny as the pool of sovereign bonds with negative yields burgeons a particularly thorny challenge for institutions like insurers and pension funds that have liability-matching needs, the resilience stemming from such yielding, stable and predictable cash flows is very attractive.

About Conquest

As an alternative asset management firm, Conquest invests in and operates long-life, high quality assets and businesses on behalf of its clients, which range from large pension funds to single-family offices. The firm provides global commerce with critical infrastructure and drives tomorrow's economy with sustainable power. It has a team of 15 professionals, 250 million worth of assets under management, and 17 investments across Western Europe.

www.conquest.group

About ENGIE Electrabel

Electrabel, subsidiary of the ENGIE group, is the biggest energy company of Belgium. It is active in power production, power and natural gas sales and energy related services. The company supplies innovative, value creating and tailor-made energy solutions to its 2.7 mios residential, business and industrial customers. Electrabel operates locally a diversified power production fleet with an installed capacity of 9700 MW. It is comprised of renewable energy sources, classical production units and nuclear power plants. The CO2 emission of its production park is one of the lowest in Europe. Additionally, Electrabel is the biggest green power producer of Belgium with an installed capacity of 721 MW.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005221/en/

Contacts:

PRESS

CONQUEST

Frederic Palanque Managing Director

press@conquest.group
By Trend

Azerbaijan is the first country to ensure full digitalization of all state programs, strategic road maps and monitoring processes, Executive Director of the Center for Economic Reforms Analysis and Communication Vusal Gasimli said at a business meeting of the Azerbaijan-France Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Trend reports.

Vusal Gasimli noted that each new reform in the country requires conducting new monitoring, which, in turn, allows to create a large database, and digitalization of these processes is an undoubted step forward.

A business meeting of the Azerbaijan-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry is being held in Baku on Jan. 24.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Controversial Nollywood actor, Uche Maduagwu has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to remove subsidy on petrol and introduce it on menstrual pads for women.

Read Also: What A Crying Shame: Fani-Kayode Reacts To Photo Of Joshua Prostrating Before Buhari

He made this known via a post on his official Instagram page on Friday, 24th January.

The poverty in Nigeria is too much, girls and women should pay less to getting menstrual pads The cost of menstrual pad in Nigeria remains the highest in west #Africa, why? If you go to #Ghana or any other west African #country, you will be shocked to know that #Naija women pay more for menstrual pads. How can something that used to go for 200 Naira or less, is now getting to 500 Naira in some part of #Lagos and #Abuja, this is wrong, i am the only popular #actor in #Nigeria that has ever gotten the attention of @chrissyteigen in #Hollywood, and on behalf of the association of responsible #boyfriends and concerned brothers in Naija, i call on President #Buhari to put subsidy on menstrual pads for women because so many #girls in the #rural areas of Nigeria whose parent are poor can not afford it.
Ominique Garner posed a question to the Cannabis Control Commission: What does priority mean?

For the last month, its a question that has surrounded the agencys meetings, as some economic empowerment applicants started to demand answers about why it was taking so long to receive a provisional license.

If black and brown people are not moving forward and [economic empowerment applicants] are not moving forward then we really need to pause and reevaluate the system," Garner said during an applicant forum, admitting with a shaky voice that she was nervous to talk in front of the commission. We really need support. Municipalities have too much control and we dont really have any support from you guys when were dealing with these municipalities.

If you guys could come and sit and talk to us individual EE businesses and support us as were trying to deal with these municipalities that would be so helpful," she added.

Its suggestions like Garners that the commission sought out with Thursdays forum. The forum was scheduled as a result of meeting interruptions by Leah Daniels, who is trying to open the retail store, Alchemy League, in Holyoke. Daniels and other applicants demanded more transparency from the commission and highlighted delays and some confusion about their status in the application process during the disruptions.

The economic empowerment program was created to offer prioritized review and licensing for applicants in communities disproportionately impacted by high rates of incarceration and arrests for marijuana offenses. Theres also the social equity program, for applicants who represent communities of disproportionate impact by the war on drugs, which offers training and technical assistance from the commission.

More than 60 people signed up ahead of time to speak at Thursdays forum. Because of the large volume, Commission Chairman Steven Hoffman told applicants theyd only have three minutes to speak instead of five. Some applicants were visibly frustrated with the limit, but the commission encouraged everyone in the room to email any comments that did not make it into the discussion.

When it was Morriss Partees turn, he stood in front of the commission with a sign: 6 months, 15 days.

Thats how long its been since the commission has reviewed new social equity applications.

Unfortunately, I found out later in December that the commission had entirely stopped reviewing new social equity applicants 6 months ago, said Partee, a social equity applicant. You promised expedited review but how can you get expedited review if the application is not even reviewed.

I think we heard the pain that people are feeling, said Hoffman right before adjourning the meeting, adding that this conversation was not a one-time thing.

The meeting indicated that some applicants were not aware that there was a precertification option. After approving home delivery and social consumption licenses -- which are only available to economic empowerment and social equity applicants for the first two years -- the commission offered a precertification which would give the applicant a background check and a chance to be vetted by the commission before they go to a city or town for a host community agreement.

I feel like once I was vetted and approved as an economic empowerment applicant thats all the qualifications that were needed, said Enid Pope.

Pope knew about the precertification but said she did not receive a definitive notification about the outcome of that initiative.

A number of applicants said when they provided more information at the request of the commission, it took a month to hear back. Applicants also said their applications were reviewed by different staff members of the Cannabis Control Commission through the process, creating a discontinuity in the process.

Caroline Pineau of Haverhill Stem told the commission that she had a fairly straightforward question about her economic empowerment application but that she was not able to connect by phone with a live person. She asked if the commission could designate a staffer to handle questions from economic empowerment applicants.

Several applicants told the board that their bank accounts are being sucked dry as they retain property while their applications remain in the review process. Another issue among applicants was the prioritization of registered marijuana dispensaries, or RMDs.

Averyl Andrade of Between The Rows LLC told the commission she believes priority should only be given to established medical facilities that are currently serving patients.

Andrade offered a suggestion: immediately implement a one-to-one ratio of prioritized applicants to general applicants. She said the commission should establish agents who can review prioritized and economic empowerment applications and meet with applicants face-to-face.

"We are not just numbers on papers. We are real, actual people, she said.

The location of cannabis meetings is another issue, said Andrade, noting that many of the communities that were deemed disproportionately affected by the war on drugs are south of Boston.

Many people on the south coast and Cape cannot make it all the way out to Boston and Worcester, she said. "We need help and we need to be heard.

In between the criticisms and suggestions, there were applicants who thanked the commission for its work.

Moving forward, the commission plans to create a frequently asked questions document. The commission will also structure some roundtable conversations on specific topics to give applicants more information.

The commission will also go through a regulatory round next month, Hoffman said. One issue in that round will be to go over what the commission can do through regulations and process changes to address issues brought up during the forum.

The input we got from this meeting today is incredibly important, Hoffman said following the forum. Weve heard these issues, weve talked to people. I think the thing that was different about today is we got far more tangible suggestions ... so many people were focused on solutions rather than just talking about the problems.

Hoffman said the commission needs to contemplate process changes, especially around communication.

Already, the commission has taken some steps, including fee waivers for economic empowerment applicants, precertification for social consumption and delivery, more visibility for applicants on the status of their application and adding three additional team members to the licensing staff to try and build up its operation.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohios Rep. Jim Jordan is officially a member of President Trumps Impeachment trial defense team, and unofficially, the court jester. Ohios U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman are Impeachment trial jurors. But Ohios biggest and most high profile presence in the historic proceedings may be the historic Ohio Clock,' a U.S. Senate landmark that stands across from the chambers main entrance.

The 11 foot mahogany tall case clock, built in 1815, has been shown daily in news coverage of the Impeachment trial proceedings because of its location in the U.S. Capitol corridor leading to the Senate chambers. The corridor is actually identified as the OCC for Ohio Clock Corridor.

In 1816, Sen David Dagget of Connecticut, ordered the clock to be built from Thomas Voight of Philadelphia. When the order was placed, the Capitol was under construction after the old brick Congressional building was burned by the British during the War of 1812. It was in 1859 when the clock was moved to its present location upon the U.S. Senate moving into the Capitol extension.

The clock was shipped to Boston in 2010 for conservation work. It did stop ticking in 2013, but only because the Congressional staffers who kept its time were furloughed during a government shutdown.

Why the Philadelphia-made clock ordered by a Connecticut Senator is called the Ohio Clock has been lost to history. At one time, the belief was the clock had been named for Ohio to mark it becoming the 17th state, since the case shield has 17 stars on it. But Louisiana was actually the newest state before the clock was built.

Senator Rob Portmans name has come up several times during the Impeachment trial, both in the reporting coverage and in the House managers opening arguments.

Portman was one of the Senators credited with getting Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to revise his trial rules allowing for 3 days of opening arguments, instead of two. Reportedly the bargain Portman and the other Senators made was to not support any of the amendments Senator Charles Schumer introduced. Had Portman and the others not pushed for the evisions, all the trial sessions would have stretched into the early morning hours as the first had, ending at 1:51 am.

During opening argument sessions, Portmans name has also been mentioned more than once, in a positive light, referencing sound measures he had supported with other Senators.

Senator Sherrod Brown in interviews has found Sen Mitch McConnell guilty of cover-up and orchestrating a rigged sham trial.

Folklore also has it that the clock case served as Senators whiskey storage during prohibition. During the Impeachment trial, it wouldnt be surprising if its still storing whiskey along with coffee and nodoz.
Bold & The Beautiful rebroadcast 1:37 a.m. CBS interrupted daytime shows for impeachment trial coverage

"I voted for Trump but this is ridiculous. If this B.S. is going to be on EVERY station all day long. Then you can have him! It's not worth it. Tired of this nonsense on air all day long. It doesn't make sense to pay for so many channels but half of them are covering the exact same thing. What's next? Instead of the Super Bowl, we'll have to watch another impeachment special?

"No thank you!"

Senators Tune Out

Fidget Spinners, Pacing, Note-Taking: Staying Awake In The Senate Chamber Around dinnertime on Tuesday, just about four hours into the impeachment trial of President Trump, Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, did not look enthralled by House Democrats' presentations. In fact, he looked the opposite. Eyes closed, he was slumped over and appeared to be snoozing. Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Sen.

Note On Motives

'Bogus' Ukraine theory led to Trump's abuse, Dems tell trial WASHINGTON (AP) - Democratic House prosecutors made an expansive case Thursday at Donald Trump's impeachment trial that he abused power like no other president in history, swept up by a "completely bogus" Ukraine theory pushed by attorney Rudy Giuliani.

Content Is King

GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz praised Democrats' impeachment presentation and skewered Trump's defense as looking like 'an 8th-grade book report' Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, one of President Donald Trump's most vocal congressional allies, praised House Democrats for the way they presented the case against Trump in his impeachment trial. The Democrats made their case to the public as if it were "cable news," Gaetz told Politico, commending their use of multimedia during the trial.

Twitter Protects Constitution???

Opinion | Trump's Best Impeachment Lawyer Is Trump Following the maxims laid down by his attorney and mentor, the late Roy Cohn, he's brushed aside the truth, he's brushed aside the letter of the law, he's refused to apologize, and he's launched counterattack after counterattack. "Where's my Roy Cohn?" Trump bellowed early in his presidency when Attorney General Jeff Sessions failed to protect him from his enemies.

Rampant Political Abuse

Pa. man chokes girlfriend after getting 'upset' while watching Trump impeachment trial A man who had been watching the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on Tuesday allegedly choked and punched his girlfriend in a Pennsylvania motel room when she wanted to watch something else, according to charging documents. Lonnie D. Clark, 53, who lives at the northern York County motel, faces charges of strangulation, simple assault and harassment.

D.C. Distracted

Fidget spinners, sketching, books: How senators entertain themselves during impeachment trial MSNBC Capitol Hill correspondent Garrett Haake gives an inside look at how senators are entertaining themselves on the Senate floor during the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. Several are using fidget spinners, Sen. Rand Paul is working on sketching a "very nice picture of the U.S. Capitol," and Sen.

NextGen Casts Judgement

Americans under the age of 30 support removing Trump from office by a nearly 3-to-1 ratio New data from Insider SurveyMonkey Audience polling shows that Americans under 30 support Trump's removal from office by a larger margin than any other age group. Among Americans aged 18-29, 63% said Trump should be removed from office, compared to 24% who think he shouldn't be and 13% who didn't know.

We'll have to wait for official numbers but for now we're getting a bunch of notes fromupset about their daytime programming interrupted.For those who want to watch or listen in . . .Here's the funniest note sent our way given that the rest of them were laced with far too much profanity to share . . .Sadly, this blog and 99% of the nation is powerless to do anything about the impeachment hysteria and so we share some informative news links from "many sides" to provide some additional perspective:Developing . . .
AIRMONT, N.Y., Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- United States District Court Judge Vincent Briccetti has released his opinion allowing a lawsuit filed by First Liberty Institute and Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP on behalf of an Orthodox Jewish school, Central UTA of Monsey, against the Village of Airmont, NY and the Suffern Central School District to move forward.



Our clients are thrilled that they will get their day in court, said Keisha Russell, Counsel for First Liberty Institute. We are pleased that the judge dismissed the effort by both the Village of Airmont and the Suffern School District to avoid accountability for their discriminatory actions.

In denying motions to dismiss the lawsuit, Judge Briccetti concluded that Central UTAs claims that both the Suffern Central School District and the Village of Airmont violated federal law can move forward to trial. The judge is also allowing claims of conspiracy to move forward.

The lawsuit , filed in November 2018, alleges that government officials in the Village of Airmont, New York and the Suffern Central School District engaged in a deliberate effort to dissuade Orthodox Jewish residents from staying in or moving to the Village of Airmont. Central UTA owns 21 acres of property within the Village of Airmont that for nearly 20 years served as both a childrens school and day camp. The Village granted multiple approvals for the private, non-Orthodox school to operate. However, since Central UTA purchased the property in 2016 and advised the Village of its plans to build new buildings, Village officials have repeatedly used discriminatory zoning tactics to prevent Central UTA from operating.

In a similar effort, the local school district, Suffern Central, denied Central UTA children transportation and special education services even though it provided these same services to the previous school.

The judges opinion can be viewed here .

A separate lawsuit against the Village of Airmont for religious discrimination against Orthodox Jewish residents is still pending.

About First Liberty Institute

First Liberty Institute is the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans.

To arrange an interview, contact Lacey McNiel at media@firstliberty.org or by calling 972-941-4453.
VANCOUVERMaybe its just a cold, mused a man Tuesday on his WeChat channel in a post about having a cough and fever after returning to North Vancouver from Wuhan, China, the centre of a coronavirus outbreak.

In the Jan. 21 post on the wildly popular Chinese social media platform, he urged people who know him and had contact with him to take precautions in case he actually was infected.

That was all the internet needed.

Soon, Chinese-language WeChat channels based in Canada were splashing around alarming headlines reporting that there was now a possible case of the virus in Vancouver.

On Thursday, the poster, whose name has been blanked out of his social media posts, gave an update saying hed been to the hospital and did not have coronavirus. He also chastised WeChat channels for creating hysteria by playing up his post.

It drew great panic among Chinese residents in the Great Van Area, he wrote, and led to stores being sold out of face masks. It really bothers me.

Its not an isolated incident. Thursday afternoon another WeChat rumour claimed that a woman with a coronavirus had escaped Wuhan, currently under quarantine due to the virus, and was making her way to Toronto. In her post, the woman said she was able to move up her flight to catch an earlier one out of Wuhan and would be in Toronto the next day. The post gave no indication that the woman felt ill.

WeChat channels again mobilized, with one headline reading: Breaking! A suspected patient from Wuhan flying to Toronto after the city lockdown? Canada health authority reminds Ontario of the risk of the new virus.

The incidents show a need for government communication strategies in languages other than English at times of heightened fears of public health issues, according to Kevin Huang, the executive director of the Hua Foundation, an organization that works to bridge gaps between Chinese and non-Chinese communities.

One place where such a gap exists is people who dont have a strong grasp of English being able to get credible information in their own language, Huang said.

In this case, he said, because the virus originated in China, governments in Canada should ensure Chinese communities get solid information in Chinese languages.

There is an onus, I think, in responsibility for health authorities locally and government locally to reach the communities that are probably travelling, have families (there) and things like that and even reside here and may not have full capture of English language ability, Huang said.

Canadian cities, particularly Vancouver and Toronto, are quite diverse, which makes it imperative to get accurate information out in multiple languages at times of public health concern, he said.

According to Canadas 2016 census, out of Metro Vancouvers 2.4 million people, 620,000 speak a language other than English or French most often at home. Of the Greater Toronto Areas nearly six million residents, about 1.4 million spoke a language other than English or French at home.

So far, the B.C. Ministry of Health has released a statement underlining that no cases have been found in Canada and outlining steps the government is taking to monitor for signs of the virus. Ontarios Ministry of Health released a statement Wednesday detailing new reporting requirements for doctors in the province and noting there had been no confirmed cases in Ontario. Health Canada held a press conference Thursday afternoon in Ottawa to update the media on the situation.

Canadian health officials have said several people in Canada were being monitored for signs of a coronavirus, but again reiterated that there had been no confirmed cases in the country. At least 17 people have died in China and another 500 people have been infected, with cases popping up in other countries as well.

Government communications about coronavirus appeared to be in English only. The B.C. Ministry of Health did not say whether it would craft releases in Chinese going forward.

Huang said he isnt suggesting governments put out releases in every language, but what portion of the population speaks a language and if an emergency or health concerns affects the community speaking it should be used to decide what languages in which to communicate.

Silos of information really harm us as a society, especially very diverse and multicultural and multilingual society where were right beside each other, he said. If were not preparing our citizens to protect themselves and protect the people theyre around, it does compromise global efforts to contain, in this case, the coronavirus.

The problem of false information on social media has also happened on English social media. One Twitter post Wednesday said two people had been exhibiting coronavirus-like symptoms at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby.

The university has said it is unaware of anyone at the institution who has been confirmed to have the virus or is suspected of having the virus.

With files from The Canadian Press

Read more about:
A woman who racially abused a hospital doctor trying to treat her was given a four-month jail sentence yesterday.

Lisburn Magistrates Court heard that when the doctor called 24-year-old Shauna Quinn to be triaged at Lagan Valley A&E, she shouted out: "I won't be seen by that black b******...I won't go to that n*****."

A prosecuting lawyer told the court Quinn was warned about her behaviour but "continued to shout at staff", adding that she stayed in the hospital until police arrived.

At an earlier hearing, Quinn, from Aspen Park in Dunmurry, pleaded guilty to a single count of using disorderly behaviour at the hospital on September 26 last year.

Defence solicitor Peter Prenter said while Quinn had been "intoxicated on alcohol and drugs", he conceded her state "doesn't excuse" what she did.

Highlighting that Quinn had "underlying mental health problems", the lawyer said despite her protestations to probation, Quinn would be willing to compete Community Service, suggesting that as an alternative, a suspended jail sentence might be appropriate.

District Judge Rosie Watters told Quinn because "there is nothing positive in the [probation] report" she had no alternative but to jail her.

Revealing that Quinn had a previous conviction for assaulting medical staff, the judge declared "you just don't behave like that", commenting there appeared to be "a sense of entitlement for someone who had contributed nothing to society".

On hearing of her jail sentence, Quinn shouted at her own solicitor "are you having a laugh Peter?" at which point the judge said "how dare you speak to him like that".

A short time later, Mr Prenter returned into the courtroom to ask for Quinn to be freed on bail pending an appeal of the jail sentence, confirming to Judge Watters that Quinn had apologised for her outburst. Quinn was freed on her own bail of 500.
Afghan's President Ashraf Ghani addresses US troops during a surprise Thanksgiving day visit of US President Donald Trump at Bagram Air Field, on November 28, 2019 in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan's president this week told CNBC he has "no problems" dealing with President Donald Trump, amid talk of a reduction in the number of U.S. troops operating in the Central Asian country.

"I am one of the few leaders that has an excellent relationship" with Trump, Ashraf Ghani told CNBC's Hadley Gamble at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

"I have no problems dealing with President Trump," he said, while discussing whether the United States is leaving the region behind. "I frame my relationship in terms of priorities that he's promised the American people ... the question is how do we find common ground, and where is common ground, to be able to move forward?"

His comments come weeks after reports that the Trump administration plans to announce a drawdown of about 4,000 troops from Afghanistan. A former U.S. defense official told NBC News that the announcement would be "part of trying to reset talks with the Taliban."

Trump has long criticized the war in Afghanistan and pushed for a reduction in American forces in the country.

"His style is disruptive, meaning that when the status quo reaches a point where it does not produce the results that he wants, he engages in disruptive change," Ghani said.
International Customs Day (ICD), which is officially marked on 26 January every year, was celebrated by the WCO Secretariat on 24 January 2020 at the Organizations headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, and co-hosted by Luxembourg Customs.

The WCOs official theme for 2020, namely Customs fostering Sustainability for People, Prosperity and the Planet, was officially announced by the Secretary General, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya. The theme will guide Customs and its partners throughout the year to put sustainability at the centre of their future improvements in practices and processes.

Guests from the Customs community were welcomed by Secretary General Mikuriya, who focused his speech on the way Customs can contribute to a sustainable future where social, economic, health and environmental considerations are fully integrated, as well as how we can all, as individuals, change habits and practices for the betterment of society and the planet. He highlighted the initiative taken by the Secretariat to eliminate the use of plastic bottles during meetings by putting at the disposal of delegates 100% recyclable and reusable water bottles that can be filled with filtered tap water. He also thanked Luxembourg Customs for its generous support.

The Director General of Luxembourg Customs, Mr. Alain Bellot, thanked the WCO Secretariat for the opportunity to participate in the event with the Customs family and highlighted the different responsibilities entrusted to Customs administrations with regards to environment protection and social cohesion. He concluded that ICD was also an opportunity to thank the dedicated men and women who show their commitment and dedication on a day-to-day basis.

After the official opening of the event, guests witnessed, at first-hand, a sniffer dog from Luxembourgs Canine Unit in action, visited the mobile scanning van and road inspection vehicles brought to the event by Luxembourg Customs, and were entertained by Luxembourgs 30-person Customs orchestra.

Secretary General Mikuriya also participated, earlier in the day, in the celebration of ICD by Belgium Customs at the Brussels City Hall. The celebrations were presided over by the Belgium General Administrator of Customs and Excise, Mr. Kristian Vanderwaeren, who gave Certificates of Merit to deserving Customs officers as well as Customs partners. Dr. Mikuriya was invited to address the guests and share some insights on the theme of the year. The ceremony was followed by a parade led by the official band of Belgiums Ministry of Finance, concluding with the unveiling of the Belgian Customs uniform worn by the iconic Manneken-Pis statue.
Facing Thomas  a man of exponentially greater dignity in the hearing chamber  the then-Democratic senator from Delaware was condescending and disdainful, not to put too fine a point on it. If you see the movie, you probably wont like him and, I suspect, he wont like himself. Be that as it may, no amount of empathy for Bidens many tragic losses can mitigate what is plainly visible: The avuncular sweetheart with the twinkling blue eyes and the neon smile was nowhere in sight back then.
The Belfast widow of murdered solicitor Pat Finucane said she has been left frustrated and disappointed after her latest meeting with the British Government was postponed.

He was shot by loyalist paramilitaries in front of his family in the north of the city in 1989 in collusion with state security forces.

His wife Geraldine planned to meet Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith today but it was postponed due to his diary commitments, an official letter said.

Mrs Finucane said: I am frustrated and disappointed that the British Government has, once again, postponed a meeting with me and my family to discuss the implementation of the UK Supreme Court decision from February 2019.

The latest delay leads me to the conclusion that this administration will be no different than previous ones, when it comes to honouring its responsibilities concerning British State involvement in the murder of my husband.

In February, the Supreme Court ruled that investigations into the fatal shooting of the Belfast solicitor have not been effective and fell short of international human rights standards.

Mrs Finucane has challenged former British prime minister David Camerons decision not to hold a public inquiry.

A separate review commissioned by Mr Cameron declared his killers colluded with the state in a shocking fashion.

Mrs Finucane said: My family and I remain committed to achieving our goal of an independent public inquiry into all of the circumstances surrounding Pats murder.

We will not let this latest disappointment deter us unduly.
Democrats have long dreamed of swaying centrists from the Republican Party by dazzling them with progressive economic policies and soft-pedaling cultural issues like anti-racism or abortion rights. Every campaign, it seems the Democrats try the same approach  and that culminated, in 2016, with the election of billionaire grifter and open racist Donald Trump. Nonetheless, theyve doubled down for 2020, convinced that somehow, someday, the right economic appeals, combined with throwing the right marginalized group under a convenient bus, will lead to a final electoral triumph. But it will not. And it's time to stop pretending it will.

The latest example of the old Democratic playbook was provided by Bernie Sanders this week, whose campaign enthusiastically touted an endorsement from podcaster Joe Rogan. Rogan has the second-most downloaded podcast on iTunes and his YouTube channel has 6 million subscribers. Unfortunately, he's also made gross transphobic comments and misgendered trans athletes. He's also conducted friendly interviews with far-right figures like Milo Yiannopolous and Gavin McInnes, giving them an opportunity to spew Islamophobia to Rogan's enormous audience with virtually no pushback.

Sanders' defenders on this issue, like Michelle Goldberg of the New York Times, argue that "One premise of [Sanders'] campaign is that he can win some number of alienated men with reactionary social views to the left, and this is proof of concept. Rogan's endorsement, Goldberg believes, can only be a good thing for the Senator from Vermont.

What goes unsaid is that this is not some new and innovative approach to campaigning. Sanders supporters see him as a strong critic of the Democratic establishment, since he usually ran as an Independent in Vermont before joining the party in pursuit of its 2020 presidential nomination. And it's also true that his policies  Medicare for All, for example, and free college  put him to the left of many of his rivals in the primary.

But Sanders' focus on swaying white reactionaries is perfectly in line with Democratic triangulation of the last 30 years and more. Bill Clinton insisted "it's the economy, stupid", and then rushed back to Arkansas during the 1992 campaign for president in order to preside over the execution of a black man to demonstrate he was "tough on crime (read: racist) so that he could win over centrist white conservatives. Barack Obama ran on rescuing the United States from the Great Recession in 2008, while at the same time carefully avoiding supporting marriage equality.

You could say that this has been a winning formula: both Clinton and Obama won their elections, after all. But Trump's victory in 2016 should at least raise some questions about the efficacy of triangulation for Democrats.

In the first place, when Democrats tailor their message to win over reactionaries, they inevitably alienate many progressives. Whether you win over more than you lose is difficult to say  we can't rerun 2008 and see how Obama would have done if he'd embraced marriage equality, for example. But the assumption that you can only gain and never lose voters when you cater to reactionaries is unproven  and, more worryingly, has dire implications for progressive politics. After all, if turning a blind eye to bigotry works politically, then the current incarnation of the Republican Party is in great shape to win. Republican-lite is unlikely to beat Republican-unfiltered over the long term.

This points to the second serious problem with trying to advance economic progressivism to an audience which is racist, or homophobic, or transphobic. In the United States, bigotry has long been used to sway voters to accept inequality and the agenda of the wealthy. President Ronald Reagan targeted the social safety net by putting forward a racist vision of black "welfare queens" stealing public funds from good upstanding white people. Trump was able to appoint rabid pro-corporate judge Brett Kavanaugh in part because Republicans flocked to his misogynist anti-abortion stance and were energized especially when he was credibly accused of attempted rape.

The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Show all 25 1 /25 The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Bernie Sanders The Vermont senator has launched a second bid for president after losing out to Hilary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primaries. He is running on a similar platform of democratic socialist reform Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Joe Biden The former vice president recently faced scrutiny for inappropriate touching of women, but was thought to deal with the criticism well and has since maintained a front runner status in national polling EPA The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Elizabeth Warren The Massachusetts senator is a progressive Democrat, and a major supporter of regulating Wall Street Reuters The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Amy Klobuchar Klobuchar is a Minnesota senator who earned praise for her contribution to the Brett Kavanaugh hearings Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Michael Bloomberg Michael Bloomberg, a late addition to the 2020 race, announced his candidacy after months of speculation in November. He has launched a massive ad-buying campaign and issued an apology for the controversial "stop and frisk" programme that adversely impacted minority communities in New York City when he was mayor Getty Images The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Tulsi Gabbard The Hawaii congresswoman announced her candidacy in January, but has faced tough questions on her past comments on LGBT+ rights and her stance on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Pete Buttigieg The centrist Indiana mayor and war veteran would be the first openly LGBT+ president in American history Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Deval Patrick The former Massachusetts governor launched a late 2020 candidacy and received very little reception. With just a few short months until the first voters flock to the polls, the former governor is running as a centrist and believes he can unite the party's various voting blocs AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Beto O'Rourke The former Texas congressman formally launched his bid for the presidency in March. He ran on a progressive platform, stating that the US is driven by "gross differences in opportunity and outcome" AP The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Kamala Harris The former California attorney general was introduced to the national stage during Jeff Sessions testimony. She has endorsed Medicare-for-all and proposed a major tax-credit for the middle class AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Bill De Blasio The New York mayor announced his bid on 16 May 2019. He emerged in 2013 as a leading voice in the left wing of his party but struggled to build a national profile and has suffered a number of political setbacks in his time as mayor AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Steve Bullock The Montana governor announced his bid on 14 May. He stated "We need to defeat Donald Trump in 2020 and defeat the corrupt system that lets campaign money drown out the people's voice, so we can finally make good on the promise of a fair shot for everyone." He also highlighted the fact that he won the governor's seat in a red [Republican] state Reuters The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Cory Booker The New Jersey Senator has focused on restoring kindness and civility in American politics throughout his campaign, though he has failed to secure the same level of support and fundraising as several other senators running for the White House in 2020 Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Wayne Messam Mayor of the city of Miramar in the Miami metropolitan area, Wayne Messam said he intended to run on a progressive platform against the "broken" federal government. He favours gun regulations and was a signatory to a letter from some 400 mayors condemning President Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord Vice News The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Kirsten Gillibrand The New York Senator formally announced her presidential bid in January, saying that healthcare should be a right, not a privilege Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: John Delaney The Maryland congressman was the first to launch his bid for presidency, making the announcement in 2017 AP The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Andrew Yang The entrepreneur announced his presidential candidacy by pledging that he would introduce a universal basic income of $1,000 a month to every American over the age of 18 Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Julian Castro The former San Antonio mayor announced his candidacy in January and said that his running has a special meaning for the Latino community in the US Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Marianne Williamson The author and spiritual adviser has announced her intention to run for president. She had previously run for congress as an independent in 2014 but was unsuccessful Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Eric Swalwell One of the younger candidates, Swalwell has served on multiple committees in the House of Representatives. He intended to make gun control central to his campaign but dropped out after his team said it was clear there was no path to victory Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Seth Moulton A Massachusetts congressman, Moulton is a former US soldier who is best known for trying to stop Nancy Pelosi from becoming speaker of the house. He dropped out of the race after not polling well in key states Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Jay Inslee Inslee has been governor of Washington since 2013. His bid was centred around climate change AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: John Hickenlooper The former governor of Colorado aimed to sell himself as an effective leader who was open to compromise, but failed to make a splash on the national stage Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Tim Ryan Ohio representative Tim Ryan ran on a campaign that hinged on his working class roots, though his messaging did not appear to resonate with voters Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Tom Steyer Democratic presidential hopeful billionaire and philanthropist Tom Steyer is a longtime Democratic donor AFP/Getty

Economic progressives think they can win votes for their cause by appealing to bigots. But there's a lot of evidence that bigotry, if left to fester, undermines efforts to attain economic justice. When you throw marginalized people under the bus, you throw the poor under there with them (unsurprisingly, since marginalized people are disproportionately poor.)

Rather than triangulating to win over reactionaries, then, Democrats would be better to concentrate on making their opposition to bigotry as consistent, as principled, and as clear as possible. Sanders' own statements on LGBT rights are a good start; he is strongly in favor of gender-affirming healthcare, wants to repeal the trans military ban, and condemns discrimination and violence against trans people by police. Hopefully, the pushback against the Rogan endorsement by trans people will lead Sanders to affirm these admirable commitments by publicly and strongly repudiating Rogan's transphobia, as well as his racism, and his other bigoted statements.

Beyond that, though, it's long past time for Democrats and progressives to stop mooning after cultural reactionaries. Trump has shown us clearly enough that when bigotry is acceptable, plutocrats benefit. If we want a better, more equitable world, we need to condemn hatred. Triangulation on trans rights, or Muslim rights, or black rights, or womens rights, is just a longer, twistier route to the same politics of inequality, injustice, and oppression. We need to pick a different path.
Two anti-government protesters were killed in clashes with security forces in the Iraqi capital on Friday, hours after thousands of supporters of Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr rallied separately to demand the ouster of US troops. Four NGO workers, three of them French nationals, were also reported missing in Baghdad, rocked since October by a youth-dominated protest movement demanding a government overhaul, early elections and more accountability. More than 470 people have died in protest-related violence since October, most of them demonstrators, and violence has spiked this week. On Friday, one protester was struck in the neck by a live round while another died after being hit with a military-grade tear gas canister in clashes with security forces, medical and police sources told AFP. It marked a sudden and bloody turn as thousands of men, women and children had gathered in Baghdad earlier the same day without incident to demand US troops withdraw. A vowed enemy of US troops, Sadr had called for "a million-strong" rally but did not attend himself. "Get out, get out, occupier!" they chanted. One protester carried a cardboard cut-out of Donald Trump on the gallows, another of the US president banging himself on the head with a shoe. A statement read by his representative at the rally demanded all foreign forces leave Iraq, Iraqi-American security agreements be cancelled, Iraqi airspace be closed to US military aircraft and for Trump not to act "arrogant" when addressing Iraqi officials. "If all this is implemented, we will deal with it as a non-occupying country -- otherwise it will be considered a country hostile to Iraq," the statement read. - Four NGO workers missing - America's military presence has been a hot-button issue in Iraq since a US drone strike killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and a top Iraqi commander in Baghdad on January 3. Outraged parliamentarians swiftly voted all foreign forces, including 5,200 US troops helping fight the Islamic State group, should leave. Baghdad offered to discuss a withdrawal timeline, but the US special envoy for the anti-IS coalition, James Jeffrey, said Thursday there was no "real engagement". In response to Soleimani's killing, Iran fired ballistic missiles on an Iraqi airbase where US troops are stationed, prompting fears of a regional war. The US said it had received prior warning of the strikes on Ain al-Asad, allowing troops to take cover. No Iraqi or US forces were killed and Trump had insisted no one was wounded either, but the Pentagon on Friday said 34 American soldiers had suffered traumatic head injuries or concussions. Tehran seized on the US strike to insist American troops leave the region, and its Supreme National Security Council issued a statement backing Sadr's rally on Friday. Pro-Tehran groups in Iraq's Hashed al-Shaabi military force also endorsed the protest. "To Trump, the fool -- the people's message of rejection was clear: if you don't leave voluntarily, you'll be ousted despite yourself," Hashed commander Qais al-Khazali tweeted. There had been worries Sadr supporters might storm the high-security Green Zone, home to the US embassy and other foreign missions, or the main anti-government protest camp in the capital's Tahrir Square. But they did not head for either, and instead several thousand youth flocked to Tahrir to insist on domestic reform. Some had feared that with all the attention on Sadr's rally, security forces would try to clear their camp. "The return of protesters to Tahrir is meant to prove ourselves, first, and to protect its peacefulness," demonstrator Karrar al-Saadi told AFP. Baghdad has been gripped by kidnappings and shoot-outs which protesters say are meant to intimidate them. Separately, French NGO SOS Chretiens d'Orient (Christians of the Middle East) said three French and one Iraqi worker went missing on Monday in Baghdad, where the foreigners were renewing their Iraqi visas. No group has claimed responsibility and no ransom demand has been received, the organisation's director Benjamin Blanchard told reporters in Paris. - Sadr hedges bets - Sadr, 46, battled US forces with his Mehdi Army militia after the 2003 invasion of Iraq but is now a fickle politician, notorious for switching alliances. He backed anti-regime protests early on, but also controls parliament's largest bloc and top ministerial posts. On Friday evening, Sadr tweeted to hail the turnout at his rally but said he would no longer be involved in anti-regime efforts. "From now on, I will try not to intervene in their business, neither negatively nor positively," he said. Carnegie Middle East Center expert Harith Hasan said Sadr sought to sustain his "multiple identities" -- one as a reformist and populist, the other as a leading anti-American voice. Playing both sides could earn Sadr favour with Iran and empower him in paralysed negotiations over the next premier, Hasan said. But Friday's intra-Shiite alliance was not likely to last, Hasan said, predicting: "Once this protest is over, this honeymoon between Sadr and the other pro-Iran factions will eventually vanish," Thousands of Iraqi men, women and children of all ages massed in Baghdad to demand US troops leave the country Iraqi protesters carry away the body of a comrade hit by a tear gas canister during clashes with riot police in eastern Baghdad The protesters answered a call from populist Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr for a "million-strong" march The rally comes after a US drone strike killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and a top Iraqi commander in Baghdadon January 3 Sadr battled US forces with his Mehdi Army militia after the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq but is now a fickle politician
This is an opinion column.

You gotta hand it to the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public accounts, those nerdy watchdogs on their eternal quests to even out the unbalanced. They try to tell us when things are going off the rails.

Again and again and again. But Alabama hardly ever listens.

The examiners, in the most recent Federal Award Programs audit, cited both the Alabama Finance Department and the Department of Labor, each for the third time, for failure to have a working backup plan for data and information technology in the event of an attack or natural disaster.

State financial data is at risk. State records are at risk as the world itself becomes technologically riskier and riskier.

But dont just take it from me. Here is what the examiners found at the Finance Department, where your money and tax IDs and contracts and so much more is held. The findings at Labor were similar.

We reviewed the internal control policies and procedures affecting the ability of the Department of Finance Information Services Division to be able to continue operations in the event the information technology resources of the Department were adversely affected by man-made or natural disasters, auditors wrote. Critical information technology resources and the related government functions served by those resources are at risk because of weaknesses in the control policies and procedures affecting contingency planning. A comprehensive disaster recovery plan  has not been completed. These conditions increase the risk that the Department could incur major disruptions in service if there is a catastrophic event at or near its primary data processing center.

Of course there are threats in a world of hacktivism and foreign interference in the affairs of state. Of course there is danger for government documents in ransomware  Atlanta spent millions to recover from such an attack  and other cyberattacks. Anybody with a computer and a pulse knows that.

And the Finance Department certainly knew it. Because the examiners cited it for the same thing in 2014, and again in 2017.

And the Department of Labor knew it. Because the examiners cited if for the same thing in 2011, and again in 2017.

Neither department denied or protested the findings. They both agreed there were deficiencies, and vowed to do better.

Finance told auditors an alternate data center would be established by the end of last year, and a permanent plan in place.

It wasnt.

Labor said modernization of the Unemployment Insurance Program is a big part of developing a disaster recovery project, and thats a multi-year project. It told auditors corrective action would be taken by last July or August.

It now says that action is complete, and progress is being made to finish modernization altogether in a reasonable amount of time.

Finance Department officials assure me a temporary solution is now in testing and a permanent fix will be complete this year.

Lets hope that is the case. It is certainly a daunting task to address modern technological security with a stingy legislature and a mind-numbing political process that too often focuses on the absurd and too rarely looks at the difficult and important.

But for the third time, Alabama needs to get this done, before the fourth time is too late. For one thing is pretty certain. Hacktivists and meddlers with bad intent are not nearly as patient as those Alabama examiners, who ought to wear a badge with a motto all their own:

We tried to tell you.

John Archibald, a Pulitzer Prize winner, is a columnist for Reckon by AL.com. His column appears in The Birmingham News, the Huntsville Times, the Mobile Register and AL.com. Write him at jarchibald@al.com.

Updated 1/24/20 with response from Alabama Department of Labor.
BLACKROCK FRONTIERS INVESTMENT TRUST PLC (LEI: 5493003K5E043LHLO706)

All information is at 31 December 2019 and unaudited.

Performance at month end with net income reinvested.

One

month

% Three

months

% One

year

% Three

years

% Five

years

% Since

Launch*

% Sterling: Share price 5.1 2.3 3.6 16.7 48.1 81.2 Net asset value 0.0 -4.5 1.1 9.2 36.4 76.5 Benchmark (NR)** 2.0 -3.9 1.9 23.1 36.4 63.9 MSCI Frontiers Index (NR) 1.9 -0.8 13.4 21.3 34.4 62.7 MSCI Emerging Markets Index (NR) 4.9 4.0 13.9 29.5 54.6 47.2 US Dollars: Share price 7.6 9.9 7.8 25.3 26.1 54.6 Net asset value 2.4 2.7 5.2 17.1 16.1 50.4 Benchmark (NR)** 4.4 3.3 6.0 31.9 15.9 40.4 MSCI Frontiers Index (NR) 4.3 6.6 18.0 30.0 14.2 38.2 MSCI Emerging Markets Index (NR) 7.5 11.8 18.4 38.9 31.4 25.1

Sources: BlackRock and Standard & Poor's Micropal

* 17 December 2010.

** The Company's benchmark changed from MSCI Frontier Markets Index to MSCI Emerging ex Selected Countries + Frontier Markets + Saudi Arabia Index (net total return, USD) effective 1/4/2018.



At month end US Dollar Net asset value - capital only: 165.54c Net asset value - cum income: 170.91c Sterling: Net asset value - capital only: 124.96p Net asset value - cum income: 129.02p Share price: 135.00p Total assets (including income): 311.6m Premium to cum-income NAV: 4.6% Gearing: nil Gearing range (as a % of gross assets): 0-20% Net yield*: 5.0% Ordinary shares in issue: 241,522,801 Ongoing charges**: 1.4% Ongoing charges plus taxation and performance fee: 1.4%

*The Company's yield based on dividends announced in the last 12 months as at the date of the release of this announcement is 5.0% and includes the 2019 final dividend of 4.75 cents per share declared on 06 December 2019 with a pay date of 07 February 2020, and special dividend of 1.0 cents per share declared on 11 December 2018 and paid to shareholders on 7 February 2019. Also included is the 2019 interim dividend of 3.00 cents per share announced on 30 May 2019 and paid to shareholders on 28 June 2019.

**Calculated as a percentage of average net assets and using expenses, excluding performance fees and interest costs for the year ended 30 September 2019.

Sector

Analysis Gross market value as a % of net assets Country

Analysis Gross market value as a % of net assets Financials 25.8 Indonesia 13.9 Consumer Staples 15.2 Thailand 12.3 Consumer Discretionary 14.8 Vietnam 9.3 Materials 12.0 Egypt 8.9 Real Estate 11.7 Saudi Arabia 8.8 Industrials 10.1 Philippines 6.9 Energy 9.2 United Arab Emirates 6.1 Communication Services 3.7 Pakistan 4.4 Health Care 2.1 Kazakhstan 4.1 Information Technology 1.7 Malaysia 3.9 Utilities 1.7 Turkey 3.8 ----- Nigeria 3.4 108.0 Ukraine 3.1 Short positions ----- Colombia 2.7 -1.0 PAN-Africa 2.4 ===== Romania 2.3 Pan-Emerging Europe 2.1 Qatar 2.1 Poland 2.0 Chile 1.9 Greece 1.7 Kenya 1.5 Argentina 0.4 ----- Total 108.0 ----- Short positions -1.0 =====

*reflects gross market exposure from contracts for difference (CFDs).

Market Exposure



31.01

2019

% 28.02

2019

% 31.03

2019

% 30.04

2019

% 31.05

2019

% 30.06

2019

% 31.07

2019

% 31.08

2019

% 30.09

2019

% 31.10

2019

% 30.11

2019

% 31.12

2019

% Long 115.1 112.9 113.1 116.0 111.0 114.1 117.0 111.5 110.1 108.0 107.8 108.0 Short 7.3 6.7 6.6 6.6 8.8 8.1 5.1 4.2 4.1 2.2 1.7 1.0 Gross 122.4 119.6 119.7 122.6 119.8 122.2 122.1 115.7 114.2 110.2 109.5 109.0 Net 107.8 106.2 106.5 109.4 102.2 106.0 111.9 107.3 106.0 105.8 106.1 107.0

Ten Largest Investments

Company Country of Risk Gross market value as a % of net assets Astra International Indonesia 4.1 Charoen Pokphand Food Thailand 3.4 PTT Global Chemical Thailand 3.2 United International Transport Saudi Arabia 3.2 Vincom Retail Vietnam 3.1 Bank Mandiri Indonesia 3.0 Bank of the Philippine Islands Philippines 2.8 Ecopetrol Colombia 2.7 Eastern Tobacco Egypt 2.6 LT Group Philippines 2.5



Commenting on the markets, Sam Vecht and Emily Fletcher, representing the Investment Manager noted:



The Company's NAV returned 2.4%1 versus its benchmark the MSCI Emerging ex Selected Countries + Frontier Markets + Saudi Arabia Index ("Benchmark Index"), which returned +4.4% in December2. For reference, MSCI Emerging Markets Index ended the month +7.5% and MSCI Frontier Markets Index up +4.3%2 over the same period (all performance figures are on a US Dollar basis with net income reinvested).

Our allocations in South East Asia were the top contributors to returns in December with positions in Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines all adding to returns. In particular, our holdings in Indonesian conglomerate Astra International (+8.1%), Philippines tobacco company LT Group (+8.7%) and Bank Mandiri (+11.8%) all did well. Our holdings in Energy were additional contributors driven by holdings in Saudi Aramco (+14.8%) and Colombian energy company Ecopetrol (+11.2%).

The largest detractor from returns this month was our holding in United Arab Emirates (UAE) hospital operator NMC Health (-26.5%) after the stock declined sharply given allegations over its accounting practices. We have since exited the position. Holdings in Egypt and Vietnam were additional detractors. In Egypt healthcare diagnostics company Integrated Diagnostics Holdings (IDH) fell 13.8% over the month. In Vietnam, holdings in food and beverage company Quang Ngai Sugar (-9.2%) and mall operator Vincom Retail (-1.5%) were additional detractors.

We made a few recent changes to the portfolio. We exited our holding in Saudi Aramco post strong price performance in the aftermath of its IPO, as well as trimming Ecopetrol on strength.

We added to Saudi petrochemicals company Yansab given our view that the stock price is not reflecting the oil price increase. The company also has a very strong balance sheet which should support their dividend yield. We added back to Argentina given our view that bond restructuring is becoming more likely, which should prove positive for equity holders while protecting the banking sector. In addition, we are positive on the ASEAN countries supported by their recent currency moves which have so far not translated into equity market performance.

The highest conviction country positions in the Company are Egypt, Vietnam and Pakistan while we remain under-weight Saudi, Malaysia and Kuwait.

We see significant value in the smaller emerging and frontier markets and believe a number of these countries are set up for a strong year in 2020. We see the markets well supported by the lower rate environment and improved local and global liquidity. Emerging Market (EM) equities have lagged with the earnings yield not following the decline in bond yields. The asset class should also get some help from foreign exchange and we note that many EM currencies look to have broken out in recent weeks. We note that several stocks in our universe are trading at extremely low valuations, which we view as an opportunity to invest in a wide subset of countries which exhibit good growth and have low government debt levels. We look for companies there with strong cash flow and high dividend yields, trading on some of the lowest valuations in the world.

Sources:

1BlackRock as at 31 December 2019

2MSCI as at 31 December 2019

24 January 2020

ENDS

Latest information is available by typing www.blackrock.co.uk/brfi on the internet, "BLRKINDEX" on Reuters, "BLRK" on Bloomberg or "8800" on Topic 3 (ICV terminal). Neither the contents of the Manager's website nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on BlackRock's website (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.
The Indian embassy in China on Friday cancelled the Republic Day ceremony in view of the coronavirus outbreak which has killed 25 people and infected over 800 others.

IMAGE: People wearing protective masks are seen on a subway in Shanghai, China. Photograph: Aly Song/Reuters

The Indian mission in Beijing took to social media to announce the cancelation of the celebrations scheduled for January 26.

"In view of the evolving situation due to the coronavirus outbreak in China as well as the decision of the Chinese authorities to cancel public gathering and events,@EOIBeijing has also decided to call off the Republic Day reception scheduled to be held @EOIBeijing on January 26th," the embassy said on Twitter.

According to the latest reports, the death toll in the deadly coronavirus has climbed to 25 with confirmed cases rising sharply to 830, mostly in Hubei province. Beijing has reported 26 cases so far.

China has locked down eight cities including Wuhan to prevent the virus from spreading.

On Thursday, the embassy hosted Republic day reception in which Chinese officials and members of Beijing-based diplomatic community took part.

Chinas Vice Foreign Minister and China's former ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui was the chief guest at the reception.

Addressing the gathering, Indian ambassador to China Vikram Misri said that 2020 is an important year for the bilateral ties as it marks the 70th year of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

"It is worth noting that India was one of the first non-socialist countries to recognise the People's Republic of China. This is an important opportunity to review our journey and set new goals together," he said.

The second informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held at Chennai last year was highly successful and productive, Misri said.

It provided new impetus for the growth of the India-China relations across the political, military economic and trade, cultural and people-to-people relations, he said.

A broader and deeper relation between the two countries can enable to serve as a factor of stability in a complex and evolving world, the Indian envoy said.

Seventy events will be held to mark the 70th year of diplomatic relations between the two neighbours.
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, January 24, 2020 09:00 719 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2060c73c6 1 National Papua,police,TNI,Polri Free

A joint team of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police shot dead an apparent member of an Intan Jaya-based armed criminal group (KKB) for allegedly resisting arrest in Nabire regency, Papua on Monday.

The deceased has been identified only as NM, 35.

At the time of the shooting, the team was at the location because they suspected that an arms trade was to be conducted somewhere in the area.

It is indeed true that an [alleged member of the] KKB Intan Jaya was arrested in Nabire on Monday. However, NM fought back so we have to immobilize him and he died after succumbing to his bullet wound, a spokesman for the Papua Police, Sr. Comr. Ahmad Kamal, said on Wednesday as quoted by Antara news agency.

Ahmad explained NM and several others were driving in a car from Nusi Beach to Nabire when the police-TNI team blocked their passage and fired a warning shot.

The spokesman said that while NM's companions ran into a hilly area, NM fought against the officers, causing them to shoot him in the waist to immobilize him.

The police learned NMs identity from an ID card found alongside a homemade weapon and two bullets, Kamal said.

He added that NM held a position as the general operations commander in the MEPAGOO Kodap 29 area, in which he had a strategic role controlling KKB activities around the Intan Jaya area.

Moreover, police claimed NM also supplied food, weapons and ammunition for KKB in the area. The authority suspected that he was in Nabire to purchase weapons and ammunition, which he was to later send to Sugapa, Intan Jaya.

For now, NMs body is being kept at the morgue in the Nabire Regional Hospital. (dpk)

Topics : Papua police TNI Polri
According to a top officer of the paramilitary force, the number of illegal settlers nabbed while trying to cross the border enroute Bangladesh has increased since last month.

Kolkata, Jan 24 (IANS) The outrush of illegal Bangladeshi migrants from India to their native land has gone up over the past one month, BSF officials said on Friday in the backdrop of the enactment of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

"The outflow of Bangladeshi migrants to their native land has gone up in the past one month," said BSF Inspector General (South Bengal Frontier) Y.B. Khurania.

So far in January, the BSF has apprehended 268 illegal Bangladeshi migrants, most of whom were attempting to stealthily cross over to the neighbouring country, the officer said.

Khurania, however, did not say if the increase in outflow happened solely for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.

"The numbers are always changing. There are different factors for this change. So we can't say that it happened only because of the enactment of CAA," he said.

West Bengal shares about 2,216 km border with Bangladesh, a substantial portion of which is unfenced or riverine.

In 2019, the BSF nabbed 2,194 Bangladeshis while they were attempting to enter India from across the border.

ssp/arm
Snow and ice could cause problems

The road has been closed.

Follow the latest updates from our travel feed below

The Dobbin Road in Armagh has been reopend folowing an earlier crash.

Diversions are in place and traffic is being diverted onto the Vicarage Road, delays are expected.

Our live updates from across Northern Ireland are compiled by @TrafficwatchNI, @BBCNITravel and @PSNITraffic.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin as the Presidents Office of Ukraine reported.

During the meeting, Zelensky underlined that Israel is one of the key trade partners of Ukraine in the Middle East region.

I am sure that the free trade agreement signed between our countries in January 2019 will contribute to the further growth of mutual trade turnover. The implementation of its points can help increase the trade turnover up to $ 2 billion in the short term, Volodymyr Zelensky said.

The sides also discussed the memory of the victims of the Holocaust.

We stand in full solidarity with the people of Israel in honoring the memory of the Holocaust victims. The tragedy of Babyn Yar is known all over the world. In 2020, the construction of the Babyn Yar National Historical and Memorial Reserve is planned to begin in Ukraine. It should include the Ukrainian Holocaust Museum and the Babyn Yar Victims Memorial Museum, Zelensky noted.

On January 23, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has begun his working visit to Israel. The program of the visit includes negotiations with Israels leadership and a meeting with representatives of Israeli business circles.

Earlier, Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian delegation gave their places at the World Holocaust Forum to the victims of the Holocaust. However, the Israeli national memorial to the victims of the Holocaust Yad Vashem expressed regret due to the decision of President Volodymyr Zelensky.
TUNIS - The number of human trafficking victims registered in 2019 in Tunisia by the National commission for the fight against human trafficking (InIctp) was 775, the organization's president Raoudha Laabidi said Friday. The cases included eight child trafficking attempts, 11 slavery cases, 348 cases of child exploitation and 361 instances of forced labor.



On the national day of the abolition of slavery and the presentation of the annual report on trafficking in Tunisia, Laabidi said that in 2019 a reported 841 people were involved in these crimes, including 346 women and 495 men. Laabidi said a case concerning ''children at the Koranic nursery of Regueb'' represents ''the most dangerous case registered last year''. He noted that 200 similar situations, which endanger the future of children, have been discovered in Tunisia after the school of Regueb was closed.



Social services took charge of 31 children aged 13 to 18.



Laabidi praised efforts made by public authorities to take care of the victims, stressing the role undertaken by the education and health ministries who took charge of 78 victims. About half of the trafficking cases concerned minors. Economic exploitation represented over 83.6% of all human trafficking cases, half of which concerned forced labor, followed by the economic exploitation of children, both in marginal economic activities and begging (32.4%), said the report.



Laabidi also said that the Inltp will open on February 13-14 distance learning courses to help fight human trafficking, presenting procedures for police officers to prevent and fight human trafficking.



The mayor of Tunis, Souad Abderrahim, stressed that her municipal administration is open to cooperation with the commission and is ready to support it in taking care of the victims, stressing the importance of including organ trafficking in Tunisia in statistics and reports, given the large number of complaints filed on this matter by associations representing civil society. Historian Ines Mourad Dal spoke about people of color in Tunisia while Saadia Mesbah, president of the association ''Mnamti'', said that the minority of people of color in Tunisia - estimated to be between 4,000 and 5,000 - ''suffers from racist practices that manifest themselves through the use of disparaging names referred skin color''.



The representative of the Council of Europe in Tunisia, Imen Khalifa, spoke about her organization's work in supporting Tunisia, which has ratified the Convention on the fight against the trafficking and sexual exploitation of children that will come into force on February 1. (ANSAmed)
ISTANBUL - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday urged international pressure to force the head of Libyas eastern-based forces to abide by a tentative truce and said Turkey was determined to continue supporting Libyas U.N.-backed government.

Erdogan made the comments following meetings in Istanbul with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who hosted a peace conference for Libya in Berlin on Sunday that resulted in a temporary cease-fire.

At a joint news conference with Merkel, the Turkish leader took aim at Gen. Khalifa Hifter, who leads forces based in eastern Libya that are waging an offensive to take Tripoli, the nations capital and the seat of a U.N.-recognized government.

This man is not trustworthy, Erdogan said of Hifter. Countries that took part in the Berlin summit should not entertain this man, he said, pointing to an attack and threats from Hifters forces that shut down Tripolis Mitiga International Airport earlier this week.

Erdogan added that Turkey would not abandon Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj, the head of the Tripoli government. We are determined to give him all the support we can afford.

Hifters forces, which control the east and much of southern Libya, receive support from the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, as well as France and Russia.

Turkey supports Sarrajs Tripoli-based government, which is also backed to a lesser degree by Qatar and Italy. Turkey has sent troops in support of Sarraj but the Turkish leader reiterated that the deployment consists of trainers and educators and not a combat force.

Erdogan and Merkel argued publicly about the result of the Berlin peace summit. The German chancellor said Hifter had agreed in principle to the truce, while the Turkish president insisted the Libyan general did not put his signature on any document.

During their meetings, Erdogan and Merkel also discussed the future of a migration deal between Turkey and the European Union that helped decrease refugee flows to Europe.

The number of migrants entering Europe from Turkey rose significantly last year as people fleeing conflict in Syria and Afghanistan arrived in Greece, leading to deteriorating conditions in overcrowded camps on the eastern Aegean islands. New Syrian government attacks in the northern Syrian province of Idlib have sent thousands of Syrians fleeing toward the Turkish border.

Spearheaded by Germany, the EU agreed in 2016 to give Turkey up to 6 billion euros ($6.6 billion) in Syrian refugee aid and other incentives to persuade the government in Ankara to stop migrants departing for Greece.

Merkel said she thought the EU could provide additional support to Turkey.

I can very well imagine the EU providing support beyond the two batches of 3 billion (euros), because the way the political situation in Syria looks, there is so far no possibility in sight for the refugees to return, she said.

Erdogan frequently accuses the EU of not fulfilling its side of the deal and has in the past threatened to open the gates for migrants to head to Europe.

He says his country cannot be expected to shoulder the burden of hosting more than 3.6 million Syrian refugees and wants European support to settle Syrian refugees in a so-called safe zone in northern Syria. European nations are reluctant to back such a proposal.

Merkel said Germany could back the return of refugees to a secure zone only if the U.N.s refugee agency approves such a resettlement scheme.

If UNHCR says that is possible for a certain group of refugees, perhaps who come from the region, then I could imagine our supporting that together with UNHCR, Merkel said.

She said Germany also could back Turkish plans to move the displaced Syrians away from tents and into shelters better-suited for winter.

I indicated that we are prepared to do something regarding the refugees who are moving from Idlib toward the Turkish border, who are currently accommodated in tents, Merkel said.

__

Fraser reported from Ankara. Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed.
Although India's Ujjwala programme encouraged adoption of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for cooking among the poor, households availing the scheme have not shifted away from using highly polluting fuels like firewood, a study reveals.

The researchers, including those from the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada, found that additional incentives to encourage regular use of cooking gas are necessary for a complete transition to clean cooking fuel among poor rural households.

They noted that about 2.9 billion people across Asia, Africa, and Latin America burn solid fuels like firewood to meet their cooking energy needs.

This has significant negative implications for public health, the environment, and societal development, according to the researchers.

Through the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), India has provided capital cost subsidies to poor women to adopt a clean-burning cooking fuel or LPG.

The researchers explained that within the first 40 months of the scheme, more than 80 million households obtained LPG stoves.

However, the full benefits of LPG adoption depend on near complete replacement of polluting fuels with LPG, according to a research-based policy brief published in the journal Nature Energy.

The scientists said this cannot be assumed solely on the basis of LPG presence in the household.

"Our research shows that Ujjwala was able to attract new consumers rapidly, but those consumers did not start using LPG on a regular basis," Abhishek Kar, a postdoc at Columbia University in the US, told PTI.

The study analysed LPG sales data for over 25,000 consumers, including PMUY beneficiaries, as well as general rural LPG consumers in Koppal district of Karnataka.

The scientists employed data covering all LPG purchases of PMUY beneficiaries through their first year in the programme.

They also assessed the general rural population's purchases during their first five years as consumers to assess the effect of experience on use.

The findings estimate that an average rural family needs to purchase five 14.2 kilogramme-cylinders annually to meet half of their cooking needs.

However, the study said just seven per cent of PMUY beneficiaries in Koppal purchased five or more cylinders annually, suggesting that the beneficiaries seldom use LPG.

The general (nonPMUY) consumers in this region use on average two times more LPG cylinders than PMUY beneficiaries, the researchers noted.

Yet, only 45 per cent of nonPMUY consumers use five or more cylinders per year -- even after several years of experience with LPG, they said.

The team assessed price and seasonal factors affecting LPG use among the general population over a three-year period.

It found that LPG consumers are sensitive to price and seasonality -- LPG cylinder refill rates are lower in the summer when agricultural activity is limited, and cash is scarce.

"There was no scheme incentives to promote use, except general LPG subsidies which is available to all, including the urban middle class," said Kar, who was a Ph.D. scholar at UBC when the research was published.

"If there is no additional income, what cost would a poor family on an already tight budget cut to pay for an extra expense on a regular basis.

"Ujjwala has started the scheme of 5 kg-cylinder in response, but the impact of that on LPG sales is still publicly unknown," he said.

These findings, the researchers noted, suggest the need for additional measures to promote regular LPG use for all rural populations.

Although the finding come from a single district in Southern India, it may also apply to other areas with similar socio-economic conditions, they said.

A more expansive evaluation of PMUY would help design targeted incentives to transform infrequent users to regular users, according to the researchers.
A SOLDIER was killed and two policemen were wounded in a shootout in Marikina City about noon Friday, January 24.

One of the policemen, Executive Master Sergeant Demetrio Sarita Magpali Jr., was in critical condition as of 4:30 p.m. Friday. He sustained a gunshot wound to the head.

The second police officer, Master Sergeant Edward Yap, was shot on his legs. Both are members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

Killed during the shootout was Staff Sergeant Marvin Balucas.

Newly promoted National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Debold Sinas said that based on initial investigation, the two policemen were traveling along A. Bonifacio Avenue in Barangka at around 11:30 a.m. Friday when a man on a motorcycle, later identified as Balucas, shot at them.

Balucas was killed after the CIDG men retaliated.

Both policemen were brought to the Amang Rodriguez Hospital in Marikina City. They were later transported to the Chinese Medical Center in Manila.

Sinas said investigation on the motive of the incident is ongoing. (SunStar Philippines)
A white nationalist known as 'the crying Nazi' has been charged with making sinister threats to rape a rival's wife in front of his children.

Christopher Cantwell, 39 - who sobbed in a YouTube video when cops issued a warrant for his arrest after a right-wing rally - is accused of sending the vile threat over the Telegram messaging app.

Cantwell is said to have demanded information that would allow him to identify a second man he was having a feud with.

The message allegedly said: 'So if you don't want me to come and f*** your wife in front of your kids, then you should make yourself scarce.'

Cantwell is known as 'the crying nazi' after he sobbed in a YouTube video after learning there was a warrant out for his arrest following his use of pepper spray at a right-wing rally in 2017

Cantwell used pepper spray against two counter-protesters in 2017 during a torchlight march at the University of Virginia. He later pleaded guilty to assault

Cantwell showing off a gun during a Vice News programme about his activities

Cantwell, from New Hampshire, was charged on Thursday with extortion over interstate communications and threatening interstate communications, according to the FBI's Boston field office.

At an initial court appearance Thursday afternoon, a New Hampshire federal judge ordered Cantwell held without bond pending a detention hearing Tuesday.

Cantwell posted the video of himself sobbing after he used pepper spray against two counter-protesters in 2017 during a torchlight march at the University of Virginia the night before a right wing rally.

He later pleaded guilty to assault and battery charges following the rally which was held to protest the removal of a confederate statue.

Christopher Cantwell was kicked out of Virginia and banned for five years after pleading guilty to assault and batter during a right wing rally in Charlottesville in 2017

Cantwell was charged with assault in 2017 for using pepper spray at a right wing rally

Cantwell admitted to using pepper spray on counter protesters, and was sentenced to two 12 month jail periods, with all but seven months of his sentence suspended, and with 107 days jail time served was freed from detention,The Washington Post reported.

Cantwell, from Keene, New Hampshire, was ordered to leave Virginia within eight hours of the sentencing, and is not allowed to return for five years, and must pay a $250 fine for discussing his victims online.

Cantwell was involved in the rally on August 11, where torch-bearing men and women gathered at the University of Virginia, marching towards a statue of Thomas Jefferson chanting 'You will not replace us', and: 'Jews will not replace us'.

An ensuing battle with counter-protesters turned violent.

Cantwell became one of the most familiar faces of the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville after he was featured in a Vice News documentary on the far right.

Cantwell is accused of using the Telegram messaging app to make the threat on June 16, 2019. The person with whom he was messaging hasn't been identified.

The FBI tweeted that it arrested Cantwell, of Keene, on Thursday morning without incident.

Cantwell, who has hosted self-produced radio shows, also has history of posting threatening messages over social media.

In March, he wrote that he thought the Gab social media platform had banned him for a post after the deadly New Zealand mosque shootings in which he wrote, 'Im pretty sure it would be against the rules for me to say that would be mass shooters should find left wing activists and gun them down instead of random people in mosques and synagogues. So I wont do that.'

Last year, attorneys who filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in connection with the Charlottesville rally asked a judge to order Cantwell to stop making 'unlawful threats' against the plaintiffs and their lead attorney.

In a motion filed in U.S. District Court in Charlottesville, lawyers for 10 people who were hurt during the two days of violence in August 2017 said Cantwell had recently focused 'his hateful rhetoric' on attorney Roberta Kaplan.

They allege that Cantwell, responding to an article about Kaplan in a Jewish publication, used an anti-Semitic slur on a social media website when referring to Kaplan and wrote that after she 'loses this fraudulent lawsuit, we're going to have a lot of (expletive) fun with her.'

Cantwell, responding to an email seeking comment on the motion to order him to stop making threats, used an anti-Semitic slur when referring to Kaplan and called the lawsuit a '(expletive) fraud.'
Its important not to exaggerate the backlash to globalization. As a 2019 report by DHL demonstrates, globalization is still strong and, by some measures, continues to expand. People still want to trade, travel and transact across the world. But in government policy, where economic logic once trumped politics, today it is often the reverse. Economist Nouriel Roubini argues that the cumulative result of all these measures  protecting local industries, subsidizing national champions, restricting immigration  is to sap growth. It means slower growth, fewer jobs, less efficient economies, he told me recently. Weve seen it happen many times in the past, not least in India, which suffered decades of stagnation as a result of protectionist policies, and we will see the impact in years to come. Nevertheless, today, nationalism and protectionism prevail.
She was seen wearing a diamond ring earlier this month, sparking rumours her art dealer beau had proposed.

And, Sienna Miller, 38, continued to flash the dazzling diamond on her ring finger while attending Variety Studio presented by AT&T at Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah on Friday, amid rumours she's engaged to Lucas Zwirner, 29.

The Layer Cake actress looked effortlessly chic in a cream maxi skirt and black chunky roll-neck jumper as she spent time at the event.

Bling: Sienna Miller, 38, continued to flash the dazzling diamond on her ring finger while at Variety Studio presented by AT&T at Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah on Friday

Showcasing her style credentials, the Alfie star stepped out in chunky black studded boots.

Sienna kept her outfit simple, accessorising with simple gold bracelets and large hoop earrings, which went well with the mysterious rock on her ring finger.

The blonde actress styled her long locks into tousled waves and enhanced her beauty with a slick of black mascara and a pretty pink lipstick.

Chic: The Layer Cake actress looked effortlessly chic in a cream maxi skirt and black chunky roll-neck jumper amid rumours she's engaged to Lucas Zwirner, 29 (pictured with Dea Lawrence)

Classic: Sienna kept her outfit simple, accessorising with simple gold bracelets and hoop earrings, which went well with the rock on her ring finger which she tried to hide at points

Betrothed? She was seen wearing a diamond ring earlier this month, sparking rumours her art dealer beau had proposed (pictured with Lucas Zwirner in Venice, Italy in May 2019)

Quirky: Showcasing her style credentials, the Alfie star stepped out in chunky black studded boots and carried her belongings in a fluffy Chanel bag

Beauty: The blonde actress styled her long locks into dishevelled waves and enhanced her beauty with a slick of black mascara and a pretty pink lipstick

At ease: Sienna appeared relaxed as she attended the event in Utah (pictured with Tara Miele and Diego Luna)

The outing comes after rumours Sienna was engaged to Lucas emerged when she was seen sporting a diamond ring in New York earlier this month.

Sienna was last seen at the Golden Globes on Sunday night where her ring finger was visibly bare as she walked the star-studded red carpet.

Wow! A diamond sparkler could be seen on her wedding finger

Sienna's representative declined to comment when approached by MailOnline.

The actress went public with their relationship a year ago, after the couple were introduced by mutual friends.

Sienna was previously engaged to Tom Sturridge, who she split from in 2015 following a four year romance, and with whom she shares daughter Marlow, seven.

Her most iconic relationship so far was with her Alfie co-star Jude Law. The former on-off couple got engaged on Christmas Day 2004, they ended in 2006 before reuniting in 2009 and splitting again in 2011.

The actress recently admitted she was open to the idea of walking down the aisle.

Quirky: Kelly Rowland stepped out in a quirky cropped knit, which she layered over a long white shirt as she attended the Sundance Film Festival event

On the go: The former Destiny's Child singer rocked leather look jogging bottoms and chunky trainers as she dashed between events at Sundance Film Festival

Smile: The actress joined James Van Der Beek (far right) at Variety Studio presented by AT&T (Pictured L-R Justin Simien, Elle Lorraine, Yaani King Mondschein, Ashley Blaine Featherson)

All wrapped up: The former Dawson's Creek star layered up to walk between events in the snowy setting of Utah

Busy day! After popping into the Variety Studio presented by AT&T event, Sienna made her way to the IMDb Studio at Acura Festival Village

Ready for the cold: The actress carried a tan coloured aviator jacket in her hand as she arrived

Happy lady: Sienna smiled sweetly as she posed for photos at the IMDb Studio at Acura Festival Village, at the Sundance Film Festival

She told The Sunday Times' Style: 'Yes, I would love to have more children. I would love a daughter as well. I think I would be open to getting married, yes.'

And speaking about her relationship with art gallery owner Lucas, she added: 'It is interesting to be in a world that is not the one I am in.

'I felt like I'd been in every room somehow and the art world is very new and fascinating, and very intellectual, which I love.'

Flawless: The actress' natural beauty shone through as she stood in front of photographers

Doing the rounds: Sienna once again posed for a snap with Tara Miele and Diego Luna

Congratulations! Rachel Brosnahan received the IMDb STARmeter Award at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival

Stylish: The actress nailed her look as she layered a checked blazer atop a knitted jumper

Cute! David Arquette posed with a sweet puppy while attending Sundance Film Festival

And the next one: Next up, sienna arrived at TheWrap Studio sponsored by Heineken

Fun times: The actress was clearly in good spirits as she shared a laugh with a pal

Cuddles: Sienna shared a sweet moment with up her Wander Darkly co-star Diego Luna
Berlin, Jan 24 : Six persons were killed and several injured on Friday in a shooting incident in Germany's Rot am See town, the media reported.

The police tweeted that several shots were fired in a building near a train station, Xinhua reported citing a German media outlet.

A suspect was caught and the victims were his family members, the police said, adding that there was no other perpetrator.

The motive was still unclear, said the police.

Squads of policemen were dispatched to the scene and the situation was under control.
I feel alive, connected to these people who give thanks after every class without knowing I am a volunteer, who probe into my personal life in surprising ways, she wrote. I feel connected to them by the purest form of transmission, without all the constraints that many American higher education institutions have fallen into. Yes, yes, I give these students a little. I wonder if they know how much they give me.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 24)  President Rodrigo Duterte said 12 helicopters from Russia will soon be added to the Philippines' military arsenal.

In an interview with a Russian television network that aired Friday, Duterte explained that the plan to purchase military equipment from Russia has been delayed due to budget constraints.

"There's always not enough to go around with... Just because Russia is a friend, it doesnt follow that we abscond or do not pay our debts," Duterte said.

"But we have placed the orders now  12 military helicopters, cargo choppers," he said.

Last year, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said it was considering buying 16 chopper units as well as arms from Russia as part of its modernization program, which Duterte wants completed before his term ends in 2023.

Duterte's foreign policy has been described as a pivot towards Russia and China and away from the US, a longstanding ally whose government officials have criticized some of his policies.

In several speeches, Duterte has credited Russia for giving the Philippines arms, while chiding the US for holding off an arms deal amid human rights concerns surrounding his drug war.

READ: PH-Russia work towards stronger defense ties

The United States had been the Philippines' biggest supplier of weapons until it stopped the planned sale of 20,000 assault rifles to the Philippine National Police in 2016  after an American senator raised concerns over alleged extrajudicial killings in Duterte's drug war.

Duterte has since criticized weapons from the US, saying some of them were of bad quality. In June last year, he said he would reconsider buying from the US again because he was fond of its President, Donald Trump.

Russia, the worlds second largest arms exporter, has donated defense gear to the Philippines in a bid to expand its arms market in Southeast Asia.
Size is the big issue of 2020. Not so long ago, it felt hugely comforting to be an investor in an extra large stock market fund, run by a star manager.

The fund's scale seemed to provide the ideal mix: security, plus the power to outperform. But then came Neil Woodford, bringing in his wake worries about other popular funds.

Concerns have been mounting that big name funds may be just too big and also illiquid in the event of a downturn.

Concerns have been mounting that big name funds may be just too big and also illiquid in the event of a downturn

Criticism is being levelled at their typical share selection strategy. The 'growth' investing style has yielded generous rewards over the past decade.

But it is under threat from the new enthusiasm for 'value' investing which involves finding cheap, hidden-treasure shares.

While Woodford's problems were particular to Woodford, the scandal has sparked anxiety about other star managers and their funds.

The first fund under scrutiny is the 19.7billion Fundsmith Equity, managed by Terry Smith, a figure famed for his bumper salary and combative opinions.

This week Smith mounted a defence of his growth-investing principles, following a period when his fund has not been top of its league.

The second fund in the spotlight is the 6.7billion Lindsell Train UK Equity managed by Nick Train, another maverick and advocate of growth investing.

His credo is that outstanding businesses 'will create wealth' so long as you hold onto them.

He contends that investors should not regard periods of underperformance as unforgivable lapses. These pronouncements may remind you of the utterances of Warren Buffett, the legendary US investor.

Smith and Train were beneficiaries of Woodford's fall. But they have also  perhaps unfairly  suffered from the fallout, as has Mark Barnett, manager of Invesco Perpetual's 5.6billion High Income and 2.6billion Income funds.

Both of these were formerly managed by Woodford.

This atmosphere of fear led to the downgrading of Lindsell Train UK Equity by Morningstar, the fund rating group.

At the same time, the slowdown at Fundsmith raised suspicions that Smith was being affected by the relaxed vibe of Mauritius, where his operation is headquartered.

This week Interactive Investor, the investment platform, confirmed that Lindsell Train UK Equity would stay on its Super 60 best buy list, following a review prompted by Morningstar's move.

Dzmitry Lipski, Interactive Investor's head of funds research, ruled that the fund did not face liquidity issues.

Fundsmith UK Equity is also a Super 60 recommendation, an accolade that Smith is rightly eager to retain. His pledges to his investors included a vow that, if need be, '57 per cent of the fund could be liquidated in seven days'.

The controversy over best-buy lists (despite its closure, the Woodford fund remained for a while a Hargreaves Lansdown recommendation) suggests that Interactive Investor will be taking extra care over its rankings.

The Barnett funds do not appear on any best buy lists.

But while you may be willing to give Barnett more time to remedy his funds' issues, and be prepared to place trust in Smith and Train, it would still be short sighted to ignore the shift in thinking on fund size and strategy.

While Neil Woodford's problems were particular to Neil Woodford, the scandal has sparked anxiety about other star managers and their funds

The principal advantage of a big fund is that it can out muscle the rest, but only if it retains the capacity to achieve its aims.

Jason Hollands of investment platform Bestinvest says: 'A fund that invests in government or corporate bonds gains from its size because it has a better chance of securing a good allocation of stock in a new issue.

'But when a fund that invests in shares gets bigger, it may start to lose the dynamic that propelled its growth.'

As an alternative to the big names, investors could seek out flexible, middle-sized funds that also hold blockbuster shares. Options include the 3.7billion TB Evenlode Global Income and the $738million GuardCap Global Equity.

Those prepared to be more adventurous could opt for value funds such as Fidelity Special Situations which Hollands cites as his favourite.

Smaller companies are back in favour. Already money is flowing into such funds as Blackrock Smaller Companies and Henderson Smaller Companies (which are both investment trusts), and TB Amati UK Smaller Companies.

You could say investors taking this route are succumbing to trends, but a diversified portfolio, with a mix of investment styles and sizes of funds will always be in vogue.
Good morning. Ill be out in strange, corporate, post-industrial riverside New Jersey this weekend, the south part of Edison where the roads end in wetlands and garbage, where Alabama 3s Woke Up This Morning is the secret song in your head. The annual Fly Fishing Show is at the Convention and Expo Center there, and its a measure of how stir-crazy people like me get this time of the year that the joint will be packed. Its nerd prom, basically. Everyones going, shaking their heads. What is wrong with us? Itll be so great.

On the way back, Ill stop on Staten Island for supplies: for the awesome grilled olives they sell at Pastosa, and maybe some stuffed shells to boot. I like those smoky little nuggets for a New York take on the classic muffuletta sandwich. Swap them in for the Kalamatas our recipe calls for. Maybe add a couple of chopped anchovies to boot. The muffuletta is canon, but not. You can make that sandwich your own.

And for the stuffed shells? (You can make your own! Just parboil some jumbo pasta shells and shock them cold when theyre a little shy of being done, then follow this recipe for a cheese stuffing.) I like to surround them with Marcella Hazans classic Bolognese, then bake them until everythings copacetic, which will be after about an hour, under foil in a 350-degree oven. Shower with grated Parm!

Chinese New Year celebrations get underway on Saturday. Weve got loads of recipes to help keep the feast. Longevity noodles for all!
A Saudi health ministry affiliate said on Thursday there were no cases of coronavirus in the kingdom, denying earlier reports of an expatriate resident being infected.

Earlier, India's minister of state for external affairs said an Indian nurse working at a hospital in southwestern Saudi Arabia has been infected by the coronavirus and was being treated, amid an outbreak that has killed 25 people in China.

But the Saudi Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a tweet that there were no cases of the novel coronavirus so far.

Another statement from the Saudi health ministry said that the case mentioned in the Indian minister's tweet was related to an infection with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and was being dealt with.

"The ministry has taken all the precautionary measures to deal with this global issue and is in close coordination with all concerned entities," the statement added.

COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine  one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show

The kingdom said on Wednesday it would start screening passengers arriving from China and take other preventive measures following the outbreak in the central Chinese city of Wuhan.

The virus, which can pass from person to person, has been reported in Thailand, Japan and South Korea, raising concerns about its spread through international air travel. More than 630 people have been infected, mostly in China, but cases have been detected as far away as the United States.

Elsewhere in the Gulf region, Qatar and Bahrain called on their citizens in China to exercise caution against the virus, the state news agency reported on Thursday.

Kuwait's ministry of health said that thermal cameras were added to border crossings so passengers arriving from countries affected with coronavirus could be thermally screened, according to the state news agency.
Numerous search warrant executions and interviews over the ensuing months turned up evidence of suspected criminal conduct, state police said, and on Thursday officers took DeGreve, 47, into custody in Springfield, where he was being held at Sangamon County Jail on a $150,000 bond.
Jury Awards $85.23 Million in damages to WiLAN in Patent Suit against Apple

OTTAWA, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Wi-LAN Inc. ("WiLAN"), a Quarterhill Inc. ("Quarterhill") company (TSX: QTRH) (OTCQX: QTRHF), today provided an update on ongoing litigation.

In a damages-only re-trial in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California commenced on January 21, 2020, the jury rendered its verdict today awarding WiLAN $85.23 million in damages owed to WiLAN by Apple Inc. ("Apple") for the infringement of WiLAN's US patent Nos 8,457,145 and 8,537,757 ("Patents").

In a previous related trial verdict rendered on August 1, 2018 in the same court, the jury in that case found that Apple infringed the Patents and awarded WiLAN $145.1 million in damages. In a subsequent hearing after that 2018 verdict, the court affirmed the jury's finding of infringement but ordered another trial solely on damages which resulted in today's new verdict.

About WiLAN

WiLAN, a Quarterhill company, is one of the most successful patent monetization companies in the world and partners with its customers to unlock the value of intellectual property through various patent monetization models. WiLAN operates in a variety of markets including automotive, digital television, Internet, medical, semiconductor and wireless communication technologies. For more information: www.wilan.com .

About Quarterhill

Quarterhill is focused on the disciplined acquisition, management and growth of companies in dedicated technology areas including, vertical market software and solutions, intelligent industrial systems, and innovation and licensing. Quarterhill's emphasis is on seeking out acquisition opportunities at reasonable valuations that provide a foundation for recurring revenues, predictable cash flows and margins, profitable growth, intimate customer relationships and dedicated management teams. Quarterhill is listed on the TSX under the symbol QTRH. For more information: www.quarterhill.com.

Forward-looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other United States and Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are based on estimates and assumptions made by Quarterhill in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and the expected effects of new business strategies, as well as other factors that Quarterhill believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Many factors could cause Quarterhill's actual performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Such factors include, without limitation, the risks described in its February 28, 2019 annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2018 (the "AIF"). Copy of the AIF may be obtained at www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov. Quarterhill recommends that readers review and consider all of these risk factors, and notes that readers should not place undue reliance on any of Quarterhill's forward-looking statements. Quarterhill has no intention, and undertakes no obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

All trademarks and brands mentioned in this release are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Wi-LAN Inc.

Related Links

www.quarterhill.com


The state government has left any decision to forego extracting water for bottling in a drought-declared Gold Coast hinterland town in the hands of commercial operators.

The refusal to intervene came after a southern Queensland resort earlier in the week donated its water allowance to local charities and irrigators hours after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she was considering cancelling its water extraction licence.

But acting Natural Resources Minister Mark Ryan said the state government would only continue to "monitor the situation" in Tamborine Mountain, where residents in December called for the government to limit the amount of groundwater companies could take as bores dried up.

A water carrier passes a tourist bus on Tamborine Mountain. Credit:Save Our Water - Tamborine Mountain

On Monday, the owners of Cherrabah Resort, near Warwick, announced they would donate their 96-megalitre water allowance during drought conditions hours after the Premier described the operation as "not appropriate" at such a time.
Amidst the political furore over actor Rajinikanths remarks about Periyar EV Ramasamy, the founder of the Dravidian movement a statue of the late Dravidian icon was vandalised in Kancheepuram district of Tamil Nadu on Friday by unknown people.

Police said the face and hand of the statue, erected at the main thoroughfare, were found damaged early in the morning. Police later covered it with a piece of cloth. As news of the vandalism spread, police pickets were posted in the area as a precautionary measure.

Meanwhile, Rajinikanth got relief from Madras high court which dismissed a petition by the Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam (DVK) seeking a direction from the court to the police to file a case on the complaint against the actor. Justice P Rajamanickam asked why the petitioner rushed to the high court without even giving 15 days time to the police.

With the petitioner agreeing to withdraw the plea, it was dismissed as withdrawn.

The police said either supporters of the actor or a fringe group may be behind the vandalism, perhaps in retaliation to the protests by pro-Dravidian outfits demanding an apology from Rajinikanth.

Rajinikanth stirred a hornets nest with his speech at the 50th anniversary of Thuglak magazine, founded by the late Cho S Ramaswamy. In 1971, Periyar led an anti-superstition procession in Salem, parading the portraits of Sri Ramachandramoorthy (Ram) and Sita, without clothes and with garlands of slippers. No one had the courage to report that. And, it was Cho, editor of Thuglak, who published it, the actor said, triggering a wave of protests by Dravidian outfits.

Rajinikath has refused to apologise, stating that he was commenting on a reported incident.
Florida newspapers are reporting two separate yellow cardinal sightings this week within five minutes of each other, about 17 miles apart on Floridas Atlantic coast.

Floridas Treasure Coast Newspapers reports that one woman in Palm City, Fla. spotted a yellow cardinal while talking on the phone with her daughter at 1:43 p.m. Thursday. The bird left around 20 minutes later, at 2:06 p.m., she said. Meanwhile, a second woman reported seeing a yellow cardinal that same afternoon in Port St. Lucie, around 17 miles away. The metadata from her digital camera said a photo of the bird was taken at 2:03 p.m.

Yellow cardinals are male northern cardinals with a genetic mutation that blocks the pigment that normally turns their feathers the usual bright red color. Instead, these birds display with the usual markings of a male cardinal, but with bright yellow feathers instead of red.

Auburn University ornithologist Geoffrey Hill, who wrote a textbook about unusual bird colorations, said its unlikely the women were photographing the same bird because cardinals dont typically fly over distances that large over such a short timespan.

Hill has described the mutation that leads to this yellow coloration as a one in a million mutation, by using fairly simple math. There are roughly 3 million northern cardinals in the United States, and until recently, Hill said nationwide there were about three sightings per year.

In response to the latest sightings, Hill said its possible that more sightings are being reported now thanks to news reports, social media and widely available digital cameras.

There could be more but I think more likely is everybodys looking now because of the press coverage and the awareness, Hill said. You know, number one, people are looking for them. And number two, theyre reporting on when they see.

Hill said its also possible that the mutation is more common in that area of Florida. A yellow cardinal was spotted last year in Port St. Lucie, just north of Palm City.

Theres a lot of cardinals in that region, Hill told the TCPalm. Its possible that the allele in that area of Florida is more likely to appear.

Alabamas yellow cardinal, Mr. Yellow grabbed worldwide headlines in 2018 after photographer Jeremy Blacks images and video of the unusual bird went viral and helped elevate awareness of the unusual mutation.

Mr. Yellow has continued to live around Alabaster, with periodic sightings over two years. Black and Charlie Stephenson, the homeowner who first recognized the yellow cardinal for what it was, last saw Mr. Yellow in December.

After that a yellow cardinal was spotted in south Alabama, near Theodore, plus sightings in Georgia, Florida and Pennsylvania.

Im pretty sure its because everybodys looking now, Hill said. Some people really want to find the yellow cardinal. I say, look, I spent my entire life looking at cardinals and Ive never seen one, so youre not going to just look out your window and see one, very likely.
One of Disney Plus' most highly-anticipated shows hit a big stumbling block with the Star Wars series about Obi-Wan Kenobi being put on hold.

Ewan McGregor was confirmed to return as the younger Obi-Wan Kenobi from the Star Wars prequel trilogy, but now the show has been shut down 'indefinitely,' according to Collider.

The show's assembled crew members at Pinewood Studios in London have been sent home, because LucasFilm president Kathleen Kennedy is unhappy with the scripts.

Obi-Wan on hold: One of Disney Plus' most highly-anticipated shows hit a big stumbling block with the Star Wars series about Obi-Wan Kenobi being put on hold

Kathleen: The show's assembled crew members at Pinewood Studios in London have been sent home, because LucasFilm president Kathleen Kennedy is unhappy with the scripts

The Obi-Wan Kenobi series was first rumored in August 2019, with Deadline reporting that Ewan McGregor would return.

Disney confirmed the series and McGregor's return a week later at the D23 Convention in Anaheim, California.

The studio then confirmed in September that the show will take place eight years after 2005's Star Wars: Episode VI - Revenge of the Sith.

Rumored: The Obi-Wan Kenobi series was first rumored in August 2019, with Deadline reporting that Ewan McGregor would return

D23: Disney confirmed the series and McGregor's return a week later at the D23 Convention in Anaheim, California

Disney also announced in September 2019 that the series would be written by Hossein Amini (Drive) with Deborah Chow (The Mandalorian) set to direct.

The new report reveals that Amini's scripts will be reworked, in hopes that they can get production started on the show this summer.

There is always the possibility that time frame may shift if the scripts aren't ready on time, and it isn't known if another writer will be brought on or not.

Announced: Disney also announced in September 2019 that the series would be written by Hossein Amini (Drive) with Deborah Chow (The Mandalorian) set to direct

McGregor played Obi-Wan Kenobi in 1999's Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace, 2002's Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones and 2005's Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith.

The Obi-Wan series originally began in development as a feature film, with Stephen Daldry (The Reader) attached to direct.

Disney ultimately decided to turn it into a TV series, though now it's unclear when it will move forward.

Obi-Wan: McGregor played Obi-Wan Kenobi in 1999's Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace, 2002's Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones and 2005's Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

Kennedy has been criticized by many Star Wars fans since taking over as President of LucasFilm when George Lucas sold his company to Disney in 2012 for $4 billion.

There have been several tumultuous productions under Kennedy's tenure, including Rogue One, where Tony Gilroy was brought in to oversee post-production, and Solo: A Star Wars Story, where directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller were fired after filming for several months, leading to Ron Howard taking over.

LucasFilm's first Disney Plus series The Mandalorian was a huge hit, with production already under way on a second season.
The Prince of Wales speaking during a reception at the ambassadors residence in Tel Aviv (Julian Simmonds/The Daily Telegraph/PA)

The Prince of Wales has praised Israels technological prowess, joking that the nations inventions underpin the NHS.

Charles comments came after he met a range of scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs as the first day of his historic visit to Israel came to an end.

He also disclosed that he will visit the resting place of his grandmother, Princess Alice, who in 1943 while living in Nazi-occupied Greece sheltered a Jewish family in her own home and was recognised by Israel for her deeds.

At the official residence of Britains ambassador to Israel, Neil Wigan, the prince joined guests at a reception and after meeting the innovators gave short speech.

He said: But its been fascinating to hear about so many of the co-operative ventures that are taking place between both our countries, and from what I gather it sounds as though Israeli geniuses are maintaining the entire structure of the NHS.

Along with a great deal of other remarkable technology developments, research  I saw some very interesting ones just now  riveting developments and ingenious inventions.

Charles had chatted to Hossam Haick, a professor at Technion  Israel Institute of Technology  who specialises in nanotechnology applications in medicine.

He had brought a prototype of his Sniff Phone, which analyses a persons breath to detect a range of illnesses.

Expand Close The Prince of Wales with Professor Hossam Haick (Julian Simmonds/The Daily Telegraph/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp The Prince of Wales with Professor Hossam Haick (Julian Simmonds/The Daily Telegraph/PA)

Professor Haick told Charles, as the engineer and scientist held the device, slightly larger than a mobile phone: Every disease has a unique fingerprint of chemicals.

It analyses breath and can detect 17 different types of disease from cancers to neuro-degenerative diseases.

Another innovative piece of technology was a machine that produces water from moisture in the air.

Michael Rutman from Watergen, the company behind the water cooler-sized device, offered Charles a glass of water from the machine, which comes in an industrial version that can be taken to remote areas.

Mr Rutman said: He liked it, he said it tasted good.

This machine can save lives as it can run off solar panels and provide water in communities which dont have a fresh supply.
The world continues to churn outside the impeachment trial in Washington, including some potentially game-changing events in Israel.

In advance of the March 2 elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main political rival, Benny Gantz, have each vowed to annex one-third of the occupied West Bank.

Netanyahu has also promised to extend sovereignty to 132 or more Israeli settlements, some the size of small cities, which are scattered across the West Bank. The Israeli leader said he wanted to take advantage of the "unique, one-off opportunity" afforded by the Trump administration.

Meantime, Israeli media claim President Donald Trump will soon release his long-awaited Middle East "peace plan," crafted by son-in-law Jared Kushner, presumably in time to help Netanyahu in a tight election.

Never mind Iran, impeachment: Pay attention to Taiwan It's time for Americans to pay more attention to Taiwan's ongoing struggle to preserve its democracy against an authoritarian Beijing regime, columnist Trudy Rubin says.

Yet this rush toward annexation, with Trump's apparent blessing, could spell the end of Israel as a democratic Jewish state.

For the past three decades, plans to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have been premised on a "two-state solution." That means an Israeli and (demilitarized) Palestinian state side by side, with the latter incorporating most of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.

Take a look at the demographics of those territories and you'll understand why two-staters cling to this concept: If Israel annexes the West Bank and Gaza, the Arab population will soon outnumber the Jews in the Holy Land.

A Palestinian census in 2017 counted 4.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, with another 435,000 in Arab East Jerusalem. The Israeli Defense Ministry echoed those numbers. If you add in the 1.5 million Palestinian citizens of Israel, Palestinians nearly equal the 6.9 million Jews in Greater Israel.

Trump and Iran have paused confrontation, but the struggle hasn't ended Columnist Trudy Rubin says we are only in a lull before we enter Phase Two of the post-Soleimani "war."

Once Israel formally annexes much of West Bank territory, it can no longer avoid the question of what civic rights to grant Palestinians, who now live under severe restrictions.

Denying those rights, as former Prime Minister Ehud Barak and other Israeli leaders have noted, would lead to a form of apartheid, where Israeli Jews rule over a disenfranchised majority of noncitizens. Yet granting Palestinians citizenship in one state would end the Israeli state as a Jewish homeland.

Yet Israeli annexationists -- with the acquiescence of President Trump -- want to see the two-state idea dead and buried. And in reality, it is hard to see its resurrection.

Israeli-Palestinian negotiations have ceased. Extensive Israeli expansion of settlements -- with over 600,000 Israelis living in an expanded Jerusalem and the West Bank -- has divided the West Bank into disconnected Palestinian cantons that rule out any contiguous Palestinian territory. Palestinian leadership is weak and divided, and the whole Israeli polity has moved rightward.

After Qassem Soleimani's killing, how does this Iran war end? No one should mourn the death of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, but the verdict is out as to whether the White House has any strategy to deal with the repercussions

Understanding this, some Palestinians are adopting the one-state concept. They want to fight for full rights within one state, an argument they believe will attract more international backers.

Ironically, the Trump administration has effectively joined the one-state camp.

The U.S. ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, endorses the Israeli concept of annexation on the West Bank. And President Trump carelessly told journalists: "I am looking at two-state, and one-state, and I like the one that both parties like," during a Netanyahu visit to at the White House.

Whether or not Kushner releases his peace plan, it's clear it won't promote a two-state solution, or focus on any political solution. If Netanyahu remains in office, he will need to annex the Jordan Valley, and Israeli settlements, quickly in order to maintain his coalition. Even if Gantz wins and drops his annexationist pledges, no one expects a revival of serious peace talks or a cessation of settlement expansion.

Boris Johnson's victory holds lessons for Democrats in 2020 Focused on impeachment, Democrats may ignore the crucial lessons they need to learn from the smashing victory by Britain's Trump clone, Boris Johnson, in elections last week.

No wonder many analysts and scholars, including those who have supported the two-state idea for decades, have concluded that the two-state idea is dead.

They include the University of Pennsylvania's Ian Lustick, whose new book, "Paradigm Lost: From Two-State Solution to One-State Reality," argues it's time to jettison the two-state concept because there is now a "one-state reality" that isn't reversible.

Lustick stresses that this one-state reality is not the same thing as a "one-state solution." He says it is "not offering a solution -- by which I mean a pretty picture to which I have a route that I believe can be followed to attain it. Just because one solution (two states) is no longer plausible, doesn't guarantee that another is visible."

Voices from Kyiv: Trump's impeachment defense is based on lies about Ukraine If you want to understand why President Trump's "abuse of power" is an impeachable offense, you need only follow Rudy Giuliani's antics on his latest trip to Kyiv.

Many observers, myself included, can't imagine Jews and Arab Palestinians coexisting in one binational state. Perhaps Palestinians will warm to the idea, out of necessity, but I can't foresee Israelis giving up the right to a Jewish homeland. And in the Mideast, communal sentiments trump.

Yet we now see a strange de facto alliance between President Trump, right-wing Israelis who want to annex the West Bank and a nascent one-state Palestinian movement that will fight for equal rights within Greater Israel.

"The consequences of annexation can be quite different from what is expected," says Lustick. And you can be certain the Kushner peace plan won't do anything to resurrect the moribund prospects of two states living side by side.

Trudy Rubin is a columnist and editorial-board member for the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The Electoral Commission (EC) is set to pick suppliers for the new voters' registration kits to compile a new register.

The EC insists that the current kits are outdated and needed to embark on new registration to bring the commission to speed on the way forward ahead of the next election in December.

The commission said the compilation of a new voters' register and acquisition of Biometric Verification Devices (BVDs) would only boost the credibility and integrity of the elections.

4 Companies Shortlisted

Four foreign-based suppliers have been shortlisted for the final selection after international competitive tender to enable the EC to roll out the new register.

Two of the companies DAILY GUIDE learnt are from France and South Korea and the winner may likely emerge next week to kick-start the process ahead of the compilation of the new register.

The EC has already awarded the contract for the construction of the new Data Centre to Persol Systems Limited, a local IT company, after a similar international competitive tender.

The commission is saving millions of cedis for switching to a new register instead of upgrading the existing one which has got to its end use.

The Biometric Voter Management System (BVMS) is costing the EC $56,000,000, saving $18,364,500 or GH104,677,650 instead of spending $74,364,500 on refurbishing the old BVMS supplied by Superlock Technologies Limited (STL).

The commission is also saving $12 million on the contract for the Data Centre.

To refurbish the old Data Centre with one year maintenance cost, the EC will spend not less than $19,000,000, whereas to acquire a new upgraded Data Centre with three years maintenance cost is $7,000,000, making savings of $12 million (GH68.5 million).

This brings total savings to GH173,077,650 as against refurbishing the old system by STL.

The EC also ruled the perception that the commission is behind time and that the new register may overstretch the process, saying that it has timelines that it is working with.

According to the Chairperson, Jean Mensa, at a recent media engagement, the registration of Ghanaians of voting age starts in April.

She explained that the last biometric registration in 2012 was conducted between April and July and that the register was ready for that year's election.

She allayed fears that there would be long queues in polling stations during the exercise, saying that the cluster system would deploy four machines to each polling station to speed up the process.

The EC's decision to compile a new voters' register has been greeted by demonstrations instigated by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), calling for mayhem if the commission goes ahead with the plan.

NDC Demo Off

However, with the obvious futility of the exercise, the NDC Chairman, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, announced in Kumasi on Tuesday after the demonstration in the Ashanti Region that the party was calling off future demonstrations and was going to dialogue with the EC.

But the EC says the way forward is a new register which is cheaper than the path the NDC wants the commission to thread.

The 2016 Independent Presidential Candidate, Joseph Osei Yeboah, commended the EC for initiating steps to compile a new register, describing the decision as an excellent move.

He called on all persons against the compilation of the new register to reconsider their decision.

He said the EC had taken a right path for saving the country over GH173 million, adding that the funds can be used to complete all the E-blocks started by the Mahama administration.

Acting General Secretary of the Convention People's Party (CPP), James Kwabena Bomfeh, popularly known as Kabila, called on all 'lovers of democracy' to endorse and support the EC's decision to compile new register.

He said those who oppose the laudable initiative of the EC should come up with superior alternatives.

Let those with direct superior alternatives raise them and manage what is said as well as how it is said. Otherwise, let all democracy lovers endorse and support the EC for this initiative, Kwabena Bomfeh stated in a statement.

---Daily Guide
Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, and Bill Murray in a scene from the film Ghostbusters, 1984. (Credit: Columbia Pictures/Getty Images)

Bill Murray will be strapping on his proton pack once again.

The enigmatic star will officially be appearing in Ghostbusters: Afterlife, the forthcoming paranormal sequel.

Until now, Murray, 69, has been rumoured to be back on board, but now he's been interviewed on the Calgary set of the film by Vanity Fair, so it's all nice and official.

Read more: Ghostbusters: Afterlife teaser lands

But he noted that, sadly, they won't be the full team from the previous movies  Harold Ramis, who played Egon Spengler, passed away in 2014.

Well, we are a man down. Thats the deal, Murray told the magazine. And thats the story that were telling, thats the story theyve written.

Bill Murray poses at the Rome Film Fest (Credit: AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

Murray will be reprising his role alongside Dan Aykroyd's Ray Stantz, Ernie Hudson's Winston Zeddemore, Annie Potts' Janine Melnitz, and Sigourney Weaver's Dana Barrett.

The trailer for the movie landed before Christmas with Paul Rudd as a teacher in a small town that is suddenly beset with paranormal phenomena (it seems Rudd's character Mr. Grooberson was a kid in Manhattan when the Ghostbusters originally took on the Stay Puft marshmallow man).

Read more: Ghostbusters Afterlife plot links to the original

And in such situations, there's only certain people you can call.

Leftovers star Carrie Coon plays the mum of newcomers to town Finn Wolfhard of Strangers Things fame and Mckenna Grace from Captain Marvel, who may or may not be the grandchildren of Egon.

Set 36 years after the original movie, Jason Reitman (son of original writer and director Ivan Reitman) is penning and directing the movie.

It lands in the UK in July.
A boy of 11 was paid $40 by his grandfather to take a morphine pill and then urinate in a cup so he could pass a drugs test, according to court documents.

Police were called to his school in Mesa, near Phoenix, Arizona, after he showed signs of a drug overdose and vomited several times before being rushed to hospital.

The boy told officers his grandfather John Davis wanted to avoid testing positive for marijuana but continue to be prescribed morphine medication, court papers say.

Davis and the boy's mother Kiralee Arlene Ruck, 29, have both been arrested.

Ruck has been charged with child abuse over claims she refused to take her son to hospital after finding out he'd taken the pill and forced him to go to school instead.

The boy told officers his grandfather John Davis (left) paid him to take pills and his mother Kiralee Arlene Ruck (right) forced him to go to school even though he was sick

Investigators say the boy told them he'd been taking white pills for his grandfather and urinating in a cup for over a year, for which he was usually paid $20.

He said he was given half a 30mg pink pill instead, thought to be a stronger dose of morphine than the 15mg white pills.

The boy started being sick at home but the court papers say: 'His grandmother asked the defendant to take the victim to the emergency room and she refused.'

She sent him to bed and even though he was still sick the next morning, she 'forced him to go to school.

'She said she did not know what to do and assumed he was getting better if he was vomiting.'

A Mesa grandpa was arrested for paying his 11-year-old grandson $40 to take his morphine pill then take his drug test, so he wouldn't test positive for marijuana. The boy's mother was arrested for letting it happen.



I confronted the grandfather today...https://t.co/GyB3nEJ31W pic.twitter.com/xzXaOZBXKT  Briana Whitney (@BrianaWhitney) January 24, 2020

Ruck also told police she knew the pink pills were 30mg doses of morphine because Davis, her stepfather, 'has overdosed multiple times on the medication and Mesa Fire Department has had to revive him.'

The boy was rushed to hospital after falling ill at Lindbergh Elementary School, according to Fox 10 Phoenix.

Davis was arrested on Wednesday and police said they found marijuana and two bottles of morphine on him.

Davis told them the boy stole his medication, according to court paperwork.

He has previous arrests for DUI, marijuana possession, drug paraphernalia, firing a gun, disorderly conduct, assault and criminal damage, investigators said.

Police officials say that when they interviewed his mother, who also has seven-year-old twins, she said her son had told her about taking the pink pill for his grandfather on Tuesday.

Court documents state Ruck knew the pink pill was morphine because of prior knowledge.

Ruck also admitted giving her son a prescribed Adderall amphetamine pill before he told her about taking the pink morphine tablet, the court papers say.

Police said Ruck's mother had urged her to take the boy to the doctor but she ignored the advice and made him go to school instead.

Ruck has been released without bail but is forbidden from contacting any of her children cannot live in the same location as the victim.
To call Grand Horizons one of the brightest shows to hit Broadway in years is not to tout its intelligence, which flickers. Rather, I mean that it is blindingly lit, no doubt in deference to the theatrical wisdom that defines comedy as what dies in the dark.

And, boy, does Grand Horizons want to sell itself as comedy. Not witty comedy with its verbal arabesques, nor intellectual comedy with its Paris Review name-checks, nor meta-comedy with its scrambled plotlines  but the vanilla kind that once dominated commercial theater. Its not entirely meant as praise to say that this Second Stage production is a big-laugh, blue-joke, bourgeois lark of the type Neil Simon mastered until the times mastered him and the genre petered out.

Theres a reason it did, and perhaps what the playwright Bess Wohl is attempting in Grand Horizons, which opened on Thursday at the Helen Hayes Theater, is a last-ditch act of reclamation: a boulevard comedy for a cul-de-sac age.

She has certainly furnished the play with all the original equipment. For starters, theres the zingy premise: Over dinner one night, Nancy, a retired librarian approaching 80, turns to Bill, her husband of 50 years, and calmly announces that she wants a divorce. All right, he answers, continuing to eat as the audience roars.
Obviously, Im thinking of someone who understands the importance and values of cities, and how a complicated, urban environment is one in which were the laboratories for what should be national policy," Lightfoot said, "and that weve got to be supported by a federal government that understands that weve got to be supported not only with resources, but also with not having regulations or policies that impede our ability to deliver for our residents.
Financial firms in Britain should be ready in case no trade agreement is struck with the European Union by December, a senior U.K. regulator said on Thursday.

Britain leaves the EU next week, followed by a business as usual transition that ends in December. Britain and the EU will formally begin trade talks in coming weeks.

Firms still need to ensure they are prepared for a range of scenarios that may happen at the end of 2020, said Nausicaa Delfas, executive director of international at the Financial Conduct Authority.

Britains banks, trading platforms and insurers hope to get access to the EU market after December under the EU equivalence system, through which Brussels grants access to countries whose regulatory regimes it deems comparable to its own.

Britain has already put all EU financial rules into U.K. law, which means it will have the most equivalent framework to the EU of any country in the world, Delfas told an event held by law firm BCLP.

Britain will also need to decide whether EU-based financial firms can have access to U.K. investors under the same equivalence system it has inherited by adopting the EU laws.

This provides a strong basis for the EU and U.K. to find each other equivalent across the full range of equivalence provisions, Delfas said.

The EUs financial laws include about 40 equivalence provisions, ranging from trading shares to insurance, but access remains more limited than the unfettered passporting U.K. firms enjoyed inside the EU.

As both the U.K. and EU are committed to open markets, there is also a strong rationale for both sides to discuss broadening their respective equivalence frameworks, Delfas said.

It would make sense for equivalence to include cross border business like insurance broking and some retail services, she added.

The EU is committed to completing its equivalence assessments by the end of June, but banks fear it will be overshadowed by broader U.K.-EU trade talks.

We believe that equivalence decisions should be based on technical assessments, Delfas said.

Equivalence should be determined on the outcomes of respective rules rather than on a need to be written identically, Delfas said.

To date equivalence has been used by countries like the United States, Singapore and Japan.

The financial sector fears that Brussels will take a hardline approach with Britain given it will be a rival financial center on its doorstep.

(Reporting by Huw Jones; editing by Larry King and Katya Golubkova)

Related:

Impossible to Agree to Full EU-U.K. Brexit Trade Deal by Year End: EU Head

Topics Europe Uk
Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for release publication, distribution or dissemination directly, or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States.



VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Broadway Gold Mining Ltd. (Broadway or the Company) (TSXV:BRD) (OTC:BDWYF) is pleased to provide an update on its reverse takeover transaction (RTO) by the current shareholders of Mind Medicine, Inc. (MindMed) by way of plan of arrangement (the Arrangement) as announced on July 26, 2019 and October 15, 2019. Effective January 23, 2020 Broadway and MindMed have executed an amendment (the Amendment) to the definitive arrangement agreement (the Arrangement Agreement) to extend the closing date of the Arrangement from no later than January 31, 2020 to no later than March 31, 2020. All other terms of the Arrangement Agreement remain in full force and effect and unamended.

On December 19, 2019, MindMed completed the first tranche of its previously announced brokered private placement financing of Class D non-voting shares (the Shares) of MindMed at a price of CAD$0.33 per share (the Brokered Private Placement) for gross proceeds of $6,194,726. MindMed anticipates closing a second tranche of the Brokered Private Placement on or about February 11, 2020 raising an aggregate of up to CAD$15 million. There can be no assurances that MindMed will elect to close the second tranche.

In connection with the proposed RTO, Broadway is pleased to announce that it obtained an interim order from the Supreme Court of British Columbia on January 20, 2020 (the Interim Order). The Interim Order provides for, among other things, the holding of an annual and special meeting (the "Meeting") of the holders of common shares of Broadway (the "Shareholders") to approve the Arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). The Meeting is scheduled to be held at the offices of Wildeboer Dellelce LLP, Suite 800, Wildeboer Dellelce Place, 365 Bay St., Toronto, Ontario M5H 2V1 on Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. (Toronto time). The record date for determining Shareholders entitled to receive notice of and vote at the Meeting was fixed at the close of business on January 14, 2020.

A management information circular (the Circular) in respect of the Meeting has been mailed to shareholders of Broadway and has been filed under Broadways profile on www.SEDAR.com. Broadway Shareholders are encouraged to review the Circular.

At the Meeting, shareholders of Broadway will be asked, among other things, to elect the directors and to appoint the auditor of the Company (both before and after completion of the Arrangement, if approved), to approve the Arrangement (the Arrangement Resolution), to approve the consolidation of the existing issued and outstanding securities of Broadway on an eight-for-one (8-1) basis (the Consolidation), to approve the creation of a class of majority voting shares which are expected to be issued, if at all, to preserve Broadways status as a foreign private issuer under U.S. securities laws and the change of name of Broadways common shares to subordinate voting shares and to approve the de-listing of Broadways common shares from the TSX Venture Exchange, effective and conditional upon the approval of the Arrangement. The Arrangement Resolution requires approval of not less than two-thirds of the votes cast at the Meeting.

If the Plan of Arrangement is approved and completed, Broadway intends to transfer all of Broadways right, title and interest, and all associated liabilities, in the Broadway and Madison mine (the Spin-Out Transaction), which comprises 450 acres of land, a 192 acre ranch, buildings, mine equipment and fixtures, 6 patented, 35 unpatented mineral claims, and mineral rights to a four-square-mile property, in the Butte-Anaconda region of Montana (the Madison Project) to a wholly-owned B.C. subsidiary of Broadway, Madison Metals Inc. (SpinCo). SpinCo was incorporated on October 11, 2019 for the purpose of acquiring the Madison Project in connection with the Arrangement. Pursuant to the Plan of Arrangement, SpinCo will issue 49,860,204 common shares to Broadway as consideration for the Madison Project (the SpinCo Consideration Shares), which SpinCo Consideration Shares will be distributed to the holders of record of the Companys shares immediately before completion of the RTO on a pro-rata basis (other than to shareholders who dissent in accordance with the provisions of the Arrangement). Broadway shareholders will be entitled to receive one SpinCo Consideration Share for every common share of Broadway on a pre-Consolidation basis held by such shareholder. As a result, assuming the Arrangement is completed, each Broadway shareholder will hold shares of SpinCo as well as their post-Consolidation subordinate voting shares of the Resulting Issuer. The SpinCo Consideration Shares will not be listed or posted for trading on any stock exchange; therefore there will be reduced liquidity for SpinCo shares. There is no guarantee or assurance that securities of SpinCo will ever be listed for trading on any stock exchange or that any market for the SpinCo Consideration Shares will develop and as a result SpinCo shareholders may not be able to re-sell their SpinCo Consideration Shares.

If the Arrangement Resolution and related matters are approved at the Meeting, Broadway will seek a final order from the Supreme Court of British Columbia on or about February 24, 2020.

In addition to shareholder approval, the Arrangement and related matters is subject to the receipt of regulatory and court approvals. Broadway and MindMed have received conditional approval from the Neo Exchange Inc. (the Neo Exchange) for the listing of the subordinate voting shares of Mind Medicine (Mind Med) Inc., the resulting issuer following the RTO (the Resulting Issuer). Listing is subject to the Resulting Issuer fulfilling all of the Neo Exchanges listing requirements, including minimum distribution and other listing requirements.

If all the conditions of the Arrangement Agreement, a copy of which can be found under the Companys profile on www.SEDAR.com, are satisfied or waived and all the necessary shareholder, regulatory and court approvals are received, Broadway and MindMed plan to close the RTO by the end of February 2020 and commence trading on the Neo Exchange shortly thereafter. There can be no assurances that all such conditions will be satisfied or such approvals obtained.

About MindMed

Mind Medicine, Inc. is a neuro-pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and deploys psychedelic inspired medicines to improve health, promote wellness and alleviate suffering. The companys immediate priority is to address the opioid crisis by developing a non-hallucinogenic version of the psychedelic ibogaine. The MindMed executive team brings extensive biopharmaceutical industry experience to this ground-breaking approach to the development of next-generation psychedelic medicines.

About Broadway

Until execution of the Arrangement Agreement, Broadway was focused on the exploration and development of the Broadway and Madison mine and the delineation of the porphyry source of their mineralization; the Companys right, title and interest to the Broadway and Madison mine - 450 acres of land, a 192 acre ranch, buildings, mine equipment and fixtures, 6 patented, 35 unpatented mineral claims, and mineral rights to a four-square-mile property in the Butte-Anaconda region of Montana, a porphyry-based mining district - will be spun-out to Broadways current shareholders as a result of the Arrangement. Assuming completion of the Arrangement, Broadway will have acquired the business of MindMed, will be a developer and distributor of the 18-MC Program for treatment of opioid and other forms of substance addiction.

Information in this News Release

All information contained in this news release with respect to Broadway and MindMed was supplied by the parties respectively for inclusion herein, and each party and its respective directors and officers have relied on the other party for any information concerning the other party. Broadway has not independently verified the information provided by MindMed and shall bear no liability for any misrepresentation contained therein.

For Further Information, Please Contact:

Duane Parnham, Executive Chairman President and CEO Broadway Gold Mining Ltd.

+1 954.860.5664

IR@broadwaymining.com

www.broadwaymining.com



Media:

Adam Bello

Primoris Group Inc.

+1 416.489.0092

media@primorisgroup.com



For more information on MindMed please contact:

Jamon JR Rahn

Mind Medicine Inc., Director

jr@mindmed.co



Cautionary Statement on Forward-looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information and forward-looking statements (collectively, forward-looking statements) within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as expects, or does not expect, is expected, anticipates or does not anticipate, plans, budget, scheduled, forecasts, estimates, believes or intends or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results may or could, would, might or will be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate, among other things, to: the terms and conditions of the proposed Arrangement; the terms and conditions of the proposed Brokered Private Placement; the receipt of Shareholder, Court and regulatory approvals for the Arrangement, the listing of the subordinate voting shares on the Neo Exchange and the closing of the Arrangement. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; and the delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. In evaluating forward-looking statements and information, readers should carefully consider the various factors which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward looking statements and forward-looking information depending on, among other things, the risks that the parties will not proceed with the Arrangement, the Spin-Out Transaction, the Brokered Private Placement and/or other associated transactions, that the ultimate terms of the Arrangement, the Spin-Out Transaction and/or other associated transactions will differ from those currently contemplated, and that the Arrangement, the Spin-out, the Brokered Private Placement and/or other associated transactions will not be successfully completed for any reason (including the failure to obtain the required approvals or clearances from regulatory authorities).

Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Broadway and MindMed assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release. Broadway undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of Broadway, MindMed, their respective securities, or their respective financial or operating results (as applicable).

The securities to be offered in the Offering have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act) or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, United States persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange Inc. nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release and neither of these entities has in any manner passed upon the merits of the Arrangement or any associated transactions. None of the TSX Venture Exchange or the Canadian Securities Exchange and their Regulation Services Providers accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Completion of the Arrangement is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, final acceptance by the Neo Exchange Inc. and if applicable, disinterested shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Arrangement cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Arrangement will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the Circular prepared in connection with the Arrangement, any information released or received with respect to the Arrangement may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of Broadway should be considered highly speculative.

The TSX Venture Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.
Earlier today in Aiken Barracks Dundalk, Sergeant Sandra Murphy and Private Sarah Fitzsimons made history as the first mother-daughter duo to serve in the Irish Defence Forces. After 27 weeks of intensive military training, Kildare Town native, Private Sarah Fitzsimons and her fellow comrades celebrated their passing out parade in the 27th Infantry Battalion. A proud mother seated in the audience, Sergeant Sandra Murphy watched her daughter receive her rank as a 3-star Private and begin her career in uniform. The mother-daughter duo are the first ever mother and daughter to serve together.



For many years, Sarah witnessed her mother forge a rewarding yet challenging career in the Defence Forces with often time spent apart as Sandra was deployed overseas to Lebanon, Kosovo, Uganda and Syria through her 25 years'service. Sandra is a highly skilled communications and information technician and played a key role in her daughter making the decision to follow her footsteps to the military and indeed into the Communications and Information Services (CIS) Corps. Prior to her career in the Irish Defence Forces, Sarah completed her Leaving Cert and went to further her studies by doing a PLC course in Criminology, Security & Legal studies.



The 30 recruits of the 57th Recruit Platoon began their intense training on July 15th in Aiken Barracks, Dundalk. Coming from all corners of the Country, they dedicated their time to learning and perfecting their skills that enabled them to meet the required standard of a trained soldier. Platoon Commander, Lt Conor OBrien congratulated the young privates on their achievement and wished them well as they move forward with their career in the Defence Forces.
Police are searching for a woman after a Victorian pensioner had his wallet stolen just after he put his entire $1,200 pension in it.

Alex, 74, went into a store in a Frankston shopping centre in Melbourne to buy his granddaughter a birthday present just minutes after withdrawing the money on January 9.

He momentarily placed his wallet on the counter around 5pm and within seconds it was gone.

Police are searching for a woman believed to be 45-50-years-old, of a solid build with blonde hair. They believe she may be able to assist with their inquiries into the theft of a pensioner's wallet containing $1,200

While the shop assistant was wrapping the gift, he noticed it was missing and frantically ran to search for it.

A woman who stood next to Alex at the counter allegedly took the wallet and told the shop assistant she was taking it outside so she could find him and return it.

Investigators believe the woman picked up the wallet and took a large amount of cash out of it before returning the empty wallet back to the store, police report.

A traumatised Alex told radio station 3AW, 'I'm still bearing up.'

The woman is thought to have met up with a man outside the shopping centre after the theft.

The pensioner's distressing ordeal has drummed up a huge response from the public, with people many offering him money to replace the stolen cash.

A grateful Alex reluctantly accepted $700 to pay his car insurance but admirably asked that anyone who offered more donate it to bushfire relief, before expressing his 'enormous gratitude.'

Police have released images of the woman they believe may be able to assist with their inquiries.

She is believed to be aged 45-50-years-old, of a solid build and had blonde hair which was tied in a pony tail.

She was pictured wearing a black dress, black shoes and carrying a pink handbag.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Bhima-Koregaon case: Sudha Bharadwaj to be released from jail on payment of Rs 50,000 surety

Maharashtra govt irked as NIA takes over Bhima Koregaon case

India

oi-Mousumi Dash

Mumbai, Jan 25: The 2018 Koregaon-Bhima violence case has been taken over by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday. This came a day after the Maharashtra government held a review meeting with senior Pune police officers to take a call on pursuing the matter.

However, the Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh slammed the Union government and accused that it has transferred the probe of the case to the NIA without the state government's consent.

Meanwhile, the centre's decision has triggered another face-off with the Uddhav Thackeray government. The Maharashtra government was seen to be preparing to withdraw all cases against intellectuals and social activists accused of inciting the clashes.

Such "unconstitutional action" has reportedly irked Maharashtra Housing Minister Jitendra Awhad, and he sought to remind the centre that law and order is a state subject, he said that Defence goes to centre while law and order come to the state. When centre takes over certain subjects of a state, it means they trample on its constitutional rights.

On January 1, 2018, Koregaon-Bhima in Pune district boiled up triggering massive violence in the area, during Dalit groups were celebrating 200 years of a British-era battle.

Centre transferred Koregaon-Bhima probe to NIA without state's consent: Maha HM

Then Pune police had filed cases against the activists and intellectuals who gave speeches at Elgar Parishad gathering a day before the violence.

The critics have accused then BJP government led by Devendra Fadnavis, of jailing activists opposed to its ideology and branding them as "Urban Naxals".
Congressional Black Caucus Members Appointed as Managers for the Senate Impeachment Trial of President Donald J. Trump

The Congressional Black Caucus released the following statement following the announcement by Speaker Nancy Pelosi that two members of the Congressional Black Caucus, Representatives Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) and Val Demings (FL-10), as managers for the impeachment trial of President Donald J. Trump in the United States Senate:

As the conscience of the Congress, Members of the Congressional Black Caucus, including Representatives Jeffries and Demings, have worked tirelessly to ensure that our democracy remains intact and that the highest office in the land is no longer compromised. Indeed, Members of the Congressional Black Caucus were among the first to call for the impeachment of this President. Since Donald Trump was sworn into office, the Black community has suffered from repressive and racist policies to heightened incitement of racial violence and rising unemployment rates in our community.

Jeffries, Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, is one of the Democratic partys most senior members. In Congress, Rep. Jeffries has used his voice to consistently advocate for social and economic justice. Prior to becoming a Member of Congress, Rep. Val Demings served the people of Orlando, Florida for 27 years in the Orlando Police Department, rising to the highest office of Police Chief in 2007. Their unrelenting commitment to protecting the democracy of our nation and putting the interests of American citizens first is a testament to their appointment as managers.

ADVERTISEMENT

The appointment of Representatives Jeffries and Demings as managers of the impeachment trial is a historic moment for the Congressional Black Caucus. This is the first time in history that members of the Congressional Black Caucus and women have been selected to play such a crucial role in a presidential impeachment hearing. Regardless of what happens, United States history will note that President Donald Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives. We must now look towards our colleagues in the Senate, on both sides of the aisle, to have the courage to stand for a fair and open impeachment process with evidence and witnesses.
The price of oil fell sharply but global stock markets were mixed as investors scrambled to assess the potential fallout to world trade and tourism should the cases of coronavirus increase over the weekend.

Authorities have all but shut down Chinas Wuhan, a city of 11 million and a major transport hub, at what is normally the busiest time of year  the Lunar New Year holiday  when millions of people travel home to visit their families.

Millions of people in surrounding cities are virtually stranded after public transport networks were shut to stop the spread of the virus, believed to have originated at a Wuhan market illegally selling wildlife.

On one high-speed train carrying a Reuters journalist that stopped in Wuhan station today, about 10 passengers got off and nobody got on before the train resumed its journey to Changsha.

Although it stopped there, Wuhan had been removed from the trains schedule. Wuhans airport is not closed, but nearly all flights have been cancelled. Three international flights arriving yesterday would leave with no passengers, an airport official said.

The virtual lockdown hints at the potential fallout to tourism and world trade, which depends on Chinese factories feeding global supply chains for everything from smartphones to car parts.

Economists were brushing down charts and economic data from the Sars virus 17 years ago. With the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations likely to be muted by the government measures, there is a hope that the potential widespread proliferation of the virus will be averted, said Joshua Mahony at online broker IG.

Nonetheless, the price of Brent crude oil slid $1.40 to $60.64 a barrel on fears that the virus could hit tourism and weigh on GDP expansion in China, Japan, and beyond.

Analysts said the effect on travel bans on Chinese tourists could reduce GDP growth in Hong Kong, Cambodia, Thailand, and Singapore, as well as in Japan because of the numbers and spending power of Chinese visitors. And Capital Economics said the new coronavirus could hit commodity prices hard.

We dont pretend to be experts on public health issues. However, experiences of previous epidemics, such as the outbreak of Sars in February 2003, may offer a rough guide on what to expect going forward, the economists said.

Back then, the Goldman Sachs Commodity Price index initially shed more than a tenth of its value, but this loss was fully recovered a few months after the disease was brought under control in July 2003.
The Urinary Catheter Market size is poised to touch USD 4.18 Billion by 2026, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.3% during the forecast period. Increasing prevalence of urinary continence is one of the key factors driving the growth of this market. Urinary incontinence refers to involuntary leakage of urine and is observed to be more prevalent in female as compared to the male population of the world.

The report provides market analysis to give a broader overview of the key players in the market. In addition, the report also covers key strategic developments of the market including acquisitions & mergers, new product & service launches, agreements, partnerships, collaborations & joint ventures, research & development, and regional expansion of major participants involved in the market on a global and regional basis.

Key Features of Urinary Catheter Market Report:

Overview, Industry Life Cycle Analysis, Supply Chain Analysis

Size, Trends, Growth Drivers, Constraints, SWOT Analysis, Forecast Analysis

Competitive Landscapes: Market Share, Product Portfolio, New Product Launches, etc.

Market attractiveness and Associated Growth Opportunities

Strategic Growth Opportunities for the Existing and New Players

Key Success Factors

Request a Sample Copy of the Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/urinary-catheter-market-101665

Regional Analysis: Europe to Hold Leading Position; North America to Showcase High CAGR

With a revenue of generation of 1.08 billion in 2018, Europe is projected to dominate the global Urinary Catheter Market share till 2026. This is mainly because of high incidence of urinary disorders among the geriatric population in the region.

Advancements in treating urological diseases will be the major factor driving the market in North America. In Asia-Pacific, the market will grow as a result of increasing awareness regarding urinary incontinence and its treatment. Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America will grow at a lower rate due to low awareness levels about urological disorders.

Key Companies and Manufacturers Covered:

Braun Melsungen AG

Amsino International, Inc.

Teleflex Incorporated

ConvaTec Group PLC

Coloplast A/S

Boston Scientific Corporation

Cook Medical Inc.

BD

Hollister Incorporated

Industry Development:

November 2019: Pro-Lab Diagnostics secured a distribution agreement with CATHETRIX to distribute the latters popular Foley Catheter Securement Device in the US, UK, and Canada.

February 2019: The US FDA green lit Safe Medical Designs commercial launch of its Signal Catheter in the US. The device is novel as it has shown to reduce urethral trauma when draining urine.

Reasons to Purchase this Report:

Detailed business profiles including product offerings, recent developments, key financial information, and strategies employed by main market players.

Analysis of various regions and countries that includes the demand and supply based actions, which consequently have a major influence on the markets expansion.

Market dynamics and opportunities for growth for players in the near future.

Competitive landscape describing the market revenue shares of key players.

Market segmentation analysis that deals with quantitative and qualitative research, discussing the influence of policy-based and economical aspects.

Our proven methodologies and systematic analysis help in making confident business and strategic decisions. A market study that conducts at Fortune Business Insights can save significant cost and time, and can help prevent making costly mistakes.

Order Full Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/101665

Related Reports:

Cataract Surgical Devices Market to Reach USD 9.98 Billion by 2026; Presence of Favorable Reimbursement Policies to Aid Growth, says Fortune Business Insights

Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Market to Reach USD 2.74 Billion by 2026; Rising Prevalence of Surgical Site Infections to Boost Growth: Fortune Business Insights

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccines Market to Reach USD 11.15 billion by 2026; Growing Efficacy and Improvement in Vaccines to Augment Healthy Growth, states Fortune Business Insights

About Us:

Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them to address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in.

Our reports contain a unique mix of tangible insights and qualitative analysis to help companies achieve sustainable growth. Our team of experienced analysts and consultants use industry-leading research tools and techniques to compile comprehensive market studies, interspersed with relevant data.
That India's budget numbers are highly suspect because of off-budget financing is well known. What is not known is the true extent of it and the various ways the central government is doing it. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has scrutinised a few accounts and found it extend far beyond deferring payments as earlier suspected, including capital investments.

The 'strategic disinvestment' has not attracted its attention so far but this could well be another tool for generating off-budget financing as the case of ONGC and others may indicate.

But first what is well-established but not so well-known or appreciated.

FULL COVERAGE:Union Budget 2020

The CAG warned about the off-budget financing some years ago because it remains beyond the control of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act of 2003 or the Parliament. In its report tabled in 2019, CAG listed three more reasons: (a) current quantum of such borrowings "is huge" (b) current policy framework "lacks transparent disclosures and management strategy" for comprehensively managing such borrowings and (c) the central government is shying away from making full disclosures.

Here is the extent of the off-budget financing that is known.

(a.) Off-budget financing for revenue expenditure

The CAG's report on the FRBM compliance for 2016-17 - Report No. 2 of 2018 tabled on January 8, 2019- says the Central government has "increasingly resorted to off-budget financing" for revenue spending.

It looked at three areas of central government's spending: (a) fertilizer arrears/bills through 'special banking arrangements' (SBA) (b) food subsidy arrears/bills of the FCI through its market borrowings and (c) implementation of irrigation scheme (Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme or AIBP) through borrowings by the NABARD under the Long Term Irrigation Fund (LTIF) set up in 2016-17.

Also Read: Budget 2020: Date, timings, where to watch, expectations from Modi govt's most challenging Budget

What is the extent of off-budget financing for revenue expenditure? The following three graphs show the numbers.

The accumulated subsidies adversely affect the cash flow of companies which are to be paid by the central government. Besides the principal, interests are also to be paid. Interest paid on 'special banking arrangements' amounted to Rs 314.86 crore between FY14 and FY17.

As the graph demonstrates, there was an increase of about 350% in carried over food subsidy in five years preceding FY17.

The NABARD issued bonds for Rs 9,086 crore in FY17 after the LTIF was created the same year to meet: (a) central share of Rs 3,336.88 crore in the National Water Development Agency (NEDA) (b) central share of Rs 2,414.16 crore to the Polavaram project and (c) states' share of Rs 3,334.98 crore towards LTIF projects.

Earlier the expenditures for AIBP schemes were provided through budget appropriations but "due to off-budget financing, it does not appear in the budget of 2016-17 onwards", says the CAG report.

Also Read: Modi govt may fund $28 billion of FY21 expenditure outlay via off-Budget borrowings: report

How much was the actual revenue deficit in FY17?

The CAG does not spell out the actual numbers because it picked only three instances to find out the extent of off-budget financing. But the three taken together, the 'actual' numbers concerning revenue and fiscal deficits change significantly. Here is how.

For FY17, the off-budget finances from SBA, FCI and NABARD add up to Rs 1,29,446 crore.

That fiscal, the revenue deficit (actual) stood at Rs 3,16,381 crore or 2.1% of the GDP and fiscal deficit (actual) at Rs 5,35,618 crore or 3.5% of GDP - as per the 'Budget at a glance 2018-19'.

Adding up the off-budget numbers would take the 'actual' revenue and fiscal deficit to 2.9% and 4.3% of the GDP, respectively.

Also Read: Budget 2020: What measures should be taken for affordable housing?

What would be the case in FY18 and FY19? One would now have to wait for the CAG to shed light.

(b.) Off-budget financing for capital investment

For the first time, the same CAG's report found the central government using off-budget borrowings as "a prominent method of financing capital expenditure" and issued a warning: "It appears that there is no policy with respect to either rate of return, creation of assets, potential of increase in income, socio-economic or regional disparities for deployment of borrowed funds."

That is risky because the CAG says there is a likelihood of borrowed funds being deployed "in areas which do not generate enough returns to cover future debt servicing needs".

The CAG detected two such off-budget borrowings to fund capital investments in FY17: (i) Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) and (ii) Power Finance Corporation (PFC). It did this "to understand the method and quantum of borrowings". The IRFC and PFC finance railway and power projects, respectively.

Graph 4

The CAG does not venture into guessing what part of these borrowings is off-budget. Nor does it indicate the true extent of such borrowings for capital investment. One would have to wait for CAG's next audit reports to know more.

Also Read: Budget 2020: FM Nirmala Sitharaman kicks off budgetary exercise with 'Halwa' ceremony

Here is why it is important to know these off-budget borrowings.

Off-budget borrowing to finance Rs 102 lakh crore infra plan?

On December 31, 2019, the finance minister unveiled an ambitious plan to spend an additional Rs 102 lakh crore on infrastructure projects in the next five years without disclosing the source of money. Evocatively named National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP), the central government and state governments would contribute equally (39%) to the NIP and the rest 22% (contribution) would come from the private sector.

So, where would the 39% of Rs 102 lakh crore (or Rs 39.8 lakh crore) come from when the revenue and disinvestment receipts are nowhere near the target and deficits are expected to rise?

The revenue collection is expected to dip low in FY20 due to two factors: (i) slower growth rate (an estimated 7.5% nominal GDP growth against the budgeted rate of 12%) and (ii) Rs 1.45 lakh crore corporate tax cut.

As on January 9, 2020, the disinvestment has generated only Rs 18,094 crore against the target of Rs 1,05,000 crore.

Actual off-budget financing areas could be many more

What should come as a greater concern that while the CAG is yet to expand its scrutiny beyond the five areas mentioned, several national business dailies have flagged off at least three more areas: (i) loans provided by oil companies to the Ujjwala scheme beneficiaries (ii) banks mobilisingresources on their own for recapitalisation (in addition to infusion of capital by the government) and (iii) NHAI investments when the government is reluctant to fund it.

Some of these reports also point out that the CAG had reportedly demonstrated to the 15th Finance Commission in July 2019 that the actual fiscal deficit for FY18 could be 5.8% of the GDP - not 3.46% as the central government had claimed.

Part II of this article would look at another area of off-budget financing that has escaped CAG's attention - 'strategic disinvestment' in CPSEs the tabs for which are picked by other CPSEs. This is worrisome as it threatens to jeopardise the financial health of many CPSEs, including the 'navaratnas' for short term fiscal gains.
A man's body has been found beside a busy road in Logan.

Emergency services were called to Kingston Road in Waterford West about 8.45am on Friday.

They were responding to a triple-zero call reporting a body being found.

A crime scene was initially declared, but police later confirmed the death was not suspicious.
Alert the guards! Sophie, Countess of Wessex, just broke protocol during her latest outing.

The 55-year-old royal recently embarked on a two-day tour of Sierra Leone, West Africa. During the trip, Sophie visited the Aberdeen Womens Clinic in Freetown and was spotted committing a royal no-no.

While exiting the building, the Countess of Wessex posed for a selfie with a group of staff members. Gasp!

The photo caught our attention, since royals arent supposed to take photos with the general public. Although the rule isnt strictly enforced, the news might surprise some people, since we rarely see royals taking selfies. The general rule is for them to politely decline offers, so they can focus on their duties sans distraction.

However, its sometimes easier for royals to break protocol and smile for a photolike Sophie, who probably didnt want to seem rude when the hard-working staff members surrounded her.

This isnt the first time weve seen a royal selfie. Back in 2014, Prince William took a photo with a schoolgirl on Christmas Day at Sandringham. Prince Harry also posed for a young fans selfie once upon a time, so Sophie is off the hook. (In our book, at least.)

During the outing, the Countess of Wessex wore a blue satin midi skirt and a terracotta-colored blouse. She styled her hair in a ponytail and accessorized the look with a gold necklace, stud earrings and nude ballet pumps.

New life goal: Get a royal to pose for a selfie.

RELATED: Listen to Royally Obsessed, the Podcast for People Who Love the Royal Family
New Delhi, Jan 24 : Citing the precedent of the Defence Ministry prohibiting the use of elephants during the Republic Day parade, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India has asked the Union Government to add elephants to the list of wild animals banned from being exhibited or trained for performances in India.

PETA India has sent a letter to the Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Giriraj Singh requesting that elephants be added to the list of wild animals banned from being exhibited or trained for performances in India.

In 1998, the central government banned the use of bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers and lions as performing animals. However, elephants, although protected under Schedule I of The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, are excluded from this list.

In 2008, based on the recommendations of the Wildlife Institute of India and the National Zoological Park, New Delhi, the Ministry of Defence decided to prohibit the use of elephants during the Republic Day parade.

It concluded that there are serious safety concerns associated with the risk that frustrated elephants could become violent and that uncertainties exist regarding the legality of their ownership.

Consequently, since 2009, the central government has instead used decorated military jeeps to carry children who have won National Bravery Award during the parade. In its letter to Giriraj Singh, PETA India points out that the same concerns are relevant to the use of elephants in circuses, for events, and for "joy rides".

"The government of India has been honouring elephants in the best way possible by refusing to allow their use during Republic Day parades," said PETA India CEO and veterinarian Dr Manilal Valliyate.

"It's high time we unshackled these representations of Lord Ganesha and allowed them to live free, as nature intended. Banning their use in performances would bring us closer to that goal." Based on a detailed study that highlighted the suffering endured by captive elephants in India, in 2016 the Animal Welfare Board of India, a government advisory body, recommended that the central government ban the exhibition and training of elephants for performances. In 2010, the government declared elephants a National Heritage Animal in order to strengthen measures to protect them.
Karnataka Chief Minister on Friday said the much-awaited expansion of his cabinet will be carried out "in three to four days".

On his arrival here from Davos after attending the World Economic Forum meet, he reiterated that he will keep the promise of making disqualified JDS-Congress MLAs, who got re-elected in the bypolls on BJP tickets, ministers but made it clear that those who lost will not be inducted.

"...I have discussed (expansion) with him (Home Minister Amit Shah) during his recent visit (to the state). In three to four days cabinet will be expanded, will do it hundred per cent this month," Yediyurappa said.

Speaking to reporters, he said there was no need for him to travel to Delhi as he has already had a discussion with Shah and has got his approval for the exercise.

"I will speak to the leadership once again and release the list (of ministers) and expand the cabinet with swearing-in ceremony in three to four days," he said.

The chief minister, who had begun his Davos tour on January 19, returned to the city on Friday afternoon, following which several aspirants met him at his residence.

Yediyurappa, who was anxiously waiting for the high-command's nod to expand his cabinet amid intense lobbying by the aspirants, was keen on getting the approval of Shah last week, ahead of his Davos tour.

Though party sources said he will have to go to Delhi and discuss with new party president J P Nadda, the chief minister maintained there was no need for him to travel to the capital.

Earlier in the day, Revenue Minister R Ashoka said the chief minister will hold discussions with Nadda and carry forward the expansion exercise.

Responding to a question on how many legislators who won the bypolls will be made ministers, Yediyurappa said, "You will get to know about it once the is done, wait till then."



To a question on talks that only seven of 11 legislators, who won the bybolls after they were disqualified, will be made ministers, he said, "There's no truth in that. If there is anything particular, I will think and talk about it, but as I had promised they will get opportunity in the ministry."



Asked about the disqualified legislators who lost on a BJP ticket during the bypoll, such as A H Vishwanath (Hunsur) and MTB Nagraj (Hoskote), amid demand that they too should be inducted, he said "that question does not arise at all."Also, with the high command reportedly not keen on making all the 11 re-elected legislators ministers, whom Yediyurappa has given assurance, it remains to be seen how things turn out.

Not wanting to react on criticism from a few aspirants, about the delay in the expansion, he said, "It is true that there has been a delay, in three days will be done. It is my duty to fulfil the promise that I had made to some people, I will fulfil it."



B C Patil (Hirekerur), one among the 11 re-elected MLAs, said they were "pained" because of the delay. He, however, said, "There may be reasons for it. The party leadership and Yediyurappa hopefully will find a solution and distribute power through soon."



Patil later met Yediyurappa and said the chief minister has assured him about expanding the cabinet soon and that he may travel to Delhi, if required.

As the chief minister has already made it clear that the 11 MLAs will be made ministers, lobbying has been on in the party for the remaining ministerial berths.

Currently there are 18 ministers, including the chief minister in the cabinet that has a sanctioned strength of 34.

The cabinet expansion will not be an easy task for the chief minister as he will have to strike a balance by accommodating the victorious legislators as promised and also make place for the old guard, upset at being "neglected" in the first round of the induction exercise.

He also has to give adequate representation to various castes and regions in his cabinet and also deal with allocation of key portfolios.

Also, disqualified legislator R Shankar, who was not given ticket to contest bypolls but was promised ministerial post by Yediyurappa, openly expressing his ministerial aspirations has added to the chief minister''s worry.

Meanwhile, senior minister K S Eshwarappa said, "If anyone from the current ministry is asked to sacrifice the post by high command or the chief minister, we will have to do it. Not sure whether such a situation will arise or not.
Magic 106.4 FM has recently introduced Marathi content in Mumbai. The station would offer a mix of contemporary and yesteryears music with prime time shows by famous Marathi RJ Shruti and RJ Rudra. While weekdays are a mix of Marathi & Hindi content, weekends are completely dedicated to Marathi content.

The growth of regional content has been phenomenal over the past few years and all the research suggests that more people prefer consuming content in their vernacular languages. While there has been a proliferation of Marathi content on TV/Print and OTT platforms, the FM stations so far have not offered Marathi content to satisfy the true blue Maharashtrian.

Speaking on the development, Nisha Narayanan, COO and Director, RED FM and Magic FM, said, Listeners need for fresh content has led to the growth of regional content in the past few years. As a radio network, we have always believed in the power of regional. In the hyperlocal content, we have been supporting indie music in different parts of the country and this is the other leg to it, which brings the Marathi content for our Mumbai listeners. Our aim is to engage with listeners in a language that they are most comfortable with. We hope to drive a deeper connect and give our listeners and advertisers an opportunity to engage with the brand in a relatable manner. 

The tagline for the Magic 106.4 FMs Marathi segment is Fakth Tujhyasathi, which means, customized only for you. As the content has been designed keeping in mind the quintessential Marathi Manus who is proud of its culture, traditions and is aspirational and trendy.
The Bidhannagar Police has made elaborate security arrangements for the International Kolkata Book Fair starting on January 29, a senior police officer said on Friday.

Special plans have been chalked out to keep an eye on the law and order at the Central Park in Salt Lake, the venue of the fair, in view of protest demonstration against CAA and NRC in different parts of the state.

The book fair will be held from January 29 till February 9.

According to the security plan, the venue has been divided into four zones with a senior police officer of the rank of deputy commissioner to be in charge of the security of the each of the zones respectively.

Around 100 CCTV would be set up in the fair ground to monitor the proceedings 24x7. Six watch towers would also be set up in and around the venue, he said.

"Like previous years, we are expecting record-breaking footfall this time also. Keeping in mind the security aspect we have planned tight-security arrangements and focussed on maintaining the law and order situation," the officer said.

"There will be a control room inside the venue where senior police officers will be present to monitor things in and around the book fair venue. There will be Quick Response Team personnel present in and outside the venue," he said.

A team of special women police would also be deployed at the fair venue keeping in mind the safety aspect of women visitors, he said.

"Women police officers in plain clothes and officers of the anti-rowdy squad will also be there at the venue. We will also have civic police to assist visitors inside the Central Park. There will be extra police personnel present during these 12 days," the IPS officer said.

The security aspect was also arranged keeping in mind about the VVIP delegates scheduled to visit the International Kolkata Book Fair almost daily, he said.

"We will also deploy police personnel at nearby Karunamoyee bus terminus also. They will help visitors. Signages will be put up at different parts of the city," he said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will inaugurate the 44th International Kolkata Book Fair which is scheduled to be held from January 29 to February 9.

Russia is the theme country of this year's book fair.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Newser)  A Monmouth University poll released Wednesday shows that Mike Bloomberg's strategy might be working. The former mayor of New York came in at 9%, good for fourth place with Democratic voters nationally. That's 4 points higher than last month and is Bloomberg's best showing so far in a national poll, Politico reports. Joe Biden topped the field at 30%, up from 26% a month ago; Bernie Sanders was at 23%, up 2 points, and Elizabeth Warren came in third with 14%, down 3 points. Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar and Andrew Yangin that ordertrailed Bloomberg. A CNN poll also released Wednesday showed Bloomberg down a peg, in fifth place, at 5%.

story continues below

Bloomberg's plan is unlike that of any of those rivals. He entered the race late, is passing on Iowa and New Hampshire, and isn't vying for a spot on the debate stage yet. Instead, he's adding endorsements and spending millions of his own money on ads. There was evidence in the Monmouth poll to support that strategy, NBC points out: 56% of Democrats surveyed said the early states have too much say in the race. And 57% of registered voters overall want a new president elected this year. (Read more Michael Bloomberg stories.)
"Before, I was not aware of my rights. Now, I am aware of all of them. I have the courage to stand up for myself and to ask for my rights when I am denied them."

Premalatha Tamilselvan belongs to India's Dalit minority community. From a village in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, she has known discrimination since birth: formerly, the Dalit were known as the 'untouchables,' excluded from society and largely denied basic human rights.

"People from the higher castes do not want the Dalit people to progress in life. They still want to suppress us," explains Premalatha.

When she was in the eighth grade, a programme organised by People's Watch, an Indian non-government organisation, and supported by UN Human Rights, was rolled out in Premalatha's school. Students and teachers learned about children's rights, and the principles of non-discrimination and equality.

Human rights education  "the power to make lives change"

Human rights education programmes focus on developing knowledge and skills and promoting values, beliefs and attitudes that encourage all individuals to uphold their own rights and those of others.

"Human rights education has the power to make lives change," said Elena Ippoliti, from the Methodology, Education and Training section of UN Human Rights. "As individuals realise that all people are entitled to a free and dignified life, can critically analyse the challenges they face and identify solutions consistent with human rights values, they are able to transform their lives and bring about change within their communities."

The World Programme for Human Rights Education, launched in 2005 by the UN General Assembly, aims to progress the implementation of human rights education programmes globally. It ensures a framework for action to be taken, and strengthens partnership and collaboration, from the international to the grass roots levels.

UN Human Rights is leading the coordination of this Programme. This year, the start of a new decade marks its fourth five-year phase, 2020-2024, which focuses on human rights education for youth and by youth, in recognition of their role as key agents in the realisation of human rights.

Yesterday, a child. Today, a young woman who knows her rights.

In Premalatha's case, human rights education has propelled her forward in life to be able to recognise and affirm her value, and to stand up for the rights of others. Nine years after she attended the programme, at the age of 21, Premalatha was able to come to Geneva, Switzerland to address the Human Rights Council's Social Forum. She spoke about caste discrimination in education.

Today, her ambition is to become a lawyer and advocate for "people who need justice." She holds a BA in History, and is currently trying to get into law school.

For her, the widespread caste-based discrimination is one of the biggest human rights concerns facing India today. "People from two different castes are not meant to fall in love and get married, and if they do and are caught, they will be killed immediately as a matter of 'honour.'"

While she is trying to fight against this structurally embedded discrimination, Premalatha believes that human rights education in all public and private schools could help. "This way, children from both high and low castes will know their rights and duties, and will stop discrimination against each other. They will become more aware, and be able to understand what is right and wrong."

Premalatha strongly believes in the power of youth to fight for a better future. But first, young people need to be made aware of their rights, and then they will gradually fight for them, she says.

"We must look to creating a better society in the future, where people are free and equal, where they are allowed to love and marry whomever they want," Premalatha states. "Sometimes, older people have a very fixed way of thinking and do not allow youth to change, so it becomes the responsibility of young people to stand up for our rights."

In 2012, Premalatha's story was featured in a documentary, A Path To Dignity: The Power of Human Rights Education, co-produced by UN Human Rights.

24 January 2020
Chief Justice of India S A Bobde on Friday underlined the need for artificial intelligence (AI) in the judicial system, especially in cases of repetitive nature and document management, to expedite dispute resolution process.

He, however, cautioned that AI cannot replace human discretion, which is necessary for a just decision making.

Speaking at 79th Foundation Day celebration of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), the Chief Justice of India said the use of technology in judicial functioning is a fascinating area and a significant breakthrough.

"Though I must make one thing clear: Because we have been dealing with the introduction of artificial intelligence in courts, I am firmly of the view, based on the experience of systems that have used artificial intelligence, that it is only the repetitive area or decision making such as rates of taxation, etc, or something that is invariably the same or which is in a sense mechanical, and that must be covered by artificial intelligence," he said.

AI can play a significant role in tribunals like ITAT in docket management and decision making, he said adding that "the artificial intelligence system we are looking to employ in courts possesses the reading speeds of 1 million character per second. I can imagine a similar system can be used to read and extract all relevant facts, compute tax effect and assist in a myriad of ways to propel the pace of decision making".

Bobde added that it is reassuring to discover that more nations are taking up steps towards experimenting and implementing AI in their respective justice delivery systems.

This goes to say that judiciary is doing and must continue to do everything in order to tackle with the workload in the judicial process, he said.

"Artificial intelligence, as I see, brings new hope to drive the public faith to our institutions. One of the most transparent measures to adjudge performance is your ability to dispose of cases," he said.

He advised ITAT that the institution must carry on its legacy to follow the best practices and the commitment to evolve as it has done over the years.

Quoting eminent jurist Nani Palkhivala, the chief justice said, "To tax and to please is not given to man; but to tax and be fair is.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A push by WA's top cop to expand diversion programs for methamphetamine users has triggered a political spat over the state's drug policy.

As Opposition Leader Liza Harvey lashed the McGowan Government for "giving up the war on meth", Police Minister Michelle Roberts said the diversionary programs Ms Harvey was criticising had doubled under Ms Harvey's watch.

In an interview with Nine News Perth, WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said current strategies in the war on drugs were not working and it was easier to buy meth on Perth streets now than 10 years ago.

"Simply accumulating possession-type offending and putting [users] back before the courts without education and rehabilitation, I dont think is the complete answer," he said.
He is the fifth of the nine children, with four older siblings and four younger ones. His parents, Mark and Beverly Reed, bought the home in 1981. They are now in their early 70s and declined a request for an interview, Mario Reed said.
The rabbit-size animal  the first such animal discovered was found by a team led by Associate Professor Michael Archer, of the University of New South Wales.

Australian zoologists have found a 15 million-year-old fossil mammal that may have lived exclusively on a diet of eggs, and has a jaw and teeth unlike any other known creature.

Dr Archer, a zoologist, said yesterday that the animal had two forward-pointing teeth that were probably used to pierce eggshells. It also had sharp V-shaped back teeth that could work against each other like a pair of scissors, but no teeth which could be used to grind food.

Dr Archer said it was his "guess" that the animal was an exclusive egg-eater.

"We don't know what it is yet; it is one of the weirdest mammals that has ever surfaced," Dr Archer said. "Most animals will have a go at an egg, but most of these have the capacity to eat other things as well."

The mammal is one of more than 100 new species discovered in a massive fossil region found on the Riversleigh Plateau of north-west Queensland in 1983. The Riversleigh find has doubled the number of species greater than two million years old known from Australia.

Dr Archer said the new animal was the most intriguing of the discoveries. It is soon to be announced in the scientific press.
On Wednesday, the second day of the elite World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, a group called Patriotic Millionaires published an open letter, Millionaires Against Pitchforks.

Signed by 121 wealthy individuals, including former Unilever CEO Paul Polman and Disney heiress Abigail Disney, they call for increased taxes on the rich, themselves included, and cracking down on tax evasion.

While its a move in the right direction, slightly higher taxes on the rich will not be enough to address the major challenges of our time; larger changes to our economies are needed.

Tax increases, like Patriotic Millionaires previously proposed 10 per cent increase to income taxes of those making over $1 million USD per year, will still allow for more wealth accumulation. That tax increase wouldnt apply to someone in the top 0.1 per cent by income making $999,999 USD per year.

And on the assets side, taxes on the wealth of the ultra rich would need to be more than what they make on their investments to start reversing accumulation. For example, someone with $10 million dollars in investments can reasonably expect to get a 7 per cent return, meaning $700,000 a year. As long as hefty profits from revenue streams in various sectors of the economy go predominantly to the rich, taxation for redistribution will be a constant, challenging game of catch-up.

At Davos this week, the official social change solution on offer is stakeholder capitalism. It is the subject of various workshops, and of the The Davos Manifesto, which was titled Stakeholder Capitalism: A Manifesto for a Cohesive and Sustainable World.

Instead of companies only being accountable to shareholders, meaning the financial investors, stakeholder capitalism promises to consider a wider range of interests. With capitalism increasingly seen as heartless and environmentally destructive, proponents of stakeholder capitalism hope this marketing exercise lifts the brand.

But stakeholder capitalism and its predecessor, corporate social responsibility, brings no significant shift, especially in terms of who owns and profits off of business activities.

Stakeholder capitalism and slight tax increases on the wealthy are, in effect, a glossy sales pitch to maintain the status quo, with slight concessions made to avoid bigger, more fundamental changes.

Having grown up in a wealthy family and being around wealthy people, I know that the rich will not lead and bring about the changes we need, at least not en masse. Too many wealthy people are complacent in the face of the climate crisis and growing inequality and cling to their high-consuming lifestyles and riches. Just count the number of private jets at Davos.

Changes beyond tinkering will require more democratic control of the economy. For one, that means reversing the trend of privatizing of public services.

Obvious cases include public transit, water, and other utilities. We can also look to jurisdictions where telecoms and insurance remain in the public domain with great results, like in Saskatchewan. We can also remember that much of the oil industry in Canada originated in the public sphere with government investment and was profitable, before being sold off to private investors.

New and bigger workers co-operatives and credit unions can also contribute to democratizing our economy.

Wealthy folks really wanting wealth redistributed dont need to shrug philanthropy off as ineffective, as the Patriotic Millionaires seem to in their letter. While donating to what should be publicly funded services (eg. hospitals, schools) doesnt do much to drive social change, social justice philanthropy has proven to be an effective approach. It involves funding social movements and causes that push for systemic change and are building new economic models. Giving to these worthwhile causes sometimes means not getting a tax receipt, and thats OK.

Social justice philanthropy also takes the approach that donors, those with the money and power, should not be the ones deciding what happens with the money. Donors need to trust that those most affected by social ills know best where resources are needed, and how to affect change. This is the approach of some funders supporting, for example, Climate Justice Alliance groups in the U.S., and the Groundswell Community Justice Trust Fund in Toronto.

In summary, taxes are a start, but they are just one tool among many for economic transformation, not the end goal.
Whats Streaming

SHRILL Stream on Hulu. Season 1 of this comedy series ended with its main character, Annie (Aidy Bryant), hurling a flower pot through a window of an internet trolls Cadillac S.U.V. She also quit her job. And she couldnt be happier. Im maybe the best Ive ever been in my life, she declares at the beginning of the new, second season. Adapted from Lindy Wests memoir of the same name, the series has been praised for its social commentary, and for Bryants performance. She radiates the wounded hopefulness of someone whos ready for the next chapter of her life, Margaret Lyons wrote in her review of Season 1 for The New York Times, and by the end of the six-episode season, shes there. What that next chapter contains is something the second season will have to answer.

BEFORE SUNRISE (1995) Rent on Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, Vudu and YouTube. I almost fell in love with him right there, but then Rick said cut. Thats Julie Delpy speaking in a recent interview with The Times, talking about the experience of filming this indie romance, in which Delpy plays a French student who has a whirlwind romance in Vienna with a visiting American (Ethan Hawke). Directed by Richard Linklater, the film celebrates its 25th anniversary this month.
Reach key decision makers with sales-ready leads that shorten your sales process. Move the needle by delivering funnel qualified leads to your sales team. Learn more

A digital forensic analysis conducted by Anthony Ferrante of business advisory firm FTI Consulting concludes with medium to high confidence that Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos smartphone was hacked through a malicious file sent from the WhatsApp account of Saudi Arabian crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The malware was in an MP4 file attached to a WhatsApp message.

FTI Consulting forwarded its findings to United Nations special rapporteurs who released technical elements of the report.

Rapporteurs investigate the promotion and protection of freedom of opinion and expression, among other things.

FTI Consulting declined our request to comment for our story, stating that all client work is confidential.

Saudi Arabias embassy in the United States has denied the allegations.

Element of Uncertainty

The reason FTI qualified its conclusion likely is because computer forensics isnt always an exact science, and the experts might be limited by the data and evidence they have in hand, said Tim Erlin, VP of product management and strategy at Tripwire.

There may also be unanswered questions or alternatives to consider, he told TechNewsWorld.

FTIs conclusion suggests they have a sequence of events that makes it likely that the video attachment carried malware, but they either didnt prove causality or cant be sure the crown prince created the hack as opposed to his just forwarding a compromised email, suggested Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group.

It rarely gets stronger than this unless the alleged perpetrator confesses, or the intelligence organization gets access to the entire chain of evidence, he told TechNewsWorld.

The malware appears to have had a self-destruct built in, making it impossible to have 100 percent concrete proof, noted Liz Miller, principal analyst at Constellation Research.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

FTIs investigators did not find even remnants of the malware code on the device, but did find a file with an encrypted downloader that had been delivered with the video, she told TechNewsWorld.

WhatsApp, which hosted the downloader, has end-to-end encryption, which prevents investigators from accessing the downloaders contents or code, Miller pointed out.

Chain of Events

The prince initiated a WhatsApp messaging conversation with Bezos on April 28, 2018, after they met at a dinner in Hollywood.

On May 1 Bezos received a message with a video attachment from the princes WhatsApp account.

Within hours, the volume of data transmitted from Bezos phone skyrocketed by 30,000 percent, FTI found. Data spiking continued over several months, at rate as much as 106 million percent higher than before the video was received.

How did it take months for this to be noticed? wondered Constellations Miller.

FTI found that on two later occasions the prince sent messages to Bezos that suggested he had knowledge of his private communications:

One, on November 8, 2018, included a photo of a woman strongly resembling Lauren Sanchez, whom Bezos was dating;

The other was sent February 16, 2019, two days after Bezos had participated in phone conversations about the Saudis alleged online campaign against him.

The UN special rapporteurs have linked the hack of Bezos smartphone to stories in his newspaper, The Washington Post, about the role of the Saudi prince and the Saudi government in the murder of Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Pegasus Threat

I cant remember how many times in the past decade Ive read something about a critical security flaw in WhatsApp that allows access to users phones, remarked Oliver Mnchow, founder of security awareness and training company Lucy Security.

Im surprised no one told Jeff not to use it after its history of epic security fails, he told TechNewsWorld.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

The malware used was most likely mobile spyware such as NSO Groups Pegasus, or, less likely, Hacking Teams Galileo, FTIs analysis suggests.

The Saudi Royal Guard acquired Pegasus-3 spyware from NSO Group, an Israel-based firm, FTI found. The spyware also was used against Saudi dissidents.

Pegasus spreads through malicious links often sent through chat apps like WhatsApp and Messenger, said Paul Bischoff, privacy advocate at Comparitech.

Once on a device, the malware jailbreaks iPhones so that it can track phone calls, texts, keystrokes and location, and access the phones microphone and camera. It also affects Android phones, he told TechNewsWorld.

Consumers must maintain a healthy sense of paranoia when it comes to links and attachments, said Rosa Smothers, senior VP of cyber operations at KnowBe4.

Think before you click on any links or attachments sent to you, she told TechNewsWorld. Were you expecting the email or attachment? If your spidey sense tingles, call the sender and confirm they sent it.

That said, security always ranks high on surveys of the things consumers want, but no one is ever willing to pay for it, remarked Jim McGregor, principal analyst at Tirias Research. As a result, its never a priority.

Security also is challenging because of the rapid pace of technology, he told TechNewsWorld. Artificial intelligence should eventually improve security, but nothing will ever be 100 percent secure.

Aftermath of the Hack

The UN rapporteurs have called for an investigation into the hack and said the use of WhatsApp as a platform to enable installation of Pegasus onto devices has been well documented.

Meanwhile, Facebook and WhatsApp have filed suit against NSO Group Technologies in a U.S. federal court, and a court in Israel has begun hearings to determine whether the NSO Group should have its export license revoked.

NSO has denied allegations against it.

If someone with Bezos power and position is a target, it doesnt bode well for anyone who doesnt have that level of protection, Enderle observed. It makes you wonder how many other U.S. citizens are being spied on like this by a hostile state.
A couple who are accused of starving their live-in-landlord to death in a plot to inherit his millions left a plate of chocolate bars, a doughnut and a bag of McDonald's food by his corpse, a jury has heard.

Lynda and Wayne Rickard are on trial for the murder of James 'Anthony' Sootheran, whose body was discovered at High Havens Farm in South Newington, Oxfordshire, in March 2014.

The doctor who discovered Mr Sootheran in his bedroom said that the food which was left by his corpse 'looked fresher than him,' Reading Crown court heard today.

Lynda and Wayne Rickard (pictured) are on trial for the murder of James 'Anthony' Sootheran, whose body was discovered at High Havens Farm in South Newington, Oxfordshire, in March 2014

Mr Sootheran, who was a retired auctioneers' clerk, had weighed 17 stone in his youth but was just half his former size, weighing a meagre nine stone, when his body was found.

The jury heard how Mr Sootheran's GP, Dr Hilary Edwards, drove to the property to check on her patient but had been met by a set of locked gates.

Dr Edwards had then waited for live-in carer Lynda Rickard to return home who later told the GP that she had not seen Mr Sootheran since the previous morning.

Oliver Saxby QC, prosecuting, said: 'They entered the address and both went upstairs to Anthony's room. The smell was terrible.

'Lynda Rickard made a play of knocking loudly but there was no response.

'They both entered and there they found Anthony, severely emaciated and dead.

'He was lying, naked from the waist down, on a mattress on the floor with a stained duvet over him.'

The doctor was struck by how the room looked 'cleaner than normal' and noted there were new clothes on the chair and food placed near Mr Sootheran, which she said was unusual in her experience.

The jury watched a video recorded on a police officer's body-worn camera on the afternoon they discovered the 59-year-old.

The skeletal man could be seen dead lying on a mattress on the floor with food on the floor which included a plate of chocolate bars, toast and an apple that had been placed beside his head.

Mr Sootheran (pictured), who was a retired auctioneers' clerk, had weighed 17 stone in his youth but was just half his former size, weighing a meagre nine stone, when his body was found

Mr Saxby QC said: 'One police officer has a vague memory of there being a bucket in the room used as a toilet.

'The blanket was wet, the room smelled of urine and it was freezing cold.

'And the food, as you have seen it in the footage, looked fresh - fresher than Anthony, as one of the officers put it.

'Indeed, it seemed almost as if it had been placed there after his death.'

Pathologist Dr Ben Phillips carried out a post-mortem examination on the 6ft-tall man and found him to be 'cachetic' - severely lacking in muscle.

Mr Saxby added: 'He had multiple small scabs on his skin over the majority of his body, the skin of his legs was thickened and scaly and there were abrasions on his head, shoulder, elbow, knee and ankle.

'There was evidence of poor hygiene and a large pressure sore at the base of his spine measuring seven centimetres by seven centimetres.'

Lynda had called 111 just three weeks before Mr Sootheran's death after he had fallen out of bed and described him to the operator as a 'recluse' in a phone call that was played to the jury.

The operator advised Lyndas hould take Mr Sootheran to the Accident and Emergency within the next four hours.

But Lynda did not take him to the hospital nor did she call back, the jury heard.

The jury heard how Mr Sootheran's GP, Dr Hilary Edwards, drove to the property (pictured) to check on her patient but had been met by a set of locked gates

Mr Saxby said: 'As of 23rd February [Lynda Rickard's 111 call], there would have been signs of the pressure sore.

'Anthony would have been virtually immobile, would have suffered rapid weight loss, probably had little food intake and would not have been in a fit state to make informed decisions about his welfare.'

Mr Saxby told the jury: 'Lynda Rickard, with a new will in mind, was perfectly happy for Anthony Sootheran to fade away.

'Not only did she neglect him - with her husband's support and assistance - she also played an active part in accelerating his death.

'Their motive was obvious. If he died, they stood to gain financially and substantially.

'This was Lynda Rickard's plan. But it was not one she could achieve without her husband's assistance, everything would have been lost had he decided, off his own bat, to give Anthony proper food, or call in the emergency services.

'The allegation we make that she precipitated Anthony Sootheran's death is an incredibly serious one.

'Do not doubt, we say, that - for money - she would have been willing to do just that.'

Mr Saxby said Mrs Rickard had already admitted forging the wills of Mr Sootheran and his mother.

The forged wills entitled Mrs Rickard to half of Mrs Sootheran's estate, valued at just under 1.5 million, and a third of Mr Sootheran's, worth about 3.5 million, the court heard.

Mr Saxby said Mrs Rickard had also admitted to using between 50,000 to 167,000 worth of Mrs Sootheran's money as her own, and 40,000 to 133,000 of Mr Sootheran's.

In December 2010, the Rickards allegedly spent more than 30,000 of Mrs Sootheran's money on a Mitsubishi Shogun, Mr Saxby said.

Mr Rickard allegedly told the garage owner that his mother-in-law was treating him to a vehicle, while Mrs Sootheran told others it was her son's car.

The court heard Mrs Sootheran had 80,000 in savings in 2011, but by the summer of 2012 she only had about 5,000.

The jury was told Mrs Rickard had pleaded guilty to four fraud charges, two counts of forgery, two counts of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, and possession of articles for use in fraud.

Mr Saxby said: 'Lynda Rickard says that Anthony Sootheran's demise was a consequence of how he chose to live his life, and that his death was entirely coincidental to her having forged his will.'

He told jurors Mr Rickard denies 'having anything to do with Mr Sootheran's death'.

Mrs Rickard is further charged with the manslaughter of Mr Sootheran through gross negligence, while Mr Rickard is accused of causing or allowing the death of a vulnerable adult.

Mrs Rickard admitted a charge of fraud in relation to the accessing of Anthony Sootherans bank account.

They are also both accused of a single count of fraud by false representation relating to Mrs Sootheran.

They deny all of the charges against them.

The couple are on trial alongside Michael Dunkley, 48, Denise Neal, 39, and Shanda Robinson, 50, who are charged with fraud.

Dunkley, of Brickle Lane, Bloxham, and Neal, of Radway Road, Lower Tysoe, Warwickshire, are charged with one count of fraud by false representation.

It is alleged that between January 28 and May 31 2014, Dunkley and Neal falsely claimed a will in the name of Mr Sootheran was genuine.

Robinson, of Sage Road, Banbury, Oxfordshire, is charged with one count of fraud by false representation, where it is alleged she falsely claimed a will in the name of Mary Joy Sootheran was genuine.

She is also accused of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, which she denies.

June Alsford, 77, of Little Lane in Aynho, Northamptonshire, who is not standing trial, has already pleaded guilty to one count of fraud and one count of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

The five defendants were all granted bail. The trial continues.


The World Economic Forum on Friday announced the appointment of IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva and African Rainbow Minerals Chairman Patrice Motsepe to its board of trustees.

The WEF said both have a track record of thought leadership and long-term success in their field, which will contribute to strengthening the Forum's platform for public-private cooperation.

"The World Economic Forum, as the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation, is delighted to welcome Kristalina Georgieva and Patrice Motsepe to its Board of Trustees. We look forward to working together to deliver positive, transformative solutions to our most critical global, regional and industry challenges, said Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the WEF.

Georgieva has been IMF Managing Director since October 2019. Previously, she served as CEO at the World Bank, and as Interim President of the World Bank Group. She also served as European Commission Vice-President for Budget and Human Resources.

Previously, she was Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response.

Motsepe, is Founder and Executive Chairman of African Rainbow Minerals (ARM), a global diversified mining company from South Africa.

In 2017, Forbes magazine named Patrice as one of the 100 Greatest Living Business Minds in the world alongside other prominent global business leaders.

In 2013, Patrice and his wife Precious Moloi-Motsepe joined the Giving Pledge which was started by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates. Patrice committed to give half of the wealth owned by his family to the poor during his lifetime and that of his wife.

The WEF board of trustees members include Salesforce Chairman Marc Benioff, Bank of England governor Mark Carney, former US Vice President Al Gore, OECD chief Angel Gurria, ECB President Christine Lagarde, Alibaba's Jack Ma, Jordan's Queen Rania, Nestle CEO Mark Schneider, while Schwab is the Chairman.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A+ Dental Team

In Partnership with the Smiles for Everyone Foundation, A+ Dental will provide free dental services for low-income, underinsured individuals at its Roseville, California office on February 29th.

Dental services provided include same-day procedures such as exams and x-rays, fillings, cleanings and extractions. All patients at the Roseville Day of Giving will be offered a one-year complimentary subscription to A+ Dentals Basic Plan. This dental plan will allow individuals to receive further treatment at a discounted rate, thus promoting ongoing oral health care. For more information, please visit the A+ Dental website.

About A+ Dental

A+ Dental Care is a rapidly growing group dental practice owned and operated by Herman Dental Corporation and affiliated with the dental support organization, Smile Brands, Inc. Since 1975, A+ Dental has been delivering quality care to Northern California residents. With five convenient locations, A+ Dental Care provides comprehensive general and specialty care to patients in the greater Sacramento area including the communities of Roseville, Lincoln, Rocklin and Folsom. Their mission is to create long-term patient relationships by making dental visits convenient, affordable and stress-free. A+ relies on Smile Brands to provide world-class business support services so they can focus on delivering highly personalized patient care. Learn more at http://www.aplusdentalcaregroup.com/

About the Smiles For Everyone Foundation

The Smiles for Everyone Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of delivering smiles for everyone by providing free dental care for those in need, both at home in the U.S. and around the world. Since 2011, the Smiles for Everyone Foundation has delivered over 26,000 smiles and $19 million in donated dentistry. The foundation currently supports programs which provide free dental care to those in need in Cambodia, Ghana, Laos, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Thailand, and the United States. For more information or to make a donation, visit http://www.smilesforeveryone.org.

Contacts:

A+ Dental

Jody Martin

PR@smilebrands.com

714.427.1299

Smiles for Everyone Foundation

Crystal Strait

crystal.strait@smilesforeveryone.org

714.824.5037
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Nature Foundation St Maarten's first brand audit cleanup results revealed that the number one of littered items on St Maarten beaches are single-use plastics. Volunteers and members from SXM A.C.T.I.O.N. and the Nature Foundation spent approximately two hours collecting, sorting and recording trash based on brand and type at Mullet Bay Pond on January 11th, 2020. SXM Beer and Hay! straws sponsored the event and rewarded the volunteers with free snacks and beers. The event was deemed a huge success as it was St. Maartens first-ever Plastic Brand Audit, and the health of the ecosystem was enhanced by removing a total of 200 pounds of trash.



With over half of the plastics found being single-use items, it strengthens our mission to ban single-use plastics on the Dutch side even more. A ban would reduce the pollution on our beaches by over 50% resulting in a healthier, more beautiful and preserved environment for all, attracting tourism in the long term stated Grace Hansen Reduce and Reuse intern of the Nature Foundation and organizer of the Brand Audit cleanup.



Of the 603 items of trash removed from Mullet Bay Beach and the surrounding area, over half were plastics items (393 items). In total 48.1% of these items were even single-use materials such as cups, bags, plates, straws, cutlery, styrofoam and to-go containers, all plastic items which are only used once and then disposed of. The results show that the brand Nestle was the number one polluting brand with more than 20 items. Through identifying the most polluting brand, the #BreakFreeFromPlastic movement will be able to compare the data to other nations. This will then be brought to the Nestle corporation to encourage more sustainable packaging.



Almost all of the Nestle products collected were plastic water bottles. These can be exchanged for reusable bottles which have a minimum life of 5 years. One study found that using a reusable water bottle rather than plastic for 5 years can save the average person $6,180. If a family of 4 switches to reusable bottles, they can save around $120,000 in 5 years. Quite some of the single-use plastic items found came from a wide variety of brands that were not directly identifiable due to the condition of these items. These plastic pollutants are completely avoidable, green alternatives, reusable materials, and proper waste disposal could solve most of St Maartens beach pollution.



Proper disposal of our trash is extremely important for the benefit of our environment, health, and tourism. The Nature Foundation urges again that individuals make an effort to clean up the area around them after each visit and dispose of their trash responsibly. Grace Hansen explained people often consider that their individual efforts are not enough to make an impact. If 8 billion people had this mentality, the world would be much more polluted than it already is. It is the individuals that make the conscious effort to reduce their plastic consumption and maintain the health of the areas around them that will save the environment.



Some alternatives to plastic cutlery include bamboo or travel utensils. Instead of using single-use each time takeout food is ordered, bring your own utensils in a travel pack or a spork to cut back on your plastic consumption. Reusable metal straws can be used instead of plastic straws as part of a travel kit or when taking out food. Restaurants can switch to eco-friendly alternatives including Hay! Straws, which are biodegradable straws made from wheat and distributed on St Maarten. Another easy alternative is changing protocol by only giving straw to customers upon request. Bringing your own to-go containers to restaurants and your own bags to stores is another way to cut back on plastics entering the environment.

The Nature Foundation along with the Green Initiatives have been advocating for a single-use plastic ban in Sint Maarten. A Call to Action to implement this ban has been shared and signed by thousands. Assist to ban single-use plastic by signing the petition: https://www.change.org/p/less-plastic-more-sxm?fbclid=IwAR3kFW9LLE7KB5Qp1VOYv7vU1wWvtAxvinaf_oqKcj2CprCzp6KEDUJcTxQ
spacex will try to catch its astronaut-bearing 'Crew Dragon' capsules in giant nets as they return from orbit, Elon Musk has suggested.

The US aerospace firm is already using the same method to try to catch the protective nosecones of rockets which are jettisoned after launch.

According to Mr Musk, each nosecone costs around 4.6 million ($6 million)  and keeping them out of corrosive seawater is the first step to being able to reuse them.

Catching the crew capsules, similarly, could save money by allowing them to be more easily restored for multiple flights.

The nets are suspended above specially-equipped boats, of which there are presently two in operation  'Ms Chief' and 'Ms Tree' (formerly 'Mr Steven').

Both vessels have managed to catch the falling rocket parts on a number of occasions  but the majority have landed in the ocean instead.

SpaceX will likely want to improve its success rate before it attempts to try the same manoeuvre to land a crewed spacecraft.

Scroll down for video

SpaceX will try to catch its astronaut-bearing 'Crew Dragon' capsules in giant nets as they return from orbit, Elon Musk has suggested. Pictured, the net-bearing boat 'Ms Tree' capturing a SpaceX rocket's protective nosecone  or 'fairing'  as it falls to earth

'I think it would be quite cool to use the boats that we are using to catch the fairing, once that is really well-established, to catch Dragon as it's coming in from orbit,' Mr Musk said during a press conference on January 19, reported Space.com.

'And then that would alleviate some of the constraints around a water landing.'

However, Mr Musk added, 'this requires ongoing discussions with NASA.'

The US space agency will have to sign off on any such plans as SpaceX is developing the Crew Dragon capsules under contracts with NASA's Commercial Crew Program.

The plan is for SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsules and competitor Boeing's Starliner craft to ferry NASA astronauts to and from the International Space Station.

At present  in the wake of the retirement of the space shuttle fleet in 2011  this function has been entirely dependant on the use of Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

The nets are suspended above specially-equipped boats, of which there are presently two in operation  'Ms Chief' and 'Ms Tree' (formerly named 'Mr Steven')

At present, SpaceX does reuse its so-called 'Cargo Dragon' capsules  used for resupply missions to the International Space Station  following their water landings.

However, more care must be taken when considering the reuse of spacecraft intended to carry human life.

In contrast to the Crew Dragon design, Boeing's Starliner will land on firm ground  enabling it to be reused up to nine times.

Mr Musk, pictured with an illustration of the Crew Dragon capsule, made the announcement following Crew Dragon's completion of a crucial so-called 'in-flight abort' test last week

Following a lift-off atop a Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 10:30 EST (15:30 GMT), mission controllers simulated an emergency

Mr Musk made the announcement after Crew Dragon passed a crucial so-called 'high-altitude in-flight abort' test last week.

Following a lift-off atop a Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 10:30 EST (15:30 GMT), mission controllers simulated an emergency.

The Crew Dragon capsule  which was not carrying any NASA personnel  then separated from the rocket and accelerated to safety, touching down in the Atlantic Ocean a few minutes later.

Meanwhile, the Falcon 9 rocket self-destructed.

According to the Guardian, NASA engineer and former astronaut Douglas Hurley described the test as 'the demonstration of a system that we hope to never use, but can save lives if we ever do.'

The successful completion of the manoeuvre could lead to crewed flights and NASA once again launching astronauts from US soil  possible as early as this spring.

Crew Dragon separating from Falcon 9 during todays test, which verified the spacecrafts ability to carry astronauts to safety in the unlikely event of an emergency on ascent pic.twitter.com/rxUDPFD0v5  SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 19, 2020

The Crew Dragon capsule  which was not carrying any NASA personnel  then separated from the rocket and accelerated to safety, touching down in the Atlantic Ocean a few minutes later. Meanwhile, the Falcon 9 rocket self-destructed, as pictured
Aviation officials are deciding the future of San Antonio International Airport, and they say they want to know what you think about improving service at the facility  one of the largest city-owned assets and a critical part of the regional economy.

Its a two-phase effort to determine, among other things, whether to build a new terminal and add or extend runways. Crafting the master plan is costing $9.5 million, including $1.6 million for public outreach.

But officials have eschewed public meetings in more traditional venues, such as high school cafeterias or community centers. Instead, theyve been harvesting opinions at a coffee shop, a pizzeria on karaoke night and a senior citizens center.

Theyve also done little to publicize the meetings.

The result has been small turnouts producing a handful of views on how the airport should operate over the next 20 years.

Organizers, for example, barely publicized the meeting at Medina River Coffee on Dec. 11, and just 12 people showed up. Only people already on an email list  because theyd attended previous master-plan meetings  or who knew to click on the strategic development plan tab on the city Aviation Departments website would have known about the meeting.

Airport officials also arent pressing travelers passing through the airport for their views. Doing that would mean interviewing out-of-town visitors instead of getting the perspective of locals, said Gretchen Roufs, whose firm, Auxiliary Marketing Services, is leading public engagement efforts for the plan.

Phase one of the master plan, which began in 2018 and wrapped up nearly a year ago, determined the current airport should be expanded in the decades to come; thats instead of acquiring land for a new facility. The first stage featured 11 pop-up public meetings, including field trips to the airports baggage areas and its consolidated rent-a-car terminal.

Overall, officials have staged 23 pop-up meetings and coffee klatches over the past year and a half.

Some of the pop-up meetings have drawn only a few attendees. Six people filled out airport surveys at the karaoke night at Deco Pizzeria on Fredericksburg Road. Three people visited an airport master plan table set up at the splash pool at Lincoln Park, and eight visited the table at a Halloween event in the same park, according to airport statistics.

Thomas Bartlett, the citys interim aviation director, defended the small-scale sessions.

The small meetings at coffee shops and existing events, he said, are simply meant to supplement our understanding by going to where people are and having more intimate, face-to-face conversations with people who have expressed an interest in learning more about the airport.

Nearly 3,000 people have already provided input about the future of the airport through surveys, which is the foundation of our outreach efforts, Bartlett said.

The biggest crowd  89 people  showed up for a community meeting at the Jewish Community Center on Military Highway in October 2018. But only a total of 27 attended the other three wrap-up meetings that month. Those sessions had the most publicity, including two advertisements in the San Antonio Express-News.

For the others, the airport issued several press releases with meeting times and locations, and occasional Facebook postings since August 2018.

Airport officials and New York-based air-services consulting firm WSP USA, hired for the master plan, say their effort to collect public comment is meant to be comprehensive.

Reaching out to the community at some level is required by the Federal Aviation Administration, but this is way beyond whats required, said John Van Woensel, lead consultant for WSP.

At the same time, city aviation officials admit they could have been more aggressive in promoting some of the community meetings.

The latest series of events, the coffee klatches, began in November. But the first two events werent even promoted at the two coffee shops where the meetings took place. The airport put out no press release on the meetings.

Future coffee meetings will be more heavily advertised, including signage posted at the venues, said Syed Mohammed Mehdi, chief of strategy and development for the San Antonio Aviation Department.

Two, three, four days in advance we can put a small plaque somewhere saying coffee klatch, he said.

Airport officials plan one coffeehouse event a month until sometime this summer when the master plan is scheduled to be presented to City Council.

Not all the meetings have taken place at small venues. Some have been staged at more traditional locations, such as the Northeast Senior Center four months ago.

Several hundred seniors ate lunch and chatted with friends at the October event. Most avoided a table where airport officials sat to discuss their master plan. Many of the seniors said they rarely traveled by plane.

For some of the seniors, the event was an opportunity to lodge complaints. One elderly man detailed how his luggage was stolen several years ago while he waited for relatives to pick him up outside the terminal. Another senior complained about the lack of airplane leg space.

Students at Palo Alto College for the most part ignored the airport table at their crowded student center in October. Several said they couldnt afford to fly and rarely used the airport.

Aviation officials say their efforts to publicize the master plan meetings may not always be obvious. Efforts include sending alerts to an email list and notifying the council member representing the district where the meetings are being held so the council member can spread the word to constituents.

So we had a number of proxies, a number of mechanisms to help spread the word to cast the widest net possible, said Chris Anderson, the lead airport project manager for the strategic plan.

Staff at District 9 Councilman John Courages office, the district in which the two coffee klatches took place, said they wished theyd been notified. They said they heard about only one of the two meetings, and that was through the grapevine.

Courage said given the issues at San Antonio International, including the lack of nonstop flights, its essential the airport master plan meetings be widely publicized so community members can give their thoughts on improving the operation.

Its crucial for the future of San Antonio, he said.

Airport officials will also be using surveys gathered at the pop-up events to help determine the final master plan. Some 3,000 people have filled out the survey, though most, around 2,400, have completed it online instead of at the community events.

Medhi said after the coffee klatches conclude, several communitywide meetings will be held before the master plan is handed off to council.

He said airport officials are determined to talk to more residents.

Its the communitys airport, he said.

Randy Diamond covers energy and manufacturing in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read his stories and more local coverage on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | randy.diamond@express-news.net
The Belfast widow of murdered solicitor Pat Finucane has been left disappointed after her latest meeting with the British Government was postponed (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

The Belfast widow of murdered solicitor Pat Finucane said she has been left frustrated and disappointed after her latest meeting with the British Government was postponed.

He was shot by loyalist paramilitaries in front of his family in the north of the city in 1989 in collusion with state security forces.

His wife Geraldine planned to meet Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith on Friday but it was postponed due to his diary commitments, an official letter said.

My family and I remain committed to achieving our goal of an independent public inquiry into all of the circumstances surrounding Pats murder.Geraldine Finucane

Mrs Finucane said: I am frustrated and disappointed that the British Government has, once again, postponed a meeting with me and my family to discuss the implementation of the UK Supreme Court decision from February 2019.

The latest delay leads me to the conclusion that this administration will be no different than previous ones, when it comes to honouring its responsibilities concerning British State involvement in the murder of my husband.

In February, the Supreme Court ruled that investigations into the fatal shooting of the Belfast solicitor have not been effective and fell short of international human rights standards.

Mrs Finucane has challenged former prime minister David Camerons decision not to hold a public inquiry.

A separate review commissioned by Mr Cameron declared his killers colluded with the state in a shocking fashion.

Mrs Finucane said: My family and I remain committed to achieving our goal of an independent public inquiry into all of the circumstances surrounding Pats murder.

We will not let this latest disappointment deter us unduly.
New Delhi, Jan 24 : With BJP President JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah spearheading the campaign for the February 8 Delhi Assembly elections, the party is holding as many as 250 big and small rallies across the national capital on Friday.

BJP sources said that it had held 149 rallies in 70 Assembly segments on Thursday, adding that the party's focus was on holding small rallies and street-corner meetings in the national capital.

With the exception of big rallies which will be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, other BJP leaders will focus on small rallies since the party feels that these help it connect more with the public.

A Bharatiya Janata Party leader overseeing the election campaign in Delhi said that a strategy had been chalked out to woo every section of the population, for which leaders from certain states have been assigned duties in particular Assembly segments.

For example, he pointed out, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and MP Jual Oram have been assigned to campaign in RK Puram since it is home to a number of people hailing from Odisha.

Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has been campaigning since Thursday in areas housing people originally from Rajasthan.

Shah is scheduled to address BJP rallies in Karawal Nagar, Sonia Vihar and Gokulpuri on Friday. Nadda will address rallies in Pandav Nagar and Anand Vihar.

Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari, party vice president Shyam Jaju, Union Minister Nityanand Rai and all seven MPs of the BJP have been participating in three to five party rallies and other election programmes daily.
Russia's hybrid military forces mounted 11 attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas over past day, with one Ukrainian soldier reported as wounded in action, the press service of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) has reported.

"The armed forces of the Russian Federation violated the ceasefire 11 times on January 23. One Ukrainian soldier was wounded in enemy shelling attacks," the JFO staff said in its update on Facebook on Friday morning.

The enemy opened fire from proscribed 82mm mortars, anti-tank missile systems, grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns, and rifles.

Ukrainian positions near the towns of Krasnohorivka and Avdiyivka, and the villages of Talakivka, Opytne, Shyrokyne, Novoselivka Druha, Vodiane, Khutir Vilny, and Orikhove came under attacks.
Jaipur: I am a former minister, and one day I will be a former MP, but I hope I will never be a former writer, said Shashi Tharoor on the second day of JLF 2020 in a freewheeling talk where he also reminisced about how he began his writing life as a campus journalist and got his byline published in almost every English publication, including Eves Weekly and Chandamama, before leaving for the United States aged 19 for graduation.

The following year, he discovered that he had won the Radhika Kripalani Young Journalist Award and his father collected it on his behalf.

Tharoor regretted that he no longer has the bandwidth for writing fiction  for which you have to not only create a world of illusion in your mind  a glass palace, so to say  but also inhabit it for a few hours every day and if you dont do that when you return you find cracks beginning to appear in the palace - and too often the whole palace is destroyed.

At some point in his life, he would certainly write an autobiography. A book of words by him, with anecdotes attached to each of them, will be published by Penguin sometime in the first half of this year.

On a political note, Tharoor objected to the governments directive to the finance commission to move away from the 1971 census to the 2011 census.

And soon, we will have the 2021 census in which some southern states will actually lose population. The result is that about 40 Lok Sabha seats will disappear and be reborn in the north, and you can imagine what political consequence thats going to have, he said.

Craft and process figured large among themes discussed today, with Man Booker winner Howard Jacobson slamming the literary subgenre of the Holocaust novel.

I dont like concentration camp novels. I dont think they should be written. I dont like big themes. I feel you are cheating when you choose big themes. As writers, we should let the words do the work, create the meaning. I like making tragedies out of nothing  there should be nothing behind the words, said Jacobson.

In a frank talk with Tharoor, Namita Gokhale, too, opened up about her process as well as her motivation for writing Jaipur Journals, her new book.

People now see me more as a literary festival organiser which pushes my writer self to the background, and like Rudrani Rana, the character in my novel, I, too, sometimes feel angry about that. This book was a return to my roots as a writer in short snatches. The form of it was such that it would allow me to go for brief, intense periods of writing in which I would complete a story, and then move to the next one the next time I returned, Namita said.

The inspiration behind Rudrani Rana was, in fact, a man  an intelligent man  who, to her, could perhaps have been a great writer but became too attached to the role of being an unsung genius rather than a recognised one.

What is the writers muse? It can be many things ranging from cancer for Lisa Ray which has, for her, been a gateway to a new, more perceptive, world in which she finds energy and direction through Buddhist meditation to the urge to document lived social history for 2019 Man Booker International awardee Jokha Alharthi who, unfortunately, was trolled by the intelligentsia in Beirut  they resented the fact that despite their large literary heritage, they had lost the honour of being the first Arab to win this prize to a woman from Oman.

It can also be the need to do some life accounting at the end of completing a work which can form the purpose of writing, say, a memoir. Says Avi Shlaim, historian, who has completed one: My mother is not a reliable source. She is completely narcissistic and that colours her narrative.
Ernest Hemingway once said to go to bed at night in Madrid is strange, and that for a long time your friends will be a little uncomfortable about it. While he wasnt around for the 21st centurys explosion in mass tourism, he may as well have said the same thing about not getting pickpocketed in Madrid in 2020.

Much like Hemingway partied under the premise that you shouldnt go to bed until the night has been killed in 1926, any modern-day traveller knows you shouldnt leave Madrid until your wallet has been stolen  otherwise, its simply not an authentic experience. While that is a mild exaggeration, it really is hard to trust someone who has been to Madrid and not had their purse liberated from their pocket.

Why? Whether it was on the shuttle bus between the domestic and international airports (guilty), during a casual stroll in El Retiro or whether it was outside the Palacio de Cristal, (pretty much) every tourist that visits Madrid gets pickpocketed.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Madrid Joven! (@madrid_joven) on Jan 19, 2020 at 1:28pm PST

Thats not to say everyone that goes there is; many experienced travellers have the wherewithal not to, but then; they are travellers not tourists. And one of the most common ways to make the transition from tourist to traveller is to be pickpocketed  an embarrassing experience to recount to your family and friends (especially after cultivating your worldly and switched on character) but also one which you ultimately benefit from, as you become wiser.

RELATED: Why Spaniards Will Never Understand Australias Obsession With Wellness

As numerous Tripadvisor and Reddit threads attest, many tourists let their guard down in Madrid, as it doesnt have such a reputation for pickpockets as Barcelona. The sad reality is though, as in most large cities, pickpockets are in Madrid too  particularly on the metro, in crowded public spaces and on the airport shuttle buses.

Pasa mucho (it happens all the time), the police told me, when I went to the airport police station to report my stolen wallet, because there are no cameras on the free airport shuttle buses, and because groups of thieves know bleary-eyed tourists with multiple suitcases to contend with (and having recently exchanged a bunch of cash in the airport) are the perfect targets.

Like taking candy from a baby; but easier.

Theres also the classic engage your audience while someone else nabs their wallet scam, which occurs in places like Plaza Espana and the iconic Puerta del Sol. As one traveller recounts on the Reddit thread crafty pickpocketing scam I almost fell victim too, these can be as sneaky as they are smart.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Zeta Bak (@_dr_zeta) on Dec 6, 2019 at 10:39pm PST

A few weeks ago I was out partying with my friends in Moondance and decided to leave briefly to get some cash out of an ATM. I went to a machine near Puerta del Sol and I was stopped by a guy who looked to be in his early 20s. He called me over all friendly and started doing this weird dance with me  Im not sure how to best describe it as I dont remember it perfectly (alcohol) but I remember he locked his leg around my knee and started jumping around me.

I was a bit drunk so I was jumping around thinking this was great fun, and then we broke apart. Then I noticed he had my phone in his hand.

Obviously hed noticed I was a bit drunk, saw me as an easy target, and used this weird dance to distract me while he was taking my phone out of my pocket. the Reddit user continued. The crazy thing is, about a week later, I was coming home after another party and another guy tried to do the same weird dance with me  only this time I put my hands in my pockets before his could get there.

Im not sure if this is some sort of new fancy pickpocketing technique or if its an old trick (I only moved to Madrid a few months ago, country bumpkin beforehand).

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Madrid Travel  (@madrid.explore) on Jan 3, 2020 at 6:18am PST

Another Tripadvisor thread tells a similar story: My husband and I are New Yorkers and we think of ourselves as street smart. When we arrived in Madrid in June we took the metro to our hotel near the Atocha train station. My husband had his wallet in his shorts pocket. We were surrounded by a several men on the Metro and one tried tugging at his pocket but luckily the velcro strip made it difficult for them to remove his wallet without him feeling the tugging.

They gave him a pat on the back as they left the train empty handed as if to congratulate him for outsmarting them. After that close call we were very vigilant and noticed other people looking us up and down to see where our wallets were located.

While some sympathised with their plight, there were crueller comments (in another forum) which suggested being pickpocketed is influenced by how you present yourself: Living in Madrid since 50 years ago. Never pickpocketed in the Metro, but I dont look like a U.S. yokel from Beverly Hillbillies.

RELATED: Important Eating Rules You Need To Know Before Visiting Spain

To sum up though, there was a (fairly) objective post which describes the pickpocket situation in Madrid (and how to avoid it), we believe, quite well: I am joining this forum, because I am neither stereotyping anyone, nor would I like to be stereotyped. My daughter LIVES in NYC and I live in NJ. I thought I was, by no means, naiive. Thats what I thought, the post begins.

But, there ARE extensive pickpocketing incidents in Madrid (when I went to the police station to file a report, the Lt. confirmed it). The big spots are in the Plazas, where there are big crowds and THESE PEOPLE ARE GOOD. They also have kids in parks trying to get signatures, even when you decline (as I did), it was just enough to slow me down enough for them to unzip my zipped purse, unzip my zipped wallet and put it all back  30 seconds  TOPS.

Thats probably the reason why I didnt get pickpocketed in the plazas  because I keep moving and everything is zipped. As I mentioned, I am not stereotyping anyone, nor do I wish for people to throw jabs at me for being robbed. I am just posting this so people are careful. I thought I was. Clearly I need to be more careful, the commenter continues.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Barcelomeno (@barcelomeno) on Nov 7, 2019 at 6:32am PST

I loved Spain. I will go back  primarily for the people. I was lucky not to have my passport or credit cards stolen  only cash. So, just be thoughtful about how much money you carry, where you keep your cash/credit cards/travel documents  both when youre out and about and if you choose to leave them in your hotel room. Thats all  this way, you will spend your time enjoying Spain.

Read Next
In a sudden move, the Centre has transferred the Koregaon-Bhima case to the National Investigation Agency, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said on Friday night.

In a late night tweet, Deshmukh said, "I strongly condemn the decision to transfer the investigation of 'Koregaon-Bhima' case to NIA by the Central Government without any consent of Maharashtra State Government.."



The Union Home Ministry and the NIA were maintaining complete silence in New Delhi and the spokespersons of the two departments were not responding to queries from reporters.

The decision of the Centre has left the Maharashtra government fuming, with Deshmukh tweeting that the Centre took this decision after the new Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government in Maharashtra decided to "go to the root of the matter".

"...I condemn this decision. This is against the Constitution," the minister, who belongs to the NCP, added.

The case was being probed by the Pune police.

The police had on Thursday briefed state Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Deshmukh about the status of the probe. NCP chief Sharad Pawar had demanded that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) be set up under a retired judge to probe the action taken by Pune Police in the case.

The move comes a day after NCP president Sharad Pawar demanded probe by a Special Investigation Team in the Koregaon-Bhima violence, the Ministry of Home Affairs transferred the case to the NIA, said NCP spokesperson Mahesh Tapase.

"What is the BJP afraid of? Why have they suddenly lost faith in Maharashtra Police?" he asked.

Earlier in the day, another NCP leader and minister Jitendra Awhad alleged that the Koregaon-Bhima violence case was a "conspiracy" of the previous BJP-led government to malign the image of activists sympathetic to Dalit causes.

"Taking action against those who recite poems of Namdeo Dhasal (a Marathi poet and Dalit activist) and arresting people on allegations of plotting to kill (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi is too much. The case should be investigated again," the minister had said.

Violence had broken out near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial in Pune district on January 1, 2018.

Dalits visit the memorial in large numbers as it commemorates the victory of British forces which included Dalit Mahar soldiers over the army of the Brahmin Peshwa rulers of Pune in 1818.

The police had claimed that provocative speeches at Elgar Parishad conclave in Pune on December 31, 2017, led to the violence and Maoists were behind the conclave. They later arrested several Left-leaning activists including Telugu poet Varavara Rao and activist Sudha Bharadwaj for alleged links to Maoists.

During the probe, Pune Police had claimed that Maoists and their supporters in urban areas were discussing a "Rajiv Gandhi-type" assissination plan against Modi.

Incidentally, as per the NIA Act, when the Centre deems any case fit to be probed by the NIA, the state police has to transfer relevant records to the Central agency.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Share this article Whatsapp

Facebook

Twitter

Linkedin Norman Harsono (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Fri, January 24, 2020 17:31 719 7f440ff09e92db75a02bbad2060e360c 1 Business PLN,Jakarta-flood,electricity,blackout Free

State-owned electricity company PLN has shut down 15 electricity substations, many in North Jakarta, following heavy rainfall across the capital on Friday.

PLN Jakarta general manager Tris Yanuarsyah said in a statement that the substations were shutoff as of 2:00 p.m. for the sake of protecting residents from electric shocks.

The affected areas include neighborhoods around Jl. Batu Tulis, Jl. Kepu Utara, Jl. Cempaka Putih Barat and Jl. Cempaka Putih Tengah in Central Jakarta, Villa Gading Indah and Jl. Kapuk Kamal in North Jakarta and Jl. Kamal Indah in West Jakarta, among other areas.

The company urged residents in the affected areas to turn off their circuit breakers, unplug electronic devices and store such devices on high ground away from the water. PLNs contact center is available at 123.

Flooding occurred in many parts of Jakarta as a result of heavy rain early Friday morning, according to data from the Jakarta Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD). The agency recorded 54 inundated areas across the capital, of which 28 are located in North Jakarta.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has forecast heavy rain for Jakarta from Jan. 24 to Jan. 29, and has issued a flood warning for the capital for Jan. 24 and 25.
If you didnt want to be bored at work, you shouldnt have become a senator, O.K.? You should have stuck with racecar driving, Mitch McConnell.  TREVOR NOAH



The trial did not end until almost 10 p.m. last night, but Democratic senator Dianne Feinstein walked out of the Senate chamber at 8:45. She said good night to two reporters standing nearby and left the Capitol. Well, thats a bold new take on the Democrats battle cry: When they go low, we go home.  STEPHEN COLBERT

But you know, if senators are looking for things to do without their phones, weve created an activity book they can play, called 101 Fun Things to Do in the Senate Other Than Pay Attention to Impeachment. Its loaded with puzzles, like Getting money to Ukraine through the maze of corruption, Spot six differences between these two impeachments, and if those two are too hard, Connect-one-dot.  STEPHEN COLBERT

Also, you know who else is used to talking and moving and has difficulty listening for long periods of time? Children. We talk about senators the way pre-K teachers talk about story time: Well, theyre used to moving and talking, so we only made it halfway through Clifford Commits a Crime.  SETH MEYERS
President Trump on Thursday tweeted a doctored image showing him leaning near the window of his Trump Tower penthouse in Manhattan while Barack Obama scales the walls of the building with suction cups and binoculars.

The tweet was an apparent reference to claims made by the president and his supporters that his predecessor unlawfully spied on him and his campaign.

In March 2017, Trump tweeted: Terrible! Just found out that Obama had my wires tapped in Trump Tower just before the victory.

Nothing found. This is McCarthyism!

Trump has also accused the Obama administration of illegally surveilling people close to the then-Republican candidate.

President Trump on Thursday posted a photoshopped image showing his predecessor, Barack Obama, scaling the wall of Trump Tower to spy on him

Trump (left) has accused Obama (right) and his administration of illegally monitoring his campaign during the election

In March 2017, Trump tweeted: Terrible! Just found out that Obama had my wires tapped in Trump Tower just before the victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism!

Last month, Michael Horowitz, the inspector general of the Justice Department, told the Senate that there was no evidence that the FBI wiretapped anyone other than former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page in connection with the Russia investigation.

Did your investigation identify any evidence President Obama ordered the FBI to tap Donald Trumps phone? Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat from Delaware, asked Horowitz.

We didnt find any evidence the FBI had tapped any other phones or anything else other than the FISA that we addressed, Horowitz responded.

During the waning days of the Obama administration, the FBI began investigating suspicious ties between Trump campaign aides and the Russian government.

At the time, there were indications that the Russians were meddling in the 2016 elections by waging a disinformation campaign online to help Trump win the election.

Horowitz conducted a report into the FBIs conduct during the investigation.

He found numerous errors but no evidence of political bias by the FBI when it opened its investigation into contacts between Trumps presidential campaign and Russia in 2016.

Last month, Michael Horowitz, the Justice Department inspector general, said there was no evidence to Trump's claim that Obama ordered the phones of Trump Tower to be wiretapped

The report by Horowitz gave ammunition to both Trumps supporters and his Democratic critics in the debate about the legitimacy of an investigation that clouded the first two years of his presidency.

It will not be the last word on the subject.

Federal prosecutor John Durham, who is running a separate criminal investigation on the origins of the Russia probe, said he did not agree with some of the reports conclusions.

Horowitz found that the FBI had a legal authorized purpose to ask for court approval to begin surveillance of Page.

But he also found a total of 17 basic and fundamental errors and omissions in its applications to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISA) that made the case appear stronger than it was.

For example, the FBI continued to rely on information assembled by a former British intelligence officer named Christopher Steele in its warrant applications even after one of Steeles sources told the agency that his statements had been mischaracterized or exaggerated.

Obama's FBI director, James Comey, opened the probe into one-time Trump campaign aide Carter Page. The FBI obtained a FISA warrant which relied on the Steele dossier

Horowitz criticized the FBI for relying on the Steele dossier after it became clear that several of its claims could not be verified. Christopher Steele, the former MI6 agent who wrote what became the dossier, is seen above

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, a Republican, said that effectively turned the investigation into a criminal enterprise to defraud the court and violate Pages rights.

I dont fault anybody for looking into allegations like this. I do fault them for lying and misrepresenting to the court, said Graham, who will hold a hearing on Wednesday examining the reports findings.

The report also singled out an FBI lawyer for altering an email in a renewal of the warrant application to claim that Page was not a source for another U.S. government agency, when in fact he did work from 2008 to 2013 with another agency that was not identified in the report.

The lawyer, identified by Republicans as Kevin Clinesmith, did not respond to a request for comment.

Democrats said the report showed that there was no basis for Trumps repeated charges that the FBI was trying to undermine his chances of winning the White House.

This report conclusively debunks the baseless conspiracy that the investigations into Mr. Trumps campaign and its ties to Russia originated with political bias, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said at a news conference.

Trump called the investigation a witch hunt and assailed FBI leaders and career staffers who worked on it.

Federal prosecutor John Durham is running a separate criminal investigation on the origins of the Russia probe

This was an attempted overthrow and a lot of people were in on it, and they got caught, Trump told reporters at the White House.

The FBI investigation was taken over in May 2017 by former FBI chief Robert Mueller after Trump fired James Comey as the agencys director.

Those who attacked the FBI for two years should admit they were wrong, Comey said in a Washington Post op-ed.

Muellers 22-month special counsel investigation detailed a Russian campaign of hacking and propaganda to sow discord in the United States and help Trump defeat Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Mueller documented numerous contacts between Trump campaign figures and Moscow but found insufficient evidence of a criminal conspiracy.

Attorney General William Barr, who ordered the Durham investigation, said the report showed that the FBI launched its investigation on the thinnest of suspicions.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said he had ordered dozens of revisions to fix problems highlighted in the report, such as changes to warrant applications and methods for dealing with informants.

The FBI would review the conduct of employees mentioned in the report, he said.

Horowitz said his office on Monday began a new review to further scrutinize the FBIs compliance with its own fact-checking policies used to get applications to surveil U.S. persons in counterterrorism investigations, as well as counterintelligence probes.
On the second day of House Democrats laying out their case in the US Senate for removing President Donald Trump, there was little sign on Thursday that their arguments had changed any minds among Republican senators who control the chamber.

No Republican senators who spoke to reporters during breaks in the proceedings on Wednesday and Thursday said they had heard anything to convince them that Trumps interactions with Ukraine warranted his removal from office. A handful said they had already made up their minds to acquit their partys leader.

Their comments underscore that Trump is almost certain to be acquitted in the third presidential impeachment trial in US history. Democrats have expressed concerns that Republicans, who hold 53 of the Senates 100 seats, are not keeping an open mind about the evidence they have gathered.

Republicans counter that the Democrats have failed to make their case against Trump.

Democrats in the House of Representatives have accused Trump of withholding military aid and a White House meeting to pressure Ukraine to investigate a political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, who is seeking the Democratic nomination to face off against Trump in Novembers presidential election.

Republican Senator Mike Braun of Indiana told reporters he would likely vote to acquit Trump absent surprising new details from the House Democratic lawmakers, who are due on Friday to wrap up their opening arguments on why Trump should be convicted.

If I dont hear any more information that would sway me otherwise ... that would be for acquittal, Braun said.

The Senates top Republican, Mitch McConnell, has resisted calling any witnesses or allowing any new evidence to be admitted, angering Democrats who say that a proper trial cannot take place without them.

Given that reality, the seven Democratic impeachment managers led by Representative Adam Schiff have devoted their time since Wednesday to recounting what the House learned in their monthslong inquiry, peppering their presentations with video clips of impeachment inquiry witnesses and Trump himself.

Other Republican senators professed boredom, including Senator Thom Tillis, who said he has made up his mind to acquit Trump and dismissed the House presentation as repetitive.

It reminds of the shopping channel, the hits of the 80s, you hear it again and again and again and again, Tillis said. I can almost recite the testimony.

Several other senators said they did not believe that the allegations against Trump, who has denied any wrongdoing, rose to the level of impeachment, the ultimate sanction against a US president.

Grudging admiration

Some Republican senators voiced grudging admiration for the Democrats presentation.

Quite frankly, I thought they did a good job of taking bits and pieces of the evidence and creating a quilt out of it, said Senator Lindsey Graham, one of Trumps loudest Senate defenders.

But he looked forward to Trumps lawyers case beginning on Saturday: What I will tell my colleagues is the other side gets to talk and see if they can pull a thread here and pull a thread there and see if it holds up.

While the US Constitution charges senators to serve as impartial jurors in an impeachment trial, they are afforded far more leeway than jurors in American courts. A juror in a high-profile criminal case who offered their opinion publicly before the trial was over would be tossed from the jury and perhaps face jail time.

Some prominent Republicans, including those facing competitive re-election bids and critics of Trump, said they were holding off on making a decision.

Sorry, but Im not going to be commenting on the evidence or process until the entire trial is over, said Mitt Romney, a Utah Republican and sometimes Trump critic.
LAS VEGAS -- Smith & Wesson showed off its new easy-racking 9mm pistol at SHOT Show 2020, designed for shooters who struggle with pulling the slide to the rear on traditional semi-automatics.

The new 9mm M&P 9 Shield EZ is the latest addition to the popular Shield line, which was first introduced in 2012. Smith & Wesson has sold more than three million Shield pistols, which come in 9mm, .40 and .45 caliber. But comments from customers with less hand strength prompted the gunmaker to first introduce a .380 version of the Shield EZ in 2018.

Despite the higher caliber, the more powerful 9mm Shield EZ is still much easier to rack, or pull the slide to the rear, than other semi-autos in the same caliber, said Matt Spafford, spokesman for Smith & Wesson.

"The whole point of the EZ design is to make it easy to use," Spafford said. "This gun is specifically designed to be easy to rack."

Related: SHOT Show 2020 Full Coverage

The EZ features an internal hammer-fired design rather than a striker-fired design like the traditional M&P line.

"Having an easy-to-rack slide was really important to the design of this gun, so to be able to achieve that, that was the system that worked best," Spafford said. "It can be more difficult, especially in a smaller gun, to rack a slide in a striker-fired pistol."

The EZ also has a pronounced ledge on each side of the rear of the slide that "allows you to get a really good purchase on that slide so you can rack it back," he said.

The most noticeable feature of the EZ line is the grip safety that protrudes from the rear of the grip, so the pistol will not fire unless the safety is fully depressed.

"If you get a proper grip on this firearm, you don't even know it's there," Spafford said. "It also acts as a drop safety. It's the only way the gun will function. It's a great safety feature to have on this gun."

For shooters who want additional safeguards, Smith & Wesson offers an optional thumb-lever safety.

The pistol is also designed with a tiny ramp on the top of the slide that raises slightly when a round is chambered, so shooters can quickly feel to see if the gun is fully loaded, even in the dark, Spafford said.

The M&P 9 Shield EZ has an eight-round, single stack magazine, but the frame and the grip are slightly beefier than the traditional Shield, so it's "comfortable and easy to shoot," he added.

The 9mm Shield EZ is also available with a Crimson Trace red laser for quick aiming in low-light conditions. The standard model retails for $479, and the Crimson Trace model sells for $575.

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

Read More: Sig Sauer's New X5 Legion Pistol Is Designed for Lightest Possible Recoil
The winning of the objectives of this national democratic revolution will, in turn, lay the basis for a steady advance in the direction of deepening our national unity on all fronts  economic, political and cultural and towards a formation of a new country- Bangladesh.





by Anwar A. Khan





The Mass Upsurge Day falls on 24th January. It came more than 5 decades ago in Bangladesh on 24th January 1969. It was a sustained, truly mass struggle, confronting ferocious backlash by our people perpetrated on us by the savage Pakistani rulers and we overcame multiple challenges while developing our considerable strengths to fight those beastly animals back and defeat them. This glorious movement witnessed an explosion of popular-democratic struggles championed by people of all walks of life in our country whose activities became central in the campaign against all oppressions and the quest for the creation of a democratic state.













It was a democratic political movement. The uprising consisted of a series of mass demonstrations and sporadic conflicts between government armed forces and the demonstrators. Although the unrest began in 1966 with the Six-point movement of Awami League, it got momentum at the beginning of 1969 and culminated in the resignation of Field Marshal Ayub Khan, the first military ruler of Pakistan. The uprising also led to the withdrawal of Agartala Conspiracy Case and acquittal of Bangabandu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his co-accused from the case.





The movement soon engulfed the whole of the-then East Pakistans politicians, students, peasants, artisans, workers- all joined the movement almost en-bloc. Due to continuous exaction of demands marked by sound judgment of the labouring class of the industrial belts and low- and medium-income groups soon turned the movement into a struggle for economic emancipation. The racial repression and the deprivation of the Bengalis within the frame-work of Pakistan and to the contrary, starting from the language movement the feeling of separate identity together with struggle for autonomy had direct influence on the mass upsurge of 1969.





Indeed, this mass upsurge was the greatest mass awakening ever since the creation of Pakistan. The student agitation of 1968 turned into a mass upsurge when Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhasani, Chief of the National Awami Party (NAP) asked his followers to besiege Governors House, formulated and declared his other programmes.





As a part of joint programmes, the NAP of Maulana Bhasani and other political parties arranged a public meeting at Paltan Maidan to observe the Repression Resistance Day on 6 December 1968. After the meeting was over, a huge procession besieged the Governor's House. The Maulana declared a total shut-down of work the next day following the clash between the people and the police. On the call of the main opposition parties namely two factions of NAP (Bhasani and Muzaffar), Awami League and other political parties, a Hartal (Shut-down of work) was observed throughout the-then East Pakistan on 8 December 1968. Repression Resistance Day was very successfully observed throughout the former Province on 10th December 1968 at the call of Awami Leagues pro-six-point demand. On the 14th December 1968, the gherao programme (a protest in which a building or person is surrounded by people until demands were met) was declared by the NAP (Bhasani).





Accordingly, the programme was launched with the gherao of the bungalow of the DC of Pabna on the 29th December 1968. Mass Uprising Day is observed in Bangladesh every year on 24 January to mark the climax of the movement of the people of the-then East Pakistan for autonomy in 1969 that eventually led to the Independence War and emergence of Bangladesh in 1971.





On this day in 1969 Matiur Rahman Mallik, a standard IX student of the Nabakumar Institution, Dhaka and Rustam Ali, a rickshaw-puller were killed in police fire on demonstrators in Dhaka as the Pakistani rulers desperately tried to suppress the popular uprising. The killings sparked off intense protests across the country that eventually saw the fall of the dictator Gen Ayub regime. It is competently said that the day teaches Bengalis about the values of democracy and to protest against oppression.





A wind was blowing. It was heading end-to-end the country, and could not be suppressed forever. This proves that the mobilisation of the people is a formidable source of democracy. Events in were indeed an urgent reminder of the challenges of inclusive growth, of job creation, of opportunities for the young, of leaving no one behind.





This Revolution of 51 years ago provides important lessons for peoples across the world in their quest to dismantle oppression and build just societies today, tomorrow and the days ahead. It can be termed as pleading for a moral excellence of cause or propounding an idea of determination of one's own fate or course of action without compulsion. It taught us that the political separation of our nation from an alien national body; and the formation of independent nation state - Bangladesh.





In this reflection on the 51st anniversary of the Mass Upsurge Day, we will seek to grasp the responses to the revolution, the surge of anti-Pakistani which led the defeat of their fascism. This is an episodic event in human history. It was a period of tremendous outpouring of revolutionary energies in music, art, theater, journalism, poetry and political organising. The uprisings in 1962, 1966, 1968 and 1969 marked a new stage in human history with the independence of Bangladesh in 1971.





The tremendous achievements of those insurrections beckon us to understand what was possible and what is possible to create today. We should create records, equally relevant today in wiping out poverty, backwardness, and illiteracy, in establishing equality among peoples of all religions and between men and women. It is an inspiration of what was and what can be, and that is why, we say that the era it established of the transition from alien rule to the establishment of a sovereign and independent state which is as relevant today.





Tension had since continued rising and the vast majority of giant Bengali political and student leaders were put behind the bars by the ignominious Pakistani regime to put down the legitimate demands of Bangladeshs people by force or authority. The movement persisted in to release them immediately and unconditionally. The 1969 Mass Upsurge Day may have more to teach us. The increased tempo of struggle then in our country was a commitment to end all forms of exploitation of human by sub-humans in our part of land. It clearly shows that a new nation was in the making.





The winning of the objectives of this national democratic revolution will, in turn, lay the basis for a steady advance in the direction of deepening our national unity on all fronts  economic, political and cultural and towards a formation of a new country- Bangladesh. For our nation building means among other things unifying ourselves nationally as the leading class whose developing culture, aspirations and economic interests become increasingly those of the overwhelming majority of our people.





The heroic upsurge of the 24th January 1969 of our people against the tyrannous Pakistani regime continued for almost 3 years. We witnessed mass demonstrations, strikes, boycotts, etc. and the whole Pakistan based National Election where Awami League led by its charismatic leader Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman emerged out as the majority party leader of Pakistan, but the ruffian Pakistani military rulers betrayed with us and refused to hand-over power to Bangabandhu and then waged a full-scale war with us.





Their nefarious actions were directed to violent repression which led to the brutal murder of our 3 million people. The 1971 war shows the determination of Bangladeshs people to be masters in their own land, an independent Peoples Republic. The struggle necessarily continued 9 months on to a higher stage, a revolutionary people's war. For it is clear that the only way the settler regime can be defeated was militarily. And that was done bravely by our people inspired by deep love for our country.





The history of any society is based on how its people fashion a living for them, how they contend with the forces of nature and consequently how the relations between people develop. In our 1971 war with the Pakistani military rulers, we had emerged out as a fairly powerful mass organisation. The war reached a new height, but we won the war defeating the inglorious war-mongers of the Pakistani regime disgracefully. Bangladesh came into being on 16th December 1971.





We have won our own destiny, but without the fullest organisational democracy, we will never be able to achieve conscious, active and unified participation of the majority of the people, and in particular the working class, in our struggle for betterment of our country. It clearly sums up the systematisation of popular experiences and demands which some leaders were able to eloquently make during those stringy days in Pakistan.





Clearly, this Mass Ups-well had more the character of an ideal to be struggled for rather than a simple description of reality; nevertheless, it indicates the centrality of popular democracy within the ideology and practice of the movement. The basic role of the civics is not changed. This role is building people's power and it is something that must play itself out in our society.





The present process of democratisation in Bangladesh has been overwhelmingly state directed, not only because political parties and state agencies have taken the initiative and provide the fora in which decisions on such democratisation processes are made, but also largely because of the weakness of a culture of popular democracy and the absence of popular institutions through which that culture could be expressed. The key to a democratic system lies in being able to say that the people in our country can not only vote for a representative of their choice, but also feel that they have some direct control over where and how they live, eat, sleep and work, how they get to work, how they and their children are educated, what the content of that education is; and that these things are not done for them by the government of the day, but by the people themselves.





In other words, we are talking about ... mass participation rather than passive docility and ignorance, a momentum where ordinary people feel that they can do the job themselves, rather than waiting for their local Member of Parliament to intercede on their behalf.





Long live the Mass Upsurge Day and its message - that is intended, expressed or signified.





-The End 





The writer is an independent political observer based in Dhaka, Bangladesh who writes on politics, political and human-centered figures, current and international affairs
The Pentagon says that 34 service members have been diagnosed with concussion-like or traumatic brain injury (TBI) symptoms since the Jan. 8 Iranian ballistic missile strike on Al Asad Air Base in Iraq.

Jonathan Hoffman, Pentagon chief spokesman, said that eight troops who were initially sent to Germany arrived Friday in the U.S. to continue treatment; nine others are still undergoing treatment in Germany; one was sent to Kuwait for treatment and has since returned to duty in Iraq; and 16 who were diagnosed in Iraq have now returned to duty.

In total, 17 of the 34 have returned to duty. There is a "distinct possibility" that the nine still in Germany may head to the U.S. for further treatment, he said.

"We needed to have more clarity," Hoffman said, adding that the Pentagon wanted to get the facts straight on the troops' medical conditions. He explained that the Defense Department has been referring to concussion and TBI "relatively interchangeably."

Related: President Trump Downplays Severity of Troops' Head Injuries After Iranian Attack

"The numbers have shifted as more people have been diagnosed. [But] this is a snapshot in time of where we are right now," he said.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper has given instructions that "anyone who comes in with symptoms, receives any and all care that they need," Hoffman said. "We need to track that closely."

Whether the troops could receive the Purple Heart for injuries as a result of enemy action is under review. Hoffman said it's up to the individual military branches to make those decisions.

Last week, defense officials confirmed that 11 U.S. service members were flown from Iraq to U.S. medical facilities for additional evaluation and treatment of concussion-like symptoms. The Associated Press was first to report Tuesday that more troops were being evaluated in Landstuhl, Germany, for similar injuries.

Air Force Maj. Gen. Alex Grynkewich, deputy commander of Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve at U.S. Central Command, this week said officials had estimated that the total number in need of evaluation was "in the teens."

According to a Department of Veterans Affairs study, a traumatic brain injury can go undiagnosed in its milder forms and result in issues for returning service members ranging from "headaches, irritability, and sleep disorders to memory problems, slower thinking, and depression."

Numerous reports and studies by the DoD and the VA have pointed to links between blast exposure and TBI and post-traumatic stress.

According to the DoD and the Defense and Veteran's Brain Injury Center, about 22% of all combat casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan involve brain injuries, compared with 12% of combat casualties in Vietnam.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, President Donald Trump on Wednesday downplayed the injuries as "headaches."

"I heard that they had headaches, and a couple of other things," he said during a press conference. "But I would say, and I can report, that it is not very serious."

-- Richard Sisk contributed to this report.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

Read more: Prospective Army Battalion COs Must Now Face Senior Officer Grilling, Psych Review
While there are other LED touch lamps on the market today, most of them come with either long cords that make your desktop messy or short ones that limit the lamps use to specific areasor they cant be used at all if there isnt a socket nearby...Cuppa solves all these problems.

Cuppa, the worlds first LED lamp that integrates full-body touch control technology with cordless design, is lighting-up Kickstarter raising more than $113,000 and counting -- with 10 days remaining in the campaign.

Were extremely pleased that our supporters on Kickstarter have pushed presales of the Cuppa more than 20 times above our initial campaign goal, said Cuppa Founder Kevin Smith. We believe these customers are attracted to the portability, simplicity, functionality and reliability in the design of Cuppa.

Cuppa is a smart lamp that works without WIFI, Bluetooth, APPs, a smart phone or a remote controller. Inspired by the shape and size of a coffee cup, Cuppa features patent pending 360-degree Any Touch technology that allows it to be turned on with a touch anywhere on its base. Being cordless and lightweight makes it extremely portable  and its available in three colors so it looks great with all furniture styles and home and office decor.

While there are other LED touch lamps on the market today, most of them come with either long cords that make your desktop messy or short ones that limit the lamps use to specific areasor they cant be used at all if there isnt a socket nearby, Smith said. Cuppa solves all these problemsand allows you to say goodbye to that messy desk for good.

Cuppa, which is available at an early-bird price of $99 during crowdfunding, has the following features:



Cordless

Offers 360-degree Any Touch, allowing it to be turned on and off from any part of its base

LED Bulbs, saving up to 80 percent in energy use and easy on the eyes

Features Stepless Dimming

Waterproof

Flame - Resistant

Eliminates the risk of electrical shock

Weighs about two pounds, making it easy to move and difficult to topple

Cuppa is also equipped with a memory mode, that allows it to be returned to its previous brightness level. Both the memory mode and stepless dimming make it easy for users to customize Cuppa to their favorite light level.

The portable light also features Type C fast charging, which means it can provide light for as long as 12 hours with a full charge (2.5 hours)  and can last for two hours with only 10 minutes of charging. Cuppa can also be charged with a power bank, which makes it the perfect back up lamp in case of an electrical black out.

For more information, or to pre-purchase Cuppa at a crowdfunding discount, visit the Cuppa Campaign Page on Kickstarter.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan.24

By Tamilla Mammadova  Trend:

China exported 42,273 tons of flat-rolled products of non-alloy clad or coated steel of a width of more than 600 mm to Georgia in a total amount of $30.8 million in 2019, which is 0,198 tons more compared to 2018, Trend reports referring to the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat).

In the reporting period, China exported 3,967 tons of air conditioning machines worth $30.8 million to Georgia. China increased the export of air conditioning machines to Georgia. Over the 2018, 3,096 tons of air conditioning machines totaling $18.2 million were exported from China to Georgia.

Meanwhile, 9,097 tons of new pneumatic rubber tyres worth $21.7 million were exported from China to Georgia. This is 1,419 tons more compared to 2018.

During the reporting period, China exported 341 tons of automatic data processing machines and units in the amount of $21.1 million to Georgia. In 2018, export of automatic data processing machines and units thereof from China to Georgia amounted to 383.5 tons totaling $41.4 million.

In 2019, China exported 1,019 tons of television receivers worth $21.3 million to Georgia.

China ranks third in Georgias commodity circulation.

In 2019, the foreign trade turnover between Georgia and China amounted to more than $1.08 billion, which is 8.5 percent of the total trade turnover of Georgia.

During the reporting period, Georgia exported products worth $227.6 million to the Chinese market, which is 6 percent of total exports from Georgia.

Meanwhile, China exported products worth $858.6 million to the Georgian market, which is 9.5 percent of total import to Georgia.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Mila61979356
New Delhi :

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday lauded the work done by children who won Pradhan Mantri Bal Puraskar in various categories, saying he gets inspiration and energy from them. Whenever I hear about such courageous work of all you young comrades, talk to you, I also get inspiration and energy, PM Modi said. Interacting with children at his residence, the prime minister said he is proud to see the awareness of their duty towards society and the nation.

When I was getting introduced to you a while back, I was really surprised. The way you all have tried in different fields, the work that has been done at such a young age... is amazing, he said.

He told them to enjoy drinking water and juice not medicine. He also advised them to be physically active.

The Pradhan Mantri Bal Puraskar awards are given to children in the age group of five to 18 years for their contribution in various sectorsinnovation, social service, scholastic, sports, art and culture, and bravery. It carries a medal, a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, a certificate and a citation.

The 49 awardees include 12-year-old Darsh Malani, who has performed over 50 magic shows worldwide, and 11-year-old Manoj Kumar Lohar, awarded for his mastery in tabla vadan.

"The government of India acknowledges children as one of the most important partners in nation-building. Their hopes and aspirations are to be acknowledged and their achievements rewarded. Although every child is precious and his or her achievements have to be appreciated, there are some whose achievements will serve as an inspiration to many others," the statement issued earlier said.

The government gives these awards every year to recognize exceptional achievements of children in various fields. President Ram Nath Kovind had on Wednesday presented the award.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Bollywood star Ayushmann Khurrana believes scriptwriting is an underrated art in the film industry but a good script makes all the difference in an actor's performance.

"Film writing is different. Writing a script is so difficult... (It's) the most under-rated. Actors are puppets as (whatever they do) it is all in the script," he said during an interaction with the audience at Tata Steel Kolkata Literary Meet here on Thursday evening.

Ayushmann, who has established himself with content-backed movies such as "Vicky Donor", "Shubh Mangal Saavdhan", "Dum Laga Ke Haisha", "Andhadhun" and "Badhaai Ho", believes it is important for an actor to stay connected with common people to understand the nuances of the characters they portray.

"I try to make that connect with common folk. Wherever I shoot, I try to become one of them. I engage in conversations with the driver, the tea seller. They talk about their problems. I have to know these people, I have to be one with them, that's my way of preparing."



His upcoming film "Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan" deals with homosexuality and Ayushmann hoped people will like the film as people are more aware and inclusive now.

"I was gung-ho about doing this film, and so far preparations are concerned I have lots of friends in LGBTQ community," the actor said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 22:59:29|Editor: Yurou

Video Player Close

LONDON, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- Britain on Friday labelled the U.S. refusal to send a diplomat's wife back to Britain for trial a "denial of justice" over the death of 19-year-old Briton in a car crash.

In a statement, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the government is disappointed about the U.S. decision not to extradite the car crash suspect Anne Sacoolas to Britain.

Harry Dunn was killed when his motorbike and a car collided outside a U.S. military base in Northamptonshire on Aug. 27 last year. The driver of the car, Sacoolas, returned to the United States, claiming diplomatic immunity and was subsequently charged by Britain's Crown Prosecution Service with causing death by dangerous driving.

"We feel this amounts to a denial of justice, and we believe Anne Sacoolas should return to the UK. We are now urgently considering our options," said Raab in the statement released by the Foreign Office, adding that he called the U.S. ambassador to Britain earlier to express the government's disappointment.

"I also explained that the UK would have acted differently if this had been a UK diplomat serving in the U.S.," said Raab.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, a spokeswoman for the Home Office said that "We are disappointed in this decision, which appears to be a denial of justice."

In a phone call with their constituency MP Andrea Leadsom Thursday, Dunn's family were told of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's decision to refuse the British extradition request.

They are now calling for a meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson after dubbing the U.S. decision as "one of the darkest days" for the two countries' close relations.

The case of Sacoolas has been a thorn in the "special relationship" between the United States and Britain, prompting debates over the limits of diplomatic immunity in cases unrelated to national security, local media reported.

Despite the U.S. rejection, the Dunn family were remaining resolute that they will get justice one day.

"I can assure your listeners this morning (Friday) that despite the development last night we know for sure that she will be coming back one day, there is no other way forward," the family's spokesman Radd Seiger told the BBC Radio 4's Today program.
A court in Russia has sentenced an Ingush activist to 16 months in a colony-settlement for assaulting police officers during mass rallies against a controversial border deal with neighboring Chechnya last year.

A colony-settlement is a penitentiary in which convicts live close to a facility where they work.

A court in the city of Zheleznovodsk in the Stavropol region on January 23 found Magomed Ozdoyev guilty and sentenced him the same day.

Ozdoyev has partially admitted his guilt.

Since under Russian law one day in a pretrial detention center equals two days in a colony-settlement, Ozdoyev is due to be released on February 20.

Ozdoyev is the ninth activist to be sent to a colony-settlement for taking part in the violent rallies in the capital of Ingushetia, Magas, in March 2019 against the deal reached behind closed doors in September 2018 to settle an Ingush-Chechen border dispute.

Ingush opponents of the deal say that the region's land is being unjustly handed over to Chechnya, whose strongman leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, has been accused of interfering in the affairs of neighboring Ingushetia and Daghestan.

Trials of several other Ingush activists who took part in the rallies are pending.
In a veiled reference, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday likened Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah with German dictator Adolf Hitler.

Baghel's remarks came a day after Shah had asserted that Congress leaders can abuse BJP as much as they want but if anyone speaks of breaking India, they will be put behind the bars.

"Rahul baba and company, please listen carefully. Abuse us as much as you want, abuse our party as much as you want but those who speak of breaking India will be put in the jail," Shah had said while addressing an election rally in Delhi on Thursday.

Reacting to this remark, Baghel said, "Hitler had said during one of his speeches 'abuse me all you want but don't abuse Germany', 'Mota Bhai' and 'Chhota Bhai' are also saying the same thing, speaking the same language."

He continued, "Amit Shah should tell that is Narendra Modi ji lying or he himself is lying. Who is lying? One says Register of Citizens (NRC) will be implemented, others say it won't be implemented."

He also claimed that people who are landless and uneducated will face a lot of problems, after the implementation of NRC.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister also reiterated that if NRC is implemented then he would be the "first person to not sign it.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
After turning himself in to Hollywood (Florida) police late Thursday night, Antonio Brown will be released under six conditions.

The former Patriots wide receiver was charged with burglary with battery, burglary of an unoccupied conveyance and criminal mischief, after allegedly attacking a moving truck driver. The first charge is a felony.

Hes been granted a release from jail on these six conditions:

 Brown will pay a $110,000 bond

 Brown will be monitored by GPS

 Brown will release his passport

 Brown will release his guns

 Brown will go through drug and alcohol testing

 Brown will get a mental health evaluation

The last stipulation could prove particularly impactful, as the mother of three of Browns children, Chelsie Kyriss, recently posted on Instagram that Brown could be better if he sought mental health treatment.

Over the last few years I have stood at the side of my childrens father Antonio Brown and watched the rise and fall of an incredible man and athlete," Kyriss wrote. "Our children and I have distanced ourselves from him and our former home. Although we have parted ways I wish nothing but the best for him. Unfortunately, it seems Antonio has made questionable choices and continues to ignore the advice of those who love and support him. At this point the boys and I are working on building a new life free from any impulsive, reckless and unhealthy behaviors. My hope is that Antonio will get help and seek the mental health treatment that he so desperately needs so that he can be the father all of his children need and deserve.
SAP isn't running scared from Oracle.

"We are winning market share," SAP co-CEO Christian Klein said in a fireside chat with CNBC's Karen Tso at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Klein added that SAP has attracted customers at the five-day meeting of the world's elite, which are asking it to "lead us into the next chapter."

The German tech giant was the subject of criticism from some customers over a decision to end support for software running on third-party databases like Oracle. Late last year, Oracle's technology chief Larry Ellison fired criticism of his own at the firm, claiming SAP's customer base was "up for grabs."

In Oracle's second-quarter earnings call, Ellison said one of SAP's biggest customers would go live on Oracle's enterprise resource planning platform (ERP) in 2020. ERP is a piece of software used by firms to manage their business and automate back office functions.
Vegetable Achar, Peanut and Apple at Restaurant Scully St James's Credit:Liliana Zaharia Australian Paul Scully made his political debut in late 2016, about 18 months after British Paul Scully was elected. He'd joined Twitter in 2008 under the handle @ScullyP when he'd never imagined joining the Commons leaving @PaulScullyMP free for his Australian counterpart to claim almost a decade later. "I love it when [they say] 'can you sort out my bins?' [tweets]," begins UK Paul Scully. "Everytime I wake up in the morning there's someone having a moan about me and writes 'I think you meant Scully MP'," says Australian Paul Scully. "I've always likened Paul to Professor John Lewis  there's that guy in America who is very patient [when the John Lewis Christmas ads] come out and he says 'I think you mean John Lewis the department store'," says UK Paul Scully. "The funniest ones are the ones about the bins and the fox-hunting," agrees Australian Paul Scully.

The funniest ones are the ones about the bins and the fox-hunting. Australian MP Paul Scully "They're the most amusing ones and then you get the other ones from people who are genuinely advocating for things, there's some around disability support which I've got an interest in as well. "And you think they've clearly just mixed us up so it's easier just to refer them on and say 'you've got the wrong person and best of luck.'" Chef Scully sends out his next show-stopper  chargrilled broccoli with salted egg yolk that acts more of a sauce than as the dusting frequently applied to asian stirfrys. Char-Grilled Broccoli, Chinkiang Vinegar with Salted Egg Yolk at Restaurant Scully St James's. Credit:Liliana Zaharia

But despite being on the receiving end of years of social media abuse  some of it misdirected  both see its upsides and agree that it shouldn't be regulated, not least because any attempts to do so, would ultimately be futile. What's most surprising about the two Paul Scullys is how much they agree on, despite being from rival parties from different continents. Twitter, for instance, they both dislike, but don't think it's darker features, like online abuse, should or could be curbed by government. "[Social media] allowed us to meet each other," says Australian Paul Scully. "I wouldn't have known of your existence or you mine, there's no reason why we would ever have necessarily crossed paths," he said. "So isn't that wonderful because we always hear the negatives of Twitter in particular, because Twitter out of all the platforms, Twitter is the one I like least," says British Paul Scully. Wollongong's Paul Scully (left) has brought along a T shirt for his UK namesake. Credit:Sydney Morning Herald

"We've talked a lot about, online abuse, but how do you do [curb] that? One thing that worries me about our governments, it doesn't matter what party, it's just the governments  they don't know how the internet works. "Time and time again, and for the last few years its been our government, politicians still prove that they don't know how to deal with it." "Oh we can just switch this off, or we can deal with that, no you can't, it's not the Wild West but if you're looking at a global connected system you need to deal with it globally, otherwise you end up like China, effectively which is not a good place to be." "I'm not a big fan of private companies regulating stuff," says Australian Paul Scully. But they also agree that social media has had detrimental effects on public debate and on two of the biggest issues in both countries  Brexit and climate change.

"In an environment where so many debates are undertaken through 280 characters on Twitter, nuance is difficult," says Australian Paul Scully. "Saying 'Stop the Ban' or do this or do that, whether you can actually ever do it or not is an easy way to present yourself," he says to UK Paul Scully's agreement. As the waiter brings the sea bream with its sauce containing 25 ingredients I wonder how the two Paul Scullys, with so much in common, ended up in competing parties? Gilthead bream, black curry mole, mandarin, white cabbage at Restaurant Scully. The black curry mole sauce itself contains more than 25 ingredients. Credit:Liliana Zaharia "For me it's about opportunity," says UK Paul Scully. "The Labour Party here tends to need people dependent on the state whereas I believe in individual freedom, having a safety net  able to help the disadvantaged but also to help them out of that situation."

"Opportunity but in a different perspective I guess," says Australian Paul Scully. "I'm an economist by background so I'm a little more right-wing than some of my colleagues but the idea that you should be able to go to work and have a fair day's work for a fair day's pay as well as your kids having the same sort of opportunity as everyone else  you get no advantage by your geography or your social standing over your education." So would a "more right-wing" economist-by-training Australian Labor MP have voted for Jeremy Corbyn? "I would have because I'm loyal," he says. "You're loyal to socialism?" I press. "I'm loyal to Labour," he says. And he doesn't appear overly upset at the British public's emphatic rejection of socialism that included wild pledges like free broadband to all homes. "I don't think it would have been a manifesto that would have necessarily got up in Australian politics." "Labour is going to go through the same sort of period of deep reflection that Labor's going through in Australia and social democratic parties are going throughout the world."

British Paul Scully said Labour's free broadband policy was a turning point because it exposed Labour as "dogmatic" in positing socialism as the solution to all ills rather than exploring any other form of policy development. Beef short-rib pastrami, butterscotch horseradish, pistachio pesto at London's Restaurant Scully. Credit:Liliana Zaharia "We've got a similar sort of debate on climate change," counters Australian Paul Scully. "We've got tribes developing and the extreme ends of both debates are frustrating the middle. You get bogged down in trench warfare between these two extremes who are probably not going to change when the debate should be about who, what, were, when and why of what we need to do to address mitigation." British Paul Scully agrees the same tribalism exists over Brexit. "You've got Steve Baker who you've never heard of  Steve was trying to chase a Brexit, a perfection that doesn't exist and you've got the Jo Swinson's of this world who are just trying to end everything," he said, referring to the Liberal Democrats leader who lost her own seat in the election.

The check! Credit:Fairfax Media But with Brexit now imminent, British Paul Scully is confident that the tribalism over Europe, which has infected Westminister for half a decade, is coming to an end. From Australia, Paul Scully sees common elements "around economic security or insecurity," as well as "job concerns" in Brexit that exist in Australian politics stemming from the financial crisis. "Whether it's Brexit, whether its climate change, whether its other big issues that are happening in the States at the moment with the election of Donald Trump, you've got this interesting situation where there's a greater expectation on governments to do more and institutions of governments to do more than the populace ever wanted them to do before but simultaneously the same general public has a mistrust of those institutions to achieve it." British Paul Scully agrees but says international collaboration is one way of addressing the problem. Underlining another divide between Australia and the UK, he praises Britain's aid budget, set at 0.7 per cent of Gross National Income.

Australia, by contrast, has overseen savage cuts to set the budget at an all-time low. However, speculation in the press suggests Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a former foreign secretary, will redeploy the aid department into the foreign office, potentially allowing for the aid budget to spent on business and economic development opportunities for the British instead. "I've read that, I don't know if that's going to happen, I mean I'm not sure that's the right thing to do, I like the balance as it is that we've got ministers that cross over the divide rather than departments that cross over because there are different nuances," he says. British Tory MP Paul Scully accepts a Labor t-shirt presented to him by his Australian Labor party namesake. Credit:Liliana Zaharia But both Paul Scullys agree that in politics there is more bipartisanship than divide than people understand or get to see. As if on cue, Australian Paul Scully retrieves a bag full of gifts inlcuding some NSW Parliament red wine (shiraz), a book and a red Paul Scully  Labor for Woollongong  t-shirt.
DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Russia called on Europe on Thursday to give full support to its Nord Stream gas pipeline, saying the United States would undermine Europe's transition to greener energy if its sanctions delayed the project.

"We are not very happy with sanctions on Nord Stream-2 because we believe those are sanctions on Europe's transition to a more ecologically safe energy market", the head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund, Kirill Dmitriev, told the World Economic Forum in Davos.

"We expect to grow gas exports by 34% in the next 20 years ... We built a great infrastructure to supply gas to Asia which definitely needs it. And so we are helping the Asian transition to cleaner energy through gas and frankly through our pipelines to Europe including Nord Stream-2 we are helping Europe to also transition to cleaner energy," he said.

Russia was forced to postpone completion of Nord Stream 2 until next year after the United States imposed sanctions on the project to supply gas to Germany.

Germany has criticised the move as meddling with its energy policies. Washington says it believes Europe should cut reliance on Russia gas and buy more gas from the United States instead.

(Reporting by Dmitry Zhdannikov; Editing by Mark Potter)
I leave you to your own judgments about the president. I only hate what hes done to this country  I grieve for what hes done to this country, Schiff said. Whether you like the president or you dislike the president is immaterial. Its all about the Constitution and his misconduct. If it meets the standard of impeachable conduct, as we have proved, it doesnt matter whether you like him.

He concluded just before 9 p.m. with a final plea for a fair trial.
CHERRY HILL, N.J., Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, ranks highest in customer satisfaction among national banks, according to the J.D. Power 2019 U.S. National Banking Satisfaction StudySM. This is the first time TD was evaluated in the study and the bank's first-ever national banking trophy win.

"Being recognized for ranking highest in customer satisfaction by J.D. Power is a tremendous honor and a testament to our efforts to provide legendary experiences for our customers," said Greg Braca, President and CEO, TD Bank. "We believe our employees' customer-centric focus helps set us apart, and attribute this win to their tremendous efforts and relentless focus on delivering for our customers. I'm extremely proud of this team and look forward to building on this momentum in 2020."

J.D. Power measures customer satisfaction using a variety of factors, including channel interactions, deposit accounts and convenience.TD Bank also scored the best among national banks in the following key drivers:

Branch Experience

Online Satisfaction

"We've always been the bank that prides itself on being different from other banks. When we introduced our Unexpectedly Human brand promise, we set out to deliver everything customers would expect from a bank  plus, everything they wouldn't," said Ernie Diaz, Head of U.S. Consumer Distribution and Wealth, TD Bank. "Being recognized by J.D. Power yet again demonstrates that we're delivering on that promise."

This recognition follows two recent J.D. Power wins, including a first-place ranking in small business banking in the South Region for overall customer satisfaction, according to the 2019 J.D. Power Small Business Banking Satisfaction StudySM, and the highest ranking in the Southeast for overall customer satisfaction in Retail Banking, according to the J.D. Power 2019 U.S. Retail Banking Satisfaction Study SM.

J.D. Power's 2019 U.S. National Banking Satisfaction StudySM surveyed 8,337 respondents who identified one of the profiled banks as their primary financial institution for conducting personal banking business and have a checking account with that bank. The study includes eight national banks whose threshold exceeds domestic deposits of $200 billion.

About TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank

TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S., providing more than 9 million customers with a full range of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services at more than 1,200 convenient locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Metro D.C., the Carolinas and Florida. In addition, TD Bank and its subsidiaries offer customized private banking and wealth management services through TD Wealth, and vehicle financing and dealer commercial services through TD Auto Finance. TD Bank is headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J. To learn more, visit www.td.com/us. Find TD Bank on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TDBank and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TDBank_US.

TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank, is a member of TD Bank Group and a subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank of Toronto, Canada, a top 10 financial services company in North America. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges under the ticker symbol "TD". To learn more, visit www.td.com/us.

SOURCE TD Bank

Related Links

http://www.TDBank.com


BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Two United Methodist bishops must testify in a lawsuit filed by a one-time church member who claimed he was sexually abused, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled Friday, turning away the church leaders efforts to stay out of the case.

The all-Republican court, in a 7-2 decision, rejected attempts by the current bishop for north Alabama, Debra Wallace-Padgett, and her predecessor, Will Willimon, to avoid sworn testimony.

Both Wallace-Padgett and Willimon, who now teaches at Duke University, claimed they didnt know anything personally about the complaints of a male who claimed he was sexually abused as a minor by a United Methodist youth pastor. Wallace-Padgett also argued it would be unduly burdensome for her to provide documents.

The justices rejected their arguments, saying neither was protected by a rule that shields high-ranking corporate or government officials from testifying about cases in which they have no direct knowledge.

The decision came as courts nationwide grapple with lawsuits and legal questions raised by complaints of sexual abuse within multiple religious denominations.

Gregory Zarzaur, an attorney representing the person who filed suit, said churches need to do more to protect their most vulnerable members.

Todays decision puts church leadership on notice that when children are alleged to have been harmed through the church, church officials will be called upon to answer for what steps they took to investigate allegations of child sex abuse and what they have done and are doing to prevent child sex abuse, he said in a statement.

Terry McElheny, an attorney for the bishops, said they likely would move forward with scheduling times to testify.

Im disappointed in the result and I wish they had ruled differently, but thats why we have courts, McElheny said.

Identified in court records only as J.N., Zarzaurs client filed suit in state court in 2015 alleging he was sexually abused as a minor by Charles Terrell, who was identified as a one-time youth minister at First United Methodist Church of Sylacauga, according to the Supreme Court decision.

The suit named Terrell and his wife, the church, regional church officials and others as defendants, records show, but not the United Methodist conference which governs north Alabama or the bishops. Wallace-Padgett took over as bishop from Willimon in 2012 around the time of the alleged abuse, McElheny said.

Terrell has denied the abuse allegations, and church organizations have denied being responsible for anything that might have happened.

The lawsuit requested an unspecified amount of money to compensate J.N. and to punish the defendants.
Ten people--seven in Kerala, two in Mumbai and one in Hyderabad--who were among the hundreds of passengers who returned from China in the recent days are under observation in hospitals to check for possible exposure to the deadly novel coronavirus, central and state officials said on Friday.

Officials in Kerala said another 73 people were being kept under medical surveillance at their homes in the state.

As over 20,000 passengers returning from mainland China and Hong Kong underwent thermal screenings at the seven international airports of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Cochin, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS) in Delhi has set up an isolation ward and kept beds ready for providing treatment to any suspected case of the respiratory infection.

According to Kerala state health ministry officials in Thiruvananthapuram, seven people who had shown mild symptoms of fever, cough and sore throat are under watch in state-run hospitals in different districts in the state. Two of them are in the state capital while one each is in observation in Kochi, Thrissur, Kozhikode and Pathanamthitta.

The state government has advised those under home surveillance to remain at home for 28 days from the date of their departure from China.

The coronavirus is a large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from the common cold to acute respiratory syndromes, but the virus in China is a novel strain and not seen before. It has killed 26 people so far, and has caused alarm because of its similarity to SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome).

According to a union health ministry official, two persons who returned from China have been kept under observation at a Mumbai hospital while one person has been placed under watch at a hospital in Hyderabad.

However, no positive case has been detected in the country so far, he said.

The official said a total of 20,844 passengers who travelled in 96 flights from China have been screened at the airports till January 24.

Also, on the basis of the details provided by the Indian Embassy in China, around 25 students who have returned to India recently from Wuhan are being closely monitored, the official said.

Their details have been shared with district-level officers and they are being monitored closely for any symptoms.

Two people who returned to Mumbai from China have been kept in an isolation ward at Kasturba Hospital, and their blood samples collected to check for the new strain of coronavirus, officials said in Mumbai.

As many as 1,789 passengers underwent thermal screening at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai for the coronavirus since January 19 and two of them were admitted to civic-run Kasturba Hospital in the city as a precaution, they said.

Till now, no cases of coronavirus infection have been detected during screening, a health department official said.

No passenger with history of visit to Wuhan city of China in the last 14 days was found positive (for the virus) during thermal scanning, he said.

Coronavirus cases were first reported from Wuhan, the capital of central Chinas Hubei province.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has created an isolation ward at the Kasturba hospital.

The isolation ward has been created for diagnosis and treatment of persons suspected to have the virus infection, said Dr Padmaja Keskar, executive health officer of the BMC.

Keskar said the two persons under observation at the hospital have mild cough and exhibited cold-related symptoms.

Doctors at the airport have been asked to send travellers returning from China to the isolation ward if they show any symptoms of the novel coronavirus, she said.

All private doctors in the city have been asked to alert us if they observe symptoms of coronavirus in any person who has returned from China, she added.

According to Kasturba Hospital sources, they have received detailed instructions from the Maharashtra government about how to deal with a coronavirus infection.

Apart from Kasturba Hospital, quarantine facilities have also been provided at Naidu Hospital in Pune, the officials said.

During the screening at the Mumbai airport, six passengers -- three from Pune and another three from Mumbai -- underwent further medical examination, he said.

Four of them were found to be perfectly alright. As a precaution, two others who were suffering from a minor cold and cough have been admitted to the Kasturba Hospital in Mumbai and kept under monitoring, he said.

AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria said, We have an isolation ward and we have beds kept ready for providing care and treatment for suspected coronavirus cases in Delhi or elsewhere in India.

All precautionary measures -- in terms of personal protection equipment for healthcare workers to prevent the spread of the disease while treating infected patients -- are in place.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Sometimes when I am sitting in my old blue recliner, I find myself taking a mental trip down memory lane and remembering times from the past.

One particular time that was near and dear to me was when SIUE was in the process of being built; for some reason, a lot of foreign students were able to find this new college in Southern Illinois. They came from all over the world. I was never sure how, but here they were without adequate housing and support. It took years before the college was able to build enough dorms and apartments on campus to house all the students who attended SIUE.

At the time, every apartment and spare bedroom in Edwardsville and the surrounding communities were rented by students. Anyone with rental property immediately had renters. It was a great time for landlords but not for all those poor foreign students.

Imagine you are 18-years-old, thousands of miles from home in a strange land where English is your second language, not your native tongue. How scary is that? I know it was for so many of my Pakistani kids.

The students clung to other students from their own countries for support. They seemed to cluster based on where they came from.

The generous people of Edwardsville took these students into their homes and tried to make them as comfortable as possible. But, they had to deal with homesickness and language barriers. My husband and our two daughters were living on a farm just outside of Edwardsville; we adopted the students from Pakistan.

They were wonderful and so appreciative of everything we did for them. All of them were Muslim. We learned so much from them and I hope they learned as much from us. When people of different backgrounds, religions and cultures take the time to sit down and talk to each other it is amazing what we can learn from each other. And maybe, we can learn to appreciate our differences and our sameness.

I treasure my time with my Pakistanis. They even called me Pakistani Momma.

Where have the years gone? They seem to have passed so quickly. But while the journey at times was both sad and hard, when this Pakistani Momma did her best and left the rest in Gods handall was well.
By Julia Somers

Lake Hopatcong is New Jerseys largest lake, one of many tucked into the famed and scenic Highlands. Its a glorious spot beloved by the people who live, visit and vacation there, including the tourists who flee to their summer rental homes, spending the money that supports the local economy. However, this summer was a different story  a massive and lingering Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) affected lake waters nearly all season, significantly limiting recreational access. A primary culprit was stormwater runoff.

As rain runs off hard or compacted surfaces such as parking lots and lawns, it takes with it contaminants, carried by streams or pipes, mixing with other pollutants and sediments, becoming a nutrient-filled cocktail with high levels of phosphorus draining into the lake, creating conditions perfect for HABs to thrive. This summers Lake Hopatcong HAB has been called the worst on record  advisories closed beaches and recommended no swimming, fishing, or water contact.

Unfortunately, it was not the only one. According to the Department of Environmental Protection, New Jersey alone experienced 39 confirmed HABs, with many more suspected. Reservoirs, lakes and ponds throughout the entire state were affected, limiting access to drinking water and recreation, echoing the events that unfolded at Lake Hopatcong.

New Jersey is seeing the real effects of climate change, and its vital we begin to make changes now if we want to save our local economies, improve our water quality and ensure New Jerseys precious resources are protected for future generations to enjoy. Failures in local and regional planning to mitigate for HAB will only make these issues worse, and towns need to become proactive to mitigate for future HABs.

Thanks to Gov. Phil Murphy, and bipartisan action of the legislature, municipalities can now establish stormwater utilities. A stormwater utility, which is an effective solution and already implemented in 41 other states, is a funding mechanism for stormwater management programs, and by far the most fair and equitable way to address water quality issues such as HABs.

It allows a town, county or sewage authority to assess a fee based on the amount of a propertys impervious surface. The more impervious surface a property has, the more stormwater is generated and the more pollutants it can transport to our already impaired waterways. Its important to note that the average homeowner or renter need not worry  since its based on a polluters pay principle, large commercial properties such as warehouses and big department stores will pay the largest fees, due to their big parking lots and extensive walkways. Its also important to note that a utility is the least expensive way to address the cost of stopping HABs. How do we know? Nearly 1,800 of them operate in the United States today.

Yes, New Jersey is late to the party. As the most densely populated state, with over 12% impervious cover, we need action now. A stormwater utility raises the funds to pay for green infrastructure projects to manage stormwater by intercepting pollutants before they enter our lakes. These funds are legally dedicated; they cannot be diverted to a municipalitys general fund, and can only be used to correct stormwater problems, which have resulted from cumulative land-use decisions made over time by municipalities.

Governor Murphy has taken an important first step, but unless towns take the next step and form stormwater utilities, our lakes will continue to suffer. Towns face a daunting reality  what will happen if our lakes face more HABs? Yet, it seems inevitable without action. We are already seeing the devastating impacts to our regional economy and home values have been dropping fast. Do we really want to wait and see?

Stormwater utilities work, they are popular and politically bipartisan  they exist in blue and red states in equal measure. Across the country they are a proven solution because they are the most cost-effective, equitable way to protect our cherished lakes, bays and reservoirs. What are we waiting for?

Julia Somers is the executive director of the New Jersey Highlands Coalition.

The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters.
New Mexico has long been dependent on income from oil and gas as a primary source of revenue, and while that has gone up and down over the years, the state is currently experiencing a tremendous windfall offering opportunities to make investments that will grow other sectors of the economy. Strategic investments will enhance the already thriving aerospace and commercial space industry in the state and create the infrastructure necessary to attract some of the billions projected to be invested in commercial space in the next several decades.

Space may not be the first tradition that comes to mind about New Mexico, but the state already has a long history of contributions to space flight. Robert Goddard, known as the father of modern rocketry, made his home in Roswell. A rocket-testing facility, now called White Sands Missile Range, was created by the government in 1945 and is still a major component of U.S. military and space research and testing and includes a NASA test facility.

New Mexico is also home to Sandia National Laboratories, whose space mission addresses complex national security issues in space; Los Alamos National Laboratory, which has for 50 years built and analyzed data instrumentation for space missions; and the Space Vehicles Directorate of the Air Force Research Lab that conducts space technology research and development.

And New Mexico has Spaceport America, a world-class facility that already has as clients some of the most respected companies in the commercial space industry: Boeing, United Launch Alliance, Pipeline2Space, and Exos Aerospace, in addition to its anchor tenant Virgin Galactic.

Investments in Spaceport America and other space-related infrastructure will also enhance the growth of the already substantial commercial space industry in New Mexico. A recent report by New Space New Mexico identified over 60 companies in the space industry that already make a home in the state. And an initiative called STEM Boomerang is going into its third year of helping young New Mexican professionals looking for good jobs in the tech industry connect with businesses, agencies and research institutions looking for employees.

Investments by the commercial space industry are projected by a 2017 Merrill Lynch/Bank of America report to grow to nearly $3 T  yes, trillion!  in the next several decades. This estimated growth is due largely to private investment in launch capability and satellite manufacturing and services, all perfect for Spaceport America, and all of which would benefit from the supportive research and development climate in New Mexico.

Many states are working desperately to build new spaceports, and those who have them are pouring money into infrastructure and support systems to attract new customers. Spaceport America has optimally restricted air space from surface to unlimited thanks to proximity to White Sands Missile Range, horizontal and vertical launch areas, exceptional weather conditions  no hurricanes and 340 days of sunshine  and a remote, secure location ideal for proprietary research and testing for commercial space entrepreneurs.

Using current budget surpluses to grow new industries to replace the inevitable decline of oil and gas revenues is responsible economic development policy. Growing the existing aerospace and commercial space sector and strategically investing to attract new development will allow the state to attract some of the millions that will be invested in commercial space over the next few decades. It will also create employers for young New Mexicans searching for futuristic careers that allow them to stay home.

Spaceport America can be the hub of a thriving commercial space economy in our state, and the Legislature and governor would do well to invest some of the current windfall toward making that happen.

Anne Watkins is an active supporter of New Space New Mexico and STEM Boomerang.
Burnham Library in Bridgewater will participate in the ninth annual Take Your Child to the Library Day Feb. 1.

Free events and activities for children and families will be offered at the 62 Main St. South library.
Seamus Mallon outside Capitol Hill in the US (Paul Faith/PA)

A straight-talking colossus of Irish politics, Seamus Mallon devoted his life to securing peace and justice for the island he loved.

Mallon, from south Armagh, was a towering figure in the political generation which delivered an end to the Northern Ireland Troubles.

While SDLP leader and Nobel Laureate John Hume has been hailed as an architect of the Good Friday Agreement, his long-standing deputy leader was one of its engineers  a man whose determination helped build the powersharing structures from the ground up.

In a customary blunt assessment, he famously described the April 1998 deal as Sunningdale for slow learners  a reference to an ill-fated peace settlement of the 1970s.

For Mallon, the Good Friday Agreement not only symbolised hope for the future, but also the futility of decades of sectarian bloodshed that had gone before.

Expand Close Seamus Mallon (left) and John Hume (Barry Batchelor/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Seamus Mallon (left) and John Hume (Barry Batchelor/PA)

After the signing of the accord, Mallon would go on to become nationalisms leading figure in the new coalition government, as Northern Irelands deputy first minister.

His partnership with Ulster Unionist first minister David Trimble was the manifestation of the regions new beginning.

Known as the odd couple, their relationship was at times turbulent  both resigned and were reappointed at different junctures  but they nevertheless developed deep respect for each other.

Explaining the journey they travelled together in those stormy years when Northern Ireland edged out of the darkness, both would point to an atrocity weeks before the deal was signed.

Philip Allen, a Protestant, and Damien Trainor, a Catholic, were shot dead by loyalist paramilitaries in the Railway Bar in Poyntzpass in Co Armagh on March 3, 1998.

Trimble and Mallon both travelled independently to console the bereaved families.

Expand Close David Trimble (right) and Seamus Mallon (PA) PA Media / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp David Trimble (right) and Seamus Mallon (PA)

Meeting on a doorstep of one the houses, they walked together to the next.

It was a powerful show of solidarity amid the tense negotiations that would ultimately bring peace.

It certainly strengthened my resolve about getting an agreement, Mallon told the PA news agency on the 20th anniversary of the 1998 deal.

The symbolism of David Trimble and myself together was a stark reminder for ourselves and for everyone else that what we were involved in, in the talks, was essentially to prevent that ever happening again.

Trimble visited the beside of his former partner-in-government days before he died at the age of 83.

Born in Markethill in 1936, Mallon began his working life as a primary school teacher and headmaster.

He was a combative GAA player who had a passion for many other sports.

Expand Close Seamus Mallon at an event to mark the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, at Queens University in Belfast (Brian Lawless/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Seamus Mallon at an event to mark the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, at Queens University in Belfast (Brian Lawless/PA)

Angered by state discrimination against Catholics, Mallon became a prominent figure in the civil rights movement of the late 1960s. He would go on to join the SDLP, elected as a councillor in 1973.

He would rise to the position of deputy leader in 1979  a point at which his career would forever be entwined with newly appointed party leader Hume.

There was often tension at the heart of the Hume/Mallon axis, never more so than when the leader failed to tell his deputy about his secret talks with Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams  discussions that effectively marked the start of the peace process.

But they nevertheless formed a formidable duo  men whose unstinting abhorrence of violence drove them in relentless pursuit of peace.

Mallon served briefly as an Irish senator in the early 1980s and, after a number of unsuccessful attempts to win a Westminster seat, he became MP for Newry and Armagh in 1986.

Always outspoken, he was at times a vociferous critic of the conduct of the security forces. He also never baulked at calling out IRA brutality.

His views brought death threats and saw petrol bombers target his home. But he continued to speak out, undeterred.

Famed for his stubbornness and acerbic wit, Mallon was never one to fall into line.

Expand Close David Trimble, Bill Clinton, Seamus Mallon and Tony Blair on the steps of the Parliament Buildings, Stormont (Chris Bacon/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp David Trimble, Bill Clinton, Seamus Mallon and Tony Blair on the steps of the Parliament Buildings, Stormont (Chris Bacon/PA)

At an event at Queens University in Belfast to mark the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, he was offered the chance to reflect on his role in making history.

Jarring with the congratulatory comments of those counterparts who had walked to the microphones before him, the 81-year-old Mallon was in no mood to dwell on past achievements.

He instead used a rare return to the public spotlight to launch a blistering attack on the DUP and Sinn Fein, the two parties central to the collapse of the institutions he had spent a life constructing.

Am I sad? Yes. Am I angry? Yes, very angry, said the visibly-frail former statesman.

Especially when I watch television sitting in my house, just me and the dog, and I watch the hypocrisies which are unbelievable and the untruths which are believable.

Politics has been debased and diminished by these two political silos which have almost Balkanised the Northern Ireland that I live in.

It is the future we should be looking at.

It was typically Mallon. Unflinching to the end.
Source: Xinhua| 2020-01-24 23:22:32|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

PRETORIA, JAN.24 (Xinhua) -- A total of 51 people lost their lives in mine accidents in 2019, down 37 percent from the 2018 record of 81 fatalities, said the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Gwede Mantashe on Friday.

Mantashe told a press briefing about the mine health and safety statistics for the 2019 calendar year. He stated that while mining sector presents excellent economic opportunities, focus must also be on the environment and interests of all stakeholders.

"Sixty years ago, 435 mine workers lost their lives during the Coalbrook disaster. Since then, we have made significant strides. In the year 2019, 51 fatalities were reported versus 81 in the year 2018, this translate to a 37 percent improvement in the number of fatalities year on year. This is the lowest ever number of fatalities on record," said Mantashe.

He said there was a 2 percent improvement on injuries in 2019 which were 2,406 compared to 2,447 in 2018. He stated that they will not be complacent with improvement in mining fatalities but will engage all stakeholders to bring it to zero.

"We are doing relatively better than we expected, we have improved dramatically, but let's aim for a fatality-free mining industry. The health and safety campaigns throughout the year have demonstrated that significant improvements in results can be achieved," he said. Enditem
Police detained 40 former police over alleged links to the FETO, the group behind the 2016 defeated coup attempt in Turkey, security sources said.



The expelled police members were detained in the Konya, Gaziantep, Kayseri, Adyaman, Adana, Trabzon, Yozgat, Bursa provinces and Ankara.



A total of 50 suspects, including four police chiefs, were sought as part of a probe into FETO's clandestine network in the police forces, Hurriyet daily reported.
The voices were captured by household surveillance equipment.

Get your hand off his mouth, a woman says. Theres people everywhere.

The woman, Angela Pollina, was talking to her fiance, Michael Valva, a New York City police officer. The mouth she was urging him to remove his hand from belonged to his son, Thomas, an 8-year-old with autism, officials said.

Not long after the recording was made, the authorities said, Thomas Valva was dead. He had been kept overnight in the couples unheated Long Island garage as the temperature outside plunged to 19 degrees, the police said.

His body temperature was just 76 degrees when he was brought to the hospital, the police said.

On Friday, Officer Valva and Ms. Pollina were charged with second-degree murder in the boys death. Officer Valva, who joined the New York Police Department in 2005 and was most recently assigned to the transit bureau, was suspended after his arrest, the New York department said.
ALBANY  It remains unclear who will be named to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomos Medicaid Redesign Team, but county leaders want a seat at the table as the governor calls for localities to clamp down on Medicaid costs.

Cuomos executive budget calls on counties to limit growth in Medicaid costs to 3 percent, or otherwise face financial blowback as the state seeks to close a $6.1 billion budget gap of which about $4 billion is attributed to Medicaid costs. Part of the growing Medicaid debt is due to the state delaying payments into the next fiscal year.

Cuomo announced during his budget address that Michael Dowling of Northwell Health and labor leader Dennis Rivera will serve as co-chairs of the team, but he has not said who else will be included.

County leaders question how they will be able to lower Medicaid costs when the state and federal government determine the rules for those who qualify and also set the rates. Medicaid provides health coverage to low-income and elderly New Yorkers.

Saratoga County Administrator Spencer Hellwig said counties are simply paying the bills on the program, noting that the local share of Medicaid costs in New York is the highest in the nation.

When we start talking about passing along additional costs to the county for how its paid its a little unsettling, he said. Weve been able to maintain essentially the lowest property taxes in the entire state. That is in large part due to the countys ability to control spending on our discretionary programs. With the state-mandated programs, the frustration is we dont have a seat at the table.

Cuomos plan to have localities pay for growth costs beyond 3 percent is expected to save the state $150 million, and is just one strategy he unveiled this week to tackle the budget gap. Plus, those counties that might exceed the state-mandated 2 percent tax cap would have to pay for all excess non-federal costs of Medicaid spending in that year.

Eliminating the growth in local Medicaid costs was one of the Cuomo Administrations most significant fiscal and policy achievements; reversing this policy would be unwise, and would once again force local governments to shoulder the fiscal burden of policies set at the state and federal level, Citizens Budget Commission President Andrew Rein said in a statement.

Cuomo also is tasking the redesign team to find roughly $2.5 billion in Medicaid savings without affecting local governments and beneficiaries. Those recommendations are due before the states April 1 budget deadline.

We will soon finalize membership for the Medicaid Redesign Team, as well as the scope and process, and those details will be publicly released, Cuomo spokesman Jason Conwall said in an emailed statement Thursday.

However, there is uncertainty about whether a team appointed by Cuomo, even if conducting the work of a committee or commission, will be subject to the state laws that mandate meetings of government bodies be open to the public. Dowling declined to comment on the specifics on how the team would operate, and Rivera did not return a call for comment Thursday.

Once assembled the team will, of course, adhere to any applicable requirements of Public Officers Law," Conwall said.

Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years.

Dowling and Rivera previously chaired the team when it convened in 2011, which included representatives from several health and nurse associations, healthcare experts, state lawmakers and the state Association of Counties Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario. When the group convened last time, meeting materials and notices were posted to the state Department of Health's website and the team held public forums throughout the state to solicit input.

The Times Union requested a breakdown in Medicaid costs by county from the state Division of the Budget, and initially was given the cost projections broken out by county over the next four years. The budget office did not return follow-up calls or emails.

The state is projecting Medicaid costs in every county to grow above the 3 percent threshold, which could force county leaders to act swiftly to control costs or otherwise face cutting other services or operations to make up for the increased county shares.

In the Capital Region, state projections included in Cuomos fiscal year 2021 anticipate Medicaid costs in Albany and Rensselaer counties from 2020 to 2021 to increase 7 percent. In Saratoga County is expected to rise 6 percent during the same period and in Schenectady County 5 percent, according to the executive budget plan.

Albany County officials said it is too soon to say what the change could mean for county taxpayers. Schenectady County officials did not provide comment by deadline.

Across the Hudson River, Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin called for giving counties more flexibility in choosing which part of the optional mandate spectrum will be provided to help lower overall costs.

If we can lower the total cost for mandates, that would be progress for our counties, he said in an emailed statement. We need to see common-sense solutions to the problem, which is why we launched the ER Anywhere program in our county. ER Anywhere allows Medicaid recipients the ability to access medical advice conveniently and securely, creates avenues for savings for taxpayers, and ensures important resources are available when needed.
CTT Systems AB (STO:CTT), which is in the aerospace & defense business, and is based in Sweden, led the OM gainers with a relatively large price hike in the past couple of weeks. As a small cap stock, hardly covered by any analysts, there is generally more of an opportunity for mispricing as there is less activity to push the stock closer to fair value. Is there still an opportunity here to buy? Today I will analyse the most recent data on CTT Systemss outlook and valuation to see if the opportunity still exists.

Check out our latest analysis for CTT Systems

What is CTT Systems worth?

The stock is currently trading at kr201 on the share market, which means it is overvalued by 40% compared to my intrinsic value of SEK143.52. Not the best news for investors looking to buy! If you like the stock, you may want to keep an eye out for a potential price decline in the future. Given that CTT Systemss share is fairly volatile (i.e. its price movements are magnified relative to the rest of the market) this could mean the price can sink lower, giving us another chance to buy in the future. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for share price volatility.

What does the future of CTT Systems look like?

OM:CTT Past and Future Earnings, January 24th 2020

Future outlook is an important aspect when youre looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. Although value investors would argue that its the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. CTT Systemss earnings growth are expected to be in the teens in the upcoming years, indicating a solid future ahead. This should lead to robust cash flows, feeding into a higher share value.

What this means for you:

Are you a shareholder? CTTs optimistic future growth appears to have been factored into the current share price, with shares trading above its fair value. At this current price, shareholders may be asking a different question  should I sell? If you believe CTT should trade below its current price, selling high and buying it back up again when its price falls towards its real value can be profitable. But before you make this decision, take a look at whether its fundamentals have changed.

Story continues

Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping an eye on CTT for a while, now may not be the best time to enter into the stock. The price has surpassed its true value, which means theres no upside from mispricing. However, the positive outlook is encouraging for CTT, which means its worth diving deeper into other factors in order to take advantage of the next price drop.

Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters  the fundamentals  before you make a decision on CTT Systems. You can find everything you need to know about CTT Systems in the latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in CTT Systems, you can use our free platform to see my list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential.

If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned.



We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading.
Nepal on Friday confirmed the first case of deadly coronavirus in the country identifying the infected person as a Nepali student who recently returned from the Chinese city of Wuhan, local media reports said.

The 31-year-old man, who is doing his PhD in Wuhan, had returned from the Chinese city on January 5. He had visited a hospital complaining of respiratory problems and was admitted on January 13, the Kathmandu Post reported.

He was given medication and once his health condition improved, he was discharged five days later from the Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital, the Himalayan Times reported.

The hospital had taken specimens-throat swabs and blood samples-from the patient and sent it to the World Health Organisation laboratory in Hong Kong on Tuesday.

"The throat swab and blood sample of a Nepali suspected of being infected with coronavirus, was tested positive," the Times reported, citing the Ministry of Health and Population.

This is first confirmed case of the deadly virus in Nepal, bordering India.

"We have received the report and specimens have tested positive," said Dr Hemanta Chandra Ojha, an official at the Epidemiology and Disease Control Division.

"We are now in the process of searching for the man and his family in order to test them for further infection," Ojha was quoted as saying by the Post.

Ojha said that they had no indication as to where the man had gone and his activities over the past five days, ever since he was discharged from the hospital.

The novel coronavirus originated in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province.

The coronavirus is a large family of viruses that causes illnesses ranging from the common cold to acute respiratory syndromes, but the virus that has killed people in China is a novel strain and not seen before.

Common symptoms of the novel coronavirus strain include respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties, according to the WHO.

The deadly virus has claimed 26 lives in China with confirmed cases rising sharply to over 880 in the country, prompting Chinese authorities to shut down 13 cities during the Lunar New Year celebrations.

The virus has also spread to Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam and the United States. Japan on Friday reported a second confirmed case.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Based on the Hyundai Venue platform, Kia is getting ready to launch a sub 4 meter SUV in India. It will rival Maruti Brezza, Tata Nexon, Ford EcoSport, etc.

Ahead of its debut at the 2020 Auto Expo, Kia India has revealed the first official sketches of their upcoming compact SUV, which is reportedly going to be called Sonet. Kia India has not officially confirmed the name, yet.

Kia says, The concept will be globally unveiled at the upcoming Delhi Auto Expo 2020 and is the third offering of Kia for India. With its modern, dynamic and bold design, this concept will be a testimony of Kias focus on consumer-insight driven product innovation and orientation. This bold concept along with its head-turning looks, dimensions, and features will embody Kias Power to Surprise slogan in India.

Codenamed Kia QYi, the car has already been spied on test multiple times. It showed off a similar style to the Hyundai Venue but with a squatter stance and a more upright rear segment.There were LED tail lamps noted on the model on test and while the car was under camouflage, the front end is slated to sport a more aggressive posture along with the brands tiger nose front grille. It will also borrow some design elements from the Seltos with projector headlamps, LED DRLs and flared wheel arches.

Interiors will also see similarities to both the Seltos and Venue along with some segment firsts with a 360 degree camera. It will get a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, UVO internet connected car technology and other features such as automatic climate controls, cruise control, sun roof, ventilated seating and wireless phone charger.

Sharing its engine lineup with the Venue, the Kia QYi will also receive a 1.0 liter turbo petrol and 1.2 liter Kappa petrol engine which are currently in BS4 format on the Venue but which will be updated to comply with new BS6 emission standards. These two engines on the Venue offer 125 PS power / 172 Nm torque and 83 PS power / 114 Nm torque respectively. Transmission options will include a 7 speed dual clutch automatic and a 6 speed manual. Kia QYi will receive the 1.5 liter diesel engine that also powers the Seltos.

Set to be unveiled at 2020 Auto Expo, the Kia QYi will be launched sometime in mid 2020 and will be produced at the company plant in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh. It will enter a segment currently commanded by the likes of the Hyundai Venue, Ford EcoSport, Tata Nexon and Maruti Vitara Brezza. No pricing has been announced as on date but the sub 4 meter SUV could fall in a range of Rs.6.8-11.4 lakhs.
I ts the modern dichotomy: weve piously munched our way through Veganuary, selling and swapping every item of clothing or table scrap at risk of going into landfill, while anxiously sharing videos of the burning Amazon rainforest.

And yet, our foibles inevitably trip us up. For some, its the innocuous act of forgetting your keep cup every morning, but for others, the hedonistic hypocrisy of their big nights out has given rise to a whole new type of drug marketing.

A new tranche of increasingly savvy drug dealers are taking advantage of the ethical contradiction facing their buyers by rebranding their product as ethically sourced cocaine  or, as its come to be known, woke coke. Selling through the dark web, part of the internet not indexed by search engines, dealers are amping up their 'ethical' credentials, even using descriptions like fair trade and 'conflict-free', to sell the class A drug to those with a social conscience.

Because coke is anything but woke. Last year in Colombia, where an estimated 60 per cent of the cocaine consumed in central and western Europe originates from, illegal armed groups forced around 40,000 people to flee their homes as they fought for control of drug trafficking routes along the border with Venezuela. Closer to home, Sadiq Khan released figures last year which reveal that more than 4,000 vulnerable young people in London are being coerced or groomed into county lines drug-trafficking activity, spread across 41 counties in the UK. Aside from the human cost, a few lines leave a huge environmental footprint. The National Crime Agency (NCA) reports that every kilogram of cocaine requires the destruction of one acre of rainforest, while the chemicals in the production process leak into the water supply and poison the surrounding wildlife.

And yet cocaine consumption in the capital is booming, with the middle classes fuelling the rise. An analysis of waste water by Kings College London in 2019 found that national cocaine use has more than doubled in five years, with the purity of the drug reaching record highs. London is one of Europes top five cities with the highest cocaine. Analysis suggests that one in every 50 Londoners take the drug every single day of the week. Which is troubling because, aside from being a class A drug which, if found in your possession, can land you seven years in prison, its an ethical quagmire with negative implications for the lives of everyone in its supply chain. So its hardly surprising the average middle class recreational user is keen to separate their Saturday night line of cocaine with human misery on a large scale.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick famously weighed in on the contradiction in a now famous indictment: There are groups of middle-class people who will sit round and happily think about global warming and fair trade, and environmental protection and all sorts of things, organic food, but think there is no harm in taking a bit of cocaine.

Two to three years ago organic, fair trade cocaine first started appearing, says investigative journalist and dark net specialist Jamie Bartlett. It completely mirrors a normal market  if you see Subway advertising vegan rolls, theres no reason at all dark net vendors wont mirror those trends if they think its something people care about. There are hundreds of vendors who want to show possible buyers whats different about them compared to everyone else.

So what would ethically sourced cocaine actually look like? Antony Loewenstein, whose new book Pills, Powder And Smoke explores the violent repercussions of the war on drugs, argues: Ethically sourced coke means oversight and transparency at every stage of the supply chain, with everyone from the farmers in Colombia to the suppliers in Europe being treated fairly and given an adequate wage.

Loewenstein confirms that its impossible to verify the claims of dark web dealers promoting fair trade cocaine online. He believes that it is simply a marketing ploy, but says that it speaks to a wider school of thought surrounding the legalisation and regulation of cocaine. Theres a number of people in Central and Latin America advocating for a legalised and regulated system, including politicians, because they know the absolutely devastating effect the current drug trade is having, he explains.

Josh, 22, from Manchester, who claims to be an occasional dark web dabbler, has seen ethically sourced coke being advertised but doubts its authenticity. You often see premium coke which is sold at a much higher price, and you can quite easily verify its quality by reading the reviews of other users  but you cant do that with ethical stuff; theres no way of knowing how its sourced, he says.

According to Bartlett, dark net vendors argue that their trade is more ethical on the grounds that supplying drugs by post cuts out violence at a local level. A lot of drugs crime is turf war over street corners or postcode areas, and that results in a lot of young people in the UK getting into trouble. With the dark net youre essentially buying wholesale and cutting all that out.

Londoners seem willing to pay a premium for a clean conscience. In 2019s Global Drug Survey, 85 per cent of respondents said they would be willing to pay more for ethically sourced cocaine. In England, where the average price per gram is 30-40 according to DrugWise, respondents were willing to pay 25 per cent more.

Nevertheless, as Bartlett notes, even if buying from the dark web does eliminate local criminality, it is still only cleaning up less than half of the supply chain. 'Buying on the dark web doesn't stop the Central and Latin American drug wars at the borders, he admits.

So, while your oat-milk cappuccinos may be fair trade, your fruit and veg organic and your coat faux fur, it seems the white stuff will continue to elude your commitment to clean living.
Burma Top Myanmar Court Rejects Final Appeal for Rakhine Activists in Treason Case

Dr. Aye Maung talks to the media during a court appearance in Sittwe in October 2018.

YANGONThe Union Supreme Court in Naypyitaw rejected a final special appeal on Friday from two Rakhine political activists who were sentenced to over 20 years in prison for committing treason.

The Rakhine State government sued prominent ethnic Rakhine lawmaker Dr. Aye Maung and writer Wai Hin Aung under Articles 122 and 505(b) of the Penal Code and Article 17(1) and (2) of the Unlawful Association Act.

The two were arrested in January 2018 for giving speeches at a public event in Rakhines Rathedaung Township in which they said that the ethnic Burmese-dominated National League for Democracy (NLD) government is treating Rakhine people like slaves.

In March 2019, the Sittwe District Court sentenced them to 22 years in prison under Article 122, also known as the Treason Law, and Article 505 (b) of the Penal Code. The charges under Articles 17 (1) and (2) of the Unlawful Association Act were dropped because the plaintiff withdrew the case due to a lack of evidence.

Lawyer U Aung Kyaw Sein, representing Dr Aye Maung, told The Irrawaddy on Friday that the courts have now rejected three appeals.

He said their final special appeal asserted that giving speeches in public is not covered under the restrictions of the section of the Treason Law, as there were no armed acts or attempts to commit violence against the government.

The defense also pointed out in the final special appeal that the lower courts decision against the two Rakhine political activists was beyond the purview of the law.

According to the law, it is over. We cant attempt to appeal anymore, said lawyer U Aung Kyaw Sein.

The only option open to the defense now is for the families of the two prisoners to seek pardons from the Myanmar president.

As a member of parliament, he must be allowed to criticize the government. In the courts judgment, it seems that even MPs are not allowed to criticize the government, said Rakhine regional lawmaker U Tin Maung Win, also the son of lawmaker Dr. Aye Maung.

Another member of the Rakhine parliament, Tin Maung Win, told The Irrawaddy on Friday that it is a bad sign if a wrong word is reason enough to be charged under the Treason Law.

The Arakan Front Party (AFP) also issued a statement on Thursday demanding that the government release political prisoners, including Dr Aye Maung and the detainees who have been arrested in conjunction with the current conflict between the Arakan Army (AA) and the Myanmar military. The AFP pointed out that the AA recently released an NLD lawmaker who was detained for over two months, showing their real attitudes for building peace.

Dr Aye Maung was elected to the Upper House of Parliament in 2010 but was defeated in 2015 when he ran for a seat in the Rakhine regional parliament.

He returned to the Upper House seat for Ann Township after winning the 2017 by-election.
WASHINGTON  House Democrats sought on Thursday to pre-emptively dismantle President Trumps core defenses in his impeachment trial, invoking his own words to argue that his pressure campaign on Ukraine was an abuse of power that warranted his removal.

On the second day of arguments in the third presidential impeachment trial in American history, Democrats sought to make the case that Mr. Trumps actions were an affront to the Constitution. And they worked to disprove his lawyers claims that he was acting only in the nations interests when he sought to enlist Ukraine to investigate political rivals.

In doing so, they took a calculated risk in talking at length about Mr. Trumps targets  former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and his son Hunter Biden  and underscored the political backdrop of a trial that is unfolding only 10 months before the election and is likely to reverberate long after the verdict.

You know you cant trust this president to do whats right for this country  you can trust he will do whats right for Donald Trump, said Representative Adam B. Schiff, the lead impeachment manager, said in an impassioned appeal as the clock ticked past 10 p.m. This is why if you find him guilty, you must find that he should be removed. Because right matters. Right matters and the truth matters. Otherwise we are lost.
As the 2020 presidential candidates propose to fix U.S. healthcare, rural hospitals across the country continue to close. Since the 2018 midterms, about 66 percent of primary care physician shortages have been in rural and partially rural areas.

"Rural healthcare systems are fighting for their lives," according to Randall Moore, DNP, MBA, CRNA, and CEO of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA). "Statistics remain grim."

Since 2010, 118 U.S rural hospitals have closed-;17 closures in 2019 alone, outpacing previous years. Rural closures also were associated with a 5.9 percent increase in inpatient mortality.

"Clearly the nation cannot continue to do what we have always done," said Moore. One solution gaining traction among U.S. policymakers is allowing advanced practice registered nurses, such as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and other advanced practice providers, to practice at the full scope of their education and training.

Fortunately, CRNAs are in rural communities- we are the sole anesthesia providers in the majority of rural hospitals, providing care ranging from surgical, obstetrical, and trauma stabilization services to interventional diagnostic and pain management services." Randall Moore, CEO of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists

Charles Button, MBA, CEO of Regional Medical Center in Manchester, Iowa, said that utilizing a CRNA-only anesthesia delivery model "is the perfect solution."

Button's facility employs a team of CRNAs from Iowa Anesthesia, and no physician anesthesiologists. "It would become cost prohibitive to employ [physician] anesthesiologists," he said. "High quality anesthesia delivery is critical. You need someone 24/7, and CRNAs play an absolutely essential role. We are very impressed with the level of knowledge, availability, and personability of our CRNA team. We would not want it any other way. CRNAs are competent and affordable for rural America doing obstetric" and other anesthesia care.

Since 2000, 33 rural hospitals in Iowa have closed their OB department. Button attributes closures in part to staffing. In rural areas, "obtaining trained OB staff can be difficult and costly."

Requirements to increase physician anesthesiologist involvement in OB can threaten rural facilities with additional, unnecessary expenses and jeopardize access to care for maternal patients-;many of whom travel great distances for OB care.

"We work to provide a first-rate delivery experience for expectant families. Otherwise, why would we consider it? There's too much at stake. Rural [hospital administrators] must be confident and have the support needed, since they are not as resourced as city hospitals. Our community wants us to provide delivery services, and we want what the community wants," said Button, adding that his medical facility is building a new unit for its OB services.

Qualified to administer every type of anesthesia in any healthcare setting, CRNAs provide more than 49 million anesthetics every year in the United States.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 24

Trend:

Promotion and support of public-private sector partnership projects (DOST) are priority directions of Azerbaijans Agency for the Development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), Trend reports referring to the agency's statement Jan. 24.

In order to develop this area and effectively implement projects taking into account international best practices, the agency is taking measures to support legal and institutional framework, according to the report.

On Jan. 24, the Baku Business Center hosted the agency-organized presentation of a draft conceptual framework document on public-private partnership.

The event was attended by representatives of the relevant government agencies and interested parties who will be involved in the implementation of DOST projects in Azerbaijan, including Ivana Duarte, head of the Baku office of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

The event participants were informed in detail by international experts about the conceptual framework document, the essence and significance of DOST projects.

It was noted that the document was prepared with the support of the EBRD, taking into account international best practices. The document reflects the order of project development, the basic principles, legal and institutional framework in this area, the mechanism for the implementation of projects and evaluation criteria.

At the event, Chairman of the Board of Azerbaijans Agency for the Development of SMEs Orkhan Mammadov delivered speech.

Mammadov noted that the use of the DOST model in various sectors of the economy is reflected in strategic roadmaps, adding that a State-Entrepreneur Partnership Development Center has been created in the agency to provide systematic activity in promoting and supporting public-private sector partnership projects.

The chairman added that such projects create a new basis and opportunities for the development of SMEs.
Sharing is caring!

15 shares Share

Tweet

Pin 15

There is nowhere else on earth quite like Fiordland. And definitely nowhere like the Hollyford Track.

A wild and remote land of steep mountains along the sea, glaciers and dense temperate rainforests and home to some of the weirdest and wildest birds, Fiordland is spectacular.

Topping the bucket list of many is to take in the Milford Track or exploring the many incredible tramps in the region. Most are based out of Milford Sound, one of the wonders of the world, few go beyond its steep walls and thundering waterfalls.

But once you do manage to voyage beyond Milford, youll discover a pretty special part of the world.

After a couple of tedious and slow-to-recover injuries this winter in New Zealand, by the time early summer rolled around, I was itching to get back in the hills and pop my hiking boots back on.

Unfit and definitely not tramping fit, I knew I needed to start out on something more accessible and shorter than a week-long adventure to get my feet wet again before venturing further. Combined with a tight schedule right before moving house, I only had a short window to get out in the hills.

It couldnt have been more perfect to try out the iconic Hollyford Track on their 2 day heli-escape. This historic Fiordland tramp that has been on my mind for years.

One of the many reasons the Hollyford Track has been on my mind is the connection there between the people and the land. The Hollyford Track sits on Maori land, Ngai Tahu land, and it is owned by Ngai Tahu Tourism.

As the original inhabitants of this part of New Zealand, its pretty special how they have come to share it with the world. Ngai Tahus tourism roots extend back to when their ancestors were the guides for many of the first European explorers on the South Island. Now they are guiding a different kind of explorer, the modern traveler.

This connection between the people and the land around the Hollyford Track is powerful and impactful. It certainly made my experience there all the more memorable.

The 2 day heli-escape on the Hollyford Track should top all kiwi bucketlists and is a must-do for visitors wanting a taste of the best New Zealand has to offer.

You can also walk the Hollyford Track independently over 4  8 days in a variety of ways staying at DOC huts along the route.

The trip begins in the most epic way possible  flying via helicopter from Milford Sound to Martins Bay. Just the roadtrip out to Milford is impressive, but to combine it with a heli-flight? Next level awesome.

We flew directly out of Milford Sound to the Tasman Sea, before following the coastline north some 30 kilometers before landing in Martins Bay.

Martins Bay is my new favorite part of Fiordland, and a place few know about. What I find fascinating is that if a few decisions were made differently, Martins Bay might have been another Queenstown and a massive hub for tourists  there was a plan for a long time to connect the Hollyford Road with the Haast Pass on the west coast.

Instead, few know about its existence at all.

Once a hub for local Maori on their pounamu (jade) trails and for gathering, by the time European settlers began to explore the area in the 1860s, few people were left. Martins Bay and the Hollyford was (and still is) wild and remote.

For twenty-odd years, European settlers tried to make a life around Martins Bay, even building a settlement inland called Jamestown. There was hope it might turn into a commercial port, but eventually people realized it was just too damn hard with so many factors involved that it was slowly abandoned.

One of the last settlers, Alice McKenzie, wrote a book about her childhood as a settler in Martins Bay that is fascinating. I plowed through it on my evenings on the Hollyford, wondering how the hell they even managed to survive there as long as they did.

What was really cool is that on the guided track we got to see so many of the remainders and marks from the early pioneers in the area, something I probably would have never spotted on my own.

On the first day of the walk we spotted a massive maple tree in the middle of the Fiordland bush, marking the place where one of the settlers lived and planted this foreign tree.

How on earth they lived here I cant even imagine.

After landing in Martins Bay, we were treated to a yummy lunch before heading off in the bush towards the coast for the afternoon.

In classic Fiordland weather, it absolutely bucketed us with rain. One of the wettest places in the world, rain comes with the territory here. Call me crazy, but Im one of those people that thinks that Fiordland is more beautiful in the rain.

After all, theres no such thing as bad weather, just being unprepared. Mostly.

Probably one of the best benefits of journeying along the Hollyford with the guided options is just a massive step up in comfort level than walking on your own. Ive spent a fair amount of time in the Fiordland bush, and its wet. Really wet.

The first thing they did once we landed in Martins Bay was provide us with long, super waterproof rainjackets that covered me from my head to knees. It was perfect.

Then, once we got back to the lodge for the night, they have the most amazing drying room, full of warmth, where you can hang out everything you need to so it dries by morning.

I really dont love putting on wet hiking boots, so this blew. my. mind.

On the 2 day heli-escape on the Hollyford you hike about 7 kilometers per day over easy terrain. It was beautiful, and beautifully flat.

Absolutely bucketing down with rain, we made our way through the dense, lush forest, learning about the local plants and animals while hearing the stories of the settlers who tried to make a go at life in remote Fiordland.

Spoiler alert  it didnt go well.

We finished the first day out on the coastline looking at a seal colony on Long Reef and admiring how the mountains drop to the forest to the wild seaside. Its a magical place.

We could see the coastline is brimming with food, like paua (NZ abalone) and crayfish, along with amazing wildlife.

Rugged and wild, its exactly the kind of place I love to explore.

Lucky for us, the Hollyford Track has its own jetboat  which comes with an absolute cracker of a jetboat driver  to come pick us up along the coast and whizz us back to the hut lodge in time for cheese, snacks, and wine.

Hello! This is the kind of tramping I could get used to!

There are hot showers and snacks and endless cups of hot tea, inside and out of the weather. I was in heaven! We curled up by the fire and immediately dozed off.

As the sun set, an epic thunderstorm rolled in. With thunder booming and rain tapping on the roof and windows all night, it made for the most magical experience.

I love listening to the rain, and it really felt like we were in the wild as the storm rolled out to sea.

I still cant even begin to fathom how settlers tried to live here back in the day.

That night I barely remember falling asleep, tucked into a cozy bed with the pitter patter of the rain outside. It was so peaceful.

The next morning was still, clear, and fresh, with no rain and the sun breaking through the clouds as we climbed into the jetboat again and made our way to historic Jamestown to begin our hike back to the lodge.

Walking through the ancient podocarp was ethereal. The trees shimmered with the rain from the day before and it smelled damp, earthy and alive. I felt my lungs inflate with happiness and thought to myself, yes, maybe I could live here.

Then a sandfly bit me on the face, and I thought, nope, better just for visits.

I definitely rate the Hollyford Track as one of the best hikes and experiences you can have in New Zealand. It has everything.

History, culture, forest, sea and mountains, birdlife and plants, its a dream spot for people like me. And its still relatively off the beaten path.

I will definitely be back for longer next time!

Have you ever been on an adventure like this? Did you know about the Hollyford Track? Would you be keen to head into the Fiordland bush like the original settlers? Spill!

The pioneering days of the 19th century were the subject of Alice Mackenzies book The Pioneers of Martins Bay, which recounted her childhood as a settler at Jamestown and Martins Bay. You can buy at the hut on the track.

When the tide was low at Martins Bay by Alice McKenzie

I stood upon the sandy shore

As evening shadows fell;

The sun was sinking in the west

Across the ocean swell. Oer the sea the sun was casting

Each brightly tinted ray

As the waves came sweeping onwards

To the shore at Martins Bay. The moon was rising oer the hills

As the sun sank in the west,

And her silvery light was gleaming

On the oceans heaving breast. And those ever moving waters

Sparkling brightly as they roar

Are dashed in foaming billows

On that wild and lonely shore. All around are wooded hills

No matter where your eyes are turning;

You see no human habitation

Except where one lone light is burning. Here solitude doth reign supreme,

All scenes are lonely and drear,

But theres music in the lonlineness

Which solitude will make us hear. A whispering sound among the trees,

There is music in the oceans roar,

Theres a voice in the wandering breeze

Which is sighing along the shore. And the voice of nature speaks to us

In every flower that grows,

And the voice of God is calling us

In every breeze that blows.

Many thanks to Ngai Tahu Tourism for hosting me on the Hollyford Track  like always, Im keeping it real. Like you could expect less from me!
Collaboration also focuses on exciting research published earlier this week in Nature Immunology identifying MR1 as a target for novel anti-cancer immunotherapies

LONDON, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ervaxx, a biotechnology company pioneering the use of Dark Antigens to develop T-cell receptor (TCR)-based immunotherapies and off-the-shelf cancer vaccines, has entered a licensing and research collaboration with a leading T-cell immunology group at Cardiff University (Cardiff, UK).

The new collaboration will support a multi-year research program with Prof. Andrew Sewell's T-cell modulation group at Cardiff University focusing on the discovery and characterization of T-cells and TCRs reactive to cancer-specific antigens and ligands, including Ervaxx' proprietary Dark Antigens. Ervaxx will fund the program.

The collaboration will also advance exciting new research published earlier this week by the Cardiff University team in Nature Immunology1, where they identified a T cell clone that recognized and killed multiple different types of human cancer, while remaining inert to non-cancerous cells. The T cell clone targets MR1, an MHC class 1-related protein, via an unidentified cancer-specific ligand. These exciting findings, validated in a preclinical model, open the prospect of immunotherapies with broad utility across patients with diverse cancers. This approach into previously unexplored cell surface epitopes complements and extends Ervaxx's exploration of novel cancer-specific antigens.

Under the agreement, Ervaxx gains an exclusive license to relevant Cardiff University patents claiming T cells and TCRs reactive to cancer-specific antigens. The Company has the right to advance resulting candidate T-cell/TCR-based immunotherapeutics and cancer vaccines through development and commercialization. Cardiff University is eligible to receive milestone payments on any candidates that advance from the discovery collaboration into clinical development and royalty payments on sales of any products that reach the market.

Prof. Andrew Sewell, Head of the T-cell modulation group, Cardiff University, commented:

"Ervaxx's Dark Antigens, which are derived from the 98% of the genome that does not encode known proteins, constitute a promising and yet untapped source of targets for immunotherapies. This collaboration will use our world-class expertise in T-cell biology to identify T cells and TCRs reactive to those targets and pave the way for a new wave of treatments in cancer, and potentially other areas. This includes our most recent discovery, published in Nature Immunology, of a T-cell clone that targets MR1 to recognize and kill cancer cells, irrespective of cancer or human leukocyte antigen (HLA) type, offering opportunities for pan-cancer, pan-population cancer immunotherapies."

Kevin Pojasek, CEO of Ervaxx, said:

"We are excited to announce this collaboration with Prof. Sewell's world-class research group. We have great hope that through the combination of this expertise with our Dark Antigens and application of our EDAPT platform, we will be able to identify further targets to expand our portfolio of TCR-based therapies and cancer vaccines. We are also thrilled to contribute to the development of the group's exciting new MR1 research, which shows early but enormous potential for the treatment of cancers. This partnership, which follows those with the University of Oxford, University of Cambridge and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, reinforces our ambition to collaborate with leading academic institutions and be at the cutting edge of the T-cell immunology field to drive the development of novel off-the-shelf cancer therapies."

Prof. Andrew Sewell is a member of Ervaxx' Scientific Advisory Board.

About Ervaxx

Ervaxx is pioneering the use of Dark Antigens to deliver targeted immunotherapies for treating and preventing cancer. Ervaxx Dark Antigens derive from vast untapped expanses of genetic 'dark matter' beyond the normal coding regions of the genome, which are generally silenced in normal tissue but can become selectively activated in cancer.

Ervaxx' powerful, proprietary EDAPT platform has been developed to discover and validate Dark Antigens providing an in-depth assessment of candidate antigens on primary tumor cells along with their immunogenic potential. The EDAPT platform has identified proprietary antigens that map to multiple solid tumor types and generate robust, antigen-specific T-cell responses. Ervaxx is advancing a pipeline of T cell receptor (TCR)-based therapies, off-the-shelf cancer vaccines and other immunotherapies leveraging these insights into the role of Dark Antigens in cancer.

Ervaxx was co-founded by SV Health Investors and is based on pioneering research at the Francis Crick Institute (London, UK). The company has offices in London, UK and a laboratory in the Bioescalator Building at Oxford University, UK. Ervaxx also has a strategic partnership with a global pharmaceutical company.

For more information visit: www.ervaxx.com

Ervaxx, Dark Antigen and EDAPT are trademarks of Ervaxx Limited

About the T-cell Modulation Group, Cardiff University

Cardiff University T-cell modulation group, within the Division of Infection and Immunity, consists of 16 researchers with a diverse skill and knowledge base that covers all areas of T-cell biology including T-cell genetics, molecular biology, protein chemistry, crystallography, and cell biology. The overall goal of the T-cell modulation group is to understand the genetic, biochemical and cellular mechanisms that govern T-cell responses to human disease. Our research outputs are extremely wide ranging and include basic studies which are aimed at understanding how the T-cell immune response is regulated, through to translational studies which are aimed at developing tools, diagnostics and treatments for human diseases such as cancer, HIV, EBV, tuberculosis and many more.

For More Information

Ervaxx Limited

Kevin Pojasek, CEO

Tel: +44-(0)-186-561-8828

Email: info@ervaxx.com

Citigate Dewe Rogerson

Mark Swallow, Frazer Hall, Nathaniel Dahan

Tel: +44-(0)-20-7638-9571

Email: ervaxx@citigatedewerogerson.com

1 Crowther, M.D., Dolton, G., Legut, M. et al. Genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screening reveals ubiquitous T cell cancer targeting via the monomorphic MHC class I-related protein MR1. Nat Immunol (2020) doi:10.1038/s41590-019-0578-8
BAD AXE  Former priest and Port Austin resident Lawrence Ventline, 70, pleaded no contest to indecent exposure Jan. 15.

Ventline had been charged following a complaint made by an area business that he had exposed himself. He was scheduled for jury trial Jan. 28.

According to Huron County Prosecutor Timothy Rutkowski, the complainant stated that Ventline walked around the business for approximately 10 minutes exposing himself. Rutkowski said he had a video clip of the incident from the surveillance that was about 30 seconds in duration. In his statements to the police Ventline alleged the exposure was due to a medical issue.

Ventline, a former Catholic priest with the Archdiocese of Detroit, was temporarily removed from the ministry in 2016.

Prior to that restriction, he had not been assigned to full-time parish ministry for nearly 20 years, having last served in a full-time role from 1996-97 as an administrator at the St. Mark Parish in Harsens Island.

His last assignment as a pastor was at St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Lake Orion from 1987-1990.

Ventline was previously accused of sexually assaulting a young boy, though he was never criminally charged or found guilty of sexual assault. At the time the attorney generals office was seeking charges against five catholic priests. The attorney general had dropped the charges against Ventline due to the statute of limitations.

"Unfortunately, the statute of limitations bars us from prosecuting Mr. Ventline for any crimes we believe he may have committed," Michigan AG Dana Nessel previously stated in a news release. "However, the action by the Michigan Board of Counselors ensures that he cannot use his counseling license to lure in and abuse vulnerable patients, including young children."

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs revoked Ventlines counseling license in September, and fined him $5,000.

The charge Ventline pleaded no contest to is a one-year misdemeanor. His sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 6.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had a meaningful meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.



According to him, the sides discussed regional affairs and conflict situations. In particular, Putin briefed the Israeli PM on his recent trips to Damascus.

"They hashed over Syrian affairs, those aspects that cause the Israeli partners concern, and compared positions on other issues. Also, bilateral issues were discussed," TASS cited Peskov a saying.
In view of Republic Day preparations, the police carried out security checks at hotels, markets, shopping malls and other public places across Noida and Greater Noida on Friday, officials said.

The checking was carried out on the instructions of Commissioner of Police Alok Singh, they said.

"Security checks were carried out across the three zones in Gautam Buddh Nagar. Personnel from all police teams including assistant commissioners, deputy commissioners and Local Intelligence Unit were deployed for the special checking. Dog squads were also used," a police spokesperson said.

In view of scheduled celebrations on January 26, the police are specially monitoring all public places and commercial spaces to thwart any potential threat, the official added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Marc Benioff, CEO, Salesforce.com speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 23, 2020. Adam Galasia | CNBC

DAVOS, Switzerland  Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff said it is "fair" for him to get some credit for President Donald Trump's surprising support for an initiative geared toward battling climate change. The Trillion Trees campaign to plant, restore, or conserve 1 trillion trees by 2050 was launched earlier this week here at the World Economic Forum as an official initiative of the event's host. A day ahead of its launch, Trump formally backed the initiative, despite his longstanding skepticism of climate change. There had been speculation at Davos that Trump's support came at the urging Benioff, a trustee of the forum. The president has before shown his willingness to lend his ears to corporate leaders. Benioff, meantime, has used his position as CEO of a company with a $143 billion market cap as a platform to advocate for corporations' role in improving society. That includes showing support for an initiative led by Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter and a senior advisor, to train a million workers.

When asked whether "it's fair" to give him some credit for Trump's support of the campaign, Benioff said "it's fair," before adding: "It's more than fair." Benioff also stressed that he wasn't seeking full credit for the initiative, or the support it has gained. He also cited former Vice President Al Gore and renowned conservationist Jane Goodall as key figures in the project. Benioff would not say whether he spoke directly to the president about it. When asked multiple times whether he talked to Trump about the initiative, he said he had spoken "to everybody." The project, said Benioff, was inspired in part by a July article in Scientific American, which was based on research co-authored by Tom Crowther, a professor of global ecosystem ecology at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. The study found that 1 trillion trees could reduce two-thirds of global air pollution.
Lindsey Graham Says He Opposes Hunter Biden Subpoena in Impeachment Trial

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told reporters on Friday that hell oppose a motion to call up former Vice President Joe Biden or his son, Hunter, to testify during the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.

To my Republican friends, you may be upset about what happened in the Ukraine with the Bidens, but this is not the venue to litigate that, he told The Hill. I need some Republicans who would say, as much as I want to know more about Burisma and the Bidens, this is not the venue. Ive got to find four, Graham stated, suggesting that he has to find only four Republicans to join Democrats in opposing calling up Biden. I vote against it, he remarked.

Graham, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is a close ally of Trump and has been a staunch defender of the president amid the impeachment inquiry. But Graham said he opposes Bidens testimony because he views the trial should come to an end soon. Democrats have also wanted to compel testimony from witnesses including former Trump adviser John Bolton.

Im not going to grant witness requests by the defense, he added. They could have called all of these people in the House. They denied the president his day in court, and Im not going to legitimize it.

His position on the matter places him at odds with fellow Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who has repeatedly called for testimony from the younger Biden. The president gets to call anybody he thinks would be good for his defense, the prosecution can call who they want, but I dont think we should selectively call witnesses that dont like the president, Paul said on Jan. 17.

Some Republicans have also wanted to call Joe Biden, a Democratic 2020 presidential candidate, and his son because of the reportedly lucrative board position Hunter Biden had on a Ukrainian gas firm, Burisma Holdings, while his father was the point man in Ukraine during the Obama administration. The elder Biden went on the record in 2018 during a Council on Foreign Relations event and told an audience that he pushed to get allegedly corrupt top Ukrainian prosecutor Viktor Shokin fired in 2016. Shokin has said he was investigating Burisma and sought to interview Hunter Biden.

In the aftermath, Biden has denied any wrongdoing and alleged Shokin was a corrupt official. The younger Biden ABC News in October that he did nothing wrong and exercised poor judgment on my part because it gave the perception of a conflict of interest.

The impeachment inquiry last year focused on a July 25 phone call between Trump and newly-elected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky where Trump asked his counterpart to look into the Bidens, Burisma, and alleged election interference. Democrats alleged that he pressured Zelensky to open investigations while withholding nearly $400 million in foreign aid, which both Trump and Zelensky have denied. On Dec. 18, the House voted to impeach Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
President Donald Trump arrives to address the nation from the White House on the ballistic missile strike that Iran launched against Iraqi air bases housing US troops on January 8 (Evan Vucci/AP)

The Pentagon has said 34 US troops were diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries suffered in this months Iranian missile strike on an Iraqi air base.

Half of the troops have returned to their military duties, it added.

Seventeen of the 34 are still under medical observation, said Jonathan Hoffman, the chief Pentagon spokesman.

President Donald Trump had initially said he was told that no troops had been injured in the January 8 strike.

Expand Close Iranian bombing caused a crater at Ain al-Asad air base in Anbar, Iraq (Ali Abdul Hassan/AP) / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Iranian bombing caused a crater at Ain al-Asad air base in Anbar, Iraq (Ali Abdul Hassan/AP)

The military said symptoms were not immediately reported after the strike and in some cases became known days later.

After the first reports that some soldiers had been hurt, Mr Trump referred to them as headaches and said the cases were not as serious as injuries involving the loss of limbs.

Mr Hoffmans disclosure that 34 had been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury (TBI) was the first update on the number injured in Irans missile attack on Ain al-Asad air base in western Iraq since the Pentagon said on January 17 that 11 service members had been flown out of Iraq with concussion-like symptoms.

Mr Hoffman said that of the 34 with TBI, 18 were evacuated from Iraq to US medical facilities in Germany and Kuwait, and 16 stayed in Iraq.

Seventeen of the 18 evacuees were sent to Germany, and nine remain there; the other eight have been transported to the United States for continued observation or treatment.

The one American sent to Kuwait has since returned to duty.

All 16 of those who were diagnosed with TBI and remained in Iraq have since returned to duty, Mr Hoffman said.

No-one was killed in the attack on Ain al-Asad.

The strike was launched in retaliation for a US drone missile strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani, the most powerful military general in Iran, on January 3 at Baghdad International Airport.
Dearborn Public Schools is again remembering civil rights leader Fred Korematsu during a special ceremony, and the public is invited to attend. This years event will be held at the Michael Berry Career Center on Jan. 30 from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m.

The ceremony is in partnership with the Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission, Dearborn Schools Superintendents Student Advisory Council, Michael Berry Career Center staff, and School Board Trustee Mary Lane.

Speakers will include:

Toshiki Masaki  Chair, Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission (MAPAAC)

Roland Hwang, J.D.  Adjunct Instructor, Department of American Culture, University of Michigan and MAPAAC alumnus

Mary Engelman  Interim Director, Michigan Department of Civil Rights

Dr. Karen Korematsu  Founder and Executive Director, Fred T. Korematsu Institute

Ron Aramaki  Adjunct Instructor, Department of American Culture, University of Michigan

Mary Kamidoi  Former Internee, Rohwer Camp, Arkansas

Students from the advisory council will join dignitaries as they remember the significant contributions that Korematsu made fighting for civil rights in the United States.

Korematsus story is one of belated triumph over the injustice endured by Japanese Americans during World War II. Born in the United States in 1919, Korematsu defied the U.S. governments order to report to internment camp after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. He was convicted for his refusal and appealed his case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled against him in a 6-3 decision in 1944.

After World War II, Korematsu moved to Michigan. His conviction was formally vacated in 1983 based on information that the War Department had misled the Supreme Court with false allegations of espionage and sabotage. In 1998, Korematsus courage and activism was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom presented by President Bill Clinton. Korematsu continued to fight for civil rights until his death in 2005.

The Fred T. Korematsu Institute was founded in 2009 to carry on Korematsus legacy as a civil rights advocate by educating and advocating for civil liberties for all communities. Today, events are held in his memory across the country every year on or near Jan. 30.
The Pentagon on Friday said 34 U.S. troops have been diagnosed with concussions or traumatic brain injury following an Iranian missile attack this month, more than triple the number originally reported and coming just days after President Donald Trump downplayed the injuries as headaches.

Chief Pentagon spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman also told reporters that Defense Secretary Mark Esper had ordered the Pentagons acting personnel chief, Matt Donovan, to review the departments procedures for tracking and reporting injuries.

Trump initially said no one was harmed during the Jan. 8 Iranian ballistic missile attack on bases in Iraq that house U.S. troops, which followed the U.S. killing of a top Iranian military commander.

The military last week said it had conducted follow-on screenings and that the number of troops who were pulled out of Iraq for brain injury treatment was 11. On Friday, Hoffman told reporters that, of the 34 troops diagnosed with brain injuries, 17 have returned to duty, including one service member who was transferred to Kuwait for treatment.

Eight service members have been transferred to the U.S. for treatment after initially being sent to Germany. Nine are still undergoing treatment and evaluation in Germany.

Hoffman attributed a change in numbers to symptoms that are late-developing and manifest over a period of time.

What we saw was a number of people who were initially screened for concussion-like symptoms  saw their conditions improve rapidly, and then others, we saw their conditions didnt improve, Hoffman said. Some got worse and some had severe enough symptoms that they were transported on for further treatment.

Trump on Wednesday played down the initial reports of injuries.

I heard that they had headaches, and a couple of other things, Trump told reporters at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. But I would say, and I can report, it is not very serious. Not very serious.

Esper on Wednesday told reporters that the Pentagon doesn't normally report such injuries. "This is mostly outpatient stuff. So we can track that if  if you're really interested in it."

Story continues

He also said at the time he didn't know how many were injured. "I'm not a doctor and I'm not the ones evaluating them," he said.

Speaking Friday at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Esper defended the Pentagons reporting of injuries around the globe.

Were fully committed to being transparent about what happens, but we need to make sure were accurate and that we categorize things properly, and thats our commitment, Esper said. And its not just Iraq. Its wherever troops are engaged.
UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen said Friday he was expecting to visit Damascus next week for talks with the Syrian government

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th January, 2020) UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen said Friday he was expecting to visit Damascus next week for talks with the Syrian government.

A diplomatic source told Sputnik earlier this week that Pedersen was expected to meet with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem on Wednesday.

"I hope to be in Damascus Wednesday next week and to continue my discussions with the [Syrian] government," the UN envoy said at a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Jon Mark Hogg, the sole Democrat vying for the District 11 congressional seat in a race overrun with Republican possibilities, held a series of meet and greets in Midland this week.

Hogg stopped by the Midland County Democratic Party headquarters Wednesday evening to meet with area Democrats, including Commissioner Luis Sanchez and Democratic Chair Margaret Williams.

Below is a Q&A from the event. Answers are edited for length.

Q: Is Jon Mark your first name or is Mark a middle name?

A: Mark is a middle name. When I was a kid, they called me Jon a lot, but Jon Mark is the name that everyone knows me by. Or J.M., or hey, you  Ill answer to anything.

Q: From speaking to Midlanders and Odessans, what are you gathering are their main concerns?

A: I've been all over the district talking to people about what their concerns are. And what really struck me is, we all have the same concerns, essentially. The things that I keep hearing about are concerns about health care costs and insurance, prescription drug costs. Infrastructure is a common one all over the place; affordable housing. All those are things that are common across the district. The district is so huge, going from the state line of New Mexico almost to Fort Worth and down to the Hill Country. But everybody really has the same concerns, which are kind of the bread-and-butter issues of the day. How do I work? What kind of job do I have? How do I afford health care for my family? Where are my kids going to be educated? And where am I going to live? Those are the issues that I think are really important to people.

Q: A big concern for people in the area is oil and gas, of course, because were in the Permian Basin. Thats often seen as a Republican area, but as a Democrat, do you feel thats also something thats important to you?

A: Yeah, I think that's a misconception [that its a Republican issue]. The oil and gas industry is crucial -- not just to this area -- it is crucial to the entire country and to the world. What I get is a sense of people thinking that we have to choose between being environmentally friendly -- environmentally wise -- and having oil and gas production. I disagree with that completely. I don't think we have to choose. And I think the oil and gas industry has shown itself over the last decade or more to increase improvements in technology. Where we get improved environmental conditions is through that improved technology, both in the oil and gas industry, and also in the other industries -- solar, wind and other types of power. Energy is a broader issue than just oil and gas. The oil and gas industry is what's going to allow us to get to a position where we can address the environmental issues even better. Its absolutely vital.

Q: Another concern Ive heard about quite a bit is the possibility of redistricting after the 2020 census. A two-part question: As someone from San Angelo, do you feel that you can get Midlanders and Odessans on your side? And do you have any interest in redistricting?

A: Everybody has an interest in redistricting. Redistricting is the thing where your voice gets heard. What Im interested about that is, I do think that I can represent the people of Midland and Odessa. Ive been well-received so far, and I think our message will more than anything else. Its not necessarily about me, but its about the message. But the thing that I think we need to move towards is  lets be frank, this is a very gerrymandered district. District 11 was originally a central Texas district. Now, it comes all the way to the New Mexico state line. One of the problems that we need to address in our politics is these safe districts. What we need are more competitive districts, because when you only have to listen to one side to get elected, that's not good. We need representation that understands that he represents all the people: Democrats, Republicans, liberals, conservatives, libertarians -- all the people. Youre not elected to represent one party or one group of people. Youre elected to represent everybody. So, I would like to see the Legislature focus more on trying to come up with some parity and having some geographical boundaries that make sense. Midland-Odessa does not have as much in common with Granbury as wed like to think. A lot of our interests are aligned, and we have a lot of the same problems, but it just makes it so much more difficult. I would like to see us grow more towards where we have closer elections and more competitive elections. I think thats better for democracy and better for the people.

Q: Do you think that you can get people here behind that?

A: I sure hope so. If I didnt think I could, I wouldnt be here. We tend to put things into boxes, and everybody likes labels. I hear it all the time, I'll never vote for Democrat or I'll never vote for a Republican. We like to use labels because theyre cheap and easy and we dont have to think about things. One of the things I hate is being put into a box. Politicians and pundits care about Republican and Democrat and liberal or conservative, but I think people are smarter than that. And I think that people see things as more pragmatic than that. They dont care about Republican and Democrat.

Q: Do you have any thoughts on how many people are running on the Republican side?

A: Thats not my race. Im looking forward to whoever the Republicans decide to nominate as the candidate because I think what youre seeing on the Republican side is just the same message from all 10 people. And I think what we bring is the idea of change and the idea of a different message and a different approach to representing this district.

Q: Is there anything more you want to say about the platforms youre running on?

A: The real problem that I want to address and that no one's talking about  none of the Democratic presidential candidates are talking about it. None of the Senate candidates and none of the Republican candidates are talking about it or probably going to fix it. And that is the fact that Congress doesnt work. And the problem is, there are many reasons for it and its structural in many ways. But we are never going to solve the immigration issues, the health care issues; all the other important things we have to address are never going to be solved unless we fix our politics, how we treat each other and fix Congress, so that Congress can reassert itself as a full independent branch of the government equal to the presidency, equal to the judiciary. Until they understand that, were never going to fix any of the problems in our country.
New Delhi, Jan 24 : Adani Gas stocks tanked up to 14 per cent to Rs 148 on the BSE in Friday's session following reports that the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board of India (PNGRB) has sent a notice to the comnpany for not disclosing crucial information regarding a scheme of arrangement with Adani Enterprises.

According to media reports, Adani Gas has bid for gas projects using networth calculations of the Gautam Adani-led Adani Enterprises and that the company's shareholding changes and restructuring violated the city gas distribution regulations.

The sector regulator PNGRB is seeking to cancel the company's licences and levy Rs 400 crore penalty for the violations, the report said.

The company is learnt to have clarified that it had responded to PNGRB "with all required information to close the matter".

"We are fully compliant and have transparently represented facts... All concerned authorities were intimated about reorganisation of the company," the reports quoted representatives of Adani Gas as saying.

Other Adani Group stocks also declined in intra-day trade on Friday -- Adani Enterprises (down 5 per cent to Rs 219), Adani Green Energy (down 5 per cent to Rs 183), Adani Power (down 1 per cent to Rs 62.60), Adani Transmission (down 1.72 per cent to Rs 327), Adani Ports (down 1.4 per cent at Rs 380.50) on the BSE.
Lead House impeachment manager Adam Schiff called dramatically for the Senate to remove President Donald Trump from office Thursday, saying the US leader cannot be trusted to put the country's interests ahead of his own.

"The American people deserve a president they can count on, to put their interest first," said Schiff.

His impassioned words capped a long day in which Democrats detailed Trump's illicit scheme to pressure Ukraine to help his 2020 reelection campaign.

"You know, you can't trust this president to do what is right for this country. You can trust he will do what's right for Donald Trump," Schiff added.

"He'll do it now. He's done it before. He'll do it for the next several months. He'll do it in the election if he's allowed to. This is why, if you find him guilty, you must find that he should be removed." "Because right matters. And truth matters. Otherwise we are lost."



As the 100 senators sat as jurors and millions of Americans watched on television, House impeachment managers mustered scores of videos, internal documents and extensive witness testimony to lay out a strong case that the US leader abused his powers.

Schiff's prosecution team detailed how Trump flagrantly undertook last year to force Kiev to help him tarnish his possible 2020 reelection rival, former vice president Joe Biden.

"President Trump used the powers of his office to solicit a foreign nation to interfere in our elections for his own personal benefit," House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerry Nadler told the chamber.

"Since President George Washington took office in 1789, no president has abused his power in this way," Nadler said.

"The president has repeatedly, flagrantly, violated his oath... The president's conduct is wrong. It is illegal. And it is dangerous."



Over nine hours the Democrats methodically dismantled Republican claims that Trump did nothing wrong.

They left few doubts that Trump's sole motivation in secretly freezing aid to Ukraine last July was to force Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky to announce one investigation into Biden and a second into an unsupported story that Kiev helped Democrats in the 2016 election.

To puncture a key White House argument that the US constitution requires a specific crime to remove a president, they played old videos in which two of Trump's closest defenders, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and storied criminal defense attorney Alan Dershowitz, said that abuse of power itself is a clear impeachable offense.

And they detailed the extensive role of Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani in the scheme to pressure Zelensky, even while US intelligence and diplomatic chiefs disagreed with it.

"Donald Trump chose Rudy Giuliani over his own intelligence agencies. He chose Rudy Giuliani over his own national security advisors... That makes him dangerous to our country," said Schiff, who leads the House Intelligence Committee.

Yet, three days into arguments into the historic trial, there were few signs that any of the Republican majority that Trump commands in the Senate would buy into the evidence and turn against him.

"What we heard from the managers yesterday, the day before, it is the same thing, day after day after day," said Republican Senator John Barrasso.

"We're hearing the same things over and over," said Trump attorney Jay Sekulow. "We will be putting on vigorous defense of both facts and rebutting what they've said."



At the White House, Trump unleashed a barrage of tweets attacking the process as "loaded with lies and misrepresentations." "Most unfair & corrupt hearing in Congressional history!" he tweeted



Democratic prosecutors will complete their arguments Friday with a focus on the second impeachment charge, obstruction of Congress, before Trump's legal team holds the floor in his defense for three days.

Democrats are hoping their arguments will at least persuade some Republicans, who hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, to support their call to issue subpoenas next week for four top current and former Trump aides to testify, and for internal White House records about the Ukraine affair.

But all indications were that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, in coordination with the White House, will seek to stifle witness requests and bring the trial to a close with a vote to acquit Trump by the end of next week.

Both Trump and McConnell said early this week that the White House could claim executive privilege to refuse the subpoenas, forcing a court challenge that could prolong the case well into February.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Newser)  With coronavirus cases mounting dailyalong with the number of cities where transport has been locked downChina plans to build a new hospital in just six days. Work began Thursday night on a 1,000-bed facility in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, reports the Guardian. China shut down public transport in Wuhan Thursday morning and also shut down travel out of the city of 11 million people. Beijing and other major cities have banned large gatherings over the upcoming Chinese New Year period, during which hundreds of millions of people travel around the country, reports the Washington Post. Authorities say cases of the new virus have now been reported in almost every Chinese province, with at least 26 deaths.

story continues below

Some 13 citiesWuhan and 12 of its neighbors in Hubei provincehave now been locked down, with more than 33 million people affected, the AP reports. Hospitals in Wuhan and other cities, which have been struggling to deal with a flood of patients, have issued calls for the public to donate protective equipment including masks and goggles. Residents say they have been turned away from hospitalsand many stores have been cleared of food. Chinese authorities have not said how long the lockdowns are likely to last. Vietnam and Singapore confirmed cases of the virus Thursday, bringing the number of countries affected to seven, including the US. The World Health Organization said Thursday that the number of overseas cases are too low to declare a global health emergency, but the outbreak "may yet become one." (Read more coronavirus stories.)
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN)

Officers in San Francisco arrested a woman Thursday evening after she allegedly struck one woman, stabbed another, and then tried to cut a third, police said.

Around 6:45 p.m., officers responded to a report of an assault with a knife in the 700 block of Polk St.

There, they learned that during a meeting a 33-year-old woman struck the first victim, a 37-year-old woman. The suspect then stabbed another 37-year-old female victim in the back with a knife, police said.

The suspect then also tried to cut a different victim, a 42-year-old woman, according to police.

The suspect then fled the scene. Officers, however, were able to catch up with the suspect and arrested her.

The victims were taken to the hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening, police said.

Copyright  2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
Bloomberg/Getty

Republicans couldn't have created a more twisted trial of the president if theyd named Kafka to the defense team.

What a bind theyve put Democrats in. To fight back against White House lawyers main objection to the Houses articles of impeachmentthat the officials in the room where the impeachable acts happened did not testifyDemocrats have to plead for those witnesses to testify now. And that gives Donald Trumps political defense a favorite talking point: If Democrats have such a strong case (which in fact they do), than why are they spending the first two days of the trial begging for more evidence?

Easy. While Republicans insist that theres no case without witnesses and that its too late to call them, they neglect to mention that its Republicans who demanded and got witnesses in Clintons impeachment, including the president himself. Sen. Lindsey Graham, whos ripping into Democrats now for supposedly creating a complete circus by demanding witnesses, was a House impeachment manager then.

Trumps Lawyers are Lying About the Meaning of Impeachment

He and his fellow Senate Republicans also dont mention that the first-hand testimony they contend that theres no case without could only come from the first-hand witnesses Trump has blocked from testifying. Its like murdering your wife and then complaining about being a widower. A refrain of White House Counsel Pat Cippolones presentations has been how ridiculous it is to expect Republicans to gather evidence the House didnt take the time to collect. I lost count of exactly how ridiculous it was at about his 20th time.

The Democrats dilemma is that it's almost impossible to demand something without creating the impression that you need it. Theyve been here once before. For two years, they placed their hopes of holding Trump accountable on the Mueller investigation, that is, until it came out. Almost immediately, Democrats asked for more, more, more: to hear from White House Counsel Don McGahn in person even though he'd delivered the goods in his deposition; for additional documents; for documents already provided to be un-redacted; for Special Counsel Robert Mueller to come to the Hill for what they hoped would be a dramatic reading of his report.

Story continues

Lost in all this complaining was Mueller flatly saying that his report did not exonerate Trump, although Trump constantly claimed that it did.

In the end, Democrats came across as cruelly disappointed in Mueller's two volumes of scrupulously documented impeachable acts while Attorney General William Barr was as happy as a lark for having injected his false summary of it into the public bloodstream before it was published in full.

House Democrats didnt take the time to wait for witnesses before sending their bill of impeachment to the Senate because it would have been a colossal waste of time. How fruitless to wait for something the White House defiantly refused to provide, or for a final court ruling that might or might not eventually come, or for a miracle.

In any event, why wait for witnesses you dont need to prove the gravamen of your case given that Trump admitted to everything? Its a tic of the presidents to proudly announce that something obviously wrong was actually perfect on the theory that if a perfect person with unlimited power does something, it cant be wrong. A guilty man would hide his bad acts, right?

One of Trumps favorite congressmen, Texas Rep. Mac Thornberry, made that very point during the House hearings. Thornberry asked whether extorting the Ukrainian president to help Trump cheat in the upcoming election was anything thats different than [Trump] says in public all the time or different than the American people have been hearing for three years? I don't hear that.

That might be a novel defense for a serial killer, but hardly fit for a president.

Democrats need to help the public keep two things in mind at the same time. First, that no more witnesses are needed. This is an open-and-shut case with the partial call transcript and documents revealing that Trump secretly withheld congressionally appropriated funds, the crime Republicans say is necessary for impeachment.

Second, that theres no reason that Americansand senatorsshouldnt hear former National Security Adviser John Bolton describing the drug deal he saw going down, however much listening to Bolton and others like acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo might hurt the sensitive ears of Devin Nunes, Sean Hannity, and the rest of the whimpering Republican caucus.

A vote for witnesses would give some senators a way to cut the baby in half, to show theyre not complete patsies for Trump but are loyal enough to the party to vote against conviction. This may be particularly appealing to those senators in purplish states up for re-election. Republican Senators live in fear of Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who announced before the trial began that he planned to do everything the president wanted, including not having witnesses because it would be a fishing expedition. His partys 53-47 advantage means hes only as powerful as any four of his fellow Republicans let him be. There are fiveLisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, Cory Gardner, Joni Ernst, and Martha McSallyatop the list of the most unpopular and endangered home-state senators who could peel off. McConnell also has to worry about a few others like sometimes statesman Mitt Romney, retiring senators like Lamar Alexander, and institutionalists like Rob Portman. If McConnell loses any four of them, he loses his ironclad grip on the length and depth of the trial.

Its hard to sit still for hours of argument but its uplifting to watch the House managers rise to the occasion, so much so that as reported on MSNBCGraham encountered Schiff at the elevator, shook his hand, and congratulated him on a job well done. If Democrats succeed in turning the Republican sleight of hand back on themand they tried in every presentation on Wednesdaythey will either get their witnesses, or they will get voters to see whats wrong with the spineless Republicans who refused to call them.

So as not to push the potential defectors too far at the outset, McConnell abandoned two of his most unfair rules. Still, Collins cast a show vote for one of Schumers amendments, likely with McConnells approval, to shore up her supporters in Peloton classes in Kennebunkport. Of The Five, shes the most dramatic about how difficult the burden of being her reasonable self is. Despite her suffering, she almost always ends up where Trump wants her.

The Five will get another opportunity to vote for witnesses next week, after a Sunday off counting up the calls from constituents whove been in a courtroom or just watched Law & Order and have some idea of what a trial entails.

Voting in favor of a real trial on the biggest stage of their careers may give The Fiveit would only take four of themthe chance to be the independent lawmakers they once were.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!

Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.

---Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK---
By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: With the election fever catching up in Delhi ahead of February 8 polls, the sit-in protest against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) at Shaheen Bagh in south Delhi is set to become a focal point of political discourse and campaign.

Blaming the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for fueling protests against the contentious Act, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday said that grand confusion is being created among Muslims which is leading to anarchy.

Questions were being asked as to who all are behind the protests. After (Deputy CM) Manish Sisodias statement, they have been exposed. It has proven that anarchists stand with anarchists. They are self-proclaimed anarchists and whatever is happening in Shaheen Bagh is the peak of anarchism, said BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra at a press conference on Thursday.



ALSO READ: Amit Shah blames Congress, AAP for 'provoking people, orchestrating CAA riots' in Delhi

Patras response was to Sisodias comment on Thursday, where he said that he stands with the Shaheen Bagh.

Objecting to Hum Dekhenge, a famous Urdu poem by Faiz Ahmad Faiz being read out at protest sites, Patra accused demonstrators of calling for the removal of idols from temples.

We will not let them succeed in their nefarious objective. Hum Bhi Dekhnege (We will also see), he said.



ALSO READ | More Shaheen Baghs coming up across country: Nandita Das

Shahi Bhraham (grand confusion) is being spread which is purely for vote bank politics. Sisodia is saying that he is with the people of Shaheen Bagh. He is not with 15-20 lakh people living in adjoining Sarita Vihar, Jasola, and Madangir. Those residents have been suffering since the road is blocked, said Patra.

Rajya Sabha MP and Delhi BJP chief Vijay Goel, also present at the press conference, said that AAP leaders hadnt visited the protest site even once but has been trying to exploit the situation in view of the polls.

Shaheen Bagh has turned into Shame Bagh. Efforts are being made for vilification of India abroad, he said.
KALMAZOO COUNTY, MI -- The state Attorney Generals office will not pursue charges in the hit-and-run death of a Vicksburg teen 36 years ago.

Staff with the state Attoney General issued a statement about the Erik Cross cold case.

We know this is a heartbreaking decision for the Cross family but there is simply not enough evidence to criminally charge any of the remaining suspects with the death of Erik Cross. We can only imagine the decades of pain and anguish they have experienced and we wish we were able to make a different decision.

We did everything we could in this case, including re-interviewing witnesses, but it is clear that we will never know the truth about the tragic circumstances that led to the death of Erik Cross that night more than 36 years ago, according to the statement.

Cross was a 16-year-old Vicksburg High School student when police suspect he was intentionally hit with a vehicle while walking to his familys home. Cross, a Vicksburg High School student, was found lying in the roadway in the 5100 block of East Y Avenue in the early morning of June 26, 1983.

Arrest warrants were requested in October 2017 for people suspected of being involved in his death, but Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting did not file charges. Detectives have said previously that theyve focused on a core group of four to five people who were either directly involved in Cross death or victims of circumstance, but have lacked enough information to make an arrest.

In February 2019, the Kalamazoo County Sheriffs Office and the Kalamazoo County Prosecuting Attorneys Office asked the Michigan Attorney General to review the homicide investigation.

Also on MLive

Murder conviction tossed over rap video ruling by Supreme Court

Father of man who killed, mutilated woman avoids retrial on perjury charge

Home on edge of Lake Michigan bluff demolished to avoid collapse
EUGENE, Ore.  Many voiced their concerns about new Lane Transit District routes at the Friendly Area Neighbors general meeting on Thursday.

South Eugene residents met at the Washington Park Community Center to discuss the changes. Many of the attendees argued the cut in the bus service to their neighborhood will cut them off from the community.

RELATED: LTD CHANGES WOULD IMPACT SOUTH HILLS, DOWNTOWN EUGENE

Some parents said theyre worried about their childrens safety if they have to walk far to take a bus to school. Others with disabilities said they are concerned about getting up and down the hills to the new bus stops.

Holly Ross lives in South Eugene, and she said the tensions were high at the meeting, but she's glad she was able to hear LTD's reasoning for the changes.

"I think it's going to be a long road. I think the community is going to try and fight to keep things the way they are. I hope whatever happens, it can be a happy resolution for all," Ross said.

LTD voted to overhaul their bus system in August 2019. They said this was the first time in more than 20 years the bus system has been revamped. The main goal of the project Transit Tomorrow is to improve the frequency and efficiency of the bus system, LTD said.

But the new system will cut some routes, a bulk of them in south Eugene.

LTD will have a board meeting about the route changes March 18 and then a public hearing May 20. The final decision will be made June 17, and the first changes will be put in place February of next year.

There is an online petition to try to get LTD to keep their old routes. At last check, it has over 1,300 signatures.
Tesco is set to ditch 67 million pieces of plastic per year by removing the wrapping from all multipacks of tinned food.

The landmark move, which applies to cans of baked beans, tuna, soup and other products, will eliminate 350 tons of plastic from the environment.

And shoppers will not have to pay more for the items, which will be sold individually in Tescos 3,300 stores from March.

Chief executive Dave Lewis said: We want to remove every single bit of plastic that is unnecessary from our stores.

Chief executive Dave Lewis has pledged to remove one billion pieces of plastic from own-brand goods by this year. He is pictured above at a Tesco store holding the single tins

Praising this newspapers campaign on plastic waste, he added: The Daily Mail has been hugely influential in raising the profile of this issue in the UK.

Multipacks are popular with savvy shoppers as it typically works out cheaper than buying tins of food individually. On current prices, a multipack of four cans of Tesco baked beans is 1, while singles are 30p each.

However, customers will pay the same for canned foods if they buy multiple single cans as they did for a pack  thanks to permanent multi-buy discounts.

Tesco will be the first UK supermarket to remove the plastic from multipack food tins from all of its stores. Waitrose has conducted a trial in 17 shops.

Plastic wrapping has been scrapped from Tesco own-brand products as well as branded goods such as Heinz Beanz, Green Giant sweetcorn and Princes and John West tuna.

The landmark move, which applies to cans of baked beans, tuna, soup and other products, will eliminate 350 tons of plastic from the environment. And shoppers will not have to pay more for the items, which will be sold individually in Tescos 3,300 stores from March

But the move does not apply to cans of drink. Some beverage brands, such as Heineken and Coca-Cola, have promised to move from plastic to cardboard on their multipacks.

Abolishing plastic wraps on tinned foods was tried out at a Tesco Extra convenience store in Bar Hill, Cambridgeshire. The shop is used as a testing ground for environmental initiatives.

Mr Lewis said that initially, getting rid of the multipacks at the store caused a slight drop in sales. However, he said they soon bounced back.

When we first took the plastic away, people didnt like the inconvenience too much, he said.

But when we explain why, they understand. Customers think it is worth it to reduce plastics.

The measure is being explained on banners in stores and in information by the relevant shelves.

Removing the packaging means it takes marginally longer to pick items off the shelf.

Similarly, it adds a few seconds at the till as several tins need to be scanned.

Mr Lewis  who is stepping down as chief executive of Tesco this year having rescued the retailer from the brink of ruin under previous management  has pledged to remove one billion pieces of plastic from own-brand goods by this year.

We want to do something quite fundamental, he said.

He added that he hoped other supermarkets will follow suit. If the whole industry were to follow, you will lose 2,000 tons of plastic, he said.

Tescos initiative is being backed by the World Wildlife Fund, which is battling plastic pollution as it is killing off marine life.

A spokesman said: If we want to protect nature we need more businesses to follow Tescos lead.

Plastic wrapping has been scrapped from Tesco own-brand products as well as branded goods such as Heinz Beanz, above, Green Giant sweetcorn and Princes and John West tuna

Every little helps... and this will make a big difference

By Dave Lewis, Chief Executive of Tesco for the Daily Mail

Tinned multipacks are staples of the British kitchen. We sell 183,000 every day and whether they contain baked beans, soup, tuna or tomatoes, they are sold wrapped in a thin sheet of plastic. Not any more.

Today were announcing that were removing plastic-wrapped multipacks of tinned food from all Tesco stores across the UK from the beginning of March.

Well be replacing them with plastic-free multi-buys. Its all part of our work to remove all unnecessary and non-recyclable plastic from Tesco.

At the start of 2018 we undertook the most far-reaching review of packaging ever done in our business. Since then weve removed more than 4,000 tons of materials from 800 products, including the hardest to recycle materials. Tesco Chief Executive Dave Lewis is pictured above

This announcement will see 67million pieces of plastic eliminated and remove 350 tons of plastic from the environment.

Four out of ten of our customers buy multipacks and this change will help them all use less plastic without having to pay more.

The tins will instead be available individually but with permanent multi-buy deals.

At the end of last year, Tesco committed to removing one billion pieces of plastic from our UK stores and this is one example of how we will meet this ambitious target.

At this stage we are removing plastic packaging from multipacks of tinned foods, not from other items such as canned drinks, but we are actively looking for opportunities all over the business for where we can cut unnecessary plastic and we will be taking more out.

At the start of 2018 we undertook the most far-reaching review of packaging ever done in our business.

Since then weve removed more than 4,000 tons of materials from 800 products, including the hardest to recycle materials.

While we are the first UK supermarket to make this move on multipack plastic, by working with global suppliers  like Heinz and others  who supply many other retailers, we hope the changes will be adopted throughout the whole industry

And now were working hard to ensure all our packaging will be fully recyclable by 2025 globally  and sooner in the UK.

We have a 4 Rs approach to packaging. That stands for Remove, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Were removing all non-recyclable and excess packaging from Tesco.

Where it cant be removed, for example when it is necessary to prevent food damage and waste, well reduce it to an absolute minimum. Well look at ways to reuse packaging and ensure that anything left is all recycled.

Since April last year weve been running a wide range of packaging trials at our Bar Hill Extra store in Cambridgeshire.

As part of this work, we gathered together a group of graduates in our business to add their ideas on a future for retail which has less plastic. They pointed to multipack wrap and asked, is it really needed?

Many more of their ideas are in live trials today. I include this story as an example of how everyone in our business, at all levels, is focused on solving this issue.

Tinned multipacks are staples of the British kitchen. We sell 183,000 every day and whether they contain baked beans, soup, tuna or tomatoes, they are sold wrapped in a thin sheet of plastic. Not any more [File photo]

When we started the multipack trial, there was an initial dip in sales but it soon recovered as we tested new ways of communicating to customers what we were doing and why.

There are lots of small trials out there, but we look at what will work at scale  across all our stores and our supply chain  because then the potential for transformation is enormous.

Last summer, we briefed 1,500 suppliers that packaging will now be a factor in what we choose to sell in our stores.

And while we are the first UK supermarket to make this move on multipack plastic, by working with global suppliers  like Heinz and others  who supply many other retailers, we hope the changes will be adopted throughout the whole industry.

The removal of plastic-wrapped multipacks is the first major rollout from our Bar Hill store trials and more will follow.

It was in 1993 that Tesco introduced the famous Every Little Helps slogan  before some of our graduates were even born!

But in that spirit of Every Little Helps, we know even simple changes can make a big difference.
Sandra Hunter and some of her Dexter cattle with Dr Cliff Henry, National Trust area ranger

Conservationists are planning to return grazing livestock to a Co Antrim bay after almost half a century.

Portnaboe, meaning bay of the cow or cows, sits just below the Giant's Causeway visitors' centre.

Sheep were the last animals to have grazed this area over 40 years ago, and since then bramble and bracken has spread over the bay.

Ecologists believe the vegetation is having a negative impact on many of the wildflowers and insects that live there.

The National Trust has been working on removing bracken and bramble in the bay for several years but the conservation team believe livestock grazing would help promote biodiversity.

Local farmer Sandra Hunter will provide the grazing cattle.

She said: "I would be delighted to see a return of cattle to Portnaboe, my family have grazed livestock in the bays around the causeway in the past."

The project is led by North Coast area ranger Dr Cliff Henry.

He said: "The bays around here would certainly have been grazed in the past, but with so many tourists visiting the site this just hasn't happened for a very long time."
Aged 18, Lydia Beshenivsky is the spitting image of her late mother, murdered police officer Sharon.

Those who knew the 38-year-old constable before she was shot dead on her daughter's fourth birthday say she laughs like her as well. She'd like to be a policewoman too, just like Mum  much to her father's understandable horror.

'They all say I'm just like her, but I don't remember her at all,' says Lydia.

'I wish I did. There's just a hole where she used to be and no memories to fill it. There's literally nothing there. It's become more of a heartache as I've grown up because, obviously, I want to know her. You think, 'I wish I could do this with her or that with her.' But you can't. She's gone.'

Lydia Beshenivsky (pictured) is murdered police officer Sharon Beshenivsky who was shot dead on her daughter's fourth birthday

Lydia's brother Paul Junior, 21, puts an arm around his sister as her pretty face crumples.

Two months ago, Lydia celebrated her 18th birthday. The same day she went to her mother's police memorial in Bradford, as she does every year, to lay some flowers.

'I've done it since I was 15,' she says. 'My birthday still gets celebrated, but thoughts of Mum are still there. You think, 'why did she have to die on my birthday? Why did she have to die at all? Why are there such sick people out there?' She's not just referring to the gang who shot her mother dead as she responded to a robbery at a travel agent in Bradford in 2005.

'About a week before my 18th birthday, I started getting messages on social media from a lot of Asians who were all related,' she says. 'They were saying, 'I know who your mum is. My cousin killed her.'

Lydia sent the messages to her mother's colleague, PC Teresa Milburn, who was also shot on that terrible day but survived to give evidence at a trial a year later. Lydia hasn't heard from the despicable trolls since. This is a particularly difficult time for PC Beshenivsky's children.

On January 14, the man accused of being the gang's mastermind, Piran Ditta Khan, 71, was finally arrested in Islamabad, Pakistan, after a 15-year manhunt. He is the seventh suspect to be charged in connection with Sharon's murder.

He appeared in court in Islamabad last week where his extradition was discussed. He will remain in custody until another hearing on Wednesday.

You only need to spend five minutes with Lydia's father Paul to know he'd far sooner see him tried in the country to which he fled, where justice demands an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. 'It would be better to see him in a Pakistani prison where he wouldn't get treated as well as he would over here,' Paul says.

A file photo shows an image of Sharon Beshenivsky. On January 14, the man accused of being the gang's mastermind, Piran Ditta Khan, 71, was finally arrested in Islamabad, Pakistan, after a 15-year manhunt. He is the seventh suspect to be charged in connection with Sharon's murder

Paul Beshenivsky, Sharon's widower (2R) is pictured with his wife Michelle (right), son Paul (left) and daughter Lydia

Indeed, such is the leniency in Britain that most of the armed gang involved in PC Beshenivsky's murder were released before her children reached the adulthood. 'One got eight years but didn't even do four. One got 20 and was out in ten. It's when you get that call telling you one of them is just being released that you think to yourself, 'really?' he adds.

Paul, 57, was told 24 hours before Khan's arrest was made public that he had been caught.

'Bradford police rang on January 14 saying they'd got somebody and were 99 per cent sure it's him.'

It is the fourth time since his wife's death that he has had his hopes raised. In December 2006, police thought they had pinned him down, but when they got there someone had spirited him away. Paul adds: 'Three years afterwards they had another lead but nothing came of it. The last time must have been about 18 months ago.

'When they rang this time and confirmed it was him you feel . . .' Paul's face reddens as emotion overwhelms him. 'You just hope this will bring closure,' he says. PC Beshenivsky was just nine months into her job when she was shot dead while responding to an armed robbery on the afternoon of Lydia's fourth birthday.

She had wrapped her daughter's presents, baked the cake and was nearing the end of her shift when she answered the call to go a travel agent, where an attack alarm had been activated. Her last words to her husband were, 'make sure you're home early'. He was  but she never returned to the Yorkshire moors farm where they raised their children.

Such was the horror of that day that neither Lydia nor Paul Jr can remember life before it.

'Everything is a kind of blur,' says Paul Jr, who was seven at the time.

Queen Elizabeth II is presented with flowers by Lydia Beshenivsky, the daughter of murdered WPC Sharon Beshenivsky, during her visit to Bradford on May 25, 2007

'I look at photos and remember some things but, apart from the them, there's not much else.

'I find that harder than anything, not being able to remember the past.'

He, like his father, prefers to 'brush his sadness under the carpet'.

'I know Dad doesn't like speaking about it so it doesn't get brought up between us,' he says. 'He knows I don't like speaking about it either. But Lydia's quite open about it.'

Khan was arrested on what would have been their mother's 53rd birthday. 'That was really strange' says Lydia. 'I didn't know he'd been caught until Dad told me that night but when I was driving home from work [at a nearby livery stable] I sensed Mum was around me. I just went cold. It felt really weird, not frightening, just cold.

'But his arrest doesn't change anything. It hasn't brought her back.

'When I think about what she did and what she could have done . . . ' She pauses, then thrusts her chin in the air. 'I'm applying to join the police to keep her name alive.' This is the first time Lydia has spoken publicly about her wish to pursue the career that took her mother's life. She told her father two years ago, shortly after West Yorkshire Police presented her with her mother's badge number, 6410, on her 16th birthday.

He hoped it would be a passing fad, like the week she decided to go vegetarian, but it isn't.

'My heart sort of sank when she told me,' says Paul. 'Not because of what she wants to do but because of what's happened.'

Paul Jr continues. 'I've already lost one member of my family, I don't want to lose another.

'I was cross when she told me, but if that's what she wants to do, it's what she wants to do.'

He looks at his father and you sense this is a conversation they have shared many times.

Lydia Beshenivsky, five, the daughter of murdered WPC Sharon Beshenivsky waits to present flowers to the Queen in Bradford in 2005

WPC Theresa Milburn, who was shot in the attack that killed her colleague Sharon, leads the funeral procession in 2005

Forensic investigators are pictured at the scene of PC Beshenivsky's murder in Bradford in 2005

A keen equestrian like her mother, Lydia achieved a distinction in her Level 2 Horse Care and Management diploma and is now completing Level 3.

Last summer she attended West Yorkshire Police's Mounted Section in Wakefield for a week's work experience and has now set her heart on joining them.

'I worked as a groom for a week and it just opened my eyes. I thought, 'I really want to do this.' Now I can't wait to get that uniform on,' she says.

'When I see photos of my mum I feel proud to say she was my mum because she looked after her community. Now I just want to follow in her footsteps.'

Sharon Beshenivsky's widower Paul is pictured with their two children Paul Junior and Lydia in an undated photo

You can see why her dad worries. Paul would do anything to protect his children. He says telling them and their half-brother Samuel, 27  Sharon's son from a previous relationship  that their mother was not coming home was the hardest thing he has ever done. Paul says: 'What I find bizarre is I've lost my mother and my father but when I see pictures of them I don't feel sadness.

'Yet, with Sharon, even when I talk about her now, I fill up. It's 15 years on and it's still raw.'

He wells up as he says this. 'I don't like speaking about it because I don't want to promote sadness. I went to therapy after it happened.

'This therapist must have been 25. I said to her: 'Have you ever lost anybody in your life?' She hadn't. I said, 'how can you sit there and tell me what I should and shouldn't be doing?' That's when our conversation ended.

'She wrote her notes up and I got to read her report. She wrote, 'mentally unstable' and highlighted it.

This 'spray and pray' MAC-10 sub-machine gun was used at the scene of PC Beshenivsky's murder

'Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe it's just the way I deal with things  brush it under the carpet. I think it's because every time it's brought up you go back to that moment and relive it. When I saw the police car at the top of the drive, I thought it was her coming home.

'That was the start,' he says. 'The biggest thing that sticks in my mind is thinking how the hell I was going to explain it to them all. Obviously I had to do it. I couldn't get someone else to do it, but I just didn't know what to say or how they were going to react.' The children screamed, shouted, sobbed. Lydia says she cried because her brother wept, Paul Jr because his father was in pieces and his dad because . . . well, who wouldn't sob to hear a four-year-old girl asking her Daddy what it felt like to die.

'We weren't the easiest kids to control. I remember when you were little you were quite an angry child,' Lydia says to her brother. 'Dad bought him a big teddy. He used to tie it to the bed, destroy it, punch it  everything.'

Sharon Beshenivsky is pictured smiling in a black dress (left) while her colleague PC Theresa Milburn is seen (right) looking emotional on the day of her funeral after she survived the attack that killed her colleague

'I can remember the day it happened like it was yesterday,' says Paul Jr, who works with his father in his building and landscaping company. 'I remember being picked up from school, going home. Dad telling me, Lydia and Sam what had happened.

'I didn't understand what with being so young. 'What do you mean she's not coming home?' He said she was a star in heaven.

'I've not cried for a long time until recently but I used to cry every night or at least every week. I was just missing her. It wasn't where is she, but why? 'Why her? Why can't you be here now?'

'It was hard,' says their father, who admits he was probably over-protective over the years. 'You want the best for your children but you can't save them from that pain.I wanted to take them away from society because I didn't like what society was doing. In reality I took them away from growing up in a sense because I put them in a little bubble and sort of kept them in it.

Piran Ditta Khan, 71, who was wanted by police in connection with the murder of PC Sharon Beshenivsky has been arrested in Pakistan

Three men - Muzzaker Imtiaz Shah (right), Mustaf Jama (left) and his younger brother Yusuf Jama (right) - were all given minimum 35-year jail sentences for her murder

'Certain things we laugh about now.' Paul looks at his son.

'He was in his teens when he went swimming with a couple of his mates . . . '

Both Lydia and Paul Jr, who are familiar with this story, laugh. 'What were you, about 14? He didn't know how to get home so he went to the local Morrisons and said, 'I'm lost.' They rang the police who rang me. When I spoke to him I said, 'where are you?' He said, 'Morrisons', as if there was only one in the whole country.'

Lydia looks at her father fondly. 'He's always been protective. I think it was for the best given what was going on. It felt safer at the farm.'

Police officers killed in their line of duty in Britain PC Yvonne Fletcher, 25, was shot dead outside the Libyan Embassy in London on 17 April 1984. PC Keith Blakelock, 40, was attacked with machetes during the Broadwater Farm riots in London in October 1985. PC Ian Broadhurst, 34, shot dead in Leeds by David Bieber, wanted by FBI in American for two killings in the USA, on December 26 2003 PC Sharon Beshenivsky, 38,was shot dead by a gang during an armed robbery in Bradford on 18 November 2005. PC Nicola Hughes, 23, and PC Fiona Bone, 32, were killed in a gun and grenade attack carried out by Dale Cregan during an armed robbery in Mottram on September 18 2012. PC Phillippa Reynolds, 27, died in the passenger seat of her police car in Londonderry, when it was crashed into by a stolen car driven by two men on 9 February 2013. PC David Phillips, 34, died after being run over by a stolen pick-up truck in Wallasey on 5 October 2015 PC Keith Palmer, 48, was stabbed to death by terrorist Khalid Masood while he was on-duty outside the Palace of Westminster on March 22 2017. PC Andrew Harper, 28, was run over after he was called to a burglary in Berkshire on August 15 2019. Advertisement

The 'farm' was on the moors above Halifax where I first met this family shortly after Sharon's murder. Paul was devastated. He couldn't stop sobbing, couldn't sleep and was dousing his terrible grief in whisky.

You couldn't help but worry that this family would ever find happiness again in such misery until Paul met Michelle Sherbourne, 49, a child-minder, and single mother of two children, Jade, now 29, and Jack, 24.

Some time after Sharon's death she began child-minding, cooking and generally running the home  and she and Paul fell in love.

Within a year family meals were eaten round a polished oak table in a kitchen with a cream Aga and a tapestry that read 'Home Sweet Home.'

Michelle is a cheerful, generous-hearted woman who doled out discipline and cuddles to the children in equal measure.

They were a family again. She taught Lydia to tie her laces, ride her bike and chased away the nightmares that disturbed the children's sleep. 'Michelle didn't give birth to us but she treated us like her own,' says Paul Jr. Lydia agrees. 'She was a mum,' she says.

Michelle and Paul became engaged in 2009 and married four years ago. For some, particularly Sharon's family and close friends, the relationship was conducted with indecent haste.

For Paul and his children it was a godsend. He was terrified it would be snatched from him. The family sold their farm and moved to their present semi-detached home near Bradford three years ago.

It's one of two houses Paul and his son have built on plot of land and is 'a stepping stone'. They miss the farm terribly.

'Lydia's always been into her horses. I promoted it because it kept her in her little bubble and off the streets.

'She had to get up at the crack of dawn to sort them out and lived and breathed horses.' 'Horses are my happy place,' Lydia says.

The funeral cortege of PC Sharon Beshenivsky is pictured as her colleagues salute the vehicle

Officers are pictured patrolling floral tributes laid where PC Sharon Beshenivsky was gunned down in Bradford in 2005

'I used to take myself off to see the horses and I'd feel better. I'd talk to a horse as if it were my mum. I'd have liked to do the horses with her.'

Paul's face is full of love for his daughter. 'I suppose she'll be sitting on a great big animal. It's not like she'll be walking the streets or going into people's houses.

'I'd like to keep her in a safe bubble but she's growing up. She's finding her own world out there.

'I don't know if that's good or bad but it's what she wants.'
live bse live

nse live Volume Todays L/H More 

Here are some stocks that are in the news today:

Results: UltraTech Cement, AAVAS Financiers, Agri- Tech (India), Allsec Technologies, Atul, Bank of Baroda, Indian Bank, JSW Steel, Mangalam Drugs And Organics, Oriental Hotels, Prestige Estates Projects and Techindia Nirman are among the companies that will release their December quarter numbers on January 24.

Indiabulls Ventures Q3: Consolidated net profit down 13.7 percent at Rs 104 crore versus Rs 120.4 crore, revenue up 53.1 percent at Rs 866.8 crore versus Rs 566 crore, YoY

Zensar Tech Q3: Net profit down 50.6 percent at Rs 39.5 crore versus Rs 79.9 crore, revenue down 4.8 percent at Rs 1,020.6 crore versus Rs 1,072.3 crore, QoQ

Biocon Q3: Net profit down 6.6 percent at Rs 202.8 crore versus Rs 217.2 crore, revenue up 13.5 percent at Rs 1,748.1 crore versus Rs 1,540.8 crore, YoY

Indiabulls Housing Finance: Foreign brokerage and wealth management firm Credit Suisse bought 22,93,306 shares of Indiabulls Housing Finance through a bulk deal on NSE on January 23, data showed.

Allahabad Bank: The board of the bank will meet on January 24 to consider and approve the preferential issue of shares.

Birla Precision Tech: The board of the company will meet on January 24 to consider and approve the preferential issue of shares among others.

Muthoot Finance: The company will consider & approve fundraising by way of public issue of redeemable NCDs.

Godrej Properties launches Godrej RKS at RK Studios, Chembur, Mumbai

GHCL: The company approved buyback of equity shares aggregating to Rs 60 crore.

Cholamandalam Investment: The company has approved equity shares on a preferential basis to the promoter not exceeding Rs 300 crore.

Paisalo Digital board meeting on January 28 to consider and approve the offer of issue of redeemable unlisted unsecured NCDs on the private placement basis

Coffee Day entered into the definitive agreement to sell Way2Wealth Securities including its certain subsidiaries to Shriram Ownership Trust

Nippon Life AMC: The company has sought SEBI's nod for the seventh tranche of CPSE ETF. The company's Q3 PAT jumped 36 percent.

Info Edge: The company informed it has set up an alternative investment fund named Info Edge Venture Fund. The objective of the fund is to invest in tech and tech-enabled entities that provide technology to create, market and distribute innovative products and services that benefit consumers at large, said the company.

ITI: The company said it intends to raise about Rs 1,400 crore of which Rs 607 crore shall be utilised for repaying loans.

KEI Industries - Fund Raising Committee passes resolution for raising of funds by way of issue of equity shares, through a QIP

Persistent Systems and ValidSoft deliver new secure digital voice authentication capabilities for banking and credit unions

Sadhana Nitrochem board meeting on January 31 to consider the proposal of sub-division of equity shares

KPI Global bags an order for executing solar power project of 2.250MW capacity under CPP category

Indian Oil Corporation clarified that the company has entered into an MoU with National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Ghana

HFCL - Greenfield Optical Fibre manufacturing facility at Telangana, Hyderabad has been commissioned

Adani Power - CARE revised long term bank facilities rating to CARE BBB-; stable from CARE BB+; stable

Olectra Greentechs arm received letters of award for deployment of 555 Electric Buses from 8 Cities/ State transport authorities under FAME-II scheme of government of India

JK Lakshmi Cement board will consider raising funds via external commercial borrowings on January 28

CG Power - Public Prosecutor filed for Bankruptcy of companys two Belgium arms, hearing fixed on February 3

Century Textiles board to consider issue of NCDs on private placement basis for an amount up to Rs 400 crore

GAIL filed application with Supreme Court seeking clarification towards Annual License Fees
WorldRemit highlights the impact of international money transfer in making education available globally

To mark the UNESCO International Day of Education today, leading digital money transfer company WorldRemit is highlighting the impact of international money transfer in making education available globally. WorldRemit customers transfer money on a daily basis, allowing their friends and family across the globe access to education where they otherwise wouldn't have it.

A survey conducted by WorldRemit1 in 2019 found that among its customers in US, UK, Canada and Germany, 43% send money abroad for education purposes. In regions where education is less than universally available, the survey shows a greater number of senders provide funds for education. In the Philippines, WorldRemit data2 shows that 42% of recipients use the money they receive for education. In Africa, that figure is even higher at 54%.

The money sent by WorldRemit customers is often used for education-related expenses that many take for granted in the UK. Data from a 2017 WorldRemit poll3 showed that 90% of the recipients surveyed used the money they received for education to pay for school fees. But using the money to fund essentials was also high on the list: nearly 70% used the money to pay for uniforms, and 46% used it to pay for school meals.

According to UNESCO 258 million children and youth globally do not attend school at all4. In a survey conducted last year, WorldRemit found that around 3.5 million children are kept in school each year thanks to remittances, demonstrating the huge importance of making international cross-border payments as simple, affordable and secure as possible.

Sophie Krishnan, Chief Operating Officer at WorldRemit said: "Education is for many people the path to a better life, more secure and fulfilling. Many people in the world send money internationally to support their children, their families, and educational institutions. We see it every day, many of our WorldRemit customers are working generous people who know education is critical."

WorldRemit customer case study Anne, Uganda

Anne has lived in the UK for thirty years, after moving from Uganda to do her A-levels. Although she was already donating money to charities based in the UK, she decided that she wanted to do something that would make a real difference in her home country of Uganda, but would be a manageable project.

"I thought, why not do some work there too?" she asks. "I couldn't really afford to do much here in the UK, it would have had to be a big project, and this seemed like something that would make a difference, and fortunately, it is."

With her cousin Florence's help, over the last four years, Anne has helped start-up businesses, and is currently supporting two girls through school.

"A couple of years ago," she says, "I wanted to help some disadvantaged girls in Uganda, who weren't studying, to go to school. My cousin knew some people I could help, and there are two girls I send money to now. One had been abandoned by her parents and was living with her grandmother, and the other one, her family couldn't really afford to feed her. Now they live with my cousin and her family. They are both twelve years old, so next year they would have been married off, and now that won't happen, and they'll stay in school instead."

As well as sending the girls to school, Anne's gifting provides the girls with care they weren't receiving at home, and with essentials, like stationery. With her help, the girls are thriving.

"It took one of the girls two years to smile. Now she's constantly smiling. Seeing that is the biggest thing, really."

Anne uses WorldRemit to send money back home, because, she says, "Worldremit was the easiest thing to use. I used to send transfers with MoneyGram and Western Union, but the fees were so high."

She uses WorldRemit because the money is easy for her to send, and easy for Florence to receive. "I can do it on my phone, and it's there in seconds. They get a text and you get a text and you know that the money has been received. It's so convenient. The money goes on to my cousin's phone, so she's got a balance and she can withdraw it when she needs to. She just goes to a kiosk. That was an advantage, too, because she used to have to travel to an agent, whereas the mobile money kiosks are all around."

She's also keen to see her community at home growing. "One person wanted to start a hair salon/barbershop, and so sending him money to secure the first three months rent also gave him a bit of time to start the business. He's doing quite well now!"

Anne visits Uganda regularly, and says, "growing up in Africa where people sometimes don't have a lot, sending 30 or 40 sometimes really makes a lot of difference. And you can see the impact. I can go and see the shop, see the business that someone started. It's nice to give back."

About WorldRemit

WorldRemit has disrupted an industry previously dominated by offline legacy players by taking international money transfers online making them safer, faster and lower-cost. We currently send from 50 to 150 countries, operate in 6,500 money transfer corridors worldwide and employ over 800 people worldwide.

On the sending side WorldRemit is 100% digital (cashless), increasing convenience and enhancing security. For those receiving money, the company offers a wide range of options including bank deposit, cash collection, mobile airtime top-up and mobile money.

Backed by Accel, TCV and Leapfrog WorldRemit's headquarters are in London, UK with a global presence in the United States, Canada, South Africa, Japan, Singapore, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand.

1Survey based on 1374 WorldRemit customers (Senders) across US, UK, CAN, GER and AUS in July 2019

2 Study carried out across 16 markets with 2,000 senders in the US, UK, Canada and Germany and 1,050 recipients in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana and Philippines

3 Survey of 3,539 WorldRemit senders sending to 12 different countries conducted in Aug 2017

4 Data from UNESCO International Day of Education

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200124005023/en/

Contacts:

Powerscourt

Christine Longworth Jack Shelley

020 7250 1446

Christine.longworth@powerscourt-group.com jack.shelley@powerscourt-group.com
One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021
DENVER, Pa., Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Gold and silver may set the standard for commodities on Wall Street, but medieval steel was the metal that ruled the day on January 16 at Morphy's $2.3 million auction of the Susquehanna Collection. To the delight of a packed house that had gathered to bid on a 40-year collection of early Pennsylvania antiques and European heirlooms, a rare and outstanding early 16th-century composite suit of armor with royal provenance claimed top-lot honors at $270,600.

Circa 1510-1520 composite Maximilian suit of armor, assembled in the early 1920s from period pieces (some with royal provenance) by Met curator Dr. Bashford Dean, first president of the Arms & Armor Society. Sold for $270,600 Circa-1740 Philadelphia tall-case 8-day moon-phase clock signed by Peter Stretch. Earliest known clock of its type with ogee feet. Sold for $166,050, more than twice the high estimate

"The suit of armor was a constant source of interest in the run-up to the sale and a very popular attraction at the preview," said Morphy Auctions founder and president Dan Morphy. "We were contacted by collectors from all over the world who wanted to bid on it. They were very familiar with its provenance and importance."

The circa-1510 to 1520 Maximilian suit of armor, which is similar to an example shown in a book published by the Metropolitan Museum of Art titled Of Arms and Men: Arms and Armor at the Metropolitan 1912-2012, was assembled in the 1920s by Dr. Bashford Dean (1867-1928). Dr. Dean, who was the first president of the Arms & Armor Society and first curator of the Arms & Armor Gallery at The Met, used period elements in composing the historically accurate 75-inch-tall suit. Some of the components came from the distinguished collections of Carl, Prince of Prussia and the Princes Radziwill, Nieswiez Castle, Lithuania. Its pre-auction estimate was $75,000-$150,000.

The 219-lot Susquehanna Collection boasted many exceptional, historically significant 18th-century firearms. A pair of Revolutionary War flintlock pistols dated and marked for its original owner, "Robert Roberts 1775," had once been owned by R.H. Coleman, president of Remington Arms Co., and appeared in the July 1972 issue of The American Rifleman. Roberts served in the militia and participated in several engagements in Maryland, as well as at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown in Pennsylvania. The coveted guns, which were accompanied by extensive documentation, sold above estimate for $110,700.

Leading the selection of first-rate Kentucky rifles was a Jacob Kuntz (1780-1876) design with the Pennsylvania State Seal on its patchbox. Described by Dan Morphy as "undoubtedly one of the finest rifles Kuntz ever made," it was crafted in Philadelphia but displayed many of the Lehigh Valley characteristics typical of firearms Kuntz made while learning his trade in Allentown, Pa. It sold above estimate for $61,500. Another standout was a beautifully relief-carved Revolutionary War-era flintlock Kentucky rifle signed "J. Ferree," referring to a Lancaster County, Pa., gunsmith who produced guns and gun barrels under government commission during the Revolutionary War. Among its highly attractive embellishments are fleurs-de-lis, possibly a tribute to Ferree's French Huguenot ancestry. The rifle surpassed its estimate to reach $55,350.

An incredible collection of 18th-century powder horns was offered, none more profusely decorative than the 1763 example engraved with a map of Havana and such landmarks and sites as "Mooro" (Morro) Castle and Shepherds Battrey (Battery). Attributed to a British corporal posted in St. Augustine, Florida, during the French & Indian War and a presumed participant in the Battle of Havana, it sold for $50,430.

There was strong competition for a circa-1740 Philadelphia tall-case 8-day moon-phase clock made by Peter Stretch. The earliest known example of a clock with ogee feet, it more than doubled its high estimate, reaching $166,050.

To discuss consigning to a future Morphy Auctions Americana, Firearms or Fine & Decorative Arts sale, call Dan Morphy at 877-968-8880 or email [email protected] Online: www.morphyauctions.com.

Media Contact:

Dan Morphy

877-968-8880

[email protected]

SOURCE Morphy Auctions

Related Links

http://www.morphyauctions.com


Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom (left) and Harry Dunns mother Charlotte Charles outside South Northamptonshire Council offices in Towcester, after they met following the news that the US have refused to extradite Anne Sacoolas who is charged with causing his death in a road collision outside RAF Croughton in August last year.

The Prime Minister is said to be very much on the side of Harry Dunns family after the US secretary of state refused to return the suspect charged with causing the teenagers death to the UK.

Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom met Harrys family on Friday after she held talks with US ambassador Woody Johnson, the commander of RAF Croughton Colonel Bridget McNamara and the Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police.

The 19-year-old died when his motorbike crashed into a car outside RAF Croughton in August last year.

Mrs Leadsom, addressing what she said to the US ambassador, expressed her disappointment on behalf of Harrys family, and also for the local community near to the RAF Croughton base.

Its very concerning that this, which was at its heart a tragic road accident  which does unfortunately happen all the time, right across the world  but in this instance, the fact that there is no justice for Harry makes the pain of losing him so much worse and thats what we have to address, she said.

Asked if Boris Johnson would comment on the case, Ms Leadsom, the constituency MP for Harrys family, said: The Prime Minister is very much on the side of the family in their desire to see justice done for Harry. All of us in Government are working to that end.

Of the meeting with Harrys family, she said: Weve been talking about the frustrating news that the extradition was refused yesterday by the US government.

Obviously Harrys family are disappointed and very upset by that, but equally very determined that the driver of the car that killed Harry Dunn should be brought back to the United Kingdom to face justice. We are absolutely united in our determination to get justice for Harry.

Expand Close Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom and Harry Dunns mother Charlotte Charles after their meeting (Jacob King/PA Wire) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom and Harry Dunns mother Charlotte Charles after their meeting (Jacob King/PA Wire)

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab appeared to suggest he would have agreed to extradite 42-year-old Anne Sacoolas if he was put in the same position as Mike Pompeo.

Mr Raab said the rejection of an extradition request for her amounts to a denial of justice and that the Foreign Office believes she should return to the UK.

The teenagers parents have welcomed the support from the Foreign Office but have said their decision to continue to defend legal proceedings against them is a huge arm around the US governments position.

Expand Close Harrys mother Charlotte Charles, his stepfather Bruce Charles, family spokesman Radd Seiger, father Tim Dunn and stepmother Tracey Dunn (David Mirzoeff/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp Harrys mother Charlotte Charles, his stepfather Bruce Charles, family spokesman Radd Seiger, father Tim Dunn and stepmother Tracey Dunn (David Mirzoeff/PA)

Charlotte Charles and Tim Dunn said Mr Raab will effectively make us bankrupt after insisting the family pay legal costs for the judicial review which challenges the diplomatic immunity granted to Mrs Sacoolas following the crash.

Mr Dunns parents were informed of Mr Pompeos decision to refuse the request in a phone call with Ms Leadsom, on Thursday.

Lawyers acting for the Dunn family have said it is the first time in the 100-year history of the extradition treaty that such a request has been turned down by the US.

A spokesman for the US State Department said the request was rejected because it would render the invocation of diplomatic immunity a practical nullity and set an extraordinarily troubling precedent.

Mrs Sacoolas, 42, claimed diplomatic immunity following the crash and was able to return to her home country, sparking an international controversy.

The Foreign Office maintains the suspect had diplomatic immunity, which has been disputed by the family, but Mr Raab said he would look to resolve the issue surrounding any immunity given to staff at the base.

The Foreign Secretary said he expressed his disappointment at the decision to refuse the extradition request to the US ambassador on Friday.

I have just called the US Ambassador to express the Govts disappointment about the US extradition decision on Harry Dunns case. We feel this amounts to a denial of justice, and that Anne Sacoolas should return to the UK. We are now urgently considering our options.  Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) January 24, 2020

I called the US ambassador earlier to express the Governments disappointment about this decision, he said.

We feel this amounts to a denial of justice and we believe Anne Sacoolas should return to the UK. We are now urgently considering our options.

I also explained that the UK would have acted differently if this had been a UK diplomat serving in the US.

Harrys father Tim Dunn described the meeting with Mrs Leadsom as promising and added: Some things we agree on and some things we dont agree on. But I feel like shes behind us, I really do.

The teenagers mother Charlotte Charles said, referring to Mrs Sacoolas: She has to come back. I still dont understand how she can even live with herself and carry on with her life and drive.

I dont understand that, she must be made of different stuff to us, I dont know. But she has to come back, one way or another.
Photo credit: SEBASTIAN KAULITZKI - Getty Images

From Popular Mechanics

Scientists have unearthed 28 previously undiscovered viruses, which were trapped in Arctic ice from 15,000 years ago.

The team collected the samples from the Guliya ice cap in Tibet, and published their work to the pre-print website, BioRxiv.

As Arctic ice and permafrost continues to thaw, scientists are concerned that ancient pathogens and toxic chemicals may be released into the environment.

It's the stuff of a Stephen King novel.

Researchers from China and the U.S. embarked on a field trip to Tibet in 2015, and discovered 28 previously undiscovered virus groupsin a melting glacier. They recently detailed their findings in a paper posted to the non-peer reviewed pre-print website bioRxiv.

The researchers drilled a 164-foot hole into the glacier, gathered two ice core samples from the 15,000-year-old glacier, and then later identified them in a lab. In total, they identified 33 virus groups28 of which were completely new to science.

Scientists are racing the clock to collect, identify, and catalogue the microbes found in ancient ice. Having a record of these bacteria, viruses, and fungi paints a sharper picture of our prehistoric past and could be valuable for use in studying future pathogens. Meltwater from Arctic ice could ferry harmful pathogens along streams, rivers, and other important waterways, potentially exposing humans to new microbes, the researchers report.

Of course, ice isn't the only thing that's melting in the Arctic. Thawing permafrost creates its own unique set of challenges.

Gases like methane and carbon dioxide, which have been trapped in the long-frozen earth, are being released into the atmosphere at alarming rates. Permafrost houses twice as much carbon than what's currently found in the atmosphere, climate change scientist Sue Natali of the Woods Hole Research Center told the BBC.

In recent years, researchers have pulled samples of smallpox, Spanish flu, bubonic plague, and even anthrax from thawing permafrost. Scientists have also found harmful pollutants, such as mercury, trapped in the reservoirs beneath Alaskan permafrost.

Story continues

Photo credit: Cultura RM Exclusive/Tim E White - Getty Images

And then there's the structural damages associated with the thawing permafrost. Swedish Nuclear Waste Management, a company that stores Sweden, Finland, and Canada's spent nuclear fuel atop permafrost, has joined other norther facilities to address future thawing. Any slumping or sagging could potentially jeopardize the structural integrity of the agency's nuclear waste containment system.

Countless other buildings and even Alaskan cemeteries (!) are in jeopardy of structural damage wrought by destabilized permafrost. In 2017, the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a massive plant seed repository on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen, flooded after the permafrost on which it was built began to sag.

While scientists have discovered a seemingly endless series of terrifying plagues, diseases, and chemicals in thawing permafrost and melting ice, there's a very, very thin silver lining. The great thaw has also revealed long-lost treasures from an earlier time.

In 2018, scientists discovered an ancient 18,000-year-old doggo (okay, it's probably a wolf) trapped in permafrost just outside of the Siberian capital, Yakutsk. It still had a lush, velvety coat. Researchers have also unearthed mammoths, more wolves, and arctic mummies.

You Might Also Like
COLUMBUS, Ohio  The Columbus Police Department has fired two police officers and suspended two others for their actions during the arrest of adult film star Stormy Daniels during an appearance in 2018.

ABC 6 reports officers Stephen Rosser and Whitney Lancaster were fired Thursday. Lt. Ron Kemmerling was suspended for 240 hours and Sgt. Scott Soha was suspended for 120 hours, WBNS Channel 10 reports.

Daniels, who says she had an affair with Donald Trump before he was president, was arrested in July 2018 while appearing at Sirens Gentlemens Club in Columbus. Daniels was accused of inappropriately touching customers. She claimed the arrest was politically motivated.

Columbus city attorney later dropped the misdemeanor charges against Daniels and two others arrested the same night. An investigation conducted by the police departments internal affairs unit did not sustain an allegation of political motivation by the officers involved, but investigators found the arrest was improper.

In November, the city agreed to pay Daniels $450,000 to settle a lawsuit resulting from her arrest. Trumps lawyers are trying to get $293,000 from the settlement for lawyers fees and sanctions for a defamation lawsuit she filed against the president. Daniels former lawyer, Michael Avenatti, has filed a lien that says Daniels owes him more than $2 million for fees and expenses for when he represented her.

To comment on this story, visit Thursdays crime and courts comments page.

Read more crime stories:

Former Ohio TV weatherman to plead guilty to child-porn charges

3-year-old boy accidentally shot self in Cleveland, police say

Warrant issued for man who stopped at McDonalds between police chases in Cleveland

Man attacked woman in robbery attempt at Cleveland RTA station

Armed robber stole $8,000 from man who drove him home from JACK Cleveland Casino, records say

Kurt Sovas mysterious 1981 death in Newburgh Heights the subject of upcoming CrowdSolve event in Chicago

More than 20 loaded guns, 3 swords stolen in Cleveland burglary, police say
New Delhi, Jan 24 : The Congress has released the names of 40 star campaigners for the Delhi polls which includes all former MPs, except Sandeep Dikshit, son of three-time Chief Minister, late Sheila Dikshit.

Talking to IANS, Dikshit without naming anyone, said "some leaders in AICC are not comfortable with me and I have serious differences with them that is why my name has been kept out from the list of star campaigners." With the party banking on the work done by Sheila Dikshit but ignoring her two-time MP son in the list of campaigners, has raised eyebrows within the party as Sandeep Dikshit's supporters are miffed with the party leadership.

Though away from active campaigning Sandeep Dikshit has started a video series on Delhi and has been questioning the AAP and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal through his "Kaam Ki Baat" videos.

Sandeep and supporters of Sheila Diskhit have been at loggerheads with party's Delhi in-charge P.C. Chacko and sought his removal.

However, these leaders are also not contesting Delhi polls with many refusing to contest though Mangat Ram Singhal was keen but was denied a ticket, said sources.

A close aide of Sandeep Diskshit said when the party's whole campaign is based on the work done by Sheila Dikshit as chief minister then how can the party ignore Sandeep who has been vocal against the AAP and BJP.
With over thirty years of experience in Turkey, we have a broad understanding of the local market.

Our clients include leading Turkish and international corporates, banks and financial institutions, investors and government entities. Our high-profile domestic and international work has built our market-leading reputation and we combine our vast experience in the Turkish market with the reach and resources of the firms international network.

We keep a long-standing commitment to Turkey that has given us a deep understanding of the Turkish market and unparalleled expertise in relation to cross-border transactions. After more than 30 years of advising domestic and international clients on Turkey related matters, we have been operating on the ground in Istanbul since 2011, first in cooperation with Yegin Ciftci Attorney Partnership and then with CIFTCI Attorney Partnership.

Our Istanbul office focuses on a wide range of infrastructure, energy, finance, capital markets and M&A work where Clifford Chance and CIFTCI Attorney Partnership already enjoy a strong reputation.

A local presence and established relations with key players in the Turkish market are key for successfully completing transactions. We have built our capability to match our clients' business needs work in a wide range of industries, operate all over the world, and need to act decisively when opportunities or issues arise. We meet these needs with our top-grade experience, technical skills and on the ground capability. We use our industry experience, global reach and innovative thinking to help them reach their business goals.

We know how to use the right resources to get the best results for clients on domestic matters and on international transactions where we regularly form extended teams with colleagues from our international network. We have close working-relationships with colleagues from around the globe to deliver practical advice on complex issues. We use our international reach, technical excellence and client-friendly approach to deliver complex transactions and build longstanding client relationships.

Our English law capability and, through CIFTCI Attorney Partnership, our local law expertise, sets us apart in the Turkish market. Our ability to offer both Turkish and English law advice in one single firm streamlines the process for our clients and provides significant efficiency savings. Our lawyers have excellent knowledge of local market trends and practice. We are the go-to law firm for banking and finance, project finance, mergers and acquisitions and capital markets.

We take a one firm approach to our clients' needs with integrated cross-practice and cross-border teams working together to achieve success. We know how to make our resources, which include 3,400 lawyers across our international network, work for all our clients and can call on the specialised skills of globally-recognised, top-ranked lawyers to help them reach their business goals. Our lawyers have first-hand experience of the technical and practical aspects of the Turkish market and are familiar with international best practice, used to complexity and to working in extended teams.
Nearly three dozen US troops suffered traumatic brain injuries or concussion in the recent Iranian air strike on a military base in Iraq housing American personnel, the Pentagon said on Friday.

"Thirty-four total members have been diagonosed with concussions and TBI (traumatic brain injury)," Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman told reporters.

US President Donald Trump had initially said that no Americans were injured in the strike on the Ain al-Asad base in western Iraq earlier this month although authorities later reported that 11 troops were injured.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
EDWARDSVILLE  There was a sea of white coats in the audience Thursday afternoon at the Meridian Ballroom in the Morris Conference Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and for good reason.

Dozens of SIUE School of Pharmacy students were among the hundreds of students on hand as Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker announced the release of $10,537,000 in funds to create preliminary designs for a health sciences complex on the campus.

The complex, which will be located off University Park Drive near the School of Pharmacy, will span approximately 221,000 square feet. The projects total cost is approximately $105 million. It would be the largest building on the SIUE campus.

With this investment, were giving SIUEs current and future students a world class education in a world class facility, and were providing employers with world class talent from one of our states greatest institutions, Pritzker said. The future of our state is in education. The choices that we make about our schools now will determine the quality of our future.

The health sciences complex will provide modern classrooms, teaching and research laboratories, faculty offices, administrative spaces and student resource and study spaces.

The project consists of a one-year design process and is anticipated to be followed by a two-year construction timeline.

If everything goes well, we would move into the building by the fall of 2023, SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook said. Otherwise, the fall of 2024 might be a possibility. If we get full funding soon at the end of the design phase, we could move right into construction.

SIUE operates a School of Pharmacy (SOP), a School of Nursing (SON), a School of Dental Medicine (SDM) in Alton, and related health sciences programs in various disciplines to serve central and southern Illinois. Currently, the SOP is primarily located in three buildings in University Park, while the SON is housed in Alumni Hall within the campus core. The SDM will remain in Alton.

The new building will allow the School of Pharmacy, the School of Nursing and the related health sciences to operate in the same facility.

To have a building of this size means that we can those various schools and departments all there together, Pembrook said. Health care delivery has moved more and more to a model of working in teams. When youre taking care of a patient and doctors are talking to nurses and therapists, to be able to have those individuals working together and learning together in a building of this size, its incredibly exciting.

Pritzker believes the new building will be another huge step forward for SIUE.

Already SIUE has made a name for itself with its health sciences programs from the standalone schools of Pharmacy, Nursing and Dental Medicine to the programs in public health and exercise science and nutrition, just to name a few, Pritzker said. It will build on the way that those programs are integrated, allowing students and professors to learn together in various disciplines in a collaborative space.

Perhaps just as importantly, this building will increase the School of Nursings enrollment capacity at a crucial moment. Illinois faces a nursing shortage across a number of specialties and that means that the students who learn at this facility will be preparing for good-paying jobs in a field that is growing.

The release in funding for the Health Sciences Building is part of a $45 billion bipartisan capital bill that was passed by the Illinois legislature last May.

You vote for these things to address infrastructure needs in your area, State Representative Jay Hoffman said. There was a time during the session where some people were saying we cant do this, and well just use the money for roads and bridges. Were going to address the road and bridge needs of this state, but were going to make a commitment to higher education.

Among the speakers on Thursday was Jessica Hammel, a senior nursing student from Carlyle and a Lincoln Laureate.

Hammel expressed her appreciation to the governor for the funding of the new facility.

This new building will provide SIUE nursing, pharmacy and applied health students the opportunity to learn professional skills in an innovative, state-of-the-art simulation laboratory and learning center, to engage in interprofessional education and to participate in biomedical and clinical research, all with the goal of enhancing collaboration among the health professions, Hammel said.

Students from the southern Illinois region and beyond will be eager to attend this school at SIUE in a new modern facility, specifically with the goal of attracting more nursing students and to address the shortage of RNs in the rural and southern regions. Our undergraduate, graduate and professional students alike will reap the benefits of this new learning center.

SIU System Board of Trustees Chair J. Phil Gilbert released a statement following Pritzkers announcement of the health sciences complex.

Capital infrastructure investment is critical for the long-term success of the Southern Illinois University System and the thousands of students, who do and will one day call a SIU campus home, Gilbert said. On behalf of the Board of Trustees and everyone at SIU Edwardsville, I want to personally thank Governor Pritzker for this first release of capital dollars that will allow us to begin construction of the Health Sciences Building.

For many SIUE administrators, faculty and stuff, the announcement of a health sciences complex is the culmination of a years-long effort to provide such a facility.

Before SIUE experienced significant expansion in the health sciences, our faculty and administrators envisioned a future building that could enrich our programs, create synergies in the health sciences, and expand our capacity to serve our students and the needs of our region, said Denise Cobb, SIUE provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs. Our nursing and pharmacy programs have thrived and grown since those initial conversations. Their students and alumnis impact on the region continue to be significant.

Vice Chancellor for Administration Rich Walker said traditional SIUE design elements will be considered for the HSB design.

Red brick towers, glass curtain walls, and tan colored bands reflect the existing campus design theme, Walker said.

The Illinois Capital Development Board will oversee the projects design and construction in accordance with protocol for state-appropriated capital projects.
"The Last Full Measure" (opening in theaters this weekend) is based on the true story of Air Force pararescue jumper William H. Pitsenbarger's heroism in the Vietnam War and the effort three decades later to posthumously award him the Medal of Honor.

Writer/director Todd Robinson spent decades working to bring this story to the screen and decided to relate the details of Operation Abilene in flashback as a Pentagon staffer learns Pitsenbarger's story while interviewing Army personnel who survived the Easter incident on April 10,1966.

Many believe that the Army brass used Company C as bait that day to draw out enemy forces. The attack went bad very quickly, and an Air Force rescue helicopter arrived to evacuate the wounded. Pitsenbarger volunteered to stay behind to care for the men still in battle.

Pitsenbarger did all he could but, after 90 minutes on the ground, he himself was killed on a day when the unit suffered 80% casualties. The Air Force awarded him a posthumous Air Force Cross, but many of the men who survived that day believed he deserved the Medal of Honor.

We've got an exclusive clip from the movie in which Pentagon staffer Scott Huffman (Sebastian Stan) meets Pitsenbarger's parents (Christopher Plummer and Diane Ladd) in the 1990s and begins to learn their son's story.

It's a compelling but complicated story, and it's not a surprise that Robinson met resistance as he tried to make this movie. Once he got the greenlight, he attracted an all-star cast that includes Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury in the Marvel movies), Sebastian Stan (Winter Soldier in the Marvel movies), William Hurt (Secretary of State Thaddeus Ross in the Marvel movies), Ed Harris ("Apollo 13," "Westworld"), John Savage ("The Deer Hunter"), Christopher Plummer ("Knives Out"), Diane Ladd ("Chinatown," "Wild at Heart"), Amy Madigan ("Field of Dreams") and the late Peter Fonda ("Easy Rider") in his final movie role. That's a cast with 16 Oscar nominations and two wins between them.

Pitsenbarger himself is played by Jeremy Irvine (currently seen in the Bourne-inspired TV series "Treadstone"); the cast also features television stalwarts Bradley Whitford ("The West Wing," "Perfect Harmony"), Linus Roache ("Law & Order") and Michael Imperioli ("The Sopranos"). Finally, we get Marine Corps legend Dale Dye in the role of the United States senator who is critical in the final push to upgrade Pitsenbarger's medal.

Obviously, the actors recognized something that the studios didn't: Pitsenbarger's story is one of the most compelling in U.S. military history and it's one that audiences should know and would most likely respond to.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Samuel L. Jackson and Todd Robinson attends "The Last Full Measure" Atlanta red carpet screening at SCADshow on January 20, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Roadside Attractions)

Robinson visited Atlanta this week to premiere the movie, and he discussed the film with us before the screening.

Military.com: This project has been in the works for a long time, right?

Robinson: In 1999, I was hired to write a script on a project about Air Force pararescue. I visited the PJ schools around the country and, every place I went, these young airmen wanted to make sure I knew the story of William Pitsenbarger's heroism in Vietnam.

At that moment in time, they were getting very close to putting the package before Congress and to have him reconsidered for a Medal of Honor.

It was sort of a two-fister. It was the story. These guys were all behind this because it would mean a lot for their career field. At the time, nobody knows who the PJs were. There are only 600 of them at any given time.

At the end of project, I ended up at Kirtland Air Force Base to witness the graduation of that PJ class. William's father, Frank Pitsenbarger, had been invited to speak, and I had the occasion to listen to him talk as he lamented the things that he never got to see his son do. I lifted some of those lines from that very speech and dropped them into the movie. The big one that Frank mentioned was that he never got to see his son fall in love and have a child of his own because only then could his boy understand how much his father loved him.

When I heard that, I kind of had this epiphany. I flash back to my own dinner table when I was a teenager and watching the Vietnam War play out on the nightly news. My dad was deeply troubled that the war could go long enough that I might get drawn into it.

I didn't really understand those feelings of a parent at that time. But in this moment, during the speech, I flashed on my seven-year-old son. Just the idea of losing a child was so desperately sad to me in that moment that the movie just kind of jelled. I went, "I know what this is. This is a  two-generational movie about men and sons and moms and sons and the people who support our warriors and what it costs them."

Military.com: Your movie takes a pretty tough stand on how uneducated younger Pentagon staff was about Vietnam just a generation later. I understand that Sebastian Stan's character is a stand-in for the audience as he researches the story, but just how much of the version in the movie is literally true and how much is metaphor?

Robinson: There was a young man named Parker Hayes who was not actually working in the Pentagon. He was employed by the Air Force Sergeants Association and the Airmen Memorial Museum. He was a young man tasked with interviewing all these men who served with Pitsenbarger and compiling the package that would eventually go before Congress. And he answered to Whit Peters at the Department of the Air Force.

To me, that was a great way in because, like me and my producing partner Sidney [Sherman], Hayes didn't know anything about this when he started. He was just a researcher.

He was the first guy to go in and actually interview these veterans. And it was the first time they had ever told the story of Operation Abilene. When I met Parker, he gave me that list of people and said, "Go forth and interview these people." That day still remains a powerful trauma in their lives. A lot of the dialogue and the characters, while some are amalgams, are certainly drawn directly from our personal experiences in meeting these men.

[Editor's note: Unfortunately, Parker Hayes died in 1999 and wasn't able to see the movie his research inspired.]

Peter Fonda in "The Last Full Measure" (Photo Credit: Jackson Lee Davis/Courtesy: Roadside Attractions)

Military.com: It really struck me that "The Last Full Measure" ended up being Peter Fonda's last movie. Considering his own role as a '60s counterculture icon and his family's controversial history with the Vietnam War, his performance seemed to have some extra weight.

Robinson: People ask me about that all the time. And it's a great question because it speaks to something bigger that informs the non-homecoming of the Vietnam experience. Because there wasn't a homecoming for those veterans,

Peter, like many people, was against the policy. He was an anti-war activist, and that was his constitutional right. And he was a counterculture icon as well. But the fact is, and this is true not only of Peter but of all the men in this movie who are of that generation, they were all of draftable age. They went to high school with men who got called and went. Some came back, and some came back forever changed, and others didn't come back.

When you look through the prism of time and the context of now five decades since the Pitsenbarger story happened, you understand that we all grow, we all mature, we all find empathy. I think for this generation of actors, apart from wanting to be involved in a great story, they wanted to pay tribute to people that they knew who served and say, "Welcome home" in their own way.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: (L-R) Julian Adams, Todd Robinson, Sebastian Stan, Samuel L. Jackson, John Pighini, and Sidney Sherman attend "The Last Full Measure" Atlanta red carpet screening at SCADshow on January 20, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Roadside Attractions)

Military.com: You've had a very hands-on role in presenting this movie to the military community. Can you tell us about that experience?

Robinson: We started last March in Dayton, Ohio, at the Air Force Museum, which is the very place where Pitsenbarger's family received the Medal of Honor. They have a beautiful IMAX-sized screen, and we had many of the survivors of Operation Abilene plus the Pitsenbarger family. That was a wildly emotional night, as you can imagine. We didn't know how anybody was going to react.

That screening turned out to be wildly successful and emotional. From that point on, Sidney and I have crossed the country many times. I think we've screened the movie close to 60 times now, mostly for military audiences.

It's just been the most amazing experience to not only show the film, but to stay for a Q&A afterward. Audiences are always stunned at the end, as if they can't quite engage for a while. So I've had to learn how to start without a question. By the end of the conversation, people get really emotional because these veterans have been through things you just can't imagine.

We would stay after, and we'd sign posters for anybody who wanted to stay and come up and talk to us. I can't tell you how many people said, "I never understood my father until I saw this movie." Some men would come up and say, "I didn't want to come here today. I'm so glad I did. I have amends to make."

Wives said to us, "He can't even walk up here right now, but I'm here to tell you this changed him." We don't take credit for that. We just feel like we told this story in a context where people can discover themselves in the story and realize that they're not guilty of anything.

We must no longer shame them, and we owe them safe spaces so that they can tell these stories. Because if they don't tell these stories, they're going to be lost and they're never really going to be able to emerge from that isolation of shame.

Walker, Jeremy Irvine and SerDarius Blain in The Last Full Measure. (Wasan Puengprasert/Roadside Attractions)

Military.com: How has your journey in making this film affected you?

Robinson: I now sit on the board of a group called Save a Warrior, which is a suicide prevention nonprofit. We put 12 men and 12 women through separate five-day cohorts where we create that space for them and get them to start talking about not only their wartime trauma, but usually there's pre-trauma, it's sexual abuse, it's all kinds of things that combined with a war experience lead to suicidal ideation.

Save a Warrior was started by an Army veteran named Jake Clark. As of December, we've put over a thousand people through the program over seven years, and we've only lost three. That's awesome. That's pretty amazing.

I went through the program myself. I had to sit in the seat as a witness, as a civilian witness, and it changed my life. It was the most powerful emotional thing I've ever been through as a man. You know, and, uh, you, you just realize that you're, you're surrounded by people who have done really great things.

I feel in debt to that experience. I just want to see these guys heal and have the life that they deserve.
Google has announced that its developer conference will take place between May 12 and May 14.



Cosmos aligned. We'll be back at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View for this year's #GoogleIO on May 12-14! pic.twitter.com/3bZqriaoi1

 Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) January 24, 2020

Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai made the announcement via a tweet. The developer meeting will be held at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California from May 12 to May 14.

Prior to Pichais teaser, Google dropped a puzzle that when solved, would reveal the Google I/O conference dates.

Google is expected to showcase its next Android version, Android 11. While there isnt much known about the new features on Android 11, a recent report hinted support for dark mode scheduling. We can also expect Google to give us more details on the measures it will take for better security and privacy on Android.

Google is also expected to launch the Pixel 4a at the Google I/O 2020. Leaked render images of the Google Pixel 4a show a punch-hole display and a single rear-camera inside a square-shaped module.

Also Read: Here's why you should be excited about the possibility of Pixel 4a launching in India

Apart from these two speculations, Google is also expected to unveil new Nest hardware and some updates on Google Assistant.
CHICO, Calif., Jan. 24, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northern California National Bank (OTC markets: NCNB) reported net income of $2,900,000 for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 compared to $2,293,000 earned in the fiscal year 2018. This is a 26% increase in net income compared to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018. The 2019 fiscal year end pretax net income was $4,053,000, which is a 29% increase from the $3,135,000 earned in the fiscal year 2018.



Financial Highlights for the fiscal year end December 31, 2019

Total assets were $274.9 million at December 31, 2019, a 12% increase from the December 31, 2018 balance of $244.8 million.

Gross Loans totaled $113 million, up 9% from $104 million a year ago.

Deposits increased 12% to a balance of $249 million at December 31, 2019 versus a balance of $223 million in 2018.

Total shareholders equity increased from $21.5 million at December 31, 2018 to $25.4 million in 2019.

The book value per common share was $17.65 at December 31, 2019 compared to $15.05 at December 31, 2018.

The Allowance for Loan Losses was $1.9 million at the end of the fiscal year in 2019 compared to $1.6 million at the end of the fiscal year in 2018.

The Bank continues to have extremely good asset quality, is considered to be well capitalized and exceeds the minimum regulatory capital requirements.

We are very proud of our operating results for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2019, said Todd Lewis, President/CEO. We had many challenges in 2019 as a result of the Camp Fire and other local events. Our employees did an extraordinary job of handling these challenges and performing at an exceptional level. Our Loan Production Office in Sacramento performed well and contributed to the success of the Bank in its first year. Overall, the Bank continues to have a large percentage increase in net income, and good growth in loans and deposits, continued Todd Lewis, President/CEO. We live in an amazing community. Our customers, employees, Board members and shareholders all contribute greatly to our success.

Located at the corner of 7th Avenue and Mangrove, Northern California National Bank is a locally owned and operated bank servicing the needs of the businesses and individuals in Northern California since March 2006. The Bank has a full service branch in Chico, CA and a Loan Production Office in Sacramento, CA. For more information call (530) 879-5900 or visit the website at www.norcalbank.com .
A ustralian wildfires will help push up CO2 levels in the atmosphere to new highs in 2020, the Met Office has warned.

Its annual forecast for concentrations of the key greenhouse gas in the atmosphere predicts 2020 will see one of the highest annual increases in levels since records began.

This year levels of carbon dioxide are set to rise by 2.7 parts per million compared to 2019, averaging 414 parts per million in the atmosphere over the year - even higher above pre-industrial levels of around 280 parts per million.

Levels are set to remain above 410 parts per million throughout the year for the first time, the Met Office said.

Australia fires - In pictures 1 /78 Australia fires - In pictures A firefighter hosing down trees and flying embers in an effort to secure nearby houses from bushfires near the town of Nowra in the Australian state of New South Wales in December AFP via Getty Images An aerial view of bushfires burning south of Canberra Getty Images Adelaide wildlife rescuer Simon Adamczyk is seen with a koala rescued at a burning forest on Kangaroo Island in January Reuters German tourists Julia Wasmiller and Jessica Pryor pose for a photo at Mrs Macquarie's chair, wearing face masks due to heavy smoke in December Getty Images A small aircraft dumps fire retardant behind houses at the foot of Mount Tennant as the fire front of the Orroral Valley fire creeps through the Namadgi National Park on January 30, 2020 in Canberra, Australia Getty Images A pyrocumulonimbus cloud is generated by the intense Orroral Valley bushfire buring to the south of Canberra. Getty Images Eugenie Bouchard of Canada takes a moment to catch her breath during her qualifying match against Xiaodi You of China during 2020 Australian Open Qualifying at Melbourne Park Getty Images Bernard Tomic of Australia receives medical attention in his match against Denis Kudla of the USA during 2020 Australian Open Qualifying at Melbourne Park Getty Images Massive smoke rising from wildfires burning in East Gippsland, Victoria in January AP Smoke looms over Sydney A kangaroo jumps in a field amidst smoke from a bushfire at Snowy Valley, Australia in January AFP via Getty Images Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison visits a resident's property in an area devastated by bushfires in Sarsfield, Victoria state in January POOL/AFP via Getty Images An injured koala rests in a washing basket at the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park in January Getty Images A pedestrian wears a mask as smoke shrouds the Australian capital of Canberra, Australia in January AP A large smoke plume is seen over a sheep property in the Parndana region in January Getty Images NSW's National Parks and Wildlife Service staff prepare to air-drop carrots for animals in bushfire-stricken areas, in Newnes, Wollemi National Park, New South Wales in January via Reuters A wallaby eats a carrot after NSW's National Parks and Wildlife Service staff air-dropped them in bushfire-stricken areas around Wollemi and Yengo National Parks, New South Wales in January via Reuters Nurses feed an injured male koala at Adelaide Koala Rescue in January Getty Images A woodchip mill burnt by bushfires is seen as smoke rises in Eden in Australia's New South Wales in January AFP via Getty Images Kylie Minogue donates to the cause @kylieminogue Cars line up to leave the town of Batemans Bay in New South Wales to head north in January AFP via Getty Images HMAS Choules off the coast of Victoria, Australia in January Reuters The property of Lyle Stewart is razed to the ground at Nerrigundah, Australia in January AP Rural Fire Service firefighter Trevor Stewart views a flank of in Tumburumba, Australia Getty Images A plane flies in the tobacco-coloured skies over Auckland, New Zealand, as smoke from the wildfires traveled from Australia in January Getty Images An orange glow darkens the sky in Auckland city from the wildfires in Australia Getty Images Kiahan Bellchambers and her brother Jesse Bellchambers looking for belongings amongst the ruins of their house destroyed during bushfires in Batlow, in Australia's New South Wales state in January AFP via Getty Images Lieutenant Kynan Lang from the 10th/27th Battalion visits the scene where his uncle and cousin died in a bushfire to place a memorial on Kangaroo Island, Australia in January via Reuters A firefighters backs away from the flames after lighting a controlled burn near Tomerong, Australia AP Black ash and fire debris is washed up on Boydtown Beach and the banks of the Nullica River in Eden, Australia REUTERS Barb Copus holds a rescued baby brushtail possum at the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park in the Parndana region on Kangaroo Island, Australia Getty Images A burnt car is seen after bushfire in Batlow, in Australia's New South Wales state in January AFP via Getty Images A burning gum tree is felled to stop it from falling on a car in Corbago, as bushfires continue in New South Wales, Australia in January Reuters General view of the Dunn Road fire in January Getty Images Australian Army CH-47 Chinooks from the 5th Aviation Regiment deliver hay bales to remote bushfire-affected farms on Kangaroo Island, Australia via Reuters Volunteer and carer Tracy Dodd holds a kangaroo with burnt feet pads after being rescued from bushfires in Australia's Blue Mountains area in December Reuters Thick smoke from wildfires shroud the Sydney Opera House in December AP A property burns from bushfires in Balmoral, 150km southwest of Sydney in December AFP via Getty Images A fireman fights a bushfire to protect a property in Balmoral, 150km southwest of Sydney in December AFP via Getty Images Helicopters dump water on bushfires as they approach homes located on the outskirts of the town of Bargo in December Getty Images Australian wildfires turn sky red in December brendanh_au/Twitter Firemen inspect a house recently destroyed by bushfires on the outskirts of the town of Bargo in December Getty Images Firemen prepare as a bushfire approaches homes on the outskirts of the town of Bargo in December Getty Images Monitoring the Tianjara fire from a helicopter in the Moreton and Jerrawangala National Park in December Getty Images People wear face masks to protect from the pollution over Sydney Harbour in December Getty Images A fire approaches the village of Nerrigundah, Australia in December AP An old car burns from bushfires in Balmoral AFP via Getty Images The remains of burnt out buildings are seen along main street in the New South Wales town of Cobargo in December AFP via Getty Images Wildfires rage under plumes of smoke in Bairnsdale, Australia in December AP A horse trying to move away from nearby bushfires at a residential property near the town of Nowra in the Australian state of New South Wales in December AFP via Getty Images Fire and thick smoke remains the village of Nerrigundah, Australia in December AP Gary Hinton stands amongst rubble after fires devastated the New South Wales town of Cobargo in December AFP via Getty Images A helicopter drops fire retardent to protect a property in Balmoral in December AFP via Getty Images The sky glows red as bushfires continue to rage in Mallacoota, Victoria, Australia in December via Reuters A fire and rescue team inspect the damage around Torrington in Glen Innes, Australia in November Getty Images Flames from an out of control bushfire seen from a nearby residential area in Harrington, Australia in November AFP via Getty Images Bushfires taken from a plane in over north eastern New South Wales in November AFP via Getty Images An Air-crane water bombing helicopter drops water on a bushfire in Harrington, Australia in November Reuters Haze blanketing Manly Beach, Sydney in November Sydney Coaches via Reuters

Human activities such as burning fossil fuels have been pushing up levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere every year since records began at Mauna Loa in Hawaii in 1958.

But around a tenth of the projected increase in 2020 is due to weather patterns that create conditions in which plants grow less and absorb less carbon and make blazes such as Australia's devastating bush fires more likely.

Weather patterns linked to swings in temperatures in the Pacific Ocean affect the rise in carbon dioxide levels, because in years with a warmer tropical Pacific many regions become warmer and drier.

This limits the ability of plants in "carbon sinks" such as tropical forests to grow and take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

It also increases the risk of wildfires which create more emissions.

This kind of weather pattern has - along with human-caused climate change pushing up temperatures - contributed to the hot, dry weather in Australia which played a key role in how severe the fires were, the Met Office said.

The fires that have been raging in Australia will contribute around 1-2% of the overall rise in concentrations of the greenhouse gas in 2020, the Met Office said.

Professor Richard Betts, of the Met Office Hadley Centre and University of Exeter, said: "Although the series of annual levels of carbon dioxide have always seen a year-on-year increase since 1958, driven by fossil fuel burning and deforestation, the rate of rise isn't perfectly even because there are fluctuations in the response of ecosystem carbon sinks, especially tropical forests."

Warmer temperatures in the Pacific mean that for a second year running, these carbon sinks are likely to absorb less carbon dioxide than normal, the Met Office said.

While natural sources and stores of carbon create fluctuations, human activity is the driver of the long-term rise in carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere, Professor Betts added.
The Conversation Africa is an independent source of news and views from the academic and research community. Its aim is to promote better understanding of current affairs and complex issues, and allow for a better quality of public discourse and conversation.Go to: https://theconversation.com/africa
Share this: Twitter

Facebook

WhatsApp

LinkedIn

Email

Telegram



Miami, January 24, 2020  Ecuadorean authorities should restore radio station Pichincha Universals broadcast license and should not penalize news outlets for their political coverage, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Yesterday, ARCOTEL, the countrys broadcast regulator, issued a decision revoking the license of Pichincha Universal, a local government-run radio station, after the outlet allegedly aired content that constituted incitement, according to the stations general manager Washington Yepez, who spoke with CPJ via phone.

Yepez denied having broadcast any illegal content, and told CPJ that the outlet is known for broadcasting information that is not aligned with [President] Lenin Morenos regime. He told CPJ that the station remains on the air and is appealing the decision.

Ordering a radio station off the air, regardless of its editorial line, goes against the significant steps taken by the Moreno administration to restore press freedom in Ecuador, said CPJ Central and South America Program Coordinator Natalie Southwick in New York. Ecuadorean authorities should reinstate Pichincha Universals license, and ensure that licensing decisions are not made on a political basis.

Pichincha Universal is run by the government of the Pichincha region, according to its website. That region is administered by Patricia Pabon, a member of the Revolucion Ciudadana movement led by former President Rafael Correa, which opposes Moreno, according to the prefectures website.

In its decision, ARCOTEL cited an October 3, 2019, Pichincha Universal broadcast that allegedly included phrases that incite the paralysis of public services and said the station participated as an inciter to the paralysis action, according to excerpts from the decision posted on Twitter by local press freedom group Fundamedios.

The broadcast cited in the decision was covering protests that took place throughout Ecuador from October 3 to 13 against planned reductions in fuel subsidies, according to news reports.

On October 8, the National Police and the Prosecutors Office raided the offices of Pichincha Universal and alleged that the station had been inciting discord against citizens, as CPJ documented at the time.

CPJ emailed ARCOTEL for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
Democrats told President Donald Trump's impeachment trial Thursday that he openly and dangerously abused his powers to gain political advantage.

House impeachment managers laid out the evidence for the first of two articles of impeachment against the US leader in the second day of arguments, methodically dismantling Republican claims that Trump did nothing wrong in soliciting electoral help from Ukraine last year.

As the 100 senators sat as jurors, the prosecutors played old videos in which two of the president's closest defenders said that abuse of power is a clear impeachable offense, puncturing a key White House argument that the US constitution requires a specific crime to remove a president.

"President Trump used the powers of his office to solicit a foreign nation to interfere in our elections for his own personal benefit," House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerry Nadler, one of the impeachment managers, told the chamber.

"Since President George Washington took office in 1789, no president has abused his power in this way," Nadler said.

"The president has repeatedly, flagrantly, violated his oath... The president's conduct is wrong. It is illegal. And it is dangerous."



Democrats were planning to spend Thursday's trial session arguing their case on the first impeachment charge, and take on the second -- obstruction of Congress -- on Friday.

That will be the prosecution's final day before Trump's defense takes the Senate podium from Saturday to Tuesday.

Democrats are hoping to break Republican unity and vote with them to remove the president -- an uphill battle given the Republicans' 53-47 majority in the Senate and Trump's ability to keep his party in line.

They are also hoping that, ten months before national elections, the nationally televised hearings will sway voters dubious of impeachment that Trump is unworthy of reelection.

After reports that many republicans were absent from much of Wednesday's session, House Chaplain Barry Black opened the hearing Thursday with a invocation call to listen.

"Lord, help them remember that listening is often more than hearing," he said. "It can be an empathetic attentiveness that builds bridges and unity."



At the White House, Trump unleashed a barrage of tweets attacking the process as "loaded with lies and misrepresentations." He attacked Adam Schiff, the chief House prosecutor who led the opening arguments Tuesday, in starkly personal terms, calling him "Shifty Schiff," and retweeted criticism of the California lawmaker made by White House supporters to Fox News.

Nadler, a longtime adversary of the New York real estate tycoon, challenged a key tenet of the president's legal defense: that neither of the charges against him, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, constituted a criminal charge matching the US Constitution's stipulation for "high crimes and misdemeanors" for impeachment.

He reached deep into English law for the origins of the phrase, as defining "offenses against the nation itself." And he cited the writings of the men who authored the US constitution in the 1780s, the "framers" much hallowed in US history.

"The framers were not naive. They knew that power corrupts," Nadler said.

"Simply stated, impeachment is the constitution's final answer to a president who mistakes himself for a king."



Underscoring the point, he taunted Republicans by playing late 1990s videos of Trump's most steadfast Senate defender, Lindsey Graham, and a member of his legal team, storied criminal defense lawyer Alan Dershowitz, both saying that abuse of power was indeed an impeachable charge.

Following Nadler, another impeachment manager, Sylvia Garcia, methodically detailed how Trump's using the pressure of aid to get dirt from Ukraine on his potential 2020 reelection rival Joe Biden was done for purely political reasons, She insisted there was no evidence backing Trump's claims that he was legitimately probing corruption.

She played videos of Trump officials, including the head of the FBI, dismissing his claim that Ukraine helped Democrats in the 2016 election.

"Where did this theory come from? You guessed it: the Russians," Garcia said in the nationally televised hearing.

"What is so dangerous is that President Trump is helping them perpetuate this -- our own president is helping our adversary attack our processes." And, in a surprise, Garcia picked through the connections that former vice president Biden and his son Hunter had with Ukraine -- the son had served on the board of a leading Ukrainian energy firm -- to demonstrate there were no grounds for any allegations of corruption against them.
Also, McCaskey said, his staff has all been recertified and trained about checking identification and underage drinking. He explained that he has also installed 16 cameras in the Arlington Ale House at the main entrance and all points of alcohol purchase in the three large rooms with bars. Behind the bar, and at the front entrance, there is a 50-inch monitor alerting patrons that they are being recorded and televised.
A political slugfest broke out in Maharashtra over Home Minister Anil Deshmukh's allegation that phones of Congress-NCP leaders were tapped by the previous BJP regime during 2019 Lok Sabha and Assembly polls as ex-chief minister Devendra Fadnavis stoutly rejected the charge on Friday.

A day after Deshmukh made the sensational claim and ordered a probe, Fadnavis, the then chief minister who also held the home portfolio, asserted phone tapping was not the culture of the state and his government had not given any such orders.

Fadnavis pointed out that a Shiv Sena leader was the Minister of State for Home during his tenure.

The Congress, a key constituent of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, joined the NCP in attacking the BJP and demanded a high-level inquiry into the entire episode.

"The previous BJP-led government had tapped phones of senior NCP and Congress leaders through government mechanism ahead of the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls held last year," Deshmukh alleged.

He said there are also allegations that the then government had sent some officials to Israel and brought software to "intercept" phones of leaders of the Congress and the NCP, which were then in opposition.

Deshmukh did not name the NCP and Congress leaders whose phones the Devendra Fadnavis-led government had allegedly tapped.

"They had stooped low in We have initiated probe into it," the NCP minister said.

Speaking with the media in Bhandara district in Vidarbha on Friday, Deshmukh reiterated the phone-tapping allegations against the BJP-led government.

"The BJP government, before the polls, tried to gather information about what and with whom these (NCP-Congress) leaders were talking to," he said.

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Friday said a BJP leader had informed him that his phone was being tapped by the Fadnavis government, in which his party was an ally.

"A BJP leader had told me that my phone was being tapped. I said if anybody wants to listen to what I am saying I welcome it. I am Balasaheb's 'chela' (disciple), whatever I do, I do it openly," Raut told reporters here.

"In spite of the phone-tapping, we formed the government in Maharashtra," he said.

The Sena formed government with the Congress and the NCP in November last year after snapping its alliance with the BJP.

On Thursday, Deshmukh had alleged the Fadnavis dispensation misused government machinery to tap the phones of opposition leaders, especially during the formation of the MVA government in November.

"The cyber cell of the Maharashtra police has been asked to look into the various complaints of snooping/phone tapping that came in during the previous government," Deshmukh had said.

Housing Minister Jitendra Awhad, an NCP leader, on Friday said the phone tapping episode smacks of "sick mentality" of the BJP and added it should be probed as to why the previous government did so.

"I only had levelled the allegations. Why you want to poke into the people's private life? There are political and ideological differences between us, but not personal. Maharashtra should know who is behind this," he added.

PWD minister and Congress leader Ashok Chavan alleged the BJP could stoop to any level to get power. He demanded a high-level inquiry into the phone tapping allegations.

"The allegations of tapping of phones of Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena leaders during the Fadnavis regime were serious. The Chief Minister should order a high level probe into the allegations," Chavan said.

The BJP's agenda was to secure unlimited and unbridled power, the Congress leader alleged.

Unperturbed by the allegations, Fadnavis said the MVA government was free to conduct an inquiry into the matter.

"Phone-tapping is not the culture of Maharashtra. My government had not given any such orders," Fadnavis, now the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, said in a statement.

"The whole country knows the credibility of those who have levelled such allegations," Fadnavis, who was the chief minister of the state between 2014 and 2019, said.

"The state government is free to probe the allegations with the help of any machinery. People of Maharashtra know the truth. A Shiv Sena leader was the minister of state for home during my tenure," he added.

"I have a request - the government should immediately conduct an inquiry and make the report public. If it wants to go to Israel for the probe, it should do that," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Eminent Assamese linguist and academician Golok Chandra Goswami died on Friday due to old age ailments at a private hospital here.

Goswami, 96, had retired from the Gauhati University in 1985 as the head of the Assamese department.

A scholar, who pioneered the scientific study of the Assamese language, has several books to his credit, including 'An Introduction to Assamese Phonology', considered to be path-breaking in the linguistic study of the Assamese language.

'Structure of Assamese', 'Assamese - Its Formation and Development', 'Dhvani Bigyanor Bhumika', 'Asomiya Bornoprakash' and 'Asomiya Akhor Jotoni' are some of his well-known books.

Goswami was honoured with the Asam Sahitya Sabha's 'Sahityacharya' title, 'Bhashacharya' title by Asom Bhasha Bikash Samiti and 'Anundoram Borooah Award' by the Anundoram Barooah Institute of Language, Art and Culture.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that he was deeply saddened by the demise of the eminent academician and linguist who made remarkable contribution in the field of Assamese language and literature.

"He was a pioneer in the field of scientific study of Assamese language and many of his books have set a strong foundation for the Assamese language," Sonowal said in a statement.

"His death is an irreparable loss to the state and I offer my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(Natural News) Coronavirus is spreading among people who show non-respiratory symptoms. This means detection of the carriers of the virus is going to be extremely difficult, given that nearly all health officials around the world are looking for respiratory symptoms such as coughing, sneezing and breathing difficulties.

Some carriers of this rapidly spreading strain of coronavirus show no fever and no coughing, but instead are exhibiting symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting and chest pains.

Thus far, official guidance on the symptoms of the Wuhan virus has been limited to fever and symptoms of respiratory illness, such as coughing, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, reports The Epoch Times:

However, according to local media a report by doctors and experts from Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University on Friday noted the appearance of initial symptoms not related to the respiratory system.

It said that many patients who contracted the virus did not have a fever. Therefore simply taking the temperatures of passengers at transport hubs is not enough to screen for the virus.

Three confirmed cases in the USA, total secrecy about which hospitals have the patients

Human-to-human transmission of this novel coronavirus has already been confirmed, and according to multiple sources, there are now three confirmed cases in the United States.

As we expected, the CDC and local health officials are refusing to release the names of the hospitals in which these coronavirus-infected patients are being treated and quarantined.

The secrecy has begun.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization so far refuses to declare this a global pandemic, even as they were rapidly declaring faked, hoax pandemics in years past, such as the Zika virus hoax.

What Americans need to know is that this coronavirus situation is far worse than whats being reported by the controlled media, and that carriers are going to slip past even the best detection methods, because those methods are all based on looking for fevers and respiratory problems.

Stay tuned. More updates coming soon.
ST. LOUIS, Jan. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Justice Grown, a multi-state cannabis operator which holds licenses in Missouri, California, Pennsylvania, Illinois, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Utah, is proud to announce that it has been awarded an additional eight new Missouri medical cannabis licenses.

Having just won three cultivation licenses in Missouri in early January, Justice Grown was also granted three manufacturing licenses, as well as five dispensary licenses for the state's medical cannabis program, bringing the company to a total of 11 licenses for the Show-Me State. The manufacturing licenses will allow the company to create cannabis-infused products, such as edibles, concentrates, and tinctures, while the dispensary licenses will allow for the opening of five medical marijuana storefronts across Missouri. Additionally, the previously won cultivation licenses will allow for the growing of exceptional cannabis flower products in the state.

The licenses were awarded by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services after a blind review of hundreds of applications. Candidates that scored the highest in the application process and that met all of the eligibility requirements were ultimately selected, with 86 licenses awarded in manufacturing and 192 licenses awarded for dispensaries.

"We are very excited to work with our native Missouri partners in building out our businesses in the area," said Justice Grown CEO Darin Carpenter "We expect to create over 250 new jobs for local Missourians when our cultivation, production, and dispensary operations are fully built out."

This commitment to job creation in Missouri is a high priority on the company's list, as it will soon be looking to fill positions for people with backgrounds in agriculture, retail, and security. Justice Grown is rapidly expanding its operation, with the recent installation of Darin Carpenter as Chief Executive Officer, who previously served as Director of Operations for Tryke Companies / Reef Dispensary, which is currently under acquisition by Cresco Labs for $282.5 million.

Justice Grown operates two medical dispensaries in Pennsylvania, with multiple dispensary and cultivation projects currently under construction in Pennsylvania, California, New Jersey, Illinois, and Utah.

For more information, please visit JusticeGrown.com.

SOURCE Justice Grown

Related Links

justicegrown.com


Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, a leading national centre for cybersecurity activities at Ryerson University, and DMZ, Canada's leading technology accelerator, are launching the Catalyst Cyber Accelerator, to help Canadian cyber scale-ups grow and succeed

BRAMPTON, ON, Jan. 23, 2020 /CNW/ - Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, in partnership with the DMZ, is pleased to announce the launch of the Catalyst Cyber Accelerator, Canada's first commercial accelerator specifically designed for scale-up companies in cybersecurity and related fields.

Headquartered in Brampton's Innovation District, the Catalyst Cyber Accelerator will help Canada's cybersecurity ecosystem by providing Canadian scale-up companies in cybersecurity and related fields the essential tools they need to grow and succeed nationally and internationally.

The Catalyst Cyber Accelerator is supported by the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), and Rogers Communications Inc., in partnership with the City of Brampton. Rogers, Royal Bank of Canada, Herjavec Group, Torys LLP, Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Siemens Canada will join a "Corporates-in-Residence" program and provide guidance and mentorship to companies at the Catalyst Cyber Accelerator. Other major companies are expected to join the program in the coming weeks.

Scale-ups in the Catalyst Cyber Accelerator will benefit from DMZ's internationally-recognized accelerator programming, including mentoring on product strategy, marketing, talent acquisition, investment attraction, growing sales and more. They will make connections with DMZ's network of 300+ investors and have free desk space usage. The scale-ups will also have access to over $500,000 worth of exclusive business services and perks provided by over 60 globally recognized businesses.

The Catalyst Cyber Accelerator is now accepting applications to its first cohort, which will begin programming in May. Applications will close on March 25, 2020. Over the next two months, Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst and DMZ will embark on a national recruitment roadshow, hosting info sessions for cyber-related scale-up companies in cities across Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.

For more information on eligibility requirements and to apply, visit dmz.to/catalyst.

"Our government is here to support workers and Canadian businesses. With funding through FedDev Ontario, the new Catalyst Cyber Accelerator will provide Canadian cybersecurity scale ups with the skills and resources needed to grow and compete, while contributing to increased safety in the digital economy. Congratulations to Ryerson University and all partners on the launch of this important programming." - The Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages

"Strong cybersecurity capabilities are critical to Canada's digital economy. We are proud to partner with Ryerson to help Canadian companies scale and bring cybersecurity solutions to market that help tackle the challenges and opportunities of the connected world." - Alexander Brock, Senior Vice President, Technology Strategy, Innovation & Partnerships, Rogers Communications

"We are thrilled to launch Canada's first Cybersecurity Accelerator in Brampton. It is a great fit with our Innovation District in our downtown core and with our growing cluster of Cyber Security related firms. This addition moves us one step closer to growing Brampton as a centre of excellence in Cybersecurity."  Hon. Patrick Brown, Mayor of Brampton

"Ryerson University is proud to announce this unique new accelerator as we continue to lead in the development of entrepreneurship in the cybersecurity ecosystem," said Steven N. Liss, Ryerson's vice-president, research and innovation. "Through our commitment to collaboration, training and research in this sector, Ryerson supports the success of Canadian cybersecurity scale-ups as they transform the digital space, making an impact not only here in Canada but around the world."

"We're incredibly excited to be launching the Catalyst Cyber Accelerator, in partnership with DMZ, one of the world's most successful accelerators," said Charles Finlay, Executive Director of the Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst. "The Catalyst Cyber Accelerator will be a key hub for Canada's scale-up cybersecurity entrepreneurs, helping them innovate and compete nationally and internationally. Cybersecurity impacts us all and we are excited to participate in building Canada's Cybersecurity sector as one of the strongest in the world."

"In 2020, cybersecurity will be more prominent than ever to protect our privacy, rights and freedoms, which is why we've partnered with Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst to create a scaleup program that will propel cybersecurity innovation in Canada," said Abdullah Snobar, executive director, DMZ. "The Catalyst Cyber Accelerator will make a concentrated effort to successfully grow businesses tackling diverse issues in the industry and will work to elevate the narrative around our national cybersecurity ecosystem."

"Herjavec Group is thrilled to partner with the Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst to prioritize the development of Canada's cybersecurity ecosystem. We pride ourselves on bringing new cyber tools and services to market for enterprises so this is an incredible way to be on the front lines of accelerating cyber business growth & adoption nationally. Hundreds of Herjavec Group employees in Canada have unique views on what it takes to build a thriving technology business from scratch so we are excited to share our expertise with promising Canadian security start ups." - Ira Goldstein, Chief Operating Officer, Herjavec Group

About Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst: Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst is a not-for-profit corporation owned by Ryerson University, supported by partnerships with the private and public sectors, and committed to relentless collaboration in building the Canadian cybersecurity innovation ecosystem. In partnership with the DMZ at the Catalyst will establish a first-in-Canada technology accelerator program solely committed to supporting Canadian cybersecurity scale-ups.

About DMZ: The DMZ is a leading tech accelerator headquartered in Toronto, Ontario that helps high-potential startups grow and scale to world-class businesses. Also supporting ideation and validation stage startups, the DMZ's incubator program has been ranked number one in the world by UBI Global. Since 2010, the DMZ has helped 433 startups raise over $736 million and foster more than 3,893 jobs.

SOURCE DMZ at Ryerson University

For further information: Media Contact, DMZ Contact, Ahmed Saleh, [email protected], 647 622 8674; Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst Contact, Sumit Bhatia, [email protected], 416.624.9807

Related Links

www.dmz.ryerson.ca


Thousands join anti-US rally in Baghdad, rattling rival protesters



Baghdad, Jan 24 (AFP) Jan 24, 2020



Thousands of supporters of volatile Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr gathered in Baghdad on Friday for a "million-strong" march to demand the ouster of US troops, putting the protest-hit capital on edge.

The march has rattled the separate, months-old protest movement that has gripped the capital and the Shiite-majority south since October, demanding a government overhaul, early elections and more accountability.

In the early hours of Friday, thousands of men, women and children of all ages massed under grey skies in the Jadiriyah district of east Baghdad.

"Get out, get out, occupier!" some shouted, while others chanted, "Yes to sovereignty!"

The American military presence has been a hot-button issue in Iraq since a US drone strike killed Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis outside Baghdad airport on January 3.

Two days later, parliament voted for all foreign troops -- including some 5,200 US personnel -- to leave the country.

The vote was non-binding and a senior US official sad Thursday that Washington had yet to open talks with Baghdad on a troop pullout.

"There has not been any real engagement," said ambassador James Jeffrey, the US special envoy for Syria and the coalition against the Islamic State group.

But he added that operations against the jihadists had been on hold since the drone strike, which triggered retaliatory Iranian missile strikes targeting US troops in Iraq.

"Coalition operations have been primarily on pause in Iraq as we focus on force protection and looking into the way forward with the Iraqi government," Jeffrey said.

Long opposed to the US troop presence, Sadr seized on the public anger over the drone strike to call "a million-strong, peaceful, unified demonstration to condemn the American presence and its violations".

Several pro-Iran factions from the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force, usually rivals of Sadr, have backed his call and pledged to join.

Preparations were in full swing as early as noon on Thursday, with additional checkpoints across Baghdad to secure the protest area and buses ferrying in people for the rally.



- 'Politicised' protests -



But separate anti-government protesters, who have braved violence that has left 470 people dead since October, fear their cause could be eclipsed by Sadr's powerplay.

"Sadr doesn't represent us," one teenager said defiantly late Thursday on a blocked-off thoroughfare in Baghdad.

To head off Friday's gathering and ramp up pressure on authorities to enact reforms, young demonstrators blocked streets in Baghdad and across the south this week.

When Sadr announced the rally last week, many feared he would hold it near Tahrir (Liberation) Square -- the main focus of the long-running protests.

But his spokesman Saleh al-Obeidy said late Wednesday that they had chosen Jadiriyah, near Baghdad University, as the gathering place.

That, in turn, has sparked worry that angry crowds could attack the presidential palace or the high-security Green Zone, home to the US embassy and other foreign missions.

The move would not be without precedent for Sadr, who urged followers to storm the Green Zone in 2016 in a challenge to the government over undelivered reforms.

Sadr battled US forces at the head of his Mehdi Army militia after the US-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein in 2003.

He later branded himself a reformist and backed the recent anti-government protests when they erupted in October.

The firebrand cleric controls parliament's largest bloc and his followers hold top ministerial positions.

The 46-year-old is a notoriously fickle politician, known for switching alliances quickly.

"Some sides representing the October revolutionaries think Iran is solely responsible for Iraq's ruin and others represented by the Hashed or its supporters say America is the source of ruin," Obeidy said Wednesday.

"We believe that both are behind this ruin, and Sadr is trying to balance between the two."



- Hedging bets -



Harith Hasan of the Carnegie Middle East Center said Sadr was trying to sustain his "multiple identities" by backing various protests.

"On the one hand, (he seeks to) position himself as the leader of a reform movement, as a populist, as anti-establishment," Hasan told AFP.

"On the other hand, he also wants to sustain his image as the leader of the resistance to the 'American occupation'," partly to win favour with Iran.

Sadr may also have domestic motivations, Hasan said.

"This protest will show Sadr is still the one able to mobilise large groups of people in the streets -- but it's also possible he wants other groups to respond by giving him more space to choose the prime minister."
By Express News Service

VIJAYAWADA: TDP MLC Pothula Sunitha, who voted against the Rule 71 motion moved by her party though a whip was issued to vote in favour of it, met Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy at the latters residence on Thursday.

Speaking to the media after meeting Jagan, the MLC welcomed the three-capital plan, which is being vehemently opposed by her party. I asked Jagan to release sufficient funds for the development of my Chirala constituency. Jagan is striving for the development of backward areas. Only a decentralised development will take the State forward, she maintained.

She also hit out at Council Chairman MA Shariff stating that he behaved like a TDP leader in the House. Sunitha described Wednesdays developments in the Council as unfortunate and said steps should be taken to prevent recurrence of such a situation in future. She also said a debate is needed to come to a conclusion on scrapping the Council.

On voting against the partys diktat, Sunitha said the TDP government had brought in Rule 71 in the Council to hinder development.

TDP files case against ministers for abusing Council chairman Guntur: The TDP on Thursday lodged a compliant against Ministers Botcha Satyanarayana, Kodali Sri Venkateswara Rao alias Nani and P Anil Kumar Yadav for allegedly abusing Legislative Council chairman MA Shariff during a debate in the house on Wednesday. TDP minority leader and AP Minority Finance Corporation former chairman MD Hidayath lodged the complaint against the ministers at Guntur police station on Thursday
Opportunity2030 study reveals an almost USD200 billion private-sector investment opportunity in contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in five African countries; The study examines the most impactful opportunities for investing in three infrastructure-focused SDGs in five high-growth markets in Africa: Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia.

Opportunity2030: The Standard Chartered (www.SC.com) SDG Investment Map reveals a USD197 billion opportunity for private-sector investors in five high-growth markets in Africa to help achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with improving digital access making up USD74.5 billion of that total.

The study highlights opportunities for investors to contribute to three infrastructure-focused goals between now and 2030: SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure across emerging markets.



Across all the world's emerging markets, Oportunity2030 identifies a USD10 trillion opportunity for private sector investors. This represents around 40 per cent of the total funding required to meet specific indicators within the three SDGs - allowing for population growth as well as maintaining current access - with public funds expected to provide the bulk of the investment.



Five African countries are included in the study: Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia. Key highlights include:

Providing universal digital access represents the greatest investment opportunity for the private sector by 2030 (USD74.5 billion), followed by universal access to power (USD65.8 billion), transport infrastructure (USD46.4 billion) and access to clean water and sanitation (USD10.3 billion)

The biggest single opportunity across the African markets in the study is in increasing digital access - a combination of mobile phone subscriptions rates and internet connectivity - in Nigeria (USD47.4 billion). Driven by its large and growing population, Nigeria also offers the greatest overall opportunity across the SDG indicators measured (a total of USD114.2 billion), followed by Kenya (USD40 billion)

Zambia and Kenya present a big opportunity to make an impact on SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): With an average of 43 per cent and 56 per cent of the population respectively currently lacking access to clean water and sanitation, there is a USD0.7 billion and USD2.3 billion private-sector investment opportunity to help close the gap by 2030

Uganda presents a meaningful opportunity to make an impact on SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): with just 22 per cent of the population that have access to electricity, there is a USD6.1 billion private-sector investment opportunity to help achieve universal access by 2030

The greatest investment opportunity in Ghana is in achieving and maintaining universal access to electricity (a key SDG 7 indicator), representing a USD7.8 billion private-sector opportunity

Sunil Kaushal, Regional CEO, Africa & Middle East, Standard Chartered, said: "The UN Sustainable Development Goals are amongst the most ambitious projects humanity has ever attempted. As well as offering our best hope yet of tackling the world's most serious challenges, they also offer a unique opportunity for the private sector. For the goals to be met in Africa, the private sector must play a central role in deploying capital to get projects off the ground. Opportunity2030 provides a map of these opportunities, revealing the sectors and markets where investors can best contribute to the SDGs whilst achieving sustainable returns.



"Currently, not enough capital is reaching the countries that need it the most. With the UN's 2030 deadline for achieving SDGs just 10 years away, the time to act is now."



With Standard Chartered's experience and reach into Africa, the Bank uses banking knowledge, products and its unique footprint to fund sustainable development where it matters most. In June 2019, we launched our first Sustainability Bond, raising EUR 500 million to fund projects aligned to the SDGs in emerging markets, and have worked with clients and partners to create a number of important landmark structured solutions to support the SDG's. The Bank has also launched its digital bank in nine markets in Africa, as part of the Bank's digital transformation strategy for Africa. The digital banking solution provides Standard Chartered customers with affordable, fast and easily accessible banking services that is supporting financial inclusion in the markets.





You can download the full Standard Chartered Opportunity2030 report here (https://bit.ly/2tJM8Tw).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Standard Chartered.

Background

Opportunity2030: The Standard Chartered SDG Investment Map is a macroeconomic study that draws on global data sources and indicative private-sector participation rates to provide companies, institutional investors and other stakeholders with an overview of where their investments could have the greatest impact. It spans 15 of the world's fastest-growing economies and estimates the potential private-sector investment opportunity to contribute to three of the most investment-ready UN SDGs (6,7 and 9). Within these SDGs, it focuses on four indicators - water and sanitation services; power; telecoms (digital access); and transport infrastructure. For further details, please refer to the full report (https://bit.ly/2tJM8Tw) and methodology.



Media Contact:

Monica Barten

Director, Communications

Africa & Middle East

Monica.barten@sc.com

+97145084565



About Standard Chartered:

We are a leading international banking group, with a presence in 60 of the world's most dynamic markets and serving clients in a further 85. Our purpose is to drive commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity, and our heritage and values are expressed in our brand promise, Here for good.



Standard Chartered PLC (www.SC.com) is listed on the London and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges as well as the Bombay and National Stock Exchanges in India.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan today received newly appointed Ambassador of Ukraine Ivan Kuleba who presented the copies of his credentials.

Minister Mnatsakanyan congratulated Kuleba on assuming the mission and voiced hope that the Ambassador would contribute to further deepening and development of the Armenian-Ukrainian relations which are historically on strong foundations.

The parties benchmarked the undertaking of steps to strengthen the political dialogue between Armenia and Ukraine, including through the holding of regular consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of and the intensification of dialogue at different levels. Inthis context, the interlocutors attached importance to the holding of the subsequent session of the Armenian-Ukrainian Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Affairs.

The parties also attached importance to the parliamentary platform for cooperation and expressed certainty that the parliamentary friendship groups of both countries would help enhance Armenian-Ukrainian inter-parliamentary ties.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday encouraged the cadets of the Cadet Corps (NCC), Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers and several artists who will take part in the Republic Day parade on January 26.

"I extend my warm wishes for the Republic Day and the January 26 parade to all of you. You all are, in a way, going to showcase mini-India, a new India. Our whole country and the world will seek to learn and understand the new Bharat through you," Modi said at an event here, encouraging the tableaux artists, tribal guests, cultural artists, NCC cadets, and NSS volunteers.

Praising the NCC and the NSS, he said: "Crores of the country's youths are motivated when they see the discipline and service of the cadets through NCC and NSS on the Rajpath."

He also motivated the tribal and tableaux artists by saying they are the ones, who are responsible for bringing the culture of India to the front.

"The whole world watches in a mesmerized manner when the tableaux showcasing India's rich art, culture and heritage come out on the Rajpath. The Adivasi brothers and sisters demonstrate the unique heritage in front of the country," Modi said.

PM Modi further said: "India is a lifeforce made up of several ideals and values. Whenever we talk about India, the ideals and values stand in parallel. Our geographical and social diversity is another feature of India's greatness."

"Several states, one country. Several societies, one India. We must work and take the country ahead with this thought," he added.

The Republic Day parade will be held on January 26 at the Rajpath with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro as the Chief Guest for the occasion.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Polled Hereford sisters become first Irish cattle to be sold at Designer Genes Sale- and one nets 8,650, writes Martin Ryan.

Advice from some ringside admirers at the 2019 National Livestock Show sparked a history-making journey for Raymond de Vere Hunt.

"I had a few Herefords at the show in Tullamore last August and some breeders from the UK were interested in them," explains the south Tipperary dairy farmer.

"I explained to them that they were not for sale at that time, and they suggested that I should consider entering them for the Designer Genes Sale in December - an elite sale in the UK which only the top 30 Hereford heifers qualify for each year."

Thrilled that his polled Herefords, from a small pedigree herd, were considered good enough, Raymond and his fiancee Veronica Brennan gave the idea some thought.

"It really got us thinking about it but we felt maybe we were mad to even think about it, because of the preparations and work involved," says Veronica, who is from a farming family in Kells, Co Kilkenny.

Expand Expand Previous Next Close Valuable: Raymond de Vere Hunt with some of the pedigree polled Hereford on his farm at Dualla, Cashel / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp

"I wasn't sure were we doing the right thing, but we decided that we would go for it even though I thought we could be making a great mistake."

When Herberry 1 Lucy Sky and Herberry 1 Lucy Belle, bred on the farm at Dualla, near Cashel, went to Shrewsbury for the fourth edition of the Designer Genes Sale, it was the first time an Irish herd had exported animals to the event.

"Herberry 1 Lucy Belle sold for Stg 7,000 gns (8,650) which was the second highest price at the sale so we were very happy with that - having the second highest price on the day tells its own story" Raymond says.

"The second heifer sold for 3,700 gns (4,575) and that was in a fairly tough sale, with farmers in the UK concerned about Brexit just around the corner and the market uncertain.

"It will help to pay for the wedding!"

Veronica has exchange her job in the fruit industry to share her love for the farming way of life with Raymond on a large farm of quality land in the Golden Vale.

They have 140 high-EBI Holstein Friesian cows as the main enterprise along with the small herd of pedigree-polled Hereford which they describe as "the best breed of beef animals".

Raymond's grandfather, Robert de Vere Hunt, who bought the farm in 1978, was the driving force behind the livestock mart at Cashel.

Raymond's father, Raymond Snr, farmed the land through the '80s and '90s and is still in partnership with his son.

They are also helped by a young assistant, Coilin Bourke, who is in no doubt about his career - "it has to be farming" and he is already being described as "a great young stockman and an excellent handler".

Watchful

Raymond Jnr says of his father: "It can be harder for the older generation to hand over but he has made it very easy for us - we are very lucky but he keeps a watchful eye and is around the farmyard every day."

The De Vere Hunts dairy-farmed until the turn of the millennium when the herd was hit with Bovine TB; they then got out of dairy and kept beef cattle.

Raymond, who worked as area manager with Munster AI after college, came back to the farm a decade later while still working for the AI service.

"I continued with beef farming for a few years, but I wanted to be a full-time farmer, and I could not see a way in which I could make a living out of beef as a full-time farmer," he says.

"We are back in dairying now for five years and have built up the herd. The change coincided with the end of the milk quota. We got one year of milk quota as a new entrant and then no quota problems since.

"I always had a love for beef cattle and that made me want to keep some beef on the farm as well as the dairy herd.

"That is why I got into the pedigree Hereford.

"From my time with Munster AI I could see the demand that is there for the Hereford for cross breeding with the dairy herd, and I believe that it is going to get stronger because the dairy farmers want easy calving and maturing at an earlier age.

"I thought about the continental breeds and I loved looking at good cattle but I thought that there was a better future in the Hereford because of the expansion in dairy farming as a growing demand."

The pedigree Hereford herd consists of ten cows "and that is all we want to keep".

"I think the demand for the Hereford is going to continue, because the Hereford Prime is a brand and it is working for the Hereford. The taste and the marbling of the meat is selling well," Raymond says.

The first of the Herefords were purchased from Kerry breeder Matthew Goulding, and the progeny have been regular prize-winners.

"A lot of our bulls are being bought by dairy farmers who are looking for the easy calving, short gestation and carcase quality," says Raymond.

"Last year we had seven bulls to sell and all sold on the farm - the customers are coming to us and long may they keep coming."

'We just knew we had to have them'

Richard de Vere Hunt's two history-making heifers are full sisters, bred by the sire Dendor 1 Kohinoor, and the dam Gouldingpoll 1 Lucy 641.

They were born with a few days of each other in December 2017.

The Designer Genes Elite sale catalogue said of Herberry 1 Lucy Sky: "One thing we have always wanted to do is bring some heifers from the Republic of Ireland into our sale offering.

"When Ray and Veronica told us about these two females, we knew we just had to have them.

"Lucy Sky is the first of two full siblings to win the Overall Female Champion at the Irish National Hereford Show 2018 at Tullamore, and their three-quarter sister was Reserve Junior Champion at Tullamore in 2019.

"Their dam is a two-time class winner at Tullamore herself and is a full sister to Gouldingpoll 1 Moonshine (UK Reserve Bull of the Year 2018 and herd sire at Dendor).

Of Herberry 1 Lucy Belle, which went on to sell for stg 7,000 gns, the second highest price at the sale, the introduction read: "Ray and Veronica have certainly brought their best for their inaugural DGS consignment.

"Both these females are also full siblings to Herberry 1 Herbert, who is the new junior stock bull at Solpoll Herefords in Northern Ireland, selected for his calving ease and gestation length traits.

"Lucy Belle is a seriously flashy and easy fleshing female with great muscle development and body structure. She also won Dualla Show in 2019, beating Lucy Sky.

"These females have beaten each other at different shows this summer and now you have the chance to choose between them.

"Lucy Sky is a beautifully dark female with great femininity and eye appeal, and she was Champion at Dungarvan Show 2019.

"She is certain to follow in the footsteps of her siblings."

"We are honoured to have the Herberry team on board for this year's sale and really appreciate them travelling the distance to sell their best.

"These heifers really are the full package so don't miss out on this rare opportunity."

'The extra costs of going over to the UK wouldn't have been justified without one of them making a top price'

A dream came true for Raymond de Vere Hunt when two of his Hereford heifers qualified for the Designer Genes Elite Hereford sale at Shrewsbury - and that was before one of them picked up the second highest price of the day.

"I had been over at the sale - a good few Irish breeders have been over in the past year or two - and I always had a dream about selling genetics abroad," he says.

The Designer Genes Elite sale is a big deal: in 2018 the event set a number of records - the highest-priced polled Hereford bull to ever sell in the UK at 13,000gns (13,650); the highest-priced 50pc share in a Hereford female to sell in UK at 7,500gns (7,875); and the highest-averaging Hereford sale in British history.

But the logistics needed to present the heifers at the sale was a big consideration for Raymond. "We done a bit of research and found that the animals had to be in the country for 60 days before the sale under the UK disease regulations because they were going to a sale. It would have been different if they were going directly on to a farm there," he explains.

"They had to be tested before they left Ireland, again a month later and a third test ahead of the sale day so there had to be a lot of planning.

"We have got to know a good few of the breeders in the UK from attending some of the livestock shows there who were very helpful in arranging for the keep of the heifers prior to the sale.

"We had to be sure that they were going to be looked after and turned out well for the sale. We were very lucky that one of our friends was willing to help and brought them out looking very well.

Sure "They were some of our best stock and we had to be sure of what we were doing." Raymond was "very anxious to see how they were going to shape up against the stock in the UK" but the results speak for themselves.

"It has meant a lot to us to get the name of the herd known in the UK, and if breeders come to Ireland they are likely to want to see what we have to offer because they know of us," he says. "There are a lot of extra costs associated with it and you need to be getting above the average to justify the extra costs. It wouldn't have been justified without one of them making a top price."
Legal chaos has deepened dramatically in Poland following the passing of legislation that will allow the government to fire judges whose rulings it does not like  even when those rulings respect EU law.

The developments have created a crisis that threatens the functioning of the entire European Union legal system.

Laurent Pech, a professor of European law at Middlesex University, London, wrote on Twitter on Friday: As of yesterday #Poland is no longer a democratic regime governed by #ruleoflaw.  Process of de facto exit from EU legal order has begun.

This comes after more than four years of efforts by the governing populist party, Law and Justice, to take control of the countrys system of courts and public prosecution, eroding the independence of most branches of the judicial system.

As of yesterday #Poland is no longer a democratic regime governed by #ruleoflaw following adoption of blatantly unconstitutional Muzzle act & open fascistic disregard for authority of PL Supreme Court & EU Court of Justice. Process of de facto exit from EU legal order has begun https://t.co/EGx8jV8H5n  Laurent Pech (@ProfPech) January 24, 2020

Polands Senate, which is controlled by the opposition, had rejected the bill. But the upper house only had the power to delay the bill and suggest recommendations and could not stop it. It goes next to the president, who supports it.

The government argued early in its tenure that it needed to purge judges who were part of an untouchable caste, including holdovers from the communist era.

Critics, however, point out that there are very few judges still working today who began under communist rule, which ended 30 years ago. Lately the government has said it seeks to end anarchy in the system  an anarchy that opponents say has been triggered by the government itself.

Expand Close The developments threaten the EUs whole legal system (AP/Czarek Sokolowski) AP/PA Images / Facebook

Twitter

Email

Whatsapp The developments threaten the EUs whole legal system (AP/Czarek Sokolowski)

The legislation has been condemned by the EU, the United Nations and the Council of Europe, the continents largest human rights body.

The Supreme Court  which has maintained a large degree of independence from the government thanks to EU intervention  declared that judges appointed by Law and Justice to a new judicial body are illegitimate. The government, in turn, called the Supreme Courts resolution illegitimate.

Justice minister Zbigniew Ziobro said the Supreme Court carried out a gross violation of the law and its so-called resolution has no legal effects.

One deputy minister, Janusz Kowalski, said he couldnt care less what 60 Supreme Court judges ruled because they are not an authority to me.
Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

The global retail POS terminals market is expected to reach USD 33.41 billion by 2024, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The paradigm shift in the payment landscape enables the usage of electronic payment technologies.

Retail POS terminals have witnessed a considerable growth in the recent years owing to the rising integration with robust POS platforms and multi-channel selling in stores. The next-generation point-of-sale systems offer high reliability and durability, which have significantly reduced the cost of ownership, thereby increasing the deployment of these terminals in small and medium-sized retails.

With the evolution of modern merchants and retailers, traditional terminals are replaced with tablet and smartphone-based terminals. These devices are difficult to navigate and are less user-friendly for sales support and customers. With the advent of the mobile POS, merchants are recreating shopping experience.

Further key findings from the study suggest:

Fixed POS terminals are expected to remain the largest segment owing to the reluctance of retailers to adopt mobile POS terminals due to the rising security concerns

The services segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 12% from 2016 to 2024. The growing demand for Software as a Service (SaaS) and cloud-based solutions of POS devices is expected to provide growth opportunities

The global urbanization and changing consumer preferences are increasing the footprints in supermarket stores. The efforts retailers are taking to improvise the in-store experience is augmenting the growth for point-of-sale devices.

The North America retail POS terminals industry is anticipated to reach over USD 8.0 billion by 2024.The brick-and-mortar stores and the e-commerce boom are increasing the overall consumption of these devices in the region.

Latin America is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 11.5% over the forecast period. Modern retail formats such as hypermarkets and supermarkets are making inroads in Latin America. With the modernization of retail sector, the region provides a huge growth opportunity for the adoption of these terminals over the forecast period.

The key players in the retail POS terminals market include Toshiba Tec Corporation, Ingenico Group, VeriFone Systems Inc., PAX Technology and NCR Corporation among others. Companies are focusing on providing fully integrated payment solutions to develop technologies in the payment infrastructure.

Request a Sample Copy of the Global Retail Point-of-Sale Terminals Market Research Report @ www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/retail-point-of-sale-pos-terminals-market/request/rs1

Grand View Research has segmented the retail POS terminals market on the basis of product, component, application and region:

Retail POS Terminals Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2024)

Fixed POS terminals

Mobile POS terminals

Retail POS Terminals Component Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2024)

Hardware

Software

Services

Retail POS Terminals Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2024)

Supermarkets/hypermarkets

Grocery stores

Specialty stores

Gas stations

Others

Retail POS Terminals Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2024)

North America U.S. Canada

Europe Germany U.K.

Asia Pacific China India Japan

Latin America Brazil Mexico

MEA

Access full research report on global retail point-of-sale terminals market: www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/retail-point-of-sale-pos-terminals-market
A 14-year-old male student of a government school in Dhankot village in Sector 100 suffered 10% burn injuries after another student threw acid on him while the two were cleaning the school toilet on Thursday morning. The incident took place when a teacher allegedly asked four students to clean the school toilet with the chemical, and while doing so, one of them playfully threw it on the victim, thereby injuring him. The victim, a student of class 8, sustained injuries on his hand, face and neck.

The victims father lodged a complaint on Thursday evening, following which the police booked the principal and teachers of the school for criminal negligence. The FIR doesnt mention the names or the total number of teachers booked. They were booked under sections 203 (Giving false information), 326 (Voluntarily causing grievous hurt) of the Indian Penal Code(IPC) and Section 75 (Punishment for cruelty to child) of the Juvenile Justice Act at the Rajendra Park police station.The education department also formed an inquiry committee on Friday.

According to the police, they received a call from the village sarpanch, informing them about the incident late evening on Thursday. A team was rushed to the spot and found the injured student lying on the hospital bed. The student, in his statement, said that the school teacher had asked four students to clean the school toilet and had given them a bottle of acid to remove toilet stains. As they were cleaning, one of them playfully threw the acid at him, said Preet Pal Sangwan, assistant commissioner of police (crime).

The school authorities rushed him to a private hospital where he was administered first-aid, bandage, and then sent home, said the police. The victim is currently out of danger, said the police.

Sangwan said the teachers did not disclose the truth about the incident to the doctor and tried to mislead them. One of the teachers, who went to drop the student home, handed over 1,000 to the parents to get fruits and medicines for him but did not tell them about the burn injuries. Even the staff did not reveal the truth to the parents and the matter came to light only came out after the village sarpanch intervened, he said.

The village sarpanch and family members of the victim met senior education officers on Friday and apprised them of the incident. Premlata Yadav, district elementary education officer, said that she visited the school on Friday and has formed a committee which would look into the incident and submit a report within a week. I have met the victims family members and villagers.The family members have alleged that the teachers often ask students to clean the school premises and toilets. We are investigating as to why the students were involved in cleaning since the school already has a sweeper, she said.

Principal and teachers, meanwhile, have apologised to the family members and promised to bear the cost for the treatment, Yadav said.

The police are also gathering details about the person who bought the acid bottle to the school. We are trying to find out how the bottle reached the school as acid is banned. We will add more sections of Indian Penal Code once we record the statements of all the students who were asked to use the chemical, said Sangwan.

The villagers alleged that they have been complaining against the school principal to the education department for the last three years but no action has been taken so far. Despite sweepers, the principal asks the students to clean the school and serve water to teachers. We are demanding strict action against the principal, who is responsible for the negligence. If no action is taken, we will protest in the school premises and even approach the chief minister, said Dinesh Sehrawat, Dhankot, the village sarpanch.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
On July 9, 1846, two months after President James K. Polk declared war on Mexico, American troops landed at the small Mexican trading post of Yerba Buena and raised the American flag over the old plaza, soon to be called Portsmouth Square.

As the previous Portals explained, most of the local Californios  native Californians, most of them Spanish-speaking  accepted the U.S. occupation and offered no resistance. But a series of outrages eventually led a group of prominent rancheros to rise up in a rebellion, which would climax in the only military engagement fought between Californios and the U.S. military in Northern California during the Mexican-American War.

What goaded the long-suffering rancheros beyond endurance was the rampant, illegal confiscation of their most valuable possession: their horses.

Starting in October 1846, an irregular band of American settlers, led by an ambitious German immigrant playing a double game, began seizing horses and other supplies from ranches across the Bay Area and threatening and abusing the rancheros and their families.

The bands leader was Carlos Maria Weber, a San Jose resident with an only-in-early-California story. As Dorothy Regnery writes in The Battle of Santa Clara: The Only Campaign in the Northern California District Between the Californios and the United States Forces During the Mexican War, Weber was a well-educated Prussian with a taste for revolution. Emigrating from Germany in 1836, he joined in the Texas revolt, then headed to California in 1841.

Weber was granted Mexican citizenship, bought a large ranch and was appointed a captain in the Mexican auxiliary infantry. But he was a closet revolutionary who wanted California to follow in Texas footsteps and become an independent nation.

After the Bear Flag Revolt in June 1846, Webers anti-Mexican position became known. With his allegiances now out in the open, he was appointed by Commodore Robert Stockton, the senior U.S. military commander in California, to be a sergeant in command of the newly created San Jose militia. His orders were to watch the Californios, not engage in military operations.

But Weber abused his position. He raised a 65-man company that he called the Pueblo Rangers, after the Texas Rangers. Without legal authority, he began to raid Bay Area ranches for horses needed by the U.S. Army, which had suffered reverses in the southern part of the state.

After ravaging the area southeast of San Jose, he and his band headed up the Peninsula, raiding every ranch along the way. On Nov. 7, they rode into Yerba Buena with 70 horses, spent the weekend there, then rode out to raid more ranches.

Trivia time The previous trivia question: Jan. 3, 1998, was the last time the 49ers played the Minnesota Vikings in the playoffs before the divisional round game Jan. 11. Who was the 49ers' leading receiver in that game? Answer: J.J. Stokes, with nine catches. This week's trivia question: How many San Francisco homes did builder Fernando Nelson and his sons construct? Editor's note Every corner in San Francisco has an astonishing story to tell. Gary Kamiya's Portals of the Past tells those lost stories, using a specific location to illuminate San Francisco's extraordinary history - from the days when giant mammoths wandered through what is now North Beach to the Gold Rush delirium, the dot-com madness and beyond. His column appears every other Saturday. Dig deep into Chronicle Vault Like what you're reading? Subscribe to the Chronicle Vault newsletter and get classic archive stories in your inbox twice a week. Read hundreds of historical stories, see thousands of archive photos and sort through 153 years of classic Chronicle front pages at SFChronicle.com/vault. See More Collapse

The rancheros complained bitterly to U.S. officials, but to no avail. Many Americans recognized that Webers heavy-handed campaign was stirring up ill will, but nothing was done as he and his militia seized an estimated 6,000 horses.

Californios who did not willingly yield their horses were abused. A former alcalde was beaten on the streets of San Jose for refusing to give up his saddle. Weber tied one little girl to a stake and threatened to shoot her if her father did not give up his hidden horses.

The rancheros never forgot how they had been treated.

When interviewing descendants of Californios a century and a half later, one hears the reverberation of handed-down hatred of Americans who robbed in the name of (John C.) Fremont, Regnery writes. Fremont encouraged the Bear Flag uprising and was made a commander of U.S. troops in California.

Dolores Martinez was 14 when Weber and 30 other raiders rode to her familys ranch in what is now Portola Valley. With guns drawn, the men took horses, saddles, guns and blankets, then ordered the women to make them food. This episode filled Martinez with such a hatred of gringos that for a half a century she refused to speak English.

More from the Archive The Vault Home of the San Francisco Chronicle's archive and more than 150 years of journalism covering the Bay Area and beyond.

A large ranch south of San Francisco, Rancho Buri-Buri, was particularly hard hit. The head of the ranch was 44-year-old Jose de la Cruz Sanchez. His 40-year-old brother, Francisco Sanchez, had just moved to a new hacienda on the coast  the still-standing Sanchez Adobe in Pacifica. They also had three younger brothers.

Long established and comparatively well-educated, the Sanchezes were widely respected among Californios and foreigners alike. They had accepted the U.S. occupation, but Webers raids turned them against the invaders. When U.S. officers in Yerba Buena became so fearful of a (nonexistent) Mexican invasion that they arrested one of the young Sanchez brothers, Manuel, who had come into town to buy goods, the two older brothers were goaded into action.

A rash venture by the recently elected alcalde of Yerba Buena, Washington Bartlett, gave them an opportunity. Bartlett decided to go on a scouting expedition to learn about the supposed Mexican invasion force. Taking six volunteer sailors, he went first to the settlement at Mission Dolores, where he and his men danced all night with the welcoming Californios, and then on to Rancho Buri-Buri.

On Dec. 16, 1846, while Bartlett and his men were watching vaqueros rounding up cattle in the stone corral, the Sanchezes seized them at gunpoint. It was probably retaliation for the arrest of Manuel Sanchez, but it soon broadened. Rancheros from miles around who had suffered at Webers hands soon gathered.

The 100 or so Californios who joined the Sanchezes were hardly a military juggernaut. Many were old men. They had a few guns but no powder. Their lances, an ancient Spanish weapon, were most likely knives tied to willow poles. Ten men wore their old Mexican army swords. One American observer called them the most ragged and forlorn set of men one could conceive and said it would be a disgrace to fight them.

The members of this ragtag group knew they would be facing troops armed with cannons and modern rifles, but they were determined to protest their unjust treatment. The story of their encounter with the U.S. military on a muddy plain in Santa Clara will be the subject of the next Portals.

Gary Kamiya is the author of the best-selling book Cool Gray City of Love: 49 Views of San Francisco, awarded the Northern California Book Award in creative nonfiction. All the material in Portals of the Past is original for The San Francisco Chronicle. To read earlier Portals of the Past, go to sfchronicle.com/portals. For more features from 150 years of The Chronicles archives, go to sfchronicle.com/vault. Email: metro@sfchronicle.com
London, Jan 24 : While physical factors such as incorrect posture or sitting for too long are generally related to chronic low back pain, new research has found that employees with more job control are less likely to suffer from the disease.

The research, published in the journal BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, indicates that not only physical but also psychological and social factors exert considerable influence on the development of the pain disorder.

"People with a high workload suffered more frequently from chronic low back pain. Employees with more job control were less affected," explained social psychologist Anne Tomaschek from Dresden University of Technology (TU Dresden) in Germany.

It was also shown that back pain was lower when people received social support at work from their superiors and colleagues.

Worldwide, more than 23 per cent of the population suffers from chronic low back pain (CLBP).

This makes CLBP the most prevalent chronic pain disorder, associated with immense costs to the health care system.

For the study, the team of psychologists carried out a meta-analysis to identify psychosocial work factors that pose a risk for the development of chronic low back pain.

The team synthesised more than 19,000 data sets from 18 studies investigating associations between psychosocial areas of work life and CLBP.

The researchers from TU Dresden were able to show that psychosocial areas of work life such as workload, job control and social support significantly contribute to the development of the disease, as well.
Alex Wong/Getty

However the Senate trial turns out, it is immensely gratifying to know that the see-no-evil, hear-no-evil, speak-no-evil Republicans were pinned in their seats for two hours and 20 minutes with only flat water, bubbly water, or milk to drink on Wednesday afternoon as House manager Adam Schiff, with the skill of a practiced trial lawyer, outlined the case against Donald John Trump.

He may be shifty Schiff to Donald Trump and his allies, but any fair-minded impeachment watcher will tell you that Schiff did a masterful job detailing the building blocks of Trumps corruption with regard to Ukraine, the lies he told along the way, the cast of enablers who sought to hide the truthand finally, the public servants who came forward to testify about what they witnessed.

Schiff presented enough evidence to rebut the White House argument that the House managers had a weak case. He put to bed any notion of the quick dismissal GOP leader McConnell might have once envisioned. But for all the Democrats success and skill in presenting their case, getting witnesses and documents that would totally nail Trump remain just out of reach.

Trumps Lawyers are Lying About the Meaning of Impeachment

Four Republicans would have to break ranks and side with the Democrats, and even the usual suspectsMitt Romney, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowskiare not sure bets.

Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz, a member of Trumps legal team, cautioned against calling witnesses like former National Security Adviser John Bolton because the White House would invoke executive privilege to prevent him from testifying. That could take weeks, maybe months, for the courts to resolve, Dershowitz said.

Schiff points out that Trump often cites executive privilege but has never invoked it. Why? Schiff suggests that maybe its because he doesnt want to cite particular documents or passages within documents, which would be required. Otherwise, Schiff leaves it up to the viewers imagination why Trump waves around executive privilege but stops short of claiming it.

Story continues

Until now, its been invoked as a generalized mobster threat, says Bill Galston, a senior fellow in the governance program at the Brookings Institution. It will come into play only if the Senate votes to call witnesses, and Trump wants to block those witnesses. Then, if the White House invokes executive privilege, were in a new situation, says Galston.

Hes probably being told by his lawyers that once he invokes executive privilege, he will set in motion a process he can no longer control, Galston told the Daily Beast. If I were his lawyer, I would tell him not to play this card until he had to.

The reason? Trump couldnt count on the courts to dither away weeks and months. His claim of executive immunity would likely get fast-tracked to the Supreme Court, which Trump thinks of as his court. Chief Justice Roberts might have a different view after listening to the evidence against Trump.

If Republicans decide to go for witnesses, with Bolton and budget chief Mick Mulvaney topping the Democrats wish list, Trump would immediately move to silence them under a blanket of executive privilege. Ultimately the Supreme Court would be called upon to test Trumps claim of executive privilege and whether it would hold up, unlike President Nixons effort to protect the Watergate tapes.

There are a couple of key differences. The Nixon tapes involved conversations with already indicted administration figures, so there was criminal behavior. This made it easier for the Supreme Court to decide that executive privilege didnt apply. But if Trumps claim reaches the Supreme Court, it would test whether executive privilege applies in the absence of a crime.

It appears as if Schiff is trying to goad Trump into invoking executive privilege. But Democrats worry that todays court could narrowly side with Trump on executive power.

If there are not enough Republicans to join with the Democrats to compel witnesses, Trump doesnt risk anything in brandishing executive privilege as a sword to dissuade potential testimony that could be damaging.

After each side presents its arguments, and the senators get a chance to have Chief Justice Roberts pose their questions, there will be a vote next week as the trial concludes to determine whether witnesses will be called.

Thats the ballgame, says Galston, and everything else is a kabuki dance.

Bolton is at the center of the kabuki dance with a much ballyhooed book he is writing that he touts rather shamelessly as a tell-all about his time at the White House and the drug deal that he warned against while serving as Trumps national security adviser. He has eyewitness information that McConnell, acting on Trumps behalf, doesnt want to risk revealing to the voting public.

From McConnells perspective, better to shut down the trial next week if he has the votes to do that than give Bolton a platform. Its not about executive privilege; its about executive power, and keeping it. No one in all the hours of bloviating has said word one about what Bolton might say in his forthcoming book that could undermine the confidentiality of the executive privilege that Trump finds so sacred.

As someone who held a top-security clearance, Bolton is subject to whats called pre-publication review by intelligence agencies, including the White House. The rules are a bit murkier if hes responding to a subpoena. But McConnell has a plan for that. Any witnesses that are called would be deposed privately, and the majority party would decide what is released publicly.

Given the unshakable wall of GOP support in the Senate, Trump is certain to be acquitted. But that acquittal will carry an asterisk that could prove damaging in November if Republicans vote against allowing witnesses, when polls show more than 70 percent of the country, including 64 percent of Republicans, want to hear from witnesses.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!

Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.
A man is fighting for his life after being stabbed in broad daylight in Croydon.

Officers, paramedics and the London Air Ambulance scrambled to Christie Drive, Woodside, just after midday to reports of a stabbing.

A man in his 20s was rushed to hospital, where he remains in a potentially life-threatening condition, police said.

Detectives believe he was attacked by two males on a moped.

Police are now appealing for anyone with information about the attack to come forward.
Global climate change has raised concerns that mosquito-borne diseases could become increasingly prevalent in the United States as warmer temperatures lead to increased mosquito activity.

The 2015-2016 Zika outbreak, which impacted much of the Americas, prompted efforts to accelerate the development of a Zika vaccine. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 10 percent of babies born in the U.S. whose mother was confirmed with the Zika virus during pregnancy had associated birth defects. The birth defects, like congenital Zika syndrome, can be devastating, fatal, and costly. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in high-income countries like the U.S., the associated costs of caring for a single child with Zika-related birth defects have been estimated to be as high as $10 million.

A new study led by researchers at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH) and the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine found that routinely giving the Zika vaccine to women of childbearing age could save money if the risk of Zika is around that of other mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and chikungunya. These diseases have been endemics in many parts of Latin and South America. Both are febrile, cause severe joint pain and could be life threatening if left untreated. According to the CDC, the same mosquito that carries the Zika virus, the Aedes species mosquito, also carries dengue and chikungunya.

The team developed a computer model representing women of childbearing age in different countries in the Americas. The model represented what happens to a woman if she becomes infected with Zika, how it varies with pregnancy, and the potential benefits of a vaccine to prevent the Zika infection.

As the study demonstrates, it is critical for officials to monitor the incidence of Zika infections in their region to determine whether the risk becomes comparable to that of dengue and chikungunya. This information could help determine whether a routine vaccination would be necessary.

The end of the 2015-2016 outbreak doesn't mean that Zika has gone away as a threat. Cases may still continue to occur in different locations. Plus, future outbreaks are still possible. Therefore, it is important to be proactive about preventing the further spread of Zika." Bruce Y. Lee, executive director of PHICOR, headquartered at CUNY SPH

The findings, which were published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, show how computer simulation modeling can help guide vaccine development. Results from the model provide scientists, manufacturers, public health officials, funders, and policy makers targets to aim for when developing the Zika vaccine and deciding when and where to use it.

"The study shows that a Zika vaccine doesn't have to offer near perfect protection to be valuable," says Sarah M. Bartsch, project director at PHICOR and lead author of the study. "In fact, the study shows that in many cases a vaccine that only offers protection as low as 25 percent can still produce cost savings in certain situations."
(Adds Merkel, further Mnuchin)

DAVOS, Switzerland Jan 23 (Reuters) - Just as the spat between U.S. President Donald Trump and Greta Thunberg seemed to be subsiding, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin took a new dig at the climate activist on Thursday.

Asked about Thunberg's call to divest from fossil fuels, Mnuchin told a news briefing: "Is she the chief economist? I'm confused ... After she goes and studies economics in college, she can come back and explain that to us."

Mnuchin's quip came two days after Trump and Thunberg sparred indirectly at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort of Davos. After Trump said the U.S. had committed to joining the one trillion tree initiative, Thunberg retorted that fixing the climate crisis was not only about trees.

Before he left Davos, however, Trump seemed to extend an olive branch, saying he wished he had seen Thunberg speak.

Addressing the Trump administration's stance on climate, Mnuchin said the U.S. position had been "misunderstood."

"There is a real misinterpretation of the U.S. policy. Let me be very clear: President Trump absolutely believes in clean air and clean water and having a clean environment."

Mnuchin later told CNBC he did not believe there were just a few years left to prevent a climate catastrophe.

"There are a lot of other important issues" threatening civilization, he said, citing health and nuclear proliferation.

"I think that the youth needs to understand: climate is one issue that needs to be put in contexts with lots of other things."

But German Chancellor Angela Merkel rushed to Thunberg's defence, saying that attaining the goals of the Paris climate accord, which the U.S. has quit, was vital.

"Time is pressing, so we - the older ones, I am 65 years old - must make sure that we take the impatience of young people positively and constructively," Merkel said in her speech to the WEF's annual meeting. (Reporting by Alessandra Galloni and Balazs Koranyi; Editing by Alexander Smith)
(HedgeCo.Net) The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that it has obtained a court order authorizing the distribution of over $63 million to investors in connection with a previously filed action. This amount represents the full return of funds to those who invested.

The SECs complaint, filed in May 2019, alleged that Robert C. Morgan, a New York residential and commercial real estate developer, and two of his entities, Morgan Mezzanine Fund Manager LLC and Morgan Acquisitions LLC, engaged in a fraudulent real estate investment scheme. As alleged, Morgan financed his real estate development projects through, among other ways, the sales of securities to more than 200 retail investors, many of whom invested through their retirement accounts. Morgan represented to investors that their money would be used to improve multifamily properties. Instead, as alleged in the complaint, Morgan and his entities diverted investor funds to facilitate payments to earlier investors and made misrepresentations to later investors about prior fund performance. Upon filing this action, the SEC sought and obtained certain emergency relief, including the appointment of a receiver responsible for maximizing the monetary recovery for investors. Since filing, Morgan voluntarily liquidated certain assets to generate funds for collection by the receiver. On Jan. 21, 2020, the court approved the receivers plan to distribute over $63 million to harmed investors.

Getting money back to defrauded investors is one of our top priorities at the SEC, said Daniel Michael, Chief of the SECs Complex Financial Instruments Unit. Although this case is ongoing, the return of funds to investors is an extremely important development and the product of considerable effort by the parties and the receiver.
The last time the world heard about a coronavirus outbreak in China, in early 2003, it ended up spreading to more than two dozen countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia, sickening about 8,000 people and killing almost 800.

The illness was named severe acute respiratory syndrome, more commonly known as SARS and still remembered as a near miss. It could have been much worse, we were told  no thanks to severe mismanagement by health authorities in China and elsewhere.

The memory of SARS explains why reports of a newly identified coronavirus originating in China are concerning. The outbreak, originating in the city of Wuhan, has resulted in at least 25 deaths and rapidly spread to several countries, including, in one case, the United States. The World Health Organization has convened an emergency meeting and has been considering declaring the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.

Responses to emerging viral threats such as SARS and, later, Ebola have been controversial. During the SARS outbreak, many political leaders were caught unprepared. The mayor of Toronto, a city disproportionately affected by SARS, publicly acknowledged his unfamiliarity with basic infection control measures  he didnt even know what the World Health Organization was.
Following the 24 Supreme Court October order, the DoT had sought Rs 1.47 lakh crore from Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and 13 other telecom companies

New Delhi: On Thursday (23 January), the day when the Supreme Court-mandated deadline for Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea to pay Rs 88,624 crore in past dues ended, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) decided not to take coercive action against defaulters during pendency of their appeals seeking relaxation in the apex court's order.

While Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea did not pay the dues, billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio paid Rs 195 crore to clear all outstanding against it, official sources said.

Parallelly, Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the Rs 3-lakh crore sought by the DoT from non-telecom PSUs, such as GAIL, Oil India Ltd and PowerGrid, was a result of 'communication gap' as these firms are not liable to pay any dues following the Supreme Court's 24 October ruling that non-telecom revenues of telecom firms should be included for considering payments of government dues.

OIL and GAIL, which were not a party to the litigation that led to the 24 October order, filed clarificatory applications in the Supreme Court.

GAIL gets order from Telecom Dept towards annual license fees of up to Rs 1.83 lakh cr. Co is of view that the amount assessed in provisional assessment orders are legally not tenable & has filed an application today with SC for seeking clarification of judgement passed pic.twitter.com/aW3hK01TDw  CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18Live) January 23, 2020

Following the 24 October order, the DoT had sought Rs 1.47 lakh crore from Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and 13 other telecom companies. Parallelly, it raised a demand of Rs 1.72 lakh crore from gas utility GAIL India Ltd, Rs 48,000 crore from Oil India Ltd, Rs 40,000 crore from PowerGrid, Rs 15,019 crore from Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers and a few more demands on firms such as RailTel.

Official sources said the director of the licensing finance policy (LFP) wing has issued a direction that departments concerned should not take any coercive action, until further orders, against the licensees in case they fail to comply with the Supreme Court order.

Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, whose review petitions against the 24 October order was rejected by the Supreme Court last week, communicated to the DoT that they will not pay the dues by the deadline and will instead wait for the outcome of the subsequent modification petition filed seeking relaxation in payments, they said.

The petition is listed for hearing in the Supreme Court next week.

Tata Communications, in which the government holds 26.12 per stake, has also made no provision for the DoT's demand of Rs 6,633 crore. "We are in discussion with the telecom ministry. We had given them our reply (on the demand raised)," Pradhan told reporters here. "Possibly because of a communication gap, the Government of India's one department has raised such demand on PSUs under another government department."

He said parallel to discussions with the DoT, the Supreme Court has been approached on the issue.

The government's demand from such companies increased many times more than their net worth and the Centre asked them to go to the Supreme Court against such dues. While Oil India Ltd filed a clarificatory/ modificatory petition on Wednesday, GAIL approached the apex court on Thursday.

"Where is GAIL in core telecom business? Is PGCIL in core telecom work or does Oil India do any core telecom job," he asked. "We feel there is no liability (following the October 24 Supreme Court ruling) on these companies."

Pradhan said the approach to the Supreme Court and discussions with the DoT were being conducted simultaneously. He, however, did not say if seeking relief from the Supreme Court was limited to PSUs under his ministry filing pleas in the apex court or his ministry would also file a petition.

The DoT raised the demands on the non-telecom PSUs for leasing out surplus optical fibre network that was primarily for their internal communications under NLD (National Long Distance Service) licenses or IP-1/IP-2.

The demand notices by the DoT follow the Supreme Court's October 24 order that broadened the definition of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) for telecommunications companies to include non-core operations. AGR is used as a basis for the calculation of license fees and spectrum usage charges owed to the government. GAIL, Oil India, PowerGrid and other non-telecom PSUs were not a party to this litigation.

Telecom companies owe the government Rs 92,642 crore in unpaid license fee and another Rs 55,054 crore in outstanding spectrum usage charges. These liabilities arose after the Supreme Court in October held that non-telecom revenues have to be considered for calculating statutory dues.

Outstanding SUC (spectrum usage charges) dues of various telecom service providers as on 31 October 2019, added to Rs 55,054 crore.

The government has directed the licensees to make the payments in accordance with the order of the Supreme Court dated October 24, 2019, and submit requisite documents within the stipulated time frame.

In the case of Bharti Airtel, the liabilities added up to nearly Rs 35,586 crore, of which Rs 21,682 crore is license fee and another Rs 13,904.01 crore is the SUC dues (not including the dues of Telenor and Tata Teleservices).

In the case of Vodafone Idea, this number stands at a cumulative Rs 53,038 crore, including Rs 24,729 crore of SUC dues and Rs 28,309 crore in the licence fee.

Stating that it earned a cumulative revenue of Rs 1.47 crore from the leasing of spare bandwidth capacity, OIL in its petition to the Supreme Court stated that it will have to shut down operations if it is forced to pay an amount that is twice its net worth.

From gas utility GAIL, the DoT has sought Rs 1,72,655 crore in dues on IP-1 and IP-2 licences as well as internet service provider licence. In response, GAIL said it earned only Rs 35 crore from trading spare bandwidth.

(Disclaimer: Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd which publishes Firstpost)
Dear Sam: I am a nurse who has relocated to the area. I would like to have you critique my resume in order to help me find a job I love, one that involves helping others. Thank you.  K

Dear K: First and foremost, thank you for the wonderful and caring work that you do. I appreciate your willingness to have your resume critiqued to not only help you identify ways to improve its effectiveness, but hopefully provide guidance to others with similar backgrounds. Lets cover some critical areas in which you can dramatically improve your resume.

Aesthetics & Formatting

I am a big fan of deploying creativity when appropriate for a clients career objective and the intended audience. As a nurse, you can be more creative in your design, possibly even incorporating imagery, or at the very least highlighting such areas as your recent Employee of the Year award much more prominently. Additionally, it is not a good idea to have your entire resume written in all caps; while this is fine for headings, it is inappropriate for the body of your resume and makes it challenging to read. You also have to ensure you are consistent in your formatting selections. Currently, I see bullets of different sizes, punctuation misused and numerous spelling mistakes. If executed well, these areas can reinforce your professionalism, attention to detail, and organizational skills  all vital elements to your candidacy as a health care professional.

Qualifications Summary

You have some great differentiating factors to highlight, but being that you begin your resume telling the hiring manager what you want instead of what you can do for them, unfortunately, these areas are buried within your professional experience section. A qualifications summary provides the reader with a critical overview of your candidacy, your key qualifications, how you have contributed value in the past and generally all the aspects of what you can offer the employer that they need to know before completing the screening process. Given the screening process is as limited as 7 seconds, you can see why you must sell what you can do versus what you want. Omit your objective statement entirely and replace it with a summary of who you are and what you can offer. Highlight areas such as your experience developing new programs, leading entire teams, coordinating resource utilization, establishing best practices, assisting in the design of a new lab, and developing patient education and nursing training materials. These are all areas that position you as a highly skilled, experienced, and seasoned nursing professional who can offer more to an employer than solely direct patient care.

Professional Experience

For the amount of experience you are presenting, there isnt enough content to explore your roles fully and give them the focus they deserve on paper. Showing back to the 1980s, and sometimes even the 1990s, is not a good idea, unless there is something specific from that era that enhances (not just supports) your candidacy. In your case, I believe you could begin your resume with your early 2000s experience, thereby also eliminating your employment gap. Your earlier experiences, if you so choose, can be bylined, meaning they can be mentioned without dates in a statement such as, Additional experience as a Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Supervisor and as a Critical Care Nurse. By doing this you are presenting the foundation of your career, while avoiding unnecessarily aging your candidacy.

By exploring your roles more fully, and by focusing on more recent engagements, you will also have room to highlight your achievements. Achievements are how you tell a hiring manager that you have gone above and beyond your job description to add value to your role and employer. These also predict your ability to perform in your next professional engagement, and serve to differentiate your candidacy in the competitive marketplace. Explore your achievements thoroughly, being sure to present the result of your effort(s) first, followed by some of the key actions you took to achieve that outcome. While I am not proposing using your resume as an opportunity to write a biography, you do need to explore your background thoroughly enough to pique the readers interest, while also affording for further explanation during a personal interview.

The great news is you have a fantastic career to present to a potential employer. There are many opportunities to improve the appearance and effectiveness of your resume to better engage the reader, differentiate your candidacy and showcase the value you offer. By implementing the suggested changes, I am confident you will better highlight your background and answer the hiring managers question, Why should I interview you?

Samantha Nolan is an Advanced Personal Branding Strategist and Career Expert, founder and CEO of Nolan Branding. Do you have a resume, career, or job search question for Dear Sam? Reach Samantha at dearsam@nolanbranding.com. For information on Nolan Brandings services, visit www.nolanbranding.com or call 888-9-MY-BRAND or 614-570-3442.
Zelensky: FTA with Israel to allow doubling trade turnover

20:30, 24.01.20 235

Zelensky had a meeting in Jerusalem with Speaker of the Knesset Yuli-Yoel Edelstein.